#like to be fair I wasn't sure it was dot. I felt like it could be anyone at the end of the season

[jayflrt]

𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟕𝟖𝟔 26. the athenaeum

JAY HAD GONE THROUGH NUMEROUS INTERVIEWS IN HIS LIFE; THIS WASN'T ANYTHING HE HADN'T EXPERIENCED BEFORE.

The Athenaeum, which was the building designated for the Order members, looked grand on the outside, but it was even more magnificent on the inside. The living space was adorned with decorative sculptures and Corinthian pillars, and a spiraling staircase led to several upper levels. Jay swallowed hard when he realized that he would be living here if he was selected. That would surely make it harder to hide that he was only here for his assignment.

He walked in at 8:06 p.m. on the dot, hoping he had made the right decision, and a little anxious knot unraveled in his chest when Kim Jennie approached him with a pleased smile.

"Right this way to your interview, Jay," she said in a sweet voice, although her smile dropped as she tried to maintain a stoic expression.

In retrospect, the interview itself didn't sound too intimidating. A thirty minute interview with several people asking questions would go by quickly. But a room's worth of eyes were on him, and he felt his throat closing up. Surely, there were scarier things in the world than fifteen pretentious college students sizing him up, but Jay couldn't seem to think of anything but how stuffy the large room seemed to feel.

They were all sitting high above him, circling around the one chair in the middle of the room like a committee of vultures. They were all wearing dark cloaks with a golden wreath adorning the tops of their heads. It looked a little silly, but he tried not to stare too long at the headpieces.

Park Sungjin, Sunghoon's older brother, was seated right in the middle, eyes flitting between Jay and the sheet of paper in front of him. Jay looked around the room for a brief second, making eye contact with Jeonghan, who nearly cracked a smile before returning to looking impassive.

"Welcome to your interview, Jay," Sungjin began with an overwhelming air of authority, motioning for him to sit down. Jay cautiously took a seat, but he immediately felt swamped by everyone's gaze. "We've spent the past semester getting to know you and your accomplishments. All of us are quite familiar with your merit, but this interview is for us to get to know you on a deeper level to see if you have what it takes to be part of our next delegation."

Before Jay could even open his mouth to respond, Sungjin turned to the member to his right, asking, "Baekhyun, would you like to start us off?"

Byun Baekhyun nodded before leaning forward on his forearms. "Jay, if you could be president, during which historical event would it be?"

Jay almost gawked at him. Almost.

He treated the question as if it was any other professional interview question, though. If the Order was taking it seriously, then he had to, as well.

"Probably during the Great Depression," he answered after a few moments of pondering. "I would've done the opposite of whatever Hoover did with his laissez-faire approach, meaning more government intervention, more relief efforts, and less tariffs. Without the Great Depression, Germany probably wouldn't become fascist, so they would have no reason to form a huge army and start the second world war."

"Nice answer," Sungjin praised, which left a surge of relief flooding Jay's chest. "Jisoo?"

The pretty senior smiled coyly, scooting up in her seat to ask, "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?"

Jay seriously thought this was all some sort of sick joke. What kind of question was that? Had he been taking all of this way too seriously?

"Maybe one of those Moon Trees," he said. "I think it's pretty cool that the seeds were still viable after going to the moon and back."

Kim Taehyung was next to ask a question, clearing his throat loudly to cover up Jeonghan whispering to Xu Minghao about where they could find a Moon Tree seed.

"Jay," Taehyung started, "if you could slap any person—living or dead—who would you slap?"

Jay leaned back in his chair, taken aback by the question. Was there a correct way to go about such a question? Could he really just list any person? He could perhaps say Hitler or Stalin, but that was stupid; anyone would slap those two if they were given the choice.

He could go for a more entertaining route, but Jay's mind was currently blanking and he could only think of one person that would have been completely inappropriate to blurt out. He knew you told him to be honest, but honesty would probably do him more harm than good.

However, the seconds were ticking by, and Jay was suddenly overly-conscious of everyone's blank stares. His heart started to beat faster when he realized that everyone was waiting for him to respond.

"Park Sunghoon."

Jay didn't even realize the words actually came out of his mouth until he noticed that the room was dead silent. As if he wasn't nervous already, his blunder made his heart beat against his rib cage like a drum while his palms grew clammy.

It was over.

There was no recovering from such a royal fuck-up. Jay had to find another way to go about this mission. He would have to tell his client that he failed. Maybe he would finally be let go, but then he would have to leave—

A snicker. Then another. And another.

Soon, the entire room had burst into laughter over Jay's answer, including Park Sungjin. Although most of them still looked as if they were in disbelief, they found it absolutely hysterical.

Kim Doyeon, who was currently wiping tears from the corners of her eyes, fought down giggles as she said, "We need you to elaborate."

"Looks like your brother pissed someone off again," Oh Sehun joked, nudging Sungjin from behind.

Sungjin returned a half-grin before folding his arms across his chest and looking down at Jay. "I'd like to hear why, too."

"Uh..." Jay was floundering for an excuse, buying himself time by rubbing his nose. He surely couldn't mention anything that had gone down between Sunghoon and you, so he thought back to a previous memory with the junior. "He puked on my new shoes last semester and never acknowledged it after that. I had to clean them by hand, and he puked on them again."

More laughter chorused from the fifteen of them, and Jay felt a little relieved that he managed to come up with a believable excuse to throw them off. As dumb as their questions were, he almost got himself into trouble there.

Once Sungjin managed to calm down the rest of the members, he shot Jay an apologetic look. "Sorry about them. This is supposed to be a professional interview." He shot pointed looks around the room, but even he wasn't taking his own words seriously. "None of us have ever laughed this hard over an interview question. How about we move onto Minghao?"

Minghao, who Jay couldn't tell was smiling because of his answer about wanting to punch Sunghoon or because Jeonghan had finally shut up about the Moon Trees, straightened his back and squared his shoulders. "Jay, how would you describe the color yellow to someone who's blind? You can take your time to think about this one before you answer."

Jay frowned as he thought long and hard about Minghao's question. It wasn't that it was anything challenging to answer, but he was never really a big fan of the color yellow in the first place.

Sunshine. Dandelions. Canaries. Sunflowers.

Sunshine—but he wasn't really keen on bright, blinding sunlight. Jay more so enjoyed the yellow hues of a sunset or a sunrise. He supposed people associated the color yellow with happiness, but he couldn't really see it.

And then he thought harder about those bright yellows, wondering what it was about the vibrance that made people feel so much joy. He furrowed his brows, and then it came to him all at once.

It wasn't the sunshine itself. Sure, maybe it was a contributing factor, but he remembered that hike he went on while he was back in Washington for winter break. You were standing on a large tree root with your hands on your hips, squinting up at the brilliant sun before nearly tripping over your feet and then laughing hysterically. Something warm and joyful exploding in his chest back then, making him wish he could freeze time.

Maybe that was yellow.

"When you're sad, you say you feel blue," he responded, "so I'd tell a blind person that yellow is their happiest memory. It's like that feeling you get when you look up at the sun and feel its heat on your face, or seeing someone you care for smile really big."

(He swore he could hear Bae Joohyun cooing at his answer from the left end of the room.)

"I think we'll have to wrap this up soon because the next interview is gonna be soon," Sungjin said. "Jennie, would you like to take this one?"

"I can," she said with a nod. "Jay, can you tell me your interpretation of how the name 'Order of Kryptos' came to be?"

Rather than his mouth going dry this time, Jay was more than ready to answer this question—a real question, unlike the previous icebreakers he had been getting. He had done his research far before he even started going to networking events for the Order.

"If I remember correctly, Kryptos is in reference to the sculpture by Jim Sanborn—the one outside the CIA headquarters. It contains four messages, the first three being solved and the fourth remaining one of the most famous unsolved codes in the world," Jay explained. "The name 'Kryptos' itself is the ancient Greek word for 'hidden,' so I believe your society's goals revolve around seeking intelligence and discovering the unknown."

"And what do you think the number 786 signifies?"

"The passcode to the building?"

"Correct."

"Seven-eight-six..." he mumbled, trying to rack his brain for an answer. "The sculpture contains a total of 1,800 characters and only 768 of them are decoded. That's the only connection I can make in my head that relates to 786. Other than that, I don't really know."

Jennie smiled. "Thank you, Jay."

He swallowed thickly. Did he mess up? No, he couldn't have. Jay had been on thin ice when he said he'd punch Sunghoon, but everything else, for the most part, had gone smoothly. There was no possible way he had any idea of knowing what the passcode was for.

"That concludes your interview, Jay," Sungjin said. "We are still deciding on when we're starting Tap Week, so we'll reach out with more information once we've solidified plans. Thank you for meeting with us today."

"Thank you," Jay echoed through the dry mouth and slack tongue.

He went around giving everyone firm handshakes before walking out of the Athenaeum. Although he didn't feel like his interview went terrible, Jay had a sinking feeling that his answer about Sunghoon was going to come back to bite him.

prev | masterlist | next

SUMMARY ▸ private investigator jay park just wants to complete his mission quietly and move on with his life. you, his new assignment who keeps consuming his thoughts, don't make that very easy for him.

AUTHOR'S NOTE ▸ SORRY WILL ANSWER ASKS WHEN I WAKE UP! so eepy rn

TAG LIST ▸ @zdgx1 @smouches @heesdazed @teawithbucky @leep0ems @peachpie4you @niniissus @kgneptun @jaeyunluvr @hooniesuniverse @zerasari @enhalov @sophiko22 @iselltulips @hoondiors @baekhyunstruly @jays-property @woninluv @heerinnie @fakeuwus @yizhoutv @en-happiness @theothernads @y4wnjunz @dammit-jjk @en-happiness @mari-oclock @enhypens-baby @soonyoungblr @jakeslvt @taetaenic @jebetwo @fairysungx @hsgwrld @shmooooo @ineedsomezzz @mrowwww @enha-stars @isawritesss @seongclb @lockburn-castle @alyssajavenss @enczen @calumsfringe @w3bqrl @luvyev @uhsakusa @luvnicho @wildflowermooon @navsnct

#enhypen #enhypen smut #enhypen imagines #enhypen smau #jay smut #jay smau #jay imagines #jay x reader #enhypen social media au #enhypen x reader #enhypen scenarios #jay scenarios #jongseong smut #jay park #enhypen fanfic #jay fanfic #enhypen hard hours #jay hard hours #enhypen drabbles #jay drabbles #enhypen reactions #jay reactions

[couch-house]

sonic get hug dot ms paint

[full transcript under the cut]

Page 1:

Sonic and Knuckles stand on a hill overlooking Angel Island.

Knuckles folds his arms and leans back.

Knuckles: Y'know. You never told any of us what it felt like in your cybercage.

Sonic: What!! Man, you can't just ask a guy what his cybercage is like!

K: Well we all told you about ours. It's only fair.

S: Yeah but--!

K: Plus I'm worried about you. It's not good to keep these things bottled up.

S: What's this? I thought Amy was supposed to be the emotionally mature one. Don't tell me you've been paying attention to what she tells you?

K: Maybe I have been! I can be emotionally mature too, y'know. If you talk about what's bothering you, it can help you deal with it better. And you seem pretty bothered by what happened in cyberspace.

Knuckles playfully punches Sonic on the arm.

Sonic looks down in thought, scratching his chin.

K: So TALK, YOU!!

S: haha, Okay, okay!

Knuckles looks frustrated by this answer.

S: Hmm... It was kind of like what Amy described--numb, disorienting. Everything was fragmented and dreamy. But it mostly felt empty. Huge and empty. Freaked me out (haha...). Felt like I was in danger for some whatever reason. Just like a bad dream is all.

And I was completely alone.

Wasn't too bad, all things considered. Your experience definitely sounded worse.

Page 2:

Knuckles grabs a startled Sonic by the upper arms.

K: Listen to me, Sonic.

A wide shot of the two of them on the hill as Knuckles speaks.

Knuckles holds Sonic in eye contact.

K: I've spent most of my life alone. Sure, I had the island. The chao, the animals make a difference. But I know what it's like to be alone. And I probably would have stayed that way if you and Eggman had never showed up.

I know what you went through was awful. But I also know that's something you saved me from. And it's not something I'll let happen to you.

K: You were the first friend I ever had. Not counting Eggman, obviously. You are my first friend. And my best friend. I'm not going anywhere.

Sonic shakes and holds back tears. He turns away sniffing and coughing to wipe his eyes.

Page 3:

K: S-shit! Sorry, I wasn't trying to upset you, I was---!

S: No, no. It's cool man. I appreciate it.

Sonic calms down, still facing away.

S: heh...

Sonic whirls around pulls Knuckles into a hug.

S: Thanks, Knux. It's not that I didn't already know that. It's just nice to hear aloud I guess.

Sonic pushes Knuckles away.

Sonic turns away and stretches his arms behind his head.

K: Is that... something I should be saying more often?

S: Nah, once is enough for me.

S: Anyway! That's enough emotional vulnerability for one day. Want to hit each other with sticks?

Sonic races off down the hill as Knuckles enthusiastically grabs a big branch off the ground.

K: Hah! You say that like you could handle a single hit from me!

S: You'll have to catch me first, knucklehead!

#sth #knuckles the echidna #sonic the hedgehog #sonic the character #sonknux #not really but i think they might appreciate this #sonic frontiers spoilers #fanart #id in alt text #image described #this was jast gonna b the first two pages but the more i drew knuckles the more upset i was that sonic wasnt getting a hug #bc hes so huggable... lookit him... #also please clap. i dont think the ms paint part was the hard part. but the ms painting was. #comic

[a-world-with0ut-dr34ms]

A Possible Price x Journalist Reader Short Story

Word Count: 1k

"You ever been in love before, Captain?"

Price nearly chokes on his spit when he hears Gaz ask him that, lowering the cigar in his hand he'd just started smoking.

The two men stood outside a pub near the north side of Hereford, just about ready to call it an evening. Light snowfall dotted the pink sky like little white dandelions blowing away in the wind, as the docile crowds made their way about the snow-covered city.

Price scratched his head, somewhat perplexed, his black beanie hugging his hair as the cold air of his breath fogged around him. "In need of a bit of advice, Kyle?" he teases.

