#but it’s BECAUSE of that dynamic that she was so smug she was acting like I’d fallen from grace

[hella1975]

doing a walk of shame through the kitchen while my flatmate looks at me like 🤨 bc i did the TINIEST clothes wash the other day and she bollocked me bc she was like ‘you could at least bulk it up by washing your sheets’ but i was insistent i wasn’t gonna wash them for the sake of it and they didn’t need doing. only went and spilled coffee on them today and had to do another wash for them. she was so smug watching me load up the machine i think i should just be point blank forbidden from having hot drinks in my room. like a child

#she wasn’t acc fuming bc she knows out of all of us I’m the most neurotic about the bills #and she’s the spoilt flatmate that’s very laid back about it #but it’s BECAUSE of that dynamic that she was so smug she was acting like I’d fallen from grace #and SHES RIGHT #but also our energy package accounts for four people and we haven’t had four people in this flat for literal months #eternally hilarious that my bitch of a flatmate’s attempt to row with us not only ended so badly for her that she cried and kicked us #out of her room but now we don’t have to see her (major W) AND she still pays rent for somewhere she is actively not living #AND we get her share of the bills to do our own laundry and dishes etc #like we absolutely won in this scenario there’s no way she can play this off in a cool way it’s genuinely mortifying for her #hella goes to uni #also I spilled coffee everywhere NOT because I was trying to drink lying down I would never do that that’s so silly #but bc i swallowed it wrong and literally spat it out everywhere. 😐 #the way I just sat there for a second like what… the fuck just happened

[yabakuboi]

Robin has a love-hate relationship with Steve-and-Eddie. Love, because those are her best friends and her best friends are in love with each other and they never leave her out of anything. Hate, because sometimes she wishes they would because she keeps accidentally third-wheeling herself.

She doesn't hate it that much though, if she's honest. It's just fun to complain, especially because it riles the both of them up.

But right now, she's being quiet so she can witness one of her secretly-favorite Steve-and-Eddie rituals—of which there are many, but this one is silly and endearing.

It starts like this:

The waitress sets down their drinks, lemonade for Robin, coca-cola for Steve, and a cherry soda for Eddie.

"Don't you dare," Eddie says, even as Steve reaches for Eddie's drink, slipping his straw in next to Eddie's and slurping obnoxiously. Eddie doesn't even pretend to stop him anymore. "Unbelievable."

"I just want to taste it!"

"You could just get a whole glass of it! All for yourself!!"

"It's too sweet, I don't want a whole glass."

"What, so you think you can just help yourself to mine?"

Steve's grin is far too smug, even for Robin, even when Steve slides it to her so she can take a sip. Steve is right, it is really too sweet and she wrinkles her nose, but it's worth it for the offended gasp Eddie makes when she slides it back to him.

The diner is their favorite, because everyone who works there has given up on understanding their weird dynamic: Robin and Steve squished into on side of the booth while Eddie's spread out on the other, Robin making gagging noises whenever Steve brushes against her, even though they never sit in any other configuration. The staff has long since stopped asking which of them was her boyfriend, and that's perfect for her.

Besides, she knows that under the table, Steve and Eddie have their ankles locked together like the disgusting love-sick dorks that they are.

The Steve-and-Eddie show continues when their meals come out. Chicken fingers and fries for Steve because he's an actual child, and breakfast for dinner for Eddie because he likes to be contrary. And then the real performance begins.

They "fight" over the ketchup bottle, which really means that Eddie picks it up and Steve snatches it out of his hands—only for Steve to spread it over Eddie's scrambled eggs (gross) for him before he adds a disgusting amount to his own basket.

Eddie makes a game of stealing Steve's fries when he thinks he isn't looking (Steve is, he's tallying each one up in his head, Robin knows this because she's doing it too), and when he finally "catches" Eddie in the act, he steals Eddie's last piece of bacon—the one that's sat untouched for the last five minutes for this very reason.

Then, Eddie's "forcing" Steve to try his grits, like he does every time, and game eats a spoonful of it, every time, and then complains at length how much he hates it (and he actually does hate it, the texture is just not for him, Robin knows because it's the same for her too).

And then they do the worst, most disgusting thing ever: they split the pancake in half. Without fail. Without argument. Every time.

Robin, slurping on her strawberry milk shake that she will NEVER share with anyone ever, thinks that stupid pancake is like the symbol of their love or something. Sh's sure if they weren't in public, they'd be feeding it to each other.

"What?" They say it in unison, and Robin hates when they do that to her.

(Eddie complains about it right back at her, because she and Steve do the same thing to him all the time. They should blame Steve, since he's the common denominator, but he just looks so pleased about them both that they can't rag on him for it, so Eddie remains Robin's sworn enemy and vice versa.)

"What what?" she sneers at them, voice quiet. "You two are disgusting, it's like you're making out right in front of me right now."

"What are you, homophobic?" Eddie hisses back, just as quiet. "I'm in love with your best friend, Buckley. I'm making out with him in front of you for the rest of your life."

"Ugh! I hate you so much."

"Right back at you."

And then they start kicking at each other beneath the table, no doubt catching Steve's ankles in the crossfire. He doesn't tell them to stop though, and Robin can see that pleased, sappy smile on his stupid face out of the corner of her eye, so she lands an exceptionally harsh blow to Eddie's shin in retaliation for making her best friend so happy. He digs his heel into her toes in return.

#steddie #steddie fic #this was originally meant for a steddie love month prompt but i missed posting it up LOL #when will i write steddie without robin??? never #their three musketeer-ism is so important to me #they probably fight over her for best man at their wedding #and they are joint best man at her's #the robin eddie rivalry for steve's love but also they are steve protection squad and steve gossip mongers and steve hecklers #steve 'affection-starved' harrington absolutely thriving having two ppl obsessed with him rn #my fic #dribble drabble

[yanderes-galore]

Hi if you do poly can I please request yandere Alastor and Charlie both fallen for the hotel new resident please , hcs if possible if not a Drabble would be fun to read 💗

I was sharing thoughts with @okchijt late at night since Hazbin is such a brainrot for me rn. So some of what I talk about, such as the dynamic between Darling and Alastor/Charlie, is from what I discussed with them.

I took my own creative liberties with this request... sorry if this isn't quite what you wanted :( LOVE THIS SHOW!

Yandere! Alastor + Charlie sharing a Darling

Pairing: Romantic/Platonic - Sharing (Alastor would be ambiguous due to Canon)

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Manipulation, Possessive/Protective behavior, Sadism, Degrading behavior/Ownership, Yanderes sharing, Stalking, Clingy behavior, Imprisonment, Forced companionship/relationship.

So, the idea I came up with is this;

You're the new resident hoping to be redeemed, yes, but you have a past.

Somehow in someway... you have a deal with Alastor.

You were silently hoping that coming to the Hotel and being redeemed would free you.

Yet you end up coming face to face with Alastor the moment you enter.

Now, Charlie can be either intention with you.

Alastor... the way I intend to write Alastor is something dubious.

His intentions can't be read as exclusively platonic or romantic.

He has his own intentions... ones no one but himself can read.

(I will usually write him like this due to him being Asexual in canon... although according to research, even that has a range/spectrum)

As the new resident and a sinner, Charlie naturally wants to redeem you.

Although, she may not learn until later that Alastor has you on a leash like Husk.

If you aren't a soul claimed by Alastor before you enter the Hotel, you will be at some point.

Alastor has an idea of what your plan is... he doesn't like the idea of letting you out of his grasp.

In response, you're allowed to live and work at the Hotel... "for redemption".

Charlie is clueless at first of the tension between you and Alastor.

Although Husk would understand your issue... even if he isn't big on the whole redemption thing.

Just another pet meant to do tricks.

The two are complete opposites, even when they eventually start sharing.

Charlie is too nice for her own good and nearly smothers her obsession at times.

Alastor is, like I've said, mysterious.

You don't know what he wants exactly... but he owns you and your soul.

When Alastor sees Charlie's obsession towards you, he'd share to keep her happy.

In reality you are definitely still his... regardless on if Charlie wants to help you be "better".

Alastor is a reminder of who you once were... the result of a bet gone wrong... you can't scrub the past away that easily.

You're only in here because Alastor's allowing you, anyways.

Eventually Charlie will know of the dynamic between you and Alastor.

Especially if she sees him pull your chain.

The fact that one way or another you got under Alastor's grasp upsets Charlie at first.

But Alastor convinces her of the benefits.

Alastor knows Charlie couldn't dare see you go if you were redeemed.

Charlie goes to deny such a thought... but Alastor cuts her off.

He's seen how Charlie acts around you.

She follows you around like a puppy at times, always asking for your approval and clinging around you.

She loves you... be that as friends or something more twisted.

However... she won't have to worry about that if you just stay here.

That way, Alastor gets to keep your soul under his control... and Charlie gets to keep seeing you.

It's not like Heaven will let her visit.

Charlie may actually be won over by this... resulting in them "sharing" with each other.

It's yet another deal, you now being with "two" masters.

You feel betrayed that Charlie would choose not to redeem you just to keep you to herself.

Alastor merely stares you down with a smug aura, you can feel the chain around your neck even if he didn't manifest it.

No need for kidnapping in this situation, Alastor already has you in his control.

He can keep you in the Hotel with Charlie, even better since his role is playing protector of the place.

Yeah, no other Overlord is coming near you.

Charlie doesn't even like the idea of Alastor "owning" you... but it's better than someone else... hopefully.

At least with Alastor you're in the Hotel.

Your only "solace" is speaking with people like Husk or Angel Dust... at least they understand such a plight somewhat.

Charlie tries to regain your trust the best she can.

She feels horrible for Alastor essentially exposing her true desires.

She clings to you, crying and whimpering about you hating her.

You're sort of forced to comfort her as Vaggie glares at you if you don't.

A silent warning to play nice with the Princess.

Alastor finds all this amusing.

To think you had a chance at leaving?

Face it, outside of the Hotel isn't safe without him and Charlie.

Going to Heaven? Out of the question!

Alastor has eyes on you all the time... even if he didn't, Charlie certainly follows you around even if you don't know it.

You're bound to him.

Alastor's merely playing nice by allowing Charlie to have you.

It's all deals in Hell!

Unfortunately... deals define your life... as you learn the hard way once Heaven is torn from your grasp.

"What's wrong, darling? Upset your little plan didn't work the way you wanted it to?"

"Please! Please, I'm sorry! I just... love you too much to let you go to Heaven... you'll be happy and safe here... with me and Alastor! Okay? Don't look at me like that!"

#yandere hazbin hotel #yandere alastor #yandere charlie #yandere charlie morningstar

[asmallmoon333]

Another Death Note AU I love to think about: Fem!Light x Male!L.

I adore these two in any form, but the potential of this dynamic in particular had me thinking plots that had my brain noodles excited since way back when I was in the middle of writing Time Speaks.

Now, L's gender wouldn't change anything about him, not really, but Light? Oh, it would be a whole new act for her to put on. And with L still male, it ensures it's not just a repeat of canon, but a whole new exploration of their characters, their dynamic, and the world they live in.

So in this AU, we have a Light Yagami who grew up in a society that told her she was lesser. That implied her gender was predictive of her place and abilities. But she wouldn't actually have a lot of anger about her gender I feel, since that goes against her natural feelings of superiority based on her intellect, so she'd just see it as the world being wrong as usual (rotten, if you will). She would look down on men for how easy they were to manipulate; not that anyone else would ever see these thoughts. Except Sayu, who Light raises with care.

Now, while said world would make it harder for her to rise up, Light is someone who gets what she wants and thrives on a challenge. She would use gender as her stepping stone, playing the "good girl" role to perfection.

And she'd be so very good at it. A much better manipulator than male Light.

Now, when she gets the Death Note, the story goes about the same at the start because Light Yagami is Light Yagami regardless.

Then in comes L, the first person who bested her, the first person she hates, and the plot changes. L is the only person, the only man, who looks at her and sees Kira. The only man who is deadpanned and blank to her "good girl" act and meets her provocation for provocation. Infuriating her every time they meet simply by being as smart as she is. By looking at her pointedly crossed arms, at her 'casual' forward-leaning posture, at her inviting smile--and blandly asking if her back hurts like his sometimes does.

How dare he.

How dare he see and value and fear her for her intelligence? He is certain she is Kira despite how aghast every other man and woman in her life is about the very idea of it.

They call L mad. Sexist. He ignores them and insists he's right, that no one else could be Kira but Light. That she's perfect.

And Light? She hates him for seeing through her. He scares her right back.

But she also can't stop herself from craving the acknowledgement.

The game between them would be so different and yet just as complicated this time, because while the two of them don't care about gender, they know this about each other, the rest of the world is not at their level and can't stop their bias about it. And Light uses that to her advantage; Kira will use any shield.

While L will do his best to strip her bare of all her lies.

So Light plays with the world's perceptions of womanhood in her war against L, using her 'weak' gender and 'need for protection' to manipulate the police against him. While L continues to pursue his Kira with a single-minded focus and certainty. He knows it's her.

But now he has to work even harder to prove it because no one is willing to listen to him. He has no proof, and in this universe, that means a lot more to the task force.

Light is smug about this, internally of course. She sweetly tells him to give up and start looking for the 'real' Kira.

L blinks at her and says he'll give up when she stops being a serial killer.

Light hates him.

But she also can't stop thinking about him. She can't stop revelling in how he sees her like no one else was ever willing to. And she eventually decides that she'll get him to give into her too, like she's gotten everyone else in her life. She'll make him admit he wants her, too. That he's human just like they all are, that he has feelings. (Just like she does).

She'll give him her attention in a way no one else has ever deserved. And L better appreciate it.

And after that? She'll kill him, of course.

She's Kira. She's pitiless. She plays to win.

But she might as well...enjoy L while he's here.

He's the only one she'd ever want to have in that way.

As for L? Well he's more than willing to play along, in any and all ways Light wants. He's seen her from the start, seen Kira behind her sweet smile, and he's entranced by her as always. He'd want her in any form, and gender is just one more tool of the brilliant mind he'll always be obsessed with, in any universe.

And he's absolutely thrilled at this game.

So, yeah!! I love this AU and one day, I'll write it, but for now thank you to the amazing artist @thanatelle who inspired these current thoughts! His work is so good <3

Fem!Light and Male!L are so very fun.

