#getting to the point where i want to suggest they go live in student housing if they wanna be so fucking obnoxious

[cuntwrap--supreme]

Not my neighbors getting day drunk, falling down their stairs, busting a hole in the drywall, and attempting to fix it at 8:30pm 🫣

#they were loudly singing at noon. at 1 or so i ran into one of them outside and he apologized for the noise and said they're all wasted #at 6 i heard a loud sound like someone falling down stairs. followed by their dog barking a lot and one of the girls screaming #the loud conversation of 'do you need an ambulance' and 'who is the least fucked up?' followed #silence for a little over 2 hours. now someone pulled up with a truck with drywall in the back and they've gone inside #and they're clearly cutting away the old drywall and putting new stuff in #like. good on them for fixing it. i guess? but i feel like not getting shitty drunk is also an option. #moving into low income housing i expected a bunch of single parents with screaming kids. not grown ass college students who are louder. #getting to the point where i want to suggest they go live in student housing if they wanna be so fucking obnoxious #the people on either side of me are all super young and clearly don't know how to live in an apartment #both houses constantly have loud ass music going. both like to yell. it's great. #there's only one decent person between the four people in the drunk wallbreaker apartment and he's just some little twink #the rest of them will scream like they're being chased and slam into the walls etc. like all night #they also keep throwing seltzer cans over the divider between our balconies and I'm pretty over that

[081314]

Twst fest 2023 live stage readings (notes)

During the “Twisted Wonderland Festival” event that was held on August 20, 2023, the voice cast (sans Kouki Uchiyama, the VA for Idia Shroud) gathered together and delivered two live readings for the audience. As attendees were not permitted to take recordings of the event, some of them very kindly went and wrote down what they remembered hearing after they returned home. I've translated and compiled some of what they wrote in this post. This information comes from a number of different tweets, summarized notes, and anonymous discussion board comments. As we can’t presently be certain what dialogue and whatnot reported here is incorrect and what is verbatim, please take all of this information with a massive grain of salt.

Lastly, please do not pester any of the sources I listed for more information.

Thank you.

Live Reading 1

Featured Characters: Epel, Vil, Jack, Floyd, Azul, Riddle, Silver, Lilia, Cater, Kalim

Scenario: The characters recollect the different hometown events and make plans for summer vacation.

The scenario begins with Kalim, Riddle, Cater, and Silver sitting in the school courtyard, talking about where they’ll be going on summer vacation. The other students come over and join them as the discussion goes on. (The order is described differently in different accounts I read, so this might be out of order.)

Lilia and Vil said they had a great time in Sunset Savana, and Silver talks about the rabbit run race he did in Deuce’s hometown. Floyd says he wants to compete in a cool race, too, and then Epel talks about the sled race from his own hometown. Silver says Sebek seemed to have enjoyed himself on that trip. Thanks to the cuckoo clock Sebek bought him as a souvenir, he’s been able to wake up on time. (TL note: they said he literally said the clock pecks him?? Does he just put it by his bed and let the bird jab him in the face?? Dfgdfg). Epel is glad to hear Silver liked the clock so much.

Vil says that sled race does sound like fun, but it takes place in the winter, so they couldn’t take part in it during summer break. Harveston gets nixed as a summer vacay spot.

At some point Vil starts talking about skincare and sunburn prevention, and Epel says he thinks getting a little burnt looks kinda cool… maybe. Jack isn’t concerned about sunburns, but he does start talking in detail about preventing heat exhaustion (might be a reference to what happened during Tamashina Mina).

Vil asks Riddle about tourist spots in the Queendom of Roses, but he only suggests a bunch of “boring” places like court houses and libraries. He says there’s so many you wouldn’t be able to go to them all (during summer break).

After suggesting a bunch of different places, they eventually decide going to the beach would be a good idea. Azul and Floyd propose the Coral Sea but get rejected since the water is too cold there even in the summer. They talk about what they could do at the beach. Silver suggests they split open watermelons, as he learned from his father that it’s a legendary form of training. Silver offers to bring the watermelons. Jack agrees to come along (not because he wants to go have fun with them or anything!! (tsundere))

Kalim says they should all go to his place (his family has a private beach? And a beach house?). Azul gets excited.

Azul: So we’ll be going to a millionaire’s hom- I mean, you’re always so incredibly kind to me, Kalim-san, I would love the opportunity to meet your parents!

Floyd teasingly asks Riddle if he even knows how to swim and offers to possibly teach him.

Riddle: How rude. I’ve memorized a number of swimming instruction manuals, and in theory, I can swim just fine! (he doesn’t indicate if he can, in practice, swim though.)

Lilia suggests the pop music club boys put on a live beachside show.

Lilia: If we’re all going to the beach, I’ll need to make sure to wear that genie t-shirt Malleus bought me!

Silver: The first thing you need to make sure you do is stock up on sun screen.

Other random notes people included:

Azul wants to rake in the dough at the Asim’s beach clubhouse, but Floyd doesn’t want to work. Cater thinks a beach clubhouse would be totally Magicammable though.

It is mentioned that summers in Briar Valley are cool

Lilia says he wants to wear a stylish swimsuit

Epel would sometimes get excited and slip into his local dialect, then get flustered, and quickly switch back to standard Japanese.

Live Reading 2

Featured Characters: Malleus, Sebek, Ace, Deuce, Ortho, Leona, Ruggie, Jamil, Jade, Trey

Scenario: The characters compete to see who can come up with the best menu for a competition being held by the school cafeteria. They split into two teams: Trey, Jade, Malleus, Sebek, Ace, and Ortho on one team; Leona, Ruggie, Jamil, Rook, and Deuce on the other. The winners will be able to get as many add-ons/sides with their meals as they want for one whole month.

The scenario begins with Ace, Deuce, and Ortho talking together in the cafeteria. They come across a flyer for the aforementioned contest and being talking about it. Malleus and Sebek come over and join them. Since it’s a school event and he wants to learn more about the kinds of things humans eat, Mallues is interested in taking part in the contest. Sebek enthusiastically says of course they will take part!!

Sebek suggests the following menu:

The Young Lord’s favorite ice cream

Gargoyle castella for the Young Lord

The other students start coming over and join the discussion. Jade somehow ropes Jamil into things, and when Jami tries to escape, Rook appears and stops him (he holds his arm or something).

Trey is with Rook, and Malleus bids them to sit next to him. Ortho looks at Jami, Jade, and Trey and gets excited since they’ve all “maxed out their cooking skills”.

Jade: We’ll all be sure to try our best [in the competition].

Jamil: Would you stop saying ‘we’!

Ruggie and Leona appear. Ruggie says there’s no way he’s gonna let them get their hands on the prize.

Jade (smiling): Oh? But we’re certain to emerge victorious, considering the members on our team.

Ruggie: I ain’t gonna sit around when there’s free food on the line!!

Leona: Yeah, well, I am. Least until today's lunch break’s over.

Some sort of spat occurs between Leona and Malleus (no account I read describes it further than that), and Rook steps in to split everyone up into two teams.

Malleus’s team: Trey, Jade, Sebek, Ace, and Ortho Leona’s team: Ruggie, Jamil, Rook, and Deuce

Malleus’s Team

They talk about how bread/pastries sold in the foothill town sell out it minutes. Ace, Ortho, and Sebek wonder if it’s because it’s a limited deal that they sell out so quickly. Jade says when they have limited time and limited quantity deals at Mostro Lounge, those products end up becoming popular. Mal’s team decides on a menu based on “limited quantity”.

Leona’s Team

(I mashed together this convo from two different posts so the lines might be out of order)

Leona: Okay, theme’s gonna be meat. You guys come up with the rest.

Jamil: How about we spice up the menu a little? Add something extra?

Rook: We can flambé the meat in front of the students. Meanwhile, I shall perform a song by their one side, while Jamil-kun dances at their other!

Jamil: What!? Why me!?

Deuce (or Ruggie? Same lines are reported for both of them) : That’s a great idea! He’s great at dancing, and he can rap, too!

Ruggie: We got this in the bag!

Jamil: Now you listen here…

Leona (laughing) : Ain’t hospitality Scarabia’s whole thing? Go on, dance.

Jamil: Please, stop! You guys are taking this too far!

While all the students start talking excitedly about their menu plans, Ortho looks at the flyer again and he looks sad. Deuce and Ace ask him what’s wrong, and when they go to look at the flyer with him, they realize the competition already ended a while ago!

Sources https://twstsoku.com/archives/s22qvy5u.html https://fusetter.com/tw/PXwGGxcK https://twitter.com/turuume7/status/1693245073721545041?s=20 https://twitter.com/turuume7/status/1693246767574425746?s=20 https://twitter.com/Futo_wakiaiai/status/1693249798093275391?s=20 https://twitter.com/Futo_wakiaiai/status/1693249008716947481?s=20 https://twitter.com/Futo_wakiaiai/status/1693247064988422492?s=20 https://twitter.com/Futo_wakiaiai/status/1693247068993896483?s=20 https://twitter.com/Syokuji_Suimin_/status/1693239399474204926?s=20 https://twitter.com/Syokuji_Suimin_/status/1693238782840250470?s=20

#twst #twisted wonderland #riddle rosehearts #malleus draconia #jamil viper #rook hunt #deuce spade #ace trappola #leona kingscholar #twst silver #lilia vanrouge #sebek zigvolt #trey clover #jade leech #floyd leech #azul ashengrotto #ruggie bucchi #jack howl #cater diamond #kalim al asim #ortho shroud #epel felmier #vil schoenheit #twst jp #twst fest #twisted wonderland fest

[x0x0josephinex0x0]

reader, i [kissed] him | Choi San

summary: you have a dumb rude rich dad who hired a bodyguard because he's paranoid...enter choi san who is literally the man dreams are made of but he works for you so that's weird. you're a lit student and you've been giving him book recs. warnings: absent/sucky dad, mention of papercuts, a few minor jane eyre spoilers?, storm, fire

You look up at the sound of a book shutting. San pulls his glasses off and rubs his eyes. “Finished,” he says.

You shut your textbook. “What did you think of the series?”

He leans back in a stretch. “You were right,” he admits. “Percy Jackson is pretty meaningful for a kids’ story.” He replaces his glasses, smiling at you. “So what’s next for the book club?”

You chuckle. “Are you enjoying my reading assignments?”

“Honestly, yeah. I can’t believe I’m getting paid to read books with you,” he says. “There are literally no downsides.”

“You’re getting paid to protect me,” you correct, a teasing smile playing about your lips. “Keep an eye on these books. They’re notorious for giving me paper cuts.”

“I will personally destroy any book who dares to mess with your fingers,” he vows dramatically, and you laugh. “But seriously, are you done studying for the day or do I get another reading assignment?” 

“I still have a bit of work to do,” you say, pulling out your copious notes. “So you get another hour or so to read. Don’t you want to choose one?”

He shakes his head. “Nah,” he says. “I’d rather live inside your head for awhile. Why? Did you run out of books?”

You make a mock-offended face. “Absolutely not,” you say. “I just wanted to give you the option to read what you want to read, instead of what I want you to read.”

“What you want me to read is what I want to read,” he tells you, standing up. “Now, lay it on me.”

“Jane Eyre,” you say. “It’ll be in the B section.”

You watch as his broad shoulders retreat into the library shelves, admiring the muscles clearly visible underneath his tight black shirt. Shaking your head, you turn back to your studies, reminding yourself that ogling your bodyguard is a fruitless and unnecessary activity that will not help you pass your college classes.

He takes a seat shortly afterward, holding up the copy of Jane Eyre. “Why this one?” he asks — his constant question before he reads any of your suggestions. 

“Well,” you say carefully, “it’s actually…my favorite.”

His eyes get wide. “This book is your favorite?” he asks, pointing to the gray cover. 

You nod. “My absolute favorite, of all time, ever.”

“I thought you were gonna save your favorite for graduation,” he says. “Why are you moving it forward in the queue?”

“Because I feel our friendship will remain intact even if you don’t like it,” you say. “I wasn’t sure for awhile there.”

He raises an eyebrow at you. “Are you saying you’ll still love me even if I don’t like your favorite book?” he asks with a glint of humor in his eyes.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” you say. “Although it’d be hard for me. This book is a must-read if you hope to understand anything about me.”

He leans back, opening the book to the first page. “Then I don’t see how I couldn’t like it,” he says. “I don’t know why you were worried. Brief summary?”

“Terrible childhood, brooding gentleman, house with a dark secret, romance.” His eyes stay on you as you list the themes. Then suddenly your phone buzzes. You look at it and make a face.

“Your dad?” San guesses.

You nod, answering the call. “Hello?” you say in trepidation.

“Where are you?” he barks. 

“At the library at school,” you say, trying to keep a calm tone. “I’m studying.”

“Good,” he says gruffly. “Is San with you?” 

You sigh quietly. “Yes,” you say. 

“Perfect. I’ll be gone the next few days for a trip. Don’t call.”

“Okay, I won’t,” you promise, hanging up.

“What happened?” San asks immediately. “Was he unkind?”

You bite the inside of your cheek. “No more than usual,” you reply. “He’s going out of town and wanted to make sure I knew not to call.”

San’s jaw clenches briefly, before turning his attention back to the book in his hand. “So why is this book your favorite?”

You consider him for a moment. You know a major motivation for him to ask you this question is to distract you from thoughts of your father, but he nonetheless looks earnest, so you answer honestly. “The book is written from the point of view of a young woman whose frank honesty is pretty inspiring. She doesn’t extol her virtues or edit out her failings. And it’s a story of how she comes into her own and finds herself. I don’t know, it’s just compelling.”

He gives you a large, dimpled smile -- that smile that stops the world, that makes you want to give him everything he ever wanted. “She sounds like you,” he says.

You blush. “Well, I haven’t found myself yet,” you say. “I’m still looking.”

“You might not be perfect yet,” he admonishes, “but you know yourself well. Now get back to studying or else we’ll be here all night.”

You can’t help but smile softly to yourself as you turn back to your books.

***

Later that night, you’re alone in your room with a candle burning, the window open to the cool night air. Your father’s large house is quiet, and you thumb through your personal copy of Jane Eyre, remembering how when you and San had left the library, he insisted on checking it out. “It’s your favorite,” he’d said, confused, when you asked him why. 

You smile in spite of yourself once again, thinking about how all the things you want feel just out of your reach. You have family — but they aren’t close. You have money — but no ability to use it due to your father’s curmudgeonly nature. And here is the perfect man — silly, intelligent, handsome, and the kindest person you’ve ever known, and yet he works for you. That is a line you know it would be unfair to him to try to cross, especially with a father like you have. 

Lost in thought, you slip on your favorite blue nightgown. Perhaps tonight, with the chill air on your skin, you’ll wander the halls of the house with your candle just like the secret Mrs. Rochester herself. You even consider going down the hall to where San sleeps to see if he’s made it to that part yet, but stop yourself when you realize just how inappropriate that would look. Instead, you sink into your bed and stare at the ceiling, urging sleep to come and whisk you away into a dream world that is hopefully happier than the one in which you live. 