"Nah, nothin' like that, sir," Gaz shrugs casually. He slips his hands back into his pockets, looking off towards the street. "I just never hear you talk about anyone. Been startin' to think you might be some kind of grumpy, old hermit, Captain."

Price chuckles, taking another drag from his cigar. "A hermit?" he says. "Well, can't say I haven't heard that one before. As far as my love life goes..."

Price thinks back for a second, letting his gruff voice start to trail off into a distant thought, as some even further memories start to resurface. Some he hasn't thought about in quite some time now.

He blows the smoke out from his lips leisurely, shuffling in his stance a bit as he spoke. "I haven't had the pleasure," he states.

"Really?" Gaz sounds genuinely shocked by this. "Never?"

"You sound shocked," Price grins.

"I am," Gaz admits. "We talking 40-year-old virgin?"

"Now you're just havin' a go at me, Sergeant," Price laughs. He wouldn't comment on the fact that Gaz had been a few years off on the Captain's age. No doubt he looked the part of the old man, all the same. "I've been in my fair share of rodeos, believe me."

"But nothing serious?"

"Jesus kid, am I bein' interviewed?" Price laughs to himself.

"These are important questions, Captain," Gaz says sarcastically. "Between brothers-in-arms."

Now Price knew the Sergeant was just twisting his arm a bit, how he imagined a son probably would act at his age. At times, Price had to remind himself that Gaz was not his son; it felt easy to forget lately. Both men were also a bit tipsy, so he'd give Gaz a break on the intrusiveness of his questions.

Truthfully, the Captain didn't care about sharing with Gaz more details about his personal life. Price never was much for secrets, he just wasn't someone who'd go around sharing personal details uninvited, either.

If you want to know him, just ask, he's always thought.

Price finishes his cigar, flicking it off to the side before slipping his hands back into his pockets, sighing to himself as he thought back to the one person he could say meant a damn to him at some point. Jesus was that a long time ago though, he's realized.

"There was someone, once," he admits. "An American woman. Friend of Laswell's."

Gaz gasps. "Was she a spy?"

Price blows raspberries, squinting his eyes with joking disapproval. "She wishes," he says. "She was a journalist. Freelance. Never really good at it, but it always did make her happy. Though it was hard to tell at times..."

"Is she 'the one that got away' then, sir?"

Price chuckles to himself at the Sergeant's comment, though he doesn't follow it up with a reply. His silence speaks volumes enough.

"Say it ain't so, Captain," Gaz teases. "You ever try lookin' her up again?"

Price shakes his head immediately, wanting to laugh just at the thought. He couldn't even imagine how that interaction would go. "She wouldn't want to see me," he says. "I'm sure she'd sooner drown herself at sea."

Gaz shakes his head in defeat for his Captain. The Sergeant has certainly had his fair share of burnt bridges with past lovers. He can only imagine how many bridges his Captain's had to burn.

"You never know, though," Gaz shrugs. "Time changes people."

A car pulls up to the side of the road, stopping right in front of the men. The driver didn't even need to roll the window down before they both knew who was inside -- Gaz's younger sister Maya.

She waves to both men, long black curls bouncing playfully and her eyes especially ogling her brother's attractive, older boss. She did that a lot. Seeing as she was half his age and related to his colleague, however, Price couldn't be any less interested.

"Hi, John!" she waves to him, completely ignoring as Gaz made his way over to the passenger's side of the car. "You do something different with your mustache?"

"Just a new shampoo I've been trying out," Price unconsciously begins to stroke the facial hair on his chin.

"It looks good!"

Gaz gags to himself, remaining in the door of the passenger's side. "Maya, please," he warns her. He then turns back to his Captain. "Need a lift, sir?"

"I was lookin' forward to takin' a walk actually," Price declines. "You both have a good night."

Price watches Gaz drive off, waiting for him to round the corner before finally letting out a small sigh.

Lately, Price has suspected that the Sergeant felt bad for him, pitying him if the word wasn't so harsh. Gaz has known his Captain for years, including all the nothingness he had to return home to every time the team had leave. Gaz couldn't quite wrap his head around someone being content with coming home to just an empty house and his own devices, but it's been a suitable life for Price thus far.

If it ain't broke, why fix it?

Apart from his dog and neighbor, the Task Force had been his family, as had the SAS. When life took him away from that, he always had himself and his career. What more was there to need?

Price lingered outside the pub for a moment longer, however, pondering over Gaz's words. Thinking back to a time when he once felt ready to drop everything for a relationship as wracked with highs and lows as yours had been.

Time changes people...

Price always thought he knew that better than anyone.

Chapter One Here!

Idk what this is. A bit self-indulgent, the first thing I typed for Price, believe it or not. It's been sitting in my drafts since mid-April. At the time it had come down between this and Bloodstained Honesty. But this plot kind of haunts me, ngl.

An Angst turned Fluff Romance Story. That's the rough idea I had in mind anyway. Heavily inspired by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Though this is just a brain fart of that basically. Thoughts?

#john price x reader #captain price x reader #captain john price x reader #price x reader #john price #captain john price #call of duty #modern warfare ii #mwii #call of duty modern warfare ii #mw2022 #call of duty modern warfare 2 #call of duty mwii #call of duty modern warfare #modern warefare 2 #modern warfare #mw2 #Spotify

[illtakeyoutowonderland]

I can see you (Part 2)

Modern!Aemond x Reader

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Almost a week had passed since your first encounter with the Targaryean brothers and you weren't exactly sure how to feel. You didn't tell anyone, not even Kate. She was great and you love her as your friend but didn't exactly knew her that well and after all the personal things those men had said in front of you, you weren't sure how she would react and you didn't feel right spreading all those personal details about them

You did, in fact, googled them. You read almost everything you could find, even finding their social media pretty fast. It was hilarious how cliché the brothers were. While Aegon was the party boy and scandalous, brought up by the media pretty often, usually drinking and with friends and some women, Aemond was the most quiet one. With a degree in both law and history (you tagged him in your mind as a nerd, just for the pleasure of it) always attending more formal and business events and only one romantic relationship confirmed by the media with Maris Baratheon who you had no idea who she was and couldn't find anything about

You were now in the middle of your third meeting of the day, completly (not) focused on what anyone was saying when the screen from your phone lighted up with a message from an unknown number and as you read the text, only one person came to mind

Xxx: Thought you said you had a fanbase? And still you hadn't uploaded a photo on your feed in months

Xxx: Not even a few stories? That's not very Insta Girl of you

You: Aegon?

Xxx: The one and only 😏

You: How did you get my number?

You saw the three dots that indicated he was writing a response when Kate's elbow next to you gently found your side bringing you back to the meeting. You looked at her and then to your boss who luckily for you did not see you texting

Almost another more hour went by before the meeting was over and you walked to your desk and plop down with a sigh "Thought it would never end" You said to Kate as she sat in her own desk across from you "Lucky for us only half an hour to go home"

"You weren't even paying attention" She laughed "Who you were texting anyway? You looked preocupied"

"Oh, uhm... no one important" You said shrugging as you took you phone from your pocket "Just an unexpected text, no more" She replied with a hum that indicated she didn't truly believe you but didn't push any further as you read Aegon's reply

Xxx: I have my ways...

You: You found me on insta but now also have my number? It's a little creepy if I'm being honest

Xxx: Wasn't the intention. I promise!

Xxx: I just really wanted to keep talking to you before my brother interrupted us at the party. Thought I might keep in touch, you know?

You: I'm going to choose to believe you. But just this once...

Xxx: Fair enough

You: So what's next? You are going to pop up in my office unannounced or something? 😅

Xxx: About that...

Xxx: Look up from your phone

And you did only to find the blonde man standing a little far from your own desk chatting with your boss, his father and another man you didn't recognize

"Is that Aegon Targaryean waving at you?" Katie asked you in shock and you felt how your cheeks reddenen at being caught "He was your unexpected message wasn't he?" You looked at her but said nothing and that said everything "He was!" She scream whispered and laughed "Then why are you here still in your chair? Go say hi!"

"I'm working!" You tried to excuse but she only laughed harder

"Oh, please! It's friday, our shift is over in fifteen minutes. No one is working" She scoffed as she started tu put her things away "If you don't go, I'll go over there and tell him to come over to your desk" She said using her mom's voice and you believed her. You still couldn't believe how someone your own age could have a kid. You felt like a kid yourself, how was a kid supposed to raise another as beyond your knowledge. 

"Fine" You said rolling your eyes as she laughed at your childish behaviour. You walked over to the group of men praying the earth would swallow so you wouldn't have to face this

"Y/N! Hi!" Aegon said as you approach and you smiled at him. He walked to you but the other men saw your little interaction

"I wasn't aware you knew Y/N" Your boss said and you just wanted to kill Aegon right in the spot

"We met at the party last week" He said smiling but not failing to notice how much you wanted to murder him "We talked breifly" He scratched the back of his neck

"The social one of the family, my son" Viserys said with a laugh and it took everything in you not to slap him for being such a hypocrite "Always admire that from him" Aegon smiled nervously at that and the man offered you a hand shake as he introduced himself "I'm Viserys, Aegon's father, owner and CEO of Targaryean Law Firm. And this is Criston Cole the vicepresident" He said with a smile which replied with one of yours and a little hello and the men nodded at you. And that's when you saw from the corner of your eye a second blonde man and of course it had to be fucking Aemond followed by another man probably the age of Viserys "Great timing! This is Otto Hightower my most loyal friend and president and my youngest Aemond" He said introducing the two men and Aemond's eyes went wide as he spotted you

"It's nice to meet you all" You said with a smile trying to ignore Aemond's eyes on you

"Y/N here is our newest addition" Your boss said proudly and you were ready to dig your own whole on the earth. You looked over at Aegon who looked at you like a puppy that was well aware it was guilty and he mouthed a sorry "New to the company and to town"

"Where are you from?" Criston asked you and you tell them where you used to live "That's a lovely place, I went there over a summer a few years ago" 

"And why the sudden change? If I may ask" Otto asked you curiously and barely hidding the fact he was trying to gather some information about the new Aegon's friend

"Just needed some change of air" You shrugged being as vaguely as you could and the man smiled at you knowing what you had done to not say anything personal. Your phone started to buzz with a call from your father and you hesitated for a second "Sorry, I have to take this" You excused yourself as you walk a little farther from the group of men as you said hi to your father. You both talked for a couple of minutes as you told him you were still at work and he said he only called you to say hello and ask you about the Holidays. You missed him a lot, but still weren't sure if you could go back town to visit. He made you laugh on one final comment as he said his goobyes and you did the same "Bye, love you!" Which he replied with one love you more and then hang up as you walked towards your previous group and you noticed how both Aegon and Aemond looked over at you "Sorry, it was my father" You said to the men ignoring the brother's stares

"Ah, family, the most important thing in life, righ?" Viserys said to you and you smiled not sure what to respond to that "We should headback anyway. It was a pleasure to meet you Y/N" He said to you and you said your goobyes to the men as your boss also went back to his office to finish the day

"You have ten seconds to explain what the hell was all of this" You said to Aegon when he stay behind with you and he put his puppy face again as he stared at you for a few seconds

"And you just lost half of it" Aemond snorted from behind you. You hadn't noticed he also had stayed behind with his brother

"What are you even doing here?" You asked him annoyed and he looked up from him phone to you bored

"Business" He shrugged and went back to his phone and you rolled your eyes at him "Your ten seconds are over" He said to his brother

"Are you always this annoying?" You asked Aemond crossing your arms over your chest

"Are you always this moody?" He replied with a frown as he copied you and cross his own arms over his chest and now you could see how the fabric of his suit tensed with the movement only to reveal the muscles of his arms and shoulders. Of course he also has muscles you thought as you blushed a little noticing you stared at him for a little too long

"I'm sorry Y/N. Truly I am" Aegon's apologize brought you back from your thoughts "Wasn't my intention to make you uncomfortable. I just thought it would be good timing to contact you today since I was coming over"

"So you stalked me over instagram and magically got my personal number. Makes sense" You sarcastically said but you saw the genuine apologize on Aegon's words, and you knew half of you annoyance was due to the neverending week you just had. And Aemond's presence for some reason. So you tried not to be too harsh on him as you softened your tone "Couldn't just ask me for my number like a normal person?"

"My brother is a lot of things, normal not being one of them" Aemond snorted and smirked at his brother when he looked at him a little hurt

"Takes one to know one, I guess" You snapped at him and it was your turn to smile as you watch his smirk fade away

"Let me invite you a drink? And I'll explain everything" Aegon said breaking Aemond's and yours childish behaviour "Please?" Why are his puppy eyes so convincing?

"Fine. Just one" You agreed and Aegon smiled "Let me grab my things and I'll meet you outside" He agreed to your plan and you walked over to your desk where a very excited Kate was waiting for you for what just happened "He invited me for a drink and his brother is an asshole" You said summing everything up

"Aemond?" You hummed a yes as you put your things in your back "The one that stared at your ass all your way back here and keeps staring at you?" 

"What?" You said looking up at where he was standing and you did in fact catch him staring with a smirk just as he turned to leave with Aegon to the elevators "Fucking idiot" You whispered to yourself and heard Kate laughing as you felt how your cheeks were turning red

"I'm expecting a full and very detail report about whatever happens with those two by monday fisrt thing in the morning" She said to you as you both made your way out of the building and you rolled your eyes at her but laughed anyways

"Only if you buy the coffee"

"Deal" She said as she hugged you goodbye for the weekend and left you alone with the Targaryeans

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

@anehkael

If you wanna be tag, let me know! 💜

#hotd #hotd fanfic #aemond targaryen #aemond x reader #modern targaryen #modern aemond #modern aemond x reader

[raaorqtpbpdy]

Creepy Carl

Danny is not fond of his parents' old ghost hunting friend that's come to pay them a visit for the week.

For the prompts: Jack and Maddie invite an old ghost hunting buddy (not Vlad) to stay in their guest room for the week. Expecting to catch up with their good ole pal, they're a little confused when this ghost hunter just keeps asking questions about their son, Danny [from @ectoblastfromthepast], and After the accident, Danny no longer has a shadow, and he isn't the first person to notice its absence. [from TheSilentBard]

Fair warning, Danny calls the old ghost hunting buddy 'Creepy Carl' for a reason. It may not be sexual in any way, but he is still very much creeping on a child, and I think y'all should be aware of that going in.