#death note #light yagami #l lawliet #lawlight #Fem!Light Yagami

[bearw-me]

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐮𝐭𝐞'𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥

𐐒 includes : lute x gender neutral! reader (platonic) 𐐒 cw : none 𐐒 summary : what it would be like to be lute's friend + general hcs for her 𐐒 note : it only took me a second to realize i love lute no question.

being lute's friend means never getting a text back from her. the most you'd get is maybe an emoji : 👍

she never thinks about what she says until she says it. . . leading to some funny- out of pocket moments

she's very work-oriented, and besides working out and sparring i solemnly believe she'd be horrible at taking care of herself.

ie: does not eat properly (junk foods and fast meals etc), not very high maintenance person in general, and doesn't sleep properly (which is probably why she gets or seems grumpy most of the time)

you've brought her out to do a ton of things, but you seem to notice that she actually loves rollercoasters.

yeah, she loves her adrenaline

fiercely loyal to you, even if she doesn't act like she cares

you can ramble for hours at her without Lute showing the slightest bit of interest, but when you stop she looks up from whatever she's doing and asks you questions to keep you ranting

that kind of friendship where the two of you don't have to do much when you hangout or see each other

if you consider: watching a movie with lute's legs laid over your lap, while the two of your criticize movies "hanging out"

. . . she loves it

lute embodies that adam quote of : being a bad bitch

gives you hard advice, meaning most times the truth is harsh and hard to swallow, but often true!

likes to push you when you need motivation, especially if you love something or love to do it

she can bring you food, tidy up your space and encourage you to keep doing it (she can be gentle when motivating you)

but she can also be a total hard ass if you don't get moving too (so you decide which side you wanna see)

(because she's so work-oriented) i think when lute got promoted to be Adam's second in command and the leader of the exorcists, you were the first one to know

because she could absolutely feel comfortable enough to laugh and scream as much as she could from the achievement!

her precious smile would be so big

like her wings and feathers are literally fluttering with excitement

lute: highly competitive too, games are to the death (or at least feel like they are)

lute always has a smug smirk when she's right

while having this 'proof read' my friend sent me this and i NEEDED to post it. behold: the reader/lute friend dynamic

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel x reader #headcannons #headcanon #imagines #hazbin lute #lute hazbin hotel #lute x platonic!reader #lute x reader #lute x gender neutral! reader #platonic relationship #just say pt2 and ill do it no questions asked #lute x you #lute x y/n

[spop-romanticizes-abuse]

i think i've said this before but i want to elaborate on it. i genuinely feel like the spop crew wrote c//a as some sort of torture p*rn. they know that people usually find an enemies to lovers arc sexy and intriguing. but the problem with c//a was that their fights were never equal. i don't know about y'all but when i think of enemies to lovers, i think of a dynamic where both individuals are at least somewhat on equal footing. i don't think about a relationship with a huge power dynamic where one of the characters is helpless and weak while the other takes every opportunity to torture them.

adora never tried to harm catra apart from self-defense, she always held back when she was fighting catra. she tried to reason with catra or just hold her off. meanwhile catra never held back on hurting adora. not once.

and all of this is framed as “hot”. it's framed as “sexual tension”. it's framed as “gay pining”, even though it's not. not to mention, most of the “homoerotic” fight scenes are where adora is either weak or helpless in some way. she's either restrained or too scared to fight back or actively stopping herself from injuring catra. and catra takes advantage of her kindness.

so what's the torture p*rn part of this? well. torture p*rn is basically a trope where a person (or multiple people being tortured) is the main attraction of the plot. c//a is supposed to be enemies to lovers, meaning they should be fighting equally, right? especially since adora is stronger and the “chosen one”, you'd think she'd definitely be defeating catra a lot more.

but no, most of their conflict is catra taking joy in harming adora. these scenes are framed in a more “intimate” way, with catra often touching adora without consent, saying vaguely flirtatious yet threatening one-liners and overall fueling the whole “sexual tension” part.

just take a look at these scenes. i can't completely blame the fandom for thinking these are sexy or erotic because they are framed that way. the crew themselves have admitted that c//a were supposed to have some sexual tension (despite being teenagers for at least two seasons, mind you) and it shows. adora may look scared or uncomfortable but it doesn't matter because the writers wants us to think that this is hot.

villains being creepy and borderline perverted is not a new thing, it's something that mainly came with queer-coding villains. but people often only do this to villains who are supposed to stay villains. and especially with the context that catra supposedly “loved” adora during all this, it just adds another layer of discomfort. it just feels like catra is taking the opportunity to not only hurt adora but also make her deeply uncomfortable by touching and interacting with her in a way that she did not consent to.

keep in mind that whenever adora has the upper hand, the show never frames their fights as homoerotic or weirdly intimate.

most of the time, she uses long range attack or she just goes on defense. the one time she attacked catra head on, she just decks catra in the face and is done with it. she doesn't cross catra's boundaries, she doesn't act flirtatious or touch catra inappropriately. the only scene where she can be described as “flirtatious” (though i would say she was just being smug) was when she wasn't attacking catra, but instead destroying one of entrapta's robots.

(and of course with no remorse, catra orders entrapta to activate the self-destruct on the robot so that adora could be blown to bits.)

so yeah. just because catra is a villain doesn't mean she has to be a creep. if the goal was to make her sexy (which is still weird since she was a teenager but regardless), there are other ways. there have been plenty of villains who are attractive and have a charming personality without being a total creep to the protagonists. for example, azula from ATLA is widely known as a queer awakening for many young girls because of how attractive she was (i know she was also a teenager. these are not my words, i'm just quoting the general public). and yet, you never see azula being creepily intimate with any of the protagonists. she often used long-range attack and she only goes as far as using some condescending language. it's just weird to write a villain who we should sympathize with, but then also make them a total creep.

#spop critical #spop #spop salt #spop criticism #spop discourse #she ra #anti catradora #anti catra #anti c//a #anticatra #antic//a #anticatradora #anti spop

[qtubpol]

i wonder if theres a word limit for this thing. cuz i wrote a poly morning crew fic of them all kissing and i wish to offer it to you to read like a little orphan child on the street offering up a penny to a rich man

Tubbo sank down as far as he could into the seat he was currently sitting in. In front of him were both Pac and Fit, staring at him with different expressions but equally piercing gazes. Distantly he could hear Bagi laughing as she watched the kids while the three of them talked. 

“Tubbo,” Fit said gently in that low rough voice of his. God it was irritating. Tubbo smacked both of his hands over his face and dragged them down unceremoniously. “We want to talk about what happened today.” 

“No idea what you’re talking about!” Tubbo said in the most fake sounding voice he had ever heard, even to his own ears. He cringed, dropping his hands back into his lap to fiddle with his toolbelt. 

“You teleported me out while we were on our date,” Pac said simply. Not angrily. Not upset. Just stating a fact. Tubbo hated how he was acting like he wasn’t upset. Because obviously he was. Right? 

“That was Bagi!” Tubbo defended. “I didn’t do anything! I wanted you guys to have your lovely date undisturbed!” 

“And we did,” Fit affirmed. “But now we are back and we want to talk to you.” 

Tubbo squirmed in his seat. “About what? Nothing to talk about.” 

Pac laughed a little at that and Tubbo sent him a withering glare. “Tubbooo. No. Don’t be mad at me.” He stood up taking a few steps to close the distance and fling himself over Tubbo, head atop his and arms crossed over Tubbo’s chest. It felt warm and safe and to be quite frank it scared the everloving shit out of him. Through the embrace he hesitantly watched Fit, expecting at any moment a cloud of jealousy to fall over his features. They were something else now. Something that didn’t involve Tubbo. But that didn’t happen. Instead, to his utter surprise, Fit smiled at him. 

“Tubbo. We see right through you, you know that right? But the thing is,” he continued. “You don’t have to worry. Our dynamic here-” he gestured between the three of them as Tubbo felt Pac hum against his skull, “-isn’t going to change. Tubbo, you matter to us.” 

Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes and he quickly tried to reach up to brush them away but somehow Fit was up out of his seat and beating him to it. His warm non-metal hand now lay flat against Tubbo’s cheek looking deep into his eyes. Tubbo resisted the urge to squirm under the intensity of the gaze. 

“Me and Pac are always gonna be here for you and Sunny okay? Always. We're family.” After a moment's hesitation he leaned in to press a kiss between Tubbo's furrowed eyebrows. 

Tubbo braced himself for Pac to get angry. To shove him away and start screaming at Fit. Once again this did not happen. Fit just smiled at him then up at Pac who squeezed Tubbo tighter and pressed a matching kiss to the top of his head. “You don't have to pretend with us,” Pac said, finally releasing his grip to walk around him and stand next to Fit in front of him. “You were welcome at our date. Always are, right Fitch?” 

Fit nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. “Yes exactly Pac.” 

Pac directed a smug smile at Tubbo. “See? You worry for no reason. Everything is good.” 

A stone of guilt and worry still lay heavy in Tubbo's chest but he tried to ignore it and give them a hesitant smile. “Yeah everything's good.” He wasn't sure if he was annoyed or relieved that they both saw through him immediately. 

Fit sighed. “What can we do to prove it to you?” 

Tubbo squirmed, trying to avoid eye contact. “Nothing, it's all fine. You guys you know go on dates and kiss and be gay and I'll stay here and it'll be fine.” 

Fit let out a deep sigh and oh there it was. Tubbo knew he was a burden he fucking knew it. His train of thought was thrown off as Pac laughed. “Oh so you wanna kiss and be gay with us hm?” 

Tubbo glanced up in surprise to suddenly see Pac right up in his face, deep big brown eyes staring into him. Full of so much joy. Happiness directed at him? Tubbo could hardly believe it but before he could even open his mouth to say anything along the lines of no, Pac grabbed his face gently and kissed him. It was soft and warm and surprising. And very much wanted. 

Without thinking Tubbo let himself reach up to cup Pac's cheek as they kissed, Pac giggling all the while against his lips. Their mouths moved together in a way that felt incredibly natural and normal. Fit laughed at their earnestness and a jolt of fear struck like lightning through Tubbo's body as he pulled back frantically. 

“Fit. I-” Aren't trying to make a move on your man? Am just as confused as you? He wasn't quite sure what he was going to say. 

“It's okay,” Fit soothed. “It's okay. Tubbo, I'm not mad at you right now.” He laughed again. “If anything I should be upset at Pac. He was the one who kissed you after all.” 

“You'd never be mad at me,” Pac teased with an easy grin, rocking back on his heels. 

Fit rolled his eyes fondly at him. “Sure Pac, sure.” 

Tubbo had absolutely no idea what to say so he defaulted to his usual humor. “So you aren't gonna kiss me, Fit? I see how it is. Is it because I'm blonde I bet it's-” he was cut off abruptly by different hands on his face. Rougher ones. A warrior's hands. His lips were surprisingly soft in comparison. Fit was so much more hesitant then Pac, so so gentle. Reaching for his shirt collar, Tubbo dragged him in closer, enjoying the noise of pleasant surprise that Fit made against his lips. Distantly he could hear Pac giggling. 

Eventually they pulled apart, Fit panting slightly and Tubbo became incredibly aware of the dumbass grin gracing his face. The worries and fears were still there, a few kisses weren't going to fix years of trauma but this was nice. “You guys are stupid,” he said instead but he could tell they knew what he meant. 

“You want us to kiss you more often?” Pac teased. “Give kisses to our boy before we go on our dates.” 

Tubbo shouldn't admit it. “Yes,” he said nearly against his will but he was glad he said it. 

“Okay then,” Fit said as if it solved everything. It didn't. But it helped. “You're our guy. Always have been, always will be.” 

Tears were pricking at the corners of his eyes again but he refused to let them fall. He sniffed. “Cool okay um can we get back to the kids now?” 

Fit and Pac both laughed before agreeing with him simultaneously. 

“Yes, of course.” 

“Sim, yes.” 

So that was it. Not a solution to the anguish in his stomach that threatened to eat him alive but some reassurance. He just had to accept it. 

oh fantastic. here you go op. also in my defense... its not that good cuz i havent slept. i in fact pulled an all nighter while writing this so yeah its the best i can do on absolutely no sleep

i would die for you.

#FUUUUUUCK FUCK MAN #YEAH THIS IS THE GOOD SHIT #qsmpshipping #poly morning crew

[hua-mo-jin-is-a-cutie]

One sided radiostatic confessions but instead of love confessions... okay they get really drunk and vox being the miserable man he is asks alastor why they aren't friends anymore and alastor, instead of being his usual smug and mysterious self, gives an honest answer. Because vox broke his trust by trying to make it something more than friendship. Because this always happens. Someone he gets close to, who he really enjoys having as a friend, starts to see him as something more and he just can't deal with that. It's uncomfortable, it changes everything, recontextualizes prior moments of their relationship and there's no going back to normal after that. And that's why they're not friends, why they can never be friends again. Because vox so obviously STILL loves him and even if he didn't, the cats out of the bag, the damage is irreversible. And why can't people just leave him alone? Hasn't he made it clear enough that he's not interested? Why can't all his close friends act more like rosie who is so accepting of his attraction or lack there of that she even knows slang for it that he doesn't?

Thats my radiostatic dynamic idk about yall

#hazbin hotel #hazbin alastor #alastor #hazbin hotel vox #hazbin vox #vox #radiostatic #one sided radiostatic #rosie hazbin hotel #aroace alastor

[ipostdumbthings]

Romantic Headcanons for Sorcerer Reader with BG3 Companions

Astarion

Well of course he attempts to seduce you, magic is so deep inside you, there’s no telling the scope of things you could be capable of, especially when directed towards his own interests. Expect him to initially try to manipulate in the early stages, and he may get a little frustrated if you don’t fall for it. It’s not personal, of course, he has to insure his own safety. In some ways, it’s a compliment. You’re useful.

The thing that strikes him first about you, is watching you cast your magic. The effortless way it flows from you is like poetry in motion, and he’s nothing if not a man that can appreciate beauty in its various forms.

He’s a bit hesitant in confiding in you, you’re a person of considerable power, and that’s a concern for him. He doesn’t want to find himself again at the whims of a powerful person, so it’s extremely important you treat him as an equal and show that you have deep respect for his abilities.

When you do, he finds himself more comfortable than he expected in confiding in you. Afterall, you can actually help him, you can protect him if the need arises. Something he’s just so eager to return the favor on.

Shadowheart

While she respects your privacy if you don’t wish to discuss it, Shadowheart can’t help but be curious about you. Where does your magic come from? It’s an interesting mystery, that she’ll have fun hypothesizing on her own if you don’t or can’t supply her with answers. It’s more a fun thing for her to think about as opposed to something she’s determined to get to the bottom of, but the idea of being impacted by some magical being through ancestry, happenstance, or mishap deeply resonates with her.

That makes conversations with her frequent and pleasant. You’ll find yourselves initially scratching the surface on such matters, fun little chats about that and the members of the group. She enjoys these moments quite a bit, and it won’t take long before you’re having much deeper conversations.

Because you aren’t necessarily attached to a deity, she finds it a lot easier to talk about her faith with you than she may be with others. You’ll be able to learn her deep held philosophies and personal beliefs, and your status as an outsider means you might have the unbiased insight that may help reaffirm and challenge them.

