#and with the right cast it might be able to genuinely be that good

[the-red-thread-that-strangles]

Rei is late for the first time since he's started working at Poirot.

Neither terrorism attacks nor hostage crises have affected his being on time. Not even a runaway horse managed to keep him.

But he spends one night with Akai Shuichi, and his perfect record is ruined. Asshole.

Despite his calling ahead, Azusa gives him a worried look. He stops briefly to give her a mock-embarrassed apology, turning up the charm. Promises he won't be late again. Then he's off to the storage room.

He needs to fetch his ingredients and get to baking.

Rei's going to find Akai and strangle him, just as soon as his shift is over.

.

Roughly 12 hours earlier.

There's a gun aimed right between his eyes.

That in itself is nothing unusual. The situation could be worse, really.

After all, his own gun is pointed right back at Akai Shuuichi's annoyingly smug face. At this distance, he'll be able to read his movement, react in time. He'd rather talk, but if the sniper fires, Rei will drag him into hell too.

Blood for blood. Mutually assured destruction.

(His excitement is slightly dampened by the fact he's rather certain Akai won't kill him.)

"Caught you." Rei can't help the satisfaction slipping into his voice.

Finally. After three years, their game of cat and mouse is over. He'll have his answers.

The most pressing of which-

"Where's Scotch?"

The words cut into the silence, sharpened by fear. His best friend might still be dead, after all. (If he isn't, why hasn't he contacted Rei?)

It's not like he has much to go on to suspect he's alive, besides the fact that Akai himself came back from the dead. Rei can only hope he brought Hiro along.

Before Akai answers, there's a click. The world becomes dizzyingly bright, expanding past the muzzles of their guns.

Rei blinks the disorientation away. Spots silhouettes from the corner of his eyes. He hasn't met them before, but he's familiar, of course, with the owners of this house. How long have the Kudos been watching them?

While he's busy processing that revelation, Akai holsters his gun. Part of Rei hates how nonchalant Akai is about all of this, exposing himself so easily. Like Rei isn't a threat, won't put a bullet in his head because of a couple of witnesses. (Hates that he's probably right.)

"I propose a trade. For old time's sake."

(The words leave a bitter taste with Rei. They haven't exchanged anything, not goods, not words, not warmth, in years.)

Akai snaps open a cheap flip phone - likely a burner. His thumb hovers over the call button. The fingers of his other hand, long and dextrous, wrap around the barrel of Rei's P7M8, tugging gently, but insistently.

Rei considers his options. He holds no illusions - without his gun, he won't be able to dispatch Akai. But he's more than capable of holding his own for long enough to escape, if need be.

(He could just fire, right now. It wouldn't have to be lethal. Could take the phone by force. But chances are, whatever information Akai has, he'll be much less willing to share it with a bullet wound.)

Rei looks up at Akai, meets his green, green eyes. The part of him that shows genuine emotions, some days. (Not that Rei is one to talk.)

Finds Akai looking...tired. He wears a small smile, but it's worn around the edges. There's no open mockery, no quiet amusement. It's just the two of them, and an offer.

Rei lets go of the gun. He hopes he won't be needing it, tonight.

.

Akai helps him up, his hand warm and steady. As soon as he's upright, Rei lets go - he can walk perfectly fine by himself, thank you very much.

The FBI agent shows him to the living room, tells Rei to make himself a home. After all, the Kudos have promised to give him some privacy, for his chat.

For a moment, the sniper lingers, gaze caught by the phone. Then Akai casts his eyes down, and leaves Rei alone.

Silence, if not for the crackle of the damned fireplace, fills the room. Rei hesitates for a moment. Then he presses 'call' for the only number in the directory.

The phone crackles with static, beeps as it establishes connection, then-

"Hi, Zero."

The world stops moving. Relief floods his system, sapping the tension from his muscles. He leans against the soft backrest, breathing freely for the first time in a good long while.

.

Their talk is short. Rei asks some questions to establish it's truly Hiro, not an imposter (though that would make a very poor basis for the negotiation the Kudos have planned).

Hiro tersely explains some things, although he isn't allowed to give away much. He's in the FBI's witness protection program. That they're talking at all is a massive bending of the rules, authorized only because of Akai's insistence. He claimed it was of critical importance to their mission.

It certainly is, to Rei.

.

The next hours are a blur.

The sofa dips when Akai sits down at his side, the Kudos already having taken their seats on the other side of the small coffee table. (He wishes Akai would sit farther away. That he be less reasonable in his assumptions and demeanour.)

It's somewhat surreal to think that celebrity actress Kudo Yukiko of all people gives him a steaming cup of chamomile lavender honey tea. Good thing working with Vermouth has knocked most of the starstruck behaviour out of him; his younger self would have made a fool of himself.

He can't afford that. After all, they are seeking him out in an official capacity, requesting PSB senior agent Furuya Rei's cooperation.

It certainly is strange for them to reach out through him, considering his known enmity of Akai. But he's a professional - he might be reluctant to work with the man, but it's not his decision to make. He'll relay the offer, unless it's utter garbage.

So he pays attention while they share what they can of their plan to take down the organisation. Listens to their pledge for equal contribution, and their promise of crediting the PSB with a successful operation; an obvious play intended to soothe the wounded pride of the Japanese, after years of illegal activity. But it's the least they can do.

If one were to ask Rei, the offer is certainly worth considering. The PSB has been working the case for five years now, and while they have gathered intel, and managed to place Bourbon as a vital asset, they're barely closer to shutting the organization down than when they started. It's sprawling, interconnected with various businesses, and, worst of all, active internationally. If they don't cut off all its heads at the same time, odds are the members will simply flee to a different branch. Maybe lie low for a bit, and then go about their business with renewed vigour.

It seems like an international cooperation might just be necessary to achieve this task. So he'll be their messenger; it's above his pay grade to decide whether to take them up on the offer or not.

Though privately, he hopes his superiors agree; every day they lose ground to the organization. By this point, Rei doesn't really care anymore whose plan it is that finally does the organization in, as long as it gets done. (And as long as he and the PSB are finally treated with the appropriate amount of respect.)

Still, he can't help thinking they wouldn't be having this conversation now, if these foreign agencies had respected the official channels ahead of time. Maybe Hiro could be hiding in Nagano then, with his brother, instead of being confined to the other half of the globe. In the US, of all the terrible places to be. He shivers.

.

By the time they're done it's very late. Rei is already half-dozing off, despite his best efforts to stay awake. It would be highly irresponsible to drive in this state, so he's asked their hosts for a coffee (he's sure a place housing Akai will have more than enough of it to go around). He'll just rest his eyes for a moment, until they're back.

.

Something light is being dropped on him, almost stirs him to consciousness. But it's warm, soft, and smells of huddling together in an abandoned apartment.

(Of long-forgotten small comforts.)

Not a threat.

Thus satisfied, his body collects its due, and he's dragged back under, into deep, dreamless sleep.

.

Which brings Rei to the reason he's late.

Someone, and he has a very good idea of who it was, put his phone in airplane mode, drew all the curtains shut, and kept the rest of the house quiet.

(Let him sleep for as long as he needed to.)

So Rei wakes up with a start, in a barely familiar place, the digital clock on the wall indicating it's way past opening time for Poirot. Shit.

He grabs his belongings, pistol, clothes and keys and all, and dashes out the door. He swears he can see Okiya - no, Akai, he was right, damn it - look down on him from that favourite window of his. Asshole. Contrary to him Rei has a job, a cover to maintain. He'll get back at him, yet.

.

It should probably worry him that he can perform the drive to Poirot on autopilot. Too many late-night stakeouts turning into impromptu naps, requiring him to drive straight to work after. So much trouble, over nothing. If Akai had just cooperated sooner-

Then, what? Rei hadn't managed to track him down before his supposed death, and the less interaction there is between Okiya Subaru and Amuro Tooru, the better for both of them. He grinds his teeth, barely manages to brake in time for a redlight.

(Hates that he understands the caution, to a degree.)

.

The universe really is conspiring against him, today.

After the lunchtime rush, a certain pocket-sized detective is ushered in through the door, followed by his guardian and her best friend. The kid gives him odd looks all throughout ordering lunch, too sharp in a way that makes the hairs at the back of his neck stand in up. Rei gives him his sunniest smile, and an extra packet of sugar. He's played games with Gin and Vermouth in worse conditions; he won't yield to a particularly precocious six-year-old.

Despite getting more sleep than the last three nights combined, he's not feeling too well. A single good night's rest can't undo weeks of insomnia. If anything, it only makes apparent what he's lacking.

He finds his mind wandering, glad the preparation of food comes automatically, by now. Whisk and mix and pour. Fry, remove from the pan...

"...uro? You seem unwell."

Too-familiar green eyes stare back at him, bags under the eyes and all. Rei barely manages not to flinch.

Of all the people to catch him spacing out, it just has to be Akai's little sister. The gods must truly hate him.

"Ah, miss Sera. I apologize, I was just pondering some new options for our menu." He winks, gives her his most dazzling smile. "The chamomile lavender honey tea cake has me under its spell."

In response, she just wrinkles her nose, unimpressed. Squints at him with those jade eyes that always see through him too easily.

"Are you sure you're not running a fever? It seems a little warm in here already, yet you're working in a sweater."

Rei blinks at that. The temperature seems fine to him. Azusa hasn't said anything about it either.

"I appreciate the concern, but I assure you, I'm perfectly fine. Now, what can I get you?"

One slice of red velvet cake (of course - why did they even keep that on the menu?) and a macchiato later he's rid of her.

For now, at least - she's joined her friends at the window seats, and judging by the way she keeps sneaking glances at him when she thinks he isn't looking, he hasn't seen the last of her yet.

Still, her questions are odd. Surely he doesn't look that terrible?

(Vermouth has taught him some of her secrets; he's been concealing the shadows under his eyes for a while now. Nobody's ever found him out. Why is it now that people notice?)

.

He continues to work mindlessly, unfocused. This damn shift just doesn't seem to want to end.

He just about manages to avoid knocking Ran out for leaning over the counter, into his space. She remains blissfully unaware of the danger she just escaped, smiling brightly, kindly.

"Excuse me, I have a question."

Rei closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, counts to four. Smiles at the girl. "Go ahead", he says, continuing to whisk some cake batter.

Ran leans in closer, conspiratorially.

"Masumi is too shy to ask" - that's a bold-faced lie, if he's ever heard one, and he's something of an expert on the matter - "but she'd love to know where you got that sweater."

Now, Ran's a lovely young lady, always eager to help. It's a pity she's being manipulated for Sera's gain. Because there has to be more to the question, even if Rei can't see it yet.

Of course, he can't tell the girls the truth - Kazami bought it for Bourbon's cover. But the best lies are closest to the truth, so-

"I apologize, but I do not know where it was bought. A friend gave it to me." His best calculated-apologetic smile smoothes the blow, hopefully.

"Oh. I see." Ran visibly deflates. Still, her good manners prevail. "Thank you, though!" And with that, she's heading back to her table.

Strange. What could Sera possibly want with his sweater? If she wanted to track him down, surely there's more efficient ways, and it's not like he doesn't have a dozen similar cream sweaters-

Wait. Cream?

Rei's pretty sure he dressed in black to infiltrate the Kudo manor. He's not been home and he hasn't changed for work.

He manages to supress a groan, but he's sure there's some unpleasant emotion visible on his face.

...he must have grabbed the sweater along with the rest of his belongings in the morning rush.

Now that he's looking at it, it's clearly a little too large for him. It's also warm, fuzzy, soft, and utterly unoffensive. That's probably why it didn't register, before.

The sweater does smell decidedly of Akai - cigarettes and a hint of his obnoxious aftershave. The warm scent of curry is new - though unsurprising, given his foray into cooking. Great. That's why they've been staring at him. Sera probably recognizes the sweater and Conan spends enough time with Akai to recognize the scent.

His gut instinct is to go change, right now, get rid of the damning piece of connection to the man he has too many conflicting emotions about. But a long-sleeved black turtleneck is hardly appropriate work attire for Poirot. Besides, if he changes now, the pair of detectives watching him will just have their suspicions confirmed.

So he grits his teeth, takes in a deep breath that smells too much like Akai, and gets back to work.

.

Rei does change out of the sweater as soon as he's done with his shift.

(It doesn't help. The scent lingers.)

.

He's tempted to just toss the sweater, but can't help feeling like it would be a waste. It's quality craftsmanship, well-worn but taken care of - this kind of sweater would pill, otherwise.

