#also please they know i only have one irl friend who i will willingly hang out with and they are not in the same country as me rn... | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bukojuiice · 3 years

Text

the world between us — childe

ೃ ft. childe x fem! reader

ೃ 3.2k words │ genshin impact masterlist

ೃ tags and warnings: mafia! au, ceo! au, mutual pining, childhood friends to lovers, fluff, minimal depiction of wounds, mild mention of violence. childe is just a dork and he’s so so in love with you. (entirely sfw as it was requested!)

ೃ requested by @vanllian: I would like to request sfw Childe X GN!reader mafia au (if not gn, you can choose which one). Like reader is working for example as a mechanic, tattoo artist, owns a weapon store or something like this, so mafia is their clients, but they don't work directly for it. They don't live together and reader just visit him like every day after their work.

ೃ if you want to be a part of my taglist, answer this form! ♡ (please like and most esp. reblog if you enjoyed! it means a lot!)

ೃ a birthday fic dedicated to the second genshin boy i love the most (he’s only second to xiao bc he didn’t come home 💗 i wrote a fic i’m very proud of in 6 hours just for you. ily sweet prince) s/o to my irl bff @dopeyrosie for modeling her childe for the banner!

Life is a beautiful mess.

Nothing is of coincidence and everything is ordained by fate.

But is being willingly-unwillingly tangled in the life of your Childhood best friend turned Mafia boss be considered as fate?

No one could really tell.

Ajax, also known by his sleazy business moniker Childe, is a part of the Snezhnayan family clan. A wealthy and influential group of people who deal with all the shady businesses in Teyvat. In fact, they practically own the entire underground world. Their family history dates back to the very first archons. Calling them omnipotent and powerful was quite the understatement.

And so... you might be wondering, how are they so discreet? how come they've never been caught?

Well, it's simple.

They are an entirely different family when basking under the daylight.

The affluent and picture-perfect family. Known everywhere around the world as one of the only families to have shaken Teyvat. Always present in the biggest political events, Always on the forefront of every magazine and news channels to tell stories of their fabricated simpleton backgrounds and self-made wealth, and to boast with pride of their painstakingly attractive and charismatic heirs to their respective companies who could never be dared to be caught by any scandal.

What the outside world did not know was that under the midnight sun, they led a life of crime.

As they all say, fake it till you make it right? What kind of people of power would accuse such dastardly claims on such a pristine and perfect group of individuals who just so happen to be part of the same family?

Yet somehow, they were still a family who didn't want the name that they hold to get in their heads.

Going on beach trips on an unassumingly rented family van, monthly Teyvatland trips sitting in business class (yes, how humble of them to not take their private jets), and weekend dinners at their provincial farm getaways. They still wanted to be a normal family amidst all the highs and lows of their double lives. That which separates them from the family tree that stood behind them that had been nothing but cold, grim, manipulative, and unloving. They care for each other, they support each other and would do anything for one another. Childe grew up in a loving family. He and all his siblings did. They were truly different from the Snezhnayan generations before them. They wanted to make a difference.

It just so happens that a life of crime was their fate. Even if they want to run away from it— Even if they were to defy it.

Crime and Malice will always be behind them. Loosely hanging on the threads of their fate to haunt them forever. To haunt Him forever.

A blissful life with you— where he could just become a regular 22 year old living an absurdly mundane yet fulfilling life with you by his side.

Was that too much to ask?

Could the stars be so cruel to not have given him a simple life such as that?

“IT’S CLOSING TIME FOR ANOTHER SUCESSFUL DAY!” Xiangling says with a contented sigh, raising her arms up high as she dusts off the last specks of dirt at the entrance table. “Ms (Y/N), Chef Mao and I will be leaving now. Will you be okay here all alone?”

You dismiss her worrisome thoughts with a wave, “Of course! You and your dad can leave as soon as you’d like. Take home some Tianshu Meat if you’d want too! I’m planning to meet someone tonight so I won’t close up just yet.”

She arches an eyebrow, a smirk forming on her face. “Oooh! How romantic! Ms (Y/N) and a mysterious bachelor on a dinner date in the famed restaurant known as Liuli Pavillion!? It feels like I’m in a romantic movie!”

You chuckle, playfully shoving her back into the kitchen. “It’s nothing like that! We’re just friends and it just so happens the only time we can possibly meet up is during the evening. Our schedules are always... conflicting with one another.”

“If you say so...” Her words trail off in a teasing tone, playfully nudging you back in the arm. “Goodnight Ms (Y/N)! Take care! I hope you have an anazing night with Mr. Mystery Cutie!” She waves goodbye, disappearing further into the kitchen. Once you heard the attendance machine beep that signified her leave, you saunter back into the dining area.

With the paper lanterns illuminating the restaurant, the mahogany accents, and the beautiful Liyue decor as your companions, you sit in comfortable silence waiting for Ajax. He’s running later than usual, you thought.

It was just a friendly dinner date.

It was merely a monthly appointment that mostly composed of him entailing his dangerously dashing stories of his affairs underground that were honestly quite tame in comparison to the tales of his spurious affairs in the celebrity and billionare world with the rest of his family.

If it weren’t for the mysterious disappearance of his older brother, he wouldn’t even become the hottest mafia boss in Teyvat. He wouldn’t have taken the mantle. He would have remained peacefully as the Middle sibling. The middle child. Living a private life in the Golden Apple Archipelago. Maybe even fishing to his heart’s content, cooking homemade meals and living lavishly in a beach villa? That was his dream.

Truly, life was not kind to him. Because none his innocent dreams of a simple life will ever happen and it makes Childe devastated at that thought.

At first, you never thought much of him. You always thought he’d be just be a friend who would stay in past. The kind of friend you’d have to leave eventually. (After all, you did meet him in his summer home in their farm.) But nope. He stuck with you. This ginger-haired dorky smart-ass cemented his presence in your life. He wasn’t going to ever leave your side. He was there for you through every single pivotal moment of your life. That was up until he turned 21, with the disappearance of his brother and the start of his duties as the Snezhnayan mafia boss, his entire life took a devastating 360° turn.

Everything changed for him. So quickly. So abhorrently.

Childe felt like the world was about to eat him alive.

That was when you realized that it was your time to be there for him. To keep him sane. To keep him in check. He needed a friend. Someone to lean on.

And eventually, your feelings began to grow.

Suddenly, everything reminded you of Childe.

Like the sun reflecting off your windshield glows the same way as his cheeky smile.

The supermarket reminds you of that Sunday Morning he tried to make you his special Calla Lily Seafood soup and got mint all over the floor. The fleece blanket at the foot of your bed reminded you of when you went out camping as kids and had to share one together, all bundled up in warmth.

You known his coffee order because who the hell orders it plain black? You know what days he’s finally finished with his crime duties as invites you over to watch Haikyuu with him on Netflix (because he loves how similar Bokuto Koutarou’s voice is to his) You know his favorite color, what makes him laugh, what books he’ll read, what movies he’ll pick (And no, the Godfather is not one of them), and everything he hates about himself you’ll love even more.

You want to see the world with him.

It might be a bleak dream for now, but one can hope. Once all this is over, perhaps Ajax can finally settle down?

Your pining thoughts of him suddenly disappear when you hear a wary knock on the front door.

