#definitely the smallest I can go with this font

[sayafics]

Ghost - Chapter V

TW: (slight?) infidelity (Rick cheating? on Lori)

I would consider this the turning point in Rick and Casper's relationship/friendship, they both know Rick has a family he needs to return to so they try and maintain boundaries but in a situation like the apocalypse, even the smallest things can overwhelmd you and those lines can be blurred.

I wonder how Rick and Casper will navigate their friendship forward from here, and I wonder how Daryl will insert himself into this dynamic.

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter, it's definitely a long one!

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Masterlist

Hot water.

Casper became excited at the idea of having a long, hot shower. They were leaving here soon after anyway, so it wouldn't harm anyone if she used whatever fuel was left to have one last moment of solace before having to face the dead city.

She held one of the towels Rick had found close to her chest, a pile of shower gels, shampoos and soaps on top, steadying her arms as she got ready to wander off in the direction of the women's showers to have the place to herself, but was soon stopped by a hand to her shoulder.

Casper froze, unsure of who was responsible for the weight on her shoulder, until a voice spoke up - Morgan.

"You shouldn't wander off alone."

Casper dared to raise an eyebrow as she looked at him over his shoulder, but instead Rick took it upon himself to continue - "he's right, Casper. We don't know what can happen, we're stronger in numbers. Safer."

They were right. Of course they were, but she was not taking a shower with 2 other men and a young boy in the same room.

As though Rick could see the deliberation on her face, he spoke again- "you can go first? Or after?"

Casper thought about it for a moment. She could go first, but that meant she would have to be quick so the boys could have a turn, and it was likely that they wouldn't leave the room during it.

Perhaps, if she waited until after she could convince them she only needed one pair of watchful eyes and then take advantage of the hot water.

She sighed with exasperation, "fine. I'll take in after," nodding to herself. She looked around the shower rooms they stood in, unsure of what to do with herself.

Morgan gave a slight laugh, "you can sit on the benches by the lockers? Keep an eye out for us?"

With a slight shrug of her shoulders, she went to do exactly that, moving slowly as Morgan's hand left her shoulder with ease.

The boys had gotten in and taken advantage of the hot water even before she had reached the bench. Piling her toiletries at one end, Casper sat down with a huff right in the centre of the bench with her back facing the current members of her group.

She peered down at her bag, tuning out of the laughs and cheers of the boys behind her as they enjoyed the hot water and steam she had been looking forward to.

She pulled the bag onto her lap, unzipping it as she scanned through it. Her hands landed on a picture, she pulled it out to take a closer look - a young girl, with dark hair pulled into a ponytail, stood in the centre, a hunting rifle held proudly in her hands as she grinned up towards the man on her left. The man on her left was slender and lean, greying hair that fell around his head gracefully, one of his arms braced across the young girl's shoulder, pulling her into his side. If she concentrated enough, she could make out the small smile etched across his face.

The sight of it caused a similar smile to stretch across her own. She flipped over the picture, 'Casper & Pa' was scribbled across in a neat font.

Casper was unsure how long she had spent dazing into the picture, imagining what her left must have been like before the apocalypse, begging her mind to fill in the blanks. But soon, she heard the shower knobs squeak shut, the sound prompting her to return the picture in the bag and zip it shut.

Just as she did, she heard Rick's voice, "c'mon Casper."

She stood up, leaning down to grab her things before turning towards the, now-emptied, showers. She paused in her steps as she took in the sight in front of her.

Rick Grimes sure was a sight, a very pleasant view. And it seemed even his days stuck in a hospital bed, attached to nothing but an IV, had not been able to take away from his beauty and physique.

Casper had found herself unintentional following the traces of water droplets as they made their way down his body.

She followed them from the roots of his hair, as they weighed heavy in his lashes making them appear darker and his eyes much more vibrant.

Followed them as they carved a path along the curve of his freshly shaved jaw, down the column of his throat. She frowned slightly, she thought the beard suited him. But the shaved look also duited him greatly.

Rick swallowed thickly, his cheeks heating up pink as he took in Casper's intense stare, the way her pupils dilated as she traved every curve and line she could see.

The sight of his Adam's apple bobbing harshly snapped her back into reality, she took in his pinked cheeks causing her own began to blush a heavy red, the colour spreading from her cheeks to her ears, painting her skin a rosy tint as it travelled further south.

Shaking her head, as though to get rid of her sinful thoughts, she quickly skirted around Rick's own bashful figure and headed towards the showers, racing to get in and run away from her own lack of foresight.

***

During her shower, Casper's bandgage had slipped off but she forced herself to pay no mind.

Instead, she scrubbed herself clean, requiring multiple washes to rid her hair of matted blood and soil. All the while, Rick sat on the benches, where she had been only moments ago, waiting.

After she had scrubbed her body raw, Casper stood under the stream, letting the hot water pour over her as she no longer felt a scalding heat but a pleasurable burn spread across her body. A sign she was alive, a sign she had made it this far already.

It didn't take long until Duane's incessant questions about when they could see the armoury had made their way back to the shower room, the insistence causing her to quickly leave the shower and put on a new set of clothes so she no longer kept them waiting.

As she placed on a loose pair of cargo pants and a fitted grey vest with lace details along the collar, she found herself looking longingly at the red jumper that laid astray on the bench.

It was one of the few things she was certain was 'her's' since she had woken up. It was a certainty she wanted to keep - to hold on to.

And so, leaving all her other clothes behind, she grabbed the jumper, trotting her way towards a now uniformed Rick Grimes to shove the jumper in the depths of her bag before he could notice.

But he did notice. Of course he had.

He had also noticed her change of outfit, appreciating the way the vest she wore clinged to her body, slightly damp causing the material to almost become sheer, the way the cargo pants hung low on her waist so if she moved too suddenly a sliver of skin would be made visible. But most of all, he appreciated the way her hair hung down her back, small pieces coming to frame her face - her hair was damp, the water making it seem darker than its normal ebony shade. But still, she looked beautiful.

As Rick looked over her, she found herself doing the same to him. Her eyes raked over his figure, admiring the way his uniform seemed to fit him perfectly. But what had caught her eye the most was the Sheriff's hat he wore atop his head, the shadow it cast causing the colour of his eyes to grow more intense.

The things she would do to get her hands on that hat.

***

"You're a good man, Rick," that had been Morgan, as they got ready to part ways after stocking up in the armoury. Morgan had promised to meet up with them at the Refugee Centre, and if Casper was honest she found herself looking forward to reuniting with the old man and his son soon, it had been hard not to grow used to their presence even after such a short amount of time.

It felt like time moved slower when the dead had risen, every second felt like an hour, every hour like a day.

Morgan looked towards her, "and you are a brave woman, Casper. I hope you find what you're looking for."

Casper nodded towards him politely, turning her head towards Duane, "we'll see you soon, yeah?"

Duane nodded enthusiastically, but his face turned more serious as Rick told him to take care of his old man.

And just like that, in a few minutes, Rick and Casper were on their own again.

But at least they had each other.

***

They had been driving for quite some time, but Casper wasn't sure for how long exactly. She faced the window as she tuned out the flimsy radio Rick had been messing with, the scenery outside blurring passed her eyes.

That is, until the car ran out of fuel and they had to come to a stop.

As they pulled over to a stop, the motion snapping her out of her dazed state, she looked towards Rick - whom she hadn't spoken a word to since they got in the car. He looked at her briefly, as though concerned by her quietness.

She gave him a small smile, hoping to put him at ease. It wasn't that something was wrong. If she was being honest, she just got car sick quite easily. It took everything in her to steady her queasy stomach, slow breathing - in from her nose and out through her mouth, she tried losing herself in the whitenoise made by the radio as Rick tried to signal for help or flag the Refugee Centre. In all honesty, she had been managing well but wouldn't have been able to do so for the rest of the ride to the city.

So when Rick had stopped the car, readying himself to get out, she eagerly left the car before he could speak a word.

Rick shook his head lightly, a short laugh escaping as he became amused by her enthusiasm to escape one of his favourite places to spend time.

Before he followed her, he found himself hesitating for a moment. Rick reached up towards his visor, pulling it down to take out a picture of his wife and their son.

Lori and Carl.

He had to find them. He told himself he would, but then he heard a frustrated voice call out to him, "Rick, how do you open this stupid thing?"

Rick turned his head slightly, leaning back to see Casper struggling to open the trunk of their vehicle. A quiet snort had escaped him. He rolled down his window and leaned out - "don't hurt yourself, sweetheart, I'll give ya a hand." His tone was playful, full of amusement and fondness.

Feelings he hadn't felt in quite some time, even before this disease had spread. It was something he didn't realise he had been craving, but to crave it with a woman he had only met such a short time ago? He was losing his mind.

He would find Carl, and he would find Lori. But there was a dark whisper in his mind, a greedy and selfish and hidden part of him that hoped that he didn't. Or if he did, their discovery wouldn't dwindle whatever was growing, albeit tentatively, between Casper and himself.

"Rick. Come on, man."

With a shake of his head, Rick placed the now folded photograph in his uniform pocket as he exited the car. The trunk clicks as he releases it, and he quirks an eyebrow in Casper's direction as she looks at him in betrayal.

"Man? Really?"

Casper rolled her eyes, instead questioning, "seriously? You couldn't have done that when I was struggling?"

Rick let out an amused smile, his teeth bared at the corner of his eyes crinked - "where's the fun in that?"

Casper was surprised by the teasing nature their conversations had taken, her cheeks reddening at the feeling of his intense stare. To distract herself, and him, she grabbed an empty gas can from the now open trunk, pushing it into his chest as she shoved past him to walk down the highway in search for somewhere they could ask for gas.

Rick, of course, had barely moved at the motion, instead grasping onto the can before it could slip from both of their grasp. His brisk movements caused her hands to brush against his own, and he tried to ignore the way her tinted cheeks darkened further as she rushed away from him.

"Hey, c'mon Casper. Wait for me."

"If you want to be mean, Rick, you can bring my bag too."

Rick could hear the laughter in her voice, and knowing she wasn't truly upset with him, he rolled his eyes in amusement as he lugged his own weapons bag and her's over his shoulder before he jogged to catch up with her.

He nudged her shoulder once he caught up, causing her to send a smile his way. The two then walked side by side in a comfortable silence, each of them looking towards the other, hoping they wouldn't notice.

It didn't take long for them to reach a farmhouse, walking up the driveway as Rick projected his voice, hoping someone would help, "hello? Police officer out here. Can I borrow some gas?"

No reply.

The eery silence prompts Rick to drop his bags on the driveway, placing the cannister next to it. He looks towards Casper, "stay here, I'll be back."

"I am not letting you walk in there alone."

"Cas-"

"Rick, come on. We both saw those things - the walkers. You've been out a month, and I don't even remember anything before waking up in that stupid hospital. We're safer in numbers. We're safer together."

Rick wanted to argue and wanted her to stay with the weapons where she had a greater chance of being safe. But one glance into her eyes was all it took. The browns of her eyes glowed amber in the sun, but her pupils dilated, and she looked almost on edge.

Rick could tell. As much as she was scared, he could get hurt, she was also scared of being left alone. Again.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that was what happened to her at the hospital. Her folks or whatever group she had been holed up with had to have died or abandoned her, leaving her stuck in that hospital room for Rick to find.

And so he relented, "you stay behind me. When I tell you run, you run. When I say hide, you hide. You don't do anything unless I tell you, do you understand?"

It had been so easy to fall back into the role of a Sherifd's Deputy, his voice commanding submission as it became deeper, his southern accent stronger as he words were spoken with a confident rasp. He hadn't even realised he leaned closer to Casper, not until he could feel her breath brush against his face.

She stared up at him, eyes wider than they were before but now it seemed like she was actually seeing him. Seeing what he was capable of, what he could do.

She nodded hesitantly, but soon understanding took its place. A quiet, "yes, sir," slipped from her lips and even though her face heated at the words her gaze never left his.

Rick felt the words hit him, a pleasurable burning sensation travelling down his spine and pooling at the pit of his stomach, and he forced himself to look away before it could do more damage.

He stepped back, turning towards the house and nodding his head in acceptance, not trusting his voice to speak without shaking.

Rixk walks up the stairs to the front door, Casper hovering behind him as promised. He peers in through the door window but doesn’t see anyone, using his shoulders to form a barrier between the front door and Casper just in case something did happen to jump through and attack, at the sight of nothing he instead walks down the porch and looks into another window before moving on to the living room window.

Flies are buzzing around inside the house. Rick, horrified, sees a man on the couch, gunshot to his head and a shotgun dropped nearby. On the floor is a woman, also shot dead. On the wall above the couch is a message written in blood 'God forgive us.'

"Rick, I wanna see too. Can you see anyone in there?"

Casper is trying to look around Rick's lumbering figure, but as he turns her way she stops at the sight of his pale face, his mouth partially open and he looks like he's about to be sick.

His distraught expressions only make her more curious, so peering around his body, she comes face to face with the scene that happened to make Rick sick to his core.

Casper recoils, shaken. She had been placed in a trance, her eyes unable to escape the horror that sat in front of her.

This was their reality now. A permanent death by one's own hands was better than a death caused by being eaten alive, only to come back as a walker.

She hadn't realised she had been moved until she felt grass brush against one of her hands, the sensation bringing her back to the present as she realised she was now sat under a tree. Rick's hand tightly gripped her own - he must've guided her here, still protecting her even in a state so traumatised as his own.

She leaned tiredly against his shoulder, and the pair sat under the tree, contemplating what they had just seen.

It was Casper who then made the first move, pulling lightly at their intertwined hands, her voice soft and gentle, "we should go, Rick."

Rick nodded, but he didn't move, "it's not safe, Rick. We need to leave."

Still barely a muscle twitched in response.

Rick had held her to keep her safe from a nightmare. He had waited for her during her shower so she could wash herself without being scared something might grab her. He asked her to stay behind him whilst they scouted the house, so if anything attacked them they would have to go through him first. He dragged her under this tree so she could escape the horror scene they had stumbled upon.

Rick had been protecting her, keeping her safe from the minute he had met her. For some reason, somehow, her safety became important to him. A priority.

So she used this knowledge to her advantage now, her voice high, almost whining as she leaned into him, her hand gripping his tighter, the other placed on his arm as she squeezed softly.

"Rick, I dont feel safe here. Please."

And, just like she had hoped, her pleas had hit some sort of on-switch, one which prompts him to get up and survey his surroundings. He makes his way towards the house to collect their things, Casper still holding onto his hand as she stays close to his side - it seemed now Rick held onto her hand tighter than she did his, taking her pleas seriously as he tries to come up with a solution since they hadn't found more gas.

The pickup truck they inspected didn't have keys, and as he debated if he could siphon gas without the necessary materials, he heard it.

Not a groan of the dead, not a cry for help.

A neigh. A horse.

The perfect solution, one could march on for hours, and didn't need any gas to function, only rest and food, and he was sure the refugee centre would have plenty of that.

Rick makes his way to the field, grabbing some rope in his spare hand as he now discarded the gas can, to use as a lead.

The horse neighed, on edge at the sight of a tall, lumbering man and his shorter companion who stared open-mouthed at the creature.

A horse?

Rick couldn't be serious, there was no way Casper was going to ride on a horse. She had never even seen a horse before, as far as she was concerned because she had never seen one it was like they never existed. But now she had to ride one? All the way to the centre?

As Rick moved closer to the animal, Casper found herself falling back, her hand slipping from Rick's grasp as he continued towards the animal, slow and quiet so as not to scare it off.

"Easy now. Easy. I’m not gonna hurt you, nothing like that. More like a proposal. Atlanta’s just down the road a ways. It’s safe there—food, shelter, people. Other horses too, I bet. How’s that sound?"

Despite her fear of the animal, Casper found herself laughing quietly at Rick's attempts to talk to the horse.

Although it seemed her giggles were not quiet enough, the joyful noise causing Rick to stare at her briefly and exchange a broad smile.

He turned back towards the horse, edging closer as he looped the rope around its neck. He spoke again, softly, "there we go. Good boy. Come on. Good boy."

He began to lead the horse towards the barn to be saddled, a task that had only taken minutes to complete given his familiarity to it.

All the while, Casper stared on in interest, but her fear of the animal led her to never getting too close.

Rick readjusted the straps of the bags weighing on his shoulders, turning towards Casper to nod towards the horse, "I'll help you up, c'mere."

"You want me to climb onto that thing? Are you serious?"

"It's a horse. And yes, I'm being serious."

"No."

"Excuse me?" Rick could see the nervousness in her eyes as she regarded the beast in front of her, "sweetheart, he's not gonna hurt you." His voice was quiet, gentle as he tried to coax her to come closer.

Instead, she scoffed, shuffling back as she replied, "easy for you to say. You're not the one climbing that thing first."

He began to follow her as she moved backwards, "horse," he repeated.

His tone was exasperated, but there was only so long they could stay here before they began losing sunlight or before walkers found them.

"I'm not getting on."

"Yes, you are. Get on the horse, now sweetheart."

Casper didn't pay any heed, continuing her motions until her back hit the fence of the barn. With nowhere to go, Rick had caught up easily.

He could've used this moment to comfort her, to encourage her onto the horse so they could get on with their journey, but as he got within a hair's breadth distance he could feel the smell of strawberries and cinnamon wash over him once more, the scent becoming a familiar presence.

Just this once.

That was what he had told himself when he held Casper in his arms that night, and it was what he told himself again now.

He leaned in closer to her, head tilting down as his lips brushed against the shell of her ear, "are you scared?"

His voice was quiet, teasing, but he knew he was right.

"Pft, scared? If anything, you're the one who's scared. I don't see you volunteering to mount that beast."

Casper attempted to shove past him in a strop, but he remained steady against the palms of her hands that pushed against his chest. She couldn't find it in herself to move them despite her failure.

"I have to admit, I haven't done this in years. But scared? I'd say you're just too embarrassed to admit the truth."

Casper scoffed, "fine, then you get on first."

She sounded proud of her suggestion and stubborn enough to see it through. Rick knew it was probably the only way they'd actually get onto the horse and make it back on the road, but he couldn't help but play this out further.

"Would that make you feel better, little girl? Would that make you feel safe, sweetheart?" His voice was taunting, mocking her. He was sure sure she would blush and shy away.

Instead his eyes widened as she pressed herself against him, her hands had never left his chest as she pushed her weight into his sturdy form, head tilting as she peered up and into his eyes, he could see mischief flashing in her eyes as a quiet, "please," passed her lips.

Rick felt his breath hitch in his throat, he couldn't process any more thoughts as her petulant whine echoed in his mind on repeat. He found himself nodding vigorously, ready to do whatever she asked.

And it was as though she saw his acceptance as a sign of victory, pushing herself back from her tiptoes to stand flat on her feet, she slapped her hands against his chest in delight before skirting past him with a cheery smile, "great," she exclaimed.

Rick's mouth dropped open, she had just played him. If he hadn't seen the fear in her eyes moments ago, he would've been sure that this whole thing had been a game, to see which one of them actually held the power in their twisted friendship.

A surprised huff escaped his lips as he tried to suppress his laughter, instead moving the bags across his shoulders to dig out a firearm from his own duffelbag to hand to the girl who was, once again, cautiously eying the horse.

He held it out in front of her, waiting for her to grasp it. As she tested out its weight, he questioned, "you ever shoot one of these before?"