It really shouldn't be faulted for its owner's flaws.

So he puts the sweater in a bag, intending to have it dry-cleaned and give it back later.

He should really hunt down Akai, too, but if he's honest, he's just too tired. He probably shouldn't even drive, in his condition, but he needs to get to a safe place, to think about the developments of the night.

.

He reports to Kuroda, showers thoroughly, and falls into bed.

.

Rei can't have slept long. The sunset colours the world in blood red hues by the time he wakes up, out of breath, heartbeat too fast.

Visions of smoke and ash cling to him. Explosions, destroying him one by one, until nothing remains but death alone.

Hagiwara and Matsuda, taken by violent flame.

Hiro's remains, crushed and burnt beyond recognition.

Akai's smile, grimly defiant, as he's shot by Kir. He too finds his end in a blaze, lacking glory.

They're gone.

Consumed by the inferno that seems to follow Rei around. Which burns everything he cares about, leaves him freezing in its wake.

(He can't even cry, his tears evaporating in the heat.)

Rei shivers, draws the blankets closer. Hopes for a little bit of cover, a little bit of warmth.

Please. If he could just shake off the nausea. If he could stop his spiralling thoughts. Logically, he knows that's not all true, even if his heart burns. Akai and Hiro aren't dead.

It's a lie, they're alive, it's a lie, they're alive, it's a lie a lie a lie a lie-

A set of sharp barks rips him out of his thoughts, back into the present.

Oh. He's woken Haro.

The little guy stands in front of his bed, ears tucked back and hackles raised. A defiant ball of fluff that cares so much, trying to growl the nightmares away.

(It might just work.)

Slowly, shaking and somewhat off-balance, he reaches down to scoop up his dog. Wiggles the blanket off his shoulders so he may cradle the whining bundle of fur to his chest. It's soothing, to feel the warmth of another living being by his side. They sit, the silence permeated by Haro's huffed breaths. His body heat seeps into Rei's chest, nestles in his heart.

"I apologize for worrying you. I'll be fine, soon."

He's not alone.

Haro nudges his hand, demands to be pet. Rei obliges, of course he does.

He's not alone.

.

Still, the headache is a pain. He won't be able to go back to sleep like this, will need to grab a painkiller.

He makes his way to the kitchen counter, keeping to the walls because he's still somewhat unsteady, carrying his bundle of warmth along.

The dog throws a fit as they pass the bag with Akai's sweater, growling and yapping at it. Despite the circumstances, Rei can't help but smile.

"I'm glad to see we feel the same way about him."

Wait.

Inspiration strikes in the form of a very stupid idea.

Because that sweater, with its stupid mixed scents, reeking of Akai, is proof he didn't just imagine last night's events. Tangible and olfactory and physical proof. If he were to wake from a nightmare, with it by his side...the anger at Akai would surely keep the pain at bay.

It's worth a try.

.

When he goes back to bed, Haro lies down beside him. Rei keeps petting him, one-handedly. With the other, he holds on to a cream sweater that isn't his.

When he breathes, it smells of too-long stakeouts in windy apartments.

Of Rye's extra blankets, the ones he started to bring when he noticed Bourbon always freezing; irritating to no end, how he was always better prepared for cold weather than Rei.

(It smells of Bourbon's cooking, given in exchange for soft blankets.)

Scents of a tentative alliance, as thread-bare as the fabric between them.

Grounded between the warmth of Haro, and the scent of Akai, Rei falls asleep, waiting for the dog days to finally be over.

#we're tackling the original sin #the tea party (dun dun dun) #i'm a little sad that “personalized heating unit (read: Haro)” got left on the cutting room floor #anyways I have a migraine but I want this out so here you go #i realized that I mostly write rei taking care of akai. have some implied akai taking care of rei in this one #sweater weather AU #akam #dcmk #long post #(i would like to formally apologize to squad leader date btw. I promise rei isn't any less upset about his death #but we are having a fire/explosion themed nightmare. i couldn't fit him in. I'm sorry) #(also rei. bit of dick move not to let akai talk to hiro...) #oops you are right mi although I'm not quite sure how to tag for that #um #mention of canon character deaths #specifically matsuda and hagiwara #iris writes fic

[jameszmaguire]

y'know, sometimes you just gotta look at the average age of people in a certain fandom and go 'good for them, i'm too old to interact with media in the way that they're doing' and just nope out

#not in a mean-spirited way i was that age once too and i was them #but i have (un)fortunately gained a much better critical understanding of media in general #that i can't divorce from my watching experience anymore and so i can't just. blindly worship stuff anymore that's not how it works #this is not about tua btw if any of my tua mutuals are reading this #Lizzie's sharing her thoughts #but god watching the s/tarkid fandom hold up twisted as this masterpiece beyond greatness when the entire show is whitewashed as fuck...... #i'm too old for this shit #like yeah the lyrics (which are 85% of what make this musical that good) are poetic and the storyline genuinely moving #and with the right cast it might be able to genuinely be that good #however unfortunately it has helluva lot of white people talking about allah in a way that makes me cringe and also. so much orientalism. #and i just can't gloss over that in the way people are doing it in there #and sure i could write a detailed analysis on what i think is wrong with it but god i don't want to deal with people taking personal offens #i have too much shit going on irl to use mental capacity for that

[skele-ghost]

Baby, it’s Hot Outside: Part 4

Welcome to: (Y/N) doesn’t know anything!

MDNI, 18+, Warnings: Omegaverse, dangerous situation, crowds, allusion to r*pe/sexual harassment/assault, heats, stranger danger

Masterlist

It doesn’t take them long to figure out that (Y/N) (L/N) has no idea what courting is.

She’s a beta, sure, and betas haven’t always been courted in the same fashion as omegas or even alphas. But that had changed in the modern age—even Gaz was courted by Price, and König made it a point to give just as much attention to Gaz as Soap while he was courting into the pack.

To be completely fair, they hadn’t yet asked to court her officially. Normally there’s this sort of pre-courting process, flirting and dates and smaller gifts, almost like a hint or a heads up before the formal ask.

Even so, the flirting went right over her head. She would laugh along, joke, tease back—but when someone compliemented her, really called her beautiful—she would blush, say ‘thank you,’ clear her throat and pick up the conversation where it had left of.

They would have thought she was turning them down, if not for her genuine confusion over the courting gifts.

Soap, the good omega he is, offered her a blanket from his nest. An awfully profound gift that spoke volumes, an item from an omega’s safe and private space, doused with the scent from each pack member.

“Oh, but this is one for your favorites,” she frowns, holding the ball of fabric in her arms.

“I ken. It’s the warmest one, too,” Johnny beams at her.

“You don’t want it?” She asks, tilting her head to the side.

“I want you to have it, angel,” he insists.

“Are you sure?” She asks as if he’s a child picking out a flavor of ice cream she knows he doesn’t like. “Because you know I have that big quilt my mama made me—“

“(Y/N), come on,” he laughs nervously, tamping down his growing fear of rejection. “It’s a gift. From me to you.”

She eyes him skeptically, looking at the blanket for a moment. “Alright. But no take-backs,” she jokes. “Thanks, MacTavish!”

And then she just leaves him standing there, a slight hop in her step as she walks down the hall towards the barracks.

Ghost, who had been listening the whole time from an adjourning room, takes to Soap’s side.

“The fuck was that?”

“I ‘ave no fuckin’ clue.”

Maybe it was a bad first gift, in retrospect. Betas didn’t have the same noses as the other designations. She might not be able to smell their scents on it at all. Maybe she just didn’t understand.

They keep trying. König takes her out to lunch, only to come back disappointed because she took the opportunity to talk about her favorite TV show and he couldn’t get a single word in. Not that he had the desire to stop her when her eyes were alight with excitement.

Ghost left her one of his hoodies, draping it over her duffel—and she gave it back to him the next day, thinking he’d put it with her things by mistake.

Gaz gets her a hat with the task force’s insignia…and she looses it the next day to a windstorm. She apologizes profusely, of course, but even with his arm slung over her shoulders, even when he presses a kiss to her temple, telling her it’s no big deal—she just doesn’t get it.

The last time they tried was a month prior, two weeks before the Mexico mission. They invited her out to the pub, adamant that they’d really lay on the flirting, sure that they’d finally get her to understand.

To say it was a disaster would be an understatement.

—

You and Soap head out early, something about getting a table before the pub’s too crowded. The sun periodically casts a golden glow on the buildings when it peeks out from behind the clouds, signaling sunset as the shadows get longer.

You two hold idle conversation, talking about work, mostly. It had been a busy, hectic week, hacking into cartel servers and pinpointing locations.

Every once in a while you bump shoulders to avoid other pedestrians. It makes you realize that some people are staring. Your brow furrows as you follow their gazes, mostly focused on Soap. He does seem a little less energetic than usual. A little less talkative, considering that you were carrying the entire conversation. His cheeks are flushed, but it’s been a hot summer.

“Hey, you okay?” You ask him, head tilted up to look at him properly.

“Yeah. ‘S just hot,” he sighs, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

“It’s just 80,” you reply, not completely convinced.

“Fahrenheit. How hot does it get back home?”

“We always get a couple of 100° days in the middle of summer—“

Someone bumps into him lightly, but it sends Soap stumbling. You catch onto his arm and stabilize him, finally noting how hot his skin is.

“Jesus! I think you’re getting heat stroke or somethin,’” you gasp, and he leans on you for support.

“I jus’ needta siddown. Pub’s there,” he points and you have no choice but to go. You try your best to ignore the stares from onlookers as you drag him along with you. They look concerned and it doesn’t help your hammering heart.

You decide that just sitting down won’t be helpful, considering that the sweltering pub isn’t even air conditioned. So you shove past strangers, muttering excuses and apologies, and take him into the women’s bathroom with you. It’s empty and there’s a lock on the inside of the door that you bolt.

“Just lean here for a sec,” you instruct him, leaning him against the wall instead of on your shoulder. You quickly take off your shirt, thankful for the tank top underneath, and soak it with cold water from the sink.

A groan of discomfort has your attention turning back to Soap, just to see him slide down the wall and onto the floor, sitting and plastering himself against the tiled wall.

“MacTavish! You have any idea how many diseases are probably on this floor?!” You curse, guiding his cheek from the wall, wiping his face with the cool cloth.

He chuckles, “yer so cute when you get that furrow in your brow.”

You just purse your lips, keeping the cloth against his jugular while you pull your phone out with your free hand, navigating to the dial pad.

He grabs your wrist. “Call Ghost.”

“I’m calling the police, you need to go to the hospital—“

“Call Simon. That’s an order,” he says, his tone serious although his eyes are half-lidded, cerulean focused on you.

You frown. Technically, he doesn’t have the authority to order you around. On the other hand, if Soap MacTavish was telling you to not call the police, then you weren’t going to.

“Fine.”

You dial the number and return to the sink, soaking it with cool water while the phone rings. It picks up on the second chime.

“What?” Ghost answers gruffly.

“Something’s wrong with Johnny,” you say, wringing out your shirt of excess water.

“What d’you mean? He alright?”

You set the phone on the edge of the sink and put it on speaker phone, kneeling next to your teammate once more.

“I-I don’t know— He all sweaty, his skin’s on fire. I think he’s got heatstroke, I should take him to the hospital—“

“Calm down. Where are you?”

“The bar, the lady’s room,” you say quickly, watching as Soap’s face contorts into anguish, tears spilling past his waterline.

“Lock the door. Do not open it for anyone, understand?”

“It’s locked—“

“Simon,” Soap whines, a whimper following a moment later. You gently shush him, wiping the tears from his face as they come.

“‘S alright, Johnny. Gonna be there soon, you’re gonna be fine,” Ghost soothes on the other end, his voice not losing its softness as he continues. “(Y/N), we’re almost there, darlin. You have somethin’ to defend yourself with?”

“I-I got mace, why?” You stammer, mind reeling with what the hell he could be talking about.

“Almost there. You use it if you need it, okay?”

“I—okay,” you agree, letting Soap pull you closer, his arm snaked around your waist.

You nearly jump out of your skin at the pounds on the door. “Hey! You can’t have him in here like that!” A man shouts on the other side.

“Don’t talk to ‘im,” Ghost instructs just as you open your mouth to speak.

The door shakes with the force of the pounding. “Hey! You hear me, you little—“

You don’t even hear the call hang up as there’s a muted thud from outside. You reach for your mace.

There’s a curt rap of knuckles on the door. “(Y/N)?” You feel your fear dissipate at the sound of Ghost’s voice, “you can open the door now, lovie.”

