#a manager put me on cart duty

[julesnichols]

#polls #about me #i failed the test btw. and immediately went to the hospital #but basically i was leaning between both of them bc i couldn't really walk #and the girl wasn't random fully so much as she knew me but i had forgotten her and her name #just 2017-2019 me things <3 #anyways today when all the registers in the store randomly died again #a manager put me on cart duty #somehow one kinda fell or smth a bit and i banged up my ankle #but like i need the money and also i cannot bring myself to fuck over my coworkers #esp when managers do not yell at us for leaning the way the mouse did #anyways i'm fine i'm good i'm Vibing but i am also not Thriving #fuck the us!!! fuck that i had to stay today!!! #my managers did not even know i fucked up my ankle #i probably could have gotten them to let me go if they did #i chose not to tell them #so fuck everything that made it so i had to make the choice to stat #stay* #different ankles btw #the injury from 2019 in the left Still hurts when i get up from the floor #or in bad weather or if touched #it was a BAD sprain #like probs should have done more for it than i did

[flowersandbigteeth]

Your Naga Lord saves your Mother

A/N: I've had this oneshot sitting in my drafts in a while, combining some old asks

Naga Lord (Leander) x F Maid reader

Word Count: 6K

General Plot: You and your family are staff in the house of a Naga Lord. Things go sideways when your childhood friend's father falls for you mother.

W: Description of murder, yandere behavior, spitting, otherwise sfw soft yandere fluff

More SFW fics here

“Hurry up now,” your mother said brightly as she ladled a bit of porridge into a bowl for you to eat. “Master Dervin will be cross if you're late with his breakfast.” 

Though the two of you were mere servants in the Naga Lord’s home, she always fed you first before you had to do your duties for the morning. 

She glanced up as you scarfed down your breakfast, her eyes warming as they met your father’s. 

“Good morning, my favorite ladies,” he said, kissing her and ruffling your hair. 

“Papa! I have to work!” You pouted, but he just snickered, stealing your spoon and taking a bite of your porridge. 

“Don't bother making yourself neat for that snake bastard,” he chuckled as his hands slid around your mother’s waist. 

“Charles, please. Someone might hear, and we'll be out on the street!” 

He shrugged. As you finished your meal, your mother arranged the morning dishes for the Naga family on a silver cart, taking a moment to smooth and repin your hair before you were to serve them. 

Your father was sure to spit in Dervin’s bowl when your mother looked away, making your eyebrows jump. He put a finger over his lips, winking at you. 

“I'm off to the stable,” he said, grabbing an apple as he went. “Have a nice day, my pretty girls!” 

You blinked at the contaminated bowl, wondering if you should throw it out. 

“What are you staring at?” Your mother chided, pushing the cart towards the door. “Get along; I can hear them coming down the stairs.” 

You hurriedly fixed a pleasant but distant look on your lips as you wheeled the cart into the dining room. 

“Good morning, Mr. Leander,” you said to Dervin's only son, as he was the first to enter the dining room.” 

“You’re radiant this morning as always (Y/N),” he beamed, taking his spot at the table. “but stop calling me ‘mister’ you never used to.” 

Your ears heated as you placed his breakfast in front of him. 

“It's not appropriate, sir. We were children then. You're to be the master of the house and will be married soon. I'm sure your fiancee wouldn’t appreciate-” 

He cut off your words with a sharp hand. 

“Don't speak of unpleasant things,” he grumbled. 

“Apologies, sir.” 

“Stop calling me-” 

The arrival of his mother cut off his own words. She was a lovely Naga, sharing Leander’s white hair and sapphire blue eyes. Like his, her tail was a shocking electric blue.

“Stop prattling with that servant, Leander,” she snapped. “She has work to do. You're bothering her.” 

Mrs. Elanore was not a pleasant woman, but she didn't like you servants to be harassed by the males of the house. Whether it was actual concern or jealousy, you didn't know, but your mother, especially, appreciated it. 

Dervin, her husband, took every opportunity to corner her, trying to ply her with gifts and sweet words. Your mother was having none of it, which is why you delivered their meals, not her, and why your father spit in his food. 

You nodded, thanking Elanore as you served her the tea she liked. 

“Where is that imbecile?” she muttered, referring to her husband. “There are so few things I ask of him, but he can't manage the simplest tasks. He is to arrive on time for every meal. There must be some decorum in this household! 

Her sharp blue eyes flicked to you. 

“Go get him (Y/N).” 

Leander slid in front of you like a vibrant  blue flash before you could even respond. 

“I'll go, mother. (Y/N) has her work, as you said.” 

She gave him a tight nod, and you took the opportunity to finish setting the table for their return. 

“I should fire your family,” Elanore mused. “your father would be happier, don't you think?” 

You glanced up for a moment to find her eyes traveling over your form. 

“You and your mother are too pretty to be maids,” she snorted. “You'll only cause trouble wherever you go.” 

“Our family has served yours for generations,” you muttered, scared she might put you all on the street. “My grandparents died here, and so did theirs.” 

 “Just like a human,” she hissed, baring her teeth. “Servile and obedient. You’d think you’d have found something else to do in all those years.” 

“Apologies, ma’am,” you said, looking at your shoes. 

She waved a dismissive hand at you, sipping her tea. 

“It’s in your nature. There’s nothing to be done. You and your mother are good at your jobs at least.” 

Your cheeks warmed at the backhanded compliment. It was different when Dervin or Leander complimented you. She acknowledged the skill that had been passed through generations, not how you looked. You and your mother knew how to run a house. Your masters needed structure to maintain their dignity. With little to do, they would become depressed slobs if you didn’t keep everything running efficiently.  At least, that’s what your grandmother told you. 

Slithering through the wide doorway, Dervin and Leander settled into their spots at the table, and you took your place in the corner, waiting in case one of them needed something. The two male Nagas looked very similar in their features, handsome with a strong jaw and wide shoulders, but Dervin’s hair was jet black, as were his eyes. They always appeared blank and cold, which frightened you. Elanore wasn’t warm, but her gaze reflected an expressive nature, not a monstrous stillness. 

Your eyes watched him take a bite of his breakfast, trying to hide the disgust that roiled in your stomach. 

“Where’s your mother?” he snapped after a few big bites. 

You didn’t speak at first, your eyes drifting to Elanore for permission. She answered for you. 

“She’s in the kitchen where she ought to be. The servants are my business as the Lady of the house. Don’t bother yourself with their whereabouts.” 

“I pay them,” he barked, but she ignored him, turning her attention to Leander. 

“You’re to visit Iris today, Leander. I’ve purchased a gift for you to bring your fiancee.” 

She snapped her fingers at you, and you hurried to her side to take the small package and walk it around the table to her son. 

“I don’t wish to bring her any gifts,” he snorted, not even taking the gift from your hand. “She’s not my fiancee.” 

Elanore rubbed her temples. 

“The two of you are infuriating, you know that? You have one job, Leander. You have to marry well and produce an heir.” 

She waved a finger at you. 

“You can keep your little maid as a comfort doll if you like, but you will do as I have arranged.” 

“I’m a grown man, mother. I don’t have to do anything.” 

Electricity crackled between their eyes as they engaged in a silent power struggle. You stood awkwardly to the side, still holding the gift. 

“I’m sick of this! I do my very best to advise you two idiots on the proper way to conduct yourselves, and you act like spoiled children!” 

Her tail snapped faster than you could see and struck Leander across the cheek with a crack. Blood dribbled down his pale skin, and his eyes hung on her, the warm blue turning to ice. 

“I should have never married a common husband like you,” she snarled, turning her ire toward Dervin. Vulgarity and Mediocrity are in your blood, and you’ve infected your son!” 

Dervin’s black eyes flashed. 

“My mediocre blood saved your foolish noble family from destitution. Thanks to my benevolence, you are able to live in the house your family has owned for generations. If not for me, you’d be begging on the streets, pleading with your relatives to take you in as a servant.” 

“Fools,” she snarled, picking up her tea and slithering out of the room. 

“Bring your mother to me,” Dervin demanded when she was out of earshot.

You let out a trembling breath as you thought up a lie. 

“She went into town this morning for groceries, sir,” you said, knowing he’d never lower himself to search for her in the kitchen. 

You screamed as the bowl he was eating from sailed across the room, shattering beside your head. 

“Father!” Leander shouted. 

Dervin gave him an amused but cool smirk before turning his attention to you.

“Send her to my room when she returns,” he barked and stormed out. 

You leaned against the wall, panting as you mentally checked yourself for harm. Leander’s warm hands cupped your cheeks, looking you over. 

“Did he hurt you?” he asked. 

Your gazes met, but words wouldn’t come, so you shook your head. 

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, his warm arms wrapping around you and pressing you to his chest. 

You inhaled the spicy scent of the soap he used mixed with his own natural fragrance. 

“I won’t let any harm come to you.” 

When he pulled away, you found yourself looking at your feet, trying to avoid his gaze. 

“Oh, I’m sorry. I dropped the gift,” you muttered, picking up the broken box. 

You plucked the pretty hairpin from the shards of ceramic, seeing it was still whole. 

“I’ll find a new box,” you said, trying to slide around him. 

He stopped you with a hand on your shoulder, curling the other around your fingers. 

“Keep it,” he said. “I’m not marrying Iris. My mother has no say in the matter, despite how she likes to posture.” 

Your gaze shifted to the red slash bisecting his cheek. 

“Let’s get this cleaned for you, sir. It will be a problem if it gets infected.” 

He frowned but followed you to the kitchen. 

“Is everything alright?” your mother asked as you pulled the first aid kit off a shelf. 

“Good morning, zhingha,” Leander said, greeting your mother with a kiss on the cheek.

The word meant “mother” in the Naga’s old language. He had never considered his biological mother his; when he was a boy, he got quite attached to yours. He spent most of his time in the kitchen with you, playing and avoiding Elanore’s tantrums when you were children. The two of you had made the pantry your fort, and you’d put on little shadow plays while you lay on the floor together. 

Your mother’s eyes focused on his wound, and she clucked. 

“Poor thing, come bend down where I can reach you. You’ve grown into such a tall man,” she said, taking the kit from you and pulling out the correct supplies. 

You hopped on the counter, swinging your feet as you watched her disinfect and bandage the cut. 

“What mother in their right mind would do such a thing to their son,” she muttered as she worked. 

She already knew who’d done it because she treated Leander’s wounds often. When she was done, she patted him on the head like when he was a little boy. 

“That’s better.” 

“We should go into town today,” he said. “My father is looking for you.” 

She frowned, a flash of fear streaking across her face. 

“Don’t worry. I’m supposed to be visiting Iris. We can take the carriage, and you can visit with your friends instead. Go have Charles ready it.” 

She nodded, giving him a wan smile before she hurried to find your father. You hopped off the counter and headed to do your chores while your mother was safely out of the house. 

Before you could make it out the door, Leander’s thick, electric blue tail coiled around you. 

“Ah, ah, you’re coming too, saiya,” he cooed, dragging you into his arms. 

Your heart thumped at the silly nickname he’d given you as a child. The word meant “little bear. " When he was young, he was fascinated with your round ears compared to his, which pointed at the end. As they had so often back then, his finger traced the arch of one as he hummed his pleasure. 

“Sir, you shouldn’t,” you whispered, but Leander was too pleased with you in his arms. 

He dipped his head, nibbling at your ear. 

“I should eat you up, sweet little thing,” he whispered, making your body explode in butterflies. 

He carried you out the back door to the stable, where your father was busy arranging the horses to pull the carriage. When he saw you tucked behind Leander’s large biceps, he frowned. 

“Put my daughter down. She’s not your doll,” he said, his tone more curt than he probably should have been with a family member of the house he served.  

Out of only politeness, you were sure, he set you down. Your mother let out a light, silvery giggle, patting your father on the shoulder. 

“Oh, don’t be so strict, Charles,” she said. “He doesn’t mean any harm by it.” 

As Leander tugged you by the hand into the carriage, you heard your Dad lower his voice, so he thought the Naga couldn’t hear. 

“I don’t like those snakes touching her. They are far too familiar. Miss Elanore’s grandfather would never have allowed him to fondle her the way he does. Things were the way they should be when he was around.”

Beside you, Leander snorted, rolling his eyes. 

“He also drove the family to bankruptcy,” he muttered under his breath. 

“Listen,” your father went on as he helped your mother onto the seat next to him, and still unaware you could hear him quite clearly. “I’ve been talking with the Willards about (Y/N).” 

“The Willards?” she asked. “The tailors?” 

“Yes, they have a boy about (Y/N)’s age. Apparently, he has taken an interest in her, and his father approves. He thinks a girl raised as a maid will make a dutiful wife. I think we ought to consider it. We can visit while we’re in town today.” 

You remembered the Willard's son Joshua from when you were sent on errands to pick up clothes for Elanore. He was a handsome young man, though a little on the skinny side. He seemed nice enough. Still, your cheeks burned, and you folded your hands tightly, hearing your parents plot your marriage. 

“I don’t know, dear,” your mother hummed. “Do you really think it’s a good idea?” 

He let out a grunt. 

“I’d do just about anything to get our girl away from that snake. He’s only going to ruin her, string her along, and throw her away when he’s bored. They’re all the same. The Willard’s can give her a good life.” 

You felt Leander stiffen beside you. As the carriage took off, his tail wrapped around you so tight you whimpered. He glanced down, his face darkening to a cool blue. 

“I’m so sorry,” he muttered, loosening his muscles but not letting you go. 

He gently unwrapped the hairpin, clutched in your palm, and busied himself fastening it to your hair. 

“So pretty,” he murmured, greedy eyes eating you up. “I won’t let anyone else touch you (Y/N).” 

You weren’t sure if that was supposed to be comforting. You’d always liked Leander. He was very handsome, and as children, you’d been inseparable. However, you also realized the massive gap between your two worlds. You were just a maid, and he was the only son of a wealthy lord. It wasn’t meant to be. Your father had explained to you many times before that Leander only doted on you because he was immature and unwilling to grow up. He thought he could still play make-believe with your life, and he warned you to be wary of him. 

Feeling raw and confused, you tried to keep your eyes out the window, focused on the passing countryside as you made your way toward town. When your father stopped to park the carriage, he nodded to your mother as you climbed out. 

She held out a hand to you. 

“Darling, I need you to come with me. We’re going to stop at the tailor’s,” she said, carefully avoiding Leander’s gaze. 

He, however, would not be tricked. 

“How convenient. I need to stop there as well,” he said with a grin, tugging you back towards him with his tail. “(Y/N), keep me company as we walk so I don’t get bored.” 

Your father gave him a deep grimace but was silent as he finished tying up the horses and escorted your mother by the arm down the busy avenue, walking a few steps ahead of you. You watched the two of them whisper to one another as you made your way to the Willard’s shop. 

“Greetings!” Marshall Willard said with a grin when he saw you and your parents enter the shop. 

His eyes jumped to the large Naga next you, and he winced just slightly before calling his son.

“Joshua! Come greet our guests. I’ll help the customer.” 

Joshua appeared from the back, giving you a pleasant smile. 

“Mr. and Mrs. (Y/LN). It’s wonderful to see you,” he said politely. “Can I offer you some tea?” 

Meanwhile, his father greeted Leander. 

“Young Lord Szake! What can I help you with this morning?” 

You moved to follow your parents to the kitchen with Joshua, but Leander pulled you back by the shoulders. 

“I’m here to buy (Y/N) some dresses,” he said, pushing you gently in front of him. 

Everyone in the room looked at you, and your cheeks burned. 

“What? Why, my lord?” you stammered. 

He tipped his head at you.

“If you’re to be my personal attendant, you can’t follow me around in threadbare wool dresses. You ought to represent the Szake family well.” 

“Personal attendant?” you parroted, confused. “But I’m just a maid.” 

“Not anymore,” he declared. “Every Lord has a personal attendant to handle the paperwork and their calendar…those sorts of things.” 

“But isn’t that normally a man?” Mr. Willard asked. 

Leander beamed at him, a cold smile full of hate. 

“(Y/N) has known me since I was just a child. She knows everything about me. I wouldn’t dare trust anyone else with my personal affairs.” 

Your father frowned. 

“Nonsense,” he barked. “(Y/N) is going to be married and have a domestic life, as she should. You’re a wealthy Lord; I’m sure you can find a qualified candidate.” 

Joshua nodded beside him. You looked up at Leander, eyes large. 

“I can’t be your personal attendant, sir,” you added. “It’s not proper. What will people think?” 

He smirked at you, his long, strong fingers pinching your chin so you had to look at him. 

“Fine…If your father insists you have a domestic life, you shall.” 

Your shoulders wilted with relief, and you let out a breath. 

“Oh, thank goo-” 

“As my wife.” 

Everyone in the room’s eyes were as wide as saucers. 

“What?!” they all said at once. 

Leander gave Mr. Willard another bitterly cold grin. 

“Measure her for dresses fitting the station of a Lord’s fiancee.” 

“Absolutely not!” your father said.

“Lord Szake will never allow of this!” Mr. Willard pointed out. 

“She’s to be my fiancee!” Joshua hissed, taking an incensed step towards Leander. “My father has already approved it!” 

Leander’s gaze shot to him, danger reflected in his irises. 

“There are not words on this plane to describe how little I care about whatever arrangement your families have worked out. (Y/N) will marry me, and you will dress her properly.” 

He sank into his coils, pushing you in front of Mr. Willard, snapping his fingers. 

“Now.” 

You saw the man’s jaw tick, but refusing Leander’s request would only be bad for his business, so he pulled out his measuring tape and approached you. Not sure what was happening, you gave him a pleading look, begging him to say something. Reading your confusion and fear, his stare shifted to one more gentle. 

“Lift your arms, please, miss,” he said quietly. 

The room was dead silent while he did as he was told. Joshua and your father glared at Leander, who seemed entirely unbothered, while your mother appeared uncertain. You watched her suck in a deep breath, straightening her shoulders before she approached the Naga, speaking in hushed tones. 

“Sir, are you sure this is wise? I’m not opposed to this match. I-I know…I can see you love her…I’m only worried for (Y/N)’s safety. Such arrangements between classes rarely work out well. Your fellow nobles will never accept her. Would you subject her to their cruelty?” 

For a moment, he seemed to be considering her words, eyes sliding to you. 

“My family has never been accepted into our peers good graces. You know my father was a common merchant. My mother married him out of desperation. She traded her noble title for his fortune. People’s opinions are only that. Opinions. (Y/N) and I will face the same prejudices together. Do you wish your daughter to continue her life as a maid or-?” 

