#free is an experience. a lifestyle if you wish. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

buryustogether · 11 months

Text

lilac - chapter 4

miguel o’hara x f!reader

summary: you accidentally overhear a conversation between miguel and his ai at work.

wc: 4.5k

warnings/tags: domestic lifestyle, mentions of violence, mentions of choking and death, swearing, mentions of office sex, strippers, sex workers, strip club, private dances, cuddling

author’s note: he’s so lana del rey coded guys

Anybody with experience knew that trying to keep twenty third graders together was like herding cats. Anybody with further experience knew that keeping twenty third graders together in a sharp, sleek, trillion-dollar facility like Alchemax was like herding cats who were soaking wet and high on all the catnip they could have stuffed their stupid little faces with in the span of five minutes.

“Alexander,” you snapped as you helped your coworker count little bodies as they piled off the bus. “If I have to tell you one more time to keep your hands off James, I’m going to drive this bus myself back to school and give you a fifty-page packet while everyone else here has fun.”

While your words had the effect you hoped they did, you wouldn’t exactly classify a field trip to Alchemax as fun. It was a megacorporation that dabbled in exploits from clean energy to genetics to god knew whatever else they did in there between those fancy metal walls. The building looked as though it should have come straight from a sci-fi film compared to the other foundations on the block, all floor-to-ceiling windows and fifty-some floors and armed guards that stood at the front doors. Certainly not a place to take a field trip with a bunch of nine year olds. Again, you would have thought some place like the zoo or even an interactive museum would have been better, but when the principal wanted something, she got it.

To be honest, you had a suspicion she was hooking up with one of the guards here, but you had nothing to prove your theory.

Like the pack of raging little animals that they were, your students filed across the front way of the building and up the stone stairs to the doors, where they waited in a mass of wiggles and excited spasms. Each of them held their partner’s hand, a rule you pressed with each field trip. Going into a freaky building like this, you almost wished you had a hand to hold yourself.

“That’s all of them,” said your coworkers, one of the three teachers who had come to chaperone the trip. She looked up from her clipboard of names, double checking each kid as you both followed the crowd of children up the steps. “Christ, this is going to be a shitshow. I just know we’re going to be escorted out of here after… I don’t know, a molecular leveler gets demolished by tiny, sticky hands.”

You snuffed out a little snort, reaching up to adjust the necklace perched about your collarbones. In your free hand, you carried a coffee cup that still had the tab in; it wasn’t for you. “I think it’ll be alright,” you said, but not nearly as confidently as you would have liked. “We had an entire assembly over this.”

“And since when has that ever helped?” She followed your movements, her eyes trailing over your form. You blinked at her. “Are you wearing lipstick?”

“Hah! No…!” Quickly, before she could ask any more questions, you turned away and pressed your lips to your sleeve, trying to wipe off some of the excess lipstick you’d applied right before leaving the school. Fuck, it was too much, wasn’t it?

Definitely too much for popping in to visit during a school field trip when you should have been watching your kids.

After passing through multiple tall, sleek-looking metal detectors (and scolding a few kids for bringing their phones when they were specifically told to leave them at school), you met the man who would be giving the tour of the facility in the lobby. Overhead, modern-art-classified light fixtures hung from the ceiling like someone had captured starlight and crammed it into bulbs. A cafeteria filled with scientists and researchers and everyone in between stood to your left, each of them donned in a stark white lab coat. Some of them spoke on phones, others clacked away on laptops and futuristic-looking tablets with such an intensity you would have thought they were taking a test for their lives. A few of them spared a glace or two at your group, but they didn’t last long. Apparently field trips to designated areas in the building were normal.

You heard the tour guide talking animatedly to the kids, but his words didn’t quite register as you kept your head on a swivel, searching out something specific. After a moment, when you leaned back on the heels of your feet, you found what you were looking for; the elevators.

“Hey,” you said to your coworker as the kids began to move deeper into the lobby, “will you cover for me? I’ve got to run to the restroom real quick.”

After they had moved along to where they couldn’t see you, you grasped the coffee cup tighter in your grasp and made a beeline for the elevators. Your footsteps against the polished marble seemed deafening as you quickened your pace, realizing the cup wasn’t as hot as it had been earlier. How fucking humiliating would it be if you brought him cold coffee? There was a part of you that knew, really, he wouldn’t mind, but the larger, more insecure bit insisted he would mentally cringe and throw it out the second you left.

Fuck, you thought. This man had you whipped.

You had just reached the elevators, reaching out to tap the call button, when a voice called out to you from your left. “Excuse me,” said a woman sitting behind a large metal desk you hadn’t seen in your haste. She eyed you from behind thick lenses, brow quirked over the top of her monitor. “We do ask that you stay with your group, if you’re here for a tour.”

“Oh! Uhm…” Gripping the cup tight enough that you felt the cardboard bend ever so slightly against your fingers, you padded closer to the desk and put on your best tight-lipped smile. “I’m sorry. I was just bringing a drink to someone who worked here. He’s, uhm… he’s -”

Before you could force your tongue to get out some kind of excuse, some kind of title, the woman was pulling out a small paper sheet from a drawer beside her leg. “Are you a significant other?” she asked, pulling a visitor sticker from the sheet and leaning forward to press it to your shirt. She didn’t seem to want to wait for an answer before sitting back down and clicking away at her screen. “Just a security question before you go; name and floor number?”

Goddamn; suddenly you were so fucking glad some people sucked at their jobs.

Taking a breath, you inhaled and plastered on a grin. “O’Hara,” you replied. “Floor seven.”

“Alright,” she said without looking up again. “You’re free to go up. Please stay in the public hallways.”

The entire elevator ride up to the third floor, you were unable to keep a goofy, surely stupid-looking smile from your face. You liked the idea of being called Miguel’s ‘significant other.’ It made your stomach clench, made your pulse race and your heart thunder and your core throb with a dull ache. For just a moment, you allowed yourself to imagine that kind of role, being deserving of such a title.

Coming home from your teaching job not to immediately race to do your makeup in loud, flashy colors, but to stay in the warm, basking glow of a house or a roomy apartment each evening. The keys would always fit just right in the lock, never click or jump. The air would be filled with the sound of a little girl’s quiet giggles from her bedroom, along with the smell of dinner cooking on the stove. Small soccer cleats by the door. Trinkets and photographs and everything else that made the house a home strewn about the rooms. And a tall, sinewy figure that towered over you there to greet you when you walked inside, all warm smiles and wide, calloused hands on your hips and full lips to press against yours with enough gentleness and passion and adoration to keep you on your toes the rest of the night.

A bed big enough for the both of you, with enough blankets and comforters that you wouldn’t be cold even if you couldn’t afford to keep the heat on. Sheets and pillows that knew your white-knuckled grip, that would mold to your hands as you laid out bare for him and allowed him to worship the very ground you walked on with his mouth, his fingers, what lay beneath his slim, narrow hips…

By the time the elevator reached the seventh floor and the doors opened with a gentle chime, your cheeks were hot and your palms were sweaty enough you were sure you’d heated the coffee back up to steaming.

Wandering through the halls of Alechmax’s third floor and feeling incredibly out of place amongst the scientists flipping through reports and chattering on calls, you shuffled from office to office, searching for that familiar name that made your stomach flip. It seemed an awkwardly insane amount of time before you finally spotted his name on a plate beside a door left slightly ajar. You approached and smoothed out your shirt, preparing to present the coffee, when you heard voices inside.

“This isn’t like you, boss,” a woman was saying, her voice slightly warped from speaking over a computer. “You’re always preaching to the others that messing with canon events and triggering changes that aren’t meant to happen is wrong. You know it’s wrong.”

From across the room, a voice you recognized as Miguel’s scoffed. “This one is different. I’m balancing out the changes. I’ve got it under control.”

“Some control you’ve got. You do realize you’ve already altered enough canon events that even this universe itself doesn’t know where it’s going anymore? The bad guys here aren’t supposed to be in jail. Things aren’t supposed to get better. You know why? Because here, there is no Spiderman.”

Spiderman? Your gut clenched slightly as you inched closer to the gap between the door and the frame. If they were talking about Spiderman, then surely - he must have come from here. Some of those conspiracy theorists were right.

“Like I said, Lyla,” Miguel replied, his voice a touch deeper than it had been just a moment ago, “I have it under control.”

The woman named Lyla went on despite the dangerous rumble in Miguel’s throat you’d never heard before. “Here’s another one. That friend of yours? She was supposed to be engaged by now to her boyfriend. Her actual boyfriend. They’re supposed to have the whole angsty proposal thing, go back and forth for another three months, then end things. When he ends her. Asphyxiation by choking for approximately seven minutes, by the way.”

For a long, long while, there was silence. You realized you had been holding your breath, trying desperately to connect these pieces that just refused to fit together. What on earth were they talking about? Universes? Spiderman? Someone getting choked to death by their fiance? It sounded like a bad movie plot.

“Lyla?” came Miguel’s voice.

“Yeah, boss?”

“...Shut down and mute all alerts.”

Again, there came that horrible, palpable silence. Lyla seemed to be in some kind of shock. “Boss, I’m not sure that’s really what you want. You’re in a state of denial. Maybe you should take a break there, come back to headquarters. Jessica’s tried reaching out. Peter and Ben, too. I advise spending time with friends to decrease levels of -”

“Shut down. Now. I’m not going to tell you again.”

“...Yes, boss.”

When you heard his footsteps crossing the room, you took a small step back and clutched the surely-lukewarm coffee to your stomach. You’d never heard him take such a tone before, always used to that warm, content baritone that rumbled comfortably from deep within his throat. This kind of voice you’d just heard was cold and emotionless, without an ounce of feeling in a single one of his words.

You took a breath and exhaled it softly.

Then, as if he heard it from inside his office, the door was opened at an alarming rate to reveal Miguel on the other side. His brow was furrowed and a line had appeared at the corner of his mouth with his frown, obviously expecting one of his coworkers to be intruding at his door. Yet when his gaze met yours, when his frame towered over your smaller one, he realized just who you were, recognized that gleam in your eyes when you locked stares. His gaze softened like an airbag deflating. That line by his mouth disappeared. His tensed figure slowly relaxed, his shoulders coming down from where they’d been set.

For a short moment, you simply stared at one another. You were forced to admit to yourself that tone he’d spoken with had intimidated you.

It reminded you of the one Ferris used when he cornered you and threatened to take off for good.

Finally, Miguel’s lips parted. “Hey,” he breathed out, like he was trying his damn fucking best not to let that tone leak through to you.

You swallowed and slowly allowed yourself to relax. He wouldn’t ever speak to you like that. You didn’t know how you knew. You could just sense it in the warmth that poured from him, from the gentle honey of his dark eyes, from the way he held himself and carried his weight and set down each step like he knew the outcome of each and every movement he made. “Hi.”

Miguel inhaled, as if he were relieved you decided to speak. “Sorry about that,” he said and gestured over his shoulder into his office. “We’ve been testing out some new AI lately. Throwing it curveballs to see if it can keep up.” A small smile graced his face, close-lipped and sweet. Again, you realized - he never smiled with his teeth. “It hasn’t been going well.”

Like a dam breaking and letting a flood of water into a canal, relief rocketed through your systems and worked to ease your stress. Of course he had been talking to a computer. You doubted he could ever speak to a woman like that, much less anyone else. And that also explained all the wild things they had been discussing. Universes? Some poor chick getting murdered by her fiance?

Just the complicated workings of an out of sorts AI.

“I have to admit, I was wondering,” you let yourself laugh. “But, you know… who am I to question Alchemax’s best geneticist?” You watched in fascination as the corner of his mouth quirked upward and one eye squinted with the smile. God, you could watch him do that all damn day. Suddenly remembering the coffee in your hands, you held it up to him with an embarrassed grin. “I meant to bring you this while it was still hot, but I guess you know how hellish it can be getting a bunch of third graders on a bus.”