Read also on AO3

[Warning for uncanny valley elements, and (non-sexual) inappropriate behavior by an adult toward a minor]

How many 'old ghost hunting buddies' did his parents have? Danny wondered as they introduced them to one Anderson Carl. First Vlad, and now this guy?

Apparently, after college and before Jazz was born, the two of them had gone on many a ghost hunt with Mr. Carl. Now, he had his own paranormal investigation blog with a pretty decent readership, and he had come to Amity Park to do a piece on the town, which of course meant he needed a place to stay in town while he was doing research.

Luckily, he had a couple of old buddies with a guest room who happened to live right where the action was, and when he told them he was coming to town, they eagerly invited him to stay in said guest room for the whole week he was planning to stay. They thought it would be a great chance to catch up with their good ole pal, but Danny was wary the second he laid eyes on the man.

Anderson Carl wasn't as tall as Jack, as hardly anyone was, but he still loomed over Danny at a solid six feet tall, probably a few inches taller than that. He had close-cropped, dirty blond hair, and dark gray eyes like angry storm clouds, they even seemed to light up with electric curiosity as Danny watched the man, and the man also watched him.

"Welcome to Fenton Works," Maddie greeted him cheerfully. "That's our son, Danny. Our daughter Jazz is out tutoring right now, but she'll be back in a few hours."

"Nice to meet you, Danny," Mr. Carl said, and smiled.

The smile was perfectly ordinary, but Danny couldn't help feeling a sinister chill when it was directed at him. Maybe it was to too-white teeth, or the way it stretched his chapped lips so tightly they looked like they might crack, but Danny didn't like it.

"Uh... sure," Danny said cautiously. "Sorry, but I've got homework to do, so I'm gonna go."

He could feel those dark eyes following him all the way up the stairs, and when he closed his bedroom door behind him, he felt like Mr. Carl couldn't be leaving town soon enough. A whole week of this already sounded unbearable.

The next morning, when Danny got dressed and left for school, Mr. Carl was already awake, and sitting at the kitchen table, typing on his laptop. The laptop, too, was a dark grey, but it had a sticker on it that said UncannyCarl.com in bright red letters designed to look like they were partially obscured by smoke.

"Good Morning, Danny," the man greeted, with that same unsettling smile from the day before. "Off to school?"

"Yeah, it's Monday, so..." Danny trailed off. He took an orange out of the bowl on the counter for breakfast, not taking his eyes of the man before him. "Is that your blog, Mr. Carl?" he asked. "Uncanny Carl dot com?"

"That's right," the man confirmed. "Uncanny is something of a synonym for paranormal, but really the name is based on... are you familiar with the uncanny valley effect?"

"Never heard of it," Danny said.

"The uncanny valley effect is when you see something that looks human in most respects, but it's just slightly off enough to make your brain send out warning signals that it's not human, and you shouldn't be fooled by it," Mr. Carl explained. "Often times, you aren't consciously aware of what detail your brain registers as wrong that's causing the uncanny valley effect, whether it's that their arms are just slightly too long, the shape of their face is abnormal, or they don't have a shadow. Your brain notices it, even if you don't."

Danny couldn't help thinking that this guy was a little uncanny valley himself, but he thought it would be rude to say out loud, and he didn't want to piss off his parents' creepy guest.

"That's fascinating Mr. Carl, but I gotta get to school."

"Oh, and you can drop the 'Mr', by the way," he said. "Everyone just calls me Carl, even though it's my last name. In school, people used to joke that my parents must've but my name backwards on my birth certificate."

Danny just furrowed his eyebrows, shook his head, and left the kitchen, along with Creepy Carl, behind him as he headed out the front door to school.

Between classes, he caught Sam and Tucker up on his new house guest.

"Great, because all you need is another ghost hunter living under your roof," Sam said sardonically.

"I know, right?" Danny agreed. "At least this one's only staying until Saturday, but he's already creeping me out. I feel like he's constantly watching me whenever we're both in a room together. It's weird."

"Do you think he noticed something about you?" Tucker asked. "I mean, you don't know anything about this guy. What if he's actually a better ghost hunter than your parents?"

"It's not hard to be," Sam scoffed.

Danny ignored her, choosing instead to answer Tucker's question. "I'm not sure, but... maybe? He was talking about something called the uncanny valley effect, which he explained as being able to recognize when something that looked human wasn't, I guess. Something like that, anyway. He was just explaining the name of his blog, but he might've meant it as a warning that he was onto me.

"If you ask me, he's the uncanny valley one, though."

—

Jack and Maddie had been excited to show their old friend around their (relatively) new lab, especially the Fenton Ghost Portal. Carl seemed suitably interested in all of it, and he listened as they caught him up on their lives since he'd parted ways with the couple, but the whole time he seemed a bit... distracted.

Back when they were fresh college graduates, Carl had been an eager note-taker, his pencil hardly stilling on the pad of yellow lined paper he always carried with him. But now, he was hardly taking any notes at all. Even when he was staring at the portal between this world and the next, he only scribbled down a few sentences before twirling his pencil idly between his fingers.

They asked him about what he'd been up to since they last saw him, and he told them, but he was remarkably brief. He mentioned that he'd gone solo for a bit before deciding to start a blog, and he'd been running that ever since, writing the occasional opinion piece for local newspaper to get some supplemental income.

He'd finished talking about himself in under a minute, and even when asked, he didn't seem keen to elaborate on any particular investigation of his over the last sixteen years. All he said was that they could read about it all on his blog.

That wasn't the end of his strange behavior, because the next thing he asked about was Danny.

Jack and Maddie were of course very eager to brag about their kids, especially Jazz, but when they started to do so, Carl said they were getting off track, and he was really curious about Danny.

He asked them how old Danny was, if he was at all reclusive, or short-tempered, if they'd ever noticed him acting particularly odd or cagey.

They answered of course, seeing no reason not to. Carl was their friend after all, and they trusted that he didn't have any bad intentions when it came to their son—and if he did, they wouldn't hesitate to beat his ass and hand him over to the police—but surely he didn't. They were still confused though. Especially because, since the conversation turned to Danny, Carl's pencil hadn't stopped moving even once.

"What's with all the questions about Danny?" Jack asked. "I thought you came here to investigate ghosts."

"Oh, no real reason," Carl replied with a casual shrug. "Just... a bit of a hunch. I won't bother you with it unless I happen to find proof." Then he asked, "Have you even noticed that the air feels colder around Danny, or that standing next to him gives you an uncomfortable buzzing sensation under your skin?"

It was a odd question... but even odder was that neither Jack nor Maddie were actually sure of the answer. They worked with ghosts all the time so of course they felt sensations like that, but... neither could remember if they'd felt them around Danny... nor could they say for sure that they hadn't.

As Carl continued his line of questioning, a feeling of disquiet settled in on top of their confusion. After a point, they asked if he might want to hear about some of the recent ghost incidents around town, rather than just spending all day talking about their fourteen-year-old son.

Carl looked at them in silence for a moment, his eyes narrowed as if he might challenge them and insist. But then his lips quirked up in a smile, and he agreed to the subject change without resistance.

It wouldn't be the last time he asked about Danny that week though. He would stop, when asked, but by and by, the topic of Danny would always come up again, and when they told him about Danny's accident with the Fenton Portal a few months before, he seemed particularly intrigued.

—

It had been three days since Creepy Carl took up residence in the Fenton guest room, and Danny could confidently say that he hated the guy. He'd suspected as much from day one, but now that it was Wednesday, Danny had confidently confirmed that Creepy Carl almost never looked away from Danny when the two of them were in the same room, and it was seriously freaking Danny out.

At home, Danny was spending almost all his time in his bedroom to avoid running into the guy. Unfortunately, his bedroom shared a wall with the guest room, and just knowing the guy was right on the other side of the wall was causing Danny to lose sleep.

Still, Creepy Carl never did anything more than just watch him. At least, not until very late Friday night, or very early Saturday morning. Danny never did know which was more correct. His discomfort proved to be well founded when, around one in the morning that night, he awoke to a bright light being shined on his face.

Danny put a hand up to block the light and sat up to see what was causing it.

He wasn't sure if she should be surprised or not when he made out the silhouette of Anderson Carl shining a flashlight directly at his face. Danny was pretty sure his bedroom door had been locked. Ever since Carl started staying the room next door, Danny had been making sure to lock it. Obviously that had been a futile endeavor.

"What the hell, Carl?" Danny groaned. "Just... just what the hell?"

"What are you?" Creepy Carl asked creepily.

"What do you mean what am I? I'm a freshman."

"A freshman without a shadow?"

"What?"

"Look behind you?"

Danny was hesitant to take his eyes off the creep in front of him, but curiosity got the better of him and he turned.

On the wall behind him was a circle of light from Carl's flashlight. For a moment, Danny didn't register what he was supposed to be seeing, then as the tiredness in his brain started to lift slightly, he realized. He was supposed to be seeing his shadow behind him.

It wasn't there.

He snapped his head back around to look at Carl, and jumped with a start when he realized that the man had taken several steps closer to Danny's bed when he wasn't looking, in absolute silence, and without any movement of the flashlight in his hand. He was now knelt next to the bed, scrutinizing Danny with wide eyes.

"What are you?" Carl repeated.

He was close enough now that Danny could feel the warmth of his breath and lurched backwards in vague disgust and alarm.

"Uncanny Valley, right?" Danny said. "You would know better than I would. What are you?"

Danny had thought that Carl wasn't moving, but then he suddenly froze, and Danny realized the still he'd been a moment ago had been jittery and trembling, but the still he was no was statuesque and cold. He said nothing, and narrowed his eyes like he wasn't sure if he should, or if he should keep holding his cards close to his chest.

"I'll be honest, I never actually noticed I didn't cast a shadow until you pointed it out," Danny admitted. "But I've noticed plenty of uncanny valley around you."

"Like what?" Carl asked, though his tone didn't carry any doubt, just curiosity.

"Like... your smile is wrong. You teeth are too straight, and too white. Kinda like a TV news anchor, except I'm pretty sure there are too many of them." Danny saw Carl run his tongue over his teeth like he was counting them. Then he added, "And also, your lips are all cracked and gross, which isn't uncanny valley, but it is weird that you'd take such good care of your teeth and not even bother with some lip balm."

"Is that all?"

"Your eyes are weird, too," Danny continued. "Nobody's eyes are that color, and even if they were, they wouldn't spark like yours do, just tiny flashes of light. Human eyes don't do that. And your skin is too thin, I think, because your veins and stuff are all weirdly visible, even though you're not that pale."

Carl nodded slowly.

"And... how many teeth are people supposed to have?" he asked.

"I dunno," Danny said with a shrug. "I think, like, thirty, thirty-two, somewhere around there."

"Thanks for the tip," Carl said. "Your eyes flash, too, you know. Bright green. When your emotions are running high."

"Yeah, I know. I've been working on that."

"You're really not going to tell me, are you?" Carl stood, evidently resigned to not getting an answer. "I know you're not a human, and I know you're no ordinary ghost. You sure you won't even give me a hint?"

Danny gave him a derisive snort. "Will you?"

"No, I suppose not." Carl smiled then, and though it was dark, Danny could almost swear the number of teeth in his mouth had changed. "I guess we'll both just have to suffer in disappointment. Goodnight, Danny."

With that, he turned around and walked out of the room, not waiting for an answer.

Danny got up and went to check his door, to see if Carl had broken the lock to get in or something.

Not only was it not broken, it was still locked. Danny had seen the door open and close. He'd heard the doorknob twist. But it had somehow remained locked the whole time.

"Goodnight, Creepy Carl," Danny whispered.

He went back to bed, but didn't get a wink of sleep.

Creepy Carl left the following afternoon, much to Danny's relief.

He hoped that he would never have to see the man again, but somehow, he had a feeling he would. Someday, somewhere... when he least expected it.

#dp #danny phantom #danny fenton #oc #maddie fenton #jack fenton #uncanny valley #phic phight 24 #phic phight #fic #things i wrote

[danosrosegarden]

Angel (Part Three) - Edward Nashton x GN!Reader

Contains: a small dose of angst, mentions of sex work, and that's about all!

Note: once again, I'd like to say Angel Eddie has minor differences to Paul Dano's 2022 Riddler. I'm so pleased with this little series so far, and I hope you continue to read!

The lights inside of Josephine's were stuck in a constant whir. Perhaps it was just your eyes having grown accustomed to the dark, gloomy, rain-drenched streets of Gotham, but Josephine's blazing yellow walls and buzzing overhead lights were nibbling on your nerves and giving you a blasting headache.

Your waitress wasn't Josephine. Her nametag said Olga. She was old. She frowned by default, the wrinkles of her face carved deep into her mole-speckled skin. She stalked over to your table slowly.

Olga pulled a notebook from the front of her apron and clicked a pen. "Go ahead," she said in a gravelly rasp.

You looked up from your cup of black coffee and peered at Edward, who stared back at you with a straight face and empty eyes. In the light of the diner, you could finally see his face better. Round, freckled cheeks, an eternal blush dusting the dotted skin. His nails were torn and jagged, the skin of his lips chapped and peeling off. His glasses were thin and crooked, resting on his curvy nose at a slant. He was beautiful. Disheveled and anxious, but undeniably beautiful.

"Gonna order something?" Olga grunted.

"Oh. Um. Can I just have, um..." Your eyes frantically darted around the breakfast section of the menu as your cheeks tingled with heat. "Pancakes? An order of pancakes?"

"You want fruit on the side?"

"Sure, sure, thank you."

"Hmm." Olga snatched the menu from your weak grasp and turned to Edward. "What'll it be."

"The coffee is just fine, thank you."

Olga plucked the menu from in front of him and walked away without another word.

"You're not getting anything?" you asked.

"No."

You'd noticed something about Edward the moment you first interacted...he did not like to look you in the eyes, but when he did, he stared. He stared long and hard, and that stare had sharp, frosty icicles. His stare was deep, penetrating, and though it felt rather invasive, you were the one who had asked a stranger to roll down their window and open their door. You were the one intruding, spending his money, wasting his time.

