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recovery-is-brutal · 2 months

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Fuck it. Dethklok's Love Languages.

DSR and AOTD spoilers!

Nathan Explosion

Nathan struggles to say "I love you" out loud. Anything that involves him directly admitting that he cares or that he's sorry is very difficult for him. He's fantastic at coming up with the most brutal, messed up lyrics, always finding the right words for the right songs, but voicing his feelings? That's hard. Every once in a while, it slips out - but more often than not, it happens when he's alone and the person in question isn't present. ("I liked him" after Dr. Twinkletits is attacked by the yard wolves, "Miss the little guy already" when collecting Toki's laundry after he leaves). He gets much better at it over time though; directly telling Murderface that he would risk his life for him in DSR, or apologizing to the fans and showing appreciation for them in AOTD for example.

While saying things out loud is hard for Nathan, he very obviously tends to show his affection in actions. Despite his "no caring" rule, he is definitely someone who cares. A lot. He cares so much that losing his bandmates makes its way into his nightmares. He cares so much that he's willing to break up with his girlfriend for the sake of his bandmates. He cares so much that he follows Skwisgaar to Sweden. His deep care towards his bandmates becomes more and more apparent the longer the series goes on, and in RSD and AOTD in particular, Nathan shows just how far he would go for his loved ones, completely surpassing his own expectations of himself and choosing to become "the hand" instead of the "the fist".

While he learns to communicate in words more often later on as well, Nathan's main love language is definitely Acts of Service. He goes all the way for the people he cares about and defends them with his life (quite literally). You may never hear him say "I love you to the moon and back" directly to you, but he will learn everything he can about you, help you with everything he can, take you to the doctor, hold your hand through difficult situations. Gifts are another big one, he tends to give expensive or meaningful gifts to the people he cares about, since it's probably easier than saying "I care" out loud.

Pickles the Drummer

One thing about Pickles is that he remembers everything about you. That ice cream flavor you once mentioned you liked. Whether you like olives or not. Your favorite mineral water brand. If you're allergic to something or not. He does it effortlessly - it comes naturally to him when he cares about you. It's a surprise how he memorizes anything at all, considering how drunk/high he is most of the time, but when people are important to him, it just sticks right away. Another thing about him is that he's willing to respect potential triggers and try to protect you from seeing something that might upset you ("I'm not gonna stop drinking and doing drugs, but I'll do it where you can't see it"). He understands and respects mental health issues and does his best to be helpful.

Pickles is also often the one taking responsibility. The problem solver. The helper. When someone else fails at a task, he has no problem taking it over (ex. Nathan and Murderface both failing at the speech in Dethtroll). When Magnus is kicked out of the band, it's Pickles suggesting it's time to find another guitarist in RSD. Especially in Season 4 and AOTD, he's often in the role of the "parent", scolding his bandmembers for shitty behavior ("shame on you for bullying Toki over his diabetes!"), caring for Toki as he regresses in AOTD, cheering Nathan on more than anyone else when he doesn't believe in himself anymore, the list goes on and on. Can we also talk about him letting Skwisgaar and Murderface sleep in his bed with him in Dethcamp? Beautiful.

His main love language is also Acts of Service, as well as Words of Affirmation. Pickles is great at talking you out of your hopelessness and reminding you of your good qualities, as well as what you're fighting for. He wants to take care of whatever is upsetting the people he cares about. He wants to get rid of whatever hindrance there is himself. Pickles takes control to make life a bit easier for you and tells you how well you're doing in the same breath. If you ever have a panic attack around him, he will ground you to his best ability - better than any of the other Dethklok members probably, too. He's incredibly understanding and supportive towards the people he cares for.

William Murderface

Murderface sometimes gets a bit too close to his bandmates, putting his hands on their shoulders and backs, reaching for their hands... the same goes for other people. Sometimes strangers. He leans over them, gets all the way into their faces. He does know boundaries, that's not it. He also knows that he's crossing them at times. But William is the type of guy who absolutely cannot say "I love you". William can't even say "I like you". The best thing he can say is "I don't hate you". He was raised harshly, treated harshly, and the one thing he craves more than anything else is Physical Touch. Murderface firmly believes that caring for someone involves wanting to be near them. It's not something he would say out loud to anyone, but his idea of affection is holding hands, leaning against each other, hugging. He's very, very touch starved and very, very sexually frustrated. Someone just cupping his cheek would probably catch him off guard. His harsh facade would melt away entirely, even if just for a second before he asks you what the fuck you're doing.

Since most people react negatively to his touch, Murderface often resorts to Quality Time. Especially with Toki, Knubbler and sometimes Skwisgaar. He's often seen hanging out with them in particular, obviously choosing to spend several hours with them, and only them. Even if nothing eventful happens, it seems he's just happy being with them (even if he doesn't visibly show it). When he tries to get someone to have sex with him, he spends a lot of time preparing himself, even showing up in a suit with flowers for the special moment. It seems that giving undivided attention to the people he cares about is a way for him to show his appreciation. He's happy watching movies and eating with his bandmates, and isolates himself from them as a "punishment" in AOTD because he feels undeserving of them. Even the stranger who hypnotizes him in DSR shakes his hand in order to gain his trust more easily.

Murderface is often seen softening up when someone touches him and gives him Words of Affirmation (ex. in DSR when he's like "You wouldn't save me if I was the one kidnapped", but the moment Nathan puts his hand on his shoulder and says he'd risk his life for him, his entire body language immediately changes. Similar in AOTD, when he speaks negatively about himself, his tone changes once his shoulder is touched and he's reassured that he has a role in the band). Especially in the first season, he often makes negative remarks about himself and takes drastic measures such as wanting to leave, in an attempt to receive nice comments and attention from his bandmates. He needs a lot of reassurance in general.

Skwisgaar Skwigelf

Skwisgaar is well known for two things - the guitar playing, and the sex. You'd expect his love language to be physical touch, considering just how much sex he has, but he actually doesn't seem to enjoy being touched in a non sexual scenario (directly telling mostly Toki not to touch him many, many times throughout the series). It's kind of difficult to pinpoint exactly what love language defines his behavior, because Skwisgaar tends to close himself off emotionally. He seems to view himself as "above" other people - or below them as well at times. But something's for certain: He's extremely observant. He remembers many things his bandmates tell him, very personal and intimate details at times (ex. Toki's triggers). He's the first and only one to notice Murderface's strange behavior in AOTD. He knows a lot of things, but doesn't speak about them very much. This guy can keep a secret or two. He'd probably help you hide a body if you asked him nicely.

In a way, that makes his main love language Acts of Service. He discretely keeps an eye on his bandmates and observes them from a distance, so he's the first to know when something isn't right. He shows concern for his bandmates when they display new or different behaviors (ex. Toki's excessive drinking, hanging out with Rockzo, Murderface in AOTD...) and expresses this to the others. Whenever he's having sex with someone, he shows concern for their wellbeing ("lets me know if I tickles you", "lady you so skinny you look sick"), and he lets his hookups stay in his bed and sleep with him until they're ready to leave. He treats them with respect. He treats them like people. They're not just objects for his pleasure.

Though Skwisgaar appears emotionally constipated at times, he is anything but. He comes across as harsh and insensitive a lot of the time, but he honestly just doesn't have a filter. Plus, it needs to get out. What he doesn't express verbally, his body expresses for him. For example, he gets physically sick whenever his mother is around, he subconsciously stims with his guitar when he's in pain or upset... You might not hear him say "I love you" out loud, like, very often if at all. But he will stim more if you bring up that other guy you've been spending a lot of time with. He noticed you talking in your sleep more often, what's up with that? Also, when's the last time you've eaten?

Toki Wartooth

Right away: Physical Touch. Toki craves hugs, hand holding and the like more obviously than any other Dethklok member. Much like Murderface, he never received any proper affection as a child, and heavily associates physical softness and tenderness with being appreciated. He reaches out to his bandmates for hugs several times (especially Skwisgaar who he greatly admires), is very affectionate with his cat, and even when he's being playful or messing with the others, he's punching them, nudging them, getting close to them in any way. He craves meaningful connections with people, and even just in his daydreams about them, he's holding their hands a lot, or reaching out to them. Even Magnus has his arm around him in Dethcamp - and Toki has a wide smile on his face. He clings to Abigail for comfort in DSR, and she holds him close as he drifts off to his much deserved sleep. This is the easiest way for Toki to understand that he's cared for. Being held. And holding others (ex. picking up and carrying Skwisgaar in AOTD).

Another one is Gift Giving. A rare one, but it definitely is the case for him. He makes Murderface his Macaroni Murder Lady for his birthday, even though he's already getting a huge gift from the entire band. He happily gives his breakfast to a hungover Pickles in Mordland. The snowglobe that Nathan gives him before he's off to to the camp is something he holds very dear and treasures a lot. The tuning device Skwisgaar gives him in AOTD? He carries it around with him everywhere. There are probably more moments, but these are the ones I remember on top of my head. Gifts are very meaningful to him, and a way for him to express his care for the people he loves - and remember that he's cared for as well.

Toki is generally very open and direct with his feelings. I think he could adapt to any love language, really. He appreciates any form of affection towards him. But Physical Touch in particular is something he holds very dear. The one thing he really struggles with is when someone won't let him touch them. Maybe he could adapt to it if it was explained to him that it's not personal rejection, but it would take him some time to stop trying to initiate hugs and cuddles. Then, Words of Affirmation are very, very much needed. Of course he appreciates Acts of Service and Quality Time as well, but he doesn't read those as "love" very well. He needs to feel or hear it.

Bonus: Magnus Hammersmith

I can honestly only theorize about Magnus, since he's simply not shown often enough throughout the series - or in a very positive light. But from what I've gathered, I personally believe that he, very much like Pickles, likes to take the lead. He's a "fixer" and a "protector", though Magnus is much more forceful about it. He believes that everyone has to do exactly as he says, because his way is the best way for everyone involved. It upsets him when someone doesn't let him "fix" or "handle" something, because it feels like personal rejection to him. His love language is Acts of Service, in a twisted, messed up way. But also... Words of Affirmation. His way of showing that he cares is to take the wheel, to fix his loved ones' lives (whether they want it or not), but his way of feeling loved is to hear it. A simple "thank you for your advice" is often enough to satisfy him, even if you don't end up actually taking it. He immediately softens up when you let him know that his input is appreciated, and that you know he cares. When you say "I love you" to him, he is so taken aback that he doesn't know how to respond. Definitely not with "I love you too", but probably by giving you the bigger half of his cookie.

#mtl #metalocalypse #nathan explosion #skwisgaar skwigelf #william murderface #toki wartooth #pickles the drummer #dethklok #headcanons #magnus hammersmith

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stoneagedevil · 11 months

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Could write something about Anton Chigurh ?🖇

I love him 💕💕💕

I’d be delighted to, 🖇️. Here’s something I’ve been sitting on for a while:

Compound Fracture | Anton Chigurh x f!Reader

TW/CW: Blood, bone, killing, etc. this is a No Country for Old Men one shot, afterall.

—————

It was an address given to him years ago. Didn’t matter what was going through his mind, the address stayed. Rain, snow, shine, shit.

But the concern was if the occupant still resided in the house that occupied the address. The concern was the bone sticking out of his arm.

Initially when the Buick hit him, he’d flung himself into the passenger side to save as much of himself as he could. But looking down at the bloody bone that ripped through his skin as though it were paper, he thought he was worse for wear. He checked the amount of blood coming out of his arm, hoping that the median artery wasn’t severed. It wasn’t. The pain hadn’t set in yet, still running on adrenaline, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to make it to a veterinarian’s office, or blow another car sky high in attempts of robbing a pharmacy. The bone would just cause too much attention, as would the blood streaming down his face.

Besides, sometimes you gotta know that you might be biting off more than you can chew before you take a bite, and Anton knew his limits. You have to, especially in his line of work. It’s what let’s you dictate your future to the best of your ability.

The house was in a quiet neighborhood. The type of neighborhood that kids zip up and down the street on their bikes in. The type of neighborhood with old women and their garden beds. The type of neighborhood with cookouts, potlucks, and the like. This was no place for someone like him.

He knocked on the house with a red door, and on the other side, a (E/C) eye was looking through the peephole.

‘This’ll be a tough one,’ she thought.

She unlocked the door and ushered him in.

“Any cops or emergency services called?”

“Yes, but I left the scene before they could make it there.”

“Good, good. Anybody see you?” She questioned, all the while walking briskly around the house, laying medical paper down on the kitchen table, sanitizing this n that, pulling out tools and medicine, and putting on latex gloves.

“Two young boys. I paid for their silence.”

“Young boys talk. Young people do in general. Seems like you paid for a shirt as well. Are you allergic to latex?” She stated, looking at the gingham button up Anton fashioned into a sling.

“No.”

“I’m gonna inject nerve block in your arm. I’m sure you’re aware of the state you’re in, and adrenaline can only take you so far.”

“I’m aware.”

“This is a compound fracture. Means the skin’s been torn open, and that the bone’s as sharp as a steak knife. You’re rare.” She humored.She studied his arm as he rested on the kitchen table. “Are you comfortable?”

“As much as one could be in this situation.”

“What brought you to this situation?” She asked, always curious about her patients. Some were tight lipped about their endeavors, others were crying so loud she couldn’t get nothing else out of them.

“My word.” Be replied, referring to his visit with Carla Jean.

“And what word would that be?” She cleaned the wound, spraying it down with alcohol.

“A man chose not to save his wife while he was alive. I gave him my word I’d kill her, since she was liable the same as him.”

“Doesn’t sound like he loved her.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well, I’d kill for anyone I’d love. But you gotta be willing to die too. Killing someone is one thing. Taking the life of someone that doesn’t mean anything to you is easier than sacrificing yourself. But when you wed, you’re givin’ your mind, body, and soul to them. You should be willin’ to lose all three for them.”

He’d hadn’t thought about it in that way. Sure, he knew Moss was selfish, a choice had to be made, and he picked the wrong one, but he didn’t think about the aspect of love and marriage when it came to the choice. He just knew Moss loved her, or so he thought. That’s why he used her as leverage.

“Then you’re right.”

“I’m hardly ever wrong.”

His lips lifted slightly at her wit. This whole time he’d been staring up at the ceiling fan above the table he’d been laying on, noticing that there wasn’t a speck of dust on it. The entire place was immaculate.

“If there is an afterlife I wouldn’t let him hear the end of it. A dead man can’t take back his actions. It’s even hard for a livin’ man to do so.”

“He seemed comfortable in his conviction. Confident that he’d get me, save his wife, and take the money that wasn’t his to begin with.”

“He made his choice, I wouldn’t feel sorry for him because of that. Do you believe in karma?”

“Maybe.”

“I do. I think this bone sticking out is your karma here. But there will be more to come. My door is always open when karma strikes next.”

“You think karma brought me here?”

“I do. You killed the wife, and whether you’re right or wrong to do it doesn’t matter, it never has, but you killed her, and now this has happened to you. You coulda stayed in her home a little longer. You coulda left a little earlier, and all of this coulda been prevented. You’ve got impeccable timing, or karma does, anyway.”

He looked in her eyes, and she stared right back. She pushed the bone back into place, he grunted at the strange pressure.

“Have you had karma?” He asked. He was sure the answer was yes.

“Always. I help people who do terrible things by society’s standards. I get good things, because I’m helping, but I get bad things because of who I help.”

“Then why help?”

“I want to. I think it’s interesting. How many times in your life do you get to push a bone back into someone’s arm?” She smiled. “I think you’re my favorite patient. No kicking and screaming, and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a fascinatin’ fracture.”

This woman was strange, delightfully so. Not squeamish, working quickly and efficiently, and providing conversation that didn’t make him want to cut it short through more violent means.

Before he knew it he had some strange metal device on the outside of his arm, with something that looked like screws going into it. She sutured his arm, soon injecting something along the lines of antibiotics he assumed to further fight infection. The details of the home surgery were extremely foggy in his sedative-ridden mind, but he remembered her helping him up off of the table and her showing him a room where he could stay until his arm was healed enough to let him go.

He fell asleep soon after she took his shoes off, faintly remembering her bringing him in water and painkillers.

And when the days came where his arm inevitably healed, and he inevitably left to get inevitably hurt once again, he knew he’d be back to hear more about karma, fractures, fate, and the correct way to disinfect wounds even though he knew what to do anyway, because from her, he’d gladly listen.

