#no one cares if someone else said it first

[hayatofiles]

PROMISCUOUS BOY

prompt: your next-door neighbour keeps bringing hookups one night after other disturbing your precious sleep. exhausted, you decide to write a letter venting all your frustrations — not expecting that in the middle of all this it would reach it recipient.

pairing: blade, jing yuan x fem! reader

cw: scenario format, modern au, slightly ooc to fit the plot, suggestive themes, mentions of sex, flirt, not beta-read

reblogs and comments are appreciated ♡

Dear apt 502’ neighbour, I understand that starting a letter with "dear" may sound a bit old-fashioned and ridiculous when I don't even know you, but I hope you take in consideration my romantic spirit as a passionate literature student and will overlook this fact. That said, the reason why we’ve never met is mainly based on the times when I leave and get home. You see, I'm in my last year of a master's degree and the university has been charging all my time and dedication, so I barely have time to take care of myself other than to fall into bed and sleep. But lately, in the late hours of the night, I’ve had my rest interrupted at the only moment when my mind should find peace. And I swear, I've tried to use all possible methods to prevent the noise from affecting me but it has been increasingly difficult. Far be it for me to look for trouble because of someone else sex' life, no. I'd rather say good for you instead. But would it be nice of you to fuck your bitches without breaking my wall in the process? I can deal with their horrible moans, but definitely not with my damaged apartment. Be that as it may, I wish you the best intentions. Your apt 503’ neighbour

Blade

Oh, how you hated your neighbour. You hated him so much.

There were few people who achieved such a feat since you were the most patient and easygoing person to ever exist. Not even your Languages ​​and Cultures II’ partner who was extremely irresponsible or your idiot ex-boyfriend who still didn't seem to understand the meaning of the word break-up were able to get out of you a feeling as negative as hate. But, well, for everything in this life there was a first time, and your not-so-dear-neighbour was getting the upper hand.

When you wrote the letter on one of the dozens of nights in which his nocturnal activities seemed to be more important than other people's rest, you didn't expect a few days later for it to disappear from your desk where it belonged, much less for your friendly doorman to confirm your worst nightmare: all the mail for the week had already been sent.

What was supposed to be a joke turned into more days and nights of stress and you even considered writing him a second letter explaining that it was all just a misunderstanding and that the cracks in your wall weren't that important after all. However, when a week passed and your next-door neighbour's sexual activities began to last until the next morning, you understood that he was deliberately mocking you and, consequently, declaring war.

Now take a good look. You were a person known for your poise and calmness in overcoming challenges despite so much pressure, so it was expected that it’d be no different this time. Except it was. Because not even the calm and composure that the gods gave you could help you ignore the terrible moans in the next room, and the investment you put into that apartment was too high to let it go unnoticed.

And so, at 7:05 am on a Sunday morning, you found yourself in front of apartment 502' door knocking continuously on it as you waited not so patiently the willingness of your neighbour to finish his fuck and attend you. How a person managed to have so much sex drive was beyond your understanding, but perhaps this was due to the fact that your neighbour was an old and lonely man who must have found pleasure in the company of women only at night. Yes, that was a plausible reason.

In the end, you spent at least five minutes abusing the door’s wood without stopping. And just as you prepared to knock once more, it suddenly opened and the man who had tormented you all your nights had finally revealed himself.

Your impressions: Well, old he certainly was. Lonely? Hard to say. Now, unfairly hot and attractive? Unexpectedly yes.

When you came to your senses, you and the half-naked man spent a long time staring at each other in silence, absorbing each other's characteristics. You were clearly affected by his beauty and he was clearly irritated by your presence.

"Are you going to stare at me all the way, or are you going to say what you want?"

You blinked once, twice, three times until his words hit you, making you visibly red with embarrassment. How rude!

"First, good morning to you too," you said venomously, "Second, didn’t you read the letter, no? What part of not breaking the wall didn’t you get?"

The man seemed to take your words into consideration for a few seconds before a sneer appeared on his lips and his eyes narrowed in amusement. He leans against the doorframe and crosses his arms over his bare, scarred chest, making him more attractive than he already was.

"I don't see how this is up to you alone. After all, the wall is as much yours as it’s mine," he says and you open your mouth in shock.

"Excuse me? How can I not when it’s my side that is being damaged the most!"

"Then you better start looking for a bricklayer."

Gods, this man was impossible! You already knew that you hated him for a very insignificant reason, but now you were sure that he was more detestable than he let on. And the fact that he counts your arguments with that purposeful blank expression infuriated you even more.

"Unbelievable. Not only can't I keep my apartment intact, but I also have to spend sleepless nights because of the noise too."

"If the noise bothers you so much you can always come and join in," your neighbour offers with a small smirk, but the devilish glow that radiated from his crimson iris didn’t hide the true meaning behind his words.

Too embarrassed and disconcerted to continue the argument with the man, you angrily return to your house, slamming the door aggressively and containing the scream of frustration that bubbled in your chest.

Yingxing in turn couldn't help but think that you had a nice ass, and that annoy you was even better than he thought.

Jing Yuan

Two whole days looking for the letter all over your apartment took you to the most advanced stage of despair. Even though you had already ransacked your living room from floor to ceiling more times you could remember, messing up your kitchen and bedroom in the process, you still hadn't found a single trace of the piece of paper. And even though a part of you already knew that there was a high chance that the letter had been mixed in with the other correspondences and had been forwarded to its intended recipient, you'd rather have a hole in the ground swallow you than consider the only plausible option.

Even so, now here you found yourself: in front of the apartment 502’ door with a courage and pride that wasn't yours, sweat running down your spine and the dread of finally coming face to face with the man who not only ruined your last nights sleep, but who could very well ruin your social life too. God, just thinking that he could be a troublemaker and report you to the police, tarnishing your criminal record and your reputation as a good neighbor made you sick to your stomach.

But there was no other alternative. You had to make sure he hadn't opened the letter, or, in the worst case, consider not bringing this humiliation to the public.

So, minutes after knocking on the door, you were finally greeted by the resident of apartment 502 who, for much your surprise (or much delight) was wearing nothing but a bath towel with the steam's traces still emanating from his pale, wet skin. It suddenly became very clear to you why all those dozens of women made sure to scream “Oh, Jing Yuan!” every time they reached an orgasm.

"May I help you?"

Yeah. Fucking kill me, you wanted to answer.

The words you had practiced so much seemed to have escaped your brain and a familiar heat burned your cheeks. The embarrassment was huge, but you had already come this far and there was no going back. You only wished your neighbour wasn't this attractive, though.

"Hi. Good evening, sir. I’m your nextdoor neighbour and I wanted to know if by any chance you received a letter signed in my name", you stuttered so fast that you feared you’d have to repeat the sentence all over again since Jing Yuan didn’t seem to express any reaction for a few seconds. 

As the realization hit him, though, a faint gleam of amusement crossed his golden irises and mortification hit you like a bolt of lightning.

Oh shit. He had read the letter.

"Just a moment, ma'am", Jing Yuan said with a playful smile on his lips and entered his apartment for a few seconds, returning shortly afterwards with the well-known envelope in hand.

He held out the letter and you trembled as you finally picked it.

"I can tell that this was not a letter intended to be sent, right?"

"No, it wasn't. And I'm so sorry for causing you so much trouble! God, what a humiliation! Now would be a great time to die", you pleaded into the void and your handsome neighbour laughed in response.

"It’s alright. You know, it's the first time I've received a letter from such a beautiful lady, although the content was definitely not what I expected", he said contemplatively crossing his huge arms on his huge chest. You looked away feeling more embarrassed, "Nevertheless, I also apologize for my lack of attention. I’ll be more considerate from now on."

If only it could get any worse. Here he was apologizing for having a healthy sex life when you should probably be doing the same. Having sex not apologizing, of course. 

Fearing that if you said anything else your words would come out more clumsy than the erratic beating of your heart, you forced a smile to your neighbour who was now looking at you intensely in slight amusement. And realizing that if you stared back at the man for too long your role as a fool would only get worse, you came up with a quick excuse to escape from there and back to your apartment. Maybe your next letter would be a goodbye to the world because you refuse to leave your home from now on.

"Thank you for your attention and again I apologize for the confusion, Mr. Jing Yuan. It was great meeting you, really, but I need to go so have a good night and don’t mind me anymore," you bow quickly and respectfully as your face burned in red, and stumble on wobbly legs back to your door.

However, before you could enter your house due to fumbling with the wrong keys for the lock, Jing Yuan let out a light laugh and replied: “It was my pleasure to meet you, Miss Neighbour. Although, I must say that I would like to keep hearing more from you from now. This time, in person, of course."

Needless to say you entered your apartment at lightning speed vowing never to exit it again, leaving behind a very good-humored Jing Yuan.

How delightful to know that you already knew his name before he even needed to introduce himself, huh.

#honkai star rail #honkai star rail x reader #blade #blade x reader #jing yuan #jing yuan x reader #hsr #hsr x reader

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Study Buddy 2

Warnings: this series will include dark elements which may include bullying, noncon or dubcon, or violent behaviour. Mind the warnings.

Summary: a group project leads to a tense partnership.

Character: Walter Marshall

Big thanks to those who read! Feedback always helps inspire and you know I’m always happy to chat about possibilities! Please reblog and comment ❤️

You breeze through the book to your own surprise. Between your other classes and your part-time gig down at the shop, you make quick work of it. You sit to transcribe the notes you made by hand into the doc as your phone buzzes.

‘Should start writing. I can meet tomorrow.’

The message is as blunt as anything else he’s said to you. Your brief first meeting with Walter still sticks in your head. You look back to the document and see another cursor in the doc. Your words are backspaced and reworded before you. You sigh. It’s going to be one of those projects.

‘Sure. I work til 2. Library?’

You put your phone down again and ignore the edits as you continue to input your notes. You don’t know why you’re doing any of it. He seems intent on doing it all himself.

Buzz. You flip your cell and cup your chin as you read the screen. ‘Can’t make it there. Daughter’s sick. Meet me here.’

Here? As in his home? That’s a lot.

You don't get it. He suggested tomorrow then just as quickly pulls the rug out. It's like every answer you have is wrong.

‘Don't work day after.’

‘Tomorrow after 2 is fine. I'll send address.’

That's it. Even via text, you hear his unbending tone. How can you argue with that punctuation?

You just type OK and leave it be. Maybe you'll get murdered. It would at least be the end of your problems. Of all the group work you’ve ever done, he’s the least compromising person you’ve ever encountered. Usually you’d be happy to let someone else take the lead but something about his demeanour just comes off condescending.

Or maybe that’s your insecurity talking.

You continue your notes in the doc. You notice the other cursor, highlighted green, moving around the page. You try to ignore the changes in real-time being made to your own thoughts. This isn’t going to be easy. At least you’ll be able to say you earned your grade.

💻

It seems a bit reckless to be walking up to stranger’s house. In fact, after reading a thriller about murder, it rings in your head as a very unwise decision. That being said, you have to get this assignment done. It might not be worth your life but what choice do you have?

You compare the house number with the address in your phone. That’s the one. One-half of a faded old duplex. You stride up the narrow walk beside the bushes and climb up the concrete steps. You knock and wait.

You’re exhausted already. You don’t know if you’re ready for this. Work was no fun. It never is. Sorting packages is no glorious deed but it pays.

You wait and go to knock again. The door opens before your knuckles can meet the wood and you nearly rap against the chest of the man behind it. You give a sheepish cringe and rescind your hand.

“Uh, hi,” you utter awkwardly.

“Mm, hey,” Walter responds, “come on.”

He checks his watch as he backs up. It’s almost three. The buses were clogged down in the city’s core and you missed your connection to his neighbourhood. He probably wouldn’t care that you walked two blocks just to make up for the change in commute.

You step inside as he stands against the door. It’s a tight squeeze. You can smell the woodsy hint of his cologne as you brush by him. You stay on the mat and lift your foot to untie your boot with one hand. You waver as he sidles by you and switch feet. You leave the worn treads by the door.

He looks to his left and you see the hooks mounted on the wall, jackets already hung there. You take the hint and put yours with them. You swipe your bag back up and follow him down the entryway and through the second door on your left.

The kitchen is lit with an amber hue, the glass shade of the ceiling light lending a soft tint to the space. He points you to the round table across from the apron of the counter and you claim a chair quietly. You peer around curiously as he marches to the counter.

He doesn’t say a word as he fills a navy blue mug. You bop your foot under the table. You feel like you’re disturbing him but this was his idea.

“Coffee?” He asks. At least he’s kind enough to ask.

“Um, no, thanks,” you wilt out, “I’m all good.”

You reach to your bag to distract yourself. You open up your laptop as you put it on the table. He sits heavily to your right, his cup clunking down onto the wood. He drags over the notebook with loose leaves tucked between the pages.

“You mind typing?” He asks, “I’m no good with the small keys.”

“Sure, uh, let me just open up the notes...” you swirl your fingers around the touchpad as he exhales. Each breath sounds exasperated.

“You’re not one of those,” he wonders, “no coffee? What, you don’t like caffeine?”

“Um, well, I have one coffee in the morning but I don’t drink it after noon or my head hurts.”

“Mmm,” he hums flatly, “too bad.”

He lifts his cup and gulps again, elbows on the table as he hovers the mug between his hands. He seems like that type. No sleep, only coffee. It might explain his general demeanour.

“So, I’ll just make a second doc where we can put our draft,” you explain to another one of his rocky grumbles.

You hear something hoarser from down the hall. Coughing followed by horrid hacking. Then a moan as a door opens.

“Dad,” the thin voice wafts down ahead of the girl. She’s maybe fifteen, a blanket around her shoulders, as her reddened nose offers the only colour in her drawn face, “I need more cough syrup.”

“Faye,” he stands, his cup hitting the table just as harshly as before. “Go back to bed.”

“My head hurts,” she whimpers.

He stalks over to meet her by the fridge, “I know, sweetheart,” his softened tone surprises you, “go lay down and I’ll bring you some tea.” He opens the fridge and takes out a dark brown bottle, “here.” He hands her the syrup and she sniffles. He pats her arm gently, “don’t get me sick, kid.”

Her glazes eyes flit towards you as you sit with your hands over the keyboard. You look away meekly, caught.

“Who’s that, dad?” She asks.

“Schoolwork,” he gives the terse answer, “group project.”

“Oh,” she lets out the single syllable before she devolves back into a coughing fit.

“Lay down,” he demands.

As she retreats, he turns back and crosses to the counter. He flicks on the kettle and faces you, glaring over at you.

“Just a minute,” he says.

“Take your time,” you return gently, “she’s in rough shape.”

“Mm,” he rumbles, “I’m sure she doesn’t mind the time off school.”

#walter marshall #dark walter marshall #dark!walter marshall #walter marshall x reader #night hunter #study buddy #au #series #drabble

[ysrjune]

sam monroe smut with chubby reader🙏 PLEASE

She hates her weight but sam loves it and one day she’s crying because of a remark smby made and he comforts her :’)

Sam held you in his arms while you cried about something some girl said about your weight at school earlier. “Come on, beautiful, stop crying. You shouldn’t care about what that bitch has to say about you, she’s just mad she’s not as gorgeous as you.” He tried comforting you while rubbing your arm.