Through the guilt bubbling in your stomach, you thirsted for any scraps on Edward's plate. You wanted to know more.

"Are you going to tell me what you were doing in an empty parking lot at five in the morning?"

Edward's stare faltered for a split second; a single crack in the code. His eyes darted away for a fraction of a moment and quickly targeted back on you.

"Sometimes I drive when I can't clear my head."

"Fair enough. What was on your mind, Edward?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize."

You listened to the clicking of plates in the kitchen for a moment, the boisterous laughter from the cooks. The place smelled like maple syrup. The air tasted of something thick and cinnamony.

"What were you doing?" Edward asked, his eyes now fixated on the table.

"I told you, I got kicked out."

"I'm sorry."

You shrugged. "Hey, it's not your fault, it's mine."

Something inside of you was tugging at your vocal chords, urging you to share more. You weren't exactly sure what to make of Edward and what you felt about him. He couldn't be a friend...you had just met, and met under circumstances less than ideal. But something lying dormant was peeking out from under the covers, begging you to let go, to have faith in him. Speak.

"I was living with a...uh...a boyfriend, let's say."

"Let's say?"

"I don't know what to call him, Edward. My..."

Here we go.

"My work. Having a serious relationship didn't always work so well, considering what I do for work."

"What do you do?"

You sighed, resting your face in your cold, dry hands. "I'm a sex worker."

There was no twitch of his eye, no perk of his lip, nothing to gauge a reaction.

"I hope you don't look down on me." You could've decked yourself in the face for sounding so pathetic. Who gave a fuck what he thought?

You did. There was no explaining why, there was just a sorry, feeble wish that he'd still want to converse with you.

"I don't look down on you, Y/N."

"Do you want to know something, Edward?"

"What?"

"I'm glad you were there when you were. I-I know this sounds crazy, but you're already like a friend to me." Your stomach flipped in wild leaps as you talked. You were like a bursting firecracker, crackling through the air without a break. "I mean, you don't care about my work. Marshall started off as a client. I thought he didn't care. But he fucking kicked me out. I needed more money to live, Edward, and he didn't understand that." You hands shook and your heart started to race. Your voice was raising, but it was all gas, no brakes. You couldn't find a way to stop. "I mean, who does that? He knew what he was getting into when he got with me. And since when were we even an official thing? Sure, we were living together, I guess, but he liked to drink, he liked to smoke. Those are expensive hobbies, Edward. He just...he didn't get it."

The air around the table was shrouded with a foul-smelling cloud of awkward silence. Edward peered up at you, nursing a bleeding strip of skin from a hangnail he'd ripped off while you were ranting. He said nothing, his face pale and blank.

You cleared your throat.

"My point is," you spoke, even and calm, "you're not like that. I feel as if you understand me already. I...I don't know. I feel as if we were meant to be here together."

"You do not want to be my friend."

Your eyebrows furrowed. That's what he had to say after everything?

"Why do you say that?"

He shook his head. "I-I'm sorry. There's just...there's so much you don't know about me, Y/N."

Edward was beautiful, yes, but in a disheartening way. There was something crying in the chasm of his hazel eyes that looked broken, stitched from torn pieces of dirty fabric. Perhaps there was something in Edward that also felt used, hurt, stamped on, burnt out. Maybe in sharing this space with him, your pain would coalesce into one broiling ball of shame you'd hold onto together. Could your charred skin ever heal? Could those acidic burns of the past ever cool, or was it wishful thinking? You wondered.

Edward took a sip of his coffee and set the cup back down with a shaking hand.

"Y/N, it is a brave thing to love me. That's what I'll say."

He was beautiful, dishearteningly gorgeous, and shrouded in mystery. Before you had time to begin unraveling his words, Olga bumbled over to your table and set down your plate of pancakes.

Fruit on the side.

"Thank you," you said softly, pulling a fork from the wrap of utensils on the table.

A brave thing. It echoed in your mind like a call out in an empty church. It is a brave thing to love me.

You did not speak to God often. When you did, you were usually asking Him for something. As you chewed on your warm, cloudy pancakes and watched Edward watch the carpet, you asked for one thing.

Let me know more. I'd like more of him. Please.

#Eli's writing #Danonation #Paul Dano #Edward Nashton #The Riddler #The Batman #Edward Nashton x reader #The Riddler x reader #Edward Nashton x you #The Riddler x you #Edward Nashton x Y/N #The Riddler x Y/N

[dumplingsfordays]

evening hours

ok so hihi i'm back and down bad for dainsleif (as usual)

this is just a quick little idea i had while i was in the car so i wrote this down in a google doc and then pasted it here 😭😭

apologies for any spelling/grammar mistakes, this isn't proofread so there may be a lot :/

anyways thank you for reading and have an amazing day <3

source for the art (i couldn't find the initial artist, i'm sorry) : @abimanyuputro on pinterest

warning! if you're uncomfortable with any of these topics, please don't read : cuteness to angst to comfort, implied overworking from reader but not really specified

++++

mood :

Lavoe - kept crystal castles but its only piano (link to spotify)

daniel.mp3 - 3am walk - slowed & reverbed version (link to spotify)

lil indo - the beach (instrumental/slowed/muffled) (link to spotify)

++++

The first time you saw him, you were intrigued.

He had a mysterious air about him, emphasized by that starry cloak of his that he never seemed to take off. Delicate blonde hair, outlining his features with smooth strands, poured like a golden waterfall from the top of his head, and his cyan eyes were sharp and cold, but you could sense a sort of sadness hidden deep in them whenever you made eye contact. This wasn't a Mondstadter, you knew that for sure. He didn't look like he was from any other region in Teyvat, too - you could only assume that maybe this gentleman had a very unique taste in clothing and was simply blessed with inhumane beauty. You didn't think that he'd keep visiting your café, though.

The second time you saw him, you were curious.

Curious about his mask that covered only half of his face. Curious about his clothing, his mannerisms, his reticent politeness. Curious about why he was here in Mondstadt at all, and for what reason he seemed to be staying here. His face was a blank, white dot in the crowd of regulars you'd see each day, an enigma, and this fact made you wonder. Where did he come from? Why was he so reserved? And, arguably most importantly - who was he, really?

The third time you saw him, you were friendly.

You struck up conversation about the gorgeous weather outside when you brought him his coffee. Of course, he agreed, saying that it was a perfect time to go for a walk in the Whispering Woods, where the overarching trees provided the perfect amount of shade from the sun, and your quick talk ended there. He thanked you with that same quiet civility before you left his table, but this time, it was accompanied by a barely noticeable smile dancing on his fair lips.

The fourth time you saw him, you were open.

Your conversations were getting longer and longer as the days went by. His previously guarded-off persona was crumbling, and it seemed that he was getting more comfortable talking to you (and maybe even simply being around you). His eyes grew softer when you approached, his tense hands relaxed. You liked this new version of him - a version that he seemed to be hiding from you before he knew you meant no harm, a version that finally felt like it could be honest with you. He would be welcome in the café after closing hours, and you would enjoy simply talking to each other over some tea and muffins about the various aspects of your lives. At times, these conversations would get deep, philosophical - you talked about the meaning of life, about fate. He seemed interested in these topics, to your relief. You never really had a person that you could talk to about this, as they either always changed the subject to something a little more "real", or ignored you altogether, but this man was different. You felt like he was an old friend despite never knowing his name.

The fifth time you saw him, you were a mess.

Everything in your life seemed overwhelming, endlessly crushing at this point. You closed the café early today in an attempt to have extra time to pour your emotions out through some good ole crying, but you forgot about the man, still sitting at a table, book in hand. When you didn't come to him after the clock struck 8:15 (the usual time you'd come over after putting all the cups to soak), he looked over at the counter. You weren't there.

He assumed that you had more duties to attend to, and kept reading, keeping one eye the counter while he was doing so. In fact, instead of being in the storage room, whose entrance was past the counter, you were leaning against it, trying desperately to not cry too loudly. Your hot tears stung as they rolled down your cheeks, but you didn't dare move to wipe them away. You didn't want him to see you in this sorry state.

Unluckily for you, he heard one of your short gasps for air. He immediately set his book down to come over to the counter, and lo and behold, you looked up at him, cheeks and nose reddened as he peered over the wooden surface in worry.

"Can I come behind the counter?" he asked in genuine concern, a tone which you had never heard him speak with.

You nodded, sniffling. You must look absolutely pathetic to him right now.

He walked with urgency to you, and knelt across from you on the floor. He took your hands in his as his cyan eyes met your bloodshot ones.

"Are you okay?"

At these soft-spoken words, the dam broke. Tears poured from your eyes like crystal-clear rivers, and you pulled your hands away from his to bury your face in them. You shuddered as you desperately tried to catch quick breaths of air, gasping, eyes screwed shut.

"Hey, hey," he muttered, trying his best to be reassuring. You felt his (rather large) hands cup your face, carefully pulling it upwards. His thumbs wiped away your still-running tears with gentle care.

"Shh. Breathe, just breathe. That's it."

In between sniffles and ragged breaths, you explained why you were in such a state. You were reluctant to tell him - after all, you didn't want him to think ill of you (or worse, to bear yet another burden on his shoulders. He was probably carrying a lot as it was, and you felt like it was unfair that he should carry your problems with him, too).

"I'm- I'm sorry," you said hoarsely. "For this whole thing. I should've just-"

"No. You shouldn't apologize, not for this," he reassured, "but thank you for being honest."

You nodded, blinking away the last of your tears.

"Please tell me if you need anything."

You chuckled, albeit pitifully. "Yeah, if you know how to magically erase all of my problems with a fairy wand or something."

"I'm being serious, y/n," he warned, but his lips betrayed him - their corners quirked up into a small smile.

"I'll be fine," you sniffed one last time, before standing up, at which he stood up with you. "I'll be okay."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I am. I think, at least."

"Alright then."

He walked back to the table on which his book lay, and after retrieving it, he headed towards the door. Before he exited, however, he stole one last glance towards you, and cleared his throat.

"You'll tell me though, right?"

"About what?" you asked as you watered some plants on a windowsill.

"If you need anything."

You turned to face him, and your eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, you really meant that?"

"Of course."

"Well... I am rather short on Mora."

A glare from the man made you freeze, and then you threw up your hands like you were at gunpoint (because you pretty much were at that point).

"Just kidding!" you laughed awkwardly, and in response, his gaze softened. "But no, there's nothing. I think all that crying cleared my head up a little bit, though. Thank you, truly."

He nodded, another smile gracing his elegant features, and walked out into the cold night air.

++++

#genshin imagines #writeblr #genshin x reader #dainsleif #dainsleif x reader #dainsleif x you #genshin dainsleif #i am literally so down bad for him omg #dain <33 #dainsleif x y/n #dainsleif genshin impact #genshin impact #genshin fanfic #fanfic #dainsleif imagines

[thereceptioniststyles]

Cutting Ties

My mind was racing as I realized what needed to be done - I had to end the relationship with Beck. Despite everything being almost perfect between us, there was a nagging feeling in my gut that something wasn't right. He took great care of me, always making sure I was happy and entertained, and his culinary skills were unmatched. In the two years we had been together, we never had a real argument. But it wasn't fair to him - a kind and loving partner - that I couldn't shake the persistent thoughts and attraction towards someone else: a man I didn't even know. As my conscience delved deeper, I admitted that I didn't truly know Harry either. I didn't know his quirks or his innermost thoughts and desires. All I knew was that he was mysterious and undeniably beautiful, but that alone could not justify betraying Beck's trust and love for me.

The drive home was excruciating, each mile feeling longer than the last. My mind raced with the decision I had made to end things with Beck, my first true love. Surprisingly, I didn't feel sadness or regret, but a sense of relief and empowerment for choosing what was best for me. Yet, as I neared my destination, a pang of guilt weighed heavy in my chest. How could I bring myself to break his heart? To make matters worse, I knew I couldn't face him in person and would have to do it over text. The thought made my stomach churn and tears prick at the corners of my eyes. As the car rolled to a red light I stopped I took a deep breath before mustering up the courage to deliver the heartbreaking message.

With a heavy heart, I withdrew my phone from my pocket and unlocked it. I navigated to the contact with his name - Beck. My fingers trembled as they hovered over the keyboard, hesitating before finally pressing down and typing out the words that had been weighing on me all day. "Hey Beck," I began, my thumbs moving quickly across the screen, "I've had a tough day at work and it's made me realize that I need a break. It's not your fault, I'm just struggling with depression and I need some space." The message sat there, blinking back at me with finality as I hit send.

As the light turned green, the all-too-familiar taunting three dots appeared on my phone screen indicating that he was typing a response. A sick hope stirred within me as I imagined him begging for me to stay. My heart ached for him to plead and hold onto me, to finally see that he was the one I truly needed. I secretly longed for myself to realize that falling for Harry had been a foolish mistake, when my true prince in shining armor had been by my side all along. The anticipation grew with each passing second, the relentless tapping of keys filling the silence between us. And then, finally, the notification of his message appeared on my screen.

I pressed on the gas pedal for a few more minutes, the rumbling of my car's engine filling my ears. Finally, I reached my designated parking spot and put the car in park. With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and stared at the screen, knowing that my fate had already been sealed. Every decision I had made up until this point had led me to this moment, and there was no turning back now. The cold metal of the phone felt heavy in my palm as I prepared myself for what was

I started reading the text message on my phone, my hands trembling. "Hey Ayla," it began. "You're amazing, but I've been wanting to end things for a while now. I wasn't as ready for this relationship as I thought I was and I didn't have the courage to break up with you. I'll drop off your belongings at your house when you're at work and leave the key under the mat."

The air became thick and suffocating, like vines wrapping around my lungs as I grappled with the sudden betrayal and the emotions it evoked. The bitter taste of anger swirled in my mouth, a familiar taste that I had tried to suppress for so long. Finally, my mind accepted what my heart had been denying, and the realization weighed heavily on me.

