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#they were all a bit of a hassle to figure out head shapes >:V
artnerd1123 · 4 years
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fiddling around with au designs again, ft. the butcher gang!!!
also, fun fact: henry refers to them by the names in quotation marks bc he can’t remember their actual names. he hasn’t managed to recover much besides the group name-- “butcher gang”-- in his efforts to fix the lot of em :/
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razorblade180 · 3 years
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Twin Snowflakes pt 20: Choice Words
“All right everybody, I wanna see some hustle!” Harriet shouted at her students playing basketball. She blew her whistle loudly to get them going for the fourth time. Veronica had learned after the first blow to really dial back her senses if she wanted to avoid ringing in her ears. “Your coach really loves that thing.” Veronica looked down from the bleachers to see Summer stretching on the floor. To no surprise, the girl was pretty flexible, able to get her chest to the floor with her legs spread out into a v-shape. “Make sure to really get around your hips, knees, and lower back. I could tell your body was tight the day I took your measurements.”
Summer looked at the girl annoyed. “I don’t need a peanut gallery. I know how to stretch.” She stood and bent over backwards slowly. The sight of Veronica glaring at her made Summer turn the other way. She wasn’t expecting Valerie to be checking her out. “What the- how long have you been here!?” Valerie started stretching out both arms and wrists. “Well I would’ve been here sooner if I wasn’t waiting for you outside the locker room. You hate going in by your…” Valerie’s attention shifted up towards the bleachers where Veronica sat. “Self… What the hell are you doing here? Come to start trouble?” Valerie cracked her knuckle.
Veronica gave the longest eye roll of her life. “Please don’t make me embarrass you in front of a crowd.” A threat that prompted Summer to point at her while nudging Valerie away in vain. It had been two seconds and Summer was already playing babysitter. She was gonna nip this in the bud right now to avoid an oncoming headache. “No, stop talking to each other. Just shut up. Veronica you’re already on thin ice so don’t antagonize people unless you want actual problems to occur that will involve you being kicked out” Veronica’s attitude got a bit more bored and vexed. “Yeah yeah….” She groaned, annoyed by her situation. “Hard to stay quiet when a loud mouth is just begging to be put in their place.” Summer closed her eyes. Why’d she have to say something like? Valerie moves right past Summer. She wasn’t gonna let that slide. “By all means, what am I asking for?” Her tone was ripe with anger.
Veronica stood up and walked down to get right in the taller girl’s face. “Valerie, you are absolutely stupid. Childish in its purest form; a girl so self absorbed in the opinions of others yet utterly blind to that fact to the point it’s crippling. And for what? Ego? Some distorted sense of pride? It’s pathetic and insulting. I don’t understand why Nicholas is in love with a person like you.” Valerie’s hand swiftly rose half way up to Veronica’s face before Veronica grabbed her wrist. “Don’t ask for something then get made when you can’t handle it. Don’t get triggered by my mention of him if he’s nothing more than a friend. I would think you’d be desperate for him to look at someone that isn’t you.”
“I’d never want that person to be as cold and cruel as you.” Valerie bit back, harshly. “You’re the definition of self absorbed and ego. I can’t even name one time you’ve considered other’s feelings when it didn’t benefit you; besides Nick obviously. You treat Summer like shit.” Summer scrunched her face up as if she had just been called to the front of the class. Why did she have to be the example? Yes, Veronica walked all over and nothing about it ever felt nice, but she didn’t want to be a point of tension. Not right now at least. Veronica burrowed her eyes into her very soul, expecting an answer. “Well? Just gonna let this copper top speak for you?”
Copper top, now Summer knew Veronica was pissed. She wasn’t the person to insult appearance. “I mean you are pretty terrible. That’s putting it mildly. It’s like you always have a thorn stuck in your side, or itching to fight.” Valerie crossed her arms. “Behind that pretty face isn’t anything to brag about. Not even a brain from what I can tell; don’t act like you know. If someone has to watch you so badly then go hassle Nick instead of us. He has patience for it.” Veronica was at a loss for words. She couldn’t help but let out the tiniest chuckle. “Do you not know? Nick didn’t tell you?” Valerie looked at Summer puzzled. “Nick isn’t here Valerie. He’s been sick in bed since the fight yesterday.” Valerie’s face only got more shocked. “Wait, did you know about the fight?” Valerie shook her head. “Nick was in a fight yesterday!? I saw him right before I had to change. We-” Valerie’s words got stuck in her throat. She told Nick that she wanted space, to leave her alone. Did that upset him? No, he’s not the type to lash out. Nick didn’t tell her to honor her request. That idiot! Valerie bit her lip in frustration. She looked at the two girls in front of her. Summer looked concerned while Veronica was enjoying Valerie’s shocked expression. “Gee, it’s shocking Nick didn’t tell you. Can’t imagine why. Well, no I can. What was I saying about pride and being childish? Not sure of what you did but I bet it involves those two things.” Valerie had finally reached her limit with Veronica.”Fuck-”
“Well well well, look what the cat dragged in.”Jordan called out, annoyed by the sight of all three girls. She walked past them with disgust in her eyes and a group of girls in cheerleading uniforms behind her. Suddenly the argument taking place seemed secondary. “Was that attempt at being funny, or racist?” Veronica had to know.”Whatever one you want, fleabag.” That one was easier to figure out. Unlike with Valerie, Veronica did nothing but take a deep breath. Summer had other ideas. “Wanna try saying that for the whole class to hear!?” She shouted with ease. Harriet immediately caught wind of the forming chaos and blew her whistle. “Jordan, hurry up and get your butt over here before I make the cheer team do drills until you can backflip in their sleep!” Jordan picked up the pace.”Fine, nothing of value over here anyways..” she mumbled.
“That takes care of her!” Summer slouched. That plan actually worked! She raised her voice to someone and they didn’t get the chance to do the same. It would’ve been a proud moment if Veronica wasn’t looking at her like she had been the racist. “What? I’m paying you back for yesterday is all. Why are you upset!?” Veronica flicked Summer in the forehead. “Stop assuming. You caught me off guard is all. That bitch is a cheerleader? She definitely has the attitude.” Valerie did her best to hold her tongue on that statement. “Jordan is the leader of the team. Nobody performs as good as her,unfortunately. That alone inflates her ego.” Veronica carefully watched the group of girls get in formation and start doing their routine; specifically watching the way Jordan jumped into a split after doing a handspring. Was that really it? Her posture was good but that landing was far too heavy. She was gonna injure her ankle if she wasn’t careful. Veronica could do way better. In fact….”Hey?” She called out to Summer and Valerie with petty intent. “Want me to deflate her a little?”
xxxx
“Jordan hurt her ankle?” Nick said, clearing space in the messy guest room. “And now you’re taking her spot for the tournament?” Veronica snickered freely. I told her not to attempt an aerial after a back handspring that followed a cartwheel, but she had to prove she was better. Too bad she didn’t have anything to help with balance.” The happy wave of her tail picked up a deck of cards. Veronica opened the box and started shuffling just for the hell of it. This always calmed her mind for some reason. It was a perfect eye graber, displaying how nimble her fingers were and skill in sleight of hand. “So yeah, productive day. Valerie and argued for a moment. Sorry.” Nick nodded, “Nobody threw a punch. I’ll take what I can get.’ He reached for a single card and pulled a joker. The trickster looked like a hysterical skeleton with a sword through him. Nick failed to see what was so amusing. He gave the card back and focused on Veronica’s shuffling. It would be his job to find that card again. “How’d the office conversation go? Must’ve been fine if you’re embarrassing students.”
“Yeah. Your principal is a good man. All I have to do is have a council member by me at all times. Between you and Eliza, it’s basically a slap on the wrist.” Veronica cut the deck in half and started shuffling them separate. The chance of Nick finding that joker was nonexistent unless he caught on to her trick. Every third card her finger grazed was turned intangible and went through five cards before she stopped using her semblance. Finally she held twenty six cards in each hand. “If you can’t find the joker then you go back to bed when I’m done with your measurements.” Those were high stakes. Why couldn’t somebody let him do work!? “And if I find the joker?” Veronica smiled, “I’m at your mercy. You can decide whatever you want me to do.” He didn’t know why but that made him blush. He’d never abuse such power, yet it almost seemed like she expected him to say something outlandish. Veronica waved her hands. “Eliminate half of the deck. You’ll either increase your odds, or make them zero.” Now the pressure was really on. He eliminated the left deck and Veronica fanned out the right. So far so good. The joker was in the spot she always put it, thirteenth card out of the twenty six. She was corny like that. Only her parents and Ruby had ever found the joker when it was the target. All the cards had a reason for their placement. Most people just don’t pay attention through various rounds. Nick finally reached out and picked the tenth card unfortunately, grabbing the ace. “Awww, oh well.” Nick said. “I thought I had this in the bag.”
Veronica picked up all the cards and started grabbing measuring tape. Next was putting her hair in a ponytail and putting on glasses. She barely wore them around others. Being a faunus that couldn’t see in the dark was lame enough. Needing glasses to sew just felt like an extra blow to her fragile faunus pride. “Better luck next time. Anyways, let’s get down to business. Take your jacket off plea-” she had forgotten Nicholas was only wearing a tank top underneath. An audible gulp came from her as she stood in front of him with her tools. Nick spread his arms out for her to start measuring. “Ready.” He said, not realizing Veronica was gawking a little. Her hands studied his shoulders and chest. They had gotten broader. She could tell he’s been putting his all into his training, yet nobody would guess that with the typical close he wore. Slight tension around his right torso intrigued her. Veronica pressed her hands against it to find out that it was actually a little tender. If she remembered correctly, the Paladin had struck this side. Both hands felt their way done to his waistline. It was hard to ignore that his tank top stopped a little about it, revealing a little skin. Veronica’s mind was on autopilot. Half was expecting him to provide helpful advice and get an idea of what to add to his garb. The other half was turned off, logically that is. It was too busy admiring his body. Any designs for him were usually done with previous numbers. Veronica usually doesn’t get the chance to be this close; this intimacy with her clients was always the best way to make something. That’s why she always asks permission to touch them beforehand. Nick realized she had forgotten that rule this time around, but didn’t think he should bring it up. A blush cams across his face. Being looked at like this was a little...intense. Then, Veronica started purring lightly.
Nicholas wasn’t made for this kind of pressure. It was too much! Recent confessions only added to it. Veronica wasn’t looking at him. Veronica was looking at him. “Ummm, Vee?” He said nervously, hoping it was loud enough. Thankfully it was. She snapped out of her daze to meet a blushing boy looking right into her eyes. The overwhelming feeling of insecurity and anxiety was crystal clear in his eyes. Veronica’s face began turning red as her hands left the warmth of his body. She had gotten swept in the moment, choosing to break their gaze by looking away. “Sorry…” her voice now meek, losing any of the commanding confidence it once had.
“It’s okay…” he muttered, unsure of this situation. “I was a caught off guard is all. That kind of attention is pretty new to me.” Veronica went back to taking his measurements appropriately. “New? Girls throw themselves at you all the time. Don’t tell me you hadn’t noticed?” Nick shook his head. “It’s not the same. They throw themselves at me because of what they can get. Status, money, fame; another guy can have those and they’ll move on. Not like I’m bringing anything else to the table.” His voice trailed off. “Physically, what’s to be desired?” It wasn’t meant to be so somber but it was. To Nick, he was nothing more than a runt. An average looking one at that. If a guy had half the money he had and bulky or tall then they were way better off. It’s only natural to want the best choice. “It’s rude to talk about yourself like that.” Veronica said, her tone a bit more stern and upset than before. “Especially in front of someone who thinks you’re handsome and doesn’t care about what’s in your wallet.” She picked up a pen and paper to write down measurements. Nick assumed he could relax his body for the time being. “Thanks. Telling Summer something like that might boost her spirit.”
