#I was not aware that there is a chance of a dude just squatting in your house when you buy it btw. that was fun.

[wikagirl]

anyways time to continue on my quest to own all the houses so my adopted kids can live where ever they want.

#skyrim #I allready got breezehome #I was not aware that there is a chance of a dude just squatting in your house when you buy it btw. that was fun. #I also have a mod player home but it literally only has room for one single person and it does not work with adopted kids or spouses

[reignstormz]

✓WORK IT OUT ✓

|IMAGINE; PART ONE|

INTRO; You run into a handsome man at the gym, well, maybe in a different way than you had hoped. You never intended to go any further with him despite how interested you really were, but one touch led to another, and things got really nasty.

WORD COUNT; 5,023? (idk tbh Tumblr is tripping)

WARNINGS; Sexual content ahead, read at your own risk. Also, covid doesn't exist in this imagine. Also, there's a part two to this! Keep your eyes open!

CAST; You (Y/N) / Roman Reigns / Jey Uso /Paul Heyman.

🦋Tampa, Florida 🦋

🦋 February 20th, 2021🦋

You walked into EOS fitness gym, with absolutely no energy or motivation in your body. The emotions you felt all week had tugged you down, including this morning; Tired, gloomy, unhappy, nonetheless, heartbroken. It's been two weeks, or maybe one--you definitely weren't counting, since you had found out on Valentine's Day that your ex had been sleeping around with other women. Two in fact, and caught him right in the act. In you're house, in you're bed, meanwhile, you've given this man everything. A five year relationship, gone down the drain. You started to wonder what you did wrong, or what you could've done better to make him not make the mistakes he made.

Were you not pretty enough? Were you not pleasing him enough? Were you boring? Why did he treat you the way he did? and how could he betray you like that? All of those questions ran through your mind. In all honesty, none of it was your fault. The problem was, from the very beginning, you didn't love yourself. You didn't appreciate your value, and when you don't appreciate your value, you leave a window of opportunity for another person to do the same, and that's exactly what happened. However, you were still lost. You tried to do anything, absolutely anything to get this mess off of your mind. The last resort was the gym, and maybe that was just the thing to help for the time being.

It was about six in the morning, and rarely anyone was there except for about a three or five people. You liked it better that way anyway, working out when the gym was packed irritated you to the fullest. Walking further into the building made goosebumps rise all over your skin due to the air conditioning blasting throughout the gym. You sighed dreadfully, slowly taking off your jacket as you hopped onto the treadmill.

"I knew I should've worn a long-sleeved shirt," You scolded yourself. As you hit the button, putting the speed only on number two, you slid your earbuds into your ear and played the playlist of your liking while you walked. You stared the treadmill's screen ahead of you, until you noticed someone else walk into the gym. It was a man. You looked down briefly before you did a double take, gosh, such a beautiful man. It was like you were hallucinating, even though you weren't.

"Damn.." You muttered under your breath as you stared at the handsome guy. He was tall, muscular, had olive-like toned skin, black long hair that fell to his shoulders, and a beard that covered his angelic face. You're eyes traced his every move as he made his way over to the weights, where all the jacked, crazy fit individuals typically stayed in the gym. Today though, it was just him. He was wearing a white, long-sleeved shirt which caused his muscles to show through, including some black sweatpants.

It was too early in the morning for this, you thought. He dropped his bag next to the bench, and wrapped his hair into a neat bun. You're mouth watered at the sight at him, but you quickly snapped out of it. You needed a distraction, but that was far from what you needed, especially from another dude. Stay focused, you reminded yourself continuously. You decided to put the treadmill on higher speed, figuring that if you were at a running pace, then you would've gotten your attention back. Long story short, your resolution didn't solve.

You're eyes worked against you, slowly looking forward once again to see him. He had a heavy set of weights on his shoulders, while squatting over and over again. Not only did his capability of strength make you drool, something else did as well underneath it. His ass, was unreal. If you could just reach out and touch it, you probably would've. Deep down, you were a little mad at yourself for not toughing it out, but you couldn't help it. He looked so sexy, and you could watch him all day.

Little did you know, the beautiful man before you, was completely aware that he had an audience. Well, you were his audience after all. As he worked out, there was a mirror in front of him and he caught your glance in his reflection. Even though you were a little too far away to notice him looking, the mirror gave him a better view to look at everything that surrounded him. He smirked to himself, admiring the woman behind him. The fact that you most likely had no idea that you had his attention, made him chuckle a bit as his legs began to burn from the squats, but he decided to keep going, hoping that your attention would stay fixated on him.

Roman was also a single man, a mafia boss to say the least. He kept his identity more on the low, and rarely let anyone in his circle. His trust issues were thin, but he had a big heart that he deeply wanted to share with someone else. The Samoan had been with other women in the past, but never found someone that completed him fully; The money, relevancy, extravagant lifestyle, and everything in between he had, often found himself in situations where he was used, they were never with him because they truly loved him. Now, he's focused on himself for awhile and his empire he's been working on for years, however, if the right woman were to walk into his life, he wouldn't hesitate to give it a chance.

Before you knew it, something awful happened. You were so lost into the mysterious man, that you had accidentally stepped in front of your left foot, tripping yourself and you lost all of your balance. A huge thud echoed across the gym, and you held your head in pain after you slid off of the treadmill. The few people that were in the gym slightly gasped, and after a few seconds, awkwardly went back to what they were doing. Assholes, but you were too out of it in order to notice. You bit your lip, trying your best to hold back tears at how bad the fall was to your head. You're eyes were closed shut, and you were about to attempt to get back up until a large hand rested on the small of your back, stopping you.

"Are you okay, Mama?" The deep, montone voice asked gently. It was smooth like butter, yet chilling. You had no idea who it was still due to how unconscious you were.

You slightly turned around on your back, and your arm naturally rested around the person's neck as he lifted your body up with his arm. You're eyelids slowly lifted back open, but your vision wasn't all the way there yet. Who was talking to you? You turned your head to the left, seeing who had come to help you. Since you were still a little dizzy, you were seeing double vision of the person in front of you. Once your head finally stopped spinning for a second, you were finally able to determine who was it front of you, and it was him. His pretty brown eyes, stared into yours with concern as you stared back into his, nervous out of your mind. It couldn't get anymore embarrassing than this.

You gulped, avoiding his gaze. A lie was told by the nod of your head, despite being hurt, "Yeah, I'm fine-"

"No, stay." He warned politely as you tried to stand up fully. His arm was secure around your waist, and then his eyes trailed up to your head. The look in his eye softened even more, "You're bleeding."

You furrow you're eyebrows, going to touch your head. You sigh, looking at the marks of blood on your fingers, "Shit..I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" The man chucked, and rubbed a small circle on your back before getting up to get a paper towel from the nearby wall. He squatted back down to your level and gently put it against your wound. You winced a little at the pain, but took deep breaths in between. As he continued to wipe some of the blood off your head, you on the other hand stared at him the entire time. From far away, he was out of this world fine, but up close was even better. Looking at him was like being hypnotized.

"What's your name?" You asked bluntly.

He alternated looks between your eyes and your head, and smiled small, "Roman, and yours?"

Damn, and you thought he couldn't look anymore good. His smile was..

"So sexy.." You blurted out, thinking at first that you said it in your head, but you didn't. Shit, you thought. You lowered your head, closing your eyes from embarrassment. Roman paused from wiping your head, and stared at you a little bit from what you said. His lips turned into a smirk, with his tongue lightly brushing over them.

"So are you," He shoots back. What did he just say? Your eyes widened a tiny bit and you lifted your head up to meet his glance. Roman gave you a subtle wink before getting up, and throwing the paper towel in the trash can. He walked back to you, giving out his hand for you to take.

"Come on," Roman nodded his head towards the gym with a comforting smile. "Let's get out of here."

Depending on how hard you hit your head, you were still a little out of it and wasn't sure what to make out of this situation. Were you really about to leave with a guy you barely even knew? Despite how fine he was, a part of you thought this was a terrible idea, and made zero sense if you went through with it. However, you didn't care. The stars that you were seeing currently, especially when you looked at him gave you butterflies in your stomach that were unexplainable, and you just couldn't say no. Who was he? You needed to know.

A slow, small grin appeared on your face as you hesitantly took his hand, letting him take you wherever he wanted to go.

⏩

After about an hour or two of slumber, your eyes flew open, slightly closing due to the lights piercing through the ceiling. You blinked a couple of times, and realized there was something cold on the top of your head. You furrowed your eyebrows, bringing your hand up and gently touching the ice pack that was laid there. Then, you slowly sat up, setting the ice pack next to you as you looked around at your surroundings. You had a brown, fuzzy blanket wrapped around your body and you were laid against a long, white couch.

Not to mention, the living room that you were in was extremely huge. You had a hard time remembering exactly how you got here. All you remembered was that you were at the gym, you saw a handsome man; What was his name, Roman? You thought. After that you face planted on the treadmill, and he went to help you, anything after that was a complete blur. Where were you right now?

You turned your head to the left, and saw the night life outside of the window. Thousands of lights, and the settle stars of the night sky had you in awe. As you continued to stare at the view, a voice interuppted, "You alright, Uce?"

You jumped back a little, putting a hand on your chest from feeling startled. You looked ahead to see a brown-skinned, attractive man with unqiue tattoos on both of his arms and a gold chain around his neck. He was very swagged out, from head to toe. You looked him up and down, and slightly tilted your head, "Excuse me?"

"How are you feeling?" He repeated, looking at you weirdly. Did she not understand the slang? But the again, it was Samoan slang, not everyone understood it off the bat, He thought. You sighed, slightly face-plamimg your forehead gently before apologizing once again, "I'm sorry, Who are you? and how did I get here?"

"Jey Uso," He introduced shortly. I stared at him blankly, still having no clue who he was. He sighed, pointing at a picture of three children on the wall, "Roman's cousin?"

You looked at the picture, seeing Jey, another kid who looked exactly like him and Roman who I believed was in the middle. You wanted to coo at how adorable the picture was, but you were still confused. Damn, they're cousins? So is everyone attractive in his family or is it just them? Besides, why is he here anyway, standing there like some guard? Was he watching you this entire time?

"You guys are cousins?" I ask in disbelief. He nodded quietly, looking a little confused as to why I was surprised, "What, he didn't tell you?"

"No, because I just met the guy?" I say dumbfoundedly, "And I have no idea how I even got here in the first place. I need to go back home." You plead, starting to get a little nervous.

"Relax, this is Roman's place. He only brought you here because you got hurt at the gym and he didn't think it was safe enough for you to be driving back home." He informs, "I'll actually go get him, now that you're awake."

Before you could open your mouth to speak, he left the room. You sighed, and then thought a little about what he said afterwards. You knew that this was nice of him to do, and it did mean a lot that he cared, but you were still on the fence about being at a random guy's house you didn't know too well. Roman's intentions were in the right place, but this was the last thing you needed to be involved in right now. You were focusing on yourself, and yourself only, and it just hurt too much to have someone else in the picture at the moment. It wasn't the time to catch feelings or be interested in someone new, especially him, he was too fine and you knew it would be too easy to give in.

As you played with your fingers, the two gentleman stepped into the room, making you look up. Roman looked back at you with a soft, yet relieved expression as Jey stood behind him. He was wearing a dark blue muscle shirt, that showed a long, tribal patterned tattoo that covered his entire right arm, along with Jordans on his feet to match with his shirt. It's like this man had so many secrets about him that you had no idea about, the tattoo was like the perfect touch and made him look even more sexy than he already was, it also was identical to his cousin's. He turned his head, whispered something to Jey. He nodded his head and walked away, leaving you and Roman alone.

"Hey, sleeping beauty." Roman called you, which made you chuckle a bit, making you a less nervous. You watched him make his way over to you, and he sat down, putting the pack of ice on the coffee table in front of you.

"How's your head?" He asked, gently putting his fingertips under your chin, trying to get a good look at it which sent shivers down your spine. You licked your lips subtly, watching him but you sighed, closing your eyes. Get over yourself, Y/N.

"It's fine, um.." You trailed off, grabbing his soft, large hand and took it off of your chin. You really didn't want to let his hand go either, but you had to listen to your pride.

"Listen, I think I should go." You suggest, standing up from the couch and he looked up at you, clearly not wanting you to leave.

Shit, was I coming on too strong? Roman thought. This might've been an unusual way to approach a woman, but the moment he met you at the gym, he just knew he had to get to know you more. There was something about you, that pulled him in and had his full interest. You were beautiful, out of this world gorgeous, your body and the way the heavens shaped you drove him crazy, and the way you looked at him made Roman feel something that he doesn't feel everyday. Usually he was a bit more straight forward on what he wanted, and he wouldn't have to tell anyone twice for him to have it. He had a whole different side to him, that you had no clue about, but that's because you were different to him. He wanted to be careful with you.

Before Roman could respond, You felt around your neck and realized that it was completely bare. You froze and your blood ran completely cold. You remember going to the gym wearing a gold necklace that had your name written in cursive, which was a valuable gift of yours that you received on your birthday years ago. You never took it off, and you thought you might've lost it when you got hurt. Fuck, you thought, starting to feel upset all over again.

Roman realized a change in your mood, and he raised his eyebrow shortly, "What's wrong?"

You shook your head, not wanting to stress about it, even though deep down you were, "Nothing."

Roman looked at where your hand was, which was motioning at your neck. He then remembered the gold necklace that you dropped when you both walked out of the gym. He made sure to get it for you before you guys left.

"Are you missing something, gold maybe?" He teased playfully, knowing that you didn't want to worry him. Your eyes widened and you snapped his head at him, how did he even know that?

"You have it?" You say in a hopeful tone, with a brief smile on your face. He smiled back, with a light-hearted chuckle which made your heart melt, "Yeah, I got it. I'll go get it."

Roman stood up, and then looked back at you, "Just promise me you won't leave once I give it to you." You sighed in relief, and nodded agreeing. He left the room, leaving the room to get your necklace. You admired how kind he was, especially how much of a gentleman he was. He didn't have to help you at all or care about your well being, but he did. Give it a chance, go for it, you tried convincing yourself. It seemed like he also was interested, but then your insecurities kicked in, there was no way a guy like him would be interested in someone like you. There were you again, second guessing yourself. You just wished you didn't get yourself involved in this situation to begin with.

Roman went to his office, and picked up your necklace from his desk. He read your name quietly to himself, "Y/N..."

Such a gorgeous name, he thought. As if she couldn't seem any more perfect that she was. He smirked to himself, staring at your necklace for a couple of seconds before returning to the living room. Roman motioned you to turn around, and you followed, letting him put the necklace around your neck. Once it was, you touched it, thanking God in your head that you didn't lose it. You then turned around, facing him. You were more closer to him than you thought you would be. Roman stared down at you, looking into your eyes as you stared into his brown ones. The things you would do to him, you bit your lip and was able to pry away from his stare, backing up a away from him a bit.

Damn it, Roman cursed to himself. He cleared his throat, backing away from you, hoping he wasn't making you feel uncomfortable, even though you weren't. On the other hand, you were just hoping you wouldn't make a fool out of yourself again.

"I was just kidding about what I said earlier," He said. You looked back up at him, wondering what he was talking about. He smiled small, "If you still want to leave, I'd be happy to take you home."

You couldn't help but hold back a smile, finding his gestures heart warming. I guess showing your appreciation wouldn't hurt, in your way. You raised your hand to his cheek, holding it gently and tilted your head, kissing his other cheek sweetly.

"Thank you, Roman." You said appreciatively. His eyes were glued onto you, not being able to tear them off of you. Roman's blood turned warm, and his heart that was already racing began to go even faster. It's like there was a glow around you, that nobody else could see except for him. You were a diamond in the rough, angel in disguise, a woman that should be treated like a queen. He didn't know if you were seeing anyone else, but quite frankly he didn't care. You were going to belong to him soon.

"Are you good?" You asked, trying to get his attention. Roman nodded, trying to disregard his thoughts before he said them out loud, which he did most of the time.

"Yeah," He says. Roman picked up his keys off of the coffee table, and looked down back at you, not being able to look away from your beauty, "After you." He insisted, wanting you to go first. You nervously smiled, thanking him again silently before you walked in front of him. He took the opportunity take a look at your rear end, he bit his lip and sighed. All that, will be mine he said to himself in his head before he went and followed you.

➰

Tags; @gold--gucciempress @wwzentertainment @serenityfiretrash @flawlessglamazon @nicolewoo @romanreignshairdresser @sassymox @pennysky @msnikkimoneypenny @jazzy-tzw @lemonjvicey @thandiwethagirl @haharollins @reignsprint @rollinshield3 @sheerbeautyreigns @zaddyreigns @brookethegamer @glowinnbabyy

[actress4him]

Whumptober 2020 - Day 6

Today’s fic is definitely a dark one, though it does have a happy ending. Allura gets a moment to shine, and Hunk gets several. Make sure to check the warnings and let me know if I missed any!

Read on AO3

Read on FFN

Day 6 - “Get it out”/“Stop, please”

Fandom: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Warnings: restraints, non-consensual body modification, fantastic racism, blood, vomit, gore, graphic descriptions of brain surgery

“You can’t do this!”

Keith yanked at the restraints that held his wrists against the table. It was fruitless, he knew, he had been trying ever since they strapped him down several minutes ago, but that didn’t stop him from trying again. If he could just get his hands free, he could get up and knock these psychotic racists off their feet. 

“They’ll stop you. Voltron will stop you!”

He couldn’t see any of the people looming over him, not with his face forced down into a hole in the table so that the back of his head was excruciatingly exposed. That didn’t mean he couldn’t feel their presence. They didn’t even speak, didn’t acknowledge his protests and threats. To them, he was already just an object lying there, nothing to concern themselves with other than to prep him for their procedure. He kept pulling on the straps, almost as if determined to prove them wrong. 

A buzzing sound that he would recognize anywhere started up and made his stomach turn a somersault. Suddenly what was about to happen to him was very, very real, and Keith was very afraid. Arching his neck back as best he could, he shouted at the top of his lungs. “No! No, stop! Don’t...don’t do this!”

“Hold him.”

Briefly a lab coat appeared in front of him, then a pair of hands braced themselves on either side of his head and shoved down hard. There was no fighting against Altean strength, especially not from that position. The buzzing drew closer. Keith flinched violently at the first contact of the blade, though it only swept gently down the back of his scalp, taking large clumps of hair with it. He gritted his teeth to hold back a sob.

A minute later and that part of the job was done. A wet cloth swept over the newly shaven area, cleaning off small bits of hair left behind. Every touch made a shudder run through Keith’s body.

“He’s prepped.”

“Thank you, Noraja.”

More hands on his head, this time poking and prodding. “Alright, making the first incision now.”

Keith’s whole body tensed. This was it, his last chance to fight. “Stop, please! You don’t understand, I’m not like them! I’m a Paladin of Voltron, I help people! Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“Make sure you keep him still.”

“Don’t worry, sir, I’ve got him.”

Then there was something slicing into the bared skin, and it hurt just as much as he knew it was going to, but even worse than the pain was the knowledge that it was not in the least the worst part of all of this. Tears stung his eyes, but he blinked rapidly to banish them. He wouldn’t beg anymore. He wouldn’t. It did no good, anyway. His team was clearly not going to be able to save him, regardless of his boasts. The best that he could do was live his last free moments with as much dignity as possible.

The pain in his head intensified. The Altean surgeon had made at least two cuts by then, though Keith lost track of what was happening after that through the pain and the feeling of blood pouring out and being methodically blotted away. 

There was another whirring sound, and if the razor had scared him, this froze him with absolute terror. 

“Ready to drill.”

It didn’t really hurt. Somehow, there was no new pain, but Keith screamed, anyway. It didn’t matter if he couldn’t actually feel the drill going in, the vibration of his entire skull and the knowledge of what was happening was enough to send him over the edge. 

He was gonna pass out. He couldn’t pass out. If he passed out, he would wake up and they would be done and he would have missed his last chance to actually live, however horrendous this life now was. 

So instead, his stomach heaved and emptied itself onto the floor beneath him. The person holding his head didn’t even seem to flinch. His vision faded in and out as the horrible drilling continued, but he held on until it finally, mercifully stopped. 

“Alright, the hard part is done.”

“Looks good, Doctor.”

“We’re ready now for the hoktril.”

