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thedreamlessnights · 5 months

Note

Hi! I’ve got a request for Astarion and Dark Urge Tav. Like they got together through act 1 and 2 and confessed their feelings for each other, but when they go to see Gortash become Arch Duke Tav realizes that she used to be lovers with Gortash before her memory was wiped. Queue angst and hurt/comfort and fluff and hhhhh Gortash loses plssss

I absolutely loved this concept and had so much fun writing it! Dark Urge's route changed me as a person, and I honestly feel like it's a perfect match for Astarion. Thank you so much for sending this in, and I hope you enjoy!

Aching (Astarion x F!Reader - Dark Urge)

Warnings: Major spoilers for Act III of Baldur's Gate - particularly for the Dark Urge playthrough. Mentions of blood, killing, death, and suicidal ideation. Dark Urge being Dark Urge. Hurt/comfort, self-loathing, angst with a happy ending.

Word Count: 4.6k

Like so many other things, the sight of Lord Enver Gortash tugs at a painful spot in your skull.

You’ve come to differentiate them: the gaping, aching tug of your lost memories and the sharp, swift yank of the tadpole. Somehow, his presence pulls at both of them in equal measure. There’s something on the edge of your tongue, but it won’t be said. A memory behind your eyes, but it won’t be seen.

One thing is clear enough - you know this man. For better or worse, the two of you have met before.

Karlach clears her throat behind you, and you return to yourself: not lost in the dark void of your memories, not consumed by the itch for blood. Wyrm’s Crossing.

Gods, you’d nearly forgotten. You’re in the middle of a throne room, surrounded by dozens of people, here for the coronation. Wyll’s father stands in the center of the room, all but a meat puppet under the Absolute’s control.

The Absolute, which Gortash is a part of.

The soon-to-be Archduke sees you, and something shifts in his gaze. His expression softens. Given all the trouble you’ve been causing for him, that expression comes as a shock - but what he says next is jarring to your core.

“Dearest patriars, but a moment,” he requests. “I must greet a most important guest.” He strolls toward you, arms spread wide as he steps forward, and smiles. “Crawling back from her bloody disgrace - it’s my favorite assassin! Gods, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”

And suddenly, you are two pieces of a whole. One longs to step forward, knowing him, wanting him. The other longs for nothing more than to jolt away from him - from the misery you know he’s been causing. Not only to you, or even Karlach, but to your home; Baldur’s Gate.

“Hang on,” Karlach says. “What? You know each other?”

As if you could have possibly known that. As if you’d been willfully keeping it from her. As if your amnesia is a silent betrayal.

“We have important matters to address,” Gortash says dismissively. “My reunion with Karlach can wait.”

Gods, it’s all too much. You’re trying to think, but your mind is swimming in front of your eyes. Your skull throbs. Your heart thuds unevenly in your chest. Something in you is fundamentally disrupted.

“Don’t talk to me,” you manage to spit out. “Talk to her.”

After all, she deserves it. Ten years in Avernus, a flaming engine in her chest, a slow, painful oncoming death that none of you can prevent - or at least, not while she’s refusing to go back to the hells. She deserves a talk with the man who betrayed her. More than anything.

But Gortash won’t be swayed so easily, it seems. “No offense to my old friend,” he says, not even bothering to look at Karlach, “but it’s you I have been dying to see. After all, you abandoned us some time ago, leaving a rather uncomfortable hole in our plans.”

Fond. His expression is unmistakably fond.

You don’t know what plans he’s talking about, though. What to say to him? Should you treat him like a friend, exploit his familiarity down to the hilt for the sake of the information you might obtain? Should you be honest and find out more of your lost self? Do you even want to?

As it turns out, it doesn’t matter what you’re planning to say. Gortash sees your face, and that’s enough. “Oh, I’d forgotten,” he remarks, “your memories are quite lost, aren’t they? Orin told me she’d made a fool of you.”

Orin. A picture flashes in front of your mind. Warm blood, oozing from a gash in your head, streaming down into your eyes. A sharp, fierce tug of betrayal that digs into your chest, sours in your mouth like milk.

Then, another image. A recent memory: Orin. A gruesome suit of skin. A bloodthirsty tongue. The Netherstone in hand.

But Gortash is still talking.

“To think you and Karlach traveled together all this time, and she hadn’t the faintest you were one of my nearest and dearest,” he’s saying.

Karlach tenses, and you suddenly feel sick. Your hands go slick with sweat, and you can feel, not see but feel, the others silently fuming behind you.

All of this is adding up to one big, horrific picture. A conclusion you despise but can’t deny. Something affectionate in your chest. The admiration in his gaze. The way he’d greeted you. Nearest and dearest.

Lovers. You and Gortash were lovers.

The walk back to camp is the most painful of your life - that you can recall, at least. You’d rather be feral again, tied up like an animal on your bedroll, attempting to bite Astarion.

Part of you wishes you’d decimated Gortash the moment you’d laid eyes on him. If you had, all of this could have been avoided. The swirling guilt in your stomach for something you don’t even remember. The sting of reproof from nearly every single one of your companions. The betrayal in their eyes.

You’d done this. All of it. The Absolute, the march on the city, the tadpole now squirming around in your brain. You and Gortash had planned this out, and now you’ve fallen victim to it.

It seems like a disconnected idea, a person you can’t imagine being. The further you go on, the less you recognize your old self. The more you despise it.

Gale had certainly chewed you out. Karlach isn’t talking to you. Gods, even Shadowheart is angry. Shadowheart, who should know more than anyone else what this is like.

Astarion, at least, doesn’t seem as upset as the others. He’s liked his tadpole for the most part. Is some odd part of him grateful for your role in this? For the power it’s given him? You can’t tell.

You should be able to tell, shouldn’t you?

When the silence becomes unbearable, you grab a bottle of Berduskan Dark as a peace offering and join him at his tent, crawling through the entrance and sprawling yourself over his various pillows. “Do you hate me tonight, too?” you ask lightly.

He raises a brow and rolls one of his shoulders, feigning annoyance. “Oh, I don’t know,” he says, his tone teasing and casual. “It’s not often I find out the woman I’m with is behind a horrible, malicious scheme to control an elder brain.”

Your words of penance fall flat even before they’ve touched your tongue, so you pour him a glass of wine in response.

He smiles. “Trying to win me over, darling?” he asks, tilting his head. “You’ve caused quite the commotion around camp, you know. Gale is positively furious.”

That sensation of guilt comes again, but this time, it’s overpowering. It makes you want to crumple in on yourself, to erase the horrid, evil parts of you that are left like bloodstains on a white shirt; things that won’t be scrubbed away, present and never-escapable.

“I didn’t know,” you start, firmly but barely kept together. “I swear, I had no idea-”

“Relax, dearest,” Astarion says. “As you know, me and the tadpole are the best of friends. No need to explain.” He pauses. “Although,” he says, suddenly becoming very interested in inspecting the brim of his glass, “you and Gortash seemed to be old friends, too.”

You know what he’s asking you, and you don’t have it in yourself to lie to him. Instead, you slowly nod, pouring yourself a glass of the wine, too. Gods, do you need it.

“We were lovers, I think,” you finally answer. “I can’t remember anything about it, but… the way he talked to me. It seemed like we were more than friends.”

He pulls a face. “Well. I certainly hope he won’t be serving as my competition. You can do so much better.”

You stare at him: the sudden tension in his shoulders, the pasted-on, confident smile that plays on his lips, the dark glint to his gaze.

“You’re jealous.”

He scoffs. “Jealous?” he exclaims, laughing a little. “Of course I’m not jealous. Honestly - it’s hilarious. A Bhaalspawn and Bane’s chosen. In another life, I would have been rooting for the two of you.”

But there’s a crease between his brows, and he won’t quite look at you. You reach out for his hand, and his expression softens. He playfully rolls his eyes, but he takes your hand all the same. “And what is our vicious little mastermind thinking about?” he asks, leaning toward you.

“I’m thinking,” you say, “that Lord Gortash could never compare to you.”

“Oh?” he asks, moving in a little further. He loves preening for compliments, and you love treating him to them. “Do go on, dearest.”

You trail your thumb over his knuckles. “Well, he’s clearly nowhere near as handsome as you are.”

Astarion tilts his head. “Of course he isn’t. The man couldn’t hope to compare with a… world-endingly handsome vampire.” He squeezes your hand, lifting a brow. “Anything else?”

You can’t help smiling now. “His taste in clothing is awful. Didn’t you see his boots?” you ask. “Tacky.”

He scowls. “I did. Horrendous, honestly. And at his coronation, no less,” he remarks, tutting. “Well. I’m glad to see your standards have improved, darling.”

“As am I.” You take a sip of your wine, swirling it in your hand, enjoying the feel of Astarion’s grasp in the other.

With him, you can almost forget the worst parts of yourself. The others, as much as you love them, only make your crimes seem so much worse. There’s a constant forgiveness sought with each conversation, a debt you can never repay that lingers underneath the way they see you. But not with him.

He mirrors you. He sees you. What you really are, not what you were, not the echo of your old life. All your past grievances, well… those don’t matter to him. Everything you’ve done, he considers himself worse.

Part of you thinks - if the two of you actually make it through, that is - that bit by bit, you may actually heal. Maybe, you’ll actually have a life with him beyond the tadpoles, and beyond Baldur’s Gate. Maybe, the two of you will build something far beyond those who once controlled you.

And then the night comes.

You leave Astarion in his tent to trance, telling him you mean to sleep even though you have no intention of doing so. You never rest well, but it’s aggravated, lately. The Urge is always at its worst during the night. The shadows reflect your darkest self back at you, and your fingers itch for blood. Your mind becomes a haze of gore. Your teeth fix on a tender part of your cheek and press down until you taste iron.

You’d like to say that this part of you is a clean split from the other - that it’s easy to tell where the Urge ends and you begin - but it’s not. Your thoughts so often drift. You’d been the one feeling that sickening sense of satiation when Alfira lay dead at your feet, her blood drying on your skin. And it’s you who feels a strange tug toward Gortash - some lingering yearning that won’t be scrubbed away.

And you try. Gods, do you try. You take a rag and sit at the river and rub until your skin is raw, trying to get the metaphorical blood off your hands, trying to cleanse yourself of the want that pulls at your chest when Gortash slips into your thoughts.

But it doesn’t work. It doesn’t work at all.

The way you want Astarion feels different. It’s grounded. Natural. Being around him feels as easy as breathing. Gortash, though: there’s something so very strong there, something ripened with time and obsessive, almost. Something that wants him no matter what you tell yourself.

You want to win this. You want to look at the faces around camp and tell them that their faith in you is not misplaced; that you are capable of what they want you to be. You’re more than the monster in your thoughts. When you’d resisted killing Isobel and Astarion despite your butler’s commands, you’d thought there was a chance for that to happen - for you to become something outside of your murderous tendencies.

Now, you’re not so sure.

Your role in the creation of the Absolute has changed things. This feels… unforgivable. Not that Alfira’s death wasn’t already unforgivable, not that you haven’t already sinned enough, but… it’s tallying up to a truly heinous amount of perversion that you can’t fathom anyone here tolerating, much less accepting. Astarion, maybe, but he deserves better than this.

You’ve already tremendously ruined things, and on top of that, you find out you were responsible for turning all of the people you care about into thralls?

It’s enough to shake you to your core. Enough to sow doubt in your mind, spreading like a slow poison through the veins of your thoughts, slowly choking them away, slowly consuming you.

You really might lose.

Gods, are you strong enough to win the long-fought battle against yourself? Do you have it in you to completely turn away from your past? You won’t give in without a fight, of course, but what chance do you have against Bhaal when he’s in your very mind, rooting himself into every inch of you?

In the days, you have hope, but in the nights, when you’re alone, you feel certain you’re doomed. That perhaps, this side of you will take over, and you’ll be absolutely helpless to stop it.

The true question is this: when the darkness takes over, will you still exist; forever trapped in the body you once had control over? Or will Bhaal’s presence ravage you, body and soul, and leave nothing of the thing you once were?

You really can’t decide which is worse.

You’re used to your hands shaking, by now. Your fingers have often trembled around the hilt of your blade, itching to drive your knife deep into sweet, bleeding flesh.

This is different.

It’s fear that takes your body, not the Urge. Fear that compels you, not Bhaal. Are you afraid to lose to Orin, or afraid of what you might become?

Astarion stands behind you, observant but tense. The two of you have come so far now that it almost seems foolish to think of losing. He’d defeated Cazador. He’d resisted the Ascension. If he’d found it in himself to turn away from his darkness, can’t you?

Yet, some part of you still thinks you might disappoint him. Some part of you still fears the monster that lies within yourself.

Astarion rests a hand on your shoulder, knowing you all too well. “You can do this,” he says, lightly squeezing. “I know you can.”

And the sheer, beautiful belief in his eyes - belief in you - is enough to have a little hope again. Not much, but some. You can do this.

You step into the center of the circle, hands around your blade, and you believe.

It all goes by in a blur.

Orin is a viper, tightening her strokes around you, striking fast and hard. Her movements are rapid and graceful, her dance lithe and experienced. Even in her slayer form, there’s a deadly beauty to her actions. Every slash, every wound she inflicts on your skin, is a vicious reminder that she’s nothing but practiced in this regard.

Perhaps she’s forgotten, but you are, too. And, this time, your pride doesn’t blind you to the threat she poses.

Your body moves instinctively; for once, you let the Urge guide you freely. You leap out of the way of her claws, dig your blade into her side. When the scent of blood hits the air, you rejoice. When you feel pain, you bask in it.

Flashes of your past echo in front of your eyes - being in the pod, blood gushing into your eyes. You remember the agony of her betrayal, the fear as you’d smashed your skull into the glass again and again and again. Anything to escape what she’d done.

It’s despair that takes over you, not fear. It’s your fury that deals the final blow, not the Urge. And when Orin finally falls, your blade in her ribs up to the hilt, you feel no relief, no satiation.

Only grief. Nothing but grief.

You don’t know what you mourn for - your old self? The life she’d robbed you of? No - no, you despise your past. You despise who you were. So what tugs at your chest this tenderly? What force brings you to your knees?

For just a moment, you almost forget about Bhaal.

Of course, he won’t be forgotten - not here, not in his own domain. Not when you’re his creation. Sceleritas Fel is in front of you, applauding your victory, calling you the Chosen One.

“He is near,” he says. “He comes for you.”

Fear flutters through your chest. Bhaal’s Chosen. It tempts you, even now. The Urge has slithered into the very heart of you, kept somewhere in your ribs, so dark and alluring that you can barely breathe.

It salivates at the sight of the blade slicing through your butler’s chest, sways at the sight of his blood. His body rises, limp and lifeless, and it’s all you can do to stare, still breathless from the fight, still silently devastated, as more blades cut through the skin one by one - impaling him until his blood seeps onto the stone below; dark, crimson liquid shining over the cold floor.

And in his reflection, you find Bhaal.

He is everything you’ve felt in the Urge and more - the sweet whispers of death in your ear. He’s the honeyed tone that compels you to serve him, compels you to bring forth destruction in his name. In chaos, he triumphs, and in blood, he revels.

This is a gift. An offering to you, his Chosen.

You could accept. You could stop fighting against your destiny, against this thing you were born to become. You could do what he asks, and wreak beautiful havoc on this world. You’re exhausted. Every muscle in your body aches - not from Orin, but from this never-ending fight against yourself.

How strong you could become, remedied of these burdens. How well you would please your father. It would be so easy. All you’d have to do is accept…

And then you see Astarion.

His face is paler than usual, a tension in his shoulders, a quiet exhaustion in his eyes. You see him now, as he is, and you see him as he was in the ritual chamber: the temptation of power right beneath his grasp, begging to be taken. He’d sacrificed so much. The light of the sun on his face. The relief of hunger. The burial of his shame. All of these, he’d refused, but he’s finally free. He wants that for you, and you want it, too.

No matter the cost.

So you refuse. You look Bhaal in the eye and refuse his gift, knowing what it will mean for you. And when he threatens your life, you refuse again. No matter the cost, you think. Death is freedom in its own way.

The sudden agony that wracks through your body is unlike any you’ve ever known. It boils through your blood, singes body and soul, brings down you to your knees with the very force of it. Your chest seems to cave in on itself, expelling your inheritance to Bhaal with every beat of your heart.

Even when he lifts a hand and raises you into the air, you feel crushed - suffocated. Your teeth grind against each other, your skull throbs in agonzing waves, blood flows steadily over your tongue. Your heart slows, your essence fades. Sharp, blinding pain overtakes your vision until all that’s left of you is the shallow, scraping breath in your lungs.

All at once, everything fades, and you’re left in darkness.

And in the darkness, there is finally peace.

Being revived feels like a cruelty. Death is sweet and calm and simple. Emptiness. Oblivion. It is silent, and you are grateful.

Until you’re not.

You’re not, because you’re no longer dead. Something rips you from your painless sense of stillness - throws you back into the misery of life. You fight against it, but it’s pointless; you have no say in this, and it will take you where it desires.

You find yourself in flesh again, find the familiar sensation of your tender skin. You find yourself before Withers, bruised and broken, but reborn.

He’s a sight for sore eyes, but there’s something else that lies in your chest. A silence that hasn’t been there since… since before you’d woken up on the nautiloid, confused and alone, not a memory to be found aside from meaningless scraps and a face you didn’t recognize.

The Urge is gone. All that’s left is you.

It feels empty.

This should feel heroic, this return of yours that leaves you panting with the throes of death, covered in blood and on your knees. You’re back, you’re alive, and gods, you’re glad to see your friends and your lover, but it’s empty.

You deserved to die, didn’t you? It was your horrible knowledge, the one you kept tucked away even from Astarion. That never-ending guilt. After your crimes, after all the horrid things you’ve done with these hands, this body, before you’d lost your memory - you’d most certainly deserved to be put down.

You don’t dare look at Astarion, but you look at Withers. Surely, he must know what you are. Surely, he must know what you’ve done.

“I deserve to die,” you tell him, your voice shaking as much as your body. “For all the evil I have done.”