You have to wrench Soap’s arm off of you to get up and unlock the door. Ghost enters as soon as there’s enough room, no hesitation as he rushes past you and kneels by Soap’s side.

“He just got sick all of the sudden, I don’t know why—one minute he was fine and the next he was all hot. He was fine on the subway, I don’t understand—“ you ramble, only stopping when a hand on your shoulder startles you.

“It’s alright, (Y/N), he’ll be okay,” Gaz reassures you, his presence a comfort of its own. “You did everything right.”

You just nod, watching as Ghost lifts Soap (who seems to have calmed down quite a bit) into his arms and carries him out of the room. The back hallway of the bar is just barely large enough to fit your entire team.

König stands guard at one end but immediately abandons his post when Ghost calls for him, his eyes something dark like you’ve never seen—not that he even seems to see you. They exit the back door where a car’s already waiting in the alley.

The only thing stopping you from following is the captain, his hold on your upper arm keeping you back.

“We’re not going?” You ask, brow furrowed as you watch the door close.

“No, we’ll catch up with them later,” Price says, ushering you and Gaz out of the same back door; the car’s already gone.

“Where—they’re taking him to the hospital, right? I think he’s hyperthermic.”

“It’s just a fever, (Y/N), Johnny’ll be right as rain in a day or two,” Gaz soothes, maneuvering you to walk between him and the captain as you start down the alley.

“It’s happened before?” You ask, shocked.

“Happens four times a year,” Price informs you, a knit in his brow.

“Four tim—what, like every season? That’s so bizarre! What is it?”

“(Y/N)…He’s an omega. It’s a heat,” Price says.

“Ohhhhhh,” you say intelligently, your eyes widening. It certainly silences you, makes all of the pieces click into place—most of them.

You thought heats were only once a year. That’s what your cousin had said, at least. But it doesn’t explain why that guy at the door was so angry, or why Soap didn’t want you to call the police.

It confuses the hell out of you, but in the silence on the walk back and in the metro system, you decide it’s probably better that you don’t know.

You’ve heard some of the horror stories: how omegas used to be treated. How some of them are still treated. A knot forms in your stomach at the thought that someone would want to do that kind of harm to Johnny—at the realization that you were the only thing standing between him and cruelty.

What if the team hadn’t been there in time?

-

A/N: Hello! I hope this chapter gives more insight into the 141 + (Y/N)’s relationship before she presented. It should also explain why the boys were so angry at first when she presented—they thought that she had been lying this whole time, pretending not to know about designations and such. Furthermore, in my humble version of the Omegaverse, suppressants can take away scents and the ability to detect scents. Let me know if you have any questions!

#cod x reader #task force 141 #cod mw2 #cod omegaverse #cod ghost #cod gaz #cod price #cod soap #ghost cod #simon ghost riley #john soap mactavish #john price #kyle gaz garrick #konig cod #cod konig #poly 141 #141 x reader #tf 141 #baby it’s hot outside

[firstkanaphans]

Hello Sarah sorry to bother you. I'm a new fan kinda but I'm done with watching all the firstkhao dramas (together and individual) but tbh I'm kinda lost on how I will get to know them better. I have no idea about their irl personalities that much. Maybe you can give a little introduction for me if it's not too much of a bother? Also like how they met and why are they doing so many projects together? And are they good friends irl too (my friend told me a lot of time pair actors don't really get along with each other which is why I got curious about their dynamic) Sorry if these questions are a bit dumb I'm altogether very new in bl fandoms so don't have a lot of ideas.

Oh, Anon. I don’t think you know what you’ve signed up for here. If you want a FK primer, I can give you a FK primer!

Both First and Khaotung started working for GMMTV back in 2018. I’m pretty sure talent agents simply slid into their DMs, so there was no formal audition process, but I could be wrong about that. They were both in university at the time. I’m not quite sure what they were doing that attracted the attention of the talent agents. I know First had been in at least one commercial prior, but I don’t believe Khaotung had done any acting. He had, however, had a picture go viral because he’s just so stinkin’ adorable. I think maybe this one? 

Or it could have been one of these…

Either way, they ended up in an acting workshop together right after they joined. Khaotung talks about how he didn’t like First at first because he was too friendly and talkative, but I think that must have only lasted for like a day because it was during this same workshop where he discovered that his heart beats to the sound of First’s name—“FirFirFir”—and yes, that is a real thing that he has admitted out loud on multiple occasions. They have been best friends ever since.

From there, the two of them began to act in individual projects—mostly BLs—and although I have no proof of this, I am entirely convinced that they were playing a long con to get themselves partnered together. They did way more fanservice before they were partnered than they do now. Feel free to watch this live from 2020 where they alternate between staring lovingly in each other's eyes and just outright flirting for an hour straight.

Look, they’re smart boys. They knew that their best path to success in this industry was to be in a fixed pair and they wanted that pair to be each other. How do I know? Because these two adorable idiots were showing up to events in matching outfits.

This picture was taken in January 2021 when Tonhon Chonlatee was actively airing! There's a picture from this same event of them with Podd, who Khao was paired with, and Podd looks like the odd man out.

They were finally paired together for The Eclipse in 2022 and spent the entire press tour either talking about how excited they were to finally work together or crying about the possibility that they might never be able to work together again. I would highly recommend you watch The Eclipse special episode if you haven’t already. In it, First talks about how there was one scene where Khao wasn’t supposed to cry but he kept crying anyway because First was crying and he cared about First so much. 

And speaking of crying, if you want to watch a compilation of FK crying about how much they love each other (and other things!), you can find that here.

One thing I would recommend if you want to get to know FK better is to watch a bit of Safehouse Season 4. It’s unscripted, so you’ll get a sense of their personalities, but First was also in an arm cast at the time, so you’ll get to watch Khao dote on him for seven days straight.

Oh and you have to watch this! If you ever see people talking about the voices in First’s head, that's why.

Obviously, we can never truly know what goes on behind closed doors for any of these BL couples, but I feel pretty confident in saying that FirstKhao are genuine besties. They literally do everything together. You can find a collection of some of their lovestagram pics here although there are so many more now. It never stops.

Actual things they have said to each other un-prompted:

First to Khao: I want to build a house with the same fences as you.

Khao to First: As you grow up, you will meet many new friends. Leave them and stay with me.

I’m wracking my brain for anything else that feels important for a new fan to know and am coming up blank, but I’m sure I’ll probably think of something right after I post this. They’re both just super sweet individuals who have never been involved in any controversy and I think what people love most about them is just how much they care about each other. They’ve got that whole platonic soulmate thing going on and we're all super jealous.

#asks #first kanaphan #khaotung thanawat #firstkhao

[the-s1lly-corner]

May I please have a request of head cannons of TADC crew dealing with a clingy kid reader

Like two of them are basically plushies (Jax and Ragtha)

And please do take your time

TADC cast x clingy!kid!reader (platonic!)

YAHOO!! my back hurts but its okay because i drew my oc looking... (checks notes) "cunty" (doesnt know if theyre using the word right) anyways gonna knock out a few more requests; got that one friendship is witchcraft song playing on loop in my headphones so im typing like a speed demon rn RAAAAAAh

CAINE:

honestly hes probably the same with you, though like. with his eyes; he keeps an eye on you at all times. like i can easily caine being kind of negligent when it comes to kids and letting them get into harms way, but i also adore the idea of him fretting over you and trying to keep you safe. does not mind your clinginess, not one bit. always keeps close in IHAs, in fact we may even be able to joke that hes now a participant in his own games! he does it for both of your comforts, and to make sure you dont get hurt.. in cases where he cant be around, for whatever reason, he promotes bubble to babysitter to keep an eye on you; i think! reads you bedtime stories every night

POMNI:

i think i may have mentioned this a few times but pomni can get a little uncomfortable around kids; kids can be really wild and/or horrifically honest with no filter and pomni does not have the mental strength to cope, digital world or not/lh

with that being said it would take her a while to get used to you gravitating around her; i dont think she would tell you to leave her alone though. i mean, she tries to put herself in your shoes. shes losing her mind in this place and shes brand new and a grown woman. how is this effecting you? so she sticks around and just. embraces it, i think. probably checks in on you when you go to bed... kind of pauses when you ask her to stay, be it because you dont want her to go or because youre scared of monsters under the bed i think she would ultimately stay by your bed in a chair and watch over you

RAGATHA:

good news for hugging her, shes very soft thanks to the fact that shes literally a doll! honestly its rare that she would tell you to step aside so she can do something; plus like caine she generally likes to keep an eye on you to make sure youre not getting into trouble or danger,,, makes you plushies so you hang onto them when shes away and you miss her. like caine she also has a bedtime routine with you. maybe its because i just watched some adventure time today, but the ritual would be similar to sweet p's bedtime ritual (bedtime cheek kisses, tucking in, reassuring that youre loved ect ect ect) idk i just think ragatha would have that kind of energy when caring for a kid reader, clingy or not

holds

JAX:

one of the two characters who might get annoyed by your clinginess, especially in the beginning (oh boy i sure wonder who the other one is (looks at zooble)) and he might try to push you away and shoo you when you try to stick around him. might feel a little bad when he sees the sad look in your eyes when you turn away and walk away. jax, feeling bad for once? now thats rare

might try to bond with you by trying to teach you his ways of trickery; no one wants to see a kid sad, especially in a place like this and i dont think jax would be immune to your pouty face. older brother and little sibling dynamic, i think! i genuinely cannot see jax being fatherly, tbh

KINGER:

DAD KINGER DAD KINGER; do i need to say more? honestly kinger is very clingy himself with the people he cares about, given that hes lost so much he wants to make sure that those he cares about are still safe and sound. if anything, you might be the one asking him to dial it down a notch!/j

lets you snuggle up into him during bedtime stories, i think! like while the others who read to you would be sitting on a chair next to the bed, kinger would be close enough for you to lean into him if that makes sense. generally very sweet to you too, i think!

ZOOBLE:

the other one who would be a little annoyed by how clingy you are, again, especially in the beginning. zooble seems to really value their own personal time and space so its likely that they would try to set up a boundary; so you probably arent going to be able to spend every waking moment with them... that said i dont think they would exactly be... mean to you... like they dont hate you, they just tend to get irritated by small things! makes very clear communication, which is an important thing to learn! teaching moment! also cannot see them picking up a parental role, i can see them being the cool but angsty older sibling tbh. probably kind of freezes up when you hug them but does not push you away. does care deeply for you, just shows it in their own unique way

GANGLE:

oh you probably accidentally drag her around without fully meaning to! i mean im not sure how old the reader is, but lets say theyre on the younger side and they dont fully. mean to just drag gangle across the room. i mean its not like youre dragging her across the floor, at least! plus gangle is just so light, given that shes totally made of ribbon in the digital world. she doesnt really mind all the much, though... even if she did im not sure if she would speak up... lets you come and go into her room whenever, since sometimes you just miss her and she has enough trust in you not to mess with anything + sometimes you guys do arts and crafts together! yipee!

#tadc x reader #the amazing digital circus x reader #digital circus x reader #caine x reader #pomni x reader #ragatha x reader #jax x reader #kinger x reader #zooble x reader #gangle x reader

[hopelessfool]

CHAPTER 1: showtime

MASTERLIST

"I'm curious, have you had a chance to watch the show, yet?"

A collective sigh filled the room. This season, everyone and their mothers had tuned in to see the love is blind cast and the amount of chaos they had caused on screen. There was at least a handful of other people in this room to blame for that, yet the complete and utter attention of the viewers was fixated on you.

"Yes", a girl snickered, "we've ALL seen the Y/N L/N show by now."

As you could feel a few pairs of eyes pierce through you; hear the bitter chuckles of friends and foes alike, he grabbed your hand. And everything was okay. Everything was worth it.

As long as it meant you would sit next to him on this very couch, matching rings, matching heartbeat, you would do it again.

And you wouldn't apologize to any of these fuckers.

This is going to be fun, they said.

It will get your mind off the breakup, they said.

You need to get laid, they said.

While you couldn't particularly spot a lie in any of these sentences, you were still overwhelmed by what your friends had signed you up for. On short notice, they had picked you up, sat you on a plane with a ridiculous amount of luggage and wished you good luck.

A tv-show. One which pretends to be classy and all about real love and still manages to only cast conventionally attractive people. One in which you would have to get married to "win". Coming here, you definitely didn't plan on taking any of this too seriously. Just because you needed or rather deserved a distraction from your previous love leaving the picture, didn't mean that you wanted to jump into a marriage. Particularly not with the other Z-list-celebrities-to-be.

