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mossmurdock · 5 months

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let them hear it (n.kento)

pushing away the angst i had in mind and prioritizing kissing nanami till he's on the verge of giggling while the two of you are outside in the snow.

What the two of you have is complicated; as complicated as something gets with someone as straightforward as Nanami Kento.

You vaguely knew of each other because of work before you quit, and then you found yourself taking the same commute as him to get to your new building.The familiar face was a surprise; autumn was on the cusp of tipping over and you were looking over at a man already dawned in gloves and a suspiciously thick looking coat you swear you've seen hanging on the hooks of previous office walls.

It’s what he’s wearing tonight, although it’s winter, so he’s also smothered in a wool scarf and stops to adjust his ear muffs every once in a while as the two of you walk. The action is somewhat unserious on its own; the idea of a man as serious looking as him so attentively dressed for the weather is already an easy thing to make you smile. But, you’re both a little more than tipsy.

When Nanami stops for the third time to stop the thing from falling into his eyes, you burst out into laughter as he groans to mask his own slew of giggles.

The reservation the two of you made this month was on the late side, so after too much wine and food, the streets are empty for the two of you to wander. These appointments have been something a little more than precious to you recently. You aren’t sure how it all started, but you and Nanami have both found ways to indulge in yourselves at least once a month without feeling too guilty about it for about a year now. Lately, it’s been something you look forward to more than anything else you have planned.

This isn't the first time you found yourself testing your tolerance with Kento. You quickly noted how much of a heavy drinker he was once you found yourself slipping trying to keep up with him. Every month he’ll assure you there’s no need, but you’re rather adaptable yourself; and Nanami would never admit to liking a challenge. It might be wrongfully advantageous of you, but you liked the look of him loose like this. He lets himself lean on you a little more.

It just helps that the sidewalks happen to be particularly icy tonight.

“Hold it, hold—hold on,” he says breathlessly. There’s been the hint of a smile teasing the corner of his lips since the two of you have left the restaurant doors. It’s so contagious that you’re sure your lips will be split and bleeding by the end of the night.

He’s doubled over now, earmuffs on the brink of falling once more. You snort before stepping in front of him, bending down to clumsily bring them up his forehead. He looks up to you as you do, looking a little unlike himself. His cheeks are pink, eyes are wide and nearly starry, his lips are wet because he keeps licking them to fight off the cold. It takes everything in you not to ruffle up his hair even more than it already has been. It would be different, you think; it would be your own hands doing the carnage. Maybe he wouldn't be so quick to try and fix it then.

“What is it?” your breath comes out as fog in the air. A physical thing your sluggish brain finds beautiful when you watch it mingle with Nanami’s own breath. This close, you can spot tiny snowflakes melting into his lashes.

He hesitates, as if fighting himself for wanting to speak in the first place. There’s a strange expression on his face, too old and twisted to fit his features.

“My stomach feels like it’s about to burst,” he blurts, still clutching to his middle while hunched over.

A silent beat passes before you explode into laughter loud enough to wake people, playfully slapping your hand on his shoulder.

“How crude!” you exclaim, half scolding in your tone. “You’ve seriously got a foul mouth after a few drinks.”

“I would say that was more than a few,” he notes dazedly.

You hum, trying to get him to match your pace once he straightens himself. His shoulders hunch up to his ears as he does, a slight shiver hidden in the sea of fabric he's practically being swallowed into. His chill, the same as his concealed smile, is infectious. Your body follows his, feeling every bit of the breeze that passes through your clothing. Crossing your arms over your chest, you try and steel off your body.

"Are you cold?" Nanami offers his arm for you to cling onto, giving you no time to answer him.

The buzz radiating off your skin is silenced by the fabric he wears, squashed into his figure and sticking to him like scorching asphalt. You feel cemented this close to him, letting your arm fall and feeling him interlace your fingers while still keeping it close to his. His gloves keep you from feeling his skin. Your tease about him being the coldest between the two of you dies on your tongue.

The two of you bump shoulders, a little too inebriated to be walking this close together. The surrounding snow swallows up all other sound, only leaving your heavy footsteps and gentle breathing to be heard. Nanami sighs. You feel the noise travel from the soles of your feet, tingling at the tips of your ears.

“Comfortable?” you ask cheekily, feeling the pressing weight of him melding into your shoulder as time passes by. He hums in response, another vibration you can feel dancing on your skin.

“You’re warm,” he states, squeezing your hand firmly. Still painfully gloved. “Thank you.”

The sincerity in his voice knocks the wind out of your own, the only trace of it being the small cloud that leaves your lips. It takes everything in you to not dig your fingers into his hand, until you reached the skin, until he could really feel you, until he would be able toleach all the warmth he wanted from your blood. You think he would do it gently.

Nanami stops walking first once the entrance of his apartment comes into view. The steps up to the door are covered in snow and ice, they haven't been salted yet. You’re about to tell him to be careful while walking up the steps before you feel something foreign being placed on your head. They’re his earmuffs, unbelievably warm. They smell like the shampoo he uses.

He keeps his hands on the covers, an extra blanket on top of your ears. The weight makes any noise around you sound like it’s been drowned underwater. The feeling is as steady as his stare, half lidded and a little heavy, but balanced. The falling snow seems to still, as stagnant as the stars above your head. The warmth on his skin matches the mellow light seeping from people’s windows.

Your skin seers when his hand drifts to your cheek, dragging his thumb across your skin.

His face looks wind beaten and cold, cherry red at the tips of his ears, his nose, and his cheeks. The flush must run all over him, down to his knuckles and elbows, up his chest and shoulders. You wish you could see.

“You look like you’re freezing, Kento.” You lean into his touch unsubtly.

This proximity should maybe feel odd, but it’s hard to ignore all those secret moments the two of you share between meals, on commutes to work, on tipsy walks back home, now that you’re both facing each other.

And he shivers when you use his first name, when you raise your hands to fix his scarf and let the tips of your fingers graze the exposed skin of his neck. The cold teases at those that are cloaked the most, clawing at anything it can find.

“I’m fine,” he sniffles; soft and trailing and good natured. “How are you?”

“I’m good,” you chuckle. He smiles at the noise.

Something overtakes you, some kind of greed that can only be found in snow so pillowy that it wolfs down any noise, a force you can’t stop unless you step into it with your own shoes. There’s that crunch: where the only noise that life seems to need is your own. His. Yours. You’re both holding each other. The sound of his clothes are all you can hear.

You hear his movement before seeing it, feel his cold lips on your cheek long after he’s pulled away from you. It’s innocent, modest—but his hands—they cup around your entire face, shifting across your neck. His gloves are still in the way, but you can’t muster any complaints when the feeling is so intoxicating.

“Are you drunk?” he asks quietly.

“The cold sobered me up,” you answer, voice thin with the slightest shock. “You?”

“Me too,” he replies. He’s hastily taking off his gloves and the action momentarily puts some distance between the two of you.

“What—what are you doing?” you scoff confusedly.

“I can’t feel you,” he explains simply, stuffing the gloves into the pocket of his coat. “I’d like to feel you.”

Laughter ebbs past your lips for the millionth time. The happiness you’ve felt today only feels real because your cheeks are beginning to hurt from all the strain.

Kento has wrapped you in an embrace, easily picking you up from the ground by your waist. You gasp, smirking into his neck as you wrap your hands around him and try not to jostle the earmuffs too badly.

You might never know a strength like his; his hands are gentle and firm. When you press a lingering kiss to the juncture of his jaw, one coasts across the curve of your ass before settling into the meat of your thigh.

“Don’t be too quick just ‘cause you want to get out of the cold. The steps are icy.” You advise him while bombarding his face with light pecks similar to his first one, musing his hair and admiring the pliant looking smile on his face. It’s also the kind he holds when he’s holding back a laugh.

He hums deeply. You feel it intensely this time, it echoes against your own chest.

“I’m not being quick because of the weather,” he grumbles, barely hiding his urgency.

His response has you looking down at him smugly, wishing you could take a picture just so he could see his own flushed face.

this post is the culprit !! everyone please point and laugh at it, it is so embarrassing how long i thought about it.

i hope yall dont mind being tagged, but @riaki @maeby-cursed @threadbaresweater are also enablers!!! wrote this with yall in mind hope u like it

#THIS WAS BARELY EDITED LMAO #im so tired #it is five a.m. u guys #i love this man my hubby my wife #moss writes #jjk x reader #nanami x reader #nanami kento x reader

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hanniluvi · 5 months

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( 🌨️ ) THIS IS HOW IT FEELS — PARK SUNGHOON FIC

[ DAY EIGHT ] of the advent calendar !

( 🌨️ ) SYNOPSIS . . Sunghoon hates the winter, but somehow you made it feel a bit more bearable.

( დ ) PAIRING . . friend!sunghoon x gn!reader

( 🌨️ ) GENRE . . fluff, friends 2 … ? 😊

( დ ) WARNINGS . . none that i know of ~~ WC 0.7K+ ( 721 )

( 🌨️ ) NOTE . . happy sunghoon day 🤭 this song somehow reminds me of sunghoon so you know i had to write a fic inspired by “this is how it feels” by d4vd , laufey 🤍

Winter? Sunghoon absolutely despises winter.

The coldness during this season is something he particularly dislikes. He loathes the biting chill that seeps through the layers of clothing, making each step feel like a battle against the frosty air. The winter season, with its harsh temperatures and biting winds, always manages to dampen his spirits.

The snow is another aspect of winter that Sunghoon absolutely detests. Its intrusive nature, clinging to his layers of clothing and making every step a challenge, frustrates him. In his opinion, snow only seemed to be visually appealing when viewed from the cozy warmth of indoors. For Sunghoon, winter has become a time he'd prefer to skip entirely.

So, it wasn't surprising for Sunghoon to grumble about having to exit the warm confines of the school building into the cold. He loathed leaving the heated rooms to brave the harsh winter chill, especially with the slight snow making the situation worse. Slowly dragging his feet towards his locker after the bell rang, he clearly did not want to go home at all, an unusual behavior for him.

It didn't take him long to reach his locker, given that his last class was nearby. As he punched in the code to open it, you appeared with a cheerful smile. "Hey Hoon," you exclaimed, hastily retrieving your coat from the locker. "Did you see the snow? It's so pretty!"

Sunghoon sighed, mustering a half-hearted smile. "Sure did."

"Come on, why aren't you slightly excited?" you nudged, attempting to elicit a more enthusiastic response from."It's the first snow day of the month—what's so bad about that?" you remarked, trying to lighten the mood.

"And it should remain the first and final day," Sunghoon deadpanned, closing his locker. You playfully rolled your eyes, well aware of Sunghoon's dramatic tendencies. "Seriously?"