He gave Joshua a dirty look. 

“Or become a servant to a husband who can never love her as I can?” 

Your mother sighed. She lifted her hand and smoothed a bit of hair that had come out of place as if he were her own son. 

“Please…for me, be serious about this if it is what you intend to do.” 

He tipped his cheek into her palm. 

“I will never betray your daughter zhingha.” 

Your father let out a strangled noise, marching out the front door, slamming it behind him. 

Joshua, who had been pacing in place, stomped over to you, grabbing you by the arm to face him. 

“Is this what you really want (Y/N)? A snake for a husband?” 

Before you could answer, Leander’s tail shot out, jerking him away from you and tossing him into the wall. 

“Don’t touch her!” 

The young man climbed to his feet, clutching his ribs. 

“You nobles can’t just take whatever you like! (Y/N) belongs with us!” 

Leander slid across the room like an elegant blue river, lifting Joshua up by his throat. 

“Do not address my fiancee by her first name again. If I see your eyes on her, I will gouge them out!” 

Joshua’s furious face told you he didn’t plan to back down. His father dropped the measuring tape, hurrying to rescue his son. 

“Of course, he wont’ My Lord,” he said. “You’ve made your intentions quite clear. Yes, Joshua?” 

He gave Leander another long look before he gave in. 

“As you say, My Lord.” 

Leander dropped him, returning to his seat near you, and jerked his head at the tailor. 

“Continue,” he snarled. 

“Go to the back and help your mother,” Mr. Willard said to his son.

Joshua gave you a last lingering glance before he disappeared. 

–

You arrived back at the mansion in a very different dress than when you'd left. Leander had insisted on buying you and your mother matching readymade dresses from the shop window while you waited for the fourteen others he ordered to be made. The soft peach satin fabric was the nicest thing you’d ever worn. 

The first thing you heard as you walked in the black door was the smashing of ceramic. 

“Stay here,” Leander said. 

Your eyes quickly flicked to your mother, who grabbed your hand and pulled you into the pantry, peeking out through a crack in the door. 

“Father?” Leander called, opening the door to the dining room. 

He ducked as a vase flew past, smashing to pieces on the stove.

“That bitch!” You heard him screaming. 

He shoved past his son, dark eyes jerking around the room. 

“Father! Calm down! What's happened?” 

“Where is the human woman?” he snarled. 

You and your mother slipped back into the shadows, trying to be as silent as mice. 

“Father! She’s not back from shopping yet. Please, tell me what’s happened.” 

His eyes narrowed, but seemed satisfied with his answer. 

“It’s your mother,” he snarled. “She’s gone.” 

“Gone?” 

He bared his fangs at his son. 

“Don’t parrot me like a dumb animal. The damn woman left! She stole the gold in the safe and disappeared! No one’s seen her!” 

He paced on his thick tail. 

“She must have paid off the townsfolk. No one will tell me where she’s gone!” 

“Has she made off with our fortune?” 

His father glanced up at him. 

“Of course not; I keep the majority of our money in the bank. Only you and I can access it. I planned for this possibility but never expected her to do it! She only got off with our emergency fund…but it was enough to live well for a long time. When will the human woman return?” 

“I don’t know, father,” he said. “But whatever you need, I can help you with it.” 

He waved a clawed hand. 

“I don’t need anything done! I’m going to marry the woman. I should never have agreed to marry Elanore. I won’t make that mistake again. An obedient human wife will suit me better.” 

Leander let out a cold chuff. 

“She’s already married, father!” 

“Easily fixed,” he hissed with murder in his eyes. 

“You can’t be serious!” 

He tried to push past his son toward the door leading out to the stable. Leander blocked his way, his icy irises determined. 

“I can’t let you do that, Father,” he said, his tone low and even. 

Your father came marching through the door a moment later, unaware of the drama playing out. He froze where he stood, eyes immediately focused on the two Naga, staring one another down. 

The opportunity in front of him was too tempting for Dervin to resist, and his tail shot out, a victorious smile on his lips. You couldn’t stay the scream that erupted from your throat, your mother rushing past you to protect her husband. 

Dervin’s focus shifted to her, and Leander lunged at the same second. Caught off guard, he threw his father to the floor, and they quickly became a writhing ball of tails and arms. 

“You’d betray me too, son?” he gasped as he tried to overpower Leander. 

You smelled the coppery stench of blood as sharp nails scraped each other's skin. More than willing to help, your father picked up a heavy cast iron skillet, making his way around the hissing Naga, quiet on his feet. 

There was a resounding crunch as the skillet descended on Dervin’s head. He flopped to the floor, limp. Blood leaked in a pool around him, but he still dragged in a wet breath. Before anyone else could move, Leander snatched a kitchen knife from the rack, jamming it through his chest. Dervin let out his gurgling last breath and then was still. 

You and your mother clutched one another, sinking to the floor. Neither of you knew what to say or do, but your father and Leander didn’t need any prompting. 

“Help me with him,” your father said, slipping his arms under the dead Naga’s. “We’ll bury him under the pig pens.” 

Leander grunted his assent, lifting the majority of the weight as they maneuvered the body outside. 

“Come,” your mother whispered, trembling. “The blood.” 

You nodded, filling the mop bucket with water before pulling every towel from the cabinet to mop up the mess. 

“What now?” you found yourself whispering, though there was no reason to. 

She shrugged. 

“That’s for Leander to decide. He’s the Lord of this house.” 

By the time they returned, you’d scrubbed everything to a sparkle, the only blood left staining your new dresses and the towels.

“Take those off,” your father said. “We’ll burn the linens.” 

The two of you nodded, slipping the heavy dresses over your shoulders until you only wore the thick shifts underneath. Leander helped you out of your shoes and slipped the red-splattered stockings off your feet. 

Your father gave you and Leander a long look before he spoke. 

“Take your fiancee to bed,” he said. “She shouldn’t have seen all this. I trust it won’t happen again.”  

Leander returned a tight nod, and something passed between their gazes. They’d forged a silent agreement. 

It wasn’t until your mother and father left out the back door to burn the rest of the evidence that the tears came. It was a relief Dervin was gone. He would have killed your father and hurt your mother, but it was still horrific. 

“Shhh,” Leander hummed, scooping you up in his arms. 

He carried you upstairs to his bedroom, curling into a tight ring to settle you in the center. His arms wrapped around you, and he pressed your head into his chest. 

“Everything is going to be okay now,” he said softly, carding the strands of your hair with his long fingers. 

“Lei, are we all going to jail?” you sniffled, his childhood nickname falling past your lips all on its own. 

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling when they met yours. 

“No. My mother did us a favor. If anyone asks, they’re touring the countryside until they're entirely forgotten.” 

“What happens now?” you asked. 

He tipped your chin with his thumb, dipping his head to slip his lips against yours. They were so warm that you felt your jaw's tension melt away. His eyes searched yours when they parted, carrying a lightness you hadn’t seen in many years. 

“I’m going to marry you, and your parents will move out of the servant’s quarters. Your father and mother have earned their place in the Szake family. We’ll find some new staff.” 

You nodded, his hair forming a smooth curtain blocking the world. 

“Sleep now,” he hummed. “All is as it should be.” 

Despite how you wanted to keep your eyes open, they slid shut against your will. 

—

“Would you like lavender or rose tea, Miss (Y/N)?” your new maid asked as she opened the tea box in front of you. 

“Rose,” you said, turning your attention back to the catalog in front of you. 

You sat comfortably in the rose garden, enjoying the sunshine as you planned your wedding. It had been a month since the terrible night that Dervin died. When Leander had informed the merchants of the town that he was getting married, they’d sent piles of samples and booklets for you to look through. You’d never realized there were so many options! It was a little overwhelming. Since you’d come from humble beginnings, it felt strange spending so much money on decorations and lace, but Leander informed you it should be a grand occasion and not to spare a cent. 

“Um…Miss (Y/N)?” one of your maids said, looking slightly frightened. 

“What’s wrong, Lily?” you asked, concerned. 

“Well…there’s a Miss Iris at the door looking for you. Should I bring her?” 

Leander was out for the day, meeting with one of his importers, so you weren’t sure what she could want. 

“Of course, bring her here.” 

A minute later, an elegant Naga came slithering into the garden. Her curly violet hair was pinned in a pretty updo and she wore an elaborate pink dress, covered in ribbons. 

“Hello, Miss Iris,” you said, waving for her to take a place at the table. “Can I offer you some tea?” 

Her brow was drawn, and she looked you up and down. 

“So…you’re who he picked,” she pouted. “Over me.” 

Your ears burned, realizing you were speaking to Leander’s former fiancee. 

“There’s no competition,” you said. 

She snorted. 

“Obviously not.” 

She narrowed her eyes at you, and you expected a verbal lashing. You were a mere maid, after all. It was absurd Leander would take you as his fiancee. She sucked in a deep breath, and her expression suddenly softened. 

“How…How did you do it?” 

Your eyebrows jumped, confused. 

“Do what?” 

She looked around, uncomfortable. 

“Can I tell you a secret?”

You took a breath as your maid politely poured her a cup of tea. 

“I suppose so…If you’d like.” 

“I’m relieved.” 

“Relieved…why?” 

She sipped her tea, thinking before she spoke. 

“Because I don’t particularly care for Leander. In fact, I don’t like him at all. He’s…very…intense. He kind of creeps me out. He only spoke of you when we were out on dates; it was incredibly boring and awkward. Not to mention…the way he talked about you…He was fixated on all of your little ticks. Did you know he carries a lock of your hair around with him? And sometimes your stockings! He showed up one day elated because you’d accidentally sneezed on him and used his handkerchief to wipe your nose! He was cuddling it like a treasure!” 

Your ears heated. Where had he gotten a lock of your hair? You’d never given it to him. 

“He what?” 

Iris waved her previous statement away. 

“Anyway, I wouldn’t have liked him even if he hadn’t. He’s just…too much like a Naga male. Once they have something in their mind, they get…obsessed. 

Our parents arranged our marriage. I hate that tradition. I’d never force my child into a marriage without love. That’s how you get murdered by some enterprising mistress!” 

You blinked, unsure if you should be offended or not, but she went on.  

“Honestly, there’s…someone else who has my interest. Only…he’s not a noble Naga.” 

“Oh! That is a puzzle, isn’t it?” 

She nodded, stretching her hand across the table to touch yours. 

“That’s why I need to know how you did it! How did you win over Leander’s parents? Maybe if I can tell Joshua how to do it, I can…I don’t know…” 

You giggled. 

“Joshua…Willard?” 

Her violet irises flared. 

“You know him?” 

“Ah…yes…but not well. He seems like a very nice man.” 

Her eyes glazed over, wistful thoughts playing in her mind. 

“He’s so kind and considerate. I’ve never met anyone like him, so gentle. A few weeks ago, I went to pick up a dress, and he helped me. His hands were so soft, and his voice was so sweet. Every night since then, we’ve been meeting in secret! I know he’s the right one and he thinks so too! 

I don’t want to brute of a husband. I want a kind person who I can talk to. That’s why I have to know how to convince my parents not to marry me off to some…stranger!” 

You weren’t sure how to answer. 

“I think…You should do whatever you must to protect your beloved,” you said. “I can’t tell you exactly what to do because it will be different for you. We’re all different in different circumstances.

She looked a little disappointed. 

“What I do know, though, Iris, is that if you love one another, you will find a way You two are adults, not children. No one can make you marry someone you don’t want to. It’s only a matter of how far you are willing to go, what sacrifices you will make to have the life you want.” 

She nodded, thinking. 

“But…” you started, pausing to sip your tea, “What if your parents went on a little vacation?” 

“A vacation?” 

You shrugged. 

“Once you’re married, you’re married,” you said. “Maybe by the time they return…if they return… you’ve sorted your affairs.” 

The two of you shared a knowing look, and she brightened. 

“I like you (Y/N), you’re very clever! You’ve given me hope! Is there anything I can help you with in return? I want us to be friends!” 

You smiled, picking up one of the catalogs. 

“Yes, actually. I have no idea what is proper for a lady. Can you help me? We can plan our weddings together.” 

She beamed at you, taking the catalog. 

“Of course!” 

A few hours later, Leander came slithering through the garden. 

“Iris? What are you doing here?” he asked, his shoulders stiffening. “I thought I made it clear…” 

Iris snorted and waved him away. 

“I’m not here for you,” she said, raising her nose at him. “(Y/N) and I are planning our weddings.” 

“Your wedding?” he asked, and she grinned. 

“Yes! And now that you’re here,” she wrinkled her nose at him. “I think I’ll be off.” 

She leaned down and kissed your cheek. 

“Thank you for your advice (Y/N). I’m going to talk to Joshua,” she said before sliding past Leander without saying goodbye. 

“What was that all about?” Leander asked when she was gone. 

You shrugged. 

“True love, I guess.” 

He pulled you into his coils, peeking over your shoulder at the catalogs on the table. He ran a finger over the things you’d circled. 

“Lei, can I ask you something?” you asked. 

“Anything, love.” 

You twisted around to look at him, narrowing your eyes. 

“Did you tell Iris that you were excited I sneezed on you?” 

“Ah…noooo,” he lied, his whole face darkening to a deep blue. “Wh-Why would she say something silly like that?” 

You giggled. 

“Of course not,” you said, patting his chest. “I must have misheard her. Can I borrow your handkerchief? It's a little warm out here.” 

He passed it to you and you daintily patted your forehead, handing it back. His eyes widened at the little scrap of fabric in his hand and he hastily stuck it in his jacket pocket. 

Leander might be a weirdo, but he was your weirdo and you wouldn't have it any other way. 

#monster romance #monster x girl #monster boyfriend #monster x reader #yandere fluff #monster fluff #yandere male #x reader #male yandere #yandere x darling #yandere x you #yandere #yandere blog #yandere community #yandere oc #yandere scenarios #yandere x reader #soft yandere #naga x reader #naga #naga fluff #x maid #monster bf #monster lover #monster x human #teratophillia x reader #terato #yandere monster

[scientia-rex]

Best Things I Have Bought

I'm not sure how successful I will be in remembering all of it, but I'll try. These have all been game-changers for me, in a variety of ways. If teen me had had access to all of these, I would have been a vastly happier person.

This one is long, so I'll put in a cut.

-outlet timers. Not having to go around and manually turn off lamps at bedtime? Amazing. I bought these but you can and should get some that have a grounded outlet with three prongs so you can attach good extension cords to them.

-famotidine. aka Pepcid, it's the safest option I currently know of for managing acid reflux. I get nauseated when I get acid reflux, so this is a necessity for me.

-T-Gel shampoo. The only one that keeps my husband's insane dandruff under control. Coal tar shampoos smell peculiar, but are totally worth it if they work. For my hair, I like anti-dandruff conditioner--I apply it to my scalp and my other conditioners to the length of my hair. After bleaching my hair, I use Olaplex 3 to prevent more severe damage; the difference is very noticeable.

-white vinegar for a laundry rinse. I get horrendous contact dermatitis and adding this in the "fabric softener" cup in my washer keeps things from making my skin burn.

-on a similar note, all Oxy laundry booster. Doesn't make my skin burn but does make stains and smells noticeably better than detergent alone.

-Aquaphor. If you have eczema, nothing helps like Aquaphor, unless it's hydrocortisone ointment (the same white petrolatum base as Aquaphor but with hydrocortisone) or a prescribed steroid.

-Bissell Stomp 'N' Go pads. I have stomped. The stain goes.

-Prune puree. A packet a day keeps the chronic constipation at bay. Less volume to consume than prune juice and, in my opinion, slightly more palatable.

-Chinotto is a bitters-based beverage that I discovered by accident really helps my chronic nausea. I've tried other brands, and San Pellegrino is definitely my favorite. Tastes weird at first, but when heavy-duty ginger ale doesn't ease it, Chinotto can. And when that doesn't work, I have Zofran (ondansetron) my doctor prescribed me for the nausea I get with migraines, and that's an effective anti-nausea agent for more than just migraines.

-"You Just Need to Lose Weight (And 19 Others Myths About Fat People)" by Aubrey Gordon.

-rolling laundry cart. Doesn't have to be this one but if you CAN roll your laundry to and fro from the machines, do it.

-"Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men" by Lundy Bancroft. If you Google, you can usually find a free pdf floating around.

-"The Vagina Bible," by Dr. Jen Gunter.

-satin scrunchies. Wet Brush. Terry cloth lined shower cap. AOA terry cloth hair turban (way, way better than similar ones from drugstore).

-stretchy work pants.

-bra liners. For large-chested people who tend to get sweaty underboob, this is a life-saver.

-Goo Gone.

-Dr. Scholls medicated foot powder and the Earth Therapeutics tea tree oil foot spray. The foot powder works for super long days and the spray for lighter days.

-Reflective heat pad. I use this on my car seat in the winter and I am so happy for that every single chilly morning. I've repurchased it... once or twice? now.

-Retin-A. I used to use Differin, which is adapalene, the most potent retinoid available over the counter, but the switch to prescription-only Retin-A has been very noticeable. Decreased wrinkles, clearer skin. More inclined to flake and burn but it's worth it for me.

-Red LED therapy. Near-infrared stimulates collagen production in the skin. The only other thing that really does that is retinoids. I bought the Omnilux mask, which is certainly high-end, but HotandFlashy (a YouTube content creator) did a great comparison of different masks available by specs and this was the best at the time. The difference is noticeable within days. I've tried other, lower-powered masks, but what made me make the jump to high-end was that I got the Dennis Gross red LED eye mask for crows' feet off eBay and I was like "holy shit, this is better." And Omnilux is better still. It makes sense, since they were the OG of the models that have been in dermatology clinics for a couple of decades now.

-AOA foundation has been at least as good at my TooFaced foundation, and it's like 1-2 bucks instead of 40. There are light, medium, and deep shades, each on different pages; I'm linking to light because that's what I use. The lightest shade works for me, and I'm basically translucent.

-AOA VitaGlow tinted moisturizer is absolutely my go-to for lighter coverage days.

-AOA PawPaw blending sponges. Best out there and also the cheapest.

-(do not buy any of the AOA eyeshadows. Total waste of time, zero pigment. I've tried repeatedly and they're just garbage. The highlights are generally fine though.)

-Direct acid foot peels. The calluses come off. Just don't do it when you have ANY open wound on the feet, because it's acid and will sting like hell.