The hoktril. The thing that all of this madness was about. The metal device that these alternate-universe Alteans were so proud of, that they were about to implant in his brain through the holes they had just drilled through his skull, that would sap all of his free will and leave him as a mindless slave. All because Commander Hira found out that he was half Galra, and Allura and the others hadn’t been able to stop them from overpowering him and dragging him away.

“Please,” he choked. His earlier determination not to beg was forgotten in the midst of the panic that seized his chest. “Please!” 

For most of his life, Keith had been prepared to die. Particularly now, when he faced death every other day. Dying didn’t scare him. But this...this was much worse than death. This fate terrified him.

The metal went in with a sickening squelch, cold against his cut open skin. 

“It’s a perfect fit.”

Tears overflowed despite his best efforts, rolling just onto his cheekbones before succumbing to gravity and dropping to the floor. Any second. Any second now they would complete the process, turn it on or whatever it was they had to do, and Keith would be no more. How aware would he actually be? Did the hoktril actually delete free will as they claimed, leaving him neutral and complacent, or would he be trapped inside his own body for the rest of eternity, screaming where no one could hear? He’d find out any second now. And then it would be too late.

“Alright, now pass me the -”

“Stop right there! No one move!”

Keith gasped in a shaky breath. He knew that voice!

"E-Empress So?"

He let out a sob of relief. Allura was here. Allura was here, and she sounded mad.

“Everyone take your hands off the black paladin and back away slowly.” That was Lance. He had on his business voice, and they must have had their bayards out, too, because miraculously, every hand lifted until it was only the straps holding him there. 

“Empress, I apologize, but there must be some kind of misunderstanding. You see, our orders come from Commander Hira, and -”

“And I outrank Commander Hira, do I not? Everyone out, now.”

“But the procedure is not finished, he’s still a danger-”

“Now!”

Allura’s tone brooked no argument. There was a shuffling of chairs and feet, and Keith felt the presences that had hovered over him all this time retreat. A door clicked shut, and the team exploded.

“Oh my stars, Keith!”

“Holy quiznak.”

“Dude, I’m so sorry -”

“Guys, I can’t, I can’t I can’t, I’m gonna…”

This was followed by the unmistakable sound of Hunk losing his lunch somewhere across the room, but Keith’s attention was on the others who had approached him. A gentle hand rested on his back, and he couldn’t help but tense. 

“I’m so sorry, Keith,” Allura began from above him. “We tried to get here as fast as we could, but Hira had us detained for ‘obstruction of justice’, and -” Her breath hitched. “I’m so, so sorry. Thank the stars we didn’t arrive any later.”

Keith couldn’t reply. He was so incredibly, undeniably relieved to have them there, but he still couldn’t stop shaking and crying. As Allura and Pidge began murmuring together about scientific things, a pair of armored knees appeared in his vision, followed by a round, slightly pale but still smiling face. 

“Hey buddy,” Hunk greeted him softly. “Give me a sec, I’m just gonna…” Fetching a towel from somewhere nearby, he threw it over the puddle of sick so that he could scoot in closer, hunching over so that he could be almost directly below Keith. It had to have been uncomfortable, but seeing a familiar face eased just a bit of the lingering fear.

“Hey, you’re okay now. Those bad guys are gone, and nobody’s gonna hurt you anymore, I promise.”

“Get it out.” It started as a whisper, but quickly grew to a frantic near-shout. “Get it out, get it out, please…”

“Yeah, yeah, we will! Okay? Shh, just...just try to take some deep breaths…”

The tears wouldn’t stop coming. “Please. I just want it out.”

Pidge suddenly appeared in his peripheral vision, squatting down to see him. “We’re gonna work on that, okay? The good news is, they only made it through putting in the metal base piece. None of the actual important pieces were inserted. So it’s just a matter of removing the base and getting you back to the Castle to heal.”

As she vanished again, Hunk smiled at him. “Hear that? It’ll be gone before you know it. Just hang in there, bud.”

Lance’s voice came through the table. “Hey Keith, I’m just gonna put my hand on your head, okay?” He did so without waiting for a response, and Keith immediately panicked.

“No! No!” Kicking out against the restraints, he fought against the hand holding his head down with all his remaining energy.

“Whoa, whoa! It’s okay!” 

He barely registered the hand disappearing, but he did hear Lance speak again, closer to his ear this time. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, man, I shouldn’t have...I won’t touch it again, okay? Promise. I just wanted to help you stay still while they were getting it out.”

Keith stopped struggling, though his body trembled anew. “I’ll keep it still,” he managed. “I swear.”

“I know you will,” Hunk replied, still keeping up his perky demeanor. “Hey Lance, unhook that hand for me, will ya?” 

The red paladin obliged, releasing Keith’s right hand from the strap and helping him maneuver it up toward his head. Hunk grasped it in both of his own.

“I’m right here for ya, okay? Feel free to squeeze as much as you need to.”

Keith gave a shaky nod. “‘Kay.”

The sound of the metal coming out was almost worse than going in, but it was more than worth it to feel that foreign pressure disappear. Keith shut his eyes with a long sigh, letting the last of his tears slip out. Hunk, to his credit, only turned slightly green, and kept on holding his hand and uttering reassurances the whole time. The other three worked quickly to tape on plenty of gauze, then helped him sit up very slowly with lots of support.

“Your beautiful mullet,” Lance groaned dramatically. “I can’t believe it’s ruined.”

Somehow Keith was able to huff a quiet laugh. “It’s only hair, Lance. It’ll grow back.”

Allura came around in front of him and clutched both his hands. “You’ve lost a lot of blood. We need to get you back as soon as possible.” She looked around at the rest of the team. “Getting out of here may not be easy, but let’s make it quick, alright? For Keith.”

“I volunteer for Keith-carrying duty!” Hunk announced.

Keith ducked his head. “Nobody needs to -”

“Nuh-uh, I don’t want to hear it.” Before he could say another word, Hunk had scooped him up off the table. “I promised you no one else would hurt you, and I’m gonna personally make sure that promise is kept.”

#whumptober2020 #no.6 #get it out #stop please #Voltron: Legendary Defender #fic #restraints tw #nonconsensual body modification tw #fantastic racism tw #blood tw #vomit tw #gore tw #brain surgery tw #voltron legendary defender #voltron #vld #keith #keith kogane #vld keith #voltron keith #hurt keith #keith whump #voltron whump #voltron fanfic #vld fanfic #fanfiction #fanfic

[m00nlitknight]

librarian helper

fandom: IT (2017) pairing:  henry bowers / goody-two-shoes reader word count:  1,635 warnings:  none to really point out? henry being henry?? summary:   Oh, how one tires of stagnant days. extra:   my favorite part of this is when richie said 'mullet-boy bowers' im iconic. i also finished this at like 3am pls b gentle i hope i wrote henry ok! feedback is highly appreciated, thank you for reading!

archive of our own link.

Monday mornings in Derry weren’t ideal, regardless of the context. Teens awoken far too early for their own good, forced to come to grips with the reality that it was the first day back from the weekend. Trudging through the crowded student body and longing for the day to be over just as soon as it was to begin. A variety of feelings made the air heavy and thick with a concoction so truthful to the high school experience; frustration, exhaustion, and the underlying scent of yearning.

Few an individual found themselves bragging of the weekend’s extracurricular activities, cackling with an unusual vigor and energy unlike the rest of their near-ghoulish peers. Others were sitting on the ground, rushing through their assignments with adrenaline only just granted to them; oh yes, the heart-stopping experience of forgetting that there was homework.

Fortunately, you’d hadn’t found yourself in that predicament this morning, having thoroughly done your homework on Friday night. Best to do it then push it off and forget it; your own philosophy. Not to say you hadn’t found yourself in the same situation in times past, nor were you above those whose memory’s had failed them.

Quietly you step up to your locker, opening it and glancing down to your left, where Richie Tozier was currently scribbling nonsense down on what you assumed to be Government. You hummed, putting your things away quickly and retrieving what looked to be the same assignment - some stupid worksheet the teacher assigned, no doubt some kind of busywork. Your class truly had no grasp on the concept of being ‘quiet,’ which annoyed you to no end.

You squatted down to his level, with his pencil not even ceasing as you set the paper in his peripheral. No teachers were at their morning posts yet, either that or the ones who were supposed to be there simply didn’t care to be there.

“Oh - uh, shit, how much?” His eyes shifted from you to the paper quickly as he fumbled to reach for something - likely his wallet.

“Nothing,” Your voice leaves you laced with amusement as you push the paper into his grasp. “Just don’t get caught with it, please.”

“Aw, c’mon! You can’t just hand it the fuck over for free, man, that’ll mean I owe you a solid.”

“Just consider it on the house, Tozier. It’ll be fine, you don’t owe me.”

“Okay, okay, but don’t come hollerin’ when you suddenly need a favor from ol’ Richie, alright?”

You hum in affirmation, turning back to your locker and beginning to sort through the things that would be needed for the day to come. Around you, energy began to rise, individuals of the student body reanimating through social interaction. The morning sun may not have been enough to revitalize them, but it appeared that the promise of teenage-to-teenage interaction was.

Richie finished his work with your worksheet quickly, shoving it back in your direction with a toothy grin. “Thanks, dude, you’re a fuckin’ lifesaver, I swear.”

“Like I said, it’s nothing! Do you need help with anything else? You know I have a basically free second period in the library.”

“Nah, thanks for the offer,” He seemed to finalize, standing up to go through his own locker. “I’ll make sure to send my dumbfuck friends your way if they happen to need any tutoring, though.”

You release a laugh through your nose, head shaking as you did so. Richie looked to you with a momentary smile, only to have it fall when he looked passed to the people around you.

“Alright, don’t panic,” naturally, you felt a little alarmed as a grimace crept onto his features. “ but I think you have a momentary peepin’ Tom right now.”

“Uh ... what ... do you mean?” You couldn’t help the faint caution and apprehension crawling into your voice.

“Mullet-boy Bowers is staring at you like ... really intensely,” he turned to you once again, putting an not-so-reassuring hand on your shoulder. “If I were you, I’d get the fuck outta dodge right now.”

With that, he stepped around you, maneuvering through the hallway - likely to class - and leaving you by your lonesome and, unfortunately, vulnerable. Quickly after his departure, the bell rang shrill overhead, signaling the beginning of class as students begrudgingly made their way to their first hour classes. You made yourself among their ranks, gathering your things to hopefully outrun ( or walk in this case ) any physical advancements the fellow student could’ve had on you.

The classroom’s door frame never felt more welcoming as you stepped foot into it, releasing a breath of comfort. Most of the class had yet to filter in, meaning there was more reign to choosing whatever seat you wanted. With a hum of appreciation, you step further in, choosing a seat not-too-close and not-too-far back for your liking, sitting down and preparing for class.

You keep your attention focused on your notebook for the beginning as classmates make their way in, sitting in various spots around the room and leaving you by yourself. Booted footfalls make their dreaded way over to you, finding themselves seated to your right. Sudden fear prickles your skin, suddenly making the room too warm and too cold at once while your shoulders tense. For the love of god, be anyone, anyone other than who you thought it was.

The seat creaks, likely with the weight of its occupant leaning into your vicinity. “Did’ja get the homework done, girlie?” You can almost hear the smirk in his whisper, as though he’s a wolf bearing his maw to a sheep. You tense further, shaking your head as you unconsciously lean further into the empty space you have right.

“S’funny...swear I saw you givin’ it to Trashmouth ‘fore class started,” The seats to your front and back were occupied by others, quite possibly remaining individuals who found an alliance with Henry. “Always thought’ch’re a good girl...be a shame if someone fucked that up for y’huh?”

Blackmail? That didn’t really seem like his style, then again it didn’t quite seem like you were being offered a choice of any kind - especially if he had the man power of his goons with him.

“So what’s it gonna be, huh? We ain’t got much time,” his voice transcribed his annoyance as your mulling was cut short, sliding the paper into his vision as he diligently scribbled the answers down. Across the room you caught the eye of Richie, quickly looking away in shame. You nearly miss the amused “s’what I thought,” murmured from Henry as he finishes the work quickly, shoving your desk with a bark of laughter.

The class continues on with its usually snail-like pace, much to your dismay as you keep your eyes locked on either the clock or your notebook. In front of you sat Belch Huggins, likely to his own humor since you were no longer able to see the board, and to your back sat Victor Criss who was able to sneak in an early nap. Through the paperballs being spat at or thrown at you from your right, you couldn’t help but feel that this was in some way better than having Patrick sit nearest to you - even if he was still creepily staring into your shoulder from behind Henry with what you could only guess was that irking grin. God forbid it was his expressionless face, that churned nervousness in your gut.

The bell rang once again overhead, signaling your freedom to the library as you scrambled to gather your things and rush passed before you had the chance to get cornered. Dumping what you had in your hands in your locker - you figured it would be for later you to organize - you did your best to scamper to the library unseen.

It seemed to have worked for the most part, aside from the bemused glances you garnered from teachers. Only momentary, they shrugged it off as you being a good kid in a hurry. As you entered the vicinity, you released another sigh of relief. If there was one thing you knew, it was that Henry Bowers wouldn’t be caught dead in a library. You didn’t really worry about his friends either, they were probably busy giving some unfortunate soul a swirlie, or whatever.

“Always on time, aren’t you?” The librarian, Ms. Andrews, rhetorical question was met with a beaming smile from you. “I’ve written things down for you to do, I’ll be in and out today helping the bookkeeper in the office.”

With a timid nod, you walked over to what she’d assigned you to do, looking through the short list with a thought of reaffirmation. Checking books back in, sorting back through them, and putting labels on new ones. You didn’t think you’d get through it all in the allotted time, though you were sure she’d been aware. Despite the world’s slow pace of going digital, Derry managed to lag behind - leaving you and your school with the unfortunate continuation of the paper system instead of being able to have the use of a computer.

“I’ll be back soon, dear, you know where where everything is,” she rounded the counter top before stepping out of the room, heels clicking loudly on the linoleum outside the carpeted room. A few moments later, the sound of boots made themselves apparent on the floor outside, going unnoticed by you as you began working on what had been assigned to you.

Looking up, your eyes met the smug gaze of Bowers himself - to which you tensed up once again. It stayed like what for an uncomfortable amount of time, the stuffy silence broken by the likes of you.

“Didn’t think you’d be a fan of the library,” you murmured, closing the book and setting it on the cart to be replaced.

“Wasn’t really, ‘till a lil’ birdy told me where my favorite bunny hangs out fer her second hour,” A sly smirk crawled onto his features as he watched you grimace over the use of the pet name.

He stepped forward, watching a physical flinch from you occur whilst he leaned his elbows onto the counter. It was stupid of him to get worked up over watching you squirm like that, but he had to admit there was definitely a feeling that came along with it. Leaning onto the counter, he gazed into your face. “What’ya say to us peelin’ outta here, goin’ and havin’ some actual fun?”

You fell silent at the question, blush darkening your features all the way to the ear. Unable to keep eye contact, you glanced to the pile of books that suddenly seemed way more interesting. “I’d say,” your voice came out so much more fragile then you’d meant it to as you looked back into his eyes. “Take me to dinner first.”

At your rebuttal, he found himself at a momentary loss for words, his own cheeks dusting with a faint pink. His smirk faltered, before returning at full force. “Can’t a man get a taste first, then?”

“ Uh, ” your mouth went dry, eyes suddenly widening. How could he be so forward?

“What’ll it be, doe-eyes?”

With a glance around the vacant library, you looked to him again. “Follow me.”

His smirk turned wolfish as you led him to the vague-privacy of the bookshelves. Once the doorway was out of sight, and the two of you were tucked away into a corner, you looked to him. “We’ll have to be quick...and quiet.”

He stepped to you, only partially caging you in with one hand. “I can do quick, but I can’t promise quiet, bunny.”

“W-we can’t do much,” you stammer, face flushing as he lowered himself to your neck. “I’m n-not that easy!” You squeak when you feel his lips press against your jugular, putting an embarrassed hand to your mouth.

“Thought we had to be quiet,” he chuckled.

You put your hands onto his face, dragging him backward to press a chaste kiss to his lips. Quickly, he swatted your hands away, coming to rest his own on your waist as you replaced your hands onto his shoulders. The kiss escalated to eyes being closed, lip nipping, and heads turning for a better angle.

You gently pulled away, in turn his hands beginning to roam your mid-section with curiosity as you caught your breath. When he brushed a certain spot, you couldn’t suppress a giggle, much to his amusement as he began to brush it intentionally.

“Henry!” You giggle, putting your hands on his chest to push him away.

“Y’know, I like the sound of my name on your lips, doe-eyes,” He pressed a kiss to your lips once again before pulling away completely. “Maybe you’ll be sayin’ it with more gusto tonight, huh?”

Your face flushes, eyes widening again. “Oh - oh! Uh, maybe..?”

“Meet me durin’ lunch, we’ll talk then,” and with a wink, he set out of the library.

#henry bowers x reader #henry bowers imagine #henry bowers #it 2017 fanfiction #it 2017 #anyway #reader insert

[printscript]

Crashing Waves - Ch. 1

Pairing: Josuyasu Words: 2284 Rating: T AU: None Warning: None Summary: A slow burn romance about two best friends and their walks on Morioh's beach. A/N: I’m planning on writing this for a while, so stay tuned.

Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20071975/chapters/47537575

---

They would always come down near the docks in Morioh, past the Grand Hotel and out by the sea, to walk south down the shore near the mouth of the Ichigo River. It was calming for both of them, so long as they stayed away from the northeast part of Morioh where Kira’s old house could still be found, sitting dormant and menacing. But for the most part, when they strolled down the beaches with their shoes off during the late summer when tourists were gone, there was no one there to see them, and they were alone with each other. They did this on days when the restaurants were closed or when they had no pocket money, so they stuck to dipping their toes in the cold saltwater and talking about trivial things as the quiet breeze snuck through their hair product and let the fronts of their pompadours fall freely across their foreheads.

Josuke stuffed a hand deep in the pocket of his Adidas sweats, pants on which he had spent over 6000 yen, and bent over, using his other hand to brush at sand that was stuck to the fabric near his ankles. The sun was starting to set behind them, casting a golden glow on everything, and he could feel the ocean purling around his toes and the wind on his face.

Okuyasu had squatted down a few feet away, inspecting something in the water. Josuke leaned forward, both hands in his pockets now, to see what his friend was looking at and turned away immediately when he saw that it was some kind of sea creature. Slimy and scuttling ocean critters were not something that excited him, but Okuyasu always liked to look for things on the beach, and Josuke let him, because sometimes he found shells, and they were the one thing Josuke could handle. This thing was definitely not a shell.

“Eeew, dude, don't touch it.”

Of course, Okuyasu had already been touching it for several seconds. Josuke didn’t know how he managed to be curious enough to touch weird things like that. Even under dire circumstances, Josuke wouldn’t go swimming in the ocean. There was too much of a risk involving accidentally touching slimy seaweed or stepping on something gross like a sea snake or a squid or something dead.

“What are you doing? You’re gonna make me sick, bro.” Josuke pulled the collar of his t-shirt over his nose, making mock gagging noises when Okuyasu started squishing whatever that thing was on the sand.

“I think it’s a jellyfish, Josuke.”

“Yeah, jellyfish-whatever, stop tearing its brains out.”

“Jellyfish don’t have brains… I think… I think I read that somewhere.” Okuyasu muttered, trying to remember the book Jotaro had given him about the ocean. It had a lot of words in it he didn’t know, but he got the gist of the maps and pictures of coral reefs. “Plus, if it even had brains we’d be able to see ‘em because jellyfish are so clear-lookin’.”

Okuyasu tried to gesture to the lump of transparent, gelatinous flesh on the sand in front of him, but Josuke was feeling queasy and kept covering his face with his shirt collar.

“Just don’t touch it too much, you’re gonna get stung.”

“Yeah, but couldn’t ya just heal me with Crazy Diamond?”

“I guess,” Josuke said, suddenly very aware of the seafoam touching his feet, “but that’s not really the point.”

They both fell silent for a while, listening to the wind and the soughing of the sea. Okuyasu eventually stood back up and shifted his weight to one leg, sighing and tapping his fingers against his thighs from inside his pockets. The ankles of his pants dragged in the waves and were pulled gently by the moving water, and it only bothered Josuke a little bit that Okuyasu didn’t mind his clothes getting wet.

“It’s pretty.”