“A-Ajax? Is that you?”

The main door creaks open to reveal a young honey blonde-haired man in a worn and bloodied black and white suit. Possibly one of Ajax’s subordinates. “Are you Ms. (Y/N)?” He croaks in relief, his voice sullen and tired. “I am Kaedehara Kazuha. Sir Childe is—“

“T-there’s no need to i-introduce me like that to her, rookie.” The boyish voice you know and love so fondly could be heard from behind the young man. Kazuha perks up at his tone and shifts to the side of the main entrance as he comes into your side view, an arm wrapped around his shoulder, leaning on him for support. Kazuha continues to announce the presence of his master. “Sir Childe is here for you dinner date... but would need some assistance.”

You arose from your seat, concern and worry growing inside you as each second passes. “W-what happened?”

Kazuha begruddingly drags himself further inside despite the weight he was supporting as he closes the door behind him. Both Kazuha and Childe finally appear in full view, the latter even more soaked and bloodied than Kazuha was.

Childe’s clothes are torn, scratches, bruises and wounds surfaced his entire body, drips of blood traced his footsteps, he limps heavily, clutching the open wound in his stomach.

“Hate to see you... see me like this... Princess.”

“I told you to drop that nickname.” You deadpan, although the worry in your voice said otherwise. Lifting a chair in your hands, you rush to the entrance and gesture Kazuha to help Childe sit down as you lock the door behind you. “What the hell happened?”

Kazuha heaves his chest, taking a seat not far from Childe to examine his own wounds. “Warehouse Explosion. Boss Childe and I were the only survivors. I got him out but everyone else... weren’t so lucky.”

“100 Million Mora... all gone.” Childe mutters, wincing in pain. “It was supposed to be a safe operation. No stakes. Not even actual shady business. Just smuggled Mora from the Raiden Shogun in Inazuma. I can’t even believe it. All of us were joking around as we secured it. Not knowing that a bomb was planted below the warehouse. In the soil of where it stands. Baal... she orchestrated this.” Ajax continues to mumble, voice heavy with regret as he buries his face in his bloodied and wounded hands. “I l-lost so many good men... couldn’t even put up a fight for them. Damn this life.”

“C’mon.” You hold him by the waist, propping him up to face you. His cerulean eyes gazing into yours. “I’ll treat your wounds.”

His gloomy expression suddenly disappears as he teases you with a handsome smile. “Oh~ What ever could I do if the most beautiful woman in my life weren’t here to tend to my wounds?”

“Cut the crap, Ajax. I’m a restaurant owner, not a doctor. You’re going to Doctor Baizhu right after this, you hear me?” You softly reprimand him with a pout, reaching out for an extensive first aid kit stocked in one of the restaurant cupboards, your cute expression softening his dazed and weak heart. Diverting your attention from him, you turn to Kazuha. “Would you like some help after I tend to this weirdo’s wounds?”

Kazuha quietly chuckles at your attempt to lighten up the mood, “I’ll be fine. Please do help Sir Childe out as much as you can.”

“B-but Qiqi hates me!” He whines, calling for your attention. “If I inquired for an appointment, she’d drop the phone on me!”

“Of course she would! You scared the poor little girl by telling her that you were a scary man who would hurt her if she didn’t give you an appointment!”

With your signature death stare, Childe quietly pipes down.

Well, did he lie? He is a scary man. To his enemies of course. (His rep as the biggest mafia boss in Teyvat wasn’t to be taken lightly after all.) He had to be seen as intimidating and menacing to his lackeys, caring by his siblings and parents, and he was viewed as unintimidating and quite idiotic by his right and left hand man, Zhongli and Xiao.

But to you?

He had no idea what you felt about him. He had no idea what you thought of him. You were the person who mattered to him the most. He wanted to know what you felt.

But when it came to what he felt about you, well...

He felt the same things you did. In fact, for longer. He had fallen in love with you longer before you did with him. He had been crushing on you ever since he met you. With that crush soon evolving into feelings of love. The concept of loving someone was foreign to him, but with you? everything just felt right.

In a world where he brought chaos, you were his momentary calm.

And suddenly, everything reminded him of you.

The grassy fields filled with lush flowers that surrounded the area where he just had a stand off with a lowly mafia boss reminded him of the picnics he had with you when you were kids. The underground arena he had just violently dismantled reminded him of when the two of you would hang around the playground in the evening, swaying on the swings.

Even the way you look at him. The way you spell and say his name.

Suddenly, your eyes became galaxies for him to get lost in. He thinks you’re the funniest, smartest, most beautiful person he has ever met. You drive him crazy in the best way.

He went so far as to think about the future. Marrying you. It scares him. It excites him. Childe doesn’t know whether to think about it, but he can’t help it. He thinks about whether you’ll get a cat, dog or even hamster first. What house you’ll have (would you want to share a summer villa with him?) and what your children will look like. (Will they inherit your (e/c eyes or his?)

He’s so sure about his feelings for you. It sounds delusional, but to hell with that. He loves you in the purest way possible. He loves you for who you are.

But... could love even be possible for him? In this lifetime? In this life he currently leads?

“GAH! THAT HURTS!” He seethes in pain as you continue to dab the cotton swab at the wound on his arm. “IT’S NEVER HURT LIKE THAT BEFORE!”

Practically popping a vein in annoyance, you twitch your eyebrow. “This isn’t just a scratch you can get from falling off your bike! This an actual burn wound.” You breathe out a huff, dabbing the cotton again, only gentler this time. “Is that better?”

His expression softens at your gesture, eyes glimmering with mirth. “Much better.”

Getting lost in your focused eyes once again as he watches you treat his wounds, Childe is rudely snapped back into reality when Kazuha taps him on the shoulder.

“Boss, Sir Zhongli is on the phone.”

Great. Just greeeat. He was going to get another long-ass whooping lecture from his right-hand man and executive assistant. Could he just skip his “dialogue” like in a video game and go back to staring longingly at (Y/N)?

With a sigh, Childe carelessly grabs the phone from Kazuha, bringing it against his ear. “Eyo! What’s up at HQ?”

“I heard about what happened. Is everything alright? Are you unscathed?”

Zhongli’s deep and soothing voice echoes from the phone. Turning to Childe, you whisper. “Is that Zhongli?”

He dismisses your question with a playful wave, turning his attention back to the man on the phone. “Well... unscathed is not the right word. I’m fine but also not fine.”

Annoyed by Ajax’s refusal to speak to Zhongli, you lean in closer to him and breath into his ear. “Mr Zhongli! Please do give him an extra long lecture when he gets back to HQ!” The color practically drains out of Childe’s face as soon as he hears you say those cursed words, grimacing in pain and horror.

You hear the man’s muffled laugh on the speaker phone, “Whatever Ms (Y/N) requests, she will receive. Please do take care of him and tend to him in the meantime. I’ll arrange a check up with Dr. Baizhu tomorrow.” There’s a few seconds of silence before he speaks again, “Before we end this call, When are you available to have tea? We... have a lot of important matters to talk about.”

“Call me whenever!” You giggle, shouting into the phone. “I’m available anytime! Please also tell Xiao I said hi!”

You hear another low and gruff voice in the other line, before Zhongli speaks once again.

“Xiao thought the merriment on my face was due to (Y/N) taking over the business now that Sir Childe is unable to.”