"I'd much rather stay inside longer because it's snowing—you know me. I don't like snow," Sunghoon shrugged, sliding his arms into his coat.

"Well yeah—wait, I'll help you like the snow!" you declared, a determined spark in your eyes.

"Huh—" Sunghoon barely had his arm in the sleeve of his jacket when you started walking away from the lockers. With a confused expression, he followed after you, still adjusting to the abrupt situation.

"YN!" Sunghoon shouted, watching you instantly take off once you reached the exit of the school. Hesitant but determined, he put his hood over his head, attempting to catch up. The wind carried the snow into his way, getting blown all over the place. He shields his eyes with one of his hands, "Why are you running?"

You turned around, smiling and laughing as Sunghoon tried to catch up while trying to avoid the snow as much as possible. "Why am I running?" you echoed, the wind tousling your hair as you grinned at Sunghoon. "Because, Hoon, sometimes you just have to embrace the unexpected and let loose in the snow!"

Sunghoon rolled his eyes but couldn't help but crack a smile. As he finally caught up, you slowed down, and the two of you found yourselves standing in the gently falling snow.

"See? It's not that bad," you teased, twirling around to catch the snowflakes. Sunghoon gazed at you, bundled in your scarf with white earmuffs. Your rosy cheeks and bright smile created a warmth he hadn't experienced before, not from his own clothing. It marked the first time he felt a different kind of warmth—the kind that made his heart pound slightly faster. “Right?”

“I still don’t know how to feel about this,” he joked, smiling as he held eye contact with you.

“It will grow on you quickly,” As you laughed and turned around to continue walking, Sunghoon couldn't deny the flutter in his chest.

He quickened his pace, matching his footsteps with yours, walking alongside with you. The soft crunch of snow beneath your feet and the delicate fall of snowflakes created a serene backdrop. Sunghoon couldn't help but steal glances at you, realizing that this only made him notice his true feelings.

It was a feeling unfamiliar yet strangely comforting—the warmth of the season mirrored in the connection forming between you two, turning the chilly day into a heartwarming memory.

So this is how it feels to love the cold days.

This is how it feels to fall in love with you.

ENHA PERM TAGLIST (1) — @flwoie @ixomiyu @haruavrse @shinsou-rii @bearseulgs @ilovewonyo @yenqa @dimplewonie @bubblytaetae @wtfhyuck @ineedaherosavemeenow @ml8dy @starikizs @wonioml @chirokookie @xiaoderrrr @neozon3nha @en-chantedtomeetyou @millksea @enhaz1 @eundiarys @hyeosi @ja4hyvn @judeduartewannabe @j-wyoung @thia-aep @vampcharxter @softpia @officiallyjaehyuns @itsactuallylina @hsheart @sweetjaemss @ahnneyong @hanienie @jwnghyuns @kpoplover718 @jiawji @rikizm @haknom @yeokii @wvnkoi @whoschr @teddywonss @shinunoga-iie-wa @isoobie @skzenhalove @misokei @s00buwu @ox1-lovesick @miercerise @litttlestars @enhapocketz

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st4rwon · 4 months

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winter + bf!changbin

warnings: none js fluff!!

it was freezing cold out today, leading to you being tucked under a couple blankets and snuggled into your boyfriend’s chest. his strong muscular arms held you close to him and he brushes his hands through your hair.

though from the corner of your eye, you noticed something falling from the sky outside. then you saw some more of the white dots falling to the ground. suddenly it hit you, it was snowing!

“binnie!! look outside, there’s snow! cmon lets go look!” you said giggling, as you ran outside the room.

changbin chuckled to himself amused at your behavior, he knew how much you enjoyed the cold weather. he trailed behind you and grabbed a coat for you, along with some earmuffs and a scarf. he expected you to stay outside for quite a while, as you liked to sit outside and loved the beauty of nature, so he grabbed some gloves as well.

“binnie come quick! we gotta make our wishes together”

“im coming darling! just gotta make sure i get some things so my cutie doesn’t freeze to death”

changbin rushed outside and helped you put on all the items he brought. he brought you into a tight back hug and clamped both your hands together. both of you silently made your wishes, before you turned around and pressed a soft kiss to changbin’s lips.

“im so happy to be spending year with you bin. i remember last year, my wish was for you to ask me out, and you did!”

“god you’re so cute ynie. im glad you wished for that because i wouldn’t want to have anyone else as my partner. now shall we dance in the snow, pretty?”

“we shall!”

please don’t spam like posts, repost, translate, or use my work without my permission. all work is fictional and only used for entertainment purposes. © azurez 2024

#skz changbin #changbin x you #changbin x reader #changbin x y/n #changbin skz #skz x yn #skz x y/n #skz x you #skz x reader #changbin #seo changbin #changbin comfort #changbin fanfic #skz drabbles #changbin drabbles

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iccyhoon · 2 months

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OKAY SO LIKEEE..hear me out.. reader suddenly drops by ni-kis house at a stupid late time, basically forcing him out the door to watch the first snow fall and play in the snow with her. They start walking back to his house while sharing earbuds. The song 'snow' by Kim Daniel starts playing on her shuffle playlist, and they have a little moment, confessing that they liked eachother

Okay that was really specific but like...🫠

Ahhhhh! Of course!! You got it!! I love this idea!! It's so cute and simple yet has so much potential!! I won't let you down! Thank you for being the first post on my enha blog!

Snow

PAIRING: Ni-ki x fem!reader

WARNINGS: Cutesy Niki!

WORD COUNT: 814

He heard knocking on the door after he was done brushing his teeth. He was confused so he immediately walked out and looked at the peep hole to see you. He was so confused as he checked his phone. It was currently 2:45 am at night. He opened the door for you as he rubbed his eyes.

"Why are you here?" He said, harsher than expected. "It's about to snow! Let's go watch it together." She said light and whole heartheartedly. He shook his head. "It's late..." He said, trying to reason with you.

You were dressed in fleece leggings, white skirt along with a white puffer jacket. Brown earmuffs to match the brown boots you had on.

He smiled looking at how cutesy you dressed up. "Please Niki?" You asked as he shrugged. "I don't know. It's late." He said yawning immediately after. You pouted and grabbed his coat, his scarf, a beanie, and his winter boots. "Now get these on." You huffed as he shook his head no, sitting on the couch.

You puffed your cheeks. Helping him get dressed as he couldn't help but smile at your reaction. You helped him get ready as you pulled out your phone. "Hurry it's 3 already! First snow starts at 3:15!" You yelled as he covered your mouth, suddenly full of energy. "Shh! My neighbors are gonna kill me..!" He whisper yelled as he chuckled and you giggled.

You guys both laughed as you plugged in your earbuds, playing your winter playlist. He knew winter was your favorite season so he didn't complain as he stuck the right side in his ear.

"So where are we going?" He asked. "To that open field of grass." He looked, he didn't see much grass. He did see patches of frost though. "That's frostbitten grass silly." He said as you sighed, looking at your phone. "Hurry it's 3:05!" She said, pulling on his wrist, forcing him to run. He laughed and you laughed with him.

"We made it!" You said, checking the time, "It's 3:12 am." You said, waiting for the snow as you sat, he sat next to you as he cleared his throat. You guys sat in silence for a minute.

"So I-" You both said at the same time and laughed gently together. "You first." He said. "No you." You said back. "You go." He insisted. "A gentleman knows better to listen to a lady." You told him as he looked around. "Where's the lady?" He joked as you pushed him lightly.

"Kidding, kidding." He said, taking a deep breath. "Listen, y/n." He started off, causing yout heart to pump faster at your nervousness.

Just then, the song changed to Snow by Kim Daniel as he chuckled.

"As I was saying..." He said looking into your eyes, your nose all red from the cold. "I really... really do like you..." He confessed. "For a while now actually. All the little things you do is why I fell in love with you. You may be crazy and come to my house at damn near 3 in the morning just so I can watch the first snowfall with you." He said chuckling, "But that's something I want to keep doing with you..." He said holding your hand. "That's something I want to experience forever alongside you." He confessed as tears rolled down your cheeks.

He was horrified and hugged you. "I'm sorry..." He said gently as you pulled away slightly smiling. "I'm not sad... just really relieved you feel the same way..." You replied, your voice sweet and soft as he sighed of relief.

You guys smiled at each other, knowing your feelings were both reciprocated. As a snowflake fell on Niki's nose.

You immediately smiled and turned to see the snow fall. You were so happy and once the song ended, you leaped out of his arms and went to play in the snow. Niki following you soon after.

You made snowballs and threw them at him as he counter attacked and threw one at you as well. You guys made snowmen and snow angels together and after you were making your 4th snow angel, he just looked at you. Knowing that you were now his.

You walked over to him and smiled. "Thank you Niki." You said sheepishly as he rubbed some snow off your face. "Thank you for dragging me out here tonight." He said, sitting upright, pulling you in for your guys' first kiss.

BONUS!!

Niki woke up cuddled next to you as he texted his group chat.

Niki: Sorry guys, I caught a cold

Wonnie: Oh no, what kind?

Hoonie: What happened this time?

Niki: I'm love sick

Niki has sent a photo

Jay: Really 😐

Woonie: Feel better...

Hoonie: Why are you guys up at 6 am? I'm going ice skating on my day off

Seen

#enha #enhypen #enha x reader #enhypen niki #niki x reader #niki #enha niki #enhypen niki fluff #enhypen niki ff #niki fluff #niki fanfic #enha drabble #enha fluff #enha ff #enha scenarios #enha imagines #hes so cute #enha x female reader

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insomniac-dot-ink · 1 year

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The Dragon’s Hoard

The first one appeared in the middle of a storm. Lightning broke the night sky and rain pounded the earth. The dragon, as most, was asleep deep within his lair, exhaling plumes of ashy smoke and warming gold beneath his belly. A violent sneeze woke the dragon, he reared his great head and snapping his barbed tail. A second sneeze followed.

Mallow the Destroyer stalked down his mound of gold and swept across his caverns. He gave a wordless roar and his breath steamed in the chilly night air. The cave echoed with his threat: “None who enter here may leave.”

A small bundle sat on the floor next to a number of black-steel swords. A little hand seemed to be curiously poking at one.

The dragon roared. “WHO FORFEITS THEIR LIFE TO MY CAVES?” Mallow thumped his mighty tale against the ground and the bundle jumped.

The thing turned and snot ran down its face. A child, no more than seven. And they were staring up at the dragon with a starry-eyed confusion. The little creature rubbed her sleeve across her snotty nose a few times and blinked.

Mallow blew hot air in her face and her blonde curls swept back.

A ratty scarf was tied around the girl’s neck, she was bundled up in several layers, a blue coat was far too large for her. Packaged like a stuffed ham, the girl’s arms stuck out at stark angles and she toddled more than walked in a pair of secondhand boots.

