#my friend handled it so cool i’m chilling just not my natural inclination | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

littlegiantposts · 3 years

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movie night

pairing: todoroki x f!reader

warning: strong language probably. possible anime/manga spoilers! grammar mistakes :( I suck at writing

summary: It’s not that Y/n didn’t want friends, it’s just people always found her intimidating

a/n: this is completely self-indulgent lol sorry about that, so like yeah I’m gonna be saying y/n, but also i am deriving her personality, attitude, looks from a character that I’ve sort of made up in my head haha. also idk if this is like a headcanon, imagine, or like a scenaro....so sorry. And like, sort of a side note, I love making main characters that are like sorta op so y/n’s quirk and story is sorta insane, but you guys dont really have to worry about it too much because its not really in this so....yeah, i guess its just some context. I wrote this while listening to a playlist I made, titled, “ur a badass hero with class 1-a” on spotify so if ppl wanna hear it, I will post a link to it lol. OH and class 1-a are in their second year! That’s a lot, sorry! But, I hope you enjoy!

y/n’s quirk (if ur curious): controlling the 4 elements (aang from the last airbender vibe lmao); but she also got a companion named koda (think of Moro-no-kimi from Princess Mononoke for the look)

Y/n was never good at making friends. It’s not like she didn’t try, because she did. When she was a little kid, living on Catalina Island, she made a lot of attempts to make friends with fellow children in her pre-school and middle school. It just seemed that they wanted nothing to do with her, talking bad about her behind her back or acting as if she just didn’t exist.

It started to get exhausting for Y/n to keep trying and ending up always failing. So, when enrolling in the top hero school, UA, Y/n thought that maybe, just maybe, things would be different.

Nonetheless, it’s not like she had absolutely no one. She had Koda! Her best friend in the whole wide world, well her only friend, which was her pet wolf. However, Koda doesn’t like being called a “pet”, let’s stick with her companion. They are quite the inseparable duo.

Y/n looked down at Koda from her desk who was lulling herself to sleep on the floor as Present Mic was teaching an English lesson. Y/n wished she too can sleep at this moment, “It wouldn’t hurt if I just closed my eyes for just a couple minutes.” Y/n thought. Oh, she was wrong though.

“Alright! We are going take a short break since we need to get our new textbooks,” Present Mic’s voice rang through her ears with all his elongation and passion, “Y/n and Todoroki! What about you two go get the books from the library!” Y/n would have jolted at the mention of her face, but she was honestly too tired to do so.

She nodded her head, got up from her desk, and looked at Koda if he was going to follow her. Of course, he perked up at the mention of her name and was going with her. A small smile was now on Y/n’s lips. Y/n was glad that she knew she can depend on Koda, always in her corner.

As she pushed her chair away from her desk, getting up and walking towards the door, she didn’t realize that most of the class was either looking at her or the half and half boy, for he had to endure the trip with the enigma that is Y/n.

The class just doesn’t know Y/n that well. She was one of the new students this year, along with Shinso. However, they at least knew of Shinso from last year. Y/n was a brand-spanking new addition to the class. Not to mention, her introduction to the class was nothing short of intimidating.

Aizawa knew Y/n had a lot of strengths. In fact, he used her skills as a type of learning lesson for the class. Not to mention, he completely singled her out during the “lesson” as he instructed the class that Y/n will have a bell that is tied around her belt. All they had to do was get the bell. Y/n, being the competitive person she was, didn’t back down at this challenge. Safe to say, no one was able to get the bell that day.

Y/n sighed at the memory. “Maybe, if you had some chill, you would be able to get a friend, Y/n” a voice in her head said, causing Y/n’s shoulders to shrink and her hands to be stuffed into her pockets. (Yes, she has pockets with her uniform. Yes, she’s still wearing the school uniform skirt. She sowed pockets into them for this very habit.)

“Uh, hey wait up.” a deeper voice called, already identifying who it is.

Y/n turned to right, looking at Koda for a brief second. From far away, one would think he was just grimacing, but as Y/n was closer, she can see he was very close to full-on growling at the sound of his voice.

Koda doesn’t really like Todoroki and Y/n always found it funny. Koda found everyone else real entertaining. As much as Koda was a wolf, he really was a people’s person. If Y/n didn’t know any better, it seemed Koda had a better relationship with her classmates than she actually did.

Y/n adopted a tired smile as she reacted to Koda’s growling at Shoto. She then looked behind her, seeing Todoroki jog lightly towards her. Her small smile soon faded away.

“Even if you try again to be a friend, you know that people will always end up fearing you.” Y/n honestly wanted to bang her head against a wall because this annoying voice was truly the bane of her existence.

Y/n stopped in her tracks. Koda made eye-contact with her, almost telepathically asking her, “Why are you stopping for him?!”.

“I may be aloof, but I have to at least be polite.” Y/n told her wolf companion. Koda only let out a breathe of frustration as he also stopped as well.

Todoroki soon caught up to the duo and was on Y/n’s left side. And the three began their trek to the school library.

There was some silence.

For Todoroki, it was so awkward. “Why don’t you say something to her?” he asks himself, “Or are you going to let another opportunity slip?”

You see, Shoto Todoroki admired Y/n. She was incredibly skilled with her quirk. She was confident, but not arrogant. She was an innovator, while still accepting old principles. She was naturally smart, but always open to learning. To him, she was so balanced. He couldn’t help himself as the admiration started to soon feel like a crush on the dark haired girl.

For Y/n, she didn’t think anything of the silence. In fact, she was grateful for the silence. More silence, means less time for talking. Less chance of Y/n making a fool out of herself.

“You seem more tired than usual. Trained a lot yesterday, I presume?” And Todoroki broke the silence that Y/n was trying to insist.

“Yeah, trying out a new technique with my water.”

Y/n was surprised.

She really could have been more blunt with her answer.

Theoretically, all she really had to respond with was a “yeah”, but she decided to add that last part.

Why? Why did she feel inclined to go into more detail? Now, Y/n was confused.

“That’s cool.” Todoroki wanted to hit himself in the head. “That’s all you got to say? What a conversation this is” Shoto mentally sighs. He feels like his heart is going to burst at how fast its going.

“I’m actually trying to freeze it, but that turns out to be harder than expected,” Y/n almost slapped her hand on her mouth.

Why is she going into more detail? This doesn’t make sense. She’s been quite blunt lately when people try to talk to her, so what gives?

Is it Todoroki, himself? “Maybe he put a spell on me or something.” Y/n didn’t think the “icy-hot bastard” would dabble in witchcraft, but things were just not adding up in Y/n’s mind. All these thoughts woke Y/n right up, ridding herself of her tiredness.

As for Todoroki, his mind was going into overdrive. “She’s having trouble with freezing water? She must know that this is my specialty. Is this her way of spending time with me? Does this mean the feelings I have for her are mutual? Perhaps, we can train together and I can help her with freezing.” The mere thought of spending time with Y/n outside of class made his cheeks warm up.

He was an absolute love-struck fool for Y/n.

“Oh, we’re here.” Y/n stated the obvious as they stand in front of the school’s library, halting Shoto’s mental mumbling, which almost resembled one of Midoryia’s ever-present babbling.

Shoto Todoroki immediately shot his arm forward to open the door for Y/n, but Y/n was thinking the same thing and they reached for the same handle.

Their hands touch.

And Todoroki thinks he can die happy now. Y/n’s hand is so soft. Much to his dismay, Y/n immediately drew her hand back as if his hand was scalding hot water.

Y/n mumbled a quick “sorry” and places her hand on the other handle as there are two doors to the library, she opens it and immediately walks through it as Koda follows in tow. Koda dawns an absolute confused look as he didn’t know what the hell that interaction was about.

The actual task of getting the books aren’t that hard. In fact, it was an easy and quick task.

So, why is this causing Y/n’s mind and heart feeling like they are overheating.

As they walk back to the classroom with stacks of textbooks, Y/n thought, “Okay, there’s no way in hell that he will try to talk to me again, especially after that awkward incident. Now, let’s breakdown why the actual hell you acted that way, Y/n.” She mentally scolded herself like she was a child.

Todoroki, as always, had a different plan and decided to continue the conversation, “You know, if you need help with freezing water, I can always help you since that is part of my quirk.”

Y/n has officially short-circuited.

He is voluntarily asking? Voluntarily. Asking?

Asking if Y/n wanted to train together?

This has never happened before, and she doesn’t know how to respond. “I would like that. I typically train in the morning and sometimes after school” is what Y/n felt like saying. It is as if her mind and mouth were working against each other.

However, Y/n’s thoughts were cut short as she heard the chatter of some of her fellow classmates. They three of them were very close to their classroom as their door to the room was wide open.

“Hey guys, if we’re having a movie night tonight, do you think we should invite Y/n?”

It was Midoryia who asked the question. Y/n, Shoto, and Koda stopped dead in their tracks at the mention of her name. Shoto and Koda looked at Y/n with a worried expression. For her own good, she probably shouldn’t be listening, but she couldn’t help but be curious of her classmates’ plan in regards to her.

“It’s not that we don’t want her there. It’s just that, who is up for asking her?”

Silence. No one responded to the question.

Koda notices how Y/n’s grip on the textbooks tightened. Shoto noticed how your head was now titled downward, hiding your face.

“She’s just so intimidating. And not to mention that training exercise we did when we first met her. She’s sort of scary, to be honest.”

“Scary. You’re scary, Y/n. Terrifying.” She couldn’t help but repeat her classmates’ thought of her. She was just torturing herself at this point. No point in dwelling on first impressions, but as this is affecting her current relationship, or lack thereof, with her classmates, she couldn’t help it.

“Y/n-” Todoroki tries to interject before Y/n gets the wrong idea.

But, it’s too late.

“No, it’s fine. Thanks for the offer though, Todoroki.” Y/n’s words were slow. As much as her brain was going a million miles per hour, her mouth was evidently slower as her breathing was heavier.

She wanted to disappear, or at least get swallowed by the ground. She kept her head down as she strode into the classroom. Her classmates being oblivious to Y/n’s knowledge of what they truly think of her, paying no attention to her.

Shoto was basically frozen in place, next to the door, but he gained composure and walked in the class as well, a couple seconds after. Y/n quickly placed her books on the front desk where Present Mic sat behind of, she sat back in her seat that was in the back of the class.

Y/n watched how Shoto was still standing in front of the classroom as he was stopped by his classmates. Now, they were just chatting, probably talking about the upcoming movie night.

Y/n felt jealousy bubble up inside her. She wished she can chat like how Shoto was effortlessly talking away to his classmates. Or how Midoryia stopped him with such ease to talk about a social event.

Y/n yearned for some friendly interaction. That’s what she wanted when coming to UA.

She wanted to be normal. As normal as she could be. A normal teenager.

“Things don’t always go according to plan, huh?” Y/n pouted and placed her head on her desk and just waited patiently till the school day was over.

Koda worriedly looked at Y/n. “She’s going to want to train after this. And I bet she’s going to push herself harder because of today.” Koda knew Y/n very well. Knew her like the back of his hand, well, paw.

And, Koda was right. Y/n was in gym gamma, completely exhausted. Sweat covered her body as her muscles were screaming at her take a break. Her labored breathe continued as her body was trying its best to keep up.

Y/n was frustrated. “Why? Why am I like this?” she kept repeating like a mantra.

“I want to be normal. Why can’t I be like them?”

“Why?”

“You’re a monster. It’s actually quite simple.”

Y/n threw a punch with her fist encased in water, and it wasn’t until after that punch was thrown, she realized that there was now an evident hole in the thick, solid concrete wall.

Y/n fell to her knees. Koda hurriedly made his way to her, making sure she didn’t do anything too stupid. Once Koda was close, she was doing something unexpected.

She was crying.

Hot streams, cascading down her face. She started to hiccup, her breathing erratic. “A-am I scary to you, Koda?” her voice was so small.

Koda nudged his way in between her legs and nestled his head into her neck. Y/n, full on sobbing now, wraps her arms around Koda and her cries are muffled by his fur. Wailing and self-deprecating questions can be faintly heard from her if anyone were to enter the gym.

A couple minutes passed. Y/n’a breathing returned to a calm rhythm.

“Thanks, Koda. I needed that,” Y/n sniffles, “C’mon let’s go make dinner, I’ll whip you up something special for putting up with me today.” Koda’s tail immediately began to wag at the thought of Y/n’s cooking.

Y/n was an independent person. She likes doing things on her own as much as can. She doesn’t eat the food from the school cafeteria, instead, she opts for making her and Koda’s meals from the kitchen that is provided to them in their dormitory. And indeed, she made a delicious dinner for both of them.

Now, the hard part. Because of how long her training took, showering, and making dinner, Y/n knew that her classmates were in the common space already, probably preparing to have their movie night. And, she had to pass them. It was a short distance, short walk, Y/n was trying to reassure herself. Just walk straight towards to the elevator and you’re safe.

Y/n takes a deep breathe and walks out of the kitchen. The chatter of her classmates emerges to her ears, but as she walks towards the elevator, the chatter dies down.

“Oh no.” Y/n’s eyes widened in fear. “Way to go on ruining the mood, Y/n.”

Thankfully, the elevator was quick and the doors slide open, making an easy escape for Y/n and Koda. She let out a breathe she didn’t even realize she was holding in as the doors slid shut. Y/n looks at Koda, who was already looking at her, “It’s better this way, anyway” Y/n didn’t know if she was telling Koda that, or herself.

On the other side of the elevator’s doors, her classmates collectively let out a sigh, “Well that was another chance we wasted.” Kaminari was the first to break the awkward silence.

“Tch. Like any of you have the guts to actually ask her.” Bakugo chimed in.

“Oh please, Bakugo, I know she intimidates you, too.” Mina fired back.

“Whatever.”

“She heard you guys.” Todoroki suddenly talked. Everyone casted their attention to him, “Earlier today, I mean. She heard you guys when you were talking about inviting her to movie night.”

The once light-hearted atmosphere in the room was now tilted with guilt.

“She heard all that?” Midoryia incredulously asked, only imagining what you would be feeling because of their words.

“She must feel terrible.” Ochaco openly voiced her thoughts.

“She probably hates us.” Kirishima adds in.

“She means well, I promise. I think we just need to give her a chance.” Todoroki tries to reason with his classmates.

“First, we need to apologize.” Midoryia proposes as he looks among his classmates. His classmates collectively nod their heads in agreement

“You’re right. Well, good luck Midoryia.” Kaminari pats his back as encouragement. Everyone else either gives an encouraging smile or a thumbs up.

“Ha?! What?! You guys already decided that I’m going to be the one to apologize?” Izuku was flailing his arm around and was checking everyone else’s reaction.

“Well, yes. It’s your idea and you are one of the most apologetic people here.” Iida explained to an overthinking Midoryia.

After regaining composure, he realized that this was probably the best option, “Okay, I’ll, I’ll go now.”

Midoryia makes his way to Y/n’s dorm room. He was nervous. He only had very limited interactions with Y/n. So, he really didn’t know what to expect. Before he knew it, he was before your door.

On the other side, Y/n was chowing down on her food. She took a swig of her water, “So, how’s the food? I tried a new technique on roasting the veggies.” Y/n babbled on for a bit, but she realized that Koda’s plate was hardly touched. Her gaze landed on Koda who was sitting on her bed with a very obvious frown, staring at the door. Y/n immediately knew why.

“Hey, if you wanna go hangout with them, I can push the buttons on the elevator for you-”

Koda was irritated at how difficult Y/n was being, she can just ask them if she can join. It was simple. Koda used his mouth to latch on to Y/n’s sleeve and started to drag her to her dorm’s door.

“H-hey Koda! Not cool, man! You know, I can’t go down there.” Y/n tugs her sleeve away from Koda.

Koda turned to his last resort. He did his signature pout.

“Oh, please. You know that stopped working on me awhile ago. Besides, we can have our own movie night, right?” Y/n tried to reason, but her reasoning just felt sad.

Before Y/n could step away from her dorm’s door, she heard a knock. The two quickly tuned their heads at the door as if something miraculous just happened.

Y/n took one step toward the door.

“It’s Midoryia.” Koda began to wag his tail, “don’t get your hopes up too quickly.”

Y/n opened the door only a slit for her head to poke out, “Oh, hi Midoryia. Is something wrong?” she asks.

“U-um, no nothings wrong.” he responds as nerves start to take over and he doesn’t continue on.

“Okay.” With that, Y/n closed her door. Koda wanted to scratch his eyes out. This was her chance! For someone who was the top student in her class, she was so stupid. “He didn’t want anything. Sorry to disappoint, Koda-” another knock interrupted her.

She looked at the door, “It’s still Midoryia.” Koda rolled his eyes.

Y/n went to to open the door, again, only opening a bit, “Yes, Midoryia? You sure something isn’t wrong?”

“Uh, well I was wondering if we can talk for a bit.”

“Oh, yeah sure.” Y/n stepped out of her door, and shutting it.

However, Koda was right on her trail, but was shut out by the now closed door. He pouts at the door. And how holds his ear to the door, interested in the conversation that has yet to come.

“So, what’s up?” Y/n asked the green-haired boy.

“I, we, as a class, wanted to apologize for our words today.” Midoryia spoke in a remorseful and quiet tone.

Y/n was taken back. “So, they know that I heard what they were saying? Must have been Todoroki’s doing.”

“Look, it’s fine. I know I’m intimidating-“

“But it’s not fine. We shouldn’t have treated or talked about you that way.”

Y/n was stunned at his words. He took that as a sign to continue, “and we were hoping, if you’d be okay if we start over and become friends.”

Y/n remained cautious with her walls, “You know, friendship isn’t really a perquisite for this course.”

“Of course, I know that. We all do, but it doesn’t hurt to have them, right?”

Y/n felt like tearing up. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to put her trust in that last statement of his.

“I’ll be be down in 5 minutes,” Y/n stated rather blandly, but it didn’t matter to Midoryia.

“Great! See ya!” He waved and started to head back to the elevator, before he pressed the button, Y/n called him once more,

“Midoryia?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” and nods his head. He couldn’t be more thrilled that this will all work out.

As for Y/n, she opened her door to her dorm, and closing it as she stepped inside.

