#sooner or later i will stop making yellow edits

[aliasnz]

Undesirable Presents: Le/vi Acker/man for @nametakensff and @kawaii-kushami's snzblr secret santa event <3

Tags: aot/snk-canonverse, allergies (pollen), cold, contagion mention, spray, mess, language. Word count: 2000 (and counting) A/N: I have several apologies to make about this fic >-< First of all, I am so sorry that it is so late! Secondly, I apologize for being unfamiliar with the other fandoms requested, I couldn’t help but feel guilty for writing for my fav. Third thing: just so I can have something out sooner rather than later, please consider this a part 1 that will be edited, updated, and self-reblogged upon completion. Finally, this fic may be too indulgent, but I am crossing my fingers that it is enjoyable anyways ~ 

If Levi had his way, he would have spent the day in solitude. 

His ideal birthday was simply his ideal day. In the warmer months, it would have been a sunrise run followed by a cold shower, his warm sweat and clingy pollen swirled down the drain. Then, his civilian clothes and a walk to the brick cafe at the edge of town. Black tea, white croissant, yellow pages of his favorite novel. Head ducked down and buried in his book, anyone who recognized him - for better or for worse - received the message: leave him be. He would sip until the porcelain ran dry, would stay until his stomach rumbled. With the last hours of daylight, he would stop at the butcher stand and purchase a few ounces of meat. It was about all he could afford on his military salary, but with rare optimism, he preferred to say it was all he cared to buy. Steak dinner for one. Lights out by dark. It was his way.

But Levi hardly ever had things his way.

He was a December baby, as Hange so mockingly put it, who loathed winter cold and winter colds. Instead of that morning jog and downtown stroll, he shuttered himself in his room with intermittent napping and tidying. Some considered his celebration traditions pitiful, but he could not complain. In ways as weighty as a family to visit or write to, yet also in aspects as miniscule as a good night’s sleep, Levi had been cheated in most realms of life. In time, he had come to live with it, found comfort in little joys, and wished the others understood that. That wish was most wanted on his own birthday, for everyone else seemed to celebrate it more than the man himself.

In the depths of his heart, he knew they cared about him. The yearly plethora of visits all accompanied with gifts should have proven that, but he loathed the treatment he received. Perhaps the early symptoms of the annual cold were to blame for that. No matter how hard he tried to avoid it, contagion made quick work of the barracks. Sooner or later, it would catch up to him, and that onset always seemed to hover around his birthday. On occasion, he wondered if he would be better off facing that inevitable infection head on rather than repeating the futile delay, but his train of thought was always cut off one way or another. A pang of headache, a harsh cough, a runny nose, or a sudden sneeze. This time, it was a knock at his door, the first of the day, one of many sure to come. 

Levi swung his legs over the side of the bed. Bright rays reflected off the metal buckles of his gear and reflected into his eyes, garnering a wince and dawning thought: just how late did I sleep in? Standing up, he immediately noted how his shoulders felt heavy, his breaths labored. If he had to guess, his cold would take hold of him before the 25th was over. Lucky him. 

Hand clamped down hard on the handle, startling the two on the other side just before he creaked his door open. The tall couple cast shadows over him: Nanaba and Miche with -

Shit...

Levi braced himself for their scream, but instead, they spoke calmly, handing over the bouquet with a pair of matching smiles, “Happy Birthday, Levi.”

He startled, not because he was surprised by their presence, but intimidated by their present: a bundle of bright-red poinsettias, pointed with specks of pollen he doubted they had noticed. They were far too innocent to have purposefully gifted him such a slew of allergens. Others, however, he was less sure about.

Instead of reaching out to grab them, Levi crossed his arms and tipped his tongue in refusal - refusal of their gift and refusing to indulge in the sneeze he already felt budding. Speaking quickly, he aimed to rush them out before they could witness his unravel, “I don’t want them.”

“C’monnn, Levi!” Nanaba pleaded, bending at the knees and shooting up again quickly. In her eager bounce, his eyes widened as he watched the petals flutter with her. His arms instinctively flinched before him as if he could block the microscopic wave. “Miche and I stood outside for hours in this freezing cold -”

Great, two more patients upcoming.

“- waiting for the flower shop to open.”

“First in line,” Miche added. “Do you know how popular these things are at this time of year?”

Levi’s stance remained unchanged, Nanaba saw his disinterest and felt compelled to play it up, selling the present rather than gifting it. “They smell good, too!”

Miche, on the other hand, preferred the path of insistence. Snatching the stems from his partner, he thrust them to Levi’s face, nearly touching, “Go on, smell them, you’ll see for yourself.”

He held his breath, reluctant to inhale as long as those were within reach. Aiming for subtlety, he feigned to nonchalantly scratch his nose with his wrist, “If you like them, keep them.”

“Someone’s ungrateful…” Miche teased, unhurt by the shorter man’s attitude, but never passing up an opportunity to rag it. “Y’know, most people would say ‘thanks’ or something…”

Levi frowned, he wasn’t ungrateful. Deep down, he was touched. On the exterior, though, he was objectively irritated, and could understand why they misread him. With a pang of guilt, he sought to correct the miscommunication, but that pang was miniscule compared to the burn of his nostrils, a flame that the leaves were now fanning.

“No, it’s just…” his face scrunched as he attempted to fight it off, just until he could finish the sentence, at least? “It’s… just…” 

However, that bouquet was set on denying him. Throwing in the towel, a rare occurrence for humanity's strongest, he whipped around and buried his nose in the crook of his elbow, “Hah’AESCH-ihh!” 

Fuck, all three parties unknowingly shared the same thought. For Levi, the nature of his curse was multifaceted. Foremost, the unexpected harshness of that sneeze, the wind knocked out of him first thing in the morning. From that, the daunting notion that this was the first of many sure to come, either from allergies or the cold. Finally, the flush that flooded his cheeks. That outburst had shown enough vulnerability already, Levi lingered behind his arm and remained turned away, waiting for the blush to disappear as well. 

Yet, even after those awkward seconds of silence, neither Nanaba nor Miche could erase that image from their mind: his tan coat spotted brown, the mist that shot from beneath his elbow and faded into the room’s sunlit atmosphere. With the captain turned, they allowed their faces to contort with disgust. When his audible sniff confirmed what they thought they saw, they looked to each other and cringed, agreeing that this birthday visit was over.

His comrades did not put the dots together, that the sneeze was a symptom of his allergies rather than the cold that was notably floating through the halls. Fearing for their own immune systems, they retreated several paces, but not before Miche thrust the flowers in Levi’s grip and snapped his hand back, no chance of handing them back now.

By the time Levi turned himself around, arm still bent at his nose, the pair was already a distant blur.

Nanaba waved over her shoulder, “Feel better soon! Don’t come near us until you do!” A joking-not-joking singsong to her departure.

“Have fun with those!” Miche cupped his hand around his mouth, allowing his bid to beckon from down the corridor, “You can thank us later!”

Levi dropped his arm, prepared to call back. Doing so, however, meant that his guard was let down, and he should have known better, that his assailant would be quick to take advantage. With the distance, Levi did not turn or cover - not that he had the time for that - and instead ducked his head down, sneezing onto his own torso. “Hnn’kkshu! Heh-ISHhew!!”  

Unfortunately for him, the height at which he landed placed him adjacent to the very bouquet that set him off. A dire proximity, each inhale killed every second - any hope - of relief. 

The mess was not only audible, it was tangible, piercing the threads of his button-up and sinking through to his undershirt, summoning a shiver. The clean freak could not bear the sight, nor was it his habit to. After each sneeze and before opening his eyes, he assessed the tickle. If it remained, his lids likewise remained shut until his system managed to kill it. The first attempts at regular breaths informed him outright: you’re not done yet. Levi kept his head down, bangs intercepting his eyeline with each jolt. “Heh’tchew! Kk’shuu!!” 

Once again, he paused to survey his own state. Although he beckoned for a break, his body merely mocked him. That all you got? Clearly unsatisfied, with frustration, he submitted to its demands, exacerbating the expulsion as best as he could, aiming to please. “Hah-ESHhew!! HIH’kit-chew! Hah…Hah-AEshih!!” 

His intakes had been audible even from those meters away, his fit an early alarm clock for all still asleep in the vicinity. Dammit. As an insomniac, he was especially remorseful to have been responsible for waking anyone on the weekend. Even redder now, he tried to convince himself it was not his fault, that they should have known better than to shove those flowers in his face. However, as his voice crescendoed, it became more of a stretch to blame the gifters rather than the receiver, the inducer over the screamer.

The burn in his sinuses was unbearable, he decided to look to the windows behind him, hoping to coax relief. Before he could lure his gaze that way, though, he caught a glimpse of pity on his teammates, and somehow, that was what bothered him the most.

Fuck, this has to stop. At this point in the fit, breaths were hard to come by, and his life-or-death experiences had molded his mindset to meet his most urgent needs first. Perhaps counterintuitive, Levi understood that defeating the irritant meant battling with it. Working through rather than around. Meeting their eye contact, Levi yanked their gift to his face and took a deep, deliberate intake, figuring that his unconventional strategy could get two messages across: he was allergic to their gift, but at least it was good for something. And maybe they’ll remember this scene come next year.

Indeed, they would, and Levi would be lucky if the memory remained confined to those two. The finale was a sneeze that made them cover their ears and made the last few sleepers snap up in panic. For him, the aftermath resembled the end of a workout: tire and exhaustion, yet inexplicable relief. For them, it read like a newspaper headline: steadfast, hardass germaphobe of the branch soaked in his own saliva and other unspeakable substances. The tight-lipped, ever calm captain engaged in the toughest battle of his life: no titan in sight, but tiny irritants also impossible to see. Screaming the barracks awake, he would have been the last culprit anyone suspected. Only true friends would keep this episode a secret, maybe he shouldn’t have been so terse with them.

Vengefully, and with the slightest bit of told you so, Levi motivated himself through the end with the anticipation of seeing their guilty faces, but by the time he opened his eyes again, they were long gone, either cowering from contagion or gossiping already. Around here, viruses and rumors spread like wildfire. 

Worked up and let down, Levi released a shaky exhale, wiped his face with his sleeve, flung the door shut behind him, and tossed the bouquet onto his bed.

One down.

tbc!

#snzblr secret santa 2023 #snz kink #snez kink #snz fic #snez fic #aliasnz's #snz #snez

[prongsie-kins]

part four of when i met you

this is a filo!james au revolving around james potter courting regulus black in a semi-traditional way

disclaimer: english is NOT my first language and not the type that this would be beautifully written but there might be some grammatical error i didn't notice while editing. also keep in mind that this is my first multichapter fic and im still trying to improve my writing

translation at the bottom, italicized text is when they are speaking french because idk french

Beginning | Previous | Next

you gave the world to me

"Have you seen my parchment?" Regulus asks while searching the table.

James doesn't say anything for a while so he has to glance up at him. The guy insisted on him to study at the library. Regulus got distracted reading a book so he lost sight of the parchment he was writing on.

"Potter, did you know where it is?" Regulus repeated.

James pursed his lips without looking away from the book he was reading.

"Huh?" He asked, bewildered.

James only pursed his lips even more.

"Just speak, Potter. I have no idea what are you doing."

"It's right there." Once again, James pursed his lips. This time, pointing his head towards a certain direction.

"Are you asking for a kiss right now?"

"No, I said it's right there," James insists, pursing his lips again.

Regulus sighs, actually leaning in before being stopped by James pressing his palms on his lips. "Wait, you're actually considering it? The parchment's right there."

He smacks James at the back of his head. "Why'd you use your lips then? Just point where it is."

"I'm more focused on the fact that you considered kissing me just 'cause I said so." James smirks, not so subtly leaning towards Regulus' side.

"Distance, Prongs," Sirius suddenly interrupts. "Keep your distance."

"When did you even get here?"

"I told you I would keep an eye on you."

"Tangina naman neto oh"*, James murmured, scratching the back of his hair.

"Putain de marde, Prongs. Don't cuss at me in tagalog assuming I can't understand you." Sirius snapped.

"Gago wala naman akong maintindihan sa sinasabi mo. Tarantado ka ba?"**

"You asked for my blessing. Just keep a distance."

"Blessing? What blessing?" Regulus asked which went unnoticed.

"Pa'no ko siya liligawan kung nakasamid ka sa bawat ginagawa ko."***

Regulus can only switch glances between the two men arguing. "You two look like idiots."

"Shut up, Reg," They both say in unison.

"Not on my watch, Prongs."

"But you're always around!" James complains.

—

"So," James started. "Were you really trying to kiss me back in the library when you thought I wanted one?"

"Fuck off, James." Regulus really hopes his blank face can hide his flustered expression.

"No, no, let's keep talking about it."

"Why'd you go here, anyway? It's late."

"You weren't at the Great Hall today. I figured you hadn't eaten yet. I made this." James handed Regulus another circular Tupperware, color yellow this time.

By the time Regulus opens it after getting back to his dorm, an aromatic scent hits him. What greeted him seemed to be white rice with an odd-looking red meat. It looks fried with a slightly charred hint of melted sugar.

The predominantly sweet, garlicky, and slightly peppery taste is what reaches his taste buds. The meat that seems to be pork is incredibly soft. He can't help but let out a quiet moan while chewing.

With the food James kept giving him, he might gain weight sooner or later. He still didn't know what his agenda was. Even with his embarrassing stunt at the library, Regulus is quite sure James is doing it just as friends. His friends were just confusing him.

That is how James really is. He is clingy. He's sweet. He's considerate. He's flirty. That's just how the man is around his friends. He certainly does it around them too.

Like the way he always notices when Regulus hasn't eaten anything. The way he always gives him food and always tells him all these cheesy lines he barely understands since it's in another language.

How he unknowingly makes Regulus' heart flutter. How he made the stoic, cold, often emotionally devoid Regulus Black feel flustered. He does that to all his friends. That is where they are getting to, right?

Right?

—

"Prongs," Peter started. "Can I have one of that tocino you're making?"

"No."

Next

———

*"Tangina naman neto oh." - This motherfucker.

**"Gago wala naman akong maintindihan sa sinasabi mo. Tarantado ka ba?" - I don't understand a word you said, asshole. Are you kidding me?

***"Pa'no ko siya liligawan kung nakasamid ka sa bawat ginagawa ko." - How am I supposed to court him if you're keeping an eye on every move I do.

#marauders #regulus black #starchaser #sunseeker #jegulus #james potter #james potter x regulus black #filipino!james potter #filo!james potter #filipino james potter #james and regulus #james x regulus #james loves regulus #fanfic #marauders fanfiction #idek what to tag anymore #jegulus fanfiction

[imperialmask]

HWB: Afterthoughts Azure

Hello! Welcome to the first HWB Afterthoughts, the director's commentary of HWB chapters. I don't intend to do one for every chapter, just ones i think would benefit from extra clarification.

So for starters, i'm sorry for the late upload. Family troubles plus perfectionism meant i lacked time or energy to write something i was truly proud, i'm not totally happy with the final product but it works for what it's trying to do. I promise future chapters will be better, the introduction is always hard to write and kind of boring. From now on, i'll stick to a once a week schedule on Wednesdays, starting from 8/05/24. This chapter actually went through 3 rewrites as i couldn't decide where to begin the story, eventually i went with Dan and his introduction.

Second off, i'd love feedback! I really want to make this series something special for people to read, it means so much to me and there's so much i'm yet to show you all. My main problem is the bits inbetween the more interesting scenes, i'm worried i make them boring with too much description so i'd like to know where people would like the line between description and story to be.

Thirdly, this chapter doesn't really explain much about the world or characters but i have plans for that. Expect big exposition dumps in chapters to come about the world of Salem, Mystics and their culture, the noble families of Salem, Dan and the Azure, Athena, COG and many more characters to show up soon.

For now, have a teaser for Chapter 2: Pride of Salem which releases on the 1st of May!

Wolten was the run down part of Salem. Being the Mystics' own "shiny city on a hill", a lot of types of Mystics move there in hope of a better life only to find squat. Many of them end up working tedious jobs or falling in with the Mafia who have a strangle hold over Wolten. It's a dangerous place because of that, crime is rampant, a lawless hellhole that keeps the poor poor by trapping them in an endless cycle of crime. You meet all kinds of dangerous crooks in Wolten. Yet, he was not one of them.

A man with dark brown hair, bandages around his left eye, a patchy, broken trenchcoat with big black boots wanders around the village. His black jumper and blue jeans are covered with fresh blood, he stumbles around street to street, stopping passerby to ask questions. Later, Dan and Athena will find out he was asking about a kid with blonde hair but nobody could make out what he was saying at the time. This man had a habit of screaming in people's faces, incoherent nonsense about some small monster with yellow fur.