He took the cup with a rather confused expression.

“The field trip,” you said and folded your hands in front of you, because you knew if you didn’t, you would surely reach out and touch his face. “It’s today. You signed the permission slip about a month ago.”

Miguel blinked a few times, then took a breath and lifted his face. “Right. Right, sorry. Must have slipped my mind. I’ve - heh.” He shook his head and reached up to scratch at the delicate skin of his throat in that way he did when he spoke to you. “More going on than you would know.”

“Believe me,” you said softly, looking down at your shoes. You thought of dishes still in the sink, and band practices in your living room, and threats of leaving you all on your own because, really, that was truly your worst fear. “I know.”

You thought from there you would smile and turn, say something like, ‘Well, just thought I’d stop by,’ and leave him in the doorway of his office so that he wouldn’t see the yearning swimming in your irises. Maybe if you were feeling bold, you’d reach out and touch his wrist for just a moment before pulling away and practically sprinting back to the elevators.

But when you went to turn, he beat you to all of that. He reached out to touch your upper arm, the tips of his calloused fingers brushing along the fabric of your shirt, and he asked if you’d like to come inside, sit down for a minute. And inside his office, he told you what his department was working on, explained it in ways he knew you would understand. He spoke of a molecular collider that, in theory, would open a doorway to parallel universes.

You could have spent hours sitting in that office that smelled like his cologne, listening to him talk.

But life moved on. You were forced to pull yourself away, travel back downstairs and hold Gabriella’s hand like you hadn’t just thought about Miguel folding you over his desk, hushing your desperate cries, and gripping onto your hips with a hold that would bruise. You were forced to drive home and argue with Ferris about dirty laundry and his new keyboard girl constantly texting him. You were forced to land in the dressing room at The Menagerie, carefully dotting rhinestones to your collarbones in the mirror while the other girls buzzed around you.

“And he brought you flowers, too?” asked Shawna from where she was spread out on the couch across the room. She sighed deeply and hung her head over the armrest. “Girl. When are you going to stop playing and give that little girl of his a new mom?”

“You know why I can’t,” you replied as you pressed a small plastic rhinestone to your skin.

Zara met your eyes in the mirror as she grabbed the back of your chair, already dressed in her colorful, skimpy outfit and her mask. “We know why,” she hissed, but not at you. “That Ferris dude has got you held under the water, babe. Serious ball and chain kind of deal here. You really need to do something.”

If you could have found the strength to, you would have rolled your eyes at their words. But you really couldn’t. You were nothing short of exhausted after the field trip today, so much that you wouldn’t be surprised if you were unable to keep your eyes open while you were on stage. God, you loved your teaching gig, but sometimes it was so, so stressful. And so was this job. Teaching, dancing, disciplining, teasing. They all collided into one big, neverending hurricane of fatigue.

“Maybe in another universe,” you found yourself mumbling under your breath, remembering everything Miguel had told you about this morning, “I could have been a flower shop keeper.”

Behind you in the mirror, a few of the girls looked at you with strange expressions.

Before you could go back to applying your rhinestones, one of the newer girls entered the room and pushed her mask up so that her face was visible. She looked to you. “Boss said you’re canceled on the stage,” she said, and you hoped for a moment you were going to go home early, before she added, “Guy paid for a private dance in Room 7.”

“Goddammit.” You groaned and leaned forward to rest your forehead on your arms. You were way too fucking tired to do a private dance right now.

“M’sure he won’t be that bad,” said Shawna as she let herself slip further over the arm of the couch.

Grumbling beneath your breath, you stood, finished off your rhinestones the best you could, and slipped your cold porcelain mask over your features. At least like this, your customer wouldn’t be able to see your exhausted eyes and lost expression.

The beating, thrumming music of the club seemed to vibrate your very soul in your chest as you wound your way past patrons and around the stage, sure to throw half-assed smiles at the people you were forced to wiggle past just a bit too close. The short corridor leading to the private rooms were lit with neons, playing with shadows across your costumed form as you found Room 7 and gently knocked on the door. You blinked a few times to clear the blur from your eyes, then cleared your throat and stepped inside.

“Hi, handsome,” you said as you turned to shut the door - your classic line, no matter who the buyer. “How are you doing tonight?” You turned around to face your customer, then came to a complete stop. Even your heart jumped a beat or two.

The man you’d seen in the shadows that night of the robbery, the man with the little scar on his collarbone, had gotten to his feet from his chair when you entered the room. He wore that same spider mask, still had his dark hair slicked back over his head.

You swallowed thick as you felt his eyes traveling over your form behind the gaps in his mask. “Hello… Spiderman.”

He hesitated for a moment, like he was lost on just what to do. “Hey,” he said in an equally soft voice. It was muted in the same way it was behind his spandex mask.

You placed your hands behind your back as you leaned up against the door - and locked it. “I didn’t think you’d come.”

“...You asked.”

“Did I?” Putting on your best flirty, coy smile, you slowly crossed the room to meet him. “I thought all I said was… if you stopped by, to ask for me.” You reached out to touch the edge of his shirt, past his dress jacket, and skim your knuckle over the tan skin of his exposed collarbone. That scar sat just where you’d seen it before. “But you’re here.”

“...I’m here.”

There was a soft lilt to his voice, one that you had not heard before. Then again, you hadn’t spoken to him much, just in the bank and on the rooftop. But it seemed long enough to know that it wasn’t normal.

“What’s wrong, Spiderman?” you asked gently, taking a step closer. Your knees brushed against his, and when you gave him a gentle push on the shoulder, he sat back in the chair positioned in the center of the room. You gingerly climbed up so that your knees rested on either side of his thighs, so that your center was just inches above his. You didn’t miss the slight hitch in his breath, the way his eyes widened ever just so behind that spider mask. “Have a bad day? Some criminals get the better of you?”

You knew, in a way, that he wasn’t going to do it himself, so you took his wide, warm hands in your own and rested them on your hips. They stayed there for a long, long moment. Then they moved not down, toward your ass and your core, but up. They felt tentatively along your middle, his thumb tickling your stomach just a bit, and stopped just below your breasts before sliding back down again.

“No,” he replied in a low, raspy voice. He paused when you slowly lowered yourself so that you were seated on his lap now, your hips pressed against his. You felt his thigh twitch beneath your ass. “Pretty good day, actually. Just… heard some bad news.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

You hummed, letting your fingers drag along the delicate skin of his throat, just barely shaded with stubble. “What can I do to make you feel better?”

You expected him to hesitate, then make a request. Strip for him. Dance. Whisper in his ear all the things you wanted to do to him.

But there came none of that. Instead of touching you like you were used to, his hands - which were still respectfully resting against your middle - slowly slid across to your back and gently, gingerly, pulled you against him so that you were lying against his front. So that your chests were pressed together. So that you were slumped comfortably in his lap. He held you there against him, one hand on the small of your back and the other on the base of your neck.

“Just this,” he murmured.

You were stunned, to say the least. This was not the first time a customer just wanted to hold, or be held, or anything of the sort. But even then, those touches were desperate and needy, clingy and awkward. But this was everything they were not. This was gentle and considerate, kind and… romantic. Like he didn’t just need to be touched, he needed to be touched by you.

When you inhaled you thought you recognized the scent you breathed in. But with his body so close and his hands holding you so securely, you dismissed it like a runaway thought.

“Here.” Spiderman pulled you back for just a second, raising his fingers up to pull at the ribbon keeping your mask on your face, mindful not to catch any hair. Your breath hitched when he set the monarch mask aside, your face now bare as you stared down at him. This was against the rules. You were not supposed to do this. Customers were not supposed to see your face, know you like this.

But this?

This was far beyond any rules.

Your lips parted and your heart thundering in your chest so loud you were sure he could hear it, you found your own fingers slowly reaching up to graze at his porcelain mask. Your fingertips grazed the edge, began to hitch it up…

He caught your wrist in a hold that was so gentle, yet so commanding, that you immediately let your hand drop. But there was no venomous feeling there, no edge. Just a warning. A soft, quiet warning.

Exhaling, you wrapped your arms around his neck and settled yourself against his wide, powerful frame. Your face nestled itself into the crook of his neck, your chin resting atop his shoulder, as his hands came back to hold your form against his. One of his thumbs glided across your shoulder blade, sending goosebumps rising across your skin.

Gripping onto his jacket collar, you opened your eyes to look at yourself in the mirror that faced the back of the chair. Here you couldn’t see the mask over Spiderman’s face, just his slicked-back hair and his broad shoulders keeping you caged against him. His head tilted toward yours, your temples resting together.

For a moment, in your exhaustion and fatigue, you thought he resembled someone else you knew. But you let the thought pass, instead shutting your eyes and basking in his soft, gentle, perfect touch.

tags: @mooomeadows @twentysomethingwereyote @screamforyani @fangirlreice7 @axdjelx @ornamentalnecromancy @faust-pda @ilikethemoon28 @mrm-pachypoda @wadafrick @natthernandez @bakgoktski @soupsexsunsalutationsss @roxannarichie @lovagirlxxx @soggyeyeballsss @yoyoyoyoyo55555 @sophipet @quaintii @lavnderluv @cookiezxx @euphorica @its-a-polyglot @nicalysm @maxi-ride @exzidss @crappwr0m @femme-is-dead @bitch-onthemoon @hier—soir @takayomi @kirke-is-my-name @d1lf-loverrr @might-be-a-rat @brooks-lin @maki-z @bookfreakk @act1839 @dollscircus @sleepingaway @anxietybutterfly @bioticboot @mxkn @freeingrebels @digitalcreature404 @aimee777 @hunnaye @blahbahed @cyanide-mustard @impettywhenyouare @mental-illness-is-my-friend @bobfood

#miguel o’hara #miguel o’hara x you #miguel o’hara x y/n #miguel o’hara smut #atsv miguel o’hara #miguel o’hara x reader #miguel o’hara across the spiderverse #miguel o’hara atsv #across the spiderverse #atsv miguel #spiderman atsv #atsv x reader #atsv #spiderman 2099

2K notes · View notes

crystallilytarot · 14 days

Text

Choose a dino! Your life purpose.

Pile 1

You probably had some bad experiences but you are able to overcome it. And after that you will be even stronger, and smarter in a way too. It can be that you will help someone who will have the same struggles as you. Sometimes you can feel hopeless and like you don't know what to do. But you will be able to choose or make decisions more easily, and also you will learn how to stand up for yourself and have boundaries. One of your life lesson is to find balance and harmony within yourself. Be in peace with yourself and with the world. You are probably very creative and you should practice your creativity more, express yourself freely. If you want to have a family, it will definitely happen. I think children and animals are drown to you. If you don't want children, than you will have some significant pets in your life too. You will have a happy and abundant family life. Whatever you wish for, a partner, children, pets, a garden...

Pile 2

There will be some new beginnings in your life, and even if you wanted it, it still can be hard at first. But you have all the ability to succeed. You should have more faith in yourself. You are smart. You are good at manifestation, some of you can have some psychic abilities too. Maybe you are a wanderer, an explorer, but it's not a bad thing, one day you will see clearly what your real purpose is. You will probably move a few times, travel a lot. If you want to go to a foreign country, it will definitely happen. Some of you can have a long distance relationship too. You should embrace your romantic nature and focus more on your inner child too. Have fun, be free, the world needs sensitive, joyful people too! You can have some unique ideas, unique lifestyle, and it's beautiful. Some of you can be some kind of healers too, not neccesseraly doctors, maybe reiki or just you have a healing presence and it will help someone when they really need it.