As the aroma of freshly cooked dinner filled the small apartment, I plopped down on the couch, indulging in some much-needed downtime. The familiar theme song of Grey's Anatomy played in the background, luring me into the rollercoaster world of a fictional hospital. I couldn't help but draw parallels between the intense relationships on screen and my own tangled thoughts and emotions. As the drama escalated, tears flowed and characters died, I realized how much my life mirrored an episode of this popular show. But deep down, I knew that my life was not just a scripted storyline. When I let go of my self-imposed obstacles and allowed myself to thrive, I could accomplish great things. Lost in thought and daydreams, I drifted away from reality for a while, envisioning all the possibilities that lay ahead.

The gentle hum of the phone resting on the couch beside me broke through the silence, jolting me out of my thoughts. I reached over and picked up the sleek device, unlocking it to reveal a new message from an unfamiliar number. My curiosity piqued, I wondered who could be reaching out to me and what they wanted to say.

“Tomorrow @ Sonny’s 9 am - H”

My pulse quickened as my eyes scanned the message on my phone. H. Harry? My mind raced as I tried to remember when I had given him my number. Confusion and unease settled in as I decided not to respond. The message was direct, almost commanding, and didn't seem to require a reply. He wasn't politely asking me to meet him, he was telling me. But then again, I hadn't even accepted his offer of showing me around the city. It seemed like he had taken the liberty of making plans for us without my consent. And strangely enough, I found myself being okay with that, surrendering control to Harry.

Stepping into Sonny's was like stepping back in time. The classic diner, complete with retro decor and a glowing neon "Open" sign, exuded a sense of nostalgia that immediately enveloped me. The smell of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, inviting me to take a seat and stay awhile. This place held so many memories for me - lazy Saturday mornings spent here with my parents, indulging in their famous breakfast platters. It had been years since I last walked through those doors. A smile spread across my face as I remember the atmosphere, filled with families and friends chatting over steaming plates of pancakes and eggs. Sonny's was more than just a diner to me - it was a time capsule of cherished moments and a reminder of simpler times.

A sudden rush of excitement flooded through me, making it impossible to fall asleep that night. My mind was consumed with thoughts of Harry and what he must look like outside of work. I wondered about his personal style, if I would get a glimpse of more tattoos adorning his body. How did he choose to style his hair? Questions swirled around in my head as I indulged in fantasies of him once again. Each detail seemed to come alive in my imagination, creating a vivid image of the man who had captured my thoughts and desires.

The night faded into the dawn, as the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon. The city came alive with the bustling sounds of New York traffic and the chirping of birds in the trees. With a refreshed mind and a calm heart, I applied my makeup and styled my hair in an elegant half up half down 'do. My outfit was a perfect blend of casual and chic, ready to take on whatever the day may bring. As I sipped on a warm cup of chamomile tea, I closed my eyes and prayed for my nerves to settle before the upcoming events. And to my relief, they slowly did, leaving me grateful to the universe for this small moment of peace.

Sonny's was just a mile away, but I wanted to savor my time and enjoy the journey. With this in mind, I left my house thirty minutes early and set off on foot, the cool breeze caressing my skin as I strolled along the quiet streets. Along the way, I greeted familiar faces – my neighbors who were also out taking in the day. As I continued on my way, my stomach grumbled, reminding me that it had been a while since breakfast. Uncertain if we would be eating at Sonny's or simply meeting there, I resisted the urge to snack and instead focused on the sights and sounds around me. The soft rustle of leaves underfoot, the distant chatter of birds, and the occasional whiff of freshly cut grass all added to the peacefulness of my walk towards Sonny's.

As I strolled, lost in my thoughts, memories of my life flooded back to me. In the busy streets of New York City, solitude was a rare luxury. But I treasured these moments when I could just walk and let my mind wander. The fast-paced lifestyle here was a far cry from my upbringing in Florida, where days were slow and the people were laid-back. But I didn't mind the change; it had opened up a world of opportunities for me. Opportunities that I never would have had back in Florida. Working at my agency and rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous on a daily basis was something I could have only dreamed of before. New York truly felt like home now, and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

As I walked towards Sonny's, my mind went blank. At first glance, I didn't spot Harry... or did I?

As I lifted my gaze from the ground, I was struck by the sight of Harry getting out of a sleek black range rover. The sun glinted off the car's shiny surface, and I could see the muscles in Harry's arms flexing as he shut the door with a loud thud. His dark brown hair was perfectly styled, like it had been sculpted from marble, and his chiseled features were enhanced by a pair of stylish sunglasses. He looked like he was hand crafted by the gods. His casual outfit, consisting of a white t-shirt, a flannel shirt, and a navy peacoat, hugged his fit physique just right. I couldn't tear my gaze away from him, even as he walked towards me.

“Ayla, close your mouth before any flies decide to make themselves at home,” he teased with a grin. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I realized I had been caught staring at him.

All Parts

#harry styles x reader #harry styles fiction #Harry Styles #harrystyles #harry edward styles #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fic #harry angst #harry styles one shot #harry smut #harry styles imagine #harry styles fanart #harry imagines #harry styles smut #harry styles angst #harry styles fandom #harry styles fanfic rec #harry au #harry styles au #harry styles masterlist #harry blurb #oneshot #one direction #LLH #lhh supremacy #Wattpad #harry imagine

[lizard-shifter-noms]

Wayward Waters Chapter 8

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Hello everyone! Chapter 8! getting closer to the island now!

time to explore more of the world!

this Story contains Vore, Dont like dont read.

have fun reading!

and as always Reblogs are appreciated! (Also ASK’s are open so feel free to bother me!)

AO3 Link for those that prefer the layout there;

AO3 Wayward waters

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I tried to shift in a way where they didn't really see what exactly I was doing with the bracelet.

Just because Ronan knew it was the bracelet that let me shift didn't mean I wanted any of them to know how to do it exactly.

Fuck knew there were at least two people i could see wanting to try it out.

That would not end well.

I sat down next to Akeem as he seemed calmest out of all of them,  Also I felt like if I sat next to Jamie I'd end up with claws in my leg.

I was handed a sandwich made out of stale bread and what was probably dried kelp?

“No idea if you eat meat or not, well we don't have any onboard anyway, well any that isn't for Imugi”

Nice of Imik to not hand someone randomly meat they might not eat.

Though the dark green leaf-like thing didn't look too appetizing.

Handing it back would be rude though.

Suddenly a big and scaly head flopped over the railing,  stealing one of the sandwiches from the basket.

“Imugi! How many times do I have to tell you not to stick your head in the bread basket! Now it's all soggy again!”

Oh so that was why the bread had been randomly soggy,  yeah made sense.

Also having taken a bite of the kelp filled bread i found it was very salty and fishy.

Yeah, not my thing at all.

I held it in such a way that Imugi could easily steal it,  which she immediately did, drenching me with seawater.

Well that plan didn't go as wanted.

And now my shirt was soaked with saltwater, great.

“Imugi! Come on!”

Ronan went to deal with Imugi while I tried to wring out my shirt,  only being partly successful.

“Great, that's gonna smell like fish now”

“There's worse, Though with the wind you might catch a cold if you keep wearing it while wet”

Akeem did have a point, calm as ever of course, also the wet fabric clung to my skin and made me feel sticky.

“I'll go get the clothesline, should dry faster like that,  Jamie, can you clean up the rest of the bread?”

Jamie made a dismissive hand motion and the just haphazardly shoved things back into the basket, with their clawed feet instead of hands.

If I didn't Know they had hands under that sweater I'd say they were an amputee.

Still, pretty skillful.

While everyone but Akeem was doing their own thing,  distantly hearing Ronan berate Imugi for making everything soggy again, i pulled the wet shirt off.

I tried to wring it out to the best of my ability, which didn't do much.

“Ay, where'd you get that scratch?”

I looked confusedly to where Jamie was pointing, with a clawed foot instead of a hand, which turned out to be the new scar on my shoulder.

Well, at least they didn't seem angry anymore?

“Oh that, some soldier chucked a spear at me, pretty sure if you look closely you can also see tons of tiny dots of scar tissue from the arrows”

There were quite a few of those, though they just looked like Freckles if freckles were paler than the normal skin.

Jamie regarded me with a deadpan and unamused stare.

“Soldier? Spear? The fuck you've been doing? 

Don't tell me you're a wanted criminal”

They rolled their eyes while speaking, probably thinking I was an idiot.

Yeah, fair.

“Oh don't worry, I'm not a criminal! I got those because I fought in a big battle, Kamerasca and Maringand had quite the stupid fight.

Am i glad that's over! My brother nearly died but I managed to Protect him even though I ended up falling down a waterfall.

The water wasn't really nice to the arrows stuck in my skin though”

“Dude what the fuck?”

I looked bewildered at them,  and then Akeem who so far had just been sitting there quietly.

And he continued to do so, 

apparently not seeing himself as part of the conversation.

“And the other scars? 

There's one on your back and one more to the side”

Jamie pointed with a clawed foot at said scars,  the thin line on my back and the thicker one by the kidneys.

“Oh those, the one on my back is from the time some drunk and angry guard tossed a sword at me,  the other one is where i'm missing a kidney, they're pretty old now”

The sword one was nearly six years old now,  and the kidney one at least three or four, lost count at some point.

“A sword is not a throwing Weapon, why toss it?”

Came the question from Imik who had come back at some point without me noticing, he also somehow had put up the clothesline and hung the shirt over it.

He was stealthier than one would assume.

“Fuck if i know, again im pretty sure he was drunk,  eh whatever, been forever since then so who cares why”

Imik just hummed and then told Jamie off for not cleaning up like told.

The two immediately squabbled over it and I went a bit away from that as it looked to get physical soon.

I ended up on the back part of the deck with Akeem, watching Ronan unsuccessfully try to berate Imugi about the soggy bread.

She wasn't having it and took his head into her beak, which just made him spew some curses and chide her to let go of him.

She did not, but she also didn't do anything else either,  just annoying him like that.

It was kinda funny to watch.

“Nearly every time the bread thing happens those two end up like that, at this point nobody is actually mad about anything, just slightly annoyed”

Huh, so just some dumb routine at this point?

Sure, why not.

I turned to Akeem, who despite being made of Minerals seemed the most sane person here, or just calmest, whatever.

“Hey how long until we reach that island you mentioned? 

Uhh Kariba island? What's it like anyway? 

Akeem seemed to think about it for a few seconds before answering.

“Very alive, densely built houses in all shapes and People of a lot of different species,  The island itself has the shape of a pulled wisdom tooth.

As for when we reach it, I'd estimate something between two to three days, depending on weather and if Imugi is fast with dragging the ship.

We have a house a bit off from the main part,  it's a bit more quiet there and we can put our Boat right in front of it so we don't have to walk much”

Huh, sounded nice, and lots of different species? What was that like?

“Sounds nice,  and you really think you could help me get me back home?”

“I suppose we should be able to, or at least find someone that is.

First we should take a look at the map to properly figure out how far and which direction it is, then we can plan more”

True, without knowing where to go no proper plan could be made.

“Yeah, again, thank you for helping me,  i don't think most would help a stranger”

Most really wouldn't, either out of fear for taking a possible criminal on board or some other reason.

“A shame, I often find strangers tell the most interesting stories,  be it land dwellers or sailors.

Maybe people would be better off without all the senseless hostility they think they owe to what they consider ‘outsiders’ “

That was a pretty good piece of wisdom, though it was weird to be told that by a living statue.

“Yeah i think i get that, as a bastard people have hated me randomly just for existing, and it just sucks”

While we talked Ronan was tussling with Imugi who refused to let go even though he was hitting her beak with his fist.

Akeem stood up.

“I will go help him, if they want to be idiots they can do so when were home again, besides we would be faster if Imugi was towing the ship instead of hanging of to the side of it, not to mention that Ronan is still injured and shouldn't fool around like this”

With that he went to break up the ‘fight’, leaving me alone.

I went back down the deck to check how dry my shirt was,  sure there was no way it was completely dry by now but maybe I'd get an estimate of how long i had to wait.

On the way down I saw Imik and Jamie still fighting, 

Jamie grabbing half of Imiks face with their clawed feet and Imik chewing on the other one with his shark like teeth.

There was no blood and it didn't seem like they intended actual harm.

But fuck if they wanted they could absolutely shred eachother to pieces.

Imik sounded like an angry alligator, which I only knew thanks to some merchant showing off his pet a few years ago,  and Jamie let out shrill screeching sounds like an alarmed Bird.

I ignored it, not wanting to get involved any and instead walked around them to get to my shirt.

It was, as expected, still wet.

Well, better keep out of the way for now, Ronan and Akeem were busy with Imugi who appeared to be in a silly mood,  and Jamie and Imik were doing, uhh, not murdering each other at least.

Yeah no idea, so I went to the back part of the deck, walking up the stairs and sitting on one of the benches there facing the ocean.

That actually wasn't something I had done till now,  just watching the ocean.

Eh, it would probably be boring, but at least it looked nice.

Also the salty wind from the ocean and the spray of the waves made for a nice ambient soundscape.

There was a tugging sensation of the boat and I assumed they had gotten Imugi to let go of Ronan’s head.

Maybe it would go faster now?

“AY DEE! LEFT SIDE!”

I confusedly looked to the left,  the nickname registering only seconds later.

Oh, there was a whale jumping out of the water! I stood up and ran to the railing closest to it just as it hit the water, creating a wave that hit the side of the ship and spraying me face with saltwater.

What a pretty creature,  though I couldn't really tell if it was bigger than the Ardua or not.

Eh, not important.

Instead I turned to Jamie after the whale had vanished again.

They were perched on the railing of the stairs not too far away and digging their claws into the wood.

“Wait, what did you call me?”

“Dee, ya know, Donovan is a longer name and i'm lazy”

Yeah, that made sense? Probably? 

“Ah, that's the first time i got a nickname that's not an insult like Bastard rat or something”

They tilted their head, the action reminding me of Oakley for a moment.

“Well if ya don't like it say it and i'll stop”

They shrugged, apparently not really caring if the name stuck.

“Hmm, nah i don't mind, and it really is shorter,  though not sure if i'll react to it”

They just walked along the railing closer to me before bapping me with a clawed foot.

“You have sunburn, get the fuck of off the deck”

What?

I looked to where Jamie had poked me,  seeing that the skin was indeed a bit red.

Pressing in on it the flesh went white for a bit before going back to a more red shade.

Yep, slight sunburn, Jamie was right, better get out of the sun then.