“But she’s right!” you continue to sob. “I try so hard to feel good about my body and stuff, but people just keep on commenting on it.” Sam could break into tears hearing his sweet girl talk bad about herself. He hated hearing about how much you hated your body because he loved it. He loved resting his hand on your tummy. He loved to squeeze your rolls.

To him, all that wasn't disgusting at all. He loved his chubby girl. The way your cheeks were so full, too, melted his heart. Especially when you'd smile. “Well, I don't think anything negative about your body. God, your body is literally worth worshipping, baby.” His hand trailed down to your plushy thighs.

You knew that. You knew Sam was obsessed with not just your body, but everything else about you. Even before you two were dating, he never made a negative comment about your weight. That was one of the reasons you started liking him in the first place. Every other guy you were friends with before Sam would say something atleast once about your body.

“That's real sweet of you, Sam, but I don't think so.” You hold his hand, sniffling. Your boyfriend shakes his head and forces you to lay on him. “Nah, I mean it. Just cause you have a tummy and a couple of rolls doesn't make you any less attractive, angel face.” He kissed your forehead and sat up against the headboard so that you were sitting on him properly.

“So cute, could just eat you up.” He quickly states and started sucking on your neck, leaving small kisses as well. “Sam—” You giggled at the sensation of his lips on your neck. “Stop, that tickles,” You try pushing his face awah from you, but he wouldn't budge. He did stop eventually, thank goodness. You look at your phone to open the camera to see how many hickeys he had left.

“4? Really, Sam?” You give him an unamused look even though you thought it was kinda funny. “You don't get it, huh?” His hand went down to your breast, holding onto it gently. “Just cause a couple of people tell you things about your body doesn't mean others don't find you attractive. I've seen a couple dorks check you out. Even when you're with me.” He rolled his eyes at the memory of it.

“Starin’ at your ass and thighs.” He says as both his hands travel to your ass. “‘least they know they can't have what's already mine.” He smirked, giving your ass a squeeze. “Ugh, you're such a pervert.” You reply playfully but also gently, slapping him. “Yeah, you like it, though. First time we fucked was because I was being a pervert and it turned you on.” He reminds you, sliding down your shorts.

“That didn't mean anything..” You blush at a little bit, feeling the way his fingers hooked onto the hem of your shorts to pull them down. “Then what's happening right now? Are you sure you're not already soaked by me doing the bare minimum?” He whispers, looking up to you with those pretty blue eyes that were smudged with eyeliner.

You didn't want to answer that. He already knew it, so why is he asking? How could someone not get so turned on by a hot emo guy. Especially one that knows how to use his dick. He wasn't just good at using that, though. His fingers and his mouth were great, too.

Though, at first, he wasn't exactly as good as he is now. The first time he fingered you, he had no idea what he was doing. The first time he ate you out? He didn't know lots about that either despite all the porn he watched. It took him a couple times to get it all right, and by the 4th time he tried fingering/eating you out, he was real good at it.

The first time he stuck his dick in you, he came almost immediately and was so embarrassed about it, but that didn't stop him from continuing to thrust in and out of you. You wouldn't ever forget that moment cause once he came, he made the cutest little whimper ever. His face was flushed, and his eyebrows were pinched together, moaning and panting.

That was the first time he ever had sex, too. It felt so good, he didn't wanna stop even after cumming 3 more times. He was also just so obsessed with the wet noises your pussy would make with every thrust. Every moan you let out gave him less reason to stop.

“What, cat got your tongue? Can't tell me that your panties and practically stuck to that pretty pussy?” He snaps you out of your trance. “Mm, no.. was just thinking.”, “About what?” By this time, he already had you in only your bra and underwear, taking in the sight before him.

“The first time we fucked..” You admit to him, feeling his boner. “Fuck, you had me feelin’ so good that night, princess.” You help him out of his shorts, revealing his hard cock since he had no boxers on underneath. You rubbed the tip, making his hips jerk up a little bit. “Moaning your name like a little bitch ‘n shit.” He moved his hips against your fingers.

He shifted himself to where his dick met the fabric of your panties. Sam started thrusting against them, letting out small moans. “Please let me feel like that again, babe. please please please let me fuck you. I've been waiting so damn long.” It had been almost a month since you've had sex with him.

You thought of riding him so you could see his pretty face get all scrunched up when hes about to cum, but you remembered how much of a thing he had for you arching your back for him. “Should blow my back out.” You kiss his cheeks while he still thrusted against your clothed clit. “Mm, I'd love that.”

So, here you were. Moaning out his name into a pillow, but also hearing those cute noises of his. “Shit, shit, shit,” He moaned, smacking your ass and watching it jiggle with every thrust he made. “Yeah, mhm, you're so pretty, sweet girl. Mm, could do this forever.” He suddenly flipped you around and placed his hand on your tummy.

“You're so soft, oh my God.” He squeezed it a little, then moved his hand to your puffy cheeks. “So pretty,” He whimpered, letting you know he was close. “Uh—fuck. ‘m so close. Oh, you're so good.”, “So. Fucking. Good.” He thrusted with every word.

“Sam, Im gonna cum!” You hold onto his arm. “Gonna cum? So do it then, baby. Cum all over my cock, beautiful. Can do it, come on.” He led you on until he felt you tighten around him and release yourself onto his dick. It took him a few more thrusts to cum, but once he did, he pulled out and lay on you, hands grabbing onto your titties.

“Fuck, princess.” He panted and slid down to kiss your tummy, thighs, and everywhere that you were insecure. “Don't ever call yourself unattractive. I'd rather have my cuddly, chubby girlfriend than any other girl.”

Your boyfriend was truly the sweetest.

#hayden christensen #sam monroe #life as a house #sam monroe x you #sam monroe x reader #sam monroe drabble #sam monroe fanfiction #sam monroe smut #sam monroe imagine #sam monroe x chubby!girlfriend

[lila-lou]

✨ His only exception - Pt. 21/? ✨

Summary: 12 months ago, Butcher went above and beyond to have you join his team. You had a simple office job at Supe Affairs. The same thing every day, working from 9 to 5 and watching Butcher and his team defeat one renegade after another. One evening, however, something changed.

Pairing: Soldier Boy x Reader

Warnings: Language, angst, hurt

Word Count: 3377

A/N: This is part 21 of “His only exeption”.

English isn’t my first language, so please be lenient. 💙✨

As you stood there in the bathroom, staring at your reflection, the tumult of emotions swirling within you threatened to overwhelm you. Jay's presence in your life had brought moments of joy and comfort, but now faced with the prospect of intimacy, you found yourself grappling with feelings you hadn't fully acknowledged.

Your mind wandered back to Ben, his absence palpable yet his memory hauntingly present. Could you truly move forward with someone else, knowing the lingering shadow of Ben hung over you?

The sound of Jay's voice outside the bathroom door broke through your reverie, a reminder of the present moment and the person waiting on the other side. Part of you longed to confide in him, to share the inner turmoil consuming you, but another part hesitated, fearing his reaction and the potential fallout of your honesty.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay?". His tone was gentle, laced with concern. "You seem… off. Is there something you want to talk about?".

You hesitated, the weight of his words sinking in. Jay's genuine concern only served to amplify the turmoil within you. How could you explain the maelstrom of emotions churning inside your chest without delving into the depths of your past?

"I'm… I'm fine", you replied, your voice betraying a hint of uncertainty. "Just… dealing with some things".

There was a moment of silence before Jay spoke again, his tone softer now, filled with understanding. "You know you can talk to me, right? Whatever it is, I'm here for you".

His words tugged at something deep within you, a flicker of hope amidst the chaos.

"I know", you murmured. "I just… need some time to sort things out".

You stepped out of the bathroom, your eyes red.

"C´mere", he whispered.

Feeling Jay’s arms envelop you in a comforting embrace, you let out a shaky breath, momentarily finding solace in his warmth. But his next words shattered the fragile calm that had settled over you.

“I just… I can’t shake this feeling”, Jay murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as he held you close. “It’s like… I’m all in, you know? But sometimes it feels like you’re… not as committed to this as I am. I know we haven't been together that long, but it feels like you don't really want the whole thing”.

His words hung heavy in the air, a weighty reminder of the unspoken tensions simmering beneath the surface of your relationship. You swallowed hard, the guilt of withholding your true feelings threatening to suffocate you.

“I’m sorry”, you whispered, your voice tinged with regret. “I don’t mean to make you feel that way. It’s just… complicated”.

Jay pulled back slightly, his gaze searching yours for answers. “Complicated how?”, he asked, his tone a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

You hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But as you met his gaze, the sincerity in his eyes urged you to be honest.

“There’s… someone else”, you confessed, the words tumbling out in a rush. “Was someone else, I… I don´t know. It´s someone from my… past, I guess. And I… I’m still trying to figure out what that means for me… for us”.

Jay’s expression faltered, a flicker of hurt crossing his features before he masked it with a forced smile. “I see”, he said quietly, though his eyes betrayed the turmoil within. “I guess I always knew there was something more”.

You reached out to touch his arm, a silent plea for understanding. “It’s not that I don’t care about you”, you insisted, your voice trembling with emotion. “It’s just… complicated”.

For a moment, neither of you spoke, the weight of your confession hanging heavily between you.

Feeling Jay’s gaze fixed on you, you took a deep breath, steeling yourself to share a glimpse of the tangled web that had ensnared your heart.

“We had… a connection, a deep one. But things didn’t end well”.

Jay listened intently, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity as he leaned back against the wall, his eyes never leaving yours.

“And now”, you whispered, the words barely “now I’m here, with you. But… but part of me still feels tied to him, to what we had”.

Jay looked down at you, his gaze searching yours with a mixture of compassion and uncertainty.

"Are you sure you're ready for a new relationship?", he asked. "I mean, if part of you still feels tied to him… it's okay to take more time to figure things out".

Your heart ached at his words, the truth of his question hitting you with a force you hadn't anticipated. Were you truly ready to move on, to fully commit to a new relationship?

You shrugged, unable to meet Jay's gaze as a pang of guilt washed over you. "I don't know", you admitted. "I want to be, but… it's hard".

A flicker of hurt crossed Jay's features at your words, his shoulders slumping slightly as he struggled to mask his disappointment. "I understand", he said quietly, though the pain in his eyes betrayed the depth of his feelings. "I just… I want you to be happy, whatever that means for you… for us".

Tears welled in your eyes as you reached out to him, desperate to ease the ache you had caused. "I'm sorry", you whispered, your voice choked with emotion. "I don't want to hurt you".

Jay enveloped you again in a gentle embrace, holding you close as if trying to shield you from the pain of your own indecision. "It's okay", he murmured against your hair, his voice filled with a quiet resignation. "We'll figure it out together, okay?".

And as you clung to him, the weight of your uncertainty pressing down on you.

With everything swirling in your mind, you felt as though you were losing yourself in the chaos. The person you once knew, the one who had made promises and believed in love, seemed like a distant memory now.

After letting yourself in with Ben, you were pretending to be someone you weren't. And now, with Jay, you had thrown yourself into a new relationship, hoping to find solace in his kindness and affection. But in the process, you were hurting him, and the realization cut you to the core.

As Jay held you close, offering comfort and understanding despite the turmoil within you, you couldn't shake the feeling of guilt gnawing at your insides. How could you continue to deceive him, to pretend that everything was fine when you were barely holding yourself together?

More tears welled in your eyes as you buried your face in Jay's chest, seeking refuge from the storm raging within you. "I don't know who I am anymore", you confessed, your voice trembling with emotion.

Jay held you tighter, his own heart heavy with the weight of your pain. "It's okay", he whispered, his voice filled with compassion. "We'll figure it out together. Just… be honest with me, okay? That's all I ask".

You nodded against his chest.

Jay held you close, his arms a comforting embrace as he gently brushed his hand over your back, soothing the ache that had settled deep within you.

"Hey", he murmured softly, his voice a gentle caress against your ear. "When was the last time you visited your mom, or your family? Or at least met with some friends?".

His question hung in the air, a stark reminder of the isolation that had gradually encroached upon your life in recent weeks. You thought back, trying to recall the last time you had reached out to anyone outside of your interactions with Jay, but the memory eluded you.

"I… I don't know", you admitted. "It's been a while. I've been so caught up in everything… I guess I lost track of time".

Jay's embrace tightened slightly, a silent acknowledgment of the loneliness that had crept into your life unnoticed. "Maybe… maybe it's time to reach out to them. They care about you, you know?".

Again you nodded against his chest, the weight of his words sinking in.

Jay pressed a tender kiss to the top of your head. "Come on", he said softly, his voice tender as he gently pulled away from your embrace. "Let's go back to the living room".

As you settled back onto the couch, Jay wrapped his arms around you once more, pulling you close as if to reassure himself of your presence. His touch was gentle, yet persistent, as he continued to brush his hand over your arm in a comforting gesture.

With each stroke, a sense of calm washed over you, the weight of your worries momentarily lifted by Jay's unwavering affection. Just like it has been for the last few weeks.

As you nestled into his embrace, Jay let out a soft sigh, his voice barely above a whisper as he spoke.

"I think… I think you need to figure out your feelings", he murmured, his words tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "I don't want to push you into anything, but… I really like you. And… and I do not want to lose you. Whether as a girlfriend or just a friend".

His admission hung in the air, a vulnerable confession of his own desires and fears. You turned to look at him, finding solace in the warmth of his gaze as he continued.

"So maybe… maybe we can take it slow", Jay suggested, his voice tentative yet hopeful. "We don't have to rush into anything. We can just… see where things go".

His words resonated within you, a gentle reminder that healing and growth often came with time and patience. You nodded in agreement, a sense of relief washing over you as you leaned into his embrace.

"Thank you", you whispered, your voice filled with gratitude. "For understanding".

Jay smiled softly, his fingers kept tracing soothing circles on your arm. "Always", he replied. "I'm here for you, no matter what".

In the days that followed, Jay and you spent countless hours talking, sharing stories, and getting to know each other on a deeper level. His presence became a source of comfort and stability, grounding you in the midst of uncertainty.

With each conversation, you felt pieces of yourself falling back into place, like a puzzle slowly being reassembled. Jay's patience and understanding gave you the space to explore your feelings and rediscover the person you once were.

One day, feeling a newfound sense of confidence and belonging, you suggested visiting the team again. Jay readily agreed, eager to meet the people who had played such a significant role in your life.

After introducing Jay to the others, everyone told you about the latest events, gave you an update on Homelander, and told you what it was like in the executive suite at Vought. Despite the distance and time apart, the bond you shared with them remained as strong as ever.

As the evening stretched on, you found yourselves gathered at a cozy bar with Hughie, Annie and Jay. Annie told you about her temporary leading position at vought.

You listened with admiration as she described the challenges and triumphs of her new role, marveling at her resilience and determination. Despite the pressures she faced, Annie seemed to thrive in the leadership position.

Meanwhile, Jay struck up a conversation with Hughie, the two of them quickly hitting it off. They exchanged stories and shared laughs, bonding over their mutual interests and experiences. You watched with a smile as Jay's easygoing charm drew Hughie out of his shell, the two of them becoming fast friends.

After a while, Annie led you to the bar to get some new drinks, the lively chatter of Hughie and Jay faded into the background, leaving you alone with your thoughts. As you waited for the bartender to take your order, Annie leaned in, her voice low and conspiratorial.

