#same author as hooky

[sparemoon]

just wanted to give a shoutout to this wonderful webtoon which i miss very much now that it's in hiatus: marionetta. love the art, love the characters, love the vibe. cannot wait for season 2!!

#webtoon #webtoons #marionetta #comic #art #drawing #julia #what is her last name #hmmm #kamille #sahed #miriam bonastre tur #same author as hooky

[fiapartridge]

wedding bells | quinn hughes

summary: in which y/n and her fiancé, quinn hughes, plan their long-awaited wedding.

request: [...i read invisible string...and it made me think of when they’re actually engaged and planning their wedding...quinn would love cake tasting and picking out the menu...and the bride loves planning the wedding but...[it's] stressful and she wants everything to be perfect. some minor thing goes wrong and she has a bridezilla breakdown moment and quinn is so sweet and calms her down...]

author's note 💌: eeee i love this request!!!! thank u anon for requesting; it's so cute!

cake tasting

“I’ve been waiting for this day since the moment I learned this existed,” Quinn beamed, his eyes fixed on the road as he exited the freeway. His right hand rested gently on your thigh, and you couldn’t help but grin, happy that he finally wanted to be involved in a part of the wedding planning process—even if today was all about cake.

With a playful tilt of your head, a mock tsk of disapproval escaped your lips as Quinn raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you be eating healthy for your game next week? How about I eat the cake and you watch.”

“And watch you live out my dream?” he scoffed. “Yeah, the game’s not that important.”

“That game is gonna secure your spot in the playoffs, Captain,” you smirked, playfully poking his arm. You loved teasing him about his captaincy, like saying Aye aye, Captain whenever he asked you for a favor, or your personal fave, So when does the team give you your honorary eye patch and silver hooky thingy? To which he always responds with, Not that kind of captain, babe. 

As Quinn pulled into the bakery’s parking lot, he cupped your cheeks in his hand, his face growing serious, feeling almost like a team huddle. His voice lowered, and his face drew close to yours as he laid out some sort of plan. “I’m gonna eat a lot of cake today, so much that I wore my stretchy pants-”

“Oh, the Lululemon ones that I bought you?” You got them for him as a Christmas gift along with other items. You were happy that he actually wore them outside the house for once. 

“Yes those ones, but we need to stay focused.” You nodded intently, totally focused. “Jack is gonna call you later and he’s gonna ask you if I ate any of this cake today, and I’m gonna need you to lie.”

A burst of laughter escaped you. “You want me to lie to Jacky? About you eating cake? During our cake tasting? Because…”

“Because him and Luke have a bet going on that I’m gonna break my diet for this, and Luke said that if he wins we’re splitting the cash 50/50, so I really need you to lie, baby.”

Rolling your eyes, you opened the passenger door, Quinn doing the same on his side. “I really don’t understand you guys. Like, why not just be normal and bet on who’s winning the next Super Bowl or something?”

Quinn wrapped around the front of the car, intertwining his fingers with yours as you approached the bakery’s entrance. “Did that a few years ago, we each lost $700 to Luke.”

“Jesus, you guys are loaded. The last time my family and I had a bet, we each did $10 and whatever old gift card we had stowed away in our wallets. Apparently mine was from 2015 and the place it was for got shut down for rat poisoning? I don’t know,” you shrugged.

As the hours passed and the 20th cake flavor came around, Quinn felt like his stretchy pants were out of stretch, and you felt like you could take a nap right on top of the table. Cakes were not for the weak, let me tell you that.

“I feel like everything tastes the same now,” Quinn struggled to get the words out. Not because he didn’t know what to say, but because he was trying not to heave and talk at the same time. 

“I feel like I can’t feel my legs,” you replied, a visible food baby proudly displayed on your belly.

Dipping your finger into the frosting of the pink champagne cake, guaranteed to be the most fanciest cake you’ve ever had, you swiped it across Quinn’s nose. “Oops,” you grinned. “I’m just so full; I must’ve twitched or something.”

Rolling his eyes, Quinn smeared the orange creamsicle cake across your face, as if you were donning eye black and dodging defenders past the 40-yard line.

“Oh, you’re getting it,” you laughed, swiping a finger across the blueberry with graham cracker crumble, a grandma’s dying wish, planting strokes on his chin and forehead. “Aw, don’t you look cute?” you teased.

He smirked, getting impossibly close. It was good that the wedding planner and cake baker were in another room chatting, or else they would probably be yelling at you two to get your hands off each other at once. “Wanna make a bet?”

“Hm, does it involve me losing thousands of dollars?” He shook his head. “Hundreds?” Another shake. “Any money?” One more. “Then you’re on, pretty boy. What’s your proposition?”

“We leave right now and you can lick all of this off in the car-”

“Amy!” you shouted for your wedding planner as she came stumbling into the room, afraid something was wrong. “We have to go; family emergency,” you pouted, really selling it. “I’ll see you next weekend, okay?”

“Oh, yeah, okay!” she nodded. “Take care of the family!”

“Will do!” you shouted, dragging Quinn behind you as if you were Lightning McQueen in any of the Cars movies. Boy, were you quick. Even Quinn was shook and he skated with some of the fastest hockey players around. 

“I win,” Quinn whispered, his lips pressed to the crown of your head as you reached the car, pushing him inside. 

“Yeah? Kinda seems like I’m the winner.”

the wedding rehearsal

“Oh, don’t you flower girls look cute?” you smiled, drawing your knees to your chest as you bent down to meet them eye-level. “You ready to walk the runway?”

“Daddy said this was a wedding,” Ella, your brother’s daughter, shyly replied, playing with a couple of petals in the basket. 

“Wedding shmedding,” you grinned, earning giggles from the little ones. “Think of it as a runway, and you’re the models.”

“What about,” Grace, Brady and Emma’s daughter piped up, “it’s a runway and I’m the airplane?”

“Oh,” you said, eyes widening a bit before breaking into a giggle.

“That works too! Just don’t be afraid, okay? If it makes you two feel any better, Uncle Jacky has to walk the aisle and he can barely skate on two feet.”

“Hey!” Jack popped out of the line forming behind the three of you, a procession of earthy-toned dresses and black-and-white suits ready to rehearse for the big day. The sight made you want to cry. Everyone you ever cared about was here for you and Quinn, for your big day. 

It brought you back to the moment you met Quinn, the moment your life truly began. You were friends with Emma, having met in college at Boston University where you also met Brady. You had just gotten out of a year-long relationship and were stressed over midterms, so Emma suggested that you get a “sex-tox” — a detox involving, well, sex. It sounded perfect at the time. Fuck a stranger, never see them again, release some stress, and live your best life.

But that’s kind of hard to do when that stranger is Quinn Hughes. You fell in love with him the moment Brady introduced you. Maybe it was the way his hand lingered in yours for a just a second longer than what’s considered a “normal” handshake, or maybe it was the way his eyes followed you throughout the bar like he was scared that you would come back to the table with another guy’s arm draped over your shoulder, or maybe it was the way he said your name, like it was made for his lips and his voice.

He was just so perfect and now you were marrying him. It all felt so much like a dream, like you’ll wake up one day and everything will be gone. But when you see Quinn laughing with his groomsmen, his eyes immediately finding yours, his arms flying around your body, hundreds of whistles and hoots coming from everyone around you as you tuned them out, your attention solely placed on the man you’ll be able to call your husband as little as tomorrow, you know that this is real, and he is yours, and this is peace.

the wedding day

This is a disaster. The centerpiece flowers are sky blue instead of columbia, your grandma wants to trade seats with William Nylander because she has this newfound obsession with Mitch Marner which would put William Nylander with your grandpa and the weird uncle that always gets way too drunk at weddings but will never admit that he has an alcohol problem, chalking it up to a “one time thing.” Even though we all know that he’s gonna do it again at the next wedding! And to top the shit-cake that is this day, your wedding planner decided to be selfish and break her water overnight, so now she’s in the hospital trying to push a tiny human out of her uterus while you’re here trying not to physically strangle every single person that comes to you with a question.

You were tired, and nervous, and your makeup looks terrible, and you feel bloated, and you don’t feel pretty enough to walk down that aisle, and you don’t feel pretty enough to be with Quinn, and why would he want to be with a girl that can’t even plan her own damn wedding correctly? And you just feel…defeated. 

“Hey, Y/N,” Luke bounced through the door of your bridal suite, his hand hovering over his eyes. 

“You don’t have to cover your eyes, Luke, you’re not the groom,” you muttered, fiddling with the ends of your hair.

“Right,” he chuckled nervously. “Um, so there’s a problem.” 

You closed your eyes, sighing. You felt like your head might explode. What else are we going to add to this ginormous shit storm of a day? Let me guess, Cole already got shit-faced at the mini bar, or Nico got lost on the way here and that car held Jesper, Holtz, and Dougie, or oh! Did your brother get into conversation with Trevor on how he can perfect his alley-oop if he substituted Milano with him? Seriously, what else can get worse than this?

“We can’t find Quinn.”

You’re gonna throw up. Are you already throwing up? Because there’s this tingly feeling that’s bubbling in your throat, and you don’t know if it’s from the copious amount of champagne you consumed last night or the urge to find Quinn and murder him with your bare hands. I think it’s the latter.

Before Luke could say anything else, you dashed towards the door, his calls fading behind you. You didn’t know if you were running to find Quinn or to escape this hell hole for yourself. Maybe Quinn was onto something. Maybe this was a bad idea. I mean, were you that naive to believe that someone like Quinn would actually want to marry someone like you?

With your shoes discarded, you found solace on a rock overlooking a small lake near the venue. Your once pristine white gown was now engulfed in the grass, your disheveled hair was poking out of its metal claw clip,  your mascara was noticeably smudged, and the tears wouldn’t stop streaming down your face no matter how hard you tried to stop it. You were nervous about the wedding, but I guess it doesn’t matter anymore since the groom is apparently missing and nothing else is working out. Ha! Now they don’t even have a bride. This is terrific.

With crunching leaves, you heard a small, “Hey,” behind you.

You turned slowly to find Quinn, the man of the hour, finally present. You didn’t say anything, fearing that your words would come out with a choke. You couldn’t stop crying.

Quinn settled down on the rock next to you. “I’m sorry for leaving like that, I just—had to clear my head for a bit. I’m a little nervous.”

“Are you getting cold feet?” you mumbled, scared to hear his answer. You knew he loved you, but you also knew that he would put people’s feelings way above his own. You didn’t want to marry him if he was having doubts.

He shook his head. “No.” His hands found yours amid the puffiness of your dress. “I don’t have a single doubt in my mind that you’re the woman I want to marry.”

“So why-”

“There’s like 300 people out there waiting to see us get married, and Jack’s already talking about us having a kid in the next couple months, and—it’s a lot, you know? You?”

You furrowed your brows. “Me, what?”

“Getting cold feet?”

You shook your head. “I’m tired,” you admitted, your voice breaking. “I feel like everything’s going wrong today. Amy’s out having a baby, the flowers are the wrong shade of blue, Grandma wants to sit next to Mitch Marner, I thought you left, and-”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Quinn cupped your face, wiping your tears with his thumbs, just as he has done time and time before. The gesture never fails to give you a sense of comfort. “Years from now, when we’re old and living in a house in the suburbs, and you’ll probably have an orange tabby cat on your lap, and we’ll be telling stories to our grandchildren about our wedding day, we’re not gonna remember the color of the flowers, or who sat next to Marner, or any of that, okay?”

You nodded.

“We’re gonna remember you and me. We’re gonna remember how much I love you. And we’re probably gonna remember us sitting on rocks, stalling our own wedding day.”

A giggle escaped you because this was all so ridiculous. Quinn was right; you’re not gonna remember everything that went wrong. You and Quinn—that’s all that matters.

You pressed a long, innocent, and probably salty kiss on his lips. He saw you in your wedding dress, a superstitious hockey player breaking a centuries-long superstition, but for once, you didn’t care. 

“You ready to get married?” Quinn grinned, holding his hand out to you. 

You nodded, taking his hand. “I’m ready.”

#quinn hughes #quinn hughes imagine #quinn hughes x reader #quinn hughes angst #quinn hughes fluff #vancouver canucks

[mickules]

Dangantober Ghost Photo breakdown

Dangantober Ghost Photos with some little behind the scenes ghost shenanigans

they may be ghosts for a while....

Full breakdown of each character below ↓ MAJOR DANGAN SPOILERS

The main idea was inspired by Sayaka, the avoidable tragedy of her death, and the vengeance that allowed her to name her killer from 'beyond the grave'

Each ghost is stuck, or trapped in some sort of loop, compelled to act according to certain 'rules', much like how they lived under monokuma within the Killing Game. Each rule has some connection to a ghost's talent, aspect of their life, or death. Reminding them of their regrets in a fashion that wouldn't allow them to pass on.

Sayaka "Don’t swap the dormitory name plates." Her fate in the game was a self-fulfilling prophecy. She was so scared of being trapped in the school, that she trapped herself. It seemed like a perfect stimulus for a ghost, going over the events of her death again and again, but never being able to break out of the cycle. She always leaves behind the message, as she'll never know if Makoto understood her regrets.

Mukuro "Don’t pick a fight in the gym." Mukuro's haunting is based entirely on how her death was a result of picking a fight with monokuma, and how she loses everything. Her lingering grudge creates an animalistic aggressive atmosphere like a Fenrir Wolf, her stoic soldier persona lost as she lashes out at people who remind her of her failure. She hides herself like she did in life, only visible in reflections as Junko's shadow - and will try stab you in the back, playing out her own betrayal.

Leon "Don’t play with baseballs near the hallway" It seemed like the worst fate for Leon would be being stuck, static in his unwanted role as The Ultimate Baseball Star. As with his murder, he couldn't help himself, but resorted back to those skills to dispose of evidence. His animosity making the game almost unplayable for everyone else, he releases all his frustrations toward himself, almost zombie like, at a scapegoat: baseball.

Chihiro "Don’t enter the locker rooms at night" Chihiro's murder and trial was mostly co-opted by red-herrings, like Genocide Jack and the location of the murder. So the idea is that the story got warped by a series of Chinese whispers; Genocide Jack miscast as a 'bloody Mary' style urban legend, Chihiro a forgotten footnote. Based on how Hina thought Alter Ego was actually Chihiro's ghost; I thought the haunting could work more like a séance or a ouija board; asking Chihiro questions beyond the veil much like how AlterEgo helped the class, Chihiro is only trying to help.

Mondo "Don’t eat the butter in the cafeteria" I REACHED for Mondo, I know! but he got turned into BUTTER! I wanted to incorporate his execution with his motive to murder, so his ghost is based on Calabar beans, supposedly able to sort the guilty and the innocent. If you swallow without worry the poison might not spread, but if you eat cautiously and chew; you'll die. He appears slowly, enough that you can ignore him, the same why you might ignore your guilty conscience. He may be a hypocrite, but in a way he's trying to save you from his own fate.

