#what could the thin man be working on? Hmmm?

[grim-faux]

3 _ 34 _ One Day the Rain Continued Falling

First - An Echo Rebounds Through the Silent City

It was hard to find time for stop to important things like eat and rest. Scrounging up the leftover moments for plus activities, sometimes for pictures and the sneak practice, was also a struggle that didn't happen a lot - every move and the journey through buildings was an unending test of skill. Except... if he failed in flee from a Viewer, that would be forever. Doing unnecessary stuff was last on his list of work when he had spare time to sit and think, and rest. And! Carve stories into walls.

He could do stories until his head plopped onto his knees, and he thought about nothing. Scratching down the adventures made them more to... far away, and elsewhere. It put a great distance between him and all the creatures lurking, and for a while they couldn't find him.

The Thin Man didn’t like him. That was important. Even if he wanted it to be different with the man and his hat, he already knew the Thin Man didn’t like any children. Even Mono. It wasn't really a mystery, but it cleared up stuff. If it was a lie or not wasn't something to think on, except that one thing for certain was that the man in the hat didn’t like anything. The deep frowns and long, dark stares, the static crackling across the shoulders and crisp coat – that was everything.

Nothing Mono did in all his ways, all his treasures and food things, and all the company, didn’t mean anything to the Thin Man. Still, he liked doing important things for the tall thin man, and maybe he would smile again. It was dumb, after all the time he spent with Her and how that turned out, he knew nothing he did would mean anything. All the same, that was fine. He liked the chase and keeping the Thin Man. That was the most important for Mono, because it all meant so much to him. And the Thin Man couldn't stop him.

In some rare patches of stillness, Mono wouldn't bother the risk of shedding his armor. Not for anything. Maybe to change a shirt if he found clothing that fit right, but only then and briefly. Through his trek of the city and exploring, he never found a wonderful coat like the one that was him. He didn’t even recall where he found it, let alone a time before it was him. The coat always cloaked his shoulders and shielded his legs, and he felt very exposed while it was off for mending.

A splint of bone worked fine to draw a thread around the tattered edges, closing up wounds the heavy fiber suffered in his steed. In the back of the splinter, a crease held the thread in place as he glided the pointy end among the fibers. Like a spider with silk, he restored the ratty patches with discolored hues. There was no shortage of thread, he only needed some clothing, and that was all over the city. He had a whole wad of thread jammed into the loop of his pants, since he didn’t want to leave the wall he was crammed into. The boards against his shoulder vibrated, as another chair erupted into splinters. He paused, steely eye contact never wavering from the glittering blade of light used to mark the progress of his stitching. When the dust cleared, he tugged the thread tight and appreciated how the thread melted together.

The crumbly beam of timber he perched upon rattled, as another projectile galloped across the floor. A burst of garbled static and shrieks cut through the drywall, blazing through his ear drums. Regardless the disturbance, Mono focused on his craft. He was worried the Thin Man’s big speek and outburst would draw something into the rooms, but he wasn’t going out there until he finished. If some horrible creature did sprout from a wall, Mono wouldn’t hesitate to help the Thin Man. Until then, he had plenty to do.

Another burst of rambling chatter spilled from the Thin Man, and Mono didn’t bother with trying to make sense of it. He was busy listening for heavy boots, and creaking wails of Viewers, or any other sort of danger. For the most part, the building was bare and didn't have televisions, or Mono had heard none on his scouts. The problem with not a lot of creatures lurking around, was also not a lot of food. he hated the monsters, but they horded the food and always had plenty. His pickings lately hadn't been much, and he wondered if that is what set the Thin Man off. A lot of things put the man in the hat into a mood, but Mono was never sure watch creak or whatever did it.

If the Thin Man was having a dream haunt or dream wandering, he would try to do more for help. But this was just a tantrum, and Mono needed to use the slight of lull to prepare his coat for a dozen or a hundred more journeys through the streets. His focus helped drown out some of the hissing, but it always found a way to whittle through his mind the same way a crunchy beetle burrowed into soft wood.

Some of the broken noises was the same as what the Thin Man hummed for Mono. All the speek buzzed through his head, he had snippets and garbled sounds that didn't make sense. He could try imitating the noises, but not here. While the man and his hat was distracted by hissing at a chair, he wouldn’t suspect Mono was around.

The thought made Mono’s lips tuck deeper into his face. He needed to work a snag out of the thread, or he’d mess up a stitch. Another shiver rolled through the drywall, and Mono scrubbed the ball of his palm into his eye. For a while, the Thin Man was distracted by shadows flickering in the corners of a room, and muttering about… si…culls, or sigh-all. Something.

Mono bit his lip, and very carefully turned the fold of his coat over without disturbing the fine layer of dust on his hair.

He thinks the Thin Man was annoyed about the fragment Mono touched. He was sure the Thin Man could see them, but also wasn’t. The glitching children lingered in strange places and dark corners, he suspected the man and his hat saw them too, but ignored them. They were not his children. No more. But Mono was curious about the shadows, the movement, if they were ever real children or if they were shades that remembered real children. He didn’t mind them, since they never bothered him or Her. They existed, unless... Mono got too close.

On the other side of the wall, the precise and steady clicking drifted by. The long legs shredded a patch of gray light, causing Mono to pause in his threading. In the room beside him, some unknown cry erupted. It wasn’t the Thin Man, though a chattered snarl laced with buzzing. Something solid and definitely not wood or cotton, crashed into an unyielding barrier – either the floor or wall – this was followed by crashing, wood groaning, and a calamity of thundering implosion.

Mono coiled his arm under his coat and scooted back; his arm with the bone splint braced him to a brittle mesh of wood fiber. He waited, leafing through a decision of flee or wait, and where to go in the cramped space. Beyond the wall it went silent, and the Thin Man made more big speek. The vibrations didn’t let up by much, and the Thin Man continued to crackle and hiss through his teeth. The leaf of burst and scatters of embers clawed through the little crack, before they cooled and left only a flat gloom. It took several seconds before the haze cleared in Mono's eyes.

Bro’keen fra’gents. Pair-docks. The sigh-culls. Loops. Ree’pair. Undone. Inu’vah’bill.

At first Mono was spooked when the Thin Man had cupped him between his palms and sat with him, staring at Mono so intently and seeing so much of him. He thought the Thin Man wanted the speek, and prepared for a barrage of noises he would work on repeating - the Thin Man had favorites. But pauses came. When the Thin Man went through the speek, he didn’t stop, didn’t instruct or draw on the sounds. The event mystified him, since the Thin Man always wanted him to make the sounds back - some pieces he recognized, others blurred into the endless discussion.

Mist’skates. Destroy. Break. Hard. Try. Imposs’bull. Ee’road. Pointless. Co-sist. Pole'rised.

In the rare spans when the Thin Man went quiet and shifted Mono in his hands, he would nod and reassure the man in the hat, “Am understand. Mm-hmm.” After a while, the Thin Man started to give him a look and arch a brow beneath the deep shadow of his hat, so Mono took it as indication he needed to be quiet and company. A different sort of company, but the Thin Man was happy he was there. He needed Mono to pay attention.

“It will come to you.” He always muttered something like that. And went on, about the powers and u'teese-lies he wanted Mono to do. It was for fixing, something about Mono was wrong, and the man in the hat didn’t know how to make it right?

Nothing made sense. All the speek was a confusing mesh of white noises, and a lot of the story seemed lost on the Thin Man too. Mono did his very best to follow the sounds and crackles of static, but it sizzled in his skull. It worked best to make speek and punctuate everything with pictures, and show what noises looked like in his thoughts. The man in the hat didn’t want pictures and only made marks, he wanted to make noises and peer at Mono with a chiseled sternness. This all must’ve meant something to the Thin Man, he had a lot of thoughts and no one to share them with but children. It made Mono wonder if the Thin Man sat with the other children and told them stories, and if they listened as intently as he did. He gave the Thin Man a nod and patted the wrist cloaked in the cufflink.

Later, when he had the chance, he could put the pictures on the wall for the Thin Man. He could use some of his stories to fix the patches that confused Mono.

The important work on his coat was done. Tying off the thread at the collar, Mono bit close to the knot and ended his work. He fixed the folds and checked for any overlooked snags, though he had been so thorough with his work. After smoothing the sleeves and getting used to the weight on his shoulders, he pressed his face against the crack and searched the room. He hadn’t realized how quiet it was now, he was so busy. The sizzling pulse had long since dimmed, it was darker than what he recalled. As he moved among the chunks of ruble and lent, he pushed his face against narrow gaps and searched the furnishings that remained intact... mostly. 

It annoyed him that the notch he squeezed in through was no more, and the entire wall on that side had caved inward. Backtracking was typical for navigating tricky places, but this wasted time when he should already be doing something else.

He turned around and scurried through the dust, or squeezed under splint shards of wood dislodged from whatever ruined the winding passage. He searched for a gap in the murk or glimpses of light, one of the two would hint a pathway or something. At length, the crumbling drywall barred his path, but exposed slates in the wall above his head offered a new direction. After climbing in the dark, a musty draft wheezed through a crack in the boards. This opening breached into the next room, where it was damp and the distant trickle of rains wandered through.

The fall was pretty tall, but he fell from higher. He crashed hard to his heels and hands, but recovered fast - that was a big part of flee. As well, he stayed crouched and low, listening for signs of danger or anything that might’ve caught the thump of his weight on the floor warped board. Once satisfied by the prevailing hush, he moved around the perimeter of the room, scanning the crushed furniture and weaving around glittery glass. Light from a distant doorway showed where to put his feet, and he found his way to the corridor outside. This place he recognized, so he didn't get lost from the dwelling. Great!

To his relief, the dull hum of static slipped through the vacant rooms, and the bulbs pulsed with a faint rhythm that almost matched his own heartbeat. Somewhere. Not far. Aside from the rustling croon, only the creaking floors and howling storm crowded his thoughts. He meandered through the stuffy veil, scouting each room for unseen creatures, maybe a sinnapede.

It startled him when inching around one doorframe, and to barely recognize the crumpled body buried with wood splinters and whatever else. The legs barely registered, before his head caught up with the inert heap concealed within the carnage. Reflexively, he huddled in the doorway like a scrap of scenery, judging the threat and masking his breathing. It wasn't necessary, the shape didn't move, like the ones that crashed into the pavement in the roads. Only the insistent cry of the wind carried through the room, among the suppressed cackle of aching wood. He's sure that creature had not been here at all, ever. Was the Thin Man okay?

Mono tore away from the scene and resumed his quest. As it turned out, the seeking didn’t last long. More cautious since the discovery, he slipped into a dark room with slain furniture.

Without wasting a moment to catch his breath, he dashed across the floor and pounced onto the Thin Man’s hand. The tallest silhouette sat slouched at the furthest wall, knees drawn high and arms draped like dehydrated vines at his sides. Mono wrapped his arms around the wrist and tried tugging the arm further away from the Thin Man. Or tried. Despite how thin the long arm was, he couldn’t budge it an inch. Was hurt? Okay? The man in the hat didn't shift, but the steady hissing of static was a good sign. Mono persisted in silence, but couldn't drag a reaction from the Thin Man.

Next he scooted under a gap of the arm and struggled to lift it with his back. Very heavy. Impossible. He undertook a valiant effort to make the tall thin man corporate, even getting on his back and pushing with his feet, but it was no use. He withdrew from the task and decided his efforts would be suited for climbing.

He climbed over the arm and gripped a seam on the suit. First he checked if the Thin Man had budged, but he couldn't see with the shadow of the hat. He hoisted up the suits' side, but his effort was immediately ended when fingers slipped around his middle. The grip snapped him free before he could anchor his grip.

“No. Hey.” When the hand set him back on the floor, he rushed to the Thin Man and scrambled onto his middle. “Hmm? Y’better? Hurt?” The suit didn't have any stains and the only scent lingering was the stale smoke - he still liked that though. He tugged at the suit, searching for sheared threads or other damage. "Lemme see?" As before, the obnoxious hand scooped him up and relocated him, further away this time. “No. NoNo.” He hissed, and grabbed the side of the Thin Man’s coat. Without any effort on the hands part, he was ripped away and set further away. “Tell s'hurt? Y'not?”

The drooping shroud glittered into a perilously high stance, evading Mono and leaving the boy to crash to the floor. Without missing a shimmer or a stutter, the glitchy shadow stepped over him. The tapping steps moved through the dim room, and in only three strides he was almost to the dim doorway.

Does follow? Mono sat up and tilted his head. Was okay? The Thin Man seemed okay, but he hid many things. He watched the silhouette bow through the doorway; for a brief spell the room was intimidated and paled.

Without prompt or rejection, he sprang after the patchy trill of static. If it was okay, he could chase. If the Thin Man found an other child… Mono could hide, and he wouldn’t be a problem. That was his plan. It had been okay so far, the Thin Man didn’t give him the deep frown with the dark lines in his face. Everything would be good.

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The segment of his life before the Thin Man didn’t mean that much to Mono. He thought about... Her a lot, especially when he chased the Thin Man through the streets. In the gaps among allies and gutted buildings, he thought She was… No. It was other children, but not Her. He’s sure they were other children, but he never got a glimpse of them. Just a footprint in silt, or a shadow sliding into the shadow of a dumpster. Or, it was his imagination. He thought the faces of those that filled his dream haunts, stared at him through murky puddles chipped by rain drops. They remembered him, even if he didn't recognize them. Where did all those kids go?

The fire heaved its dry breath across the room, the broiling waves of its stare observed each child in turn. Then, they screamed. One-by-one, each stole. Gone. Thee place they went was unknown, but he knew. All children knew what became of those stole. Cages. A boiling pot. A gleaming knife. Piles of clothing. A stained countertop. No more.

He saw plenty of those in the Hunter’s cabin. Even if the meat smelled ‘‘‘‘safe’’’’, or the fridge still worked, he wouldn't dare. His soured stomach could wait. And the sing. He followed it across the forest, through the tall grass and the traps stained brown and black. Tricks to maim and others to end.

The Thin Man sat on a crumbling brick wall, the small flame smoldered under the rim of his hat and his eyes gleamed. They wandered for some time before the Thin Man needed for stop. By now Mono was certain the man and the hat hadn't been harmed, though he kept note of every shimmer in the Thin Man's step. Just in case.

A wreckage of wired fence and the partial remains of a building, barred passage to the next patch of clear road. Mono's job was to move the fence and relocate some (not all) of the shattered wall – even if the Thin Man could glitch through, he wouldn’t leave Mono. But also, if Mono didn’t work so much to move ruble and make doors from nothing, he might could do teleport. He didn’t bother mentioning that to the Thin Man. They had same, and it was important to do other tricks. This is what Mono decided, anyway. If the Thin Man believed in him, then he should.

Really, he didn’t think he would ever be doing the stuff the Thin Man did. It was so much. It was important that Mono try, for the Thin Man.

The sides of his hat hung with the weight of the pummeling rains, the icy water rushed over his feet, and the wind drilled at the back of his neck. The fresh mending in his coat helped keep too much water from soaking into his armor, but still he was drowned all the way through. He tried to raise his hands, the way the Thin Man showed him. Again and without stall, he focused and struggled to grapple with this ‘power’ that the Thin Man insisted he had. It was in him, but digging it out was a bigger struggle than the giant wall mocking his resolve. He felt like an idiot.

All while the Thin Man stayed put on the wall, a wispy trail slithered from beneath the rim of his hat, and no comment or hint that he was awake for watch. The Thin Man never moved from his station, and Mono didn’t relent from his important busy. Not until long after the clouds darkened, and the lamp posts along the beaten road cut through the flooding dark. He kept trying, never mind how the storm snarled with laughter at his efforts.

Raise his arm. Grip for a hold. Think about moving... something. The packed cement grumbled annoyance as if a fly was bumping it.

At some point Mono couldn't lift his arm or focus much, except to keep his eyes open and glare. HIs head hurt. He may have shifted a pile of bricks and rolled back a section of fence (or that was a Viewer that plowed into the roll), but he didn't do nearly enough work to clear a path. Maybe for him. Maybe. But the Thin Man was very toll, and stood wider than Mono was shaped. The road was cluttered all the same.

Mono was spent, and wasn't going to do much else... if he had managed anything in the first place. He shuffled around and checked that, yes, the man in the hat waited and watched. Mono gave his shoulders a shake – not that this helped anything – and returned to the Thin Man.

One time, what felt like forever ago, he ran away from the Thin Man. That was how it was supposed to be. Adults hated children, they hated everything and ruined lots of stuff that Mono liked. But the adults had things they liked, too. The televisions that cast the broadcast, that was the most favorite. The fake children, scurrying around the School the Prison, and kidnapping real children to hurt. They also liked gutting dead creatures, and shoving squishy things into jars. Other adults took children apart, or stuffed them into sacks – never to be seen again.

But the Thin Man? He liked to wander the city and look for children. Like Mono. Like Her. Like the scrawny kid in the forever building maze (was he Cast?). And like the pack of children that chased Mono everywhere. But of all the children, Mono was the best. He had most same of the Thin Man, and that was important.

He huddled by the shoe and worked on collecting back whatever strength was in his body. He stared up at the shrouded face, masked by beads of water and shadows. Did the Thin Man see him, or did he not care? Mono waited, bundled in his freshly mended coat. The static drone intermixed with the clatter of pellets, and the lacey thread was near invisible - or gone entirely - it was difficult to discern in the layers of downpour.

Even if the Thin Man didn't mean danger for children, Mono knew to be cautious of the tallest creature in all the city. The man in the hat didn't like children, and that included Mono. They had all much same, and the tall thin man had a lot of thinking for Mono - of what he should do, and needed more same. That was because Mono chased. This didn't change how the Thin Man would always be adult, and he did whatever he wanted. When the Thin Man was done with Mono - maybe in a season, or even in the next moment - the Thin Man would try to disappear. He would try. This much he told Mono.  

The Thin Man made stories of how it would happened, and Mono memorized every detail. The place, the children, of getting better and fixing. Not for fixing the city to better, but making Mono better.

“Done?” the static crackled in the shadow. “You did not achieve much.”

Mono hissed through the mist sweeping across his face. He did a lot, but the Thin Man never wanted to see that through all his busy for other children. He scooted closer to the Thin Man’s ankle used the pant leg to rub the wet off his face.

The Thin Man thought he was going to be clever and trick Mono. That was what the story meant, when the man in the hat went away forever and Mono went to alone. But Mono made his own plane, and he would chase the Thin Man, no matter where he went. He wouldn't mess up this time.

With a grating sigh, the figure rose from the crumbling wall and stepped by Mono. The wall of pellets severed briefly as the movement of the silhouette sliced through the driving rain. Mono was quick to pick himself up and stagger after the lazy but long strides. The wind picked up, snagging at his waterlogged coat. He caught his hat before it could snap away, and was pleased to see a long arm bend high above the tall figure to hold his own hat steady. So same.

One time, that might've been terrible. Now, though? Now, Mono was happy.