Veronica chuckled to herself. “Isn’t that her therapist’s job? Not much of a good one if he’s not doing that.” She put the pen down, annoyed by the thought of him. “Yet my parents keep bringing up the magic man himself. Says he’s a good listener if I need anything.” Nick was sorely confused by her attitude. Oscar is great! “What’s wrong with Dr.Os?” He couldn’t fathom anybody not liking a guy like him. Oscar was such a good man! Veronica didn’t seem to share that opinion however. “I just don’t believe listening to a person’s problems for an hour or two for a week does much. Therapy sounds like a big ploy and his smile is a bait.”
“Huh, well that’s an interesting viewpoint to say the least.” Nick wasn’t aware she had such strong feelings about it. “Well it’s a ploy with some benefits. He’s definitely helped me a bunch.” Veronica looked at Nicholas smile softly as he started running his hand through his hair. “Wait, you’ve gone to therapy?” She asked. He’s never mentioned such a thing. “Of course, when I was younger that is. I had a whole schedule along with Summer. Still check in from time to time.” He sounded embarrassed about that last part. “Seeing your family hospitalized for an incident you caused us heavy stuff, especially when you’re a kid. The only thing more daunting is seeing that person’s face become twisted as they try to kill you. Don’t tell Summer, but Shiva has done more than a little to unnerve me.” He laughed, playing off the severity of it to ease himself. It was clear by the frown Veronica wore that she felt sad for him. “What’s with the face? I’m fine, talking about it isn’t a problem for-” Nick was interrupted as two hands were raised in front of his face. “Ten minutes.” Veronica said with a commanding presence. Nick split her hands apart to see her absolute confidence stare at him. “If you ever feel like you need to decompress or rant like there’s no tomorrow, then come to me. Speak your truth unapologetically for ten minutes and I won’t hold or mention any of it. Deal?”
This was surely a change in attitude. The girl was just talking about how a couple of hours isn’t enough time and here she is offering ten minutes. It was so strange. So spontaneous, yet generous. It was so….Veronica. Nick couldn’t help but appreciate the gesture. He clicked his teeth, “only if you do the same with me. I think you’ll find having someone listen to your problems is precious no matter the length of time.” The offer was expected. “Typical Nicholas, taking an act of kindness to help someone else. Learn to be greedy once and a while. Deal.” She removed her hands until Nick held onto them. Veronica’s brain started frying. He was getting closer, leaning closer. “Nick?” She said quickly. His face seemed so calm as he got close enough for Veronica to feel the warmth of his body and breath invade her space. Her own face became hot. She didn’t know what to do! Nick had completely caught her off guard. Was this a dream? Veronica hoped not or else that meant she still might be in school, or worse, that day hadn’t started. “Calm yourself Veronica! You wanted this for years! Just calm yourself and-” Nick’s head suddenly fell down and rested around her shoulder and chest gently. Veronica looked down at him. “Huh…?” She brought her hand to his face to look at him. Not only was it flushed but it was burning hot! His fever went back up! “Nick! Your fever!” He only grumbled, tired and willing to comply with what came next. “Maybe I overdid it a little. Help me back to my bed?” He might’ve asked but it was more of an obligation. His eyes closed seconds later as he drifted off to sleep. Veronica could only remain still, overwhelmed by her own assumptions. A few seconds later and she would’ve stolen a kiss by mistake. Life truly was cruel for teasing her like that. The girl stood up to support his body and started walking. At least he was light. “Can��t believe this. Why is life like this!?” She cried out internally.
xxxx
Long hallways were a dumb idea. Putting Nick to bed would’ve been done sooner if his family didn’t live in a modern day castle. Walking back to her room was worse, now she was alone with nothing to think about but him. She was glad he passed out after all the measuring was finished though. Proper progress could finally start with his outfit. Hopefully he won’t be too sick. Adding a dust of some kind to energize his body or keep him comfortable might be a good idea. Speaking of dust, Veronica knew it was a must for Summer. The way Nick talked about Shiva made Veronica’s skin tense up. Her single encounter with the woman, if you could call her that, was actually unnerving. “It might be best to tell Summer about that after all. Along with asking questions about Shiva in general. My design won’t be any good if it unleashes a frozen hell. Then I’ll really deserve some nasty looks.”
To think time away from Menagerie would be more complex than staying. The only difference was Veronica was now dealing with other people’s problems. A welcome change in her opinion. She kept walking and came across Summer, who was just about to enter her room again. A white guitar with a paw print on it was in the girl’s hand. “Oh yeah, you did have a dog.” Veronica said aloud. Summer finally noticed her. “Huh? Oh this? Yeah, named this beauty Dolt. Just like him.” She strummed a few cords to give a beautiful sound that filled the hall. How such talent could exist within a person like Summer was beyond Veronica’s comprehension.
“So, you tell Nick about my little water works moment?” Veronica looked at the girl as if she had just spoken gibberish. “I don’t care what you do in the privacy of your own room. That is, unless it deals with that strange dust you’re hiding behind your mirror.” Summer’s heart immediately stops. Veronica points to her own nose and crinkles it. “It was only for an instant but I definitely smelled a painfully potent dust when I entered your room. Actually… it was the same sent as Shiva’s” Veronica admitted, watching Summer get even paler. “Y-You saw- when could you have possibly-” Summer couldn’t keep her head in order. Her body began to shake as her mouth became dry. The beating in her heart began to sound like thunder in her eardrums while her chest felt tight. “I was asleep wasn’t I? What did she do!? Who did she- is she why you want me drinking milk!?” Summer shouted, tears welling up and freezing the moment they ran down her cheeks. “What stunt are you trying to pull!? Don’t listen to her! I shouldn’t have listened to you! All you-”
Veronica pressed her hands hard against Summer’s face. The stinging sensation reddened the twin's face and brought attention to the composed look of acquaintance. “ You need to calm yourself.” Veronica said sternly. She inhaled then exhaled repeatedly for Summer to imitate. The shear cold of Summer’s own skin made Veronica’s hands feel numb. Along with the unpleasant smell of peppermint, it was clear to tell that Summer had been losing herself in the panic. Forget musical talent, Veronica couldn’t figure out how a person like her was still alive. That panic attack looked like it was gonna be the final nail in a coffin. Veronica took Summer’s hand and pulled her inside of her questionably hot room. “Summer, relax…”
Summer tried her best. She bit her bottom lip and took one deep inhale through her nose then out of her mouth. “Okay, okay…” her voice trembled, regaining composure. “I’m alright. Just give me a second.” Summer walks to her bed and lays flat on her back. A light layer of sweat ran down her forehead. Things will be okay. Answers, calming down, and a plan. Then she’ll be okay. “When did you see her?”
“The night I got here. Apparently you passed out without turning on your heater or anything. I bumped into her in the kitchen trying to eat, mainly dairy.” That last part didn’t sit well with Summer. Her eyes narrowed from Veronica’s words. “Don’t look at me like that. I was gonna force dairy into your diet anyways because of our arrangement. If anybody seems to be dancing with danger then it’s you.” Veronica took a good whiff of her surroundings. The scent led her to Summer’s vanity mirror. She reached behind it carefully until her fingers ran across two small vials and grabbed them. The dust glowed a beautiful light cyan color. A few seconds into holding them and Veronica started feeling the cold go through her, making her put it down. She had Never felt dust that was constantly active in any form. “Where the heck did you get this?”
“Penny’s lab. I, I stole it…” Summer mumbled. Guilt didn’t begin to describe how she felt about going through with it. “That stuff made Shiva appear so maybe it can unmake her. Nick and I secretly go out sometimes for me to practice controlling her. Not alone typically. If I learn to use her powers-”
“You’re gonna kill yourselves…” Veronica interjected, her voice colder than the dust. “Give me a break. You’d drag your brother into a situation like that? And I do mean drag, because the only reason he’s going alone with it is because you’re his precious little sister. Ugh, it makes me sick; do you ever get tired of being a burden?” Those words cut a little too close to the heart. Of course she was. All Summer ever thinks about is being on her own. The girl rose up to retaliate in anger, only to be shoved back down with ease. Her entire body was trembling again. “What? More water-”
“Fuck off Veronica.” Summer said through clenched teeth. Her forearm covered her weeping eyes. “What makes you think you can just say whatever the hell you want; of course you wouldn’t understand.” Summer refused to lay down and got up again right in front of Veronica. “It must be nice to be so perfect and unbothered by everything. Do me a favor and stay out of my business.” Blue clashed with lilac silently. How many times have they been at odds like this? More than Veronica cared to count. She could remember how many times Summer looked this angry. Everything about her was shaky, including her clenched fist.
“Relieving tension or contemplating swinging hitting me?” Summer didn’t answer. Not even she could trust her response. As angry as she was, Veronica wasn’t the one she wanted to let it out on. “Can’t decide? Guess I’ll choose for you.” Veronica walked away, opening the door to leave. “Tomorrow, seven o’clock, the both of us are going down to Mantle’s forest. Bring one of those stupid viles with you.” Summer finally stopped tensing up. “What…?”
“You’re brother is still sick and won’t be getting better dealing with you pulling stunts like this. Since you clearly aren’t going to change your mind I guess I’ll fill in. Don’t oversleep, and for your sake, bring your sword. Punches aren’t your style.” Veronica left on that note. She immediately went through the ground and went searching for her. Perfect and unbothered? Yeah right. That couldn’t be further from the truth. She found her mother watching a movie in what was probably a theater room. Yang heard the girl barge in. “Hey sweetie. Wanna w-”
“Get your boxing gloves.” Veronica said quickly. She barely understood what she said herself. “I need to vent, badly.” Yang could see the girl’s eyes burn with emotion. The movie was out on pause and Yang stood up. “Okay. Give me your best shot and let’s mix things up too. I’ll meet you in the garden in five minutes.” Veronica nods and walks off. Yang didn’t know what put her daughter in such a foul mood but Yang was determined to find out. But before any of that she needed to call Blake. A lot has happened the last couple of days that she would no doubt want to know. “Hey Bl-”
“VERONICA STARTED A FIGHT!?” Yang went pale. Looks like Blake already knew about a few things. This would definitely take more than ten minutes.
Part 19
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perspective-series · 4 years
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Kingdom Perspective (19)
By: @arc852 and @hiddendreamer67
Warnings: Fear, panic, kidnapping, keeping/treating people like pets, threats, unwanted touching/grabbing, injury, and almost drowning
First Chapter || Previous Chapter || Next Chapter
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 Patton’s head shot up and his eyes widened. “No! Virgil!” He stood up and ran to the front of his cage as he watched Dee throw the cage and Virgil.
Virgil let out a scream, finding himself tumbling through the air as the cage rotated end over end. He was thrown repeatedly into the bars, feeling himself begin to bruise as the room blurred by...and then all of a sudden, he was landing, but not as a splat like he expected. Instead Virgil suddenly felt himself get drenched, icy cold water surrounding him. He gasped on instinct, and the freezing water filled his lungs. The human tried to swim to the top, but the temperature had caused his muscles to lock up, and he felt his body begin to sink with the cage.
Dee glanced lazily over at the cauldron, hearing the splash that indicated the cage had met its target.
 No! Patton could barely watch as Virgil sunk into the cauldrons water. He turned to Dee, eyes big and pleading. “Dee, please please, get him out! He’s going to drown!”
“Why?” Dee shrugged nonchalantly, enjoying his power trip as he watched the human beg. “He’s disobedient, and seems to have that effect on you as well. Besides, two of you is such a hassle. I only really need one. You’re not my preferred choice either, but I’m willing to make do.”
 Patton wasn’t sure what he meant by that but he was too worried about Virgil to think too much on it. “Please! Please, I-I’ll do anything! Just please don’t let him die!” Patton yelled, tears falling down his cheeks. He dropped to his knees, gripping the bars tightly as he looked up helplessly at Dee.
“You’ll do anything anyways because I say so.” Dee corrected, but the offer did spark his interest. After all, if Patton cared this much for the other human it would be good to have some leverage over him for the future. 
 “I-I know, but please, I’ll listen even better than before. Just please, he’s going to die!” At this point, Patton was openly sobbing. “Please don’t let him die…” He cried. They had both come too far for this to be the end.