At least half of them had to do this for fame, you thought. And the ones that were looking for real love, well... You remembered the countless promises of "forever" and decided that the ones looking for that might be stupid.

Really stupid - from the first impressions you were gathering from the other female contestants, you could already tell whose hopes would be let down soon. Because love is not blind, at least not in the way they wanted it to be. At some point, you believed, you just unwillingly close your eyes. To faults, absence, mistreatment. Even to the lack of love.

But people are constantly aware of the surface-level aspects that they are not attracted to. Sooner or later, even when you're not able to see your dates, looks, hobbies, and even your financial situation could kick you out of the show.

So you got dressed up along with the other girls, mentally hyping yourself up for the cameras to start rolling. Though you didn't plan on saying "Yes" at the altar to anyone, you might as well get your hands on a paid vacation. That just meant passing the first phase of the show - and convincing some guy to propose to you.

You heard a jittery sounding voice through your door. "We're doing interviews now, hurry up!"

Naomi, you recognized, was one of the genuinely excited participants who fully believed in the experiment. She was here to find what you've already lost. And as much as stupidity irked you, she unfortunately didn't seem dumb. She came across as hopeful. Under other circumstances you might have respected that.

The blinking red light signaled that you were already being filmed, although the interviewer hadn't even entered the room yet. So you tried not to fidget and mustered up all your strength to not sit there bent like a shrimp. Your mind started to wake up for the first time since arriving at the studio. People around the world would see you. The least you could do was to not make a fool of yourself. Not right away, at least.

With a swift opening of the door, a man in a beige suit strutted in. With his expensive glasses and watch and the way he held himself, you could picture him as a history professor. A broker. But not as an interviewer at love is blind. You tried not to seem surprised by his elegance. Or was it arrogance? Of course he would feel above this kind of job, would he not?

He nodded his head in greeting and placed himself on the chair across from you. "Nanami Kento", the blonde man introduced himself. "I will be your personal interviewer during the love is blind experiment. I'm also obliged to tell you that you can come to me for advice at any time." You watched in confusion as his hand reached out to cover what seemed to be the...microphone? "But this is not possible without any cameras involved, so I would suggest you don't."

You could only come up with a few blinks and a nod. He looked annoyed to be here. Although you were grateful for the heads up, you couldn't tell if he actually wanted to help you or hoped that you wouldn't take up too much of his time.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Nanami. I'm Y/N L/N and-"

"Kento is fine", he sighed, "and I already know all about you." Fanning himself with what looked like your file, he added: "I'm excellent at my job, Y/N. Don't believe I haven't taken my time getting to know you."

That was the point at which you felt see-through under the gaze of Kento for the first time. Heart pounding so loud you could suddenly hear it in your ears, you sharply sucked air into your lungs. You now had to rely on your foundation to hide the warmth that had formed on your cheeks. Did he really have to phrase it like that?

"I'm here to find out everything about you that can't be put onto paper. Things that the viewers care about, things that make them root for you."

"I'll try to live up to the expactations."

A deep, hoarse noise escaped his lips - your words somehow managed to make him chuckle. The slight lifiting of the corners of his mouth made him look more approachable immediately. Absurdly handsome, actually. His face was chiseled in a way that only gods had the tools for. Despite that, you couldn't spot a ring on his finger. Unmarried and overqualified for his job. Now you wanted to know everything about him that couldn't be put onto paper.

"I'm going to start with the questions now, is that alright?"

"Ask away, Kento." You would try to win them over. The viewers, the dates. You figured that answering Kento's - for sure - well thought through questions, might get you an idea on how to win the affections of the male participants.

You were determined. You deserved some fun, a beach vacation. And you deserved the dumbstruck look on your exes face when he sees you getting cozy with other men on tv. After how he left, you weren't above being petty like that.

"Well, I can't ask you why you've signed up for love is blind. Your friends sent in the application for you, which makes you an unusual participant. How do you feel about being put into a experiment like this on short notice?" Kento had a curious look plastered on his face. You didn't expect him to actually be interested in what you had to say. As a professional he was probably able to feign certain emotions to get you to open up to him. But his stern brown eyes looked honest.

"To be honest, without a little push from my friends, I would've never thought about coming here. When they told me that I had been cast for this show, I was overwhelmed, confused, excited. But my first instinct was to ask them if they're insane."

"But you still decided to come. Why?" Moving forward in his seat, he leaned his face onto his hand, eyes on you the whole time. "Could this have something to do with your past relationship?"

Sore wound. But you wouldn't let that rattle you in the slightest. You wanted to match the professionalism your opposite offered you and not offend him with your tears or your rage. They belong to someone else. They belong in the past.

"I understand why this connection would be made. The relationship ended only a few months ago. But rather than looking for a rebound - or a husband, for that matter, I'm here to let the experience convince me."

That was unexpected. Suddenly, Kento wished he hadn't disregarded his own offer of lending you an ear whenever you needed something. For the first time at his interviewer job, someone answered one of his questions to his satisfaction. Made him want to know more.

"So, you don't believe that love is blind?"

"I'm here to find out. That's what the show is about, isn't it?"

And when you smiled at him and into the camera, he found himself looking forward to the following interviews. You were a natural.

"Are you ready to fall in love?", the hosts had asked at the end of the introduction to the show. The sentence and the following cheers from the other women rang in your ears while making your way to your first cubicle. Inside, on the other side of the wall, there would be a man waiting to get to know you.

After meeting Kento, you weren't sure how some guy should impress you as much as he did in a shorter amount of time. You would have to sit through 15 minutes with each of them and hoped that at least one of them was bearable enough to at least fake date. Eyes on the prize!, you told yourself. The prize in question being free breakfast mimosas on a hot beach.

With the first guy, you just didn't vibe, which was fine. But after five more dates of being asked specifics about your look and sex life within five minutes, you felt like screaming into a pillow and taking the next plane home.

"Do you think I could carry you on my back?", was just a watered down version of saying "You're not fat, are you?" to which you so badly wanted to reply with "Do you even lift, bro?" - You chose to be civilian and just left the room, though.

The next room you had to enter was just left by Naomi. With flushed cheeks, she ran up to you, grabbed you by the shoulders and clutched on tight.

"Y/N!", she swooned, "Y/N, oh my god. All the girls already claim to have dibs on that guy."

With furrowed brows you looked at her, having the urge to say: "I mean, the bar's not that high. Have you met the threesome-guy yet, he's disgusti-"

"No, he's really dreamy, Y/N!", she puffed, "Im so jealous that you get to have time with him, the 15 minutes were way too short."

"Oh, you're talking about Toru?" Suddenly multiple women stood next to you and Naomi with their hands on their hips. The tall blonde at the front, Jolyne, had a teasing smirk on her lips. "I doubt he's interested in you two boring country-cows. Also, I already have dibs on him. Do you know nothing about girls code?"

"Excuse me?", you spat. "I haven't even talked to him, yet. Get your hysteria out of my face, please and thank you."

You shoved them aside and continued your walk to the next cubicle, which gained you multiple offended hisses. Somehow, Jolyne's rage made having that guy to yourself sound really delicous. Fired up, you walked through the door and planted yourself on the couch.

On the other side of the wall, you could hear some faint rustling, which told you that the other person was there as well. You couldn't help but be curious. What kind of guy was able to make all of the women fall for him - or his tv personality - in just 15 minutes?

What would he tell you? What had he told them? Did he talk about how handsome he was and everyone just bought it? Did he make up some story about saving cats from trees, or about rescuing children from a housefire?

What kind of guy could literally have anyone?

"Hey there, I'm Satoru."

No, that couldn't possibly be - that had to be a fucking joke.

"Gojo?!"

"...Who?"

©hopelessfool 2024

#jujutsu kaisen x reader #nanami x reader #gojo x reader #toji x reader #choso x reader #jjk x reader #jujutsu kaisen x you #jjk x you #x reader #self insert #love is blind #trash tv au #interviewer nanami goes brr #jjk imagines #ex!gojo #choose your own story

[penguin--rat]

cardiomyocytes and connective tissue @nopanamaman

I’ve wanted to do a fic like this for some time now, a ‘thank you’ letter to PAFL and its community of sorts. I’m happy I finally got around to writing it:) 

I wasn’t sure whether I should do this or not, but, hey! It might make someone feel a bit better!! Or, reading the fic will. That’s enough reason, I think, and you don’t have to read this, of course, no matter who you are.

First of all, I want to talk about PAFL a bit.

The first PAFL song I listened to was PiP. I saw its thumbnail when listening to some other music youtube, and so, I listened to it. Oh boy am I glad I did:) I remember thinking how cool it is that someone's making songs for their OCs and that people are interested in them. I could see so much love for the characters in it. I was so happy when I discovered there were more songs like that!! This was around when Comfort Zone had first come out, a week or two after at most. That was two years ago. I’ve been obsessed ever since.

I love PAFL. I genuinely love that songs haven’t been coming out much lately. Like, there’s media that comes out weekly and sucks shit. I’m glad Ferry is taking their time with this!!! Even if all we get each year is one song, that’s cool, because the community is wonderful and we also get doodles and art and now patreon stuff.. yippee yay… !!! And even if we didn’t. who the fuck caressss!!!!! I love coming up with AUs and OCs and theorizing with my friends!!! the time between songs gives us time to do all that:)

The characters are so charming. Every member of the cast has been a fave of mine at some point or another. They’re all so, real! I love them! I love how they fuck up and I love how they get fucked over and I love how they get exploded and killed and shot and hugged and saved and helped!!! They’re human… might not make sense, but i rlly do like them…

It’s so neat looking back at older songs and seeing how stuff’s changed. The art style, the music, it’s all so nice to look back on. Even if I wasn’t there for it.

And don’t even get me started on the worldbuilding..  Everyone say thank you to Boris Strugackij and Arkadij Strugackij for making roadside picnic and inspiring Ferry to make this… so lovely and neat. wonderful. I have not read it myself, but I might, just to be able to make my own pafl OCs more swagger..

So. This fic.

I can’t mention two years ago without at least mentioning my depression.

I can’t remember most of last year, speaking truthfully. Parts of 2021 are also fuzzy. Depression and anxiety are terrible, would not recommend. This feels cheesy to say, but it does get better!!! Slowly, unsteadily, it gets better!!! I don’t mean for this part of the post to be a ‘feel bad for me’ thing at all. Do not. I am safe and healthy now and I couldn’t be happier to be here right now.

Is life good now?? Sorta, but what matters to me right now is, I’m happy!!! It feels so surreal. I never thought I’d be like this. A part of me wants to be angry, to get depressed again about how I could have been happy all this time. But I won’t!!! Because then I’d spiral and forget another year, and, I don’t want that!

Which is so cool!!! I can like, fucking, do stuff now!! I can throw away the bad thoughts, embrace the good ones, encourage myself!!! I do things!!! I go outside and goddd dude that’s so good!! I go outside!!!

I’m doing stuff! I’m drawing, writing, cleaning my room, taking care of myself!!! If I didn’t stay alive to enjoy these small joys, what am I even here for?? 

And I’m alive!!! I’m here!!! I made it, I’m here, writing this on 10th november, 2023, and I’m ALIVE!!!! How cool is that??? 

And yea, the world is shitty, it sucks ass, but, my friends don’t!!!:3 and that’s more than enough for me… SHOUT OUT TO MY FRIENDS!!! I LOVE YOU DUDES!!!

Moving on:

It doesn’t feel right to say that I’m here now only to PAFL. But, what I can say is that it’s been a wonderful crutch for me!! It’s been something to focus on, something silly, but also something I can relate to, and something that inspires me to make my own stuff! I’d most likely still be here, were it not for these silly songs.. but, not sure I’d be as alive as I am now! Unsure if my heart would feel right in my chest! And I wouldn’t have met my amazing friends!!!! Everyone here is so nice.

Dima may be a bit OOC in this fic, and that's because! This fic is based on my own experiences, which, i don’t think is bad…

I could talk here forever about how it gets better. Butttt to be quite honest I don’t wanna lol. I just wanna say, Thank you! to Parties are for Losers, for being cool. 

(Though I also wanna say, don’t put Ferry on a pedestal, they’re human, we all make mistakes, all that stuff.)

Ok time to go back to my manly Sergei ways and never talk about emotions ever again. or as anya would say: FUCK IT WE BALL!!!!!

#pafl #parties are for losers #fanart #fanfic #DOUBLE COMBO #anyway. love you guys #mwah! #pafl dmitry

[misc-obeyme]

For kinktober, maybe Belphie and predicament bondage? (Bonus if it's him receiving?)