“I am Laurel,” she announced in a voice that was far too loud. She wore a pair of thick earmuffs and two sets of bandages wrapped around her head.

Mallow narrowed his eyes, he bared his terrible teeth, and thrashed his tail and the little creature wobbled and fell onto her behind. The girl’s eyes became even larger somehow, but she didn’t weep. Didn’t flee. Didn’t run.

“What are you doing? Tell me how you wish to die!” The dragon sneered, but it was no use. The child’s ears were stuffed and she could not hear him. Mallow was forced to dig out a cursed notebook and write down words in the common tongue.

Instead of answering, the child wiped at its snotty face and shrugged. She pointed at herself. “I am Laurel.”

Mallow might’ve eaten her or burned her to a crisp, but there was a note pinned to her overstuffed coat: for your hoard.

—-------

The first one's name was Laurel. The second was Rowan. They were sisters with black hair the texture of crow’s feathers and large eyes that made the youngest look constantly in awe and the older like she was lost in a composite maze.

They both had the same note pinned to their chest. And Mallow couldn’t eat something of his hoard– it could be valuable.

“Who approved this foolishness?” The dragon Mallow perched in front of the eldest. She held her young sister in her lap and exposed one pink ear to the draft.

“My mother sent us,” Rowan said with a quick nod toward the mouth of the cave and a bit too loud. “She’s a witch.”

“Good for her.”

“She’s says you’ve met before.”

Mallow narrowed his eyes. “Oh?” He gave a terrible grin with a terrible puff of his chest. “And she sent me unskilled tiny servants in response. How lovely.” “Don’t be daft,” Rowan said frankly and bounced her baby sister up and down on her knee. “Do you have any kindling?”

“I should turn you to splinters for asking,” Mallow narrowed his cat-like eyes. He enunciated slowly, “I only collect valuable things. Things worth more than your life. Things you cannot burn.”

“Aye,” the girl replied absently.

“Perhaps you should offer me something of the like in exchange for your life.”

The younger sister tugged on her sister. “Scary.”

“Yes, yes.”

The dragon puffed up. “Your sister seems to have some sense.”

“Not you.” The sister’s eyes flicked to the dragon’s pile of whittled instruments from the Year of the Elder Crow. “We have something mum says you can’t say no to. Do you have kindling now?”

The dragon’s eyes went wide. He was a creature of want after all. “Something I can’t say no to? A Witch must like to gamble.” He repeated, smiling and leaning forward. The girl held his gaze.

“But I can’t show you ‘till tomorrow.”

The dragon circled around the children and thrashed his tails and made his threats, but Rowan was already putting her headgear back on and curling up around the other child. Mallow knew he was being played, but retribution could wait until morning.

The children were unarmed after all and he could spare some ancient tomes on taxation for their fire.

—--

An older child named Ralph arrived in the night. A mealy child who had pick-pocket hands and a lean-dog frame.

“No! Absolutely not,” Mallow growled. “I am not here for the village’s lost scoundrel children.”

Ralph was wearing a gauzy series of headbands and sat down next to the others, sucking in his lower lip. Mallow bared his teeth and Rowan held up something wooden and boxy in front of the dragon’s long snout.

“It’s inside.”

He delicately picked up a box with many indents and moving parts.

“A treasure from the Witch Hazel,” Rowan said loudly, one ear exposed. “If you can solve it that is.”

“There is no manmade contraption I cannot master.” The Dragon sat back on his haunches. “I'm sure your people say that's what dragon's traded our souls for."

The new boy, Ralph, folded his arms over his chest. “Lotta good souls do us.”

“Don’t say that,” Rowan hissed at him and clutched at the Witch’s holy hawthorn around her neck.

The dragon laughed. “Perhaps he can stay. Tell me, boy, how attached to your soul are you?"

Ralph crossed his arms over his chest. "Depends on what they're offering."

"Don't humor him." Rowan met the dragon's eyes and they seemed to burn. A challenge. “Our mum says you have a soul. She sent us here. And she is the cleverest and most revered lady–”

“Bragging doesn’t suit meals," he cut her off. Mallow turned the box around in his claws.

Rowan set her jaw. “We’re using the canvases as beds.”

“Don’t you dare. You’re leaving in the morning.”

The boy that was mostly ribs sniffed, “If you can solve that thing, aye?”

The ancient dragon griped, and snarled and eventually lay down to twist the small box into different shapes. Children’s play, it had to be children's play.

—--

The children might be trying to trick that dragon. Mallow came down from the top of his pile of gold to ask for a hint on the puzzle box the next morning.

Naturally, there were five more children in the small camp. Some of these kids wore rags tied around their heads in long strips that made them seem bulbous. Two of the kids wore almost nothing at all and walked around with fingers jammed in their ears.

They all had something different clutched in their puny hands or tied to their wastes with a note. For your treasure. For the dracon. Foyr yur horde.

The Dragon reared up. “I do not collect children.” He shook the cavern. Two of the kids stumbled forward and shoved puzzles made of hoops or stones at him. One presented a wooden jewelry box with a riddle.

Rowan batted her eyes and said very simply, “Can you not solve these? My mother, the witch,” she emphasized, “said you could.”

Mallow settled down in front of the older child, “Are these even solvable you urchin? Provide a hint to let me know they are not an impossible task.”

Rowan pointed at where to place his fingers.

The cave became far too lively and far too much singing and running filled the space. But some good came of it. After a great deal of twisting and complaining, Mallow conquered the cleverest of Witch Boxes.

He plucked a ring from inside the contraption and rotated it against the light. There seemed to be a small rainbow caught in the center of the jewel. “What is it?” “It’s a mood ring. A ring that can detect your mood.”

“Magic!” The dragon purred. He slipped it on the very end of his tail. “A gift indeed. What does it say, young witchling?”

“Purple means passion.” Rowan shrugged and went back to a kind of flower arrangement. “Or something.”

Mallow flicked his tail and grinned. Passion was indeed what he felt in the contest of wills with the box; proper magic.

An eerie-looking child, ghost-like and pathetic, stumbled toward him and held up a game of colored tiles. A player must “connect four” to best their opponent.

He settled down in front of the phantom child, Sally, to challenge her wits. “Very well, you may stay another night. My little hoard.”

The children ran in circles and seemed to acquiesce to the ideal through their cries of delight. —----

Dragons avoid spending time with their own kind, much less that of other species. Juveniles even worse. Which was why Mallow decided to turn them into an adequate army instead. Provided with creaky wooden swords and dinner-plate size shields, he rallied the children to prepare to do great battle.

“Yes! Yes, we will unleash the seven furies of hell and overtake the kings of the mountaintops and queens of the oceans. They will cower before us, lament their fates, and relinquish their gold to our cave."

Shrieking laughter and whooping answered Mallow. Laurel appeared to be making her wooden sword and wooden dagger kiss. Ralph was making one of the younger boys hit himself. Sally fell down, scraped her knees, and started crying. No matter, Mallow collected every medicinal wonder of the world.

His troops continued to train as Mallow dug through one of his herbal collections. He didn't see the figure appear.

Music began to play. A jaunty, slippery sound from a panpipe. The lullaby, sickly sweet and unnatural, filled the space and seemed to muffle the air itself like a blanket.

“Get off! Get off, you wanker!”

Mallow turned in place. Ralph and others marched across the cavern, stiff-limbed and empty-eyed toward the opening. The other children were in chaos. Sally, bleeding knees and all, bodily tackled Marco to the ground and wrenched the gauze from out of his ears. The twins Lucas and Abigail wrestled on the ground, trying yank fingers out of ears.

The dragon flared his nostrils and stepped forward.

“Stop, stop!” Tears streamed down Laurel’s face as she held her sister back. She clawed bloody ribbons down Rowan’s arms, but the elder girl wrenched the earmuffs off her head and threw her to the ground, face empty.

A pair of yellow eyes glowed in the dark. The children were walking. The music played on.

Mallow leapt toward the front of the cave and let his fangs dripped molten hot. He roared, “You think to disturb the sanctity of my treasure?!”

The Pied Piper blew a sharper note, but Mallow was beyond such tricks and tore through the night with his claws. The Trickster was faster and ducked. He smiled something sour and cruel and blew a series of musical notes. The Trickster’s yellow eyes were swallowed by the dark.

A note was left in his place that simply read, PAY UP.

The dragon’s chest heaved and his breath steamed against the air. He threw himself into the sky and flew across the mountaintops, searching and lighting up the night in flames. But Pied Piper’s were not easily caught.

Mallow returned and counted their heads. There were seventeen. Just as the number they had started with. The children looked up at him with enormous shining eyes and the younger ones threw their arms around his leg. Mallow tried to push them away and tell them of the nature of dragons: They don’t lose things.

Like many young, they didn’t seem to listen. The children slept at his feet that night.

—----

The Piper tried to lure the children away from the cave several more times. All it took was one note and one pair of ears, sometimes the Piper brought in outside children as well and laid traps and schemes. Sometimes he simply grabbed one child under his arm and ran.

“They must pay,” he repeated like a rabid man. “They must pay their debts.”

Dragons however, did not pay prices. And he did not tolerate being stolen from. No matter how far the bard ran, the dragon was faster. He plucked Ralph back from the man’s arms and almost lit the ocean on fire. Marco and Laurel rode on his back from the dark forest.

Rowan learned to light Witch’s Fire and The Piper gained a new scar when he tried a fourth time. And a fifth.

That was the first year where no children drowned from the Town of Hoppling. Families from Bernick and Wastings and city children from the Skid Row and the fish monger districts that couldn’t pay the Piper, all arrived at the cave of the Dragon Mallow. They only had to bring a simple game and perhaps a clever riddle to share around the fire.

The Dragon gained a new name in the years he guarded his hoard and scared away the Piper. Dragons don’t have souls. But if they did, there might be one named Mallow, Saint of Children. Saint of Safety in Fire.

------

If you enjoyed the story please consider donating to my ko-fi or supporting me on patreon (even a dollar helps!), check out my Sapphic fantasy book as well!

#flash fiction #dragons #short stories #fairy tales #fantasy stories #long post

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diagonal-queen · 8 months

Text

The Moon and the Sea

♡ pairing: Paul Verlaine x Arthur Rimbaud

♡ synopsis: After a hard day, Verlaine finds solace in the arms of his partner.