Dee took another moment to pretend to consider it, hearing the last few bubbles rising from the cage. “Very well then.” The sorcerer walked over, plunging his hand into the ice bath to retrieve the cage. Latching around the handle, Dee pulled it out of the water, giving it a good shake to drip the excess off.
Virgil immediately heaved up water when he was brought out into the open. Cold, he was so cold. The air nipped at his skin, and the human was reduced to a shivering mess at the bottom of his cage.
“That’s better.” The sorcerer cackled, smacking it back down on the shelf next to Patton’s. “Now remember, Not. A. Peep.” 
 Patton immediately ran over to get as close as he could to Virgil but at Dee’s warning, Patton closed his already opening mouth. No...how was he going to help Virgil? He had to listen or else Dee might actually finish the job but if he did nothing then Virgil could still die. 
 Patton was at a loss as he could only watch at Virgil through two sets of bars.
Virgil had so many things he wanted to spit at Dee, but his body seemed to have shut down. He could only quake, curled up in a ball and terrified that any sign of resistance would get him tossed back into that horrible icy nightmare. Virgil was beginning to develop quite the fear of drowning, and he was moved to tears at the thought of how close he had gotten. 
“Excellent.” Satisfied, Dee walked out, closing a door to leave them in darkness in the storage closet.
 Patton winced as the door shut and he looked over towards Virgil. He could still hear Dee walking around just outside, so he knew he couldn’t yet talk. But that didn’t stop him from moving as close as he could and gently tapping on the bars to get Virgil’s attention.
Virgil flinched at the noise, trying to see in the dark with his blurry vision. His breathing was coming out in choked sobs, and though he had his hoodie the soaking wet fabric was bringing him no comfort.
Oh, how Patton wanted nothing more than to comfort him. If not by touch than with words, but he was still scared that Dee would be able to hear him if he tried. Though, honestly, what would he even say? He tried his best to mime out that everything would be okay, even if he didn’t fully believe it himself. But...there was always a chance that Roman or Logan would come save them...right?
Virgil’s mind was on the giants too, but in a much less optimistic light. Why didn’t he just stay with Roman? Being a prince’s lapdog didn’t seem half bad when now Virgil knew the alternative was being the captive of a madman. 
He was never getting home, Virgil was beginning to realize. He was just going to be bounced around different variations of his own personal hell until the universe decided to stop toying with him and just finish him off.
There was a creaking sound in the other room, and then silence. The humans breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that Dee must have finally gone on his way to the ceremonies.
 Patton was so glad Dee was gone but even so it took him a moment to build up the courage to talk. “Virgil! Are-Are you okay? I-I can’t believe he…” Well...actually Patton could believe Dee would do that, but still.
Virgil took a shaky breath. “...we’re so dead.” He whispered, shivering.
 “Hey, no, no. We aren’t dying Virgil. We’re so close to going home. I’m-I’m sure Roman or Logan will come by soon and save us! Yeah, they’ll come save us, I know it!” He felt like he was trying to convince both Virgil and himself.
“Why would they?” Virgil’s voice was that of a broken man. “We already said our goodbyes. They’re both going to be busy. They barely even had time for us when they knew we were here.”
 “We-we can’t think like that Virge...we’ll get out of here.” But part of Patton couldn’t help but think Virgil was right.
 Suddenly, a ruffling sound came from Patton’s left and Patton snapped his head in that direction. “...What was that?”
Virgil shot up, water flinging around from his soaked jacket with the sudden movement. “Do you think we’re not alone in here?” Virgil’s mind began to race, wondering what kind of other creatures Dee could keep.
 “I...I don’t remember Dee having anything else…” What if it was some sort of giant rat? Patton shivered at the thought and he tried to make something-anything, out in the darkness. It was then that Patton saw a figure that looked...vaguely person shaped. Wait, what?
 “H-Hello?” Patton called out, standing up and coming closer. The figure continued to get closer, only getting more person like as it did. Patton’s eyes widened as the figure stepped into the little bit of light shining from the door. 
 “Hey.” The other human said.
Virgil froze, a chill going down his spine that had nothing to do with his soaked clothes. That voice...it couldn’t be.
 “You’re Patton, right?” The human asked and Patton continued to stare at him with wide eyes. 
 “H-How did…” Patton trailed off and the human chuckled and shrugged.
 “Well, I heard your name quite a bit, being here. Sorry you got roped into this.” The human apologized, suddenly frowning. Patton furrowed his eyebrows.
 “It’s okay...Logan was nice.” This situation however wasn’t. “But, how did you get here? I thought we were the only two…?” Patton asked and the other human snapped his fingers in remembrance. 
 “Oh, right! There’s two of you now!” He started over toward the other cage, looking into it before freezing. “...V-Virgil?”
“Thomas.” Virgil’s voice was so breathy it almost didn’t come out at all, staring wide eyed at what felt like a ghost.
 Thomas came closer, gripping the bars of the cage. “Virgil, how-how did you...you got wrapped up in all this too?” Thomas whispered, almost as if saying it to himself in shock.
 Patton blinked, looking between the two. “Wait, wait, you two...know each other?” Well, it really was a small world.
“Have you been here all this time?” Virgil reached out, hesitant to make contact in case this was a dream. “I- you’re dead.”
 Thomas slowly wrapped his hand around Virgil’s. The simple touch alone brought tears to his eyes. For so long he thought he would never see his brother again. He wasn’t happy about Virgil being here, of course, but seeing him made the future look a little brighter. “I’m not, Virge. I’ve just...yeah, I’ve been in this place the whole time. How long has it been, more than a year now?” Thomas chuckled humorlessly.
 Patton’s eyes widened at that. That was longer than him. But...he had been the first human here...right?
Virgil just nodded. “15 months.” The feeling of Thomas’ hand felt right, and he squeezed harder. “Have you been with that evil sorcerer all this time? Some sort of lab rat down the hall, and-and we didn’t even know?” To think, Thomas had been here, just out of reach. Virgil could almost laugh at the irony. Or he could cry. He was already in tears.
 “No, not the whole time. I managed to escape before even Patton got here. I’ve been...living in the nooks of the castle. I’m sure at this point Dee thinks I’m dead.” Thomas sighed. “I’ve been trying to find a way home all this time but Dee is the only way and he would never send me home.” Thomas looked to Virgil again and as he took his little brother in, he realized the state he was in.
 “Whoa, wait, are you okay? What happened?” Virgil looked drenched and shaky.
“Uh...not exactly.” Virgil’s laugh ended in a high pitched note. “I mean, nearly drowned twice in the past day, and became a sorcerer's captive after being a prince’s pet, but hell I’d do it all again, you’re alive!” Virgil grasped Thomas tightly, doing the best he could to try and hug his brother through the bars.
 Thomas did his best to return the hug. “I am, and I am so sorry I wasn’t able to protect you from all this.” Thomas said to him. After a moment, he hesitantly pulled away. “But I’m here now. And I’m going to get you out of here.” Thomas backed away, looking over the cages. He took out a pin from his left side and went up to the lock, putting the pin inside to try and pick it.
 As Thomas did this, Patton was still confused. “Wait, but how do you two know each other?” Patton felt out of the loop.
 Thomas looked over and smiled at him. “We’re brothers.”
“Oh, yeah.” Virgil had the decency to look sheepish. “This is, uh, my older brother, Thomas.”
 “Nice to meet you, though I wish it were under better circumstances.” Thomas said before focusing back on the lock. Patton nodded in agreement,
 “Yeah…” Patton was still confused on why Logan or Roman didn’t know about Thomas. Had...Had Dee purposefully kept Thomas hidden? Before he escaped, of course.
 There was suddenly a loud click. “Got it!” The cage door swung open and Thomas practically tackled Virgil in a bear hug, being mindful of any injuries his brother may have.
Virgil just laughed, not caring about any of that as he hugged Thomas tighter. His laughter quickly turned into overwhelmed sobs, and he found he was getting Thomas soaked with both his clothes and his tears.
 “It’s okay, everything is gonna be okay.” Thomas whispered. Patton couldn’t help but smile as he watched the reunion. Virgil definitely deserved this.
 Slowly, Thomas moved towards Patton’s cage, bringing Virgil with him. Now that he had his brother back, he was loath to let him go. But… “Alright Virge, I need both hands to get Patton out.”
“Okay.” Reluctantly Virgil released Thomas, knowing they had to save Patton too. Still, Virgil felt the selfish urge to just grab Thomas again and never let go.
 Thomas went to work on the other lock, picking it faster than the other now that he knew how it worked. The cage door opened and Patton ran out. “Thank you!”
 “Not a problem.” He looked at both of them. “Alright, we better get out of here before Dee comes back.”
“Let’s head to Roman’s room, then.” Virgil suggested. “He can help us.”
 Thomas frowned. “Uh...are you sure that’s a good idea?” Thomas asked, not really liking the idea of asking the giant who kept his brother as a pet for help.
 “It’s okay!” Patton grinned. “Both Roman and Logan have changed! Right, Virgil?”
Virgil nodded. “I mean, it’s weird, but Roman’s sort of a...I dunno, friend is probably the best term? But you’ll see, I promise, he’s good now.”
 “...Okay.” Thomas sighed before smiling at Virgil. “I trust you. Now come on.” Thomas led them to a small hole in the wall, which they went through. They walked in the walls for a few feet before exiting out another way. Finding themselves in the hallway outside Dee’s door.
 “Everyone should still be at the coronation, so we should be good but keep your eyes peeled.” Thomas spoke, looking both ways down the hall.
 Patton frowned. “But...how are we going to get to Roman’s room before it’s over?” They couldn’t get caught again.
 Thomas grinned. “Like this.” He put his hand to his mouth and whiseled. 
Virgil tilted his head, confused, before the ground began to shake. “...oh no.” He heard a familiar noise down the hall and yelped, trying to pull Patton and his brother back into the wall. 
 Thomas stayed put with a grin. “It’s okay, Virge.” As Thomas said that, something big turned to corner and came to a halt right in front of them. Wagging her tail as Thomas stepped closer.
 “Hey, Starbucks! Who’s a good girl?” Thomas reached up and pet her and Starbucks answered by lying down so Thomas could pet her nose.
 Patton’s eyes widened. “Whoa! A giant doggo!” He went over and started petting her too. He hadn't seen this dog before. Or any animal in this world.
“...what?” Virgil blinked, shocked at what he was seeing. “I- but- that thing tried to eat me!”
 Thomas blinked. “What? Starbucks would never do that!” He turned back to the dog. “Would you girl? No you wouldn't.” 
 Thomas thought for a moment. “Actually...she might have been trying to bring you to me.” Starbucks barked as if to answer and Thomas grinned. “Aww, were you trying to reunite me with my brother. What a good girl.”
“Wait, seriously?” Virgil took a cautious step forward, trusting his brother but flinching at the loud bark. “Have you like, trained her or something? But I thought she was Remy’s dog.”
 “She technically is but she took a liking to me shortly after Remy got her.” Thomas explained. “I didn’t really do much training. She just sort of has always listened to me.” Thomas shrugged, giving the dog a few more pets before motioning towards the other two humans. “Alright, all aboard.”
 Patton’s eyes widened. “We get to ride her!” He exclaimed in excitement. 
 Thomas grinned. “Yep!” At the confirmation, Patton wasted no time in climbing up onto the dog’s head. 
“But you didn’t train her?” Virgil confirmed, raising an eyebrow in concern. “Are you sure this is safe?”
 Thomas went up to Virgil and put his hands on his shoulders. “Virgil, I promise, the last thing I want to do is put you in danger. I’ve ridden on her plenty of times, she’s safe.” Thomas said, giving his brother a comforting smile.
Virgil took a deep breath. “If you say so. It certainly beats staying here.” He followed Patton up, taking a moment to look Starbucks in the eye. “...good dog.”
 Thomas followed Virgil, sitting in the front and petting Starbucks on the head. “You guys might want to hold on.” Thomas said. “Alright girl, take us to Roman’s room.” She barked in response and then took off.