Hello, anon!

Okay, you really gave me a challenge with this one lol. I'm not sure I did very well, but I tried my best! I had to look up predicament bondage because I needed some kind of understanding of positioning and what not... again, not so sure I did a good job of describing it?? Hrm.

Anyway! I apologize in advance if I totally butchered this kink, I'm afraid I might not have enough knowledge of it. I also took some artistic liberties because I didn't want to figure out how MC got a suspension frame into their room without anybody noticing lol.

Thanks for submitting a prompt!

KINKTOBER 2023

GN!MC x Belphegor

NSFW MDNI

Warnings: predicament bondage (ropes, bar, gag, suspension - obvs Belphie is the one receiving), hand job (sorta it's pretty brief, also Belphie receiving), ummmm also some praise at the end I think that's it?

You had gathered all the items you would need a few days prior, keeping them stashed in a box beneath your bed. Now, on the day you had chosen, you pulled the box out from under the bed and set it upon the table in your room. You took out the ropes, the bar, and the gag carefully, placing them in a neat row.

You had already had a lengthy discussion with Belphegor about that night's activities. It had been planned for an evening when the rest of the brothers would be out of the house, mostly because you didn't trust them not to burst in on you in the middle of things. You had also discussed exactly what Belphie wanted you to do to him, which surprised you a little until you remembered that he was actually a demon. You had also established safewords and gestures, just in case.

You turned when you heard him knock softly at your door. When you opened it, he was already blushing, looking a little shy, but also determined. You smiled at him and let him in.

"Are you ready?" you asked.

Belphie turned to you, a genuine smile on his face. "I'm more than ready," he said and indeed, his eyes seemed to be sparkling with anticipation.

You smirked and waved a hand at him. "You know what to do, then."

Belphie stripped quickly, leaving his clothes in a haphazard heap on the floor. He shifted into demon form next, his horns and tail emerging as he stood beside the table, right where all your items were lined up for him to see. He glanced at them, but then he kept his eyes on you.

You cast a spell and a suspension hook descended from the ceiling. You had found the spell in an old odd-looking book that was in a strange little shop that you never were able to find again. But it was exactly what you had been looking for and what you needed. The hook was in the perfect spot and you attached a ring to it.

Then you took the ropes and began to tie Belphie up. He kept his body loose, letting you maneuver him into the correct positions easily. When you bent his arms and pulled them back, stretching them uncomfortably, he let out a small grunt, but otherwise he was quiet. You pulled the rope around his wrists and tied them each to his horns.

You tied his ankles to the bar, causing him to need to stretch his legs out. You then tied the rope around his waist before also tying it to the bar beneath his cock. You ran your fingers along his skin as you went back behind him. You took his tail in your hands, running it along your palm, brushing your fingers through the hair at the end of it. Then you looped it through the ring in the ceiling. You tied the rope around the end of it, causing it to have an uncomfortable tension.

When you were done, you came around to stand before him, the gag in your hand.

"Are you sure you want this, too?" you asked, holding it up for him to see. It was a standard black leather ball gag.

Belphie looked at you, but he didn't say anything, only opened his mouth.

You placed the ball in his mouth and buckled the gag around his head.

Then you stood back to take in the full effect.

Belphie's eyes closed. His face was flush, his body tense. His muscles were straining and he seemed to be trying to keep himself from falling to his knees. If he did, it would be extremely painful, so you hovered close enough to catch him if it came to that.

The best part, though, was his hard cock, already leaking.

Belphie was breathing hard through his nose, drool beginning to drip down his chin from the gag.

You waited. Part of the point was to see how long he could last, how long he could handle staying in that position. The tension of the ropes that dug into his skin, the look of concentration on his face, the way he kept his eyes closed as though meditating.

When you could tell he had reached his limit, you loosened some of his ropes. As you released his tail and some of the ropes tied to the bar, Belphie could move enough to sag. You pulled loose some of the ropes on his arms, too, revealing the red lines left behind.

Before you removed the rest, you went back around to face him. He opened his eyes, watching you, likely expecting you to take the gag out of his mouth.

Instead you took hold of his hard cock and pumped. He jerked against your hand and the ropes, a low growl emanating from deep in his throat.

You smiled and caressed his cheek. "You doing so well," you said. "My good boy."

Belphie came in your hand, shuddering against the now slackened ropes, moaning around the gag.

Later you would take your time removing every last rope, saving the gag for last. When you unbuckled it and pulled the ball out of his mouth, Belphie said your name softly before collapsing in your arms. You took him over to your bed to rest, brushing your fingers through his hair as he fell asleep almost instantly.

flufftober | kinktober | masterlist | Thank you for reading!

taglist: @anxious-chick @t0tallycoolname @libidinous-weeb

#obey me #obey me nightbringer #obey me shall we date #omswd #obey me smut #obey me belphegor #om belphegor #belphegor obey me #obey me belphie #om belphie #belphie obey me #obey me belphegor smut #obey me belphie smut #obey me belphegor x reader #om belphegor x reader #om belphie x reader #obey me kinktober #misc kinktober 2023 #misc writes #misc naughty times

[rowanraven08]

Unsolicited TMA rant no one asked for part two:

One of my favorite things about TMA is how the characters treat the story. I’ve seen people joke about how Jon treats this like a horror movie, and Elias treats it like an office comedy, and yeah, that is really funny, but I feel like that’s actually a really interesting way of looking at things. There’s lots of horror movies that all the characters either treat it like a horror movie, or more often than not, that they all don’t. It ends up with stories about people making all the same dumb mistakes over and over, that just makes you frustrated that no one will make smart decisions in a clearly bad situation.

There are bad decisions made in the Magnus archives of course, but none of them are from just pure ignorance. Even the dumb decisions you’re able to understand, and don’t seem like a cheap cop out to just move the story forward. Like Jon breaking the table. That was pretty clear to see coming that would be a bad decision, but it’s a likable choice because, you can actually understand it. He treats this like a horror movie, he’s paranoid, trying to connect the dots, not just waiting for the monster to come kill him. He’s being proactive, even if he’s so freaked out and sleep deprived to do it well.

And I think that’s such an interesting way to write characters. It makes sense for not every character to fit into the genre the story is. It makes for such a dynamic and interesting cast when one character is paranoid convinced someone is out to get him, while most everyone else is pretty calm about the whole thing. Because of course, it’s just a normal day at the Magnus Institute. And Martin, he actually tried to protect himself against the horrors after his apartment is attacked by worms, realizing that yes this is indeed horror. Elias treats it like an office comedy because that’s what this is to him, genuinely amused watching everyone run around confused and afraid because he knows what’s going on, and is convinced he’s untouchable by it.

And I think when writing your own characters, that’s a good thing to think about. What type of story is this? And how well do the characters understand what sort of story they’re in. Are they convinced they’re in a tragedy? Horror? Comedy? Romance? How right are they? I think it could be really useful in nailing down a character’s voice, and figuring out the sort of decisions they might make. A single character may make one choice in comedy, and a very different one in horror, even if it’s the same scenario. So I just think that’s really interesting to think about

#the magnus archives #tma #jonathan sims #the archivist #tma rambles #rant post #rant #tma podcast

[blade-that-was-broken]

John looked at him as if he was a ghost.

Bruce almost waited for him to approach, try to give him some control over the situation, but with a blink and the internal reminder that his brother was literally missing an entire leg, he walked up closer. He then paused and hesitated.

John noticed. He cast his eyes towards the floor, his shoulders tensing. Bruce realized he was probably staring which, yeah, that was probably awkward and uncomfortable. John could barely look at him, it was so jarring from the confident, boisterous teenager he remembered. "Yeah, sorry. It's weird to look at. Or not look at, considering it's not there.”

His leg, Bruce realized.

"No, I just..." he drifted off, running a hand through his long hair. He wasn't entirely sure what to say. Everything had happened so fast, his brain didn’t really have any time to catch up. "It's been a long time."

It was a lame reply.

"Yes," Joh nodded and continued to look mildly uncomfortable. His therapist stood there patiently, letting them talk but it still felt weird. "I... uh.... I don't mean to be rude but… uh... what are you doing here? How did you find me? Why?”

That was a lot of questions.

Not even unreasonable questions either.

Bruce wasn't sure if he really had much in the way of an answer. Not one that would make him feel better. Everything had happened so fast. One moment he was being told his brother who he hadn't seen in over fifteen years was in the hospital with severe injuries the next he was on a plane ticket, standing in front of him. His brother, scarred and missing a leg.

"The hospital found me."

Bruce didn’t realize that probably wasn’t the gentlest answer.

John schooled his face well.

"Oh."

But even Bruce could see the disappointment.

Something curled uncomfortably in Bruce's gut. For maybe the first time ever, Bruce realized he had never really gone looking for John. Not once. He probably never even considered the possibility. By the time Bruce had finally been able to get out of the house, he barely thought about his older brother. He was like some bare, distant memory. That realization sunk in his chest and made him sick to his stomach.

John probably thought Bruce didn't give barely two shits about him.

He was going to prove otherwise.

John was here, standing in front of him, breathing and Bruce wasn’t going to let another fifteen years go by.

"You're coming home with me," Bruce blurted out, although it came through in a tone that left no real room for argument. "The hospital said you have no address?"

John didn't answer. He just kind of stared.

"You are coming home with me," he repeated. "You're going to meet my wife and my kids and probably be their favorite uncle." Possibly the only uncle they would really get to know, considering Clay wasn't on speaking terms with him for years and Floyd was traveling constantly. Grandma couldn't handle so much travel so she pretty much never came which meant little with Branch.

"You're married?"

He nodded. "You're back in my life now and I am going to keep it that way. You'll be staying with me. Someday, if you want, you can get your own place or something but I don't think you'd want to leave the area. We live in a great place, perfect weather, great good, amazing..."

"Uh... Bruce?" the therapist interrupted, leaning forward.

"Oh! Yes?"

"I think you might have lost him. This is a lot to take in so perhaps slow down just a bit."

John was staring at him. Yeah, he looked a bit confused and uncertain.

"Right, right. Sorry JD. Let's go back. I live in Hawaii and I live in a great place. And I would really like you to come with me. Would you like to come home with me?"

John eyed him warily. "You don't have to do that."

"I want to," Bruce replied and it was one of the most genuine, honest things he had said in his life with such conviction. "I think we have spent far more than too much time away with no contact. And I think you would like it there."

"Okay."

"Good, good. I already told my life. She's practically... dying to meet you," he said but upon John's expression, he continued. "Okay, so maybe not dying but she's pregnant and she's never really got to spend any time with any of my brothers and well she..."

"I can help."

"What?"

"I can help," John repeated. "With whatever you need."

"You really don't have to... like this isn't..." he stopped upon seeing the therapist's cut it out expression and looked back at John. He was so serious and determined. Right. Military. He might need something to do. "You know what? An extra set of hands would be great. I've spent a lot of time at the resort and this pregnancy has been waaaaaaaaaay different."

"I can help."

"Ever worked with or lived with a pregnant woman?"

"I spent a leave with one of my squad mates and her pregnant sister so... yes?”

Okay, so Bruce wasn't exactly expecting that one. But good to know.

"Alright, John, let's get you sitting down," the therapist interrupted, gentle but firm. "And then I can discuss your exercises with your brother. You need to keep doing them."

"Whatever," John muttered. As he got back to the wheelchair, Bruce followed awkwardly to the room he was staying in before the therapist pulled him aside.

"You have to understand," the therapist said. "His life has completely changed - physically, emotionally, mentally."

"I know it's not going to be easy," Bruce tried not to scoff. He wasn't stupid. What John had been through - even aside from his injuries - Bruce didn't even know but he knew there would probably be a lot. It didn't matter. John was his brother and one he hadn't been in touch with for fifteen years; he was going to make up for it now and get him all the help he could.

"He's not... going to bounce back very quick. You should expect bouts of depression and frustration, not just with mobility but with the change of everything. He is very used to a certain level of capability and mobility, as well as military life in general. I would highly recommend finding a group and other resources to help him adjust to civilian life."

Civilian life.

That was a term Bruce had heard very often, as he knew his state was home to quite some military bases and training facilities, so there was not exactly a shortage of soldiers, but it wasn't one he was very used to using.

But his brother was a soldier. And this new everything was very civilian. Bruce was a civilian, Brandy was a civilian. It was all very different.

His whole life was about to change.

Both of them.

