#maybe I’ll change that next time i draw him we’ll see

[the-meme-monarch]

been rewatching hlvrai and drawing along :]

edit i fixed the last one (drew his gun on the wrong arm and it Ate At Me (yes i just flipped the drawing what are you a cop))

#the art gallery #hlvrai #blood #ask to tag #i really wanted the draw the first one just bc in the scene coomer is Standing on gordon’s chest/shoulders lookin down at him #and i thought that was a funny image #also it’s a little bit funny that the last time i drew the science team And Others i drew gordom with pupils #and then immediately dropped it when i started these #fun fact that was bc since i like to make their irises the color of their text #i decided gordon’s should just be the white shine #bc i already draw g-man with white irises and No Doubles #which technically i Should be drawing gman with black irises if I’m doing Text Color=Eye Color but i though the white eyes looked cool #maybe I’ll change that next time i draw him we’ll see

[vixstarria]

Communication

Surprise surprise, they're no good at it.

This is a continuation of my in-game bardlock series, seeing as I left a large gap in it between an intimate and emotional scene and a whole bunch of unhinged fucking. Sorry about that.

Takes place after Intimacy but can be read as a stand-alone!

Read on AO3

Astarion x f!Tav

Early Act 3. It has been nice, but it's time Tav and Astarion actually figured out what it is they're doing and what comes next.

Tav is a half-elf bardlock. I'm calling her Tav in this fic, but if you know you know.

Hurt/comfort, some fluff and a drop of humour (I am me after all) if you squint, love, angst

TW: some very casual violence and murder

Approximately 3.9k words. 

“Well?” A very giddy Astarion had appeared behind Tav. “Let’s go!” 

The party had finally reached the outskirts of Baldur’s Gate and were setting up camp near Rivington, after a brief excursion in the area. 

“Go where?” she asked.

“Anywhere! I haven’t seen these streets in sunlight in two centuries.” 

“Now..?”

The city was flooded with refugees. Some child whose mother was definitely not coming for her had seemingly declared herself adopted by the group. There was a towering pile of corpses just outside one of the nearby gates. A circus was in town.

It was nice to finally be back in civilisation.

“Yes, now! Forget the bloody tent, maybe we’ll find an inn to sleep in for a change.”

Nothing had been arranged, set up or planned yet. They had only the vaguest notion of where they were going.

“Sure, a walk sounds lovely right now,” shrugged Tav.

It very quickly became obvious that finding an inn would be nigh on impossible. The streets were crowded with refugees, frantic citizens and all those who would either try to keep them in order or prey upon them.

“Are we going anywhere in particular, or are we just... going?” Tav asked, trying to make her way through the throng. She had never seen Baldur’s Gate this busy before. 

“There is something I’d like to show you,” answered Astarion. “Some place, to be exact. It’s- hey!”

He realised that he was talking to no one, as they had been separated by a group of dwarves pushing their way through between them. Tav smiled at him over their heads, raising her arms in an open-palmed gesture of defeat and resignation.

“Can’t you keep up?” Astarion sighed, rolling his eyes, and reached for her, taking her hand and linking his fingers through hers.

This… This was new, particularly in public, and Tav bit her lip, fighting not to smile, as he guided her after him. 

Astarion glanced back over his shoulder at her, to see her grinning. 

“Oh shut up,” he huffed, before spilling into a smile too, despite himself, and drawing her close to kiss her.

“Half-elven whore,” a nearby elven woman muttered to her companion in elvish, tsking in distaste at the sight. Either she did not expect to be heard or understood, or simply did not care.

Astarion turned towards the woman, with a glower, but before he could retaliate with his own snide remark, Tav told the elven woman to go fuck herself with a splintered broom, in perfect elvish, and pulled Astarion further down the street before the woman thought of anything else to say.

“Such... delightful use of the True Tongue, dear.” Astarion seemed in equal parts impressed and taken aback. “Don't tell me you’ve been holding out on me this whole time..?”

“Oh, no, I only know a little bit,” laughed Tav. 

“Do indulge me.” 

“No, it’s really hardly anything,” she shook her head. “I can count, exchange pleasantries and profanities, know a few songs I can’t translate, and a few odd phrases.” 

“Such as?” 

“I can scream for help in elvish, for one,” she offered. 

“Why would you need to scream for help in elvish..?” 

“Men are more likely to come running if they think it’s a little elven maiden they’re rescuing,” she explained with a sigh. 

Astarion mulled that over with a frown for a bit. 

“I’ll have to take your word for that... What else? And for hells’ sake, just say something, I enjoyed hearing it.” 

She said the first phrase that came to mind.  

Astarion stopped dead in his tracks, with what Tav knew to be the expression he held when he was doing his best to keep his face straight.  

“So let’s start with what you think you just said.” 

“...Shit. ...Uhh.” Tav gave Astarion a sheepish look. “‘My small children have had nothing to eat for days.’?” 

“Darling,” he said, cupping her cheeks, trying not to laugh. “My love. That’s not quite it... Now, how many people do you think you’ve told you’ve ‘eaten nothing but small children for days’..?” 

“Ah... That explains the reactions,” Tav said thoughtfully. 

“Horror?” Astarion finally snickered.

“Usually laughter... I just figured most elves were assholes.” 

Eventually Astarion brought them onto a rooftop that offered an impressive view of the city and surrounding regions.

“It’s so strange to be here in daylight,” he murmured. “This was one of my spots,” he said, turning to Tav. “I used to come here at the start of my evenings, alone, and just… enjoy the peace and quiet for a while.” Astarion took a pensive look around. “Admittedly, the tiles weren’t as hot at night, and all the bird shit wasn’t as prominent.” 

They found a place to sit down.

“I thought you would try to get your job done as quickly as possible,” said Tav.

“There had to be a certain balance to it.” Astarion shook his head. “Start prowling too early, and the potential targets wouldn’t be ripe for the picking yet. And even if I managed to get someone back to the manor early on in the evening, it would only mean I would have to ‘entertain’ them longer.” He shut his eyes and leaned back against a chimney. “It was better to take some precious solitary repose, when I could.”

“Do you think you might have taken me back to Cazador if you’d met me back then?” Tav asked quietly.

Astarion opened his eyes and frowned at the sudden question. 

“Not if I’d ever seen you perform, no,” he deliberated. “I never went for the bards. They were almost my co-conspirators, though they didn’t know it. I couldn’t waste them.” He paused before continuing. “But otherwise, if I’d just bumped into you at a tavern… Probably, yes. A pretty, reckless stray… You would have been perfect. …Would you have followed?” He asked, glancing at her.

“Probably,” she replied, staring off into the distance.

They sat in silence until Astarion broke it with a question.

“Will you stay with me when all this is over?” 

Just the sheer amount of effort he put into trying to make that question sound casual spoke volumes. 

It caught her off guard. They’d spent many evenings in his tent lazily basking in vague fantasies about an ‘after’, usually concentrating on the idea of being able to stay in bed all day, or the concept of their hair and fingernails being free of dried blood and entrails for a change. They’d never actually discussed any realistic nuance of this ‘after’. Or what it might look like, other than what it wouldn’t look like. 

“Are you certain you want to take Cazador’s place in the ritual..?” she asked, carefully. 

“Why shouldn’t I?” Astarion immediately sounded defensive. 

“You don’t even know what it entails or means, not really...” 

“It means having everything I’ve been missing the past two centuries, what else is there to know?” He scoffed. “...You haven’t answered my question,” he said after a pause. 

She said nothing for a while, looking down at her fingernails. 

“Stay and do what..?” 

“Anything!” he exclaimed. “Anything you want. We could do anything. Do you have any idea what I will be capable of? Of the power I will hold. The influence.”

“Yes, yes, legions of wolves, turning into mist,” she recited. “What else… Commanding ghouls, I think?” She threw her head back, looking at the sky. “I’m not sure why you would need to do any of that, though.”

“Unimaginable power, and you mock it…” Astarion said indignantly. “I suppose you would rather go frolic in the woods with Halsin..? …Oh don’t look so shocked, I’ve seen how he looks at you. Sleeping in the dirt, living off the land. Is that what would make you happy?” 

“He looks at you the same way! And must you jump to extremes?” She let out an exasperated sigh. “Even if I were interested in Halsin, there is ample space between sleeping in the dirt and sleeping in that gothic monstrosity, in which I might find myself happy.” 

They sat in silence for a while. 

“I don’t think you should go through with it,” she said, finally. “Something about it just doesn’t sit right.” 

Astarion looked at her with an unreadable expression and didn’t say anything. She continued. 

“I know enough stories - and before you roll your eyes at me, there is usually a grain of truth to them – and I’ve read between the lines of enough history texts, to know there is no such thing as a jolly vampire lord that just has a grand ol’ time carousing in their castle. It’s always centred on cruelty, misery and violence.” 

“I suppose you know plenty of stories of jolly vampire spawn,” he spat. 

“Some, as a matter of fact. They usually revolve around romance and redemption.” She sighed and continued, as he let out a bitter laugh. “I’ve never heard of any demonic deals that ended in anything that wasn’t disastrous, either. The point is, nothing that involves blood or soul sacrifice has ever made anyone happy.” She looked in the direction of Cazador’s palace. “We should kill Cazador, burn it all to the ground and dance on the ashes. I will be by your side. And yes, I want to stay with you. Of course I do.” 

“For how long?” Astarion asked quietly, after a pause. 

“...What?” 

“How long will you stay by my side? You have another... 100 years, 150 at best? I can’t offer any solutions to that as a spawn.” 

She blinked, realisation dawning in her eyes.

“...Astarion Ancunin, did you just say you want to spend the rest of eternity with me?” 

“Oh don’t you bloody dare turn this into a joke,” he bristled. “Just for once.”

“Not a joke, but…” She paused and gave her head a brisk shake, as if to snap herself out of a daze. “Just so we’re absolutely clear, what are you saying?”

“Isn’t it obvious..?” The grin that had crept habitually onto Astarion’s face felt like a suffocating mask. She only stared back into his eyes, unblinking, waiting for him to continue. “I could turn you. Grant you an eternity.” ‘With me’, he wanted to add, but the look in her eyes made the words die on his tongue.

None of this was going the way Astarion had expected. Not that he had planned any of this… Still, he’d made certain assumptions. He’d anticipated the conversation and day would flow somewhere along the following lines: re-affirm his plans for Cazador. Exchange words of undying love and devotion. Maybe, maybe make love to her again, later, in celebration. Instead everything was slipping like fine sand through his fingers. Words simply wouldn’t come out of his mouth. Everything he thought he might say suddenly felt pathetic.

“Turn me? To become one of your spawn?” Astarion opened his mouth to speak, but she talked over him. “Two centuries as something you say is less than a slave, a puppet, and you would so easily offer the same fate to me..?”

“First of all,” he sputtered, “I don’t know why you immediately assumed there would be others. Secondly,” he continued, slowing down, “there is another way, or so I’ve read. You wouldn’t be a mere spawn, but a-” Astarion winced, cutting himself off. “Never mind,” he said, shaking his head. This was rapidly spinning further and further out of his control. “I thought you trusted me?” he asked instead.

“It’s not about trust,” she said. “If you had the choice between a hundred years of absolute freedom or being enthralled to someone for eternity - doesn’t matter who - me, Gale, your long-lost grandmother, anyone! What would you choose?”

“I would never compel you,” said Astarion, his voice tinged with a hint of pleading.

“That’s not the point,” she said, looking away, running her hand through and tugging at her hair. “Let’s just head back. We still need to set up before it gets dark, and I promised Karlach we would visit that bloody circus…”

Something inside Astarion shattered and spilled, ice-cold, over his heart as she got up and walked away. 

Not even an hour had passed since some of the happiest moments he’s had in centuries.

They walked back in silence. 

Eventually they came upon an outpost of Flaming Fists and steel watchers, who had appeared on the road they had taken into the city. They were apprehending everyone trying to pass through, whether they were leaving or entering. 

“Let’s try a side street,” offered Astarion. 

They found and made their way through a narrow alleyway. It was empty. Suspiciously empty, in fact - no children running through, no one out for a quick smoke, no drunks pissing on the walls.

Sure enough, once they were halfway through, three goons intercepted their way, stepping out of a doorway. Two humans and an enormous half-orc wide enough to block out most of the passage. 

“Alley toll.” One of the thugs flashed a malicious grin, eyeing Tav up and down. “Better pay up, doll.” Three more jeering hoodlums appeared behind them as he spoke, armed with crude but lethal weapons. 

“Attempting to detain a Council battlemage on duty? Bold but stupid,” she said gravely. “Hand over your profits and Lord Gortash won’t learn of your little enterprise. This is your only warning.” 

Trying to bluff and deceive her way through, per usual. Was there even a Council anymore? Did it employ mages? No matter. Whether due to the fact that she and Astarion had decided to wander the streets of the city in civilian clothes, without armour, or simply because the lust for money and violence had gotten the better of the would-be muggers, they paid her attempt no heed. 

The leader laughed.

“Or, how about we have some fun with you, and your Lord Gortash can come and collect your body from the river once we’re done with it?”

Astarion’s blood boiled.

He reached for his daggers, thoughts racing. Why in the hells had they come here barely armed..? They were surrounded, but perhaps if she blasted the three in front of them they might run through..? But they were probably too close for that… Could she misty step behind them and get away? His undead body would most likely survive whatever came, even with the tadpole. 

“Take the ones behind,” Tav snapped, and Astarion followed her lead, as he had grown used to, silently praying to no particular deity that she knew what she was doing. 

He ducked as one of the goons bellowed and swung a sword at him, dodging the blow to come up next to his attacker, burying a dagger between his ribs and another in his guts, for good measure. At least the alley was too narrow for all of the bandits to come in on them at once. Behind him, Tav spat some incantation that he wasn’t familiar with.

The next lout came at him, only to stop short, as Astarion scrounged up his meagre magical abilities to hurl a firebolt at his face, making the man yelp and grind to a halt in shock and pain. Astarion’s dagger followed through his eye socket shortly thereafter. 

The entire altercation with the two thugs took mere seconds. Another controlled shout from Tav followed behind him.

The last of the muggers on Astarion’s side backed away, looking at the scene unfolding behind Astarion with a horrified expression, before breaking into a run and disappearing. 

Astarion turned back to witness Tav standing with her arms crossed, looking unaffected, just as the half-orc who had been behind the group’s leader pulled his sword back out from the leader’s stomach, having impaled him from behind.

Tav barked another command as the leader collapsed, and the half-orc slammed the head of his other cohort, who hadn’t understood what was happening yet, against a wall, with a resounding crunch. 

A domination spell. 

Astarion felt nauseous. If his body had been capable of producing bile, it would have crept up at the back of his throat. For once, the smell of freshly spilled blood all around them was repulsive to him.

 “Kneel,” Tav commanded, calmly. The half-orc’s body immediately dropped to its knees, with a thud that spoke of damaged kneecaps.

“I’m running out of time. Do you need him?” She stepped over the body of the group’s dying ex-leader and walked around the half-orc, to stand behind him. 

Disgust and revulsion continued to claw at Astarion’s insides. 

“…What?”

The half-orc’s eyes were void of any emotion. A small mercy.

“Blood. Do you want his blood, before I spill it?” she said nonchalantly.

“…No,” he swallowed. Not like this…

He watched as she slit his throat, carefully standing behind him to avoid blood spraying over herself. Comprehension returned to the man’s eyes just as he made his last gurgling sounds, before stilling forever. 

“That was despicable,” Astarion hissed, finally breaking his gaze away from the body. “Compulsion? Really?!”

She gave him an incredulous look, momentarily speechless.

“This is what I do!” she exclaimed. “This is how I protect myself. You know this! What the fuck did you expect - that I would set off a fireball in an alley?! Or make one of them have a fit of giggles?!”

“You didn’t need to do anything, I could have handled all of them,” he countered.

“Oh, stand behind you like a meek little lamb?” She scoffed. “While neither of us are even wearing armour, and they’re on both sides? Don’t be ridiculous.” She crouched to wipe her dagger on the dead man’s clothes. “What does it matter, anyway,” she said, offhanded. “Dead is dead - who cares how they got there?” 

“It was just like Cazador all over again,” Astarion said, bitterly. “Watching my siblings torture each other, for his amusement, waiting for it to be my turn to be compelled.”

She stilled as she crouched, not looking up at him. 

“You fucking hypocrite,” she said, finally, rising. 

“What in the hells are you talking about?” he grimaced.

“Comparing me to Cazador, when you’re planning to take his very place.”

“How dare you?” Astarion felt the last of his composure leaving him. “I am nothing like Cazador, and I never will be,” he growled.

“No?” She narrowed her eyes. “You’re already thinking of your own spawn. Maybe you would keep your word and not compel me, but you would be curious. All that power that you’ve been wishing was yours for 200 years...” She gesticulated, tilting her head. “First just one teensy little slave - someone who’s wronged you, maybe, someone who deserves to bear your ire. Then, perhaps someone convenient, in a place of power. Someone like what you would have been, had Cazador not botched your death so bad that it became public. Then another. And another. And what will you do with them once you have them? Take them for midnight picnics and host slumber parties?” 

She spat on the ground. 

“I’m going back to camp.”

She stormed off, fuming, exiting the alleyway and mixing into the crowd. Astarion followed at a distance, discreetly wiping the blood that had landed on his hands on the shirt of a random passerby that stumbled out in front of him. He gritted his teeth, watching her.

It had taken every last bit of his self-control to not snap back at her during her little tirade. 

He wanted to stalk off in the opposite direction, but frankly all his things were at the campsite, and he still needed the group’s help, both with Cazador and the tadpole. And he couldn’t discount something else happening to her on the way back. 

No, none of this was what he thought would end up happening today. Was this the end..?