Casper couldn't really remember, she didn't have a firearm like this in her bag, most of her weapons consisted of daggers or throwing knives, and those two dagger-like swords, all of which had her name carved into the handles. So she shrugged, the action prompting Rick to continue, "well I want you to keep it. It's already loaded, but let's hope you won't have to use it. Just make sure you switch the safety off when you use it," as he demonstrated how to do so.

Casper looked into his eyes. She could see how serious he was being, so she found herself nodding back in understanding. She would only use it if they got attacked, or worse - separated.

Before he could move towards the horse, she found herself stopping him with a hand on his shoulder. She scurried behind him, rifling through her own duffelbag that she had made him carry the whole way here. In a matter of seconds, she pulled out a dagger. It wasn't much, but it was sharp and strong, easy to hold and manouvre. Lucky for her, it slid perfectly in the loop of her cargos.

When she made her way back in front of Rick, she found him looking at the dagger before looking back at her, "just in case." Rick's eyes washed over with understanding, and then a twinge of fear.

Whatever it was they were walking into, they couldn't be fully prepared. But they had to try.

They stood in silence for a moment, the quiet pushing Casper to say something, "what? Don't tell me you've changed your mind? Or maybe you are scared of the horse."

The jab pulled out a short laugh from Rick, who shook his head as he made his way to the horse. He quickly mounted the horse, waiting until he steadied and calmed before reaching out a hand to Casper.

"Please don't tell me you're gonna sit me at the back."

Rick quirked a brow, so she carried on, "I mean, I haven't exactly been on one of these, so if I fly off, that's completely your fault. Or, if I get hit in the face by your stupid guns."

"I think you're forgetting that you gave me your bag too?"

"Yeah, but mine is practically empty."

"Practically," Rick huffed in amusement before waving his fingers in her direction.

With a sigh of defeat, she took his hands relishing in the way his hands, rough and worn, slid into her's. His hand dwarfed her own, enclosing around her fingers to tug her towards the front of his knees.

"When i say jump, you jump."

Casper nodded hesitantly, moving whichever way Rick's hands moved her. In this case, he dragged her towards the stirrup, telling her to place her foot in.

With her left hand in his right, she twisted herself slightly so she could place her right foot in the stirrup, and then, "jump."

And so she did, Rick pulling her arm with one hand and placing the other on her waist to help her climb over and onto the saddle, which they managed to do with ease.

The saddle is small, so with the lack of space, Rick and Casper now sat pressed against one another, Rick's chest moulded into Casper's back.

Casper's hair was still damp from her shower, so it was tied up in a bun until she was sure it was dry enough to let down without soaking her clothes. Now her hair pressed against Rick's shoulder, leaving a wet mark in its place, visible when she teetered forward with the horse's movements.

She was swaying slightly, the movement causing Rick to move one hand from the reins to draw itself across her body, pulling her further into him and anchoring her body against his own. He expected her to tense up, to try and shuffle away.

But she just relaxed slightly in his grasp, her hands coming to tightly grip his arm as she shut her eyes tightly at the realisation that she was on a horse.

When it seemed her breathing had calmed down, Rick encouraged the horse to take off at a slow walk but it instead took off at a canter. The sudden motion causing a frightened shriek from Casper, her hands gripping Rick's arm tighter, her nails burying themselves in his skin.

Rick couldn't find it in himself to mind the pain, instead he leaned over her left shoulder, tucking himself closer to her neck as he kept an eye on the path ahead.

"Breathe, c'mon Casper."

But Casper was still in a frenzied panic, shaking her head harshly as tears filled her eyes, "I wanna get off."

"Casper, we can't."

"Rick," she whined, and the feeling of her tears hitting his arm caused his heart to almost break.

"I'm sorry, honey. We can't get off. You're safe, baby. You got me, I'm here. You're safe with me."

"Rick." She was quieter now, her breathing no longer harsh and ragged, but he could still feel the tears dripping against his skin. He couldn't help himself, guilt overtaking his conscience as he found himself pressing soft kisses against her wet cheeks, dragging them to the crook of her neck as he whispered over and over again, "I'm sorry baby."

It had taken a few minutes, Rick struggling to console the beautiful woman in his arms and keep a steady control over the direction the horse was headed, but in the end he was rewarded with light sniffles.

Casper moved her hands away from Rick's arm, and Rick almost missed the stinging sensation that had been there.

She covered her face, her skin reddening underneath the palms of her hands.

Rick pulled her closer, "don't hide from me."

"No, I feel stupid," her voice was a whisper, "crying over something like this."

"You were scared. It's okay to cry."

"No, it's not, it-"

"Sweetheart, it's okay. You could cry for a century and I'd still be there to wipe your tears."

The confession caused a shy smile to pull across Casper's face, moving her hands she turned to look into his eyes - her head now leaning on his shoulder as she tilted her back as far back as it would go, "you mean that?"

"I would never lie to you."

A satisfied smile had stretched across her face, "good."

Casper hesitated for a moment. She knew where they were going, and she knew why. Rick had a family, a wife, and a child he wanted needed to find.

She couldn't stand in the way of that, she didn't know if she even could.

Just this once, she told herself. Just this once, she would indulge herself.

She leaned up, Rick's arm tightening around her waist in fear she would slip and fall. One of her hands brushed against the palm of his, his hand opening up to accept her own as she intertwined their fingers once more. Her other hand brushed against the expanse of his neck, trailing up so she could trace his freshly shaved face. Her hand came at a rest against his cheek, and she swore she could feel Rick lean into it, his eyes closing briefly as he relished in her affection.

She came closer, her lips brushing against the opposite cheek and she pressed a tender, but firm kiss upon his cheek, "thank you."

She couldn't have much from Rick, but she could have this.

She quickly sat back against Rick, facing the view, oblivious to the way Rick's cheeks heated and his eyes burned with desire.

#andrea twd #daryl dixon #daryl dixon x oc #daryl dixon x reader #glenn rhee #lori grimes #rick grimes #rick grimes x oc #rick grimes x reader #rick grimes x you #rickyl x reader #rickyl

[causeitsagame]

For the fic ask meme! Literally all of them? I’m so curious

Well, it made the most sense to answer this particular ask and let it cover others!

ANSWERS INCOMING.

Keyboard or notebook?

KEYBOARD. When I write by hand, my wrist soon hurts. (Old tendonitis from undergrad, it loves to flare up.) But my fingers can fly across the keyboard fast enough to keep up with any words as they come. When I get into a groove, I can type awfully fast. My single-day writing record was around 18k words, but uhhhh that has not been approached since.

Now, the risk of typing on a keyboard: the computer has all of those other fascinating elements lurking behind the writing window, and it's just so, so easy to tab over to them. To counter this impulse, I'll often fire up Composition Mode in Scrivener, which takes over the screen and hides all of the other things I could be doing.

Beta or no beta?

I don't use a beta, but I do have a writing buddy. We mutually talk each other through knotty/stubborn structural plot elements of our current pieces, and that's where writing challenges usually lie for me.

In terms of cleaning up the fundamentals, I typically do two things before making anything public. One, I bump the font size way up and/or change the font, to make it look like a "new story." Two, I read every word out loud. I've found this to be an incredible way to catch awkward phrasings, repeated words, run-on sentences, etc. that I'd otherwise miss. (It can also help with pinning down character voices if I go full Audio Book Voiceover and add in some vocal flair for each line of dialogue. But you need to be willing to feel like a little bit of an idiot for that part.)

Plot?

My writing buddy constantly makes (friendly) fun of me for how much I'm into PLOT. I cut my teeth on the Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire series as a younger reader, and those authors fucking. Love. PLOT!

Foreshadowing! Plot twists! Callbacks! The tiniest of hints! The smallest of details! ("No one cares about those details nearly as much as you do, [Miggy]." "DON'T CARE.")

I will say that GRRM's famous Architect vs. Gardener paradigm doesn't fit my plotting style, though. I use what I've dubbed a Road Trip approach, and I'd explain that here, but this is already long enough! I can do it at some other point if anyone's interested?

Smushy or smutty?

I'm fine with smut, I guess, but I prefer it to serve a plot purpose. "These two, overcome with desire for each other, are overjoyed to be reunited" is an example of a place where it could absolutely contribute to the narrative, for example. Otherwise, I'd rather just stick to emotional development and find it to be generally more engaging.

Summary?

Fucking hate them. Ugh. I usually do a quote from the story and then a vague description. Worst part of posting to AO3, truly.

Funniest fic?

Probably something that was lost in my old Livejournal account? I filled an incredible number of anon fic meme prompts there and some of them were actually quite hilarious.

(I miss anon prompt memes so bad. :( That's a huge thing that both Tumblr and AO3 lack.)

Most popular fic?

Legal Partners (Ace Attorney), and it's not close.

Most fun to write?

Probably a poll-driven fic series that I did on Livejournal. I'd write the setup, let people vote on the outcome, and have to figure out how to make it work for the next installment. It was incredibly fun and engaging, riiiiiiight up until some people decided to start setting up a bunch of burner accounts to cheat and managed to ruin the experience for everyone. 🙄

Best and worst?

Worst would definitely be one of the random Yuletide fills I've done. I like the idea of Yuletide, where you gift someone with a fic in a tiny fandom they'd never otherwise get to read. But in reality, the recipients kept adding specific details about romance, timeline, events, etc. that went beyond what they were supposed to provide. As an author, you're technically not constrained by anything beyond the requested fandom and a few specified characters. But if the recipient makes their preferences so very clear, then you're unfortunately faced with a choice between "write the specific thing that would apparently make them happy" and "write a story that you can actually envision, structure, and be proud of." There's a reason I haven't done Yuletide for years.

Best? Well. See. Okay.

I challenged myself to write the stupidest crossover possible. Which meant that I had to make it work. Which meant that I needed to worldbuild. I needed to plot. Weave in foreshadowing. Explain the details. Respect both universes, both in content and mood.

The end result: a Marvel/Glee crossover (really) that a Hugo & Nebula winner has repeatedly encouraged me to file the serial numbers off of, to publish as original work.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Most underrated?

Special, the answer to the last question. I've downloaded it as an eBook, and when I've reread it on a plane (or wherever), I do find myself going "man, this IS good."

Strengths?

Plot. :D For the reasons previously detailed. I try not to hold back from swinging at the fences with developments, both negative and positive. At the same time, I want any positives to feel earned and I want any negatives to carry proper dramatic weight, which means not otherwise rolling around in gratuitous suffering.

I just got some great and thoughtful AO3 comments on my current story (need to reply to comments!!!) and this one: "I called it. I FUCKING called that unimaginable agony and pain was coming!"

came two chapters after this one:

"I’m falling in love with these kids so much. Which can only mean we’re in for a whole lotta pain in a chapter or two."

That's what I'm going for, along with the bad -> good reverse direction, too. (…Usually.) I'm basically a Nagito of plotting. You know: hope leads to despair, and vice versa. I want to elevate the mood before everything crumbles, for the reader will feel even more despondent if everything falls from even greater heights. Or flip it around, and happiness feels like an even bigger relief if the plot previously didn't seem to allow for the slightest scrap of it.

Weaknesses?

I absolutely know that this comes from cutting my teeth on fic: environmental descriptions. It felt weird and repetitive to describe locations that any fan would be familiar with, so that led to me glossing over descriptions of where things were happening. Which is all well and good if it's in an existing location, I suppose; a DR fan doesn't need a loving description of a HPA classroom.

But! While editing, I'll often see that I've done the same thing for some new spot, as well. I'll have an image of this new place in my mind, but that description doesn't make it onto the page with more than a few loosely-sketched lines. That doesn't just harm the story's overall quality, but it also lessens the emotional reaction of the reader as they can't wholly picture the scenes as they happen. It's something I keep kicking my own butt over as I repeatedly catch this pretty fundamental error in editing.

Dirty little secrets?

This 'dirty little secret' is all about how I've tee-heed over some reader reactions.

I think the behavior itself is good! For a story of any real length, I have a cardinal rule that I always, always follow: "every important character has to screw up at some point." No one is allowed to be a perfect cinnamon roll, in other words, while other less ~awesome~ people handle the fuck-ups.

Why it's a dirty little secret: I have giggled a LOT in private over responses I've gotten from clear [their favorite character] stans… because they blatantly ignore how their favorite also screwed up. They've cheered me on for having [their non-favorite] fuck up, and are so relieved that I obviously hate [their non-favorite], too.

Meanwhile, other people have told me the exact same thing... but with the two characters reversed! It's just such a blatant example of how people will have their stan blinders on. It amuses me every single time, even if I never ever mention specific examples outside of private conversations.

(Knowing that I have my own stan blinders is what keeps me using that rule, by the way. My favorites have gotta fuck up just like everyone else. Fair's fair!)

#Anonymous #writing stuff #is this a tag? i guess now it is

[boysenberrybunny]

3 Seasons Review

(7/10) Features: -POC Protagonist -Pronoun Options (He/They/She) TWs: N/A Average route time: About 45 minutes to an hour

Link: https://hamiltonhour.itch.io/3-seasons Three Seasons by HamiltonHour is a fun and light-hearted, albeit short, experience! Here we follow our protagonist, whom you can name and select pronouns for, as they go to supposedly be interviewed at Three Seasons Inc., only to be whisked away into the elemental realm. Stuck there for "a week", you meet our current three choices, Yuto (the Winter Spirit), Sol (the Summer Spirit), and Rye (the Fall Spirit.) Let's start with Yuto!

Going into it, I expected Yuto to be cold and closed-off, as he claimed the others described him as 'cold-hearted.' I find this a bit odd, as he doesn't ever really act that way, always acting about as kind and open as the other two, although in a much more responsible manner. His route has some cute date moments, but, like the other two, it is tragically short, and I feel as though the development from strangers to lovers happens much too quickly. As well, he comes out of his shell extremely fast. Even so, his unexpected cheekiness gave this route a certain special something that I find mediocre romantic visual novels often lack.

Sol also managed to surprise me, given that when I had selected Yuto the first time Sol had made a passing flirtatious comment, giving me the impression that he would be the flirt of the game. Upon selecting his route, however, he had much more of a himbo energy, and was monumentally oblivious to my advances. It was cute, and despite how short and fast the route was, it made much more sense for his character to fall for someone so quickly, so I didn't mind it as much. His concern after the MC is nailed in the face with a volleyball was especially wholesome and sweet. As well, his design is one of my personal favorites.

The current final route, Rye, was fairly decent. His design was the warmest and coziest, and his office was definitely the comfiest looking. What made him stand out a bit amongst the other two options is that he had an actual plot going, separate from your own "trapped-in-the-elemental-realm" thing (this plot being his art show.) His love of art and reading was very cute, and his hopeless romantic energy was extremely pleasant, giving him an overall comforting and warm vibe, much like Fall itself. I also loved his teasing, though this is something he shares in common with the other two boys as well. His ending was the most satisfying, ending with a kiss in the rain, although I still must bring up just how quickly things escalated. Speaking of which...

The Problems with 3 Seasons. Every game, no matter how good, has problems. The first, and smallest, issue is with the textboxes. There's no easy way to tell who's talking, aside from the nametag, as all the boys talk relatively similarly. I feel as though we could benefit from some flourishes on the textbox, both so it looks less 'default' and so that we can better differentiate who's talking at any given time. Different fonts could also help add more visual interest to this section of the screen. The routes also could use a little more variety in the beginning, as they’re all a bit too same-y pre-dates. One issue with the game is that, as stated multiple times before, the routes are extremely short. The game is supposed to take place over "a week" (re: five days, re: two to three days), but due to time passing much faster in the elemental realm, it feels like we barely get any time to get to know the boys, and it certainly feels like much too little time for them to fall in love with us. As Yuto said, the time we spent together is a drop in the bucket of his life. I feel like the game would be better if the time was extended, say to a month, or if time didn't pass so quickly in the elemental realm, so that we would have more time to see these characters grow, and give more reason as to why an immortal being would fall in love with you so fast. Another issue is how useless the protagonist feels. There are two minigames wherein we do our job, and whilst functional, they (the minigames) don't add anything to the experience, both being extremely short and pointless. Were these to stay in the future product, I would recommend a wider variety of them, or perhaps a more difficult and frequent version (which would also be easier to accomplish with an extended time limit!) As it stands, the protagonist does two tasks and then nothing, and whilst I understand the justification being that they don't have magic, the other boys mention how, once teleported, the protagonist is wearing a "Spring staff" uniform. Surely, not every menial task the Spring Staff does requires magic as well? Introducing some side-characters in the form of seasonal staff (such as the Spring Staff) who you could help and work alongside would help breathe life into the game and add some variety aside from the gorgeous boys we have! As well, it would help feed into the sense of progression in the game, especially if they were to note subtle changes in the boys you pursue, something you yourself probably wouldn't notice since you didn't know them beforehand. Praises for the game are still abundant, despite those issues! The character designs and backgrounds are gorgeous, and I feel as though each office fits the boys perfectly! Despite the short length, the game still manages to be quite funny and even romantic at times, with each of the boys' dates being unique and enjoyable experiences. I hardly ever felt as though they said something out of character, which attests to how pleasant the writing can be. Additionally, I absolutely love how each boy gives you a customized piece of jewelry at the end of their route, making it all the more personal and special, as well as giving closure as to how you would find or see them again. The music, also, is nice, if not repetitive. Overall, I would recommend this game to someone with around two to three hours open and who enjoys isekai-type short stories. Please excuse any clunkiness, as this is the first review I’m posting, and I’m still working out the kinks in organization! Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you again soon! <3

#Boysenberry bunny #vn review #3 seasons #3 seasons review #3 seasons vn #3 seasons visual novel #visual novel #visual novel review #romantic visual novel #romance visual novel #review #Three Seasons #Three Seasons VN #Critique #POC Protagonist #Custom Pronouns #No TWs

[terrihero]

Free fonts to use

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Check out their range of add ons like Lightroom presets, brushes and textures, and even original color palettes to add a splash of creativity into your projects.

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Aside from fonts, you can download lots of graphic art, creative clip art and templates for free, which saves time whenever necessary.

FREE FONTS TO USE FREE

Most of these free fonts come with a commercial license, so rest assured that your designs will have the best typefaces, completely free of the legal hassles that come with font usages. Often times, these free fonts come with some clip art or graphics that are included in the downloadable packs. The fonts on the free section of TheHungryJPEG offers a lot of variety, styles and themes that suit a range of designs. This site also has an account option if you plan on becoming a frequent user.

FREE FONTS TO USE FULL

Some of them show the font as having very few characters but when installed have the full set. ttf file to install. One thing to note is that the character map on the font web pages do not always accurately represent the characters that come with the font. Simple click download on the right end of the font you like, unzip it, and double click the. The download process is also quite simple. If you want to look through fonts from the category options, remember to click “Only view fonts that are free for commercial use” before starting to look through the lists. Because of this site’s popularity and lite community features, there are comments on a majority of the fonts available so you can easily take a glance at what people are saying prior to downloading. They have a very large and impressive collection of commercial free fonts that are high quality and easy to install. It’s definitely not as pretty as Font Squirrel, but rest assured quality is still in there. Don’t be fooled by the direct-marketing style name of the site or its appearance. You can access the commercial fonts directly from this link. They also have a specific section of fonts that are for commercial use only. 1001 fontsġ001 fonts has a very large collection of fonts. The most useful features of any site or service. They even have full lists of glyphs and a way for you to enter text to see how it will look in a particular font face. You can create an account and save favorites if you want. And as if that wasn’t already great enough, this website also has a font identifier where you can upload an image of a font you have that you are trying to match. They make it easy for you to find and download fonts. You can probably see why this is our go-to favorite font site. Simply click the download button next to the font you’ve chosen, unzip it, and double click the. The download process is also the most straightforward. If you have a specific category you’d like to search, choose your options on the right-hand side. Font Squirrel likely has the smallest library of fonts from this list, but the quality of the chosen fonts are undeniable. But, if you do want to expand your options, they offer a small but quality list of “Almost Free” fonts. So you don’t have to worry about adjusting your search options on their site in any shape or form. Unlike some of the other websites on this list, all of the fonts provided on this website are available for commercial use. Font Squirrelįont Squirrel is the number one best place to find quality, free, commercial use fonts. Once you download a few or a few dozen free fonts, our free online photo editor P i xlr lets you use fonts you’ve installed on your computer. They work fast and don’t require you to jump through a lot of hoops to download fonts. There are lots of really cool smaller sites that offer amazing and unique fonts, but these sites are the places that serve up lots of downloads - maybe think of them as commodity font sites. In our humble opinion, these are the most reliable places to find free fonts. To help save you some time down the line, we’re sharing our five favorite font sites you can comfortably use without having to worry about cost or usage limitations. It can be difficult and frustrating digging around the web to find the perfect font for a project - only to realize it comes with a formidable price tag or isn’t applicable for commercial use.