You have scarcely closed your eyes when the rumble of thunder wakes you. The open window is swinging dangerously on its hinges as a storm rages outside. You shriek as rain begins pelting the carpet, and hop up to shut the window. With the sound of the storm now muffled, you try to flick on the bedside lamp, but either the bulb is burnt out or you’ve lost power. You go to the main light and flip the switch — nothing. You sigh. It’s about to be very cold.

Just then there’s a knock at the door, making you jump. You crack it open to see San, in his pajamas, holding a candle. “Everything okay in there?” he asks you. “I heard a scream.”

“Yeah, I just forgot to close the window before I fell asleep, and then the storm started,” you say sheepishly. “Sorry to wake you.”

He shrugs. “It’s okay,” he says. His eyes travel down your body, taking in the sight of you in your nightgown. Goosebumps erupt on your arms, and he notices right away. “Are you cold?”

You shiver. “Uh, yeah,” you say. 

He smiles. “Your dad’s sitting room has a fireplace. Let’s go.”

“Won’t he be mad?” you say, even as you step out of your bedroom with a blanket. 

“He’ll never even know,” San assures you. Minutes later, you are sitting on a couch with a blazing fire in front of you, blankets tucked around you as San leans his back against the couch, looking proudly at the fire he made. 

You adjust the strap of your nightgown, looking at him shyly. “Thanks,” you say.

He smiles in reply. “So, Jane’s quite the heroine,” he says, shouting you a glance.

You smile. “How far did you get?”

“I’m at the part where the fortune teller talks to the party guests.”

Your eyes get wide. “What? That’s pretty far.”

“It’s pretty good,” he says earnestly. “I’ve always wanted a little girl like Adele.”

“Pretty?” you ask him.

He grins. “Spoiled,” he says. “Although I’d be sweeter to her than Mr. Rochester is.”

“I’ll bet you would. What do you think about Mr. Rochester so far?”

He shrugs. “Probably similarly to how most people in his life feel. He’s a mysterious man. I don’t think I trust him.”

“Can I give you a tiny spoiler,” you beg, and he laughs. 

“I think I am contractually forbidden to say no to you,” he says, “and also, yes, as long as it isn’t major.”

You lean forward, nearly whispering to him. “The next bit is some of the spookiest stuff in the book.”

You move your legs to give him room on the couch as he stands up to sit next to you. “Am I gonna get scared?” he asks. 

“You’re a bodyguard. Aren’t you supposed to be brave?” you tease.

He scoffs. “Being brave isn’t about not being scared. It’s about facing the fear.”

You nod, impressed. “Ah, how well-said. You know, for a bodyguard, you’re quite eloquent.”

“And for a pretentious academic, you’re quite down-to-earth,” he teases. “However, I will say that you don’t strike me as someone who’s scared of much.”

You think for a moment. “I suppose I’m not,” you say slowly, “although it isn’t quite that simple. I do have anxiety.”

“What’s the difference?” he asks, sounding genuinely curious. 

“I’m not scared of spiders or the dark or storms or even dying, necessarily. But any one of those things could make me overthink myself into full-on panic. I got bitten by a spider and it made me so anxious that I was convinced I would die every night.”

He nods, thinking, his eyes twinkling in the firelight. “What does it feel like for you?” he asks softly.

“Like a weight on my chest,” you respond immediately. “Sometimes it’s so bad I can hardly breathe.”

You have to turn away as he looks at you. His expression is so compassionate you are afraid that his empathy will pick up on the very real feelings you have for him. He asks a new question. “And joy — what does that feel like?”

You look at him, eyebrows raised. He raises both his hands in an innocent gesture. “You have such colorful descriptions,” he says. “I just want to get a little deeper into your headspace. It’ll probably help me do my job better.”

You shoot him a skeptical glance before giving in. “Joy feels like…the first step out the door when the air starts to turn cold and crisp for fall. It’s like something new but also so familiar.” You think about the feeling you get every time he smiles. “It’s…expansive. And warm.” You turn to him. “What about you?”

His eyes widen in surprise to have been asked. “Oh. Um…” he thinks for a second, and a slow smile spreads across his face. “Joy feels like music to me, like the best part of your favorite song.”

“Beautiful,” you say, smiling back at him. “And fear? What does that feel like?”

“Being trapped. No freedom,” he says. He hesitates before he asks the next question. “And…love?”

You blush. “Love isn’t an emotion,” you protest, looking away from him. “Love is a verb. It’s an action.”

“You’re right,” he allows, “but it comes with a very specific feeling. How does that feel? For you?”

You look up at him, finally, unable to look away. “That’s one I’m not sure about.” You force yourself to ask what you don’t want to know — because he’s a little older than you, and has lived a whole life apart from you, a life that must have involved the whole spectrum of human emotion and loss and love, but to hear of him falling in love is too much — “Maybe if you describe it, I’ll recognize it.”

He opens his mouth, then pauses, searching your face before smiling bemusedly. “It’s…it’s this heat, everywhere,” he says. “Almost like you’re being lit up like a candle from the inside, almost like if someone were to really look at you, they’d be able to see light coming from every part of you, even…even underneath your fingernails.”

Your heart nearly stops as you realize he’s describing almost perfectly how it feels for you to be around him. You swallow nervously before replying. “It sounds…intense.”

He chuckles. “It is.” And then he does something so unexpected that you gasp. He leans in and catches your cheek in his hand. “When I’m around you,” he says, and his voice is shaking, “it sometimes feels like I might explode — it’s like you are firelight, filling up all the parts of me that used to be empty, and then some. I’m surprised you can’t see my veins from the outside, because I swear to God, I can feel you lighting them up. You’re everywhere.”

He gently brings your face forward so your lips are practically touching. “Everywhere,” he whispers once more, before closing the gap and kissing you. 

He pulls you into his lap as he does, cradling you in his arms, and you have to hold on to his shirt for dear life as you kiss him back. When he finally pulls back slightly, pressing his forehead to yours, he asks you quietly, “this, what does this feel like for you?”

You consider, touching his face with your fingertips as his eyes bore into your own. He looks positively desperate to know. After awhile you answer. “All the voices that are usually shouting at me in my head are suddenly very quiet.”

“And that’s…good?” he asks intently.

“It’s…more than good,” you admit with a blush.

“Do you want me to keep going?” he says, and his voice is breathless, his chest heaving.

“More than anything.”

He smiles, kissing you again. 

#ateez #choi san #choi san x reader #choi san fluff #san

[noellawrites]

Special - Yandere!Eli Moskowitz x reader

summary: Eli has his eyes on you— to him, you’re special.

The first time Eli Moskowitz ever talked to you, you were sure you were hallucinating. He was the dorky-nerd-turned-impossibly-cool-karate-champion, which made you like him more. You felt like he might understand you even more deeply than any friend you'd ever had.

After graduation, you gave up on ever being asked out. You hadn't been appealing enough in high school so you figured it wouldn't ever happen until you were prettier or more mature.

But everything changed when Eli walked in with his friends to the waterpark you worked at over the summer. You watched from the concession stand as he entered with some other karate students you recognized.

Your eyes followed the group and you felt a pang of jealousy as they congregated by the lawn chairs. Deep inside, you had always been slightly interested in joining one of the dojos. However, once the drama and rivalries started, you decided to keep your distance. Better to keep out of it and avoid drawing any attention to yourself.

You were jolted out of your thoughts when you realized someone was in front of you, clearing their throat to get your attention. You sat up straighter in your chair. It was Eli.

"Hey, you went to West Valley, right? Aren't you (y/n)?" he asked, and you nodded in response.

As he examined the laminated snack menu, your hands shook. He recognized you! Your chest burned with a mix of excitement and fear.

"I'll take the chili dog and your number," he said with a slight smile.

"M-my number? I thought you had a girlfriend?"

"Nah, Moon and I are way over. I covered up her tat, see," he leaned over the wooden desk, pointing at his new inked-over chest. You tried to avoid glancing down at his karate-toned abdomen.

"Oh, well in that case, here."

Hands still shaking, you grabbed a scrap piece of paper and scrawled down your number.

—

You now stood on your porch, watching as Eli drove up in his mom’s old van.

His first date idea was hanging out at his place followed by a trip to Golf ‘N Stuff, which you were fine with.

“Hey babe,” Eli shouted out the window as you opened the passenger seat door.

You tried to push back the thought that you’d completely forgotten to send your address to Eli, but he managed to find your house anyways. Either way, you hopped in the car, excited for your first real date.

—

Eli grew impatient when he couldn't win the purple stuffed bear you wanted. He was playing the milk bottle game, where he had to knock over the metal milk bottles with a ball.

"Fuck this stupid game, it's totally rigged!" he yelled, throwing the ball at the poor game attendant, who cowered as you did.

"Eli, let's just go get some food, 'kay?" you suggested as he put a hand on your arm.

“No! You’re my girl, and I’m going to win you this fucking stuffed bear if it’s the last thing I do!” He screamed, nostrils flaring.

Terror rushed through your veins. You felt like you had seen a glimpse of the violent Hawk from sophomore year, stalking through the halls as he searched for karate enemies. The prospect that he hadn’t changed as much as you thought since high school made you scared.

You tugged him away, towards the food trucks. "I'm your girl, huh?"

"Well, obviously. Just a couple more dates and you'll be ready to move in with me," Eli said. There was no indication of joking in his tone.

"Oh, well I don't really know if—"

"Are you saying you don't want to move in with me? What, you still wanna live with your parents? That's pathetic," he laughed.

"Eli, um, I would really like to move in with you but this is our first date," you explained. Is this how all adult relationships are?

"But babe, I feel like I've known you forever," Eli insisted, bringing you in for a kiss. You knew he just wanted you to stop arguing with him.

You were pretty sure he would never let you go, you just weren't sure if you were okay with it.

#eli moskowitz x reader #hawk moskowitz x reader #yandre cobra kai #cobra kai x reader #yandere eli moskowitz #yandere hawk x reader #yandere cobra kai x reader

[thenon-fictiondays]

Hirano to Kagiura light novel translation Epilogue

Epilogue: Good things

Prev ||

I know, I know, I'm a day late. But we're finally here! We've reached the end of this way-longer-than-expected journey 🙌 thank you all so much for sticking with me this long, even as the official TL was released. It's been a blast 💖 I'll be drawing the name for the giveaway after this, so stay tuned!

Cleanup for the cultural festival goes by much quicker than the preparations had.

Breaking down everything they’d worked so hard to make was disappointing, but even the wistfulness of the demolition process was a part of the joy.

That, Kagiura thought, was probably what he’d say if he were a bit more sophisticated.

Since becoming a part of the executive committee, being that frenzied during the preparation period was unavoidable. For as much as he’d relied on Niibashi for the paperwork, he planned to work just as hard leading the cleanup efforts.

Thanks to that, his lower back is quite sore.

As a result, his arrival at the dorms is no later than usual.

He’s not sure when, but at some point the kinmokusei hedge had started blooming.

“Hey, welcome home.”

“I’m home. You’re back early, Hirano-san.”

The haunted house had been a large-scale production, so he would’ve thought cleanup would take a long time, but Hirano’s presence in the dorm suggests he slipped out early.

“Did you have something you needed to do?”

“Yeah.”

When he hands him something without saying another word, Kagiura blinks in surprise.

“Hm? Candy?”

“You didn’t get to be scared properly at the haunted house.”

Was that even a problem?

Kagiura had been troubled by not only knocking Hirano down, but by being seen like that by students from other schools. Whether he’d been scared or not wasn’t the issue.

But apparently Hirano had been worried about it.

“It was scary enough, though, that special effects makeup,” Kagiura remarks nonchalantly.

“That’s what got you scared, though. You totally missed out on the best parts of the haunted house. Well, you can have this as an apology. Your throat’s been giving you a hard time lately, right?”

“.....”

He’s always like this, he thinks.

He always meets me where I am with so much kindness.

“Wait, do you not like candy? No, you were eating some brown sugar candy the other day.”

“.....I like it.”

Slowly, Kagiura’s heart grows hot. He shouldn’t be feeling this warm over this, yet here he is.

The act of being considered by Hirano makes him happier than anything. Though, he does also like candy.

“Oh, good.”

“I like it!”

The meaning of this phrase, the true meaning, is too much to convey no matter how many times he says it.

“I got it the first time.”

Hirano’s side profile as he laughs, flustered, is stunning.

And words completely fail him.

They head to the dining hall a little earlier than usual. While Kagiura is eating his dinner, the chair next to Hirano’s is pulled back.

There aren’t that many people he’s gotten close with while living in the dorms. Their visitor is none other than dorm leader Hanzawa.

Usually, Kagiura’s part of the late crowd thanks to club practice, so it’s rare for them to cross paths.

“Where’s your roomie?”

Kagiura startles at Hirano’s nondescript statement.

I wonder if I get called the same way.

It sounds intimate, relaxed.

“He was so busy with the cultural festival that he’s crashed out. I couldn’t wake him up, so I just left him there.”

Traces of exhaustion also tinge Hanzawa’s voice, so it feels like Kagiura’s eavesdropping on a private conversation, and he almost wants to excuse himself.

Having finished his salad, he silently confronts his Chinese stir-fry. But before long, his chopsticks stop in mid-air.

There’s tons of peppers.

Hanzawa, always keen to subtleties, quickly takes notice.

“You’re not going to eat them?” He asks.

Simultaneously, Hirano says only “one piece.” How kind.

“...Okay, fine.”

He can manage just one piece, so he restrains his protesting stomach and somehow swallows down a pepper. Hirano’s eyes crinkle at the sight of his efforts.

“Good job.”

“I did my best. But, I can’t eat anymore…”

“What am I going to do with you?”

Hanzawa’s eyes widen at the intimate exchange. Have they forgotten he’s sitting right there?

The usually well-mannered Hirano reaches his chopsticks over the table to Kagiura’s plate, a gentle smile on his face.

After Hirano finishes eating the remaining peppers, and Kagiura expresses his gratitude with a “thank you, Hirano-san!”, Hanzawa finally pipes up.

“Nothing’s going on between you two, right?”

The tone of voice in which he asks Hirano this question is indescribably awkward.

“What’re you talking about? We’re just bros being bros. Right, Kagi-kun?”

“Bros…that’s one way to put it…”

With Hirano smiling at him so breezily, he can’t quite bring himself to nod along. His reaction ends up a little half-hearted.

“Am I wrong?” Hirano’s expression shows not a hint of foreboding, but Kagiura’s reaction raises some eyebrows. Hanzawa, who’d observed them both, whispers “Maybe so,” under his breath—but then he shakes his head as if to correct himself.

On the other hand, Kagiura says, “No, you’re not,” with a bashful smile.