Edit: While i was originally intending to release the 2nd chapter on the 8th, since i finished it early, i decided i'd start the schedule now with a release today (01/05/24), expect chapter 3 on the 8th! Or sooner if you're lucky!

#fiction #my writing #web series #original story #writers #homeworldbound #writing #funny #comedy #writer's thoughts #HomeworldboundAfterthoughts

[behindthecremioda]

Survival rate 0% (first draft)

Disclaimer

As the title says, this story is a first draft.

So it's not necessarily canon what happens here in the work and I'm experimenting here, as this account was meant to be. 

For this reason, not everything that happens here will be pretty or make sense, and not everything will be complete. At least the story is being written.

The same goes for you writers who came across this story. No draft will and/or does not have to be perfect. In editing, you have every opportunity to shape everything as you please.

And on this account "BehindtheCremioda" I will take you with me on the way to my works every time. Or you can see more content here if some works don't end up on the main account after all.

Not only to motivate myself, but also all the writers out there. I believe that all writers will soon put their work in the public eye and even be proud of themselves and their work, no matter how much attention it gets.

So enjoy reading, find inspiration and, if you are a writer, have fun and good luck creating your work.

Who knows, maybe one of your works will be seen out there sooner or later.

Don't forget to eat and drink and have a great day.

Cremioda

Chapter [2]: Sacrifice for others

The bright blue light watches the speeding train as it tries to escape from this violent earthquake until the rails literally disintegrate.

Lee Know is already trying to make sure the train doesn't get off track. So far they only have a straight line. The others are in the back of the other carriages, well, everyone except Chan.

The opening of the door draws Lee Know's attention to the back and his eyes catch Seungmin, who is breathing a little heavily.

"Those fucking cabane almost slowed us down," Seungmin grunts as he approaches Lee Know.

The driver then looks at Seungmin for a brief moment, but also looks out the window again and speeds up the train a little, "Are the others safe?"

"For now, yes," as he answers, Seungmin leans back against the wall, crosses his arms in front of his chest and looks at the ground, then raises his eyes out of the window.

Lee Know keeps his stare out of the window, trying to figure out if they have really arrived at a destination where they would be safe. Or somehow get out of this shit so no one gets crushed by the members. Not everyone is a Kabaneri in the group.

Out of nowhere, the glass shatters and a figure in their control center of the train crashes through it, inhuman noises impossible to miss. A Kabane?!

Seungmin focuses on it and directly takes out his airgun without hesitation, aiming it at that blonde person, creature or blonde kabane, whoever or whatever it is, while standing protectively in front of Lee Know.

Those blood-red tentacles from the back and the pale yellow wings obscure the identity of this being except for the hair. As this creature tries to support itself with its arms on its knees, its head jerks around violently and its gaze turns to Lee Know and Seungmin.

Felix?!

The red of his iris stands out from the black sclera, while this person is breathing heavily and his eyes are covered in bloody tears.

Seungmin now hesitates with his air pistol and freezes in place, scrutinizing Felix's face as he continues to twitch his head and jumps straight up at the two of them.

Seungmin falls backwards onto his back, gasping for air, trying to hold Felix away from him as he tries to bite him; drool flies onto Seungmin's face as he is met with hissing and inhuman noises.

Lee Know grabs Felix by the upper arm and throws him away from Seungmin, grabs Seungmin's airgun and tries to shoot Felix while not recognising him.

"Don't! That's Felix!" Seungmin yells out and tries to stop Lee Know, but immediately a taller person with soft, red wing-like body enlargements on his shoulder blades presses the air gun and aims it at the floor. The floor of the train has now been dented, but that is the least of the problems.

Lee Know just stands in speechlessness in front of Seungmin and takes himself and Seungmin a few steps backwards as long as Felix starts twitching his head again.

The person with the "wings" throws the airgun directly to the side and tries to hold Felix tightly, pressing his head against the ground and apologizing.

Felix strikes the taller person's upper body with one of his two tentacles, but he doesn't let go. In the next moment, Felix sharpens the tentacle he has just used and threatens to stab the larger person in the body with inhuman noises, but the larger person jumps straight away.

Without hesitation, Felix stands up and kicks the larger person in the face with his foot. The larger person flies to the side without defending himself, but is still able to support himself on his arms. A glance at Felix also reveals the identity of this person, even if there are a few disheveled black strands on his face.

Hyunjin? Hyunjin with exactly the same eyes as Felix, only without the blood.

Felix jerks his head violently again and holds it with both hands, banging his head against the nearest wall and mumbling something desperate.

At this behavior, Lee Know not only stops in front of Seungmin, but stretches an arm out to the side, observing and paying attention to the situation.

Hyunjin stands up without hesitation, takes out a syringe with a dark gray liquid and injects it directly into Felix.

It takes a few seconds until the twitching of Felix's head subsides and he no longer bangs his head against the wall, instead he leans against it and lets himself be dragged down by it; in the meantime, he closes his eyes and those wings and tentacles disappear.

Hyunjin also makes his wings disappear and his eyes become like the usual on actual humans with the white scleris and his dark brown eyes. He then grabs the now empty syringe away, kneels down and carefully lifts Felix up by his head and upper body, places his head on his thigh, which is kneeling on the ground, and turns it towards him, gently and carefully wiping the little bit of blood away from his head.

Lee Know and Seungmin can't figure out what's happening, but Lee Know sees that the train is moving to the left. His gaze is drawn straight out of the window and the train is hurtling straight into these giants; almost threatening to tip off the track, but also threatening to crash into these giants.

Lee Know immediately takes the wheel and tries to reverse the train at the right moment, Seungmin observes this and helps him directly.

Pulling hard on the lever, Lee Know and Seungmin just manage to reverse the train before the giant's foot is raised.

Hyunjin turns his head in their direction and takes the unconscious Felix in his arms, getting ready to do something at the moment. But he sees that what Lee Know and Seungmin are doing is not enough. He gently places Felix on the floor, stands up and pulls hard on the levers with Lee Know and Seungmin.

"Hold this!" Lee Know yells as loud as he can, even though the earthquake swallows up his screaming, lets go of the lever and runs straight out of the lead car, careful not to step on Felix, who slowly opens his eyes.

Seungmin looks after Lee Know in astonishment, but continues to hold the lever tightly as Hyunjin regains his "wings" and his black and red eyes for a more stable and stronger grip on the lever.

Lee Know runs as fast as he can to the others, the earthquake feels like it wants to stop his run, but his legs can't be stopped.

As soon as Lee Know reaches the others, he grabs them all and tries to shout "Go to the lead car!" while the earthquake is still going on.

Even though his shout could almost resemble a whisper, the others start running towards the lead wagon with the steering wheel, while he also takes some in that direction.

Lee Know senses that the back of the train is going downhill, so he follows the others running. To get anyone who even begins to slow down to run faster. To get away from the rear wagons as quickly as possible, while none of them are Kabaneri.

All the thoughts block Lee Know's awareness and he is crushed in the lower part of his body just before an open door. He's never let out a scream as painful as this, causing Han and Changbin to stop and look back at him.

Both witnesses run straight back to the open door, even as another giant next to them raises his foot and prepares to take the next step.

But Lee Know still lifts his gaze to them, scrambling closer to the open door as soon as one giant's foot has lifted from the wagon, separating this wagon from the other one where Changbin and Han are currently on it.

"Lee Know!", they both yell and shriek, holding on tightly to the door frame, because their wagon and the other front wagons have been given a push and are now traveling faster than ever, because they already moving forwards again instead of backwards.

Han gets tears in his eyes and a half-open mouth, while Changbin's lips tremble and tears build up in his eyes.

So for now they can't escape the ever-shrinking scenery of Lee Know being crushed over and over again by the giants in the severed wagon.

#stray kids #fanfiction #writing #ao3 #wattpad #skz #bang chan #lee know #seo changbin #hwang hyunjin #han jisung #lee felix #kim seungmin #jeongin #alice in borderland #aib #attack on titan #aot #parasyte #kabaneri of the iron fortress #tokyo ghoul #mirai nikki #sweet home #angst #crossover #gore #rumbling #apocalypse #blood #first draft

[howieshan]

☆ 911 WEEK 2020 ☆ day four: favourite location → grant/nash residence

#911edit #911week2020 #911 #merlinss #karenwilson #userkinga #mine #sooner or later i will stop making yellow edits #today is not the day #anyways i love their house and so many special things happened there

[josephkearneys]

PERRY’S POV OF THIS MEME RESPONSE

between shane and nate, perry was getting pulled every which way in any form of distraction. whether it be parties or going to the movies at random, there was always something they were trying to get him to do, just to make him get out of the house. it was all in good faith though, they were just trying to keep his mind off of kate.  things were getting easier though. but the first few months were rough for not only him, but those around him — because he’d shut almost everyone out. even his own family had a hard time getting to him and getting him out of his room. 

it was all forgiven for a while, but eventually they tried harder until he gave in and though he was still walking through a mental fog, he allowed it, knowing that it was for the best and what was going to get him over his relationship that had ended so abruptly. 

it’d been nearly a year now since kate had told him that she wanted to see other people and travel without being tied down. but shane and nate were still breathing down his neck, making sure that he wouldn’t fall back down into the hole he’d fallen into so easily afterwards. and even though he constantly reassured them that he was fine, they stayed persistent. and perry couldn’t complain, he appreciated their friendship and the fact that they hadn’t given up on him when he’d given up on everyone and everything else. 

“it’s just going to be a small get together, gonna play some video games n’shit, you should come! it wont turn into a big event like last time, promise,” shane pauses, and a voice could be heard in the background, and he assumed it was chen, but he doesn’t ask, “it’ll be fun, BYOB and what not — the usual,”

perry taps his pen against the blank yellow notepad that was resting on top of his desk, before he lets it fall from his hand with a gentle thump. leaning back in his chair some, a soft sigh emitting from him as he rubs his face with his hand that had been holding the pen, “yeah, man — i can try and head over later, i’m just finishing up editing this assignment.” he scratches the bridge of his nose and then sits up again, clearing his throat some, “it’s kicking my ass, who knew taking a few summer classes for the hell of it would keep me this busy?” he laughs some, picking up his pen again and scribbling a few circles at the top of the page, “but if i don’t show up, it’s because sleep sounded more exciting,” he teases, and shane chuckles on the other end of the line, “alright per — have fun, maybe see you later, later man,” —— “yeah, later.” perry replies, hanging up his phone and setting it down next to the notepad. 

the idea of getting a break from working sounded nice, and thankfully he was almost done. he’d needed more distractions so he decided to take a few classes at a community college that was near by — wanting to see if they had anything new to offer that he hadn’t learned at Washington State when it came to photography, always open to new tips and tricks. 

but one of the classes was making him write an essay on the history of photography, and english was never his strong suit, not because he was bad at it, but because he just got bored easily while staring at a blank word document. 

thankfully he was almost done with it after procrastinating it for weeks, so it doesn’t take him much longer to finish it up and take a shower to get ready to head over to shane’s place. 

he stops by the store first to buy some beer, not realizing how much he’d actually needed to get out of the house for something other than class or a photography job, but it felt nice. 

the drive to shane’s isn’t too far, but with his stop at the store, the get together had probably started about forty minutes ago, which honestly, was sooner than he thought he’d get here. he feels his phone vibrate in his back pocket, but assumes that it was just shane asking if he’d fallen asleep or not, so he ignores it and grabs the pack of beer from the floor board of the passenger side of his car and then steps out of his car. he fumbles with his keys for a moment while trying to lock his car, but his finger finally finds the lock button and a quiet pattern of beeps sounds, letting him know that the car was locked now. 

shoving his keys into his left front pocket, he starts heading towards the front door, but his momentum is slowed as he notices chen outside of the house, his brows furrowing some out of curiosity, but there’s still a small smile on his lips. 

she felt out of place standing outside of shane’s — it was almost as if she’d been picked up out of a cocktail party and placed in front of a stranger’s house, trying to figure out where she was. there was a spaced, yet peaceful look on her face though, and he assumed she might’ve started the party a little early with how their night at the bar went after his show. not that he was judging her for it, in her position he’d have probably done the same. being surrounded by a bunch of guys playing video games wasn’t exactly ideal if you really only knew your boyfriend. 

he’d been in her position while he was with kate a few times. pulled to events that she wanted to go to, but usually it was only her friends that were around, and he always felt like a fish out of water no matter how much he tried to fit in. 

“hey,” she speaks first as he comes to a stop in front of her. 

“hey — what are you doing out here?” he laughs softly, the confusion evident on his face. 

“can you keep a secret?” his confusion only grows, and there’s a nervous amusement that’s settled on his features as he tries to figure out what it was that she’d want to tell him, and if he should really be listening to secrets from one of his best friend’s girlfriend... but was was the harm in it really? considering she seemed a little inebriated it might be something laughable — that was usually the case when it came to drunken confessions. and so he shrugs, “yeah i can keep a secret.”

the smile that captures her lips is infectious and he can’t help but slowly smile as well. 

“it’s really boring inside—and i want to go to the beach...so just act like you never saw me...”

he laughs quietly at he words as he shifts the case of beer from one hand to the other, but she doesn’t give him a chance to say anything in return before she asks if he can keep another secret.

he waits another moment, his confusion only growing, but he’s still in high spirits at the mystery of it all, so he nods and wets his lips slightly as he keeps his gaze locked onto her, waiting for what would come spilling out of her now — a slight twinge of anticipatory anxiety bubbling up inside of him. 

before he has time to process what’s actually happening, she’s already closed the distance between them, her lips pressed gently against his, and he freezes. his heart pounding loudly in his chest, and before he can gently pull away, she does so first, her voice echoing in his ears, “don’t go inside...”

he’s still trying to gain his composure and register what had just happened, his eyes blinking open slowly, and he searches hers, remaining silent. everything moral in his mind is telling him to step away, to tell her that he should go inside and so should she, pretend that nothing happened — “ok,” his reply is quiet and breathy, “i wont go inside,” his words contradicting his thoughts. 

#ship: chen x perry #hi is this terrible? yes #did i try? also yes #i still wanted to keep it kinda ambiguous of what he thought #leave it open incase we wanted to do a thread with it of them going to the beach #anywhosles HERE YOU GO POOKEMS :') #chrollochrom #oh also as per usual i didn't proof read this

[sincerelymarinette]

A Recorded Life Sequel (9/10) - Miraculous Ladybug

Words: 1174 Summary: What people have been waiting years for...Emilie's Fashion House rebrand and fashion show! Author's Note: Ahhh I really love this one. It's very description-heavy because I wanted to focus on what went on in their heads. Next chapter is the last one and I'm so excited but I can't believe it's coming to an official end ahhh

Prev / Next / Masterlist

Emilie's Fashion Show

---

Marinette held a clipboard in her hand as she walked around the venue approving many different things. She was checking reserved seats, different types of lighting, and making sure all the pieces of the new Emilie's collections were all together and organized backstage. Sooner than later, models would arrive to get their outfits and hair and makeup, and there was still much to prep for.

Adrien would be heading to the venue soon; he had some last-minute things to take care of at the office. He had to approve final designs of displays that would be in stores and approve how tags would look on clothing. Usually, he would have the tags ready weeks ago, but he had a few concerns that needed to be changed, which caused the tags to come back late from design. Though he knew these approvals were a bit late, he wasn't planning on them being this late, and now he wanted to get them done before the show.

As Marinette was running around, people were starting to arrive. Alya showed up and surprised Marinette with a big hug, and Marinette was relieved to see her. Alya was writing a report on it, so long as she could be unbiased, which she promised. Nino showed with Alya, since he was going to be running the music for them.

Alya was also helping record the show. Though there were cameras set up around the venue to capture different angles, Alya wanted to record something more vlog-type for Marinette to use on her YouTube channel. Since this is her first official led fashion show, Alya knew it was important to both Marinette and her fans.

Time flew as Marinette went from person to person, preparing for everything. She checked on different models, said hi to Adrien, made sure everyone found their seat okay, realized Adrien actually made it to the venue, and even said hello to the camera for a quick second. Finally, as the lights went down and Marinette stood watching from backstage as Adrien introduced the show, she finally allowed herself to take a minute to breathe.

"Thank you all for coming!" Adrien said into the microphone as the attendees applauded. She knew she would have to caption the French on her video, but that was the least of her worries right now. "We are so excited to share with you the new age of our fashion company. We are no longer Gabriel, no longer Agreste Fashion; we are Emilie's!" Adrien said, his excitement showing clear. "And tonight, I welcome you to take in the beauty of our new collections. Headed by Marinette Dupain-Cheng, many new items and some old redesigned to fit our new mission. Enjoy the show!"

As Adrien walked back up the runway, the first model headed out. Marinette was watching carefully from the wings to make sure everything was running smoothly. The woman in charge of the timing was helping models out of the wings, and as models came back, they were getting changed into their next outfit.