It didn’t matter, he thought. Let her be stubborn. Let her accuse him of gods know what. He would do what he had set out to do. Hells, even if she changed her mind later - it would be too late. Let her live out her “hundred years of freedom” in regret.

And how fucking dare she?! Insinuating that he was or could ever be anything like Cazador. After all he had given her. His trust. His love. He didn’t have anything else. Not as a spawn, anyway.

But perhaps she would change her mind, after she gave his proposal more thought..? He could talk her into it, couldn’t he? He’s talked so many people into doing exactly what he wanted them to do…

There was no point in anything otherwise. It was all for her. All he wanted for himself was revenge. Freedom. Safety. But all the power in the world was meaningless if he couldn’t share it with her.

Astarion winced at the thought, hating that it even crossed his mind. If only he could claw it out of his brain and smash it against the cobbles beneath his feet. How much simpler life would be.

He would not grovel. He would not apologise. He would not change his mind. And he would rather die, again, than be caught running after her like a dog. 

Astarion cursed, slipped into the shadows and turned invisible, breaking into a sprint. He wouldn’t be able to replicate the trick for a while now, if the need arose, but he couldn’t care less. 

He raced up sets of stairs, speeding through a terrace, dodging the patrons of whatever establishment it was he was going through, and leaped, unseen, onto the next building’s, until he was ahead of her, descending back onto the ground and losing his invisibility around the corner from the main street, stepping out just in front of her. 

He caught a glimpse of her scowling and furiously blinking away tears just before she crashed into his chest with a light gasp, as he wrapped his arms around her. She was stiff and rigid, but at least she didn’t try to push him away. Still, a part of him was screaming that it was already too late.

“I don’t want you to have to commit those atrocities when you’re with me,” Astarion murmured into her hair, holding her close.

“You’d rather commit them yourself?” she retorted, her voice weak.

“I don’t want to,” he said quietly, as she seemed to become more malleable, and sank into his embrace, slowly wrapping her own arms around his back. “But I will if I have to. For you.”

“That makes two of us, I guess,” she managed, sounding choked up. 

Astarion took a deep breath, relieved. Mine… Still mine… He thought to himself, touching his forehead against hers and stroking her cheek. Someone in the street heckled them, yelling something about getting a room.

“I already don’t have much to offer, beyond all my burdens,” he whispered. She looked up at him, eyes glistening. She tried to protest, but he pressed a finger to her lips. “I want to do what I can, for you. For us. What good am I if I can’t even keep you safe?”

He pressed his lips against her forehead as she hugged him tighter. He had no idea whether he had convinced her of anything, or if she simply didn’t have the will to argue anymore, but for now it didn’t matter.

“I will love you no matter what,” she breathed.

Another jeer followed from the crowd, and someone cursed at them to get out of the way.

“A legion of wolves sounds tempting right about now,” she added, as he smiled.

“Do you still want to get Karlach and go to that circus?” he asked.

“Fuck the circus,” she mumbled into his shirt. “But I guess we should.”

They made their way back to the camp, fingers interlocked again. The silence that stretched once more almost felt comfortable this time.

~~~~~

Thanks for reading!

Series master list

Next in series - A night at the inn

AO3

~~~~~

Tag list:

@littleenglishfangirl @something-pithy @darlingxdragon @tallymonster @tragedybunny @spunky-89 @acourtofpenandpaper @yoonshope @lariatbunny @whiskeyskin @asterordinary @wingsy-keeper-of-songs @spacebarbarianweird @brabblesblog @littlejuicebox @icybluepenguin @snowfolly @ayselluna @mj-bites @bardic-inspo

#astarion #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #astarion fanfic #astarion fanfiction #astarion x tav #astarion x f!tav #bg3 fanfic #bg3 fanfiction

[captain-mj]

Are we gonna get a part four for love potion pretty please I‘m eating drywall right now

Of course!!

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Soap went into the woods that night with Ghost to search for the beast. Well, that’s why Ghost invited him. He was collecting some of the ingredients for Roach. And then he did it the next night. And the next. Eventually, it had been two full cycles of the moon. 

Ghost had become slightly more lax around him. Not much, but if his armor exposed some of his skin or he just didn’t know what to say, he let Soap know. He joked with Soap. Soap was pretty sure he smiled at him. He swore he heard it in his voice. 

Right now, Ghost casually took off his mask. This far away from his beloveds, his eyes were normal. His hair had been cut a bit shorter since they had last talked. Soap wanted to draw him. Or kiss his freckles. Or both. “Hungry?” 

If he had less of a filter, he would’ve said yes, for him. The time together did not do him any favors. Instead of finding flaws with him, something to convince him that his crush is stupid. All it did was make him want him more and more. Sometimes all he wanted was to press his face against Ghost’s neck. 

If he was honest, with all of his spare time being used for Roach as well, he had a similar feeling. He wanted to press against him, kiss him breathless.

It was a good thing neither wanted him as it would impossible to ever choose. 

Soap nodded. “I could eat.” He pulled his bag out and sat down to lean against a tree. He expected Ghost to pick a different tree to sit at but instead, he sat right next to Soap, thighs almost pressed together. “We do this for how long, sir? Won’t Lord Roba miss you?”

“He’s found his time with me.” Ghost sighed. “Always does.” He stole a piece of the goat cheese Soap had and popped it in his mouth. 

Soap watched him, fascinated with how his teeth chewed through things. He took a piece of the fruit Ghost had and ate it quietly. 

Memories faded. That was part of the passage of time. But that night had been sealed into his brain. Ghost in the throes of pleasure, head tilted back, mouth open. Soap knew he could do better than them. With no spell, he was sure he could do better by Ghost. 

Maybe it was a bit of a wicked thought.. Especially with what he knew Ghost went through. But God that did not help his feelings for him. He wanted to kiss him desperately. To touch him. Run his fingers through his hair. Press against him. 

“Finds time?”

“In the morning. Today he decided to get my time before I left.” 

Soap glanced at him, biting his jealous back. Now that he pointed it out, Soap could see the bites right at the edge of his collar. “Hmm. And when do you sleep?”

Ghost laughed. “I don’t sleep.”

“Elf thing?”

“Ghost thing. Never slept well. Especially not now a days.” Ghost closed his eyes. 

“Did they do something that hurts?”

Ghost paused and glanced at him. “Why do you care?”

“I want to know if you’re hurt.” Soap answered honestly. 

He seemed to accept that answer as he nodded and looked away again. “Some cuts on my thighs. I can move just fine. My fault?”

“How was it your fault?”

Ghost finished his food and sighed. He glanced at him. “Haven’t found the thing yet. They’re punishing me until I find it.” 

Soap nodded. “We’ll find it.” Or he’d die trying. He hated the idea of Ghost being punished for the crime of not being able to track a creature that might not even exist. 

Ghost sighed. “I hope we don’t. I can take it. It’s just a creature following it’s nature. Doesn’t deserve to die for that. I’m used to being hurt.”

“You joked about eating it.”

“I’ll make the most of it if we do. I won’t hesitate to kill it. But… I don’t want to. I stopped wanting to hurt anyone a long time ago.” Ghost smiled and closed his eyes. 

Soap swallowed and chose to sit in silence with that. He looked at him, wanting to kiss him. 

Simon looked at him. Soap could feel the difference. Something changed from one second to another. “Johnny.”

“Simon, do you think if we were miles away, things would be different?”

“What do you mean?”

“If we were somewhere else, miles removed from everything, what would you do?” 

Ghost thought about it for a minute. “I’d go home to Roba and Pilar as soon as I could.” 

Soap felt his heart break. “Ah. I see. Let’s keep going.” 

Ghost nodded and got up, pulling his mask back on. 

The two of them ventured further out and Soap looked for the last two ingredients on his list. Something from Ghost and foxgloves. They had something to do with deception and the breaking of it. 

Soap had no clue how he was going to get something from Ghost. He did tell Ghost he was looking for foxglove. When asked why he’d need foxglove, he fumbled before just awkwardly explaining they were his favorite.

Ghost had stared at him for a minute before they continued through the night. As the moon started to set, Soap realized it was another night without the plant he needed and another day where Ghost would be punished for not finding this fucking thing. 

Soap sighed as they circled the entire town. “Guess we’ll have to call it a night, Simon.” He turned around and paused. 

Ghost had a bundle of foxglove out. “Here. I passed some earlier.” 

Soap swallowed and took it slowly. “Thank you.” 

Ghost nodded and left him alone there. Soap looked at the flowers in his hand and swallowed thickly. His hand came up slowly to touch the buds. 

It took him a long time to walk away from that spot as his head spun. But eventually he did. He went straight to Roach. 

Roach who beamed when he saw him. Roach who always let him stay longer than he needed to. 

Roach who took the foxglove and noticed an important detail. 

Ghost had used his handkerchief to hold the stems together. 

“Everything I need.”

#call of duty #call of duty modern warfare #simon ghost riley #johnny soap mactavish #call of duty modern warfare ii #cod mw2 #ghostsoap #cod #soapghost #ghoap

[rubyreduji]

[childhood best friends to lovers | woozi x gn!reader | 796 words]

You remember back in primary school a boy with a doughy face and a wide grin and shiny black hair cut into a mullet. He asked you to play tag during recess on the first day and when you eventually fell and scraped your knee he held your hand all the way to the nurse.

The next day he shared his snack with you and told you he thought your purple bandaid was cool. Later you two played trucks together and it was then set in stone you two would be best friends forever.

Lee Jihoon was his name.

You two were inseparable. You were always playing together and pairing up for projects and spending afternoons at one another’s houses. You’d sit and listen while Jihoon practiced his instruments and he would sit and watch you draw.

Even into middle school you two couldn’t be pried apart. It was a well known fact by everyone that it was always Y/N and Jihoon. Through thick and thin you two stood by each other. He was your ride or die and you wanted to spend the rest of your life with him.

That is, until you turned fifteen.

“Y/N.”

“Yeah, Ji?”

“I’m moving to Seoul.”

Everything freezes. Your heart twists. You don’t want to believe it. You can’t. Seoul is on the whole other end of South Korea. It’s almost a four hour drive. Why is Jihoon springing this on you right now?

When you don’t respond right away, Jihoon continues.

“I auditioned for a company to become a K-Pop idol, and I got accepted! Pledis Entertainment. I’m going to move to Seoul so I can train before I debut.”

You just stare at Jihoon incredulously.

You’ve always known Jihoon is incredibly talented with his singing, and you knew he had an interest in K-Pop, but you never knew he auditioned to become an idol. Now he’s moving across the country and you won’t be with your best friend anymore.

“That’s…far from Busan,” you finally say, your mouth dry.

“I know, but this is a dream of mine. I promise we’ll still talk, and I’ll come and visit you when I can.”

“I’m…I’m really happy for you Jihoon,” you tell him in a soft voice. “I’m just going to miss you so much.”

“I know, I’ll miss you too.” Jihoon pulls you into a hug. “We’re best friends forever though. Always remember that.”

After Jihoon moves away you see him sporadically and talk to him when he has the time, but as you grow older those times become few and far between until they stop all together. You don’t blame him. He’s become a very successful K-Pop idol and producer, but you can’t help but miss him. You don’t keep up much with his music, but you hear it on the radio sometimes and you’re happy he’s become so popular.

The first time you see Jihoon in person is not planned at all. You think it’s probably been around seven years since you last really interacted with him, around the time he was debuting. You’re a fashion designer and stylist now and when you were asked to help work on a project for a K-Pop idol you weren’t expecting the idol to be the one and only Woozi, aka, Lee Jihoon.

Words get caught up in your throat when you see him. He looks good. Very good. But you suppose that’s what happens when you become a K-Pop idol. A flood of emotions overtake you, as you look at your best friend after all these years.

Jihoon looks just as stunned to see you.

“I- hi, Jihoon.”

“Y/N. Hi. It’s…been a long time.”

“It has.”

“You look good.”

You laugh. “I think you look better.”

It’s easy for you two to pick up right where you left off with your friendship. That’s not surprising though, because as much as you two have changed, you’re still just Jihoon and Y/N. It’s always been easy with Jihoon. 

It’s not the exact same as it used to be. Of course it wouldn’t be, you two are adults now. That’s not the only reason though. There’s something else lingering in the air. Maybe it’s because of your comfort with each other, or because it’s been so long since you saw one another, but you swear Jihoon is flirting with you. Maybe you’re flirting back. 

Your suspicions are confirmed when Jihoon asks you out on a date. You agree of course. 

You two go and get coffee and when Jihoon reaches across the table and grabs your hand, it feels the exact same way it did all the years ago on the very first day you met Jihoon, and you know that this is how it’s meant to be.

#woozi #lee jihoon #woozi fanfic #woozi fluff #woozi drabble #seventeen #seventeen fanfic #seventeen fluff #seventeen drabble #woozi x reader #woozi x gn reader #gn reader #woozi scenario #woozi imagines #rru.writes #rru.minis #★ sfw

[mothfables]

Snail Ch. 1: I Was Just Born Like This, Wish That I Could Change It

Legend is hit with an unknown spell, or perhaps curse, leaving him the age he was when he began his first adventure but with his current memories. The Chain worries.

It happens suddenly.

One moment, the Veteran is himself, dancing across the battlefield with his usual grace. The next, there’s a bright flash and he’s a tiny bundle of green and pink. He tumbles to the ground, dazed and disoriented, leaving the rest of them rushing to cover him and drive back the monsters who see a sudden piece of easy prey and redirect their attention to the unmoving lump on the ground.

The battle is quickly won with their foes so distracted and protectiveness running hot through the heroes’ veins. The moment the last monster dissipates into dark smoke Sky is turning, searching for his downed brother. It takes a second but he quickly spots him - he’s small, even smaller than usual; a tiny, trembling figure with a shock of pink hair that has Sky biting back the urge to coo. He takes a step forward, intent on seeing if the Vet is okay, if he’s hurt at all besides the transformation, and bright violet eyes snap towards him.

The look in them brings Sky up short because that’s fear in those eyes. Not relief, or worry, or a hundred other things he’s used to seeing in them. No, this is raw, blatant fear. His other brothers are crowding close now, exclaiming loudly in worry, and those bright eyes follow their every move. Sky’s heart sinks at the realization that for whatever reason their veteran is scared of them.

One of them does something he can’t catch - moves too fast or steps too close, perhaps - and Legend bolts. The heroes shout after him but he’s fast, disappearing into the trees lining the road in the time it takes to blink.

“STOP!!!” Sky shouts, halting the rest of them in their tracks. Rarely does the Chosen Hero make himself so loud, preferring to let the more energetic of his siblings take the spotlight. As such, when he does deign to raise his voice, the rest of them listen.

“B-but we can’t jus’ let ‘im go off on ‘is own!” Wind protests, biting his lip. “‘e’s all small, he’ll get lost out there alone!”

“And we’ll find him,” Sky consoles. “But did any of you see his face?” He gets his answer in confused looks and headshakes. “He was terrified. And-” He pauses, swallows. “And I’m pretty sure it was of us.”

He’s met with horrified silence.

Sky watches them for a moment, glancing between them and the trees where Legend disappeared in thought. Then he nods.

“Okay. You all stay here, maybe make camp or something. I’ll be back.”

“Where are you going?” Four asks as he turns towards the trees. He glances back, a reassuring smile on her face.

“To find our Veteran, of course.”