“Hmm?” Josuke had been a little lost in staring at the water lapping at their bare feet.

“The sky.” Okuyasu had turned away from the sea and motioned towards the sunset.

“Pretty” didn’t even begin to describe the atmosphere above them, but Josuke didn’t have the chance to critique Okuyasu’s word choice. They had both been near the shore during sunset before, but the view was still incredible every time. The sun had mostly gone down now, but there was still a warm orange in the sky behind them; the horizon in front of them was starting to get darker, becoming peppered with stars. It was sort of a reverse sunset because the sun went down to the west and not over the ocean, but it was gorgeous nonetheless, eliciting a satisfied hum from Okuyasu. The distant chirping of cicadas buzzed in the background, and for a moment, Josuke felt completely and utterly content.

“Oku, do you ever wish you could fly?” Josuke mused. He wasn’t usually one for philosophical discussions, but he was feeling really good right now and wanted to talk about something. Plus, he was a bit of a dreamer, and it showed sometimes, even if he didn't like to admit that he spent plenty of time himself thinking about flying or being somewhere else. He stepped back from the ocean and the wet and sat himself down on the warm sand. He didn’t really care that it was going to get all over and inside his clothes, at least it was dry, and he was just happy to be spending time with someone.

“Uh, I mean, sometimes, but I wouldn’t wanna fall and break something.” Okuyasu moved to sit next to Josuke, close enough that their shoulders were pressed comfortably against each other.

“No no, like if you could fly without the fear of falling.”

“Then yeah, I guess.”

“I’d fly through that sky.” Josuke said, a hint of genuine longing in his voice.

“That’s cheesy, bro-”

“Hey, shut up!” Josuke shoved his friend, grinning as Okuyasu tipped over and laughed. They both laughed. They hadn’t laughed in a long time since the Kira incident. It had kept them both up at night much too often, sometimes to the point of knocking on the other’s door or sneaking through windows to talk late into the night and early in the morning. At times, each others’ company allowed them some sleep on the calm nights, but for the most part, they sat staring at the shadows of the walls and ceiling, safe indoors and under blankets, together, and very much alive.

They seemed to be thinking the same thing when their laughter faded and they looked at each other, stoic expressions set across their lips. No teenager should have to go through fighting a serial killer, but they had done it and lived. It was a sick victory.

“You could’ve-”

“I know…” Okuyasu whispered, placing an arm around Josuke’s shoulders and pulling him closer. Josuke tugged his knees against his body, letting himself feel the warmth of his best friend alive and breathing next to him. They had only just met at the beginning of the summer, but to both of them, it felt like they had known each other for their entire lives.

“I’m just glad you’re alive,” Josuke said against his sweatpants, taking a deep breath and leaning into Okuyasu’s arms. Josuke wasn’t going to cry now. He had done enough of that, Okuyasu too. They had cried their hearts out to each other too many times to count, and there were better times to cry about the past. For now, their hearts were beating quietly, and they stared at the stars and the dimming sunlight.

They left it at that and stayed there for a fleeting moment, eyes half-closed, before Josuke moved to stand back up, sweeping loose sand off his clothes. He reached out to help Okuyasu up, taking his hand, holding onto it, and feeling the stiffness of the calluses just a little longer than he needed to. Josuke let go abruptly and put his hands back in his pockets.

“Sorry, I-”

The gentle smile on Okuyasu’s face filled his soul to the brim with joy.

“It’s okay, bro. No big deal.” Okuyasu held his arm back out, just slightly, and Josuke looked back at the ocean as he reached over to lightly grasp a couple of Okuyasu’s fingers in his hand. Okuyasu wanted Josuke to hold his hand anyways. It was comforting, standing there while the wind ruffled their clothes and hair, not really thinking about anything. At least, Okuyasu wasn’t thinking about anything. Josuke always looked like he was busy going over something or other in his mind again and again. The tendons in his neck were always tense and he rolled his shoulders around more than he needed to. He looked like there was always something bothering him, or like he was ready for someone to jump on them at any moment. He had gotten like that recently, and it made Okuyasu want to wrap his arms around him until his muscles relaxed and the bags under his eyes were gone. For now, he just stuck to letting Josuke lightly hold onto his first two fingers as they looked out at the horizon.

Josuke glanced back at Okuyasu after a while, smiling at him for what seemed like no particular reason except for the atmosphere of the moment. They started walking down the beach after that, hand in hand, carefully stepping around the jellyfish and rocks that had washed up on shore until the sun had fully set.

They had turned around a while later and walked back north along the beach, farther away from the sea as the tide came in. Their feet were drier, and Josuke was holding onto Okuyasu’s entire hand now and not just his fingers, palms pressed tightly together. Their only conversation was the occasional warning about a rock or other hazard to their feet in the dark, and when the wind finally started to become chilly, they decided to head home.

Josuke shivered. The ocean was great and all, but the weather was starting to become uncomfortable in his thin short sleeve shirt. Plus, it looked like it was going to rain; the stars had become hidden by thick clouds. He stuffed his feet in his shoes that they had left on some large rocks, shoving his crumpled socks in his pocket. Okuyasu looked down at his watch, while he put his own shoes on (with a little more precision than Josuke). He didn’t comment on the time, but Josuke assumed that it must be pretty late, or early in the morning. They lost track of the time a lot. Josuke had gone back to focusing on the stubborn tongue of his left shoe when he felt something draped across his shoulders.

“Ya look a little cold, bro.”

Okuyasu was only focused right now on taking care of Josuke, and he didn’t really know why. Maybe it was because he felt an obligation to his friend, or a debt because he had made Josuke watch him nearly die. Maybe the reason Okuyasu put his jacket over his friend’s shoulders was because he wanted to. All he knew was that he was determined to keep a smile on Josuke’s face and get him in bed soon.

Suddenly, Josuke glanced at Okuyasu like the gesture of his jacket was too much, and then he looked like he was about to cry. Maybe it really was a little too far into the night to be awake right now. But before Okuyasu could do anything about it, or even put his arm around him, Josuke already had fat tears rolling off his chin.

“Hey, hey, hey, Josuke, I didn’t think my jacket was gonna make ya cry, it’s okay-”

“I know- I just- sorry…” Josuke laughed at his current appearance, but it sounded more like sobbing. “I just don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Josuke was still upset about that, and it wasn’t a surprise. His best friend almost died in front of him, and he had fled from Kira while dragging Okuyasu’s limp body with him, refusing to let him go even if it had almost got him killed.

“You don’t have’ta do anything without me now, bro. I’m right here, and I’ll always be here with ya.” He wrapped his arms around Josuke then, and even though the boy was a bit taller than Okuyasu, Josuke collapsed into the hug, shaking partly from crying and partly from the cold. It was uncharacteristic of him, sobbing when Okuyasu was the one who usually cried. They held each other tightly for a moment until they felt drops of rain hit their heads, prompting them to pull away from each other.

Josuke shuddered, calmer now, but still very cold. He enjoyed the jacket on him, and he snaked his arms into the sleeves, savoring the scent of the fabric before the rain smell could smother it out. Before he could decide to walk back to town with Okuyasu, he felt his legs swept out from under him. They had sat in each other’s arms and been held by each other countless times, but Josuke hadn’t been carried since he was a child. He was mostly surprised that Okuyasu could even carry him because Josuke was thin but by no means a particularly light person. He wanted to say something but decided not to; Okuyasu’s caring glance down at him and the rumbling of thunder somewhere in the sky kept him quiet for now. Okuyasu made his way down the lightly trodden path through the grass, and Josuke enjoyed the light rocking and the warmth of being held until they got home.

#crashing waves #jjba #josuyasu #jojos bizarre adventure #jjba diu #Diamond is Unbreakable #josuke higashikata #okuyasu nijimura #jjba josuke #jjba okuyasu #jjba part 4

[eponymous-rose]

Talks Machina Highlights - Critical Role C2E38 (October 16, 2018)

Tonight’s guests are Sam Riegel and Taliesin Jaffe (and, as always, Dani Carr and... Tiny Corner Max?)!

Announcements:

The latest episode of Between the Sheets, featuring Daytime Emmy Award-Winning Sam Riegel (TM), aired last night and will be available on YouTube tomorrow morning. Sam: “I feel like this channel is mostly just you and me talking?” Brian: “Are you saying that everyone else is just riding our coattails?” Taliesin: “He’s also saying that you look a lot like Liam at this point, and he can’t tell the difference.”

Another episode of All Work No Play will debut this Friday on the Critical Role Twitch (uploaded to YouTube on Sunday). In this episode, Sam and Liam do yoga... with goats. TJ Storm and Travis Willingham guest star!

Next week the cast will be at London MCM! Taliesin: “I’m packing slightly more tweed.” Brian: “Gettin’ tweedy with it.”

There’s a new (harp music) Laura Bailey emote on the CR Twitch for subscribers.

@critrolestats for this week’s episode:

The M9 hit 150 natural ones in this episode. Number 150 was Jester’s acrobatics check to get away from the yuan-ti abomination.

Jester also set the record for the most natural ones in a single episode: 5. The previous record of 4 was held by Nott and Beau. Brian: “You guys remember these are not still going to charity, right?” Sam and Taliesin: “What?”

Taliesin was the one who helped Momlan glue on her elf ears. Taliesin: “I would be very nervous if my mom were going out there.” Brian: “Well, she’s got hundreds of years of secrets on you.” Taliesin: “Mom of the damned.”

Cad’s definitely been upset about being around undead; Taliesin’s rolled a few times to see if there’ll be a worse freak-out, but there hasn’t been one so far. “The notion is that there’s a direction things are supposed to move, and [undead] is something moving against the grain in an intense way. What’s the point of having an imaginary organized religion of any kind if you can’t have something they’re fundamentally against?”

Nott’s extremely far from her comfort zone right now, being outside the Empire, working for a captain on the sea who’s threatened their lives: “There’s snakes and lizards and... wouldn’t you drink, dude?!”

Given how much he’s been getting the shit kicked out of him lately, is there a breaking point for Cad? “Probably. I haven’t really finished nailing him down emotionally yet. I genuinely don’t know what zen people do when everything goes to shit.” Jester’s speech genuinely comforted him a lot. “Apparently Laura knew what to say.” Sam notes that the party hasn’t really had a chance to sit down and ask him questions about himself so far. Taliesin mentions that Cad’s been ordering drinks but hasn’t actually been drinking.

Nott’s fallen into the role of the mom friend mainly because nobody else has (everyone agrees that Caduceus is more of “a wise pothead”). Brian: “Everyone seems to have so much baggage right now. Half the people seem focused on just holding it together, the other half are focused on the mission.” Dani: “Somebody has to be the level-headed one.” Sam: “And why can’t that leveling force come from a three-and-a-half-foot insane goblin alcoholic?”

Once Caduceus levels out (he’s still a little shell-shocked), he’s going to realize that he’s surrounded by “unhealthy lunatics” and will want to do something about that.

Sam’s done some research about chemistry (although he wants to make more of a cheat sheet after Travis’ experience with sailing), knowing it might come up with Nott’s alchemy knowledge. Taliesin is trying to learn more of what Sam terms “that fungus shit”. Also tea, and zen. Sam: “I was thinking you should go to a morgue and see how bodies decompose.” Taliesin: “Oh, I have some experience in that.” 

(don’t worry; it’s just some friends in forensic anthropology)

Gif of the Week: Taliesin casts Detect DM Shenanigans.

“There was a certain order to the universe that he has come to expect, and it has been thrown into great disarray.” Cad was expecting the Epic Quest to save his home, but he wasn’t expecting the Mighty Nein. He’s mainly staying because of what Jester said about not necessarily needing to understand what’s happening right now. “He’s confused and trying his best to just let things happen, because that’s how the Wildmother works.”

Nott’s been surprised by some of the Mighty Nein’s actions, but so far she knows it’s out of necessity. She doesn’t view the incident on the docks as quite as bad as some of the others did---it was chaotic and based in self-preservation rather than actively causing harm. “But some of the other actions lately have been surprising to her.” Sam points out that she and Caleb did a lot of things to survive, and that she still steals a lot, and reminds everyone that she lives in a very morally grey area. She’s not thinking of leaving at this point, and all the high-stakes trauma has brought her closer to the group. “It’s a fucked-up dysfunctional family, but it’s starting to look a little bit like a family to her.”

Taliesin and Sam are both enjoying being moral compasses of the party this campaign, in major contrast to the previous campaign. Brian: “You were a teenage asshole. You were a teenage dirtbag.” Taliesin: “It’s so weird. I love it.” Sam: “Oh man. We’d better step up our game. If we’re the moral compasses...” Taliesin: “We’re like Cracker Jack compasses, we almost point north.”

Cad’s got a lot of abilities he just doesn’t use very often. “He knows that some of it is... rude? Death cleric, man, they’ve got some insane shit.” Cad doesn’t have the same opinions on life and death as most people. Brian: “How surprising.”

Taliesin is having “a ton of fun” playing Caduceus. “I love Molly... and the character. Too easy.” No, but seriously: “I loved playing Molly, but the nice thing I got to do with Caduceus that I didn’t get to do with Molly is we had an established group and I got to create a character that was useful to the dynamic both mathematically and emotionally.”

Sam: “Wait, is it twitch.tv or twitch.com? Oh my god, I’ve been putting the wrong links on my Twitter for like a year.”

Cad was very selective about who he told about Jamedi, and purposely didn’t tell Nott because he knew she’d tell others. Sam, trying to keep a straight face: “Nott’s nothing if not trustworthy.” He’s more surprised that Caduceus has figured that out already, given how little he knows about Nott. “Maybe it speaks less to Nott and more to Caduceus being judgey...” Taliesin clarifies that it wasn’t so much that Nott was untrustworthy, it was more than Nott couldn’t keep a secret. Sam, as a player, was shocked that the rest of the party didn’t instantly tell everyone that “we are being led through the jungle by a dead guy.” Taliesin points out that with two clerics (Brian: “well, a cleric and a battle Mercy”), they literally have a button they can push to make him go away if they need to.

Sam: “It seems like Fjord’s going into a real bad place without any information, and Nott’s there to support and make sure he doesn’t die, but it seems like a bad idea.” Taliesin: “This seems like a test of one’s soul, and Caduceus is on board but aware that this could go badly.” Taliesin also points out that the rest of the group isn’t aware of the creepiest stuff going on because they weren’t there for it.

Fanart of the Week: the group (sans Jester and Caduceus) inside Leomund’s Tiny Hut! 

Taliesin got recognized in public, and the fan immediately called out the two clerics for going off on their own in the middle of the night. Taliesin: “It was a good burn.”

Caduceus had some experience with fights pre-M9 (grave robbers, wildlife). Taliesin: “Have you ever seen Cemetery Man? Shit gets weird!”

There’s a brief interlude while everyone arranges a movie night. As you do.

Has Nott been feeling protective toward members of the Nein other than Caleb? Fjord is probably the next-likely candidate, followed by possibly Yasha. Sam: “Caduceus is just too tall.” Taliesin: “I feel that.”

Taliesin describes Lesser Restoration as “the aspirin of D&D”. He’s done some healing of illness before, but this has just been a bad time. Sam points out that in the last campaign they didn’t really have to deal with disease so much. “I assume it’s Bird Flu.”

Scanlan stealing the gun was messing with both Taliesin and Percy. Nott is interested in the mechanics of the gun, interested in the chemistry of gunpowder, and has already designed and manufactured one explosive arrow as a result. “But Nott has also noticed that there’s people with guns wherever they keep going, and it might be a good idea to have a gun. It’s a self-preservation thing. If that also happens to mess with Taliesin Jaffe, I’m not going to say no to that. I mean, the heart does what the heart does. If that happens as a result, we’ve all grown as people.”

They realize there’s about a four-foot height difference between Caduceus and Nott. Taliesin: “He squats.” Dani: “He’s got killer calves.”

Caduceus is very, very good at reading people. Nott doesn’t lie because of goblin upbringing, but more out of her travels with Caleb and having her first impulse to be to get out of any situation by lying to stall/delay/confuse. 

Taliesin: “Why lie to a plant?”

There’s a brief interlude about telling your plants inappropriate bodily measurements. As you... do? Brian: “I’m calling an Uber right now. I’m sorry. I’m done.”

Taliesin is collecting spells based mainly on what he can guess might be helpful. He doesn’t need a lot of damage-dealing, so focuses more on deflecting and healing. He’s picked out some feats he’s interested in to make Caduceus less likely to take damage. “That’s been a problem. I don’t like being hit.”

It is pointed out that all of Sam’s characters in the campaigns have had high intelligence and low wisdom. “That’s a pretty great winning combo for comedy.”

Legends of the Hidden Talks Machina:

Overwatch mains? Sam: “What’s a main?” Taliesin: “It’s like Quidditch...”

Taliesin is a support main, especially Zenyatta and Brigitte.

Brian is a D.Va main (woo!) and also plays a lot of Orisa.

Look, I gotta cheer on anyone who also mains D.Va. Those are the rules.

They agree that watching Sam play as Hanzo would be funny, but decide Roadhog would be the best. Sam: “Yeah. It’s Hog Noon. Is that what he says?” Brian: “Yep.”

What’s Matt’s character name?  Sam: “Tyrone McCabe.” Brian: “It’s close!”

Ghost stories? Taliesin: “I’ve been ghosted.” Sam: “I saw some raccoons in my backyard?” Taliesin: “I got attacked by a skunk when I was in my hot tub.”

Taliesin: “Now I’ve seen a ghost.” Past and present combine:

Taliesin has a 1930s stripey swimsuit, because of course he does.

What (harp music)-style sound cues would they have? Taliesin: The sound of building a temple in the original Warcraft. Sam: An... explosion? Brian: The sound of my mom’s tears because he never became a doctor. Taliesin: “I was thinking the Golden Girls intro.”

Goth advice for the week, courtesy of Taliesin: Best style eyeliner is eyeliner on day 2. Put on the eyeliner before the shower. Know if your choker’s loadbearing.

#critical role #critical role spoilers #talks machina #talks machina spoilers #long text post

[osmw1]

Crowbar Nurse   Chapter 11 — Good Cop, Bad Cop

“Never heard of ‘core’ used in this context before. Elizabeth, right? Go on and explain everything you know to us, though no promises that we’ll take your word for it.”

Kiryū tapped the crowbar against his own shoulder as he questioned the girl. And though she knows full well that he couldn’t be convinced otherwise, Elizabeth simply stood there biting her bottom lip and holding back tears.

“Elizabeth?” “I… I have nothing else to say…”

Her curled silver pigtails bounced and her eyes, like daggers, pierced through Kiryū.

“It’s not like anyone would believe me anyway!” “We’ll worry about that. All you have to worry is telling us the full story.” “That girl is the ‘core’. If we kill her, this game will end, and we will be able to go back to our world. … I can say no more.” “I don’t think we can accept that suggestion. Anything else?”

Elizabeth looked as if she were about to cry before but tears now started to well up after hearing Kiryū’s curt rejection. She crumpled down onto the ground, cradling her head between her knees. She wasn’t tugging at our heartstrings… no, she seemed like she was so confused, she herself didn’t know what else to do.

… aww, jeez.

My hand was scratching the back of my head before I knew it. It wasn’t exactly hard to see why Kiryū was being so suspicious of Elizabeth, given how she suddenly attacked us and how she’s saying that Sera (me!) needs to die.

This conversation is going to end up nowhere like this…

We started off on the wrong foot, but she probably knew a lot more than she was letting on… and I needed to know what she knew. The less she talked, the more trouble I’d be in.

Up until now, Kiryū and I didn’t have much of a plan; we were more or less diving head-first into this adventure of sorts. That we were in a strange and unfamiliar world meant it would be a matter of time until we fell into a trap. I was dying to learn anything from someone who has been through this situation before.

… there was something else that had caught my attention though. Elizabeth was visibly and thoroughly haggard.

Well, that’s not much of a surprise… It was just mere moments ago that she had woken up after passing out in the midst of working overtime.

While observing her, I came to the conclusion that Kiryū and I were the weird ones for having any energy at all after waking up on this side. I mean, I hadn’t had a wink of sleep and yet I felt like I could take on the world.

… there was something strange going on not just in this world, but in my body too.

Sure, I was a little tired, but I was still able to move around. And that’s really strange. It was definitely not something I expected to be able to do, seeing how I was—quite literally—deathly exhausted.

Though I was aware of all this, I still wanted to ask Elizabeth a few things.

