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#if i think of anything i missed or left out or didn't consider i'll add it
madeimpact · 2 years
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Headcanon / meta: Structure of the Underworld.
This takes what we know about the Underworld from canon and combines it with lore from Greek mythology to fully flesh out what happens in the afterlife.
The Underworld is structured fairly similarly to its mythological counterpart. Souls are ferried across the River Styx, past Twinbellows, and to the City of Souls, where excess souls await the verdict on their final resting place.
From there, they may be sent to one of four places:
Tartarus, where the wickedest souls are punished for their deeds;
The Vale of Mourning, where those who were consumed by unhappy love dwell;
The Asphodel Meadows, where the “neutral” souls live, not wicked enough for Tartarus but not remarkable enough for...
The Fields of Elysium, a paradise for exceptional souls. A soul can choose to remain here, free of toil, or choose to be reincarnated. ( Souls that choose the latter would drink from the Lethe to forget their previous lives. Ooh, segue! )
Several rivers flow in and out of the different areas of the Underworld, not just limited to flowing water, but also fire and excess souls. If there are more souls coming into the Underworld than can be ferried across the Styx at a given moment, they simply stream directly into the City of Souls without any sort of divine protection. These souls might fade away...or be consumed. Normally, there’s not much more than a stream of excess souls entering the City of Souls this way, but during the events of Uprising, the fighting and death in the Overworld causes this stream to become a torrent.
Hades himself is responsible for dealing specifically with the souls that end up in Tartarus, but in the events leading up to his appearance in Uprising, his lust for power drove him to target any and all souls entering the Underworld, preventing them from reaching their intended destinations.
Other places of note include:
The Underworld Castle, where Medusa ( and presumably also Hades and his other Commanders ) preside over the Underworld;
The Rewind Spring, located on the outskirts of the City of Souls, capable of reversing the effects of time on anyone who comes in contact with its waters. Or completely erasing their existences if they linger for too long. The Lethe flows from here.
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magicjesuscup · 18 days
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I have feelings towards solo-romanced Halsin's ending/epilogue.
Halsin and Tav celebrate all night, and in the morning Halsin starts throwing out mixed signals. He's leaving to take care of the kids that were orphaned after the netherbrain fight and doesn't give any indication that he wants Tav to go with him, but it also doesn't sound like his feelings for Tav have changed.
I would've been (1) confused by the lack of an option to go with him, (2) hurt because this sounds like a break-up speech (like a "we shouldn't be together anymore, but let's stay friends" type thing), and (3) concerned that something's wrong because he's otherwise been a very good communicator up until this point.
It looks like originally going with him wasn't even an option (which was a weird choice to offer him as a love interest, but not give players a way to stay with him at the end of the game), and when that was patched in, they did it in the meanest way they could. Tav's line is:
Visit as soon as I can? Don't be an ass, Halsin. I'll come with you right now.
Oof. I wouldn't talk to my lover like this, and I don't know that I'd stay with someone who talked to me like that. I also want to note that I think you only get the cute, bragging "I love Halsin" lines to say to the other companions at the party if you call him an ass here first. Thanks, I hate it. I wish it was something more along the lines of:
Why can't I go with you?
Either option could've led to (most) of Halsin's dialog that followed.
But what about all that you'll miss out on? Your name will be feted in this city - there will be parades, medals, feasts, hands to be shaken, babies to be kissed…are you truly sure.
I know in the epilogue he's still surprised Tav chose him, and I'm trying to figure out why, and why he didn't throw out Tav accompanying him as an option. I get that a lot of people he loved/cared about didn't stay in life, but none of them left him voluntarily. His parents, the archdruid before him, and his peers died to either illness or the shadow curse. Thaniel's absence is only temporary if you lift the shadow curse, and the only reason he "left" in the first place was because he was trapped by the curse.
It would've made way more sense to me if he had a little freak out after falling in love with Tav and having the realization that the person he loves could turn into an illithid thrall. They would be gone, and he might have to kill what's left if they tried to eat his or someone else's brain. Also, it would absolutely be horrific to watch Tav go through ceremorphosis. Having a mind flayer parasite isn't the same as being sick, but it is a physical affliction that Halsin can't fix. He's weirdly positive that they'll find a cure, and they never do (at least not in the sense of medication or surgery).
It also would've made sense if he had a bit of a breakdown if Tav asks for one last kiss before the final battle starts ramping up. Things are getting stupid dangerous, and this has historically been when his friends start dying. But, nope he's still super calm here too and optimistic that they'd live (although after their night together, he admits he didn't dare believe they'd actually survive).
I'm not sure if they did the whole, "I'm going to ride off into the sunset, but watch the horizon for you everyday," thing to add some drama, but it feels out of place considering these other options. If Tav was going to "leave" it would've been due to the parasite or not surviving the battle. In the epilogue, those dangers have passed. If anything, it's at this part of the story where he should've felt most secure in their relationship because he's never had someone leave him "just because."
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vanrouchu · 5 months
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second take
If the first take doesn't come out as expected, it's time to cut the cameras and create a second one.
— Deren x Reader
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If Deren were to add one more regret to her long list of missed chances, then perhaps it would be the fact that she went out of her way to attend a premiere of a highly anticipated film featuring famous actors in the industry. The bright lights, the cameras flashing at her, and the countless journalists that tried to chase her down weren't the reason why she came to regret it.
No, it was something else—something that she thought she wanted until her eyes caught sight of it.
It's been years since she last tried creating a film. It's been years since she saw a familiar face who she thought would be the star of every film she would make. Bold words that turned into nothing but a source of disappointment when she left the scene, leaving behind a broken heart and a chance she chose to forsake.
Seeing you thrive in a place like this—strutting down the red carpet with a smile on your face, a demeanor meant to be captured in cameras—she should be happy that you turned out to be more fortunate after parting ways.
But she wasn't. If anything, she hated how it left a bitter taste on her tongue.
A moment of reprieve from the flashing lights and cameras. A space with just the two of you as if fate decided to toy with her. She cleared her throat, feeling a little stuffy at the tension that hung in the air. Regret came to her at that moment; she didn't know how to react in this kind of situation, especially when her plan was to gaze from afar.
“You seem well.” Deren paused, trying to think of something to add. “I'm looking forward to the movie. I heard that it's your best one yet.”
Silence followed. She couldn't help but wonder if it would've been better if she stayed quiet.
“It seems that way to other people.” You played with the hem of your clothes. “I don't think so, though.”
“Hmm…” She couldn't think of a response. How would she go about picking up broken pieces of glass and trying to piece them back together? “Then what would you consider your best?”
Another pause. Deren held her breath, a bead of sweat rolling down the back of her neck as she waited in anticipation for your answer—if you even decided to answer at all.
“It was when I worked with a director years ago. She managed to capture my heart with her work and she promised to make me the star of her movies.” Her eyes widened, not expecting your words. “Though that's all in the past now. Nothing but a memory that I remember.”
It was right in front of her. Shards of a bond that she carelessly broke, scattered. Only an idiot would try to pick up the sharp edges with their bare hands. Deren would willingly give herself bloody fingers if it meant she could salvage what was left.
“... Do you want to star in a film I'm making?” There was a smile on her face that held expectations. Perhaps she was arrogant and conceited for asking this sort of question given her history with you but at the same time, she knew you the best. “I can guarantee you that I'll treat you better than the director you talked about. You'll be more satisfied, too.”
“... There you go again with your bold words. Haven't you learned your lesson?” You furrowed your eyebrows, staring at the hand Deren extended towards you. Only an idiot would take those bloody hands that tried so hard to put back what was broken.
“Have you?”
Then, a defeated smile before your fingertips touched her hand. “I suppose not.”
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Miguel O'Hara x Black Reader. A short and simple to the point Dominant Miguel series with fluff and smut included as it progresses. Go on a lil journey in love with Miguel.
(I didn't feel like doing the small print. There has to be an easier way than going paragraph by paragraph 😭😭 Also anyone I didn’t tag who wants to be tagged, let me know.)
Chapter 4: Dealbreaker
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Miguel was truthful when he said nap. He didn't do anything in your bed but sleep for the better part of an hour, making you the little spoon though you weren't tired. By the end of the hour, the two of you had cleaned the kitchen as it was before he came. He left the meat and the few ingredients purchased, but he cleaned and took his slow-cooker with him. You've now got enough pork to last you a week of taking your lunch to work and eating at home. Instead, you invite some friends to help you eat it and decide to tell them all about Miguel.
"Right here?" Aria panics when you mention the head on the couch, moving to the opposite couch with your mutual friend, Zenia.
"Exactly right there."
"You let me sit in it?"
"When I say he drained me dry, girl, he kept goinnng. Then we took a nap upstairs. It was pretty chill."
"You just fuckin met this man, what, a few days ago?" Aria laughs.
"I know, but if you saw what I saw, you'd do it too... That's why you can't meet him! Not yet."
"Bitch! One time! I didn't even know you knew David like that."
"I know, but NEITHER of y'all lil hoes are gonna meet Miguel or see Miguel until I've got him secured."
"Now, how did I get in it," Zenia asks, mouth stuffed with pork.
"Right now, things are up in the air, but I'll keep dangling and manifesting. He'll be wrapped around my pinky, and only then will y'all meet him."
"So when are YOU seeing him again," Zenia asks.
"I don't know, probably next weekend. We haven't made any other plans yet."
And you're both busy through the week. A week seems a long time to wait, though. You'd rather see him sooner.
"You think you should call him to schedule something," Zenia asks, reading your mind.
"Nah, I'll let him call me. It gives him time to miss me."
"Well, he's not disappearing just yet," Aria adds, "He ain't got that pumpum yet. Niggas ain't gone leave before getting it, believe that."
"Well, I'm a done deal," you smirk, "But if he does leave, I'll just get another one. Now I know where they congregate"
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Sunday passes with no contact. When Monday comes and goes, you start to wonder what happened. Did he hit a busy streak? Did something happen? Tuesday, he texts you.
Is it too soon to miss me?
You're at work, so you keep it short.
Of course not. Text me any time. I may not respond immediately, but I'll respond.
You sure?
Yes
Why would he need permission? Is that what was stopping him from reaching out? If so, you'd like to hear more about it. You wait until you get off work to check your messages again.
He's sent a paragraph about his day at work.
Alchemax acquired another property to place a testing site. One more step for gentrification. The director is on my ass and pushing me to run this unethical experiment on the volunteers. They think we're testing covid shots. If I told you half the shit, you'd run from me. Hell, you're probably on your way now. Anyway, that's my day. How's yours?
Oh, okay, you stare, processing what you've just read. So he's not just the hero. He's confessing that he's done some sordid things in the name of his job. You get it, but can you really accept that? Knowingly testing dangerous procedures on innocent people? It's a lot to consider. You'll have to sit with it.
Later that evening, you still wrestle, but you're coming to term with your thoughts.
I admit that's fucked up. I don't agree with experimenting on innocent and unexpecting people. I do think Miramax or Alchemax can go to hell. With that said, I understand that this is your job, so I can't fault you. Sucks for you, I'm not that easy to scare. You're stuck with me.
You had me worried.
His text is almost instant. In all honesty, you had to think about if you COULD stick around. That's a big thing to admit, but at the end of the day, it's not technically his fault. He's not calling the shots. That's what you tell yourself.
Since you're at home on the couch with a bottle of Fiji water, you decide to call.
"Preciosa?"
Damn. His accent's got you weak already.
"My day was good," you buckle. "I delivered some interesting news to a family who were happy to finally know what was different about their daughter. Turns out, she has Angelman syndrome, but it was my first time coming across it , so I was explaining something I'd literally just learned about."
"Sounds like you did them a great service. Like you said, knowing is everything. If you're not educating and planning, you're worrying, which then diminishes your mental health, making it harder for you to parent."
"Exactly... Do you know about Angelman's syndrome?"
"Seizures, a smaller head that's flat in the back, issues with balance and movement, and most notably, smiling for no apparent reason?"
"I should've asked you," you sigh. "How do you retain all of this?"
"Having a photographic memory helps."
"Ah. I'll check Amazon..."
The more the two of you converse, the more you glean. For example, he has a 9 year old daughter named Gabriella, who unfortunately passed nearly four years ago. It was a case of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), and he was devastated. Since then, he's been okay, but every so often, the grief hits. Working stops him from thinking about it? So he works long hours every day. He knows it's not healthy. It certainly helps you understand him more. A lot of things suddenly make sense about him.
"Can I tell you how much I hate Taco Bell," he says, changing the subject. You get it. It's painful to lose a child, and talking about it can be triggering.
"That dog food? They don't even have a line. That should tell you something right there."
"It's a god damn stroke in a wrapper and tastes like shit. Not to mention, it's literally horse meat."
"See, I stopped eating there years ago. It doesn't even taste like real beef."
You put the phone on speaker while you fix yourself a snack. Talking food makes you snackish. Of course, he hears the popcorn popping.
"Damn, Supersonic! Do you hear everything?"
"Pretty much."
Your eyes roll as you gently fold yourself back onto your couch with your bowl. It's getting late. You've been on the phone for over an hour, though it doesn't feel like it.
"So question."
"Answer," he responds.
"It's a different kind of question."
"Ask away."
"Ok. Would you consider yourself vanilla or experimental?"
"Definitely experimental. You?"
Ooh! "Explain," you smirk, curious.
"You first. Vanilla or experimental?"
"Definitely experimental."
"Oh I see."
Your jaw drops. "What do you see?"
"Just know I see," he says, a smile in his voice.
"Uh!... Now you have to elaborate!"
He chuckles.
"Miguel!"
"Preciosa?"
You kiss your teeth.
"Ask what you really want to ask."
"Kinks?"
"Yes..."
"Yes," you repeat, rolling your eyes. "Well, what are they."
"Mm... I enjoy quite a few things. I like being in control and directing the action. I like taking care of my submissive with guidance and rewarding her when she's a good girl. I like making her do humiliating things for my pleasure. And... I love it when she tries to escape me. Then I get to catch her and teach her a lesson. You?"