 “Whoa!” Patton exclaimed, holding on tight to the dog’s fur. “This is so cool!” It was like a dream come true, being able to ride on a dog like this.
Virgil dug his legs into the dog’s sides, clutching Thomas tightly as he was afraid to put his faith in anything else. Though, as they flew through the halls, Virgil had to admit he agreed with Patton’s statement. It was, admittedly...pretty cool.
 In no time they were in front of a familiar looking door. “This is it, right?” Thomas asked and Patton nodded. Thomas lightly tapped Starbucks, who went forward and tried to push open the door. 
 Unfortunately, it was locked.
 “Well, that isn’t good.” Thomas noted.
“Ugh, I forgot.” Virgil groaned. “He’s probably still at the stupid coronation.”
 “We can’t stay out here though, someone else might come by.” Patton said and Thomas hummed in thought.
 “And we can’t try Logan, cause he definitely isn’t back yet...what to do…?” As he said this, Starbucks sniffed the air.
 She then turned away from the door and Thomas tensed. “Starbucks...what are you doing?” She gave a short bark and that was all the warning they had before she started taking off.
“I knew she wasn’t trained!” Virgil gritted his teeth, gripping Thomas harder around the middle.
 “Starbucks, stop!” Thomas shouted, but she didn’t. And soon it was clear on where she was headed. Thomas’ eyes widened. “She’s heading towards the coronation hall.”
 “What?!” Patton shouted. 
“Oooooh, this is one way to make an entrance.” Virgil winced, closing his eyes. He desperately hoped the dog wouldn’t be able to get in.
 Unfortunately for all of them, the dog easily burst through the doors, disrupting everyone and everything.
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pangtasias-atelier · 4 years
Note
remember your headcanon about sylvain becoming fuckbuddies w caspar? can i pls request a headcanon or drabble (whichever you pref) about what happens when they get busted by dimitri?
All smut will be tagged #risque
Took me awhile to find the headcanon sksnskns but I feel like I like/hate this. Like, the ending portion I enjoy but the middle smut portion I'm meh about. I love how it's Sylvain centric but hate how little Caspar is in it, but like Sylvain would be way more hesitant in my mind.
But anyways, hope you enjoy it!!
_______________
"Of all the," Counting to ten, Dimitri sighs. Pressing his hand to his forehead, strands of hair fall past his fingers.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" Fidgeting, Ashe plays with his pudgy fingers, face refusing to meet Dimitri's.
"It's okay, Ashe. I had a suspicion myself," Leaning down, Dimitri kisses Ashe, patting his hair. "I will speak to him tomorrow,"
The two of them preparing for bed for the long day tomorrow, two of their guests are only beginning their night.
Sylvain on a visit, he is now never seen without his new favorite retainer. Caspar.
The two becoming "close" during the war, Sylvain's obsession with Caspar had only grown as time went on. So desperately wanting and enjoying Caspar's added heft, Sylvain could only think about making him fatter. Their agreement mutual, Sylvain found a better method of going about it once the war came to a close.
House Bergliez inherited by Caspar's elder brother, his own stake in the territory was paltry. Though Caspar had no real care in such a case. As such, Sylvain had offered a permanent position in House Gautier as his personal retainer. The true nature of the position only disclosed between the two of them, Caspar's stomach and dick had promptly agreed to such a job.
Caspar a perfect employee, Sylvain's own lustful needs were satisfied. Whether it was fucking Caspar, stuffing him, or both. Caspar's already fat figure by the end of the war only blimped out with nothing to do besides eat, sleep, and fuck.
Sylvain and Caspar having retired to Sylvain's room earlier, Sylvain bites his lip as he stares at Caspar's form. Having to help Caspar move by carrying one flabby wing of an arm over his shoulder, it seemed more apt to call Sylvain the personal retainer, Sylvain always waiting on Caspar and fetching him whatever he wished. Their mutual agreement seemed to exceed beyond such a thing, their time nearly spent together at all times and even performing mundane tasks.
The bed dipping into a 'V', Caspar's immense form takes up most of said bed. Huffing from exhaustion, his butler uniform clings to every roll and divot in attempts to avoid tearing. Caspar a short 5'7, his gut is nearly as wide as he is tall, the massive portly pile of lard nearly exhausting his uniform. Black overcoat dangerously stretched, the fabric appears gray at parts, the nipped midsection impossible with Caspar's gut spreading far and wide. A corset out of the question, that still didn't stop from Sylvain trying at first. But that attempt only led to both realizing it was impossible and Sylvain pouncing Caspar for the third time that day. Caspar's button up strained, the hassle from moving disheveled it, his gut poking through from under, his pale gut shimmering with light sweat. The buttons struggle to clasp all the way around his gut, diamonds forming in-between them, allowing more of Caspar's body to seep through. Caspar's pants thankfully fit all around him, Caspar more apple shaped, but the fabric is still taut, a mindless bend or two able to cause a dangerous split in the fabric. Coattails absorbed under all of Caspar's flab, the fabric only accentuates his ass whenever he stands, the two bits of fabric resting on top of his two mounds of cheeks. Caspar's face still contains remnants of dinner, specks of sauce on his puffed out cheeks, Caspar groaning and wheezing.
Sylvain unable to wait anymore, he disrobes himself promptly, rushing and almost stumbling as he does so. Removing all articles besides his boxers, Sylvain's dick pushes the fabric, the light friction making him twitch as he shuffles to Caspar.
Pressing himself up to Caspar, Sylvain wraps his arms around him as much as he can, pressing and sinking into his rising gut.
"You're so fat now," Sylvain huffs, sinking his face into Caspar's gut. He lifts up Caspar's gut, grunting as he does, and lets go, Caspar's stomach sloshing and shaking. Hands roaming about, Sylvain can't make a choice, rubbing Caspar's stomach, caressing his thighs, groping his breasts, pinching his love handles. Sylvain stares at Caspar as if staring at a meal after having not eaten for a couple days. Unable to wait any longer, Sylvain reaches under Caspar's gut. Struggling, he soon finds his prize, the waistband. Tugging down, Sylvain grins as Caspar's breathing picks up. A pair of boxers for Caspar picked out by Sylvain, he smiles as he sees them. Pink boxers with a pig's tail at the back. Getting to the side of Caspar, Sylvain gives a push, Caspar groaning.
"You're too wide to flip over now," Sylvain draws in a sharp breath. "So you have to get your fat ass up first," Slapping Caspar's gut, he helps push Caspar to be sideways. Grabbing his pudgy hands, the massive digits sausage like, Sylvain sinks into Caspar's gut from reaching so far. Pulling, both struggle, Sylvain from lifting such a blubbery man and Caspar from carrying so much blubber.
Caspar getting to his feet, he wheezes, Sylvain deftly unbuttoning and tossing his massive clothes to the side.
"So wide," Sylvain coos, standing behind Caspar, his dick frotting Caspar's entrance. Humping him, Sylvain bites down on Caspar neck, muffling at the way his fat shakes. He guides him to the bed stomach first. Wishing to shove him on the bed, but knowing that it'd break, he really doesn't wanna have to offer and explanation to the prudish Dimitri, Sylvain gently relaxes Caspar down, Caspar and the bed groaning.
Wasting no time, Sylvain tears off Caspar's boxers, removing his own at the same time. Caspar's stomach pushing him up so high, Caspar's ass is nearly perfect height, Sylvain getting onto his knees. Caspar too fat for Sylvain to position his knees around him, he moves his stomach folds, his knees like a dam. So close, Sylvain swiftly enters, his precummed dick and Caspar's cavernous hole allowing for easy access.
Huffing, Sylvain pounds into him. Eyes roaming Caspar's body, he loses it as Caspar's entire roly-poly body jostles and quivers with each hump he gives. Wanting to stare, his oncoming release lids his eyes, Sylvain panting as he easily cums. Falling over, he clings to Caspar's ass as he moans. "L-" Realizing his mistake, Sylvain fakes a cough, blushing.
Chest rising, Sylvain's exhausted form barely registers having to move Caspar again for him to sleep on his back. Spent, he whimpers as his dick begins to garden from the realization, so much more fun to be had.
By the time that lunch is done, a simple affair between Dimitri and Sylvain, Sylvain goes to rush off, never trusting Dimitri's one on one time.
"Ah, Sylvain, why don't we have a stroll. For old times sake," Already starting, Dimitri doesn't look back, Sylvain's trudging footsteps resounding behind him on the stone floor.
The two walking in silence, Sylvain keeps this gaze on the scenery, the walls and portraits more interesting. The two side by side, Dimitri leads the way, the two eventually reaching a balcony overlooking the gardens.
Sylvain's face sags, offering a glance at Dimitri. Hearing voices, Sylvain turns back to the garden. Looking around, he spots Ashe and Caspar having tea, the two talking and laughing. Ashe's paunch not as noticeable from such a distance, his bit of heft is still visible, Ashe the very before to Caspar's after.
"Why don't you marry Caspar?" Dimitri tosses out, resting his hands on the balustrade.
"Ugh, so this is what this is about?"
"You two seem to enjoy each other's company. I've heard many stories but never believed it till I saw for myself,"
"We're just," Sylvain pauses, mind struggling to figure out a word. True, his private engagements with Caspar are a wonder, but having tea together, a simple picnic, or even dealing with troublesome meetings together, having Caspar by his side…
"Forgive my meddling, but he's confided in Ashe that he very much enjoys spending time with you,"
Sylvain groans, leaning his arms and chin on the balustrade. The cool air of Faerghus is a light breeze. "I already thought about it," Sylvain mumbles, remembering the ring he had made just to hide it.
Dimitri turns to face Sylvain, eyes wide. Coughing, he smiles for him. "Then propose, if you're worried about status, you know Caspar has no concern for such a thing,"
"True,"
"When I proposed to Ashe, I-"
"I'll pass on hearing this story for the sixth time,"
"I don't- but I-," Dimitri groans, blushing into his hands.
"I hate when you meddle," Sylvain lightly punches Dimitri's arm. "But thanks," Sylvain heading off, Dimitri watches with a smile as Sylvain holds his head up high.
Staying up there and fondly watching Ashe, Dimitri spots Sylvain joining them. Going to join them himself, he murmurs. "I'm not a meddler,"
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fanfic-inator795 · 4 years
Text
RotTMNT/Baron Jitsu fanfiction: Dating… With Children - BONUS DRABBLE #5
(Also available to read on AO3)
Just something quick and silly based on something my dad used to do to me and my brother, lol. Enjoy!
Also, do you ever wonder what Lou would look like with the beard he grew once he became a rat? Because I do, all the time.
Dad-Dad-Dad-Dad-Dad-Dad-Dad-DAD!”
Lou smirked, setting his cup of tea down the moment he heard the boy’s excited voice. “Hello to you too, Donnie.” He caught his purple son with ease as Donnie all but launched himself at his father. Leo came in right behind him, slow enough to allow his twin to have his well-deserved spotlight but still smiling just as much.
Draxum was also smiling at the sight. “Well now, someone’s happy.” Despite remembering Donnie’s plan very well, he feigned ignorance. “I wonder what brought on such a good mood. What do you think, Lou?”
“No idea,” Lou shrugged, playing along, “Why don’t you tell us, Donnie? Why are you-?”
“My show and tell went GREAT!” Donnie yelled, still grinning ear-to-ear, “Everyone loved Shelldon an’ told me how cool he was! Everyone clapped, and all my new codes worked perfectly, and Mr. Suranio gave me a gold star! It was the best show and tell presentation EVER!” Noticing his dad and Draxum’s amused expression, Donnie cleared his throat and calmed himself down a bit. “So yeah, that’s why I’m so happy.”
“Aaaaand also ‘cause he’s the smartest kid in our class,” Leo commented, his tone genuine. He occasionally heard other kids in their second grade class complain about Donnie being a nerd and wondering when he’d take his annoying big brain to college already, but usually a glare from him or Raph or a calling out from April would shut them up. There was no denying that Donnie was a nerd and a smartie, but Leo didn’t mind. (Besides, he knew he was still the coolest kid in class.)