It's been years of waiting for this moment. So many things led to this: Adrien graduating, Marinette joining and working her way up, the rebrand, making new things completely from scratch. But seeing all the hard work walking the runway made it all worth it, and it would be even more worth it when these items will be in stores. Different styles, budgets, collections: there was something for everyone from these new collections for the new fashion house. They wanted to make sure they covered as much as they could, and it was paying off now.

---

"You know I will be the first one to buy one of those jumpsuits. It would work perfectly in my office," Chloé told Marinette after the show. "And thank you for taking my suggestion of some yellow. It will be amazing! Let me know if you need someone to model it for a magazine," She winked.

Marinette chuckled. "You know, that might be a good idea down the line! We already have one booked for the new line, but when we need some more celebrity placement, you'll be the first person I call," Marinette said.

Chloé shook her head. "Good. Like you need celebrity placement, though."

"It's my excuse to get you in one of our books, so let's just go with it," Marinette joked.

A few people came up to congratulate Marinette and Adrien after the show and complimented their hard work. Other fashion house leaders were excited for them, even if they are meant to be competitors. It's no secret Adrien and Marinette have worked for this for years, and it seemed most people were happy to see it finally come true.

Jagged Stone and Penny were very loud with their excitement (mostly Jagged, though) as they were ready to support every piece from every collection. Many of Marinette's friends from her teenage years and University years also attended the show, as they have always supported her, and they also stopped by to give her a hug and a big smile. Adrien had the same friends from his teenage years, less from University, but he was just happy watching Marinette with the biggest smile he's seen from her in years.

In the back of his mind, Adrien wondered if his dad was able to watch the live stream of the show. He knew his dad would not like what they were doing with the company, changing it all, but Adrien wished his father could see how great he was doing. He was happy, in love, and running the company in honor of his mother.

Gabriel did see it, after requesting to watch the live stream, and it was granted. He mainly watched it to see if the kids would fail, and he wasn't sure if he should have been happy or mad that they didn't. He didn't like what Adrien was doing with the rebrand, but he was aware it could have been worse. Every day he was behind bars, he thought about all the other ways his plan could have and should have gone, and how he would have done it if he got the chance over again. What hurt most was that he knew Adrien didn't care; it had been years since he had come to visit Gabriel. One day he'd get his chance to change things, but he didn't have a plan for that yet.

Once they got cleaned up, it was very late, and Marinette and Adrien both went home with smiles still on their faces. The live stream was saved, and Marinette was excited to edit together all the other angles for an official video. The show was trending online, and all the comments talked about how many years they have been waiting for this, and that Marinette and Adrien deserve it all.

And soon enough, all the collections would be in stores, and the clothing would be worn by all ages and all around the world. The two went to bed the happiest they have ever been, and they couldn't wait for the coming weeks.

---

@lady-of-the-roses-and-lilies @bookishserendipity03 @avatheexceed @gkz10 @coccinellegirl @kat-thatoneweirdo @strawberryblondish @snow-swordswoman @lilgaga98 @evufries @toodaloo-kangaroo

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous #miraculous ladybug fanfiction #miraculous ladybug and chat noir #ml #mlb #ladybug #marinette dupain-cheng #adrien agreste x marinette dupain-cheng #adrien agreste #adrien x marinette #chat noir #alya cesaire #nino lahiffe #chloe bourgeois #fanfiction #adrienette #ladynoir #marichat #ladrien #a recorded life #lilly writes

[rk1kheadcanons]

AU after the revolution Connor becomes a “symbol of escaping your oppressors (esp sexually-conservative parents)” by becoming Markus’ partner and is very uncomfortable with everyone using him as just an object to project their fears and fantasies onto. He gets called a thot and “Markus’ good little slut” just for kissing and he hates it, the amount of pron people make of him makes him puke. No matter how hard they try, they can’t ignore how fetishized/objectified their relationship is becoming

You have no idea how vastly I love you for your prompt, Anon.

I took this prompt on for many reasons.

As an ally, it's imperative to respect and uplift all forms of love. It becomes a problem when we actively seek it out for the "entertainment value." There are people behind those alternative lifestyles with their own struggles on a daily basis. They are human, not 2d paper and pen figment of some of all perversions. They're not here to be anyone's form of sexual excitement, period. If someone asked me now why had so much more homosexual pairings instead of hetero, I got my receipts for each and every one of them, and I promise "they so cute" is not my first thought. If it is for you, well might give this a thought or two. And, no, I am NOT singling anyone out, never that.😌

Anyways, I'm off my soapbox now. I just felt l I owed it to my friends out there to say that they aren't just "quirky, gay babies, uwu."

That said, you'll have to pry booty shorts-wearing, nail polish bedazzling Connor from my cold, dead hands. I know he can be a BAMF, break my neck, and still be adorable while doing so. That's just gospel, sis. 😏

Markus and Connor had decided to go public with their relationship sooner rather than later for a myriad of reasons. There was a history between the two that no Android alive now would forget.

The famous deviant leader and the infamous deviant hunter now in a romantic relationship was the talk of New Jericho.

Of course, those hurt during the period of time that Connor had not Hu deviated was the louder voice heard from the masses. They didn't establish the 'ex' on deviant hunter for a reason. They were bitter, intimidated, and above all else, felt the relationship between the two men betrayed something that Markus had pledged to them. So long as Connor was just there acting as the security on his off time from the DPD, no one cared. As soon as he showed true signs of his deviation, that he could indeed understand the concept of emotions like love... Well, to many that was unacceptable. What about their friends and possible lost lovers in the original Jericho? They, the murmuring androids, knew that he would have been shackled to his programming, that until it was broken, he would have been just as much a slave to his protocol as they would have been in his place.

The funny thing about emotions though is it tended to make you irrational.

Connor was forever cautious when at New Jericho despite Markus and North, Josh, and Simon finally taking him under their wing. He heard those murmurs, though. It wasn't like he did not have good hearing. Then there were the social protocols that let him know that others were uncomfortable around him. Maybe they glanced away upon looking at him or more obviously changed positions to get away from wherever he strolled.

Connor hated the feeling but he wore the mass shunning like a Scarlet Letter around his neck.

Markus and the others knew of Connor's treatment. Markus often publicly condemned the behavior. It worked for some, others revolted against it. That's when they changed tactics.

Connor immediately became apprehensive about the sudden change in behavior over the next month. No longer did those who meet him look away or run from him, but more and more an odd behavior happened in some.

Connor was met with blushes, flustered looks while others, male, female, or other, looked at him with a look that could only be described as hostility mixed with lust. It caused him to recoil away from those who wore those looks, recalling how North had confided candidly in him, shared memories of how she'd been treated. Those human faces matched those of these Androids.

Markus had come to him without him knowing, so caught up in the sea of emotions he was, pulling him away.

When Connor looked at the other man, his face looked tired. He looked overall defeated and hurt. Before Connor could ask, Markus took him back to his office and gently sat him in his office chair behind Markus all in one desktop he used to interface with when going over things. It was not long before North busted in the office, Simon right behind her, both taking there side by Connor. Josh came in lathe st closing the door and locked it.

Connor was wary. What was going on? Markus began talking to him telling him about how about a month or so ago a new online group had been created, a forum. It revolved around their relationship solely. He told Connor that the maker of the room was in custody, as well as several of the main instigators, that he was heartbroken that this was happening, that he should have done more and to not concern himself, he was taking care of it and to never look at the site as they worked to close it down for good.

The LED on Connor's temple pulsed yellow and Markus had to stop him from searching for it, instead interfaced with the PC front of him on his desk. He knew Connor would want to go to it regardless. He was too inquisitive for his own good.

The website seemed pretty benign, it even had a cute shorthand for their relationship as 'RK1K' or 'R1000'.

Connor gently shed the human skin and interfaced with the site.

It was wasn't cute or sweet at all if the tightening if his other hand on the armrest indicated with the squeal of leather in the starkly quiet room. North's fiery glare was in one screen as well though she gently pulled his fingers away from the chair willing him to grab at her own hand, even if his strength in his stress crushed it. Simon placed a resting friendly hand on his thigh, sad eyes turned up to him.

Markus wrapped his arms around his lover's shoulders and rested his head on one shoulder, also taking in the devastating effects of what misguided hatred could do again with Connor.

The tears came naturally to his eyes as he took in the sheer volume of disrespectful post one after another. Pictures and videos edit made to look very realistic of Connor in a very harmful or demeaning role in his relationship with Markus.

They really did have him as if he was just Markus' slave, literal pet, or even more insulting, just a hole to use, eluding Markus still remained with North but they agreed to this arrangement due to her history as a known sex model. This was insulting to not only him but also North, cheapening her struggle.

Others said that this was his new attack on the android leader: get him used to him, in a relationship with himself, and then when they were in the throes of passion he'd strike like some twisted black widow.

The group chat was abhorrent. Connor to them was little more than a beautiful carcass. He meant nothing to them but they'd be willing to bed him. The female-presenting androids made him little more than just some sort of soft, weak invalid that lived only for Markus to dominate in and out of the bedroom. Others just lusted for them both, striping everything that was Markus and Connor away to nothing but rutting animals, nothing further.

The screen turned off with the withdraw of Connor's hand from it. He was up and out of the chair on his way, away from here. He could not do this with these people.

Markus was right after him.

North and Simon were calling all Androids on the campus for a meeting while Josh had been working on ways to fully dismantle such an awful website.

About time Markus caught up to Connor, he was in a self-driving cab, whisking away from New Jericho, Markus knew most likely to Hank's House called his own to go there.

The meeting went exactly as one would expect from two extremely pissed leaders, one who could remain level headed regardless, and the third finally joined giving the names of the known accused and that the site was permanently shut down. There was no grumbling because they knew that it would be more issues. They all have seen Connor flee the compound, markus on his heels.

For however angry North was, nothing would compare to Markus when he showed that side of him to the people that caused this and the others that cast a blind eye to this sort of abuse, allowing for it.

When Connor reached Hank's door, he knocked hard but couldn't see well due to the tears. His face was flushed as they poured down his face. It was not long before the older father figure lieutenant let Connor inside just as Markus pulled up in his own taxi.

After Hank was assured Markus was not the cause of Connor's distress, he was admitted into the house as well. Markus immediately went and held on to Connor. They were both hurting from that level of hatred.

Of course, Markus would be upset and just as hurt as if the subject matter was him. He loved Connor and the sheer disrespect for the one he cared for was a slap in the face to him, as well.

The situation was explained to Hank, who was livid for them both, and sad that the other Androids couldn't see Connor for himself. Dad powers activated and Connor would stay with him for a while, away from Jericho.

Weeks pass, Markus is hurting and the rest of the leaders can see just how much Connor helped with smoothing the frayed edges in Markus own personality when he was tired, hurt. He tended to be snappish, not meaning to be. While he still did everything required, the whole of Jericho started to understand the gravity of the situation.

Sure, there would still be those who just treated the situation like Markus lost a favorite toy like Connor wasn't even a person, to begin with. As if Markus was throwing a tantrum in the face of genuine mistreatment.

Others though would likely see the pain they caused, fear what would happen if, though unlikely but improbable, Markus decided to walk away from all of this as a leader in the Deviants for his lover.

There are very real rumors.

It's not like they don't see Josh counseling his friend and brother daily when Markus anxiously paces the floor, the sometimes bitter and harsh words directed at no one stating the same grief he feels from this strife of his people and who he's chosen to love in the end. Or how he leaves all things that can be to the three leaders now, where before it wasn't an issue to wear that heavy crown of leadership primarily. Or how when he can he sneaks off to the old human Lieutenant's house to see the ex-deviant hunter and second he can because of that love.

Yeah, the vast majority of people are feeling like they fucked up, including any androids who dared to join in with this witch hunt for Connor and they were part of the group he directly deviated and saved from Cyberlife.

Fractions start to happen among the group, those for and against Connor's presence like finally some of those saved remembered some semblance of loyalty to him. North is fucking done with this shit. All she knows is that she misses her awkward murder baby that is so much more than just arm candy to Markus and it takes both Simon and Josh to keep her from charging into another dispute of Connor this week.

"Shut the fuck up! You have no idea what you are talking about, the person you are trying to tear down just because of his past and programming."

Of course, she'd vested. It was an explicit reminder of her own life before Jericho and how people, human and Android, loved to devalue someone with a sexual abuse past.

Connor's was mentally and emotionally abuse he suffered. The abuse was abuse at the end of the day. He had confided in her. She had seen Amanda...

From that day on, it seemed quieter about the Connor subject.

Six months.

It took six months of Markus creeping to see his lover that felt an outcast, North railing at any Android who dared speak ill of Connor, and Simon and Josh going to see him at the old lieutenant's house.

Simon had missed Connor, too. Though he was quieter about the whole thing, it didn't mean he didn't suffer the same.

Connor was so unique. He could be so cold and calculating in the heat of the moment, gun out, ready to go. But in private, talking about the 'family' dog Sumo, sharing snapshots of him, and talking about a new soft sweater he thought Simon might like as well.

Simon helped Connor with his identity as a homosexual man and as such, they bonded together. Between him and North scheming when they had a night out, it was so hilarious and refreshing.

He missed him.

Josh enjoyed Connor's brand of humor. It was dry as the Sahara, and typically delivered deadpan and it murdered him. Connor did laugh like a madman, but it was typically in Markus presence at his dry humor or sarcasm.

All the while Connor was gone, Markus and Connor talked about the dilemma. Whether Markus came and got him for lunch or they met after work at Hank's place, they talked about it, kept their communication strong, and their relationship stronger. It had been hard for them, and blame had been spread, mostly hurt fueled from Connor's side to Markus initially that this even happened under their leadership. Markus mutely had taken it, feeling as though he could have done more. Then Connor would apologize, realizing that his past was not anyone else fault but his own, that he deserved this treatment to which Markus would rally against, telling him he was good and kind, no he most definitely did not deserve this disrespect. In time, the storm calmed between them and Connor knew what to do.

On a cool, wet morning in October, Connor Anderson moved back into New Jericho, back into the living quarters with one Markys Manfred. Sure, there were murmurs but nothing like before.

One android saw this again felt some sort of way about Connor and his existence at Jericho. Just as she readied her verbal barbs, another shut her down before she could even start.

Connor witness it; Markus did too, as did North, Simon, and Josh as they were welcoming him back. A majority of people saw this brave soul stand up for one of their leaders as they had never done before.

It makes a difference in the way Connor is perceived and treated. Instead of the leadership having to police the situation, the fear of another common android speaking out for Connor and against the naysayer's curves the negative vibe that attempts to take hold again.

Connor is now welcomed back by the majority of New Jericho, not the minority, and things are back to running smoothly as before he left.

#rk1k #rk1000 #conkus #marnor #dbh #connor x markus #ask #anonymous #post canon #tw: mlm fetishizing #tw: depression #tw: relationship struggles #tw: cyberbullying #whole ass story #enjoy

[kaiowut99]

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX Episode 64 Subbed (Finalized)

Shou VS Kenzan! A Passionate Duel for Big Bro

(Check out my Subbed!GX Stream Masterpost!)

While Judai is away from home, Shou and Tyranno Kenzan argue about which of them is Judai’s “little bro,” prompting a duel between the two in which their passion towards their Big Bro is at stake.  First, Dark Tyranno--Kenzan’s boss Monster--lands a direct attack on Shou.  Then, Shou uses his Cyber Summon Blaster Permanent Trap to chip away at Kenzan’s Life in 300-point chunks.  He also completes a defensive combo with Ambulance Rescueroid and Decoyroid...

Here’s a newly-finalized episode 64! This episode’s interesting because of the whole Shou/Kenzan dynamic getting fleshed out a bit, with the two coming to some level of understanding with each other as Kenzan maturely opts to throw the duel after realizing how dedicated and close Shou is to Judai.  We’ll get a bit more from them later, but it is nice that we close that out here.  Also, Fubuki’s being Fubuki much to Asuka’s chagrin, making us wonder how this season would pan out if he was still possessed, and we see a shirtless Judai in... Pharaoh-branded boxers that I’m surprised aren’t a real thing yet.

Now, in terms of footage fixes... I guess after two episodes of not having much to fix, 64 had quite a few to work with; I worked on 10 edits altogether, all card-related, and I’d originally picked out five I thought would be it before I backtracked for the others I’d noticed.  The animators didn’t play all their cards right here, lol.  List below the cut, as usual.  (For the ending Today’s Best Card segment, I also added a line in the card details for Ambulance Rescueroid’s Fusion Materials that the original didn’t include just to keep consistency; this line is used for future Fusion Monster showcases, so it looks like they might’ve just forgotten it in this one.)