He’d been called a friend, by Hirano. By the friend closest to his heart.

Joy gradually blossoms through him; when he speaks his words are from the very bottom of his heart. He’s probably grinning ear-to-ear.

“I’m really glad I met you, Hirano-san.”

*****

Prev ||

I'm emotional, is anyone else emotional? 😭

I'm really glad I decided to translate and post this novel.

One last time, thank you so much to my reading list members. You guys kept my spirits up and let me know people still valued what I was doing after the official TL was released and I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart @jeizet, @jujupanic, @massyworld, @umbreonwolfy, @acidsuzanne-blog, @neoday, @lary-the-lizard, @tsmginc 🥺💖

#hirano to kagiura #hirano and kagiura #hirano to kagiura ln #hirano to kagiura translation #kagihira #sasaki to miyano #harusono shou #kagiura akira #hirano taiga #hanzawa masato

[jaesqueso]

member: jeno

genre: enemies to lovers/suggestive

movie quote: “ew! get of me! ugh, as if!” Clueless, 1995

wordcount: 749

warnings: slight bullying, teasing, suggestive

2.5k followers celebration drabbles ❤︎

☽ ・・・・・ ☾

“Ugh, look, it’s the emo kids again.” One of your friends points out rolling her eyes as you walk down the school’s main hall.

“Pathetic.” Your other friend adds and you just chuckle at the group.

Always together, the seven misfits are not a group anyone should get along with if they want any sort of good reputation and popularity in this school. Outcasts who cause nothing but trouble are definitely not the people you want to be associated with to maintain your status, being the cheer captain and elected by your colleagues as the hottest female student for three years straight.

“Y/N.” The pink haired one calls you as they pass by your group coming from the opposite direction, but you just ignore him.

“Did he just say your name?” One of your friends asks in disgust.

“Did he? I don’t speak weirdo.” You flick your hair back making your two friends laugh.

“Y/N, wait.” The guy grabs your wrist making you turn your head his way as your friends gasp at the audacity. “Do you still need help with your project later?”

“Ew! Get off me! Ugh, as if!” You break free from his hold and keep making your way down the hall.

“I can’t believe he even dared talking to you.”

“What was he thinking?”

Your friends follow as you just laugh at their comments.

“Dude, what the hell are you doing?” The guy with the black beanie asks his friend.

“Why would she need your help? She doesn’t even acknowledge your existence.” The one with pink highlights popping off his black hair adds.

“Nothing I guess.” The pink haired one scoffs before knocking down a trash can as he continues his way through the hall followed by his friends, probably thinking about what mischievous thing to do next.

-

With a huff, Jeno pauses his video game standing up to go open the door at his house.

“Where have you been? You haven’t answered my calls, I’ve been waiting for an hour!” You roll your eyes with a pout as you pass by him, entering without even asking.

“Please come in.” He says sarcastically as he closes the door following you to his living room.

“Is this what you’ve been doing?” Raising a brow you lift his remote with two fingers as if disgusted by the object. “Your stupid games are more important than me?”

“I thought you didn’t need my help anymore.” He snatches the remote off your hands sitting back down on his couch as he resumes the game.

“What? When did I say that?” You ask with your hand on your hip.

“I don’t know, maybe when you said ‘Ew! Get off me! Ugh, as if!’.” Mocking your tone from earlier he doesn’t even spare you a glance, focused on the screen.

“Jeno,” gently dropping your bag on the floor you sit next to him on the couch, “you know I didn’t mean that. I just had to-”

“Put on an act in front of your friends right?” He scoffs. “Well, I’m getting tired of being your dirty little secret.”

“Oh c’mon,” running your hands through the pink locks you lean forward until your lips are inches away from his ear, “you love being my dirty little secret.”

“Fuck you.” He murmurs.

“But that’s not fun, why don’t you do it instead?” With a smirk you slide onto his lap blocking his view of the game.

Rolling his eyes he leans to the side in an attempt to continue playing but you block him again, and then again on the other side. Sighing, he finally gives up and presses pause once more.

“And to answer your question, yes, I still need your help in my project. But first,” taking the remote and dropping it next to you on the couch, you then grab his hands and place them on your ass that’s almost showing under your short skirt, “why don’t we do something way more interesting?”

“You’re such a spoiled brat, always get your way don’t you?” Quickly he flips positions, hovering you with his legs at each side of his waist.

“You talk like you don’t like it, but the tent on your pants tells me a different story.” Wiggling your eyebrows with a smirk you slightly lift your hips to brush your crotch on his.

“Shut up.” Leaning down he takes your mouth in a savage kiss that makes you forget all about social status and your school project.

☽ ・・・・・ ☾

taglist: @yokshi-unbeliebubble​ @nc-teen  @yutahoes​ @dimplehyunn​ @iknowyuno​ @bebskyy​ @ne0cultur3technology​ @nurenciye​ @luvjeongjaehyun​ @chenleyang @booyouwhore17​

unable to tag: @doahflix @criminalmindsz

#cznnet #nctcreations #jeno fluff #jeno smut #nct fluff #nct smut #nct dream fluff #nct dream smut

[devildomditzy]

Red Rover - Mammon x Reader

- He can’t put his finger on exactly when it happened, but Mammon found himself completely and irrevocably drowning in you. -

tags/warnings: swearing, suggestive (please read at your own risk!)

Another song fic based of this song by The Scene Aesthetic!

Most of the last sequences dialogue taken directly from lesson 21

Reader is gender neutral, but the song uses male and female pronouns

Thanks for 100 Followers 💞💕💞🐏💞💕💞

“It’s about time to take a chance and let myself slip through. It’s been awhile since I felt like this, did it happen to you?”

Despite being thousands of years old and one of the sitting leaders of the Devildom, Mammon never felt like he could get enough.

Enough of anything, be it money, power, or fame. No amount of greed sitting in his bank account, power he possessed due to being the second oldest, or magazine shoots he made the cover of was enough to satisfy him. No matter what, the nagging feeling remained.

It ate away at his bones, consuming his mind and body in ways others couldn’t begin to imagine. It lead him to make stupid choices, be it to gamble away all his money in one night, or steal things from his brothers to get a quick fix. It was the worst feeling in the world, he thought. It was obsessive and maddening and drove him to the brink.

Good (demon) lord, wait until he meets you.

The moment Lucifer told him he would be responsible for babysitting the new exchange student, and a human at that, he thought his life couldn’t get any worse.

Though rather quickly, he found himself using every waking moment to think about you.

You.

You.

You.

“We’ve come a long way since I saw you sitting in that living room. You rolled your eyes at me and that is fine, because we finally broke through.”

He can remember that day like it was yesterday. He replays it in his mind frequently. It sticks with him, probably because it was the first time he ever saw you get comfortable here.

There you sat, quietly scrolling through your D.D.D in the House of Lamentation’s common area. Was he seeing things correctly? Did you actually willingly leave your dorm room? You were choosing to hang out in an area of the house where any of them could approach you? That must mean you’re getting use to it here, seeing this place as your home too. He lets out the breath he didn’t know he was holding. He’s glad.

He takes this moment to study your features from afar. You sit, legs folded sideways underneath you, your glimmering eyes never looking away from where they concentrated down at your screen. You break out into a blinding smile and giggle to yourself at something you just saw. He feels his heart beat speed up at the sight.

He doesn’t want to disturb you in this peaceful moment you’ve built for yourself, so he turns to head back towards his room when your siren song of a voice calls out to him, “So, you’re just gonna stand there and stare at me, then leave without saying a word?”

He tenses his shoulders, cringing at the thought of you being aware of his presence that hold time, before straightening up and shifting back around to face you. “Hey, why ya gotta make me sound like some creep! I was only checkin up on ya! It’s my job, ya know. Don’t go thinkin’ I enjoy it or somethin’!” You rolled your eyes in response. Your gorgeous, sparkling eyes. You pipe up, “Now…what would Lucifer think if I told him you were following me around the house staring at me like some perv…”

His face rapidly heats up in response before he shoots a hand out to point at you, “Hey! That’s not funny! You better not go spreadin’ rumors about me to my brothers! You’ll regret it! I’m a demon, remember? The second born? You know how powerful that means I am?” You throw your head back laughing in response. Raising an eyebrow to challenge him, you reply, “Oh yeah? If you’re so powerful why do you get hung from the rafters almost every night? Can’t you just break the ropes and fly away?” He begins stuttering in response, “W-well, uh, ya know, if I did Lucifer would just find another, eviler way to punish me, b-but I so totally could do that if I wanted to!”

You give him a soft smile which he thinks could drive the saniest man mad. “Well I’m sure you’re very big and scary. I’m so glad to have you as my protector.” Unsurprisingly full of himself, he doesn’t detect the sarcasm in your voice, but you think you prefer it that way. This one, you think to yourself, he’s very…endearing.

You catch the way his head juts to the side as his hand reaches up to his face to cover his blush. “Y-your welcome. If ya ever need anything, ya know which one of us to come to, got it?” You nod your head while turning your attention back to your phone. After an awkward silence where you can tell he’s unsure of what to do with himself, you make the decision for him, patting the cushion next to you before saying, “Well, care to join me?”

“It’s always the same with these games the we play, where the boys chase the girls and the girls run away. But you never went running, I’m surprised that you stayed for me, with me.”

As the days went on, he found himself getting closer and closer to you. It was like he was drawn to you, your personality magnetic and your looks irresistible.

He knows everything about you, from your favorite food to your music preferences. The way you can’t stand the taste of newt, especially when Levi cooks it, and how you’re still afraid to look Diavolo in the eyes. He knows what all the little sounds you make mean, from your bored sighs in student council meetings, to your interested hums when something piques your interest, to that little sniffle you do sometimes when you get antsy because it’s too quiet. He’s picked up your little mannerisms, like how you repeat back lines from movies you find funny like a little parrot, or call Lucifer “dude” when he challenges you.

He can’t put his finger on exactly when it happened, but Mammon found himself completely and irrevocably drowning in you.

It terrifies him, gripping at his heart in a way that feels like a brand new sensation. He’s tripped and fell into you, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. It excites him, making his head spin whenever he even thinks about the idea of you. Here you sit in front of him on his bed, laying on your stomach kicking, your feet in the air as you go on and on about your day like it was nothing. You were so casual about being in his room, laying on the most intimate thing in here.

It drove him mad.

He’s been staring too long without responding now. Did you ask him a question? He’s been too busy looking at your lips and imagining what they’d feel like on his.

Ever the avatar of greed, known to take chances and gamble big, this is one risk he doesn’t know if he can afford. If you didn’t feel the same way, what would happen to the two of you? Would you push him away? Hate him like all the others? Would things between to two of you ever be normal?

“Earth to Mammon? You still with me?”, your voice snaps him out of his trance. “Yea yea, I’m listenin’ MC!”

“Well, apparently not. Look at your D.D.D. Lucifer’s calling for you.” Tsk. He clicks his tongue, what could his older brother possibly need at a time like this? Doesn’t he know he’s busy trying to decipher tantalizing puzzle that was you? Seemingly, you noticed his tension, laying a warm hand on top of his that had instinctively began to form a fist next to him. “Don’t worry, I’m coming with you. Whatever he needs from you, he’ll get from the both of us.” He doesn’t know if he has a soul, but if he does, he’s positive it’s absolutely glowing with affection for you.

Can you tell?

Both of you begin to make your way towards the student council room, already knowing where to meet when Lucifer needed to have a “little chat” with Mammon, but you were surprised to find all 6 of the brothers awaiting the two of you. What is this…?

The air in the room is tense to say the least. You shoot Asmo a questioning look. He beams at you, but seemingly changes tune when his eyes fall on his brother, a frown forming on his face. Levi glares at Mammon from his chair, gaze unrelenting. Before you can begin to panic, Lucifer clears him throat to gather the room’s attention.

“As you all know, the RAD festival is almost upon us. We’ve all been working tirelessly to ensure this years festival goes off without a hitch, at least almost all of us.”

Mammon’s form tenses up next to you as he continues, “But, while going over this years budget, I couldn’t help but notice that some of the funding has mysteriously disappeared.” Belphie’s soft snoring rings in your ears. “So…”, he shifts to lock eyes directly the man next to you, “What did you do this time, Mammon?” Mammon jumps next to you, “W-Whadda ya mean what did I do?”

Lucifer ruthlessly pushes onward , “Another casino bender gone wrong? Another gold chain you couldn’t resist? Debts that needed to be paid off? Honestly, could you possibly think about anyone other than yourself for a change?”

You pipe up, coming to your best friend’s defenses. “Woah woah woah! I’ve been with Mammon all week! We’ve been hanging out so much, he hasn’t had any time to plan a scheme!”

“Oh, honey, of course he’d keep it from you. You’ve been looking forward to this festival for ages! He’d never want to hurt his human!”, Asmo mocks from where he sits. “Look, I dunno what yer talkin’ about!”, shrugs Mammon. “Plus, ya don’t have any proof that it was me!”

“Do we even NEED proof at this point?” The next voice drips venom; Levi. “We all know what a scumbag you are. Who else would do something like this? Ruining it for everyone else!” At the sound of that label, you see Mammon’s jaw clench.

“Look, I know I’ve done stuff in the past but it wasn’t me this time. I was lookin’ forward to this year’s festi”-

Before he can continue, he gets cut off by a fourth voice chiming in. “Why dear brother? So you could ask MC to go with you? So you could fumble as she rejects your advances? MC knows better than to involve themselves with a waste of space like you.” Satan, did you really have to go there? “I was looking forward to the food…”, Beel trails off sadly. Mammon’s frame begins to tremble next to you. You can feel the situation begin to escalate. You need to do something, and fast.

“So, you have no proof, no evidence, and no reason to believe it’s Mammons fault besides the fact that he’s fucked up in the past?” “MC, quite frankly you do not know Mammon like we do”, begins Lucifer. “No, dude, you don’t know him like I do! You guys have your heads too far up your asses to even begin to get to know your own brother! He’s really been changing! I know he has! There’s absolutely no way he did this, but you guys didn’t even try to figure out what happened cause you’re all assholes!”

Mammon glances over at you, surprise written all over his face. “I suggest you take initiative and look further into the situation before I inform Diavolo that you didn’t even try to find the culprit because you were too busy berating your own brother. C’mon Mams, let’s go.” All seven pairs of eyes fall onto you as you grab the second brother’s hand and lead him away from the room. His hand is sweaty and trembles lightly in yours. You give him your best reassuring squeeze as you direct him back towards his room.

The heavy air seems to dissipate a little once his door shuts behind the two of you. You tug on his arm, leading him over to the bed where you both sit on the edge. It’s quite for awhile before Mammon speaks up.

“Why…why did ya defend me? It’d probably be better if I’da just took the blame anyway.” “Well, you didn’t do it, did you?”, you question. “No, but it’s what they wanna believe right? Need to have sumthin’ to blame all their problems on.”