#fanfic #x reader #no country for old men #anton chigurh #Anton Chigurh x reader #anon ask #slashers #slasher x reader #Anton Chigurh x y/n #Anton Chigurh x you

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vllergy · 11 months

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literally the first snz thing i've ever written please go ahead and eviscerate me but the brainrot was real and i needed an exorcism literally no plot, just snz. have some allergic!wolfwood and some kink!vash who is absolutely losing his mind in the seat next to him (dedicated to all the greats that came before me, i would tag u but i dont know you and dont want to be weird?!? apologies for showing up out of nowhere but i want to be friends with all of you out there who are writing incredible shit please and thank you)

It's still light enough that the interior of the jeep is bathed in blue velvet and Vash can see every detail of Wolfwood sitting next to him in perfect clarity. But just dark enough that he can watch him from the cover of the soft shadows afforded to him by the arch of the window he's pressed up against without anyone knowing. Vash rolls the side of his head a little farther against the glass just to discourage even the slightest suspicion that he's spying on the other man. Somehow, the glass is still warm even though the inside of the vehicle has cooled down considerably. On any other night, Vash might have chased after the sensation to stave off the chill that inevitably seeps in. Tonight, however, it only serves to make the blood rising to his cheeks feel like a fever. Pinpricks of heat needle at his flesh, stinging him as the blush burns hotter, brighter. He can feel the color red on his skin. He's lucky it's dark, because he's sure his face is as red as his jacket.

Vash inhales a steadying breath and wrenches his eyes away from Wolfwood's profile in an effort to level himself out. Of course, just as he does so, the other man sniffles for what must be the hundredth time in that soft--admittedly unobtrusive--way that sets Vash's blood on fire. He's been doing it for the better part of an hour, and Vash feels like he's losing his mind.

The race clearly lost, the flush on his cheeks radiates down the lower half of his face and throat. It spreads through his chest like a wildfire and suddenly the interior of the jeep feels stifling, like he can't catch his breath.

Still, ever a glutton for punishment, Vash can't help but look back over at Wolfwood. He's rewarded--or damned--with the sight of the other man pushing a knuckle against his nostril and rubbing harshly. It'd be obvious to anyone at this point, but it's been obvious to Vash for some time that something is bothering him.

To be fair, there is something kind of acrid on the air that Vash can't quite place. The farther they drive, the more the sand has a sour edge to it, and the air has the consistency of syrup at the back of his throat. But he's always been more attuned to things like that. He can smell the threat of a storm waiting in a shift of a breeze, or a town full of decay from the way the sand smells even miles out. He's used to being alone in clocking those kinds of changes.

Neither Roberto or Meryl have commented on the change in atmosphere, but even if Wolfwood's not aware of it, it doesn't seem to agree with him. There's a strong part of Vash that's sympathetic. There's a pang in his chest that he always seems to get whenever Wolfwood is anything less than indomitable. Vash gets the urge to protect him, to care for him, to make his life easier somehow, despite any vitriol that might get thrown in his face (and usually does) for trying.

But over the last hour, that sympathy has been well and truly worn out by something stronger. Hungrier. Something that would be a lot easier to get ahold of if he were not sitting with his knee brushing up against the other man's in close quarters with him while he sniffs away in maddening little bursts.

As Vash continues to watch, Wolfwood stretches his face and curls his upper lip over his teeth in an effort to do...something. Vash isn't sure what. That expression is nothing if not terribly itchy and doesn't look like it provides much relief. Wolfwood seems less miserable as than he does terribly inconvenienced by the whole thing. He tried smoking a cigarette earlier but abandoned it early, seemingly not able to divide his attention between that and holding whatever this is at bay.

Whatever this is.

Vash shudders, despite the heat blooming in his chest. Part of him desperately hopes that whatever irritation Wolfwood's experiencing will keep him sniffly and annoyed for the rest of the journey, and nothing more. He'll be miserable, sure, but the alternative would be torture for Vash. And while the blonde is usually a man more than willing to fall on anyone else's sword for any reason and cut his teeth on the blade of mercy, this is one instance he'll gladly let Wolfwood shoulder the suffering.

Then again--that other part of him is silently hoping against all hope that it might happen. It. He can't even think the word to himself, too afraid of what it might unravel in him. He's had yet to see it actually happen. Could it really be now? While they're sitting this close together? While it's this quiet? Vash's throat goes dry at the thought.

He gives a perfunctory glance toward the front windshield just for good measure and then lazily goes back to gazing at Wolfwood.

Oh--

Vash almost misses it, it's so fast. There's a brief snarl of an expression and Wolfwood brings his closed fist underneath his nose. There's no audible inhalation of breath. No sound at all, actually. Just a quick dip of his head, and the briefest shudder of his body that just barely brushes his knee against Vash's.

And then it's over. Wolfwood goes right back to staring out the window as if nothing had occurred, his eyes clear, expression steady. Doesn't even need a clearing sniff to punctuate it.

Vash, for his part, suddenly can't remember how to function. He ripped his gaze away so fast from the display that he's pretty sure his eyes are still spinning. The sand dunes in the distance blur as his gaze unfocuses and he begins to replay each motion over and over again from what little he can remember.

It was so fast, too fast. He should have been paying better attention. He'd missed seeing the way the sneeze must have crept up on Wolfwood, and the moment he must have decided it was happening whether he liked it or not.

Still, all things considered, Vash can't complain about what he did see. The slight cant of Wolfwood's dark brows, the way his nostrils had flared right above his fist, the slight shudder that made the silver cross necklace hanging across his chest wink at Vash in the moonlight.

Vash bites his lip and lets his head tilt back. A deep, cleansing breath chases out the last bit of heat in his lungs.

There. That's the end of it. Wolfwood's concquered whatever it was that was bothering him, and Vash has seen what he wanted to. And he's still somehow in control of himself, by some miracle. All's well that ends well. Hengives a private little smile to the roof of the vehicle and flexes his hands on his thighs, thoroughly satisfied.

Then, Wolfwood sniffs.

Incredulous, Vash opens his eyes and carefully slides them over to the seat next to him. Where sure enough, Wolfwood is once again rubbing at his nose with a knuckle, this time with a bit more urgency. Vash picks up his head and stares with abandon, transfixed.

This time, he gets to see the entire thing. From the way Wolfwood's eyes start to slit closed, each long lash like a swipe of ink collecting in on themselves, to the way his mouth parts and reveals the white flash of a canine. There is a slight sound of breath this time, but soft enough that Vash is sure he's the only one who hears it.

"Hh!"

Then, in the same manner as before, Wolfwood finally succumbs, placing his fist underneath his nose and dipping into a perfectly silent stifle.

Between the haze of arousal, Vash has time to think it's a strange habit, especially for someone like Wolfwood. He's never known the man to do anything with much politeness, or chagrin for that matter. Had he been asked to predict his caliber of sneeze, he would have guessed it would have been a ground-shattering kind of ordeal that would have even woken the likes of Roberto. These tightly constrained sneezes seem oddly antithetical to who Wolfwood is as a person.

Roberto is asleep, but Vash is certain Wolfwood isn't doing this for his benefit. So, then, why?

He doesn't have time to hypothesize further. Before Vash has time to pretend to look away again to keep his cover, Wolfwood stifles a third sneeze into his fist, just as silent as the first two. Wolfwood's body reacts a little more this time, the shudder more pronounced, and his knee hitting Vash's with a bit more strength. Though it could be blamed on the rattle of the ride, Vash knows better. He feels the point of contact like a gunshot.

Now, he's presented with a strange problem. It's customary to bless someone in this situation, but it's clear Wolfwood is trying to keep everyone in this vehicle from knowing he's sneezing. And Vash's rapt attention notwithstanding, he's doing a pretty good job of it.

Vash realizes he can't say anything without giving himself away--and even if he could, he gets the sense Wolfwood isn't someone who takes kindly to having his weaknesses highlighted. Someone who puts this much effort into concealing their sneezing probably doesn't want attention drawn to them, right?

Still, Vash is a creature of habit, even while he's trying desperately to get his blood to flow anywhere other than below his waist. So a moment later, Wolfwood gears up for another sneeze and realizes a simple clenched fist isn't going to cut it. He switches tactics and quickly pinches his nose shut with his thumb and forefinger, causing the sound to break through his teeth.

"Hngt-SST!"

And Vash can't help himself.

"Bless you," he whispers.

As expected, Wolfwood answers him with an all too familiar glare. His eyes shine like coins in the dark and Vash quickly palms the back of his neck, holding up his other hand in a show of surrender. It's a wordless apology, just as is Wolfwood's wordless Shut it, Needle-noggin.

The dark haired man goes back to staring out the window, only now with a scowl. He rubs the palm of his hand at the tip of his nose, crushing it into what he probably hopes is submission. The look on his face seems to say No more, not a single fucking one. And now Vash feels guilty. He didn't mean to make him uncomfortable. It really was just instinct. And maybe partly that strange, weird pulling feeling in his chest that makes him want to close the last inch of distance between them and rub Wolfwood's back until he feels better.

Vash vows not to look anymore. He presses his cheek against the window and concentrates as hard as he can at the scenery outside. Things are blissfully quiet for a few moments. Vash allows himself to be lulled by the rocking of the rough terrain beneath the wheels and feels a bead of sweat drip down his spine.

Then, Wolfwood sniffles.

Despite all evidence to the contrary, Vash's first instinct is that the other man is in some kind of emotional distress. Alarmed, he looks over immediately, despite just vowing not to. Wolfwood has his face turned away from him and angled down--Vash realizes he's using the collar of his shirt to rub at his nose.

He's rubbing so hard, he looks like he's trying to start a fire. Vash desperately wants to take his hands and stop him before he hurts himself. He knows he should look away. Give him some privacy. But as soon as Wolfwood's breath starts to hitch, he's unable to do anything else but watch.

The rigorous rubbing comes to a halt and Wolfwood lifts his face just slightly from his collar. His breath snags, a quick staccato of whispered gasps. "Hh--hh..HHh!"

He curls in on himself, shoulders caving as he presses the grey fabric of his collar up over his nose and mouth and executes a near perfect stifle into it. Vash thinks that might be it, but another assaults him without giving him a breath in between. There's volume to it, but not much.

"Hngt-mpff!"

He lifts his head blearily and Vash can see his expression in the reflection of the window. Brow downturned, eyes fluttering--suddenly something shifts and his mouth stretches back into a fuller, deeper gasp. Vash sees his teeth bared for a moment and his chest swelling against the opened panel of his suit.

Oh, this is--

"H'EHTschuh!"

It's not terribly loud, and it's slightly contained by the fabric of his collar, but it's a proper sneeze this time. Wolfwood's whole body bends with the force of it.

"Bless you!" Meryl chimes from the front seat.

Vash winces, but figures it has to be fair game now. Wolfwood raises his opposite hand while the other still has his collar tented over his nose in a brief show of thanks. He sniffs noisily and then with a few testing sniffles, finally lowers his collar. Vash notices there's a damp spot amidst the dark grey fabric. He crosses his legs quickly.

Wolfwood settles back into his seat properly and swipes his wrist under his nose. Vash would have thought his mood might have soured further now that the jig is up, but if anything, he seems more relaxed now. His legs splay out, his thigh coming to rest against Vash's and their shoulders brushing. Wolfwood clears his throat once and huffs.

Vash doesn't quite trust himself to speak but figures not saying anything is weirder.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

Wolfwood cuts him a sidelong glance. There's no venom in it, nor suspicion, thankfully. There's a hazy look to him as if that last sneeze sent his head spinning. The thought is endearing as it is arousing.

"M'good," is all the man offers in reply.

He tips his head back, dark strands of hair sliding against each other like silk. Vash watches his bare chest rise and fall as he raises his hand and pinches the bridge of his nose.

"You got any tissues up there?" he calls loud enough to be heard over the growl of the engine.

Meryl's eyes flicker back to him in the rearview mirror.

"There's some wadded up napkins."

"Hand 'em oh-h--"

Wolfwood's hand leaves his nose to hover, palm open, a few inches from his face. Vash thought he might just sneeze from there, but it's clearly turning into a bigger production. As his breath stutters, Wolfwood lifts his head from where it was tilted back and sits up fully. One hand becomes two as he steeples long fingers in front of his nose and mouth and his expression crumples. He whips forward into the space between his knees with a loud, throat scraping--"H’AEHHSSSZC’huu!"

Vash actually flinches. Now that sounds more like Wolfwood. Seems like all bets are off now. And just as Vash predicted, the sound wakes Roberto from his sleep with a jolt.

"Bless you," Meryl sighs.

Vash immediately puts a hand on Wolfwood's back where he's still hunched over, folded into his hands.

"Wow," he says, both in sympathy and in reverence.

Meryl reaches back with the napkins and Vash takes them from her. But before he can give them to Wolfwood, he feels the man's ribcage expanding underneath his palm. He doesn't even resurface, sneezing into his hands again from between his knees.

"DZZISSHh’huu!"

"That you sneezin' back there, undertaker?" Roberto grumbles.

Wolfwood grunts in response and finally lifts his head with a snuffle. Vash finds one of his hands and presses the napkins there. Wolfwood takes them without protest and immediately crushes them to his nose as he sits back up.

Vash thinks to remove his other hand from his back but he doesn't, and for his part, Wolfwood doesn't shirk his touch. If anything, he leans into the hand along his spine, leans into Vash. The scent of his skin invades Vash's senses. Somehow, he still manages to smell nice after being in the burning heat all day.

He's polite enough to turn his head as he starts to blow his nose. The action must vibrate an already miserably tickly sinuses, because mid-way through he can't help but sneeze helplessly into the fistful of napkins.

"H'AEHchhff!"

His body wrenches with it, the muscles of his back tensing under Vash's side. Vash feels like he's going cross-eyed. As much as he likes the closeness, it's about to become a problem very soon if this doesn't let up. He shifts in his seat and tries to angle his hips away from the other man as much as he can.

"Bless you," he manages.

Meryl looks amused, "What's gotten into you, Wolfwood?"

"You telling me you guys don't fucking smell that?" Wolfwood bites back, his voice slightly muffled from the napkins as he continues to wipe at his nose.

"Smell what?" Roberto asks.

"I do," Vash says, eager for at least a slight segue in the conversation, "There's something in the air for sure. I've been noticing it for a while."

Meryl tilts her head, "I guess it does smell a little funny."

"Whatever it is, it's driving me fucking crazy."

Vash swallows. Someone else is piloting his mouth when he says, "You must be really sensitive."

Wolfwood lowers the napkins and shrugs noncommittally. He dabs at his nose, which is most assuredly turning the shade of a ripe peach, with the sodden napkins. Vash's heart gives a little pang. Suddenly, he remembers he has napkins too. He can't even remember the place they last stopped for food, his memory before this ride is all white noise at this point, but he knows he grabbed some.

"Here, Wolfwood," he says, digging into his coat and procuring some neatly folded napkins.

Wolfwood gives him a smirk that unfurls something in his chest. "You holdin' out on me this whole time, Blondie?"

"I just remembered I had them," he answers truthfully, "Sorry, I would have--" He trails off as he watches Wolfwood's expression quiver. There isn't time for a napkin exchange, Wolfwood is already wrenching away from him and this time opting to sneeze directly at the floor.

"h'YIISHZSHh’huu!"

"Can you sneeze any quieter?" Meryl complains.

Yes, he can, Vash thinks as his brain knits itself back together. He hands over the clean napkins as Wolfwood blindly reaches for them. He gets ahold of them, but doesn't even attempt to get them to his face in time to catch the second sneeze that barrels out of him. He shakes his head like a dog and whips towards the floor again--"H’AEEHHSSEZCh'yue!"

It's even louder than the first, and Vash wonders if that was just to spite Meryl.

"Bless you," Vash murmurs.

"Thagks," Wolfwood says as he straightens up and finally puts the new napkins to good use. He blows his nose almost comically, as if he's trying to make as much noise as possible. But given the way it sounds, Vash thinks that at least isn't for show. He's just genuinely trying to clear whatever's bothering him out of his sinuses.

When he's finally done, Wolfwood wads up the napkins in his fist, gives a dry, irritated sniff and touches lightly at his septum with the tip of his ring finger.

"Feel better?" Vash dares ask.

"Yeah," Wolfwood gives an experimental sniff, "Think it's gone now."

Vash is equal parts relieved and disappointed. He smiles in the former and nods.

"Good. Hopefully we'll be out of this area soon," he says encouragingly.

Wolfwood nod and turns a languid glance out the window. Vash studies his expression, holding his breath in fear of another telltale sign of a tickle. But nothing happens. Wolfwood's face stays serene. If not for the hue of his nostrils, one might not think anything had occurred at all.

Vash allows himself to let down his guard. He rests his head against the window once more and actually closes his eyes. Blood is beginning to redistribute. His heart rate is going down. The pleasant coolness of the inside of the vehicle is doing wonders for him and he's grateful for the little seam open on the window letting in some of the air. It plays with his eyelashes and the tips of his hair as he lets the new quiet soothe him.

Fifteen minutes later, Vash is on the edge of sleep, just about to plunge through when he hears Wolfwood sniff.