Withers stares at you, his expression unchanged. “The sole way to atone for thine actions is to do better, in a new dawn,” he says - and gods, he smiles. He’s proud of you, you realize. Proud of your resistance. “That dawn has come,” he announces.

And if he will not be swayed, you suppose you won’t, either. You’re alive, whether you like it or not. Whatever pieces are left of you and the life you might live, you’ll put them together. You’ve done it before, and you’ll do it again.

The important thing is that you’re finally free.

“Bhaal tried to extinguish thee,” Wither observes, “but his wrath is imprecise. He only succeeded in killing the part of thee he knew. The Urge that drove thee to terrible acts. The spark of brutality that made thee his. But there is a new part of you that hath grown during thy travels. That part, Bhaal could not extinguish. And so, instead of destroying thee, he hath made thee anew.”

“You get to start over,” Astarion says. He gazes at you, a mixture of leftover fear and relief and care. “To be the person you want to be. Not what someone else made you to be.”

And gods - even in the worst of yourself, you know that he sees you - wants you, all the same. If you’re at his side, you’re sure you can do anything.

“Greet the bloodless dawn, child of none,” Withers says, and for once in the shabby remembrance of your life, the guilt that haunts you finally sweeps away.

Gortash knows you’re coming, you think. After your stint at the Iron Throne and the foundry that now lies in ash, he must. Your memories are mostly lost to the aether, but you do know this - he’s no fool.

Still, when you see him again, there’s that strange, leftover twinge of your past. It’s dead now; whatever warmth there was in his presence has become ice. Your old self has died along with your Urge, rotted away like your need for blood. After all, the part of you he cared for was maniacal. Brutal. Not as bad as Orin, perhaps, but deranged. It sickens you to know he cared for someone like that, when you’ve despised yourself so.

It sickens you even more to know that he knows no guilt for his actions. How much have you suffered over your own deeds? How often have you awoken in sweat, drenched from head to toe with the fleeting remnant of your past deeds tainting your mind?

And here he is, smug and so sure - of himself, of this path, of Bane. And he knows no regret, or guilt, he makes no apologies. A part of you may have once loved him, but no more. Whatever he’d once seen in you, it no longer remains.

You wonder if he can tell. After all you’ve done to him, after the havoc you’ve wreaked on his plan, does he realize that the person he cared for no longer exists? He seems not to. Not until Karlach launches at him and you draw your blade, willing to kill when it’s necessary but not craving an ounce of blood more.

The fight is long and brutal, but it’s familiar. You have your friends at your side, people you trust even more than yourself. It flies by in a blur, only ending when Karlach’s axe sinks into Gortash’s gut and he crumples to his knees, letting out a final rush of air before he goes still.

Like so many other events, this should feel triumphant, but it doesn’t. Like so many other things, this isn’t fair. Gortash is gone, yes, nothing more than a body on a floor, but there’s no celebration, no relief.

Karlach has gotten her revenge, but she will never get her life back. She will never regain what he took from her.

You have the Netherstones, yes. But gods - that doesn’t stop the sickening feeling deep inside.

You head home with nothing but grief and an aching body, your hand held tight in Astarion’s, and you finally allow yourself to fully mourn the life you’d lived - the things you’d done, and the people who no longer live because of you.

With Gortash finally gone, the air of the camp changes. You’re so close to your goal, but there’s an underlying tension that fills the air. It has you making your way to Astarion, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and nuzzling into his neck.

He holds you close, his thumb trailing over the nape of your neck, and the action slackens the tension out of your muscles.

“So,” he starts, “how are you feeling, now that your old lover is gone?”

You huff, shaking your head. The action brushes your nose with his skin, and you can smell him all over you. The warmth of brandy, the sharpness of rosemary. “I don’t remember any of it,” you say, words soft. “I… don’t really feel anything.”

You recall his numbness after Cazador. Dame Aylin’s emptiness after smiting down Larroakan. Karlach’s grief after killing Gortash. Even after your fight with Orin, there hadn’t really been relief. Just… a sense of loss.

He gently takes your face in his hands.

You’re scared, really. You’re so close to succeeding, so close to getting the tadpole out of your mind, and yet, you’re terrified out of your wits. What the hells are you supposed to do, now that failing holds the most weight?

“Do you really think we’ll win this?” you ask him. Your fear slips into your voice and breaks it, and you wince.

“Of course I do,” he says. “I don’t know about you, darling, but I have no intention of dying again.” He presses his lips to your forehead, the gentle touch soothing away your fear. “We’ll get through this. Trust me.”

And, despite the fear, the pain, the loss - despite every curve that life continually throws at you, every defeat you muster through, you know he’s right.

You’ll get through this; just like you always do.

#astarion x reader #astarion #astarion x you #astarion ancunin #astarion x dark urge #baldurs gate 3 x reader #mywriting

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mountttmase · 3 months

Text

Winter Sun - Chapter 2

Note - thank you so much for all the love on the first chapter 🥺 it was honestly so overwhelming like I’ve been sat on this series for so long and I can’t believe I’ve finally introduced you to my babies 🩷 I hope you like this chapter just as much and feedback is appreciated as always 😘

Pairing - Mason Mount × Reader

Word count - 6.5k

Warnings - series will contain fluff, smut & angst

Masterlist

You’d made it home from Bens at around 11am the next day and you flopped onto the sofa as soon as you got back. The only thing on your mind was McDonald’s hash browns but the text from Mason distracted you instantly.

Another text never came, instead Mason was calling you and you let out a big breath, biting your lip to stop your smile before answering.

‘Morning Mase’

‘Morning morning. You still at Bens?’

‘No I got back like ten minutes ago’

‘Okay good. Now what’s it’s gonna take for me to convince you cause let’s face it you know I always get my way’ he laughed and you rolled your eyes cause you knew he was right. You were still unhappy about the amount of money it would cost him but if he was stupid enough to offer to pay for you then why weren’t you accepting? Chances like this didn’t come around very often and you knew you’d be miserable sat at home watching everyone else have fun.

‘I’ll talk to nads, alright? If she’s fine with it then I’ll consider coming’ you told him, not having the energy to argue anymore and the laugh and cheers coming from him made it worth it. ‘One condition though. Don’t tell anyone I want to surprise Carly at the airport’

‘Deal’

‘I also have another question. How are you gonna pay everyone back? I presume my part was split between everyone but that’s gonna be long for you to sort out surely’

‘So I have a confession’ he laughed and you knew you were about to hear something you wouldn’t like. ‘I’d already paid for you. I was hoping to try and convince you nearer the time’ he confessed, laughing like a small boy who’s just been caught with his hand in the sweet jar and you’d be lying if you said you didn’t find him endearing.

‘Mason’ you huffed, trying to fake scold him for his actions but it wasn’t working. He was too cheeky for his own good and you were too overwhelmed by the prospect of him wanting you to come so bad he paid for you without even asking.

‘What, it worked didn’t it?’ He told you. ‘Let me know as soon as nads says it’s okay and we can sort everything out’

‘I wanted to talk to you about something else too’ you asked carefully, not wanting to startle him but your conversation from last night was still playing on your mind. Even though he’d said he still felt the same as he had last night, you were still unsure.

‘Oh yeah? What’s that?’

‘This little arrangement we might have going on’

‘Oh yeah?’

‘I think we should set some ground rules’

‘Okay yeah, that’s fine. Why don’t you think about them and we can talk about them on the plane’

‘But I might not be sat next to you’

‘Oh muffin, I made sure you are’ he drawled, causing you to roll your eyes at his cockiness.

Once you were finally off the phone to Mason you called up Nads who was more than happy to take over the shop for a week. Letting you know that you deserve a break and that she was more than up for the challenge and by the way she spoke you felt a lot more at ease about the whole situation.

Everything after that was a bit of a blur. Having to buy everything you needed for your trip plus a few extras. Realising your underwear selection was pretty sparse and not exactly flattering and you wanted Mason to not be turned off instantly so you treated yourself to some new sets you thought he might like to see you in as well as some other clothes you thought he might like to take off of you.

The week passed by in a flash and soon enough you were on your way to the airport on your own. Excitement and nerves filled you as you’d never had to do this on your own before but once you were through security and through to the lounge you sent Mason a quick message.

You treated yourself to a solo breakfast before having a quick look around duty free so you could pick some snacks up and also some things for Mason. You knew you wouldn’t be here without him so you’d promised to treat him in different ways and you were just picking up a few bags of m&m’s when you felt your phone buzz in your pocket.

You let him know you’d meet him outside the shop you were in and as soon as your eyes met his you felt your heart thud in your chest. He looked so cute in his comfy clothes and even though his hood was up you’d recognise him anywhere.

‘Hey muffin’ he smiled, pulling you into his chest and you knew your face was flushing which he only made worse by planting a kiss on your head. ‘I’ve left everyone in the first class lounge, you ready to go say hi?’

‘Okay’ you smiled, letting him lead you through the airport by your waist. You knew Mason was touchy but this was different. Normally he’d keep his hands where you could see them but you couldn’t deny you loved the feeling of being close to him as you chatted about your journeys. Your arm around his waist too and you knew to anyone looking it looked like you were a couple but you just went with it as you loved having him close ‘You go, I’ll be in in one sec’ you told him when you got to the doors and he eyed you curiously. ‘Need to make my big entrance’

‘See you in there’ he laughed, closing the door behind him and you waited 30 seconds before following him in. Thankfully they were all sat facing the other way and you used it to your advantage to surprise them.

‘Well well well. What the hell are you guys doing here?’ You asked in a sing-song tone, watching them all turn to you but it was Carly’s face you were focused on.

‘What the hell?’ She whispered, looking more shocked than you’d ever seen her as a smile began to take over her face.

‘You didn’t think I’d let you leave without me did you?’

‘You’re coming?’ She asked quietly, her bottom lip wobbling slightly and you just nodded as her face was getting you emotional yourself and before you knew it, she was throwing herself in your arms. You could feel her body shaking a little bit so you held her tighter as everyone else piled in for a group hug. ‘Mason, was this your doing?’ She laughed, looking for him in the big crowd of people and you could see how hard he was blushing, making your heart thump a little in your chest.

‘I just wanted everyone together’ he laughed as you all pulled away, watching Carly make a beeline for him so she could pull him into her arms. You knew she was saying something to him but you weren’t quite sure what so you went round and said hello to everyone else.

When you were called for boarding, you and Mason seemed to get separated but you managed to make it on the plane without him, eyes constantly checking to see if he was coming and around ten minutes after you’d sat down he made his appearance.

You watched on as he shrugged his bag off to pop in the overhead locker and you knew your face was probably bright red now as you caught a glimpse of his tummy when he reached up to shut the compartment. Clearing your throat as he finally took his seat next to you and could see he looked a little apprehensive but you didn’t want to pry.

‘You sure you’re fine sitting next to me? I bet Woody is missing you’ you mumbled but he shook his head as his brows pinched together slightly.

‘No, don’t be silly, I made sure I was next to you. I know if I was next to him or one of the others I’d wake up to a mouth full of peanuts or something’

‘Well I’ll try and keep my nuts to myself’ you joked, hearing him laugh properly for the first time that morning. ‘You sure you’re okay?’

He was playing with his fingers absentmindedly before he looked up at you and your heart almost broke at the vulnerability in his eyes. ‘I’m not the best flyer. I might not be the best company unless you can think of a way to distract me’

‘Well that’s perfect cause I’m not the best either’ you laughed, rolling your eyes to try and play off how nervous you actually were but his sympathetic smile settled you.

‘We can distract each other then’ he offered and you nodded back. Unable to form a proper sentence for some reason as his chocolate eyes were making you feel fuzzy.

You sat and chatted casually for a little while as the plane filled up. Watching the air hostess give her little safety speech and he was starting to open up with you a little more, relaxing back into his seat and soon enough the plane started to move but you felt the panic roll through you.

You went ridged instantly, linking your hands together for some form of comfort and you took a small deep breath to try and calm yourself but it was no use. You felt sick and hot and you could feel Masons eyes on you but you didn’t care. Too caught up In trying to calm your own nerves. You pulled your hands apart, one now gripping the arm rest as you bunched your hoodie up between your fingers in the other but the feeling of someone’s grip around your wrist snapped you from your thoughts.

Mason lifted your hand away from the arm rest, his fingers threading through yours carefully before giving your hand a gentle squeeze. You we’re looking at him the whole time but when his eyes flashed up to meet yours and he gave you a little wink, you could feel your heart thump in your chest. Not from the nerves this time.

You grabbed your clasped hands with your free one, pulling both into your lap before resting your head on his arm and you felt him give a little chuckle before leaning into you a bit more. His head resting on top of yours as the plane sped up which caused a small whimper to fall from your lips.

‘S’okay’ you felt him whisper into your hair as your free hand moved up his arm to hold it tight to you. ‘I promise you’re safe but just squeeze my hand as hard as you want, yeah?’

Under any normal circumstances and with anyone else you would of probably felt a bit weird grabbing onto them like you were but with Mason it felt normal and he was right, you were safe but that didn’t stop another tiny whimper falling from your lips as the plane finally left the ground.

You felt him press him lips to the top of your head, leaving them there as you squeezed him as hard as you could and by the way he was squeezing you back you knew he was scared too but the way he’d seemed to of pushed that to the side to comfort you made you smile even though you felt like you were about die.

You didn’t move until the plane had levelled out, even then wanting to stay wrapped up in him but you knew you’d have to move eventually and when you pulled back to look at him, his shy sympathetic smile melted you.

‘Sorry Mason, I-‘

‘You don’t need to be sorry, honestly it’s fine. Sort of took my mind off of me being freaked out’

‘I feel like such a wimp’ you laughed, going to pull your hand away from his but he squeezed a little tighter as if he didn’t want you to let go.

‘Do you mind?’ He asked quietly, nodding down to your linked fingers, a small smile taking over his face as he gulped nervously. ‘I think I still need the emotional support’

‘Okay’ you whispered, settling back in the seat as a comfortable silence came over you.

‘You uh, thought about those rules yet?’ He laughed, trying to calm you down and change the subject. Little did he know you’d been thinking about them a lot.

‘Of course I have’ you winked, reaching for your iPad and he looked at you with a curious expression.

‘Oh yeah’ he laughed, watching with wide eyes as you opened your iPad up and went to your notes app. ‘Please don’t tell me you’ve got them written down’

‘Well I didn’t want to forget any’ you scowled causing him to laugh.

‘Go on then, what are you thinking’

‘Well, I think the first one should be no random kissing. There needs to be the intention of it going somewhere or when we’re… you know’

‘But I like kissing you’ he pouted, the crease in his eyebrows more pronounced than you’d ever seen it. You liked kissing Mason too, the fact that he’d admitted it made your skin tingle but you knew it was for the best. This was meant to be a friends with benefits situation and friends don’t kiss like you and Mason had done. ‘Come on, what else are you gonna disappoint me with’

‘No cuddling after and no sleeping in each others beds’

‘Fine, then no lingering eye contact’ he argued back, wanting to try and get some of his rules in but you were happy with that one. Eye contact with Mason was like a drug and you weren’t sure you could keep your cool with him if it was happening often so you quickly added that one to the list.

‘No sex with anyone else’ you told him and he looked back at you like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

‘No teasing, playing games or flirting with anyone else’

‘What do you take me for’ you laughed, typing it in anyway. ‘No telling anyone either. And the most important rule?’

‘What’s that?’

‘No feelings. At all. The friendship comes first. Deal?’

‘Deal’ he laughed, taking your iPad from you so he could sign his name and you quickly took a screenshot so you could send it to him later.

The rest of the ride was plain sailing. You watched a few films together as you spoke about what was planned for the week. As you’d joined late, a lot of things had been booked already so he filled you in on a few activities that were booked and when you were about to come into land Mason made sure he held your hand just as tightly so you weren’t scared.

You all made it out of the airport in good time, splitting into two taxis and whilst you were in the same car, Mason sat up front with the driver whilst you sat in the back next to Carly with Ben on her other side as she let you know how excited she was to have you joining. She knew you hated talking about money though so thankfully she avoided the topic and soon enough you were pulling into the drive of a huge villa.

You felt intimidated by it immediately, nothing you could ever dream of staying in without Masons help and he must have seen you looking a little overwhelmed as he left a quick kiss on your forehead when no one was looking before sending you a cheeky wink.

The others arriveded ten minutes or so after you so you used the time to give the place a once over and it was just as pretty as the pictures Mason had sent you. You felt out of place the more you walked around and everytime Mason tried to catch your eyes you couldn’t meet them. Another car was pulling up soon enough so you followed Carly down to meet everyone else in the kitchen.

‘Right there’s three rooms upstairs and two downstairs. Who wants what?’ Carly asked as you all gathered together and Mason was first in to make his argument about who should go where.

‘I think the three couples should take the rooms upstairs and y/n and I can take the two downstairs. That way the two single people don’t have to listen to you lot getting it on at god knows what time’

‘That does make sense’ you laughed, secretly hoping everyone else agreed as it would make yours and Masons little arrangement a lot easier and you could tell from the little sparkle in his eye that he’d been thinking about this for a while.

‘But you’ll be far away from me’ Carly pouted, knowing she liked her room to be close to yours when she could but for this trip you were hoping to be as far away from her as possible.

‘I know, but it makes sense, as long as everyone’s happy with it? And I’ll come up and visit you all the time’ You tried to reason but Mason had made his mind up for everyone and began picking up your bags.

‘Come on, Y/n. I’ll help you with your stuff’ he winked before nodding his head in the direction of the stairs. ‘We can all meet back here in like an hour or so?’

‘Sounds good’ Dec called, already halfway up the stairs so he could pick the best room and you laughed as Carly chased after him to try and stop him.

Once you were downstairs Mason lead you to the two rooms, doors opposite each other and you let him pick first even though they were both the same before he dumped your bag in your room and looked up at you with a shy smile.

‘I’ll um… I’ll go sort my stuff out and then come and get you?’ He asked, eyes everywhere but on you and you nodded before clearing your throat awkwardly. The air feeling like it had shifted since you got here and with one final nod he was making his way across the hall.

Mason was right, it was beautiful here and you were happy you’d let him talk you into coming away with everyone as you put all your stuff away but you still couldn’t help but feel like a bit of an imposter. You were hanging up your last few shirts when you heard him move across the hall and you braced yourself for him to come and see you.