And then she’s gone, vanishing into the forest after their missing brother.

~~~~~~~~~

Sky wanders through the trees, trying to stay in a straight line. It might not even be the right idea; Legend may very well have veered far away from the path the moment he entered the woods. Still, if she doesn’t want to get horribly lost, going straight is her best bet.

She doesn’t want to risk having Wolfie sent after her with a terrified child - mentally or not - somewhere in the woods. They may never find him then.

Luck seems to be on her side, though. It takes perhaps ten, fifteen minutes tops before she hears a distinctly-hylian noise in the otherwise normal chorus of the woods.

Her ears perk up at the sound and he listens closely. There!

Sky follows the sounds, faint as they are, to a dense clump of bushes. He can’t see anything through the leaves, but the noise cuts off when he draws near. His heart aches.

There’s no way Legend will be coming out of his hiding spot any time soon. Sky weighs his options (of which there aren’t many) before sighing and moving to sit down against a nearby tree. Not too close, though, or Legend will just feel trapped.

With nothing else to do but wait, Sky begins to hum, little nonsense tunes that help keep his mind from dwelling too deeply on the current situation.

.

.

.

The rustling of leaves catches his attention. He’s careful not to falter in his humming, though, in case it’s little Legend finally coming out of hiding. Any sudden changes could send him right back into the cover of the bushes, and then they’d have to start all over again.

Slowly, falteringly, a presence comes to settle nearby. Sky keeps humming, slipping into the Ballad of the Goddess almost instinctually.

As the last note fades, he slowly turns to look at who - or what - joined him. She’s greeted with soft pink hair and a dirty green tunic. Large violet eyes blink up at her from a small, pale face.

Sky gives a soft smile, very carefully not moving. “Hey there, I’m Sky. You must’ve been pretty spooked earlier, huh? I’m sorry about that. Are you alright?”

Legend (could they even call him that right now? Should they?) stares at him warily. He’s still several feet away, noticeably out of grabbing range, the older hero realizes. His heart aches again.

He waits for a few moments but no reply comes. Eventually he takes a deep breath and pushes himself to his feet. Legend watches closely the entire time. Sky pats himself down before holding out a hand to the younger.

“Do you want to come back with me? It can’t be very nice staying out here in the woods all by yourself.”

More silent staring, though this time it seems to be more like the boy before him is thinking, not frightened. The child (because unless Legend is still recovering from... whatever that was, that seems to be the case) hesitantly reaches out before quickly retracting his hand. Sky keeps his disappointment and worry well away from his face and pulls his hand back with an easy smile.

“That’s fine. Do you want to just stay behind me, then?” He hopes Legend follows; she’s not going to leave him all alone in the woods, even if it takes all night, but by the Goddess does she hope he decides to go with her back to the others. Not only would it keep the rest of them from getting any more worried than they most certainly already are, it would also give them the chance to see if he’s injured in any way.

...Also it would keep Wolfie from having to track them down and potentially scaring Legend back into hiding or running again.

Her hopes are granted when Legend nods and stands, holding his hands close to his chest as he waits for her to start moving.

The older hero does so, waving a hand in a ‘follow me’ gesture. Her ears flick back at quiet, shuffling footsteps behind her and she smiles. The two of them make their way back through the woods, the younger staying carefully out of sight but not straying, to the elder’s relief.

Eventually they find the road again; Sky can just see their companions through the trees. The closer they get, though, the closer Legend draws, despite his earlier hesitation. When they finally leave the cover of the trees Sky feels small hands grasp onto her pant leg and cling.

The other heroes are still where she left them, split between milling aimlessly about and standing together in small groups and chatting quietly, all of them sporting worried expressions. She has to suppress a snort; after all, if she was in their shoes she’d be doing the same thing. A hero’s spirit is not one for idleness when there is something to be done.

Still, she did suggest something they could do before she left, and a sudden surge of mischievousness brings a smirk to her face. She lays a gentle hand against little Legend’s back to reassure him as she calls out, “I thought I told you guys to make camp! I’m gone what, an hour? And I come back to find you all wandering around like headless cuckoos!”

As expected they start at her voice, some of them, like Twilight, flushing in embarrassment while others look indignant. There’s a tiny snort of laughter from the boy at her side and Sky feels pride blossom in his chest at the sound. He flashes the others a smile to show he doesn’t mean the words and they relax.

All of that falls away, though, when they spot the tiny shadow at his side. Instantly the worry and concern is back and a few of them start forwards as if to rush over and see him for themselves. Sky gives them a Look and they immediately back down. A protective Hylia’s Chosen is not one to be messed with.

After a moment to make sure they’re behaving themselves, Sky nudges his companion. Bright eyes look up at him warily, and he gives him another reassuring pat.

“Do you want to go say hi?” he asks quietly. “They won’t hurt you, if that’s what you’re worried about. And,” he adds, seeing the nervousness and fear creeping back over that small face, “if anyone does something you don’t like, they’ll have to deal with me.”

Shocked surprise replaces the fright before the boy gives a nod. A tiny spark of trust appears in those violet orbs and Sky’s heart swells.

“Alright then,” he smiles. He leads him over to where the rest of the Chain wait in anticipation, keeping a gentle hand on his back the whole way. Thankfully it seems the older heroes have the younger ones under control - Wars has a hand clamped on Wind and Hyrule’s shoulders while Twilight does the same with Wild. Four hovers next to Time, his own eyes sparking purple as he watches them approach.

Sky stops several feet away, a tug on his pant leg alerting him that they’re getting too close for tiny Legend’s comfort. Everyone forms a circle, and he can tell they’re trying their best not to stare.

“Okay,” he starts. “Time for some introductions, I think. I already told you my name, I’m Sky.” Legend nods. Sky smiles at him and gestures to the hero on her left to introduce themselves.

Hyrule starts at the motion before he nods, coughing and clearing his throat. “U-um. Hi. Y-you can call me Hyrule.” They give a meek little wave that Legend shyly returns. There’s a sudden chorus of coos that quickly stifle themselves when Sky casts a glance around.

Warriors goes next- and Legend startles badly enough Sky can feel it. She keeps her hand on his back in the hopes it’ll keep him grounded, and it seems to work because he doesn’t run again. The introductions continue.

With every name, he presses closer and closer to Sky’s leg, clutching his pants with tiny hands. His expression becomes more worrisome, brows drawing together and little ears flickering as he mouths each name. When they’re finished, he swallows, looking up at Sky then back at the group.

Then he speaks, and it’s a quiet, murmured, “‘m Legend. I know you.”

#moth’s tales #linked universe #lu legend #lu sky #lu the chain #linked universe fanfiction #snail #bonus bigender sky cause why not #he/she sky rights #fanfiction #also the start of dad!sky #um what else #deaging #linked universe au

[lightlycareless]

Au where y/n takes her daughter to go see the barbie movie 🥺🥺🥺

Heya anon!

I'm sorry I took a while to respond, but I never forgot about this ask!

I gotta say, I was happy when I got it; I was in the middle of a trip I didn't enjoy very much, so it gave me something to look forward to when I got back home! So thank you so much for this and your patience!! 🥺❤️❤️❤️

As always, here is thy chapter warnings: pure fluff, a bit of... innuendos but like slightly, almost invisible, it's Y/N and Naoya being gross with one another, like a true couple lol. And some of the topics that the Barbie movie talks about.

Without any further ado, happy reading!

It took me a while to decide whether Y/N would take her daughter to watch the Barbie movie or not, considering its PG-13 (I’m going with the idea that she’s not a teenager yet, maybe around 7-8?) and it has some topics that someone that young might not understand or become frightened by them you know? At least that’s what I thought when trying to put myself in the situation if I had a kid that would want to see the movie.

But after going through that dilemma, I’ve finally decided that Y/N would definitely take her daughter to see it, but only once she checked some things first of course!!

Let’s set a bit of context first.

I’m assuming you must know what my fixation, or major one at least, is so imma say Y/N and Naoya met during college, fell in love, got married, and after a while (not so much, they wanted a family ASAP) and had a lovely daughter named Naomi 😊

Naoya is the “breadwinner” per se, the one that works most of the time to provide his family with a good lifestyle, and that he certainly did. He initially bought a small apartment when it was still just the two of you, because in your own words, “with him at the office, and yours in your, there’s no need for that many rooms.”

That immediately changed when your pregnancy was announced. If anything, it seemed there were not enough rooms now.

“Our baby needs a room to play with her toys. But what if she wants to draw, or paint?”

“We’ll set up a room for that, that way she won’t dirty her toys.”

“And if she wants to play with her plushies? I’m afraid she’ll get hurt by the soft-hard contrast of each other!”

“We can’t take any risks; I’ll order a plush upholstered room just for that—”

“No, all the rooms! What if she accidentally trips and hits herself?!”

Of course, they didn’t follow through with that, because after sharing their plans with fellow relatives, they were quickly talked out of it. Saying that it wasn’t for the good of the baby to grow up so sheltered, and their wallets. Something that Naoya didn’t really pay attention to, eventually convinced otherwise when suggested that instead of spending money on that, it could be saved in literally anything else.

Cue the expensive, never-ending gifts from Naoya. Whatever his girls wanted, they would get—he’s the next CEO to his family’s company, it would be stupid to act like he wasn’t!

Because he’s so doting in one aspect, he’s a bit reserved in the other, at least outwardly… and a bit inwardly too since this is all new territory for him—He didn’t grow up in a loving household where words and displays of affection would be done, but Naoya is really trying his best.

He still cares for you and Naomi, of course, he just lets money do the talking for him.

But worry not, where he lacks, that’s where you step in!

Taking the role of “stay at home mom” once announced your pregnancy, you’re the one that ends up all the time with Naomi, showering her affection, reminding her how much she’s loved by the two, as well as keeping Naoya up to date when he’s away.

Wherever Naomi went, pictures needed to be taken: either posing near the ducks of her favorite garden, showing off her new acquisition (you always bought something for her, whether she asked for it or not) or just enjoying a scoop of ice cream in a hot day, or when picking her up when school—didn’t matter, it had to be shared, and Naoya appreciated all of those pictures, keeping them in a dedicated album for him to look back on to when he’s feeling particularly down, although he always ends up a bit regretful because he wishes he could be there in person.

Because of your closeness to her, you’re the first person she runs to tell of her day, or whatever crosses her mind, thus Barbie comes into your life.

Outside of the craze that seemed to taint every living thing with pink, your closeness with her is what led you to learn that Naomi wants to see the Barbie movie, which you were more than happy to oblige to as you usually did, until of course, this became the first exception.

You always liked going to the movies with her because it usually meant an amazing day out altogether. It was either going to the park first, getting something to eat later, and watching a movie at the end of the day; or anything else really, whatever Naomi felt like doing—it didn’t really matter, because going out with her was enough for you.

In fact, as soon as Naomi came to you, with her big adorable golden eyes and her even cuter smile to tell you how she wanted to see Barbie —which you were waiting for, really, it’s what everyone has been talking about after all— you immediately pulled out your phone to buy tickets… but upon seeing the rating, you stopped.

It was the first time you’d have to tell her a maybe, instead of the decisive yes she was accustomed to, making her frown and pout out of confusion.

“Oh, it’s nothing! It’s just that I remembered I had some things already planned with my friends, but I’ll let you know when we can go, ok?” you smile, gently ruffling her hair before pulling her into a tight hug and peppering her cheeks with endless kisses, only ceasing when she whined you to stop.

You’d let her be soon after, while you… well, continued to debate whether to take her to the movie or not.

After all, the whole world seemed to be in on it: the dressing in pink, greeting each other Barbie, or Ken, blasting the classic song from Aqua and singing along to it… it was only natural that your cute daughter wanted to be on it too, hell, you even the parents of her classmates being on it too!!

As days went on, and you still had to make a decision, guilt began to settle inside you for having unwittingly made Naomi feel excluded.

You attempted to mend this by changing her school supplies to all pink, decorating her hair with pink accessories—clips, ribbons, diadems, you call it, she has it— or styling her uniform with whatever was allowed to be pink. Her school actually bent the rules to comply to the children’s wants, after being… “persuaded” by the parents to do so—talk about the privileges of being in a private institution!

It didn’t take long after that before Naoya was deeply intrigued by her daughter’s newest obsession; first it was some show she watched when she was younger, then it was zebras, and now, the color pink.

Ever the one to ignore things he considered mainstream, more so when they extended beyond his realm of interest, this caught him completely off guard; even getting the point of believing he was going mad because once he saw his daughter obsess with the color, he began to see it everywhere.

It was in Naomi’s school supplies, her clothes, even bedroom, everywhere he glanced, pink was in. Sure, by that point he was really intrigued to know the reason behind this craze, but it still wasn’t enough for him to ask.

If that’s what his baby wanted to be happy, then he’ll oblige. He wasn’t like those parents that didn’t have money to subsidy their children’s interests, so he was for sure not going to act like one.

His curiosity would only get the best of him one night when laying beside you in bed.

Naoya had other plans in mind for the night, which were quickly foiled upon seeing you hyper focused on nothing but your phone, scrolling through endless and endless pages of stores, social media, and articles, all relating to the cause behind his wonder: Barbie.

“What are you doing, Y/N?” he’d finally relent after minutes and minutes of being ignored, resting his head over your shoulder and draping an arm over your waist. “Surely your phone can’t be much more interesting that me.”

“No, of course not” You smirk, getting into a more comfortable position so he could see what you were looking at. “But I have to this first, or I won’t be able to sleep!”

“Is that what’s keeping you up at night?” you sigh.

“It’s Naomi—she wants to see the movie, but I don’t know if it’s the right thing.”

“What’s this?” he smirks “You? Telling her no? That’s a first.”

“And it hurts me to do it!” You pout, he kisses your cheek.

“Then what’s stopping you?”

“Because the movie is actually much deeper than I thought, and I don’t know if our pumpkin is ready for that.”

“What the hell can a movie about dolls talk about?” he scoffs, voicing the same thought you had when seeing the rating.

“Very interesting topics, actually.” you explain, and he raises his eyebrows. “Social topics”

“Oh”

“Yeah, and I don’t know if she’s ready for them yet” you sigh again, before turning off your phone and putting it to the side, finally allowing you to snuggle against Naoya, who didn’t hesitate to move in a way that allowed your head to rest on his chest.

“I don’t recall ever worrying about those things when I was her age, but I guess it can only go two ways” you say.

“Which are…?”

“She either learns from this or is horrified by it!” you shrill “And I don’t want to scare her! If only could know what kind of reaction she’ll have beforehand!!”

“Why don’t you watch the movie first before deciding whether to take her or not?” he suggests, and at that moment, like the sun breaking the horizon, a new opportunity opens before you.  

“That’s it! That’s exactly what I could do! And once I see it with my own eyes, I can debate whether it’s suitable for her or not” you look up to him, eyes glistening with excitement. “How about it, hm? Shall we go to the movies, like we used to back in the day?”

Naoya hesitates, for he doesn’t want to be seen watching that movie, but your pleading eyes, the same one Naomi uses when she wants something, as well as the cause behind it, gets through him, and soon finds himself complying to your demands—not like he didn’t do so anyways, but truly, you and his daughter have him wrapped around their finger.

“Alright” he murmurs with a pout. “I Guess I could clear up my schedule and go.”

You giggle, admiring how he loves to play hard to get, as if he wouldn’t drop everything for his family.

It’s quite charming, cute even, and you feel so lucky that only you can see that side of him. Although you wished he’d be a bit more open with Naomi…

“I knew I could trust you to clear up my mind” you smile, snuggling further against him. “My dear husband.”

“I’m glad I was of help, but…” he begins slowly, one of his hands sliding further and further down your body. “I know another way to clear up your mind, I can show you if you’d like.”

You bite your lower lip, face flustered as you around, wrapping your arms around his shoulders.

“Well, we can’t be too sure.”

You end up buying tickets for a showing two the days after, the day Naoya took off to go with you—it’s one of the perks of being so high up the chain in his job, he doesn’t need to give explanations or why he’s not going to work, he can just do it and that’s it.

Doesn’t mean his co-workers won’t inquire about it, more so when his day off was in the most random of dates.

Knowing this, the two end up going to a theater of his choosing, far away from the ones he considered busy, but still up to his standards, and of course, with extra cautionary steps to avoid being followed by his pesky relatives, and subsequently recognized.

“Naoya, honey, this is too much.” You’d say when walking towards the entrance, hand-in-hand with your husband. “Don’t you think we’re… attracting too much attention like this?”

Naoya wanted to go undercover, discreetly as possible so as to avoid suspicions, although his definition of discreet greatly varied from one another.

While you decided to wear a pair of jeans, and a comfortable pink hoodie (gotta follow the trend)… Naoya decided to go full on… well, he looked good, that’s all you’re going to say.

“What? Just because we’re going undercover doesn’t mean we’re going to do it… like that” he says, referring to an unsuspecting movie-goer and their… seemingly underdressed appearance. You gently elbowed him. He groans.

“Don’t be rude” you scold. “Besides, we’re standing out too much.”

You tried to be solidary to his appearance by wearing a pair of black shades, but now that you compare yourself to literally everyone else, it looks like you’re both part of the Men in Black.

“Then what do you suggest?” he asks, rubbing his arm where it still hurts.

“Lose the glasses” you suggest with a pout. “We look like total weirdos going into a building with them…”

“Hey, you agreed to it.”

“I mean, that was before we got here. It’s not my fault I just realized how silly we look” you say, swiftly taking off your glasses and placing them on their respective case before putting them away. “There, much better—besides, you’re too handsome to be hiding behind them!”

“That’s what it was, eh?” Naoya smirks, taking off his glasses; you grab them. “You just wanted to see me.”

You blush.

“And what about it?” you look away. “It’s been a while since we’ve gone out on a date just the two of us… not that I mind going out with Naomi, but… you know… it’s not the same.”

He sighs, giving you a smile before pulling your hand to his lips and kissing it. “I promise to go out more with you—just the two of us.”

Your heart flutters.

“I’d like that.”

After promises were made, you and Naoya go ahead to check in, deciding to buy popcorn and a drink—at first your husband said he didn’t want anything, saying something about a diet or so, but after getting a taste he succumbed to them immediately.

Once finding your seats and getting comfortable, the movie finally begins.

There isn’t much commentary to give at the beginning, outside of laughing at some of the silly scenes (mainly on your part, Naoya just scoffs) and how suddenly dark it gets from time to time. But outside of that, you and Naoya seem to think of the movie as… well, adequate for their daughter, nothing extraordinary, it certainly has the silliness she enjoys, making them wonder why it even got that PG-13 rating…

Until, of course, “real world” part; that’s when you and Naoya understand why many people thought this movie might be inappropriate for younger children.

There’s a lot of topics most kids don’t even fathom yet, ones that need the appropriate guidance of a caring adult, so they know how to handle them when they reach certain maturity.

It doesn’t take long before you and Naoya began to envision how confused Naomi was going to be upon seeing Barbie getting catcalled, kicked out of her house, the sudden change of behavior from the rest of the Barbie’s, and overall, the dilemma Ken has regarding his relationship with her.

But most importantly, the main point of the movie: existential crisis.