“HE SAID WHAT!?” He grabs the phone from you again, not noticing his face is inches away from yours. “WHEN I GET BACK TOMORROW, I SWEAR—“

Beep Beep. The phone call has ended.

With a defeated sigh, Childe hands the phone back to Kazuha as the latter strolls away to the backroom to give you and Childe some privacy.

“Geez, what do I do with those two?” He looks up at you as you aid the last of his wounds. “I love them but god, they make being a mafia boss a living hell.”

“Well, they’re the best people you could ever ask for right?” You say, biting your lip as you gingerly wrap a cloth gauze around his arm. “They always get the job done and they’re good people despite... the work environment.”

He chuckles at your lighthearted quip, continuing to observe you tend to the last of his wounds. “You’re right. Honestly, I’d be a lost puppy right now trying to navigate this cruel line of work if it weren’t for them.”

“Well... what would you do if you weren’t forced to do this ‘cruel line of work’?”

Childe rises from his seat, wincing in pain from his own action. A ghost of a smirk visible on his lips.

“Do this.”

His firm but scarred arms pull you in, your chest against his, hearts thundering, breath gasping...

Your lips meet and he pulls you closer into his embrace. Time falls away. For a single, perfect moment, you surrender yourself to him, as he surrenders himself to you.

“Are you willing to wait for me? Once this is all over?” He kisses you once more, only softly this time. “Because I’m willing to do anything if it meant being able to live a normal life with you.”

“O-of course.” You smile into the kiss. As you break away, you lean your head on his chest. “I ‘ll be here for you always. No matter what.”

“Ow ow ow. That hurts.” He softly pulls away from you, clutching the unattended wound on his chest. “Okay, that was embarrassing but it really really hurts.”

You giggle, reaching for the first aid kit once more. “Whoops guess I missed a spot.”

The night passes by with no worries as you and Childe finally have your dinner date, the company of Kazuha had made the mood livelier than usual. Acting as the straight man to Ajax’s humor.

And at that night, both you and Childe had found a new resolve in your hearts.

Today, you were going to face things head on, together.

For even if the world were to cave in and separate the two of you, you will always find a way to come back to each others arms.

ೃ taglist: @ganyuuxs @mignonextte @inlovewithadeptusxiao @duhsies @qimiie @kozu-zumi @volleybloop @latteshinsou @catgirlkomi @reaped-winnower @monaa @dibhachu @sugurus-princess @midnightangelfox @call-me-moonfloweer @hu-tao-main @crapimahuman @vivisimpact @eissaaaa @yuki1s--note @klessboom @albedos-apprentice @ch8rrybl0ssoms @the-one-that-lurks @yummyyumi

#childe x reader #genshin impact #genshin #genshin imagines #genshin fluff #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #tartaglia x reader #genshin impact fluff #genshin impact x y/n #childe x y/n #childe #tartaglia #genshin impact imagines

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suguruverse · 3 years

Note

ahhhh what about being best friends with hinata and kageyama. bc let’s be honest they totally started to hang out outside of volleyball

— BEING BEST FRIENDS WITH HINATA AND KAGEYAMA

includes - hinata shoyo and kageyama tobio

a/n - hehe thank you so much for requesting bby!! <3

published date - 27/03/21

- this is a very unexpected friendship to say the least

- this friendship is just a constant fight for your attention

- they’re so competitive and they always make you decide who wins

- one of the main competitions they have everyday is the one where they race to your classroom to see who can get there first

- or when you say you want something from the vending machine, they are both rushing out of their seats to see who get you your snack first

- despite how much they say they might hate each other, they’re always hanging out in school, at lunch and even outside of school

- of course, you’re always there with them or else they probably would have killed each other by now

- in terms of affection, hinata is always there if you need a hug, a pat on the back or any of that

- for kageyama, let’s just be glad he even looks at you and calls you his best friend

- kageyama is a little bit new to physical affection and that’s why he’s glad he has you and hinata

- hang outs normally is at kageyama’s house because natsu is too loud, kageyama is normally home alone and you and hinata just come over unannounced to annoy him

- whenever you guys are watching a movie, you’re always huddled up with hinata while kageyama is on the other side of the couch, looking at you guys enviously

- being best friends with these guys can be super rewarding and draining at the same time

- you’ve had to stay back at school almost everyday to help them practice volleyball

- and trust me, they love you a little bit more every time you help toss the ball

- kageyama is like canonically super handsome, so expect to get hate from a lot of the girls

- also kageyama is like your protector in some ways??

- like whenever there’s someone bothering, within 2 seconds, he’s right behind you, glaring down at the person talking to you

- in reality, he just thought you were talking to a new friend and he wanted to meet them

- but when he tried to smile at them, the got scared and ran away :((

- he got super upset about that, and sometimes you catch him practicing his smile on the mirror

- but whenever he does that, you always give him a big hug and say that you think his smile is beautiful

- hinata is definitely the type of person to just jump on you out of nowhere??

- he always bites and licks you 🙃

- since volleyball is becoming increasingly more important to them, yall barely got to hang out

- but fear not, bc you become their manager!!

- whenever they’re on break, they’re the first people you go to, to bring them a towel and water

- kageyama loves headpats. end of discussion.

- nothing makes kageyama happier than when you give him head pats and say “good job tobio, i’m so proud of you, i knew you could do it!!”

- pls this man is so touch starved

- and whenever they lose a match, the first thing they wanna do is dive into your arms

- they always call you their ‘home’ or ‘safe space’ because whenever they’re around you, they just seem to relax

- you get them personalised volleyball equipment with their names on it and they treasure it so much

- at their games, they always look towards you whenever they score a point so they can see the proud look on your face

- you try to make them lunches but they eat so damn much that at some point you gave up

- do y’all know in fairy tail how natsu and gray would be fighting but when erza looked in their direction, they would be all friendly??

- yeah that’s basically the three of you

- this friendship requires A LOT of affirmation and reassurance so be prepared

- kageyama once yelled at you, yk one of his ‘king of the court’ moments and you went off on him

- from that day forward, he has not yelled or even raised his voice at you

- also tsukishima actively wonders if you’re being held captive by the two idiots bc he has no idea who would willingly be their best friend

gc name; volleyball whores

hinata: guys wake up

hinata: its an emergency

hinata: guys?? please???

hinata: if you guys loved me, you would answer rn

kageyama: hinata, its 2am you fucking idiot

you: hi shoyo!! is everything okay?? you should be sleeping rn babes :((

hinata: i know i know but i cant sleep

kageyama: well i can, gn

you: kags don’t be rude

hinata: guys wanna come coaches shop with me pls

kageyama: its not even open

you: theres a convenience store near me thats still open, wanna meet up there??

kageyama: sure omw

hinata: why are you coming, i thought you were sleeping

kageyama: im not going for you idiot, im only going to see y/n

you: kags :((

kageyama: huh whats wrong???