🤭 To be continued...
@dashhoney25 @lettidarawest @soufcakmistress @ljstraightnochaser @princessstevens-blog @eye-raq @thiccdaddy-mbaku @destinio1 @iamrheaspeaks @hidden-treasures21 @bidibidibombaclaat @forbeautyandlife @blowmymbackout @misspooh @thotyana-in-this-hoe @purplehairgawdess @thegucciwaffle @goddessofthundathighs @theegoldenchild @thadelightfulone @sultanabby @mysticalblackhottie @baekhyunbabybunni @fd-writes @richonne4life @tgigoldie @thehomierobbstark @capswife @blackpinup22 @harleycativy @lishabaybee @playgurlxoxo
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magadauthan · 1 month
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Ep 9: Murder Machine
Aaaaand now for the @trigun98watchparty, we get into what makes Trigun, Trigun. Come for the dumbassery, stay for the trauma.
Cue the entrance of Nicholas D. Wolfwood, wandering priest, and his gloriously bare chest.
--Vash can dish out the whining, but he can't sure take it. Milly is the champion, as the baby of the family. "Pay for our bus fare or I'll hate you! and btw can I have ice cream?"
--oh my lord, Meryl, you are so mean to that poor man. Punch count: 3; insult count: 2 - and then you and Milly steal his water.
--WW's Kansai accent is usually coded in English as Southern. It's probably a good thing the dub didn't tackle that, because it would have been distracting, but wouldn't WW with a Boston or a Chicago accent have been amazing? Come on, the Blues Brothers are right there! (hmmmm... there are an awful lot of similarities between Elwood and Wolfwood...)
--Ah, the portable confessional. Add another notch to the "items seen once and never again" tally.
--Boob shot!
--WW's cold read regarding Vash's empty eyes and hurting on the inside is less impressive when you consider that he has more information than he lets on.
--look at his stupid dress shoes, Tristamp nailed that shit, didn't they lol
--"Why doesn't anything nice ever follow you?" F*ck around and find out, Meryl
--"Did we just become best friends?" "Yep!"
--even the kid thinks you two are a couple of dipshits, seriously
--All of this worthlessness is what Tristamp was missing. Vash and WW have to have adventures where they shoot things, get into trouble, and insult one another. This is what's called "male bonding."
--This is one of the clearer looks we get at how the Plants do their Plant Thing. Push the button and a spider robot comes out. Um, okay. Guess that one was less useful than the Tuna Fish Plant or the Canned Salmon Plant.
--Why was it left behind again? Aren't Plants irreplaceable?
--Vash has a pretty good idea that WW's full of shit and takes a risk on him anyway. He knows how to force a hand.
--they're so cute as a team, aren't they lol
--And there's the second gun. don't ask about Knives' third gun lmao
--Milly gets to be best girl again. WW does take a shine to her right away, doesn't he. That, and he probably thinks it's amusing to make Vash and Meryl sit together. It's so third grade. (it's okay, Meryl, you can admit you don't mind that much)
In light of later events, it's interesting to note what parts of WW's cover story are true and which are fabricated. WW has been handed his orders from Chapel, so his encounter with Vash was no coincidence; WW has to case the joint before making a move. The girls helpfully confirm that WW has made contact, and he has to get Vash to trust him. Not too hard, though Vash isn't quite as naive about WW as he puts on. Everyone's got their act.
WW figures out quickly that Vash is a big softy, or maybe he has info; nevertheless, his generosity towards children (which Vash shares) isn't false. The part about the orphanage and protecting the kids is true, though the circumstances of WW's departure have nothing to do with money and everything to do with a hostage situation. WW's amazement at who he's going to be dealing with is also genuine; he knows Vash is legendary, but seeing Vash wipe out all the mechanical mooks while injured is next-level.
And, at the end of it all...
WW certainly didn't expect to like Vash as much as he ends up doing. (cue the conflict, and a zillion angsty fanfics.) That's going to make everything a lot more complicated.
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fallinfl0wers · 2 years
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if you knew, you would understand. (you wouldn't).
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fandom: genshin impact characters: xiao reader type: female summary: xiao has lost you far too many times. when the perfect opportunity is set up by fate, he doesn't let you go. genre: angst no comfort. warnings: yandere, non-consensual kissing (once). death (reader's. like many times, in different ways: crushed to death, falling to death, he has to kill you once, i don't think it's too graphic though...). notes: this is not very halloween-ish, and i don't think it's creepy? almost everything is written in xiao's pov, so it's kind of his descent into yandere-ness? but even then i'm not really sure if it's okay HAHAHA, please let me know if you think i missed something for the warnings and i'll add it asap!!! wordcount: 2905
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The first time Xiao met you, he didn't think much about you. You were a human, like many others he'd seen through the ages. There wasn't anything outstanding about you; you were simply the youngest daughter of a family of farmers and there was nothing that made you stand out, in between the waves and waves of normal people, you were just another one.
This happened long, long ago; back when the powerful Conqueror of Demons wasn't the last standing Yaksha, at a time when the Archon War still hadn't come to an end anywhere, including what we know today as Liyue.
The first time Xiao fell in love with you, he could dub it as an accident.
You didn't catch his eye because you had unparalleled beauty (not to say you weren't beautiful to him, however, as far as he cared, aesthetics and beauty standards weren't something to spare a single thought. He has never been one to truly care about such things, perhaps out of his deeply rooted feeling of unworthiness and repulsiveness, he considered himself to be the last thing to have a right to judge someone's outer appearance). In fact, he didn't even know your name during the first four years his feelings for you started to bloom.
It was commonplace for humans to place food offerings for the Adepti, and although he wasn't fond of human food apart from very specific tea blends with a very specific amount of sweeteners, sometimes one of his siblings would convince him to at least be there with them when this happened. It was during one of those times that he first saw you, all on your own, arriving at the same time as he and his brother did. You couldn't have been older than twenty nor younger than sixteen- for the era that elapsed at the time you could be consider one of the luckiest people who got to live a long life, but Xiao looked into your eyes and all he could see was a soul far too young and innocent, like this was the first live you'd lived. Upon their appearance you, being the well-mannered, respectful woman you were raised to be, bowed deeply to them in greeting.
It mattered little to him, as he was busy blinking owlishly at the strange, fluttering sensation that ran through his chest. It didn't hurt, so it couldn't have been karmic debt. What was it, then?
Looking back, it was love at first sight. He knew not enough to come to this conclusion back then, but he, with a nod of acknowledgement, accepted the ceramic bowl with almond tofu you intended to give as an offering before leaving for your home. Absentmindedly, he picked up the eating utensils left with the bowl, and put a small piece of the sweet treat on his tongue. Immediately, his eyes widened in shock at the familiar texture and the amicable, welcoming sweet flavor of the dish; a replacement for sweet dreams, it was. A replacement, but a very good one.
Xiao showed his gratitude to you for introducing him to such a delightful dish, something that quelled the ache on his tongue and his need for a sweet dream without having to harm anyone, and the way you smiled at him while saying you were only doing what you had to made his heart take a leap.
Looking back, he should've known- it had been love at first sight. A sweet, innocent crush he would've nurtured and looked after had he been anyone but who he was at the time.
The first time he lost you, he hadn't been there to see the moment it happened.
An enemy attack, as those were common at the time. Just this time, it had been a strong enemy who attacked the settlement of Rex Lapis' domain.
Only after everything was said and done, a victory for the mighty god of contracts, was when he saw you within the casualties.
As humans and adepti lifted up rubble to try and find survivors, or to give a proper funeral to those who had fallen, he saw you.
His breath got stuck on his throat for a moment, and his heart clenched painfully at the sight of your body, broken and bloody, crushed underneath the rubble of a building and rocks, skin sickly pale, eyes unfocused and void of light.
That day, he learnt your name.
The first time Xiao lost you, you were twenty three, and you had been about to wed a man you knew since childhood.
At the time, Xiao didn't understand why that knowledge made his chest hurt more. Was he feeling sad because you didn't get to marry the one you loved?
No, if he looked back, it hurt more because now that he understood his feelings, he would've lost you anyway. Wed to some man he didn't know, when all he could do was catch sight of you from afar once every moon...
(Xiao wishes to say he would've rather had that, having you spend your life married to someone who wasn't him, loving someone who wasn't him, instead of having you dead. Once upon a time, he would've. But now...?)
The second time Xiao met you, he couldn't believe his eyes.
It was perhaps a hundred or two hundred years after your first death.
He saw you as one of the many refugees that arrived from the lands of a different god; a far cry from the regular, kind woman you were when he met you for the first time, yet, physically you were mostly the same, and so was your name and voice.
Unlike the first time, this time you reminded him of his darkest days, before he was taken in by Rex Lapis. Flighty, scared of everything, malnourished, with dark bags beneath your pretty eyes. And he knows, because he took the time to check on you, without your knowledge... he knows you had recurring nightmares about whatever horrors you faced out there.
(If Xiao fought harder and harder than he usually would when going against that god's soldiers, no one could get a reason as to why out of him.)
"...!! W-who... who are...?" Your trembling voice asked him back then. Xiao, without stepping forward, spoke: "If you awake to a knife at your throat, if monsters dig their claws into you, if death comes knocking at your door... call out my name. Adeptus Xiao. I will be here when you call."
You called his name.
Once. And only once.
You called him, but it was too late. You were too slow.
Xiao thought he was the one who came too late, when it was you who called him a second too late.
As if slipping through his fingers like grains of sand, you fell. Out of reach, to your death.
That was the second time he lost you.
The third time he met you, he swore to him self he wouldn't let you be hurt again. Perhaps it had been his involvement with you, however small it was, that had cursed you. So this third time, he was going to keep more distance between him and you, only protecting you from the shadows, sending whatever small blessing he could your way.
And it worked.
Until you turned around and smiled shyly, looking around.
"I know you're there... and I know you're the one who's been protecting me this whole time. I'm not scared of you. Just... thank you, whoever you are."
Xiao hadn't been able to resist back then.
He stepped out of the shadows, and allowed you to talk to him. You were brighter, and warmer, when up close. He didn't bother trying to hide the pink blush that spread on his cheeks, merely looking at you in awe as you giggled at his expression; gently beckoning him to accompany you on a walk.
He said nothing, most of the time; unsure of how to interact, unsure of what would be appropriate to say, and unsure of why he was thinking so hard about what to say. Maybe it was because of his love for you, that he wanted oh so badly to do the right thing. But the poor man knew nothing of the intricacies of a human's mind and heart, knew nothing of the courting rituals one was supposed to follow in order to show interest to the object of one's affections. So instead, he kept providing what little he could to you.
His protection.
Sometimes, he would pick up flowers on his way to visit you. Other times, he would bring bright pieces of shiny minerals he knew humans seemed to be fond of, and you always accepted gladly all his gifts. You always responded by smiling at him and placing your hand on his face, gently caressing his cheek, letting him nuzzle into your warmth momentarily.
This part of his routine was what he loved most. To be near you, to listen to you speaking, to be able to show you he cared, to be able to protect you, to share what little peace still remaining on his life he had with you.
But, fate has never been kind to him.
Soon, you start falling ill. You cough and cough, and you tell him it's okay, just a cold. But then your illness doesn't stop, and you're too weak to go out like you used to.
It is not fair, he thinks, you're still young, you shouldn't have to be bedridden like that.
And the third time Xiao lost you, he knew it had been his fault.
He stared in horror as you whrited in agony in your bed, holding onto you head, crying and screaming and trying to scratch something off yourself, surrounded by a heavy, dark energy he knew all too well that spread through your veins all along your body, unable to speak or think.
His karma. His fault.
As much as you moved and howled, you were already dead by the time he found you. This was just the remnants of what you used to be, soul corrupted and torn apart from inside out in consequence of his existence and involvement with you.
He puts an end to your suffering, feeling as though a part of him is dying when his spear pierces your chest, and silently, tears run down his cheeks, and unto your cold and still, dead body beneath him.
He's dizzy as he stares at the husk of what used to be you, mind numb and noisy all at the same time, his eyes unfocused and zeroed on the blood that spills from your wounds and then your empty eyes, eyes that used to look at him with adoration and love, staring into nothing. He can't hear anything as he cradles your cold body close to his, wishing he had never gotten involved with you, wishing he could've prevented this, wishing you were still alive and well, with him.
This is the third time Xiao has his heart broken and a piece of his sanity cracking.
And it is not the last.
Years pass and pass without mercy, and no matter where he goes, he finds you again or you find him yourself.
It's a vicious cicle of you being there, being your beautiful, so easy to love self, Xiao loving you a little too much, and being unable to save you from an untimely end be it at hands of others, of your own nature, of yourself or even he himself. Whether he keeps his distance or not, he could never do anything for you.
Not protecting you.
Not saving you.
Not having you.
And perhaps, that was what hurt the most.
Because Xiao, flawed and broken as he was, loves you. From your first life and even now that he's lost you once again, he's been in love with you and everything you represent in his mind that losing you every time makes his soul break just a little bit more.
Xiao desperately wanted to hold you tight.
He wanted to live with you.
He cursed at his own existence, blaming his karma for everything that happened to you.
Every time he met you again he kept on thinking about how different things would be if only he had been anyone else but himself.
If only he wasn't the dull, pathetic excuse of a weapon he was.
If only he could be stronger.
If only he could be human.
If he were human, maybe he wouldn't have doomed you to this cicle of endless violent deaths and rebirths.
If he were human, maybe he would've been able to properly love you and make you happy instead of cursing you for his attachment to you.
The last time Xiao meets you, he stares.
He hears that blond traveler call you by the name he knows by heart, and he sees you laugh with her and it's the sound of that pure laughter that always makes his heart flutter. He looks at you, and he knows it's you.
He briefly sees the traveler walking away after whispering something to you and pointing upwards, and he can hear his name in the wind.
"-guy named Xiao. Please hand it to him while I finish my commissions."
And once you're there, standing in front of him, holding a ceramic bowl with almond tofu, asking if he is 'this guy named Xiao' and telling him that 'Lumine was too busy but she would come later', his mind goes blank.