She’s very fond of your magic, and the way you cast it, she swears that it feels differently when you do it. 

Gale

If you’re the sort of sorcerer that looks at Wizards with reverence and respect, you’ll find that you and Gale buddy up almost immediately. In fact it becomes a bit of a running joke amongst the group (mostly from Astarion) that the two of you have formed a club for magic nerds.

Oh how dear you become to him quickly, the bond is soft and affectionate, a meeting of two like-minds and equals. He has the utmost respect for your talents and has complete trust in your abilities. 

You may even become a source of inspiration for him in the form of pushing his magic or even his poetry. Your relationship is forged first on that mutual respect and adoration, it is deep and emotionally passionate.

If you’re the other sort of Sorcerer, however, the sort that likes to be snarky/smug/condescending towards Wizards, you’ll find that energy met in kind by Gale. It’ll start out sincere too, a genuinely discontentment for your dismissal of his talents. Make no mistake, he’ll serve the snark and condescension back, and he’s an expert in both.

But when you prove you're devoted to the cause, and that you’re capable and willing to help your teammates, that dynamic will start to move from mildly antagonistic to genuinely playful. Which ignites a connection of a different sort. The sexual tension is palpable.

It doesn’t mean he’s going to act on it any faster, but no one can miss the chemistry between the two of you. The emotional connection will deepen as you two navigate that dynamic, because he won’t pursue anything with anyone that he only has a physical connection with. 

Lae’zel

Lae’zel is very quickly enamored with you. You naturally have skills that people spend decades honing, and you wield them with the same precision and accuracy that she wields her blade. That’s no small feat. It makes you a most attractive candidate for a partner.

You can expect her to approach you quite often for sex, she’ll take any excuse to wear you out. Especially after you do something particularly impressive.

It surprises her how much she finds herself liking your charm and charisma. The way you can guide conversations or have the force of will required to navigate any situation is what makes her start thinking of you as more than partner in sex. That doesn’t mean she wants you to try putting those moves on her by any stretch of the imagination, but she has to admit it’s impressive to witness you do it to others.

You’re one of the few humans who’s lead she will gladly follow. She respects you, and in an interesting turn of events she didn’t expect, she trusts you. You might even manage to get her to start having some deep conversations with her much sooner than most do.

Wyll

In some ways Wyll envies you, and he’ll admit to as much in his charming way. It’s hard not to wonder what his life would’ve looked like had he been born into magic instead of the path he took to it. He doesn’t say it to make you feel bad for him, but merely to express how much he respects your capabilities.

You’ll find him responsive and sensitive when you confide in him the struggles being a sorcerer can provide. He doesn’t assume your life has been easier than his, and he’s empathetic and compassionate to your history.

Respect between the two of you is like second nature, you have a sense of mutuality that many other relationships may struggle with. It’s a genuine connection between two people on equal footing, and he wouldn’t trade that for anything.

He does romanticize the story you share together, but it’s not cheesy or whitewashed. It reflects the genuine and grand feelings he has for you, the sense of beauty in the world you spark for him. 

Karlach

Karlach isn’t as impressed by your magic as some of the others are, don’t get her wrong, it’s really nifty you can do that stuff, but Karlach is much more moved by actions and content of character rather than fancy things like who can cast the shiniest spell. There are a few exceptions to this, of course.

She does simply adore it when you cast the fun spells though. The first time you decide to host a little light show in camp, she is absolutely delighted. She insists that you need to do that at a party with music so she can properly dance to it.

She also quickly gets fond of yelling at you to polymorph some arseholes who fancy themselves impressive right in the middle of their monologues. You can hear her cheers for a mile if you actually interrupt some evil idiot by doing it.

The magic doesn’t make the connection you two share anymore meaningful to her, true, but it can be an amazing source of fun for her, and she desperately craves those moments after spending so long miserable.

You may find her wondering if you can cast a spell while she tosses you into a fight, like, if you cast burning hands after having been properly yeeted, would you be able to spray it across the battlefield as you went? Expect a lot of those hypotheticals. It’s one of her favorite ways to spend time with you.

Halsin

Halsin considers you proof of the powerful and wonderful capability of nature, regardless of what sort of magic you favor. After all, you are what happens when magic and man entwine completely, and you should expect him to have a romanticized idea of what that means.

He sees your casting as part of the very fabric of who you are, and he takes great pleasure in watching you cast and perform your talents. He’s just as delighted to listen to your experience and views on magic and nature.

He, probably more than anyone else in camp, is very aware of just how… delicate people of your skills can be. Not that he doesn’t think you’re capable, but is very much aware of how much he needs to to stand in front of you as a bear when danger is nearby. He often tries to position himself to make it easy to step in front of you when tension runs high.

He’s also very quick to check in with you after a fight to make sure you aren’t seriously injured. He’s quick to heal you if you need it, and will definitely carry you to safety if the need arises. 

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #astarion #shadowheart #gale of waterdeep #gale dekarios #lae'zel #wyll #wyll ravengard #karlach #halsin #romance #fluff #self insert #bg3 headcanons

[magicspace114]

I need to rant, sorry in advance

Ok so I have been a bit obsessed with Epic the musical by Jorge Rivera-Herrans. For anyone who doesn't know it's still in the making with 4 concept albums out and follows the story of the Odyssey. This rant is about his most recent album, the Circe Saga.

So. I love these songs, they're all really amazing and I really recommend people check it out if they've not listened to it before but I especially like imagining how they'd be performed on a stage, the acting and blocking behind the lyrics, which is what has me fixated on the last two songs in the Circe Saga "Done for" and "There are other ways" because the way the power dynamics shift back and forth between Circe and Odysseus leads to some pretty fun blocking.

Considering you hear lion roars in the track emphasising some of Circe's lines, you can imagine her being pretty imposing when the odds are in her favour. Meanwhile Odysseus has always been cunning, hiding his advantage for the first part of the song, he's allowing her to impose on him so there's a lot of back and forth both in the song and in the actual blocking.

I can't tell this rant to anyone I know because this isn't their type of thing so I'm taking it to Tumblr and maybe some of you will actually like it.

A little context to the scene in my head just so you know where some things are in the room that are relevant. There's a table in the centre of the room. This would have been the table Odysseus' men had ate at before they were turned to pigs. The food is gone and the table has new placements set awaiting another meal. To the far right of the stage, a lounge chair that Circe is sitting on at the start of the song, pointing out at a possible veranda or something with a small table beside it.

So, the blocking in my head, as well as a bit of thought tracking, following the lyrics of the song goes as follows:

Odysseus enters from the opposite side of the stage, having to cross the room and past the table. He never approaches farther than halfway between the table and Circe.

"Lady of the palace, sorry that I ask this..." - This entire start of the song is a ruse. Odysseus is under no impression that this is a misunderstanding. He's purposefully playing up the innocence to keep Circe off guard.

Circe is initially fooled, having easily tricked her last visitors. She's not worried or threatened so remains in her seat looking away from Odysseus. Her hands are busy, I'm imagining a wine glass in one hand and maybe she's petting a lion with the other hand or something.

"Did you do something to them?" Odysseus plays up the innocence and unsureness, letting himself appear weak, stopping his approach here before he gets too close to Circe.

"Who me? All I did was reveal their true forms." Circe mocks Odysseus' innocence, still not looking at him or moving.

"You turned them into pigs." This line from the track sounds like he's in awe, almost like he's unaware such magic exists so likely more ruse to keep Circe off guard.

"Ha." Circe puts down her wine glass and stands up, finally turning to him.

"I don't know who you are nor why you're here..." Circe approaches Odysseus, holding all the power in this scene as she backs him up to the table.

"I've got people to protect, nymphs I can't neglect, so I'm not taking chances dear." Odysseus' lower back hits the table behind him and she closes the gap. I see Circe as a rather tall woman, at least a little taller than Odysseus so she's able to tower over him here.

"If you make one wrong move then you're done for..." she boxes him in with her hands on either side of him, making him lean back against the table. During her chorus, she's very predatory, leering and appraising him like a cat playing with prey. Odysseus' face is stoic.

"I don't mean to tip your scales..." Odysseus' face breaks into a smug smile and he straightens up. Circe stops leaning over him and her arms drop from boxing him in.

"You must be a liar, mortals can't acquire moly without dire consequence." She stands back a little now, looking at him with suspicion. She's not threatened yet but her guard is going up.

"Then I must be a god like you cus I got this root from the ground with my bare hands." Odysseus playing up his confidence in hopes of bringing Circe off guard again and making her think he's more cocky than he is.

"Hermes gave it to you, didn't he?" Circe's having none of the act.

"Alright, yes, fine, but regardless." Odysseus also drops the act.

"You and I are now evenly matched. Our fates are intertwined they're attached." He draws his sword and points it at Circe's neck. She's stepped back so she's a full sword length away from him, putting her in the exact opposite position than she was at the start of the song.

"I have people to protect, friends I can't neglect." Odysseus starts backing Circe up. Circe is backing away but specifically, she's backing towards her chair where her staff is.

"So now there is no turning back." Both pause for this line.

"You've made your one wrong move-" Circe darts for her staff, using it to counter Odysseus' blade. "-now you're done for."

This chorus, the pair are fighting with each other with their weapons but also with their magic. I know in Jorge's idea of the scene, Odysseus conjures a cyclops to defeat Circe's monster (I can't remember what it is) so in my vision, a cyclops and lion monster are fighting with each other in the background while Odysseus and Circe fight in the foreground, their moves being somewhat mirrored by their creatures.

When the cyclops overpowers the lion, Odysseus has disarmed Circe. He's not flush to her with the sword under her chin, more standing with the tip of his blade at her neck so he's a sword's length away, sword poised and gaze sharp and calculating.

"You've lost." He can't kill her yet, he needs her to change his men back.

"My nymphs are like my daughters..." It's Circe's turn to start acting. Her face softens to garner sympathy.

"But everyone's true colours are revealed in acts of lust." Her face morphs into a suggestive look.

"I'm not sure I follow." Odysseus tenses up here, maybe knowing what's to come.

In this song, though there's a lot of sensual touching, all of it is very purposeful for Circe. In this song, it's not about seducing him, it's about distracting him until she can get the upper hand.

"There are other ways of persuasion, there are other modes of control. There are other means of deceit, there are other roads to the soul." Sensual touching starts on the blade, a finger moving down it, gently nudging it away from her throat, by the end of this line, she'll had reached his wrist and fully pointed the blade away from her.

"There are other actions of passion." She's taken steps to close the gap between them, hand moving up his arm and to his face, directing him to stare at her face.

"You have so much left to learn, want to save your men from the fire, show me you are willing to burn." She's circling him closely, once on the other side of him, she's within reach of the table.

When they start to harmonise their songs, Circe directs Odysseus closer to the table using the hand on his face, cupping the back of his neck so she can bring him with her as she backs towards the table, getting close enough to take a knife from the table placements. Odysseus tries to shy away from her seduction but every time he tries to look away, she has him look back with the hand on his cheek or chin to ensure he can't see what she's doing.

"There is so much power, so much power, but there's no puppet here." She slips out between him and the table, going behind him, hiding the knife behind her while she continues to sing in his ear.

As they harmonise again, she keeps up the sensual touching, keeping him looking at her as she appears at his other shoulder again, now backing him up against the table.

"There's no puppet here." "Forgive me." At this harmonisation, Circe has her arms around his neck, knife behind him, poised to stab him.

"I can't!" Odysseus pushes her away and she's so surprised that she actually stumbles. She quickly hides her knife at her side.

"Back at home my wife awaits for me..." At this point, Odysseus is genuinely pleading with Circe, knowing he needs to appeal to her in order to get her to willingly turn his men back. This is a moment he shows her real vulnerability.

"So I beg you, Circe, grant us mercy, and let us puppets leave." Circe has turned away by now to hide as her face softens. Her shoulders drop.

"Poseidon, ey?" She relaxes, setting her knife down on the small table beside her chair.

"There might be a way to evade him, there might be a way to get home..." She turns back to him, eyes calculating but not hostile.

"I can't get you home but I'll get you to the underworld instead..." She's closing the gap again but now not stepping into his personal space, just really standing at a comfortable distance for conversation.

"Wait, you're helping us?" Odysseus steps forward, surprised but tension releases in his shoulders.

"There are many ways of persuasion..." Circe moving away as she sings the last of her lines.

"Maybe one day the world will need a puppeteer no more." She walks to Odysseus again.

"Or maybe one day the world will need a puppeteer more." She passes behind him as she holds out her last note.

Sorry again for this, I just wanted to write this down somewhere and see if anyone wants to read it.

#epic the musical #epic the circe saga #circe #odysseus #acting

[railingsofsorrow]

Hi!! Hope you're doing fine! I was wondering about the one shot “the way I loved you” in the originals masterlist. I'm really curious and I wanted to ask when you plan on posting it?

a/n: I'm glad you asked. this has been sitting on my drafts for a while! happy I can finally post it. hope you like it!

The Way I Love(d) You

[stefan salvatore x reader; kol mikaelson x reader]

[all pictures belong to pinterest]

SONG INSPIRATION » THE WAY I LOVED YOU by taylor swift

summary: stefan salvatore is kind and sensible and you couldn't ask for anything better. but beneath the “you look beautiful tonight” you miss the "screaming and fighting" and the way his name slipped out of your lips at 2a.m. you liked assurance and perfection but you missed insanity. more than anything, you missed the way you loved him. you missed kol mikaelson.  

pairings: s.salvatore x f!vampire!reader; k.mikaelson x f!vampire!reader 

w.c: 9.4K (I got carried away)

warnings/content: portrayal of healthy and unhealthy relationships dynamic; discussion about life and death; blood (mentioned); non-graphic descriptions of violence; pregnancy (mentioned); slight damon and tyler bashing because they are the most annoying characters ever created; camille o'connell plays therapist; katherine pierce x reader (you blink you miss it); gemini coven (mentioned); discussions about marriage; canon divergence; fluff; happy ending depending on which you're rooting for; paragraphs in italics are flashbacks.

A/N²: this one shot does not follow the tvd + t.o original timeline, so some facts may be out of order.

[part of “the taylor swift anthology”]

navi

masterpost

tvd masterlist

t.o masterlist

[alternate ending]

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

❝ he is sensible and so incredible.

and all my single friends are jealous

he says everything I need to hear, and it's like I couldn't ask for anything better. ❞

“Did you arrive alright?”

You reply with a soft hum, distracted by the bag filled with books related to witchcraft. You really did not think you'd be swiped back to this city again, less alone acting as a librarian for the Original vampires for the hundred time in your life. Oh, well. Who could ever deny Rebekah Mikaelson of her wishes? You had been extremely close before, despite the unsaid goodbyes. She did try to threaten your life if you didn't come to New Orleans soon, but those were empty words. And you could easily take her in a fight – not that she could ever know that.