Pile 3

There will be some hard time in your life, and at that time you won't see that in the end of the day, it's better that it happened that way. Even if it's a betrayal, lie, loss of someone, everything will teach you something. And nothing last forever, hard times come to an end too. There's always a new day, a new beginning. You should accept changes. You will take time for soul searching, seeking answers, and you will have some inner wisdom. You are probably an old soul. You can overcome anything eventually, just have self-control, focus on what you want. You need to be open, be positive, don't give up hope. There's some divine timing and fate working in your life, but looking back you will see that actually you were lucky. You have a soulmate in this life, and that meeting will be something unexpected probably. Be confident, you will be a succesful person.

#tarot #free tarot #pick a card #pick a pile #tarot community

218 notes · View notes

mochidoie · 9 months

Text

with you and i - lee haechan

listen to: summer nights by the millennial club and die right here by david hugo genre: fluff, hopelessly in love badboy!haechan wc: 938 warnings: written in lowercase only

a/n: this is for the anon that requested a pt 2 to all i see is you :)

"it's always so nice with you." you peer over at haechan, catching him totally staring at you already. "how do you do that?"

"do what?" he scoots a bit closer to you on the bench. the cotton sky remains above the both of you and in this world, only you and haechan exist.

"make me feel so happy." your pinkies lightly touch, as you lean into him playfully at the serious statement. your smile is so shy that it tugs at haechan's heartstrings.

he knew the exact date to take you on and it wasn't what you two did for it to be perfect. it was how he made you feel so incredibly special to him. he doesn't know why you finally gave him a chance, but he was so thankful.

while you two hung out, he was very conscious of the boundary that being friends set. nonetheless, this date changes how he normally treats you. he could finally show you just how loving he could be. just how much he was in love with you.

under this summer sunset with you, he couldn't believe he found a love he's been dreaming of. around you, he could barely breathe. there weren't many things in the world that makes lee haechan nervous or even the slightest concern.

but you should know, that you're the only one that makes his palms sweat and his heart to race a million beats per second. you're the only person he would drop everything for.

if you wanted him to stop such a dangerous lifestyle, he would. you just had to say it. say that you want him and he'd be at your side in a flash.

"this feeling doesn't have to end." haechan tries to poke the bear, trying to see how much you're willing to give to him. all he wants is to see that bright smile shining on your pretty face. and if he was greedy enough, he wanted to be the reason behind every one of them.

you shoot him a quick look, but a sigh escapes your lips. "i don't know if i could do this to you without feeling like you deserve more than me."

shaking his head, his right hand lands on your knee to soothe any doubt in your mind. "there is nothing else in this world worth more than you. i could die right now and i'd be satisfied that i got to spend a date with you in this lifetime."

"don't be dramatic." you laugh and shit, he can't hold back his own dreamy smile at your contagious charm. the way your head is thrown back and pure happiness under these pink skies.

"i'm not the most into theatrics, you know that." haechan opens his palm up for you to take it. secretly, he is wishing upon every star, blowing out every candle, tossing every penny into fountains that you'd hold his hand.

when you show signs of hesitation, haechan respects it. he wants you to come to him on your own. "i want you, y/n, not in any malicious way. i want you in the way where you'd look at me like i'm the love you've been waiting for."

the silence creeps up on the both of you. haechan's hand still faced palm up on your knee and you're staring up at the summer sky, choosing your next words very carefully.

you love haechan as much as the moon loved their sun, it's a connection that is hard to ignore. you've always been so focused on your career that love was an after thought. however, with the love that haechan makes you feel is whole and free. you didn't have to think about anything, but him.

"you are the love i've dreamt of." and the look in your eyes is more than mesmerizing, the combination of your words and gaze causes him to freeze in his place. "i never told you, but i was falling in love with you."

"was it the near death experience or my totally not trashed apartment?" he doesn't know why he's making these unserious comments right now, maybe the mood was feeling too stuffy and too real. he couldn't believe what you were saying to him.

you don't laugh this time, instead, your fingers intertwine with his as you accept his hold so willingly. your grip is tight and haechan can feel his chest explode with fireworks from this contact.

"it's the way you sacrifice and the deepness of your love." his pupils dilate and his heart thumps against his ribcage so hard that he knows you can hear it. the way you have with words is absolutely poetic and he'll find himself falling in love with you over and over again.

you see him through and through. his vulnerability to you is so raw, so open. it's as if the heat of the summer night fills his lungs and he can breathe so easily around you. just how do you do that?

"y/n, i promise that i'd keep you safe and most importantly, really happy." haechan kisses the back of your hand, sealing the promise with his lips. "we don't have to date if you don't want to, but just let me be there for you."

"hyuck, let me lay with you tonight." your graceful words strike him before he could continue. the breeze in your hair adds to this incredible vision of you, not that you aren't already a beautiful sight on your own.

"as you like." with you and him here together, these are the blissful moments that haechan knows love is real.

#nct scenarios #haechan scenarios #nct fluff #nct dream #nct 127 #lee haechan #nct scenario #nct haechan #nct blurbs #haechan scenario #haechan imagines #nct imagines #haechan #nct drabbles #nct dream scenarios

435 notes · View notes

dominatecharlotte · 26 days

Text

Being a Domme,

Isn’t just how nasty you can be to someone or how much money you can take from them or how much you can hurt them

Being a Domme a REAL DOMME means looking at the needs, wants, desires and dreams of the people wanting to serve you and giving them an experience, as well as introducing you needs wants and desires in a jointly mutual way

It’s taking them to new hight’s with there Fetish and letting them be free to explore not only new kinks but what fetish means to them, it’s allowing them to be who they wish to be.

It’s having a bond built up over time, allowing both parties ( or more ) trust the person in control, it’s having good after care process in place to make sure there ok and giving them the freedom to say how and what maybe was wrong in a session and changing it , without bullying or dismissing there feelings without due consideration.

Being a domme is a vocation not a hobby, it’s expense, time, dedication, learning and more than anything it’s experience, anyone can buy some handcuffs and a whip and call themselves a mistress or a goddess.

But real dommes will be called this by dedicated slaves that not only want to serve but they want to be owned and part of that mistress’s life,

Treat your slaves not only with care but with the same respect as they give you, yes you can give someone the session of pain they want or the humiliation they crave and still have respect for them.

There’s too many now with no real understanding of the lifestyle and that for me is a shame. But it’s only when slaves realise that they need to go REAL will the fakes and hobbyists will go and fetish can be untainted once more.

53 notes · View notes

astroaid · 3 months

Text

Moon In Virgo

But the further you scroll, the more specific the placement is analyzed.

Generally, if you have this placement…

🍵 Your emotions are best regulated when living a routine-orientated lifestyle. Yet, you can take on too much, become overwhelmed and have a hectic lifestyle. For some, you need to experience this messy/chaotic lifestyle first to get to understand the need for routine.

🍵 You are naturally inclined to help people. This can come from a place of generosity or believing “I can do it better/it needs to be done my way”. This isn’t a diss, for all I know it is better done your way. You are analytical and refined. You naturally observe, analyze and find the most efficient method.

🍵 You express yourself through acts of service. Sometimes, people can take advantage of your helpfulness. This may be why you are likely to be a reserved individual. You understand the need for boundaries best due to selfish and entitled people you have encountered.

🍵 You can be very observant and detail orientated. For some, this can lead to anxiety as you become overwhelmed with the amount of information you’re taking in.

🍵 Dry, sarcastic humour. Depending on your entire chart, you may be confident and be able to express this in your first impression. For others, your virgo moon keeps you very reserved, almost shy or anxious at first. In this case, people need to get to know you before they see how funny you are.

🍵 Devoted to your work. This placement generally would shine best in a managerial or entrepreneurial career. MC may be able to show in which industry.

Okay so now to get oddly specific…

Virgo Moon in 4th House

[Aspects to the Moon & your entire chart will greatly influence accuracy]

This would make you a gemini rising/ascendant. Typically, this indicates strong emotional attachment to the home or family. You require time spent at home or with the family to recharge. The home or family gives you a great sense of peace. In specific, your mother could be very caring.

You may feel the desire to give back the care and love you have received to the home or family. This can manifest as taking very good care of the home. Assuring it fits a clean and comfortable aesthetic. Your home aesthetic is likely luxurious but humble. Possible examples: Quality home and furniture decor, could be from well known brands. Minimalist designs in a large home.

If you do not have strong familial connections, this can indicate judgement from the family. Feeling nothing you do is good enough as they can find flaws in anything. This can create anxiety and a negative inner voice making you very self-conscious.

4th H Virgo Moon opposite Sun:

This would likely put your sun in your 10th. This indicates your career requires you to show yourself to the outside world. This conflicts with your desire to be at home and with your family.

Example#1: Career requires you to travel taking you away from your family. Since this is an opposition, this would likely feel upsetting rather than freeing.

Example#2: You wish to keep a private personality. However, your career and reputation prevents this. There may be false rumours about you preventing you to maintain a happy&peaceful mind.

4th H Virgo Moon square ASC:

Your emotional self clashes with parts of your personality. Due to how you look and present, people do not see or understand your inner self.

Example#1: You are funny person. You may make self deprecating jokes, this makes others think it’s okay to make fun of you too. People don’t see your intelligent and sensitive side.

Example#2: Conflict between wanting options open to explore all your curiosities and wanting a stable or traditional family life.

4th H Virgo Moon opposite Mars:

Your emotions may prevent your mars from expressing the way it desires. Your virgo moon wants to be realistic, find a practical approach and could attempt to analyze your emotions away. This prevents mars from taking action and expressing itself. This results in either mars or moon being unhappy with the lack of energy it is given.

Example: You suppress so many emotions, mars becomes frustrated and snaps. This results in an explosive angry moment which you later could find embarrassing.

Thanks for reading. Would love to know your experience if you are or know a virgo moon <3

#astrology #astrology observations #virgo moon #virgo moon in 4th house #gemini rising #moon opposite sun #moon opposite mars #moon square ascendant

74 notes · View notes

appalachiananarchist · 8 months

Text

When I see posts romanticizing the “traditional SAHM gender role” home structure, I think about the women in my life still trapped by it. This structure is still the expectation where I live, so I have seen it play out in all (yes, all – my ongoing status as single and employed has earned me the moniker of “odd”) my female relatives and friends. From extensive experience I have learned that when you give someone power within a relationship (such as, financial power) it will eventually get abused. I think about the men in my family who have used their financial power over their wives to force her to stay in an unsafe relationship. I think about the women who put up with abuse, sometimes unspeakably horrific abuse, or infidelity because they are considered unemployable without any professional skills/work history and have no personal savings.

Grown adults are free to make the choices they wish, but I worry that cutesy videos of bread-baking and meal prepping “for the hubby” obscure the very real risks of this lifestyle. You will be placing your access to healthcare, food, and shelter in the hands of another person, and if things go wrong, that will be used against you. It has been used against thousands and thousands of other “you’s” who never thought it would be, that he was different, that the relationship was solid. I just want women to know the risks and be prepared. Maintain your own separate savings (and if he balks at the idea, run). Consider some part time or from-home work, even if it is just intermittent, to minimize your employment gap and keep up some professional skills (and if he balks at the idea, run). Make sure you have at least 1-2 close relationships outside the home who could help you in an emergency (and if he tries to interfere with those relationships, run). You are placing your entire life in the hands of a person who is not taking equivalent risks or making equivalent sacrifices in the relationship. If this is the path you choose, know if is not risk-free. Be smart and be prepared.

I hope this does not come across as overly forward. This is a subject that has colored every part of my life, so it tends to hit some nerves. You all have no idea the stuff I have been through or the stuff that I have seen. No idea.

#my ramblings #just posting normal things at 7am

115 notes · View notes

huhustuff · 1 year

Text

‎

𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐢 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞 (𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧)

💫🧸🌤

Warning: not proofread

‎

___________________________________________

‎

Tobi is most of all a protective and a doting yandere.