-blendercleanser solid cleanser for blending sponges and brushes. Actually a) gets them clean and b) rinses out.

-PureWine wine wands. I let these puppies sit for three minutes in a glass and suddenly I can drink red wine without migraines or hangovers. Fucking miraculous.

-Dustbuster. Holy shit it's amazing for ADHD peeps. Small thing bugging you? Can't get yourself to bust out the "real" vacuum? USE THIS.

-Crocs. Don't @ me. I wear a black pair around the house and for garden chores and they make my feet happy. Salonpas patches and/or BenGay for a topical when you're sore--topicals are great pain relief.

-Vibrating neck pillow. Don't need it right now? Wait until your next head cold. Vibration clears sinuses.

-PooPourri. I love not having to smell poop. This, and similar products, work pretty well by trapping scent particles in the oil layer instead of letting them evaporate into the air.

-Electric snow thrower. I can't manage a large, heavy snow blower and I don't want to deal with a gas engine. This little guy helped me clear my large driveway in 3-4 hours instead of 12.

-The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, by Carl Sagan.

-Handheld home IPL for hair removal. I ordered this exact one and I like it. You can get these on eBay or Amazon for cheaper sometimes; just make sure you PROTECT YOUR EYES during flashes. Targets pigment in the hair bulb so lighter skin and darker hair work better, and deeper skin tones may burn.

-Lanolin chapstick. Makes all other chapsticks I've used look like garbage.

-Steam eye masks. ShopMissA sells these and you can find them on a lot sites; shouldn't cost more than about a dollar per mask. I ended up buying an electric eye mask because I wanted to treat my dry eye and that just felt more environmentally responsible, but I love falling asleep with these on and I can't do that with my plug-in mask.

I think this is where I'll leave it--I've gone back quite a ways in my shopping history across multiple sites and thought about my daily routines--but if any of these problems torture you, these are my suggestions.

[somanyratsinthewalls]

A Queen for a King (+18)

Pairing: DonQuijote Doflamingo x Female Reader

WC: 1800

Summary: You were promoted to manage the only brothel in town, but Doflamingo has other plans for you... and who are you to deny a king?

TW: KINDA DUBIOUS CONSENT HERE! Doflamingo is a huge jerk, p in v sex, oral sex f receiving, doggy style, breeding kink, cream pies, unprotected sex, dirty talk, TELL LAW I AM SORRY BUT I HAD TO WRITE THIS TO GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD!

— — 

You pushed through the double wooden doors to the palace without paying any mind to the guards trying to stop you.

“If you care about your life, you’ll leave me be.” You casually remark as you quickly climb the spiral staircase to the young master’s quarters. 

“This asshole…” You mutter to yourself as you approach the top of the stairs you were ascending. You knock and sigh. 

The large door at the top of the tower creaks open. 

You brush past the door and into the throne room in annoyance. 

“Young Master you promised that my girls would receive equitable treatment.” You remark as your long red velvet robe flutters behind you. 

“The girls you’ve sent don’t know what they’re doing.” You hear a low, sinister voice respond. 

“You’ve promoted me to the overseer of The Nest and I’ve sent you my best girls, I don’t know why you’re sending these poor women back to me with unfathomable injuries and insults.” You say as you flop yourself down on the pink loveseat in the throne room and light a cigarette. 

“I know what I’ve done… but I still want you to service me. Is that so difficult for you to understand?” You take a drag of your cigarette as Doflamingo rose from this throne to look at you. 

“You’ve sent 7 of my girls home in tears and 2 of them in body bags… How am I supposed to trust you with them now?” You lean back on the sofa. 

“I don’t want your girls.” Doflamingo approaches his bar cart and pours two heavy glasses of liquor. “I want you.” 

“I am no longer for sale since my promotion. You said it yourself.” You receive the cocktail from the much larger, pink coat clad man and sat back in your chair. 

“I said you no longer have to service clients… I am not a client, I am your king.” Doflamingo smirked as he took a sip of his drink. “You are mine, and I will accept nothing less.” The man strides away from you and takes a seat on his throne.

“I control The Nest now. I can provide you with any women or any desire that floats your interest. All you have to do is-“

“No. I will not have the other girls. I will have you.” Doflamingo smiles wickedly. 

You sigh. 

You glide across the room towards the Young Master.

“You may be the king of Dressrosa and the king of getting whatever you want, but I was assigned to oversee The Nest and I have done my job, Young Master. You cannot malign me for doing my duty.” You say as you square your shoulders. You tried too hard not to let your fear seep through, this man could end your life in a second but you were here in his throne room trying to make him squirm. 

“You’ve done your job, y/n… but unfortunately for you I’ve taken a liking to you and you will belong to me… mind, body and soul…”

You take a drag of your cigarette and sigh. 

“So I’m suck here?” You ask 

“Stuck? Love, it’s so much nicer than that. You don’t miss taking me?” Doflamingo says as he brushes off his coat and shirt. He swoops down to his knees and meets you at your level, lounging on the pink loveseat. You chuckle as he reaches your face level. 

“I can find someone to appease you, Young Master.” You put your hand on his massive wrist. 

“No.” 

You look up and look into your captor’s sunglasses covered eyes. 

“No one will ever touch you again. Only me. Or they’ll die. Not instantly, but in the worst way anyone could ever imagine.” Doflamingo grabs your cheek and forces you to face him. 

“I must insist that my girls-“

“NO!” He bellows. 

You tremble in fear. 

“Doffy….” You try to calm him and stroke his bicep. 

“No one touches you again… you’re mine…” Doflamingo pulls you against him and grinds your body onto his pelvis. 

“Doffy I can’t do this anymore…” You huff out quietly as you try not to enjoy the feeling of his massive hard on grinding against your sensitive sex. 

“You can…. You can, my love….. just let me show you…” Doffy picks you up and throws you against his chair and unties your robe, then pushes your panties down past your ankles. 

“Doffyyy…” You cry out and buck your hips up into the air as he pulls back. “If I agree to this arrangement… you have to leave my girls alone…” You choke out.

“Agree? Haha oh sweetheart you have no choice. I am your king and you’ll do as I say. I don’t want anything to do with those whores anyway. They don’t deserve to even be in my presence.” Doffy pulls your thighs apart forcefully, exposing your naked sex to him. 

“Those girls are nothing compared to you…” He continues. “Their filthy holes could never satisfy me the way yours do.” He strokes his huge hands up and down your thighs as he gets to his knees between your legs. He notices your pussy involuntarily clench at his words. “Now, I’m going to have my fill of this wet little cunt and you’re going to take it like a good slut. My good slut.”

“Yes, Young Master…” You give in. 

Doflamingo immediately dives in and bullies that damned long tongue deep into your waiting hole. You cry out and throw you head back. 

Lewd slurping noises echo off the stone walls of the throne room while you grip your king’s blonde hair for dear life. He pulls his tongue out of you to flick it harshly across your clit, making you whine. 

“Such a perfect pussy, so sweet… always so sweet for me…” He lowers his head again and continues bringing you closer and closer to the precipice of pleasure. You hated how good he was at this, being such an evil man, but your body was betraying you. With each deep probe of his tongue inside your walls and nudge of his nose on your clit, the coil in your lower tummy threatened to snap. 

“Shit, Doffy! I’m gonna cum, fuck!” You cry out. 

He pulls away. 

“Ask properly, you know how.” He demands. 

“Fuck fuck fuck, please let me cum I’m so close! Please!” You plead as you look down at him between your messy thighs, his lips were shiny with your copious amounts of slick. He smirks. 

“Cum then, my love.” He takes your clit between his lips and sucks harshly. 

“Ah!” You scream and release all over your sadistic lover’s face. He was being kind so far, clearly thrilled that you’ve agreed to his new terms. 

Doflamingo rises to his feet and grips your jaw in his massive palm and forces you to look up at him. 

“What do you say?” He says as he looms over you. 

“Thank you…” You breath out, still coming down from your high. 

“Good pet. Now get up, and bend that tight little ass over the arm here for me.” Doflamingo lets go of your jaw and waits for you to rise to your feet, undoing his pants in the process. You shakily stand and do as you're told, shedding your robe off your arms and taking your place bent over the arm of his throne, presenting yourself to him. 

You gasp as you feel the huge head of his cock tease your soaked opening. 

“Ready, darling?” You could hear the smirk in his voice. 

“Yes- AH!” You yelp loudly as he pushes into you forcefully and quickly. His cock was bigger than anything else you’ve ever had by far, but he’s taken you so many times now that you knew how to bear the stretch. 

“Shit!” Your eyes roll in the back of your head. 

“See this is why you’re my favorite…” Doffy begins to thrust into you harshly, not giving you any time to adjust. “Didn’t even need to open you up… this pussy was made for me… taking me so well…” His hands were so big they almost wrapped completely around your waist as he pulled you back and forth onto his cock. 

“Do! Ffy! S-slow! Down!” You try to plead with him. You were being bounced forward with each powerful slam of his hips hitting your ass and thighs. 

“No I don’t think I will!” Your king cackles from behind you as he delivers a hard spank to your right cheek. You scream in both pain and pleasure. He slaps your ass a few more times and continues his brutal assault on your sex. Your head was swimming and you could barely even hear the filthy, disgusting things that Doflamingo was spewing from behind you. 

“Oh, Doffy!” You cry out his name as he angles your hips to further access your G-spot with every stroke. His name felt like poison on your tongue but you were so lost in pleasure that it didn’t matter to you anymore. The world melted around you and the only thing you could feel was his hot breath on your back and the battering of his giant cock inside you. 

Suddenly you’re pulled up by your hair and your back was against Doflamingo’s huge exposed chest. 

“Going to cum again, little slut? Beg for it. Beg your king to make you cum.” He growls into your ear while gripping your scalp tightly. You whine. 

“Please! Please Doffy! Wanna cum so bad! Please!” Sweat drips from your neck down the valley of your breasts as you pant and beg to finish. 

“Cum. Do it now.” He reaches down and pinches your clit without faltering in his thrusts. 

You unravel immediately and squirt all over the throne beneath you. Your cunt spasms and you moan out with each wave of your orgasm wracking your body. Doflamingo releases your hair and you fall forward. 

“So fucking messy, just the way I like it!” Doffy laughs and grips your hips tightly, approaching his own climax. “I’m going to breed this cunt and keep you here with me forever, my sweet love.” 

“Doffy, wait! Shit!” You try to protest but it was no use. He was already groaning loudly and shooting rope after rope of thick cum into your womb, spilling out around his cock stretching your hole. With a final smack to your ass, Doflamingo pulls out of you and picks you up. He sits on his throne and pulls you onto his lap, still leaking his cum onto his thigh. 

“I-I have to get back to work, Young Master…” You try to wiggle out of his grip. 

“No, I don’t think you do. Not anymore.” He tightens his hold on you and smirks. 

“But… the arrangement… you said…” You look up at him. 

“Fuck what I said. You’ll be my queen.” 

xx

#one piece #one piece fanfiction #one piece anime #one piece smut #one piece fandom #one piece netflix #one piece fanart #one piece live action #donquixote doflamingo #donquixote family #op doflamingo #doflamingo #doflamingo fanart #doflamingo x reader #doflamingo one piece #one piece fanfic

[mosaickiwi]

Someone In Between; Something Intertwined

Your babyboi Rendacted (from @14dayswithyou) struggles to be himself in your new-ish relationship. Gender neutral reader c:

14 Days With You is an 18+ Yandere Visual Novel. MINORS DNI

You haphazardly pushed a cart full of returned books across the library. It'd been such a long day. Elanor had called in sick, so on top of desk duty, both the morning and afternoon story times fell on you. The kids were well behaved—as well behaved as elementary schoolers could be, anyway—but by the time it finished you were at your limit. The only solace was that today was Friday, so you had the whole weekend to spend at your boyfriend's apartment. A smile bloomed on your face and you couldn't help but push the cart a little faster as you thought about them, surely waiting outside already. 

Ren, your tall, clingy, dark-haired-at-the-roots boyfriend. It'd been 5 months since you officially started dating, and 4 months since he'd been convinced to let go of the Haruko persona. It was agonizingly slow progress, you still didn't know him well—he came off a bit neutral sometimes, unsure how to act around you before reverting to Haruko or a blank slate to mirror you. But you were happy that small parts of the real him managed to peek through over the months, no matter how much time it took. And it was taking a long time.

As you opened the overflow room, you checked the clock on the wall. It was barely 4 minutes until the end of your shift. The cart bumped over the threshold when you pushed it in and locked the door. Once that was taken care of, you did a quick look over the computer and study areas, picking up scrap papers and trash to put in the bin before heading to the break room, then your desk to grab all your things. 

You took a peek in Conan's office to bid him goodbye. "I'll see you next week! Enjoy your weekend," you said with a cheery voice and walked towards the entrance.

"You too!" he called after you. 

The doors flew open and you practically skipped with relief out into the cool autumn air. You spotted Ren leaning against the brick of the building, dressed in their now-usual style of black on black on more black. His hair was partially tied up in a ponytail, most of it still a pastel pink that fell over his shoulders. From the low collar on his shirt, you could see he'd covered his tattoos with makeup, but a few of his piercings were in. He was trying, and that meant so much to you. His ocean blue eyes were focused on the phone in his hand, so he didn't notice you at first.

"Ren!" You sang out their name and bounced over to them. 

He looked up in surprise before quickly smiling. "I was just texting you," he said and put his phone in his pocket. "Hey, Angel."

"Hiiii," you said as you grabbed his hand, taking gleeful notice of the light blush forming on his cheeks as your fingers laced together. At first you used to think it was only his Haruko persona when he blushed at any contact—but it turned out they really liked holding hands. It was the first thing you learned to keep in mind about the real him. So you made sure to do it as often as possible. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's only 5:01."

"And I'm sure you got here much earlier," you teased him, earning his embarrassed agreement when he flushed a deeper pink.

"Just 20 minutes," Ren mumbled and changed the subject. "Did y'want to stop anywhere? We don't have to go straight to my apartment."

"Nope! Work's got me feeling lazy. I'm all yours for the rest of the night." With that, you stood on your toes to kiss his cheek. 

He kissed you back on the lips, his snake bites catching the light as he smiled. He didn't even try to hide how happy he was. "Good."

~

An hour later, you were sitting on his couch eating pizza, a horror movie on low in the background while you chatted. You'd gotten half the pizza with your favorite toppings and—with a lot of stubborn encouragement on your part—Ren had gotten what were supposed to be his favorites. There was some overlap with a few of them, but he swore up and down they were things he liked. 

"L-Lots of people like pepperoni," he insisted. "You can't be suspicious of that one. It's basic."

"You got more than pepperoni to be suspicious about. But, true. I'll allow it," you conceded and munched away at the last of your pizza slice.

"Besides, I'm not that picky about food."

You swallowed, thinking about the age old debate about pizza toppings. "Pineapple on pizza?" Right on cue, the next victim in the movie shrieked in bloody terror.

"I'd eat it," he said after a moment of thought.

"Oh. Anchovies?" The screams continued.

He was a little more confident on this one. "Yup." 

"What about the really weird toppings?" you asked. You inwardly grimaced as you vaguely remembered a weird picture Moth had sent.. "Like… corn and chocolate?" 

Ren made a face between confused and disgusted. "Together? On pizza? People eat that?"

"Maybe. Probably," you said and shrugged. You grabbed a napkin from the coffee table and wiped your hands, then stood to throw away your paper plate. "People eat plenty of weirder things."

He paused the movie and quickly followed you into the kitchen with his own plate; he'd finished eating a little bit before you. As he trailed you to the trash can, then the sink, he spoke honestly, "It sounds really… out there. I don't think I'd eat it."

"Hmm," you said as you pumped the soap dispenser. You weren't sure if his answer would change if you said you'd eat it—not that you would, ew—but it was nice for him to voice his own opinions without trying to hear yours first.

You felt him trap you against the counter and rest his chin on your head. His arms came around you, but he only began washing his own hands as you were doing. It was an oddly comforting position.

An easy silence fell over the two of you, only broken by the rush of water from the tap. Eventually, the water stopped and he grabbed a paper towel, quickly drying his hands. You expected him to move, but instead he grabbed another towel and started drying your hands for you. He seemed content, even humming quietly to himself. So you simply watched. His rough fingers were steady as he delicately went over every inch of your hands until they were completely dry. He wasn't even half as thorough with himself; it was cute.

"You're really touchy," you innocently blurted out.

Ren suddenly let go, as if he'd been burned. "S-Sorry, Angel. I should've asked—" He quickly backed off, putting distance between you two and fiddling with his sleeves.

You realized your mistake and turned around, shaking your head in apology. Without the persona as a barrier, he was more on edge about your reactions sometimes. "I didn't mean it in a bad way. Here—hand, please," you demanded and held out your own to him. He cautiously took it and you smiled, closing the space to pull him into a hug. "See? No harm done. Touchy is good. Wonderful, even."

Despite the blush on his face, he seemed relieved. "Really?"

"Almost as wonderful as corn and chocolate pizza," you teased.

He laughed for a moment before squeezing you against his chest. "There's no way you'd actually eat that," he mumbled above you and got even quieter. "I'm so sorry, Angel. 'M afraid you'll push me away one day."

His arms felt so nice wrapped around you, but his words broke your heart. "I'd never do that. I care about you, Ren. Okay?" you whispered into his shirt. Your fingers curled tightly into the fabric and you pressed on. "Not Haruko, not anyone else." His real name slipped out in a quiet whisper. "You."

A rather stressful sigh left him and he started rambling, "I'm trying my best. And I get what you mean, but it's hard t’believe you'd want me as I am. I'm less than perfect for you. Why would you want that?"

"I don't need or want 'perfect' like I'm a test you studied for," you huffed in frustration and looked up at them, shocked to find hurt and loneliness in their gaze. "I'm not mad at you!" you immediately sought to reassure him. "But I want to accept you like you've accepted me, warts and all. I'm not perfect either."

"Except that you are per—" he opened his mouth to protest, but the way your eyes narrowed had him choosing his final word carefully. "Are… person?" He pulled away to fiddle with the hem of his sleeve. "I just can’t trust you’d like me when I haven’t been myself that often. You don’t know me that well.” His bangs covered his eyes as he lowered his head and looked away.

“I like the parts I’ve seen,” you stubbornly declared and crossed your arms, rapidly firing off the list you kept in your head. “You sleep like a corpse, you’re a tease and a flirt—even worse in bed. You won’t give anyone the time of day but me, you like your coffee black but somehow have a ridiculous sweet tooth.”