Enjoy, folks! With this done, next time we’re revisiting a classic: Hell Kaiser Ryou’s debut episode~ I’ve been looking forward to this, and it should be fun to revisit.  Should have episode 65 done in 2-3 weeks, maybe sooner if ‘rona jab #2 doesn’t hit me too rough this Friday 4/30--fingers crossed!

Fixes!

As Shou tells Kenzan about his Tag Duel with Judai, Kenzan yells out of jealousy, and as he does so, we see the bottom of his deck on his Disk; in the first three frames it appears it’s a yellow rectangle, while it becomes a Fusion card after that.  So, I just applied my Fusion card proxy over the yellow rectangle, then masked the bottom of the Deck Holder and Kenzan’s hand over it, all in AfterEffects.

As Shou’s Submarineroid lands a direct attack on Kenzan, during the zoom-out of the impact, we see Shou’s Disk, which only has Submarineroid on it in his Disk’s second Monster Zone--problem is, he’s had Ambulanceroid in Defense Mode on Monster Zone #4 for a while.  So, I made an Ambulanceroid proxy in Photoshop to slap onto his Disk, then resized/moved it accordingly as the screen shook from the attack’s impact in AfterEffects.

After Kenzan takes damage from Submarineroid’s attack, Shou tells him that it switches to Defense Mode after--but while Ambulanceroid is now back on his Disk, it’s in Attack Mode.  To fix this, I just had to place my Ambulanceroid proxy in Defense Mode over the original card in AfterEffects for the four frames it’s visible in.

Immediately after #3, Shou sets three cards face-down to end his turn, but Ambulanceroid’s missing from his Disk again! I first placed my proxy in his fourth Monster Zone again in AfterEffects for one frame, then went into Sony Vegas, where I keyframed that one frame across 33 total frames to redo the slow zoom-out that happens, making sure the card and zone were properly placed.

Later, Kenzan uses Dyna Stamp to stamp out Shou’s Wonder Garage Trap, but he uses it to summon Drillroid; as he activates Cyber Summon Blaster’s effect accordingly, Drillroid’s missing on his Disk! Maybe they didn’t put it on because Drillroid’s about to get destroyed by Dark Tyranno anyway, but I figured it actually should be there--so I made a Drillroid proxy and then put it in his second Monster Zone in AfterEffects, moving it along as Shou moves his Disk.  Then, since I was there anyway, I did the same with Ambulanceroid, which was on Shou’s Disk as an orange rectangle, and placed the proxy above it. (The dub opted not to do this, but points to them for having Syrus use “Special Summon” explaining Wonder Garage--shame I have to take one for having him say “Special-Summon it to my hand” 🤦🏽‍♂️)

As Kenzan sacrifices Dark Tyranno to activate Revised Ultra Evolution Pill, Dark Tyranno is still on his Disk despite being taken off the field.  So, I opened Photoshop and blanked that Monster Zone.

As Kenzan thinks about using his last face-down card before Asuka calls out to a weakened sleep-deprived Shou to interrupt his thoughts, we see Shou stumbling a bit.  But on his Disk there, Decoyroid and Ambulanceroid have switched places; while Rescueroid’s correctly in Zone 3, Decoyroid’s in Monster Zone #4 when it should be in #2, and Ambulanceroid should be back in Zone #4 but it’s in Zone #2.  I made a Decoyroid proxy in Photoshop, then applied it and my Ambulanceroid proxy in AfterEffects to put them in their right spots, then moved/resized the cards accordingly as they moved with Shou and his Disk.  71 total frames here, and actually the first time I fully did one of these edits with AfterEffects, iirc; usually for a moving shot, I’d do a couple frames that I’d then keyframe/manipulate in Sony Vegas, lol--think it came out well!

A repeat of #7 happens as Ultimate Tyranno charges at Shou, Kenzan asking Shou if he’s mocking Judai by saying that dueling and being healthy are all he has going for him (which, where’s the lie)--luckily the simplest to fix, since Shou doesn’t move, so I just needed to slap the proxies on in the right spots.

As Shou talks about how Judai, despite being helpless at anything not dueling or being healthy, is working hard to get back to them, Decoyroid and Ambulanceroid are back in their spots--but they’re now reversed on his Disk, as their Defense-Mode cards should be turned such that the name and Attribute boxes point downward.  I had to first make a Rescueroid proxy to join the other two here, then I placed them properly one by one on his Disk in AfterEffects for the 40 frames they’re visible in.

As Kenzan decides to throw the duel and Shou realizes he won, he has Ambulance Rescueroid on his Disk where Ambulanceroid should be--it’s been a while since he de-fused it, after all.  I placed the Ambulanceroid proxy on for a few frames in AfterEffects, then keyframed/zoomed the frame after Shou stopped moving in Sony Vegas to redo the zoom for the last 15 frames it’s visible in.

#GX #yugioh #yugioh gx #ygo gx #ygo #yu-gi-oh gx #Shou Marufuji #Tyranno Kenzan #my subs #it's a crime that 4Kids cut the scene with Fubuki's flashback #and Asuka's 'i think i liked you better possessed' line #jeez lol #think i started on the fixes around #two weekends ago #and finished them last weekend to start working on the script soon after #have i mentioned i love this show

[littlemessyjessi]

“Chasing Jessi”:  A Sirius Black Story: Plus Size OC: Chapter 7: Tinkerbell & The Lost Boy

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Sirius Black Imagine Turned Story

Re-Written and Edit of an old story of mine I had on Mibba that deserved some more love and attention, lol.

Sirius Black x Jess Scamander (OC, OFC, PLUS SIZE OC, PLUS SIZE OFC)

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-------------------------------

Sirius Black was lounging comfortably in his bunk. He hadn't even bothered to change out of the KISS shirt and black flannel pajama bottoms at this point. He was reading through a book that he'd borrowed from Jess. Contrary to popular belief... Sirius actually loved to read. 

He’d rather die than admit that but he’d learned from an early age that it could easily provide an escape from his horrible daily life. 

Again though, he’d rather die than admit and let someone see him doing it. 

He was up rather early on a Sunday morning- something that used to be obscenely out of character before he played Quidditch. Now, it seemed that his biological clock was against him. However, it proved rather useful when wanting the shower to yourself or getting to breakfast while everyone was still in bed.  He'd been to breakfast already and was currently just relaxing for he had been informed by a tired looking Lily Evans that Jess was not coming down for breakfast this morning. He had been slightly disappointed but guessed that it was because the two girls had been up late talking. He figured that girls did that just as much as boys did. Although, for Jess's sake he hoped not because James had nearly driven him mad last night by both talking about every detail of his and Lily's date and all but demanding the same from Sirius. Honestly, boys were just as bad as girls when it came to gossip. 

If not worse.  However, he supposed he could just try and read this ridiculous book of hers until she awoke. He had really just settled in and was beginning to immerse himself into this fantasy world when.... "Sirius!!!" His brows furrowed and he glanced over at Remus who was studying on the floor in front of his bunk but he only shrugged.

"Sirius! Ooof! Sorry! Sirius!" "What in the name of Merlin?" he pondered as he sat the book down and went to the door to see none other than his hyperactive girlfriend balancing a package on her hip and apologizing to a fourth year boy who went white as a ghost at the sight of her. "You're ...you're not supposed to be up here." the boy said. "Oh, I'm sorry." she said to him. "I'm just looking for Sirius. See, I have something I have to-" The boy was too shaken to speak. To be fair, she was still wearing her pajamas and he was a fourteen year old boy, most likely with a crush on her. And she was only wearing a big floppy yellow smiley face shirt and some rather short multi colored shorts. "Over here, love." Sirius smirk. She turned to face him with a relieved smile looking so odd with her floral cat ear headband and her big blue monster house shoes. "Thanks, anyway." she told the boy and gave him a one armed hug. Sirius almost snorted when the boy looked as if he may pass out. The poor boy probably didn't know whether he found her attractive, terrifying or strange....or all three. "What are you doing up here?" he asked her as she came to a stop in front of him, "And in your pajamas no less?" "I have something for you." she said simply but he smirked and she smacked him in the stomach, "Not that!" "Aw, and it's almost my birthday too." he moaned playfully and he opened the door and let her him. "Hello, Remus." she greeted the studious green eyed boy. "Oh, uh, hi Jess." he said a little surprised to see her there, especially in her pjs.  "Remus, she beats me." Sirius wailed dramatically. "She wounds me." "If it's to your pride..." he said. "I suggest she do it some more. Your head is far too big as it is." Jess grinned in victory. Sirius gasped, "Moony, old boy, I can't believe it! Everyone's mistreating me and it's almost my birthday!" "Sirius, if you don't come sit down, then I'm going to open your present." she informed him smartly. "Present?" he asked. "What present?" "This one." she said tapping the lid of the green box. "You got me a present?" he asked curiously taking a seat on the bunk as the box lay between them.  "No." she said. "Well, yes. I did. But this isn't it. This is from my mum and dad." "What?" he asked in disbelief. "From mum and dad." she repeated. "She sent a blasted howler as well. Damn near threatened my life if I opened it. So I'm guessing it's rather good and most likely involving food. Best open it sooner than later." Sirius' hands shook just a little as he pulled the box open and cringed as a howler floated out. It was that same familiar shape that he recognized as the ones Jess usually got. From previous experiences, he was expecting yelling but relaxed when he saw the letter transform and the dark wax sealed lips give him a smile. It began to speak in a soothing tone, "Hello, Dear. Happy Birthday! I do hope you have a good one this year and that you get this package in time. Jess mentioned that you had a particular liking for toffee and fudge so I do hope you like what's inside. She also mentioned that you loved music and so there is something extra special inside from my husband. He said that he wanted it to go someone who could appreciate her as he much as he did. I wasn't allowed to see so I'm trusting that it's appropriate and if it's it not, you'd best tell me so I can tan his hide! Everything is under the shrinking charm so all you need to do is use the Engorgio charm. If you have trouble with it, I would advise you to ask Lily rather than Jess. She means well but she tends to get terribly excited and...blow things up. We are so excited to see Jess making such lovely friends! She speaks very highly of you and bless your soul, you must be patient to deal with her antics! I do hope she isn't being too rough. Some of those pictures... Merlin, I feared she'd nearly kill you with that one on the broom. I've told her about that! Nevertheless, any friend of hers is a friend to us. Welcome to the family, sweet boy. Have a wonderful birthday, dear! May you have many more! P.S. Do not let my child con you out of your presents with her innocent face. I know that she 'seems' sweet but if you give in...you'll regret it. Trust me. Her father has been wrapped around her finger since she was six seconds old. " When the letter was finished it ripped itself up and turned to ash. Sirius was a little disappointed. It had been so nice...he had kind of wanted to keep it. He glanced up to find Remus looking at him curiously and Jess looking mildly offended. "She makes me sound like some kind of animal." she scoffed. "Well..." Remus smirked. "I'd say more reptilian. You do have a certain, what was it you called it Padfoot? Dragon lady...quality about you." "Remus Lupin!" she scolded him. "You are a booger head and I am not talking to you anymore!" "I have chocolate." he said lifting his brows at her and holding up a piece. "All is forgiven." she said racing over to join him. "So what did she get you?" she piped up from her spot with Remus on the floor. Sirius reached into the box to pull out a container and he smiled. "Toffee." he smiled. "Oooh!" she gushed and jumped on his bed. "That's mum homemade toffee! It's really good! She won a blue ribbons for it at the local Muggle fair!" He pulled another out and observed the white chunks with rainbow sprinkles. "Birthday cake fudge." he smiled as he read the label aloud. "It's really good." Jess nodded. "It tastes like white chocolate and cake batter. Mum makes it for Dad every year on his birthday. I bet she had to make two batches!" He pulled out a jar of something and for just a moment it made him think of firewhiskey but he smiled when he read the label. 'Sirius, dear, this is a new recipe I'm trying out. It's called Toffee Syrup. We like to put it in porridge, tea, pumpkin juice, coffee...come to think of it, anything really. I've added just a bit something special to this one. I'd love to hear what you think.' "Mum'll kill me for telling you this but it's really good you mix it with firewhiskey and put it over ice cream." Jess piped up and he lifted his brows at her. "And here I thought you were sweet and innocent." he commented. She laughed, "Sirius, we both know I'm far from either of those." He pulled out a black knitted hat. "Oh, Mum, doesn't want you to catch cold!" she wailed dramatically. "Don't cry on it." he teased. "But she stitched it with love, Sirius!" she wailed again. He resisted the urge to shove her off the bed when something caught his eye. A small black case and upon further inspection he realized that it was a guitar case. 'Engorgio.' he murmured and enlarged it before pulling the zipper open to reveal a beautiful black acoustic guitar. "Ophelia!" Jess squeaked. "What?" Sirius asked her. "It's Ophelia." she said. "It's Dad's guitar. He let me name her when I was a little girl." Sirius frowned, "Oh, maybe you should have it then." "Nah." she shook her head. "I'm rubbish at guitar. I'm a drums kind of girl...much to mum's dismay." She grinned wickedly and pretended to play the drums. 

She never failed to make him laugh.  He pulled it out and ran his hand over it before glancing into the case and seeing the matching strap and an envelope. He opened the envelope to reveal a small note and a silver chain with a matching guitar pick on the end. "Hello, Sirius. I hope you have a very Happy Birthday. Jess tells me that you love music along with many other things. She seems quite fond of you and speaks of you quite a lot. Which is considerably out of character for her. You have to understand that for the longest time when she wrote home...it was usually to tell us that Lily's eyebrows had grown back or that she'd was very close to finding redcap colony. Naturally, as her father, I was a little defensive about you at first. However, you seem like an alright lad and she seems to take a liking to you. Any man that will willingly let her braid rainbow colored yarn into their hair....well you're alright with me, kid. I hope you have a great birthday and you enjoy old Ophelia. P.S. If you press the guitar pick, you can record yourself. Comes in handy when you're working on songs. ' Sirius carefully sealed the letter back up and placed everything delicately back in the box. "Sirius?" Jess whispered. "You have really, really good parents." he said quietly. Remus quietly left the room, deciding it was best to give the two of them some time. "I know." she said softly. Sirius just nodded, still just slightly shaking until she placed her hand on his. "Maybe you can meet them sometime. You know, to properly welcome you to the family and all." she said. There was more to that statement than either of them were willing to talk about at that moment. Grey eyes caught green and they just stared for a moment. She decided to break the tension with some comedy. "Mum may be swayed by your charms but I will not being giving you your present from me until it's your actual birthday." she said. "You got me a present?" he questioned. "Yes, and I'm not telling so don't even try!" she scolded as she stuck her finger in his face. He smirked at her challenge as he carefully placed the box underneath his bed and grabbed her ankle. "Not even if I do...." he trailed off as he hovered above her neck. "This." She bit her lip when his lips caressed her skin. "No!" she cried out. "Don't use your tricks!" "How about here?" he asked kissing her nose. "Never." she whispered. "Alright." he said. "But I think I'll try one more." "I'll never surrender, Captain Hook!" she called out, grinning wickedly as she saw her book on his bed side table. "Now, now Tinkerbell. Let's not be rash." he teased. "Now give me some of that pixie dust." She erupted into a fit of giggles, "Sirius Black, Lord of the Cheeseballs!" He tickled her relentlessly, "Surrender!" "Never!" she said rolling out from underneath him and racing into the halls, "Lost Boys, unite! We have to defend ourselves against the terrible Captain Hook!" The muggleborns got it, thought it was weird, but go it. Everyone...just kind of wrote it off as Jess being Jess. And James Potter stood at the foot of stairs looking at his friend with an odd expression on his face. "What?" Sirius asked. James shook his head. "Nothing. It's just...you two are clearly into some weird things." he said. Sirius laughed and shoved his friend along into his room. The thing was...he didn't mind her little games. He loved them almost as much as he did her.

Chapter Six

Chapter Eight

Hello, loves! How do we feel about Sirius’ early bday present from Jess’ parents?  How are we liking their relationship so far?  

I’d love to what you think! Please feel free to hit up the ask box, blast the comment section or reblog with your thoughts and feelings! Next chappie coming soon!

All my love darlings!

Kenny

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Love, Kenny

#sirius black #sirius orion black #sirius black imagine #sirius black story #sirius black x ps #sirius black x plus size #plus size #ps #ps ofc #ps oc #plus size oc #plus size ofc #sirius black x oc #sirius black x reader #marauders #marauders era #marauders era sirius black #young sirius black

[impossible-rat-babies]

@elmshore tagged me to talk about my fic our reflections!

gonna put this mostly below the cut bc it might get long + im ewbarressed 2 talk bout my fics bc often there is a lot of imagery behind them sdjfls

i’m gonna tag: 

@bitchesofostwick, @trvelyans, @mournholdmushroom, @wayhavn, and anyone else who is a mutual who writes who wants to be just. jabber on about their fic i would love 2 hear it

the idea rumbling around in my head, if I’m remembering this correctly, came after the book three demo came out and there is the bounty on the detective’s head for their capture. this got me thinking about how “well it would make sense if the trappers actively went after the detective when they were alone, or otherwise indisposed.” 

