Daydreaming about copping a feel while we're on a date only to find out that you're packing under your skirt....I don't think I could resist pulling you into the nearest bathroom or tucked-away corner and pushing my head under your skirt to suck you off

💦

Daydreaming about getting to be a cocksucker for me? Getting to be on your knees? Getting to feel my hands holding your head to place so I can fuck your face? 🥺

Hi could you do 14. touch on a bruise for brio please?

ahhh thanks for sending this one in!! have some post-s3 angst, hahaha. :)

(also on ao3)

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The next time she sees him, he’s bleeding.

Okay, maybe not actively, but the jagged line of stitches etched above his ear looks like it’s seconds away from ripping open. Beth takes in the nasty bruise blooming along his jawline, the cut splitting his bottom lip.

“Um,” she says.

Rio smirks. “What’s up?”

“I—” she sputters, because he’s just standing there with that stupid, smug expression, like it’s the most normal thing in the world to drop by the showroom after hours looking like—that. “You—what happened?”

“Not your division, darlin’.”

He says it lightly enough, but Beth reads the undercurrent of warning in his voice like a neon sign. He wants her to drop it.

Well. She’s not feeling very incentivized to give him what he wants at the moment.

“It is when you bring that”—she pointedly eyes the stitches—“into my showroom. Those look awful, by the way. Did he do them?” She juts her chin toward Mick, who’s lurking in the doorway.

The two men share a look, and Mick folds his arms across his chest. “Maybe I did,” he grumbles. “YouTube’s got tutorials for everythin’.”

Beth glances between them both. She’s about to open her mouth—to say what, she has absolutely no idea—when Mick snorts, shaking his head at the same time that Rio’s mouth twists into a grin.

“Nah,” Rio says, still smiling as he casts a glance back at Mick. “Nah, he didn’t. Your concern’s duly noted, though.”

Mick makes another sound in his throat that he quickly covers by turning it into a cough. Beth’s face flames, but she draws herself up and meets Rio’s gaze head-on. Let him try to get a rise out of her—she knows better than to take that bait.

“Fine. What can I do for you, boss?” she says, spitting out that last word like it’s acid.

Rio’s eyes fall to the floor, but Beth can still see the ghost of a grin lingering at the corners of his mouth, like he knows he got under her skin. Like he’s won. For one furious second, she imagines how hard she’d have to hit him to split his lip, leave a bruise. She imagines hurting him and liking it.

But she doesn’t really have to, does she? Beth still remembers the weight of his gun in her hand, how the recoil from pumping the trigger once, twice, three times made her hand ache for days afterwards. She remembers him choking on his own blood, the sound of it filling up the loft—

No. No, she hadn’t liked any part of that. It’s a catch twenty-two; she hates him, she wants him dead, gone and out of her life, his name crossed out in permanent ink, but then—sometimes she doesn’t. It’s the not-knowing that keeps her circling the drain, pushing that damn boulder up the hill only to watch it come crashing down again and again.

She thinks she might hate that even more than she hates him.

Beth blinks, coming back to the office. Mick’s staring her down like a hawk, but Rio’s gaze is more appraising, head tilted to the side in a gesture that’s so familiar, so him, it makes her stomach flip.

“Just here for my cut,” he says, as nonchalant as if they’re discussing the weather. She hears the unspoken words as clearly as the night he said them—you, me, we. It’s just business.

Beth holds his gaze a second longer, then tugs a black duffel out from under her desk. She hands it off, dropping the straps like they burned her to avoid brushing her hand against his when he takes it from her. If he notices, he doesn’t show it.

“What, no mama bag this time?” he says, then presses his lips together like he’s trying not to grin.

Beth glares at Mick, who just shrugs. She snaps her eyes back to Rio, barely managing to unclench her teeth before asking, “Anything else?”

“Yeah, Mick’s gonna check the books.”

Of course he is. Beth isn’t exactly shocked, but it still feels like a slap on the wrist, another reminder that there’s a hierarchy and she’s the furthest thing from sitting on top. Even this, the operation she pieced together herself, the system she built on equal parts desperation and determination—even this isn’t hers.

You wanna be the king, you gotta kill the king.

Yeah, she tried that. Technically she’s still trying, but she shoves that thought down deep and ignores the twinge in her chest.

Rio’s already turning to go, slinging the duffel over his shoulder. “Next week, yeah?”

Maybe it’s the way he says it, like he’s glad he can pawn her off on someone else because he has better things to do with his time, or maybe the stress and exhaustion from these past few months are finally cracking her foundation—the reason doesn’t really matter. Beth can’t—won’t—let him have the last word.

“You should really get those stitches looked at,” she says.

He pauses, then looks back at her. In the low light, his eyes almost look black.

“I’ve had worse,” he says, and the words hang between them for a moment, heavy as a loaded gun.

Beth swallows. “Still. They could get infected.”

Something slides across Rio’s face, sharp and predatory. It’s the look he gets when he sees an opportunity, and Beth feels her stomach drop.

“Yeah?” he says, turning around so that he’s facing her again. He drops the duffel, and Beth can’t help flinching at the thud it makes when it hits the floor. “Sounds like you’re volunteerin’.”

“No, that’s not—”

But he’s moving, sliding into the chair on the opposite side of her desk. Beth’s eyes dart to Mick, but he just arches an eyebrow, not even bothering to look up from the list of sales projections he’s been checking.

Rio leans back in his seat. “A’ight, doc, fix me up.”

Beth stays where she is. The irritation that’s been bubbling just beneath the surface ever since he walked through the door is reaching its boiling point, but there’s something else humming under her skin, crackling like a live wire. He can leave whenever he wants—he was halfway out the door a second ago—but instead he chose to stay.

They’re circling the same drain, each of them waiting to see who will get sucked under first.

“I’ll—get the first aid kit,” Beth says, stepping around the desk only to be stopped in her tracks by Mick, who clears his throat audibly and pulls his jacket back to reveal the Glock tucked against his side.

Beth resists the urge to roll her eyes. “Really? You think I’m stupid enough to try something with both of you here?”

Rio doesn’t answer, just fixes her with an amused look.

“Fine,” Beth snaps, taking a step back. She nods at Mick, tips her head in the direction of the door. “It’s in the bathroom across the hall.”

Mick gives her a two-fingered salute and ducks out of the room, and then it’s just her and Rio.

He’s still—watching her. He looks relaxed enough, legs spread a bit and his hands clasped loosely in front of him, and if Beth didn’t know better, she’d say the expression on his face is almost neutral. But she does know better. His eyes are what give him away, flashing with the same electricity that’s thrumming behind her sternum. He’s waiting for her to make a move. She knows, because she’s doing the same thing.

God, she hates how much she likes this.

She barely registers Mick coming back—it’s only when he tosses the first aid kit onto the desk that she jumps, startled back to herself.

“Thanks,” she says, injecting as much sarcasm as she can into the word.

Mick’s mouth twitches, but he goes straight back to the books, sinking into a chair in the far corner of the office. Beth rolls her own chair around the side of the desk, lowers herself slowly into a seated position beside Rio. This close, she can see each individual color in the whorl-patterned bruise that stretches up toward the hollow of his cheek. She lets her eyes drag across it, then up his temple. The stitches look—well, not great. It’s clear they were done hastily, probably to prevent as much blood loss as possible, but the wound is seeping.

“Damn, that bad, huh?” Rio asks, reading it on her face.

Beth stares down at the kit in front of her. Her first aid knowledge extends about as far as patching up a skinned knees and Benadryl for minor allergic reactions—removing possibly-infected stitches from her crime boss’ head isn’t even in the same zip code.

“I don’t—I don’t know what you want me to do,” she says, abruptly exhausted.

Rio adopts an expression of mock concern that does nothing to ease Beth’s urge to slap him. “Oh, no?” he says. “What part’s trippin’ you up?”

Beth shuts her eyes for a second, briefly wonders why the hell she didn’t let him waltz out of here when she had the chance—except she knows why, and so does he, and when she looks again—

He’s practically beaming, that smug tilt at the corners of his mouth dialed up about a thousand percent, and it’s like a puzzle piece slotting into place. This is just another game—he’s messing with her, playing with his food before eating it.

The low buzz of electricity inside her ignites.

He’s not the only one who’s hungry.

“No, you’re right,” she says, popping open the first aid kit and digging around until she finds the antiseptic wipes. “I should at least clean those stitches up. Maybe even remove them, start fresh.”

She glances up, and that’s the only reason that she sees him falter, a blink-and-miss-it record-scratch behind his eyes before he recovers, slides the mask back on. Satisfaction floods through her. She can play his game.

“Whatever’s good, ma,” he says with a shrug. “You’re the boss, yeah?” He echoes her earlier emphasis on the word, grinning when he sees the barb land. “Shit, that’s my bad—poor choice o’ words.”

Beth rips open a wipe. “This might sting,” she says, pressing against his line of stitches, hard. She’s rewarded with him hissing a breath through his teeth, the hand at his knee balling into a fist.

“Easy, mama,” he grits out.

Beth flashes him her sweetest smile. “I’m sorry, is that too rough? I thought you liked that.”

Mick makes a noise like he’s choking, and Rio looks over, eyes bright with amusement. “Ay, cállate la boca.”

“Didn’t say nothin’,” Mick mumbles, still staring intently at the books.

Beth presses her tongue behind her teeth, swallowing a pinch of annoyance as she switches tactics. “Aren’t crime lords supposed to have, I don’t know, some sort of medical professional on retainer? For situations like this?”

“Nah,” Rio says with a shake of his head. “Why, you gunnin’ for a promotion? ‘Cause I gotta say, your bedside manner could use some work.”

And something inside her roars, because this is how she’s going to get him. She dabs gently at the wound beneath his stitches, swiping a thumb over the sutures. Rio winces, jerks back—

She sees it, the moment he drops the mask.

Beth leans forward. She brings the antiseptic up to his face again, stops just short of pressing it to his skin, as if to ask, okay?

She sees it, the moment he drops the mask.

Beth starts at his temple, softly scrubbing at the caked-on blood that’s streaked down from the cut above his ear. Her hand moves lower, fingers gliding over his cheekbones, and she’s not sure if she imagines his breath hitching when she reaches the bruise at his jaw. She drags her thumb across it, then back again. His skin is warm, under the pads of her fingers.

“How am I doing now?” she breathes, barely above a whisper, and she knows she doesn’t imagine him dipping a glance down to her mouth. Their faces are inches apart, close enough for her to count the shades of brown in his eyes. Her fingers trace lower, toward the curve of his lips—

His hand comes up to grasp her wrist, tug it away from his face. “Don’t,” he growls, low like thunder. A warning. “Don’t do that, Elizabeth.”

He’s looking at her again, but she almost doesn’t recognize the emotion swimming in his eyes. He’s—terrified. Of her. For a fleeting second she lets the thrill of it run through her, buoyant on the feeling of power, the feeling that she’s won—

(—she did it, she shot him, she’s free—)

The moment pops like a soap bubble, and she’s empty, hollow, everything good inside of her scooped away until this is what’s left. This is who she is. And maybe this game they’re playing was never meant to have a winner.

The realization leaves her numb.

She’s vaguely aware of Mick slipping the books back onto her desk, and when her eyes flick back up to Rio, his mask is firmly back in place. Steel, untouchable.

“I’m all better now, thanks,” he says, and then he’s pulling away, pushing up from the desk, slipping out the door. She watches his silhouette until it dissolves into shadow.

She’s alone.

Legacy Epilogue, part 2: Recovery

*It had been three days since Blossom’s incident with her Silver Eyes. Ruby and Jaune, with the rest of their kids, Garnet and Citrus, took her to the nearest hospital in hopes of helping get rid of the after-affects of using them for the first time. It didn’t particularly surprise Ruby that her daughter would suffer some repercussions of using her Grimm slaying power, but something was...different this time around. Their wait didn’t have to be prolonged further when the nurse came into the lobby.*

Nurse: Ummm, Mr. and Mrs. Rose-Arc?

Jaune: That’s us.

Nurse: Good! Right this way please.

*The family stood up and followed her down the hall to Blossom’s room, the nurse detailing on her condition*

Nurse: She-

Garnet: Give it to us straight doc, is our sister gonna live?

Citrus: Is she dying?!

Nurse: What!? Oh heavens no, dears! Blossom’s fine, she’s just temporarily blind is all.

Garnet/Citrus: Whew...

Ruby: Blind...?

Nurse: Unfortunately, we’ve tried everything that would’ve normally worked. We did take note that eye-drops helped clear up some dried blood behind her eyes. Other than that, they are still bloodshot and her pupils are still constricted.

Jaune: Is surgery going to be an option?

Nurse: It’s a low possibility, but given that Blossom is a Silver Eyed Warrior like you Mrs. Rose, I don’t assume you have a, how you say, solution of a “magical persuasion?

*The couple shared a nervous laugh.*

Jaune: Uuuhhh, heh, we do know one, in the form of a...wizard professor.

Nurse: OH! You mean Ozpin?

Ruby: He may be our only solution right now.

Nurse: Right...*writes on her clipboard*...give us a minute, we’ll get a wheelchair for your daughter on her way out! I’ll give you some time to talk with her until then. *turns to leave, but stops and turns after a few steps* By the way Garnet, do you mind if I ask why you’re only wearing one glove?

*Garnet instinctively grabbed his right arm. Underneath the baggy sweater he wore was an intricate assortment of a glove, straps, and bindings over the charred surface of his arm, keeping an other-worldly being at bay*

Garnet: I-it’s...a long story, ma’am...

Nurse: Ah, my mistake, sweetie. Well, I best go get that wheelchair, goodbye!

Rose-Arcs: Bye!

-Inside Blossom’s room-

*Being blind wasn’t so bad, even if it was only temporary...maybe. Okay, it was honestly scary, and while her other senses were enhanced, Blossom hated not seeing her surroundings. She knew she was in a bed, she knew the T.V. was on playing cartoons, she knew as alone in her room with gauze over her eyes waiting for her family or the nurse. But, this did give her time to be with her thoughts, “Welp, first time using my powers and look where I end up. Bet you’re pretty proud of me, o’ God of Light, eh? Did...mom ever have to go through this, did she get knocked out after her eyes activated, and what caused them to activate? Was Aunt Maria as inexperienced as me, or another prodigy? What about grandma Summer, did she struggle as much as I am right now? Heh, I should know the answer by now.....I’m just a weak link in a line of strong warriors. I’m a failu-”*

*A click is heard as her door opens*

Jaune/Ruby: Heeeeeyyy!

Blossom, snapping out of her trance: Ah! Hi mom, hi dad!

Garnet: You feeling okay?

Blossom: Aside from not being able to see and my self-esteem being at a pretty big low, I’d say I’m pretty okay.

Citrus: So is that a no...?

Blossom: *sigh* I don’t even know anymore.....

Jaune: Listen, the doctor said you’re going to be fine, and you’re not in pain right?

Blossom: I guess, but what about surgery?

Ruby: We won’t have to, we’re taking you to Ozpin.

The kids: Uncle Oz?!

Blossom: What’s he gonna do to help me?

Ruby: If I’m playing my cards right, most likely heal your eyes with whatever magic he has left.

Garnet: Which is basically limitless???

Ruby: Yup!

Everyone: Awesome.

Garnet: BUT, before the nurse gets back...I wanna try something.

Blossom: Garnet, I swear to the gods, I will shove my boot up your ass when I see again...

Jaune: Language!

Blossom: But dad!?

Citrus: Do it!

Blossom: Ughhh, fine..... *lifts the gauze off one eye, cracked lines of red on the silver surface of her pupil, still constricted*

Garnet: How many fingers am I holding up?

Blossom: Uuuuuhhhh...ssssssssix?????

Citrus: Nope! Three!

Blossom, red: You both suck...

Garnet/Citrus: *snickering*

-Beacon Courtyard-

Jaune: Ahhh, good to be back.

Ruby: It feels so surreal coming back here. To think we met here for the first time...

Jaune: But hey, look where we are right now. *takes her hand in his*

Ruby, leaning her head on his shoulder: Would we want it for anything else?

Jaune: No way, Crater Face. *kisses her forehead*

Garnet: *fake wretches* There is a time and place and this is not one of them!

Citrus: *hiding behind her hands but peeking through one*

Blossom: Y’know, this is the one perk of being blind, but hearing it is so much worse somehow.

Jaune: Oh hush, we’re just loving each other.

Blossom: Can we go see Uncle Oz now?

Ruby: Hahaha, yes.

---

Front Desk: Sir, the Rose-Arcs are on their way to see you.

Ozpin: Thank you.

*The now mortal Wizard of Remnant took a sip from his trusted and beloved mug, filled with his favorite brew of coffee. Letting out a content sigh, he adjusted the picture on his table of him, his wife Glynda Goodwitch, and his daughter Olivia. His gaze returned to the opening doors of his office, his two former students walking in*

Oz: Ah, Ruby and Jaune! Pleasure to see you two agai-...oh dear. *he exclaimed when he saw Blossom*

Blossom: Eheh, hey, Uncle Oz...

Oz: Ummm, may I ask what happened to you dear?

Ruby: Guess who used her Silver Eyes for the first time.

Oz: Oh! Pardon me...er, how did this happen?

Jaune: Training, but from the looks of it, she blinded herself.

Oz: ... *stands from his chair, concern on his face*

Ruby: Professor...?

Oz: First, tell me how this all happened.

*And so Ruby did; the test dummy Beowolf, the tip she gave to Blossom to properly use her eyes, the six wings of light that appeared from her daughter’s eyes, Blossom getting knocked unconscious because of her own eyes. Throughout it all, Ozpin’s concern seemed to dampen, and more to understanding*

Oz: Forgive me, but...this is quite unheard off, even to me.

Blossom: ...

Jaune: So what you’re saying is...?

Oz: We could be looking at the most powerful Silver Eyed Warrior in the history of Remnant.

Ruby/Jaune: !!!

Blossom: Pffffft hahaha! Alright, good joke Uncle Oz, but I seriously couldn’t be “the strongest S.E.W. in all of Remnant!” Right, haha?

Ruby/Jaune/Oz: ............

Blossom: Why is no one else laughing?

Oz, walking from his desk: Allow to me elaborate, dear. *he began as green electricity surrounded his index finger, to which he then poked Blossom on her forehead with it*

Blossom: OW! What the heck?!

*Just as she said that, her eyes felt an odd buzz as the magic took effect. The strain on her pupils lessened, the stinging of the veins around her eyes dissipated, and the stuck feeling of the dried blood behind them went away completely*

Oz, smiling: Now take off your bandages.

Blossom: *hands slightly shaking, she undoes the gauze around her head* I...*as she opens her eyes, Blossom is greeted by the sight of her uncle’s office, looking to her sides she saw her mother and father, tears of joy welling in her silver orbs* ...I can see!

Oz: Such as my magic, consider your power a miracle, something amazingly so one of a kind. But what you’re doing right now, is trying to be someone you are not, fearing that you won’t be a great Silver Eyed Warrior. You may not think it now, but trust me, your ability to slay Grimm is going to become something wonderfu-

Blossom: But what if it doesn’t, what if I don’t live up to this greatness of the people that came before me? What if I can’t become like my mom and grandma Summer!?

Ruby: ...

Jaune: Blossom...

*Everything made sense now. Blossom’s training, her pushing herself and forcing her Silver Eyes to work, why she didn’t tell Ruby or Jaune sooner. Ozpin chuckled and walked back to his desk chair*

Oz: That is because you won’t, you can’t, you can only be yourself. You can’t push yourself to master your abilities at the same pace as your mother or grandmother. You have to let your power come at its own time, for not only will it lead to less harm, no one will fault you for it.

Blossom, tears falling down her cheeks: I...*sniff*...I...

Jaune: No one’s perfect, sweetie, how did you think we fared when we became Huntsmen?

Blossom: *sniff* Probably poorly?

Ruby: Huge understatement, why do you think we call each other “Crater Face” and “Vomit Boy?” *she laughed, hugging her then kissing Blossom on the head* Thank you so much, Ozpin.

Oz: You are very welcome, Mrs. Rose. *as they got up to leave, Oz took on more swig of his coffee, but not before one last thing he had to say to the young reaper* And Blossom?

Blossom: Huh?

Oz: I hope no more stunts like this will occur in the future? Glynda and I already had to deal with that when your parents enrolled here.

Blossom, nervous: W-welll...! I’ll try not to? Haha.

Jaune: We’ll keep eye on her, sir!

Blossom: Was that intentional?

Jaune: Oh...my bad.

*The family laughed their way to the elevator, meanwhile Oz adjusted his glasses, having a laugh himself*

Oz: Hm, the youth is like a bonfire, bright and full of potential, but in need of a little guidance.

---

Ruby: Do you promise to come to me when you have trouble using your eyes?

Blossom: Pinky promise.

Jaune: And next time use a test weapon on the dummy, can’t have you dull Aureum Mortem’s edge, now can we?

Blossom: I can sharpen it again! *she said defensively but cracking a smile*

Jaune: I’m sure you can. *smiles, pats her on the head*

Ruby: Now where are your brother and sister?

“Wooooooohoooooo!!!”

*As if on cue the duo of reaper siblings peeled around the hall, Garnet utilizing his Spring Maiden magic to propel himself forward, Citrus riding piggyback on her older brother. As they reached the lobby Garnet’s flight came to a halt*

Garnet: Found your team’s old rooms!

Ruby: How did you know which was which?

Garnet: *pulls out his scroll to show a room with four holes in its ceiling* Aunt Weiss told us about your “bunk beds.”

Citrus: And I think I found one of Aunt Nora’s old shirts in the opposite room. *pulls out a wrinkly black shirt with the word “boop” on its front* Found it in the closet.

Jaune: So that’s where that went! Tell you what, you can keep, just your size too.

Citrus: *smiles, then puts the shirt on over her current one* Thank you!!!

Ruby: Be prepared if she wants it back though. *exhales* Right, been a long day for us, who’s ready to go take nap back home?

Everyone: Me!

Ruby: Roger that. Rose-Arcs, move out!

*Trekking to the car, Blossom once again had time to collect her thoughts. “I had hurt myself from thinking I could recreate what my mom could do, try to be like her...be the perfect warrior, exactly like the S.E.W’s that lived before me. But I’m not, I’m not perfect, but my power is mine, and I WILL make it so that power will be able to help others and rid Remnant of the Grimm once and for all. Yeah, I can do this!”*

Legacy -fin-

Touch Yourself

Genre: Smut Pair: Hoseok X Reader Word Count: 1,913

"Five, and six, and seven, eight, one..."

You and Hoseok have been practicing non-stop for four and a half hours. Your face was drenched with sweat and the bottom of your feet was aching. But you never stopped for a break, you knew that Hoseok liked everything to be perfect. So you sucked it up and kept going, even though you knew that you were going to be sore tomorrow.

You can see his slim figure moving across the dance floor in the mirror. His black and white shoes were moving at a quick speed, making his feet look like nothing but a blur. You knew under his bucket hat, was his light brown hair, soaking wet.

He always choreographed complicated dances, but you always loved a challenge. You can tell he wanted to do his very best to impress his sunbaes at the award show happening a week from now. He wanted to showcase gracefulness and power, in a clean-cut manner. He put his faith and trust in you, that's why you never stopped.

For Hoseok.

"Okay, let's take a break," Hoseok breathed out, his chest heaving up and down.

"Finally!" You whimpered, collapsing on the floor. The hardwood actually felt comfortable against your back, making you stretch. He gave out a cute chuckle, rolling your waterbottle towards you. You extended your limp arm and grabbed your bottle of water. You sat up, crossing your legs, drinking half of the water.