“Yes,” you say through the phone, remembering there was someone in the other line. “I'm settling in on the hotel.”

“Okay.”

“Stefan.” The corner of your mouth twitches slightly. “Say what you want to say.“

You hear him let out a breath as he usually does when he's holding something back.

“Are you sure you don't need me there with you? I could easily—”

“No,” you cut your fiancée off, albeit in a gentle manner. You sit down at the edge of your hotel bed, feeling the rough fabric of the mattress against your jeans as you inspect the cover of a rather thin book compared to the other thick ones scattered around. “Stefan, I'm perfectly fine. You don't have to worry. And I know you won't listen to me and you'll worry either way…” a smug grin stretches on your face when he tries to speak again. “… but I can handle myself, okay? You can call and text and I'll reply right back.”

Ever since you met Stefan Salvatore, he has had your best interest at heart. Not only yours, but everyone he cared about. In the friendship stage, he slowly inserted himself into your life, taking careful steps to not scare your cold heart away to the mountains. You never knew why, somehow, you had some importance to him. When you started dating, he made sure to introduce you to something that by no means you wanted to partake in: safety. Not the kind in which you are suffocated and trapped, but the kind in which you are held by someone and still are able to take a breath of fresh air. The real meaning of safety.

He takes you on dates and he opens up your car door as the perfect gentleman that he is. The line you look beautiful never straying from his compliments. It took you a while to get used to that. Being loved without having to look over your shoulder, being cared for by someone who would truly be there at the end of the day.

Stefan is safe. He is the warm blanket on a cold day with hot chocolate and a good book. He's the guy who never makes you wait while carrying that endearing softness around him. You couldn't ask for anything better.

“Yeah, alright.” He says with a resigned sigh. “You really don't want me there, huh?” The playfulness being drowned out by a tinge of hesitation in his tone that if you didn't know his tells, you might have missed it.

“You know that's not it.” The book is placed on top of the bedside table. Your choice has been made. “But I don't want to draw unnecessary drama into our lives. As soon as I can get this done, I can come back to New York. To you.”

He offers you a sound of contentment. “That sounds nice to me.” There is some ruffling on his end and he lets out a muffled groan. “Hey, beautiful? I have to go. Damon is hijacking our apartment.”

You briefly recall Stefan making a comment that his brother would visit you guys soon. That had been around a month ago? You are never one to question Damon and his stupid decisions. Fortunately, you were far away to deal with any of that.

“I'm sorry,” you mumble without masking your joy for not having to be present in the same room as Damon Salvatore. “Good luck and don't let him mess with my stuff or I'll personally break his neck and set his dick on fire.“

“I heard that!” You reply that it was meant for him to hear. “He's calling you a menace.” Stefan chuckles at your bickering but he eventually has enough. “Call me if you need anything, yeah? Be safe. I love you.”

“I love you too, and I believe you'll need more backup than I will.” You smile at his scoff and the call comes to an end.

You resist the urge to go to Russeau's to enter an alcoholic coma instead of facing the people you haven't spoken to in a decade. No, you have faced worse and what could possibly go wrong while visiting some old friends?

You snatch the book from the bedside table and tuck it under your arm.

Guess it's time to pay a visit to the Mikaelsons.

━━━━━

Meeting the Mikaelsons had been the best and the worst moment of your vampire life. Yes, some people could be both at the same time. You met Rebekah before you met the others, in a ball a really long time ago. The Mikaelson name had yet to be spread around like a disease due to the extreme danger they represented – where you lived, at least. Vampire groupies already had lots of knowledge about them at the time.

The thing was, you had no idea who Rebekah was until almost everyone in your city was murdered. Her brothers searched for her after a few years of radio silence, apparently. That's when you understood how protective family could be. Klaus, most of them. But that one was more obsessive and paranoid than any other. Rebekah told you that herself, but you saw it with your own eyes through the years you tagged along in their journey.

You have to say that out of anyone in that family, Klaus Mikaelson would be the last person you'd expect to become a father.

He was the one responsible for practically destroying Katerina Petrova's life, along with many other people you couldn't care to mention right now. She had been your friend once, before she became a nuisance in your life. But still. Klaus was ruthless and anyone capable of making an enemy out of him realized the bitter poison that came with it; if not death, of course.

Nevertheless, the cruel reputation of the Mikaelson family did not belong to Klaus only. In levels of pent up rage, you could easily mention Elijah. He was nothing but kind to you in the moments you've spent as friends, but you were aware of the demons he kept at bay for most of his existence. The man tries hard to be a good person and, in your opinion, he achieved that in all of the senses, although he was never really one to trust other people's opinions about him, whether they'd be good or bad.

Elijah could be just as cruel as Klaus, but as Klaus was loud in a broadcaster type of way, Elijah was silently dreadful.

Finn and Freya were the last ones you encountered. They were both gentle in their own way. As Freya kept up a mask right after breaking her curse, doubtful and distrusting, Finn was overall distasteful towards his own kind. You noticed that between the countless times he attempted to kill his siblings and himself. At first, you held a grudge over the fact that your boyfriend (back then) could never catch a break from his own brother. But eventually you understood Finn's reasons and everything that was left was sympathy. You had trouble adjusting to the vampire life yourself, mostly the drinking blood part but also the eternal life bit as well. Living and dying was something you had never doubted. It was the cycle of life, after all, why would you question it?

Some days, you didn't want it. But those became rare ones as you tasted the sweet flavor of having people that went through the same dilemma by your side. They made everything bearable. You just hoped Finn could also find those people, if not his siblings, then maybe he could find peace somewhere far from them. He had every right of taking some time away if that was his wish.

Family can be suffocating.

Freya had been one of the nicest people you have ever met. Beneath that cold front she built before warming up to the Mikaelsons, there was a tender-hearted woman whom one day you used to call your friend. Freya was there when you crumbled down, she had been the one to help you pull yourself up and she was the one who let you know it was okay to leave if that's what you needed to do. If that's what your heart desires, do it. Her words never left you in some way, you were forever grateful.

Hayley entered your life before she became an honorary Mikaelson – she hated that joke. You helped her find information about her pack when both of you were still back at Mystic Falls. She had been the first person to point out Stefan's interest in you, though you didn't buy it. You actually became closer during her pregnancy. You weren't present in Hope's first months after she was born, but Hayley made sure to send you occasional pictures over the years. You didn't feel so out of the loop thanks to that.

And then, there was Kol.

The epitome of recklessness, wrath and chaos.

He was the a car accident that drove you over a bridge when you couldn't swim and a pillow fort you built overnight to dissipate your nightmares. Kol was the reason why you considered the Mikaelsons to be both the best and worst moment of your life. He was the rollercoaster that fed your desperation for love, displaying a pretty view at the top of the ride, before the crash eventually came and killed all that excitement.

Neither of you expected to fall so fast for one another. Or fall at all.

But he pushed his way into your heart with no permission granted, with his convinced smirks, wild persona and careless nature. He was cold in a warm manner. Tender in the way he held your fingertips with the same bloody hand that also had possession of your heart. And unbelievably good as he cared enough to let you into his heart.

You were too similar for it not to happen, until you were too different to remain together.

Kol Mikaelson conveyed all of the rumors that were spread about him, never once hiding behind a mask, and that's the reason you fell in love with no way back. It had never been an easy choice – choice... that's funny. Does love ever give you a choice? — his enemies became your enemies, you were a target, besides the unstoppable family hassle you always seemed to be involved in. In spite of the obvious reasons, the grounds for breaking up arose from him, surprisingly. Or not so surprisingly. It may have been his way of running away, but it was your way out of the mess he created in your head and heart. According to Hayley, he wasn't left unscathed. He suffered in a way that they had never seen before: through silence.

Kol had never been silent. He craved an audience, which was why he enjoyed discounting his ire on people. He wanted them to fight back in order for him to retaliate much harder. After you left, he didn't murder villages, tortured old enemies or provoked his siblings enough to get a rise out of them. You weren't that surprised once Hayley told you he left as well. What truly left you bewildered was the fact that he didn't cause trouble, turning into a shadow of the wildest Mikaelson people used to hear about.

You couldn't bear to feel guilty. If he wasn't being himself, that was his own doing. He left you first. Looking into the bright side, maybe he had finally mustered the act of growing up.

However, even with the all the heartache he had caused you, loving him was never a regret. You don't know if he felt the same, maybe you'd never know.

Stepping inside the Mikaelson manor made you self-conscious but still nostalgic. You hadn't lived in that house, of course they had built up many other expensive properties over the decade you've been gone. But there is something in the air when the Mikaelsons are around. And it isn't death or blood that you were referring to.

“Are you the friend my mom said was coming to visit us?”

A little girl with dark red hair met you in the entrance of the house. A stuffed bunny dangling from her small hands. You couldn't believe your eyes, but in the meantime you observed her sage green eyes that carry a brush of cinnamon and the tip of her nose, the familiarity practically slapping you in the face.

“I believe so,” you croak out as your lips quirk up in a soft smile. You tell her your name, introducing yourself and say, “and you must be Hope.”

“That's right.“ She gives you a little wave. You nearly leap on your feet at the idea that you're not considered a stranger for her to immediately turn away as parents would advise children. “I'll tell my mom you're here so she can invite you in.”

You nod, leaning on the door, you could feel the spell barely pushing you away. A harsh breeze brush your strands in your face and you roll your eyes at the familiar scent of a hybrid nearby you.

“I have lipstick on, you know how that does not match with hair?“ Two arms engulf you in a strong embrace. You can't help but laugh as your body entwines with Hayley's. “Hay,“ you mumble to her shoulder. “You are kind of ten times stronger than me. Perks of being a hybrid and all...“

“Oh, please. I should be actually crushing you.”

When she cups your cheeks, like a mother would when her child has been gone for too long, you stare at the sage green eyes you had just seen in the entrance. “I missed you too.“ Hayley gives you an eyeroll, letting you go as she asks Hope to let you in. Ah, it made sense. She's not a vampire.

Hope smiles timidly at you as you enter the foyer, her gaze switching to her mother almost pleadingly. Hayley mentions with a tilt of her chin towards the backdoor and Hope quickly rushes away to what you assume is the backyard of the house.

“She's playing hide and seek.“ Hayley clarifies their short interaction, turning to you. “When did you arrive?“

“Today.“ You say, lifting the book to her line of sight. “I told you I kept something that could help.“

“I know,“ she smiles gratefully. Hayley hasn't aged a day since you last met. Of course, she isn't physically able to age at all due to vampirism, but her perpetually concerned gaze was replaced by relaxed shoulders and a proud smile. She has joy written all over her. For the looks of it, motherhood has done her good.

“She's like a mix of you and Klaus.“ You watch the girl running around searching for whoever she's playing with. Hayley takes you to the balcony, the view is pretty that it takes a bit of your breath away. The forest on display is filled with orange and yellow because of the Autumn season. You've always found the sounds of the forest were the perfect noise to live close by.

“So I've heard.” Hayley crosses her arms above the railing, driving her attention to you after pointing somewhere to Hope who's in desperate need of help in the seeking aspect of the game. “How's your life been?” She asks, shifting her whole body towards yours. “New York, huh?”

You nod, imitating her previous position. “Yes. It's a great city.” She remains silent, probably waiting for you to elaborate. It's not like this is a casual visit and the Mikaelsons could be in any corner with their enhanced hearing. Not that you're ashamed of your current life, you just don't feel like yelling from the rooftops.

“That ring is pretty.” Hayley muses when you avoid looking at her. She can see your blush and her eyes soften at that. It's been so long since she has seen you remotely happy, she likes the sight. “You seem happy.” Her squeeze in your shoulder states reassurance. “I hope he doesn't screw up or I'll be coming over with more than just an army.“ A deep groan escapes your throat as your head falls on your forearm.

“You are worse than a whole freaking army.“

“You missed me.“

Shaking your head, your lips twitch in a bitter smile.

“Of course I missed you, Hayley.“ Your smile falls slightly as you see that Hope finally found who she's been looking for in the past half hour.

Kol is coming out from behind a tree and dramatically throwing himself on the grass as Hope's giggles echo around.

“I missed all of you.” Slips out in a whisper.

As soon as Hayley follows your gaze, she picks up the reason for the sudden change in your demeanor. This is what she's been trying to delay.

There's no point now. “He came back at the beginning of this year.” You blink, turning away from the cute scene happening right below you. “Said he missed his niece. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.”

She steps away from the balcony and that's what it takes for you to stop staring at a playful Kol tickling Hope to death.

“Why wouldn't it be a good thing?” You swallow hard, sitting down on one of the loveseats. The ceiling is not bland white as you expected it to be, as you analyse the colors and the shapes, you recognize the famous painting you've been in love with since it was first made.

Van Gogh's Starry Night brings the ceiling alive with the false sensation of movement the circular brush strokes provides.

“He's teaching her magic and she makes some of my stuff disappear for fun. Kol's such a bad influence— Oh.” Hayley's face stretches into a smile upon seeing where you were staring at. “Klaus painted it. This is Hope's bedroom.”

That's when you realize the soft blue on the walls along with colorful drawings clearly made by a child.

“It's beautiful.” You let out in admiration. “God, that bastard is talented.”

Hayley huffed, “Yeah, well, ever since you mention it in that very first Skype call she can't stop talking about it. So he painted it.”

Leaning back on the chair, you glance at her. “That's such a dad thing of him.” She shrugs in silent agreement. “He's not a bad influence,” you utter after the conversation dies down. You're not referring to Klaus. “He loves children, that's just his way of teaching her how to protect herself.” In extreme cases. It's better to teach her to protect herself instead of delaying it when she actually needs it.

Hayley's eyes travel across your features for a while and just as you begin to grow self-conscious of what you said, she flips the topic back to the real issue at hand.

“So, do you usually keep old grimoires in a secret passageway at your apartment or something?”

Your lips raise in amusement, “It's from an old friend. He lent it to me for safekeeping.”

The hybrid's eyes regarded you with suspicion, then she glances down at the book in her hands.

“Should I even be touching that?”

“C'mon,” you say in jest. “My friends aren't that bad.”

“I am not that bad. The Mikaelsons are certainly debatable and if I can recall someone called Katherine Pierce who was also considered your friend — who I still doubt that it was all that she was — then we need to discuss what you mean by not that bad.”

“Should I mention Tyler dogbreath Lockwood, Hayley? He was a nuisance!” You throw back in a complete mature way. “I can't believe you would voluntarily hold a conversation with the guy.”

Hayley snickers, “He wasn't as bad as you make him out to be.”