Because, unlike the past, when he'd only feel his heart fluttering and breaking at the sight of you, when he'd only find himself craving your presence and touch, this time, the ever present, pulsant agony of karmic binds was no more.
Dull. Silent. Gone.
Just because you were there, it disappeared.
Like you were cleansing his soul.
If his karma stops when you're around, that must mean something. It must mean this is a dream. And if it's not, then it must mean he can't harm you anymore.
But he's not the only reason why he's lost you in the past. Illnesses that could've been easily prevented, battlefields you should've never been present at, disgusting humans you should've never crossed paths with-- this world had taken you away far too many times for him to trust it with you.
You flinch, seeing how tears silently start falling down from the corners of his eyes. Yet, you can't bring yourself to be fully concerned for his wellbeing, not when his piercing gaze is staring at you, as if looking straight into your soul without any emotion being shown on his face or body language.
Shivers run down your spine, and Xiao doesn't see it.
No.
Xiao doesn't see you taking a step backwards, because he moves forward towards you with his mind reeling.
He's lost you far too many times.
This world has taken you away far too many times.
And if this time, by some miracle, you're immune to the harm his karma brings...
The only thing he can do, is take you away.
"W-wait... what are you--?" "I'm sorry." "What do you me---" "I won't lose you again. Not this time."
Before you can blink or scream or do anything, he's taken you somewhere you don't recognize.
It's a tiny room. Dark, and without windows. At least you think so, you can't see much before you're rapidly thrown down. Breath is knocked out of your lungs when he pushes you down against the floor, careful not to hit your head, holding you close and pressing his lips against you with desperation, tears dripping onto your skin as his inhuman strenght makes it impossible for you to fight back and you're scared, scared beyond belief, not knowing who this is, or what he wants or what he'll do-
But to Xiao, this is paradise.
Holding you close, kissing you, this is all he wants.
Perhaps to your relief, he doesn't wish (or perhaps, doesn't know it's possible) to go further than that, he just hugs you tightly, clinging onto you for dear life, frantically mumbling incoherencies about how this time it's going to be different, this time he'll take care of everything and won't let the world hurt you.
Xiao doesn't let go of you, even hearing the taquicardic rhythm of your heart and feeling your body shaking.
You're afraid of him.
But it's okay (it's not, please don't look at him like that, please stop shaking, please stop giving him that look please love him again)
You just don't know anything yet.
He'll tell you everything eventually.
Surely then, you'd understand.
Surely then, you'd understand and know he is the only one who can keep you safe, the only one who can make you happy.
Surely, once you know... you won't blame him.
Surely then, you'll smile at him again, and look at him with the same love you used to all those years ago.
Surely then... surely then... if he does this all, then surely...
...he can... keep you forever, this time... right...?
When Lumine goes up to the balcony, she feels unsettled at the sight of a broken ceramic bowl and spilt almond tofu on the floor.
She calls out Xiao's name in concern, and for the first time, he doesn't come.
No matter how many times she calls, he never comes.
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fallinfl0wers. 2022.
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psianabel-writes · 1 year
Text
Brain & Player 2 - Secret letters
(But Psi you can't just write things setting in Missing Link when you don't even know what this game is about - you're right but watch me anyways. Uhhh, they/them selective mute Player. The possibilities with Brain and Player 2 .... yeah. Player is a real name sshh.)
--------------------
"Master Brain…?"
With blinking eyes Brain looked up from his seat on the bench across the Fountain, putting down the book he held into his lap.
"Player. Good to see you."
A small smile played on Player's lips, taking their hat off as they set for a small bow in front of him.
"Mind some company?" They signed to him, and Brain's eyes widened - quickly he removed his loose papers and quill from one side to put it to the rest of his belongings on the other, making space for them.
He still wasn't quite used to seeing this familiar style of signing, but the feeling of home was always a welcome sight. Especially coming from them, all things considered.
Player gladly took the offered seat and Brain lifted his leg up to have the book in his lap a safer position as he signed. "Finished all tasks for today?"
A small hum came from them, followed by a simple shrug. "Wasn't much, Sigurd needs more faith in me."
"Hah, I'll make sure to tell him that."
"Wait, no no -" Player waved frantically in front of them, simply earning a chuckle from Brain. "He'll just give me more tasks -"
Oh no, this was the opposite of what they wanted - Player let their arms dangle from the edge of their seat, sighing deeply. But Brain patted them on their back, still having that smile on their face.
"No but, what brings you here? Don't you still have to check in with him?"
"Oh!" Player quickly lifted themselves up and patted over their pockets, finding the right one after the second try. They took out a piece of folded paper and handed it to Brain. "I, uh, … found this on my way here, I think it's yours."
Curious Brain took the paper and unfolded it, taken aback by the sight of his own handwriting - he quickly rummaged his notes at his side, and, really, it wasn't there.
He leaned backwards and rubbed over his forehead. "Wow, I really must have lost it then. Thanks"
Player smiled with a nod. "No one else writes with these letters, and … I didn't read further than the first line, so …" Their eyes briefly met and Brain immediately avoided them. " … your secret stays with me."
Brain let out a deep breath. Out of all things he could have lost, deep personal writings were definitely not on that list.
His gaze fell onto the statue in front of them - Player briefly followed his gaze and then went back to face the ground again, fumbling with their hands in their lap.
"... But, I suppose, all things considered -" Brain leaned over to Player and laid his arm over their shoulder, holding the piece of paper in front of them. "... I wasn't quite done writing to him, so …"
Player was silent, their gaze switching between the paper and the statue.
"... so if you want to say anything to him, I can still add it."
For a while Player didn't move and Brain gave them the time to decide, and eventually their hand moved again.
"Maybe … there are some things …"
Brain took out his quill and ink and prepared himself, as did Player as their hand never left the spot over their heart.
So many things left unspoken, where should they even begin?
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Text
Andreil - Touch - The King's Men
Notes:
It's here. It's time.
Once again, absolutely some editor discretion happened here. Deciding who was touching who and if it was important Not Touching or casual or whatever took... some effort and guessing.
If you know of any moments I missed, please please please let me know, I'd love to add them here and to my notes.
Chapter 14 will always be my favorite.
There are times I count touching clothes as touching and sometimes as not-touching. If clothes are chosen specifically to avoid touching skin, it's counted as not-touching.
This post is long. Like longer than you think it is. Probably longer than that. Beware when opening.
I don't even want to think about how much time I spent on this specific task, but I'm really happy with it and I hope others enjoy it too!
Andrew Touches Neil
Chapter One
1
He shouldn't have been surprised that the first thing Andrew went for was the bandage on his cheek. Aaron and Nicky had looked past it, not even noticing it amongst the rest of the gauze and tape. Andrew had spent too much time watching Kevin's back to not put the pieces together. He scratched up a corner of the tape and ripped the bandage off like he wanted to take Neil's face with it. Neil braced himself for violence, but Andrew's blank expression didn't change at the sight of Neil's new tattoo.
2
“Riko let you go," Andrew corrected him. "We are doing too well this year and your feud is too public. No one would have believed you willingly transferred to Edgar Allan mid-season." Andrew smashed the bandage against Neil's face again and pressed the tape flat with hard fingers. "You weren't supposed to leave Kevin's side. Did you forget?"
3
…Why did you go?" Neil didn't know if he could say it. Thinking about it was almost too much. Andrew was waiting, though, so Neil choked back his nausea. "Riko said if I didn't, Dr. Proust would—" Andrew clapped a hand over his mouth, smothering the rest of his words, and Neil knew he'd failed.
Chapter Two
4
He didn't remember putting his head down and definitely didn't remember falling asleep. Fingers digging into the back of his skull startled him awake. He grabbed for a gun, for a knife, for anything close enough to buy him room to flee, and sent the computer mouse skidding across the table. Neil stared blankly at it, then at the screen in front of him. Fingers clenched into a fist in his hair and Neil didn't resist as Andrew forcibly tilted his head back. "Is your learning curve a horizontal line?" Andrew asked. "I told you yesterday to stop making my life difficult." "And I told you I wouldn't promise anything." Andrew let go of him and watched pitilessly as Neil rubbed at his head. Neil sat up straight and started shutting his browsers down.
5
Andrew dug a fingernail into the hollow of Neil's throat until he had Neil's undivided attention. "Sit down and be still."
6
Shut up," Wymack said. "When you're sporting fewer than fifty stitches I'll consider letting you on my court again. If I catch you so much as looking at your gear before then I will bench you another week out of spite. Do you understand?" "But—" "Give me a 'Yes, Coach'." "Coach—" Neil forgot the rest of his argument when Andrew pinched his wrist. A bolt of fire popped through his  fingers and he snatched his hand away as fast as he could. Neil flicked Andrew an irritated look, but Andrew didn't even look at him. Neil wrapped his arm around his stomach to get his hand out of Andrew's reach and sullenly turned his attention back on Wymack.
Chapter Three
7
On Neil's right shoulder was a burn scar, courtesy of getting smacked by a hot iron. Andrew put his left hand to it, fingertips lining up perfectly with the raised bumps the iron's holes had left behind. His right thumb found the puckered flesh from a bullet. Neil had slept in his bulletproof vest for almost a month after that close call, too scared to take it off. His mother had to bully him into shedding it long enough to wash up. "Someone shot you," Andrew said. "I told you someone was after me," Neil said. "This," Andrew dug his fingers harder into the iron mark, "is not from a life on the run." "My father gave me that. People came by asking questions about his work. I didn't say anything, but I didn't sit still enough, either. He hit me as soon as the door closed behind them. That's why I gave you 'Abram'," Neil said. "I don't want to give you my father's name because I don't want anyone to call me it ever again. I hated him."
Chapter Seven
8
"Revenge is a motivator only for the weak-willed," Andrew said. "If you believed that you wouldn't be planning how to kill Proust." The doctor's name still tasted like acid, burning Neil's tongue and throat, but it wasn't enough to put a dent in Andrew's calm expression. Andrew gazed at him in silence for what felt like an eternity, then propped his cigarette between his lips and motioned Neil closer. Neil was sure he was stepping forward into a knife for bringing Proust up again, but he obediently closed the short space between them. Andrew caught the back of Neil's neck in a bruising grip to keep him from retreating. He pulled Neil's head toward him and blew smoke in Neil's face. "This is not revenge," Andrew said. "I warned him what I would do to him if he touched me. This is me keeping my word." He waited a beat to make sure Neil understood, then let go. The next time he raised his cigarette to his mouth Neil took it from him. Neil broke it between his fingers and let it fall to the asphalt by their feet. Andrew watched the halves roll away from each other and turned an unimpressed look on Neil. "Ninety-one percent," Andrew said.
Chapter Eight
9
Neil dropped the helmet to the pile at his feet and punched the back of his locker. His fist hit plastic instead of metal, and Neil wrenched the broken bag off its hook. When he turned to throw it Andrew caught his wrist. Neil hadn't even heard Andrew cross the room toward him. Neil stared at him and through him, heart pounding in his temples. "It's ruined," Neil said, voice ragged with an awful rage. "It's all ruined." Wymack burst into the room with Nicky on his heels. The sight of so much blood stopped him short for a moment before he strode for Neil. "Is that yours?" "Coach, my gear," Neil said. "It's—" "It's not his." Andrew let go of Neil and went back to his own locker. "He's fine."
Chapter Nine
10
Andrew dug a finger in Neil's cheek and forcibly turned his head away. "Don't look at me like that. I am not your answer, and you sure as fuck aren't mine." "I'm not looking for an answer. I just want—"
11
"No one asked you." With that, Andrew caught Neil's face in his hands and leaned in. Nicky's drugged assault aside, Neil hadn't kissed anyone in four years. The last girl was a scrawny French-Canadian who'd held him with just her fingertips and kissed like she was afraid of smudging her tacky-bright lipstick. Neil couldn't remember her name or face anymore. He remembered only how unsatisfying the illicit encounter had been and how furious his mother was when she found them. That awkward peck wasn't worth the punishment that had followed. This was nothing like that. Andrew kissed him like this was a fight with their lives on the line, like his world stopped and started with Neil's mouth.
12
He hadn't figured out which way to lean before Andrew pried Neil's hand off his coat. "Let go," Andrew said. "I am not doing this with you right now." He practically shoved Neil's arm away from him and leaned back out of Neil's space.
Chapter Ten
13
Neil took the pint from Andrew's unresisting fingers, stacked it on top of his, and leaned in. He stopped shy of actually kissing Andrew, not daring to touch him until Andrew gave him a green light. Andrew's expression didn't change but there was a subtle shift in his body's tension that told Neil he'd gotten Andrew's attention. Neil lifted a hand but stopped it a safe difference from Andrew's face. Andrew caught hold of his wrist and squeezed in warning. "It's fine if you hate me," Neil said. It was the truth, if a bit of an understatement. So long as Andrew was only physically attracted to Neil, this was safe to experiment with. Neil's death wouldn't be more than a faint inconvenience to Andrew. "Good," Andrew said, "because I do." For a second Neil thought Andrew would push him away and be done with this. Andrew did push, but he followed Neil down. The short carpet was rough against Neil's knuckles where Andrew pinned his hand over his head. Neil couldn't complain when Andrew was an unyielding weight on top of him. He started to reach for Andrew again but stopped himself halfway there. Andrew snagged that hand too and held it down out of the way. "Stay," Andrew said, and leaned down to kiss him. Time was nothing. Seconds were days, were years, were the breaths that caught between their mouths and the bite of Neil's fingernails against his palms, the scrape of teeth against his lower lip and the warm slide of a tongue against his. He could feel Andrew's heartbeat thrumming against his wrists, a staccato rhythm that echoed in Neil's veins. How a man who viewed the world with such studied disconnect could kiss like this, Neil didn't know, but he wasn't going to complain. Neil had forgotten what it was like to be touched without malicious intent. He'd forgotten what body heat felt like. Everything about Andrew was hot, from the hands holding him down to the mouth steadily taking Neil apart. Neil finally understood why his mother thought this was so dangerous. This was distraction and indiscretion, avoidance and denial.