Taka "Don’t pass notes in the classroom" Not unlike Sayaka, it's another case of replaying actions when they were alive, but Taka is still continuing his role as 'Hall Monitor' His prompt is passing notes since that's what lead to his death, originally the note you were passed in class was going to be written by Taka but that felt like it broke his own rules. He disappears if he's ignored, much how he faded after Mondo's death. Ishida is only triggered if you interrupt his routine, disrupt his pace, and create disorder from what he sees as order, holding Mondo's pickaxe almost like a reaper's scythe.

Hifumi "Don’t play hooky in the art rooms" I know Hifumi is the 'Ultimate Fanfic Creator' in the english, but my brain always autocorrects that to 'Doujin Author' instead. And given his focus on fandom culture, I thought his haunting playing out like a video game, something in the zeitgeist like Slenderman the Eight Pages would be appropriate. Originally I had you collecting his artworks, with Hifumi hunting you down, blinded by the blood covering his glasses. He creates his own narrative much like how Celeste convinced him to go through with the murder. He certainly casts himself as a 'protector', expressing glee at being justified in his actions.

Celeste "Don’t default on your debts" As much as you could see Celeste's talent as unwholesome, she took absolute pride in it, and part of that was following through on a bet. Celeste does seem like the type to always find an angle; so she will find a way to exploit those around her into spoiling her, but that's not enough to dispel her stripped aristocracy. She's not in some vast ornate fireplace, she's in an incinerator where you burn rubbish. And the Versailles Witch won't let you get away if you get close enough to see her indignity.

Sakura "Don’t be disrespectful in the dojo" Sakura was very difficult since, like Chihiro, she's got no real impetus to become a vengeful spirit at all. But given her choice to betray the class to protect her dojo, it would be cold comfort being forced to watch over a facsimile of a dojo, at arms length, in a fashion like Tantalus. Her statue is based on Nio, muscular wrestler like figures who stand at the entrance of shrines to protect them from evil. She functions a little like SCP-173, she can only move if she's not watched.

---

Given that the sdr2 kids were all remnants of despair, and all had the potential to be as monstrous as Junko - I tried to link them each to an urban legend or a cryptid or similar, to make them another degree removed from humanity. Additionally, their rules are written to sound more like threats, than the THH kids' warnings, to make the distinction that they were more dangerous, far more active.

Imposter "Never copy someone else’s work" There's a common belief that everyone has a doppelgänger, a normal extension of the concept that there are only so many different faces in the world, so some are bound to be potentially near identical. But it's often seen as a bad omen to see yours - a signifier of your imminent death, or maybe a tragedy. The Imposter craves the sensation being someone else, so they don't have to be left with the void that is their own personality. By reducing you to the imitation they show you a fraction of their own personal despair.

Teruteru "Never take someone’s food without asking" Although it could be argued that all the ghosts are kinds of Poltergeists, but I wanted Teruteru to have less of a physical appearance but to express himself through the items in the kitchen - the thrown knives, the rattling pans, the food, much how he was truly himself whilst cooking, but outside of that he projected a false and vain persona, a persona which has been burned away. There's also a reference to the crimes he's implied to have committed whilst a remnant of despair, namely cannibalism.

Mahiru "Never record over something without checking" A large part of Mahiru's philosophy surrounding photography is in capturing the smiles and happy memories of her subjects. Writing over any of those would be unthinkable to her. She's based on Spirit Photography, ghosts and apparitions appearing in celluloid, with some aspects of the Ring, a ghoul able to cross over and reach you through a medium which something shouldn't be able to. The AV equipment she haunts is supposed to have been left behind by classes 77 and 78, the only other echoes of them that remain at Hope's Peak.

Peko "Never knock on an occupied stall" I know it's unfair! But she spends so much of case 1 in the toilet, and disposes of the evidence in case 2 in a bathroom.... Plus, I based her haunting on Hanako-san, a ghost who haunts a toilet stall, and only appears if someone knocks at her door. Peko cannot act alone - she can only act if she's called upon, if someone asks for her. Her multiple hands juggling the masks of the many identities she wears as she has none of her own. The colourful façade of 'Sparkling Justice' being her most memorable, and overriding her own face. Delicate yakuza tattoos wrap around her fingers, and she's missing her little finger on all but one of her hands - a common yakuza punishment for failure.

Ibuki "Never interrupt someone’s musical performance." If Sayaka is a siren, Ibuki is a Banshee, not only due to her singing voice, but also as she heralds the death of Hiyoko. Ibuki became trapped in someone else's elaborate web which lead to her death, so in her haunt she becomes twisted within the threads of her own vocal chords - as a reference to how she couldn't tell anyone what was wrong due to the despair disease. Her exceptional hearing helping her locate you, like a spider finds flies through the vibrations of the web. I was also inspired by the so-called suicide song, Gloomy Sunday, and getting such a song stuck in your head

Hiyoko "Never taunt someone with hurtful names" I wanted to make the rules more specific than just 'don't be a bully' so I used Hiyoko's vice of name calling as what makes her zone in on you; much how she picks apart insects when we first meet her. She's mistaken for a Zashiki-warashi, a harmless child spirit, a Japanese yokai in ode to her love of traditional Japanese culture. She's actually closer to a Usutsuki-warashi, a bad-omen, spirit of a child culled during famine when there wasn't enough food to go around - much like Hiyoko was culled to remove her as a witness.

Mikan "Never feign being sick" Mikan was partly based on Annabelle, the possessed Raggedy Anne doll, in how her innocent and clumsy nature belied the darkness beneath, but also how she was ultimately still just Junko's puppet on a string. Her only place of control is in the nurse's office where she can inflict her own feelings of helplessness onto her patients. (but there was also definite inspiration from the Silent Hill 2 Nurses, not just in the eerie way they move, but also how they are objectified, much like how Mikan is.)

Nekomaru "Never cheat in a sporting event" St. Elmo's Fire (witches fire not the movie) is an electrical phenom, an omen that precedes a lightning strike. Based on his appearance plus his transformation into the electrical Mechamaru, it also is reference to the electrical pulses that control the beating of the heart. Nekomaru essentially treating a bad-sportsman with the taste of a future where an infirmity forcibly retires them. Originally I had him drag them from underground to slow them to a crawl, but it seemed against Nekomaru's principles.

Gundham "Never harm an animal" Gundham would probably revel in the exaggeration of his myth; it's what he would do when he was alive. He's one of the more cryptid like, more of an animal than a person anymore, his transformation based on a Rat King. This phenomenon is where several rats get their tails tangled together with dirt creating a ring of trapped rats encircling their knotted tails in the centre. I originally thought to recreate it with hamsters, but given his beloved Devas survived him, I thought keeping it being rats was better.

Nagito "Never throw something useful away" Nagito is a difficult one since he would find no compunction continuing his test of hope vs despair, much as his role as servant in UDG. The Honest Axe parable has a woodsman drop his old axe into a lake, a river spirit offering him a gold and silver axe asking if those were the axe he dropped. If he refuses he is rewarded, but if he dishonestly accepts he his punished. If you accept Nagito's offer, you admit that you gave up on the item too soon, as a microcosm of giving up hope, you get a taste of his karmic luck as 'reward'. Nagito probably has a very good idea how to break their bonds as ghosts and allow them to pass on, but he won't give the ultimates the answer so easily.

Chiaki "Never delete someone’s saved game" Some of you were right on the money, Chiaki was based on Ben Drowned, I was originally going to draw her like the 'elegy of emptiness' link statue but it was so goofy, I went more classic .exe/doki doki style. Like many of the more positive characters, she's not really fit to be an evil spirit, and plus she was never actually a remnant of despair. The ominous foreboding feeling she gives you is a heightening of paranoia that would hopefully steer you away from contacting the other ghosts.

Junko Is the culmination of everything, the source of every rule. There's no despair after all if there's no one for her to torment, her vitriol enough to outlast her own death in canon by several games, she's dragged every victim into her purgatory. Like with the killing game, those she's trapped with her have the chance to 'beat her' but the game is rigged in her favour. She may be unable to manifest unless every rule is broken, but she's a master of manipulation. She's been the one to spread the rumours, so that people actively seek out to 'break' her rules, supernatural happenings being encouraging rather than deterring, making more people tempted to see for themselves. The ghosts were given just enough autonomy to believe they have agency, when they're trapped in Junko's loop.

If each ghost moved on, she'd have no one give her an endless stream of despair, no hauntings to spur on the thrill seekers/ghost chasers, no reason for all her rules to be actively broken by one person. She'd be slowly forgotten, slowly dissipate, and essentially disappear.

Originally I had Junko's haunting take place in the principle's office, She would call you over the tannoy, but I chose to make it more ambiguous. The idea was that, were she able to manifest, she was the only truly fatal haunting. Imagine the despair if they found a dead student in the principle's office.

I just wanted to thank everyone again, I had a lot of fun with this! It isn't a strict au, so if you wanted to play around with it, go ahead :) I hardly have a monopoly on ghost aus after all - there are loads of far better thought ones about, so if you liked this I'd recommend checking some out!

#danganronpa #danganronpa ghost au #dangantober #horror fiction #THH #SDR2 #thh spoilers #sdr2 spoilers #long post #I do wanna say this was an october drawing/writing challenge #I was fully flying my the seat of my pants #god this took me way longer than I thought lol #I had to retype this TWICE I love tumbl

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I've been dreaming of the Loyalist of Clubs.

There are so many regrets born out of ignorance. So many bonds lost to time.

He wishes he could have done more then.

How does a moment last forever? How can a story never die?

“Wh-What’s happening, Trey?”

The question comes from the boy huddled on the guest bed. He’s smallish and demure, like a rose bud yet to bloom. His eyes and cheeks are the same color as his hair—red, from crying.

Trey awkwardly peels himself away from the door. Even shut, shouting is audible from beyond it.

“HE KIDNAPPED MY SON!! Bring him back this instant, or I’ll call the authorities!”

“Ma’am, please calm down. They’re children—”

Trey pictures Mrs. Rosehearts as a balloon, bright red and inflated with hot air. The more she screams, the more air leaks put of her twisted mouth. She shrinks and shrinks until she poofs out of existence.

It doesn’t feel right to stand, so he sits on the bed beside his friend. The frame groans from their combined weights, light as they are.

“… I’m not sure,” Trey admits. “I saw you upset and grabbed your hand and ran. I didn’t want you to be stuck in that situation anymore.”

He pats a pillow. Attempts to comfort his friend.

“You can stay here.” Forever, if you want. But he doesn’t say that, only hopes it in his heart. The solution is so simple in his kid mind. “At least until your mom isn’t mad anymore.”

“Is that… allowed?”

“Sure it is. My parents won’t mind—er, probably. They like having new people over. We’ll pretend it’s a normal sleepover.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s when you sleep over at another person’s house—that’s where the name comes from. You stay up late, watch movies, play games, eat snacks, and then fall asleep together.”

Riddle’s eyes widen. “That sounds like breaking so many rules,” he says nervously.

“Those are the rules for sleepovers. The point is to have fun.”

“Fun…” Riddle nibbles on his lip, drawing his knees closer to his torso. He hugs his legs, collapsing into himself with a sniff. “I-I don’t know—I don’t like not knowing. I’m scared, Trey. Mama is so angry with me. I’m not supposed to…”

“It’s okay to not know. No one knows everything.”

“Mama does. Everyone says so. That’s why she’s always right.”

“That’s not true. I know she’s wrong about this—about us, and about Che’nya.” He grabs Riddle’s clammy hand and squeezes. “She can’t keep us three from being friends.”

“We are…?”

“Yup.” Trey pokes him, then points to himself, “We’re friends. And friends stick up for each other, watch each other’s backs.”

Riddle hesitates. “Is that… the rule?”

“You can think of it like that if you want. But I didn’t do any of this because of some rule, I did it because I wanted to help you somehow, any way I can."

"B-But we're just kids. What can we do?"

Trey worriedly glances at the door--the adults' voices haven't quieted at all--then at Riddle and the stress deeply etched into his round face. This isn't a good place for him right now either.

"We could... go over to Che'nya's. He and his grandpa will be happy to see us, and we can all have that sleepover.”

Riddle looks bewildered at the mere suggestion. "We're going to leave?"

"Shouldn't be too hard. We've already played hooky before," Trey says, tugging him up and off the bed by the arm. "Besides, a walk can help take your mind off of things."

We can be ourselves. We can forget our worries. Everything can be as it was.

Riddle’s eyes are wide with alarm. His knees wobble, and Trey catches him.

“It’ll be fine! I’ll be with you all the way—so if we get yelled at, we can be yelled at together. You won’t be alone.”

Not ever again.

Riddle responds in a shaky mew. His cheeks are wet from crying, and his words trembling—but his trust is firm. “O-Okay… I believe in you. Let’s go. Let’s go see Che’nya.”

Trey smiles reassuringly. “Alright, we’ll escape through the window. It’s a classic. You know how to do it safely by now, right?”

“Yes…!”

The two boys scramble to the bedroom window, undoing its latch and sliding it up. Trey leads the charge, easily clearing the sill. He looks back, urging Riddle to follow.

The threshold is daunting, less the boundary between inside and out and more like the bridge to a world unknown. When Riddle charges at the open window, he expects to smack into the wall. To fall, to fail.

The ground rumbles,

Splintering, fissures appearing.

“You got this!!” Trey cheers from the other side.

Riddle vaults too early and slips.

Panic shoots through him like a bolt of lightning.

Something erupts from out of the floor, racing under the boy to break his fall. Riddle lands on a thick, cushy stalk, leaves twisting around it. Above him, a giant head of petals--blue, bell-shaped, and ringing.

Bluebell.

Another flower sprouts by the boy's feet, bearing a crimson mouth--two lips, pulled back in a laugh. "Frolic, rejoice," says the Tulip. "Be free.”

“Free, free,” a patch of tiny, shrinking violets choruses.

“To dance around the posies and spin daisy chains and search for four leaf clovers.”

“We’ll lift you up when you’re down.”

Plants are poking out from every inch of the guest room, making their own quips and banter. Trey should be startled, but instead he laughs and waves for Riddle.

He waves back shyly, then gasps. His feet find something squishy yet solid under them.

Mushrooms with flat caps, a whole flight of them, in ascending height. The boy clumsily crosses them, each step sending up a cloud of fat, lazy spores. Riddle sneezes, nearly careening off the side—but a wall of snapping dragons or sly gloves in foxes closes in, surprisingly gentle as they support him.

He hops over the sill with ease.

And the flowers follow.

It’s a rainbow come alive, color sprawling over the roads and knitting rooftops with new lattice designs. Some designs dare to go higher and flashier: beanstalks that pierce the clouds, fruit clusters so heavy they bend and droop, petals dripping with jewels. Even the air is more jubilant, filled with shimmering particles--pollen?

Sunshine opens on Riddle’s face.

“Whaaaa~ So pretty!!”