When the Thin Man reached the collision of building and crumpled fence, he vanished in a sputtering-pop. The ordeal would have been easier on Mono, if he had energy left over to teleport as well. Since he didn’t, the few adjustments he made with the blockade would have to do, plus his agility and capacity for squeezing through the heap of ruble - everything he learned from fleeing danger -he could also use for chasing his Thin Man.

In short time, he emerged into the clearing on the other side, without falling too far behind. Stumbling, he rushed to catch up with the buzzing of static and ever present clicking of steps. The tallest buildings bent and swayed high into the black void of the sky, through the gaps storm clouds twisted and rolled. Sometimes, a crackly whine peeled out before a heavy shape Whumped! against the sidewalk, or sometime a flickering sign. The man in the hat never faltered against the sounds or storm, and neither would Mono. 

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In the dark and grinding force of the storm, it was near impossible to track the Thin Man’s movements through the mangled roads, the gale and strange angles of the buildings was devious and masked the steady tap of the lazy stride. Even so, Mono would catch a whiff of the smoky scent and knew he was on the right track, and the prickling in his skin never duped him. Across the roads, lamp posts flashed a searing gleam, or doused completely beneath the presence of the tall thin man. He had a lot of practice keeping the Thin Man in range, and this skill would be the most important Mono could ever learn. If the Thin Man wanted to be somewhere else or go into some building without reason why, Mono went too. Or for vanished out of nowhere in a vibrating sputter, it wouldn't take Mono long to get his bearings and renew his quest. He would find the man in the hat. He couldn't hide from Mono.

So long as the Thin Man didn’t go far, Mono could find his way. Always. Inside a building, or another detached road hanging beside a vacant cliff of swirling mist. It was easiest when the man in the hat found his way into some apartment where he would wander in circles, and Mono could find him in due time. The tall man would be lost in prowling through corridors and rooms, poking at the desks or skimming the tallest shelves with his glittering eyes. He was always seeking interesting things; heavy books, piles of pages – only the ones not sodden with water or whatever leaked from the walls. Anything dry and altogether interested the Thin Man.

And Mono had his job of making sure nothing lurked in the dark rooms. He worked hardest for make sure the Thin Man knew about hazardous patches, like the floors or sagging ceilings that seemed ready to crumble onto him. Not that the man in the hat ever gave him a second glance, or acknowledged his insistent warnings - save for a nudge with his shoe. Undeterred, he made sure to tell the Thin Man about anything and everything that might come undone and hurt his hat.

And if they found a television, the Thin Man would tell Mono to tune it.

After many long going through rooms and exploring the bent halls, a place might earn his stamp of “no hide danger”, and Mono would then like to follow the tall thin man as he strolled around the rooms - hand touching his chin, the hat full of think. The Thin Man always looked at the biggest books, with thick binding, the heaviest stack of pages wedge between the covers. Full of marks but never any pictures. How those pages fascinated the Thin Man, still mystified Mono. But whatever made his Thin Man happy.

During the endless scouting through rooms, Mono always kept his focus on where there might be foods. Sometimes he located stacks of plates in the most random of places, or a box of something wedged in a drawer in some cluttered room. Or anything else that was edible, like scuttling bugs or eggs abandoned. Because of the Thin Man’s hissy fit, Mono took care about chewing on anything around him. A few crumbs could go jammed into his coat pockets, he wasn’t particular about anything getting soggy from his damp coat or shirt, as long as he had a chance later to shove something into his mouth. Always firstly, he made sure the Thin Man had something, then hid himself away to nibble on something crumbly – a cracker, or bit of dried meat thing, thick paste with crusty edges.

Then he would help the Thin Man look through shelves and whatever else. He couldn’t carry around the biggest books, but he tried to show the man in the hat other interesting items. The stuff like shiny buttons or metal disks, didn’t really grab the Thin Man’s attention. It took some effort to haul over a glass bowl, which was super heavy - something else the Thin Man didn't spare a look for. Mono stuck to whatever he could drag, stuff no bigger than him. If the man in the hat tried to wander away, he could rasp after him. Most often he had to leave the trinket, or get left behind.

He always wanted to give the Thin Man fuses, but the tall man and his hat wanted Mono to open the doors with the powers, rather than a fuse. Mono did try that once before. He really tried! No matter what he did or thought, or how he moved his arms, none of him could make it work the way the man in the hat decided he should. But always for his Thin Man, he would try. It was probably because the Thin Man was lonely, like Mono, and wanted more same. It made Mono remember for when the Thin Man would go away forever, probably to find a child that could do all the stuff the Thin Man asked.

Unlock a door. Move a chair. Power an elevator. Make a light bulb glow. The Thin Man touched his face more and more, and Mono struggled to do it right. It usually went that the Thin Man got bored of waiting and vanished. Mono would keep trying, for himself more than anything. He would have to chase his Thin Man down later, once he figured out how to get around with the powers. The Thin Man would sulk and not look at him, and Mono would pretend he was busy searching for important things.

In one of the rooms the Thin Man fiddled around in, Mono discovered a small blade in a desk. He liked to show the Thin Man his skills with dragging around something like an axe or hammer, and how he busted out doors when the latch wouldn’t work. That was how Mono got around! The Thin Man never bothered with locks, all the doors opened for him. But Mono had to do it differently, even if he could move a chair and reach the handle. If the latch didn't move, then he either found a different way or he smashed the doors base out.

The knife was dull and ground across the worn carpet. He didn’t think it would smash through wood, but the Thin Man should like it. The end still dug at the floor and was hung up on threads of carpet, but he hauled it across the room to the man in the hat.

“Psst. Look.” He tugged on the slacks of the Thin Man’s knee, and adjusted his grip on the handle. “Look.”

The Thin Man was already knelt, and already investigating a cubby full of papers. When Mono gave the pant leg another tug, the towering shape shifted to peer at him.

The knife was too heavy and clunky for him maneuvering it closer to the tall thin man. Mono settled to flop it over onto his shoe. “Look.” The bulbs above glimmered, as the hat tilted at the small knife.

Mono blinked under the rim of his hat, when the Thin Man effortlessly plucked the blade off the floor. Him lifted it like it was nothing, after all the tugging and panting of Mono hauling it over. The slender fingers held the handle daintily, and twirled it. Was this something the Thin Man wanted? Mono was more impressed by how the Thin Man stared at the knife, rather than if the Thin Man would keep.

At the same time, something occurred to him about the man in the hat and his ‘gifts’.

“Wait.” The Thin Man didn’t remove his inspection from the blade. “Want stay. Y’no go. NoNo. Hmm.” He should stay for Mono. That was important. It had been some while since the Thin Man looked for his other children. Mono liked that. He didn’t want the Thin Man to think Mono had something busy to do elsewhere. “Okay? Yu’stay.” He wanted to remind the Thin Man they had company, or something like that right now. “Am okay?”

With a scratchy sigh, the Thin Man stood at his full height and pocketed the knife. When he began to click away, Mono rushed after the retreating heels. “No,” he hissed, as loud as he dared. “Y’stay. StayStayStay. C’mon.” The man in the hat brushed him off with his shoe, but Mono recovered himself and kept pace.

“Am chase,” he snarled.

The Thin Man didn’t reply or hesitate. But all the same, Mono wouldn’t let him out of his sight. Not in all the ambiguous rooms or sagging corridors, did Mono falter from his mission. It didn’t matter if a building interior was gutted entirely, or that a run down shop was flooded and the depths filled with strange shapes - of slimy sludge, tangled cloth, or many-man bones. The man in the hat couldn’t escape his Mono! And for the while, Mono felt abundant glee for the role reversal. No other child in all the city could brag they chased a monster. And also, Mono was fearless. He would make everything right for his Thin Man. Somehow.

Still, he would rather work with the Thin Man to scout around the usual way, by rooting out keys or figuring out interesting ways to cross a chasm with interesting bridges made with rope, or punch a hole in a wall by toppling a tall and rickety shelf. There were always clever ways to get around, and none of them had him trying to teleport or whatever was on the Thin Man’s mind. He didn’t like those games. He tried to show the Thin Man how cunning he was, but the Thin Man was more curious about him making a stupid lamp glow. The dummy.

Somehow, he did get a light bulb to fill with buzzing embers… until it burst into a wave of sparks!

Mono was very excited about that trick (it was short but whatever)! The Thin Man would do speek about how that was something, and so ah-cheev-men for once. It usually went, the bulb burst but didn't do nothing else. This time, without really expecting anything, the coil of wire inside the glass burned so bright and orange, Mono had to look away. Then! Only then, it exploded! It glowed for a whole second! Or more!

As usual, the Thin Man didn’t get it. He only shook his head, and with a scratchy warble turned away. He did see what Mono did. He did! But the man in the hat was in no way wowed, at least not like Mono was. That wasn’t fair!

__

After that rare event, getting told to do things got stopped. If he was honest, Mono was relieved to have a break - he had plenty for keep busy with, too. Such being, seek out the Thin Man when he wandered off. Again. It could be more of make Mono do tricks, but on his own. The likely culprit was the Thin Man vanished for look at the other children, and he would reappear after Mono searched for him enough. The habits and doings of the Thin Man confused Mono too much, but he was eager to do the powers right. If only he could get straight what he could do.

While the rooms and corridors lay quiet, and the walls steadily creaked – he tried to wake up elevators from their dazed and ancient slumber. He would stand inside the lift box, trying to make the door close (he felt kind of dumb doing this, and waving his hands around). Or, he stood outside and focused on reviving the cold cables, and trying to rouse that gnarled gears connected to the rusted cable. Only the bulb inside the elevator box buzzed with life, and a few insects hummed around the only glimmer light within miles. The hall lay dim and sodden, the wallpaper wilting. Even the walls slumbered in silence, while Mono bashed his heels into the splintered boards.

This display of agitation ended, when a sliver pierced his heel. Mono crumpled to the floor, but went immediately to gnaw the offending bite from his calloused heel. It took a few nips and ripping of skin embedded with grit, but with expert ease he chewed out all the bits of the wood flint. With the crisis averted, he decided to let the lift alone. For now.

While going on to explore through the corridor and few rooms that would open, he persisted to try for make other things move; like the way the Thin Man thought he could. A heap of ruble in a corridor, a bent doorway with a jammed lock? He struggled to make those things reform, disappear, or explode. He had to be able to make something more happen, if only he could get a grasp for the sensation. He felt something... like when he teleported. Getting a read on the sensation and how it felt against his finger tips, was really messing him up. It was there, he just couldn't hold the power for it.

One time, he really did wreck a building. The floors, its windows, all the walls - he didn't remember how it happened or why it all went away, but he knew that it was all him. With his arms raised, everything evaporated from his fingertips. The Thin Man was there, and nearly disappeared too. He didn’t ever want that to happen again. The thought made him shudder.

Ages later, and he swore he hadn’t given up. He just needed something smaller, something he could grapple with and focus all on.

To his semi-disappointment, rather than stumble onto this illusive perfect project, he instead found where the Thin Man had gone for the hide and quiet.

Even when Mono wasn’t trying, he was too good at find the man in the hat. That was his favorite game, too. They played many games, and finding the Thin Man was the most greatest. It was because the Thin Man didn't care for hiding, not unless the other children.... Mono was careful. He always made certain the man  and his hat didn't have anything doing that would unexpect Mono.

A lone crack in the roof became the only way for Mono to get into the room. The narrow gap had formed in the splintered woof, where the cables and bolts of a dangling lamp pried the slate loose. Very carefully, he squeezed between the boards and let himself drop to the bowl of a sagging lamp. He almost tipped out when his weight caused the thread wire to wrench a bolt loose; however, the tangle of wires kept the lamp anchored. For the most part. He climbed from the bowl and dangled from the edge, before dropping to the floor.

The entire lamp came crashing down afterwards, the glass shattered and biting bits dusted the carpet. Mono launched to his feet and rushed to the nearest cabinet, where he hid in the black cloak it cast. Dust curled across the pitiful haze cast from the doorway, at the far side of the room. The only light glided from that portal, and with its gleam he examined the distant walls. Once the echo faded off, no sounds clattered through the pace beyond the doorway - not even the trickle of water, or the wheeze of walls. The vacant space held dust rather mist, the dank breath of mildew soaked the air.

This place was not same. Okay. The soft mumur of static prickled under his skin and tingled under his cap. New place was danger, but the man in the hat was somewhere.

Like always, he began with the scout through quiet rooms and made plans about the pathways formed by vacant corridors, and the dusty layers coating the floors. Many of the windows he inspected had not shattered entirely, and the boards held out the driving pellets that rattled the slates. Some closed doors shunned his important inspection, but he did find what must be the kitchen place - even if part of the cabinets lay in mounds of insect riddled ruble. After that, he followed the steady hum to find where the Thin Man was.

The very tall man had put himself in a distant and secluded room. His long frame was folded over at a table, the soft scuffing churned with the wind howling, and the faint scratching at the table. The tall thin man was fine, so Mono went off to check the other rooms.

This place was probably where the Thin Man wanted to nest. He liked the dry and quiet areas, where no televisions sang or crackled, and nothing pounded in the other rooms with clomping boots. From his search through the building, Mono didn’t recall seeing any Snatchers or Viewers. To be honest, he didn’t know what sort of building this was. He got in through a broken window, but from the outside shrouded by mist and clouds, it looked tall. Some buildings, he suspected they went forever beyond the cloud layer. Maybe to the moon, and to lands further than he could imagine.

While the Thin Man had quiet and alone, Mono found to busy with the pilfering of food things. It was easy to figure out a kitchen - even one ruined and coming undone - by the dozen of cabinets and cupboards and drawers, and other storage places for food things. He hid in a cupboard and chewed through boxes and waxy paper covers, he licked clean the wrappers and nibbled the crusty stuff when it gathered on his fingers. Between every few swallows, he wandered off to find some water and then went back to it. Always, he made sure to save something for the Thin Man.

He carried a hefty canister in his arms, and went through the main corridor, back to where the Thin Man was. Carefully, he set the container beside the doorframe and knelt. In his brief absence, the man in the hat hadn’t moved; not an inch, aside from his elbow, while his arm wriggled across the table. The steady scratching filled the space, alongside the soft brush of his arm across the stacks of pages.

If the Thin Man wanted to stop in a dry room but there was no table, then he would make one from nothing. Or… he made it with chunks of wood and whatever else he peeled from the walls, with the powers he controlled. Of course he did. The Thin Man could do anything. He was amazing!

The think about all the stuff the Thin Man could do, or chose not to, always made Mono's breath come a little quicker. He didn’t try for think about how it might’ve happened, if he raised his hand and tried to… do anything to the man in the hat, when they stood in the street. It would’ve been a bad end.

In the end of everything, it went terrible anyway. But! Now he had his Thin Man, and he could always chase. He could catch the Thin Man for keep, and the the man in the hat let him be around, looked at him, and did the speek. That was most important. Forget Her. She was horrible. And She was gone, too.

For the now, Mono left the can beside the doorframe and crept into the room. The even prickle of static was thick, and the lamp on the other side of the table flashed or sputtered. When he stood directly beside, or beneath, the desk, he couldn’t see the Thin Man no more. Just his knees, and his lanky frame bowed over the table. That meant he had many thoughts, many rambling quiet lines to put onto the papers. The smoke smell hovered in a fog around the hat, and the dense scratching gnawed at the tables surface.

A bucket was the only item in the room that had height, and that he could shove close to the table. When he caught the edge of the table and hoisted himself over the edge, he was met by pages strewn everywhere. A few stacks of books hid his arrival from the Thin Man, but he also couldn’t see the face of hat. This prompted Mono to duck down, as if hiding from a ghastly menace seeking specimens to cram into a jar.

The arm moved from scratching at a page, and a heavy cloud rolled across the pillars of books.

When the scuffing resumed, Mono slipped down onto his tummy and watched between the books, while the hand worked deftly with the pencil. He liked to watch the graceful movement of the fingers, forming curves and slashes. The stained end hardly left the page, but gaps appeared all the same. A little beyond the wrist, sat a familiar heap of soot and crushed stubs.

Mono snorted, and moved his attention to the piles and scatter of pages left among the books. Some of the marks he recognized, but he didn’t know if they had meaning – unlike pictures, which showed a distinct message. A circle, a line, four shorter lines, maybe clothing and hair, a hat… a child. It depended on who the speek was to. Mono was a square, a triangle, and lines. She was….

He scooted between the stacked books and reached for a page. The discolored surface went corner and edge, all layered in thick or thin lines, and some overlapping in weird ways. When he tried to haul the paper close, a firm tug snapped it out of his grip.

“Do N̶̲͒o̶̩͌ṯ̵̒ ̸̙͑ Ṫ̶̙e̴͗͜s̶̰̊ẗ̵̳́ me.”

Mono tucked his arms back under his coat and settled to watch the man in the hat resume his scratching – corner to edge, and side. Another page filled, and then sifted between the pages of a book. Then the man in the hat stopped for a puff on the smoke stick.

That was all he did. But sometimes he did something different, like flip through a book. Or write in a book! Much of the time was spent on scratching across the pages. The whole while, Mono observed in his hushed bubble. He was good company. Even when his shoulders began to droop, and his forehead cracked once into the tables surface. He snapped his head up, nearly knocking his own hat off.

With all the stealth in his arsenal, he slunk among the forest of books and made it to the Thin Man’s stationary arm. A lone finger tapped against a stack of pages, as if warning Mono.

But Mono was crafty. He skimmed by the edge of the pages, and made it beside the contemplative arm. He checked over the Thin Man’s elbow, and made sure the face and all the attention had not found him yet. The Thin Man stayed focused on his very favorite busy stuff.

“Hmm? Watch?”

The scuffing and movement of the pencil didn’t stop. The finger didn’t slow or cease tapping at the papers - all decorated with the Thin Man's favored lines.

“S’watch? Improt’hhn.” He tugged on the Thin Man’s sleeve. “Y’watch? Hmm? Am—” He bowed his head low when a finger pressed down onto his hat. "Murhh...."

“S̷̜͐h̵͉̕h̵̙͊h̵̝͊.̵̮̐.̵̰̌.̵̧͘.̶̞̂”

Mono shuffled back from the hand. “For watch.” In response, the formerly passive arm knocked him backwards. He wrangled his balance, before he toppled off the tables edge.

“Ḩ̴͒ụ̸̆s̸͓̚h̶̋͜,̸͆ͅ ̶̬͊ O̶̠͘r̶͉͆ ̴̝̄ I̶̧͑ ̸̬̔ Ẅ̴̲́ì̷͍l̷͔̏l̸̤̐ ̸͈͊ G̷͇͝i̸̱̇v̸̟͌e̸̤͠ ̸̖̆ Y̴̖͝o̷̮͆u̵̹̽ ̴̗͆ S̵̼̿o̶̟͐m̸̝̊e̷̩͗t̶̲̍h̶̟͐i̸̧̿n̶͉̔g̶͙̈ ̴͇̕ Ṫ̶͚õ̶̯ ̸̡̍ Ẇ̵͇ā̴̱ṱ̴̾c̸̥͝h̵̼̊.̴̟͘” The Thin Man never dismissed his frigid interest from the paper. He resumed his line sketching, as if he had never spoke.