#idk how to end things #also i could have kept writing this for days i needed to be stopped #anyway uh #t/rigun #i guess #throwing my hat in the ring among so many crazy talented writers #i feel like i needed to give the community something after lurking for like 800 years and selfishly drooling over everyone else's content #idk now i have to run away and hope no one sees it????#anyway vash is a disaster this poor guy #you ever want to take care of a handsome man with his tiddies out and also kiss him senseless yea #my writing #snz

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harrysmimi · 2 years

Text

We All Make Mistakes

Synopsis: Harry finds himself lucky as his new neighbour is sweet enough to baby sit his daughter

Word count: 12k+

TW ⚠️: mentions of death and loss of loved one, mentions of anxiety and depression. Mentions of child loss. Mentions of pretty big age gap between Harry and YN. If of this bothers you please do not read this.

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It was never easy to be a parent. Especially a single parent.

It's been about eight months Shyloh was born and Harry still finds it difficult to have a tiny human depended upon him. He would not want the other way even in his dreams, the exhaustion, smelling like poop, pee and puke and baby formula, sleepless nights and having play rave nights with the little angel, it all seemed to be worth it to see the little dimply smile appearing on her pretty face and hear her squeal.

It was very difficult from the very beginning for Harry though, his boss was nice enough let him work from home for the first four months and he was allowed to take his baby to work, they had dedicated day care at their office for working parents. Harry was able to go see her whenever he wanted and whenever he could. As Shyloh was getting bigger, she no longer just had her formula and played with herself and went to sleep, no, no, she was needing more attention now. Harry never hated even a single moment he spent playing with her but it was nice to get some rest for himself.

It would have been so much more easier if her mum would have decided to stick around and not abandon him and their daughter, but he couldn't force her to stay when she never wanted to.

Harry and his wife were together for eight years and married for six out of those eight. Their pregnancy wasn't planned but Harry couldn't be happier with the news that he is going to be a dad, have a family with someone who he loved so much. But his wife wasn't happy at all.

Harry still till this day did not know why she went on with the pregnancy if she wanted to just up and ditch, well, it kind of did turned out she has been cheating on him for years. He still believed the baby was his, told her it was her body and he would be there by her side no matter what her decision would be, but she still went through everything never making him the part of any of the doctor's appointments. He was lucky enough, he thought that she let him be in the labour and delivery room and witness his first child being born.

He was extremely heart broken that she never even wanted to see their daughter's face, as soon as she was given the green flag from her doctor she just left. Last time he saw her was month after in court to get a divorce, and had their properties divided according their individual investments. They had a child involved and upon the DNA testing it was proved that Shyloh was actually his daughter and his ex-wife did not wanted to have to do anything with him or the little girl. It was very hard for him to process everything, be there for Shyloh and continue work so he can provide for his baby. He own another flat where he moved when things started going bad with his ex-wife, and now he lives there with his daughter

Harry did everything in his power to give his Shyloh a comfortable life, read many books and articles about parenting, talked to his friends and family about how he can at least be a decent dad for his baby. But nothing could guide him through tiny little details like when she was grumpy what the reason behind that? Was she hurting? Was she sad that her dad wouldn't be there for as much? As she was switching onto more solids food, she'd have more upset tummy. It all comes with trials and errors, Harry figured she was very severely allergic to tree nuts, especially peanuts once he was starting to give her tiny amounts of fruit smoothies with other purees.

It took him a whole week to figure out that the reason of her being so tired and sleepy after breakfast was sugar crash from the little amounts breakfast smoothies he made for her. They weren't that sweet but he reckoned her stomach probably the size of her own tiny hand and it would be a lot to for her to process all the sugar, though it was all natural. He had called his mum and talked to her pediatrician to help navigate him through her diet.

It was very difficult when she started teething at just five months old, she had fever, upset tummy and what not and everything leading her to be grumpy most of the time. She'd only stop crying or whining when he would have her in his arms and walk around the house until she was in deep sleep, she wasn't even allowed to sit until she was asleep.

He always wondered how other parents described their children as very easy going and not grumpy at all. He had so many questions about his own parenting skills. He had to make peace with himself that he was doing everything in his power to learn and grow as a father.

It wasn't always the grumpy the sick times for Harry and Shyloh. Though Shyloh was completely opposite of her name, she was very chaotic especially after she learned to that she could babble and try to communicate with her father. When she started to turn over her tummy on her own Harry felt the proudest seeing her first successful accomplishment. But that just lead more to her chaos, she learned to drag herself anywhere she wanted with her elbow and swimming on the floor pushing her tiny body with her knees. She didn't knew how to crawl properly but oh lord she was so fast!

Harry had to spend a hefty sum of money to get his flat baby proofed after seeing that. He was very glad that he did because now Shyloh had really learned to crawl and through things and chase after them as they tumbled away from her, squealing and babbling in her own language she had made on her own.

All this while long, Harry had a really nice neighbour move in just next door. She was like an angel when Harry felt like he almost had it all when Shyloh wouldn't stop crying as he came back home from a long day at work. He wanted to cry like a baby himself.

"Hey, what's wrong, why is your baby crying?" He heard his neighbour say.

"I don't know, maybe she is hungry, and she is very sleepy." Harry said trying to unlock the damn door.

"Do you mind if I help?" She asked grabbing his attention.

He turned around to see a very gorgeous woman stood there in her baby blue scrubs, he reckoned she must be a doctor or a nurse.

"It doesn't look like she is sleepy. I am a doctor if, it's okay with you I'm more than happy to help." She offered. Shyloh had turned very red from all her crying, she just couldn't keep herself from being very ethical and examining someone at their door step and not in her office.

"Plea — please!" He sighed and quickly unbuckle his baby in her car seat. The girl was quick to take her out. Harry almost gasped as Shyloh stopped crying, all it took was to have her held faced down with her tummy pressed against the doctor's arm. He didn't know but he felt the safest having her handle his child than himself trying. The way she held Shyloh with her head cradled just between her elbow. Shy looked very cute like that, with her chubby cheek smooshed against the doctor's arm.

"It looks like she just has a bit of gas but she'll be fine." The doctor chuckled, "just give her the usual dose of her gripe water."

"Oh, I don't, I don't have that. What, what is that?" He felt so embarrassed to ask that question.

"It's supposed to help with digestion, how — I am sorry I can't really help you here I might get in trouble — how old is she?" She didn't seem to judge him for not knowing what that thing she just named was.

"Almost eight months. She'll be eight months old in exactly eleven days from today." Harry shared.

"I was just going to work if you want to bring her down to the hospital, so I can assist you with what you can do. If not then it's totally fine but make sure you take her to her pediatrician soon." She said.

"Yeah, yeah sure. I just want her to feel okay now." He rushed.

Shyloh was completely calm the whole five minutes drive to the nearest hospital where the doctor worked at. He remembered he did not got her name. Shyloh just held onto his blazer tightly with her head rested on his chest.

"It's okay love, you'll be fine yeah? Daddy is where with you." He smiled at her before pressing a kiss on her chubby cheek.

Upon the visit to the doctor's, he learned his neighbour doctor was assistant and he felt safer that she introduced him to a very well experienced doctor who checked Shyloh, asking if she is allergic to anything or not and general questions, doctor told his assistant what to do and left in hurry. Harry looked at his neighbour — or he should say Doctor now — worried.

"Don't worry, I apologise Dr. Smith have an emergency surgery to assist so he had to rush but you don't have to worry." She assured him.

"Yeah, thank you." He nodded watching her do a thorough check-up on his baby, "do I really have to be worried about something?"

"Nope," doctor looked up at him with a very assuring look, "she just have an upset stomach for now we'll just give her gripe water like I said." She explained, "you can pick up the prescription from the pharmacy. 5ML should be the dose."

"Thank you so much." Harry felt relieved, "is she supposed to have the gripe water before or after her meals?"

"It doesn't matter, you can give it to her anytime she has an upset stomach or when babies are colicky — it is not something be too worried about, it's when babies inhale a lot of air. It happens with completely fine babies too. And she is very healthy." Doctor seemed very good at explaining him what is going on with his baby. "You can check her tummy if it feels tight and it is followed by fussiness, it's probably upset stomach, gas or colic."

He watched carefully taking very detailed mental notes on what the doctor was talking about, she'd shown him a little trick to check if his baby is gassy or not, just by pressing her finger very gently over her tummy (which he found adorably sad that it made Shyloh squirm in giggles as it tickled it).

"In her case, she is teething so it is common for her feel this way." She added, checking on her gums.

"How many times can I give this, this gripe water to her in a day?" He asked.

"It is usually recommended about four to six time in 24 hours." She answered. He had few more follow up questions he wanted to asked.

"I am sorry if I am asking too many questions, but is it really safe? Her pediatrician said that some syrups and tonics make babies very sleepy and more grumpy." He hesitated.

"It's totally fine, we're here to help you. But yeah, it is safe. It's technically not a syrup or a tonic. But yeah, I would recommend you pay a visit to her doctor as this is something we have recommended to make her feel better for now. Maybe her doctor will recommend a different brand of gripe water or some alternatives which she would better handle."

Harry listened to her very carefully, he wasn't going to miss out any word she was saying. But it made the doctor sort of nervous talking about what he was asking.

"Oh okay, thank you so much." He picked up Shyloh from the check-up bed.

After that Shyloh slept peacefully. Harry was glad that she was feeling better that she slept like a baby, quite literally!

He'd made sure to take her to her pediatrician the very next day and plan out just a perfect diet for her, though she still had her formula. He was more relieved when her doctor confirmed it was very safe and nice option for Shyloh to give her the gripe water. It works wonders Harry had realised, and especially on his baby!

He was so thankful for his neighbour doctor that he really made her some cookies as a thank you gesture. This time he managed to get her first name instead of just last name.

He wondered how he hardly saw her, he remembered someone moving in the flat just right in front of his two months before Shyloh was born. Well, she is a doctor what does he except really? She must be working 24 hour long shifts and it is pretty self explanatory why he never saw her like he saw their other neighbours.

Harry was more surprised to see his boss visiting his neighbour a couple of day later, he learned that she is his daughter. Her father was the owner and CEO of the law firm he had been working at from past ten years.

He wasn't involved in any gossips around the office but he knew that his boss' oldest child was sixteen. He did talked about his kids around the office, Harry knew because he has been promoted to upper level post where he was in direct contact with his boss. It was then when his boss had forced him to go have dinner with them at YN's.

He didn't know if she was uncomfortable having him over or her having her dad over, but she did not mind having Shyloh over and played with her whilst his boss talked his ears out about this case they were working on.

"Uhhh, Baba, I am sure it's Shyloh's bed time can we just cut it short? I've got work in the morning." She interrupted their conversation.

"You work on Fridays now?" He asked.

"Yeah!" She nodded.

"Are you going to the court tomorrow as well?" He asked.

"Yeah." And she nodded again.

"Okay." The man nodded, stood up, grabbed his car keys from the coffee table and just left. Without saying a simple bye to his daughter sitting there right in front of him. YN sighed.

"I think I should leave now, I am sorry to be a trouble." Harry apologised trying to take Shyloh who was sat comfy on YN's lap, playing with her necklace.

"It's okay really," she smiled her assuring smile, "I just wasn't expecting him to come over, but I do not mind having you two over. My father is just like that, he just shows up out nowhere eats the food I make and just leaves. I guess he likes to have a home cooked meal sometimes." She shared.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Harry felt bad for her. "I couldn't say no to him as he is my boss."

"It's understandable, he is my dad afterall." She chuckled softly, "that's why I really can't say no to him too."

"He said you don't work on Fridays?" He asked.

"No, I have Fridays and Saturdays off. The shifts change every three to six months in my hospital." She explained.

"That sounds very tiring." He said, "but thank you so doing what you're doing you know, Shyloh and I slept like babies that night."

"Ah! No, thank you really for saying that, we don't often hear people saying that." Her face turned flush. "I, I apologise, but do not see her mum around?"

"She doesn't want to be around so it's just me and Shyloh." He did not felt bad or sad to share that now, he have accepted that if her mum really wanted to stay she would have and he is trying to be enough for his daughter.

"She seems very happy." YN smiled looking down at a tired Shyloh flashing her big green eyes at her, almost falling asleep. And she shied away smiling.

"I hope she is, try my best everyday."

"You could really do so much with what you know, it's okay to make mistakes and rectify them along the way. She's your first child you'll get the hang of it as she grows up. Parenting is not easy. I see most first time parents panic or feel anxious, even parents who've had kids before." She assured him.

"You seem very experienced with babies I saw that night. I know it must be very stupid of me to say because you work with them," he rushed.

"Nah it's good, I have been working with infants for just about two years now. But I have little half siblings I looked after since I was eight years old." She shared, "I like to think I am pretty decent at my job." She had a proud smile on her pretty face, as she should.

"I would agree, she stopped crying immediately."

"Something my grandma taught me as I said I used to look after my siblings." She bragged proudly, "babies really like being held like that."

"I don't know if I should ask you this but your dad mentioned something about the court, is everything alright?" Harry enquired.

"Yeah, just hearing for some work." She shared vaguely.

"Oh please let me know if you need any help with anything." He offered, noticed that Shyloh was fast asleep holding tightly onto YN's hoodie in her fist, mouth agape as she drooled on the fabric.

"I am so sorry about that." He chuckled sheepishly taking his daughter.

"I work at a hospital, almost nothing disgusts me now it's okay!" YN giggled watching how comfortable Shyloh looked, it was adorable.

....................................................................

From that night, Harry and YN have been very good friends.

Especially Shyloh, she loves YN so much she would ditch her own dad to be held by the girl who lives next door and snuggle her.

Harry and Shyloh were always invited to YN's for meals, which Harry was very grateful for although he did not understand how she did everything. Her house was always squeaky clean and she always managed to cook for herself though she had to be working 24 hours a day some times!

YN had even offered Harry that she could baby Shyloh for him seeing how stressed he was leaving his flat. He did not wanted to bother her as Shyloh was getting more and more rowdy as she was growing up. But it wasn't until he had to go to court for work and he had fired the baby sitter the day before for being ignorant at her job. He had called his mum asking if she could take in Shyloh for a the day as he does not want to take her to the court with him, he wasn't even sure if he could do that. His mum was busy and his older sister was out of town. That's when he decided to fake in YN's offer and leave his baby with her. He trusted her enough because one; she was a doctor and she knew more than him, and two; Shyloh loves YN.

The baby was napping in her automatic swing when Harry was finally able to gather all his nerves and go knock on her door. He needed to be on time and he could not loose this case as it was the biggest and most important case of his career. He could get promoted and get a raise, all he could think of it that he would be able to provide his daughter with a more comfortable life!

He checked up on the girlie before heading out. He saw YN by her door unlocking the door, her bag hanging from her shoulder. She was wearing blue scrubs today, her hair tied in a messy braid; she looked very tired and that gave him more anxiety.

"Hey!" She was the first to notice him, "you alright?"

"Hi, ye — yeah!" He nodded taking in a sharp breath, his clammy hands went up to rub against his pants, "I, I, I was just going to knock and ask if you could take in Shyloh for, for, for a few hours. But looks like you had a long shift."

"Oh, it's fine I can baby sit her." She sounded more energetic than she looked.

"It's fine, you, you look very tired. I'll just figure something else out." He said.

"Ummm, it's okay, if you want I can still look after her. Do you have anywhere to go urgent?"

"Yeah, I've got to go to court for a case." He explained, "I don't want to take her, I don't even know if I can take her in the first place."

"Okay, if it's not urgent give me thirty, I need to change out of dirty scrubs." She agreed.

"Are you really sure?" He enquired.

"Yes I am sure!" She assured him.

"Okay, thank, thank you!" He stuttered with a smile.

For the day she had Shyloh with her and she was very tame for rhe entire time she was alone with YN. Harry did not wanted to be rude but he had cameras installed in his house to keep a check on Shyloh's other baby sitter, he felt guilty to check the live status on his phone during his break. He was very relieved seeing YN was giving Shyloh her lunch and they played afterwards.

YN very much enjoyed her day with Shyloh. She loves kids and babies that's why she chose her career to be around them. Yes, little humans can be very annoying but they are just very new to the world and they're learning from the moment they are out of the womb. Shyloh was very sweet rhe entire day though, she ate, she napped, she played and made YN chase her around the house but it was fine with her!

Harry had texted YN as soon as he left and thanked her, making a mental note to thank her again in person. He was so happy that he had won the case for his client and he was sure that he is going to get the promotion. By the time he was home Shyloh was already done having her dinner, with food all over her lips, her arms. He swore he even saw a few bits in her hair too, Harry laughed seeing her all messy she looked very adorable that made him want to die!

His giggles caught YN attention as she was picking up the bits of food from the floor which his daughter had dropped, or threw as it should be put. Shyloh was perched up on her high chair, her face lit up on seeing her dad.

"Dadda, Dadda, Dadda!" She started chanting banging her hands on the high chair in excitement, wanting to be hold by her dear Dadda immediately.