That got me rolling on the idea of what happened in the aftermath of such an incident. I wanted more the aftermath rather than the whole omg the detective is in danger haha they’re saved by their LI! I don’t find that as compelling or interesting personally compared to them saving themselves, but they’re injured or had to find a way out of the situation themselves. Or both--I’m not picky.

It was also a sort of fic born out of the desire to see where pollux and mason get on each others nerves/where their conflicts reside. I love fluff between couples, but I also love exploring the more difficult and organic parts of two people together. which this fic was a really great place to explore that between the two of them, mostly because pollux is antagonistic towards asking for help or letting himself be helped. he doesn’t need to be babied in this instance and he had everything under control. the fact that mason is upset over the fact that it actually happened and pollux didn’t tell anyone is irrelevant in pollux’s mind. he got out of it with his life and he can tend his wounds in peace--he doesn’t need help. thus, we have a nice little conflict.

but a bit of dialogue or action that got stuck in my head when i was first drafting it was:

“....fucking hopeless.” Mason grumbles to himself and Pollux bunches his fingers tightly in his shirt.

“If you’re gonna talk then shit say it to my face, Mason.” Pollux spits his name and he knows he’s playing chicken with a speeding car—sooner or later he’s going to get hit.

Mason turns on him, anger drawing his lips into a snarl and frustration tensing his shoulders,

(take one more step, I swear to god)

“I said...” He starts slow, meeting his grey eyes and there’s a vicious storm in that grey, “you’re fuckin’ hopeless, Pollux.”

“Good.”

we’re gonna ignore how pollux definitely would’ve decked mason if he had gotten much closer.

this part really stuck because in all my writings i’ve done with them, both published and unpublished, it’s often pollux who presents the conflict between them verbally. It’s more in his nature to have that confrontation compared to mason. but this is a flip on that, where mason is just so fed up with this sort of crap from pollux where he says something he doesn’t mean. it does sort of put a stop to the argument though, both of them sort of putting each other in their places. mason unintentionally saying an extremely hurtful statement to pollux, and pollux asserting both that yes mason you said that and yes i am hopeless glad you finally got the picture there chief.

moving on, I didn’t really write one of these scenes before all the others. I skipped past a majority of the main argument to get to the meat of that and then built everything up around it. I did skip to after the argument where pollux is in the bathroom alone too. fun fact: the ending is the least edited and most free flowing part of it because i got on a roll + i just didn’t want to edit it. is it less polished and more rushed feeling? maybe. but i did like a lot of the prose i put into the ending. (looking back it’s definitely sort of sparked my obsession with writing about hands and the minuscule movements of hands in fic. if i don’t spend a couple sentences of a character paying attention to hands then what sort of gay writer am I?)

--

the image in my mind when writing fics is often playing things out as a movie scene. it’s all constructed in my head, the environment, the placing of the characters in the space, their interactions. i pick out what seems the most relevant even if it seems rather mundane. blinds or curtains being open, the color a lamp sheds--if it’s more blue or yellow. (bluer whites always read more clinical or impersonal, where more yellow lights feel more homey and personal). or like the color of the tile. I love thinking about the color of bathroom tiles/the inherent cold touch of bathroom tiles. i also like thinking about bathrooms as much as i like thinking about vintage hotel rooms.

but in this fic I was really wanting to hit on the “this is the middle of the night when no one should really be awake unless you’re getting into trouble” but also “this is the middle of the night when people say things or get into arguments because the dark hides everything.” 

also i dunno why i’m so stuck on only having one light source in a scene i write, it’s become a habit and i dunno why.

--

I didn’t really take inspo from another piece of media. i mean, it’s undoubtably got bits of tropes and such stuck into it, but such is writing. im not saying this is entirely original because it isn’t, i just can’t think of anything.

and like i said before, the book three demo with the trapper bounty really got me thinking. well that and the realistic part of what would happen if pollux got jumped by three or four trappers intent on kidnapping him.

me taking the idea of the detective possibly never having killed someone and tossing that shit out the window.

not that pollux is eager to kill people, or is fine with it. tensions just run high when you’re being attacked and slamming a person’s head into the bonnet of your car until they stop moving in a viable tactic for him. did the trapper live? i dunno, pollux certainly doesn’t.

--

i guess the cornerstone going around with this fic was stated above--the strained, realistic, not getting along parts of relationships between people. the subjecting these characters to a possible thing that could happen and seeing how they deal with it in their ways and the conflicts that brings.

but there’s also this chance to grow, to figure things out and avoid a repeat of the situation. it’s as much about the nitty gritty as it is the learning process of being with someone. like when mason explicitly asks/says in his own way for pollux to not do something like that again, whether thats fighting the trappers on his own, or refusing to be helped. or pollux not outright saying no, but rather saying he’ll try. it’s a step along the way towards making it work.

i know i write a lot about the rough and angsty parts of a relationship, but it’s also partially about the growth between characters. the realism of the bickering, the fights, the missteps along the way when you’re trying to make a partnership work. it’s the caring enough to make a mess, to not turn ones back on someone for being difficult. 

i love writing gross--both angsty gross and fluffy grossly human stuff!

#me writing 1.2k of incoherent shit like Yes Me Give Me Nothing #me absolutely not giving a fuck at five am like! #owen writes #anyway im obsessed with bathrooms and hotel rooms and stinkin prose and the human condition #and i love writing about it! #okay to rebloog if you wanna #anyway mason and pollux are complicated it's okay

[wellthatjusthappend]

If you're still doing prompts, maybe a very protective, almost stalkerish, Alpha Ric Grayson and an irritated Omega Jason Todd?

I got a little carried away in their reuniting scene and what might Ric assume if he couldn’t remember Jason was an Omega but liked him anyway. He’s planning his stalking, but we don’t quite get to see it in this short. Kinda wanted to save it for a more flushed out scene later. 

Great prompt!

****

“Holy fuck, that’s a bullet wound, isn’t it?” 

Ric swung round ready give hell to whoever had the balls to try and follow him to the latest house he was squatting in. He assumed it was another of “Dick”s old friends that Wayne was sending after him, and he was not in the mood, but when he turned around-

Holy hot damn-

“Hey seriously, what happened? The Bats never tell me shit,” the guy said from a loosely relaxed sprawl of a predator. Ric had always assumed he was straight, but he had never so instantly wanted to be fucked by someone who was so clearly another Alpha. 

Well, you learn new things every day. 

“Don’t really remember,” Ric said finally, “Don’t remember much of anything after the circus, actually.”

That caught the man’s attention.

“Wait, seriously? You’re not fucking with me?” the guy sat up straight, “This isn’t another one of you and B’s asshole lets-fake-Dickies-death-and-not-bother-to-tell-anyone-until-months-later kind of deal is it?”

“What?” Ric reared back, “He did what-? No, nevermind, I don’t want to know. And yeah, pretty much zilch on the memories.”

“Shit, that sucks,” whistled the guy.

“What sucks is having all these people who think they own a part of me try and tell me who I am,” said Ric bitterly. 

“Hn, that’s what you get I guess when you’re a people pleaser.”

“Fuck off,” Ric made a face, but secretly he was sort of pleased. No one from his old life had done anything but walk on eggshells around him… this was sort of nice. 

“Oooh, he curses now,” the guy laid a hand over his heart with a wicked grin, “Well, you were bound to hit your rebellious streak sooner or later.”

“So who exactly were you to old me?” asked Ric changing the subject. 

Several expressions flickered over the guy’s face before Ric could figure out what they might mean. 

“Nobody,” he said ruefully at last, “You didn’t even like me much, to be honest. I just dropped by to get some intel, but I guess you wouldn’t know anyway.”

“Mmm, well you don’t seem too bad to me,” said Ric drawing a little closer. Strangely enough, he still couldn’t smell anything from the guy. 

“Just wait until you get to know me,” he snorted. Ric caught himself staring at that nick again and had to stop himself before he did something embarrassing. You didn’t stare at Alpha necks. 

“Well my motto lately has been ‘out with the old and in with the new’ so…” Ric extended his hand, “Hi, I’m Ric Grayson. I don’t hate you and I wouldn’t mind getting to know you.”

“Ric?”

“It was my nickname.”

“It makes you sound like a doushe.”

“Like you then.”

“Hey, no, I’m an asshole. That’s a whole different tier.”

Ric could feel himself smiling. 

“And your name?”

“Oh, right. Uh… not sure how much you know so I guess you can call me Jay,” the guy said finally. 

“Just Jay?”

“You wanna call me something else?”

Why don’t you stay the night and we’ll find out, Ric almost said. 

“Jay’s fine,” Ric said instead, “makes you sound like a little bird.”

For one moment, there was a haunted look on Jay’s face. 

“You’re the little one here, shorty,” he scoffed.

“Don’t worry, I’d have trouble believing there was anything little about you,” Ric teased before he could stop himself. 

Damn, he’d been flirting too much at bars. 

Except… Except, Jay was turning a delightful shade of red and not quite meeting his eyes. 

No way, he was gay too? And he liked Ric? Or maybe he liked Dick… no, he’d said he and Dick Grayson didn’t get along. He liked Ric. It was almost like a drug to think. 

Ric wanted him in his bed. 

“Right, well, anyway,” Jay said standing up a little too abruptly, “Like is said, you probably don’t have the info I was after so I should probably get going-”

“There’s no rush,” Ric said, letting himself slide a little closer. Jay looked flustered beyond belief, and Ric was rapidly editing his fantasies. Teasing. There would be lots of teasing. He was dying to see what would happen if he pushed the young Alpha just far enough…

“No, I really gotta go,” Jay said not quite meeting his eyes, “Anyway, sorry about your head Rickie, I guess I won’t be seeing you around much anymore.”

He practically fled. 

“I wouldn’t say that…” Ric said, picking up the jacket Jay had left. He was already planning to bribe that Barbara girl to see if he could find where the other guy lived. With as strong as reactions as he’d been getting, he was pretty sure if he could put himself in the other’s way a few times- maybe return the favor and break into his house next time- he’d be able to trip his way into the other’s bed soon enough. 

It only had to be once. Probably. 

Ric brought the fabric to his face and breathed, for the first time catching a scent that wasn’t cigarettes. It was just some Omega scent though. Jay was an attractive Alpha, he’d probably rubbed up against one at some point. Ric tried not to be jealous, but honestly that scent…

Warmth, a flash of red, yellow, and green, bright laughter in his ears…

Ric shook it off. 

It was an incredibly attractive Omega scent, but Ric would keep his eye on the prize.

#story request #this one ended up long enough it'll probably go on ao3 #plus I want to continue #jaydick #ric grayson #my writing #Anonymous

[incorrectly-quoted-queers]

Maybe Loving Someone at Kaer Morhen

 @nim-nim-1994​ and @g-l-o-w-y-l-i-g-h-t-s asked for it soooooo

Expanding my Countess Break-Up chat into a mini-fic

It’s your faults 

.....

“I don’t understand women sometimes. I mean, the Countess and I were having a great time. Why did she have to ruin it?”

Though Jaskier was comfortably laying in the grass, Yennefer preferred a couch under a tree. Initially Vesemir wasn’t too keen on a sofa being in the training area, but per usual, Yennefer won the argument. 

He’d never been a huge fan of hers, but they had a sort of bond now, watching over Ciri and the Witchers at Kaer Morhen. They wouldn’t admit it, but it was the closest either of them got to a happy home life. 

Perched on her proverbial queen’s throne, Yennefer rolled her eyes. “I think perhaps you sleeping with her husband ruined it, love.”

“I thought bringing equality and honesty to their marriage would’ve been good for them.” Flicking an insect off his pants, Jaskier wondered why he never got himself a sofa.

Granted, it would be harder to see the sun in the shade. 

When Yennefer didn’t add anything, he continued his complaining. He wasn’t quite done yet, and her silence was not going to stop him now. “What will I even do with myself, without a lover to entertain myself with? Should I find a local noble? A wandering hero? A beautiful tavern flower? The options sound tantalizing, but they are so few and far between up here where no one but jaded Witchers hang their damn hats.”

“You’re joking, right?” 

Of all things, Jaskier did not like her tone. He propped himself up on his elbows and knitted his brows. “I know you don’t care about romance right now, too busy being a mother hen, but it is an absolute staple of my personality, thank you.”

“No, you absolute-” Yennefer sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, like he said something profoundly stupid. He knew the look because she often looked at him this way, but this one seemed especially sour. “You know Geralt’s in love with you, right?”

The laughter that bubbled out of Jaskier wasn’t cute, to say the least. “Geralt? Give a rat’s ass about me? Hardly.”

“You idiot men are so clueless.” 

“I take offense to that.”

“Well then get smarter.” Yennefer leaned into the arm of her sofa and rested her face on her hands. “He’s been mooning after you for years. But he’s a sad, tragic prick who will never say anything. I thought you chose not to notice.”

Jaskier sat up all the way and pressed a hand to his beating heart. “You have to be fucking with me. Of course I’d notice if my Witcher had any feelings for me.” And if he did, how dare you not tell me sooner. 

“You can’t be serious-” After getting this laser-focus look in her eye, Yennefer gasped. “Oh my god, you are. I never bothered to look into your mind because I assumed it was full of drivel, but you sincerely think that blatant fool of a man doesn’t pine after you.” Then she frowned. “Wait, what was that song about my tits in there-”

Jolting up, Jaskier started to walk away as quickly as he could. He didn’t need to die by magical hands just as he got possibly the most important information of his life. 

If Geralt really did feel that way-

Well, be still his damned beating heart, this changed everything. 

So, it was time to test Yennefer’s assertion. 

Jaskier mustered up all his courage and extravagant acting skills for this one, as he walked up the steps to Geralt’s room. He hadn’t gotten to say hello to him yet, since coming back from the Countess. The bard assumed that his stupid Witcher didn’t care. 

Maybe he was wrong this whole time. 

But if he was going to pull this little gambit off, he really had to sell it. Giving himself a few seconds to get the right proper tragic, dramatic face, he didn’t knock on Geralt’s wooden door. No, he just waltzed himself in, slamming it and making as much noise as possible. 

And there he was, sitting on the edge of his bed, his cotton shirt half on, cleaning the blades of his swords. Those yellow eyes looked up at him and, now that the bard was paying attention, there was a flicker of something bright before a deep scowl took over his face. 

“Jaskier-”

The bard wasn’t going to let his expressions push him away, with some growl or bark to try to bite away at the bard’s desire to be by his side. No, this time he had supposed insider information and Jaskier was going to run with it. 

Flopping on Geralt’s bed, pouting up at the Witcher, Jaskier said, “That’s it. I’m never dating another woman again.”

He looked for any movement on Geralt’s face from the corner of his eye; he almost missed the twitch of a smile. “Countess dumped you?”

“Yes, but not the usual one. It seems my type is unavailable women who will never compromise or accept me as I am, not to my face, at least.” Well, that wasn’t quite what happened, but this fit his little game a bit better. 

Ever the bizarre friend, Geralt patted his shoulder like he was a damned horse. “You’re a good bard.”

That wasn’t exactly what Jaskier was looking for, and it made him a little huffy. Maybe Yennefer was talking out of her ass, just trying to make a fool out of him.

“My ego needs no stroking, Geralt, I know I’m wonderful. I just think it’s high time I focus solely on men for awhile.”

As if by magic, those stressless shoulders stiffened. Now, if it was because he had interest or merely was uncomfortable with Jaskier talking about boning men while on his bed, that was the next step. After a beleaguered silence of creepily watching the Witcher’s every face-twitch, the man coughed and said, “Like who?”

Jaskier had to choke on a few breaths to resuscitate his damn heart. Holy hell, Yennefer might’ve been on to something. 

Now was not the time to panic. Sure, he’d been somewhat interested in hearing Geralt say his name among strained groans for years at this point. But he couldn’t get too excited and scare the clam of a man. Otherwise he’d shut the fuck up, and fast. 

He swallowed and tried to act casual, doing his normal egregious hand gestures. “Same type, honestly, just different sexy bits.”

If the bard didn’t know any better, he could’ve sworn those stiff shoulders were now melting into the slightest blush peeking from the back of the Witcher’s neck. 

He had to keep going. 

Sitting up slowly, knowing he was positioning himself a little closer to Geralt than he normally would, Jaskier said, “Now just to find myself a good option.”

Geralt mumbled something. 

Jaskier had to keep pushing. “What was that?”

Under his breath, the Witcher said, “Maybe one is closer than you think.”