♡ wc: 1.5k

♡ cw: Stormbringer spoilers(?), Rimlaine are extremely sad and gay

note: "i want to write a oneshot about some really beautiful but tragic gay men but i cant think of anything" i said to @small-chaos. they replied "Everybody talks about the moon and the sun but nobody admires the beauty in the relationship between the moon and the sea" and then this brainchild was born. thanks bestie <3 i would also like to shoutout @gettinshiggywithit for helping me complete this when i ran out of brain power, thank you lovely 😚😚 apologies for errors and I hope you enjoy x

The early winds of autumn were warm and gentle, relieving busy Parisians of the sticky summer humidity as the changing season set itself in motion. The sounds of evening began to die down, leaving only the rustling of brown and orange leaves in its wake. Yet, one man hadn't been privy to this particular noise, as all his windows had been closed as soon as he'd first entered the apartment the week prior. All he could hear was the crackling of fire and his own chattering teeth.

Rimbaud found himself growing colder by the minute. That night, he sat shivering on a sofa right before the fireplace, with a thick fluffy blanket wrapped around him. Despite the fact that he was also clad in several layers, a thick grey coat, a large scarf, mittens and earmuffs, he still felt like he might succumb to hypothermia any second.

He wanted nothing more than to leap into the fire itself, but he sat as still as he could and waited. Verlaine was supposed to be back soon, and when he knew that he was alright he would be able to go to their shared room and sleep (somewhat) soundly. That was what he'd planned, at least.

After hearing the sound of the door unlocking, Rimbaud bowed his head as Verlaine entered the apartment and closed the door behind him. He momentarily glanced at his partner, before doing a double take in shock.

Verlaine looked...dishevelled. He wasn't so dishevelled that a stranger may take notice and ask him about it, but for Verlaine, even a loose strand of hair was unusual. Rimbaud immediately knew something terrible must've happened.

"Paul, you...!" Rimbaud sat up, eyeing Verlaine who didn't seem to want to return his gaze. He silently walked, or rather stumbled, over towards the couch where his partner was sitting.

Rimbaud had never seen Verlaine act in such a way. Sure, he could come off as aloof from time to time, but today he didn't seem bothered to hide the fatigue he was feeling. Even his complexion seemed paler.

Verlaine then kneeled on the sofa, before his whole upper body flopped on top of Rimbaud, who let out a soft grunt at the impact. He tried to adjust his posture, but now that Verlaine was slumped on top of him he found it difficult to move.

"Are you alright?!"

"I'm..." Verlaine pushed his hat off his head, letting it fall to the ground by Rimbaud's shoes. "...I'm tired."

His umber eyes seemed unfocused, staring somewhere Rimbaud couldn't see.

"What happened to you, Paul?" The raven-haired couldn't help but feel concern bubbling inside him, and the question came off with more urgency than he'd intended it to. Not that it mattered- Verlaine never seemed to care about things like that.

Verlaine didn't answer for a moment, just letting out a breath that he seemed to have been holding in for a while. His face contorted into a slight grimace.

"...Paul?"

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

In spite of his worry, Rimbaud didn't press him further.

The room was bathed in a golden hue from the fire before the couch they were draped upon. It subconsciously gave a feeling of comfort to Rimbaud, who suddenly noticed how tranquil the atmosphere was despite the fact that he was trapped beneath Verlaine's roughed-up form. He realised that he wasn't shivering so violently now. He was still cold, of course, but Verlaine acted as a soothing source of warmth.

Rimbaud's gloomy eyes gazed down at Verlaine, whose eyes had closed by now. There was no blood on his person, of course, but his slightly dishevelled blonde hair and wrinkled clothing weren't any less cause for concern. For something or someone to have even a slight effect on a creature as powerful as Verlaine...

Rimbaud steadily moved his gloved hand and, after a moment of contemplation, placed it atop the back of Verlaine's head as gently as he could muster. Verlaine didn't react. Rimbaud let out a deep exhale, and cautiously ran a hand through his soft golden locks.

The small room the two were temporarily staying in, an apartment in an old Haussmann-style building located on the outskirts of Paris, was silent. They had become accustomed to moving around as frequently as their job required, and had never bothered to modify any of their living spaces to feel more homely. Rimbaud only cared about where Verlaine was, and Verlaine didn't see much merit in interior design. Yet, something about this place felt inherently intimate, or so Rimbaud thought.

"...Rimbaud?" Verlaine suddenly mumbled. Rimbaud cast him a glance, his face half obscured by blueish shadows while the other half glowed in the yellow light.

"Hm?"

"...I heard something in passing a few days ago," he began, almost as if he were unsure of his own words. "It was about love."

"Love?" Rimbaud creased his eyebrows, perplexed. If one were to ask him anything that Verlaine may bring up in conversation, love wouldn't have been in his first thousand guesses.

"Yes, love...I heard someone compare the concept of soulmates to the sun and the moon," Verlaine continued with a faint voice. "I don't quite understand it."

"Well..." Rimbaud's tone was slightly shaky. "You know the phrase 'opposites attract', don't you?"

Verlaine let out a small noise but Rimbaud couldn't tell whether it was affirmative or negative. Regardless, he continued.

"It means that two people who are different from each other are likely to have a better relationship. The 'sun' person would usually be more outgoing and cheery, while the 'moon' person is more introspective and quiet..." He bit his thin lip and then added, "Not unlike you, Paul."

Verlaine shifted slightly, his hand perching itself on top of Rimbaud's chest.

"Not unlike me...?"

"That's not to say that introspection and quietness are bad things," Rimbaud quickly spoke. "I just mean that...they're traits that suit you well. The 'moon' caricature as a whole suits you well, in fact."

"The moon..." Verlaine muttered to himself. "So far away from the rest of mankind...perhaps I am like the moon."

Rimbaud wanted to comfort Verlaine, to reassure him that he wasn't far away from anybody, especially not him, but the words wouldn't form on his tongue. He felt as if he should have been better at this by now; after all, it was far from the first time they'd had this type of conversation.

"If I am the moon then you're the sea." Verlaine suddenly announced, snapping Rimbaud out of his train of thought.

"The sea?" Rimbaud repeated, quietly. "...I don't understand."

"The sea is complex, full of mystery. You can never predict the force of the ocean's waves as they crash on the sand," Verlaine breathed, as if he were reading a poem. "You are deep and dark, Rimbaud. You're full of undiscovered secrets...and..."

He lifted his head up, lidded brown eyes staring straight into Rimbaud's. "We might be opposites, but I don't think you're a sun."

Rimbaud's breath hitched in surprise. He couldn't tear his eyes away from Verlaine's, whose tired gaze still burned right through him.

"Every day I survey you from afar and it feels almost like you glow when I look at you. How strange is that?"

The black-haired man couldn't tell whether or not Verlaine's question was rhetorical or not. Even if it wasn't, he probably wouldn't have been able to come up with a coherent answer. He was frozen in surprise, unable to break the tense silence between them.

Verlaine's hand moved from Rimbaud's chest to his cheek, gently cupping it while his thumb began to rub circles over his soft, pale skin. The blonde man seemed to be in some kind of fatigued haze.

"The saddest thing is how unattainable you are. But I know that if I were ever to fall..." Verlaine leaned forward, his breath tickling Rimbaud's face. "You would be there to catch me, wouldn't you?"

Then, without giving him the chance to answer, Verlaine brought his lips to Rimbaud's. His grip on Rimbaud's cheek tightened ever so slightly as he deepened the kiss, almost smiling when Rimbaud placed his hands on his back and squeezed.

"Paul-" Rimbaud tried to start when he pulled away, wanting to ask if they should be doing this or if it was really alright, but Verlaine just placed a finger to his lips.

"Shh..." the corner of Verlaine's lip turned up. Rimbaud's cheeks flushed red, and he quickly dove back into the kiss.

Aside from pulling apart for air every few seconds, the pair remained in their gentle embrace until Verlaine eventually pulled away, leaving Rimbaud breathless, and laid his head down on his chest.

"I'm tired, Arthur..." he said, before closing his eyes. Verlaine must've been exhausted- he never called Rimbaud by his first name. It made his heart skip a beat; something he hoped that Verlaine didn't notice.

With the state he was in, Verlaine probably wouldn't remember this in the morning. Rimbaud decided that unless he bought it up first, he wouldn't say a thing about it, no matter how much he wanted to.

And thus, the pair never spoke of that night again.

taglist~ ♡ @gettinshiggywithit, @fyodorhatr, @flower-of-darkness, @bejeweledgirl

#bsd #bungo stray dogs #bungou stray dogs #bsd fic #bsd fanfic #bsd ff #bsd fanfiction #bungou stray dogs fanfiction #paul verlaine #arthur rimbaud #bsd stormbringer #storm bringer #bsd verlaine #bsd rimbaud #rimlaine #verlaine x rimbaud #there is a criminal lack of rimlaine fics in the world #im gonna fix that #rimlaine fanfic

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miyhhowrites · 4 months

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do you know how fast i ran tp the request box when i saw that they were open. DO YOU KNOW anyway cqn i request akito with a g/n reader going out ice skating. playing in the snow going to cafes etc shit. pleas

the brainrot is real

꧁“𝐈𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠”꧂

Akito shinonome x gn! Reader

✮A/N: HI!! I really had fun writing this and i really hope you like it! I dont know how to skate myself so i ended up asking for a friend on how to skate, i also love writing for akito, so it makes me happy requesting for him :DD

✮Summary: since this class year is almost coming to an end, your classmates recently invited you and your friend akito out to skate

✮Contains: y/n and akito are implied as childhood friends, no pronouns mentioned, you and akito are polar opposites when it comes to food, akito doesnt know how to skate, akito wants to impress y/n, might be ooc?

While you were out skating with your friends, you noticed how akito was desperately holding onto the railings as if there's no tomorrow.

Recently, your classmate invited the class out to skate,you were almost turning into second years and that meant that the class might go in their separate ways.. You always thought your friend akito knew how to skate and was actually planning to ask him for help, he knows soccer and was very athletic growing up, he probably knows how to skate, you assumed.... Turns out you assumed wrong.

You finished putting on your scarf, earmuffs and gloves and head onto the ice rink with akito, at first you wanted to skate with your classmates but.. you werent really close with them so you decided to stick with your friend akito, since you both were the closest, you notice how long it took for him to stop holding onto the railling, so you went up to him.

"Hey, kito.. you alright?" You ask, akito scoffs a bit and sighs "yeah, yeah im cool.." he replied, you carefully took his arm and tried to pull him out of the raillings, slowly but surely. "Oh, okay then.. wanna join them?" You ask, akito looks around, shaking his head "oh, no thanks.. im sticking here with you.." he replied "do you know how to skate?" You ask, akito clears his throat and adjusts his scarf "n-no.. but who cares.." he shruggs, feeling embarrassed as he cant impress you.