#Free fonts to use

[rachaelmac]

BRAND LOGO 

RESEARCH 

Following on from my research boards I wanted to set out a bit of a mind map and see what comes to mind. most of the elements coming out of the mind map where to do with natural sources I think this was due to the nature of the collab be regarding sustainability. Also coming out of the mind map was to do with trend setting, being a step ahead and innovative. Below I done a little more research on a few of the key words that I am going to take forward.

RESEARCH

ATOMS

During my mind map I highlighted the word Atom. Pangaia is a science based fashion brand. This draw me to the different symbols you would find. I started to do a little research on different symbols.

An atom is the basic building block of chemistry. It is the smallest unit into which matter can be divided without the release of electrically charged particles. It also is the smallest unit of matter that has the characteristic properties of a chemical element

GLOBAL/EARTH

Overall the whole idea behind sustainable fashion it is to help with the impact we have on the plant. Sustainable Fashion Reduces CO2 & Other Greenhouse Gases Emission. Fast fashion has a huge carbon footprint resulting from material creation, manufacturing, transportation, and even textile waste decomposing in landfills. I am drawing to trying to incorporate the colour of shape of the plant in my design.

CONCEPT BOARD 1  

CONCEPT 1 DEVELOPMENT 

Above I sketched out some initial ideas for both of my concepts before I took it into digital. I want to concentrate more around shapes in my designs.

CONCEPT 1 DEVELOPMENT 

Above I took what I had sketched out into digital. I selected a few different fonts that liked. I defiantly wanted to make each of them different rather than the same. I was drawn most to the first pairing and the fact the send was italic. Then I create the symbol for an atom. Playing around with the placement of the symbol and the text. Next I added in a little colour to see what I liked. I did revert back to the Primark blue but it just didn't feel right in this instance. Out off all the  logos I definitely liked the placement of the second top on the right but I did like the idea of adding in green and purple of the symbol.

After previously exploring using a symbol of an atom in the logo I wanted to look at developing it more. Firstly I wanted it to be cohesive throughout the journey from the brand logo to the shop fit. As my design inspiration for the shoplift included some 3D elements and wanted the atom so resemble this also. Above a played around with the size and different fonts.

CONCEPT 2 DEVELOPMENT 

Above are my first sketches for the send concept. For this concept I wanted to try and concentrate on the idea of a circle. The circle is the symbol of the earth. 

CONCEPT 2 RESEARCH 

Before going into digital I was keen to do a little more research of other brands of graphic posters that has tried to incorporate earth. Below are some of the images I was drawn to the most. All of the below are different but have captured the message the are trying to convey. I really liked the work done for the cop26 and as it was done in Glasgow I done a little more research on it.

The identity centres around an image of a globe. The planet is identifiable with its forms of green and blue. The continents and oceans have been given a swirling effect like to marbling. 

“Right from the off, it was clear that if we did use an Earth image, we had to avoid showing one particular continent over another – no one country can be either at the fore, or to blame,” Michael says.

That led to many discussions about the world being “in flux” and “how the climate crisis crossed every border” he continues, and experiments which abstracted recognisable imagery of the planet. “The end result (after a lot of experimentation) is clearly earth-like, yet slightly other-worldly,”

CONCEPT BOARD 2

CONCEPT 2 DEVELOPMENT 

After my research on cop 26 I was keen to give something a go to try and create the same effect. With acrylic paint I started to pout it onto some card in different areas and direction. I then got my hair dryer put it on a low and slow heat for the paint to spread and mesh together.

I then selected my favourite to take forward.

After I had given it time to dry I then scanned it into my computer so that I could take it into photoshop and have a play around with the colours. After playing around with the hue and saturation I came out with the final outcome. I was really happy with out it turned out. it was a play on colour and how the colours intertwined gave a real sense of the earths surface.

Next it was time to try and incorporate what would become my print into some of my digital sketches. After merging the print into some of the sketches I started so see how it could come together. The print was very playful and even though I had played around with some of the typography it still didn't feel like it had all some together. so I still had a little work to do.

Below I started to look for some brand logos that had a more hand written feel. Something that felt more organic and in line with what I was trying to create and could have a better use of visual language I was trying to achieve. I was sent this account of a brand on instagram. I loved how raw this came across. The use on the different thickness of the lines also interested me.

Below I started to play around with writing out Pangaia in different ways. I first started my a black line pen then went onto using a black marker and finally trying out some hand drawn paint. When I got to using paint it wasn't the easiest to use and had to use some different sized brushed to get the outcome I was looking for.

After deciding on the final painted lettering I took it into digital. 

My final design outcome was a merge between raw and digital design. The idea behind the logo was inspired by the carbon foot print created on earth. I wanted to incorporate the earth tones and the rawness throughout my design. Overall I am happy with how it has came out and it merges the brand collaboration and the steps being being to create a better carbon foot print in fashion.

www.itsnicethat.com. (n.d.). Behind the Cop26 brand identity with Johnson Banks, as it takes centre stage at the global conference. [online] Available at: https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/johnson-banks-cop-26-identity-graphic-design-091121.

‌

#pp_hncgd1

[simply-sithel]

Binderary Day 1: Bookends by djmarinizela [AO3]

A requested fic, home marbled papers, 80 pages, 3,851 words, just baaaarely making it under the 1/4″ limit. Sadly had to opt for thinner covers to make it work. What a fitting title for first project of the month! “So we have something to keep everything together”

#renegadebinderary2022 #done before 9pm is good- right? #bookbinding #little book #easy enough to read when w/ finger above and below book #definitely the smallest I can go with this font

[heavenfordoms]

”Innocent“ Hug (Deku x fem! Reader):

Pairing(s): Deku x reader

Warning(s): 18+ minors DNI, cussing, manga spoilers, riding, death, semi-public sex, eating out

Genera: angst to fluff to smut

A/N: wait this was actually fun and easy to write for me wtf

Fandom: My hero academia (boku no hero academia)

Glossary:

Y/n = your name

Summery: Bakugou looses his life in battle and y/n goes to comfort Deku, soon Deku ends up forgetting about Bakugou as y/n rides him

You sucked in a breath, holding it for a while as you stared at the villain in front of you. You where crouched down low so you knew that he couldn’t see you. But you sure saw him. Your quirk was called memory, you could memorize anything that you wanted. The downside to this quirk is that while your mind was full of knowledge your body was weak so it was no good for battle-training, another bad thing (or more annoying then anything) is that we can’t forget it, ever, even if you wanted to. You remember every single detail of your life and every single thing that has happened to this point in grave detail. Not like you wanted to remember it, but you felt so worthless that it was almost blood to memorize everything. Like how there where five street lamps outside the bar. They where dimly lit and flickered every five second, each one after the other. The one on the very right was the first to flicker then it would go all the way to the left. Sometimes the one in the very middle would shut off at random times as the other lamps brightly shone in the night-sky.

“Could you stop mumbling?!” Katsuki whisper-yelled at you. You slightly cringed at the blonde male’s words before nodding your head in a form of acceptance (for some reason people saw that as acceptance so you did as well).

Katsuki is a young man of average height for somebody his age, with a slim, muscular build, and a fair skin tone. He has short, spiky, ash-blond hair with choppy bangs that hang over his eyebrows. His eyes are sharp and bright red in color. His hero costume is composed of a tight, black, sleeveless tank top, with an orange "X" across the middle, forming a v-neck. There are two dots along the left line of his collar, indicating the support company that designed his costume. His costume also has a metallic neck brace worn with rectangular ends that have three holes on each side. His sleeves reach from within his large grenade-like gauntlets to his biceps. His belt, which also carries grenades, holds up his baggy pants with knee guards, below which he sports black, knee-high combat boots with orange soles and eyelets. His mask is jagged and black, and as it goes around his eyes, a large, orange-rimmed flare shape protrudes from each side.

You focused your eyes off of Kastsuki and onto Dabi, the villain who was standing guard outside the bar. Dabi is a fairly tall, pale young man of a slim, somewhat-lanky build, described to be in his early twenties. He has white hair with a few red streaks at the crown that spikes upward around his head, hanging low over his eyes, which are thin, turquoise in color, and heavily lidded. Before the reveal of his true identity, his hair was dyed black. His most striking features are undoubtedly the patches of gnarled, wrinkled, purple skin that cover much of his lower face and neck, all the way down past his collarbone, below his eyes and on his arms and legs due to him having a quirk at a early age and not knowing how to control it. These appear to be attached to the rest of his skin by multiple, crude surgical staples or hoop piercings. He has several silver cartilage piercings in both ears, and a triple nostril piercing on the right side of his nose. He also seems to be lacking earlobes on both sides of his ears upon close inspection, he wears a dark blue jacket with a high, ripped collar, and matching pants, cut off above his ankles, a pair of dark dress shoes on his feet. He also has a plain pale gray, scoop-neck shirt, below which a gray belt with a circular pattern wraps around his waist, a leather satchel attached at the back.

Nobody knew his real name, until now, Dabi had revealed himself as Touya Todoroki. Everyone now calls him Touya but it never settled right in your gut to call him that. His name was Dabi to you and it will always be Dabi. It didn’t matter if he did a big entry and say that he is part of the Todoroki’s Dabi didn’t seem like them. The Todoroki’s where a strict family with ruled set in place. Endeavor, now the number one hero, had tried to welcome his family with more open arms. You could tell that Dabi’s opening was not out of grief for his family but instead out of spite. Like saying to Endeavor that he needs to take a chill pill with this whole anime redemption arc thing that he has going on for himself (and you didn’t quiet disagree with the oriole scarred man either).

You often thought of life like a anime, it was easier to explain. If somebodies life was broken they just ended up in the wrong anime. It also helped reminded you that every villain has a backstory. You never got to see their perspective in things. You never got to see what happened to the villains after they got defeated. Nope. You never got to see that, maybe if people saw the villain’s side. Everyone would hate the hero‘s and build their own path just as villains do. They make a path that no one has ever gone on, slowly making it a dirt road and them turning it again into an actual road that everyone can go on. Villains never got the roadwork. Hero’s probably always destroy it.

“So what’s the plan?” You leaned in close to Katsuki and whispered in his ear, Kastuki tensed up next to you and sucked in a breath before looking at you through pointy eyes.

”I will distract scar-man while you go and get Deku from the bar.” Kastuki explained, you nodded your head ‘yes’ before you pointing in the direction you where going to go. Kastuki grunted to himself as he crawled slowly in the opposite direction. Sending explosion at Dabi’s face before ducking behind a large wooden tool-box that had the words ”Back Bend Inc” on it in Ariel black font. Although it had been there for so long that the black ink looked to be a dark smoky gray. You quietly padded off into the opposite direction, your head ducked and eyes darting every five seconds to catch every detail around you.

Silently, you slipped into the bar. There was a wooden plank that held up the first stand, it looked to be pretty normal from here. There was dark wine stands that had a light brown color to them. The walls where colored with a sand tan. Over by the bar there was stacks and stacks of different liquor that people could have. Above was the general black chalkboard menu, there was smeared blue chalk that said “SPECIAL: Burbon” the strong smell of liquor and whisky hung in the air. There was a cigarette hanging off the ledge, still lit and everything. It looked pretty normal, but there was a slight piece of the cigarette where it was unwrapped and that told you enough to not say ’fuck it’ and have a smoke break. Turning your head slowly you walked up to Kurogiri. Information began flooding in your head about the villains and the bar. Unluckily for you everyone noticed the smartness you had and quickly found out your quirk. They began to flood your Brian with information. Information that a kid didn’t want to hear. You heard everything when you where just in High School. Now, everyone hated your quirk, everyone fucking hated it. The people who raised you said that you where a monster and that they didn’t know you anymore. But the sad part was you didnt do anything wrong. After hours of racking through your mind you couldn’t find a single moment where you did something bad. “I need to see Tomura.” You stared blankly at the mist villain. Kurogiri's entire body is made out of a dark purple mist, save for his eyes, which are glowing yellow. He normally wears a very elegant suit with a tie and has a metal brace that goes from around his collarbone to just below his eyes. It was pretty simple description of the villain, but there wasn’t much to him.

“Now?“ The male inquired, a hint of annoyance traced his smooth and calming voice. His voice sounded a lot like a gently sea softly rippling in the waves. But in actuality he was more like a thundering storm as the large ocean waves crashed harshly against large dark-gray-almost-black rocks.

“Yes, it is important.” You answered, putting a fake smile across your face. You still heard the faint sound of explosions from Katsuki and knew that you didn’t have a lot of time. Katsuki only could hold off for fifteen minutes before he went full on battle mood. And the villains would definitely think at something is up. Kurogiri hummed thoughtfully before nodding his head in agreement and holding out his purple misted hand.

”Come on dear…” The man whispered soothingly and smiling up and down at you.

“Thanks!” You chirped getting up and going behind the bar, following the villain down the stairs that creaked underneath your feet.

“BOSS!! Somebody wanted you!!” Kurogiri called, you took a deep breath before flinching as you looked into the villains base.

It was the same red bricks that seemed to be different colors every brick that was placed down to make the wall of the bar. There was smooth fake wood counter with clean royal red plush bar stools with the smallest backs on them. There was a few hero posters scattered around the base, one medium sized All Might poster hung to the right of a small screen TV. The dull gray light picketed on and off as the headlights didn’t provide much protection against the dark loom of everything. Different types of bottles hung on narrowed shelves behind the bar. Right next to the bar was a metal door, the window had cages around it and a long shiny knob that went down the left side. To the right of the door was a old faction radio station with LED lights surrounding it. It was currently playing Take Me to Church, apparently just starting to play it seeing how the introduction was still on. You narrowed your eyes before leaning against the red brick wall and giving everyone a swept gaze. All of the villains names that where forced to memorize came to your head all of a sudden.

Himiko Toga was standing in the farthest left, spinning in the red barstools.

Himiko is a relatively petite, fair-skinned girl who is very prone to blushing and is frequently described as to having a rather pretty face. She has slightly inward-tilting bright yellow eyes with thin slits, making them somewhat resemble those of a cat, and her wide mouth is also rather feline, as both her upper and lower canines are more pointed and longer than the rest of her teeth, giving her a vampire-like appearance. Her hair is a pale, dirty ash-blonde and is styled into two messy buns, with numerous wild strands sticking out at all angles from their centers and where they’re fastened, a straight fringe and two chin-length side bangs to frame her face. Himiko’s outfit consist of a plain seifuku with a Kansai collar, both the skirt and the shirt dark blue with a double white trim, which is paired with a red scarf that she ties loosely below. Over this, she wears an oversized beige cardigan with a rather long hem and cuffs, and pockets on either side, the right one shown to hold a number of trinkets on either a keychain or a cellphone strap. She sports knee-length black socks and dark brown dress shoes with thick heels, the same as the outdoor uniform shoes students traditionally wear in Japanese schools.

Tomura was standing next to Himiko, a bored expression clouding his features.

Tomura is a slim man with deathly pale skin, tinged yellow, and wrinkled a great deal around his eyes. His lips are chapped and uneven, a small mole on the right underneath, with visible scars on his right eye and under his lip. He has messy grayish-blue hair of varying lengths, the longest clumps reaching to about his shoulders, left hanging over his face in uneven waves. His eyes are normally obscured, but when visible, they are usually stretched wide in a rather maniacal manner, their bright red irises are very small.

Interestingly, when Tenko was at the age of five, he bore a striking resemblance to Izuku Midoriya, with his blue hair originally being dark black in color, while also having dried patches of skin around his eyes, though his lips were shown to be healthy in appearance. After his Quirk manifested, his appearance changed giving him a wrinkled face and changing his hair color.

Nobody else was in the base, the rest of the villains where busy surviving customers or dealing with Bakugou.

Then you saw him

Deku…

Deku has been a classmate of yours for a while, although you guy’s rarely talked to each other you always admired his strength and wisdom. Soon he became the number one hero and you became the second, Bakugou and Todoroki following closely behind. The only real reason you where able to make it to number two was due to the popularity votes for citizens. Everyone liked you, they loo up to you. So rationally you often teamed up with Deku. He was not good with the citizens since he never got a chance to talk to them due to the fact that he broke his bones in battle often but his quirk was amazing. And you didn’t have a lot of strength so that gave you time to connect with the citizens. The two of you working together helped everyone live a better place. Now seeing him tied up and helpless, it made you pretty angry.

“I would love to sit here and chat, but I got a hero to save!” You smirked as you raced on ahead and grabbed Deku, pulling him out of the chains before the villains had any time to react. Standing next to the hero you where slightly taller (mind you he hasn’t grown since high school so that wasn’t really anything to brag about being taller then him).

”HELLPPP!!!” A scream shouted from Kastuki, your eyes widened as you sprinted off to get the number three hero. Deku closely followed you as he got his quirk ready. But by the time that you rushed out you knew it was too late. Katsuki had been crushed by the blue flames that wrapped around his body.

“KACCHAN!!!” Deku screamed, DabI whipped his head around and started at the number one hero.

”You idiot!“ You hissed as you grabbed Deku’s arm and made a run for it. Dragging him out into the open where a bunch of other hero’s where’s standing just in case something happened. You noticed that they where busy on their phones and probably didn’t even hear Katsuki screaming for help. You rushed Deku to the side of the red brick building and waited for a ambulance to come pick Deku up. Once they carried him away you narrowed your eyes at the pro-hero’s.

”I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD I AM GOING TO KILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IF YOU ACT LIKE THAT AGAUN!!! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH STRESS YOU PUT US THROUGH??? DYNAMIGHT COULD HAVE STILL BEEN ALIVE IF YOU HAVEN’T SAT ON YOUR ASS ALL DAY AND ACT LIKE A BUNCH OF FUCKING SLUTS!! I SWEAR TO GOD I AM GOING TO RIP ALL OF YOUR HEADS OFF, FEED THEM TO MY DOG, MAKE MY DOG SHIT OFF A BRIDGE AND SEE THE SHIT SMEERED ON THE TIRE, GET A LIGHTER AND BURN THE CAR DOWN, TAKE THE ASHES AND PUT THEM IN A GROUND, I WILL TAKE THE GROUND WHERE THE ASH IS AND MAKE IT A STRIPER CLUB, AND THEN GET A EXORCIST TO PUT YOU TO HELL!!!” You started cussing them off, the pro-hero’s shuffled uncomfortably and looked at each other with weird stares. They knew that they where in shit when they pissed you off. You weren’t very easy to piss off so when somebody pissed you off they knew they were in deep horse shit.