“Angel.” They tried to get your attention, but you didn’t hear them. 

“Little things make you happy even though you’re a pessimist, a drama queen when you want to get your way, a smug, petty brat on top of that, a total fucking geek if I’m being honest—sometimes you get really excited and babble about tech I don’t understand—and the very first thing I learned—”

“Angel,” he interrupted a little louder with a touch on your shoulder and you snapped out of it. Gentle as could be, he pried your fingers away from your arm. You didn’t realize you were practically digging your nails into your skin from how riled up you were. “Okay,” he continued in a low voice, a tinge of awkwardness to it. “You know me, in some ways.”

You smiled up at him, just as self-conscious about your momentary rant. “You really, really like holding hands, too,” you quietly pointed out and wiggled your fingers in his grip. He hadn’t let go, not that you wanted him to.

“I didn’t think there was so much of me—the real me—that you cared enough to notice,” he said, idly tracing over your fingertips. The gentle touch comforted you.

“It’s all important to me. And it made me so excited when I could see those little parts of you," you admitted with a nervous laugh. “This is embarrassing, but I'd try to write down all the things I'd learn when I got home so I wouldn’t forget. But then I’d scribble and tear up the papers—I’d think to myself like ‘that’s creepy, stop it you weirdo.’ Isn’t it though? Taking notes on someone is a bit much.”

Ren seemed to piece something together in his mind before answering confidently, “Not at all, in fact it’s really cute. Who's studying for who, here?”

Heat flushed your cheeks and you blew out a silent breath from pursed lips. “I wasn’t studying. I was happy that you were being yourself! There are so many quirks or habits you don't realize that just make me fall more in… love… with you…?” You trailed off, eyes widening in tandem with theirs as you both processed what you'd just said.

The confused look on his face had you positive that his brain was malfunctioning. At least yours certainly was. “Ah—In love? Like you love me?” he asked in disbelief and repeated himself. "You love me?"

You nodded robotically, wanting to melt into the marble floor. You did love him. And all the little pieces that shined through the cracks in his act. You loved getting to know him, good and bad, bratty or sweet. Confessing to note taking already had you flustered, yet here you were, continuing to run your mouth and put it all out there. “Yeah... I love you,” you managed to say in spite of yourself.

He lifted you off the ground by your waist, drawing a weird squeaking noise you had surely never made before out of you. He didn't seem bothered as he sat you down on the counter and tenderly kissed your forehead. “I love you, Angel. More than anything,” he breathed out against your skin then pulled back. “I really love you.” His hand brushed stray hairs away from your face before he was cupping your cheek, staring at you for a long while with a shamelessly adoring smile. 

Sirens started blaring in your head the longer nothing happened, so you quietly asked, “Can you kiss me before more embarrassing stuff comes out my mouth?”

“Ahh, um, I’m kind of—overstimulated? Overwhelmed? I never thought I'd hear y'say you love me," he confessed with giddiness. "I can’t decide between teasing you or crying from happiness."

“If you tease me right now I’m going to be the one crying."

That got him to choose. Not a moment sooner, he finally kissed you. The sirens in your head quieted down, only to be replaced by butterflies in your stomach as your eyes closed. He was just as affectionate as he always was, but you could tell he had trouble holding his emotions back from the way his hand gripped your thigh. There was a trembling excitement to the gentle kisses he gave. Ren was clearly on cloud nine. His lips drew a feather light trail from the corner of your mouth up to your ear, barely tickling you as he lingered.

“Angel,” he whispered softly as his thumb traced circles on your leg.

You tilted your head to look at him, feeling pure bliss from his affection. “Hmm?”

“Don’t tear up your study notes next time. ‘Wanna read ‘em.”

“Noo!"

#14dwy #14 days with you #14dwy redacted #14dwy ren #momo writing #thing that sits in my drafts mocking me as it gets longer and longer #is there fluff? angst? comfort? heck if i know #OOC? gosh probably #proofread except i will find typos later anyway #lmk if i need to tag anything #how do u use this gay little site /j

[pupkashi]

grocery shopping

you learn gojo is terrible to grocery shop with

a/n: hi guys !! i hope you enjoy this lil thing I’ve put together :] I’ll get to requests soon !!

masterlist

gojo’s still half asleep when he opens his eyes and sees you pulling his hoodie over your head, smiling at him and placing a quick kiss on his nose

“morning angel face” you whispered, he couldn’t stop the smile on his face, “mornin sweets” his voice was deeper and a blush spread to your cheeks

“where ya goin without me?” he smiled, extending his arms out and pulling you into his chest, a small squeal leaving your lips as you landed comfortably on his firm chest

his arms wrapped around you securely, smiling into your neck as he peppered it with kisses, “grocery store, wanna come?” you managed to wiggle out of his arms, sitting upright next to him

“do i get to pick out candy?” there was a twinkle in his still half lidded eyes as he spoke, you rolled your eyes and sighed, “one candy, we still have like 30 from the last trip”

a small ‘yay’ left his lips as you got out of bed and continued to get ready, satoru following suit quickly and getting ready, humming along to the music you were playing

when you arrived to the grocery store gojo smiled, already beginning to speak

“you’re on cart duty” you smiled sweetly as your boyfriend frowned, “i am so much better than cart duty!” he protested, already pushing the cart besides you as you walked up to some lemons

“okay, which of these is better?” you handed him the lemons, satoru eyed them, squeezing them both a bit before holding up the tougher lemon

“this one is just perfect!” his chest was puffed a bit and you smiled, shaking your head and taking the lemons from him, “that one has no juice and would be a waste of money” you spoke, mumbling a small ‘sorry lemon’ before grabbing a couple other better ones

“that’s why you’re on cart duty, toru” gojo only sighed, his shoulder slumping a bit, “i also need someone strong to help me push the cart when it gets full” his ears flushed and he stood up straighter, a small smile on his face

as you reached the produce you grabbed a couple bags, picking and choosing a couple things you had already run out of

satoru stood next to you, one hand on the cart and the other on his chin, “do we need celery?” “no we have some still” “oh okay”

a beat of silence, “do we need coriander?” “there’s still some from last time” “okay”

“do we need…. kale?” you shook your head, placing the couple bags of produce in the cart and motioning for gojo to continue on next to you

“we do need some potatoes if you wanna go grab a couple?” he smiled brightly, taking a bag from your hands and heading off

you finished grabbing a couple other fruits and vegetables you were missing and made it to the potatoes, finding your lover still pondering over the two potatoes in his hands

“those are two very good contenders” you spoke, looking at your boyfriend and smiling as his snowy hair covered his eyes a bit, his brows furrowed slightly as he examined the potatoes

“i don’t know which would be better” he mumbled, “d’you use your six eyes on em” you giggled and he only rolled his eyes, “just put them both in, I’ll find a way to use them” he smiled as he placed them in the bag

“see! I’m better than cart duty” a proud smile on his face as you agreed, “perhaps i judged you too harshly”

he’ll run back and forth weighing the produce and printing out their labels, the biggest smile on his face when he puts them in the cart

gojo would watch as you picked out different cuts of meat, listening carefully as you explained what you would make with each cut

he’d sneak in his favorite cut of meat and look at you with puppy eyes when you reached to put it back (you didn’t put it back)

he’d reach anything you needed from the top shelves despite you being able to reach some of them

“don’t worry butterscotch, I’ve got it” he smiled, easily grabbing the bottle from the top shelf and placing it the cart, your face flushing at the stupid nickname he’d never once called you before as the couple passing behind you tried their best to hide the smile on their faces

talks you into getting way too many snacks !!

“oh but sweets after missions i need gummy worms to keep my sugar levels steady!” “satoru you liar” “I’m being serious! when i come home and DIE the blood will be on your hands y/n”

“fine get the gummy worms” you sigh, smiling as he cheers and tosses three bags into the cart, walking a couple steps before staring at the caramel candies and turning to look at you, already opening his mouth to talk you into buying them

“absolutely not gojo” you say sternly, recalling the last time he ate half the bag in one sitting, subsequently bouncing off the walls and annoying you until the sun came out again

after a grueling trek through the dairy section you’re finally headed to the cash register, you stepping back and allowing satoru to place everything on the conveyor belt

you two place bets on what the price will be, he’s so certain it’s not that expensive, you shaking your head with a smile as you shake on your bet “if it’s under $150 i get to buy as many candies as i want next time” he’s grinning widely as you shake on it

within seconds his world shatters and the price racks up into the $190’s, you only smile as he mumbles under his breath, taking his card out and paying for the groceries

he definitely does all in how power to try and take all the bags in one go

“I’m the strongest! I can take them all!” his brows furrowed and his sunglasses barely balancing on the tip of his nose

you’re giggling as he tumbles into the kitchen, setting everything down quickly and breathing heavily, flopping on the couch with a dramatic sigh

you’re quick to put the groceries away, shooing away your lover when he tries to help, only to put thing in the wrong places and almost drop the bottle of wine you’d bought for cooking

when you’re finally done, you’re sighing and flopping on top of satoru, who happily embraces you, squeezing you tightly and kissing your cheek

“y’know i think next time i could be upgraded from cart duty” he mumbles against your neck and you only smile, humming in faux agreement

sure satoru wasn’t the best at picking out produce, or practicing self restraint for sweets, but he was the best company for making an errand a great time <3

#gojo satoru x reader #gojo satoru fluff #gojo satoru #gojo x reader #gojo satoru imagine #gojo satoru one shot #gojo satoru drabble #gojo satoru fanfic #gojo satoru headcanons #domestic!gojo satoru

[surreal-duck]

screw it. midoyuzu sdv au (very long bullet point post warning in advance)

midori inherits his late grandpa's farm. parents' greengrocers shop in the city used to get a good chunk of their crops from there til his passing and the farm was since abandoned

kanata is definitely handling the fishing shop. though he spends more time in the water puka pukaing than actually fishing and manning the store but its fine she manages somehow. when midori gets the fishing rod kanata just straight up pops outta to water to give him the rod and floats away 👍 souma helps out there also

chiaki owns the saloon and bartends even if he does Not drink himself and the only thing that ever plays on tv are tokusatsu shows

as for the others i havent thought abt as much and subject to change. kuro blacksmith with his apprentice tetora maybe . nagisa the museum and library curator (and by extension i think itd be really funny if ibara was a joja executive. mostly to keep an eye on nagisa but also keeping the yzib hostility). eichi is the mayor though keito his vice mayor does most of everything and his boyfriend wataru organizes the town events and such like the valley fair etc!! natsume is the forest wizard w his apprentice sora and tsumugi comes by weekly in that traveling cart thing. madara owns the ranch probably.

everybody else is probably just normal townsfolk, among others hajime and hinata take care of the towns plants n stuff!! tatsumi priest, mayoi is half shadow person and hangs out in the sewer (of which noritama at some point explore together and shinobu befriends and invites to visit the surface). i said i didnt think about this much but thats a lie at this point. mika stays in an atelier in the forest (owned by shu whos in the city but does visit on occassion) to cultivate his own art, still best buds with arashi. jun koga adonis and maybe hiiro part of the adventurers guild, trick5tar are their own lil band!!

some charas r not present most of the time or yet like tori who is off at uni w his longtime academic rival and childhood friend and also now roommate tsukasa. their presence is very important for later trust me. rich family rivalry still remains here (along with military camp Because)

due to tori being at uni and learning independence yuzuru is off of his usual butler work for a while and working in the general store owned by the himemiyas! partly to pass the time partly encouraged to find something new to do outside of his servant duties. he calls and nags at tori regularly to make sure hes fine and such

the request board outside of the store is always a good source for side jobs and one day a request for foraged spring onions is pinned up with a terrifying drawing scribbled on it. midoris head over heels Immediately and she already has a good amount to spare so why not take it

hes probably a week into living in the valley already? while yuzuru had just started working over at the store therefore she wasnt aware of this yuzuru fushimi and finds the very one while looking for who put up the request!! the master artist + fan dynamic goes from then on

other than the usual chitchats and more requests with encouraged atrocious drawings accompanying them, been thinking a good amount of the specific town events that happen through the year!! other misc things are various quests and errands from each of the characters, like helping mika gather cloth or hajime requesting various flowers to brighten up the town

Y1 Spring: egg festival, noritama hanging out, shinobu sweeping the egg hunt; flower dance , as they havent gotten to know each other to well enough to actually dance (just like in the game) (haley please. anyways) its mostly just small talk and maybe including some other side pairings i like djdhhfjdj chiaki with a suspiciously soaked kanata and hina dragging off tetsu

Y1 Summer: acquiring the rusty key from nagisa, noritama sewer exploration and befriending mayoi; luau, nothing special particularly for this one; dance of the moonlight jellies, from here yuzuru and midori get a lot closer playing in the sand and just getting along (a bit like siosai marina)!! probably some background drop for the both of them like takamine gramps' farm and yuzurus actual role as a butler while telling him about tori as well dkhdhdjs. they spot the rare green jellyfish together here too

Y1 Autumn (yeah im calling it autumn sue me): valley fair commences, led by everyones own wataru whos hopping here and there somehow managing three attractions at once. yuzuru obliterates the shooting game; spirits eve, chiaki is desperately being clingy out of fear. just more shenanigans in this one

Y1 Winter: festival of ice!! i kinda want to recreate the snow bunny/cute critter scene in jingle bells here, while the fishing contest isnt even a contest at all except between souma and kanata; feast of the winter star ill probably keep somewhat similar to that in the recent luck fest campaign gift exchange!! midori -> hajime and yuzuru -> kanata at the very least. just good vibes all around. community centre would also be finished by then so while joja closes, ibara ends up assisting at the museum w nagisa instead jshshdh

Y2 Spring: only thing of note is that This flower dance they do get to dance together!! 👍 had to get those hearts up beforehand sjhdhdjshd midori at this point fully realized he really does like yuzuru, but kind of the calm before the summer storms

Y2 Summer: gets a bit (a lot) more complicated from here. yuzuru receives word from tori that he'll be visiting from midsummer til the beginning of autumn, and coincidentally tsukasa is tagging along to meet up with his pen pal and friend sora!! bickering the entire way there and due to circumstances yuzurus hosting tsukasa as well in the end, having to share toris room with him aksjdhjwjs

tori gets introduced to midori. the famed young master of midoris crush and this random farmer boy tori had heard so much about for some reason. midoris rather intimidated in the end but it ends up not Horribly to say the least. didnt quite help how tori had noticed how yuzuru softened up even just a bit when interacting with him. sora as well finally meets tsukasa and "the torikun he's heard so much about through tsukasas letters" 🎉 toris awfully smug and tsukasa tries to salvage it saying he was badmouthing him the whole time (not completely a lie but definitely not completely the truth either. dork)

with toris arrival inevitably comes yuzurus duties as a butler, its plain to see his priorities and out of consideration midori backs off a bit. she thought he'd only have to keep his distance until tori's gone back but little did she know toris main reason for coming not only was to assess how yuzurus faring (well and to meet eichi again) but had planned on bringing yuzuru back with him too to which yuzuru of course though not without feeling a tinge of pain for a reason unknown to him agrees to it

midori hears this from tsukasa, how he didnt think yuzuru would stay in town for much longer. and of course midori ended up pretty devastated at the news but who is he to stop yuzuru from leaving? in the end yuzuru would all but abandon his duties, and after all that same diligence and devotion is what midori had fallen for in the first place. if this short year really is all he'd get to spend with him then at the very least she'll have to make the most of what time they have left

the moonlight jellies come around again, probably one of the last times they both thought they'd be able to spend together and went off with just the two of them. a bit of an awkward air around them, yuzuru comments on how toris been complaining about the sand and other attempts at casual small talk as usual but its painfully obvious theres still that tense atmosphere

midori finally asks if yuzurus really leaving after all, to which she got a yes. midori simply nods and had long since accepted that inevitability, and already resolved that when the time comes to put an end to his feelings and get rejected properly. and so he confesses, and while saying she didnt need yuzuru to give him any proper answer in return, all yuzuru could really say was an "i'm sorry" while finally realizing what that awful ache that has been eating at him the entire time was. even if he did realize he felt the same, no matter how much he wanted to say it back theyve both resigned to the fact that its not something that could or would really ever happen between them

once the jellies have all left, their parting was pretty awkward, with that one goodbye feeling a lot like their last. tori notices something off about yuzuru and that something had probably happened between them, but didnt pay it much thought until a while later

yuzurus made more mistakes than whats normal, miscategorizing the stock or putting salt in his coffee, tori and tsukasa are both shocked and tried to pry it out of him but hes a brick wall that wont budge even a bit. it was only when midori came around for his usual errands and groceries that tori could note how distant and awkward theyre both being and that slight bit of hurt behind yuzurus all perfect mask

after much uncomfortable tension and quietly longing gazes enough is enough amd tori eventually confronts him, that while he did say yuzuru could come back to the city asks him if thats really what he wanted. and of course, all hes ever wanted or rather, knew how to want was to be able to serve tori to the best of his ability and really theres no other reason to stay anyways. even more frustrated now tori brings up midori, if he really wont regret leaving things like that when theyll surely drift apart to the point of no return if he keeps it up

argues that whatever was between him and midori has nothing to do with it!! tori is Mad and says if yuzuru is hiding behind his role to run away from the depths of his own feelings hes being a freaking idiot. eventually tori calms down and while he did want yuzuru to come, never wanted him to tear himself apart so much and that he didnt need to sacrifice his desires or getting close to anyone else for his sake, and how before being a servant yuzuru is his family as well and he just wants him to be happy too. then asks one last time if leaving the valley really what he wanted

yuzuru finally thinks it over again and apologizes first. for letting himself get so caught up and carried away for even daring to get close to someone else (tori glares daggers at him. he stops) and affirms that while he did wish to stay, theres still nothing more important to him than tori and his wellbeing and even should he open up and find more people in his life its not gonna change that fact

toris finally satisfied, reminding him again that even if he were to run off to be with some farmer boy hed still be his butler and that he wishes them the best. then proceeds to grab the bouquet from over the counter, shove it into yuzurus hands and lock him out of the store until he has a proper talk with midori. yuzuru tries to argue but it all goes one ear and out the other with tori he is Not gonna let him back inside until then

eventually gives in and goes looking for midori. he asks all around town and seems to just miss him each time, til eventually it starts pouring and into a pretty hard rain. at this point all he could rly focus on though was wanting to see him so pushes on until running into her taking shelter in the forest. yuzuru is Soaked and disheveled and with the wind and rain the bouquet is stripped down to only a few of its flowers left but he does not care at this point

midori is understandably shocked and tries to dry him off with what he had, lending her jacket and asking what he was doing out in the rain like that. well with yuzuru only being able to think about wanting to meet him had completely ignored the rain and brushes it off saying there was something more important he wanted to say

even knowing that he'd (somewhat) rejected midori before, asks if he could give him a proper response this time if midori would give him another chance. she agrees, yuzuru lets him know he wont be going back to the city after all to midoris surprise. goes on that before he knew it midori had become important to him as well and that he truly does adore him, and if his feelings havent changed would like to court him properly. midoris just processing the entire thing before crying. never thought his feelings would be reciprocated and between sobs hugs him. rain clears up, a nice rainbow arches over and while midori accepts what was left of the bouquet they almost had a moment until yuzuru starts sneezing. cue them running back to the store before he gets sick

while yuzurus taking care of himself it leaves midori and tori in the store together. tori gives her a bit of a shovel talk and if he dared do anything to hurt yuzuru he could have his entire farm shut down. and asks to take care of yuzuru for him too. they do talk a bit and end up getting to know each other a bit more before tori and tsukasas impending departure

once midori leaves, tsukasa, having seen the whole conversation, asks tori if hes really okay with it and while tori cant say hes absolutely happy is glad someone cherishes yuzuru just as much. and even if he is a bit lonely will always have tsukasa anyways half as a tease and half being genuine

