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#if i happen to find it i'll obviously add it
thefruitiestofbois · 2 days
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We just needed time- pt2
"Maria I'm going. It's final." My tone is icy as I make my point. I stand by my decision and I'm not turning back now.
"It isn't safe. You don't know how many of them there are- in fact you don't even know where you're going."
"Seattle. That's where I'm going." I counter and Maria slams a finger down onto the table in disapproval. Mostly she's frustrated that I'm insisting on going alone. It would be safer that way, less chance somebody else dies because of me.
"Deep down you know that it's better I get to them first before they come back with bigger numbers. Before they come back to Jackson. It's safer." She holds my gaze, nostrils flared, defeat crawling up her face. "You can't stop me." I add before she swipes her greying hair behind her ears as Tommy offers a comforting squeeze on the shoulder. Almost as if to tell her that all three of us in the room know I'll just sneak out without her blessing. Two weeks ago Dina and I ran into a group from Washington looking for a smuggler and a girl. They told us they weren't looking for trouble and that they just wanted to know where a man by the name of Joel Miller was as well as the girl he smuggled. Obviously, we both said nothing. Didn't even tell them he was already dead because Abby, who I assumed was the leader, seemed to be on some kind of vengeance mission. She seemed disappointed that we didn't know him and not the type of disappointment where she wishes she could just reunite with him, but the type that was fuelled by vengeance. She looked pissed. If reading the room hadn't been enough, the day after, when I tailed them to the mansion, I overheard Abby telling some Owen guy that she would be back and that she'd 'storm Jackson and find Joel and Ellie, no matter the cost'.
I've been battling Maria for the past two weeks and avoiding Ellie. Not that avoiding her was difficult to do, she seemed to be doing the exact same. If I could go to Seattle and tell them Joel was already dead, maybe Jackson would be safe. Maybe Ellie would be safe. That was my redemption. Maybe if I couldn't keep Joel alive, I could keep Ellie out of harm's way. I wasn't looking for forgiveness, I knew Ellie would never give me that, but maybe I could earn her neutrality to replace the hatred she had for me. Or maybe I wanted to replace the hatred I had for myself.
"Just let her go, she'll probably be fine." Tommy soothingly attempts to convince her. She forces out a huff of angry air and just nods.
"Thank you." The hint of desperation in my words softens Maria's authoritative demeanour and she walks around the table and tugs me into a hug. A tight one at that and I wrap my arms around her, a silent cue that I'll be okay.
"You better not get yourself in trouble, or so help me God I will kill you myself. You got that?" I hum and head straight to the stables.
Ellie coincidentally happens to be returning from patrol when I'm loading up my saddles for what anyone could tell to be a lengthy journey. I had told Tommy to convince Maria to clear my house out just in case.
"Where are you going?" Ellie asks and its the first words she's spoken to me since our patrol a few weeks ago. Maria knew something was off so she didn't pair us together after that, especially after Dina and I's run in with the WLFs.
"Seattle." With that I mount my horse and ride out, not explaining myself further and leaving Ellie and Jackson behind me.
//
Gunfire and screams echo in the distance towards the direction of a stadium or arena. Conflict seemed to be pretty common and from what I've gathered after spending a few weeks in Seattle on my solo adventure, I've learnt a few things. There are two groups- the Scars and the Wolves, who I presumed were the WLF. They hated each other to the point where it was kill on sight. I'd been caught in the crossfire a few times, nothing major though, just flesh wounds. I've also learnt the Scars are some kind of cult and they worship some prophet, whose murals were scattered throughout Seattle. I had just come through a quarantine zone and a hotel with the WLF banner paraded on the front. The buildings here were tall and close together- great for hiding but horrible to navigate through.
My plan was to find a patrol and peacefully offer myself up but so far everyone has trigger happy, even at the snap of a twig. Seattle was at war, that much was obvious but the cause was still unknown to me. Not that I cared. I was here for Abby and the Wolves. The faster I could deliver my message, the faster I could go back to Jackson.
Everything was darker in Seattle, the clouds, the blitzed buildings and roads and even the plants and grass were a dark green. As I wade through the overgrown bushes in some park I stumbled into on my way to the hospital, a whistle further away on the opposite causes me to instinctually duck to cover. Seraphites. I was wondering if I'd encounter anymore of them. I go prone, keeping my body glued to the mud no matter what.
"We caught the apostate and the wolf. All that's left is to free them. May She guide us." That's all I make out as I crawl behind a barely recognisable bus stop, screwing my silencer onto my pistol, just in case. Another whistle, sharper this time, breaks the silence and I'd come to recognise it as a warning whistle, Well a warning for me and a signal to the other Seraphites that someone was hiding nearby. And then quiet. So quiet I held my breath just so I wouldn't be heard. Finger ready on the trigger I begin slowly creeping out behind the cover of the bus stop, and upon seeing the coast is clear, launch myself for the park exit.
"Right there by the bus stop!" I hear one of them call out but I don't look back as I race, chest heaving, to just make it out of here. But then I hear a bow firing and very quickly afterwards feel the searing hot pain of an arrow ripping through my right shoulder. Another bow fires an arrow into my left calf and I drop to the jagged concrete below, breath staggering as I clutch my shoulder which was now pooling blood through my shirt and jacket. I crawl as fast as I can away from the thumping footsteps that are getting closer with each passing second. I grunt out, clutching my shoulder tighter as agony rips through me as I aimlessly crawl forward.
The thumping stops by my ear and a strong hand throws me onto my back, knocking the wind out of my chest. My dazed eyes meet ones with a satisfied sadistic glint accompanied by scarred cheeks pulled up as his lips curve into a smile.
"Look's like we've caught another Wolf for us to free."
//
As I stir awake, I wince as my restraints pull my arms back behind a wooden pole and widen the wound in my shoulder.
"Look's like the wolf is awake." The same man who knocked me out in the park pokes me with a wooden bat, forcing my attention onto him.
"How many times do I have to say it, I'm not a WLF." My voice barely makes it through my chapped and busted open lips and even then it was barely a whisper. This was routine- the man, who I now knew was called Marcus, would come in every night, rough me up, ask me questions and then acquaint me with his bat every time I answered a question wrong. And apparently, all my answers so far were wrong. I think seven or eight days must have passed since the day they caught me. Maybe more. I don't know because I hadn't exactly been conscious the whole time I was here.
"Where is your leader?" He asks, fingers twitching around the handle of the bat, which by now I'm sure had been stained red with my own blood.
"Like I said before, I'm not even from this state so I have no idea what you cultist freaks are talking about." This time a faint echo of a laugh escapes my lips. Same questions, same answers, same beatings. I think I was starting to lose it. And as if Marcus knew his cue, he raises the bat, this time swinging into my side and I cry out but quickly gritting my teeth so he doesn't get the satisfaction. I fold into myself as much as my restraints and position on the floor allow me to. If I ever get out of here, I'm gonna swing that bat into his head so many times that he'll be a pile of bloody brains and wooden splints by the time I'm done with him.
A woman comes into the room and whispers something to Marcus and he seems somewhat disappointed and angry I think? The room itself was a shipping container turned into a makeshift interrogation/torture room. A single floodlight at the back of the room that always lit up Marcus' face while leaving me an aching shadowy creature for his amusement. Although I think he'd have no issue with inflicting pain even as he looked into my eyes. My head dips low as the exhaustion I've been fighting off for days finally creeps up into my eyelids.
I wince again as Marcus prods me in the same bruised spot he hit earlier and I jolt awake.
"No time to sleep wolf, we're taking you to be freed." Call it a hunch but I don't think my version of being freed and theirs matches up. Marcus keeps a gun trained on me as the woman unties me, not even bothering to lift me up fully before dragging me by the back of my collar out the container and over muddy tracks further into the forest. Dirt scrapes into the tips of my worn out boots and the more she tugs at my collar, the more I feel my airways constrict and my head getting lightheaded. It's only when she throws me into the ground and I finally see the sky for the first time in a week that I regain some of my senses. Adrenaline surges through and every hair on my body stands up as corpses of gutted prisoners swing above me, some with their necks snapped as a rope is the only thing keeping them in the air. Well shit. I guess I'm not getting out of here. Like ever.
Another prisoner gets thrown into the ground next to me and when I meet their eyes, I'm shocked to see the one face I had set off to Seattle for- Abby fucking Anderson. She stares at me blankly for a few moments before the realisation sets in.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" She laughs in disbelief, eyes still blown wide.
"Well as luck would have it, I actually came to find you."
"Me? What do you want me-"
"Shut the fuck up!" The high shrieking voice of a woman orders us and I tilt my chin to get a look at her. Dread slowly freezes every muscle as I see her wipe her bloody knife with a cloth- a knife she had just pulled out of a strung up girl. The girl, who was still swinging, must have been no older than twelve. These sick fucks were torturing and gutting children. Throwing the cloth into the fire they'd set in a barrel, she edges towards us, calmly. She remained expressionless even as she knelt down to push the tip of the knife into my throat- enough to draw some blood but not enough to do any real damage.
"You have such beautiful features." The cool tip of the blade glides across my cheekbones and jaw.
"Beautiful enough to spare my life?" I was grasping at smoke but there's no rule dictating what someone can and can't say in their last moments.
"I see this one has a sense of humour. I think She will be pleased with sacrifice." Well that was not where I was hoping she was going. "Who knows maybe you might have the blood of Restoration flowing through you." These people are batshit crazy.
"Restoration?" I ask, genuinely baffled and Abby's attention is also drawn into our exchange.
"We found scriptures from the Prophet that have guided us to a new goal: a cure for the horrors mankind has inflicted upon this world. We are no longer atoning for these sins, but instead She will guide us to a new world. One in which demons are no more and only the best of us will thrive." A cure?
"Who exactly is the Prophet?"
"You question the faith?" She jabs at me with a sharpness exceeding that of the knife in her hand, eyes narrowed into slits.
"What's the blood of Restoration?" This time it's Abby who speaks and I know why she's asking. She was part of the Salt Lake crew and I was praying she wouldn't give anything away. My eyes silently plead with hers and she looks away from me, her face neutral.
"The scriptures tell us of an individual whose blood can cure this world of its demons. Their body must be purified and their blood spilled."
"Purified?" I can't help the anxious shift in my tone but I try and play it off as curiosity. The woman says nothing, and her silence is all I need to make my own assumptions. I silently beg Abby once more, this time a subtle shake of my head when the woman's back is turned away as she fixes two sets of rope into nooses. She turns back to me and Abby, a noose in her hand and she paces forward to Abby, tossing it around her neck and tightening it. Abby struggles against the restraints, her tip toes barely reaching the upside down bucket that's stopping her from hanging.
A Seraphite comes rushing into the opening of the forest we were in and calls out to the woman.
"The other Wolf confessed. We know who has the cure." Grins adorn both their faces, and a trembling frown appears on my own. He mutters something else to her but it's too quiet for me to hear over the sounds of Abby struggling. If I could just find something to cut myself free. But there's nothing. No way I could escape.
"Outsider, where did you say you were from?" I realise she's talking to me and I keep my lips tight. The flickering of the torch is slowly growing brighter as the sky grows darker and darker. Another storm must be coming. I drop my head back into the mud ignoring her and accepting reality. I was going to die and so was Ellie. My journey here had been for nothing.
Marcus rushes in, heavy thudding footsteps hammering into the ground as he pants out of breath that the 'apostate' has escaped. Well I guess someone would get out of this shithole, it just wouldn't be me.
"Go. Spread the word that our goal is completely clear: we must find the girl in Jackson and bring her to Haven." No, no, no. Fuck. Who told these sick freaks about Ellie? I was supposed to keep her safe and instead, she's going to die without even so much as a warning. I desperately needed to get out of here.
As Marcus hurries away, the whistle of an arrow fills the air and the woman drops limp to the mud as an arrow pierces her skull through her eyes. Lighter steps patter against the dirt and relief floods through Abby as she looks past me to a small child with their head shaved and scars on their cheeks just like the other Seraphites.
"Lev, thank god." Abby strains out as they cut her down, a thud sounding as she falls to the floor, heavy pants as she gets rid of the noose, red marks spanning her neck and mud smeared over her tank top. I drop my head back to the ground, staring up at the grey clouds and swaying branches until Abby's bulky figure comes into view, blocking the sun like some muscular eclipse.
"You're uh- you're blocking my sunlight." She questioningly raises a brow. "I'd like to spend my last few moments bathing in the light, I don't think they have a sun in the afterlife."
"Are you always this stupid?" She asks, still looming over me.
"Only when I'm close to death."
"You're not dying dumbass. Lev untie her. You're coming with us so you can explain exactly why you came to Seattle for me."
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chqnified · 7 months
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If you ever feel dim. Don't worry. I set off the security alarms trying to open up the office building. Because i was tapping the fob on the aircon/electric unit and NOT the security alarm deactivator
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rorsry · 8 months
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watched uhh dorothy returns ro wizard of oz (2013) and i'd give it a 6.5/10 in general but entertainment wise i'd give it an 8.5 (tbf i was watching it with my brother idk how i'd rate it if i was alone) theres a part where they need a boat and dorothy snaps a piece of wood off a tree who yells in pain and then every tree there starts throwing rocks and acorns at her but then it cuts to a tree hunched over and hes like "take me... take me." and i csnt properly explain why it's so unbelievably funny. the line delivery makes him sound so accepting like he's really willing to die to help dorothy get a boat and i can't stop thinking about it
#also watched dino king. uh. 29 minutes in my brother and i thought it was gonna end soon so we paused and saw we still had an hour left#and we both visibly went HUH??? and i was like are we gonna power through this movie or watch khumba......and he chose to power through#for a dinosaur movie it's not bad i actually really like what they tried going for? ie using footage of real landscape and cgi-ing dinos#in it to make it seem like it's Real Life. obviously the cgi is so very noticable but they did pretty good👍🏼#when speckles (main character) fell into water instead of cgi-ing the water the dropped something irl but put his model over ir#which i find neat i didnt think they'd do that. kinda sad at the lack of blood when the dinos would kill each other#also speckles' family dies which i expected and when the timeskip happens and he finds a girl and then she dies i expected however i did no#expect them to kill two out of three kids like i'm glad junior survived but god damn after the first one died i was hoping the last two#would survive at the very least. also fuck one eyed i thought he was just survivng at first but no he literally started beef#with a one year old dinosaur baby and decided Yeah Im Gonna Ruin Your Life Forever Buddy#my brother and i when speckles finally kills one eyed: yoooo YOOOOOO#movie would have heen better with like 98% more blood but when they did sue blood they used both cgi and fake irl#which i'll admit was kinda cool#fuck you one eye i fucking hate you#ok anywaus we tried watching khumba but didnt bc it was getting late so we watched the first 20mins and then skipped to the end#i think it wouldve been a nice movie? i have no idea but i mean i didnt hate what i saw#if you guys rver wanna watch a movie just got to free with ads on youtube ive been obsessing over those for months now#btw dino movies are very boring to me i forgot to add that. so yeah dino king IS boring to me but i had fun
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5ummit · 11 months
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New Mature Content Warning Overlay (And How to Get Rid of It)
More fun community label "features"! Unlike the new mandatory label for #NSFW, this one is a bigger deal to me because it affects my entire blog and it can't be avoided by just using a different tag.
Apparently on custom blog layouts, if you happen to post or reblog even a SINGLE post that's been flagged with the mature content community label, a full-page warning overlay will appear blurring out your entire blog that must be manually clicked through every single time the page is refreshed. At first I thought this was just a bug due to my older layout but I've come to realize it's not. It's a feature (as confirmed by this recent changes post) that affects all custom themes. The formatting will vary based on your own theme but here's what it looks like on my blog:
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I don't know about you but I find this is stupid and annoying. If it could be dismissed once and never seen again that might be one thing, but that's not the case. The vast majority of my blog is not "mature" enough to warrant such an aggressive and invasive warning. I also think pop-ups are obnoxious in general and I'll be damned if tumblr's going to force me to have one on MY blog.
After some desperate googling for a known workaround and being unable to find even a single mention of it, I decided to take on the challenge myself. I'm not a theme coder, so apologies if there's a better way to do this, but luckily it only took me like 10 minutes to figure out a simple fix, which I'm now sharing with anyone else who may want it:
.community-label-cover__wrapper {display: none}
Just copypaste that somewhere in your CSS and goodbye pop-up!
If you're not sure how to access your theme code, check out this help article. You can also add the code via the Advanced Options menu, which is actually even better (if you can get it to work, it depends on how your theme was coded), because it will then automatically be reapplied to a lot of themes without having to remember to manually add it every time if you change your theme in the future.
Obviously this will only remove it from your own blog for anyone who may visit it. If you never want to see this warning again on other people's blogs you can also add this custom filter to your ad block:
tumblr.com##.community-label-cover__wrapper
Unfortunately I do not have an easy tutorial on hand for this one as the method will depend on your specific ad block app or extension.
Some additional notes:
After adding the theme code and saving the changes, give it a minute to update as it sometimes takes a little while for the page to refresh.
The warning overlay only seems to appear if a "mature" post is on the FIRST page of your blog, which is still annoying and makes the whole thing even more pointless and stupid because what if someone visits any other page of your blog, and oh no, happens to see "mature" content they weren't warned about?!
The warning also appears on direct links to "mature" posts.
This hack has NOTHING to do with entire blogs that have been flagged as NSFW. It only works for non-flagged blogs with custom themes that happen to have individual "mature" posts.