Chapter Eleven
14
Andrew set the beer aside without taking a sip and closed the fridge door with his foot. It took two steps to close the small space between them and Andrew stopped as close as he could get without actually leaning against Neil. His fingers were cold from the can when he curled them around Neil's chin.
15
Yes or no?" Andrew asked. "Yes," Neil said. Andrew sent a significant look down at Neil's arms where they were folded across his chest. It took Neil a moment to catch on, and then he dropped his arms and stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets. Andrew waited until he'd gone still before kissing him. Neil stopped thinking about classes, Exy, and Kevin's liquid spine and let Andrew kiss him senseless. He was cotton-headed and unsteady by the time Andrew pressed his other hand flat against Neil's abdomen. Every nerve ending from his chest down seemed to twitch in response. Neil clenched his hands into fists like that would keep them where they were and let Andrew back him into the wall.
 16
Andrew pushed him harder into the wall, mapping him out through his shirt from shoulders to waist and back again. He'd had his hands on Neil's bare skin just a couple weeks ago when he saw Neil's scars, but this felt completely different. This was Andrew learning every inch and edge of him. His hands had never felt this heavy or hot before. Every press and demanding slide of his fingers sent heat curling through Neil's veins. It made Neil restless, made him anxious, made him lean a little deeper into Andrew's kisses and made him too aware of the denim trapping his hands at his hips.
17
Neil couldn't remember the last time he'd put hands on someone. It wasn't the girl in Canada—maybe the girl before. For the first time he considered touching Andrew like that and learning Andrew's body the way Andrew was memorizing his. He wanted to find the places that made Andrew give ground. He hadn't said that aloud, but as if on cue Andrew followed Neil's arms down to his wrists and poked his fingers into Neil's pockets. He was making sure Neil's hands were still there, Neil guessed, so Neil twisted his hands deeper in response. Andrew caught hold of his wrists and squeezed to stop him. After a moment's consideration he pulled Neil's hands free and held them up by his head. He kissed Neil like he wanted to bruise his lips and leaned back to fix Neil with an intense stare. "Just here."
 18
They didn't talk at night, maybe because they'd talked at practice or maybe because it was late and they were only stealing a few minutes before much-needed sleep, but night was where Neil had the most questions. They niggled at him when Andrew pinned him against chilly concrete and worked hot hands under his shirt. Being curious about Andrew wasn't anything new, but the gnawing importance of these answers was. Kissing Andrew changed things even if Neil knew it shouldn't. He wanted to know where all of the lines were and why he was the exception. He wanted to know how Andrew was okay with this after everything he'd been through and how long it'd taken him to come to terms with his sexuality after Drake's abuse. Neil stole the cigarette as he sat down beside Andrew and turned it over in his hands. Andrew blew smoke in his face in response, so Neil flicked ash at him and made as if to stub the cigarette out. Andrew pinched his wrist and took the stick back.
 19
"That's a first," Neil said. "Do I get a prize for shutting you up?" "A quick death," Andrew said. "I've already decided where to hide your body." "Six feet under?" Neil guessed. "Stop talking," Andrew said, and kissed him.
Chapter Fourteen
20
There was a crash behind Nathaniel, the unmistakable sound of a body slamming into wood. He turned as Andrew forced his way into the room with Wymack right on his heels. Kurt grabbed at Andrew but lost his grip when Wymack shouldered past him. Nathaniel had only a second to see the handcuffs locking Andrew and Wymack together, and then Browning reacted to the violent entrance by reaching for his gun. He tried straightening, but Andrew caught his shoulder and shoved him to his knees. Nathaniel went without argument and cradled his wrecked hands in his lap.
 21
Andrew's expression was deceptively calm, but there was iron in his grip when he seized Nathaniel's chin
 22
He dragged a finger along the lines of tape keeping the myriad of bandages in place as if looking for the best place to start. He tore the gauze off Nathaniel's right cheek first, exposing the striped lines left by Lola's knife. He favored the stitches with a cursory glance before moving on. The tape on Nathaniel's other cheek hurt like hell coming off, since it pulled the skin around his burns, and Andrew froze with his hand a few scant inches from Nathaniel's face.
 23
Andrew pressed two fingers to the underside of Nathaniel's chin to turn his head. Nathaniel let himself be guided and said nothing while Andrew looked his fill
 24
He caught hold of Nathaniel to turn his face forward again and shot Abby a look so vicious she stopped in her tracks.
 25
…I don't want—" he started, but that wasn't fair. "If you tell me to leave, I'll go." He didn't say it would kill him, but he didn't have to. Andrew hooked his fingers in the collar of Nathaniel's sweatshirt and tugged just enough for him to feel it. For a moment Nathaniel was months away from this moment, standing in the darkened front hall of Andrew's house for the first time with a warm key digging into his palm. It felt like coming home, and it was enough to take the edge off his fear. "You aren't going anywhere," Andrew said: the same words, the same promise.
 26
Andrew tugged Nathaniel's hoodie and said in German, "Get rid of them before I kill them."
 27
Neil sat in the backseat with Andrew and toyed with the bandages on his face. Andrew popped the back of his head when he realized what Neil was doing and ignored Neil's scowl.
 28
Neil didn't know what sound he made but Andrew's fingers were a sudden and unforgiving weight on the back of his neck. Andrew pushed him forward and held him down. Neil tried to breathe but his chest was as tight as a rubber band ready to snap.
Chapter Fifteen
29
Andrew studied his chest with a bored look, but the fingers he pressed to Neil's scars were a heavy and lingering weight. Neil waited to see if he had anything to say, but Andrew hadn't spoken to anyone since they checked out of the hotel in Baltimore. Neil doubted the others had noticed, since Andrew rarely talked to even Kevin or Nicky now that he was sober, but Neil wasn't used to the silent treatment.
30
A hand in his hair jarred him from his thoughts and he cracked his eyes open to see Andrew standing in front of him. Andrew hadn't bothered to get undressed aside from stripping his bands and shoes off. Water plastered his black shirt to him, and small streams raced down his temples and over his cheeks to drip off his chin. Neil reached for his face, remembered the bags just in time, and frowned a bit in annoyance. Andrew pushed his hand aside and yanked the shower curtain closed. Andrew got Neil's hair washed efficiently, if not gently, but by the time he moved on to Neil's body there was more kissing than cleaning.
Chapter Seventeen
31
Finally Andrew looked back at him, but for a moment Neil didn't know who he was looking at. In the space of one breath Andrew's expression went so dark and distant Neil almost retreated. Then Andrew was back, as calm and uncaring as always, and he caught Neil's wrist to push his hand to his side. He dug his fingers in before letting go, not quite hard enough to hurt, and said, "That's why." Neil stopped when Andrew told him to. It wasn't much, but it was more than enough. Neil managed a nod, too numb to speak, and watched Andrew walk away from him.
Chapter Eighteen
32
The club was too loud for Neil to hear Andrew's approach, but suddenly Andrew was pressed into his side by the crowd. Roland looked from Andrew to Neil and back again, brow furrowed a bit in badly-concealed concern. Neil realized then he was looking for a sign they were all right after what he'd let slip back in January.
Chapter Nineteen
33
The darkness should have hidden the jittery wreck he'd become, but Andrew wasn't fooled. He jabbed Neil's shoulder on his way back out of the room. Neil tore his gaze away from Kevin's unconscious form and followed.  Andrew pushed him up against the wall with heavy hands and hard kisses. "Junkie."
Neil Touches Andrew
Chapter Two
1
Matt made the mistake of stopping to look. Andrew didn't even hesitate but punched Matt hard enough to knock him off his feet. It should have been impossible to topple him; Matt had more than a foot on Andrew and could out-press any of them at the gym. Andrew had the advantage of surprise, though, and didn't stop when Matt fell. He smashed his fist into Matt's face as soon as Matt hit the ground. Dan was on her feet in a heartbeat, but somehow Neil made it to Andrew first. He didn't even remember deciding to move. He used his body and momentum to shove Andrew back. He expected Andrew to hold his ground, but Andrew let himself get pushed and flicked Neil an unconcerned look. Neil put his hands up between them in case Andrew tried to go around him.
Chapter Eleven
2
Andrew watched the phone bounce off the couch and skitter across the carpet. It was a toss-up whether or not he'd ask. Neil kissed his neck, hoping to distract him, and was rewarded with a startled jolt. That was enough reason to do it again. Andrew pushed his face away, but they were standing too close together for Neil to miss the way he shivered. Andrew kissed him before Neil could say anything about it.
3
"Okay," Neil said, and dug his fingers into Andrew's hair as soon as Andrew's grip went slack. It wasn't much but it was a desperate relief having something to hold onto. Maybe that low rush in his gut was from being trusted enough to reach out at all. Neil would figure it out later. All that mattered now was how easy it was to pull Andrew in for another kiss.
Chapter Twelve
4
"Are you ever going to tell them?" Neil asked. "I won't have to," Andrew said as he slid out of his seat. Neil would have reached out to stop him, wanting to hear the rest of that, but Andrew wasn't leaving. Instead he helped himself to the other half of Neil's seat. Neil turned to face him as Andrew explained. "Renee says the upperclassmen are betting on your sexuality. They're split down the middle." Matt had said they were betting on Neil, but this wasn't what Neil expected them to be putting money on. He floundered a moment, unsure how to react, but said at last, "It's a waste of time and money. They'll all lose. I've said all year I don't swing and I meant it. Kissing you doesn't make me look at any of them differently. The only one I'm interested in is you."  "Don't say stupid things." "Stop me," Neil returned. He buried his hands in Andrew's hair and tugged him in for a kiss. It was easy to forget this endless ride and tonight's game with Andrew's hand on his thigh and teeth on his lip. Andrew pulled away too soon and got to his feet. Neil knew this wasn't the time or place, but that didn't stop him from feeling cheated.
Chapter Fourteen
5
"I was going to tell you," Nathaniel said. "Stop lying to me." "I'm not lying. I would have told you last night, but they were in our locker room." Nathaniel still had his hands up by Andrew's face, so he lightly tapped a thumb against the bruise at Andrew's eye. "I didn't know they'd staged a riot."
6
"Get away from us," Andrew said. "Andrew," Abby said, quiet and careful. "He's hurt. Let me see him." "If you make me repeat myself you will not live to regret it." Nathaniel had never heard that murderous tone from him. It made his hair stand on end but somehow eased some of the lava in his chest. It was Nathaniel's fault Andrew's self-control was in shreds, but it was also for his sake. Andrew's bottomless rage would never hurt Nathaniel, and that made all the difference in the world. Nathaniel gave Andrew's hair a cautious tug. Andrew resisted the first two attempts but finally let Nathaniel drag his attention back where it needed to be.
7
Nathaniel kept one hand buried in Andrew's hair but finally lowered the other. In quiet German he said, "Did they tell you who I am?"
8
"My uncle executed him," Nathaniel said, wondering. He crossed a precarious line and pressed two fingers to Andrew's chest over his heart. The memory chilled him to the bone, and he couldn't suppress all of a shudder. "I spent my whole life wishing he would die, but I thought he never would. I thought he was invincible. I can't believe it was that easy."
Chapter Fifteen
9
Andrew made the mistake of turning his face away at one point, so Neil chased water down the side of Andrew's neck. Andrew's fingers clenched convulsively on Neil's sides as a shudder wracked Andrew's frame. Andrew tried to recover with a ground-out, "Your neck fetish is not attractive." "You like it," Neil said, unapologetic. "I like that you like it." He bit down to prove his point and Andrew turned his head into it with a sharp hiss. Neil smiled where Andrew couldn't see it.
Chapter Sixteen
10
Andrew preceded him out of the room, but Neil snagged his sleeve as he tugged the door closed behind them. Andrew obediently turned to face him.
Chapter Seventeen
11
Neil stared at his empty palms, mystified, then reached under the hems of Andrew's long sleeves and caught the edges of Andrew's bands. He knew there were sheathes in Andrew's bands and had handled them before, but the weight still caught him off-guard.
12
Neil let him get to the railing overlooking the campus pond before catching hold of Andrew's elbow. Andrew wrenched out of his grip but stopped moving.
Chapter Eighteen
13
Andrew took the stool so no one could get between him and his drinks, and Neil stood as close to his back as he could
Mutual Touching
Chapter One
1
Neil was the first out and he caught Andrew's door before Andrew could close it. Andrew didn't move, but there was just enough room for Neil to lean in and get his binder. He straightened and turned to find Andrew had shifted closer. There was nowhere for Neil to stand except up against Andrew, but somehow Neil didn't mind. They'd been apart for seven weeks but Neil keenly remembered why he'd stayed. He remembered this unyielding, unquestioning weight that could hold him and all of his problems up without breaking a sweat. For the first time in months he could finally breathe again. It was such a relief it was frightening; Neil hadn't meant to lean on Andrew so much.
Chapter Eleven
2
Andrew slowly let go of his wrists and placed a hand flat on Neil's chest. They stood like that an age, Andrew testing Neil's control and Neil content to kiss their mouths numb. Andrew's hand between his legs was an unexpected weight. Neil didn't realize how tight he twisted his fingers in Andrew's hair until Andrew bit his lower lip in warning. Neil grumbled something incoherent and forcibly loosened his death grip. He thought he tasted blood, but it was a fleeting tang quickly forgotten as Andrew got his button and zipper undone. Andrew wasn't gentle, but Neil didn't want him to be. Neither of them had the constitution for tenderness. This was ruthless, almost angry, Andrew's hand taking Neil as far and fast as he could go. Neil tried pulling Andrew closer, but Andrew kept a hand flat on Neil's chest to keep space between their bodies. Neil barely managed Andrew's name before Andrew pushed him over the edge and kept going. Andrew smothered his frantic gasp with a last hard kiss and finally let go of him. They stood cheek-to-cheek a minute, an hour, a day, Neil's heart pounding in his temples and overloaded nerves shuddering. Coherent thought came back in lazy, fractured pieces and the first thing Neil was really aware of was how tight Andrew's fingers were digging into his chest. Neil tried to look down, but Andrew gave him a short shove in response. "What about—" Neil started. Andrew cut him off with a low, "Don't." "You can't go back to Kevin and Nicky like that." "I said be quiet." "You said 'don't'," Neil said. Neil flexed his fingers in Andrew's hair, fixing his grip so he could tug Andrew into a short kiss. Andrew tolerated it for only a moment before leaning back. He wiped his hand on Neil's shirt before tugging at Neil's wrists.