“Hey Kiryū, would you mind if I spoke to her privately?” “… I absolutely would mind. Don’t forget that she tried to kill you. You can’t possibly “chat” with someone who means to harm or kill you. What we need to do is interrogate her.”

Kiryū, leering over his shoulder, was evidently ready to kill Elizabeth if needed. … and I’m sorry to say it, but dude’s mega scary. I mean, he was clearly past being calm and collected. It was almost as if he has had past trauma with “someone who meant to harm or kill him”.

“Umm, perhaps you’re right that it wouldn’t be very possible… but hey, think about it. You know how you were checking out this place and the pebble fell through the ground all of a sudden, right? Well, with such a messed-up physics engine, where we are now wouldn’t make for a great place to fight.” “… you have a point.”

My words were getting through to him.

“And I know that you said that we should be cautious around her, but you don’t really believe we should kill Elizabeth, right? In that case, why don’t we call for a truce and talk to her instead?”

I then turned back around to face Elizabeth. She was still stiff and very much on guard, but at least my words got through to her too. Appealing to people’s emotions was a skill I often used at work.

“Why don’t we get a little more comfortable, Elizabeth?”

I paused to think for a moment before speaking to Elizabeth. She responded by looking back at me, eyes narrowed.

“First of all, let me just say that you don’t even worry about attacking us earlier. I’m going to lay my rifle down, so we can all let our guards down, okay?” “Sera!”

Kiryū may have snapped at me, but I simply shook my head.

“… I don’t think we’d be giving off the right impression if we marched right up to Elizabeth—who is unarmed, mind you—with our weapons drawn, and said, ‘let’s have a chat’.”

She snickered at my remark, meaning that it’s gone exactly to plan.

“Why don’t we exchange information? But let’s sit down first. You’ve been working overtime up until just now, right? Keep squatting like that and you’ll just end up even more tired. What do you say?”

I led by example and began to sit down as I spoke while Elizabeth eyed me with suspicion, furrowing her brows. Still, she followed suit and very timidly copied my motions. I know it’s a little weird, but if you ignore the fact that she tried to kill me, she… acts almost like a kitten. Once we got on the ground, we… didn’t fall through. Oh, thank goodness.

“Umm, by the way, Elizabeth…” “… what?” “Right now, we’re not technically in one of the playable areas of the game, and so things fall through the ground sometimes. Try not to move around too much, okay?” “Eeeep!”

Following a curious yelp, Elizabeth turned from side to side to examine her surroundings. … this area did look like a normal stage at first glance but knowing that things can just simply slip out of bounds was a terrifying thought.

“Let me explain our situation first. I was a newly-hired nurse working from 5:30 in the morning to 12:00 midnight who suddenly found herself in this world.”

Elizabeth looked like she would have nodded politely if not for our current circumstances. … she seems familiar with that kind of lifestyle, so what I had said didn’t really surprise her. Much like us, she’s another rat in this race, I guess.

“Beside me is Kiryū who is—was? a software engineer. You were working overtime too, right?” “… we were about to release a new game and it was all hands on deck with debugging.”

Kiryū hesitated, but still reluctantly told us about himself.

“I fell asleep while working and the next thing I knew, I was here. You and I passed out then woke up in this parallel universe too, right, Elizabeth? Seems like a pattern to me.” “… yes, I was entering data one moment and was waking up the next.”

There was a pause before she apprehensively spoke again.

“That means it wasn’t the same for her… for you, Sera?” “Right.”

I responded before continuing.

“I was in the middle of working overtime when the higher-ups came by to make their rounds, so they stuffed me in a linen room.” “They did what to you?” “If the administrators found out us newcomers were working overtime, they’d tell the head nurses off, then the head nurses would get all pissy at us ward nurses. That’s why they hid me in the closet until after the administrators finish their rounds. But while I was in the closet, my phone went crazy? and as I was panicking, a portal to this world opened up.” “… the heck?”

She looked blankly at me.

“That is the first time I have heard of anything like that.” “No kidding! It was pretty shocking. I only took their offer because they advertized that their turnover rate was under 5% and there would be little to no overtime. But in reality, people were quitting left and right and I haven’t left work even once on time.” “That is ridiculous, though it happens all too often. But that wasn’t what I was referring to; what do you mean your phone ‘went crazy’?”

She dryly scoffed, but I was more confused about her than she me.

“You mean you haven’t heard of anything like this the last time you came here?” “Correct. Last time and the time before that, we… we started killing each other before we ever had a chance to talk.”

That was certainly not what I expected to hear.

“Is it like a battle royale–type scenario?” “No. But it… how should I explain it? I believe there is only one person who is able to bring their smartphone, laptop, or any electronic devices like that into this world.” “Just one.” “Correct. Just one. And they are designated as the ‘core’. And on the electronic device—your phone, in this case—should have a feature that wasn’t available before. It is the key to leaving this world.”

I instinctively gulped as I listened to her. A new feature… that would be the untitled app.

“It would make things much more convenient if you have it. Without it, you would not be able to freely move around.” “What do you mean by that?”

My head titled to one side.

“You mean… we could go back to our world?” “No, not like that, but you would be able to migrate to the world of another game. You could… if you so choose to, transfer me or the man too.” “That does sound convenient.”

I may have been positive about it, but Elizabeth’s expression was anything but.

“Yes, perhaps. However, if this world is the same as the ones I have been in before, then there should be other humans here too… Then it would be a matter of when, not if, that people start fighting and killing for the electronic device.” “Why would people start killing each other?”

She casted her gaze downwards, as if she had said too much already.

“… must’ve happened before, then.”

Before I could say anything else, Kiryū looked at Elizabeth for an answer. She hesitated and looked as though she was doubting herself, then finally nodded, confirming what Kiryū had said.

“Correct. It started with just arguing, but one thing led to another, and it escalated to people killing each other. Then, in the midst of it all, the original owner was killed too. The next moment, I woke up back in Japan. That’s why I’m sure, if we…”

She let out a small sigh instead of finishing her sentence.

“I have told you too much already… but so be it. I know I stand no chance against him, so take this chance to kill me now.” “I think I prefer ‘nurse’ to ‘murderer’.”

Seeing the frown on my face and hearing my response, Elizabeth sat there bewilderedly and stared at me before giggling out loud. … good. That should have established at least a little trust between us. She was even looking a little more relaxed too.

I don’t think we can get to the heart of the matter by questioning her any further…

—Honestly, it’d take quite a leap in logic to get from “a useful electronic device” to “killing each other for it”. I mean, people don’t just go around slaughtering people, right? Sure, this may be a strange place to be dropped into, but jumping straight to murder isn’t normal. Working together like us is normal. And if that doesn’t work out, then splitting up and working independently is normal. The people Elizabeth were talking about skipped quite a few pages in between, but I’m sure she was trying to gloss over some of the less savory details.

Telling us the whole truth probably wouldn’t be very convenient for her, I’m guessing.

Or at least that was what I assumed, but now wasn’t the time to get to the bottom of the matter—that would only work against us.

I really want to ask her more, but you know what they say about curiosity and cats.

If there’s something a patient doesn’t need to know, then nurses must never point it out. Otherwise, a simple conversation could turn into a questioning or an argument. It would then lead to distrust between the patient and health professionals—a breakdown in communication—and the patient wouldn’t get the help they need.

It wasn’t too different from the situation with Elizabeth. Prying it out of her would only strain the delicate relationship we have. I needed more time to get the whole truth out of her. Who knows? Maybe a good opportunity will jump out at me…

I took a sidelong glance at Kiryū. He had an odd smirk on his face and a shrug on his shoulders.

“If you want to work with her, well… fine with me.”

Kiryū being Kiryū, it didn’t take long before he calmed down and collected himself; the anger and impatience that was in him was now all gone. With a bitter smile on his face, he bent over and picked up the cane, only to relinquish it to its owner.

“… from what little you’ve said so far, it seems like there’s still a gap in what you know. You’re still unsure if killing the ‘core’ is the means to returning home.” “Yes, I suppose.” “Then we all stand to lose if we were enemies—after all, we are law-abiding citizens, not killers. It would be much preferable if we can all make it back to Japan without having to resort to murder.”

Elizabeth’s response to Kiryū was a moment of silence along with a blank stare at her weapon. It was a sudden transition between that and a burst of laughter.

“… I suppose you are right, Kiryū. Not only would I lose to you again, but we have a common goal towards which we should fight together. … and Sera, I shall belay killing you until I am certain and confident it is the right choice.

    We left the Slums and returned to the Downtown district. Of course, it was through headbutting a wall again. Though we were safe from enemies, we risked falling through the ground in that place… it would be a constant and unpredictable danger.

Plus, we were now thirsty and hungry. Elizabeth said that anything that would be in the original game should also appear in this world, so I figured we should head towards the “Supermarket” stage to obtain some water and canned goods. … and all told, I’m grateful to have sat down and spoken with Elizabeth. I’m glad to have befriended someone who has experienced this before—even if this friendship were only temporary.

Perhaps due to losing to Kiryū in their battle, she also decided to tag along with us, and she seemed to not want to leave my side. Whether that’s because I protected her or whether she’s still afraid of Kiryū because he struck back with his crowbar was yet to be known.

Though honestly, I’m still afraid of Elizabeth… I mean, she did try to kill me.

In any case, I figured I should stick with Kiryū but also to keep an eye on her. She’s… probably a well-balanced individual with no homicidal tendencies, but there was also something in the back of my head telling me to be careful.

Walking closer to Kiryū prompted him to speak to me in a low tone.

“… not too shabby at all, Sera. Didn’t think you’d use me in a good cop/bad cop routine.”

He muttered to me with a wry smile, but I wasn’t exactly following.

“What’s that about the police?” “Oh, what? You—never mind… it’s a classic interrogation technique. But even more impressive how you managed to pull it off without knowing about it.”

I couldn’t share the smirk on his face before the conversation about police officers had ended.

Interrogations, huh? The way Kiryū spoke when he tried to interrogate Elizabeth earlier… I’m sure I’ve heard it somewhere before. Where is that from? Don’t tell me I’ve actually met Kiryū in Japan before.”

I had nothing, but I had to get it off mind for now.

So, where do we go from here? Well, first, we’ve cleared the “Downtown”. Then after, we’ll raid the supermarket in the early stages of “Uptown,” Following that in Uptown would be the safehouse… which we’ll simply pass on by. We decided to head to the last part of this area, which is the hospital where we have to gather syringes and meds. After that, we would head back to the safehouse to rest up. We’re on a tight schedule, but with our hellish army with us, we should be able to pull through.

“You think we’ll beat the game, Sera?” “Yeah, we’ll beat it, no sweat. The troops have gotten so strong, I almost feel bad for the zombies.”

One of them, nicknamed Ortega, can take down a zombie with a single strike of a plastic garbage bin. Strap the Vital Watch on his wrist and… it showed “Level 10” with good vitals. Even a Tank wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

“Let’s head to the supermarket for now.”

Getting to the supermarket was a walk in the park. Our unstoppable army from hell practically one-shots Minotaurs and Tanks. Feels good, man.

“This has to be some kind of a joke… how does a plastic toy hammer defeat an armored vehicle?”

Elizabeth, taken aback, exclaimed aloud. It didn’t take long to reach the grocery store, making easy loot of fruit, bottled water, bread, canned goods, and other essential items. Inside the store was a mid-level boss—the now-psychotic store manager. “This is my store!” he shrieked, but it took only a second to silence him for good.

We bagged our own groceries with the paper bags at the registers, loaded them into a buggy, and continued plundering. Oh, and Nick? Well, of course we brought him along—in the cart. After finding and switching to plastic and reusable shopping bags, even our army guys helped out by tying the handles together. It was a totally ridiculous sight.

We then passed by the safehouse and entered the hospital.

Tourniquets, needles, syringes, alcohol swabs, cotton wool… you name it, we took it. In the linen closet, we found clean pillowcases to fashion makeshift backpacks out of them. Fresh sheets would be useful too. All this looting was hard work, and when I finally thought I found a spare moment to take a break… I started to feel faint.

“Sera!”

Kiryū caught me right before I faceplanted. It was odd, considering I felt like I could take on the world… or so I thought at least. The last thing I remembered was going into shock. Then I blacked out.

■Princess Elizabeth

The human inside Elizabeth doesn’t get in much exercise. No wonder she lost in a test of strength against Kiryū. A diligent person, but perhaps tends to worry too much. Her cries are particularly unique. Adores cats but loves dogs too. An animal lover, if anything. Though she runs a blog about female-oriented dating simulators and updates her Mugtome like a photo diary, neither platform has received updates as of late. Has one older brother. Her favorite TV show is an American musical comedy-drama series that takes place in a high school. Later in this story, an impossibly handsome stud of a real estate agent falls in love with Elizabeth and follows her around like a dog, much like something out of a cartoon. As that does not happen until later, Elizabeth is merely some loser for now.

contents: /ch001/ /ch002/ /ch003/ /ch004/ /ch005/ /ch006/ /ch007/ /ch008/ /ch009/ /ch010/ /ch011/ /next/

(leave me a tip on Patreon?)

#Average Translations #AvgTL #osm #light novels #ln #web novels #wn #syosetu #kakuyomu #一般の英訳 #ライトノベル #ラノベ #オンライン小説 #オンラインノベル #小説家になろう #カクヨム #Crowbar Nurse #CBN #threehyphens #isekai #バールナース #異世界

[hermannsthumb]

HEADCANON/PROMPT TIME. Like, Newton has to have been the person to find Hermann staring blankly at his chalkboard after predicting the double and triple events. Newton would see Hermann wide-eyed and white-faced and drop everything the second he walked back into the lab to rush over to him because he's terrified that he's about to collapse or something.

god i love them like…..supporting each other…..being there for each other….let’s try some hurt/comfort. (i’ve been on a roll tonight LOL i feel like a writing machine)

“Here,” Newton is saying, “here, Hermann, sit down, here–”

Newton sounds far-off, like he’s speaking from another room. Distantly, Hermann is aware of Newton’s hand on the small of Hermann’s back, that he’s ushering Hermann across the room, that he’s easing Hermann’s cane out of his white-knuckle grip and helping Hermann down onto the lab couch. Newton places a hand on Hermann’s shoulder and squeezes tentatively. “Hermann,” he says, “you want some water? You want–”

Hermann’s legs are trembling. “Yes,” he says. “Yes.”

Newton disappears from view, and comes back a few moments later with a chipped coffee mug. He hands it to Hermann. The water’s lukewarm, and it tastes vaguely of stale coffee. The mug cannot have been washed well. Newton watches him drink it all, and then he takes the mug from Hermann and carefully sets it down. “Hermann,” Newton repeats. He’s squatting in front of Hermann. “Talk to me, dude.”

Hermann swallows thickly. He works his jaw a few times. “I predicted a double event,” he says.

Newton sits back on his heels. He laughs. 

Hermann does not laugh.

Newton’s grin fades. “Seriously?” he says.

Hermann nods. He wonders how Newton found him when he came into the lab. Frozen in place at the board, he assumes, chalk in hand, staring at the final line of his newly completed equation and wondering how in God’s name he’s meant to bear the news of certain death to a base full of people. To a city full of people. Because a double event is unheard of. It’s unprecedented. They can’t possibly–how are they meant to– “I don’t know what–” Hermann says. “I–Newton.”

Newton is not mocking him. Newton is not picking a fight with him. Newton is not saying he’s wrong. Newton takes Hermann’s hands in his, very gently, and rubs his thumbs over Hermann’s knuckles. It’s all very odd; usually, Hermann is the one talking Newton down from bad spells, the one forcing water and Advil on Newton and making him breathe. Newton handles the reverse surprisingly skillfully. “Dude. Calm down, okay?” he says. “Please calm down.”

How strange it is, the things you come to understand about yourself at the end of the world. About others. About Newton, in Hermann’s situation, particularly in relation to himself. Newton, his rival, his oldest friend, his equal in every sense. Newton, obnoxious, intelligent, charming. Handsome. Newton is very handsome. Newton continues to rub Hermann’s knuckles, absolutely silent. 

Hermann is in love with him. He’s entertained the notion before, laying awake at night or watching Newton work in the lab or reading over their old letters, but now–in the face of Newton’s kindness, in knowing that they’re doomed, in knowing they won’t have a future even if Hermann wants it–he’s certain of it. He reels Newton in by the wrists and kisses him once, very chastely, desperate for this little bit of intimacy. Newton doesn’t even have the decency to act surprised.

“Hermann,” he says, and he must see the fear (of rejection) rising behind Hermann’s eyes, because he leans back in and kisses Hermann’s bottom lip, and then his top lip, reassuring and sweet and just as chaste. “Have a little optimism, okay? We have jaegers. Jaegers you coded. We have pilots. We can handle a double event.”

These facts are all true. “Yes,” Hermann sighs. “You’re right.”

“Okay,” Newton says, and squeezes Hermann’s hands.

In a minute, Hermann will rush to fetch Pentecost and relay the information, but for now--still unable to shake off the feeling they won’t have a chance later--Hermann allows himself one more quick kiss from Newton.

#newmann #maria's fanfiction tag #i wrote this before i posted the last one HAHA i dont write THAT fast #i want 2 leave u all with some newmann before i have family obligations tomorrow #long post //////

[cherry3point14]

You Might Think - Gif Drabble

Pairing: Dean x Reader Warnings: LOL DEMONS  Word Count: 770

The bar is hazy, the kind of muddy air that settles late in the evening. Not that Dean has a problem with the atmosphere. It was one of the many bars he considered local. Not a long drive from the bunker and he only resents half of the idiots in there.

He’s nursing another beer. It isn’t late yet and today hasn’t been as much of a shitshow as usual. Maybe he’d hit the hard stuff later or maybe he’d stick to beer. He might go as far as calling it a good day.

He hasn’t paid much attention to anyone else around him tonight. He hasn’t hustled those douchebags hogging the pool table, he could have but he hasn’t. He hasn’t flirted with one of the women huddled at the table in the corner, the ones who giggled when he passed by earlier. He’s aware of everyone, of course, but he’s not looking for human interaction tonight. In fact, that’s why he’s not drinking in the bunker. There are too many people there. Even with half of Sam’s merry men out on hunts, there’s still more people than he cares for.

“You’re making it really hard not to stab you.”

Dean doesn’t exactly listen in on other people’s conversations but there are things that he hears whether he wants to or not. Like that. He shoots a sideways glance down the bar to see a woman sitting there with, he notes, a generous serving of something amber in the glass her hand is wrapped around. She must be having a bad day. And then there’s this guy leaning in her direction lecherously, he just might be the cause. Dean can’t hear what he’s hissing at her but he can read her body language well enough to know that she wants jack squat to do with him.

She doesn’t seem like she needs help though, her threat sounded serious enough, so Dean plans on finishing his beer before he goes over there and helps anyway. Gives her a chance to send the guy packing first.

But then he’s slow. Too slow for what happens next. Maybe it’s that hazy bar air that stops him smelling something familiar till it’s too late.

She says, “fuck it,” loud enough that he turns his head properly and then everything kind of happens in front of him. Her arm cuts through the air quickly enough that he barely sees her move, but Dean still gets a good look at where the blade had been hidden in her jacket. The creep barely twitches before there’s a knife in his chest.

Not that he’s a normal bar creep because as soon as the blade lands the demon, the fucking demon Dean hadn’t noticed, glows orange. Then he’s slumped on the floor, dead.

She keeps moving quickly, pulling back her angel blade from the now empty meatsuit and making her way towards him.

“Christo.” He smiles because he knows his eyes won’t change and she gets this angry wrinkle in the bridge of her nose. “Oh my god. Dude you’ve gotta get out of here, now.”

“Huh?” He quips, suppressing a smirk. She thinks he’s a clueless civilian and it’s the cherry on top of his not terrible day. She’s grabbing at his shoulder, fingers bunched in his collar and dragging him to his feet. It’s kind of freaking hilarious, this woman with a bloody knife in one hand, trying to save his ass with the other.

She groans in frustration for the lumbering mass that Dean becomes in her care and then she groans again, this time because of the fist that catches her jaw. She stumbles, landing with the bar pressing awkwardly into her back so that she’s almost laying down. “Fuck me.”