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astonmartinii · 1 year
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babysitter duty | max verstappen social media au
pairing: max verstappen x reader
an emergency meeting at red bull means max finally meets the horner family babysitter and chaos ensues
note: i will obviously not be using christian's real kids in this, this is a work of fiction. there will be no real pictures of his kids, neither will i use their real names (i actually have no clue what they are and cannot be bothered to google it lol)
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yourusername added to their story
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[caption: when all the big businessmen crash baking night]
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yourusername
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liked by yourbff and others
tagged: yourbff
yourusername: last weekend before the eff won starts again i.e. my last weekend before my only friends are literal children
view all 27 comments
yourbff bring the kids out me thinks
yourusername my boss literally follows this account dumbass
christianhorner do not take my children clubbing
yourusername YES SIR 🫡
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yourusername
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liked by maxverstappen1, christianhorner and 223 others
yourusername: wasn't raining in oxford for once so a picnic was only necessary
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yourbff they're so so precious
christianhorner who taught her that sign?
yourusername you did??? stop swearing so much in drive to survive sir
maxverstappen1 she's not wrong
christianhorner why are you here?
maxverstappen1
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liked by danielricciardo, yourusername and 601,778 others
maxverstappen1 best way to start the season and to end a ten year drought in Bahrain!! thank you to everyone in the garage and all the fans in the stands
view all 10,865 comments
yourusername smashed it maxy
maxverstappen1 why thank you i'm blushing
user67 what. the. fuck. is that ^^^
themaxverstappenstan33 i am actually bamboozled
danielricciardo ignoring whatever meltdown is happening in these comments - congrats max !!
yourusername added to their story
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[caption: school run days]
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maxverstappen1 added to their story
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f1wagsupdates
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liked by f1girly77, likedbypierre and 77 others
f1wagsupdates this is y/n y/ln, she's a live-in babysitter for christian horner and more recently, she seems to be the one catching max verstappen's attention. as far as we know they first met after the top officials at red bull met for an emergency meeting at christian horner's home - we know she was present because she posted on her story with one of the kids baking during the meeting. since then she has been commenting on his posts and max posted a picture of him with a girl on his story in an outfit y/n has posted in before. do you think they're cute?
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yourusername someone fancies themselves a detective
user34 oof she gagged yall
hugsforcharles tbf she has a point, you guys are digging way too into all of it
lilacverstappen i know this is a gross invasion of privacy but i kinda think they're cute
user33 you're not wrong
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maxverstappen1
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liked by yourusername, pierregasly and 1,206,781 others
tagged: yourusername
maxverstappen1 fuck u sherlock holmes i'll decide when i announce my relationship ... anyhow, you're cute, sorry christian but you're going to have to find a new babysitter
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yourusername I LOVE YOU MAXY but i love those kids more so looks like you're movign to oxford
maxverstappen1 i never agreed to that
yourusername say goodbye to the tax free life and say hello to crayons and picnics
christianhorner you'll have three very angry kids to deal with max, but aside from that, i'm very happy for the both of you
yourusername love you bossman
maxverstappen1 love you bossman
danielricciardo this is not usually how this plot line ends
landonorris STOP RIGHT THERE OLD MAN THIS IS A WHOLESOME POST
yourusername
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liked by maxverstappen1, christianhorner and 22,301 others
tagged: maxverstappen1
yourusername add max moving into christian's house to ur f1 bingo cards - you can't take me away from these kids, they're kinda my only friends
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maxverstappen1 i've been here one day and i'm convinced @christianhorner ur kids are evil geniuses
yourusername obvs they are maxy, they're salty spice's kids
user46 omg she calls him salty spice as well
christianhorner don't make me regret giving you a room near mine
yourusername GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER CHRISTIAN... maybe invest in some ear plugs ;)
christianhorner consider this your eviction notice
note: bit of a random one lol but i had fun. i know people don't like christian (for good reason) but he's the one it worked with. ALSO my asks are open now !!! so ask away xx
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suzukiblu · 7 months
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Excerpt from an in-progress DP x DC soulmate AU starring Jazz Fenton, a very unfortunate mugger, and a smoothie. Oh, and I guess Jason is there too.
Jazz meets her soulmate in, of all places, Park Row. Or as the locals call it, Crime Alley.
Seems about right for her life, she decides as she kicks the shit out of the guy who was trying to stab him for his wallet fifteen seconds ago. Her soulmate watches her curiously, seeming unconcerned by the fuss, and takes a sip of his smoothie.
Also seems about right, for her soulmate. A guy who got too nervous when necessary violence happened was not going to survive Thanksgiving in Amity Park, much less Christmas.
Well, it is Gotham.
"Hi," he says.
"Hi, sorry, one sec," Jazz says, then leans over the groaning mugger and offers him a card to the best local crisis center she's managed to track down via research and word of mouth in the four months she's been in Gotham. Not her card, obviously, since she just roundhouse-kicked the guy in the head to protect her soulmate from him and that's arguably a conflict of interest. Or close enough, anyway. "So you should check these guys out, they've got a very high success rate in their job program and there's an associated food bank and rent assistance, if you qualify."
"What?" the mugger says dazedly.
"Also if you ever touch my soulmate again I'll make you wish for the cold mercy of the Infinite Realms," Jazz adds pleasantly. The guy goes very, very pale. Then he snatches the card from her and runs for his life and eternal soul.
"This is the nicest thing the universe has ever done to me," her soulmate muses, taking another sip of his smoothie.
"Getting you mugged?" Jazz asks wryly, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Are you religious? Do you want kids?" her soulmate asks. "Also, who's your favorite Bat?"
"Robin, obviously," Jazz says. "The overdramatic and feral little stabby one, I mean. He reminds me of my little brother. Makes me feel a little bit maternal, to be honest. So that answers two out of three, and as far as religion goes, I only believe in Psychology Today, highly customized guns, and my mom's ninth-degree black belt."
"This better not awaken anything in me," her soulmate mutters under his breath.
"That seems unlikely, or we wouldn't be soulmates," Jazz says.
"Point," he says, sipping his smoothie again. Jazz didn't even know anywhere in Crime Alley sold smoothies, but she is new around here. "Wanna go break my bed? Or maybe go get coffee?"
"You've already got a smoothie," Jazz says.
"So I do," he says.
Jazz looks him over. He's her soulmate, so she's not surprised to find him gorgeous. She wasn't ever expecting a familial soulmate–Danny is a very intense sibling to have, and her parents are very intense parents to have, not to mention everything about Dani, and "soulcousins" aren't typically a thing–and she's never been especially interested in keeping around too many close friends, so considering all that, she was already expecting her soulmate to be a romantic one. If they are platonic, it's definitely only going to be because her soulmate is an aromantic asexual. Which he probably isn't, since he already asked about kids and religion and if she wanted to go break his bed.
Then again, she's met people who'll posture worse than that. Especially guys, and especially ace ones with a clear investment in their masculinity, and given this particular guy is built like a brick house could only dream to be, chances are he has some feelings about his masculinity. Though he's also drinking a visibly pink smoothie, not a neutral-colored protein shake or generic black coffee, so . . . fifty-fifty there, maybe?
Further inquiry will probably be required.
"I'm Jazz," she tells him. "What's your name?"
"Robin," he says. Then he–pauses. Blinks. "I mean–Robin."
He looks very confused for a second, and Jazz blinks too, and refocuses her eyes a bit. Oh, is he–
"Are you overshadowing that guy?" she assumes. For the love of–of course her soulmate would be a ghost, she thinks dryly. Who'd want a soulmate their mom and dad wouldn't want to grill for information and ask a thousand invasive questions, after all? "I mean, he's really hot, don't get me wrong, he looks good on you, but I'd rather meet you for real."
"'Overshadowing'?" Robin looks bemused.
"I'm Danny's sister," Jazz clarifies. Robin does not look less bemused. "You know, the new king?"
"What?" Robin says. Jazz frowns a little, feeling a bit bemused herself.
"Do you not get out much?" she asks.
"Never, actually, but also yes and constantly and way too often," Robin says. "My job is kind of demanding that way."
"What's your job?" Jazz asks curiously. Ghosts' jobs are always interesting, even if only for how they interact and manifest with their Obsessions. She wonders what his Obsession is, actually, because smoothies seem like an unlikely option but she doesn't have much else to go on here.
Can't be weirder than Box Ghost, either way.
"I'm a Bat," Robin says, then looks absolutely alarmed and also absolutely horrified.
"Huh," Jazz says, tilting her head. He seems really big to be one of the Robins, and a little too old besides. A year or two younger than her, maybe, and even the older Robin she's pretty sure is at best Danny's age. Though that's assuming this body is the one he fights crime in, admittedly. Although it's kinda funny if one of the Bats is just named Robin. Must get annoying on patrol, though. "I didn't know any of you were dead, but I guess that's not actually a surprise either, given the profession."
"Why did I say that to you?" Robin asks tightly.
"I told you, I'm the new king's sister," Jazz says. "You know, it's the royal family thing. Technically I'm his regent, legally speaking, but only because I'm better at paperwork and he doesn't count as a legal adult in the Infinite Realms yet. Hasn't been dead long enough, you know how it is. But I've been alive long enough to, apparently? But his 'being alive' technically stopped tracking at fourteen. It's complicated, basically."
"What the fuck does that mean?!" Robin demands.
"It means you can't lie to me because you're one of my brother's subjects," Jazz says, really not understanding his reaction. Every ghost knows this, after all. The only ones who wouldn't know it are too young to be away from their guardians' haunts or even leave the Infinite Realms at all. Definitely a ghost who knows how to overshadow someone this thoroughly and fully is old enough and experienced enough to know it, though. "Whose body is that, anyway?"
"It's my father's," Robin says. Jazz's eyes widen a little and she has several very concerned internal reactions before he chokes and sputters–"I mean–it's not–he's not–!"
"You realize there is no healthy way to mean that, right?" Jazz says. Robin looks frustrated and freaked out and she feels bad about it, because she didn't mean or want to upset him, but she clearly has. "Sorry. I mean, I still secretly feel like I'm the one parenting my parents half the time, you're not the only one with weird feelings about yours."
"I'm his," Robin says, then grits his teeth in visible pain. He's this close to crushing the smoothie cup he's holding but hasn't actually done it. Jazz wonders if that's an example of deliberate self-control or subconscious restraint.
She's pretty sure Robin didn't mean to say that, though.
"Are you okay?" she asks, a little concerned. Normally ghosts just stop talking about things they want to lie about, when they realize who she is.
"No," Robin says. "I'm just his. I've always been his, I always will be, his good soldier, his worst mistake, not his actual fucking son, why am I telling you this?!"
"I don't know," Jazz says, frowning in increased concern. "Usually people can work around the inability to lie a little bit, but you sound like you're being compelled to speak. Increasingly like, actually. Hm. What's your Obsession? And what kind of core do you have?"
"What?" he says.
"They might be making you unstable, is all," Jazz says. "I don't think it'd be a soulmate thing but to be fair I don't really know how that works. Are you dead, or are you a manifestation of something?"
"I'm dead," Robin says, staring at her. "That bastard clown beat my head in with a crowbar and blew up what was left of me. I woke up in my grave and–I–how did you know that?"
"Well, I didn't, that's why I asked," Jazz says reasonably, idly wondering why the Joker isn't dead yet, since this is Gotham and obviously it wouldn't be another "bastard clown" Robin was referencing, even if he wasn't a Bat. But like, at least dead via the court system, if nothing else. The Joker is insane, yes, but no one can argue he doesn't know right from wrong at this point. Does New Jersey just not have the death penalty, maybe? She hasn't thought to check. "Maybe it's the guy you're in? He's not drunk or high or anything, is he?"
"I hate drugs," Robin says, gritting his teeth again; tightening his grip on the smoothie again. He's trembling, just barely. "I hate them. I'd never touch them. I don't know what you are. You're scaring me. Please stop."
He definitely didn't mean to say that, Jazz can tell.
But . . . he doesn't know what she is.
He doesn't know.
Well, that's a problem.
"Robin," she says gently, and for some reason his face twists painfully at the sound of his own name. "Can I see your core? Please?"
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seospicybin · 4 months
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TOO HOT TO HANDLE.
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EXTRA HOT REUNION
Lee Know x reader. (s)
Too Hot To Handle Masterlist.
Synopsis: You and Minho are having a Too Hot To Handle reunion with other contestants to catch up on the life after the retreat. (7,2k words)
Author's note: Merry Christmas! Hope you enjoy my gift to you ❤️
HOST: Welcome to the Too Hot To Handle reunion! Today, we're going to get all the updates on your favorite couples and what happens once they return to the real world. And I know, you're all dying to know if the couples are still together or not but in the meantime, let's find out if our sexy group of people remember all the times they broke the rules.
-
AGNES: Uh, I did a lot [cringes]
LUCA: I wish I had broken more rules. [Laughs]
YOU: The kiss Agnes and I did with Jack.
JAI: [Counts with fingers] There's just a lot of 'em.
BRYAN: Uhm... I'm the accountant, remember?
MINHO: The sex?
YOU: Then I broke more rules with Minho.
AGNES: Oh, the kiss with Jack!
JACK: Just once but I kissed the two hottest girls in the retreat [grins]
-
HOST: Here's the couple who broke half of those rule breaks and managed to win the show. Welcome back, lovebirds!
MINHO: [Waves hand]
YOU: Hi, gorgeous! [Smiles]
HOST: You guys won. Congratulations! [Claps]
YOU: Thanks, girl!
MINHO: Thank you.
HOST: So, what are you guys doing with the money? Are you guys sharing it? Or maybe... saving it for the wedding? [Chuckles]
MINHO: I make her keep all the money.
YOU: He insists that I handle it.
HOST: Uh-oh. I sense something wrong. What is it? Tell us all about it...
MINHO: [Shrugs]
YOU: Ugh!
MINHO: We were supposed to go on this trip together.
YOU: [rolls eyes]
HOST: Girl, I can see you holding back. Spill!
YOU: [Sighs] Well, since I'm taking care of the money, I thought it would be nice to go on a trip together with the money we've won. On the day we were supposed to leave, we had an argument so yeah...
HOST: Oh, no [frowns]
YOU: I booked the flights, the Airbnb... I have to cancel all of that because he canceled last minute like... [exhales air]
HOST: Minho, you want to add to that?
MINHO: That's all true. We argued on the day of the flight and I canceled.
YOU: And I texted him, you know, he could have still come, we could sort things out face to face but no, he didn't reply to any of my texts.
HOST: If I were you, I would have still gone on that vacation.
YOU: Honestly, I was looking forward to that trip, I want to spend time with him and have fun... [sighs] I was a little heartbroken by that.
HOST: Just to clarify... are you still together or not?
YOU: I'm just going to let it out of my chest that I... I will always have love for Minho and I support him, I'll always be attracted to him. I—
HOST: I'm sorry, girl but you have to hold it right there and we'll get back to you later.
-
HOST: If there's one thing that the villa proves is that people are complicated and one person knows this more than most... it's Zara!
ZARA: [Blows kisses] Hi, hello! That's actually the nicest way to put it, it's complicated [laughs]
HOST: Let me tell you, I was sad to see you got eliminated [pouts]
ZARA: Aww... but that's the thing, I came home not feeling sad at all, and to feel that, I usually have to go out with friends and have a few drinks. But I was sitting at my home thinking of what Lana taught me and what I'd learned... [smiles] It was all a good life lesson.
HOST: What made you feel that way about your elimination?
ZARA: I don't know, I woke up feeling like I learned enough in the retreat, obviously, I didn't want to keep hurting myself and get myself into more drama... [inhales] it's for the best.
HOST: Are you seeing anyone at the moment?
ZARA: Yeah and he's amazing, he's sweet and fun and he's just as obsessed with me as I do for him [chuckles]
HOST: I love that, yeah. You just feel like want to eat him, right?
ZARA: [Laughs]
HOST: But in regards to what happened to you and Bryan, have you spoken to each other ever since? Are you on good terms?
ZARA: He sent me some texts once the show ended but that's just that [thinly smiles] let's just leave it at that.
HOST: It was fun catching up with you but I have to go and talk to Agnes and Jai.
ZARA: Send my love for them [Blows kisses]
HOST: And I am sending you my love. Cheers, babe!
-
HOST: I cannot wait to find out if they're still horny for each other, it's one of my favorite couples, Jai and Agnes!
AGNES: Hi, hi! [Makes smooching sounds]
JAI: G'day! [Grins]
HOST: I never knew I missed that grin of yours, Jai! [Chuckles]
JAI: I know [grins] I'm doing it for you.
HOST: Shush it, boy! Your girl is here!
AGNES: I'm very aware of how flirtatious my man could be. But I'm watching you [squints eyes]
JAI: [Holds both hands up]
HOST: Tell us what happened after the show. Are you guys still naughty and horny?
JAI: Oh, yes.
AGNES: [Laughs]
JAI: She stayed with me for a while, back when I was still having a roommate and he asked me if we were alright. We kept going at it that it concerned him.
AGNES: Oh, my God!
HOST: Oh! You two are just so passionate [laughs]
AGNES: [Nods] [giggles]
JAI: We are!
HOST: Now, for the most important question, are you guys still together or not?
JAI: We had a little break then we just kind of... found a way back to each other.
AGNES: [smiles] We are still together. Yay!
HOST: Oh, thank Goodness!
JAI: A month ago, is it? We took a trip together and eventually met her sister and her family.
AGNES: It was unplanned! [Laughs] [shows hand] There's no ring yet, everyone.
HOST: Jai? Any plans to put a ring on it then?
AGNES: [Laughs]
JAI: Uh... to be continued?
HOST: It's been lovely, you guys. I hope you two stay happy.
AGNES: And horny?
HOST: Yes [laughs] Thank you and see you [blows kisses]
-
HOST: Before we get to the final interview, the guests are sharing their best moments in the villa.
AGNES: Oddly enough, I missed the dressing room, I guess that's because we gossip so much in there [giggles]
JACK: The kiss, obviously [laughs]
LUCA: The first party in the villa. That was... just wild and so much fun.
MAISIE: The final date I had with Luca was just romantic, probably the nicest date I ever had.