“Isn’t it?” Trey’s grin is so wide his teeth ache. “We should hurry and get Che’nya so he can see this too.”

“It’s going to take so long to wade through all of this.”

“Fine by me." Trey grabs his friend's hand. It feels so small in his, and he thinks of a seed in need of water and light. "We can take our time to stop and smell the roses!”

His other hand reaches out and finds the stem of a large passing dandelion tuft. It forms an umbrella from its fuzzy white tendrils, the perfect shape for sailing on the wind.

Whoosh.

Trey and Riddle squeal as they're whisked off.

Up, up, and away, where their troubles can't chase them.

#twisted wonderland #twst #Trey Clover #Riddle Rosehearts #disney twisted wonderland #disney twst #twst imagines #twisted wonderland imagines #twst scenarios #twisted wonderland scenarios #twst anni #twst anniversary #twisted wonderland anniversary #twisted wonderland anni #twst countdown #twisted wonderland countdown #I’ve been Dreaming… #book 1 spoilers

[honeybleed]

never yours ⋆ kong shiu

content & warnings: female reader, she/her pronouns, black-coded reader, canon verse (flashback then before the events of hidden inventory arc), no actual smut but i guess suggestive (references to sex) so mdni

author’s note: this is heavily inspired by deja’s debt series!! and mandatory tag for my shiu sisters (even though deja has returned to choso😞) @maydayaisha & @shunsuist 🤞🏽💓

word count: 1k

As you stood in the alley with him, he had a smile on his face, eyes curled up into crescents as his cigarette was between his fingers.

“You have it tough right now, don’t you?” He said, softly. “So I’ll help you out, okay? I like to help people when I can.”

“But…” You began, a little dazed at the fact a seedy contractor was giving you a way out of a situation you saw with no happy ending. “How can I ever repay you, Shiu..?”

“That’s alright.” He snorted. “You just need to stay alive and be happy. That’s plenty enough of repayment for me.”

-

"Now aren't you two lovebirds truly a sight to behold." A smooth, familiar voice belonging to none other than an irritated Toji Fushiguro, as he flopped onto the bar stool.

"Yup." You snorted as you slid your fingers to grip Shiu's dark tresses and he held your jaw over the counter, shaking each other to purposely make a show.

"Eesh." Toji snorted. "Feeling left out here, you know."

You slid him his regular order. He has a tab that's been going on since the dawn of time but Shiu tells you to cut him some slack.

"Don't worry, you'll have me all to yourself in a minute." Shiu responded wryly as he took a drag of his cigarette, then turned to you. "You want me to to stay til you close up?"

"I'm feeling flakey. Feel like closing when you and Fushiguro there wrap up business." You respond with a grin.

"Now, now. I got you this job as a favor. Can't be playing hooky when you feel like it, honey." He chuckled as you gave him the same look that made him fold dozen times before.

"I just wanna spend time with you...you know we barely see each other.." You said, voice saccharinely sweet as you looked up at him through your lashes.

He rolled his eyes. He hated the hold you had over him.

"Fine." He said, waving a hand as he began to head over towards the booth Toji was sat in.

-

You let out a sigh.

He and Toji stepped out, then came a text saying he'd drop by at your place if he could but the chances were slim.

You couldn't even be mad. Shiu Kong belonged to a sleazy underworld that required all his attention.

If he was to slack for even a nanosecond all hell would break loose and blow up in his face.

As you opened the front door and he stood there, dark eyes stormy.

He smelt powdery and floral like — another woman's perfume, and there was body glitter imprinted onto his white dress shirt, where his collar buttons were undone and tie was loose.

He and Toji most likely went to a strip club. Again, you didn't have a choice to be mad.

He was never yours. He never promised to be yours.

Then he suddenly lunged at you, in a swift movement he flipped you around to shut the front door and slammed your back against it as he captured your lips.

You groaned into his mouth at the impact of the force. This was nothing like the man you’d grown to know over the years. Always calm and collected.

However, at this very moment in time he was almost carnal like. Trying to yank his own clothes off after he had discarded the t-shirt.

He knew your apartment well, hell he was the one who got you a good deal on it. As he lifted you up with ease, you immediately wrapped your legs around his torso. Taking you away.

Soon enough, the peak washed over you, and your head thumped onto the pillow. Chest rising and falling.

“Who do you keep those condoms for?” He asked, sitting up in the bed as he lit up a cigarette.

“None of your business, and if you’re gonna smoke do it out the window.” You chastised as you nudged his side, covering your chest with the duvet.

He simply nodded and raised his eyebrows to signal that he understood and clambered out of bed.

“I don’t think anybody would be able to tell you have quite a toned physique under those suits. Or well, when you’re next to Fushiguro.” You giggled.

“I am not with him that often.” He snorted.

“Yeah right. You two are practically attached at the hip.” You shot.

“He’s jealous of you, you’re jealous of him. I promise there’s more than enough of me to go around.” He chuckled. Once he finished, he headed out of the room.

“Where are you going?”

“Coulda sworn I saw an ashtray on the countertop.” He replied, nonchalantly.

You remember buying it when he dropped by when you were settling in, smiling to yourself at the memory.

He’s always been a guardian angel to you of some sorts.

Soon enough, he returned and lounged beside you in the bed. Silence fell over the both of you.

"You wouldn't believe me." He began.

"It’s fine. As I'm speaking it sounds like crap. I went there with Fushiguro cos the bosses like those places. Never been a huge fan of them, really. You see a few hot things here and there but. Whatever. Maybe it's my age. But all I could do was feel like a wallowing asshole."

"It's okay, Shiu.." You sighed. "We're...just-"

We're not acquaintances. We're not friends. We're not lovers. Are we co-workers? He got me that job, is he a contractor to me like he is with the others?

"Let me change that." He cut you off, dragging you out of your thoughts.

"Huh?"

“I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t have feelings for you, honey.” He said, plainly as he looked into your eyes. “We’re an odd pairing. But I adore you.”

“Give me a chance…” He said, taking your hand and dragging a thumb over your wrist.

“You not gonna use those negotiation skills, Mister? Because this is pretty weak reasoning.” You chuckled, wanting to pressure him.

“Oh c’mon honey.” He grinned, engulfing you into his arms. “I know you can’t resist me.” He said, beginning to nibble at your neck which made you squirm and giggle but he held you into place.

“Alright, alright!”

author’s note: man this is so sloppy, not the biggest fan but i did say i was gonna write for his ass in april saur. am i a bird for makin the reader forgive him, maybe. chirp 😹

enjoyed this? check out my masterlist !!

#jjk x reader #shiu kong x reader #shiu kong #angelshubnetwork #jjk x you #jjk x black!reader #jjk x black reader #jjk x female reader #⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ nara scribbles

[cookiesupplier]

A Friend Down In Hell - Part Sixteen

pairing: Nick Folio x ofc (Ishtar)

warnings/tropes: slow burn, pining, idiot in love, language, drinking, mentions of violence, mentions of torture, mentions of religious mythology.

summary: Folio can't quite tell you how long he's been dead, but it doesn't matter when he has friends like his, and Ishtar. Ishtar, with whom he fell in love the moment he met her. The problem? She doesn't know it. How does he convince a demon, who is practically immortal, to date him when he's dead? How did Ellie do it so easily?

author’s note: Unbetaed.. Enjoy!

To read from the beginning: A Friend Down In Hell Masterlist

And for those that missed Noah & Ellie's Story previously, all Hell-Verse stories will be included here: Combined Hell-Verse Masterlist

tags: @spicywhenspeaking @tearfallpixie @cncohshit @nyxthedestroyerofworlds @lyschko666 @bngurngheart @lacktoesandtoddlerants @sorrowsofsilence @collapsedglasshouses @vinyardmauro @dsireland86 @4rtificialfolio @emmmm127 @badomensls @agravemisstake @sunsshinesunny @blackveilomens @jilliemiw86

Tag lists are open, please let me know if you'd like to be added to this story, the Hell-Verse as a whole, or Everything

Folio was both completely over the moon about the date the other night. He’d ended up spending the whole night, and the next day with Ishtar until she’d had to go to work the next day, enjoying the whole time together. It had been the most tantalising time, and they hadn’t wasted a moment of it. Had they spent most of the day at her apartment, in bed, wrapped up in nothing but skin and sheets.. Maybe.. But he was a gentleman. No, he wasn’t. They had. Not that he would give details to anyone, that was for them and them alone, thank you. The only people that needed to think on how it felt to wrapped up in each other all day yesterday, were Ishtar, and him. Either way, after spending weeks barely being able to see each other, and no time alone at all, not to mention Ishtar agreeing to be his girlfriend, how could he keep his hands off of her? There was also the sounds she made when he.. Nope.. he could at least try to be a little bit of a gentleman after the fact. Just a little bit of one.. A little bit.. Ahem. He could do it. He could. Thankfully, both Jolly and Ellie had already known that there was no way he would be coming in to work yesterday. No way that he wouldn’t at the very least, be up into the wee hours of the morning star gazing with Ishtar. That is, if they were well-behaved and entirely innocent children and hadn’t spent half the night in various states of undress under the stars. No comment as to what their activities actually had been after their discussion. He really needed to thank Ellie for her idea of making sure to have the extra blanket and pillows with them last night for the picnic. They absolutely came in handy, not just for the stargazing, but for everything that came after!

When Folio came in the next day, bright and early, happy as anything, he found Nicholas sitting at their desks playing cards with Jolly and Ellie. Okay, maybe not quite that early, okay, maybe barely on usual time considering he’d spent the night at Ishtar’s after picking her up from work last night and getting distracted while they were in the shower this morning before breakfast. He was here, wasn’t he? When he was tempted to take another day off, he was here!

“Well, look at what the cat dragged in, and I thought you’d spend another day playing hooky.”

Folio smirked as he moved to sit in one of the empty chairs, rolling his eyes at Jolly’s jibe, but still chuckled just the same,

“Nope, Ishtar back to work last night, so it's only fair I’m back at work today.”

And she’d be back at work again tonight as well, he’d pick her up again, just like it would yesterday, whether he’d stay again, well, he’d leave that up to her. He’d like to, but he didn’t want to make assumptions, but he did want her to know staying wasn’t about sex tonight. Curling up with her in bed, and just waking up with her tomorrow, sounded just as blissful as anything else they could do. He could wake up with her in his arms having done nothing but sleep, and he would be just as happy, and he hoped she knew that, he needed her to know that. Even if their crazy night last night was anything but unenjoyable. There was a reason he couldn’t stop grinning as sipped at his travel mug of coffee.

Nicholas sighed, across the desk, throwing down his hand of cards, obviously he had trash.

“Well look at that grin on his face Jolly, seems we’ve lost him to Noah’s side, we’re stuck the single bachelors now.”

Folio scoffed, refusing to be disturbed by the soft smile on his friends face at the gentle teasing tone with his words as he looked at the demon. Nicholas however, considering him for a moment, something in his expression must have caught him though because later, when Jolly and Ellie were chatting among themselves, Nicholas sat beside him in that quiet way he does. He didn’t say anything at first, just sat there. Folio gave in. “Yeah, what’s up?”

Smiling to him softly,

“Everything is okay with Ishtar, yeah?”

So that’s what he was worried about, and, Folio couldn’t say there wasn’t something on his mind, it was just, he didn’t.. He didn’t know how to ask. It made having a friend like Nicholas easier. “Oh, it’s fine, it’s great, it’s really, fantastic actually! It’s just…” Folio paused a little, he wasn’t sure how to put it, “It’s just?”

“She mentioned something during our date, and now it has me curious, I, I know I could have asked her, but I, well, after how long we’d waited for our date I just wanted to let it run smoothly.” And asking a million questions about things, didn’t feel smooth to him. The date had been about enjoying his time with Ishtar, and looking back now he wouldn’t change a moment, not during the night, or even after. Now, though, he was willing to ask the questions.

“What was it?”

“Well, she said something about me thinking about bonding with her one day, which has me wondering what specifically bonding is for demons, considering she mentioned it right after I asked her to be my girlfriend?”

Oh, wow, the very same conversation of being his girlfriend and Ishtar mentions bonding, she didn’t take things slow, did she? Then again, these two had been dancing around each other for almost five years. Even if it might not seem that way, they’d only been dating officially a matter of weeks, well, a little over a month. Folio had been flirting with her for those five years though, and she’d been flirting back, with her Sunshine nickname for him, and her bright pretty smiles every time she saw him across the counter. Don’t think Nicholas hadn’t seen. He saw, of course he saw, it was hard not to. 

“Okay, bonding is, intense, and quite a bit more… more than just being a dating situation. I would suggest talking to Ishtar about it, though. It’s not something you want to talk to just any demon about. I could tell you everything, so could Noah, but this kind of talk, it’s personal. Talk to Ishtar, Folio. Trust me. She will be over the moon that you are interested.” Pausing, “Even if you aren’t ready, and you might not be, because it is a massive choice to bond with another, I guarantee, she will be ecstatic that you are showing an interest in our culture.” Nicholas smiled, he knew Noah had been when he’d talked to Ellie about bonding and the like. It made sense their culture was different. Not only did their lives run differently to the ways humans did, considering that they weren’t mortal, and yet, they weren’t quite immortal either, but all over the human world, they lived differently in so many ways. Why would demons live the same? Or any beings in the Afterlife? For all Nicholas knew, Ishtar also followed some of her mother's ways, he didn’t know, and he wasn’t about to assume. However, he knew bonding from a demonic perspective anyway, and it was intense, so he directed Folio to Ishtar.

Ishtar messaged Nick when she knew he was finishing off work, seeing if he would be up to meeting for lunch, she even suggested bringing his friends if he wanted to. Never did she want him to think that spending time with her meant losing out on time with his friends. Still, she also liked her time with Nick, even if to his friends, he was Folio, yes, she would make the switch to be less confusing. Nicholas was someone she’d been around for longer considering, but Nick, he was her Sunshine.

It turned out to be just them again, with the promise of lunch with his friends tomorrow, something about Ellie wrangling Noah because he’d never let them forget it if he missed their first non-bar group hang out with her. Big Baby. Nick’s words, not hers, thought she giggled a little at anyone calling that demon lord a big baby!

So in the end they decided that Nick would pick them up some lunch from the diner and enjoy it at her place, she was okay with that. If they weren’t planning on spending time with the others, Ishtar was more than happy to be selfish and keep him to herself. Planning to stay curled up on the couch with him, until she had to get ready for work, at least. That was how she came to be answering the door for Nick, but not even waiting long enough to hand over their food before he had his arms around her and wrapped her up in a fierce hug. His face nuzzled into her neck, lips pressing kisses along her tattooed vines, which caused her to giggle.

“Sunshine, that tickles.”

Only to have him lick up a line of the tattoo and nip gently with his teeth before he pulled back with a cheeky grin.

“I bring sustenance, Princess.”

“Come on in, will you.”

Pulling him into the apartment, they settled in on the couch with their burgers, and fries, enjoying their lunch curled up together when.