He is always worried for your safety and well-being. The need to make sure that you are sheltered and content never leaves his mind. The worry burns him, makes his heartstrings twist and core feel like it's turning in on itself.

safe. safe. SAFE. you need to be safe. nothing can happen to you. nothing WILL happen to you. He has to make sure of it.

His big kind heart beats for you and gets erratic when you bless him with just a smile. Knowing that he made that precious sign of happiness appear, that he is making you’re content and protected - that is all he wants.

Tobi’s love for you is like a soft pillow of appreciation. soft kisses. lit candles that smell like vanilla or cherry blossoms. such sweet words that they make sugar seem bitter. getting fed ripe peaches cut into squares in a heart-shaped bowl. protective embraces. “Don’t worry baby, I will take care of everything”. fresh lavender tulips in the morning, for no special occasion. feeling light, like nothing is bringing you down.

It is certainly odd at first. The intense love and care can sometimes feel suffocating and unreal. Upon seeing your uneasy expression he tries to slow it down, he does try. But at the end of the day Tobi just wants to make you happy and assure your safety.

Your happiness makes him feel twice the joy, it is almost addicting.

The relationship dynamic and the flow of everyday life is completely up to you. Want to be completely independent, focus on your career - of course, if it makes you happy. Or do you want to stay at home and just enjoy a true stress-free life - he would be more than delighted to provide that lifestyle for you. He had the funds after all. He will slightly try to convince you to choose the latter option in case he notices you experiencing stress because of your job. But if you deny Tobi will drop the topic and just attempt to make your job easier if possible. Want him to be more affectionate or does it make you uncomfortable - whatever you prefer. Children, marriage, holidays, home - whatever you want.

If you were to break up with him he would lose his calm. “What did I do please tell me. Did I displease you? I didn’t mean to, I swear.” Tobi would be extremely conflicted, he doesn’t want you to be with him when you don’t want to. But what if someone else can not dote on you as well as he does. What if you will be unhappy, not cared for enough. what if. what if. what if. “Please baby, I will be better. I promise. I swear”. But to be honest I can not see a reason why you would want to break up with him. He could never bring himself to force you into anything so if you are certain Tobi will have no other choice but to accept. But he will still continue taking care of you either from afar or up close. But please don’t do it. It will absolutely destroy him. If you want to be with someone else he will let you if it makes you feel content (he will try to show you that he can make you happier, but what’s new), just don’t leave him please.

The nicknames Tobi would use the most would be ‘honey’ - since he views you as a sweet bliss. or baby- because in his eyes you’re so precious he just wants to baby you.

Pure domestic bliss is his favorite thing to experience with you. Tobi would never limit you from living your life as you please because his heart would shatter if he somehow made you unhappy. But secretly he wishes nothing more than to just spend all days at home, just the two of you. In your own little safe haven where he can be sure you are safe and being treated only in the bestest way possible.

Rather than not seeing red flags he just doesn't mind them. His love is so intense that he lets you do anything, because he can't bring himself to deny you. You could literally punch him and he will be like: "it's okay honey, everything is alright". Not even noticing the pain on his face, he instantly goes to comfort you, worrying what made you feel so frustrated. Rushing to make sure you are alright.

He is so precious I swear to God.

1000/10 would recommend. ‎

‎

I hope you liked these lil headcanons and that you have a lovely day or night 💝🧸!!!

#yandere sidemen #sub yandere #sidemen x reader #sidemen imagines #sidemen imagine #tobi brown #tbjzl x reader #tobi brown x reader #tbjzl imagine #tobi brown imagine #yandere male #yandere #yandere tbjzl #yandere tobi brown

179 notes · View notes

bunabi · 7 months

Note

Heyyo I wanted to ask your opinion on something related to the gaming industry and art jobs since you’re currently working in it. Is the employment market for this type of work doomed? I keep hearing about layoffs and companies simply not hiring rn and with AI and everything it seems pretty bleak to me to try to pursue anything in the gaming industry. For context I’m a recent art graduate trying to find creative work and I would love to know the opinion of someone that does this professionally. Sorry if you’re not the right person to ask! Feel free to ignore if thats the case 😅 👉👈

I don't know; that's a good question. I'll answer based on what I've seen and what I've been told.

When I was in school, layoffs were always discussed as something that came with the territory. My professors were all active working professionals (this was our college's Cool Rule for hiring teachers) and all of them had experienced a sudden closure, shuffling, firings, or all three in their careers. It's very fortunate to land a tenured role that's not jeopardized by outside or internal forces. It's just that kind of business.

The most stable game industry jobs in my area are for slot machine vendors, and many folks use that to gain experience to break into the cooler side of the industry. Architectural & interior design & marketing folks need 3D models. Retail print businesses are always hiring for their wack ass design teams (this was me!). It's worth getting these positions and building up your portfolio, or at least staying afloat while you work on art (this was also me!).

There's also networking. Word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to learn about new opportunities; you're hearing about it before the job is even posted on the website lol. And a recommendation by a current employee goes a long way. Do some local artist alley events and talk to your table neighbors. Just always always use the buddy system when you're going to mixers or party events at conventions like GDC. :^(

It's up to you whether this lifestyle is okay or not. Frankly I wish I chose a more normal career, but I love what I do and it makes up for most of the uncertainty lol.

#replies

47 notes · View notes

homochadensistm · 2 months

Note

hi, it seems like i’m late to the discussion so feel free to bury this ask if you’ve moved on. i just really want to share my 2 cents about this topic, because it has been weighing on me lately.

so my gf (lesbian) belongs to a poetry club. i won’t bore you with the details but everyone in the club is a young adult, and it’s not uncommon for the club members to write cringy poems about vulgar shit to be funny. well a couple weeks ago, the weekly topic was odes & tributes, and my gf wrote an Ode to Pussy.

she said everyone liked it, except 2 people who said it was “gross” and exclusionary, because not all women have vaginas. her poem was apparently alienating to trans women, and contributed to the systemic otherization of trans women and transfemmes. when they said that, other people in the club started agreeing with them. the consensus was that it’s OK to have a preference for vaginas, but that anyone who does should keep that to themselves.

my gf apologized, but now she wishes she hadn’t. as for me, i’m really mad about it. it makes me think of straight people who “accept” gay people, but get mad when gay people hold hands, or kiss in public like straight couples do.

not to mention, the whole “genital preference” thing feels like when straight people call homosexuality a Lifestyle. i hate that. it’s not a preference or a lifestyle!! it is a sexual orientation!! we are born this way!!

my gf was literally just writing about her OWN experiences, and what SHE likes. if someone talking about her own experiences bothers you, then that’s a shame, but it’s your responsibility to cope with that. asking gay people to censor themselves when talking about their own experiences, because someone might be emotionally hurt by it, is extremely entitled.

sorry for the wall of text. i ended up ranting haha. anyway, thanks, i needed to get this off my chest.

Yeah dude thats exactly what Im talking about when I say that ppl no longer view others as human beings but rather as Things that can be Reshaped to be more AcceptableTM (just like str8 ppl censoring gays in the early 2000s). It really irks me and what ur gf experienced is something a lot of my friends also experienced, though not in a poetry club but in local lgbt activity groups. It really is fucking insane and Im not surprised at all by the wave of weird radfems who obsess over pussy that we can see in the last uuuh 5yrs or so. Its crazy to think what a minority of insecure narcissists can do to an entire movement lmao

I recommend writing more funny vaj poems btw troll them to hell and back queen

#lgbt

26 notes · View notes

contentloadingandstuff · 1 year

Note

Hello! I really love the characters portrayed as parents(fluff/angst). I wanted to request parent headcannons with Jean, Ayaka, Barbara, and Yoimiya. Thank you!

Parental HC - Ayaka & Jean

A/N: Hi anon! Since you req more characters than allowed, I decided to go with a theme. Just to let you know, I plan on including aged up Barbara later down the road in another post with Candace, so keep your eyes peeled for that one. Anyway, enjoy!

CW: Male!Reader.

Kamisato Ayaka

The Kamisato bloodline is dying. If neither Ayato nor Ayaka will have children, it will extinguish completely.

Hence, Ayaka is not a stranger to the idea of having children. Her brother never pushed her towards the idea, letting Ayaka make the decision on her own. And she did.

Ayaka is all about doing what is hers to do. Being the face of the Yashiro commission means representing it not only with her looks, but with her actions and lifestyle as well. She already is considered a perfect woman among the common folk of Inazuma, so having an heir will make her the absolute role model for all to look up to. And Ayaka, having you by her side, will do her duty gladly.

There won't be a lot of fuss about making the child. Ayaka will just let you know she is ready and you'll do the usual stuff, just without protection.

It's going to be quite the stir when her stomach becomes visible, so much so that Ayaka will be overwhelmed for a while. Ayato will have to constantly swat away gift givers, seeking to earn his favor by using his sister.

It will be quite the affair amongst the other clans, especially if you're not of noble blood. But Ayaka's brother will do everything to let his sister be in peace.

Ayaka and you will be aiming for two kids, preferably a boy and a girl. Ayaka has an unusually good relationship with her brother, and she wishes her children to experience something similar.

If Ayato wasn’t overprotective of his sister before, he sure is now. Ayaka can’t go far from the Estate without protection. No, you don’t count. It’s not because he hates you or anything, but because you getting hurt means his sister getting hurt. So expect a samurai to walk a few dozen meters behind you at all times.

When walking out in the city, Ayato will hire a Shuumutsuban member to constantly be your shadow, in case anything happens.

Childbirth will be hard for your poor girlfriend. She isn’t of the most impressive stature or health, so recovery may take a few more weeks than normal. But she will be so happy once the painful part is over.

Most mothers see the early years as more troublesome than putting the kids out into the world, but Ayaka doesn’t share this view. She feels natural in this role, so it comes easily to her.

Because of her health, there will be a pretty substantial age gap between the kids. But Ayaka really wants to have two, and who are you to refuse her?

Besides showing up to social events in clothes made for her by other people, all Ayaka has to do is some paperwork from time to time. This makes for a lot of free time to spend with you and the little ones.

She really wants her heirs to have a childhood free from the turmoil of her upbringing, and she has a lot of cash, so they will be spoiled rotten. Ayaka also has trouble saying no to them, so you’ll have to step in as the strict dad kids appreciate only when they grow up. Fun…

You bet she’s going to appear publicly with the kids and you in tow, especially if you’re a high-rank bureaucrat. She won’t hesitate to show off how happy she feels in her new position!

Uncle Ayato is going to be the mischievous type. You know, the “don’t listen to your mother” kind of uncle. Besides spoiling them even more and teaching them gambling for money (and other things), there will be a lot of stories starting with “You know, when your mother was as little as you, she…”.

Despite his meddling, Ayato will make sure to keep the politics and its problems away from Ayaka. He knows how awful dealing with this kind of stuff is, and he will do his best to help her avoid that.

Thoma was helping while Ayaka was still expecting, and he isn’t planning on stopping anytime soon. It would be easier to name the things he won’t do with the kids. Every single activity is on the menu, except those involving strange substances or creepy people, with an emphasis on interacting with animals. It would be a shame if the little one inherited Ayaka’s fur allergies.

Poor Ayaka will have problems when the kids grow up and leave to do their own things. Please make sure to be there by her side!

Overall, Ayaka is a nine-out-of-ten mother by herself, but with others supporting her? It’s a straight 10/10.

Jean Gunnhildr

When Jean isn’t working, she likes to read books. Within the two genres she reads the most - romance and history - there are a lot of family themes. Jean always imagined herself in the described scenarios, wondering what she would do or say as a mom.

Yet whenever she closed her lectures, a sad realization dawned on her. She is too overworked to have time for children. Maybe, if she could return to a more idle lifestyle, but only after Varka returned.

When you came into her life, her neat order of it was all but destroyed.