You let out a huge gulp of air since you drank it all in one go. You laid back down on the floor, turning your head towards the large mirror. Hoseok was sitting down on the couch, his head was thrown back, exposing his Adam's apple.

"You're gonna kill me one of these days," you whined, smiling at him through the mirror. He sat up, his elbows leaning on his knees, "Don't worry, you'll get rewarded soon enough." He gave you a seductive wink, laying back into the couch.

Fuck, such a tease.

Of course, you always imagined him fucking you more than once. He's just perfect. It's so hard to not jump him and let him pound into you. You know you can't do that because you'll probably get caught and kicked out of the company. So you just suck it up and ignore your lady boner.

Hoseok POV

Ugh, I just want to fuck her like there's no tomorrow.

Ever since she started training here, all of us guys had a thing for her. Obviously, the younger ones were more hormonal and would talk to her, flirting. The many of the other girls were also cute and all, but you can straight out tell they just applied to get a chance to talk to us, even try to seduce us into sleeping with them. They don't care about dancing as we do, as I do.

She caught everyone's attention. Especially mine. When I was given the opportunity to showcase a dance for the award show, I immediately chose her. I can't stop thinking about her.

She looks so good, I can't restrain myself...

She wore black, high waisted shorts with a loose, white crop top. Her hair was tousled everywhere, giving her a sexy look. She also had white knee socks with black combat shoes. Her outfit just complimented her body perfectly. Like if she planned this all along.

Your POV

You crossed your legs, not knowing what to do next. You just laid there, waiting for Hoseok to say something. Suddenly, he got up from the couch, walking towards the door. You thought he was just leaving without saying a word, but he locked the door instead. He looked up to the ceiling, heaving a huge sigh.

What's going on?

"Touch Yourself."

Your heart stopped. Did he just tell me to touch myself?

"W-wait, what?" You stuttered, trying to see if you heard correctly.

"I want you to touch yourself, while I watch." He said seductively, sitting back onto the couch.

In a normal situation, you would've slapped him and run out the door. But it was Jung freaking Hoseok. The guy you have been fantasizing about since forever.

Without hesitating, you slowly crept your hands in between your inner thighs, rubbing them together. Your legs were slightly bent and your fingers slowly unbuttoned and pulled down the zipper of your shorts. You lifted your legs, sliding them off. You revealed your white underwear, almost positive that the bridge was moist.

You opened your legs wide, staring into his eyes through the mirror. You pushed your underwear aside, gently stroking your clit. Your body jolted a little, making your back arch, "Uhh..."

You started rubbing yourself with your middle finger. Your index and ring finger spreading your labias. You bit your bottom lip, moaning quietly. You occasionally shut your eyes, the feeling of electricity traveling down your spine.

When you opened your eyes, you saw Hoseok slowly stroking his member, his mouth hanging open. "Fuckkk" he would mutter, his tongue swiping through his sexily parted lips. It turned you on, even more, helping with the build up towards your orgasm.

"Use your fingers..." he commanded.

You immediately added two fingers inside your core, letting out a loud grunt. You couldn't help but use your other hand to tease your clit, making you feel even more sensations throughout your whole body. Whimpers escaped your lips, making his cock throb in excitement.

"Faster," he told you, wanting you to quake with pleasure for his amusement. All you could hear was the wet noises you made with each quick pump of your fingers. Along with a quiet echo of your moans mixed with his. His husky groans sent you over the top, almost reaching towards your climax.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," you cried, your abdomen exploding with pleasure. You rubbed your legs together, riding out your orgasm. You dropped your legs, rising up your cum covered fingers. You made a scissor motion with your index and middle finger, strings of cum stretching in between.

Your dark, alluring eyes gazed into his beautiful, caramel brown eyes. You licked your fingers clean, making Hoseok hiss. You smiled innocently, biting into the center of your bottom lip.

He walked over to you, his member tucked back in his supreme briefs. You knew he was struggling and desperate inside, wanting to be sucked off. The thought made you laugh a little.

He grabbed your hands and picked you up with ease. His warm hands cupped the sides of your face, his lips devouring yours. You held the sides of his sweater, enjoying the feeling of his desirable lips connecting with yours. He forcefully pushed his tongue into your mouth, exploring every corner. You moaned into the kiss, making Hoseok go berserk. He would place wet pecks along your jaw, sucking on the soft skin on your throat.

He began leading you to the back wall, slamming you into it. You gave out a heavy grunt, loving his aggressiveness. His hands roamed all over your stomach, making his way towards the rim of your crop top, taking it off in one swift motion. He went back to your lips, not waiting a second longer. You pushed him off of you, breathing heavily, "Take off your shirt."

He smiled devilishly, taking off his sweater and yanking his shirt over his head. His tan, engraved abs were exposed, making you bite your lip in anticipation. You traced the sheath in between his puzzle-like abs, gripping his loose shorts at the end. He grabbed your chin in between his index and thumb, bringing your head up. "My eyes are up here..." he licked his lips, going back for another passionate kiss.

You felt his hands roam across your back, unhooking your bra with ease. He let the straps fall off your shoulders, gradually pulling it off your arms. The mixture of the cold air, but the hot atmosphere made your nipples go erect. He attacked your breast, circling one with his tongue and violently pinching the other. You yelped, giving no mercy towards your sensitive nubs.

His hand traced down towards your womanhood, digging his hand into your underwear. You felt his middle finger slid in between your labias, teasing your hole when he got to it. He rose his head, his mouth hovering above your slightly parted lips. He quickly pumped his finger inside, making you scream. "Ahhh-mmph!" He plastered his hand on your mouth, adding another finger.

"You have to be quiet...or else we'll get caught," he purposefully sped the pace of his fingers, feeling your desperate moans vibrating into his hand. You couldn't handle the pleasure any more, just thinking: if his fingers made you shake, how will his cock feel? Before you can realize anything, his head was already ducked in between your legs, his pink tissue swirling around your swollen nub.

You banged your head on the wall, your hand smothering the bottom half of your face. You had a hard time keeping your eyes open, your knees threatening to snap. Trying not to look like an idiot, you used your free hand to grab a fistful of his hair, making him grunt and grin into your womanhood. You unraveled onto his face, your mind groggy from the intense pleasure. "H-hoseok..." you gasped, "I can't..." Your legs finally gave out, your back slightly sliding down the wall.

He lifted you up, walking towards the couch. He hovered above you, distracting you with his smug grin and mesmerizing eyes. Without warning he plunged into you, making you lose your voice. He hissed quietly, "Fuck, you're so damn tight..."

His pace was slow, but his thrusts were strong, never failing to take a moan out of you. You were right, you were gonna be sore the next day, but not from dancing. You were so sensitive to the point that it hurts, your mind not able to function the non-stop feeling of ecstasy. He sped up the pace, the couch moving slightly.

"Ugh...mmmm.....uhhhh," you can feel the familiar sensation you felt not long ago. You felt the fire become bigger and bigger, now almost full ablaze. You dug your nails into his back, your legs wrapped around his waist and your back arched. Reading you like a book, he said, "Cum for me..."

His sultry voice alone was enough to make you explode, making your walls clench around his member. His thrusts were starting to get sloppy, hinting that he was close. His breathing was starting to get shallow, drops of sweat dripping down his temple. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" He pulled out, pouring his seeds across your abdomen.

Fuck. That was fucking intense.

He grabbed his towel and cleaned you up, laughing at himself. "Why are you laughing?" You said in disbelief. He sighed, staring at you lovingly. He cupped both sides of your face and planted a warm kiss on your forehead. He kept his forehead against yours, "That was fucking intense, that's why." You pulled back abruptly, "Right? That's what I was thinking."

"I can't believe it, you're just so beautiful!" He squealed, squeezing your cheeks together. You laughed, admiring his bright, fanboying personality. Fuck, you're gorgeous. You leaned in for another kiss until you heard a knock on the door.

"Hyung! Are you in there?! Why is the door locked?!" You can clearly tell it was Jimin, and he was violently twisting the doorknob.

"Shit!"

strike a chord.  pairing. terudai  chapters. 1/?  rating. m  summary. terushima yuuji is the lead singer of rock band FERAL that debuted a year ago. he's known as a playboy, a wild child, unpredictable and electric. no one can tie him down and his only love is the music he makes with his bandmates. he doesn't see himself ever tying himself down to anything or anyone else. then comes in sawamura daichi, a normal college student who doesn't care about the entertainment industry or any flair or fanfare terushima has to offer. at first, terushima's interested because daichi's so uninterested. but soon, terushima finds that daichi and all his normalcy are more than just a game for him to play with until he gets bored.but is he in love? no absolutely not. never. think again!

Someone was in his bed.

A female someone, if the smell of perfume and the taste of curly hair jammed in his mouth was any indication to go by. His eyes cracked open slowly, sleep and eye gunk weighing them down. Beside him was someone he didn’t recognize. A normal reaction would be to freak out. For Terushima Yuuji, waking up in a bed with a stranger was a normal Wednesday morning routine.

“Go home,” he croaked.

The girl beside him stirred, yawned, and opened her eyes. “Go home ,” he pressed.

She scowled. The smeared lipstick made her less intimidating.  “What do you mean go home? You’re the one who brought me here! Begged me, no less.”

“Sounds fake,” he yawned, turning onto his side so his back was now facing towards her. She sputtered, called him some not so pretty names , then stormed out his room. Hopefully with all her things in tow. If not he’d have his manager mail them to her.

Well, probably not since he didn’t know her name or where she lived or what her favorite color was. But it was the thought that counted.

He sighed, now able to properly sprawl out on his bed. Maybe he’d crawl out of bed to bring his guitar in for a snuggle. Mornings were definitely meant for solo missions where he could just exist and sink into the mattress and bury under pillows. He was drifting back to sleep when his door opened and someone sat on his bed.

“Morning, princess.”

“Die, Bobata.”

“Rude!” Bobata chirped, crossing his legs and leaning his weight against Tersuhima’s side. Terushima frowned and reached blindly for his friend to push him off but to no avail. “I come in here, minimizing your damage by the way, and wake up you yet I’m treated with such hostility? Being your best friend has no perks!”

“What damage did you minimize?”

“Youko-chan. The model you rudely kicked out of bed after nicely asking her to get into it last night.”

“That was her name,” he vaguely remembered meeting her last night. In the band’s usual night hangout. He remembered her voice in his ears and his hand on her thigh and then her tongue in his mouth and after that it was all darkness.

Again, literally a typical wednesday night for him.

Realizing that sleep was no longer an option, Terushima pushed himself up into a sitting position. He blinked sleep from his eyes, yawning.  His hair was all over the place, bleach blond kicked up towards the ceiling in all sorts of directions like lightning bolts. He glanced at Bobata who was texting on his phone. “You going for her next?”

“Nah,” Bobata clucked his tongue, “Not my type. I like a challenge.”

“Are you saying I can only get them easy?” he shot back, but there’s no real malice in his tone. Not like his next yawn did anything to help make him sound more aggressive.  

“I would never allude to such a thing,” his tone was airy but the shit-eating grin on his face said otherwise. Terushima flipped him off and rolled out of bed. He scanned his room and sighed. His pants were at the door and his shirt was on a chair. At least Kyou--Youko-chan had gotten her stuff before storming out. He scratched at his stomach as he headed for the shower. He smelt like sex and felt like booze replaced the blood in his veins.

“We have our meeting in 10 minutes, by the way!”

“Cool so I’m showing up late, thanks for letting them know!” Terushima hollered before heading into the shower. He was pretty sure he heard Bobata yell fuck you, a perfect harmony to the chaotic laughter that bubbled from his throat in response.

*

As promised, Terushima arrived to their meeting 30 minutes later. But it’s fine because he no longer felt like ass and he was stepping out . Hair styled, earrings polished, leather jacket looked just beat up enough to be vintage but with the price tag to show it was definitely modern and expensive as anything. He strolled into their meeting room with his hands in his pockets and a grin on his lips.

“Hello friends! What’s popping?”

“You’re late ,” his manager, Kagami, cut no corners with him. Kagami was the band’s manager, and then some. Sometimes team dad, sometimes team mom , and Terushima’s well... guardian? Savior? He didn’t know what title appropriately fit Kagami and no words could really describe it. Kagami was gruff, tall and well built--could fill out suits with ease. He always had his hair styled and cut short, curling around his ears. And his lips were generally slotted in a frown. Mostly from stress, but for the most part because Kagami and happiness were never synonymous in any context.

Which was why Terushima enjoyed fucking with him the most. “Ah, am I? Technically time doesn’t really exist so if we’re following that logic I’m really on time. Because, you know, it’s a social construct.”

“He’s not wrong,” Bobata chimed from his chair, now playing with a DS that oddly looked like--

“Oi! Is that mine?” Terushima lunged across the table and reached for his DS. Bobata moved just in time, pushing his rolling chair back with a cackle and a spin. “Bastard how could you take my shit like that!”

“You left me unsupervised. I’m not responsible for your missing property because of your lack of caring. Also I beat the gym leader for you. You’re welcome.”

“I wanted to beat the gym leader!”

“You’re the only one in our group who hasn’t beaten her yet,” Takeharu hummed, drumming his fingers on top of the table. “She’s the easiest one in the game, dude!”

“Isn’t it because, and I quote, she’s too cute to fight~  I want to make her my wife not another step on my way to victory ahhh~ ” Arata also commented, chin in hands and pencil perched on top his pursed lips.

Rintaro yawned, “Isn’t it just because he sucks at Pokemon?”

“You shut your damn--!” Terushima got cut off by Kagami’s sharp whistle that brought the entire group back to focus. Kagami lowered his hands and clasped them together in front of him. “You could have just said shut up. That works like, every time.”

“Act like animals, be treated like animals.” was Kagami’s simple response.

“That was deep--” came Bobata from the side.

“Anyways,” Kagami continued, “You’re late. You know the rules and no excuses. Sit down so we can finish this meeting and get into the studio.”

“Kaaaaay!” Terushima sat down in his chair but immediately rolled over so he was sitting next to Kagami. He rested his chin on the man’s shoulders and hummed. “Lay it on us, Kags!”

Kagami exhaled slowly and started running off their itinerary for the day. FERAL had a studio recording session today in the afternoon. After that a reporter from Rokkyou was scheduled to get an inside scoop on a typical session in the studio with the band, plus some hints about their next album. Following that would be a photoshoot for the cover and then solo activities.

“And Yuuji,” Kagami flipped to the next page, “You’ll be coming with me to meet the dean of the university we’ll be performing at next week.”

“Why me!”

“Because you’re the leader of FERAL. The face of the group. And the only one free at that time to come meet with me.” Kagami replied evenly. “If I could take someone else, I would.”

“Ouch, that’s rough. You could have said because I was your favorite.”

“And lie?” Terushima gasped, snickers and whistles erupted around the room. He pouted and Kagami grinned. “Favoritism isn’t a tenant I practice.”

“Sounds fake ,” Terushima heard Arata say. He opened his mouth to make a very witty and well thought out remark when Kagami cut in.

“Don’t start,” he warned Terushima. Then he turned to the rest of the group. “Today’s studio session is all out. We hit the ground running the minute we’re in there. Our album release is scheduled next week and I want everyone sounding like they’re pros. ” he made eye contact with every band member before locking eyes with Terushima, who had sat back now that conversation had turned serious. “You guys were an experiment, and you’ve passed your first trial. We can’t afford any mistakes on our second run. Go it?”

Everyone nodded. Terushima double nodded. His legs bounced up and down with unbridled excitement. Going to the studio, just the idea of it alone, could always boil his blood like no other. “Alright bet,” he jumped out of his chair. “What are we sitting around for? Let’s get started.”

*

Slipping the strap of his guitar over his shoulder would never stop feeling so natural. A kiss could never compare to the pure electricity that ran down Terushima’s spine from his lips touching the metal of the mic. He strummed his guitar, adjusting the nobs at the end as he tuned. The rest of his band mates got into position. Bobata on the second guitar, his right hand man. Arata on piano. Takeharu on drums. And Rintaro on bass. Together they made the band FERAL the powerhouse, rock group of 2018 that they were.

They were, in every essence of the word, just as wild as their band name described. The music they produced always jostled social norms, boundaries. Their first album, JUNGLE WARS was an eclectic mashup of different genres. The men trying out find out what genre they liked best only to decide they wanted everything. It was, as Kagami had described it, an experiment. The band’s existence was a whim by the president who wanted to try something totally . . . unpredictable.

And unpredictable they were. FERAL quickly gained notoriety for their outbursts. No TV host or interviewer could guess what they would say or do or think next. The president said that sort of electric movement, haphazard and dangerous, was just what the music world was missing. Terushima didn’t really get it. He assumed the entertainment industry was used to people who followed social conventions to the letter. Yet, when he gazed around the studio at the guys who had quickly become family in the past months since their debut, all he could see were people who loved making music more than anything else in the world. Fuck everything else.

They were fun, a true and unadulterated riot to be around. Being with them, his band, was like waking up to a different adventure everyday. Sure, they definitely gave their manager a chronic headache but they were living their best lives while doing so.

“Alright boys,” Kagami’s voice crackled over the speakers. “We’re going to do the first half of the album today due to our schedule. So, go ahead.” he leaned back, arms crossed, and suddenly the ball was in their court.

Terushima grinned. “Okay. Let’s do the first song. I wanna try a new opening I thought of last night.”

“Before or after you hooked up with Touko-chan,” Takeharu asked.

“Youko-chan,” Bobata corrected.

Rintaro scrunched up his face, “Seriously dude we just changed the opening two days ago!”

“Before!” Terushima responded. “Also, I know. But I woke up yesterday and hated it so I decided to change it before we went out. I was gonna tell you guys then I...forgot.”

“Cool, cool, love being kept in the roller coaster loop that’s your mind,” Bobata strummed a few chords on his guitar. “So you gonna play it or what?”

“Yup,” Terushima took his stance by the microphone and gave Kagami the thumbs up that they were going to start. Kagami pressed a button and the light above the glass window separating them from outside the booth switched from offline to recording.

The thing about FERAL was that they never played the same track twice. So rather than having a track play and them sing over or play over it, they would hit the recording button and capture whatever magic bloomed from the chaos.

For another band, such a tactic was risky as hell with the potential to end in disaster. Never for FERAL and not if Terushima Yuuij had anything to say about it.

He was excited, itching to show everyone what he’d come up with. The idea had struck him last night after taking a shot of tequila right out of the gates. The same burning, explosive, throat-scarring sting of the shot reverberated with the kind of sound he wanted for their first song. Their opening song, the very first thing their fans would hear once they started the album. He wanted that same feeling--a burning that hit you right to your bones and sat with you for the rest of the night.

He steadied himself. His grin was pure electricity.

The first chord he played was powerful. Loud and sharp , the note rattled everyone to their bones. Then, Terushima swiftly went into several chords, his fingers flying up and down the neck of his guitar. Explosive and reverberating, the sound only lasted a minute but when he was done his fingers were tingling and his lips--they were pulled in the most satisfying , crazed grin. He turned his head and looked back at his bandmates who were all mirroring his grin.

“Whatever the hell that was I’m here for it,” Kagami’s voice crackled once more. “Guys? Think you can piggyback off that?”

“Say no more,” Bobata replied. He turned to Terushima, “You’re a genius sometimes, dude.”

“Thanks, I know.”

After that, the session went on pretty much the same way. The band worked together in chaotic harmony. Someone would change a line, a verse, would hate a phrase of lyrics one minute and completely rewrite a bridge or chorus. By the time the reporter from Rokkyou came through the boys had utterly changed their first sound for their upcoming album.

“Now, FERAL’s known for their pretty unorthodox method of songwriting,” the interviewer, Shou, talked with his hands a lot. His smile was wide, stretched across his face, so much so that Terushima felt his mouth hurting in sympathy. The band had left the studio to sit outside on the benches, taking a much needed water break as they tackled the second portion of their schedule. “Can you tell us a little more about that? I’m sure your fans are dying to get inside that head of yours.”

“Pretty sure that’s not all they’re dying to get inside of,” Terushima muttered low enough that Rintaro snorted. Bobata, who by default was the most mature out of the five took to answering the question.

“Ah, it’s pretty--I don’t even know how to describe it… all over the place? We pretty much creative freedom to do whatever we want and we normally don’t leave the studio until we’re all happy with the sound we’ve made.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Terushima leaned in, arm slung over Bobata’s shoulder. “You see, our albums all have bits and pieces of our own style and ideas. But that’s ‘cause we work so hard to get the right mesh. We could spend hours on a song one day then the next we hate it so we start all over again. But we never end with what we started which I think is pretty cool.”

“How does that even work? If you don’t mind me asking. Surely you guys must worry that you could spend all that time in the studio and end up with nothing?”

The band members exchanged glances. “Nah not really,” Takeharu answered, his tone light. “Our producer wouldn’t let us do what we do if we didn’t get results. We’re a mess, but we’re an orchestrated mess. His words, not mine.”

“We’re also at the mercy of Terushima Yuuji,” Rintaro added with a smirk. “Just the other day the dude walks in saying: GUYS WE’RE CHANGING SONGS 1-5 ON THE ALBUM! Which is like, over half the album and we stayed in there for two days trying to match this dude’s pace.”

“Hey sometimes a tune just doesn’t vibe anymore!” Terushima huffed. The snickers that erupted lightly ruffled him. He frowned and pointed a finger towards Rintaro. “Sides you’re so stuck up with perfection if you don’t get the beat right we have to start all over.”

“It’s called setting the bar .”

“No it’s called being anally retentive.”

“Oh my God he really just said that out loud,” Arata put his face in his hands, slowly shaking his head.

Terushima didn’t care, because now he was engaged in banter with Rintaro with Bobata as the chaotic neutral that neither egged nor stopped them from going at each other’s necks. The reporter could get all this done and publish how much of a highly functioning discord they were. As long as he was able to get the last word in, regardless, he didn't really care. Arata sat in the corner, tired as all hell while Takeharu sneakily captured it all on his phone.

Shou, sadly, was left to navigate himself through the wild that was FERAL .

“AND ANOTHER THING--!”

“Enough, Yuuji.” Kagami’s stern voice cut through their antics. The boys settled down, Terushima even more so sinking into his chair with a pout.  Kagami sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I apologize for them. They’re hooligans.”

“Rude,” Bobata said under his breath. Terushima butted him with his elbow. He jumped with a yelp only to be met with Terushima’s childish but oh so satisfied grinned. “ Whipped .”

“Eat my ass,” he whispered in return. He turned to Shou who seemed to have survived their trip in the wild. He was still all smiles and laughter, apparently amused by their display. Good, another positive review for them. Terushima grinned only to feel it falter as Shou asked his next question.

“Alright. So as I’m sure you guys know, you’ve repped quite the name for yourself as being Japan’s resident new bad boys.”

“Oh word?” Terushima’s smirk was lazy. “We wear leather pants one time and suddenly we’re hooligans!”

“I wouldn’t say it was just the pants,” Shou continued, eyebrow raised. “If there’s a party in the city there’s no doubt one or all of you won’t make an appearance. Or cause a scene somewhere . Japan’s hooked on you guys! Saying whatever you want, doing whatever you want. Especially you, Terushima-san.”

Shou’s eyes cut to him and Terushima, relaxed against the couch, raised an eyebrow. “Tabloids love writing about your many exploits, romantically or otherwise. You’ve capitalized yourself on being this wild, playboy who takes no names and all the prisoners.”