“So, I wanted to ask you something.”

Ishtar swallowed her bite when Nick said that, paused, wondering what was going through that mind of his. There were days she swore she could tell so easily what he was thinking, such raw emotion on his face. Yet others days, like right now, the way he was looking at her was so contemplative, and loving, it was a confusing mixture.

“Okay?”

“It was about the other night, when you mentioned bonding, can you tell me about it? I asked Nicholas, but, he suggested, I might want to talk to you instead.”

Ishtar perked up at that, surprised that he was asking after he hadn’t said anything the other night. Honestly thinking he had been avoiding the subject, even more surprised that he hadn’t already known about bonding, considering how long she’d known the demon lords.

“If I’m honest, I’m surprised you don’t already know about bonding, I had thought they’d have at least mentioned it already, then again, they are single males why would they.”

Maybe Mrs Ruffilo, trying to get her boys interested in taking up soul bonded mates, that could have done it.

“To start with, demons are different to human souls in that, we don’t reincarnate, when we live out our lives, even though they are much longer than your mortal lives, we do have life cycles. When they end, we get reborn, and start anew. Remembering our past lives as we get older.”

Ishtar smiled softly.

“Do you remember your past lives?”

Chuckling at the curious question, that was always the question when a human found out about demons and their being reborn. Admittedly, Ishtar was younger than both of Nick’s demon friends, but thankfully she could answer the next part, knowing exactly where it was going.

“Yes, well, I remember enough to know I’m not bonded to anyone. Even when you don’t remember them, you can feel it in your soul. You see, bonding, is a magical connection that we choose to bind our souls to another, and how we know we’ll always find each other in every lifetime.”

“Like soulmates?”

The way Nick lit up when he asked that had her smiling. Leaning into his side, he was so warm, and it clenched at her heart to know that he wasn’t freaking out at the thought that she might want to bind herself to him, whether now, or one day.

“You could say that is a little bit similar yes, only bonding is a choice, all those soulmate stories that I see in the human romance books, it's never a choice. Bonding always starts with a conscious choice.”

She paused, letting Nick think for a moment as they both took a bite of their burgers, and Nick hummed softly as he swallowed down his food.

“So, more like marriage, only, far more intense.”

When Ishtar looked at him, Nick’s eyes went wide for a second,

“Oh, Princess, I’m not trying to compare, I’m just trying to understand, I don’t, I don’t want you to think you have to be human ever. I know, oh, I never want you to think you have to live like a human for me. I’d rather do everything the demon way for you-”

“Oh, Sunshine, no, Nick-”

Ishtar laughed softly, setting her burger aside. Climbing up onto the sofa, onto her knees, taking his food and putting it to the side for the moment so she could straddle his lap. She took hold of his cheeks in her hands, his worried eyes looking up at her.

“Don’t you dare Nick, I love that you are trying to understand, even if it's comparing. I know you aren’t trying to change me Baby, if you were, you’d be insisting we forget about bonding and just get married instead. If you wanted to, I’d do both.”

Her thumbs brushed over his cheeks as he relaxed under her touch when she smiled,

“As much as I’ve never really thought I’d be interested in getting married myself, I don’t know, maybe I was just waiting for the right girl, but, I can’t bond with you, though, can I?”

That was curious to know, that he wasn’t interested in marriage, but he was still asking about bonding, and hadn’t scoffed at the mere thought of it.

“No, Sunshine, human’s can’t bond, but don’t worry, if the day comes you are ready to bond with me, and don’t just say yes now, don’t, think about it for me, I’d always be able to find you, handsome as you are, your soul is absolutely unforgettable.”

Dividers by @saradika-graphics

#nick folio #nick folio x ofc #original female character #original character #demons #bad omens #fanfiction #bad omens fanfic #folio #hell au #hell verse #bad omens cult #bad omens band #bad omens fanfiction #bad omens fic #nick folio fanfiction #nick folio fanfic #joakim jolly karlsson #noah sebastian #nicholas ruffilo #fic: a friend down in hell

[its-actually-minicika]

Brotherly Affection (18+)

Quick drabble set in the "Yule Ball" AU - Part 1 - Part 2;;

This is a repost, since it wouldn't show in the tags the first time :")

Pairing(s): Aemond x Reader, Aegon x Reader - both implied;

Warnings: strong language, possessive Targaryens, allusions to sex;

Author's Note: based on this series of headcanons about your life at Hogwarts;

In a weird twist of fate, Aegon finds himself in the predicament of loving you. And as bad as it sounds, he will do anything to make you feel the same way.

Even if he has to fight with his own brother.

Aemond's jaw tightened in disgust.

There his brother was, holding onto her by the waist, scraping at her soft flesh with his dirty fingers.

He had to admit, Aegon had one-upped him. It was he who was supposed to ask you to spend Christmas with his him and his fucked up family. It was he who was supposed to be dancing with you now.

And yet there he stood. Gawking at the pair like a hawk, a caged bear, wholly ignoring Daeron's persisting attempts in starting a conversation.

A small giggle from her makes him want to get up from his seat and pluck out Aegon's eyes. He grips his knee tighter, and positions his body in such a way, that his good side is exposed to their pending interaction.

"The food is ready, Mistress." The meek voice of a kitchen elf cuts through the jazzy music that Helaena put on display.

"Thank you, Hooky. You may bring it over." His mother saves the day, smiling sweetly at her children and guest, gesturing them to take a seat at the table.

Before Aegon can make any other gesture towards his (Y/N), Aemond gets up from his seat near the fireplace, and pulls out a chair for her, right next to his own.

Brother clashes with brother - the elder throws Aemond a dissatisfied smile, eliciting a small hum from the perturber.

The food is served, and (Y/N) turns her attention to the grumpy old Vhagar, who suddenly appears - seemingly out of nowhere - and jumps straight into the girl's lap.

A small smile tugs at the corners of Aemond's lips.

"She's really fond of you." He remarks, softer than she'd expect, though still loud enough to grab Aegon's attention. The boy's deep voice grazes her ears in a deliciously blissful way, leaving goose-bumps in their wake.

(Y/N) can almost swear she feels his breath on her exposed skin, upon hearing him mutter, "Though, I suppose that was to be expected - given she is my cat. Like calls to like."

A familiar warmth spreads through her body, but before she can reply, Aegon's voice cuts in.

"(Y/N), after dinner is over, you should let me introduce you to Sunfyre." He muses with a wide smirk, locking eyes in between her and Aemond. "He's less tedious company than Vhagar."

The girl's eyebrows raise in slight surprise, but she smiles and nods quickly at his proposition.

"I didn't know you had a pet, Aegon!" She tuts with her melodic voice, eliciting a small snicker from the man of the hour.

"Oh, Sunfyre is not a pet."

Confusion etches on her face, which greatly pleases a brother and irritates the next.

Aegon shakes his head again, lowering his eyes to glance at the fermented wine resting in his cup.

Taking one swing of it, emptying it's contents before Alicent can register and chastise him, the eldest Targaryen licks his lips. "He can purr like a cat, but that's as far as his similarities with Vhagar go."

With her eyebrows furrowed in a twist, (Y/N) leans back on her chair, looking at Aemond with a questioning look.

"Aegon, that is enough for now - let us say our prayer, in thanks to the Seven for the food in front of us. You may take (Y/N) for a flight later." Alicent intervenes sharply, putting an end to his playful riddle.

"You'll see." Aegon assures her with a cheeky whisper, while clasping his hands together for the traditional prayer.

"And since you're in a mood for flying, you should take your siblings with you, as well." Their mother adds with her eyes closed, earning a loud groan from her eldest son and a pleased hum from Aemond.

"Mother, Sunfyre doesn't have the capacity to hold so many people." He tries to wiggle his way out of the unpleasant affair.

"Aegon." Alicent warns, putting an end to the conversation.

"Hey, mum, it's okay." Daeron interjects while giving a wink to his brother. "Helaena and I actually had plans to photograph those Pixie Faeries in our garden."

Helaena nods softly at their mother, and Alicent sighes.

"I'd love to go, brother, thank you." Aemond interjects with a defying look, quirking his head to the side.

If Aegon wanted war, he would give it to him.

"You hate it when I use Sunfyre, brother. It's too muggle-esque for you." Aegon clicks his tongue at Aemond, leaning onto the creme wall of his room for support. "What the hell are you playing at?"

"l could easily ask you the same thing." Aemond asserts calmly, "If you think for a second that l'd let you be alone with her, in a car, you're sorely mistaken."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Aegon snarls through gritted teeth, approaching his sibling slowly.

"You know full well." Aemond retorts with a wild glimmer in his eye. "You had enough fun by playing the jester tonight. I won't let you breathe in her presence more than you already did."

"I'm sorry, who are you to make her decisions for her? She looked more than happy to go alone with me."

"Don't flatter yourself. She didn't know what that entailed. She still doesn't, yet." Aemond accentuates his every word, straightening his back to look downwards at his brother. "She'll be more than thankful that I tagged along"

Aegon chuckles through a short exhale, measuring his brother disdainfully with his eyes. "Get off your high horse, brother, it's exhausting." He snarls at Aemond, trailing his eyes over his form. "As if you don't get it wet every night to the thought of her – " He ducks away from Aemond's attempt to grab him.

"(Y/N) may be oblivious, but I see the way you look at her; and a load more than that." Aegon says with a wide smile, savoring the way his brother's eyes widened momentarily.

"Hey, tell me, Aemond: why do you always go to the guest room she sleeps in at night?" He wets his lips and frowns at him in a feigned confusion. "Do you just sit there and jack off over her?"

His words make Aemond snap. Before any of them can register what's going on, the taller Targaryen grabs his brother by the collar and pushes him against the wall. He prepares to do a lot more than that, but a sweet, melodic voice calls out to them through the closed door.

"Aemond, Aegon? Are you guys coming?"

Aegon raises his hands in mock surrender, shrugging his shoulders at Aemond's deep scowl.

"Oh, you have no idea." He muses in reply, whispering the words to his brother's face, and wiggling away from his grasp.

"Sorry to make you wait, Princess." His mellow voice echoes into the long corridor, as he struts closer to the girl's side.

For the second time that night, Aemond is left to fume by himself.

"This is Sunfyre?! Oh my God, Aegon, that's insane!" (Y/N)'s elated voice breaks through the heavy silence the brothers established on their walk to the garage.

She sprints past them, and circles the golden car twice, before finally letting out a low whistle. "It's amazing." She confirms with her cheeks ablaze.

Aegon's lips part in a low chuckle, and he clicks his tongue arrogantly. "You haven't seen anything yet."

He makes his way towards the front right seat, opening the car door and bowing his head respectfully. "Fair lady..." He purrs expectantly, waiting for (Y/N) to get in.

She lets out a small huff at the nickname, and rolls her eyes playfully.

Once she reaches the car herself, the girl stops and chews on her lower lip. "Are you sure we should drive tonight? You and I both had a little wine."

"Barely a glass!" Aegon defends his sobriety with a hand over his chest. "And in any case, we won't be driving on the highway, Princess."

"I haven't drank anything." Aemond's deep voice cuts into the night, raising an expectant brow at his brother. "I can drive you both."

"Absolutely not." Came Aegon's curt reply, not even a heartbeat later. He shakes his head adamantly, and places his hand on the small of (Y/N)'s back, encouraging the girl to get in the car with a boyish smile.

"You would really put (Y/N) in danger because you want to impress her with your questionable driving?" Aemond approached the two in three wide steps, placing his hands atop the girl's shoulders. "Just get in the back seat and put your pride aside for the night."

"How about you quit trying to fuck up our fun? How's that for an answer?"

"Boys." (Y/N)'s voice falls on deaf ears. She feels wildly uncomfortable, stuck in between two men who, for one reason or another, were openly comparing dick sizes in their own accord.

"What the fuck is your problem." Aemond demands more so than asks, reaching to place (Y/N) behind his back, and bring her further away from Aegon.

"My problem is that you've spent this whole night antagonizing me. You really get a kick out of it, don't you?"

Aemond lets out a rumbling laugh, and sneers at his brother aggressively.

"Ever the spoiled first son, thinking everything that happens around you is about you." He remarks dryly and buries his fingers into (Y/N)'s flesh unknowingly.

"You little --"

"Boys!" The girl tries again, this time successfully twisting herself away from Aemond's cold hands.

Her decided shout echoes throughout the night, and both Targaryens turn to her as if burned by wild fire.

"(Y/N)..." Aemond's soft tone is laced with worry and guilt, and he slowly extends his arm out to grab her hand and bruising shoulder, reaching for comfort.

"Princess..." Aegon mutters in his own right a second later, biting his inner cheek and moving from one foot to the next.

"Look, I have no idea what kind of fight you guys had, but I suggest you sort it out amongst yourselves, without putting me in the middle of it."

Having said that, (Y/N) turned swiftly on her feet and started walking back towards the opulent Targaryen mansion.

".. This is all your fault, you know."

"Sod off, Aegon."

The rest of the night was spent in painful silence.

Although Alicent could tell something had happened between her two eldest sons, she didn't dare ask or demand them to do anything.

Instead, she settled on giving them a warning look, pointing at the guestroom (Y/N) was to reside in until the next day.

"Play nice and apologize to the poor girl. She barely said a thing before excusing herself to go to bed, and she was with the two of you mere hours ago."

Aegon sulked into his armchair, while Aemond ran his eyes over the languid fireplace, wearing a tight expression.

Their mother kissed both of them goodnight, and departed to the master bedroom, with Daeron and Helaena fast on her footsteps.

"Don't stay up too late now." She instructed them sternly, although with lingering softness in her eyes.

Left completely alone, the two wavered on talking, until Aemond let out a strained breath. "Come." He uttered dryly, without sparing his brother a glance. "She's our friend."

Groaning in frustration, Aegon rose up to his feet, and slowly approached the door to (Y/N)'s room.

The two knocked and waited politely, until a muffled 'Come in!' was heard from the inside.

The two Targaryens went through the door at the same time, bumping shoulders in their wake, coughing nervously at (YIN)'s tired form.

Her eyes were locked in between the two of them, traveling from one face to the other, waiting with her arms crossed to her chest.

"We.." Aegon began after a long pause.

"We wanted to apologize for making you uncomfortable today. Believe us, it wasn't at all our intention."

"Yeah. What he said" Aegon added awkwardly, pouting slightly at her neutral expression.

It took three, maybe four seconds for the girl to shake her head and let out a long sigh. When she got up from the bed, (Y/N) was smiling sweetly at the two of them, running a hand through her hair as she spoke.

"Thank you for the apology, Aemond, Aegon. It's quite alright. I'm... not mad at you or anything."

"You're not?" Aegon asks with eyes widened out of proportion.

"No, of course not! I'm just.. worried about you two, I guess." She shrugs her shoulders in an attempt to pause and think on her next words. "I've never seen you bicker like that. It's very unlike you."

Aemond sighs, while Aegon swallows thickly.