You showed her that she didn’t have to work herself to the bone, as she could just assign the tasks to the right people to do. As resistant to this as Jean was at first, she managed to work that into her routine after a few weeks. You were always there to help her say no (or just say no for her), gaining the amounts of time she never dreamt of for her.

Jean quickly got to making her dreams come true. From simple picnics under Windrise to steamy kisses by the candle light, she wanted to give a chance to all her desires. Family included.

Jean has a little too of an idealistic image of a family. In the books they don’t show all those sleepless nights spent hovering over the crib after all. But Jean isn’t going to just throw herself into the ring. She’s going to get some advice from experienced mothers first.

She has a strange relationship with taking care of kids. You could assume she’s good at it, but then on the other hand Klee is allowed to handle raw explosive at the age of 8. Also, Jean is aware of the hard labor that is cleaning up after her, but Klee isn’t a typical kid, is she?

There will be long talks between you two about every what, when, where and all the ifs. When Jean will be ready, she’ll just say it. Your evening will be preceded with a long, romantic dinner under Windrise, just as Jean always wanted it to be.

Her work doesn’t require much movement (after your intervention of course), but it does bring about a lot of stress. But Lisa will be there to make sure your girlfriend won’t take up anything too difficult. Kaeya will complain less about his duties as well.

Barbara will be happy. So happy. She’ll make sure that her sister gets the best medicine and is being taken care of properly. Oh, and don’t expect to keep the pregnancy a secret. Because of Klee, obviously.

But still, people will be happy for Jean’s happiness.

With all the help she’s getting, Jean will quickly recover from the birth of her one child.

She may be a little oblivious, but she isn’t completely clueless. Jean understood quickly that having even one kid is a huge responsibility and an unavoidable toll on her mind because of the stress. She’s also worried about not splitting the love equally, as strange as this fear may be. So one kid it is.

Jean is going to be the caring, but hard-working mother. She’ll make sure you eat all the three major meals of the day together by one table.

Bonding is going to be a very important thing for Jean. Seeing as her own family fell apart before, she isn’t going to allow that. So expect a lot of trips, days out, hangouts and all other manner of bonding events.

She puts a great weight on education and grades, but she just can’t get mad at her child, whether they will be a boy or a girl. She has pretty substantial problems with saying ‘no’ at any point. You have to help her put her foot down from time to time, otherwise you’re gonna achieve Alice the Adventurer levels of parenting.

Jean has a lot of caring friends, so the kid’s not going to be bored or uncared for at any time.

Lisa lazes around all day, so she’ll be glad to help whenever she can. Be it entertaining the little one by reading or telling stories, giving them additional lessons on stuff they don’t understand in school, or just things like changing the diapers at their earliest phase, Lisa is on the case.

Klee was already jumping out of herself from excitement before the kid was born, so her heart is barely keeping up now. She is so excited to be a big sister! Lots of adventures will be had (involving live explosives, which causes a near heart attack in Jean every time she hears about the two’s travels by the dinner table).

Kaeya is going to get even more comically evil with the kids, even more than he was with Klee. But he’ll keep an eye out for what kind of people the youngling will be hanging around, and step in when the situation requires it.

Diluc and Diona will surely keep Jean’s child away from alcohol for as much as they manage. If Kaeya tries anything, he’ll get back home with a kicked backside full of arrows.

Barbara is like Klee, but more grown up and overall responsible. She won’t drag the kid around like the pointy eared explosion lover, but she will give them special performances, just for their ears to hear.

10/10, what more to say? Jean’s shortcomings are covered by you most of the time, and many others are always helping out. Jean’s child will surely grow up to be a good person with such upbringing.

Thanks for reading!

136 notes · View notes

cheshirecatuniverse · 1 year

Text

Gummy Bears (Rao)

"Rao" Misaki Mario x Reader (She/Her)

Song: Skipping Stones (feat. Jhené Aiko) - Gallant

Summary: In which you have too many run-ins with Rao and every time you want to stay with him longer. But your nightmares never go away.

WC: 7.2k

Notes: my works can be gorey, violent, and other mature themes! lots of plot. reader went through a traumatic experience and has an injury that effects their lifestyle. there's also a nickname reader gets called by. murayama's bestie makes an appearance. barely edited I'm so sorry, it will be soon!

It was quiet, as quiet as a restaurant could be midday. There was only an elderly couple who stopped eating to exhange a word or two sometimes and a young woman with her child sleeping in a stroller.

Even the clatter of the dishes being washed echoing from the kitchen was tolerable. You considered the moment a gift as you enjoyed the soft hum of the music playing through speakers. But it was all tragically ruined by someone's finger.

"Stop tapping the glass."

Tap Tap Tap.

You put down the cup you were cleaning and lifted your head to the ceiling, "Do you have a death wish, kid?"

Your fellow waiter snorted at you, "Pretty sure if I did you'd still be fired."

He continued to tap on the cups lined up and it took too much of your willpower to not follow up on your warning. He happily ignored your looming urge to throw him across the restaurant.

The new generation were just so rude, which was your own but that wasn't the point.

You hated new coworkers, especially when they were from that nearby boys school. Usually they last a month, before they get bored or decide it wasn't worth the extra cash. That leaves yourself with cleaning up after them.

If you were going to be honest though, the current newbie wasn't as annoying as you'd have thought. Which was more than fine, but it doesn't mean you want to get along with him. You were only here to get your paycheck and a daily free meal. So, you focused on yourself. Tilting your head to the right to look closely and dried the glassware.

The door opened, and you heard several people step in. There it is. Well it seemed that having some quiet wasn't very realistic.

"It's yours," your coworker shot over the cabinet door he sat by, putting the clean aprons away.

You clenched your jaw because he was right. Of course you knew that. But this little brat had to tell you the obvious. "Put the glass away then."

He waved you off without turning away from the cabinet. "Yeah, Yeah. When I'm done here."

You let a breath out from your nose and threw the towel down. For the first time you looked at the people who came in, seated and restless. The black uniforms that you've grown accustomed worn by all of them. It was around that time school was out.

As you stepped around the lunch counter you didn't notice your coworker pop his head up from the floor. He scrambled up and stood like he was struck by lighting. Mouth opened and closed like a fish trying to talk underwater.

You slid the worn-down menus to the six boys, "Okay, what drinks can I get you guys started on?" Your tone was never much for customer service but at least you knew how to word yourself.

"Three waters, two cokes, and a green tea," It was the one at the edge of the booth, with tinted glasses.

You began to write- "Yah, Mercy. You know I want a beer."

You turned a little to your left, and you could see your dear coworker making motions in front of his face. Is he telling you to smile? You gave a simple glare in warning and turned directly at the table. The Suzuran student who wanted a beer was the one with crazy hair and even crazier eyes to match it.

"Yeah and I want a unicorn. But guess what? They don't exist and you're underage. So three waters, two cokes, and a green tea," You read out from your writing pad with your head tilting to side. "That it?"

Crazy hair slumped and dropped his head harshly on the table. The giant thud didn't make you react, much to the surprise of the biggest person at the table. He had a grimace on his features as he looked at you, though his eyes felt different. You immediately pushed that thought out of your head. Don't try reading people, you thought. Especially this one, you heard one of them call him Rao. Although you tried keeping Suzuran information limited, there were enough rumors about him to reach you.

Mercy, as it seemed, let out a mix between a scoff and cough at crazy hair in the corner. "Sorry about him, and if you can get us a basket of bottomless fries..." The sulking crazy hair boy slowly rose up, like his soul was revived.

"...Can I smoke in here?"

You squinted and said nothing for a minute. "Sure go ahead. While you're at it, go ahead and blow the smoke in front of the baby." You jabbed a thumb to the back, the soundly sleeping small child with his mother at the farthest table. You watch as Mercy dropped the cigarette he had ready between his fingers. Rao followed his gaze from your finger to the left corner of the restaurant, his expression darkened even more.

If he thought for one second that you were going to let one of his buddies expose the baby to second-hand smoke, you were willing to throw your job away. He could intimidate you, even threaten you. It wouldn't move you one bit.

Everyone went quiet quickly, so you gave one last look and walked away.

"Wow. What did you do to her, Mercy?"

"Ah? I don't even know her."

You sighed when your coworker kept whisper-yelling at you for failing to be nice to Rao and his group. This day needed to be over. And over fast. You kept your words curt as you gave them their drinks and their food that followed.

When you were done with them, you heard someone call your name while you were wiping down tables. It was Yuki, the young woman who came here with her child once a week.

"Sorry. I-" She hesitated before raising her hand with an envelope. "I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't an emergency, but is it possible for you to watch Isamu? I have to drop off paperwork off to the office across the street, and I know he'll wake up if I take him."

Yuki wasn't a friend but she was someone you knew well, as she lived two apartments down from you. You checked the time and then back at her, "How long do you need me to watch him?"

"It shouldn't be longer than 15 minutes."

You checked the time. Well, you were going on break in five.

"Yeah, sounds good."

"Thank you, thank you! I'll pay you back, I promise." You waved her off. You really didn't want anything in return. She went back to the table to gather her things and pushed the stroller to the counter.

You sat on a stool, giving your aching feet a break. The kid was still asleep, thankfully. He was small, really small. Maybe a year old? You may have remembered Yuki saying he was turning two soon.

Someone slammed one of cabinets behind the lunch counter loudly and woke him up immediately. Your glare was loud enough for your coworker to put both his hands up, "That's my bad, honestly."

The little kid was wailing and you shakily picked him up. A good temperament was something you lacked these days, but you were relieved to feel the kid accept you. He clung to you as you rocked him and you leaned over to the stroller to find his sippy cup. You did find it, but when you tried reaching for it, it fell and rolled across the floor.

"You've gotta be f-" You clamped your mouth shut. No cursing in front of small children.

Your eyes slightly widened in surprised when you saw someone's feet stand around it. Rao reached down and grabbed your lifesaver. With a napkin in his hand he wiped the top of it and slowly stepped in front of you.

"Here."

Rao still had the same grimace on his face. Body towering over you in a much more exaggerated way because you were sitting. It was like the world's smallest and most intimidating eclipse. It's probably the only way you can call him small. You were sure the muscles in his arms were bigger than your head.

Confused at the way his emotions were frozen on his features, you wondered. Just what is he doing? You took the cup with caution, as if you were taking a bone from a bear.

The kid calmed down when you placed it in his hands. You patted his head as you watched Rao walk outside to where the Suzuran boys were waiting.

◇♧◇

Shopping wasn't your strong suit. Okay, it was but not in any way that was good for your wallet. There was only one goal right now, quick cook food and medicine from the convenience store. Hunched over the candy section was nothing, you were just looking. Your hand that slipped and pushed a bag of gummies into the basket? Purely accidental.

Too busy looking at the gummy packets piling in your basket you didn't hear the door chime or the footsteps behind you. On instinct, you tense up with your shoulders raised. You felt an arm slip around your shoulders and felt someone on your right side.

"Sweets," someone giggled and pushed your head down to bump it with her own.

You rolled your eyes, "Hi to you too."

You didn't imagine seeing your friend here, especially since she lived in the Sannoh district. Not to mention she was in Sannoh Rengokai. This was more out of her way.

She hummed and let you go, "I haven't seen you in a bit. So when are you going to start working with me for real, Sweets?"

"If you go get me ibuprofen maybe I'll think about it."

Your dull headache that began an hour ago was a reminder that you had to restock your kitchen. Your friend returned from a couple aisles away and handed you a bottle of ibuprofen. You said thanks and placed it in the basket while she looked at you curiously.

"Are you sick?"

"My head just hurts," you shake your head.

She pursed her lips into a thin line and looked at the back of the store. Where a group of guys were grabbing a variety of drinks. In a quieter voice she asked, "Is it your eye? Your next appointment is for next month right?"

"Yeah but it's always been like that. It's fine," you sighed.