"Wait.. you dont? I always assumed you knew cause well... You play sports?" You added, akito groans "just because im athletic doesnt mean i know every sport there is [Y/N]" He crosses his arms and chuckles slightly. "Anyways.. i want to leave.. maybe go to a cafe or something.." he added, wanting to change the topic, you shook your head. "No, we're staying.. please? We're almost in our second years and maybe we're not even classmates anymore.. who knows?" You begged, akito sighs and nodded "fine, fine.. but how are we supposed to have fun when neither of us know how to skate?" He asks, you chuckled "i know how to skate.. i just dont know how to do those fancy moves like twirling around or jumping in mid air.." you replied. "Oh really? Didnt know someone lazy ass you knew how to skate" he teases.

"Hey, just becauze im lazy, doesnt mean i no nothing, now ill teaxh you the basic steps! So first you just uh.. bent your knees?" You added, unsure on how to teach him "sorry, i dont really know how to teach someone.." you saud awkwardly, akito nodded "no,no... Its okay, i understand very well.." he replied and bent his knees. "Not that bent.. like.. oh thats better" you pointed out. "Well.. uh.. the thing i like to do is march..? Then after that i just glide..? March and glide.." you stated, akito nodded his head and tried to march and glide while still holding onto you.

"Okay.. thats it.. yeah.. slow down so that you can take turns.." you mentioned, and akito slows down, he was getting a hang of it! "Wait.. how do you turn away..?" He asks "hm.. well just lean into the direction you want to go.. lets go over there since its less crowdy" you suggest, akito nodded "just lean into that direction and maybe.. shift your weight that way" you replied and kito did so, it took a few more tries but he eventuall did it. "Hey, you did it.!" You congratulated him, he was a fast learner which impressed you, you slowly let go of him and just skated along side him. "[Y/N] how do i stop..??" He asked, you saw ahead that there was a railling and that if you dont stop, you might get hit. "Put your feet together and form a v shape like this" you formed a v shape with your blade and you gradually slowed down, akito however didnt quite get that.. "huh? Shit it wont stop.." he added, you started skating toward his direction "what.? Cmon just try it.!" You added, he shook his head, "i told you i cant.! My legs all wobbly.. [Y/N] if i hit that railing im gonna kill you.!" He said playfully, "just form a v shape.!!" You added, you did a v shape and gradually stopped, akito nodded and formed a v shape, he wasnt stopping but he was slowing down. He eventually crashed into the railings but he wasn't hurt, because he was slowing down it reduced the impact of him getting hurt.

"Will you still kill me?" You ask, akito sighs "..nah.. you did teach me how to skate.. and all.." he says while holding onto the railings "wanna take a break?" He suggested, you nodded and left the ice rink with him. While taking off the equipment he suddenly spoke up. "There's.. this nearby cafe here and they sell really nice cheesecake and coffee.. do you wanna go there..? My treat" he mentioned "its the least i could do since you thought me how to skate.." he added. "You smile at him and ruffled his hair "yeah, sure!" You say while standing up, stretching yourself. "Hey, now my hair's messed up.." he sighs and stood up as well.

You both secretly left the ice rink and went to a nearby cafe akito was talking about, luckily not much people were there. You both ordered you drinks and dessert and sat down "really? Carrot cake?" He asked "yeah carrot cake, you dont get to talk since you like cheesecake" you teased "how is cheesecake bad? Carrot cake's the worse.." he replied. "You took a tiny slice of the cake and tried feeding it ti akito. "Comeon.. try one!" You suggested and he shook his head "no.. you know how i dont like carrots.." He added and you sighed giving up. You both talked while drinking your coffees and eating your cakes, both of you soon left the cafe.

"I cant belive they charged us just to have a takeout bag.." you added while akito sighs "why did you order such a big cake anyways? You couldve orders a slice.." he mentioned "i did.! Yknow how i eat something before we go somwhere.." you pointed out, akito sighs and took out his handkechief to wipe your cheeks "you also eat like a toddler.." he says while wiping your cheek. "Oh shut up! Lets just go" you swatted his hands away and walked alongside with him.

Maybe ice skating isn't so bad when you have a friend around..

#project sekai #pjsk x reader #x reader #project sekai x reader #pjsk #vbs #akito shinonome #akito shinonome x reader

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dozing-marshmallow · 7 months

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helloo!! the og nibling requester here (hehe i gave myself that nickname :] ) okay, i've kinda got two ideas!! nibling!reader getting comfort from chris (n had an argument with someone, you can pick who) or, gn!reader x chris having a snow day :] you can pick either! thank you for the amazing stories <33

AWW HELLO AGAIN MY LOVE!❤️ Welcome back to my blog, I hope I didn’t keep you waiting for long! Thank you so much for your well meaning words, you are such a beaut, but really, you should be thanking yourself for giving the amazing requests! As always, I hope you enjoy!💗(and feel free to request the other idea again if it’s something you want to see in the future!)

CHRIS MCLEAN X NIBLING! READER HEADCANONS (PART 7)

It’s another school break, and you’re back.

Back on your uncle’s couch, watching TV.

You thought you had imagined it, but keeping your attention longer on the window rewarded you with the reality of the consistent fall of the watery fluff.

You come closer and your heart jumps in delight.

It’s snowing!

Squealing, you rush from the living room to find your uncle, to inform him of nature’s miracle, to get him to go outside with you, to to to!

“Chris?” you run up to his bedroom door and knock on it rhythmically, singing,“Do you wanna build a snowman? Come on let’s go and play-“

The door opens. Oh! Guess you didn’t need to go through the entire song, even though you had prepared for it.

The occupant snickers, pointing finger guns down at you, ski goggles on,“Already ahead of ya!”

Because this was the first time camp Wawanakwa was getting snow, you and Chris had to improvise on snow gear.

Well, you had to. Chris already had his set of winter clothes. Fortunately, you had your coat, mittens and worn out Wellington boots laying around somewhere and you got to borrow Chris’ pair of earmuffs and his scarf.

Stepping outside, it was a completely different air. The freezing change of temperature nibbled your skin like a shrew on a worm and the hairs on your arms somehow were tensing up when you just stepped outside. You forgot how cold the planet can be.

“I didn’t know islands could get snow! It’s so much!” you yell, throwing your legs up to merry about.

“You learn something new everyday!”

“Look! The whole trampoline is covered in snow!” you point astonished at the bouncy garden toy of springs, now submerged under the husking snowfall.

You had to be careful where you walked, come to realise- the entire island as you knew it was masked by this misty paleness that only seemed to thicken as more of its leader piled next to your ankles.

Naturally, you didn’t think about the dangers of gleefully hopping into the smooth slopes so soon, until you see that you’re about to walk into a chunky physique of a tree.

You stop on time, and feel something moving above you. Something alive. You feed your curiosity, finding a large pair of indigo eyes and a pointy nose.

“Look, Chris look!” you call cheerfully for him, neck extended to the sky,“There’s an owl up there!”

There was! You got to hold one once. It was heavy, but kind! This owl was as keen as you about this sudden weather pattern, sitting on top of the high tree branch, nuzzled in its feathery neck, before tending to its nest, seeing another identical head and two peek from inside of the dry tree room,“Aw, it has babies! They’re so cute!” you see your uncle aside you, also observing,“Do you think they’ll be okay in the cold?”

“Sure they will. They’re adapted to survive weathers like these.” his answer was bluntly uninspiring, grazing accurately to his non-peculiar passion for animals despite him being surrounded by them everyday,“Now about that snowman...”

“Oh yes! Let’s goooo...” you rotate to find a vacant opening,“Down there! Where we’ll have plenty of snow!”

Chris had another idea, trailing behind your steps, boots consuming your smaller tracks,"How about we have a competition? Best snowman gets first dibs on the fireplace." he obviously knew what would happen to bet that.

“Aww...” you pout, the tip of your nose starting to tingle,"Why do we need to compete? You know you're gonna win, you have bigger hands!"

"Ohh?” he puts a finger to his chin, smirking,“Already admitting defeat? I'll gladly take the title of victory!"

Something about his unnecessarily fuelled pride abruptly changed your mind,“I won't let the size of your hands stop me from building the best snowman the world's ever seen!"

“Alrighty then!” he holds his arms out, wind must’ve changed the direction to glue that face on his face,“Bring it on, nibling!”

The cold air howls past your face. Your tongue catches a few drops of snow, heading off under competition stress to mark your own construction ground,“How is it on tv they’re able to roll the snowball so smoothly?”

“You’ve been on tv yourself, (Y/N).” your uncle replies in a raised tone, moulding some snow from the ground into a sphere, still standing in the same position,“You should be able to figure it out.”

You somehow found some stones under this blank layer of Earth to place on the snowman’s torso and practically identical lengths of twigs for arms. The only thing missing was its clothes, but with this snowfall, it’d be a death wish to even remove these earmuffs!

You look over to Chris’ side: though his snowman was vast, you can tell from his relaxed pace of motion that he actually couldn’t be bothered to make it look good.

“Pretty awesome snowman!” he congratulates you on yours by the unspoken end.

You’re very proud,“Yep! I did that!” It was so good you would have thought Chris made it!,“Too bad he decomposed early."

Confused, your uncle cocks his head to the side,"What do you mean?"

Unprompted, you tore a piece of the snowman’s shoulder and threw it at Chris, striking his chest,"Boom! Take that!"

He wipes the remaining frozen fragments off him,“Is that what we’re going to do now?” he briefly returns to his sloppy snowman and removed its head from the body of snow, darkly joking,“Remember that’s how your teddy looked like that one time?”

“Because of Heather!” you giggle, now able to fill your newer days with laughter about the tragedy you genially moved on from,“Ahh!”

Your uncle starts to chase you with both hands full of the clump of crystals. You liked running in the snow- every time you placed a foot ahead, it’d let out this really soothing crunch sound.

Whenever you think you’re far enough with time to spare, you’d hurry to grab a good handful of snow from the ground to throw at him, stride never getting slower.

I wish footprints didn’t exist!

Eventually, he makes an extra step for the chance and launches it, not thinking it would stay in the air for so long.

No amount of running could save you from the hurl of the large cannon ball- on impact, you land on your back into a lower plane of snow, where on a warmer day, you would’ve seen how high you fell from the mini hill.

Chris was worried when you don’t instantly recover to your feet, but smiles when he rushed to find you parting and closing your legs, raising and lowering your arms in the digging form of a snow angel, seeing the distribution of uneven crumbles of his snowman’s head.

The snowflakes resumes to sprinkle your face, gently pecking your youthful features with the cooling drops of white. It wasn’t so cold anymore,“Hehehe! Do one with me, uncle Chris!”

So he does, not surprising that his one was much larger, with his height and fur coat.

You jump up from the soggy ground and admire another work of art you both had shaken into the bitter sheet.

The nibling and uncle silhouettes in the snow had you remembering another must do in this foggy weather.

“Chriiiis, can we go back inside now and have hot chocolate?”