Slowly, you reach a timid hand up to stroke the side of his face, not missing the way he quickly glances at you then back to the floor. “It’s not fair you know,” you whisper, “how they treat you. I know you’ve done…things…but that doesn’t mean everything’s your fault.” His sigh tells you your words are going in one ear and out the other.

Your hand drifts from his cheek to his chin, turning his head to look at you. “Hey. You’re a good person, Mams- well, demon, but you know what I mean. If anyone’s seen that first hand, it’s me.”

His eyes widen as you pull him in for a hug. It takes him a beat, but he melts into your touch. He takes in everything - the scent of your peachy perfume, the slight way you rub circles into his back, the firm but fragile way you hold him, like he’s something important.

“You were the first person to really make an effort to make me comfortable here. You were the first to hang out with me, the first to get to know me. You were my first man!” A faint smile begins to form on his face at your use of the label have gave himself.

You take it as a sign to continue, shifting closer to him on the bed. “There’s no one else in the whole Devildom I’d rather spend my time with, because I know you. The real you.” You accentuate your point by reaching up to tussle his hair.

“Knock it off. Don’t start treatin’ me like a child.” You giggle at his half hearted protests before pulling away. His hands want to instinctively reach out, to pull you back to him, to tell you to never let him go, but the doubt in his brain doesn’t let him. Instead, he does what he’s always done - siting up straight, he turns on his charm, letting a wide smile plaster to his face. “Of course ya’d want to hang out with the great Mammon! You should be honored to be in my presence!”

It’s not what he wants to say, no where near the words that threaten to stream out of his heart, but all he knows how to do is deflect. You roll your eyes at his boastfulness and decide to run with his change in mood. “Well, would the great Mammon accompany me to town? I’ve been wanting to go shopping all week.” “Now yer speakin’ my language!”, he laughs. It’s almost a date, if he squints his eyes real hard.

“I’ll continue to keep saying the things that I say. And we’ll continue to keep playing the games that we play. And maybe just this once we’ll work it out.”

“Argh…C’mon, where is she…”, you walk into your dorm room to find Mammon already making himself at home…tearing it apart.

“Hey Mammon?”, you trail off in a sing-song voice that makes his ears perk up, “Why does it look like a tornado hit my room?” “A tor-what?”, he questions agitatedly. “Never mind that, Goldie’s missin’!”

“Oh no, whatever shall we do,” you mock in the most monotone voice you can muster. Mammon seems to ignore you wailing on. “Oh, my poor Goldie. My sweet, sweet Goldie. She’s probably all alone and scared and cold!”

“Mammon, it’s a credit card. It can’t get cold.” He turns back to you with big puppy dog eyes. “You’ve got to help me find her! I don’t know what I’ll do without her! I-I’ll start going through shopping withdrawals, I-I’ll probably starve to death!”

You can’t help but laugh at the poor boy’s plight. Of course, it was made funnier because you knew exactly where Goldie was, the card sitting in the back pocket of your jeans. It was payback for last week, where Mammon consistently did his best to distract you from studying for your upcoming potions test. If he was failing, you’re coming down with him. It’s what friends do, he insisted.

Friends. The word settled to the bottom of your stomach like a ton of rocks. It didn’t feel right to you, though you weren’t sure how to put it into words. Your and Mammon’s relationship didn’t need labels, you had never even given it a second thought. But friend, that word played through your mind over and over again. No, we’re not friends, you thought, nor have we ever been. It’s…something else. Something different. Something unique. It was something that you loved.

Oh.

Oh shit.

The realization hits you like a truck. It’s kept you up for several nights now, tossing and turning at the thought, and it doesn’t seem like it will be relenting anytime soon. The thought that maybe Mammon could feel the same way burns through your mind like wildfire, it threatens to turn you to ash. Since then, you’ve been making a conscious effort to get closer to him, to be more flirty, to be more playful. You couldn’t tell if the second born was picking up on your hints thus far, so you decided to kick it up a notch.

“Okay, I’ll start in the library, you start in the kitchen. We’ll meet back up in Levi’s room. I wouldn’t be surprised if that nerd took her to buy some dumb weeb trash.”

You can’t stifled the giggle that slips out at his intensity. “Oi! Ya think this is funny huh? Go on, laugh it up! Unless… ya know something I don’t…” With his last sentence, Mammon take a step towards you, causing you to take an automatic step back. “What ever could you mean, Mams?”, you sweetly respond, feigning ignorance.

“Lemme see yer hands”, he demands, placing his own on his hips. You lay your palms out flat in front of him, “They’re empty!”, you exclaim, wiggling your fingers for emphasis. “Alright, what about ya pockets, MC?” You remain silent, staring right back at the demon, almost like a challenge. “MC. What. About. Yer. Pockets.”

With that, you squeal and dash out of your room, running down the corridor. Behind you, you can hear Mammon as he begins to run after you. “I SWEAR TO DIAVOLO MC, YA BETTER GET BACK HERE WITH GOLDIE RIGHT NOW!” “OH YEAH, OR WHAT?”, you call back behind you, making sure to take a second to stick your tongue out at him.

Two bedroom doors open in the hallway, with two equally exhausted heads poking out of them. “What’s going on?”, questions Levi. With a hand pinching the bridge of his nose, an exasperated Satan replies, “They’re doing it again. It’s best to just ignore it”, before retreating back into his quarters, Levi shrugging and following suit.

When you hear Mammon shifting into his demon form behind you, you know running is useless. Instead, you duck into the room closest to you, which just happened to be his. You can barely make your way into the room, throwing yourself in his bed before he’s on top of you. “Cough it up, MC!” he demands, though you can tell by his eyes he’s only slightly annoyed. “I’ll never tell!”, you cry out, like a spy who’s just been caught by the enemy. “Well, then I’ll just hav’ta pry the answer outta ya myself.”

In a flurry, clawed hands are on you in an instant, tickling the sides of your torso. You can’t contain the laugher that spills from your lips as Mammon continues to assault your most vulnerable spot. “You…play…dirty!”, you exclaim between gasps for breath.

Opening your teary eyes, you finally take in the situation at hand. Mammon sits, legs straddling you on either side, with a beautifully determined look on his face. His wings slightly flap behind him with every move he makes. You let the sight of him wash over you, like the coolest water you’ve ever felt. When your giggles stop, he seems worried.

“Finally givin’ up, huh?!”, he starts, before realizing the situation himself. He quickly begins to scramble off of you, form changing in an instant back to his normal self. He clears his throat, “Anyway, uh, where’s my credit card, MC?”

Feeling the energy in the room shift, you clamber to bring it back, hoping you don’t sound too desperate. “H-How about a bet?”, His eyes go wide. Bingo! He could never turn down a chance to gamble. “What kinda bet?”, he questions, interest piqued. “I-If you can guess where your card is, I’ll give it back to you fair and square”, he cuts you off to ask “And if I don’t?”

“If you don’t, I get to ask you for a favor!” He seems to contemplate the odds. “Well, how’s it fair that if I win I just get Goldie back. I want a favor too.” His eyes seem to shine with something wicked you can’t place. “F-Fine. I agree with the terms. So, do we have a deal?”, you question.

“Deal!”, Mammon is quick to yell out before slipping his hand into your back pocket and grabbing his card. Shocked, you fall back into the bed, letting it’s soft surface break your fall. “How’d you know!”, you question, defeated. The demon above you just shakes is head back and forth with a smirk. “I’m a demon, AND the Avatar of Greed at that! I always know where the money is, and….” he begins to trail off. You feel the tips of your ears start to burn at his suspense. “And?”, you ask before he continues.

Something seems to shift in Mammon’s mood, like he’s willing himself to move. His eyes trail to look all over your form before he scoots closer to you on the bed. In one quick motion, he’s leaning over you. His white hair dangles in your face, wispy, and barely touching you. You swallow deeply as you watch Mammon bite down on his bottom lip. He seems to be fighting within himself before he speaks, “What I want, I get.” He moves in even closer, his lips dangerously close to your own. You can feel his breath fanning lightly over you. “So, I’d like to cash in that favor now.”

His voice is barely above a whisper as he stares deeply into your eyes. “So… lend me a hundred grimm will ya?”

You scrunch your face up in anger and push him off of you. “You jerk! That’s all you wanted?” Sitting up, you cross your arms over your chest. “You just got your stupid card back, why do you need one hundred grimm anyway?”

“Think of it as accumulated interest for every second you held Goldie hostage!”, he smirks. “Ughh, fine, I’ll go get my wallet”, you say making to stand and trudging out of the room.

Mammon hates himself for chickening out in that moment. He had you right where he wanted you, and were obviously flirting right? So why can’t he just close the gap? Why does this have to be so hard. He sighs, fidgeting with the zipper of his jacket. He doesn’t want your money, not really. What he’s actually greedy for was…

“You’re not alone, confide in me. For anything your heart may need, I am always here for you. We’ve come across a lot of things throughout our lives but you will see that I will always follow through.”

“Don’t ever worry, you are never alone in this.”

As the days went on, they seemed to get shorter, and you seemed to get quieter. There was a subtle sadness in your eyes that Mammon just couldn’t explain away. He hopes he wasn’t the one who caused it, and he’d be damned again if he wasn’t the one who was gonna take it away from you.

He longed to see your smile, your real smile. The one that stretches from ear to ear and is more often than not accompanied by your ethereal laughter, the one that makes him question how someone so angelic could possibly be a human.

You’ve been spending less time in your room, opting instead to make your way to the conservatory. Most of the time he’d make his way up the stairs to find you sitting there in silence, gazing up at the stars. He never could find the words to ask you what was wrong, instead popping himself besides you without a sound. You’d give him your best feigned grin, the one that looked so forced and painful. He wants to know the source behind it. He wants to make it go away. But it was something he just knew you didn’t want to talk about. And so, he waited.

He didn’t know he’d be waiting until the day before you left for the human realm.

He couldn’t take it any longer. Your sad forlorn looks, the way you seemed to be distancing yourself from everyone, including him. A month ago you two were inseparable, what gives…

Then it hits him. Tomorrow, you’d be leaving.

Tomorrow.

How could he be so blind? How could he forget? It’s no wonder you’re upset. He couldn’t count how many times you’ve expressed your fondness for the Devildom, how it had become a second home to you. And now you had to leave it all behind, unsure of when you’d be able to return. Unsure of when you’d see everyone again. Of when you’d see him again.

Before he even realizes it, he’s scrambling to his feet, launching himself out of bed. He doesn’t bother changing out of his pajamas from the night before. Of course, he always wanted to look his best for you, but right now he just needed to see you. There’s so much he wants to say that he’s mentally kicking himself for not telling you sooner. Why had he waited? Idiot, now it might be too late.

Swinging open his bedroom door in a panicked haze, he almost barrels you down as you stand before him, arm raised and fist balled like you were about to knock. He freezes, eyes as wide as saucers. The blush on his face grows as he takes in the short, tank top pajama set you were wearing. So, you couldn’t find the time to change either…

You clear your throat first. “Ahem… um… hi,” you meekly squeak out. “Hey…”, is the only thing he can manage to get out. Why was this so hard…?

“C-can I come in? I-I mean, can we talk”, you sputter. Wordlessly, he side steps out of the door way, motioning for you to enter his room. You shuffle over to his bed before sitting on the edge, your movement reserved and calculated. He comes to face you, leaning up against the wall.

“Listen, I”, you both speak at the same time. With that, your eyes were finally pulled away from where they had been glued to the floor. “S-sorry. You first,” you lightly laugh at the coincidence. It takes him a moment to gather his soupy thoughts before he continues. “I didn’t realize it was your last day here.” You shift uncomfortably on the bed. “I lost track of time.”

“It’s okay, it went by really fast. To be honest, this was the most fun I’ve ever had! I just..”, you begin to trail off. You harshly blink and turn your head to the side, trying to stop the burning tears that threatened to leak down your face. “I don’t want to go back.”

At the sound of your broken, straining voice, Mammon can’t help but run to you, practically tripping over his own feet, to throw you into a tight hug. At the feeling of his arms around you, you crumble completely, gripping onto his shirt for purchase as you sob into his chest. One of his hands reaches up to thread through your hair as he embraces you. “Yea, I’m not to keen on ya leavin’ either.”

“There’s so many things I wanted to do that I didn’t get to,” you cry into him. “A year wasn’t long enough. I feel like I’ve wasted so much time.” He gives a little “heh” to your last words before speaking. “That makes two of us.”

“What do you mean?” - is what you want to say. But before you can get it out, you notice Mammon’s intense gaze down at you. It’s serious and all consuming, and it makes you shiver at the sight of it. “MC, quit yer cryin’. There’s…something I gotta tell ya. But I can’t do it with ya lookin’ that sad.”

You try your best to calm your breathing, wiping the tears from your lash line before focusing your attention back on him. You can’t help but notice through the tough façade he’s putting up, he seems nervous, like a child who needed comfort too. You begin start to feel guilty for your outburst of emotions. You weren’t the only one this was effecting. Cascades of apologizes threaten to leave your lips, but before they can his next words cut you off.

“My sin.” He states, matter of factly. “Your sin..?”, you question, face still red and puffy from moments ago. “It’s greed, remember?”. You nod your head knowingly, letting him continue. “I’m the avatar of it. I embodied it. I’m greedy for all the money in the world. Nothing could ever compare to the value of grimm, the way it shines in the light, it was the most important thing in the world to me”.

“Was?”, you parrot back to him. He stares off into space, seemingly attempting to gather his thoughts before he looks back down at you with a gentle smile gracing his face. “It was. Until you came along.”

Your mouth opens, agape as you take in a sharp breath of surprise. “I’m an idiot for not tellin’ ya sooner. There’s plenty of times where I coulda, I was just”,

“Scared?”, you cut in. He gives a small chuckle before agreeing. “Yes, I was scared. I didn’t wanna lose ya if ya didn’t feel the same way. I was bein’ greedy.”

“M-Me too!”, you say, a little too fast. “I tried to make it obvious, but I figured you just weren’t interested.”

“Not interested?!”, he exclaims, flabbergasted. “Every last demon in this damn place is obsessed with ya. How could ya have missed it?” You feel your cheeks begin to heat up at his confession. You shake your head at the notion, “I didn’t notice what the others thought about me.. You’re the only one I cared about.”

He turns his face away from you now, bringing a hand up to hide his expression. “C’mon now, ya can’t just go around sayin’ things like that!” You giggle at his reactions, but it was the truth. Throughout it all, you only had eyes for him.

“Well, what do we do now?”, you ask. “I’ve got less than a day before I officially have to leave.” At the sight of you looking glum, he turns his body to face you. “Well, we can cry about it til mornin’ or…”

“I can show ya how greedy I really am for ya.”