Mono grabbed the edges of his hat and heaved it down over his head. He scooted back on his knees and buried his heated cheeks into the comforting darkness within the soggy cloth. He listened to the movement of the arm as the man in the hat worked, alongside the dull grinding. It sounded nice, mixing with the broil of static and the tingling in his ears.

He only poked his head up to give the room a short glimpse, and check for shadows that might be out of place. The only doorway was to one side of the room, and the Thin Man’s shoulder faced it – he could see if something traipsed in. Probably would hear a creature first.

If he wasn’t lost in the mark speek.

It was a long while before Mono decided to turn his own focus back to the man in the hat. The eyes glittered beneath the amazing hat, and he wondered what it could be the Thin Man for think about. He could only wonder and watch, while another page was darkened with marks before being it was shuffled aside; it didn’t look like anything but thickened scribbles. Nothing the Thin Man ever scratched down made sense to Mono.

“S’portant?” he dared whisper. And tugged on the sleeve, same as before. But this time, gently. “T’scratch make? S'to happy? That’n’port’hnnn….” His heart skipped when the pencil stopped moving and the hissing static became a churning simmer.

Was this not good company? Did he do wrong?

“Very I̷͓͗m̴̲̋p̷̯͝o̴͕̐r̴͈̔t̵͕̀a̵̩̒ṇ̸̒t̴̗́,” the static relented.

Mono wrested with a sniffle. “Ehn'more t’portant… Mono.” He clutched at the lapels of his own coat and bit on his lip, so it wouldn’t quiver. It was a long moment, before the chair creaked as the man in the hat shifted. The dark gaze and the rigid face turned to observe him directly. Mono tried smiling.

“It is important. For you. We discussed this.”

Mono tucked his face low. That was confusing. He didn’t… well, there came so many stories with the Thin Man. He didn’t recall much, but… there was something about the Eye, and a corridor somewhere - behind the screen? Or was it a door? It was all lost in the swirling stories for a child and this awful sadness bubbling inside. A sad child, lost someplace. One of the children the Thin Man looked for, but couldn’t find. He didn’t know which it was, or if Mono had ever seen that one. There were so many.

“Am here,” he reminded. “Keep. Okay? For you.” The Thin Man stared at him without a sound, save for the buzz of static. “That s’portent. Am keep.”

The man in the hat shouldn’t think about gone children and the ones that didn’t run anymore. It wasn’t good for him. Mono took care of the Thin Man. He took care of watch, and he would get everything the tall thin man needed. Nothing would hurt his Thin Man with Mono protecting him.

“You are something. Huh.”  The elbow pushed him away. “How about the child undertake a fresh task. You have hovered long enough.”

Mono shook his head. “Watch.” He whined when the Thin Man scooped him up. “No. Down. Lemme stay.”

A crackly wisp of smoke swarmed the Thin Man’s hat, as he carried Mono to the doorway. “I can do without the yowling.”

The hands released Mono, but he landed gracefully all the same. Without wasting a second, he pivoted and charged at the Thin Man - only to smack into the shut door. “Buhh,” he snorted, and fixed his hat. He tried pushing at the cracked panel, in case it wasn’t locked fast. Of course, the Thin Man learned from the last time, and the door handle was too high. Aside from the bucket inside the room, he couldn’t recall anything that might could be moved for him to stand on.

Last, he tried teleporting. That wasn’t gonna work, only because he’d worked hard and hadn’t gotten the chance for stop.

That sometimes that worried him, too. What if the Thin Man decided he wasn’t enough of same? Or decided Mono was wrong if he wasn’t good with the teleport. He dread too, what  if his own powers... stopped. The Thin Man might think to him like other kids, and not the best. Mono wouldn’t be the most important. He would be nothing, and he wouldn't be able to find the Thin Man.

He pushed away from the brittle slates of the doors base. The canister he left in the doorframe had tipped over when the door shut, so he moved it back over to the doorway. Then, he followed the long, tilted corridor, retracing his steps in the dust layers. None of the bulbs carried a steady glimmer, but the pasty hue did keep his toes from snagging on tangles of rotted carpet. He was tempted to try and make the static sing in the wires, and make the quiet bulbs coo with warm glows.

But the result was the same smoke and glass raining over his hat, and even inviting bulbs burst into nothing but wire and glass. He rather lay off that for a while.

Following with another scout of the rooms, he found that the place was just as he left it. No thumping, no horrible beasts or crawly critters (aside from the ones he could nibble) – it was the usual oppressive rooms and misty windows. That didn’t stop him from wandering around more and checking interesting things, like the contents of a crushed nightstand. He rifled through the pulverized contents, looking at a moldy rag and a shiny chain with polished glass in it. The Thin Man didn’t like glass or sparkling metal, and Mono was the same. He liked to look at shiny stuff, but that was about it. If it wasn’t a sturdy chain he could attach to a door or creature, or lower down to someplace too high for a leap, he didn’t need it.

One time he tried dragging a chain around, and swatting furniture with it. That activity didn't last, when he missed a mark and smashed the metal against his shin. He limped for a long while and was scared he would never get better. The bruise that formed was unlike anything he'd ever seen. After he recovered, he never swung anything around that wasn't a trusty hammer or sturdy pipe. 

In complete silence he roamed through the rooms, poking at this and that, wondering what this broken lump might’ve been, sometimes puzzling about faded pictures and the shapes in stained lumps of paper. If a particular crackling rippled through the steady lull, he was swift to duck into the nearest patch of shadow ad curl up. Usually nothing came of the sounds, and he was keen to dive into the stable portion of a room if the walls began to buckle. Rarely did some gurgling shape hunting for children, or just a kid, appear from the shy creaking. But Mono was so good at flee and hide, he never dredged up a creatures unwanted interest. He never let his guard down, even in rest.

One window in a detached room hung crooked in the wall, damp but not drenched through by the forever storms howling outside the cracked glass. The sill was for high to reach on his own, but the edge had cracked and serrated fibers sagged just an inch out of his reach. He used a shirt sleeve to snag the corner, then he could climb up and get a grip of the worn wood. He curled up in the corner of the window frame and tugged the tail of his coat around his knees.

In the back of his head, the soft tickle of static brushed his thoughts. Later, he would try and do more company with the Thin Man. It would take time before the man and his hat finished whatever scratch marks he put onto the pages, but he would to stop at some point. He always did. If Mono gave him quiet, the Thin Man might even let him see, and tell him about the marks. The stuff that the Thin Man did speek about must’ve had to do with the Eye and other things, like that door... the corridor, and the door, and other stuff Mono didn't... that happened way before. When he did pack with Ḩ̷͉̈́̐e̸̮̊r̵̦̜̋.̷̳̤̈́͌ The things he did understand, was it connected up with everything that put quiet think into the man in the hat.

The Thin Man wanted to share those stories with Mono, but the rambling fuss the Thin Man made about anything and everything never made sense when he meant for Mono to listen. He didn’t get Mono made speek in pictures, and didn't do the lines or the noises. Noisy children die. The only thing they left behind were stories about them, and the dangers that stole them. It happened to all kids, but it wouldn't happen to Mono.

He used the back of his fingernail to scrape away soft wood. The rain prattled at the remaining shards of glass, and the murky layers slathered the sill with fractured grays. Outside, the dark ravels bled through the sky, but its oily grasp melted through the clouds. In the knotted mesh of grays and silver, the timid flicker of windows gazed back like gaunt faces. He made an etch for each wayward flame lost in the storm. And did an outline of the chair. He included an egg, even if he didn’t like them that much – eggs were better than nothing. He added other marks, like a favorite hat he lost, a pack of children trapped in a bag. The cage. He kept carving, until a small section of the sill was covered in muddy sawdust and grooves or everything he had think about.

The Tower was out there. Even through the violent storm, the beacon and flat shape glided high in the sky. The blistering flare of the signal light pulsed, singeing the storm with its searing gaze. Beneath the fearsome light, stretched the sharp fringes of the structure… miles and miles of walls concealing the maze of doors and corridors and stairwells, days and days of backtracking, listening, and getting thrown into random rooms with ever misstep. He forgot how long he spent seeking, but he never forgot the strange shadows quivering beneath chunks of furniture - the horrid interior he climbed through forever to find H̶̺͐̿ĕ̶̜͔r̶̤̤͐.̴̙̞̚

And also… where S̷̠̔h̴͙̩̀͠e̶̤̮̽ tried for leave him.

Somewhere in tuning the televisions, he must’ve messed up. He did use televisions to make his way to the Tower way back then, but he never wanted to be near the Tower ever again. Not until he knew what to do, maybe not until he forgot H̶̺͐̿ĕ̶̜͔r̶̤͐ entirely. He would return to the Tower, he would make it all right, he would fix everything. He could do that. He had never given up.

There was a chance to fix everything. First, he had to be ready. He had to know his powers. His powers. Not whatever the Thin Man thought he could or couldn't do.

One time forever ago, he liked to look at the Tower whenever he had the chance. See it and think about what he would do, how he would figure something out for once rather than run away like always. Something would change this time, and it would make up for all the failing he did. The dream haunts would go away, he could stop the think about everyone he turned his back on. He was clever, and with Her they did many tricks. When it was them, then they escaped dangers that took other kids. She and him did it all on their own, had safe figured how puzzles worked. The Hunter was torn apart, he gave her a fish, they found shelter, he saved Her from fake children, they escaped the Teacher, he shared food things, they braved the Hospital, crushed hands, he took care of her wounds, they cooked the Doctor (the way monsters did the children).

Nothing could stop them. They were so much as pack, and could do anything in Togetherness!

He slipped off the sill and hurried to the doorway. Too many bad memories swarmed his head, he needed to write stories about them and put the pictures in his head somewhere else. But he didn't want to wander around anymore, not after all the places he was been, or with all the seeking he did catching up. HIs legs became noodles and his eyes blurred the gloomy surroundings. All he could do was curl up in the hall between a broken chair and a heap of clothing, and blend in with his surroundings. His head plopped onto his knees, drawn up to his chest. It was safest to be as small and uninteresting as possible.

Out there, the Tower was waiting. It expected him. Mono didn't know why he thought this, he more of felt it. The Tower remembered him in a way he didn't understand, and it expected him. If they stayed away from the televisions, it should be... okay. There was nothing to worry about, and nothing for do. The Thin Man didn’t need to know. If the man in the hat figured out where the Tower was, he might not trust Mono, or worse, go somewhere that Mono couldn’t follow. He didn’t know if that was possible, but most of all he didn’t want to scare the Thin Man. He didn’t want to admit he was scared too. He didn’t want the Thin Man to think he was a danger. He would always catch his Thin Man and keep, but what would he do if he accidentally hurt the man or his hat?

Next

__

Hello readers, if you are interested in meeting with other Little Nightmares writers, or artists, or others discussing fandom things, do pop into the discord right here [Little Nightmares Fanfiction Club]

#little nightmares #lil nightmares #mono #the thin man #thin dad #feral mono #little nightmares fanfic #little nightmares fanfiction #fanfic #fanfiction #mono being a good boy #protecting his tower man from danger #what could the thin man be working on? Hmmm? #detective thin man on the scene

[90ekz]

nanami giving his wife a treat at the office <33

he knows he shouldn’t do this, everything in his body is screaming at him to stop—yet he can’t.

you’d waltzed into his job like you owned the place, carrying his hefty lunch box he’d left on the counter that morning. he’d gotten enough lashings from you about not eating, so he settled for packing food every morning before he left. there were times he’d “forget” to pick it up on the way out, just to see you later in the day, and this was one of those days.

nanami was totally normal about the way you carried yourself in his workplace. you talked to sarah at the front desk like she was an old friend from high school, and you smiled so prettily everytime someone complimented your outfit or your hair. you don’t even know how many times his coworkers had begged him to convince you to come work for his company, but he knew how much your profession meant to you.

it was cute, really.

on days like this, spending his lunch break with you was more than enough to get him through the rest of the grueling day—especially since he had his head squished between your thighs.

was this smart at all, not really. the walls in the office were paper thin, even at the 12th floor where he resided. there weren’t many people on this floor anyway, but it was still a risk. it didn’t matter to you though, as nanami drank you down like a man parched for water. he’d already made you cum from his thick fingers twice, but you wanted his tongue more, yet he kept edging you.

“babe, s-slow down!” you whispered, your protests falling on deaf ears. nanami was on another planet, his eyes screwed shut and a blush painting his cheeks a pretty shade of pink. your legs were shaking as he plunged his fingers in and out of you, his tongue abusing your clit. your fingers gripped his hair, trying to get a little break from his relentlessness.

“hmmm… ‘don’t wanna.” nanami smiles, playing innocent as your thighs tightened around his head. he was in complete awe of you, he could lose his job doing this, but he didn’t care. you looked so beautiful, sitting there waiting for him to fuck you—to make you cum—and he adored this view more than anything.

nanami kisses his way up your thighs, making sure to lick at your most sensitive spots. the pad of his thumb traces over your aching clit, rubbing with much more vigor as he watched your pout grow. he knows what you need, and his break was too close to being over to not give you what you want. his smile grows as he buries his face between your thighs, his hazel eyes turning doughy as he winks at you. you giggle as you feel him smile against you, and you feel yourself rising to your peak.

“baby, baby—let me cum this time please—” you cried, your voice coming out weaker with each word. even as desperate as you were, your actions were so gentle. your hands carding through his hair so softly that he thought he’d melt into the floor, your soft smile staying in place, even on wobbly lips. just as your body trembled, he was pulling away, a gentle smile matching yours on his lips. you whine, feeling cold at the loss of contact once more.

“so mean…”

“it’s okay. i know my wife loves it.”

#syno’s picks 💌 #jjk smut #jjk x black reader #jjk x you #jjk nanami #nanami kento #jujutsu kaisen nanami #jjk x y/n #jjk x fem!reader #nanami x reader #nanami smut #jujutsu nanami #black reader #black!fem!reader #nanami fluff #nanami x you #did i say wife enough times like jesus christ

[manias-wordcount]

Rise and Grind (Rei Suwa)

Kinktober 2023 Day Thirteen: Dry Humping

𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚? ⇒ 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩

𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙧?

𝙗𝙪𝙮 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙚?

You had just finished plating the last of the pancakes and fried the rest of the bacon before he had come wandering in. 

  The drag of his feet was what gave it away, so you already found yourself smiling softly at him- before he was within your view. But sure enough, there he was. Dressed in a pair of pajamas that hung very loosely on his lean frame. And bed-head sticking up and out and down and around and all sorts of different directions. And of course- there was that passive expression on his face. The tired, half-lidded eyes, complete with the dark rings that symbolize another tireless night. The mouth almost settled into a frown. And the hands, previously hanging limply at his side.

  Now reaching out, hoping to grab at you.

  “You’re up so early, Rei.” You whisper to him quietly as he shuffles a little closer. You catch his dark blue eyes for a second behind his messy bangs, and he just offers up a half-groan, half-grunt in acknowledgment. You smile at him again, offering up something a little bit sweet for the exhausted man in front of you before turning your attention to your last task before waking the other two in the apartment up to eat. “I’m almost done with breakfast. Can you go ahead and sit down at the table for me?”

  He lets out another groan, and this time it’s accompanied by a mumble too low for you to really make out. Luckily, he stops moving further in the kitchen and opts to linger by one of the countertops you’re not currently using. Still a little close. But not quite in the way. Just yet, at least.

  With a sigh, you shake your head playfully at him and get back to work. He’s always been a bit clingy in the morning. Ever since he and Kazuki had convinced you to move in. So much so that the early morning visits when it’s your turn to cook breakfast for everyone are starting to get less and less surprising. Even though you know he never does this to Kazuki.

  However as your hands start to move again, you find yourself pulled back into the task at hand. At least for a little while. Currently, you’re cutting up strawberries. Pulling at the leaves. Separating the berry from its stem. Letting your small knife pass through the even smaller pieces of fruit as you chop them up into thin little slices. Easy for a little girl like Miri to snack on and enjoy without making too much of a mess. Plus, you know Kazuki is particularly fond of this brand of strawberries that you picked up the last time you went shopping. You know he would definitely enjoy some cut into some bigger pieces. He might even appreciate it if you sprinkled a few of the strawberries on his pancakes. Maybe you could even make them in a nice pattern too. Or even a cute little strawberry face on Miri’s two pancakes. Hmmm…

  While you’re lost in thought, absently cutting away at the strawberries and wondering if you should stick to the simple bowls of fruits or do something special, something wraps around your waist from behind and squeezes tight. You can’t hold in the sudden gasp that comes pouring from your lips in surprise. The feeling of arms circling your body isn’t too unfamiliar, but you were just so focused on breakfast that you nearly forgot about Rei standing nearby, watching you as you worked. So for a second, you nearly jumped out of your skin as your instincts told you exactly what to do. Stay very still. Tighten your grip on the weapon in your hands. Assess the situation.

  But as your mind began to catch up with everything that was happening around you, you felt the brush of dark, messy hair against your neck, causing you to shiver for a second. And soon after that, followed an increase of pressure- the feeling of someone letting more and more and more of their weight fall onto you. It’s then that you do finally realize that it was Rei- clingy, sleepy Rei- holding onto you from behind and crowding into you- like you’re the most comfortable thing in the world. 

  “Rei…” You murmur, almost afraid to raise your voice any louder in favor of keeping the quiet atmosphere that had fallen between the two of you once more now that your heart has settled. You put down the knife and abandon a half-cut strawberry in favor of turning your head and trying your best to look at him from over your shoulder. Still, he acknowledges the call of his name by letting out another low groan before stepping a little closer to your backside and squeezing you a little tighter. You wonder if he’s able to smell exactly what you’ve been cooking all morning. You wonder if that’s what caused him to stumble in the kitchen like a lost, lonely puppy today. “Give me a little more of a warning next time! You scared me…”

  Rei lets out another quiet groan. But this time, when the mumble follows, you’re able to hear it loud and clear as he speaks the word into your skin.

  “...sorry…” He apologizes- head turnt and lips brushing against your neck as he speaks. It causes you to let out another shiver, but judging by the way you feel him almost smile into your skin, you have a feeling that must have been what he wanted all along. Because in that moment, the hands around your waist are trailing downwards. Slowly, slowly, slowly. But with open palms and fingers stretched wide as the hands around your waist become the hands around your hips, to even the hands dipping past the fabric of your short, pajamas shorts. Touching and feeling and exploring the bare skin that was left exposed and vulnerable.

  Your breath hitches in the back of your throat as his touches get a bit bolder. A bit more intense. But you don’t him to take his hands off of you. And you make no move to pull his hands off of you either. No, instead you’re watching. Instead, you’re waiting. Looking at the way his hands travel the expanse of your body. As if his goal was to memorize the shape and the feel of your curves. Running his hands up and running his hands up and down and up and down as he cherishes every chance he gets to get a feel of you. The real you. All of you. Now that parts of you are covered by a nice pair of silky sleeping shorts. Not the parts of you that are covered by one of the boy’s ratty old t-shirts. The real you.

  The very parts of you that you’re willing to share with him. The very parts of you that you want to share with him.