Oh, so the man was going to play vague with him. That was... something. But he also knew Geralt a little too well, and vague never went anywhere. He had to keep sending him towards the brink of bubbling thoughts before the man would tip over and talk about his damn feelings. 

So, he pulled the meanest card he could.

Smirking, Jaskier countered, “Do you mean Lambert? Because whilst he’s a delinquent, I have to admit, he’s got a decent face--”

“Absolutely not.” The response practically rumbled out of Geralt’s chest like fucking thunder. 

Jaskier wasn’t sure if he should be a little scared or turned on. 

Probably both, if he was going to be honest. 

Before he could say anything about it, Geralt put his sword on the bed and bolted upright. “Never mind, you’re not dating anyone here, ever.” 

And then he walked out of the damn room. 

Funny, considering it was his room in the first place. 

The second Geralt’s door slammed behind him, Jaskier let out an embarrassing snort of laughter. He’d hate telling Yennefer she was right, but this one might actually be worth it. 

Running his hand across the hilt of Geralt’s blade, wondering how long the Witcher had been keeping romantic secrets from him, Jaskier said to himself, “Don’t act so sure about that, Geralt of Rivia.” And then he sputtered out some more unladylike laughter that’d he really have to deal with another day that wasn’t today. “Now the real fun begins.”

Just as he stopped talking, though, the door slammed back open and Geralt had this perturbed frown on his face. “This is my room.”

“Yes, and you just stomped out of it. It was quite adorable.”

The frown on the Witcher’s face deepened. “I was tending my blades. Out.”

“Alright, alright.” Even though he was exiting Geralt’s room for now, he was still going to leave the man with some torment. Jaskier smiled over his shoulder and asked, “But what if tonight, since we haven’t seen each other in awhile, we shared a bed like those poor early days of travel? How nostalgic that’d be, tucked up against you and-”

“Out.” 

Face forward, Jaskier had to hide his overblown smiles to keep the ruse going. “See you later, Geralt.” 

As the door shut behind him, he really couldn’t wait for the next time those yellow eyes met his. After all, he was going to make the stubborn man tell him what he felt, if it was the last thing he did. 

...

(Maybe could do a part 2, dunno, depends on if y’all want it, tell me if you’re interested <3) 

Edit: Part 2 and Part 3

#Witcher fanfic #Witcher fandom #geraskier #Geralt x Jaskier #Bard x Witcher #Yennefer the wingman #Kaer Morhen #Geralt's secret feelings #Jaskier tricking the witcher #romantic angst #Pranking Geralt #fantasy boyfriends #friends to lovers

[johaerys-writes]

Chapter 14: Cobwebs and Oathstones

Fandom: Dragon Age

Pairing: Aran Trevelyan/Tristan Trevelyan

Summary:

Aran and Tristan are childhood friends. Best friends. Brothers, almost. They’ve been inseparable since the moment they met, one rainy autumn day underneath the maple tree in the school playground.

Best friends don’t fall in love with each other. Surely not.

The new chapter of my and @oftachancer​’s collaborative fic, featuring her OC Aran and my OC Tristan is up! Where the Terrible T’s venture into the ancient catacombs underneath the Trevelyan manor, and discover something... unexpected 👀

Read more on AO3,  or start from the beginning :)

****

“Oh, wow!” Tilly exclaimed, turning her head to look around the catacombs like a curious bird. “This place is huge!”

“It is!” Aran replied. “There’s loads of stuff down here. Last time, Tris and I found this massive set of armour that belonged to a great uncle of yours- was it Trevor Trevelyan?”

“Trenton Trevelyan the Third,” Tristan grumbled, illuminating the corridor before them with the torch.

“Aye, that’s the one! He had this huge sword, too, right, absolutely massive. Tris said he could wield it one handed, but Void knows how he did it because that thing was- Ah! What- Is that a spider?!” Aran spun in a circle, scrubbing his fingers through his hair. “Fuck, fuck, fuck- get it off, get it off!” Tilly gasped and ran to his side, patting down his hair and his back, while Aran’s cries echoed deafeningly down the corridor.

Tristan sighed, wondering whether people would notice it if he locked them both in the catacombs and then fled.

“I don’t see a spider, munchkin,” Tilly said worriedly, biting her lip as she searched through Aran’s hair. “Maybe it was just your imagination.”

“I hate them. I hate them.” Aran twisted to look back over his shoulder, aiming his light at himself. “So many feckin’ legs,” he shivered, tugging his hood up over his head and cinching it tight. He looked to Tristan, biting his lip, fingers flexing in that way they did at school or at parties right before he suggested they find somewhere to go that wasn’t people. Right before he reached for him and tucked his palm against Tristan’s and gave that quiet sigh that was the first of many as hand holding progressed to other things… Aran held his gaze in the dark and shoved his hands and his torch into the pouch of his sweatshirt. “It was a big sword,” he finished lamely.

Tristan swallowed thickly, looking away. He didn't like that he couldn't hold his hand, or kiss him. He didn't like hiding what they had from Tilly, of all people. But it was still so early. Tristan hadn't fully understood what was happening between them himself, and if he told Tilly, she would have questions. He wouldn't last a moment under her scrutiny. And she might tell Mother, or someone else and then...

"Right," he said abruptly, marching ahead. "The room is not too far from here. We can go there first and check the sword after we're done." He would think about it all later. Now was not the time.

"Oh, yes, we should!" Tilly said excitedly. "Swords are so fun. Remember when we went to the Ostwick History Museum with school, three years ago? All those sets of armour! All those swords! Those lances! They were so shiny. And I loved the engravings. Some of them were absolutely beautiful- they don't make them like that anymore. Well, they don't make them at all anymore, which is a pity if you ask me. Oh! Wouldn't it be fun if we had armour and swords made for the three of us? I bet we would all look smashing. The Terrible T's: Fourth Blight edition." She threaded her arm through Aran's, grinning.

“So long as it’s without the actual Blight.” Aran leaned into her, eyeing the webs they passed under with suspicion. “You should see the armor we found down here, too! When we found it, Tris said he’d wear it. You’re pretty tall. Might suit you better.”

“It looked heavy," Tristan said. “Even if both of you got in it, I don’t think you’d be able to lift it.”

“So you’d be able to lift it and the both of us wouldn’t?” Tilly sniffed. “Someone has a big idea of themselves.”

“No,” Tristan rolled his eyes, “I just call things how I see them.” He quickened his step, walking well ahead of them. The sooner they reached the blighted room, the sooner they’d leave. He hoped. “We’re close. Aran, is your torch working?”

“Hm?” Aran was walking with his chin perched on Tilly’s shoulder, his arms wrapped around her. “No hands. Don’t know.”

Tilly laughed, reaching into Aran’s sweatshirt pouch. “Here. I’ve got it.” She switched it on, illuminating the corridor before them. “You know, I learnt a spell last year that gives you light without using a torch. Some mages use it with a wand or a staff, but I can cast it without one! Although Mistress Anaan said it’s dangerous and that she would punish anyone who tried it. Oh, I wish I could show you! If only we were allowed to use magic outside the Circle. Think we’re deep enough into the earth now to not be detected? I’ve heard that when mages go into the Deep Roads, the magic detectors can’t sense them at all, so they can cast as many spells as they like. Regina, the new transfer from the Lake Callenhad Circle, was telling us that many mages from their Circle were sent to the Deep Roads in Orzammar to test out new spells that they didn’t want the government to know about. It was all very hush-hush, you understand. That is if she was telling the truth, which I’m not entirely sure she was. She told Gianna that Bastien asked her out, and Gianna told me, because she knows I know Bastien, and we sit next to each other in my Arcane magic class. So I asked Bastien-"

"Don't forget to breathe, Til," Tristan said teasingly.

"Oh, shush, you," his sister laughed. "Anyway- where was I?"

"What did Bastien say?" Aran asked, blinking up at her.

"Oh, yes! So. Bastien said he only texted her once, and that was to ask her to bring him back a pouch of crystal grace powder that he had lent her. So I’m not really sure what to make of her. Maybe she lies about some things, but not others." She tapped her chin with her finger, then made a vague gesture in the air, shaking her head. "Anyway. Top secret expeditions into the Deep Roads sound very, very interesting, if you ask me. I do hope they’re true. I do hope they send me there someday! I want to do all the research. All the spells! I might even come up with one that sends all the spiders running. I bet there’s loads of them in the Deep Roads. Then I’ll show you how to do it, Aran! Oh.” She paused, frowning. “It’s a pity you’re not a mage. We would have had so much fun together in the Circle. But that’s alright! When I go to the Deep Roads, I’ll take you with me. And I’ll keep you safe from all the spiders,” she grinned, pinching his chin.

“If you come up with a spell that scares spiders of all shapes and sizes, they’ll give you an award and a duchy,” Aran beamed at her. “I will. I’ll found a feckin’ kingdom and hand you the keys to it.” He nudged her with his shoulder, “Anyway, Miri’s there if you want a dose. She’s fun.”

"Oh, yes! Miranda's lovely. I see her from time to time, but she's usually busy. She's working really hard on her apprenticeship. Her blue robes suit her very nicely. I can't wait to get started on my own. Mistress Anaan said I might be able to start early if I pass all my exams with good marks next year. I'm thinking Arcane or Primal. Everyone says they're tough, but I think they're both fascinating. Oh! Is this the room?" She cast the light of her torch on the door that Tristan had stopped before.

Tristan took a hesitant step forward, let his gaze glide over the engravings on the door's surface. "Yes. That's the one."

"Oooh." Tilly's eyes widened. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get in!"

Tristan reached for the doorknob, his heart thrumming in his chest. The door protested loudly as he pushed it open, raising a cloud of dust in its wake. "Okay," he said, standing aside. "On you go. Search to your heart's content."

“You’re really not coming in?” Aran asked quietly.

Tristan let out a slow exhale through his nose. "I am. In- in a minute." He watched as Tilly walked forward, swinging the light of the torch in a wide arc around the room, before stopping at the large stone in its center.

"Oh, my. Sweet Maker! Is that the stone? The oath stone? Quick, Aran, get your notebook out! I need to get a good look at those runes. We should take all of them down- but first, we must figure out what they mean. Some runes activate as soon as they're written in order. Wouldn't want to set something on fire before we've had a chance to study them. Although that would be fascinating in its own right. Do we have any water in case that happens…? Oh, well, we'll just need to be careful."

Tristan sighed, flexing and curling his hands at his sides. "I don't like this. I don't like it one bit. I told you we shouldn't have come down here."

“It’s okay,” Aran met his eyes. He shifted his backpack to his side and brushed his fingers down Tristan’s forearm behind the bulk of it. “We won’t do anything to start it up again. Just figure out what it actually is. You’ll feel better knowing, aye?”

"I don't know," Tristan mumbled, the knot in his stomach tightening. He caught Aran's pinky with his own, squeezing lightly. "Some things are better left on their own."

“But you don’t know what those do until you see what they are, eh? What if-“ Aran lifted his brows, squeezing back. “What if your great-grandad had to do something on this thing to be able to wear that armor or heft that sword? Even if you never want to do it, wouldn’t it be cool to know?”

Tristan nodded reluctantly, worrying his lip. "Okay," he said quietly. "Okay. Let's- let's just get this over with. This place is very… dusty." He scrunched his nose, looking away.

“Aye, it is. Just some notes. And then movies.” His eyes gleamed in the torchlight, the yellow making his soft blue eyes like a summer sky filled with sun. “If you want.”

Tristan swallowed thickly. Aran’s gaze on him and his fingers that threaded discreetly through his sent a rush of warmth through him. “I do,” he whispered. “You know I do. I-”

“Aran! Tris! Come, come over here! I think I know what most of these runes mean. There’s so many of them, oh, dear. Our ancestors worked really hard on this thing. Or whoever made it for them, anyway. I haven’t seen one quite like this before. And you said there was a sword, too? And a book?”

“Yes,” Tristan said, untangling his fingers from Aran’s, “there’s a sword. But I’m not touching it. And neither are you,” he glanced sharply at Aran.

“I brought gloves,” Aran smiled hopefully.

Tristan huffed and walked away from him, coming to stand over Tilly. “Right. What did you find?”

Read more on AO3!

#aran trevelyan #tristan trevelyan #aran x tristan #friends to lovers #childhood friends to lovers #modern au #playground love #oftachancer writes #johaerys writes

[slashingdisneypasta]

Mayor Buckman and Granny Boone x Fem!PleasantValleyResident!Reader

Title: Throuple

Notes:

Granny Boone is bisexual and you can’t change my mind. 

This is way too long I’m sorry. My excuse? Its self indulgent that's why and I wrote it over the course of 2 days, both at night time so... 

Pick whichever Buckman you like best. 

Plot: 

Boone and Buckman just care a lot about you! A looooooot, a lot. Like, so much. A colossal amount, really- but you’ve never heard of a ‘throuple’ before.