In an instant, he’s on top of you, firmly pressing your wrists down to his mattress about your head. His chapped, but perfect lips meet yours in a fiery assault against your senses, quickly dominating you in their battle for control. He kisses you like a man starved of water, you being the only salvation for his need. His lips make their way down your neck to your pulse point, working against the sensitive skin to draw out little noises of pleasure from you. When his fangs bite down a little too hard, something tells you you might have trouble walking tomorrow.

“I wanna hear ya,” he grunts, voice dangerously low. “By mornin’, I want all my brothers to know who ya belong to.”

“I’ll continue to keep saying the things that I say. And we’ll continue to keep playing the games that we play. But maybe just this once, we’ll work it out.”

A few months have passed since you returned to the human realm. Things remained quiet in the House of Lamentation (well, as quiet as the antics of seven demon brothers could be). Mammon made sure to text you everyday, and call you when Lucifer allowed it. He cursed his brother for such a stupid rule. Why should he have to wait and take turns to call you? He knows he’s the only one you really want to talk to.

He sighs looking down at his D.D.D. You haven’t read his message yet. They must still be asleep, he thinks to himself. Stupid human, it’s almost the middle of the afternoon. Why’d ya have to sleep in all the time? You should be up, thinking about him. At least, that’s what he spends every waking moment of his time on, thinking about you. Fair is fair.

He straightens his RAD uniform in his mirror, grumbling to himself. Another student council meeting? That’s like the 5th one this week. Sighing, he figures he better make his way to the council room before any of his brothers get a chance to chew him out.

On the way, he stares down at the screen, almost willing you to answer. Just like clockwork, he sees your “Good morning, Mammoney” text light up the face of his phone. Scrambling, he hits the call button. If you’re awake, he needs to hear your voice now.

The second he hears you pick up, he begins babbling. “Yo! Yo yo yo yo yo, wassup? It’s me, Mammon!” Gah, he cringes at himself. Yo? Wassup? Could he be any lamer?

He continues, “So, how’ve ya been? Lemme guess, you’ve been wanderin’ around in that sad depressin’ human world with no place to go and nuthin’ to do…Right?”

“I’m sorry…Who might this be?”, you decide to tease him, much to his dismay.

“Hey woah! Woah, hey… no way! My name had to come up on your phone before you picked up right? Don’t tell me you don’t have my contact info saved…or ya deleted it or somethin’!”

You giggle at his little freak out. “Mammon”, you reminded him “I just texted you back. Of course I know it’s you. Besides, it’s your day to call me and… I’ve been looking forward to it.”

“…Ugh, why’d that sadistic, stuck-up jerk decide that we have to take turns callin’ you? He’s always comin’ up with the dumbest rules. All that stuff about how ‘human lives are short’ and we’re eatin up too much of your time’. Pff..whatever.” You sigh softly into the receiver. “I wish I could see you, Mammon…”

You hear your boyfriend reply on the other side with an indignant “Hmph..” now it was his turn to tease. “What… did ya think if you said that, I’d be all like ‘I wish I could see you too? Heh, as if!”

It doesn’t take long until he cracks, and his true feelings leak through. “Okay, Fine! I admit it… I’m not bein’ honest, alright! The truth is I totally wish I could see you too! There, are ya happy now?!” You can’t help the massive smile that breaks out over your face.

“D’ah, uh-oh, I almost forgot! There’s this stupid meeting I gotta go to, and it’s starting soon. Satan’s callin’ for me. Sorry, gotta go for now. I’ll be in touch later. See ya, MC.”

The phone call was shorter than your liking, but you’d take any chance you get to hear his voice on the other end. You stretch your tired body and stand to get out of bed. Looking at the clock, you finally realize how long you slept in. “Shit,” you mumble to yourself, “I guess I gotta get going.” Walking to your closet, you pick out a set of day clothes. Nothing too fancy, just enough to go into town to run some errands. With that, you grab your bag and head out the door.

You’ve already entered the city when you feel your D.D.D vibrate in your pocket. Hoping for another teasing message form Mammon, you whip it out at light speed, but stare down at it confusingly when you see Solomon’s name staring back at you. Huh, you think to yourself. It’s been awhile, wiz kid. He reflects your exact thoughts in his messages.

“It’s been awhile”, the message reads. “I tried calling you just now, but it seems you were in another call, So I figured I’d go ahead and text you. How have you been?”

You try to think of a response that doesn’t sound like too much of a downer. The truth is, you’ve been a wreck. You miss everyone, and you haven’t felt any sense of normalcy since you left the Devildom. “The human world is so boring…”, you type, hoping that sounded casual enough.

He texts back quickly, “Well, compared to the Devildom, I guess it is, yeah. By the way, MC, I can’t help wondering..” You stare down at the screen in interest, waiting in suspense for him to finish his message, when you hear a familiar voice behind you speak, “When were you going to mention how much you miss me?”

“Solomon!”, you let out, jumping at his sudden appearance. “Ahaha, surprise!” he beams, “You didn’t expect me to show up, did you! Haha, excellent!” You look him over, with a gaze of wonder and bemusement.

“All right, so now that that’s done, let’s get going!” You raise an eyebrow at him quizzically. “What do you mean?”, you ask. “I mean, you want to go back to the Devildom, don’t you? Well, I’m happy to inform you that King Solomon the Wise is about to grant your wish.”

Before you can even mock his usage of his old-timey nickname, the ground around you beings to rumble. You turn your head, trying to see if any passerbys were alerted to the sensation of the Earth crumbling around them, but everyone but the two of you seemed unaffected.

For a split second, blinding light over takes you, before you feel a sharp pain shoot through your body, and something (or someone) underneath you cry out in pain. “Guh!” you recognize the voice. It’s Satan. And you have found yourself right on top of him, landing roughly in his lap.

“Whoops. Sorry about that MC! I really should have warned you to be careful where you land.”

“Yeah, ya think?“, you respond to Solomons obvious advice, handed to you just a tad too late. As the entire population of the room begins to freak out over your sudden arrival, through the voices and the stares, you search out one specific pair of golden, blue eyes.

Locking eyes with Mammon, you suddenly feel at ease, a feeling you haven’t felt since you first left to go back home. You smile at him, one that’s filled to the brim with love and affection, one that consumes his thought processes and makes his mouth run dry.

“Hi dummy. I missed you.”

#obey me #mammon #obey me mammon #obey me shall we date #omswd #om #obey me mc #obey me headcannons #obey me x mc #obey me x reader #mammon x reader #mammon headcannons #mammon headcanon #obey me fic #mammon x gender neutral reader #omswd mammon #mammon x mc

[storiesbyjes2g]

3.55 We and ours

At some point, we finally left the table. I put away the food, cleaned up, and took out the trash. When I came back inside, I found Sophia in the office rather engrossed in a serious task. I asked what she worked on, and she said she'd been thinking about what I said on our first date about trying university. Namely the part where I suggested it possibly wouldn't be so bad since she'd be learning about things in which she had an interest. After doing some research and reading blogs about experiences with non-traditional students, she found a prep course to help her get ready for the entrance exam if she decided to enroll. Maybe going through the course and studying for the exam could get her in the spirit of going back to school. Even if it didn't, at least she would have the clarity she needed to move on and make some career decisions.

"I think that's great," I said. "How can I help?"

She briefly glanced at me with a smile.

"I wish we had a couch in here so you could keep me company."

I loved how quickly everything that was hers turned into ours. I still called Dad's house home and hadn't gotten the hang the whole "we" and "ours" yet, but the fact that she did made me more comfortable and welcome.

"I can get a couch," I said.

She whipped her head toward me with a hopeful smile.

"Really?"

"Yeah. My mom gave me some money when I moved in with Dad. I can get things. Just tell me what you want."

She stared at me for a moment with a serious, pensive glance.

"Well... If you want to get a couch, that's fine. This is your home now. Get whatever you want, but don't go crazy. Remember, you have a studio to save up for."

We were so invested in each other's lives. It was a beautiful thing. I rarely thought about my end game plans, but here she was, factoring it into our everyday financial decisions. We were a good team.

Speaking of my mom giving me money...

I remembered the special birthday present she gave me in Mt. Komorebi. It was a rare treasure from El Selvadorada worth around §10,000. She told me to pass it down to my child, but if I ever had a rainy day, I could sell it and take care of myself. That money would sure come in handy right now. I could build my studio and forget about moonlighting at spas and begging for places to teach my classes. But I had no idea what my financial future would be like. I made decent money, but if I threw kids and a bigger house into the mix, would it be enough? Would I have anything left over to give my child when he moves out? I liked the idea of giving my child a leg up in life, especially being a recipient of such help, so I couldn't sell it. I needed to continue working hard making money the "old-fashioned" way, heh.

"I'm gonna go for a jog and let you study," I said.

"Okay. Be careful out there. It's dusty at night sometimes and hard to see."

"Thanks. I won't be long."

She was right about the dust. Between not knowing where I was going, and the decreased visibility, I made a loop around our street and came right back to find her waiting for me outside.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

She grabbed my hands and gave me a look I'd never seen, but totally understood what it meant. The temperature in my body began to rise.

"Everything is perfect."

She stepped closer.

"I know asking you to live here and jumping into a relationship was crazy. I told myself you'd need time to process everything and to follow your lead in case you weren't ready, but..."

She stepped even closer. So close, she could surely feel the answer to what she was getting at.

"I want you, Luca. So badly. I'm not trying to pressure you, but I just wanted you to know...whenever you're ready, I'm ready."

"I appreciate that. And...I've been ready."

She grinned and led me back into the house.

#ISBI challenge #sims 4 story #sims 4 gameplay #adolting #adolting gen 3 #luca winston murillo #sophia aguilar

[thenightling]

Wednesday is NOT a rip-off of Harry Potter

This is something that I thought should be obvious. In fact I could swear I wrote a post like this over a year ago but apparently (if I had made such a post) it is lost now. So here's the new one. Lately I've seen a fresh spike in people insisting that the Netflix series Wednesday is a "rip off" of Harry Potter. "It the aesthetic is Harry Potter!" Really? How? Do you think Harry Potter was the first and only school to be a haunted castle? I guess you don't remember Gravedale High (animated series from 1990). Much like the modern Monster High, Gavedale high was a show about a school of monsters.

Before Gravedale High there was the animated TV movie Scooby Doo and the Ghoul School (1988) where Shaggy got a job as a PE teacher at a boarding school for the daughters of the classic movie monsters. This, very likely, inspired Monster High.

And before that there was the book series The Worst Witch and the first TV movie inspired by the books, which featured a song number from Tim Curry. This was about a little girl attending Witch School.

If we go back even further the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker has Van Helsing suggest that Dracula attended Scholomance (translates to "School of Magic") which has its roots in Eastern European folklore and helped inspire Yennefer's backstory in The Witcher. All of these pre-date Harry Potter. "But the students are divided into groups just like in Harry Potter." Yeah. So? "Houses" are a tradition in boarding schools in the UK and parts of the US. Also Nevermore Academy in Wednesday is mostly populated by supernatural entities that divide up in cliques based on what species the student is. You're going to tell me your school didn't have cliques? Jocks, nerds, Goths, rich kids, bad boys, etc. I'm not sure how a boarding school setting can even be done without dividing up into factions. You'd have to make a conscious effort to avoid it and it would come off as very awkward and unnatural. Harry Potter isn't as original as you seem to think it is. "But the uniforms have stripes." Okay, I'll let you have that one but the stripes and color patterns are different. The plotline of season 1 of Wednesday is closer to the live action Monster High musical movie (but with a more serious tone) than anything else. In the first Monster High live action movie the main villain turns out to be a teacher who is also a Hyde monster. In Wednesday the main villain is a teacher who is manipulating a Hyde Monster.

And both deal with classic monsters in a boarding school setting and allegories of prejudice.

And then you get the annoying argument from fake Addams Family fans of "But Wednesday didn't have any powers in the original." Oh, on the contrary. The new show says she inherited psychic abilities from Morticia. Morticia telling fortunes, sensing things, and even using a crystal ball comes up in the 1960s Addams Family TV series. Grandmama uses a crystal ball in the 90s Addams Family animated series. The 1970s Addams Family Halloween special has it that the spirit of Halloween / Anthropomorphic personification of Halloween "Uncle Shy" (implied to be the Great Pumpkin or you can retroactively say he was Jack Skellington or Sam from Trick 'r Treat). When your Uncle is literally the spirit of Halloween your family can have whatever you want in it. Wednesday even uses telepathy at one point in the 2019 Addams family animated movie franchise. And there's a conga line of Addams Family member ghosts in The Addams Family Broadway musical. They have a pet sentient hand. And no. It's not just that "Their Goth game is that good." Finally, I don't think there's a student at Nevermore Academy who is younger than sixteen. Hogwarts starts at age eleven. Twenty-one-year-old Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) doesn't look much like eleven-year-old to seventeen-year-old Daniel Radcliffe to me.

Stop giving J. K. Rowling so much credit.

#Wednesday #Wednesday Addams

[thethirdromana]

My journey is all mapped out: a two-week Dracula tour of Europe

A fun fact about me is that I enjoy planning holidays that I have no intention of taking. So, if I had two free weeks and more money than I actually do, here's the Dracula-inspired journey around Europe that I might consider.

(Spoilers under the cut)

Days 1-3: Whitby

This is the opportunity to visit all the key Dracula locations, from a coastal walk to Robin Hood's Bay to gazing out over the village and the sea from Mina and Lucy's favourite spot in the graveyard of St Mary's.

In non-Dracula things, Whitby Goth Weekend happens twice a year in April and October. I recommend the Magpie Café for fish and chips.

Day 4: travel to London

Most of the long train journeys in this plan are delightful overnight sleeper services that will make you feel like you're right there with Jonathan and Mina rattling across Europe. Unfortunately, the journey from Whitby to London is not one of them.

Services are infrequent and the journey takes a solid 5 hours. But the start, where you go very very slowly through the beautiful North York Moors, isn't too bad.

Days 5-7: London

There's a whole heap of things to see in London on a theme by either Dracula or Bram Stoker:

The Lyceum Theatre, where Bram Stoker worked for 27 years

The various houses that Bram Stoker lived in

Golders Green Crematorium, where Bram Stoker's ashes can be visited by appointment

Assorted Dracula settings, such as those the Harkers visited on their London day trip

I'd also suggest a visit to Highgate Cemetery, which may have been part of the inspiration for Lucy's tomb (pop in on Karl Marx and Douglas Adams while you're there), and the British Library for general literary joy.

Exeter is a 2.5 hour train journey from London, so you could also go there, either overnight or for a speedy day-trip, if you're a completist. But personally I'd skip it and spend the time going to see the Lion King at the Lyceum or a Shakespeare play at the Globe instead.

Day 8: Paris

The characters in Dracula take a number of different routes to get across Europe, but I've gone with the route that the Crew of Light take as they go to hunt Dracula down in his home.

That means following the Man in Seat 61 guide for travelling from London to Romania by train, taking an early Eurostar to get yourself to Paris. You'll only have a few hours in Paris before the evening sleeper train, but it should be enough to visit Père Lachaise Cemetery, where Oscar Wilde is buried.