“I dunno if I liked how you said that,” Terushima joked, but he didn’t deny it. He was all for strings when they weren’t attached. Tersuhima and commitment were like night and day. Never to touch, never to coexist in the same realm, always to miss each other by running parallel lines. This wasn’t the first time a reporter commented on his exploits, it probably wouldn’t be the last either. So he laughed it off, as he usually did.

He let the world paint him as a playboy. Getting upset every time someone brought it up would be stupid.

Shou didn’t look too perturbed. Asshole. “Sorry, sorry. I can rephrase if you like. What I want to know, if we’re going to be honest, is if you ever see yourself falling in love? Surely you must have met someone in this industry that’s caught your interest for the long run.”

All five of them looked at one another before breaking out into laughter. Terushima laughed the hardest. He clutched his stomach and hollered, tears forming at his eyes. Then they felt ice on their backs and a cough that no doubt came from Kagami. The men gathered their wits, Terushima being the last to come down from his high before answering the question.

“Love? Yeah no, not in this century dude. Unless it’s to the music I’m never getting married. But that’s just me, Arata over there is a huge hopeless romantic. Lemme tell you about this female singer he’s hilariously in love with but she doesn’t even know his name,” it’s so easy to deflect, to move the attention from him and his behavior to someone else. Arata sputtered and Bobata beside him snorted. Though Terushima catches the quick side glance he sends his way. Terushima, of course, ignored it. There was nothing to talk about, and he wasn’t bothered by the question. His life was on display, of course people were going to poke holes.

That’s why he always smiled and waved and gave them what they expected. No need in putting in extra effort to do otherwise.

*

Terushima kicked his feet up into the dashboard, arms resting behind his head as Kagami drove them to the university FERAL would be performing at next week. He shot a glance at his manager who kept concentrated on the road. Even as Terushima haphazardly changed songs on the radio through his phone every thirty seconds.

“Seriously can’t you drop me off at home? I don’t wanna go!”

“You’re being a child,” Kagami chided, not having any of Terushima’s bullshit today or tomorrow or the day after that.

Terushima frowned (read, pouted). “I’m not! I’m tired! I worked and slaved long hard hours in the studio! Got grilled by a reporter! And now you won’t even treat me to food!”

“We’re getting fed once we get there. You also ate five minutes ago.”

“I’m a growing boy, Kags!”

“You’re twenty.”

“A growing twenty-year old boy!”

Kagami shook his head, chuckling despite himself. Terushima beamed, proud of himself for getting the stoic Kagami to crack even if it was only a little bit. Honestly he was happy to accompany his manager on the trip. He owed Kagami a lot. He dealt with a lot of his bullshit over the years even before his debut. If it weren’t for Kagami he had no idea where he’d be right now. Surely not living in a nice place surrounded by people, fed, warm…

Terushima skipped to the next song.

“Remember my rule?” Kagami asked as they made a right turn. Terushima caught the sign for the university, Sendai University 3km away as they did.

“Uhhhh, no sex before marriage?”

“I’m fairly sure you already broke that but no.”

“Say my prayers before bedtime?”

“Do you get off on being difficult?”

“Yes, incredibly. It’s my kink.” Terushima stuck his tongue out, tongue ring flashes while Kagami’s grip on the wheel tightened. Riling him up would never not be fun. “Sorry about the songs! You know I get bored easily. I can only focus for like, fifteen seconds before the part I like plays and I wanna move on.”

“It’s amazing how your mind works,” there was a pause and then Kagami quickly glanced at Terushima. “How are you feeling?”

There was an undercurrent to his words. Terushima’s mind flashed to the interview and he shrugged. “It’s no big deal. I know what I’m doing and how people like to talk. If it gets us more attention that’s a good thing, yeah?”

“Not at the expense of reducing yourself to…”

“Kagami, seriously. It’s all good. I claim my man whoreness,” he smiled lazily and scrubbed through the song to get to his favorite part. The piano grew louder, the drums softly following suit, and the singer’s voice rising with the crescendo. “Honestly it could be worse. I don’t even wanna know how they’d treat me if I were a girl.”

“All hail the patriarchy,” Kagami’s tone oozed sarcasm. Terushima laughed and changed the song again which caused Kagami to growl and Terushima to laugh even harder.

By the time they pulled into the parking lot Kagami had angrily jammed the off button on his radio and almost confiscated Terushima’s phone. But he was took quick. He unbuckled himself and leapt out of the car, stretching his arms out wide as the spring sun hit him square in the face.

“Wow, nice campus,” Terushima whistled, watching as college students mingled and chatted amongst one another. Terushima was concealed with the stereotypical civilian starter pack: a hoodie, hat, and shades.

Sendai University was large, with white buildings separated by lush green grass with sidewalks running in between. College, a world in the past that Terushima was assaulted with constantly. Now, that time period and the entire prospect seemed like a far off, blurry dream. He never thought he’d end up on a campus. Granted, he’s here for his job but still…

“Our guide is meeting us in the gymnasium.” Kagami adjusted his tie, loosening it around the neck.

“Why the gym?” last time he checked they were performing in an outside venue provided by the college.

“You’ll see,” Terushima was not a fan of such a cryptic message but his curiosity was winning him over. He followed with a grumble as Kagami led him towards the gym. He seemed to know his way around, and Terushima was scratching back in his memory if a conversation ever popped up about Kagami’s university days. He knew being a manager wasn’t his first choice. But the blanks weren’t being filled…

They arrived at the gym and the first thing Terushima heard was the sound of sneakers squeaking against the floor. He immediately flashed back to highschool. To days where his jersey was soaked and his muscles were sore and he stood on a court surrounded by teammates that felt more like family than his own.

He’s grabbed out of his thoughts by the sharp sound of a whistle cutting through the air. Terushima watched as the volleyball players huddled together around someone, probably their captain. He said something that got the men energized before they all broke apart to clean up. Only the captain remained, who was approached by some old guy. The coach maybe? They exchanged words when Kagami called after them.

“Yo, Ukai!” Kagami hollered. Terushima watched as Ukai, some blond dude, turned his head. The minute their eyes met Ukai’s face broke out into a brilliant smile and he hustled over to Kagami for a hug.

“Kagami! It’s been ages, buddy!”

Kagami patted his back. “I know. Work’s been time consuming, but I’m glad we can cross paths like this. Thank you for meeting with us.”

“No man, I should be thanking you.” Ukai pulled back and patted him on the shoulder. “The fact that your band could perform at our school’s music festival is… honestly amazing. The principal hasn’t stopped kissing my ass since! Honestly this year’s Christmas bonus is looking pretty hefty and I have you to thank for that.”

“You two know each other?” Terushima asked, still shaken up from seeing Kagami actually hug someone.

“Ah, right. Introductions are in order. Yuuji this is Ukai Keishin A friend from my university days. He’s the volleyball coach here.”

“That’s me, Kagami and I go way back. When he told me you guys would be performing here I couldn’t resist hitting him up again. Ah,” Ukai turned around, back to the captain who was still in the gym doing a workout. “Daichi! Come over here for a minute.”

Daichi, Terushima figured, was built like a house. Broad shoulders and impressive muscles, especially in his arms. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to the shoulders so as he ran, and his arms moved, Terushima could catch the glimpse of subtle flexing. He was taller than him, that’s for sure, and the way he carried himself as he strode over to them exuded casual confidence.

This man was sure of himself, grounded in whatever concept or idea of his being he held true.

Terushima lowered his shades and whistled, “Oh you’re cute.”

“Yuuji!” Kagami hissed. Daichi blinked and Ukai choked on his laugh. “I’m sorry. He has no filter.”

“Wrong. I have a filter i just don’t use it.”

“Which is a problem .”

Terushima’s grin was lazy as he, without shame, gave Daichi a once over. Daichi remained unphased, matching Terushima’s gaze. Terushima’s grin only increased. Would he break? Would he show discomfort? Or would he go on seemingly unphased by his behavior? The possibilities were endless and Terushima hoped he wouldn’t disappoint.

Daichi, after a beat, simply grinned with his eyes closed.   “Oh this is your friend, Ukai-san? A pleasure,” he bowed slightly to Kagami who bowed back in return. When he opened his eyes the gaze he gave Terushima was brutal. Burnt, empty embers that held no amusement in their gaze. It rocked him to his core and he was frozen up until Daichi bowed towards him.

“And you’re Terushima Yuuji?”  the way he said his name made ice prickle on Terushima’s skin. As if saying his name bored him, tasted like acid, or was a waste of breath to even utter.

Oh. Well then.

Terushima didn’t bother bowing back, hands in his pocket. “Yup. Lead singer of FERAL and Japan’s resident bad boy hottie at your service.”

“With all due respect I think I’ll stick to calling you Terushima-san.” Dachi’s voice was clipped. Terushima’s lips twitched.

“You can call me whatever you like, babe~” Flirting came as easily as breathing to Terushima and really, he wanted to see Daichi crack, twitch, do something but Daichi was impenetrable. It was like Terushima’s words were going in one ear and out the other.

“Okaay uh, well!” Ukai cut in, clearing his throat. “Daichi like we talked about you’re gonna take Terushima on a quick tour around campus. I’ll catch up with Kagami and we’ll meet back here in an hour to meet with the principal about the concert.”

Terushima wanted to claw out his eyeballs. He’d much rather explore the campus on his own, or with Kagami, rather than Daichi. Sure, teasing him would be fun just to see how many cracks (if at all) he could put into that armor but at the same time the dude seemed like a stick in the mud. No fun and definitely a pain in the ass if and when Terushima got into trouble. However, he knew Kagami wouldn’t let him roam free without some form of leash. And, when he looked back at his manager, Kagami looked pretty pumped to hang out with an old friend.

The things I do for the people I love, he sighed, jamming his hands in his pockets and pushing his shades back up his nose. “Yeah okay. Whatever. Let’s get this show on the road.” Terushima drawled.

Kagami nodded, “Right. Enjoy your tour and don’t give Daichi too much trouble, Yuuji. I’ll see you in an hour.” he turned and Ukai threw an arm over his shoulder as the two fell into comfortable chattering over the past, the present, the future, the whatever it was two old men talked about when they reunited after years apart.

They left Daichi and Terushima in awkward, uncomfortable silence. Terushima looked down at his adidas then back to Daichi. “So, the tour?”

Daichi nodded, it was a tight jerky movement. Man this dude really didn’t like him. Who knew a little flirting was enough to set him on edge? “Right. Can I shower really fast, and then we can go?”

It’s on the tip of Terushima’s pierced tongue to offer assistance. And the voice in his mind that sounded oddly like Kagami told him to hold back but alas, Terushima was a man of no restraint so his flirtation fell easily from his lips. “Sure. Mind if I tag along?”

“Very much so,” Daichi had this way of saying things so politely yet so sharply. Like he’d stab you and smile through it all as you bled out onto the floor. Terushima laughed, watching Daichi turn on his heel and head for the showers.  

This tour would either end up being the death of him, the death of Daichi, or the death of them both and honestly? He was kinda looking forward to it.

it's me again~ ;v; i'd like to request superbia x vashti on a shopping trip date if possible? if that prompt is a bit hard to work with then whatever works really! thank you again~!

(Hey look at me only writing once in two months fuck. This is one hell of a date xD)

When Vashti was called by Superbia for a shopping date, at the mall, he expected it nevertheless to be quite boring; he could just imagine the loads of packaging he would have to carry, knowing his lover quite well, especially when it was about clothes. What he did not predict, however, was the fact that Superbia himself was mischievous, and had a different motive to bring Vashti with him out to shopping, rather than using him as a carrier. 

“Today…” He said, grinning. “I have a special interest.” The lovers stood in front of what appeared to be a high-end brand shop of women’s lingerie. 

“E-Ehhh? Is it really alright for me to step inside? That’s unexpected…”

“Shut up and follow me. Since when you get a say in things?” The prideful demon replied, dragging Vashti after him; the click-clack of his high heels echoed down the hallway. He definitely head the attitude to make all heads turn, but he wasn’t there to fool around.

“It’s a nice place… though it makes me wonder why you need something like this.” A lot of women were staring at him, yet he didn’t seem to care, following his lover with interest. 

“You’re awfully bold, aren’t you? How about you focus on the clothes instead? Which ones do you like the best? I want to test your fashion sense too. If you’re lucky enough, I’ll try them on for you.”

“T-Try them on? In the store…? How is that a good idea..” He’s really trying to play with me, isn’t he? Testing my endurance…

“Not only. In private too.” He leaned closer, whispering in Vashti’s ear. “Fufufu. But you still need to win this. Show me your motivation.”

“My motivation? That’s easy. If you’re asking for me to prove you my undying love, then I’ll take it.” Superbia watched Vashti curiously as he strolled around the shop, looking around without any shame. Hmmm, most of these are quite kinky already, but Superbia is not the kind of man to settle from something that normal. Just sexy it’s not enough, it has to be fashionable, powerful. It has to speak for itself. I have been watching him for so long, closely, so I should know. 

Finding it boring to stare any more, Superbia glanced over the mannequins himself, analyzing the clothing designs and materials. 

“Hmm…” However, it didn’t take much longer for Vashti to find something spicier. His eyes settled on a black, latex garter belt decorated with eyelets down the middle, through which laces passed through, to be tied up in a bow. The garter was paired with a g string, same material, and a pair of lace socks, to which the garter attached with 3 straps, one in front, one onto the side and one in the back. Besides that, for the upper part, the top was made of transparent black lace onto the shoulders and the bottom, the rest had the same touch of latex, matching the garnet both in material and a line of eyelets for laces to pass through. It was definitely sexy, bolt and quite fashionable. Everything he had been searching for.

“What is this?” Superbia asked, turning around and heading towards him. “Ohh…”

“I want you to wear this, Superbia. It fits you like a glove, don’t you think?”

“Not bad. You’re not as half as bad as I thought you’d be. I guess I’ll let this slide for now, but I won’t give you your victory quite yet. I’ll be in the fitting room, for now.” Grabbing a pair of the set in his size, he went inside to change into the kinky outfit. That Vashti is so bold with his desires, there is no way he will keep his hands to himself. What a troublesome man.

“I’ll be waiting close by, so just call when ready.” He said, cockily. I am not letting him get away that easily. Hehe.

Superbia took his clothes off, one by one, to put the lingerie on, sighing at how much of an idiot his lover was. He posed in front of the mirror, making sure everything fit perfectly and that it was neatly adjusted onto his body. When he was pleased with himself, he sneaked his hand behind the curtain, calling Vashti closer.

“You can peak now-hey..!” Of course, it wasn’t as if Vashti was going to be satisfied with one peak, he dashed inside of the fitting room, to admire Superbia from up close.

“Ahhh~ I did not choose badly, after all. You’re amazing, Superbia. Your body too.”

“You can’t just go into fitting rooms like that. “ He crossed his arms. “You’re one dirty bastard.”

“Am I, really? But the person who brought me here was no other than you, Superbia. You wanted this.” Vashti slammed his hand onto the wall, pinning him in place. “You know very well I can’t stay away from the one whom I love.” He analyzed him even more, every shape his body has taken in those tight clothes, every patch of visible skin, every inch of him, a blush slowly creeping onto his face. His other hand traced him softly, from his cheek down to his neck, descending slowly onto his chest, until it was snatched away by Superbia.

“You’re searching for a reward that’s not yours yet.” He stared at him with a devious look. 

“Tsk, you’re so stubborn now.” His hand sneaked behind his back instead, caressing his ass softly as his finger slid against the string. 

“Mmm.. i-idiot.” Superbia bit his lip, his pride not allowing him to give in easily. “That is a bad place, naughty boy..”

“You’ve started this so… at least give me a small reward.” Vashti leaned closer, pressing his lips onto Superbia’s, his tongue sneaking inside his mouth, to crush the lover’s tongue passionately. The hand from the wall moved to his chin, dragging him even closer, so he wouldn’t escape. Meanwhile, the other hand continued its perverted rubbing, aiming to tease Superbia as much as he could. Not wanting to let his lover win the steamy exchange, he raised his leg, placing his knee strategically between Vashti’s legs, returning the same kind of teasing.

“Mm…ngh..hh..” Superbia was moaning softly, but not backing down any time soon.

“Ahh, nn.. so twasty…” Vashti was sucking on his tongue, not giving it time to fight back. He had to break the kiss eventually, before someone could question their intentions in the fitting room.

“That was pretty fun. I am definitely buying that. It seems that… it excited you quite a bit.” Vashti said, with a sly smile on his face. 

“Hmpt, it was alright. I could say the same for you, though.” Superbia was cunning as usual. “If you want to buy then go ahead. I’ll… take it off for now…” After Vashti was out of the fitting room, he had to admit to himself that if were for it to last any longer, he would’ve definitely lost the battle. That hopeless idiot. 

He’s dishonest with his feelings, but I can’t help but strongly love him. I’ll make him tell me all about his thoughts tonight, with his body. Slowly but surely. Haha. Vashti thought, as he was paying for the sexy outfit. 

I know requests are closed but can we have some like cute fluffy smutty niall blurb? Where you guys go on vacation for the first time as a couple?

Sunburn

A/N: What happens when Niall goes to Ibiza and my disgust with Goulet peaks???  This.  Shout out to my girls for helping me work out the kinks!

When Niall suggested a quick getaway to Ibiza you were ecstatic.  When he also told you a gaggle of Devines and Matt Goulet would be along for the ride, you immediately refused to go.

“Babe c’mon!  Goulet’s got this hook up for a private yacht and Deo’s really excited to see Dua Lipa.”  Niall was close to begging, his big blue eyes pleading while he made his most pathetically adorable puppy face at you.

You groaned and slumped back into the couch dramatically.  “Fine.  But I’m not speaking to Goulet the entire time we’re there.  And if I hear him name drop you one time I’m totally kicking him in the throat.” You crossed your arms defiantly and set your mouth in a deep pout.  A wide smile broke out across Niall’s face and his eyes lit up with excitement.  He draped himself over your body and peppered kisses across the soft skin of your jaw and neck until you were a giggling mess underneath him.  When you finally caught your breath he pulled back and pressed a sweet kiss to your lips.  

“S’gonna be sick darlin’, no interviews, no schedule.  Just sun, drinks, swimming, and music.”

You quirked your head slightly, a question bubbling up before you could really think about it.  “Wait.  Why is Deo so excited to see Dua Lipa?  I didn’t know he was into her music.”  Niall rolled his eyes and sighed.

“He thinks they might be soulmates ‘cause her name is Dua and his name is Deo.”

“Niall.  Please tell me you’re fucking joking.”

“Hand t’God.  Told me that himself.”

You closed your eyes and tried to comprehend the adorable idiocy of Niall’s cousin.  Unfortunately there was no way around it, Deo had outdone himself on this one.  “Ok, but that’s not even his real name and - you know what?  I don’t even have a response for that.  Fucking Deo.”

Niall had been right, the mini-getaway had been just what you needed.  The label had arranged for a huge villa for everyone.  It even had a tiny pool house where you and Niall had holed up together so you could be together without the constant interruptions of drunk boys running amok.  The first day was just relaxing next to the turquoise colored pool, lazily dipping your feet into the water while the boys all splashed and sipped on a never-ending supply of beer.  That night your group was shuffled from club to club with drink after drink pressed into everyone’s hands.

The next morning you woke up tangled in the soft white sheets of the huge bed in the pool house.  At first you thought the air con had gone out with how hot you felt.  But you soon realized it was only your legs and torso that seemed to be on fire.  You tried to shift but found you couldn’t move.  You groaned and slowly opened your eyes.  Niall had nestled down between your legs with his long arms wrapped under your thighs.  His hands gripped into the soft flesh of your hips to hold you in place.  He was nosing into the soft cotton of your panties just below the waistband.  You smiled and reached down to tug on the messy tufts of brown hair jutting up from his head.  He tipped back to look at you with a lazy grin, his eyes puffy with sleep and a little red from the alcohol.  

“Whatcha doin’ Nialler?”

Niall gripped his fingertips into your flesh a little harder and smiled.  “Mmm, nothin’.”  

You stretched your arms above your head and arched your back.  Niall took advantage of your hips shifting to tuck his thick fingers into the flimsy material and work your panties down under your bum.  You squeaked out a giggle and shimmied them the rest of the way off.  Niall managed to pull his arms out from underneath your body and flung the panties haphazardly to the floor like a slingshot.  He quirked his eyebrows and nuzzled back in between your thighs.  His head lolled onto your thigh and he gently dragged the pad of his thumb down from your pubic bone to your clit.  You could feel the wetness starting to pool in your core from the hot puffs of breath across your flushed skin.  Niall pressed soft kisses to the tender flesh of your thighs, careful not to rub his beard too roughly against you.  “You smell so good, love.  Always gets me so hard.”  You could see his hips rut into the mattress, still covered by the light cotton of his pants. You opened your mouth to let out a broken cry, but it caught helplessly in your throat when you felt the firm, wet press of Niall’s tongue dip into your center.  The hot velvety muscle lapped at your flesh, leaving you panting and clawing at the mop of hair on Niall’s head.  In no time at all you were teetering dangerously close to the edge of your release.  Niall wrapped his arm around your thigh and pressed circles into your throbbing clit.  His tongue dove into your core and you could just feel the edges of his perfectly straight teeth grazing your lips. With one last swipe of his tongue into your heat you were arching off the bed and trying clamp your thighs against Niall’s head. He suckled and lapped at your release, his eyes closed and a blissful expression on his face as if he’d just tasted the sweetest piece of candy.

He rolled off to the side, swiping the back of his hand across his shiny chin.  You were still in a haze and coming down from your high as you flailed your hand aimlessly for Niall.  He reached up with his hand and twined your fingers together.

“Niall.  Holy….shit.  Gimme a minute and I’ll suck you off, k?  Just…need a minute.”

Niall snorted out a laugh and draped his free arm over his eyes.  “Actually, eh might need a rain check on that.  Not actually feelin’ so hot all of a sudden.”

You sat up and noticed the color had started to drain from his cheeks.  You moved his arm away from his face and saw deep purple rings starting to darken.  “Are you ok?”  

“Yeah just kinda nauseous and m’head is pounding.”

“Niall Horan I swear to God if you try to tell me it’s from going down on me, I will drown you in that pool.”

Niall groaned and rolled onto his stomach.  His voice was muffled in the plush mattress.  “Don be fuckin’ ridiculous.  Wanna eat ya for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  But maybe not after a night of tequila shots.”

You leaned down to swipe the sweaty hair back from his forehead and kissed him gently.  “I love you, but you’re a beautiful idiot.  I told you when Goulet brought that tray of of booze back to lay off.  You were already four pints deep.”

Niall moaned again, ramping up the dramatics.  “Shoulda listened to ya.”  He made grabby hands at you and you snuffled into his sweat-sticky skin.  You trailed kisses across his chest and then pulled him up into a sitting position.  

“C’mon ya big baby.  Let’s get some food and paracetamol in you.”  You reached over to the side table and grabbed Niall’s mirrored lensed sunnies, shoving them onto his face.  Grabbing a pair of shorts for him and a pool cover up for yourself, you pulled him out towards the main house.  

“Can we have bacon, too?”

The rest of the day was spent dozing by the pool, sweating out the shots from the night before.  Niall shifted every hour or so from the pool back to the wide lounge chairs that circled the edge of the patio.  You had lined up at least half a dozen bottles of sun cream on the large table and saw almost everyone using them liberally.  Almost.  Niall had slathered some across his chest and nose but brushed off your offers to really cover his back.  

From your perch on the lounger you could see the broad plane of Niall’s back getting pinker by the hour.  