While Naomi would most definitely not understand that, or any of the past points, you and Naoya would feel the movie to be hitting “a bit too close to home” having been forced to reflect on these issues in the past as the young adults they were, either for their own individualism, careers, or their future as a couple…

Soon, they no longer worried how this would affect Naomi, but rather, how it spoke to them.

And by the time screening ended, lights turned on abruptly and revealing your and Naoya’s response to it: teary eyed, soaked cheeks, and speechless.

Your husband was quick to cover his face, putting his glasses on before anyone else got to see him in that state, whilst cursing how “there’s no respect nowadays” as he dried the tears on his cheek. You, on the other hand, simply wiped the tears out of your face, careless if anyone else saw you like that because first, it was a darn good movie, so yeah, you cried because of it. And secondly, you weren’t the only one crying in that room so who cares…

It's only until they get into the car that they realize one of the messages of the movie, at least the one they could relate to the most: their baby girl was growing.

In a few years, she’d be a teenager, bringing along all the struggles that come with such age, and then, a woman. One that will have to face the world on her own—because even if they will always be there to support her, there are some battles only she could take.

No one ever said raising a child was easy, less in a society as harsh as the one they lived in, but even with all their fears, it was something both still looked forward to. To create memories together, guide her through this difficult thing called life, and see Naomi grow into the wonderful person she was bound to become.

Getting the overwhelming need to see their daughter, you and Naoya skipped the rest of their plans and headed straight back home, where Naomi was eagerly waiting for them alongside her nanny.

The child was undeniably happy to see her parents back home, always did, but at this moment she couldn’t be anything but surprised when Naoya was the first one to rush to her, picking her up in her arms and giving her the tightest hug he could without hurting her.

“What’s wrong, papa?” Naomi would eventually ask upon feeling his hug go uncharacteristically longer than it usually does, as if him hugging her wasn’t weird on its own.

“Uh—nothing.” Naoya would say, doing his best to hide the tears in his eyes and the tremble in his voice. “Can’t I hug my princess?”

And while she’s never one to deny affection, Naomi can’t stop herself from looking at you perplexedly, as if seeking the answers of her confusion from you.

But you only reassure her with a smile, walking towards them and joining their hug. It’s then that Naomi concedes to simply accept her parent’s doting, nuzzling against Naoya as she reciprocates the hug, as much as her small arms could.

“How about we go out to eat?” Naoya suggests, looking at her with a smile. “We can go anywhere you want, pumpkin.”

Her eyes twinkle, for it’s no secret she’d been waiting for the perfect moment to suggest this place—not like she needed to, but she likes to organize her dates. You and Naoya chuckle, kissing her on the cheek, each on one side, a gesture that makes her blush out of embarrassment.

It’s safe to say that after careful consideration, both decided to take Naomi to watch Barbie, dressed up in the cutest, pinkest, most adorable outfit you could put together—with you and Naoya to match along, although more discreetly in your husband’s part, he still doesn’t get the pink trend, less when he was suddenly called Ken.

And as expected, the movie was a total success to Naomi, although there were moments where she’d look confused, but those were nothing compared to the ones where she’d laugh out loud.

Overall, it was a movie she greatly enjoyed, even with the confusions that came along: ones that both you and Naoya were prepared for, having long understood this could be the perfect opportunity to introduce to her.

She’ll understand half of it, perhaps even less than that, but it didn’t matter, for both were ready to support and guide her through every step, like the good parents they swore to be the moment her existence was announced—and that’ll never change. Even after the Barbie craze ends, when Naomi grows and no longer lives with them, they’ll never stop loving and supporting her.

Extra:

“How was your week—” Ranta freezes mid-greeting when something… peculiar catches his sight.

“What?” Naoya asks, not bothering to glance up from the paperwork he’s supposed to finish before the day ends.

“Is that—is that a pink tie?” he says, taking a closer look at the pastel pink garment contrasting against his black suit.

“Got a problem with it?” Naoya sternly responds. One subtle gesture is sufficient to have Ranta immediately retract.

“No, of course not!” he shrieks, nervously waving his hands. “It’s just— it’s just different. It looks good on you though!”

“I know” your husband groans, eyes still intently looking onto his desk… before eventually lifting his gaze towards Ranta, cheeks slightly flustered. “…I just got it; do you think Naomi will like it?”

“Huh?” Ranta blinks, Naoya frowns. “Oh, I mean, yes! I’m sure she’ll appreciate it!”

It’s a sentence that makes a smile break through Naoya’s lips as he glances back down to his work, satisfied.

“I’m glad” He match to see the look on his baby’s face once back home, after all, he just bought a bunch of clothes to match with her.

A/N: not me making Naoya cry and cover it up with his shades lol. Ah, he's truly devoted to his family.

#prompt series: jujutsu kaisen #ask #naoya zenin #naoya zen'in #naoya x reader #naoya zenin x reader #naoya zenin x your #jjk naoya #naoya zen'in x reader

[thesweetnessofspring]

Katniss Wants Kisses: Bonus!

Here is a bonus from the Katniss Wants Kisses series. This is Peeta's POV after Part 4 and through to the end of Part 6.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Read on ao3

I know I must look like a nightmare. And it’s not even that I had any of those last night. I’d been too wound up from that kiss to get more than some fitful half-sleep. One moment it was making me hot and sending blood away from my brain (how I got in that stupid position in the first place) and the next I punched my pillow and screamed out. I have to admit, what she was doing was brilliant. Dangle the thing I want most in front of me and use the hope to have it to keep me from going into the arena.

Only there’s one thing I want more than Katniss’s kisses. I want–I need –for her to get out of that arena alive. If I don’t do that, my life will have meant nothing.

And so I wait in the dark for the man who was once my rival and now has become an ally. But we have the same mission and there’s no one else I trust more to help me than him. 

Gale comes out of his house in his miner’s jumpsuit and his hardhat under his arm. He sees me across the way and comes over.

“Katniss again?” he asks.

I nod. I haven’t gotten into specifics with Gale about the change I’ve seen in her. Haven’t talked about the way her eyes follow me, the unexpected touching, the way that she’s acting just like she did in that cave to keep us alive. I just told him that I know she wants me to stay out of the arena and I need his help convincing her to use all the advantages she can to stay alive, including my own death. I need him to be a reminder of who she has to come home to: her best friend. 

The man she loves. 

“I’m going to bring her by the mine entrance at the end of the day,” I say. “For you two to spend time together.”

“She wouldn’t even look at me at dinner on Sunday,” Gale says. “She’s getting ready to die.”

“No,” I say. “She can’t.”

“I want her to live,” Gale says with forcefulness. “If she’s planning on sacrificing herself for you, maybe she’ll ease up if you agree to let Haymitch go in. Maybe that’s the only way she’ll try to win.”

“Snow won’t let the both of us out,” I say. “If I’m not dead, she will be. They can manipulate the Games to make sure she doesn’t get out. I’m not risking her life.”

“And you think I need to convince her to let you die?” Gale asked.

“We’ll both do it,” I say. “I’ll talk to her on the way to the mine. You just need to remind her of the life she’ll have once she comes back.”

“By doing what?” Gale asks. “She’s stubborn, there’s no point in trying to argue with her half the time.”

“No, don’t argue!” I scrub my face. “Just…relax. Have fun. Let her think about how life will be when she gets back.”

Gale shakes his head. “She’s going to be broken. She’s not like she used to be still, and going through that again…”

“I know,” I say. “Which is why you need to prove to her you’ll be able to handle it and help her once she gets back.”

“Okay,” Gale said. “If that’s what she needs, I’ll do it.”  

Some tension in my shoulders slides off. This is what I need to hear. 

“Thank you,” I say. And I am grateful for him now, the boy Katniss was meant to be with. Together, maybe we’d keep her safe. Me in the arena, and him for the rest of her life after.

It’s later in the afternoon when I stop by Katniss’s house to knock on her door and ask her to go on a walk. Her eyes have widened at the sight of me and she quickly goes to get her hunting jacket and we walk side-by-side down past the gate, where the remaining patches of snow turn a darker shade of gray the further we walk.

Finally, I gather up the courage to say what I brought her out here to say. 

“I know you want Haymitch to go into the Quell with you,” I say.  “And you know that I’m planning on going in there.”

She draws herself up and starts, “Peeta–”

“I’m not here to fight with you about that,” I interrupt. “I’ll make my plans, you make yours, and we’ll see what Haymitch decides to do. But what you’re doing–it’s not fair.”

It feels good to get it out, confront her directly about it. Because this past week as been torture, turning her down again and again, but the whole thing wasn’t like I wanted it to be. And it might seem too inconsequential to be upset over why Katniss wanted to be affectionate now, but even if I’m going to die, I have a right to live my last few months with some self-respect.

“And what exactly am I doing?” Katniss asks, and she seems genuinely confused.

“Come on, Katniss. The massage? The kiss?” I say, but her eyebrows only climb higher in a question as I talk. So I explain, “You’re trying to give me hope of what we could be, if I let Haymitch go in and you win. To convince me to stay behind.”

“ What ?” she asks, and now I’ve offended her. She looks me up and down, and yet there is an understanding dawning on her. She emphasizes, “I’m not doing that.”

“Then what are you doing, Katniss?” I ask, but all I get in response is a shrug.

Wet dirt sticks under our boots as I guide us toward the west mine entrance where Gale works. I try to sort out why Katniss has suddenly changed. Clearly, it has something to do with the Quell because she didn’t act like this–at least not with me–at all unless we were doing an act. So then… why?

Yet as we come up to the mine entrance, passing by weary workers with black and gray faces and clothes, I know it doesn’t matter. Whatever Katniss’s reason, I’m not the one who should be getting her embraces or kisses. Gale is. Gale, whom she’s thrown aside in order to protect me. Gale, whom she still loves and I’m guessing can’t face knowing she plans to save me and leave behind everyone else. And she’s just redirecting that need for affection onto me. For...comfort? To alleviate her own guilt? I'm not sure.

Katniss suddenly halts in the middle of the path and I stop shortly after. Miners move around us like water around a rock. 

“Why are we here?” She asks defensively, chin tilted down in a question.

“Reminding you that you have a future,” I say. Because that’s what she needs to see. Even if Katniss, in her infinite need to protect those around her, thinks that dying for me will be doing me any favors, that it isn’t true. What I need is for her to live and be happy.

Tall, striking Gale is easy to pick out even among the coal-blackened faces. I turn to look at Katniss, who has a serious, contemplative look on her face and the parts are coming together. My insistence on her living. The chance she has at a life with the one she really wants, not the one she feels obligated to protect as part of her own personal rebellion.

And I walk away. I’ve done what I needed to do, to put Katniss right and insist she redirect whatever is going on back to the person who should be receiving it.

I’ve been carrying a boulder in my chest since that day on the train tracks, when I realized Katniss had done what she did in the games to keep us alive. Sometimes I can ignore it, but other times I feel its weight press all the more heavily on my chest. When Katniss said we should get married as part of the act. When Gale’s whipping made it abundantly clear who it was she loved. And for some reason, even now.

I go home and heat up some dinner. Eat in the silence. Watch the darkness fall around the district, all outlines of trees and the mountains in the distance. Go back to what my life is. And in a way, leaving this behind is okay. After all, there’s no one in my house who needs me, for shelter or food or comfort. They can all get by fine without me.

Water runs over the singular plate and fork as I clean up, and I take a little longer than I need to just to feel the warm water running over my hands, a pleasant luxury that came at the cost of my life.

The glass window behind me rattles with a knock and I jump, not expecting any visitors. When I turn, I see Katniss’s pointed face illuminated by the yellow artificial light from my kitchen and I almost hope I’m losing my mind instead of it actually being her outside. She should be with Gale right now, helping him clean the coal dust from his hands and he should be holding her in his arms. She shouldn’t be here with me.

I wipe my hands across my apron and go to answer the door for her expectant face. She takes one eager step toward me when I open the door.

“Katniss,” I say, tired. I’ve given this everything I have, but she just won’t give up. Keeping her at a distance is harder than winning the Games.

She lurches forward and closes her mouth over mine, warm and sweet and entirely absent of the dusty taste of coal. It’s not supposed to be me , I think. But here she is, stubborn and insistent and I can’t hold back any long. As soon as I gather her up, she lets out a little trill of delight and encircles my neck, pulling us closer together in a vise of refusal to let me go. 

I release her lips and inch back, to pause from where this is going. Her eyes are still half-closed as I look down at her, lips red with our kiss. There are no cameras here–or at least none that will broadcast this to Panem. And I opened the door for her to go with Gale, yet here she is on my doorstep, hands so clenched together around my neck I might wear her like this for the rest of our days. For some reason, despite everything, she’s come to me and she’s kissing me like this again.

I’m caught up in it, even as I know this is a bad idea, and I kiss her again, to a little trill of excitement in the back of her throat. I take a step back but don’t let go of her as I guide us into my kitchen and shut the door behind us.

My brain is muddled as I kiss her, delirious in delight and punched with guilt. It’s not supposed to be me , I think again. If she chooses me, then she’s choosing death… but she’s choosing me . I have to take a step back so I separate us again, then reassure her with a pepper of kisses on her mouth.

“Have you eaten dinner yet?” I ask, partly to slow things down but also because she couldn’t have walked to the Seam and back here and had a meal at some point. She must be hungry.

“No,” she says.

It’s a good reason to give us some distance, too. I retreat to the refrigerator to dig up some of the chicken pot pie I’d made for dinner.

“I have some leftovers,” I say. “Probably cool now, but we can heat it up.”

I pull out the pie, turn the oven on to warm up, get a plate out, and then scoop out a muscle-building portion onto it.

“I don’t need that much,” she protests. I’m surprised by this. Katniss never turns down a generous serving of food and she needs it more than ever now.

“Of course you do,” I say. “We’ve gotten our calories and nutrients all mapped out.”

I ignore her concern and stick the dish in the oven to warm. Katniss has been acting…strange. Ever since that push-up incident especially, she hasn’t quite acted like herself. And I hope she isn’t trying to sabotage herself. Surely she wouldn’t do that, even if she does want to save me?

When I’m near Katniss against the kitchen island, I put my hands at her waist, nearly touching for how small she is, and look at her frame. She’s slight but still firm with muscle, yet I worry about her gaining more. Nearly all her competitors will be bigger than her this time.

“You are still eating all of your calories, right?” I ask.

“What if I’m not?” She sticks out her chin and her eyes alight, her mouth stretched into a smile. 

“Then I’ll have to watch you eat every day,” I say and move my fingers to tickle her side.

I’m rewarded with her laughter and a kiss. “What if I need a little more encouragement than that?”

I’m grinning like an idiot as I bring my arms around her and hold her to me, and she looks up at me with elated expectation. And then the guilt puts me in check. I don’t know why she’s doing this, and dammit, I know no matter what, this is going to mess up everything. It’s not supposed to be me.

“This is a really bad idea, Katniss,” I say. “There’s a million reasons why we shouldn’t.”

And as I say it, the fire in her eyes turns from delight to desire. “And one big reason why we should.”

I wait, breathless, for her explanation.

“Because we want to,” she says.

Could it be as simple as that? Wanting? Her gaze falls to my mouth and I’ve nearly lost all control at feeling her against my body, that little sweet mouth of hers so close. I move closer to her, slowly, still hesitating. Still concerned about just one part in all of this. My lips are nearly to hers and she’s tilting forward on her toes.

“I only want one thing,” I say, our lips whispering against one another. “No pretending.”

“None,” she agrees and then she’s had enough and presses our mouths together again. Only this time, she’s unrestrained and she’s worn away my defenses to where I’m no longer thinking about the cameras or the Quell, but just her. Her slight, strong body against mine, the smell of pine and spring air, the taste of her mouth and then her tongue as the appetizer of the lips leads into the main course. Each morsel she gives me is greater than any meal I’ve ever had and I have to step back before I gorge myself too quickly. Or, more likely, burn down my house.

I give her one more kiss after she whines and then remind her,  “Your food’ll be warm now.”

Once I retrieve her now-warm food and a utensil, she looks at the plate like eating will be a nasty chore.

“I’m not that hungry,” she says, eyes going to my mouth instead of the food.

I stick the fork out in front of me for her to take. “And yet you’re going to eat this whole thing.”

She swipes the fork from me and gets to eating, at first with a glower in my direction, and then her focus turns to the food in front of her. Not that I can blame her. My family’s chicken pot pie used to be an incredibly special dish, one we shared on New Years if we had the money for the chicken, otherwise it was simply a pot pie or substituted by squirrel meat instead. Now I can make it whenever I like.

She puts down the plate and fork once it’s all finished and I’m satisfied with the slight protruding of her belly from a good meal.

“Told you you’d eat the whole thing,” I say.

“Now dessert?” She holds my hand in hers and kisses it, looking up at me through her lashes and I know she’s not asking for cake. Shit, I never expected her to want me like this. 

“Living room,” I choke out and kiss her once to tie us over until we can get more comfortable. 

She nearly falls on top of me on the couch and we pick up where we’d left off, heavy in this luxury of about as private as we can get, only the Capitol bugs watching us. There are times when I get light-headed from not taking in enough oxygen that we pause and I hold her in my arms instead. Or when I kiss her neck and she lets out a little “ oh ” at the sensation, making me mad to lick her up. And the whole time, she’s not pretending.

One thing I won’t do, however, is derail our training. We have to get enough sleep, and our needed bedtime to get a (hypothetical) eight hours gets closes in on us. So I pull back and tell her her mother will be worried. She doesn’t let go of my hand, however, except to put her shoes and jacket back on, and pulls me along with her down the way to her house. I keep our last kiss short, but as her eyelashes flutter against my cheek, I think this good night kiss must be the sweetest of all.

#everlark fanfiction #thg fanfiction #katniss wants kisses #peeta pov

[thefablefoxart]

REDACTED WORKS IN PROGRESS!!

I thought, since I have so many WIPs I may as well share them. I don’t know what it is about the end of summer but I always want to do everything and nothing when it come to the last week of the holidays.

Firstly, the Vega and Warden piece! I will finish this one…at some point…hopefully this weekend 😐 I think I’ve decided to go with Warden in their demon form but I guess we’ll see if that sticks…

Next is my initial design for Scorpius :D Looking back at it now I realise he kinda looks like my version of David…When I say initial design I mean, I literally drew this while listening to the audio for the first time. I need to go back and probably change some stuff but I definitely think Scorpius has sort of an intimidating vibe but he’s a real one for helping Elliott, love him for that

I believe in ‘Darlin’ and Lovely as besties’ supremacy 🧎‍♀️They’re having a sleepover and sending Vince and Sam photos!!! Lovely and Vincent strike me as the type of couple that don’t stop messaging each other whilst their apart. And Sam probably appreciates knowing their both safe and not out almost getting themselves killed 🙄 Can I just point out how FRICKING CUTE LOVELY LOOKS IN THIS OMG!!!!

Again Lovely looking fine af 😩 This is just a little snippet of something I’ll probably…maybe…finish. I want to have one big post with very short little bios for all of my listener OCs so I can pin it to my profile as a guide but it’s gonna take so long and I don’t really have the time 😢

Well…I started a comic based on a little headcanon I have that Milo had a teeny tiny little crush on Tank back when they first joined the pack (Milo definitely has a thing for strong and intimidating people, lets be real 🙄😏) The pink sketched are from the first draft and Milo’s little pout is so adorable 🥰 There are about 5 pages all together but like with the listener OC bios I just don’t have time to finish it right now…