#I’m not angry at Bruce for not looking or even thinking too #not only was he raised for several years with his mother trying to effectively erase the memory of his brother #that kind of thing… idk some things you just get mixed up with a new life you don’t think of those things #granted canon Bruce didn’t look for John or any of the others either #so it’s not entirely out of character #soldier on au

[o-uncle-newt]

We don't talk enough about the Petherbridge/Walter adaptations of the Wimsey/Vane novels.

(Well, we probably talk EXACTLY enough about Gaudy Night, which is really pretty bad, but besides for that...)

(Sorry, just a warning, Richard Morant as Bunter is fine but I won't have much to say about him here. I just really like this picture.)

The casting is basically perfect, especially Harriet Walter as Harriet Vane. I no longer see the book character in any other way- the only notable difference is that in the book she's noted as having a deep voice, but Walter's has a distinctive enough tone that I think it works regardless. She is just so, so, so good- captures the character beautifully, sells everything she does whether mundane or ridiculous (probably the best/most realistic reaction of someone finding a body I have EVER seen in Have His Carcase), makes the most of every limited minute she's on screen in Strong Poison and leaves her mark every minute that she isn't... and she looks AMAZING doing all of it. Just perfect, could not imagine better casting.

Edward Petherbridge I don't hold up to that level of perfection- I think that, try as he might, he's not really able to capture Wimsey's dynamism (possibly because he's a bit too old for the role) and is a bit overly caricatured in many of his mannerisms. But overall he does a pretty good job, in addition to looking quite a lot like how I'd imagined Wimsey- but in particular, I think he does a really lovely job of selling a lot of the emotion that he has to convey in some scenes that feel like they SHOULDN'T be adaptable from the book- specifically the scenes of him and Harriet. Him proposing to Harriet, him being disappointed when she (completely reasonably) turns him down... those shouldn't work on screen with real humans rather than in Sayers's calculated prose, but it DOES work and in no small part because he's great at selling Wimsey's feelings as being genuine even when his actions seem over the top. And, of course, Harriet Walter sells her end of the scenes right back. All in all, I think I have mixed feelings about Petherbridge as Lord Peter Wimsey the detective, but I'm a fan of him as Peter, the man who has feelings for Harriet.

Overall, though, both are, I think, very successful in capturing these characters- the fact that they take these people who even in the book can sometimes push the boundaries of likeability (which to be clear, is part of what I love about reading them) and make them eminently watchable is a great achievement. And also, in addition to their really looking like their characters individually, they're very well matched as a pair in the way that one pictures them from the book. They're even of very similar height and build, which we know is canonically true from Gaudy Night, and thus at least a somewhat relevant element of their dynamic.

Now, the adaptations are very uneven, and that's even without talking about Gaudy Night because, while it has about as good a rendition of the punting scene as I think we were ever going to get, most of the rest of it is crap and massively expands on what I think are serious problems to Peter and Harriet's relationship that the series as a whole had (not to mention cutting the character of St George, which is a travesty). None of the adaptations are perfect, and mess with aspects of their relationship in negative ways- for example, the ending of Strong Poison is exactly backward in a really awful way. I'll get back to this.

But when the show gets the two of them right, it gets them RIGHT, even when it's adapting Sayers's text/creating new dialogue. There are scenes in this one that I love almost as much as the canon text, like this one:

I don't think any of this is in the book, and there are things that happen here that I don't think Sayers would have ever written. But at the same time, a combination of the dialogue and the actors makes it COMPLETELY believable as these two people, and it captures a moment that is just really key for Peter as he faces his limitations and his feelings- something that in the book is conveyed through a lot of internal narrative on Peter's part that would be impossible to adapt as is, but that in the world of the show needed to happen in a much more visual and narrative way. Not all of the dialogue that this series chooses to fill in those gaps works, but even when it doesn't the actors do their best to sell the heck out of it, and when the dialogue DOES work it is seriously brilliant.

Probably my favorite of the adaptations is Have His Carcase, and scenes like this one are a big part of the reason why:

They change the location, but otherwise it's EXTRAORDINARILY faithful to the equivalent scene in the book, and honestly it shouldn't have worked with real people doing it and yet it does. It's just acted perfectly, given just enough arch and silly humor (particularly with the spinning door) that we don't attempt to take it too seriously, while also conveying the relevant emotions so well. The actors in the scene through only their faces and ways of speaking convey subtext that Sayers, in the book, conveyed a lot later on as actual text in the characters' thoughts, and there's something pretty great about that.

Other Have His Carcase scenes are less good (the dance scene is mediocre at best, I think), but if there's another Have His Carcase scene that I think illustrates how great Walter and Petherbridge are at selling the human sides of their characters, it's That Argument- seen here:

The Argument is a pale imitation of that in the book- the one in the book is, in fact, probably unadaptable as is- but it is still just so good because the actors are so good at selling it. Walter is just brilliant in the role and utterly inhabits it while also imbuing it with her own spin, and makes us feel Harriet's pain- and Petherbridge, through some relatively subtle facial expressions and reactions, is able just as well to make US understand what all of this means to him and how he feels. It's actually really remarkable that, just like how Sayers writes a relationship dynamic that only feels like it works because she's the one who wrote it that very specific way, this scene feels like it only works because these two actors play it in this specific way. Could two other actors do it? Very possibly, but it would feel super different and I wonder if it would feel this authentic. (I do want to note though that this scene made me really wish that we'd seen a Frasier-era David Hyde Pierce in the role of a younger and spryer, but equally posh, witty, and vulnerable, Wimsey. It just gave me vibes of something that he'd do beautifully.)

Now, as I said above, this doesn't get EVERYTHING right. In fact, quite a lot of their relationship ends up going pretty wrong- as I think a major mistake is their throughline which emphasizes Peter's continued pursuit of Harriet as not just reiterating his interest to make it clear that he hasn't changed his mind, but actively taking advantage of moments and situations in a romantic sense, taking a much more specific role in engaging with her physically, commenting on her appearance, saying how difficult it is for him to NOT pursue her more, etc. It makes the whole thing feel a lot more cat-and-mouse rather than a budding relationship of equals, and one where Peter acknowledges the whole time that they HAVE to be equals for a) Harriet to feel comfortable with him and b) them to be good together. In fact, however good the Argument above is, it's kind of undercut by this very pattern- he makes the book's point about him treating his feelings like something out of a comic opera, but he also at that point in the story has had a few much more oppressively serious scenes with her that clearly make her uncomfortable- nothing like anything in a comic opera. It's like the show misses the point a little.

I think the place where this really starts is at the end of Strong Poison. (I could see an argument to be made that it starts earlier, in a few smaller nuances of their jailhouse scenes, but I like those enough that I choose not to read into them too much lol.) After what I think is a great addition to the final jailhouse scene (one that I loved so much I repurposed it for a fic)- "it's supposed to be about love, isn't it" and some excellent reactions from Petherbridge- Harriet goes to court, her charges are dismissed, and unlike in the book, when it's Wimsey who leaves first (which Eiluned and Sylvia point out is a sign of his decency in not waiting for Harriet to thank him), here Wimsey is the one who watches as Harriet rejects him and walks away from him- the beginning of the chase. But nothing about their relationship is meant to be a chase! It's so frustrating to watch as that proceeds to be a continuing issue to a limited degree in Have His Carcase (where it's at least balanced by enough good moments that it doesn't matter so much) and to a MASSIVE, genuinely uncomfortable degree in Gaudy Night.

The only praise I will give it is that while the punt scene in the book is unfilmable, I think this adaptation did its best here and it's pretty good.

I'm not going to spend much time talking about Gaudy Night otherwise, because I'd need all day for it and also I'd probably need to rewatch it to make sure I get the details right and I have zero interest in doing that, but the way that it has Wimsey imposing himself and his feelings/hopes on Harriet to a really ridiculous degree, in a way that he never, ever does in the book, is just so so discomfiting and makes me feel terrible for Harriet. She doesn't deserve that. If I recall correctly, in that scene at the dance at the beginning, she's so happy just being with him and then he's all "oh so this means you want to marry me" and she just droops. He's so aggressive!

And that's what makes the worst part so bad, because not only does this miniseries not depict Wimsey's apology as the book does- one of the best scenes in a book full of brilliant scenes- it would actually be weird if it did, because this show doesn't imply that there's ANYTHING for Wimsey to be apologizing for! In fact, unlike in the books where we see Wimsey growing and deconstructing the parts of himself that had been demanding of Harriet, in the series we only see him get more demanding- until finally he wins. It's honestly infuriating and I hate it- the actors do their best to sell it (and apparently they were given bad enough material that they actually had to rewrite some of it themselves, though I have mixed feelings about the results) but it is just massively disappointing. Basically the whole emotional journey between the two of them is not just neutered but twisted.

For all of my criticisms of the adaptations' all around approach to their relationship, I do have to reiterate- Walter and Petherbridge do a wonderful, wonderful job. (Especially Walter.) When they're given good material to work with, and even often when they aren't, they are able to sell it so well- and particularly in the case of Walter, I genuinely can't think of the character as anyone but her rendition now. She IS Harriet Vane for me. And, for all the flaws that the series has, that's something pretty dang special.

Anyway, for anyone who read through this whole thing and hasn't seen these adaptations, I DO recommend Strong Poison and Have His Carcase- but not Gaudy Night unless you're either really curious or a glutton for punishment. The first two, though, have very good supporting casts, are quite faithful plot wise (sometimes to a fault- another flaw is that they are really devoted to conveying the whole mystery with all its clues sometimes to the point of dragginess, but will drop sideplots like, for example, Parker and Mary- which is totally reasonable, but still vaguely disappointing as those sideplots tend to add some levity/characterization), and just generally are an overall good time. (Some standout characters for me are Miss Climpson in Strong Poison and Mrs Lefranc in Have His Carcase.) And, of course, the best part is seeing the little snippets of Peter and Harriet that come through- less so their journey, vs in the book where that's central, but so many scenes where we just see the two of them together as they are in that moment and it's so satisfying.

#peter wimsey series #peter wimsey #lord peter wimsey #harriet vane #dorothy l sayers #edward petherbridge #harriet walter #a dorothy l sayers mystery #as was apparently the official title of the petherbridge/walter series #my thanks to the as my wimsey takes me podcast people #for a) coming back and finishing have his carcase #which was very enjoyable plane listening #but also for mentioning the adaptation in one of the episodes and inspiring the rewatch that led to this post #also this blog is basically now a sayers blog just as it is a finnemore one i guess #which as i note is fitting due to my Dog Collar Theory #which is YET ANOTHER THING THAT THE GAUDY NIGHT ADAPTATION LEAVES OUT GRRRRRR #strong poison #have his carcase #gaudy night

[sarahrogersevans]

Do We Really Hate Each Other? Bucky Barnes Avenger! xreader Rivals To Lovers fan fic

Summary: Bucky and Y/N get paired up on a mission & they can’t stand each other and are really competitive against each other but then Bucky gets wounded on the mission and things change for the both of them

Warnings: angsty, fluff, mentions of arguments, mentions of being injured and injuries, soft moments, some language and mentions of flashbacks, Let me know if I miss anything

~Bucky’s POV~

I finally got called to help fight in another mission though I was on my way to see Tony Stark because I was told I was getting a new partner to be paired up with and usually I partner up with Sam and I really hope I don’t get paired up with a newbie. I saw agent Y/N and Mr. Stark in the common room in the compound and I walked up to them and I rolled my eyes when I stood by her and Tony said “oh Mr. Barnes good you’re here meet your new partner for this mission.” He pointed to Y/N and I was pissed. “Stark cone on you can’t be serious, Y/N? Our skills and fighting techniques don’t match plus she’ll just be a distraction.” Y/N scoffed and teasingly said “what’s wrong Barnes? You worried you won’t be able to focus if you keep an eye on me?” I smirked and said “doll don’t flatter yourself plus I won’t be watching what you’re doing and I could care less.”

Tony interrupted us and said “I’m sorry to break up this happy reunion between the both of you but we have a mission to go save the world again so you two better figure out how to get along.” I groaned walking up the quinjet and said “whatever, just stay out of my way Y/N.” She shrugged and said “fine Bucky after this is over we don’t have to speak again.” A part of me hated her but when she said that I kinda got upset by those words and I could tell I was upsetting Y/N and maybe I should go a bit easier on her but I wasn’t about to completely go soft on her but I did worry about her during missions and I do feel protective of her. It’s a weird feeling of hating someone and wanting to kiss them at the same time.