By early evening everyone was getting showered and dressed for dinner and Dua’s show.  It was still blistering hot, even as the sun dipped behind the waves.  You pulled your hair up loosely and pinned it up leaving your shoulders bare with except for the thin spaghetti straps of your dress.  Your day by the pool left your skin bronzed so you decided to skip makeup except for some lipstick.  The stream of water from the bathroom shut off just as you were uncapping a bottle of water for yourself.  As you tipped the cool water to your lips you heard a slight whimper.  

“Niall?”

“Yeah, fine babe.  S’fine.”

His voice sounded strained, and a little higher than normal.  He came around the corner with his hair dark and wet, flopped across his forehead.  He was wearing a pair of slim, white linen pants but hadn’t slipped his shirt on yet.  The sight of him made your heart flutter and your tummy flip.  His nose was just the faintest shade of pink from the sun, the thick chest hair he was so proud of not looking quite as prominent with his tanned skin.  Your eyes trailed down his body and followed the dark line of hair that disappeared into the front of his pants.  You could just barely make out the top of his white boxer briefs over the front button.  Your thoughts flashed back to the morning and suddenly you craved the sight of his face buried between your legs.  Your center started to ache for the feeling of his fingers, his cock, his lips.  

You set the bottle of water down and crossed into the open space of the bedroom.  Niall looked up just as you reached him, his mouth open to say something to you.  You crashed your lips against his and wrapped your arms around his shoulders.  The instant your fingers touched the searing hot skin of his back he cried out and jumped away from your embrace.  

“Ahhh!! Fuck fuck shit!  Don’t touch!”

You yelped in shock and recoiled away from him.  “What the fuck, Ni?  Are you ok?”

A pained expression flashed across his face as he slowly turned to show you his back.  You gasped and then immediately let out an annoyed groan.  The skin across his shoulders and down his back was bright bright pink.  “Oh shit, Ni!”

“S’not even that bad.  Just a little tender.”

“Babe, your shoulders look like a fruit roll up! I told you to put on sun cream!”

“It’s fine, doesn’t even hurt.”

Niall jutted his chin defiantly.  He was nothing if not stubborn.  You crossed your arms and smirked at him.  “So you don’t want me to put aloe on you, I brought the green stuff with the cooling gel.”  You smirked at the tiny twitch in his eye, knowing full well you were getting to him.

He stared you down as he reached for the dark blue button up shirt Ellie had packed for him.  You quirked an eyebrow and watched as he shrugged the shirt on, trying desperately not to wince as the fabric scratched across his back.  When he’d finally got it buttoned up you could see the discomfort written across his face.  He strode past you and headed to the main house obviously determined to start the night.

After drinks at the main house you all piled into a few taxis and headed out to the show.  Dua had invited everyone back stage, much to Deo’s delight.  Deo had tipped back just enough beer to have some liquid courage and was boasting about how smooth he was going to be about pulling Dua.  Niall laughed and shook his head.  “Deo, son, she’s got a boyfriend.  Ya might wanna pump the brakes a bit.”  Deo shrugged nonchalantly and retorted, “S’alright.  I love a challenge.”  He turned his attention to Willie and Goulet who were planning out their drink orders for the night.

You rolled your eyes and brushed the shell of Niall’s ear with your lips.  You felt him shudder ever so slightly at the touch.  “Bet ya a tenner Deo makes a fool of himself in front of Dua.”  Niall turned and thought about it for a minute.  He knew you were probably right, but he really wanted to give his cousin the benefit of the doubt.  He reached his hand out for you to shake.  “Deal.”

Five minutes into the greetings and introductions with Dua and her crew you earned your tenner.  Deo strode up confidently to Dua, who had her delicate hand out.  Deo swept it up to his lips to kiss the back of her hand and when she snorted out a laugh he lost all his composure and proceeded to introduce himself clumsily.  “M’name’s Steo.  I mean, Dephen.  DEO!”  You’d managed to hold in your laughter, honestly pitying the poor boy at that point.  Dua was gracious and pretended not to notice his epic crash and burn.  You took Deo gently by the shoulders and steered him towards the bar, snatching the waiting tenner out of Niall’s fingers as you walked by.

Dua’s show was amazing and the crowd’s energy was contagious.  You were all riding high off the adrenaline as you stumbled into the after party.  You pulled Niall aside after you were let into the VIP area and slid into his lap.

“Hey, we’ve been going pretty hard since before dinner.  Should probably slow down.”  You were nuzzling into his scruffy cheek and pressing a bottle of water into his hands.  “Plus, I need you to be coherent when we get home.  Those pants are driving me crazy.  They’re better than your white Nike golf pants.”  Niall let out a throaty chuckle and ran his thumb up your leg.  Just as he reached the soft hem of your dress, a booming slurred voice broke your reverie.

“Niall!  You gonna hang out here with the ol’ ball and chain all night, or you wanna come have some actual fun?”  

You peered up at Goulet’s face in disgust.  Before Niall could respond, you heaved yourself off his lap and pushed past him to find the rest of your friends.  As you brushed past you raised your voice so he was sure to hear you.

“You’re a real class act, Goulet.  Get fucked.”

You heard him whine out after you, “Awww c’mon!  I’m just joking!”

Thankfully Niall had heeded your warning and kept it relatively low key.  While Goulet and the rest of the boys were living it up, Niall had tucked you away into a corner with him swaying gently despite the heavy beat of the music.  You were careful to keep your hands on his waist, loving the feeling of his muscles twitching under the thin material of his shirt.  Niall pulled you into his chest and pressed his lips against your ear.  “Didn’t tell ya yet, but you look so good tonight.”  Your thighs clenched at his words and you tipped your hips towards his, feeling his grown bulge press against your hip.  “Wanna get outta here with me?  Maybe finish what we started earlier?”  He pressed kisses and nibbles across your jaw while his fingers clutched at your waist.

You grabbed his wrist and spun on your heel pulling him behind you.  As you crossed the ropes separating the VIP area you heard Deo giggle and yell out “Get in, Nialler!”  Niall only tucked his head down and laughed into your shoulder while you flung your hand behind your shoulder and gave Deo the middle finger.

When you hit the pool house soon after, all bets were off.  Niall dragged you through the small house with his lips attached to yours and pawing frantically at his clothes and yours.  You were both a tangle of moans, stumbles, and discarded material.  When you hit the bedroom you both toppled down onto the duvet wrapped in each other.  “Ni - wanna ride you. Roll over.”  Your words were reedy and choked with how turned on you were.  Niall could barely respond except to grunt and push his white boxer briefs past his hips so he could kick them off.  You barely registered the hiss he let out as you straddled his hips.  Yanking your flimsy thong off your hips you wrapped your fingers around his cock and pumped him slowly, collecting the leaking precum from the tip and sliding it down his shaft.  Niall’s hands shot up to your breasts and palmed over them, trying to anchor himself to your body.  Holding his cock steady you sank down onto him and started rocking back and forth slowly.  Your body felt as if it were on fire, your core filled to the brim with him, the dark patch of hair at the base of his cock getting wetter by the second from your arousal drenching the both of you.  You leaned down to rest your palms on his chest, pushing him deeper into the mattress as you started to bounce on him.

Niall’s fingers dug into your hips, harder and harder with each thrust into your body.  His face was set with teeth clenched and his eyes squeezed shut.  You were getting close to your release but it was still just a coil in your tummy, still needing to be drawn out of you.  “Ni, are you gonna come?”  His eyes shot open and at that instant you realized he was in pain.  

“No….shit, I can’t.   No.”  His voice was strangled and he picked you up by your ribcage and pulled you off of his body.  You squeaked in surprise but he was up in an instant swinging his legs over the side of the bed.  “M’sorry…..fuck m’sorry.  It hurts so bad.”

You crawled across the bed and settled in front of him.  “What hurts? Are you ok?”  He looked up sheepishly, completely ignoring his leaking cock still hard with the bright pink tip throbbing against the dark hair underneath his belly button.

“My back.  The sunburn hurts so bad against the sheets.  Feels like about a million pins and needles baby.”

A pang of pity spread through your chest.  He’d let you ride him, taking the pain and discomfort because he knew it’s what you wanted.  The ache between your legs was still crying out to be taken care of.  You pushed his shoulders back gently until he was resting on his hands.  His long torso was spread out before you, soft and inviting.  The moonlight shining in through the windows shone a pale silver light against his skin and you could see the wet marks where his erection had spread your wetness across his belly.  You sank to your knees and ran your palms up his thighs, gently pushing them open so you could slot yourself in front of him. You leaned forward and gently ran the flat of your tongue across the velvety soft skin of his balls, massaging them with your lips.  His thick thighs tensed under your fingertips at the sensation and out of the corner of your eye you caught sight of his cock twitch.  Scraping your fingernails gently through the coarse hair on his legs you dragged your tongue up up up the broad ridge underneath his cock and then swirled around the tip.  A low moan escaped his lips and he tipped his head back between his shoulder blades.  

You pulled your mouth away from him, and loosely wrapped your fist around him, pumping him slowly.  “Hey, come back.  I want you to watch me.”

His head came up and his eyes found yours.  It took him a few extra moments to focus through his sex-addled haze but when he finally did, he looked at you with a mixture of want and absolute fondness.  “You’re so beautiful.  And you look so fuckin’ good on your knees like that.”  His words spurred you on and set a fresh wave of wetness to pool between your legs.  You kept your eyes on his as you wrapped your lips back around his cock and started swallowing his length down as far as you could manage.  The weight of him on your tongue and the heady taste of yourself on him made your clit throb.  You started sucking and hollowing your cheeks around him, determined to take him apart piece by piece.  You slipped your hand down between your legs and pressed into your desperate bundle to try and relieve some pressure.  You could hear Niall’s breathing change the faster you flicked and rubbed at yourself.  You could feel your release coming, building like a tidal wave in your lower back.  Niall’s cock throbbed and twitched in your mouth, bubbling spurts of precum onto your tongue.  With a last swipe of your fingers across your clit your orgasm ripped through you sending your back arching.  You tried to pull off Niall to yell out as your thighs clenched and your knees went weak, but just as you were pulling back he let out a yell with a jumble of words behind it.  

“Oh God, fuck, watch out m’coming!”

Hot, thick spurts of his cum coated your tongue.  You pulled back and tried desperately not to choke and ended up with a stripe of his release across your cheek and lip.  His eyes were pleading as his hands tried to grip onto your body, the bed, anything sturdy enough to help him ride out his orgasm.  You slumped forward into his thigh and gripped his forearm until your knuckles were white.  

The two of you sat like that for what seemed like hours, but was probably only a few minutes.  Your breathing was finally coming down to normal and Niall was petting your hair softly.  You looked up at him and smiled, your lips still feeling swollen and tired.  His lips parted slightly and he reached down with the pad of his thumb and gathered up the stray release from your cheek.  You watched his adam’s apple slowly bob up and down as his swallowed harshly.  He pushed the pad of his thumb into your mouth.  You swirled your tongue around his thick finger and sucked his taste off his skin.  He dragged the digit out of your mouth and you nipped at the tip of his finger just as it left your mouth.  His eyes closed and he shuddered slightly at the sight of you.  “Jesus fuckin’ Christ.  That was…..the filthiest thing I’ve ever seen ya do.  You’re unbelievable.”

You hummed lowly and braced yourself to stand up.  “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not.”  Niall flopped on his side, and rolled to his stomach spreading his arms and wiry legs across the entire bed.  

“Trust me.  It’s a compliment.  M’so damn in love with you.  It’s disgusting.  Should be ashamed of meself.”  You laughed lightly at him, and tapped playfully at the pale skin of his bare ass.  “Get in bed, babe.  I’m so tired.”  

You stretched your aching knees and tiptoed off to the bathroom, assuring Niall you’d be right back.  In the two minutes it took you to come back Niall was already snoring softly with his arms folded underneath his pillow.  You set a few aspirin and a glass of water on the night stand and then wrestled the light sheet out from under his legs to cover him up.  Finally, you gingerly rubbed the cooling aloe gel you’d brought from home across his tender burnt shoulders.  He hardly even moved with your hands spreading the thick gel across his back.

The next morning Niall awoke with only a slight headache and a stiff neck.  The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes were two little white pills and a tall glass of water just within reach.  He smiled to himself and tossed the pills into his mouth, gulping the whole glass of water down in one stretch.  He reached out to your side of the bed and was disappointed to find it already cool and empty.  He pulled himself out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom to brush the taste of stale beer from his mouth.  He was surprised to see that the dark red patches on his shoulders had faded to a light pink.  He turned in the mirror and peered over his shoulder.  The sunburn had gone down to a light stain, almost as if he was permanently flushed.  He flexed his shoulders and moved his arms around, pleased to find the skin didn’t feel nearly as tight and painful as it did the day before.  He was toweling his face off after washing it when he spotted a bottle sticking out of your makeup bag.  He realized that you had probably slathered him with the aloe after he’d passed out.  His heart nearly burst at the thought of you taking care of him like that.  Not just that you’d literally dropped to your knees for him, but also the tenderness of making sure he was comfortable before you drifted off to sleep.  

When Niall finally caught up with you, you were helping Basil haul two large bags of snacks and beers from the dock onto the yacht waiting at the edge of the property.  The rest of the boys were already lounging on the back of the yacht, hungover and miserable from their late night.  Niall couldn’t believe the audacity of them to just lay about while you and Bas did the heavy lifting.  You greeted him with a smile as he stepped onto the boat, wrapping your arms around his waist and kissing the small dimple in his chin.  “Morning, sunshine.  How’re you feeling?”  Niall cupped your face in his mitt-sized hands and kissed you as if he hadn’t seen you in weeks.

“Feelin’ good actually.  Much improved after the medicine and the aloe.  Thanks, love.”

You smiled and place a final chaste kiss to his lips.  “Welcome.”  

As the boat idled away from the dock Niall stripped his shirt off and rummaged through your large straw bag.  He pulled out a tube of sunscreen and started lathering himself up until he’d used nearly the whole tube.  He even asked you to help him with his back.  While you rubbed the cream into his broad shoulders Goulet finally popped his head up over the back of one of the seats to see what you two were up to.  

“How about some flip cup?  Ni, you in?  Or do you have to ask your keeper first?”  He let out an obnoxious laugh at his own joke.  You felt Niall’s shoulders tense underneath you then relax again.

“Matt, me aul son, you wouldn’t know a good woman if one dropped out of the sky into your lap.”  Goulet looked at him quizzically but Niall continued.  “You should be so lucky to have someone like her to take care of your dumb arse.  Until you figure that out, hope you enjoy havin’ to wank off in the shower every morning by yerself.  Twat.”

Matt’s mouth opened and shut a few times like a fish gasping to be put back in the water.  Niall never wavered, only reached over to pull you under the safety of his arm.  A team.  A unified front.  He looked around and broke into a huge grin.  

“Alright.  Who’s got first game?”

THE WISDOM OF LEE SQUIDLY

CHAPTER 2

Lee Squidly has been called into  action. Callie has gone missing and according to Marie he’s her only hope in finding her. There is a lot more going on in Octo Canyon than Lee truly knows but Is he up to the task when he is uncertain of even his own feelings?

A new journey of discovery awaits our hero as he comes to realize what the true meaning of the relationship between the Squid Sisters is, and what they mean to others..

Featuring a special appearance by a squid of @myzzy

Chapter 1 can be found here

       “AHH AHHH AHHHH,” Lee screamed; arms wildly flailing as he ran for his life.

       “Faster Master Lee, they are gaining on us,” Mooky pleaded as he watched a squadron of Octotroopers and Octocopters chase and fire upon them.

       Lee yelped, “I’m trying, I’m trying,” only for a bullet of ink to whiz past his cheek.  “Gyah,” he shrieked. Looking back he begged, “Please stop shooting at me; I’m no threat to you!”

His pleas fell on deaf ears as the Octarians continued their hot pursuit.

“Git it, git that squid!”

“Imma blow a hole clean through ‘im!”

“First one to bring ‘im down gets to chow down on the tender parts!”

Hearing that made Lee emit a shrill cry and pick up the pace, running with everything he had. He didn’t fire back at them. The thought didn’t even come to him; using his .96 Gal Buster for anything other than to ink and maintain his escape route. In a stressful situation like this If he ran out of ink there was no chance he would be able to make more. They chased him all the way to the edge of one of the many platforms perpetually suspended above the canyon. They were getting closer and closer, their ink was just barely touching his heels so he had to act! Without a moment to spare Lee reared back and gave a mighty leap, careening into the abyss below.

The Octarians couldn’t believe their eyes.

“Sweet Cod above that squid is crazy!”

“He ain’t-a coming back from that I tell ya.”

“I’m the one who got a hit on ‘im, ah’m callin’ it!”

They made their way to the boundary only to let out simultaneously gasps at what they saw. The Inkling was gently gliding through the air thanks to a whirling propeller attached to the head of the robot strapped to his back.  They watched with complete disbelief as the child safely descended to another platform and took off running again.

The only Twintacle Octotrooper of the group aggressively bopped the closest Octotrooper on the head and jumped, trying to swing at the Octocopter hovering overhead.  “You dang ‘ole idgits, you’re letting him get away. Follow ‘em, you heard our orders, splat any squid you see!”

Lee ran and ran and ran even with nobody chasing him until he arrived at some sort of road block. A high uninkable wall impeded his path but it proved to be the least of his worries as he exhaustedly collapsed against it. Detaching himself from Lee’s back, Mooky stood in front of him, thrashing his arms in worry. “Master Lee, you must stop for at least 3 minutes time! You are reaching a point of damaging exhaustion and the stress is putting strain on your heart and ink gland.” Though it was his job, Lee didn’t need to be reminded of that as he clutched his chest, gasping for breath with sweat dripping down his forehead.

They hadn’t even that moment to rest as the Octarian platoon from before was upon them again. Between their sadistic chuckles and muttering taunts, Lee heard, “Got’cha right where we wan’ ‘cha liddle squiddy!”

A want to keep running was overridden by heavy pain radiating through every muscle in Lee’s body. Unable to stand or even move he found himself beginning to quake with panic. Desperate to help his immobile master, Mooky quickly stepped between him and the incoming octopods. “Master Lee, turn into a squid, stay as low as you can so I can protect you, they cannot splat me,” he declared; his stance wide and arms spread apart.

“Mooky…,” Lee breathlessly whispered in awe of the bot’s bravado.

Just as the octopods were within range a group of four metal disks were flung between them and Mooky. For the briefest moment what they were was a mystery until they all released a shrill beeping noise, then exploded in simultaneous unison. A thick swath of ink cut between them. In surprise, the Octotroopers and Octocopters scattered as more of the round explosives were hurled closer toward them.

Lee watched as ink was flung everywhere by the successive explosions. Over the shouts and shooting of the Octarian’s ink weapons along with the continued booms he saw a mysterious figure drop in from above. Lee could only catch sight of them from behind; a cloak dazzling like the stars in the sky as they moved fast. They scooped up Mooky in one arm, swiveled around to snatch Lee in his squid form, then super jumped clean away from the danger.

 The events that transpired all seemed to happen in the blink of an eye but Lee and Mooky were finally someplace safe. It was now that Lee was finally able to size up his savior. “Boy you’re lucky I saw you running,” he proclaimed, holding out his hand to help the younger squid up to his feet. “It’s been a long time, great to see you Leemeister!”

That unmistakable visor, that starry cloak, the sheathed sword at his hip, “Mr. Blueshift,” Lee nearly screamed as he shot up to his feet. He threw his arms around the pink Inkling’s waist, embracing him with intense joy. Not only had he been rescued by a local super hero he was such a fan of but also a fellow founding member of the Justice Society of Inkopolis.

“Hak hak,” Blueshift let out a light laugh. Patting Lee on the shoulders, he said, “Yeah, it really is great to see you but I told you a hundred times, don’t call me ‘mister’.”

Mooky raised his arms with a joyful smile, “Thank you for coming to our rescue, Mister Blueshift, we would certainly be finished if not for you.”

The hero clicked his tongue at being called ‘mister’ again, “Tsk, man,” he sighed at failing to convince them.

Suddenly, Lee realized something extremely pertinent. Backing off, he divulged, “Ohh, Mr. Blu—I mean Blueshift, you’re one of the people Marie told me I was supposed to meet.”

If Lee could see his eyes behind that visor, he would’ve seen Blueshift do a double take. “Wait, she roped you into this,” he gasped then sighed, “Marie, what are you doing?”

He didn’t understand what he meant but the optimistic teen squeezed his fists, hopefully asking, “So tell me, have you found anything about Callie?”

Regrettably, he did not, “Sorry Leemeister; I’ve been up and down Tentakeel Outpost and more and I haven’t seen or heard anything.” Slumping forward with a glum stare, Lee didn’t realistically expect to get a lot of information from the get-go but it was still a disappointment to learn Blueshift had nothing for him. What he had to say next was mildly troubling, “Say, did you come here by yourself?”

Mooky answered, “Master Lee did not, Mister Blueshift, I am his accompaniment.”

“That’s perfect, he couldn’t ask for better back-up,” Blueshift nodded, “But I mean, did you come with anybody else?”

“No—it’s just us,” Lee muttered with a confused shake of his head.

Blueshift hummed in his throat, “Hmm, I didn’t think she’d call anybody here unless they were in a squad—HUP!” Just as he uttered those words, he sucked in his breath and bit his teeth.

That piqued his curiosity in a big way, Lee honed in on those words, “Wait, h-hold on, what did you say?”

“Nothing,” Blue shot back, “Nothing at all,” he then chuckled and smiled, speaking in a funny voice, “Hak, uh… everything’s perfectly all right now. We’re fine. We’re all fine here now, thank you, how are you?”

Lee knew he was trying to distract him with a line from SeaStar Wars and normally he would follow-up with the next line in the movie’s script but not now. He narrowed his eyes at Blueshift and incredulously curled his lip. Though Lee was quiet, Mooky indicated, “Mister Blueshift my sensors indicate your pulse is quickening and your speech patterns are irregular.” His observations were cornering the hero, “That is the behavior of someone who is dishonest or is withholding information.”

“Blue, is there something going on? Are there other squids here besides me?” The look he gave the worried super hero was one he rarely had. He was serious, unwaveringly so, there was no way he was going to drop this subject even if Blueshift wanted him to.

He held his hand over his face, murmuring, “No.”

Lee quizzed, “How many others are there?”

Blueshift didn’t have to divulge this information, he really didn’t, it wasn’t essential to either of their missions, but he couldn’t force himself to be dishonest with Lee. “Last I checked—something like 100.”

“100?!” Both Lee and Mooky repeated.

Lee slapped his palm against his forehead and he spluttered, “I ju—I—I can’t believe it.” He tried to imagine so many others running around the canyon. At least he had one hope to hold onto, “How did she manage to get that many agents to come down here?”

Blueshift didn’t answer his question.

“They are agents—right,” he hesitated to restate his question.

This information didn’t need to be divulged either, a part of Blueshift knew this would cause trouble and grief. “No,” he wasn’t going to lie. “No they’re not,” he wasn’t going to say a half-truth to him. “They’re not agents,” He knew Lee deserved to know. “They’re civilians.”

There was no way he actually said that, Lee didn’t want to believe he was hearing what he was hearing. He had to confirm, “How can that be, I mean, the Agency’s gotta be here. What would they say about civilians in Octo Canyon?”

Blueshift answered, “They’re not here,” and then he revealed, “And the others and I that are here, they don’t know about either. We came at Marie’s request and—Lee, what’s wrong?”

There was something apparent in Lee that was rarely seen, if ever at all. His breathing grew loud and hoarse, filtered through his bared fangs, his fists shook as they clenched tighter and tighter, and his left eye twitched as his lip curled upward.