And finally there’s the iconic D.AM.N squad game night drawing that everyone and their nan’s great uncle’s dog has done… I am so mad that i have to cover up Freelancer’s gorgeous loveheart sofa but the boys are worth it!

#redacted asmr #redactedverse #redacted asmr fanart #redacted darlin #redacted freelancer #redacted lovely #redacted milo #redacted david #redacted asher #redacted scorpius #redacted vega #redacted warden #redacted audio #damn polycule #tff art

[fan-fantasies]

Love Notes

Inspired by this post by @loveronlineee

It was such a sweet piece and it reminded me of Breezy and how I’ve always been jealous of her artistic abilities and anyone else who can draw/paint/sculpt/anything art related. Not that writing isn’t art! We paint beautiful pictures in readers’ minds with just words but something about drawing has always captivated me and eluded me. So please enjoy this fic from my very jealous point of view!

Pairing: Eddie x writer!reader

Warnings: jealousy and terrible poetry! I promise I’m a good poet I’m just rusty 😂😂

Why is he so pretty?

Why doesn’t he smile at me like that?

Maybe he would if you actually talked to him.

Yeah that’ll never happen.

Man, do I have to stop talking to myself.

You shook yourself from your thoughts and came back to reality. You tried your best to focus on your poorly drawn sketch in front of you but laughter from the back corner kept stealing your attention.

Eddie and Brianna sat in the back row, chatting and laughing away. You could see her drawing from your seat and you were blown away by her talent. She was an amazing artist and you were secretly envious of her talent. You struggled to draw a simple flower or stick figure, let alone a full portrait of someone.

Your partner was out for the day so you had nothing but time to sit and be jealous. You pulled out your notebook and favorite pen and began to write.

Writing was your choice of artistic medium. Maybe it wasn’t so much a choice as a calling, but you were able to paint colorful pictures with nothing but black and white words. Or at least that’s what your eighth grade English teacher had told you when she boasted to your parents about your latest story at your annual parent teacher meeting.

You began to scribble a few words here and there but before you knew it you were writing with a certain fluffy haired boy in mind.

Meet me at the corner

Of your dreams and mine

We’ll walk hand in hand

With nothing but time

I’ll tell you my worries

You’ll tell me your fears

Your skin will brush mine

Wiping my tears.

And that’s where we’ll part

At the end of the night,

Leaving our story

In darkened starlight

You looked back at Eddie who was studying his portrait with awe. You wished he’d look at you like that.

Maybe he could. Maybe not at you but maybe your writing.

You looked down at your poem and had a gutsy thought.

You excused yourself to the bathroom but made a beeline to the lockers instead. You knew Eddie’s locker, across and three down from your own. You slipped the folded up piece of paper into it before you could change your mind.

You raced back to class, having only a few minutes left before it got out. Eddie and Brianna were still chatting in the back but his eyes flickered to yours for a second when you walked in.

No more than a few minutes later did the bell ring and you bolted from the room again. You threw your books in your locker and waited for Eddie. He sauntered over to his not long after and as soon as he opened it up the paper fell out.

He looked around, confused, before picking it up. His eyes scanned the words and you swore you saw the corners of his lips twitch into a smile.

He folded the paper back up and put it in his jacket pocket, closed his locker and walked away with a big smile on his face. Seeing how happy he was made your heart swell knowing that you were the cause- even if he didn’t.

The next note was delivered a week later. A sweet little poem about luscious hair and passion-filled eyes. You couldn’t help but smile at the blush that crept onto his face when he read it.

Your little surprises continued on for the next few weeks and you decided to leave the notes in his locker after school, worried he might catch you one day out of class. You left them on days you knew he had his Hellfire Club meetings, hoping he’d check his locker at the end, taking home your sweet musings.

Eddie did happen to check after a meeting one night, the little note falling out. His heart began to race which was a common occurrence whenever he read the poems.

He thought they were incredibly sweet and couldn’t believe someone thought that way about it. Which is why, at first, he thought it was some sort of prank. After a few more notes, however, he figured no one would draw out a joke for so long.

He had tried waiting by his locker after school, but you always waited longer. You had a part time job in the library after school so you were there later than everyone else anyway.

Your poems were Eddie’s little escape from the normal bullshit of Hawkins High. One day during lunch, he and Jason got into a pretty bad fight, nasty insults being thrown both ways. You knew that Eddie only acted tough but enough torture would break anyone down eventually. Your poem was a little sad that day, but you hoped he would still appreciate it.

And appreciate it, he did. He read it over and over again before holding it tightly to his chest.

How could I not admire you?

From the confidence that drips like venom from your lips

to the fearless attitude that you convey.

I know the exterior has hardened from time- a carefree boy that’s been hidden away.

And your boisterous voice is not chance, but a choice

To show people around you that you’re not afraid

Just know that we’re all trying to figure it out-

How to get out of this sad world unscathed.

You are not alone.

He almost started to tear up when he read it, feeling vulnerable that someone could see through his tough exterior.

The next day in English, everyone had to read their short story in front of the class. Public speaking was never your strong suit but you tried your best to just focus on the story in front of you. Your hands were shaking and it was hard to take a deep breath. You looked up and saw that no one was really paying attention which helped ease your nerves. Even Eddie, in the back row of course, was doodling in his notebook.

You began your story about a young woman, a fallen Angel, hellbent on revenge. She was a badass, confident warrior- very much your opposite.

A few people began to really listen, enthralled by your words. Eddie was half listening, too busy with his new hellfire logo design.

“-and the words dripped from her lips like venom, poisoning the hearts of those around her-“

Eddie’s head shot up. Did you just say almost the exact same thing that was in the poem? Maybe it was a coincidence? Probably not, who else would write something like that?

He listened closer to your words, noticing a certain similarity to the rhythm and style in which you wrote. His heart began to beat faster and his palms got sweaty.

You finished your story and nervously looked up at the room, fidgeting in front of everyone’s stare. They began lightly clapping at the instruction of your teacher. Eddie clapped the loudest which made you look back at him. His eyes didn’t break from your gaze which made your stomach do a flip.

Eddie continued to stare at the back of your head for the rest of the class. Afterward, he rushed to lunch so he could talk to his friends.

“Guys, I think I figured out who’s been leaving me notes,” he said as soon as he sat down. Everyone stared at him, waiting for him to continue. He tried to nonchalantly look over at you and motioned with a slight nod of his head. Everyone turned at once, making him roll his eyes.

“(y/n)? The crazy amazing writer that’s won like every writing contest there ever was? She’s leaving you love notes?” Mike asked.

“You know her?” Eddie asked, almost sounding desperate.

“Uh, kinda? She helps Nancy out with the paper every once in a while. She even had dinner at our house once,” he remembered.

“She’s super nice,” Gareth added.

“How do you know her?” Eddie questioned.

“She was my partner on a history project once. She did most of the work thankfully. That’s probably the only time I got an A in history,” he chuckled.

“Am I the only person who doesn’t know her?” Eddie sighed.

“And yet, you’re the only one she’s leaving love notes for,” Dustin purred.

“Well we don’t know that. She could be leaving them for twenty different guys- you know- casting a wide net,” Lucas said. Everyone glared at him.

“Thanks, buddy, that really helps,” Eddie mumbled.

Eddie looked over at you and admired you. How had he not noticed you before? Especially since you seemed to have noticed him quite a bit. He wanted to get to know you, but first, he had to make sure it was actually you leaving the poems.

“Would you guys be okay with switching the meeting to Thursday night instead of Tuesday next week?” He asked.

“I guess?”

“Why?”

“What are you gonna do?”

“Please tell me you’re not gonna stalk that poor girl,” Dustin sighed. Eddie smirked at his friends and clapped his hands together.

“Guys, I’m gonna get me a girlfriend. That’s what I’m gonna do.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“If you say so.”

Everyone went back to their lunch and talking about their next campaign. Eddie could hardly focus; he was too excited for the upcoming week.

You finished cleaning up the library and, like every other Tuesday night, you went to put a poem in Eddie’s locker. You slipped it in easily enough and headed down the hall toward the parking lot. You rounded the corner and crashed into a somebody. Your scream of surprise quickly turned into an awkward spilling of apologies.

You finally looked to see who it was, your heart nearly stopping when you saw Eddie’s smirking face looking back at you. He was still leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking as calm as ever.

“Hey, (y/n),” he said with a smile.

“H-hi, Eddie,” you squeaked. You tried to move around him but he stepped in front of you.

“You’re here late.”

“Um, yeah, I work in the library after school,” you said. “I should be getting home.”

You hadn’t planned on running into Eddie and you very much wanted the interaction to end. You weren’t prepared for this to happen and you didn’t know what to say. He would probably figure out that you were the ones leaving notes if he went to go check his locker. He would be smart enough to put the pieces together.

“What’s the rush, sweetheart? We never get the chance to talk.”

“We do get the chance, we just never do,” you shrugged.

“And why is that? Because words would drip like venom from your lips?” He asked. Eddie chewed on his nails nervously, hoping you’d catch on.

“M-my story? You liked it?” You hoped that’s all he was talking about.

“Your story was amazing, don’t get me wrong, but I’m more of a poetry guy myself,” he spoke, slowly taking a step toward you.

“I-is that so?”

“Yeah! In fact, I’ve recently found my new favorite.” He took another step toward you and was pleased when you didn’t move away. “Were you ever gonna tell me it was you?”

You contemplated lying, but it seems that he already figured it out. You cursed yourself for using the exact same line from the story in your poem.

“Probably not,” you said honestly. He frowned a little bit.

“Why not? Do you not want to talk to me? Because I can go and we can forget this ever happened.” Maybe he misjudged the situation. Maybe it was a joke or maybe you left secret notes so no one would know you liked the freak. You could see the doubt creeping onto his face and it broke your heart.

“No, I do want to talk to you! I just…I don’t really know how. And I figured you didn’t want to talk to me so…I just wrote instead,” you mumbled.

“Why wouldn’t I want to talk to you? You seem pretty damn amazing,” he laughed softly.

“I’m not amazing. I’m not a crazy talented artist or some hot cheerleader. I’m just me.”

“Uh, yeah, that’s kinda what I like about you. You’re not a fake asshole like almost everyone else here. You just keep to yourself and do your own thing,” he said.

He grabbed your hand and tugged to get you to look at him. Your eyes had fallen to your shoes, hating when you’d let your insecurities show.

“Can I take you on a date?” He asked. Your eyes widened in surprise.

“I’d really like that Eddie,” you finally smiled. A wide grin broke out on his face.

“On one condition though.” You smile faltered and you raised your eyebrow. “You have to keep writing me poems.”

“I think I can do that,” you laughed. Eddie leaned down and placed a soft kiss on your cheek. He intertwined his fingers with yours and led you from the school, walking you to your car with the promise of picking you up for your date on Friday night.

Maybe being a writer isn’t so bad after all.

———————————

Taglist: @mellomadness @thebookbakery @dootys @munsaniac @tiredwritersworld @mrsdarcyinlovewithbuckybarnes @rafecameronswhore

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #Eddie munson fluff #stranger things

[crappyyuki]

Bryan with lava eyes :DDD

It’s been a while since I fully colored smth :,)

Here’s the Sketch and the one with a background!

I attempted to make lava. I’m not sure if it went well lmao.

I also don’t know how to draw or render muscles but BUFF BRYAN SUPREMACY!

HE IS SLIGHTLY TONED BUT HE CAN FLATTEN A STONE FUCKING COUNTER THATS CANON FIGHT ME

Honestly, I’m not sure if I can write this AU. With confidence I mean. I already got like a 15k word outline going on and it’s still going and it’s been like that for the past 3 years. Yeah. Pretty crazy. But if I can’t write this then I might resort into posting a bulleted list on what I should’ve written in the betterment of those 3 years instead of making a long ass outline to get it out into the world.

I love this AU, you have no idea, but it is so hard to write. So bear with me. I’ll give a bit of insight into it.

• This is a canon divergence of the canon timeline where instead of Bryan taking the hit, it’s Molten taking the hit. (My guy is not having a great time. Both of them.)

• This AU is canon defiant to the actual lore in Bryan’s series. A lot actually. This is a bit more canon compliant to the Fnaf storyline. Focusing more on spirits and souls than portals and portal magic. Soul juice produced from murdered children. All that good stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I love the series but I wish it focused on the souls of the kids and their stories if only a little.

• Let’s say there are a lot of hidden secrets in the old pizzeria that Bryan would carry to his grave. Most of them is guilt. The other is shame borderlining to self loathing.

• “No one would ever believe you.” :)

• This AU’s pov is also on the animatronics side. Mostly Freddy, Helpy (the old one), and maybe probably Foxy (the Rockstar one) I miss them, okay?

• Pat is around too. Watching over the animatronics while getting deathly afraid of them for a definite period of time before making friends with them because wow, those robots aren’t actually gonna force them into a Freddy Fazbear suit. Why did they listen to a pre-recorded message anyway?

• Jon is the one that stumbles onto the secret. But its not complete. He wonders where he should find the other pieces.

• You know OG Freddy? How he was repaired? Yeah. That part wasn’t the only thing that brought him back to life.

• And the monitor Lefty stole from the pizzeria? Maybe Egg Baby? Wonder whats that for?

• The book that Bryan gave to Twisted Bonnie also changed. Still has the blueprints of the animatronics but of different animatronics.

• “Hmmmm, I wonder what I can do for Baby’s birthday? How can I make it her happiest day of her shortlived li—wait, can I even say that?????”

• Also, does anyone know what happened to Twisted Freddy? Did he just become the wind or what? We’ll see.

• Since Lefty didn’t die, let’s say Shadow Freddy had other places to be. And Twisted Wolf? Honestly forgot about that guy hahaha I’ll think of something.

• Oh! EB (Evil Bryan) is there too! Like actually.

• It’s quite funny to have two short humans going on offense while literal monsters go on support and defense lmao. What a bunch of losers.

• “See you on the flipside!”

• Hey. What’s up with Bryan’s eyes?

That’s all for now. Maybe I’ll post another one or work on a chapter? Who knows…

I can’t promise anything. I can only promise that the next will take a whileeeeeeee, a post or a chapter.

I still have not named this AU and marked it as INSERT TITLE HERE.

And to those that recognize that title, I am so sorry. I literally redid the first 5 chapters, finished 4, then dropped it off at chapter 7-8. Chapter 1-4 are finished but 5-8 is a land mine. I don’t know how to keep it going lmao. No really, it’s a struggle writing this dang thing and I want it out of my head too. I can’t promise any chapters or that I’m working on it because I’m so busy but I did not forget it if thats what you’re thinking. It’s just hard to write. Like really hard. That’s why I focused a bit on oneshots.

One things for sure though. It’s either chapter 5, 6, or 7 BUT—

Minigames. Plus Springtrap.

ITH!Bryan: Oh joy.

Feel free to ask questions about this AU! I’d be happy to answer! (Most of them anyway. Can’t reveal everything.)

#thefamousfilms #fnaf #fnaf security breach #fnaf 6 #pizzeria simulator #alternate universe #bryan #jon #lefty #freddy #molten #foxy #pat #the glamrocks

[breakfastteatime]

The comm system beeps. Finally, it’s Cal. Kid’s been cut off for way too long, despite all of Cere’s technical wizardry. Greez can tells she's been worried, no matter how serene she pretends to be. Looks like there was no need for worry after all. He turns to hear what kept Cal off comms for so long.

Except Cere isn't talking.

And neither is Cal.

Greez knows something’s gone horribly wrong the moment Cere looks at him, eyes wide with horror. She flicks a switch, and a voice that is distinctly not Cal’s hits the air. And there’s a visual to match, shining from the holotable. Greez leaves the cockpit on wobbly legs to see a figure he’d hoped to never encounter again.

“Why, if it isn’t my old buddy Greezy Four Arms! Thought you’d got away from me, huh? Alas, I never forget a debt.”

Absolute panic rips through Greez, and yet somehow he finds his voice. “Sorc, hey, uh, how’s it going?”

“Well, I’d say it’s going pretty well, seeing as I’ve got a friend of yours on his way to me." Sorc flashes a toothy grin, his alabaster skin lit up with a sickly blue hue. "We’ll have to thank him for uniting us again, oh, not that he’s really able to hear you right now. Not to worry, I'll be sure to fill him in later.”

Greez might actually pass out. He can barely draw the breath needed to talk. “Not sure I’ve got too many friends,” he says, as nonchalantly as possible as Cere steps closer.

“Sure you do. Although, I’m not sure where you found this one. A real, live, breathing Jedi! Who knew the Empire missed any. Y’know there are plenty of folks out there who’d pay a sweet, sweet price for this one.”

The holo-projection changes, Cal replacing Sorc. He’s slumped on his side in some unknown ship’s hold, unconscious and bound in cable, blood clumping his hair together where he’s clearly taken a hefty blow. BD-1 is next to him, a restraining bolt visible on his chassis. Cere’s intake of breath echoes across the lounge.

"My bounty hunter's not taking any chances," Sorc says, his voice overlaying the image. "Never could trust a Jedi."

Sorc’s got Cal. He’s got Cal and he’s hurt him. Greez drags up something to say. He has to. He owes Cal this much at least. “Don’t hurt him, Sorc. The kid’s got nothing to do with anything.”

Sorc delights in this. The image flicks back to him as he chortles. “Ah, so you do know him. And his little droid friend too, I’m guessing. I did wonder what you’re doing in such a backwater part of the galaxy, but you were always good at finding the strangest of holes to dig yourself into, Greez.” He shakes his head as though in despair. “One of my bounty hunters found him. They got a little heavy-handed, sure, but we all know the stories about the Jedi. Can’t ever be too careful, huh?” His is a smug smirk. “Here’s hoping he puts on a good show when he comes around. He’ll need to, to pay off your debt.”

There’s nothing Greez can do or say to convince Sorc otherwise. “Leave him out of this.”

“I could, but I won’t. Heard he put up a good fight too before he was put down. I wanna see what he can do against some of my favourite beasties. If he survives that, maybe I’ll hand him back over to the Scrapper's Guild, earn myself a nice little finder’s fee. I’m guessing you’re not the only one with a few debts hanging over him.” Sorc bursts out into greedy laughter. “Yep, I can tell, this is gonna be a good day!”

The holotable goes suddenly dark. Greez looks, sees Cere already at her station, working hard to trace the signal. Her face is blank, emotionless, and somehow that’s more terrifying than her shouting at him. Not that Cere’s ever done that, but somehow rage would be easier to handle. Cal, through no fault of his own, has been caught up in Greez’s old mess.

Whatever it takes, they’re getting that kid and the droid back.

Greez knows where Sorc will take him. He’s been there plenty of times, lost a whole mess of bets on the fights. He races back to his chair and grabs the controls. “We’re going in fast and messy,” he says.

“You’re damn right we are,” Cere says.

#brb i woke up and chose violence #star wars jedi: fallen order #jfo headcanon #jfo minific #i couldn't get to sleep last night and this idea smacked me in the face #because how else would they have known where cal and bd were?

[hereforanepilogue]

you're standing here beside me (i love the passing of time)

part one read on ao3

“Steve’s really stressed out,” Robin says over the phone. She kind of shouts it, actually, and Eddie worries a bit that she can hear the couple down the hall fighting again. She keeps telling him he has to move, but he likes the area.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried too, Rob,” Eddie says. 

“He’s - I’m not gonna say he’s changed, because he didn’t need to -”

“I know, Rob.”

“- but he’s more…secure, I guess. Especially outside of Hawkins.”

“He said he wasn’t planning on going back there longterm, ever.”

“Neither of us is,” she says. Eddie waits a second - strangely, living in Boston’s slowed Robin down. “I know he regrets not going with you, but he really couldn’t when the kids were still there.”

“I know. He wouldn’t be Steve if he could,” Eddie says.

“So we’re good? We’ll see you next week?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there. No weirdness. And I think I’ve got a couple leads on places for you.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Eddie says, and hangs up. 