The conversation got cut short at the call of her name. A couple of people walked over to you, some of them with black uniforms. It instantly reminded you of Suzuran but these guys weren't, the uniforms were slightly different.

One of them pointed at you which you didn't like very much, "Oh, Who's this?"

Your friend introduced you and then looked at you, "This is Fujio, he's from Oya High."

He waved enthusiastically with a big smile, "Nice to meet you."

That made you raise your eyebrow, "But I thought you and Murayama were done with Oya?" As soon as you said that you realized that he wasn't anywhere to be seen or heard. "Where he is by the way?"

She looked down at the ground and tried not to look mad, "Away. On a trip or something. But yeah, we don't go there anymore. I still like hanging out with these losers though."

"You mean you like to leech off us."

"And you let me because you love me, Todoroki," She leaned towards the guy with the glasses and blew kisses at him until he walked away. "Anyways. You should come hang out with us, Sweets."

"Sweets? No way is her name Sweets!" Two figures you unfortunately recognized. Rao and the guy shouting at you as they came over, crazy hair. There was change in Rao's eyes, they widened a little. Your vision didn't let you see it.

You tilted your head at crazy hair, "I thought you were just having a bad hair day last week but I guess I was wrong."

Your friend laughed at that. "Wait, wait. You know Binzo?"

"I don't." You were staring at Rao, who easily loomed over everyone around you. He had originally stepped as close as Binzo but took a small step back. Hands in his pocket, he watched.

Binzo had a hand on his chin, his eyes wide in fascination, "So why sweets and not salty?"

"When we were younger people called her that because she liked to eat or make anything with sugar." Your friend pointed at the basket you were holding, half of it had candy.

You were embarrassed enough to rub a hand on the back of your neck. You buried it down and headed to the register with our friend clung onto you as she laughed.

After she said a soft sorry, she smiled, "Are you coming with us?"

"My head," You pointed quietly at yourself, "Maybe next time, okay?" Although you really wanted nothing to do with Oya and Suzuran.

You didn't understand how your friend still stuck around them. Everything that happened at the peak of Kuryu made you want to lock yourself in your apartment forever. The throb of your headache got worse.

She nodded, "And you'll let me take you next month? Y'know to-?"

A hum left you, agreeing. You paid for your things, your head tilted to right as you read the total amount. She turned around to look at the rest of the group.

Arms crossed she asked, "And which one of you men are gonna help her with her bags? She's not feeling well enough to be left alone."

At the sound of no one stepping up she had taken a breath to yell. You rolled your eyes hearing it but it still gave you secret and small smile. The yell never came though, you heard someone walk forward. He was swift to grab your bags, you couldn't turn your head to the right fast enough to see him.

By the time you had realized who it was he stood outside, waiting with your bags. Waiting for you.

"Ah?" Your hearing was good enough to hear Binzo's confusion. It mirrored your own.

Fujio walked over to the window beside the entrance and started dancing. Dancing? Even though Rao had his back turned.

"Alriiight Rao! A gentlemen as always," Fujio said in approval.

Your friend nodded in agreement and bumped her hip against yours. With a jolt you looked over at her.

"Well go on," She smiled mischievously, "Y'know I haven't gotten my hands on him. He is cute right?"

You sputtered out half words and noises of confusion. You walked fast, away from her, away from Fujio, and hopefully they didn't see the slightest red on your face.

Outside, you froze in place. Rao was so tall that you stared at his chest and you refused to look up. You jabbed your thumb over your shoulder.

You mumbled, "Ah... this way."

To your happiness it was a quiet walk, your noise sensitivity probably didn't help your head. The two of you kept some distance and the one time you glanced over he was staring straight ahead. God, his jawline looked chiseled from stone. The guy looked like an ancient warrior who's defeated armies, which is a funny thought while looking at him hold your grocery bags.

The headache bothering you since the last hour got worse even through the quiet. If you didn't do anything about it now it'd cause more trouble. Desperate, you turned to look at him again.

"Can you hand me that bag, please?" You pointed and he gave it to you. Rao watched you frantically find the medicine you were looking for. You took a couple a pills, not needing water even though your throat didn't appreciate it. Forgetting about him for a moment you hissed in pain and rubbed your fingers against your eyes.

"Are you okay?" Rao asked softly. You were caught off guard at the tone of his question. His voice was deep but didn't hide the concern.

You shrugged it off, "It's just a headache."

He went back to facing ahead and you thought it was the end of it.

Rao said your name and asked, "What highschool do you attend?"

"Oh. Why?" You left out any malice because you were genuinely curious.

"I haven't seen you around."

Since you gave him and his friends the worst customer service in the world a week ago, you almost wanted to say.

"I do school online," you sighed and kicked a can on the ground, "No problems that way. Actually going to school- that's too much." After Kuryu, after what you did, after everything.

Rao left a big pause, like he was trying to form what he wanted to say to you.

"Listen..." He stopped his footsteps, "If anyone from Suzuran did anything they shouldn't have-"

"Ah?" You shake your head, "Like I would let anyone from that place even near me." You managed to look him in the eye and let yourself smile, "No offense."

Rao let out a scoff but lightly he told you, "None taken. But you seem to not like Suzuran very much."

"I don't like the idea of Suzuran," You corrected and began to walk again. That was enough to for him to drop the subject, but it wasn't bad.

The rest of the walk was peaceful, with a few words in between but it didn't feel awkward like the beginning. Rao wasn't the worst person to walk you home. Which was a frightening thought only to you. He respected your space and let you talk freely. Well he didn't allow you to talk freely, but anything you said felt like it was heard by someone who wouldn't judge you.

There was nothing you knew about him. You knew enough to know he wasn't awful but that was all you wanted to know. You weren't going to analyze him, keep the little details in mind, or find out his weaknesses. You were just going to acknowledge that Rao was here, with you.

Outside your apartment you told Rao to leave the bags against the wall. He was quiet when he slipped away. When you unlocked the door to your apartment you bit your lip. Damn it.

Rao felt someone grab his wrist, he turned around to see you. You were refused to make eye contact and shoved something in the palm of his hand, "Bye."

There was no time to say anything as you rushed yourself and your bags into your home. Rao looked down at his hand, a soda. A strawberry flavored one, with little cartoons and pink hearts on the can.

"Bye," Rao with wide eyes whispered to himself.

◇♧◇

You now were officially working three jobs. Your friend was ecstatic when she got your call. She had wanted you on her team since she had gotten back into kickboxing. To your suprise, it was your least stressful job. You cleaned her wounds up between rounds and got to watch her beat men twice her size.

After another victory, there were plans to go out to eat. The both you were walking to the restaurant, she mentioned that a couple others would join you too.

You shivered in the cold and your friend basked in it after hours of fighting. The mini dress you had on was too cute that you had to wear it, there weren't too many occasions for it anyways.

"So you wanna tell me what happened with Murayama?" You asked to distract yourself from the crisp night air.

Caught off guard your friend flinched, "Huh? There's nothing."

"Nothing my ass. It's honestly kinda freaky that he's not with you. Is he really on a trip?"

"Yeah, he actually is and I was supposed to go too. Murayama, Seki, Furuya, and me," She looked away and found interest at the closed shop windows, "We got into a fight. He thinks I need to stop avoiding what Kuryu did to us."

"I'm sorry," and you meant it. You were sorry that he had point.

She said your name and looked at you, "...do you think we'll ever be able to talk about it?"

Your eyes stung, "I wish I knew."

That was a lie, you only wanted to lock yourself in a room. Where no one can hurt you, where no nightmare can find you. That could be enough. But you didn't say anything, you blinked your tears away and took a deep breath.

When you two made it to the restaurant, you sighed in relief when you felt the heaters. You rubbed your arms up down to get your blood warm again. Your friend ran over to a table as soon as she saw the people she was looking for. As you followed slowly behind, you froze at the sight of Rao. Oh, you gotta be kidding me, you thought.

It was strange not to see him in his school uniform, a good strange. Something that you weren't going to pay attention to. Rao was in the middle of a conversation with Fujio, Binzo and a couple others when he saw you. Your friend had called your name and dragged you over to the table. You sat down next to her and across from him.

Rao looked at you and you looked at him, and awkwardly you thanked him as he poured you a cup of water. He kept his stare on you and he said something to himself so quietly you could only hear an incoherent grumble. Out of habit you tilt your head to the right, wordlessly asking him a question.

"You look really nice," He finally told you.

You took a sip of water to hide your nerves, "You do too."

Your friend draped her arm around your shoulders and announced, "Y'know, Sweets is my fastest cornerman. She could be my medic too and be faster than the one we have now."

"That's true, we saw you between rounds. You were like a cheetah," Fujio gave you a thumbs up.

You were surprised, "Oh. I didn't even see you guys."

"Cause I put up a fun match right?" Your friend beamed. "Better than any of those rigged ones on tv."

You nodded energetically, "God, of course you are. You hit like a truck. You should watch your kicks though. You get too excited and hit early and lose damage. The guy was slow though- and with a big ego, you were gonna win either way."

That made her light up, with her knees on her chair she jumped up and hugged you. You groaned and made a bad attempt to get out of her grasp. For a small second in time you felt like nothing had changed the past couple of years and you let your childhood friend celebrate the deja vu.

She laughed, "Will do, Coach!"

"Yah, Sweets, do you fight? We should go one-to-one," Binzo asked.

"Nope," Your friend and yourself say at the same time. You hissed lightly at her to let you go.

You pointed, "She's got that covered."

The opponent she faced really was never going to win, even if you didn't know your friend, you knew that. You couldn't help watch closely tonight, your neck sore from how you liked to tilt your head. Crowds of people cheered and it made your friend's opposition grow taller. His movements were exaggerated and he kept making laps around the ring. The dead giveaway to you though, was that his gloved fists weren't even up to his face.

Just thinking about it all made you look at the people around you. Binzo's body spread out as much as he can with his chair at a farther distance than the others, relaxed but easily reactionary. Fujio seemed to like to keep his hands in his lap or on Tsukasa's shoulder, gently patting him. He had an injury, maybe a sprained shoulder or arm. Before you could process it, your stare made it Rao's hands. Arms crossed and tucked in arms, it wasn't a barrier, no, it was an act of soothing.

You caught yourself in time, you looked down at the table. Water, you needed water. When you reached for the glass you grabbed air. Your stomach dropped at the sight. You missed the fucking glass, you thought. It was about 4 inches farther.

Reality hit you and you were quiet the rest of the time. Even Rao spoke more than you. While your friend tried to ask you questions to join in the conversation you just nodded or shrugged.

"Hey." Outside the building, everyone was about to part ways but your friend pulled you aside. "Do you want me to walk you home?"

You took a step backwards, "It's fine."

You were in the Sannoh district and getting home would take a little longer but you just wanted to be alone. You shrugged off the sound of your name being called and left.

In some sick way you wished you were back to a couple years ago. Before everything hurt so much, you were so empty and cold. It was better that way, it was better than trying to shove everything you felt down in the abyss.

The uncomfortable soreness of your heels, your cold arms and cheeks, and the tight feeling in your throat. You walked through it.

Your ears caught the sounds of the occasional car that drove out of sight. Building owners had begun to close their shops and offices as you passed by. The sound of a big dog barking in a home nearby echoed from somewhere. Someone's footsteps who walked around in the alleyways closely. But nothing seemed to process in your mind or maybe you didn't even care.

A gasp barely left you when you got slammed against the alley wall with a rusty knife pressed against your neck.

"Your fucking wallet. Now, bitch." The stranger jammed the knife harder into your throat. It was dull but if the man wanted he could jam it through your neck. He smelled like alcohol and vomit, the smell. That's all it took.

A cold and dark room, your vomit, blood, and decaying flesh being the only thing you could smell. Some people remember their first kiss, favorite Christmas, anniversaries and birthdays. You could only remember how much you threw up in that awful room. Your infected wrists and blisters on your face, you could still feel them everyday.