Day 9: Vienna

You'll arrive in Vienna around 10am, then have the day to spend there until another evening train. Personally, I'd spend the time visiting the Hofburg Palace and Sisi Museum; Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) of Austria was famous in the late 19th century and her tragic life story feels fitting for a Dracula tour.

Yes, this plan involves fast trains crossing multiple European countries without much of a breather. Just like they do in Dracula :)

Day 10: Cluj-Napoca

Note: I've visited all the other destinations in this guide, but never been to Romania, though I'd really like to go to Cluj in particular. So from this point on, this is based on googling, not first-hand knowledge.

Cluj, referred to by the German name of Klausenburg in Dracula, is the unofficial capital of Transylvania. Your sleeper train from Vienna should get there around 8.20am, in time to hop on a tram to the Old Town's cluster of breakfast places. I've been told that Cluj is a lively, student-y city with great nightlife and festivals.

Days 11-14: Romania

Time to explore Romania! At this point there's a decision to make. On the one hand, there's strict adherence to the settings of Dracula, in which case you'll want to head to Bistrița, or maybe even extend your journey on to Varna or Galați.

On the other hand, you could go more on vibes. In which case, hire a car to drive through the remoter parts of Transylvania, then turn south to Bran Castle, which has very little actual connection to Dracula but certainly looks the part.

-------

In the unlikely event that anyone actually does this journey off the back of this post, please let me know how it goes. I'd be so thrilled to hear about it!

#dracula daily #dracula daily spoilers

[xleeleeboox]

A good morning

Steve Harrington x Henderson!sister

Warnings: fluffy, maybe a touch of nervousness, Dustin being a little bit of a brat, just a bit. A little cussing, steve being affectionate

2.18k (it felt like it was longer when I was writing it in my notebook 💀)

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The outside doors to the school flung open as the students quickly filed out. The sun was high and warm, with only a few fluffy white clouds in the sky. Perfect weather for spring break, the last one I’ll ever get. My friends crowded around me as we anxiously gathered to talk about spring break plans.

I was someone that always had something to do, homework, a club, friends to hang out with, work, or spending an ungodly amount of time with my brother Dustin.

Dustin had his own friends, but not many, and not nearly as many as I do. I’m friends with all the different cliques, I got to learn about different peoples different points of views. Public high school is for learning an experience, which I plan to gain.

“We could go to the movies!”

“Or we could go to the amusement park!”

My friends throw around lots of suggestions for things to do over break, but none of which I will be doing soon. With most of the girls all wound up I waved goodbye to one of them who is paying attention.

Dustin wanted me to host a movie marathon sleepover at our house. I’ve told him it wasn’t big enough for everyone to sleep in altogether. But he’s already decided he wanted to invite Mike, Lucas, Eddie, Nancy, Robin and Steve.

Oh, Steve, the guy I have been crushing on since I saved him from a demodog. To be fair he was a catch, and single. Robin says he’s got a fat crush on me, but I don’t see it. He’s never shown otherwise, so I have had no reason to believe it to be true.

I head over to my car where Dustin was waiting for me.

“Mike and Robin are with Nancy. They are going to come over right away, but first they have to stop by the corner store to pick up the snacks because they are in charge of all the food and drinks.” Dustin explained.

“I know Dusty, I told them to. Remember?” Dustin made a humming noise and shrugged and got in the car.

“You know…. Steeeeve is going for be there tonight.” Dustin pipes up and I scoff a little at him.

I hope he will just drop it instead of pestering me but he didn’t so far. The drive was short so we got home in no time. Pulling into the driveway I unbuckle my seatbelt and hop out of the car and head inside.

“Also, Steve is bringing the-“

“Movies! Yeah I know. I’m on top of things, Mike and Lucas are spending the night in your room. Nancy is staying in mine, with me. And Robin wanted to be with Eddie and Steve so that they don’t bite each other‘s heads off.” I explained to him. I cut him off before he could say anything else and go into my room. Before I know it, the sun is setting and mom went to her room as soon as our friends started arriving, per Dustin‘s request.

Nancy, Mike, and Robin came, then Lucas and Eddie. And then Steve.

I invited Max but she said she didn’t want to come, opting to stay home and enjoy the peace and quiet.

The first movie began and there was chatter amongst the people, but it quieted down to the end of the first movie. At this point we had all gotten comfortable in our pajamas, and all spread out in the living room taking up every bit of space.

We were all comfy but I kept feeling eyes on me from across the room. Every time I looked back up nobody had their eyes on me. It wasn’t unsettling I just wanted to know who it was.

I kept my eyes on everyone until I look at Steve, and his eyes are meeting mine. He gave me a small, quick, smile and turned back to the TV. I couldn’t tell since it was dark, but I swear he was blushing.

The second movie was over and everyone wanted a third, so we watched the last one. This effectively bore everyone enough to want to go to bed after it was over. It was now close to one inthe morning when everyone started arguing about sleeping arrangements.

The kids and Eddie all went to Dustin‘s room, probably staying up playing games. Nancy had already gone to my room where Robin fell asleep early, claiming it was past her “natural bedtime”. I stayed behind in the living room with Steve.

“I can spend the night in here with you if you want.” I offer to Steve. He shook his head at this.

“It’s okay, you go ahead and sleep in your own bed.” He politely returned.

“To be honest, I don’t think there’s much room in there. I don’t mind, we will keep each other company. Plus if someone breaks in, I’ll just toss you to the door so you can protect me.” I say with a sweet, joking smile.

Steve laughs, not a smile, smirk, giggle or chuckle, but a laugh. It wasn’t really that funny, maybe Robin was right. But-

“My hero.” Steve says sarcastically.

I grabbed blankets from my room, and extra pillows from the closet. Steve took them and laid on the floor, without a word, leaving the couch to me. The thought of a sleepover with Steve made butterflies appear in my stomach. Okay, I like them so what.

The night seems to pass fairly quickly as I woke up a little early. I got up to go to the bathroom to do my morning routine. And then I walk back into the kitchen quietly I’m trying to start a pot of coffee.

I hear rustling and footsteps coming into the kitchen. I figured it was Steve since it sounded like it was coming from just the other room.

“Morning.” He says, kind of groggy, his morning voice is a little deeper than his normal voice. And it sounds so… nice? It flusters me a bit to be honest.

“Good morning.” I whisper to him with a smile, and my stomach growls. I scan the fridge for stuff, not finding much that we could do for breakfast. I hum to myself trying to think of a solution for breakfast.

“What is it?” Steve asks.

“I don’t think I have enough proper breakfast food for everyone.” I thought of an idea.

“Steve, whenever Dustin and I would sleep over at our grandparents house with our cousins, me and Dustin would go together with a cousin and our grandfather to the bakery. And we would pick out whatever we wanted and bring back a bunch of donuts for everyone else. By the time we got back, everyone else would be awake and ready to eat. Thenwe would spend the whole morning together talking.”

“It sort of became a tradition, and I think it would be nice if everyone woke up to fresh donuts. Would you mind going to the bakery with me?” I ask shyly. I was actually really hoping he would say yes so I could spend some time alone with Steve.

“Yeah, I think that would be really nice. Should we take our time, and hang out, ooorr… do we think they’ll wake up soon?” He asks me, looking down at his hands and playing with his fingers. I smile at his endearing request. I feel like this could be an attempt at flirting?

“Uh w-we can take our time. Just spend time with each other.” Is that too pushy to say? Or is it not even enough? God my face is getting warm.

Steve let’s out a single genuine laugh and said, “Yeah we could spend time together, right? We never do that.”

“Yeah, come on, I know the perfect bakery.” I go to the front door and slip on a pair of shoes while grabbing my keys. Steve jogs up behind me hooking his fingers around my arm gently and grabbing my keys.

“No, I’ll drive.” He says. He slips his own shoes on and opens the door for me. I take a step out and I feel his hand on my back for a moment, it felt nice and comforting somehow.

We get in the car and make our way to the bakery. It was actually a pretty nice morning, just a little bit chilly with some sunshine so you could tell it was definitely still early.

We walk into the bakery and smell the sweet icing on the donuts with cool air filling the warm bakery. We walk up to the counter and look at the window with the selection of donuts.

We pick out the things that we want, and the things that we think the others would want, along with a little extra treat for ourselves. I remember that I couldn’t run the coffee because it would be too loud, so I’ll order a coffee for myself and some of the others, and Steve orders for himself.

I go to reach into my wallet and pull out some money to pay but Steve beat me to it, already handing the cash over. I gasp, I thought I was going to pay for it. I was hoping Steve wouldn’t pay for it because it would make me feel guilty, since it was my idea to come here.

Steve puts his hand on my back again, before gently stroking it up my back. Then he wraps his arm around my shoulder to pull me in, and my heart almost stops. It skips a beat. And I liked it. So I tried to be brave, and leaned my head in on him, pretending to still be sleepy. He looks down and smiles at me, holy shit yeah I like him.

The order is served up and Steve and I sat at a table in the corner by a big window. We sit down and begin talking about bullshit, trying to get past the banter phase.

“Oh, um, sorry if I was doing too much over there by the counter. I was- I was just trying to uh, I dunno like shoot my shot? If that’s what they call it, I’m confused.” He rambles on.

“Oh god Steve you really are out of touch, huh?“ I joke with him, he just blushes and nods with a little laugh getting shy.

“I mean, well, what I’m getting at is, I like spending time with you like this. As in, I like you, you know?” Steve explains his intentions. I feel my heart beat faster again. He likes me, like I like him.

He continues on, “I don’t know what I’m doing though, to be quite honest. You’re like, you know… you are way out of my league. But I wanted to at least try.” Oh my god just say it back, bitch, I thought to myself.

“Aw Steve, I liked it, it was sweet. And, I like you too, you know.” You say shyly.

“Really?”

“Huh, yeah.”

Steve tries to hide back a smile, I can see it. “Well good, that’s good. So maybe I can take you out sometime?”

“Yeah, yeah I’d like that. I’m free, like, most of spring break.” False. I had many plans for spring break. But I would cancel any one of them to go on a date with Steve Harrington. I shyly smile up at him. He nods and smiles, nods his head the car to head back home for breakfast.

We get to the house and walk in to see mostly everyone just waking up and sitting out in the living room.

“We got donuts, and coffee!” I say to everyone. We make our way slowly to the dining room and sitting down to grab some donuts and a black coffee, some fixing the cups to have cream and sugar. I sit down next to Steve, scooting just a little closer as Dusting squeezes in right next to me.

Everyone begins eating, and talking about whatever. Until Robin speaks up, “Yeah I woke up like right after you two. I heard you leave, I was wondering where you went and why you were taking so long?” She announced with a smirk.

“Oh hush, Robin, behave.” I said to her.

Dustin lets out a loud, “What.”

I chuckle a bit, getting shy now, hiding my face from the others. “Nothing happened guys! I just wanted to get donuts for everyone!” My other hand that sat in my lap, Steve grabbed, holding it in his, smiling. He rubs my hand and gives it a pat.

“Awww.”

I shove my hand to his chest.

“Oh, shut up Steve!”

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington #steve stranger things #steve harrington imagine #steve Harrington smut #steve harrington fluff #henderson!sister #fem!reader #stranger things #stranger things imagines #stranger things 4 #st4

[sasusakucoded]

Sometimes Sakura would be called by the Academy to teach advanced medical lessons to aspiring students for a semester. After every written exam, Sakura lets the students ask her any questions before the practical exam.

One time, Sasuke came by the village to give his gathered information from his last mission. He intended to stay at Sakura's office, so that they can go home together. Shizune informed him that she was in the Academy and suggested to go there instead. She gave him the building and room details where she was teaching.

He reached the classroom and knocked on the door. It was an unplanned visit to Konoha, so his family was clueless. He constantly lost the key to their house, so he never really kept one.

Sakura tried to peek at the window but couldn't see the person behind it. She went to the door and opened it slightly.

Sakura: Anata! *louder than what she intended* Y-You're here!

Sasuke: Yeah. Can I stay at your office?

Sakura: Yes.. But you can also just stay here instead.. So you don't need to go back to the hospital.

Sasuke: Hn. *peeks inside*

Sakura: You can stay at that corner where I usually sit. *points at the front seat at the corner*

Sasuke: *nods and goes in*

The students went chit-chatting as soon as he walked by.

"Omg is he sensei's husband?"

"He's so cool!"

"He's so hot!"

"He smells nice!"

Sasuke and Sakura were so used to hearing these things so they almost ignore them. Sakura fixed her desk so he could sit comfortably. She told him to remove his cloak and she hung it on the rack. Her students were making noise.

Sakura: Hey, you were all bored a minute ago. *crosses her arms and smiles*

Class: *became quiet*

Sakura: Let's coninjte with your questions, shall we?

Student1: *raises her hand* Sensei, could you please introduce your husband?

Class: Yes!! *in unison*

Sakura: Right. He is Uchiha Sasuke. The only known living bearer of eternal mangekyo sharingan and rinnegan. We've discussed dojutsu, right? You can say that he's the strongest dojutsu wielder in the world.

Sasuke: *looking down*

Class: Wooh! So great! *asking random questions about Sasuke simultaneously*

Sakura: Hey, you all need to calm down.. *looks at Sasuke, now he's also looking at her* Sasuke-kun, no! *hides her face*

Class: Sensei is blushing! Sensei is blushing!

Sakura: Stoooop! *becomes more red*

Sasuke: *smirks*

Student2: Sasuke-san! Can you show us your dojutsu ability?

Class: Please! Please! Please!

Sakura: Hey, no.. Please don't put him on the spot.

Student3: Sensei, how can we imagine how dojutsu works? We need to see how the bearer uses it.

Class: We agree!

Sakura: Class..

Sasuke: Sakura.. *motions to her to come near him* Maybe we can have a deal. If they all get a perfect score on the written exam, I'll agree.

Sakura: Sasuke-kun.. Ah, class. My husband suggested to have a deal. Get a perfect score then he'll agree.

Class: Not fair, that's too difficult! *more violent reactions*

Sakura: It's a deal then! Sasuke agrees to teach and show you more about dojutsu if you will get 100% on the exam!

---

Sakura: Anata, are you sure about that deal?

Sasuke: Yeah. It's a difficult exam so I guess not everyone will get a perfect score. Plus, they'll stop pestering you about me. Sorry, I should have just stayed somewhere else.

Sakura: No, that's totally fine, Anata! I liked that you were in the classroom with me.

---

Little did Sasuke know, Sakura made the exam easier because she also wanted to see him teach. She also reviewed her students every time they had a class.

She sent him a note:

Anata,

My entire class got a perfect score. Please prepare your lesson plan. >.<

Can't wait to see you, sensei.

Love,

Sakura

"This is ridiculous," he thought. "You underestimated them, Sasuke! That was so stupid!"