Chapter Fifteen
3
Neil leaned in to kiss him, needing to know if Andrew would lean away or push him back. Instead Andrew opened his mouth to Neil without hesitation and slid his hand up Neil's chest to his throat. Kissing hurt his injured cheeks but Neil fought to ignore that twinging pain. It'd only been a couple days since those kisses on the bus but right now it felt like forever.
4
Maybe Andrew felt the twist of his lips against oversensitive skin, because he tangled his fingers in Neil's hair and pulled his head away. Andrew put a hand flat against Neil's abdomen and pushed, backing Neil up until he was out of the spray and pressed flat against slick, chilly tile. Andrew bit the question into the corner of Neil's jaw. "Yes or no?" "It's always yes with you," Neil said. "Except when it's no," Andrew said. Neil put a plastic-wrapped finger to Andrew's chin, guiding his head up for another kiss. "If you have to keep asking because—I'll answer it as many times as you ask. But this is always going to be yes." "Don't 'always' me." "Don't ask for the truth if you're just going to dilute it."
5
Andrew clapped his hand over Neil’s mouth and kept it there until going to his knees meant he couldn’t reach anymore. Andrew ghosted kisses across Neil’s hip before swallowing him whole. Neil caught at Andrew’s hair, but his injuries and the plastic bags made it difficult for him to get a good grip. He scrabbled at the wall instead, but it was too slick to offer much leverage. Andrew pinned him against the wall with a hand on his hip, which helped, but Neil still felt like he was falling.
 6
“Do you want—” he started, voice ragged. Andrew kissed him to shut him up. Neil grimaced a little at the taste on Andrew's tongue but was happy to burn it away. Andrew braced himself with a forearm against the wall, keeping a few comfortable inches between their bodies. Neil let him have that gap but crossed his aching arms behind Andrew's head to keep him close. Neil didn't notice the absence of Andrew's other hand until Andrew's breath caught against his lips. It confused him for a second, to the point that he was almost stupid enough to pull back and look down. It'd been weeks since kissing Andrew became a regular thing, but every night ended the same: with Andrew getting Neil off and then sending Neil on his way. He wouldn't even unzip his pants when Neil was still around. Neil didn't know if this break in routine was grudging trust or determination to not let Neil out of sight again. Neil didn't care right now so long as Andrew stayed. Neil hummed something into Andrew's mouth that could have been approval, could have been encouragement, and got a faint growl in response. Andrew wasn't amused by Neil's support, but he wasn't annoyed enough to pull away, either. Neil held tight until Andrew finally went still. Andrew took a couple seconds to catch his breath, then pushed at the wall until Neil obediently dropped his arms and let him go. Andrew rinsed his hand in the spray before getting to his feet and helping hoist Neil up.
Chapter Seventeen
7
Neil locked the door behind him and crossed the room to Andrew's side. Andrew let him take the vodka away without argument or resistance. Neil screwed its cap on tight and set it where neither of them could knock it over. Andrew was ready when Neil turned back to him, and he caught Neil's collar to pull him down. Neil planted one hand against the rough carpet to keep himself leveraged off Andrew's body. The other he buried in the beanbag near Andrew's head. Andrew dragged a hand down Neil's arm from his shoulder to his wrist.  "Last I checked you hated me," Neil said against Andrew's mouth.
8
Neil ignored that dismissal because Andrew was already pulling him down again. They kissed until Neil felt dizzy, until he wasn't sure he could hold himself up anymore, and then Andrew pulled Neil's hand off the beanbag chair. He held it up away from them for an eternity, then slowly pressed it flat against his chest and let go. Andrew tensed up underneath Neil's hand but relaxed before Neil could pull away. Neil wasn't fooled. Andrew had made it very clear the first time he kissed Neil how important an actual "yes" was. This casual surrender wasn't genuine consent. Andrew was doing this because of what they'd said on Wednesday, but Neil wasn't sure which one of them Andrew was trying to convince. It'd only been three months since Proust's abuse and four months since Drake's attack. Neil didn't know when Andrew would be okay with this but he knew it wasn't today. Neil left his hand on Andrew but refused to move it from that spot.
Not Touching
Chapter One
1
...If you are worried about dying of exposure you're a little late." Andrew raised a hand to Neil's face but stopped with his fingers just a breath from Neil's skin. Andrew wasn't looking at his injuries; he was staring at Neil's unguarded eyes. "Did I break my promise or were you keeping yours?"
Chapter Five
2
Andrew started to turn away, so Neil hooked his gloved fingers in the netted head of Andrew's racquet and gave a careful tug.
Chapter Six
3
"That's enough," he said in German. He was close enough to grab Andrew, but Andrew had warned him he didn't like being touched. He held his hand out over Renee's head instead and waited for Andrew to flick it a hooded look. Satisfied he had Andrew's attention, Neil said again, "That's enough, Andrew."
Chapter Nine
4
Neil's heart stuttered to a stop at the first hard press of lips against his and he reached up without thinking. His hand made it as far as Andrew's jaw before he remembered Andrew didn't like to be touched. Neil caught hold of Andrew's coat sleeve instead and knotted his fingers in the heavy wool. The touch was a trigger. Andrew leaned back just enough to say, "Tell me no."
Chapter Eleven
5
Yes or no?" Andrew asked. "Yes," Neil said. Andrew sent a significant look down at Neil's arms where they were folded across his chest. It took Neil a moment to catch on, and then he dropped his arms and stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets. Andrew waited until he'd gone still before kissing him.
6
Neil obediently let go of him and didn't miss the way Andrew watched him lower his hands. Neil didn't know if he could get them back in his pockets without brushing up against Andrew, so he tucked them behind his back instead. Andrew eased back out of Neil's space and dropped his hands. "Go," Andrew said. "Where?" Neil asked. "Anywhere I can't see you," Andrew said. Neil wouldn't live long enough to understand all the broken layers of Andrew's sexuality, but he at least knew better than to be offended by that dismissal. He waited until Andrew was far enough back that he could step away from the wall without bumping into him. The room was set up so his desk was partially out of sight from the door, but Neil went to the bedroom instead. He dug the knuckle of his thumb into his swollen lower lip and winced a little at the sting. He peeled his shirt over his head, bundled it up to hide the mess, and stuffed it into his laundry basket. He traded his jeans for sweats, scrounged up an old tee to wear, and leaned against his bed to wait.
Chapter Twelve
7
Neil heard the click of a lock coming undone and knew the referees were opening the door. Andrew wasn't moving yet, but Neil still put an arm in his path to keep him where he was. He pressed his gloved hand to the wall and leaned in as close to Andrew as he could with all of his bulky gear on. "I'm asking you to help us," Neil said. "Will you?" Andrew considered it a moment. "Not for free." "Anything," Neil promised, and stepped back to take his place in line again.
Chapter Fourteen
8
Andrew's fist went back, but he didn't take the swing. Nathaniel knew it wasn't because that was the hand cuffed to Wymack; Andrew's arm actually shook with the effort it took to not knock Nathaniel's head off his neck. Nathaniel said nothing to tip the balance either way. At length Andrew uncurled his fingers and let his hand hang limp from the cuff. "Say it again and I will kill you," he said.
Chapter Seventeen
9
"How is this okay?" "It isn't a 'this'," Andrew said.  "That's not what I'm asking. You know it isn't. Andrew, wait," he insisted, because Andrew was turning away like he couldn't hear Neil anymore. Neil reached for him, unwilling to let him leave without a real answer. "No," Andrew said, and Neil's hand froze a breath from Andrew's arm. Andrew went still as well, and they stood for a minute in awful silence.
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i-love-an-alcoholic · 8 months
Text
Story of M: How things went to hell, Part 2
CONTENT WARNING: Drug addiction
Antabus was a miracle drug for me in many ways, but it has one major flaw: it only prevents alcohol use. I had conditioned myself to the general feeling of being on something, be it alcohol, weed or other substances and my brain was not ready to give up that. While I had succesfully given up alcohol, I quickly replaced it with excessive weed smoking. After about six months I stopped taking Antabus and began drinking again, although not as much as before.
Remember the troubled guy I was in a "relationship" with? From now on I'll refer to him as Shitty Boyfriend. Our relationship was transactional: I gave him money (he didn't work) and he gave me drugs. At some point I felt like I needed to help him gain some control of his chaotic life, so I gave him money for a psychiatrist. He saw one, and got a prescription for an anti-anxiety medicine (a benzodiazepine) which he quickly became addicted to. The meds did nothing to improve his life: he just took a pill to temporarily feel better about things so he didn't need to actually change anything, and whenever the effects wore off he'd pop another one. He gave pills to me whenever I asked and I would take them with or without alcohol (this is a dangerous combination, don't do it) and I regularly gave him more money so he could get his prescription renewed. Edit: I should add that he saw the doctor at a private practice and therefore had to pay out of pocket.
Our friend group at the time was very drug-seeking, so there were a lot of various substances to try. I tried everything except strong opioids (I'm scared of them). Every time I visited Shitty Boyfriend we would gather and spend an evening playing video games, board games and doing drugs. I'm not going to lie: I sometimes miss those times.
I still went to work every day like a normal person, but as soon as I got off and closed my apartment door behind me I'd pop some pills or blaze it. As I've said before, I justified this by the stressful nature of my job. Eventually the facade began cracking and I got in trouble at work for my erratic behaviour. A lot of things happened and as a result I was transferred to a different deparment, which turned out to be insular and toxic. I was already in a bad mental state, the working environment worsened things and I began using amphetamines to cope.
For the next few months I lost all my savings, so I began taking payday loans to pay for my addiction. I even lied to my parents to get money from them. My life revolved around speed: it was all I could think about. After nine months I weighed around 48kg (106lbs), my mental health and finances were in shambles and I was seriously considering IV use (never did though, thank deity). Then I woke up.
I clearly remember that day. I had gotten my pay on friday and after paying rent, utilities and the payday loans I had about 100€ left until next payday. I gave the money to Shitty Boyfriend who was visiting, and he went to buy us drugs for the weekend. By sunday evening all of it was gone and Shitty Boyfriend had left. I was sitting in my kitchen with no money and no drugs. It was almost like an out of body experience: I suddenly saw myself from outside and realized what I was doing was wrong. My lifestyle was unsustainable. My behavior was unhinged and I had gotten in trouble at work again because of it. I basically had two choices: either to quit or to become a full-time drug addict. I would lose my job. I would lose everything that really mattered to me. I would lose my life.
On that day, at the age of 30, I quit drugs.
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astralsweetness · 2 years
Note
hellooo, i am here to annoy you a little bit with the suju ask game 💙
1, 11, 12, 42, 70, 99, and 100? spill all the details, and add anything you want, i'd love to know :3
This is referring to this post. Yeah sure! Absolutely not annoying me at all, it's fun! I wish more people would talk to me about Suju :( Put beneath a read more cut bcs it will probably be long haha
1. When did you become an ELF? This is sort of hard to quantify, bcs even now I'm not totally sure if I'd consider myself a hardcore enough fan to call myself an "ELF". I first got into Suju when they released Don't Don, bcs that was 100% my shit - rock/metal with a VIOLIN? And a pretty boy screaming??? Bro. So good. When Hangeng inevitably left though I sort of stopped paying attention to them closely - I felt like they were probably going to go through more difficulties and I didn't want to get attached. I kept an eye on Heechul though, bcs I have always loved his voice and tone, whether he's doing screamo in Don't Don or singing rock for M&D or astounding us with rock ballads with Kyunghoon. So if anything I guess I'm not technically an ELF but can classify myself as a Petal since I am definitely a fan of Heechul and always have been. I am only really getting back into them now, so I guess you could say I've been a baby-ELF since Don't Don era and have just never progressed out of that stage haha
11. Your ult bias? & 12. Your bias wrecker? So, @funkywinkyboy and I talked about this recently but I feel like with Suju there aren't ult biases or bias wreckers! I've decided there's a whole different classification for Suju:
The "first and forever bias"
The "they appeared out of nowhere and like a cancerous growth have irrevocably ruined me forever" bias
The "I don't even find them physically/mentally attractive and yet I am drawn to them like a moth to the fucking imploding sun" bias
And then "electron biases" that just float around forever as your little baby (plural) but are not aggravating enough to become the moth to the sun one but also make enough sense that they aren't the cancerous growth one
So if we're following my new classification system lol, Heechul is my first and forever bias, Hyukjae is the cancerous growth bias, Kyuhyun is my moth to the sun bias, and Donghae is my electron bias!
42. Sexiest song or performance? You had to see this coming, considering it's.. well, me, but Hyukjae's VCR from their STYLE tour where he has all the sex toys and bondage equipment and men in heels with floggers chaining him to a bed, etc. That VCR has a grip on my fucking soul. As a domme it is one of my favorite things in the world, and I like the opening performance he does as well, with the chains. You can see the VCR + intro I'm talking about here if you're interested. I am actually in the process of taking screenshots from that VCR and color-correcting them + unblurring them bcs I am so obsessed with it. I'll make one post with them later when I'm done lol, so not gonna add them here 👀 Just gotta keep an eye out for them when I'm done!