YOU: It's all the times Sabine and I hang out in the pool. Then there's also the time when Minho said he likes me, with the cushion and everything [laughs] that was just so special.
BRYAN: Just having with the guys, I guess, we were fooling around a lot, just lots of laughs.
-
HOST: Finally, we have come to the most awaited moment. Let me take a deep breath first [inhales] [exhales] Okay, we're ready now.
YOU: Where were we? [Laughs]
MINHO: The canceled trip and you were sad about it.
YOU: Yes, that... we had arguments like that not once or twice, I think that's just our love language [laughs]
HOST: That's kind of sexy, actually.
YOU: At that time, I just knew I had to be the one putting on the big girl pants, again [rolls eyes] if he didn't want to come to me then I'll just come to him.
HOST: Oh, my God! Is it like one of those movie scenes where the girl chasing the guy—
YOU: yeah, it's pretty much like that but the problem was... it was around Christmas and you know how hard it is to get a flight during holidays, it was a nightmare but I went through all that to see him.
HOST: And...?
YOU: It was cold and snowing, I dragged behind me, and knocked on his door, expecting that his face would light up when he saw me...
HOST: Oh, no, I sense a 'but' coming...
MINHO: I was just telling you to stop knocking [shrugs]
YOU: That's what he did, he scolded me for knocking on his door.
HOST: It keeps getting worse... I don't think I want to hear the rest.
MINHO: We're still together, we made up that day.
HOST: Oh, thank you Minho. I was close to having a cardiac arrest [clutches chest]
YOU: [Smiles] I didn't mean to scare anyone, sorry. We're still together, we still argue sometimes but we're still together, thank God!
HOST: That's good to hear so what are the plans now? Besides trying to be civil with each other [laughs]
YOU: Oh, before I forget, Minho also said the L word that day [giggles]
HOST: What? How could you hide it from it?
YOU: We were exchanging Christmas presents and he casually dropped the L bomb.
MINHO: Casually?
YOU: Honey... [laughs] I didn't say I don't like it. See? [Sighs] We need a couple counseling.
HOST: That's not a bad idea [chuckles]
YOU: I think it was special that there were only the two of us, it was intimate and heartfelt, and it couldn't be more perfect [smiles]
HOST: Minho, that... I didn’t know you were such a gentle guy.
MINHO: I've been meaning to say it, I just... didn't have the right time to say it.
YOU: Because we're always arguing.
HOST: [Laughs] I love that you guys complete each other's sentences.
YOU: I know, that's why I love us. That, and also because the make-up sex is just... [moans] [thumbs up]
HOST: Ugh, okay, you got me jealous now. I'll leave you two back to arguing then [laughs] Best wishes to you two, my loves! [Blows kisses]
-
HOST: It's been a blast catching up with all the casts of Too Hot To Handle Season 2. Thank you so much for watching, see you next time!
-
LAST CHRISTMAS 
"I don't chase, I attract."
You say those words out loud and manifest them to the world when you meditate in the morning but here you are, getting off the plane to chase a guy who canceled your planned trip at the last minute and not replying to your calls or texts.
You might have attracted him but nobody tells you that you have to chase him around too.
The layers of clothes that should have shielded you from the cold only make your body hot and soon drenched in sweat.
Why there are so many stairs? Why Minho has to live up on the hill? Why is your suitcase so heavy? Why did you pack so many clothes? Why are you here at all?
Despite the fatigue that slowly taking over you, you manage to conquer the last flight of stairs and arrive at his house.
After hours of bustling through the airport and the traffic, not to mention, dragging your luggage through the street, you're aware of how you look and it's not how you want Minho to see you when he opens the door.
But he should be appreciative of your intentions to come here and surprise him.
Right?
Can't believe you have second thoughts when you're already standing right in front of his door, why couldn't you have these thoughts before you got on the plane?
You throw away your worries and stop thinking altogether, your hands start knocking on the door. Once, twice... no one opens the door.
Oh, God? What if he's not home? What if—
You keep knocking on his door in case he didn't hear you the first two times. Your knocking is almost turning into a banging when he finally pulls the door open.
Minho stands there and looks at you with your hand hanging mid-air.
"You can stop knocking now," he says, scolding you for the aggressive knocking.
You don't expect confetti or cake or grand entrance music, but not this either, just you and him, looking at each other in silence.
Another moment passes and Minho opens the door wider, "Why are you just standing there? It's cold, get in!" He scolds you again.
It's only been a few minutes but he has scolded you twice already and weirdly, you obey him, getting into his house, pulling your luggage behind you.
Something is beeping from inside the house and Minho runs to check it, you allow yourself to go further inside. You take off your coat and purse, putting them on top of your suitcase before continuing to look around his house.
It's not small, not big either and it's obvious that he keeps it tidy and clean. You expect nothing less than that.
It's like seeing a movie scene, except that it's real. Minho looks exceptionally gorgeous in his dark sweater with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and one hand that is busy stirring something in a pot.
"Go wash your hands!" He orders.
You're too deep in your daydream to listen to him the first time and only get what he said the second time.
"Dinner is almost ready," he adds, closing the pot with a lid and then turning off the stove.
"Where's the—"
"The door behind you," he answers your unfinished question.
You're too tired to bicker with him and the smell of the soup he's cooking is appetizing, making your stomach rumbling in hunger.
Is it why Minho is not that happy to see you? You look horrible with your eyes looking dark and heavy with exhaustion, your hair is greasy and stuck to your forehead.
There's no time to dig into your suitcase to get your toiletry bag so you do everything to make yourself look presentable, wash your face, and brush your hair with your fingers, hoping that it's enough for now.
Minho has already set everything on the dining table when you return from the bathroom, looking at the food he's serving, your stomach is getting impatient on being filled with some home-cooked meals.
"This looks good," you say, taking a seat on the dining table.
He doesn't say anything to your compliment but goes to the kitchen to bring back a pitcher of water, then sits opposite you.
Minho immediately starts digging into his food and as much as you want to do the same, you're hoping to hear something from him other than commands.
"Do you perhaps... want to say something to me?" You carefully say.
He continues eating, taking a few things from different plates and eating them with a spoonful of rice.
"Like... 'oh, what a nice surprise!' or 'I'm happy to see you, honey'," you recite a few lines you wished to hear him saying yet he seems to enjoy his food too much to pay attention to what you're saying.
You softly sigh and pick up your spoon, "A hug would be nice," you mumble.
He glances up from his bowl of rice and looks at you, "You must be hungry. Eat!"
You cave in, obeying him again, and eat the food just like he ordered. Maybe because you were hungry, you feel less upset now that your stomach is filled.
You help with the dishes after dinner, drying your hands with a towel once you're finished then refill your glass with more red wine before leaning against the counter, watching Minho slicing up fruits, he looks so relaxed but maybe because he's in his element, in his own place.
"You're different at home," you mutter, then take a small sip of your wine.
He glances at you for a second before focusing back on the task in hand, the hand gripping the knife showcasing the evident veins on his forearm.
"Off-guard," you point out.
He pauses cutting an apple then looks at you, "Should I be on guard?"
To other people, Minho may seem like he's trying to pick a fight with you but that's just how he communicates, a bit snarky with a whole lot of nonchalance in it.
It's a good thing that you've been with him long enough to know how to handle him. You put your wine glass away and smile, "You're the one holding a knife, I should be the one on guard."
He smirks hearing your words and it took you this long to make him do that.
"So... will you put the knife down so you can kiss your girlfriend who came all the way to see you?" You sweetly ask, tilting your head to the side and batting your eyelashes at him even though you're not sure these flirting tricks would work on him.
You see that he loosens the grip around the knife and you come closer to him, "That's it, easy, easy..." you playfully say.
You take his other hand and let the knife drop onto the cutting board, turning him to face you. Holding his eyes in a gaze, you slide your hands up his arms then reunite them on the nape of his neck.
"I missed you," you softly mutter but your heart is close to shattering.
"So much," you say all of those words out while deeply looking into his dark brown eyes as they stare down into yours.
"Do you miss me?"
Minho hates it when you're insecure like this but you can't help it, it's just happens when you care so much about someone so let's hope he still knows that.
Then he leans in and kisses you, answering your question with a fiery kiss that melts your worries away until the only thing that remains is the warm feeling he brings with those lips.
When he pulls away, you forget the reason why you ever doubted him.
He then rests his hand on your back, he then slowly and deliberately blinks his eyes before saying, "I missed you too."
It's nice to hear that you're not the only one suffering from the longing. You smile knowing that he thought of you when you weren't here with him even though you're sure not as many times as you thought of him.
"Okay, good, the feeling is still mutual," you awkwardly say with a dry chuckle.
What can you say? Dating Minho is not for the faint of heart, it takes a lot of patience and courage, and it takes... a lot of things.
But is he worth it? The answer is Minho worth everything and more.
The shower helps you get rid of the stress that’s been clinging onto you and you come out refreshed, not feeling tired at all. If anything, you feel excited to spend the rest of the night with Minho, catching up on a lot of things.
Before that, you make yourself presentable this time, putting on your night dress and drying your hair real quick. You notice the toiletry bag Minho brought to the villa is on the sink and it seems like he packed it recently. You shrug it off, keeping your skincare routine brief, impatiently wanting to join Minho on his bed.
On your way to the bedroom, you also notice that he packed a suitcase in his closet, you wonder if he’s planning to go somewhere soon.
Minho is sitting on his bed reading a book, doing it so elegantly like he’s in a furniture TV ad.
“Are you going somewhere?” You get on the bed and lay on your stomach facing him.
“Huh?” He asks without looking away from his book.
You peek over to see the book he’s reading, from the cover you can see that it’s either a mystery, thriller, or horror book, it could be all of that combined.
“I saw your suitcase, packed,” you tell him.
He lowers his book to look at you, “unpacked, you mean,” he says.
Ah, that explains it but looking at how he keeps his things in his house tidy, there’s no way he lets his things stay in his suitcase for too long.
“You should dry your hair. You’ll catch a cold,” he says nonchalantly yet oozing with affection.
This is why you love him, he’s hot and cold, always keeping you on your toes, dating him is one endless thrilling ride.
“I just didn’t dry the end,” you tell him.
The talk about the suitcase reminds you of something. You roll over to the side of the bed and open your suitcase, taking two gift boxes you actually prepared for tomorrow. You bring them over to the bed, sitting next to Minho and place the smaller box first onto his lap.
“Merry Christmas,” You say with a bright smile on your face.
Minho raises an eyebrow at you then glares down at the gift on his lap, “What is it?”
“Your Christmas present from me,” you simply answer.
He seems way too calm for someone who receives a gift from his girlfriend and not sure you’re going to get used to this.
“Open it!” you impatiently say because he keeps observing the box and doing nothing to find out what’s inside.
He finally takes the lid off and sees the bracelet inside. You’re smiling as he takes it out to observe it. You hurriedly help him putting it around his wrist.
“Do you like it?” You ask once you clasped the ends together.
“Did you buy it with the prize money?” He asks with a sly grin.
Why he’s making it hard for you? You must admit that Minho makes you realize that you have a lot of patience in you. You take a deep, deep sigh and put on a big smile for him.
“I’m glad you like it and you’re very welcome,“ you respond, not going to make this supposed-to-be-a-heartfelt-moment into an argument.
It’s time to hand him the second box, instead of putting it on his lap, you drop it right on his crotch as a way to get back to him. He doesn’t flinch but pulls the box closer to his chest before opening it. You put your hand on top of the lid, stopping him from opening it.
“It’s not for you,” you tell him.
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “Then why did you give it to me?”
“Because I know you don’t have a Christmas present prepared for me so I got you one,” you explain.
It takes him a moment to process your words, “So, you bought this for me to gift to you?”
“Yes,” you answer without a beat.
He bursts into laughter and the box is shaking along with his body as he laughs, “So it- this one for you?”
You take the box from him and smile at him, “Thank you for the present, honey,” you say, then place a quick peck on his lips.
You put on an act, pretending not to know what’s inside the box and slowly uncovering it, taking the lid off with low exciting squeals coming out of your parted mouth. You tear through the wrapping paper and gasp at the sight of the content.
“Oh, my God! Honey…” You coo at him.
You take the pair of lingerie out of the box and show it to him, “This is so beautiful!” You exclaim with excitement even though you were the one who bought it.
“You like it?” He’s slyly smiling as he asks you.
“Are you kidding me? I love it!” You dramatically ask, clutching the gift close to your chest.
You lean in close and tilt your head to the side, “Ugh! You know me so well,” You sneer, then peck his lips.
“I’m glad you like it,” He coyly asks.
You put everything into the box and sigh, “I wanted to put them on and show them to you but…”
You put the lid back onto the box, excessively raising your shoulders, and slump them down as you let out another dramatic sigh, “I’m not in the mood.”
Minho snorts and puts away the boxes, stacking them on the bedside table, “Yeah, you’d better rest, you must be tired.”
And Minho always picks the worst time to be considerate towards you, you roll your eyes and stomp your feet as you walk back to your suitcase, tossing the lingerie into your suitcase and angrily shut it.
“But if you’re not tired, I would love to see you in them,” he says with a devilish smile dancing on his beautiful face.
Hate that you melt right away to his sweet consolidation, your foot is tapping the floor as you pretend to consider his request.
“Well… if you insist,” you say, grabbing the lingerie back from your suitcase.
You’re giggling as you walk to Minho’s closet, changing out of your night dress and putting the lingerie on. As you’re changing, you see Minho’s backpack sitting next to his “unpacked” suitcase. You don’t mean to snoop but it’s open, you can see what’s inside. Using your fingers, you pry it open wider and see that he has a plane ticket clamped between his passport, you reach down to take a look at it when he calls from you from the bedroom.
It feels as if you got caught stealing, you scramble to leave the closet and Minho is putting something into his bedside drawer when you come back. He looks at you, confused to see you standing in a silk robe that comes with the lingerie.
“That’s not the same as what I bought for you,” he playfully says, sitting on the edge of the bed facing you.
You come up to him and stop right in front of him, “Jeez, Minho! You’re not a kid anymore, unwrap your gift yourself,” you tell him with a cheeky smile.
It’s a good thing that he can’t hear how fast your heart is beating right now and it’s beating faster when he looks up, staring into your eyes as his hands reach for your silk robe, untying it until they part open.
You do the rest, sliding the silk robe down your arms and letting it fall onto the carpeted floor. You take a final step, closing the gap between you and him.
He places his hands on each side of your waist, his fingers teasing the thin straps of the lacy underwear but his eyes never stray away from yours even for a moment
“So…?” You curiously ask since he’s not saying anything the moment he sees them on you.
He glides his hands up to your back and draws you close until his lips land on your abdomen, inhaling your scent as he kisses it, making you flutter inside. After a while, he glances up at you and says, “Glad I bought it.”
That sends you into a laughing fit and at the same, he pulls you until you both collapse onto the bed.
-
A breathless gasp escapes your parted mouth as Minho inserts his fingers inside you, he uses two digits to find that spot that makes you let out another gasp, louder, almost inaudible.
He’s hovering above you as he starts pumping his fingers in and out of you at a steady pace and his face is so calm, a contrast to your state: a moaning mess under him.
He presses a kiss on you with tongue and teeth clashing in your mouth, his kisses are hungry, it feels as if he wants to eat you whole.
“Oh…” You moan again, feeling his fingers curl inside you.
Minho then drags his mouth down your chest, using his free hand he yanks down the cup of your bra just so he can suck on your nipple and leave it soaked and wet with his saliva. He continues his trail of wet kisses down your body and he stops with his head hanging between your legs, watching your eyes fluttering as he keeps pumping his fingers.
He pulls your underwear to the side and keeps it there, without wasting another second, he plants his mouth on your cunt, not caring how wet it is. He lifts his head for a moment, using the tip of his tongue to trace your folds and gently, circling your clit that is pulsating with so much desire.
Minho dives down into your wetness again and this time, he lands right on your clit and sucks hard on it.
“Oh, fu-“You can’t even finish your profanity, your voice is shaking and so are your legs.
You slip your hands into his hair, tugging at it as he keeps on sucking and it’s a fruitless effort to try to stop him, the more you try, the harder he sucks on your clit and the faster he pumps his fingers, making you overwhelmed with pleasure.
The only conclusion is Minho won’t stop until you
“I’m- oh, I’m cumming…” you whine, helplessly tugging at his hair.
He hovers above you again but now, he slowly puts his body on top of you, pinning you as he presses kisses on your lips, making you dizzy as he can’t stop kissing you until you run out of breath.
“Honey…” you sigh as you gently push his chest away.
You smile at him and put your hand on the back of his head, wanting to keep him close to you. As you catch your breath, you allow yourself to take a moment to enjoy this moment with him, placing a sweet kiss on his lips and then letting out a low sigh as you pull away.
“Gosh…how I missed you!” You pour out all of the emotions you’ve been keeping inside you and seal the hole in your heart with a kiss that yet again, takes your breath away.
It’s time to show him how much your body misses him. You pull the hem of his sweater and take it off of him to continue kissing him. Slowly, you roll him to the side until he lays next to you and overlaps half of his body with yours.
Minho lets you have the pleasure of doing whatever you want to him, he puts his hands over his head as your hand goes lower and slips it under his sweatpants, palming his member before letting it out.
You glance down to see how his cock is hardening in your hand, “Oh, he’s excited to see me,” you playfully mutter to him.
 “What are you going to do then?” He coyly asks.
“Mmh…” you delightfully sigh as you pretend to think of an answer all the while your thumb is circling the tip of his cock.
“I just have so many ideas,” you answer him with a seductive tone.
To execute your ideas, you first get rid of his sweatpants then sit on his thick thighs. You seductively smile at him as you take hold of his cock in your hand again, slowly stroking it with your clothed cunt only inches away from it.