He almost makes a joke, opens his mouth to say it too just before she jumps up and retaliates. Her fist lands hard enough that the demon, one of the women he’d seen giggling earlier, falls on her ass across the dusty wooden floor. Then her eyes are on him again, annoyed, “look I don’t have time to explain I just need you to get outside before you get hurt.”

“Me? Hurt?” Ok. He’s playing dumb. Too dumb. But he’s already seen the three demons still standing, well one’s on her ass, he thinks he’s got time for a little fun.

“Holy fu- just, get out of here. They’re demons. Real life demons that’ll kill you if you don’t get out the way so I can kill them.”

It’s hard not to laugh. Hard but not impossible. He creases his brow with fake concern painted on his face, “what-uh-excuse me-what?”

Don’t forget, you can still SUBMIT me a gif and get your own drabble as part of my 500 follower celebration.

5eva tags: @divadinag @darthdeziewok @fluentinfiction @witch-of-letters  @supernatural-teamfreewillpage Dean babes: @thewinchesterchronicles @akshi8278 @erins-culinary-service

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[emilyplaysotome]

Chapter 9 - Mystery Men

Catch up on Chapters 1 - 8 here! (or just Chapter 8) 

I felt a sense of relief knowing that Meg was not only okay in the otome realm, but that she was still managing to help me in my quest.

I assumed that the king had underestimated her, seeing as how it was obvious that her knowledge of his world was far less than my own. It was because of that fact that she’d been able to do all this investigating under his nose. Furthermore, my misstep in identifying the final sixth man had given him a false sense of security and as a result it was clear that he was no longer feeling as if he needed to watch my every move.

At the time I’d compiled the list of potential suitors, I had written down everyone who had come to mind - even if we hadn’t spent much time together. Based on what was in front of me, Meg had been incredibly productive and she’d circled  three names in red ink - Iori Enjo, Toma Kirya, and Eisuke Ichinomiya.

That last name was one that I hadn’t even written down, but Meg had scribbled it at the bottom and circled it as if she was certain that he should not be over looked. I wished that I could ask her about what it was that I was seeing, but I’d have to figure it out myself. As prickly as all these men were at least I had names to give to Jin, and that in itself was a start.

Having lived an incredibly full day and with an equally full one tomorrow, I dragged myself to bed in my own home for the first time since my breakup. I had hoped that sleep would come quickly but instead I found myself tossing and turning as I considered the fact that perhaps, after all of this, Zyglavis would not be the one for me in the end.

There was something unsettling about that thought in addition to feeling free. I was getting a second chance to figure out who was the best fit for me with the knowledge that all of the otome men I’d met were able to thrive in this world in ways I never could have anticipated the first time around.

With Jin specifically, his age, his smoking habit, and the fact that I was convinced this city would eat him alive had been the bulk of why I walked away from him in the first place. I found myself thinking about our hot springs date and how sad he was when I had revealed back then that I was going back to New York. I remember how he’d declared that he wanted to be considered - that he would not give up easily and that he loved me.

I remembered the way he conducted himself when Zyglavis and Shun had bickered like children in front of Addison & Rhodes. He had been mature and calm - even respectful of his rivals.

At the time I was having trouble seeing anyone other than Zyglavis but now I couldn’t help but think of that moment and if I had picked Jin and if everything had played out the way it did (with my old otome flames dropping into this world unannounced and with no return) if our relationship might have easily persevered during the test that had made relationship with Zyglavis falter.

It didn’t matter that the answer to my question would never come lying in bed, my mind pondered it anyway and I didn’t get to sleep until somewhere around 2 am that night.

“What the hell is this?!” Hijikata bellowed as I found myself too tired and too sore to complete yet another burpee rep.

“I’m…sorry…”

“Don’t be sorry - show me you want to do the work. Prove that this isn’t just a one day whim!”

“It’s…not…”

“Stop.”

Hijikata clicked his tongue and I laid on the floor of the gym my stomach, taking his “stop” as permission to completely collapse during my burpee mid-motion.

“How late were you up last night? You seem sluggish and you have dark circles under your eyes!”

“2…maybe later…”

I could see the annoyance flicker behind Hijikata’s eyes and he growled, “Why were you up so late when you knew we were working out?”

“I tried to sleep…believe me, I was in bed by 11 but I just couldn’t.”

He let out a sharp exhale and extended his hand, to help me back onto my feet. I took it and was reminded of how his hand felt around mine, if only for a moment. He led me to a small stretching area in the back and instructed me to sit across from him.

“Training is not just about mastering the body, but also the mind. Breathe Naomi. In through the nose, out through the mouth…”

I was surprised that Hijikata had forgiven my failings and instead proceeded to lead me through a guided meditation for 20 minutes. 

To be honest, meditation had always been one of those things I convinced myself was for hippies and yoga fanatics but Hijikata made it feel accessible to me. He made me realize it was a struggle to be present and calm with all that was happening in my life. As I scanned my body, I not only felt the aches and pains from our workout yesterday but the tension in my shoulders from the stress of a missing friend and an uncertain future.

I was also surprised to see Hijikata looking at me almost tenderly when I was finally instructed to open my eyes.

“That’s all for today.”

“But…”

“You’re tired right? It’d be reckless to push you to do more today. Rest up and I’ll see you Monday at 8 AM.”

“Ok. I’m sorry.”

Hijikata shook his head, “You were tired but still showed up. You did your best. Your homework is to work meditation into your daily life. I need a calm mind in order to transform your body.”

I nodded and walked with Hijikata down one flight of steps past Frank who couldn’t help but butt in, “Leaving so soon?”

“Making an exception for today,” Hijikata said, leaping to my defense.

Frank grinned and in a teasing tone noted, “It’s not like the demon trainer to play favorites. Don’t tell me you’ve already fallen for our lovely client Toshi!”

“Of course not!” he growled, but Frank continued his playful barbs until Hijikata had enough and stormed off. 

There was something about the exchange that had reminded me of Hijikata’s relationship with Isami Kondo back on the Shinsengumi base, and seeing this brotherly, and slightly paternal teasing from Frank caused me to smile despite how bad I was feeling for not being able to finish the workout.

“Frank!” I scolded with a smile, “He’s going to be even meaner to me Monday now just to prove he doesn’t play favorites!”

“I doubt it hon - and I like my clients to smile when they leave even if they can’t keep up with my demon,” he said with a little wink. “Don’t mind Toshi either - he’s extra prickly these days because he’s got a rival.”

“A rival?”

“Yeah, I’m sure you’ll see him around. Guy’s also training for the same lifting competition Toshi’s got in a month. And let me tell you - this dude’s the real deal. Got Toshi sweating it pretty hard these days.”

“Was he here yesterday by any chance?”

“Sure was - why do you ask?”

I had to consider that there was a strong possibility that this rival was the sixth man I’d managed to “meet” but not notice. There was something about a sudden appearance of a challenger that felt very in-line with a predictable otome plot to go unnoticed.

“Do you mind if I ask his name?”

“Taka. He’s a fine dude but him and Toshi are like oil and water. Do yourself a favor and don’t bring him up if you want to stay on Toshi’s good side,” Frank noted with a laugh before saying goodbye to spot another member’s squat.

There was no one on my list of suspects who went by “Taka” yet my gut was telling me that there was no way that this was merely a coincidence. I raced home and opened my Love365 app before going through all the games in order to refresh my memory as to who this mystery “Taka” could be.

There was Takashi from Revance, but it seemed really unlikely that he would have taken up weightlifting to the point that he would be able to compete with Toshi. There was Takao Maruyama from Long Island, but I never ended up investigating there so I crossed him off my list. Hidetaka Sera didn’t go by Taka, but I did remember the way he looked at me when Zyg and I had visited Seishun High School, and figured that while it was unlikely that he was my mystery suitor, I should still keep my eyes peeled for him. 

Finally, I didn’t remember interacting much with Takamune Kitami, the athlete option in My Last First Kiss, but he seemed to make sense as a physical rival to Hijikata and so I scribbled both names on my potential list for Jin Namba before heading to shower and prepare for my date with Hiroshi.

I’ll admit that I was sore and tired and well aware thanks to Toshi’s comment that all of my fatigue showed on my face.

Unfortunately I didn’t have time for a nap and so the second best option was a makeup tutorial for a fresh, dewey, natural day look that walked me through how to hide my dark, under-eye circles. Between that, the highlighter, and an excessive use at mascara I found myself staring back at a reflection that felt overly made up but appropriate for a second date based on what I’d presented on the first.

Hiroshi and I met at the Shake Shack on the Upper East Side at 86th street, and ordered a fair amount of food before heading over to the park with it. In no way, shape, or form had I “earned” the calories required to adequately enjoy my burger and cheese fries after my pathetic attempt at a workout but I couldn’t possibly be bothered to care.

It was a beautiful day and Hiroshi had been attentive and sweet upon his arrival. He held the Shake Shack door for me and insisted on carrying our food, all the while letting me know in an abashed way that he was sorry he’d been unresponsive over text. Apparently his caseload had taken over most of his time and he wanted to make sure he’d be able to attend our date which meant less texting and more working.

Our conversation flowed naturally as it had on our first date as we walked several blocks to the large east meadow and spread out a blanket. It was such a beautiful day that it felt like everyone in the city had the same idea as us, and though the situation lacked privacy it provided a setting that didn’t feel overly serious or nerve-racking.

Based on what had been said, I was relieved to know that I was still just as close to getting my first kiss out of the six as I’d felt after our first date, and I strategized with how I was going to make Hiroshi feel comfortable and confident enough to make a move.

As quaint as a daytime park picnic with burgers sounded at the time, I realized that it was possibly the least sexy situation one can be in. Burgers are messy and greasy and it’s virtually impossible to make consuming them sexy despite what Carl Jr.’s wants you to think.

I tried to eat mine as ladylike as I could, but the delicious shack sauce still managed to get all over me. I was glad that Hiroshi was good natured about the whole thing, and even went so far as to note that he liked a woman who could get a bit messy and not make a stink about it.

“Oh, well if you’re looking for a hot mess then look no further!” I joked.

“You are definitely a hot mess.”

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I said, wiping sauce off my face and when I looked over I saw Hiroshi looking at me in the way a man does before he leans in and kisses you. I held his gaze and did my patented seductive smirk, in which I pucker my lips slightly and imply with my eyes I’m really worth following through with.

Hiroshi scooted himself closer to me and I held my breath hopeful that I’d soon be reunited with the real Hiroshi Kirisawa.

But naturally…that would have been too easy.

Instead, a shrill voice interrupted our moment, as a young boy informed his mom that he found a spot for their blanket and trotted over to an empty space of grass a few feet away. Hiroshi and I grinned and averted our eyes with no other choice but to return to our picnic.

“So you’ve been busy, huh?” I asked in an attempt to recover.

“You have no idea. It’s like the city was tryin’ to do everything possible to keep me from ya.”

“I hope that’s not true.”

“Well it can try,” Hiroshi said flashing me a confident smirk, “but it’d never win. Not when I like a girl - when I like a girl, nothin’ can keep me from her.”

“And you like…me?”

I watched as his smirk faded and a panicked expression overtook his features.

“Shit! I was supposed to play it cool,” he said, cheeks reddening. “Damnit.”

“Why play it anything? I like it when you’re you.”

The second I said it, I realized that it sounded like a line despite the fact that I really meant it. Hiroshi had no idea of course, but having him act like this was familiar and when we’d first reunited he’d seemed like another person entirely. Similarly to how it had been with Jin, I was happy to discover that Hiroshi wasn’t so different than the man I’d had that one night stand with back in otome-ville.

Regardless though, there was something about him that was too nice for me.

It was a shame really - every iteration of Hiroshi, even this gruffer New Yorker one was too sweet to be my type. I felt like such an idiot realizing that I preferred the cold and silent type to the kind of man who would treat me like a queen. It made me ashamed to know that I was the kind of woman that caused genuinely nice guys to feel like women prefer jerks…

…and I felt even worse knowing that I had to keep pretending that he had a chance with me in order to get that kiss.

It must have showed on my face because Hiroshi asked, “Naomi - what’s wrong?”

“Oh nothing. Now I feel like the uncool one.”

“Nah, that was really nice,” Hiroshi said, taking my hand in his. “So nice I don’t even care your hands are covered in sauce.”

“Ugh are they really?”

“No - you’re totally perfect, come on…ya know that.”

“I…”

“Totally perfect.”

It was happening. I got us back to where we needed to be in order for me to have a chance at winning. I felt awful about kissing a man I knew I had no feelings for and who in every iteration was too good for me, but I still let the moment play out.

I leaned in and just as I was about to close my eyes, in the distance I saw a familiar duo and realized that Meg’s suspicions about Eisuke Ichinomiya being in my world had been accurate.

Chapter 10 here!

Posting this early for work reasons but I hope you guys like it.

If you’ve enjoyed the story, please show your support by sharing it with a friend or buying me a coffee!  

Thanks for reading :)

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#voltage fanfic #Voltage fan fiction #voltage fan #voltage fandom #voltage inc #voltage games #voltage romance sims #jin namba #her love in the force fanfic #her love in the force fanfiction #toshizo hijikata #era of samurai: code of love fanfic #era of samurai: code of love fan fiction #era of samurai: code of love #her love in the force #kissed by the baddest bidder #kissed by the bidder fanfic #kissed by the baddest bidder fan fic #Hiroshi Kirisawa #mpd fanfic #mpd fan fiction

[labelleizzy]

Once In a Lifetime... (Tater/Ransom)

(prompt chosen by @rushingsnowy​) 

read it on the AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/13512438

“I thought it was a good idea at the time, but it now occurs to me that I was horribly wrong.” 

Ransom’s face is in his hands and his words are muffled. Muffled enough that Lardo kicks at his shoe from where she’s standing next to him. “Bro, what the actual fuck.”

Rans raises his head just enough to meet her eyes. “I said, I thought it was a good idea. I can’t believe that I thought it was a good idea.”

“What, coming out dancing with the guy you have a crazy-ass continent sized crush on? Cheah, I could have told you that.” Lardo smirked and leaned up against the wall next to the stairs Justin was sitting on.

“I mean, he’s either the best dancer or the worst dancer I have ever seen.”

Lardo nods, she gets it.

“And he’s just so fucking enthusiastic?”

She tips her head, listening.

“And I can’t stand that I can’t tell if he’s into ME or if he’s just having fun DANCING, and it’s killing me.”

Footsteps echoing from above make Justin look up the stairs to see if he has to move or react or if he can continue freaking out.

Alexei Mashkov’s giant feet come into view in the stairwell above. Justin puts his face back into his hands, and Lardo pats his shoulder sympathetically. “Bro,” she says, as she passes him and Tater gets closer, and Justin knows that within that one word is both her best possible encouragement and also a threat to kick his ass later if Justin doesn’t actually TALK to Tater.

He hears Lardo dropping a few choice words on Tater as she ascends to the landing.

After a moment Tater comes closer. “Justin, I’m come looking for you with drink. Your Adam tells me you come here? Is okay? We should talk, maybe.”

“Man, you’re looming, come on down here where I can see you.” Justin rubs roughly at his face.

Tater gestures to the stair next to Justin, clearly asking if he can sit. Justin nods, too nervous to make eye contact. Tater’s leg is a line of warmth nearly touching Justin’s, his giant frame just nudging at Justin’s shoulder and knee.

Tater waits in silence for what feels like a long time, but it’s a waiting kind of silence, not a judging or harsh kind.

Justin takes a deep breath. “Tater,” he starts, and then the anxiety dries up all the spit in his throat.

Tater rumbles a deep kind of hum, which is clearly Russian for, “I’m listening.”

His breath hitches several times as Justin tries to inhale. He takes a moment to make sure his breath is moving smoothly, and after a moment, works up enough spit in his mouth to say a few more words. He steals a glance sideways. Tater is looking straight ahead at the wall, which is considerate as fuck considering Justin can’t even meet his eyes, but his body language is relaxed and welcoming.

Justin gathers a last deep breath and what remains of his courage, leans over and bumps Tater’s shoulder with his own. “Man, I like you. Like, kind of a LOT.”

His voice doesn’t squeak or go up an octave. Adam will be so proud of him. And Lardo won’t have to kick his ass, which is possibly even better.

“Mmmm? Justin, yes. Is good. I like you too. Not be here if I didn’t like you.” Tater bumps back, gently, like he’s aware of his own strength and always measures it carefully, except when he doesn’t have to.

Justin’s freak-out fades slightly, and the cold concrete under his ass enters his awareness again. He looks up, and up again, at the giant sitting beside him. “You? You like me?”

“Smart, handsome, funny, loyal. Many things to like, yes?” There’s a soft, almost shy quality around his eyes as he looks over at Justin. Tater leans back against the stair at their back, opens towards Justin by putting his hand up and behind Justin on the stair riser. Cautious, but with a warm, questioning expression on his face.

“You like me, I like you too. In friendly ways, yes, but also, I think with a little bit more liking?”

Justin never expected this.

He’s used to wheeling people, and to liking them, but he hasn’t had a crush like this since ninth grade science class and he hasn’t felt this awkward since that one awful dance in 11th grade.

He clears his throat and says, carefully, “yes, more than a little bit more liking.”

Tater’s smile widens and warms. “Hug, please? If you want to, I would like to hug you.”

Justin’s eyes close in a slow blink. Well, How did I get here? (What, earwormed by the Talking Heads, he thinks wildly.) Biting his lip, he nods and leans over, immediately wrapped up in a warm embrace that smells equally of an ambery, woodsy cologne, and of fresh sweaty dude.

It’s delicious. Justin’s died and gone to queer boy heaven. He wraps his arms around Tater, Alexei? What should he call him now oh never mind I can put my HANDS on his BACK and he has to stop himself from exploring too obviously but good lord is he STACKED and Justin is just so HAPPY. His head is tucked up under Alexei’s chin and he can feel Alexei’s cheek rubbing on his hair just like a cat.

Justin’s just listening to Alexei’s heart for a minute or two, warm and contented (except where his butt is still on the cold concrete stair) when he feels Alexei shift enough to give a little soft kiss to the corner of his forehead. He’s DEFINITELY died and gone to heaven, he’s flooded with so much feeling that he sighs out loud and melts a little more into the hug, hands flexing (very appreciatively) on Alexei’s ribs.

Alexei hugs him a little tighter in response, and then lets go a little bit and leans back, so Justin opens his eyes and brings his head up with a little reluctance, but also that fluttery kind of anticipation that wonders what they will make happen next.

Because this? This didn’t just happen. They made it happen, by being ballsy enough to say they were digging each other. And that’s a good thing.

Alexei’s got a giant grin. “Want to stay and dance? Or want to go somewhere and maybe… talk?” He gives the word “talk” the kind of intonation that makes it sound like the talking will be happening largely on the horizontal axis and will involve a shit ton of kissing and touching and mouths going onto skin and all kinds of other things and Justin gets a straight up BOLT of lust up his spine and his eyes get wide and so does his own smile.

Emboldened though still in awe, he reaches up a hand to cup Alexei’s chin, run his thumb lightly over those lips he’s been pining after. Alexei’s face gets a touch more serious. Still smiling, he kisses Justin’s thumb (omg hot) and then turns his head to nuzzle into Justin’s hand and put a warm, deliberate kiss there (dying!), as his own (massive) hand comes round to cup (dwarf!) Justin’s. There is mischief in his warm brown eyes and his eyebrows come up, reminding Justin that he’s neglected to actually accept the invitation.

He brings his lower lip into his mouth to wet it, deliberately testing. Alexei’s attention zeroes in. Yes. “Mmmmmmm, yeah,” he smirks a little, “Talking,” he says using the same intonation Alexei uses, “talking sounds like it will be a lot of fun…” he grins and flirts an eyebrow and Alexei LAUGHS.

“Fun, yes. Some talking and some… not talking?” Alexei’s taking Justin’s breath away for reasons that have nothing to do with his anxiety. His breath tickles Justin’s palm and he can feel the shape of Alexei’s MOUTH again when he kisses Justin’s palm again, an electric touch of tongue just right there…

“Fuck YES. But if you don’t kiss me in the next five seconds I swear I’ll…” his threat goes unvoiced because with that kind of clear welcome he’s overwhelmed in the best way, scooped up into warm, soft kisses nibbling on his mouth, satisfying him some and stirring up hunger for more: more kisses, more skin, more pressure, more holding, more everything.

When they pull apart, Alexei is flushed and pink, Justin is warm all over, and Alexei says, “FUCK yes.”