70. Funniest or most iconic SuJu moments? God, there's so many. Suju's comedic sense is absolutely phenomenal. Shindong in particular is great at really out of pocket comedic lines. Currently I think my favorite lil moments are Donghae's incessant "Hyukjae~" during their 'Bout You performances, or Leeteuk fighting for his life during No Other while trying to find the camera. Just lil cute things like that I like a lot. Honestly any of the energy of watching Heechul's solo MV behind the scenes too, they're all so unhinged, he just absolutely does not want to be seen as vulnerable and the mental gymnastics he will go through to avoid that is funny lol
99. If SuJu could do anything you wanted, what would you want them to do? (E.g, perform a song live, bring back a member, etc.) I miss Hangeng and Kibum 😭 And ofc Sungmin, but if he was wanted by the group to come back that would have already happened. I feel bad for Kibum bcs he really missed out on all the success Suju had, and Hangeng... just a shitty situation all around for him. I am glad he seems to still be on good terms with the boys tho, and is leading a happy life! Let's see, aside from that... I want SM to do SOMETHING with Zhoumi omg, he wants a Suju-M comeback, give him one :( I also would like a sub-unit with Heechul and Henry doing rock shit, so like.. M&D but with a violin. Obviously that won't ever happen since Henry left but.... pls give me more rock songs! And with violins! ...Man I miss M&D. Pls revive it Heechul, it was so good, I listen to your two albums on repeat still
100. Your favorite thing about SuJu? Burn the Floor? Lmao but seriously, I think my favorite thing about Suju is how they are clearly more than just an idol group. They were originally only supposed to be idols as a sort of back-up to augment their other skills in things like acting and comedy, and it really shows, bcs they excel at those things now too. I love my groups that are attached at the hip and have a close-knit bond that's more than a family, but something about Suju's realistic relationship with one another, where they've grown up and don't always see each other but still (for the most part) get along is nice. It's like being able to see the more realistic side of the industry while still keeping the rose-tinted glasses since they still like one another. You've got to have both to survive I guess - on the one hand you have a group like Pentagon, that will literally waste away into nothingness if they have to be apart from one another, and then on the other hand you've got a group like Suju who is like... I haven't seen one of our members for MONTHS now, I assume he's alive 😂
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charcoalstardust · 2 years
Text
another piece of writing inspired by a post by @gingerly-writing! what can i say? she's got really good prompts and i'm also a sucker for detective/thief duos
i kinda want to write another part for this one just because i actually have a lot of ideas for at least a second part
-----------
He'd been staying mostly out of sight for a while. Sure, his friends knew he was back, and the police chief did, too. The unfortunate part was that, despite his attempt at keeping a low profile, the police chief still got back on his case about the thief he should have arrested by now. He was wandering around at night with a grip on his phone just trying to find a single hint of em. There was nothing.
"Stupid idiot thief and eir flirting and stupid clever plans and—"
His phone let out a ring, ripping him from his thoughts. He held up his phone and looked at the screen. Whoever was calling, he didn't have the number in his contacts. It could've been a scam number. He only stared down for a moment before deciding to pick up. What else was there to lose?
"It's been a while, detective."
"Mace."
"Awww, you missed me didn't you, Julian?" Mace chirped, "I missed you too! We need to meet up sometime! I wanna know where you've been!"
"What? No! I need you to just—" Julian stopped and took a deep breath, "—just turn yourself in, Mace."
Static crackled through the phone alongside Mace's amused laughter. "Oh? Giving up, detective? After all these years?"
"I... Have not endured enough bullshit... To deal with your condescending remarks today."
Mace was quiet for a bit. "Hm. Not quite the expected answer. I'll take it though! Obviously, you have a reason for this approach."
"A reason? I'm tired. I need sleep. I need to relax, but the chief's up my ass about getting you behind bars. That's my reason."
"Hmph. Your chief needs to back off because that's my job."
"What, to get up my ass about—" Julian didn't finish his sentence, "—oh, fuck off with your flirting! Just– please. I know you can break yourself out later!"
"Hmmm..." The thief was hummimg as ey thought about it. Julian was sure if he had the strength the phone case would be cracking right about now. "Well, you'll need to convince me. So... What will you do? What're you going to give me?"
"Anything," the detective rasped. He wasn't thinking about his words he just wanted em to stop beating around the bush and cooperate for once.
"Aaanythiiing?"
"Anything."
"Weeellll"— There was the sound of Mace shuffling through something, —"I've been looking for a special someone to help me with a little... Heist."
Oh no.
"I need someone with good observation skills, cunning... Good looks are just a bonus, but it'd be nice to have, too."
"You—"
"Ah, ah, ah. You said you'd give anything," the thief interrupted, "so what you're giving me is your help."
Julian sighed in defeat. "I'm true to my word. When and where?"
"I can easily send all of that through a text, Julie!" Mace sounded excited. "Consider this a fun little date! Love you, buh-bye!"
"I'm not going to—" Ey hung up, and he was left just staring at his phone screen. "—... Consider it a date."
He just had to help. That's it. Just help em this once. It was probably thievery from a high security building, and the messages sent to him proved him correct. He knew that place well enough. Unfortunately.
... If Mace could text him, did that mean ey had eir own phone that he didn't even know about until now? Would it be weird to add em to his contacts? He glanced around as if there were people watching him before he quickly added em.
'Absolute Menace'
Yeah. That was good enough.
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lifetimeshipper · 2 years
Text
Cursed Bond
Chapter 9
---------------
After a couple of days of being cooped up in Med Bay, Arcee was finally free to leave it and get back to staying in Megatron's room again, though she would rather continue staying in Med Bay. But she knows she wouldn't be allowed to. She lays on the large berth for who knows how long. She wanted to be with her team, she missed the time she would spend with Jack but most of all, she missed Wheeljack.
Megatron had been setting up a sort of date for him and her and it was finally ready. He goes into the room to get Arcee, "Come with me, I want to take you somewhere."
With a sigh, Arcee got off the berth and followed Megatron. Not like I have much of a choice.
He leads her to the Ground Bridge control room to get a Ground Bridge to the area. They go through the Ground Bridge and arrive at a beautiful meadow, she sees a Cybertronian table and chairs set up with Energon cubes sitting on the table. Taking in the view she felt like Megatron was up to something, "What's all of this about?"
"Consider it a way of apologizing for beating the scrap out of you, I shouldn't have gotten so angry like that. So I set this up, sort of like a date."
"The view is nice, I guess," she sighed as she looked out to the meadow.
This better work. Megatron thinks to himself as he walks over to the table, "Come sit and drink the Energon," he says in a soft tone as he sits down.
I don't know what you're planning, Megatron, but I'll play your game, for now. Arcee thought to herself as she took a seat. Megatron picks up his Energon cube and starts drinking as he watches her. Arcee stared at the Energon, it didn't look like it had been messed with. Picking it up she slowly took a sip.
"Don't worry my dear, I wouldn't put something in your drink."
"You wouldn't have to, you could just force me to do whatever you want."
"Like I've been doing."
Arcee didn't say anything as she drank her Energon. Megatron brought out the bracelet device to give it to her, "This is for you, to add to my apology."
Looking at the bracelet she noticed the ancient Cybertronian writing, it was beautiful. She wondered how Megatron had gotten something like it, "Do you like it?"
"It's beautiful."
"Go ahead and put it on."
A small part of her was telling her not to put it on but it was just a bracelet. Ignoring the nagging voice she put it on her wrist. Megatron smirked behind the cube as he took another drink from his Energon. Not seeing the smirk she went back to drinking her Energon.
She's gonna be all mine. Soundwave programmed the bracelet himself so I know it's gonna work.
Finishing the rest of her Energon she suddenly felt light-headed. Trying not to look weak in front of Megatron she did her best to ignore it but the light-headedness grew into a processor ache. Megatron saw her shake her helm then saw her grab it as she leaned forward to set her elbow on the table, "Are you alright, Arcee?" He asked her sounding concerned.
"I'm fine, just got a processor ache," she muttered.
"Maybe we should head back then so you can lay down and rest," he finished his Energon then got up and went to help Arcee up. Arcee accepted Megatron's help, even though she didn't want to. He helped her back to the ship then to his room and he laid her down to rest, "You rest now, I have to check on everything. I'll be back later."
Laying on the berth she slowly drifted to recharge.
Megatron left the room and headed to the main control room, "Did you give her the bracelet, my lord?" Breakdown asked when he saw him.
"I did."
"Think it'll work?" Knock Out asked.
"She's already starting to feel the effects," Megatron smiled, "When she wakes up again she will be in love with me."
"That's good," Breakdown says while Knock Out looked sad. His spark went out to the femme, she shouldn't be forced to love a mech that she doesn't want to love.
"Have you heard from Airachnid or Starscream?" Megatron asked them.
"Not a word, lord Megatron, they have been gone for some time now," Knock Out replied as he tapped his chin.
"I'm sure they're fine."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Starscream was kneeling down in front of Wheeljack who was guarding him while the rest went after Airachnid. Wheeljack kept his optics on the seeker, his servos twitching, ready to grab his swords if he needed to. He still found it rather interesting that Megatron chose such a scrawny-looking mech as his second-in-command, then again, Starscream was a smart bot. 
Also, he's heard rumors and stories about him and if any of them is true then he would be a very dangerous bot. Starscream looked up at him, "The Wrecker Wheeljack I presume."
"What's it to ya, Screamy?" Wheeljack growled the question.
Starscream scowled at that nickname, he always hated that nickname, "I'm just curious, I've heard a lot about you."
"Good things I hope," Wheeljack said with a smirk.
"Quite good," Starscream said with a smile.
"Good," Wheeljack placed a servo on Starscream's shoulder before suddenly slamming him to the ground, "Now, why don't I tell you about some of the bad things."
Starscream just looks up at him wondering how he's gonna get out of this predicament. Glaring at the mech, Wheeljack got off of him, taking a few steps back, "You're going to tell me where the Decepticon warship is," he growled.
"I'm not telling you anything," he snarled back.
"I was hoping you would say that," Wheeljack smiled as he unsheathed one of his swords.
"No, please don't hurt me. I couldn't tell you where the warship is even if I wanted to, it moves and there's no telling where it is now."
"How dumb do you think I am? You're Megatron's second-in-command, practically glued to his side a majority of the time."
"But I don't want to be at his side anymore I want to leave that. All he does is beat me and downgrade me all the time"
Before Wheeljack could say anything else Bumblebee comes running up to them and tells him what happened. Wheeljack pulled Starscream off the ground and followed Bumblebee to the others. They soon manage to get the other bots, who were stiffened still, and Starscream back to base, "Is there any way to reverse the effects doc?" Wheeljack asked as he tapped on Bulkhead's head.
"Yes, there is," Ratchet replied as he got to work on reversing the device, he soon got it and was able to unfreeze the bots. They stretched to get their armor and systems functioning and moving again. Optimus looks over at Starscream, "We need to know where the warship is," Optimus said in his stern tone.
"I already tried that, he said that he didn't know where the ship is," Wheeljack huffed as he crossed his arms.
"Easy way around that, we just access his navigation systems and find out."
"Ohh no, you are not messing with my navigation systems," Starscream practically whined as he held his helm as if he was trying to protect it.
"Then search it yourself and tell us where the ship is."
Starscream growled in frustration as he accessed his navigation systems and searched for the ship. He'd rather search for it himself than let these Autobots mess with his processor. The bots stood by waiting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the warship, Arcee woke up, the bracelet had done its work and changed her processor while she was sleeping so she now believes she's in love with Megatron. Megatron walks into the room and Arcee looks up at him and smiles, "Hey."
"Are you feeling better?" He asked as he watched her.
"Yeah, thanks for helping me back. I don't know what brought on the processor ache."
"I'm just glad you are feeling better," he purred.
She gave him a smile he has never seen before, it made her look cute and sexy. The look was new to him since she's always given him scornful looks.
"It's been a while since I've seen that smile," he spoke, he liked this side of her.
Still sitting on the berth, she grabs his servo and pulls him to go down on his knees, "Come down to my level."
Moving to one knee he looked at Arcee, wondering what she was planning. A rare soft smile formed on his lips as he held her servo. She put her other servo on the side of his face and leaned forward, she brushes her lips against his in soft kisses. 
His optics widened for a moment before he closed them, he placed a servo behind her helm as he deepened the kiss, practically devouring her mouth. She wrapped both her arms around his neck and he wrapped his arm around her waist, pressing her body against his. His grip tightened just a little as he got up, picked her up, and laid down on the berth, pulling her on top of him.
Arcee pulls back from the kiss and looks at him, "I love you, Megatron."
"I love you too, Arcee, I have for a long time," he smiled as he caressed her back.
"Do you have some business to attend to right now?"
"Not at the moment, I just want to spend some time with you."
She smiled as a slight blush crossed her faceplate. She then leaned in to whisper in his audio receptor, "Then maybe we can do some business of our own," she whispered in a seductive tone.
Megatron felt himself shiver at her sweet tone, "I would gladly do some business with you," he purred as he kissed her neck. She giggled as she let her servo roam over his broad chest down to his stomach. Sweet merciful Primus. He let out a soft moan under her touch.
"Are you enjoying it?" Arcee asked as a slight chuckle slipped out.
"Ohh yes," he sighed with bliss.
"Good," she whispered as her servo slid down to his interface panel. She rubs on his panel as she kisses him again. Megatron moaned softly as he bucked his hips into her servo. She pulled back again, "My turn to pleasure you," she whispered to him.
Megatron smiled as he placed a gentle servo on her cheek, "I'm sure you will be amazing."
She just smiled back as she continued. They proceed on to have the most pleasurable time they've ever had.
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writer86 · 12 days
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... how long has it been?
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Selene jolts awake and scrambles to her feet. It was dark when they were crashing, now the sun is... nearer to setting than to rising, she thinks. Water to her right, some kind of river, and to the left, the wreckage of the Nautloid. She's looking for something, anything familiar when -
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*As you wake, the tadpole squirms in your skull.*
She breathes slow, steady through the discomfort, and when it subsides to a dull sense of something behind her eye, she considers her surroundings, tries to assess whether anything looks familiar, some kind of landmark, but,
*The chaos of the crash site confuses the landscape. You'll need to find a settlement or a landmark. And you'll need to do it quickly. The tadpole is a death sentence, and the clock is ticking. You need a cure.*
Selene begins running through a list of priorities when she realizes she is not, in fact, alone on this beach.