    So when Rei peeks his head over the side of your shoulder and locks eyes with you, you just let yourself give a little nod to his unasked question. It’s all the confirmation he needs to let his hand start reaching down once more. Only this time, they’re not going to rest over the top of your pajamas. This time, it’s one hand reaching for the waistline and pulling it down- your panties included. Dragging them down as far as he can without having to change too much of his position. Letting you experience the drag of fabric against your skin and the slight coolness of your nice and damp center being exposed in the kitchen.

  But you aren’t left with a whole lot of time to think about how indecent you are. You aren’t left with a whole lot of time to think about how you should move to the bedroom or at least hold out until you know the two of you will have some more privacy. Because by then, Rei has already stepped impossibly closer to you. 

  And had just pressed his sizeable erection right against your ass.

  The thin pair of pajamas he’s wearing leaves little to the imagination- even on touch alone. You feel yourself letting out another gasp at just how hard and thick and defined his cock feels just rubbing up against your skin from behind- even with a layer of clothes still separating you from it. From behind you, you swear you could hear Rei let out a sound- a quiet chuckle. But all too soon, both his hands are at your hips again. Gripping it, instead of wrapping around. Letting two coarse palms dig blunt nails into your skin as he pulls your ass into his cock and grinds. 

  Running his hardness up and down and up and down and up and down the expanse of your ass. You try to follow his movements. You try to keep up- try to grind back into him. Roll your hips in a way you know he likes. Throw it back ever so slightly- just to give him a surprise. But in the end, you just can’t keep up with his speed. You just can’t keep up with his eagerness. With his desire to have his way with you- even if it’s not through the usual means, he likes to seek pleasure from you.

  Still, you find yourself smiling again. At least ever so slightly. Now, the kitchen is no longer filled with the sounds of bacon cooking and feet shuffling. Now it’s filled with the sounds of Rei’s harsh breaths in and out as he gets himself off using your body and friction between the two of you. Now it’s filled with your gasps of surprise and pleasure whenever Rei manages to pull off a move that somehow pleases the two of you at the same time. But most of all?

  It’s filled with a man. Starved down to his bones- looking for something to feast on. Looking for something to satisfy him. Looking for you to satisfy him. And luckily for him.

  You know just exactly what he needs in this moment.

  And you’re more than happy to give it to him too. 

#rei suwa #rei suwa x reader #buddy daddies #buddy daddies x reader #buddy daddies fanfic #buddy daddies fanfiction #x reader #xreader #fanfic #fanfiction #rei buddy daddies

[milkmily]

Dreams [Simon Riley]

Simon 'Ghost' Riley x fem reader SMUT

No use of y/n(code name is Eggs), it's really short sorry 😭

"That's it sweetie, take me all in." Ghost whispered in your ear. You kept sinking into his cock, making you moan. It felt like it would never end. His cock was stretching you so good, making you hold on to his thighs as you kept sinking in.

"S-So big…" You say and let out a breath, finally having him all in. "Fuck, you are dripping." He says in a deep voice that makes you more turned on. "You wanna make your Lieutenant proud, Eggs?" He asked as he gently cupped your breasts and squeezed them. "Y-Yessss…!" you wanted to start moving, hop on his cock till there is no end. He gently pinches your nipple and you cup your hands on top of his. "Fuck, aren't you cute? Taking me all in so well." He whispered and lifted his mask, only seeing his lips. He made you turn to look at him and he kissed you. It was a wet sloppy kiss, saliva coming out of the corner of your mouth.

He holds your hips, lowers himself, and starts to move. He would gently move his hips in a circular motion and would gently thrust into your pussy. You pulled away from the kiss, needing to breathe and moan. But Ghost cups your face and makes you turn to look at him, crushing his lips into yours. You moaned in the kiss as your eyes rolled to the back of your head. Fuck, he felt so good, way better then you imagined.

"Keep Quiet, Eggs." He says and moves his hand down in-between your thighs. "Wouldn't want to wake up the others, do you?"

"N-No…fuck!" You bit your lower lip as you tried your hardest to not moan louder. He started to rub gentle circles on your clit, making you arch your back, the back of your head falling on his shoulder. You closed your eyes and covered your mouth. "That's it, sweetie, keep that mouth of yours quiet." He says and suddenly holds tightly onto your hips and harshly thrust in you, making you yelp. "G-Ghost, f-fuck! Faster please!!" You yelled, no longer caring if the rest heard your begs and screams. They would just hear how good Ghost was fucking your wet cunt.

Ghost lets out a shaky chuckle and moves faster. "You love this cock, don't you?" He says as he thrust deeper into you, making you shake your head. "Y-Yes! Yes yes yes yes…" you were so cock drunk, it drove him ever more crazy! He wanted to fill up your pretty pussy with his thick load and see it drip out.

"I-I'm going to c-cum!" You yelled and held the back of his head. "Fuck, you coming on this dick?"

"Y-Yes! Ghost Y-Yes please!"

"Eggs…" Ghost calls. Ghost suddenly stopped, making you turn to look at him. He was smiling at you and he suddenly said, "Wake up."

Your eyes go wide and the sudden bright sun blinds you, making you yell and cover yourself with your blanket. "What the fuck!" You yelled and took the covers off. "I was having such a good dream, I was-" you look up to see the masked man in front of you. "Wake up Eggs, you'll be late. Does your alarm not work or some shit?" Your face feels hot and you squeeze your thighs. "I'll be there, sorry Lt." You say and he nods. He walks out and you just stare at the door. You grabbed your pillow and screamed into it.

What if I said something while I slept? I do talk in my sleep. Fuck… I'm getting my ass fired! Omg!

There was a sudden knock on your door, making you jump, "Hurry it up Eggs!"

"Yes Sir!" You yelled and hopped off your bed.

Ghost rolled his eyes and leaned on the wall, waiting for you. He looks down at his hands and sighs as he sees a tent in his pants.

Ghost looked at the time and saw you hadn't walked out of your room. He hurries to your door and gently opens it. That's when he heard it. "Ghost…yes…hmmm…" he watched as you moved around in your bed, thighs pressing together. He watched and looked at your chest. Something in him wanted to feel you, touch you, kiss you even. You were wearing a thin tank top, you could almost see your breast through them. It was driving him crazy. He cleared his throat, getting his head out of the gutter, and called, "Eggs?" Nothing. "Eggs! Wake up!" And that was when you woke up.

Ghost groans and looks around. He walks away and goes to his room.

#simon riley imagine #simon riley x reader #simon ghost riley x reader #simon ghost riley #cod ghost x reader #ghost x reader #ghost x reader smut #smut #cod smut

[redjademilktea]

I've had this draft sitting around for a few months, but Marisha saying Laudna wants a "simple cottage core lesbian life" with Imogen in the lasted 4 Sided Dive made me want to go back and polish this up a bit!! For context, my partner asked me to write something small and imodna related with the word "baking" as a prompt. Just a quick writing exercise as a break from dissertation work. So I came up with this!!

----

"Okay one egg or two?"

"Two. And remember to add them in with the rest of the wet ingredients, not with the dry."

"You're supposed to separate- shit."

Imogen looked at the mess of ingredients, cooking utensils, and mixing bowls sprawled out on the counter in front of her. She didn't think learning this particular recipe would be walk in the park, per se. But she certainly didn't expect... well this - standing here with Laudna in their little cottage kitchen with the remnants of three (soon to be four) attempts at making a passable cookie batter splattered across various surfaces. "Start me off with somethin' easy," she had said when agreeing to baking lessons earlier in the day, "you really liked those cookies that Lord Eshertoss would bake for us, right? We can start with those." She let out a sigh at the memory.

Laudna now stood behind Imogen, peering over her shoulder at her... creation.

"Oh, you might be able to- hmmm." Laudna said as she tested the batter's flavor with her pinky. Suddenly, her eyes went wide as *something* seemed to hit her. Imogen cringed slightly as she awaited the verdict.

"Imogen, darling, you did add two *teaspoons* of vanilla, not tablespoons, correct?"

"Is there a difference?"

"A bit of one, yes," Laudna said with a low chuckle.

"Sorry Laudna," Imogen sighed. She moved to rub her eyes before quickly realizing her damn hands - just like everything else in the kitchen, really - were coated in that sad excuse for a cookie batter. She frustratedly began Prestidigitationing them clean before pinching the bridge of her nose in an attempt to quell an oncoming headache. Before she could get too anxious about the prospect of starting over *one more fucking time*, she felt thin arms wrap around her from behind.

"Imogen, darling, it's alright," Laudna hummed, "I always felt Eshteross was too, well, *extravagant* with his recipe writing. It can make it hard to follow at times." Laudna gestured with one of her hands wildly to emphasize the point in a way that Imogen couldn't help but smile at. "Honestly, do we really need to know what he was eating for breakfast or what life lessons his mother taught him as a child right before telling us to brown the butter?"

"You criticizin' his recipe writing, Laudna?" Imogen asked, already feeling the tension behind her eyes melting away.

"Well, yes, but I don't think he's open to any feedback at the moment."

Imogen let out a small gasp before turning her head to meet Laudna's eyes. "Laudna!" Imogen gave her a stern look in an attempt at mock consternation, but quickly relented into a fond gaze as soon as she caught sight of the way Laudna was leaning her head onto Imogen's shoulder.

"Well all I'm saying is, I love a good set of flowery prose, but there's a time and place. And a recipe certainly isn't the place! Besides, I've always said you were *very* capable. If it's giving you trouble, the recipe is obviously worded poorly!"

Imogen laughed more fully this time. Gods, Laudna could make her feel better about anything, even if it meant defending her honor and recipe following abilities to a dead man. She took a deep breath, taking in the subtle, earthy smell of fallen leaves to help ground her. She opened her eyes to Laudna's warm grin before planting a soft kiss on her lips.

"Thanks baby. Alright, one more time from the top okay with you?"

"Of course darling, just remind me to pick up more eggs from the market tomorrow. We may need to... restock soon."

#imodna #imogen temult #laudna #laudna cr #4sd #short fic!! #an excuse to write a bit about that cottage life in the Heartmoore for them 💕

[gayuu-the-necromancer]

Evil Love Blooming In The Dark Part 1 Jude Jazza ~ Story

 ｡⋆｡˚🦋˚｡⋆｡

My lips are hot and my heart is pounding.

Kate: "----I don't want to be in love with someone like you ever again."

Jude: "Thanks a lot. Neither do I want someone like you in my life."

I can't believe I'm falling for the cruel sneer on your thin lips....

Absolutely no.

..........

Just for one month, I became a fairy tale master after I learned a secret that I shouldn't have known.

Then Victor, the Queen's aide, made a proposal to me.

Victor: "A fairy tale master's job is to keep track of them. That means you have to develop an understanding of them."

Victor: "So Miss Kate. Your first job is...."

Victor: "I want you to pick one of the Crown members and spend a day with them as lovers."

Kate: "It's easy for you to say just 'pick one'........."

Victor smiled cheerfully at me as I froze at the suggestion.

Victor: "Can't pick one? Hmmm....how about we use darts instead?"

(Darts!?)

After quickly preparing the darts like a magic trick, Victor threw one of them at the target with great enthusiasm.

Victor: "The white feather....Oops, I'm sorry robin."

Kate: "Hm?"

Victor: "This may or may not lead to upheaval?"

............

Victor: "Jude~"

(Of all the people it could land on, of course, it had to be the most troublesome one....!)

When we visited the common room, I found Mr. Jude, Ellis, and Mr. Roger each spending their morning.

When Victor explained the situation, Mr. Jude looked up from his newspaper with a face indicating displeasure.

Jude: "No."

Jude: "First of all, why are making this woman a lover? Are you crazy? I doubt her nerves."

Victor: "I'll pay extra for next month."

Jude: ".........Tch."

Mr. Jude stared at me and gave me a mocking cold smile.

Jude: "Once you leave this castle, you better not complain. I don't wanna hear you whining about how much you don't like it or how you wanna go home."

Jude: ".......What do you say? Can you promise me that?"

(....I've come this far, so let's go forward)

(So that I can leave this castle as a trustworthy fairy tale master)

(I must do my job well)

Kate: "Yes. Promise!"

Jude: "Ha...."

When I responded with enthusiasm, Mr. Jude sighed in dismay.

Roger: "Haa. You're going to have a difficult road ahead, if you make promises like that to Jude, young lady."

Kate: "Hm...?"

Roger: "This guy never fails to keep his word. Also, he demands the same from others."

Roger: "The last thing you want to do is break that promise. What waits for you is a terrible retribution for being a defaulter."

Kate: "Terrible retribution....?"

When slowly turned my head to look at Mr. Jude, he had a cruel smile on his lips as if he was enjoying my fright.

Jude: "Don't make promises so easily, princess. I'll teach you that slowly over the course of a day."

..........

Several minutes after that.

(.......I-I wanna go home!)

I regretted my promise as soon as I got out.

Shabbily-dressed man: "Jude Jazza. I won't forgive you.....!"

Jude: "What a disgraceful thing to say in broad daylight. You brought this upon yourself."

Mr. Jude and Ellis were heading for work, so we went to town together. Not more than few minutes later....

Just as Mr. Jude entered the alley from the main street, a shabbily dressed man jumped out with a knife.

Shabbily-dressed man: "You took my house, my property. Everything...!"

Shabbily-dressed man: "Even though I was working hard, the money I earned was being sucked away to pay off my debts....My family is scattered!"

Shabbily-dressed man: "And this is all your fault!!"

Jude: "Ellis."

Ellis: "Mm."

In a flash, Ellis quickly jumps out, grabs the knife from the man, presses him to the ground and restrains him.

(....What the hell was that move?)

I was taken aback by his body language, which cannot be explained simply by his familiarity with the place.

Jude: "You broke the contract. If you want to starve to death paying for a lawsuit you can't win, go ahead."

Mr. Jude, casually walks straight past the man after throwing that line.

Shabbily-dressed man: "Nn..nn...."

Ellis: ".......sorry."

Seeing the man looking down in frustration, Ellis released his restraints and followed Mr. Jude.

(.....What should I do)

I don't know what contract he made with Mr. Jude and why he broke it...

(But....it would be too sad to....leave him like this)

On a spur of the moment, I took out a handkerchief and offered it to the mud-covered man.

Kate: "Umm....here....."

Shabbily-dressed man: "Tch. I don't need a girl like you to pity ME....!"

Kate: "Kyaa....!?"

The man snarled and grabbed onto my leg instead of the handkerchief.

Kate: "L-Let go! Please!"

Shabbily-dressed man: "Shut up! Don't talk back to me!"

My body froze in fear and----

Shabbily-dressed man: "Argh....!"

(Eh.....?)

A clean, polished shoe dug into the man's face.

Jude: "Don't go around touching other people's property."

(Mm....)

I turned around to follow the long legs that gripped and pressed their heels against the man's face.

Mr. Jude was there, looking down at the men with displeasure.

Shabbily-dressed man: "Nn...Nnn..."

Jude: "Heh. Love that face. I love that miserable look."

Mr. Jude scoffs at the man in agony with a bleeding nose, and he turned his heels and started walking away.

(Ah...I have to go)

The man didn't seem to have the energy to jump on me anymore, but the fear I felt earlier distracted me.

I quietly place the handkerchief next to him and ran away.

..........

(Regardless of what method he used.....he still did protect me. I have to thank him)

Kate: "Umm....Thank you for earlier."

Jude: ".....That's what you get for being a naive princess."

Kate: "...Hm?"

Jude: "I didn't do it for you."

Jude: "But from here on now, you're my woman."

Jude: "If I hadn't done something about it, I'm going to get my ass handed to me."

Kate: "O-Oh, I see."

(.......I wish he had just accepted honestly since it didn't change the fact that he helped me)

(But.....he used such violence, so it makes sense, I guess)

Kate: "So, um....how did that man..be like that.....?"

Jude: "Huh? That guy made a contract with me and he didn't keep his word. Now he's paying for it,"

Jude: "He's so miserable, pathetic, and hilarious, right?"

(You were so calm despite immense hatred directed at you)

(On contrary, you seemed to be enjoying it......as if it were a past time)

Jude Jazza. He has the curse of 'The 13th Wizard.'

Ruthless, arrogant and with a strong desire for revenge.

I recall the wording of the material about his curse and I am deeply convinced.

Jude: "You better watch your mouth if you don't want to end up like that. Understood?"

Kate: "Eh.....?"

Jude: "Just now, you wished that....you wanna go home, right?"

Kate: "....I didn't say it, I was just thinking about it."

Jude: "What a pity. I went all the way into the alley to put you in danger and you...."

(Eh....?)

Kate: "Y-You...did you purposely take that route so we get attacked, so I break the promise I made to you!?"

Jude: "Ah, at least you got some brains."

Kate: "What do you mean by 'some'.....?"

Jude: "Heh, thanks."

Jude: "I'm interested to see how long that cocky attitude lasts."

............

I thought it was an office, but we arrived at a port instead.

(I see. They're a tradng company....so they must be in and out of the port frequently)

Jude: "Ellis, get that 'thing' ready. Maybe he'll move tonight."

Ellis: ".......Okay. Miss Kate, see you later."

Kate: "Ah yes....see you."

('Thing'....? I wonder where Ellis is going?)

Tilting my head, I chase after Mr. Jude, who is walking faster and faster as he sends instructions here and there.

Mr. Jude struck up conversations with dockworkers and what appeared to be foremen.

I settled between the loads and observed him.

The looks directed at him were of fright, fear, hostility and....sometimes respect.

(They are scared of him and he's antagonistic, but I think he's so admired...because he can't be easily touched)

After a while, when the work conversation was over and there was no one around Mr. Jude....

Suddenly, a friendly young man rushed up to him.

Young man: "Mr. President. Thank you for your hard work!"

Jude: "Tsk. You're so loud, Jack."

Jack: "Wow, you remembered my name!"

(So there are some people who adore him like this. That's.....surprising)

Jack: "Hm? Who is that young lady over there?"

Jude: "Ah? My woman."

Jack: "Ehhhh!? Mr. President has a lover!?"

(That was so loud...!)

I felt a rush of gazes and I started breaking a sweat.

(I'm scared...or rather it feels like they are all staring at me....?)

Jude: "So what, huh?"

Jack: "Eh? Oh no, sorry. Hehe....I didn't mean to attract a lot of attention like that."

Jude: "Haa....Whatever, just get back to work now."

Jack smiled apologetically and ran away.

(I don't know....I feel uncomfortable)

As I shrink to my make my body smaller among the cargo, I feel Mr. Jude laughing and I looked up.

Jude: "Yes yes. Just like that."

Jude: "Curl up into a ball and disappear. At least it's better than being killed for simply being my girlfriend."

Kate: "So you're saying.....I could get attacked, just like earlier today....?"

I was reminded how that man grabbed my leg and I started feeling uneasy.

Jude: "......Are you scared?"

Kate: "Well, of co------"

(Ah....he might take that as a complaint....?)

I swallowed the words 'Of course, I'm scared' and Mr. Jude snickered and took a step closer to me.

Kate: ".......Mr. Jud.."

Jude: "You're scared, right? Naive, diligent princess?"

Jude: "There's no way you're going to make it back home in one piece after being in that kind of trouble so many times."