you: nothing, youre just being super nice today

hinata: yeah kageyama, why don’t you be nice to me as well

kageyama: shut your face you human tangerine

kageyama: y/n im nearly at your house, wait for me

hinata: huh whyre you going to her house, i thought we’re going to the store

you: yeah same, im confused

kageyama: well im not gonna let you walk out on your own at 2am, plus its cold

hinata: FINE IM ON MY WAY TOO

hinata: KAGEYAMA YOU BETTER NOT MAKE ANY MOVES ON HER

kageyama: SHUT UP IM NOT

you: hehe kags i see youuuuuuuuu

kageyama: huh?? what, im not near your house yet

you: look behind you

kageyama: AHH

hinata: why did you scream irl and in text too

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just-antithings · 3 years

Note

Mod el please share all your hetalia ships and feel free to gush about your favs :)

anon i dont know how to tell you that reading this ask literally made me start flapping my arms so excitedly i smacked myself in the face and i dont usually stim that wildly and i had to take a bit to gather my thoughts so i wasnt just an incoherent yelling mess and also to do some stuff for school but shhhh

okay okay so obviously ive mentioned im very fond of usuk so ill save them for last but

im a basic bitch and i just. i love gerita okay like. theyre so cute. i do not have coherent words about them they are just. soft and silly and squishy. geritapan is also very good because im also just an absolute ho for polyships

and also god knows gerita needs a fucking braincell good lord theyre so dumb. japan can be that braincell. japan is the only reason they would get together otherwise theyd just sit there being gay and useless (affectionate)

i also like ameripan! its a funny sort of opposites attract while also kind of similar to the friendly relationship our two countries have irl! i think america can help bring out the dork in japan that he tries to hide and japan is like. america's only impulse control lmfao. ameripan good

from what ive seen of it, lietpol is cute! theyre both kind of disasters and i love the idiots to lovers ships sjfnsnf

hmmmm what else... austria and hungary are cute, natch, and i love how hungary is feisty and austria is quiet and contemplative most of the time, i love characters and ships that break the norm

prucan is cute and funny just because of how fucking different they are and also because the one time canada fucking had enough and yelled at america for three hours makes me think that if the two of them ever got started against some poor other soul it would be a Sight to Behold

but also i saw sth the other day where seychelles remembered canadas name and he was like oh!! u remembered me and im like oh no thats adorable so theyre cute too

i feel like fruks got that rivals to idiots to lovers thing going on, which is Very funny but also like. i dunno i feel like theyre just two old men who just wanna hang out with someone they know well and fine whatever i guess we can kiss too sure

in fics i read my favorite dynamic for them is just. absolutely close, thick as thieves, would willingly die for the other but they also just fucking rib each other nonstop like. romantic or platonic whatever fruk is great

uhhhh what else...

oh spamano is great. romano is just. such a little shit and spain just doesnt care sjfbsb i dont actively ship them but i feel theyre kind of in the background everywhere else and i always feel happy seeing them

*rubs hands together* hohohho boy usuk time

so theyre just. So dysfunctional. the Angst. the Drama. the level of Mutual Care they refuse to acknowledge because all it will bring is Pain and possibly more betrayal like hoooooo boy thats the good shit

they just have so much history (ha) that like. theres so much potential for relationship building there

idk man found family to enemies to begrudging friends again to "i would fucking die for you if you asked but im too scared to let you know that because i dont want either of us to get hurt again" to lovers is the good shit idk what to tell you

thank you again for enabling me anon djdnsnf it made my day!!!

#mod el #hetalia mention #long post #sorry about that i just like to Gush

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fyeahnix · 4 years

Note

What do you think of the Dark Sparks ship? (Wraith x Wattson) What do you think Wraiths and Wattsons relationship is like in Voidstrike?

Hoooo buddy... You opened up a can of worms here.

So. Let me start off by saying that I am not a Darksparks fan. I know I said in the past that it's cute, and on some small level, I still do think it is, but it's just not for me at all, sexually or romantically. The copious amounts of art for it I've seen is really well done but I just don't like the ship at all. I have a few reasons for it and because this isn't going in the tags, I'll just air them out here and leave it at this and hope to god the darksparks brigade doesn't find this and crucify me for having Some Spicy Opinions™. Please be aware that some of these points are 100% going to make me look hypocritical and I'm 110% aware of that and will note them

Part of the reason I don't like it is because it hammers down on the stereotypical and palatable LGBT trope of two white women filling that uwu cute girl/goth girl stereotype. Like...we literally don't have enough of those already? Why is it that the two white girls get more attention in the wlw space than literally any other wlw ship? What about Wattline? What about Voidstrike? Are people not shipping them as hard because they aren't as "interesting" or because they include black women and they're automatically seen as less relatable from a character and shipping standpoint and less "soft"/"cute"? Genuinely ask yourself that question because I'm actually kind of sick of seeing POC in wlw ships being left off to the side with scraps to their names. I don't ship Lobalore that heavily but I'm SO FUCKING GLAD it's gaining popularity if only to have another face to Apex wlw ships. Look at Gibby and tell me how many ships he's in that are popular compared to the other white/white-passing/lighter-skinned men in the game. And he's already gay. Compare that to how many mlm ships Mirage is in. Soooooo.....what's the excuse there?

Secondly like...what do these two have in common? I honest to god don't even know. Hypocrite point number one is that Bangalore and Wraith don't have much in common either. BUT. They have shared history with being part of the IMC. That immediately gives them an interesting starting point and storyline for their interactions. It sounds like we're going to be delving into this storyline in the future so I'm hoping this puts these two back on the shipping radar. But like ..I dunno two white girls stand next to each other and suddenly they're the most popular wlw ship in Apex? ....right because ofc that happens....

Thirdly, I was going to mention the age gap, but I'm on the fence about this and this is where hypocrite points number two and three come into play. I have personal feelings and gripes with age gap. Less about the actual age and more about the maturity level and different stages of life. I remember looking back at myself as a teen and a person of early 20s and I was...less mature than I am now at 28. Even now I can barely see myself dating anyone under like...24...But people would shit on me for this so I'm gonna save this topic for a rainy day or never. It is interesting to me that the majority of people taking offense to others' hesitance/discomfort are like...in their late teens and early 20s but whatever. Go off. It's fiction at the end of the day. Do you, ship and let ship, because I'm sitting here lowkey shipping Wattson/Crypto and sometimes think Lifelore is cute 💁🏽‍♀️

Last point is...and this relates to point number one. Simply just jealousy lmao. I'll admit it. Darksparks as a ship is sooo dang popular that people produce art for it like every fucking day. Meanwhile the one person who DID draw consistent Voidstrike art once upon a time ago was ousted because of some (incredibly shitty) racist joke they made regarding Bangalore. Soooo now we have no one drawing Voidstrike at all and only like ...maybe 4 people even writing the ship? It's hard out here fam. We can only write so much. And it does suck to see a ship you really like get attention from maybe only like 8 people total on the internet. It would be nice if people saw some potential in this ship but you can't force people to like something. It's whatever tho. I'm still going to write as much as I can because I genuinely enjoy the headcanon dynamic I have for them and I'm always looking for interesting aspects to explore and extrapolate from.

So back to the relationship. If we're talking Wattson and Wraith's dynamic within a Voidstrike ship, I see them as VERY good friends. Probably best friends or even sisterly even. For some of the fics I've written where I've mentioned Wattson, they text frequently and do hang out. In the Voidstrike mini series I have, Wattson (and Bloodhound) is going to play a pretty big role in Wraith and Bang's relationship starting as well. Also in my actual genuine headcanon for Wraith being an anime nerd, Wattson's one of the only people who will willingly watch anime with her.