*** You rushed into the hospital bed where Deku was at. Your breath coming out in short puffs as you stood on the edge of the male’s bed and watched as thick tears streamed down his face. You grew soft and laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Calm down baby…I am here…” You reassured, slowly climbing on the bed and getting on him. Deku gulped thickly at the closed distance between the two of you and began sweating nervously.

“Y/n!“ You yelped, trying to scoot back. You looked up at him and gave the male a cocky smile.

“What? Are you suggesting something?” You leaned in and whispered in Deku‘s ears. Deku whined before nodding his head ‘yes‘ you rolled your eyes and began to unbutton your shirt. Popping out a few buttons in the process. Gently, you pulled down your panties and threw them to the side, lifting up your skirt and showing your ass to Deku. Deku trembled slightly and started licking at the entrance, slowly, he began eating you out. You moaned quietly before bucking Your hips backwards. Deku gasped before moaning also and continuing to do his work. Once Deku are you out for a few minutes you pulled away and Deku looked at you with large puppy dogs eyes. His Greek emerald eyes blown wide in lust.

You leaned down and took off his pants with your teeth, dragging your nails up his clothed hero uniform shirt. Deku bucked his hips up and whimpered. You smirked into the material. Once you actually got the pants down you slipped off his boxers and starting to get settled on Deku.

You and Deku had this off and on thing. You guy’s weren’t dating each other and fucked other people but it was always a delight when you got to fuck him. A smile always formed on his lips when you topped him. He always thought that everyone was going to leave him to be the top, so it was reassuring when he saw that somebody cared about him enough to dom him and show him who is in control.

You where snapped back into reality when Deku gasped in shock as you took him all in, groaning slightly at the fact that you took him with such ease because he has been in you so much. Slowly you waited for yourself to adjust (which didn’t take that long) before you started bouncing up and down. Deku threw his head back and moaned loudly as felt your walls clench around him. You kept bouncing on him up and down in a rhyme pattern.

“Come on baby, thought you liked it…” You pouted, looking down on the green haired hero and smiling cockily.

#my hero acadamy #bnha fanfiction #bnha #mha #my hero academia #midoriya izuku #bnha smut #bnha deku #deku smut #deku x reader #mha deku #deku x you #mha x y/n #deku #smut #fanfic #writing inspiration #writing #fanfiction #writeblr #reference #ao3 #words #writing blog #fandom #imagine #x reader #reader insert #one shot #self ship

[katytheinspiredworkaholic]

Correspondence, Chapter 03

Pairing: HotchReid

Summary:  An AU where Reid never joined the FBI, but got roped into consulting for the LA field office while working and teaching at Caltech. Hotch gets his email referred from a fellow agent, and they start to work on cases together -- until they start talking on a regular basis. Regular becomes frequent, frequent becomes constant. They know nothing about each other, but they don't really mind.

Rating: Mature/Explicit (eventually)

Chapter CW/notes: Mentions of alcohol, a very long conversation happens where Hotch is a little buzzed. Big, BIG focus on their age difference, and unintentional misinformation. Spencer has no idea Hotch thinks he’s older, or at least not OLD older, and gets a little panicky/clams up -- and yes I realize Hotch could just background check him and find it out but he respects the man enough to not do that. The chapter is linear, it just encompasses a lot of time passing so hopefully that’s not too confusing. Set in season 6, self beta’d.

Word Count: 5025

Masterpost Link

Ao3 Link

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Chapter 03

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Early September 2010

--

And so, it begins.

The dynamic shift, the vast change in how Hotch and Dr. Reid had been corresponding for the past few months. Evolving from something so professional and academic to something… looser. More freeing. More room for error, of course, but the risk turns out to be more than worth it for what they gain.

The texts are sporadic, at first. Short interactions, here and there, all stemming from that first, longer conversation about Jack. Hotch follows up the very next day, after he gets to talk to his son in the morning over pancakes. Jessica hovering nearby the whole time. She had apologized for her harsh words, and commended him after the fact how he’d approached Jack on the subject and led the little boy into a conversation rather than a lecture like his teachers had done. Because, as Spencer had mentioned -- there was no need for one. Jack already had the situation handled.

[]6/4, 12:39[] You were right. 

[]6/4, 12:39[] He invited the kid that was bullying him over for a playdate. Trying to win him over by killing him with kindness.

[]6/4, 12:43[] My kind of kid. 

[]6/4, 12:44[] You’ve taught him well, Hotch.

And that was it. That was all it took to kick off what turns into a frequent occurrence. Slowly, as time passes, their quick texts turn to conversations that naturally revert to work. It’s where they spend most of their time, after all, and what they had bonded over in the first place. But unlike in their emails, it isn’t just about the cases or profiles or statistics required to crack them. It’s much more opinionated than that, erratic in it’s content and frequency. Commentary on Hotch’s team, ideas on the cases they work, case studies and research projects and sometimes even just office gossip that somehow always makes its way to Hotch’s attention despite everyone trying to keep it from doing so.

Or just Dr. Reid observing their antics. This is the beginning of the tonal shift, and Hotch can’t help but think… it just might be a welcome one.

[]6/12, 10:03[] Your tech analyst always sends me rainbow font emails.

[]6/12, 10:07[] Yes, she’s doing that with everyone on the team. It’s Pride month and she’s being supportive.

[]6/12, 10:11[] She considers me a part of the team? How sweet of her.

[]6/12, 10:12[] You are, and as far as the bureau goes you might as well be.

[]6/12, 10:13[] I doubt I could sneak you into payroll, though.

[]6/12, 10:21[] I bet Ms. Garcia could.

[]6/12, 10:28[] Don’t. Say. Anything.

[]6/12, 10:29[] But yes, she could. 

It turns into a small reprieve, for Hotch, in the constant deluge of bureaucracy and violence that fills his work day. The single moment he allows a sliver of himself to appear through the cracks of his armor he has to wear to guard himself from it all. To be the stoic leader the team needs, the unmovable tree in the storm.

Only in his quick, typed under the table conversations he has with Spencer does he allow himself the slips of humor. Barely there traces of a smile. Finding the smallest spots of light in his dark days, in his work that can surround and consume to the point of suffocation. Hotch thrives in it, he always has -- while others have drowned. But he doesn’t mind finding this small self-indulgence. Making the decision for himself that he can joke and poke fun at his work and not feel guilty about it. That, for once, he can allow himself this.

Until one day, Spencer returns the favor -- and starts talking about his own work.

[]7/21, 16:17[] If I leave all of my Ph.D. applicants in a ditch in the desert, is that still murder?

[]7/21, 16:30[] Technically or hypothetically?

[]7/21, 16:34[] Different question, would you be my legal council if I snap and it happens anyway?

[]7/21, 16:37[] Of course.

[]7/21, 16:38[] But as your attorney, I have to advise you that we never had this conversation, and murder is wrong.

[]7/21, 16:40[] Hypothetically. 

Spencer takes a little longer to open up, but when he does it is through this window into an academic world Hotch had never planned or thought he would ever be privy to. He begins to reveal pieces of it, bit by bit, until Hotch starts to form a picture in his mind of what shape this professor’s life really takes. Making deductions based on his speech patterns, what goes on throughout his day, his word choices, and profiling the man through text message without even meaning to. 

He tries to put a stop to it as soon as he realizes this. Dr. Reid isn’t just a consultant anymore, he is his friend -- and Hotch will always do his utmost to not profile his friends. But it’s a little too late for some aspects that can’t help but stand out as time goes on. Such as the inkling that the other man probably isn’t senile with a cane and a stooped back, like Hotch had first thought. Certain parts of his day allude to someone who is a bit fresher to the academic scene -- instead of spending decades on a college campus. 

But Hotch sets that aside, to be scrutinized at a later date, and instead turns his focus into enjoying what Spencer has to offer him. As his friend. The stories he shares freely, now that they’ve spent all this time breaking down the barriers. He regales Hotch with his own daily problems, grievances, as well as the little bright spots that he just wants to share with Hotch so that it can lighten up his own days. Which were much more bleak, and crowded with danger and horrid things. 

Hotch lives for those messages.

[]7/28, 20:42[] So I have a godson.

[]7/28, 20:44[] He’s four, and he just came to visit last week with his mother. Have you and Jack ever done science experiments at home? 

[]7/28, 20:46[] Because I have some that are definite crowd pleasers. Do them right, you can call them ‘physics magic’. I can send you the instructions, it’s well worth it.

[]7/28, 20:47[] I’m not sure how helpful I would be in a scientific area, but I’m always willing to try.

[]7/28, 20:49[] I’d require video evidence of it, then. 

[]7/28, 20:50[] But they are so fun, I’d forgotten how much.

[]7/28, 20:51[] No children of your own?

[]7/28, 20:54[] Never found the right person, but I always spent so much time on my degrees that I hadn’t really thought about being a parent. 

[]7/28, 20:55[] My Godson really brought it to light, though. I love having him here.

[]7/28, 20:56[] I bet he loves when you come around, or when they get to visit you, too.

[]7/28, 20:59[] I work in a science lab, with lasers and telescopes bigger than my first apartment. My approval rating is pretty high when it comes to my godson. 

Although Hotch finds that he doesn’t always start these interactions, the ones that lead to topics outside of work, he also isn’t against them in the slightest. They begin to start messaging at all hours, because of this; first thing in the morning, during their lunch break, whenever something pops up -- what used to be jokes that would just be kept to themselves, turn to conversation starters. And that development shifts the dynamic even more.

[]8/11, 10:31[] Coffee shops always make me feel old, and like I’m a grad student all over again.

[]8/11, 10:38[] You don’t have a T.A. to run and get you coffee?

[]8/11, 10:41[] Of course you would send out for coffee.

[]8/11, 10:42[] Well my order is two steps, not sixteen.

[]8/11, 10:43[] Tyrant.

[]8/11, 10:43[] Pretentious.

They start to tease, banter, and poke fun at each other. Comradery, friendship, and the more it goes on the more it seems to spiral towards something else. Something new.

But it’s these small moments, messages, conversations that can last a minute or an hour, that make Hotch’s chest feel so much lighter as the weeks go by. Hints of a smile easing onto his face, smoothing out and softening the edges in a way they haven’t in a long time. Garnering some attention from the rest of the team, or whoever is in the vicinity that felt brave enough to mention it.

“Who are you talking to?”

“Who’s the lucky lady?”

“No one,” Hotch would answer, schooling himself and pocketing his phone. “Just a consultant on a case.”

-

This is how it goes… for months. 

They never speak on the phone. Never even hint at video calls. Never send pictures. (Although Spencer does make a mention once or twice about that promised video when Hotch finally gets around to attempting the ‘physics magic’ experiment he’d emailed him. Hotch secretly hopes that maybe, one day, Spencer will just get to show them in person. Instead of Hotch having to record it for anyone to witness.)

But they talk like clockwork. Play chess on the regular, allowing them to talk more fluently with a laptop to aid the flow of conversation. It starts with once a week, then twice a week, standing dates after hours that meld so seamlessly with their messages every workday. They keep it to the weekdays, at first, since Hotch is busy with Jack on the weekends. But that doesn’t last long. Suddenly, without warning -- it becomes every night as well. That shift is such an organic, natural progression, that it slips in without either of them making comment on it. A silent agreement, because mentioning it would mean admitting why they were pushing this in such a new direction. 

They just… missed talking to each other. Two days was too long. 

Now, it’s every day.

They text for hours; check in on each other at random throughout the day even when Hotch is on cases or Spencer is busy with his duties as the leading doctoral expert of Caltech. Times when they should be swamped, unavailable to anything other than their primary focus and work load, still littered with short messages. Before and after each flight, when Hotch gets back to his hotel at night, when Spencer has to lecture out of town and they just so happen to be passing each other during travel -- mere states away. So close, yet so far. It’s all the time, it’s constant, and it’s wonderful.

Spencer still helps with cases. Often, even more often than he ever helped the L.A. field office. But it’s not always through email, anymore. Sometimes it’s just easier for Hotch to shoot him a quick text. A detailed message in the middle of their everyday banter and dribble but no less out of place, knowing the good Doctor will answer him quickly. Time is of the essence when they are on a case, but they are always on retainer for each other. Waiting in the wings, ready to jump in with quick, snappy wit and bitten-back smiles, and Hotch feels so good. So light. Better than he has in years. 

Happy. 

Hotch is happy, finding a friend in Dr. Spencer Reid, even if sometimes that friendship seems to transcend layers he didn’t know were there. Developing into something else, something he hadn’t touched in a long, long time. 

Months pass. Months. Like a blur. Like they’ve only just started this thing that’s anticipatory and comfortable and flexible in its medium and that is so easy -- everything Hotch needs in his life -- that he can barely imagine what his days and nights were like before this. Before Spencer. 

But it’s months into this correspondence, this charged and bright thing, that he’s home late one night with a Scotch in one hand and a losing game of online chess long forgotten on his laptop screen. Lost in messaging Spencer, back to his phone instead of the chat feature of the chess game. Because texting is their comfort zone, now. He never thought it would be, had seen teenagers and adults attached to their phones like a lifeline and used to scoff about it, but he finally has begun to understand. 

Because here he is -- not even looking up when he takes a drink -- lost in his conversation with Spencer. Making each other laugh, in a way he hasn’t in so long. Loud and high and afraid he might wake Jack down the hall so he stifles it with another sip of his Scotch.

[]9/8, 21:12[] If Jack wakes up, you know that’s it for us. He’ll never go back to sleep.

[]9/8, 21:13[] Then stop laughing so loud. I honestly can’t imagine you laughing enough to wake him.

[]9/8, 21:14[] Usually I don’t. I never laugh like this, but I used to.

[]9/8, 21:16[] Mr. FBI isn’t allowed to laugh, I thought. Didn’t they beat that out of you at the academy?

[]9/8, 21:19[] I was able to retain a smidgen of humor, it’s well hidden. You just seem to bring it out more than others.

[]9/8, 21:20[] I’m flattered. 

[]9/8, 21:20[] You should be. 

[]9/8, 21:21[] If my team saw me crack a smile I’d probably be forced to get a CAT scan.

[]9/8, 21:23[] Do you need one? I have an M.A. in Cognitive Sciences, I’ll be your second opinion.

[]9/8, 21:24[] Probably, but I’ll live.

[]9/8, 21:25[] Very stiff upper lip of you. They teach you that at the academy, too?

[]9/8, 21:26[] No, that would be Scotland Yard. I liaised there for a while.

[]9/8, 21:28[] Wow, you get around. Have you been anywhere else on your global exploration?

[]9/8, 21:31[] Hardly that, I just go where the bureau tells me. I’ve already been bounced all over the country before landing at the BAU. All you can do is keep the ‘stiff upper lip’ and adapt.

[]9/8, 21:31[] “Keep Calm & Carry On”?

[]9/8, 21:33[] Garcia gave me that on a mug last Christmas. I still don’t know what it’s from.

[]9/8, 21:34[] Your age is showing. Get with the times, old man.

[]9/8, 21:35[] You’re one to talk.

[]9/8, 21:35[] What?

Hotch bites back a smile, thinking about how for months he had been so sure Spencer was this elderly professor in his 60’s or 70’s that just happened to find their conversations interesting. That was… very apparently wrong, Hotch can see that now, but he hadn’t had any evidence to the contrary for the entire time they corresponded those first few months. 

He could have done a background check on the professor at any time, is sure Garcia already has one saved in a file ready to send him at his first request, but it’s more fun this way. The not knowing, the learning about each other piece by careful piece. Even the smallest bits of information, such as age. 

He bet Spencer would get a kick out of his first impression of the man, though.

[]9/8, 21:37[] Oh come on, you know.

[]9/8, 21:39[] No, I actually don’t. Congratulations, you’ve stumped the super genius.

[]9/8, 21:39[] But really, what do you mean?

[]9/8, 21:42[] I always just assumed you are at least ten years my senior, maybe even fifteen. How are you more with the times than I am?

[]9/8, 21:43[] I work at a University. I am surrounded by hormones and the dribble of youth.

There’s a slightly lengthy pause after that exchange, enough Hotch starts to pay closer attention through the buzz of liquor settled over his skin pleasantly.

[]9/8, 21:49[] How old do you think I am?

[]9/8, 21:50[] I don’t know, is it rude if I answer?

Hotch is not laughing to himself, he promises. 

[]9/8, 21:52[] Why do you think I’m older?

[]9/8, 21:53[] This feels like a trap.

[]9/8, 21:53[] It’s not.

[]9/8, 21:56[] Well, honestly just from your academic achievements. Not everyone has that kind of time. And all your departments you run, you have to have a pretty level head and knack for maturity to keep that all in order. Especially doctorate students. 

[]9/8, 21:58[] Thank you, I think.

[]9/8, 22:00[] I bet you’re the coolest old man on campus, though, don’t get me wrong.

Hotch does outright laugh after he sends that, manages to keep it a little bit quieter, and commends himself on having the upperhand in the conversation for once as he stares at his phone for a few minutes, awaiting an answer. 

If he had to guess, Hotch supposes he’s held on to that stubborn image of Spencer being a stooped old professor out of habit. But the more the two have talked, after he'd gotten to know the man and his written verbal expressions and just the way his life runs day to day, it’s pretty easy to see that that is not correct. Spencer could be someone around Dave or Jason’s age, but more likely even younger than that -- closer to his own. 

And that… is an intriguing thought that sparks something in his chest. He smothers it with another sip of Scotch and realizes that it has been a solid five minutes of silence. With Spencer not even typing out a response.

[]9/8, 22:06[] Was it something I said?

[]9/8, 22:07[] No, I’m just… contemplating my answer.

[]9/8, 22:07[] Answer to what?

Hotch hasn’t drank that much, but he doesn’t believe he asked a question at all. He scrolls back through their conversation and doesn’t see one. Spencer has asked a good handful, though, all about Hotch’s perception of his age. 

Interesting.

[]9/8, 22:09[] Respond, not answer.

[]9/8, 22:10[] I’m all turned around now.

[]9/8, 22:12[] Flustered in your old age? Now I’m flattered. 

This is almost like flirting. Skirts the edges of it, and Hotch feels more emboldened to try the more Spencer tap-dances around what is obviously Hotch’s incorrect assumption of his age. He had had no idea Hotch thought he was older, that is apparent, and it’s throwing the other man for a loop for some reason Hotch can’t ascertain. 

[]9/8, 22:15[] I’m not old.

[]9/8, 22:15[] I’m not even older than you.

[]9/8, 22:16[] And how do you know that?

[]9/8, 22:17[] Just trust me on this.

[]9/8, 22:17[] Well, how old are you?

Another long, lengthy pause that Hotch waits for with baited breath. He knows that Spencer is there, that he’s staring at his phone and trying to decide the best way to answer without really answering anything. It’s only a matter of minutes, but that is a long time for them. When they are deep in a conversation like this.

Hotch isn’t laughing to himself anymore, but he’s more pleasantly confused than worried. He really has no idea what is making Spencer so hesitant.

[]9/8, 22:22[] Spencer?

[]9/8, 22:25[] I’m not going to tell you.

[]9/8, 22:26[] What, you want me to guess?

[]9/8, 22:28[] You’ll never guess.

[]9/8, 22:29[] That sounds like a challenge. How many guesses do I have?

[]9/8, 22:31[] None. Listen, I don’t want you to know. I shouldn’t have said anything.

[]9/8, 22:33[] I’m afraid it’s going to change your perception of me, and we’ll stop talking like this.