"Hello my little baby love!" Harry cooed as he walked up to his world and made sure to smile at YN who looked so much in awe seeing their bond. He scooped his baby up in his arms not caring that his black dress shirt would be covered in food as well, he took off her bib so she can snuggle into him. Shyloh was showered with affection and kisses making her hide away shyly into her dad's neck.

"Hey, you don't have to do that." Harry said seeing YN going to clean up the table of the high chair. "Thank you so much for looking after her, I don't know how I can pay you for that!"

"You don't have to, it's all fine," she smiled as she kept the roll of paper towels aside. "I, uhh, I made dinner for you as well so you don't have to worry about it."

"YN, you really didn't had to do that. Now I really owe you!" that made Harry's heart sore.

He hadn't had anyone care for him that way, even though it was meant in a very friendly way, it was just his mum and sister who thought about him like that. He really didn't know how he can pay her back for that. She is just too and sweet.

"You don't, I loved spending my day with her." YN told him, "she is pretty tired so she'll go to sleep anytime now."

"Yeah, looks like it." He looked at her daughter who was staring at YN in awe and most adorable smile. "Do you mind staying for dinner?"

He cringed at how that question sounded, "I mean that's the least I can do as you had to look after her all day."

"I would like to," she admitted not thinking much about how his question sounded, "but I've got plans with my best friend, I can't really turn her down as we haven't seen each other in a long time."

"I understand." He nodded, "but thank you so much again."

"You're making me feel bad now Harry with all your thank yous, and you're welcome!" She said, a little firmness in her tone earned a soft chuckle from him. "I should get going now, have a good night."

"Good night, YN!"

....................................................................

It was that day onwards that YN would very often see baby Shyloh.

Both of them have became really good friends over time, she even helped him plan Shyloh's first birthday party. It was all balloons and Frozen themed, now Harry had came to conclusion that his daughter is obsessed with the movie, because when she is grumpy it is Frozen or she won't stop her crying. And it was a pain in ass to decorate his big ass flat for the party in celebration of his baby turning into a toddler now.

Shyloh now being able to walk and run around made everything even harder for Harry, she would not listen to him but only to his mum and YN who were there to help him.

Past four months were very happy and joyful for him more than being filled with stress and anxiety. He wasn't going to deny that he had really started to fall for someone again, but he didn't know if he wanted anything. Yes, as stupid as it sounds, Harry really liked YN, a lot!

She had her own fair share of struggle like him, it came up through their random conversations after Harry would get back home and Shyloh was off to bed. She was going through a divorce as well when she moved into her flat next door to him. Was it really bad he connected with her on that topic?

He didn't know, but he gave her kudos for going through that like a champ. He was crying mess for the first three months before Shyloh was born and she had taken away a fair bit of his sadness away just by existing and giving him the honour to be her father. That also made him want to keep his growing feelings to himself, she wouldn't want to have to deal with anyone romantically after getting out of a relationship.

All he saw that was she was very nice and kind to him, especially to his daughter who will always be his number one priority. That was enough for him. He wished he could have full control over his feelings!

YN felt very out of place at Shyloh's first birthday party, she looked a bit zoned out as she stood in a corner sipping her lemonade. Shyloh had her little cousins over for her party and had forgotten about everyone as she indulged in her play date with her cousins. Harry's mum and sister were around the kids so he approached YN.

"Hey, you okay?" He worried seeing her eyes extra glossy.

"Yeah, just a little tired." She shared.

Well, that was new. At least to him it was. YN always denied to be ever tired and today she was admitting to be one. She is a human after all what was he expecting, her to not ever be tired?

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, "but do you at least want to stay till dinner?"

"I don't want to intrude," shaking her head she set her empty cup on the counter by the sink, "I am just going to go see her give her the presents and go."

"You're not intruding anything." He told her, "please?"

"Harry, are you sure about that?" she asked a little concerned.

She was a little out of place with her thoughts. YN really enjoyed her time with Shyloh even though it meant nothing more than being her baby sitter. For her the little girl always held a special place in her heart, not even just Shyloh but all of her tiny patients as well. Though it was a little difficult for her as she lost her own baby girl who suffered with sever bad conditions, she was born 16 weeks early. Though she had chances to live and YN was in and out of consciousness too it was her ex-husband who made the decision to stop the treatments and surgeries required to help their baby survive. Her little girl had the highest rates of surviving and she'd be three years old today going off to school already. Her and her ex-husband ended up getting into a huge fight over it.

Well, she was the mother of the baby who died in front of her it was not easy for her and she was willing to do any and everything needed to make her baby healthy. YN knew she wanted to be a mother though her pregnancy wasn't planned and a total surprise, she was still very ecstatic to be a mum herself. That's what ended her perfectly healthy relationship with her husband as she felt so guilty for not being enough for the baby she decided to bring into the world, also him not finding it important enough to at least talk to her before taking any major decisions. It really sucked and still does!

"Yeah," Harry nodded, "you really okay YN? You look a little lost..."

"Yeah, I, I, I'm good." She lied because she would have to talk about things making her upset today, also she didn't wanted to ruin his day as it's his daughter's first birthday after all. And she didn't liked to talk about it because talking made it worse.

"I don't believe you," he squinted his eyes suspiciously.

"I promise, I just need some rest really," she assured him.

"Okay, I won't force you then," he smiled.

Harry looked extra handsome today, with an extra layer of glow over his face. His dimples never leaving his pretty face, barely there stubble which seemed to be his new look. He was rather very happy today as it was one of his daughter's accomplishments, than dwelling in sadness that his little princess is growing up so fast.

YN gave into Harry's puppy eyes and stayed until the cake cutting, she just stood to a side and watched. Harry was on his knees as he held up a small cake and very hyper Shyloh against his chest. He helped her blow out the candle. It did not take even a second for Shyloh to smash the cake and pick out a fist of frosting and cake to munch on.

Harry was sure she is going to have a bad sugar crash, but it was all excused today!

The other cake was cut up and given to the kids, they were mainly Shyloh's little cousins. The party was calmed down a little as all the kids were either asleep or halfway asleep. Shyloh herself was all cuddled up against her grandma Anne on the sofa, bundled up in her fuzzy blanket.

"Harry?" YN called, he was talking to his own cousins but he'd excuse himself, "I'm really sorry I have to go now, my friend's here and we had plans to stay in and stuff."

"Oh okay," he nodded.

Okay now that was not the reaction he was expecting to have. But who is this friend? He is jealous already?

"See you tomorrow for breakfast?" He asked with hopeful glaze to his eyes. Now meeting up for breakfast at each others flats was a very recurring event for both of them.

"Definitely," she nodded.

Harry walked YN to the door like he always does even though she lives right next door to him.

"Finally you're here, I've been standing here for an hour!" YN's friend exclaimed dramatically, with a sarcasm coating her tone. It earned a giggle from her. It's been not more than a couple of minutes really.

Now Harry was very shocked to see her friend. It was Laura, his ex-wife's little sister! He didn't wanted to panic as it was just her sister. And Laura didn't had much of a good relationship with her older sister, she didn't even show up for their wedding, so Harry doesn't think there should be any issues with seeing her.

"Harry?" Laura was of course a little surprised to see him.

"Hey Laura," he smiled awkwardly.

"You guys know each other?" YN was stood there confused.

"Yeah, he is Blake's ex husband." Laura explained which made things more awkward.

"Okay let's not talk about it, it was nice seeing you Laura," Harry said.

"Yeah," the blonde said.

YN was very grateful for Harry closing in door as the awkward vibes were too strong from where she stood.

"That was rude!" YN pointed out.

"Yeah, he is sort of rude!" Laura rolled her eyes.

"I'm not talking about him, I'm talking about you idiot!" YN opened the door to her flat and they both stepped in.

"What? Is there something going on with you two?" Laura asked, a little teasing lilt to her tone.

"No, why would you think that?" YN got defensive.

"I mean, he's a nice guy I didn't liked him for my sister. Mainly because my sister was a total bitch to him." She explained, plopped down on the sofa.

"What actually happened?" YN enquired.

"She was cheating on him, it got all nasty, their baby was Paternity tested turned out she was indeed Harry's baby. But it did not ended well. She cheated on him with a much younger guy," Laura explained. Though YN has never met Blake but she's heard nothing but bitchy and bad things about her from her sister.

"Oh that's bad!" YN cringed at what Harry's ex-wife did.

"I know," Laura nodded.

.....................................................................

It was the very next day, YN was invited for breakfast at Harry's.

It was a disaster!

"Shyloh, no!" Harry sighed but the girl picked up toys from from the box and threw them around and waddled away fast from her father. She was being very cheeky today, making a mess out of all the toys she have.

Harry was proud of himself that he haven't had her open her presents yet. It would be war zone in his living room. He was just trying to clear her toys out of the way so he wouldn't accidentally step on them and break them.

"Hello," YN said, she was greeted by Shyloh already holding her hands up for the lady to pick her up. So YN did. She indeed is a little princess and have everyone wrapped around her tiny finger.

"I'm so sorry everything is a mess," Harry rushed into the kitchen to save his already burnt pancake. At least an attempt went into saving the poor little pancake.

"Please don't burn down your house," YN called from living room smelling the burnt pancake.

"I won't," he assured her.

Harry looked adorable with a yellow floral printes apron tied around his neck and waist, over a simple white tshirt and grey sweat pants. It was very rare for YN that she got to see him casuals or comfy wear, he is always dressed for work, or semi formal for most of the time.

Same went for her. Harry have mostly seen her in scrubs (except for when she is handling Shyloh or baby sitting her), YN's always in baggy hoodie and her staple black pair of sweat pants. But today she was wearing a flowy long, dress. Very summery. She had her hair styled up in a bun at the back of her head, like she is all ready and dressed up to go somewhere. Now Harry didn't wanted to be creepy and ask why she is so dressed up, he didn't had an explanation to back up his weird question. So, he stuck with just admiring her.

He was always amazed at how she was so good at handling Shyloh. Well she do have a ton of younger siblings so she must have practice. But right now she have Shyloh in her lap as her and Harry had their breakfast, she wasn't bothered by the toddlers germy hands grabbing her food as she helped herself. Shyloh did not wanted to be put down so she can play by herself like she usually does, she really likes hanging around YN it looks like.

"You really find the time for yourself and your family huh?" Harry brought up a conversation starter.

"Yeah, since my divorce about 18 months ago it's been easier to manage the time well," she shared.

And it has been. YN was always busy with her own home, and going for her residency program, being with her then husband. She had a whole house to take care of though her ex-husband did helped her around. He had four dogs who needed to be walked two times a day, since YN lived with him, she willingly had taken up the responsibility to walk the dogs once a day.

Also there was a lot of toll been taken on her, emotionally, mentally and physically after her child loss. Though her step mum and her mother-in-law convinced her and her ex-husband to stay together for about two years, it did not worked out. But since then she has been able to make time for her own self care, go put with her coworkers or her only friend, occasionally go see her grandma at her resting place or siblings. Also keep up with her job!

She had gotten her life back together like a pro, she preferred to say.

"I understand," Harry smiled, he truly did understand her.

Now Harry was contemplating whether or not he should make the move to ask YN out on a date. He really liked her, like a lot!

He just didn't wanted to ruin the friendship they both had.

After hearing that YN has finally gotten her life back together and has been doing amazing on her own, he did not wanted to get her into another romantic commitment. He'd feel very bad and guilty. He has had enough time in his opinion to get in terms with his heartbreak and his own divorce, he also did not wanted to assume that she would have been too!

"What do you think a 10 year old would dream of to get on his birthday?" She asked.

"It depends on what that 10 year old is interested in," Harry shrugged.

"He is really into those Batman and Superman things. DC to be exact." YN shared.

"Then it could be anything. I know it makes everything harder, but as a 10 year old I always wanted a Batman costume." He smiled sheepishly.

"Ahh interesting," she nodded already looking to be running equations to find a perfect birthday present.

"Who is this ten year old by the way?" He was stuffing his face with pancakes as he was super hungry.

"My brother," YN said. Harry just nodded.

.....................................................................

Harry was glad he didn't talked to YN about his feelings that day. Now it's been a couple of weeks. She's also been very busy with work where as he had more free time on his hands.

As universe seem to hate him, his ex-wife had showed up at door just that same day asking if she could see Shyloh or not.

He is really not going to let her see his baby this easily. For fucks sake, she didn't even know what the child was named!

Luckily Shyloh was put down for her mid afternoon nap so he got time on his hand to take care of the situation. Harry isn't really going to separate his baby from her mother, but she is a bitch which is given. He had very mixed feelings about it. He talked to his mum, his dad, his sister even his friends about it. All of them gave him vague answers which made his thoughts go extra wild. At last he let Blake see Shyloh for one hour under his supervision. He still had a soft spot for her, at last he have lived her for nearly a decade!

She seemed happy to see Shyloh, or at least that's what it looked to be. His mum was nice enough to go with him so she can take the baby with her whilst he talked to Blake.

"What do you want Blake?" He aske.

"I just want to see her, I, I know I fucked up real bad. But, but, I just want you to know I am very sorry for what I did." She explained.

"That wouldn't change the first year of my daughter's life without her mother, Blake, that's one shit of an excuse." He was very firm with what he had set his mind on, "now what's the reason for you coming back?"

All he got was silence in answer.

"That's enough of an answer for me," he sighed. It was very obvious the guy have dumped her, "I don't want you around my daughter and I'm going to make that very clear here. At least until she is old enough to understand what's good and bad for her."

"You can't just take her away from me, I am her parent too!" She argued.

"You lost that right the moment you left the hospital not even a day after giving birth to her." He said.

"I'll go to court," she threatened him. Or at least tried to.

"Whatever you please," with that he had left the park and went back home to take time for himself. Shyloh was with her Grandma Anne having a fun day shopping, she was also going to get her first hair cut today.

Well, that plan of not caring even if Blake wants to take matters to court again was scratched. Harry did not had a strong enough proof to be able to keep his daughter away from her legally. He would have to prove that she is not a fit parents for her. There might be an argument that she decided to hand over the entire custody of Shyloh to Harry but she can always change her mind.

Blake have seen Shyloh all for two more times after the park. Both the times were a huge disaster with Shyloh not wanting to go anywhere near her own mother and was clung to her dad all the time.

Harry was coming back home from work late luckily YN was able to take in Shyloh last moment. He was hoping she is already asleep so he can just go to bed as well. As it should be given by now, universe hates him Blake was waiting for him down stairs. Her body language screamed awkward.

"Can I help you with anything?" He asked her.

"Can I see Shy?" She asked. Harry just sighed and told her go with him.

"Hey, I'm back," Harry announced like usual as he opened the door to his flat. He found Shyloh fast asleep on YN's chest who was almost falling asleep herself, they were both bundled up on the sofa. Now Blake's presence did not affected the way he found the scene the most adorable scene. Shyloh looked carefree, like she is sleeping on her sacred safe place.

Harry really sometimes got jealous of how close Shyloh is to his mum and YN!

Harry's announcement already ruined YN's sleep enough but seeing Blake there made her face fall even more.

"I'm sorry she is asleep," Harry made an excuse to have Blake leave, kindly.

"Now what is she doing here?" Blake asked, her voice almost made Shyloh flinched as Harry was in process of taking her from YN.

"What is your prob —"

Harry was interrupted by YN, "Harry, I'm gonna go now. I've got to go to work." She said and without giving him an opportunity to even say his bye, she walked out the door shutting it behind her.

......................................................................

It was the next morning that Blake had came over again to see Shyloh which she hated every moment of but indulged in her delicious breakfast, she's still a tiny human afterall she's gonna do what tiny humans please to do. Some times they brutally ignore you and that's how it is!

Blake did not liked that at all. After Shyloh was done Harry had left her be and play on her own and be a baby. He had a very busy day ahead of him, luckily his sister was free to take his daughter in for the day. He was busy on a call and packing up a small bag for Shyloh with change of clothes as she is a very messy toddler, and her favourite stuffie she liked to sleep cuddling with.

"Don't feed her that," he called out Blake who was sharing her peanut butter sandwich with Shyloh. She seemed very interested in sandwich trying to pull it from Blake's hands now and almost throwing a tantrum, for merely making a mess of it and she has had a few bites when Harry wasn't looking. She was stood on sofa next to Blake.

"Shyloh, no get away!" Blake was trying her best to not let her fall off the sofa whilst also handling a glass plate in her hand. "Harry?"

"Oh god, what did you do?" Harry rushed to get Shyloh off the sofa, she has been handful since she has started walking. She was laughing and giggling, enjoying that she is annoying Blake. "You did not just feed that to her!" He noticed a bit of peanut butter on her small mouth, all over her clothes and the sofa as well.

"She ate it!" Blake defended herself, "I'm not going to say no to her!"

"Well she is allergic to —" he noticed that Shyloh started coughing choking of a piece of bread, it's been a good few minutes since she ate that. "Hey, hey Shy, baby you okay?" He exclaimed as he patted her back trying his best not to panic.