Soo uhh yeahhhh. I'm not sorry about my opinions. If you wanna reblog this and comment, you are more than free to do so. Just don't be ignorant in the comments. This is less about me hating the actual ship itself and more so hating the IRL social dynamic, stereotypes, and expectations of wlw that allowed it to get so popular in the first place. I don't openly ship hate because that's unproductive and shitting on people's parades. Just call it my opinions, thoughts, and slight criticisms. If you like the ship, that's good! Please keep making stuff for it because that's how the fandom grows and at the end of the day, we all want the fandom to get bigger and more inclusive.

#Voidstrike #reference #side note this is not me trying to shit on the ship #as I've said if you like it do you and continue to produce content for it #it's just not for me for the above reasons so I actively try to avoid it when I can

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missallycat · 7 years

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I don’t like Jess for Rory

and neither does Rory actually… if you think about it

This has been a long time coming and I always was asked to explain why I dislike Jess, for Rory. I don’t hate Jess, as a character I think his backgrounds are interesting and his lashing out understandable because of it. As a teacher I feel for the past they recreate in that character, and his troubles because IRL I know men who have a similar background history. But that doesn’t mean I have to like him… much less believe even in the slighest he’s “the best choice” for Rory or “the only one who truly understands her”. Sorry no, my one and only choice for Rory will always be Logan, why? Because to me if you watch the show and the revival is clear as day who she chooses to be with, and who she turns to. Each and every time regardless on how many times they say goodbye.

I don’t like Jess because he first arrived and was totally not just disrespectful but downright insulting to Lorelai, (honestly the pie comments were far too wholesome I would have slapped his rude mouth and tossed him out). He was a guest in her house and he basically called her a whore because she was talking kindly about her friend.

He’s rude to Luke and I get it, he’s angry he’s upset to be sent like a package by a mother who is the only parent he has, who can’t control him and doesn’t want to deal with him because she doesn’t know how to be a parent, but at the same time loved him enough to want to do better for him because she knows she can't succeed, so sends him to the one person she KNOWS AND TRUSTS who might make a difference with him, the one person who always helps her. If she didn't care for her son she would have let him be whatever, let him get in trouble, let him end up in jail or worse who knows, but she loved her son enough to want to do something for him that she knew was beyond her. So she sends him away, and I get it, he arrives like a package without a choice, to this little weird town where he doesn’t know anyone or understands if he suddenly landed in a loony bin or in an alien planet (I mean I feel for the guy, he goes out and sees people hanging garlands and little kids doing cartweels and suddenly a mother and daughter wearing THE SAME ONESIE! I mean WTF??! lol I understand his dismay, I do! Lol). I get it and I feel for him, however I don’t find it an excuse and carte blanche for him to be rude to everyone and treat the entire world as if they were beneath him nor I give him the pass for being the crappiest boyfriend to Rory, those things don’t excuse him. However I simply don’t like him FOR Rory because Rory doesn’t like him for Rory.

Most of Jess’ growth is assumed and not seen, I think is fantastic he lost the MASSIVE chip on his shoulder and started taking responsibility for his life and wrote a book, however we have no clue of what his personal life, because we barely see anything of that when he reappears, and why? Because the writers didn’t consider him that relevant to the show, or maybe he wasn’t that interested but still point is he wasn’t that relevant to the story. He had already been written out and the writers didn’t consider relevant to the story to know Jess’ personal life and backgrounds from the time he wasn’t around, because he was no longer important as any more than to make an effect then be on his way.

Dean, before leaving, had a background and a story, when he came back in the revival too, Logan had a story, he was seen in his many wrongs and in his growth and most of all and I can’t emphasize this enough: His RESPECT for Rory’s will. Say what you want about the situation and whatever Logan’s mistakes have been and whatever Rory AND Logan’s mistakes have been. He was always upfront and clear with Rory from day 1 onwards, he’s still waiting for her but at the same time he’s not hiding anything from her. And while neither of the boyfriends were perfect ever, far, far from it, Jess takes the prize (of the worst one) because he was by far the most disrespectful one and the one who, in the limited time, treated Rory the worst. And present tense (and past) Rory rejected him flat out multiple times in the original show:

1. The infamous Keg! Max! Incident. We will dwell on that one later on but for now let’s just get to the gist. She said wait, she said no, and he kept going. And if you are of the argument that her protests were too feeble and that’s why he kept going thinking she was game, or that because she went up there she was game, then please grab the nearest brick before I can and throw it at you. No means NO, paraphrasing Paris, “male, female or hermaphrodite” no means no, period.

2. The silent phone call after Chilton graduation: She kept getting hang ups so she finally understands it must be Jess because as usual he doesn’t willingly comunicate so she uses the the chance in order to say her goodbyes. Rejection number 2: “…that’s it for me. I’m going to Europe tomorrow and I’m going to Yale and I’m moving on. And I’m not going to pine. I hope you didn’t think I was going to pine, okay? I think…I think I may have loved you, but I just need to let it go. So, that’s it, I guess.” She wanted him there but since he had yet again failed she decided the only thing left to do was move on. Once Rory makes up her mind about things, she stays headstrong until the end.

Let’s not forget this is the swell boyfriend that after making her feel bad for not sleeping with him (no, it wasn’t his intention but that’s what happened) he went to explain but instead saw her talking to another guy, got jealous, made a snide remark got in a fight and wouldn’t talk to her at all, until she happened to find him in the same bus by chance. Why by chance, you say? Because he admitted taking a later bus. So he wouldn’t have to face her and say goodbye. Left without explanations and then kept calling and hanging up on her because he couldn’t even get the nerve to ask for forgiveness. ("Ghosting, because I'd rather at once show you I'm an asshole than slowly let you know that I suck")

3. When he tried to get her out of Yale, “come with me let’s start over but away from this place we’ll go to New York, we’ll live together we’ll work”, she said no, he said “only say no if you really don’t want to be with me” and she said, guess what? NO. I get it he was desperate because he was finally owning up to his feelings of loving her and he wanted her to go with him there and then because he felt his window of oportunity was shutting down if it wasn’t shut already so he went and he pushed and pushed until he got a firm and loud NO.

And let’s dwell on this for a bit. People say Jess was the only one who really understood how much she loved college, because he really loved her… How is a guy who pretty much proposed her to drop out of college the one and only who truly understands her love for studying? He showed up out of nowhere after once again leaving (not forgetting his previous pop up where he said he loved her and bolted) with no contact at all nor any explanations about his behavior (season 4) and to come get away, run away with him to New York, to what? Oh that’s right to live in a filthy mattress with view to the mold (Luke’s words and let’s face it, the truth) in a crappy apartment with 10 other people. He didn’t ask her to leave to go on a vacation he proposed to live and work in NY. With no qualifications, a Rory who had been trained for nothing in the real world. Who hadn’t even worked in a store yet ever before. What would she have done? Hmm waitressing in NY, probably a messenger too, with crappy hours and crappy pay until she got bored of the boho life (which was never her style to begin with) and went back to Lorelai and back to where? Ah that’s right the place Jess was demanding she dropped off.