[]9/8, 22:34[] Just keep imagining me with wrinkles and a cane, I’m okay with that.

That drops the small smile right off his face.

Hotch is… surprised by this turn of events. What could be so shocking about this that Spencer thinks they would stop talking to each other? They’re corresponding every night. How could he possibly stop on a dime like that?

It doesn’t make any sense. And that’s not the alcohol talking.

[]9/8, 22:37[] I honestly don’t see how that would be possible.

[]9/8, 22:39[] I’m not going to stop talking to you just because you aren’t the senior professor I imagined running Caltech with an Iron Fist.

[]9/8, 22:40[] Now you’re projecting. 

[]9/8, 22:40[] You saying I’m too strict?

[]9/8, 22:41[] Tyrant, I think was the term I chose. 

[]9/8, 22:42[] Pretentious.

[]9/8, 22:44[] But Spencer, unless you are somehow underage with five Ph.D.’s, there’s no reason for us to stop talking. 

[]9/8, 22:47[] You would not believe how many people treat me like I'm underage, to this day. So that doesn’t inspire confidence.

Hotch pauses with his glass halfway back to his lips, only a few sips left in the glass. Staring at his phone and struggling to make sense of what Spencer is saying. Hotch had been trying to joke and tease with him, but now the word ‘underage’ feels like a glaring beacon of a word on his screen. 

He’s very suddenly more than a little nervous, even through the haze of alcohol. He is 45 years old, no matter what he keeps telling Spencer -- there is a limit to this being appropriate or not. What that limit is, he’d have to consider when he’s more sober, and it makes him feel like he should be reigning in the flirtatious notes that keep worming their way into the conversation. 

But it’s not actually possible for him to be that young, and everything he’s learned about the man indicates he’s closer to his own age. Was he in his 30’s? Even that felt too young for what Hotch had (subconsciously) profiled -- no, it has to be something else. 

No matter what, he didn’t want to keep getting Spencer worked up like this about it. His age hadn’t bothered Hotch before that night, so maybe if he drops it they can revert back to how they’d been spending their late evening hours before this turn in the conversation. 

[]9/8, 22:50[] But I’m NOT underage.

[]9/8, 22:51[] If that needed to be said.

[]9/8, 22:53[] Can you buy alcohol by yourself?

[]9/8, 22:54[] Yes.

[]9/8, 22:54[] See this is what I was afraid of.

[]9/8, 22:55[] Relax, I was trying to tease you. 

[]9/8, 22:57[] You don’t have to tell me, Spencer. I’ll just keep picturing Sean Connery, or John Steinbeck in the later years.

[]9/8, 22:59[] I see you have a type. 

[]9/8, 23:00[] Well, who do you picture when you think of me?

[]9/8, 23:01[] Hugo Weaving, Matrix era. Or Richard Feynman.

[]9/8, 23:02[] Well now I feel typecasted. Who’s Feynman?

[]9/8, 23:02[] An American Theoretical Physicist from the 40’s-60’s.

[]9/8, 23:03[] Ouch. How old do you think *I* am?

[]9/8, 23:04[] I’m afraid to answer that.

[]9/8, 23:04[] O.u.c.h.

[]9/8, 23:06[] You’ve been borderline flirting with me, and you just said you thought I was in my 60’s! What was I supposed to think?

[]9/8, 23:07[] If you’re looking in that age bracket, I’m sure I can get you the Biology Department Head’s number.

[]9/8, 23:07[] He’s 72 with rheumatoid arthritis. 

[]9/8, 23:08[] You are hysterical. So funny.

Hotch is smiling wide down at his phone again, feeling lighter and glad he got them back on track. 

But… 

He can’t help but think back to what he just tried to drop entirely. Blame the Scotch, or whatever drive to know that makes him dig down and root out information in cold cases in his spare time, Hotch doesn’t think he can let it go. Not when it was something Spencer hadn’t meant to be a secret in the first place. Not when, knowing that it has created misinformation between them unintentionally, results in Spencer shying away and hesitant to tell Hotch anything more about himself. 

Not when he’d said ‘flirting’, because that had been what Hotch was doing, and he can’t even describe how disappointing it would be to quit while he was ahead. When the build up has been so gradual and easy and everything he’d been looking for and could never seem to find.

Now, this slight disruption is sticking in his mind, sharp like a thorn in his side. Always there, making itself known, and he wonders if he is lucid enough to try and draw the information out of Spencer via interview tactics -- or if the brilliant man would see right through any of his attempts.

Probably. Who was he kidding? Spencer had more degrees and college hours under his belt than Hotch could manage in a lifetime. Best to do this the old fashioned way, then.

[]9/8, 23:10[] 38.

[]9/8, 23:11[] Oh. Really? That’s kind of young to be Unit Chief, congratulations.

[]9/8, 23:11[] No, not me. You. I’m guessing 38.

[]9/8, 23:12[] Oh.

[]9/8, 23:12[] Incorrect.

[]9/8, 23:13[] I don’t even get a hint?

[]9/8, 23:13[] Nope.

[]9/8, 23:15[] We’re not playing a game. I’m not telling you.

[]9/8, 23:15[] So you won’t guess my age, either?

[]9/18, 23:17[] Chicken.

[]9/8, 23:17[] 45.

Hotch near throws his phone across the room. Almost makes a quip about how reading his file is cheating -- but he knows Spencer just made a stupidly accurate ‘educated guess’ because he knows fucking everything. 

They really should just put him on the payroll. Hotch is being selfish keeping the man all to himself.

But God, is he enjoying it, too.

[]9/8, 23:19[] There’s no way you profiled that with that kind of accuracy. 

[]9/8, 23:20[] How do you do that?

[]9/8, 23:21[] Black magic.

[]9/8, 23:22[] I’ll get it out of you one day, I swear.

[]9/8, 23:23[] And as a man of your word, I believe that you truly believe that.

[]9/8, 23:23[] Full of jokes tonight, aren’t you?

[]9/8, 23:25[] I live to amuse. 

[]9/8, 23:25[] And make you smile.

[]9/8, 23:27[] You are one of the few that do.

With a careful pause, nothing left in his glass, a thought perched on the edges of his mind that is already watery with cognitive dissonance, Hotch starts typing before he’s even fully made the decision.

[]9/8, 23:30[] You really think my flirting is borderline? I was going for subtlety, but I must be rusty.

[]9/8, 23:32[] Actually, I just thought I was projecting.

[]9/8, 23:23[] You were married, I didn’t want to presume.

Oh. 

The consideration is touching, and sobering even in the dimness of his home office, but it draws the softest of smiles back to Hotch’s face when he begins to type out his answer.

[]9/8, 23:35[] Thank you, for thinking of me first.

[]9/8, 23:37[] But Haley and I separated a long time before she died. We were actually divorced before she went into WICSEC. I miss her every day. But I did try to date for a while, before that. 

[]9/8, 23:39[] No luck? I would have thought the FBI badge would at least garner some interest.

[]9/8, 23:40[] I’ve been told I’m intimidating.

[]9/8, 23:41[] I don’t think you are.

[]9/8, 23:42[] You will if you ever meet me. I’ve made underlings cry before without speaking a word.

[]9/8, 23:44[] The Hotchner stare. Have you coined that?

[]9/8, 23:45[] I should. It’s got a ring to it.

They banter and causally slip a few more… flirtatious comments in, and Hotch realizes it really isn’t that much different than before. That he had indeed been flirting with the man long before he knew his age. Which was odd, he didn’t typically go for older men and women. But now that he’s aware Spencer is younger than he thought, possibly even his own age (he swears he is, would put money on it if he could), somehow there’s more of a charge in their correspondence, a warmth and buzzing elation that has nothing to do with his Scotch. Especially now that it’s long gone.

It’s all Spencer, and how they compliment each other, and Hotch finds himself near giddy with that information.

He tries, towards the end of the night where it tips over into the early hours of the morning, to imagine an image of Spencer again -- and finds that he doesn’t even care to. He’s enamored with the man and his wit and the way he makes Hotch laugh without trying. How he looks, his age, it doesn’t matter. Not really. Not to Hotch.

But he is still curious why Spencer won’t reveal it. He can’t be that young.

[]9/9, 00:43[] You really won’t tell me?

[]9/9, 00:45[] Maybe one day. When I’m feeling brave.

[]9/9, 00:46[] Well, I’ll be there. Waiting. 

[]9/9, 00:46[] 32.

[]9/9, 00:47[] You’ll never guess.

[]9/9, 00:48[] There’s only so many numbers.

[]9/9, 00:50[] Goodnight, Hotch.

[9/9, 00:51] Goodnight, Spencer.

-

(tbc...)

-

Tagged List:  @spencehotchner @ssa-sarahsunshine @gothamapologist @reidology @marsjareau @dragon-snaps-fandom​ @emmyraebird @just-an-emo-rat​​​ @aaron-hotchner187 @dk18077 @more-heid-pls @fakin-it-til-i-make-it @merpancake

#I've read and rewritten this chapter so many times I'm starting to hate it #but it's super important so I hope it lives up to expectations #we get to all the good stuff after this #but the development here is something I've spent WEEKS trying to make realistic so #I hope you all enjoy it <3 #Chapter updates are Saturdays at 5pm EST #if you want in on the tag list just message me <3 #HotchReid #Heid #katyswriting

[thebirdandhersong]

The Year So Far Book Ask

Tagged by @madamescarlette <3 thank you, darling!! (I DO SO LOVE TO TALK ABOUT BOOKS!!!!)

1. Best book you have read in 2021 so far?

HOW can I answer that!!!! Here is a top 10 because I cannot narrow it down!!

Middlemarch: read it twice this year (liked it the first time, LOVED it the second time)

David Copperfield: my new favourite Dickens. There is a lot of joy and compassion at the heart of this book, and I Loved it very much.

The Mill on the Floss: can’t explain the feeling I got from reading this book (tbh if you know, you know!! It warms your heart but it also makes you want to stand in the rain and cry)

The Queen of Attolia: a roller coaster. Very overwhelming. Was incredibly Shocked many times. (Also, who’d have thought?? Gen??? In LOVE??? Fantastic in concept and in execution)

The Adventures of Sally: a new favourite Wodehouse. You will laugh so hard tears will spring to your eyes.

Night Watch: this one stuck a knife in me and twisted..... but in a good way.

Anne of the Island: much-needed comfort read!!!

Leave it to Psmith: another new favourite Wodehouse. Modern rom-coms wish they could do rom-com like Psmith, Eve, and the umbrella that was Definitely Not His.

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette: A DELIGHT (speechless!!)

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street: ALSO A DELIGHT (still speechless!!)

2. Best sequel you have read in 2021 so far?

Ohohoho. All the Discworld sequels. (Especially A Hat Full of Sky, Night Watch, Thud!, I Shall Wear Midnight.)

Also, The Queen of Attolia. That book decimated me. Admittedly no one’s emotions are very stable at two in the morning, but I was an absolute Wreck that night (morning?).

3. A new release you want to check out?

I am behind on the times so my idea of ‘new’ is rather skewed.... I still really want to read Spin the Dawn, The Goblin Emperor, and Spinning Silver. And am making my way through Queen’s Thief.

4. Most anticipated book release of the second half of the year?

I... don’t follow new releases that much, to be honest. I am currently looking through the lists and don’t see anything I recognise s;lfdjsdlk;

5. Biggest disappointment?

The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I knew how it was going end, but i was still mad. (These days I like books with a hefty amount of Hope and that one.... definitely did not have that.) I also read Tess of the d’Urbervilles for the first time and remember being just... really frustrated with all the characters and about the lack of Hope in that one, too. I was also hoping to love I Capture the Castle and was a bit grumpy about the second half of the book!!

6. Biggest surprise?

The books I read because my friends loved them!! Such as The Blue Castle (Eden), The Man Born to be King (Magpie), Gourmet Hound (Eden), Queen’s Thief (Fran), Blandings Castle/Psmith (Rebekah), Discworld (I think I started reading it for the first time because of Fran as well)...... I also reread a bunch of old favourites (Lord of the Rings and a few Jane Austens) and they were even better than I remembered!! Which was just wonderful!! (though not very surprising, I guess!!)

7. Favourite new author (either new to you or debut)?

MEGAN WHALEN TURNER. I also have a new appreciation for P.G. Wodehouse (after crashing through all of his Jeeves books and most of the Blandings Castle audiobooks) and Terry Pratchett (after bulldozing through a good number of Discworld books, most of them two or three times) and Georgette Heyer (read my first few Heyers this year and had SUCH a blast).

8. Favourite new fictional crush?

In general: Ik-jun from Hospital Playlist (He’s not from a book sksfjkl ;sdfj k I wanted to mention him because I just love him a Lot)

In terms of books: Sam Vimes (sdlkfjs;kls) and Henry Tilney (I loved him before, but this year cemented him as one of the top, if not The Favourite Austen hero in my heart). I don’t know if Gen counts, because I feel very friendly towards him, and alternate between wanting to make soup for him and wanting to bonk him on the head with a cardboard tube.

Mal (from S&B) had some Really Good lines, too. Especially in the last chapter of Ruin and Rising.

9. Newest favourite character?

A whole PLATOON of them. Sasha and Lysander from @magpie-trove​‘s story, Beatrice and Romeo from @imissthembutitwasntadisaster​‘s story, Emilia and Lily from @itspileofgoodthings​‘s stories, Tiffany Aching, Granny Weatherwax, Helen and Irene and Costis from Queen’s Thief, Dorothea and Maggie from George Eliot’s books, Sally from The Adventures of Sally....

10. A book that made you cry?

Literally cried so many times this year over all sorts of stories. But a few off the top of my head:

The Penderwicks (all of them): cried from sheer joy!!!

Seven for a Secret: there are so many lines in the most recent chapters alone that brought tears to my eyes.

The Keys of Fire: which is The definitive Fairy Tail fanfic for me. I just love this story so much. And i was surprised all over again by the forgiveness and the love and the grace and the healing in this story this time around!!

The Queen of Attolia/The King of Attolia: cried out of surprise and joy at nearly all the Gen/Irene scenes (not the beginning ones sl;fksdsdlfk jd but my heart did a great leap when Gen remembers seeing Irene dance)

Ruin and Rising: cried at the ending. Also because I was so happy. (There is no such thing as an ordinary love!!!)

Crooked Kingdom: cried at what Kaz did for Inej (couldn’t help it. That moment was beautiful)

(It has been quite an emotional year. The waterworks are triggered by the smallest things. But I’m happy to say that I’ve cried out of happiness mostly in the book department.)

11. A book that made you happy?

(Nearly all of them tbh!!! I have so many new favourite books from this year’s reading list alone!!!)

The Penderwicks series. Was in bliss for the whole week. I was also incredibly happy listening to the Discworld audiobooks, and reading new installments of Emilia and Seven for a Secret and The Stars Hold No Part In This!!! All the Wodehouse and Heyer books I read were delightful.... David Copperfield was so full of joy and grace and it made me want to prance in a field. All of the Anne books I reread were comfort reads. And of course The Keys of Fire, which kept me smiling for hours: I feel like a kid being handed an ice cream cone with three scoops and a cherry on top whenever I read it. Incredibly happy.

12. Most beautiful book you have bought or received this year?

The second-hand Vintage Classics Jane Austens!! :’) especially Northanger Abbey, which was in Excellent condition. Very floppy (unlike the longer Austens..... alas for Mansfield Park, which is harder to flip through) and fits comfortably in my hands.

And the Tundra Classics edition of Anne of the Island. (I liked the way the paper felt and the text was a really nice font and size!)

13. What book do you need to read by the end of the year?

OOH TONS. I’m still reading Anna Karenina (stopped because I thought: I need a happy story right now). Would love to keep reading Queen’s Thief (I’m taking it slow because they’re books that should be savoured), make some headway in Dorothy Sayers’s Lord Peter Wimsey books, read more Georgette Heyer, start on The Goblin Emperor and a Bunch of books I've been meaning to read for a while (The Eagle of the Ninth, Piranesi, Phantom of the Opera, Surprised by Joy, Crime and Punishment, War and Peace are the main ones. This is an ambitious list but I’d like to read at least two of them before the year is out sl;kffdksl;dfjslk;)

tagging: @imissthembutitwasntadisaster​ @soldier-poet-king​ @septembersung​ @lady-merian​ @called-kept​ if you would like to!! And YOU, if you think it looks fun and want to give it a try!! :D

#oh MAN when i get started on books it is so hard to stop sldfkj s;dlkj #thank you for tagging me eden!!! :D this was a LOT of fun!!!! #reading adventures #songbird again #2021 has been a very interesting reading year simply because reading is a way i Cope and the more stressed i am the more i tend to read #it sounds weird but unfortunately it is true #this year has been quite a year (i say this as we approach the end of july slkf;s js) so i've been reading ravenously #thankfully not about rocks anymore though!!!!!!