"What's going on!" Blake was panicking as well.

"She is allergic to peanuts you idiot!" He yelled, "get the damn car keys!" He rushed out without bothering to put shit shoes on, basically sprinting down the stairs. If Blake was even a minute late now he was going to sprint for the hospital, worrying the situation might escalate quickly. He's a panicky parent to say the least.

Everything seemed very blur to him as he sat in the back seat as Blake drove his car to the nearest hospital. It got worse when Shyloh's breaths started becoming uneven.

"Don't drive like a fucking worm! Hurry up!" He exclaimed.

"I am, I am," Blake stuttered.

"Hey look at me princess, please!" He gave Shyloh her space as she was still coughing, "it's okay," she looked so scared that she wanted to cry but couldn't as she couldn't breath. At this moment Harry rather have her cry her lung out than seeing her like that. He knew how the first time the reaction escalated so quickly it never happened again, he had made sure it never happened again. He was acting up quickly this time.

Shyloh was rushed to the ER room luckily he bumped into YN on the way.

"What, what happened?" She asked taking Shyloh from him.

"She, she, she ate peanut butter sandwich," he explained as he followed her to the ER.

"Doctor Alaina, we have a one year old female with a food induced anaphylaxis reaction," she lied Shyloh down on the bed and stepped aside so ER doctors can check up on her.

"Is she, is she going to be fine?" Harry asked, worriedly stuttering.

"She is, she is," YN assured him, "you brought her before it got worse. Dr. Alaina have got it from here, don't worry."

"What did she eat and how long it's been?" Doctor asked.

"I don't know what amount but it was peanut butter sandwich, about, about, about fifteen minutes ago. She's allergic." Harry explained. "Can't you go in there? Please?" He trusted YN more with Shyloh other than he did he with other, mainly because it is her job and she is good at it.

"You're not letting her treat our daughter Harry," Blake made it clear.

"It's an ER, Harry, trust me she is going to be fine. I need you to please stay calm so doctor to can take a good look at Shy, yeah?" YN tried to ignore Blake as she tried to calm down a panicking Harry before he was dragged out for making a commotion by security. She was used to dealing with people being rude to her. Harry was holding onto her hand in replace of a hug he felt like he needed.

"What do you know, you couldn't even keep your own baby alive for more than two days, so can you just get the fuck out of here?" Blake looked very moved with incident with the Shyloh, she didn't realise her voice was loud that it made everyone go silent in the room.

YN never expected that to come from her like that, ever!

It was still a very sensitive topic for YN that she totally avoided to talk about it, even during her therapy session she still to go to sometimes. That's what still always haunts her and she couldn't help blame herself for loosing her child. She just glanced at Harry who looked very blanked out, pulled her hand out of his grip.

"Okay," she nodded and just left the room.

.....................................................................

It was just an hour later Dr. Alaina had went to see YN in her office during the lunch break. She was a crying mess at those traumatic days flashed forward her eyes all over again.

"Hey, YN are you okay?" Alaina asked.

"I don't know," YN shook her head, "can I please, please hug you?"

"Come here," Alaina was quick to gather her in a hug, "what happened there if you don't mind me asking? I didn't know you were pregnant and had a child."

"I lost her," she sniffled trying to tune down her sobbing.

"You want to talk about it?" Alaina suggested.

"I was pregnant before I joined here, had to give birth to my baby at 24 weeks," she tried to go through the story as best as she could without choking on her words.

"It's okay, sit down" Alaina had her sat down, "you don't have to talk about it okay, it's okay!"

"I tripped down the stairs because the dog came in the way, I don't know what happened next. She, she was healthy enough to be taken care of here in the hospital. It, it all got messy, Veer asked to stop the treatments on her. I really, really, really do wish I was not going in and out of consciousness, she would have been here with me!" YN cried.

YN always wanted to be a mum, most people decide when or if they want to have babies well in their early teens and she did too. She lost her own mother the day after she was born, it was heartbreaking enough that it was also a reason why her own dad hated her. That she was the reason her mum not being here anymore, she couldn't help but naturally put the blame of loosing her own child on herself. That's what she shared with Alaina.

"Hey, it wasn't your fault. You weren't in your best condition to say anything." Alain tried to console her though she was a lot calmer now, "you can only do so much with the knowledge you have, and that's what we say to our patients, don't we?"

"It is easier to say that," YN argued, "I didn't see that coming it was embarrassing!"

"How does she know that? I thought you and Shyloh's dad were a thing," Alaina said.

"What no," she shook her head, "we're not!"

"Then who the fuck she is?"

"She is Shyloh's mother," YN said.

"Why do I feel like there is an and coming after it?"

"Because there is, and she is the lady my ex-husband cheated on me with," YN explained.

"Oh my god, that's a whole different kind of fucked up shit!" Alaina gasped.

"Mhm," YN agreed, "found 'em right in our bed. Naked."

"What the fuck!" The girl looked like she haven't heard anything similar before. Well, YN still liked to believe there are nice people who don't cheat on their partners, clearly her ex-husband isn't one of them.

Of course she was a little heartbroken last night. She really grown to have feelings for Harry, for fucks sake they have spent all her free time from work together since the day she baby sat Shyloh for the first time. But what she do of he have decided to get back with his life? Nothing at all!

Her husband cheating on her seemed nothing compared to what she had burdened on herself. Blake yelling that in the middle of hallway at the hospital she worked at, yeah she wanted to shrink into a small particle and disappear. She had a two day shift which she was grateful of as she wouldn't have to face Harry at all.

Shyloh was sent back home a hour or so later, Dr. Alaina had made sure to monitor her well before sending her home. It was a nightmare for Harry.

"Hello, did you had a good nap?" Harry cooed seeing Shyloh was up from her nap, her hair sticking out in all crazy ways and she had her bunny clutched into her chest. "Come on, get up on the sofa," he patted the cushion next to him urging her to climb up herself. Harry had to call the day off from work. Shyloh climbed up and crawled up on his lap to get some after nap snuggles.

"Looks like you had a great nap, you've got pillow lines on your face," he chuckled seeing how sleepy she still is, he flattened her hair and pressed a kiss on her head as she snuggled more into him. "Hey you're not going back to sleep now, you won't be sleeping at night then."

Well, Shyloh could care less about what he had to say. He was the cosiest and most safest place to take a big gat nap on.

"You think I should go and talk to YN about what happened today?" He asked her as if she is going understand, she's half asleep already, "I know what Blake said was wrong, very wrong, but I think I should really go talk to her, what do you think?"

"Okay you're half asleep," he sighed, "what do you think about her?"

Shyloh pushed away with her tiny hand placed on his chest, her look was more like a death glare, "okay I'll stop talking. You can go back to sleep." She smiled and went back to sleep.

He texted YN asking if he could see her after she gets off work, he didn't get any reply for two days until he saw her in the hallway getting home from work. Harry was starting to kinda get worried as he did not see her for three days straights after that incident at hospital, then he remembered she is a doctor and doctor's have the most unpredictable work schedules. But those days were very difficult for him mainly because he didn't had a friend to talk his heart out or have the most random conversations with.

"Hey, YN," he said hesitantly noticing that she subtly clasped her hands behind her back so Shyloh wouldn't want ask to be held by her. She did that usually after she is back from work and in her dirty scrubs.

"Uhh... Hi," she said.

"Haven't seen you in a few days," he said hesitantly trying to hold onto a very active toddler, "I, uhh, I wanted to talk to you about —"

"It's, it's fine Harry! I don't want to talk about it," she interrupted him, "I am used to it, people get frustrated when their loved ones are sick and unwell and it comes with my job. I get it she is Shyloh's mother and she was concerned. We had other doctors there to take care of her."

"I know, but what she wasn't right, you were just trying to help. That's not fair and I want to apologise, I'm really sorry!" his tone was soft as he spoke.

"I really appreciate that," she nodded and got inside her flat and shut the door.

"She's upset," he sighed looking at a concerned Shyloh. She pouted and hugged him hiding away in his chest. Now he didn't know if she really understood or she was just sleepy, but he was the safest place for her to let loose and sleep. It melted his heart. He was just about to het into his own flat when he heard YN's door click open, she was wearing her house slippers as she frantically tried to lock her door.

"Hey what's wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing, just left my bag and food in the car." She shared finally being able to lock her door successfully. She was indeed very tired that she forgot her stuff in the car. Hospitals definitely do not have the comfiest of beds for doctors to rest for a couple of hours between their shifts, she was dreading to go back to sleep in her own bed. So she sprinted downstairs and got her stuff. Found Harry missing from where he stood, instead his flat door was wide open.

Just as she was about to get in her own flat, it was his turn to come out now free hands. Looked like he left Shyloh to play with her toys for a moment.

"Hey, YN can we please like talk?" He asked again.

"Yeah, but I told you Harry it's fine. Like, I'm used to people lashing out on me. I get it, her daughter was sick. I can't imagine how she must have felt that moment. So it's okay," she assured him.

"You don't have to put on your white coat in front of me. I know she said something way too personal to you that she shouldn't have. And I wanna apologise for that, I dunno how she knows something that personal to you but I am really sorry," he explained himself, "she won't be around anymore, I've sorted things out. I, I am just really sorry about what happened."

"I'm sure you did what felt right to you, and uhhhh, good for you. You really don't have to apologise." She smiled.

"Can I ask you what she meant with that?" He asked.

"I lost my baby girl about three, uhhh— three years ago. And she is the one my, my ex-husband cheated on me with." She stuttered her explaination trying not to cry, "I, I guess that's why she was so triggered, but that's okay."

"That's not okay," he told her, "come in with me." He carefully reached for her hand and dragged her in with him.

Shyloh there was in her own world, playing in the heap of her toys. Which was going to be pain in butt for Harry clean up later, but anything for her highness princess Shyloh.

"What she did was not okay at all, alright? You said it yourself, you can so much with the information you have, you don't have to let her walk all over you like that." His voice was so soft, as if he was trying to calm down a toddler. YN was taking in long breaths in order to keep her tears from spilling. "Her negative feelings shouldn't be an excuse to use such a sensitive topic against you."

"I know," she agreed, "but you don't know the whole story. So it's, it's okay."

"Then tell me the whole story, darling." He cooed taking half a step closer to her, "if it's not obvious enough that I like you. I'll word it to you that I like you, a lot. You've been a complete angel for me and especially Shyloh."

YN felt overwhelmed, no one has talked to her like that. No one has really shown interest in knowing what she is going through unless it's a part of gossip. Him confessing what he felt (which she did not saw coming at all) for her was just cherry on top and a hard hammer on her dam of tears.

"Hey it's okay, c'mere," he cooed bringing her in a hug, "it's okay. I'm here." He assured her. YN somehow managed to vent to him in between her sobs.

"I'm sorry. Can't imagine what you're going through love but it's okay it wasn't your fault trust me. You did the best you could right?" His fingers flexed in the back of her head. "'S 'kay love." He whispered and gave her all the time she needed to calm down

......................................................................

"Daddy, Mummy YN said we can go to park!" Shyloh went running to her dad who was working in his office.

It scared Harry how fast she is growing up. It was yesterday when they celebrated her first birthday, and she just turned 6 yesterday.

YN's been there. Always, for Harry especially Shyloh. Her mum finally gave up when she was 3 and left for good, but YN was there. She loves Shyloh like her own. Shy was just recently started calling YN Mummy, because she heard her own dad call her grandma that. YN was over the moon to hear her say that.

"Really?" Harry asked, trapping her in between his arms and attack her with kisses.

"Mhmm," she giggled, "and she said we can go see the baby today!"

"Yeah?" Harry smiled, "are you going with your Mummy?"

"Hmm," she nodded, "she got many gifts for Ms. Kayla yesterday, I helped Mummy YN pick out a cardigan for her, a very pwetty pink dress, and I got her some cookies."

"She's definitely going to love that," Harry assured her. "Are you going to say Hi to her from Daddy?"

"Of course," she agreed, she gave him a quick kiss on his lips before she ran out to where YN was. Harry followed her out.

"Mummy can we get cupcakes when her come back?" She asked.

"Of course baby," YN agreed, "do you want to bake them at home?"

"Mhmm," she nodded.

"These are lots of gifts." Harry announced his presence there to the duo.

"Oh Hi, didn't see you there," YN smiled and greeted him with a gentle kiss on his mouth. "You sure you can't come with us?"

"I wish, I've got some work to do so that I can spend Christmas with my girls." He sighed.

"Have fun Daddy," Shyloh teased him, giggling mess.

"I will try my best," he nodded. "Drive safely okay?"

"Mhmm," YN was granted with another kiss before Harry went back to his office.

Yes, they've been together since that day onwards. Five years together, they're finally having a baby. Through a surrogate, YN was a bit too weak to carry a fetus to full term, it was fairly an easy decision for her though. It was one long process but they're finally getting what they've been trying for. They're having a little boy who is due exactly on Harry's birthday, which is wild in his opinion. He just really hopes he gets to have a birthday twin.

Shyloh on the other hand is very excited to have a sibling, a baby brother to be exact. Since the day her parents have told her about this news she's been asking questions up, down and front. Whilst Harry found it difficult to answer her curious questions given the fact she is only 6 and ask where babies come from, YN found it fairly easy.

Well, Harry was jealous his daughter was more close to YN because she had answer to her every question. It wasn't fair, because she is a doctor, a children's doctor to be exact and she knows how to deal with little humans. Good thing he's marrying her next year, because she is a keeper for him.

He didn't how he survived whole day in a very silent house. He is so used to hearing YN and Shyloh always giggling and squealing, or crying watching movies and cartoons. Now he have been thinking about this a lot, even talked to his daughter about it. But he doubts she fully understands it just yet given the fact she just turned 6.

He wanted YN to adopt Shyloh, basically be her legal guardian. Not that it needed to be on the paper for her to be Shyloh's mother, that was the given fact. She is Shyloh's Mummy. He had seen her get along with Shyloh so well since she was 6 months old, teach her all the little things a mother can do way better than he can ever do. Well she makes her eat her Veggies and drink a glass of milk everyday, she is doing something right!

But YN was so happy when Shyloh called her Mummy for the first time, it was a surprise for him too of course. She was smiling and giggling to herself as she went on about with her day of chores around the house they've moved in recently. Of course Shyloh was tailing behind her, maybe helping her a few times but mostly doubling her work. He came home that day to find them both fast asleep on the rug with toys all over the living room.

Harry had talked to Shyloh, she is a very smart kid. She sort of understood what her dad was saying, or at least that's what he likes to think. He have even hinted this at YN but she was too oblivious to put pieces together, she would just get excited on his random and weird questions about Shyloh.

"Hey Shy?" He called her, she was taking her box of toys back to her room to play there, but she dropped it then and there to run to him.

"Yes Daddy?" She climbed up on his lap, where he was sat on his office chair.

"You know how you called YN Mummy last night, yeah?" He reminded her and she nodded, "where did you learn that from?"

"I dunno," she shrugged, "You call Grandma Mummy. Grandma says that's because she took care of you when you were a little baby, and because she loves you. YN takes care of me and she says she loves me."

Her explaination made his heart swell, "mhmm," he nodded, "I'm not saying this to break your heart baby love, but you know she is not your real Mummy right? We have talked about this? But do you want her to be your Mummy?" He rushed his last question so she doesn't get heart broken.

"Yeah!" She beamed at him, "she is my mummy."

"I love you, princess." He sighed and hugged her.

"Come on, let's go have a tea party!" And he was dragged to her play room, forced to wear a tootoo and have tea party that day.

Now he was sat in his office, house was eerily empty until he heard YN's car pull up in the driveway. He heard Shyloh rant about something, but she soon came running into his office.

"Dadda, Ms. Kayla gave me so presents, you want to see them?" She squealed.

"Of course," he nodded and went out with her. Turned out Kayla, their surrogate sent many presents for Shyloh as well as for him and his Fiancé, but not as many as Shyloh.

"You've toys for next ten years now," Harry commented seeing her rip off wrapping paper from all her gifts. YN handed him a bag.

"She gave this for us, do you wanna open it?" She asked. "She said her dad made these."

"Mhmm," he took the bag and fished out the contents in it. Those were two matching knitted jumpers in it, which were not ugly.

"Daddy look, I have one too!" Shyloh gasped.

"Oh, looks like we're going to match this Christmas." YN chuckled.

"Shy, do you wanna give Mummy one of our presents now?" He asked.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" She got excited and ran after him to his office again. That's where he had kept all of the presents he got for his girls.

"Okay, I am nervous," Harry sighed looking for the file he kept hidden from YN for about a month now.

"Don't be nervous Daddy," Shyloh patted his shoulder, "you just take a few deep breaths and kick your demons in the bum!" That's what he says to her when she's cry after having a nightmare. He laughed.

"Okay, they're kicked." He sighed again but to calm himself. "Go call YN in here."

"Mummy, come in here please!" She yelled from there and not bothered to go out.