4. Season 6 comes, (after the yelling, we’ll get back to it, don’t you worry) after an entire season without him and we find Rory in a fight with Logan. When she went to his open house she was mad at Logan yet she didn’t want Jess, she wanted to use him, she told him she loved Logan. Plain and simple.

Let’s go back for a sec to a moment before in season 6. Him getting credit for getting her back to Yale, I’m sorry but to me is ridiculous. To make him look like the knight in shining armor the one and only who saved her is, to me, just plain ridiculous and also underestimates and insults Rory. He came, yelled, she was already shaken and thinking what am I doing, she sees this guy who had nothing and had accomplished something big professionally and since she was ALREADY shaken she got shaken a bit more and made her choice to go back. I’m not saying he was useless, neither am I saying he didn’t have any influence, he did but it was his presence and what he had accomplished while she had nothing in the works (by her own choice) and he was the last drop that spilled her glass that was already brimming. She was already headed that way. It was HER CHOICE, nobody MADE her go back, Rory may be indecisive so many times and insecure but when it comes to her own life, in the nitty gritty she’s nobody’s pushover. Lorelai knew, Logan knew, Lane knew, SHE.COULDN’T.BE.FORCED. Rory needed to decide on her own, she needed to learn from her OWN mistakes and make her own choices to find her way back. Had Jess come to shout earlier in her path he wouldn’t have made a single difference; He comes out of nowhere and with no previous contact whatsoever, shouts or gives an idea then disappears again. He left her without so much as a goodbye (after the yelling) or actually breaking up (when he first left town) with her. And this is the guy who KNOWS her best? Someone who she doesn’t talk to in years at the time? hmmm…

5. Revival, they talk like old friends who haven’t seen or known of each other for quite a while (YEARS actually hmmm interesting friendship when they haven’t known of each other at all for years) yet she doesn’t share that much with him not even her difficulties while writing. Is a good conversation, is fun and I personally was so happy to see him for the first time EVER, I was so happy to see Jess, he seemed calmer, he seemed in a better place, more grounded, he genuinely tried to give his best advice as someone who was involved in a similar field of work.

But here’s the thing… Why is his growth made SUCH A BIG DEAL? So he grew up! Was he expected to still be a sulky bratty disrespectful punk of a teenage boy at age 32, 33?? Wouldn’t that be sad? If a grown ass MAN was still acting like a resentful teenage BOY? I would feel so sad and it would feel so unrealistic for a human being with a minimum level of intelligence (and Jess has a good level of it) to NOT grow u and leave the ‘tude behind? It would be dumb if he didn’t, is only NATURAL for him to change and grow up, why shouldn’t he? Or are the expectations for his character so PAINFULLY low from his own adoring fans that they expected no change in him from ages 19, 20 to ages 32, 33? Did they really except him to still be the same and that’s why his growth is so highlighted when it should be a natural thing? He was supposed to stop being a sulky disrespectful child at some point. What else do we know about him? Is there a mention of him having a successful relationship with anyone in all these years? Or even a semi committed relationship that in the end just parted ways? Is there any mention of him having had that? No. Because it wasn’t relevant because we don’t have to know if he is in a better place in the romantic world, because (and I can’t stress this enough: HE 👏 ISN’T 👏 A 👏 ROMANTIC 👏 INTEREST 👏 FOR RORY 👏. ASP said it best, Jess and Dean were not meant to be forever. (even though she compared Dean to prince Charming and she said Jess is now family).

So back to the revival conversation (notice how she does not hug her friend even though she hasn’t seen him for years? She doesn’t even come near him, yet she hugs plenty of other people she hasn’t seen in a while) He suggests out of the blue: a book. Why? “he knows her better than anyone!” I hear you say. Sorry, no. He knows Rory as well as anyone who knows Rory. In the words of Dean “A book. Well, you’ve read them all, what’s next is writing them”. He gives a good idea, spends a couple of minutes talking to her, then goes his way, as usual because why not? He’s got his life, he’s got his stuff, he’s always in the moment kind of guy. Is not that he doesn’t feel love (Milo’s words) but is not the romantic love anymore. Rory is Rory she’s in her own world, lost at the moment but finding her path again enthusiastic about the new idea given by Jess. She tells Logan all about it and about her struggles in the meantime, and goes to Logan when she can’t understand her mom and is fighting with her, she tells Lane about it, she meets Dean by chance and HUGS Dean, and tells him about it while thanking him about being such a fantastic first boyfriend for her. And Jess… she jumps up and down excitedly without showing her author friend her pages, and grabbing the front of his shirt and his jacket… why? because he happened to be there.

Now, having finished with the plain and clear rejections. Let’s go back to the first one.

Keg! Max! Makes me mad for many reasons the main one being that she had to PUSH HIM OFF OF HER for him to react. I am completely, 100% sure he wasn’t going to rape her or even hurt her. I’m sure that wasn’t the intention nor the purpose EVER, but the fact he needed to be pushed is what makes me mad and is inexcusable. She was trying to find out what was wrong with him because she was worried, but since he didn’t want to talk he tried to distract her by kissing her and lowering her on the bed to carry with the next “order of business” as a way to shut her up.

I get it, teens and hormones (although 18, not really THAT excused) but I’m not saying he needed to jump away from her the very second she said wait, he could have kissed her and ASKED what was wrong; he didn’t need to jump, just pause without having to be pushed! He yelled at her and that also makes me mad. I also understand he was frustrated about other things and took it out on her, that the yelling wasn’t really about that and that he felt bad for saying it and was planning to perhaps distract her say it wasn’t his intention or that he’d do better next time, because let’s face it, did he ever actually explain anything owned up to his mistakes? Did he ever apologize for anything, that we see during his time? He’d distract her, try his best to make up but that’s the point he just NEVER talked, (”I don’t know why he was mad at me I don’t know IF he was mad at me because he NEVER tells me anything” Rory’s words). He was just plain rude (rude to her grandma too but let’s not dwell on that) because in his mind actually doing something nice for his girlfriend, and actually communicate with his girlfriend made him a pushover.

The fight with Dean I actually understand, because if I came out of a room crying because of a fight with a guy and guy then showed up behind me annoyed (annoyed! He actually scoffed!), I have a good number of friends who would want his head, metaphorically speaking of course, even now as an adult. I get he didn’t yell really because she wouldn’t sleep with him but what really pisses me off is that he had to be pushed to react and move (his intention wasn’t to force her because he could have easily done that) then yelled and had the gall to be annoyed and afterwards radio silence, no apology no explanation he simply left and if they hadn’t seen each other by chance she wouldn’t have even seen him that time because he purposely took a later bus.

The Keg! Max! scene in Kyle’s bedroom is inexcusable and there is no coming back from it period, in my opinion, because how can you trust someone who never explains or apologizes and you never know why things happen with him or what is he going through.

I don’t think Jess is bad nor that he ever had bad intentions towards Rory, I’m 100% convinced that’s not the case. But he IS a bad boyfriend and that scene is so uncomfortable to me even though I had never had a similar experience and it makes me so mad every time I force myself to rewatch it to make sure I’m not judging too hard. I’m not. Jess wasn’t even a hormone filled teen here. He was 18. He didn’t want to have a conversation and tried to use sex as a distraction, as something interesting to make it happen, both to forget about his problems and get Rory to stop talking and questioning what happened.