#sasusaku #sasusaku headcanon #ss headcanon #uchihas #sscoded no 102

[9leaguesofmirrors]

5 Times Ross and Lisgoe Definitely Weren't In Love (and 1 time they were)

I'm a sucker for "5 Times, 1 Time" fics, so I decided to make one for my current brainrot ship

When you live with someone for long enough, you grow used to seeing them everywhere. Even if you don't spend every waking moment attached at the hip, you'll see them going about their day at the same time as you. It gets to the point where not seeing them, when you know they're in the house, is a little jarring

Lisgoe had to get used to that quite quickly, since Ross likes to bring home work to do on his day off

He isn't clingy but, when they first started living together, when he was downstairs and hadn't heard so much as a shuffle upstairs for most of the day, he started to wonder if he's snuck off somewhere. Eventually, he decides to test the waters

"Ross, are you still there?"

No answer

"Ross?"

Still no answer

"Twat!"

No answer

OK, so he's definitely gone

Deciding to get to the bottom of this himself, Lisgoe got up and made his way upstairs

Once he reached the top floor, he noticed that the door to their bedroom was ajar, which suggested at Ross had either just left or just got back - if he even left at all. Lisgoe decided to take a quick peek through the space in the doorway, and that's when he saw him

Ross was sat at his desk (technically, they shared it, but he used it far more often) with a desk lamp on. There was a stack of books on one side, a laptop in front of him and another book propped open by his hand. Everything was in its place

What started as a "quick peek" turned into something that took a little longer. He wasn't staring, obviously, that's weird! This was just... something that wasn't staring! Truth be told, there was something about seeing Ross so focused that caught Lisgoe's attention and refused to let it go. Maybe it was the stillness of it, aside from nimble fingers flicking through pages and the clicking of keys. Or it was the way his brows furrowed in concentration as his knuckle rested on his lower lip

Yes, there was something about it that made it impossible to look away. And he'd come to the conclusion that it was Ross' fault. It wasn't a bad thing, but it was definitely his fault

"Staring is rude," Ross said, not looking up from his work "can I help you?"

"I thought you'd died." Came the casual response as Lisgoe opened the door and leaned against the doorframe "And looking is different to staring."

"I know. And you were definitely staring."

"Don't wank yourself off, I was just looking."

"What do you want?"

Instead of replying, he left his spot and went over to stand behind Ross to get a better look at the laptop screen. It was full of... there was lots of...

"What the fuck is this?"

"Data analysis"

"Right, I see it now."

"I assume you know what-"

"What do you think I do at my desk all day?"

"I don't know, you don't tell me about your job."

He didn't know what possessed him to ask, but it came out before he could stop himself:

"Tell me about it."

The way Ross blink rapidly and seemed to twitch his head to the side suggested that this was not what he expected to hear

"You want to hear my weekly evaluation?"

"I want to know if you actually understand what you type into that laptop."

Lisgoe knew damn well that Ross understood what he was typing, but it was the one method he knew would explain everything in detail. And it worked! He was completely in the zone, like a lecturer explaining to a keen student

Had he been less focused, he'd have noticed that Lisgoe hadn't looked at the laptop screen more than twice

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There are things you expect to see in Royston Vasey: blood in Edmund Chinnery's veternary, pens in Pauline's office, Dean trying to interest some poor sod in his magic

What Ross didn't expect to see at the dead of night, after waking up randomly and realising his partner wasn't there, was finding him lying on the edge of the pavement a fair way out from their home. He didn't look injured or annoyed, in fact it was the rare sight of him looking almost peaceful, his eyes directly up at the sky

That was, of course, quickly ruined when he realised he was being watched

"Fuck off, Glenn, I don't have to deal with your shite after 4pm. It's clearly past 9."

"Have you been here all day then?"

That made him sit up suddenly, noticing who it was seemed to make him less cranky

"I've only been here for half an hour, maybe, I left the house at 11."

"It's currently 2:30 in the morning. You've been here for 3 and a half hours."

"Have I? Fuck, must've fallen asleep."

"What are you doing here? People are going to think you're homeless!" Ross took his arm and tried to yank him up "Get up, you don't know what people have done on this street."

"Get off, I'm fine!" Lisgoe said as he shook free from his grasp "It's 2:30, nobody's gonna see me. Besides, I've done this before, you've just never realised."

"Are you the newest member of Legz Whatever? Has their director got you method acting in preparation for his newest disaster?"

"Fuck off, you cheeky bastard!" Lisgoe shuffled a little, moving so he was facing the empty road "I come out here sometimes, only when I really hate things."

"What things?"

"Everything. Work mainly; sometimes it's fine, but sometimes I can't stand anything about it. I hate my job, I hate my co-workers, I hate my boss - especially hate my boss."

It was a this point that Ross remembered how little Lisgoe actually told him about his work. He knew he was a debt collector, he knew he had two stupid bozos working for him, but that's it

"I didn't even know you had a boss."

"Not many people do." Lisgoe couldn't help but laugh a little, there was something oddly empowering about the fact people assumed he was the man in charge "I'm Barry and Glenn's supervisor, Hammonds oversees everything. When those thick twats don't meet their target, I'm the one who gets it in the ear. He gave me a right telling off today, the gobshite. He doesn't give a fuck about those two, I'm the one who's meant to be making sure they reach their target each week. What am I? Nanny Mc-fucking-phee?"

Ross waited for a moment, then folded his jacket and put it on the floor beside Lisgoe. He sat down

"I've never met Hammonds, but he sounds like a wa- um, a very arrogant man."

"That's not what you were gonna say."

"I don't know what you mean."

"You were gonna swear!" Lisgoe said with a mischevious smile which Ross did not find handsome at all "I heard it, you were gonna call him a wanker!"

"No I wasn't."

"Come on Ross," Lisgoe teased, moving closer "you wanna call him what he is. We both know that. Nobody's around, let it go."

Ross leaned away slightly, refusing to give into his influence. This was met by Lisgoe laying back down with a huff, hands behind his head

"Aren't you a boring sod!"

"I'm not calling him that because that isn't what he is."

"Maybe you think that, I think-"

"He's a... prick"

At first, Lisgoe was taken aback, then he started to laugh a little

"It's funny when you hesitate before you swear, you're like a primary schooler saying 'crap' for the first time!"

"It's not that funny." Ross replied, but his sterness was weak. He was focused on the man beside him, who still seemed tickled by what had just happened

He had to admit, seeing Joseph Lisgoe's tough shell crack a little wasn't an unwelcome sight. If it happened again, at some point, not that it would, but if it did... he decided that he wouldn't mind

●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●

"You're an idiot." Ross muttered as he held an ice bag to Lisgoe's cheek "I mean it. You're a complete idiot."

"Can you say it again?" Lisgoe snarked "I don't think I heard you the 6th time."

"One week, can you go one week without picking a fight with someone?"

"I don't know, can people go one week without testing my fucking patience?"

It didn't matter what Ross said, it wouldn't change Lisgoe's mind that the bastard deserved it. Actually no, he thought, I went easy on him. I was kind enough to give him a minor concussion instead of snapping his neck. Either way, it seemed that Ross was making sure his message came through, because he was pressing the ice down so hard on Lisgoe's cheek it was like he was trying to dislocate his jaw

"Do you have to press so hard? Or do you just want to give me another fucking injury?"

"If you don't want me doing this, then stop wanting to attack everyone that looks at you wrong. I don't find this enjoyable, seeing you come home with new injuries every day."

"You're exaggerating!" Lisgoe grabbed his arm and moved the ice away "And he was asking for it! I don't care what he had to say about me, he shouldn't have dragged you into it."

There wasn't a response after that. He leaned back on the sofa as Ross put the ice away, not speaking even he was sat back down

"Ross, don't do the 'silent treatment' shite. It annoying as fuck when people pull that-"

He hadn't noticed Ross leaning in until his lips pressed against his own. The first thought that crossed Lisgoe's mind was that asshole didn't let me finish. What made things worse was, as soon as he pulled away to say something, he just pulled him in again roughly

It pissed him off, how easily Ross affected him. The last thing he wanted was to be affected like this, to need this: those hands, that mouth, just... It felt so fucking pathetic every time and yet he couldn't stop himself. It wasn't just adrenaline, it was like an anchor weighing him into place. His nails dug into Ross' back tightly, and he revelled in the sound he produced

Out of everything, that was the one thing Lisgoe hated about the way he felt. Royston Vasey knew him as impenetrable, and he was! Nobody dared to challenge him because everyone knew he wouldn't be stopped. That was who he was, unwavering and authoritative

So why did he react so erratically when that man threatened Ross earlier? Why did the mere thought of Pauline make him want to storm right into that Job Centre and turn her inside out? And why the fuck, whenever Ross kisses him, even for a second, does it make his brain shut off for the duration of it? He wished he could come up with an answer, but his brain was short-circuiting and Ross had his lower lip in his teeth...

He hated it. He truly fucking hated it. But he didn't at the same time

As he felt Ross's hand move up his shirt, he thought this is going to kill me

Then, as he pushed Ross backwards against the sofa, he thought what a fucking way to go!

●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●

The next morning came far too quickly

Neither could remember when they ended up in their bed, but it happened. Clearly. Because Ross had woken up and was laying on his side, looking at the back of a sleeping Lisgoe. Instantly, his eyes were drawn to the tattoo that decorated his back - a large snake slithering up to his neck. Ross thought it made Lisgoe look like a member of the Japanese mafia which, he supposed, was partly the point. Still, it made him look infuriatingly good; when Ross first slept with Lisgoe, he was less disturbed by the fact he liked doing it with guys and was more confused by the fact it was the first instance in which he wasn't massively put off by someone's tattoos - especially given how many Lisgoe had

Before he could stop himself, he slowly reached out and touched his shoulder, running his fingers gently down the black marking... next thing he knew, he's been back-handed in the face by a very surprised Lisgoe

"Fucking hell..." he muttered when he finally realised who it was, still slightly groggy from tiredness "What was that?"

"That was me, you moron!" Ross was clutching his face, clearly feeling the sting

"I know that," he turned onto his other side, facing the man he just hit "what were you doing?"

"Nothing."

A pause. They both knew that was a lie, Lisgoe wasn't accustom to smacking Ross in the face

"I was just looking at your tattoo," he explain, reaching for his glasses on the bedside table and putting them on "I didn't realise that warrented a smack in the mouth!"

"I didn't do it on purpose! You know unexpected touches put in fight-mode, I raised my hand, you were too close, you got hit!" Lisgoe looked at the red mark on his cheek and asked, in an uncharacteristically soft voice "Are you OK?"

Ross was caught off-guard by the quiet, half-whispered tone. It actually made his chest jump a little, but only because it was so unexpected! Yes, it was like a jumpscare... but nicer

"It just hurts," he answered, more confused than in pain "a lot."

"Oh give over. I didn't hit you that hard, you big bitch! It's not like I'm gentle with you when we're fucking, anyway!"

"Thank god," Ross felt himself smile a little upon hearing that familiar, snappy tone "for one horrible moment, I thought you were developing compassion."

"Nah, not a chance!"

Lisgoe was lying on his back now, which meant Ross could see even more of his tattoos. Maybe it was the fact they were just a neutral monochrome that made them look OK (well, more than OK), or maybe, and this was a frightening thought, Ross liked tattoos on Lisgoe specifically

He faced the ceiling

That was the one thing that truly set his teeth on edge: Joseph Nigel Lisgoe was an exception to all his rules. Don't get involved with the wrong sort: the sort with tattoos and vulgar language, the sort that settle disputes with their fists and find books a waste of time

What made things worse is that no only had every rule been broken, but it turned out that they were all based on incorrect conclusions. Lisgoe may not have been good with logic or reasoning, but he could tell you everything about niche subjects like medieval torture methods, famous cults, and serial killers - hell, he'd probably truly enjoy reading a book on the subject if he didn't find the act of reading so difficult. He didn't get tattoos because they made him look intimidating, he could do that without ink on his skin, he just thought they looked cool. And Ross learned that, despite everything, he wasn't a hypocrite; whatever you gave, he gave back. Direspect, attitude, favours: he repaid it in full - maybe not in the way you expect it, but he did. Lisgoe wasn't a kind or even a forgiving person, but he wasn't dishonest

When he thought about it, Ross realised that he really couldn't predict anything about Lisgoe the same way he did for everyone he met. But, for the first time, he didn't want to. He didn't want to look for patterns in his behaviour and try to figure out his next move. For once, he'd met someone he didn't want to analyse - he just wanted him as he was

And that thought alone went against everything he'd taught himself

Joseph Lisgoe, in many ways, was a jumpscare

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First thing Lisgoe thought when he came home from work:

Well. That was shite

It wasn't like he hated his job normally, some days just felt worse than others. This was one of those days; it was as it Barry, Glenn and Hammonds were in cahoots today, banding together in order to make Lisgoe's life a misery. All he hoped for was that he could come and forget it all happened

The first thing he noticed was Ross Gaines, in his dressing gown (this evening seems to be looking up), pouring a glass of white wine (ah, that explains it)

"You've had it shite as well then?"

"What gave it away?"

"The wine, you only drink white when you're pissed off. I don't even think you like the taste."

"Well, you don't exactly look happy yourself." Ross took another glass from the cupboard and a bottle of red "Lucky for you, these came together. Shut up, Joseph."

"I didn't say anything!" Lisgoe grabbed the bottle and took a large gulp

"I saw the look on your face, you were going to make a dirty joke. And stop drinking out the bottle, there's a glass right there."

"I know."

"I can't stand it when you drink out of the bottle."

"I know."

"Then why do you keep doing it?"

"I have free will, dickhead!" Lisgoe retorted with a smug look as he took another swig of wine before putting it down on the counter and pulling Ross towards him "And pissing you off makes my day so much better."

"You're insufferable, you know that right?" Ross' focus darted to Lisgoe's mouth, then back to his eyes "A real pain in the arse."

"And you have the personality of a fucking dish-cloth."

Lisgoe kissed the corner of his mouth (which did not affect Ross Gaines at all), then took a step back to actually pour himself a glass of wine. He raised it up, to which Ross did the same. They then took a sip

Neither could explain why, but they started to feel a little better than they felt a few moments ago

○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○

"I told you, you need to quit!"

"I'll quit on my own terms, Joseph. I don't need you to tell me when to do things."

They were having an argument in their kitchen. Not one of their meaningless, amusing games - they were both annoyed at each other. Ross had come home with a bruised arm thanks to an altercation with Pauline, and Lisgoe had gotten mad and told him to quit on the spot. Of course, Ross tried to explain that finances meant he couldn't, and quitting would mean unemployment - which would mean Pauline had even more power over him. He had to bide his time, make a plan

Lisgoe wouldn't hear it

"Either you enjoy getting used as a punching bag or you're more of a stubborn bastard than I am! There are other jobs, and you're more qualified than any of those incompetant shites!"