Warnings: Uhh, polyamory? Sexual harassment, hint towards rape (Not of you or any known characters but still), 2001 Maniacs craziness? Reader might also have a mental illness, I don't know. Its not explicitly stated and I’m just the writer so how would I know? But she is really tired. Laziness in the last written sentence. I haven't edited the last half, so it might be illegible... In the morning I probably will edit. 

~~~

SET: Before the massacre, so everyone is alive except the 2001 Maniacs victims who have yet to be born because this is 1860

“Hey Y/N!” One of the men from table three - was it William or was it Lawrence? I don’t know, whoever-it-is’ voice is too slurred at this point for me to figure. Turning away from the table I was wiping off, I tuck the washcloth into the waistband of my apron and raise an eyebrow vaguely towards the table. “Come over here a moment, wouldja?”

“Why?” Now, usually, I would go over; No question. But its nearly closing time now, and its dark, and men like to get rowdy at this time, and I’ve been burned by that shtick before. Resting my working hands, course and strong, on my hips, I raise my eyebrows.

Put on a cold front and they’ll lose interest. Uh, usually.

“Just wanna get a betta look atcha! Larry here says you got a flat ass, but I got 3 coins on yer plump bottom. Y’ wouldn’t want me losin’ coin, would you?? Come on, now, just stand over here and lemme ‘ave a look-see. Wont even touch!” William, as I can now see, shows off his grotty yellow teeth in a wide grin.

He honestly think’s that crap will fly? He really, truly believes I’ll just submissively walk over to them and bend the fuck over?

What the hell do they take me for? I’m a waitress, not a prostitute.

Instead of snapping at them though I merely sigh, and clap my hands in a finished manner. “Come on boys, time to go home. It’s closing time and my snuggly warm bed’s calling out t’ me. Aren’t yours’? Come on, then!”

Groans and protests are my response, but the long drunk and tired men - they’re here after a long day of work in some mines, - get up and head for the exit to my building despite their complaints. I know neither of them are staying in any of the hotel rooms above, so that’s where they’ll go and that’s where I herd them. Out the saloon doors and down the street. I shoo them all the way, curbing their complaints with ‘Think about lovely dreams’, and ‘You can come back tomorrow for breakfast!’. Once we’ve gotten to the door, I wave them off, dish cloth in hand. “Goodnight boys, see you in the morn- Ah!” A high-pitched shriek comes out of me and is released into the cold night-time air in a puff of visible gas in the lamp light as I whip around. Someone pinched my-

“Theodore.” I gasp, eyebrows furrowed as I use my fists to cover my ass as I look up defensively at the tall, roguish looking man. I thought he left hours ago!

How dare he-

“Definitely plump / flat, boys!” He calls out to the two that are heading down the street, receiving raised hands in goodbye and laughs in response. Probably disgusting comments, too, but the mix of how far away their retreating backs are becoming, and the alcohol in their systems making their words blur together like flour and eggs mean that I thankfully don’t hear them with any sort of clarity. Theodore looks back down at me and smirks. “You said something about a warm snuggly bed, Miss?”

“Yes. Yours is a couple blocks from here. Be free to go forth, right now.” I roll my eyes, slipping around him so he’s closer to the door. He twists around and runs a hand through his greasy hair that’s far too long, and would be fair if he ever let water touch it. Good lord man, go see Al the barber and maybe you’ll learn some manners along the way.

“Aw, are you mad at me now Y/N?”

“Just cross.”

“I know a fun way we could work through those passionate feelin’s together, darlin’- “

Another voice joins the fray, just as I’m worrying if Theodore will ever actually leave, or more seriously- If he will ever actually pull through with the comments like that that he always makes towards me. “Oh, what’s that?”

Theodore and I look out to the street immediately to see who’s interrupted him. Who, with such a high and feminine voice, has had the audacity. Who, has become simultaneously his annoyance, and my saving grace.

My eyes land on Boone, and a grin makes its way over my lips. She looks cross herself, hands on her hips, shoulders anchored towards Theodore in a way a mother might look at her son when she is…

Totally pissed off.

I waive my dish cloth at her from behind Theodore. “Good evening, Boone!”

She doesn’t so much as say anything back, just glances at me and then back at the problem- Theodore. Oh man, if I were him I’d be backing off now. Boone scares everyone, me included. Not that I have to worry, she’s made it clear that she cares about me.  

… A little too much, but still. That’s neither here nor there right now. I’m glad she’s here!

“I think I heard some unsanitary comments comin’ from you, Mr Miller. At least I hope they were just comments. Why don’t you go on and apologise to our deserving waitress Miss L/N, before I let the Mayor know what you’re up to here. I believe he warned your ass last time we caught you cornering her.” Boone’s eyes darken on him and I wonder if I could slip off to the side and clean off the last table; the one William and Lawrence were at previously, so I can retire sooner. She’s got this all under control, if I know her.

But then Theodore just rolls his shoulders back, and the air around him seems to still. “You know, Miss Boone, I never see either you or our esteemed mayor every kickin’ up such a damn fuss over anyone else in this town. I mean, shit. I had some devilish fun with Miss Lyla the other day and you didn’t do nothin’!” A smirk slowly rolls over his mouth as he looks back at me for a moment, caging me in those dark, weaselly eyes for a moment. Oh, crap.

Boone, though, doesn’t even bat an eye.

But before she can say another word, yet another familiar voice calls from the shadows. I look down the path the way Boone was headed down before she heard Theodore and I and stopped by, to see Buckman walking down towards her. What are these two doing taking walks at 11 at night for, anyway? Why aren’t they together?? Seems a bit choreographed, to me. Let me just add that to all the reasons they creep me out.

Now, our Mayor is shorter than Theodore, who is much like a weasel in that he’s skinny, smelly and long, but that doesn’t make him an any less intimidating presence against him. Even with cheer in his eyes and his hands carefully in his pockets, its always been clear from the get-go, that he’s a force to be reckoned with. Its something about the way he holds all of his emotions inside, I’ve always thought. Mixed with the knowledge that he’s fought in a war.

It’s why we voted for him.

“Oh, uh, Mr Mayor.” Theodore swallows down a gulp of spit, stepping forward out of my saloon, finally. “Sir!” I take a deep breath and let it out, relieved, going straight to the doors and wedging myself between them; blocking him from coming back in and ready to shut the doors again as soon as I can. I don’t want Theodore coming back in, but I also don’t want to be left alone with either of these two nutters’, either.

Oh, by ‘nutters’, I mean ‘pillars of the community’… Mostly, I mean that. Uh, half.

Okay fine, they’re nuts.

“Mayor,” I greet, inclining my head for a moment politely.

“Evenin’ Y/N! I hope you’re not having too much trouble with this one.” Buckman immediately flashes me a bright, election winning smile. A real one. Like he always does when he see’s me.

“Well, he was. But I think Boones got it covered.” I grin back, unable to help it. He’s very charismatic!

Boone’s expression softens a bit and she relaxes her stance, giving me a little smile. “Thank you dear.”

“I’m sure she does.” Buckman agrees, and then they share a smile between them, and I look down at Theodore on the bottom step that leads to my saloon. Oh Jesus Christ, if he had suspicions before, then they are just growing now. This is just what I need!

I haven’t done anything, Theodore!! I promise!

Which is not to say I haven’t received countless offers, but I don’t need to be even thinking about that. Seeing as I declined. 

“Now, why don’t you head on home Theodore.” Buckman drops his nose to look up at Theodore with a little bit more menace and severity. “You’ve overstayed your welcome.”

“Good night sir! Boone, Y/N.” Finally, Theodore looks back over his shoulder at me, and then makes a break for it down the road past Boone. She gives him a stink eye for as long as she can before losing interest.  

And then its just me, Boone and Buckman in the stillness of the night.

And I wish I’d run off like Theodore.

“Well! Good night ya’ll! I got an early day tomorrow, so- “ I try to escape by weaving an excuse and locking the doors behind me, but it it’s not 2 minutes later when the only other set of key’s for this building stick into the lock, turn, and they walk on into my saloon. I sigh, now behind the counter washing cups.

Of course. He’s the mayor. Of course, they have keys.

Looking up at the ceiling, I pray for an easy time of it tonight. Please, let them be tired from their daily duties and they’ll go home soon.

I continue to wash glasses and plates and put them away, but I don’t get too far before Boone’s gone right ahead and helped herself to my special ‘only me’ area -behind the counter of my saloon,- and turns me around by the shoulders to look at me. “He didn’t touch you, did he?”

I sigh, and tell her. “No. I’m fine. You shouldn’t worry for me.” She really shouldn’t, not in the way she does. She has a husband.

The part where he didn’t touch me is obviously incorrect, but I better not mention that to these two.

“Even so, we do worry darlin’. Come on, sit down for a bit. Give us some peace of mind, at least.” Buckman, immediately on the other side of the counter, asks and I sigh. I’ve learnt, that if I don’t comply, then they’ll never leave. And besides, the things they ask of me are never bad. Just, sit down and talk with them. Play cards. Have a drink. Generally, just lovely things like that.

It’s the intent behind them that concerns me.

“Yes. I’ll go and get you some water.” Boone says with a No-‘If’s’-or-‘Buts’-about-it kind of tone, and I try to open my mouth and protest against that, but she’s already guiding me around the bench. When we reach the end, she deposits me with her mayoral husband, and he leads me the rest of the way to a table. I sit down, sighing simultaneously and he sits down next to me. “I’ll wash the glass; Don’t you worry about that!”

“That’s… “I blow air into one of my cheeks and blow out gradually. “… Not what I’m worried about… “

“Now, he didn’t do anything nasty, did he? He certainly had the intention.”

I shake my head and set my hands in my lap. I want to tell them what he did, I really do. I don’t know why, but I always want to tell them things.

But I retain the believe that I can’t. I shouldn’t be that close with either of them. “No, sir, I’m fine, really! That’s not even as bad as some other men get at this time of night, anyway. I could have handled- “A moment after I’ve admitted the fact that other men have been worse than what Theodore just suggested to me, I pause. And peer guiltily up at Boone instead of Buckman as she hands me the water she promised and then sits down on the other side of me. “… I haven’t helped my case, have I?”

“No.” She laughs.

Maybe I do need this water.

I take a sip and look at neither of them, instead settling my focus on this glass of water and the far wall. I really need to repaint that wall…

While I do this, and they talk to each other about their day, I ponder my situation.

Now, I… I don’t consider myself a judgemental person. I don’t care what any folks do behind closed doors, in their bedrooms. Man and woman, woman and woman, man and man. But I am damn sure that it is only supposed to include 2 people. I’ve never heard of couples that are more then that, unless you count cults and I don’t.

So, it’s not that I don’t care for them both. Not at all. Its that I can’t be with them both, like they’ve asked, like they want. I can’t.

I’d like to be that open minded, I would, but… I just can’t picture it.

___TIME SKIP: Modern Day___

Since they arrived, I’ve been peering a little too long to be polite at a few of the newest group of victims. I’m a little worried that they’ve noticed, but I’m also really curious. I just can’t tell who is a couple and who isn’t. There is a particular group of 3, that’s throwing me off. I definitely saw the blonde one kiss the ginger one, but then I also swear saw the ginger one and the brunette ones holding hands. Could that just be a friendly thing? It had a pretty intimate feel, to me.

Now, I stand on the porch of my saloon, leaning my forearms onto the railing as I watch them. Buckman’s still with them, along with half- no, the rest of the town, remaining town I should say, inviting to the annual ‘guts and glory jubilee’. At this point, I really don’t get why any of these kids stay. Maybe it’s just because I know what going to happen to them.

Or maybe, its because this generation of kids are morons.

‘Guts and Glory Jubilee’? I mean, really? At first it was clever, but it was only a temporary name for the trap. And now its been a hundred years and its still called the same thing, and my saloon’s always full with disrespectful modern teenagers and my friends acting like loons to keep them there, and the kids aren’t getting any brighter. Too blinded by the way us Pleasant Valley women dress, and the inviting way we all -men and women alike, - smile, and laugh. They’re none the wiser to our plot.

Like I said, Morons.

As I’m watching the usual show on Buckman explaining with bright theatrics what a fun time it’ll be and how they should stay, as our honoured guests, I catch the eye of one of those guests. The blonde one from before, that kissed the ginger one. They smile through the awkward, accidental eye contact, and I paste on a smile back- too old and too tired to care about the awkwardness. I keep the contact until the moment they look away, honestly too tired to look away first.

I just want to go.

Where everyone else did. My parents, my fiancé, my… god, even my fucking cat… Where they went. Before we were massacred. Heaven, or hell, or wherever the hell we go after real, no consciousness death. Where we can’t, until 2001 of these dumbass teenagers die.

I just have to hold on a little longer.

A little while later, they agreed to stay and I went off into my saloon, ready to great them and serve them drinks. And clean tables, and fight off bastards trying to get a drunken feel, and snap back at rude ass, degrading miscreants who think I’ll just stand by and let them call me names.

Which is what I’m busy with now, as I dry off a now clean glass, ready to be filled with my sub-par rum again. A loud, brutish call of ‘Hey, any fucking rum left? Waitress!’ interrupts my quieter, calmer thoughts of fantasising about seeing my family again right after the saloon doors absolutely slam open. I whip around and am ready to have Jonathon, the only man in this saloon that I even remotely enjoy the company of and my only employee, kick the bastard out when my voice escapes me. Instead, I roll my eyes in utter frustrated and groan. This is just what I need.

“Theodore, what have I told you about calling me waitress?! You know my name.” I exclaim through grit teeth, throwing my now damp dishcloth onto the bench with vigour, causing a couple boys at the bar to reel back with a few irritating, obnoxious ‘Oooh’s. Theodore slowly smirks in that easy way that he does, and drops down in the bench across from where I’m standing. “Yes, we have the revolting drink you love. You know, we have rum. You basically live here!” I throw him a greasy with my eyes. “Which reminds me, I’ve been meaning to ask you; Do you have a home?? Because I’d be happy to send you off with a weeks’ worth of rum if it means I’ll get some peace and quiet from you for that time!”

“Naw, baby, I come here for your company. If you came home with me for a week, that’d be a different story. I’d stay away easy! Just stay… in bed… with you.” He winks.  

Dropping the ferocity in my body language for a moment, I just deadpan at him. “You disgust me.”

“In the best way.” Theodore grins, then leans into the bar, evidently done with teasing me for now, if his serious expression tells me anything. “Anyway,” He starts, sounding exhausted now as his hair droops around his face and the smile officially leaves his eyes. “Drink?”

Because it’s my job, and because standing near a quiet Theodore is a welcome alternative then trying to make conversation with the teenage boys down the left side of the bar who ‘Ooh’ed me earlier, I pat the bar and grumpily head off for the rum and a glass. “Coming right up.”

While I do that, Boone and Buckman; The nutters, the pillars of the community, the mayoral couple and the banes of my existence, come into the saloon and take the table by the door. I ignore them though, pulling my own stool out from under my side of the bench and sitting down across from Theodore, pouring him his drink and sliding it to him. Jonathon can handle the rush for a few tiny minutes, while I sit for a second. “Thank you, darlin’.”

I don’t say anything back, because I don’t like to extend pleasantries to him of all people. Instead, I look around the room and do my usual assessment. The room’s loud, and full of people -Boone and Buckman took the last unoccupied table, and Theodore took the last stool, -, acting loud and having butt loads of fake fun. I don’t really care about that though; all I care about is that in a moment I’m going to have to get up and ask around for any more orders and clean some more cups and plates. For a second, I let my shoulders relax and I rest my hands on the bar in front of me. Strong, work woman’s hands.

“You noticed the ‘throuple’ in the new group?”

Oh, Theodore is still talking to me.

Joy.

“Huh?” I look up from my hands to meet his eyes momentarily, raising my eyebrows at him. What did he say?

“The throuple, that’s what they called it when I asked ‘em.” He smirks for a moment. “It’s a relationship between 3 people.”

“Why do I care? That sounds like their business.” I sniff, then wipe under my nose a moment and then move to fixing my apron over my chest. It had slid to the side while I was working, it seems.

For a glorious moment, he doesn’t respond. He just stays quiet, and I think how lovely his company is when he’s on the other side of the bar and is quiet.

Then I look up at him, still with my eyebrows up my forehead, and see he’s looking straight into my soul. A knowing, mischievous grin on his lips. Its as if he ironed it in that way, all creases and wrinkles on his face from smiling so much in his life.

But I know what he’s insinuating.

It’s a different world out there now, that’s apparently allowed. It happens. Romantic relationships between more then 2 people. Maybe I should reconsider my answer, to Boone and Buckman. Maybe it would work.

That’s what Theodore is saying with this look that is so annoyingly painted on his face.

And to that, I say fuck off.

Or I would, if I wasn’t a good, Christian lady.

Instead I shrug my shoulders at him and head off to check the tables. “It’s a whole new world out there!” I call back, successfully, hopefully, ending the conversation.

Where does he even get off making suggestions like that to me- he shouldn’t even be that sure of what was happening -what they were, or are still, trying to make happen, - to mention it to me in such a forward manner. I definitely didn’t tell anyone except my mirror, and my… bathroom sometimes… but I certainly didn’t say it above a whisper! He couldn’t have heard, even if he was snooping around like the creep he is.

And the other two definitely wouldn’t have said anything. They despise Theodore Miller even more then I do.

He must just be smart.

… huh.

Who knew? Theodore has a brain and not just a penis under that grease, sweat and soot covered flesh.

Like a coward, I hit every other table in the room before I get the one by the door. They obviously can tell that I’m trying to avoid them, because saloon procedure is obvious to get to the table that was most recently filled as soon as possible before any others, but I don’t really care. If Theodore and I noticed the, uh, ‘throuple’, then the mayor and his wife, definitely, did. And I’m dreading the conversation that is about to occur.

When I do, finally, start heading towards Boone and Buckman’s table, I notice Theodore turning around in his seat to drink and watch the scene.

With his knees spread wide like a heathen. Ugh! Not in my establishment. Before I get to the table, I show him my middle finger and he turns around, chuckling to himself.

Okay. I take a deep breath, and stop at the dreaded table.

“Good afternoon, Mr Mayor. Mrs Mayor.” I beam, a pasted smile that’s obviously fake. Luckily, because I don’t think I could handle any more embarrassment and pressure right now, and unluckily because I think anyone else’s attention might actually be preferred then these two’s right at any time, no one else is paying attention to see such a grin. “What’ll it be? Today we have beans and bread as the special- like always. “I take out my notepad and pen.

Not because I need them to remember orders, of course. Just to have something to focus on.  

“Good afternoon Y/N, why don’t you sit here with us for a bit? You look bone tired from takin’ care of this lot! It’s a full house today.” Boone asks, even going as far as using her foot to push out the other chair at the table that isn’t taken, for me to prospectively take.

Absolutely not.

“I am exhausted.” I find myself sitting down, instead of leaving like I should have. Immediately on feeling the tension leave my legs, I feel like collapsing onto this table and falling asleep. “Thank you.”