Mooky timidly tapped his shoulder and said, “Master Lee; your heart rate is increasing and your body temperature is increasing, you are becoming angry.” He feared for his master’s wellbeing so he pleaded, “Please calm yourself; you do not want to do anything irrational.”

“Mooky, step off,” Lee growled, commanding his robot to detach from his back.

The uncertain machine slinked over to Blueshift who was equally as bewildered, he said, “Now this is something coming from me but please think about this, you don’t want to--.”

“—MARIE, PICK UP THE RADIO,” he interrupted with the loudest, most blaring voice a small boy like him could possibly muster.

There was a pop and a crackle before a rather irritated voice replied over the channel, “Ahh geez, I’m right here Lee, what’s your problem?”

“WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?” He screamed despite her dry, annoyed tone.

There was a pause after his question before she replied, “I’m thinking you sound like a really bad sound check.”

Grinding his teeth at her dismally disinterested demeanor, he sneered, “What’s this I hear about you bringing civilians down here?!”

There was a beep, indicating she was going to speak but nothing could be heard. Marie finally said, “Who told you that? Did Blueshift tell you that?”

Lee shifted the question, “That’s not the problem here, Marie! How could you? How could you?” His voice shook and it cracked from his anger, “We don’t know what’s going on here, you’re putting tons of people in danger, you know?” Questions and possibilities swirled like a chaotic cyclone in his mind. “What have you told them? Did you get kids or something? What kind of squids did you call down here? Did you use your fame to get them to do what you want? How many of them are just here to hurt Octarians?”

Finally, she couldn’t take anymore so she said, “Ucck, all right, all right, enough already, what’s with you and the third degree?” She didn’t hesitate at all in her response, “Listen I’m doing what I have to do, okay, I mean, wouldn’t you do the same, what if the same thing happened with your mom?”

Lee’s breath got caught in his throat, and his heart clenched inside his chest. He replied with low, hateful scorn, “Don’t you dare bring up my mom in this.” Both Blueshift and Mooky stepped back from the scene; an unheard of but positively uncanny fire of revulsion burned in Lee right before their eyes. After that nothing was said between them for a time that felt like an eternity until Lee finally said, “Listen Marie. When this is over I don’t want to talk to you, ever again.”

“Fine Lee, fine,” that proposition didn’t seem to bother her in the least, “It’s no skin off my nose what you do. Just go find Callie, the sooner, the better.”

She may have been finished with the conversation but Lee certainly wasn’t. He threw his hands down and kicked at the dirt, “I DON’T BELIEVE HER,” he screamed.

Blueshift let out a groan, “Me and my yap,” he murmured as he clasped his forehead with his hand in regret of his own actions.

He felt metal at his leg; Mooky silently placed one of his clamps on him in a display of assurance as he focused on Lee. Wanting to calm his enraged owner, Mooky said, “Master Lee, I know you are upset with Miss Marie’s choice of actions but you must be reasonable.”

“Reh-ruh-bruh-REASONABLE?” Lee repeated with a noticeable stutter. “How can you both be so calm when she’s putting the live of tons of people at stake?”

Mooky implored, “Master Lee, please, we are unaware of what her reasoning could be.”

“Yeah Leemeister, cut her a break,” Blueshift finally interjected, “She’s not thinking right, she been way more stressed out about this than you can imagine. She hasn’t been able to sleep, or eat, or just—anything.”

“That’s no excuse,” Lee shot back, swinging his scrunched fist.

Blueshift tried to explain, “Listen, she tried to do this by the book at first. She went to the Agency right away but they wanted to wait like, a week before they started any search. She didn’t really take too kind to them wanting to get the Great Zapfish back first either.” He wasn’t sure if he was getting through to Lee so he continued, “Just trust me on this all right; she knows the risk involved with what she’s doing. She could go to jail for taking matters into her own hands like this, we all could, we could lose our jobs as Agents.”

If Lee wasn’t so provoked by Marie’s choices as it was, maybe he could’ve understood her reasoning after hearing that. However, hearing the livelihoods of Blueshift and the other informants was in jeopardy, it only made him angrier. “That only makes it worse,” he said. “This is not the way Callie would’ve wanted it,” he was sure of it, as sure as he’s ever been of anything in his life.

Blueshift conceded, “Maybe not, but it’s a risk Marie’s willing to take,  and I just want you to know that I know she’s been nothing but honest and upfront with everyone she’s recruited for this.”

All Lee could do was look away, he couldn’t look Blueshift in the eye as he muttered, “That still doesn’t make this right.” He was unrelenting in his belief, and how he thought Callie would agree that putting others in jeopardy for her sake is not what she would want. With that he wandered past Blueshift, keeping focused on his own partner as he declared, “Come on Mooky, we’re not getting anywhere here so we should just keep going.”

That solemn, distressed look on Lee’s face made it painfully clear to both Blueshift and Mooky that there would be no changing Lee’s mind on the subject. Mooky forfeited, “Yes Master Lee,” and hopped onto Lee’s back, ready to leave.

Though the teen was quiet, Blueshift called out, “I’ll keep you posted if I find anything, I promise.” He still had his mission, he needed to inform Lee whatever he could, but he had one last major thought to share. “If there’s one more thing you should know-- nobody is taking Callie’s disappearance harder than Marie is.”

Lee stopped his stride for a moment. Blueshift and Mooky wondered what he was thinking about, maybe he actually did get through to him? They didn’t, he just kept walking without a word, much to the heartbroken dismay of Blueshift, “You’ve changed Leemeister, this isn’t like you at all.”

Those words really stuck in Lee’s mind but thinking of Marie only made him feel angrier. I promise Callie… no matter what Marie does; I’ll do whatever it takes to find you.

Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers

Alyssa Wong (2015)

As my date—Harvey? Harvard?—brags about his alma mater and Manhattan penthouse, I take a bite of overpriced kale and watch his ugly thoughts swirl overhead. It’s hard to pay attention to him with my stomach growling and my body ajitter, for all he’s easy on the eyes. Harvey doesn’t look much older than I am, but his thoughts, covered in spines and centipede feet, glisten with ancient grudges and carry an entitled, Ivy League stink.

“My apartment has the most amazing view of the city,” he’s saying, his thoughts sliding long over each other like dark, bristling snakes. Each one is as thick around as his Rolex-draped wrist. “I just installed a Jacuzzi along the west wall so that I can watch the sun set while I relax after getting back from the gym.”

I nod, half-listening to the words coming out of his mouth. I’m much more interested in the ones hissing through the teeth of the thoughts above him.

She’s got perfect tits, lil’ handfuls just waiting to be squeezed. I love me some perky tits.

I’m gonna fuck this bitch so hard she’ll never walk straight again.

Gross. “That sounds wonderful,” I say as I sip champagne and gaze at him through my false eyelashes, hoping the dimmed screen of my iPhone isn’t visible through the tablecloth below. This dude is boring as hell, and I’m already back on Tindr, thumbing through next week’s prospective dinner dates.

She’s so into me, she’ll be begging for it by the end of the night.

I can’t wait to cut her up.

My eyes flick up sharply. “I’m sorry?” I say.

Harvey blinks. “I said, Argentina is a beautiful country.”

Pretty little thing. She’ll look so good spread out all over the floor.

“Right,” I say. “Of course.” Blood’s pulsing through my head so hard it probably looks like I’ve got a wicked blush.

I’m so excited, I’m half hard already.

You and me both, I think, turning my iPhone off and smiling my prettiest smile.

The waiter swings by with another bottle of champagne and a dessert menu burned into a wooden card, but I wave him off. “Dinner’s been lovely,” I whisper to Harvey, leaning in and kissing his cheek, “but I’ve got a different kind of dessert in mind.”

Ahhh, go the ugly thoughts, settling into a gentle, rippling wave across his shoulders. I’m going to take her home and split her all the way from top to bottom. Like a fucking fruit tart.

That is not the way I normally eat fruit tarts, but who am I to judge? I passed on dessert, after all.

When he pays the bill, he can’t stop grinning at me. Neither can the ugly thoughts hissing and cackling behind his ear.

“What’s got you so happy?” I ask coyly.

“I’m just excited to spend the rest of the evening with you,” he replies.

• • • •

The fucker has his own parking spot! No taxis for us; he’s even brought the Tesla. The leather seats smell buttery and sweet, and as I slide in and make myself comfortable, the rankness of his thoughts leaves a stain in the air. It’s enough to leave me light-headed, almost purring. As we cruise uptown toward his fancy-ass penthouse, I ask him to pull over near the Queensboro Bridge for a second.

Annoyance flashes across his face, but he parks the Tesla in a side street. I lurch into an alley, tottering over empty cans and discarded cigarettes in my four-inch heels, and puke a trail of champagne and kale over to the dumpster shoved up against the apartment building.

“Are you all right?” Harvey calls.

“I’m fine,” I slur. Not a single curious window opens overhead.

His steps echo down the alley. He’s gotten out of the car, and he’s walking toward me like I’m an animal that he needs to approach carefully.

Maybe I should do it now.

Yes! Now, now, while the bitch is occupied.

But what about the method? I won’t get to see her insides all pretty everywhere—

I launch myself at him, fingers digging sharp into his body, and bite down hard on his mouth. He tries to shout, but I swallow the sound and shove my tongue inside. There, just behind his teeth, is what I’m looking for: ugly thoughts, viscous as boiled tendon. I suck them howling and fighting into my throat as Harvey’s body shudders, little mewling noises escaping from his nose.

I feel decadent and filthy, swollen with the cruelest dreams I’ve ever tasted. I can barely feel Harvey’s feeble struggles; in this state, with the darkest parts of himself drained from his mouth into mine, he’s no match for me.

They’re never as strong as they think they are.

By the time he finally goes limp, the last of the thoughts disappearing down my throat, my body’s already changing. My limbs elongate, growing thicker, and my dress feels too tight as my ribs expand. I’ll have to work quickly. I strip off my clothes with practiced ease, struggling a little to work the bodice free of the gym-toned musculature swelling under my skin.

It doesn’t take much time to wrestle Harvey out of his clothes, either. My hands are shaking but strong, and as I button up his shirt around me and shrug on his jacket, my jaw has creaked into an approximation of his and the ridges of my fingerprints have reshaped themselves completely. Harvey is so much bigger than me, and the expansion of space eases the pressure on my boiling belly, stuffed with ugly thoughts as it is. I stuff my discarded outfit into my purse, my high heels clicking against the empty glass jar at its bottom, and sling the strap over my now-broad shoulder.

I kneel to check Harvey’s pulse—slow but steady—before rolling his unconscious body up against the dumpster, covering him with trash bags. Maybe he’ll wake up, maybe he won’t. Not my problem, as long as he doesn’t wake in the next ten seconds to see his doppelganger strolling out of the alley, wearing his clothes and fingering his wallet and the keys to his Tesla.

There’s a cluster of drunk college kids gawking at Harvey’s car. I level an arrogant stare at them—oh, but do I wear this body so much better than he did!—and they scatter.

I might not have a license, but Harvey’s body remembers how to drive.

• • • •

The Tesla revs sweetly under me, but I ditch it in a parking garage in Bedford, stripping in the relative privacy of the second-to-highest level, edged behind a pillar. After laying the keys on the driver’s seat over Harvey’s neatly folded clothes and shutting the car door, I pull the glass jar from my purse and vomit into it as quietly as I can. Black liquid, thick and viscous, hits the bottom of the jar, hissing and snarling Harvey’s words. My body shudders, limbs retracting, spine reshaping itself, as I empty myself of him.

It takes a few more minutes to ease back into an approximation of myself, at least enough to slip my dress and heels back on, pocket the jar, and comb my tangled hair out with my fingers. The parking attendant nods at me as I walk out of the garage, his eyes sliding disinterested over me, his thoughts a gray, indistinct murmur.

The L train takes me back home to Bushwick, and when I push open the apartment door, Aiko is in the kitchen, rolling mochi paste out on the counter.

“You’re here,” I say stupidly. I’m still a little foggy from shaking off Harvey’s form, and strains of his thoughts linger in me, setting my blood humming uncomfortably hot.

“I’d hope so. You invited me over.” She hasn’t changed out of her catering company clothes, and her short, sleek hair frames her face, aglow in the kitchen light. Not a single ugly thought casts its shadow across the stove behind her. “Did you forget again?”

“No,” I lie, kicking my shoes off at the door. “I totally would never do something like that. Have you been here long?”

“About an hour, nothing unusual. The doorman let me in, and I kept your spare key.” She smiles briefly, soft compared to the brusque movements of her hands. She’s got flour on her rolled-up sleeves, and my heart flutters the way it never does when I’m out hunting. “I’m guessing your date was pretty shit. You probably wouldn’t have come home at all if it had gone well.”

“You could say that.” I reach into my purse and stash the snarling jar in the fridge, where it clatters against the others, nearly a dozen bottles of malignant leftovers labeled as health drinks.

Aiko nods to her right. “I brought you some pastries from the event tonight. They’re in the paper bag on the counter.”

“You’re an angel.” I edge past her so I don’t make bodily contact. Aiko thinks I have touch issues, but the truth is, she smells like everything good in the world, solid and familiar, both light and heavy at the same time, and it’s enough to drive a person mad.

“He should have bought you a cab back, at least,” says Aiko, reaching for a bowl of red bean paste. I fiddle with the bag of pastries, pretending to select something from its contents. “I swear, it’s like you’re a magnet for terrible dates.”

She’s not wrong; I’m very careful about who I court. After all, that’s how I stay fed. But no one in the past has been as delicious, as hideously depraved as Harvey. No one else has been a killer.

I’m going to take her home and split her all the way from top to bottom.

“Maybe I’m too weird,” I say.

“You’re probably too normal. Only socially maladjusted creeps use Tindr.”

“Gee, thanks,” I complain.

She grins, flicking a bit of red bean paste at me. I lick it off of my arm. “You know what I mean. Come visit my church with me sometime, yeah? There are plenty of nice boys there.”

“The dating scene in this city depresses me,” I mutter, flicking open my Tindr app with my thumb. “I’ll pass.”

“Come on, Jen, put that away.” Aiko hesitates. “Your mom called while you were out. She wants you to move back to Flushing.”

I bark out a short, sharp laugh, my good mood evaporating. “What else is new?”

“She’s getting old,” Aiko says. “And she’s lonely.”

“I bet. All her mahjong partners are dead, pretty much.” I can imagine her in her little apartment in Flushing, huddled over her laptop, floral curtains pulled tight over the windows to shut out the rest of the world. My ma, whose apartment walls are alive with hissing, covered in the ugly, bottled remains of her paramours.

Aiko sighs, joining me at the counter and leaning back against me. For once, I don’t move away. Every muscle in my body is tense, straining. I’m afraid I might catch fire, but I don’t want her to leave. “Would it kill you to be kind to her?”

I think about my baba evaporating into thin air when I was five years old, what was left of him coiled in my ma’s stomach. “Are you telling me to go back?”

She doesn’t say anything for a bit. “No,” she says at last. “That place isn’t good for you. That house isn’t good for anyone.”

Just a few inches away, an army of jars full of black, viscous liquid wait in the fridge, their contents muttering to themselves. Aiko can’t hear them, but each slosh against the glass is a low, nasty hiss:

who does she think she is, the fucking cunt

should’ve got her when I had the chance

I can still feel Harvey, his malice and ugly joy, on my tongue. I’m already full of things my ma gave me. “I’m glad we agree.”

• • • •

Over the next few weeks, I gorge myself on the pickup artists and grad students populating the St. Marks hipster bars, but nothing tastes good after Harvey. Their watery essences, squeezed from their owners with barely a whimper of protest, barely coat my stomach. Sometimes I take too much. I scrape them dry and leave them empty, shaking their forms off like rainwater when I’m done.

I tell Aiko I’ve been partying when she says I look haggard. She tells me to quit drinking so much, her face impassive, her thoughts clouded with concern. She starts coming over more often, even cooking dinner for me, and her presence both grounds me and drives me mad.

“I’m worried about you,” she says as I lie on the floor, flipping listlessly through pages of online dating profiles, looking for the emptiness, the rot, that made Harvey so appealing. She’s cooking my mom’s lo mien recipe, the oily smell making my skin itch. “You’ve lost so much weight and there’s nothing in your fridge, just a bunch of empty jam jars.”

I don’t tell her that Harvey’s lies under my bed, that I lick its remnants every night to send my nerves back into euphoria. I don’t tell her how often I dream about my ma’s place, the shelves of jars she never let me touch. “Is it really okay for you to spend so much time away from your catering business?” I say instead. “Time is money, and Jimmy gets pissy when he has to make all the desserts without you.”

Aiko sets a bowl of lo mein in front of me and joins me on the ground. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here,” she says, and a dangerous, luminous sweetness blooms in my chest.

But the hunger grows worse every day, and soon I can’t trust myself around her. I deadbolt the door, and when she stops by my apartment to check on me, I refuse to let her in. Texts light up my phone like a fleet of fireworks as I huddle under a blanket on the other side, my face pressed against the wood, my fingers twitching.

“Please, Jen, I don’t understand,” she says from behind the door. “Did I do something wrong?”

I can’t wait to cut her up, I think, and hate myself even more.

By the time Aiko leaves, her footsteps echoing down the hallway, I’ve dug deep gouges in the door’s paint with my nails and teeth, my mouth full of her intoxicating scent.

• • • •

My ma’s apartment in Flushing still smells the same. She’s never been a clean person, and the sheer amount of junk stacked up everywhere has increased since I left home for good. Piles of newspapers, old food containers, and stuffed toys make it hard to push the door open, and the stench makes me cough. Her hoard is up to my shoulders, even higher in some places, and as I pick my way through it, the sounds that colored my childhood grow louder: the constant whine of a Taiwanese soap opera bleeding past mountains of trash, and the cruel cacophony of many familiar voices:

Touch me again and I swear I’ll kill you—

How many times have I told you not to wash the clothes like that, open your mouth—

Hope her ugly chink daughter isn’t home tonight—

Under the refuse she’s hoarded the walls are honeycombed with shelves, lined with what’s left of my ma’s lovers. She keeps them like disgusting, mouthwatering trophies, desires pickling in stomach acid and bile. I could probably call them by name if I wanted to; when I was a kid, I used to lie on the couch and watch my baba’s ghost flicker across their surfaces.

My ma’s huddled in the kitchen, the screen of her laptop casting a sickly blue glow on her face. Her thoughts cover her quietly like a blanket. “I made some niu ro mien,” she says. “It’s on the stove. Your baba’s in there.”

My stomach curls, but whether it’s from revulsion or hunger I can’t tell. “Thanks, ma,” I say. I find a bowl that’s almost clean and wash it out, ladling a generous portion of thick noodles for myself. The broth smells faintly of hongtashan tobacco, and as I force it down almost faster than I can swallow, someone else’s memories of my childhood flash before my eyes: pushing a small girl on a swing set at the park; laughing as she chases pigeons down the street; raising a hand for a second blow as her mother launches herself toward us, between us, teeth bared—

“How is it?” she says.

Foul. “Great,” I say. It settles my stomach, at least for a little while. But my baba was no Harvey, and I can already feel the hunger creeping back, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

“You ate something you shouldn’t have, didn’t you, Meimei.” My ma looks up at me for the first time since I walked in, and she looks almost as tired as I feel. “Why didn’t you learn from me? I taught you to stick to petty criminals. I taught you to stay invisible.”

She’d tried to teach me to disappear into myself, the way she’d disappeared into this apartment. “I know I messed up,” I tell her. “Nothing tastes good any more, and I’m always hungry. But I don’t know what to do.”

My ma sighs. “Once you’ve tasted a killer, there’s no turning back. You’ll crave that intensity until you die. And it can take a long time for someone like us to die, Meimei.”

It occurs to me that I don’t actually know how old my ma is. Her thoughts are old and covered in knots, stitched together from the remnants of other people’s experiences. How long has she been fighting this condition, these overwhelming, gnawing desires?

“Move back in,” she’s saying. “There’s so much tong activity here, the streets leak with food. You barely even have to go outside, just crack open a window and you can smell it brewing. The malice, the knives and bullets . . .”

The picture she paints makes me shudder, my mouth itching. “I can’t just leave everything, Ma,” I say. “I have my own life now.” And I can’t live in this apartment, with its lack of sunlight and fresh air, its thick stench of regret and malice.

“So what happens if you go back? You lose control, you take a bite out of Aiko?” She sees me stiffen. “That girl cares about you so much. The best thing you can do for her is keep away. Don’t let what happened to your father happen to Aiko.” She reaches for my hand, and I pull away. “Stay here, Meimei. We only have each other.”

“This isn’t what I want.” I’m backing up, and my shoulder bumps into the trash, threatening to bury us both in rotting stuffed animals. “This isn’t safe, Ma. You shouldn’t even stay here.”

My ma coughs, her eyes glinting in the dark. The cackling from her jar collection swells in a vicious tide, former lovers rocking back and forth on their shelves. “Someday you’ll learn that there’s more to life than being selfish, Meimei.”

That’s when I turn my back on her, pushing past the debris and bullshit her apartment’s stuffed with. I don’t want to die, but as far as I’m concerned, living like my ma, sequestered away from the rest of the world, her doors barricaded with heaps of useless trinkets and soured memories, is worse than being dead.

The jars leer and cackle as I go, and she doesn’t try to follow me.

The scent of Flushing clings to my skin, and I can’t wait to shake it off. I get on the train as soon as I can, and I’m back on Tindr as soon as the M passes above ground. Tears blur my eyes, rattling free with the movement of the train. I scrub them away angrily, and when my vision clears, I glance back at the screen. A woman with sleek, dark hair, slim tortoiseshell glasses, and a smile that seems a little shy, but strangely handsome, glows up at me. In the picture, she’s framed by the downtown cityscape. She has rounded cheeks, but there’s a strange flat quality to her face. And then, of course, there are the dreams shadowing her, so strong they leak from the screen in a thick, heady miasma. Every one of those myriad eyes is staring straight at me, and my skin prickles.

I scan the information on her profile page, my blood beating so hard I can feel my fingertips pulsing: relatively young-looking, but old enough to be my mother’s cousin. Likes: exploring good food, spending rainy days at the Cloisters, browsing used book stores. Location: Manhattan.

She looks a little like Aiko.

She’s quick to message me back. As we flirt, cold sweat and adrenaline send uncomfortable shivers through my body. Everything is sharper, and I can almost hear Harvey’s jar laughing. Finally, the words I’m waiting for pop up:

I’d love to meet you. Are you free tonight?

I make a quick stop-off back home, and my heart hammers as I get on the train bound for the Lower East Side, red lipstick immaculate and arms shaking beneath my crisp designer coat, a pair of Mom’s glass jars tucked in my purse.

• • • •

Her name is Seo-yun, and as she watches me eat, her eyes flickering from my mouth to my throat, her smile is so sharp I could cut myself on it. “I love places like this,” she says. “Little authentic spots with only twelve seats. Have you been to Haru before?”

“I haven’t,” I murmur. My fingers are clumsy with my chopsticks, tremors clicking them together, making it hard to pick up my food. God, she smells delectable. I’ve never met someone whose mind is so twisted, so rich; a malignancy as well developed and finely crafted as the most elegant dessert.

I’m going to take her home and split her open like a—

I can already taste her on my tongue, the best meal I’ve never had.

“You’re in for a treat,” Seo-yun says as the waiter—the only other staff beside the chef behind the counter—brings us another pot of tea. “This restaurant started as a stall in a subway station back in Japan.”

“Oh wow,” I say. “That’s . . . amazing.”

“I think so, too. I’m glad they expanded into Manhattan.”