As soon as she was in the comfort of her own room, she broke into her happy dance. Her fists clenched, eyes shut, shoulders scrunched, jumping in the air, squeals make their way pass her lips, with the biggest smile on her face

Koda felt a wave of relief of wash over him. He was glad that she was finally experiencing acceptance.

After the moment passes, Y/n sighs and looks at Koda, ruffling his fur on the top of his head.

“Well, shall we?” Y/n said in an extravagant manner as she opened her door and bowed.

Koda, playing along, held his head high and strutted out. Y/n let out a light-hearted laugh and they made their way down, together.

Once Y/n actually made it to the common room, all of her classmates were looking at her, stopping their conversations as well. The confidence that Y/n help was long gone, feeling now awkward yet again.

However, the silence didn’t last too long as the class enveloped her in boisterous apologies, hugs, and pats on the back.

To say Y/n was overwhelmed was understatement. She had never been around these many people, giving attention towards her. It was new territory she had yet to cross.

“Guys, you should probably let her breathe.”

That was Todoroki. Y/n pried her eyes away from Mina who was asking what conditioner she uses, and looked at Shoto. Y/n mouthed a “thank you” and he simply nodded.

The class went back to their seats, muttering apologies again for getting in her personal space.

Now, Y/n faced yet another problem:

Where is she going to sit?!

She kept standing where she stood for a good couple seconds, scanning the area for any good spots.

However, there was actually only one spot open. And, it just happen to be next to Todoroki.

Y/n mentally prepared herself and started her path towards him. Of course, Shoto knew this. He was the one who made sure he saved a seat right next to him just for this occasion.

But things don’t always go according to plan, right?

Rightly so, right before Y/n could take the unaccompanied seat, Denki was coming back from the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn, plopping right down on the seat.

“Oh, hey Y/n! I’m glad you made it! You want some popcorn?”

“No, I’m good, thanks though.” Y/n was able to play it off as she chose to sit on the floor in front of the couch, which coincidentally was in front of the seat that Shoto resided.

Shoto was irritated. He wanted you to sit next to him. For crying out loud, that was the whole reason he had this seat open in the first place. All he does is sigh, catching Y/n’s attention.

Y/n turns back to Todoroki, sending a small smile his way, but then turning back to the screen as her fellow classmates were arguing on what to watch.

Y/n put her hand to her chest. This is weird. Why is her heart rate so high? She’s not usually like this. Maybe Todoroki did cast a spell on her.

Y/n couldn’t think about it too much as the movie began playing.

#bnha shoto #todoroki shoto #shoto todoroki x reader #midoriya izuku #mha x you #mha x reader #shoto todoroki x y/n #mha angst #bnha imagines

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be-ready-when-i-say-go · 4 years

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In A Storm

Bree gets stranded in a storm and just needs to find someone to give her a helping hand.

Calum x Black!OC, Bree. Idk what happened. This post doesn’t actually exist.

CW: 18+ Content (Briefest mentions of sex. It’s an almost fade to black moment, but there’s a tiny teeny amount of details.)

Enjoy my masterlist

You can support me on kofi.

________________________________________

Bree wants to laugh. The light on her car came on twenty minutes ago. She thought then, maybe she should pull over, call her dad and see what she should do. She was so close to her friend, Drew’s house. And maybe it was stupid to negioate with herself that if it went out in another ten minutes she’d continue on and worry about it in the morning. Her lower back and ass was starting to hurt from the long drive though and if Bree was to stop she only wanted it to be at her final destination so she could stretch out and sleep.

Though in Bree’s defense, the light shouldn’t have gone out. If something was really wrong, then it would’ve stayed on. But it went out after a couple minutes. She was nearing her exit when it came back on. It was only another ten minutes according to the GPS. Just another ten minutes and then in the morning, she could get someone to look at the car. Now, not even two minutes from the new house, a whopping three blocks away, her car was slowly puttering to its end.

And breaking down two minutes from her new place wouldn’t be that bad. Things happened. But it was of course during her big move from her parents' place and in with Drew up in the Hills. This move is only temporary. She had a job starting in a week and after stacking up a few checks, Bree was going to put in an application to an apartment complex not too far from her job. But, of course, her car would break down in the middle of a downpour.

The rain was nice at first. Made her feel like she was in her own bubble down the winding roads of the highway. Though she was getting into heavier traffic closer to the city and folks were becoming a bit more impatient in their driving, the rain provided her a little bit of solace. It felt a renewal. Bree was flying the coupe and it felt right that even though it was exciting it was also a little sad. It felt right to have the rain hitting the roof of her car. It made her feel like she was shedding something--though she wasn’t sure what it was just yet.

But she did not need the rain and her car breaking down. Bree flicks on her emergency lights. Fat would have this for her. Fate would have this stored away just for her, at just the most inopportune time. Pulling the car off to the side of the road, Bree listens to the rain falling around her. She exhales, thinking what her next step should be. She’d have to call for a tow. And she’d have to let Drew know that she’d be delayed getting in and she should probably call her dad just to make sure she was handling the situation right.

Reaching for her phone, she taps to end the GPS’s route. She wouldn’t be needing that for a while. Her nails click over the glass screen and just as her fingers hover over her dad’s contact the screen goes back. Her phone started dying just as she got into the neighborhood and now without the car battery on, she was left with no charge. “Let this be a fucking lesson to charge your phone the night before your drive,” Bree tells herself.

Her portable charger box was somewhere in the mass of bags and boxes in her car. She told herself she’d put in her purse before leaving but due to late night last minute packing, Bree’s sure she dumped it somewhere into the depths of those boxes and there was no way she’d be able to unearth it now.

“At least you’re in a neighborhood,” she tells herself, looking for any signs of life behind curtains. “A light, a child, something,” she mutters, looking through the sheets of rain.

And right at the end of the block, a house down from where her car gave up the ghost, Bree spots two dogs in the windows. One fluffy and the other one with a pretty white coat. Normally, Bree wouldn’t be so inclined to just walk up to any old house. But a house with two dogs made her feel better. It felt like a sign. Throwing her phone into her purse, she took a deep breath.

She had just pressed her hair. And sure really it was not anything more than a blow out and a quick rod set, but still it meant that the second the rain touched her scalp her roots would revert, the curls would take back their natural form. Though, that would just have to be a fight for tomorrow. Right now she can’t be sitting in her broke down car with no phone or way to contact anymore.

“Do or die,” she sighs. Sliding the keys from the ignition, Bree leans into the door. “I just did my hair though. God,” she huffs, opening her door. The rain is cool. It’s almost a relief. The door is wet within seconds. Her jeans are no longer the light faded wash but dark denim blue.

It’s another moment before she fully pushes herself out of the car, locks it and then runs up the driveway, purse clutched tight to her side. The rain’s not a chill to her bones. But it’s like a refreshing sip of water. The jog’s stretched out her lower back a little. Under the refugee of this strangers porch, she shakes a little bit of the water from her hair and raps at the door. “Please don’t be a creep,” Bree whispers, biting the corner of her lip. “Also, not an axe murder. Would not be cool.”

______________________________________

Calum walks past the two dogs perched on his couch to the front door. Calum agreed to dog sit Moose for the day while Michael took South to the vet. The poor guy hadn’t quite been eating like before and Michael, the worrier that he is, decided not to wait to check him out. Crystal had gone out of town and rather than letting Michael have to fret over South and Moose, Calum happily offered to watch Moose while Michael took care of what he needed.

Calum’s not really sure what he expected to find on the other side of the door. It could’ve been anyone really--Michael, a mailperson, possibly a random kid asking if they could get access to his backyard to retrieve a rogue ball. But not someone, completely drenched, nervously running her teeth over her bottom lip. “Sorry to bother you. I just need to use your phone. My car broke down. I’m a genius who doesn’t charge her phone before driving 5 hours across the state.”

Calum looks past her, over her shoulder to see a car--he assumes it’s her--pulled over to the side of the road. He looks back to her. The college sweatshirt hanging heavily from her frame thanks to the pouring rain. Her hair sticks to her face a little. Whatever eye makeup she was wearing has started to run down her cheeks. “C’mon in,” he waves hurriedly for her to enter.

“Thanks,” she smiles, stepping inside but not going past the indoor welcome mat. Her shoes squish as she walks onto the hardwood floor.

“Is your car far?”

“Nah, just like a house down. I saw the dogs in the windows. Seemed like a safe bet.” She holds out a hand to the dog intrigued by her. The pure white pup happily sniffs away at her hand while the smaller husky colored dog watches from afar.

Calum turns any shoes suitable to go out into the rain. “I can help you push it closer to my house, that way none of my neighbors get pissy. That’s if you’re okay with getting wet again?”

The woman laughs. “I think I’m passed getting worried about wet. You’re the one that’s bone dry.”

“Not worried about it really. I’m just sick of my neighbors, at this point.”

“Don’t want the HOA on your ass?” she teases.

“God, not again.” Into some old tattered boots, Calum faces her. “I’m Calum by the way.”

“Bree,” she turns, slipping her purse over her head. “Is it okay if I set this inside? The phone’s dead but I don’t want it getting wet or anything.”

“Yeah sure,” he waves to the coffee table.

Both of them pause on the front porch. Bree’s already wet like she said, but now her hair’s truly fucked. There’s no denying that. “Really, I could foot the heat of your neighbors,” Bree offers, not really wanting to go back into the rain.

Calum chuckles beside her. “Let’s say me and the HOA are on thinner ice than before.”

“Thanks. Even though I’m getting you wet. Just want to say that now before we’re both drowning in this downpour.”

“No problem.”

The second her sopping wet shoes hit the first stair, Bree definitely notes the air is cooler now. And it could be because she was already wet once before. And somehow had managed to adapt in the two minutes she was inside Calum’s place to the warmth. Now in the rain again, the chill is definitely hitting her bones. She runs again to her car. Her keys are clicking between her fingers.

Her grip slips around her keyes and she curses before picking them up. Calum’s already positioned at the trunk, waiting on her. It’s a bit of embarrassment that heats her cheeks, sitting inside her car. She hadn’t meant to make anyone else do so much extra work or have anyone else subject themselves to the rain. With fingers gripping tight to the steering wheel, she leans out of the window just a little to let Calum know she’s ready.

Thankfully, she hadn’t coasted super far out from Calum’s driveway. Bree keeps an eye on the nose of her car. It’s slow of course with only one person behind to push. When they get just pass the mailbox, Bree gives a shout and puts the car into park. She throws her head into the steering wheel, exhaling.

Behind her closed lids, all she seems to see is the cut of Calum’s jaw. Why did he have to be hot? Why wouldn’t he have been just some decent guy with two dogs? But he had to be hot and willingly to subject himself to the rain for her. She still has to call a tow truck and Drew, and her dad. There’s not much time for wallowing in the misery life liked to hand her.

Throwing up her door, she finds Calum right at the driver side passenger door. “I can throw your clothes into the wash while you use my phone. Sound okay?”

The rain is clinging to the lines of his face, washing down his cheek and riding the line of his jaw. Bree tries to focus instead of his eyes. But even the rain there, on his lashes, is so goddamn beautiful. “Thanks again, Calum.”

“Don’t worry.” They walk back up his driveway. Calum lets her go ahead of him to get inside. But he leads her down to the bathroom, where Bree stands, still dripping water onto his floor.

The press that she worked so hard is gone. The roots have coiled around each other. The ends are curling and she knows soon, they’ll follow suit. It’s in the mirror that she sees the mascara’s run down her face. She can’t believe she has to look like this, showing up at a strangers door and that stranger being so attractive too.

“I’m literally a drowned rat,” Bree exhales.

“But a cute drowned rat,” Calum returns. In his hands, he holds a towel, washcloth, and a stack of dry clothes out to her. “Pardon that I lack any kind of underwear other than boxers, but I hope they suffice until your clothes are dry.”

Bree nods, heart thundering in her chest. Did he just call her cute? There’s no way her ears heard that. “Thanks. You’re like totally saving my ass right now. But also, like, I do have some clothes in my car. Just means going back outside.”

“Neither one of us is facing that hell storm again. You’ve braved it twice, Bree. By the way, the hot water’s a little fussy. I got it fixed recently but you still gotta talk sweet to it.”

“Noted, charm the hot water.”

Calum points out where to find other essentials in the bathroom and then backs out of the room with a tiny wave, lips lifting into a tiny smile. It feels nice under the warm run of the shower head. Bree definitely needed a little bit of patience with the hot water but once the temperature evened out it became well worth it. Just her luck to work out like this. But she’s immensely grateful Calum’s so understanding. If not, she’d most likely wind up stranded, or she’d be tied up in someone’s basement.

It’s not a thought Bree likes lingering on. But it’s just a reality for her. She hadn’t necessarily helped herself. When the light first came on, she could’ve found a car shop nearby. She could’ve waited there for a few hours, got it fixed and saved herself this trouble. Bree won’t be making anymore negotiations when it comes to her car anymore. That’s a lesson that really only needs to be learned once and she’s received the message loud and clear.

Outside the shower, she takes in the gray t-shirt with splotches of white on the lower torso and sweatpants offered up to her. It feels all too intimate, to be wearing someone else’s clothes. Bree doesn’t know anything besides his name. And well, he has dogs. And he’s cute. And he has a fucking nice house. Though she hasn’t seen a lot of it, Bree already feels how cozy it is. It’s lived in, with decent space. It’s full. Calum’s house feels full even if it’s just him in the house with two dogs.

Bree likes that feeling, walking into a house and feeling how bright and warm it is. It told her more about Calum, that he had this very embracing and calm energy about it. But that didn’t fully negate the fact that he was a stranger. And she was a stranger to him and she was still standing in a towel. Slipping into the clothes presented, she gathers her clothes into the towel, hopefully to keep from making an even bigger mess of her evening.

Outside the door of the bathroom, Bree’s immediately greeted by one of the dogs. She’d guess they’re a toy poodle, but she can’t tell for certain. “Hi,” Bree coos, bending down to scratch behind one of their ears. “What’s your name?” The pink collar and tag tap just a little in the excited pants. “Oh, you look ear scratches huh, girl?”

“That’s Moose. Old man’s Duke. He’s not a big of people. So I apologize in advance.” Calum’s comes from further in the house. His t-shirt and shorts now changed into sweatpants and a ribbed tank.

“So Moose and Duke, your partners in crimes?”

“Moose isn’t mine, as sad as I am to admit it. She’s a friend and I’m just dog sitting for a little bit. Duke’s my precious old man.”

Bree’s heart shouldn’t clench like it does. Precious old man, why not just stick a knife into her chest. There’s no way to tell how long Calum’s had Duke but it’s abundantly clear that Calum adores Duke. “We can say Moose is your partner in crime too. Even if it’s just for a day.”

Calum chuckles. “Yeah. And as you can see, she’s not afraid to get what she wants.”

Bree nods, turning her attention back to Moose for just a moment and pressing a soft kiss to the top of the dog’s head.

“I can take those, by the way.”

Calum’s hand is outstretched, ready to take the damp clothes from her. Bree shouldn’t be staring at the veins in his hands and forearm. Nor should she be wondering what the back of his knuckles feel like against her cheek. But Bree could absolutely wonder how to prove to Calum’s old man that she was trustworthy--and that is a much safer thought.

Bree hands over the makeshift sack. “Thanks, again.”

It’s a curt nod. The smile seems genuine though. “I’ll get this into the wash.”

Bree stays where she is for the moment, both hands scratching at Moose’s chin.It’s safer to say here. It’s safer to just give into Moose and give her all the affection because if Bree stands, she’s going to do something reckless, like peek through a room or try to find the laundry room just to steal another glance at Calum.

His departure doesn’t last long enough. Calum comes padding back down the hallway, the soft recessed light reflecting off his skin. The hum and rumble of the washer is clear as it echoes throughout the house. “If you’re calling for a tow,” Calum starts, holding out his phone. It’s unlocked and on the keypad. “You’re risking the rain again.”

Bree groans sliding to her butt and resting against the wall. “You’re right. I’m just moving in with a friend for this new job and I didn’t anticipate my car breaking down during my drive.”

Calum leans into the wall opposite from her. “How far away is it?”

“Literally it’s like two blocks from here. A light came on and I didn’t pay attention to it and I’m just a fucking idiot.”

“Hey, no, it’s alright. Shit happens all the time.” Calum sides down the wall, squatting. “You can spend the night here. I know it’s only two blocks, but the weather’s a fucking mess. I can help you move and you can get your car towed to a shop. It all works out.”

Bree wants to tell him to shut the fuck up. She wants him to take back everything he just said. There’s no way she can survive a night in this man’s home. “I don’t want to impose. Maybe the rain will let up.”

Calum shakes his head. “Really, just spend the night. We can transfer whatever you need into my truck in the morning and once the truck gets your car I can take you to your friend’s house.” Calum smiles softly when he spies Moose curling up into Bree’s lap. “Besides, Moose likes you. I think she’d be sad to see you go.”

“But your old man Duke, I might have to put some work in with him.”

“He’s gotten better. Just talk sweet to him.”

Their laughter is soft. Bree rests her head into the wall. She still has his phone and she’s reminded that she ought to call Drew. “You’re right. I don’t want to go back out into that rain.”

He motions with two fingers and Bree hands back the phone. The unlock is quick. “Make your calls. I got tea, coffee. I think there’s hot chocolate if you want that. If you haven’t eaten, we can figure that out too.”

“You do realize that I’m like practically a stranger. I showed up at your door like a fucking drowned rat. You didn’t even tell me my mascara had run.”

He knows all that. Calum doesn’t need to be told that. And sure it probably sounds dumb and definitely a little stupid. But there was something about Bree that makes him worry less. It helps that she hasn’t flipped, hasn’t given out any indication that she knows who he is. And maybe it’s not safe to assume that she doesn’t know. But he has a strong feeling that if she did, they wouldn’t be having such an easy conversation. His gut would tell him if something was suspicious.

“You looked pretty stressed out. I didn’t think you needed to know that your mascara was giving you raccoon eyes.”