You both wanted it but what’s the fun in giving in to the temptations right away?
His cock is swollen and hard, so ready for you and you are just as eager to take him but refrained yourself. Instead of that, you lean down to lick the tip of his cock with your tongue. The second time, you place a lick from the base up to the tip and then stroke it again.
“How you like that?” you tease him.
Minho doesn’t say anything, he remains calm but his body tells you otherwise, not only his cock, his body reddens all over, his chest, his ears, his cheeks… he’s completely turned on.
You tease him by rubbing his cock to your clothed core, “Mmh… yeah,” you hum in pleasure.
To tease him more, you put his cock inside your underwear, soaking it with your essence as you start grinding on him, unknowingly teasing yourself too in the process.
The yes he’s giving you… oh, it’s so intense, so full of lust, he looks at you like you’re the sexiest thing he ever laid his eyes on, making you feel so wanted, and admired. You suddenly feel a charge of confidence surging all over you and you lean down, kissing him with so much passion until you drain all the air in your lungs.
“Screw this!” you mutter.
 Carefully, you push his cock inside you and ease yourself down, taking him little by little until he’s fully sheathed inside you. You just sit there to adjust yourself to his size, closing your eyes as your hands start touching yourself.
Minho gets his hands on you too, he places them on your thighs and glides them up the sides of your body. You take his hands, using them to cup your breasts and fondle them together. You’re lowly moaning as he squeezes on them.
Minho only stops just to pull you close so he can kiss you, putting his arms around you to not let you go and without warning, he starts bucking his hips into you. You can tell he’s smirking against your lips while you let out a broken moan.
“That’s not-oh, not fair!” you mumble yet pressing another kiss on him.
Minho insists on you keeping the lingerie on, he ends up being the one taking it off of you and tossing it onto the bedroom floor. He made you climax twice already but Gosh, looking at him passionately making love to you, you can already tell you’re going to climax for the third time.
“Oh, my God! You feel so good,” You murmur into his shoulders with your fingers clawing his back.
Minho crashes his lips on you, deepening his kiss as he thrusts harder into you. He can sense that you’re about to cum again, he adds intensity to his thrusts and goes as shallow as possible.
Your eyes are screwed shut, feeling the knot inside you keep tightening, getting close to your-
Minho slows down, knowing that you just cum around him and the way he kisses, it’s so gentle as if he knows that you’re already overly stimulated.
You hold him close as you come down from your high, returning his kisses while keeping him inside you.
“You’re not going to stop, are you?”
You brush his hair back with your fingers, putting all the hair covering his face and holding his jaw, “Don’t stop, honey,” you whine.
Nothing gets him off than hearing how needy you are for him. You wrap your legs tighter around his waist and pull him closer, “I don’t want you to stop until you cum inside me,” you whisper into his ear.
That seems to work as planned, Minho picks up the pace of his thrusts, harder and deeper, giving what you both wanted.
You give up on holding in your moans, you let them spill out of your parted mouth and as he gets closer to his release, you press a haste kiss on his mouth.
“Want you to cum inside me, honey,” you whine again.
You have to pause a few times as he mercilessly pulsates his hips against you and the bed creaks along to his movements.
“Oh, please, please!” you sigh.
“Minho, please!”
At this point, you can’t tell if you’re begging him to stop or keep going, the pain and pleasure start to blur into one. You hold onto his shoulders with fingers digging into this flesh and forming crescent marks on his warm, honey skin.
It takes Minho a few more thrusts to finally cum inside you, releasing all of his seed inside you as he collapses on top of you. You embrace him, holding him with so much love, and kiss him with all of your heart until it quakes inside your chest.
Minho hastily kisses your lips, then drags his mouth close to your ear, you’re already drowsy and tired from the day that you barely can keep your eyes open anymore. You can hear him mutter something into your ear but when you’re about to tell him to repeat it, you fall asleep instead.
-
"Honey, wake up!"
If it isn't because of the hand squeezing your asscheek, you wouldn't have budged from your sleep. When you try to open your eyes, they are heavy and you feel like taking another hour of sleep.
Then Minho bites at your arm, making you jolt on your bed in reaction.
"Minho!" You sharply gasp.
"Wake up!" He says again, now slapping at your ass cheek.
Your feet are kicking the duvet as you whine like a fussy kid, "It's too early."
You turn over on the bed, lying on your side to face him, and croak, "What time is it?"
"One."
"One a.m?"
Minho presses a kiss on your shoulder then gets up from the bed, "Come on, wake up!"
He walks out of the bedroom and leaves the door ajar. You force yourself away and rub your eyes before opening them.
The daylight is almost blinding you and you immediately shut your eyes again, scooting to the side and your hand reaches for your phone on the bedside table.
You tap the screen until it lights up, showing you that it's indeed one o'clock in the afternoon. You must be tired from the flights, dragging your suitcase up the hill in the cold, and then there was the sex, a lot of sex. You remember how you passed out not long after he cum inside you.
Oh no, you missed the whole Christmas morning and that's not the plan. You thought of how nice it would be to snuggle together with Minho on the sofa while having hot chocolate on Christmas morning.
Instead of that, you stand in front of the sink and feel horrified to see your reflection in the mirror, how tired and miserable you look after ten hours of sleep.
Instead of wearing your clothes, you stop by his closet and borrow one of his comfiest knitted sweaters. His suitcase and his backpack are still there, you assume he didn't know you were snooping into his stuff.
Well, there's another reason to snoop in further to see where he's going with the flight ticket. You check for the situation first and waddle back inside, taking his passport out of the bag.
Minho looks so hot even on a government-issued ID photo and before you forget the main goal here, you flip it open to see the details of his flight ticket and you see it.
Unless he has someone else to see in the city you live in, you can safely assume that he planned on coming to see you too, and probably wants to spend the new year with you.
"I knew it!" You exclaim to yourself with a giddy smile on your face.
You wanted to remain calm and pretend that you didn't see the flight ticket and everything but... you can't help but smile when you see him sipping his coffee in the kitchen.
Minho is what people say as one with the softest heart builds the hardest shell. He acts cold, nonchalant, and a bit mean, but that's how you know he really cares for you, and he's genuine and sincere about you.
You come up to him and throw your arms around him, not wasting time kissing his lips, putting all of your affection into this long kiss, and pull away with a gasp.
"Merry Christmas," you happily say to him.
Minho smiles and returns the kiss with a quick peck on your lips, "Coffee?"
You eagerly nod and you wait on the sofa, taking a cookie out of a plate full of them, watching the snow floating in the air through the window.
"Thank you," you mutter as he hands you your cup of steaming hot coffee.
"This is good," you tell him, taking another cookie from the plate.
"I made them," he casually says like he didn't put any effort into baking such delicious cookies.
Minho is good at a lot of things so when he said he made these cookies, you didn't doubt him even for a second.
You place a kiss on his cheek, "These are really good," you tell him again.
You might have missed the Christmas morning but there's always a time to snuggle close to him. It's quiet and warm, it's such a nice moment and to be able to spend it with him is one that you're most grateful for.
Suddenly, Minho takes something from the end of the sofa and shows it to you.
"For you?"
You stop chewing your cookie and put the rest away, "For me?"
He nods and coyly sips his coffee, watching you excitedly unwrapping the gift to find out what's inside.
You gasp as you see a necklace inside, white gold with a small pendant, delicate and beautiful.
"I love it," you tell him with a gleeful smile.
It's always the thoughts that counts. The fact that he thought of you when he picked this gift worth more than the gift itself.
"You should be. I bought it with my own money," he pokes fun at you.
You pout at him, handing him the box so he can put it on for you. You hold all of your hair up in your hands as he puts the necklace around your neck, safely clasping the ends together.
"I love it," you mutter again, letting go of your hair so you can bring his head close and give him a sweet little kiss on his lips.
"Thank you," you say as you break the kiss with a soft caress on his cheek.
He smiles and places a kiss on your cheek, then your jaw. When you think he's going to kiss your neck next, he brings his mouth close to your ear, and ever so softly he murmurs, "I love you."
Your heart shrinks and the next second, it expands twice its size, overflowing with warm feelings. You feel like flying, riding on the clouds of those three words.
"What did you say?" You ask with a foolish smile on your face.
He slyly smiles and sips his coffee, "You heard," he says.
"I heard but..." you lean in close to his side and hold his hand, "can you say it one more time?"
Your sweet smile and the fondness in your eyes are not enough to make him cave in. You should have known it wouldn't be that easy.
You pout and then sigh, but you feel the need to return those words to him. It's not because you have to, but you have known for a while that he is not just a passing fancy, you see a future with him, and as silly as it sounds, you can see yourself growing old with him.
What you have for him is real and it's powerful, it's taking over you.
You hold his jaw and turn his head to look at you, you lean in close until your noses meet in the middle, softly you nuzzle them together while softly smiling at him.
"I love you," you say back with all of your heart that it aches.
Then you place your lips against him and let your heart pour out, flowing all of your emotions into the kiss.
When you open your eyes, his eyes are staring straight into yours. He holds your gaze and lovingly, he says those three words again for you.
"I love you."
And in his eyes, you find comfort, safety, you find a home you want to live in, forever.
-
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juliasgoodusername · 1 year
Text
Sometimes a girl has to go a little crazy. Sometimes a girl has to make a book-accurate floorplan for 300 Fox Way. These things just happen, sometimes.
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Obsessive annotations under the cut ✨ but be warned, there's a LOT
Exterior
Okay first of all, I'm no architect, and my only knowledge comes from work experience in the real estate industry + a lot of Sims. The style is sort of neo-rural French colonial. I didn't set out to adhere to that standard so much as I made an amalgamation of homes in Blue Ridge Mountains-adjacent towns in Virginia. Specifically, my headcanon Henrietta template is Orange, VA (I'll save that explanation for another post) so I took inspiration from real estate listings from there.
Alright alright I know there is supposed to be one bathroom, but I simply can't tolerate that in a house with 6+ residents. I can't. There was a possible contradiction in the descriptions of "the single shared bathroom" that I used as an excuse to add a 3/4 bath, and I threw in a powder room for free. Because technically there is still only one full bathroom! But seriously with that many women over 30 most of them probably have IBS or chronic constipation and I'm not making them all share a toilet.
Officially we only have 4 bedrooms listed in text: Blue's, Persephone's, Maura's, and Calla and Jimi's shared one. Everyone else gets rooms that don't qualify as bedrooms via Virginia residential building codes (such as the attic, obviously, which falls below the combined ceiling height and square footage requirements). That really just leaves Orla unaccounted for but I'll get to that later. Other aunts and friends seem to visit during the day and live somewhere else, because in The Raven King only Jimi and Orla were described as needing to move out of the house during the demon stuff.
I designed the entire interior floorplan before I even touched the exterior, so there's a few issues, like how I'm totally missing shutters on the windows that functionally need them most. 🫶 I didn't feel like making the windows smaller to fit them, and I could have added faux-shutters but I think those are stupid. 😘
First floor
"This house is lovely. So many walls. So, so many walls," Malory said as Blue entered the living room a little later.
- Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Chapter 30
Right off the bat, we have an insane number of doors and walls. Old colonial houses are pretty much the opposite of open concept. Functionally I believe that's because it's easier to control heat with closed off rooms, but Virginia is not particularly cold so idk. As for the number of doors, I mean....😤😤😤 I prefer archways/doorless frames in small high-traffic spaces, but every time I thought I could get away with it Maggie would specifically describe doors opening and closing (For example BL,LB Ch 41 gives the reading room double doors, and even the living room gets one in Ch 11. What kind of living room needs a door???). I'm actually missing one of the doorways described in canon, but if you know which one I'm talking about I DARE you to find a place to put that thing!! But I digress.
“Mom," she said as she jumped down the crooked stairs.
- The Raven Boys, Chapter 3
I'm liberally using "crooked" to establish the corner turn stairs. Blue steadies herself on the stair railing when she identifies Gansey for the first time (TRB Ch 15), so I wanted the stairs to have good visual access to visitors. It also sort of has a feng shui-ish effect of separating the public and private energy zones in the house. If that statement made zero sense, I think one of us doesn't know enough about feng shui 👀 and it might be me.
I'm also using that quote to establish Maura's room downstairs, if Blue generally expects to find her mother there, but mostly because everything else was upstairs and it was getting hard to fit. Granted, at one point Blue leads the boys "up the stairs to Maura's bedroom" (TDT Epilogue) but since they were just arriving at 300 Fox Way those stairs could easily be the outdoor ones. There's a handful of little things to support me here, such as Adam grabbing a scrying bowl from Maura's room to use in the reading room (BL,LB Ch 41) implying that her room was the closest place to find one. And speaking of Maura's room-
Calla was overwhelmed by how much shit Maura had in her room at 300 Fox Way, and she told Blue this.
... The mess was taking years from her life. ... Maura liked chaos.
... The psychic hotline rang in the room next door. Calla's concentration fluttered away.
- Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Prologue
Maura is my favorite hypocrite. She claims to detest clutter (TRB Ch 34) and yet her room is literally described as chaos. She probably treats her room like a college student and moves the furniture every time she gets bored/stressed. Thus, I gave her the most insane furniture configuration I could think of while still matching all the contents described.
The phone ringing next door might imply that she neighbors the phone/sewing/cat room, but that area is pretty well described and Maura's room is never mentioned there in any other instance. That leaves us with the kitchen phone (TRB Ch 27) which I put in the hallway with kitchen access as a compromise so it would technically still be in a room next to Maura's.
In the reading room, the man looked around with clinical interest. His gaze passed over the candles, the potted plants, the incense burners, the elaborate dining room chandelier, the rustic table that dominated the room, the lace curtains, and finally landed on a framed photograph of Steve Martin.
- The Raven Boys, Chapter 13
There are so many quotes about the reading room that I just don't feel like citing them, but other details include the mismatched chairs, the shelves, doors etc. It's also described specifically as Maura's "front room" (TRB Prologue) so it's one of the cornerstones that I designed the rest of the layout around. Because of the plants, it makes sense that this room would be south-facing too. (Although idk how much light they get with the wraparound porch awning in the way. Oops lol!)
The outside suddenly seemed vivid in comparison to the dim kitchen. The April-bright trees pressed against the windows of the breakfast area, ...
- The Raven Boys, Chapter 3
Blue Stormed into 300 Fox Way's kitchen and began a one-sided interrogation with Artemus, who was still hidden behind the closed storage closet door.
- The Raven King, Chapter 9
Likewise, I'm using the particularly dim kitchen to place it on the north side, where we also know there's trees in the backyard.
I'll say the kitchen layout is weirder than it strictly needed to be because in the Virginia homes I referenced I adored all the strange kitchens, especially with old timey 'servants area' vibes where laundry kitchen and pantry are all connected. Instead of a kitchen island, they get one of those rolling kitchen carts which I doubled as a bar cart for the drinks they have in the living room.
The kitchen has a doorway to the hall (TRB Ch 13) and the living room is within view when Blue's on the kitchen phone (Ch 27).
Speaking of chapter 27, that's when we get the description "The morning light through the windows turned the drinks a brilliant, translucent yellow." So I put the living room on the east side of the house, where the rising sun would cast really strong light like that.
Second Floor
When she woke up, her normally morning-bright room had the breath-held dimness of afternoon. In the next room over, Orla was talking to either her boyfriend or to one of the psychic hotline callers.
- The Raven Boys, Chapter 3
Blue headed toward the red-painted door at the end of the hall. On her way, she had to pass the frenzy of activity in the Phone/Sewing/Cat Room and the furious battle for the bathroom. The room behind the red door belonged to Persephone, ...
- The Raven Boys, Chapter 11
Blue's room and the Phone/Sewing/Cat room are our cornerstones for this floor. In several examples we know that the Phone/Sewing/Cat room faces the street and has a window (TRB Ch 15, BL,LB Ch 4). While Blue's room is "morning-bright," we also get descriptions of guests at the front door "backlit by the evening sun," (TRB Ch 15) so once again we're probably talking about south windows if it's sunlit at both times of day.
Adam sat awkwardly on the edge of Blue's bed. It felt strange to have so easily gained access to a girl's bed- room. If you knew Blue at all, the room was unsurprising - canvas silhouettes of trees stuck to the walls, leaves hanging in chains from the ceiling fan, a bird with a talk bubble reading WORMS FOR ALL painted above a shelf cluttered with buttons and about nine different pairs of scissors. Against the wall, Blue self-consciously taped up the drooping branch on one of the trees.
- The Dream Thieves, Chapter 49
We get some great descriptions of Blue's room (especially TRB Ch 43), although the above one is my favorite (#wormsforall). Every piece of furniture is accounted for exactly as described except the desk which I added because it seemed practical, and Blue is nothing if not practical™.
Persephone's room is also very well-described, all the way down to the furniture and lighting placement (BL,LB Ch 4 and TRB Ch 11) and it's surprisingly similar to Blue's room, if not a bit smaller. Her room gets strong afternoon sunlight, so I put it on the south too (BL,LB Ch 43).
Calla and Jimi share a room that's also upstairs (TRK Ch 16). Because they are the only two who have to share a room, I have justified that it must be the "master bedroom" (sorry for using that term) and is far bigger than the other bedrooms. I managed to fit two queen beds in there, but some scholars [me] would argue that Jimi and Calla might also share a bed because they are in love. Can you prove me wrong? No, you can't.
As for the bathroom, remember when I mentioned a possible contradiction? Famously, Maura draws the ley line symbol in the steamed up shower door (TRB Ch 1). However, much later we get Maura, Orla, Calla and Jimi all sitting in the bathtub for some kind of ritual (TRK Ch 9). No matter how I picture it, I can't put 4 full grown women in a bathtub together without someone partially sitting on/spilling over the side. But that would be impossible in a combo bath/shower enclosed by glass doors!! Thus, I gave The Bathroom a nice tub and put a small shower in the en suite of Jimi and Calla's room. I know this is a stretch but I don't really care.