[pranpat]

2020 CREATOR WRAP + FAVOURITE WORKS + FOLLOW FOREVER

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 5 (or so) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. Tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works. I was tagged by @yibobibo aamna thank u so muc and I’m so sorry this is so latenfkskkfd

@yibobibo aamnaaaaa!! You’re always so so wonderful and nice esp when you send me cute little messages I completely adore you and how you’re always tagging me in stuff! Thank you so much and I’m sorry I’m so lazygnskd but I appreciate it all so so much! You’re so talented as well i love everything you post and all your wonderful cql/yibo content makes me so happy esp when ur going off in the tags! I love this (it’s just so jc and wwx and it makes me so so sad) and this (ur tags said it well it’s very sexy) and lastly, this one (it’s just?? So powerful and I love that scene so so much) I’m sending u lots of love for the new year and I hope u have a wonderful year ahead 🥰😚

@gremlinmetawin ayeshaaaaaaaa!! Despite what you may thinkhjdkdkd I do actually love u very much 🙄 even when ur being mean to me. I love everything you put on my dash and when ur watching stuff, despite how long you take, I always love that you flood my dash with gifs bc it makes me feel like I’m watching right along with u. Also I know I make fun of u for tkaing so long to watch stuff but I love hearing your thots on everything and you always manage to pick up on the little details that I always end up missing. I also love how extra you can be gjskkfkdd your font for ayeshas thot still makes me laughfjkskd Anyways I’m so so glad to have gotten to know you this year and I appreciate you so so much and I just love screaming about all the shows we’re watching together 🥺 I Ioce u and appreciate u and I hope that next year is rlly good to u 😚😚🥰

@teh-ohaew taayyy!! Like I said with Ayesha despite what guys think i do actually love u too even tho you favour Ayesha over me sighhh but seriously I’m so glad we’ve gotten close over the few months (2gs impact huh) and that we get to scream over the same shit to each other. I also love how u don’t post shit for days and then u comeback and rb everythinggnsmmd and ur thirsty tags 🙄 always interesting to read. Oh and I’ve told u this multiple times but this this and this all of the edits are so good and all the detail you’ve put into them?? I love it so so much I also rlly love this all of the quotes you chose and the scenes?? To quote you, Britney gif yeah 😩 okay that’s it I love u and appreciate u and I hope next year is really really good to u 😚😚🥰

@yioh yuraaaaaa!!! I always feel so warm and happy whenever I see your stuff on my dash. I love hearing your thoughts on every show you’re watching or reading and I always find myself adding stuff to my recs. Also I love how you’re always so energetic and kind to everyone and you just excude love and warmth. You’re so talented I just love all of your artwork so so much esp this (the concept is just so good? What we could’ve had 😔) and this (bc obvs they’re both happy and living together) and lastly this (ngl I’ve gone back and read this so many times bc it just?? Hurts so much??) hope u have a great year ahead and u get to be surrounded by cats and everything u love!! 🥰😚😚

@metawwin aliiiiiiii!!! I’m so happy that we’ve gotten the chance to get to know one another this year and I absolutely adore you. You’re always so so kind and give off such positive energy and I just feel so happy whenever I see your stuff on my dash. And I’ve said this before but I love your gifs and it shows how much work you put into them and I love everything about your blog. I esp love this (ngl I lost my shit bc hands??? It’s such a pretty set and I always come back to it) and this (god I love this quote so much and I just love the scenes you’ve chosen and just everything is just so them) and lastly this (i love how u pick up on the smallest details and parallels and this set.. I just appreciate it so so much) I lov u and miss u I hope u have a great year ahead , sending u lots of love 🥰😚😚

@taytawan nuriaaa!! you’re so kind and you and your blog just give off such warmth idk how to explain it. I love all of your content, you make some of the prettiest gifs ive ever seen they’re always so warm and so clear and pretty. I esp love this one (idk how to explain it but it’s just?? So pretty and it’s one of my fav gifs of Tine out there ugh he just looks so good and the colouring just makes it so so much better) and all of your heart-eyes sets (ahhvhdjjdd they’re all just so nice and they just sum up their relationship so well??? These sets always make me so so happy) and lastly this (ngl I sat there for 5 minutes just being in awe bc?? I’ve never thought about this and I about lost it because???? Yeah it was never about the phone 😩 and that just adds so much to the show) I hope you have the best year ahead, sending u lots of love! 🥰😚😚

@morksuns sumaayaaa!! You’re so wonderful and kind and i just love how much you love the handmaiden?? And you have such great taste in shows and movies and I just love when you rb it on my dash. I absolutely love this mb it’s just so pretty and so soft?? And they’re girlfriends and everything about it is just so so warm and nice and the quotes.. yeah 😩) I also really love this mb (all of the pictures you’ve chosen are just so wonderful and they just fit?? That yellow sweater? The headphones? Scrubb? “Hi I’m bi” jfkskfk I just find so much comfort in it) and lastly this mb (it just screams home to me and it’s just so soft and wonderful? & the soulmate definition? Yeah ..yeah ) I hope u have a wonderful year ahead, sending u lots of love🥰😚

@fushiguroo lasyaaa!! You’re so so kind and lovely to talk to. You just give off so much warmth and you always seem so positive. I also really love all the sky/landscape pictures you post they’re always so pretty and ur just so talented. You also make such pretty gifs I just love all of your itsay gifs esp this (all the yellows and it just looks so warm and pretty?? And you giffed some of my favourite scenes from the episode 🥺) and this (once again you’ve chosen some of the prettiest scenes the first one in the water?? God it’s so pretty and the last gif from that set of the sunset???! It’s just so nice??? I love it so so much) I hope you have a great year ahead, sending u lots of love!! 🥰😚

@gigiesarocha cataaa!! I want to say thank u for putting Jeff satur on my dash because?? He’s so beautiful?! and I’m always tempted everyday by your ingredients gifs but I don’t have the patience so I’m waiting till it ends but your gifs of the show are always so pretty I can’t wait until I can sit down and watch it all and go through ur tag fjskkfd And I love all the kdramas you put on my dash bc I always end up adding more stuff to my watch list bc of it. I love this set so so much you have no idea it’s just so pretty and I love flowers so much and the flowers you’ve chosen to describe them both is just so spot on. I also really love this thank u for making this and blessing us all!! I hope you have a wonderful year ahead sending lots of love 🥰😚😚

@brightwin jelllyyyy!! You’re one the warmest kindest people I’ve talked to. You’re alway so kind to everyone and always spreading positivity and it’s just so nice to see you on my dash. Your gifs are always so so pretty esp the colouring you always manage to make them look so warm and clear and it just makes them so nice to look at. I love all of your content but I esp love this the scenes you’ve chosen are so wonderful and the quote is just.. so them it’s just so pretty. I also love this it just makes me miss them so much seeing how far they’ve come in their journey?? And ugh your colouring is always so beautiful. Also this is so pretty so basically all of ur lyric/quote sets because they’re so wonderful and you always make them look so beautiful. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead, sending you lots of love! 🥰🥰😚

@tichawongtipkanon diraaa!! You’re always so so kind and everytime I see you on my dash it always makes me so happy just reading your tags. Even tho I don’t think I’ve ever seen ticha in anything (I think?? I don’t rmr gkskkfkd) I always love seeing your gifs because she’s absolutely gorgeous?? I also really like this gjskkfkskkfd it always makes me laugh bc yeah he rlly is a mess and the fact that these gifs can capture him just being an idiot is so funny and I also really like this the quote and the scenes you’ve chosen??? Yeahhhfnskkd sarawatine soulmates!! I hope u have a wonderful year ahead sending u lots of love!! 🥰😚😚

@b-iconpearl roseee! youre so so kind and I appreciate you messaging me just to wish me a good day!! I also love all the pnd content you put on my dash even tho I haven’t had the chance to catch up but all of ur gifs of esp Pearl?? And Alex? Yeahhhh I esp love this bc Pearl is just??? So beautiful I just love this set of her sm she looks so good and also this I gasped out loud when I first saw this??? Alex looks so good and the gif is just so pretty and warm. Also I really love this the movie is just so dear to my heart and I love it so much and your set is just so so so beautiful and the lyrics yeahhhh so good! I hope you have a wonderful year ahead! Sending you lots of love 🥰😚

@pangwave dawnnn!! I love seeing you on my dash you’re always so kind and I love hearing your thoughts on the shows ur watching. Also ur gifs are always so pretty esp the recent morksun au you did, it was so interesting and I just loved it so much. I also really like this it’s so pretty and I love all the scenes you’ve chosen and the quote... yeah and the colouring is so warm and lovely. I also really like this god it’s one of my fav scenes from the show and I just love it so much. I also really like this it was such a small moment but handholding is just so...good and the set just looks so soft I love it I hope you have a wonderful year ahead! 🥰😚

@khaotungthanawat sammm!! Idk if I’ve mentioned this before but you make some of the best sets ever especially when it comes to finding parallels between shows. And you’re so creative and it’s so clear that you put so much work into ur gifs and they always look so so good! I especially love this it’s just so creative and looks so beautiful and how each weather just perfectly describes them? Just amazing and this one bc I had no idea there were so many reflections and I saw ur set and just had to take a moment and this one the colouring is just so pretty and it’s one of my favourite scenes ever and I just love it so much. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead of you!! 🥰

@teepakornaekaranwong orthyy!! I love how ur still keeping the 2g tag alive and that you’re always rb them on my dash. I esp love this you really combines the show scenes with the song and just made it so much more impactful?? And i just love all the scenes you’ve chosen it’s so beautiful. I also really like this and all the other ones in the set because they’re so funnygkkskfd and also this + all the other ones they always make me laugh bc you really did choose such perfect text post for each scene/character! I hope you have a wonderful year ahead!! 🥰

@asianmelodrama faizaaa!! I think this goes without saying that your content is always so beautiful and wonderful. And you have such a way with words as well, I just love reading your answers, posts and tags and it just feels so warm and safe . This has to be one of my favourite posts ever because there was so much potential?? So many hints?? And we could’ve had it all and I just love this set so much. I also really like this because their friendships were really so beautiful and I just wish we’d gotten to see more of it but what we did see, it was just beautiful. I also really like this (it’s so beautiful and I love winteam so much)and this bc jackzhaozi were so good. I love the character studies you did on tine and sarawat they were so raw and beautiful, like I said you just have such a way with words it was just so beautiful. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead of you!! 🥰

@toptaps zeeyyy!! You make some of the prettiest content ever and you’re just such a nice presence on my dash and you just seem so kind and warm. This has to be my favourite thing out there because when I heard that like, all of their scenes were just playing in my head and this set just captures everything we could’ve had :(( I also really like this the way you’ve morphed the gifs, the text and colouring of it, it’s all just so pretty. I also really really love this once again it’s so beautiful?? The way you’ve morphed them together and the quote you’ve used and the font and earnpear really is superior. Especially that first gif it looks like earns so taken aback by pear :((( and it’s so nice. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead!! 🥰

@soulmatelines jo!! You’re so kind and it’s always been so nice to see you on my dash even though I know you must be busy rn I hope you’re still taking care of yourself. You also make such amazing content, I especially love this everything about this set is so good we go from tender to raw feelings and it’s just so so beautiful. I also really like this bc I love love all of kurosawas thoughts and all the little insecurities he has about himself god it just makes him that much more real. I also really like this it’s just so pretty and I just love the whole concept of it it’s so well done. I hope you have a great year ahead of you!! 🥰

@gunsatthaphan Doreeennn!! you’re so so nice and lovely and I lose reading your thoughts on things. Also thank u for always tagging me in stuff and im so sorry im always late to it. But you’re always a delight on my dash and I just love all of your content. I especially love this parallel just bc of how significant this line was in the whole show and I just love the coloring on it and everything about it. I also really love this bc OhmFong are so cute and I missed Fong’s little jumps when I was watching it but them I saw your gifset and cried over how cute he is. Lastly, this one... i love this one so so much bc it was just so powerful and beautifully said and it was just so so good and its one of my fav scenes. Oh and bonus this one because I love wyel so much and tht quote.... just adds everything to that scene and ugh everything about that set is just so wonderful. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead, sending lots of love!🥰😚

@wjmild kyliieeee!! anytime I think of you I always think of tsoa or lee thanatnfkkfd which thank u for always putting him on my dash bc I love looking at him. It’s always so nice seeing you on my dash and reading your tags and thoughts on things and you’re such a great content creator. I love this so much thank u for compiling all of their little moments together, they’re just so cute. I also really love this wyel is so superior and I just love them both so much and this scene was just so cute. I also really love this even tho I haven’t seen all the shows, i love handholding and you just hit the spot with this and this set is just everything it’s so beautiful. I hope you have a great year ahead of u, sending lots of love! 🥰

@cherryysundae monicaaa!! I absolutely love all of your content and you’re so kind and such a wonderful presence on my dash. you also make such pretty gifs. I especially love this everything about this scene was just so so beautiful and you made it even more beautiful with your wonderful colouring I just love how the shades of flower reflect on wwx and lwj (idk if that makes sense but gjskkfkd). I also really love this ngl made me really really sad especially with all the wwx and yanli scenes :(( but this trio was literally everything and you just compiled all of their beautiful scenes together and heartbreaking scenes. I also really love this that gif of jc smiling?? So precious and just all the purples and the zidian? I just love it so much. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead!! 🥰

@leoyunxi ashiraa!! your content is always so so beautiful and I especially love your colouring it’s so beautiful and just gives makes the gifs seem so warm. I especially really love this wwx looks so pretty here and the colouring just makes it so so much better. I also really like this, this scene was just everything?? And the way they just glance at each other and I just love how warm the gifs look. I also really like this one of my favourite posts of them, you managed to gif all the wonderful scenes of them that I absolutely adore and they just look so good?? I can always tell that it’s your gifs because you have such a distinct colouring style and it’s always so so wonderful to see on my dash. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead!! 🥰

@bright-vachirawit mariii! I hope you’re feeling better now and that you’re staying safe! You’re always such a wonderful presence on my dash esp bc I find we’re more or less usually watching the same shows and I just love all the content you create for it. I especially love this it’s one of my favourite scenes and it came out so clear and just I love how vibrant the red is and it’s just so pretty. I also really like this I also really love this scene and just the colouring is so so pretty and I just love that you added the caption because it just ties it all together and it’s just so wonderful. I also really like this it’s really pretty and I love the fond you used. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead! 🥰

@sarawatine nicoleee!! it’s always a delight seeing you on my dash and I just love all of your content. I especially love this that you paired up each of the lyrics with the scenes from the mv and it’s just so so wonderful and it looks so pretty. I also really like this Idk how many times I’ve screamed over this but this post just confirms that sarawatine soulmates honestly and yeah that last line I could cry. I also really like this I’m a sucker for parallels and this one was just so cute and I just love how soft this set looks. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead! 🥰

@brightwinfilm nath!!! I love all of your content, all your wonderful 2g/bw content and it just makes me so happy. I really love this that you’ve giffed all of their scenes at their home and they’re just being so domestic and cute together it’s so wonderful. I also really like this one gjskkfkd it makes me laugh because they’re so dramatic and your caption just makes it so much better but yeah this was really nice. I also really like this the tension in this gifset but they’re also colored so nicely and I just love everything about it. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead!!🥰

@kimmonv violet!! I absolutely love all of your gifs and all the content you put on my dash. I especially love this honestly a whole ass mood and it made me really excited for the special!’ I also really like this i love the handholding and this scene was just... so beautiful and the dialogue and oh’s surprised face? This scene was everything and I just love this so much.and lastly this this scene was so funny gjskkfkd and I love how you adding the bonus scenes it makes it so much better!! I also love all of you gen y gifs!! They’re always so pretty and always look so clear and colourful. I hope you have a great year ahead!!🥰

@vihokratanas meeel!! You’re always such a delight on my dash and I love seeing your content. I especially love this it just looks so pretty and and I love this scene as well! This definitely is one of the best locations just look at the beach. I also really love this the scenes you’ve chosen just go with the song so well and it just ties it all together. It’s all just so wonderful and I love it so much. I also really love this this scene was just so good and the way you’ve coloured it just makes it so much warmer and prettier and the gifs are so so clear!! Absolute favourite! I hope you have a great year ahead!! 🥰

@atpgun doraaa!! I love your content and I absolutely love all of your itsay gifs. I especially love this one, the colouring is so so pretty and this scene is just so good and so underappreciated. It’s just so clear and I love how warm the gif looks and their relationship is just so good. I also really like this one bc I’m a sucker for parallels and these two?? And I love that you decided to include vlads little thumbs up so cute 🥺 I also really like this one it just makes me laugh bc pp looks so evil jfkskfkskd and I think ur one of the few people that giffed the documentary so thank you! I hope you have a great year ahead!! 🥰

@jbums kaaaay!! I hope ur doing well I haven’t seen you around in a while but I still absolutely love all ur content. I loved loved ur wyel gifs they were always so warm and you made them look so beautiful with your colouring. I also really like this like I said your colouring is always so so pretty and this was just so funny and their matching shirts so cute. And I also really like this one sangha looks so cute it reminds me of that gif you made of tae joo where he slams the spoon downfjskjdd but I hope ur doing well and I hope you have a wonderful year! 🥰

  @musicdramalove hiii we recently became mutuals but I’m so glad we did. I love all your saifahzon content and your gifs are always so wonderful. I really like this one I haven’t watched it yet but this set really knocked this up in my list and I cant wait to watch it bc it loooks so lovely. I also really like this one, two of my favourite shows paralleled ugjjdks I love it so much and yes hugs.. the hugs I love it so much. I also really like this one the two of them just talking about the others smile and just admiring the other?? These scenes were just so good. I hope you have a great year ahead! 🥰

@planthusbands (cass -I absolutely love ur writing and thank u so much for writing me the wonderful fic I absolutely adore it and it had everything I liked in terms of tropes. I hope you have a wonderful year! 🥰)

@itoldsunset (dawy -thank u so so much for ur wonderful translations for itsay interviews god all of them just add so much depth into the show and I just love them all so much. I hope you have a wonderful year!! 🥰

@wirapong aishi!!! I absolutely love love this set of yours, pear looks so beautiful in it and your colouring just makes her look so so lovely. This set just makes me so happy bc look at her jumping with joy ah I love it. I also really like this one god this quote... was so impactful and I just love how you used all the scenes of them dancing with each other it’s just so so good. I also really like this one you cna really see the wonder and awe in Karl’s face and I love this scene so much and them. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead 🥰

@kurosawadachi angeeel!! i absolutely love this little set of film please she is so cute and her little smile ahhh!! i love it so much and the coloring in that set?? beautiful. I also really like this it just sums up itsay and oh man.. i just love all the scenes you’ve chosen and the gifs are just so so pretty and wonderful. I also really love this one im a sucker for food scenes and this really was one of the most wholesome scene in the series oh it was so wonderful. I hope you have a great year ahead!! 🥰

Other mutuals that I admire: @earthkatsamonnat (Bea) @janeramida  @gooseras (kay) @gunsmiles (Amanda)@thaitheseries (Lisa) @87s-main @87s (min!! I’m tagging both just in case) - I hope all of you have a wonderful year!! 🥰🎉

This is alrdy too long so I’m just going to skip on tagging my own work 

#follow forever #tagged #if I forgot someone please lmk I’ll add u jfkskfkskd this was rlly stressful and I didn’t mean to leave anyone out

[crazytwentythrees]

GUESS WHO'S PLANNING ON A REVISED EDITION OF MY ANTHOLOGY, EVERY WHY HAS A WHEREOF?!?!?!?

That's right, I AM!! I am also definitely not unable to figure out how to keep writing BLS, but dw I do want to finish writing because the book means a lot to me personally (but also, like I said when I went on hiatus, I want to give you guys a good book, not a half-assed version of it).

AnYwAy, back to the poetry. Here's some basic info about the revised edition:

Will it be the same poems? Definitely, the main stuffing is all the same, only with a couple of extra poems (bonus, yay!!) and some shorter ones I don't like (like 2-3 of them) will be removed.

Can I read the deleted poems? Of course! An unedited version of my anthology is free for you to read here on Wattpad.

What's the difference between the original and the new version? In short, the main difference will be the reformatting and severe editing (with the knowledge I didn't have when I first published it). Also, I'd like to make the book a little smaller. I'm not sure if many of you are aware of this, but Amazon's self-publishing platform only offers certain standard sizes for books, and well, my 6"x9" book is probably the smallest I can go. That being said, I am considering reaching out to Amazon Publishing and some other publishers to see if they can help with this "downsizing" of sorts. Realistically, I know printing a smaller book has a 50/50 chance of happening, but it's definitely something I'd like for the revised edition.

When will the revised edition be published? This depends on the "downsizing". I hope to get the edits done in the next month or so, but a good part of the reformatting process is dependent on whether or not I get to make the book a smaller size. If not, then you'll have a semi-brand-new 6"x9" poetry anthology for you to cart around and annotate to your heart's content!

Will it look the same? For now, I intend to keep the cover the same, BUT if I work out something I like (since I design my own covers), then I will definitely consider changing the cover. The font will be different for sure, same as a whole lot of other formattings in the original version (reformatting, yay!!). Another thing I've been brainstorming is GRAPHICS!!! If you've read the first few chapters of BLS on Wattpad, you'll know about the banners I made for POV changes. I want to try some stuff like that for sure, so you'll definitely be seeing some cool changes ;)

Why are you republishing/publishing a revised edition? Ooooh boy. So the story is, when I put together all these poems and published them with Amazon KDP (which is a self-publishing platform), I had very very very little experience with the writing world, much less the editing and publishing world. The anthology was sent in as a submission for Amazon's Pen to Publish program, which is how I found out I could self-publish in the first place. But the main thing is, I put together the entire thing, formatting and all (minus writing a majority of the poems, which I'd done in the few months before), in about a month. Long story short, it was the definition of a rush job. So now I'm nearly three years older, a little wiser (I hope), and I want to put in the time and work that I know my 13-year-old self deserved when she first started writing, and the knowledge that my 14-year-old self didn't have when she self-published.