"Yeah?" YN was there in no time.

"Sit," she dragged her to the sofa and made her sit there and climbed next to her, "Dadda?" She asked for the file like a boss.

"Okay..." He chuckled dragging the word and handed her the file.

"YN, will you be my Mummy, please?" Shyloh asked giving her the file. YN was confused for a moment before she opened the file and read the first few lines. Her breath hitched read the papers.

"Are you sure?" She looked up at Harry, who was still stood by his desk sitting on the edge with his arms around his chest. He nodded. "Oh I love you!" YN whispered turning back to Shyloh tears pooling in her eyes, she wrapped the little girl in her embrace.

"I love you too," Shyloh giggled as YN tickled her sides. "You did not answer my question."

"Oh, yes! Of course I will be your Mummy!" YN chuckled.

"Yay!" Shyloh celebrated. Harry walked upto his girls with a pen, crouched in front of them on his knees. "Are going to sign it?" YN nodded at her question and took the pen from Harry and signed wherever he pointed at. Shyloh looked at her like someone looks at the moon. YN chuckled at the realisation.

"I officially announced you both, Mother and Daughter. Bless." Harry said, making both of them fall in fit of laugh.

"I love you both so much!" Is all YN could say before she started crying happy tears, "this is the best present I've ever gotten!"

"We love you more," Harry whispered, pressing a kiss on her forehead he hugged her pulling Shyloh along.

They're officially amd legally a family now, with a little baby angel on his way too!

#harry styles #harry styles fanfiction #fanfiction #fanfic #harry styles x reader #harry styles x you #x reader #harry styles fic #harry styles x y/n #boyfriendrry #stepmom!reader #stepmom!YN #husbandrry #husband!harry #dad!harry styles #dadrry

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bangsinc · 7 months

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hiii i saw ur fic about spot with a neurodivergent reader, im autistic soo i really loved it but also! if you could do another one of those about ocd? i have that aswell and don't see it in fics much. either way i appreciate you including nd people in your fics :D!

⚪️Spot x Reader with OCD🖤

Im so sorry this is late! Anyways—thankfully— I got a lot of information about OCD as a disorder. Hopefully I didn’t get anything wrong, and if I did please let me know! It’s very important to me we get to see ourselves in our readers.

The spot has no bias for a neurodivergent partner. He sees them just as capable as him and anyone else—of course— it doesn’t mean he’s not going to do everything in his power to make your life easier. He’s mildly well-educated in most disorders, and he’s willing to adjust to his partners comfort. For example; If you two live together, he’ll try his best to clean up after himself and avoid a plethora of messes due to his experimentation.

Agressive or intrusive thoughts don’t bother him at all! He’s had his fair share of them, and of course, they’re called intrusive for a reason. They’re not something you want, and he won’t judge you or see you as weird or creepy for them.

Spot might do his own research in his own time to learn more about your condition and what he can personally do to help. Of course, he’s your boyfriend and not You’re therapist, so he’s not going to ask you anything personal. He’s not there to ‘fix you’.

If they’re bothering you to an extent, Spot will try to get you to be distracted from your compulsions. They’re not things that please you, they just ease anxiety, and of course, he’d rather you find healthier ways to calm yourself! Maybe you two can go out and do something you both like.

Spot doesn’t mind if you have Tics due to your OCD. If he’s cuddling you, or holding you or really doing anything with you, he brushes those movements aside if it makes you uncomfortable to comment on them.

He constantly reminds you that you’re doing great and he LOVES you so dearly. You’re perfect to him, and if you fret over a small mistake or if you’re worried you’d upset him, he’s quick to remind you that it’s okay. You never upset him! And accidents happen, it’s what makes you human. Even if you’re afraid you might act on a violent impulse and hurt him, he knows you wouldn’t because it isn’t who you are.

Not a very long headcanon, but he always reminds you that the stoves off. Or the lights were left off when you two left, or that he locked the doors.. just so you don’t need to worry about it.

If you’re on medication, he’ll make sure you take it regularly. Of course, he knows it’s definitely not something you’re going to really forget, but he would want to be reminded if he was in your shoes.

If a fear of an allergic reaction is bothering you, he’d want you to talk to him about it. Even if it’s something you know you’re not allergic to, or something you think is ‘dumb’, he understands you can’t help it. He wouldn’t want this issue to lead to compulsions of just not eating altogether either. The Spot couldn’t treat an issue like this himself, but he can try to push you into getting exposure responce therapy.

#bangsinc #spider man #the spot #across the spiderverse #spiderman #the spot x reader #into the spider verse #amazing spider man

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davekat-sucks · 4 months

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agreed completely with last anon. i think the problem is, or at least what could have caused all of these misunderstandings and miscommunications, is that the truth is that Hussie has never been really good at writing character arcs, what he IS good at is at writing memorable characters with unique voices and visually appealing simple designs. and that's because, technically, he somewhat stole them from other media or started from referencing character tropes from old movies, homestuck has always been a mix of many different 80-90s media. so for example, the humans are stereotypical movie/comic characters (john= dorky nerd protag, dave = cool best friend, rose = snarky goth, jade = girl next door), and that's what makes the audience instantly like them, because they are familiar, but, at the time, modernized in a way that was actually entertaining with in-depth interests, different viewpoints, and funny chemistry. it's all that has worked for years concentrated in an easy to digest mold that gave it the potential to be something more than usual. and yet, john, jade and rose had ZERO character growth, dave had negative and became a fucking douchebag, and these four don't even act like friends anymore by the end of the story. what the fuck.

it also happened with the trolls, because as i said before, how did the "chosen one" character that was said to be caring and the second coming of christ ended up as admiring the tyrannical ruler that genocided his race and did nothing afterwards except be dave's sidepiece and never talking to his friends again. who the fuck would like that for a conclusion to his story? there is nothing satisfying about it, why should i now be invested in Karkat in hs2, if he is a bad friend with bad morals that ends up amounting to nothing? Hussie wrote that i shouldn't, that's what i get for assuming real people have character arcs, karkat was never meant to be a leader, but sea hitler jr, meenah, sure was.

that's what makes it unlikable and what causes disconnect between fans. he subverted not only the trope, but also the little character building he himself wrote, and ended up with confusing themes. he didn't do the hard job of keeping a consistent structured plot until the end, he just applied twists as convenient to act smugly cynical about it afterwards, like he's allergic to sincerity. you also see this with how he treated johnrose/davejade or karezi, or how he says davekat and now june were always meant to happen all along.

and so, what some fans like about karkat or dave, for example, is not what they actually achieved or did in the source story, because they ended up with nothing and also their wiki page was too long to read, but the fandom idealization of them. and that's how you get the wildly ooc dialogue you see in hs2, the writers see nothing wrong with this, dont understand how to separate their personal bias from these characters or what was actually appealing about them in the first place, and what we end up with are projections of who THEY would like to see in a story: characters that act like the writers themselves. hollow self-centered assholes with no sense of humour disconnected from reality that communicate via twitter memes, therapy speak, and the trendy political issue of the day, all so they can pat each other on the back and feel better about amounting to very little in life too, now with semi-canonical homestuck facepaint on.

sorry for the armchair psychology, but my conclusion is, what closure i try to give myself from this shitpile of a franchise, is to view it as a cautionary tale of caving to social pressure and treating people that find value in your work like shit. homestuck ended in a very unsatisfying way for many, and it continues to get worse because it's easier to call someone a bigot and double down on your beliefs than concede you made a mistake, wasted so much time and have no idea how to fix it.

Yes to everything said here! Say it loud for everyone to hear! I dislike when Hussie or people use the excuse that he was just SUBVERTING expectations. Not questioning on why even built it up in the first place if it meant NOTHING at all. It's a complete waste of time. And not in an ironic sense. A waste of time and emotion audiences felt before being slapped in the face and kicked in the balls for even caring. Like, I know Hussie is known for trolling. He made himself as this asshole-but-likeable persona for some time even prior to Homestuck. Sadly, this is probably one of the few times it wouldn't have worked if it means damaging your reputation in the long run. And I don't mean the edge humor he throws into the comic. I mean the treatment towards his fans where there's not much genuine sincerity and it's all asshole mode that it's hard to tell if it's joking or truly being hostile. He could have said he would like to be left alone, but perhaps pride and fame got in the way for him to say that. Even when it was the large amount of fans that made him feel pressured in the first place. I don't know how James or anyone in the team can really fix this mess without addressing problems people had with the series overtime. And not just stuff from Epilogues or Homestuck^2, but address things that were never answered or felt anticlimactic from the base webcomic.

#Homestuck #Homestuck fandom #HOM3STUCK #Homestuck Epilogues #Homestuck^2 #HS2 #HS^2 #Homestuck2 #Homestuck 2 #Homestuck Beyond Canon #HSBC #Andrew Hussie #James Roach

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mirapteo · 4 months

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top 5 apex characters and any thoughts or opinions on them?

hey anon yeah i love you also i am about to be so annoying i might need to hide this under a "read more" (future me here. yeah i did)

1. Crypto (obviously)

- everything about him (besides current lore 😒) is perfect to me i love backstories that include a wanted criminal aspect and the fact he is wanted but innocent just adds so much more flavor & i think the whole "to break the game i must do it from the inside" idea is badass. i also love all the familial themes surrounding his backstory i love that for the most part he is a cold and calculated person but despite being jaded due to all the misfortune that happened to him in life he still cares about his family and the few people he allowed to get closer to him, that he still has the capability to do that in the first place even when it has hurt him before.

- i love the whole crypto is just a protective mask to hide tae joon park and i like to treat them as 2 separate people. my gripe is that i wish we learned more about tae joon park, but i also sorta like that it leaves room for fans to interpret who tae joon park is on their own. from the very small bits & pieces it does seem like tae joon park is an overall softer more caring & trusting person compared to the closed off, on edge person that is crypto and it makes me all emo that all the unlucky shit that happened to him in life caused him to resort to being coldhearted and distrustful even when (i personally think) he doesnt want to

- also his design fucking rips idc. maybe im just a big jacket enjoyer but its so fun, it makes sense for his personality and the cybernetics ARE SOOOOO FREAKING GNARLY they r both sexy and lore important i love it

- for issues the most obvious one is FORCING A CHEMISTRYLESS ROMANCE BETWEEN HIM AND YOU KNOW WHO. i FUCKING HATE that they have written such an intriguing backstory for him & DONT DO ANYTHING WITH IT WITHOUT IT HAVING TO INCLUDE WATTSON. i hate how they cannot be their own separate characters and have to always have their stories intertwined in some way its like the writers are allergic to making them hang out with literally anyone else. kill code as boring as it was came so fucking close to that but the recent radio play had to ruin it because of course. of fucking course.

- i also hate the completely unnecessary age retcon. i hate that it frames him as a supergenius computer whiz at a young age. he was so much more likeable & easier to sympathize with as a completely normal office worker that just wanted to provide for him & his sister, only for it to bite him in the ass when he did literally nothing to deserve it. i hate having yet another character in their early 20s in this already oversaturated age range in media as a whole.

- i hate that with every lore update hes involved in it just further mutilates his character. i hate that i cant be excited when my FAVORITE CHARACTER gets lore attention because it just provides more opportunity for the writers to stomp on him. they dont care about him as his own character. they care about him in regards to the relationships he has with other people. thats not how u write a compelling, likeable, or realistic bond between people. it makes me so mad i wanna SCREAM

- anyway crypto tae joon park is my pookie bear he is autistic and he likes dragons and cats and kpop and elliott and being a good friend to the point of sacrificing himself i like him normally also he is my oc now

2. Mirage (obviously)

- mirage is just an objectively likeable character truly like there is a reason he is essentially the face of apex. he was my first favorite & for good reason. u get lured in with his endearing goofiness & then get smacked in the face with one of the most tragic and completely undeserved backstories. maybe im just a slut for characters that "wear masks" & have completely polarizing versions of themselves as a self preservation tactic because i love Mirage being the self absorbed, smooth, attention-seeking bastard on screen and i love love LOVE Elliott Witt with his crippling fear of loneliness and inferiority complex, slowly losing the things that mattered most in his life and feeling like it was somehow his fault & he deserves it

- but i dislike the flanderization hes facing in current lore. i dont remember the last time he was anything other than the goofy guy with a stutter that cant take things seriously. that old comic of him losing his friends because of his own douchebaggery & working to fix his wrongs is my prized possession. he is hurt & lonely & it causes him to lash out on people that dont deserve it and i wish they explored that more. i desperately need more asshole mirage in my life. nowadays he just feels like the one-note silly character whos only purpose is to fill in the comic relief role.

- also he has some of the worst fans ive ever seen im sorry they were like the main reason he stopped being my favorite. they baby him like he has never done nothing wrong in his entire life & in turn shit on characters like wraith or vantage bc they were "mean to him." as if he isnt capable of being an asshole, as if there isnt an entire comic dedicated to him being an asshole. i also hate that fans either lean in 100% into his mirage personality or 100% into his elliott witt personality. he is either a loudmouthed egotistical slut or an innocent wittle mamas boy that needs to be protected at all times never anything outside or in between and it drives me insane.

- shes still my sweetie pie. my biggest kin. i love writing him sooo much. i want to chew him. i want to set him on fire. i want to tuck him in and give him a forehead kiss before he goes to bed.

coughs anyway now with all that out of the way

3. Conduit

- im filipino of course im gonna be biased but hellooooo she is also just so likeable it is insane!! a sweet, goofy fangirl we can relate to that is literally killing herself just to provide for her family ouch it hurts GIVE ME MORE. all her little easter eggs and her fun voicelines like the devs really really loved & cherished her & it shows & she deserves it! my main issue is that it is literally her season rn yet all they care about is revenant Revenant REVENANT give me more conduit! what is her story with her family? hows her sister in particular holding up? how does she cope with her illness? will she ever open up about it to any of the legends? are they ever going to try to help her? is crypto gonna help find her a cure like he did caustic & then they kiss

4. Lifeline

- love her. love her personality. a medic that also isnt afraid to get her hands dirty & chew ppl out? love that for her. i also like where the current lore has been taking her (me? liking current lore? what a shocker), the fact that she was willing to destroy one of her strongest & longest bonds to defeat a greater evil? BANGER. she hurt people & she made sacrifices to get to this point but what does she get from it? a best friend that doesnt want to speak to her & a whole fucking army of murderous robots that want her dead. i wonder if shell have a "is this really what i wanted? did i just fuck everything up?" internal crisis cuz atp i feel like she has to. id love to see it

- also i am no.1 lifeline defender idgaf the demonization shes facing in the fandom for hurting their pookie wookie bear octane is so blatant and laughable u ppl really hate black women. its ok for ur favorite male character to make questionable morally gray decisions but got forbid ajay does it. gtfo of here!

5. Rampart

- just another objectively likeable character plsss she is sooo funny & sassy and there is not a single rampart interaction/relationship she has with another legend that i hate. she also has the biggest wasted potential ever. they were cooking something so good with big sister and ramparts relation to her & NEVER DO ANYTHING WITH JT. its been 13 seasons and nothing has progressed in her lore and its so so sad. she needs a focus season soon. u dont just drop a fun character with an intriguing backstory and just ditch it.

look im not going to read this back to fix things around if it seems disjointed with a lack of direction IDCCCC i am cringe and free!

#asks ♡#hate this fcking game

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thirtecnth · 2 months

Text

Let's Get High and Play Truth or Dare

Setting: Yvette's Place Time: Just after the Winter Event Featuring: Beverly, Edgar (@edgarwayne), Yvette (@callofthxvoid), and Nathan (@ghostsbrokenbyfairytales)

Summary: In an attempt to cross something off Beverly's list and have a little fun, the group got together at Yvette's to get a little high and goof off. Waiting for the "cookies" to kick in, Bev had then suggested that they should play a little truth or dare so she could mark off two things at once... Chaos definitely ensued for everyone involved and certain realizations were made. It made for one unforgettable event.

Edgar: It was impossible to sit still in Yvette's living room. While the smell of cookies was enticing, and his friend promised wine to help ease the nerves, Edgar paced around the room. It was probably going to be fine. Totally fine. But he'd never done anything like this before and it was nervewracking. Hell, even bringing the bag of weed to work so he could give it to Yvette after hours left Edgar fingering his inhaler throughout the day. This was for Bev, he reminded himself. Technically for himself too, to help with the winter aches, but putting his friend first made it a little easier.

Beverly: Beverly watched Edgar pace and clasped her hands in her lap as they waited. This was all so strange. Cursing and skinny dipping was one thing, but she had always been told such nightmares about any kind of drug. She knew parts of what she was told were lies and she really seemed so confident before this but now she was here. It was really happening. As glad as she was to be doing this with friends, she was nervous too. “Edgar, you’re going to make me dizzy,” she said with a laugh, giving a glance to Nathan then back to Edgar. “Does anyone know how many we’re supposed to eat? Can you be allergic? I— I have questions here.” She really was breaking bad and it was all so strange.