"Oh, and I'm supposed to believe that's the only reason you're so against me working there?"

"... What?"

"Those... defamatory and false rumours that I had sex with her." Ross' face was smug, as if he'd cracked the Enigma Code "We both know you have a jealousy problem, are you scared it'll happen again?"

Then there was silence. If looks could kill, Ross would probably have been brutally murdered. Lisgoe could brutally murder him right now

"First of all, wipe that fucking look off your face." His voice was quiet yet sharp "Secondly, don't ever bring that up again."

"Let me live my life and I'll let you live yours."

"Sure Ross!" He snapped, clearly done with the conversation "I'll let you live your fucking life! Pauline can do what she wants with you! I'm going." With that, he was up the stairs like a bullet from a gun

Ross watched him, knowing damn well how screwed he was. When Lisgoe said something, he meant it. He wasn't going to wait for anyone to stop him, if he said he was going, he was going and gone for good. Something about that notion made him want to throw up

Before he could stop himself, he was following. Halfway up the second flight of stairs, he finally caught up and grabbed Lisgoe's wrist

"I'm not letting you leave."

It was stated like a fact, the objective truth

"Is that right?" Came the reply, dripping with malice "And what are you gonna do to stop me?"

"Nothing. I'm just not letting you leave?"

"Why's that?"

"Because I love you."

That snapped Lisgoe right out of his angered trance. His face seemed to glitch into one of shock and confusion. Is this a mind game? He thought Is he trying to mess with me? He studied Ross' demeanour: slightly tense, his muscles were contracted, but his face was earnest - like he'd told Lisgoe something that couldn't be disputed

"Why are you telling me this now? When I'm packing my shite and fucking off?"

"That's exactly it. No point hiding it now, I've been waiting for the right moment to say it for ages. I don't like using the word, it's too dangerous - too much risk of it backfiring. I'm probably not going to say it again for a long time, so make the most of this. But I know you, and I know that you meant it when you said you were going. And I don't want that."

"So you said it to get me to stay?"

"Why else does anyone say it? I know I'm not going to find someone else I can say it to and mean it, you're rare. I'm not going to love someone else the way I love you. Never. And that's unnerving."

What else do I say to that? Was the thought that immediately burst into Lisgoe's mind How does someone respond to that? In spite of himself, he started to laugh - which clearly wasn't the right response

"Joseph, why are you laughing? What are you laughing for? I'm being serious."

"I'm sorry Ross, but I can't believe you. I mean, let's look at this factually - I know you like doing that. What about me is worth loving? What even is there to like?"

What hit Ross wasn't what he'd said, it was the tone. As if he'd accepted that he was so unworthy of positive regard that the very idea of it was laughable. All he could do was listen to Lisgoe and approach it the way he knew best - factually

"You're blunt to the point of rudeness, but I only think that because you say what I need to know not what I want to hear. You have this... annoyingly fascinating way of reading body language and facial expressions that leads you into fights. But it also means you know when I want to be left alone. Basically, your 'bad parts' work in my favour."

Now neither of them knew what to say, they'd gone from being so guarded... to whatever this was

"I like-"

"Joseph, leave it."

"No, I want to-"

"I know it's awkward, you don't have-"

"Shut the fuck up!"

"Alright then."

"I like... fuck, now I've forgotten how to word it! ... you can't here someone's problems without inserting your own opinion, but it always makes sense - you look for solutions instead of bitching. You have a fucked-up, dry sense of humour, but I do too, so we laugh while everyone looks at us like we're sick. And you never like giving me the last word, you always have some kind of rebuttal. You challenge me. It makes things fun, but you always find a way to call out my bullshit. I need someone like that." Lisgoe looked down at his wrist "And I like when you let go of my wrist, which you've been gripping onto for 5 fucking minutes!"

Even more embarrassed, though he tried to hide it, Ross let go

"There's also the physical shite," Lisgoe continued with a shrug "but that's-"

Whatever he was going to say died in his throat, because Ross had pulled him into a kiss, letting his back press against the wall behind him. Lisgoe's hands were around his throat gently

"For the record," Ross' voice came out hoarse "I wasn't thinking about Pauline when I was with her."

"So it did happen," Lisgoe started to bite and kiss along his jawline "you lying bastard!"

"Maybe it did, but my mind was elswhere." He could feel his partner at his neck and tried to keep his voice steady "Some debt collector that came knocking on my door once, maybe you know him?"

"Yeah? What's his name?"

"Barry Baggs."

"Get fucked!" Lisgoe gave him a hard shove, but the laugh that followed showed he didn't take it personally

"I'd say that encapsulates your goal, wouldn't you?"

"After that, you can finish in your hand!"

Lisgoe moved up the stairs, but only made it two steps before he was pulled in again. This time, the kiss was slower, the movements less frantic and the electricity buzzing rather than sparking

Nothing else needed to be said

#the league of gentlemen #league of gentlemen #gainsgoe #ross gaines #joseph lisgoe #joseph nigel lisgoe #tlog

[duxearlier]

MIXED FEELINGS

Neito Monoma x Reader

Synopsis: y/n l/n an ordinary college student who is trying their best to just graduate. Though even if they were quite known around the campus there are still some people who disliked them. One being no other than Neito Monoma. So what happens when they get paired up on a project and he changes y/n's life completely?

warning: swearing, bullying, abuse, drinking, suggestive themes, teasing.

genre: collage au, social media au, no quirks, enemies to lovers, angst, fluff.

taglist: open

CHAPTER FOURTEEN || TO THE RESCUE

<chapter thirteen || materlist || chapter fifteen>

▪︎___________°••>>>*<<<••°___________▪︎

'Shit shit shit- please be okay-'

Neito thought to himself as he ran through the streets, towards y/n's House. His heart was racing against his chest but that didn't stop him from going faster trying his best to reach the location that he was given as fast as possible. A lot of thoughts were running through his head and honestly they weren't very good, to be truthful, he was absolutely terrified and only can hope that y/n was safe and sound. It took him a while to get there but after a bit, he managed to get to y/n's House.

Silently cursing to himself on how far they live, he moves to the front door as he wanted to check if it was unlocked, there was no point of knocking in the first place.

Before he could reach the door, it slammed open shut and a drunk male wobbles out, yelling curses and threats. Neito glared at the man, just watching him leave. As much as he wanted to hit him, he had a bigger problem at the moment. So,,he rushed inside, immediately calling out. "y/n?!" He called out loudly, moving around the house to try and find them. It made him uneasy that there was no response but after calling out to them, there was finally a response. "Neito?"

y/n sounded very very off, voice shaky and immediately the blonde made his way to it. Reaching a door, he slowly opened it, eyes widening at the sight. "Shit-. y/n!" He gasps, rushing over to them and kneeling down infroth of them.

There they were, laying on the ground. Their clothes were a bit ripped and he could notice there was multiple bruises on them "shit shit-. We need to leave now" he spoke as y/n took a deep breath. "I need- clothes-" they said, trying to get up but Neito stopped them. "Don't move. I can pack some stuff just tell me what you want and where it is" he spoke, standing up "then ill carry you back to my house and we are telling your friends' ' he spoke, glaring at them in case they wanted to argue but to his surprise they agreed. So, y/n told what stuff they needed and where it was as neito packed up their stuff. He was trying his best to be quick since he didn't want y/n's father to be back while both of them were here. After few minutes, he finally moved over to y/n. "Okay, I got everything, let's get out of here. Do not move. I'll just carry you" he spoke, helping them up at first before letting them on his back, giving them a piggy back.

With that, he carried y/n out of their room and out of the house, immediately making his way towards his house. "You okay there?" He made sure to check up on them, getting back a hum or a small response. Though when they reached Neito's house, y/n was passed out.

The blonde placed them down on the bed in the guest room, immediately going to get the first aid kit and treating the injuries. This was it, Nieto is definitely going to make y/n tell their friends about this. Though, he really hoped that they would stay with him and for some reason he didn't know why. He felt like he needed to take care of them, even if he knew that y/n's friends could do a better job then him in the first place.

▪︎___________°••>>>*<<<••°___________▪︎

taglist: @legolashaught @touyatodorokislut @otomegame-oneshots @dokxxhvhdklkkjjhhgggdj @blue-violin @speadrunner @jamesiies

#bnha #bnha smau #boku no hero academia #bnha x reader #bnha x male reader #smau #bnha x y/n #bnha x fem!reader #bnha x gender neutral reader #monoma neito #bnha monoma #monoma x gender netrual reader #monoma x reader #monoma smau #monoma x y/n #midoriya izuku #shoto todoroki #iida tenya #uraraka ochacho #tsuyu asai #kendo itsuka #tetsutetsu tetsutetsu

[hollowsart]

Somehow, trying to redesign Batman rogues is way more difficult than redesigning Spiderman rogues.

Somehow, they aren't inspiring many ideas for me, and much like a lot of dc content, the variations of the characters as a mainline fresh new take on everything is extremely limited in the creativity of variation to their genders and backstories that lead up to them becoming who/what they are. (Or it's left as a one-time one-off thing)

I think we could do with some more genderswaps and stuff, y'know? It would help inspire more creativity with the concepts of the characters. Give more substance to work with.

Some ideas/concepts for what I mean:

Joanna Crane, excluded from her field of research because her methods were too extreme and her research was becoming unethical and against all tules and regulations. Excluded due to being a woman in a field dominated by men within the corrupt city of Gotham.

Oswin Cobblepot, worked exceptionally hard despite her appearance to get where she is in life. Becoming powerful with an impressive influence in the underbelly of Gotham. All stemming from or origins in seeking insurance and protection for her high class club/bar after it had been wrecked one night by thugs. Ever since, she'd managed to firmly plant herself proudly in the underworld.

Arnona Wesker, always had a fascination with puppetry ever since she was little. Due to a sudden house fire when she was just a teen, she lost her collection of puppets.. well, all but 1 head. She salvaged it and kept it for later. Later never came, and her life progressed like a roller coaster of hills. At some point early in her adulthood, she started to hear a voice. It wasn't her own, and it always seemed to come from where she kept that dummy head. The dummy had become sentient.

Arlo Quinzel, talk show radio therapist and psychologist who received one too many prank calls from a bored Joker that ended in his career on the airways. He was highly influential, for better or for worse. Besides psychology, Arlo also enjoyed reading about classical theater and watching performances. An interest of his that had been forced out of him by his family, forcing him instead to go into a more "appropriate" and beneficial field of work. Safe to say, he finally got his wish to entertain through theater and the arts.. albeit twisted into something less playful.

Victoria Fries, a well-known cryogenicist who merely studied the effects of cryogenics on living things, trying to find a way to prevent the death of cells on the body when frozen. In a way, trying to slow down death and aging. Her experiments were done mostly on plants as any suggestions for small animals to help progress her research had always been denied.

Edlyn Nygma, the smartest student in all her schools growing up. She was the brightest despite her dark and dreary homelife. She worked extra hard to prove herself to her old-fashioned misogynistic father, and when that failed, she worked even harder to exceed him and escape the life she suffered through for years. After succeeding, her life hardly picked up. Being forced to work in a small publishing company that made riddle and joke books, the only place that wanted to accept her regardless of her qualifications. The years of monotony and lack of approval to her ideas finally made her crack, burning the place down after. Seeking now to challenge Gotham to prove her mind and self as something worth listening to. Becoming Gotham's anonymous "Riddler" and learning to use people's underestimations of her to her advantage.

Waylynn Jones, ..idk her story could be left alone from the original. Skin condition she was born with that disfigured her, or it was like some kind of genetic mutation that made her look more crocodilian than human, only getting worse as she grew up before finally reaching a point it wouldn't progress any further, leaving her looking big and monstrous.

Salem Kyle, his backstory can also remain pretty much the same as canon with minimal changes. Why change what works? Also I have no ideas for him tbh

Harper Dent, another than could be left the same as the main canon, just swapped around so they're a woman instead cuz we appreciate complex women 👍

#ghostie mumbles #//long post

[anhed-nia]

BLOGTOBER 10/27/2023: NIGHT VISITOR (1989)

Definitely not to be confused with the 1971 Swedish film starring Max Von Sydow and Liv Ulman, 1989's NIGHT VISITOR is a bizarre horror-comedy that's half-pilfered from FRIGHT NIGHT, and the other half is just...something that is not under control. A hunky teen with a "boy who cried wolf" problem witnesses a horrific murder while spying on his neighbor Shannon Tweed, and then he and his goofy friend and their "cool" gal pal endeavor to out their mean teacher as a devil worshiper. The appearance of Mme Tweed and a variety of streetwalkers from central casting seem to suggest that this is going to be really sexy, but it is not, unless you get off super hard to women tossing their hair and winking at the camera. And on that note, I must point out that the teen's mom, played by Brooke Bundy, looks so much like the neighbor he's obsessed with, that like...well if I had a friend in high school who was sexually fixated on someone who looked just like his own mother, I would never, ever let him live it down. I would be calling that poor jerk on Christmas to remind him of it every year for the rest of his life.

The circulation of the above exciting image suggests a much gnarlier horror movie than what this actually is, part of which is partly a domestic comedy between Allen Garfield as the teacher and his live-in uh companion Michael J. Pollard, who plays a deranged moron as per usual. Hardboiled cop Richard Roundtree is along for the ride for some reason; at the end he asks the kid where he got his shotgun, and upon hearing that it was his father's, Roundtree goes, "One-man vigilante, huh?", which makes no sense whatsoever. Elliot Gould plays the grizzled detective who the plucky teens convince to come out of retirement to help them, and like, they go to his house which is pretty decent-looking except there's a couple of loose shirts out that he performatively removes from a chair so they can sit down, which seems like is supposed to indicate that his life is a wreck--but if you come to my house unannounced at some random hour, I can pretty much promise that there will be a couple of loose shirts out. There are plenty of legitimate signs that I'm deteriorating into reclusivity, but I don't think that's a very good one.

Anyway I really want to spoil the end of the movie, which might help if you're short on time: After all the drama is resolved, the teen takes his friend-turned-girlfriend on an extremely long date. There is no dialog, because this was obviously never in any version of a script, and drives her around to various fun couplesy activities that you might see in a chewing gum commercial, and then finally they kiss in an astonishingly long freeze-frame. This is sort of fascinating because the movie is over an hour and a half long and it doesn't seem like they should have been so desperate for extra minutes, but you're going to get them anyway! The End.

PS My favorite part of the movie is when the satanic teacher sits on a stink bomb, or something, and all this yellow smoke comes billowing out of his ass and he starts screaming at the mischievous teen "YOU ARE TERMINATED! YOU ARE TERMINATED!", which is such a funny and meaningless thing for a teacher to yell at a student, I would never recover if this happened in my class. All I could think of is:

#mcvicker #blogtober #2023 #horror #comedy #cult #satanism #michael j. pollard #shannon tweed #brooke bundy #night visitor #1989 #teen horror #slasher