Justin’s smile blazes and he says, “That’s the idea, eh?” Suddenly he is so eager for them to get out of this stupid concrete stairwell, he stands up and rubs his butt where it’s gone numb, and grins down at Alexei, offering a hand to help him up.

Once in a lifetime you get a chance like this. As they climb back up the stairs together to get back to the club and its coat-check, Justin can feel Alexei lightly appreciating the results of the squats done in service to friendship long ago, and he couldn’t be happier.

Other prompts here: http://marswithghosts.tumblr.com/post/143943313830/fic-prompts

#tater/ransom #ranskov #my words #my story #prompted #omgcheckplease #omgcheckplease is my joy #i love my discord #i love my discord writer friends #omgcheckplease fanfic #i wrote this for you #enjoy!

[dreamingofjoon]

That Gym Couple

Hey, head canon requests are open and please don’t mind my unoriginal title

This photo does not belong to me. Credits here

You were on your explore page on instagram

When you found a video of this really cute guy and his equally cute dog

It wasn’t his account (sadly)

But the person who posted it tagged him

So you go on over to his page

And find out a bunch of stuff about him witcho stalker self

Like how he’s a video director

and has an adorable dog

but you ended up not so silently stalking his account

and following him on twitter too

so like two weeks later

this dude’s face is still stuck in your head

you listened to his group’s music

and you were highkey whipped over this dude you never met and probably never would meet

But anywho

One day you were just in the gym

Because you knew you had to get up and start working out again

You were on the leg press

Struggling because you put it on a higher weight than you knew you could take

your cheeks were puffed and you probably looked hilarious to anyone passing

you had some baggy, black joggers on

old nikes

and a big ass hoodie

so you lowkey looked like a bum too

BuT a cute bUM

ain’t nobody got time to put on makeup when you’re gonna sweat it all off so none of that (seriously bruh)

you finally reached your last set and just sat there, trying to let your legs feel some relief again

when someone came and tapped you on the shoulder and asked

“Are you finished with this machine?” all considerate like

“Yeah, sorry.” you apologized

but when you tried to get up, your legs felt like jello and you stumbled and almost cracked your head

But then the dude helped you stand upright

and you were all flustered but thanked him

then you looked at his face

and your heart dropped 

cuz it was the instagram dude

so of course you backed up off him even though you wanted him to hold you in his arms forever

and your legs still felt like spaghetti so you fell on the floor

and he laughed at you which made you both a lil mad but more embarrassed

he helped you up again

and you were suddenly aware of the other girl around the gym

like three others

two of them were wearing the typical “I’m trying to find a boyfriend” look

the other one looked like you yet still somehow cleaned up nicer

your legs were finally back to normal so you back up and motion towards the machine so that he can get on

but before he sat, he changed the weight to a higher one okay showoff

he started his set

and you forgot you were kind of staring

so he just looked at you and you got all surprised because he moved his head really suddenly

“Learning from the master?”

“Excuse me?”

“The leg press. It seemed like you were struggling a bit.”

“Oh.Yeah…”

you just went along with the excuse because you couldn’t come up with your own

“When I’m done with my next set, I can show you.”

“Thank you!”

dude you were squealing inside

“Name’s Christian by the way.”

“Y/N.”

so he showed you how to not strain yourself to much but still barely pushing your limits

so that you don’t have to walk around like a limp noodle

and you guys end up working out together

and he’s like

“Do you come here often?”

“First time in a while.”

“Well I come every Saturday evening. Hope to see you again soon.” he smiled and you swooned inside

so yeah you were planning to come next saturday

(and were planning to look a little better)

but when saturday came, you were in a rush and ended up in similar clothing (sux)

but when you got there, you didn’t see him

you started working out because that was still a focus here

like twenty minutes later, you feel a tap on your shoulder

“Surprise.”

wHiPpeD

you guys worked out together again

you ended up getting food after

which defeated the whole purpose of working out but oh well

and you were talking and his dog came up

“My dog loves running with me.”

“Lori, right?”

and there was a silence

and you realized that you guys were supposed to be strangers

“IT REALLY WAS YOU!” he yelled out of the blue

and you’re confused ????

“When you followed me, I looked at your profile because of all of the interesting comments you left so I thought I recognized you at the gym but I wasn’t sure.”

and your eyes bugged out

“Um um um…”

“Don‘t get nervous now.” he laughed

“Would you like to meet her?”

“…Lori?” you asked

he nodded so after the awkwardness passed and you finished eating

the dude asked you to meet him at a park by your house

and he brought his dog along with him

and you walked and had fun with them and got his number

you guys worked out every week together

and soon enough, you got the chance to look halfway decent for him

and when you arrived he looked at you weird

“Are you comfortable in that?” was the first thing he asked

Yeah, why?”

“No reason.”

you were just wearing a t-shirt and some running shorts that were a little high you had to admit

but you worked out nonetheless

near the end, you started to do different exercises

he went to the dumb bells

and you got some small weights so that you could do squats

you’re just doing your thing

then you heard a thud and turned around quick

Christian’s weight was on the ground in front of him and his eyes got wide when you turned around

“You good?”

“Yeah, fine.”

every now and then when you wore something that wasn’t big, baggy, or black, Christian would stare without you knowing somehow

the dude knew you were fine af but sometimes it was just disrespectful

one day, some dude came up to you while you guys were split up

he said he noticed you when you came a few times and would like to grab a bite after you guys were done

before anything even came out of your mouth

Christian does a batman and comes out of nowhere

slides his arm around you waist

“Sorry. We’re going to get something to eat after.”

the dude seems so sweet and accepts defeat gracefully

you’re looking at the hand on your hip like WHAT

Christian pulled away real quick

“You didn’t have to swoop in but thanks for pretending to be my boyfriend.” you awkwardly laughed

and he awkwardly laughed

instead of going to eat after the gym today, Christian invites you to his apartment

YOUR FIRST TIME THERE MY DUDE

he showed you videos he was editing

and you played with Lori

you guys are sitting on his couch when Lori gets between you on the floor

and you both reach down to grab her

but hit your head against each other

and you suddenly turned to face each other

and he leaned in while your eyes just kept getting wider

he kissed you but your eyes were still open in shock

so when he opened his eyes and saw the look on your face, he thought he shouldn’t have done that

“Sorry Y/N. Can you just forget about it?”

“But I don’t want to forget.” you muttered

and he wAs liKE WHAT

“Dude, you saw my comments. You knew you were attractive.”

“I mean yeah, but then we became friends and I didn’t know if that changed.”

“Well it didn’t.” 

so he smiles and kisses you again

And you close your eyes and actually kiss him back this time

then Lori starts yapping and licks your toes

“This is thanks to you!” he said after lifting her

so yeah

afterwards, y’all are that cute gym couple that people say goals to

and he takes a lot of off guards of you whenever he can even if you say they’e ugly

In the gym

while you’re eating

even when you fell asleep on him

you met the other members of DPR

he produced a video of you guys together for your anniversary

you guys are such a chill but open minded couple

you travel

and eat hella diverse food

a lot of nights, you just go over and fall asleep while he’s editing and listening to music

he loves seeing you and Lori curled up together

music is just something you guys bond over

you also bond over Lori

you guys just bond over a lot

it was a reason why he loved you much

#boy group writers net #i go home early tomorrow:DDD #christian yu #christian yu scenarios #christian yu imagines #kpop #kpop fluff #kpop scenarios #kpop imagines #barom yu #barom yu scenario #barom yu imagines #c-clown rome #khh #khh scenarios #khh imagines #khh scenario

[nicolabarth]

Birthday fic: Getting a Date

Pairing: Midafer

Warnings: Actually kinda non. This is mostly fluff, a bit of pining, one split lip.

Since it’s past midnight here now ... This is for @askatosch. Happy Birthday! You’re wonderful and deserve all the best!

Thanks to @coplins and @brieflymaximumprincess for beta reading (and Briefly for pointing out that Lucifer and Adam are the same height. Seriously, this cast! All giants ...)

Read it on AO3

Adam isn’t staring. Totally not. But it’s hard not to glance at Michael now and then, sitting at a table with a group of friends on the other side of the college cafeteria. The guy is a few semesters ahead of him, and he isn’t just beautiful … There is the way he tilts his head, when he listens to one of his friends speak. Like a king kindly gracing them with his attention. There is the way everybody else falls silent, when he has something to say. The way he holds himself. Like he knows exactly what kind of effect he has on other people.

A hand falls on Adam’s shoulder, and he yelps. Okay, maybe it has been more than a short glance. He hasn’t even heard someone approach. And when he turns in his chair, he meets icy blue eyes over a smirk. Just his luck. Of all people Lucifer has to be the one to catch him.

The blond guy is almost the same age as Michael, but looks distinctively less royal with his leather jacket, piercings and bad attitude. He grabs one of the chairs at Adam’s table and turns it around so he can rest his arms at the back rest while sitting on it. He grins at Adam for a moment longer, then looks in Michael’s direction, sucking the small piercing in his lower lip into his mouth for a moment. “You and me both.”

“What?” Adam says oh so intelligently, his brain still trying to catch up with the fact that bad boy Lucifer had just said something to him that didn’t sound completely hostile. Last week Fergus had made a snarky comment about Lucifer’s family, and rumor has it Lucifer had made him eat a pencil.

“Mikey.” Lucifer nods into Michael’s direction. “Best looking guy on this godforsaken campus, isn’t he?”

Wait … Lucifer has a crush on Michael, too? Good thing Adam’s chances had been about zero to begin with. But then something else gets his attention. “Does he know you call him Mikey?”

Lucifer grins. “Yes, and he hates it.”

“Dude, that doesn’t sound like the best way to get him to like you.” The words are out before Adam can think about them. The next moment panic sets in. Shitshitshit! You don’t tell Lucifer he’s doing something wrong.

But the guy just laughs and slaps Adam’s shoulder. “‘Like’ is not what I was going for. But he has more eyes for you anyway.”

“What?” He probably should stop saying that. But this has to be a joke.

Lucifer leans over the backrest of his chair into Adam’s personal space a bit, looking at his face like he’s searching for something. The smell of leather and the faint whiff of cologne hits Adam’s nose, not unpleasant. “You didn’t notice?”

“I think I would’ve noticed, if the most handsome guy on the campus so much as looked at me!” Adam protests, completely forgetting who he’s talking to. This definitely has to be a joke.

“I can prove it.”

Yeah, sure. “How?” Adam challenges. If Lucifer hasn’t gotten mad at him by now he might as well stop worrying.

Lucifer stays as he is, slightly leaned forward right into Adam’s personal space. A grin tugs at the corners of his mouth again. “Make him jealous.”

Adam snorts a laugh, but he doesn’t back away. “That’ll never work.”

“Afraid?”

“I just think it’s a stupid idea.” Adam holds Lucifer’s gaze, half convinced the older guy will finally get angry. But instead Lucifer straightens up again.

“Suit yourself.” He shoves his hands in the pockets of his ragged jeans and shrugs, attention shifting towards Michael again. Adam follows his gaze. Michael smiles at something one of the others says, and Adam wishes that smile would be directed at him. And now he’ll never know, if Lucifer did tell the truth after all.

When Adam looks back at Lucifer, Lucifer is looking at him, lifting an eyebrow that’s adorned with several piercings.

“Fine,” Adam says. “Prove it.”

The smile that appears on Lucifer’s face now is way too smug. He waves Adam closer, and the younger man scoots his chair towards him. Lucifer leans even further over the backrest of his chair and cups Adam face with one hand. And holy shit those eyes can probably stare holes into one’s soul. For a moment Adam feels like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car.

Then Lucifer asks: “Sure?”

And for some reason that makes Adam feel a lot better. “Afraid all of a sudden?”

Lucifer snorts a laugh, then their lips meet.

It’s a hesitant thing. It’s just a fake kiss after all, isn’t it? So it turns out to be not much more than a peck on the lips, then Lucifer leans back again, frowning slightly. “Come on, at least try and make it look like you mean it.”

“It takes two people for a kiss,” Adam grumbles, annoyed.

“And there I was being nice, leaving you the lead ...” The twinkle in Lucifer’s eyes is the only warning Adam gets. Then the older guy grabs the front of Adam’s shirt and pulls him in again. Adam gives a small gasp that gets swallowed by Lucifer, when their lips meet again. To keep his balance, Adam’s hands land on Lucifer’s shoulders. Okay … Lucifer wants convincing? He can get it. Adam’s tongue darts out, and he hears Lucifer chuckle, before he answers in kind. For a moment Adam almost forgets about Michael. Damn, Lucifer can kiss.

Finally, Lucifer let’s go of his shirt and leans back a little. For a moment Adam just stares at him, which makes Lucifer chuckle again. “You going to sneak a glance at Mikey?”

Oh. Yes. Carefully Adam turns to look.

His heart stops for a moment, when he sees Michael staring at them. He’s sitting completely still, his lips slightly parted. Only when he sees that Adam is looking at him, he turns away, visibly pulling himself together, answering a question one of his friends asked.

“See?” Lucifer says.

“That could’ve been meant for you, too,” Adam says. His heart is still beating fast, though, not just because of the way Michael had looked at them. His lips are also still tingling from the kiss.

Lucifer shrugs. “I guess. Wanna make a bet which one of us he has the hots for?”

Adam turns back to Lucifer, eyes narrowed. “Betting what?”

“If I’m right and it’s you, you have buy me lunch for a week. That way I’m at least getting something out of it. If it’s me, I’ll buy you lunch for a week.”

That doesn’t sound too bad. “Fine. Deal.” It’s sad, of course, but Adam is convinced this is a bet he will win easily (or lose for that matter, because winning means not getting Michael). Presented with the choice between unassuming him and hot bad boy Lucifer, who wouldn’t choose Lucifer?

It doesn’t look like they’ve accomplished much, though, apart from making Michael stare. Now that they have started talking, though, they keep bumping into each other. When Adam is standing in the cafeteria a few days later, his lunch on a tray, looking for an empty table, Lucifer waves him over. It feels quite natural to follow the invitation. It even feels natural to go: “Dude, can you take your boots off the table while I’m eating?”

Lucifer grins and places his feet on an empty chair instead.

A few more days later, when some idiot corners Adam for talking to his girlfriend (seriously, that guy has issues), Adam kind of makes a mess out of it by talking back. He knows of course that he should just nod and apologize and assure the guy that he hadn’t known the girl was his and that he was so sorry. Instead he says: “I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware that talking to someone automatically means expressing interest in them.” Then he makes a point of checking the guy out. “Looks like I should better tell you right away you’re not my type.”

It’s his luck that Lucifer happens to walk by right when the guy grabs Adam and shoves him against a wall. Lucifer stops, hands in his pockets. “Jeff.”

The guy (Jeff apparently) turns with an annoyed look on his face, and freezes, when he recognizes Lucifer.

“Let my friend go, will you?” Lucifer doesn’t even raise his voice. He doesn’t even stop smiling. Still, Jeff lets go off Adam as if he has burned his fingers touching him and hurries away.

While Adam catches his breath, Lucifer pats his back. “Jeff is usually just 100% posturing. What did you do to make him angry?”

“Told him he’s not my type.”

Lucifer laughs for five minutes straight.

It’s the party that changes everything. Adam steps out of the backdoor of the house where the thing is going down to catch a bit of fresh air, when he spies a figure sitting with their back leaned against the wall next to the door. It takes his eyes a moment to adjust to the dim light out here and recognize Lucifer. Adam isn’t sure, but there seems to be blood running down from Lucifer’s lip. Instantly he squats down next to the older guy and touches his shoulder. “You alright?”

Lucifer turns his head slowly. “Yeah, great. You should see the other guy.” His speech is slurred, but judging by the smell of booze that hits Adam with every breath that’s not due to a concussion.

Without thinking, Adam grabs Lucifer’s face and turns it into the light coming from the door. Definitely blood coming from a split lip, and there’s a bruise forming on Lucifer’s cheek. Apart from that he seems alright. The pupils react to the light normal, too. Definitely no concussion.

Adam tells Lucifer to stay where he is (not that he looks like he’s going to go anywhere soon) and heads back into the house to grab a cup of water, some tissues and a bag of ice. Back outside he makes Lucifer drink half the cup to clear his head a bit, then uses the rest to wipe the blood away.

“You’re cute, when you’re mothering me,” Lucifer slurs.

“I’m not mothering you!” Adam protests. He presses the ice against Lucifer’s cheek and makes him hold it. “What did you fight over anyway?”

“Someone was talking shit about Mikey. Called him arrogant, said he was only getting good grade, because he had money. Called him some slurs I’m not gonna repeat.”

That makes Adam’s heart do weird things. It swells, because Lucifer defended their crush, but there’s also a pang of jealousy that Adam isn’t sure where it’s coming from, because he hadn’t had it before when Lucifer had been talking about having a crush on Michael. So far there had only been a little bit of sadness, because he is still convinced he’ll never get closer to Michael than admiring him from afar.

“Don’t make that face.” Suddenly, there’s a hand cupping Adam’s face, cold from the ice pack it had been holding, and Adam looks into Lucifer’s eyes. “He has the hots for you. Definitely you. If I had to choose between me and you, I’d totally choose you.” Lucifer’s attention drifts off for a moment, then his eyes focus on Adam’s face again, taking all of it in, drifting to his mouth after a moment. “You’re sassy and cute and I’d totally kiss you again, if you wanted to.”

Adam blinks. “What?”

Lucifer leans forward a bit. “I would kiss you again.”

Oh. Where’s that coming from? Adam just so keeps from leaning in himself, puts a hand on Lucifer’s chest instead, pushing him back. “You’re wasted.”

“Doesn’t mean I don’t know what I want.”

“Is that so?” It’s probably better to try and get his friend home. Even though Adam isn’t sure how he is going to get that giant of a man off the ground. He’s not actually taller than Adam, but broader and heavier. Hopefully Lucifer can at least somewhat stand by himself.

“Yeah,” Lucifer says. “I want you and Mikey both, you know. It’s a bit confusing.” He stares into the distance, thoughtful. “Usually I get what I want,” he goes on conversationally. “Haven’t figured that one out yet, though. Drinking too much didn’t help either. Don’t know why I thought it would.”

Adam’s heart speeds up despite himself. It’s just drunk rambling. It doesn’t mean anything. At least that’s what he tries to tell himself.

He’s still trying when he helps Lucifer up the stairs of his dorm and into his room. When he just lets Lucifer fall onto his bed and squats down to get at least the boots off him. When Lucifer props himself up onto his elbows and looks down on him.

“I like that view,” he informs Adam.

Adam definitely doesn’t blush.

He still tries to convince himself, when he leaves Lucifer snoring on his bed and heads home to his own empty and cold one.

It’s the next morning Adam runs into Michael. The older guy almost hurries past him in the corridors, when he stops suddenly and turns to Adam with a half smile. “Adam, isn’t it?”

Adam freezes. For a moment he forgets how to do words and he just nods.

Michael’s smile widens and Adam could’ve sworn it gets brighter in the hallway. “Tell your boyfriend my thanks for what he did yesterday, okay? I heard about it this morning, but I haven’t seen him anywhere.” His face gets a bit more serious. “Not that I condone violence, but sometimes ...” He leaves the sentence hanging, smile getting a bit loopsided.

“Uh …” Adam’s brain has a hard time catching up right now. “Boyfriend?”

“Yes.” Michael tilts his head to the side in a questioning way. “Lucifer? I thought you were …” He looks at his feet, obviously a little bit embarrassed. “I saw you kiss.”

Oh. OH. Well, that backfired apparently. “Oh no, we’re … we just …” Yes, what? He can’t hardly tell the truth. Or can he? Suddenly Adam has to think about what Lucifer said yesterday. That he wants both of them. Maybe he did mean it. And Adam actually likes the idea, if he’s honest. So he makes a probably stupid decision.

He totally wouldn’t have dared what he is about to do, if it would’ve been just about him. But Lucifer had said he can’t figure out how to get what he wants. Maybe Adam can help him out with that.

“Actually,” he says, heart beating rapidly. “We were just trying to get your attention.”

Michael’s lips form a surprised o. After a moment he collects himself, clears his throat. At least he doesn’t look completely uninterested. “So … which one of you wants my attention?”

The fact that his crush hasn’t run away so far gives Adam the courage to go on. “Both.”

Michael’s eyebrows shoot up. “Both?”