He groans in disbelief,“Seriously? Boooooooo.” he reluctantly dragged his legs across the snow, in the direction of his “cottage”. You can see it from the distance, the yellow beams illuminating the squares of glass, probably being the only reason why he knew how to get back,“What a perfect time to get ice cream.”

“Ah...” it felt great to be back inside. His house was soooo cosy. And this hot chocolate was just what you needed. You might need to dump your feet into a tub of hot water,“Uncle, do you think we can play some Christmas songs?”

“Why, because it’s snowing it means it’s the holidays?” right after he snorted, his mouth is covered by the back of his mug. Paradoxically, he was back in his indoor clothes before you, reminding you once again that your uncle really was unpredictable.

“The holidays wanted to come early! Which meaaans I’ll be getting extra time off school!” you clutch giggly to the circumference of your mug, hands burning. More time to stay, more time to play!

“But that means no holidays during December.” he smirks, twirling his steamy cocoa around, sinister to your let down.

“Aww...” you hated how realistic that sounded. School was so mean!,“Never mind...” there wouldn’t be enough time to open presents. You pitifully pinch a marshmallow from your cup and chomp on it.

“Hey, no need to be so down!” Chris’ charismatic voice rasps as he rubs your head,“Christmas is right around the corner.”

“True...” you add another swirl of whipped cream to your cup, covering the homely brown,“Will I get to be here then?”

“For sure! It’ll be the best Christmas yet!” he affirms with strength.

Hm hm (hm). Hm hm hm hm hm hm hm.

#chris mclean #chris mclean x reader #total drama chris mclean #tdi x reader #total drama island chris #total drama #tdi #td chris mclean x reader #request #td chris #uncle chris mclean #nibling reader #nibling #total drama chris #chris nibling reader

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what-the-fic-khr · 3 months

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I felt such a strong, visceral reaction to this post specifically and had to write something really short and dumb for it literally immediately I’m so serious holy shit. in love with this. I’m gonna cry

character/s: superbi squalo, reader-insert (gender-neutral)

word count: 359

warnings: swearing

prompt: squalo runs colder than most

“It’s too cold! I don’t want to go on this stupid mission!”

Squalo watched you kick up a fuss, quiet as you gathered your stuff. He paid attention to every item you grabbed so he would remember them, so you wouldn’t complain about losing them if you forgot one on your way back.

“I just wanna stay here! It sucks, but it’s indoors at least…!”

“Just hurry up. The faster we leave, the faster this gets done, the faster we get home.”

You grumbled about it the entire way out of the estate, and he let you grouch on your way through. It’d get it out of your system and then you could get to work; you at least knew when to shut up.

You also promptly ignored every dig or mocking remark made at you as you pulled on gloves, a thicker coat, earmuffs. Because of your thick snow boots, the scarf you were wrapping around your neck. They could make fun of you all they liked, but you wanted to stay warm. Fuck ‘em.

Once you’d made enough of a trek away from the estate, pushing through snow with irritation, you eventually slowed to a stop.

“What?”

Squalo stopped next to you, and leant down when you waved at him to. He stayed still, head bowed a touch so you could reach up and slip your (his) earmuffs onto his head. He straightened with a low noise, a grunt of thanks.

“You should start killing people if they’re gonna make fun of you for wearing fucking earmuffs, you know.”

He blinked at you slowly before lifting a leg. You yelled out when he hooked his foot into the back of your knees and you fell, knees hitting the snow.

“You bastard! Give them back and freeze, then!”

Squalo snorted and headed off again, not waiting for you to scramble out of the snow and catch up to him. You didn’t.

He jerked forward after you threw a crudely made snowball at the back of his head, poorly constructed due to your gloves.

“Oi! You stupid bitch; just get up and come on!”

“Bastard! That’s what you get!”

#saw that post nearly died over it sorry. felt inspiration so strong I was winded. omfg #enamoured….. I’m going to headcanon this in every fic I ever write from now on actually #superbi squalo #khr #katekyo hitman reborn #mine #superbi squalo x reader #katekyo hitman reborn imagines #katekyo hitman reborn x reader #khr x reader #khr imagines #ANYWAYS. LOL #you guys get two posts today back to back exciting congrats

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leviathans-watching · 2 years

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HI PRETTY!! i was wondering if you could write an imagine for the brothers of an mc who is all bundled up, cheeks red, mittens on, etc, when its snowing and the brothers finding it cute? i literally cannot wait for winter oml summer is so mid

the brothers seeing mc all bundled up for the cold

includes: the brothers x/& gn!reader (no pronouns mentioned)

wc: .6k | rated g | m.list

a/n: hello!! i'm not a huge winter fan but i did my best so i hope you enjoy! my inbox is open to chat, leave feedback, or req so come say hi

please reblog <333

➳ lucifer watches as you pull on another layer, wrapping a scarf around your neck until it covers half of your face. “are you sure you need all of those layers?” he asks, and you shoot him a glare. the effect is somewhat diminished by the thick hat pulled low over your forehead and he resists the urge to smile. “yes,” you say, exasperated, words muffled by the aforementioned scarf, “i don’t think me becoming a human popsicle would reflect well on the exchange program.”

➳ mammon doesn’t understand how your teeth are chattering. it’s not even that cold! “to you, maybe,” you mutter, shaking another pack of hand warmers, “but humans aren’t meant to be exposed to the frickin’ elements for that long.” mammon laughs, tugging you close to his side, a feat considering the large, puffy coat you’re wearing. “don’t worry,” he says, “i’ll cuddle you when we get back, get you all nice and toasty.”

➳ levi surreptitiously takes a photo of you, inwardly squealing at your cuteness. you had dragged him out to play in the snow, something he’d never done before, and your excitement was infectious. “isn’t this great?” you ask, breath fogging into the air. “the cold air makes me feel alive!” levi grins at you, watching snowflakes drift onto your shoulders. “i’m glad you’re having fun,” he says. “winter might be my new favorite season.”

➳ satan looks at your pleading face. “what do you want?” he asks, sighing. you crack a rueful smile, gesturing down at yourself. “i can’t put my boots on,” you explain. “my snow pants are in the way.” satan raises a brow. “so you want me to do it?” you nod, and he sighs again, before kneeling down to help you. you giggle the whole time, but he can’t find it within himself to be too out of sorts, as the slight of you all bundled up is one that’s going to stay with him for a while.

➳ asmo can barely see you under all of the winter gear you’ve put yourself in, and he knows there are several more layers of sweaters and long-sleeved shirts beneath your coat. “that ensemble is so not cute,” he sighs, looking you up and down. “couldn’t you have at least gotten a matching set?” “no way,” you laugh. “i needed the thickest stuff they had which meant buying independent pieces. i’m sorry, but you’re just going to have to live with it if you don’t want me to freeze!” asmo tilts his head to the side, considering. “ugh, fine. i guess it’s not too bad,” he finally admits, “but that's only because it’s on you.”

➳ beel watches you blow on your hands, rubbing them together to stimulate blood flow. “are you alright?” he asks, and you sigh. “i forgot my gloves at the house. feel how cold my hands are!” you thrust your hand out at him, and beel grabs it, jolting at the sensation. you’re much colder to the touch than you normally are. “that won’t do,” he says, “come over here and put your hand in my pocket.” you do as he says and he covers your hand with his, already planning on switching sides in a few minutes to do your other hand.

➳ belphie groans at the feeling of cold wind on your cheeks, but your eyes are bright. “this is so fun!” you exclaim, trying to adjust the earmuffs covering your ears. your mittens get in the way and after watching you struggle for a few moments belphie wordlessly steps forward and moves them back into place, reviving a bright smile in return. “the cold sucks,” he says, and you laugh. “don’t be like that. we can go in and wrap ourselves in blankets soon.”

leviathans-watching's work - please do not copy, repost, or claim as your won

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matchheadz · 22 days

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HOS/ Host Of Seraphim Update!

Chapter 19 is called, "A Father's Presence."

TW for mention of alcoholism and death by it in the beginning. Mention of torture, but nothing explicit.

Here's a little spoiler-free snippet!:

“Looks like you got your hands full there Ms. Rheese. Eager to sign the adoption papers this early or are we putting them up for auction?” She snorted loudly, pressing her scarf back to her face in embarrassment as she walked up the steps. Dirty ice and vestiges of the light snowfall from the night fell off her boots with each step. “No, no, they’re not mine. Just a field trip. Don’t tempt me though, I might think about it.” She waved her hand sweetly, cupping her gloved hand against the glass and peering in through the front door. Her breath accumulated on the glass as she squinted. Her long, dirty blond hair curled around her ears like natural earmuffs, her hazel eyes jumping between the trio of them and the movement inside. She gave them a smile of intrigue, her hand still resting against the glass. “Popsicles in this weather? You must have a sweet tooth.” Vergil looked down at his popsicle and blinked, but Dante only snickered. “The real question is why the open-air market down the road still sells them.” “Ah, yes, well. The age-old question. No one really knows. I think there might be an old Innocenti out there who takes pity on the young orphans out here. I know I would.” The blond woman rubbed her mittened hands against her arms, calling over her shoulder to what Vergil presumed to be her assistant for the children. The glass door opened just enough for the woman to place her body in between it and the frame. Her face broke into a soft smile, whispering something low and kind to the person behind the door. Dante brushed himself of and made to stand up, but the woman leveled him an apologetic smile and shook her head. “Sorry sir, the schools have early access to government facilities to make sure the students are in order before they open to the public on. Sorry to cut in line, it might be a little while longer.” Dante waved a hand dismissively at her, “No worries missy, my brother here’s got a woman on the inside, apparently. She’ll pick up the degenerate street trash eventually.” Vergil blinked up at her, handing his half-finished popsicle to Dante as he stood up. “I believe she may currently be inside—” The door swung open, and the woman behind the door revealed herself in all her grinning glory. The blonde woman startled back as Allessandra opened her arms to him. “Amico?! I was starting to think you had left without saying goodbye!” Vergil did not get to open his mouth before he was forced into an embrace. Both his shoulders and his hands came up in defense and froze there, a protest dying on his lips. Mortified, he forced himself to pat at her shoulder once or twice, avoiding the suddenly calculating gaze of his new acquaintance and the burning stare at his back. Allessandra pushed away from his stiff form, hands on his shoulders as she grinned. “Oh, you said you’d be sticking around but I didn’t see you for such a long time and—oh! Mi dispiace!” She withdrew her hands, wincing at his strung-out expression and turning back to the blonde woman. The woman herself was now very stiff, her brow furrowed and crossing her arms. Allessandra gripped one of her elbows and stood up on the ends of her toes to give her a small peck on the cheek. The woman’s eyes flicked briefly down to the crowd of approaching children, but otherwise did not stop glaring at him. Vergil suddenly wanted to drown, ignoring his brother as he snorted. “Rheese, this is Vergil! You remember, I told you about him, no? Found him again last week with his son!”