“Well, I for one am very happy for you, my son, and very VERY proud,” Lou said, pulling Donnie close. The purple-dressed boy happily accepted the hug. …Though only for a moment. Because only a second or two later, Donnie’s smile became a scowl, and he pushed his father away, hopping off his lap. “Huh?” Lou raised an eyebrow. He knew Donnie wasn’t always up for hugs, sometimes just feeling too sensitive for them and wanting his space, but he had seemed like he had been enjoying it a moment ago-
Figuring that he couldn’t just leave his father in the dark, Donnie said bluntly, “Your face ruined the hug.” Draxum nearly choked on his badly timed sip of tea while Lou just blinked, too confused to be offended.
“He means your face hair,” Leo flatly added, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Donnie nodded, still pouting slightly at his ruined hug.
At that, Lou got a bolt of realization. “Ohhh, you mean my stubble?” he asked, stroking his chin a bit.
“Yeah, that stuff! Like, geez Pop, it’s like trying to hug an itchy cactus or something!”
“Oh really now…?” Leo stiffened slightly, recognizing the mischievous glint in his father’s eyes. He tried to escape, but the Great Lou Jitsu was just too quick for him!
In one swift motion, Leo was picked up and hugged, with Lou’s seemingly-spiky cheeks rubbing right up against his face. “NOOOOO!” he yelled, squirming as he tried to push his father and his annoying, itchy stubble away. Lou could only laugh, letting the boy go after a couple seconds.  “Gah, you’re so weird!”
“Oh, let your father have a bit of fun,” Lou said, still chuckling to himself. Leo just stuck his tongue out at him before running out to the TV room to join his other brothers, with Donnie right behind him.
Draxum shook his head slightly at his prankster of a boyfriend. Lou might have been in his 40s, but he still acted like a big kid sometimes. Still, at the very least, it was endearing. “Guess you’ll have to shave again soon, lest you ‘ruin’ any more hugs.”
“Eh, we’ll see.” Lou stroked his chin again. “I really do want to try and grow a beard…”
Draxum raised an eyebrow at this. He had noticed Lou’s stubble as well, but didn’t think it was a big enough deal to bring up, it most likely being caused by a lack of time to shave in the mornings or a broken and not yet replaced razor. “Seriously?”
“Yeah! Why not?” Lou shrugged, “I’ve always sort of wondered what I would look like with one.” He wasn’t too bothered by the prospect of aging, having simply put himself in the category of ‘distinguished’ actors once he found his first grey hair rather than freaking out about it. So, if a beard made him look older, so be it. He was curious, and shaving everyday was a pain anyway. “Don’t you think I’d look good with one?”
Draxum hummed, leaning forward a bit as he took a good, long look at his boyfriend’s face. “…I can’t see it,” he finally answered after several seconds of suspense.
Lou huffed, waving him off. “Maybe you can’t see it now, but trust me. When it grows out, it is going to look good.”
“If you say so,” Draxum conceded, giving neither approval or disapproval, “Though I doubt the boys are going to agree.”
“They can disagree if they want, but this-” Lou pointed at his chin- “is still happening.” With that, the subject was changed and subsequently dropped.
For the next week and a half, it seemed like Lou was sticking to his goal, his stubble getting longer each time Draxum visited - though he did try to at least try and keep his eventual beard from getting too scraggly, shaping it slightly and keeping it clean.  
One Monday night, Draxum managed to make it over for supper after work kept him away for the whole weekend. He knocked on the door, just as he normally did… and a clean-shaven Lou opened the door. “Oh,” he said, slightly surprised, “Changed your mind on the beard?”
“No…” Lou mumbled, pouting as his eyes squinted in a scowl, “Those little punks of mine staged a ‘hug protest’.”
Draxum brought his hand to his mouth, trying and failing to hide his snickers. “I’m sorry, a hug protest?”
“Yeah! They told me they were doing it Friday night - no more hugs from me until I shaved.” At first, Lou had sort of smirked, accepting their ‘protest’ though not expecting it to last long. This expectation changed however after he had tried to tuck them in that night. Every single one of his son’s refused a good night hug, and then would overdramatically whine about how they had just gotten the ‘worst sleep ever’ the next morning, all because they hadn’t gotten their good night hug.
When the same thing happened the next night and day, Lou simply bit the bullet and shaved out of a mix of guilt and annoyance. At the very least, his boys all gave him a group hug the moment he stepped out of the master bathroom. “It was just too much of a hassle at that point to keep it,” Lou said, concluding the explanation with a bit of a sigh, “When they are all in their teenage rebellion ‘too cool for hugs from our dad’ phase, THAT is when I will grow my beard.”
Despite still being way too amused with the whole thing, Draxum just sympathetically patted his boyfriend’s shoulder, silently wishing him the best of luck with his goal. With it still being a while until supper and the boys upstairs playing, the two settled down on the couch, half-watching local afternoon talk shows as they talked about their day.
Lou snuggled up to Draxum’s side as his boyfriend wrapped an arm around him. With his smile softening a bit, Draxum kissed his cheek.
He would never try to control how Lou decided to look - boyfriend or no, that was Lou’s business, not his. Still, Draxun had to agree with the boys: he definitely preferred cuddling up next to a shaved Lou.
((I had been thinking about writing something based on ‘Jupiter Jim Ahoy!’ but uh… yeah the implications would’ve been wayyyyyyyyy too dark even if I was never planning on actually writing anything bad. So, silly drabble it is.
As for the next big chapter, it’s finally time to write two of the things I had been thinking about the most when I first started this fic: Christmas at the Jitsus, and TANG SHEN! Yep, Draxum finally gets to meet Shen and you’ll see the boys interacting with their auntie ^v^
So yeah, expect that probably sometime in December. …Also, with the finale three days away at the time of me writing this, just wanna say: If Draxum dies for real at the end of S1, thaaat’s probably gonna kill my inspiration to write anything after the Christmas chapter. So, yeah, just a heads up. Anyway, see ya’ll in December, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!))
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Time Heals.....Chapter Forty-Two
Robyn rubbed her neck as she stretched at her desk. She looked over at the clock and sighed at the time. She was trying to get ahead on reports in time for her vacation. She wasn’t sure if her and Chris were still going to Italy but she decided that she would take the time off regardless. Two weeks seemed like a long time but considering she had never spent any time completely not working since she came back from maternity leave, she earned it. Taking a sip of her tea, she started back reading and highlighting. Another 30 minutes had passed when her phone rang. She pressed the speaker button without looking over at the display, “Hello?”
“Robyn.”
She frowned at the voice. She hadn’t heard from Chris much since their argument. In fact, she hadn’t heard his voice in two weeks. He would send her a text letting her know he was home and that she could drop the girls off but that was it. She really didn’t think he’d be so sensitive about the whole gift thing but she also knew that if she didn’t nip it in the bud now, it was only gonna get worse. Like she told him, she appreciated the gestures but he was getting too comfortable making decisions for them without her input and as if he was the only important thing in her life. Chris was used to being in control and he was used to being depended on but she didn’t work that way. Every once in awhile was sweet and special but constantly made her feel like he was trying to whittle away at her independence and she wasn’t comfortable with that.
“Hello? You still there?”
“Yes, I’m here, Christopher. Hearing your voice threw me off for a second,” Robyn replied, “considering you haven’t spoken to me in two weeks.”
“I have spoken to you.”
“You have texted me and that’s not the same thing.”
“Whatever.”
“What do you want?”
“Our vacation is coming up.”
“Oh, we’re still going?”
“It’s already paid for.”
“That’s not answering my question. Are WE still going because you could decide to go by yourself?”
“Why would I do that? Italy wasn’t my choice.”
“Because you paid for it, why not get your money’s worth?”
“Are you saying that you aren’t coming with?”
“No, I’m just making a point and you still haven’t answered my question. Are we still going?”
“Yes.”
“Ok, so what do you need to talk about?””
“Are we meeting at the airport or do you still want me to pick you up?’
“It’s up to you. I’m not the one with the problem.”
“I don’t have a problem.”
“You haven’t spoken to me in two weeks. You wanna try that again?”
“I was giving you space.”
“I didn’t ask for space. In fact, I haven’t asked you for anything.”
“Well from the way you reacted to my gift, I figured you needed some time.”
“Some time to do what? I didn’t hang up on you. I didn’t catch an attitude. I simply made a request and you acted like you caught me kicking your puppy or something.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“Really? You know what, I don’t even wanna go there right now. Do you want to pick me up?”
“Do you want me to pick you up?
“No, I’ll meet you at the airport. Flight departure?”
“It’s at noon.”
“Meet you at the gate at 10: 30 then. Anything else?”
“Nope.”
“Goodnight.”
Robyn hung up then ran her hands down her face, “that man is gonna be the death of me.”
                                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Chris tried his hardest not to react as he saw Robyn walking down the corridor to their gate. Her hair was curled and pulled up into a huge bun, it looked soft and inviting almost daring him to place his hands in it. She had on a pair of tan shorts with a white shirt that draped down in the front exposing a v-shaped section of bosom and one sleeve hung off her shoulder. It was the shoes that did him in, they were brown and tan colored stilettos and it did everything right for her legs. He couldn’t see her eyes because they were covered by a pair of shades but the shape of her lips let him know that she was still pretty upset with him, which was fine because he wasn’t too happy with her either. She came to a stop in front of him and slid her shades off her face to sit them on top of her head, “Christopher.”
“Robyn. You’re early.”
“Told you I’d be here by 10: 30.”
“Thought it’d take longer to get through security.”
“I always pre-check.”
“Oh.”
“How long you been here?”
“Since 10. Mom came and got the girls early to take them out for breakfast and I didn’t see any reason to just wait around the house.”
“have you eaten?”
“No.”
“Oh, well I was gonna grab something quick. You want anything?”
“I can get it.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“Yes, but I’ll walk over with you.”
“Whatever.”
Robyn shrugged as she turned around and started walking towards the food court area where there was a Starbucks. Chris sighed and followed right behind her. They ended up standing in line next to each other. Robyn smiled at the cashier and ordered a caramel Frappuccino, bagel with cream cheese and a banana nut muffin. Chris gestured towards Robyn when the server requested his order, “I’ll have the same as her.”
The server nodded and went to make their food. As Robyn went to pay for her purchases, Chris handed the cashier his card, “it’s all together.”
Robyn looked at him over her shades with a raised brow before grabbing her stuff and leaving to a table. Chris sighed and shook his head as he grabbed his food, card and the receipt from the cashier, “thank you.”
He went and sat down across from Robyn, who had taken off her shades and was scrolling through her phone, “is it gonna be like this all the way to Italy?”
“Be like what? We don’t have anything to talk about so why force it?”
“It’s a lot of tension, Robyn.”
“Really? I didn’t notice.”
She set her phone into her bag then started preparing her bagel with cream cheese. She picked up one-half and bit into it before taking a sip of her drink.
“I’m willing to make peace, Robyn.”
“There’s nothing to make peace with, Chris. I said what I had to say. You said what you had to say. It is what it is.”
“Clearly, there’s something else going on.”
“Like what? Last I checked, I didn’t stop talking to you. I didn’t hang up on you and I didn’t go off on you. You did all of that to me and I let you. If you wanna sensitive about some gifts, that’s your prerogative but I’m not backing down about it. I said what I said and I meant it.”
“But what you said wasn’t factual.”
“What I said was based on what you’ve shown me and what I know of you. You like to provide which is cool until it feels like control. I don’t need anybody contacting my employer or doing anything for me that I didn’t ask them to do. A gift here or there is fine but assuming that my time is yours to use as you see fit is not. I’m not apologizing and I’m not taking it back. If you wanna break up with me over it, that’s on you.”
“I never said I was breaking up with you.”
“You tend to never say a lot but do a whole lot that demonstrates what you don’t say.”
“Robyn.”