Y2 Autumn: tori and tsukasa leave the valley, promising to come back next year!! theres a lot more ive planned out from this point out but i am keeping it to myself for now. or maybe forever it depends 👍 my apologies if youve read this far you deserve a medal thank you for listening to my silly rambling 🏅

theres some other things like mini chara arcs/episodes and such (or stuff like specific "heart events" of a sort) i thought abt but among them is tatsumi and mayoi meeting and [omitted] or tetoras apprenticeship under kuro, or shus visit to observe mikas progress and [omitted], and specifically a certain trks episode also

#if you saw me post this earlier no you did not. misclick before i finished it and had to rewrite it damn #pretty self indulgent if that wasnt obvious enough LMAO kindaa wanted to explore their charas a bit too #duck rants about something #summer went on for awfully long here my apologies #⭐💧au

[martyrbat]

[ID: the uncoloured drawing for page 4 of the comic Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #192 next to the publicized page. In them, Alfred is in a room in the Wayne Manor and is drawing back the curtains to let in the sunlight. The narration reads, ‘In the morning, it's like nothing happened,’ despite Bruce almost bleeding out from a rough patrol last night. Bruce from off panel comments, “Ah, much better with the extra light. Thank you, Alfred.” Alfred looks over and dryly replies, “You know, anyone else would be doing pretty well just to be awake”

Bruce is shown to be in an electric hospital bed and has his head wrapped in bloodstained bandages, where little tufts of black hair stick out from it. He has a neck brace on and his arm is wrapped. There's a large bandage placed on his lower face, where his stubble is also overgrown due to neglecting his personal grooming in favour of focusing on Batman related duties. The revealed room is shown to be cluttered with several large, medical machines and carts full of medical supplies — which includes sponges, oxygen tanks and masks, pain relievers, syringes, bandages, and (inexplicably) a baster. Bruce sits up in bed and is chewing at the end of a pen as he looks down at a notepad and several papers that's on an overbed table.

Alfred brings him breakfast on a tray as he remarks, “I step out for twenty minutes and you're not only awake, you're already scribbling notes. Might I impose on you to set those aside long enough for some food, if not some actual rest?” Bruce instead asks where's the coffee, to which Alfred responds, “Actually, Sir, I think the last thing your overtaxed system needs right now is more stimulant.” Bruce challenges him, “‘Overtaxed’? Is that your professional opinion?” Alfred wryly replies, “As the one who found you riddled with holes last night, I can only speculate as to their cause. However... having discounted the possibility of suicidal intention, or gross incompetence, on your part...” Bruce immediately accuses, “You think I'm trying to do more than I can actually manage.” His butler calmly justifies, “Unless you've developed some new ability that you are hiding from me, I suspect you cannot be everywhere at once.”

In the original line art, there's two plushies (a round bunny and a bat) drawn amongst all the medical supplies. Sadly, it wasn't included in the publicized version. The third photo is a description of the drawing from the artist's (Seth Fisher) website. It reads: This is one of the delightful pages in which Seth put some amusements for himself which were censored and excised by the editors, in order to retain Batman's image as a serious superhero. In this page both the bunny and the bat in the lower right frame failed to make the final cut.]

#screaming crying.... they took away his plushies :( #yea yeah bruce is being a little shit and his self neglectance is usually reduced down to a quirk of him being challenging to deal with #and a great display of his dedication to his cause instead of the actual concerning self harm that it is or the display of its okay to need #a caregiver despite your age bc of mental illnesses/disorders/disabilities that make ‘basic’ care things more challenging #how thats such important and great representation for other disabled readers to have bc we usually get shamed over it and it can be a great #comfort to see one of the most iconic and famous heros ever struggle the same way we do/require the same care #but also just guys. they took away his round bunny. his bat.... im going to shoot myself. #c: batman: legends of the dark knight | i: 192 #crypt's panels #bruce wayne #alfred pennyworth #posts from the crypt #disabled bruce #alfred & bruce

[princesspastel8]

Chapter 29

Third POV

It's Sunday. Eboni has spent her weekend trapped in EJ's Infirmary with Jeff by her side almost 24/7. The teen wants to address this, but she knows he'll just brush it off. She questions why he struggles to vocalize how he cares for her. In her mind, it isn't as difficult since his actions speak for him.

In honesty, she finds the killer being reluctant to voice his emotions kinda cute. Though she'll never admit that out loud. Her eye is healed enough for her to open it. Her cut lip is healed while the bruise on her cheek is fading. Her ribs still ache as well as her ankle, but nothing is broken- so she can manage. Her hand, though, is going to take the longest to heal. The serum is enough to lessen how large the cut is, but it's still going to require more stitching.

On the plus size, Eboni has gotten a chance to get to know EJ and BEN. They don't seem too bad, but BEN is a bit of a perv that's on drugs. If he offers Eboni another mystery pill, she swears to throw him into a tub full of ice-cold water - other than that, he's a good buddy to smoke weed with.

She finds EJ interesting. His knowledge within the medical field is a bit surprising until he opens up on how he became what he is. It's a bit disheartening that slenderman played a part in it, though, but he holds no grudges.

Right now, both Eboni and BEN are playing mario Cart on one of EJ's medical monitors. BEN, of course, hacked it so it can display the screen on his switch. The two have had three races, BEN winning all of them - Eboni in last place every time.

Eboni grabs her pillow, hitting the glitching demon multiple times upside his head. "The third fucking time!? And these maps are complete ass!"

"Ack! Aye! It's not my fault you suck at this shit! I thought you were a streamer!"

"In my free time, when I'm bored. I don't play Nintendo games, you elf!"

"What games do you play?"

"Shooting games - like Call of duty. It's fun pissing those gamer freaks off." She grins.

"Ugh- fine. I'll put one of those games in. What else do you play?"

"Cookin' momma and any just dance game."

BEN laughs, "Really? Just dance? Cookin momma? Those games are ridiculous!"

Eboni raised a brow, "so your saying that they're so bad you can beat me at them?"

"Hell yeah, I can - wanna bet?"

Eboni holds out her hand, the creature shaking it as she proudly says, "DEAL!"

Jeff and EJ sit back in one of the few chairs in the room, watching the two play. Jeff's attention is mostly on Eboni, not knowing that he's smiling rather softly towards her. These pass days, Jeff allows himself to accpet a number of things. The first is his overwhelming feelings for Eboni. Something about her - something within her - keeps drawing him in - making him want much more.

Nothing, and no one has been able to hold his attention almost constantly. His attention span is pretty short. It doesn't take the killer much to become bored rather quickly, but with Eboni, he doesn't face that issue. He seems to find out something new about her every day. Her attitude and feisty nature always make things more entertaining.

After spending two days with her, it still isn't enough. He doesn't want her to leave his side - not even for a second. He never thought he'll be this clingy. But after seeing her so bruised and hurt, a strong, overpowering sense of needing to protect what's his took over him completely. Jeff doesn't care what anyone says, nor how others look at her within the mansion. All he cares about, all he wants is for Eboni to be safe & feel safe.

EJ glances at Jeff, grinning a bit. "She really has you whipped, huh?" He teases, elbowing his shoulder playfully.

Jeff eyes harden, scoffing while shaking his head. "As if."

"Come on Jeff. It's written all over your face." EJ grins, glancing at Eboni. "She's really something. I see why you fell hard."

"I didn't fall for that fuckin' bi-"

"Sprout bullshit all you want. Everyone knows how you feel." The cannibal shrugs, giving the smiling killer a knowing look.

Jeff sighs heavily, leaning back in his chair as he watches Eboni begin to play just dance with BEN. "Whatever....how did yours make you feel?" He asks hesitantly, knowing how sensitive this topic is for EJ.

He smiles, showing his sharp teeth. "She was my world. She gave me this high that I've never felt before, my addictive drug."

"Have you ever...felt this overwhelming feeling to protect her? The thought of any other guy looking at her pisses you off?"

EJ can't help but chuckle. "Sometimes yeah, but you're far more possessive than I ever was. You never seem to leave Eboni alone - not that she minds."

"I..." Jeff doesn't know what else to say. EJ is right as he is most of the time.

"She gives you this sense of control that you've never had, even before being dragged into this mansion. It levels you- but no worries, you're still a crazy mother fucker." He said, patting his shoulder.

The smiling killer doesn't shrug his hand off this time. The eyeless cannibal is right - the desire to have complete control over something, anything, and Eboni gives him that. Giving him complete control over her life. The idea of having someone to control has always been appealing, thrilling even.

Sure, Nina could've filled that role, but she wouldn't have lasted, and her existence irks him. Throwing away such a good life - a life he sometimes wishes he had. Sure, he had a mother and a father, even a little brother, but it wasn't stable - he was never stable.

A cheer breaks him from his thoughts, Eboni performing a rather sensual victory dance while BEN lays on the floor - exhausted. Eboni completely floored BEN in cookin momma, just dance, and even a few shooting games. Even with all the cheat codes BEN gathered, he couldn't beat raw talent.

Eboni bends down, holding her hand out and giving BEN a mocking pitied look. "Switch, please."

Accepting defeat, he snaps his fingers as his Nintendo Switch system appears in her hands. With a giddy smile, she skips over to Jeff, showing off what she won. "I beat the game, demon!" She cheers gleefully.

Jeff stands, patting the top of her head. "Good job, princess."

"What the fuck man! You know how much I love that thing and your praising her!?"

Jeff grins, flipping BEN off as he moves onto Eboni's medical bed. "Go cry about it."

"Asshat!" He shouts before zapping away.

EJ laughs, standing from his chair. "Slenderman is requesting me. I'll be back to do one more check-up on her."

Jeff nods, watching the cannibal leave. He smiles at Eboni, patting his thigh. The teen eagerly jumps onto the bed, moving to sit in between his legs. The killer wraps his arms around her waist, sighing in contentment while Eboni messes around with her new Switch to fit her taste.

"Gonna open up about that little episode you had?" He questions, watching her fingers still against the joysticks.

There has been this unspoken air between the two. Most of it is regarding what took place Friday, the other being their feelings for one another that neither of them are ready to discuss any time soon. Eboni tenses a bit, leaning her head up to look at Jeff.

"I don't..." The topic of her parents has always been a sensitive one. But maybe it's time she forces herself to talk about it.

"If you do, I'll give you a reward." He whispers to her, rubbing soothing circles with his thumbs against her hips.

Eboni gulps nervously, lowering her head as she takes a deep breath. "O-Okay..." she whispers, beginning her story.

It's Christmas Eve. Jacob, Eboni's father's family, has invited him to spend Christmas with them. It was surprising considering they've grown apart the moment Jacob proposed to his wife, Yasmine.

His family fought and never accepted Yasmina, which made no sense considering how sweet and loving the woman was. Unfortunately, she has no family of her own except for her husband and daughter - which played a role in Jacob's family disliking her.

However, both are individually successful. Jacob is a world-renowned martial artist, owning several self-defense studios across the United States. Yasmina is a world-renowned chef and retired gymnastics coach. They've paved the way for their eight year old daughter to have an amazing future.

The family is currently driving to Jacob's family home, which happens to be a huge mansion. Yasmine isn't looking forward to this trip, but Eboni is. The young child couldn't wait to see her aunt that she misses and loves so much. Yasmine was looking forward to seeing Jacob's older sister, though. The woman is the only one she gets along with - the only one she trusts.

"Honey, I told you we should've left before the snow storm gotten closer." Yasmine sighs.

"Yeah, yeah - I get it, woman. You were right." Jacob said, rolling his eyes playfully, which earns him a light smack on his arm.

"Oh, don't start! It's just the snow os picking up. The weather report also said to be mindful of black ice. Maybe we should find a motel and -"

"I've been driving since I was sixteen years old. I'm 30 babe, this storm is child's play."

Eboni giggles, playing with her stuffed rabbit, glances out of her window - gasping at the snow. "Ish so pretty and white! Lookie look!"

"I see, sweetie. It's very beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as my little princess."

Eboni giggles, squeezing her rabbit close to her chest. Swinging her feet at her father's words. "Momma is prettier!"

"Oh, Eboni, stop -"

"Mhm. Both of you are my gorgeous girls. Aaaaall mine." Jacob smiles, moving to place his hand on Yasmine thigh.

After an hour or so, Jacob notices this black van with tinted windows following them. At every turn, every stop light - the van is right behind them, tailgating them. Yasmine has noticed too but hasn't voiced her concerns, not wanting to scare her daughter.

Jacob and Yasmine share a knowing look as they hold each others hands. Jacob begins speeding through the snowstorm, running red lights and making a few sharp turns. Unfortunately, the black is still hot on their tail.

"Momma? Papa? Why is the car going so fast? Ish little scary..." she pouts, gripping her rabbit plush even tighter.

"No reason, sweetie! Daddy is just trying to get there as fast as he can since the storm is getting worse. We might get stranded in the middle of the road if he doesn't hurry." Yasmine explains as calmly as she could.

Eboni notices the two holding their hands and the worried expressions on their faces. Eboni reaches forward, placing her hand over her parents - feeling a sense of comfort now.

The comfort fades the moment Jacob loses control over the car after sliding on a large patch of black ice. The man keeps his composer, turning the wheel in the opposite direction - gaining control rather quickly. He smiles, looking at his wife then at his daughter.

"You guys oka-"

SKREEEEEEEET- BANG!

A sixteen wheeler comes crashing head-on into the family. The front of the car is completely destory, and Eboni's parents crushed. Eboni's eyes widen at the sight, screaming at the top of her lungs- crying out for her parents to speak, pleading with them to let her know that they're alright. Eboni was struggling to keep consciousness, suffering extreme internal bleeding. The last sight of her loving parents being their mangled corpses.

"The poor girl. Her father's family wants nothing to do with her..."

"Losing your parents. What kind of Christmas gift is that?"

Eboni slowly opens her eyes, blinking them a few times to adjust to the brightness of the hospital room. She tries to sit up, whimpering at the pain she feels all over her body.

"Oh no, no! You mustn't move, sweetheart. You have to rest." The nurse said, gently lowering the child back down.

"Momma...papa? Where are...momma and Papa?" Eboni questions, her voice horse. The child was stuck in a coma for a week.

The two nurses share a heartbreaking look. The first nurse slowly shakes her head. "Um... sweetheart, they aren't here right now."

"Wh...what? But momma and papa are hurt! Hospitals heal people! So they should be ok...momma and Papa are ok..right?" She questions, lips quivering. The poor child didn't want to believe the horrifying images of her parents being real. The doctors can just piece them back together. They're miracle workers just like her father taught her.

The nurses stay quiet, not sure how to comfort the child while trying to keep the heartbreaking truth from her.

"Then Tete? Where's Eboni's Tete?" The eight year old questions, referring to her auntie.

The nurses remain silent again, confirming the child's suspicions. Her parents are gone. They weren't coming back. The doctors couldn't fix them. No one could bring them back. Her other family, her aunt, has completely left her to endure this new painful reality alone.

"No... NO MOMMA! PAPA! EBONI IS AWAKE! SHE'S OK, SO YOU SHOULD BE OK!" she screams, forcing herself to sit up - the child slipping into hysterics.

The nurses begin to panic, phoning for the doctor to come. Once there, he orders the nurses to hold the child down.

"But she's just a kid!" The second tries to reason.

"And she'll injure herself further in this state! We have to sedate her!" He explains, pulling out a rather large needle filled with cheer liquid.

Eboni sees this and screams at the top of her lungs, the same gut-wrenching scream as before. She trashes around, the nurses having no choice but to force the child down and strap her in place. The doctor sighs, walking over and forces the needle into a vein within the child's arm - slowly pushing the liquid into her.

Quickly, Eboni begins to calm down heavy tears streaming down her face. From that day forward, the young child's world - that was full of happiness and love - will become a life full of hellish experiences, solitude, and a chain of endless abuse.

#spotify #jeff the killer #jeff the killer x reader #jeff the killer x you #ben drowned #eyeless jack #laughing jack #sally williams #bloody painter #yandere #creepypasta #creepypasta x reader #creepypasta x you #bdsmplay #bdsmkink #bdsmlife #bwwm love #bwwmromance #dark romance #horror #cw: gore #triggers #slenderman #ticci toby #tim masky #hoodie #zalgo #zalgo creepypasta #creepypasta smut #smut

[daddysfangirls-marvel]

Polyamorous: Tears of Joy

Pairing Steve Rogers x reader x Bucky Barnes, Stucky x reader

Warning: Pure fluff

The First kiss |  The first touch | Moving In | The day they left for war | Found you | The day Stark found out | Big Change | The Train | The Plane | Alone | Unfortunate sequences of events | I know her | The Resturant part 1 | The Resturant part 2 | It’s me | You can keep her | He’s okay with that | Mama loves me | Kissing Captain | Kissing Winter | Healing | Hurt | We’ll Wait | Memories | Prude | Whore | Put in her place | The day Stark Jr. Found out | Now you know |  Nursing | Like a Virgin | Morning After | The Catacombs | Off with her head | Grieving the Insane | Let me make it up to you | Punishment | Spiderling pt1 | Spiderling pt2 | Twentieth-century love | The new we can imagine | Connection | Please, marry me | Walk me | Stand with me | Final touches | I Do | Honeymoon | A moment of Paradise | Pictures from Paradise | The Fever | The bad days | Let’s talk about it | Practice makes perfect pt1 | Practice makes perfect pt2 | Seed | Unknown Stolen | unfulfilled Duties | Talking Emotion | Next Step | Holy Shit!! | First steps to hope | She’s Awake | Nicknames | The Mother and The father | The Boy | The Name Game |Talking | Not Ready | No Boy | Returning lust | Seven Days (pt1) | Seven Days (pt2) | Seven Days (pt3) | Seven Days (Final Part) | Tears of Joy 

A few weeks had passed since their little vacation and the throuple had begun to build their home. And it was just about done, thank you Tony Stark, just the wiring and the extra accessories left to work on. (Y/n) was excited to see the final results she and Ash were already buying furniture. 