With the phone to her ear, Bree glares at Calum. It’s playful and he laughs in returns, before pushing up off the wall. Moose sits with Bree but watches as Calum carries himself into the kitchen. He ought to be ashamed. He ought to feel more guilty at the way he wonders what she looks like beneath his clothes. And it doesn’t help, not at all, that she looks cuter, in his clothes than he ever did.

It’s comforting to know now at least Bree seemed to be less tress. When she first stood in front of him on his porch, her brown eyes were blown, shifting her weight. She looked somewhere between frustrated and almost amused. Like she had expected something like this to happen to her. Though, there was still an air of apprehension and worry.

“I’m safe,” Bree says. Her voice carries throughout the house. “Just some car trouble. I’ll get it seen in the morning. Yeah, yeah, I’m okay.”

The conversation soon ends but it’s only another minute before her voice picks up again. “Hey, Dad. Yeah, it’s me, Bree. Had to borrow another phone for like two seconds. Anyways, car went flatline on me. But I’m okay and safe for the night. Gonna get it checked out in the morning.”

There’s a pause. Calum pours a glass of water, figuring that’s the safest bet until Bree gets off the phone. “Yeah, Dad. Really I’m safe. In a..hotel...No the car’s not just out on some highway. Just--” Whatever Bree was about to say clearly doesn’t outrank her father’s statement. “I don’t have an estimate yet. Hopefully it’s not too much. I don’t know. I’ll worry about that tomorrow….Thanks. Love you too.”

Bree’s glad the house isn’t a maze. It makes finding Calum a lot easier. But as she settles onto the barstool, sliding his phone back to him, she does wish she had more time to mentally prepare for Calum’s gaze. His eyes are warm, and inviting. That’s not a thing she needs to be worried about right now. Right now, she’s got to worry about her car and moving, and paying to fix her car.

“Have you eaten yet?” Calum turns to the fridge, listing off the options he has, even offers ordering something for her if none of his options sound appealing. “Tea, coffee, hot chocolate. Which I’m like ninety percent sure I already offered, sorry.” It’s paired with a soft chuckle.

Bree did eat. She made sure to text her dad when she stopped and when she got back onto the road. But maybe it’s just the adrenaline, the stress of her car, and maybe it’s partially something to do so she doesn’t say something stupid, or completely left field. “Hot chocolate would be nice.”

Just as Calum sets the mug down, a buzzer sounds. Both dogs bark for a moment before quieting down. “I put a blanket in the dryer. Just in case you were cold,” Calum explains. “Did you want it or is that overkill?”

“You--you didn’t have to. But I appreciate it.”

“Yeah, no, of course.” He knows he’s staring. Her smile is bright and shows off all her teeth too. Like she’s not afraid of anything, or maybe she’s learned to put on a smile even when she’s terrified. His gaze lingers a little too long on her lips. The way she works her teeth over the skin, but they’re still full. Calum wonders if they’re soft too. “So,” he starts, spinning to face his cupboards, “you said you were moving? Just a couple blocks down?”

Bree nods, eyes trailing down his shoulders and back that flex as he grabs onto the blue box. “Yeah-yeah. Got a new job and a friend of mine agreed to let me crash with them until I got an apartment. Wanted to save up some more money before throwing myself into the woes of financially living alone.”

Calum hums, tearing open a packet. “Sounds like we’ll be neighbors. At least for a little bit.” Paws click on the floor. Too light to be Moose and when Calum glances down, he spies Duke lapping at his water bowl in the kitchen.

“I mean, it’s a couple blocks,” Bree insists. If she says that, if she puts more distance between them, she won’t be tempted to drive through his neighborhood and she won’t be tempted to make a joke about staying over more often. She won’t make any moves tonight either.

“Close enough,” Calum says. “A couple blocks, a couple minutes. I’m sure you’ll always remember this street though, after tonight.”

“Oh, definitely.”

Her drink finished, Calum hands over the mug. Their fingers brush, just a split second in time, hardly enough time to really know it’s happening, yet they know anyway. Bree tightens her hold around the warming ceramic. It’s still too hot to really take a drink. But Bree sips from it anyway, after a couple gentle blows onto the dark brown sweet drink. She prays, chants to herself, that she most definitely should not linger too long on the thought or the way her skin felt electric.

“You sure you’re not hungry? I really don’t mind ordering you something.” Calum clears his throat. There aren’t many times Calum’s glad that the bar seat has a counter at waist height, but this time in particular he’s grateful. His spine still tingles just a little.

“I ate already, thanks.”

“Any dessert? I’ve got ice cream and there’s a great place not too far that delivers cookies.”

Dessert. It’s not even the fact that Calum asks. It’s how he asks. His brows shooting up on his face, thumb pointing over his shoulder to his fridge and freezer. It’s the way he bites his own lip, leaning into the counter on his elbows. Bree’s not sure if it’s some secret language, if he’s asking more than just the tub of sugary confection in his freezer.

“Really, I’m okay. Thank you.”

Calum nods. “Yeah, okay. No problem. Well, I gotta check on that load of laundry. But feel free to watch TV, snuggle with Moose, see if you can champion Duke’s heart. You’re free to whatever’s in the kitchen.”

It’s a curt nod as Bree works down another sip of her drink before Calum leaves. Once she’s sure he’s gone down back into the depths of his place, she drops her head onto her neck. Fuck me, she mouths. She can text Drew, let them know the true details of what the hell is going on. Though Bree knows the response will be a swift, You better fuck him and I want deeds.

Her phone. It’s still dead. Turning on the stool, she spots her purse still on the coffee table and both dogs curled up on one end of the couch. They watch her with curious eyes as she walks over. Thankfully an outlet is nearby with a phone charger already snug into the outlet. Nothing was plugged into it. She hoped Calum wouldn’t mind for the time being.

Plugging in her phone, Bree settles onto the far end of the couch, letting Duke have his space. But Moose is not shy and walks over, head resting in Bree’s lap. “Help me win over Duke, Moose.”

Moose’s response is turning to her back, gazing expectedly. “Okay, sure, since you’re yanking my leg,” Bree laughs, rubbing her hand over Moose’s belly. Duke still doesn’t seem bothered by her presence. She can’t tell if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Though she’s inclined to say good. He could be barking, and yet, he’s just watching, assessing Bree.

“I get it,” Bree states to Duke. “You’re thinking, sussing me out. I respect that.” Bree didn’t want to be the type to be nosey but staring at the living room and the house itself. What did Calum do? Drew had a decent break in the producing and DJing world and bought a house up here. Does Calum do something similar? And if so, why wasn’t he more worried about having some stranger in his house?

Bree’s phone buzzes. Text messages from Drew and her dad. Old alerts from various group chats and email alerts that were all muted all she drove. Just as she reaches back for it, a snout presses into her hand. “Moose, you’re literally getting snuggles right now,” Bree laughs.

“Oh, he’s not going to like that.”

Bree looks up to Calum who’s grinning and then down to the snout. She gasps at the sight of Duke resting his head against her hand, his body curled up next to her. “Oh my god, oh my god. Is this real life?” she whispers, looking up to Calum.

“Yeah, this is real life.”

“I would literally die for you and I just met you,” Bree chuckles mostly to herself, gently petting the top of Duke’s head.

Calum tries not to think about how Duke really isn’t all that fond of new people. And for him to curl up next to Bree is an amazing feat. Does Duke sense something Calum can’t? Or maybe they’re both sensing the same thing, that Bree’s striking and funny. And above all, she’s safe. It’s almost like Calum’s known her forever, but maybe Calum just wants to feel that, so it makes everything he’s feeling and on the verge of doing make sense.

“You do realize I literally don’t care if you want to change the channel,” Calum returns, settling on the opposite end of the couch.

“This is literally your house! I don’t want to be disrespectful.”

Bree is a puddle of dogs and is sinking into the cushions of his couch. Calum risks a glance from the movie. He thinks it’s one in the Batman franchise but he can’t be sure. The curls have become evident, even though she’s tried to tame them into a high bun. Her cheeks are full, much like his.

“So what brings you into town? I think you mentioned a new job? You don’t have to get too deep into it if you don’t want to.”

“Yeah, I interned remotely at this magazine for a while. Wrote articles, did some shoots for them. It was mostly music based, looking at underground and indie artists. They had to lay some folks off. But I was already looking to go elsewhere. Got hired and getting paid more so now I’m moving into the city since it’s not a remote position. My friend Drew’s letting crash with her. I got hired like last week so I hardly had any time to find a place or anything.”

“Drew? Like Drew with the dreads who’s literally DJing at almost every club in this fucking state Drew?”

“You know her?” Bree asks.

“Yes! I met her in the studio a couple times. I didn’t even realize she was in the neighborhood.”

“Studio?” Bree figured Calum had to be a creative type and very successful at that. She just hadn’t suspected that thought to be true.

“I dabble,” Calum returns, shrugging his shoulders. Dabble sounds betters, doesn’t put too much pressure or anything.

“Looks like dabbling is working out well for you.”

“So, do you shoot shows for certain bands or just whoever?”

“Just whoever. In some ways I want to be on the cutting edge. A few bands from the old magazine I covered caught a wave. I don’t want to say I’m the reason why, but,” the sentence trails off into a fit of giggles.

“But you’re the reason why,” Calum concludes with a laugh. The two of them talk for hours. Bree telling Calum about the embarrassing trip to the gas station when she realized she had pulled in the wrong way to fill up her tank today and how when she was a kid she’d constantly mix up her left and her right. She still does if she’s honest, so she’s the worst person to ask for direction.

Calum doesn’t share a lot, the occasional story about when he and his friends lived a house together and going a little too hard on the whiskey in coffee and how once he split his pants during a jig. Though mostly Calum just let’s Bree talk. He finds that she can go a mile a minute but she’s good about pulling at certain strings. When she brings up knowing Drew since they were kids, and Calum mentions his friends, she asks about them. Just what it was like growing up with them and what about living with them that he misses.

“Honestly, I’d rather talk to you than be interviewed by any other talk show hot for a decade at least.” Calum states it only after realizing it’s nearing midnight. Michael’s come and gone to pick up Moose. Bree’s hot chocolate has turned cold.

“It’s because I hate interviewing people. I like having conversations,” Bree returns. Duke’s settled between them, facing Calum now but doesn’t shy away when Bree scratches along his back.

“I’m not much of a talker, normally.”

“If that’s your way of saying I’m talking too much, you can just say it. I’m used to it.”

Calum shakes his head. “No, no, not at all. It’s just, you’re easy to talk to, that’s all.” Bree curls up, feet tucked under herself as she faces Calum. HIs t-shirt seems to swallow her up but also she wears it like she owns it, the front tucked into the band of the sweatpants just a little. “Like really easy to talk to,” Calum whispers, trying not to imagine the sight of her beneath him. He hasn’t had something like this--a conversation that could last hours and the ease to almost spill his guts-- in years outside of the guys.

“I know I’ve probably said this like a thousand times, but really thank you. For helping me out. It means a lot.” Bree looks up from her lashes. She knows that look that Calum’s giving her. It’s the eyes from when he questioned dessert. She didn’t want to believe that he was into her, not like that at least.

“You--Really, it’s nothing.”

His gaze hasn’t faltered, as if he’s reading every thought behind her skull. It’s intense and god, it’s not the thing she needs. Keep it together, she reprimands herself. “I’m just, I’m going to dump this.” Bree stands, taking her mug into the kitchen.

“No, no let me,” Calum rushes, pushing to his feet. “You’re the guest.”

Bree wishes Calum had stayed on the couch. She needed to get away, just to breath and think clearly for two seconds. But Calum’s right behind her and his hand reaches out behind her to take the mug. At the sink, they face each other. Close enough that she can feel just how warm he is, smell the Old Spice body wash she saw under the sink on his skin.

“Really, I don’t mind. You’re already doing a lot today.”

Calum didn’t realize just how tall Bree was until now. She stands just about eye to eye with him, only off by a few inches. Four or five, if Calum had to venture a guess. And it would be so easy to kiss her. Just drop his chin a hair and capture her full pouty lips. “Helping someone in need isn’t a lot.”

Bree exhales her laughter. “It’s not a lot when you’re a good person, that’s for sure.” She tugs at the mug just a little, pulling into her body just a hair. There’s not much space between them at it stands. “Please,” she whispers. She doesn’t even know what she’s saying please for. Is it please let me wash the damn mug and walk away? Or is please just kiss me already so there’s no more dancing around this tension?

Calum moves the mug, both of them moving along with his instrumentation. The mug settles into the basin of the sink with a soft thud, the spoon clicking against the sides. “Please what?”

And the words are falling from her lips before she can stop herself. “Kiss me.”

Calum exhales just a hair and cups her jaw into his palm. Bree meets him though, closes the already centimeters between them. Their lips touch for a brief moment. It feels like the first sip of ice cold water on a hot water. It’s satisfying, makes you exhale in relief and it’s only in that moment as the first slides down your throat that you realize how thirsty you’ve been. Calum secures a hold to her waist, pushing her into the counter. Their lips meet again, and again, slightly harsh exhales as hands pull at t-shirts and tanks.

Calum trails a hand under the hem of the t-shirt, running his palm over her stomach and side. Bree shudders at the touch, head falling back on her neck. Calum seizes the opportunity to lay a trail of kisses across her throat. Her sighs are like literal music to his ears. He sucks at the skin to hear it again. And he’s greeted with something much better. Bree moans, arms locking around his neck. Her fingers dance along his shoulder and back and when her head finally reconnects, she reconnects her mouth to Calum’s.

The kitchen turns into a bedroom. All Bree focuses on is the feel of Calum against her, as shirts are shed and pants too. Calum swallows down every sound she gives him. He drinks in the sight of her, head thrown back into his pillows, and legs wrapped around his waist. Bree kisses along his biceps, teeth grazing over the tattoos on his skin. Their senses fill with each other, the sighs, the moans, the pleas, the encouragement and even the awkward shuffle and giggles. Calum never wants to hear his name for another set of lips ever. Not with the way it falls so easily from Bree’s mouth. Bree hums when she hears the grunted curses Calum exhales as his hips rock into hers.

With Calum’s arm draped over her naked waist, he presses a kiss to her cheek. Bree turns to face him, a grin at her lips. “I’m washing that damn mug. Just so you know.”

Calum laughs, shoulders shaking and he squeezes at her waist. “Why am I not surprised at that fact?”

“I don’t care if I have to sneak out of the bed at 5 in the morning. I’ll do it.”

And true to her word, Bree does wash the morning. It’s helped of course when Calum’s alarm goes off and in the shuffle of him rousing awake and trying to turn if off, Bree slips out from the sheets. She throws on his t-shirt again and bolts to the kitchen. The morning is nice though, though she has to steal clothes from the trunk of her car before they can transfer all the boxes into Calum’s SUV.

Calum closes the trunk down, wearing the t-shirt she borrowed and in jeans. Sunglasses cover his face while a trucker hat hides away the curls. “Tow truck said what time again?”

“10 am. So another,” Bree checks her phone, “10 minutes, hopefully. Thanks, again.”

“Really, don’t worry about it. And you can stop saying thanking me. I know it’s a thing you’re probably going to do like a thousand more times.”

Bree swats at his arm. “Look here, I’m trying to be polite. You can be a sour puss elsewhere.”

Calum cackles. “Sour puss? That’s a new one. Also, you sure you don’t want any breakfast? I know a place nearby. Great pancakes.”

“Not much of a breakfast person.”

He nods. “Noted. What about lunch?”

“Yeah, I’m definitely a lunch person.”

“Good, because they have good sandwiches and fries too.”

“Was-Did you just ask me on a lunch date?”

The rumble of a truck cuts through the open air. Both of them turn to see the tow truck coming down the block. Once Bree gets the finalized details about which car shop they’re taking her car and giving said car shop the okay to call her once it’s ready, Bree turns to Calum. “You never answered my question and if it is a date, I’m paying.” Calum insisted on helping her out by paying for the tow.

Calum’s smile is bright. “I’m not a cheap date.”

“I’m sure you’re not.”

“Is Drew home? Do you have a key? We can drop your stuff off, eat, and then check up on your car?”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

“I know you said you’re bad with directions, but I need you to navigate.” It’s not hard or long before they reach Drew’s place. Not quite long enough for a full song to finish. Drew’s out on the porch when the two of them roll up.

She laughs, leaning onto the railing. “Bree when you told me you got stranded I thought you landed on the side of the road. Fancy meeting you again, Calum.”

“Hi, Drew. Turns out we’re neighbors.”

Drew arches her eyebrow, looking at back at Bree. Bree holds up her hands. “I’ll explain everything later. Over dinner.” Calum tries to bite back his grin, but glances over to Bree. The question dances across his eyebrows, everything everything? Bree rolls her eyes, going to the trunk.

____________________

When a knock sounds at Calum’s door, he almost doesn’t answer it. That laziness is helped by the fact that he was almost on the verge of sleep. But another knock immediately follows it. “Coming!” he calls out. He checks his phone first, but sees no text from Bree.

As the door cracks open, Calum’s greeted with a bright smile. Bree stands at his door. No rain this time, no mascara running down her face. Just her full cheeks and pouty lips and bright smile. “You said you’d text me.”

“I made cookies,” she returns, holding up the carrying tray. “As a thank you.”

Calum laughs, opening the door wider to let her in. Bree walks in and immediately spots Duke on the couch. “My precious boy!” she coos.

Calum takes the tray knowing that she’ll get distracted soon enough. It’s been a little over three weeks since Bree showed up at his doorstep. Most days they call, or text. Occasionally, Calum drags her out of the house to grab dinner with him or a couple drinks. There’s some unspoken rule, an energy between them. They keep it casual. But even still conversations on the phone can go until 2 in the morning. Calum just listening to the sound of her voice. He asks nearly any question under the sun just to keep her talking.

Bree asks more about the band, never crossing a line. Mostly to see how the other guys are doing, especially their dogs. Calum tells her a bit more about the music he’s making but work is mostly kept separate. Bree doesn’t want Calum to think she’s using him. Calum asks about projects but never makes her divulge more than she’s comfortable with.

Calum cracks open the tray and sees a mass of chocolate chip cookies displayed in front of him. He picks one off the top and the center practically melts in his mouth. He hums at the taste but knows there’s no way he can have that many cookies in his house. “This is too many cookies,” he calls out over the bite.