Yvette: Yvette was used to being the wild child in any group that she was in. She was the rebel in her family, the free spirit in her college friend group, and the slightly eccentric mom at the PTA meetings, when those had still been a part of her life. "I made the cookies less potent than I would have if I was baking for an experienced group," she said in response to Bev's question, setting down the large plate of baked goods on the coffee table. "I still wouldn't advice having too many at once though. Eat one, wait for it to kick in, and go from there." She directed her gaze between her three companions for the evening. "Can I get you guys anything else?"

Nathan: nathan was half tempted to pull edgar down next to him while he watched him pace the room, he'd seen him this nervous for only a few different reasons but trying an edible wasn't one. "yeah basically what she already said, just take the one for now and if you think you can take a second one cause you're not feeling the first one... don't listen to that little voice. trust me." he chuckled and remembered back when he still lived in vegas, how weed was the drug he started with and spiraled from there so to say he was also a little nervous was an understatement.

Edgar: Edgar gave everyone an apologetic look as he forced himself to sit down. He took a cookie and stared at it, as if hoping it would contain the answers to all his questions. "How....how do you know when it's 'kicked in'? How long does that take?" Hesitantly he took a bite out of it, mulling the flavor. It tasted normal, perhaps a little bitter but overall just like a regular cookie. "So um...what do we do while we wait for it?" He looked back up to Yvette. "And maybe that glass of wine. Just to....take the edge off a little. Thank you though, Evie, for making these." His tone and expression was sincere.

Beverly: Beverly locked arms with Edgar as he sat down with them. She couldn’t help it, she was nervous, and he was in the same boat as her it seemed. She picked up a cookie after him and waited just a moment for the answer to his question from Nathan or Yvette. She honestly was confused about that too. Letting out a breath, she glanced up at the ceiling. She wasn’t sure what exactly she was looking for, but she knew how good it felt to distance herself from her parents, her upbringing, and her ex-fiancé. So, she took a bite, humming at the interesting flavor. “Well,” she said, covering her mouth as she chewed and swallowed. “In the spirit of doing teenage things, we could play truth or dare? That might be fun? It would take an extra one off my list too.” “Mmm! Yes. Wine. That’ll help with the game too maybe. Thank you.” She needed to feel something a little familiar. “That wouldn’t affect the high in any way, would it?”

Yvette: Yvette let out a soft 'ah!' before disappearing into the kitchen to fetch the wine. "Keep talking, I'm still listening!" she called out from the other room, picking up the bottle of wine, a bottle of water, and four glasses before heading back into the living room. "I'm up for playing Truth or Dare if you are. God, that brings me back to high school. My friends and I used to give some mean dares to each other." Setting the bottles and glasses down, she picked up a cookie and dropped down horizontally into her armchair, throwing her legs over the armrest as she bit into the cookie. "Hmm, you could get crossfaded," she explained in response to Beverly's question. "But if you only have a glass for nerves then you should be fine."

Nathan: the mention of wine made nathan tense up slightly, sure he wanted to drink and with anyone else a glass would be fine but he knew himself and decided it was best not to. “i’ll stick to water and the cookies for myself,” he said chuckling as he picked one up. taking a bite the taste was all too familiar, throwing an arm around the back of the couch to stop himself from doing any pda with edgar. “oh trust me you’ll know when it’s kicked in, the affects aren’t major but you’ll still be able to tell.” his eyebrow raised at the mention of truth or dare, giving a small shrug. “i’m down to play too, don’t think i’ve played since high school like yvette,” he said chuckling again. “i’m not good with coming up with shit on the spot so if i give anything stupid you’ve been warned already.”

Nathan: Feeling Nathan tense up beside him Edgar reached to squeeze his knee. "Well, we know who were the cool kids in this room," he teased lightly. "I've never played. Are we...supposed to spin a bottle or do we just pick someone?" He took another bite of the cookie, this time a larger portion, before taking a sip of the wine, forcing his shoulders to relax. It certainly helped to wash out the weird aftertaste of the cookie.

Beverly: Beverly giggled. “I was actually pretty popular in high school at least… Not that it means much because here I am, but I was prom queen my senior year.” Popular was definitely different than cool, however, that was overtly obvious at the moment. “It wouldn’t be a real game of truth or dare with mean and stupid dares so I expect the best out of both of you.” She took another bite of her cookie and nodded at Yvette’s advice, taking a nice sip of wine. One glass would probably be just fine. “As far as I know, we can go around clockwise or spin a bottle! However you both played in high school.”

Yvette: Yvette had another bite of her cookie. "Oh, I have every intention of giving you the authentic experience," she grinned, glancing at Bev before directing her attention to Nathan. "Don't worry, you're in good company. I'll be sticking to the water and cookies myself. At least for now." Partially it was because she didn't want Nathan to feel weird about not drinking, and partially it was because she felt responsible for making sure that Edgar and Bev were alright, given that it was their first time. "So, the way I usually played was that whoever did the Truth or Dare got to pick the next person. But I'm the host, so I'm going to get us started." She polished off her cookie. "Bev, Truth or Dare?"

Beverly: Beverly wasn't nervous at all... Well, maybe a little but she was sure that was a part of the fun. And at least she had both Nathan and Yvette to look after her. Somehow, that made it all easier. "Mmm! Okay! I like that." She finished off her first cookie, believing it wouldn't be her first, but here she was. "Oh! Me? I guess that does make sense... I'll say truth. Ease myself in."

Yvette: Yvette shifted in the armchair, leaning forward and tucking her legs underneath herself, head resting in the palm of her hand as she considered what to ask Bev. "Okay, I've got one," she said eventually, grinning at her friend. "What's going on with you and Mr. Blonde Ranger?"

Beverly: Beverly sipped from her wine, feeling a little more comfortable as time went on.... Though that all changed back very quickly as the truth question came out. "Oh-- Um, Elijah?" She asked, as if she didn't already know. She swallowed hard. "We made a snowman at the ice skating party? He's a great partner there." She didn't quite understand saying the full truth here.

Edgar: Edgar rolled his eyes at Bev. "Are we doing a penalty for a bullshit answer?" He looked pointedly at his friend before finishing the last of his cookie.

Yvette: Yvette had similarly rolled her eyes at the exact same time as Edgar. "I wasn't going to, but I feel like we have to if it's that much of a bullshit answer, right?" she agreed, looking back at Edgar. "As the one who suggested it, I nominate you as the distributor of the penalty."

Edgar: Oh god, he wasn't expecting to be in charge of penalties. Like Edgar said, he wasn't exactly the cool kid growing up, he'd never played games like this. Frantically he thought through Bev's bucket list. Oh. That could work. With slightly tinged cheeks he said with as much confidence as he could muster "strip penalty."

Beverly: Beverly wasn't at all expecting there to be a punishment. She thought it worked because she was saying something mostly true. Her eyes went back and forth between all three of them, furrowing her brows. "Oh, come on, it was mostly true." But now her attention was all on Edgar's punishment. "Edgar!" She said, stunned. "I-- how much do I have to strip here? Do I have to do a little dance? Then say the whole truth or whatever? Or can I just say the whole truth now." She had questions and red cheeks.

Edgar: Edgar's eyes widenned as so many questions went his way. Shit, it's not like he really thought it through. "Um....you just take off one piece of clothing unless you give the real answer. Right?" He looked desperately to Nathan and Yvette, feeling completely out of his league.

Nathan: nathan looked between the two and back at edgar, holding a hand up in defense. “the only stripping that happened when i played truth or dare was when it was on the dare, yvette’s gonna have to confirm that one not me.”

Yvette: Yvette considered the situation before delivering her judgement with the same gravitas as if she were handing down a sentence at trial. "Yes, you can choose between losing one item of clothing or telling the whole truth," she concluded. "Think of the stripping as a... Chicken tax. It's the tax you pay if you want to be a chicken and not answer properly."

Beverly: Raising a brow, Beverly let out a breath and nodded. "Fineeee," she said, pulling her shirt over her head. It wasn't much of a problem to be in a bra when she just went skinny dipping with the guy she was answering about. "He's incredibly hot and funny and he could pound me into my headboard until I see God..." She took a sip of her wine after that joke. "On a serious note, I have a giant crush on him."

Edgar: Edgar's own brows shot up, face warming up not only at what Bev said but also at her still stripping. God, why did he suggest this? He cleared out his throat. "We're all rooting for you Bevvie. Now pick someone."

Beverly: Edgar's reaction was the highlight of the punishment. She just wished she wasn't so cold all the time. Smiling, she tilted her head at Edgar. "Thank you. Trying my best but my brain is a mess... Edgar. Truth or dare."

Edgar: He blinked, surprised Bev picked him next. "Um...truth?"

Beverly: Bev smiled to herself, doing her best to think of something challenging. "What's a secret you've never told anyone?"

Edgar: His brows furrowed in thought. What was a secret he's never told anyone? Well...wasn't really a secret per se but it's not like he really shared it either. "Well, uh, out there," he gestures to the 'rest of the world,' "I'm....really stupidly rich. Like the sole heir to an estate rich. I had most of the money put into real estate and stocks to keep it going, plus I donate quite a bit into charities. But. Uh, yeah. I guess you could say I come from a line of aristocrats." He shrugged. "Anyway, Nathan, truth or dare."

Nathan: "uhh," well that was sure as hell a lot to process, keeping his gaze on the water bottle in his hand. "i guess continue the pattern and give me a truth?"

Edgar: When Nathan didn't meet his gaze Edgar tried to not let it bother him. Did...did that secret unnerve the other man. He tried to swallow, his mouth starting to feel a bit dry. He downed the rest of his wine. "What made you realize you were bi?"

Nathan: nathans gaze shifted from the water bottle to edgars legs, moving his arm from the couch to around his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "i.. don't actually know." he chuckled and finally looked up at him and only him. "kind of a cop out response i know but i genuinely don't remember what made me realize, i just know i've always liked men and women so."

Edgar: Edgar pouted at that reply. "Is that strip worthy? That feels strip worthy." Still, he smiled at the shoulder squeeze, anxiety clearing up.

Nathan: he rolled his eyes playfully and shrugged, "i figured it would be." he chuckled and moved his arm for a moment, taking his shirt off quickly and putting it in his lap as he put the arm wrapped back around his shoulder. "so yvette, truth or dare?

Yvette: Yvette shifted in the armchair, looking completely at ease in spite of the now two shirtless people in the room, before glancing over at Nathan when he addressed her. "Well, someone has to be the one to break the streak here," she started, reaching for a glass to pour herself some water. "Dare."

Nathan: well shit, now he’s gotta think of a dare. “uh,” nathan didn’t think that far ahead as he scoured the files in his brain for a dare that wouldn’t be inappropriate, “i dare you too…” he glanced at edgar now, “help me out?”

Edgar: Edgar raised his brows, not knowing why Nathan was looking to him for suggesetions. Let alone being put on the spot, his mind was drawing complete blanks. He absently wondered if he was starting to 'feel' the cookie. Shit, what were normal teenager dares? "Uh...make out with Bev?"

Beverly: Beverly was just happy the attention was off her for a moment. It was so cute to see Edgar and Nathan together. She sat in anticipation for the dare and finished her wine, only for her eyes to get big. She swallowed her wine down hard. “I’m sorry?” She said, her cheeks burning bright red. Well that escalated quickly again for her.

Edgar: Edgar's eyes only managed to get wider as his panicked suggestion caught up with him. "I-if that's okay? Fuck I don't know. You're asking the guy that's never played this!" He held up his hands in self-defense, face red.

Yvette: Yvette glanced between the people in front of her before shrugging. "Well, I do have a boyfriend, but seeing as he recently got into a fight with a movie star for sleeping with his fiancé, I think I'm allowed a pass," she reasoned, seeming quite calm about the whole thing. "I'm okay with it if you're okay with it." She looked at Bev with a questioning expression.

Beverly: Beverly was confused how she was so calm about this compared to her. Then again, maybe Yvette hadn’t had intrusive thoughts about this like she had. Shaking her head from the thought, Bev shrugged, pretending to suddenly be calm. “I’m fine, it’s only a dare,” she said, holding her hands in her lap politely. “All you. Whatever you wanna do.”

Yvette: Yvette smiled, glancing over at Edgar and Nathan before getting up from the armchair and stepping closer, using one arm to support herself against the back of the couch. With her other hand, she gently tucked a strand of hair behind Bev's ear before cupping her cheek. "Remember, you can pull away at any time and I won't be offended," she said, before leaning in to kiss her.

Edgar: Edgar felt the strong need to look away, turning instead to glance at Nathan. He felt like his face was on fire, though the cookie may have had a part in it.

Beverly: Beverly's eyes were only on Yvette as she got up moved closer, only glancing to see where her arm was at the moment. She blinked, her cheeks bright and warm as her hair was tucked behind ear then leaned into her palm. "Yeah. Yeah of course," she stated softly, closing her eyes as the gap closed and she was left to gently touch Yvette arm to stay steady.

Edgar: Just to remind the women they were still there, Edgar politely cleared his throat as he filled his glass with water. "So uh...your turn to pick someone Evie. By the way, I'm starting to feel....tingly? Is that a thing?"

Yvette: Yvette kissed Beverly softly, slowly deepening the kiss as her hand moved from her friend's cheek to the back of her neck, until she heard Edgar clear his throat. Pulling back, she smiled at Bev before turning to look at her other best friend. "It was your idea," she quipped back, picking up her glass of water and sitting back down in the armchair. "But tingly is good. Tingly means you're getting there. Which I guess is as a good a time as any to say: Eddie, truth or dare?"

Edgar: "I don't even know why it was my idea," he whined. "Daaa-truth." A dare from Yvette was terrifying and she nearly got it out of him.

Beverly: Beverly sighed softly into her friend's lips, her mind becoming mush for the moment until Yvette pulled back. She was smiling and it was definitely not a conscious effort. For a moment, she was processing then nodded to her friends. "I think-- I think I like both? Both. Both is good," she giggled, definitely feeling tingly and high herself. "Now that was a kiss, everyone. That's how it's done."

Yvette: Yvette glanced at Bev and offered her a playful wink. "Hey, anytime, that's what friends are for," she commented with a grin, before looking back at Edgar. "Chicken, but okay. Hmm..." Leaning forward, she broke a cookie in half and sat back down, nibbling at it as she pondered. She had a thought, but that one seemed a little too mean even for her. "What's the worst date you've ever been on?"

Edgar: He suddenly burst into laughter at the wink, surprise coloring his features as he covered his mouth. "Sorry. Sorry. I just - all this time I pushed for you two to get boyfriends. Never considered the other option." His laughter spilled past his hand. Okay, so maybe he was feeling the weed now. It took him a while to calm down before he blinked back at Yvette, trying to remember the question. "Oh, right. Uh, oh! God, I know. It was back in college. One of the first real dates I'd ever been on, which okay, it was the early 2000s so I'll give the guy some slack. But anyway, I was so excited, trying to think up all the different things we could do, places we could go. Instead we just walked to the chippy down the road from campus. When he told me that was the plan I burst out laughing thinking he was teasing me. I mean, that's where everyone goes for lunch, why would he choose that for a date. But nope, he was totally serious. Even got mad at me for laughing." It took him a moment to realize his friends were staring at him. "Oh oh right, a chippy's a...kind of like a taco truck, but for fish and chips." Edgar tilted his head at the other half of the cookie on the plate. "Can....I take it? Is that okay?"

Nathan: nathan stared at edgar for a moment, blinking a few times as it all processed. "that... really? there's literally so much he could've done and he chose that?" he shook his head, he didn't think he was the romantic type most the time but he would've done more than that. he chuckled as he shook his head then looked at the cookie, "oh that's fine with me if no one else wants it." he said taking a sip of his water.

Edgar: Edgar took the cookie half, shrugging. "Shocker we didn't date long. Alright Bevvie, your turn. Truth or Dare?"

Beverly: "Mmm, why are some men so--" Beverly glanced at the ceiling then shrugged. "--Bland?" Either way, it brought a smile to her face that Nathan wouldn't give Edgar the bare minimum. She sat up in her seat, preparing herself this time. "I have to try it at least once. Dare."

Edgar: Edgar pouted slightly at that. "Hey, we're not bland. Well....okay, he's not bland" he points to Nathan. Actually, he was glad Bev picked dare. For anyone else it would have been silly, but he had the perfect one for her. "Say every single swear word you can think of loud and proud." He bit into the cookie with a smile.

Beverly: "That's why I say some. You both are exceptions." Beverly brought her knees up to her chest, being that she was a little cold at this point. "Oh, you know I have never said every single one," she said, sighing. "Fuck, shit, piss, ass, asshole, whore, dick..." She furrowed her brows, "Did... Did I get them all? I don't even know at this point." She was also just blushing. It was very much not her.

Edgar: Edgar shook his head with a smile. "Aw c'mon Bevvie, you can think of more than that. And louder. Like you mean it."