As I moved back the closer he gets, I realized my back touched the load of cargo and there is no way out.

Jude: "Look, you can't run away anymore."

His long fingers circled my neck and squeezed to slow the flow of blood.

The sensation of being squeezed, not so painful that I can't breathe but definitely tight, makes my blood run cold.

Kate: "Nn...... .......!"

(I can't say 'stop' or....complain that 'I don't like it')

I was trapped in a situation where I had no way to resist, and the only thing that kept me going was the fear that was growing.

Jude: "If I put a little more pressure here, you'll never go back to the castle again....."

Jude: "What do you say?"

Kate: "......Nn."

(I won't let you....!)

Instead of complaining, I looked straight at Mr. Jude.

Jude: ".....Ha. This face is the cutest one I've seen today."

Jude: "You poor thing. You want to go home but you can't say it out loud because that will break your promise and you're scared that I'll do terrible things to you, right?"

Mr. Jude sees through my fear and struggle and mocks me.

(Is this, your way of making me realize....that 'it's not easy to make promises with you?')

(But you said 'promise me'......)

Anger welled up in me and I squeezed my voice out of my throat, which remained tight.

Kate: "I-I...."

Kate: "I'm not complaining because I fear your retaliation."

Kate: "I just don't want to show that I'm unfaithful....even after I'm released by you guys...."

Jude: "........."

Kate: "So, I will keep my promise to you."

Jude: "......Tch"

He removed his hand from my neck and blood rushed back to my head, making me dizzy.

Kate: "Haa...."

As I stumbled unsteadily to my feet, he grabbed me by the arms and forced me to pull myself up.

Jude: "Do you think I would let my woman go down like this?"

(....This man, seriously is the worst.....!)

Jude: "I've got a business meeting coming up. So just kill some time around here."

Mr. Jude threw me out and went off somewhere.

.............

After a few hours of waiting....

(I want to go home....)

Mr. Jude never returned, and I shivered in the gradually cooling night breeze.

Jack: "Um, Miss Kate....?"

Kate: "You are.....Mr. Jack, right?"

Jack: "Yes. Mr. Jude told me to get you."

(Leaving me just like that and asking your one of you men get me instead of coming on your own....)

I force a smile, feeling my mouth pulled into a tight line.

Kate: "Yeah, okay. Let's go."

...........

(Is this.....some kind of warehouse of company?)

I stepped in with Mr. Jack.

There was a strange man in black and his guards surrounding him.

Man wearing a bowler hat: "Are you Jude Jazza's woman?"

Kate: ".....W-Who are you guys....?"

As I back away, Mr. Jack immediately ties me up.

(This person should have been Mr. Jude's subordinate...!)

Kate: "Are you betraying Mr. Jude?"

Jack: "It's unconscionable to say betraying. I signed a contract with him for money."

Jack: "But now, I got a better-paying job. Why wouldn't I switch?"

Mr. Jack pushed me towards the man wearing a bowler hat.

Man wearing a bowler hat: "I think you're a worthy hostage. That's why I made him bring you here."

Man wearing a bowler hat: "It is unusual for that man to be walking around with a woman, after all."

Kate: "That man...y-you mean, Mr. Jude?"

Man wearing a bowler hat: "Yeah. Just the other day, I heard a guy who sent a woman to sex trafficking was never reinstated." (This line is so confusing, someone please help me!)

Man wearing a bowler hat: "Unexpectedly, he is a man who cares about women."

Kate: ".....I think you've mistaken him for someone else."

Man wearing bowler hat: "Hahaha! Don't underestimate my intelligence network."

Man wearing a bowler hat: "He's got some bad info on me."

Man wearing a bowler hat: "The plan is to negotiate for young lady's safe return, in exchange for shutting his eyes."

Kate: ".....And what if Mr. Jude refuses?"

Man wearing a bowler hat: "Then, unfortunately....you will die."

The cruel declaration sents chills down my spine.

(I doubt that Mr. Jude would be willing to negotiate for me)

(I have to get out of here on my own.....!)

Kate: "Look....to be honest, I just followed him at work today."

Jack: "Huh? But I saw you two flirting in the harbor, earlier today."

Kate: "O-On what angle did it look like we were flirting!? He was choking me....!"

Jack: "Maybe he's into those kind of things."

Kate: "That's a misunderstanding....! I have nothing to do with him----"

Jude: "My girlfriend is so cruel that it really hurts me."

At that moment, we heard something heavy falling on the ground with a thud, and we all turned to the entrance.

It was Jude, who stomped the unconscious guard's body and walked on top of him.

Jude: "Get out of my way, thank you very much."

 ｡⋆｡˚🦋˚｡⋆｡

Bitter End // Premium End // Epilogue

#ikemen series #ikemen villain #ikemen villains #ikemen villains jude #ikemen mc #otome #cybird #cybird ikemen #cybird otome

[cissyenthusiast010155]

The Morally Grey Ch 3: It’s a Pre-Date ~Peggy Carter xFem Scientist!Reader

You get invited by Howard Stark to a scientist society’s presentation. After weeks of not hearing from Peggy, your paths cross and she holds you to a promise.

Mommy… Master List

Requests & Prompt-List

Warnings: fluff, little angst, implied nervousness, scandal, teasing, pet names, etc…

Enjoy (:

Weeks past since you’d come across the female, British SSR agent who’d changed the course of your life. Or who chose to not change the course of your life, if you wanted to be technical.

The woman hadn’t left your mind since that day… Her memory stayed actively alive in your mind, even as you moved labs (at least the ones that the SSR had discovered), as you got back into the swing of inventing, and as you settled back into your daily, regular life. Your wounds had healed from that day, although you were left with two not so nice scars, one on your temple and one on the cheek.

On one of your just another day days, you received an invitation for a scientist’s society presentation hosted by the one and only Howard Stark. You had met Howard once or twice, and while he was indeed quite smart, you found him far to arrogant, scandalous, and risky for your tastes.

However, the letter said it was presenting a new type of bullet resistant armor, one that was “paper thin”. It peaked your curiosity to say the least… You doubted that he could have something better than what you had been developing, as you were quite certain that Stark didn’t have a material like Vibranium. But you were intrigued nonetheless…

So you found yourself driving up to one of the infamous Stark residences about a week later. You noted that no one seemed to have arrived yet… You were greeted by a man who introduced himself as Mr. Jarvis. He led you through the estate and to the backyard. Now your suspicion grew… And when you entered the backyard, it was confirmed.

There was no invention or presentation. Because in the garden stood only one person… Agent Peggy Carter.

“I apologize for misleading you Ms. L/N…” Peggy immediately apologized, “I needed to find a way to draw you out without leading the SSR to you. The safest way I know to do that was Howard. I wanted to see you, I—”

“It’s alright.” You cut the woman off in her rambling, “And Y/N is fine.”

“I’ll leave you two to talk.” Mr. Jarvis said, promptly leaving the garden.

The brunette smiles lightly and nodded.

“Peggy then, I insist.” She said.

You nodded in mutual agreement. The woman then indicated for you and her to sit. You two sat down and took a breath.

“Your wounds seem to be healing nicely…” she noted caringly.

You hummed and nodded in response. The air hung silent.

“Why?” You finally spoke up, “Why did you save me, Peggy…?”

Peggy sighed deeply.

“Like I said that night, you remind me of Howard. Albeit, you are most definitely not as scandalous, but neither you nor Howard belong in jail. You merely operate in a gray zone, which the SSR sometimes fails to understand.” She explained.

“Thank you. Again. I mean it.”

“I know.” She softly spoke with a small smile.

“How have you been…?” You asked the question that had been bugging you since you sat down.

“A lot has happened since I last saw you.” Peggy chuckled with another sigh, “My office dealt with a number of back to back pressing matters, one of which being the scandal of the Stark Trial, which I’m sure you heard about. A lot of it was a matter of life and death… So difficult to ignore. I do apologize for not reaching out earlier.”

“It’s okay, I understand.” You sympathized with the woman.

Peggy hummed in response.

“What about you? What have you been up to?”

“Oh Lots.” You eagerly answered, “Mainly studying and working with Vibranium. Lots of other little side projects.”

“I believe you owe me a little show of those little projects, hmmm…?” Peggy hummed, teasing you lightly.

You blushed lightly and nodded.

“I’-d- would love to…” you stammered.

“Good.” She chuckled with a pleased smile, “How about this next Tuesday at 9?”

“Sounds great…!” You quipped, finding yourself to be a little too excited for a mere show of your current projects…

“Lovely…” Peggy purred, “It’s a Date…”

D-Date…?? Oh God. Yes Please…!!

Your eyes went wide and your mouth went dry. You couldn’t do anything but nod slowly.

“I’ll need the address, that is…” The brunette coaxed you out of your embarrassing trance.

Your head clicked back into reality at her words.

“Oh right…! Umm…” you mused aloud, “Well Mr. Jarvis gave me his card, I can contact him with the information, and then he can contact you…?”

Peggy smiled and nodded enthusiastically at your plan, before standing up and insisting on escorting you back to your car.

“See you soon, Darling…” the brunette purred, as you drove away.