Behind her kind eyes, a gnarled mess of ancient, ugly thoughts writhes like the tails of a rat king. I’ve never seen so many in one place. They crawl from her mouth and ears, creeping through the air on deep-scaled legs, their voices like the drone of descending locusts.

I’m not her first. I can tell that already. But then, she isn’t mine, either.

I spend the evening sweating through my dress, nearly dropping my chopsticks. I can’t stop staring at the ugly thoughts, dropping from her lips like swollen beetles. They skitter over the tablecloth toward me, whispering obscenities at odds with Seo-yun’s gentle voice, hissing what they’d like to do to me. It takes everything in me not to pluck them from the table and crunch them deep between my teeth right then and there, to pour into her lap and rip her mind clean.

Seo-yun is too much for me, but I’m in too far, too hard; I need to have her.

She smiles at me. “Not hungry?”

I glance down at my plate. I’ve barely managed a couple of nigiri. “I’m on a diet,” I mutter.

“I understand,” she says earnestly. The ugly thoughts crawl over the tops of her hands, iridescent drops spilling into her soy sauce dish.

When the waiter finally disappears into the kitchen, I move in to kiss her across the table. She makes a startled noise, gentle pink spreading across her face, but she doesn’t pull away. My elbow sinks into the exoskeleton of one of the thought-beetles, crushing it into black, moist paste against my skin.

I open my mouth to take the first bite.

“So, I’m curious,” murmurs Seo-yun, her breath brushing my lips. “Who’s Aiko?”

My eyes snap open. Seo-yun smiles, her voice warm and tender, all her edges dark. “She seems sweet, that’s all. I’m surprised you haven’t had a taste of her yet.”

I back up so fast that I knock over my teacup, spilling scalding tea over everything. But Seo-yun doesn’t move, just keeps smiling that kind, gentle smile as her monstrous thoughts lap delicately at the tablecloth.

“She smells so ripe,” she whispers. “But you’re afraid you’ll ruin her, aren’t you? Eat her up, and for what? Just like your mum did your dad.”

No, no, no. I’ve miscalculated so badly. But I’m so hungry, and I’m too young, and she smells like ancient power. There’s no way I’ll be able to outrun her. “Get out of my head,” I manage to say.

“I’m not in your head, love. Your thoughts are spilling out everywhere around you, for everyone to see.” She leans in, propping her chin on her hand. The thoughts twisted around her head like a living crown let out a dry, rattling laugh. “I like you, Jenny. You’re ambitious. A little careless, but we can fix that.” Seo-yun taps on the table, and the waiter reappears, folding up the tablecloth deftly and sliding a single dish onto the now-bare table. An array of thin, translucent slices fan out across the plate, pale and glistening with malice. Bisected eyes glint, mouths caught mid-snarl, from every piece. “All it takes is a little practice and discipline, and no one will know what you’re really thinking.”

“On the house, of course, Ma’am,” the waiter murmurs. Before he disappears again, I catch a glimpse of dark, many-legged thoughts braided like a bracelet around his wrist.

Seo-yun takes the first bite, glancing up at me from behind her glasses. “Your mum was wrong,” she says. “She thought you were alone, just the two of you. So she taught you to only eat when you needed to, so you didn’t get caught, biding your time between meals like a snake.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” I say. The heady, rotten perfume from the dish in front of me makes my head spin with hunger.

“My mum was much the same. Eat for survival, not for pleasure.” She gestures at the plate with her chopsticks. “Please, have some.”

As the food disappears, I can only hold out for a few more slices before my chopsticks dart out, catching a piece for myself. It’s so acidic it makes my tongue burn and eyes itch, the aftertaste strangely sweet.

“Do you like it?”

I respond by wolfing down another two slices, and Seo-yun chuckles. Harvey is bland compared to this, this strangely distilled pairing of emotions—

I gasp as my body starts to warp, hands withering, burn scars twisting their way around my arms. Gasoline, malice, childish joy rush through me, a heady mix of memory and sensory overstimulation. And then Seo-yun’s lips are on mine, teeth tugging gently, swallowing, drawing it out of me. The burns fade, but the tingle of cruel euphoria lingers.

She wipes her mouth delicately. “Ate a little too fast, I think, dear,” she says. “My point, Jenny, is that I believe in eating for pleasure, not just survival. And communally, of course. There are a number of us who get together for dinner or drinks at my place, every so often, and I would love it if you would join us tonight. An eating club, of sorts.”

My gaze flickers up at her thoughts, but they’re sitting still as stones, just watching me with unblinking eyes. My mouth stings with the imprint of hers.

“Let me introduce you soon. You don’t have to be alone anymore.” As the waiter clears the plate and nods at her—no check, no receipt, nothing—Seo-yun adds, “And tonight doesn’t have to be over until we want it to be.” She offers me her hand. After a moment’s hesitation, I take it. It’s smaller than mine, and warm.

“Yes, please,” I say, watching her thoughts instead of her face.

As we leave the restaurant, she presses her lips to my forehead. Her lips sear into my skin, nerves singing white-hot with ecstasy. “They’re going to love you,” she says.

We’ll have so much fun, say the thoughts curling through her dark hair.

She hails a cab from the fleet circling the street like wolves, and we get inside.

• • • •

I run into Aiko two months later in front of my apartment, as I’m carrying the last box of my stuff out. She’s got a startled look on her face, and she’s carrying a bag stuffed with ramps, kaffir lime, heart of palm—all ingredients I wouldn’t have known two months ago, before meeting Seo-yun. “You’re moving?”

I shrug, staring over her head, avoiding her eyes. “Yeah, uh. I’m seeing someone now, and she’s got a really nice place.”

“Oh.” She swallows, shifts the bag of groceries higher on her hip. “That’s great. I didn’t know you were dating anybody.” I can hear her shaky smile. “She must be feeding you well. You look healthier.”

“Thanks,” I say, though I wonder. It’s true, I’m sleeker, more confident now. I’m barely home any more, spending most of my time in Seo-yun’s Chelsea apartment, learning to cook with the array of salts and spices infused with ugly dreams, drinking wine distilled from deathbed confessions. My time stalking the streets for small-time criminals is done. But why has my confidence evaporated the moment I see Aiko? And if that ravenous hunger from Harvey is gone, why am I holding my breath to keep from breathing in her scent?

“So what’s she like?”

“Older, kind of—” kind of looks like you “—short. Likes to cook, right.” I start to edge past her. “Listen, this box is heavy and the van’s waiting for me downstairs. I should go.”

“Wait,” Aiko says, grabbing my arm. “Your mom keeps calling me. She still has my number from . . . before. She’s worried about you. Plus I haven’t seen you in ages, and you’re just gonna take off?”

Aiko, small and humble. Her hands smell like home, like rice flour and bad memories. How could I ever have found that appealing?

“We don’t need to say goodbye. I’m sure I’ll see you later,” I lie, shrugging her off.

“Let’s get dinner sometime,” says Aiko, but I’m already walking away.

• • • •

Caterers flit like blackbirds through the apartment, dark uniforms neatly pressed, their own ugly thoughts braided and pinned out of the way. It’s a two-story affair, and well-dressed people flock together everywhere there’s space, Seo-yun’s library upstairs to the living room on ground floor. She’s even asked the caterers to prepare some of my recipes, which makes my heart glow. “You’re the best,” I say, kneeling on the bed beside her and pecking her on the cheek.

Seo-yun smiles, fixing my hair. She wears a sleek, deep blue dress, and today, her murderous thoughts are draped over her shoulders like a stole, a living, writhing cape. Their teeth glitter like tiny diamonds. I’ve never seen her so beautiful. “They’re good recipes. My friends will be so excited to taste them.”

I’ve already met many of them, all much older than I am. They make me nervous. “I’ll go check on the food,” I say.

She brushes her thumb over my cheek. “Whatever you’d like, love.”

I escape into the kitchen, murmuring brief greetings to the guests I encounter on the way. Their hideous dreams adorn them like jewels, glimmering and snatching at me as I slip past. As I walk past some of the cooks, I notice a man who looks vaguely familiar. “Hey,” I say.

“Yes, ma’am?” The caterer turns around, and I realize where I’ve seen him; there’s a picture of him and Aiko on her cellphone, the pair of them posing in front of a display at a big event they’d cooked for. My heartbeat slows.

“Aren’t you Aiko’s coworker?”

He grins and nods. “Yes, I’m Jimmy. Aiko’s my business partner. Are you looking for her?”

“Wait, she’s here?”

He frowns. “She should be. She never misses one of Ms. Sun’s parties.” He smiles. “Ms. Sun lets us take home whatever’s left when the party winds down. She’s so generous.”

I turn abruptly and head for the staircase to the bedroom, shouldering my way through the crowd. Thoughts pelt me as I go: Has Aiko known about me, my ma, what we can do? How long has she known? And worse—Seo-yun’s known all along about Aiko, and played me for a fool.

I bang the bedroom door open to find Aiko sprawled out across the carpet, her jacket torn open. Seo-yun crouches on the floor above her in her glorious dress, her mouth dark and glittering. She doesn’t look at all surprised to see me.

“Jenny, love. I hope you don’t mind we started without you.” Seo-yun smiles. Her lipstick is smeared over her chin, over Aiko’s blank face. I can’t tell if Aiko’s still breathing.

“Get away from her,” I say in a low voice.

“As you wish.” She rises gracefully, crossing the room in fluid strides. “I was done with that particular morsel, anyway.” The sounds of the party leak into the room behind me, and I know I can’t run and grab Aiko at the same time.

So I shut the door, locking it, and mellow my voice to a sweet purr. “Why didn’t you tell me about Aiko? We could have shared her together.”

But Seo-yun just laughs at me. “You can’t fool me, Jenny. I can smell your rage from across the room.” She reaches out, catches my face, and I recoil into the door. “It makes you so beautiful. The last seasoning in a dish almost ready.”

“You’re insane, and I’m going to kill you,” I say. She kisses my neck, her teeth scraping my throat, and the scent of her is so heady my knees almost bend.

“I saw you in her head, delicious as anything,” she whispers. Her ugly thoughts hiss up my arms, twining around my waist. There’s a sharp sting at my wrist, and I look down to discover that one of them is already gnawing at my skin. “And I knew I just had to have you.”

There’s a crash, and Seo-yun screams as a porcelain lamp shatters against the back of her head. Aiko’s on her feet, swaying unsteadily, face grim. “Back the fuck away from her,” she growls, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You little bitch—” snarls Seo-yun.

But I seize my chance and pounce, fastening my teeth into the hollow of Seo-yun’s throat, right where her mantle of thoughts gathers and folds inward. I chew and swallow, chew and swallow, gorging myself on this woman. Her thoughts are mine now, thrashing as I seize them from her, and I catch glimpses of myself, of Aiko, and of many others just like us, in various states of disarray, of preparation.

Ma once told me that this was how Baba went; she’d accidentally drained him until he’d faded completely out of existence. For the first time in my life, I understand her completely.

Seo-yun’s bracelets clatter to the floor, her empty gown fluttering soundlessly after. Aiko collapses too, folding like paper.

It hurts to take in that much. My stomach hurts so bad, my entire body swollen with hideous thoughts. At the same time, I’ve never felt so alive, abuzz with possibility and untamable rage.

I lurch over to Aiko on the floor, malice leaking from her mouth, staining the carpet. “Aiko, wake up!” But she feels hollow, lighter, empty. She doesn’t even smell like herself any more.

A knock at the door jolts me. “Ma’am,” says a voice I recognize as the head caterer. “The first of the main courses is ready. Mr. Goldberg wants to know if you’ll come down and give a toast.”

Fuck. “I—” I start to say, but the voice isn’t mine. I glance over at the mirror; sure enough, it’s Seo-yun staring back at me, her dark, terrible dreams tangled around her body in a knotted mess. “I’ll be right there,” I say, and lay Aiko gently on the bed. Then I dress and leave, my heart pounding in my mouth.

I walk Seo-yun’s shape down the stairs to the dining room, where guests are milling about, plates in hand, and smile Seo-yun’s smile. And if I look a little too much like myself, well—according to what I’d seen while swallowing Seo-yun’s thoughts, I wouldn’t be the first would-be inductee to disappear at a party like this. Someone hands me a glass of wine, and when I take it, my hand doesn’t tremble, even though I’m screaming inside.

Fifty pairs of eyes on me, the caterers’ glittering cold in the shadows. Do any of them know? Can any of them tell?

“To your continued health, and to a fabulous dinner,” I say, raising my glass. As one, they drink.

• • • •

Seo-yun’s apartment is dark, cleared of guests and wait staff alike. Every door is locked, every curtain yanked closed.

I’ve pulled every jar, every container, every pot and pan out of the kitchen, and now they cover the floor of the bedroom, trailing into the hallway, down the stairs. Many are full, their malignant contents hissing and whispering hideous promises at me as I stuff my hand in my mouth, retching into the pot in my lap.

Aiko lies on the bed, pale and still. There’s flour and bile on the front of her jacket. “Hang in there,” I whisper, but she doesn’t respond. I swirl the pot, searching its contents for any hint of Aiko, but Seo-yun’s face grins out at me from the patterns of light glimmering across the liquid’s surface. I shove it away from me, spilling some on the carpet.

I grab another one of the myriad crawling thoughts tangled about me, sinking my teeth into its body, tearing it into pieces as it screams and howls terrible promises, promises it won’t be able to keep. I eat it raw, its scales scraping the roof of my mouth, chewing it thoroughly. The more broken down it is, the easier it will be to sort through the pieces that are left when it comes back up.

How long did you know? Did you always know?

I’ll find her, I think as viscous black liquid pours from my mouth, over my hands, burning my throat. The field of containers pools around me like a storm of malicious stars, all whispering my name. She’s in here somewhere, I can see her reflection darting across their surfaces. If I have to rip through every piece of Seo-yun I have, from her dreams to the soft, freckled skin wrapped around my body, I will. I’ll wring every vile drop of Seo-yun out of me until I find Aiko, and then I’ll fill her back up, pour her mouth full of herself.

How could I ever forget her? How could I forget her taste, her scent, something as awful and beautiful as home?

[ Send me a ’(´∀｀)♡’ and I’ll write a drabble about my muses biggest orgasm. ]  [ Modern AU ]

  After a long week of stress, it became a normal occurence for him to go seek for some warmth. He’s already 25 years old and hasn’t succeeded in having a stable relationship yet, one night stands became an habit. Maybe it’s his particular job, maybe it’s his look, or the drugs, no one sticks around too long. Doesn’t matter. Nothing matters. 

  Tonight, he went to the club with a goal in mind, and he knows he’s not the only one, he never is. A drink and two pills later - not enough to stop him from having a decent erection - he finds someone. A man this time. He’s not difficult, he likes the two. They danced, chatted a bit, and left to the guy’s house. He has a house… Already, Obito is impressed. They will have maximum privacy! What he didn’t expect though, was that it was all going to happen in the basement, and that the guy, despite being smaller and slimmer than him, was a total dominant. This man radiated anything but that, how surprising. 

   Next thing he knows, his hands are attached together at his back with some kinky straps, he’s wearing a cockring that makes his erection look bigger – and it throbs painfully – And a dog collar with a bow tie around his neck. How he ended up agreeing to this is beyond him, he’s curious he supposes… The though of getting sexually tortured turns him on so much right now. 

  On his knees on the cold floor, Obito watches as his partner of the night comes back from the bathroom completely naked, and he can’t help but stare, this guy could be a porn star if he’s not already! “Uh hm..” Obito hums, eyes glued to the cock that is definitly a bit bigger than his own, tongue licking his lips absentmindedly. The guy smirks at him, and Obito remembers that he doesn’t even know his name… 

  As if reading his mind, the man mumbles “Call me master. What do I call you?” And damn it he’s already teasing Obito by stroking his cock right in front of him, out of reach. “Call me Tobi..” He can almost feel these strokes on his own dick. 

“Argh.. F-fuck m-” “No.”  Obito looks up almost offended, did he just..?  “Not yet… We do what I want and you obey, tough guy~. And you shall address me as your master. All night.” The master smirks.  Ah, so this is what it is. Alright. “As you please… Master.” If this is how he’ll get what he wants, then he’s down for it. 

  A harsh grasp of his hair forces his head backward, and Obito moan at the pain, lips curled up in a drunken smile. He doesn’t need to be told that he knows what he has to do. Eagerly, he begins to lick his master’s balls, taking each one in his mouth to suck, then he moves to the cock. He drags his tongue from base to tip, give it a kiss, then repeats the same thing, often stopping to mouth at the sides. In the meantime, the guy looks a bit impressed… Well, he’ll be even more impressed when Obito really gets to work. It’s far from his first cock after all. 

  Once the man’s cock is completely coated and ready, Obito looks up, grins and take the tip in his mouth. He sucks, licks, pokes his tongue at the slit and swallows the precum that seeped out before begining to bob his head on it. At every dip, he takes more, moaning once in a while. When the tip hit the back of his throat, Obito rearranges his position to let it slip in his throat correctly until his lips meet his master’s base. With all seven inches down his throat, Obito begins to really work on it, bobbing his head up and down. The guy grips his hair harshly and thrusts his cock into him, forcing his pace to quicken. He can hear him pant above him and it turns him on, his erection hurts! 

  It goes on for a moment, and then, right when the cock in his mouth began to twitch, the master pulled him off and brutally threw him to the floor. “I have to say… I’m impressed, you almost made me cum there, tough guy.” Seems like his name won’t be used, it’s alright, because he is a tough guy. 

  Now laying on his belly on the cold floor, Obito coughs a bit and looks up, shuddering as his own cock rubs against his abs and the floor. “Ah… M-master..” This game is so weird, but he’s already getting used. “P-please..” 

  “Hm? Please what?” The man hovers over him, carressing a butt cheek to tease him.  “Please fuck me now.. Master..” Obito moans, and he’s already drooling. 

   The master hums before grabbing Obito’s collar to lead him to the bed nearby, like a dog. Obito complies… It honestly feels a little weird to be some kind of sexual slave, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t like it. 

    Soon, they are both on the bed, Obito laying on his front with his ass proped up, his knees far apart, back arched, the perfect position for the other man to do as he pleases… Which he does. Once again, he’s teasing, rubbing his cock in between Obito’s ass cheeks, squeezing them around it. Obito can’t help a moan of frustration, thrusting up into it eagerly. Then there’s something cold and slick – lube – a lot of it, between his ass cheeks, and the cock slids with more ease against his behind… But it’s not in yet! Come on…! 

“How much do you want it, Tobi?” The first time he actually says his ‘name’, and despite it not being his real name, it still makes him shudder.  “I… No preparations, I want it rough..! Fuck me, master, please…!!” He can’t take it anymore, his crotch his burning with desire, his lower belly is already on fire, and oh! The guy is dragging his hands up his body now, up his chest, to his nipples. Enough! “Ahhh I want it! I want your cock! Master!” 

  And finally, he gets it. With a short and quick thrust, the man burries his whole cock up Obito’s ass and stops a moment to let him adjust before begining a fast and ruthless pace. How the man knows exactly how to give him pleasure, how he thrusts his cock in just the right places, takes Obito by surprise as he quickly becomes a moaning mess, mouth gaping open and drooling. This must be the best fuck he’s ever had! How does he do that? Obito can’t even manage to hit his prostate so perfectly by masturbating! 

  The added sentation of his hyper sensitive cock rubbing against the bedsheets – this cockring not only made it bigger but it made it more sensitive, to his delight – and how the man plays with his nipples, and now he’s mouthing at his shoulder… He won’t last long, he’s already close. “Oh! H-Holy shit! M-ma- Master!” He was about to say ‘man’ instead, and the guy seems to have noticed as he gives a few harder thrusts that make Obito cry out in both pain and pleasure.

  This is too much for him! Balls drawing up, Obito can’t bring himself to give a warning before the tension in his groin finally snaps, and he’s cumming, hard. Body completely rigid, forehead pressed into the bed and insides squeezing on the cock that is still ramming into him, Obito finds himself blinded by pleasure. He feels every single one of his loads squeeze up and out his shaft – It’s certainly because of that cockring again – and all he can manage is a little squeak as he’s suddenly breathless.  

  The guy doesn’t stop thrusting, doesn’t slow down. It’s begining to hurt as Obito’s orgasm begins to stop, but to his own surprise… Something happened. Something he heard was possible, he heard guys talk about it happening to them… He’s getting a second orgasm! It’s the first time it happens to him, and now he understands the fuss. He barely cums, but he howls in the bedsheets as the same sensations wash over him. This is too much! He’s going to die! 

  He’s almost done with his second orgasm when the man above him snaps his hips one last time deep into him, Obito feels him shudder, and he’s almost thankfull this is over. He lost track of what happened next, but his arms are now freed, his cock too… He supposes the cockring would have slipped off by itself considering his dick is softening now. He’s on his back now, and a hand is stroking his side. “Mmm feeling wrecked, tough guy?” Is the last thing he hears before his world became black. 