“Chris, I have no need to go through the motions with you. We agreed to be adults about this relationship. We agreed to talk things through and you have not done so. I will not be chasing you. I will not be jumping through hoops nor compromising my values just so your ego can be satisfied. I know how I need to be loved and I will not settle for your generic “this is how I treat all my girlfriends” bullshit. I am not Tiana and anybody else, I do not need you to navigate my life for me. I want you to enjoy my life with me. I will hold onto my right to make my own decisions and plan my own time. I love you but my world does not revolve around you.”
“I’m not asking it to.”
“You haven’t asked me anything and that’s the problem. And to make it worse when I try to say something about it, you give me attitude and tell me that you’re not arguing with me about it like my feelings don’t mean anything.”
“That’s not what I was trying to do.”
“Then what were you trying to do?”
“Something nice for you.”
“That I did not want you to do. I am allowed to refuse a gift that I do not want, am I not?”
“Yes.”
“So why is it such a hassle for you to stop doing things for me without my input? You didn’t ask me if I wanted to go out to dinner, you just dropped shit at my house and told me we were after calling my damn boss. You have no authority to do such of anything and I would never take those kinds of liberties with you because I know you have a life outside of me and it’s not my right to invade that without your permission. Why can’t I get that kind of courtesy?”
“I never said you couldn’t.”
“But you have shown me that you believe I don’t. We have been together for months, you’ve been doing this for months and out of the sake of growing pains, I haven’t argued much especially since most of it was small, bringing me lunch is ok, ordering dinner is fine but you start inserting yourself into my workplace and bring our children into this, I start having a serious problem.”
“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“What?”
“You knew it was a big deal or else everything time you did it, you wouldn’t have said you weren’t arguing with me about it. Anything that can lead to argument indicates that one or both parties are not in agreement with the present action so you knew it was a big deal but you were counting on me not wanting to rock the boat too much and therefore not say anything. Right or wrong?”
“You’re right.”
“Thank you.”
“So where do we go from here?”
“That’s up to you. I’m not the one who stopped talking to me for two weeks. You wanted your space, you took your space so you decide what you want to do. I’ve made my boundaries clear. We can get on this plane as spouses, as friends, or as enemies. It’s up to you.”
“Robyn, I love you.”
“I know that.”
“So you know what my answer is.”
“I know what I’m assuming your answer is. It’d make it easier if you said it out loud.”
“I wanna get on this plane and off the plane as spouses.”
“Ok then.”
“You done being mad at me?”
“Being done with you is not the same thing as being mad at you. Besides I wasn’t mad at you anyway.”
"Really?"
“Yes, really. You were the one who acted like a spoiled brat because I didn’t want your gifts.”
“Speaking of gifts-“
“They are still in the garment bags hanging in the hall closet. I told the girls whenever you decided to change your mind, they’d be able to wear them.”
“And yours?”
“In the same place.”
“Did you even look at it?”
“Honestly, no. After you hung up on me, I was too busy reassuring your daughters that we weren’t breaking up to be concerned about what the dresses really looked like. All I know is that they’re black.”
“Did I really upset them that bad?”
“I don’t think upset would be the right word. Worried might be more appropriate. I guess since they’ve been waiting for us to get together, they don’t want anything to mess that up.”
“Odd, they never said anything to me about it.”
“I told them not to. It’s none of their business.”
“True. We should get back to the gate, they’ll start loading-“
Just then a boarding announcement for their flight came over the intercom system. Robyn looked over at Chris and laughed, “talk about perfect timing.” They wrapped up what was left of their food, collected their bags and left to go back to their gate. They didn’t have long to wait as business class was one of the first to board.
“Babe, you want the window or aisle seat?” Chris asked as he started walking to their assigned spots.
“Window, please.”
Chris stopped and looked at the seat labels before verifying they were at the right seats. He stepped back and let Robyn step in front of him then moved to sit in the seat beside her.
“You ok?”
“I’m good, Chris. You?”
“I’m better now.”
“Now?”
“Because I don’t have to sit in tension for the next couple of hours or worry about you accidentally on purpose stabbing me with something.”
Robyn laughed, “we have children together so I can’t stab you. I can threaten but I can’t actually do it.”
“I don’t know if I believe that.”
“Oh Boy, whatever.”
Chris smiled then leaned over and kissed her cheek, “love you.”
“I love you too.”
Robyn turned and they stared at each other for a few moments before she turned to look out the window.
“Do we still have something more to discuss?”
“Yea but it can wait until we land.”
“Ok.”
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sweet-steddie · 5 years
Text
Party Pooper (e.d. & g.d.)
Summary: @love-youu-softly​ suggested that I write about a situation in which the reader is jealous of other girls and this is how I decided to write out that vision. I hope I did it justice!
A/N: I’m sorry that it’s taken me over a week to post a second imagine! I’m a full time senior undergrad student, so I’ve had a hellishly busy schedule this semester. Regardless, I will try to post content as often as I possibly can! The feedback that I got on “Love Fest” is truly astounding and I thank everyone so much for their kind words! Hope this one doesn’t disappoint either!
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 “Will there be any dogs at the party?” I ask, absentmindedly pointing my feet toward my bedroom ceiling, back cushioned by the soft comforter draped over my mattress. My cell phone is on speaker, so my fingers are free to draw mindless shapes into the cushy fabric as I await a response.
 “Probably not. He happens to care that I’m allergic, so I think he said that the dog’ll be at a friend’s for the night,”comes Grayson’s reply in regards to our friend who’s hosting the party. I roll my eyes. It’s amazing to me, sometimes, that he claims to be the least dramatic out of he and his twin brother. “Why do you care if there’s gonna be a dog there, anyway? I’ll be there and I’m all you need. I’m way better than a dog,” he continues and I huff out a mock-dramatic breath. Really, I’m silently marveling over how pronounced his New Jersey accent has become in the span of just a few short sentences. It’s so cute and it always sneaks up on him and he never seems to notice.
 “Grayson,” I cut him off before he can continue his rambling.
 “What?” he asks, faux-sour attitude seeping through the speaker.
 “I’ve never heard a stronger New Jersey accent in my life. In my whole, entire life,” I emphasize and I hear Ethan’s sudden burst of laughter shortly afterward.
 “I’m hanging up now,” is all Grayson says, but even through the phone I can hear his smile. Ethan’s still laughing.
 “Okay, okay. I’m sorry,” I pretend to apologize as I click my acrylic nails rhythmically against one another. Grayson and I are currently - well, we’re supposed to be - in the middle of a conversation regarding a party that he, Ethan and I have been invited to tonight that’s scheduled to kick off in a few hours’ time. “Back to what you were saying before. About the attire,” I attempt to steer the conversation back on track.
 “Yes, as I was saying: I think I’m gonna wear that new shirt you bought me, the cropped one. And my jeans. And you’d look really hot in that pink shirt. The one with-“ he starts, only for Ethan to interject.
 “The one with the little bows that criss-crosses on her chest! Ah, dude, yes. That one’s so hot!” he blurts out and I hear the distinct sound of what’s most certainly the twins’ palms meeting in a high-five. I outwardly scoff at their boyish antics, but I internally pat myself on the back for snagging that pink shirt online a few weeks prior.
 “Anyway,” Grayson addresses me again, “we’re planning on getting there at around 11:30. So we’ll pick you up at 10:45?” he proposes.
 “Sounds good to me! See you in,” I pause to check the time, “two hours.”
 “And before you go,” Grayson quickly cuts in, “just know that you’re staying at our’s tonight. And the next night. And probably the night after that.” I pretend like my heart doesn’t speed up at the demand.
 “Yes, sir,” I respond drily and I hear him hum in satisfaction at the term I’ve chosen.
 “Don’t start something you can’t finish,” is all he responds and then he pauses, letting it linger between us. I bite my bottom lip. I hate when they do this. The twins have a tendency to be very suggestive and I know they’re joking, or at least I think they are. And it just further blurs the lines that are already blurred between us.
 I realize that I’ve let the silence linger for a while by opting out of a reply. Before I can fumble out a response, Grayson takes over again. “See you soon, baby,” he says before I hear the three beeps indicating that the call has been ended. I’ve just about chewed the skin off of my lower lip at this point. Through this phone call, alone, I can deduce that this night is sure to be long and eventful.
 The party is in full swing by the time that we arrive. We take the time to scan our surroundings and the protective presence of Grayson’s hand on my lower back and Ethan’s not too far above his are pleasantly warm to the touch. My arms are crossed, but I want nothing more than to grab onto my boys. Given the rumors that are already circulating about our supposed three-way relationship, however, I figure that it’s best not to draw any more attention to our over-friendliness. Though, having people think that I’m dating two of some of the most gorgeous guys in Los Angeles isn’t that horrible a hassle.
 I take a split second to check out my boys. Grayson’s wearing the crop top I bought for him, as promised, and the maroon fabric is striking against his skin. My eyes trail down over his defined hipbones and hard, flat stomach and tantalizing V-line and I kind of get lost in the sight of him for a moment. So much so that, when my eyes finally find their will to snap back up, Grayson’s smirking knowingly at me. He gives me a very obvious once over of his own and then fixes me with a piercing stare that has me squirming in place.
 I shake my head at him, but my cheeks feel like they’re positively glowing with warmth as I fix my eyes, next, onto Ethan. He’s still scanning the scene, nodding at a few people here and there. I take a moment to admire the scruff that he’s allowed himself to grow out over the past few weeks. His hair looks messy in the sexiest way possible. He’s wearing a white T-shirt that shows off his defined abdomen and strains a bit across his chest. And Ethan in white is just, well. It’s a sight. He dons a pair of black, ripped jeans and the hint of his thigh tattoos peak out teasingly.
 “She’s staring at us, E,” Grayson teases, effectively blowing my cover. I scowl at him and hide my face in my hands as both boys cheekily laugh at my expense. I reach back to shove off both of their hands, throwing up a middle finger for good measure. They laugh in my face and I fight back a smile of my own as I spin around on the spot and begin to make my way through the room. I hear their protests behind me and I turn my head back as I continue to walk away, noticing that they’re approaching while wearing adorable twin pouts. Before they can get too far, a throng of three or four people greet them and they’re caught up in conversation before long.
 I smile to myself before turning back around and scouting out the mini bar. My boys are so popular. Just as I’m thinking this, I hear my name being called and spin around to face a friend of mine that I haven’t seen in much too long. We instantly rush toward each other and meet in a hug.
 “I’ve missed you,” she chirps as we finally separate and before I can even reciprocate, she continues, “are you here with your boy toys tonight?” and she raises a suggestive eyebrow that has me lightly shoving her shoulder, but blushing nonetheless.
 “I don’t know what boy toys you’re referring to, but I am here with Grayson and Ethan,” I confirm, playing off the butterflies in my stomach as nerves and not as the fluttering satisfaction of having someone else call the twins my boy toys. My friend looks unconvinced.
 “Yeah, alright,” she drawls, chuckling jokingly before pointing her thumb over her shoulder, “should we go get drinks?”
 “Thought you’d never ask!” And that’s how we find ourselves grabbing a couple of drinks and then scurrying over to the first available seat, which conveniently happens to offer us a view of the whole room. The perfect people-watching spot. Over the course of several events involving my friend and I both being on the guest list, we’ve come to the unspoken agreement that the best way to enjoy a party is to sit off to the side with a drink and gossip.
 As we settle onto the plush loveseat, people stop by every few minutes to chat and then move along, allowing us to mostly have time to ourselves to catch up. I swill my finger around the rim of my almost-empty glass of wine and register the pleasant buzz engulfing me. I’m genuinely enjoying myself as I shamelessly gaze upon my surroundings. I distantly wonder where the twins have gone, but I figure that they’re likely catching up with friends.
 “Uh, who are they?” comes my friend’s snarky voice from next to me and I quickly turn to face her, silently begging for an explanation for her sudden hostility. She appears to be glaring holes into something ahead of her and she never breaks her gaze as she nods in the direction of what she’s referring to. I follow her line of sight and end up staring at the twins. And the two girls who are being chatted up by them.