Oh God, this woman was going to be the death of you…

~~~

Peggy Carter Masterlist

#the morally grey #the morally grey series #peggy carter #peggy carter fic #peggy carter fanfiction #peggy carter x reader #peggy carter x you #peggy carter fluff #peggy carter angst #agent carter #agent carter x reader #agent carter x you #agent carter fanfiction #agent carter fluff #agent peggy Carter #marvel fanfic #marvel fic #marvel fanfiction #marvel fluff #marvel #marvel x reader #marvel x y/n #marvel x you #marvel x female reader #mcu x reader #mcu x you #mcu x y/n #mcu fanfiction #mcu fandom #mcu imagine

[pingu-please-cane-right]

slightly too tall but looks ok? 🤔🤔⭐ -like normaly i would say this is too tall, but its not that bad which is why its in hmmm territory. at least this is ok territory

end tip is terrible 🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑 -its thin, why is it pointy!! it might be used to be a good weapon but give up on walking with this right now couse nopeee you cannot even lean on this! never mind walk!

handle looks amazing!! ⭐⭐⭐ -its stylish, its comftrble, i will say that the tip of the quastion mark looks slightly too big, but its just so nice, and looks like its good support!

design is nice! basic but good ⭐ -what can i say i like the gold! very classic kind of riddle stick for sure. the handle just works and apart from the terrfible tip that makes this not useful, its good

does it make sense character wise to have this spasific mobility aid: yep! ⭐ -once again the business man vibe is exeptinal,also i truly think this works with this design of riddler! all serios but still flashy enough to be menacing!

STAR TOTAL ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

HMM TOTAL 🤔🤔

FAIL TOTAL 🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑

PERSONAL SCORE OF ACTUAL FUNCTIONALITY 0/10

(i wish we could be able to use this one but its at least nice to look at)

#the riddler #dc riddler #riddler #dc comics #dc #review #the riddler sticks

[xiaolin-show-hoe]

Here is Prompt 3: Cracked Glass

--

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Jack Spicer was indeed a sight to behold. A 25 year old male, lean and weak, was now smashing a car window with a bat with a force to be reckoned with. The sound of smashing glass scattered across a parking garage yet was somewhat soundless if no one was there to hear it.

A breathtaking swing like a pro golfer had Jack Spicer puting the side mirrors under some cars farther down the slope towards darkness. The only thing bright in this dark place was the smile lighting up the man's face as he took another stroke sending the second mirror in the opposite direction.

It was a true work of joy to see.

The young man had a sucker in his mouth, chomping at it aggravated as he raised the bat from before to damage the windshield. The sickening crack was similar to dropping ones phone. Gut wrenching and the sound alone could split a heart in two. 

Jack Spicer hoped Jared Pulinsky could feel this pain.

His newly ex boyfriend Jared who just put out pictures of Jack that he found rather fucking rude to exploit after their relationship crashed and burned.

Fucking Jareds. 

I feel Jack on this one, Jareds can secretly be some real b-holes. 

So after Jack broke up with him over some weird money issues involving money getting taken from his wallet without asking, that buck tooth, dimwitted brunette of a trucker decided to send out some of their naughty pictures. Which is why every single hit to the truck that Jared treasured made Jack more horny than he had ever been.

After he had smashed the glass, Jack pulled out his special key he made specifically to screw this truck over. A long strong key that would be impossible to fix after he scratched through. This time he took some liberties and doodled some things through that paint job that Jack gifted to Jared. 

Cars occasionally drove through the garage and asked him what he was doing. He always answered honestly because there was nothing more satisfying then someone agreeing with him and giving their blessing to fuck up his exe's car.

Ah sweet validation.

Oh but he wasn't quite done. Oh no no, he also paid for the inside to get reupholstered. 

Jared couldn't have anything that nice on his own paycheck, surely it would be awkward to drive around in the car your ex got work done for.

Jack Spicer would be EVER SO kind and make sure it wasn't recognizable after he was done with the Golden Tiger Claw ripping into the seams of the seats. ANYTHING to make JARED more comfortable in his BRAND NEW truck.

Lastly, to put the finishing touches took out a knife and slashed the tires with all the force his thin body could do. It was tough work but hearing that sweet hiss of air and knowing his ex wouldn't be able to drive to work was just plain exciting.

And finally, the piece de resistance, stealing the catalytic converter from the underbelly of the truck. That way if he wanted to sell this new piece of shit, he would get barely a dime without the most expensive piece. After all, this piece of shit was paid for by Jack, he at least deserved the best spare part to sell for himself. 

Hmmm…maybe he could take the engine too….

Nah, Jack did more than enough to get out the message not to fuck with him, literally or figuratively.

Jack Spicer had gone soft while with Jared. He felt more love and attention from Jared than his parents ever gave him. Hell, the only person who ever lived with him longer than a month at a time was his grandma.

So this betrayal, despite dating for only 4 months, was a deep wound for him. Jack had been used and he was sick of always being the victim of these manipulative games.

They were never games to him.

It was time for Jack to start anew and it would start with this fucking truck. 

--

This last prompt for Cracked Glass is about Jack finally trying to stand up for himself once his boyfriend hurt him. However, Jack had disappeared from the monks and Heylin's lives for years at this point. So when a wu turns up one year later, they don't expect Jack nor the strange robot he sends. He leaves a message behind, "I'm done playing games."

Please feel free to check the other two prompts and answer the poll on my page♡☆

#chack #fanfiction #i love xiaolin showdown to an unhealthy degree #xiaolin showdown #xs jack spicer #xs chase young #jack spicer #chase young

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 170. brb x oc

a/n: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!! <3)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: fLUFF and no Rooster, but there will be rooster in the next one heh

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/

116/117/118/119/120/121/122/123/124/125/126/127/128/129/130/131/132/133/134/135/136/137/138/139/140/141/142/143/144/145/146/147

/148/149/150/151/152/153/154/155/156/157/158/159/160/161/162/163/164/165/166/167/168/169

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @novastories @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix

@lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @j-6o @louisahale @leobabbyyy @booklover2sblog @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

@caitsymichelle13 @becks-things @caatheeriinee07 @fanboyswhore9 @jesfreedark @katiemcrae @lilmonstrjedi @hobiismyhopeu @teacupsandtopgun @insominac23 @gh0stsgoodgirl @mygyn @chavivaelisheva @genius2050

-

“When you mentioned not going over the budget.”

“Yesss?”

“You could’ve just said we were visiting Marcus’ new store.” she comments while holding Nicole to her chest, her little girl’s arms and legs kicking happily as they walk past the golden arch that directs to the immense store. Beatrice couldn’t help but admire how much Marcus’ grew these past years, he was already famous but choosing to create a store so people would enjoy his work was so nice.

Not to mention, Beatrice’s face was still on his collection. She did a double take when she saw her eyes staring right back, her cheeks reddening, ‘Hold on.” she heard Shells say, turning her head to question what happened only to see her friend holding up her phone, ‘There. Oh you look so shocked!” she shows Beatrice the picture and she does look shocked…with a sultrier version of herself staring behind her, “I’ll send you this so you can show Rooster.”

Beatrice laughs nervously, feeling a bit on the spot because she wasn’t really comfortable with people knowing it was her. She was okay being a ‘known anonymous’, because while people saw her face, no one ever bothered her about it besides that one time during the high school reunion. 

She kept looking around nervously, quickly looking away if anyone turned their head in her direction, “Um, so, what exactly are we getting here?” she questions quietly, “You know Marcus has a lot of options.”

“I think…hmmm.” Shells thumbs some of the clothes hanging close by, “I think we can start with some shorts and tops, it’s going to get warm soon. And maybe some stuff for Nikki- oh! And Evelyn’s baby too!’

“We just bought stuff for them though.” she mutters, following Shells as she turned to the left “Oh wow this is so much bigger than I thought.” the place where they stood was just the waiting area with some of the new projects ready to buy, but the new area they found was something else entirely. It was all black and gold, with sleek black couches leaning on the walls with golden spotlights shining down on them.

Nicole clapped her hands cutely because of the wallpaper - it had leopard spots and she couldn’t help but slap her little hands against it- “Nikki, no,” Beatrice whispers, “I love Marcus but people touch these walls all the time,” and she rummages into her bag to find some wipes, quickly rubbing her daughter’s hands clean.

“Can I help you?”

Both women look up in surprise when a tall man with a pencil thin mustache, dark round glasses and a purple beret greets them. The name ‘Ray’ was on the tag and she could be wrong, but Beatrice was sure he sneered  at them, “Hey there,Ray.” Shells smirks, “We’re just checking the store out, nothing out of the ordinary but do you have any areas we should look at first? We are trying to find some stuff for our friend’s baby and–”

“I’m so sorry but we don’t work with children.” he flicks his eyes towards Nicole, Beatrice could see it even through his glasses and she immediately glared at him, “This is a high fashion store.”

Shells’ smile never disappeared, “Well, then what’s that?” she points over his shoulder, “Looks like a children’s section to me.”

Ray's sneer fades for a moment as he glances over his shoulder, visibly surprised to see a children's section in the store. Beatrice takes the opportunity to step in, her protective instincts kicking in. He clearly flushed with embarrassment, opening his mouth only to give them a condescending smile, “Well,I…am afraid it might be over your budget.”

“I’m afraid that’s not your concern.” Beatrice snaps, clearly not amused by what was happening, “I have a question, is Marcus here?” she asks while clearly seeing Marcus’ coat hanging from the corner of the VIP area - that colorful zebra themed coat with golden details was hard to miss.

“It’s Mr.Beverly to you–”

“We know each other.” Beatrice gives him a clipped smile, “He’s been a friend of mine for a while, in fact,” she holds up Nicole,”He gave Nicole this top right here.” 

Ray's expression changes from condescension to surprise as he takes in Beatrice's words. He glances at Nicole's top and then back at Beatrice, his mouth hanging open in pure shock, “...I…well, you–”

“Daarling!”

Beatrice smirks, “Excuse me.” and walks around Ray with Nicole giggling. Shells follows right behind, waving her fingers towards Ray while chuckling darkly to herself. Marcus opens his arms wide once he sees Beatrice approaching, carefully giving her a side hug and air kisses, doing the same with Shells and with Nicole - who didn’t understand but found it hilarious.

“My darling muse,” he smiles, cupping her shoulders, “What a surprise to see you here! How long has it been?”

“Oh it’s been a while.”

“I’ll say, this little princess is so much bigger!” he coos, tickling Nicole’s tummy and smiling more when she laughed, “Anyway, how can I help you?You know you can always feel free to try anything on.” Ray, who was just a few inches behind, immediately stopped moving and looked pale as a ghost once those words reached his ears, “Ray will undoubtedly help you.” Beatrice didn’t know if Marcus heard about it or was just being his usual friendly self, but Ray seemed to regret every single mistake he committed within his lifetime.

“Thank you Marcus,well,” she looks back towards Ray, he looked ready to explode with embarrassment.

Beatrice couldn't resist a smirk as she glanced back at Ray, who seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown. She turned her attention back to Marcus, her expression softening, deciding that the man could have a little break right now..

"I was actually hoping to find something new for myself and Nicole," Beatrice said, gesturing to her daughter in her arms. "And Shells here deserves something special too." Shells smiles over Beatrice’s shoulder as if to show that she was still there.

Marcus's eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked at the three of them. "Of course, my muse. You three deserve the very best."

With a wave of his hand, Marcus led them further into the store, away from Ray's prying eyes. Beatrice couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as Ray stood frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened. 

As they walked through the aisles filled with beautiful garments and accessories, Beatrice's eyes widened in awe. The designs were stunning, the fabrics luxurious, and she could feel herself getting caught up in the magic of it all. “Wow,Marcus, you’ve been keeping yourself busy.” she comments as she looks at the bright new designs, “It looks fantastic.”

“Thank you,darling.” Marcus says, sometimes leaning close to one of his employees before he opens the VIP door he was just inside, “After you.” he flourishes with a hand, waiting until both of them were inside to follow. The room wasn’t as big as the outside was, obviously, but it was…comforting, with big couches, more clothes hidden in the corner and dressing rooms.

Shells gasped in surprise, “Is that a runway?” she doesn’t wait for a reply, leaping on the catwalk laughing hysterically, “On I love this Marcus!” she spins on her heel, striking a pose, “Maybe I can be the muse next time, since you’ll be busy in the future months,huh?”

Marcus stares at Shells with a confused smile, then turns to Beatrice…then drops his eyes to her stomach with his mouth parting, “Oh my Goodness!” he laughs brightly, “You are pregnant! Oh my darling! Congratulations!” more air kisses, the constant movement making Nicole laugh while trying to grab onto Marcus’ long necklace, “Oh that calls for more!”

“Marcus, there’s no need-”

“Oh yes, give us more Marcus!” Shells smiles before leaping out of the runway, approaching Beatrice from behind, “Give us everything.” she ignored Beatrice’s side glare. She hadn't planned on revealing her pregnancy just yet, but it seems like the secret is out now. She takes a deep breath, realizing that she's surrounded by people who genuinely care for her and she shouldn’t worry so much.

"Thank you, Marcus," Beatrice says, a mix of emotions bubbling within her. "It's still early, but yes, I'm pregnant. We're expecting a little duo."

Marcus claps his hands together with delight. "Oh, how wonderful! More little fashionistas, oh I’m so excited!I’m so happy for you, darling. You and Bradley are going to be amazing parents once again. And just think of all the adorable outfits we can dress the baby in!"

Beatrice chuckles, feeling a surge of warmth and happiness fill her heart. She should’ve expected Marcus’ reaction. "Thank you, Marcus. I'm excited too. But…you don’t have to–” he shushes her,clapping his hands once more, a mischievous glint in his eyes as a group of assistants appear from the shadows 

"Well then, my dear glorious ladies, let's make this a memorable shopping spree. Shall we?”

-

It doesn’t take long for the options to show up, in bulk, in front of the two. Shells is having a blast, she’s picking two, three,four outfits only to disappear behind a changing room. While Beatrice sat with Nicole on those comfortable couches, bouncing her daughter every now and again but she remained awake, staring at everything with interest.

A hand holding a steaming cup surprises her, she trails her eyes up until they reach Marcus’ smiling face, “It’s hot cocoa, darling.” he says, “I know you can’t have caffeine and it can be a bit chilly in here.”

Beatrice’s mouth parts in surprise, but she grabs the cup from him, “Thank you,Marcus.”

"You're welcome, darling," Marcus replies, sitting down next to her while crossing his legs, a cup for himself but this one filled with coffee. "It's my pleasure to take care of you and make sure you're comfortable.”

Beatrice takes a sip of the hot cocoa, savoring its warmth and the rich, comforting taste. She hums happily, “This tastes…rich.” she mutters, holding the cup away from Nicole when she tries to grab it, “Like…really expensive.”

“Oh, it’s a personal blend.” he says like it’s nothing, “A friend of mine is a chocolatier and she prepared a huge batch of it for me, if you want I can get you some. She can personalize it, if you want to.”

Normally she’d say no, that he doesn’t have to worry about that…but then she remembers how her husband adored chocolate and anything that involved it. If there was anyone that loved the sweet treat more than Rooster she had yet to meet them “Well…can you…well,it’d be nice to give one to Brad.” she whispers, “He’d like the surprise.”

“He’s deployed?”

“Mhm.”

“Has he been gone long?”

Beatrice sips more of her cocoa, licks her lips then sighs with her brows up, “A week.” comes out of her mouth in an embarrassed laugh, she clears her throat before continuing, “I…I’ve been missing him a lot lately and I’m able to keep myself busy. So…it’s not so bad.” 

Marcus looked down at Nicole, “And the little one? Does she miss him?”

Beatrice nods, her eyes locking on Nicole as she plays with her mother’s hair, babbling something . "]Not as much as before, honestly. She’s not crying when she doesn’t see him anymore, but she does look at the door when it’s time for him to come home from work."

Marcus leans closer and places a comforting hand on Beatrice's shoulder. "If there's anything I can do to support you during this time, please don't hesitate to ask. Whether it's finding the perfect surprise for Brad or simply lending an ear, I'm here for you."

Beatrice's voice softens as she looks at Marcus gratefully. "Thank you, Marcus. But…you are so busy,I wouldn’t want to–”

“I am also your friend,I can take some time off just to talk to you.”

They sit in silence for a moment,Beatrice staring at him and then smiling with a nod, “Okay.” before sipping their beverages.Beatrice takes a deep breath, finding solace in Marcus' presence and the shared connection they have, she feels…lighter, she does. She was over her head these past days, so having someone to talk to, and she had a plethora of them, was more than she could ask for.

"I think I'll take you up on that offer for the personalized cocoa," Beatrice finally says, breaking the silence. "It would be a lovely surprise for Brad, and I know he'll appreciate it."

Marcus beams with excitement. "Consider it done, my dear. I'll make sure the chocolatier adds a special touch to the batch just for Brad. What sort of chocolate does he prefer?"

“Uh….any besides white chocolate.” she whispers, “He does like milk chocolate and he adores chocolate with something in it, like cookie dough. You can add some cinnamon too in the mix. Not a lot, the chocolate has to be the predominant flavor.” and she doesn’t see Marcus’ little smile as she explains in detail how her husband liked chocolate. The way her eyes shine when she spoke about Rooster was so endearing that Marcus only leaned on his fist and watched completely entertained.

"Cookie dough and cinnamon in the mix, with milk chocolate as the base. Got it," Marcus repeats, his smile widening. " Brad is in for a treat."

Beatrice smiles, her heart warming at Marcus' enthusiasm. She appreciates his genuine care and attention to detail. "Thank you, Marcus. I know Brad will love it."

Marcus chuckles softly. "Ah, the power of chocolate. It has a way of bringing joy and comfort, doesn't it? It's wonderful to see how something so simple can brighten someone's day, even from afar."

Beatrice nods, her smile turning into a gentle expression of gratitude. "Yeah... Thank you again, for doing that.” he just rolls his eyes and waves his hand, “I mean it, you are helping more than you know.”

Marcus reaches out and takes Beatrice's hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Oh,darling, I adore you two, you know that- oh! Perhaps he can get some stuff for himself too, maybe some new shirts?"

“Oh, um, well he still has some he hasn’t used yet–”

“Oh,no no, wait here,I know the perfect ones.”

“Okay.” he sets the cup down and Beatrice could only watch as he walks away, talking to more people. Her body relaxes as she leans back into the couch, closing her eyes as she continues to sip her hot beverage with Nicole nuzzling into her neck, her little girl was starting to fall asleep so they shouldn’t stall there for too long.

“Oh.My.God.” Shells’ voice snaps her out of her comfortable moment, “Bea,” she’s barefoot, wearing a dress that nears the ‘dangerous’ area. It was cut on the sides and was held by a thin string of cloth that only made Shells’ slim waist appear even slimmer, “Look at this,” she poses, one hand on the hip and leg slightly up, “Ugh!Ugh! Look, look!” and she turns around, cupping her buttcheeks, “Look at my ass. It’s giving me ass.”

“You do have a butt though.”

“Um, not enough???’ she comments, twisting her body, “Oh I’ll need five of these in all colors.” 

Beatrice rolled her eyes, “You do look great.”

“I know right?” she’s still admiring herself on one of the wall mirrors, “What about you, what are you taking home?”

Beatrice blinked, looking back at her much smaller pile of clothes, “A few dresses, some pants,um…some stuff for Nikki and the twins.” she shrugs, “Nothing too out of place, you know? I think I’m okay with clothes for now…Marcus is going to get some stuff for Brad though, so I’m just waiting for him to return.”

Shells turns to Beatrice, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Oh, come on, Bea! You can't just leave it at that. You're at a fashion extravaganza, surrounded by fabulous clothes. You have to treat yourself a little more!"

Beatrice chuckles and shakes her head. "I know, I know. But I really don't want to go overboard. I have enough clothes for now, and I want to focus on getting things for Nicole and the twins."

Shells pouts playfully. "No fun…but if you insist. But remember, a little indulgence every now and then never hurt anyone. And you deserve it, especially with everything you've been juggling lately."

Beatrice appreciates Shells' words and she knows her friend is right, but for now, she's content with her choices. "Thank you, Shells. I'll keep that in mind. And don't worry, I'm taking good care of myself and enjoying this shopping spree with you. That's enough indulgence for me."

Just then, Marcus returns with a gleeful expression on his face, holding a shopping bag filled with items. "Beatrice, my dear, I have successfully found the perfect surprises for Brad! You'll be pleased to know that the personalized cocoa is on its way as well, my friend is so excited to prepare it. He's going to be thrilled!"

Beatrice smiles, grateful for Marcus' thoughtfulness, there weren’t that many clothes which she was more than glad, even if she didn’t show it. "Thank you so much, Marcus. I appreciate all the effort you've put into this.” she looks down at Nicole who just was now completely out, snoozing on her mother’s chest, “Oh I better go, it’s already time for her nap anyway.”

Marcus nods understandingly. "Of course, darling,I understand. Nicole needs her rest. And so do you,mama. Do remember I’m just a call away if you need me."

Beatrice stands up carefully, cradling Nicole in her arms, and adjusts her shopping bags, just in time as Shells joins her - still wearing the dress.. "Thank you, Marcus. I really appreciate everything you've done today. It's been such a wonderful experience."

Marcus smiles warmly,air kissing her one last time "The pleasure is all mine, Beatrice. I'm glad I could be a part of this special day with you and Nicole. Take care, and give my best wishes to Brad when you see him. And oh, don’t worry," he winks, pointing at the bags, “It’s on the house.”

“Yes!”

"Thank you,Marcus.” she sends Shells a side glance, giving Marcus one last wave before they turn on their heels and walk away. Once they are at a safe distance, Beatrice whispers through gritted teeth, “That’s what you mean not going over the budget?”

“It’s always nice not to pay,” Shells replies, waving at Ray who just gulps and waves shakily back, deciding to open the door for them since their hands were full. Beatrice squints under the sunlight, pressing Nicole to her chest as they walk to Shells’ car, “Besides, these are all gifts.”

“Mhm.”

“What?”

“I’m letting that slide because you are my best friend.” Beatrice chuckles, “But I did have fun.” her eye finally move up to the sky once the clouds cover the sun briefly, sighing to herself, “I hope…I hope Brad is having a good time as well.”

#bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x oc #top gun maverick #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw x female reader #bradley bradshaw x named reader #tgm oc #tgm fic #tgm fanfiction