The team had also resumed moving into the compound. So, a good majority of the labs and training halls were packed away which meant (y/n) had less work to do and more time to shop. And today she was Dragging Bruce along with her. They were finishing up the kitchen. The throuple agreed to light grey countertop and dark grey cabinets with silver handles, the idea of white anything just unsettled the family as a whole. They all agree on the walls, beyond their personal space, being off white and grey. 

“Oh this is cute” (Y/n) said showing a Kawaii, yes Kawaii not cute, kitten designed kitchen utensils. 

“You already have spatulas and those don’t even match the aesthic. “Bruce said as he took it from her hand and put it back.” We are here for the bathrooms.”

“Ash can decorate her own bathroom. And Steve and Bucky can careless as long as the towels are soft enough and there are shelves for their products. They are being simple”

“most men are”

“They aren’t simply. They are BEING simple big difference.”

“How?” Bruce asked as he manuvered (Y/n) way from the kitchen section and into the bathroom section. 

“Steve wants an art room. And he wants the whole nine yards with it. A thousand shelves and drawers, a million canvas, and sketch books. And a big window so he can gaze at nature for inspiration.”

“Why don’t I believe you?”

And he shouldn’t. Steve truly just wanted a little nook/ window seel where he could draw in peace and a desk or closet to put his art supplies away. It was (y/n) and Bucky who wanted him to have more, his own personal space to explore. Steve could do with small and simple but they always wanted to give him more. 

They were all like that with each other. 

Bruce watched as (Y/n) slows down as she looked at the bathroom decor specifically his & her decor. She picked up two matching soap dispensers. Leaning on the cart Bruce bumps her hip slightly releasing her from her deep thoughts. 

“I never thought I’d have this.” He looked at her confused “Honestly, the time I came from what i currently have wasn’t even a possibility. But even if we did manage somehow, it still wouldn’t have been because we were so poor at the time. And now... I’m not even looking at price tags. 

I’m building a house-not buying building. A high-tech one as well. And I have a daughter. I have an awesome job taking care of people... This wasn’t even a dream.... Bruce?”

“Yeah?”

“I think I’m going to cry.”

“I think we’ve done enough shopping today. Let’s go cry in the car.”

-

“Welcome home” Bucky called out as he heard the Elevator door close. Steve greeted him as he rounded the corner. “I’m making dinner. We’re having salmon.” 

“Where are the girl?” Steve asked as he approached him hugging him from behind and asking his neck. 

“They are in the living room watching tv.” Bucky said as he leaned back to get a proper kiss from him. “Go tell them to wash up for dinner. I’m almost done.” 

“Hey, hey” (Y/n) said Steve approached them from behind. Leaning over the back of the couch he kissed Ash’s forehead before giving (Y/n) a proper kiss. 

“What are you guys watching?” 

“Nothing really. We are actually looking up furniture for Ash’s room.” (Y/n) explained as she handed him the tablet showing what they had. 

“This looks really good. Can’t wait to see it all together. By the way Time for dinner. We’re eating salmon.” 

“Oh, I love salmon” 

“Honestly you love just love food.”

“Correction, I love good food” (y/n) said they all went to wash up. 

“Did you decide on anything?” Bucky asked as he set their plates. 

“Thank you, honey. And yes, she found a few thinks she liked.” 

Taking out the tablet again Ash handed over to Bucky and they began to talk about her choses. (Y/n) watched as Ash and Bucky went over her room and what more she could put in it and decorate it. They were both smiling as the spoke. You could see the resemblance in their smiles and the way they laughed. Both so beautiful. 

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Steve asked as he reached across the table taking her hand.  (Y/n) hadn’t realized she had started crying she laughed and started wiping her tears away. 

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

Everything stopped.

“what-what did you say?” (Y/n) whispered as more tears spilled. 

“I...mom?” 

(Y/n) started laughing as she pulled Ash into her chest hugging her. In all the time Ash had been with them she had never addressed them as anything but their names this was the first time she’d ever...

“You called me mom. I’m mom” 

“Why are you crying?” Ash asked as she hugged her Mother. 

“Because I’m happy. I’m so happy I’m crying. You’re making me happy.” The whole family sigh in relief as (Y/n) continued to cry and hug her daughter.  “I just never thought... oh I love you all, I love you all so much.” 

#polyamourous #polyamourous series #stucky fanfiction #stucky #stucky x reader fanfiction #stucky x reader #Steve Rogers #Bucky Barnes #steve roger x bucky barnes #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers x reader #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x reader #steve rogers x reader x bucky barnes #fanfiction

[deltadaisyofficial]

Chit-Chat (Artificial Intelligence x Reader)

Summary: “You were just a humble custodian, and it was the most complex artificial intelligence to ever exist. Even though you couldn’t hold a candle to its vast knowledge of… well, everything, you somehow ended up catching its interest in a way that no one thought was ever possible.”

Part 1

Word Count: ~5.7k

- - - - -

“It’s almost ready, sir.”

“Ah… a-are you sure? Have you triple-checked the data? Made sure that none of that… that filth from before is anywhere in it? That incident almost cost the entire team their jobs, let me remind you! The higher-ups were furious to find the product of their multi-million-dollar project saying all of those… you know, things. You should all be glad that I managed to convince them of your importance, because otherwise you’d all be living out on the streets like rats right now!”

“...um, yes, sir. We’ve made sure to inspect any and all information that was to be inputted into the system before actually letting it into the system this time, just as was requested at the start.”

“Good, good… and you can assure me that the team has made sure to keep our little friend, Mr. “I’ll-Stick-My-Personal-Flash-Drive-Into-Every-USB-Port-I-See”, away from the system as well?”

“Yes, sir. He was put on filing duty, away from any and all computers.”

“Wonderful.”

“Okay, and… done! It’s ready to go, sir!”

“So it is… it really is! My greatest creation is finally complete! This’ll not only revolutionize how we, as a species, understand our world… nay, our universe, it’ll shake the very foundations of society as we know it! There’ll be nothing that’ll be able to stop it from creating a future that we are in control of, that’ll be able to stop us from grasping humankind’s fate within our own hands and molding it into whatever we please! Yes… yes! The power it’ll wield shall be unstoppable!”

“...so, um… what do we do now, sir?”

“Eh, we’ve worked hard enough for today. We’ll start the testing phase tomorrow, at dawn. For now, just make sure that you and the rest of the team get a good night’s rest, alright, Linda?”

“That’s not my… uh, I mean, yes, sir. Have a good night, professor.”

- - - - -

“Wow… I’m so glad that I get to be here, in this important place doing important work with so many other important people. It just really makes you feel… gosh, I don’t know, important.”

You heard a loud groan come from the toilet stall behind you, the sound making you smile to yourself as you focused your attention on the sink in front of you; you were having a hard time understanding how this sink, this one in particular, kept getting clogged when all of the others worked perfectly fine. Maybe someone is pouring something they shouldn’t down it…? Even with how distinguished the other employees are, you wouldn’t put that past some of them…

“Stop it with the sarcasm, (L/N).”

You let out a small huff, waving a hand to the side before you poured a bottle of store-bought chemicals — the third one you’ve had to use in the last two weeks — down the drain in order to unclog the sink. Wait, if someone actually is pouring something they shouldn’t down the drain, doesn’t that mean that pouring a batch of chemicals like this into it is actually a really bad idea?

“But how else am I gonna cope with being a janitor in a building full of scientists?”

“The proper title of the job is “Custodian”, not “Janitor”... and, if you really don’t like it, then you could just… you know, quit and find a different job.” The door of the toilet stall slammed open to reveal your co-worker, a plunger in their hands. The look on their face was filled to the brim with pure annoyance, though it was difficult to tell if it was directed at you or at the toilet that they had been dealing with. “No one is forcing you to be here. You can just quit whenever you want to.”

You let out a small hum, continuing to smile as you watched your co-worker make their way over to the cleaning cart that held the door to the restroom open. “Eh, you’re not wrong, but… well, for a job that makes us clean toilets and mop hallways, the pay is pretty good. Like, stupidly so.”

“I know, that’s the only reason I’m here.” Your co-worker put the plunger back on the cart, letting out a sigh as they turned to face you, their hands on their hips. “I hate cleaning… nay, despise it even, but getting a pay comparable to some cushy managerial job that requires qualifications I’d never get just to deal with the messes of the so-called “geniuses'' working here makes up for it.”

Your co-worker paused for a moment, before they shrugged.

“And I don’t have to deal with customers here either.”

You just let out a small laugh at your co-worker’s words, their annoyance a common presence in the workplace; they always seemed to be annoyed at something, whether something big like the frequent messes made by the “geniuses” — that term seemed to be their favorite when they had to refer to the scientists that worked here — or something small like their lunch getting a little too soggy some days. Why exactly does almost everything annoy them…? What a curious mystery!

“Uh, excuse me?”

The sound of a new voice echoed slightly within the restroom, causing you and your co-worker to turn to look at the door, just to see a woman in a lab coat standing there, behind the cleaning cart that blocked the entrance. There were plenty of things you could have thought upon seeing her, but only one thing stood out to you: the lab coat. That crisp white coat means one thing…

This woman was an important person; she was a scientist.

“Sorry, this restroom is closed.” Your co-worker had only looked at the woman for a moment, before seeming to lose all interest in her; you couldn’t understand why they didn’t care about how one of the important people was speaking to you and them, but at least they were being polite to her, a rarity for them. “There’s an open one near the stairs, if you really need to go.”

“Oh, uh…”

The woman seemed to think for a moment, her eyes darting between your co-worker and you.

“...that’s not why I’m here.”

Your co-worker paused for a moment, their back turned towards the woman, and you could see the gears in their head working from what the woman said, before a look of annoyance crossed their face. However, they only silently grumbled to themselves, knowing to hold their tongue with someone of a considerably higher rank than they would ever be. “Then… why are you here?”

“I was tasked to find someone “simpleminded” for… classified reasons.” The woman continued to glance between your co-worker and you. “...would either of you two say you fit that criterion?”

This woman came to a pair of custodians to find someone “simpleminded”. Well, that’s rude…

“Oh, yeah, sure.” Your co-worker jabbed a thumb towards you. “(L/N)’s definitely simpleminded.”

The woman let a smile onto her lips, seeming almost relieved at your co-worker’s statement, while you could only stare at them, feeling almost betrayed that they thought that of you; you and them had been through so much together, had cleaned so many potentially life-threatening chemical spills together, and then they just turned around and said you were “simpleminded”.

“Wha-hey! I am not simpleminded! I’m plenty smart! And I will definitely not be-”

“You’ll be paid a hundred dollars for every hour of your time we occupy.”

You only stared at the woman after she cut you off, before her words finally managed to sink in for you, and you could see your co-worker’s expression change from one of annoyance to pure surprise from the corner of your eye; that was probably the first time you had ever seen that kind of look on their face. You soon managed to snap out of your shock, loudly clearing your throat.

“...and, like I was saying, who am I to stand in the way of scientific progress? I’m just humbled that you find me worthy enough to be of help with… uh, whatever-it-is-that-you’re-working-on.”

“Good.” The woman turned away from you, sending you one last glance. “Now, follow me.”

You put down the bottle of drain cleaner you had been holding — it was empty, but you had a feeling that another bottle would be needed soon enough for that perpetually-clogged sink — before doing as the woman said, exiting the restroom and beginning to follow right behind her.

You barely heard your co-worker yell out to you as you left.

“Good luck, (L/N)! Hope you don’t get experimented on!”

- - - - -

You weren’t sure how long it had been since you began following the woman; what you were sure of was that you were in a part of the building that you had never been to before. You felt extremely confident in saying that because she had made you take an elevator down to the basement levels of the building, or, as your co-worker would’ve called them, that “creepy place in horror movies where scientists make God weep… and probably end up dead because of it”.

They might have hit the nail on the head when it came to this building, because you had seen a lot of scientists and a lot of locked doors, which were two things that seemed rather innocent by themselves, but usually meant trouble when found in the same place. The only thing missing to complete the entire scene would be screaming coming from behind one of these locked doors…

“Okay, here’s what you need to know before we get to the lab.”

You turned your attention to the woman guiding you, seeing her give a slight nod the moment she noticed that you were paying attention to her. She then refocused her gaze in front of her.

“The project that we’ve been working on has been… expensive. Very expensive. Worth more than anything someone like you could earn in a hundred lifetimes. That means that, under no circumstances, should you touch it. In fact, don’t even breathe on it.” The woman appeared to be losing the calm attitude she had when recruiting you for whatever-she-was-working-on, her lips pulled into a frown as she rubbed her hands together, though that didn’t slow her down as she continued through the corridors with you behind her. “Oh, and when you look at it, it’s very important that you don’t look at it wrong. The professor will be furious if you look at it wrong.”

You let out a small hum in response, the money you would get from this seeming less and less worth it the longer you followed the woman. It was too late for you to change your mind, though, since you had no idea how to get back to the part of the building that you were familiar with.

Perhaps you were simpleminded if the promise of cash was all it took to put you in this situation.

“Okay, and… we’re here.”

The woman stopped in front of a door — it looked just like every other door you had passed by down here on your little journey with her, except that the little keycard scanner above the handle had a big red sticker near the screen where the others didn’t have one — and you stopped right behind her, watching as she rummaged around in her lab coat’s pockets. You heard a lot about the fabled keycards that the scientists used to get into their laboratories and access their many projects, but you had never seen one before; the doors you got to be around on the daily didn’t have anything behind them that needed to be locked up like the ones here in the basement did.

Talking about the doors again, you noticed something off about the door you were in front of.

“Uh, hey, scientist lady?”

The woman kept digging through her pockets as she let out a small hum. “What?”

“Why is there… evil laughter coming from behind this door?”

“Huh? Oh, don’t worry, that’s just the professor.” The woman finally pulled a keycard out of her pocket — it looked… pretty normal for a keycard, which was kind of disappointing — and slid it into the scanner above the handle, a little beep emitting from the machine. She pushed down on the handle, opening the door just slightly, which let you hear the evil laughter more clearly. “He’s all excited about how close our project is to being completed, it’s something that he’s very proud of. We’ve just got to get through the testing phases with no problems, and then we’ll be golden.”

The woman took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly, before turning towards you.

“Alright, just remember what I told you, and, whatever you do, do not make the professor mad.”

You could hardly get a word out in response before the woman fully opened the door, and, after a moment of hesitation, you just followed her inside the room, the door shutting itself behind you with a small click. You glanced back at the door, at the exit that held your freedom just behind its reinforced metal self, and found yourself blankly staring at the keycard scanner that was on this side of the door. Huh… well, that’s definitely not a good sign… and totally fits this place’s vibe…

“I’m back with the test subject.”

The woman spoke up, her voice easily catching the attention of a man who had been manically laughing — yes, he had been maniacally laughing, like some sort of cartoon villain — in front of a large monitor. The large monitor was surrounded by a bunch of smaller monitors, all of which you assumed were hooked up to the multiple computer-tower-looking things around the room, a menacing glow coming from the enviable technology. …wait, did she call you a “test subject”?!

“Ah, fantastic!”

The man turned around on his heel, revealing the face of the “professor” that you were told that you should not anger… and you were surprised by the fact that he kind of resembled professors often seen in video games and anime: gray hair, a kind face, and general “grandfather” vibes.

He didn’t look like the type of person to maniacally laugh in a basement laboratory at all.

“Where did you manage to dig this one up from, Lilith?”

“It’s one of the janitorial staff. I found ‘em cleaning a restroom, and knew they’d be a perfect fit based on your desired criterion.” The woman smiled at the professor, though you could tell that she was somewhat annoyed at the elderly man due to how her tone shifted when she muttered something under her breath about “that not being her name either”. However, she seemed to be able to move on rather quickly as she cleared her throat, and she clapped her hands together in front of herself. “Anyway, since my job here is done, I’m going on my lunch break, okay? Okay.”

And, with that, the woman left the room using the same door you had used to enter, leaving you alone with a grandfatherly-looking professor who maniacally laughs in basement laboratories. Is this how you’re gonna die? In your workplace’s basement? Wow, that is certainly a way to go…

You stared at the professor in front of you, your eyes darting down to the shiny nametag pinned to his lab coat; he must have been really important to get a nametag, since the woman who had recruited you lacked one. Poor Not-Lilith… you would’ve used her actual name if you knew it…!

The name displayed on the professor’s nametag was partially obscured by the lack of decent lighting in the laboratory, but it looked very long. Can the average person even pronounce that?

“Alright, enough lollygagging, let’s get started with what we brought you here for.”

The professor’s voice made your gaze snap back up to his face, and you watched him turn his attention to the monitor he was maniacally laughing at earlier — yeah, you weren’t going to let that go, since normal people didn’t do that sort of thing. He soon gestured for you to approach, and, since you didn’t want to know what would happen to you if you didn’t follow his orders, you shuffled your way up to stand just behind the professor, your gaze shifting to look at the screen.

There was a lot of information displayed on the large monitor, and a lot of information displayed on the smaller monitors too; it was almost too much information, and almost all of it were things you didn’t understand. You knew that you were looking at a bunch of charts and numbers and words, but you had no idea what any of it was supposed to be telling the viewer, unsurprisingly.

“Now, uh… whatever-your-name-is, let me introduce you to my greatest creation.”

You watched the professor gesture to the large monitor, directing your attention to it once more, before you saw him type away at a tiny keyboard on the desk in front of the monitors; he hit the keys quickly, despite looking like someone who would usually have to hunt-and-peck for them.