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Shadowheart, unconscious but breathing, that strange trinket still in her hand. Again, Selene wonders what it is, but perhaps answers will be forthcoming eventually if she wakes Shadowheart. The other woman draws in a sharp breath as Selene kneels and shakes her gently. She rises to her feet quickly, stammering,
"You're alive. I'm alive. How is this possible?"
The question of the hour, Selene muses in mild amusement. "I was hoping you might know that."
Shadowheart's expression turns contemplative.
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"I remember the ship, I remember falling... then nothing."
It's interesting, then, because Selene remembers a little more, remembers not slamming full-speed into the sand. She remembers being rescued, though not by whom. She wonders for a moment if... but no, her sire wouldn't have wasted the effort. She got herself into this mess, she'll have to get herself out.
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"Do you have any idea where we are?" she asks.
"No... I don't recognize this place. But anything's an improvement on where we just came from."
It's both optimistic and true, Selene muses with a faint smile, as Shadowheart continues: "First thing's first - we need supplies, shelter, and most of all, a healer. We might have escaped, but we still have these little monsters in our heads."
A fresh thought occurs to Selene, and she pauses, again considering their surroundings. "What happened to our gith friend?"
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Shadowheart looks mildly amused. "You might want to reconsider calling her a friend - looks like she ran off without us."
A snap judgment Selene might have expected from Shadowheart, given her attitude toward the gith while still aboard the Nautloid. All they can confidently say at this point is that their gith ally is not on this stretch of beach. They may yet find her, and Selene files that away for later.
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"You want to stay together, I take it," Selene observes. After all, Shadowheart has already given a list of their priorities.
"We need each other," Shadowheart agrees, "and we both know what's at stake. I can't think of better company."
Selene is accustomed to traveling alone... but she's also accustomed to being able to travel alone without concern for her own well-being. At the moment, she still feels battered and weak from what they went through on the Nautloid, and considering how many other things it feels like she's missing... perhaps she needs allies now.
"Alright, let's get moving," she says, already turning her head to look for a suitable camp site - if she has to be honest, she's still feeling exhausted, and judging by the position of the sun, they don't have much daylight left either.
"One thing, just before we go," Shadowheart adds quickly.
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"I wanted to thank you again, for freeing me. It would've been all too easy for you to run right past my pod, but you didn't. I'll remember that. Lead the way."
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spookydrreid · 3 years
Text
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Chapter Seven: Reassurance
Paring: Unsub!Spencer x fem!Reader
Content Warnings: unprotected sex, penetrative sex, spitting, coming on demand, daddy kink, slight degradation mixed with a little praise (let me know if i missed anything!)
Word Count: 1.4k
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...
How much I love him terrified me to my core. I needed him so bad and if my mother were here she would smack me upside the head. My mother was strong woman, literally telling my father she didn't need him for anything. She was super woman in my eyes and all I wanted, as a child, was to be just like her.
'Now remember, sweet girl, righty-tighty and lefty-loosey. Okay?" I would nod and help her fix whatever it was. And though she reminded my father of how independent she was, there was no doubt in how much they loved each other. She would've done anything for that man. Same as I would do anything for Spencer.
I guess, in a way, maybe she would be proud of how much I love him. I would like to think so, anyway. Because I loved him with my entire being. I would give him whatever he wanted at the drop of a hat. I was his and he was mine. We were inseparable. Till death do us part.
I pleaded up at him with wide, puffy eyes, begging for him to touch me and numb the hurt I felt inside. I had doubt and fear clawing my insides, ripping me open and forcing me to bleed out inside. I needed him to put pressure on my metaphorical wounds. And when his lips met mine without pause and hesitation, I felt the blood start to dry.
His hands gripped my hips, bunching up my top so he could put his skin on mine. It was like he could read my mind. It was like he knew exactly what I needed. Of course, I'd told him I wanted proof, but this was more than proof. This was love and desire. It was care and comfort I'd never fully seen from him. It was vulnerability.
I ground against him with need, small whimpers leaving my lips at the desperate friction. My hands quickly unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. I needed more; I craved more. More skin, more kiss, more sex, more Spencer.
He smirks against me, flipping us with ease and care. He looks so beautiful when he's on top of me. It makes me wish I had a memory like his so I wouldn't ever forget the way he looks. His hair falls into his face just a little and I start to notice he needs to cut it again. I remind myself to bring it up later.
"Please, daddy... touch me," I beg with a whine.
He laughs, "is that not what I'm doing right now?" To be fair he is touching me, one hand resting on my waist, but I need more.
"Please daddy! I-I'll do anything you want!" Its then that his lips meet my neck and I take a shaky breath. I feel like I'm on fire, his lips gasoline on a flame.
He nips at my earlobe, his breath now right in my ear, goosebumps littering my body as he whispers, "be careful what you wish for, sweetheart." And just as quick as he was there, he's climbing off me.
"C-come back!" I can feel tears prick my eyes and I curse myself while I try to blink them away.
He starts to strip, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it on the side, my eyes take him in. "Oh relax, sensitive girl. Can fuck you with clothes on can I?"
I'm left dumbfounded and a little embarrassed, but I cant help myself. I want to love him while I had him. He promised me he would always be here, but we both know that's a promise he'll eventually break. And I'm positive that his end with also be mine. I cant live without him and I'm willing to go with him if it comes time. But, for now, I want his cock inside me and my chest pressed against his.
I feel too overdressed by the time he's stripped, his lean body looks divine in the dim light of my apartment. I pull off my shirt, leaving me bare to his equally hungry eyes. He looks like he's going to swallow me whole, and I cant wait.
"Fucking hell, you're gorgeous," he whispers as he makes his way up to me, forcing me to lay back once out lips connect. "Look at me, pup." I do, eyes wide and filled with love and lust for the man above me. "You don't cum till I tell you, got it?"
I nod, "yes daddy."
He smirks at me, "and I want you to be quiet. You make a noise and you don't get to cum. Got it?"
My jaw drops. I wasn't really one to keep quiet while he fucked me. In fact, he made it ridiculously hard to keep silent. And I know he's going to make it even harder if I agree. But if I don't agree, then I don't get what I want.
"H-how will you know if I'm enjoying it though?" I ask in a small voice. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't absolutely intrigued by his preposition.
That makes him laugh, "I know you're body, pet. I know when you're enjoying yourself. I don't need verbal confirmation."
"Th-then I got it... n-no noise."
"Good. No noise starting right now. Only allowed to call safe words. Do you understand me?" I nod, not breaking eye contact. "Good little whore."
Spencer's lips find mine in a soft, sweet kiss and I have to swallow my urge to whine into it. Same when his hand finds its way between my legs and between my slit. "You're so fucking wet for me, sweetheart! Don't even need my mouth on you!"
At this point, I'm so desperate to feel him fill me, that I don't even care if he eats me out or not. 'Another day' I think to myself. But my thoughts don't stick around long as he settles between my legs, the head of his cock pushing against my hole. I grip his bicep as he pushes in, biting my lip so I don't moan or whimper. I'm determined to get my orgasm.
"Fucking hell, pretty girl!" He groans, "y-you always just feel so fucking good, baby. S'like you were made for me." He sets a hard, deep pace and I find just how hard it is to keep quiet.
'I was made for you' I whimper in my mind. I swear we are twin flames. Two halves of a whole who vowed to find one another in every single life time. Maybe next time we'll meet under different circumstances.
"Fuck! I like when you're whore mouth is shut! Cant bitch about how hard I'm fucking you." I feel my eyes roll in the back of my skull as he fucks me harder, his cock bumping the deepest parts of me with each thrusts. I can feel the knot in my stomach already getting tighter with each thrust. My pussy squeezes him as I fight the orgasm that's quickly approaching.
"Aw is the little whore going to cum already? Must've really been needy. Typical of you isn't it?" He squeezes my cheeks, forcing my mouth open. I open my eyes just in time to watch his spit fall onto my tongue and, again, I'm forced to fight my moan as I swallow it.
"Do you wanna cum, sweet pet?" I nod. I know he's trying to trick me, but it wont work. Not this time. "Do you want daddy to cum inside this pussy? Huh?" I nod furiously.
"Sorry, I cant hear you?" But I don't give in, I want to cum so bad and I know I'll explode if I don't get it. So I nod faster.
He reaches his hand between us and finds my clit with ease. I'm forced to bight my lip to keep silent once more. "Ready, my pet? Fuck! Cum! Right now!" And I do, my body unable to hold back, forcing me to moan loudly.
"D-daddy!!" I cry, my arms clawing at him to get him closer. And it's not long before he follows after me.
"F-fucking hell, didn't know you could cum on command?" He mutters as he brings us both down from the highs. I'm out of breath and can barely answer.
"M-me either..."
He pauses for a second, "let's make you do it again. And this time? I want you to be extra loud for me."
"Y-yes daddy."
@eideticsreid @moondustmemories @muffin-cup @onlyhereforthefanfics @secretpickleprofessordean @will-on-the-internet @x2moonlight2x-blog @big-galaxy-chaos @slut-for-mothman @mikewizkalifa @dr-spencerr-reidd @reidsconverse @ssaalexisreid @thisiscalm-andits-doctor @starryeyedvirgosworld @thevirgofangirl @spencersawkward @nova3312 @spencerreidat3am @xoxospencerreid @pancake2603 @spenxerslut @freakyhood96 @mochionly @nichmeddar @measure-in-pain @oh-what-a-cutie @withasideofmeg @totallyclearwitch @vaella1821 @flipperpenguins @manuosorioh @rosienie @luvofyourlifeliv
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skybristle · 2 years
Note
Please rant about why you didn't like how chapter 14 characterized Caramel arrow. I may not have gotten to it because I'm still stuck in chapter 11 but I'd love to hear it.
pls rb!! i put a lot of thought and effort into these posts!
was talking to a friend. this is a. Horrid mash of copy/pasted stuff from discord dms paired with me typing in new shit to bridge gaps and add points but. under cut again! probably some talk abt murder and violence [but its against affo mainly so its okay /JOKE] but mainly to save space on dashes since i type a lot also note that i tend to call caramel arrow carrow. it just rolls off my mental tounge better and its easier to speedrun typing in my fanon i've also added magnolia into her story but. for the sake of arguement i'll leave her and any magnolia-related changes out. but yeah they canonically kiss devsis told me /lh ill add more if i think of anything
shes a static character. NOTE. static characters are NOT inherently bad. but she has so much potential for being fucked up and questioning her loyalties and shit. as she stands she is just. There. she does a little bit of girlbossing but ESPECIALLy in chapter 14 she is just there to go its okay dark cacao ur doing the right thing it is alright u are okay :] and she doesnt even get resolution with affo. iirc they dont even rlly get a confrontation he just. Runs away. these r my main problems but ill get into a lot of wasted potential later. ill be so mad forever and ever they didn't let carrow kill affogato. like. she had a straight shot in the end when his sheilds were down and he was just trying to get away. ut she just goes "OHHH NO AFFOGATO IS GETTING AWAYYYYY" like babygirl you are the first watcher. What are you doing. i get that cr doesnt have the balls to violently kill him on screen but like u could have shot him and left him for dead at least. Like. .... idk. red velvet gets a crossbolt bolt to the face in TOSC its not too out there. but even then carrow seems like the type to want to kill someone cleanly and effectively no matter WHAT they did so she doesnt stoop to their level. so as far as my fanon goes she shot him thru the head when he was trying to escape. like again i know canon wouldn't do that but it is dissapointing to see nothing happen with him and carrow's arc yet another injustice to carrow's character. shes just. There honestly. like she doesnt DO ANYTHING. shes kinda just [woman standing discord emoji] you could honestly remove her from the plot without much difference which is. REALLY FUCKING SAD considering that she was so hyped up and is playable. her only real character trait is 'loyal to dark cacao'. which falls flat considering DARK CACAO IS FUCKED UP?? like i know affo is manipulating him or whatever but he had to have been at an incredibly low point in the first place - likely caused by dark choco's betrayel and the stress of losing so much , including many of his watchers, to the war. the main missed potential i see: the missed potential with her and dark choco. it's heavily implied he was very very close with her - and her mentor. she even has a line abt him being the one who taught her how to use a bow. it's p easy to assume he's the person who trained her and could probably be considered her non-blood informal older brother or maybe an idol. [i prefer the former but. Yeah] have her loyalty be split between the king who deeply hurt his people for decades [since even before affo i doubt it was good considering i can only IMAGINE how fucked up the kingdom was afrer the DFW with their watchers presumaby spread incredibly thin after so many losses] and FUCKING EXILED HER regardless of affo's imput and the prince who trained and partially raised her but has done so much fucked up shit and lost his path
NEITHER of them are good people. at least completely. do they deserve her loyalty? is she reeally doing good by following anyone?? is bias by being close to the royals clouding her judgement? she can't answer those questions
but No. dark cacao good everyine else bad :3. so dissapointing this is becoming more of a stretch but this is more a thinly veiled excuse to talk abt my fanon because i make her character so much cooler and sexier but. Ya! also not to say she was probably a trainee or barely out of training when dark choco betrayed everyone when he was probably her older brother figure andddd probably got shoehorned into the position of first watcher too fast since dark cacao was in such deep paranoia after getting betrayed by his own son he couldn't trust anyone short of who was practically his own daughter but. Ya! would have fucked. her cutscene thing says she became the first watcher at an incredibly young age. u can assume in canon that just means that she was so capable she earned it so early on but like. You could ALSO take rlly fucked up implications from that if you wanted to. like. Yeah. also i dont have as thorough thoughts on this but. it's sad that we didnt see much of her relationship with the other watchers. its obvious that they miss her, care about her, and are still loyal to her. i've always thought it was a really interesting thing that despite her exile and presumably being stripped of her title they all still call her first watcher. resisting the urge to talk abt her and magnolia so i wont but like. scenes with the other watchers could have rlly helped this!!! oh also if you ship carrow x affogato get the fuck off this post i actually hate you fuck you fuck yo ufuck yuyou fuck you. Die. thats all i remember for now. Bye girl.