‘Knock knock’

‘Oh, hey Mase. You alright?’

‘Yeah just coming to see how you’re getting on. You all unpacked?’

‘Almost’ you smiled, turning to hang up the last thing as he sat himself on your bed.

‘Y/n?’ He called softly and you turned to see his unreadable expression.

‘Yeah?’

‘Can I kiss you?’ He asked timidly and even though you were a little shocked, you knew you’d have to let him down a bit.

‘Mase-‘

‘Yeah I know it’s against the rules but I feel like we’re being super awkward with each other and it might ease the tension a little’ he explained, kicking yourself that you’d be so transparent.

He was right, you were being a little stiff with each other and probably could do with something to calm each others nerves so you slowly walked over to where he was sat and stood in between his legs as he carefully touched the backs of your thighs.

‘One kiss. That’s it?’

‘One kiss’ he smiled, standing up slowly and once he was close enough you rested your hands on his chest as he gripped your hips.

He started out pressing a kiss to your cheek, a smile breaking out on your face as he slowly peppered them towards your mouth before he finally popped a quick peck on your lips.

‘What was that’ you giggled

‘A kiss’ he winked, feeling the pressure evaporate off the pair of you almost immediately. ‘Always leave them wanting more’ he teased, squeezing your hips once before pulling away from you. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine. Sorry I guess I feel a little out of place’

‘Well don’t, you’ve got as much right to be here as everyone else’

‘It just doesn’t feel like it right now I guess’

‘‘Well you’ve got time to settle your debts’ he winked, a coy smile on his face as he squeezed your arm reassuringly. ‘You ready to go up?’

‘I guess so’ you huffed, following him up to meet everyone else to discuss what to do for the rest of the day. As the pair of you were the last ones up you were told you had to go and do the food shop with Woody and Kayla whilst the others sorted everything out at the villa.

You should've known it was a bad idea as soon as you started shopping. Mason never taking his hands from your body as you gathered everything from your list and it was safe to say he was driving you wild. He always seemed to have to get something from next to where you were, moving you to the side with his hand on the small of your back or reaching around you with his lips on your neck.

Thankfully Woody and Kayla were so wrapped up in themselves they didn’t seem to care what the pair of you were up to and as they rounded the corner to the next aisle towards the end of your trip you felt Mason pull you back and press you up against the glass door of the freezer. You would have been shocked but the heavy kiss he planted on you made you forget about everything else for the moment.

‘Mase, we’ll get caught’ you whispered, lips brushing against his as you spoke but he just smiled and kissed you again.

‘Sorry, that last kiss wasn’t enough for me earlier. I need a little more’ he winked and you couldn't help but smile. Truth be told you needed a little more too so you let him get away with it.

‘Well you’ve got it, let’s go’ you giggled, sliding out from under his grasp before walking him round to Kayla and Woody who we’re starting to load it all up at the till.

‘We’re just doing somewhere local for dinner, you okay with that guys?’ Lauren asked when you all got back, letting you slip off to go and get changed into something a bit nicer before meeting everyone to leave.

Mason stayed at the back of the group as you walked to dinner, talking with Woody and Kayla and you stuck with Carly so she could let you know the plan for tomorrow. Apparently it was a pool day for the most part but they’d booked a table at a club in the evening and you already began planning your outfit in your head.

‘This seat taken?’ Mason asked, holding the back of the chair next to you as you all began to take your seat around the circular table once inside.

‘No, it’s yours if you want it’ you smiled up at him, secretly thankful that he’d be sat next to you as Carly was on the other side of you next to Ben and you knew they’d spend their time all over each other.

Mason spent most of the night with his arm casually slung around your chair and whilst it meant and looked like nothing to everyone else, you felt yourself turn shy at the small gesture. He picked up on it too, eventually pulling his hand away to place on your knee discreetly but that just made you feel even more shy so after a quick squeeze he kept his hands to himself.

‘I can’t wait to get back to the villa and get to bed, it’s been such a long day’ Lauren yawned, falling into Decs body so he could give her a little cuddle and you watched on with slight envy as the other girls got loved on by their boyfriends. Your eyes falling to the table as you played with your fingers and you wished you had someone to show you a bit of affection however it was too risky to look to Mason for that right now.

He was your friend, nothing more than that and there was no way he should be acting like the other boys were with their girls but you so wished he would.

You thought maybe he sensed it too, sneaking a glance up to him and he was already looking at you with sympathetic eyes before he sent you a wink. Letting you know that once you were back you could have him all to yourself.

You were silent on the walk back, you and Mason falling behind as the others walked hand in hand with their partners but the sudden feeling of Masons arm around your shoulder as he pulled you into his side made you smile.

‘You alright there muffin?’

‘I’m alright Mase’ you sighed, resting your head on his shoulder but he just squeezed you a little more.

‘Promise?’

‘Of course’

‘You tired or do you wanna hang out for a bit when we get back?’

‘We can hang out for a bit’ you nodded, knowing exactly what he meant and even though you were nervous to say the least, you didn’t want to be on your own for now.

Everyone was off to bed as soon as you got back and once you and Mason had made it down the stairs he nodded into his room and you followed without a word. Watching him climb into bed and hold his arms out for you and you let yourself melt into his body.

‘What’s wrong, Muffin?’ He asked gently. ‘You know we don’t have to do anything-‘

‘It’s not that’ you laughed. ‘I dont know, I guess I didn’t realise how different it would be going away with three couples when you’re single’

‘I get that’ he breathed, kissing the top of your head. ‘They’re all over each other aren't they? sometimes I just wanna tell them to let each other breathe’ he chuckled. ‘Don’t feel bad though, you’re mine this week okay? and I take care of what belongs to me’

‘Yeah yeah’ you laughed, rolling your eyes but you couldn’t deny it felt nice to be referred to as his.

‘I’m serious. And I’m also serious about us not doing anything unless you want to’

‘I do want to I just…’

‘What?’ He pressed gently, lips on your head as he spoke and you nestled into him further before speaking.

‘I’m just a little nervous’ you whispered. ‘I know we’ve had sex before but we were drunk and practically fully clothed. What if you don’t like-‘

‘I’m gonna stop you right there’ he laughed. ‘Sit up for me’ he told you, sitting up himself before plonking himself down opposite you.

You weren’t sure what was happening but when he reached for the neck of his top and pulled it off you weren’t sure where to look.

‘What are you doing?’ You asked, looking up into his face and the gentle smile on his face melted you.

‘Your turn’ he told you, head nodding to the off the shoulder crop top you had on and you thanked your lucky stars you’d changed into your strapless bra earlier so you weren’t bare chested straight away.

As soon as it was off, his eyes were looking over you hungrily as he bit his lip hard. His reaction boosting your ego slightly before he stood up and pulled you with him so he could unbutton his trousers and take them off. You’d seen him in shorts before but looking at him in his fancy green boxers was a whole other story and you felt your mouth go dry.

You didn’t wait for his instruction this time, slipping your thumbs into the waistband of your trousers and you pushed them over your hips before stepping out of them.

‘C’mere’ he whispered, holding his hand out for you to take and you let him pull you into his body. His warm skin touching yours for the first time and you were surprised about how smooth it felt under your fingers. Gripping his strong shoulders as he wrapped his arms around your waist before he lent down to kiss you.

He was taking his time, slowly brushing his lips against yours as his hands travelled down to your bum. Gripping it gently as he began to knead it and you felt your knees go weak from his touches.

You wanted to feel more of him though, feel his skin against yours so you reached behind your back to unclasp your bra before throwing it to the side and the feeling of his warm chest pressed against yours made you both sigh into each other's mouths. He was turning you on in a way you don’t think anyone ever had so when he turned you both a little and gently pushed you off and onto his bed you went with it and fell back gently.

You could tell he was happy with what he was seeing, his eyes raking over your chest as his bottom lip got trapped in between his teeth but he wanted you further up the bed. Nodding his head to encourage you to move up and into the centre before he knelt in between your legs.

‘I’ve got an idea’ he told you, hands gripping your thighs gently before giving them a little squeeze and you felt your heart thud in anticipation. ‘You still nervous?’

‘A bit, yeah’

‘Maybe we should do something to ease it then, yeah?’

‘What do you have in mind?’

‘Well, I was thinking. Why don’t you show me what you like’ he asked, eyes slowly trailing over your body before looking back into your eyes. ‘And I’ll show you how I like it’

You felt your cheeks flush immediately, wondering if he was really suggesting what you thought he might have been but when he brushed his fingers over the bulge in his boxers your suspicions were confirmed.

‘Oh, I don’t know mase’

‘I know it seems scary, but once we get going you’ll be fine’ he reassured, leaning over to place a soft kiss to your lips. ‘And I promise I’ll take good care of you after yeah?’ He spoke against your lips.

You felt yourself nodding, agreeing to his plans before you’d even really thought about it and when he reached for your underwear, you lifted your hips and let him pull them from your legs. Thinking if you could just get through this part then he’d give you what you wanted and the satisfied groan that fell from his lips as he finally caught sight of you fully undressed made you shiver. The sound travelling straight in your ears and down your spine to your core.

‘You want me to go first?’ He asked, sounding almost breathless as he continued to touch himself over his boxers so you nodded to let him know he was good to go, hoping seeing him playing with himself would give you the boost you needed.

You kept your eyes on his until he hooked his thumbs under his boxers and pushed them down. Watching his hard length spring free and slap his tummy gently and you couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.

Yes you’d felt him before but you never really got to see him. And he was big. Intimidatingly so and when he took himself into his hand and started to pump himself you almost lost it.

It’s like you were in a trance, your eyes watching his hand go up and down, drinking in the noises he was making before his free hand reached for yours in an attempt to position it where you’d follow suit and even though your cheeks were burning you went with it. Shutting your eyes as your fingers brushed over where you needed some relief.

The moans pouring from your lips only appeared to be spurring him on, eyes never leaving where your fingers were so he could memorise the way you touched yourself for later but soon enough it all became too much for him. Slowly tearing your hand away so he could line himself with your entrance and once a whimper had fallen from your lips he was gently pushing his way in.

‘Fuck’ he stuttered, closing his eyes as he moved his hips, picking his pace up almost straight away like he couldn’t contain himself and you relaxed into the sheets as he laid his body on yours. Face nuzzled in your neck as you wrapped your arms around him but it was almost as if it was over before it started. Mason moving his body up before removing himself from you and taking himself back into his hand so he could release himself over your tummy.

‘Shit shit shit’ he spat, his breathing heavy as he looked at what he’d done but you couldn’t catch his eyes to make him talk to you.

‘Mase?’ You asked, looking up to his blood red face that was full of embarrassment and when his eyes finally met yours you felt your tummy drop. He looked humiliated and scared, like you’d were about to throw him out for cumming too quickly but that was the last thing on your mind.

‘fuck I’m so sorry I couldn’t hold it’

‘Mase it’s fine-’

‘No it’s not, Jesus Christ’ he interrupted, his hand scratching the back of his neck. ‘You can tell it’s been a while huh’ he laughed awkwardly, grabbing his shirt so he could clean you up a bit. ‘There you were worrying I wouldn’t like what I saw, you’re too attractive clearly. My dick can’t take it’

‘What about last time’ you laughed, referring to your little escapade on Ben’s sink and whilst it wasn’t the longest time you’d ever gone it wasn’t as short as this.

‘I had whisky dick last time. Normally I can’t even get it up when I’ve had that much to drink so the fact I fucked you is actually pretty impressive I’ll have you know’ he laughed shyly before slipping down next to you. ‘Look just lay back so I can finish you off yeah?’

‘You don’t have to’

‘Well I do. Won’t leave any of my customers unsafisfied with my service’ he winked, a strange feeling settling in your tummy at his words but in the end you just laughed him off.

‘Mase that’s gross’ you told him but you were soon silenced as he pressed his lips to yours whilst hooking his leg around yours to keep them apart before plunging his fingers into you with no prior warning.

You thought he might try and get you to your high quickly so you could leave after what he’d done but if anything he was taking his time. Slowly pulsing his fingers inside of you as he stared straight into your eyes and the change in pace made you dizzy.

‘Mase, p-please’ you stuttered, grinding your hips down onto his hand in hopes you’d feel the friction a bit more but the teasing smile on his lips made you shiver.

‘What is it, muffin?’

‘Faster please’

‘Oh I don’t think so’ he whispered, leaning down so he could place a kiss on your lips ‘remember last time? I said I wanted to take my time with you but we couldn’t. So I’m gonna take my time with you now okay?’

‘Okay’ you nodded, knowing he’d get his own way anyway so you let him have you as he wanted. Moving himself in between your legs so he could rest his forehead on yours but the eye contact was proving too intense for you, not to mention it was against the rules, so you shut your eyes just before you felt him kiss you again.

‘You think I can have a taste?’ He asked, lips dancing across your cheek as you nodded, your legs shaking in anticipation as he kissed his way down your body. Seemily wanting to cover every inch of your skin with his lips all whilst his fingers still worked away inside of you but soon enough he was where you needed him. Kissing all over your thighs until you couldn’t take it anymore so you gently threaded your fingers through his hair so you could move him. Feeling him chuckling against you before the warmth of his tongue finally made contact with your clit.

‘Fuck Mase’ you shuddered, fingers gripping his hair even harder so you could ride his tongue. Thinking you may be pushing it a bit far but the way his free hand was roaming your skin let you know he was enjoying it just as much. Touching as squeezing every part of you he pleased and the warmth of his hand made it all feel more intense.

You reached your high soon after, arching your back off the bed as he rode you through it before you slumped back down. Chest heaving as you came back to reality but Mason settling himself next to you made you smile.

‘I’m sorry about earlier, hopefully that made up for it’ he laughed, pressing a kiss to your forehead and making you chuckle.

‘I guess we can call it even now’

‘Do you think you might have another one for me?’ He asked seductively, lips by your ear before he kissed your neck. ‘I think I might have enjoyed eating you out a little too much’ he told you. Taking your hand so you could feel him again and to your surprise he was as hard as a rock.

‘I think I might, yeah’ you winked, lips reaching up to his so you could kiss him again as you both got lost in each other once more.

y/n

liked by masonmount, okaylaaa, decalnrice and others

y/n out of office activated ✅

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masonmount plane pals 🤜🏻🤛🏻

y/n thank you for keeping me sane 😊

carlywlms_ I still can’t believe you’re here 🥹

y/n believe it baby 🤭

laurenfryer_ THE GANGS ALL BACK TOGETHER

y/n LET THE FUN BEGIN 🤪

declanrice Mason is such a baby

y/n are just jealous you couldn’t hold his hand like normal?

decalnrice 🤐

__nads have the best time 🩷 i promise to look after your baby with my life 🧁

y/n thank you 🥰 just call me if you need me!

__nads girl relax I got this 😉

lukeshaw23 thanks for the invite

masonmount I’ll bring you back something nice 😏

declanrice 😘

woody_ hope Mason didn’t hurt your hand 😭 could hear you squealing from three rows away

masonmount yes cause I was the one that caused it 🙄

y/n sorry Mase ☹️

Tagged: @footiehoemcfc @prideofpd @yoursselo @chelseachilly @willow-writer-ivy @mm-vii @katharinanadiaa @mmountseb @carlottawllms @saltyheartnightmare @masonmtxo @harvestmount @chillymountsjess @treblebluesblog @pulisicsgirl @bluesswift @feelinglikeineedlotsofnaps

273 notes · View notes

jupitercomet · 1 year

Note

Ok but why do I feel like toots is super independent the whole day and when she’s around her other friends and has always had the “I can take care of myself” attitude. But the second Bradley steps in front of her she kind of wants him to take over everything and loves when he’s protective? It reminds me of the tik toks where the girlfriends do everything from A-Z by themselves the whole day and as soon as the boyfriend comes home they’re like can you open this jar pls?

was this a blurb request? probably not, but I wrote one anyway because it is literally the cutest thing ever

warnings: language, that's it I think

Ryan had a plan, a three step method to get you to go on a date with him. Honestly his intention was not to find a girlfriend when he started volunteering at the shelter, but the pretty girl with bright smiles who kindly showed him around on his first day was too perfect to ignore. It was difficult to talk to you though, it was really only possible when you both happened to be volunteering at the same time, so Ryan had to use his time wisely. Hence the three step plan.

Step one: find excuses to be near you

“Do you need help with that?”

Ryan hastily makes his way over to you when he notices the large bag of kibble you’re lifting by yourself. He’s already planning out how much conversation he can fit into a trip to the back and what jokes he should tell you to get you to laugh, when you smile kindly at him.

“It’s alright,” you assure him. “I’ve got it. But thank you.”

Ryan’s sure he looks surprised, his eyes trailing down to the large bag of dog food you’re carrying. “Are you sure? Looks heavy.”

“I’m okay. I think James could use some help though.” With your head, you gesture to the other man who’s juggling a various assortment of dog toys.

Ryan can hardly react before you’re pivoting on your heel and continuing to lug the kibble bag into the back. With a sigh, he turns around, a defeated expression on his face as he picks up a few of the toys James had dropped.

The other man laughs. “Don’t even try it, man. She’s as independent as they come.”

“What do you mean?” Ryan asks as he grabs a kong.

“She never asks for help from anybody,” James looks at him dramatically. “Ever. You’re not the first guy to try the Prince Charming act on her. It does not work.”

Okay, you were independent, Ryan could get that. He liked it even. He’d just have to move on to the next step.

Step two: do something unrelated to work to get you to notice him

“Hey,” Ryan lets out a nervous breath, his hands clammy against the bright pink box he’s holding as he approaches you. “I, um, I brought doughnuts… since it’s, uh, Friday.”

Despite the awkward preamble, you light up, smiling a big toothy grin that makes Ryan’s heart stutter.

“That’s really nice of you, Ryan. We should let the others know, they’ll be super excited.”

Ryan scratches the back of his neck with a laugh. “Yeah, I was thinking, um, maybe you wanted the first—”

“Guys!” You call out to the other volunteers to get their attention. “Guess what, Ryan brought doughnuts!”