"You're family. It sucks to see you so put up against each other."

(Y/N)'s mouth presses into a fine line, and she shifts her weight from one leg to the next.

"Is... is there something I can do to help you guys?"

"No." Aemond asserts decidedly, while taking her hands in his. "This... is something between me and Aegon to figure out."

"Yeah.. We don't want to... put you on the spot like that." The eldest Targaryen adds through knitted brows.

"Mm, we'll be fine." Aemond hums in agreement, running his thumb over the girl's knuckles. "Did I bruise your shoulder?" He whispers to her softly, before gently massaging her wrist with his long fingers.

"No. Don't worry about it, Aem." She hushes right back, squeezing his hand tightly.

"Well." Aegon declares loudly, eliciting a growl from Aemond, "Now that this whole thing is over, we should probably let you rest."

Aemond throws (Y/N) one last dejected loo, before slipping his hands away from hers, instantly missing their warmth.

"Rest up. I'll see you tomorrow." He promises her with a hazy look in his eyes.

"Ēdrugon sȳrī, gevie." Aegon sighs as well, offering her a playful smirk.

Noticing her curious expression, Aegon adds, "Ēdrugon sȳrī means 'sleep well'."

"And gevie?" (Y/N) asks impatiently.

To that, Aegon simply raises his eyebrows at her. He turns on his heel and winks over his shoulder, smiling like a carbon copy of the Cheshire Cat.

"Pay him no mind." Aemond accentuates with a feathered touch over her cheek. "Good night."

"Good night..."

As the two brothers walk up the stairs and turn for their respective rooms, Aemond pauses in his ascent.

"I hope you know I'll never let you have her."

Aegon smiles wistfully to himself, but doesn't bother to turn around.

"Then it's a good thing that that's not up to you."

The younger Targaryen scoffs, and clenches his jaw tightly.

"You will never touch her."

Aegon shrugs and pouts his lips in taciturn amusement.

"And neither will you."

#aemond targaryen #aemond x reader #aemond fanfiction #aegon x reader #aegon fanfiction

[overthemoonx]

WAIT HAVE U EVER READ MARIONETTA?? (same author from hooky)

YESYESYES OMGGGGG I LOVE MARIONETTA!!!

[thekinkyleopard]

Day of the…Oh No

A Halloween Remi x Levi Snz Fic

Non-Canon

⚠️Content Warning⚠️

Cultural Appropriation, Smut, Snz, Public Sex?

Description: Remi and Levi are invited to a Halloween party in their city by one of Levi’s online friends. They show up and realize, it’s a flaming turd of cultural disrespect. However, before Levi can truly give the host a piece of his mind…he realizes what comes along side Dia De Los Muertos…

Author’s Notes: Eeeeeee I’m excited for you guys to read this cause we get to see a pissy AND snzy Levi 🫣🫠 @aller-geez did the art and owns our Big strong man, Remi!

Levi scrambled to get his little red riding hood outfit crinkle free and perfect. It wasn’t the slutty version like he had imagined when he originally planned to make this costume, but he looked good in it regardless. He looked himself up and down in the mirror, back and forth before he was interrupted by an amused chuckle from behind him. Cerulean blues met with emerald greens in the reflection of the mirror and the cat slowly smirked looking at the man through it. “What?”

“You just look really good, and I can tell you’re worried you don’t,” slightly poking fun at his mate he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around the smaller’s waist already dressed and ready to go for this lame party he was forcibly being dragged to. Per usual.

“YOU look really good,” Levi could only reply and dodge the compliment with an Uno reverse card. Remi rolled his eyes and placed a soft kiss at the leopard’s temple.

“We both look….pretty damn good,” nipping at the other’s pierced ear lobe he hummed mischievously. “Sure we can’t play hooky and then play…Little Red and the Big Bad wolf?” snarling into the crook of his boyfriend’s neck to add effect. The cat giggled and scrunched his neck as it tickled more now than turned him on. Able to reign in his hormones he began to swat at the larger.

“Back! Bad dog!” He shouted with a playful tone as Remi backed up, lowered his ears and tucked his tail between his legs dramatically.

“B-Bad Dog?” Pouting with sincere puppy dog eyes looking up at the cat. Levi grumbled and crossed his arms across his chest. Trying to look away to not be swayed by the man’s convincingly sad face.

“The worst!” Sticking his tongue out at the other male before he crossed his arms over his chest, tilted his head upward to avoid the man’s sad eyes.

“The worst?! Ohh…” Remi continued his parade of somber attitude while the other could only roll his eyes with a slight giggle.

“…Okay Not the worst…just…a little naughty,” lowering his arms, he finally gave in and stepped closer in to his boyfriend’s space.

“I’ll take it,” they both laughed in unison before the wolf wrapped a loose arm around the other’s dainty shoulders and brought him through the threshold of the bathroom and into the bedroom. “So like, are we ready to go then?” Asking curiously before releasing the smaller from his grip.

“Uhh…pretty sure! You got everything you need?” Levi asking the larger as he looked him over, almost not believing he was ready to go.

“Keys, phone…” patting his pockets and secret pockets within his costume. “Wallet, stoges, lighter and…Jays,” he confirmed all his essentials were on his person before nodding confidently. “Gangs all here, you?” He now looked up at Levi for him to do his own check.

The cat did in-fact do his own check as he began searching around his little basket purse he found on eBay. “Same here,” shuffling around the bag.

“Cool, let’s hurry this up so I can go back to being at home,” he flashed Levi a playful grin. Truth be told, he wasn’t excited for the party but he was finding himself becoming more and more childlike every time he saw himself in the mirror. It’s been ages since the wolf dressed up for Halloween. Levi really knew how to make him feel youthful, even if dragging him to a party was party of that process.

Both feeling rather into the holiday spirit, headed out the door and into Levi’s bright blue 2023 Jeep. Climbing inside the passenger, was the ever so dainty red riding hood, while he stuck the big bad wolf into driver’s position. “Okay where is this place again?” Remi asked with an underlining nervousness.

“It’s like close to downtown lemme get the address…” the leopard trailed off as he started scrolling through his phone. Opening his apps and tapping through the messages where he received the invite.

“And you’ve never met these people?” Remi watched the other closely, a hint of skepticism behind his words. Trying his best to remain neutral, if anything, to the whole situation as to not offset his boyfriend’s good vibes, now that he was suddenly coming down with some not so good ones. He wanted to be optimistic for his boyfriend, but god he hated house parties full of strangers.

“Well I have at like AVN but, we haven’t worked together per say…but we share each other’s stuff and support each other’s platforms so like technically that’s my coworker….so I’m coming for support!” He smiled over at him before lifting his screen to show Remi the address. “Here!”

“Hmm…alright, well…we don’t have to stay all night, right?” Imputing the coordinates through his phone’s GPS, the anxiety of socializing loomed over his spirit. How many people would be there? Is this an influencer thing? Will there be cameras? Oh god.

“Well, no, but we may want to if it turns out to be a banger,” Levi now looked up and over at the wolf, slowly brooding further as he was twisting his lips into a slight frown before the grumbled response came through.

“Hm,” was all that came out and Levi quickly snickered, rolling his light blue ceruleans before his head lolled to look over at the big pouting baby.

“Come on! Don’t be a grouch now! Where’d my excited wolf go??” The smaller started poking his index into the other’s side with a joyful laugh, Remi trying to fight off the urge to reciprocate his mate’s playfulness.

“He realized we are gonna be stuffed into a house full of strangers, and some of those strangers are probably pieces of shit,” mumbling again under a grumpy tone of voice, trying his best to fight the other off and also, from falling into a chuckle of his own. No! Must pout! Levi snickered once more before leaning over the middle console to give his mate a kiss on the cheek.

“Okay, well, I’ll just dance with you all night how bout that? Won’t even notice everyone else with me grinding on your dick,” pulling his head back enough to get a good look at the other, he paused.

“….‘lright but when it’s time to go, I’m taking you out of there,” Remi now let himself display his typical side smirk, flashing his green eyes to make contact with the leopard who bounced with excitement.

“Yes! Okay! Onward!” The cat sat back in the passenger’s seat before setting his phone up to Bluetooth. “Let’s gets some music going!” The leopard was practically bouncing off the walls of the car he was so excited. A party? With his boyfriend? On Halloween??? It’s going to be so good. He couldn’t wait to get his drink on.

The saucy leopard had decided to bump some SubDocta, allowing the slow tips of the drum symbols build along side electronic music, the cat danced along in his seat. Remi found himself just trying to focus on the rhythmic beats of the song playing, before the bass suddenly dropped. Both of them began to start bobbing their heads to the filthy tunes, allowing the GPS to guide them.

“What’s uuuupp my name’s Prestooon, I love dubstep and I love crying, if you don’t fuck with me I don’t fuck with you, so fuck off!” The voice behind the electricity spoke out as the beat began again, more lifted, and Levi silently worded each syllable closely before going back into swaying himself back and forth within his seat. Remi furrowed his brows as he got further into the music but still trying to concentrate on following the GPS, each song Levi playing elevated the next. They practically were the party.

Eventually they pulled up to a big ass house, littered with cars all over, there were balloons and Halloween decor all around the outside. Levi clapped his hands together with excitement as the wolf focused on squeezing the vehicle into an open space out front. “Alright…well…this looks like my nightmare,” the wolf sighed thrusting the car into park and turning off the Jeep all together.

“Oh come on! This looks like it’ll be a blast! Few drinks in ya, and you’ll be too busy dry fucking me on the dance floor,” he giggled opening his door and hoping out of the car. Remi groaned throwing his head back but trying to shake it off.

“You got this Rem…do it for your boyfriend…” he ran his fingers through his purposefully messy hair. He slowly got out of the Jeep, and locked it with the fob, walking at the pace of a snail to reach Levi, and immediately threading their hands together. “Okay…” he took a deep breath.

“It’s all good we’ll just find the drink station and get silly!” Confidently, the cat walked beside his mate and into the party where he was immediately hit with two things. A terrible, terrible irritation building from the base of his throat, and that the inside of this house was decorated……for Day of the Dead. The white haired man’s soul almost comically left his body. The audacity? “Who….is in charge…of the decor….” His teeth almost gritted down into nothing they were shut so tight.

“Oh no…” Remi already knew where this was going the moment they stepped inside. That’s when they were approached, by a small thin blonde woman, big rack and covered in tattoos. Dressed as some sort of horny devil. The larger rolled his bored emerald orbs, scanning the rest of the guests while Levi sought out the source.

“Leafy!!” The male’s online persona. LeafyGreens was Levi’s user. It was supposed to be something cute like Levi but Leafy and then greens cause, well, he gardens. Yet he’s not doing a whole lot of gardening online.

“Hey Stella uh…who…is responsible for the decor?” The little red riding hood, clearly uncomfortable as he glanced around the offensive decor.

“Oh my god isn’t it great? I did it! Halloween is always so boring in America, so I brought Mexican Halloween to us!” She danced, shaking her hips back and forth, raising her arms to celebrate her grand idea.

“No. It’s appropriative, Stel, Dia De Los Muertos….” he emphasized the accent behind the correct term of the holiday she was disrespecting. “Isn’t Mexico’s Halloween, it’s a sacred Holiday to which families pay respects, and celebrate their lost ancestors and loved ones….” The look he gave her was almost like, oh my god are you fucking dumb? The girl seemed to hold no shame as she swirled the drink in her hand.

“Yeah but…” she started, which immediately infuriated the small cat. She’s seriously going to double down right now? Not the very least admit she made a mistake based off misinformation? He wanted to rip his hair out of his skull.

“It’s also a NOVEMBER…Hnn..h’H…Holid-ay…” he swallowed it. What was wrong with him? He had a point to make damn it! His eyes quickly darted around only to realize. She used, real, fresh marigolds to decorate and sprinkle around the house. Levi sniffles loudly. “SNDDFF,” trying to push it back, but there was a malicious prickling storm building from all sides that only grew with his sharp and sudden inhale, he knew he was done for, his nostrils were already leaking.

“Look, It’s still skulls and lots of orange with purple…who cares just get drunk and have fun!” The woman now rolled her eyes, cocking a hip outward almost as if her body language was screaming out that she was already done with this lecture.

“I-..Hh’Etshu! Care! SnDdfF…” the leopard had enough politeness to sneeze into the crook of his clothed elbow, dampening the material slightly with his saliva. Remi suddenly turned his head sharply, his attention now purely on Levi.

‘Oh?’ The wolf thought inwardly to himself as he gazed over the slightly trembling cat. He bit his lower lip, only to release and chew on the back of his piercings. Intense eyes burning holes into the side of his oblivious mate’s face.

“Leaf, it’s not that big of a deal…” again, the woman was trying to plead her case that it was in fact no harm no foul, but was it really? He felt offended by it, and he was sure anyone who truly celebrates Day of the Dead, would also find this atrocious.

“It is…T-shu! To me! I’m tired of H’Ptschu! White people, H’h…Misrepresent—CHU! …Ing other people’s huh’TSCH! Cultures!” Every time he felt the allergies sliding through his core sinus walls, he blew into his cupped hand. Trying desperately to get the thoughts out before the feeling over took him.

“Girl, are you good? I can barely understand you through your sneezing…like are you sick do you need to go home?” Her gaze turned into one of concern, stepping back a few paces to avoid becoming causality to any virus he was carrying around.

“ARE YOU SICK?! HEH—SHH’eu!!!” The leopard finally snapped, his watering glassy eyes narrowing at her with unnecessary anger. Remi smirked, it wasn’t often he saw his little cat fired up but when he was, oh boy was it a show. He crossed his arms, watching it all play out, but unable to fight the thoughts. The filthy ones that plagued him whenever he heard a hick or sneeze from the leopard’s body. It was absolutely delightful.

“Uh…no…” Stella paused, looking Levi up and down almost like he’d lost his damn mind and she was no longer comprehending anything he was trying to put down.

“Listen, if you-..TSH! Don’t care, then we aren’t…Hh’etsu! Friends an—way,” sniffling and dragging the back of his hand with a gentle class across his leaking nostrils, trying not to let his disgusting downfall take away from his stance. However, before the girl could get another word in, the wolf finally lost his ability to keep watching this unravel.

Ferociously, Remi snagged the arguing Levi by his wrist, grunting animalistic-ally under his breath while doing so. “H-Hey! H’Ptschu! I wasn’t…TSCH! Done!” The cat sprayed, and spouted openly across the party guests as he was dragged out. His arm wiggling and protesting against his boyfriend’s vice tight grip. He grabbed the keys of their vehicle from the bowl by the front door and a handful of marigolds thrusted into his pocket with haste. Levi took note of this and quickly realized he was definitely in a whole different kind of trouble than he initially thought. “Remi! HUH’TSCH!”