Leaning into my hands for a moment with my eyes closed will have to do. A feel a comforting hand pat my shoulder and it does feel better. “Why don’t you let Jonathon handle business for a little bit- we actually happened to have a talk the other day about him wanting more opportunities to advance. This would be a perfect opportunity for him! And you look warn, sweetheart.”

He shouldn’t call me that.

But it does sound good. Especially coming from Buckman. And with Boone looking so worried about me, too. It feels too nice a place to be, with them, to be wrong. “Uh, well, maybe… “

Then I look up, past Boone’s head and, by complete chance, on the blonde, brunette and ginger that have been the topic of the day…

And all of a sudden, momentary blind panic tears through me.

I jump up from my seat, the chair toppling down onto its back as I stand back on to my exhausted legs. it barely interrupts the volume of the room, so no one else really notices. But I do catch sight of Boone and Buckman’s faces, even more worried and a little bit hurt, before I stutter through an apology and an excuse about having to work, and I rush off back to the safety of my bar. Of course, Boone has been back here before, but I choose to ignore that little fact.

Theodore watches me with wide eyes, as all the tension in my person just grew to level a thousand intensity, as I call Jonathon over and ask him to take his lunch break now.

I don’t need any excuses to go and take my break. One of them, or both of them, might come and ask me if I’m okay. And I’m starting to forget why that’s such a bad thing, but I know there is a reason, and… Jesus Christ, I’ve never been so conflicted.

Because yes, the world outside of Pleasant Valley has come far. Like I said to Theodore, it’s a ‘whole new world’ compared to what it was when we were alive a century and a half ago.

But we’re in Pleasant Valley. And you only have to look around and see how different we dress and talk and move compared to these new present time people and you know; We aren’t part of that whole new world. Boone, Buckman and I don’t fit here.

Maybe if things were different.

Definitely if things were different, actually. I know, if they were, I would be there. I would be all in.

But I’m not and things aren’t different.

___

An hour later, and I’ve calmed down at this point. I still feel exhausted, now because I work so much and because of emotional baggage, but I don’t feel the racing heartbeat that made me sick before or the adrenaline that caused me to run away. So, it’s better… Stable again, at least.

I’ve convinced myself that if I don’t look their way. I can become numb again to the feelings they make in me. Its an idiotic notion, but its kind of the only thing keeping me still right now.

Merciless God, grant me a break. Amen.

The saloon is starting to quieten down for the night, as the light goes away outside and visitors disappear to their rooms -some with a partner they’ve only just met, some alone, some with friends they came with. It’s a big group this time, - upstairs in the hotel part of my building. I’m sitting back down in my stool behind the bench by the time the ‘throuple’-I’m still not sure about that word, - finally, FINALLY, decides to retire up to their room. I bid Jonathon a good night as he went home too, a little earlier to his wife and son, and waived shortly when Theodore pushed drunkenly off the bar and hobbled out the doors.

I lean heavily onto the bar myself, and watch the three go up the stairs together. The brunette’s holding the ginger’s hand now, and the blonde walks ahead of them and holds the key to their room.

After they disappear onto the second floor, I turn to look at who else I need to wait to leave, so I can go to bed myself. Mmm, I’ll take a long hot bath first, and light some candles to go with it. Most importantly, I’ll let my hair out of his too bloody tight ponytail!

“Ah, that’s sounds good.” I mutter, already imagining it as I push off the bench and go collect some plates and glasses that are left out on the tables and wipe them down for the last time today.

“Miss Y/N?” A familiar voice, Boone, calls the softest that I’ve ever heard it from the door. I look around quickly, ribbing the back of my aching neck to see no one else around. Huh, I hadn’t noticed I was alone.

It was nice.

Still, I flash her a tired, half smile. “I’m sorry for earlier.”

“I know. I’m sorry too. We should know at this point not to go so hard on you. You work all day harder than anyone, even Buckman but don’t tell him I said that.” She pauses, walking fully into my saloon and as if it were choreographed, we both sit down together at a table. “Actually, go ahead and tell him. Its true.” I grin despite myself, rolling my shoulders back and then leaning back in the chair- entirely taken over by exhaustion. I don’t even have energy to put up walls. Boone looks at me again and gives me a soft smile. “We want you to know always, that we care deeply for you, and whenever you’re ready you can join us. But… we also don’t want to stress you so much anymore. So, we’ll pull back- a little. If that pussy Miller tries anything on you again he will be dealt with.”

I nod, sighing. But, then again, why doesn’t that make me feel better? They’re going to leave me a bit more alone! I should feel relieved… but I do not. “Thank you.”

“Of course. I hate to see you so pent up.” A devious smirk touches her lips and her eyes. “I mean, I would like to help you with that in a different way then leaving you alone… But I will. Because I love you.”

I take a quick, deep breath. There it is. I never actually thought those actual three words would leave her lips aimed at me. But it’s the most natural thing in the world, tell her. “I love you too.” A wicked beam is my response from her at that.

“Can I hold yer hand?” Boone asks, offering her daintier hand across the table. Trying hard not to glance around for onlookers but failing, I take her hand.

It feels so nice, relieving, to hold it finally.

I take a deep breath, and whisper the next words. I want them out, I want to confide in someone. I’m sick of keeping everything to myself, I’m sick of being all alone. It’s by my own will, of course, but… it still hurts, all the same. “Boone, I-I’m just so… so weary, of everythi- “

Buckman interrupts me, turning up at the door. “Howdy, what’s going on in here?”

Boone ignore him, gathers up her skirts and gets to her feet. When she rounds the table to me, she drops them to the ground in favour of cupping my face in her hands instead. “I know. Why don’t you let go of one thing? Let us hold some of the load, sugar. Please.”

Finally, I can’t tell myself no. And I absolutely can’t tell her no. I glance from her to Buckman who has apparently read the atmosphere and now stands beside Boone. He smiles, like he always does at me. Like he feels it.

God, I want to feel a smile again.

And I lose the strength to do this all on my own anymore. I shakily get up from my seat and throw my arms around (You choose one or both, because I’m lazy and its bedtime for me).

#Horror Villains Oneshot #Granny Boone x Reader #Mayor Buckman x Reader #Granny Boone x Mayor Buckman #Oneshot #Fem Reader

[cheshiresense]

Oooh! Um... How about Kisuke/Yoruichi/Ichigo? Shadowrun AU (Fantasy AU if you don't know Shadowrun)

Lol I have no idea what Shadowrun is, did a quick google and it’s something like magic + cyberpunk + vaguely futuristic post-apocalyptic setting + virtual reality?? Omg it’s too complicated to write just from reading the wiki lmao, I’ll just give you a cyberpunk fantasy AU.

Edit: This got away from me a bit whoops.

1. Kisuke is your average humble toymaker in the Slums who may or may not supply the underground Robin Hood-esque rebel faction Visored with not-so-average weapons and prosthetics and various repairs and upgrades. The Visored are pretty much wanted in every kingdom in existence, partly because half of them used to be nobles themselves and were part of the minority who hated the way they treated their citizens, mostly because they keep fucking with the other nobles, but no one except said nobles actually wants them to stop because everybody who isn’t nobility pretty much hates those who are. Mostly, it’s the three neighbouring kingdoms - Seireitei, Silbern, and Las Noches - sitting cozy up in their walled off flourishing cities up high, constantly at war with each other but with plenty to eat and plenty of money to fund their large-scale chess games, and paying almost zero attention to the poor and homeless outside their walls. That doesn’t stop them from forcibly conscripting the lower class as cannon fodder or using the Slums as their personal dumping grounds or imprisoning or executing anyone they decide is breaking one law or another. Kisuke’s stayed under the radar so far, so nobody knows he’s the man even more wanted than the Visored, if only for his prodigal skills with cybertech. He’s the one who built their equipment and vehicles, who repaired Hiyori’s spine after she’d been left unable to walk from an ambush and produced a new arm for Hachi after it was cut off in a skirmish, both of which work just as well as the original parts. Most of the nobles either want to kill him or “hire” him. But a toymaker in the Slums who cobbles together tiny cats and dragons and chickens and pixies out of scrap metal for children to play with isn’t anything to look twice at.

2. Here is a secret only a handful of people know - Shihouin Yoruichi was born a cripple. She couldn’t walk, at all, and even the best prosthetics money could buy from the various cybertech companies were clunky and awkward and only allowed her to limp a certain distance. Her family, one of the great noble houses of Seireitei that specialized in seduction and assassination, hid her away out of shame, right up until a rebellious teenaged Yoruichi had had enough and snuck out one night on nothing but her wobbly fake legs and a crutch. She’d spent enough time on her own for the majority of her childhood to know just about every passageway and secret door that snaked through the length and width of Seireitei. She didn’t stop until she appeared in the Slums, and she fainted from exhaustion and hunger only a few days later, but she never looked back. Kisuke found her, took her in, and then made her legs on a whim, upgrading them every time he figured out something new and better that he could add to them. In exchange, Yoruichi used her newfound mobility to retrieve better materials for Kisuke, robbing delivery trucks en route to Seireitei’s cybertech companies or outright stealing from her own family’s weapons storage. Anything they could buy, Kisuke could reverse-engineer and make better. Ten years after she left her old life behind, her legs are a work of art, connected to her nerves to give her complete control over them but granting her superhuman speed and jumping ability, and she’d practiced enough with them over the years that her mind had no problems keeping up with both.  The prosthetics are lightweight but strong enough to withstand the swing of a blade or the impact of a bullet, and she would give a lot to see her family’s faces if they ever realize just who has been ransacking their vaults.

3. Most people carry some kind of weapon these days, but the best - for those who can afford them, or can call Kisuke a friend - can take the form of a companion when not in combat. Shinji’s is in the shape of a sphinx, all sleek lines and feline flexibility, but one that shifts into a sword in a silent whir of pulsing blue lines and polished metal at his command. Mashiro’s is a pixie, not unlike the toys commonly seen in Kisuke’s part of the Slums, except hers includes translucent wings threaded with pale green wiring. It’s perpetually perched on her shoulder, but in a fight, the pixie fuses with her hands and legs, the wings melting and sliding over her skin like liquid mercury to form gloves and boots that increase the power of her kicks and punches.

Yoruichi’s is a black cat but nobody actually knows what kind of weapon it can turn into. More often than not, Yoruichi sends it off as a spy because the thing is so realistic nobody can actually tell it’s not a real animal unless they get close enough to see the delicate wiring in its yellow eyes.

Nobody’s ever seen Kisuke’s either, weapon or otherwise, until a spy from a cybertech company snoops too closely around his shop. Then the other occupants get front-row seats to the bright red threads that extend from his hands - hands that light up with the many, many upgrades inside, a complicated maze of crimson circuits swirling beneath his flesh - and attach themselves to their target like strings on a puppet. At least he takes it out back before he literally rips the spy apart.

4. Once upon a time, before Yoruichi was even born, there were five noble houses instead of four. But the fall of the Shiba Clan is never talked about, and most don’t even remember the details anymore, only that most were put to the sword and the rest were scattered. One of the runners in Kisuke’s employ - the many who scrounge through the Slums’s trash heaps for parts Kisuke might find useful - is a boy on the cusp of twenty who looks uncannily like the last Shiba clan head before the family’s collapse. He goes by Ichigo and doesn’t seem aware of his lineage, and if he notices the way Shinji almost always makes an appearance when he comes in with his haul, and his payment always ends up including several extra portions of food and some high-grade medical supplies and even a new change of clothes now and then, he never says anything. After they find out he has two little sisters to feed, a handful of toys get bundled in as well, free of charge.

Kisuke wouldn’t know a Shiba from a Shihouin, and Yoruichi’s family never bothered teaching her all the things an heir or even just an average noble-born child would’ve needed to know, so neither of them treats Ichigo differently because of his blood or background. They do treat him differently because none of Kisuke’s runners have lasted as long as Ichigo. Sooner or later, they disappear, arrested by guards or killed in a back alley scuffle. Ichigo slinks into the shop at fifteen and still comes around every week like clockwork five years later. He always shows up with a decent haul too, and once, Yoruichi follows him, just to see where he’s getting his loot because surely most of the trash pits in the area have been picked clean over the years? There’s always more added to them, but not at the rate Ichigo is scrounging materials. So Yoruichi follows him one day when he leaves and that’s how they find out about his sisters and the makeshift hole in the wall they live in, shabby-looking on the outside but clean and cozy on the inside and insulated well from the cold. That’s also how they find out about all the enhancements Ichigo has, because Yoruichi makes the mistake of underestimating him and almost gets beheaded when he disappears and almost shivs her from behind with a hand-turned-blade, teeth bared like an animal as his eyes burn with golden circuitry.

(The Shiba Clan had been widely feared, once upon a time, for their genius in the more explosive weaponry and their talent with artificial intelligence and robotics and other biological cybertech enhancements. It was why they’d been so swiftly sentenced to death when they’d come down on the side of the poorfolk. Even one Shiba would’ve been equivalent to having a small army in one’s arsenal.)

Ichigo moved faster, jumped higher, hit harder, than anything Yoruichi had ever come up against. The crack of his heel coming down against the ground shattered rock and cement everywhere, and the only thing that saved her life that day was her dodging ability and a quickly shouted explanation for why she’d followed him in the first place. Ichigo wasn’t unreasonable, even if he wasn’t entirely human. His enhancements explained how he could move further through the Slums for loot and still put down roots in the area. It took some coaxing and several dozen more months of coming and going from the shop, but eventually, he’d also admitted that he didn’t know where his enhancements had come from, he couldn’t remember anything from before waking up the Slums with two regular human toddlers who called him brother depending on him. The only thing imprinted in his memory were the directives: 1) Take Care of Your Sisters, and 2) Survive.

But he was the most powerful thing around for miles, and Kisuke was fascinated because the work done on Ichigo was only vaguely like his own, and far more advanced than anything the nobility churned out these days. Yoruichi didn’t care as much, but she liked having a new sparring partner, not to mention Ichigo was very easy on the eyes, and a few more years on him meant Yoruichi could appreciate the sight without feeling like she was preying on a child.

Ichigo kept coming back, and eventually Kisuke managed to wheedle Ichigo into getting a checkup and upgrades, especially when he started outgrowing a few of his joint ports. Yoruichi watched the two of them make moon eyes at each other, listened to Kisuke ramble about something Ichigo told him the day before, noted the way Ichigo’s eyes sometimes strayed to Kisuke when the man wandered outside without a shirt and his pants on backwards after too many hours in his lab, and she was almost tempted to lock them in a closet together.

(She doesn’t notice the way Kisuke smiles indulgently at her when she comes home from a trip into Seireitei with an icebox of fresh strawberries from the Kuchikis infamous gardens because they’re Ichigo’s favourite, nor does she see Ichigo blink and cock his head in new understanding sometimes when he observes the way she drapes herself over Kisuke, comfortable and relaxed, but never does it with anyone else.)

In the world they live in though, trust is more important than love. Yoruichi has trusted Kisuke since she met him, and Kisuke’s trusted her since she was down two legs and still flung herself between him and a thief with a knife who thought the shop easy pickings. And the day Ichigo brings his sisters over and lets them run around out of his sight is the day they know he trusts them. It’s only natural to offer him and his little family a room of their own at the shop.

5. The day Yoruichi comes back with news of the Silbern Kingdom’s royal family and Las Noches’ royal family both being overthrown by several of their own noble families - the Ishidas and the Kurosakis, and the Coyotes, the Tu Odelschwancks, the Cifers, and the Jaegerjaquezs respectively - is the same day Shinji comes to them and tells them about the revolution movement that’s been in the works for a while now, about the remains of the Shiba Clan currently helping the Ishidas and Kurosakis take over Silbern, and about Ichigo’s own past - memory wiped for his own good because rumours of a Shiba child successfully integrated with his clan’s still experimental but groundbreaking technology had leaked, and if they’d gotten their hands on him, they would’ve turned him into their weapon. Better to hide him in the Slums, along with his two sisters who wouldn’t be of any use in a war for several more years, until they need him again, which they do now, because as soon as Silbern and Las Noches are theirs, they’ll be moving on to Seireitei post haste, and a two-pronged attack while the Gotei is still scrambling to defend themselves would hit them hardest, because for all that the kingdoms have been at war with each other for years, it had never been so direct, nor had their goals ever moved beyond poaching each other’s technologies. But for the revolution movement to succeed, they need Ichigo on their side, and it wouldn’t hurt for Kisuke and Yoruichi to join them too, technically Kisuke’s been their weapons-backer for years, and Yoruichi’s been their ear to the ground in Seireitei for just as long, and they’ll need all hands on deck. The kids can be left with Tessai.

Ichigo storms out. Yoruichi demands to know why they were never told before. And Kisuke surveys a tense-looking Shinji (who explains that it was supposed to be for their safety too - because Yoruichi was their only successful spy in Seireitei, and very, very few could match Kisuke’s genius, and it was just better to keep them out of the way) from beneath his hat before smiling blandly and promptly catching the man with a flick of his hand and five threads, unceremoniously tossing him out the window before he and Yoruichi both go to find Ichigo. It doesn’t take a genius to guess he’d returned to the hole-in-the-wall home he’d made for his sisters, and they join him after Ichigo acknowledges them with a jerk of his shoulders. They don’t speak right away, Ichigo sitting in stony silence, Yoruichi curled on one side of him still seething, Kisuke on his other, absently flexing one red-tinted hand in that way he only does when he’s contemplating murder.

They’ll help, all three of them. They don’t even need to discuss that. It’s high time for the upper-class to get their lives shaken up, the Slums are a disgrace, and if they have the chance to change that, they’ll take it, even if it means working beside people who have been using them for their own ends without giving them so much as a heads-up. Or in Ichigo’s case, will be using him since it’s pretty apparent he might not be the Gotei’s weapon but he is still very much the Shibas’ weapon, reserved for emergencies.

“Regimes come and go every day,” Kisuke remarks first, right hand fanning open, then closing, then opening again, crimson circuits shimmering along the vein lines of his palm.

“What a shame,” Yoruichi agrees with a grin that’s two-parts teeth and all-parts spite.

“…Three of us against three kingdoms that’ve just taken a beating?” Ichigo muses, but his eyes flare gold, and he’s smiling too. “Sounds like fun.”

#headcanon meme: answered #bleach #uraichiyoru #urahara kisuke #shihouin yoruichi #kurosaki ichigo #cyberpunk au #fantasy au #aniseandspearmint #headcanon