Ryan watches helplessly as everyone lines up in front of him to grab a doughnut. And, to his sheer horror, by the time the line reaches its end and you’re standing in front of him, there is only one doughnut left.

You shrug good-naturedly at the dilemma. “You should have it, Ryan. I mean, you brought them so you definitely deserve it. I'm just glad everybody else got one.”

When Ryan looks, James is laughing, mouth wrapped around a jelly-filled doughnut.

Step three: fuck all of that and just muster up the courage to ask you out

“You came!”

Ryan freezes at the sound of your excited squeal. He’d been waiting for you to come out of your office, somewhat hidden between the refurbishments of the front entrance of the shelter. He didn’t even have the chance to reveal himself before you were jumping into the arms of a very tall, very big man.

The man catches you effortlessly, supporting you with one arm as you cup his cheeks, excitedly squeezing them together. “You texted me 12 times, toots.” He says through squished lips.

“Well, yeah,” you kiss his nose. “I missed you.”

The man hums, setting you back down, but keeps his hand on your back. His other hand reveals the white bag of takeout he’s been holding. “I brought shawarma.”

“You did? You’re the best!” You tackle him with another hug, though the man hardly moves. You’re smiling brighter than Ryan’s ever seen you smile before.

“You ready to go?”

“Almost.” Unwrapping your arms from the man’s waist, you gesture to three bags of kibble stacked near a door. “I just have to get those moved into the back. But it should only take a second.”

The man eyes the bags, then you, and sets down your takeout. “You’re not carrying those, toots. They’re too big for you.”

And of course, Ryan expects you to refute this. Because, for whatever reason, you don’t accept help from anyone. Because you’re as independent as they come. Because you won’t even accept a doughnut. Instead, you hold one of his hands as the man picks up all three bags of kibble with the other.

(Which Ryan is 100% not intimidated by. He could do that too, if he wanted to… He just doesn’t want to. But he’s not scared of this literal orc you’re animatedly talking to as you swing your interlocked hands.)

“Well, I’ll be damned.” A sudden laugh makes Ryan jump and he whips around to see James looking at you and the man with a light laugh. “That’s a plot twist we didn’t see coming, huh?”

Ryan decides to ditch step three and just let you leave with your big, scary boyfriend and a bag of shawarma.

“That guy in there has a crush on you,” Bradley says as you walk to his car.

“What?” You look up at him in alarmed confusion. “Which guy? No one has a crush on me.”

Bradley grunts. “Tell that to the dude who was watching us like a little perv.”

“Bradley!”

Bradley ignores your scolding, letting go of your hand when you reach the car. “Put the food in the back... please.”

He unlocks the Bronco and you put the bag of food on the backseat, before hopping into the passenger side. You get situated in the seat and look at Bradley expectantly.

“I feel like buckling your own seat belt is something you could do yourself.” Regardless, Bradley is grabbing the belt from where it’s hanging inside the car.

“But I like the way you do it.”

“Yeah? And how do I do it?” The belt clicks into place and Bradley checks that it’s smooth against your chest and lap, before pressing a kiss to your forehead.

You grin. “Like that.”

Bradley closes your door, making his way around the back of the car and into the driver’s side. It isn’t until many minutes later, after you’ve sung along to a few songs on the radio, that you remember your original conversation.

“Do you really think someone at the shelter has a crush on me?” You turn to Bradley nervously. “What do I do?”

Bradley lets out a breath of air through his nose. “Toots, you were jumping all over me like a fuckin’ monkey. I’m thinking he got the message.”

He’d also, most certainly, picked up three bags of kibble at once for a reason, but Bradley wasn’t going to tell you that part.

#bradley bradshaw blurb #bradley bradshaw x toots #monsters in the dark #under the hard deck #buggy's got a pen

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gooeyringtown · 6 months

Text

summer romance au headcanons

((inspired entirely by the song “striptease” by carwash))

*slight nsfw warning*

i like to think this all comes about by gloria winning another cruise at sasha’s school raffle

(but she and her husband are divorced now, and she finally has enough vacation days at work, so she can go!!)

sasha will be staying with her dad in the meantime

the cruise is going to the Caribbean and gloria will be gone for roughly a month

she’s a little hesitant at first because she’s not sure if she feels comfortable being apart from sasha for so long, especially since the divorce is rather fresh, but eventually she’s persuaded. more than anything sasha expresses that she’ll be fine and her mom should go for it. with the green light from her daughter, gloria feels a lot better about it. she really does deserve it, after all

it’s a little lonesome at first… the service isn’t always great, and the feeling of being disconnected and alienated is a little jarring for gloria

it gets better though

they dock at a beach village in the caribbean where they’re scheduled to stay until the end of the cruise

one beautiful tropical morning (they all are, honestly), gloria sits on the beach reading a book

and barbie tentatively approaches her, and asks if it’s ok if she sits there too, because it’s the only spot on the beach with shade, and barbie is already sporting a slight sunburn that she doesn’t wanna make worse

and gloria of course says yes

through small talk, they dissolve into an actual conversation

they are both from california. gloria from LA, and barbie from the bay area. she is not part of the cruise like gloria, though. instead, her parents own one of the resort’s restaurants and barbie more often than not spends her summers there, helping out

barbie is really sweet and tells gloria she should stop by the restaurant sometime

(she promises she won’t get offended if gloria doesn’t like the food, which makes gloria laugh)

then she has to leave, but she really hopes to see gloria again

she does, because gloria goes to the restaurant a few days later, for lunch

barbie spots her as she walks in and is immediately beaming

(and maybe gloria showed up because she’s had that smile stuck in her head ever since seeing it for the first time)

the food is actually really really good, which isnt even the point but still

barbie sits down with gloria while she has her meal and the two talk again. it feels so nice and so natural. so easy.

gloria is the most captivating person barbie has ever met. she has this ambition and this fire about her, while also being sophisticated yet very down to earth, and wow

barbie, in turn, is so sweet and easy to talk to and get along with. she has this air about her that is soothing and calming. it’s so hard for gloria to imagine ever feeling anything negative around her

barbie offers to show gloria more around the village sometime if she’d like

(gloria would very much like)

so the next day they meet up and barbie gives gloria a day tour of the village. they visit all these little shops like fudge ones and tea ones and farmers markets and souvenir shops

gloria uses this as an opportunity to get sasha a postcard that she can mail to her later

(barbie ends up infiltrating on the postcard. where gloria signs “love, mom” barbie adds in her pink pen “+ barbie! <3”)

they get these small matching keychains of their first name initials because they think they’re so cute

they end their day by having dinner at barbie’s restaurant on one of the private patios overlooking the ocean and drinking wine

barbie offers to walk gloria back to the cruise ship which gloria happily accepts

(and maybe barbie has to keep her hands in her pockets the whole entire time to have self control because gloria looks so unbelievably beautiful right now)

they get back to the ship and barbie is a whole mess talking about how wonderful today was. but she’s still somehow able to stumble out the words “will you go out on a date with me”

gloria says yes

(actually she has the biggest smile on her face and she leans up to kiss barbie’s cheek first and then she says yes)

barbie is dazed the entire walk home

and gloria tries her best to go to sleep, but she’s smushing her face into her pillow to hide the smile on her face that just won’t go away

the next evening barbie “picks” gloria up at the cruise ship, and she has a bouquet of flowers and looks so extra sweet and nervous, and gloria melts

her blue eyes are so sparkly and tender when she sees gloria, and she’s breathless at the sight of her

gloria’s stomach flutters, because barbie looks so pretty… and because barbie looks at her the way gloria has always dreamed of being looked at

they go on their date—barbie has pulled some strings with some people in the village and has arranged a moonlight picnic with fresh berries and warm chocolate

and after, they have the town bookshop all to themselves to browse

they pick out books for each other<33

at the end of the night barbie walks gloria back to the ship again

and this time they kiss

and thus begins their relationship

they spend the next few days and weeks with each other. swimming in the ocean and sitting on the sand, having wine on the restaurant patio, drinking sweet, tropical cocktails and eating delicious food. they trade the books they picked out for one another and read them, annotating the pages and leaving little notes for when they switch back and the other person reads it. they also trade keychains so barbie has the G one and gloria has the B one

the cruise has an event one night on the beach with an extravagant dinner and a fireworks show and they dance all night, as well as at the end, slowly, to this one song

and the cruise is coming to an end soon, and gloria will have to to leave

the night of the big event, they are in a private villa for the night, making out on the bed with barbie sitting on the edge and gloria straddling her, and there’s only the light of the moon, and barbie can’t stop thinking about gloria leaving, so she pulls away

she feels spontaneous, and unwilling to let this go. it is like a young love: reckless and unfazed by the consequences. she tells gloria to please stay. they can go to the bay area for a few days, to barbie’s house, and then barbie will drive gloria back home to LA

at first gloria only shushes her, puts her finger on barbie’s lips and wants to keep kissing her. because they’ve talked about this. there are so many things. it has not even been that long since her divorce, and what will sasha think? she is still struggling with her parents’ separation. and what about their jobs? they can’t just relocate overnight.

but barbie keeps asking. she is practically begging. and she looks so hopeful. so pleading. her hands are on gloria’s hips, over her flowy dress

and maybe gloria is drunk off this feeling. off barbie, and so she kisses her again, softer this time. more patiently

and whispers “okay” against her lips

and FINE i’ll give the titular satisfaction. gloria nudges barbie back on the bed and

“lie back for me. just relax and watch me.” whispered in barbie’s ear

and so gloria does a little striptease for her

barbie watches, eyes shiny and dazed, and her heart is like a drum inside her chest, and she’s completely enraptured, breathless and all she can think is oh my

the night seems to last forever then. they have sex and it’s warm and wet and the most sensual thing in the world, gloria thinks. she is molded to barbie’s hands, to her touch, to her mouth. they are both a mess that doesn’t stop. barbie’s soft cries of pleasure—here in the middle of the hot, humid caribbean island with sweet rum and blue water everywhere—make gloria’s heart race. and barbie’s cheeks flush and her neck arches when gloria hits this one spot inside her, and it’s addicting

gloria thinks this could be the christening of their newfound life together or something, if life was easy

but a few hours later, when she checks the time on her phone, her lockscreen with sasha in the picture stares back at her

and the answer is clear, isnt it?

when barbie wakes up, gloria is not there

and fuck it’s already almost noon

and she has this horrible feeling in her stomach

and she throws on her crewneck—which smells like gloria because she has spent all these weeks wearing it—and some shorts, running outside only to see-

that the cruise ship is now gone

but… maybe gloria is still around… maybe she is somewhere around the island, and will come back, right? she said yes to barbie after all

barbie picks up the book with all of gloria’s little notes inside

and when she opens it up she sees there’s another one, in a different-colored ink, which means it was made later, and it says–

“I’m sorry.”

and barbie crumbles

and you always like to think love is enough. the prevailing force that drives everything to an end, to completion, and that you’ll find your way back to each other. don’t you?

but a lot of the times… is it really? and will you ever?

gloria gets back home. and a few days later, sasha makes a comment. in passing, really. super offhanded. she points to the postcard on the fridge, and says

“who’s barbie?”

it’s innocent, but gloria has not stopped thinking about her. this whole time. she probably will not, ever, she thinks

“oh.” she responds, and the B letter keychain sits heavy in her pocket, like it’s burning a hole right through her.

“a friend.” one day she will have to pick up the book barbie annotated for her. she will have to admit barbie was so real for her

“she was just a friend.”

why did this turn out so much more sad than i thought…

i was thinking of making a pt 2 though 👀 should i?

ps i have a whole playlist for this au if anyone is interested or wants to hear it!! lmk or message me 🩷

#barbie 2023 #barbie #glorbie #gloria x barbie #barbie x gloria #barbie headcanons #barbiegloria #glorbie headcanons #margot robbie #america ferrera

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pinkandpurple360 · 2 months

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Honestly I feel like the show should have leaned more into Blitz and Fizz's reconnection and just slipped Stolas entirely. Like, if you wanted Stolitz drama, there it is. If you wanted some kind of tension, it pretty much writes itself. Instead of sending the crystal to Stolas, Fizz has it sent straight to Blitz. Blitz returns the book to Stolas who is super confused and actually kinda petty about it. Blitz and him have their huge falling out where Blitz finally has the leverage to say "Whatever you thought we had 25 years ago was a delusion you came up with. I had a best friend and it wasn't ever you. The only reason I even slept with you was because I had no one else. And even though I hated the fact that my worth to you was just my dick, it was still more value than I had for myself."

And Stolas realizes his whole fabricated slutty love story was all his own belief and, yes, he absolutely threw away his reputation and daughter over an imp. But he's not necessarily jarred that he's realized that Blitz is an imp, he knew that. But realizing Blitz only ever saw himself as "an imp" and that there never was any sort of equality in the dynamic. And Stolas never really made room for Blitz either.

It would have been so easy to close the book on the stolas story, fizz is already more likeable, popular, and with a far more deep layered story with the main character than this disconnected owl is. Fizz is connected to not only his romantic past but his friendship, his family, and an enemy as well? And he’s connected to major adversaries (Ozzies - Verosika - Tex - Loona - Bee - back to Asmodeus) Holy shit it’d be easy for him to connect to the 4 with these social connections. Stolas has none. Just being a yandere over Blitzøs junk.

Viv honestly thinks stolas’ arranged marriage deserves more screen time and sympathy than the very thing responsible for the scars on the main characters face that he has always had and will always have to live with. She thinks stolas’ arranged marriage is more tragic than the circus fire. But it’s just not.

Also to add more to what you said

— what tipped Blitzø over was that stolas said he was his first ever friend**

— he did it out of pity, not attraction

— he only consented to one night. Stolas violated that by creating a monthly contract under duress. Even if he stole from him, that response doesn’t make any sense. And not to mention, it feels like a punishment.

If this is Blitzøs story, as it claims to be, and not the stolas show, Blitzø MnM and Loona are protagonists. The only character who functions as an antagonist is stolas, he’s not a hero. And he’s trying to take away Moxxie and Fizz’s roles in the story as the slightly meek counterpart he has a back and forth with at work, and his childhood friend with untold feelings tension and shared traumas.

#helluva boss critical #stolitz critical

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airplanned · 9 months

Text

Castletown Academy 4

Link and Flora see the little guest house they’ll be living in.

8,000% fluff. More drama tomorrow.

---

Ralphie had pulled up a little stool to the front window, and, with his hands pressed between his knees, waited for Flora and Link to arrive. He was still there when Zelda returned after changing out of her work clothes, so she brought him outside where they sat on the porch steps with a bubble wand and a jar of bubble liquid.

In a way it was good that Ralphie was nervous-excited, because that forced Zelda to be calm, to be an example for him. Otherwise, she'd be bouncing on her heels and peeking out the same window where he'd been camped. She forced herself to sit and blow bubbles and feel the wind on her face instead of tidying the front porch, which could honestly use another sweep. Ralphie's bike was out. Should she put it in the garage?

When the blue car pulled up into the driveway, Ralphie become very still, and Zelda calmly screwed the cap back onto the bubble liquid, tucking it away on the side of the steps.

Link's car was an older model, but by no means falling apart. It looked freshly washed, as if he was trying to make good impression, which made her stomach sink a bit. She hoped he didn't feel embarrassed. She hoped she hadn't caused him to feel embarrassed.

Oh, Goddess, what would he think of the house?

It was a large house. There was no denying that. But she thought it had character that set it apart from the other houses in the neighborhood. And if the house didn't set it apart, the yard certainly did. The house was warm brick, with flowers spilling out of beds and stepping stones leading to the front porch. Above, more than one balcony spilled even more flowers. Wind chimes hung from the eaves. When Zelda looked at it, she saw a cute cottage. She wondered what other people saw when they looked at it. Hopefully it was welcoming enough to set Link at ease, but she suddenly had a feeling that he would find it too messy.

The second the car engine turned off, Flora scrambled out of the car shouting, "Ralphie!"

A smile tugged at her son's lips even as he ducked his head lower towards his knees.

"Stand up and say hi," Zelda urged, rubbing his back.

Flora's hair was in French braid pig tails today. Zelda would bet they'd looked very cute and neat this morning, but by now, a whole section by her temple was coming loose. "This is your house? Is it a pollinator garden?"

"It is," Zelda said.

"That's so cool! I like your wind chimes. How many do you have?"

"I'm not sure," Ralphie signed.

"Let's count," she announced. "We can count and find our favorite."

"That one's my favorite," he said--out loud--pointing to a wooden one nearby.

Flora inspected it, then nodded. "That's a good one. We'll call that number one."

Then they trotted down the porch to count the rest.

Zelda stared after them, and it took her a moment to shake herself and turn to Link, who was looking up at the sky blue paint on the underside of the porch roof.

"Hi," she said.

He lowered his eyes to her and smiled. A large part of her relaxed. "Hi."

"Um. So. This is me." She waved a hand at the house behind her.

"It's close to what I pictured."

"You...you pictured this?"

He shifted his weight and rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes caught now on some of the stained glass that came in a kit for kids that Ralphie had made and now hung in the bay window by the front door. "Actually, at first I was expecting--You know those mansions they have on TV? Everything's white and neat and...corporate? Sorry, that's rude."

"No, I deserve that."

A teasing light sparked in his eyes. "With your bribe to donate an auditorium?"

She threw her hands in the air, "I was at my wit's end!"

He laughed. "That's obvious."

"But..." She darted a look at the house, again trying and failing to see it through his eyes. "Then what made you picture this?"

"Your packet."

"My pack--you read that!?"

"Of course I read it."

She couldn't stop a flush from rising in her cheeks. What had she been thinking writing all that down? And he'd actually read it? And read it so promptly? How utterly embarrassing.

So she started babbling. "I started putting in the pollinator garden about three years ago, so I still have a lot of work to do on it still. Oh! Let--let me show you the guest house. Around here. Kids! There's a path around the side, so you don't have to come in the main house. Although, you can also go through the garage if you feel more comfortable. I don't know what--There it is!"