“Get in,” was all the wolf said in a dangerous voice as he unlocked the car with the fob, flung open the door and practically tossed the leopard inside. The two of them crammed into the back and the cat shivered in submission, knowing just what was about to come for him. “Do you even realize? How unbelievably fucking hot that was? My cock is rock hard,” crouching in the backseat on his knees, but still twisted uncomfortably he pointed to his groin. His length obviously outlined through the suit of his costume. “You were right… this party is fun…” licking his lips he took a fistful of Levi’s hair, forcing his head back so the male had opened access to his mate’s gasping throat.

“I-I don’t…’Ptsch! Know what y-you mean…—Hah’eshh’uh!” Unrelenting the marigold pollen wreaked havoc upon him, his face itching and swollen. “Please…R-Remi…” whimpering with sheer vulnerability through his protesting words, but his body, and his sheer desires for Remi were too much to bear, and it only made it more tempting being in such a noticeable spot. His nose dripped as he needlessly reached to wipe it clean. “Baby…”

“Aht…What are you supposed to call me?” Remi lifted his eyebrow almost quizzically as he waited for the other’s proper response.

“I-I’m s-sorry Hnn…H’Hah..M-Mister…Wolf….” He whimpered under his sinuses as they tormented and prickled with the scent still lingering in the small space of the car. He wasn’t unaware of the handful polluting Remi’s pocket, in-fact every second only proved to him further his partner has spiraled into lustful desire for torturing him.

“That’s my good little red,” he praised the small leopard as he continued to bite, and suck at the supple and softened flesh of the smaller male’s neck. His other hand grabbed one of the cat’s wrists and brought it to the hem of his pants, wordlessly before forcing Levi’s mouth to his own ear now. “I wanna hear you loud and clear, kitten,” the wolf now shoved a hand in his pocket to pull out a palm full of marigold petals, bringing them up and clasped his petal filled hand over Levi’s nose. Holding the allergen there right front and center.

The jeep had tinted back windows, but anyone passing from the front of the car could see them through the windshield, and a few did a couple double takes as they witnessed the large man torturing the smaller. “R-r!!! EH-TSHU! T-CHIEW! Eh’eh…TSHU!” Out they sprayed at light speed, bits of saliva and spray pushing past the buttom of Remi’s hand, before the rest just hit the man in the side of his face, dusting his ear. He smirked, closed his eyes a little to embrace the chilling feeling, and enjoy the excitement it brought for his mate’s allergen mess across him.

“Such a big fit that was, I love seeing you so weakened, kitten…” he leaned over and took hold of his pierced earlobe between his two rows of perfect teeth, playing with the jewelry before letting go. “You better start using those hands if you want to make it out of this….” The slick velvet of Remington’s crass words, reverberated through Levi’s skull causing every bone in his body to quake. He nodded loosely, jaw hanging a gap as he was desperate for clean air, trying with every cell in his being to avoid breathing in through his nose.

However, resistance is futile for the fitting leopard. With trembling hands, Levi reaches forward to untie and undo the intricacies of Remi’s halloween pants. Once they were pulled open, the cat flashing his watering and red stained eyes up innocently at the larger. Whom in turn could only continuously push the palm of petals forward into Levi’s nostrils with a dark, hardened glare. The smaller shivered, his head ached from the consistent exposure, and his nostrils leaked into the softened flower pieces. “Huh’TSCHHhiew!” Another escaped him while his hands fumbled to take out Remi’s already thickened and hard cock.

“Mm see what you do to me? I’ve been this hard since you started popping off at that girl,” he chuckled, his sly smirk pulled up just the way he knows Levi can’t resist. The leopard’s glassy ceruleans rolled back for a second, he could feel the insistent, pained prickle and static that filled his nose, it was endless. He needed release from his prison. His hands were steady working at Remi’s length, the warmth of his palms causing static jolts through every cell within him. He shuddered, grunting as his emerald’s fought to stay open to watch his mate below. Eyes meeting each other’s gaze. Levi hitching before he even could speak.

“Le-let me…hH’e…taste? —Hah’ESHHh’uh!!” A small line of drool began to dangle from little red’s bottom lip. The wolf groaned at this display, being hit with residual saliva mist as each sneeze flung from his lover’s mouth.

“Hmm…tempting…” He considered it, he did. But he would have to release his mate from his current petal prison and he just wasn’t sure he could give that up yet. “But no, I want you,” Speaking with a darkened intention before Remi changed their positions all together. With his hand, still tightly cupped to Levi’s face as the smaller hicked and suffered, he sat in the backseat as it was intended, and dragged Levi into his lap. “I’m tired of waiting…” a growl low in his chest before he reached around and extracting a single claw, ripped the seem keeping Levi’s ass covered by his pants. Now exposing the little red thong underneath.

“H’h….hhnnn…HAH’…TSHHU!” Wanting to reprimand the man for ripping his costume, but he was trying far too hard to keep himself reeled in but unfortunately, the pollen was just too strong. She really went all out with the FRESH marigolds. Damn her.

“Just like that, Kitten…and what’s this?” Remi’s voice still laced with husky excitement as he looked back at the other’s swelling and reddened face. His thumb sliding against the string of the cat’s thong that was wedged between his small cheeks. “A surprise for me?” Licking his teeth with the animalistic expression of a rabid dog.

“It was,” Levi whispered back, his hands gripping tightly to the lapels of the wolf’s costume, steadying himself as he felt his body scrambling against the other’s palm of defeat.

“It still is,” He growled back, without so much an ounce of kindness behind it, he was letting the animal out of it’s cage. What a lucky turn of events, the cat being afflicted by such turmoil at the hands of his own friend. Something adjacent to Karma, Remi thought for a millisecond before his mouth began to bubble with blood, trying his best to keep it from making a mess in their new vehicle.

“H’Ptschu!” The cat whisped again, the bottom of Remi’s hand practically soaked, dripping down the leopard’s poor mouth and chin as he suffered against his partner’s tactics.

“Whole situation is a gift for me, is it not?” The wolf grinned again, enjoying the display of his snibbling, weak lover, leaking and falling apart at the seams.

“Remi…EH-TSU!” Levi’s small, but powerful sneezes were just too much, too cute, too sexy, too overwhelming the wolf took his hand and spit in it once, bringing it to his cock. Dampening it as he bit his lower lip, eyes searching the other’s face for more.

“Well, I’m…Definitely going…Hnn..to treat it like a Fuckin’ gift,” pushing the piece of string aside using the girth of his dick before shoveling his length fully sheathed inside the cat. He kept his hand around the man’s nose, but the other at the small of his back, pushing them closer together, claws digging at the cloth of his mate’s shirt.

“AaHh~” Levi cried out in a breathless whisper as his entrance was pushed into, he wrapped his arms around the other to give him better leverage, pulling himself up and then meeting the other each thrust back in with a hard slam of his hips. “Het’SHH’eu! ehtSu!” He sneezed against the other’s tightly clasped hand, it was proving to be so much worse than he originally thought this could be. His body was sweating, his receptors confused as they were pleasured and tormented all at once.

“That’s my pretty sneezing…Kitty…” the other hesitated through a tightened jaw. A bead of sweat trickled down Remi’s temple as he pushed himself upward, with each sneeze he could feel Levi’s hole trying to reject and push him out. Constricting around his throbbing and pulsating dick. “God I love the way you feel sneezing around me like this…” he whispered, a bit more loving than he had sounded previously. The cat melted under his partner, the sound of his voice always making it so much harder to disobey the wolf.

“Y-you…feel s-so..Ahh~..H’PTSCHU! Good…” he snuffled loudly but it only made the pollen take refuge within his nostril’s walls. To his surprise however, Remi released his hand allowing the petals to collapse and cascade around them. Now both his hands at each of the other’s thin hips he began to drive into himself at an almost inhuman pace. He hooked his hips, and pushed the smaller down onto his lap, striking the leopard’s sensitive prostate.

“You’re gonna…drive me to the fucking…edge…” the man gasped between his words before their mouths clashed into a very wet, and very sloppy kiss. Their tongues clashed, while Remi released one hand to grip the cat’s leaking, reddened length to finally give it the attention it sought. Levi, the first to break their kiss as he gasped a response.

“Re-m…i…gonna…H’h..tSHU!” It was something about this sneeze that activated every other pleasure speaking receptor in his body, the hand, Remi’s cock against his g-spot, the feeling of his nostrils sweet freedom and sneezing the excess from within. The leopard came, hard, in streams as it desecrated what was left of their costumes. The entire display was all but enough to get Remi just where he was wanting to go.

“Shit…” he cursed before he too spilled over and pressed his forehead into his mate’s, claws gripping Levi’s flesh while he stayed frozen inside him. Body twitching and jerking while he blew his seed inside his lover’s depth. They sat against each other like this for a few minutes, gasping for air. After a few moments the leopard sat back just enough to start wiping and rubbing his face angrily with the sleeve of his shirt.

“That was really mean of you to do….” He whimpered almost silently, his throat sore at this point, his shining blue eyes looked upward at the blissful wolf.

“Hmm I’m sorry, Kitten…you know I couldn’t help myself,” snickering breathlessly as he now threaded his arms around the other in a loving embrace, both men still very much attached to each other. “How about when we get home, we can get in the shower….wash each other down,” kissing along the cat’s delicate jaw as he spoke. “Climb into bed, order a fat pizza, and watch some scary movies…that make up for it?” Leaving a chaste kiss against the tip of the other’s nose.

“Yeah, I like that idea…snddfff, and candy?” snuffling as the residual pollen began to subside, but he could still feel it in the back of his throat. He coughed once and cleared himself out, trying to fight back but there was still an abundance of marigolds laying about them. “You need to clean out the Jeep though…Hh’n..,” rubbing and clicking his nose rapidly before sliding the material to wipe him free of his afflictions.

“Yes, and candy…Okay, okay…here,” he took the jacket off to his costume and handed it to the cat. “Tie this around your waist to hide your ass while I scrape this shit out the car,” smirking over at the leopard who rolled his eyes now slipping off Remi’s spent length, leaking cum as he did so.

“Oh god…” he sighed, feeling a tinge of embarrassment, he used a couple of napkins from the side seats to clean himself. Then he began tying the article of clothing around him, as Remi tucked himself back into his pants they both spilled out of the Jeep and back onto their feet. A dude nearby the porch, drinking a beer made eye contact with the wolf, raising a cup to “cheers” the large man, but was met with a hardened green glare. Levi blushed brightly, noticing the interaction as well. The man though quickly avoiding their gazes now and turning away upon seeing Remi’s face.

“Fuckin’ creeps,” the larger scoffed with an irritated scowl scrawled across his features.

“You did fuck me in a car with weak suspension and a huge front window view, I’m not sure what you expected, love,” Levi giggled a bit at his jealous partner’s reaction to their very obvious actions. Nudging him slightly with the edge of his elbow.

“Yeah well, you’re MINE,” he grumbled now dipping himself into the backseat again, only to clean it out. Just as he said and promised. Once it was cleaned up, the two went home and followed through on the rest of their Halloween plans.

The End

Author’s Notes: Starting strong with everyone’s favorite couple! Remi and Levi! God damn it they’re so fucking HOT 🫠🥵 hope y’all enjoyed the first of 6 Halloween Fics to be released! 💋

#original character #oc #writer #fic writer #remixlevi #snzblr #snz kink #art #smut #my character #snz fic #snz #snzzzzz #snz fucker #snz art #snz fet #snz things #snzfic #snzfucker #snzfet #Levi Anderson #Remi Connors

[saltygilmores]

Thoughts While Watching Gilmore Girls, Season 2, Episode 21- Lorelai's Graduation Day, Aka The Best Episode That Ever Episoded, My Heart Will Soon Be Asploded. Part 2

Read part 1 and all other commentary here

Yesterday I realized I've been doing these little insane ramblings of mine on Tumblr for over a year now! If it took me a year to watch two seasons, I guess I'll see ya'll in September 2024 for the conclusion of season 4. Anyway, Lorelai is about to have the Consequences Of Her Actions thrown in her face in just a moment, which is something I enjoy seeing.

Luke and Lorelai have to kiss and make up in this episode or the next, I would think? I don't remember any unresolved animosity between them going into the third season. But what do I know after not seeing this show for 3 years.

How's that "Trying to avoid someone in a small town" thing working out for you, dear?

Lorelai: "I guess it was inevitable we'd run into each other. It is a very tiny community." Ya think? Lor: How's the diner? Luke: It's still there. Except in your absence, an extra table opened up for somebody who will actually pay for their food. Lor: Hey Luke, do you think we could talk? Luke: No, I gotta go. Although I haven't watched Teach me Tonight in years, I can still go off of what other people have told me about what went down and Luke is pysssssed.

There has GOT to be some kind of Emmy award for fake food presentation. Rory has shown up on Gramma and Grammpa's door step wanting to talk about something. Seems as if she's going behind Lorelai's back to invite Emily and Richard to her graduation ceremony and she makes a pitch to them. Again, my memory is foggy but I do know they attend the ceremony, I think Emily arrives with a professional photographer? Which annoys Lorelai., and pleases me. Rory: As you know, Mom's been going to business school for three years. What??? Huh? 3 years? Someone please school me on whether this "Lorelai goes to night school" was actually mentioned any time before the last few episodes, or if this is just something that was made up in the name of TV Convenience.

Debatable. Later that day, back at the Gilmore abode... Lorelai mentions she is going to Hartford Community College. Did I google whether or not such a school exists? You bet your sweet bippy I did. The answer: there is no such place (although there are two community colleges in Hartford).

I'm at a payphone, trying to call home, all of my change I spent on you... Let's just enjoy little bit of Literati On The Phone apprecation.

ARGH! My little lovesick stepcousins!!! 💔🐶💔🐶

The next day at Chilton, Rory is so lovesick for her long distance stepcousin that her mind is completely lost in outerspace even while her local lover Paris Geller rambles on about authors and half eaten bananas. It matters not, but how did Rory ever get away with playing hooky?

NO NO NO NO. NO. WHAT? NO! WHY! NO!

Going years between viewings is a game of Memory Roulette for me and honestly that's what makes this fun. Like, what insipid detail will I remember at the same time that I'm forgetting something vitally important? More importantly, what horrible surprises have I let lapse in my memory? When should I be wary of Dean/ and or Crusty lurking around the corner? The answer is always. As you can see, you can never let your guard down and say "Huh, I haven't seen Dean and/ or Crusty in a while", because they can strike at any time.

Okay, okay, calm down Salty. The future is incredibly bleak on the Christopher front after this episode, but in this particular episode, he Lores his way through a 1 minute phone conversation and that's the end of him.

Look, Lore, I know we're often at odds with each other and normally I'd say something like "I hope you open the basket and a nest of angry hornets flies out at you", but this time LORE, I'm imploring you, do not open a box from Crusty Hayden.

Michel says he refused to touch the package which is good because you don’t want to get your fingerprints on it and become an accomplice in a CrustyCrime.

So, a bowling ball or a human head.