“That’s why it’s called sharing!” Bree returns, kissing the top of Duke’s head. She wonders into the kitchen, taking a cookie as well. “Did I interrupt a nap? I’m sorry.” His eyes are puffy and he keeps blinking.

“Was trying,” he admits, lower back resting into the edge of the counter.

“I’m sorry! I’ll go. Oh my god, really. I didn’t mean to intrude.” Bree is quick to push away from the counter and almost gets to the front door. Calum’s quick though and wraps her waist up in her arms.

“Nap with me?”

“I’m not sleepy. I just wanted to stuff my face with cookies and cuddle Duke.”

“You can do that, just stay with me please.” He buries his nose into her neck, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. He covers her neck in kisses between pleas. Bree giggles at the light scratch of Calum’s scruff. He’s started letting the bread grow out, even though it’s a slightly pitiful excuse of a beard.

“Fine, fine, fine. I’ll stay.”

With her head resting on his chest, she listens to the steady rhythm of his heart. His hold is warm, but not uncomfortable. Duke’s at their feet and Bree thinks maybe she could take a nap. It wouldn’t hurt at all. Especially not if it was a nap on Calum’s chest. It was crazy to her, to think that fate had stranded on the side of a street but also introduced her to a great friend. And maybe there was more. Maybe there’s more for them down the road. But for now, they had an understanding.

“Did you think when you showed up at my door like a drowned rat this is what would happened?” Calum’s voice is soft and a little mumbly.

“No, I was bracing for you to be a serial killer. And instead you’re a serial cuddler, so I’ll that that any day of the week, hands down.”

They laugh, chest shaking against each other. “I’m a lover, not a fighter.”

“It’s much appreciated,” Bree says in a whisper. She lifts her head just a little. His eyes are close, lashes practically brushing long his cheek. She lightly traces the moles around his mouth and cheek.

“That’s not napping, Missy.” Her response is a soft kiss and Bree rests her head against on his chest, arms squeezing at his waist. The moment is still and feels like it could never be broken.

______________ Tagging @5-secondsofcolor for your morning reads.

#calum hood #calum hood fanfic #calum hood fic #calum hood one-shot #calum hood blurb #calum hood imagine #calum hood x black OC #5sos #5sos fanfic #5sos fic #5sos imagine #5sos blurb #5 seconds of summer #5 seconds of summer blurb #h writes

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toonstarterz · 5 years

Text

BECAUSE I’M NOT POPULAR, I’LL READ WATAMOTE: CHAPTER #164

Hey, not dropping the ball actually worked!

We’re just a hair’s length away from summer vacation, but unlike last year when Tomoko approached summer with not much consideration, she’s now taking a proactive role in deciding how to spend her last summer in high school. At first glance, Tomoko appears to have become a responsible, young lady. But as we soon will see, that can-do attitude may not be as refined as it looks on the surface.

Chapter 164: Because I’m Not Popular, I’ll Do My Best Starting From Summer Break

There’s that time period during the day when most students have already left but school hasn't quite closed up. It’s pretty creepy, even more so before summer break when you’re expected not to stick around.

Have I mentioned Itou is a cute? ‘Cause she is.

It’s usually her looking after Komiyama, so it’s really sweet to see the dynamic flipped around like this. Despite, well, everything, Komiyama is a good friend.

Assuming that cheering for the baseball teams is optional, it’s endearing to see Itou go through with it. Even though baseball isn’t her thing, she’s likely doing it to support her bestie, which I can 110% get behind.

Ah, right. Dude’s in the manga club. That said, I wonder if their plans are for just being attendees, or if they’ll actually be manning a booth and selling their work. With his skills and, er, preferences, I think Hatsushiba could do the latter.

Don’t be so modest, Tomoko. There’s no slouching either when you’re a three-year veteran of the Going-Home Club.

Studying during summer break? Outrageous!!

It’s intriguing to see just how Tomoko’s study habits have evolved throughout the series. The early days would see her spend summer goofing off on her hobbies, with bare minimum concern for academics. But now, Tomoko is actually considering studying on her own accord. Sure, it’s more-or-less a fallback when she has nothing else planned, but the thought itself is still worth mentioning.

Is that one of those mini-fans that you can carry around in your bag? I love those things.

Study camp, huh? Any other day, Tomoko would be apathetic to the idea, leaning more on the side of brushing it off. But having Katou bring it up makes all the difference, ‘cause let’s be real. Katou could ask her to sign up for a hostess bar at the Red Light District and Tomoko would still seriously consider it.

Miss you, Yuu-chan.

I second that, Komi. Fourteen hours of studying a day is brutal, even if that’s to be expected in what is essentially a boot camp. I’ve always questioned the efficiency of cram schools and the like, mostly because they seem to prepare more for short-term memorization than long-term understanding. But even it actually works in principle...

...I’m not sure Tomoko will be able to handle it.

Perhaps it’s just me, but it feels like Tomoko is overestimating her discipline for studying. She already struggled with Katou’s flashcards and study sessions that a whole training camp feels like it would have a more detrimental effect on Tomoko than a positive one. “Work hard, play hard” was never meant to be that extreme, Tomoko.

That’s...genuinely uplighting. Tomoko has missed out on several of the key “memorable” high school moments, and she usually lets it go with only mild regrets. But here, Tomoko’s actively trying to gain what she once lost. Sure, she’s trying to “game the social system” a little, but what did you expect? She’s a person, not a saint.

This was Yuu’s only line in this entire chapter. My girl deserves more than this.

Will the 2% of Tomoko’s personality that is tsundere ever realize that if you really “didn’t care either way”, then you wouldn’t have asked the question to begin with? Doubt it.

That romaji tho.

It comes to the surprise of absolutely no one that Komiyama has some pretty...vivid fantasies about Tomoki. But what stands out to me is how deep into the relationship her thoughts go. Most people fantasize about their crush first in their sexual attractiveness, but only a few ever dream beyond that. Ironically, you know your crushing has gone off the deep end if you start thinking about them in domestic, SFW ways. Least Komi’s committed, yeah?

Gee, I wonder what’s that “and stuff” Tomoko’s talking about?masturbating

Nothing like a fresh bowl of Grossi-Os and Gross Juice to start the day!

If what Yuri says is true, then that would mean that she and Ucchi have probably walked to school together several times before–more than the couple of times we’ve seen, at least. And even so, it doesn’t look like they haven’t gotten much closer as friends, if at all. Some people just don’t click, I suppose.

Not sure how blind Ucchi is because anybody with a pair of eyes (beady or not) would see that Yuri has friends, even if you only count Mako. Poor girl just can’t accept the truth even when it's right in front of her face.

Ah, Yuri. Why can’t you just drop the “savior” act and just admit you want to spend time with her?

I’m inclined to agree about Yoshida, but who knows? She’s surprised us before. Mako's a safe bet, though. Especially if the former’s going. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Boy, does that take me back. It still blows my mind that all of Ucchi’s problems originated from one night of misunderstandings. The art nerd in me really appreciates the subtle improvement in Niko’s art style. The character models feel “weightier” and more consistent without compromising the stylization.

You don’t see it in the previous panel, but Ucchi was totally blushing at the prospect of reliving her trauma/dream. Perhaps she was also looking to live out that ping pong match she never got.

I’m not sure if there was some kind of wordplay in the original text. Either way, it kind of sucks for Yuu-chan that she got such a “flattering” nickname when she wasn’t involved in that scenario whatsoever. Though it sure is a tad classier than Miss Akari “Dick Sister Jr.’ Iguchi.

It’s kind of (read: absolutely) frightening how Katou’s envy towards Yuu feels a lot more intense than Yuri’s. Perhaps it’s because Yuri’s so transparent that you know how to deal with her. But with Katou, that air of secrecy feels like a nuclear bomb about to go off.

I always wondered where girls picked up that thing where they intertwine their fingers as a sign of affection. It’s precious.

Praise modern technology for convenient storytelling.

Wow, Fuuka’s already made her mark on Tomoko’s “bitch” list. Though exactly why she’s on that list now is kind of odd. I mean, yeah, she asked Tomoko about the whole fondling thing, and she unintentionally presented herself as a pervert for the whole “hair” thing, but Fuuka hasn’t really done anything all that terrible. If anything, Tomoko is probably expressing a rare bit of jealousy towards someone else supposedly perving on Katou besides her.

The most striking part about Fuuka’s inevitably failed plan is that she describes Tomoko’s appearance as “sudden”. It was touched on before, but it further emphasizes that Tomoko’s friendship with Katou was just as unexpectedly quick in-universe as it was for the readers. And in doing so, it brings us one step closer to the real mystery over why Katou is so enamored with Tomoko in the first place.

Ya’ll know Sayaka’s got her homegirl’s back on this one. Let’s see (hopefully) how Akari screws it up.

Chapter 58, mothereffers!

I don’t know whether I’d say Nico Tanigawa has been playing the long game, or if they just found a convenient throwaway to capitalize on. But the acknowledgment itself is very much appreciated. Tomoko may have forgotten, naturally, but us overzealous fans certainly never did!

The chills, man. Chill’s right up the spine.

It’s certainly true that Tomoko’s words can be interpreted in a good or bad way, so it’s pretty telling that Katou’s gut reaction went for the latter. It suggests that Katou may actually have some insecurities that can easily set her off. Then again, a defining part of Katou’s personality is that she takes everything Tomoko says at completely face value, so maybe she’s starting to see Tomoko’s negativity even if it’s not there. Just more of the enigma that is Asuka Katou.

Not a bad save, Tomoko. Countless battles with shame have made her quick on the fly. Unfortunately, while she’s improved at starting a save...

...she still doesn’t know how to end it.

It would’ve been a clean getaway if Tomoko had just ended about half-way in the above panel. But because Tomoko’s anxiety causes her to try and cover all the bases, she ends up rambling suspiciously. The part about Nemo isn’t even that relevant, but in her burst of defensiveness, Tomoko ends up saying things that could just exacerbate the problem even further.

Fucking shit, Katou is damn scary.

The one fortunate thing about Tomoko’s defensive rambles is that once she starts to cool down, her honesty starts coming out more organically. Self-deprecation becomes self-reflection, and brings to the forefront Tomoko’s endearing side.

Only Tomoko could spout such a cliché moe line and sound so pure of heart. Must be the irony.

Aha. Ahaha. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

–that totally didn’t happen.

Tomoko, girl, you’re in the CLEAR! Stop trying to fan flames that have already been put out.

But on that note, it does affirm that while Tomoko is honest with Katou about certain things (perversion, laziness), she isn’t quite ready to be honest on anything that would paint Katou in a bad light. I’d say tha’st about 85% due to fear.

Death Flags raised all around.

I had a feeling that Nemo would take the plunge this time and invite Tomoko out somewhere during the summer. It seems like such an insignificant gesture, but considering that this is the very first time a classmate has asked to hang out with her during the summer, it warms my heart.

Hey now, Tomoko. Don’t get cocky when you’re maximizing your own goof-off time by taking a study camp.

The easy guess is that Nemo wants to go to Comiket. But really, it could be anything that Tomoko would have an interest in. And because it’s implied that Nemo is going for research purposes, it could be anything from a seiyuu panel (the last one went so well) to a hot spring to a hentai game company. Hope they bring Okada along...

Mama senses her daughter’s giving in to peer pressure.

Not gonna lie. This hand gesturing from Rena made me think that she was thinking about doing...something else.

Damn mind-in-the-gutter.

Even though Anna doesn’t appear to be the studious type, it’s pretty cool to see that she can respect people who are. Also, I dig the way she wears her tie (or is that a ribbon?).

Emoji II really has become an honorary delinquent and it fits her perfectly.

I guess no matter how much more grounded Tomoko becomes, she still thinks reading manga is legitimate practice for playing in real-life (though tabletop games may actually allow for some truth).

Sub!Tomoko confirmed.

What a way to end a chapter. For the longest, Katou had always viewed Tomoko through a pair of rose-tinted glasses, always seeing the girl’s faults as endearing “quirks”. But as her soul-piercing gaze seems to indicate, Katou has reached a revelation about Tomoko that she can actually disapprove of. Whether or not it’ll shatter her illusion of Tomoko is still unclear, but how she treats Tomoko from here on out may finally give us a deeper look into Katou’s psyche.

160+ chapters we’ve followed Tomoko, and we’re still learning new things about her. The very extent of Tomoko’s agency has always been a tad murky. She’s good at (poorly) executing short-term ideas, but hardly does she plan out and follow up on her long-term goals. Even her greatest milestone of making friends involved a lot of pushing from outsiders (Ogino, the most obvious case). That said, having to take charge of herself for once is inescapable with college on the horizon. How she goes about it amongst her various mom-friends may end up being Tomoko’s biggest personal challenge yet.

#watamote #watamote review #chapter 164 #no matter how i look at it it's you guys' fault i'm not popular!#tomoko kuroki #kotomi komiyama #hikari itou #hatsushiba #asuka katou #yuu naruse #yuri tamura #emiri uchi #sasaki fuuka #hina nemoto #rena #anna haruna #review

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dearlazerbunny · 6 years

Text

Happy Halloween

Pairings: Kylo x Reader

Genre/Ratings: Vampire!Kylo AU

Words: 2200

Summary: Happy Halloween, here’s a vampire fic requested by anon! Anon, I hope I did it justice, but if not let me know what you’d like added and I will do my best : )

“You know, that’s not what vampires look like.”

“Hold on.” You hold a finger up to the friend you’re talking to and glance behind you, where an incredibly tall, incredibly cute guy is staring at you with such an intensity you’re almost uncomfortable. “Were you talking to me?”

“Yes.” You can barely see the speaker in the dim lighting, as he’s wearing all black and has a head of dark curly hair that’s just begging you to run your fingers through it. No costume that you can identify, even though the party invitation specifically said costumes required. Might be a bit of an ass, then. Shame, really. He really is cute. “That’s not what vampires look like.”

You glance down at your costume, consisting of a historically-cut white shirt and dark velvet cape fluttering behind you in the night air. You paled your makeup a bit, smudged your eyes to high heaven, and topped it off with a perfect blood red lip, complete with a few dribbles down the corners of your mouth. “I suppose I did take a few liberties with it,” you say, gesturing to your tight black leather leggings and laced up high heels. “But I was going for the sexy factor.” You pause, wondering if you’re going to go too far with this next comment. “Why, do you think it worked?”

A small grin slides its way up the side of his lips. “Perhaps.”

“Then my work here is done.” With a flourish of your cape, you give a small bow. “Besides, who knows what a vampire actually looks like? They could dress like Japanese Lolitas for all we know.”

He raises a fantastically sculpted eyebrow. “Bloodsucking monsters in pastel and lace?”

You shrug good-naturedly. “Sure, why not? Fight the system. And who are you to call them monsters?”

“You don’t agree?”

“They’re just misunderstood, the poor bastards. Not their fault the lot they got in life.”

“Interesting.” The grin has returned, this time in full force. “I don’t believe I got your name….?”

“Y/N.” You hold out a hand for him to shake and he does so. When you pull your hand back you rub it casually against the velvet of your cape, trying to dispel the cold his skin leaves behind. “And you are..?”

“Kylo.” He inclines his head in an incredibly old fashioned way, which is amusing enough to put a smile on your face and forgive him for the rudeness. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.” He wanders off through the crowd of revelers, seemingly cutting through the throng with ease.

“Well he was hot.” Your friend whistles impressively once the stranger- Kylo- has gotten far enough away. “And a bit odd.” There’s something about him- you can’t quite put your finger on it. But you’re definitely intrigued.

And hey, any guy who recognizes the mastery with which you wear this leather deserves another look in your book.

You wander over to the snacks, where a bubbling bowl of punch emits a dry ice haze and Halloween-themed treats are aid out for your perusal. You pick up a witch-finger pretzel stick and munch on it thoughtfully while you wait for the host to finish up his conversation. Once he turns back to stirring the punch, you casually make your way over and try to make your voice as blasé as possible. “Yo, Armitage. Got a question for you.”

He turns to you, his red hair glinting in what little moonlight is shining through the windows. “Shoot.”

“What’s the deal with Kylo?”

He raises an eyebrow. “Kylo? Did he actually talk to someone long enough to tell them his name?”

“Bit of an enigma, then?”

He snorts. “More like a brooding asshole. He’s a good guy, but he can come off a bit…”

“Rude?” You grin. “He seemed very offended by my costume, for some reason.”

“Ah.” Armitage appraises your outfit. “Well, he would be, now, wouldn’t he?”

“Not following you.”

“He’s a vampire.”

Your eyes widen. “You’re fucking with me.”

“Swear to god.”

Vampires are incredibly rare, and not much is known about them other than they exist and what you can glean from the old stories about Dracula and whatnot. You’re immediately intrigued- all you’ve ever heard of them is in a friend of a friend of a friend’s story, and even those are few and far between. “So he’s pissed because I’m basically appropriating his culture.”

Armitage laughs. “Something like that. But I’m surprised he even talked to you. Usually he just shows up, broods in the corner, and leaves.”

“Does that mean I should be worried?”

You meant it as a joke, but he tilts his head, like he’s actually considering. “I doubt it. You’re not really his type.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

He shrugs. “Take it as you will.”

“Well you’re no help.”

“Hey man, you want to tango with a vampire, be my guest.”

You roll your eyes. “No one is doing anything, I was just curious.”

“Well, now you know.” He raises his glass in a mini toast. “Happy Halloween, meet a vampire.”

You laugh as he wanders away. Happy Halloween indeed.

…

The walk home is short, but the booze from the party and the chill in the air makes you stumble along the sidewalk on the way. Shivering, you quicken your pace, only to lose your balance and tumble onto the concrete below. “Mother-!” You sit up and try to brush yourself off, only to find your palms scraped and bloodied. “Fantastic.” Using the brick wall beside you to help yourself up, you try to continue home, only to trip and fall again, your ankle giving out beneath you.

“Well, fuck.” You dig through your purse, trying to find your phone so you can call your roommate to come rescue you, when a figure appears before you, casting a shadow over the sidewalk. “Need some help?”

You look up from unlacing your heels. “Kylo! Fancy meeting you here.”

“Indeed.” He tilts his head slightly. “Are you hurt?”