The backyard was more of the same--too many flower beds, but this time also with to many bird feeders. The guest house sat back on the lot, red brick like the main house, but less intricate because of its simple size or lack of decorations. The inside was bare in a way that made her itchy. Neat, he'd said. Corporate. But surely Link would fill it with his own things and create his own home. Two bedrooms, a bathroom with a washer/dryer snuck in a closet, a kitchen, and an open living room/dinning room. She showed him everything, and he nodded without saying much until they arrived at Flora's room.

"The terrarium can go here. This window faces..."

"East."

"...East. That will be good for the jade plant. But what about the peace lily?"

Link said, "It can go in the living room. There are north facing windows there. And we're allowed to paint." He shot a quick glance at Zelda to make sure that was correct. "So if you wanted to--"

"WE CAN PAINT STARS ON THE CEILING?!"

Her squeal was so piercing that Ralphie scurried back a step, which was probably for the best since Flora darted around the room like a ping-pong ball describing where every piece of her furniture would go to best view the ceiling.

Link signed at Ralphie, "She's excited. She'll calm down in a second." And with a deep breath, Ralphie relaxed.

Link spent some time in the kitchen checking the stove while Flora explained that she would have to pick a date and time to align the stars accordingly. For accuracy.

Link's fiddling with the stone complete, he propped his hands on the kitchen island that worked to separate the kitchen from the rest of the living room/dinning room. "Well, what do you think, kid? You like it?"

"I love it!"

"Alright then." He opened up the folder he'd been carrying around, and pulled out some paperwork, marked with little sticky notes. She quickly recognized it as the lease. The sticky noes were the many places he had to sign.

"You're signing already?" Zelda asked. Shouldn't he think about this a bit? Sleep on it?

"Hudson looked it over. He says it's a pretty standard lease except for the complete lack of rent. I mean, he had other things to say, and he's still looking over the other stuff, but he said this one is good to go."

That night after they'd left, and Ralphie had gone to bed, Zelda poured herself a beverage and flipped open the folder containing Link's lease. She'd just meant to double check it and then file it away. But it was too thick. The lease was not this many pages.

She flipped through until she came to a cover page. Basic Information About Link and Flora.

#Zelda #my fic #Castletown Academy

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altschmerzes · 4 months

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THE 13 BOOKS I READ IN 2023 IN ORDER FROM BEST TO WORST + THE PROTAGONIST'S SUPERLATIVE. PART 2.

6. A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engel. a timeless classic that i love love love. meg is such a fun protagonist and i really enjoyed experiencing this as an adult again. the whole like… helpless devastated rage she feels when she realizes that adults can't just. fix everything? that sequence will always rattle me around like a mason jar fulla beans. she's such a like… man. the way the narrative was like. this isn't fair. it isn't right. it's happening anyway. i'm so sorry, but it's happening anyway. that really got me.

Protagonist: Meg Murry. Most Likely To Have A Profound And Life Altering Impact On Adolescent Weird Girls Who Read Her Book.

7. Whiskeyjack by Victoria Goddard. third book in the series, slightly less fun than the others but only very slightly. i cannot emphasize enough how difficult it was to rank like, 2-8. had some VERY fun stuff with like…. things you learn that then go back and recontextualize everything else. ended on a scene that made me fucking sob which is always a plus in my book. themes of FAMILY and LOYALTY and SACRIFICE. my fucking beloved. yes please. the pov character continues to have a horrible little time. also love that.

Protagonist: (again, series has dual protagonists, so switching back) Peregrine Dart. Most Likely To Be The Unwitting Conduit Of The Deus Ex Machina. Deus Ex Dart.

8. One By One by Ruth Ware. just a really good classic mystery thriller. i love a mystery thriller, and ruth ware seems to always hit for me. managed to pull off a pov switch between two pov characters one of whom had a massive, MASSIVE secret without it seeming completely nonsensical once revealed or relying on the pov character talking in deliberately obtuse or evasive ways that would be really tiresome and insulting if carried through. there was a set of tech bro startup characters that were obnoxious and infuriating in exactly the way that those people are in real life, so points for that for SURE even though i did wanna throttle them.

Protagonist: Erin (Lastname). Most Deserving Of A Tropical Vacation.

9. The Ritual by Adam Nevill. this is the most brutal book i have read in recent memory. possibly at all. this guy gets put all the way through the wringer physically and emotionally and it is visceral in the way it is described. the protagonist was a profoundly unpleasant person a lot of the time but this was deliberate and really engaging, honestly. there were some moments of stark self-reflection from him about the ways in which he did not like who he was and the things he did, and when he recognized how like. unfair and cruel he was being to the others in his head. wasn't as good as the movie, imo, but the changes that they made between the book and film made total sense given the sheer level of interiority in the book. and boy howdy how much interiority. whoof.

Protagonist: Luke. Most Surprising Survival.

10. I Am Not Who You Think I Am by Eric Rickstad. i think the most damning thing that can be said about this book is that i literally can't remember almost anything about it. it was compelling in some ways and there were a few very specific moments that i was really gripped by but most of it was like. a really flat letdown. it was interesting enough as a mystery that i finished it but i don't even really remember why, now.

Protagonist: Wayland Maynard. Most Forgettable Guy.

11. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. just. ugh. dystopia ya in a bad way. too complicated and not well established. dumbass colour coding system. it could've been so fun, i love traumatized teenagers with powers and an evil government in all sincerity but this just did not do anything good with it. it looked like it COULD have but it DIDN'T. the love interest character was a DICK. there was some weird gender takes that popped out of nowhere. jump-scared by gender. did enjoy watching the movie though because it was fucking insane and gave me a scene where the protagonist and the love interest shared a passionate embrace over what fully appeared to be the dead body of the love interest's theoretical best friend. amazing. no notes.

Protagonist: Ruby Daly. Most Likely To One Day Decide She's Tired Of Being Nice And She Does Want To Go Apeshit Actually.

12. Reputation by Sarah Vaughan. [VIDEODROME PRESCREEN AUDIENCE REVIEW WHERE THEY JSUT WROTE 'SUCKED' AND GOT SO UPSET ABOUT HOW BAD IT WAS THEY MARKED THE WRONG GENDER] this book was BAD. the writing was bad. the characters were bad and not on purpose. the politics of the book were uh. whoof. what if white girlboss feminism was a novel. points for some of the hardest i've laughed tho at Nice Dick Mike the journalist that the protagonist cannot respect after she sleeps with him and Lady Cop With Bangs, the traitor to womanhood.

Protagonist: Emma Webster. Most Likely To Submit An Extremely Long Post To Reddit Dot Com Slash Am I The Asshole That Leaves Out A Lot Of Like, Extremely Critical Information That When Uncovered All Makes Her Look Really Fucking Bad While She Seems To Still Think It Was Entirely Irrelevant And Honestly Unfair To Even Consider. Gd Forbid Women Do Anything.

UNCATEGORIZED: 21st Century Jocks: Sporting Men And Contemporary Heterosexuality by Eric Anderson. there was simply no way to rank this among the others, it was too completely different. they were all very different books but this was just. entirely different. had a wonderful time with it though!! gave me a lot to think about as someone who thinks a lot

thank you for joining me on this journey. i loved reading books again this year and would wholeheartedly recommend anything ranked 1-9 on this list, provided you like the genre/vibe.

#gav gab #book club with gav #long post

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ihopesocomic · 9 months

Note

I'm still so fucking confused about what Ghost's whole deal was. I like him because I think he looks cute, but nothing would change if he was erased from the show.

I honestly think him and Nothing would be a better couple (she was confirmed Bisexual). I know the bar regarding this is really low, but Ghost treated her better than most of the cast.

Let Farleap keep Hover, they deserve each other

Ghost seems to be a collection jar of souls so.... yeah, not really comfortable with the notion of them being with Nothing. Considering we have no idea if they're even alive or not lmao I know other lions can see them but that doesn't confirm anything in this series. Cansu is a goddess and can adopt a physical form via Rain, for example. But anyway, considering the LGBT+ aspect of this show is next to nonexistent for me to really care about defeating the object, I'd be all for Nothing ending up with Tangle. Or, hell: just make Tangle a lioness. There was also Golden who was her love interest in the original story and was slated to appear in the series. He could've been made into a lioness too. Other than that, I'm just on board with my ultimate Nothing ship: Nothing x a shitload of therapy. The core issue with Hover as a love interest is that 1) she wasn't Nothing's love interest in the original story and thus did not behave as such and hardly anything about that was tweaked and 2) she was hastily made Nothing's love interest at the last second after fans began to ship them once they saw the original trailer. - RJ

#ask #ask us stuff

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silentxxsoul · 2 years

Text

I am thinking soooo many thoughts

Drunk buds Hen and Buck are back ahhh!! Look at their cute little faces 🥰

((Buck saying clearly he wouldn’t have an issue while gesturing at himself pls help me I’m 💀))

I cannot believe the fandom nailed this one. Like full on nailed it and the dilemma.

Hen and Buck both drinking makes me wonder if when Buck came over for her perspective (bc of her and Karen’s past experience with the donor option), they also got to talk about her own dilemma of school v. paramedic. I’ve always loved the big sister/little brother thing they’ve had and I hope we get more of that tonight! Bucks always been so supportive of Hen and I hope we get to see her leaning on him for a bit, because that woman deserves a break for as hard as she’s been working herself for the last few seasons.

There’s just*so* many implications that can come from this story line. Hen nailing it with her line at the end because can he actually walk away? Buck who obsessed over Mitchel and Thomas, Red, the group from last episode, etc. etc.? The man who obsessively baby proofed Maddie and Chim’s apartment months before Jee was even born—to the point he locked their upper cabinets with baby locks? The same man who built a whole ass skateboard for Christopher after talking to Eddie one (1) time after the fall incident? That man isn’t really capable of being detached and with Hen’s line I don’t know how Buck goes through with it.

We don’t know if it’s a one time donation for one child or if they will attempt to have multiple embryos, meaning Buck may have to face the reality of fathering multiple children and being involved with none of them.

Buck wants a family of his own so badly that the idea of him having kids but not really having kids would eat away at him. The Buddie in me hopes that Buck goes to Eddie after Hen for his thoughts and perspective and we get a “you’re already a dad” moment. Because I will not survive that, even a little bit. I do think they will talk about it though, because there’s a zero percent chance Buck goes through something this massive without consulting his best friend.

Also, the possibility of Buck having to consider his family history with cancer before making a decision — like maybe he makes it to the paperwork portion and realizes in the screening what he could be passing on to a child, and has to reevaluate a few things in that moment. Or maybe he and Maddie talk (which, I really hope we see him talk to his sitter about this) and she brings up the potential health risk—something we saw her concerned about even after Jee was born and she had to take her to the hospital last season. What happens if he has to go back and break the news to his old friend and their partner that his family had a history of juvenile leukemia? That his brother passed from it and they (Buck or them or both) decide not to move forward? I think that could very well crush him, honestly — and not just for being a donor, but for having to consider future children and what he could pass along. It might jar him a little to consider that he really doesn’t know the full scope of his family medical history and if Daniel hadn’t come to light a few years ago he may have never known. Buck likes to fester, so I can see him ruminating on all the ‘what-ifs’ and that could further lead to the much speculated breakdown.

That small little scene had so much packed into it I just —

There’s so much more to unpack, mostly centered on how fucking phenomenal Hen really is. She always sees through the nonsense and can pick out exactly what is eating at a person—and here she knew exactly what Buck needed to hear. She’s such a rock for this show and I love, love, love her for it.

#911 spoilers #911 fox spoilers #911 fox #evan buckley #hen wilson #this scene has me deep deep deep in the feels #becuase the implications for buck are just 🤌🏻#but the idea of buck helping her out with her own crosswords is also just 🤌🏻#and we get back our tipsy duo and I can’t wait for the whole scene to play out #but honestly we need more of this chaos combo

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ace-of-zaun · 1 year

Text

The Wrong Place at the Wrong Time: Pt. 6

Silco x f!reader - SFW

6.4k words

CW: angst, fluff, threats, feelings, crack treated seriously, the author is an actual idiot, seriously someone take away my laptop this is getting out of hand

A/N: my sincerest apologies for the hiatus, my life may as well be called Vander with the way it’s trying to drown me…

Also, my sincerest apologies for how daft this chapter is… i honestly didn’t think it was possible to get any dafter but alas, here we are

-el x

Since that quiet night on the pier, where Silco had eased your worries and ensured you that he would always be there for you, things had been better than ever.

Finally back in the warmth of his office, the both of you nursing a hot drink to chase away the chills of the night, Silco had talked through what had happened to you when you’d passed out in the warehouse. And while he didn’t go into detail about your injuries, he’d reassured you that he wouldn’t give you shimmer again unless it was an emergency.

It was exactly the reassurance you needed.

Now, you were both back to work as normal and more importantly, back to sharing that playful banter with him that you’d come to love.

In public, Silco was as terrifying and stoic as ever, whilst you were the professional negotiator, both of you working tirelessly to bring Zaun ever closer to that independent status it deserved.

But behind closed doors, every moment felt like you were truly home.

And of course, the more time you spent with him, the more you got to know him. Like how he hated working in silence, but couldn’t work if there were words in the song he was listening to, or if people were talking close-by.

Or how he kept a jar of sweets in the bottom drawer of his desk that he always insists are for Jinx, but you’ve caught him chewing on them more than enough times for it to just be a coincidence.

Who knew the Eye of Zaun had such a sweet tooth?

Not to mention that the closer you got to Silco, the closer your relationship with Jinx became.

You cherished those increasingly regular evenings where the three of you would share a meal, talk about how your days had gone, and play games until Jinx fell asleep on your lap after spending most of the evening in a fit of giggles.

It really was starting to feel like the family you’d never had.

Much to Silco’s obvious annoyance, Jinx had also taken to responding to just about everything he said to her with your beloved phrase: ‘What’s that got to do with the price of eggs?’, which was, in your humble opinion, hilariously adorable.

In fact, she’s just asked it again in response to Silco’s genuine question of whether or not she’s studying for the chemistry test that her tutor had set for her.

Silco gives you an unimpressed glare from where he’s sitting behind his desk, his fingers steepled in exasperation, whilst you are leaning against the side of the mahogany furniture.

Jinx is very helpfully splayed across the top of the desk, somehow managing to crumple just about every piece of paper on it, in a most remarkable manner.

You refrain from blowing a cheeky kiss to Silco, instead choosing to grin mischievously at him, which only makes him scowl more.

“Whatever am I going to do with the pair of you?” Silco says, shaking his head at the ceiling, like he’s been saddled with the two most exasperating people in the whole of Zaun.

To be fair to him… he’s probably not wrong…

But only because he easily wins the role of Most Exasperating Person #3.

Your mouth opens as you instantly begin to respond with ‘Aw, you love us really’, but your eyes widen half-way through when you realise exactly what it is you’re saying, so instead it comes out as a rather awkward:

“Aw, you l-urrrrr…”

Trailing off into silence, your gaze snaps to Silco’s, hoping he hasn’t suddenly gained the power to read your mind.

Gods, that’d be just awful. Then he’d know just how often you think about his flat arse…

Silco immediately latches onto your hesitation and his brow twitches as he stares you down.

“I beg your pardon?” he asks.

“Um… nothing. Never mind.”

Your response is far too quick to be anything but a cover-up and his good eye narrows in full-blown suspicion.

For the first time since meeting him, you begin to see why everybody else squirms under his gaze as you’re treated to the Eye of Zaun Special™.

And you’d be lying if it wasn’t downright electrifying.

Your breath catches in your chest and your eyes widen.

It flicks a switch inside you, which you’re pretty sure is an activation of your fight or flight response and not for the reason everybody else might find when faced with Mr Intimidating.

Luckily for you, you’re not ‘everybody else’, which means you’re allowed to do the one thing he’d never allow another to do.

You choose flight.

Swiftly turning your attention to Jinx, who is also peering down at you curiously from atop the desk, you tap her on the arm lightly before making a dash for the door.

“Tag you’re it!” you yell over your shoulder, heaving the office door open as quickly as you can without slamming it against the wall.

Behind you, you hear Jinx squeal in delight and hastily scramble off the desk.

As you round the door and sprint down the hallway, you hear Silco call out an exasperated, “Jinx, be careful!” but you’re too far gone to see his expression.

You’re pretty sure he’ll already be lighting another cigar and rolling his eyes by now.

Bolting through your home from the young girl gleefully chasing you, you try to ignore all those wriggling thoughts about just why you’re running away from almost saying a ‘certain word’ to a ‘certain man’.

Perhaps it was your body’s way of keeping you from saying something that was far too early to be saying, or even thinking, for that matter…

Wasn’t it?

You quickly decide that it’s not petty at all to take your revenge on Silco for making you feel flustered for days on end.

Honestly, spending half a week tossing and turning because of feelings that a simple comment had brought up was nothing short of absurd.

How he managed to turn you to jelly with just a look was beyond your comprehension.

So, naturally, revenge was your only option.

Your method of vengeance? Teaching Jinx more ridiculous phrases to slowly drive him mad with, of course.

Quite frankly, he deserves it. Him and his stupid, gorgeous self. It’s his own fault for being so goddamn fine.

By a stroke of luck, it’s one of those rare times where you’re alone with Jinx in his office, whilst he and Sevika have gone to make the rounds in the numerous shimmer factories spread across the city. They’d been gone a while now, which meant you didn’t have much time to complete your secret mission.

Jinx balances precariously on your shoulders, as you responsibly hold onto her legs to stop her from falling.

“And what do we say to your Dad when he’s in a meeting with Marcus?” you quiz her, as she precariously reaches upwards, stretching her small body to its very limit.

“Well, he looks a few sandwiches short of a picnic,” she flawlessly mimics your delivery, complete with sarcastic eyebrow raising and a head tilt. If she wasn’t currently balancing on your shoulders, she’d probably throw a sassy little hand on her hip as well.

“The apprentice has become the master,” you tell her dramatically.

She giggles and the sound instantly lights up your heart.

Janna, this girl was just wonderful.

More recently, she’d begun to call Silco ‘Dad’ pretty much all the time, which was a big step considering when you’d first met her only a few months ago, she’d been visibly uncomfortable at using the term.

It just went to show how attached she felt to him. And honestly, you were glad. You only knew wisps of what this poor girl had gone through and you’d do anything, trade anything to take it back.