“You're right,“ you nod. “He was worse.“

Hayley hums, quietly analyzing the grimoire with what you can tell is interest that leads to boredom. She closes it in a thud and stands up. “I'll have to give this to Davina.“

You frown in confusion, following her out of the room. “The Claire witch? You're trusting that teenager with the life of my niece?” Your tone raises in light disbelief as Hayley descends the stairs completely unbothered by your accusation. “Where is Freya? Where is everyone— You can't possibly be serious, Hayley.”

“Freya is generously taking an early flight back to Virginia as we speak, cutting her honeymoon short. She was the one who requested Davina to be put to use in this task, if I can recall.” You knew it was Elijah before you saw his impeccable suit, merely because of his eloquence. He offers you a smile as you reach the living room. “Welcome back.” You're amused by the way he ignores your attempt at handshaking to lay a kiss on the back of your hand. He's always done that, it's no surprise. That's an Elijah thing to do. His eyes fall on your left hand. “And congratulations on your engagement. I've heard.”

You give him a close lipped smile in return, withdrawing your hand to cross your arms.

“Yes, it seems that everyone has.”

“You know, the term being put to use might not be taken as a good thing to every person.” The voice behind you causes your body to freeze. ���Hello, stranger.”

Elijah is gone with the wind before you can notice and Hayley, who seems to have ventured off somewhere, still isn't back.

“She's not a stranger, Uncle Kol.” Hearing Hope's voice as you turn around is a form of relief, you admit. She's smiling kindly at you from her Uncle Kol's shoulders. “That's mom's friend. Remember, the one she told us was coming over?“

Kol acts fascinated. “That is true, Hope. Thank you for reminding me.”

She giggled, mouthing out to you above his head “Forgetful.”

You crack a smile at that. Mikaelson humor.

It doesn't take long for Hope to get tired of your attention and scurry away to her bedroom. And then, there were two.

How do you greet someone who broke your heart but still has a part of it with them?

“You look beautiful.”

You can affirm something: do not start like that.

“Thank you.“ You reply shortly. The stairs are right there, you could literally take a step back and you'd be on your way to the first floor. Still, you remain in the same place.

You had yet to look him in the eye since he entered the living room. That doesn't happen until he stops right in front of you.

The first thing you notice about Kol was his voice. Centuries back, when you first met, he had said your name before you even acknowledged his family. It slipped out of his tongue; honey mixed with pepper. A strange mixture that ends up being perfect once you taste.

Saying someone's name is like holding a secret beneath your tongue. You have the power to reveal it, you can pronounce it and you can choose to savour it to yourself. The taste is not made for everyone, it is reserved for you and you only. And he had that power from the first moment he called out your name.

“How's married life going?“

Your head tilts in confusion as his eyes are cast downwards. A scowl turns your lips into a frown. Just like that, the peaceful haze is over.

“Not married,” you say through gritted-teeth, turning away from him and from the flight of stairs. You want to get out of this house. If someone else asks about anything related to marriage again you'd probably snap.

“Yet, right?”

“That's what engagements work for, have you not had your fair share of those to understand that?” He has followed you outside and is faster than you since he's currently leaning with his body on your car door. Arms crossed and a side smile.

You hated to know what that meant. You hated that you knew him at all.

“Can you move?“ You snap, eyes narrowing. Kol hums softly as if he's considering your request. Dick. “Okay, I'll walk then.”

The defeated sigh you heard as you turn your back on him is almost a reason to make you relieved. But your arm was pulled back and that cold touch just made your whole body halt instantly.

❝ but I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain... ❞

“Can you stop being stubborn for a second?” He exclaims, kicking the car door shut as he walked with heavy steps towards you.

The rain softly paints the car windows with its tears. You forced him to step on the breaks so you could get out of the vehicle because of how mad you were. You couldn't remember the reason for the fight, but it happened and you didn't want to be around him.

“It's going to rain.”

You scoff, “I'm not made of sugar. I can handle a little rain.”

The thunder rolls in the sky, causing you to flinch slightly. A cold hand grabs your wrist.

“You'd rather walk in a thunderstorm than argue with me, is it?” Kol shrugs off his jacket with a scowl, covering your shoulder with it in a swift movement, one he had done many times before. “Real mature, love.” He shoves the car keys into your hand.

“What—”

“Take the car.” He had sped off before you could ask him to go to hell. Because no. You wouldn't take his car and leave him in a freaking thunderstorm. But he decided that just like he decided to put an end to your relationship.

“Stay.“ He says, drawing his hand back with hesitance. That quickly brought you back to the present. “I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry.” That's one of the rarest moments you've heard him apologize, it didn't used to be something in his vocabulary.

“I'll just wait for Freya at the hotel. It's not like we can start the spell before she's here.” You clear your throat, a bit taken aback by his presence still. You feel so silly.

Kol nods thoughtfully, taking a step back from you as if you aren't allowed to be too close. “Okay.” And before you can enter your car and drive off, your ears are still very much in tune with his voice even if he's all the way inside the house. “It's good to see you again.”

You're not sure if you share the same feeling.

━━━━━

“This is from the Gemini coven.”

You turn away from Davina's chanting to stare at Freya's impassive stance. She always kept that façade while doing magic.

“And what of it?“ Freya gives you a sideways glance as you roll your eyes, leaning back on the wall as the Witch finishes up the spell and mutters something to Hayley. Freya has done her part and for some reason they needed another set of hands. You don't question it. “Don't fret. There'll be no retaliation.”

“Good, because we don't need a crazy siphoner touring around New Orleans.”

You crack a chuckle, brushing your hair behind your ear. “The grimoire is technically mine.” Freya's eyes narrow suspiciously at your claim. “What? It is. It was a gift.”

“Kai Parker gave you a gift?” She regards you with disbelief. You shrug in response, it's the truth. It's not like you were capable of stealing something from Malachai Parker and leave unscathed. He is a tiny bit insane and you aren't special.

“She has a thing for K's, doesn't she?” You flinch at the breath in your neck. It earns Rebekah a glare as she walks around the pillar you were leaning on, her smirk takes her whole face, granting mischief in her blue eyes.

“We're done.”

You cut off your jab towards Rebekah when Davina's voice reaches your attention.

“Just like that?”

Freya gives you another one of her warning looks but you are facing the Claire Witch with a hard gaze. You didn't trust her then and you wouldn't trust her now. And it has nothing to do with her age nor the lack of experience in the magic department — or life, in general — it was more of a grudge you held for the girl ever since she messed with your family. You recalled quite well how she had weakened the Mikaelsons and played a part in Marcel's stupid plan to destroy all of them. Almost. You hated both of them with your every being. No matter how Klaus may have forgiven Marcel for it or how Hayley claims that Davina was manipulated.

“We did everything that was in the grimoire. She's safe.” Her voice carries defiance and you could certainly enjoy the opportunity to play into her attitude.

A low hum left your lips and you hear someone sigh around the room, you couldn't concentrate enough to name who it was but you have a guess.

“Okay. That's great.” You utter, mouth widening into a satisfied grin. You like the way she regards you with caution as you stride over. “You're gonna need that?” You ask in a whisper, pointing towards the book in her small hands. She hands it over to you, you take it slowly, mumbling a thank you and offering a sickly sweet smile. Your distaste is a mutual feeling, you're glad to know.

The entire family heads back to the Mikaelson manor. Despite Rebekah's pestering for you to go with them, you manage to escape for some alone time.

Rousseau's is where you end up after walking aimlessly through the city. Some things have changed. There are a few new musicians playing in the corners of the streets, but those familiar faces still there as well. The streets are illuminated by the lampposts scattered around the French Quarter, the shadows of the streetlights dancing at your feet remind you of times where you'd feel happiness holding you together. The bittersweet moment is interrupted by something soft tickling your ankle, causing you to jump in surprise. Quite literally.

“Never seen a cat before?” Someone mocks your tense stance as you watch the feline exit the bar.

You would have snapped their neck if the sweet smile of Camille O'Connell didn't reach your eyes right away. She's drying up glasses on the counter, probably getting ready to close the establishment, it was around the time she usually did.

“Can you spare this poor soul a bit of alcohol?”

“I'll never get used to that,” Camille says, shaking her head and the sound of titling metal made your face stretch into a grin. “You're not old enough to drink.” She starts preparing your favourite drink. Alcohol isn't your favourite thing in the world, but Cami's drinks are sweet enough to appease your taste buds. You didn't spend hours wallowing in this bar with nothing to accompany you — the alcohol and Camille's ears to listen to your misery.

Your nose wrinkles. “I am over 400 years old, Cami. How many times have we been over this?”

She tsked, curling her lower lip, throwing the cloth on her shoulder as she leans on the bar top.

“You look like seventeen.”

“That's flattering?” You muse, sipping your blue beverage. “I can't even remember what my seventeens were like.” That last part you mumbled to yourself.

“At what age did you turn?” Her voice is sad and you start grieving the fun of the moment.

Taping your nails against the wood distractedly, you work on pulling the terrifying moment from the abyss of your mind. Camille's gaze trails over your features in her own curiosity.

“It's been a while, huh?” She felt the need to change the subject. That made you crack a smile. Did she think she had genuinely upset you?

“Ten years or so.”

“Yes.” She says pointedly. “What brings you back?” She finally finishes cleaning up and you realise you're probably delaying her sleep schedule, but she hasn't complain about your overstay and you don't mention it.

You decide on telling her the truth. “Family stuff.” The partial truth, that is. “I died in 1603,” you refer to her previous question. Her eyes nearly pop out of her head. “I had recently entered my twenties. Can say now that I never got out of it.”

She didn't laugh at your joke, but you did.

“I'm sorry. Do you still...”

“Remember it?”

“Yes.”

You shrug nonchalantly. “It was a life changing event. So, yeah. I do remember it. But it doesn't make me feel anything anymore. It's something I no longer care about.” That's the truth. The memory doesn't affect you as much as it used to.

Cami nod, a strand of her hair slipping from behind her ear. She brushes it back and you tilt your head at the bracelet in her wrist. Once that has been there ever since you first visited Rousseau's.

“You still wear it.” You point out. She frowns confused, but her gaze follows where your attention lays and she hums.

“Yes. Can't have myself walking around the zoo with no defense.”

“The zoo—” you can't suppress the snort that comes out of you. “I can't believe you just said that.”

“I did.” Camille puts her hand on your shoulder and you deflect lightly. Guess it's time to leave. “I'm closing up. It's almost 1 am.”

“Sorry, Cami.” You shouldn't have bothered her that much. “Can I walk you home?”

It's her turn to chuckle. She locks up the bar and spins around to face you, a knowing glint in her bright blue eyes. You don't like that look. It kind of reminds you of Caroline when she knows something about yourself that you don't. Or that you just don't want to admit yet.

You miss her too.

“Are you really that desperate to avoid your problems?” You gape at her. “C'mon. Did you actually come here so I could make you a Grasshopper?” Oh, so that is the name of the drink you've had since forever. Good to know.

“I wanted some company.” You confess, rolling your eyes as she waits for you to follow her steps. Half the truth, again. This was the best place to avoid your problems — one problem. “Is that such a crime?”

“You sound like Klaus.”

“Stop offending me or I'll kill you.”

“Go ahead. I'm sure you'll like it when my blood burns your throat from how much vervain I've been taking.”

Your lips quirk up in a lopsided grin.

“I'm just going to say something, feel free to ignore it.” Cami announces as you crossed the street. You've arrived at her apartment. When you stop in front of the entrance and she turns her full body to you, her face has lost all the merriment. “I don't know why you are back. I don't even know the entire reason why you left so suddenly.” That makes you grow tense. “But that's none of my business. What I want to say is that, don't allow what let you down get to you again. If you think that getting out of here, taking some space to yourself, was good, then so be it. It's your life, okay? You deserve to be happy.”

You stand quiet for a while, absorbing everything she had said.

“I am.” You say quietly. “I am happy.” Away from here.

She smiles down at you, then, surprisingly, pulls you into a hug. Cami and you have never been close. You just listened to each other's complaints in the midst of the bar's loudness. You grew to have a bond but it was nothing as tight-knit as what you had with Freya or Hayley. Although, you did miss Cami while you were gone. She was the only one who knew how to make a good Grasshopper, anyway.

“Stop by the bar before you take off god-knows-where again.” She requests after you split apart.

“I'll think about it.” You bury your hands on your jacket with a smile as she bids you goodbye.

The city is never completely quiet. There's local music playing in some corners still at that time of the day. You realise you have reached Jackson Square when you put a pause on your walk, listening and breathing into New Orleans. Even the smell is different, maybe it is the lack of tragedy in the streets. You hope it carries on that way, Hope deserves to live peacefully. Or as peaceful as Hayley Marshall's and Klaus Mikaelson's daughter can live.

“Can you step out of there? It's getting ridiculous.” A woman crossing the street gives you an ugly look and you couldn't care less. You were talking to the Edward Cullen beside the tree a few feet back from where you stand. “How long have you been following me like a creepy stalker?”

“I've just arrived.” Kol says. You can see him rolling his eyes without taking a look at him. “And I wasn't following you.”

“Oh,” you blink innocently at him. “Sorry. I didn't know you had become such a religious man over the course of ten years.”

St. Louis Cathedral has all of its lights off, which means it's closed for the night. It's not like you wanted to enter the church in the first place, you just thought it looked pretty this time of the night. You'd frequent that area a lot to read a book when you were bored. Kol never shared that particular interest.

❝ and It's 2 a.m. and I'm cursing your name...❞

“This paranoia between you and Klaus is getting out of hand.” You mention to him one night as he turned your room upside down looking for something he would not inform you about. “You better put all of that back because I will not.” You say with a shake of your head, frustrated.

“He has the dagger. I have nothing to protect myself with.”

“So run away again. It's what you do best.” You let out. Only realising what you had done after it slips past your lips. The room is quiet, the silence deafening to the point where you flinch at the sound of creaking wood.

It wasn't the bed. It wasn't the wardrobe. When you glimpse at the door, hesitantly, it has been left ajar.

He did what you asked.

You remember inhaling deeply before throwing a jacket over your shoulder and grabbing the book of the week to read at Jackson Square, viewing the passerby's that would enter and exit St. Louis Cathedral.

“You'd come here and sit on that bench right over there with a new book every week.”

Your chest latches onto unwanted nostalgia you should desperately trying to get rid of. It makes your arms go numb and a cold shiver run down your spine. You blink at him. You knew?

“What?” You grunt, slightly disoriented.

Kol seems lost in his head, much like you were a few seconds ago, but he has a bigger grasp on reality than you do. “I thought it was more of something out of spite that you did. Sit in front of a church. Watch people leave. Choose a prey and feed on them to make them somehow question their faith.”

Furrowing your brows in thought, you consider out loud, “You thought that I'd come here to prove a point?”