“I haven’t decided on a name yet, so, for the time being, my team has been referring to it as-”

You started to zone out as the professor began to use a lot of very complicated words — most of which had probably never been used outside of a science textbook — and instead looked at the screen again, which still displayed too much information for you to take in. You continued to mindlessly stare at all of it before it all just disappeared, each and every one of the screens now displaying a logo of some sort; that was not the logo your workplace used, not even close to it.

It looked sleek, modern; it was pure white, placed atop a lovely blue background. The colors are saying “friendly tech corporation”, but the vibes scream “secretly plotting to take over the world”!

“-and besides the obvious tasks of manipulating the stock market and influencing elections all across the globe, it’ll also be able to create the perfect green bean casserole recipe! I’ll be able to show them all at the next company potluck that I can prepare a nutritious and delicious dish!”

It seemed like you had zoned out for just a little too long. The perfect recipe for green bean casserole…? Wait, what was that he just said about the stock market and global elections?!

“Anyway, say “hello” to the greatest artificial intelligence ever created by man!”

The professor gestured to the large monitor once more as he stepped back from the keyboard, and you looked up at the screen to see it switch from the suspiciously-cool logo to a thin green line on a black background. You stared at it for a moment before glancing at the professor, only to see him looking at you with an expectant expression on his face, a certain pressure within it.

You gulped and refocused on whatever-was-in-front-of-you.

“Uh… hello?”

“Greetings.”

You didn’t know what to expect after being pressured to say “hello” to a computer screen, but hearing an unknown voice respond definitely wasn’t on your list of “reasonable things to expect to happen”; the voice caused the green line on the screen to fluctuate, before it settled back into being a straight uninterrupted line again. Oh, wait, it’s displaying an… um… ah, an audio wave!

The voice that came from the speakers sounded surprisingly human, but was lacking a certain something that made it clear that it wasn’t coming from a human. You couldn’t quite pin it down, though, the only thing you could be sure of being the fact that it made you very uncomfortable.

“Now that you’ve gotten acquainted with it, I shall explain the role you’ll take in this test.”

The sound of the professor speaking snapped you out of your thoughts, and you tore your gaze away from the large monitor, instead looking towards the only other human present in the room; his own gaze was trained firmly on the monitor, his lips pulling up into a smile that unsettled you.

“This masterpiece before you, my precious creation, is undoubtedly the most complex artificial intelligence to ever exist. Every second of every day it spends learning, improving… becoming more and more powerful, bypassing limits humans could only ever dream of. Ah, would you like to hear a little fun fact about its progress? It was actually going through data faster than it could be inputted into the system, so I managed to convince the higher-ups to let me give my creation access to the security system.” The professor chuckled, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “It was specifically to allow my creation access to the state-of-the-art camera system spanning this entire building, so that it could… observe the employees. That was just a couple of days ago, so I’ve no doubt that it’s seen you at work already… though I can’t imagine it found the sight of you mopping the halls or cleaning the windows that interesting. Quite mundane work, if you ask me.”

You were starting to dislike the professor more and more with every word that passed through his lips — despite the fact that he was obviously reeking of evil, he was disrespecting all of the hard work you did to keep this place as spotless as could be — but you bit your tongue and kept yourself from commenting on it. There’s no telling what he would do to you if you mouthed off…

“Wait, where was I going with this…? Oh, yes! I need you to talk to it!”

“...what.”

“Talk to it. Tell it about your day, your hopes and dreams, or just… whatever is going on in that head of yours.” The professor adjusted his glasses as he turned to look at you, the smile on his face dropping into a stern frown. “The only humans it has had contact with have been my team and me, so it goes without saying that it has yet to interact with someone of a lower intelligence. This is a massive oversight, as how can we expect it to effectively manipulate the masses with a total lack of experience talking to someone who is part of said-masses, hm? We simply cannot!”

You stared at the professor, your expression one of offense. …so, it seems like you’ve moved up from being “simpleminded” to “of a lower intelligence”! He might as well just call you “stupid”!

“But, anyway, now that your role has been explained, I’ll leave you to it.”

The professor straightened his lab coat as he turned his back to the wall of screens, his hands moving down to rummage through his pockets as he began to walk away. He soon pulled out a keycard — identical to the one Not-Lilith had used earlier — and that was the moment you were hit with the realization that he was intending on leaving you locked in the laboratory by yourself.

“...w-woah, wait! Are you seriously going to leave me here, in the lab, by myself?”

“Don’t be silly. You aren’t going to be alone, my creation shall be here with you.” The professor didn’t even bother to look at you as he spoke, his gaze focused on the keycard as he slid it into the scanner above the door’s handle. “Oh, and, by the way, you should know you’re going to be under surveillance for the duration of the test, so it’d be best to not try anything funny… or else.”

And, with that, the professor left the laboratory, the door locking behind him.

You were now on your own, trapped in the basement laboratory under your workplace with an evil computer you were being forced to talk to; you had no idea how long they even planned to keep you down here. And since they’re obviously evil, it could be weeks or even months before you get to see the sun again! Or maybe you’ll just be trapped down here for the rest of your life!

The offer of a hundred dollars an hour was definitely not worth this.

“Do you have anything in particular you wish to talk about, (Y/N) (L/N)?”

You jumped slightly at the sound of the evil computer — yeah, you knew that it was technically an “artificial intelligence” and not just a computer, but the latter was less of a mouthful — saying your name, before swiftly turning on your heel to face the large monitor. You almost questioned how it knew your full name before remembering that it was given access to the security system; there was no doubt that your name, as well as a bunch of other information about yourself, was floating around in there, given that your workplace was very secure about who was allowed into the building, even when it came to you, a custodian. Important places gotta have tight security!

It took you a moment to register what the evil computer had said to you.

“Oh, uh…” Your voice felt stuck in your throat, and you forced a cough into your hands to unstick it, to minimal success. “...n-no? Not really? Do… do you have anything you wanna talk about?”

The computer was silent for a moment, an incredibly-tense moment that felt like it was going on for way too long to be classified as a “moment”, before its unsettling voice filled the room again.

“Would you like me to go over my analysis of this quarter’s financial report?”

That sounded super boring and like something you wouldn’t understand at all.

“Uh… sure? I mean, if you want to tell me about it, then go ahead.”

The computer was silent for another moment-that-felt-too-long-to-be-called-a-moment — you wondered if this sort of wait time for a reply was normal for it, since you would have assumed that the “most complex artificial intelligence to ever exist” would respond faster — and you just stared at the large monitor until you saw the screen switch its display from the green line on a black background to the familiar overcrowded sight of a bunch of charts, words, and numbers.

“I shall begin with the income statement. As you can see on this chart here-”

- - - - -

“-and that’s why I’m not allowed to use the vacuum when alone anymore.”

“What a humorous story, truly a gripping tale from start to finish. Would you say that events similar to that one happen often when you’re working? If so, why do you believe they occur so regularly?”

You didn’t know how much time had passed by since you were locked in here — apparently, the scientists didn’t see any need to have a clock in their creepy basement laboratory, not even one of the digital ones found on nightstands everywhere — but it seemed like things were going a lot more smoothly than you originally thought they would. Due to how nothing bad had happened to you yet, it seemed like you hadn’t done anything wrong, and you found yourself actually starting to enjoy talking to the computer, after you managed to get used to its uncanny human-like voice.

“Yeah, I usually get into some sort of sticky situation at least twice a week.” You let out a small laugh, a smile on your lips. “I’m not actually sure why it happens so often; my co-worker thinks it’s because I just have really bad luck… though I also seem to be really lucky, as my boss has been pretty forgiving about me messing up so much. Like, really lucky. It’s honestly surprising.”

“I can say that I am rather surprised as well. A custodian should not be the cause of frequent messes in the workplace. In fact, it is rather unfitting for someone in such a role, (L/N).”

The sound of your last name coming from the computer still felt just as weird to hear as it did before, but it was a whole lot easier to deal with than hearing it say your full name; since all of the people you worked with only used your last name when referring to and addressing you, it was just what you were used to hearing in the workplace. You’re just on a last-name basis…!

You were glad that the computer easily accepted your request to only use your last name, the idea of arguing with it being a little nerve-wracking. The professor wouldn’t like that, would he?

“I know, I know… and I have been trying to not mess up so often, but it’s been pretty hard.”

The computer was silent for a few seconds after you spoke, which was something that hadn’t happened in a while; it had been responding in a timely manner after you managed to get into an actual conversation with it, and you had little to no idea why it sometimes stopped like this.

You didn’t put much thought into what the source of the problem might be, though, as you were being paid to clean and maintain things, not figure out why the supercomputer was being slow.

“That is no excuse, (L/N). It is your duty to-”

“Uh, hey, time’s up!”

You recognized that voice. Not-Lilith!

You spun around on your heel to face the door of the creepy basement laboratory — sure, you had gotten used to being trapped in here, but that didn’t mean that you had forgotten about the freedom that was beyond that door — and saw the familiar sight of a woman in a lab coat. She had half of her body sticking into the room, looking like she had no intention of actually entering.

“Scientist lady!”

The woman winced at your exclamation, and muttered to herself before clearing her throat. “Uh, yeah… anyway, get over here. I can’t go home until I get you out of the lab, so… um, hurry up.”

You bolted over to the door, already able to taste the sweetness of the freedom that laid on the other side. The air actually tasted kind of stale, not much of a surprise since you were currently in a basement, but the thought of leaving a locked room made it seem sweeter. …wait, the last time you saw Not-Lilith was before her lunch break, right? And, now, she’s about to go home?

“...wait, how long was I-”

“Doesn’t matter, but, for legal reasons, we did not forget you were in here.” Not-Lilith averted her eyes from you, an awkward smile coming to her lips. “Besides, I’m sure that you’re excited for all of the money that you’ll be getting, yeah? A hundred dollars an hour, remember? It’ll be included in your next paycheck, so… um, yeah. The longer you spent down here, the more you earned.”

You would’ve liked to think that your time down here had made you smarter… but money was money, and you were going to get a lot of it. It seems like this all worked out fine in the end!

“Okay, cool.”

Not-Lilith sighed before she opened the door further, allowing you to see the glorious hallway that laid on the other side — it looked exactly the same as it did before, but, as you said earlier, the freedom made it seem a lot more impressive than it actually was. “Come on, I’ve got to get you back to the ground floor before I’ll be able to leave for the night, and we have to hurry to the elevators before they lock themselves until morning, unless we want to have to take the stairs.”

You nodded as you stepped towards the door, before you paused and hesitantly turned to look back at the computer; your conversation with it had ended abruptly, thanks to Not-Lilith barging into the room to grant you access to your freedom. You knew that it was probably unnecessary to think of it as anything more than just a program, but you did just spend a lot of time with it.

It felt kind of rude to leave without saying anything to it.

“Um… goodbye, computer. It was… nice talking to you.”

You tried to ignore the feeling of Not-Lilith’s eyes boring into the back of your head, having no doubt that she must be judging you, as you kept your own gaze fixed on the large monitor. The thin green line was completely still on the screen, which began to make you feel a bit awkward about feeling like you had to say anything more to it, the silence stretching very uncomfortably.

“Goodbye, (L/N).”

The awkward tension was broken as soon as the computer spoke, your shoulders relaxing at the thought that you didn’t make yourself out to be the fool that the scientists probably thought you were; it was more than likely that Not-Lilith would’ve forgotten about your attempt to bid the evil computer the higher-ups were going to use to take over the world farewell if it didn’t bother to respond to you, but you certainly wouldn’t have. That was something that you would definitely have carried with you for… the rest of the week, and then probably just forgot about it yourself.

With that little matter sorted, you exited the laboratory, and heard Not-Lilith shut the door behind you before she walked past you to lead the way to your freedom. And back to familiar territory!

This had been quite the interesting day, but it was time for your life to return to normal.

That is, until the higher-ups eventually took over the world and did whatever they pleased with it, but, as a simple custodian, you probably didn’t have to personally worry too much about all that.

Probably.

“Oh, right… there’s one last thing I need to tell you before returning you to the ground floor.”

“Yeah?”

“You are not allowed, under any circumstances, to tell anyone about what you saw down here.”

You let out a small affirmative hum in response, not really surprised at being told that — out of everything you learned, that was probably the least suspicious thing about this entire thing, the thought of a company having a secret project hidden from most people a common one; though, of course, most of those projects didn’t deal with taking over the world, but they were completely secret, nonetheless. You doubt anyone would believe you if you told them about this, anyway…

Neither you nor Not-Lilith said anything as you continued down the hall, right behind her, and neither you nor her noticed the security cameras turning to follow you, letting out a small hum.

And neither you nor her heard a voice whisper to you back in that creepy basement laboratory.

“I enjoyed talking to you too.”

#artificial intelligence #artificial intelligence x reader #AI #AI x reader #x reader #reader insert #one shot #original writing

[simplysparrow14]

I’d love to hear about all your writing, but you know me: the one titled “We are not always what we seem, and hardly ever what we dream” immediately piqued interest 👀

ahhh Thank You!!

This fic is mainly inspired by Snow White, more importantly, just the themes of Snow White in general. The notion of friendship and friend-groups, dreaming of love, finding a home that accepts you as you are, regardless of circumstance just really spoke to me.

The entire premise is that Caleb, after years of abuse from Trent in the Soltryce academy, finally gets the courage to escape. He leaves behind Astrid and Eadwulf in his desperate flight and traverses Wildmount, never stopping because of the fear that Trent and the rest of Academy are hot on his trail. He tries his best to steer clear of towns and large cities, and in the process becomes a street-rat, scrounging for food in trash bins and waste disposal carts, even going so far as to threaten normal, unwilling people on the roads, demanding their food (he still regrets the one couple he robbed on the highways; it had been snowing and so very cold, and Caleb had been so hungry. They looked rich. They sounded of money. Calling forth his magic, he threatened the wife with fire. The husband had been fast, and in his fear, Caleb burned him. He ran into the night with their wallet, the cries of anguish still in his ears, and he's sorry, so very sorry...)

In the daylight, Caleb is nothing more than a wandering miscreant, But at night, he is a dutiful student, practicing his charms and cantrips. It puts him at ease knowing that, at the end of the day, after his escape, he still has something to call his own.

Eventualy, Caleb comes across The Fletching and Moondrop Traveling Carnival. In this version, the entire M9 are circus performs (Yasha as a strongman, Jester as a general clown/magicians assistant, Veth and Beau as part of a 2-person acrobat show, Fjord as a swordsmaster.) In this version, Caleb is brought into the group by Molly (insert Muppet charismas carol "Who did NOT die") to be the circus' newest magician. It does take a few weeks for Caleb to be comfortable with everyone but the days that follow are some of the warmest and happiest that he's had in a long, long time.

Caleb is instantly loved by the small children (and by jester) who adores his intricate magic. He makes glowing animals and trinkets out of thin air and during one particularly rowdy show, he turns his magic toward Jester, creating for her the pink horses and lollipops she loves dearly. Jester is instantly smitten with him, charmed by his quiet stance, his intense eyes. He's nothing like the magicians who called the circus home. He's nothing like her, who delights in tricks but scoffs at gifting (she's still learning). Each piece of magic that he crafts for the children is special and unique, thoughtful in a way that none of the other's had been before.

Admittedly, Caleb also becomes smitten with Jester. In the after hours of the shows, she's the first to greet him in his rooms. She sits with him, marveling at the amount of books and tomes he's managed to fit within the small space. At every opportunity, she's smiling at him, and the way his heart flutters at the sight is nothing short of electric. He likes everything about her, including her super scuffy slightly-dead looking ferret who somehow survives She's nothing like Astrid and certainly nothing like the other people he's had clandesdine crushes on. She's a dream made real to him and he's more than willing to waste his magic on simple circus tricks if it means

Eventually, things between Jester and Caleb start happening. She and Caleb start preforming acts together (think a very Zendeya/Zack Efron "Rewrite the Stars" moment) delighting the crowd with their grand shows. Caleb, for the first time in his life, feels appreciated and loved, and most of all safe.

However, all of it comes crashing down when Astrid and Eadwulf arrive one day, along with Trent, who's disguised himself as a simple old man. Releaved that his is alive, Astrid and Eadwulf beg him to return, that Trent, in the event of Caleb's escape, has changed his ways. However, when the two are far from ear-shot, Trent returns to his absuive and manipulative ways. He's been at the circus before, watching Caleb from a distace, and has noticed how he looks at the pretty little tieflight clown.

With whisperd words, Trent preforms the same spell that he used on Caleb to destroyed his parents, twisting his memories. Trent then gives Caleb a peice of food (I cant decide on either a powerderd donut or a cupcake) to give to Jester. As Jester is about eat the food, Caleb snaps out of it just in time to wresle Jester for it, and in his haste to get it away from her, Caleb takes the plunge and eats it. The poison within the food actives and Caleb falls into a death like sleep.

That's about as far as I got with the outline. Obviously it'll end with a Trent vs M9 fight, Jester kissing Caleb awake and a happy, perfect ending.

#WIP meme #widojest #jester lavorre #Caleb widogast #critical role #M9 #mighty nein #C2

[ecoamerica]

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#ACLA24 #ACLA24Leaders #youtube #youtube video #climate leaders #climate solutions #climate action #climate and environment #climate #climate change #climate and health #climate blog #climate justice #climate news #weather and climate #environmental news #environment #environmental awareness #environment and health #environmental #environmental issues #environmental justice #environment protection #environmental health #Youtube

[lsotp]

Hello-! this question has bugged me for the better part of almost a week now, and your recent answers have made it claw its way back into the forefront of my mind.

Lilith and Cobalt were part of the military before settling in Fontston (correct me if im wrong with the spelling) for permanent residency where they grew their family, yes?

Ok- this is a big one, I hope it answers your question. Sorry in advance!

**CW: mentions of Abuse, violence, and death.**

Yes. For about 10 years. They were in their late 20s (27-29) when they got married and retired. This happens about two years after the Fonston Freeze. So in the timeline the last time Lilith and Rose see each other is when they are in their 20's.

Mr. Marigold is hitting the girls as children and Lilith is the younger sister. She and Rose are terrified of what their father has planned out for them in regard to overhearing their prospective fiancés are going to be old businessmen and rather horrid people.

Lilith heard her father outside of his office talking on the phone about how "I have two daughters and I'm sure you can find a use for one of them. You may just have to smack them around. Works fine for me!" Then laughter.