Over the short time you’d known her, she’d become so much more full of life, so much more confident.

And it was all thanks to Silco.

Another way you knew that she was more comfortable in Silco’s care was when she’d playfully brought up the idea of pranking him one morning, when you’d been pouring milk into a bowl of breakfast cereal.

Of course, you’d agreed because what could be funnier than pranking the scariest man in Zaun? (Who wasn’t actually that scary if you were a former kitchen utensil salesperson…)

But also the adult part of your brain had decided that it was probably a smart idea to be involved in the prank, to ensure the one she chose was harmless. This intervention soon turned out to be a good one when she’d immediately suggested glitter or paint-filled explosive traps in his office…

No chance.

Not even your natural affinity for charming Silco could rescue her from that kind of wrath.

Luckily she’d been easily convinced of your infinitely less destructive plan and that was the plan you were currently putting into action.

Jinx wobbles a bit on your shoulders as she reaches up even higher. Carefully, you let go of one of her legs to hold the door steady as she places the bucket on top of it, concentrating fiercely on not dropping the child or the bucket.

When she’s certain that it is secure, you slowly back away from the door and carefully lower her to the ground.

You hold your breath and wait, but nothing falls.

Phew.

You take a second to admire your handiwork and turn to Jinx

“Is everything to your liking, my hilarious little court jester?” you ask, with a little bow and flourish of one hand.

She giggles again and nods, throwing her arms around your waist in a tight hug.

You just manage to wrap your own arms around her when she speaks again, directing the words into your shirt instead of looking at you.

“I love you,” she mumbles into the fabric.

You freeze.

Did she actually just say that or were you imagining it?

Her head turns to look up at you, a hopeful expression painted across her features, and you know without a doubt that she both said it and meant it.

You don’t hesitate any longer.

“I love you too, pumpkin,” you tell her ardently, feeling tears welling at the corner of your eyes.

Fuck, you haven’t felt this full of love in so long. It’s almost a bit too overwhelming.

She smiles like her whole world has just lit up, but before you can say anything else, you hear footsteps in the corridor outside the office.

Both of your heads snap in meerkat fashion to look at the door.

“Go, go, go,” you whisper after a moment of listening, carefully directing her to your agreed hiding place.

You sprint to hide behind Silco’s desk and manage to crouch behind it just before the handle turns, both of your heads peeking up to get the best view of what was about to be, The Most Classic Prank in The History of Pranks.

You watch, like it’s happening in slow motion, as the door is finally pushed open and the bucket easily falls off its perch.

Sevika comes into view and with the speed of a cheetah, manages to smack the bucket away from her, meaning that whilst she doesn’t get hit on the head with the bucket… she does get covered in reams of shredded paper.

The bucket lands a few feet away from her and paper spills in every direction, all across the floorboards of the office.

There’s a few seconds of stunned silence before you and Jinx begin to cackle at the sight of Sevika absolutely covered in little bits of paper.

Her gaze sharpens on you immediately, her eyes filled with rage. Oh, if looks could kill, you’d have been dead and buried within milliseconds.

Silco appears behind her and pushes his way into the office, glancing at the scene before him. For a brief moment, you worry that he’s going to be angry at the mess you’ve made of his office.

But the worry is quickly dispersed when Jinx emerges from her hiding place and runs over to Silco, throwing her arms around his waist. She giggles and Silco’s lips instantly quirk into a little smile as he looks down at her.

“Sevika, you’re making a mess,” he drawls, choosing to join your side of the game as he walks over to his desk with Jinx holding his hand.

You laugh and he gives you a knowing smirk when you stand up from behind the desk and let him sit down in his chair.

“Did you see that, Dad?” Jinx says excitedly, bouncing up and down at his side.

“I did, pumpkin. That was very sneaky of you, I certainly was not expecting it,” he tells her proudly.

You make your way over to Sevika, part of you feeling bad that she’s taken the brunt of the little prank. Reaching out a hand to help her pick out the paper from her hair, she all but growls at you, slapping your hand away roughly.

“Get off me.”

You manage to squeak out a “Sorry,” but it’s entirely discredited by the fact that you’re still chuckling at her.

She does not look impressed.

Banned from helping Sevika (who has already left the room in a disgruntled manner), you decide to start picking up the paper that has dropped to the floor when you hear Silco tell Jinx that it’s time for bed.

Predictably, she whines, but after a pointed silence (and more than likely, a pointed look to accompany it), she assents and passes you on her way out of the room.

You tell her you’ll come and say goodnight to her when you’ve finished picking up the paper, and give her a kiss on the cheek before she goes, closing the door behind her.

Smiling to yourself, you continue to crawl on your hands and knees, picking up the tiny shreds of paper, when you become acutely aware that you can no longer hear the sound of pen scratching on paper.

Turning to look over your shoulder, you find Silco unabashedly staring at your ass.

You scoff. The nerve of this man.

“Are you just going to sit there and watch?” you ask affrontedly.

He smirks.

“It was you who made the mess,” he counters.

“I think you’ll find it was Sevika’s fault for opening the door,” you say, mimicking his dry tone.

“Whose idea was it?”

“Jinx’s.”

“Yet you were the one who assisted her,” he says, with an amused wave of his hand.

“Uh, have you seen her puppy eyes? It’s impossible to say no to her,” you state, shaking your head.

Silco gives a non-committed little hum, which you recognise as being his way of conceding without actually giving you the satisfaction.

You laugh and continue picking up the paper, ignoring Silco’s gaze burning into your back.

It’s not exactly a secret to anyone close to Silco that Jinx has him wrapped around her little finger, just like you are now.

Honestly, the both of you would probably do anything for her at this point.

A quiet voice in the back of your head wonders if you’d also do anything for Silco.

And would he do anything for you?

A few days later, you find yourself leaning against a grand, marble building on a perfectly cobbled street in Piltover, your eyes closed as you bask in the warmth of the sun.

Beside you, you can practically hear Silco’s thoughts running through his head, as he angrily smokes a cigarette.

You open your eyes and turn to peer at him, adjusting your sunglasses that you’d bought from the market especially for your trip Topside. Truth be told, there wasn’t much need for sunglasses in Zaun, but that didn’t stop you from picking the most garish ones on the stall.

Zaun was big enough for two fashionistas and you weren’t about to let Silco completely steal the limelight.

Your meeting with an important Councillor had been cancelled, but you’d only found out after you’d arrived at the meeting location, meaning you’d both wasted a trip when you could have been at home working on other deals.

Silco was unhappy to say the least.

In fact, he only stopped irritably ranting about how selfish and egotistical all Piltovians were when you’d found a spare cigarette in your coat pocket and practically thrown it at him.

Honestly, sometimes living with Silco was like living with (another) child… bribery was a sure-fire way to get him to shut up when he was spiralling into a never-ending monologue.

But despite the bribe, he’s still undoubtedly in a foul mood, so you decide to employ your best tactic in your foolproof strategy named ‘Cheer Silco Up’...

Distraction.

“Do you think I look good in these?” you ask him, posing with your outlandish sunglasses by holding the frames coyly and tilting your head.

Silco turns his head slowly, and his eyes begin a slow sweep up and down your whole body, his expression entirely unreadable.

He finally meets your gaze and delivers his verdict.

“You look ridiculous.”

You frown, your lips jutting out in a pout when you spot his lip quirking - a tell-tale sign that he’s teasing you.

Of course, he doesn’t actually mean it, he’s probably just getting you back for the time you’d jokingly told him his coat made him look like a velociraptor… a whole month ago.

The man has a freakishly good memory (and an impressive ability to hold a grudge, it would seem…)

But despite the fact he’s only teasing, you’re still not going to let him get away with it.

“Um, respect the drip, Brenda,” you say with fake indignation.

He almost drops his cigarette in surprise.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re excused,” you tell him snarkily, with a nonchalant flip of your hand.

Silco looks thoroughly taken aback, his good eye widening in pure shock.

It takes you a second to realise what you just said.

“Sorry, I think the sunglasses are making me sassy,” you say meekly, taking them off and giving them a suspicious look.

It had to be the sunglasses, right?

“I somehow doubt that,” Silco says, rolling his eyes.

You give him a look of fake offence before an idea pops into your head.

“Hey, do you wanna wear them? You know, just to test my hypothesis. I might be onto something here. Could make us millions,” you suggest, holding them out towards him.

He huffs a laugh and stubs his cigarette out on the side of the marble building, no doubt another little ‘fuck you’ to Piltover.

“Let’s go home,” he says with a smirk, setting off back towards the bridge, where the carriage is parked.

You laugh, glad that his bad mood seems to have dissipated, and put the sunglasses in your pocket, catching up to him so you can walk side-by-side through the bright streets.

As much as you hate Piltover for what they’d done to your city, you couldn’t help feeling a little bit awestruck by how much cleaner and grander it was than Zaun.

It only made you more desperate to achieve yours and Silco’s goals.

The people of Zaun deserved to live like this, to live like actual human beings, and not the overflow they were treated as.

You try not to look like you’re ogling the magnificent buildings as you walk, knowing how much Silco hated seeing it all, when you pass a sign that makes you grab Silco’s hand in excitement.

“Silco!” you gasp.

“What?!” he exclaims roughly, obviously startled, his hand squeezing yours tightly.

You excitedly re-read the sign clearly stating that the building in front of you is an art studio open to the public, meaning you can just go in and use their resources for free.

A quick glance through the window reveals that it’s empty of other people, but full of art supplies.

Bingo.

You drop Silco’s hand and run through the open front door like a child entering a toy store on Snowdown Day.

“What’s wrong? Where are you going?” Silco calls after you confusedly.

“I need to paint, it’s a matter of life or death!”

“What?”

“Come on, you grumpy old sod, it’ll be fun,” you yell over your shoulder, spotting him standing by the door looking utterly baffled.

Honestly, if you had a cog for every time you made Silco look completely bewildered, you’d be a very rich woman indeed. You were starting to think it was your secret superpower.

“Darling, we don’t really have time for this,” he says, following you into the art studio.

“We don’t have any more meetings today and you need a break from paperwork,” you tell him as you sit down at an empty canvas, “You’re going to need a chiropractor if you hunch over that desk any longer.”

He huffs in annoyance.

“Come on, I thought you used to be a rebel,” you taunt him with a cheeky grin, “And what could be more rebellious than using all of Piltover’s precious resources for our own nefarious purposes?”

That succeeds in making him smirk and he finally sits down opposite you, behind another empty canvas on an easel.

You waste no more time and eagerly start to mix together some paint with a paintbrush, knowing instantly what you want to paint.

Lost in your own world for a few silent minutes, you eventually look up to find Silco just staring at you, seemingly drinking in all your features.

You wonder what he’s thinking.

“Oi, you’re not painting anything,” you inform him helpfully when he just continues staring.

“What are you painting?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Now get painting,” you instruct, waving your brush at him like you’re casting a spell.

Silco visibly scowls at being told what to do but he follows your instructions and picks up a brush, getting to work mixing the colours he needed.

You both paint for a good twenty minutes, enjoying the soothing sounds of the bristles on the canvas and the birds chirping outside.

It’s almost idyllic.

Scratch that, it is idyllic. It’s absolutely perfect and you wish you could stay like this forever with him.

When you’re not glancing up at Silco to paint all his striking features, you’re admiring how beautiful he looks when he’s lost in thought.

It’s the most relaxed you’ve seen him in a long time, his worry lines softened in the warm glow of the sunlight pouring in through the window.

A part of you wishes that he could live like this full time - completely unburdened, completely care-free. Like he deserves after a lifetime of suffering.

You make a mental note to buy him a set of paints to help him relax at home. It would sure as hell be a healthier option than the ungodly amount of whiskey and cigars he consumes on a daily basis.

By the time you’ve finished your painting, Silco is still concentrating on his, so you take the opportunity to turn your masterpiece into a cheeky little wanted poster with a felt tip pen.

‘Wanted: Silco - for being too darn cute’

Reward: Brand new, hardly been used chess set’

You giggle to yourself and the sound breaks him from his reverie, setting down his paintbrush next to the palette.

“Are you done?” you ask him brightly.

He smiles at you like you’ve just brought him the moon.

“Yes, are you?”

“Yes. Ooh, I know! Let’s reveal them at the same time!”

You grab your canvas and hold it in front of you, ready to turn around for the big reveal. Silco copies you, albeit less eagerly than you.

With your three second countdown, you both turn your paintings to show the other.

And at the sight of Silco’s painting, you’re absolutely gobsmacked.

It’s stunning.

He’s painted a portrait of you, somehow capturing you perfectly despite its abstract style.

The strokes of colour and shade that all come together to illustrate your likeness are nothing short of masterful.

“What the actual fuck?” you deadpan, your entire expression dropping.

“I beg your pardon?” he frowns.

“That is the most beautiful painting I have ever seen. Who the hell are you? I thought you were a scary crime lord, not a mysterious artist,” you ramble, stunned at how he’d managed to paint something so impeccable in such a short time.

He rolls his eyes at your candour and sets the painting carefully on the desk.

Caught up in your shock at Silco’s hidden talent, you’d completely forgotten to observe his reaction to your own painting.

You look down at it, now slightly embarrassed at how much more skilled he was.

Luckily for you though, you’re not that embarrassed. Besides you had other, much more important skills in your toolbelt. You know, like being able to sell a second-hand spatula to an accomplished chef.

You awkwardly hold out your painting to him as a gift and he takes it from you slowly, his lips thinning ever so slightly as he does.

“This is… lovely, darling… thank you,” he says, struggling to keep a straight face as he looks at the painting closely.

It’s a good thing you adore this man, because otherwise you’d be secretly emptying all the ink from his pens in retaliation.

“Oh, piss off,” you smack his arm lightly, annoyed because he never speaks to Jinx this patronisingly.

One more glance at his ridiculous expression and you burst out laughing, which Silco joins in with straight away.

Okay, maybe your painting skills needed a bit of practice…

And you know just the teacher.

“Where’d you learn to paint like that?” you ask, when you’ve finally stopped giggling, gesturing to the canvas.

“I spent many a night defacing Topside buildings in my youth and discovered that I have a knack for it,” he explains with a wistful look.

“Well, it’s gorgeous,” you tell him genuinely, secretly hoping he’ll give it to you.

You want to put it up where you can look at it everyday, even if some would consider it a little bit narcissistic to admire a portrait of yourself.

“I had a gorgeous muse,” he responds coyly, his lips curling into a smug grin.

A deep red blush spreads across your cheeks at his obvious flirting.

Damn, when did this bitch get so smooth?

Silco begins to gather up the paintings, ready to leave, and you let him, lost in thought.

Truthfully, you’re not sure how much longer you can ignore this overwhelming feeling inside your chest every time you interact with Silco like this.

It’s not like you can use your typical method of throwing yourself into work to distract yourself because he was both your boss and your housemate.

And what’s worse is that you’re not sure if you even want to distract yourself any longer…

Not when life feels this good in his presence.

You don’t have to wait long to find a solution to your growing feelings and it comes out of an entirely unexpected situation, to say the least.

Standing in the middle of a cold warehouse, you listen with growing apathy to a rude client as he begins to rant and rave when he suddenly realises the deal isn’t going his way.

I mean, it’s not your fault he wants to pay next to nothing for the, quite frankly, excellent protection he’d be receiving in exchange for the job Silco needs doing.

Fortunately for you, you’re not alone in this meeting, grateful to have Silco standing right next to you.

You think you might have already gone mad by now if you couldn’t feel his warmth beside you.

The client soon begins to graduate from ranting about the price, to openly insulting you, perhaps in a strange attempt to neg you into reducing the cost?

But being used to insults after working for so long in customer service, you ignore it, instead focusing on the infinitely more important train of thought presiding in your mind…

What you’re going to have for dinner when you get home.

Out of the corner of your eye, you can tell that Silco is getting more and more enraged at the man’s words, but it’s only visible to you because you know him so well. To anyone else, he looks just as bored and disinterested as ever.

His hands are clasped a little too tightly behind his back and you can tell by the slight twitch in his cheek that he’s biting the inside of his lip. All the signature tells of Silco’s growing ire.

You begin to wonder what’s making him so irate. Surely, he’s used to people trying to take advantage of a good deal by now?

With a sigh, you open your mouth to make an attempt to placate the client, when the man rudely cuts you off, choosing instead to turn his attention to Silco.

“You know, I could run this city much better than you, you scrawny little bastard,” he says with a sneer, “You’re no better than a cockroach.”

And with that one little comment, you see red.

When you think about it later, you find it really quite funny that you couldn’t care less when the man was insulting you, but the very second he’d decided to verbally attack Silco, you absolutely lost it.

You don’t even fully realise what you’re doing as you reach your hand under Silco’s coat, your fingertips grazing his thigh as you grab the knife strapped there and pull it from its holder.

Now brandishing the knife out towards the man, you briefly remember that you don’t even know how to fight, let alone use a knife, but you reason that it couldn’t be that difficult…

I mean, you were pretty proficient at cutting slices of cheese at 2am in the kitchen, so it couldn’t be that much different… right?

Just, you know… more stabby stab than slicey slice?

You prowl closer to the man, holding out the knife threateningly.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the intended effect (ie: making the man wet himself like a little boy).

He smirks.

“Is that supposed to scare me?” the man laughs cruelly, before looking over to Silco in amusement, “Where’d you find this pissy little bitch?”

In a flash, Silco kicks him in the stomach hard, and before you know it, guards have surrounded you both, and are holding the man down as he tries to break free from their grasp.

Within seconds, he manages to twist out of their hold and he lunges towards you, forcing you to take a few startled steps back, clutching the knife handle until your knuckles go white.

Luckily, the guards manage to tackle him again before he can get any closer to you, and the goons who were guarding the entrance join them in detaining him, ensuring he couldn’t get free again.

You stare at the man’s feral expression in absolute terror.

What the hell have you gotten yourself into? you think as you watch the man scream out, like he’d suddenly been possessed.

You used to work at a relatively peaceful market and now you’re getting threatened and attacked meeting after meeting.

Is this really what you signed up for?

Vaguely, you think you hear Silco barking out orders, but you can’t hear what he’s saying over the deafening sound of the blood pumping in your ears.