~~~

A week later, Eddie’s sitting on his stoop with some of his neighbors while a handful of kids from his building draw with chalk on the sidewalk.

“Fucker!” someone shouts - Buckley, of course. Eddie peers through the cast iron railing. She’s got her arms raised like she can hug him from half a block away, and Steve is trudging behind her like a packhorse. 

“Language, Buckley!” Eddie says, grinning. He bounds down the stairs, grabbing ahold of the railing to swing himself towards her, and gets there just in time for them to crash into each other. He swings her around once, then plants her on the ground. “You’ll get me in trouble,” he says quietly, nodding his head back at the women on the stoop. 

“They’re all watching you,” she says. “Anyway, I would never get you in trouble - people here love me.”

“You just keep talking to them, don’t you?” he says. He gives her a once-over, sees her doing the same. She looks queerer than she ever has, and that’s saying something, but she also looks like she’s raided Steve’s WASPy wardrobe. 

“I’m being nice! I talk to people in Boston, too,” she says. Eddie waits for Steve to catch up, nods at him, and turns to lead them both into the building. He’s not doing their first in-person conversation in front of all his neighbors. They’ll have to listen through the walls like everyone else if they want to know what’s going on. 

“Just come on,” Eddie says, leading them up the stairs. “And maybe help Harrington out, I’m on the fifth floor.” Robin groans, and Eddie starts taking the stairs two at a time.

~~~

As soon as Eddie steps aside to let the two of them into his apartment - a one bedroom, amazingly, courtesy of a very kind raise when he got made assistant manager at the record store and a band successful enough to pay for itself. He steps into the kitchen area - still not its own room, but close enough - to let Robin and Steve snoop. Or put their bags down, at least.

He can imagine how he must look, how he must have looked when they walked up. He’s back to a version of himself that he never fully achieved in Hawkins, young as he was. His hair is grown out again, and he’s filled nearly an arm and a half (and a leg, not that they would know) with tattoos. His rings are the same, but he’s got his guitar pick hanging on a nice chain.

“Here - you guys are in my room, I’ll take the couch.” Eddie sees Steve furrow his brows out of the corner of his eye.

“We can’t do that,” Steve says, even as Robin is lugging her bags towards the bedroom.

“Look, man, it’s not a pullout, so either you two share or one of you shares with me,” Eddie says. He looks at Steve through his bangs and tries to do that thing with his eyes - the ‘consider your options’ thing, with his brows lifted.

“I guess,” Steve says. “I should get our stuff set up.” 

“It’s good to see you, Steve,” Eddie says.

Steve pauses at the bedroom door, and says, “You too, Eddie.”

~~~

Once they unpack, Robin demands that they go out to eat and, as she puts it, “see the sights.” Eddie tells her there aren’t any sights to see - at least not in the daylight - but lets her bully him into his favorite diner anyway.

He doesn’t realize until the end of the day that she’s working her ass off to keep him and Steve from ever being alone in private.

“I admire the hustle, Buck,” he starts. They’re strolling through a park, and Robin is acting like a Labrador - wandering away to look at things, then remembering that she’s trying to avoid leaving them alone and hustling back, then forgetting and wandering away again. “But you’ve gotta let us talk to each other sometime.”

Robin glances between them, and she and Steve do that eyebrow communication they’ve always done, and she sighs. “I was just trying to help,” she says. “You know we can’t afford a hotel the whole time we’re here.”

“Look, my buddy Sean and some of his buddies have a house, I’m sure they’ll put you up if I wreck things too badly,” Eddie says.

“You’re not gonna wreck things,” Steve says, but Robin nods seriously. 

“Just -” Eddie turns to Steve. “Here, or back at my place, or -?”

“I think your place?” Steve says, looking around. “I don’t -”

“I get it. Here,” Eddie pulls a notebook out of his pocket and writes down the address of the record store. “I think Cindy’s in today, she’ll get you hooked up with whatever the hell you’re listening to these days.”

~~~

They walk with Robin until they hit her turnoff - she refuses to trust the grid system, so Eddie spent their walk drawing her a map to the record shop.

“Just go straight until you hit your number, then take a right, it’s easy,” Eddie says, pushing her away. “There’s a bookstore across the street that you might like,too.”

And then he and Steve are alone, and Eddie is awkwardly shrugging and leading the way back to his building. 

“It’s, like, safe for her to be out by herself, isn’t it?” Steve says.

“Yeah, it’s fine. And Cin’s in the building too, they can walk back together.”

“You’re not trying to hook her up, are you?”

“I’m not not trying. Why, do you think it’ll work?” Eddie grins. Steve’s taking the stairs just as easily as Eddie is, so before he knows it he’s unlocking his door and stepping inside and a wave of awkwardness is descending.

“You, uh, look like you’re doing better,” Steve starts. “I mean, your hair, and everything.”

“I am,” Eddie says. He toes his shoes off and walks to the fridge. He starts rooting through it and says, “It’s not - I didn’t know how bad it was until it was too much, you know? By the time I realized it was too late to do anything but leave.”

Steve doesn’t answer, so Eddie just walks over to the couch.  He piled blankets and a pillow at one end of it before they arrived, so he shoves them onto the floor. Eddie puts one can of beer - unopened - on the coffee table for Steve, and walks over to the stereo.

Steve is standing at the line of hooks by the front door, one hand raised like he wants to touch Eddie’s jacket. It’s the same leather as he always had, but the vest is new. He’d retired the one he made to replace the one he lost to the Upside Down when he moved to Pennsylvania, couldn’t bear wearing it after Steve had helped him track down patches, sat with him while he sewed it together.

Eddie shuffles through his tapes and pulls out a Steve Miller album. “Threshold” starts up, and the sound jolts Steve out of his reverie. He turns away from the vest. Eddie sits on the couch, leaning against the back of it and facing Steve. He cracks his beer and clutches it between his two hands like it’s a soothing cup of tea. 

“I - uh - I was the same, I guess,” Steve says. He’s hovering, standing in the archway between the kitchen and living room like he doesn’t know if he can cross the threshold. If he thinks anything about Eddie playing Steve’s music instead of his own, he doesn’t say it.

“Come sit, Steve,” Eddie says, patting the couch in front of him. “I don’t bite.”

“That doesn’t sound right,” Steve says.

“Well, not unless you ask me to,” Eddie says. It comes out stilted, but it seems to work - the tension on Steve’s face breaks, and he practically launches himself onto the couch. “Here, take that.” He gestures at the beer on the coffee table. Steve takes it, cracks it open, takes a sip.

“I mean it, though. I didn’t really understand why you left, back then. I thought -” he trails off.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, Steve.”

“I want to. It’s just - I - it was something I thought everyone just did, you know? Pick the path of least resistance. And I didn’t understand how some people couldn’t, ‘cause I was so deep into it that I didn’t realize that I had a choice too, and that I was making a choice, you know?” He’s gesturing while he talks - something he must have picked up from Robin, Eddie thinks, and the beer sloshes out of the can and over his hand.

Eddie pulls a napkin off the pile in the middle of the table and hands it to him, but doesn’t say anything. Steve still looks determined, and Eddie won’t interrupt him if he isn’t done.

“I guess - I said you could make it easier for them, for the people who hated you, and I just didn’t realize that not everyone could do that? I mean, I didn’t realize that I was doing it too,” Steve says.

Eddie looks him over again. Here, in Eddie’s - lair, for lack of a better word, a place that’s Eddie all over, his childhood bedroom grown up and grown out - it’s suddenly clear that Steve is only the same as he used to be at the barest surface.

He’s still wearing crisp lines, but he’s leaned into the bright colors he always used as accents, and his clothes look worn, like he put on all his favorite things this morning. There’s an embroidered flower at his collar, where it probably ripped and he had Buckley fix it.

“I didn’t blame you, you know that, right?” Eddie says. He fiddles with the tab of his beer, stares at it, because he can’t bear to look at Steve. “For not being ready.”

“I mean, I’m glad, but that - you just shut down, that night.” Eddie has his feet on the couch, knees bent under his chin, but Steve - as always - sits straight up, facing him. Eddie lifts his gaze, but Steve has never been good at hiding his feelings, and looking at him is like looking into the sun, so Eddie’s eyes land on his shoulder.

“I mean, you know I’ve never been…good at feelings,” he starts. Steve furrows his eyebrows again. Eddie can’t stop twisting one ring around his finger, and the rest of them keep clinking lightly together. “And it was - a lot of things were building up, I guess.

“Nothing was getting better, and you saying that - about making it easier on people, and getting weird again, it made me realize that even if I could stand to try and fit in, it would never work there. And I’ve never been good at big realizations like that, even when I have time to think about them, and it felt like it was my fault. That I couldn’t be normal.” 

“I - Eddie, you quoted Boromir at me,” Steve says. Eddie gapes.

“You read Fellowship?”

“I mean, I listened to all of them.”

“Did you like them? I mean - sorry, not the time,” Eddie says. He’s starting to rock slightly, forward and back, still clutching the beer to his chest.

“I’m gay,” Steve says. Eddie freezes, and finally looks directly at his face. 

“Con…grats? I mean, thanks for  telling me?” 

“I loved Nancy, you know? And when we were together, I knew that it wasn’t the same. You and me, or me and her. So I just, like, clung to everything else that made me normal, because I wasn’t ready to see why being with you felt so different.”

“And you were good at it,” Eddie says wryly. 

“I was good at it, and I didn’t know how hard it was to be good at it once you’d stopped doing it, and I was scared. For me and for you.”

“I know. I’m - I didn’t mean for it to shake out that way. And you guys living here, I - can we be friends again?” Eddie asks. He can’t look at Steve anymore.

“Is that all you want?” Steve asks. “When we talked on the phone -”

“If you’re asking if I’m still hung up on you, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t,” Eddie says. He can’t get the words out without twisting them up - a last line of defense. Steve doesn’t answer for a minute. He just gets his foot onto the couch and pushes it forward, until his socked foot is pressed against Eddie’s. Eddie presses back.

“If you’re still willing to pick up, I’d really like that. I - I loved you, then, and I think it would be really easy to love you again. Or still.”

~~~

“Look what I found,” Robin shouts when she barges in an hour later, looking smug. Eddie has to squint to see the cassette across the room - the j-card is a hand-drawn-and-photocopied black and white thing, which means it looks like about fifteen bands he could name off the top of his head. “Cindy said this is yours, Eddie. Why didn’t you tell us you had a tape out?”

“Oh my god I’m gonna kill her,” Eddie says. He covers his eyes, pressing down. “I shouldn’t’ve sent you there without me.”

“She wouldn’t let me listen to it there,” Robin says. Eddie can hear her shucking her coat and kicking off her shoes.

“Yeah, ‘cause it’s shit. She only keeps it ‘cause it would be a bad look if she didn’t, with me working there and shit.”

“I’m putting it o-” Robin is halfway to the tape deck when she cuts off, seemingly having noticed how Steve and Eddie are sitting. She puts one hand on her hip. “I take it the talk went well.”

“I - it did, yeah,” Steve says. Eddie nods along, until Steve adds, “now put on that tape - I want to hear.”

“Is it full of love songs? Were you pining?” Robin asks. The tape deck clicks shut, and she presses play.

“Only a little,” Eddie says. He meets Steve’s eyes and knows that Steve, if not Robin, knows how much of an understatement that is.“I am not taking the couch so you two can be grossly in love, I’m telling you that right now. If you want Eddie’s bed, find me and Steve an apartment faster,” Robin says.

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve harrington x eddie munson #this is the comfort to the hurt of part 1

[imagineanime2022]

Managing Volleyball Teams

Summary: These are just little scenarios for managing the teams in Haikyuu, I decided to make a little interesting for myself by adding a quote from Rick And Morty in each one but you don't have to have watched the show for these to make sense 😊

🌱 Aoba Josai 

Quote is: “I’m sorry but your opinion means very little to me”

Honestly most of the time you just sat in on practice for the fun of it, Aoba Josai as a team didn’t really need you there, you were the one that made sure that all of their matches lined up and that all of them got enough rest that was all they needed from you as a manager.

The third years however thought that you worked to hard, you were in third year like them and while you made sure that they always had time for themselves they very rarely saw you doing something because you enjoyed it, your school work combined with being club manager left you very little time to do things that you actually liked doing or at least that was what they thought.

You were sitting in the corner of the gym with papers strewn around you as you scribbled things down after texting the manager Shiratorizawa and penciling in a practice match for a couple of weeks later, you heard the shout from the boys warning you of an incoming ball, you glanced up for a second before moving slightly to the left and letting the ball hit the wall and bounce back to them. A couple of seconds later a shadow cast over you and you glanced up to see Oikawa leaning over you “Can I help you?” You asked.

“Maybe.” He siad drawing out the word as he stepped to the side and then crouched next to you.

“Shouldn’t you be practicing?” You asked.

“coach  wanted me to take a break because of my knee.” He answered.

“How is it?” You asked.

“It’s fine.” He dismissed the question before changing the subject “so do you have anything fun planned for the weekend?” 

“What does it matter to you?” You asked.

“So no?” He asked as changed his position to sit cross legged. “We were going out to relax the night before the game, you want to come?” 

“Busy.” You answered.

“Liar.” He smirked and you looked up to see that he had grabbed your unlocked phone and was scrolling through something. “People are going to start to think that your boring.” 

“I’m sorry but you opinion means very little to me Oikawa.” You mumbled as you took your phone back from him and continued working.

“You tell him (Y/N)!” Iwaizumi yelled from his place across the gym while the other two third years laughed openly.

“So we’ll see you tomorrow then?” Oikawa asked.

“If I say yes will you leave me alone?” You asked.

“Absolutely.” He agreed and you sighed.

“Fine I’ll see you tomorrow.” You mumbled as you pushed him away.

“Great!” He cheered before standing up and ruffling your hair, you glared at him and stuck your foot out as he walked off causing him to fall and the rest of hte third years erupted into laughter as Oikawa blushed.

“(Y/N) be careful with my star player!” Coach  warned.

“Sorry coach !” You yelled back trying to mask your own laughter.

🛡 Date Tech 

Quote is : “Are you writing this down, please be writing this down.”

Your team wasn’t at all crazy until you and Koganegawa joined the team, you both had an energy that you could say was missing from the team, you were both second years and excited to be there, you as a manager and Koganegawa as a first line player. 

This was your first time at Nationals and you knew that the team had history here but you were new and everywhere that you looked there was something new, you hadn’t been their last year but you were here this year so when Aoba Josai beat your team they weren’t expecting to have ot literally pull you away from the Aoba Josai captain.

You eyes were narrowed as you looked at him, he smiled as he walked ober “can I help you?” He asked.

“Mmm oh no I was just wondering how someone like you could get a fan group like that.” You mumbled as you gestured the girls literally falling over themselves. 

“We ask that every day kid.” Hanamaki called out from where he was standing and you glanced at him for a second before looking back at Oikawa.