He shrugs. The repetitive kicking of rocks tells you he is more nervous than he's letting on. Kol could mask his feelings well, his first choice of emotion would be anger and he'd just about use it to everything and everyone.

Over the years you'd notice some tells beneath all that rage. There was resentment and there was sadness. And now you can see guilt. You wonder if you're simply imagining something you want to see instead of what's actually there.

“What are you doing here, Kol?”

You're tired. You're beginning to think that Stefan was right and you should have evaluated the pros and cons of being in this fucking city before choosing the first flight five minutes after Rebekah's text.

“I missed you.”

“No.” You ignore the way you want to run away at what feels like sincerity coming out of his mouth. “What are you really doing here?”

His lips twitch and you think that familiar smirk will appear, but it doesn't. Just a sad smile.

“I missed you.” He repeats firmly as if not to let it hang in the air enough for confusion. There is no dubious meaning. He is not playing a game. “I haven't had a chance to say that when you were here.”

You take your time surveying his features. He had cut his hair, but you noticed that when he was playing with Hope in the backyard. His style is still the same, the moles still in the same spots around his cheeks and neck, his cupid's bow hasn't changed either. Kol's physique barely suffered any alterations, but he is different. Suddenly, you remember Hayley and the new spark in her eyes.

They both mirror people who have let go of their demons. The ones who scratch your skin and sink into your shoulders claiming your body as well as your mind as theirs. It is impossible to escape all of them at once, but time makes it bearable to live with some as you learn to let go of others.

“What do you mean?” You sit at edge of a bench. Not the one you used to sit almost every week. That would be too much. He understands the space left is for him to occupy after a moment. “That you haven't had the chance to say it when I was here. Why would you miss me while I was here?”

You know exactly why. You felt that all the time with him. Most of the time you dated a shadow in place of the man you loved and it is sad that, at some point, you got used to it.

“Because I wasn't. I wasn't here when I should have been and you were gone before I could help it.” A wave of regret travels across his features and you turn away before your gazes can meet. “And yes, I have no right of saying that after—after—”

“Ten years?”

“... ten years.” You complete at the same time. “I lost your trust. I lost you. Which is something that I'll never forgive myself for. I just... I just need you to know—”

“Don't.”

He furrowed his eyebrows as you stood up, running a hand through your face in pure... frustration? Anger? Fear? Yes. Fear. He is being unpredictable. Kol Mikaelson is unpredictable, it's one of the many traits of his you spend a long time admiring, until it became a burden in your relationship.

But after ten years you had no idea how to deal with this and you don't want to deal with it. Not now. Not after you and him were over.

He says your name almost pleadingly.

“Kol, don't.” You cut him off. “You can't do this now. You just can't.” You flinch away when he tries to touch you as a form of comfort. You didn't want that comfort. Not from him. Not anymore.

His eyes soften and there's hurt in them but you can't do this now. It's not fair. “I'm not trying to do anything.”

“Yes, you are!” You croak out, slightly shaken up. “Whatever you have to say doesn't make a difference now.”

You see his jaw clench slightly. Good. You want him to be angry. At least this side of him you can handle because you'll attack just as hard.

“I'm sorry.”

Your eyes snap to him. “I'm sorry.” Kol repeats, walking towards you with much more certainty. “I was a coward, immature and just overall selfish. I shouldn't have left, but I did and that doesn't change the past, but, but I loved you. I truly did. If I could go back—”

“You can't.” Your lower lip curl between your teeth. You can't take anything back. You can't undo the past. “You can't make it better, Kol.” You say, attempting to hold your self together in front of the boy who broke your heart into pieces. You still haven't found all of them yet, they were scattered, some beyond repair. “I was a mess without you. Do you know how long it took for me to pick myself back up?”

“You shouldn't have left.” You harshly clean a tear that travels down your cheek. “If you hadn't, if you had given me a chance to, to be there for you, then, yes, it would all be different. Trust me. It would. But because of what you did, it's not.” Admitting that to yourself took too long and it was the hardest thing you had to do, but admitting that to him? No. It felt freeing. It felt liberating. It felt fair.

There was a point in which all you could think about was making him suffer the way you did. Because he deserved it. How can someone claim to love you so deeply and then vanish from your life?

However, it isn't really the anger that prevails as he stands in front of you at Jackson Square, trying to apologize for years of pain that he had caused. As soon as you spill your heart out, the only thing left is sadness and nostalgia. You miss the screaming and fighting. You miss his stupid obsession with magic. You miss his sincerity, because till this day, no one would throw the truth in your face like Kol did. You miss the excitement. You miss his insanity. You miss him.

Loving Kol Mikaelson had not been easy. Still, you wouldn't go back on your choice if you had the chance. Because loving him had been a choice, one you've made for nearly five decades. And letting him go had driven you to the edge and brought you back to life.

Yes, you miss him. But it's not strange the fact that, deep down, you'll always miss someone you fell in love with. Even if they didn't carried your heart as carefully as you deserved. They were still part of you. Maybe, they always would be.

“I know.” He says, voice rough. You'd barely hear him if you didn't have enhanced hearing. “I regret it every single day of my life.” His eyes follow as you lean back in the bench. You're sitting in opposite ones. He stares at you as if you're a wounded animal, afraid to approach. His red-rimmed eyes make your heart clench.

You think about how funny it is that your body can react the same to a person. As if they're permanently marked into your soul.

Kol had never said what you wanted to hear. The truth was the only thing that escaped from his lips, even if it would absolutely crush you.

He was real and he pulled you back from the edge many times before. Even if he had been the one pushing you over that same edge afterwards.

This truth is crushing you. But it is a pain you must feel in order to fully move on.

You exhale slowly. “I know you do.” You can see the clear regret in his eyes. It's sipping through his soul and it may have eaten some part of him during these years. You don't feel okay with that. Strangely as that may be, you don't wish his suffering.

“Do you?” He lets out faintly, uncertain. “I'm not— I am not saying any of that with cruel intentions. I never meant to hurt you. I love you, but,”

“... but it wasn't enough to make you stay.” You swallowed with difficulty.

“No.” You glance up at him, something in your chest shatters. You don't know if his honesty is something you crave now. “I miss you. I never stopped missing you, no matter how hard I tried. And I, I don't know how to change that.”

“You can't.” You say, feeling like you can breathe properly after such a long time. “Because I miss you too, Kol.” and I love you. Not the same way, but I do. “It's not something we can change, it's just there. Maybe time will somehow make it better.”

“Really?” The hope in his voice grips you tight. That desperation to move on. To forget. You relate to that so much. “Is that what you think? Sounds too human to come from you.”

You let out a scoff, throwing your head back. “What does that even mean, Mikaelson?”

His deep chuckle brings a small smile out of you.

“Time is necessary for everyone.” You watch him quietly. He has the same tell from before; when his head is full, he plays with the ring in his index finger. Whenever he did that, you'd curl your fingers around his shoulder and squeeze it, he'd relax under your touch.

You would miss that. But you can live without it. You can live without him just as he can live without you. You know it's for the better.

It's almost four in the morning when you arrive back in the hotel. The first thing you do is take a shower, then throw yourself in bed pretending it is the one in your bedroom at your home. Soft and with your favorite pillows. Not the real scratchy and thin bedding you currently have.

It doesn't work, so you dial the familiar number in your phone to actually hear home from the line.

“I'm sorry to be dumping this on you.”

“You're dumping nothing on me.“ Stefan retorts and you can clearly see him shaking his head. “Hey, you handled Ripper-me, if I can't handle you talking about your ex then what does that say about me?“

You stare at the ceiling, “Ripper-you wasn't that terrifying.“ You mock him, earning a snicker that makes your entire being warm.

“I'm certain some people would disagree a little bit.”

“Eh,” You shrug, kicking the comfort off of your legs. “Nothing I can't handle, baby.”

When his chuckles dies down, his tone comes back slightly serious and you pick up on the tinge of concern in it. Same as the day before.

You've unleashed your still-fresh wounds to Stefan a few minutes back. There's no one else you wanted to talk to after everything that's happened. You needed safety, you needed someone to ground you, to stop you from spiraling out of control. Stefan always does that.

He doesn't question too much nor does he judge the situation. He must have expected something like that would end up happening. Part of you wishes he would yell at you, telling you that he had been right and you should have listened to him from the start. Instead, he just listens.

Stefan understands that just as it's Kol, for you. It's Elena, for him. And there's nothing none of you can do about it.

“You can always come to me for anything,” he breaks the silence. “I'm here, I'm not going anywhere.”

Inhaling sharply, fiddling with your engagement ring, you ask, “Why?”

Why aren't you running away? Why do you want to deal with me for the rest of your life?

“Because I love you. And I'm not only here for the good times but also the bad times. I'm here for the ugly truth and I'll still be here for the worst part.” Your breathing is labored at this point. You refrain from telling him you don't deserve it. You don't deserve that he stays. You don't deserve that he's still here after everything. But it's his choice and he's choosing to love you with your baggage.

“For better and for worse. In sickness and in health, right?”

The snort that escapes you is nothing but awful. “You're an idiot.“ You shake your head, pressing the phone closer to your ear as if that would make him closer to you.

You can practically see his smirk through the phone. “But I'm your idiot.” He seems to ponder over your silence. “Ugh, that was cheesy, wasn't it?”

“Yes,” you confirm, biting your lip to avoid a stupid grin. “don't do that ever again.” You order, knowing he will most certainly do it more than ten times. Because that is how Stefan is like. He tells you bad jokes in bad moments to make you feel better, he keeps you company through a phone call for how long you need comfort for and he's the one that makes you feel perfectly fine at the end of the day.

“Please don't break-up with me, we're almost getting married.”

“I'll consider this plea.”

The conversation ends up reaching something lighter when he asks about Hope and Hayley. You tell him about Hope and how bright she is, you detail the tiny differences of New Orleans from before and now and you confess you miss him. Because you do.

In the end, this trip was good. It unfolded a part of your story that had been buried down in a drawer for a long time. You needed closure and you had it tonight. It's bittersweet and it's nostalgic and it's sad but it is necessary.

Which is why you no longer have doubts about your future. Everything seems perfectly clear now that you've confronted your past, the monsters do not look so big anymore.

“I love you,” he says. The line had gone silent for a while as both of you seem to be thinking over to yourselves.

His hoarse voice and clipped tone tells you that he's as affected by this trip as you are. You want to comfort him, saying that there's nothing you need to worry about, I'll come back, I'll always return to you. But none of that will get through his brain until your face to face, finally in each other's arms.

And something that you've come to see through a new perspective is that love isn't tiring, it isn't heavy nor it is draining. Love is strength, calmness and security. Love can be fire, kissing in the rain and a rollercoaster of emotions. But it's not bad and it's not rotten. It can, however, sometimes be doubtful. It can raise questions that can make you halt on your way to say yes, but that's okay. Because even though you're certain, you're allowed to not have all the answers and you're allowed to not be alone to search for them.

“I love you, too,” you breathe out, shutting your eyes to imagine you were close to him, in your safe place.

“It's so good to know that you're smiling right now.”

You let out a scoff, shaking your head but your mouth is quirking up in the sides. “Seriously, you've gotta stop doing that, Stef. Am I feeding your ego?” You don't wait for a response. “Don't answer that, I know I am.”

“Come home.”

Because no matter how much you occasionally missed your past, your present and future are greater than anything else you could have possibly desired.

❝ and that's the way I loved you...❞

“I will.”

You couldn't have asked for anything better.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

[alternate ending]

#the originals fanfiction #the originals imagine #kol mikaelson x reader #stefan salvatore x reader #tvd imagine #the vampire diaries fanfic #tvd fanfiction #the originals fic #inspired by the way i loved you #stefan salvatore imagine #stefan salvatore fanfiction

[vaniloqu3nce]

1692 words into writing this wenclair au and deciding that Yoko is the popular flirt and Divina is the mean girl who Yoko flirts with and they act like enemies (Aka Yoko flirts and Divina is like “you’re so slimey and gross and so not my type”) but they’re actually kissing as soon as they’re alone. And Divina hates (loves with all her heart) how smug and laid back Yoko is, Yoko hates how uptight and prissy (adores she thinks Divina is so cute when plans out things to go a certain way). And they kiss.

Will this actually be in Wednesday? Probably not. Was there enough of Yoko to make such large assumptions about her personality? No. Am I going to do it anyway because spoiled rich x smug flirt is one my favorite dynamics...yes. Absolutely.

Headcanon: Enid smells Divina on Yoko and freaks out. They’re supposed to be mortal enemies and Yoko is like “she’s pretty.” Enid is supportive and protective. Threatens Divina and Wednesday is very proud of her. She was thinking “WWWD” What Would Wednesday Do?

#yoko tanaka #divina wednesday #yoko wednesday #yoko x divina #spiderman au #wednesday series #wednesday fanfiction #wednesday au #wenclair #enid sinclair #enid #enid x wednesday #wednesday #enid and wednesday #wenid #eniday #wednesday addams #wednesday 2022 #spider wolf #theyre gay your honor #dont @ me

[the-dumpster-fire-of-life]

Can I request for Jinx, Vi, and Cait having a Werewolf s/o, please? Like s/o is stoic and intimidating towards others, but is soft and sweet like a lovesick puppy towards the girls and would do anything for them. Thank you!

(Hey! i don't do werewolf thing's, sorry, I just thing they're kinda weird lmao. But the rest I can do, Enjoy!)

JINX, VI & CAITLYN X STOIC & INTIMIDATING S/O

Jinx

Before you two got together she first knew you as the “Quiet goon”

She didn’t see you socialize with literally anyone 

You worked for Silco, if that isn’t obvious

She would mess with you a bit

Try and get you to open up or even crack a smile

You usually did intimidations with Sevika for information

She sometimes would tag along with Silco

She liked how it always worked, you were intimidating

She didn’t really get how stoic you were

She was pretty much the opposite

Always showing how she was feeling, in any setting, she didn’t care, except when she was sad and shit

But after you two got together

Whole other story with you

She noticed how you acted so differently with her 

She would walk in and unlike before, you looked so happy and like you visibly lit up

She felt honored tbh

Showed how happy she was

She liked how sweet and happy you were with her after

And you actually laughed and goofed off with her?!

Oh my god

Jinx is in love

And if you set something on fire or explode something with her finally?

Jinx is never letting go

And you would do anything for her

Like she would do anything for you

Marriage

Now.