 My stomach twists into a knot, on-sight. My jaw tenses immediately. My cheeks are unbearably hot and my whole body feels warm and my skin feels prickly. The fingers of my free hand are involuntarily clenching up to form a small fist. Simply put, I feel without a doubt, undeniably, disgustingly jealous. I watch as Grayson inches slightly closer to the girl on the right as he continues to tell what is so obviously a joke. Ethan stands beside him, chiming in once in a while and I see the girls’ shoulders shake with laughter. My eyes roll back far enough in my head to see my brain.
 I forget, for a moment, that I have company until my friend scoffs beside me. I try my hardest to fix my face just as she’s turning her attention back to me. “Your boyfriends look like they’re having a good time,” she digs, taking another hearty swig of her drink. That’s what I love about her: she teases me until the sun goes down about my relationship with the boys, but she’s always on my side and has my best interest at heart at the end of the day. And in this case, “being by my side” entails staring daggers into the backs of the girls’ heads that are currently demanding all of the twins’ attention.
 “They aren’t my boyfriends. They can talk to other girls if they want. Hell, they could use some girlfriends if you ask me!” I’m laying it on thick in the hopes that my friend won’t detect my wounded, sour mood. “I’m sure those are lovely girls. And the twins deserve some lovely girls,” the bitterness is starting to involuntarily seep into my words. I quickly down the rest of my glass of wine in place of saying anything else incriminating. Against my will, I maintain eye contact throughout my rambling, so as not to give myself away. My friend raises her eyebrows, but shrugs.
 “If you’re okay, I’m okay,” she sounds unconvinced, but I think she can sense that I don’t wish for the conversation to go any further, so she mercifully drops the topic. She selves into something lighter - pop culture, I think; something about Twitter - and I do my best to keep up, but my eyes just can’t seem to drift away from the cozy party of four standing ahead of me. I catch the movement of well-manicured fingers resting gently on Grayson’s bicep. My nostrils flare slightly as I watch Ethan’s eyes drop to one of the girl’s lips every now and then. Both boys are huge on eye contact and it seems that neither of them have blinked in ages.
 I know I’m being ridiculous. Ethan and Grayson aren’t mine to be jealous over, but that doesn’t stop my stomach from folding in on itself as I watch the scene before me unfurl.  Suddenly, I feel uncomfortable in my own skin; embarrassed to be moping on a couch in the middle of a party while my good friends and nothing more, I guess flirt with a couple of girls. What had I expected? For the boys to stay single forever and neglect their love life to be at my beck and call? As I pretend to keep up with the conversation that my friend is providing - and she’s trying so hard, bless her soul - I come to the realization that I have, in fact, expected this. Somewhere deep down, I’ve hoped against hope that I would be number one in the twins’ lives, always.
 A group of familiar faces soon surrounds my friend and I and, before long, they’re filling the empty seats around us. I put on my happiest, I’m-fine-and-totally-not-jealous face and greet them properly. I jovially chime into the conversation here and there for a matter of minutes before I realize that I can no longer keep up this charade. I allow myself to glance in the direction of where the boys were earlier and am none too pleased to find them still there with the same company that they’ve held for the past half hour, at least. I let out a dramatic yawn and cover my mouth halfway through.
 “As you can see, I’m tired. I think I’m gonna call it a night, but I better see you guys again!” I point a finger at the group of people around me, wagging it in a mock-accusatory manner. I’m met with a chorus of Aw, don’t leave’s and Stay’s and You just got here’s and I at least have the decency to act like I don’t actually want to leave. “I know, guys! But we’ll all plan something for next week, okay? Dinner?” I propose and this seems to satisfy the group somewhat.
 My friend who had sat with me through it all and was there to see my mood change knows better and she gives me a sympathetic pout. I find her eye and discreetly wink. When it’s our turn to hug goodbye, she whispers a “text me when you get home,” and I give her an extra squeeze for her concern, promising that I will. With one last wave to my group of friends, I make my way toward the front door but realize midway through that I should probably let the twins know that I’m leaving, which will surely turn into a whole thing. I scowl at the prospect of having to witness their little rendezvous up close, but head in their direction nonetheless.
 As I draw closer to them, I realize that they haven’t even noticed me approaching due to their enthrallment with their little gal pals. For the umpteenth time this evening, I fix my face, this time into a facade of tiredness. I’m damn near standing next to the boys before their attention finally breaks. Ethan is the first to acknowledge me, shuffling over to where I am to throw an arm around my shoulder and scoop me into his side. “Hi, stranger,” he teases, alluding to the fact that we’ve been separated all night. I watch as the girl he’s been speaking to eyes me up. She and her friend look threatened as they gaze upon our comfortable body language.
 When I catch them staring, they quickly fake polite smiles. I fake back a smile of my own and nod my acknowledgment of them, then I look up to address Ethan. “Hi,” I all but sigh, getting thrown off track by those big doe eyes that he’s setting on me right now. The arm that’s hanging limply by my side is soon being hooked by one of Grayson’s arms, causing my attention to shift to him.
 “Is everything okay?” he asks, forever in protective mode, looking me over for any signs of obvious distress. I crack a little smile at that, shaking my head. He visibly relaxes a bit before giving me a little smile of his own. “Good.”
 “I just wanted to let you guys know that I’m heading out early. I’m just beat all of a sudden. But I’ll take an Uber! Text me to let me know you guys made it home safe,” I say, going to gently disentangle myself from them both, but of course, it’s never that easy.
 “I thought you were staying over,” Ethan pipes up, beginning to rub up and down on my outer arm with the hand that’s thrown over my shoulders, “so we might as well take you.” he reasons and Grayson doesn’t hesitate to agree.
 “Yeah, we’re not gonna make you pay for Uber when we can drive you and we’re all going to the same place,” he rationalizes, clearly having already made up his mind and I catch a glance of the girls’ faces who’ve witnessed this whole conversation and their expressions are honestly priceless. I figure that there’s no use in arguing with the boys at this point, so I simply shrug my shoulders and nod.
 “Okay,” I give in easily enough. Without even disentangling themselves from me, the boys graciously bid their female companions adieu. And I even throw in a friendly farewell of my own before the twins and I are making our way to the nearest exit. The look of bewilderment on both girls’ faces is enough to get me through the next several weeks, at the very least.
 As the boys and I eventually make it to the car and hop in, Ethan gets into the driver’s seat and Grayson slides into the back with me this time. I’m not complaining. Ethan pulls out of the massive driveway and back onto the street as we begin our next journey back to the twins’ house. Grayson has his arm around me and is cradling me to his chest, where my head is resting comfortably and, for a few minutes, the sound of the radio is all that fills the car.
 “Why weren’t you gonna come back to our’s at first?” Ethan asks, breaking the calm for a moment. Grayson stays silent but I can feel the movement of his head tilting down to catch my response. So clearly, I decide to pay dumb.
 “What do you mean?” I creatively come up with.
 “You know, earlier, when you told us to text you when we got home. You already packed an overnight bag to stay with us. What happened?” he asks and he sounds genuinely curious and maybe a little bit wounded. I take longer than I should to reply.
 “Well, I saw you guys, you know,” I trail off, body positively recoiling at myself and my genius idea to bring up what I’m about to bring up, “with those girls earlier and I figured, you know? If you guys were gonna bring them home, I didn’t wanna be, like, a fifth wheel and a burden.” I word-vomit all over the back seat. It doesn’t help that neither boy says anything for several seconds. In my fit of humiliation, I keep my eyes downcast and I don’t catch the silent exchange that Ethan and Grayson share through the rearview mirror.
 “Were you jealous?” Grayson eventually accuses and I just about combust at the spot-on observation.
 “No! No, not jealous. Just, you know,” I revert back to my nervous you know tick before trailing off again and this time, I hear Ethan snickering from the front seat and I can just feel Grayson’s smirk.
 “Yeah, you’re jealous,” Grayson confirms out loud, as if I’ve given him all the evidence he needs to arrive at this conclusion. I shove him away and hide my face in my hands for the second time tonight, glowing with embarrassment, as his booming laughter takes up the backseat. Ethan’s laughter mixes in a taunting harmony with his brother’s.
 “Am not,” I meekly and childishly assert, though it quickly gets lost in the symphony of roaring laughter around me.
 “Awwwww,” Grayson coos teasingly, pulling me back into him without much fuss. He breaks away for a moment to unbuckle both of our seatbelts before latching back onto me once more, gently rocking us from side to side.  When the boys calm down a bit, Grayson rests his head close enough to my ear to mutter, “you have nothing to worry about.”
 My heart predictably picks up speed and I hope that Grayson can’t feel it with the way that we’re fused together.
 “Ever,” Ethan’s quick to add in regards to my insecurities. Already embarrassed enough as it is, all I do is huff out a breath, causing Grayson to laugh again.
 “She’s still pouting, Ethan,” he points out and from the corner of my eye, I see Ethan shake his head fondly.
 “Guess we’re gonna have to spoil her when we get home,” he responds nonchalantly and my resolve is crumbling at lightening speed. I feel Grayson shrug a shoulder.
 “Guess so,” he agrees, giving me a couple of affectionate squeezes. I burrow my nose into the space right beneath his jaw because I’m tired of acting like this isn’t exactly what I was hoping for all night. He returns my gesture, nuzzling his nose against my forehead for a moment.
 In my state of bliss, I take a moment to reflect upon the night. I think about how jealousy had coursed through my veins, matching the buzz from the glass of wine that I’d had. I think about how I’d had to confront the idea that I felt a selfish possessiveness over the boys that a part of me always hoped, foolishly, that they would return. And I think, now, engulfed in the pleasantly crushing weight of Grayson’s arms, about how that idea may not have been so foolish after all.
255 notes · View notes
darkouter · 5 years
Text
barty at the ministry + magic item headcanon post
interning / sabotage
during barty’s brief stint working at the ministry (paid internship, officially being hired later for other office work while he got necessary qualifications) from 1980 - ‘82, he worked within his father’s department:  the department of magical law enforcement.  he helped aurors mostly, primarily doing paperwork and very basic research for them.  this was perfect for riddle to use him because barty had free access to information regarding the hunting of death eaters, who was being investigated, how close aurors were getting to them, and their sources.  he could also sabotage some of their information or generally cause office work chaos because documents were in and out of his hands so often, and he could change details or lose pages strategically.
absolutely no one would ever think to question him because he has interned at the ministry for years, working during the summers (because you can bet your ass crouch sr. wasn’t going to just let him SLACK OFF or be a normal teen).  everyone is familiar with him, knows his work ethic, and they trust him.  it’s also why, even earlier on as an intern, he had far more trust and responsibility than anyone else who would fill that role.  it’s really just formality for him to be an intern before being hired, policy-related, and generally he would move up the ladder more quickly if not for needing licenses/qualifications.  but this is the real world, and a lot of people didn’t really give a shit that he didn’t have them yet because they knew he was capable, so a lot of the time he had more responsibility than he was necessarily supposed to have.  as long as the sticklers for rules like sr. weren’t nosing around, he could basically do whatever.
this is why vold.emort really wanted him around.  he’s valuable.
this all occurs during his wild streak, of course.  and he often stays to work long nights because crouch sr. works long nights, so barty should be at the office as long as him, even if his work is already done!  a boy gets bored.  he starts to wander around.  his interest ends up focusing on the department of mysteries because who the fuck doesn’t want to skitter around in that place?  barty’s a curious guy.  there’s a lot to look at.  he’s alone in the middle of the night, and everyone’s gone.  maybe he pokes at some things he shouldn’t.
magical item:  the spirit communication compact
it’s in the section of the department that focuses on death.  for the longest time, he tried to avoid interacting too much with items in there.  the veil?  he got close to it once and freaked out when it started whispering to him.  no thanks, Death!  he didn’t avoid dying in the river, so don’t come for him!  eventually, however, his intrigue overpowers his tentative tendencies within that place.  