“I think I twisted my ankle,” you admit soberly, rubbing it with your fingers. “Damn heels. Knew I shouldn’t have worn them.”

“Ah, but they completed the outfit.”

“I thought you didn’t like my outfit.”

“Perhaps I liked it for other reasons.”

You quirk an eyebrow. “Are you… are you flirting with me? Usually I’m good at knowing but the whole stone-cold demeanor thing is throwing me off.”

He grins. “I just thought a little friendly banter might cull the awkwardness of me offering to carry you home.”

“You-” you laugh. “You aren’t serious.”

“Well, I’d offer to walk you home, but you can’t seem to walk…”

You sigh. “Okay. Fair.” You hold out your arms like a little kid, throwing caution to the wind. “Just don’t drop me.”

“Up we go.” To your surprise- or maybe not considering how tall he is- he lifts you easily, clearly strong enough to handle you. You’d be lying if you said that wasn’t a turn on. Better to think about that than the fact that you’re now cradled in an almost stranger’s arms being princess-carried to your apartment. Who is also apparently a vampire. You glance surreptitiously at your bloody palms. “Thinking about something?”

His voice interrupts your thoughts. “Oh, nothing. Just party gossip.” The street lamps pass by in a haze as he continues along the street, his footsteps echoing off the buildings.

“I see. And what might that be?”

“Um-” do you give up your wild card, or keep it close to your chest? “Just that Armitage should really throw another one next year. It was great.”

“Hm.” He doesn’t seem convinced, but the two of you continue along in silence for a while.

“It’s just up here.” You point to a brick building a little ways off the street and he heads for it while you dig your keys out of your purse. “Just… set me down here, I guess…” you lean against the doorframe while jiggling the key into the lock, eventually getting it to pop.

The two of you stand there in the doorway for a few seconds, unsure of what comes next. “Do you… want to come in?”

“I’d feel better knowing that you were taken care of.”

“You hardly know me.”

“Well enough to not want to see you in pain.”

Hm. The booze isn’t exactly keeping your head on straight. You’re not usually the one to let a semi-strange guy into your apartment willy-nillly, but on the other hand, you can hardly walk, so…

“Come on in. Just don’t… be weird or anything.”

He chuckles amusedly as you hobble into the living room and plant yourself on the couch, wincing in pain. “Be weird? How so?”

“I’ve got bloody palms, don’t go all vampire-y on my ass.”

He freezes in the kitchen, and you clap a hand over your mouth. Oh god. You said that out loud, didn’t you?

“Who told you?”

“Would you believe me if I said I guessed?”

“No.”

You sigh. “Armitage. Now promise me you won’t go murder him in the middle of the night.”

He sighs, and his nostrils flare. “Of course. Never should have told him.”

“Hey man, it’s okay. I mean, it’s cool. I’m like, an equal opportunity employer. No judgement here.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Really. You’re not freaked out.”

“I mean, kinda? A little?” You’re babbling, form the pain or the alcohol you don’t know. “But my first impression was that you were really hot, and the first impression is the one that tends to stick, so…”

“Hm.” He glides over and settles himself on the coffee table, looking at you intently. “I might’ve had similar thoughts.”

“Ha. I knew those pants were magic.”

“Magic doesn’t exist.”

“You expect me to believe vampires exist but magic doesn’t?”

He shrugs. “I don’t write the laws of nature.”

You let your head sink back onto the pillows behind you and close your eyes. “So, what do the laws of nature say about… say, hookups?”

Your eyes don’t have to be open to know he’s staring at you with that mesmerizing gaze. “Be a little more specific.”

“Say, if a human wanted to make out with a a vampire, that doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll wake up the next morning devoid of her blood.”

“Want to find out?”

Your eyes pop open. “Desperately.”

In one fluid movement, he’s on top of you, straddling your hips like he was made to do it. “I was hoping you might say that.”

Immediately, you reach up to pull his lips down to yours, and when they connect a whimper escapes your throat. It’s so good. So, so good. He alternates between gentle pecks and long, deep kisses that leave you breathless and seeing stars. Running your tongue along his bottom lip, you slide it into his mouth, which he effortlessly replies to. Suddenly, a sharp nick makes you withdrawal, putting a hand up to your mouth. “I- hold on, something-” you pull your fingers away to find a bit of blood dotting the tip of it. You must have cut your lip on… something?

“I think I cut my lip,” you say a bit obviously, and you can visibly see his pupils dilate when he sees the bright red blood on your fingertips.

“That was probably me.” He grins, and in vivid detail you can suddenly see what looks to be extremely sharp fangs. “Sorry. Hazards of… well. Me.”

“That’s- that’s okay.” You’re a bit stunned. It’s not like you didn’t believe the whole vampire bit, but seeing it was another thing.

He tilts his head. “Scared?”

You lift your chin defiantly. “No.”

“Good.” He attacks your lips again, this time with both hands on the side of your face. A moan rumbles from his throat and he pulls away to murmur “holy fuck you taste good.”

Humming, you push your bottom lip into his mouth so he can suck on the place where it’s cut. That sends him into a tailspin, and he immediately starts grabbing at the hem of your shirt, clearly wanting it off. You comply, and his soon follows, both getting tangled up together as they hit the floor.

…

So, you don’t know if going for literally hours is a Kylo thing or a vampire thing or both but… yeah. Wow. You’re both tangled up on the couch, limbs everywhere, his head resting in the crook of your neck. Occasionally he puts small kisses on the tender skin, making you shiver. He mumbles something into your neck and you can’t quite make it out.

“Say again?”

“You smell so fucking good.” “Really?” You tilt your head upwards so he can burrow deeper into you and he does so the instant you move, one arm wrapped possessively around your waist.

“Yes.” He inhales, seemingly in heaven, and that really shouldn’t be as hot as it is.

“So, I’ve never been into the whole vampire thing… but I think you’re making me change my mind.”

You can feel his smile against your skin, with just a glint of steel from his incisors rubbing up against your neck. “Happy to be of service. It is that time of year, after all.”

You laugh, running a hand though his curly hair and pressing his kiss a little deeper into your skin. “Happy fucking Halloween to me.”

#star wars #Star Wars fanfic #star wars request #requests #kylo ren #kylo ren x reader #kylo ren x you #vampire au #halloween

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50-points-for-ravenclaw · 6 years

Note

Sheith playing monsters and mana with the gang

Disclaimer: Idk like anything about DnD so most of this is wikipedia and guessing with a little creative license thrown in

“So I just make stuff up and you guys react to it?”

“Sort of. We all play off each other, and Coran controls the rules and our level of skill for each activity,” Pidge explains.

They’re seated in a wide circle on pillows and beanbag chairs that they’d dragged to the roof of the Garrison, all wrapped tightly in blankets and comfy pajamas. Allura and Coran seem to have fully adopted the tradition of brightly colored fuzzy socks from the Holts, and Krolia has thrown on a pair of Garrison issued sweatpants only reaching mid-shin borrowed from Keith’s collection. The night is luckily not cold enough to drive them away, but the slight chill in the air calls for the comfort of thick cotton and the small fire they created in a makeshift fire pit in the middle of their circle.

Keith remembers the last time he’d been on this roof, back when he wasn’t allowed, when he was still just a student at the Garrison, when Shiro’s loss was still fresh. He liked to come up here to stare up at the stars and remind himself why he was there. Sharing it now with his extensive family felt better than anything he ever could have imagined.

Keith glances at Krolia, who looks equally as confused as he, as Coran finishes explaining the rules and then Shiro, who gives him a small encouraging smile.

“It’s actually pretty fun,” Shiro says shrugging. Keith thinks he believes him, especially when Shiro looks at him like that.

“Yeah, but remember you’ve been banned from being a paladin,” Lance says with a hostile squint. Shiro’s resulting pout is so adorable that Keith forgets to ask why the ban had been placed.

“Oh, I’m so excited!” Romelle says with a clap of her hands. The mice sway dangerously on her shoulders with the movement though they seem content to stay where they are. “I haven’t played Monsters and Mana since I was young. It was one of my favorite games growing up.”

Hunk gives her a shoulder nudge along with a grin, which she returns.

“Okay it’s time to choose your character class everyone. Due to the number of players and to keep it easier for the newcomers, everyone will keep their actual names for their characters. Now remember to be as creative as possible here! Think outside the prism, as you humans say,” Coran says with a quick twist of his mustache.

Keith thinks to correct him but decides to stay silent on that one, noticing the rest of the humans present do the same. He and Shiro make eye contact and stifle chuckles behind their hands.

“Alright, Number 1! You go first.”

“Okay,” Shiro says. He rubs at his chin like he’s thinking really hard on the topic. Keith enjoys the small flutter in his chest at the action. His fondness for Shiro’s idiosyncrasies seems to grow everyday. “I’m going to be a Monk who is the last surviving member of his monastery. Ever since the day my people were slain, I’ve vowed to protect others from the evils of the world, and my goal is to one day close the portal that leads to the Dark Ruins of Hades and prevent anything like what happened to him from happening again.”

“What is Hades?” Shay asks, raising her hand into the air a little.

“It’s an old Earth version of Hell,” Hunk explains.

“Oh, I see.” She pauses long enough for Coran to take a breath and then says, “What is Hell?”

“Um, let’s just call it the Dark Ruins of Evil,” Shiro says quickly.

“Your character is basically the same as always,” Lance said.

“He’s technically not a paladin,” Pidge says. though she sounds resigned.

“Number 5! You’re next,” Coran says.

“I’m a rogue,” she says immediately. “I used to be an inventor until one day I was cheated of all my blueprints by a rich lord who sold them as his own. Now I spend my time screwing over the rich by stealing their most precious items and hoarding them simply just to annoy them and make their lives difficult. I sell stuff when I need money. I hope to eventually run all the rich freeloaders out of my village.”

Everyone absorbs that in quiet for a moment. “Geez, Pidge. You sound like you have a real grudge,” Keith mutters.

“She’s been watching a lot of documentaries to catch up on recent events on Earth, and her latest one was about the detrimental gaps in income between the economic classes,” Matt explains.

“It’s totally ridiculous! Haven’t they learned their lessons from back during the two-party era? Trickle down never works! People are suffering because our political leaders can’t get their heads out of their asses,” Pidge fumes.

“I don’t know what most of that means, but moving on,” Coran says. Shiro gives Pidge’s shoulder a comforting pat. “Krolia, it’s your turn.”

“I think I will pass on this round,” she says. “I would like to observe first to better understand how the game is played.”

“Suit yourself,” Coran chirps. “Onward then. Lance!”

Lance smirks. “I’m an assassin.”

“You were an assassin last time,” Pidge complains.

“No, I was an assassin thief last time,” Lance corrects. Hunk snorts. “This time I’m a killer for hire, one of the best, if not the best in the business, going by the code name Dark Shadow.” He accentuates his words with broad gestures, and Krolia has to duck more than once to avoid being smacked in the face. “I’m known for getting the job done quickly without any witnesses. Nobody has ever seen me and made it out alive. Except for my latest job. I was sent into a trap by my last employer and barely made it out. The one I was supposed to kill saw my face, so now I’m trying to hunt them down and get rid of them before they can reveal anything about my identity to the world. But they are highly trained and difficult to catch.”

He spreads his hands and wiggles his fingers, slowly gazing around the circle. Keith lifts a brow at the action and takes note of Allura’s quiet giggle from his left.

“That’s actually pretty cool, dude,” Hunk says approvingly and offers a fist bump across Romelle’s lap that Lance gladly accepts.

“Alright, Romelle,” Coran says. “You’re up.”

“Oh, yay!” Keith can’t really figure out just exactly how her eyes seem to actually sparkle. Then suddenly they turn dangerous. “I am a barbarian known in my village as one with unparalleled strength. I’m the protector of my people, chosen through a long, strenuous set of trials. Any who have challenged me have been swiftly defeated. I specialize in brute force fighting and can use my strength to create trenches and break stone. I’ve been known to take out whole armies with just a few blows. Most run away scared as they know the stories of my power.”

“So, you’re just like really strong?” Pidge says.

“Well, yes.”

“Are you an orc or something?”

“I suppose I could be.”

“Do you have an objective?”

“Oh,” Romelle says frowning. “Well…I am…looking for love. Most fear me and it makes finding love quite difficult. I wish to find someone who will not be afraid, who respects my power and loves me for it without wanting to change me.”

“Awww,” Hunk coos. “She’s just lonely. Being the top of the food chain can be really tough.”

“Yes, it can,” Romelle says solemnly, slowly nodding.

“Number 2!” Coran exclaims. “It’s your turn.”

“Oh, okay. Let’s see… I’ll be a ranger,” Hunk says.

“What’s up!” Lance says with a grin.

“I’m the apprentice of a master archer, but my master mysteriously disappeared before my teachings could be finished. Now I rely on the research he left behind to teach myself while I search for him in hopes of finding out what happened. Most signs seem to point to an evil force, but I don’t have a lot to go on. I’ve mostly been traveling around to try and find clues and learn all I can from other rangers and fighters to better my skills with archery and in knife handling.”

“Oh, that’s quite interesting, Hunk,” Allura says. “I’m curious to know what happened to your master.”

“Way to step away from your branches, Number 2!” Coran says.

Keith sighs but once again refrains from saying anything. He can hear Shiro snickering again, feels the soft shaking of his shoulders from where he’s pressed against Keith’s right arm.

“You’re up, Shay!”

“I…” She hums quietly for a long moment. “I am a cook at the King’s palace! I work there to keep my family fed, but one day there is a fire at the castle and I am separated from them during the panic. Unsure where to go, I travel in hopes of finding where they’ve gone. Along the way I learn new recipes and make lots of friends with my meals!”

“Well, usually you want to choose one of the traditional classes,” Coran says uncertainly.

“I don’t know. That one sounded pretty good to me,” Hunk says. Shay beams at him.

“You could choose one of the magic-based classes, something a little less based in fighting ability,” Pidge suggests. “Maybe a cleric with healing abilities or a druid with nature magic.”

“A cleric! I can heal people with my special recipes,” Shay says with a satisfied smile.

Hunk gives her a thumbs up of approval.

“Well, that will be quite useful,” Allura compliments. Keith is inclined to agree. A healer seems a good idea for any group quest.

“And onto Matt,” Coran says.

“I’ll be a warlock,” Matt says. “I made a pact with a reaper demon to gain power, but only so I can get revenge against the sorcerer who killed my parents. The power has twisted me so sometimes I am consumed by dark urges though I fight against them. My powers are of the undead and necromancy.”

“That’s pretty dark,” Pidge says approvingly.

“If you can bring the dead back to life, why not just revive your parents?” Krolia asks.

Matt sputters a moment. “It’s different,” he argues. “I can awaken the dead but not permanently. And the souls tend to be warped and darker than they were when they were alive. I would never put my parents through that!”

“If they are twisted and only half-there, then I would imagine they don’t feel much of anything,” Krolia says.

Matt narrows his eyes. “It makes sense,” is all he says.

“Alright, moving on,” Coran interrupts. “Let’s see, my turn. I will be the trusty in-keeper again, here to advise and guide you as you embark on your quest.”

“You’re not going to be evil again are you?” Lance asks, pointing a finger across the circle.

Keith grunts in surprise. He hadn’t heard about that part. He can see Shiro frown from his peripheral and almost laughs at his genuine displeasure.

“Yeah, that was totally uncalled for,” Hunk jumps in.

“It is all part of the game,” Allura tries, though she doesn’t sound like she agrees much with her own words.

“That was pretty harsh for our first time playing, though,” Pidge says.

“At least you guys didn’t die multiple times,” Shiro mumbles.

Keith actually has to hold back a snort at that and runs a soothing thumb over Shiro’s knuckles where his hand is pressed to the floor behind them. Shiro interlocks their pinky fingers before he can pull away.

“You will just have to wait and see,” Coran says cryptically and the paladins all groan. “Allura, I believe it’s your turn.”

“I will be an assassin of Fae descent. I am Dark Shadow’s nemesis.” Lance gasps, face lighting up. “We’ve been hunting each other ever since he first attempted to kill me and failed. I was also sent into a trap, set to kill him, but he got to me first. There is a larger conspiracy going on which I will soon discover, one led by dark magic. I have only just discovered some of the true nature of the situation and now wish to team up with Dark Shadow though I must figure out a way to do so without him killing me first.” Lance looks on the verge of tears now, and Keith wonders how they have yet to simply confess to one another yet. “Oh and I go by the code name Blue Dragon.”

“Yeeeeesssss,” Lance whispers.

“Nice, Princess,” Coran says. “And lastly it is your turn, Number 4…oh well I guess you’re Number 3 now aren’t you. You’ve grown a bit.”

“Wait, what?!” Lance exclaims. “No, I’m number 3! The numbers have already been decided. It doesn’t matter if he grew. Besides he got 2 free years. I bet I’ll end up taller anyways.”

He crosses his arms, glaring at Keith heatedly. Keith doesn’t much care who’s taller, but he can never resist riling Lance up.

“The numbers can change, Lance, and I’m taller now. Deal with it,” he says with a shrug.

He can practically see the steam roll off Lance’s head. Shiro interrupts before a full argument can start.

“I don’t think the number system was ever going to work long-term. Maybe we can think of something different, Coran?” he says with pleading eyes.

“Oh, of course! I love coming up with nicknames,” Coran says. “I’ll have to think on it a bit though. They’ve got to be really good. Besides we have more members on Team Voltron now. It’ll probably take a tick or two.”

“That’s fine,” Shiro breathes, shoulders relaxing as everyone in the circle visibly warms at the reminder, though Krolia turns a little green at the idea. He shoots Keith a chiding look who simply shrugs in return, though he gives Shiro’s fingers a squeeze.

“So what’ll it be, Keith?” Allura asks.

He can see his mom watching him with curiosity and knows she’s taking mental notes for the next round.