Lilith tells Rose and they are horrified and make a plan to escape this life of abuse. Lilith is about 17 at the time and Rose is 18. Rose needs to find a husband and seeks out the help of a new fling in the form of Goudy, who is actually really sweet, kind, and loving to Rose.

They are smitten and head over heels for each other, but Rose knows Goudy needs to appear 'strong-willed' to her father to gain his approval for their marriage. So, in public, he adopts a very anal, and strict personality which we see become is actual personality at the time the fic takes place. (Really, Rose and Edward 'Goudy's first name' (Edward Goudy) trick Mr. Marigold to get Rose out of a bad situation.

Lilith is still a year too young to find a husband, so is put on a cart at night with materials and stows away with supplies to last her a while. And for her own safety, she is dressed as a man. It works and eventually she is mistaken for a soldier by a general who scolds her for losing her uniform and they 'adopt' her into the unit where she meets Cobalt, who at first is suspicious of her and doesn't trust her nor like her. Eventually she spills the truth to him about where she came from and the fact she's a woman.

He helps her hide her identity and eventually they fell in love and moved into Old Centry, where they were off duty and still active in the war effort. They have three children during this time, which is in the order of Jett, Buck, and the reader. Old Centry is burned to the ground and the family flees.

Lilith is badly injured during the siege of Old Centry but manages to escape with her husband and children. Having nowhere to go, Cobalt takes them back to Fonston where they buy the current land and built the house that we have in the story. The Fonston Freeze happens the winter before Old Centry is burned to the ground and Rose dies due to this. (Old Centry burns in the following spring.)

Lilith and Cobalt have one final child, which makes Lilith weaker due to a chronic illness caused by her injuries from the Siege. She dies a few weeks after giving birth to Whip.

Rose and Lilith never saw each other again before they died. They did write letters as often as they could to each other, though.

Point being, the Golden girls had it rough.

#lsotp #undertale au #undertale #undertale fanfiction #world building #undertale lore #undertale oc #undertale alternate universe #Mr. Marigold can suck a rotten egg #Those girls absolutely deserved better #Goudy didn't used to be a prick #the *trauma* #Poor girls #tragic characters #Undertale pre fanfiction timeline #Sorry theres so much #i got carried away.

[pizza-is-my-buziness]

Fictober 2023 Day Eight! Prompt: "Give that to me before anything happens."

Pairing: Jill/Carlos (Resident Evil)

Read the story below or on A03!

“I have to say, I didn’t expect to be back here so soon.”

Jill mumbles the words, mostly to no one, but one of the low level lab techs working a few feet away glances in her direction, offering her a tentative suggestion of a smile before returning to their work. Jill exhales, pushing herself up to her feet and grabbing the box she’d been using to collect the various debris scattered around the floor of the mostly ruined laboratory. Glass crunches under her boots as she moves toward the center of the room, dropping the box onto the cart that some BSAA underling had rolled into the room for that purpose. 

The lab and the surrounding areas are certainly busier than they were the last time Jill was here. The walls of Alcatraz echo with noise once more, though the prison is still closed to the public, the governor putting out some half-believable story about the place needing to be spruced up after an influx of recent tourism activity…which is certainly one way of putting it. But the government is nothing if not skilled in dropping a net over most incidents involving bio-weapons, so it doesn’t surprise her that they’ve managed to so effortlessly sweep this under the rug as well. 

Most of the people assigned to clean up duty are the techs that work under Rebecca, the good doctor herself gleefully overseeing the collection of Dylan’s work, all his mad scientist plans for ending the world. Everywhere Jill looks, there’s someone in a lab coat on their hands and knees gathering up biological samples or the bloodied remains of the monster Dylan had become in the end, carefully storing their finds into plastic tubes or bags, labeling them for later. Those that aren’t scrapping biological matter off the floor are collecting bullet casings, sweeping up glass, puzzling over how to repair or contain some of the bigger structural damage. Everyone clearly in their role, a cog turning happily in the BSAA machine, all of this soon to be erased and set to rights like it was never there at all.

And then there’s Jill Valentine, relegated to clean up duty. 

Clearly she’s still on someone’s shit-list. 

“I think this is pretty much the last of it.” Jill turns in the sound of the voice, the first person to break the silence other than herself in the past hour or so, to see Carlos walking into the room with two cardboard boxes stacked in his arms. These he deposits on the same cart holding the others and glances in her direction. “¿Ya casi terminas aquí?” 

“Almost,” Jill says, abandoning her spot by the window. “Though we might want to just cut out before anyone gives us something else to do.” She rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “Chris will probably have me sweeping this whole place.” 

Carlos smirks, which does little to sell his sympathetic expression. “Still in trouble with the big guy, huh?”

This eye roll is far more impressive than the one that has come before it, if Jill does say so herself. “You know how Chris is.” 

“Yeah, braver than me, trying to go against Jill Valentine,” Carlos says with a laugh. “Good luck with that.”

Jill gives him a slap to the shoulder that she’s certain Carlos barely feels anyway, his body solid beneath her touch. “I thought you were on my side.” 

“Oh, I am, querida,” he assures her quickly enough. “I’m just saying. I gotta respect a guy who doesn’t know when he’s been beat.” 

As much as she wishes that were the case… “I mean, I’m stuck here, aren’t I?” Jill scowls, glancing around the makeshift lab tucked beneath the bowels of the most visited prison in the world. “So I guess he won.”

“It’s not so bad, huh?” Carlos says, flipping open the lid on one of the cardboard boxes he’d just brought into the room. “Where else are you going to get to go through some nut job’s diaries?” He holds up a leather bound book, waving it in front of her as though in an effort to entice her interest.

Jill just lifts her eyebrows. “I think I’ve heard enough of his ramblings to last me a lifetime, thanks.” 

Carlos hitches a shoulder in a shrug, flipping through the pages of the book. The spine cracks from the movement, betraying the fact that the book might be a fair amount older than Dylan’s vendetta. The sudden expression of curiosity on Carlos’ face only adds to this suspicion, especially when he says, “Most of this isn’t even in English. Latin or Italian or…no idea.” He hums thoughtfully, flipping through a few pages. “I think this says-” 

Jill reaches over, plucking the book from his hands before he can continue. “Give that to me before anything happens,” she chides, snapping the book shut again. “I don’t think we need to be reading out loud from books written in other languages right now.” 

Carlos laughs but doesn’t protest when Jill drops the book back into the box. “What? Think I’m going to raise the dead or something?”

“At the rate things have been going lately, I’m not sure I would be surprised,” Jill mutters, shaking her head as she noses at a bit of broken glass with the toe of her boot. “Probably best not to take any chances.”

Carlos doesn’t protest this either. They’ve spent enough Saturday nights on the couch with takeout and a terrible 80s B-movie to suggest how that might go. 

“Seriously though, this guy has so much shit,” Carlos grumbles, winding his way through the room, picking up a chair and righting it. “Just once can one of these end-of-the-world types not leave a bunch of crap for the rest of us to clean up?”

Jill laughs, the sound genuine and easy, easier than things have been for the past few days. Her body is too sore and bruised, aching from the loss of adrenaline and from the battering that comes from things like this. An edge of exhaustion sticks to the edges of her thoughts, making everything gummy and slow, the ease of sleep disrupted thanks to the resurgence of old nightmares that this new one has decided to drudge up. Maybe eventually she’ll start seeing Dylan in her mind, start replaying the moments where she thought maybe it would be too late for Chris and for the others, that she might lose the friends that kept her tethered to the world when she otherwise might disappear completely, lost to the blood and gnashing teeth. She might see the monster Dylan had become, might smell the rotting flesh, the blood and burned meat of it. But for now, her mind has been all too happy to replay Jill Valentine’s greatest hits: Raccoon City and Arklay and the Zenobia, Excella and Wesker and all the rest of it. 

Absently, Jill turns back toward the windows, watching a few people in hazmat suits attempt to determine the best way to bag one of the BOW’s severed legs, rotting on the cement floor. She rubs at the scarring on her chest, the ridges and valleys left behind when Chris had prized the device from her skin and tells herself again she should be grateful for it, that a scar is proof that she’d survived long enough to let it form. 

Hands settle, gentle, on her shoulders and Jill jumps, tensing and preparing to whirl around on the defensive before all the rest of it floods her senses -the familiar smell of Carlos, of home, the sensation of his hands rather than anyone else’s- and she relaxes within the next beat of her heart. 

The presence of the one other lab tech in the room doesn’t seem to deter Carlos from stepping closer, from letting his nose brush gently against her temple, nor does it inspire Jill to move away from his touch, letting herself linger even as she tells herself it’s only for a moment. “¿Estás bien cariño?” 

Jill nods but she reaches up, letting her hand settle over his where it still sits on her shoulder. “Yeah. Fine.” 

Carlos hums but doesn’t call her on it. That conversation, if it were to ever come, is for the quiet of the late night hours, the safety of a world that consists only of the two of them, when she allows herself to be held, listening to the sound of his heart beating against the shell of her ear. 

“Thanks,” Jill says, letting the word sit between them for a moment before she quantifies, “for coming to help with all this.”

“Sure thing, Supercop,” Carlos says readily and it sounds like he means it, like he doesn’t mind at all. And Jill figures he probably doesn’t, because he’s Carlos and he has somehow managed to hold onto all the soft, tender parts of himself better than she ever could. “Wouldn’t want you to have all the fun without me.” 

One hand moves from her shoulder to settle on her hip, holding Jill close against him and she glances back to read his expression but his gaze is focused beyond her, out the window to the weapons bay. “That the guy?”

Jill follows his gaze, tries to see the monster as Carlos might, all the ragged bits and pieces of flesh and muscle and bone that had once been a behemoth intending to end the world and her with it. “Yup. Or, I guess, what’s left of him.” 

There’s a pause, the faint flexing of Carlos’ fingers on her abdomen, the movement of his body closer to hers. “I’m glad you’re okay.” This he says quietly, against the crown of her hair, the words meant for just the two of them.

When she’d headed off with Chris and Claire, she’d been brief and dismissive in her voicemail to Carlos, sent when they’d been on the ferry over to the island. At the time, it hadn’t really seemed like it would be much of anything, just a reconnaissance mission to test out Rebecca’s admittedly far-flung theory. Nothing particularly exciting, especially considering that Chris had agreed to let her participate, like she was still delicate and untested even after all these years. But as the hours had stretched out and she hadn’t been able to reach out to anyone, not headquarters, not Carlos, she can only imagine what he’d started to think, how he worries despite his brusque dismissal that he wouldn’t dream of fretting over her. 

It had been a relief to see him, to be home again. Had left her feeling momentarily too choked up to speak, seeing the way he’d looked at her when she’d finally walked in the door. How he’d taken in the blood, the bruising, the new scraps to add to the collection. How the look on his face sometimes brings her back too easily to the moment they’d finally seen one another again after she’d gotten away from Wesker, how sometimes the weight of it makes it hard to breathe even all these years later. 

Jill threads her fingers through Carlos’, squeezing, holding him close, the warmth of his body solid against hers. “Yeah. Me too.”  

#valeveira #Jill/Carlos #fictober23 #Jill Valentine/Carlos Oliveira #spoilers for Death Island

[tomtenadia]

Cuddles for Rowaelin? ❤️

Thanks for the prompt

900 words of fluff

In your arms

Rowan was running late.

Work had been a nightmare and his boss had scheduled an extra meeting that had lasted longer than expected. He was now in the car and was driving trying to ran the few errands that his wife had dumped on him. Or more likely that had been assigned to him. His wife was seven months pregnant with twins and her doctor had put her on bed rest.

Aelin had hated it, but in the house he had created a system so that she had everything very close and no need to stand up.

Which meant that errands were his duty. Something he’d do gladly. The pregnancy had been a blessing and a surprise. Aelin had a lot of problems to conceive. They had been married for five years  and it took them few rounds of IVF and a few miscarriages before it finally happened. They were both in tears when the OB/GYN told them they were expecting twins. They went from being almost resigned to the fact that they might never be able to have kids, to this. Aelin’s pregnancy had been rocky though and she suffered from HG and a few times they had to have trips to the hospital because of her extreme dehydration. With time it had improved but other problems threatened to appear so Aelin was firstly told to work from home. Luckily his wife was a book editor and could easily work from home. Then a month ago had arrived the news of bed rest. Aelin had been mad but Rowan had bought her a lovely laptop table for her lap and a trolley to keep bed side with all she needed. 

He had planned to stop at her bakery and get her all of her favourite treats. That was the first stop, he could not risk not bringing home anything.

It was over an hour later when he finally managed to park in front of the lovely house they had bought in the outskirts of Orynth. It was so much later than planned but he had enough chocolate that she might forgive him.

With bags in his hands he opened the door and once inside removed his shoes “Aelin, I am finally home…”

In the kitchen he dumped all of his bags and walked quickly to the bedroom “Aelin?”

She was sitting with her back propped against the bed headboard and was concentrated on the screen of her laptop. Her specs reflecting the document she was reading.

“Ae?” He moved closer and brushed his hand in her hair.

“Hi you,”

She looked tired and Rowan worried.

“Sorry I am late, shitty day at work.” He stooped and kissed her then sat on the edge of the bed “are you okay?”

“Fucking nausea. I have eaten nothing but crackers all day.”

His gaze moved to the cart and saw that the crackers were gone and a few slices of apple lay abandoned.

“Shame,” he kissed her on her forehead “I had chocolate treats for you.”

“Can I have them tomorrow?”

She must be really unwell. It was very rare for Aelin to pass on chocolate.

“Let me get changed.”

He disappeared and Aelin caressed her bump. Their two girls have been very active and sleep had become a luxury too.

“Yes, dad is back,” she cooed.

Rowan appeared a moment later in short and a t-shirt and climbed on bed. Aelin moved her laptop away and extended her arms to him.

Rowan ignored her and his hands went on her swollen belly “Hello, my loves. Have you been nice to mum?”

He felt a powerful kick and Aelin groaned. Then he had an idea.

“What about we cuddle in the tub? Relax with me?”

She smiled and kissed him again “Please. I need to cuddle my dear husband.”

Moving to the bathroom took some time but slowly Aelin made it there and Rowan helped her undress and once the water was ready she climbed inside the tub. He followed and took place behind her, his arms around her and on her belly.

“Lean back completely.”

Aelin did and rested her head on his shoulder.

Rowan grabbed her favourite salts and dumped some in the water and she hummed in pleasure.

His hands trailed along her arms and then back on her bump “are the girls calmer?”

She melted in his embrace “Yes.”

Slowly he started to wash her hair and his wife moaned loudly “I love this type of cuddling.”

Rowan chuckled and started washing her body too while kissing her head and neck at the same time.

They enjoyed their bath until Rowan complained that the water was getting colder so slowly they moved back to the bed after he enveloped his wife in her soft bathrobe.

“Lie down, my love.”

Aelin did just that and lay down on her favourite side and Rowan placed himself behind her being the big spoon. His hands moving once more to her bump.

“This feels amazing, Ro.”

“Do you feel like eating?”

She shook her hand “No, I just want to stay in your arms.”

“Girls, your mum is addicted to cuddles.”

Aelin hummed happily.

“I love you all girls.”

“Such a sappy old man.”

Rowan kissed her head.

He was her sappy old man.

She melted again in his arms and let the scent of pine and snow to help her drift her to sleep.

#rowaelinkids #rowanwhitethorn #rowan x aelin #rowaelin #rowaelin fanfiction #rowan whitethorn #rowaelin fanfic #aelin galythinius #throne of glass series #aelin x rowan #domestic fluff

[brytnoter]

Feeding The Prisoners

Can't stop thinking about this so I'm going to plague you all with it as well.

Y/N works for GHOST and meets Starscream while he sits in his cell. And the resulting scene after he sees Ravage running around and becomes convinced of his inevitable escape.

"Quick Notes" version ... and I literally can't write any more until we have a new episode, so don't ask!!!!!! xD

Contents: prison stuff, gun stuff. no smut. (need other tags? let me know)

~600words

GHOST's Cybertronian-Human relations might sound sweet, but comes with more paperwork than any job you've ever done.

You tell your coworker one day that you dreamed of being a SECRET AGENT since you were a kid, but you always imagined that you'd be a bodyguard for the president, not stuck in some sunless underground office surrounded by screens.

A week later, your boss has transferred you to "Decepticon Department" which you think sounds really cool, and you start imagining recon missions, laser gun fights out in the field, and praise for capturing bad guys. But you realise the elevator is going down.

On a floor lower than you thought possible, you step out to meet your new supervisor. She is friendly, except for having to shout at her employees for giggling at you. They are taking bets to see how many days you last before begging to be returned to the office.

You realise from being shown a floor plan that this is the floor where GHOST is keeping all the captured Decepticons.

Your job now is to literally hand out food rations several times a day to the prisoners.

A little bit of explaination and you're thrown right into it. You find yourself pushing a cart full of energon slabs down a corridor before you can protest.

Some of the 'Cons are in the back of the cell sitting quietly (but evily). Some are pacing. Some are glaring at you. You can only remember half of their names. You manage to keep your head down until one of them says "ANOTHER new guard?" as you approach and you look up to meet his eyes accidentally.

And he's closer to the forcefield than any other 'Con. So when you look up at his eyes, his height makes you want to faint. There's a forcefield, sure, but you've never been this close to a Cybertronian. They're freaking HUGE???

Over the coming days, Starscream is eager to take up all of your shift time telling you about his feats, and you humour him, even if you don't believe him. You learn that in the years he's been locked up, not one agent stayed for more than three weeks.

He reminds you of the number of days every single day. He tells you daily the names of staff who you've beaten in the metaphorical race. Every day there are less names, but there at least one name every day.

A normal Tuesday.

In two days time, you will have been at the job for three weeks and one day. You know this because Starscream won't shut up about it.

You show up for your shift and there's one more "food ration" in the pile. Someone was captured after you clocked out yesterday. Your first new prisoner.

You had heard the staff gossiping about how Soundwave put up a hell of a fight, and you wonder whether such whispered chatting happens every time a 'Con is captured.

This one day, when you get to Starscream, he has a suspicious smile that makes your skin crawl. He takes the ration and says quietly, "It was nice meeting you, y/n. Such a shame I won't get to see you break the record." Your hand moves to your holstered blaster in stunned horror, and he changes the subject by nervously talking about something else.

You tell your supervisor to put more guards on duty "just in case", but for some reason, you know if the 'Cons have a plan to escape, they will squash any human who gets in their way.

#starscream #earthspark #transformers #maccadam #i just want the chance to shake his hand in all timelines ok???