Why is Rory blamed for “forcing” him to talk and he isn’t for trying to force her to have sex with him? That’s what ended up happening. It wasn’t his intention or his plan, absolutely, granted; he did back off, granted; he never meant to hurt her, totally granted. Thing is he wasn’t a hormone riddled 15 year old (and even then, how about RESPECT someone who you apparently like? Never mind he wasn’t taught better, is common sense you don’t push your wants on someone who doesn’t want them, I like this person then I don’t want this person to feel bad because of me), he was a tad older and one would expect a bit smarter, and he knew this would be Rory’s first time but he didn’t ask her to consent, he didn’t pause to make sure she wanted that, to make sure she agreed or was comfortable, in fact he didn’t really care at first when she started to show being uncomfortable. He didn’t ask if she was OK. Instead, he was only caring about himself. He didn’t even wait to ask her how she was feeling, actually he wasn’t very interested in that… and this wasn’t a random teen at a party, this was supposed to be her boyfriend, and in the words of people of Team Jess, the one who loved her and understood her… yet she had to push him off and he still didn’t care about her comfort level he snapped at her berating her why did she come there that he didn’t force her, so on top of pushing he made her feel like crap in what was almost her first time.

Now, on adult, revival Jess:

I like that later on when he shows up, seems to have dropped most of the ‘tude but what happens in his personal life we don’t have a clue and we see a Rory who, rejects him flat out (season 4), basically says she regrets leaving Dean for him (same season), uses him and tells him she loves someone else (season 6) and hasn’t had contact with him in years and barely tells him much about her writing or personal issues when they talk, doesn’t show him her pages (hello, he’s a writer why not discuss that with him?) and then barely grabs his sleeve and the front of his t-shirt when she’s happy jumping excitedly around him (may I add, the jumping happily is not ABOUT him? He just happened to be there), yet she doesn’t hug her supposed friend at all in any point? (revival) Rory doesn’t want Jess for Rory from what is shown, doesn’t she deserve the chance to be with the one she obviously chooses? And honestly, in my opinion, Jess deserves better than to apparently pine away after 10 years for a girl who doesn’t show any interest in him. So no, I’m not team Jess for Rory because Rory isn’t team Jess for Rory. And I’m damn glad, Milo seems to be of the same opinion and so it would appears, are the writers.

Just:

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lostsoulwolf · 7 years

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A Gig with A Skeleton

Here’s a little short story I made the night before based on an idea given to me by @thedragonlover, who is my irl best friend and who also helps to inspire me to get off my lazy ass to write when I feel down.

Thank you for the support, my dear! Don’t know what I’d do without you <3

“I-I don’t think I should do this, Steph. Really, I can’t.”

“Don’t be such a scaredy cat, Mikaela!” The young rabbit teased, jabbing the side of a very flustered wolf as they stood before the home of the famous (sometimes infamous) skeleton brothers of Snowdin.

Scowling at the obvious jab, the black furred monster found herself glancing at the doorbell anxiously. “Seriously, he’s looking for real talent. Not for someone who has no experience and can only sing when no one’s looking. Steph, I literally can’t do this!”

But it was too late.

A quick rap and the sound of heavy feet echoed in her pointed ears; she watched as her friend ran off with a shout of luck. Before she could even think to chase after her, the door opened to reveal a tall monster with a wide grin. “Oh! You must be here to audition! Sans will be so happy to see someone! You’re the first to show up!” he cheered, taking her shoulder and guiding her inside.

It took his firm grip to keep from tripping on the doorstep but Mikaela recovered as gracefully as she could, even wiping her pads off on the doormat just inside since their porch one was coated in snow. A quick glance around let her see the rather simple abode they called a home, not at all what the others guessed of the mysterious skeletons. They didn’t really have a history with the town but just sort of showed up one day, according to Steph’s mother who ran the inn just down the way. She recalled the story but never had the guts to talk to one of them about it. No one did.

Clearing her throat, finally finding her voice, the wolf scratched the back of her head. “S-Sorry to drop by. My friend thought it would be a good idea b-but I really think I should go. I mean--”

“You aren’t even going to give it a shot?”

The low baritone caught her off guard, yelping softly to find the shorter skeleton coming down the stairs with his hands casually shoved in his pockets. Permagrin as wide as ever, he approached and offered a handshake in greeting; oddly enough, no prank in sight.

Yes, this Sans was known for his jokes and practical pranks on most everyone. She, herself, had been lucky enough to avoid this but how was a mystery.

“Come on, throw me a bone here. Don’t leave me hanging.” he teased, brow bones wriggling in jest.

While the pun was insufferable, Mikaela took the extended palm with her own and gave it a firm squeeze. “I don’t think it’ll be anything but humerus to you but I’ll try, I guess…” she offered, earning a pleased snort from the male. His brother was less than enthused at the word play.

“Ugh! Honestly!” he shouted, storming off into the kitchen to let his brother have the pleasure of keeping the wolf company.

“Uh, did I do something?”

Waving off her concern, Sans shrugged. “Nah, he just doesn’t find jokes very punny, you know?”

Rolling her eyes, the canine followed his gesture and they headed back outside. With a turn to the left and the flick of a lock, they entered the spare shed beside the house where an acoustic guitar case, microphone, and stand were awaiting them.

“What do you play?”

His sudden question caught her wandering attention back onto him, glad that her dark fur shrouded any blush that heated her muzzle. “O-Oh, I don’t.” she amended, thinking that maybe saying what she did would have been a good start to this. “I sing, actually…”

It was then that she noticed how delicately he picked up the guitar, easily flicking the strap over his head to let it hang comfortably against his front and tuned it to his liking. “Singing, huh? Any favorites?”

She blinked. “Uh, well… I don’t really have a preference. I don’t really even sing around others but my friend has caught me once or twice and dragged me here.”

He stopped, pinpricks of light slanting over and making her feel small. “So, you didn’t come because you wanted to?”

“W-well, I wouldn’t say it like that--”

“I would.”

Mikaela hunched her shoulders, biting her lip. Shifting her stance proved to be more awkward than she imagined and nearly had her falling over, instead opting to scratch her forearm. “I do want to be here. It’s just…” A sigh. “I get nervous singing for others because I’m afraid of what they’ll think of me. I mean, my parents are part of the Royal Guard and I do what? Sing because it makes me feel good? Heh, what a joke.”

Sans studied her for a good two minutes, the silence deafening. Then, he too sighed. “I’m in the same boat, you know? My bro wants to do that and my lazy bones? Heh, I just wanna sit around and crack puns day and night.”

When he earned a look, he continued. “Everyone’s good at somethin’ and it doesn’t matter what others think of ya. Heck, it doesn’t matter what your parents do or anything. Just, do you. Get me?”

Blue eyes lowered from his form in thought, head turned as claws tapped against the hardwood floor of the shed. Then, with a flash of what he could only describe as determination in her eyes, she smiled.

“Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”

“Heh, that’s the spirit. Now that we’ve mutt-stered the courage, let’s get this show on the snow.”

A groan. “Are bad puns part of the gig?”

“Nah, just an added bonus~” he teased, strumming out a harmonious G chord. “Now, let’s hear those scales.”