“Oh, well i blame Imugi for this,  if i had my shirt this wouldn't have happened”

Jamie cackled at that and I walked past them to try and avoid getting an even worse sunburn.

Going back into the ship was probably the best option,  at least until my shirt was dry again.

So I walked past my still drying shirt into the ship, only to remember that I had no idea where anything was, aside from Ronan’s room maybe.

Suddenly I preferred the castle with its illogically built hallways and stairs.

So that left me standing in the hallway like an idiot.

Arguably I was one, but now what?

Just then Ronan came in after me and nearly walked into my slightly sunburned back.

“Oh sorry! Didn't see you! Man you look a bit red, you good?”

I nodded at him.

“Yeah, just slight sunburn, don't worry that'll go away”

“Sunburn? OH! I think I got something for that! Follow me!”

Before I could respond to anything he said he had grabbed my wrist and dragged me through the ship.

We ended up in a room that I assumed to store Ronan’s weirder stuff judging by the toppled over crate that had spilled some sort of roots.

Ronan himself was rummaging through a bunch of Bins that had been secured with rope to one of the walls.

He kind of looked like a raccoon searching a trash can.

“AHA! Found it!” He held up a potted plant that surely should not have been in that Bin in the first place as it looked a bit sad,  and placed it on a desk that was full of scrolls.

The scrolls all looked like he had scribbled on them, notes maybe? 

He did say he liked Biology.

Sadly they were near unreadable due to having had some liquid spill over them.

He broke one of the Leaves off that were thick and had the shape of really long triangles.

He held it out to me and I could see that the place it had broken off excreted some sort of fluid.

“This is Aloe Vera! The juice helps cool off your skin and hydrate it!”

I hesitantly took it and put some of the juice on the back of my hand.

Huh, it really did have a cooling effect.

“I didn't know there were plants that could do that, tough maybe don't put it back in the bin, i'm pretty sure it needs sunlight”

“Yeah I just put it there so it wouldn't break during the storm! I'm gonna put it back on the windowsill now.

Hey did you know that Aloe Vera is part of the succulent family? Those plants can regenerate if you stick a broken off piece into a new pot!”

I looked up from smearing the weird plant juice over my red skin.

They could do what?

“They what? Man there are so many strange things in the world”

He held up the pot next to his face.

“Pretty cool huh? Lots of cacti are also part of the genus! I think it's really awesome how they manage to store water like that! So I got some seeds from the last time we were near the Sonoria desert!”

He started telling me more about this specific plant,  even showing me how he had scribbled notes on them on the scrolls, well the ones that didn't get dirty at least.

They were surprisingly detailed and everything was neatly labeled.

I was painfully reminded of Robin,  he would have loved this and talked to Ronan about plants for hours.

So instead i listened, it WAS interesting and maybe i could relay at least some of it to the little ginger.

Ronan talked for hours, not just about the plants but at some point about Octopi and fish as well.

Not sure how much of that would stay in my brain but it was interesting nonetheless.

Getting immersed in what he was telling,  We both startled really badly as the door was kicked open.

“WHATS UP FUCKERS!”

It was Jamie, because of course it was.

They were holding Bread and tossed each of us one.

Just bread now huh? Not even a sandwich anymore.

“The fuck you guys been doing? 

Ronan are you talking the sunburned idiots ears off?”

“I am not! He can leave anytime! The door is right there! I just gave him Aloe vera and told him about plants! And octopi and fish”

Ignoring their Bickering i waved at Ronan and slipped past Jamie out of the door, munching on the bread as I walked back to the deck.

Surely my shirt was dry by now.

After taking a wrong turn I managed to find my way back to the deck, only to find Akeem neatly folding my shirt in the Orange light of the sun going down.

He turned to me, stone faced as ever which was to be expected considering he WAS stone, and handed me the folded shirt.

“I noticed your shirt was still here and wanted to take it inside in case you were already asleep”

“Oh uh, thank you, though i don't normally go to bed early, i don't think i can anyway as the stuff i use to sleep better is still on the Victory Rose”

I unfolded the shirt and pulled it over my head.

“I can not help you with that,  i myself do not sleep at all so i can offer no advice”

He didn't sleep? At all?

“You don't sleep? Like, at all? What are you even doing all night then?”

“I keep watch, at least when we are on the boat, otherwise i just do nothing, simply staring at the night sky is relaxing enough”

I looked up, the sun only slowly making way to the first stars.

“Huh, i can't imagine not needing sleep at all,  though i know some people that would love that”

Namely Rikaad, he already kind of did that but it surely wasn't healthy.

Akeem just looked at me and suddenly I doubted he had eyelids.

“I suppose if one isn't averse to spending hours quietly alone in the dark of the night it might seem appealing”

Well, it would probably get pretty boring over time.

“Yeah, not really my thing, but right now I wouldn't mind that.

Would be nice to just not have nightmares,  at least till i can go back home”

Akeem just stood there like a statue, seemingly thinking.

“I could make you Camomile tea? 

Ronan and Yamet told me it helps with sleeping”

Oh yeah, Camomile did that, worth a try.

“I don't see why not, do you even have tea on board?”

“We should have, unless Imugi ate the teabags again”

Despite being a sea monster Imugi acted more like a mix of Dog and Cat.

“I hope not, and i don't think the bags are edible anyway”

Akeem just stood there for a few seconds before turning away to go to where I assumed the kitchen on this chaotic ship was.

By the time he led me to the kitchen it had gotten pretty dark out already, the sun only sending a few stray rays over the dark blue ocean.

As soon as he opened the door there was a strange hissing sound,  like an angry goose.

Looking into the Room Jamie was there, hunched over and munching on an entire Ham like some Feral Dog.

Akeem didn't seem to be bothered by it though.

“Hello Jamie, i hope you put that in the Log so we can keep track of what we need next time we go on land, also that is for Imugi and not you”

Jamie didn't respond to him, just grabbed the half eaten Ham with their teeth, completely ignored gravity and walked along the wall out the window, cawing to me.

“Ay! Goodnight you wet cat!”

I immediately shot back.

“Good night to you too, you overgrown chicken!”

The Window cover slammed shut but I could still hear Jamie laugh.

So that's what made the scratch marks on the wall that were present all over the ship.

Man clawed feet sure were practical.

Akeem then motioned for me to sit at a table that was shoddily screwed at a wall under one of the windows and then moved to rummage through the cupboards.

As with everything else on the boat they were lockable,  and as he opened it I could see individual indents for each cup.

Man ships were weird.

“I will make you the tea, I sincerely doubt you know your way around this kitchen and I'd rather not have you use one of Ronans cups.

He sometimes uses them for his experiments”

Yeah, no thanks, not keen on accidentally poisoning myself.

“Thanks, and yeah i don't want to drink poison or whatever”

I sat at the table and slumped over the surface of it,  putting my head down and using one arm as a cushion.

The people on this ship sure were weird, though so was I,  and it really wasn't important anyway.

Akeem turned to me.

“Apologies for this,  it seems like i can't find the kettle so you will have to wait for a bit”

“No worries man, to be honest this was kinda funny,, Does Jamie do this a lot?”

Akeem simply opened a few random cabinet doors,  likely to find the kettle.

“Sometimes, though I find it unnecessary,  we still have to write the used items down anyway.

Though i have no doubt they are going to give the rest of it to Imugi”

Akeem had found the kettle and put it over a stone contraption that had an oven and a stovetop.

“I mean you're all on a boat, does that never get boring to you?  If Jamie thinks it's funny to eat raw Ham like a gremlin, why not do it?”

“I suppose so, though i will admit to never having really understood such things, not that most bother explaining things to a living statue anyway”

“Really? Why not? Well yeah it's a bit weird to explain but who cares?”

"I do Not feel Emotions the Same as you"

I looked at him perplexed.

"Huh?"

"You are flesh and bone whereas i'm Glass and stone"

What the fuck was he talking about?

“Well, I guess? Not sure what to say here,  but to me you just seemed calm and level headed thus far”

Akeem grabbed one of the cups and put the teabag in while the kettle heated up the water on the stove.

“That is because i simply observe what those around me are doing, i am a statue come to live through magic, but still they are way more alive than i could ever be, i do not breathe or have a heartbeat, or any organs at all, i do not have blood, technically i shouldn't work, i don't even have a brain, yet i am here”

“They do seem to appreciate you though, and i don't think having Organs has anything to do with how alive you are, i mean i think sponges don't have organs either, but you'd still call them alive”

Akeem just stared at the boiling water for a moment.

I still didn't think he had eyelids though, he never blinked.

“I suppose they see me as friend, and so do i, without them i would have stayed in a burned down house never knowing what the world looked like”

That would have been pretty sad,  somehow that part of his story reminded me of Fable.

“You know, that kinda reminds me of my brother,  He's a full elf and was raised as nothing more than a weapon.

He did break free of that mindset though and is now traveling around to find out what kind of person he actually is.

I don't doubt he'll find it, but i don't think it's going to happen in just a few days, same goes for you, i'm sure one day you'll figure it out.

You just have to keep looking, and considering you don't seem to have eyelids or have to sleep you're sure to find something”

Akeem just stared more at the water which now had started to boil.

“Well, it has only been a year and a half, and seeing as i am a statue i have time, but i will stay with the crew, they are my friends.

And also i do have eyelids, i just don't need them”

He put one of the silken tea bags into the kettle after taking it from the stove.

“Wait, you do have eyelids? Huh, well i'm used to people blinking at least once a minute, wait if your eyes are gems how do you even see?”

Akeem stopped what he was doing, which was setting out the teacup.

“I have no idea”

He then resumed pouring a cup of chamomile tea.

“Well, i bet Oakley could get an answer for that, somehow,  and explain it in such a way we'd still don't know”

He handed me the cup,  which was still hot to the touch and I had to set it down for a bit.

Apparently living statues weren't really bothered by temperature.

“Who is Oakley? A friend of yours?”

“Yeah, he's some sort of Magical being with leathery wings and a two pronged tail, not sure how old he actually is but he looks thirty.

Got a fuckton of books and knows a lot of weird stuff,  he's the one that made me the medicine to help me sleep,  though now that it's so far out of reach its not helping”

I attempted to pick the mug up again,  finding that it wasn't as hot as last time and gently sipping at it.

“Is he like a scholar then? Or Librarian?”

“Nah, hes, well not sure how to explain but he's kinda kooky and currently lives in an old tower where half of it is missing,  but he helps out when needed and knows a lot of obscure things.

No idea what he's doing with magic though,  but hes the fuck around and find out type”

I drank a good third of the cup of tea, feeling the liquid warm me up.

“He sounds quite interesting? 

Maybe I can write him a letter and ask if he knows?”

“Sure, if you do that i'll give that to him personally,  no idea if he manages to write back though”

Though it WAS Oakley,  he'd find a way to teleport it right into Akeem’s room or something.

Man what a stupidly long day, well at least the tea was good.

Maybe this time I could actually sleep.

Drinking the rest of the cup I set it down on the table.

“I think the tea did help, at least a bit, i'm tired as fuck,  uh what do i do with the cup now?”

Akeem just took said cup.

“I can take care of it, you don't know where to put it anyway,  you should go sleep instead”

I nodded at him and stood up.

“Thanks, hey uhh do you have a spare room? The last few nights i slept on the deck as Ardua but i don't wanna shift and make the boat heavier”

“Oh of course, we have one empty room with a spare bed, technically it's mine but I don't sleep or have much possessions aside from pants.

It's the right Door on the back on the deck,  then you go down and the second right again”

His room? Well he did say he never slept so it was only useful as storage to him, and apparently all he had was clothing.

“Thank you, and I'll make sure not to touch anything!”

He just nodded and went to put the Mug into the sink, waving at me.

“There isn't much to touch, but i hope you have a restful sleep”

I nodded at him and walked out of the kitchen and the way he described.

The Room was, as mentioned,  sparsely decorated if at all and had one neatly made bed in a corner.

No hammock huh? 

Then again Akeem didn't sleep so he wouldn't need one.

But here was to hoping that sleeping like that wouldn't get me seasick.

Then again i had slept on the deck just fine till now,  it couldn't be too bad.

Crawling into the covers I noticed that the mattress was rather firm,  very unlike the stupidly soft ones everyone else seemed to have.

Maybe this wasn't too bad.

But I missed my friends, all of them! Even Nea who wouldn't hesitate to throw me out a window if i pissed her off.

And no doubt she would somehow manage.

And Oakley who sometimes was helpful but spun it so it was in the worst way possible.

He was probably still sorting stuff into his tower as he kept getting distracted from it and doing who knew what else instead.

Norrin as well who right now surely was stopping Nea and Arthur from stabbing each other.

Arthur would loudly complain about that no doubt.

And then Rikaad who took on so much responsibility so young.

He must be feeling incredibly guilty right now,  he was probably blaming himself for telling me to go along.

And of course Robin, the first person since my own mother to not see some Fae bastard but instead a person.

He was probably moping around right now, hopefully he didn't get nightmares! He had seen when I fell off the boat in full view after all!

And then Fable, who had no idea of anything that had happened to me aside from what I wrote to him.

And since I left the Logos book behind he had no reason to think anything was wrong.

Well, all of this sure would be a tale to tell later.

It already was, sort of.

Thinking about all of this was not helping me sleep, so I turned on my side and pulled the covers over my head despite it being warm.

NEXT / PREVIOUS / OVERSIGHT

#sstc #lizards writing #vore story #soft vore #giant/tiny #g/t vore #extreme cuddling #sfw vore #v0re #g/t story #sea serpent #sea monster #Sea of Barmea #Ship

[sinful-huntress]

That blackout post had me blushin n kickin my feet

TYSM FOR WRITING IT

If you want can i request another where the guys decide to play an innocent game of twister but it results in them playing into suggestive positions with their s/o 🤞🏽

Aha im curios to see how that goes down

And also i have a question when you post i get a notification but when i see that you’ve posted i can’t see your post, mostly it’s because of the mature content but can you tell me where to find those posts?

Tyty i hope You’re doing well phew does that last post have me redder than a tomato🔥🔥

Heh heh heh

It was your turn to pick a game. Rather than anything 'typical' you pulled a game you hadn't played in a long while. A nice game of Twister, innocent enough... or so you thought. The little plastic spinner seemed determined to have you and your lover grinding against each other in the best-worst ways.