[from-nobody-to-nightmare]

Chapter 3: Amongst the Roses

“Most of the successful people I've known are the ones who do more listening than talking." Bernard Barugh

Flat on my back I felt myself regain consciousness. Pawing at the ground below me gave way to the soft crunch and the earthy scent of grass. I opened my eyes to a red-tinted sky with a precariously glowing pentagram hanging in the sky. “Huh, First time I noticed that,” I whispered. Taking a deep breath I noticed an all too familiar afterscent. It wasn’t as bad as before but it reminded me of well water with its eggy potency. “Ugh… Fart Water.” I muttered as I sat up already exhausted from the misadventure before. Whatever I was trying to think of next grew to a halt as I stared down my legs in disbelief. “I have hooves!?”

I exclaimed my eyes wide in shock as I looked at my new feet for the first time. I patted up and down my deep grey legs to feel if they were actually mine. “I don’t remember being so plush.”, as I patted down my thighs. There was a bit more cushion than I remembered. I peeked under the top of my gown to find a jungle of …. Fuzz? Was it hair? Was it fur?.... What was I covered in? I leaned back only to feel a pinch. “Ow.” I stood up quickly twisting around and grabbing whatever was behind me; I yipped, “Ow!” again followed by an after bleat. It was a tail! It was soft and fluffy and as long as my forearm. I facepalmed “Why did I do that again, and when did this happen!?”  A deep sigh of resignation left me as I dusted myself off. 

Turning around I saw a well-kept stone brick path a few steps away from where I was. Glancing in both directions I weighed my options and decided to go right with my bare hooves clicking against the pavement. Honestly, I don’t know how much it would have mattered; but at least it was a lot nicer than the hellscape I left behind, at least I hope it was. It felt too strange to be real. I grew uneasy at that thought and hugged my arms into my chest as my eyes scanned my surroundings. “Roses…” I whispered; They looked so lovely even under the trees, and the trees. Their branches lightly touched forming a tunneling canopy, it was like out of a fairytale It was a while before I saw a lamp post with direction signs and a bench. I looked at the arrow signs quizzically.

Cannibal Town➡ 

⬅ Doomsday District 

“Hmmm…. Such appealing choices.” I muttered to myself in a voice laced with sarcasm.  I huffed in frustration as I sat on the bench to gather my thoughts on what to do. 

I need new clothes, this hospital gown isn’t cutting it. Then the self-questioning came in cascades; but where would I go? Judging by the signs there must be civilization close by, but how would I pay? Well, I could work it off, but how? My mind went in circles as I became increasingly lost in thought. 

“Pardon me, young miss; thee seemeth to be woefully underdressed; are thou perhaps a mistress of the evening? If’t be true thou hath chosen quite a poor location for thy trade?”, a quizzaciously spooky, and reverberating voice spoke from beside me. My rear hopped a little in my seat as I was taken aback by what looked like a tall thin man with a wry smile; all dressed in black with a glowing spider on their chest and a very tall, patchy hat. Still baffled by our first interaction, and trying really, really hard not to think about the spider I looked up and stated the obvious,“ You have a very tall hat.” That smile became a look of bemusement followed by a rather polite chuckle at that response. “Ha, ha; never in all mine years in the underworld I had not expected an answer quite like so; do you not fear me, child?” In my dazed expression, I uttered, “ I’m sorry?; am I supposed to?” He took out a hand from underneath his cloak and placed a long curled finger onto his chin “A more forceful reception is more oft more commonplace, yes.” A sheepish smile took over my face, “ Apologies then; I’m feeling rather overwhelmed at the moment, I think there may be some delay.”

“Quite alright child; though I usually elicit more screams with mine visage; yet here thou art so placid in expression”, he slyly grinned looking down at me as he leaned down. “Tell me, what has thy mind so engrossed that all becomes an afterthought.” Getting  a better view of his face I blurted out, “Wow, you have a lot of eyes.” Then I immediately facepalmed in embarrassment,” Ahh…Jeez.” His chortling continued.  I hung my head low in my hands muffling mournfully, “Keep laughing if you must, it’s not going to change anything. I felt like my worst fears had already come to pass. I had died, and now I am forever disconnected from all I have ever known; now I’m lost in what seems to be a realm of perpetual nightmares.…. Though this area feels nicer than where I woke up last.” 

He paused to catch his breath, “ It may not have been what I initially expected; but thy pained countenance has certainly brought joy to mine soul, young lady.” I peeked my eyes between my fingers dolefully with my mouth still muffled, “ You’re welcome I suppose; it’s not like I could save face anyways.” He gave a relaxed smile to counter my dejected face, “Regardless of our initial introduction….. Might I enquire as to what brought you here?”, He said leaning towards my ear. 

“What brought me where? The park?” I  quickly shrugged as I looked to and fro and then at him again.

“Hmm… Yes and no; perhaps I lacked clarity. What I meant to enquire is; What hath brought you to the realm of eternal damnation, little lamb?

My face twisted in slight annoyance, “Little lamb?” I quickly shrugged off that comment. I gripped the edge of the bench to steady myself as I leaned back and took a deep breath to gather my thoughts. A forlorn sigh left me, as I opened my eyes to look up at a blood-red sky, “ That’s what I’d like to know too….”

“Hmm?” he looked at me rather puzzled as I continued, “ I mean, I know I died in the operating room. I understand that, but I arrived at Heaven’s Gates only to be denied because my name wasn’t in some book. Then they dropped me like a bag of rocks over a waterfall, and I ended up kissing the ground at what felt like Mach 4. The next thing I knew, I woke up at what was ostensibly a nightmare junkyard with a migraine headache, only to be hunted by a pack of marauders. I was still awake when I got away, and then everything went dark after I heard a truck pass. After I came to I found myself in the grass somewhere around here.” 

“My that was quite the misadventure. I have never been so close to the gates of paradise to see them for mine own; care to tell me more?”, he replied.

I huffed sadly turning away from the sky to stare at my now cloven feet. Trying to concentrate again I pinched the bridge of my nose attempting to recall what I saw. “Ehhhh…. Let’s see…. Lots of clouds, a golden path leading up to a gilded podium, and massively ostentatious golden gates behind that. There was also a winged man who in my opinion felt rife with false sincerity. At least that’s how he felt when he couldn’t find my name. If putting everyone else before me out of love could not get me in; why even send me there in the first place? What do they so callously measure souls by? Ugh... just the thought of it all makes me feel so angry….” I furrowed my brow, “....and betrayed.” It was the first time since I arrived in hell that I got a chance to reflect on everything that transpired. I closed my eyes as they began to water trying to fight back the tears.

______________________________________________________________

**Authors note:

Hello everyone Author here. I don't know if I got this right, and I know that this chapter seems to cut off short, but the cut-off is on purpose because I felt that perspective switches work better in their own chapters. So far most of the story has been in first person i.e. inside looking out. The next chapter is supposed to be outside looking in. Again sorry if it feels weird; I've never tried this before.

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel x reader #ace #constructive criticism welcome #existence is a nightmare #female oc #from nobody to nightmare #it's gonna be a long afterlife #my ocs #platonic #zestial #zestial morde

[thekinkyleopard]

What’s Up There?

*Fetish Warning*

snzfet

By: Thekinkyleopard

Written for : @aller-geez

Laying calmly in bed on his side, with a larger man fast asleep spooning him, Levi scrolled through his phone. It was a Sunday, and Levi always had a tradition that Sunday was Funday and they had to find something fun to do. As he looked through pages and pages of ads, and uninteresting propositions, he came across something that did, leaving him raising a thin white brow. “Estate sale…?” he whispered out loud, he’d never been to one. Looks like some rich old lady passed away and they’re selling all of her things. “Ooo I like vintage things..” he said aloud again, the sleeping man grumbled, suddenly gripping his partner tighter. “Oof…” A small guff of hair released out of the leopard’s mouth. “Hey..baby?” He said, a little louder than a whisper.

“Mmmf…” not exactly the answer Levi was looking for. The black haired mate pulled tighter and started very slowly and gently, rocking his hips into Levi. The leopard blushed, bright red.

“Remi~ baby wake up…you’re doing it again,” Lee giggled as he rocked himself back and forth trying to wake his very sleepy and apparently, horny boyfriend. He grumbled louder now, followed with a very aggressive but short exhale through his nose. “Stooop Mr Forrest Gumpypants…it’s time to get up and seize the day!” Forcing his way through Remi’s grip to turn around, face to face.

“No…no facing the world…” he buried what amount of his face he could in the pillow from his particular angle. Rolling his cerulean eyes and smiling brightly, mischievously.

“Fine…I guess…imma have to….” Thus began a fit of love bites all along Remi’s arms, shoulders, neck, cheek, anywhere Levi could possibly get his mouth on, munched.

“Ah! Hey! Ahhh! Stop that!” The wolf grumbled pulling his hands out to start swatting at his persistent partner. “Ok! Ok! You win! I’m awake!” Huffing loudly as he opened up his cloudy emerald eyes. “Jesus…” Levi ceased his attack on the older man and flung himself out of bed.

“I’ll make coffee! Do you want breakfast, honey?” He asked already making his way to the kitchen that wasn’t far from the bed by much.

“Nah, just coffee, I’d rather wait til lunch…” Remington yawned as he finally but lazily swung himself to the edge of the bed. Rubbing his eyes in his palms as he tried gathering his thoughts.

“Hmmm at least eat some toast and one of the bananas okay? I’ll make it up for you with some P-B on the bread maybe..~” the cheerful one suggested as he was not about to let his man off the hook without taking care of himself.

“Baby…no, I hate that healthy shit,” looking up now to make eye contact with his boyfriend. “I’d rather have some bacon and eggs if you’re gonna force me to eat,” he sighed standing up to make his way into the bathroom, not before kissing Levi on the top of his head, because as annoyed as he sounded, he was crazy about the way Levi considered him at all times.

“Okay, my love, I’ll make that for us and we can head out, you get dressed, I’ll do that after I finish breakfast,” nodding as he gathered all his produce, and getting two pans hot on his new stove. First up he was working on the bacon, setting the strips down onto the hot pan they started to sizzle and pop.

Remi went into the bathroom, did his morning rituals, and came back out to the astounding scent of breakfast being made. “Well NOW I’m hungry,” he laughed a bit as he began to shuffle through the clothes he would wear that day.

“I knew you would be,” the leopard giggled, continuing now with the eggs as he finished the bacon up. Sunny side for this particular morning to represent a sunny side day! Remington was just getting done throwing a Guardin shirt over his head with some worn ripped black jeans. His boyfriend lovingly fixing him a plate. They both decided to sit at the kitchen table and enjoy a bit of morning song from the birds outside. Levi had opened the window to air out the bus a bit. “This is amazing babe, thanks,” Remi said pulverizing through his morning meal.

.

.

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.

.

.

After feeding themselves, and getting dressed, Remi and Levi were finally pulling up to the estate. “Holy shit this house, it’s huge,” the wolf said, shocked by how much there was and yet still, so little people about checking things out. “Think we will score big?” He asked with a toothy grin flashed in Levi’s direction.

“I’m hoping so!” Beaming with excitement the leopard bounced in his seat. Finding a place to park, they both got out and began to walk about the front of the property. “There’s some furniture and stuff out here…” Levi said pointing around.

“Doubt we can fit any of this inside Maybelle,” Remi muttered, more so shocked at being somewhere he felt was way out of their tax bracket. They simply LOOKED like they didn’t belong, but knowing damn well they could buy at least a few expensive pieces and still be okay. However, none of these things were interesting to Levi, he wanted to see the good shit. The stuff this old woman was hoarding away from the people…he knew she had a stellar collection of something amazing around that estate. “Let’s go look inside!” Levi grabbed onto his mate’s hand, who’s eyes widened a bit in surprise as he was dragged through this giant house.

It was quite some time before they got to the second floor, on the second floor there was a string hanging not so noticeably to most, but Levi caught sight of it. The irony was not lost to him that, he as a cat, was able to fixate on the practically clear string floating around above them. “Hmm..what’s up there?” He asked curiously, turning to Remi now,“Baby can you reach that?” being just a bit too short to grab it himself.

“The attic string?” He asked looking at his partner quizzically with a raised brow.

“Yes, the attic string, that’s where she’s gonna have the good shit!” Wiggling his own eyebrows now at Remi, who laughed and indulged his partner’s request.

“If you say so..” extending the ladder down from the ceiling as far as it would allow itself, just an inch off the floor. Once secured, Levi took no time racing up and beckoning his mate to follow quickly. Rolling his eyes, Remi went climbing up the stairs after him as they stood up inside a dusty, dimly lit through a tiny window, room. Around them was tons of random objects, more furniture and boxes. “Great…more junk,” Remi scoffed folding his arms. Levi shoved the wolf gently, but even if he used force, the man didn’t budge.

“Don’t be an ass! Look around! We might find something,”he furrowed his brows and stuck a tongue out at the larger. Remi swiped the air pretending to grab it, Levi lurched back with a giggle. “Stop it, you!” Turning around swiftly before the wolf got him any more distracted. For a few minutes, on each end of the attic the two men shuffled through boxes. Remi was starting to get fed up and quite frustrated, ‘What the hell are we looking for? How the hell would I know when I even found it?!’ He screamed internally when suddenly, Levi approached him.

“We…nngg..Hnng..we gotta get out,” he whimpered, eyes watering, a deep red blush spread across his nose and cheeks. Remi raised a brow, he scanned his partner’s face.

“What’s wro-…”

“Hnnnngg…tcch….chu ~” it came out though stifled, it was small enough to make Remi’s heart skip a second. Levi had tried holding it in for so long when he had initially realized the trouble he was going to start. Unfortunately, mission failed. “It’s the…EHh…ehHh..duHhss…eht-chu!” Letting out another sudden sneeze, looking at Remi with innocence that almost looked like guilt. It was so cute, Remi’s face hardened, his eyes turned dark, he bit his lower lip, he slowly stood up, checked the hall from above the attic entrance, and swiftly closed the stairs.

“W-what are yo-u eh…hn.. ehh..tSHU…” he couldn’t even finish his sentence, the second Remi closed the stairs another waft of air sent dust flying about their surroundings.

“You wanted it to be Funday, I haven’t been having fun…but you know what…I can see the appeal now,” stepping closer with heavy feet, Levi sunk where he stood suddenly feeling much much smaller. He held his nose and mouth with a sleeve covered hand. He shook his head. “What, kitten? It’s just us in here…don’t be scared, be a good boy, let me hear it baby…” his index finger brushing a few loose strands of his white hair behind his mate’s ear, leaning down in one fluid motion, closely, he whispered sensually into the leopard’s auricle. “Do it for Daddy…” Levi closed his eyes, heart palpitating in his chest cavity.He sniffled, though stifled by the cloth, like a soft “phnf”… before removing his hand. Once his freckled and flushed nose was again exposed to the open air, he wiggled it, already feeling the oncoming assault. “You’re so good for me..” Remi licked his canines as he hovered over his mate reaching over to grab hold of his mate’s thin bicep, his thumb rubbing gently against his muscle.

“Eh-TSHu! EHTSHU! EhhHh-TCHU! ” He sneezed openly in the space between them, his body shaking violently, hand coming up to grip Remi’s forearm to brace himself. “EHH…TSHu..ehtshU.-EhT-ChU!” Remi growled deep in his throat as he listened to his mate have his fits. His hands moving to work the buckle on Levi’s jeans. “Here??” Levi looked around nervously and the wolf could only chuckle.

“Absolutely, here…come on get these off we have to be quick,” grumbling with hast as his boyfriend now helped him shed the articles of clothing he wore on his lower half. Levi stood half dressed and half erect, fully embarrassed in a very sensual, erotic way. He felt exposed and dirty, but those thoughts were quickly clouded as another tickle scaled across his senses.

“EhTSU!” He sneezed once more, out in front of him with force for his mate’s enjoyment. Remi groaned again, feeling his hung cock hardened in the base of his pants. He quickly looked to and from, deciding he didn’t have time to find a better place to really do this but he wanted that sneezing mess of a man on top of him. He wanted to see every last upper angle of him losing it on top of his cock, so Remi quickly got on the floor and grabbed Levi’s wrist, dragging him on top of him, letting their lips crash into a messy, heated and passionate kiss.

“I need you so fucking bad,” breaking away and taking a fist full of messy white strands into his closed palm, he tugged. “Ride me,” commanding the leopard now as he laid more at a horizontal angle. Still snuffling and sniffling as he spit into the palm of his hand, rubbing it down the length of his partner’s cock, he slowly slid it inside himself, sitting at a squat above him. Strong, calloused hands came up to grip comfortably at the crook of his hips, Remi pushed himself up further, groaning deep from within his chest as his length was fully sheathed inside the other.

“Ahh-~ Nyhaa..nnn..” Levi moaned and hesitated, as the tickle still lived inside his throat. The amounts of dust around them that puffed upward with each shuffle and movement their bodies made. “Ehh—…” his head raised, Remi watched from below as his mate’s mouth opened wide, body stiff ready to embrace the inevitable. Throwing his hips upward in a quick and violent action, it came rocking out of Levi like a hurricane, lurching forward as he sneezed. “TSHU-EH!!” Rolling his emerald green eyes back after witnessing the other from this angle could nearly send him over the edge.

“You’re doing so good baby…” praising his mate through gritted teeth as his hole was gripping his hard cock that he shoved in and out at an increasingly desperate pace. Levi’s palms pressed firmly against the other’s abs he whimpered, and shook as his body was fueled by pleasure.

“I’m..its coming again…ba-baby…” Levi stuttered as he warned his lover of the incoming attack he was about to experience.

“Let it out for me, Kitten,” his hand coming up now to cup the crook of his neck and jaw, forcefully angling the other’s head downward at him, pounding upwards without mercy. The leopard bounced uncontrollably, feeling the wave building inside him like a hot rock of lava waiting to erupt.

“EHTSU! EH-TSHEH, TSHU!” They came out in a series as Remi’s grip only got tighter, claws digging into his partner’s scalp, Levi oblivious to the pain it could be causing. “EhTSHU!” Again, as their eyes locked, Levi’s crystal blues pooled in liquid as it trailed down his red stained cheeks and dripped down between them. The tip of his nose a slightly darker shade than his cheeks. Crossed between Levi looking so deliciously tortured and lewd, the sounds of his unintentional sneezing and the feeling of him tightened around him? Like he’d been struck in the chest, Remi came hard inside of the leopard, rocking through him he held tight to his partner’s body, freezing as he emptied himself inside. Both of them wheezing for air, Levi far more uncomfortable than he was to start with, they got up, scrambling to get dressed. “Promise…once we get home…I’ll let you take some medicine and I’ll reward you for being so good just now..” the wolf reassured his suffering partner.

“Whatever we do…can we please get out of this crusty ass attic?” Levi asked now from behind his sleeve. Remington laughed loudly throwing his head back as he wiped the sweat off his forehead.

“Yeah let’s get the hell out of here,” opening the attic and shoving the stairs downward once again. “After you…” extending his arm out to invite Levi through. The leopard quickly climbed down into the hallway and found a chance to breathe much cleaner air.

“Hey! You! That area isn’t part of the estate sale! You shouldn’t be up there,” some strange man in a suit scolded the two of them as they slowly closed the entrance back up.

“Hey man, cool it, we just needed a place to fuck, it’s all good now,” Remington smirked wrapping his arm protectively around his boyfriend.

“Remi!!” Levi squealed attempting to shove the man, horrified by the look on the man’s face. Remi laughed loudly, quickly pulling his boyfriend toward the exit, leaving the stranger in stunned silence.

#snzblr #snzfic #snz things #snz kink #sneeze kink #sneezefic #sneezeblr #OC #my art #RemixLevi #lemons

[dr-scribbler]

Chinnanjiru Nilave - Part 2

Lamp lit the whole room with a dull glow, thin air rounds the square room in a silent melody. In the middle of the room, a small figure is laying down and currently in a sleeping state. The Siddha is currently trying to analyze the situation that happened before a few hours.

Normally he doesn't expect nor had the situation to attend someone who the crown prince himself took in and asked him to look after. He is not sure why he was chosen instead of the raja Vaidya who worked for the royal court. But as it's his duty, he couldn't question the crown prince.

But as the Siddha examined the young girl who would be around 17 he finds it oddly weird to see her clothing style and her skin tone. As it shouts loudly that she is not from Chola Desam nor does her style of clothing define she is from here.

As of now Chola prince left him to examine her and went back to the palace and will be returning later the day. The young girl whose name still is Mystery is currently resting she doesn't have any major injury and only seems that she was in shock to faint like that.

As Siddha waited for a few more minutes, he then went outside to get some herbs from his garden so he can make a drink which he thinks would be great to cure any concussion once she woke up.

Nila POV

Hmmm, I feel so comfy, what a great sleep it was. But as soon I realized that I didn't fall asleep nor it was bedtime I abruptly got up only to get whiplash-like ache. Gosh my head, but my lips were sealed once I took in the surroundings, what the hell? where am I?

Currently, I am inside a hut that looks old and the only source of light is a lamp, that too oil-based. Did I got kidnapped? All the memories of the handsome young man who I punched and in return how I fainted by seeing the blood came rushing to me. Did he bring me here? Who the F he is? Is he a psycho who lives in some secret place and brings in victims to torture? like in Ratchasan movie. Oh no, I don't want to die. I tip-toed out of the wire bed mostly likely to be made of bamboo. And I tried to look for my bag, cause it does have my phone. I could able to call the police.

I am not sure whether it's my lack but I found my bag just right opposite to where I am standing. I hurriedly yet sneaky, But then my phone is not inside the bag, the light bulb lit and then I remembered it was in my hand! gosh did he have it!

ok let him have it, I am leaving this bloody place! I slowly tiptoed and tried to open the door, And I smiled as it just led me outdoors. If he is really a serial killer then he is doing a whack job, I said but being a person with no luck my dancing anklets got stuck in the wooden door and I tried to pry it out, as I concentrate a figure walked in I didn't see who it was but I shouted and forced my foot out of the anklets and run, only to hear someone shouting at me.

What weird place is this, I run past the farms and straight into the woods that I see. I should find my way back, I have seen many documentaries so I didn't stop, I didn't look back. I am not sure how long but I can say that no one is following me, so I stopped to catch my breath. God, I never ran like that before, As I look up it's alright getting dark and I am not sure where I am.

As I aimlessly walked deeper into the woods and cursed myself for being an idiot. I saw a torch of light flashing and I ran towards it.