Attic
Blue had never been a big fan of the attic, even before Neeve moved in. Numerous slanting roof lines provided dozens of opportunities to hit your head on a sloping ceiling. Unfinished wood floorboards and areas patched with prickly plywood were unfriendly to bare feet. Summer turned the attic into an inferno.
... In one of the narrow dormers, two full-length, footed mirrors faced each other, reflecting mirrored images back and forth at each other in perpetuum.
- The Raven Boys, Chapter 34
Trying to fit the attic access in after everything in the second floor was my biggest challenge, because stairs normally take up a lot of space and you have to be careful about head room. I'm the end, I decided it was one of those fold out attic doors that you have to reach from the ceiling of the hallway. We might get a lot of instances of the attic door being opened (😤 seriously, Maggie... 😤) but technically a trap door in the ceiling is still a door!
Dormers pretty much cemented the French colonial style for me. And you know the drill by now: a hot room probably means a lot of sun, which means I give it a south facing window!
Mud Room/Cellar/Basement
This cellar has absolutely zero mention in the text, but my justification is based in the architecture. So far we've got a funky old colonial house, built without a garage, lots of walls etc. Especially in a low-income/semi-rural area, it's not crazy to assume that 300 Fox Way was built before most residents had refrigerators (1930s-40s). Besides iceboxes, a major way to keep food fresh was root cellars. Modern renovations for old homes convert these to concrete basements, but that's why the basement is so small and connects to the kitchen.
My headcanon is that Orla originally shared a room. Pick whoever you want: Maura, Blue or Persephone, any of them would easily be such a chaotic roommate that Orla snapped and in a fit of teen girl rage moved herself down to the crummy dark basement. Over time, she made efforts to glamorize it, such as a vintage dressing screen to hide the flood drainage pump. The privacy also allows her to bring boyfriends over, even sneaking them through the mud room.
This is really just my artistic license, but I swear it makes a surprising amount of sense in context. There's cases of Orla sneaking into the kitchen (easier if she has a back entrance) and she's almost always using the phone upstairs or in the kitchen (because a basement would get bad reception) even though her calls get kinda ~intimate.
Aaaaaand I think that's everything. Sorry it doesn't look like the photo from the wiki at all, but I couldn't find a source for it and Victorian style wasn't super common in the areas I researched. Let me know if I missed anything major! I'll probably cry myself to sleep if so.
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maikirumoo · 7 months
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after hours
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after hours : a live action buggy x fem!reader fanfiction
for some odd reason, you have no idea who he is. and he fucking loved that.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
chapter one chapter two chapter three
chapter four | suede. stalking. silly.
his pov;
"Your wanted poster."
Those three words settled in my mind as I stared at the distraught girl in front of me, watching as she fumbled with her hands, a nervous exterior brushing over her. She seemed to be so horrified with the fact that I was once a pirate sought after by thousands- wanted dead or alive, though much preferred dead. Many still wanted me dead but due to my brilliant idea of hiding out here, the chance of anyone getting my bounty was thin. I, however, didn't see it being as much of a big deal as she deemed it so. The real issue I found was tucked away in one of the books within the nightstand which I was so fucking thankful she didn't find. I'd rather her not have been looking around but if she were to find one of the two? I was glad she found the poster.
I tossed another slice of apple into my mouth then set the knife down on the cutting board. I approached Y/N but instantly halted when I noticed how nervous and uneasy she was. "What's wrong?"
"H-How many people did you kill?" She asked, her voice shaking.
"Does that really matter?" I asked, waving my hands up in the air to hopefully exaggerate my point. "It was almost a year ago."
"That doesn't change the fact that it happened!"
"I know, I know." Despite her discomfort, I took a seat next to her anyway. She tightened her arms around herself, almost to make sure there was as much distance between us without her actually moving. Clenching my jaw, I patted my hands upon my thighs. "I know it's a terrible thing, and there's nothing I can do to change that. It's in the past and if I could go back and alter things, I would. Being a pirate was all I knew. My old friend was one, too. Then we separated onto different things and-"
"Did he kill people?"
"Lots of pirates kill people. It's part of the hype, ya know? It's very unlikely to raid another ship without there being any casualties. But I stopped because I got tired of it. I wanted something more."
"It's a pretty big bounty. I mean- come on, fifteen million berries?"
"Don't think about turning me in now," I chuckled, wanting to add a bit of lightheartedness to this unfortunate predicament.
"I'm not like that. I know I'm in need of money but-"
"I didn't mean it like that, Y/N, come on. Give me some slack."
"Well, why exactly did you stop? Did you lose the thrill of stealing from others? O-Or did you get bored of killing innocent people?"
I rolled my eyes, scoffing. "We've all done some shit we're ashamed of. We're humans. I did a lot of fucked up shit," I said as I pointed at myself. "But I changed that. I moved and let all that go. I left my crew, made someone else the captain, and abandoned ship. I left all of that shit behind and came here."
"But why?"
"If I say this, I'll probably make things worse but I don't want to lie anymore," I said as I laid back, folding my hands over my chest. I stared up at the ceiling. "You've obviously heard of the One Piece, right?"
"Of course."
"Well, I was one of those pirates absolutely obsessed with finding it. Fuck, I even dreamt about it. It was the only thing I truly desired in life. It was the only thing I thought about. Not riches, women, alcohol- just the One Piece. I was making somewhat decent progress but then I heard that a group of Straw Hats-" I grimaced at the thought. "-made off with the map which they stole from one of the Marine bases. I happened to track them down and I managed to steal the map from some kid named Monkey D. Luffy. But all good things must come to an end and I lost it. I was back to square one. And then I discovered his bounty was thirty million berries." I frowned then sat up, turning to face Y/N. "Can you believe that? Some newby pirate-wannabe received a bounty double my own! Seeing that brought me back to reality. So I dropped everything then came here."
"All because of him?"
I nodded my head. Just the thought of that kid irked me. There was no one, other than Shanks, who I despised more than my own self.
"So, yeah, I know what I did was fucked up. But there's a reason I'm here now. There's a reason I've given you so much. It's because I want to be a better person, maybe redeem myself for what I've done. And I can do that by helping you, by making your life a little less miserable."
"Do you pity me?" The girl asked, finally meeting my gaze.
"What?" I laughed, almost obnoxiously. "Of course not. If anything, I envy you."
"Me?" Y/N pointed at herself. "You envy me?"
"You have no bad conscience. You've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to make up for. You have a clean slate."
She shrugged, a small smile creeping onto her lips. "Thank you."
"So, uh, do you hate me now?" I asked, forcing a frown to mimic a pouting child. She giggled at this and shook her head. I sighed in relief, wiping 'sweat' from my forehead. "Thank god. I don't know what I'd do with myself if you hated me."
"I knew you were a pirate but it's still shocking to learn about your past. It'll take me a bit to get used to it but I don't hate you."
"So, we're good?" I extended my hand.
"We're good." She shook it.
I felt as if a huge relief was lifted off my shoulders. And as long as she stayed out of the nightstand, there would be no more issues. But if I hid the book, then I would be even more safe. I pondered the possibilities before I watched as she rose from the confines of the bed and approached the counter. My eyes trailed down. The backs of her thighs were exposed and the shorts clung to her ass so divinely. I bit my lip and crossed my leg over my lap.
"I appreciate everything you've done for me," She mumbled as she started to chew on an apple, then began to cut into an orange. "I do have a question for you, though."
"Go ahead, shoot." As soon as she turned around, my eyes met hers and I smiled.
"Are devil fruits real? Or is that just an old tale? I've never seen one up close and I heard they cost a fortune, even for just one alone."
"They're real," I said with a small laugh. "I would know, I've eaten one."
Y/N nearly jumped before she darted over toward me, her hands grabbing at my shoulders. She still had a slice of half-chewed apple in her mouth which made her struggle to properly speak. "WHAT? You- NO! You didn't?!" She let go of my arms and instead planted her hands on my chest, shoving me back. I collapsed back against the bed, laughing. "You ate one?!"
"Years ago, when I was fifteen."
"You're lying!"
"I'm not. It was a mistake actually."
"What happened?"
I chuckled and pushed myself back up. "Give me an orange and I'll tell you."
If my reflexes weren't so quick, the fruit would've hit me in the face with how quick she threw it. But I caught it and began to pick apart the peel. "Easy, next time," I smirked and took a bite from it. "Well, when I was younger and was a pirate-in-training, the crew I was in raided this ginormous ship and hit the motherload. Not only gold and jewels and anything you could think of, but there was also a devil fruit. I found out how much they were worth and tried to steal it but I was caught in a predicament and I tried to hide it in my mouth."
"And?"
"I swallowed it whole."
She gasped, "And you're alive?"
"It doesn't kill you. It just takes your ability to swim when you're in the ocean, in salt water. It's like the sea turned its back on you."
"Did you get a power from it?"
I shrugged and winked at her, taking another bite. I licked the juices from my hand. "Guess."
"You can fly?"
"Ha! Nope."
"Read minds?"
"It's body-altering."
"Wait," The lovely maiden smirked, taking a seat on the bed. "Did it give you that red nose?" She snickered.
"Guess again," I said flatly, my expression turning cold as I stared at her. She gulped, clenching her jaw. I laughed and looked down at my lap, now using one hand to hold the orange. I continued to chew on it. But while she was distracted with her numerous attempts to guess what kind of body-altering power I had, I detached my left hand at the wrist. It floated behind the both of us and tapped on her right shoulder. Y/N jumped up, her head shooting to look at her side. Her eyes widened and her eyebrows furrowed together before she spotted my floating hand waving at her. She gasped and slapped it away. I broke out into a fit of laughter, my hand reconnecting to my wrist. "Impressive, huh?"
"You- what?" She was still flabbergasted.
"I ate the chop-chop fruit. It allows me to pretty much chop any part of my body. Like I can-" To avoid grossing her out, I chopped my left leg from my thigh instead of my head from my neck. She watched in amazement. I smiled at this. "I can disconnect anything from my body from my toes to my ears to my-"
"Even... ya know?"
I winked. "Oh, yeah. That, too."
"That's so cool. How come you haven't done it before around me?"
"I don't know. I just never found a reason to." Shrugging my shoulders, I allowed my leg to snap back. I continued to chew on the orange before finishing it and tossing the peel into a small bin to the left of the bedside table. Y/N finished hers as well. She wiped her hands down on her shirt.
"So, uh," I chewed on my bottom lip. "Do you think you and your mother will be okay?"
"Yeah. We fight all the time. Her drinking doesn't help."
I cringed. "Really?"
"Yeah, she's one of the reasons I hate it so much."
I pursed my lips and nodded my head. I knew I needed to cut back on it but it was something I've done for well over more than half my life. Though, I was destined to do it. Not only for myself, but for her, too. I'd do anything for Y/N. "So," I began, "what do you want to do today?"
"I need to go make up with my mother. That's a big to-do. I can't stand her ever being upset with me." The girl said as she stood up, slipping her shoes back onto her feet. "We can have dinner tonight if you want. Maybe you could meet her."
"Meet your mom?"
"Yeah, why not? She was wondering where all that money came from. She thought I stole it."
"Hell, I don't know. I'm not good with meeting new people."
"Will you, at least, consider it?"
"Sure," I smirked.
"Thank you." Y/N reached for the doorknob, giving it a strong and firm tug before it yanked open. A gush of cold wind washed over her, almost knocking her back. I tossed her my coat to which she whispered another 'thank you' then slipped it on. "I'll see you, Buggy."
"Bye," I murmured with a smile.
As soon as the door shut, I jumped down from the bed and pulled the drawer out from the nightstand, dropping it on the stone floor. I sorted through the numerous books and grabbed the novel I was so fucking thankful she didn't look through. As I opened the cover, the hollowed book had contents that almost spilled out. Papers among papers, among sketches fell out, wafting along the floor. Several notes about Y/N puddled on the floor. One, which was my favorite, was a letter I wrote to her- well, I refused to send it. If I sent it, any last fiber of my confidence would be crushed like a scrambled egg. My fingers lined the rigid edges as I unfolded it.
Messy paragraphs lined both the front and back of the page.
I smiled. How long ago did I write this? I haven't looked at it in so long. I usually added a sentence to it each time I saw Y/N, which is why it was so long. But I stopped pouring my thoughts and desires into it when I actually had the pleasure of speaking to her.
If she saw this, I would kill myself.
I'd purposely jump into the ocean with two anchors attached to my feet.
I looked over the first paragraph,
'I've never wanted something so badly in my life. To say I yearned for her would be a complete understatement. I longed for her, I yearned, I desired- In simple terms, I wanted her. I mean, how could I not? She was an angel. She was a siren. I would purposely listen to her enchanting song, allowing my boat to crash, just if it meant I could be graced by her presence, by her beauty. I was obsessed with her. If she found out my thoughts, my desires, she would never let herself be seen with me. I wouldn't blame her, though. I was obsessive. It was unhealthy, I knew that. But I didn't care. I wouldn't say I loved her because I didn't know what that felt like. I've never experienced it. But perhaps I did love her. I didn't know, I couldn't tell. All I knew was that she was the only treasure I wanted. Not the One Piece, no. Not even that could match up to her alluring person. If I had to travel every sea in order to find her, battle every sea snake in order to touch her, I would. I would in a heartbeat.'
I grimaced, cringing at what I was reading. Thank god, she didn't see this. I didn't even want to see this.
I tucked the papers back into the hollowed-out book, closing it. I slipped the other novels into the drawer then slid it into the nightstand. With the book of secrets, I needed to hide it somewhere she could never find it- where even I struggled to find it. I didn't want to throw it out for I would be completely discarding all of those moments we had together, although she couldn't reconcile them with me because at that time, I was nonexistent to her.
Maybe I could follow my own idea and form my own message in a bottle. I never mentioned her name, nor my own. To an outsider's perspective, it was anonymous.
I shook my head and slipped the book back into the bedside table. She wouldn't be back anytime soon so I had enough time to properly execute a fool-proof plan.
But right now?
I needed to go get another coat.
-=-
her pov;
My mother and I resolved things, just like always. And when she caught wind of a pirate suddenly becoming very fond of me, she begged me to invite him over for dinner. I didn’t think that was the best of ideas. Going out to dinner? Sure! But to have him over? At our house? I cringed at the idea.
She fell ill months ago. Nothing too major, but ever since she’s gotten better, she despises leaving the house and even made me bring her bed downstairs so she could sleep next to the kitchen just in case she had a hankering for something to eat. It was ridiculous, I knew that. But I couldn’t just tell her no. She was my own mother. While I was old enough, I definitely wasn't going to willingly disobey her.
She persisted that I go and grab Buggy so we could have him over for dinner, while I insisted we all go out to eat. She hated the idea and told me that it was her house, her rules.
I grimaced at the thought.
Now, I was just outside Buggy's home, knocking on the stone door. I hoped he was home, though there was no possibility of me being able to ask him prior to my arrival. I knew he was busy. He was a very busy man. I was surprised he made time for me.
With another knock, another silence fell. I groaned and backed up.
My eyes trailing down, I stared at the doorknob and chewed on my bottom lip. He wouldn't care if I waited inside, right? We trusted each other. He knew where I lived and I knew where he lived. As far as I knew, he never crossed any of my boundaries and I definitely didn't cross any of his- well, except for maybe 'snooping' through his nightstand.
Without thinking too much more about it, I grabbed the rusted doorknob, gave it a firm twist, then shoved it open. I almost fell through the doorway.
I caught my balance and stepped inside, closing the door behind me. Without the lantern being lit, it was rather dark, but the bright blue sky helped to illuminate the small room. He must've not been home since I left.
I looked around, admiring everything.
As I took a seat on the edge of the bed, I noticed a piece of paper laying on the floor. It wasn't there before.
I raised an eyebrow and reached to grab it but before I could, the door flung open, a certain blue-haired pirate standing in the entrance. When he noticed me, he smirked. I gulped.
"So, we're breaking and entering, are we?" The man grinned as he took a few paces forward.
"I'm sorry," I murmured, scratching the back of my neck. "I came over to ask you about dinner but you weren't here so I figured I would wait."
"No worries, I'm only teasing."
"So?" I folded my arms, leaning forwards.
"So what?" Buggy questioned as he slipped his coat off. Since when did he get a new coat? And why? I was only borrowing the one he lent me. I didn't plan on keeping it. But I guess now it was okay if I did.
"Dinner? Are you available?"
"Hmm, it depends. What time?"
"I don't know, sometime tonight? Only for two hours or so. My mother wanted to meet you. I told her about you."
"What did you tell her?"
"That you've been a friend of mine for a few weeks now and you've been fortunate enough to treat me and help me out," I said with a smile. "She thought you were my boyfriend." I chuckled.
"Heh, that's rich," Buggy said as he turned around to close the door.
"So? Can you?"
"I guess so. Just don't leave me alone with her. I really don't want to be bombarded with questions." The man said as he folded the jacket over his arm then slung it on the countertop. "Did you tell her about my nose?"
I laughed, confused. "No? Why would I?"
"It's my defining feature. It's hard not to notice it when you see me."
"I didn't tell her. I didn't think it was important. I even forget it's there."
The clown burst out in laughter, his eyes closing as he clutched his stomach and nearly fell back with his fit of giggles. I pursed my lips. "What's so funny?" I asked as I crossed my arms.
"It's cute how you're trying to be nice to me. With a nose like mine, how can you forget it's there?" He replied while wiping a tear from his eye.
I felt flustered with the first part of his monologue but I ignored it and shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know, I just do. It's not all I see whenever I look at you, ya know. It's not my main focus point when we speak. I look at your eyes, not your nose."
"And yet again, you prove to me that you're different than others."
I smiled. "Hope that's a good thing."