That is too much, isn’t it? Adam goes for an apologetic smile and another nod. At least he’s pretty sure Michael will be very polite in turning them down. That’s something, isn’t it?

“Well, then …” Michael smiles again, making Adam hope despite everything. “Would both of you be interested to watch a movie with me next weekend?”

Adam can’t believe what he’s hearing. He took a risk and it’s actually working out? “I …” He takes a deep breath. “I can’t speak for Lucifer of course, but I think we would.”

The best thing about this is that Michael suddenly looks genuinely happy. “I guess we should exchange phone numbers then.”

Adam hurries to nod. “Yes we should.”

“Oh,” Michael adds. “And can you tell him to please stop calling me Mikey?”

Ten minutes later Adam sits in a lecture, not listening to what his professor has to say at all. Instead he’s texting.

Adam: I got us a date with Michael.

Lucifer: Congrats, I guess.

Lucifer: Wait, what do you mean ‘us’?

Adam: Both of us.

Lucifer: Are you serious?

Adam sneakily snaps a selfie of himself making a serious face. He sends it to Lucifer.

Adam: Do I look like I’m joking?

Lucifer: I may be in love with you.

Adam smiles.

Adam: I was hoping you’d say something like that.

Lucifer: I’ll kiss you for real the next time we meet.

Adam: I’m very okay with that.

Lucifer: I also want to know every detail of how you pulled off that miracle.

Adam: Get your hungover ass to the cafeteria for lunch and I’ll tell you. We have to buy each other lunch now for the next week anyway.

Lucifer: It’s a date.

Adam: Hey, look who managed to get two dates today ;-)

Lucifer: Don’t get too smug.

Adam: Too late ;-P

#midafer #midam #adam milligan #lucifer #michael #adam milligan/lucifer/michael #team free pit

[staytheb]

Sure

Pairing: MX’s Wonho x OC [Chaeyeon] Genre: slice of life, slight fluff Word Count: 4,122 Summary: After much denial and trying to stick with logical and reason, Chaeyeon in the ends throws them all out and just goes with the flow and what’s happening at the moment.

Warning: none except it not having been proof-read since it’s last sharing about two years ago.

i think this story was mainly inspired by Wonho wearing them short shorts during MX’s US tour for Beautiful tour. lol but yeah, this came about and now it’s here for y’all to read too. so yeah, happy reading and kthxbai, Admin Lia~

"Hey, Yeon, you're boyfriend's wearing short shorts again." Chaewon stated upon seeing Hoseok entering the exercise room where his group of friends were already gathered at the back part of the room. "Ugh, shut up, Won. He's not my boyfriend." Chaeyeon countered as her back was towards the male as she continued to do her stretches while ignoring her sister and friends' giggles. "Why aren't you guys stretching before dance class start?" "Because we already do stretches first when class starts, Yeon." Jaemin reminded her with a laugh. "Wow Yeon. Have you forgotten? We've been taking this class for weeks now." Jaerin chuckled as the older woman rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Rin. It still helps to stretch the limbs."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Yeon." Chaewon dismissed her sister as she patted her on the back. "Just don't forget to look at your sexy boyfriend." "He's not my boyfriend." Chaeyeon groaned as Jaerin squatted next to her friend with a playful smile. "Hoseok actually has some nice legs." Jaemin squatted on the other side of Chaeyeon with a matching expression. "Rin's right, but them shorts are so booty shorts status." "I don't care about his shorts, Min, and could you guys stop making it seem like he and I are together when we're not. We don't even talk to each other." Chaeyeon huffed a bit embarrassed by the younger women's constant teasing as her sister squatted right in front of her with a judging face. "It's because you run away every time he tries to approach you."

"I do not." Chaeyeon denied as she finished her floor exercises and continued to stay seated. "There are other girls here that fawn all over him, anyways. So it's not like me running away means anything really." "Psh, yeah right." Jaerin elbowed her. "You do run away and honestly you just fawn over Hoseok from a distance." "Rin's right, Yeon. You do fawn over Hoseok from like faraway instead of like the others in this class. And Won's right about you running away when he approaches you." Jaemin added as Chaeyeon glared at all three of them. "Because they're so obviously thirsty for the guy and I'm not. Anyways, why do y'all care about what I do or don't do, huh?" She then side-glanced each of them a bit annoyed.

"You always stare at Hyunwoo and make small comments about him being sexy in sleeveless shirts or just being good-looking in general, Won." Chaeyeon pointed at Chaewon before pointing at Jaerin. "You think Jooheon is the most adorable and charismatic out of Hoseok's group of friends, Rin. And you, Min." She then pointed at Jaemin. "Won't stop openly flirting subtly with Changkyun." Chaeyeon smiled in satisfaction as the other three remained silent for a bit before bursting into a fit of laughter which made the older woman frown. "Ugh. Why do I even bother with you three?" "Because you love us, Yeon." Jaerin cooed as she enveloped Chaeyeon into a hug with Jaemin following along. "And because you know it, too." "Ugh. Hate you guys."

Chaeyeon struggled to get out of the twins' holds as she tried to stand up, but only got into a squatting position before Chaewon decided to mess with her sister a bit out of her own enjoyment. Chaewon waited for the twins to let her older sister go before using her index to push Chaeyeon backwards which made the older woman fumbled on the balls of her heels before actually toppling over onto the floor mats with the trio chuckling at their friend's predicament. "But I definitely and for sure hate you the most." Chaeyeon wiggled her index finger at her sister with a wry look while slowly standing back up on her own two feet. "This is the last time I attend this dance class with any of you."

The trio just laughed at their friend as their dance instructor walked in. "Hello everyone!" She greeted them happily. "I see we're all set and ready to learn a new dance routine today. Yeah?!" "Yeah!" Everyone agreed as she introduced herself like she does every time when a new class for another dance routine happened. "For those of who are here for the first time, my name is Kyunghee and welcome to my class." She paused to give the newcomers a moment before resuming again. "Today's class will be different today. You all will be learning a dance routine that isn't mine, but a friend of mine's. I really liked the song, but my friend is a way better dancer than I am." She laughed as she then turned behind her to face the TV.

"I'll play his video for you guys to see the choreography and then after that we can begin." Kyunghee informed them as she had the video already up and hit play. It was Jay Park's Me Like Yuh and a male and female were the main dancers to which Chaeyeon recognized the woman instantly as she already knew who the guy was. "Oh my gosh, that's Soyun!" She slightly fangirl upon seeing the idol. "She looks so good with Bongyoung. Dude, that chemistry already!" Chaeyeon couldn't help but groove to the beat as this was one of her favorite tracks from Jay Park. "Who is she?" The twins asked at the same time. "Oh, she's an idol from the girl group, Playback." "Oh, that's her? No wonder she looked familiar." Chaewon said with a smile. "Bongyoung is hella fine though."

"Because he's freaking tall, that's why." Chaeyeon stated as Chaewon laughed. "That, too." "Wait, who's he?" Jaerin asked as Jaemin added. "Is he famous, too?" "Um, kinda, but not really. He's not an idol though or a celebrity." Chaeyeon explained. "He teaches choreography at a dance studio called 1MILLION with other choreographers like him. They're pretty amazing." "And how come you're not taking lessons over there?" Jaerin nudged her as Chaeyeon rolled her eyes at her friend's playfulness. "Because the fee is pretty steep for me and the time doesn't clash well with my schedule." "Well, at least you're taking this one and can see your boyfriend, right?" Jaemin cooed also nudging the older woman as Chaeyeon nudged her friend back. "Stop."

The quartet continued to watch the rest of the video not aware another group of friends glancing their way every now and then. When the clip ended, Kyunghee clapped her hands together with a large smile. "Wasn't that wonderful? Anyways, Park Bongyoung is a friend of mine way back and he sent me this clip because he wanted feedback and to rub it in my face that I lost out on being his partner for this. Psh, yeah right. I got my own thing going on." She laughed before talking again. "Well, they also made a video tutorial to which I will also play for you guys to learn the dance moves so you can get the gist of it when I start explaining them later on." She then went to find another clip. "I'll play the one where others have also learned the dance before the tutorial one."

Once the class finished both videos, Kyunghee began the stretches before asking for volunteers that wanted to help her demonstrate the dance moves. No one raised their hands or seemed eager to do so. "Hmm, then could I get Hoseok and Chaeyeon up here, please." She called out two names as Hoseok made his way to the front with a wide grin as Chaeyeon held back despite the other three nudging her to go join the male and instructor. "Um, I'm sorry Miss Kyunghee. My ankle doesn't feel too good right now to join you." Chaeyeon lied as she pretended to rub at her right ankle. "I'm sorry." "It's okay, dear. Um," Kyunghee looked at the other dancers and noticed that practically a majority of the female students were raising their hands now.

"Saeron. Please come up here." Kyunghee chose from the front this time as a younger woman yelped happily while joining the duo to demonstrate the choreography. "Yes!" "Okay, everyone. Just spread out from one another within a good distance so that you don't hit each other and watch closely." Kyunghee explained as she began the actual dance class now. As everyone spaced out and got ready, the trio bombarded Chaeyeon with words of protest. "Why did you lie?" "Why didn't you just go up there?" "That was your chance, y'know." "That's messed up." "He looked disappointed when you said that." Chaeyeon just rolled her eyes as she remained indifferent about it all. "I'm not that good and I get too shy when dancing in front of others when they watch me."

She shrugged with an aloof expression. "Besides, there's practically more girls than boys in this class, anyways. So I don't need to pair up for anything when the ratio is off." "Wow." The female trio commented as Chaeyeon rolled her eyes again. "If it was one of your crushes, then I wanna see you go up there to dance with him." "Ohhh." They cooed as Chaeyeon realized what she had just mentioned. "Your crush, eh, Yeon?" Jaemin teased from the right of Chaeyeon as Chaewon continued. "I knew you like him, so stop denying your feelings." "Shut up." Jaerin just laughed and soon enough they returned their attention when Kyunghee began talking again while doing each part as Hoseok and Saeron demonstrated the routine step by step right after her.

After demonstrating the dance all the way through with her helpers, Kyunghee then had the duo return to their spot so she could go over the first part of the choreography with more details. "Let's start!" She clapped happily as she made her way to another part of the room so that the mirrors were now behind her with the class following her lead. Kyunghee had her back facing the students as she began the first step of the dance routine. "Now, watch me first before you guys do it, okay? Just like last time." And with that, Kyunghee began to explain and demonstrate as everyone else followed her lead. Soon enough, the class was over and Kyunghee released them until next time which was next Tuesday as her classes were twice a week.