A BOMB? No, no, he's not that smart. All I know is it better not be a fucking engagement ring or something (a heavy one)

Other contents of the CrustyBasket: A youth hostel card, a disposable camera, a manual for job hunters, an application to join the Army (She really could use some humbling by a nasty drill seargant who doesn't put up with her crap, so I'd advise she keep that), a DVD of The Graduate. Okay, okay, I get his shtick here. Haha, Lorelai is an adult graduate so it'll be a hoot to give her stuff that's like, for a teenage graduate instead. So funny. (oh the irony that a high school graduation is something she barely scraped by on realizing for no other reason than you planting your Crusty Sperm in her).

However, based on Lore's reaction to the necklace, this thing is still emotionally weighty and she is not amused. To her shock and dismay, (He claims) it's even real pearl and not just something that dropped out of a gumball machine like the QuarterOnAString Dean gave to Rory.

THE NERVE. He can't come to the graduation because of reasons and we will take it and not question his motives, as this may be one of the last (nearly) Crusty free episodes in a while. Ugh. But with him and Dean both out of the picture for the rest of the episode, the Stepcousins can finally begin their big city adventure. Stay tuned for part 3!

#denise rewatches gilmore girls #jess mariano #rory gilmore #gilmore girls season 2 #lorelais graduation day #crusty #milo ventimiglia #hot dog #stepcousins in the city #stepcousins eating hot dogs

[not-poignant]

Hi Pia!

Do you have any advice on how to hook readers? Like how so you decide on what sentence or subject or scene to start with at the beginning of a story that will encourage readers to continue?

I've told multiple different things by people, like to start in the middle of the action or with dialogue, but I'm still not sure and have no idea what I'm doing 😆

Hi anon,

Hilariously I have been told that my beginnings aren't always very good so you should really take this all with a grain of salt, lol. Go beneath the 'read more' if you want to just get some actual practiceable advice that you can start doing immediately to get better at beginnings.

Generally speaking, starting in the middle of the action scene or with dialogue is a distillation of something deeper and simpler:

Most authors start the story too early, because they need more exposition than the reader does, because they're learning the world and the characters and often have to learn it by writing them. This means that by the time they get to the good stuff, in many cases, they are 5-10 chapters in, and you can often safely drop all of those chapters, and other readers would have zero problems understanding the story, because the author has basically told themselves the story of those characters etc. and set up the major action.

This is especially true of authors who are learning to write, and still learning to feel out a story. And anon, you can't always shortcut this even if you do start in the middle of an action scene or in the middle of a dialogue scene. Sometimes you've just got to take it with grace when you hand a manuscript to a beta and they say 'cut the first 10 chapters, it's stronger without them.' I've had to do this to friends, and I've had this done re: my own writing.

The Ice Plague initially started - before I ever put it up - with Olphix going into the Aur forest and setting it on fire. That's a very strong, traumatising, major scene! No one can deny that's not starting with an action scene of great gravity. But it just wasn't the right place to start. I realised something was wrong and took a long hiatus, and then it came to me that it was more important narratively for the reader not to understand where Mosk's grief came from or what had happened to him.

The story had to start with Eran, and it had to start 9 months after that action scene, and if I had started The Ice Plague with my initial idea, I would have had to cut around 15 unnecessary chapters to get to the good bit, lol. (I do actually think The Ice Plague has a strong beginning). Mosk's history had to be mysterious and something that got revealed over time, in the same way that it was revealed over time. And I couldn't learn that until I started writing the story.

Sometimes, anon, you can know all the technical things about why some stories are stronger if they start in an action scene or with dialogue (some are weaker for it), but the only way you can really get through it is via...writing the story.

(Actual practical advice beneath the start plus a whole bunch of opening sentences).

Re: A hooky start, for myself, I want to start with an interesting first sentence. Something that interests me, lol, but something that I think would be interesting if someone else read it too.

I actually think the opening sentence of Stuck on the Puzzle is terrible, lmao. But I think the opening chapter is great. Anyway, here's a list of some of my opening sentences and you can decide or think about what you like about them, what you don't like, and if any of them prompts you to read further. Think about why, as well. What was it? What bit did you want to know more about:

Cateline described Grimglass as the ‘ass end of Corambis,’ and certainly while the heavy clouds hung over the sea like a pall, I could see what she meant.

Connor stared intently at the computer as it booted up, looked around the otherwise dark room, and then up to the security cameras he'd disabled. (This is not a very strong opening sentence, I think the whole paragraph is better lol).

Alex liked that they were both, in a way, failures.

In high school, Alex used to imagine forcing Sebastian to give him blowjobs. 

Red galaxies fired beneath Efnisien’s eyelids. (This one is also stronger in the whole paragraph imho).

The An-Fnwy estate was just as grand and imposing as Augus Each Uisge had imagined when he was an underfae teenager, living in a lake nearby.

When the Oak King proclaimed the new fae era, the ‘Season of Turning,’ we all assumed it would be a time of positive change, of growth. (Blah, the ORIGINAL first sentence was from the start of the next chapter).

Augus Each Uisge, predatory waterhorse, Unseelie fae, was bored.

Jack shifted uncomfortably in his ceremonial soldier’s uniform.

The magic around Eran’s wrist throbbed, the beetle-black ink of the months-old tattoo sinking deeper into his flesh.

Gwyn stood, embarrassed, in his wrestling gear.

Efnisien had forty four books in his plain grey melamine bookshelf.

The sun was bright red on the horizon, looking more like a bomb, the smell of smoke acrid in the back of Faber’s nose.

‘I hear they want to promote you to nursery manager,’ a voice said smoothly. ‘What a coup indeed.’

Almost eight months had passed, the next time Gwyn saw Augus.

-

Generally speaking I like to establish mood quickly, particularly embarrassment, discomfort, boredom, or the kind of emotion that you want to see resolved. These folks all have big and small problems they need fixing, and with very few exceptions, I want people to know that immediately, so that they'll...ideally stick around and watch the problems get fixed (or get worse lol). I also start strongly with character, rather than just...detached setting description.

That works for me, it might be different for you! Go find all your favourite books and read their opening sentences and paragraphs, do some research anon. Stop listening to friends (and ChatGPT written articles on how to write because there's so many now x.x) who say 'start in dialogue' or 'start in action' and do the research that teaches you why people say stuff like this and why it's also not always right. Don't even listen to me - I don't always write strong beginnings and I'm very open about that - go get 10 books, 20 books, 50 books, and write down their first sentences or paragraphs in a word document or in Google Docs and study them.

Which ones do you love? Which do you find boring? Which do you remember thinking 'ehhh maybe it gets better.' Notice and actively look for the things that hook you and the things that don't. How many start with dialogue? Or action? How many start with emotion, or description? How many are starting with setting, character, something else?

Try practicing writing sentences like this, or imagining openings like this for your own works. Learn by doing. How would you change the openings by genre? How would you change the voice by character? Alex's opening sentences are very strongly in his voice. Meanwhile Mosk's voice in Smoke in Autumn is non-existent, we literally start with Augus' dialogue dominating and intruding upon his mind and thoughts.

And then realise sometimes you still have to write 10 chapters that you might need to cut (hey bonus content that readers will want to devour one day! Make sure you save it :D ), to find the right place to start your story. It sucks, but it happens. I've been through this with Mallory & Mount and only now after like over a year have I figured out exactly where I have to start that damned story, and I finally have my opening sentence, which is:

The guard looked at Lewis Mount like the murderer he was.

And I love that opening sentence :D I'm biased, but I think it's very hooky.

Writing beginnings and endings is a craft, but you'll learn with practice! And you'll learn a lot via research. Thankfully, you probably like reading, which means you can start researching literally right now.

The best way to learn what you're doing is to learn from the people who have already done it successfully. This is sometimes famous writers, but just as often it's looking at what your favourite writers are doing. Chances are you maybe want to write a little bit like them, so go study their opening sentences! Maybe they don't have strengths in that, but I bet some of them do.

And from there you can study opening paragraphs, opening chapters. You can feel out the ones you wanted to skip, the ones you'd read again and again, the ones you love, the ones you didn't feel anything over. :D

Anyway I think this is probably a pretty good place to start! The folks giving you advice have the right idea, it's just good to understand why it's the right idea. The best way to get to that is to just...research openings of books for yourself and decide what you like, what you'd like to write like, and then trying it out for yourself :D

#asks and answers #pia on writing #dodgy advice #i have definitely gotten better at openings #the opening for the nascent diplomat made me laugh #it's so bad #administrator gwyn wants this in the queue

[literaticat]

I love a book series.. at least I say I do. But the truth is, I don't have the energy to commit to a series unless it's already finished. With new and incomplete series I read the first book-- but with life and other obligations and the wait for the next book I honestly never get around to the second. 

I hate myself for it. But I get why publishing is looking for standalones. But as an aspiring author my childhood dream is to write a series. 

How do I tell my writing lizard brain the truth about a series? And how do I rebuttal against the argument that so and so debut author got a trilogy and another got a seven figure advance to continue a trilogy beyond book three? I feel like I'm running on publishing possibilities.. because we've all seen publishing do some crazy things..

Well -- there are different kinds of series, right?

Like, if you want to write a hooky and extremely commercial Chapter Book or MG series, there's nothing at all wrong with planning it to be a series from the jump, writing book 1 and a proposal for the series as a whole.

I'm talking, WINGS OF FIRE, RANGER IN TIME, I SURVIVED, that kind of thing -- if that's the kinda thing you want to write, BY ALL MEANS plan for it to be a series. You would likely have a better shot if you have some publishing under your belt already, but hey, if you have a knockout proposal, maybe you get a multi-book contract for the series.

If what you mean is more sophiticado, like, Big Ol' YA Trilogy kinda thing, maybe just tell your lizard brain to pipe down and write an amazing book, and if it becomes popular, they will want you to add some more books? Or, tell your lizard brain that it's a fine idea AFTER you have published a few standalones, my gosh. Like why is your lizard brain in such a hot hurry, anyway, play the long game!

(Also, I feel you -- I for one rarely read past book 1 in any series even if I love it. Whereas for some reason I WILL absolutely read multiple books that are standalone "companion books" set in the same word. Like Hunger Games or Twilight? -- no thanx, I only read book 1, I get it, no need to read more. The Talia Hibbert books about the different Brown Sisters? YES PLS, I'd read a book on every member of the family and each of their neighbors!)

[perfectpaperbluebirds]

Sicktember #9

Prompt: White Coat Syndrome

Fandom/OCs: Jurassic World (Claire and Owen)

Words: 1700

Inspiration: None

Author’s comments/background: Set before the events of the first Jurassic World movie, a few days after the last fic I wrote for this fandom (read it here if you want). I know this isn’t a super popular fandom, but as I said before, it’s one I know well and can write easily. And guys like Owen are the perfect whumpees in my opinion. 

~~~***~~~

Claire wasn't sure what led her to go check on Owen that evening, except that she had a hunch he might need some help. The Monday after their strange “date”, he didn’t show up for work, and after some digging, she learned he had called in sick. A man like Owen Grady, born and raised in the military, doesn’t call into work for a cold, or for anything short of being near death. He hadn’t been well on Saturday, but it hadn’t seemed like anything alarming. Had he worsened over the rest of the weekend?

Going completely against her character, she actually left work early that day. “I won’t even leave in time to make sure I get dinner at a decent hour, but I’m leaving early to check on some random guy. What does that say about me?” she muttered to herself as she drove over to his bungalow. 

It looked much the same as it had two days prior, though today it had an almost deserted feel. With some trepidation, Claire mounted the steps and knocked. It took several tries before he answered, and when he did she regretted not texting ahead like she’d considered. He was an awful mess, looking sicker than anyone she’d ever seen. He was sweaty and disheveled, and he sagged against the doorframe as if his legs couldn’t hold him, yawning and shirtless and dressed in athletic shorts. Behind him his house was dark with all the blinds drawn, so she couldn’t see what lay beyond. 

“Claire?” he croaked, squinting into the afternoon sunlight, though he stayed as far back from the light as he could. “Whadt are you doi’g here?”

“I heard you were still sick, so I came to check on you. I’m glad I did, because, wow, are you looking horrible. Are you… okay?” 

“I mbean… I’ve been bedder. I wouldn’t have called in if I wasn’t sigck as hell.” He coughed wetly, proving his point. “Did you cumb jusdt to see for yourself, vouch to the bosses thadt I’mb ndot playi’g hooky? 

“I came because I was worried about you. I wanted to make sure you were taking care of yourself. Can I… come in for a minute?”

Owen ran a hand through his tangled hair. “I mbean… thadt’s really ndot ndecessary. I’mb fide. But I guess suidt yourself.” He stood aside to let her brush past. 

“I can see from here that you’re most certainly not fine. You said it yourself, you wouldn’t have called in if you were fine. Here, sit. Or lie down if you want. I’m sorry I got you out of bed. Can I get you anything?”

“Ndo. I told you, I’mb fide. I’mb… I’mb handli’g idt.” He gingerly lowered himself to the couch and lay back as he spoke, pressing a hand to his forehead as if in pain. 

“Nothing? Not even a glass of water? I can run to the store too. Whatever you need.”

“I guess sumb water. Budt you really don’t have to stay. I don’t wandt you to catch this.”

She ignored him and fetched him a tall glass of ice water. He sat up awkwardly, drinking down the liquid as if he hadn’t drunk anything all day. The way the fever sweat was pouring off him, she guessed he probably felt like he hadn’t. She’d brought a clean, dry cloth back with her from the kitchen and sponged off the sweat from his face and neck as he drank, then pressed her palm to his forehead. He was roaring with heat, much warmer than he’d been only a few nights before. He groaned softly as he leaned into her touch. 

“Damn, I should’ve brought a thermometer,” she sighed. “What hurts? You have to have some sort of infection with a fever like that.”

He shrugged, stifling a cough. “Mbainly jusdt mby head. I’ve had the worst splitti’g headache since yesterday. Mby ndose, I guess. Jusdt totally plugged up.” 

“Is there green mucus when you sneeze?”

“Umb… yeah,” he mumbled, embarrassed. 

“And your headache is here?” she gently touched right between his eyes. He nodded miserably, pressing the ice-filled glass to the spot as he squeezed his eyes shut. 

“Sinus infection,” she said, nodding sagely. “That means antibiotics. C’mon, I’ll drive you to the doctor. I don’t trust you behind the wheel, since I’m sure your head hurts too badly to see straight.”

Owen made a face. “I’ll jusdt ledt idt run idt’s course. I’mb ndot goi’g to the doctor jusdt for a cold.”

“Sinus infection,” Claire corrected. “And yes you are. It’ll take weeks to clear up on its own, if it ever does, and you’ll get worse before you get better. Trust me, the doctor is what you want.”

“Ndo, I really don’t. I’mb fide withoudt,” he insisted, and this time Claire thought she saw a flash of fear in his eyes. 

Claire raised her eyebrows. “Owen Grady, are you afraid of going to the doctor? You are, aren’t you!” she answered herself when he shook his head mutely, his eyes wide. “You’re not afraid of raptors, but you’re afraid of people in white coats?”

He sighed, then coughed wetly, glancing away. “Adt least the raptors would kill mbe fasdt. Doctors poke and prod you until you die a slow, paindful death instead. I had enough of thadt in the service.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” she said. “It’ll be a short visit. Just in and out to get a prescription. And I’ll be with you every step of the way. Consider it a second date. We can even get food after, if it’ll make you feel better.”

She had definitely piqued his interest upon mentioning a date, but she saw him continuing to war internally. “You’re sure I ndeed mbedicine?”

“Pretty certain, yeah. And you can’t tell me you aren’t wanting something to help you feel better faster.”

He shrugged as he looked up at her again, and all she saw was nervousness, which when paired with his visible illness made him seem incredibly boyish. “If I go, you’ll stay with mbe?”

“The whole time. If that’s what you want.”

He thought for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Thed I guess I’ll do idt. Since I can tell you’re ndot goi’g to ledt idt go.”

“Nope, I'm not. So I’m glad you’re being reasonable. Do you need help getting ready?”

She saw a flash of the old, roguish Owen then. “Are you offeri’g?” he asked with a smirk.

“You know what, forget I said anything. You go ahead, and take as long as you need. But try to not collapse while you’re naked, please. Neither of us wants that.”

“Yes mba’am,” came the slightly deflated response.