Mikaela couldn’t believe this! Barely a day went by before she received a call from Sans to tell her that the spot was hers. While it was sad to hear that no one else even bothered to show up, she was thrilled yet terrified. Their first show together?

Grillby’s.

She knew most every monster in Snowdin since moving here on her own and just thinking about singing in front of them tied her stomach in knots. A glance to her partner only showed her his calm smile as they walked, carrying their equipment to the bar.

“Nervous?”

A blink. “Maybe a little… Why?”

“Because you haven’t stopped shaking since we left the house.” Sans mentioned, eyeing her hand for only a moment without changing stride. He used to perform to entertain his brother many times so he had plenty of trial-runs with an audience but just based on their practice, he knew it’d be off to a rocky start.

Mikaela tried hard to stave her nerves, swallowing to ease her words into existence. “This is my first time singing in public, you know… Actually, you’re the first person I ever willingly sang for. Not even my parents have heard me.” She nearly tripped at this admittance, running her paw through her fur to calm herself and play it off. “A-anyway, I just hope it won’t be too busy on a Thursday. It’s usually not, from what I remember, so maybe it won’t be so bad.”

Upon opening the door, she was proven wrong.

Nearly every booth was taken up by monsters of all kinds, ranging from the local dogs who acted as sentry for humans to the fang-lined flytrap who lived just north of the main street. Why in the world was it so packed?!

Ignoring how that thought alone was a pun, the wolf jolted when a hand touched hers and pulled it back to see Sans standing beside her. “Hey, lighten up, bucko. It’ll be fine. Grillbz just thought some music would drum up some business.” He bent his knees to avoid a whack to his head.

“Let’s just… get this over with.”

It took only ten minutes for the two of them to set up the mic stand, speaker, and stool for the show. They were a small gig and while Grillby didn’t seem to be actually paying them, he did offer to cover any kind of drinks they might need while performing.

Once the elemental left them to last moment prep before they began, allowing them access to his back room to warm up vocally, Mikaela sighed. “So, remind me again why we are doing this?” She cleared her throat, thinking that rephrasing might be in order. “Usually, when people are asked to perform, they’re paid but we’re not. What’s going on?”

“It’s simpler payment for something else.”

“Like his tab.”

Sans was the one to jump when Grillby came back, adjusting his glasses to appraise the two.

“He hasn’t paid in a long time so this was a better alternative.” Getting a nod from the wolf, he approached with a smile as he bent low towards her ear to keep the skeleton from overhearing. “After all, more business covers his tab.”

Then, she understood. It was make-up performances that kept their dynamic from sinking or turning nasty. Huh, the majesty of business at its finest.

Standing to his full height, his flames brushed back neatly and bowtie adjusted, the bartender merely patted Sans on the head before leaving them be again. Seemed like he had his fun.

A laugh came from Mikaela from the whole ordeal, for once finding comedy in the face of anxiety.

“What’s got you in stitches?”

“Just the idea of you drinking yourself into debt and the only way to pay it back is by performing for the guy.”

There was a pause before the male laughed as well, seeing the light as she did. “Heh, guess you’re right.” he agreed. Now that he thought about it, that was a strange little set up they had between them. But, he was glad that his new partner had finally loosened up enough to laugh. “Alright, it’s showtime. You ready to huff, puff, and blow them away~?”

Giving him a light shove, the canine rolled her eyes. “Only if you’re ready to knock ‘em dead, bonehead.” When she saw him color at the jab, she snickered and walked ahead of him. “Come on, numbskull. Try to keep up.”

On the inside, she was screaming for a way out.

Exiting the back room, her partner not far behind, the black-furred monster licked her lips in anxiety. The patrons were just talking among themselves and yet, she felt like all eyes were on her. Heart racing in her chest, she nearly turned to run but a hand to her shoulder kept her planted in place.

Blue eyes honed in on lit sockets and Sans’ permagrin kept her grounded. He gave a firm nod and took his seat on the stool, guitar now strapped to his shoulder. Fiddling with the tuning pegs, he found the right sound with a simple strum of the strings.

With a leg hitched up on the top rung of his stall, the skeleton let the waist of his instrument curve along his femur and plucked at the chords rhythmically. He really was adept at his craft, which was odd given how lazy she had heard him to be. But, maybe music was the perfect outlet for him.

They often say that if you’re good at something, it takes no effort other than practice to accomplish what you love; hence the saying “you never work a day in your life if you do what you enjoy.”

The young woman had always wanted that kind of life, to savor her job like her parents did, but never could seem to find her calling.

Maybe this was a step in the right direction.

She was snapped from her thoughts when Grillby came up next to her with a few song requests, the handwriting varying from option to option. “I had asked some of my regulars what they would want to hear. Most, if not all, are not in the jukebox so I hope you know some of them.” he explained.

While some were an enigma to her, there was one in particular that did suit her fancy though was a bit embarrassing to sing. “I’ll try my best. Thanks for the heads up.”

Once alone, Mikaela swallowed and showed Sans the list. “Know any of them?”

Eye sockets judged the paper before they paused at an item about midway down the list, pointing to it. “Just that one. Paps liked how sweet it sounded and had me play it for him since he was just a babybones.”

Of course, it was the one she liked as well. Figures…

“Well, I guess we have to do that one.”

“Why, you know it?”

She shrugged with a bite of her lip. “What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic with an attitude that doesn’t match.” When he laughed, she pouted as her tail bristled. “Hey! Just… Just start it up.”

He obliged and before long, the entire bar went quiet as his nimble fingers strummed the chords effortlessly; his sockets closed and smile turning more gentle. Then, his teeth parted as he sang his first verse.

Mikaela watched as everyone was entranced by his performance, the low baritone warm and enticing to whomever it may be directed to. Though, she did almost miss her mark when he opened his eyes to cue their switch.

Swallowing her nerves, her higher pitch took over for a more intimate echo as the song took on a longing vibe rather than a solemn one. Her voice dipped low every so often to keep it unique but she didn’t stray too far from the source itself; staying in tune with his guitar riffs was rather easy to do so long as she focused on Sans instead of the crowd.

Any time her eyes drifted to the patrons, her heart would race and her hand would grip the mic tightly as she’d close her eyes in fear. Only until they’d get to a part of the chorus to harmonize would she reopen them again to gaze at her partner for stability. He’d offer a reassuring smile and she’d give a shaky one in return.

By the final chorus that lead into the ending chord, they had gotten to be so in-sync with one another that both had nearly forgotten they were in a busy restaurant. It was then that their finale came and the last note left their mouths did the cheers of the monsters jarr their gazes to look out over the sea of people.

Mikaela blinked owlishly, unsure of just how they got through that without so much as a single screw up but a playful hit to her shoulder got her to smile with a few murmurs of thanks. With her tail wagging, she looked to her partner.

Sans gave a mock bow to her with a smile, his teeth connected once more. “I’d say this place has gone to the dogs~” he teased, unrepentant grin as casual as always.

The joke didn’t go without a swat to his skull but it was more playful than anything else. “You suck, you know that? And I’m a wolf, thank you very much.”

“Oh, higher pedigree. My mistake.”

She worked her jaw but was foiled from making a comeback when Grillby approached, congratulating them on a wonderful performance. Though, his next words both elated and terrified her.

“So, what’s the next song?”

#howler #writing nonsense #Undertale #soulwolf writes

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