“Next year we’re going to desimate your team.” You smirked as you put your hands in your pocket “are you writing this down, please be writing this down. We’re going to beat your team so badly that it doesn’t matter where you are you’ll hear about it.” 

“Oh really?” Oikawa asked as he leaned over your smaller form.

“You bet.” You smirked, you were so invested in the staring contest that you didn’t feel Aone’s shadow fall over both of you, you didn’t notice him until he put his hand on your head, you looked up to see who was behind you and smiled your whole attitude changing as you looked at him “is it time to go?” 

“Mmm.” He hummed as he turned you away from Oikawa who smirked as he watched you leave with your team seeming like a completely different person.

“I can’t believe you just did that!” Koganegawa cheered as he wrapped an arm around your shoulder.

“What are you talking about he’s not that scary.” You shrugged as you glanced back at the court that you were all just on.

“You need to never do that again!” Futakuchi warned as he nervously looked around. 

“You worry too much.” You waved him off.

“Be careful.” Aone warned before walking towards the exit of the stadium, everyone looked at him then you before following him.

“Come on.” Koganegawa prompted you pulling you by the wrist towards the school bus.

🦉 Fukurodani

 Quote is : “To Live Is To Risk It All; Otherwise, You're Just An Inert Chunk Of Randomly Assembled Molecules Drifting Wherever The Universe Blows You...”

You weren’t at the beginning of the Training Camp, you had a few things that you needed to do before coming down so you made an agreement with the coach  that you would show up later than the rest of the team, everyone could see that Bokuto was having trouble focusing all day but no one apart from the team really knew what the problem was. 

Later that evening you arrived, you knew where Bokuto and Akaashi would be at that time, they would still be training so you went to the gym that they were in “Bokuto! Catch!” You yelled as you run at him jumping at the last moment.

“(Y/N)!” He cheered as he caught you.

“(Y/N) you were supposed to call us so that we could meet you at the station and help you carry your stuff.” Akaashi reminded you and you shrugged.

“To live is to rist it all; Otherwise, you’re just an inert chunk of randomly assembled molecules drifting where ever the universe blows you…” You said dramatically and while placed you back on the ground Akaashi rolled his eyes.

“We were just talking about you bags.” He sighed and you giggled.

“Don’t worry I managed.” You assured him before you heard an unmistakable chuckle from behind you.

“(Y/N) I thought that you weren’t coming, I was worried.” Kuroo teased and you turned and smirked.

“You know that I wouldn’t miss my team wiping the floor with yours.” You goaded him.

“Well Bokuto can’t even score a point in this practice match let alone a real one.” Kuroo informed you and you rolled your eyes.

“Bokuto is my champion, you can get one for me right?” You asked as you turned back to the ace of the team.

“You know it!” He cheered as threw his hands up in the air. “Come on Akaashi we have to get a point for (Y/N)!” 

“Just one?” Akaashi asked lazily and you laughed as you walked over to the benches.

“Let’s start with one.” You confirmed as you settled to watch them practice.

🦊 Inarazaki

Quote is: “You don’t know anything about my story.”

You were supposed ot be the new manager, you were younger  than most of the team members but you didn’t let that stop you from surprising them all with you sassy comebacks, they were mostly in response to Atsumu who was constantly trying to get under your skin.

One afternoon they were all practicing, you were sitting and watching them coach was talking about needing them all to practice serving “I can receive on the other side.” You said and the coach looked over at you and raised an eyebrow.

“You can?” He asked.

“I can.” You nodded.

“Yeah maybe some of the other guys but I bet you can’t receive mine.” Atsumu smirked and you looked at him and frowned.

“What makes you think that?” You asked.

“No volleyball star story starts in the managers chair.” He smirked.

“You don’t know anything about my story.” You stood up and rolled your shoulder as you took off the blazer and changed your shoes. “Try me.” You watched as he got ready silence completely taking over the gym as everyone watched, you were ready to move at a moments notice, you took a deep breath as you watched the ball instead of him, waiting to see what direction it went before committing to one yourself, the ball came towards you at a speed but you still managed to receive it though it did take some doing.

“You…” 

“I used to be on the girls team in middle school, I injured my shoulder so I can’t play anymore, the closest I can get to the game now is being a manager, the girls team wasn’t looking for a manager so here I am.” You explained and he smirked as he looked at you through the net.

“Now I know everything about your story.” He teased and you narrowed your eyes.

“Whatever, get out of the way the rest of the team need to practice.” You mumbled, Osamu was the next one up.

“Thank you.” He said as he looked directly at you and you frowned.

“What?” You asked.

“For crushing my brother.” He answered and you looked at him and rolled your eyes.

“You two are ridiculous.” You informed him and he shrugged before serving, you moved to stop his serve while hearing someone else say:

“You haven’t seen the worst of it.” And you believe them.

🐦 Karasuno

Quote is: “School is not a place for smart people”

You happened to be one of those people who was passing all of their classes even though you were hardly ever present for any of them and by that I mean that you were sitting there but your mind was always somewhere else.

All of the team knew this but still Kageyama and Hinata asked you to tutor them, you accepted immediately and everyone else was worried that they were going to fail everything because they were sure that you never listened and assumed that you were just lucky when it came to exams.

You were all sitting in the gym on the day that you were all getting you results of course your were perfect and Sugawara was again raking in money for being the only one to bet that you would pass everything however the main event was waiting for Kageyama and Hinata to get there, the gym doors were kicked open and you looked over and smiled as Hinata raced over to you waving a test paper in your face “I passed!” He cheered and you never smiled wider in your life.

“Kageyama?” You asked and he looked over at you.

“I passed.” He informed you.

“But?” You asked.

“I scored higher than he did.” Hinata cheered and before you could say anything else the setter was chasing the shorter middle blocker around the gym.

“How did you manage that?” Tsukishima asked.

“What?” You asked.

“They couldn’t learn anything in school, how did you teach them?” He asked and you looked at him and shrugged.

“School is not a place for smart people.” You answered.

“This one isn’t.” Tsukishima muttered as he watched the two idiots run around the court.

“Don’t be mean.” You warned and he rolled his eyes.

“Whatever.” He dismissed you comment as he got up ready to start practice, as Diachi tried to get the other two to focus.

“Hey (Y/N)! Come and get your two idiots to focus!” Diachi yelled and you laughed before standing up.

“Carrot top! Milk Boy! Get your crap together it’s time to volleyball!” You yelled.

“And she’s the one that passed with flying colours.” Tsukishima muttered.

🐈‍⬛ Nekoma

Quote is: “_____ is just a hyper-emotional needy little what’s the word I’m looking for… Human, I can tolerate it but I can’t give a crap about it”

Kuroo, Kenma, Yamamoto, Lev and Yaku had stayed behind to practice more and what that meant is Yaku was making Lev do drills while Kuroo was blocking spikes from Yamamoto that Kenma had set. You walked back into the gym with some food that you had gotten them as a reward for all of their hard work “Here you go boys!” You yelled putting the food on the benches as you sat down with your own share.

“Lev your not done yet!” Yaku yelled as he attempted to leave to get his own food.

“(Y/N).” Lev whined buti t was almost like you didn’t even hear him.

“Are you really going to ignore him?” Kuroo asked.

“Your the captain.” You reminded him.

“But we all know that Yaku literally only respects you.” Kuroo argued.

“Look Lev is just a hyper-emotional needy little what’s the word I’m looking for… Human, I can tolerate it but I can’t give a crap about it” You explained as you continued to eat your food.

“Did she just forget the word for human?” Yamamoto asked.

“Mmhm.” Kenma hummed as he continued to eat, you managed to hold it for like 5 seconds before you burst out laughing.

“Yaku stop it, let the child eat!” You yelled as Lev rushed over.

“Your too easy on him.” Yaku complained as he came to sit with you.

“And you are too hard on him.” You argued.

“At least Mum and Dad aren’t fighting.” Kuroo commented with smirk.

“They aren’t but they might be about to kill the wierd uncle.” You threatened as threw a pen at the back of his head and he just smirked.

“Alright everyone back to work!” You ordered as you saw that most of them had finished eating and they all groaned as you shrugged.

“Blame your smart mouthed captain.” You shrugged as they all turned to glare at Kuroo and you rolled your eyes with a small laugh. “We don’t have to stay for that much longer, just a couple more hours and then your all free to go.” 

“To soft.” Yaku muttered.

“Stop critizing me and get back to work.” You grumbled before pushing him back towards Lev.

🦅 Shiratorizawa

“What, so everyone is supposed to sleep every night now? You realise that nighttime makes up half of all time”

The whole team knew that you could be obsessive in your behaviours and it was never worse then when it got to exam time, they would see that you distracted yourself from the pressure of exams by helping them in any way that you could.

Tendou and Ushijima realised that you weren’t there the moment that they walked into the gym and after some asking around they found that the last place that anyone had seen you was in the library, Tendou texted you asking if you were okay and within 30 minutes you were running through the gym doors apologising. “Why are you apologising?” Tendou asked as he walked over looping his arm around your shoulder.

“I’m late.” You answered.

“You don’t have to be at every practice.” Tendou reminded you and you looked at him and shrugged but he stopped when he finally got a look at you. “Is something wrong?” 

“No.” You answered rubbing your eyes before stretching and turning towards the team on the court.

“Did you sleep last night?” Semi asked making you jump as you turned to look at him.

“What, so everyone is supposed to sleep every night now? You realise that nighttime makes up half of all time.” You complained and he just raised his eyebrow.

“It’s important to get 8 hours of sleep every night.” Ushijima informed you and you rolled your eyes.

“There is no teen apart from you that gets 8 hours sleep every night.” You argued and Tendou chuckled under his breath as you turned to him.

“What are you laughing at?” He asked.

“You need some rest.” Tendou informed you and you narrowed your eyes at him.

“So do you.” You informed him.

“How about we get some rest together?” He asked.

“Tendou.” Ushijima warned and you looked at him and sighed.

“You guys should get back to practice.” You gestured the court. They did go nback to practice but they all kept an eye on you until the end of training when Tendou gave you a piggy back ride all the way to your room and they all stayed talking and messing around, they only left when they were sure that you were actually sleeping.

Request Here

#haikyuu #haikyuu imagine #haikyuu oneshot #haikyuu X reader #karasuno #aoba josai #date tech #fukurodani #nekoma #shiratorizawa #imagine #oneshot #one shot #reader insert

[mistydeyes]

If it’s still open if not you can completely ignore and delete this message butttt can I get a

MW2 Pairing Please 🥺👉🏼👈🏼

Pronouns: she/her 

Race: I’m Hawaiian, Filipino, German and Italian (I’m a lot more things but these are the one I know by heart.)

Appearance: Recently I buzzed cut my hair so I don’t have my curly hair anymore, Hazel eyes, I would say I’m average height for a female (5’5), I’m more on the curvy size, glasses and light tan skin. 

Personality: Oh boy where do I start, we’ll for staters I can be very goofy and very serious at times, I have a very dry and dark humor when it comes to my jokes, ENTP, usually at work I’m very bubbly and always being a motherly type figure to my kids, but I will add that I am Bipolar so my personality tends to change whenever I hit a manic episode but nothing to hurtful or mean just more of tired and hardly energetic which usually leaves me in bed for a few hours during the day usually on my off days I’ll let it sink in I’ll never bring that type to things to work.

Things I Like to Do: Reading and Playing video games is usually what I like doing on my free time if not I usually go to the gym to get out of the house if I don’t want to be around family, if not I’m usually drawing or doing a bit of voice acting for my friends series she has going on. If not I love a good hike or driving around very late into the night or star gazing.

Job/Interests/Education: I currently work as summer camp group leader which is me helping the kids learn new things, and play fun activities with them. But right now I just signed up for National Guard as a combat medic so I’m hoping I can head to training sometime later this year for my training. As for my education I actually have a associate degree in Digital art…yea 😅 I don’t know how my job or me joining the military even fits in with my degree 😅

Fun facts: I love tattoos and have a few of my own, I have two tarot cards (sun and moon), a ghost face knife and a Star Wars quote, I can speak a little Hawaiian, Spanish and German, I’m also bipolar, bisexual, I’m the only girl and youngest out of 6 kids, little bit autistic usually if I stim I like to trace or hold one of my friends hands or arms (usually my best friend bc he has tattoos on his arm and lets me color it in).

Johnny "Soap" Mactavish

How you met: Military After years in the National Guard, you would think as a combat medic you would have seen it all. But now you had an interesting story as you helped to patch up Johnny Mactavish. After a joint US and UK op, he presented to your tent with not 1 not 3 but 10 shallow knife wounds. The most you had ever seen was maybe 7? "This is a new record," you said as you cleaned his wounds and applied antibiotic ointment. "What can I say, lass? I am a record breaker," he smiled at you as you examined his extremities for any remaining cuts. You grabbed a variety of bandages and went about applying them to the necessary areas. Soon he looked like a child who fell off his bike with the amount of bandages on him. "Alright I think I got all of them," you smiled before taking off your gloves, "just be sure to let them heal and you can replace the bandages in the next few days if they fall off." You made sure to hand him a few extras as you knew combat and traveling would inevitably cause some of them to peel. "And try not to get any more cuts, I don't want my new record to be 11," you said before signing off the appropriate documents and sending him on his way. "Okay, bonnie but I might be seeing you around," he started as he got up, "gotta find more excuses to see your pretty face."

A peek into your relationship: You anxiously looked at your face in the mirror and adjusted your glasses. Today was the day your family would meet your boyfriend. "Nervous?" Johnny asked as he snuck up on you and nearly scared you have to death. "Yes!" you exclaimed before playfully hitting him on the shoulder. You had made sure everything was perfect, preparing some dishes from your childhood and relentlessly running through all the characteristics of your family with Johnny. "I come from a big family, sweetheart, don't worry" he said in an attempt to reassure you. But as you waited at the door, your nerves were unmatched. When the door opened, you saw your 5 older brothers and parents standing there. Your parents were overjoyed to see you but your brothers looked like they were about to eat your boyfriend alive. Your mother quickly ushered you to put down the trays of food and your brothers took Johnny aside for a little talk. As you chatted with your mom about some of the more recent events in your line of work, you could hear a mix of languages happening in the next room. You and your parents peaked your head in to see Johnny and your brothers fully engrossed in a conversation about the nuances of languages. "No you tube, its 'Pishin’ it doon out here'" you could hear your boyfriend say. Your brothers laughed before the oldest one replied, "why wouldn't you just say 'it's a downpour'?"

#izziespairings #madebyizzie #cod mwii #mw2 imagine #task force 141 #john soap mactavish #soap x reader #mw2

[scrumpledorph-writes]

Koben’s Final Lesson (Jaxon Becomes A Man)

I

Contract’s almost over. I’ve really come to like Jaxon. I hope I’ve managed to impress Huxley enough to get hired on for more permanent work. It would normally feel awkward to ask a former client if they wanted to be friends, but Jaxon is easy to get along with. Maybe we can exchange holovid info if things don’t work out.

‘Good morning Jaxon. Today we’ll put everything I’ve taught you into practice with a trial patrol around town.’ ‘You know I’m not actually training to be a soldier, right? What’s there for me to patrol?’ ‘Nothing, but I’ll have you pointing out potential threats as we walk. Think of it like a speeder license test.’ ‘You need a license to drive a speeder in the core?’ That explains some of the driving I’ve seen around here.

‘Meet me out front when you’re ready, I’ll be in the yard.’ He takes a while to wake up, I hope he doesn’t miss the sunrise. Going out at least lets me pick up my weapons. These training ones are too light – they don’t actually ingrain the right muscle memory for things like quickly drawing them. ‘Jaxon and I are going out today, I’d like to withdraw all of my weapons.’ No visible changes to their condition, and I doubt there’s any reason for them to have been tampered with. At the very least, it’s next to impossible to covertly sabotage a knife.

Gardeners manually watering the lawn, and the guard rotating at the same time. The system runs well, even if keeping a garden on a desert is ill thought out. The sun is just cresting now, I wonder if he has the gardeners time it to simulate morning dew? ‘Ah, warrior. We have had little time for one another, both occupied by our own pursuits as we are. How fares yours? I know that my son is a meager offering as a student, but if you are as good as he says then that should be a trifling obstacle to overcome.’ Everything he says tends to drag, but I have nothing else to do until Jaxon shows up.

‘It’s going well. Slow at first, but once we got to know each other he took to my instructions well. I think you should give him a bit more credit.’ ‘Credit, do not speak to me of credit when he is involved. He does nothing but spend my credits, refusing his birthright. I fear for my legacy once he takes hold of its reigns, with only the cold comfort that I won’t be around to see it brought to ruination.’ Not even trying to feign that sweetness while he talks about Jaxon. I can see why he spends so much time in his room.

‘He’s smarter than he looks. Quick on the uptake when he’s interested. Already learned things that took me months of work back in the academy.’ Maybe he just doesn’t like crime, but that’s not something Huxley would be happy hearing. Best not to upset my employer. ‘This is surprising, but I welcome it as an unexpected boon. If he takes well to a martial lifestyle, perhaps the guileful machinations in which I find myself further steeped by the day can be cloven in half with raw brawn. That would be a worthy succession. I shall ruminate on this at a later time. Enjoying my little oasis, I trust? A slice of home I couldn’t bear to part with when I came here.’

‘Waiting for Jaxon, actually. I’m planning to test how well he’s taken in all the training with a mock patrol through the city. The garden is impressive though.’ Impressive how many credits he can afford to throw away, at least. Imperial training’s only interest in botany is in what’s forageable. ‘Prudent. Even if you merely celebrated his passage into manhood with a day of revelry, getting him to leave that room of his and see the world that exists outside of my domain would be a use of your time I would deem sufficient for the rate I pay you.’ Maybe we could spend a little time celebrating. My squadmates always seemed to spend half their pay on bar crawls.