Fingers weak and jittery, you failed to get his hands off of you. It was clear what was going to happen and again there was no one. The worst of the world would follow you until you were dead. You were alone.

So you did the only thing you could do, run your mouth.

"Fuck off," You tried to scream but it came out strangled. There wasn't any stopping him, things like this would just keep happening.

He growled and yelled so close to your face you could feel spit on you. You could feel the knife begin to cut your throat, you whimpered quietly in pain. Don't cry.

Just as you were ready, he flew into back of alleyway. You stumbled away from the wall and your hands found the dumpster to lean on.

Rao didn't look anywhere near you, completely focused on the man who had just started to get up. The grimace on his face that had most of the times was absolutely nothing compared to the look he had right now. His eyes completely dark with no empathy for the drunk.

Your attacker made the stupid decision to lunge at Rao. His wrist was caught easily. It only took Rao to tightened the grip around his wrist for the knife to the ground.

Rao scowled, "You ever hurt another woman again, I'll find out. I don't give second chances." You turned away when you saw him raise his other fist. A couple loud thuds and a yell were enough to know that the drunk was out cold.

You breathed heavily, and tried to get your legs to stop shaking. It wasn't working. You felt a hand touch your shoulder and you yanked yourself away.

You turned to Rao with a scoff, "Can you stop helping me?"

"Why?" Clearly taken back but Rao didn't move any closer.

"You don't know who the hell I am. You have no idea-" You sucked in a breath, "I'm the type of person who would work for yazuka, Rao."

You walked back to the dumpster and found an old metal machine to sit on. You curled up on yourself, as much as you can with a short dress. Did you want to go home? Did you wanna go back to that dark room? Anything felt better than being here with Rao. Him being anywhere near you was suffocating. God, you couldn't stop shaking. There wasn't anywhere you wanted to go, everywhere you go you felt the same.

Rao took a knee in front of you. He looked up and down, he scanned for anything serious. He had his hands on either side of you, but he never touched you. Then he looked at your eyes.

"Are you? Right now?" He asked.

"What?" You lifted your head. Rao, day or night, cold or warm, actions or looking afar, could never fail to make you confused. You paused for moment, weighing the choices.

"No," You whispered.

"Then it doesn't matter," He simply said. Like it was the easiest thing in the world. It took your whole being not to snap at him.

Rao reached out a hand before he pulled it back a little, "Can I look at you?"

He gave you all the time in the world, no ticks of impatience anywhere. You finally nodded and he checked the cut on your neck. It felt strange to feel his fingers. Confused, you felt his hand at the back of your neck and it returned with fresh blood.

Rao called out your name in a way that made your chest hurt. He rose up to his feet, "You need to be taken to a hospital."

"No, No," You shake your head, "I'm fine it's nothing. Look I'm fine and I'm standing." The impact to your head didn't felt like it had hurt at the time. You moved a hand to the back of your head the cut, it was as superficial as the one on your neck.

"Rao, it looks worse than it is." Your adrenaline wore off and you started to get cold again. You shivered, "Please. I just want to go home."

"Are you sure?" You nodded immediately and he sighed. He looked down the alleyway and then to you. When he slipped off his jacket you would never imagine that he would put it over your shoulders.

"Okay. Let's go then."

Rao watched you slip your arms through the sleeves, your fingers barely peeked through. When you zipped it up to cover the bloody mess he realized how small you looked in his jacket.

At your door, you could hear a distant bark. The lock clicked open at the turn of your key. Before you turned the knob you sighed.

"You can come in," You said softly.

There was no way you wanted to look at his reaction, so you stayed turned away and pushed the door open. You flipped the light switch at the exact same time your dog ran over.

It made sense that he was stand-offish with Rao behind you. "Sit. Good boy." You commanded and made you way inside. Rao watched you walk into the kitchen and then looked at your big dog. He had a black spiked collar with a heart shaped name tag that said Baby.

"He's trained," You called out from the other room, "Doesn't bite anyone's head off without my permission."

That didn't surprise Rao. He unhooked your heels from his fingers and put them in the shoebox near the door. When you two made it to your neighborhood you slipped them off and sighed about how you were done with tonight. He had wordlessly taken the heels from your hands.

It took a couple minutes to find what you were looking for. You got off the kitchen counter when you took it from the top of the kitchen cabinet. Avitene powder wasn't hard to come by when your friend was a boxer. You took off Rao's jacket and cleaned yourself up. The powder clotted your bleeding and you found a couple bandaids for your neck and head.

You asked for help when Rao walked in. You held your hair up as he carefully placed the bandaid on your scalp. His hands lingered as he looked with worry, not that you could see it.

"I could still take you to the hospital." You shake your head at that and you let your hair down to make him pull away.

"Do you know what they would do?" You walked over to your fridge, pulling out a soda and water bottle. "They would say I don't need stitches, clean me up. Then charge me my rents worth."

Not to mention you had doctor visits often, but he didn't need to know that.

"Thank you," He told you when you passed him the water. You led him to the couch and your dog pranced over too. Head laid back and you took a minute to process. Rao looked at the couple of picture frames you had, one of your dog when he was a puppy and another of a younger you and your friend.

He turned to you, "Did you two grow up together?"

You smiled, "A little bit. It was the wrong place, wrong time. Somehow, we're still here."

Rao's arms were crossed, it made him look much bigger. You didn't read him, you didn't want to.

"It's good." He found his shoes to be particularly interesting.

"Hm?" You tilted your head.

"That you're still here."

◇♧◇

When Yamaguchi told Rao that a girl was at Suzuran to see him his stomach flipped. He's been seeing you a lot these days but he never found you anywhere near Suzuran.

The rumors circling around about him recently, he knew them well. The girl who worked at that one restaurant half a mile away who kept being seen with Suzuran's strongest. Suzuran weren't the only ones, his own faction and friends were talking too.

Fujio had been telling him things to say to you since the convenience store. He immediately saw how much Rao paid attention to you. To help his friend, Fujio made sure to encourage him to voice out his thoughts and to make sure Rao made you feel comfortable. Which Rao really didn't need help with but Fujio advised him on what not to say. It was helpful.

The door to the roof creaked open. Rao should have known it wasn't you from how he heard no bickering from Binzo. When Rao turned around, what he found was your friend. A former Oya High part-timer and Sannoh's fighter. She was no joke, despite how easily she laughs and how affectionate she is with you.

She gaped at the whole school view, "Never been here and this place is already giving me memories."

Binzo grinned, "Missing Oya, huh?"

She didn't answer and instead looked at Rao. With a wink she smiled and waved.

"I need to talk to you." Yamaguchi and Binzo stepped closer- "Alone."

Binzo groaned but she taunted them with a wave. Her smile dropped immediately when they closed the door to the roof.

"I need a favor and you're going to do it."

"I am?" He furrowed his brows.

"Do you know about the appointments?" She quickly judged the confused look on his face and shaked her head. "...'Kay, well for long time I've been taking Sweets to her doctor's appointments. Never missed one, but now I don't got a choice."

"Why does she have to go?" The look on her face made him feel unsettled. A hundred thoughts seemed to go through her mind and she pursed her lips.

"About 3 years ago Sweets got hurt. The only reason she got better cause we were there for her. But now it's just me," She ran a hand through her hair, "Everyone else is dead or on the run. I don't know if I should even be telling you this."

Her pace was fast, Rao followed carefully. As he started to process it she began to walk away.

"If she doesn't miss the doctor's appointment tomorrow then this will be worth it." She glared at him, "At least just walk Sweets there. You don't do it, fine. You can not care. But if you hurt her, I'll kill you."

She walked away, and Rao could hear her laugh ring inside the building at a joke Binzo made.

◇♧◇

A Saturday was a perfect day to stay inside all day. Everyday was, if you could. Originally, you had plans but they're not going to happen. You called out of one of the restaurants you worked at and your friend's boxing match.

Baby had already been walked and fed. There was a constant squeaking from his chew toy outside your bedroom. You were nice and comfortable in your bed and sipped on your fresh tea.

A month ago you had been attacked. For a little bit you had to wear turtle necks but your cuts healed nicely. You didn't tell anyone what happened but Rao had made sure to check on you. At the restaurant it's a common sight to see him pass by or come eat with his group.

Whenever he pulled you aside to talk, Binzo would make faces behind Rao. You made sure to shut Binzo and your coworker up with a wack of a dish rag.

The closet door was opened and Rao's jacket was hanging in the corner. Your ears heated up, when you had worn it that singular time it smelled really nice. The cologne he wore you didn't know the name to but it was on your mind often these days.

"I should give it back," You told yourself.

Not today, though. Today you were going to stay inside and sleep. The mug you had in your hands was now on your nightstand. Right as you settled into your covers you heard your dog bark. A knock at the door made you roll your eyes.

Now who the hell was that? The neighbors never bothered you on the weekends and on the afternoons. No one texted you today other than your friend who okay'd your absence.

Begrudgingly, you shuffled over to your door. With the dog ready at your side you found, Rao?

You were embarrassed, "I... didn't know you were coming." Your sweats and old sweatshirt proved that.

Baby circled around Rao when he came in. You smiled at how gentle Rao patted the dog's head.

When your dog walked away, satisfied with the attention Rao turned to you. "Sorry, I should have called but I wanted to offer this in person."

"Offer what?"

"To take you today."

Your throat hurt, "What did she tell you?"

You were going to beat the hell out of your friend. How did she think this was a good idea? Rao called your name out to try to calm you, it was clear by your panicked eyes.

"Just that you needed to go to your doctor's appointment."

Okay, good. But still not good, you did calm down. You had told her you were not going, she guessed that Rao would work. You still planned to jump her for roping him into this.

With the soft encouragement Rao gave, somehow you ended up sitting on the couch as you slipped your shoes on. Well, if you wanted to get there on time there was no time to change.

You didn't want to talk and Rao respect that. He didn't need to know the details and it was a sensitive subject.

But when you two entered the waiting room his heart dropped. The eye posters and pamphlets on the wall. You had to go to the ophthalmologist?

When the nurse called your name, you stood up and began to walk away. Before you could take a step Rao grabbed your hand.

"I'll wait here." He watched your eyes water and you nod.

As you left, Rao realized you always had your head tilted to the right. He remembered the one time that Binzo teased you for it and how quiet you got. Rao may have to fight him again.

Rao had seen you reach out to things hesitantly. You were always aware of your steps and always on edge if you weren't in your home.

Why didn't he see it sooner?

It had gotten dark when the two of you walked out. You said nothing about your visit, you said nothing at all. Too much was happening in your head, so you were more stuck in there than out here.

You tripped over a box, that's what happens when you're not careful. If it weren't for Rao's hands that steadied you, you would have met the pavement.

"Are you-" You didn't let him finish as you stumbled somewhere, anywhere.

Away, you wanted to go away. Ignoring Rao as he called your name. It hurt so much.

Rao found you breaking a bottle against a dumpster. He tried getting your attention but nothing was working. Rao just watched you pace and pace until you walked to him.

"Did you know I can't see anything in my right eye?" You tried to smile and failed. "That I haven't been able to for years now."

Rao said your name and you scoffed, so tired of your feelings.

"No, no. Listen, I did a lot of bad things. I hurt so many people because that was the only thing I was good at. And when I wanted to leave," You gasped for air as tears streamed down your face, "I got what I deserved."

The only thing he could do was hold you, and that's what Rao did. You sobbed and cried on how it was your fault. Mumbled his name against his shirt. It was a long a time before you stopped crying. Rao didn't care, he could have his arms around you for an eternity. If it was for you, he would.

Anyone that walked by he made sure to shield you from them. Anytime your arms started to shake in anxiety he rubbed them up and down. And when you repeated over and over again how it was your fault he told you that he was here. He was.