You stand there breathlessly, allowing the adrenaline to rush through you.

Truthfully, you’re not sure how long you stay in that frozen position. To you, it could have been minutes, or it could have been hours.

In the distance, you begin to tune into the sound of somebody repeatedly saying your name, until you realise that it’s not in the distance at all.

It’s Silco. And he’s right in front of you, looking terribly concerned.

It’s enough to snap you out of it, but all you can do is stare blankly at the intricate details on his waistcoat, bewildered.

A quick glance around the room reveals that you’re alone, sans guards and rude client.

You hadn’t even noticed them leaving.

“Darling,” Silco says gently and you look up at him, your eyes wide.

His hand carefully covers yours and his thumb rubs soothing circles against your skin.

“Sweetheart, let go of the knife,” he tells you softly.

You realise you’re still clutching it, hard enough that it’s starting to hurt, so you slowly let him take it from your grasp.

Once it’s gone, your knees almost buckle in relief.

It’s only after you’ve taken a few deep breaths that you realise just how concerned Silco looks as he visibly examines your trembling form.

“Let’s get you home,” Silco says quietly, after he’s tucked the knife away safely in his pocket.

He carefully wraps an arm around your waist and your shoulders, and leads you out of the warehouse and into the carriage.

Less than half an hour later, you’re both sitting on the sofa in his office, trying to calm down after the events of the disastrous meeting.

But despite being completely out of danger, your body is still coursing with adrenaline. In fact, it’s probably worse now because the shock has worn off and all you want to do is run a mile or beat up a whole gang or repeatedly kick a toy poro across the room.

You’re so fired up, you’re barely listening to Silco ramble as he sits beside you, running a hand through his now messy hair.

“Darling, you must realise that you can’t just take my knives like that; do you even know how to properly wield one?”

He doesn’t pause to let you answer.

“Of course you don’t. Tell me, what do you think would have happened if he’d disarmed you and turned the knife on you?”

If you were thinking properly, you would have realised by his tone and body language that he wasn’t upset with you, but rather himself.

But you’re far too worked up to pick up on any nuanced social cues like that.

“I could have taken him!” you exclaim, “I had to do something, he was insulting you!”

Even thinking about the abusive way the man had spoken to Silco makes your blood boil again.

“You know what, where is he? Is he in the basement? I’m going to teach him a lesson,” you rant, shuffling your body to the edge of the sofa so you can storm out, but Silco grabs you and pulls you back before you can.

You barely take any notice.

“I don’t care if I get injured, I can handle it,” you ramble, your hands gesturing wildly as you begin to rival Silco in his monologuing abilities.

“You know, one time I caught a guy stealing from my market stall and I chased him all through the market and I tackled him to the ground and yes, maybe I twisted my ankle doing it, but I still got the measuring scales back, because you know what, I’m That Bitch and I could-”

You’re cut off by Silco grabbing your face, pulling you towards him, and pressing his lips onto yours desperately.

You freeze and a dial tone replaces any thought in your brain.

…Oh, fuck.

Oh, fuck.

Silco is kissing you.

Like, right now.

And you know what, he’s damn good at it.

You’re immediately struck by how wonderful it feels to finally have his lips on yours, a warm, fluttery feeling spreading through your chest.

In fact, it’s even better than the feeling you got the first time you sold a pair of pizza scissors on the market stall, which felt phenomenal because literally nobody buys pizza scissors.

And if that felt phenomenal, then this definitely feels celestial.

You suddenly realise that your brain had gotten a little bit sidetracked when Silco pulls away from you, frowning at your lack of response.

Shit, did you forget to kiss him back?

He scans your face, his own beginning to drain of colour as he tries to stutter out an apology.

“I- I apologise, I was-”

Ignoring his words, you grab the back of his head and pull him back towards you, capturing his lips in your own passionate kiss. Silco responds immediately, his hands deftly weaving through your hair to keep you close as he matches you move for move.

And by the way he harmonises with every shift of your lips and your tongue, you’re almost convinced that you were made for each other.

Fuck, he’s absolutely perfect.

When you finally begin to run out of air, you both pull back, staring at one another breathlessly.

Unfortunately for him, you recover first.

“Well, who knew the Eye of Zaun was such a good kisser?”

You expect him to frown, acting stern as a mechanism for concealing his embarrassment, but he surprises you by smirking knowingly at you.

“I’ve also been told that I have lovely hands,” he drawls, his eyes lingering on your kiss-bruised lips.

It takes you half a second to recall just where you’d heard those words before and your expression drops into one of indignance.

“Hey! That’s not fair, I had a double concussion, which is like, ten times worse than a regular concussion,” you exclaim, smacking his arm lightly.

Silco gives you a pointed, almost incredulous look.

“Your math is atrocious.”

You have to bite your lip to keep yourself from grinning.

“Stop it! I’m all flustered because you just kissed me!” you say exaggeratedly, crossing your arms in a pretend huff, “And I only said that thing about your hands because I’d just been through the traumatic experience of meeting you.”

“If I recall correctly, you quite literally fell for me,” he smirks, his hands beginning to draw circles on your hips in a way that was far from innocent.

Of course he was implying that you collapsing onto him in the warehouse happened because you were swooning over him. And not, you know, the head trauma.

“Oh, shut up, you little-”

You finish your insult by climbing onto his lap and pressing your lips against his once more, grumbling into the kiss.

You quickly decide that this new distraction technique was much more efficient than bribing him with nicotine, that’s for sure.

And even as he tries to deepen the kiss, pulling you closer than ever, you can feel Silco smiling against your lips.

It’s everything you’d been waiting for and more.

PART 7

A/N: they finally did it!!! They kithed!!!!

i hope this chapter was okay, pls don’t march down my street with pitchforks and torches if you hated it…i’m just a lowly little goblin writer, my diet consists solely of comments and consistently disappointing my parents

Okay, i love you, see ya later

-el x

Tag list: @htmlbitxh @pinkrose1422 @jennithejester @wondermia69 @redskull199987 @paradoxdraggon @ariaud @ruthdied

#silco #silco x reader #silco x f!reader #silco x you #silco fic #silco arcane #part 6

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palialaina · 3 months

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Tamala never ever gets to ask me for another favor. Honestly.

It feels like it's been forever since that whole mess with the beauty cream... It probably actually has been. I don't even remember what day that was now.

But anyways, she sent me this letter earlier

And okay, I knew she was full of it, but I can't help being curious, okay???? So I went out there, and she gave me three bouquets to give to the people who'd suffered that whole... thing.

She did give me some sob story about being sick with something dreadful, and how I'd never look at her the same if I knew what it was. And like... I'm not stupid. I saw the letters in her room when I got Caleri's book back for her. She was trying to find youth potions, or something like that. Or she did find them, and maybe there was some sort of karmic pushback.

Either way, I feel like she probably deserved it. I don't hate Tamala, but I'm not sure I'll ever like her.

Anyways, so I took the flowers around, and Jel was wonderfully dramatic about it. Didn't blame me, at least, no, that was all Eshe. Jel just said he'd never forgive Tamala, but also he said he'd display the flowers, so he's just.. you know, my dramatic man.

Eshe said they were acceptable as an arrangment, and also that she was impressed I had the gall to show my face. Like. Eshe. Honey. I've been showing my face for months.

Zeki was probably the best about it. He didn't refuse the flowers, but he did let me know that he had a prank in the works for Tamala, and I kind of want to be in on it.

In any case, once I handed everything out, I went back to tell Tamala that no, they were actually all still pretty annoyed with her experimentations. She just said they had no taste, and then gave me a thing of the beauty cream.

I locked it up. I'll never use it, but I have to admit, the jar is pretty. Maybe Tish has some heavy duty gloves I can use to scoop that stuff out and wash the jar?

Hm...

I went seed hunting again, and got enough to do this behind my temple. I need more seeds, but it's hard to get the little buggers! I had so much softwood from this... at least I can sell it all, but man...

This is the ass of a fuzzy butthead. I want to make something to eat, and what does Jellybean do? She puts her tail right in the way!

I love her and her sibs so much, but sheesh! They make cooking more of a challenge than it should be.

Also, I've heard some mutterings that the Maji Market might be coming back soon. I wonder how Eshe and Kenli will shake things up to make it different from last time? I mean, I'd love another round of chappa chase, but like... If it's the same market, it won't draw a crowd again, I don't think. And really, Hassian should be able to join in!

I'll have to wait and see, I know, but man. I'm excited!

#palia #palia online #singularity 6 #berry plays palia #palia game #palia journaling #palia mmo #palia journey #palia roleplaying

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a-student-out-of-time · 8 months

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@danganronpasurvivoraskblog did their own take on this and tagged me, so here's my thoughts!

I was just perusing Tumblr one day, say SDRA2 in my recommended and looked it up on TV Tropes. It was pretty interesting-sounding, so I looked into it. Not much else to say, really : P

DRA. While SDRA2 is more visually-pleasing, I think DRA has a better and more well-crafted story overall.

Faves: DRA Chapter 4 and SDRA2 Chapter 5. Least Faves: Chapter 3 for both of them.

I have a lot of great things to say about the usage of both Akane Taira and Utsuro, and their implementation in the game...but I feel like I have to give Mikado credit for actually being a villainous force throughout all of SDRA2. We got to know him as a villain and thus all that characterization wasn't crammed into a single trial.

It's a toss up between Maku and Emma, because I feel like the two of them really had a lot of personal history that you got to see in their FTEs. Maku clearly regretted his actions, and Emma tormenting him with puns was pretty funny. The Void Theater segments honestly made me want to include them in my own story, given that there was a lot of history between the Voids we didn't get to see.

Yoruko. She really deserved a break after all that.

Faves: Kanata & Akane for DRA; Hibiki, Shinji, Setsuka, Yoruko & Sora in SDRA2. Least faves: Mitch and Tsurugi for DRA; Syboi and Iroha for SDRA2

A LOT. Frankly, the entire Another series barely utilizes anyone's actual ultimate talents, and instead relies on character quirks you'll probably forget about or actual literal luck.

Iroha. She doesn't do anything to improve anybody's situation; not the main group, not the Voids, barely even her own most of the time. She's borderline useless at the best of times, and at her worst, she's selfish, bratty, petulant, brainless and just a detriment. She doesn't change, adapt, contribute or even make for a particularly interesting character, so what was the point of her inclusion, much less her survival?

Kanata. There's so much more that could've been done with her character beyond just making her the pure angel who apparently had to die horribly so we would feel bad.

Anyone who's followed me for long enough knows my answer is going to be Hibiki. Nobody got screwed over as badly as she did. Say what you will about Yuki being reduced to a brain in a jar, at least he actually survived.

Once again, Hibiki, hands down. Her survival would've been so much more meaningful and interesting, and could've contributed so much to the story and themes, as well as the conflicts both Yuki and Sora were facing.

I don't really care about the executions, but I guess Syobai's would be interesting to see. It's pretty fitting for him.

Kinji's. It was a nice mix of thematically appropriate but also completely bizarre, as we expect from DR.

Not to steal an idea from WeebyNewz, but I think DRA's first chapter would've been a lot more interesting if Kiyoka was the one who killed Mitch while trying to protect Akane.

Faves: DRA Chapter 6 and SDRA2 Chapter 1. Least Faves: DRA Chapter 1 and SDRA2 Chapter 3.

Plot twist that got me: That Mikado actually got away with murder in Chapter 5, and nobody, not even Iroha, even realized until it was too late. She genuinely thought that she was the one who poisoned Teruya, but she got played just as hard. He was this close to winning and it was actually on his own merits. Least favorite plot twist: The reveal that Kizuna was actually fake and she was just looking for a chance to kill someone. I hate the way LINUJ talks about her as the most hateable character in the game, and he clearly wanted the audience to feel that way, yet went out of his way to give her some genuinely interesting and sympathetic qualities. That whole bit doesn't feel like she's revealing her true colors, but that her personality suddenly shifted for the sake of making her an antagonist. Her death was also needlessly prolonged and cruel.

Even if they didn't act like it in the game, the Voids did have a genuine level of camaraderie and friendship that was lost when Mikado took over and convinced them they had to set up this Killing Game. When Iroha said she wanted to use the bathroom after trial 4, she was really looking for a place to cry, knowing her only friends were all gone.

SDRA2, while I don't hate it, it has some of the weakest writing I've ever seen for a fangan. The game is so focused on self-indulgence and callbacks to DRA that it doesn't communicate its theme in any clear manner. It also has this pervasively cynical, jaded view of its cast where barely any of them grow or change at all. And as I always like to bring up, you can skip Chapter 3 and miss nothing important to the overarching story, Chapter 4 was a mess that derailed the narrative and Chapter 6 is one exposition dump after another. It's a messy story that clearly needed more planning.

Point 19 having been said, I really liked the scene in Chapter 5 where Sora and Yoruko finally have a heart-to-heart about Sora's fears about her identity. It was such a cathartic and emotional moment after so many chapters of garbage and mediocrity, not to mention bitterness and anger on Yoruko's part. I wanted more moments like these, where characters genuinely talk.

//So there we go, my 20 points for the Another series. Some of these are new, others are things I'll probably never shut up about : P

@despair-to-future-arcs @thenewfuture @askthedespairkids @a-tale-never-told @tired-writer-in-progress @spyrkle4 Do you guys wanna give this a go? I'd love to hear your thoughts if you wish to share

#mod talks #a student out of time #Instagram

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shaniacsboogara · 3 months

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boog what is your fav sk show

I may have taken forever to answer this, but that's because I've been THINKING ABOUT IT CONSTANTLY!!!

In all honesty, I can't pick ONE favourite, but I'll give you a little list (in no particular order mind you)

The first sk musical I ever watched was The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals (probably a few months after it originally came out???) and it will ALWAYS be one of my favourite musicals of all time. It's funny, the premise is unique and inventive, the score is PHENOMENAL, and THE PERFORMANCES??? Corey as Bill made me SOB (and still does if I think about him and Alice's story too hard). Now that the productions rights are out and I'm headed to uni and they have a theatre club there... 👀 (It probably won't happen but a Boog can dream)

I also LOVE LOVE LOVE Twisted. Yeah it's silly, but also absolutely devastating. It would be an understatement to say I'm obsessed with Dylan Saunders' performance as Jafar. Twisted is my Roman Empire. I think about No One Remembers Achmed at least five times a day. AND JEFF BLIM AS FREAKY ALADDIN??? HIS JEKYLL AND HYDE MOMENT??? IS FOREVER ENGRAINED IN MY PSYCHE. And also just the Disney villains montage type thing they do is iconic and wonderful and 'If I Believed' is the only song ever actually.

I also just love The Hatchetverse as a whole. Black Friday was a real treat and I absolutely freaked out when I found out Dylan was in it, and was still absolutely astonished by his performing as Tom. That man is MAGICAL. A lot of people put "what tim wants" and "if I fail you" pretty low in their song rankings but like... They are EVERYTHING to me. Also KIM WHALEN??? A FELLOW GINGER SOPRANO WHO IS JUST SO GORGEOUS AND TALENTED AND I LOVE HER??? Also Jon as Wiggly is HORRIFYING and seeing him go from Paul in tgwdlm straight to Wiggly was JARRING. Linda Monroe is also ✨iconic✨. (I could ramble about this musical forever). It was definitely different in some ways than TGWDLM and was more serious tonally, but I really enjoyed it (and the music is AWESOME).

Trail to Oregon is also great!!! It's so silly and I LOVE seeing Joey Richter scurry back and forth putting on different hats to play almost the entire ensemble. Corey as Cleetus and the grandpa (Titty Mitty in the proshot) was phenomenal, and Lauren Lopez as Craphole is probably one of my favourite roles she's ever played. My absolute favourite moment of this entire musical is Joey Richter playing the baby buffalo whose family is about to get slaughtered. Baby buffalo Joey lives rent free in my mind. Also the best theatre blooper of all time comes from TTO (Joey forgetting his lines in independence my beloved)

NERDY PRUDES MUST DIE. THE SOUNDTRACK. THE SOUNDTRACK. I haven't watched this one as many times as the others, and it hasn't been around for as long so I don't think I've fully grown to appreciate it yet (and that's saying A LOT because I LOVE NPMD). ANGELA AS GRACE CHASTITY??? HELLO??? SHE IS EVERYTHING??? AND MAX JAGERMAN??? All of the performances in this are absolutely incredible. ALSO FINALLY GETTING MARIAH AS A LEAD IN A STARKID SHOW??? AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN THE FANDOM SINCE TGWDLM??? WE WERE WAITING SO PATIENTLY FOR THIS AND HOLY SHIT DID IT PAY OFF. Peter Spankoffski is everything and Cool As I Think I Am is ALSO everything. And omg Richie Lipschitz. I need to see him again in a nightmare time episode or something because that boy deserved SO MUCH BETTER!!! I think the score for this one was also incredible, and it was a super fun musical!!! It didn't permanently fuck up my brain and ruin my life like I was afraid it would, which disappointed me at first honestly, but it's nice to have a hatchetfield story that doesn't result in the immediate end of the world (although grace is totally gonna fuck shit up let's be honest).

Also I LOVE Nightmare Time. So much. Especially characters like Miss Holloway??? She. Is. EVERYTHING. Killer Track and Time Bastard are probably some of my favourite episodes, and I just think the effort put into the writing and editing and everything about nightmare time is just awesome. Hoping we get more down the line ✨🙏✨

I've also watched some of AVPM but I don't think I finished it. HOWEVER, Granger Danger is a certified BANGER and is also everything to me.

Thank you for coming to my TED BOOGtalk

#boog answers #starkid #sk #tgwdlm #black friday #tto #twisted #ask #answer #boog's mutuals

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jimblejamblewritings · 2 years

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it just sort of... happened | part 3.

Summary: After Hogwarts is turned upside down after Harry Potter started attending, a new normal DADA professor seems like a Godsend.