"So, what's the deal with you and Jay?", she asked, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I have to say, I really like him. You've definitely hit a good one".

You smiled weakly, grateful for Annie's support but unable to shake the weight of your own uncertainty. "He's great", you admitted, your voice tinged with hesitation. "But… I'm still trying to figure things out".

Annie nodded in understanding, her expression sympathetic. "I get it", she said softly. "But just know that Jay really cares about you. And if anyone can help you through whatever you're going through, it's him".

You sighed, the weight of her words settling heavily on your shoulders. "I know", you murmured, a pang of guilt tugging at your heart. "I just wish things weren't so… complicated".

Annie let out a sigh, her frustration evident as she leaned in closer, her voice tinged with exasperation.

“You need to forget about Ben”, she insisted, her tone firm. “He’s not worth your time or your heartache. You have someone amazing right in front of you, someone who genuinely cares about you”.

You nodded, knowing deep down that Annie was right. But as much as you wanted to let go, the pull of your feelings for Ben remained stubbornly strong.

“I know”, you replied softly, your voice filled with resignation. “But it’s not that easy. Ben… he made me feel things no one else ever could, or ever will”.

Annie rolled her eyes, her disdain for Ben evident in the way her lips curled into a frown. “Yeah, well, he was also a huge dick most of the time”, she muttered under her breath.

You couldn’t help but chuckle weakly at her bluntness. “That’s true”, you admitted with a rueful smile. “But despite everything, there was still something about him…”.

Annie shook her head, her frustration evident as she reached out to squeeze your hand in a gesture of support. “But you deserve someone who treats you right”.

You took a deep breath, steeling yourself for the difficult conversation ahead. "I know Ben wasn't always ideal", you began, your voice tinged with emotion. "But he… he literally risked his life for me so many times… We, he, was special. We had something special".

"If there was really something special, he wouldn't have just left", she said bluntly, her words hitting you like a punch to the gut.

The truth in Annie's words cut deep, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within you. You knew she was right, that Ben's departure had left a gaping hole in your heart that seemed impossible to fill. But despite the pain, a part of you couldn't let go of the memories, the moments of connection and intimacy that had once brought you so much joy.

Tears welled in your eyes as you struggled to find the words to respond."But… it's not that simple…".

Annie reached out to you, her touch gentle as she wiped away your tears. "I'm sorry", she said softly, her voice filled with empathy. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just want you to be happy, that's all".

As you walked back to the table with Annie by your side, you couldn't shake the weight of her words echoing in your mind. With a heavy heart, you stole a glance at her, a silent plea for comfort and understanding.

"He didn't even say goodbye", you mumbled, the bitterness of the truth lingering on your tongue.

"He's just an asshole", she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"But he… had his reasons", you replied quietly, thinking about russia, though even you weren't entirely convinced by your own words.

Annie shook her head, her frustration evident as she linked her arm with yours. "Maybe", she conceded, her voice softening. "But that doesn't excuse the way he treated you. You deserve better than that".

In the apartment, Butcher, MM and Frenchie sat in tense silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

Frenchie shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his brow furrowed with worry. “I don’t like lying to (y/n)”, he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with guilt.

Butcher let out a frustrated groan, his frustration palpable in the air. “If (y/n) knew we had captured Soldier Boy, she’d be on the next flight to free him”, he grumbled, his tone laced with bitterness.

MM glanced between his companions, his expression grave. “We can’t risk it”, he said firmly, his voice a quiet reminder of the stakes at hand.

Frenchie let out a frustrated grunt, his unease bubbling to the surface. "If that ever comes out, (y/n) will hate us all", he muttered.

Butcher's jaw tightened at the thought, his frustration boiling over into anger. "She won't find out", he snapped, his tone harsh and uncompromising. "No one is spilling the beans, understand?".

MM nodded in agreement, his expression solemn as he met Butcher's steely gaze. "We'll keep our mouths shut", he affirmed. "He wasn't good for her, Frenchie. He just used her".

But Frenchie shook his head adamantly, his brow furrowed with disagreement. "I don't think so", he interjected, his voice firm with conviction. "I think he really did love her".

Butcher scoffed at Frenchie's assertion, his skepticism evident in the way he narrowed his eyes. "Love? That's a load of rubbish", he retorted, his tone dismissive. "He's a bloody supe, Frenchie. They don't know the first thing about love".

Frenchie bristled at Butcher's words. "Clearly you didn't see the way he looked at her", he countered. "There was something real there, I'm telling you".

MM glanced between Butcher and Frenchie, a troubled expression crossing his features. "Maybe", he conceded reluctantly. "But even if he did love her, it doesn't change the fact that he's a liability now. We can't afford to have him jeopardize us".

Turning back towards Annie, you couldn't shake the nagging question that had been gnawing at the back of your mind. "But don't you think it's strange he didn't even say goodbye?", you asked, your voice tinged with uncertainty. "I mean, we were kinda friends, right?".

Annie raised a skeptical eyebrow, her expression incredulous. "Friends?", she echoed, her tone laced with disbelief. "You're for real, (y/n)?".

You flushed slightly, taken aback by Annie's reaction. "Well, maybe not friends exactly," you admitted sheepishly. "But we… we had something".

Until now, you hadn't told anyone how much had actually happened between you and Ben, even if everyone could already guess.

Annie let out a sigh, her frustration evident as she shook her head. "I don't know what you had with Ben", she replied, her tone softer now. "But whatever it was, it's over now. You deserve better than someone who would just up and leave without a word".

Despite your best efforts to move forward, being back with the team brought a flood of emotions rushing back, intensifying the ache of missing Ben. Every corner of the room seemed to whisper his name, every familiar face a bittersweet reminder of the bond you had shared.

You found yourself lost in memories, replaying moments spent with Ben in your mind like a broken record. His absence felt like a gaping hole in the fabric of your reality, a void that no amount of distraction could fill.

And as you navigated through the days, the longing for Ben weighed heavily on your heart, casting a shadow over even the most joyous moments. Despite the passage of time, the pain of his absence remained raw and unyielding.

And as you struggled to reconcile the past with the present, you couldn't shake the feeling that despite your best efforts, you were still trapped in a cycle of longing and loss.

———————————

A/N: I hope this chapter makes you feel a little better :D There's still so much planned guys, just wait. Please let me know what you think.🥰

-

Taglist: @deangirl96, @thatgirljayy, @suckitands33, @deans-spinster-witch@mimaria420@kaz11283@uncle-eggy @jackles010378 @vxnilla-hxrddrugs @meowmeowyoongles @sarahgracej @zemosdarling228 @leila22rogers @mostlymarvelgirl @emily-winchester @blacknoirr @onlyangel-444 @seasonofthenerd @staple-your-mouth @artemys-ackles @selfdestructionandrhum @mystic-mara

#jensen ackles #soldier boy #soldier boy x female reader #soldier boy x reader #soldier boy x y/n #the boys #billy butcher

[jumexju]

CIRCLES

Fic Type !! : Series / Fluff / Some angst

CW !! : Nothing really

Summary !! : Two worlds collide when Gojo comes across a certain edgy 6-year old & decides he needs a babysitter to care for the kid. As you step into his world, he realizes just how different you are from him. They say opposites attract, but is it really true?

Note !! : I visualized a poc reader while writing this, though it can be read by anyone

WC !! : 2k

✦ MASTERLIST

CHAPTER I

The pitter-patter of the rain could be heard faintly as you looked out the window, trying to drown out the voice of your teacher who was lecturing Satoru for going overboard during a mission, again. The raindrops fell & landed on the window, allowing you to see how they slid across the glass.  You didn’t hate the rain. In fact, it was quite beautiful to you. But you hated getting wet. Soggy socks weren’t exactly an ideal. 

It reminded you of the things you didn’t have. Like new shoes for example. The rain would always find a way to get into your socks through the holes in them, you remembered getting sick in middle school because of it. Your mother didn’t have enough money to buy new ones, so you had to wear those until they eventually wore down to the point you had to get new ones. Thankfully now, your situation has changed. You were a jujutsu Sorcerer now, so you didn’t have to worry that much about money. 

Being the quiet kid meant that you’d overheard conversations quite often. Not because you were trying to eavesdrop, people just tended to forget you were there. 

“So, you need help taking care of the kid?” Shoko lifted a brow at the white haired sorcerer. 

He sighed, “Yeah.. I get called on missions a lot n’ can’t really look after both of them. Plus- They’re menaces. Well, Megumi anyways.” He complained about the kid. 

Shoko tilted her head, taking the lollipop out of  her mouth. “So you need a babysitter?” 

“Basically.” Satoru rested his chin on his palm as he looked out the window, obviously bored. 

“ I think I might know someone.” Shoko said quietly. 

Satoru lit up, “Really?” 

You were about to walk out of the classroom before you heard your name fall off Ieri’s lips. You mentally groaned, you’d heard enough to know exactly where she was going with this. Still, a little extra money couldn’t hurt right? You turned on your heel & faced Shoko. Satoru had an annoying smile on his face. “What's up?” 

“Would you mind helping Satoru babysit?” She put the lollipop back in her mouth, “He’ll pay you.” Shoko added. The both of you had been friends since you were first years so she knew about your siblings & how you’d grown up. She was one of the only people you trusted with that information since you know she wouldn’t mouth off and tell anyone else.  It’s not like you were ashamed, but you’d rather not have a certain rich kid try to use that against you. 

“Really? How much?” You lifted a brow as you crossed your arms. 

“Anything you want, money’s not an issue.” Satoru smirked and finished his can of soda. 

“.. Okay then, give me some time to think about it.” You told him, “I’ll have an answer for you by tomorrow night.” As you slid the door to leave, you felt cold fingers wrap around your wrist. You jolted before looking up & seeing Satoru towering over you. 

Satoru let go of you, “Uh.. Shouldn’t we exchange numbers?” 

You froze, “Oh. Yeah- We probably should..” 

He laughed a little & handed you his phone, you did the same. You pressed in the numbers & saved it, typing your name above it. “Here,” He handed you your phone. 

You took it, your warm fingers brushing against his cold ones. “Thanks,” you said before telling him goodbye and continuing on your way to your dorm.

“She’s a little uptight.” Satoru commented. 

Shoko laughed, “Give her some time, she’ll warm up to you. ..Hopefully.” 

“Hopefully??” 

The ringing of your alarm woke you up, it was 6am. You sighed and rubbed your eyes, despite it being a Saturday, you didn’t want to sleep in today ー you had other, more important things to do. 

Like getting more cheesecake. 

Unfortunately, your love for sweets was greater than the fear of getting a cavity from them. For a while now, cheesecake was a comfort food you often indulged in because it could keep you full & it was also tasty. Ensei’s Bakery always had the best cheesecake. However, when you stepped out of your dorm, phone in hand ー you found yourself within the sights of a certain blue-eyed boy ー Much to your dismay. 

You were going to pretend you didn’t see him walking along the hall until-

“_____!” He called after you with the playful smile he always wore. 

You stopped in your tracks, looking back at him as he caught up with you. “..Gojo.” You lifted a brow, wondering what his business with you was. You told him you'd text him tonight didn’t you? 

“No need for formalities, just call me Satoru.” He smiled as he walked beside you. “Okay..” You said with a little hesitation in your tone. “So.. What do you want?” You looked up at him, still skeptical that a guy like him would actually choose to be near you. It’s not that you had low self-esteem, not at all. It’s just that well, it was unusual for you to be with someone so popular. You mainly kept to yourself so it felt weird to you. 

He chuckled, “Where’re you going?” 

“Ensei’s Bakery.” you answered curtly.

“Really? I’m going there too.” He smiled to himself. Though you were a little rough around the edges, Satoru tried not to make it personal. You were probably like this with new people, just like Shoko said. 

(Newsflash : Shoko didn’t say that. You just were caught off guard by his ‘friendliness’ towards you.)  

“I heard the cheesecake there was good so I’m checking it out.” He looked down at you, his boyish smile still painted on his face. You looked up at him, his words seemed to brighten up your uptight mood. 

It was one of the first times he saw you smile. 

You looked ahead, “Yeah the cheesecake there is exceptional. Creamy but not too heavy. It’s good.” Your fingers fidgeted with the keys in your pocket. 

“What do you recommend?” He asked curiously. 

Your brows furrowed a little as you thought about it. He noticed the way you brought your thumb up absentmindedly while you contemplated your answer. “Mm.. The Red Velvet one is really good.. But the Chocolate one is good too.. That's a difficult question..” You mumbled that last part, a little embarrassed at how you were letting yourself ramble in front of him.  “My favorite is the one with both Strawberry & chocolate though.” you told him. 

He teased you about your sweet tooth & kept the conversation going with you as you two walked. He asked about your family but your answers remained vague, he guessed it was just a sensitive topic so he left it alone. Soon enough, you two reached Ensei’s Bakery. Satoru held the door open for you, you thanked him for the gesture and as soon as you stepped in, you could smell the sweet aroma of baked goods ー it was heavenly to you. 

It seemed to appeal to Satoru as well, evident by the expression of bliss on his face. “Look, the cheesecakes are over here,” You pulled on his sleeve softly. His eyes widened behind his shades as he glanced at all the different cakes & sweets in the glass casing. 

“There’s so many to choose from..” His smile was almost infectious, you could feel the corners of your lips lifting up. “That's the one I like,” you pointed at your preferred Cheesecake on display. “I see why, It looks good..” 

“____!”

You turned around, looking for who had called your name. You smiled when you saw Keisha, one of your friends from childhood. “Isha, Hi!” You walked up to the counter where she was working. 

“How are you?” She asked with a warm smile. Her light brown skin bathed in the warm light as she walked around the counter to give you a hug. “I’m good,” you answered as you returned her hug, “How’re you?” She told you she was well before leaning close to you and whispering, “Who’s that? He’s cute..” She giggled as you lifted a brow. “Cute..?” You chuckled dryly, “You mean Gojo?” 

“Is he your boyfriend or something?” She nudged you playfully. 

“Don’t kid yourself, he’s your new customer.” you joked. You couldn’t really imagine ever being close to a guy like him. 

“Really?” 

“Maybe,” you shrugged and went over to Satoru, “You know what you want?” 

He leaned back up, “Yeah.” You followed him to the counter, Keisha smiling as the tall man walked over to where she was at. His smile was bright. 

“Hello, what can I get you?” Keisha shot a smile at you who stood beside him. 

“Hi,” he greeted your friend warmly, “Can I get one of everything?” 

You eyed the bags hanging off Gojo’s arms, a little impressed at his ability to spend that much. ‘I guess the rumors really were true..’, you thought to yourself as you tried not to make it obvious you were staring. Unfortunately, Gojo was a keen observer. 

He smirked. “Do I really look that good? You keep staring at me so I’m assuming I do.” 

You scoffed and looked off to the side as you both crossed the street. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” You half-joked. “Why’d you spend so much? You could always come back y’know.” 

“Money’s not a problem for me.” 

You glared at him. It was like he was flaunting his money. “Clearly.” you muttered, then sighed. You couldn’t really say anything to that. It wasn’t like it was his fault you weren’t born into a rich family like he was, so why should you be ticked off that he had more than enough money? 

You were envious though. 

It was hard not to be. 

Soon enough, you two were back at Jujutsu Tech. The walk there was mostly silent, save for a few bits of small talk. As you were about to depart from him, he stopped you. His large, warm hand on your shoulder. 