Vi

Vi always knew how you looked so quiet and stoic all the time

She never knew how the hell you were feeling

She didn’t really talk to you at first but you were friends with Caitlyn

So she then got to know how intimidating you were

And how much you intimidated a lot of people

She didn’t know how you felt towards her until she liked you and you liked her and one of you confessed

But then you started dating

And she was surprised when she saw how sweet and happy you were towards her

And how you would do anything she asked of you

She didn’t know how to feel ngl

But it was a nice turn around surprise

She loved it

She loved the affection 100%

She also liked how people would be surprised 

Like imagine this person, looking like they wanna kill you by intimidation, only to light up and be all happy when Vi merely walked in the room

She felt so smug to everyone else

She teased you a bit at first

But like she is the only one who got that reaction out of you

And she’d be damned if she wouldn’t be able to take advantage of it

So safe to say she loved it so much

Caitlyn

Caitlyn was a bit intimidated by you

Maybe you were from the Undercity or maybe worked as a guard for her or her family

She was closer in age with you out of the rest there

But she was nervous and sorta reluctant to talk to you

Seeing how you were so quiet and you were intimidating as hell compared to the others

But after she got to know you a little bit she warmed up to you a lot more

And after you started dating, she was surprised and happy too after seeing the change

She saw how you were more sweet and soft towards her when you two got together

You did anything for her

And I mean anything

Stood up for her, yelled at dick asshole enforcers for her, got her random things because you thought she would like it

She didn’t like the money spending part, she would rather give you things

But she loved it in all its glory

She loved how she was the only one you were like this to

Like Vi, is smug about it

Gave a little teasing to you also

But don’t take it in a bad way!

She loves it so much

Plus, it’s her favorite romance movie dynamic

She seems ,like a hopeless romantic

So it all works out!

#arcane imagines #arcane headcanon #arcane x reader #reader x arcane #arcane league of legends #arcane vi #arcane violet #arcane vi x reader #vi arcane x reader #arcane caitlyn #arcane caitlyn x reader #caitlyn arcane #arcane jinx x reader #jinx x y/n #jinx arcane #arcane jinx #jinx x reader #jinx lol #silco arcane #arcane sevika #arcane reader #arcane reader insert

[an-au-blog]

about this

Oh, okay, I got you ;))

@snowlynxdraws this one's for you<3

(though for my own sanity, I'm going to keep very little of the actual movie because I don't remember most and don't want to rewatch it, tho I'm gonna leave that one iconic dialogue...)

Sanji was Luffy's friend, not Zoro's. He was also friends with Nami sweet and lovely Robin, not the Marimo. He loved hanging out with Usopp and even the upperclassmen Franky and the weird music teacher Brook. But. Not. Zoro.

So it came off as a surprise that he always ended up in situations where he and Zoro were (sometimes literally) pushed together.

It really was a pity, because, in the beginning, they were getting along. And Sanji wouldn't exactly admit he enjoyed his brief bond, but he also couldn't deny he missed it sometimes. Their dynamic only changed because that stupid marimo started picking fights out of nowhere. At first, he thought it was for fun, but by now Sanji thought he might as well genuinely hate him.

Sanji was in the changing room with the rest of the team. He started track not because he wanted to, but because the soccer team didn't have enough people and the cooking club wasn't "an official extracurricular". He didn't mind it, but was it often at the same time as the kendo club. Which meant he and Zoro saw each other and possibly even walked home together quite often.

Sanji could never really hated Zoro, that was the problem, because he tried, but could never really learn to do it. Zoro on the other hand, seemed to despise him.

So it seemed quite odd that every time, Zoro insisted on them waiting for each other. It wasn't even like they split ways at some point, it was just Zoro walking him home. He was curious, he had to know, so one day he decided to ask.

"Why do you keep insisting on walking home together." It was a simple and straightforward question.

Zoro scoffed with a smug smile. "Wouldn't you like to know, curly..."

"Yes, I would! That's why I'm asking, idiot!" Sanji could feel him getting on his nerves again. But he wanted to be the bigger man and not start the inevitable fight.

He took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one.

Zoro's head shot to him. "What are you doing? Where did you even get those?"

Sanji wanted to act cool "Why, because it's illegal for someone my age to buy-"

"Don't you know how horrible those are for your health? Especially your lungs, you do track for crying out loud!" He sounded serious, "They could kill you, you know..." even a bit sad.

The blond boy didn't know what to say. He never expected any amount of care to be coming from Zoro. He quickly thought of a response, he couldn't let the marimo have the moral high ground!

"What do you care," he tisked, "it's not like it's your business how much I live! And with the way you act, you getting on my nerves all the time will kill me long before these things do," he waved the cigarette in demonstrated. And continued walking. A bit of a low blow, he knew that... but he panicked.

Zoro was stuck in place, still trying to comprehend what the other said: "Getting on your- wha- Hey, wait up!" He ran to catch up with Sanji. Zoro was completely silent for the rest of the walk. It was like he was sulking.

They reached Sanji's house. It was one of those big houses with a pool and a big backyard. Sora - Sanji's mother, got a lot out of her ex after the divorce. Ever since Sanji's older siblings moved out, it's been a meeting spot for Luffy and the others. Reiju moved back in after she finished college, but it's only for her so-called "year of freedom", before her master's degree. Sanji hated that every time they got close to his house he just knew she could see them. He didn't have evidence she was there, but he had that feeling.

"Welp, bye." Sanji tried to make this awkward moment as short as possible, but a hand grabbed him.

Zoro was looking down with a thoughtful look, his other hand was gripping and fidgeting with the strap of his backpack.

"What." No answer... "What is it?" he tried to keep his voice down but with all the annoyance that was building up, the words seemed hissed and meaner than expected.

He didn't answer just let go and walked away. Sanji didn't think much of it, sure it was weird, but he was sure it wasn't a big deal.

The next day Zoro left early. Offhandedly Sanji asked "Where is he going?"

"He wanted to go home early." One of his teammates answered.

Which Sanji found odd for two reasons: 1. that was not the way they usually left, in fact, it was the opposite way. And 2. Zoro rarely left early from practice, dare he say never.

Sanji didn't think much of it. Until it happened again. And then again. And then it was Saturday and he thought that at least they'll see each other then. And just like expected, every one of them came over to his house to hang out. Nami mainly came for the pool, Chopper came to eat the sweets that Sora always bakes for him, and all of them had favorite parts of hanging out. And now that Zoro was here and avoiding him, with an ache in his chest, Sanji had to finally admit that his favorite part was Zoro.

Sanji tried telling Usopp, as the only friend he'd trust enough to tell - he would never tell anyone, he could lie if anyone asked, and even if (on the off chance) he told the truth half of them wouldn't believe him. So he tells him that he thinks Zoro is avoiding him. To which Usopp laughs and tells him there's no way that's the case. But Sanji knew it was! The swordsman would see Sanji approach him and jump in the water. When he tells him he wants to talk, Zoro flips him off saying he's already talking to Luffy. When he finally catches him alone, he says he's already leaving.

It was infuriating.

Zoro left early. And all Sanji did was watch the door close in front of him. He had to snap out of it, so Usopp kicked him in the shins.

Sanji: Ow! What the hell man?

Usopp: Are you insane! Go after him!

Sanji: What?

Usopp: Yeah yeah no need to gloat, something really is up,

he started pushing him out,

Usopp: Now go, go, go, before he's too far!

Sanji put on his running shoes and started running after him. Zoro turned around, saw him, and started walking faster. The anger only fueled Sanji to catch up to him even faster.

Sanji: Hey! Heeey!

He shouted from the distance to make the other stop, but he didn't.

Sanji, a few steps from Zoro, launched himself forward with a jump that would give Olympians a run for their money: Maaarimooo!

Zoro stumbled forward, Sanji ganging from his back, grabbing onto whatever clothing item that would keep him from falling. It took exactly 15 seconds for Zoro to lose balance and fall.

Zoro: What is wrong with you! You could've killed me!

Sanji, groaning from the fall but still holding on: I wanna talk to you.

Zoro: No, you don't.

Sanji tightened his grip: I do! Why are you avoiding me?

Zoro: I'm not! Let go, you're gonna rip my jacket!

Sanji: Stop lying! You're avoiding me! Just admit it, you won't even talk to me in class, you leave without me, what did I do to you, you big baby?!

Zoro: Why should you care, you hate me!

Sanji:...

As if on cue, rain started to pour down. It was like the sky had ripped open.

Zoro, pulling Sanji up: Shit, we gotta get out of here. Come on.

He grabbed Sanji by the hand and dragged him two more blocks before opening a front door. He dropped his keys on the shelf and took off his boots and coat.

Zoro: Come on, I'll give you some dry clothes. You can wait out the rain or call your mom to pick you up if you want.

Sanji, looking around: Is this your house? I can't believe I've never been here before.

A small set of footsteps came up to them. A little girl with pink hair in ponytails hid behind Zoro's leg.

Zoro: Perona, introduce yourself to our guest.

Sanji, kneeling down to be at eye level with the little girl: Well, hello there, I'm Sanji, nice to meet you.

Perona just stuck her tongue out at him.

Zoro turned to his sister "Atta girl!" he gave her a high five and turned back to Sanji, "She doesn't like strangers." He looked back at Perona, patting her hair "is dad here?" She shook her head 'no'. "Alright, I'll be in my room and I need you to stay out of it, you hear me?" She made a sour face, huffed and stormed off.

They went to his room and Sanji was a bit surprised by how clean it was. Before he could say anything, he got a shirt and a pair of sweatpants thrown in his face.

Zoro: Here, I'll wait outside if you want.

He started walking out, but Sanji called out: Wait!

Zoro turned around.

Sanji: ...I don't hate you.

Zoro's gaze faltered. He took a small breath and hung his head a bit lower, letting out a quiet: Tell me when you're done dressing.

And so Sanji did. Now dry and waiting for the rain, they both stood awkwardly in Zoro's room.

Sanji: You never told me you lived this far from my house.

Zoro: You never asked.

Sanji: Well, I thought we were friends, that's what friends do, we tell each other things.

Zoro: Are we friends?

Sanji tried not to show how much that hurt him. He started looking at things around the room to distract himself: Oh, you got a nice setup, got any games?

He was pointing at the computer on his desk.

Zoro: Not a lot. I mostly just let Perona play those pink princess games.

Sanji, muttering under his breath: I didn't know you had a sister either...

Zoro: What was that?

Sanji: I said I expected something weirder, haha...

After a little pause, Sanji decided that he needed to say it now, or else he'd never have the courage to.

Sanji: I want us to be.

Zoro: What...?

Sanji: Friends. You asked if we were friends, I want us to be.

Zoro sneered: Why? I'm gonna kill you, remember?

Sanji: Because you're annoying. And because you chew so loud I can hear you from across the room -

Zoro: what are you-

Sanji: Because you're dumb and obnoxious and pick fights with me for no reason-

Zoro: Hey, I-

Sanji, still not listening: and because you're funny and fun to be around, and because you're hardworking and you keep me company even when I don't want it, and because I think it's so unfair that all the girls in class like you, because you're actually kind of handsome, and your skin is always clean, like how is it so clean? and you're so mean and rude and when I ask for a favor you always say no but still do it and-

Sanji finally stopped to take a breath. He realized what he was saying.

Sanji:... shit.

Zoro was looking at him in shock: I... half of that stuff was terrible.

He laughed.

Sanji started feeling his face burn up. He covered it with his hands and hunched over in hopes of making himself smaller. He felt one of Zoro's hands on his, trying to peel it away.

Zoro: Hey- wait, foes that mean that you-

Sanji: No, shut up, don't say it!

Zoro, gasping: You do! You like me too!

He tried pulling Sanji's hands away from his face again, the same time when Sanji decided to put them down and turn to him.

Sanji: Wait, you-

The suddenness of Zoro's pull and the Sanji's motion shortened their distance and Sanji's sentence was cut off by the pair of lips crashing into his.

Sanji backed away: Idiot!

then in a quieter, still angry voice, he continued: That- that was my first kiss!

Zoro saw how upset Sanji was by the thought of having his first kiss with him and his mood soured.

Zoro muttered under his nose: Well it was mine too...

A rush of panic ran through Sanji because... why was Zoro's pouting kind of cute? How could he find Zoro of all people cute???

Sanji slapped both hands on either side of Zoro's face and pulled him in for a second kiss. But he got a bit too excited and it turned out to become more of a headbutt than a kiss.

They both pulled away grabbing their foreheads.

Sanji: Ow!

Zoro: Curly! What the-

A little gasp made their heads snap. Perona was at the door, hands on her mouth in dramatic shock.

Zoro stood up: I told you not to come in, damn it!

She giggled and ran away. Zoro followed her and Sanji followed Zoro. He bumped into Zoro after his abrupt halt. He looked up and it was a man with facial hair and a wine glass in hand. Sanji assumed it was Zoro's dad.

Mihawk: Your mom's here to pick you up.

He took a sip.

Sanji was a bit surprised: Oh!... right. Okay.

He went home, and the whole time he couldn't stop thinking about what happened.

The next few weeks there was a big festival their school was preparing for and Sanji and Zoro could never get enough alone time to talk about what happened. All they did was help out their class and then the whole friend group would crash at Sanji's place to try and do more work, but they all just ended up goofing off or watching a movie.

They were in charge of making props for the drama club and different signs, for the maze, for different prizes, for the kissing booth, and other things. In reality, Usopp and Robin were the ones who drew all the signs, while Zoro and Sanji cut them out. Franky glued them, which was the easiest part in Sanji's opinion and he was extremely jealous. But then again, Nami told everyone what to do, so he couldn't possibly complain. Well... he could complain that Luffy never did anything, but that was Luffy after all.

Sanji tried talking to Zoro a couple of times but the first time, a dog that Luffy snuck into the house almost ate all their shoes and they had to chase it around all day. Then he tried again but Nami scolded them for slacking off and sat between them to make sure there was no irrelevant chit-chat. Then he tried again but Usopp accidentally glued his hands together with Franky's super glue and they had to drive him to the hospital because they all panicked and didn't know what to do.

One day Sanji decided he had enough. Upon everyone walking into the house, he grabbed Zoro and dragged him upstairs as fast as possible, hoping no one saw them (and hoping Usopp would cover for them if anyone started suspecting anything).

He pushed him into his room and shut the door behind himself.

Zoro looked a bit startled and maybe even flustered: Wha- why, uh, what are we- uh... doing?

He smiled awkwardly.

Sanji: Not whatever you're thinking of, you pervert. I wanted to talk about that... um.. you know. What happened.

Zoro: You're one to call me a pervert!

Sanji, rolling his eyes: Not the point, marimo! I wanna know... um...

He felt like a frog was stuck in his throat. Zoro took a step towards him. It didn't help. Sanji kept looking at his lips and couldn't stop thinking about the kiss.

Sanji: Did you mean to... did you really want to kiss me?

Zoro: Yes

Sanji: So what? You like me?

Zoro: Yes

Sanji, startled how honest and quick the answer was: o- oh... w- well too bad both our first two kisses were so horrible then...

Zoro taking another step closer: You know what they say, third one's the charm...

Sanji: You and your three's...