‘Speaking of payment: I assume that will be ready tonight?’ ‘Yes. I have a celebration planned for Jaxon. This is an occasion that only happens once, and I want it to be memorable. I apologize for not putting it in the contract up front, but I trust with how well you two have gotten along that it would be no trouble to ask you to attend it? You will receive your payment then.’ ‘That’s fine.’ I would’ve asked to come if I wasn’t being told to. Definitely want to see Jaxon off into adulthood at the bare minimum.

‘Hey Koben! Hi dad. I’m ready to go whenever.’ ‘I hope you two make the most of the day. My works require constant maintenance, and I alone am fit to attend them. I look forward to tonight.’ Glad he’s gone, those two have a colder relationship than most officers do with their subordinates.

II

‘Potential threat report.’ ‘Uhh, there’s a few blind alleyways, rooftop overhangs I can’t see the tops of, and a fair number of people wearing cloaks that could be concealing weapons.’ ‘Adequate. You neglected to mention the closed windows that could be concealing snipers, but the vectors you identified are the most common.’ ‘I figured those weren’t worth mentioning. I mean if you want to get that technical, everything you can’t see could be hiding a threat, couldn’t it?’

‘They could, and if you want to stay alive when your enemies are everywhere, it’s important to stay aware of them at all times.’ ‘I guess the Empire is pretty unpopular in some places. Still sounds a little excessive.’ ‘You’re the heir to a criminal empire Jaxon, you have enemies. People who want to kill you won’t announce themselves.’ ‘We will if we want to make him suffer first.’ Oh this has to be a joke.

‘Look who wandered down the wrong alley. Your daddy doesn’t have this whole city under his-’ Not in the mood for this today. Blaster bolt to the gut should put him down, five to go. ‘Jaxon, take cover.’ He learned that lesson well enough. They seem to have gotten the message too. Killing five men hunkered down at the other side of a tight corridor will be difficult. But not impossible.

‘Fuck! Koben, what do we do?!’ ‘You stay here, if any more appear, shoot them like I taught you. That blaster pistol handles well.’ ‘And you?!’ ‘You’ve watched me work enough times by now.’ Footsteps, one rushing toward us. Stupid. Barely need to push the knife into him, just hold it steady while momentum drives it home. Blaster shots rippling against his back, saves me the trouble of confirming my kill.

His blaster pistol is garbage, but it’s better than trying to one arm a rifle in such cramped quarters. He’s big enough to provide me full cover, at least until there are holes blown through him. Should close the gap before that happens. Next closest is halfway down the alley, behind a dumpster. He’s keeping his head down, probably can’t hear me approaching over the sound of blaster fire. Of all the injuries this line of work can cause, nobody ever thinks about hearing damage. He might have at least gotten a shot off before I reached him. Oh well, one to the chest, one to the head. Halfway there.

Might as well take the other side of the cover he was using, pause to reevaluate. They’re on either side of the alley, which means no matter what I’d likely end up shot if I advanced on their position. Blind firing with barely their wrists exposed, I can give them credit for that. Except that they’ve stopped firing.

‘Alright, whoever you are: we clearly bit off more than we can chew. You made your point – we’ll leave you two alone.’ Imperial Force Guidelines dictate total obliteration of enemy forces, but I’m not in the Empire any more, but they tried to kill Jaxon, but – Oh to hell with it. ‘Fine. Leave, now. If I ever recognize any of your faces in a crowd I’ll kill you on the spot.’ Footsteps, fast ones.

Glad to resolve that without getting shot, would have put a damper on the festivities later. Jaxon looks unharmed. ‘Are you alright?’ ‘Holy shit Koben, that was...’ Here it comes. The disgust, the rejection. A screen between you and the violence is one thing, but being brought face to face with it is another. I’d hoped he would be different, but that was naive. His father might be a crime lord, but he’s sheltered enough to be just a regular civilian.

‘Fucking awesome! You were so cool, the way you knifed that guy without even looking, charging down the alley, that threat at the end sending them running like a pack of dogs! I wish I’d had my recorder, but I saw the whole thing! Seeing it through a screen is one thing, but it doesn’t come close to the full sensory experience of watching it happen live. You’ve got a little blood on your, uhh, whole front of your suit – by the way.’ Oh.

‘That’s not how people usually react to my work.’ It’s certainly a nice change of pace though. ‘Really? What do they usually do?’ ‘Scream at me. Start crying. The specifics vary, but those two are a constant.’ ‘Well, it was either that or they were going to kill me, so I mean, c’mon – what kind of an asshole would I have to be to not appreciate it?’ ‘It just tends to put people into shock. Death is hard to process without training.’

‘I guess. I used to be that way, but then dad made me sit in on an interrogation he was doing to try to toughen me up – and everything you do feels pretty tame by comparison.’ It would be irresponsible of me to let that comment go. ‘I know I’m one to talk, but I don’t think that’s quite healthy.’ ‘Yeah, well, it is what it is I guess. Not like I can go back and undo it, so whatever. We should find you a towel or something before that blood crusts over.’ Maybe he is his fathers son.

III

That was a better test of his skills than anything I had planned, and getting into cover quickly enough not to get shot is a lesson a lot of soldiers never pick up. He’s passed all my expectations. Not sure what to do with the rest of the day, but don’t want to take him home just yet. We do seem to have stumbled close to the red light district though. ‘I can’t think of any other tests for you. We’re near the adult district, and you are an adult as of today. It wouldn’t be inappropriate to visit, if you’re interested.’

‘What? Well, I mean, it’s kind of a tradition, so I guess it’d be disrespectful of us not to.’ He’s trying to play it cool, but I saw his body language shift at the mention. ‘Are you sure? The girls probably look nothing like me, so it would be pretty disappointing.’ ‘Alright, alright, no need to bust my balls about it. You like girls too y’know. Let’s go.’ We should stay on a main thoroughfare, no need for another shootout.

‘Ten credits for a fortune reading. Put your trust in The Force to guide your way.’ What a waste of credits that would be. Either he can use The Force, in which case he’s a Jedi – and therefore a liar – or he’s just some old man scamming people. Jaxon’s looking over at him. I can tell he’s considering it.

‘Hey Koben, you wanna? Not like it’ll break the bank, I can pay for yours. I wanna hear what he has to say.’ ‘Fine, I will if you do.’ ‘You two cast a long shadow. Deep within the Dark Side of The Force do you reside.’ Absurd: I’m two meters tall, of course I cast a- He has no eyes. Even more off-putting than that tall head of his, but maybe he does know a little of what he’s talking about. No, he just felt it get cooler when we blocked the sun.

There goes twenty credits we’ll never get back. ‘Hold out your hand, if you would, boy.’ All a performance, and Jaxon’s buying it. I guess this isn’t strictly something my training covered, so I can’t be too hard on him. ‘You were born into a gilded cradle of darkness, swaddled in violence. You shut your heart to it long ago, retreating inward to a virtual sanctuary and barring the door. Now you find yourself outgrowing your cradle, and hesitating to face what lies without – not for fear that it is too different, but for fear it is too much the same. If you choose to follow the path set before you, you will be condemned to cast a long shadow, yet straying from it will bring much tumult as well. I do not envy the choice ahead of you.’ That...does feel oddly specific for a charlatan.

No, that’s ridiculous. Jaxon’s practically a minor celebrity around here with how much pull his dad has. Some of the guards must have gossiped in a bar, and this guy just got lucky turning those rumours into a convincing story. Considering how torn up he looks over it, Jaxon could do with having all this explained to him when we’re done. ‘Hey, yeah, that’s uhh, not bad old man. Your turn Koben.’ I’ve only been in town a couple weeks, and he won’t be able to read my body language through my armor. This whole sham will fall apart.

‘I’m not taking the gauntlet off.’ ‘There is no need. The Dark Side flows so deeply within you that I can nearly read it from here. Oh. You poor woman. My apologies, the waters of your past run deep. Allow me to begin again.’ Really trying to pull me in, but I’m not giving him a thing. Good luck old man.

‘For all the darkness that surrounded them, your parents did all they could to raise you into the light. In the wake of a newer, deeper darkness they left you, and it swallowed you whole. The light within you was buried in layers of shadow, and yet it still burned. Even as you were seduced by The Dark Side. Now you try so desperately to run towards the light, but you have gone so long without it that it blinds you. When you fall, you let the shadows loom long over you. The comfort of their cool shade is a falsehood. Though you will stumble, you mustn’t stop running if you ever wish to live in the light again.’ Enough of this.

‘Who are you old man?’ ‘My visions trouble you. They bring to light truths you both would rather leave buried.’ He really must be blind to be so calm with a blaster rifle pointed at him. ‘Answer my question.’ ‘Now I am nobody. I know that is not the answer you seek. Long ago I was a warrior of peace. A guardian of The Force.’ He’d better not say it if he knows what’s good for him. ‘A Jedi.’

Shooting him would draw too much attention. Those gangsters were a matter of self defence, but even I couldn’t intimidate a crowd this size into letting this slide. Better holster it. ‘You’re lucky I don’t get paid to kill your kind any more, old man.’ He’s laughing. Typical Jedi, completely out of touch with reality. ‘My luck ran out long ago, as you can no doubt see. I gave up my ways. Even this was taken from me.’ He’s reaching for a lightsaber. ‘Jaxon, step back.’ Even with his powers, if I shoot the instant he presses that button he’s done.

It’s not turning on. ‘Now it’s only a relic of days gone by, and yet I can’t bear to part with it.’ ‘Why are you telling us this?’ ‘You asked. Why has The Force brought us together is a far better question, I think. Would you begrudge an old man his idle musings?’ ‘Say your piece.’ ‘I can no longer fight for a better galaxy; only guide others. You both, as do all beings, may find the light if you keep searching. I hope my words will help you reach it.’ ‘Goodbye old man.’ He’s earned those credits.

‘Hey Koben, if it’s all the same, I don’t really feel like going to a club any more. Kinda wanna just walk for a while. Think about stuff.’ ‘I feel the same way.’

IV

That was a melancholic afternoon, but Huxleys festivities are doing a good job at making up for it. The food is fantastic at least, and he’s hired mercenary guards so all his regular staff could attend. Needed a few extra tables hauled out to seat them all, and it’s nice to be near the head with Jaxon.

‘Now my friends, trusted retainers, and devoted staff: the revelry shall be brought to a focus. My son Jaxon. I will not taint the record with saccharine reminiscing, the two of us have had our squabbles, as all fathers and sons do.’ He can even manage to make his sons birthday party about himself. ‘But those were the squabbles of a boy and a man. It would hamper his new beginning, and smear my own pride, to hang onto them.’ I wonder if Jaxon will even get to say anything?

My son, please rise. My many allies and tributaries have brought you gifts befitting of your ascension to manhood. Please, take the time to sample them.’ Most of these are a terrible fit for him. Cultural ornaments and knick knacks, safe bets for someone whose interests they don’t have a clue about. ‘Yeah, these are all really, uhh, great so far, thank you.’ They’d be lucky to get a place on his shelf.

‘Hang on, what’s this? Whoa, a quickdraw blaster pistol and holster set?! That’s actually pretty sick, Koben’s been teaching me some moves the last few days, like this – wuchaah!’ His form could use some work. The crowd seems impressed, or at least know that if they don’t pretend they are Huxley won’t be happy.

‘Oh no way, Koben come look at this!’ This should be good. No way, that is impressive. ‘Someone got a little replica of you in your armour made! Cast in Imperial Steel and everything!’ ‘A good likeness.’ A really good likeness, tons of little details I wouldn’t expect anyone to even have seen from looking at footage of me, never mind reproduce. Should do a surveillance sweep when I get home.

‘That’s the last of them. I can’t help but notice there’s nothing here from you, dad. I mean, unless hiring Koben to train me was an early one, because if that’s it then don’t even worry about it, that’s the best gift I’ve ever gotten. No offence to the rest of these, of course.’ Shit, I should’ve gotten him something. Can’t believe I didn’t even think of it.

‘I am glad that you appreciated my investment in your future, but no. That was not my gift to you, my son. Perhaps it is cliche, even sentimental, but I have prepared as a gift for you: a lesson.’ He snapped his fingers. Blaster bolts rippling across my armour. All his guards were in on it. They’re good shots. Can’t stand, can barely focus on what’s going on. Ears are ringing, but Jaxon’s loud enough to get through it.

‘What the fuck are you doing?! Koben’s my friend!’ ‘Your dear preoccupation; Koben. The Trooper adorned in black. Veteran of a thousand battles. Killer. Destroyer. Wanted criminal. My son, did you think someone of her repute would go unnoticed by the law? You, did you think I would not find out about you? That I didn’t know before you ever stepped foot into my manor how lucrative it would be to cash in on your egregious affronts to The Empire?’ Whole body’s on fire. My hate’s burning hotter.

‘It crossed my mind.’ ‘Yet you persisted into my waiting maw because you saw a glitter at the back of my throat. This is a lesson on many subjects, my dear son. Lesson one: mercenaries can only be trusted to do one thing, and that is to chase credits. Lesson two: whenever possible, get as much out of someone as you can take before you toss them aside. Lesson three: childish attachments such as yours to her will only bring you pain.’

Jaxon’s on the edge of tears. Maybe if I click off a plate I can put all my strength into throwing it, take Huxleys smug fucking grin off from here. Can’t lift my arms, there goes that plan. ‘Her bounty is valid dead, my dear boy – and she is far too dangerous to leave alive. That blaster pistol was my suggestion. I can think of no way more fitting to take your first steps into manhood than by casting aside the object of your most infantile fixations. She must be in such agony right now. Her armour can surely take little more, just one well placed shot and you can end her suffering. It is the kindest fate that awaits her.’

If I could reach for my helmet to look him in the eyes at least, I would. ‘Whatever you do Jaxon, I understand. I figured I’d die taking a few people down with me, but this is fine.’ His tears are dying down, his brow is steeled. I don’t have enough strength to hold my head up any more. One crystal clear shot ringing out. No pain.

#my oc #oc #star wars #writing #koben tarani #cw: death #cw: violence

[restoryhealthytech]

World Elders Day

n the occasion of World Elder’s Day 2022 we at Team Restory.in wanted to share with you, not wishes or unwanted positivity but instead share something we read that left a significant impact on us.

Full credit to Mr Sahil Bloom who shared this on his Twitter ID https://twitter.com/SahilBloom

We request you go through this entire conversation and let us know how you feel @7568555123 or [email protected]

“Last year, I had a conversation that changed my life. It caused me to upend everything and move across the country.  The lesson from it may change yours:

I was out for a drink with a friend. We’ll call him George. As we settled in, George asked about my life and how I was feeling.

At first, I gave him the standard response that we’ve all grown so accustomed to:

“I’m good. Busy!”  He stared blankly through my empty words.

Feeling the pressure of his gaze, I adjusted myself and added that living in California had begun to wear on me, it being so far from my parents on the East Coast.

I had been 3,000 miles away for the last 12 years. And with the path I was on, there was no end in sight.

The moment of vulnerability sparked an interaction that changed my life:

George: “How often do you see your parents?”

Me: “Maybe once a year now.”

George: “And how old are they?”

Me: “Mid-sixties.”

George: “Ok, so you’re going to see them 15 more times before they die.”

Gut punch. I took a deep breath. It wasn’t meant to be rude—it was just…math.

If the average life expectancy is ~80 years, my parents are in their mid-60s, and I see them one time per year, the math—however depressing—says I will see them 15 more times before they are gone.

Our time together is finite, but we often fail to recognize it until it’s too late.

Time is cruel. You’ll love it with all of your being—you may even pray for more of it—but time doesn’t care about you.

Your relationship with time is the ultimate unrequited love.

The morning after this conversation, my wife and I had a very candid conversation about what we wanted in life.

A few days later, we listed our house in California on the market, packed up our things, and shipped off to the East Coast to be closer to our parents.

It’s been over a year since the conversation that changed my life.

I’ll never regret these tiny moments—of doing nothing in particular—that we’ll spend together in the years ahead. I’ll never regret the moments my parents get to spend with my son. I’ll never regret any of it.

It brings one takeaway to life: Our time with our loved ones is so limited and precious.

All of this math—depressing as it seems—should be a call to arms.

Identify the people and activities you care most deeply about. Prioritize them ruthlessly.

It may be difficult—even painful—but it’s a decision you’ll never regret. We spend most of our lives playing a game. Everything we do is in anticipation of the future. When that future comes, we simply reset to the next one.

“I can’t wait until I’m 18 so I can [X].” etc etc

It’s natural, but it’s a dangerous game—one that we will lose, eventually.

Time is our most precious asset and the present is all that’s guaranteed.

Spend it wisely, with those you love, in ways you’ll never regret.

I hope this thread sparks some of you to have conversations with your loved ones about time (and who you want to spend yours with).

By the way, the point of this thread isn’t saying that any decision about where to live is *right* or *wrong*.

We all have to reach our own conclusions.

These are often very challenging decisions with a variety of complex trade-offs.

   -Sahil Bloom

  Please draw your own conclusions and share your thoughts with us.

On this World Elders Day we felt that this is the most precious message we can share with everyone. Please reshare and forward if you feel someone should read this.

With love and regards

Team Restory

Geriatric Tele Consultation

Active Age

Health Score

My Health Score

Pharmony

Tips to Prevent Social Isolation in Elderly

Social Media for Elders

socialisation and challenges of loneliness in the elderly

Regular Health Check ups

Physical Ageing

Nutrition in Elderly

Importance of correct exercise

Attitudes and Ageism

World Hepatitis Day

World FIRST AID DAY 2022

National Doctor Day

The theme for this World Heart day

Fathers Day 

Ganesh Chaturthi

On The Occasion Of World Blood Donor Day

International Yoga Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

#Health Score #Restory Healthytech #active age