“..?” You looked back at him. 

“Here.” He handed you a box of one of the cheesecakes he had gotten. You hesitated taking it from him but it was okay since he was offering, right? 

“.. What’s the catch?” you narrowed your eyes at him. 

“Nothing?” He laughed, “Just thought it’d be polite to show some courtesy to my future babysitter.” His smile shone brighter than diamonds.  

“How do you know I’ll even say yes?” You deadpanned as your hands held the box of cheesecake. 

“I know you won’t say no.” 

As much as you hated him being right ー He was right. You didn’t say no to his offer. To be fair, you were going to be compensated so that was the upside to this whole thing. You untied your bonnet and freshened up your hair, staring at yourself in the mirror as you got ready to go meet the kids you were going to babysit. 

You only hoped they weren’t too annoying. 

Gojo headed to your dorm, it was around the time he told you he was going to pick you up and he thought it best to be early. It wouldn’t exactly look right for him to show up late, right? He absentmindedly scrolled on his phone as he waited outside your dorm room, patiently waiting for you to come out. 

And when you did, he couldn’t really believe it. 

You looked.. Different.

“You..” His eyes widened behind his shades as he looked at you, your black maxi dress showing off your physique. The vintage necklaces on your neck styled beautifully matched with your earrings and the bangles on your wrists. They added the right pop of color that contrasted your dress.

“You’re early.” You didn’t pay much attention to his reaction, “We should get going. It’s not exactly good parenting to leave kids on their own, Gojo.” 

He caught up to you, walking beside you as he led you to Ijichi’s car. “You look nice.” There was a ghost of redness on his cheeks if you looked hard enough. To say that Gojo was stunned at your ‘casual’ look was an understatement. This was a deep contrast to how you usually dressed. Granted, Jujutsu Tech did require you to wear a uniform so it was rare to see anyone in different clothing. Nevertheless, it was hard to miss someone who looked as good as you. 

Especially when you did it so effortlessly. 

“Thank you.” A small smile tugged at your lips as you took his compliment. Gojo opened the door for you, getting in beside you as Ijichi drove you to Gojo’s apartment. “So, Megumi and Tsumiki huh?” you asked, “Two girls? You must have your work cut out for you, Gojo.” A soft chuckle made its way out of your mouth.

“Girls?” Gojo lifted a brow, “Oh- No, Megumi’s a boy.” He corrected you, laughing a little. 

“He’s a boy..??” you laughed at the revelation, “Did his parents name him?” 

He laughed along with you. Seeing as Megumi wasn’t exactly a boy's name, your reaction was appropriate. “His father did, I think.” Gojo replied. “It was his father who told me about him actually.” 

This piqued your curiosity, “Did he ask you to take him in?” 

“No. He told me his son would be sold to the Zenin’s and to do what I wanted with that information.” Gojo explained. “I decided that I'd train the kid instead.” 

“That’s awfully nice of you,” you joked as you looked out of the window, “What happened to his dad?” 

“.. I killed him.” His tone wasn’t lively like before.

This caused a crease to form in between your eyebrows. It seemed to be a sensitive topic, you decided not to touch on it any further. Maybe Shoko would tell you. 

“.. I see.” 

“We’re here.” Gojo perked up, not wanting to ruin the mood with the story of how or why the kid’s father died. You thanked Ijichi before leaving the car, Gojo had opened the door for you of course. “So what’re they like?” You asked Gojo, a bit nervous to meet them since you didn’t know how they’d react to someone new. 

“Tsumiki’s a ray of sunshine, Megumi on the other hand is a little reserved but he’ll warm up to you eventually.” He said with a smile. Gojo seemed more animated whenever he spoke about his adoptive kids. He seemed to have an ambition to shape them. 

Maybe Gojo wasn’t entirely as bad as you thought. 

The jingle of Gojo’s keys was heard as he took them out to unlock the door. Once it was open, you walked in to see the place completely empty. It was huge, you weren’t even sure you could call it an apartment. “This is where you live??” You were in awe at the spacious kitchen and the pristine-looking living room.

“Yeah?” Gojo chuckled before calling out for the kids. “Megumi! Tsumiki! I have someone I’d like you to meet!” 

“What if they’re sleeping?” You asked as you looked up at Gojo. 

He shrugged, “Well now they aren’t,” 

“‘Cuz of your yelling,” 

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” He went to the kitchen, deciding they’d probably come out when they were ready. “Want somethin’ to drink?” 

“You got cranberry juice?” 

“That’s oddly specific.” He remarked as he opened the fridge. “But yeah, I do.” 

You sat on the stool by the counter, patiently waiting for the kids to magically appear. Unfortunately, this allowed your thoughts to run rampant. Like, what if they didn’t like you? What if they never warmed up to you? You snapped out of it when Gojo handed you a glass of cranberry juice. “Thanks.” 

Right before you were going to take a sip, you felt a tug on your dress. 

“Who’re you?” 

Below, next to you, was a small kid with black hair that stuck up. He had a defensive look on his face. You guessed this would be Megumi. 

“I’m _______. Your new babysitter.” 

Do not translate or copy my works on other platforms.

#gojo #gojo satoru #satoru #satoru gojo #jjk #jujutsu kaisen #gojo x reader #gojo fic #gojo fluff #megumi #jjk megumi

[grammmarli]

「 RAIN WALKS... OR NOT 」

synopsis: just a lovely walk in the pouring rain with a guy who could care less about you, or so you think

pairing: zenin naoya x gn reader

tags: fluff, profanity, vulgar language

word count: 1k

"Tch... I don't get why I had to come along with you in the first place."

"C'mon! It'll be fun."

"Fun, my ass. Can't you be fucking reasonable for one second and—"

"Being reasonable can wait!"

What had originally been a mere grocery trip with Naoya turned into a rainstorm when, all of a sudden, it started to pour. Hard.

To hell with Naoya's handsome looks and freshly shampooed hair that afternoon. You immediately went and dragged him by the arm and out of the comfort of shelter.

"It was either we waited for the rain to stop or walked in the rain. And knowing you and your nonexistent sense of patience, you wouldn't pick the latter. So~! Therefore, I went ahead and made the executive decision for you," you said with a proud smirk.

Naoya's voice dripped with sarcasm as he sneered, "Well, congratulations on mastering the art of being an idiot, like always. No shocker there. Maybe next time, use that genius brain of yours to make decisions that actually make sense."

His sarcastic remark hung in the air, but you were having none of it—or instead, you were already used to his antics. It was quite refreshing, actually. Even as the rain poured, he still wasn't letting up.

With a mischievous grin, you let go of Naoya's hand and cupped your two together, collecting some rainwater, and, with a single motion, you threw it directly at the Zenin, colliding with Naoya in a triumphant splash of victory.

His clothing stuck to him like it was soaked in sarcasm, and his once-confident countenance gave way to one of astonishment. His mouth hung open, and his face slowly shifted into one of plain disgust.

"You were saying?" you smirked. "Hmph. Now you're soaking wet, just like I am."

"You..."

But before he could say another word, you once again grabbed him by the hand and led him, walking together on the sidewalks as the rain continued to pour down on them.

"Let's go. My house isn't far, and we can dry off and freshen up a bit. After all, we just brought some groceries from our haul."

Naoya gruffed in response, but he didn't resist, even as you pulled him along by the hand like he was a dog. How pathetic.

But it was something that Naoya, for some reason, felt oddly at ease with...?

As cold as it was while walking in the rain without an umbrella or even a hood to block the water from your face, your hand was still oddly warm. It was much smaller and softer than his, a stark contrast.

He was unable to take his eyes off of you. It was only because you were in front of him, dragging his hand like a guide. Yes, that's right. Where else was he supposed to look? Down?? A Zenin like him would never.

But amid all that, there was something about you that entranced him. Was it the rain? Never. That same pathetic rain was ruining his perfectly styled hair he had just for today with you—though that would be something he would never tell to you straight.

Or was it the way how you always managed to defy expectations just to do whatever the hell you wanted? Perhaps.

...Or maybe, it was—

"Here we are!"

Great. That wretched shriek that, god forbid, came from a human being, was back. 

Just as you and Naoya arrived in the empty home, you threw off your shoes and left the wet bag of groceries on the carpet to dry.

"Make yourself comfortable," you mused, unclothing your jacket.

"Ugh."

Naoya peered closer, only to see the clothes that you were wearing, or rather, what was under them. The thin t-shirt you were wearing was nearly close to being see-through.

Naoya was close to making a fire of his own—using his own rage, that is.

Did your dumbass seriously not even fucking notice?! What if it was someone else who saw you like this!? Would you have been so stupid then with them?

"Here."

The next thing he felt was a towel on top of his head, and your face was right in front of him. You had a small towel of your own wrapped around your neck to keep your wet hair from dripping onto the floor.

Your hands came abnormally close, and with your eyes focusing on him and him only, you used your hands, grasping the towel sitting on the top of his head to dry his hair.

He flinched. "What the—"

"Hold still," you commanded. "Your hair is soaking wet."

"Well, you were the one who wanted us to walk in that dang rain to begin with," he grumbled.

You blinked once and then twice before yanking his hand off, forcing his arms to his side so that you could finally get to what you wanted to do. "Then, just let me do this."

"...."

For whatever reason, Naoya was silent. It was sort of peaceful, really. Feeling your hands comb through his hand with an expression of concentration. 

The ruffian creature eventually relaxed, even to the point where he closed his eyes and let out a content sigh as your fingers played with his hair. If it weren't for the towel covering most of his face, he would've ratted himself out—revealing a rare vulnerability.

To even begin to think that the Naoya Zenin would suck up his pride and let someone else even touch him, but he was also secretly pleased—even if his arrogance wouldn't allow him to admit it. He tilted his head back a little closer to your chest and lowered his posture, permitting you to have an easier time tending to his damp hair.

Naoya smirked, rather pleased with himself.

Look at him. He was being far too kind to accommodate you.

No one else would've had the oh-so-magnificent pleasure of drying his hair. So you had better savour it.

You both lay there silently for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company as you continued to dry his dark hair with a towel as Naoya held his body still. That is, until you suddenly stopped. And you could've sworn that you heard a noise coming from Naoya's mouth, but you didn't push it.

"There," you said happily. "All dry! Hehe, now how about that?"

"...Just this one time."

Your hand stilled for a moment before continuing your gentle strokes. "Huh?"

"You're the only one I let do this. So savour it," Naoya said, his voice softening for a mere second, only for him to split back into an expression of aloofness.

You smiled before moving your hands again. "Then I'm flattered."

You weren't about to tell him about how you could see everything from the very beginning. He would never let you hear the end of it otherwise.

Guess it'll just be your little secret.

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk #fanfiction #fanfic #jujutsu kaisen x reader #jjk x reader #jujutsu kaisen fluff #jujutsu kaisen headcanons #jujutsu kaisen scenarios #jujutsu kaisen angst #gn reader #fluff #headcanons #angst #scenarios #zenin naoya #zenin naoya x reader #naoya x reader #zenin #zenin x reader

[terry-perry]

okay I need some more alastor x Carmella’s daughter!

can we have an imagine this time of that situation?

"First the Princess of Hell, and now you've gone for one of Carmine's brats? You really have no shame, do you Alastor?"

Right on cue, Vox was ready to confront Alastor after the last Overlord gathering, not caring that everyone was still around to watch. It was just like the Vees to want an audience. Had it been anyone else, Alastor would've torn the obnoxious picture box to shreds and have his torment recorded for his next show. Vox wasn't worth the effort, however. In fact, Alastor knew of a better way to destroy him.

"My friend, there's no need for such jealousy," he started with the nonchalant tone he knew drove Vox crazy. "It's not my fault my natural charisma led to such powerful allies while all you can conjure up are underlings who do nothing more than feed your fragile ego."

That certainly struck a nerve since Vox began to grind his teeth as his stare grew more intense. Alastor simply stayed calm as he subtly carried a tone of smugness. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to have lunch with my lady love, whom you will not disrespect again," This was the only time he chose to strike actual fear in Vox's heart as he switched to his Radio Demon persona by darkening his eyes and letting his figure grow into a form that better radiated evil. "Not unless you wish to be a new voice for my broadcast..."

Vox could only stare in bewildered silence as Alastor threatened him. The jab was bad enough, but the last statement stunned him enough to merely nod.

"Darling?" A third voice that differed with its femininity and lack of intensity came through. "Ready to go?" Y/N asked her boyfriend, bearing no mind that he was in almost full demon mode.

Alastor snapped his head around in her direction, calming down instantly. He supposed he made his point, and he was rather famished.

"Ready as always, my dear!" He replied, offering his arm to her which she happily accepted. "I know a lovely little bistro that serves excellent venison."

They walked past the still-emasculated Vox who was doing his best to refrain from buffering.

"Always fun catching up with you, old friend!"

----

Alastor would be lying if he said he wasn't caught off guard by Carmilla's sudden invitation to her home. She may have been Y/N's mother, but he rarely interacted with her sans a few polite greetings whenever they saw one another. According to Y/N, she did approve of him, it was just hard to gather since for every jovial "Hello!" he'd give her, she'd return with a small nod and acknowledging hum. It could be rather off-putting for someone like Alastor who thrived on other's reactions to all he did.

Some feared him, which always brought a certain giddiness within him that bordered on titillating. Some believed they could outmatch him in the battle of wits, which he was always ready for with a good put-down.

Months ago there was that precious giggle his dearest Y/N let out to alert him that she carried a torch for him. He knew right away that was something he could use to his advantage. Working with the heir to Hell's throne was already advantageous, but being involved with one of the daughters of an Overlord with the largest assembly of weapons in the city was something that could make his position all the more concrete. Pestering gnats like the Vees, even with their childish disrespect, knew opportunities like this don't just come every day. It was most likely why Vox tried to provoke him like he did.

So this was why Alastor had to be sure he had Carmilla's approval since it would cement him further in his current position. For someone who believed a smile could go a long way in keeping many guessing, he was certainly thrown off his game by her lack of expression. He could only hope this invite to whatever this was could keep things favorable for him.

Alastor was welcomed in by no one as the door opened on its own like always. He stepped into a large sitting room which contrasted with the one at the hotel as the latter was bright and rather tacky. The Carmine household was more gloomy, yet rather welcoming. He thought it was because the room he was directed to had walls completely covered in books. No doubt his bookish Y/N inhabited this room often, having the habit of sticking her nose in one. Currently, however, sat her mother in an armchair, staring passively at him like always.

"Alastor," Carmilla greeted him, waving him forward. "Glad you came. Please sit."

She gestured him to a sofa next to her seat that he accepted, along with the glass of bloodred wine she offered. Sadly it was just that - wine. It will have to do.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here so unexpectedly, without Y/N," she began, all business and direct, as always.

"If this is about my altercation with Vox this morning, I apologize," he said. He wasn't really sorry for putting the noisy picture box in his place, but whatever kept him in Carmilla's good graces. "As you know, he's an old acquaintance of mine. Things between us can get rather-"

She held up her hand to stop him before taking a sip of her wine. "That's not why I called you here. I've learned not to pay the Vees any mind long ago. No, I wish to speak to you about your relationship with Y/N."