'Help! Help me' I shouted and prayed to god that someone I know is coming to get me. And it is, it is our neighbor's uncle and he looked shocked and smiled but the shock.

'Nila! Amma! Where have you been?!' He hurried to me and took my hand.

'We were so worried and have been searching for days! come let's first go and see your Thatha' He said and I started to follow him, As he mentioned Thatha my mind didn't hear anything else. Oh, I hope he is ok.

As my house view come into the view, I ran to it only to find people are there. What happened, I squeezed in to find my annoyed brother who is looking angry at the sight of me.

'Here she is! finally! odugali enga di ponna' His harsh words made me gasp but Ramu's uncle came and directed me to my Thatha's room.

Oh no, what happened? 'Thatha, Nila vanthuruken' I said to him softly as he is lying cold in his bed. With tears in my eyes, I don't know what happened.

'Kanna, Vanthutiya. Thatha vitu enn da poona(Kanna, you came? Where did you went)' He asked as tears fell down from his eyes and mine too.

'Thatha engala thedunen theriyuma, Oru varama unn apakama, Anna thitnana ma, athan kochikitiya(Why did you leave me ma. Is it because of your brother? Do you know how I felt not seeing for one week?)' I shook my head but stopped at his words, one week? It can't be.

'Oru varama? Illa thatha unna thedithan na katukulla ponnen. Seri vidu athan naa vanthutenla, innime po matten(one week? No Thatha i went in to search you. Its ok I am here now and will not leave leave you)' I said and hugged him. As I made sure he is ok, I came out and turned to Ramu's uncle.

'Uncle, inniku enna day(Uncle what day is today?)' I asked hoping that my grandpa was just mistakenly said I am missing for one week.

'It's Thursday ma' HIs answer shook me to my core. What in the name of the magic is this? It's Friday as I had my dance class and I went in to search for my Grandpa, I am sure I was not sleep that long.

'Ok, Uncle, you can go now and rest I will take care here. Thank you' I said but he said he will help around, but this man has already done everything, And last he mentioned that they have filed a police complaint about my missing and they might come tomorrow. He so wants to know where I went but how could I able to explain to him? So as of now, I said I am too tired to talk so bid him goodnight.

But the awkwardness with my brother is what makes it worse, I can literally feel the anger he has against me is so much evident. I went and sat next to my Thatha as slept, tear rolled down from my eyes and I feel exhausted. I kissed his forehead and laid my head next to his hands and sleep took over me like a blanket.

Next day

Sunbeam peaked through the window and I jerk back out from my sleep, I checked the time to see its 6:00 AMD, gosh I slept the whole night. As I went to prepare tea and have some snacks and also needs to give Thatha some along with his morning medication, As I prepared the breakfast I thought did my brother gave Thatha his medication for the days I am not here, they mentioned it has been a week and I hope they have not missed much.

I laid down the plate and collected the juice and some tea along with some sandwiches I made. I went to the cabinet to take out Thathas medicine and I can see that it is the same as before I left.

'Thatha, Enthiri. Saptu mathra potutu padu(Thatha, wake up. Have some food and then go back to sleep)' I said and set the food next to him and opened the drapes to let the sunshine. But little did I know that no amount of sunshine would have my Thatha to woken up from his slumber. Yes the man who found me, the man who protected me all my life was gone.

And to the horror, my brother just shun me away to not participate in my Thatha last ritual and nobody stood by me.

As I sat in his room and looked aimlessly at the wall before me, I am not sure what happened the day I met that mystery man, how can I be gone for weeks when I just felt a few hours, how was my Thatha now dead, he had so much to live with me, I always thought how he will be with me and enjoy our lives once I get a proper job after college.

Here I am sitting in his room after three days after his demise, And as I cleaned it out I found something I never thought I would find,  its my Thathas diary and it mentioned to me. I sat down and opened it, to find the first few pages are filled with my baby pics, I laughed at how he saved them like they are so precious to him.

It contains the art I did when I was 3 and much more. As I flip the pages it reads a letter.

I opened the envelope to see what it says.

My dear Nila,

If you are reading this then there is a possibility that I am not around anymore, well physically. Or you became so mischievous that you found this while your old man sleeping loudly and found this. I have kept this with me for the past many years since I have found you. Many people called me crazy even my own did at one point but you know who made me believe that what I am looking for is real? You!. We just told you how I found you, but I have not revealed to anyone what happened after I found you. My dear in here you will know what.

After I found it in the forest it was the day I always cherish, looking at your moon-like eyes I found my purpose. I thought that gods have given you to us, and asked me to take care of you. I owed to do that and I hope I did make sure of that until my last breath.

But it was after three years you came into our lives, as any day I was walking in the woods and always visited where I found you, just to see if anyone waiting for you. But it was that day I saw a beautiful woman who looked like an enchantress sadly looking at the ground from where I found you once, but as she heard me walking near her, she got scared but I made sure to not scare her more. And at that moment I realized that all the tales which was passed down were real, and Megapunal holds the secret way to merge different worlds without even the people knowing about it.

I would never forget that face and she somewhat understands me, and even realized that I got her baby. She is happy and I was kinda sad that we need to give you back but she stopped me and asked me to take good care of you and She even gave me a scroll that contains your birth info. I made a promise to give it to you once you are 18.

Each year passed and I never saw her again. But to my surprise, I saw her face in you as you grow up. You my Nila are an exceptional human being, you are not from this time nor from this era. You are born for greater things, you are from history that we learn. Everyone thought I was being a selfish cause of not selling the land. I have not kept the land just for the history but I kept it so that one day if you want to return from where came you can. It's for you my dear, everything I did is for you. Hope you forgive your old man for not enclosing this info in person but as I am getting older I am not sure how far I can travel with you and for how many days. So until then, I want you to be with us.

Everything you want to know is in the box under my table. Make sure no one knows about this as this may put you in serious trouble.

Always loving you,

your Thatha.

Tears roll down and I am literally shaking as I closed the letter, I am not sure how to take all the info I just read. I went in and took the box out. I so want to see what is all the history behind my life. As I was about to open I heard my brother calling for me to come.

I wiped my tears and placed the box in my bag along with my other things. I exhaled and went outside.

'Yes, Akilan. Why do you call me' I ask him in a flat tone. His eyes on me made my skin crawl and I gritted my teeth.

'Well, are you blind? My friends are in the hall. Go and serve them food' He said and spit out the gum on the ground in front of me.

I silently went in to see around five men who I had never seen in my life and all of them are drinking and I could tell Akilan is already drunk. I started feeling disgusted by their habits and smell. This is our home.

'What are you guys doing? Akilan! this is our home! and this is how you treat it!' I shouted but I was not expecting what happened next. Akilan literally slapped me right in the face. Say I am shocked don't even comprehend my thoughts at the time.

'You bloody orphan. How dare your question me! This is my home and you are just a mere servant' He said and I flinched as he worded orphan.

'Oh Akil, why you are hurting such a beautiful girl? Is she your sister' A boy around Akilan's age asked and I flinched back to his closeness.

'Sister? absolutely not! She is just a servant' He said and smirked. Tears fell down as I stood there getting all the ill-treatment from him.

'I have never seen such a beautiful servant girl before. Would you mind if I had some fun with her' The boy asked to which my so-called brother smirked and he neared me like a lion would do a deer.

My eyes widen and I started shaking. Akilan held my face roughly and bring it close to his face. I can smell alcohol strongly from his breath and I closed my eyes.

'Do you want me to let them have their way with you?' he asked and his lips are just above mine and I was shaking as a leaf. I shook my head and whimpered silently asking him to let go.

'Are you going to be a good girl and behave from now? Or you are going to be a slut like you have been'  His words made me cringe and made me cry out.

'ANSWER ME' He raised his voice and I opened my mouth to say those words with eyes full of tears. 'I'll behave' I said and let me go from there.

I am traumatized and I hurriedly went into my Thathas room, I didn't waste any time as I am sure that my time here had come to an end and took my bag. I silently stuffed some of my clothes along with some memorable items. But as I looked around my Thathas room how am I going to go from here? Where would I be going? I looked at the woods from the window and I nodded my head. I grabbed everything I needed and jumped out of the window. As I run I never turned back as I am scared that Akilan will be after me. As I run my feet started feeling sour and my head spinning. I want to reach the place where I met a boy before. But as I run I felt like someone is squeezing my heart and I couldn't breathe.

And I fell down holding my chest, praying the above that someone other than my brother would find me. Or if I am dead then let nature take care of me. But as I was about to close my eyes I saw a girl around my age who is currently running towards me and shouting for something. I closed my eyes hoping that I reached where I wanted to be and felt I am being carried away. With relief I let the darkness consume me

TO BE CONTINUED...

Wattpad URL: https://www.wattpad.com/story/340742700-chinnanjiru-nilave-little-moon-ponniyin-selvan

#aditha karikalan #karikalan #arunmozhi varman #arulmozhi #nandhini #kundavai #vanthiyathevan #ponniyin selvan #ps1 #ps2 #tamil #fanfic #time travel #wattpad #chola #mani ratnam #chiyaan vikram #karthi #kalki #vaanathi #aishwaryarai #poonguzhali #ar rahman #chinnanjiruNilave #aishwarya lekshmi #senthan #pandiyan

[guardkeywolf]

The Captain and his Commander

"Wolf, c'mere for a sec..." Price beckoned over the 7'3" Ultrian Wolfian Commander to his space.

"Hmmm?" The Wolfian asked as he walked over to the older Brit.

"I need you're help real quick." Wolf came over to find the smaller man struggling to reach something at the top shelf. Wolf could see it was something but didn't know what.

He looked back down at Price.

"Can you get it for me?" Price asked, still with his back faced to him as he continued to try to reach for the object.

Wolf didn't question it as he moved closer to Price's back and simply reached up to grab the object Price so lovingly desired from the top of the cupboard. The Commander guessed it be one of his cigars he loved dearly but when he found it, he pulled it into the light and squinted at the object.

It was a bottle of lube. The Wolfian looked down at Price immediately when he felt Price's ass roll back into his cock, making him let out a low growl in pleasure. Price closed his eyes as he felt the Ultrian get hard underneath him.

"Fuck me... You got a monster I don't know about, Commander?" He asked as Commander rolled off his tongue sinfully. Wolf set down the lube and let his hands grip the Captain's thin, little waist, pulling him closer to him.

"What are you implying...Captian?" The Commander asked back, leaning down in the Captain's ear now.

Price held back a moan as he felt the Ultrian's massive hands slide up and down his sides. He reached back to grab the fur on the back of Wolf's neck, pulling him down to gaze at him.

"Wolf...please..." the man whined as he grinded back onto him.

Wolf was quick turn around and slam Price on the counter, locking his lips in a kiss and he picked up the man and set him on top of it. Price let his hands roam through the Ultrian Commander's fur as he continued kissing him. Wolf growled as he let his tongue breach Price's mouth, turning his head deeper to kiss the Captain even more.

Wolf moved his hands to grab onto Price's thighs and lift him before tearing off the man's pants and underwear in one swift move.

Price broke the kiss in shock as he watched his now torn pants and underwear flutter to the ground.

"Well if I knew you'd do that, I would have done this sooner..." he purred as he placed a hand underneath the Ultrian's chin, tilting it up slightly and his grinned down at him.

Wolf didn't respond as he attacked Price's neck as he set him back down on the counter carefully. Price let a loud moan escape him as the Wolfian's mouth sucked hickies into his neck, marking him as his.

Wolf pulled away, Price letting out a small whine of displeasure, before letting his hands wander down to unbuckle himself. Price placed a hand on his wrist to stop him from continuing. The Wolfian looked up in confusion.

"Let me." Price hopped down from the counter as he found himself on his knees and began to uncloth the Commander's member.

Price's eyes sparkled at the sight of the 12 inch monster. He couldn't hold back as he let his lips attach to it, Wolf's hand immediately attaching to the back of his head to pull him closer.

The Captain hummed happily as he felt the Commander tug at his hair before taking him fully into his mouth, letting his eyes drift up the Ultrian's body as he watched his head tilt back in pleasure. A long, low groan escaped his lips as he felt Price's lips drift along his member. He tugged at his hair harder now.

The Captain's skillful tongue worked around the Ultrian's thick member, moving his head back and forth as he slicked it up with his saliva.

Once fully slicked up, Price pulled off of him and looked up at him with eyes blown wide.

Wolf gave him a small smile before pulling him back up and leaning down to latch his mouth with Price's. Price moaned into the kiss softly as the Commander tasted himself on his tongue.

The man ran his hand all over his fur, enjoying the soft feeling run pass his fingers. Wolf closed his eyes, enjoying the Brit's touch, as he let his hands run down towards his hips. The Ultrian was quick to break the kiss before turning the man back around and having his ass face him.

"Wolf?" Price asked, confused as he looked back to meet the Ultrian's heated gaze.

He didn't get an answer as a scream left his lips when he felt something slimy slide over his hole. Wolf's snout was pressed against his hole. He cried outloud as he tried to grab onto something to stop his knees from buckling at the action. Thankfully, Wolf kept his hands on his hips, keeping him steady, as he spread his ass futher to lick even more of Price's hole.

Wolf ate Price out like a meal before finally being satisfied with his work and lining himself up with Price's hole. He rubbed over it a few times, watching the Captain's reaction as he struggled to keep himself up.

Wolf, without warning, slammed into the Captain. Price hollered as he was stretched in more ways than one. Wolf let his chin rest on his shoulder and he let Price adjust to his size, before continuing when he nodded.

He was relentless as usual. He basked in the sounds of Price's cries and he took his dick fully. Wolf angled his hips to hit the Captain's prostate, and growled at the man screamed from the pure pleasure. Price lay bent over the counter as Wolf pounded into him with a fast pace.

"W-WOLF, SLOW, ah fuck, SLOW DOWN!" Price cried as the Ultrian moved at inhuman speeds.

Wolf merely grunted in response and just went faster as he felt himself getting close to his climax. His grip tightened on Price's hips as he pulled him back to meet his thrust each time. The Ultrian enjoyed seeing the Captain like this but didn't dare voice it.

Price let a loud whine escape him as he came on the counter, body slumping completely as he orgasmed.

Wolf grinned slightly as he sped up his pace before feeling Price clamp down on his dick before coming inside the smaller man.

Wolf held him in place as he flooded his walls with his release. Price groaned softly as he felt Wolf's member buried inside him.

"Fuck..."

"Indeed..." Wolf responded as he held Price close to him.

"Ahem..." said a deep feminine voice from aside them.

Wolf turned his head to see Blitz and Ghost as they stared at them.

"Didn't take you as an exhibitionist, Wolf..." she grinned at him and he rolled his eyes at his daughter's tone.

Wolf merely grunted as he removed himself from Price slowly and cast a spell that cleaned the kitchen from their fun before opening a portal.

He picked up Price Bridal style and went through without saying another word to Blitz or Ghost.

"I'll be cleaning that from the cameras later on," the Ultrian-Hybrid chuckled to herself.

#cod modren warfare 2 #call of duty modern warfare 2 #simon ghost riley #simon riley #simon ‘ghost’ riley #Blitz Claw #Wolf Claw #wolf claw x captain price #WolfPrice #guard key's c.l.a.w.s #the c.l.a.w.s in the codverse #The C.L.A.W.S in COD #cod #cod mw2 #Blitz Claw X Simon Riley #john price #captain john price #captain price #my ocs in the codverse

[waitingforwinterwinds]

ASOS; Steel and Snow: 22 ARYA IV (pages 298-310)

Arya and her party go looking for Beric and Thoros in several places before stopping by Lady Smallwood's to catch up on the recent gossip and get a lead that's not colder than the Wall.

-

The sounds had scarcely died away when rope ladders unrolled from the limbs of trees. (...) They climbed to a hidden village in the upper branches, a maze of rope walkways and little moss-covered houses concealed behind walls of red and gold, and were taken to the Lady of the Leaves a stick-thin white-haired woman dressed in roughspun.

I love a good tree village, this one sounds hella cool. roughspun = 🥛

"Whose work was this?" said Lem Lemoncloak. "Mummers?"

lemon(cloak) = 🥛

"I'm not a squirrel," she said. "I'll almost be a woman soo. I'll be one-and-ten." "Best watch out I don't marry you, then!" He tried to tickle her under the chin, but Arya slapped his stupid hand away.

... "men of Westeros stop being gross to children" challenge 2023

Suddenly, a loose stone from the vaults ceiling dropped on Greenbeard's head, killing him instantly.

Kinghts were captured and ransomed all the time, and sometimes women too. But what if Robb won't pay their price? She wasn't a famous knight, and kings were supposed to put the realm before their sisters. And her lady mother, what would she say? Would she still want her back, after all the things she'd done? Arya chewed her lip and wondered.

Ironically, while Robb wasn't willing to pay the price when he thought Arya and Sansa were hostages of the Lannisters, now that Arya's the ransom for some outlaws, he actually might pay it out, call it a reward for her rescue rather than a price for her freedom, but still, a higher chance... if they ever got there.

"The old gods stir and will not let me sleep," she heard the woman say. "I dreamt I saw a shadow with a burning heart butchering a golden stag, aye. I dreamt of a man without a face, waiting on a bridge that swayed and swung. On his shoulder perched a drowned crow with seaweed hanging from his wings. I dreamt of a roaring river and a woman that was a fish. Dead she drifted, with red tears on her cheeks, but when her eyes did open, oh, I woke from terror. All this I dreamt, and more. Do you have gifts for me, to pay me for my dreams?"

*rubs hands* okay, lets see how I go. shadow with a burning heart butchering a golden stag: Stannis' first shadow demon baby killing Renly faceless man on a bridge with an undead crow: hmmm, I'mma say Euron Greyjoy though. iirc in the show his first screentime was killing his brother on the bridge at Pyke. Faceless man did make me think of the faceless men, but the undead seaweed crow is making me think it's Euron. Does he have some eldritch thing going on that would explain the face thing? (I mean I know he has some eldritch thing going on, but does he have one that would explicitly explain the face thing?) fish woman dead in the river: the Catelyn>Stoneheart pipeline. (I'm a little bit excited for that, I don't want Cat to die, but they cut Lady Stoneheart from the show, so I've only ever heard of her second hand.)

"Dreams," grumbled Lem Lemoncloak, "what good are dreams? -"

Lemon(cloak) = 🥛

"- What do you like to do?" She scuffed her toe amongst the rushes. "Needlework." "Very restful, isn't it?" "Well," said Arya, "not the way I do it."

Ha!

"Aye, and shear them too," chuckled Lem Lemoncloak.

lemon(cloak) = 🥛

... you know, for all the time they spent chasing Dondarrion and Thoros, Arya could have been at Riverrun by now.

... awww, Gendry and Arya are bonding again~ ... Gendry!!! the audacity!

Harwin took one look at them and burst out laughing, and Anguy smiled one of his stupid freckly smiles and said, "Are we certain this one is a highborn lady?" But Lem Lemoncloak gave Gendry a clout alongside the head. "You want to fight, fight with me! She's a girl, and half your age! You keep your hands off o' her, you hear me?"

Lemon(cloak) = 🥛

wait... when he says "half your age" does he mean Gendry is like, 20? legit? I though older teens, 16, 18 at most. Have i been picture Gendry as way too baby this entire time? Why did I think he was that young? Or is Lem exaggerating the age gap for effect?

"I'm sorry I tore the acorn dress too. It was pretty." "Yes, child. And so are you. be brave."

Finally, someone telling Arya she's pretty without being a creep about it. MVP Lady Smallwood!

#a storm of swords #steel and snow #a song of ice and fire #arya stark #a chapter a day reading #asos #asoiaf

[troutfur]

Part 2 of the FireBark Patrician au:

Sandstorm is absolutely livid at Cloudkit’s arrival, almost ready to let the kits freeze. She’s no fool, she knows the clan talks about her and Fireheart’s marriage but this just seals it.

It is a grace from the stars that Cloudkit is allowed to stay. Fireheart definitely isn’t doing too hot but he knew the risks and He’s just rolling with the punches. Barkface is given the side eye at the next gathering, Ashfoot especially staring at him like “That’s your son”

He does get close with Brindleface and her kits (Sandstorm refuses to speak to him without Yellowfang or Bluestar present). Ashpaw and Fernpaw are thought pretty highly due to this. Though there might be the sour rumors of Fireheart being the sire of Brindleface’s litter which definitely doesn’t help the situation.

Cloudpaw is definitely on thin-ice at all times and Fireheart is trying to keep his atheism as far away from Sandstorm as possible.

I also have this added thought of Cloud + his littermates joining and Sandstorm being like “You are keeping one and the rest are going”. No matter that no one really available aside from Littlecloud is around at the moment, she’s definitely pulling some strings to get them sent off, with various degrees of resentment.

Fireheart and Sandstorm work on their issues, especially after Yellowfang’s death and Bluestar’s condition gets worse. They need to at least communicate with each other to keep the clan going.

Honestly Fireheart becoming deputy then leader would be absolutely hilarious, he’s the talk of gatherings for ages. Thunderclan breathes a sigh of relief when Squirrel and Leaf are born.

I love this, I love this a lot. Thank you for sending it to me, I've been staring at it like all day long thinking how to reply.

Like, damn, Sandstorm REALLY would be justified in kicking his ass. But I like the thought they eventually work it out in a "we need to keep the Clan running somehow now that Yellowfang's dead and Bluestar is not suited to fulfill her duties".

I don't see the earlier infidelity giving them grounds for a completely stable relationship but like. At least as business partners and later co-parents to Squirrel and Leaf it's nice?

(This one hits on a very core appeal to augur AU to me, the idea of making the best out of the situation with the arranged marriage, to balance one's position as pawn of the system with one's personal life when it's so intertwined, to work together to find happiness in a situation that could otherwise have been very shitty. It's nice, is what I'm trying to say!)

Also, it's honestly hilarious how Ashfoot keeps scolding her dad about bringing about the infidelity.

And the idea of Fireheart trying to educate his son into the whole of the priestly caste they're a part of and him going: "Hmmm... Sounds stupid, why do we do this?" is priceless.

AND FERN/ASH/CLOUD AS BIO SIBLINGS AND PATRICIANS TOGETHER!

Man, man, man, that sounds juicy. I don't know who I'd want to send away most and to where. I'm certain Sandstorm can pull a favor of two out of someone to send away the kit who doesn't get Littlecloud as fiancé.

#augur au