I think that's about it, but if any of you have anything else to ask, my inbox is definitely open. I hope you'll all love this new edition (once I get it out for you to read) and I'd absolutely love it if you have any extra feedback from the original!!

#writing #my writing #poems #poetry #anthology #every why has a whereof #ewhaw #crazytwentythrees #writers on tumblr #writeblr #books on wattpad #wattpad books #love #tumblr #books #tbr #booklist #bookboost #bookpromotion #reading #readersofinstagram #ebooks #bookworm #books & libraries #original poetry #poets on tumblr #poet #poetsandwriters #poets corner #my poem

[hitsuackerman]

What in the World? (Akaashi Keiji x Reader) pt.8

Part 8 of WINTW? :D Enjoy! 

Akaashi’s lineup: @alluring-akaashi @oikawalmart-hq @extrasugafree @bbykiyoomi @apricotjihyo @awings​ @simpformiya @colorseeingchick @something-that-idk (i have no idea why i can’t tag some of you :( huhu )

links: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 9

The next match went by smoothly. They had lost to the opponent but they were all light hearted about it. Knowing the consequences, Akaashi gave the signal to begin the lap of diving. With a gym this large, that had to be tiring. They weren't complaining though. You had to remind yourself from time to time that this powerhouse school has reached nationals thrice.

Checking the data you recorded, Yukie, Kaori, and you began to compare notes.

"Bokuto-san has been using his straights a little more than usual." Kaori commented. "Probably wants to polish it or he's just warming up for the day."

"Haruki-san managed to save 80% of the balls for his 4th consecutive game. Better than last time." Yukie added.

"Washio-san managed to block all of the balls or one touched them." You inserted. Amazed at how this silent player was stronger than you'd estimated. Silent people really were deadly.

"Akaashi-san did exceptionally well in the last match." Yukie said. "He's getting used to the other's preferred distances and height now. Analytical skills still as sharp as ever, too."

Feeling proud of that compliment, you silently smiled to yourself. Being in class 6 also meant that your grades had to be maintained in every aspect. Akaashi can do all of those with being a vice captain and Bokuto’s close friend with such ease. Scribbling down a few notes, you stopped and tried to grab the notebook from Yukie.

“Well, well, well~”  She lazily teased. “Are you sure you were jotting down their shots or Akaashi-san’s alone?”

“You scribbled his name in different styles as well~” She added once she was by Yukie’s side. Giggling at the 5 different fonts of ‘Akaashi’. “You’re safe for now, little one. But, later before we sleep, better prepare for a little game of truth or dare with the other managers!”

“No escaping.”

A little scared of how serious Yukie was, you nodded and accepted the notebook. Holding it close to your chest, you held onto it like there was no tomorrow. Following the two of them, you found yourself cutting some watermelons

"You're the new trainee, right?" Shinzen's manager asked as she too sliced some watermelons and placed them on a tray. "I'm Mako, by the way."

"(l/n)." You slightly bowed.

"You handle the men really well!" She complimented you. Her light brown eyes focused on half of the fruit. "When I was new, it took a while to get used to such a diverse pack of personalities. It did help that they're soft idiots underneath the rough appearances."

"I'll have to agree." Taking a small piece of watermelon, you savored the refreshing sweetness. "Especially when Bokuto-san goes emo mode, Akaashi really manages to work and balance things out. With the groups effort too, of course."

"Anyway, I'll be seeing you later in our girl's night~" Grabbing the plate, you followed her and walked with a plate full of heavy fruit.

Along with Yukie, the three of you headed to the gym. Finding the boys playing with Karasuno, you couldn't help but feel happy when all the boys looked extra excited for the small sponsored snack. Few moments later, a small watermelon seed spitting contest had begun.

By the corner, you took out your phone to text o-mother. She wanted updates regarding the training and just didn't want to feel lonely while you were hours away. Just as you sent the text, yet another familiar voice made its presence known.

"Uh, are there still any watermelons left?"

Iida? That voice was Iida's. Turning around, you were met with Karasuno's setter. His face showed surprise at the sudden action. What were you hoping for? Of course that wasn't your close friend. Instead you were met with softer features but the similar shade of blue eyes made it feel a bit less lonely.

"I think there's still some by Nekoma's area." You finally replied.

"KAGEYAMA!" The small player whose name you recalled due to Bokuto's stories in the bus, suddenly appeared with light jumping steps. "Ah! That's why you went missing! You're sneaking out to talk to girls!"

"HINATA! YOU IDIOT!" Kageyama slapped Hinata only to have himself being hit as well. " I was just asking her if there were any more watermelons left!"

"Heee~ You could've just went to Nekoma's area instead of asking Fukurodani's manager!" He stuck his tongue out and the fight continued.

In some strange way, the two of them reminded you of Todoroki and Deku.

"OI! KAGEYAMA! SHOYO!" Another familiar voice came running to break the fight. A bit smaller than Hinata, you felt chills down your spine when you realized whose voice you heard. "THAT'S NOT HOW TO ACT WHEN YOUR TALKING TO LADIES!"

Bakugo?? It was weird. Having to hear such familiar voices with different faces holding them.

"Nishinoya! Libero!" He pointed his thumb towards his chest. An ear to ear grin plastered on his lips. The small tuft of blonde gave him that extra oomph.

"Please excuse them," An unfamiliar voice popped in as well. "They get uneasy when talking to girls. Daichi, captain of Karasuno."

Shaking his outstretched hand, you watched as he began to shoo them back into the gym. Giving an apologetic bow, you shook your head and soon followed them.

The little high of hearing the voices of your friends was now dying down. With the match now starting, you began the task of preparing their water bottles. It wasn't that hard but you did take note which bottle they preferred. Yukie and Kaori had to wonder how in the world you retained such tiny details.

The time you dreaded finally arrived.

The hours had flown by a little too quickly for your taste. Sitting in a circle, the female managers were now munching on some snacks that Yukie brought. Yachi and you began to talk about random stuff. It was interesting to hear her story of how she finally understood the importance of being a Townsperson B.

"If it wasn't for Hinata or Kageyama," She lightly scratched her cheek. "I probably wouldn't have found the confidence to become manager."

"Glad you did. Even the smallest of roles can have such a big impact." Recalling a few of your missions, you could feel how the confidence push made her shine even more.

"Okay, ladies!" Yukie now gathered your attention. "It's now time for the highlight of the night. A game of truth or dare."

Groans and giggles filled the room.

Taking a water bottle, she spun it around. Placing your hands in your jacket pockets, you manipulated the air each time the bottle faced you. The first victim had to be Yachi.

"Truth or dare, Yachi-chan." Kaori asked. When she chose truth, her cheeks flared at the question. "Who would make a great couple among the crows?"

This girl was kind but her questions were not.

"Uh, I thi-think," Hiding her face on her palms, Kiyoko and you patted her shoulders as a form of small encouragement. "D-Daichi-san and Suga-san."

Kiyoko covered her mouth and giggled. She nodded her head and agreed at the chosen 2.

The bottle was spun again. It began to slow down but with a little twitch of a finger, it landed towards Yukie. Mako took over and asked the question.

"If you could kiss any player in any of the schools here, which player would you go for?"

Tapping her index on the tip of her nose, she hummed and snapped her finger.

"Kenma." The other girls were a little shocked at her answer. When asked why, she merely shrugged and took a chip. "He's pretty interesting. And his pudding hair reminds me of food."

"Ahh." Both Kaori and you agreed and nodded. Her answer now made sense knowing that she had a thing for food.

The bottle was spun once again and this time it landed a safe distance away. The next to be questioned was Mako. Her question was who among the players would she take to the locker room and spend 7 minutes of heaven with. Yukie was definitely not lazy when it came to interrogations. Thank goodness you had a quirk.

“Kuroo would probably be fun to take into a closet but I think he’s a little too flirty for me.” She managed her thoughts out loud. Staying silent for a few seconds, she finally stated her answer. “Maybe Akaashi-san would be nice. He’s really respectful and pretty.”

The girls began to ‘ooh’ and giggle at her choice. Your two co-managers stared into your soul. Avoiding any sort of eye contact, you turned to face Yachi and sparked a conversation with her. That had to be the worst decision you made for the night. Being a bit too engrossed at such a random topic, you failed to take note of the bottle.

“Yo~ (y/n)~” Yukie’s lazy voice sent chills down your spine. Eyes widening at the realization that you forgot to focus your quirk on the bottle, you uttered a few curse words. “So, what’s with you and Akaashi?”

Mako gasped and covered her mouth. Telling her it was okay, you tried to wiggle your out.

“That’s not really a truth question.”

“Okay.” She crossed her arms and merely gave a lazy smirk. “If given the chance, would you take him to the rooftop and kiss him, tonight?”

“Why not?” You shrugged.

“Noted.” Kaori mumbled to herself, enough for you to hear. “Now that that’s over with, how ‘bout we do an open forum? Like what do you guys wanna talk about? Anything bothering you?”

Things went smoothly after that. Feeling a bit sleepy, you stifled a yawn and stretched without moving. Not that their problems or thoughts weren’t interesting, it was just the fact that today was a rather long day and the futon was very inviting. Reaching for your phone, you checked your messages and found Asami had replied.

Asami-chan: AAHHHH YOU BIIITSHH!! HOW DARE YOU TAKE A PICTURE WITH MY BOKUTO?! AND HOW DARE YOU DID NOT TAKE A SOLO PIC OF HIM?!

You: Drool. Chill. I’ll take one tomorrow.

Opening your mother’s response, you had to love how she sent a full on paragraph about how you should take care and that she misses you even more and a lot of fluffy words that made you smile. Reading the last part, you simply texted you loved her.

The last of the messages was sent no more than 4 minutes ago.

Akaashi: Good evening. Are you awake?

You: Yeah. We’re having a girl’s night here.

It was a bit of a shocker to see that he was now replying.

Akaashi: If you’re hungry, I have a snack bar.

You: Is it even allowed to go out of the rooms this time of night?

Akaashi: It’s still early. And Bokuto-san is still practicing with Kuroo-san so I have some spare time.

You: Can’t get enough of me?

Akaashi: I’ll meet you by the entrance.

Heart beating faster, you were now in a cinch. With the way the girls night was going, for sure you would be teased no doubt if you would mention his name. More so that the question given to you involved the person you were about to meet. Thinking about a reason, you stood up and went towards your bag. Rummaging aimlessly, you saw a napkin and nodded to yourself.

“I’ll be back.” Waving the item, the girls shooed you till you closed the door. Thus began the small run towards the entrance. When the last flight of stairs came, you slowed down and walked. Gotta catch your breath and not look like a fool.

“Hello to you.” You greeted him when you saw him. God he looked so good even with the dim lighting the area had to offer. In his hand were two snack bars. His drenched towel rested on his shoulder. Taking the bar, you sat beside him. Even with all the sweat, he smelled good. “You tired?”

“A bit.” He rolled his left shoulder. “Bokuto-san and Kuroo-san got into a competition and it so happens that I was the only setter in gym 3.”

“Oh.” Fidgeting with the bar, you inhaled and took a big bite. “I, uhh, can massage your shoulders if you want? I have pretty dandy hands”

“You don’t have to.” He stared at his shoes and wiped some non-existent sweat. The prospect of a shoulder massage would be very nice, he had to admit. But the thought of being seen by those two asses in the nearby gym was not good. Scanning the area, he saw the sprinting hill and waited if you would insist.

“I don’t mind.” Tucking a hair behind your ear, you bit your tongue and tried to calm down. “There’s not much malice in it anyway.”

Malice? Where and why did you even think of that word? Wondering why Akaashi stood up, he motioned for you to follow him. When he extended a hand, you didn’t need it but who could resist? Holding on to it, the both of you began to climb up the small sprinting area. Making sure that both of you were now behind the tree, he sat down and leaned on the trunk.

“So, uh, you can face that way to…” Fighting villains was nothing, but having to massage this sweaty man’s shoulders was a feat itself. When he followed instructions, you were now face to shoulder with Akaashi Keiji. This was even scarier when you had to battle with one of the eight precepts of death. With shaky hands, you warned Akaashi that you were about to start. He merely hummed.

When your palms touched his damp shirt, you activated your quirk to aid in relaxing his muscles. One of the advantages of having a quirk like yours was how you could manipulate the heat of your palms. Whenever you had sore or overworked muscles, a massage with your quirk always made you feel a thousand times better within a few minutes. Akaashi leaned in on your touch and let out an exhale. He could feel the effects of what you were secretly doing.

“You really do have dandy hands.” He praised you. Your small fingers delicately massaging the soreness away was something not even his own mother could do. Not wanting to strain you any further, he held on to your hands to signal you to stop. Peering over his shoulder, he gave a small smile and told you that was more than enough.

Leaning back on the trunk, he was amazed at how his body felt much more energized than last time. With your hand still being held by his, he stared at them for a moment before letting go. At the same time, the both of you missed the warmth and small tug.

“Thanks for the massage, (l/n).”

“No big deal.” Feeling that you used a small chunk of your quirk, you were silently thankful he still held on to your hand for an extended period of time. Though, when he let go, you kinda wished he didn’t. “Thanks for the snack bar, Akaashi.”

“Consider it payment for the massage.”

“Hey, hypothetical question.” Seeing him nod, you continued. “What if you, uhh, wake up one morning and find yourself in a completely different world; Different people, environment, everything. What would you do?”

“Hmm…” Giving him a few minutes, you were curious as to what his answer would be. “I’d probably lose my mind for the first couple of days. But I guess I could get information to see if it’s safe or dangerous. What about you?”

“I’d do the same thing.” The crickets were now chirping in the background. A soft breeze passed the both of you causing the leaves to rustle. “What if you met someone in that world? And they make you feel that there’s more to life than having to protect others constantly? Hypothetically, of course.”

“I don’t know.”

“Honestly, same.”

- - - - -

a/n: hihihi just a sprinkle of drama in this chapter :) hoping ya’ll like this! Akaashi’s lineup still accepting players! Drop a comment or message me if ya’ll wanna be listed :)

#akaashi x reader #akaashi keiji x reader #akaashi #akaashi haikyuu #haikyuu!! #haikyuu x reader #haikyu #hq akaashi

[thatwritergirlsblog]

Testing out popular (FREE) writing hacks

There are a lot of writing hacks floating around, tips that are supposed to increase your writing productivity. Well, I tested them, and here are my thoughts:

1. Use Comic Sans

Let’s be honest. When we were in primary school, we typed EVERYTHING in Comic Sans. However, as we got older and more professional, Comic Sans appeared childish and we stopped using it.

Ask anyone what the most unprofessional font is and they’ll probably answer: Comic Sans MS

However, earlier this year the idea of using Comic Sans when writing your first draft started popping up and now, a lot of writers are swearing by it.

So, did it increase my productivity?

YES

I started writing a scene in Comic Sans and I wrote about five pages in like 30 minutes. The words just flowed. I don’t know why this font increases writing productivity, but if it works, I don’t really care why.

So, I would 100% recommend trying Comic Sans for your first draft. Remember, no one’s going to see it. And it’s pretty easy to change back to something like Times New Roman once you’ve finished a scene.

2. Dictation

I’ve heard a lot of professional authors rave about how much time they save by dictating their first drafts. However, a lot of dictation software and microphones are quite expensive. So, I tried the free alternatives at my disposal.

The latest version of OneNote, which comes included in a lot of Microsoft Office packages, now has a dictation feature. I know this isn’t technically free, but it was for me, since I already have Office installed. The OneNote mobile app is free, but I don’t know it is has this feature. And I just used the built-in microphone on my laptop. Google Docs also has a dictation feature, I think, but I haven’t tried it yet.

So, does it work?

The accuracy is surprisingly good. I dictated about three paragraphs this morning and only one or two words were incorrect. Also, OneNote’s dictation doesn’t allow for speaking punctuation, which means you’ll have to add these after the fact. Additionally, few people actually write in OneNote, so you’ll have to paste the text into your document.

Overall, this could be great for someone whose hands are tired of typing or who cannot sit at a desk any longer than their job already requires. However, it doesn’t really increase productivity. This may just be me, but I take longer to think up good sentences when I have to speak them. Then, I have to go back and add punctuation marks and correct some words. And then paste it into my draft document. It’s easier to just write it from the get-go.

However, some authors say that it just takes getting used to. So, maybe if you’re more of a verbal/audio thinker and don’t have your hands available at all times, this is a good hack for you. I just don’t think I’ll be using it much. 

3. Writing sprints

This has been around for quite some time, but I only really started using it when I attempted Camp Nanowrimo during my test month. Essentially, writing sprints entail setting a timer for somewhere under an hour and then just focusing on getting as many words written as possible before the timer goes off. There are many published authors who swear by this.

So, does it increase productivity?

Yes. Firstly, it pushes you to write when you wouldn’t have in other circumstances, since it allows you to utilise even the smallest free periods. Have an hour between classes? Find a flat surface and do a writing sprint. Have to study all evening? Do a 25-minute sprint before you start. Secondly, it also helps you get more words down in that time, because you don’t have to worry about what you have to do next or whether your writing is any good. All you focus on is producing as many words as possible before that timer goes off.

So, if you’re a busy person, try using writing sprints here and there to increase your productivity.

4. Writing groups

Many authors enjoy the camaraderie and accountability that comes with writing with a lot of other people, whether it be in a physical space or an online group. There’s a set time everyone in the group will be writing and you keep one another company, checking up on one another’s progress and sharing motivation.

Does it increase productivity?

Not for me. This is largely a personal thing, but I actually get less writing done in the presence of other people. I’m more anxious. I get distracted by other people’s comments. And I constantly find myself wondering when the session will end. To me, writing is a solitary thing. I work best holed up in my room with no one around and no one leaving online comments about their own writing. Yes, I love checking in on others’ progress and sharing my own on Instagram, but only after my writing session has finished.

However, you may find that writing groups work for you. Maybe not being alone is just nicer for you, regardless of whether you get more words down or not. So, this one is definitely dependent on the individual.

5. Background noise

Some writers create signature playlists for each of their WIPs. Some write specific scenes to specific songs. Others use white noise or instrumentals. But it’s clear that writing with some form of background sound works for a lot of authors.

Let me start by saying that I cannot get any work done when listening to music with lyrics. So, I didn’t even try this. Instead, I tried fantasy instrumental playlists on YouTube, rainymood.com and ambient-mixer.com 

Does it work?

Sometimes.

If I’m writing a fight scene, listening to epic battle music will help me write it faster. I write at my best during thunderstorms, so rainymood.com definitely increases my productivity. Ambient mixer offers a huge variety of ambient sounds to listen to, ranging from scary woods to driving with the Winchesters. “Quiet library” on ambient mixer helps a lot when I have to study, but not really when I have to write. So, yes, in certain instances, background noise helps me write faster. But, mostly, I enjoy writing in silence or with natural, real-life sounds around me.

Once again, this is purely personal. Regardless, I can definitely recommend the two websites I mentioned above.

So, that’s all I have for you today. I hope that these “reviews” can help you decide which writing hacks will work for you. Remember that my asks are always open for creative writing questions, and that post submissions are always welcome!

Reblog if you found this post useful. Comment if there are any writing hacks you’d like me to try out in the future. Follow me for similar content.