Buggy smirked, winking his left eye. "Of course it is."
The pirated approached me before he knelt down and picked up the piece of paper. He examined it for a moment then laughed to himself. "Grocery list," He explained as he shoved the paper into his pocket.
I paid no attention to the paper. It wasn't any of my business. "Speaking of groceries, want to go help me get food for dinner?"
"What's on the menu?"
"No idea, but let's just grab something so she won't be bitching later."
"Guess I'll be needing this again," The blue-haired man said as he reached to grab his jacket. He slipped his arms through and adjusted the collar. "We match now."
"Mine's more vintage than yours." I winked.
"Oh, so it's yours now?"
"No?" I gulped.
Buggy giggled. "It is. I got my own now so no worries about giving it back. Unless you'd like to trade from time to time."
"No, I like this one."
The man looked at me, an eyebrow cocked upward.
I paid his look no attention and instead looked down at the tattered suede coat I wore. I inhaled softly. It smelled like him.
A soft odor mixed with whiskey, coconut, and cinnamon. And while I hated the stench of alcohol, it worked for him.
I couldn't imagine him without it.
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weebsinstash · 3 months
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hi! I cannot understand Val’s personality at all, and you’re my favorite writer for him, so I was wondering if you could tell me how he’d react in a situation where his darling is being harassed at a bar he’s not at? Like darling obviously has a tracker on their phone and they know it, but they also can’t leave the bar because that risks them getting kidnapped
maybe Val has already started calling them and leaving voicemails because they no showed, so you know that if you don’t call him and have an immediate reason for not responding you’ll probably be in for a very painful night, so you tell whoever is harassing you that you need to go into the bathroom, and it’s very obvious that they followed you but aren’t in the bathroom, so you just take out your phone and finally answer one of Val’s calls, and you make it obvious your crying, but you also hold the phone away from you so it doesn’t seem like you want Val to know your crying.
after that I’m kinda stuck on how he’d react, but if you’d rather not add to this it’s fine, this was part me wanting a response and part me wanting to tell someone my ideas
If it makes you feel better I also find Val's personality to be levels of inconsistent however I kinda interpret it being inconsistent because he's um an extremely emotional person and also an alcoholic addict and he's constantly pinballing between "oooo this will make me money" to "oh you've pissed me off PERSONALLY therefore I will rain fire upon you", like we have several instances of Valentino potentially sabotaging his business for kicks and Vox has had to reign him back in, and he still gives Angel actual fucking black eyes even when there's still filming, he doesn't even care about not leaving marks since everything will heal eventually
I feeeeeeeel like... it really depends on how his darling grovels to him and explains what is happening. You ditched him, you're out at a bar, you were ignoring his calls, and now you're telling him you're with another man. An abusive man would usually automatically assume "oh you're in a bar? Fucking slut trying to find other men, this is what you fucking get" but since we're having, you know. The Yandere Talk, I feeeeeel like.... it goes one of a few ways
One is he's absolutely pissed in general, at you, at the guy, just misfiring rage and snapping. You're bawling ti try and explain your situation and he snaps he can barely understand you because he can't regulate his anger and, it isn't INHERENTLY being mad at you, he's mad he can't understand you, but he's horrible at communicating that, so he shows up to rescue you and (unintentionally) has you trembling in fear of him because he's speaking to you like "where the fuck are you hurt?! Show me? Ugh, this bruise is huge, it's so fucking ugly, UGH-" and he's like not blaming you but is being so terrifying about it that, you're pretty convinced you'll be hit by him at any moment and maybe it would be you FLINCHING HARD at a sudden movement of his for him to, finally take a second to begrudgingly take a few deep breaths and his tone finally softens and he can stop freaking you out even more than you already are
Option 2 I see is that you answer the phone when he's in the 'love' of the love and the hate he switches between, so you catch him in the middle of one of his "baby you know I care so much about you, it just makes me a little wild when you leave me waiting" sort of voicemails. You finally pick up and you get this slightly catty "ohhhhh, look who it is,you remembered how to answer your phone! I missed you" and the second he can tell you're crying, you're just like, hearing all this stuff in the background and he sounds like he's been drinking but when is he ever NOT drinking "awwww, baby no, that's terrible! *heels clicking wayyy to fast for him to not be literally power walking his stiletto ass somewhere* I'm sure Daddy will be able to get everything sorted out *car door slams* and I'll show this lowlife fucking freak exactly what he deserves *moves the phone away from his mouth to HOLLER at his driver to 'get a fucking move on or I'll fucking kill you'* so don't you worry, ok baby? ❤️ make sure you stay on the phone with me, mhm? *click click click of him loading bullets into a magazine* so what's this motherfucker look like, he's uglier than me, right--"
And then I guess another unique outcome would be uh. You pick up the phone and he's just instantly shouting screaming fuming at you so much that he's like screaming for a few solid minutes before he's finally like "are you even gonna say anything you dumb whore?!" and that's when he finally hears your voice but it's not even your voice, it's your breathing, like you can barely even get any air out, like you're having a panic attack, you can barely even raise the volume of your voice above a whisper and your voice just keeps cracking and shaking, "v val" and like, the very first SYLLABLE out of your mouth he knows something is BIG WRONG because you sound TERRIFIED and you can barely even speak, "some-someone's outside the bathroom.... he says he'll hurt me... I don't know what to do....!" and like that's it. It takes Val from 100 to 0 real fast. He goes from "if you're not on your way home in five fucking minutes-" to "what did you just say" and he's completely quiet as you're like struggling to speak, "i-i'm in-in a stall, but he's... OUTSIDE.... WAITING..." and you just sob with a hand over your mouth but he can still hear it and he's already on his way
Do you think Val knows how to fight and I mean like BRAWL. Valentino's still on the phone with you and he can barely even hear you and he suddenly hears the man's voice, he's come INTO the bathroom now, he's OUTSIDE your stall, antagonizing you, scaring you, grabbing the top of the door and shaking it like it's nothing. You're SCREAMING because you're in A FUCKING STALL and he could either rip the hinges off or just like COME UNDER OR OVER and then you're done for so you're like TERRIFIED WAILING I mean shrieking like a murder victim because oh god oh god oh god you're gonna double die--- and you just hear the door to the bathroom get kicked open and the guy is just like RIPPED away from your stall and CHAOS follows. You hear all these thudding, smashing, crashing, breaking sounds and when you finally hear nothing but Val's voice telling you to come out he's just standing there covered in blood and the dude is on the floor with his face an unrecognizable SLUDGE because Val grabbed him by the back of the neck and slammed his face into the edge of the sink until it was knocking teeth out of his mouth. Valentino is over here, reaching for you looking like that scene from The Witch of Mercury
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Except unlike in Mercury you're like, only temporarily in stunned silence before you're like, RUSHING to be held by him because you're just scared and bawling and he SAVED YOU and you're so happy you didnt get hurt. Like the duality of him touching you to comfort you but probably getting blood on you maybe even ALL OVER YOU because he's just touching you that much and you're clinging to him that much
I feel like there are times where Val may intentionally NOT save you to use it as some sort of punishment/lesson to manipulate you with later but I feel like the ways in which he would knowingly allow his darling to be hurt are nuanced and contextual. He'd pay a guy to mug you and rough you up to teach you a lesson about leaving the studio on your own, or set up a fake kidnapping, but you come back into the studio ACTUALLY hurt? Stabbed, limping, whatever? He's furious. No one gets to hurt you. Everyone in this entire fucking circle of Hell should know who you belong to by this point and if they're hurting you, they're disrespecting HIM
..... and also you're his cute widdle baby and he doesn't want his boo getting hurt, at least not in a non fun non sexy way 🥺❤️ see sweetie, this is exactly why you should listen to him at all times and never argue with him on anything ❤️
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malusokay · 1 month
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Malu's Monthly Mail Submissions ・:*₊‧౨ৎ
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In a recent voting (this one), I asked you guys if I should add a "Community page" to my little monthly mail. I did NOT expect so much enthusiasm for this idea, so of course, we're going to make it happen!!
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How it works  ˚ ༘♡ ⋆。
It's simple: Every month, I'll make a post with a theme for you guys to get creative with. Submit your post via messages (here on Tumblr, obviously), and I will go through everything and select a few to feature in my monthly mail.
Of course, those posts will be created, AND I will also make sure to link your account so people can find your blog easily — kind of like a shout-out!! (unless you want to stay anonymous, which of course, is fine too!!)
Don't worry about making it look perfect, I will edit everything (sentence structure, grammar, and all that fuzz so... DONT BE SHY <3)
What to submit  ˚ ༘♡ ⋆。
I want to give you lots of creative freedom here so you can really submit anything: Recipes, tips, wellness stuff, book recommendations, poetry, advice, DIY ideas, little guides... Just the typical girlblog stuff, haha.
the only condition is that it has to fit the theme!! <3
This Month's theme  ˚ ༘♡ ⋆。
It's March, Easter is early this year, and spring is just around the corner... I'm sure you guys get the idea!!
Spring cleanout, easter prep, fresh flowers, picnic dates, farmers markets, longer days, spending more time outside, self-care... That's the vibe <3
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I'm so so excited to see how this will go and I truly look forward to creating this month's Monthly Mail. <3
‧₊*:・love ya ・:*₊‧౨ৎ
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weird-an · 9 months
Text
Jim is pretty sure that he's not qualified for whatever this.
He is a father though, once again - rather unexpectedly. Maybe it's that what makes him drag Billy Hargrove's ass from behind the Camaro's wheel when he's obviously wasted as fuck or it's too cold to sleep at the quarry. Because while the Hargrove kid doesn't admit it, Hopper has seen the ratty blanket and the fucking school books on the backseat.
"Hargrove," he grunts and can almost hear Joyce telling him that using his last name probably isn't helping.
"Billy," he corrects himself. "Do you need a place to stay?"
"I live at Cherry Lane. You know that." Billy chips a bit of black nail polish off his fingernails. "I'm not some hobo."
"Chief," he adds after a heartbeat, shooting Jim a calculating glance like he's trying to make a run for it. It wouldn't be the first time that happened.
"That's not what I'm asking," Jim grunts. He knows his tone is too rough, so he shoves a cup of watery hot chocolate towards Billy.
He wishes he had more patience, but he's just so angry. At himself, mostly and at Billy's dad. Because at first, he bought the whole "Billy needs a firm hand" act. He fucking fell for it. He drove Billy home several times and Neil Hargrove promised to take care of it. He gave a disapproving head shake towards Billy and gave Jim a long speech about America's youth and their queer antics and lack of manners. He has no prove, because Billy doesn't talk, it's just a hunch, but that kid needs help.
"I can stay at Harrington's," Billy mumbles. "When it gets too bad."
He takes the cup and gulps the chocolate down. Jim wonders if he's hungry, nervous or thirsty. Or all of it.
"Then why did I have to pick you up at the quarry again?"
"You don't have to do shit," Billy sneers. He sits up, hand crushing the paper cup. "I didn't fucking ask you to."
"Of course I have to," Jim barks. Billy has the talent to rile him up with ease. It's like he wants Jim to explode. "Every goddamn night I wonder if you're the next dead kid they'll find at the lake and I don't want to let this happen."
"I don't get you," Billy shouts back. "I don't get you ... or Steve .. What do you want? Why are you being so fucking nice? Why does he even like me?"
Jim blinks. Why should he know anything about Steve Harrington?
"Are you sleeping outside..." he asks slowly. "...because Harrington likes you and you don't know how to deal with that?"
Billy rubs the bridge of his nose. His voice grows smaller with each word. "He always... wants to talk and to cuddle and shit."
"Cuddle? That's sounds fucking qu-"
Billy flinches, eyes wide, like a rabbit about to bolt.
Hopper's mouth snaps shut. In his mind Joyce is already berating him softly to choose his words wisely.
"Do you want to cuddle with Harrington?" he asks. God, police school didn't brace him for whatever the fuck is happening right now.
"What?" Billy croaks. He looks as confused as Jim feels.
"Jesus," Jim sighs. "Let's go."
"What?" Billy repeats like a broken record.
"I'll drive you to Harrington's." Jim clears his throat. "So that you can... cuddle." He finishes lamely.
"What?" Billy seems to have forgotten any other words.
Hopper gets up. "Let's go."
He has no idea what he's doing. Maybe Steve and him can work together to make sure Billy is kinda safe.
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sparkle-fiend · 1 year
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Fruity Four Advent Calendar, Day 21: “Midwinter Night”
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When they come across the tree in Walmart, Eddie practically starts to vibrate with excitement. "We gotta get it, Steve, please. Please, please, please. I need that tree."
They're shopping for decorations for their first ever apartment together, and they do need a tree, but... "Why that one?" It's obviously artificial, 7 ft tall and solid white. 
"We never had space for a real tree, so Wayne got a little plastic one that fit on the coffee table. It looked just like this one." Eddie waves his hand at the tree in question, like a magician showing off a trick. "I loved that thing." 
Looking at his boyfriend's bright, hopeful face, Steve easily concedes. 
They add some ornaments, a string of rainbow-colored lights, and a tinsel star to complete the recreation of Eddie's childhood tree. 
Once it’s all set up, they stand back and admire the way the lights shine pink, blue, yellow, and green against the white branches. It does look pretty; plus, Steve’s father would hate it - which adds to the appeal. 
(Sometimes the flash of colored light makes his heart race, bringing to mind the memory of a charging demogorgon, or the burst of fireworks against melted flesh in the atrium of Starcourt mall - but Steve ignores it. It'll be fine.)
It is fine... until it's not.
***
Steve comes home, tired and feeling the start of a migraine. He heads through the living room toward the kitchen, intending to grab some water and a Tylenol - when the upstairs neighbor cuts on a vacuum. The muted roar doesn't sound much like a demogorgon, but with the Christmas lights twinkling nearby it's enough to trip something in Steve's weary brain.
He's not in their apartment anymore. He's in the dimly lit hallway of the Byers' house, the smell of gasoline burning in his nose. The lights are flashing, which means the monster is coming - but he doesn't have his bat. He fumbles around the coffee table, searching... it was just here a minute ago, right? His heart is pounding like a drum, pulse rushing loud enough to muffle the voice calling his name.
"Steve? Steve?!"
He can't tell if it's Nancy or Jonathan, but they sound frightened. "Hold on Nance!"
Warm hands grip him by the shoulders. "STEVE!!"
If he doesn't find that bat they're going to die, and it'll be his fault... all his fault... 
"Please baby, come back to me. It's okay - you're okay."
It's not Nancy or Jonathan. Not Robin or Dustin or Erica calling his name.
It's Eddie leaning over him, dark curls falling like a curtain over Steve's face. His cheek is smudged, and for a second Steve thinks it's blood. They're back in the Upside Down and Eddie is bleeding out under his hands...
"Steve," Eddie says softly. He's warm and healthy, wounds sealed into scars; and the smudge on his cheek is just sauce. 
Because he was in the kitchen cooking dinner. Steve can smell it now, sausage and tomato and garlic.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Eddie asks gently.
Steve tries to explain without mentioning the lights, but Eddie knows him too well. He asks just the right questions to work it all out, and the look of guilt that crosses his face hurts worse than a blow to the head. 
Eddie gets up and goes to the tree, yanking the plug from the wall and plunging the room into gloomy darkness. "Ed, you don't have to do that..."
"I do Steve, I absolutely do.”
Steve sighs. It's the night of the winter solstice - the longest, darkest night of the year. It'll be even darker with the tree stripped of lights. "At least wait until tomorrow."
Eddie pauses his task of carefully unwinding the light strands from the tree without disturbing the ornaments. "Come here." He tugs Steve off the floor and maneuvers him onto the sofa. 
"Lay down for a minute, okay? I got this." He fetches a cool cloth and a glass of water, along with the Tylenol Steve originally meant to find.
"What about dinner?"
"It's done. I'll just pop it in the fridge, and we can eat when you're feeling better."
Steve wants to protest, but the pain in his temples has escalated to a blinding pitch. He agrees to close his eyes for just a minute - drifting off to the sound of Eddie humming softly in the background.
He wakes to the same sound and assumes that only a few minutes have passed; until he sees the clock. "Two hours? Shit, you shouldn't have let me sleep so long!"
Eddie shrugs. "You needed it. Besides, I had to run an errand."
He leans behind the tree and plugs a cord into the outlet, filling the room with a soft yellow glow. Apparently, Eddie had replaced the lights while he slept.  Clear, simple bulbs - no frills or flashing patterns. "Are these okay? Be honest." 
Steve nods. It's not as pretty as it was before, but it's comforting; like the lamp he used to keep by his bed. 
Eddie reheats dinner and they eat it straight from the pot, so there won't be more dishes to worry over. The plan was to watch a movie, but Steve is still exhausted even after his nap - worn out by the headache and the panic attack; so they just cuddle together in front of the tree.
Curled against Eddie, head resting easy on his boyfriend’s shoulder, Steve says, “I'm sorry about the tree. It doesn't look like the one you had growing up anymore."
Eddie puts an arm around him and squeezes. "I like this better. We're making a new tradition."
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irondad-defensesquad · 3 months
Text
My Irondad fic recs!
I thought of doing this because why not? Admittedly, I'm not reading as much fanfiction as I did a couple years ago, but some fics have changed my life entirely. In case I forgot one, I'll add it later!
I would’ve organized this in a bullet list, but Tumblr hates me and invented a character limit for that. So this is going to be long and will be under the cut. Anyway, let’s do this!