We got to where we needed to be and we all split off with our teams and while Y/N and I covering ground and fighting enemies I started saying “Hey Y/N, doll look there’s something I wanted to say-“ before I could continue I got hit in the leg pretty bad and Y/N screamed saying “no! Bucky hang on I’m coming!” She came over to help me up and I limped while we hid in a different area and I looked at my wound and said “go on without me doll.” She shook her head and said “absolutely not!.. I can’t leave you don’t be a hero Bucky.” She helped me get patched up and we met up with everyone and got back on the quinjet to head home.

~Y/N’s POV~

I was so upset when Bucky got injured I felt like it was my fault, I kept thinking I didn’t look around enough but I remember shooting every enemy I could see. A few days after Bucky was taken to to recover I went to go see him. I felt really nervous thinking he might not wanna see me but as soon as he saw me in the doorway he smiled waving me in and said “hey doll come in, I’m not gonna bite.” I pulled up a chair to sit by him and I saw he had a crutch by him and a cast on his leg and I got upset flashing back to when he got hurt and I said “Bucky I- I’m so sorry you got hurt, this was my fault.. you were right.” Bucky shook his head and sat up quick saying “Y/N no I wasn’t right I was an ass to you before the mission doll and I can explain if you let me?” Bucky sounded so genuine so I nodded smiling and he wanted to get up and I saw he was in pain so I quickly got up to help him and he said “no Y/N i can do this it’s ok doll.” I ignored him and I had him put his arm around me so he could grab some water and I helped him sit back down and he tried denying mu help again but I helped him get comfortable and I whispered “just let me, please?” He nodded and said “thank you doll for being here helping me.” I smiled knowing he appreciated me being around, I was just relieved he was gonna be alright.

The next few days I would visit Bucky in his room and I’d help him get around and one day we were playing cards and I could tell he was reliving the moment he got injured and he said “hey doll would it be ok if I hugged you?” I was surprised to hear him say that but I went right over to give him a hug and wrapped my arms around his neck holding him close and I could feel him holding on to me tight and we didn’t even say much the next few minutes but we knew we didn’t need to. Bucky pulled away to look at me moving some of my hair away from my face and I smiled feeling a bit shy and I said “Bucky.. do we really hate each other?..” I was scared to hear his answer. Bucky looked at me shaking his head no and said “Y/N I gotta be honest a part of me hates that you drive me crazy but the other part of me has fallen hard for you and why I was such an ass to you was because I was scared of letting you in and if anything happened and I lost you doll..” I cupped his face in my hands and I said “Bucky hey I’m right here and I am not going anywhere I promise. I feel the same way about you, I love you Bucky. I was scared I was gonna lose you out there..” Bucky caught me off guard and pulled me closer and kissed me but I smiled and didn’t hesitate to kiss him back.

Bucky smiled at me and jokingly said “I still hate you.” I laughed and said “I love you too Barnes.” He kissed me again pulling me into his embrace and whispered “thank you for saving my life doll I love you always have.” I hugged him and looked into his eyes and said “Bucky I love you and I will save your life over and over and I know you’d do the same for me. Bucky kissed my forehead and leaned his forehead against mine and said “in a heartbeat my love.”

Hi lovelies!! So I was hoping to get this one out and posted sooner but thankfully it’s finally done 😌 I hope everyone will enjoy, I apologize it’s a bit short 😅xx ♥️

Taglist:

@lokiandbuckysdoll

@jessybarnes

@sunshine-on-my-mind

@nana1000night

@anotherfuckingmarvelfanaccount

@writersblog20

@delicatecoffeepeanut

@vrittivsanghavi

@marvelstarker-mha98

@chrisevansdaughter

@precious1610

#fanfics #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes oneshot #bucky barnes marvel #bucky x f!reader #bucky barnes x yn #sebastian stan characters #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes imagines #bucky barnes angst #bucky barnes x female reader #bucky barnes one shot #bucky barnes enemies to lovers #rivals to lovers #bucky x female reader #bucky x reader #bucky x female yn #bucky barnes winter soldier #james barnes #bucky barns fanfiction #bucky drabble #james buchanan bucky barnes #bucky barnes x f!reader #bucky x avenger!reader #sebstan #sebastian stan fandom #bucky mcu #bucky x you #bucky #bucky fluff

[luvring]

today has been a fucking rough day. If ur comfortable w it, could we get a trans/nonbinary gender affirming scenario w a touchstarved Character (I have a huge preference for Vere, but whichever character u feel like writing ab works too, it’s up to you) please and tysm for ur time

TS CAST WITH TRANS/NB READER

TW: dysphoria / transphobia

tried to do as many hcs as i could for diff situations but if u wanted specific things let me know and i can do a scenario :] i put notes before bullets so you can skip if they aren't applicable or may trigger you! (if anyone sees smth that i missed or should change pls let me know) i hope the next few days are kinder to u nonnie 🤍 love u and i hope u know ur valid and always welcome here 🫂

VERE

vere's demeanor immediately gets serious when he notices you're upset. he's dropping whatever he was doing and coming closer, pulling you somewhere quiet if you aren't there already

feeling dysphoric | if you were just feeling dysphoric, he jumps straight into comfort, whatever that means for you. do you want a distraction? do you want to talk about it?

he'll double down on any preferred compliments for a while, making sure to casually use them in your conversations. if you start questioning your appearance or get worried about being seen as someone you're not, he shakes his head and tells you to look at him. keeps direct eye contact so you know he's absolutely serious with the compliments he's about to say.

vere would also help you buy clothes that made you feel confident. fully supports dressing up and the importance of clothing. you guys aren't leaving until you agree with him about being the best-looking couple in the city

masc (prince) | gets you to try on something so so fancy so he can tease you, "are you sure you aren't hiding some royal bloodline from me? am i unknowingly dating a prince of some far away land?"

fem (beautiful) | eventually picks that outfit you keep eyeing every time you walk past the mannequin. you come out and he's extremely pleased. "i knew you'd look beautiful in it, what took you so long to try it on?"

gn/androgynous | after time, he gets a good handle on what you lean towards and brings you ? such a good fucking outfit where the fuck did he find this? "i think you have the title of the most stunning person in eridia."

borrowing his clothes | if it meant you wanted something from his closet, of course he'd let you wear it out. he thinks you might look better in that top than him, and he already has the perfect accessories to go with it

dealt with transphobia | if it was because of something someone said, he makes a mental note to look for them. genuinely pissed off but hides it well enough (you know both the fact that he's angry on your behalf but also that you right now are his priority)

so while he makes sure to call them on their shit and call them a stupid pathetic asshole,,, the filth on the bottom of his shoe,,, vere prioritizes getting you somewhere that feels safer so he can take care of you for the rest of the day

tells you your gender isn't up for debate. the only person who gets to question your gender is You in which case he'd still be supporting you as long as you were happy.

he reminds you that it has never been, and never will be hard or a burden to recognize you for who you are and to respect your identity. he's always going to see you as you, and you'll always be able to trust him to love and respect you.

affirming your chosen name | don't know if this is really specific but like,, vere seems like he'd compliment your name? he'd smile as he tells you that it fits you perfectly, and it's maybe his favourite thing to say.

vere gets softer with you in general behind closed doors, i think. he lets you get away with things that others wouldn't, but that lenience/softness somehow multiplies when you're having a bad day

you want to cuddle in bed all day and play with his tail or ears? that's fine with him. you want to take a bath or shower together because having him there to help wash you gets your mind off of everything? sounds lovely! do you want a scented soap? you want to go to the wet wick for drinks or to meet up with the others? Maybe questions your taste but gets up and ready with you of course. do you want to stay in with him and just spend some time together? let him get some tea going and go get a blanket, neither of you are leaving for as long as you need him

omg. vere drawing you with like,, whatever style or haircut or look makes you happiest just so you can have it. let him remind you that that's You in his mind, and he'll do whatever's needed to get you there

THE OTHERS (/ ALL)

the urge to use inanimate objects and abstract concepts to explain your gender. while not all of them would initially, or maybe ever fully understand, i really think they'd try so so hard. they'd agree with you and say yes you Do have the energy of that little cat with rain boots standing in a puddle. yes you ARE a mystical fantasy forest. that depiction of an otherworldly creature has your vibes. to be so honest i Am curious about what mhin would describe their gender as if asked

ment. of misgendering | not a single person is getting away with misgendering you (with malintent) in front of any of them, much less all of them together. daggers are getting shot into their soul from every angle until somebody corrects them

ment of transphobia | sometimes just,, seeing it on the news or wherever else is overwhelming enough. it's hard and frustrating and heartbreaking and emotionally ? just not a good time. let any of them know that you'd like some comfort or a distraction and they'll be there, whatever you need.

mhin will take you to sit and talk on the roof, hand you some treats to feed the strays on your way there. thinking about a scenario where you and mhin are with the cats and the both of you talk about how cats are just,, so much better than people sometimes. cats can't be verbal assholes they just meow. this also works with ais and his pets of course

you could literally ask kuras to help with a haircut and he would maybe First of all suggest going to a professional, but ultimately stand in the washroom with scissors ready if you don't want to. LOL

wearing makeup | ais and his red eyeliner will help you try a new make-up look if you ask. vere and his what I think is eyeliner/eye shadow would also help. either of them would do their best to follow your inspiration, and also teach you how to do it if you don't know how !

masc presenting | not just vere but like,, any of the guys will let you try on their clothes. if you don't like it or they don't fit (considering kuras is fucking 6 foot 6.) they'll take you shopping ! suggest their favourite brands and places and do their best to get you a closet you're happy with.

mhin lets you check their closet too and i'm so sure they know some kind of like,, lesser known store that has the most Gender Fucking Clothes. THEIR TOP? THE CLOAK? be serious where did you get this tell me your secrets

and i think it's a given but just a reminder that if you use multiple names they're all going to switch between them regularly,, the same with pronouns.

the next points just give you (cute) little moments where terms would be used for you to think about! :) the entire cast would use the terms that make you happiest, when they make you happiest. just let them know if you'd prefer one type over the other today, and of course they'll happily oblige :]

masc | (boyfriend) leander grins happily while he introduces you to people as his boyfriend. (handsome) and calling you handsome has become one of his favourite things to do. would go "hey handsome, you come around often?" when he catches you sitting at the bar of the wet wick

(he/him pronouns) | ais. help me. get the "i'm he's" joke AWAY FROM HIM! he won't let it go like he'll get drunk and order matching shirts that say I'm He's on it if you don't stop him i'm so serious. said it out loud to the others once and they "?" but went with it anyways. someone asks you "are you sure you want to be he's?" but don't laugh (do laugh.)

gn | (partner) i don't know kuras's sleeping schedule but i feel like either way if he catches you up late he tells you you should sleep. you say You're up right now and he shakes his head. "i'm finishing something up, and you're my partner who i want to be well-rested. i'll be up in a few minutes, i promise."

while i don't really see mhin as someone who really uses…words of affirmation…whenever they do compliment you they Mean it. at first they just say "you look nice," but then you catch them flustered and unable to look at you and ??? they say they're fine. the outfit you've chosen for tonight is just...really you. it's one of their favourite looks on you and it's the best one you could have chosen and they're really trying not to stare please look away they're dying

fem | (pretty) leander conjuring up a flower and tucking it behind your ear and saying it looks pretty, but you look prettier. to be honest he gives me casual compliment vibes either way, you could probably walk down the stairs and he'd say "well doesn't someone look pretty today?" bro you said that yesterday and the day before

(gorgeous) i totally see kuras as someone who while going on a stroll with you through the market will immediately notice if something catches your eye. whatever gorgeous piece of jewelry you thought you'd be stuck thinking of for the next 3 months? he buys it for you right there. "though i think you're still more gorgeous than it, it looks perfect on you," he says with a smile.

#touchstarved game #touchstarved vere #touchstarved ais #touchstarved leander #touchstarved mhin #touchstarved kuras #nia + touchstarved #this was getting. quite long. so i stopped #just know that no matter what i say they would all support u to the best of their abilities #i hope this could help u a little nonnie. hugs u

[the-catboy-minyan]

hello! I saw your post about ‘hero’ narratives and beating up the ‘bad guy’ vs working for systemic change. I had a specific question about something you mentioned in it— this truly is in good faith, I have Israeli friends including one who is currently fighting in Gaza, and some Jewish family so I really do just want to understand this different perspective.