At this, he kept his smile intact as always, but it held a certain wariness, a curiosity. He hoped she couldn't tell how he was preparing himself for whatever she could mean. She sat further back in her seat, studying him it seemed. When he chose to stay quiet, she continued. "I understand you're a busy person, as am I, so I'll do us both a favor and jump right to what I wish to discuss," without hesitation, she did just that. "I want you to marry Y/N."

Alastor could barely cover how he winced at that - the static emanating from him didn't help. Even with all the theories he conjured for this meeting, he didn't imagine this.

Carmilla must've noticed how she caught him by surprise since this was the first time he saw her look amused at the situation. She seemed to want to play with him since she took her time with her next sip before deciding to reassure him. "This doesn't need to happen any time soon," she said. "I don't expect you to get engaged tomorrow. I only want to give you my blessing if that's where you two end up. I find it beneficial for you to know beforehand because you're a businessman before anything else. You won't do anything unless you know it'll benefit you. It's why you're with my daughter in the first place, right?"

Well, there was no use denying it, so Alastor shrugged. The wariness, however, remained. "Y/N is quite a lovely lady with a certain sweetness and intelligence that I find endearing. If she so happens to come with a powerful family, then who am I to not want to get closer to someone who can mean a lot to me?"

Carmilla once more studied him stoically, which had Alastor's wide grin falter. "If I were in you, I'd do the same, I suppose. Which is why I know you'll continue to treat her well. You'll continue to meet her, talk with her, and if it gets to that point, marry her. If not, you'll go about your business like nothing. You're smart enough to know that you should treat this like any other transaction. If any issues, deal with me. Are we clear?"

Oh, she was making this too easy. Alastor almost wanted to let out a cackle of triumphant laughter. Had she stuck out her hand to shake he would have. For now, he'd settle for the clinking of glasses that signified a toast.

One marriage, coming up!

#alastor #x reader #alastor x reader #alastor the radio demon #hazbin #hazbin hotel alastor #request #imagine #oneshot #hazbin hotel #hazbin alastor #radio demon #carmilla carmine #hazbin hotel carmilla #carmilla x reader #carmine!reader

[whatthebodygraspsnot]

Part vi number 18 and 8 👀

8. “Kiss me, I can’t wait any longer.” 18. “It’s so hot when you talk like that.”

it's been a long night. the mission was a success and the team is celebrating - using a chunk of the stolen cash to fill their stomachs with food and good wine at the vacant building they renovated into their hideout.

it's been a long night, and it's made even longer by how ian hasn't had a single moment alone with mickey since the heist started. since mickey had to concentrate on doing his thing with the wires and ian had to put on his tux, blending in with the gala's diamonds and furs. pretending to be someone you're not is hard in a room full of rich snobs. it's even harder in a room full of people who think they know you from top to bottom.

because they don't. these people are his family - they have been for years - but they don't know what makes ian tick. what's most important to him. the way his heart pulses and fingers itch for the man across the table from him.

his team is his family, but they don't know that he and mickey are fucking.

they can't. it would complicate too much. they'd start going off about how emotions like that can fuck with the plan. how their entire mission can go haywire if something happened to one of them. and they're right. it would. ian would scrap an entire weeks-long pursuit the fucking second he saw something happen to mickey. he cares too much. he's a fucking liability.

so they don't tell them. they keep their nights together to themselves. keep how long they've been doing this a secret. act normal and cordial and friendly on the outside, even when one shared look across the table sends pulses of want and desire through ian so powerful that he has to swallow down another gulp of wine, their heavy gaze never leaving each other once.

because it's been a long night. he hasn't had a chance to touch mickey. to reward him for a job well done in his own way. to look him over and smooth him out and exist with him, away from the others. alone. together.

the team is his family, but they don't know that he told mickey he's in love with him last night. they have no idea how powerful the wave of delight in his soul was when mickey said it back to him. to them, they're just ian and mickey. two members of the team who have gone quiet now, content with stealing glances across the table with heavy, wine-drunk eyes.

they can't know. and ian is two seconds away from reaching across the table and pulling mickey's hand into his own, so he forces himself to get up, stepping away from the table.

he disappears into one of the bedrooms - the one with the big floor to ceiling windows that look out into the abandoned building's courtyard. it's quiet here. peaceful. he can hear exactly how hard his pulse is thumping in his eardrums while everyone else carries on in the main room.

because he's good at slipping away without causing attention to it. it's how he joined the team in the first place. but there's one person who tracked his entire exit. he's fucking banking on it.

behind him, the door shuts. the lock clicks.

and when ian turns, the warmth that was being pushed down all night blooms fully and heavily in his chest.

mickey takes him in just as hungrily, the grin that's pulling the corner of his mouth so good that ian needs to chase after it. "kiss me," mickey murmurs, already stepping toward him on the momentum they've been building across the table, "can't wait any fuckin' longer."

it's got ian's heart soaring. has something almost animalistic rumbling in his chest as he steps forward too, fucking finally, because christ... "it's so fucking hot when you talk like that."

and when they meet in the middle of the room, it's with hands grabbing - feeling - running over ian's shoulders and holding mickey's face and they pull themselves together so tightly that ian can taste blood as their mouths clash.

but it's what he's been craving all night. it's what keeps him going, mickey just as hungry for it as he starts walking him backward until ian's back is pressed against the window.

they probably shouldn't be doing this here. not right now, at least. they're celebrating in the other room, after all.

but nothing is more important to ian than this man. this moment. this thing that they've made with each other.

and soon, it will be too big to hide.

[ send me a smutty one-liner ]

#absolutely god-tier quote combo anon - you really nailed this #gallavich #shameless #ray writes #im impossibly late for work so i shan't reread. which means i hope there's nothing glaring in this hehe #smutty one-liners

[radical-revolution]

The wise person, therefore, does really not look to change anything. They become quiet. They have patience. They work on themselves. They watch their thoughts, watch their actions and observe themselves getting angry, observe themselves getting depressed, observe themselves getting jealous and envious and the rest of it. Little by little they realize, "That's not me. That's hypnosis. That's a lie." They do not react to their condition. To the extent that they do not react to their condition, to that extent do they become free. They no longer care what anybody else is doing. They compare themselves with no one. They compete with no one. They simply watch themselves. They observe themselves. They see the mental confusion. They don't run around shouting, "I am absolute reality. I am God. I am consciousness." Rather, they see where they're coming from and they leave everyone else alone.

Such a being unfolds at a fast rate. It makes no difference what predicament such a being is in. It doesn't matter, for such a being is already free. When the mind rests in the heart, that means when the mind does not go out any longer and identify with the world, when the mind rests in the heart there is peace, there is harmony, there is pure being. When you allow your mind to go out of yourself it begins to compare, it begins to judge, it begins to feel offended, and there is no peace. There’s no rest. How do you begin? Well, first you realize the place that you're in right now, whether you think it's good or bad, whether you think you're happy or sad, whether you think you're rich, or poor, or sick, or healthy, the place where you’re in right now is your right place. That's a beginning. You stop trying to be someone else. You stop trying to change your life. You’re in your right place, right now, just the way you are. If you can become happy and peaceful in the place where you are right now, all of a sudden you will find circumstances will change in your favor, and then again you will be in your right place. Whatever change comes along as far as your body-mind is concerned, you’re in your right place. The more you can see that, the more you can look at what I just said intelligently, the more peaceful you become, the more the karmic patterns begin to break away and you begin to awaken.

~ Robert Adams

Excerpt Satsang 15

[taddymason]

What do you think about S6 Jay? I've always felt conflicted about his character due to this season, (but that comes from the fact that Skybound is a total mess). I didn't like how he used his wishes to impress Nya so she would date him. It annoyed me that he kept making decisions that wronged his friends because he couldn't let go of the idea she didn't want a relationship with him. I'm conscious this is the consequence of the messy love triangle from season 3, but it would've been nice to see Jay growing up from his relationship with Nya. (And if the writers were so desperate to make Jay and Nya endgame, at least they could've shown us Jay apologizing for everything he did during the season (lying to his friends, not accepting her refusal). They could've shown us Nya bring up the love triangle, and why she went for Cole when she was with Jay. You know, resolve the problems in their relationship and the things each of them did).

But no, they show us Jay making his final wish: "I wish you had taken my hand, and no one ever found that teapot in the first place". That decision feels like he hasn't progressed about his relationship with Nya from the start of the season. At the beginning of Skybound, she clarifies she doesn't want to be with him, so why would Jay wish she had taken his hand? Like, she's dying, and he's still thinking about that moment. What the hell? There were so many ways that scene could've gone, instead of Jay making her do something against her will. (Kind of? I think that depends on the interpretation of each person).

On the other hand, I didn't like how Nya's feelings were handled. One of the main problems her character had to face in season 6 was feeling she wasn't able to choose her destiny. She found out she was destined to be with Jay, and Nadakhan was forcing her to be with him. She literally said she felt that her whole life had been defined by other people, rather than by herself. However, at the end of the season, Jay wishes she had done what she didn't want to do at first.

I don't know, Skybound feels like an amount of missed opportunities for Nya's and Jay's character development.

Oh, skybound. skybound.

This season is a disaster for me and probably the season I feel the most conflicted about.

Overall I think most of the characters this season are pretty ooc. From Cole making sexist jokes for no reason, to Lloyd remaining strangely quiet throughout the EP5 conflict, to Jay throwing his own friends' security out the window to be with Nya. NOT EVEN S3 JAY (which was also a low point) WAS LIKE THIS. Even with all of his insecurities or rivalry with him, as soon as the situation demanded it or Cole was in danger (S3EP9) Jay could focus on what was at stake.

Instead, for some reason during the middle of the season Jay is EXTREMELY desperate to be with Nya to the point that he doesn't even care about his own team.

Look, I don't even mind that they make a season where Jay is an asshole and has to confront the consequences of his actions to learn to be more mature and aware of what he does (most of my fics are like that anyway). Do they want to do a season where Jay lies until his mistakes blow up in his face and where his selfishness is finally tested? I'm on board. If there is something that makes him such an interesting character, it's his flaws. Jay is selfish, he lies very often, he is opportunistic, and that makes his arcs so different from everyone else's.

Now, I hate that this is all solely because of his obsession with Nya. I've said it before but the worst thing about Jaya is when she becomes Jay's only motivation and interest to do everything he does. The season punishes Jay for resorting to wishes, not for continuing to believe that he has the right to be with Nya as if it were a necessity for him. The moral of the season shouldn't be "if you wish something enough, you'll find a way to make it happen" but; you don't need to be with someone else to be happy. Jay doesn't have to depend on Nya for his own happiness, and the season surprisingly never says otherwise.

From start to the ending, Nya remains Jay's final motivation. Literally her final wish is him imposing her will on her again (I know the wish supposedly didn't affect Nya but I think it's a mistake to make a character's wishes remain static from the beginning to the end of history).

so basically the season is a bunch of wasted potential that could have been a really good season to develop both characters. There are good things in S6, I'm not going to deny it. Jay from EP6 onwards has some pretty good moments, like him learning to be a leader, showing that he is a capable and intelligent member who ends up motivating others (Jay inspiring people is a rant for another day). And it's probably the most seriously the show takes his character.

I think the season would be better if it ended up addressing other things as well. There are many hints of Jay feeling worthless, Jay being insecure because he is poor/weak, believing he needs to be with Nya to be happy. And the season doesn't do much with this anyway. So, wouldn't it be better if the season wasn't Jay and Nya getting back together, but rather Jay realizing his own worth as a person? What if Jay resorts to wishes because he doesn't feel valuable as a member of the team? because he starts to believe that Nya is a better blue ninja than him? Or because his powers begin to fail and weaken as he is not maintaining his true potential by allowing himself to be consumed by his own insecurities? There are MANY ways to resolve this conflict without having Nya come back to him as some kind of prize.

...This is spoilers for my Skybound rewrite btw

but yeah, I agree with everything you say, Jay and Nya deserved better this season and I think what affected it the most was making the ending have to be these two getting back together with just ONE episode of them speaking sincerely

Sorry for the long post, Ty for the ask! ^^

#jay ninjago #ninjago #jay walker #ninjago jay #Ninjago Skybound #Ninjago Skybound AU #ninjago analysis

[frostyhelltime]

I See You

(ft. HuskerDust)

Warnings: Little bit of angst on Angel's part, but this is mostly just hurt/comfort.

Prompt: "I see you. I see you, I always have and I always will." Prompt from @unfriendlywriter

Set before they're dating, but sometime after 'Loser, Baby'. I had a lot of fun making their graphics for this as well. Hope everyone likes it!

There's a blissful silence in the air as Husk polishes glasses behind the bar. No static that would allude to Alastor being near, no Nifty obsessively cleaning, no Charlie planning new group activities. Just. Peace.

Until a certain tall spider comes lumbering in, shoulders slumped low, and head pointed towards the ground. Husk doesn't even think Angel Dust is even aware of the weary sigh that leaves them as they trudge in, barely having the energy to even shut the front door behind him.

Husk is already grabbing a bottle and a glass for him but as soon as he pops the top off he hears Angel speak.

"I'm good Whiskers. I just...I just wanna go to bed. Maybe tomorrow." Angel waves him off sluggishly with two arms, which only makes Husk furrows his brows as if trying to analyze him.

"That bad huh?" He offers as he puts the lid back on the bottle, hesitating only a moment to see if Angel changes his mind and wants a drink after all. When Angel just sighs and keeps walking, Husk does finally put the bottle away.

"Wanna talk about it? People don't have to buy a drink to sit at my bar." He says before giving Angel a toothed grin.

"Least you don't anyway."

He's speaking genuinely, but also hopes the remark might make Angel chuckle even just a little. He doesn't, but he does let out a huff of air that Husk thinks could be close enough to a laugh that he thinks he's successful.

He does manage to get Angel to crack a smile with that one, though it is weak. But still, a smile is a smile.

"Maybe...I dunno. I don't wanna take up ya time and space if someone else comes in." Angel shrugs, looking for excuses for Husk to not comfort him. It's something foreign, having someone care about how he's doing. He's used to people only pretending to care to get what they want, usually his body or whatever it is they need. So his instinct is to try and dodge those attempts at care because it's hard to handle when they aren't genuine. He certainly wouldn't be able to handle it if Husk's care wasn't genuine. But that's a whole other issue to dig deep into as he's falling asleep.

But Husk doesn't hear any of Angel's thoughts, only what Angel says, so this time he waves Angel off with a lazy wave of his wrist.

"Most everyone is out as far as I know. And if someone does come in I can always take a break." He assured the taller one, who shifts nervously from foot to foot as he considers maybe...it would be okay to show that vulnerability to Husk again? Just this once of course. Husk busies himself with cleaning more glasses to not make Angel feel pressured into a decision one way or another.

"...Maybe but...I dunno. I just...talkin' out here in the open where someone can walk in...Maybe another time but thanks." Angel stumbles over his words until eventually he talks himself out of it and even Angel winces at how lame it sounds. Husk eyes him a moment, as if analyzing him like a math problem. He's trying to figure out how far is too far to push, but he doesn't feel good at all about letting Angel go in this state.

"...Break time it is."

"W...Wha?"

"I've decided it's time for a break. Let's head somewhere quieter to talk. Problem solved."

Husk says it so casually with a shrug of his shoulders that it just confuses Angel even more, as if it was natural to stop what he was doing to help him. By the time he processes what his feline companion has said, Husk has already put things away and is standing next to Angel, waiting only a little impatiently.