Rare and Sweet As Cherry Wine by loubuttons – I've mentioned this one before, but this fic right here was what inspired me to write my own Irondad works. One very particular detail I like about it is how it portrays Maria, Tony's mother. It's not what I usually see in other fics about Tony's childhood, since they tend to make Howard the big bad parent. Of course, this is because I personally related to it, as I don't believe in the "bad parent vs. good parent". I also like that it praises Edwin Jarvis as the one who looked out for Tony the most. It's pretty realistic and a very melancholic character study, IMO. *TW for abuse and neglect*
You're Always Iron Man by madasthesea – a very short fic but I absolutely love the premise. Takes place after the big battle in Iron Man 2, and Tony finds little Peter again. They have a very endearing interaction. The following chapter is also very cute!
Nothing like a fresh cup of humiliation in the morning by madasthesea – Pure fluff! This one is probably a classic in the Irondad fandom. Tony kisses Peter's forehead without second thought. Shenanigans ensue. It's so adorable and funny. If you just want to read fluff without angst, this one is for you.
when my body won't hold me anymore (where will I go) by madasthesea - I think I heard about this fic thanks to @/irondadfics here on Tumblr, but I might be wrong since I already knew the Nice work, kid series. Anyway, Peter is believed to be dead, so Tony (and the rest of the Avengers team) is mourning him. In reality, Peter is astral projecting. You know, sort of like how Stephen Strange, in his first movie, was fighting a guy in the other dimension while his body on Earth was struggling to live. That's basically what happens. Strange appears, of course, and saves the day. And I pretty much LOVE the presumed dead trope. I don't know why. Maybe it's the angst of it all. *TW for grief/mourning and temporary character death*
The Reason by doctornineandthreequarters – I think I read this one when I was still writing Oh, take me back to the start. I was looking for fics for inspiration, and I found this one. During the Time Heist in Endgame, Tony remembers the reason he's fighting to bring everyone else back. It's very emotional.
Couch Cuddles by happyaspie – Classic sickfic, but with more fluff than anything. I like rereading it when I feel lonely and touch-starved, especially when I'm also sick like Peter.
You’re So Much Like Me (I’m Sorry) by SpaceCowboysFromMars – Irondad + Miles Morales! Peter is an adult in this, and he freaks out when an injured Miles arrives in his apartment. Tony gives him some wisdom about mentoring and parenting. I don’t usually find Irondad stories featuring Miles (and not necessarily a Spider-Verse crossover), so this was a nice discovery. Peter & Miles & Tony is a very underrated trio IMO. *TW for slight gore*
I'm Glad I Have You by punkybunny – Peter has been having a rough time, dealing with loneliness as Aunt May is not home often, and with bullying at school... until he finally has the chance to spend time with Tony. However, the demons don't disappear completely. Obviously, more Hurt/Comfort, lmao. *TW for nightmare/bad dream*
I Want to Trust You by punkybunny – Actually part of a series that, admittedly, I haven't read all the other stories. But even this one is a very interesting concept on its own. This is a Hydra Peter AU, after Peter has been rescued. He gets sick but given his past in Hydra, he thinks Tony is going to get angry. Peter is proven wrong when Tony helps him get better. The ending is very adorable. I'll see if I can read the rest of the series one day. *TW for past abuse and experimentation*
what you think I've done wrong by ironxprince – I don't often read Biodad stories as you all know, but I was, again, looking for inspiration for You keep me searching for a heart of gold, and I stumbled across this one. Basically Peter, as Tony's biological son, finally meets Howard. It goes as well as you think /sarcasm. *TW for physical abuse*
i, in time, will climb my mountain by ironxprince – This one is heavy. Once again, Peter is Tony's bio son, and he's suicidal. Every time Peter attempts suicide, he buys a new plant. Tony doesn't know this, so he's confused as to why there are so many plants in their house. I love this one, but of course, I try to read it when I’m not having a really bad day. *Once again, TW for suicide attempts*
how do you get that lonely (and nobody knows?) by parkrstark – Yeah... another heavy one. Peter attempts suicide but he saves himself before he reaches the ground. With that, he goes to Tony. This ends happily, don't worry. *TW for suicide attempt*
When You Can't Sleep by Emily_F6 – Pretty much Tony comforting a sleepy Peter, who has just had a nightmare about Thanos. Just Hurt/Comfort and domestic fluff. *TW for mention of death*
i get by (but it's eating me alive) by Livinei – Honestly, I think this is the BEST May's Abusive Boyfriend story I've ever read. For one, none of the characters are oblivious nor dismissive of Peter's feelings. May isn't neglectful and Ned actually tries to encourage Peter to tell someone. I also like that Peter isn't completely helpless. I don't usually see those things in other fics with this trope, sadly. And of course, Protective Tony is my weakness. *TW for emotional and physical abuse*
Hold Me Together by An_Odd_Idea – Post-Endgame where Tony is alive, and Peter and Tony are both trying to cope, so they rely on each other. Pure Hurt/Comfort.
A Tremendous Thing by ExpectoPatronum – Possibly one of my favorite Irondad stories EVER. Also post-Endgame with Alive Tony (though the author better explains it in the notes, it's supposed to be part of a series, but this story can be read on its own). There are a lot of references to Charlotte's Web if you're familiar with it. Basically, it's Father's Day and Peter is feeling guilty and out of place at Tony's lake house, even though everyone is readily trying to include him. It's absolutely beautiful and painful.
Hug You I Must by spiderwriting (catch_you_later) – Probably one of the first touch-starved Peter fics I've read. I like how it describes touch-starvation as this "itchy" current in your body, something that makes you anxious. Thankfully, Peter gets his hug later on. Plus there are some Star Wars references (the title probably is one, lol). *There's some minor violence here when Peter is fighting off some bad guys, but not the focus of the fic*
When You're There With No One There To Hold, I'll Be The Arms That Reach For You by Squibbles94 – Another touch-starved Peter fic. But I really like the references to Cast Away. Ironically I saw this movie in the same year the author published this fic (dare I say SHORTLY after it was posted). I also had no idea that Cast Away was entirely about isolation. Gosh, the main character's monologue at the end ALWAYS gets to me... anyway, yeah, the peak of the pandemic was awful to me, so reading fics like this one helped tons. It still does.
I am cold by N/A (orphan account) – Peter tries to visit Tony, but he gets lost in a subway tunnel on a freezing day. Eventually we learn why Peter wanted to see Tony, but overall this is mainly domestic fluff. Everything ends well.
Sorry Pedro by PinkEasterEggs – One of the first Irondad fics I read. Peter has a nightmare about Homecoming (mainly Toomes), but he avoids waking Tony for that reason. But thanks to F.R.I.D.A.Y's protocols, Peter goes to his mentor. Tony is also super soft here and it makes my heart swoon.
you are enough by diaz_evan – Another post-Endgame fic. Arguably I began reading Irondad fics only after Endgame released. Anyway, this one is short, kinda sad but it ends well. It’s Tony’s birthday and Peter feels very anxious about what to get him as a present. Thankfully, he doesn’t need to prove his love for Tony. *TW for panic attack*
Happy Father’s Day, Mr. Stark by downeylove – There are a lot of Father’s Day fics for these two, of course, but this one takes the cake for me. It’s simple but very endearing to me. Tony obviously doesn’t have good memories of this day, but Peter changes that for the first time. It’s really cute. Plus, Pepper is here, and I love her. I wish I could read more of her interacting with Peter. *TW for mentions of alcoholism and past child abuse*
5 Times Peter Didn’t Say He Was Struggling… And The One Time He Did by Bladam_Shevine – Again, an old fic I read years ago. I admit I haven’t re-read it in a while, but I remember enjoying it and even saving it to read offline. It’s basically what it says in the title: Peter struggles in many ways and he initially refuses help. Tony is always there to reassure him he can count on him. Bruce is here if you like him! And MJ helps Peter on one of the chapters as well. The chapters might get heavier as they go, but it ends on a hopeful note. *TW for injury, panic attack, suicide attempt (it doesn’t involve Peter), and depression*
The Good Days and the Bad by SoupGirlLovesSoup - Peter has had a bad day, now he's cuddling with Tony. It takes a while before Peter finally tells him what happened. It gets sad, but it's mostly fluff and it ends hopefully. I love re-reading it when I need the comfort. *TW for mention of suicide attempt, depression, and bullying*
Breathe Again by gwenoakley - Post-Endgame where Tony survives. He's recovering in the hospital and Peter finally reunites with him. Before that, though, we can feel the anxiety and trauma Peter feels. Definitely makes me emotional. It's the ending they deserved.
Well, for now this is it! Again, I might add more fics here. I think I also could make a list of what particular concepts I want to read more in Irondad stories, so maybe you guys could give me your own recs. I might try to resume my habit of reading Irondad fics, because they give me a lot of comfort. Thanks for reading this far! I hope you enjoy any of the stories I included.
(I'm aware some authors here have their accounts on Tumblr, but I didn't want to annoy anyone by tagging them, so yeah 😅)
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goldenrodchef · 2 months
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So, you're turning into a Pokemon
A guide by Gen Taranz
This is a guide for people who are turning into, are going to turn into, or have already turned into Pokemon. I'm of the third category, and I've been stuck like this for almost a year now. So, uh. I think I might be able to give some pretty good advice. The guide itself is below the cut.
This is part 1 of...I'm not sure yet. I currently have 10 sections planned, but I might add more if need be.
Section 1: How do I know it's happening to me?
Generally, if your skin suddenly starts turning an odd color like blue, you're feeling really itchy and fuzzy all over, or you're feeling odd bumps in weird places (like on your head or tailbone), I'm sorry to say, but you're probably turning into a Pokemon.
Now, that's not always going to be the case. But that's the best I got for if you're being turned into a Pokemon non-instantly, or sleebied.
You might not experience any of these. You might just go to bed one day, and wake up as a Pokemon. That's what happened for me, after all. If that's what happened, feel free to skip section 8 of this guide.
Section 2: Fur, scales, and feathers
These are not fun to have, in my experience. I only have fur and scales, but I'll do my best to talk about feathers too.
Fur is going to need to be groomed a lot. Your tongue might be your best bet here, many furry Pokemon have tongues built for grooming their fur. Of course, obviously you might not want to do that, so it's a good idea to invest in a good furbrush that you can hold, or ask a trusted person to hold.
Scales are less of a pain to take care of, and are the most like skin out of these three things, but are still very weird. My scales are a bit squishy, which is. Something.
We don't know of many feathered eebies yet, but from what I've heard, they're a pain to take care of. There's the whole preening process that you'll have to start doing, not to mention molting.
Speaking of, let's talk about shedding. For me, shedding happens once every two months or so, and involves my tail scales getting progressively itchier and itchier until they peel off and reveal a new layer. For others, it might involve your fur getting really itchy as your summer or winter coat grows in, or something similar happening with feathers.
For fur or feather shedding, having a rough surface to rub your body against helps a lot with helping get fur loose. If you have a scaly friend, ask them if you can rub against them to help shed your fur.
For scale shedding, rough surfaces also help, but warm baths also help in loosening that top layer of scales. They also feel really good if you're a water-type.
Section 3: Paws, wings, talons, and tails
I'm sorry to say this, but your hands are likely going to drastically change. You'll probably lose most of their dexterity, and it'll be much more difficult to do stuff with them.
If your hands are changing or have changed into paws...there's not much to do. You'll just have to find other ways to do things. My little brother, Cobalt the Giratina eeby, uses xyr tail to do most stuff now, which might be a viable option for those with flexible tails, but I'll get to those in a bit.
You might keep your thumbs, or you might not. I'm sorry. I wish I could help more. All I can really do is recommend using styluses, and looking into disability aids.
For those of you that are becoming avian Pokemon, you're likely going to have your hands become wings. And for those of you becoming dragon-types, you might grow wings from scratch.
These are definitely no replacement for hands, but you can fly now, at least?
What is a replacement for hands, though, is talons. Talons, at least from what I've heard, are pretty dexterous, allowing you to do most things you could previously do with your hands! Though this will likely be a balancing act, since you also use these to stand.
And now, tails. I...honestly don't really know what to say here, since Pokemon have so many different varieties of tails. My cousin, Jayden the Brionne eeby, has a tail instead of legs. My best friend, Lily the Buizel eeby, has two tails that she can spin. And myself, I have a Sobble tail that's prehensile. It really depends on what species you end up as.
One thing I've consistently noticed, though, is that tails are very easy to lose track of, especially if they're the waggy sort. It's extremely easy to knock stuff over with your tail if you're not paying close attention to it. So...pay attention to it.
Also try not to sit on your tail. That really hurts.
And that's part 1 of this! I hope that this helps any eebies and sleebies who are struggling with their bodies.
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nr1chaedickrider · 6 months
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'Fate.'
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(fluff) ,smut and angst?| Knight!Momo x Knight!reader | listen to this while reading!
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War.
A word you hear too often. It's like a greeting. No matter where you are, everyone talks about it in the kingdom.
Every third day a patrol in the woods, they are so beautiful, but partly destroyed by attacks.
It's a day like any other, get up, put on your armor, go. At least you are not alone, Jihyo, your elder master accompanies you with her friend Jeongyeon.
But you might need them at one moment in particular.
"I hear something..." you say, you are almost back at the castle, but a rustling in the bushes catches your attention. Jihyo and Jeongyeon look at you with a questioning look.
"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up." you add, "You sure?" asks Jihyo worriedly, you nod which she returns as she continues with Jeongyeon.
You unsheathe your sword and slowly walk towards the noise. Peering through the bushes, you see a knight.
Or rather, a female knight.
Her rather long black hair is tied up in a ponytail. Her forehead is covered by a fringe. You only see her side profile, but it's like she was gifted by Aphrodite. While she breathes, her plump, pink-ish lips slightly part. Her sword is stuck in the grass next to her. She sits on a bigger stone, her armor less than yours. Her chest and stomach are protected, a helmet in her left hand, but you can see her well-trained arms. A few veins peek out on her hands, probably because of the heat.
But wait a minute. She is a knight. A stranger in your kingdom, which you are supposed to protect.
You got too distracted and she used that.
You feel yourself being thrown to the floor, when you turn around you see her. The knight you've obviously been thinking too much about. How did she manage to get here so quickly?
You take a few steps away, your sword in your right hand, you hold it with a strong grip. She comes closer.
"Well, were you distracted? By my beauty?" she teases you. Now that you can see her from the front, you finally start to notice it.
She is one of the most famous knights among many kingdoms. (That she's also so pretty is just a bonus..)
"You wish," you say. You've never met her, only heard stories of her. Big stories about her, how strong she is supposed to be. Now you're going to find out what she's like.
"Why are you here? You're not part of our kingdom." you say, you notice that she's really starting to pick up her sword now, it's obviously getting more serious, and maybe more dangerous, but for whom?
"What do you think? Hm?" she says, slowly coming closer.
"Leave now and you'll get out of here alive" you reply. You couldn't and wouldn't completly kill her now, but a threat should be rather more effective.
"We'll see about that." she says, her expression changing. From a relaxed, self-confident expression to a... slightly more aggressive one? Like it's only now that it's so serious and before that it was just some kind of "game".
It happens faster than you thought, Momo runs at you and lunges, you still manage to escape quickly, but you can hear the unpleasant grinding that came out when she hit your armor on your back. "You're fast." you say, slightly out of breath.
"So are you," she replies.
You swing out and hit her, a small cut in her upper arm. You immediately realize that it's smarter to aim for the unprotected parts, and it looks like she realizes it too.
"Fuck." she curses. Her teeth grind as you take a few steps back again.
"Now you can still go." you say, a smirk on your lips. Maybe you're enjoying this a bit, after all, it's more interesting than training with Jihyo....
"You wish" she runs towards you, and you really didn't expect this to happen. Her sword against your face, a cut just below your eye. The pain comes immediately, the burning becomes more extreme from 0 to 100 in a second. You take a few steps back, but fall onto the grass. You see a shadow come over you, Momo looks down at you.
"You're lucky I don't ram this sword into your chest right now." she says, again with a grin. That fucking grin. You only see her grinning, and you hate that.
But somehow you don't. Somehow, you want to see it again.
She feels better than you, and is better than you by the looks of it. She takes your sword and sticks it in the grass, just a few inches from your head. "I'm sure I'll see you around baby." she says and says goodbye, as she's further away she calls for help, probably to get the attention of Jihyo and Jeongyeon. When the two of them turned to look behind them, Momo was already gone, but you were still lying there injured.
-
"How could you let that happen?" asks Jihyo, you sigh. It's been about a week and you're allowed to train again, and she's not just going to let this chance slip away. You pull up your loose brown pants slightly as you hold a wooden staff in your hand, a so-called "sword substitute" (as Jihyo would always call it..).
"Oh and, Tzuyu wants to see you" she says as she takes the wooden staff from your hand and puts it back. You nod and make your way into the castle to talk to her.
"Come in" says Tzuyu after you knock.
"You wanted to see me, princess?" you say, closing the door behind you as you walk to her. She flips the book closed which she was probably reading. "I told you to stop with these formalities..." a small sigh, "The ball is soon, I want you to accompany me." she says, you look at her in surprise.
"Me? Have you seen my face? This huge scar is not completely healed yet. It's going to look weird" you say.
"Believe me there are worse companions at the ball, you're probably the prettiest one there" Tzuyu replies and smiles, you nod. You can only agree, she is the princess after all.
-
"You can't take your sword with you." says the knight standing in front of you, you look at him in wonder while Tzuyu stands next to you. "I'm her escort, I'm there for protection???" you ask confused. "Sorry, rules because of the war. You can get it back afterwards." You sigh and nod as you take your sword out from your belt and hand it to him. Tzuyu walks ahead and you follow behind her,
"I'm looking for my princess." she says and smiles at you, "Have fun, enjoy yourself a bit, at least try!" she adds and leaves.
That's right. She does have someone.
You look around and get a drink while the small orchestra plays slow-dancing songs. After a few minutes, a next piece starts, and you see how everyone has suddenly found a partner to dance with, you're about to turn and walk away as,
"Do you need a dance partner?" asks Momo in her teasing voice. You turn and look at her.