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As my date—Harvey? Harvard?—brags about his alma mater and Manhattan penthouse, I take a bite of overpriced kale and watch his ugly thoughts swirl overhead. It’s hard to pay attention to him with my stomach growling and my body ajitter, for all he’s easy on the eyes. Harvey doesn’t look much older than I am, but his thoughts, covered in spines and centipede feet, glisten with ancient grudges and carry an entitled, Ivy League stink. “My apartment has the most amazing view of the city,” he’s saying, his thoughts sliding long over each other like dark, bristling snakes. Each one is as thick around as his Rolex-draped wrist. “I just installed a Jacuzzi along the west wall so that I can watch the sun set while I relax after getting back from the gym.” I nod, half-listening to the words coming out of his mouth. I’m much more interested in the ones hissing through the teeth of the thoughts above him. She’s got perfect tits, lil’ handfuls just waiting to be squeezed. I love me some perky tits. I’m gonna fuck this bitch so hard she’ll never walk straight again. Gross. “That sounds wonderful,” I say as I sip champagne and gaze at him through my false eyelashes, hoping the dimmed screen of my iPhone isn’t visible through the tablecloth below. This dude is boring as hell, and I’m already back on Tindr, thumbing through next week’s prospective dinner dates. She’s so into me, she’ll be begging for it by the end of the night. I can’t wait to cut her up. My eyes flick up sharply. “I’m sorry?” I say. Harvey blinks. “I said, Argentina is a beautiful country.” Pretty little thing. She’ll look so good spread out all over the floor. “Right,” I say. “Of course.” Blood’s pulsing through my head so hard it probably looks like I’ve got a wicked blush. I’m so excited, I’m half hard already. You and me both, I think, turning my iPhone off and smiling my prettiest smile. The waiter swings by with another bottle of champagne and a dessert menu burned into a wooden card, but I wave him off. “Dinner’s been lovely,” I whisper to Harvey, leaning in and kissing his cheek, “but I’ve got a different kind of dessert in mind.” Ahhh, go the ugly thoughts, settling into a gentle, rippling wave across his shoulders. I’m going to take her home and split her all the way from top to bottom. Like a fucking fruit tart. That is not the way I normally eat fruit tarts, but who am I to judge? I passed on dessert, after all. When he pays the bill, he can’t stop grinning at me. Neither can the ugly thoughts hissing and cackling behind his ear. “What’s got you so happy?” I ask coyly. “I’m just excited to spend the rest of the evening with you,” he replies. • • • • The fucker has his own parking spot! No taxis for us; he’s even brought the Tesla. The leather seats smell buttery and sweet, and as I slide in and make myself comfortable, the rankness of his thoughts leaves a stain in the air. It’s enough to leave me light-headed, almost purring. As we cruise uptown toward his fancy-ass penthouse, I ask him to pull over near the Queensboro Bridge for a second. Annoyance flashes across his face, but he parks the Tesla in a side street. I lurch into an alley, tottering over empty cans and discarded cigarettes in my four-inch heels, and puke a trail of champagne and kale over to the dumpster shoved up against the apartment building. “Are you all right?” Harvey calls. “I’m fine,” I slur. Not a single curious window opens overhead. His steps echo down the alley. He’s gotten out of the car, and he’s walking toward me like I’m an animal that he needs to approach carefully. Maybe I should do it now. Yes! Now, now, while the bitch is occupied. But what about the method? I won’t get to see her insides all pretty everywhere— I launch myself at him, fingers digging sharp into his body, and bite down hard on his mouth. He tries to shout, but I swallow the sound and shove my tongue inside. There, just behind his teeth, is what I’m looking for: ugly thoughts, viscous as boiled tendon. I suck them howling and fighting into my throat as Harvey’s body shudders, little mewling noises escaping from his nose. I feel decadent and filthy, swollen with the cruelest dreams I’ve ever tasted. I can barely feel Harvey’s feeble struggles; in this state, with the darkest parts of himself drained from his mouth into mine, he’s no match for me. They’re never as strong as they think they are. By the time he finally goes limp, the last of the thoughts disappearing down my throat, my body’s already changing. My limbs elongate, growing thicker, and my dress feels too tight as my ribs expand. I’ll have to work quickly. I strip off my clothes with practiced ease, struggling a little to work the bodice free of the gym-toned musculature swelling under my skin. It doesn’t take much time to wrestle Harvey out of his clothes, either. My hands are shaking but strong, and as I button up his shirt around me and shrug on his jacket, my jaw has creaked into an approximation of his and the ridges of my fingerprints have reshaped themselves completely. Harvey is so much bigger than me, and the expansion of space eases the pressure on my boiling belly, stuffed with ugly thoughts as it is. I stuff my discarded outfit into my purse, my high heels clicking against the empty glass jar at its bottom, and sling the strap over my now-broad shoulder. I kneel to check Harvey’s pulse—slow but steady—before rolling his unconscious body up against the dumpster, covering him with trash bags. Maybe he’ll wake up, maybe he won’t. Not my problem, as long as he doesn’t wake in the next ten seconds to see his doppelganger strolling out of the alley, wearing his clothes and fingering his wallet and the keys to his Tesla. There’s a cluster of drunk college kids gawking at Harvey’s car. I level an arrogant stare at them—oh, but do I wear this body so much better than he did!—and they scatter. I might not have a license, but Harvey’s body remembers how to drive. • • • • The Tesla revs sweetly under me, but I ditch it in a parking garage in Bedford, stripping in the relative privacy of the second-to-highest level, edged behind a pillar. After laying the keys on the driver’s seat over Harvey’s neatly folded clothes and shutting the car door, I pull the glass jar from my purse and vomit into it as quietly as I can. Black liquid, thick and viscous, hits the bottom of the jar, hissing and snarling Harvey’s words. My body shudders, limbs retracting, spine reshaping itself, as I empty myself of him. It takes a few more minutes to ease back into an approximation of myself, at least enough to slip my dress and heels back on, pocket the jar, and comb my tangled hair out with my fingers. The parking attendant nods at me as I walk out of the garage, his eyes sliding disinterested over me, his thoughts a gray, indistinct murmur. The L train takes me back home to Bushwick, and when I push open the apartment door, Aiko is in the kitchen, rolling mochi paste out on the counter. “You’re here,” I say stupidly. I’m still a little foggy from shaking off Harvey’s form, and strains of his thoughts linger in me, setting my blood humming uncomfortably hot. “I’d hope so. You invited me over.” She hasn’t changed out of her catering company clothes, and her short, sleek hair frames her face, aglow in the kitchen light. Not a single ugly thought casts its shadow across the stove behind her. “Did you forget again?” “No,” I lie, kicking my shoes off at the door. “I totally would never do something like that. Have you been here long?” “About an hour, nothing unusual. The doorman let me in, and I kept your spare key.” She smiles briefly, soft compared to the brusque movements of her hands. She’s got flour on her rolled-up sleeves, and my heart flutters the way it never does when I’m out hunting. “I’m guessing your date was pretty shit. You probably wouldn’t have come home at all if it had gone well.” “You could say that.” I reach into my purse and stash the snarling jar in the fridge, where it clatters against the others, nearly a dozen bottles of malignant leftovers labeled as health drinks. Aiko nods to her right. “I brought you some pastries from the event tonight. They’re in the paper bag on the counter.” “You’re an angel.” I edge past her so I don’t make bodily contact. Aiko thinks I have touch issues, but the truth is, she smells like everything good in the world, solid and familiar, both light and heavy at the same time, and it’s enough to drive a person mad. “He should have bought you a cab back, at least,” says Aiko, reaching for a bowl of red bean paste. I fiddle with the bag of pastries, pretending to select something from its contents. “I swear, it’s like you’re a magnet for terrible dates.” She’s not wrong; I’m very careful about who I court. After all, that’s how I stay fed. But no one in the past has been as delicious, as hideously depraved as Harvey. No one else has been a killer. I’m going to take her home and split her all the way from top to bottom. “Maybe I’m too weird,” I say. “You’re probably too normal. Only socially maladjusted creeps use Tindr.” “Gee, thanks,” I complain. She grins, flicking a bit of red bean paste at me. I lick it off of my arm. “You know what I mean. Come visit my church with me sometime, yeah? There are plenty of nice boys there.” “The dating scene in this city depresses me,” I mutter, flicking open my Tindr app with my thumb. “I’ll pass.” “Come on, Jen, put that away.” Aiko hesitates. “Your mom called while you were out. She wants you to move back to Flushing.” I bark out a short, sharp laugh, my good mood evaporating. “What else is new?” “She’s getting old,” Aiko says. “And she’s lonely.” “I bet. All her mahjong partners are dead, pretty much.” I can imagine her in her little apartment in Flushing, huddled over her laptop, floral curtains pulled tight over the windows to shut out the rest of the world. My ma, whose apartment walls are alive with hissing, covered in the ugly, bottled remains of her paramours. Aiko sighs, joining me at the counter and leaning back against me. For once, I don’t move away. Every muscle in my body is tense, straining. I’m afraid I might catch fire, but I don’t want her to leave. “Would it kill you to be kind to her?” I think about my baba evaporating into thin air when I was five years old, what was left of him coiled in my ma’s stomach. “Are you telling me to go back?” She doesn’t say anything for a bit. “No,” she says at last. “That place isn’t good for you. That house isn’t good for anyone.” Just a few inches away, an army of jars full of black, viscous liquid wait in the fridge, their contents muttering to themselves. Aiko can’t hear them, but each slosh against the glass is a low, nasty hiss: who does she think she is, the fucking cunt should’ve got her when I had the chance I can still feel Harvey, his malice and ugly joy, on my tongue. I’m already full of things my ma gave me. “I’m glad we agree.” • • • • Over the next few weeks, I gorge myself on the pickup artists and grad students populating the St. Marks hipster bars, but nothing tastes good after Harvey. Their watery essences, squeezed from their owners with barely a whimper of protest, barely coat my stomach. Sometimes I take too much. I scrape them dry and leave them empty, shaking their forms off like rainwater when I’m done. I tell Aiko I’ve been partying when she says I look haggard. She tells me to quit drinking so much, her face impassive, her thoughts clouded with concern. She starts coming over more often, even cooking dinner for me, and her presence both grounds me and drives me mad. “I’m worried about you,” she says as I lie on the floor, flipping listlessly through pages of online dating profiles, looking for the emptiness, the rot, that made Harvey so appealing. She’s cooking my mom’s lo mien recipe, the oily smell making my skin itch. “You’ve lost so much weight and there’s nothing in your fridge, just a bunch of empty jam jars.” I don’t tell her that Harvey’s lies under my bed, that I lick its remnants every night to send my nerves back into euphoria. I don’t tell her how often I dream about my ma’s place, the shelves of jars she never let me touch. “Is it really okay for you to spend so much time away from your catering business?” I say instead. “Time is money, and Jimmy gets pissy when he has to make all the desserts without you.” Aiko sets a bowl of lo mein in front of me and joins me on the ground. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here,” she says, and a dangerous, luminous sweetness blooms in my chest. But the hunger grows worse every day, and soon I can’t trust myself around her. I deadbolt the door, and when she stops by my apartment to check on me, I refuse to let her in. Texts light up my phone like a fleet of fireworks as I huddle under a blanket on the other side, my face pressed against the wood, my fingers twitching. “Please, Jen, I don’t understand,” she says from behind the door. “Did I do something wrong?” I can’t wait to cut her up, I think, and hate myself even more. By the time Aiko leaves, her footsteps echoing down the hallway, I’ve dug deep gouges in the door’s paint with my nails and teeth, my mouth full of her intoxicating scent. • • • • My ma’s apartment in Flushing still smells the same. She’s never been a clean person, and the sheer amount of junk stacked up everywhere has increased since I left home for good. Piles of newspapers, old food containers, and stuffed toys make it hard to push the door open, and the stench makes me cough. Her hoard is up to my shoulders, even higher in some places, and as I pick my way through it, the sounds that colored my childhood grow louder: the constant whine of a Taiwanese soap opera bleeding past mountains of trash, and the cruel cacophony of many familiar voices: Touch me again and I swear I’ll kill you— How many times have I told you not to wash the clothes like that, open your mouth— Hope her ugly chink daughter isn’t home tonight— Under the refuse she’s hoarded the walls are honeycombed with shelves, lined with what’s left of my ma’s lovers. She keeps them like disgusting, mouthwatering trophies, desires pickling in stomach acid and bile. I could probably call them by name if I wanted to; when I was a kid, I used to lie on the couch and watch my baba’s ghost flicker across their surfaces. My ma’s huddled in the kitchen, the screen of her laptop casting a sickly blue glow on her face. Her thoughts cover her quietly like a blanket. “I made some niu ro mien,” she says. “It’s on the stove. Your baba’s in there.” My stomach curls, but whether it’s from revulsion or hunger I can’t tell. “Thanks, ma,” I say. I find a bowl that’s almost clean and wash it out, ladling a generous portion of thick noodles for myself. The broth smells faintly of hongtashan tobacco, and as I force it down almost faster than I can swallow, someone else’s memories of my childhood flash before my eyes: pushing a small girl on a swing set at the park; laughing as she chases pigeons down the street; raising a hand for a second blow as her mother launches herself toward us, between us, teeth bared— “How is it?” she says. Foul. “Great,” I say. It settles my stomach, at least for a little while. But my baba was no Harvey, and I can already feel the hunger creeping back, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. “You ate something you shouldn’t have, didn’t you, Meimei.” My ma looks up at me for the first time since I walked in, and she looks almost as tired as I feel. “Why didn’t you learn from me? I taught you to stick to petty criminals. I taught you to stay invisible.” She’d tried to teach me to disappear into myself, the way she’d disappeared into this apartment. “I know I messed up,” I tell her. “Nothing tastes good any more, and I’m always hungry. But I don’t know what to do.” My ma sighs. “Once you’ve tasted a killer, there’s no turning back. You’ll crave that intensity until you die. And it can take a long time for someone like us to die, Meimei.” It occurs to me that I don’t actually know how old my ma is. Her thoughts are old and covered in knots, stitched together from the remnants of other people’s experiences. How long has she been fighting this condition, these overwhelming, gnawing desires? “Move back in,” she’s saying. “There’s so much tong activity here, the streets leak with food. You barely even have to go outside, just crack open a window and you can smell it brewing. The malice, the knives and bullets . . .” The picture she paints makes me shudder, my mouth itching. “I can’t just leave everything, Ma,” I say. “I have my own life now.” And I can’t live in this apartment, with its lack of sunlight and fresh air, its thick stench of regret and malice. “So what happens if you go back? You lose control, you take a bite out of Aiko?” She sees me stiffen. “That girl cares about you so much. The best thing you can do for her is keep away. Don’t let what happened to your father happen to Aiko.” She reaches for my hand, and I pull away. “Stay here, Meimei. We only have each other.” “This isn’t what I want.” I’m backing up, and my shoulder bumps into the trash, threatening to bury us both in rotting stuffed animals. “This isn’t safe, Ma. You shouldn’t even stay here.” My ma coughs, her eyes glinting in the dark. The cackling from her jar collection swells in a vicious tide, former lovers rocking back and forth on their shelves. “Someday you’ll learn that there’s more to life than being selfish, Meimei.” That’s when I turn my back on her, pushing past the debris and bullshit her apartment’s stuffed with. I don’t want to die, but as far as I’m concerned, living like my ma, sequestered away from the rest of the world, her doors barricaded with heaps of useless trinkets and soured memories, is worse than being dead. The jars leer and cackle as I go, and she doesn’t try to follow me. The scent of Flushing clings to my skin, and I can’t wait to shake it off. I get on the train as soon as I can, and I’m back on Tindr as soon as the M passes above ground. Tears blur my eyes, rattling free with the movement of the train. I scrub them away angrily, and when my vision clears, I glance back at the screen. A woman with sleek, dark hair, slim tortoiseshell glasses, and a smile that seems a little shy, but strangely handsome, glows up at me. In the picture, she’s framed by the downtown cityscape. She has rounded cheeks, but there’s a strange flat quality to her face. And then, of course, there are the dreams shadowing her, so strong they leak from the screen in a thick, heady miasma. Every one of those myriad eyes is staring straight at me, and my skin prickles. I scan the information on her profile page, my blood beating so hard I can feel my fingertips pulsing: relatively young-looking, but old enough to be my mother’s cousin. Likes: exploring good food, spending rainy days at the Cloisters, browsing used book stores. Location: Manhattan. She looks a little like Aiko. She’s quick to message me back. As we flirt, cold sweat and adrenaline send uncomfortable shivers through my body. Everything is sharper, and I can almost hear Harvey’s jar laughing. Finally, the words I’m waiting for pop up: I’d love to meet you. Are you free tonight? I make a quick stop-off back home, and my heart hammers as I get on the train bound for the Lower East Side, red lipstick immaculate and arms shaking beneath my crisp designer coat, a pair of Mom’s glass jars tucked in my purse. • • • • Her name is Seo-yun, and as she watches me eat, her eyes flickering from my mouth to my throat, her smile is so sharp I could cut myself on it. “I love places like this,” she says. “Little authentic spots with only twelve seats. Have you been to Haru before?” “I haven’t,” I murmur. My fingers are clumsy with my chopsticks, tremors clicking them together, making it hard to pick up my food. God, she smells delectable. I’ve never met someone whose mind is so twisted, so rich; a malignancy as well developed and finely crafted as the most elegant dessert. I’m going to take her home and split her open like a— I can already taste her on my tongue, the best meal I’ve never had. “You’re in for a treat,” Seo-yun says as the waiter—the only other staff beside the chef behind the counter—brings us another pot of tea. “This restaurant started as a stall in a subway station back in Japan.” “Oh wow,” I say. “That’s . . . amazing.” “I think so, too. I’m glad they expanded into Manhattan.” Behind her kind eyes, a gnarled mess of ancient, ugly thoughts writhes like the tails of a rat king. I’ve never seen so many in one place. They crawl from her mouth and ears, creeping through the air on deep-scaled legs, their voices like the drone of descending locusts. I’m not her first. I can tell that already. But then, she isn’t mine, either. I spend the evening sweating through my dress, nearly dropping my chopsticks. I can’t stop staring at the ugly thoughts, dropping from her lips like swollen beetles. They skitter over the tablecloth toward me, whispering obscenities at odds with Seo-yun’s gentle voice, hissing what they’d like to do to me. It takes everything in me not to pluck them from the table and crunch them deep between my teeth right then and there, to pour into her lap and rip her mind clean. Seo-yun is too much for me, but I’m in too far, too hard; I need to have her. She smiles at me. “Not hungry?” I glance down at my plate. I’ve barely managed a couple of nigiri. “I’m on a diet,” I mutter. “I understand,” she says earnestly. The ugly thoughts crawl over the tops of her hands, iridescent drops spilling into her soy sauce dish. When the waiter finally disappears into the kitchen, I move in to kiss her across the table. She makes a startled noise, gentle pink spreading across her face, but she doesn’t pull away. My elbow sinks into the exoskeleton of one of the thought-beetles, crushing it into black, moist paste against my skin. I open my mouth to take the first bite. “So, I’m curious,” murmurs Seo-yun, her breath brushing my lips. “Who’s Aiko?” My eyes snap open. Seo-yun smiles, her voice warm and tender, all her edges dark. “She seems sweet, that’s all. I’m surprised you haven’t had a taste of her yet.” I back up so fast that I knock over my teacup, spilling scalding tea over everything. But Seo-yun doesn’t move, just keeps smiling that kind, gentle smile as her monstrous thoughts lap delicately at the tablecloth. “She smells so ripe,” she whispers. “But you’re afraid you’ll ruin her, aren’t you? Eat her up, and for what? Just like your mum did your dad.” No, no, no. I’ve miscalculated so badly. But I’m so hungry, and I’m too young, and she smells like ancient power. There’s no way I’ll be able to outrun her. “Get out of my head,” I manage to say. “I’m not in your head, love. Your thoughts are spilling out everywhere around you, for everyone to see.” She leans in, propping her chin on her hand. The thoughts twisted around her head like a living crown let out a dry, rattling laugh. “I like you, Jenny. You’re ambitious. A little careless, but we can fix that.” Seo-yun taps on the table, and the waiter reappears, folding up the tablecloth deftly and sliding a single dish onto the now-bare table. An array of thin, translucent slices fan out across the plate, pale and glistening with malice. Bisected eyes glint, mouths caught mid-snarl, from every piece. “All it takes is a little practice and discipline, and no one will know what you’re really thinking.” “On the house, of course, Ma’am,” the waiter murmurs. Before he disappears again, I catch a glimpse of dark, many-legged thoughts braided like a bracelet around his wrist. Seo-yun takes the first bite, glancing up at me from behind her glasses. “Your mum was wrong,” she says. “She thought you were alone, just the two of you. So she taught you to only eat when you needed to, so you didn’t get caught, biding your time between meals like a snake.” “You don’t know anything about me,” I say. The heady, rotten perfume from the dish in front of me makes my head spin with hunger. “My mum was much the same. Eat for survival, not for pleasure.” She gestures at the plate with her chopsticks. “Please, have some.” As the food disappears, I can only hold out for a few more slices before my chopsticks dart out, catching a piece for myself. It’s so acidic it makes my tongue burn and eyes itch, the aftertaste strangely sweet. “Do you like it?” I respond by wolfing down another two slices, and Seo-yun chuckles. Harvey is bland compared to this, this strangely distilled pairing of emotions— I gasp as my body starts to warp, hands withering, burn scars twisting their way around my arms. Gasoline, malice, childish joy rush through me, a heady mix of memory and sensory overstimulation. And then Seo-yun’s lips are on mine, teeth tugging gently, swallowing, drawing it out of me. The burns fade, but the tingle of cruel euphoria lingers. She wipes her mouth delicately. “Ate a little too fast, I think, dear,” she says. “My point, Jenny, is that I believe in eating for pleasure, not just survival. And communally, of course. There are a number of us who get together for dinner or drinks at my place, every so often, and I would love it if you would join us tonight. An eating club, of sorts.” My gaze flickers up at her thoughts, but they’re sitting still as stones, just watching me with unblinking eyes. My mouth stings with the imprint of hers. “Let me introduce you soon. You don’t have to be alone anymore.” As the waiter clears the plate and nods at her—no check, no receipt, nothing—Seo-yun adds, “And tonight doesn’t have to be over until we want it to be.” She offers me her hand. After a moment’s hesitation, I take it. It’s smaller than mine, and warm. “Yes, please,” I say, watching her thoughts instead of her face. As we leave the restaurant, she presses her lips to my forehead. Her lips sear into my skin, nerves singing white-hot with ecstasy. “They’re going to love you,” she says. We’ll have so much fun, say the thoughts curling through her dark hair. She hails a cab from the fleet circling the street like wolves, and we get inside. • • • • I run into Aiko two months later in front of my apartment, as I’m carrying the last box of my stuff out. She’s got a startled look on her face, and she’s carrying a bag stuffed with ramps, kaffir lime, heart of palm—all ingredients I wouldn’t have known two months ago, before meeting Seo-yun. “You’re moving?” I shrug, staring over her head, avoiding her eyes. “Yeah, uh. I’m seeing someone now, and she’s got a really nice place.” “Oh.” She swallows, shifts the bag of groceries higher on her hip. “That’s great. I didn’t know you were dating anybody.” I can hear her shaky smile. “She must be feeding you well. You look healthier.” “Thanks,” I say, though I wonder. It’s true, I’m sleeker, more confident now. I’m barely home any more, spending most of my time in Seo-yun’s Chelsea apartment, learning to cook with the array of salts and spices infused with ugly dreams, drinking wine distilled from deathbed confessions. My time stalking the streets for small-time criminals is done. But why has my confidence evaporated the moment I see Aiko? And if that ravenous hunger from Harvey is gone, why am I holding my breath to keep from breathing in her scent? “So what’s she like?” “Older, kind of—” kind of looks like you “—short. Likes to cook, right.” I start to edge past her. “Listen, this box is heavy and the van’s waiting for me downstairs. I should go.” “Wait,” Aiko says, grabbing my arm. “Your mom keeps calling me. She still has my number from . . . before. She’s worried about you. Plus I haven’t seen you in ages, and you’re just gonna take off?” Aiko, small and humble. Her hands smell like home, like rice flour and bad memories. How could I ever have found that appealing? “We don’t need to say goodbye. I’m sure I’ll see you later,” I lie, shrugging her off. “Let’s get dinner sometime,” says Aiko, but I’m already walking away. • • • • Caterers flit like blackbirds through the apartment, dark uniforms neatly pressed, their own ugly thoughts braided and pinned out of the way. It’s a two-story affair, and well-dressed people flock together everywhere there’s space, Seo-yun’s library upstairs to the living room on ground floor. She’s even asked the caterers to prepare some of my recipes, which makes my heart glow. “You’re the best,” I say, kneeling on the bed beside her and pecking her on the cheek. Seo-yun smiles, fixing my hair. She wears a sleek, deep blue dress, and today, her murderous thoughts are draped over her shoulders like a stole, a living, writhing cape. Their teeth glitter like tiny diamonds. I’ve never seen her so beautiful. “They’re good recipes. My friends will be so excited to taste them.” I’ve already met many of them, all much older than I am. They make me nervous. “I’ll go check on the food,” I say. She brushes her thumb over my cheek. “Whatever you’d like, love.” I escape into the kitchen, murmuring brief greetings to the guests I encounter on the way. Their hideous dreams adorn them like jewels, glimmering and snatching at me as I slip past. As I walk past some of the cooks, I notice a man who looks vaguely familiar. “Hey,” I say. “Yes, ma’am?” The caterer turns around, and I realize where I’ve seen him; there’s a picture of him and Aiko on her cellphone, the pair of them posing in front of a display at a big event they’d cooked for. My heartbeat slows. “Aren’t you Aiko’s coworker?” He grins and nods. “Yes, I’m Jimmy. Aiko’s my business partner. Are you looking for her?” “Wait, she’s here?” He frowns. “She should be. She never misses one of Ms. Sun’s parties.” He smiles. “Ms. Sun lets us take home whatever’s left when the party winds down. She’s so generous.” I turn abruptly and head for the staircase to the bedroom, shouldering my way through the crowd. Thoughts pelt me as I go: Has Aiko known about me, my ma, what we can do? How long has she known? And worse—Seo-yun’s known all along about Aiko, and played me for a fool. I bang the bedroom door open to find Aiko sprawled out across the carpet, her jacket torn open. Seo-yun crouches on the floor above her in her glorious dress, her mouth dark and glittering. She doesn’t look at all surprised to see me. “Jenny, love. I hope you don’t mind we started without you.” Seo-yun smiles. Her lipstick is smeared over her chin, over Aiko’s blank face. I can’t tell if Aiko’s still breathing. “Get away from her,” I say in a low voice. “As you wish.” She rises gracefully, crossing the room in fluid strides. “I was done with that particular morsel, anyway.” The sounds of the party leak into the room behind me, and I know I can’t run and grab Aiko at the same time. So I shut the door, locking it, and mellow my voice to a sweet purr. “Why didn’t you tell me about Aiko? We could have shared her together.” But Seo-yun just laughs at me. “You can’t fool me, Jenny. I can smell your rage from across the room.” She reaches out, catches my face, and I recoil into the door. “It makes you so beautiful. The last seasoning in a dish almost ready.” “You’re insane, and I’m going to kill you,” I say. She kisses my neck, her teeth scraping my throat, and the scent of her is so heady my knees almost bend. “I saw you in her head, delicious as anything,” she whispers. Her ugly thoughts hiss up my arms, twining around my waist. There’s a sharp sting at my wrist, and I look down to discover that one of them is already gnawing at my skin. “And I knew I just had to have you.” There’s a crash, and Seo-yun screams as a porcelain lamp shatters against the back of her head. Aiko’s on her feet, swaying unsteadily, face grim. “Back the fuck away from her,” she growls, her voice barely above a whisper. “You little bitch—” snarls Seo-yun. But I seize my chance and pounce, fastening my teeth into the hollow of Seo-yun’s throat, right where her mantle of thoughts gathers and folds inward. I chew and swallow, chew and swallow, gorging myself on this woman. Her thoughts are mine now, thrashing as I seize them from her, and I catch glimpses of myself, of Aiko, and of many others just like us, in various states of disarray, of preparation. Ma once told me that this was how Baba went; she’d accidentally drained him until he’d faded completely out of existence. For the first time in my life, I understand her completely. Seo-yun’s bracelets clatter to the floor, her empty gown fluttering soundlessly after. Aiko collapses too, folding like paper. It hurts to take in that much. My stomach hurts so bad, my entire body swollen with hideous thoughts. At the same time, I’ve never felt so alive, abuzz with possibility and untamable rage. I lurch over to Aiko on the floor, malice leaking from her mouth, staining the carpet. “Aiko, wake up!” But she feels hollow, lighter, empty. She doesn’t even smell like herself any more. A knock at the door jolts me. “Ma’am,” says a voice I recognize as the head caterer. “The first of the main courses is ready. Mr. Goldberg wants to know if you’ll come down and give a toast.” Fuck. “I—” I start to say, but the voice isn’t mine. I glance over at the mirror; sure enough, it’s Seo-yun staring back at me, her dark, terrible dreams tangled around her body in a knotted mess. “I’ll be right there,” I say, and lay Aiko gently on the bed. Then I dress and leave, my heart pounding in my mouth. I walk Seo-yun’s shape down the stairs to the dining room, where guests are milling about, plates in hand, and smile Seo-yun’s smile. And if I look a little too much like myself, well—according to what I’d seen while swallowing Seo-yun’s thoughts, I wouldn’t be the first would-be inductee to disappear at a party like this. Someone hands me a glass of wine, and when I take it, my hand doesn’t tremble, even though I’m screaming inside. Fifty pairs of eyes on me, the caterers’ glittering cold in the shadows. Do any of them know? Can any of them tell? “To your continued health, and to a fabulous dinner,” I say, raising my glass. As one, they drink. • • • • Seo-yun’s apartment is dark, cleared of guests and wait staff alike. Every door is locked, every curtain yanked closed. I’ve pulled every jar, every container, every pot and pan out of the kitchen, and now they cover the floor of the bedroom, trailing into the hallway, down the stairs. Many are full, their malignant contents hissing and whispering hideous promises at me as I stuff my hand in my mouth, retching into the pot in my lap. Aiko lies on the bed, pale and still. There’s flour and bile on the front of her jacket. “Hang in there,” I whisper, but she doesn’t respond. I swirl the pot, searching its contents for any hint of Aiko, but Seo-yun’s face grins out at me from the patterns of light glimmering across the liquid’s surface. I shove it away from me, spilling some on the carpet. I grab another one of the myriad crawling thoughts tangled about me, sinking my teeth into its body, tearing it into pieces as it screams and howls terrible promises, promises it won’t be able to keep. I eat it raw, its scales scraping the roof of my mouth, chewing it thoroughly. The more broken down it is, the easier it will be to sort through the pieces that are left when it comes back up. How long did you know? Did you always know? I’ll find her, I think as viscous black liquid pours from my mouth, over my hands, burning my throat. The field of containers pools around me like a storm of malicious stars, all whispering my name. She’s in here somewhere, I can see her reflection darting across their surfaces. If I have to rip through every piece of Seo-yun I have, from her dreams to the soft, freckled skin wrapped around my body, I will. I’ll wring every vile drop of Seo-yun out of me until I find Aiko, and then I’ll fill her back up, pour her mouth full of herself. How could I ever forget her? How could I forget her taste, her scent, something as awful and beautiful as home?