Klaus

Klaus was fully aware of how you two were currently positioned. Every fiber of his being was aware that you were wobbling due to how far apart your legs were at the moment... and Klaus was trying so hard not to stare.

What didn't help was the fact that the closest yellow dot for his left foot to go to was between your legs. He didn't have much choice.

Well, he did. Technically speaking he could forfeit. But you had asked him not to. You practically begged him for a fair game till one of you actually fell over. So no, Klaus didn't have a choice except to ease his foot between your legs.

"Well hello there sir." You were honestly surprised at how bold a move Klaus was pulling, considering you were now basically sitting on his leg, "Can I help you?"

Hanging his head to hide his blushing face, Klaus remained silent. Instead, he reached for the little demon spinner for your turn to move.

.

Steven

"You're gonna lose you know." "Oh c'mon, Steven. We haven't even touched the board yet." "I have longer legs." "And?"

He knew this was bound to happen. Steven lowkey rejoiced and lamented letting you pick this game. On the one hand, it was fun tormenting you by being so tangled together. Accidental touches was a decent strategy for winning in this particular game.

On the other hand, Steven was also affected by the mounting tension as the two of you twisting around one another like this. Every time his elbow brushed against your chest, every shift pressing more clothed skin, every time he felt like you were about to collapse...

Steven couldn't help but picture you two reenacting game night in the bedroom. Without clothes of course.

.

Leo

"Are... are you sure about this [Name]?"

"Yeah! It'll be fun." Leo was broken by your cheerful smile, "Unless you're afraid you're gonna lose."

A tiny, strained groan escaped Leo. His mind racing a mile a minute, thinking fifty-three moves ahead when the two of you would be struggling to move because somehow you both ended up tied together like a pretzel. While he didn't dislike the idea, Leo would be lying if he said he wasn't flustered to hell and back over it.

And he was right. Though, it took a lot less time for his nerves to cause him to fall over. And with you falling on top of him, Leo couldn't be more embarrassed about the situation. Especially with you giggling like that.

.

Zapp

You couldn't help but think Zapp had been a little too enthusiastic to play Twister with you, but competitive spirit was a b^tch sometimes. And backing down wasn't your strong suit.

Though Zapp did want to win, and thought that grinding against you would make you lose balance quicker. But he failed, miserably. At least in the sense of trying to knock you over, he still felt like he was winning. Whether it was because he could be all over you, or his own confidence in his flexibility, Zapp thought he would win for sure.

"So, ready to give up yet sexy?"

"In your dreams Renfro."

"I mean, we're pretty much tied up." Zapp huffed as he stretched from a blue dot to a green, "Only a few layers of clothes between us and a really fun night."

"You think so?" Christ it was getting harder to keep from slipping, the sweat and effort of holding yourself up was starting to get to you, "The way you've been cheating this whole time I figured you were trying to strip me."

"That isn't exactly off the table your sexiness." Zapp smirked as best he could, he would never admit it, but this was starting to get to him too, "And it isn't cheating. It's my own kind of strategy."

"Yeah ri-i-I-IGHT!"

.

Zed

Maybe being up for anything was a bit of a mistake. Zed was so very flustered and the game mat hadn't even been set up yet. He knew this would end in him gurgling apologies for invading personal space. At least, that was the basics of what he could apologize for... there would be a lot.

Even if it was expected, Zed would still feel bad about it. He didn't like the notion that he would make you uncomfortable at all. Then again... you were telling him that it was okay ahead of time. This would be a very interesting night for the poor fish-man.

And he was absolutely right! The way the two of you were twisted around one another was almost as close as the two of you got intimately. Zed couldn't stop himself from blurting apologies for brushing against your chest and rear, he couldn't help but want to give up prematurely. It was all just a little too much feeling for him.

Especially given how your shirt and shorts were riding up and sliding down with the weird angles. Meaning that skin to skin contact was inevitable. It didn't help in the slightest with how attracted to you Zed was on an average basis. How much physical contact effected him. How much it aroused him.

This was supposed to be an innocent game between lovers, but Zed was in a hyperdrive state. Far too focused on everything happening to be able to play properly anymore.

#bbb #kekkai sensen #kkss #blood blockade battlefront #ask #anon ask #klaus von reinherz #steven starphase #zed o'brien #leonardo watch #zapp renfro #sinful heathens

[trans-p03g]

No point using anon because I too am invested with the concept, it was me all along ahaha!

Mags game would be real big, he has planned a lot of things and with P03's help in means of 'fair play' n such, ya know? Touch of strategy which fits the theme of battle. Still a card game, yes, but with killer visuals.

Concept art, layout, theme, the music, the character designs-- Mags had worked real hard on finalizing his work. His magnificent work. He still remembered when P03 praised him when he was near completing. Speaking of P03...

As the world shifts once more, P03 lends the power of the Old Data to Mags. The void surrounds them for a moment, stars surrounding them. It'll take a moment or two for Mags to process his control and play his game.

The world shifts and they were in this sort of kingdom now. Mox Kingdom, Mags tower now being the center of a large castle. Pillars and all that, tiled floors, hedge mazes, it screamed magicks. And P03 didn't scoff at it, no, it nods at the theme.

With things loading in, all they need to do is wait... it's just them now. Just them. Surrounded in a world so familiar. Music seeps in and P03 notices, it was different than the one playing Leshy's cabin- thankfully. It was nice.

So they waited. And waited. And waited. It wasn't agonizingly long since Mags used the time to double check on his layout, making sure nothing was out of place. P03 just stands there for a moment before striking a conversation- obviously bored.

"Where are you gonna put me?" P03 asks, genuinely curious.

"Where do you want me to put you?"

Mags definately won't paint P03 as a card, aware that P03 had enough damage done back when it was a stoat card. Even if P03 is simply fine being stacked away in a locked room around the area- Mags felt like it wasn't right. There can be use to having P03 around- game wise, obviously. It's not like Mags wanted P03 around... scratch that, Mags wanted the bot around.

An NPC? Could work but it felt lackluster, that and P03 refused to be turned into a mage or worst- GOO. It was kinda fine with the Knight models though, it liked the armor.

Then, Mags had an idea. His eye swirls, inspired, he holds his paintbrush close.

"A Guide" Mags says

"What? Like a tutorial guide?"

"Yes, a guide for the Challenger. You will have some control in the first phase before they move one."

"How thoughtful," P03 smirks "I'm gonna assume you're whipping up a new model for me, huh?"

"I have a few ideas in mind"

"Just tweak the already existing models from our experimental game. It'll save you time"

"Nonsense, I shall give you a suitable form. One that holds the key parts of you"

"Like... that mox card of yours with energy on it? Stim Mage?"

"For your case; Stim Knight"

P03's screen displays dots before turning to a grin.

"I like that a lot."

I WAS FOOLED, TIS WAS YOU ALL ALONG /j

I am absolutely OBSESSED with this! Eating this up like a 5 course dinner

The visuals sound amazing and I love the idea of Stim Knight P03 😳

Ik this isn't really about them, but do ya have any ideas about what Grimora and Leshy could be in Magnificus' game? Would he turn them into cards?

#asks #GAY ANTAGONISTS LETS GOOOOOO

[bunshr00m]

even though it's been over a year since her case, i still think about brianna ghey a lot.

today i saw a reuploaded tiktok from her now removed account, and it was her doing a simple makeup look. but one part hit me in the heart especially hard and i'm not sure if i can really explain why, but i'll try.

in the video she accidentally dots the side of her nose with the mascara pen, so she pretend-screams in annoyance. my instant reaction to something like that is to giggle or smile, and i felt that charmed reaction for just a second before it hit me, that she was basically just your average teenage girl, and yet she was and is still being treated like a freakshow. sure, she was trans, but she was by no means some kind of anomaly because of that one thing about her.

brianna liked makeup, the colour pink, dogs, fluffy things, social media, netflix's euphoria and dominoes pizza. she bonded with a friend for the first time over eyeliner. yet that "friend" thought of brianna like an object; she obsessed over her like she wasn't just another girl. she and another hateful monster who couldn't even refer to his victim like she was a human teamed up so that they could inflict absolute suffering on her, when she didn't do a damn thing to them.

after all that, you'd think people would see this as what it was: brutal murder on an innocent child. but the press practically stomped on her grave, sticking big red flashing arrows on the fact that she was assigned male at birth, even writing her deadname into articles, and yet somehow, investigators turned a blind eye to the possibility of a crime motivated by transphobia. i can't even articulate how much that frustrates me.

trans people are still people. trans kids are STILL JUST KIDS. i'm so sorry to the trans folk who fear for their safety because of people who are hateful towards their gender identity. it's not fair and i hope more than anything that changes.

#i dont care how much time passes i'll still be pissed about this case #tw murder #tw violence #tw transphobia #transphobia #tw hate crime #brianna ghey #trans #transgender #protect trans kids #protect trans lives #trans lives matter

[kitkat-writes-stuff]

The Worst- part I

Part I, Part II -Masterlist -Pairing: Luke Castellan x fem!reader

-Wordcount: 0.8 K

-Warnings: “he makes fun of you bc he likes you” except I the author am responsible for it. Reader isn’t describe beside being muscular . Also Percy is better at reading people than themselves but is this a surprise?

-Summary: Percy Jackson’s arrival at camp seems to break any certainty he might have. Still, he is sure that when a guy looks at a girl in a certain way, he shouldn’t call her “the wost”

"That is Y/N. She might be outright aggressive like Clarisse, but she is the worst, trust me" Luke explained, a hint of warning in his tone.

Percy found himself navigating through the unfamiliar surroundings of the camp, realising that there was much he didn't know about this place. Certainly, Percy Jackson held one conviction amidst the uncertainties of the camp – the label 'the worst' didn't align with the image of a girl teaching children the art of throwing punches. The contradiction between Y/N's reputed title and her role as a teacher to aspiring young demigods added another layer of mystery to the peculiar dynamics of this camp.

His guide and counsellor, Luke, asserted Y/N's ‘notorious’ reputation, prompting Percy to ponder the implications. As one of the camp's residents punched her in the face- it seemed her training was working just fine- instead of reacting with anger, she remained surprisingly calm, save for a faint red spot on her cheek, but that could be because of the hit. To Percy's bewilderment, she not only refrained from scolding the child but even exchanged a high-five with him. The perplexing scene left Percy questioning the dynamics of this unusual place. If he punched Clarisse in the face, would he get a high-five?

Somehow, he doubted that punching what looked like a stereotypical high school bully would earn him a prize. But to be fair, Y/N also looked like that, and her reactions were proving him wrong.

"Percy? Are you coming?" Luke called, interrupting Percy's contemplation, and reminding him that he was supposed to go for a tour around camp.

As they approached the training grounds, preferred place of the offspring of Ares, the god of war and bravery- Luke’ tone sounded somewhat unsure of the last part-, Percy felt a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. Discovering his divine father’s identity sounded appealing, but the prospect of being Clarisse's half-brother was decidedly less so. The notion that his godly father, which he hadn’t even considered could be a goddess instead of a god, might be either occupied or the god of inefficiency lingered in Percy's mind.

Moving on to the training grounds, Percy encountered a sandy expanse dotted with weapon-filled stands and engaged children. And then there was 'the worst,' Y/N, who defied her ominous reputation by greeting him with a beaming smile.

Noticing Luke, her expression briefly wavered, but she swiftly concealed any hint of unease.

"Castellan. And our newcomer! Come to see if your godly parent is a deity of war?" she inquired, a subtle red glint behind her eyes. Percy, sensing an underlying tension, observed as Luke took a bold stance.

"Indeed. Though I doubt he is one of your siblings. He has a brain," Luke retorted, seemingly picking a verbal duel with a girl whose physical strength was evident- she could probably crack a coconut between those biceps.

Y/N, undeterred, threw back a jab at Luke's ego. "Still sore from the time I out-witted you at Capture the Flag?"

The banter continued, and Percy found himself hoping that Luke wasn't considering escalating the conflict, given Y/N's formidable appearance. As she quickly started discussing Percy's achievement in slaying the Minotaur- something she claimed was “worthy of Ares”- Y/N's sassy retort left Luke momentarily flustered, and Percy couldn't help but wonder about the dynamics unfolding between this intriguing pair.

Percy Jackson had found certain truths.

Poseidon, the god of the sea, was his father.

The disdain emanating from Clarisse was a palpable reminder of the tensions within the demigod community, and that tension had almost got him killed. It still could.

However, what intrigued Percy knew and surprised him, was his mentor’s gaze. He claimed that Y/N was "the worst,". As she sang somewhat off-key around the campfire, revelling in the victory of her fellow demigods, even if they were at opposed team at Capture the Flag, Luke's gaze was fixed upon her. His mother had told him a lot of stories about greek mythology.

Right now, as the firelight shone over her cheeks, Y/N looked like Helen of Sparta, and Luke's gaze upon her resembled that of Paris, cursed to harbour love despite the conflict and upheaval it would bring.

Author’s note: yeah I’m sorry nothing happened here. I can always make a part two tho

#luke castellan #luke castellan imagine #luke castellan x reader #pjo #pjo tv show #percy jackon and the olympians #enemies to lovers #luke castellan oneshot #pjo x reader

[ducknotinarow]

2012 Rasey - [☕] our muses make hot chocolate together

| SEND AN EMOJI FOR A STARTER ! ↳ winter season & holiday based

Fuck it hurt bad, real bad. Was Raphael's main thought when that bright light flashed so suddenly it was like his eyes was burning inside of his skull. Raphael had to remind himself it was just because of how intense the light from that flash bang was. When he covered his eye it took a moment to try and recover from the flash, even his good eye wasn't faring all that well against the bright light. Gritting his teeth he knew it be hard to recover as he reached for a smoke bomb they had to call it quits and retreat. As much as he hated them getting the upper hand on him. Raphael had to admit when he was in over his head. They had enough to relay to the rest. They could recover and return. Stupid Foot, was all Raphael could think. As he replayed what happened back to himself. Hoping they hadn't caught on the how effective that stupid trick was on him. He think covering with the smoke bomb helped though. He was going to need to carry more on him just in case. Meaning he needed to get to them before Mikey.