#dmc #my writing #dadgil #hos #devilmaycry #text #host of seraphim

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mistyfoxxy · 1 year

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Since I haven’t done crap for you guys in weeks. Here’s a short huntlow Drabble.

Just fluff tho. No angst this time, promise!

Hunter stared up at the falling snow. He’d seen it plenty of times when he’s go to the knee and stuff. He knew what it was. It was nothing new to him.

And even on the human realm it seemed to be the same. Hmm. Maybe only the rain and plants and beasts and major population was different.

But apparently someone out of their fateful group of friends hadn’t been there before.

“Oh my titan! It’s so cold!” The plant witch giggled merrily. She was graced with a larger than average white coat that made her look endearingly like a large snowball. She wore a yellow scarf and green earmuffs. Black boots and lights to go with it.

But that wasn’t what had him staring. Aside of the obvious contagious and lovely laughter as well as occasional snorts, her round cheeks and nose turned red. Especially her nose. It was so cute.

Titan he was starting to feel cheesy the more and more he hung out with Luz.

But he couldn’t help himself.

She looked adorable.

*splat* Hunter gasped in shock and discomfort at the sudden smashing snow that was thrown in his face.

“Hey!”

Those melodic giggles. “Sorry! You seemed so lost in thought, had to make sure your reflexes worked. Apparently they don’t.” Willow cooed triumphantly. A challenging glare in her eyes.

Oh it was on.

She laughed and ran as he chase her. A large scoop of that frozen fluffy water melted a little between his warm gloves, causing slight discomfort but that didn’t stop him.

He chased her around the yard relentlessly, gasping when she tripped eighth in front of him.

-his reflexes weren’t fast enough to stop himself from tripping and falling after her.

A soft *oof* was heard and Hunter shook his head. He hadn’t expected the snow to be this warm.

He opened his eyes.

“Oh titan I’m sorry!”

Hunter tried to pull away and get off of the plant witch, but she gripped his shoulders in place, he couldn’t move.

Out of shock and confusion- and well. Her death but gentle grip.

She smiled up at him in the most fond way possible. He could see every individual eyelash, that’s how close he was. Her red nose and pink freckles cheeks. And her eyes. Oh titan, were they always that close in color to peridots?

He felt himself continuing to heat up as she shifted a little under him. One hand leaving his shoulder to he didn’t know where, and the other reaching towards his face.

“Oops.” She replied. Her face seemed to be getting closer to his, or was he moving? Was she? His eyes flashed to her perfectly shaped lips and back to her eyes.

She her lips quirked up in a fond smile, though something mischievous lurked in her eyes.

*plop*

“Oh titan! That’s cold.” Hunter whined as a scoop of snow was smooshed into his air.

Willow threw her head back. Letting his face go and grabbing more snow from around her. So that’s where her other hand went!

“Oh no you don’t!” He laughed in a barked challenge sort of way. He reached behind her head and plucked his hands into the thick snow. Pulling it inwards, causing the plant witch to squirm and laugh and snort and protest. Soon her face was surrounded by snow and she shook her head in laughter, trying to free herself as she pushed Hunters arms away from the snow and off her.

This only encouraged him more. Using his position to his advantage and grabbing more snow from around them.

“Nooooo!” She giggled violently.

Hunter started to laugh some more before he was pulled back down, her hands gripping behind his ears and his lips crashed into hers.

She kissed him sweetly and fervently.

If she had wanted him to stop covering her with snow, and this was her way of doing so? It definitely worked.

Hunter was shocked at first. The foreign feeling that shot electricity through him at even the softest touch. They were kissing! Titan, she kissed him! And boy was he melting.

She then pushed him away from her slightly, her hands gripping his face had let up and her face was now redder than it had ever been.

She quickly used her weight and threw him off her before running towards the house. “Eep! I’m sorry!”

Hunter was left shocked, in shock, laying against the cold ground now. That was. That was amazing. He wanted to do it again.

But wait. Where did she go?

#huntlow #willow park #the owl house #my stuff #huntlow oneshot #huntlow Drabble #hunter noceda

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babydolly444 · 4 months

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1/17/23

i went to his classroom again. we talked a lot more than before. i was less awkward, i noticed.

i finally got to talk to him about being a writer. i told him about the ideas i have for two of the books im writing, and i read one of my poems to him.

after i read the poem, he mentioned something about the darkness of it. he asked if i was okay. i replied with a hesitant yes, but he asked again.

i replied with a slightly more hesitant yes, and then he said, “you broke eye contact both times.”

i didn’t say anything. i kinda just gazed at him, realizing how closely he was watching me. how closely he was watching my eyes. reading me fully. i was a bit shocked at this realization. i broke eye contact again.

“three times.”

i looked back at him. even though i couldn’t see myself, i could feel the look on my face. i felt like a little lamb being captured, with the way i couldn’t escape his intense gaze and his meticulous observation of me. but, i didn’t really want to escape it. i enjoy such intensity, especially in an interaction with a man that i want.

he asked again, and i didn’t respond. not because i didn’t want to reply to him, but because i was frozen. he then said how he won’t pry.

the conversation shifted from that to me talking about the themes i like to work with in my work, and being a confessional poet.

i spoke about wanting to branch out from poetry and how i’ve been working on novel writing. he asked me about my ideas, and i shared them with him. he said that he wanted a signed copy as soon as i publish something. i was pleasantly surprised at how definitive he sounded. like my work really mattered to him.

at one point we were talking about how difficult it is in today’s society to step away from social media, due to so much of people’s lives revolving around it.

he mentioned maybe twice how he’s not that much older than me (he’s 10 years older, i’m 18, he’s 28) and i kinda smiled because of how much it felt like he was hinting towards something.

eventually it was 2:10 and i had to leave. i stood up and packed my things. i had hung my coat, scarf, and earmuffs at the side of the classroom, so i walked over there, feeling him watching me.

then, i did something risky. i fumbled with the earmuffs a bit, and made them fall on purpose. i wore a skirt today, but it was still long enough to just barely cover my ass when i bent over. i bent over to pick up the earmuffs, and when i stood up i looked back at him. when i decided to do that thing i did, i don’t know what the hell was going through my head, but it worked. his eyes were on me just before coming up to meet my eyes. the way he looked at me was filled with a primal desire, but at the same time, it was gentle. like he wanted to ravish me, but slowly and with great care.

i put on my coat and scarf, held my earmuffs, and put my bag over my shoulders (i used a messenger bag today).

he began telling me to take care, but he fumbled over his words, before saying what he was going to say. he told me that i’m welcome stop by anytime. i smiled and said bye to him.

i can write more about what we spoke about, but i have a final to study for.

#male tc #tc community #tc confessions #tc crush #tcc tumblr #teacher attachment #teacher crush community

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doubtingthomasin · 1 year

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🎀✨🎄 Dec. 10 - Scarf 🎄✨🎀

@hellcheerxmas

"Aren't you cold?" Chrissy has asked Eddie almost every day since the weather turned.

And his answer is always, "Nothing I can't handle, princess."

But she feels off about it. She knows leather holds in heat, so his torso's fine. Yet even with his long hair, she can't help but notice how red the tips of his ears get against the rest of his pale skin. Being bundled up in fuzzy socks, heavy coat, scarf, mittens, and earmuffs, she's feels something beyond selfishness.

After a few weeks, she just can't stand it anymore. He's walked her out to her car every day since she broke up with Jason ("Don't want that asshat bothering you any more than he already does.") so she figures it really is the least she can do.

One day, out of the blue, she walks up to Eddie in the hallway, unaware and unfazed by anyone who might be staring.

"What's up, sweetheart?" He cocks his head to the side as she produces a small dark blue box from behind her back, pushing it toward him.

"I don't think it'll clash with your look," she muses, biting her lip nervously as he slowly opens the gift.

"Oh, wait—am I supposed to wait 'til Christmas?"

He has that handsome, crooked grin on his lips and she giggles. "Just open it, silly."

He does so, unfurling a full-length black knit scarf and staring half in awe. Chrissy waits with bated breath for his response. "Chrissy, this is...this is—"

"I-It's nothing," she stutters. "I just...wanted to make sure you're not cold. Or that you don't catch one." She talks slower, feeling she may have gone a bit far, that it might be inappropriate to buy him something so early into their relationship.

But he looks at her with wide, unguarded eyes before dropping the box and wrapping her in a bear hug, lifting her off the ground. She squeals when he growls with delight, letting her go as he examines her gift. "I didn't know a scarf could be so...pretty."

"You really like it?" she asks, relieved.

"I really do," he assures her, "thank you so much." He dons the scarf, wrapping it loosely twice around his neck. "And it doesn't clash at all, baby."

She kisses him on the cheek, overjoyed as they walk arm in arm out to her car. He wears the scarf every cold day of that winter season, and every chilly day they're together for years to come.

#i am emotional take them away from meeeee #hellcheercountdown #hellcheer #eddie x chrissy #chrissy x eddie #eddissy #evan's writing

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mochidreambubble · 1 year

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Winter Wishes

[I originally wrote this for Xmas 2022. It also uses the pen pal premise from my other OL fics. Ao3 link here.]

{Winter party plans don't go as... Well. Planned. But that doesn't mean there won't be merriment and fun.}

You wait as you bounce back between toe and heel. Your Ma hasn’t said a word since you showed her the sparkly invitation. It had been personally delivered by the one and only Baxter - though not because he wanted to personally deliver it to you specifically . You saw him from your room window as he arrived in the late morn in some super fancy car (the driver came out to open the door for him and everything! Like in the movies!) and he had beelined for Qiu’s first, likely handing Tamarack’s and yours personally too just cause it was convenient that he was already there. Not that it was surprising he picked to go to Qiu first, or that he came all this way to hand the letter in person. The Boys Club was a tight unit, and while Qiu had extended the invitation to you…

You were initially excited to see him, as outside of Boys Club days where the invitation was extended to you, there were never really a lot of chances to just hang out with Baxter. So, maybe you were a little sad that him handing the invitation to you was just because he was in the area anyway. But you try and shrug it off, Qiu had more memories and friendship bonding stuff with him that you did not.

“Well, Baxter did come all this way to give you this invitation,” Your mom speaks up at last and you perk up from your rocky gaze on the floor.

“So I can go?!”

“Seeing as how Qiu and Tamarack were invited as well, so long as you’ll be going together-”

You tackle her in a hug before she finishes, then rush to the door. You made sure to grab your scarf and earmuffs and yell back to Ma, “I’ll go ask them right now!”

She calls back, though it sounded muffled by the time the door had shut. Maybe it was to not run, seeing as how snow and frost covered every inch of Golden Grove. Like in autumn, everything looked like it leapt straight out of the painted pages of your favourite storybooks. You still picked the comfy oranges and reds of the previous season to be your favourite, but winter in Golden Grove certainly beat out the dreary grays and stone of the same season back in the city.