Rao asked after you stopped crying, "Do you want to go home?"

You shake your head, for the first time you didn't want to. Slowly, you pulled away from him. You needed to stand on your own feet. Your head cleared.

"I don't know where I want to go."

Rao hummed and thought. He took your hand when he found an answer, "Let's get you gummy bears."

"How do you know I like gummy bears?"

"You had a bag filled of them one time."

You giggled, and then you couldn't stop laughing. Rao couldn't stop his smile that appeared.

He remembered. So you agreed. When he walked you home and kissed your cheek, you felt better.

You walked your dog, gave him a treat. Washed your face and teeth before going to bed. You dozed off in your warm bed and the last thought you remembered made you smile.

That was the first time you laughed in years.

#high & low #high&low #high&low the worst x #high&low x reader #misaki mario #mario misaki #high&low misaki mario #high&low rao #high&low raoh #suzuran #rao x reader #this was so cool to write

109 notes · View notes

funky-astrologer · 1 month

Text

🌸Spring 2024 Astrology Services 🌸

Free Astrology Readings: Open

*see below

Paid Astrology Readings: Open

*see below

Tarot Readings: Closed

The new Spring season is a wonderful time to get some fresh insights and guidance, and I'd like to give you an update on my services!

(If you’re in another part of the globe 🌍💫🌏you can definitely find something here too!)

As an astrologer, I can tell you astrology is a vast study and there is so much we can learn from it. There are tons of charts, 10 of which I am able to provide personalized readings for. They each provide key insights into your unique being. BTW: Did you know it is an astrology tradition to cast 12 wishes during your solar return? I have to thank my mentor for that piece of information. So now you know how I spent the better half of my birthday. To find out what kind of wishes you might want to include, check out the Solar Return reading below! 💫

If you aren’t up for a reading right now, feel free to also share it with a fellow astrology friend, it may be just the thing they are looking for bestie!

I have included my pricing to save the trouble of you having to go searching, I offer a wide variety of pricing ($20-$80), so please don't hesitate to find something within your budget :)

I've recently included tarot and oracle readings to be included into my services offered catalogue, so you will find those below as well. Rest assured I have been practicing both astrology and tarot modalities for around 10 years, my skills are trustworthy friend!

As always, thanks for being here, your support is always welcome, much gratitude and thanks!

*All of these listings are on my Etsy, which may help speed up the process of your reading!

Astrology Readings

*I am currently offering 5 free readings weekly. If you would like a free astrology reading, message me directly.

Natal Chart Reading - $80

A comprehensive natal chart reading, including a basic overview of the planets, any key aspects, sign & elemental dominance, transits, progressions, solar return insights and a guided interpretation for you to build upon and come to your own understanding.

Solar/Lunar Return - $35

An overview of the year/month ahead. Includes key aspects, themes and energies.

Note: The location you will be at during either return is needed for accurate interpretation.

Synastry Chart or Composite - $60

Connection; Love; Relationship Insights

Astrocartography/Relocation Chart - $35

This reading is for you if you have a specific location or question in mind surrounding a place or theme and would like insight into the area of the world that may suit your needs/lifestyle. Or maybe you wanna know where to travel to next! I got you!

Rectification Chart - $45

Unsure of your birth time? Let me help narrow it down for you.

Draconic Chart - $40

Details the evolution of your soul, highlighting gifts and aspects of you that remain throughout all time and space. Essentially it is a chart that describes you in a metaphysical sense, as in who you are in essence. Not necessarily who you truly are, but the lessons you’ve learned and been able to integrate throughout time and space, not just in this singular earthly life experience.

*A bit ambiguous yet highly interesting to ponder and explore.

Persona Charts - $35

A chart of your choosing detailing extra insight into a particular point/planet within your chart.

Are you Mercury dominant, want extra insight into the role Mercury plays in your life?

This chart reading is for you if you enjoy the extra details

Feel free to DM for questions about the readings, I am happy to help.

Thanks for being here, I appreciate you!

- S

17 notes · View notes

drama--universe · 1 year

Text

I'll give a hand

Requested by anonymous: Hello! I see you write for 'The Untamed'! I just started watching it recently, but I'm already in love with the serials! Can I have a request for Lan Zhan? I see that no one has asked for Lan Zhan yet (I think separately): Where the reader (female) is a new student in the Lan clan, she is very smart, kind and helpful, but people avoid her because she is mute. And one day several students break the rule of the Lan clan and start making fun of her...Lan Zhan intervenes, but as soon as she turns to the reader, the reader is long gone, she runs to her room. Lan Zhan came to check on her and found her sitting in the fetal position and crying (she is sensitive when someone makes fun of her for not being able to speak). Lan Zhan knew she was crying, he didn't hear her sob but he could tell by the movement of her shoulders. It's true that Lan Zhan isn't very good at dealing with emotions, but he still tries to help her...

Pairing: Lan Zhan x fem!reader (platonically)

Word Count: 1.6k words

Warnings: bullying, anxiety attack (personal experience, so might not be too accurate for others)

Following Xichen, you couldn't help but stare at your surroundings. The building was beautiful and the surrounding forest was even prettier. You couldn't wait to go and explore everything once you had the chance, but you probably had to wait until you had some free time. Xichen was kind enough to explain your new lifestyle, classes during the day and a curfew at night.

No room to explore, but maybe later.

"This is where you will follow your lessons. After your lessons today, I will bring you to your room. Does that sound good to you?" Xichen nodded and you were quick to nod, trying not to smile too brightly. You didn't have too though, because Xichen could see the sparkle in your eyes and that said plenty. So he led you inside, letting you sit at a table in the back before making his way to the man that sat in the front. They talked for a few seconds before Xichen left again, leaving you in the room with the other students. Some glanced your way, but none of them said something as the lesson started. You paid close attention to the man in front as he started explaining certain things, but you also tried to focus on what the other students said when asked something. It was only two hours, but it felt like two minutes to you. After the man had left, other students approached you and started asking questions left and right. You tried to hear all of them, but it was too much at once and you were starting to get overwhelmed. They noticed and calmed down, asking one question at a time while waiting for your answer.

Your brush flew over the paper as you tried to answer quickly, something that seemed to fascinate the others a bit.

"Are you mute?" One boy asked and your brush slowed down before stopping completely. You looked up before nodding softly, which created an awkward silence around you. They started leaving one by one and soon enough you were alone again.

Your reflection stared back at you, but you didn't recognize yourself in the slightest. Your eyes were red from crying, your hair was a mess from tossing and turning in your bed, and you could see some marks on your arms from digging your nails in. In short, you looked like a mess and all because you cried all evening long. Just because you were lonely, something you never had a problem with and yet now it was the worst thing in the world. It was not the loneliness per se, but rather the fact that everyone avoided you without even trying to hide it. You felt miserable, people avoided you because of something that you were simply born with. You wished you could, every single day you wished and it changed nothing in the end. You'd never be able to say that you loved someone, no matter how hard you tried.

Washing your face with some water, staring back into mirror before grabbing some make-up to cover the redness around your eyes. Then you made your way out, raking your fingers through your hair to tidy it up enough so that you wouldn't be punished. Your outfit looked fine enough, so you only brushed over it with your hands once before ignoring it. No one would notice that you hadn't changed in the last two days, most of your outfits were the same anyway and you honestly couldn't care less at the moment.

"Hey, mute!" A voice rang out, not too loud to catch anyone else's attention. Some people came closer to you, making your anxiety spike up and you flinched as an arm was thrown around your shoulders.

"Still not going to say anything?" One asked and you flinched again as one of them tapped your face a bit too harsh for your liking. Some cackled at you, voices starting to blend as they mocked you. Tears started welling up in your eyes with every word or hit and soon enough, tears started streaming down your face.

"Oh, are you sad? Can't bear the truth, little mute-" The one who spoke was interrupted, gasping softly as he felt the metal of a sword pressed against his neck. All of them dispersed slightly, staring at your rescue in shock.

"Your breaking the rules." He spoke and you could recognize his voice as Lan Zhan's, shocked that the man would even speak up for you. Then again, you doubted that it was for you and rather for the fact that they were being a nuisance. The arm around your shoulder was removed, making your body relax a bit as you stepped away from your bullies.

"Bullying and shouting is forbidden here, so-" You didn't wait for Lan Zhan to finish his sentence as you slowly backed away from everyone while the attention wasn't on you, but soon enough you were sprinting back to your room. Your body was shaking, shivers running up and down your spine as you tried to calm yourself down again. Just like last night, it didn't work as your breaths started to grown shorter and shorter. Your vision started to blur from the tears in your eyes, rolling down your face like waterfalls. You let yourself crash to the ground, ignoring the pain that shot through your legs as you curled up into a ball. Your sobs didn't stop, your whole body still trembling as you tried to calm down the anxiety in your body.

Someone entered, but you couldn't focus on trying to see who it was. They kneeled besides you and a hand laid on your head, softly stroking your hair as they told you too breath slowly. Unfortunately for you, you couldn't calm down until you fainted from exhaustion.

Eyes opening, you tried to ignore how your body felt as you sat up. Taking in your surroundings, you spotted Lan Zhan not far from you. His eyes were on you and even though he never showed much emotion, you could see that he was slightly uncomfortable. You couldn't blame him, after all he was in a girl's room for what you guessed had been a few hours.

"Are you feeling better now?" He asked and you nodded at him slowly, trying to not focus on the pain in your throat that you gained from crying. He nodded as well before standing up, walking your way before sitting down again. His hand went to your forehead and you flinched, which was clearly visible and Lan Zhan paused his movement. His hand remained in place as he waited for you to relax again, placing his hand on your forehead when you did.

"Your temperature is back to normal it seems." He dropped his hand again, but he didn't move from the bed. You waited for him to say something, anything but it never came. You just sat in silence for awhile, trying to ignore the thoughts that swarmed around in your head. Swallowing softly, you winced at how painful your throat felt. Almost like sandpaper that was being dragged through the inside of your throat.

"Ignore those people, listening to them won't change anything." Lan Zhan spoke and you almost wanted to scoff. It was easier said than done, how could you accept something that was clearly a flaw. People didn't need to say something for you to know what they thought, either it was annoyance or pity and you disliked both. But somehow, it didn't feel like that with Lan Zhan's gaze.

When he looked your way, it was usually the same gaze as he gave others. Not a lot of emotions or care about you, but you definitely preferred it over the looks of pity.

Shaking your head, you quickly looked around for some paper and pen. Unfortunately, there was none that was near you and you had a feeling that you could get up just yet. You looked at Lan Zhan again before awkwardly grabbing his hand, tracing letters on his palm with your finger and hoping he would understand.

"I will get you some tea, please wait here." And after that, he was off and you were left alone again. You gently threw your blanket to the side, throwing your legs off the side of the bed before pushing yourself up. Although your legs were weak, you could stand without any problem. You went to your desk, grabbing your paper and a pen.

"I thought I asked you to wait." Lan Zhan said and you nearly jumped out of your skin, surprised at how quiet the man was. The tea was put on the table as Lan Zhan made his way back to you before guiding you back to your bed. You wanted to write down why you moved, but Lan Zhan held his hand out again.

"Don't waist paper and ink." He said and you looked at him before laying down the pen and tracing letters on his hand again. He waited carefully until you finished your sentence, staying silent even when you paused to think of which letters to use. When you finished asking what had exactly happened after you passed out, Lan Zhan turned to you fully.

"You have been asleep for a couple of hours. Xichen-ge knows about this already, you're excused from the lessons tomorrow as well." Lan Zhan explained and you pouted, grabbing his hand again to write that you wanted to follow the lessons. Seeing how eager you were to learn, Lan Zhan could only approve before getting up.

Ever since then, Lan Zhan would always reach out his hand to you so you could speak.

116 notes · View notes