“I’ll be a fighter who is half…elf,” Keith says slowly. “I am a master sword fighter with special skill in dual blade welding.” Krolia nods along. “I am searching to learn more about my human side since I grew up among my mother’s people in the…mountains. Mountain elves.” He looks at Shiro for confirmation and gets an approving nod. Keith maintains eye contact with him as he continues. “Along my travels I met Shiro. I immediately admired his goal to protect and decide to follow him. I travel with him and help him protect the weak and investigate the…Portal of Evil?” Shiro shrugs in a dismissive gesture, though he’s smiling softly. “In return, he helps me research my father’s family and learn more about humans. He’s the first human I trust.”

“Ugh!” Lance groans loudly.

Keith snaps out of whatever fog he’d fallen into. He snaps his gaze away from Shiro, trying to push away the heat he can feel crawling up his cheekbones.

“Can we just establish that they’re married already or something so they don’t spend the entire game trying to get in each other’s pants?” Lance continues.

Now Shiro’s cheeks light up, color blooming evenly across smooth skin and camouflaging the scar across his nose. Keith coughs awkwardly, attempting to think of a retort.

“Somehow I doubt that will stop them,” Pidge says dryly.

“I second that idea,” Hunk says raising his hand with a finger pointed to the sky. “It’s better than letting them run completely wild.”

Shiro exhales forcefully.

“I think I have to agree,” Allura says with a wince.

“All those in favor of establishing a union between Shiro and Keith, raise your hand,” Coran commands.

Every hand in the circle goes up. Keith looks at Krolia in betrayal though she only gives him a knowingly raised brow.

“Okay. Sorry Shiro, Keith. It looks like you’ve been voted into marriage,” Coran says shrugging.

Keith sighs but accepts it. He can’t say the idea doesn’t please him anyway.

“I guess that means we’re married, then,” Shiro says.

Keith tries valiantly to ignore the way his stomach flips at that. He feels a little better when he notices the slightly constipated look on Shiro’s face that suggests he’s feeling the same way. That’s a conversation for much later with a lot more privacy though.

“I guess so,” Keith says weakly.

“Time to roll for first play!” Coran says.

Keith bites his lip and focuses back in on the moment. He and Shiro have all the time in the world now to think about that stuff. Right now, he wants to take advantage of this rare free time with his friends, even if he has to stumble along for the first hour of the game.

#sheith #voltron #fan fic #fics #voltron fic #voltron fanfic #sheith fic #sheith fanfic #monsters and mana #asks #anonymous #oh geez i almost couldn't end it #i could have probably gone on forever with this lol #i wasn't expecting that to happen #thank you for the prompt nonny!#this was a lot of fun to get creative with

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lucalicatteart · 6 years

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people of the realm: some roomates

Though originally i only had the demon who used magic to form a bunch of arms and etc., when thinking about his living situation, a roommate naturally occurred as well, since I guess it seemed natural, the typical trope of 'every stressed out uptight hermit must by law have another character they're forced to interact with that is the complete opposite of them' lol .

Kaiel is a lazy goth elf art school student (mostly focused on painting) that owns like 500 hats and likes to play her really loud music while she paints, or just does anything in general (ALWAYS music.. one of those people who is like.. never NOT listening to music, she's always got a radio out or headphones in or something). She leaves junk food wrappers and craft supplies and clothes everywhere, and despite being pretty active and energetic, mostly likes to sit around the house and play games, or invite friends over,,, mostly to still just play games with them. The only thing that rivals her music collection is her games, game devices, game merch, etc. She has a bunch of small pets like mice and snakes and, most frighteningly for her roommate, lots of spiders and other bugs. Kaiel is pretty social but still stays at home a lot, she just prefers to invite people over rather than go out places.

She’s just naturally a pretty loud and excitable person, and can be a bit sloppy and careless and more relaxed about everything (like messes around the house and deadlines and stuff don't really get to her, if she spills something she'll leave it and decide she can clean it up later, etc. Which she does ACTUALLY do, like, she gets her school projects turned in on time, pays rent, does her part of the house chores, etc. It's just she... often waits until the very last minute and is never urgent about getting things done, she's just.. very mellow and chill about things all the time) , which is fine for most situations, but with Virin being the exact opposite they can,, clash a lot.

She doesn’t have any ill feelings towards him though, aside from sometimes being a bit jealous since he’s vaguely famous in certain music scenes and she thinks being famous would be cool, since people could bring her free food, and she always wonders why he doesn’t take advantage of fans and ask them to make free food for him (she's regularly like "HEY, you have fans right??? You think any of them would bring us free snacks? Some dinner? Do you have any of their phone numbers you could call on like, right now? Wouldn't that be so cool? I'm sure you could get in touch with someone!! Pleaseeee?!!?!!") . Sometimes she likes to mess with him, because she sees him as so emotionally unstable, she'll like, do something small like nail a shoe to the outside of his door , or re-arrange his food in the fridge to watch him freak out just because she's so baffled by the fact that he could be affected my something which she perceives as so trivial, but this has backfired in the past since like.. she does have.. basic empathy,.. and when it goes from 'oh hee heee he's annoyed for 2 minutes or so' to like, 'he seems to be having a legitimate breakdown over this and has been crying for 15 minutes' she starts to feel extremely guilty about her 'pranks'.

Virin is a demon/jhevona who has the rare ability to use magic to form functioning external arms (which if you’re not naturally inclined would be hard to do given how much energy it would take usually and would drain your magic pretty quickly), which he mostly utilizes by using them to play ridiculously elaborate songs that are only possible for someone with way more than two hands (so he’ll regularly write music where 8 pianos are supposed to be played by him at once and etc., or will simultaneously play 19 entirely different instruments all on his own, etc.), though he also uses it just for everyday stuff since the arms are kind of second nature to him now (like he doesn’t really have to consciously consider much, if he dropped something and wanted to catch it, an arm may just appear on it’s own to do so, etc.). He spends most of his time sitting in his room with the door locked or off going to classes, just wants to be left alone to practice and write music.. He doesn't seem to actually have any friends, hobbies, or life, outside of classwork and his own musical projects and performances, though he has been known to try gardening every once in a while (he buys plants and tends to them for maybe a week, before he eventually gets so stressed out with other responsibilities he forgets to water them and they all die.. wait a few months and repeat lol).

Due to a combination of health issues, nightmares, and the severe burden of his workload (and his perfectionism in relation to it), he is pretty much always extremely sleep deprived which makes him easily annoyed and emotional (he’s that way even when not sleep deprived lol, but, it severely Amplifies it.. to the point where he stress cries over just dropping a notebook on the floor,, or will run outside in the middle of the night because for the past 45 minutes his mind has been literally unable to do anything else but fixate on this small dripping noise seemingly coming from outside his window so now he’s going to go angrily climb up the side of the building and fix whatever is making the noise before he burns down the apartment in an exasperated sleepless fit of noise rage, etc.).

He regularly goes multiple days, sometimes even a full week without sleep, and is often just walking around like, disoriented and hallucinating and severely emotionally stressed, running into things or dropping stuff due to the reduction in motor skills (and just general cognitive processes) from sleep deprivation, feels like he's always about to pass out, etc. Though he's looked into a few different potions and enchantments to help with the effects of getting little sleep, most of them have had side effects he doesn't like, or haven't worked for some other reason, so for now he's still just stumbling around in the worst mental state possible most of the time (though he does luckily get a break every once in a while between school work and etc. and can actually rest, it's still usually only for a few days or less).

He's naturally almost impossibly shy and reserved and soft spoken, though it’s not very obvious since most of the time when people actually see him outside of his room he’s stressed and only half awake (thus making him seem more confrontational or uncaring). His only life goals are to gain recognition for his musical talent, and also to one day be in a position where he can sleep for three weeks straight and have no responsibilities to attend to. He also maybe wants to be a teacher but is the worst public speaker imaginable and would have no idea how to communicate with students. Since he's such a ridiculously extreme over-achiever, he'll probably come up with a hundred more goals for himself over the course of his life, but for now he can only handle so much in his already overburdened workload.

They both get along generally, though they don’t know much about each other and hardly talk (aside from every once in a while when she does something like begs him to play rhythm games with her (because "you’re a professional musician so you’d be good at them right?!") and he reluctantly does for maybe 20 minutes before something about the game’s design or a random element of the environment (maybe a box of cookies spilled on the floor) makes him upset and he runs off back into his room stress crying (which she doesn’t understand how ridiculously little he sleeps or etc. so her perception of him is just that he’s like, legitimately so deeply affected by like.. cookies existing or something, she’s always just obliviously baffled about his moods like “wow, who would have thought someone hates lamps so much that they’d get upset over them! weird lol! :O “ ), they’re at least very civil and have enough common ground that it’s not impossible to share an apartment and they’re both responsible enough to pay their rent on time and etc. usually, despite constant disagreements over noise level and house chores (and bug friends).

Though it'd probably help if they spent a little more time with each other, so that eventually he could see that she's much more than an irresponsible loud reckless but well intentioned fool that contributes to his sleep issues (especially since she has actual artistic talents, that could be something he'd have an admiration for if he ever actually saw them), and she could see the state he's actually in 24/7 and realize that he's not some insanely hyper-sensitive weird boy that sobs over seeing potato chips, it's just that he probably hasn't slept once in about a week and is usually in a pretty fragile state.

#idk what to really tag this one with #jhevona #i guess since.. demon #sketches

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italiancherrybombs · 7 years

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FicGenExchange

Belarus & Estonia as neighbors/coworkers + Supernatural AU (the TV show or just supernatural in general, whichever you prefer)

Recipient: @phyripo

Characters: Belarus, Estonia, Finland (mentioned), Ghost (interpret him as whatever character you want)

Notes: I’m so heckin proud of this. I’ve always wanted a chance to practice characterizations with the Easter Europe countries, and I finally got it. I hope you all enjoy it!

A ghost haunted the NewFont Press.

Or, just the building at least.

It started when bags of coffee and packed lunches started disappearing from the cafeteria. Then, the printer started printing items all by itself, usually pages completely blacked-out by ink, until a printing error (and someone’s collection of pens stuffed into the feed) made it useless altogether. The lights’ flickering used to be a normal thing – they couldn’t afford better lighting – until there were blackouts almost every week.

Eduard couldn’t believe it.

Sure, the inconsistent coffee in the cafeteria irritated him, and the way his computer monitor would be covered with colorful post-it notes with looping scribbles overnight was a pain to remove, but he couldn’t quite believe that something supernatural haunted the various cubicles and offices. And, despite the fact that he did a personal blog of his own, he wasn’t a journalist. He was just some random IT guy, there to make sure that the NewFont website didn’t collapse on itself. He didn’t have that mystical passion to investigate the living daylights out of a subject like a few higher-up journalists employed there.

He didn’t want to believe it.

So, perhaps sitting with Natalya Arlovskaya during lunch that particular Friday afternoon was a big mistake on his (belief’s) part.

Normally, he didn’t eat at the cafeteria. His cubicle was a perfectly good enough eating space, or if he wanted to splurge a little he went down to his cousin Tuomi’s place. But, after multiple conversations with peers outside of work concerning his introverted nature (and maybe a bet on whether he can make friends or not), he mustered up the courage to finally bring his homemade lunch there. No, he was not trying to prove a point. He was simply… Trying new venues.

… Even if he didn’t want to.

Nevertheless, the only reason he decided sitting with Natalya was a good idea was that she was sitting by herself in her small, circular table. Eduard himself knew the loneliness of sitting alone at a table. So, after some inner debate (did it have to be her, isn’t anyone else better), he unpacked his small lunch box then and there.

He didn’t know much about the journalist. All Eduard heard about Natalya was that she wrote about the local crime in the city as one of the few investigative journalists on the Press. The gossip said that she had familial troubles at home, which was why she came early and worked late. A more toxic rumor speculated that she had an intimate relationship with her half-brother, but no one wanted to know for sure. For all he knew, Natalya was just like him: shy, lonesome, and lacking in social grace.

That wasn’t quite the case with Natalya Arlovskaya.

Six minutes into the lunch break, the lights blinked out. A few employees looked up at the ceiling concerned, but otherwise, no one made a fuss.

Unconcerned with the lights, Natalya checked her watch. She then took out a little notepad and a pen, and she wrote something down.

Curious, Eduard asked, “What’s that for?”

She stopped writing, violet eyes flicking up.

“… You mean this?” She asked, waving the notepad a little. She didn’t respond to Eduard’s nod at first, but after a moment she wrote something else down and spoke again. “I’m marking times.”

“Times?”

“When the lights go out.” Natalya checked her watch. “I don’t think I caught your name, mister…?”

“von Bock, ma'am. Eduard von Bock.” Ed took another bite of lunch. “What’s it for?”

“The ghost.”

Eduard almost choked on his food. He suppressed his coughs until he could breathe properly, all while Natalya looked on. Did he hear her right? “I’m sorry, what?”

Natalya narrowed her eyes at him. “If you think I’m crazy, you don’t have to sit by me. I never asked you to.”

“No, no!” He couldn’t lose this! “No, I’m just… Curious, you know? Why you think the lights going out has to do with ghosts.”

Natalya dubiously stared at Eduard for a little longer (he swore he felt chills from those cold, blue eyes) before sighing. “It’s just one ghost, von Bock. They seem to cause electrical problems wherever they go, with enough tangibility to hold onto items. Thus, the missing coffee.”

“… Why would it steal coffee?” Eduard asked, unsure.

“The same reason we drink it: they like the taste.” She closed her notebook and put it away. “I doubt it means any maliciousness, or else it would’ve killed someone already.”

… What?

“That… That sounds great,” Eduard coughed awkwardly. Maybe it wasn’t too late to switch seats. “What are you planning to do about it.”

Natalya nodded. “I plan to catch the ghost.”

… Wait. “Catch?” Eduard repeated, eyes wide. She wasn’t serious, was she? How could she catch something that didn’t exist?

“Of course. Tonight, perhaps.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “I don’t like working with a faulty computer and without coffee.”

The lights soon blinked on.

“If you’d like, you could join me,” Natalya offered. “I wouldn’t mind the help.”

One small problem Eduard had was the fact he worked a little too hard. As in, he worked longer than he was supposed to. A combination of tunes, pressing deadlines, and a lack of need to go home usually made him work for hours on end after lunch. Maybe the sticker on top of the clock on his desktop was also at fault (it wasn’t his fault he liked to watch the time until lunch), but that wasn’t the case right now.

He only thought about leaving when the automatic lights turned off.

Startled from his work, he checked the time on his phone. “Five forty?” He whispered to himself. Forty minutes of unpaid work. For the second time this week, he cursed himself for not having any friends; if he had some, he would’ve had some incentive to get out of work or have someone to remind him to go home. Sighing, he saved his work on the computer and closed it down.

He walked with his bag down semi-dark hallways. It wasn’t too dark since the building had lots of windows for evening sunlight to stream in. Eduard took a flight downstairs and almost entered the lobby–

– just to see an eery light mutely shining from a room.

Now that got Eduard’s curiosity piqued. This section of the building, opposite of the entrances, was one of the darkest places of the office with no artificial light. And even if the overhead lights were on, the spooky blue light would’ve probably overshone everything else. Eduard’s conversation with Natalya about ghosts came to his mind, but he shook it away. No, it couldn’t be a ghost.

… Or could it?

In any case, it could’ve been something else. Like a burglar. No doubt there was someone out there who wanted to infiltrate the building to find more inside scoops. If anyone was there, he could just call emergency services. It was his duty, as an employee of NewFont Press, to protect the building where he worked.

With that excuse bolstering his courage, he approached the room.

He was about to peek into the room when an unholy screech made him jump.

“Let me GO, witch!” An unfamiliar voice shrieked. “You cannot hold me forever!”

“I’m inclined to disagree,” a surprisingly familiar voice replied in a cool monotone. “I will keep you captive for as long as it takes–”

“… What in the world?”

Eduard clamped his hands over his mouth just as he said the words. It was too late, however; both persons in the room heard him.

If Eduard could remember correctly, this room held one of the many copying machines in the office building. However, the room was not being used for its intended purpose; instead, while the copying machine, a table, and two chairs were pushed to the side, Natalya Arlovskaya was sitting cross-legged in front of a large blue circle, the source of light Eduard had previously seen. Inside the circle was a young man furiously banging on invisible walls and three cans of coffee grounds, one in which was already spilling its contents onto the ground. Lit candles surrounded the circle, but their light couldn’t compete with the circle, which seemed to be outlined with chalk.

But now that Eduard’s presence had been announced, both Natalya and the man had stopped their argument to stare at Eduard.

Natalya’s eyebrows rose. “Ah, how convenient.”

The man started banging on the invisible walls again. “Oh stranger, I implore you to help me! This madwoman has trapped me against my will with her black arts and I beg of you, free me–”

“Hush,” Natalya snapped, and the man went silent. She then turned to Eduard. “von Bock. I’m glad you could join us.”

“What’s going on?” He asked, his voice steadily rising in pitch. That other man in the circle, that couldn’t be–

“I caught our ghost,” Natalya said as if it was the most normal thing ever. “Care to join?”

The supposed ghost huffed. “Don’t join her side. I’m the victim here, she caught me!”

Eduard couldn’t speak.

“I can very easily exorcise you, you know.” Natalya turned to face the ghost, her expression cross. “But if you can cooperate, we can make a deal. Is that clear?”

The ghost seemed to hesitate at the word “exorcise”, but then he turned away with a defiant sniff. "Oh, please. As if you could help me.“

Natalya grit her teeth."I can very well try.”

Eduard shook his head. This was all too much to handle. “Wait, wait, wait. Could everyone just stop for a moment?” He pleaded, putting his hands up. Whether it was in surrender or in command, even Eduard himself couldn’t tell. “Please?”

The ghost rolled his eyes. “Ah, great. I’m trapped with Miss Witch and Mister Incompetent. Fabulous. I swear I can’t go anywhere without a bit of peace and quiet.”

The nickname made Eduard sputter. “Wh-Why, you–!”

Natalya gripped onto the hem of her shirt. Even her patience was running thin. “Ghost, perhaps you should start speaking about your reason here to make your exit from the world less painful.”

“Less painful, eh?” The ghost snorted. “Sure, anything’s better than having a building full of idiots sitting on top of me.”

“Sitting…?” Eduard mumbled, thinking. He then gasped in realization. “Wait… Are we on your grave?”

“Have been for twenty-seven whole years,” the ghost snarked. “And it kinda hurts, thank you for asking.”