"Hey, let's hit up the club after this." Jaemin suggested as her twin looked at her with a wry smile. "You just want an excuse to go out and drink." Jaerin laughed as she picked up her bag as the others did the same. "Of course." Jaemin confirmed with a laugh. "When don't I?"  "Oh true, but we should do that, anyways." Chaewon agreed with lit eyes. "We haven't hung out in forever to just chill and what not." "Sure. Let's go." Chaeyeon nodded her head with a smile. "I wanna drink, too." "Alright, then. We'll go back home, get ready and change, and then meet up at the club later, yeah?" Jaemin said as the others agreed with Chaewon making a suggestion. "How about that one club, BEBE, in an hour or two?" "Yeah." "Okay." "Alright, seeya there."

~~~~~~~

The quartet arrived at BEBE with the twins arriving first and the other pair of sisters several minutes later. They ordered up their drinks and began making their way towards the back part of the club with Jaemin leading. Upon arriving to their destination, Chayeon noticed a group of males at the table that they were standing before. Confusion appeared on her face as the guys scooted out of the booth and greeted them with friendly 'hellos' as the other three females greeted back in the same manner. Chaeyeon felt Jaerin nudging her from behind to scoot on in to which she did, but she was still confused on who they were joining since none of them looked familiar at a glance and her friends and sister hadn't mentioned anything as of yet.

It finally dawned on the older woman when she felt a guy seated next to her instead of Jaerin to her right while Jaemin was on her left. Chaeyeon cautiously looked to see who it was and hoped that it wasn't who she was thinking it to be, but felt that it was still him. She was right, but she didn't feel that excited about it. "Hi." She let out meekly with a closed lipped smile as Hoseok grinned at her. "Hi to you, too." Chaeyeon wanted to melt at the sound of his voice, but refrained from doing so as she gave him another smile instead as she searched for the other three and saw that they were already looking at her. "The betrayal is so real and deep right now." She said as she glanced at her sister who was across from her while sitting in-between Hyunwoo and Kihyun.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Yeon." Chaewon replied with a feign innocent look, but let out a mischievous chuckle. Chaeyeon rolled her eyes knowingly, but still decided to lean to her left to speak to Jaemin for her to only hear as Changkyun was sitting right next to her. "This is mainly your doing isn't it, Min?" Jaemin laughed before answering. "Just like Won, I have no idea what you're going on about, Yeon. Maybe it was Rin?" She indicated with her chin in Jaerin's direction with a playful smile. "Ask her." Chaeyeon rolled her eyes knowing full well, but still checked as she kind of leaned towards the right, but was trying to not invade Hoseok's space as she tried to speak with her friend who was next to Jooheon who was next to Hoseok. "Was it you?"

Jaerin took a sip from her drink before answering the older female. "Was it me what?" She then chuckled which caused Chaeyeon to roll her eyes and returned back to her seat. "Never mind." The female trio laughed before starting a conversation with the males. "So what did you guys think of Miss Kyunghee's new dance choreography?" "I think it's good, even though she didn't come up with it." Hyungwon complimented as he was the one sitting next to Jaerin. "I was really hoping she would have picked me instead." Minhyuk chimed from beside Kihyun. "I think I would have made it more livelier than Hoseok." "Yeah, right." Kihyun deadpanned. "Like you could get any of the ladies to join you." "I could." "No, you can't." Changkyun disagreed with a laugh.

"They've seen you dance before while demonstrating, Minhyuk. It's awkward." Jooheon added as everyone laughed, but Chaeyeon piped up with a small smile. "He's not awkward. Minhyuk's just very expressive with his facial expressions and movements." "Aww, thanks, Chaeyeon." "Ugh, you're welcome." "Oh, really now, Yeon?" Chaewon said as Chaeyeon noticed the mischievous glint within her gaze. "Who else do you watch and notice?" "Um," The older woman grew shy upon the spotlight being put on her. "No one in particular. I just observe my surroundings and notice things like that and what not." Chaeyeon then immediately took a drink of her alcoholic beverage as Jaemin spoke a second later. "What kind of things or maybe someone's body?"

The simple and innocent-like question made Chaeyeon choke on her own drink in mid-swallow before it went fully down after she had let out a few coughs. Hoseok immediately started patting Chaeyeon's back to ease the liquid down her throat. "Uh, thanks." "You're welcome, but are you okay?" "Yeah, totally." She waved him in a soft dismissal kind of way. "I'm good. No worries." Chaeyeon then directed the conversation elsewhere. "So when did all of you started hanging out like this? We never hung out in dance class or outside of it." Chaeyeon decided to also finished the rest of her drink. "This is kind of unexpected." "Oh, you don't know?" Hyunwoo asked with a puzzled look as Chaeyeon shook her head. "Um, know what?"

"You're sister and I are dating." He explained as Chaeyeon laughed. "What? Seriously? Oh, wow, you are." She then looked at the twins while pointing at them both. "Then, you guys, too?" "Yeah, pretty much." They replied in unison as Chaeyeon was left speechless for a bit and then remembered something. "No wonder you guys were laughing earlier about that. Ugh. I swear you guys are a bunch of jerks." She scoffed as she sat back in her seat with her arms folded across her chest. "Seriously." Everyone laughed at her reaction as Hoseok placed an arm around her shoulders. "It's okay, Chaeyeon. We were surprised, too." "I see." She let out softly without looking at the male, but didn't shake his arm off of her to not appear rude.

The conversation soon picked up in to another direction as Chaeyeon tuned out whatever they were talking about. She was trying to figure out how to removed Hoseok's arm from around her shoulders as the male seemed to have comfortably preferred it there. Chaeyeon was also trying to come up with an excuse she could make to leave early and go home. Chaeyeon was so lost in her own thoughts she wasn't aware of who was asking the question and had automatically answered upon hearing what the question was asking. "Wanna get outta here?" Hoseok asked as Chaeyeon answered in a relieved tone. "Oh my gosh, yes, please." She then turned to her right and realized that Hoseok was the one that asked her that and she regretted sounding so desperate.

Before she could explain herself, Hoseok had already turned his attention to the others. "Sorry to interrupt whatever you guys were talking about, but Chaeyeon and I have decided to leave." "Leave where?" Kihyun asked with a sly look. "Dunno, but we'll figure that out once we exit the club." Hoseok laughed as Chaewon grinned. "Great! You can also drop her off at home whenever the two of you are done with whatever you guys decide to do, too, Hoseok." "Will do, Chaewon." He mock salute with a silly smile as Chaeyeon just watched this exchange happen before her in utter silence with a somewhat regret look. "Oh, make sure to give her piggyback rides because of her ankle, y'know." Jaerin added with a smirk.

Jaemin then patted Chaeyeon's back with a loud laugh. "If she makes any excuses, ignore them. She's just being shy and playing hard to get." "Oh my god." Chaeyeon groaned in embarrassment as she pressed her face into her palms in hopes of hiding herself in some way. "So embarrassing." "Haha, will do, girls." Hoseok mocked saluted the twins as well. "What's embarrassing about them worrying about your health and well-being, Chaeyeon?" Changkyun asked with a sweet smile. "Don't worry, Hoseok's a great guy." Hyunwoo tried to reassure Chaeyeon, but she felt even more embarrassed and shy upon the attention that she and Hoseok were receiving. "Yeah, he may be a dork and dumb, but that's his charm." Hyungwon chuckled missing a playful glare from Hoseok.

"Yeah, just don't build up his ego about his muscles though. He's not all that." Jooheon commented as Hoseok clamped a hand on the younger male's shoulders. "Thanks, Jooheon." "Sure thing." Hoseok then moved his left arm from around Chaeyeon's shoulders and towards her right hand to grasp it firmly into his. "Let's go." He simply said to her as Hyungwon, Jaerin, and Jooheon made their way to get out of the booth so that Hoseok and Chaeyeon could eventually get out as well. Reluctantly, Chaeyeon followed after Hoseok when she saw the other three moving out of their way, but hoped that they wouldn't. She internally groaned while making her way slowly out of the booth and was now standing side by side with the male.

"You guys have a wonderful night and see you all later, if not then on Tuesday in dance class." Minhyuk bid farewell to the duo as Hoseok said the sae thing while Chaeyeon just held up a small wave while letting out a small 'bye' before feeling Hoseok tug her hand to indicate that they were now leaving their group of friends and would soon be out of the club in a matter of seconds. Chaeyeon knew that the other three were probably laughing mischievously behind her back while filling in the missing pieces to the males, but she didn't dare face them to give them that satisfaction. Instead she just stared at Hoseok's broad back and wondered how she was going to get herself out of this situation that she had at first unconsciously put herself into.

Once the two were outside BEBE and into the cool night air, Hoseok suddenly faced Chaeyeon and she almost ran smack dab into his chest, but fortunately she stopped herself from letting that happen while looking at him. "So...?" She trailed off as Hoseok looked down a bit embarrassed, but faced her again with that charming smile of his. "Is you're ankle okay?" "Why wouldn't it be?" Chaeyeon asked confused as Hoseok looked at her even more confused. "You said that your ankle wasn't too good earlier today in dance class." "Oh, that. Yeah, um, haha, uh, I'm okay now." "So you don't need a piggyback ride." "Oh, god, no." He stared at her with a weird look as she stared at him with a neutral one and then changed the topic. "So, what do you want to do?"

Hoseok rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand as he looked around and then back her her. "I dunno. I just wanted to get you alone." He stated with a sheepish laugh as Chaeyeon looked away upon hearing that. "Um, what do you feel like doing right now?" "Right now?" She suddenly looked at him, but averted her gaze from him afterwards. "I, um, well, uh, food." Chaeyeon let out lamely as Hoseok chuckled. "Oh, good. I'm hungry, too. Let's go get some ramyeon." "At this hour?" She faced him again with a weird look as the male nodded his head with a serious expression. "Yeah, Chaeyeon, why not? Ramyeon hour is any hour." "I guess so. Ramyeon is ramyeon to me, but if that's what you wanna do, Hoseok. Then sure."

"Okay, cool. Let's go." He grinned as he began to lead them towards the nearest noodle shop before continuing to speak. "It's not the most ideal date, but it's still a date nevertheless." "Um, date? What date? Who said it was a date?" Chaeyeon asked him a bit surprised that he was treating this as a date while Hoseok glanced behind him to look at her with a silly grin. "I am." This made her freak out on the inside as she opened and closed her mouth as she had no idea what to say to that. Hoseok laughed as he then laced their fingers together. "Well, Chaeyeon, I'm taking your silence as a confirmation to continue on with this." Chaeyeon snapped back to her senses and obliged with a shy smile finally giving in to her feelings. "Sure, Hoseok. It's a date."

"Good." He let out with a loud laugh before speaking in a confident tone a second later. "That means I need to make my way to be your boyfriend soon after." Chaeyeon looked at the back of him with a puzzled look. "Um, whoa there, Hoseok. This is just our first date, well, a random first date, but still. No one mentioned anything about jumping to boyfriend and girlfriend later on." Hoseok stopped walking and turned to face Chaeyeon where she almost ran into his chest again, but stopped herself in time like last time. "What?" She looked at him a bit unsure as he moved closer to closed the gap between them. "I thought that since the girls call me your boyfriend that I should properly find my way to that position as soon as possible and maybe more."

Chaeyeon restrained herself from letting out weird noises at the fact that her friends and sister told him such things while taking a step or two back to give herself and him some space. Chaeyeon was once again left with opening and closing her mouth to say something or anything, but nothing came out. Hoseok chuckled as his left hand made their way to softly cupped the right side of her face with his thumb rubbing circles above her cheekbone. "You're quite cute, Chaeyeon." He complimented her with a laugh before speaking again in a more serious tone. "I'm going to take your silence as a confirmation to continue on with what I'm determined to do, Chaeyeon." Chaeyeon let out a small laugh and nodded her head. "Alright, Hoseok. Sure. We'll go with that."

#staytheb #monsta x scenarios #lee hoseok #shin wonho #wonho

[bluesfortheredj]

12.

Since the apocalypse had started, you'd watched Daryl grow into a strong man with so much more confidence. He'd found his voice and could be a leader if he only believed himself more. He'd been taken by Negan after the lineup, and you were terrified he'd revert back to how he was before. You wanted to go to him, you were going to follow Jesus, but he caught you and knew you'd think with your heart more than your head when it came to rescuing Daryl. You'd been back at Alexandria for a couple of days when Rick had told you all that we were getting ready to fight. Finally he'd come to his senses and you were more than happy to get involved. You all arrived at the hilltop to see Maggie, and were taking it in turns to hug her. Walking towards her, you outstretched your arms and she pulled you into her. "How are you doing?" You whisper next to her face. "I'm getting there, baby's excited to get started," she smiles, patting her stomach, "there's someone here that really wants to see you." You look at her confused, "who?" She smiles, puts a hand on your shoulder and points towards where Rick is hugging someone. You recognise the hair and arms, your heart starts racing in anticipation for him to lift his head to confirm it. You look at Maggie, tears forming in your eyes as you thank her. As you step towards the two men, the head lifts from Rick's shoulder and Daryl's face appears. His eyes are red and puffy from crying, his hair is covering half of his face and he locks onto you immediately. Rick moves out of the way and Daryl looks at you, bowing his head as more tears escape down his cheeks. He shuffles forward a little, and you run into him, slamming your body into his, wrapping your arms around his back and gripping on to his shirt. His hands fist your top, tearing it at the seam a little. He buries his head into your neck, tears soaking your tshirt and shoulder. You're both breathing heavily, not being able to find words to express what you're feeling. Your head is resting on his chest and you turn it to face him. "D- Daryl," you sob. He lifts his head slightly and looks at you through tear soaked hair, his mouth turned down at the corners. You lean back more, still gripping onto each other fiercely. He shakes his head, moving the hair out of his face so he can see you clearly and you look into his eyes. "(Y/N)," he croaks out, voice breaking slightly. "I love you." You both say it at exactly the same time through small sobs. Once you both realise what happened, you smile at each other and the sobs turn into happy cries. You nuzzle your head into his chest again and continue to let your emotions out. You'd never said it before to each other even though you'd both considered yourselves in a relationship for a long time. "I don't wanna let ya go," Daryl whispers into your hair as he kisses it. "I'd better give someone else a chance to say hi," you smile into his chest. You finally pull away, and your hands slide along each other's arms until you've let go completely. You finally become aware of your surroundings again and see Jesus looking at you. Walking towards him, you smile and outstretch your arms. "You found him," you breathe into his shoulder as you both hug. "I did. For you," Jesus smiles. "Thank you so much. I owe you so much." "You don't, I did it to make sure you'd still be here waiting for him." You pull away and give him a kiss on the cheek. Daryl comes up behind you and takes your hand. "Come with me," he whispers, leading you to a portacabin. You both step inside and he shuts the door behind you. He gestures towards a couch with a blanket a pillow on, you imagine this is where he slept when he got back. He sits down next to you, takes your hands in his and rests them in his lap. "(Y/N), I killed a man. When Jesus got me out, he was just there, and I killed him. He wasn't a threat, he had his hands up, and I killed him." He pauses as you nod and listen intently to what he's saying. "They gave me a photo of Glenn. Fed me animal food, stripped me, played a song over and over again, beat me." He starts to cry again. "Shhh, Daryl, it's okay. You're safe now," you soothe. "I'm not though am I? I'm a wanted man now. If they find me, I'm dead, and so is whoever helps me," he sobs. "This is why I need to hide, and you need to leave with Rick when he goes back to Alexandria." "No. There is no way I'm leaving you again. It's not happening. I've only just got you back, I'm not letting you go again." "You have to, its the safest way." "Daryl, no. If they find us, they find us, but don't think for one second I'm letting you do this alone," you say sternly. "Why d'ya have to be so stubborn?" "Because I'm like you remember?" "Unfortunately, yeah." "And that person you killed, he was part of their group. It doesn't matter if he was surrendering or not, if Negan had told him to kill you, he would have. Anyone in that group is the enemy. End of." You justify to him. "I know. After everything that happened in there, I just lost it at this dude." He sighs. "This is the new world remember, old rules don't apply. Forget about it, you're safe for now and everyone's here ready to fight." You say softly, taking one of your hands from his lap and stroking his face lightly. He leans into it and kisses your palm. He pulls you over and onto his lap, leaning back on the sofa so that you're looking down at him. His hands travel up your torso and neck, finally resting on either side of your face and he pulls you down onto him. The kiss is rough, needy and sloppy, but you relish in every second of it. You steady yourself by gripping onto the sofa cushion behind Daryl's head and move your body round to straddle him, not breaking the kiss once. His hands slide down to your hips and he pushes them down into his groin. You moan at the friction he creates between you both. "We should get back to the others," you breathe in between kisses. Daryl pulls away and looks sad, "I guess." You get up and straighten yourselves out before heading outside. Truth was that you'd been hurt by one of the saviours, he'd cut your stomach after you were standing up to one of them who took more than they should have on their first visit. You didn't want Daryl to see the large cut that was still healing on your tummy, and you knew he'd freak out when you told him, so thought it best to wait. You all gather together with Maggie and start discussing a plan. Rick starts to get riled up with what happened to Daryl as he reveals small parts of information to the group about his experience with Negan. Then in his temper, Rick reveals your secret. "They attacked (Y/N) as well, she's been scarred by them forever, we need to do this as quickly as possible!" He shouts. Daryl turns to you, eyes wild and angry. "They did what?" He asks, staring directly into your eyes. "Show me." You stare daggers at Rick for letting it out to everyone and he looks down at his feet, knowing he shouldn't have said that so soon. You sigh and lift your tshirt up, exposing a thick red line that goes all the way across your stomach, starting at your right hip and finishing up at your bra line on the left hand side. Daryl grabs a hold of you and turns your body towards his; he drops to his knees and looks intently at your scar. "Which one did this?" He growls. Everyone stays silent, including you, none of you know names, and for all you know he could've been killed already. "Answer me!" He bellows. Rick steps forward, "we don't know Daryl, (Y/N) didn't see him, he was behind her and ran off afterwards. Carl was the one who saw it happen but he was concentrating on (Y/N) as he saw her fall to the ground. I'm so sorry," he says, squatting next to Daryl and holding onto his shoulder. Daryl gets up and storms out, Rick following him quickly and nodding at you as he runs past. You stand there in shock, still with your top lifted and everyone looking at you with sympathetic faces. Maggie walks over and gently pulls your tshirt down. "Lets go get that checked over shall we?" She smiles, and gently guides you towards the door. You nod, unable to say anything. "No one in there is judging you, you know that, right?" "I know, most of them knew anyway, just hadn't seen it before." You mutter. You both walk past Daryl and Rick, Daryl pacing like a tiger and Rick trying to calm him down. Daryl looks over and shouts, "where are you going?" Maggie turns to him and smiles sweetly, "I'm just taking (Y/N) to get her wound checked over, we'll be back in a minute Daryl, don't worry." He nods and instantly calms down after hearing Maggie's soothing voice. You get to the doctor's cabin and enter it, Maggie gets you lay down on the bed and the doctor takes a look. "Seems to be healing pretty well considering conditions these days. That's probably the best it's going to get in terms of being visible. It may naturally fade over time, but for now that will be it. Sorry." "That's fine, as long as it's not infected, that's all I'm worried about." "Nope, you're all good. Well done for looking after it so well." "Thank you for taking a look." "Anytime. And don't forget your check up Maggie. We want to take very good care of that baby." "You know I won't forget that!" She laughs. You both walk outside, Rick and Daryl nowhere to be seen. You turn to Maggie with a worried look on your face. "Do you think Daryl's gone again?" You ask, tears threatening to spill over your cheeks. "No, he'll be right in there waiting for you, he knows you need him right now. He's a good man," she comforts. You hug and go back inside the house together. Sure enough he's sitting on the staircase waiting for you. Maggie gently pushed you towards him and you nod to her as she disappears into the room with everyone else. "I didn't mean to shout," he starts, looking down at his hands. You sit next to him on the step, nudging into him a little as you clumsily park yourself. He doesn't move, enjoying the feeling of your arm touching his. "I know you didn't, it's okay. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but with all that you'd been through I didn't want to add to it," you apologise. "Nah, don't be sorry. I shoulda been here to protect you, I'm angry that I wasn't," he sighs. "Don't be. It would have happened if you were here or not." "Does it hurt?" "A little. Not as much now though. Doctor says it's healed well and that it might fade a little over time, but I'm stuck with it." You chuckle a little, patting your belly. "That'll be one helluva story to tell the kids. Mummy and her badass scar," he smiles, following your lead and making light of an otherwise shitty situation. "Daddy and... well, daddy's just a badass. And a super amazing man who surprises me every day with his strength and determination. The only man I've ever loved and ever will love." You say, leaning into his side and looking away embarrassed. Daryl looks at you, face slightly flushed. "You're amazing. I love ya, forever. Have done since I saw ya. Strongest person I know," he says, brushing hair out of your face so he can see your now reddening cheeks. "We may not be able to have kids now, but it's fun practicing," he winks. You take his hand and head off up the stairs to find an empty room. @blondielovesr5-blog

#daryl x reader #daryl dixon #the walking dead #imagine #oneshot #fanfiction #fanfic #norman reedus

[mingmagazine-blog]

Pancake Ass Syndrome got you beat? The Dude here has you covered.

Pancake Ass: Stop Neglecting Your Glutes

More than four-fifths of American men suffer from a debilitating glutes disease that doctors aren’t talking about. It’s an insidious disease that causes low back pain, decreased strength, knee pain, weakened ankles and feet, and balance and coordination issues. So why aren’t more men aware that they have PAS?

PAS, also known as Pancake Ass Syndrome, isn’t talked about with men because men don’t view the gluteal muscles as an “essential” muscle group to build in the gym. Our modern sedentary lifestyles have drastically weakened and deflated these powerhouse muscles. Countless men spend years bench pressing and curling their hearts out. The one muscle that will improve quality of life more than shirt-splitting arms gets neglected.

Why your glutes are so important

Well, besides looking better naked or in a pair of jeans, your glutes are a transfer point for power within your body. If you want to run faster or longer, you need strong glutes. If you want to squat more weight, you need strong glutes. And if you want to deliver a kick that would make Connor McGregor hit the mat, you need glutes that salute.

Your gluteal muscle group does a lot. They extend your hip, abduct of your legs, and externally and internally rotate the hip joint. They also support the extension of your knee. Athletes like sprinters or football players need quick bursts of speed to win. If they suffer from PAS, they won’t be able to exert the tremendous amount of force they need to win.

You’re likely not Usain Bolt or Le’veon Bell, and maybe you think you don’t need explosive hip extending power. But if you want to gain strength in the gym, or be able to get up out of a chair when you’re 80, you need to focus on exercises that require powerful and explosive hip extension.

It’s All in the Hips

Hip extension happens when you move your leg behind your hips. Flexion happens when you bring your leg closer to your hips. Everyday movements like standing up from a chair, walking, running, jumping, and climbing stairs takes your hips through both flexion and extension.

It’s the extension of your hips that engages your glutes. So when you drop it like it’s hot into the bottom of a squat, you’re flexing your legs into your hips. When you rise from the bottom, then you’re extending your hips and engaging your glutes. To build stronger and better functioning glutes, you actually need to take your hips through flexion and extension. And the first thing you need to master is the art of the hip hinge.

Cable Pull-Through

The day I felt my glutes wake up doing this exercise might have been the greatest day in my life. And when it comes to helping my online clients improve their hip hinge pattern, there’s no better exercise for than the cable pull-through.

Side note: improving your hip hinge pattern can be done during rest periods of your big lifts like squats, deadlifts, or bench. Use this drill to groove the hip hinge pattern so that you can hinge like a boss.

Basically, push your hips back like your butthole is playing a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos and is trying to eat the weights behind you. Even if you have a drastic case of PAS, you’ll feel your glutes fire with this exercise.

Cable Pull-Throughs can be used as a warm-up before a lower body or glute focused workout. Or you can add them to the end of a workout to really toast your glutes.

Hip Thrusts

Now that you’ve woken those glorious glutes up with cable pull-throughs, you can embark on hitting those bad boys with best booty building exercise known to man. Bret Contreras, The Glute Guy, is the inventor of this masterpiece of exercise science. And if you follow The Rock or James Harrison on Instagram, you’ve likely seen them thrusting their hearts out.

Like pull-throughs, the hip thrust takes your hips through flexion and extension. And because of its versatility, you can do hip thrusts with a barbell, dumbbell, bands, or bodyweight.

Your glutes can handle a ton of volume. So you don’t need to really worry about overtraining them. I mean, I wouldn’t train them every day of the week with no rest, but you can hit them with weights one day and then do something like bodyweight the following day without harming recovery.

If you want to really wake your ass up and build glutes that salute, you need to include some single leg hip thrusts into your training.

Curtsy Lunge

Outside of the fun of flexing and extending your hips, your glutes also function to abduct your leg. Abduction just means that you’re moving away from the midline of the body. You can combine abduction with flexion and extension when you do lunges. Now, if you happen to have shoddy knees, and I’ll tell you more later about how to improve your knee health, lunges can hurt. A lot. Reverse lunges, however, are great for those with crappy knees because it places more emphasis on your glutes and hamstrings.

But, if you don’t happen to have dilapidated knees, and you want to really engage your glutes, look no further than the curtsy lunge. The curtsy lunge is one of my favorite bodyweight exercises to program for clients. It works well as the second exercise in a superset with dumbbell Romanian deadlifts or single leg deadlifts. Or do them as a separate exercise all on their own. Make sure to focus on squeezing your glutes the entire time and feeling your booty push you up from the bottom.

Step Downs

When someone says “core training” you probably think of abs, right? You’re not wrong, here, but then you kind of are. The truth is, your core is more than your abdominals. In fact, your core is really comprised of your abs, erector spinae, obliques, and yes, your glutes.

Think of your core like an anchor. Your spine is the shank. The crown is your pelvic floor. And the arms on each side of the crown are your hips. With that reference in mind, your glutes act as stabilizers for the arms to the crown.

Remember when I said that your glutes internally and externally rotate your hips? Well, they do that. But they also work to stabilize your hips as you move through your day. Stronger glutes help your hips function better. And that makes walking, running, jumping, and all the other things you do with your hips more effective and efficient.

When it comes to increasing hip stability and strength, look no further. There’s a trick to these, though. Before you start the motion, you have to raise your opposite hip up. This helps isolate and put more stress on the glute of your dangling foot.

To really hit your glutes, make sure you’re hinging your hips as you lower your leg down; trust me, you won’t need much distance at first. So start with a small step and not a high block like I’m demonstrating.

To perform this exercise, let one foot hang off the edge of a raised platform. Raise your opposite side hip — this is your starting position. While hinging at the hips, let your foot lower toward the ground, but angled slightly behind you. Push through your feet — feeling your glutes engage — and come back to standing. If you need assistance when attempting these, start these near a rack at your gym or use a dowel rod to give you some support. Don’t rely on the support, but have it there to start at least.

Perform 3 sets of 5-8 reps per side at the end of your workout. As you get better with the exercise, increase the depth at which you step down.

Back Pain and Your Glutes

According to the National Institutes of Health, 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes. The NIH also states that the majority of low back pain is largely due to mechanical issues. Some of these issues can occur from severe injury like car accidents, disc degeneration, herniated discs, or sciatica. But the number one mechanical cause of low back pain is from strains and sprains.

Our industrialized society sits for hours on end. Hell, I’ve been sitting for nearly an hour while I write this article. Sitting tightens your hip flexors. And since you sit on your glutes, well, you’re weakening them because you don’t use them. Here’s why this matters. Tight hip flexors pull on your hips, flexing them toward your legs, and cause your pelvis to go into what is known as anterior pelvic tilt. This also lengthens and weakens your hamstrings, and places your lower back into extension. So combine that with weak and deadened glutes, and guess what? Since your hamstrings can’t compensate for your weakened glutes, your lower back takes over.

Because of this, you’ll also lose the stability and function of your abdominal muscles, aka, you weaken your core. All of that comes together and creates a dangerous cocktail for back pain. So those with Pancake Ass Syndrome are at a higher chance of developing back pain. This is why it’s so important to train the non-mirror muscles — hamstrings, glutes, lats, rear delts. All of those muscles work in tandem to keep you walking, lifting, and living at your best.

Maximus Medius Minimus: The Roman God of Ass

But if you want to develop strong and supple glutes that will rid you of PAS forever, you need to also train the other two muscles of your glutes — the gluteus medius and minimus.

Your medius and minimus work in abduction, moving your leg away from your body. But they also assist in internal rotation and external rotation of your hip joint. Have you ever experienced or seen knee valgus? Knee valgus is the fancy science word for, “knees caving in toward the midline of the body.” So if you squat and your knees move toward one another, your medius and minimus are weak. You may even see this in your gait as you run as well. And that my friend, is a sign your running career won’t last long.

Knee joint imbalances can occur from overtraining your quads and under-training your hamstrings. But they can also occur when you have weak and poor functioning glutes, specifically, your medius and minimus.

The medius and minimus function to flex and internally rotate the hip on the anterior portion, extends and externally rotates the hip on the posterior portion, and they’re principally called into action when supporting your body on one limb.

Exercises that isolate and focus on both the medius and minimus aren’t complicated. But they will seem boring at first. Trust me, though, you’re gonna feel it the next day.

Here are a few of my favorites

X-Band Walks Mini Band 4-Way Walks Lateral Lunges Clamshells Cable Abduction

Pro Tip

Picking up a pair of Mini Bands will cost you about $20. But if you travel a ton, they’re easily stowed in your luggage or in your gym bag. They will completely change the game for you when it comes to glute training.

Defeating Pancake Ass Syndrome is not an easy task. It will take hard work and require some heavy lifting. But abolishing PAS will help you and millions of other men increase total body strength and keep their bodies operating at their highest level possible for years to come.

**Robbie Farlow: Sith Lord of Strength, Token Ginger of House Slytherin, NASM-CPT,  Level 1 Certified Precision Nutrition Coach, and Ordained Dudeist Priest Facebook: Side Quest Fitness Website: http://www.sidequestfitness.com/ *Copyright © 2015 Side Quest Fitness, All rights reserved.*

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