For the first time tonight Husk looks a little anxious standing next to him, hands in his pockets and waiting to be directed on where they're going to go.

When Angel comes back down to earth, he blinks a few times, standing up a bit straighter.

"Right. Yeah. Uh. We can talk in my room I guess?" Angel says, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. Husk only nods and gestures for him to start walking.

Neither Angel nor Husk can tell if the silence between them as they walk is peaceful or awkward, but either way they're happy to reach the door once they get there.

Angel goes in first, plopping down to sit on his bed as Fat Nuggets immediately crawls onto his lap, nuzzling into Angel eagerly to try and cheer him up.

Husk lets out a small chuckle at the admittedly adorable display and he shuts the door behind him, taking a seat right next to Angel Dust.

"Alright. So what's bothering you?"

"...The Big V. Who else?" He scoffs venomously, looking away.

"And Charlie enjoys singing. I figured that much. What did he do this time?" Husk relaxes as they begin talking im earnest, leaning back a little bit and getting comfortable.

"I just...I don't even know how to describe it. He makes....he makes me feel so worthless. Like all I'm good at and good for is his stupid fuckin' shoots." Angel grits out, hands pausing on Fat Nuggets a second.

"And when I can't even do that right..." He trails off, letting the end of his sentence go unspoken.

"I just feel...so damn invisible there. Even when all eyes are on me it feels like no one is really looking at me."

Angel hates that his voice takes on a choked sounding quality the further he talks, the tears welling up in the corner of his eyes. He turns away from Husk as if that would actually keep him from finding out.

It takes a moment for Husk to figure out what to say and then he reaches out to place his hand on top of one of Angel's, hesitating halfway there eventually deciding, fuck it, and placing his hand on top of his and giving a small squeeze.

"I see you."

It's the softest Angel Dust had ever heard Husk speak and it's so jarring he snaps his head back to look at Husk, forgetting he was trying to hide his tears moments ago.

"...What?"

Husk clears his throat, giving him his best comforting smile.

"I see you. I always have and I always will." Husk speaks with a little more confidence.

The tears that were only beginning to gather begin to flood now and Angel doubles over as his body is wracked with sobs, unable to stop himself, especially after the day he's had. Somehow it was both exactly what he needed to hear and also what pushes him past the tipping point. He doesn't know why it makes him snap, he just knows it does.

Maybe it's because he really is starting to believe Husk could be genuine, and somehow placing that vulnerability in another person's hands is terrifying and overwhelming.

But Husk doesn't judge him, just sneaks his free hand around to rub soothing circles on Angel's back as he lets him get it all out. Neither of them says anything for the duration of it, Husk out of respect and Angel out of shame.

But eventually Angel's cries do settle down into sniffles and he sits back up again, wiping what's left of the tears off his face before looking at Husk again.

"Yeah. Sorry. I...I don't know what came over me." He mumbles apologetically but Husk just shrugs. Angel only barely sees it in his peripheral because he's looking anywhere but at Husk.

"Nothing to be sorry about." He assured him, his voice soothing and neutral.

Husk's words just keep ringing in Angel's head over and over again though.

'I see you. I always have and I always will.'

Angel can't help but snort out a laugh now.

"Fuckin' liar. You didn't always see me. You hated me when I first showed up here." Angel laughs, although he still appreciates the sentiment.

But Husk just smiles like he knows something Angel doesn't.

"... Technically I didn't lie. Back then I saw you were hiding your real self. I didn't know why but I knew the you that you were presenting wasn't real...and I was right." Husk is appropriately wearing a mischievous Cheshire grin as he leans over to playfully poke Angel in the chest.

"So I still saw you, even if I was annoyed you weren't being honest." Husk's grin only grows wider when he sees the flush of red that finds itself on Angel's cheeks.

Angel opens and closes his mouth a few times as he struggles to think of words to say. But he comes up empty.

"...I...I...Thank you." Angel eventually whispers, smiling at Husk, genuinely smiling. It's a tired and exhausted smile, but it's genuine and it makes Husk relax, smiling back.

"Anytime. I'm going to head back to the bar and let you sleep." Husk pats his back as he stands up and Angel realizes how cold the top of his hand feels without Husk touching it and he's immediately standing too, Fat Nuggets letting out a small squeak of surprise before he lands on his feet on the ground. He only lets out one small huff before he seems happy again, his tail wagging, so Angel isn't too worried.

"Well since I feel better...maybe...a nice drink to relax after work doesn't sound so bad?" Angel isn't even sure what he's saying, he just knows he wants to follow him.

He thinks Husk knows it too because he flashes Angel the smile of a gambler on a winning streak and it makes his heart race.

"I'll make something extra good for you when you come down. See you in a few minutes?" He offers, wanting to allow Angel time alone to collect himself before going if he needed it.

"See you in a few." Angel nods, confirming their plans as he sits back down on his bed a moment, watching Husk wave goodbye as he leaves, shutting the door behind him to give Angel some privacy.

He can't help the goofy smile on his face as he fixes himself back up to look presentable before he heads back down to meet Husk at the bar, who is already standing there, waiting with a knowing grin and some bright pink concoction that suits Angel Dust perfectly already sitting in a glass on a napkin, waiting for it's owner to take a seat.

#hazbin hotel #husker #husker hazbin hotel #angel dust hazbin hotel #angel dust #huskerdust #hazbin hotel imagine

[villainsandvictimsalliance]

Ok, I’m arguing with someone about the Todoroki family, and like I get there maybe some responsibility on Rei’s shoulders as a parent. However, they’re saying Rei was abusive towards Enji, that she abused him and her being aggressive and constantly yelling is what changed him. They said he was a victim turned abuser, and that his family emotionally abused him. Did Rei abuse him? Was he emotionally abused by his family? Like the situation was a spiral I guess but in no way did it give off that he was the victim of the family situation???

Tell them to reread the manga. In the best way possible, really. I probably have to reread the manga too because I don't remember all that well the whole Todofam drama, but here I go:

Long post, beware!!!!! ;)

For what I know, Enji's trauma started with the death of his father. That's what motivated him to become a hero. After that, he got blinded by his perfectionism and his jealousy towards All Might.

The only reason the Todofam exists is because Enji wanted a child with both fire and ice quirks. That's why he proposed to Rei. The Himuras were very old-fashioned, in the sense that they didn't even like their members marrying outside of the family so as to not stain their names. Their quirks got weaker with time, they started losing money and influence. That's when Enji arrived: he'd give money to the Himuras if Rei were to marry him.

Now, Rei's trauma comes from her family and the ways of the Himuras. Her trauma didn't start with Enji, but it surely intensified with it.

Attempting to create a quirks through arranged marriages is a dangerous dangerous thing to do. We see a doctor telling that to both Enji and Rei. They were aware of that. The problem with the union of Enji and Rei is that, even if there was love at the beginning —even if— it depended solely on the quirks of the children. A man who willingly pushes away his children because they don't have the quirk he wants and that forces their mother to raise them alone— that's not a good husband or father, you know?

Rei was there to provide him with children and to take care of them. It sounds more like she was an employee than her wife. It was abuse right from the start, okay?

Rei did what he asked. Birthed his children and took care of them. She was submissive at first. Went along with his plans. You know the drill.

When it was revealed that Touya's body couldn't handle the heat of his flames, that's when things got ugly. They knew the risk, it shouldn't have been a surprise. At that point, Enji had put a lot of pressure and expectations on little Touya. He filled the kid's head with lies, made Touya value himself only by his dad's expectations. Touya was born for one reason alone and he had been living for it and it was killing him.

Rei saw that. Enji saw that.

Both tried to do damage control and backtrack, but Touya was too smart. While they told Touya he could live his life as something else than the hero his father wanted, he knew that it made him a failure in their eyes. The stress of destroying her children's lives got to both Rei and Enji. It wasn't something intangible. It was their son burning alive right before their eyes. It was their son telling Rei the truth of her marriage to her face.

Let's be honest here, Rei was one step away from being a slave. She married Enji to save her family and damned children in the process.

I think in order to properly understand Rei's role in the whole drama, you need to consider certain cultural aspects. Like how women are viewed in Japan, what is expected from them once they get married, the power a husband has over his wife, how women get economically trapped by men in relationships all the time... I'm not an expert on those aspects, but it's worth mentioning them.

Now, back to Rei and Enji.

Rei started "fighting" Enji after Touya was fully deemed a failure. You can see that she didn't like the idea of another child, especially because it'd be terrible for Touya's wellbeing. It'd confirm he was not enough. Still, she went along with Enji's plan. It was not a happy house. Enji was acting more and more aggressively, Rei was more and more nervous. Shouto was born and Touya tried to kill him— he didn't want to be replaced, he did not want to lose his place at home.

It started building. what happened to Touya was not confined to Sekoto Peak. It was years in the making, that tragedy. I can only imagine how Rei felt when she got the news. She had begged her son to stay, but her submissive role couldn't save him. It wouldn't be enough.

Touya dies. Enji spirals.

Horikoshi is careful to draw Rei terrified. She tells ugly truths to Enji's face. Is that abuse? Is it abuse if a woman who's being treated like an employee and who had to watch her husband traumatize their kids screams at said man? We know that Enji was physically abusive with Shouto and that he even went against Rei, which made Shout stand up to him to stop him from hurting his mom.

The only reason why Rei had a mental breakdown (freaking diagnosed) is because the very eyes of Enji were enough to make her shake and want to defend herself physically.

It's obvious she was scared for her life. It's even more obvious she was convinced he would hurt her. She was terrified of her own children 'cause they looked like him.

Rei was definitely not the best mother. She didn't deserve to reach that level of abuse, tho.

What made Endeavor be like that is the violence of the society he grew up in and his very own competitiveness and low self-esteem. Then the consequences of his own actions. For All Might and Deku to feel like they need to protect Shouto from Endeavor? For Rei to rather be in a mental hospital than at home? For Touya to go back and decide he didn't want to be alive?

He is textually treated like a villain in the manga. At least at first.

Even if Rei confronting Enji caused him some psychological damage, it's the same as saying that a criminal got physiological trauma from committing his crimes. Saying Rei was the one who made him like that is awful victim blaming.

Enji created all those situations himself. I guess that's why Rei reminds him at the hospitals that he doesn't get to play the "poor me" role, when they all have been dealing with the hurt of what happened to their family.

Later, Endeavor acknowledges it himself. He takes responsibility for it, stops feeling pity for himself and decides to do something about it. Namely, puts his life on the line to solve the issue with the Todorokis. You know how fire is known for its purifying properties? You can say that the Todofam burning together gave them a second chance, somehow.

Their resolution involved Rei taking an active role in saving Touya (same with Fuyumi and Natsuo), while Enji put himself at the service of the son he always ignored and mistreated. I didn't write it, it was all Horikoshi.

So again, kindly tell the other person to reread the manga and then you both can engage in that discussion again. As it is, I doubt it'd reach any productive term.

Hope this answer satisfies you, anon!!!!!

#shan's asks #bnha #my hero academia #mha #boku no hero academia #league of villains #lov #bnha spoilers #mha spoilers #rei todoroki #todofam #anti endeavor #anti enji todoroki #todoroki family #todorokis #bnha manga spoilers

[dqryls-bow]

I’m not going anywhere

Daryl Dixon x reader

Warnings: none !

You had been living in the prison for a while now, being on of the many that Rick accepted after Woodburys fall. You had made friends with a few of his ‘inner circle’ and you talked to the women a lot to help with different jobs such as laundry and cooking, or what was left to cook in the apocalypse.

At first, Rick was quite reluctant to let Woodbury join the prison, or what was left of it anyway, a few of Rick’s group had managed to persuade him saying everyone deserves a second chance, even though your community had done nothing wrong as it was all the governor, but who where you to argue? You were being offered shelter after all.

You had come to trust your new family, a few sticking out to you in particular, quickly becoming close friends with Maggie, while gaining Rick’s respect as the days went on, so much so he even trusted you with Carl and Judith, who you would baby sit every now and then. The baby would babble incoherent nonsense into your ear as she played with your hair absentmindedly, completely unaware to the horrors of the world while Carl would complain about your lame jokes (even though he laughed at them, they were unfunny according to him).

One particular hunter grabbed your attention as soon as you saw him. His closed of nature made you intrigued and curious about him. Although you had only had a full conversation with him once of twice, you’d exchange nods of approval and done him favors every so often. Even washing his vest when he would let you, Carol and Maggie found this amusing because if they were to touch the item of clothing, they’d have hell to pay. But they weren’t stupid, nor was anyone else in the prison. Rick continuously sending you both out on runs together, both oblivious to the obvious setup.

“Ask her out Pookie.” Carol quipped, playfully pushing Daryl’s shoulder.

You had also caught Daryls eye when you first arrived,not because of your looks, well partly, but because of your caring nature and personality.

He knew someone so caring couldn’t want him as an individual. You never really talked to him if he didn’t initiate it, which he thought was out of the fact that you didn’t like him. How wrong he was.

“Don’t like ‘er.” He sulked, brushing Carols hand off of his shoulder as they both watched you taking care of various duties around the cell block, picking up forgotten items as you went around, greeting people as they passed with one of your smiles.

“Mhm. So we’re both just watching her out of fascination? I’m sure she likes you too, that’s what Maggie said anyways, and I quote, it’s like both of them were hit with Cupids arrow.” The older woman faced him, her tight lipped smile mocking the archer.

Daryl rolled his eyes at her antics, continuing to watch you, admiring how you looked so effortlessly beautiful doing everyday activities. “Cupid must a’ messed up.”

Carol sighed at her best friend’s reaction, knowing that you liked Daryl back, it was infuriating that he wouldn’t grow a pair and just ask you out or at least exchange one non awkward moment. “Just ask her to help you with something, just make it up. You deserve to find someone too you know, just look at Glenn and Maggie. It all worked out for them, I mean, who would’ve thought Glenn had the guts? Anyways, go get the girl you’ll regret it if you don’t, then I’ll have to hear it all.”

With that the woman left him and his thoughts, different outcomes sweeping his mind of what could happen if he asked you. His friendship with you could end, or it could turn into something more? You could laugh in his face, not wanting to be with a redneck like himself.

“You ok?” You asked, walking towards Daryl after noticing him standing like a baby in a Cosco who had lost their mother and was on the verge of tears. His arms awkwardly hanging by his side, probably tired for how much he swung them.

“M’ fine.”

“If you were fine you’d of told me to go away by now, so no, your not fine. Wanna talk bout it?” You said, looking up at the archer, your voice dipping into a more worried tone, one he was familiar with as he had found comfort in you a few times before, but never about anything serious.

“Nah. I tell ya and you’ll go away.” He hung his head, avoiding eye contact as you raised your hand, moving the greasy pieces of hair that covered his eyes out of the way, your hand lingering there for a second.

“Daryl, I’m not going anywhere.” You smiled at him, standing on your tiptoes and placing a small kiss on his cheek, his face turning red from his nose to the tips of his ears, something you found adorable. “Cmon, we can go somewhere else and talk about anything you want, is that ok?”

Daryl nodded as he let himself be dragged away, your hand lightly hovering over his own, leading him to your cell, a knowing glance being shot his way from Carol, Daryl only rolling his eyes in response.