Warnings for the Series: age gap age gap age gap (however reader is of age because anything under deserves jail time no exceptions). student-teacher relationship. slow burn because obviously. smut at some point. honestly nothing else. forbidden love trope BUT ONCE AGAIN of age reader

Pairing: remus lupin x reader eventually, professor!remus x student!reader

Word Count: 4.2k

Previous Part | (Series Masterlist)

Christmas was spent at Cedric’s house since you two had spent it at your house last year. Not that it meant much. You and Cedric lived fairly close to each other, nothing more than a ten minute walk on a nice day. You sat on his kitchen counter with a large bowl in your lap. Whenever you were at the Diggorys, you were put to work helping your friend in the kitchen.

Cedric was cooking the bacon as you kept kneading the dough for apple cinnamon rolls. His uncle sent over a large cookbook last Christmas with American dishes or their versions of dishes and you two were determined to eventually get through the entire book. While the rolls were baking, you two were ready for your second Christmas tradition.

With your scarf bundled tightly around you and a jar that had a warming charm in it, you and Cedric left the house. You wanted to look at the house in the village with the singing tulips. There was one cottage that was so rundown, no one could possibly live there. A few cottages were like that. Something happened years ago. Freak potions accident gone wrong that almost burned down the whole neighborhood. But the real estate was cheap and you had been eyeing one of the cottages for years.

You were going to move there after graduation and fix it up. Some people had already started doing that. Because it wasn’t completely hidden away like houses in the Diagon Alley area or a wizarding village like Hogsmeade, most of the people fixing up cottages were wizard-muggle couples. You liked that. Then your neighbors would be nice. You also liked that they seemed to vary in ages. You weren’t going to be terribly younger than everyone. Some of them actually had children your age that you and Cedric had made friends with but they were squibs so they went to muggle school.

“So what if the cottage has been bought?”

You gasped. “How dare you say that.”

Cedric rolled his eyes. “I’m just saying. You’ve only been looking at the one with the small lake.”

“Because it’s perfect for a pool. Don’t you want a pool, Ced?”

“What makes you think I’m going to live with you?”

“Are you going to ask Cho Chang out… No? Then I look forward to sending a picture of the engagement ring I want.”

“Well, what about you?”

“What about me?” You asked as he held his cup of warm butterbeer to your lips so you could have some.

“I remember you making those lovesick eyes at Percy Weasley all last year and now you only give him a nod in the hall.”

“Because he has a girlfriend.”

“Wait, what?”

“It’s a secret. He said he was flattered but couldn’t go on a date, offered to set me up with Oliver though.”

“And?”

“And nothing. We couldn’t find anything to talk about past being friends with Percy. He thinks one of the twins is more my speed but that’s totally weird after looking at Percy… at least right away anyway.”

Cedric chuckled. “Merlin, we suck at dating… Your engagement ring is only allowed to be 1.2 carats.”

“Dea— Catcher?” Your eyebrows scrunched in confusion when your aunt’s owl landed on your shoulder.

Catcher was clearly headed somewhere before spotting you. She wasn’t the brightest owl. You were positive that she was dumber than Bennett which was saying something because you definitely didn’t get the smartest cat in the pet shop— Bennett didn’t even come from a pet shop, you found the poor thing abandoned by a dumpster back when you were ten. You took a look at the letter that Catcher was holding in her beak.

Before you really got a chance to see, your aunt’s owl was off your shoulder and flying again. You and Cedric followed her just for the fun of it. Lucky for you, Catcher was going to the village with the singing tulips. You weren’t aware that your aunt knew anyone in the tulip village. Your aunt’s owl nearly crashed into the window of the derelict cottage that you had your eyes on. You felt your heart sink, Cedric laughing because he told you so that someone totally bought it. The window opened to see if poor Catcher was alright.

“Professor Moony? You bought this place?!”

Remus looked from the owl to two of his students, completely surprised. He also wasn’t sure what he had missed in the brief moments he wasn’t paying attention that had Cedric laughing so hard while you looked on the verge of tears. In a classroom, he knew exactly how to calm his students down. Caught off guard, he knew nothing. Your stomps were heavy as you walked towards the window.

“Professor, you’ve ruined my life.”

Cedric came bounding up behind you. “Excuse the wife, she’s a bit dramatic.”

Right on cue, you threw your head back before dropping your forehead against Cedric’s chest. He rubbed your back with the same fake pity that you gave him all the time, trying not to laugh any harder. He stage-whispered to Remus who was even more confused.

“She’s been looking at this house since we were twelve. Almost all her allowance is in a savings account explicitly for it.”

“It has a lake!” You whined into his chest.

“It has a lake,” he repeated in a much calmer fashion.

You lifted your head and dramatically wiped at tears that weren’t there. “It’s fine, it’s fine. We’ll just buy another one.”

“What if all the others are b—”

“Finish that sentence and I will break our marriage pact.” You turned to Remus. “Professor, do you really live here? You bought this place? You heard about the good real estate too?”

Remus nodded. He couldn’t very well say that he had been living in the cottage nearly as long as you had been eyeing it considering it still looked a mess. All of his jobs before Hogwarts had never given him enough money to move anywhere but small basement apartments every few months.

When he heard about this village by chance, he had to take the opportunity. Up until this year, he had been renting it so he still had no money. But it was a permanent home and now, on his teaching salary, he could fix it up since he bought it.

You weren’t dejected for very long, suddenly excited over the prospects of being neighbors with your third favorite professor behind McGonagall and Professor Burbage who taught Muggle Studies. Remus had to admit that it was nice to be wanted. He didn’t realize how much he enjoyed teaching until he got students like you, the Golden Trio, Cedric, and all his first years. There was a want to learn specifically from him. He was respected as a person not just because he had to be respected as a professor.

Cedric started pulling you away, apologizing profusely to Professor Lupin, when you started unloading all of your design ideas for the cottage onto him. Remus laughed as he watched you guys look at a few houses before you pointed to what he could only assume was the new cottage you were planning on buying.

You and Cedric gave him waves as you walked out the village. Remus figured that you guys must have lived close by since you seemed to be only walking. The nearest Public Floo Network required turning right out of the village but you and Cedric had turned left.

He didn’t see either of you for the rest of Christmas break. But Remus did suddenly receive two gifts for the holidays— a box tea set and a cardigan. He received a third one from your aunt to which he gave a gift back. He would have to thank you for your aunt’s contact. After all his friends died, Remus thought that it was nice to have one again. And one that knew him and understood his pain. He was even considering meeting her for the next full moon instead of suffering it alone.

“You tried to become an Animagus?” Remus asked when you showed up early to his class after the break. Your better half was still in the bathroom.

“Did my aunt tell you that? That’s so embarrassing. I tried three times and kept dropping the leaf right before it was time.”

“Why don’t you try again?”

“Professor McGonagall keeps asking the same thing. I think she really wants me to get it. I don’t know, I was only doing it so my aunt wouldn’t be alone during full moons.”

The corner of Lupin’s lip pulled up in a smile. “I think you should try again at least one more time.”

You gave him a look before shrugging. “I’ll consider it, Professor.”

“Oh, and (Y/N),” he lowered his voice as other students came in. “The trick is to add some bubotuber pus to the leaf and stick it to the roof of your mouth, not under the tongue.”

“Isn’t that dangerous undiluted? And it smells awful. I don’t know about you, Professor Moony, but I can’t live down bad breath.”

“Mix it with Dirigible Plum juice. And don’t register. I find it’s more useful to not register with the Ministry.”

“Noted.”

McGonagall was more than overjoyed to hear you were trying again. A smirk crossed her face despite her shaking her head when you told her that you wanted to keep it quiet. She could only imagine where you must have gotten the idea to not register becoming an Animagus. However, she wasn’t going to say anything despite the fact that she wanted to brag about it. She said that much when she entered Remus’ classroom.

“Are you purposely trying to recreate your legacy, Professor Moony, or do you just manage to attract every rambunctious student with a penchant for reckless curiosity?”

“Did Harry mention the dementor training?” Remus asked as he scratched the back of his neck.

“No, you just forgot that the youngest Mr. Weasley has a big mouth and extreme lack of spatial awareness… It’s nice to see you enjoying yourself, Remus.”

“Thanks, Minnie.”

Even without the tip from Professor Lupin, no one even noticed you talking less. It was officially OWL season. Almost the entirety of the second semester was just fifth years studying more and enjoying themselves less. Parties would die down in the upcoming months, relegated to Saturdays only. Hogsmeade would become even more of a paradise than it previously was. And you all would breathe out great sighs of relief when the whole ordeal was over and you could breathe a bit easier in sixth year.

You spat the mandrake leaf into the full-moon lit vial and trudged over to Professor Lupin’s office. The only thing left to do was wait for a thunderstorm with lots of lightning.

While you were excited about what your Animagus might be, you didn’t have too much time to dwell on it. You had a Charms textbook to read and flashcards to go over until it was permanently etched into your brain. You were going to ace all of your OWLs. That was a fact.

You grabbed the teacup that you had started using all the time whenever you had tea with Professor Lupin and brewed yourself a cup. You even bothered to light the fireplace just like how the fireplaces in the library were lit. Proper studying could officially begin. The words in your textbook started to run together until they lulled you to sleep. The cup of tea in your hand tilted until it was all spilling onto the carpet.

“(Y/N)?”

You jumped at the voice. Remus was barely alert as he entered his office. Two days of the full moon down. One more left to go. Even with keeping his human consciousness thanks to the wolfsbane, he never wanted to risk it and chose to stay in the Forbidden Forest until his transformation was nearly complete.

“Professor! Sorry, it’s just you said that Cedric and I could study here whenever everywhere else was crowded. And the library is completely full and my roommates won’t stop singing a song to help remember potions’ ingredients.”

Remus nodded absentmindedly as he accepted the cup of tea you brewed. He did offer up his office like some of the other professors because of how stressed all the students seemed. He was just so used to hearing you and Cedric quizzing each other back and forth that seeing you alone was a mild surprise. Also, the time.

“It’s past curfew, way past curfew if I’m back in the castle.”

You looked outside the small skinny window in his office. The moon had gone down and even though the sun wasn’t rising yet, it was first light.

“Shit, I’m so getting detention this time. Professor Sprout’s been having the elves snitch on all the fifth and seventh years if we’re anywhere outside our rooms past two. She keeps trying to get us all to calm down, says we’re pushing ourselves too hard.”

Remus sighed as you tried to not yawn while talking to him. It was the weekend so no students had class. He knew that you wouldn’t be missing any classes and while Pomona’s intentions were nice, detention would only stress you students out more.

“You can stay here until curfew is over.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

Remus nodded slowly. He summoned one of his spare blankets for you and stiffly walked to his room. Normally, he just passed out on the office couch or curled up under his desk. He was barely inside his room when you fell back asleep on the couch. This time the sleeping position was much more comfortable. You tried to thank Professor Lupin when you both woke up at much more respectable times but he just brushed it off and asked if you had any questions he could answer to put your mind at ease about the Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL.

While you still studied in his office, sometimes with Cedric and sometimes alone, you made sure to actually get proper sleep and leave before curfew. Remus got used to you in his office. He snorted at you and Cedric’s banter as he wrote lesson plans and created exam questions. When you were alone, he graded essays and tests in the comfortable silence of the space you guys created. You asked him questions and no matter how many there were, he always answered them.

You found that he was skilled in lots of fields past Defense Against the Dark Arts. Sometimes, when you were bored, Remus would entertain non-education related questions for short five or ten minute breaks. He would even ask you a few things when your brain was too overworked to even come up with a question.

“Professor Moony, you’re going to stay next year, right?” You asked as you came back with lunch for both of you.

Cedric still had quidditch practice, like some of the other players including Oliver Wood, because he was planning on going pro so you were studying alone that day.

“I plan on it.” Remus took the lunch.

“Good because you’re actually the best Defense professor we’ve had in a while… Well, Professor Quirrell wasn’t bad before he took that one year off and all of a sudden You-Know-Who is on the back of his head and he has a random stutter.”

“Well, I’m glad to be the best professor.”

You nodded furiously as you took a bite of food.

“Absolute best. Oh and I gave my aunt the modified wolfsbane for this month. She’ll try it since she’s able to hide away from people if it doesn’t work. Depending on what she says, I’ll give you the potion next time.”

“Thank you, (Y/N). And talking to your aunt has been lovely.”

“Professor… Do you like teaching?”

“I do, why?”

“I’ve been thinking about teaching more. I don’t really think I want to be a Healer past helping you and my aunt, I hate all my trips to St. Mungo’s. We can start doing career internships next year and I don’t want to pick the wrong one.”

“It’s not a set path, even if you pick something you end up not liking.”

“I know but… all my friends seem to already know what they want to do. Percy’s going to the Ministry, Cedric and Oliver are playing quidditch, Beatrice wants to run a nice pub, Aggie plans on a Ministry job too, and Lucy wants to be a housewife so she’s focusing on writing as a side job, something to keep her busy.”

“Lucy? Lucy Miller? I didn’t know she writes.”

“She’s actually pretty good. She keeps asking me for muggle book recommendations. I love her but she’s such a pureblood it hurts sometimes. If I give her any sci-fi books, I’ll get a hundred questions a chapter. Cyborgs really aren’t that hard to understand.”

“Is sci-fi your favorite genre?”

“Hmm, not really. I think I like realist fiction and fantasy the most.”

“Fantasy?”

“Oh, yeah. I read The Chronicles of Narnia at the beginning of the school year. I think it’s so fascinating how muggles are so wrong about magic. You don’t know how many books I’ve read where the unicorns don’t even have silver blood.”

“You really like muggle books.”

“I know most purebloods don’t but it’s a whole other world of books. When I was eight, my dad turned our attic into a library because my room was already starting to overflow.”

“Suddenly, I no longer feel proud of my collection.”

You turned your head to look at the shelves behind you. It wasn’t much but considering he had to buy all his books secondhand or risk having no money, he was still satisfied with it. If you weren’t his student, Remus could have mistaken you for a literary critic with the way you were eyeing his shelves. Whether you approved or not, he couldn’t figure it out considering you didn’t share your opinion. You pulled something from your satchel and slid it onto his desk as if it was a covert package.

“Frankenstein,” he read the title.

“Your shelf is impressive but I don’t get how you don’t have Mary Shelley. She’s a genius. Even Professor McGonagall couldn’t put the book down when I recommended it.”

“I try to stay away from monster books.”

You pursed your lips for a moment. “You aren’t a monster, Professor. It’s a condition nothing more than that… I have to go, Cedric’s practice is almost over. I hope you read the book, it might be more pleasant than you think.”

“(Y/N),” Remus called before you fully left the office. “It’s okay to not know what you want to do even if all your friends know. So many people try a bunch of different things before finding out what fits them. It’s okay if you like it at the moment and then realize it isn’t for you. Just go with what you think you’ll like, you can figure it out from there.”

“Thanks, Professor Moony.”

Remus’ advice put you at ease a bit. So did answering all of your questions about classes. You and Cedric ended up finding almost all your OWLs a breeze to take. Now, you still might have been wrong on plenty of it but the actual test taking was significantly less stressful. You two were trying to plan your summer now that you could just relax. School still wasn’t out yet but it was basically done for fifth years. Cedric’s thumb traced over your eyebrow as you stared at him, chin on his chest, while you laid on him.

“The quidditch camp takes up a lot of the day. I’ll be gone all mornings.”

“That’s fine, your career is a big deal. I’ll go visit the Weasleys or maybe even Professor Lupin when you’re gone.”

Cedric laughed. “You’re going to make him sick of you.”

“I’m his favorite student.”

“That is such a lie. You just talk the most.”

“Well, I’m going to go find him now and ask him. See you in the morning.”

You skipped to Professor Lupin’s office. Professor Snape almost knocked you over as he ran past you, seeming to have come from the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Your aunt had written that the modified wolfsbane was a success. And after a couple more months of testing, the conclusion was complete success and not just a fluke. Taking one potion was significantly better than taking multiple so you were on your way to tell him the good news and that you would start brewing bigger batches for him and your aunt. You learned from many study breaks that he was never very good at making his own Potions despite being brilliant at the literature of it.

A pout came to your face when no one answered as you called for your teacher. He wasn’t in his office either. The map was laid out fully on his desk. You gasped when you noticed that a vial of blue potion was also on the desk.

Your eyes scanned the map that Remus had reluctantly told you about when you asked him for the hundredth time to try and find him. Panic flooded you as several names appeared around him— especially the names of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. Remus must have rushed out the room the moment he spotted them, potion forgotten. You didn’t even have time to think about that. You grabbed the last vial and raced to find your professor before someone got seriously hurt. Why couldn’t the others have been away from him?

Your eyes widened as you heard a howl and some screams when you got closer to the Shrieking Shack. Snape ran past you, practically carrying Ron who couldn’t properly use one of his legs. You didn’t see Hermione or Harry with either one of them. You clutched the bottle tightly in your hand as you ran to find either them or Lupin.

Hermione slapped a hand over her mouth to try and stop from breathing so hard. Harry was somewhere. She could hear the snarls of the werewolf, aware that she was probably Lupin’s current target. The snap of a branch made her eyes snap open. Lupin clearly heard it too as he moved away from her and to wherever the sound was.

Your breath caught in your throat at seeing Lupin’s werewolf form. You had only seen your aunt as a werewolf once or twice but his figure was so much bigger. Much more imposing. Part of you wished that you had found Hermione or Harry first. Lupin lunged at you before you could even process it. The scream that left your mouth didn’t quite register as yours. Your hands shakily opened the vial and threw it at Lupin’s mouth. The smell of the wolfsbane alone sent the creature backwards and away from you.

Remus shook his head out, trying to figure out what happened. He remembered the Shrieking Shack and the full moon and now but there were at least fifteen minutes missing. The pained groan made him look over. He felt like he had been slapped in the face. The missing minutes came back to him all at once. The werewolf slowly approached you. Remus felt like he couldn’t breathe as he stared at all the blood. He barely missed your face.

But the amount coming out from between your hand that clutched your shoulder let him know that he had hurt you severely. Your sharp cry made him wince as he tried to get you onto his back so he could run back to the castle. He breathed out in relief when Sirius, who had recovered from Remus flinging his animagus form into a tree, came out of the trees.

“I got her, Moony. The kids are back at the castle, all of them. You didn’t hurt anyone else.”

Remus didn’t want to hear it, running deep into the forest.

(Part 4)

#remus lupin x black!reader #remus lupin x reader

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