You said that Palestinians hadn’t experienced ethnic cleansing. I’ve heard people talk about Palestinians being forced out of their homes, having farmland and property confiscated without much (if any) compensation and not being granted Israeli citizenship, even though they were living on the land that became the state of Israel at the time it was created. If not ethnic cleansing, what was/is that? I believe Jewish people have a right to live peacefully in Israel— I’m more curious about why, from an Israeli perspective, civilian Palestinians did not also have that right, and what the reasoning/justification behind their eviction was? (Or if I’m missing something and ‘eviction’ might still not be the right word?)

I understand if you aren’t able to answer this, I know it’s a big & politically charged question that you might not have the time or capacity to respond to, but I wanted to ask because I genuinely want to try and understand a perspective different from the ones I usually hear. I appreciate you taking the time to read this and I hope you have a nice day!

hi there, I really appreciate you reaching out to hear new perspectives. I just want to give a disclaimer that I'm not an expert in the subject so I can't really explain it properly, because I don't know enough to properly pass the knowledge. but I can can try to elaborate on the point of not being granted an Israeli citizenship.

Palestininians live in the west bank and Gaza, which aren't under Israel's authority, they're not Israeli citizens since they don't live in Israel, they live in Palestine, which at present is self governing (the west bank under Fatah(?), Gaza under Hamas).

Arab Israelis are equal citizens in Israel under the law, and some of them are Palestinians. Palestinians who lived and chose to keep living in the land that became Israel were given an Israeli citizenship.

between 1948-1967, the west bank was under Jordan's rule (which is why it's called the "West Bank" while being east of Israel), and Gaza was under Egypt's. west bank Palestinians were given a Jordanian citizenship, while Gazans were not given an Egyptian one.

during the 6 day war in 1967, Israel seized these lands (among parts of egypt and syria iirc?). the prime minister Rabin worked with Yasser Arafat to sign the Oslo accords, in which the seized land was returned back to the owners and there would be dual recognitions between Israel and the PLO, but Jordan and Egypt refused to take back ownership of Palestine, and the ownership was passed to Palestinians.

as for the ethnic cleansing claim, well usually when a group is being ethnically cleansed, their population falls. Palestinian population in Palestine in 1948 was 1.4 million, and 5.4 million in 2023, that's about ×3.86 increase in 75 years. the global population in 1950 (couldn't find 48) was 2.5 billion, current global population is 8.1 billion, that's a ×3.24 increase in 75ish years. arab population in Israel in 1948 was ~150k/~780k total citizens, which is about 19%, today's percentage is 21%. so there were on large scale efforts to ethnically cleanse Arabs from Israeli territories between 1948-present day, and the Palestinian population rose close to the global average (and that's not including the amount of total Palestinians which is 14 million, only palestinians who live in Palestine).

so assuming the claims you heard are true (and I'm not casting doubt), those are examples of human rights violations, not ethnic cleansing. does it make it in any way okay or less bad? no, it just means the term "ethnic cleansing" doesn't apply here.

as always if anyone has something to add or I said something that needs correcting, feel free to reply or reblog. and don't take my word for granted, I'm just a random dude online, not an expert on politics and history.

#asks

[varibean]

ok writing thoughts now actually @trashghetti-v this is for u 

vat7k is very much varian’s journey and not just his journey finding his mother but also reconnecting and reconciling with parts of himself 

through yong, nuru, and hugo

yong is the young, excited, accident prone scientist that varian once was. he wants to make his family proud. sure he blows things up from time to time but he just wants to help. he’s sweet and genuine and is just trying so hard to help

obviously varian at the start of the series. blowing things up but not meaning to, trying to improve other’s lives. trusting and caring and working so hard for others. 

and then you have nuru, the young leader who also wants to help, but cannot. she has to sit and watch as her kingdom is destroyed every year and rebuilt, knowing that there’s a better way to deal with this but being barred from trying by the adults who’re supposed  to be handling the problem but all they do is ignore it

this one is admittedly my favourite bc it’s just so much like him when the rocks first started. he wanted to study them, to find ways to help and he could if just given time and trust. in his eyes, his dad was just letting his village die, was lying to the king and the people, covering up mistakes. just like nuru’s parents. two people wanting, willing, able to help. made powerless by people who ‘knew better’

and last you have hugo, the outcast, the misfit, the person who was failed by his own kingdom so spectacularly that he resorted to this; a life of crime. from an industrial kingdom of such prosperity, it’s almost insulting. 

he’s varian’s rejection. Hugo is the guy that nobody helped, and when they did help (Donella, Andrew) it wasn’t the help that they needed. After the snow storm, nobody checked up on varian. He mentioned how people assumed he attacked rapunzel, and treated him poorly because of that. They’re just two misfits, two people cast aside 

and not only does varian meet all these people, so different but also so similar to himself, but he has the opportunity to help. he has the chance to be the person he wished he could’ve had for him in those moments. 

for yong, he gets to be the mentor, he gets to be someone who encourages him, leads him in the right direction. and when he makes mistakes, he doesn’t yell or get upset, but instead he just gently tries to show him safer ways of doing things. better ways. 

and for nuru, he gets to be a confidant, an advisor of sorts. he might not be high on the pole, but he still works in a castle. he knows how politics are. and he encourages her to keep trying, no matter what her parents say. he assures her that no, she’s not foolish for trying, and adults aren’t always right. and sometimes change needs a bit more force. 

then hugo, oh boy hugo. 

varian starts out thinking that he’s doing what he should, he’s giving the guy a second chance, he’s not above giving people second chances. he gets annoyed with him but he’s trying to get along, trying to keep him from his old ways. 

but that’s not when they start to click. they start to click when varian freely gives hugo the actual thing he needs, the thing varian needed when he was cast aside and bitter.

he gives him kindness and compassion and love. he becomes a friend, and later on a partner. he looks at things from hugo’s point of view. doesn’t try to change any of his bitterness, he embraces him as he is, because he comes to learn what kind of a life he’s had. thinks about himself, how different things could be if one person, just one person, had been kind to him. hadn’t tried to talk him out of his anger, but helped him find a better way to let it out.

and that’s when he starts falling in love with hugo, when he isn’t trying to control him or reign him in. 

and it’s nice, it’s good, i love him and i love them ok good night please feel free to add ur thoughts i need to talk about this 

#varian #varigo #vat7k #varian and the seven kingdoms #tangled the series #it's a sunday night no one will see this but look. listen and look

[druidbottles]

The Protection of Innocence

Legend doesn't like opening up to people. He wants to be seen as strong. After waking up from a nightmare, a conversation with Wind manages to get him to loosen up just a little. It's not much, but it's a start.

This is just a little something I thought up. Legend has me in a chokehold constantly.

I wanted to write him being soft. And Wind has such little brother energy, I think he probably has that effect on most people.

I'm still new to Linked Universe and Legend of Zelda in general, so I apologize if characterization isn't great!

You can also read this over on AO3!

Legend was a seasoned adventurer, and at this point in his life, there wasn't much that he wasn't able to handle, no matter how much life tried to throw at him. He always managed to make it through even the most difficult of situations. He was strong, and there was nothing he hated more than having other people perceive him as weak.

Which was why it was so frustrating when he bolted upright in the middle of the night, a gasp leaving him as he was shaken out of his nightmare, only to turn his head to the side and see that Wind was awake, and staring right at him with curious, concerned eyes.

He considered just ignoring him, rolling over and going back to sleep without saying a word, but before he had the chance to do anything, a quiet voice pierced through the silence of the small camp they had created. “Are you alright, Vet?” The voice sounded somewhat nervous and unsure, and although Legend really didn't want to discuss this any further, he couldn't ignore that the kid sounded genuinely concerned and meant well.

He sighed and slumped forward a bit, not letting any of the residual tension from his nightmare show on his face. “Just had a bad dream. You gonna be up for much longer?”

Wind looked up at the moon, seemingly thinking about something before shrugging his shoulders. “I've been on watch for a while, so I'll probably be switching out with the captain in a bit.” He went silent for a moment, his gaze lingering just over Legend's shoulder, as if he was too nervous to make direct eye contact. “Do you wanna talk about your dream?”

Legend reached up to run a hand through his hair, instinctively groaning at the thought of sharing his dream with another person, let alone a kid like Wind. “I think I'm good. You should get some sleep, though. I'll take over for you until the captain wakes up.”

When he moved to stand up, he couldn't help but notice an exaggerated pout pass across the sailor’s face. Wind crossed his arms over his chest, casting a wary glance at Legend. “You don't need to coddle me just because I'm a kid, you know. I can handle being on watch just as well as the rest of you.”

Legend chuckled a bit at that, shaking his head as he stood and brushed himself off, making his way towards the log where Wind sat before a crackling fire. “Trust me, it has nothing to do with whether or not I think you're capable. I'm just gonna have trouble falling back asleep now, so I might as well be useful to you.” He settled down next to him, his eyes gazing at the flickering flames. “Seriously, it's not a big deal and I'd be staying up anyways. It'll be worse tomorrow if both of us are low on sleep.”

Wind didn't seem entirely convinced, and a tense silence passed between the two of them for several moments before he finally let out a sigh. “But you're sure you don't want company or something? I know I'm the youngest, but I'm really not weak at all! I can be useful!”

Legend paused for a moment when he heard him say that. He couldn't help but feel sympathetic towards Wind, as he understood the feeling of not wanting to be seen as anything but strong, and that surely wasn't easy for Wind when he was the youngest in the group and everyone saw him as a kid.

It took him a moment to figure out what to say, but with some consideration, he was finally able to speak, his gaze still remaining on the fire in front of him. “I know that you're strong, and trust me when I say that you've been very useful in everything we've done so far. You're young, but you're still a hero just like the rest of us.” Legend spoke earnestly, more softness in his voice than he was used to there being. “But even heroes need sleep. And like I said, it's better that at least one of us is well rested tomorrow.”

He could feel Wind still looking at him, but the younger boy didn't say anything. After what felt like a long time, he spoke in a quiet voice once more. “But you're sure you'll be alright by yourself? I know you just had a nightmare and all…”

Legend paused again as he realized that Wind wasn't just doing this because he didn't want to be seen as a child. Part of the reason he insisted on staying awake was because he wanted to protect him, comfort him after a bad dream. And as much as Legend hated being perceived as weak, he couldn't deny that something about that made him feel warm.

“How about this?” Legend finally turned to look at him and offered a small smile. “I’ll stay up with you during your watch because I'm having trouble sleeping. And if at any point you start to feel tired and want to get some more rest, I'll keep watch until the captain gets up. But only if you decide to go to bed yourself.”

Wind considered this, nose scrunching up in thought, but ultimately nodded his head in agreement. “Okay, that sounds good.”

And so the two of them sat in silence for a long while, watching the flames as they danced in the night air. It was a peaceful feeling, and Legend felt the lingering stress from his nightmare slowly melt away as a cool breeze brushed against his skin and he listened to the soft snores of his companions. When he glanced over at Wind, he could see the boy rubbing his eyes and yawning, but he didn't comment on it. He had made his deal, and Wind would go to bed when he decided on it.

After another little bit, Legend felt a shift beside him, and he looked over to see Wind slowly hoisting himself up from the log. The kid glanced back at him, another yawn escaping him before he spoke in a groggy voice. “You sure you'll be okay if I go to sleep?”

Legend chuckled and nodded, and Wind stretched his arms above his head before grunting in response. “Okay, I think I'm going to try and sleep a bit, then.” He stumbled towards his bedroll, his footsteps uncoordinated and clumsy because of how drowsy he was. “Thank you for taking over for me, Vet.”

Legend nodded in response, watching Wind as he settled down and pulled his blanket up to his chin. “Goodnight.” The sailor spoke in a quiet voice that was laced with sleep, clearly already falling into a deep slumber..

Looking back to the crackling of the flames before him, Legend couldn't help but smile just a little. “Sweet dreams, sailor.”

And when Wind shifted in his bedroll, a contented sigh escaping his lips as he snuggled deeper into his blanket, Legend felt that warmth in his heart again. For the first time in a long time, he felt like maybe it was worth it to open up to someone, that maybe he could trust Wind and the others more than he gave them credit for.

And he considered that maybe next time he was awoken by a nightmare, it would be alright to tell someone about it, instead of bottling it up like usual. That thought made him smile despite himself, glancing over at his sleeping companions, and chuckling to himself. He wondered what they were dreaming about. They all had their own traumas, and he was sure many of them had memories that haunted them, but as he sat in front of the warm fire, listening to the sounds of soft snores and tired bodies shifting in their sleep, he truly did hope they were having sweet dreams.

#linked universe #linked universe fanfiction #lu legend #lu wind #text post #pebble writing