The cell was cold but was made to look nice by you. There was a few blankets scattered around, one for Judith who you had been babysitting for Rick earlier on in the day.

“That boy still come in here?” Daryl asked, looking at the scattered Lego bricks that where discarded on the floor.

“Who Patrick?” You replied, bending down to try clean up the mess that had been left.

“Mhm.”

“Yeah, he’s a sweet kid. Him and Judith don’t get along though, always fighting with each other, even though one is a baby and the other is a literal teenager. But whatever.” You laughed, not missing the was Daryl looked at you, his eyes shining diamonds that were worth millions, you could easily get lost in them.

“ ‘s sweet what ya do fer’ them.” He muttered, locking eyes with you as you smiled softly at him. Taking the time to admire his features.

“Thanks.” You mumbled “tell me if you want me to stop ok?” You tilted your head at him, moving closer, his body not flinching away like it would normally do out of instinct, instead it leaned into your advance, embracing you in his arms as your lips connected, a kiss full of love and passion, maybe a little bit of lust, but no one acted on that, yet…

Even Daryl shocked himself with how quickly he melted into you, your hand snaking behind his head. “Why would I say that?” He asked, breaking the kiss, being greeted with your eyes looking back into his own.

“Can’t believe all the time we’ve waisted.” You laughed, remembering both of your stupidity to not just talk to each other.

“I’ll make up fer’ it”

“Told you I’m not going anywhere.” You grinned up at your archer, interlocking your fingers with him as you both admired you newborn girl, her eyes an exact replica of Daryl’s while her smile replicated your own.

“Shes beautiful, looks just like ya.” His smile could be seen from miles away, spreading up to his eyes and his nose scrunching.

“I love you.” You spoke lovingly, rocking your baby in your arms slowly, as if she could be broken with how delicate she was.

“I love ya too.”

#the walking dead #norman reedus #daryl dixon #apocalypse #viral #daryl dixion imagine #the walking dead daryl #daryl x female reader #twd daryl #daryl x you #imagine #reader x character #daryl x reader

[myhandisfatemywordislaw]

who’s excited for marius to have a terrible, terrible time! you are, surely! thank you to @moosefries for beta reading the fic, and @transbot-brian for the original idea! I hope you enjoy what I’ve done with it! as always, this marius angst fic can be read here on ao3, or below the cut of his very post! if you enjoy it, I would love to hear your thoughts!

“So, how are you feeling?” Marius asked, pulling out his notebook and pen. He liked having the notebook, it made him feel professional and important.

The man fidgeted uncomfortably, digging his nails into his leg. 

“Bad. Really bad,”

Marius put on his Sympathetic Face, and started scribbling something in his notebook.

“And why do you think you feel this way?”

“It hurts, it hurts, and it makes me do things I don’t want to do,”

Marius looked up from his careful drawing of a flower. The man was rocking himself gently, and beginning to cry. 

“What is ‘it’?” Marius asked with interest.

“Who are you, anyway? And why are you asking these questions? Go away,” The man’s voice cracked with emotion as he spoke.

“What is ‘it’?” Marius asked again.

“Go away, go away, go away,” he repeated like a mantra to ward off Marius, clutching his head with both hands. 

Marius stood from his plastic chair and reached out to touch his hand comfortingly, but the man stood with a sudden surge of energy and with a scream of animalistic fury he pounced on Marius, shoving him prone on the dirt. Marius yelped in surprise and instinctively held up his arms to protect himself as the man raked his fingernails across Marius’ arm and sank his teeth deep into the flesh of Marius’ left shoulder, drawing dark blood almost immediately as Marius cried out in pain. Marius punched him with his metal arm and he reeled back, preparing to strike again, when his head abruptly exploded, showering Marius with gore. 

Wiping his eyes blearily, he looked up to see Jonny casually holstering his gun. 

“It was just getting interesting!” Marius whined. Jonny rolled his eyes.

“What were you even doing, anyway?”

“Getting friendly with the locals!”

Jonny surveyed the mutilated corpse, and Marius, soaked in blood.

“…Right. Well, we’re done here, time to leave,”

“What, already? Can’t I talk to someone else?”

Jonny glanced over his shoulder.

“Good luck with that.”

Marius followed his gaze, and saw the village ablaze.

“I see,”

Jonny offered him his hand, which Marius took, pulling himself up. Marius tucked his notebook into a coat pocket and dejectedly trudged after Jonny. 

“You know, no-one’s going to take you seriously if you use that pen.” 

Marius uncurled his metal fingers and looked down at his pink unicorn gel pen. At some point it had smashed, and he let the shattered fragments of plastic fall through his fingers and into the dirt.

“Oh,” Marius said quietly.

***

Back on the Aurora, Marius rolled up his sleeve and gingerly poked the bite mark. It had stopped bleeding and seemed to be healing alright, if a little slowly. Marius sighed, running a hand through his blood-soaked hair. He needed a shower, but his shoulder throbbed slightly with pain, and his eyelids were heavy. Maybe just a quick nap first. He removed his monoggle, kicked off his boots and undid his belts, then crawled under the covers of his bed, drifting quickly into unconsciousness.

***

When Marius wakes up, it is dark, and it is quiet, and something feels… off. The silence is not calm or comforting, it is tense, and apprehensive. 

Something shifts in the blackness. He stifles a whine of fear and tries to stay very still, hoping whatever it is, it hasn’t noticed him yet. In the far corner of his room, a long, thin shape detaches from the darkness and slithers towards him, a hundred legs moving and skittering across the ceiling. As it approaches, it becomes more distinct. It is segmented and chitinous, nearly twice as long as he is tall, and as thick as his head.

Marius tries to keep his breathing even as it curls its head off the ceiling and lowers towards him, mouthparts clicking ominously. He whines in fear as a feeler brushes lightly against his face, and as though he has grazed a tripwire, it lunges for him with terrifying speed, its jaws clamping around his shoulder with vicious force.

***

Marius cried out as he awoke, his legs shaking as he climbed out of bed. He could see the room clearly; he hadn’t thought to turn off the light when he went to bed. No monsters, insectoid or otherwise. He sat down heavily on the end of his bed. There had been a stabbing pain in his shoulder since he woke up, and he pulled his sweat-soaked sleeve up. There was no new injury, of course, only the bite of the man from earlier, but it had swollen and was tinged slightly with green. He probably should have disinfected it. He rummaged through the loose pills in his coat pockets and pulled one out. He squinted at it. It was probably a painkiller. He put it in his mouth for safekeeping and wandered to the kitchen. His hands shook as he poured out a glass of water, and downed the drink and pill in one go.

“I thought I heard someone sneaking around,” Ashes said from behind him and he flinched, nearly dropping the glass. He set it down by the sink and turned to see Ashes, who was leaning in the doorframe with an inquisitive smile.

“Marius, you’re covered in blood. You can’t go to bed like that. Have a shower,”

Marius shrugged vaguely, avoiding eye contact. Ashes waited for a few moments, then, apparently realising Marius didn’t have any intention to move, gently took him by the arm and tugged him behind them as they led him to the bathroom in their room. Marius walked resignedly to the shower. 

“Aren’t you going to take your clothes off first?”

That had not occurred to Marius.

“I won’t look,” they reassured him quickly, turning their back on him to prove their point.

Marius sighed slightly and took off his bloodstained clothes and stepped into the shower, turning it on. He stood under the spray for several long minutes, zoned out and watching the red-tinged water swirling down the drain. The water was warm and comforting, and though the bright bathroom light hurt his eyes, he felt safer.

Though he felt too exhausted to do anything, eventually he picked up the soap. He knew he would feel better if he was clean. Slowly, lethargically, he worked the shampoo into his hair, carefully untangling his bloody, matted hair, and gently scraping the dried gore from his skin. 

He turned off the water and stepped out, immediately feeling the chill on his skin. He dried himself off and the towel came away tinged red. He noticed Ashes had taken his dirty clothes and left him a pair of his own pyjama trousers and a t-shirt that was presumably theirs. He dressed quickly. The t-shirt was huge on him, nearly reaching his knees, and the text on the front read ARSON IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER. He breathed a small laugh and walked through the door connecting the bathroom onto Ashes’ bedroom. They were sitting in their bed, looking at him, presumably having been waiting for him. Marius felt slightly guilty for taking so long.

“It’s late, you should sleep,” Ashes said. 

Marius shook his head. 

“Why not?” 

Marius shrugged, staring at his hands and biting his lip. 

“Did you have a nightmare?” 

Marius nodded slowly. 

“Do you… do you want to sleep in my bed?” 

Marius looked up, briefly making eye contact with Ashes. Their look was one of concern, and the offer seemed genuine. Marius nodded, and Ashes patted the bed next to them. Marius slipped under he covers with them and allowed Ashes to pull him towards them, hugging him from behind. They fell asleep quickly, but despite how much safer Marius felt with Ashes, he couldn’t stop staring into the foreboding darkness, unable to shake the feeling that something was looking back.

***

When Marius woke up, something felt out of place. The world was slightly fuzzy around the edges, and it had taken on a sort of dreamlike quality. Was he dreaming? He didn’t think so. Though he had washed, he still felt distinctly unclean.

Ashes had him in a tight, suffocating grip, and he squirmed out of their hold. They were still asleep. Marius wandered back to his own room, and it occurred to him that his shoulder wasn’t hurting. The painkiller should have worn off by now. Probably it had healed, like usual. Maybe… maybe he’d check though, just in case. He pulled up his sleeve. 

He thought it might have faded a little more, but it was still there, and still slightly green. The swelling and gone down, though, and when he gently poked it, he felt… nothing. He frowned, and prodded it harder. Nothing. He pinched the skin next to the wound so hard it bled slightly, but he still couldn’t feel anything. It, and the skin around, was completely numb.

He took deep breaths to choke down the rising panic. The wound was infected, and it had been well over twelve hours but it hadn’t improved, when it should have healed in a matter of minutes. Okay. So the logical solution here was to cut out the infected part his mechanism was struggling to deal with, and let his mechanism handle regrowing his flesh. Easy.

He walked to his doctor’s surgery. It was covered in a thin layer of dust - when was the last time he had used it? No matter. He lay on the table, pulled up his sleeve, and picked up a heavy meat cleaver. He ran the tip along his skin gently, feeling for the numb sections. He choked down a whimper as he realised he would have to cut off his entire left arm to remove the infected region.

He lined up the blade carefully. 

-he screamed as he lay in the dirt, alone- 

He breathed a deep, steadying breath. 

-Byron cried out in horror at his missing arm, gone forever- 

Marius raised the blade. 

-he was alone, and afraid, and without his mecha, in a war-zone- 

He let the blade fall, swinging it down. 

-Byron crawled desperately, one armed and bleeding out, maybe if he could just reach KISMET it would be alright- 

The blade clanged uselessly against the metal of the table, leaving him unharmed, and Marius dropped the blade and rolled off the table and onto his feet. He curled up on the floor and quietly cried. He couldn’t do it, he- he wouldn’t do it.

He breathed shakily. That was fine. His mechanism would handle it. It was fine. He stood up and rinsed the blood off the shallow cuts the sharp blade had left. They had healed almost instantly, and there was no trace they had ever been there. He noticed with a stab of guilt that a few spots of blood had got on Ashes’ t-shirt. He should probably give it back.

He wandered vaguely back towards Ashes’ room.

Something large flicked past him in the corner of his vision, and Marius thought he caught a glimpse of iridescent insect shell. He grabbed it in his metal hand and crushed it, with a squelching crunch. Just a normal octokitten. Dead. No shell, just a bloody mass of bone fragments and oozing flesh. 

He dropped it in horror. Why… why did he do that? He hurried away.

“Marius! Good morning! I was wondering where you went,” Ashes said.

“Hey,” Marius said awkwardly, trying to muster up some of his usual cheerful energy, and failing. “I, uh- I came to give your shirt back.”

“Nah, keep it. It looks cute on you,”

Marius didn’t know what they meant - it didn’t fit at all, and he thought it wasn’t particularly flattering, but, well. He wasn’t going to argue.

“Are you alright?” Ashes asked.

Marius shrugged noncommittally and mumbled something unintelligible. His skin prickled with discomfort slightly. He didn’t think he wanted to be here anymore. His head ached and he couldn’t think straight, he didn’t want to talk, or answer difficult questions. 

He walked out and wandered down the corridors of the Aurora, not sure where he was going, taking random turns and not paying attention to where his steps were taking him. He was probably going to get lost. Maybe he wanted to get lost.

Rounding a corner, he came face to face with Jonny.

“You’re so stupid,” Jonny said, but the words didn’t quite line up with his lips. “You’re so stupid and useless. What is the point of you?” 

Marius backed away, trying not to show his fear, and failing. Jonny looked at him with what might’ve been concern, as he came closer.

“You’re so fucking stupid,” he said, voice full of disgust. His lips were out of sync with the words, and Marius didn’t know what this was but he knew something was very, very wrong, and he bolted. Jonny didn’t try to follow.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid,

It felt like it was coming from everywhere, echoes getting louder and louder with each repetition. Marius ran faster,

STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID,

Marius stumbled to a stop and clamped his hands over his ears, curling up in a ball on the ground.

Jonny touched his shoulder lightly.

“Marius?” he said, voice concerned and confused. The chanting stopped as abruptly as it had started. Marius lowered his hands cautiously.

“Marius, are you okay?”

“‘m fine,” he said unconvincingly, standing up and forcing a smile. 

“Marius, what’s going on?”

Hurt him, a voice in the back of his head said. Hurt him so he won’t bother you anymore. Marius wasn’t sure he wanted to do that, and he backed away.

“Why are you acting so weird?” Jonny asked, backing Marius into the wall.

“Leave me alone,” Marius half-whispered.

“Marius-“

Marius punched him with his metal arm, and Jonny let out a shout of surprise. Marius wanted to stop there, wanted to run, but as though driven forward by some unseen force, he walked to where Jonny had been knocked to the ground, and punched him. Again and again his fist rained down on him, bones audibly breaking beneath every blow. When he finally pulled back, Jonny was a bloodied mess, and dead. He hadn’t meant to do that. Marius ran.

Once he felt far enough away he could pretend it wasn’t his problem, Marius slowed to a walk. What was going on? He looked at the black and silver metal of his hand, still soaked with quivering blood and gore. He supposed hurting people was what they did.

As he walked, the shadows seemed to become starker. From every crack and crevice, black, shifting liquid dripped, and the dark edges where wall met floor gently oozed their darkness across the floor.

Marius tried to go back, but all along the corridor in both directions, the blackness streaked down the walls and pooled on the floor.

That was… definitely bad. Marius tried to walk faster but his feet skidded out from under him and suddenly he was lying on the floor, at eye level with the shifting darkness, that he saw now was not liquid, had never been liquid, and he desperately stumbled to his feet to get away from the slithering, skittering horde of thousands upon thousands of tiny black insects, crawling over every surface. They swarmed towards him and began to crawl up his legs and Marius ran, but there were more and more until he was wading through the thick carpet of insects that were up to his calves, his waist, his torso, and then they were swarming onto his face and his scream was muffled through the insects that filled his mouth as soon as he opened it, and as he choked his vision slowly went dark.

***

Marius woke up lying on the floor in the middle of the corridor, which was as clean and empty as it had ever been. Had he passed out? He touched the back of his fingers to his forehead. Warm, but not enough to conclusively say whether he had a fever.