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january31st · 2 years
Text
In coming and going... (Pt.1)
Cruella (2021) x reader
This is a request from the lovely @cosmicbrownies7 “a cruella fic where she’s obsessed with the reader since the reader has been with her since they were little. And after Cruellas success the reader tries to leave but cruella won’t “let” her. Or something along those lines.”
yes i had fun procrastinating and making this cover, now look at it.
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A/N: I’ve already apologised a thousand times for how long it’s taken, but thank you for your patience as well as everyone who’s been waiting for me to drop something. Here it is! This is the first half of this fic, the second half is coming very, very soon, I promise, and it is considerably longer than this one. Also, I might have gone off the request a bit, but this was what I managed to come up with.
Uni has been keeping me busy and mentally unstable, as it does, and the holidays never fail to make me spiral, followed by the adorable, cute and lovely exam season for which I can only seem to be able to blink and breathe, AnD! to make things better right in the middle of exam season (had 2/4 exams done) MY ROOMMATE GOT COVID :') I'm still negative and I've switched rooms but we're always together so I do believe it's just the incubation period. fun! today i'm missing an exam that i'll take on the 18th feb instead (considering that my classes start on the 21st…..) and on monday i have calc (for which i am utterly lost and I have to study bc i've failed a subject already but I still don't know if I'm positive and get to miss it or if I have to take it on monday kdjjdksksdj). life rant aside, that is why things. yes. the tiny amounts of time i've had to write have been like little nuggets of sanity, so i very much enjoyed writing it, and very much hope you enjoy reading it <3
warnings: parent death, generally traumatic childhood, yall know me, i don’t do cute backstories. let me know if there's anything else i should add.
|| Masterlist || ... who have you become? || Wattpad Link || AO3 Link ||
~3000 words
Knowing her past, of course it pained you to have to leave, just like everyone else did in her life, and unfortunately that included you, all those years ago, twice. And now you sat here contemplating your options, and leaving again was the most likely outcome.
Third time would be the charm, she thought, and you knew it, you could tell by the sparkle in her eye and the way she held your hand. Her grip on you was always tight, and it got tighter every time you went away and came back.
It's destiny, she would argue. It's fate, that the two of you should meet again and again. But you knew it to be a coincidence, you knew you would always come back to London, even if for a short time, just like now. You had to be rational, since her feelings would always cloud reality. Because your own feelings couldn't mean that much. Of course you liked her, of course you cared about her, but you couldn't let her mean too much to you. As kids it didn't matter much. Later on things got a bit more complicated.
Your own mum worked at the bakery near where Estella and her mum lived, so, in your free time as a little kid (which was basically all of your time) you would go play with her on the street, in her house, in the kitchens of the bakery. Making clothes, drawing each other, and doing all the things kids do.
And of course time could not allow that to go on forever, so the tragic day came.
You didn't know the details of it, and you never cared much to do your research, because thinking too much about it felt like torture to you. But you knew that one day your mum died in an accident at the bakery, something about getting crushed after some of the heavier supplies fell down.
And then you were left to the world.
You could have stayed, you knew in your heart that Katherine would have taken you in, you could have lived with them, but you didn't really have much of a choice.
The orphanage came for you that very day, your mum's employers at the bakery knew that your dad was completely out of the picture, so they reported the issue right away.
You were little, you didn't know anything else. And it wouldn't be until you were both fifteen that you would find Estella again.
Well, let's say that she found you.
Or, Jasper did.
You had been rather unfortunate with your foster families. You weren't a particularly troublesome kid, in fact, you'd like to believe that you were perfectly normal. But your first family consisted of a drunk couple who wanted the money from child support. The second one was almost the same, only worse. They weren't drunks, they were drug addicts. And the years in between consisted of this unlucky sorting of families, until you ran away at last, now fifteen, and found yourself in London somehow, face to face with this boy who tried to steal a little plushie that used to be a pin cushion for sewing, and that you wore dangling from your backpack's zipper.
Jasper thought your watchful eye would be useful to them, since no one else had ever realised they stole something, and he also spotted right on that you didn't really have a family to go home to. So in his mind he offered his family, and his home, but he offered much more without even knowing. A couple hours later you would meet a red haired girl who claimed that she had a plushie like that as a kid. You told her a childhood friend gave it to you, her name was Estella. And that was when the two of you realised that you did know eachother, and even now, after all the time that passed, she never forgot that you kept the stupid plushie.
That was one of the days you would never forget. Finding her again. The way her face lit up and the way it felt to you, no longer being alone in the world. You took your time to study her, the way she had changed, or just grown, essentially, as you knew you had too, just not quite as much as her this time. Both of you explained what life had been like for the past few years, her story flowing out with the addition of your own tears. It warmed your heart that you had found her, it was a relief, a feeling of returning home, though you’d barely known what that word meant at all, but it also broke your heart to know what had happened to her mum, and to know (to know! oh you knew it too well) what she had to live through.
And you loved her, from her box dyed red hair, to her smudged eyeliner, to those small habits she shared with the boys, but you also loved how she was exactly the same person you had to leave before. With her gentle heart and caring soul, and how she always made sure you felt safe, and always listened to your rants about society and general social critique. You knew she got defensive sometimes, but never with you. All the trouble she had made in school seemed perfectly reasonable since you knew who she was in her heart.
☽◯☾
The four of you lived along like this for almost two years. Passing each day through your little robberies. Jasper and Horace would roam the streets to see what places would be more profitable, getting Wink to sniff out small entrances to places, as you and Estella poured over the outfits. When the four of you were together, there wouldn't be a moment of quiet, each joke coming after the previous in rapid fire, reenacting the day's job, the warehouse was alive with laughter.
But you and Estella? There was no need for talking. You worked to the sound of whatever vinyl you'd stolen last, both of you too focused on your tasks to even bother with exchanging useless words. The right glance was all it took, and whatever the message was, it would be received. But it wasn’t always silence filling the room, because when you weren’t working there was plenty to talk about, how both of you viewed the world and wanted it to change, and that was something else you agreed on completely. Polite society was too dull, and it seemed a waste to just follow the rules when they did more harm than good. Making up your own rules always felt right, because you were kids, and there wasn’t much to keep you from it (how terrible it is that it all had to change- again).
And she stuck to her rules religiously, always had the plan in mind, she knew where she would look and what way to turn to. You worked best by feeling out the atmosphere, reading the people around you, observing their moves. You spent nights upon nights thinking about how she felt when you had to leave again. How she must hate you. You could have just followed the plan, any damn plan, and nothing would have happened that day. Did she even have any idea of why you left? Well she had to, she's the smartest person you've ever met! You were left with no choice but to swear to never see those three again.
Estella was always cautious about sticking to a good plan. The days before a big hit she would stay at home and study the place, think about all the outcomes. Jasper used to lend her some of his wisdom too, sketching out different paths to run off, debating what time was best to strike. Horace did sit around as well, suggesting things none of us could ever come up with, because he always had his mind on what Wink and Buddy could do. But you got stressed out looking at their maps and schedules and lists of things to do. And that was okay, because you were more of a hawk on the spots, quick to tell when something was off and when it was time to go. You were best at looking out, keeping your sacred watch as they did their craft.
Each day after the heists you would go out on your walk, check people out, get your news, eavesdrop on what gossip was going around town. It was how you kept your mind going, by keeping on the move as well. On most days you would bring one or both of the dogs with you, sometimes getting one of the boys to come as well.
She wasn't much of a walker, she had better things to do. When she did though, it was the fountain at Regent's park that she would always go to. And it pained you to know why. To know that someone as lovely as Estella had to live through something that terrible.
The two of you shared a room, with two beds on either side of the big table that was always cluttered with sewing supplies and magazine cutouts. On the chill nights when there was nothing to plan, the boys watched TV and you two spent your alone time doing all sorts of things. Playing cards, drawing things, talking about the most recent fashion show. Sometimes you'd be reading in your bed, lying to one side as you waited for sleep to catch on earlier than usual, and she would come up behind you, spooning you to try to get a glance at your book. She always fell asleep faster when she was next to you, and you would put the book down and follow after her, matching your breathing to the one you felt on your back.
Whenever either of you would have nightmares you knew you could join the other, despite the bed being too small. You would hold on to each other to keep you from falling off, her head on your chest, your legs tangled together.
You never thought much of it because it just felt right. Of course you wouldn’t mind her closeness. Her skin was soft and her perfume was sweet, fruit-like. Her embrace made you feel safe and content. Things stayed this way for those two years. To you this life was perfect, there was no need to change it because there was nothing complicated about it. Not the way you felt nor the way your days passed. But that was to you of course. And in your childish oblivion- more of a purposeful blindness really- both the boys and Estella felt this way as well.
While that might have been the case for Jasper and Horace, it wasn’t for Estella. She’d always been ambitious. And you couldn’t argue that she didn’t have the right to be either. Not with all her talent. But then there was the part you didn’t understand at first. Not until the day you left.
It had never occurred to you that a girl could feel that way about another girl, and it had certainly not occurred to you that she could feel that way about you. Or that what you felt for her, the way you never felt for any guy, could be that.
And it wasn’t until the day you left that you realised.
That day had started off as usual. A chaotic morning of getting ready, everyone getting dressed with their costume, yelling back and forth, disputing the one bathroom you all shared. A rushed breakfast as was also usual, Horace running after Wink with his crispies in hand, Jasper leaning on the kitchen counter with his tea, reading the news as his toast lay forgotten, you with your sandwich.
“Jasper, your toast is getting cold, don’t forget it.” you said to him as you went to wash your dishes.
Estella was still adjusting something, like she always did, a perfectionist through and through. You followed her into the “planning” room on the floor above with an apple in hand, like you always did.
“How many times do I have to tell you to not skip breakfast? We won’t be done with this one for a couple hours.” you said to her, tossing the apple her way when she looked at you from behind the mannequin.
“You worry too much darling. We’ll be having lunch at that nice restaurant today, we should get enough from our work to go there.” she said to you, smiling widely before taking a bite of the apple, then keeping it in her mouth as she resumed her task.
“I worry too much? Yeah, tell me about it” you said while laughing, and she answered with a furrow of her brows.
You had started to leave for the elevator, but then you felt the urge to look at her again. She looked a lot more stressed than usual.
“Is it because it’s the fancy watch store?”
“What?” she said, putting the apple down on a table.
“You’ve been messing with the cuffs on that shirt forever. You never second-guess your cuffs.”
“Well it’s because it’s satin. This one’s more slippery than usual” she answered without looking at you.
You stepped closer to her, taking her hands into yours to keep her from unpinning those cuffs again.
“It’s going to go just fine. Like it always does. This one’s just a bit more luxurious than usual, but nothing we haven’t done before”
She looked to the side as she huffed in frustration “But this one has a Police station right outside”
“We’ve done that too!”
“I don’t know, I just have a weird feeling about today.”
“The plan you guys came up with is just as good as the ones before, it’ll be fine!” you whispered the last part, tugging on her hand so she would look at you. Her jade eyes fixed on yours before she hugged you like she knew it would be the last time. Tight and long, and you hugged her back, naive as you were. Eventually she started to let go, only to stop and touch her forehead to yours. Your arms were around her waist, and hers had rested around your shoulders before she put one hand over your collarbone, and cupped your head with the other, just behind your ear. And then she leaned in to kiss you. Shy and sweet, her lips barely touched yours before Jasper shouted from underneath, making you two separate at once.
“Girls we should leave in five”
You looked at her, surprise etched all over your face, and she grabbed the apple and made for the elevator, not looking at you at all while it descended.
Then all of you left for the store, separating a couple streets before getting there. You would be the first to get in and the last to leave. Then Estella and Horace, and Jasper at last.
You'd barely paid attention to where you were walking, it was impossible with all those thoughts on your mind. If you hadn't slammed head first into some lady on the street you would have just kept on walking, not realising you'd missed the store already. You turned back around and got into the store, taking your sunglasses off as you did.
You tried very hard to keep a cool appearance, but distress was all you could convey. At this hour, the store was it's busiest, since it would be easier to get things done in the chaos. You tried to melt into the crowd until Estella and Horace walked in, their arms linked together.
You looked everywhere but at them. That was probably one of the reasons why everything went to shit. That and the fact that the Police saw you slam into the woman before getting in, they had an eye on you already.
They went on with the plan, started to talk to an employee the moment Jasper walked in. As Estella said her lines, as convincing as always, Jasper bumped into people to get their wallets, stole things from displays and what-not.
"Well, my husband here came to buy this watch the other day, but I just don't think it matches his eyes. I would very much like to see other options." she said.
You pretended to study a particularly ugly watch, just because it was the one that was displayed with the clearest view to where the pair of them stood.
"Oh absolutely not, that is the ugliest thing I've ever seen." and she went on, saying every watch was ugly, or wouldn't go well with his complexion, buying Jasper the time he needed for the employee to be distracted.
As it was getting time to leave Jasper went to you, as planned, dropped his findings onto your open bag and left. Estella said her last lines, ending the show with a banger.
"Well honey, you picked the lousiest watch store in England, I'm afraid this won't do."
"Ma'am, this company has been selling watches for nearly three centuries! We make watches for the royal family! There isn't any other company with comparable quality!" said the employee, offended.
"I'm afraid that the royal family's standards might be shamefully low. Now, I would like the money back for this watch. We are not keeping it, I might be ill if I have to look at it again."
And the employee begrudgingly gave them the money, so upset that there was no opportunity to check that the watch was real at all, and not a replica.
They left with no troubles, the mission had gone perfectly smoothly until then. And besides your twitchy behaviour, nothing else would have gone wrong if you hadn't messed up at the last moment.
You were forced to run. And so you did. It wouldn’t be until a few years later, under different names, that you would find her again.
|| Masterlist || ... who have you become? || Wattpad Link || AO3 Link ||
if you want to be tagged for part 2 or future works please let me know!(and tell me which) please don't forget to eat and drink water, and stay safe :)
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