They were just about to close the distance between each other when the door opened and Sanji quickly jumped behind the door. It was Reiju, she looked at Zoro, around and then at Zoro again.

Reiju: Have you seen Sanji?

Zoro, panicking: Shitty brows? Nope, He's probably in the toilet or something...

Reiju, giving him a disbelieving look, but smiling anyway: Well, tell him Nami was looking for him when you see him. And be nice to him. He's developing a bit of a crush on you.

Zoro: Really, I had no idea.

Reiju: Yeah, boys never do.

And she left. This was the most embarrassing day of Sanji's life. He couldn't even look at Zoro after that. Sure, they held hands under the table for a bit before lunch, but he just couldn't look at him in the eyes. Zoro found it kind of funny, charming even.

The day of the festival was after a couple of days. They still had no time one-on-one, but it was a bit better.

But like all good things in Sanji's life, it never lasted long. It turned out that by popular demand, Zoro and some other guy were chosen to be the ones at the kissing booth. Sanji knew he shouldn't feel as bad as he was. He finally came to terms with the fact that he might have feelings for his classmate and maybe it was even reciprocal. But this just felt like the rug was pulled from under him. It wasn't like they were together, but when the class president announced this, he couldn't help but ask to be excused. He ran to the toilets and started balling his eyes out.

He heard the door of the bathroom swing open and he instinctively put his feet up, scared that someone would see or hear him. It was even worse when he heard Zoro's voice call for him, he almost let out a squeak. He's never heard Zoro sound so scared and worried.

Zoro: Cook? Are you here? I'll try to talk to them to replace me.

A silence that did nothing to soothe Sanji ensued.

Zoro continued, his voice was now closer: Please Sanji, come out...

The cook's heart was going to jump out at the mention of his name. Zoro rarely used his name, if ever. But the moment the thought of unlocking the door crossed his mind, someone came to fetch Zoro and practically dragged him out.

Sanji was feeling unwell. He wanted to go home.

Upon walking back to his house, Sanji threw his backpack on his chair and collapsed on the bed. He didn't even have the energy to cry anymore.

Reiju came to his room, tried to talk to him, see what was wrong but he didn't utter a single word. At some point, something must have happened because Sora called for Sanji, but Reiju told him to stay and that she'd see what their mother needed.

It was raining outside. Sanji noticed when the sound of thunder startled him. There must have been a window or a door open because it was unexpectedly loud. For a second he thought he heard Zoro's voice arguing with his sister. But there was no way that was the case. Maybe it was just the rain and exhaustion. He drifted into sleep.

On the day of the festival, Sanji was at the booth, celling tickets. They figured people would pay more money if they didn't see their spending as actual money but in the form of tickets. "Like in a casino", Nami had said. People would buy tickets from desks like the one Sanji was at and then pay with the tickets for various attractions, food, or entertainment. At one point Franky came to take his place for a bit. He told him to go have fun because he knew how much it sucked being stuck in one place while everyone else was running about. Sanji didn't feel like having "fun" but Franky insisted. So he didn't really have any choice but to listen to his upperclassman.

He started walking around, but nothing caught his eye. He had a couple of tickets that Franky gave him, "free of charge" he said, but Sanji was sure that was just another way to call "stealing".

He got caught by some of his underclassmen, who insisted he bought something from their stand. He really wanted to say no, but they had those puppy eyes that he didn't have the heart to say no. He kept walking, realizing he still has ten to twenty minutes before Franky lets him go back to his post and he had no more tickets.

He started walking around, being sure there was another ticket booth around here somewhere. But where?

Finally, he saw a booth from behind with a big line in front of it. It must be the ticket booth - they were always packed, especially near the entrances. He walked to the front, just to see that it was not a ticket booth, in fact, it was the very thing he was trying to avoid - the kissing booth. He reflexively cringed, seeing the boy Zoro was supposed to be with on shift. Still, the impulse to look at the other kissing booth next to him was too great. With great fear his eyes shifted to see an unfamiliar face.

... It wasn't Zoro.

The other person wasn't Zoro.

Where the hell was Zoro then? What was going on?

A distant "Sanji!" sounded. Sanji looked around to see who it was but didn't see anyone. Then he heard it again "Sanjiiii!" Sanji turned his head, looking up at an open window where Zoro was shouting at him. The moment their eyes met, the world stopped. Zoro put both feet on the edge of the window and got ready to jump into the tree right next to it.

Sanji: Idiot! STOP!

Zoro, ignoring everyone around him (including Sanji), who were screaming at him not to do it, jumped, broke a couple of branches, and fell on his ass with a couple of bruises. Sanji ran to him. Zoro stood up grunting in pain.

Sanji: Moron! Why would you do that?!

Zoro: You were avoiding me! I looked for you everywhere, I couldn't let you run again.

Sanji: What are you tlaking about, I've been at the ticket booth all this time.

Zoro: ... really? Wait- no, never mind that. I wanted to tell you that I really like you!

Sanji, not knowing whether to be embarrassed because he was being confessed to by his crus, or being embarrassed because he was doing it in public so loudly: what!!!???

Zoro: I have for a while now, I don't want to ever kiss anyone other than you! And I never will! Even when we get old and wrinkly like Mr Brook!

Sanji: Don't say that kind of thing so loud I-... don't tell me you said that to the class president.

Zoro: I dind't.

Sanji, sighing in relief: Ok...

Zoro: I told the whole class after you left.

Sanji: WHAT?!

Zoro: I told them to find someone else because I'll never kiss anyone other than you. I want to be yours only.

Sanji felt like crying again. He couldn't ever describe the hoops Zoro made his heart jump though. Sanji, disregarding all the eyes that were on them at that moment, hugged Zoro tightly.

Sanji: You're such an idiot... And in a small voice he added ...But you're my idiot

disclaimer: don't jump out of windows pls

#zosan #zoro x sanji #sanji x zoro #high school au #this took me way too long idk I wrote half of it and then dropped it fsr #and i had no idea where i was going with it at one point #i think it became a bit too cheesy tho ngl :(( #op

[swanqueenfeathers]

“Don’t worry, guys” says a young Tim Drake to the congregation of stuffed toys that line the foot of his bed, like soldiers standing at attention. “I’ll be back before ya know it! Keep an eye out for Mrs. Mac, ‘kay?”

He silently slips out the bedroom window and onto the roof, his footsteps soundless as he stalks towards the edge. He eases himself over the gutter and drops down a few feet to land on the balcony outside his parent’s room. They’re not home, of course - they rarely are, and so there’s no fear of being caught as he squeezes through the railing, grabs the drain pipe and slides down like it’s a fireman’s pole until his feet hit grass.

He adjusts the strap of his camera bag slung over his shoulder and slinks towards the front gate, keeping to the shadows as he climbs up and over, dropping down into a cluster of bushes on the other side with hardly a rustle of leaves. He’s done this a hundred times, following a path only visible to himself to the bicycle he kept hidden beneath an alcove of rocks, kicking up the stand and riding into the city.

He loves Gotham at night - rain puddles in the street that reflected the blinking neon lights, the warm, yellow glow that spilled from the windows of 24-hour diners, and the absence of all the noise a bustling city makes during the day. He even loved the ugly side of Gotham - darkened alleys where shady individuals swapped goods, dimly lit corners where beautiful girls crooned at passers-by, luring them into dens pumping with music and alcohol.

And because the ugly side is where Batman and Robin haunted the night.

Tonight was special, too - It was Tim’s 9th birthday. His parents hadn’t called to wish him a happy birthday or sent a gift; Tim figured they were busy or maybe they’d just forgotten again, but that was alright. Mrs. Mac had made him his favorite dinner and a chocolate cake decorated with nine candles.

“Make a wish,” she had said, smiling at him kindly but with a sort of sadness in her eyes that didn’t go unnoticed. Tim had squeezed his eyes shut and wished for just one gift, just one perfect picture.

He turns into an alleyway and hops off the bike, pushing it behind a dumpster before climbing the fire escape of the adjacent building, hoisting himself up and onto the flat roof. He crouches down and creeps towards the far corner of the roof, away from the light of the street lamps and facing another back alley, carefully pulling the camera from his pack and slinging the strap over his head. He had patched into the GCPD dispatch radio using a homemade scanner, and through a set of wired headphones he listened for any mention of Batman and Robin, having followed the trail of reported low-lives unfortunate enough to run into the Dynamic Duo during acts of questionable morality, tied up nice and pretty and ready for the ride to jail in the back of a squad car. 

The trail leads him to the roof he’s on now, and he carefully peers over the ledge, looking down into the alley where two men argue in heated whispers, their shoulders tensed and their eyes constantly darting to the shadows around them with a tangible uneasiness. One of the men shoves something into the other’s hand. Tim snaps a photo of the exchange, and he also watches the shadows but with a nervous excitement that has his hands shaking ever so slightly. 

Tim hears and sees nothing, but feels the sudden overwhelming presence. He’s here, he thinks giddily, camera ready. An imperceptible shift in the inky black of night at the other end of the alleyway that even the two men sense as they fall silent and stiff with fear. 

There’s a flash of color and both men fall to their knees with cries of pain. Robin had swung in from behind and with a graceful twirl, kicked in the back of their legs as they stood frozen staring at the darkness beyond.

Tim takes as many pictures as he can while remaining unnoticed. He captures the moment Robin effortlessly vaults over the two men, landing light as a feather and throwing a smug smirk over his shoulder. 

“Seriously, guys?” He tuts, crossing his arms and shaking his head like a parent scolding children. “That was too easy, it’s not even fun!”

“It’s not supposed to be ‘fun’, Robin,” Batman growls, melting from the shadows and looming over the pair with a dangerous aura. He extends a gloved hand with silent and threatening expectation, and one of the men quickly hands him the object exchanged earlier with trembling fingers. Batman examines it, and Tim zooms in to catch a glimpse - it’s a crumbled slip of paper with writing that Tim can’t quite make out.

Batman wordlessly tucks the paper into a pouch on his belt, then with lightning speed he strikes both men behind the ear, knocking them out cold. Robin makes quick work of binding their wrists and ankles before dragging them closer to the street to be picked up by the GCPD.

With a simultaneous click of their grapple guns, the Dynamic Duo ascend to the roof of the building across from where Tim lay hidden. He hardly dared to breathe lest they hear or see him. His heart pounded in his chest and his only movement was to press his finger to the camera's trigger. 

Batman sprints towards the building’s ledge and leaps onto the neighboring roof, his black cape billowed out, contributing an impressive and threatening silhouette. Robin was hot on his heels, performing a fluid backwards handspring, launching himself into the air and twirling mid-leap to land lithely on his feet. 

At that moment, Tim is six years old again - he’s at the circus with his parents, watching a beautiful family fly together. That same move performed for a crowd whose cheers turned to screams and gasps of horror as tragedy struck. 

Tim feels numb but his mind is moving at a million miles a second. Puzzle pieces click into place and as Batman and Robin disappear into the night, he clutches the camera to his chest. 

“Bruce Wayne is Batman,” he whispers in awe, “Dick Grayson is Robin.” He looks down at the last picture taken, a perfect capture of the duo suspended in the air. Elation is making his hands shake and he’s smiling so wide it hurts his cheeks. He shuts the camera off and tucks it back into the bag. He can’t wait to develop the photos and add them to the rest of his stash, which he kept hidden away in a lockbox under his bed. He was careful to only take them out when he was sure he was alone, showing them to his camaraderie of stuffed toys as he discussed with them his theories on the identities of the Dynamic Duo. And boy, did he have the story to tell them tonight!

“Don’t worry, Batman,” he says into the nighttime air, “Your secret is safe with me.” 

#swanfic #tim drake #bruce wayne #dick grayson #batman #robin #i luv baby tim yall #and i've had this fic in my drafts for foreverrrr

[asteria-edalyn]

The Story of Kunning Palace 命转皇后/宁安如梦

Started watching the canto dub with eng subs when it came on tvb!! I’ve wanted to watch it for a while but I didn’t want to get another streaming service to watch it. On episode 17 now and I couldn’t resist making a post about what happened so far lol. Please don’t give me spoilers!

I love Ning Er so much. She’s clever, and she’s trying her best to change things, but she doesn’t know everything from her past life and things have changed so she’s having to act on the fly! And I love seeing how she uses her wits in these moments! And how she outsmarts her opponents!

I love the dynamic between her and Xie Wei. The brat and teacher power dynamic? But she’s just as clever as he is? And he’s constantly like, how/why do you keep showing up when shit goes down?? She infuriates him but he’s also sooooo fascinated and charmed by her and he wants to protect her.

So this probs real obvious but I’m gonna put it down here anyway. Xie Wei is the missing Xue Ding-fei and he and the current Xue Ding-fei swapped identities so that he could be sneaky and undercover.

I… don’t think the male cast is very good-looking tbh :”) Zhang Zhe’s probably the most attractive to me. I guess Xie Wei is hot when he’s being all smug and domineering and shit. Also I love how Zhang Zhe (and Ning Er, but more so Zhang Zhe) had been going “You’re working for him too??” like, constantly and getting more and more incredulous but he can’t react cuz he’s undercover lmao.

I feel like this is the start of the second arc, like we’re leaving the palace, the stakes are higher, but maybe I’m wrong. More hilarious moments: when Zhou Yin-zhi tells Xie Wei Ning Er has been kidnapped and internally he’s like: What?? Why??? How??? WHY like girl is gonna make him go grey. And also when she tells Zhang Zhe she told the rebels they’re cousins but they’re in love so they ran away to elope is HILARIOUS. He’s like, why would you tell them that?? But tbh it was a good plan to get them to stop questioning her. And then the rebels acting increasingly awkward around them. Love that the auntie ships them. She’s like, ah young love.

It definitely appeals to me that Xie Wei is so clever but also fucked up. Like not necessarily in a bad way, but man has been through A LOT, since he was like 6. And he’s been plotting and scheming and deceiving for so long, that’s gotta have an impact on his personality.

I have so many fav moments when Ning Er out-smarts her enemies or comes out with the upper hand. A cute recent one is basically the whole “getting the second half of the letter” plot, but specifically when the bank notes reveal her little turtle drawing. So cute!! It’s like she’s saying, hi 👋🏻😙 and then when he shows it to the others and they are just so confused because they don’t have context for the turtle??

Okay wait wait before I end this post I wanna talk about what intrigued me so much about this show in the first place. I’ve always loved reading time travel fix-its, seeing how things change or stay the same, what characters do with what they know and i thought it'd be so interesting for a story to start like a time travel fix it fic, but because the audience doesn't have the established "canon", it's revealed slowly through the story. And then this show showed up on my tumblr and I was like ??? wth this is exactly what I was looking for

Anyway that's it for now!!

#the story of kunning palace #命转皇后 #cdrama #宁安如梦