A murmuring approached and Marius scrambled backwards as something that wore Tim’s coat and carried Tim’s gun rounded the corner. It was not Tim. It looked, in many aspects, like Tim, but its face was like it had been carefully wiped clean, with only the slightest dark indents where its eyes should have been, no nose, and no mouth. The murmuring of soft, indistinct, overlapping voices seemed to come from the air around it, the sound increasing in volume as it approached.

Marius’ breathing was laboured as he stumbled to his feet. There was a slight shift in the tone of the whispers and suddenly dozens of voices whispered Marius over and over, blurring together into a wall of sound, and then Marius was running again and the thing that was not Tim reached out a hand that seemed far too large and heavy for the body that housed it as it staggered after him, as though drunk.

“Marius, you’re sick,” a distorted voice said, as though they were speaking through several feet of water. Ashes reached for him, their skin melting from their bones. The hand that gripped his shoulder was skeletal and dripped a thick, fleshy liquid and Marius flinched back and tried to run again, but then he screamed in agony as bullets began to slam into his body, the thing that was not Tim aiming its rifle carefully, and then a bullet tore through his brain and then there was nothing.

***

Marius drifted through the void, his body no more corporeal than smoke. He floated apathetically as his mind seemed to unspool and reform, elaborate, intricate shapes collapsing into a knotted mess. The blackness shifted around him, as though the pitch was something alive, the fabric of space stretching and twisting as it breathed, a pulsing heartbeat releasing gentle shockwaves from his chest.

There was something wrong here. Gossamer strands tangled with the fabric of his being, and spores drifted on the breeze. As he began to awake, the fragile space folded up within him, the abyss as much a part of him as his own body.

***

Marius awoke on the floor. It was dark, and he was alone. The metal floor was cold beneath him, and he could feel the dried blood pulling on his skin as he moved. His joints ached; how long had he been lying there? He stood with a grunt of effort to investigate his surroundings. He was in a smallish rectangular room, a few metres in each direction, or he thought so, anyway. The lines seemed to twist and blur as he looked at them, and his head throbbed painfully.

There was a soft click and a door he could’ve sworn wasn’t there before opened. Marius cringed away but there was nowhere to run as a creature with too many teeth and and mouths in places they shouldn’t be clicked its many jaws together menacingly, as though expectant. Marius tried to punch it but it dodged easily. It grabbed him and dragged him through the doorway.

There were so many colours and lights twisting and shifting and Marius’ head spun as he tried to remember which way was down and which way was away from the thing that still gripped his flesh arm in a vice-like hold, then it was lifting him off the ground and his back slammed onto a metal examination table.

Marius screamed and thrashed as he was pinned down, his wrists and ankles strapped in place, and ripped his metal hand free as though tearing tissue paper. It was no use though, as a shadowy, many-limbed creature that smiled hungrily at him and stared with a wide-eyed unblinking gaze clambered on top of him and held down his hand with an iron grip, and wrapped its hand around his jaw so Marius couldn’t move his head at all. His cries of fear were muffled by its long, powerful fingers, and Marius squeezed his eyes tightly shut, whimpering into the creature’s hand. It held him there for a very long time.

Eventually, he was allowed to move again, and the creature dragged him back to the room, and Marius whined in fear as a lock clicked shut and he was left alone in the dark once more.

***

“Did you get what you wanted from the scan?” Brian asked. He was slumped against the wall, exhausted.

“Oh, yes!” Raphaella chirped. “It’s so interesting! I think I’ll probably need a blood sample to be sure of what we’re working with though.”

Brian groaned in frustration burying his face in his hands. 

“I don’t want to help you restrain him again,” Brian said. “I won’t do it. I won’t.” Brian dropped his hands and glared at her. “Did you see the way he looked at me? He was terrified, Raphaella, he looked at me like he thought I was going to hurt him. No. I won’t help you.”

“Aww, did someone flip your switch?” she asked condescendingly, as though talking to a child. 

Brian shoved her away harshly when she tried to check, but not before she noticed with some surprise that he was still assuredly in ends-justify-means.

“Stop bickering, what does the scan show?” Ashes said, tapping their foot impatiently.

“The results look consistent with a fungal parasite affecting the brain, though I cannot identify the species,” Ivy said thoughtfully.

“Yes! It’s fascinating! We should study its effects on him!” Raphaella’s wings fluttered slightly in excitement.

“How do we make him better?” Ashes asked. 

“I’ll make him better eventually, we might as well have some fun first though!”

“How. Do we make him. Better?” Ashes growled, shoving her against the wall by the throat.

“I- will tell you- if you let me go-“ she rasped, struggling to breathe. 

Ashes let her go and her knees buckled slightly, leaving her leaning against the wall. 

“I don’t know.” she admitted quietly.

“What the hell do you mean, you don’t know?”

“We don’t get sick! Our mechanisms are supposed to handle it, this isn’t supposed to happen, this is never supposed to happen! We don’t know what this is, or how it’s powerful enough to resist destruction! There’s a lot we can try, but I have no idea what will work. Our advantage is our immortality - so we can just cut away or even incinerate the areas of highest concentration without worrying about damage to Marius, but that won’t get all of it. Maybe his mechanism will deal with the remaining lower concentration areas, but maybe it won’t! It didn’t the first time, why should it now? What else are are we supposed to do? Inject him with huge volumes of anti-fungal medicine and hope his mechanism doesn’t destroy that before it even reaches the fungus? Burn his entire body until all that’s left of him is his arm, and pray he grows back correctly? I don’t know, Ashes! I don’t know what to do!”

Raphaella stopped shouting and breathed shakily. 

“What if we go too far? What if he dies for real?” She let herself slide down the wall until she was sitting on the floor at Ashes’ feet. 

“I don’t know what to do,” she said again, a damp sheen forming on her eyes.

“I heard you could treat fungal infections with a course of anti-fungal medication,” Brian said reasonably.

“With this level of fungus? Good fucking luck,”

“Then we cut away the most infected regions first, then give him anti-fungal medicine. And if that doesn’t work, we can try more… aggressive methods.”

Raphaella exhaled heavily. 

“Okay,” she said, pushing herself up to standing. “Okay. Are you going to help?”

“Yes, I will assist in whatever will directly result in Marius getting better.” Brian replied.

“Good.”

***

Again came the click that heralded the return of the creatures. Marius scrambled back into a corner, trying to get as far away as he could, but there was nowhere to run as they entered. Dozens of disembodied hands pinned him against the wall and he screamed as a being made of spikes inserted a long, thin finger into his flesh arm. He felt a spreading coldness as it drew back. He struggled weakly as the coldness spread through him and his vision gradually grew dark.

***

Ashes cradled Marius’ limp body gently as they carried him to Raphaella’s vivisection table. 

“Could we not have sedated him the first time?” Brian asked irritably.

“I uh, didn’t think of that,” Raphaella admitted. “His mechanism will probably destroy the sedative soon anyway, it won’t last long.”

Ashes laid him down on the table carefully.

“How are you going to do this?”

“Well, I’m no professional, so like this!” Raphaella said cheerily.

“What?” Brian said. “Hey, wait, WHAT THE-“

Thud.

Raphaella’s axe neatly severed the top of Marius’ head from his body with a wet crunch, and she threw it in the bin. Blood spurted everywhere like a bad horror film, and she was quickly soaked up to the elbows.

She looked up to see Ashes and Brian clutching each other’s shirts in shock. They let go quickly when she noticed. She smiled encouragingly at them and scooped out the rest of his brain with her hand, cutting it away from the base of his skull with a butcher’s knife.

“Hold his sleeve out of the way,” she told Ashes.

With some trepidation, they did so, revealing the green, festering wound. Raphaella carefully lined up the axe, then swung.

Thud.

Marius’ left arm fell to the ground, twitching slightly. Setting the axe aside, she drew some powerful anti-fungal medicine from a vial into a syringe, then carefully injected it into his remaining arm. 

“And now, you wait,” she said. “It’ll probably be a while before he’s healed enough to wake up. I’m going to play with chemicals.” With that, she walked out, taking the arm with her.

Ashes and Brian watched her leave.

“You should get some rest,” Ashes said. “I’ll stay here.”

Brian considered disagreeing, but Ashes’ tone brooked no argument.

“Thank you,” he said, and left.

Ashes settled into a chair, and waited.

***

Marius woke up in Ashes’ bed. He knew it by smell, he hadn’t dared open his eyes yet. He curled up slightly, burying himself under the covers even more, and exhaled slowly. His head felt clearer than it had in a while.

He dared to experimentally crack an eye open. As he had thought, he was in Ashes’ bedroom. The world around him seemed sharp and defined, far from the swirling colours he had been growing accustomed to. 

“Marius!” Ashes said, entering the room. “You’re awake! How do you feel? Better? Are you okay now? Is it over?”

Marius swallowed uncomfortably. He felt better, yes. He did not feel okay, not at all. Was it over? He hoped so. He really, really hoped so. He looked at Ashes, hoping his eyes would convey what his words could not. 

They reached for him, and he flinched away. Their hand froze mid-air, and after a moment they withdrew, a look of hurt on their face. Marius felt a pang of guilt and grabbed their hand, gently tugging it. Ashes looked at him questioningly, then, seeming to understand, slid under the covers with him. 

He rested his head on their chest, and Ashes wrapped their arms around him. For now, they were together, and they were safe.

#the mechanisms #my fanfiction #marius von raum #doors.txt

[gaylordscooter]

Log of the Multiverse: Cross and XChara

Cross and XChara (usually referred to as just "Chara") both hail from Xtale, an au that's fallen into ruin ever since the creator, XGaster, was contained.

I was shocked to find out that the creator was one of the characters in their universe, but Ink told me he was a false creator, as he was merely a puppet to the true creator that lies beyond our realm and comprehension. It's like how a meta character in a piece of fiction can be written to act "aware", but it's still being written by somebody. Ain't that weird?

Don't think about that for too long.

So Xtale was kinda an empty void after XGaster was taken care of—that's the fault of Cross who killed like, all of his friends (but xpapyrus was the one who killed basically everyone else. GEEZ i couldn't imagine my brother killing a fly! hurting a fly definitely. but killing?? yeesh) and then absorbed xfrisk's soul because he thought he'd be able to OVERWRITE (<- a mechanic their world has where you can basically do whatever the hell you want, or something) his world turned out he couldn't do that sooo.

yeah he was NOT happy about losing his world (and somewhat playing a part in its downfall)

and also xchara's linked to frisk's soul for some reason. so he kinda just had xchara haunting him for awhile.

Luckily! Ink, Dream and I were able to help Cross cope through his loss!

It took so much time. like so much.

He eventually came to accept his world would never come back, but he got an idea. Since his universe couldn't be repaired to what it was before, why not create something new? Of course he couldn't create new people but after learning there were more people that have lost their homes like him (and me) he thought: why not make this place a safe haven for people like him?

Ink encouraged him. He was Very enthusiastic about it actually, he even helped with decorating the place (as in he painted every building. and all the scenery).

Of course, Cross isn't like Dream and Ink, who can sense negativity or when someone's world is destroyed, so those two tend to give him a heads up on where to go (or they just drop people off themselves)

At first we've just been calling it "Xtale" but obviously the place has changed drastically so we decided to call it something else.

unfortunately somehow all of us (even the ARTIST) weren't able to come up with that creative of a name and settled for calling it "the hub"

Now, I didn't forget about XChara, they were getting tired of having to haunt Cross all the time, so I decided to take up a little project.

And by me, I mean I asked Alphys (from a post-pacifist undertale au, we're buddies. yes i'm allowed to be friends with her because they're no longer following the game's script) to help me make a robot body. i made a prototype that ended up being completely non-functional. so alphys kindly made a complete one that WAS functional for me. even though i insisted she didn't need to do that but she said she enjoyed doing it and that i would've popped blood vessels i didn't have if i kept trying to make one (she's right. i was never that big of an engineer)

so the hard part was separating cross and chara. except it WASNT because their souls are WEIRD and i literally just wrenched their pieces apart like lego pieces it was crazy. unfortunately they still only have half of each of their souls. but hey, they can live just fine like that! they're just not as strong as they would be.

well, mainly in cross's case. chara has a cool robot body now that's loaded with defense.

So anyway, yeah! That's about it.

Pretty happy outcome for these guys, despite all the hardships of course.

But I heard from Ink, in this other multiverse this thing called the "X-Event" occurs. It sounded pretty rough from what I remember. But fortunately our Ink isn't like the one in that multiverse! He's too much of a softy

#blue's (totally not diary) log

[puppyeared]

for like 3 weeks i was wondering why i was sleeping so much and felt listless. and just now I managed to email 3 people and responded to a month old message in the span of an hour because I got back to TAKING MY FUCKIN MEDS..........

#MOTHER FFFFUCKER #to be fair. my doc said I could stop taking them while im on break since i wouldnt need to be constantly pumped on stimulants #im not sure if it was a side effect but i managed to take like 3 different naps in one day and STILL managed to sleep thru the whole night #at least 2 days into my break. the weird thing is i didnt feel more or less rested afterwards. but mentally i think im in a good place rn #to really put the level of awakeness im at rn i feel weirdly confident i could start one piece. also bc of that sick new opening it BANGS #the song is really good and im in love with the animation style. did some digging and it seems one of the lead animators is masato mori #but i could be wrong. it seems he also did some work on mp100 which could explain a lot lol.. he uses smear frames really well to convey #consistent movement and fluidity!!! someone else might have done color design but it works really really well esp with odas style!! #just love the overall vibe and aesthetic and id really love to study it and incorporate a bit of it into my art.. especially the thick #outlines which i think helps to separate characters and objects on screen. though i have to say the style is definitely more suited to #animation bc of the simpleness and smears. maybe that will help me explore shapes and perspective when i draw... i wanna get better #at drawing poses and angles but i have a hard time wrapping my head around space and using perspective guide lines NGHHHH #i wonder if it has to do with my dogshit ability to judge distance. not depth perception but like. judge how far smth is in metres etc #im also wearing an N95 for the first couple weeks back bc of the wave. absolutely NO BODY is wearing a mask its so fucking over #where im sitting ive heard 5 different people coughing probably not into their elbows!!! and im just. head in my fucking hands #there was a kid sitting a couple seats away in class coughing as he pleases and i wanted to grab him in a chokehold so badly. PLEASEE #ive been annoying my family by asking them to mask up and reminding them to bring masks when they go out and showing them news articles #but at least its working bc we ordered some KN95s and my mom is at least taking me seriously so. please dont be afraid to speak up abt your #health. take care of yourself and others however u can!! wear that mask indoors at your maskless friends house!!! stay home when u can!! #im wearing a surgical mask at home too bc my parents have '''a dry throat cough''' and they are so bad at coughing into their sleeves #also im pretty sure dry throat isnt transmissible bc my brother started coughing too so.. i also tested negative but they havent tested yet #im also not a doctor but i have to keep reminding ppl whenever i can that covid and flu work differently. covid is new and too recent to #have nearly as much research done on it. it seems its also compounding so instead of building immunity it weakens the body and spreads to #to other systems which might explain brain fog and muscle weakness. i remember someone early in the pandemic got infected and it messed up #their smell/taste receptors so bad that they cant eat most foods and that stays in the front of my mind when i think abt covid. christ #yapping