~~~

The urgent care visit and subsequent pharmacy run were unremarkable. Owen was a ball of anxiety the whole time, fidgeting and agitated. He was brusque and borderline rude to the nurses, even though most of them were very pretty, and Claire watched this transpire with curiosity. The telling moment came when they were taking his blood pressure and pulse, though. 

“Those are both pretty high,” came the verdict from the nurse. She looked at him seriously. “And you're not on any blood pressure meds. Other than your respiratory symptoms, are you feeling okay?”

“I’mb fide, like I keep telli’g everyone. I jusdt don’t wandt to be here,” he spat. 

A look of understanding crossed her face. “Oh, so a case of whitecoat syndrome, then. Got it.” She made a note in his chart, and nothing more was said about it, though Claire gave him a playful nudge when they were alone to try to lighten the mood. He mostly ignored her and stared at his feet, shivering in long sleeves and sweatpants and looking utterly pathetic. 

She could tell he was more than relieved when they pulled into his driveway after all was said and done, and beyond exhausted as well. It seemed like he barely made it to the couch before collapsing, burying his face into a throw pillow. 

Claire bustled around, setting things down and fetching him water and medicine as she listened to him sniffle and cough endlessly. Finally she perched on the edge of the couch and rubbed his back to get his attention. He turned to meet her eyes, his own heavy-lidded and fever-bright. 

“Just take this medicine and drink a glass of water, and then I’ll let you sleep,” she promised. 

He took the items and did as he was instructed before settling down again. Claire continued to stroke his back for a bit, and his eyes slipped closed under her touch. After a few moments she stood and stretched. 

“Are you leavi’g?” he croaked, opening his eyes as soon as her hand was gone.

“I guess so. You should get some sleep, and so should I. It’s getting late.”

His face fell. “Oh. Okay.”

“What? There’s nothing else I can do for you right now. We got everything you need at the pharmacy. There’s no reason for me to stay.”

“Can you… adt leasdt stay until I fall asleebp?” he asked, boyish and shy again. He wondered if he was doing that intentionally, because it was very effective. 

“And why would I do that?” she asked, leaning against the doorframe, echoing their exchange from a few nights prior with a smirk.

He clearly remembered, and smiled back. “Idt’s jusdt… you prombised you’d be with mbe every stebp of the way. The ndight’s ndot over yedt.”

Claire shook her head, still smiling. “So I did. Okay. Until you fall asleep, then.”

“Will you rub mby bagck again? Thadt feldt so good,” came the final congested request. 

“Give an inch and he asks for a mile," she laughed. "Fine, scoot over a bit, then.”

Owen eagerly complied, closing his eyes again as soon as Claire resumed scratching and rubbing his back. 

“Do you thingk you’ll cumb bagck tomorrow?” he asked sleepily after a few moments. 

“Maybe. We’ll see. If you play your cards right.”

“Thed I hope I gedt the besdt damn hand ever.”

Claire smiled to herself, and so did Owen. In fact, he fell asleep with a smile on his face. She kept rubbing his back, though, and didn’t move for a long time. 

#sicktember 2023 #skt 2023 #prompt 9 #jur/assic wor/ld

[screadingchallenge]

Behind the Keyboard-Volume 15

Please note that Behind the Keyboard will be posted once per week during the Reading Challenge. We’ll go back to twice a week in mid-August.

Behind the Keyboard is a series of interviews with different Schitt’s Creek fanfic authors. The series will last as long as there is interest (from authors) and capacity (from me). If you are an author from the Schitt’s Creek fandom who would like to participate, send a DM to this account.  

Each author was given ten questions. The first five questions are the same for every author, the last five will vary.

Remember, this year’s Reading Challenge begins July 15, so polish up those MFL lists.

Let’s meet our next author:

NeelyO / @neelyo67​

How many fics have you written?

64 total—33 of them in Schitt’s Creek (17 in Schitt’s Creek RPF)

When did you publish your first fic on AO3?

October 30, 2019!

Describe your writing process from “Oh, I have an idea” to pushing publish on AO3. 

I get an idea, open a doc, and then I get nervous! But then I start putting words down—I usually get an idea about how I want something to start off, so I write pretty much in order till I get stuck and then I’ll put brackets for future Neely to deal with. It helps to have a friend scream encouragement, so I usually share my doc with someone I trust so that they can cheerlead for me. If it’s a bigger story, or if it’s for a fest, I’ll have a friend beta for me when I’ve got a pretty good draft done to be sure I didn’t miss anything and that everything makes sense. Then comes the trauma of choosing a title and writing a summary, and then BOOM it’s published!

Tell me about your most recent fic? What do you love about it? Is there anything you think you could have done better?

My most recent fic is 1. He loves his husband. It was based on a prompt that several friends all decided to fill, using 300 words or less. I like challenges like that, I like prompts, so it was so fun. I love that the title for the fic and the idea to make it part of a list came to me almost immediately, fully formed. That was energizing and fun, and the whole story flowed really easily as I was writing. While I know I can always improve and learn and grow, I really like how the fic turned out! I’m super happy with it.

What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about publishing their fic for the first time?

Please do it! Write a story that you love, do the best you can, and take the leap. I hadn’t written for pleasure in years and years, and I was really nervous when I first got an idea that I couldn’t shake. I never intended to write fic, I was just going to be a reader. It was so empowering to put something on AO3, something I made. I’d also suggest leveraging your friends to support your writing process and your post-publishing anxiety. I was brave with that first fic because of the encouragement of my friend @this-is-not-nothing​, who kept telling me I could do it! And knowing that I have at least a couple of good friends who will read anything I write, even in a niche fandom where I’m truly writing basically for myself, is really lovely.

Tell me about a story that you wish you could write but that you’re not quite ready to tackle.

I have an idea for a historical AU that would be kinda long, maybe? I’ve gotten as far as the majority of the casting, but I need to get brave and dive into it. I’ve not done a true longfic, and I’m not even sure how long this one would be, but I’m so in awe of all our SC writers who really, really do longfic well.

Alexis is trapped in a drug lord’s palace and you have to convince her captors to read your fic in order to free her. What’s your best sales pitch for your favorite fic?

(Picking one favorite is incorrect, they are all my bebés, but I will play along here.) Hello drug lord people, since you obviously like Alexis, I’d like to tell you about my very fluffy fic We Must Let Go to Know What’s Right. On the night of the infamous barbecue, both Alexis and Rachel are sad. But then they discover that hooking up makes them less sad, and that building a relationship together makes them happy! Oh, and Rachel has two kittens! 

Do you write for any other fandoms? Which ones?

Oo, yes! I’ve written Schitt’s Creek RPF, as I mentioned, along with some Supernatural, Red White and Royal Blue, Ted Lasso, 911 Lone Star, Broadway RPF, and Great British Bake Off RPF.

What is your comfort fic?

Oh gosh—I love all things magical, and also anything domestically fluffy, and so many other genres and tropes…but I don’t have a particular fic I look to for comfort, really. 

Is there someone(s) who has made your writing better? In what way?

We have so many amazing authors in the SC fandom, I feel like all the fic I’ve read over the last three years has made me better. Seeing all the different styles and approaches that different people take with the same group of characters has allowed me to dream and write the things that speak to me in my own way. I also think that being a beta has made me a better writer. I love encouraging, brainstorming, and editing, all of which are things I’ve gotten to do as a beta. Getting an in-depth look at another writer’s process, and being a small part of it, is an honor and a privilege, and has been a great learning experience for me.

#behind the keyboard #meet the authors #sc fic reading challenge #sc reading challenge #sc fanfic #schitt's creek #schitts creek

[newmusicradionetwork]

D Boone Pittman “Love And Floods”

Lawrenceburg, KY D Boone Pittman, the Country/Americana songwriter, performer, and 3-time Josie Award nominee, is thrilled to announce the release of his third single off his studio album, Resurrection Noise, “Love and Floods (and Other Natural Disasters)”. Pittman’s music has always been tethered to his roots. A product of Appalachia, Pittman’s songwriting captures the depths and majesty of his homeland while giving the listener a front row vantage point to the culture and history. Pittman writes and sings about this culture and history with an authority given only to those who have lived in the area. From the historical ballads like “Casey Jones” (from the Emerge, LP) and “Furnace Mountain” (from Bluegrass American Dream) to the relational angst expressed in songs like “She Likes the Beach” or “Bardstown Train”, Pittman consistently represents his heritage in song. It’s a formula that works, and his new project is no different. In the same way he approached the hardships of the pandemic with Emerge, Pittman tackles two new topics with his album Resurrection Noise. The 10 track LP deals mostly with the subject matter of the tragic eastern Kentucky flooding from 2022, with some light hints to the passing of his father “Jackie” Pittman in 2021. “East of Ravenna”, the advanced single from the project, is meant to project hope to those still dealing with being displaced and/or grieving the loss of loved ones affected by the floods. In the same way “East of Ravenna” is meant to offer hope, “Love and Floods (and Other Natural Disasters)” is an attempt to bring levity to a tragic event. While staying true to the key themes of the album, “Love and Floods” is a humorous look at a struggling and toxic relationship that is falling apart amid the breaking news from Eastern KY that many are losing everything. The protagonist has an epiphany and decides that life is just too short to be miserable. Laced bluegrass string instruments, “Love and Floods” carries a hooky melody that is almost misleading as a break up song because it makes you feel so good. Music Career / Bio Pittman’s musical story begins in the early 1970s at the grand opening of the local town drug store. His late father, from whom Pittman would later inherit his trademark Martin D-28 acoustic guitar, basically forced him to sing a Johnny Cash song, much to the delight of the crowd that had gathered there. Pittman, though he immediately received enthusiastic accolades and even tips, wasn’t havin’ it. “I hated it,” he recalls, “but I In my room, I’m playing air guitar and pretending to be Elvis, but to do it in public as a kid was tough. It wasn’t that I struggled doing it, it was just more the fact that I was being made to do something. That ended up driving me into a phase where I refused to sing out in public at all.” Even going to a Johnny Cash concert at the age of 5 with his mother wasn’t enough to lure Pittman back into the spotlight, and transcribing the lyrics to hit songs off 45s for his father didn’t quite do the trick eitherbut it did lay the groundwork for the lyrical depth and flair that Pittman showed so effortlessly right off the bat with his 2019 debut Bluegrass American Dream. “My dad would pay me a dollar a song to sit down and figure the words out for him,” Pittman chuckles. “I have to really question how good I was at it because I was so young, but I guess he was able to use it. Who knows how many of the lines I’d get right at the end of the day, but I think that’s when I got my first appreciation for lyrics.” “Back when I was 7 or 8,” he continues, “country rock was really big, and ‘Lyin’ Eyes’ by The Eagles was a big hit. I remember that song specifically because there were so many verses in it. Even at that age, I could appreciate the darkness behind the cheating and the lying and everything in that song.” Pittman’s resistance to performing in front of people went out the window, however, when he got the opportunity to go on a field trip as a freshman in high school. “All the girls were going,” Pittman laughs. “It was an academic competition, and they had a talent category. I specifically remember the teacher saying, ‘I need somebody to fill the talent spot. You get to go on this three-day trip to Louisville and compete.’ So, I raised my hand. ‘Well, what’s your talent?’ she asked. And I said, ‘I sing and play guitar.’ Nobody knew I sang and played guitarbecause I didn’t! So, I’m thinking I’ve got six weeks between now and this talent show, and that was when I had to swallow my pride. I go to my dad and I’m like, ‘Look, I’m ready to learn how to play guitar. I want to do this.’ And my dad was like, ‘You’re crazier than hellI can’t teach you how to play in six weeks!’ I was like, ‘Just think of the easiest bluegrass tune that you know, and I’ll run with it.’ So he taught me how to play a medley of “Jimmy Brown The Newsboy” and “Wildwood Flower”, but his style of playing was like Maybelle Carter, where they played the melody and the rhythm at the same time.” The trip, alas, got cancelled, but Pittman’s life path was set. (By the way, he learned the song in four weeks). Pittman captures this story in a tribute to his Dad on Resurrection Noise with the song “The Wildwood Flower”. “There was just no running from it,” he muses. “I had an undeniable love for music, and singing came naturally to me. I’ve never put it down since.” As a tribute to his father, Pittman adopted The Fugitives band name, but he sees his work as carrying on an even broader legacy. “I grew up in an environment where it was a common thing for people to bring their instruments over on the weekendsbanjos, fiddles and guitars where everybody was singing and just having a good time. That was a really crucial aspect of my childhood. I really miss that. You don’t have that front-porch picking kind of spirit anymore, at least not where I’m at. So whatever I can do to bring it back with my music, I feel like I have to at least try.” In other words, Pittman is inviting you back homeback home to a world that still has room for community, back home to the most cherished aspects of your past and back home to yourself. You don’t have to be from Kentucky for his music to take you there, but D Boone Pittman sure does make it seem like a wonderful place to explore on the way. Additional Artist/Song Information: Artist Name: D Boone Pittman Song Title: Love And Floods Publishing: Darrell Pittman Publishing Affiliation: BMI Album Title: Love And Floods Record Label: D Boone Pittman Music Record Label: Boonetown Darrell Pittman 5027092631 [email protected] Radio Promotion: James Williams Promotions James Williams 615-264-3456 [email protected] Booking Agent: Indie Artist Booking & Production Billy Halls [phone] [email protected] Read the full article

[fresh-and-funky]

Webtoons recs…. But I don’t explain very well

Royalty, super queer

Coming of age queer, one of my favorites

Frankenstein-ish, and very good

College setting, gay

Theatre gays, redemption arc

Same author as Hooky, SO SO GOOD!

#webtoon #web comics #webtoon recommendation