Twenty-seven years… Eduard was surprised that the building was that old. But had they really erroneously erected a building on top of a grave? Did they even know?

“We can’t remove a building for you alone,” Natalya said. “I’m sorry if it is the only way to put your soul to rest.”

“Well that’s just dandy. Then I guess I’ll keep stealing your coffee.” The ghost angrily picked up the spilling can of coffee grounds, plopped himself down away from Eduard and Natalya, and scooped coffee grounds into his mouth. The act both intrigued Eduard and disgusted him.

“So… What are we going to do with him?” Eduard whispered, kneeling down. He kept watching the ghost eat the coffee beans in mortified fascination.

“I might as well exorcise him,” Natalya whispered back. “He will keep on causing issues with the Press until our bosses decide to do something. And that,” her voice dropped lower in disdain, “will not happen soon.”

“But isn’t that the equivalent of killing him?”

Natalya looked up at Eduard, looking impressed. “Look at you, being concerned for a ghost you denied hours ago.”

Eduard gulped. Well, she was right. He really had no reason to feel sorry for a ghost that he didn’t believe in before all this drama. But there had to be some way to ease the ghost’s pain if only for the exorcism…

“Do you have any more coffee cans?”

Natalya made a face. “… There should be more upstairs, why?”

Eduard shrugged. “Just a thought.”

And just like that, the ghost and six coffee cans (not including the opened one) vanished with a poof.

Natalya clapped her hands to get rid of the chalk dust on them. “Exorcising a ghost is one thing, exorcising one with coffee is another…” She sighed, a half smile on her face. “But I’d say that that was a success.”

Eduard massaged his arms. Carrying those cans had been a chore. “Please tell me there aren’t any more ghosts in this building.”

“There shouldn’t be.” Natalya tapped the floor with her boot. “… Unless we have more graves under here.”

“I’d rather move buildings at that point.”

“Likewise.”

There was a moment of silence. Eduard fiddled with the straps of his bag. Natalya stood with her arms crossed.

“… So.” Eduard sucked in a breath. “Now that that’s over.”

Natalya raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you have somewhere to go, von Bock?”

“Not necessarily.” Eduard shrugged. “I was actually thinking drinks.”

Natalya blinked in surprise. “Excuse me?”

Eduard exhaled a short laugh. That sounded awkward, now that he said it. “I mean, after all this, we could be considered friends now, don’t you think? I know a place.”

“Do you now.” Despite the blunt, sarcastic statement, Natalya had a smile on her face. “I wouldn’t mind. A drink would help me forget I had to deal with a bratty ghost.”

“He was kind of bratty, wasn’t he?” Eduard mused, mostly to himself.

After Natalya picked up her book bag (it hid below the table and held the necessary items to catch the ghost, along with her laptop), the two headed out. It was the beginning of a friendship, one that neither had expected, but it was friendship nonetheless.

(And it only took a bet and a ghost to meet.)

#aphgenficexchange #hetalia #aph belarus #aph estonia #aph finland #oneshot #event #gift fic #cherry writings

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xivu-arath · 7 years

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okay going for a couple i ask about less often: barry/kara, caitlin/ravage, SOUNDWAVE/ravage, and. okay fine ill be obligatory, the superfriends

barry/kara

thingsthey do together in their spare time: hang out, prank each other, goout for lunch together... they’re the most alike in temperament andcan also meet up at each other’s place in seconds at any time, sothey spend a lot of time just unwinding from heroic stuff or talkingout their problems.

onephotograph they’ve hypothetically or canonically taken together:they have so many photos tbh - especially deliberately goofy onesjust to poke fun at each other

oneunspoken sentiment from my character to yours: “No matter what youdo, you’ll always be a hero, Kara.” not that it’s v unspokentbh

waysmy character shows affection for yours: listen it’s hard to prythem away from each other at any given moment. there’s lots ofbumping shoulders or slinging an arm around her exuberantly andleaning against each other and all the hugs!!! literal puppies tbh

onerelationship good end: best au where barry can just have cisco vibehim over whenever and they hang out and he drops in like... at leastonce a week to go out for ice cream or team up to take someone down.

onerelationship bad end: barry goes back to his world, createsflashpoint which is what triggers mon-el showing up. Regrets are had.

mycharacter’s general thoughts on yours/a relationship ramble: karaalways has barry’s respect and admiration – he thinks the worldof her, of how empathetic and compassionate she is, how loyal, howfucking brave. she has so much faith in people, and itinspires and awes him whenever he witnesses it. he also just adoresher for being... bright and cheerful and dorky, and empathizes withher anger and loss, and... just thinks she’s one of the best peoplehe’s ever met and he’s very lucky to have her as his friend.

caitlin/ravage

thingsthey do together in their spare time: I think they mostly talk –they’re both too guarded people to really spend a lot of timeunwinding together, and when ravage really wanted to relax he’djust go stealth out by himself, but... in the spare moments betweenrift research, or when resting or tossing around ideas, they’d justshare fragments of where they’ve been, what they’ve done.

onephotograph they’ve hypothetically or canonically taken together:caitlin has taken a few photos only to find herself in an empty roomand quickly caught on to the No Camera rule.

oneunspoken sentiment from my character to yours: “You deserved betterthan this. I’m sorry, even if I had to do it.”

waysmy character shows affection for yours: fleeting moments of honesty,talking willingly about what Cybertron was like, grudging shows ofrespect or admitting that sometimes she might even have a good idea.as long as it doesn’t go to her head, that is...

onerelationship good end: if ravage hadn’t leaked all the rift info,he might have stayed in touch and even if they couldn’t find a wayoff of denny together, he could have begrudgingly – and thenslowly, less so – started helping her and barry, just sort ofeasing into handling tech and comms stuff since it’s not like youcan trust organics to do it, right?

onerelationship bad end: their relationship continues to fray after theleak and ends up... almost hostile on both sides. the next time theymeet, he’s a little too goading and caitlin loses her grip on herpowers for a moment, long enough to make him feel threatened, andafter that... well, she never sees ravage again

mycharacter’s general thoughts on yours/a relationship ramble: ravagehonestly does respect caitlin. for all that she’s human – orwell, metahuman, whoops – she’s the kind of person he’dnaturally work with well. efficient, intelligent, focused on doingwhatever task is at hand... he’d admit that working with her hasbeen far better than trying to dig up information and work all thisout on his own. thus he does genuinely regret hurting her too, but...it wasn’t a personal decision. to him, it had to be done, and hethinks that maybe, she might even be able to understand that. too badthey’d had a bonding moment right beforehand, but...

soundwave/ravage

thingsthey do together in their spare time: given their specific abilities,soundwave and ravage probably low-key gather information and keeptabs on everyone around them even in their spare time. but they dodefinitely try to relax, recounting missions when they were separate,hanging with the rest of the cassettes... ravage tends to be thesounding board for decepticon philosophy sessions, not that he minds.soundwave is also the sole person that ravage is 100% comfortableacting cat-like around – not even megatron is someone he completelyrelaxes around, though he’s definitely in second place – sosoundwave gets to put up with ravage draping himself on him andforcing him to stay still for fear of disturbing him, or casuallygetting in the way just to be obnoxious.

onephotograph they’ve hypothetically or canonically taken together:soundwave is the One Person who’s allowed to take photos of ravageand thus has like. hundreds.

oneunspoken sentiment from my character to yours: “You will always behome to me. I’ll come back.”

waysmy character shows affection for yours: all the casual physicalaffection which he’s so incredibly sparing with otherwise. opensincere honesty, because even if soundwave can tell what he’sthinking anyways, it matters to say what he means, just because hecan.

onerelationship good end: the djd never show up? megatron and soundwavemeet and talk out their differences and ravage never has to choosebetween them?

onerelationship bad end: the dying of the light remains canon

mycharacter’s general thoughts on yours/a relationship ramble:megatron might have been the leader the decepticons needed butsoundwave is more than a decepticon, more than a leader or lieutenantto ravage – he’s also, no matter how the war changed them,undeniably a good person. ravage took a chance to be kind to someonelost and suffering, and soundwave paid back that kindness and trust athousandfold. soundwave is, apart from the cause itself, theunwavering anchor to ravage’s life, the only home he has everneeded, and while he can no longer express the significance of theirbond in words alone, he doesn’t need to.

superfriends

thingsthey do together in their spare time: they do some measure ofsparring bc if sasuke is involved, some kind of training isInevitable. but honestly they do a lot of chill stuff, trying outhobbies and hanging out and watching movies or planning parties –all the sorts of things that sasuke and ratchet had absolutely noexperience in, and that kara is... driven to try to give them.chances at what a normal life feels like, even when their lives willnever be any kind of normal.

onephotograph they’ve hypothetically or canonically taken together:they have a scrapbook okay there are so many. the most recent are allstarring uzume bc none of them are used to having a pet and sasuke is100% more okay with being photographed if his cat’s in the picture

oneunspoken sentiment from my character to yours: there’s three ofthem so I’m just going to stick with how much they love and carefor each other??? which admittedly kara at least is quite. open aboutbut less so for ratchet and especially for sasuke haha

waysmy character shows affection for yours: ratchet and kara arenaturally inclined to be affectionate already, even if ratchet’s onoccasion unsure or overwhelmed and needs some time to work throughsome sentiments. sasuke is... v touch-averse most of the time and hasjust been gradually getting more comfortable with expressingaffection at them – they know how rare it is, so him letting karatake his hand or clasping ratchet’s shoulder is an effective methodof showing he cares and is engaged that he knows they’ll value.it’s... really sappy. he also likes to encourage their banter bypurposefully exaggerating his own disdain or disinterest andteasingly shut down suggestions to then make them more determined todo it. by now they’ve probably caught on but it’s still justthis... fond habit he has

onerelationship good end: just. best au. it’s even in the name!

onerelationship bad end: mmmmm do I have to... but I guess like.okay sasuke does the whole reveal of the rinnegan and kara especiallytakes it... really harshly because of her history with being gaslitand lied to and the ensuing fight ends with sasuke leaving the team,both for her and ratchet to cool down and figure out how they feeland because he’s... guilt-ridden and angry with himself and wellaware that he has no excuse for this. that’s when a rift takes himback and kara and ratchet get to deal with both their v valid angerwith being lied to and deceived and the ensuing loss ofsomeone they loved. I hope you’re happy now!!!

mycharacter’s general thoughts on yours/a relationship ramble:sasuke... really fucking cares about these two. like kara is 100% theperson he trusts the most in denny’s world and he’s so gratefuland pretty damn bemused that he’s actually one of ratchet’sguardians, that ratchet looks to him as an example to follow. hequite often doesn’t feel he deserves the affection and trust theyshow him, because of how he’s treated his past teams, and there’sa lot of... parallels between naruto and sakura and kara and ratchet– ones he often draws and dwells upon a lot. ratchet and kara areundoubtedly good, warm people and he can’t help but compare himselfand feel how much he’s lacking, which is a particular hurdle thathe’s going to have to get over one day. until then tho, he valuesthem so much and wants to avoid past mistakes like... letting hisjealousy eat him up and make him do something he regrets. oh wait!!!

#this got l o n g #shoutout to lazarus not saving this the first time so I had to restart it #but here we go #relationship asks #superfriends #cassette fam #the wave #not the ghost denny #ablogbykirk

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furvilla · 7 years

Text

Furvilla January Writing Contest

And now we have the writing contest winners for January, listed in order:

Bandycam #59954 Emeraldheart #76349 Angeleina #29111 IkeWolfe #77815 Frogluv123 #40461