"Your dear princess told you to have fun, didn't she?" she says, grinning as if she had won a game.
"Where is your princess?" you ask, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Probably talking to yours right now" Momo answers, still with that grin.
Right, you forgot. Tzuyu is always talking about Dahyun. Dahyun here, Dahyun there... And you completly forgot that Momo is Dahyun's escort everywhere they go.
"So, would you like to dance with me?" she asks, as she takes your hand and pulls you into the crowd without letting you answer.
It definitely looks odd when you're just standing there, she points out. You face each other, with her hand on your hip and yours on her shoulder, while your other hands interlock.
"Your scar," she says in a sultry voice, "it's stunning and really suits you." I've created a masterpiece," she whispers, grinning at you as you two dance a slow waltz. She holds your hip with a firm grip, leading you with ease.
"I hate you," you say in response, but a small turn from her brings you even closer together.
"That's what they all say. Deep down, you know you love it more than you like to admit," she whispers, causing you to bite the inside of your cheek.
"I'd stab you with my fucking sword if I would have it on me." you say, dancing along the big room with her while she leads you.
"Well too bad I told Dahyun that she shouldn't allow any swords in here. I knew what your plan was" she answers and smirks at you. Maybe those stories about her are true. She is indeed very smart. But very annoying.
You sigh, your head filled with thoughts of how to kill her in many different ways.
"You know, I think it's Fate that we see eachother again" Momo says and breaks the akward and (rather only from your side) angry silence.
"I don't believe in Fate." you coldly answer, Momo nods and chuckles lightly as you two continue dancing to the, painfully, slow song.
People slowly start applauding as the piece ends, so soon already? you ask yourself. You look at Momo and she grins at you again. You shake your head and walk out of the palace, onto the terrace. It is already dark outside, the sun almost down. The wind is fresh, but not too cold. You lean against the railing. But your peace is disturbed after a few minutes, and of course it's Momo.
"I brought you something." she says, you turn around and see two glasses filled with champagne in her hands. She walks over to you and hands you one, she drinks a little from her glass and then looks at the sun setting down.
"You're not going to try to kill me now are you?" you ask, looking at her. "Don't worry, I'll do that another time, but we're at a party here. That would be inhumanly..." she answers and laughs a bit. You nod and agree with her. You take a sip and feel the warmth of the alcohol fill your throat.
"Tzuyu and Dahyun are cute together" Momo says as she plays around with her glass.
"They're only doing it for peace between the kingdoms anyway." you reply and take another sip, Momo looks at you, you look at her.
"I think what they have is real, she's always talking about Tzuyu, how great she is and stuff" Momo says and laughs as she remembers Dahyun's words about how great Tzuyu is and how much she wants to marry her.
"They are two women Momo" you say and sigh. You finish the last sip of your drink and put the glass on the small table next to you.
"And? That doesn't change anything" She answers.
"It does, people only "accept" them because they are the princesses, but soon or later they won't have the support anymore." you say, your eyes drifting back to the view infront of you.
Momo sighs as she also puts away her empty glass.
"I'm scared," you say, though it's more of a whisper. She looks at you, her gaze speaking a thousand questions.
"I'm afraid of love...", a pause. The water in front of you is as good as still.
"..between two women." you finish your sentence. Momo is still looking at you, but her look is one of a more understanding one.
"Why?" she asks, her question also quiet, as if someone could hear her, even though you two are completely alone.
"I don't know... It's just... acceptance and everything. People would loathe me. I'm afraid of losing my life." you answer, your head turned in Momo's direction.
"I was young. I've seen it before, I've experienced it before. Her traveling to another country in the end was the best thing for both of us." you continue, your hand holding onto the railing, stabilizing your, at this moment, weak body.
Momo nods and looks down, as if she is thinking. After a few seconds she grabs your wrist, her warm hand on your colder one surprising you as she pulls you along. She pulls you along behind her, down from the terrace to the water, onto the stony beach. A few meters before the water she lets go of your wrist and goes into the water, her dark blue suit gets completely wet and turns black. She looks to you.
"It's your choice." she says, the water covers almost her whole body, the sunset illuminates everything perfectly, it's like her brown eyes are shining. For a moment you consider if this is stupid, if you should just walk back into the palace, but your impulsive thoughts overtake you.
You run into the water, it's cold, yet somehow so pleasantly warm. Momo smiles as you run to her, letting the water carry her as only her head and parts of her body peek out. Her face becomes clearer and clearer in the rather dark light. You do the same as her, letting the water carry you, as good as almost beside her.
"I never thought you could be so emotional," says Momo, turning her head in your direction, which is now partially submerged.
"Me neither," you admit.
"It's strange. Being here, in the water. With you." you say and look at her too.
"We're enemies," she replies and laughs a little.
Unfortunately.
You think, but it scares you to say it.
"Yes," you just answer and stare up at the sky.
"It's normal to feel like this," says Momo. "It's normal to be afraid of it."
You start to laugh.
"I'm a very well respected knight, and I'm afraid of my feelings. I should be afraid of war, or of attacks on the kingdom I serve. But no, my biggest fear is love." She's still looking at you, and again with that understanding expression which confuses you so easily.
"Don't look at me like you love me or something," you say, but as you say it you can't help but grin a little, like an idiot, an idiot who's in love.
She laughs. "That's what you hope," but suddenly her hand comes up to your face and you don't know what to do.
Keep your distance? Attack her? Ask her what she's going to do?
Just let her do it?
Momo slowly strokes your scar, which is there because of her, and smiles.
"It's healed pretty well even though it has just been a few weeks" she says, "I'd really apologize for that, but like I said, it looks good on you" a giggle from her which you return.
Fuck.
That's not normal. The way you talk to Momo is not normal. The way you laugh is not normal.
That you let her touch you like that is not normal. Not at all.
This laying on the water like two newly in love is not normal.
Is it?
You stand up and look around you, Momo also stands up and looks at you confused.
"I think it's better if I leave," you say and walk towards the shore, back onto the stones. She's right behind you.
"Wait." she says, you turn around, but somehow wish you hadn't.
She comes closer and faster than you can react, she kisses you on the cheek. Her cold, soft lips on your cold cheek sends a shiver down your spine. So cold, but somehow it warms you up, gives you that feeling in your body that you wish you would never experience again. She takes a step back and looks at you, but no words come out of your mouth, you turn around and go back into the palace, on your way to find Tzuyu to go back home with her. Leaving Momo alone at the water.
-
A cold night.
You don't know what you're doing here, why you stroll around the woods right next to Dahyun's Kingdom. But it's like something is pulling you here. Something that wants you here.
Or rather, someone.
Or to be exactly clear, Momo.
You stand infront of the 15 feet thick stone wall that protects the building, your knife inbetween your teeth as you climb it. You look around to see if there are people watching, then you jump down, slowly and quietly walking to the building for servants, the place where Momo is.
As you enter, you hear a manly voice behind you.
"Who are you." you turn around and see a Knight, problably on his night duty, talking to you.
"Nobody" you answer, before he can react, you punch him and drag him away. You throw him on the floor, getting on top of him and slashing his throat. Maybe it's a bit harsh, but he is known for being weird, so why not do a favor to the people living here?
His blood splashes against your loose t-shirt as you get up and walk to the stairs, to the top floor, the biggest room, for the best Knight in the Kingdom.
You slowly enter the room, closing the door behind you as you look at the bed. Momo sleeping peacefully.
You walk closer, putting down the knife on a random table of hers and turning your back to the bed.
But maybe you shouldn't have done that.
You feel a knife against your throat as Momo presses her body against yours. Her breathing into your neck, it's hot.
"What are you doing here?" she says, holding her knife in a tight grip, still against your throat, in a way it doesn't cut, but hurts because of the pressure she is applying.
"I wanted to see you" you say, she turns you around and looks at you. She looks down on your body and now that she is clearly looking at it, she can see the splashes of blood.
Some on your clothes, some on your face.
Saying that she enjoys seeing you like this is an understatement.
It turns her on.
"Well" she answers, putting away her knife as she sits down on the bed, leaving space next to her so you can sit with her, which you gladly do.
"And why exactly are you here? Why do you want to see me?" Momo asks while looking at you.
"I dont know... You've been on my mind since the Ball, i just don't know what to do anymore" you start saying.
Momo really tries to listen, but those blood drops really do something to her. Her eyes drifting to your lips, to your hands, everywhere.
And you, of course, start to notice that. It's like the need to talk disappeared and another need appeared.
Your lips crash together with Momo's in a second, your hands on each side of her cheek to pull her even closer while your tongues dance with eachother in your mouth. You pin her to her bed, getting on top of her while one of your leg is inbetween hers, pressing against her core as you slowly move it.
"Didn't think you are that needy.." you breathe out in a quick kissing break when you realised Momo is grinding on your thigh, seeking for friction so badly.
"F-fuck-" Momo curses as your hand goes under her loose nightgown, teasing her hardened bud. Your lips trail down her jaw, leaving kisses here and there, sucking at her pulse point as you can feel her wetness drenching your pants.
You need her crying for you.
You leave her neck, pulling at her gown so she can take it off, throwing it somewhere on the floor, you feel your cheeks turning a little red at the view of her breasts, beautiful, like a painting. Your eyes trail down her body, eyeing her wet pussy.
"So wet.. you're so cute"
"Stoppp... ughh" she says which makes you laugh, she looks away, her hands on her thighs.
"Why should I? You like it, don't you baby?" you whisper into her ear, your hand goes down on her body, taking her hands and interlocking her fingers with yours. You pin both of her hands next to her hand while you slowly place kisses all over her naked body, the closer you get to her core, the more her breath hitches.
"Stop teasing.." momo breathes out, looking down on you while you're infront of her cunt.
"You're so needy. I love seeing you like this." you say, breathing against her core and sending shivers down her spine. She holds onto your hands as you go through her folds with your tongue, circling her clit as she squirms a little.
"Please-.." she moans, grinding against your tongue, how can you not give her what she wants if she is being so cute?
You smirk as your tongue moves to her hole, slowly going in and out of it, her taste is even better than you've imagined.
Momo lets go of your hands and grips your hair, pushing you closer to her core as she locks her thighs around you.
Yeah, you definetly forgot how strong she is.
You're shocked, but start to eat her out like a predator who just found its favorite prey.
Your tongue goes in and out of her so fast, slurping noises fill the room as momo grips your head tighter, her thighs almost making you choke.
"Fuck.. i-im close.." she moans after some minutes, already squirming around, her thighs let go of your head as you eat her out, your nose hitting her clit here and there which makes Momo yelp.
You move faster, her hip shakes as she cums, juices flowing into your mouth which you drink immideatly.
"Oh god-.." she breathes out in exhaustion. You get up and kiss her, Momo blushes at the taste of her juices coming from your mouth. You both kiss eagerly and part after some time, looking at eachother while breathing heavily.
-
"I-I can't-" Momo whimpers, her whole body shaking as you made her cum for the maybe fifth time? You lost track of it pretty fast.
A few tears leave her eyes, flowing down her cheek, you smirk at the sight.
"I thought you are strong? The strongest Knight of all... But look, you're crying desperatly while grinding against me." you say, stroking her cheek with your thumb.
How Momo looks like right now is something you wish you could really see everyday.
Her hair all messy, her bangs sticking to her sweaty forehead, her body full of hickeys and even some bite marks, her hands shaking a little, her swollen lips (both of them..), the drenched spot on the bedsheet right next to her core...
This is better than any exhibit Tzuyu forces you to look at. This is something you could look at forever without getting tired of it.
But sadly its not made to be with you forever.
You sit up rapidly as you look around your room, your face drenched because of sweat.
Did you just dream of having sex with your enemy?
Oh god. This shouldn't be happening.
You stand up and walk to your window, looking out of it. It's already bright outside, you can see Jihyo training outside and you decide to join her.
-
"You look like something is on your mind" Jihyo says as you both hold a wood sword in your hand.
"It's fine" you say, coming closer to her and try to attack her, but she quickly moves away as her sword hits your back.
"It's not. You can't fight with thoughts occupying your mind" she says. She is right, but admitting it is too emberrassing for you.
"Nothing is occupying my mind. I'm normal, nothings wrong. Okay? Now lets just get back to training." you answer, gripping the handle of your sword. Jihyo only sighs as you both start to attack eachother again.
But she is right. You can't concentrate with those thoughts.
She hits you in your rib, making you stumble backwards and falling onto the ground. "Ugh-" you let out. Jihyo walks to you, standing right infront of you. Her sword right on your chest.
"If you don't talk to me i'll make it hurt even more" she says. You sigh, but nod. She helps you sit and sits down next to you.
"Do you remember what happened in the woods a month ago?" you ask, looking down on the floor and playing around with the old bracelet on your wrist.
"Do you mean Knight Momo attacking you?"
You nod.
"I met her at the Ball," you begin saying, you can feel Jihyo staring at you.
", we danced together... we went out and drank a bit. We fucking went into water together while I talked about my fucking feelings" you say. You can feel yourself choking a little on the tears you try holding back.
"But I thought you're afraid of the water?"
"Exactly." you answer.
"Oh." Jihyo answers, it's like she knows what exactly what you're talking about.
"I never thought that something like this could happen again. It's like what happened years ago. She gives me this feeling... Which I just don't want to feel." you say, a tear falling onto the bracelet.
"It's normal to feel like this," she says, but you quickly interrupt her.
"That's what she said. Exactly the same... I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm scared Jihyo..." you look up at her, her expression a motherly one, full of concern. She takes you in her arms, her hand stroking your back as you cry into her chest.
"I feel helpless," you sob.
"It's not as bad as you think, believe me. But sooner or later you'll have to talk to her, but I can't tell you when that moment will come" she replies.
She's right, but when will that moment come that you have to talk to her?
-
You never thought it would come so soon.
It's a rainy night, everything around you is loud. People screaming, families hiding and seeking shelter.
The rain is falling on your armor, making everything even louder. Jihyo, Jeongyeon and you are walking along your assigned part of the forest when something comes up behind you, but unfortunately much too quickly.
Jeongyeon lets out a pained scream as a knife is stabbed through her body, you turn around but only see the person running deeper into the forest.
"Fuck.. Jeongyeon-" Jihyo says, helping her sit down somehow. "If I find this person... Oh believe me I will torture them so much" Jihyo says and is about to get up but you hold her down.
"Stay here. It's better if you stay with Jeongyeon. The others will be here soon," you say.
"But I can't just do nothing!" she replies.
"You're the best of us with medicine. You're Jeongyeon's hope, Jihyo. I'll run after the person and find them," you say, already hearing the voices of the other knights running around with you. Jihyo sighs and nods.
You look around you and then walk deeper into the forest, in the direction where the enemy ran. But somehow it looks too familiar.
"Y/n" you hear behind you. You turn around and see Momo, her sword covered in Jeongyeon's blood which is slowly getting washed away by the rain. You look around you, it's the same place where you first met Momo. She looks at you, you look at her and pull down your helmet, dropping it on the wet grass.
"Do you now believe in Fate? Because what is this, if not Fate?" she asks.
"Maybe." you answer.
There is some unsettling silence before Momo starts speaking again,
"I'm sorry-"
"I don't care what you did to Jeongyeon, Momo," you say. You're grateful that it's raining because you can already feel the tears coming.
"I can't fucking concentrate because of you. I can't fight properly because of you. It's killing me." She looks at you, and any person could see that she's confused.
"You're making me feel what I don't want to feel Momo. I don't want that..But..but you pull me in, you hold me tight with this strong grip that almost suffocates me" you sob, it's obvious you're crying. That the wetness on your face is not just the rain.
"I don't want to love my enemy. I don't want to love a woman..
I don't want to love you..." you say, it's more like a desperate cry.
"Just because we're two women doesn't mean we can't be together..." Momo replies and comes closer.
"You just don't understand... I can't. I'm afraid of it. I don't want to. I'm afraid of people, they'll judge me, I'll do it myself. We could never live in peace..." you say and continue sobbing, Momo looks at you with a sad look.
"I fucking love you" you whisper, but loud enough for her to hear.
A few tears stream down her cheeks.
"Stop pretending you somehow understand..." you say, your sword in a strong grip as you run at her and lunge to strike her, but she shields herself with her sword, causing your blade to slam into hers with a loud hiss.
"I know how you feel," she says, her pressure against your sword strong, but so is yours.
"I failed as a knight Momo. I have feelings for my enemy. There's not even a reason to fight you anymore. I should actually let you kill me." you say, more tears streaming down your cheeks, just like hers.
"I don't want to kill you, do you understand? I never wanted to do it." she says, her pressure on her sword easing and you push her a few steps away.
You breathe heavily as you stare at her and jam your sword into the grass, she looks at you confused.
You take off your heavy armor, your clothes immediately getting soaked by the rain.
"Please..." you say in a desperate tone.
"Y/n..." she walks towards you, her sword in her hand. She stands right in front of you, just a few inches away.
You close your eyes, expecting the pain that comes from the sword she stabs you with, but nothing happens.
The only thing that happens is her soft lips on yours.
You are shocked, but do nothing.
When you open your eyes, she is standing in front of you again.
"Why-..." you ask, her hand on your shoulder.
"I told you I never wanted to kill you," she says, her sword still in her hand.
"I wish you were a boy Momo" you say, looking at her with tears in your eyes, the rain stopped.
"I'm sorry not to fulfill your wish." she says, jamming the sword into your thigh, you scream as you take a few steps backwards and fall down.
Right on the spot where you fell last time.
"Momo-..." you say quietly, she looks down at you.
"I'm sorry." is all she says.
And just like last time, the only thing you hear before you pass out is Momo calling for help to get Jihyo's and Jeongyeon's attention.
Momo places a soft kiss on your cheek before she leaves.
The last kiss you both shared.
"I wish you were a boy too."
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