You make your way as quickly as you can, your winter boots crunching as you first etch closer to Qiu's. It was always more of a gamble to see if Tamarack was home, cause even in the cold it be a coin toss if she was bundled up in quilts or back out in the forest out back. You play a little song of knocks on Qiu’s door and you hear some scrambling within the home.

“Mr Qiu Lin, what did we say about running in the halls?”

An airy laugh in response, and, “So long as I’m not tracking mud or running in socks, it’s ok?”

Qiu greets you at the door. There’s always this weird buzz of butterflies and warmth you get when you see Qiu. You haven’t told Ma about it, not really. “Hey there neighbour,” he still smiles with confidence and mischief, it always feels like days never quite go so simply when he does this. He tries to balance on one foot, hopping in place as he puts on the other red sneaker.

“Morning Qiu!”

“Morning? I’m sure it’s almost noon, silly.”

“That means it’s still morning. Do I need to get you a watch or something?”

Both shoes on, at last, he asks if you’re giving away what you’re getting him for Christmas, and you try your best to sound as mysterious as possible. The line of conversation continues, and to any outsider it may even sound like the two of you were bickering, but there wasn’t even a hint of animosity between the two of you.

“Speaking of Christmas, what do you think about Baxter’s winter party invitation?” You ask as you both make your way over to Tamarack’s.

“Of course I’m going. And hey, and told ya you’d get your chance to go over to his big house eventually,” He still has his smug smile in place, and between the strange butterflies and the laugh you’re fighting down, you still manage to roll your eyes.

“You haven’t always been right since we met I have you know, “ and you tap the notebook in his grip. “I think I have a track record for the number of times I had to save your pages Mr I don’t lose anything .”

“And that’s where you’re wrong,” he winks. “Thanks to you, I really haven’t lost anything!”

“ Qiu.”

He laughs as he slides over to the Baumann household door, knocking rhythmically as he always does. Granny answered the door. “Oh, hello dears.”

The two of you greet her simultaneously, as well as - as best two differently posed questions could make it out to be - ask her if Tamarack was in. She stops to ponder for just a second, eyes glittering. You always think everyone in Tamarack’s family, even the kind of scary Mr Baumann, seemed to have sparkles on them. “She’s still warming up from her morning escapades,” a word you note to either ask mom or look up in your dictionary later. “But I’m sure she'll be happy to see the two of you.”

Qiu and you both take a complimentary candy from the glass bowl once you’re in the Baumann’s cozy hallway and make your way to Tamarack, and as one of your guesses, was comfortably wrapped in a nice thick quilt and sipping hot chocolate. She almost spills the mug entirely when she sees the two of you, getting up in haste. You huddle in with her, and Qiu joins in, smushing you in the middle. You didn’t know what was so funny, but Granny had to rush off to get a camera. It gave the three of you a moment all to yourselves, and you ask her about the invitation.

“Ohhh. Oma told me about it, but I can’t say I feel like going,” she shrugs. It may have been months since she met the other members of Qiu’s Boys Club, and while it wasn’t that she didn’t like Baxter or Darren, she didn’t feel like she wanted to hang out with them as much. The most is if you said you were going to, which maybe convinced Tamarack to do the same once in a while.

“Qiu and I will be going,” and you see Tamarack’s eyes light as she reconsiders. “And it’s a fancy rich people party right? There’s going to be things we maybe don’t see at regular parties, it may be fun!”

The three of you discuss possible what ifs and could be, after Tamarack decides that she’d like to go as well - and nothing could make you happier as you didn’t like leaving Tamarack out of anything. Qiu explains that, sure , he has been over to Baxter’s quite a number of times, but never for the fancy parties. You personally think it be fun to go so you get the chance to dress up. You didn’t really have the chance to, maybe once in a while if you had to tag along to one of Ma’s work parties for things like the company’s Christmas or New Years gathering, but those were so boring . Qiu insists it was a grand affair , especially stressed in his noble fancy voice that never failed to make you and Tamarack laugh. He then insists that all of you would need the whole day to prepare, like in the TV shows, so it was only natural that…!

“We all sleep over at your place!” Qiu presents you like a grand finale and you give him a quizzical look. “Look, we can all stay over and spend the next day preparing at your place and all go together, it’s the perfect plan .”

He then admits it’s mainly because by this point, you’ve all stayed over at his and Tamarck’s place at least once, so by default, it was sort of your turn to host. But it should be perfect, since the idea was for the three of you to go together anyways. When you explain this all to Ma later, she could only laugh that, despite living next to each other, it apparently wasn’t close enough for the three of you.

All the grownups didn’t seem to mind, especially since this was the third time you were all having a sleepover.Qiu even tried to extend the invitation to Darren. Your little adventuring group of three dropped by to see if he wanted to join but before he could even say it was over at your place and that he was saying Tamarack was going to be there, you saw the face he made. Even if you and Tamarack were watching from the sidewalk, you could guess what the answer was. Tamarack didn’t really seem all that bothered, saying that just you three was the right amount anyways.

So when the night before the big party day approached, your room had two guests carrying fluffy sleeping bags and their belongings. You all broke the sleep early rule, of course. The moment you hear Ma’s door click shut for the night, flashlights came on and the cards and hand puppets came out. You all even managed to silently build a grand pillow and blanket fort, big enough for all three if you to sleep in side by side.

Once the games had stopped and the three of you lay there, not quite in the dark as your glow in the dark stickers illuminate the room, Tamarack giggles and asks if you think you’d meet your prince or princess at the party. “You know, the one ? Like people do when they go to these rich people's parties? Like a mysterious stranger who asks you to dance with them?”

You hear Qiu muffle a squawk beside you, and unsure what that was about but you shrug and turn to her. Truth be told, this wasn’t the first time Tamarack has asked you about dancing with mysterious strangers. Not since you told her you took dance classes. Not ballet like Qiu, but like Baxter. You weren’t in the same classes exactly of course, as Baxter was ahead of you, but it was one of the few things Baxter and you could bond over. Thinking about Baxter, it was always a little funny. He was always friendly, but there was something in your gut that told you he was kind of disappointed that you were there too, and he always tried to hide the sulk that would quickly disappear. You told your mom about it, and after a hug and a comfy place cuddled by her side, she explained that sometimes you couldn’t make everyone like you, no matter how hard you tried. Which you thought kind of sucked, since you saw Baxter as Mr Cool and Mysterious. Maybe this party would be another chance to be closer with him.

“Well?” Tamarack giggles softly as she gives your cheek a poke.

“I much rather dance with my best friends.”

You hear Qiu let out a breath and laughs as well. You nudge him to be softer. “Course you would, since we’re going to be the coolest people there.”

“Mmmm. But I guess I’ll ask Baxter for one too, since he invited me.”

“R-Really?”

“Ooooh, yeah. I guess you would want to,” Tamarack thinks aloud. “Cause you think he’s Mr Cool or something right?

“Y-You do?!”

“Awww Qiu,” Tamarack giggles. “I guess there’s some things I know that you don’t huh?”

“Hey! No fair!”

Half-way through sharing more “secrets”, your Ma comes in to ask you all to go to bed. Whoops, guess you all became too loud after all. Hilariously, despite all that speculation for the night for how the part would go…

»»————-　✼　————-««

Dear Mermaid Friend

I hope this gets to you in time just so I can say Merry Christmas!!

❄️🎄❄️

There’s a bunch of sticker packs I picked out for you, I hope you like them. Ma packed some homemade jam for everyone in your family too. Ma’s jam is the best, and you should tell me if you want Ma to send more over, not just as a Christmas present.

This year I’m probably going to spend Christmas cooped up at home if you can believe it! It’s been snowing pretty bad the past few days. I was actually invited to a fancy rich people party a few days ago. But…

Dun Dun Dun!! Suspense Music!!

On the day I was supposed to go, everything and everywhere got snowed in.

<there's a drawing of a huge sad face in a Santa hat>

Guess it wasn’t all that bad though, as I had Qiu and Tamarack with me! We just spent the day making cookies with Ma and playing board games and watching silly Christmas movies. I hope your winter days have been going better than mine. Wish I could hop on a plane to visit you in Sunset Bird but Ma says I’m still too small to do that. When do you think she’ll say I’m big enough? It’s not fair.

Wait. I remember you said you hated Winter most right? Cause your moms don’t let you play at the beach as much. Sheesh. I’ll never understand why you and Cove like the sea so much. Maybe one say when I visit, it’ll be like magic, you’ll turn me into a mermaid so I can explore the sea with you or something. Would that be fun!!

🌊🐚 🐬 🐚 🐬 🌊

↑ I made sure to get ocean themed stickers like those

Anyways, Ma said I could invite everyone over inst

“Sweetie, your friends are here!” Ma calls, and you stop writing halfway. Since the whole party at Baxter’s didn’t happen, you decided to invite him and Darren to spend the day over at your place instead. Darren took a lot of convincing, and what you thought was a rather stern look from Mrs Murray (Tamarack whispered to you conspiratorially how odd it was to see your teacher on winter break). As expected though, he stuck to Qiu like glue the whole time, oh well.

Baxter was genuinely delighted to have been invited, and Ma and the other adults said it was precious he dressed up all formal for the small party. He told the lot of you that he actually liked this more, as the fancy party was really his parent’s party and he usually found them boring so he was glad the snow came in and saved him.

Huh . Guess all grownup parties were just boring.

Tamarack’s grandparents brought over some really old, really big disks and your Ma brought out a really big CD player (they’re vinyls and a phonograph, she explains later). Turns out you got to dance with Baxter after all. You’re not sure how or why; Tamarack would tell you one fine day when it was just the two of you a few days after the party that she saw Qiu whispering to Baxter right before he asked you. Though soon after everyone danced with everybody, except Darren who shuffled exclusively with Qiu and Baxter but oh well.

And funnily enough, you got to visit Baxter’s big house that very winter after all. He invited everyone over again, everyone’s parents and grandparents too, for a Christmas dinner that was just him and his parents this time - no fancy dancing or partying involved.

Baxter got you new dancing shoes, and Darren - or more specifically Mrs Murray you were betting - got you those cool pencil cases that opened up to have more than one compartments. Tamarack a cute box for treasure and a secret compartment for notes, there were already some she had written just for you it seemed. Qiu gave you a notebook, matching his own. You felt like it belonged with the paper airplane in your keepsakes box, too precious to use.

All in all, it was a wonderful first Winter in Golden Grove.

#our life beginnings & always #my fic #my writing #our life now and forever #qiu lin #tamarack baumann #We're still friends even if we're miles apart fic series

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