Beverly: Beverly frowned, letting out a very deep breath. "Damn. Bastard. Bitch. That's a good one. Goddamn! Son of a bitch... oh! This is bullshit. Motherfucker. Bloody Hell." she said that one with a smirk at Edgar. "Twat? Yeah? Yeah... I guess that leaves the big C?" That one bugged her the most. "Mmm, cunt. There. I think that's it now." It was like they had all just been stored like files in her brain.

Edgar: His smile grew into a grin. "Think that covers all of them. Your turn to pick someone."

Beverly: She was just about a tomato, but hey, that was a fourth one done here... She was making major progress. With a smug smile, she turned. "Nathan. Truth or dare?"

Nathan: nathan was a bit zoned out when he heard his name, looking behind edgar’s head at beverly. “truth, only cause i don’t want to move.”

Beverly: Beverly took a moment to think and then it came to her. Might as well cause a little havoc. “What are your true honest feelings for our dear husband, Edgar?”

Edgar: Edgar quickly looked over at Nathan. "Y-you can strip if you're more comfortable. I won't be upset."

Nathan: he paused for a moment, slowly looking at edgar with a smile and gave the smallest of shrugs. “that one day i wanna make him my actual husband. that he makes me the happiest i’ve ever been with anyone i’ve ever been with before and i don’t want to lose that feeling. ever. that he’s the smartest most kindest and understanding man who makes me want to be a better person. i don’t think i’ve ever loved and trusted someone the way i do edgar, he makes it so easy.” nathan chuckled and to break up the sappy with a joke that wasn’t really a joke but still more truth, “and he’s great in bed so that’s a plus.” he smirked at him but that quickly changed into a grin.

Edgar: He tried his best to blink back tears as he stared at Nathan in shock. His throat felt tight as he tried to say something, anything until a strangled laugh escaped him at Nathan's last comment. "Really? That's how you end it?" Wiping at his face with one hand, he put down the glass of water before fully turning back to Nathan, grabbing his face, and pulling him into a kiss. Nothing extreme, but enough to tell Nathan what he thought of all that.

Nathan: he laughed when edgar did, ending it like that on purpose because if the tears he already knew were gonna form. “couldn’t help myself, it’s not like i was lying.” clearly he wasn’t gonna go into details that’s for him and edgar to know about. the kiss was unexpected but he gladly kissed back, still not used to any form of pda with edgar because of figuring out where the others comfort level was at. pulling away with a smile he let his fingers run through the back of his hair then looked at yvette, “alright miss principal, truth or dare?”

Yvette: Yvette watched the whole scene unfolding between Nathan and Edgar with a big, dorky smile on her face, occasionally glancing at Bev to see if she was having a similar reaction to it. After the kiss, she held her cookie half between her lips before clapping. "Damn, that's some real sappy shit, but it works for both of you," she commented, holding the cookie again and taking a bite out of it. "Hmmm... Well, you all have been honest, or at least most of you, so I'll go with truth this time."

Nathan: nathan rolled his eyes playfully at her, his cheeks turning a very light shade of pink. he was used to being sappy to edgar privately but not in front of people. “alright truth then,” he paused for a second to think this time trying not to use edgar as a cop out (sorry bev), “what’s a secret you’ve never told anyone?”

Yvette: Yvette tilted her head to the side as she considered Nathan's question. A few options sprang to mind, but every time she thought that she knew what to say, she remembered that she had already told that particular secret to someone—usually someone in this room, or... Reggie... "I'm still in love with my husband," she blurted out, before slamming her hand in front of her mouth. "I mean... My ex-husband. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy he's happy, and I'm happy in my relationship, and I want to move on, but..." She shrugged. "You don't just say those vows to someone and then forget about them. I meant them, and there's a part of me that probably always will."

Nathan: “shit.” nathan mumbled when yvette spilled that secret and felt a little bad about asking that specific question now. he looked at the other two unsure of what to say, those two knew her better than he did anyway and felt it was best to let one of them take the reigns on saying something.

Beverly: Beverly swallowed hard, overwhelmed a little with her answer and what precisely to say. At least she had corrected herself quickly, right? She gave the other girl a smile. "I don't think there's anything wrong with that," Bev stated softly, holding her hands in her lap. "When you make those vows, it's a promise. A deep dedication to someone..." She started and then shrugged. "You lose a piece of yourself when you leave something serious like that. It becomes part of your history and always will be. It's okay to love someone and want the best for them but know they served their purpose in your life and now you're in a new chapter."

Edgar: Quietly Edgar got off the couch and walked behind the armchair Yvette was sitting on so he could place his chin on her head and give her the best of a hug as he could in such an awkward position. "Your feelings are normal Evie. I'm glad you both have your own happiness now and I hope it stays that way. You know, a part of me still cares about Christian, and I can admit he doesn't even deserve it. We can't help it when someone's been in our life for a long time; it's hard to erase the past." Hoping to elevate the mood a bit he added, "I'll take that dare now."

Yvette: Yvette wondered idly if she would have confessed that if she hadn't been high. A part of her felt like stripping would have been preferable, but another part of her was almost relieved to have said it out loud, her whole being feeling lighter for the secret being out there. Reaching up, she gave Edgar's arm a brief squeeze before smiling at everyone in the room. "Thank you all," she said softly, before letting out a short laugh. "Okay, I think it goes without saying that everything said here never leaves this room." Glancing up at Edgar, she had a mischievous look in her eyes as she tilted her head to the side. "Hmm, a good dare for Eddie... Well, I would dare you to make out with Nathan to get you back, but where's the fun in that?"

Edgar: Edgar rolled his eyes, letting go of Yvette to stand up straight and cross his arms. "Oh c'mon, that's barely a dare...minus the publicness of it. But I'm probably high enough it wouldn't even bother me. I agree to one dare and that's the best you guys give me?" Was he going to regret that? Probably.

Yvette: Yvette laughed and shrugged. "Okay, but remember, you asked for it," she replied. "There is a Truth or Dare classic that we haven't done yet. Prank calls." She look at Edgar. "Edgar, I dare you to prank call... Hmm... Marco. Or you can forfeit, but you know the rules if you do."

Edgar: He blinked in surprise. "Oh um, okay. But....can I get help? I think the cookies are really hitting. My mind is completely blank." Thinking about it, he raised his hands and looked at them in surprise. "Huh. The pain is pretty much gone too. Still stiff...but I don't really feel the usual aches."

Nathan: “you can prank call him and just tell some random ass story and then hang up before he can say anything? it’d be funny if he asks you about it next time and you can just pretend you don’t know what he’s talking about.” nathan suggested.

Beverly: "I actually think that's a great idea," Beverly said, holding in some laughter. For some reason, she found it all very funny. "We could all play along with it at that point."

Edgar: Edgar looked down at Yvette, brows raised. She was the final voice on this.

Yvette: Yvette nodded. "The council has decreed it shall be so!" And then, with a grin, she gently nudged Edgar in the direction of her landline.

Edgar: Edgar picked up the phone, about to punch in the number, when he blinked and looked over his shoulder. "Do you know Marco's number?"

Yvette: Yvette did know Marco's number. However, Yvette had currently forgotten what Marco's number was, although she did remember that she had it written down somewhere. "Uhm... OH!" Getting to her feet, she held her hands out to steady herself, a brief 'woah' escaping her lips before she managed to scramble to her desk. Flipping through a notebook, she found the page with all of the staff members' landlines and brought it over to Edgar. "Ironically, I think it was Marco's idea that I keep this. Bet he's gonna regret that."

Edgar: He snickered as Yvette needed to steady herself. Guess even the experienced were feeling it. Edgar took the notebook and squinted in concentration as he input the numbers. He was still struggling to come up with a 'random ass story,' and didn't have any more time to dwell on it as the line picked up. "Marco, hi, did you know that tongues have unique prints?" He swallowed, trying to ignore the dryness in his mouth. "I wonder if that ever comes up at crime scenes. Like the investigators try to find tongue prints or they see some wet spots and figure they should collect the print just in case. Since they're so unique I wonder why there isn't a tongue print database. Dentists could probably keep track of it. They could solve crimes so easily like that...assuming it's something that even comes up that often. Although I wonder if multiple licks ruins the pattern and doesn't overlap like fingerprints since it's not a dry surface." At this point he was purely rambling, between being nervous, the weed, and genuinely not knowing what the hell he was supposed to be doing. As his ramble came to a lull Edgar's entire face lit up at what Marco said on the other line. "R-right. Of course. Have a good night Marco. See you on Monday." He hung up the receiver and let out a sigh, shoulders slumping. "That....was humiliating." Well, he wasn't even the one keeping a bucket list but now Edgar could say he prank called someone.

Nathan: nathan walked up to edgar and wrapped his arms around his waist from behind and put his chin on his shoulder. "that was i think the most randomest thing you've ever said where did that even come from?" he chuckled and shook his head a bit. "does this mean it's my turn?"

Edgar: He shook his ow head, though smiled at the hug. "I panicked. It was the first thing I could think of. I think technically it's Bev's turn." Edgar turned around to press a kiss to Nathan's cheek before nudging him back to the couch. "Truth or dare Bev?"

Beverly: Beverly had giggled plenty as Edgar went on and on. It was just great to see him doing something so silly. She hadn’t at all realized she hadn’t gone in a while. “Hmm? Me?” She asked, dazed but bubbly. “Mmm, I don’t think I want to move. So truth.”

Edgar: Edgar hummed in thought as he got comfortable on the couch, moving to sit against Nathan. "What is the most embarrassing thing you've ever experienced?"

Beverly: “The most embarrassing thing you’ve— i’ve ever experienced,” she mused, squinting her eyes as she searched through all her memories. “Oh! Okay. I hate this one. So, it’s kind of a thing in Utah to make out near the church? Or the temple on special occasions, see… And it was my first anniversary with Spencer— my ex-fiancé— and we decided to go because we were all hyped up on soda and emotions.” She paused, drawing in a deep breath so she wouldn’t start laughing early. “It started off all clumsy and terrible but then we were all serious and heavy and gross.” She shivered. “Anyway, one of my brothers was doing temple ordinances and he see’s the back of Spence’s car as he leaves. So he tries to get in the backseat… He opened the door to us and just cue the screaming from all parties.” She giggled to herself. “We couldn’t look at each other directly for almost a month.”

Edgar: Edgar shook his head in disbelief. "The same Bevvie who got caught skinny dipping says her most embarrassing moment is her brother finding her making out with her boyfriend. You're something else."

Beverly: “I was with a hot guy! I honestly thought that was gonna stay between him and I,” Beverly said, giggling still. “My brother seeing his sister like that was the WORST.”

Elijah: He let out his own laugh. "You keep saying how hot he is, I feel like I need to see him now."

Beverly: “Have I said that a lot? That doesn’t sound like me, sir.” She shrugged. “He’s a ranger, shouldn’t be hard to find.”

Nathan: “pffft, that’s it?” nathan chuckled while he was sat on the couch next to edgar again and let him get comfortable against him before wrapping his arm around his shoulder.

Edgar: Edgar turned to look at Nathan brows raised. "I'd say truth or dare but you Mr. Dawson haven't done a single dare." Was he being a little defensive for Bev's sake? Maybe. But it was a bonus to also rile up Nathan.

Beverly: “Yeah! What do you mean that’s it, mister sir I hadn’t even said all the curse words until tonight.” Beverly shook her head, much like a disappointed teacher. “Should I just give him a truth then? Since he’s not very much too daring?”

Nathan: “i mean it’s tame compared to some of the shit i’ve done embarrassing myself. it was supposed to be a compliment, came out funny my bad.” nathan chuckled and shook his head. “i was gonna pick dare anyway.” he teased knowing he can’t use the excuse of not moving though the only reason he had was because he was being clingy.

Edgar: Edgar grinned over to Bev, knowing they won. "It's all yours Bev. Gotta get back at him for the 'that's it.'"

Nathan: nathan raised an eyebrow. “yeah bev, do your worst.”

Beverly: “I don’t know if you’re ready for my worst,” Beverly teased, glancing up at the ceiling. Now she had something to prove. She tried to think of her list for something spicy and finally, there it was. “I dare you to give our dear friend Edgar a lap dance,” she stated proudly, smirking at the both of them.

Edgar: Edgar looked between Bev and Nathan, face growing darker by the second. "Y-you can always strip if that's....easier."

Beverly: “That will also count,” Beverly added, still smiling.

Nathan: nathan stared at bev and blinked a few times then back at edgar, his own cheeks flushing pink. "i uh," he chuckled a bit rubbed the back of his neck, "strip like.. just how we've been doing or strip like... ya know."

Edgar: Edgar's face grew even brighter. "I-I mean, either...or."

Beverly: Beverly smiled more politely now. She'd have mercy. "You don't have to do it here, there's a perfectly good bedroom over there. I'll give you five whole minutes."

Nathan: he debated for a while, the idea was enticing he had to admit but he wasn't sure he could do it without liquid courage and he was swearing that off in a matter of days. "i'm just gonna." nathan unbuckled his pants and sat up some, pulling them down and off before sitting back down in his boxers. "sorry." he mumbled to edgar and wrapped an arm back around his shoulder.

Edgar: Even so he couldn't help the way he stared as Nathan took off his pants. Damn. Maybe he'd have to ask for a private show later then. "R-right. So...I think it's Evie's turn."

Yvette: Yvette's only response to watching Nathan take off his pants was to raise her eyebrows and then look over at Edgar. "Eddie, if I haven't told you congratulations yet, then congratulations," she teased, before dropping back down into her armchair. She considered the two options before shrugging. "Fuck it, why not end with a bang? Dare."

Edgar: At the tease Edgar's face lit up. He was well aware of how lucky he was. Perhaps too lucky. Still he cheered as Yvette opted for a dare. He kept his fingers crossed Nathan picked a good one to end the game on.

Nathan: nathan thought long and hard about a dare (it was me googling) for yvette and finally decided on one that felt okay enough. “i dare you to eat a raw onion like an apple.” he said with an innocent smile.

Yvette: Yvette stared at him in disbelief. "Evil. Diabolical. And after I invited you into my home and everything." Still, she stood up and carefully made her way into the kitchen, coming back out with an entire onion. "Am I at least allowed to peel it first?"

Nathan: nathan tapped his chin in thought. "you know what? since you're not the reason i'm in my boxers right now i'll let you peel it."

Edgar: Edgar rolled his eyes. "You say that like you have a problem being half naked."

Nathan: "i do when there's two other people here that don't normally see me in my underwear so ha.

Yvette: "Whelp, guess there goes the idea of doing a sexy fireman calendar," Yvette teased as she focused on peeling the onion—which was taking a lot more effort than usual due to her state. "Nathan doesn't want to be half naked in front of anyone who isn't Eddie." When she had peeled about half the onion, she shrugged and figured that was good enough for now, before biting into it and immediately grimacing. "Oh, yuuuuuck," she mumbled, her eyes watering from the onion. Covering her mouth, she glanced up at Nathan. "Permission to spit this out?"

Edgar: Though Yvette wasn't drinking Edgar still poured a small amount of wine and got up to hand her the glass. Water was not going to wash out that taste. He sent Nathan a look as if warning him to not be mean.

Beverly: “We tried our best,” Beverly replied softly, watching as Yvette peeled the onion. It was interesting and she was very transfixed on it. She visibly winced as the other took a bite and stuck out her tongue. As soon as the initial grossness went away, she only laughed at the situation, calling out without even thinking, “spitters are quitters, Yvette!“

Nathan: nathan felt his cheeks warm slightly at the tease but glanced over at edgar when she asked for permission, catching the look (he's in my head doing that shrek face. you know the one? please tell me you know the one.) and despite laughing at what beverly had said, he nodded. "i don't want to sleep on the couch tonight so permission granted, unless the spitters are quitters thing gets ya going."

Yvette: As soon as she was granted permission, Yvette rushed to the trashcan and spit out the chunk of onion she had bitten off, before walking back and taking the glass of wine from Edgar. "Bev, you know damn well that sentence doesn't apply to this situation," she quipped back, before gulping down most of the wine in the glass. "There are plenty of situations I'm not a quitter in if you catch my drift." She winked, but it turned into more of a wince at the aftertaste of onion. "Well. That sure was a way to wrap things up."

Edgar: Edgar turned red at the suggestion, shaking his head. "Not something I ever needed to know, thanks Evie." He bent down to grab Nathan's clothes, holding them up for the other. "Thanks for hosting all this. It was actually pretty fun."

Beverly: Beverly was already in the middle of putting her shirt back on as she hugged each of her friends close. "Thank you all... This would've been impossible without you and I just-- love you all so much." She had plenty marked off the list now and she really had never felt better.

#threads. / beverly & edgar #threads. / beverly & yvette #threads. / beverly & nathan #discord thread. / let's get high and play truth or dare #i did it... woo!

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