impulsively, he grabs a small item clasped shut, and struggles for the longest time to open it.  it’s perfectly smooth, circular, and gold — it reminds him of his golden pocket-watch that matches his father’s.  it really looks like it’s meant to be opened, with a visible and clean slice through it.  when he attempts to open it, a light emits from that crack.  it doesn’t budge.  there is one detail on it, and it’s a conical hole drilled into the side.  he assumes it’s for a key.
after several nights have passed with him fiddling with it, he still doesn’t figure out how to open it.  but it bothers him and he is invested in it so badly that he finally just pockets the damn thing, now having something to really ruminate on in his free time.  he searches for a key.  tries to find mention of it in books.  attempts putting things into the hole.  tries to use force.  alohomora.  nothing works.  sometimes when he’s fighting with it, he can hear muffled noises coming from it, but he doesn’t even vaguely understand what it is beyond a sort of humming.
he doesn’t really tell anyone about it.  it’s kind of something he just…  feels is his, and he likes to keep it that way.  he has it on him all the time.  depending on the verse, he might share knowledge of its existence with a close friend (regulus, for example), but it’s mostly for the sake of getting ideas on how to open it.
eventually, the obsession wanes as he becomes more focused on v/oldemort’s activities.  he leaves it in his room, forgotten on his desk, serving as a paperweight or table coaster.  it collects dust through his conviction, incarceration, and cursed imprisonment.  it’s only once v/oldemort frees him that he finds it again.  he brings it to hogwarts, and idly toys with it in his office when he’s alone.  it blends in well with all the random tools and items that moody has laying around.
moody, with one leg and one eye missing, serves as a hassle to turn into.  during one transformation with the polyjuice potion, he’s a bit too careless.  with bad vision and a missing leg, not having prepped moody’s false leg and magical eye, he ends up falling over.  he hits his head fairly hard on the corner of his desk, and he bleeds profusely.  blood dripping down his face, he fumbles around on his desk for a wiggenwald potion, and makes a mess of it.  the compact starts going nuts, lighting up brighter than ever before and vibrating incessantly with that humming, but louder.  he ends up turning his attention to it instead of taking care of the gash on his head like a normal person because he has never seen it react so strongly before.  what he thought was the keyhole begins to suck in air like a vacuum, and it finally occurs to him that the answer to opening it should have been obvious to him.  wiping blood from his face, he then drips blood from his fingers into the funnel.  it opens.
when the compact is open, where there would normally be a mirror is something similar to what one would see when looking into thin crystal quartz.  it’s imperfect, looking a bit foggy, and without a clean, flat face to it.  on the bottom piece is something like knobs one might see on a camera lens, or more accurately a microscope with it’s fine focus and coarse focus knobs.  it’s not until someone holds down the center knob for a few seconds that it seems to power up, and the crystal quartz becomes more like glass.  more than likely, voices will flood into it, and blurry shapes will appear on the crystal.  twisting the knobs correctly can allow someone to focus on a voice / image of someone until they are clear, as if looking through a window.  with a magnifying lens, maybe, because it’s handheld and small.  
it communicates with spirits.  not simply ghosts and poltergeists that exist on the mortal plane, but of those who have passed on.  those who do linger in between can, however, interact with it as well, should they wish to while in focus.
honestly, it’s kind of like facetiming the afterlife, but with the addition of having to tune it like a radio.
IT’S VERY HARD TO USE.  spirits that have passed, well.  have passed.  there is really no need for communication between most spirits and living people, but the spirits who do try to jump on call are usually randos trying to pass on a message of some sort.  the controls are hard, so it’s more likely that you won’t be able to find someone, especially if they’re satisfied with not making contact / moving on.  it can get annoying fairly fast if a particular spirit won’t stop trying to get your attention.
of course, during his stay at hogwarts, barty has a lot of down time that he spends alone.  it’s more in character to be a recluse, as well as just a better idea to minimize contact to reduce any chances of making a mistake with his character.  plus, if he knows he will be alone for a long time (at night), he tends to like letting the polyjuice potion wear off.  he keeps some with him at all times just in case, but sometimes a guy just wants to have his own body parts.
he only searches for two people at first:  his mother and regulus.  he’s fairly desperate in trying to find them.  the only other person he ends up trying to find is his father after killing him, though he isn’t really sure why he does that.  a part of him wants to gloat about his death, another part wants some sort of closure because killing him didn’t achieve that.
he finds regulus (proditeur, my good bitch) fairly quickly, however, as reg has been following him around in a sort of limbo state (see g’s good shit good headcanon delicious posts).  regulus tries to provide insight, and barty is ecstatic to have him back.  basically chinhands at regulus in the compact, delighted to see him, absolutely not absorbing any of the lecture because it’s inconvenient and does not fit into the reality he has concocted in his brain.
he never finds his father, thankfully.  nothing good would have come from that.  it takes a long, long time and many finger pricks for blood until he finds his mother.  this would be circa half-blood prince to deathly hal.lows.  being able to speak to her in addition to regulus has a profound effect that eventually leads to him becoming more stable emotionally, less chaotic, and generally more like who he was before volde/mort ever came into his life.  they becomes a conscience of sorts for him post-goblet, as he becomes willing to listen.
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John Motson reflects on 50 years in the commentary box
John Motson reflects on 50 years in the commentary box
John Motson reflects on 50 years in the commentary box
John Motson explains his decision to hang up his microphone with the BBC
Watch a special night of BBC shows dedicated to John Motson on BBC Two on 19 May from 20:30 BST
My last season as a commentator has come to an end, but I feel like I am going out on a high.
It has been an incredibly exciting season with how Manchester City have played and the records they have broken. Pep Guardiola’s side have really lit up my final year in the commentary box. They have really brought about a significant change in English football with the style they have developed and the ability they have shown throughout their championship-winning campaign.
Since my retirement was announced, I’ve had a wonderful reception from all the clubs I have been to this season and have been given some fantastic gifts. I got a sky-blue sheepskin coat at Manchester City, while Arsenal presented me with a lovely silver cannon in a beautiful case.
I have almost been embarrassed by the reception I have had. Every club has been so hospitable and I’ve even been told I’m welcome to come back when I’m retired, which is very nice because I don’t want to lose my contact with football.
The fans have also shown me a great deal of warmth and affection which I will always be grateful for.
‘Ronnie’s rocket helped shaped my career’
FA Cup classics: Hereford United v Newcastle, 1972
My very first TV commentary was a scoreless draw between Liverpool and Chelsea in October 1971. It was not a very distinguished game or a distinguished commentary either I might add.
The one that put me on the map was my first FA Cup tie when Hereford beat Newcastle in a third-round replay in 1972 with Ronnie Radford’s goal – everyone will remember that.
I was still on trial that year on television so it was a big day for me. I went down there thinking that Newcastle were going to have a comfortable win.
The guy who drove me down to Hereford for the game was called Billy Meadows, he was their centre-forward. He took me down with Rickie George, who was to come and score the winning goal in extra time after Radford hit a 40-yarder.
Billy then drove us home, because they both lived near me in Barnet, and we sat in Billy’s front room and had fish and chips and listened to American Pie before Match of the Day came on and there, wonder of wonders, was my match propelled to the top of the show.
I didn’t look back after that because the BBC realised then I was capable of commentating on important matches.
Going with the flow
Gazza’s tears & the Crazy Gang: Five of Motty’s best
I have always tried to be spontaneous. I have never planned before the game things I was going to say if so and so happens.
I suppose the comment people mostly associate with me is when Wimbledon beat Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final and I said “the Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club”. That was definitely spur of the moment because people did not really expect Wimbledon to win.
I had gone down to Plough Lane a couple of weeks before to watch Wimbledon. Dennis Wise took a corner and Lawrie Sanchez ran across and flicked it in with his head. I made a mental note of that and then the same thing happened in the final.
What I’ll also never forget from that game was being able to get into the Wimbledon dressing room with Des Lynam. I had never been in a team’s dressing room straight after a cup final but Wimbledon were that kind of club. They were down to earth and we built up a good relationship with them.
Things like that and cup finals, internationals, World Cups and European Championships have all been my highlights. These are the memories I treasure the most.
My memorable games
1982 World Cup – Rossi hat-trick sinks Brazil
I’ve commentated on thousands of football matches but I would have to say there are two that I will always remember.
The first would be the Italy-Brazil game at the 1982 World Cup in Spain when Paolo Rossi scored a hat-trick. Brazil only needed a draw to go through to the semi-finals but they went on attacking and the Italians beat them thanks to Rossi’s goals.
It was a fantastic game. Sir Bobby Charlton, co-commentating next to me, was in tears because it was so emotional at the end. Brazil thought they had a team to win the World Cup and to rival their 1970 side.
Rossi, who was returning from a ban for match-fixing, made himself a hero at that tournament and Italy went on to win the final, beating West Germany which, by the way, was my first World Cup final as a commentator.
The other game I will always remember was when England beat Germany 5-1 in Munich in a World Cup qualifier in 2001 under Sven-Goran Eriksson.
I’d experienced so many disappointments with England as a commentator so this was a match that really will live long in the memory. I never expected such a performance on German soil.
Michael Owen’s hat-trick will always come back to me. I said: “It is getting better and better and better.” And, of course, it did.
Funnily enough, a few weeks later I was at West Ham and someone tapped me on the should and said: “It is getting better and better and better.” I turned round and it was Eriksson!
England still had to work hard to qualify and another game that is still fresh in my memory was when David Beckham equalised against Greece at Old Trafford with a last-minute free-kick, which made sure we were going to the World Cup finals.
‘Gazza was the best English player I have ever seen’
Paul Gascoigne’s sublime Euro ’96 goal against Scotland
I’ve been lucky to have seen some great teams at international and club level during my career.
The Liverpool team of the late 1970s and early 1980s is a team that was absolutely outstanding and then of course Manchester United came along with Sir Alex Ferguson’s different teams. I have seen the whole of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal career and now we have this Manchester City team.
I have seen some of the finest teams and managers of the game, and I’ve experienced the influx of overseas players which has been one of the biggest developments in my time at the microphone – the Eric Cantonas and the Thierry Henrys.
However, I think the outstanding English player I have seen was probably Paul Gascoigne. He would be right up there with all those fine overseas players we have seen come in and have still got in the Premier League.
Shirt numbers and substitutions
Archive: MOTD’s tribute to John Motson
Commentating these days is more difficult in some ways – and easier in others.
What has made it more difficult now is the shirt numbers. It used to be a simple 1-11 and you knew where everybody was going to play – and now, of course, the numbers vary, so you get 24, 38, 56, etc. That is more difficult because you can’t remember numbers as easily as when they are consecutive.
The other thing that has changed is the substitutes. When I started there was only one substitute, so you only had 12 players to worry about, but now there are seven so that’s 18 players – and that is just on one side.
When they change them quickly in the last 10 minutes – each team being allowed to put three on and take three off – the names do get a little jumbled up in your mind and you have to try and change the line-up in your head and hope you have the right player on and off.
Where it might be easier is that when I started in 1971, with Barry Davies as the other main commentator, we didn’t get a replay of any goals because the only replay machine was used for horse racing. That meant when a goal was scored, Barry and I had to pack it with words as the players went back to the centre circle and hope that we got the build-up right.
Match of the Day editors didn’t put the replays in until that evening, so there was a bit of a nervous wait to see if you had actually described the build-up to the goal correctly.
The moments I’ll miss
John Motson was still producing his colour-coded notes for every match this season
I will miss the moment of excitement and adrenaline when they kick off, particularly at 3pm on a Saturday which I have been doing for 50 years.
Perhaps I won’t miss so much the hassle of preparing for the games – checking and re-checking facts – and the travelling. All the preparation is quite demanding on the commentator, particularly on the Thursday and Friday of every week.
I’ll miss the friendship and connection and contact with lots of people both in broadcasting and the football world.
And a piece of advice for budding commentators…
You just need hard work and perseverance.
Get to know the game and the people in it. Identify the players, never mind all the facts and figures you can bring in, that has to be the number one requirement. I don’t think that has changed in 50 years.
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