#writing #writer #writers #campnanowrimo #Writing tips #writing advice #writeblr #writeblr advice #writing's hard #amwriting

[ggsstudies]

how i use the app notion ✨

you can get the app “notion” on your iphone, mac, and you can also access it through the internet. 

an app for productivity and organization and really anything you could need it for :) 

the first page i have (see above) is one for my favorite shortcuts. these are all available on the laptop version. when i first started using the application, i wasn’t quite sure how to use it so i thought having a list of shortcuts at the beginning would be a good idea and it really worked well. i pretty much know all of them now but it’s still nice to have. 

on the side bar is the list of all my pages as well as some of the pages within them. 

at the very bottom, i have a page titled “other.” this is where all my random pages go. i link the majority of my pages and so the “other” page is just their home. otherwise, it would clutter up the side bar and i don’t want that :) 

the second page on the side bar is my “my life” page. this is where i have linked three other pages that i often go to such as “today’s goals,” “this week,” and “weekend goals.” i switch back and forth from using these pages and actual paper for my to do lists. 

here’s a look at my “this week” page. it’s currently empty because i don’t have any scheduled to dos yet. when i do, i section it off with all the days of the week with the smallest heading size (heading 3 - [option, command, 3] on a mac) and start my checklist below it. but here’s a peek of what a page looks like when it’s empty. 

i am also a president of a club and so i have a page all dedicated to that. i’m able to have to do lists, lists of all our past and upcoming meetings/events, as well as have a couple notes. i’m able to do this through using the checklists, the bullet point feature, as well as the feature where i’m able to “link” everything. those “linked” pages are in a light gray font (automatically) and if i click on it, it takes me right there without having to go find them in my “other” page. 

since i am a senior in high school, i also had college applications to worry about  at the beginning of the school year. so, i was able to create a table for all the information i had on all the colleges i was applying to. the table extends a lot farther but i’m able to see it by scrolling sideways. i was able to customize the table a lot just by fiddling with it and finding what worked for me and what fit my needs. 

below that big college pro/con list, i had my application checklist. here, using another table, i was able to compare which college required what and if i had it done or not. earlier in the year, this table was covered in a whole bunch of colors, each a different step in the application process. this was especially helpful to see if all my recommendation letters were complete. 

this app is so customizable to YOU, it’s crazy. you can personalize the emojis on the side, the banner at the top, if you want it in light or dark mode, the color of the font, and so much more. 

for the most part, the way i learned notion was just trying it. i sat down and fiddled around to see what i liked, what i could create, and what would work well for me. that’s really all you can do to become comfortable with notion. it’s a super great tool and it has helped keep me organized a lot. “mariana’s study corner” on youtube introduced notion to me and here’s her video that really explains it well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a6lV8JVhf8 you can also look on youtube to see how other people use the application. 

if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask, i would be happy to answer them. i hope this helped you get an understanding of my usage of notion. i definitely recommend this app and anyone can get it because it is accessible through the internet. you should definitely try it out ;) 

xo- gg

#ggsstudies #xo- gg #mine #notion #notion app #studyblr #studyspo #studygram #how i use notion #tutorial #student life #life of a student #app #productivity app #productivity #you need this app!!!!! #study

[klunkcat]

I just got hit with the weirdest idea- could you write an AU human fic about aziraphale rescuing an injured snake and taking it to vet!crowley who has snakebite piercings and of course azira's got to make an awful pun about that and they hit it off instantly

(I have to preface this with I know nothing about snakes or vets at all, and this prompt is a true gift you have bestowed upon me.)

“Now, my dear, I’m sure you’re experiencing quite the largeamount of distress—understandably, of course! You see, well, the thing is I’venever owned a snake before. Not really an animal enthusiast, beyond. Well,there’s the nature channels and magazines, certainly, but it would be terriblyunwise to say…. Bite me at this particular interlude? I do feel as though weare working towards the same end, do you think we could come to anunderstanding, just this once?”

The snake bundled somewhat haphazardly in his arms flickedits tongue agreeably. Zira nodded to himself happily. “Excellent. Alright, um.Onto step two, then.”

He made short work stepping out of the building towards hisvehicle—car, he scolded himself. Michael had mocked him for weeks last time he’d let the out of date term slip through. Although, with the age and general unpleasing noises that often sprouted from the thing, neither word was truly appropriate. 

Zirahesitated for a moment, placing the snake carefully in the passenger seat.

“Shame there aren’t any safety belts for reptiles, hm? Suppose you will, um. Just need to stay put. Please.” Thepoor thing blinked its yellow eyes slowly and curled up tighter. It looked abit like a sad cinnamon bun, all black and brown and ill all over. Really, thiswas an awful mess from top to bottom.

It was one thing to find a poor unwell creature out on thestreets and take it in for assistance, in fact Zira liked to think most peoplewould step in to help. It was pointedly and glaringly another to see a sadsnake in a poorly run pet shop, create a small diversion involving kibble, andcommit an entire felony to rescue said creature. Oh, dear.

It was only that the poor dear seemed so morose, sodespondent and lonesome. It was only that, perhaps, he’d had a moment ofcomplete understanding, like two souls in perfect synchronization. As thoughthe snakes bundled form and unblinking steady gaze had been screaming at him,something poetic about barriers one could not cross, about suffocatingunderneath them.

The young woman at the receptionist desk did not find hisexplanation nearly as fascinating, it seemed.

“That’s great, uh. Sir, if you could just, hand me yourfriend there—” Zira’s gaze caught her name tag, printed nicely with a fitting font choice, if he said so himself, “Anathema! Yes, oh of course, Ms. Anathema, I mustsay I’ve never owned a snake before, well actually, I don’t suppose I own this oneeither- besides the point! Right, yes, it’s only. My, er, my funds have been abit low this month- book binding’s not what it used to be, I’m afraid. Typologyneither.” Anathema’s dark brows drifted closer and closer together. Right,hurry it along Zira.

“Are you saying you can’t pay?” She asked,the strange lack of any inflection in her voice made the question impossiblymore uncomfortable. Zira shifted, he felt his smile turning into somethingplacating. Gabriel always said it made him look constipated.

“W-well, it was more of an, ah, an inquiry? As to, how muchI would needing to be…. Gathering, I suppose…?”

“Ngk,” said a voice from the backroom, “don’t bother.” A rather attractivevoice. If voices could be attractive. This one certainly was. And it wasattached to a pair of rather attractive sauntering hips as well, andbeautifully stunning bright hair, and—

“Good lord,” Aziraphale muttered, thankfully with enough wherewithal to hide it under his breath. Not with enough wherewithal to escape entirely ogling the twobits of metal poking from a rather attractive angular face, with rather darktransition lens glasses hiding what were likely two rather beautiful eyes, thebastard. The lips slightly above the piercings quirked upwards.

The newcomer waved a hand lazily Anathema’s way. “Putit on mine, pro bono.” Good heavens, Zira repeated, internally for emphasis. The drawl inthat voice, he could practically see the flowing script of it all. And, oh,there was a flowy script right there on the nametag. Crowley. Lovely.

Anathema quirked a brow and sighed. “That’s for lawyers, not veterinarians. You and yoursoft spot for snakes. Head office isn’t going to like these expenses you keepinvoicing, you know.”

Crowley made a dismissive noise. “I’ll write it off somehow,blame the weather or the lack of it, you know they never check up. So,” Crowleyturned towards Zira, finally, and planted a pair of black painted nails on thecounter. It took Zira a moment to realize he was being spoken to. “Let’s have alook, hm?”

Zira blinked. “Oh! Right, yes.” He shifted his bundleslightly, and felt the snake wriggle unhappily.

“Bit of a grumpy fellow,” Crowley noted.

Zira smiled, a little crookedly. “Suppose you’re not afraidof a hissy fit or two.” He gestured with a weird half elbow shuffle atCrowley’s piercings. Snake bites, he remembered they were called, a bit tooproudly for the level of humor he’d just struck the room with. He winced assoon as the words left his mouth and was met with a long pause.

To his surprise, and likely Anathema’s as well from her wide-eyedblink, Crowley laughed. “Hmm, guess you’ve got me in one there.” He managed tofree Zira’s wriggling prize enough to verify…. Something. Probably not a fever,Zira reasoned. Snakes were cold blooded, he was pretty sure they’d covered thatin National Geographic once. “Right, Anathema be a darling and take our friendback?”

It took Zira another embarrassingly long moment to realizeCrowley likely hadn’t meant Zira. It was another embarrassing realization tofind that he was blisteringly relieved Crowley had just chosen to stay outfront with him.

“Heard a bit of your tale; guessing you’re not usuallytaking care of scaled serpents.” Crowley arched a brow behind the dark shades.

“Oh, oh no. Well, it’s just that it looked so sad yousee and—”

Crowley grinned, a full toothy thing. Something in Zira’schest absolutely delighted in the sight. “Heard the whole thing from the backroom. Stealing a snake right from the store? Risky move, that is.”

Zira huffed, feeling vaguely like he was being teased. “Ofcourse it was, it’s not as if I make a habit out of committing crimes. Thisseemed like a pertinent case, however.”

“Oh, pertinent. Totally different thing, then.”

“Right.”

“Officers would have to let you off then, maybe without evena warning.”

“They should!”

“Practically makes you a regular angel, that does.”

“I- well, that seems a bit much.”

Crowley laughed again, Zira thought distantly it was thekind of laugh one could be greedy for. “Snake saviour, I can see it now.Probably make a statue for you, I’d think.” He pulled off his shades with aquick wink, and oh, but if Crowley’s eyes weren’t the most beautifullystunning shade of melted honey. Unfair, wielding those. Practically made abrain go to pieces along with the alarmingly loud skip beat of his heart.

“I’m Zira,” he blurted out, abruptly. Embarrassingly.Stupidly. Crowley’s grin only softened beautifully. Perfectly. Brilliantly.

“Anthony J Crowley, indebted I’m sure to your great serpentrelated miracles.”

“Pish posh, you’re the vet, my dear. You’ll be the oneconducting miracles, no doubt.”

Crowley snorted. “Oh, I’m not the vet.” He gestured to theback. “Anathema’s the brains around here.”

Zira blinked. “But, you were—”

Crowley’s smile sharpened, somehow. “Brilliant, right? Shetakes the desk when we’re slow, and in return I do all the stocking and makethe awful paperwork disappear. Not much of a people person, me.”

Zira definitely attempted not to blush ferociously at thepainfully obvious fact he was very much people-ing a person at this exactmoment. “Right, er… Very efficient arrangement, I must say. You can’t say she’sletting you fill out her paperwork, though. Right? That would be—”

“Wrong? Immoral? I dot all the t’s and cross all the ‘i’s Ipromise. No one checks our handwriting anyways; those finance guys just wantthe cheques at the right times. Suppose you, oh rescuer of the downtroddencreatures, holy as you are, would triple check all on your own.” He definitelywas being teased now, he decided. Except, he couldn’t find any amount of himthat particularly disliked it. And those infuriatingly distracting snake bitesmade it difficult to hold any amount of ire, he supposed. As well as theentirety of the person wearing them.

“Well, either way, Anathema is the best of the best, so Ican promise your little friend is in good hands. If you leave us your information,we can give you a ring when we know what’s wrong with ‘em.” Crowley slid aclipboard of papers his way with the kind of grace that suggested someserpentine similarities in itself.

“Oh, right….” He tried not to show his disappointment.Childish, really. They’d had one five minute interaction after all. It was onlythe sad lonely part of him reading grand divine plans and destiny into things,projecting them onto this nice young fellow at the smallest of—

“Or,” Crowley cut in, with a casual lean across the counterthat brought their faces just this side of close. “You could….. uh, hangaround. If you wanted. We’ve got a waiting room, good for waiting.”

The gears in Zira’s brain ground to a halt, suddenlynoticing the absolute bright red of Crowley’s ears, and his nervous foottapping. Something eased in his chest.

“No use to a waiting room without any waiting to be had,” henodded agreeably.

The ten megawatt grin that met him in response felt likesummertime. “Plus, you’ve got a proper snake on your hands now. Needs a lot ofspecific care I happen to know all about.”

Zira hadn’t really considered that reality, consequences offoolishly running on righteous impulse. He winced. “I do hope I’m equipped tohandle the task, poor dear deserves all the love it can bear after its ordeal, Iwould think.”

“Oh, you’re an angel, caring for all the creatures big andsmall. You’ve got plenty of love, I’m sure.”

Zira arched a brow, a small soft smile on his lips. “Well,certainly there’s that.” He positively delighted in the pink that spread acrossCrowley’s cheeks. He’d always been one for enjoying a bit too much of hedonismin his years, sampling all the finest sweets and words he could find. This Not-A-Vetstruck him as a very rare and very precious sweet, one he was fast discovering hewouldn’t like to do without. It made him coy, confident in a way he’d neverfelt. Flirtatious, nearly. Zira, flirtatious? Heavens, what was next.

Crowley coughed, stuttering for a moment. “Uh, ye-right. Nngk.Well. There’s also…. Lamps, that’s important. Lamps and terrariums, and food.Gotta have the right sorts of foods, of course.”

“And you know which ones are right, naturally.”

The smile slithered back, bringing with it a certain warmthto Crowley’s sharp features. “Naturally. Would be happy to tell you all aboutit over say, tea? Good exchange for all these bits of genius, I’d think.”

Zira pretended to hum and haw it over for a moment, “Youknow…. I am a rather big fan of tea, as it were, but there’s this lovely sushiplace nearby I saw earlier. Was driving past in a bit of a panic, of course, notmuch time to stop in.”

Crowley nodded, casually. A bit ruined by the smirk and the wide-eyedearnest intrigue. “Terribly tragic, no. Won’t do at all. Been there once ortwice myself, definitely would be a shame for you not to pop in.”

“Horribly heart-breaking, absolutely.”

For a moment, they both stared, Zira realizing he’d quiteforgotten his surroundings the moment Crowley had strolled in. An oldergentleman reading a paper nearby huffed loudly. He’d have blushed, stammeredout an awkward apology, and made himself bundled up into the farthest corner,typically. Scolding words from his family crept in, just a little. Somethingabout desperation, about obvious pathetic affection for a stranger.

Strangely, looking at those amber eyes and taunting metalbits, he found he didn’t much care for their opinions on the matter.

“Shall I reserve a table for two, then?” Crowley asked,perfectly innocent. “Bit strange, going out with a bloke you only just met. Wouldbe understandable if you erm. Thought it over a little. Or, well. You know. Sortof like…. I dunno, something you’d see in one of those awful stage plays.Bloody hate those depressing ones. Something cosmic and overly poetic and-“

“Ineffable,” Zira breathed. Taking all the courage he couldmuster, he quickly wrote down his number on the paper in front of him andpushed it Crowley’s way, along with a prim Seven O’clock Sharp addendum.“Best not to question it then, hm?”

Crowley blinked, then smiled. “Course, angel. Wouldn’t dreamof it.”

#good omens #ineffable husbands #good omens fic #aziraphale #you could argue zira is too oblivious for this but #au liberties and a lack of the whole their side lends itself well to flirty flustered nonsense #Anonymous #snake vet au

[coffecatsandbooks]

There’s A Mouse!

Hi guys! So this is my first Criminal Minds fanfic and I hope y’all enjoy it! It’s going to be about Hotchner x Reader having a mouse in their house and they try to catch it, but it gets a little hectic first.

Warnings: Swearing

Pair: Hotchner x Reader

_______

Aaron Hotchner had never faced anything like this before. He had come into contact with the biggest, baddest, scariest men out there. It was true that he put away pure evil pretty much daily and yet this little, beady-eyed fellow had him feeling helpless. He couldn’t catch the fucker to save his life and it baffled him. How on earth was it that he was able to catch some of the world’s most notorious serial killers, yet he couldn’t even find a way to trap the smallest of animals? How was it that a mouse had the upper hand?

There it was in between the wall and the refrigerator. It’s whiskers twitching and it’s beady black eyes staring Aaron right in the face. Was it trying to taunt him? Surely not. It’s just an animal after all.

You were standing up on a chair in the middle of the kitchen in nothing but shorts and one of Aaron’s t-shirts. Your hair in a messy bun and your arms crossed. You were terrified. It was pretty silly really. Hotch wasn’t the only one who stood toe-to-toe with death everyday. You did too. Hotch dealt with the really terrifying monsters, but you dealt with the random ones. He was the boss of the FBI’s BAU team, but you were the head Homicide Detective in Quantico, Virginia’s District. Both of your jobs were very demanding and stressful, but currently this was one of the most stressful situations you’d ever been in.

About an hour ago while you were both getting stuff out to make dinner when a mouse ran out from under your cabinet and under the stove and you screamed. “There’s a mouse!” You then grabbed a chair and jumped on it and Aaron whirled around to see where it went. “Under the stove babe!” You pointed frantically with your pointer finger shaking. Mice terrified you. The germs and shit that mice carry are enough to make you run for the hills.

Since then the mouse had raced into your pantry, then under another cabinet, and finally in between the wall and the fridge. Aaron hurried after it each step of the way, a jar in hand trying to catch it. Neither of you wanted to kill it, but neither of you wanted it in the house either.

“Y/N I think he’s taunting me,” Aaron spoke up, not taking his eyes off the brown little fur ball.

You cracked a smile. “You can’t profile a mouse babe.”

“Well I think I just did and I think he’s ready to make another bolt for it, but he can’t get under the fridge and he can’t get behind the wall because he’s too big. The only place he can run to is right here through me.” Aaron said seriously as if he was working one of his big cases. Your smile grew. He had to have been by far the cutest person you’d ever met. And the smartest. Well, other than Dr. Spencer Reid- boy genius.

Aaron grabbed a crumb of bread off the counter and put it inside the jar and then put the jar on the floor in font of the exit for the mouse. He then slowly slid out of vision for the mouse. If he was right, the mouse would go straight into the jar.

“Aaron there’s no way you actually sat here and profiled a mouse. An actual animal.” You explained almost earnestly.

Aaron just smirked. “Oh really? Watch then.”

You both looked at the jar and about three minutes pass when finally the mouse peeks it’s head out to see if the ghost is clear. You gaped. “No fucking way,” you whispered.

“Shhh!” Hotch hissed and held the jar very still. The mouse tentatively stuck a front paw in there and after he realized it was safe, he ran to the back of the jar and Hotch picked it up and put the lid on it. “Let’s go release this fella, yeah?”

“I can’t believe you actually profiled a fucking mouse,” you said in complete disbelief, getting off the chair and looking at him dumbfounded.

He shrugged and headed for the front door. “What can I say? I’m good at my job.”

“Apparently profiling animals is apart of that job now, you should probably let everyone know.” You followed him to the door and he opened it. He set the jar down on the front porch and opened the lid slowly.

You and him stepped back as you watched the mouse not move for a minute, but then start to put one paw in front of the other and once it’s little feet felt the porch, it darted off the porch and into the grass. You both let out a sigh of relief and headed back inside locking the door behind you.

Then you looked at each other and started to laugh. “I can’t believe a goddamn mouse had us more stressed out than the killers we catch every day.” You laughed out, tears forming in your eyes.

“I can’t believe that just happened,” Aaron chuckled out and you two looked at each other and finally calmed down. You smiled and walked over to him, looping your hands around his neck.

“My hero,” you grinned and stood up on your tippy-toes and pressed a kiss to his lips.

He smiled against your mouth, returning the kiss and wrapping his arms around your waist. “Just stay my badass princess okay?”

You hummed in response, tangling your fingers in his hair. “You wanna just get take-out?” you mumbled against his lips.

He pulled away and smirked. “Definitely.” 

#aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner imagines #criminal minds #criminal minds imagines #fbi #bau #hotch #spencer reid #dr spencer reid #derek morgan #reid #morgan #gideon #jason gideon #david rossi #rossi #emily prentiss #prentiss #jj #jennifer jareau #special agent #penelope garcia #garcia #lover