Sitting at the table in Casey's kitchen hand covering his right eye, his left had finally adjusted to deal with light in general but even the light in here was still just too much on his right side. It was making his head throb. And of course, got him to become snippy. Casey had only checked to see if he was okay because of how he reacted to the flash bang before. So what did the turtle do? Snap at Casey because how dare his partner be worried about him right? Idiot. He not thought about himself. The room was too quite right now. As he turned his head to the side, still pressing his palm against his eye, not wanting to risk the light passing through his eye lid right now to look over towards Casey.

Who was to be fair pissed off himself right now. Seeming to be making themself busy right now, Raph couldn't really tell what Casey was doing right now. When Casey wanted make sure he was fine all Raph did was turn away from him trying to 'keep him out of it' hell he physically pushed Casey away from him. Tell him so much as to stay the 'hell out his face' Smooth Raph real smooth. Looked down to the surface the table. Feeling the tails of his mask drape over his shoulder as he slowly pulled his hand away from his eyes trying to open it some. All he could see was dots when he did. He tried blinking a few times to try and get it to adjust faster. It felt dried out now. Let his hands rest tot he surface of the table as he gave himself a few moments. It's not like Casey wouldn't know, everyone would assume a sudden pain could go back to eye after all. Slightly pushing himself back from the table he flinched a little because the light was still a bit to much.

Sure he could go hide out in Casey room where it was dark maybe or try those eye drops April helped get for him. But hes stare was focused squarely on Casey's back instead. Taking a few step over to Casey he plant's his face in against their back he can feel Casey notice the pressure to his shoulder as he nuzzles his face against them. Letting his arms move to warp around Casey's midsection before pressing his right eye in against their back. The light being block out again had the pain slowly easing once again.

"sorry" He finally mutters out, which was not something he said often. But the turtle was in fact sorry, Casey was only worried about him. Raphael would have reacted in the same way, but worse. He didn't really let Casey push him away. "I was a dick" he owns up to resting against Casey in a rare moment. Moving to tuck his face in against Casey's back, it really did feel a little better "My eye jus' hurt" he mumbles against the fabric on Casey's back. Loud enough to be heard. Letting both eyes close now as he rest against them a moment longer. Letting his arms pull in tighter around them. Not looking to move any time soon.

He can hear some noises he recognizes, cabinets opening and such least Casey seemed to be letting him say sorry and more so stay like this with them. This wasn't so bad he guessed, slowly leaving his position as he moves over to rest his eyes in against Casey's shoulder good eye peering around to try and see what Casey is doing right now. Packets of hot chocolate were sitting in a box along with two mugs Raphael tried to look to see if Casey was even able to actually make microwaved hot chocolate. Letting one arm move from around Casey so he could tighten his hold on them in the one arm instead. Reaching out to sort of take the spoon from Casey trying to figure out what he was doing slightly annoyed because he only had his left eye to go off of. If Casey was shorted he could rest his chin there and just peek from their neck.

Raph huffed slightly "lift ya arm up" he demands suddenly picking the arm up to be left raise din the air as he move to rest his head against Casey's side. The light still was a bit too much on his eye but Casey slightly blocked it this way. It did come to his mind that this would be easier if he moved to be in front instead or eve stand to the side but he would have to let go of Casey which he decided he didn't want to do at all. It did put them in a awkward position. Casey's arm resting on top his head, working let an arm rest which was a bit annoying since someone liked to rest his chin on top his head even. With Raph's head pressing in against Casey's ribs. One arm wrapped around Casey's waist a hand resting on their hip. He had a foot resting between Casey's own so he could get in closer to the counter. Before grabbing for the spoon again. "Should'a warmed the water up first" he grumbles a bit not seeming that phased over how stupid this looked. The goop mess not really blending in how it should But seemed to clump up instead.

Raphael just huffed and gave up finally letting go of the spoon so Casey could take back over on it. "My eyes to fucked up" he complains moving to rest his head against Casey's back again instead and encircle them in his arms. As if that was the issue and not the ridiculous way Raphael had gone about that whole attempt. He just felt bad about how he acted and was hoping to make up for it but his eye for one still needed a moment to heal. Pressing his face in against Casey's spine as he felt the pain still throbbing behind his eye. He not really listening when Casey speaks to him just stay like that. He thinks they ask if he okay Raphael considering nodding to say yes but instead his head faintly moves to say no instead. "Jus' hurts don' worry it's just needs a bit more time is all."

#muse| hamato rapheal #madamkezzie #aflockoffeathers #[ if you jump off a bridge it's only cause i did first -aflockoffeathers] #winter season & holiday meme #meme answers #meme reply #ic reply #stay queued #tw: injury mentioned #tw: mental health #((Casey's personal space is raphs personal space sides Casey seems to feel better when he dose it raphs a bit dumb thinks it'll make him #Feel better ;3;))

[in--noctem]

Jayn walked side by side with Cassia, a small yet bright smile on her face. They’d spent half of the day together, talking about books at a coffee shop before they did a bit of shopping. The (slightly) shorter of the two had never gone shopping with a friend (or enjoyed it) before, but with Cass, it was fun. They ended up with a few cool items that they planned to wear on the upcoming mega-cabin winter trip. And now, they were heading back to Cassia’s place, so she could get home (Jayn would simply teleport to Caleb’s). On the way, though, they stopped for milkshakes and fries, getting takeout for their boyfriends. The garage Pogue worked at was on the way to the pretty scene girl’s house. “Is Pogue Parry-? Oh, shit, Cassia-“ Jayn pointed out a familiar, handsome face dotted with grease and sweat. Pogue was halfway underneath a car, hair tied back as his now-dark eyes focused in. “He’s…he looks hot, right?” [I got so carried away 😅]

@dhampiravidi

Pogue had known that the girls were going out on a "date", of sorts. Sincerely, he thought it was kinda cute that they were getting so close. It was also probably good for them to get out together sometimes, have a minute away from the guys. Yeah, Jayn was his girlfriend and Cass was with Caleb, but that didn't mean that they had to always be with their boyfriends. So when Jayn had mentioned that she and Cass were going out for the day, he'd been encouraging of it. Hell, they should probably do it more often, actually- though with everyone's busy schedules, that was easier said than done, he knew. Classes, alone, took up a good portion of time, but add onto that all the homework, essays, test prep, and whatever and it was a wonder that any of them had any time to see each other.

Okay, so maybe he was just a little bit jealous that his girlfriend was spending half of the day with someone else. But he was stuck at work, anyway (and it was a job he enjoyed), so he wasn't going to complain. Besides, she was just going out with Cassia. It's not like he was over here trying to compete for his girlfriend's affections with Caleb's girlfriend. (Right?)

So he went about his work without giving it much other thought. He'd try to squeeze in a couple hours later in the day to go visit Jayn and, if she was too busy, then he could at least call or text her and ask her how things went on their day out. He hoped that they had fun.

He hadn't anticipated, however, that they might show up at his job to bring him lunch. That was, until one of the guys he worked with came over and gently kicked at his leg while he was trying to work. "What?" "Ya got a couple'a girls here looking for you, Parry," The man said, a bit of a grin on his lips as he used his thumb to point over his shoulder at Jayn and Cass standing a fair distance away. Their eyes were already on him, and Pogue was quick to get out from under the car and onto his feet. He patted his coworker's shoulder, "Thanks, man. I'm gonna take five," He was sure the girls wouldn't stick around for long, but a short break felt in order, anyway.

Through all of this, Cassia was having trouble not staring. She'd known Pogue was attractive; that was obvious. And there'd been a couple moments while working on their history project together that she'd kinda... noticed how pretty his eyes were, or how great his smile was, or how cute that confused face he made could be. But she had been so focused on Caleb that she hadn't realized exactly how hot Jayn's boyfriend was. Well, not until right now, anyway. "Yeah..." She couldn't give Jayn a more thought out answer than that at the moment, and she had to blink a couple times to kick herself out of the little daze she was in. (She hoped to god she wasn't blushing in embarrassment from the realization that she'd been staring at him for a second...)

Brushing his grimy hands off on his jeans, Pogue made his way across the garage to Jayn and Cassia, a grin plastered on his face. "Hey, baby. What are you doing here?" He asked, directing his words to Jayn but not failing to give Cass a smile of her own, too. He wanted to wrap Jayn up in his arms and kiss her, but considering his current state, he didn't think she'd like that much. He wasn't about to cover her in grease and motor oil.

#((Pogue totally oblivious to the girls trying to set their boyfriends up #and also totally oblivious to the fact that by this point the girls are kinda interested in each other too xD)) #dhampiravidi #reply:Pogue #((I absolutely love setting up the OT4 stuff. They're so cute <3))

[lord-radish]

To further expound on that Dar Williams post and how I relate to it:

---

Before I fell out with my former best friend, the warning signs had been there for years. For about four years, I knew I was gonna be leaving my town and cutting ties as soon as the opportunity arose. Ending that friendship was always in the cards, and the unhappiness that ended up boiling over had been there in the background for a long time.

I didn't feel like a person compared to my friends in general, but I felt particularly small around my former best friend. It was a rough situation because that friendship was an escape from a hostile home life - and trust me, I'm gonna get more into that very soon - and despite feeling spoken over and disrespected, it was all that I had. I accepted it at first because I took that as the price of admission, I can handle being the butt of the joke sometimes if it means having friends. But as we all got older, I felt like I was singled out as the butt of the joke more than anyone else, and it really started to get to me.

To cope, I drank a lot of alcohol and I ate a lot of junk food. I very seldom spoke up or lashed out, and I aimed it all inwards because I didn't want to hurt anybody. When I did speak out, people would respect my wishes, but things would slide back to how they had been before over time. And like I'm sure my former best friend was trying, or thought he was trying, but after a certain point I think the damage was done and even a genuine effort on his part made me feel suspicious more than grateful. Like any vulnerability would end up being used against me as a joke at my expense, which happened well into the final weeks of our friendship.

Like for a solid four years, despite him being the one person in my life I could go to and spend time with unabashedly unlike anyone else I knew, I think I knew how much I was growing to dislike him. And that probably wasn't fair to him, but being in that situation where you don't like someone but they're everything you have is a total mindfuck.

To tie it back into that Dar Williams post, where keys are a metaphor for access and flowers are a metaphor for denial - my "flower" moment came after our falling out. I had lashed out at him over a girl - and like look it's petty and awful, I'm not proud of it, but that's what happened - and I was trying so hard to like connect the right dots so we could all be friends without it being painful for me. I wanted to go back to being friends with everyone, even through all the pain I was feeling.

And by total chance, I remembered the first time I spent time with my former best friend outside of school.

We had gone to the town pool with a third friend. We were swimming around and stuff, but eventually you go to get out of the pool and go home and stuff.

I was climbing out of the pool, and my former best friend intentionally stepped on me so I would let go and get back in the water.

And it wasn't a one-and-done joke either. I would try again and he would step on me again. I would swim to the other side of the pool and try to get out before he had a chance to run over, but he would beat me over there and step on me again. So for a while there, he and another friend were having fun by keeping me from getting out of the pool, by treading on my hands and arms.

And that moment of recognition was the moment that I realised that he had never really respected me. Perhaps he had grown to respect me as my own person and to love me as a friend, but he didn't respect me as a person. He would still target me to make jokes at my expense well into our twenties, and he would happily take it too far if it was funny enough to him.

And I could trace that behavior all the way back to the start of our friendship. The foundation of our entire friendship was based on that behavior.

The thing with the girl was the last straw. It really wasn't even about her, because she had let me down easy and I had accepted that she didn't want to go out with me. She was dating other guys, and I was learning to heal over and be okay because she was my friend and I wanted her to be happy. At no point have I been upset at her.

What made my former best friend so different is that I had confided in him about her the entire time I had liked her. I gave him multiple opportunities to give me a warning if he was interested in her, to let me know in advance so I could bow out and stop myself from getting hurt. He said he wasn't interested in her multiple times. He made me uneasy, but I trusted him because that felt like the right thing to do.

I trusted him. If the roles were reversed, I wouldn't have done that to him. I was asking for courtesy that I would have offered if the tables were turned.

And like I'm not entitled to anything, and I was asking a lot. But I asked for a warning - nothing more. He could have pumped the brakes for a couple of days, told me what was happening, and continued with his relationship. The one thing I didn't want to do is see that relationship in action. I wanted to work on my issues with it and hopefully become okay with it in time, and have everything be okay in the long run.

I asked in advance for courtesy. Not for him to stop, but to preserve my feelings and allow me to come to terms with it in a way that wouldn't hurt me.

And in hindsight, what happened reminds me of that day at the pool where he would tread on my hands to stop me from getting out of the pool. Because he's going to do whatever he wants in service to his own wants and needs - and that's fine, that's a human trait. But I can't help but feel that it was at my expense, intentionally or not.

It wasn't him hurting me for his own amusement, and I have no doubt that he was trying to find a way to do right by me. But what happened felt incredibly disrespectful, and it led to me re-evaluating our entire friendship and recognising a pattern of disrespect and mistreatment that I had been downplaying and denying to myself for years.

And it all ties into that Dar Williams song, February.

I threw his keys in the water four years ago - I didn't want access any more, even though he was all I had. I realised that I had to get out, I realised how unhappy he was making me. I had no exit strategy, but the seeds had been sown.

I denied how bad I felt all the time, and I swept off behavior that made me feel like I was being targeted for other people's amusement. I struggled with feeling like less of a person than everyone else, but I denied the severity of the problem because it was all I had.

The moment where I realised our friendship was futile was after the girl thing, where I traced what he had done all the way back to the beginning of our friendship. I could have worked on it, but it would have been like shovelling snow all day, going to bed exhausted, and waking up to more snow. I'd already been doing that for years at that point.

Reflecting on that was like confronting years of denial. That was the point where I stopped wanting to go back, and it solidified my departure.

And now, I have keys of my own. Literally - I have keys to my new unit. They're my keys. It took one year, three months and twenty one days, but I'm at the end of February. The leaves are turning, I've got keys made to the house, and when I get home I'm going to start chopping wood. Because you never know how next year will be.

#long post #alcohol cw