I do apologize for yesturday this being posted wrong! It’s fixed now!

~~~~~~~~~~

Bandycam #59954 The snow was rather biting; nipping at noses and chilling the tips of ears just enough to cause a hat to be a necessary commodity. It had fallen fresh that evening blanketing everything around the icy peeks of Tigereye in a soft white folds that muffled the sounds of nature with the hush that only winter can bring. It just so happened that on said day the five mayors of the five villages had gathered together under the ever watchful eye of the old polar bear who watched over the snowclad village. While there was rarely anything exciting going on it made it a relatively safe location for them to gather and discuss the more important aspects of leading their villages and keeping the relative peace between them. The morning had seen them with flared tempers and hours of long conversations about borders and trade promises that had – or hadn’t – been followed through with. Little sleep and long travel left many less then tactful responses and before it could come to blows for real (Polaria bless her had tried to smooth things over with offers of fresh baked cookies but was met only with an angry silence and glaring eyes) the mayor of Dragonsmaw simply grinned his huge Cheshire grin and got to his feet mid-conversation with the mayor of Quetzal Palace (which naturally ticked off Ana; she hated being ignored and the constant struggle between peace treaties of her lofty cloud and his twisted forest was enough to drive anyone mad) and walked out. Doctor Chester – an actual doctor not just some assumed title though most dared not to ask just what he was a doctor of – paid no attention the angry cussing that accompanied his simple vanishing through the front door and out into the snowy world beyond. If he paused at all it was only to toss another one of his famous grins over his shoulder, red eyes twinkling with merriment (or sinister intentions; no one could really tell the difference with him) and flicked his spliced and nature-defying tail at those inside as a suggestion – or perhaps order. One minute passed. Two minutes. Three. Those gathered inside couldn’t take it anymore and in moments Ana stormed out full of ever growing furry… only to be greeted with a snowball to the face and a loudly snickering gray tabby standing a few years off with a pile of arsenal at his feet. To say that the mayor of Quetzal Palace didn’t shriek as cold met warm nose would be an understatement and the sound brought Minstrel of Olde Foxbury and Octavia of Oceandome rushing to her assistance only to each be pelted with another hurling ball of frozen powdered liquid in quick succession. The few moments of stunned silence that followed were broken only by a loud raspy cackling from Chester, paws resting against his belly before a hard thwack could be heard and the cat went down due to a face shot from a very angry Ana. Sputtering Chester struggled to his feet, narrowly managing to avoid the next large snowball aimed at him. Another grin, followed by a sweeping bow as he removed his hat and faced the three of them. “I suggest,” his voice was all but a purr; that of a cat that ate the canary while simultaneously getting all the cream from the saucer. “That we call a truce for the moment.” The tip of his tail twitched lazily as he gestured to the pile of snow before them all. “The house was getting a little overheated for my tastes and I think we all need to cool down. Don’t you agree Ana?” Here Ana huffed, muttering something indistinctly as her wing feathered ruffled against the cold air. “Rather than fight with words – or actual weapons,” Chester cast Ana another hard stare. “Why don’t we use what Polaria has so kindly given us? Solidified water is by far more effective as a tool of warfare than steel after all.” He took a step to the side, gaze landing on the smallest member of their group, barely licking his lips without really thinking about it. “Shall we team up, or do you suggest a free for all?” Minstrel let out a very meek squeak, quickly busing xemself with xir tail and avoiding eye contact with the deranged doctor. The actions only caused the cat’s grin to grow stretching well past the normal boundaries of his face. “I suggest a free for all,” Ana growled slightly. “But don’t worry dear Doctor, I’ll be sure to pay you particular attention.” He could only laugh at that, holding up his hands and cane (which had mysteriously appeared in his grip once more, though he had most definitely left it behind in the house before coming outside.) “Please Ana, I think a fair game is only appropriate. Focusing on just one lowly cat such as myself isn’t wise. After all, we have nine lives… or do we? I can never remember.” “I think,” Octavia spoke up now, jellyfish like tendrils guiding the dragoness over the snow so she could stand beside Chester. “That teams would be a better idea. Free for all leaves much to be said about the… outcome.” She glanced over at the Dragonsmaw mayor as she said that. “It would end up an utter bloodbath and tempers would flare up worse than before.” She reached to place a hand on Chester’s shoulder only to find that he’d somehow moved to stand next to Minstrel already tugging at Xir scarf as xe trembled in fear. Chester easily towered over Minstrel and loved to prove it to the small mouse. “I call dibs on-“ “I think Ana and Minstrel should pair up,” the Oceandome woman refused to allow him to finish his sentence. “Which leaves you and me, kitty-cat. Fair is fair, Ana can easily take on the two of us…” “Oh all right,” he stepped away from his favorite toy, though the look on his face was a silent promise that he’d be back to torment xir later. “But I have to warn you, I hate getting my fur wet…” Ana for her part didn’t hesitate to pull Minstrel aside, huddling in to begin preparing a battle strategy with her newfound partner for the battle in that icy arena. “First things first, we need to build ourselves a fortress… Think you can handle keeping up with the constant supply of ammo for me? Because I’m going to need a lot of it if I’m going to teach that uppity cat a lesson…”

Emeraldheart #76349 Polaria sat in front of her fireplace, listening to the crackle of the flames as they consumed the dry pine wood. In the background, the distant cries of the other mayors made their way down the hill to her cottage. From what it sounded like, a snowball fight had started up after Polaria had returned to her house to make some hot cocoa for them. She looked out the window wistfully. Snow was slowly piling up on the windowsill, and the green branches of the spruces outside were becoming heavy. It always amazed her how full of life the others were. She was the last of her generation of mayors, and she had personally welcomed each newcomer to office. Even Dr. Chester was much younger than she was, and the age gap was startling. It pained her how old she was becoming. She stood up, and her joints popped like the wood in front of her. She feared that she would be unable to care for her citizens much longer if she was unable to function like she used to. Polaria made her way over to where the hot chocolate was finished heating and carefully loaded the cups onto a tray, ignoring the way her paw shook with each movement. What she would give to have a snowball fight again! Now, she was scared she’d throw her hip out or something similarly awful that came with age. She carefully took off her glasses, fogged with steam from the cocoa, and wiped them on her coat. Pulling on her heavy gloves, she made sure that the ends were tucked into the sleeves of her coat. The cold got to her more than it used to. Sighing, Polaria started out into the frosty landscape that was her home. Tigereye Peak wasn’t the most welcoming of places, but for those who understood it, it was paradise. She smiled as she caught sight of a snowfox moving among the brush. Though it seemed empty and frozen, the Peak was actually full of life – and more so than usual. Starting to climb the small hill, Polaria could hear the squabbling of the other mayors more clearly than ever. She could even pick out their individual voices – Ana, crowing in victory, and Octavia, a cry of indignation. A small squeak from Minstrel, a menacing chuckle from Dr. Chester. They had all become so familiar to her, though she couldn’t help thinking of the previous mayors whenever she looked at them. The way they interacted with each other couldn’t help but remind her of her old friends. And yet, as time went on, these four took on a life of their own, separating themselves from their predecessors in her mind. She now loved them just as much as she had loved those who had come before. Polaria let out a puff as she reached the top of the incline, and a warm feeling grew in her chest as she saw the antics in front of her. Ana had constructed a small fort and was locked in battle with Octavia, while Minstrel ducked to avoid Dr. Chester’s unsettling smile. Though sometimes she grew self-conscious, Polaria knew that they cared for her just as much as she cared for them. She felt proud when she looked at them. They were all such great leaders for their villages, and they would never know how much she appreciated them and their respect for her. As they noticed that she had returned, they came over to her, excitedly chattering and thanking her for the hot chocolate. Yes, they were her family. And she couldn’t ask for anything more.

Angeleina #29111 A flurry of snow was falling gently down as Polaria hummed softly to herself, walking down the path to the clearing where she figured her friends would be. Octavia had told her they were going to be there, waiting for her to arrive to discuss the upcoming events. Although she supposed it would be full of snow and Snowpets now. A small sigh escaped her lips at the thought of Snowpets. They had nearly been an infestation… She had taken care of a few over populations during the last few days, but she hoped it wouldn't get any worse than it already had. Holding a tray of cups full of hot cocoa in her paws, she smiled to herself, thinking about the past event and what a success it had been for her Town. Perhaps there were a few things they could have done better, but you learn as you go they say. Continuing along the path while humming her soft tune, she came upon the clearing and stopped dead in her tracks. At first glance, everything looked like a disaster. It took a while for her to gain her bearings and really understand what was going on. It was those darn Snowpets again!! Snow Foxes and Snow Bunnies were EVERYWHERE! Poor Minstrel had to be held up by Dr. Chester as he attempted to climb a tree and failed as the foxes jumped onto him and Minstrel both. Poor Ana was already buried and only a mere glimpse of her wings could be seen underneath the devastation of Snowpets. Octavia seemed to be the only one who was apart from the mayhem, looking over the mess with a worried expression, unsure of what to do while the Snowpets caused chaos. When the Oceandome mayor spotted Polaria, she hurriedly came over to her. “Oh! Polaria! Thank Goodness you’re here! You have to help, please, I have no idea what to do! The Snowpets have taken over! They seem to have listened to you at first, maybe you can do something.” The ice mayor stood motionless for a few seconds before smiling grimly and handing the tray of hot cocoa to her Oceandome friend. “Hold this dear, I’ll do what I can.” Rolling up her sleeves, the mama polar bear drew in a long breath and roared. The Snowpets got instantly spooked and stopped what they were doing to freeze. Literally. They froze and turned into snow. Smiling slightly, Polaria moved forward to knock over the pile of frozen Snowpets that had once covered Ana. The Quetzal Palace Guardian Angel looked amazed. “How did you do that my friend? I thought we were goners for sure!” Flapping her wings to get the excess snow off, she looked indignant. “Drat! Those little snow rascals ruined my snow fort!” Chuckling slightly as she helped Dr. Chester find his missing appendages, Polaria shook her head. “It’s just a little trick I learned back in the days, dearie.” “Still, you did us a great favor milady! Thank you!” Squeaked Minstrel. Polaria smiled. “You’re quite welcome friend, I agree those Snowpets can be quite a handful at times.” Dr. Chester huffed as he let his last piece fall back into place on his body. “I do not like it. I DO wish there were more beastly figures around rather than.. this … purity. All this white is making my eyes hurt.” “Oh hush, Chester. You always desire things to be dark and dank, why don't you just taint everything and be done wit it!” Scowled Ana. Dr. Chester sneered at the winged canine. “I would.. If I had the power.” “Now now,” Polaria smiled and took the tray back from Octavia, thanking her softly. “Why don't we just enjoy the peace and quiet now that the pets are gone?” Octavia jumped up and down for a second. “Ana! Why don't we have a snowball fight?! We have so much snow around us now and I'll help you build your fort again!” For a split second, you could see an ambitious smirk on the Guardian Angel’s face at the thought of building a fort - but then it was gone; replaced with a sweet smile. “That sounds absolutely delightful. We shall build the strongest snow fort ever!” Minstrel sighed slightly and joined Dr. Chester at his side. “I don't suppose you know some good haunting tunes, do you ol' chap? I could use some inspiration for my new song!” The cat looked at the mouse with a playfully frightening expression. “Perhaps I do. Hm…” While the chaos that had been was no longer, Polaria smiled to herself and sets down the tray to join her friends in the fun. She just hopped that the Snowpets wouldn't make a bigger comeback than what they had just seen.

IkeWolfe #77815 Every year after the Snow Festival, the five mayors of Furvilla would gather at their lodge at Tigereye Peak to discuss important matters of state for the upcoming year. At least, that's what they claimed. In truth, it was a chance to relax and get away from the pressures of leading an entire village. They loved their dear residents, but even they needed a break, especially with the recent snowpet overpopulation problem. Dr. Chester had been glad to get away from the crowds petitioning and fighting at his door demanding everything from a snowpet sanctuary to the wholesale slaughter of the little creatures. He'd reached the point where he'd honestly considered removing his own ears and tucking them inside a thick pillow. Now, though, he was bored. He was laying back on a large pile of snow and observing his fellow mayors through half-lidded eyes. Ana and Minstrel were building a snowfort and snowfox, respectively, Octavia was examining several plants behind him with far too much fascination, and Polaria had gone back to the lodge to get some hot cocoa. That left him to simply sit around and be bored, and trouble always followed when cats got bored. He watched Minstrel finish xyr snowfox and go chasing after a snowbunny. He sneered. The wretched little lapines had been nothing but trouble for the past week. He scooped up a large pawful of snow and packed it into a rough ball before lazily tossing it at the animal. It was just pure chance that the snowball sailed right over and struck Ana right in the head. The angelic wolf 's wings flared in surprise and she shook the snow off her head. She looked around for the perpetrator and settled on the feline with a glare. "Sweet serpents, Chester, what was that for?" He silently considered his options and then lobbed another snowball that hit Ana in the muzzle with a soft ploomph. The other mayors had turned to look at the commotion and struggled to contain their mirth while Ana sputtered in shock. "What's the matter Ana; can't take a little snow?" he teased as a smirk spread across his face. "I thought Guardian Angels were supposed to be tougher than that." "Oh, I'll show you just how tough we are!" She hurled several snowballs in quick succession that the feline gracefully dodged. "Tsk, tsk, it looks like we'll need to work on your aim!" The wolf beat her wings rapidly in response, creating a large cloud of snow that sailed towards the trouble-making cat. Chester's eyes widened and he barely managed to scramble out of the way with only a light dusting of snow on his coat. The unsuspecting dragon who'd been standing behind him was less fortunate. She got coated in a thick blanket of snow that left her looking like one of Minstrel's snow sculptures. "Oh no, Octavia! I'm so sorry!" That was all Ana manged to get out before being forced to duck behind her fort to avoid the salvo of snowballs being slung her way. Laughing, she peeked over the edge of the fort with a snowball in paw to return fire. Meanwhile, Minstrel was off to the side secretly preparing a perfect little white snowball. The mouse chuckled to xemself. "Ol' Chester won't know what him!" "Care to repeat that?" Minstrel froze and slowly looked up to see Chester looming over them with a predatory grin on his face. "Uh... hi?" Fortunately, they were saved by the timely arrival of Polaria. "Sorry it took me so long! I hope you weren't getting to bored waiting for me."

Frogluv123 #40461 The wonderful Ms. Polaria simply adored the winter months. It meant hot chocolate, white snow, and of course, more visitors to her village. In the town of Tiger Eye Peak, there was always snow, but winter just brought about it the air that made it feel proper and festive, filling her heart to the brim with joy. As the holidays passed, Polaria had a brilliant idea; invite the other mayors over! Aside from meetings, they rarely got to spend time together, and she missed them: they were practically family to her. She bustled inside with a grin, handwriting invitations for the twentieth of January. She slipped outside to place them in her mailbox with a smile, for surely the day would be great fun. Soon, the day had arrived, and Polaria sat on her porch, humming a tune and waiting for her guests to arrive. One by one, they came. First was Minstrel, donned in a scarf far too long. Before Polaria could even welcome him, however, he was ambushed by a pair of mischievous animals; a dirty snowbunny and a white ferret. He toppled over, laughing, and Ms. Polaria helped him up with a grin. Next to arrive was Ana, using her wings to shield her head from the light snow that had started to fall. Soon after arrived Dr. Chester, attempting to wipe dog fur off his jacket and mumbling about an invasion. Lastly was Octavia, tripping over herself as she apologized for being late, as she had had last-minute business to attend to. Polaria gave them a final greeting before beckoning them into her yard, inches deep in perfect packing snow. While he others were looking around in wonder,-- it didn't snow in the other villages, she was told (truly a pity)-- she slyly scooped up handfuls of snow and rolled them into balls, chuckling softly to herself. Before the others knew what had hit them, literally, Polaria was already halfway through her door and they were coated in snow. And thus lead to an all-out war. Ana had scooped up snow into a wall, carving out patterns of bricks and laughing, occasionally side-stepping as Octavia continued to hurl snowballs. Soon, Ana retaliated, and the girls were immersed in a heated and lighthearted fight. Chester, however, had thought that Minstrel had thrown the snowball at him rather than Polaria, and was leering down at the mouse. Minstrel was holding a snowball he had just made, and so feigned guilt, before jumping up and smashing the snow into his face, sprinting away as puffs of white drifted off Chester's face. That is, before he retaliated. The four were desperately throwing snowballs, laughing and having a good time. That is, before Minstrel spoke up. "Wait-- where's Polaria?" The others froze, glancing around. Ms. Polaria stood partially behind the protection of a pine tree, laughing and holding a tray of hot chocolate; what she had went inside to make. The other mayors breathed a sigh of relief, taking cups for themselves. This was a truly happy holiday for them all, and their hearts filled to the brim with happiness. Even if it wasn't, technically, a holiday.

#furvilla #furvilla contest

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okmadds-blog · 7 years

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I’m going to be honest,, I’m really shit at writing bios. so I’m going to throw an about page type thing that I’ve put together at you & also this social media type thing in addition to this long list of headcanons below that I have about my sweet summer child madds & hope that it will suffice. thank you so much for taking the time to look over this mock blog !!

HEADCANONS/GENERAL ABOUT:

Maddison was born on January 23rd in San Francisco, California to Henderson & Cassandra Parker

she is an aquarius so she’s out-going, imaginative, lazy, & temperamental- to name a few things

she’s the youngest of three & pretty close with her two older brothers

they had the standard big brothers + little sister relationship. they were always protective of her. but since they were closer in age with each other than with her, they had the tendency to play together & exclude her from their “boys only” activities

but Maddison was always pushy & always wanted to feel included so she forced herself onto her brothers & their play time. she always claimed that she could do anything that they can do which included but was not limited to intense games of freeze tag, nerf gun battles, superhero trials, & dirt bike racing

she had a pretty ideal childhood in San Francisco up until she was about five

her father is originally from Australia but moved to America back in his college days for school. that’s where he met her mother

so while the plan was originally for the duo to live in America for the rest of their lives, raising their family there & growing old, things changed when Madd’s grandfather died & her dad had to take over the family business back home. which is just a handful of gas stations/convenience stores

Madds actually remembers very little about living in California & she’s only been back a couple of times to visit her mom’s side of the family

considering her dad is a business owner & her mom is an eye doctor, her family is pretty well off. they’ve got a nice house with the latest appliances & each kid got their own car when they turned sixteen, y’know things like that

Madds has never really had to work for anything before which is nice for her

once in Australia, Madds had to deal with being the “new girl” for the first few weeks in kindergarten. it wasn’t too bad though seeing as she liked putting herself out there & kids seemed interested in where her family was from & why she talked funny

over the years the accent thing would shift into a weird hybrid of Australian & American. she can switch into either pretty easily

although Madds was an friendly & spunky kid, her brothers took most of the limelight. they were the ones that got the most attention & made all new friends before she could even memorize what shape she was supposed to sit on during circle time

her brothers gaining popularity on the playground just felt like another thing that they excluding her from. which made her sad but she never let it show. instead she tried extra hard to put herself out there more & make room for herself in her brother’s social lives

as years went on the two boys would start to welcome her with open arms. they stopped seeing her as an annoying burden of a little sister who was just a silly girl that couldn’t do anything & more as just their kid sister who proved she could handle herself

by the time she reached primary school she had made herself familiar with her brother’s friends, & even made some of her own

also around the years of primary school, Maddison took an interest in photography. it sprouted from a family vacation they took to California where Maddison got ahold of her mother’s camera & snapped a few shots of the family, the sunset, the palm trees, the ocean, etc. there’s just something really neat about seeing something you find beauty in & then capturing it in a photo to keep forever

she asked for a camera for christmas when she was about thirteen & the rest is history

Madds is often the one in any social situation telling people to freeze so she can take a photo of them doing whatever or pointing a camera at a group of people & shouting for them to act natural, like she’s not even there. she’s also always getting the best photos of the sunset

her instagram feed is 10/10 good shit- which is probably why she’s gained so many followers

that friend who will take a hundred photos for you when you ask for one & also gets nice candids of you from your good angle

she also expects people to do the same for her

Maddison likes art & likes admiring it in all its forms- from painting, to sculptures, to movies, & music. she also considers herself art so she shows herself a lot of love

also that person on social media who is always preaching about self-love, drinking water, meditating, ‘treating yo self’, knowing your worth, & not letting people treat you less, etc.

honestly her online persona just comes off as that person who has zero cares in the world & is so free & happy. which isn’t far from the truth actually. she’s self-sufficent ( with the help of mom & daddy’s money ) & believes that what you put out into the world is what comes back to you so she’s constantly spewing good energy

but ofc she has her moments she might not post about on instagram or twitter ( except for a shady subtweet every now & again ) where she can get extra petty towards someone who does her or the people she cares about wrong. she knows karma is probably going to get them so she doesn’t need to handle the situation herself but sometimes karma doesn’t work fast enough for her so she feels the need to interfere

doesn’t want drama in her life because it’ll mess up her ‘energy’ but she wants to hear all the tea from someone else’s life because she finds it amusing & ofc likes being included in things

loves being trusted with secrets & probably wouldn’t tell a soul. she just finds something really intimate about being told something that no one else needs to know

OK SO HOW SHE GOT WRAPPED UP IN THIS GANG SHIT ( jokes ): basically one or both of her brothers were some of the original members of the roses. & at first she, being between the ages of 12-14 at the time, thought it was stupid. like “seriously, you named yourselves? is it like a club name? do you have a members fee & meetings in your clubhouse?”

she just didn’t get what the big deal was. her mindset was just sort of ‘you can be friends without a name ?? but okay do you boo’

& she wasn’t really a member of the squad because she was a kid, y’know ?? she would just occasionally tag along with them just for something to do or if they were doing something actually cool then she bribe/blackmail her brothers into letting her in on it ( I say blackmailed but what I mean is ‘if you don’t let me go I’m going to tell mom about you sneaking into the house at 4am’ kind of deal )

then she got older & her brothers’ friends were more inclined to let her hang out with them just for fun. because Madds was a pretty chill girl despite her being so nosy & inviting herself to things. but she still wasn’t in the squad. just friends by association really

then something happened. they probably collectively did something risky & by the end they were like “well Madds really pulled through for us” or “looks like little Madds is playing with the big kids now” & that was her way of getting in. OR they did something risky & got caught & she was sorta roped into the whole thing. like “oh I’m not with them with them. I mean I was there. & I know them. & we’re kinda friends, but also not. but that doesn’t mean I was with them” & no one believes her & they just start associating her with the roses, even more so than before, so she’s basically in

it really could’ve been either one

basically there was never really a pinpointed time she joined the squad. she was just always around & after awhile no one questioned it

now with her brothers gone off doing their own things as young adults, she’s sort of an OG by association. despite the fact that she’s one of the youngest members

it doesn’t make her special by any means. really it doesn’t mean shit to anyone ‘who was there first or around the longest’

sometimes she gets blamed for things her brothers did while they were around. & being compared to them was a trend that occurred throughout her life. all her peers would do it, teachers, & parents. it bugged her to an extent but she could understand why people would assume she’s like them. same genes plus they spent a lot of time together, something was bound to rub off

but sadly it didn’t & Madds isn’t like her brothers. which is unfortunate if you ask her parents. they think her brothers are natural born leaders who have the brains & the charisma to go places, & they are considering they both decided to go to University

they think Madds is just as smart & charismatic but she’s wasting her potential

she finished up year 12 in december. took all the tests & everything necessary to graduate. & although her test scores weren’t bad & universities would probably accept her, she just doesn’t want to go. she figures she can do more with her life outside of school than by suffering through more years of higher education considering that all her interests are arts related. the best way to advance her future career is to just go out & work freelance as opposed to sitting in a classroom learning all the technicalities

this argument did not hold up well with her parents who really pushed for her to continue with her education. her mother is a doctor for crying out loud. she went to school for years & she keeps telling Madds that’s how they can afford such nice things. that & her father is a man with a degree who owns his own business. Madds just stresses to them that there is more ways to be successful than just going to school

so she’s decided to take a gap year. figure things out & work on her art & see if it’ll take her anywhere before deciding whether or not to go to uni

so far it’s only gotten her a few more hundred followers on instagram, a nice tan to top her golden complexion, & a whole lot of free time to get up to nonsense with the crew. but she’s not complaining

her parents think she’s just turning into a bum, which may or may not be true, but she’d disagree

& that’s basically it !! just my way of giving you Maddison’s life story. thank you again for reading & looking through the blog !!

#DISCLAIMER: I AM BUT A SILLY AMERICAN WHO DOESN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT AUSTRALIA #SO I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE HOW SCHOOLING WORKS BUT I DID A LIL BIT OF RESEARCH #& APPLIED THAT KNOWLEDGE TO THIS #OKAY THANK U #<33

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