As my date—Harvey? Harvard?—brags about his alma mater and Manhattan penthouse, I take a bite of overpriced kale and watch his ugly thoughts swirl overhead. It’s hard to pay attention to him with my stomach growling and my body ajitter, for all he’s easy on the eyes. Harvey doesn’t look much older than I am, but his thoughts, covered in spines and centipede feet, glisten with ancient grudges and carry an entitled, Ivy League stink. “My apartment has the most amazing view of the city,” he’s saying, his thoughts sliding long over each other like dark, bristling snakes. Each one is as thick around as his Rolex-draped wrist. “I just installed a Jacuzzi along the west wall so that I can watch the sun set while I relax after getting back from the gym.” I nod, half-listening to the words coming out of his mouth. I’m much more interested in the ones hissing through the teeth of the thoughts above him. She’s got perfect tits, lil’ handfuls just waiting to be squeezed. I love me some perky tits. I’m gonna fuck this bitch so hard she’ll never walk straight again. Gross. “That sounds wonderful,” I say as I sip champagne and gaze at him through my false eyelashes, hoping the dimmed screen of my iPhone isn’t visible through the tablecloth below. This dude is boring as hell, and I’m already back on Tindr, thumbing through next week’s prospective dinner dates. She’s so into me, she’ll be begging for it by the end of the night. I can’t wait to cut her up. My eyes flick up sharply. “I’m sorry?” I say. Harvey blinks. “I said, Argentina is a beautiful country.” Pretty little thing. She’ll look so good spread out all over the floor. “Right,” I say. “Of course.” Blood’s pulsing through my head so hard it probably looks like I’ve got a wicked blush. I’m so excited, I’m half hard already. You and me both, I think, turning my iPhone off and smiling my prettiest smile. The waiter swings by with another bottle of champagne and a dessert menu burned into a wooden card, but I wave him off. “Dinner’s been lovely,” I whisper to Harvey, leaning in and kissing his cheek, “but I’ve got a different kind of dessert in mind.” Ahhh, go the ugly thoughts, settling into a gentle, rippling wave across his shoulders. I’m going to take her home and split her all the way from top to bottom. Like a fucking fruit tart. That is not the way I normally eat fruit tarts, but who am I to judge? I passed on dessert, after all. When he pays the bill, he can’t stop grinning at me. Neither can the ugly thoughts hissing and cackling behind his ear. “What’s got you so happy?” I ask coyly. “I’m just excited to spend the rest of the evening with you,” he replies. • • • • The fucker has his own parking spot! No taxis for us; he’s even brought the Tesla. The leather seats smell buttery and sweet, and as I slide in and make myself comfortable, the rankness of his thoughts leaves a stain in the air. It’s enough to leave me light-headed, almost purring. As we cruise uptown toward his fancy-ass penthouse, I ask him to pull over near the Queensboro Bridge for a second. Annoyance flashes across his face, but he parks the Tesla in a side street. I lurch into an alley, tottering over empty cans and discarded cigarettes in my four-inch heels, and puke a trail of champagne and kale over to the dumpster shoved up against the apartment building. “Are you all right?” Harvey calls. “I’m fine,” I slur. Not a single curious window opens overhead. His steps echo down the alley. He’s gotten out of the car, and he’s walking toward me like I’m an animal that he needs to approach carefully. Maybe I should do it now. Yes! Now, now, while the bitch is occupied. But what about the method? I won’t get to see her insides all pretty everywhere— I launch myself at him, fingers digging sharp into his body, and bite down hard on his mouth. He tries to shout, but I swallow the sound and shove my tongue inside. There, just behind his teeth, is what I’m looking for: ugly thoughts, viscous as boiled tendon. I suck them howling and fighting into my throat as Harvey’s body shudders, little mewling noises escaping from his nose. I feel decadent and filthy, swollen with the cruelest dreams I’ve ever tasted. I can barely feel Harvey’s feeble struggles; in this state, with the darkest parts of himself drained from his mouth into mine, he’s no match for me. They’re never as strong as they think they are. By the time he finally goes limp, the last of the thoughts disappearing down my throat, my body’s already changing. My limbs elongate, growing thicker, and my dress feels too tight as my ribs expand. I’ll have to work quickly. I strip off my clothes with practiced ease, struggling a little to work the bodice free of the gym-toned musculature swelling under my skin. It doesn’t take much time to wrestle Harvey out of his clothes, either. My hands are shaking but strong, and as I button up his shirt around me and shrug on his jacket, my jaw has creaked into an approximation of his and the ridges of my fingerprints have reshaped themselves completely. Harvey is so much bigger than me, and the expansion of space eases the pressure on my boiling belly, stuffed with ugly thoughts as it is. I stuff my discarded outfit into my purse, my high heels clicking against the empty glass jar at its bottom, and sling the strap over my now-broad shoulder. I kneel to check Harvey’s pulse—slow but steady—before rolling his unconscious body up against the dumpster, covering him with trash bags. Maybe he’ll wake up, maybe he won’t. Not my problem, as long as he doesn’t wake in the next ten seconds to see his doppelganger strolling out of the alley, wearing his clothes and fingering his wallet and the keys to his Tesla. There’s a cluster of drunk college kids gawking at Harvey’s car. I level an arrogant stare at them—oh, but do I wear this body so much better than he did!—and they scatter. I might not have a license, but Harvey’s body remembers how to drive. • • • • The Tesla revs sweetly under me, but I ditch it in a parking garage in Bedford, stripping in the relative privacy of the second-to-highest level, edged behind a pillar. After laying the keys on the driver’s seat over Harvey’s neatly folded clothes and shutting the car door, I pull the glass jar from my purse and vomit into it as quietly as I can. Black liquid, thick and viscous, hits the bottom of the jar, hissing and snarling Harvey’s words. My body shudders, limbs retracting, spine reshaping itself, as I empty myself of him. It takes a few more minutes to ease back into an approximation of myself, at least enough to slip my dress and heels back on, pocket the jar, and comb my tangled hair out with my fingers. The parking attendant nods at me as I walk out of the garage, his eyes sliding disinterested over me, his thoughts a gray, indistinct murmur. The L train takes me back home to Bushwick, and when I push open the apartment door, Aiko is in the kitchen, rolling mochi paste out on the counter. “You’re here,” I say stupidly. I’m still a little foggy from shaking off Harvey’s form, and strains of his thoughts linger in me, setting my blood humming uncomfortably hot. “I’d hope so. You invited me over.” She hasn’t changed out of her catering company clothes, and her short, sleek hair frames her face, aglow in the kitchen light. Not a single ugly thought casts its shadow across the stove behind her. “Did you forget again?” “No,” I lie, kicking my shoes off at the door. “I totally would never do something like that. Have you been here long?” “About an hour, nothing unusual. The doorman let me in, and I kept your spare key.” She smiles briefly, soft compared to the brusque movements of her hands. She’s got flour on her rolled-up sleeves, and my heart flutters the way it never does when I’m out hunting. “I’m guessing your date was pretty shit. You probably wouldn’t have come home at all if it had gone well.” “You could say that.” I reach into my purse and stash the snarling jar in the fridge, where it clatters against the others, nearly a dozen bottles of malignant leftovers labeled as health drinks. Aiko nods to her right. “I brought you some pastries from the event tonight. They’re in the paper bag on the counter.” “You’re an angel.” I edge past her so I don’t make bodily contact. Aiko thinks I have touch issues, but the truth is, she smells like everything good in the world, solid and familiar, both light and heavy at the same time, and it’s enough to drive a person mad. “He should have bought you a cab back, at least,” says Aiko, reaching for a bowl of red bean paste. I fiddle with the bag of pastries, pretending to select something from its contents. “I swear, it’s like you’re a magnet for terrible dates.” She’s not wrong; I’m very careful about who I court. After all, that’s how I stay fed. But no one in the past has been as delicious, as hideously depraved as Harvey. No one else has been a killer. I’m going to take her home and split her all the way from top to bottom. “Maybe I’m too weird,” I say. “You’re probably too normal. Only socially maladjusted creeps use Tindr.” “Gee, thanks,” I complain. She grins, flicking a bit of red bean paste at me. I lick it off of my arm. “You know what I mean. Come visit my church with me sometime, yeah? There are plenty of nice boys there.” “The dating scene in this city depresses me,” I mutter, flicking open my Tindr app with my thumb. “I’ll pass.” “Come on, Jen, put that away.” Aiko hesitates. “Your mom called while you were out. She wants you to move back to Flushing.” I bark out a short, sharp laugh, my good mood evaporating. “What else is new?” “She’s getting old,” Aiko says. “And she’s lonely.” “I bet. All her mahjong partners are dead, pretty much.” I can imagine her in her little apartment in Flushing, huddled over her laptop, floral curtains pulled tight over the windows to shut out the rest of the world. My ma, whose apartment walls are alive with hissing, covered in the ugly, bottled remains of her paramours. Aiko sighs, joining me at the counter and leaning back against me. For once, I don’t move away. Every muscle in my body is tense, straining. I’m afraid I might catch fire, but I don’t want her to leave. “Would it kill you to be kind to her?” I think about my baba evaporating into thin air when I was five years old, what was left of him coiled in my ma’s stomach. “Are you telling me to go back?” She doesn’t say anything for a bit. “No,” she says at last. “That place isn’t good for you. That house isn’t good for anyone.” Just a few inches away, an army of jars full of black, viscous liquid wait in the fridge, their contents muttering to themselves. Aiko can’t hear them, but each slosh against the glass is a low, nasty hiss: who does she think she is, the fucking cunt should’ve got her when I had the chance I can still feel Harvey, his malice and ugly joy, on my tongue. I’m already full of things my ma gave me. “I’m glad we agree.” • • • • Over the next few weeks, I gorge myself on the pickup artists and grad students populating the St. Marks hipster bars, but nothing tastes good after Harvey. Their watery essences, squeezed from their owners with barely a whimper of protest, barely coat my stomach. Sometimes I take too much. I scrape them dry and leave them empty, shaking their forms off like rainwater when I’m done. I tell Aiko I’ve been partying when she says I look haggard. She tells me to quit drinking so much, her face impassive, her thoughts clouded with concern. She starts coming over more often, even cooking dinner for me, and her presence both grounds me and drives me mad. “I’m worried about you,” she says as I lie on the floor, flipping listlessly through pages of online dating profiles, looking for the emptiness, the rot, that made Harvey so appealing. She’s cooking my mom’s lo mien recipe, the oily smell making my skin itch. “You’ve lost so much weight and there’s nothing in your fridge, just a bunch of empty jam jars.” I don’t tell her that Harvey’s lies under my bed, that I lick its remnants every night to send my nerves back into euphoria. I don’t tell her how often I dream about my ma’s place, the shelves of jars she never let me touch. “Is it really okay for you to spend so much time away from your catering business?” I say instead. “Time is money, and Jimmy gets pissy when he has to make all the desserts without you.” Aiko sets a bowl of lo mein in front of me and joins me on the ground. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here,” she says, and a dangerous, luminous sweetness blooms in my chest. But the hunger grows worse every day, and soon I can’t trust myself around her. I deadbolt the door, and when she stops by my apartment to check on me, I refuse to let her in. Texts light up my phone like a fleet of fireworks as I huddle under a blanket on the other side, my face pressed against the wood, my fingers twitching. “Please, Jen, I don’t understand,” she says from behind the door. “Did I do something wrong?” I can’t wait to cut her up, I think, and hate myself even more. By the time Aiko leaves, her footsteps echoing down the hallway, I’ve dug deep gouges in the door’s paint with my nails and teeth, my mouth full of her intoxicating scent. • • • • My ma’s apartment in Flushing still smells the same. She’s never been a clean person, and the sheer amount of junk stacked up everywhere has increased since I left home for good. Piles of newspapers, old food containers, and stuffed toys make it hard to push the door open, and the stench makes me cough. Her hoard is up to my shoulders, even higher in some places, and as I pick my way through it, the sounds that colored my childhood grow louder: the constant whine of a Taiwanese soap opera bleeding past mountains of trash, and the cruel cacophony of many familiar voices: Touch me again and I swear I’ll kill you— How many times have I told you not to wash the clothes like that, open your mouth— Hope her ugly chink daughter isn’t home tonight— Under the refuse she’s hoarded the walls are honeycombed with shelves, lined with what’s left of my ma’s lovers. She keeps them like disgusting, mouthwatering trophies, desires pickling in stomach acid and bile. I could probably call them by name if I wanted to; when I was a kid, I used to lie on the couch and watch my baba’s ghost flicker across their surfaces. My ma’s huddled in the kitchen, the screen of her laptop casting a sickly blue glow on her face. Her thoughts cover her quietly like a blanket. “I made some niu ro mien,” she says. “It’s on the stove. Your baba’s in there.” My stomach curls, but whether it’s from revulsion or hunger I can’t tell. “Thanks, ma,” I say. I find a bowl that’s almost clean and wash it out, ladling a generous portion of thick noodles for myself. The broth smells faintly of hongtashan tobacco, and as I force it down almost faster than I can swallow, someone else’s memories of my childhood flash before my eyes: pushing a small girl on a swing set at the park; laughing as she chases pigeons down the street; raising a hand for a second blow as her mother launches herself toward us, between us, teeth bared— “How is it?” she says. Foul. “Great,” I say. It settles my stomach, at least for a little while. But my baba was no Harvey, and I can already feel the hunger creeping back, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. “You ate something you shouldn’t have, didn’t you, Meimei.” My ma looks up at me for the first time since I walked in, and she looks almost as tired as I feel. “Why didn’t you learn from me? I taught you to stick to petty criminals. I taught you to stay invisible.” She’d tried to teach me to disappear into myself, the way she’d disappeared into this apartment. “I know I messed up,” I tell her. “Nothing tastes good any more, and I’m always hungry. But I don’t know what to do.” My ma sighs. “Once you’ve tasted a killer, there’s no turning back. You’ll crave that intensity until you die. And it can take a long time for someone like us to die, Meimei.” It occurs to me that I don’t actually know how old my ma is. Her thoughts are old and covered in knots, stitched together from the remnants of other people’s experiences. How long has she been fighting this condition, these overwhelming, gnawing desires? “Move back in,” she’s saying. “There’s so much tong activity here, the streets leak with food. You barely even have to go outside, just crack open a window and you can smell it brewing. The malice, the knives and bullets . . .” The picture she paints makes me shudder, my mouth itching. “I can’t just leave everything, Ma,” I say. “I have my own life now.” And I can’t live in this apartment, with its lack of sunlight and fresh air, its thick stench of regret and malice. “So what happens if you go back? You lose control, you take a bite out of Aiko?” She sees me stiffen. “That girl cares about you so much. The best thing you can do for her is keep away. Don’t let what happened to your father happen to Aiko.” She reaches for my hand, and I pull away. “Stay here, Meimei. We only have each other.” “This isn’t what I want.” I’m backing up, and my shoulder bumps into the trash, threatening to bury us both in rotting stuffed animals. “This isn’t safe, Ma. You shouldn’t even stay here.” My ma coughs, her eyes glinting in the dark. The cackling from her jar collection swells in a vicious tide, former lovers rocking back and forth on their shelves. “Someday you’ll learn that there’s more to life than being selfish, Meimei.” That’s when I turn my back on her, pushing past the debris and bullshit her apartment’s stuffed with. I don’t want to die, but as far as I’m concerned, living like my ma, sequestered away from the rest of the world, her doors barricaded with heaps of useless trinkets and soured memories, is worse than being dead. The jars leer and cackle as I go, and she doesn’t try to follow me. The scent of Flushing clings to my skin, and I can’t wait to shake it off. I get on the train as soon as I can, and I’m back on Tindr as soon as the M passes above ground. Tears blur my eyes, rattling free with the movement of the train. I scrub them away angrily, and when my vision clears, I glance back at the screen. A woman with sleek, dark hair, slim tortoiseshell glasses, and a smile that seems a little shy, but strangely handsome, glows up at me. In the picture, she’s framed by the downtown cityscape. She has rounded cheeks, but there’s a strange flat quality to her face. And then, of course, there are the dreams shadowing her, so strong they leak from the screen in a thick, heady miasma. Every one of those myriad eyes is staring straight at me, and my skin prickles. I scan the information on her profile page, my blood beating so hard I can feel my fingertips pulsing: relatively young-looking, but old enough to be my mother’s cousin. Likes: exploring good food, spending rainy days at the Cloisters, browsing used book stores. Location: Manhattan. She looks a little like Aiko. She’s quick to message me back. As we flirt, cold sweat and adrenaline send uncomfortable shivers through my body. Everything is sharper, and I can almost hear Harvey’s jar laughing. Finally, the words I’m waiting for pop up: I’d love to meet you. Are you free tonight? I make a quick stop-off back home, and my heart hammers as I get on the train bound for the Lower East Side, red lipstick immaculate and arms shaking beneath my crisp designer coat, a pair of Mom’s glass jars tucked in my purse. • • • • Her name is Seo-yun, and as she watches me eat, her eyes flickering from my mouth to my throat, her smile is so sharp I could cut myself on it. “I love places like this,” she says. “Little authentic spots with only twelve seats. Have you been to Haru before?” “I haven’t,” I murmur. My fingers are clumsy with my chopsticks, tremors clicking them together, making it hard to pick up my food. God, she smells delectable. I’ve never met someone whose mind is so twisted, so rich; a malignancy as well developed and finely crafted as the most elegant dessert. I’m going to take her home and split her open like a— I can already taste her on my tongue, the best meal I’ve never had. “You’re in for a treat,” Seo-yun says as the waiter—the only other staff beside the chef behind the counter—brings us another pot of tea. “This restaurant started as a stall in a subway station back in Japan.” “Oh wow,” I say. “That’s . . . amazing.” “I think so, too. I’m glad they expanded into Manhattan.” Behind her kind eyes, a gnarled mess of ancient, ugly thoughts writhes like the tails of a rat king. I’ve never seen so many in one place. They crawl from her mouth and ears, creeping through the air on deep-scaled legs, their voices like the drone of descending locusts. I’m not her first. I can tell that already. But then, she isn’t mine, either. I spend the evening sweating through my dress, nearly dropping my chopsticks. I can’t stop staring at the ugly thoughts, dropping from her lips like swollen beetles. They skitter over the tablecloth toward me, whispering obscenities at odds with Seo-yun’s gentle voice, hissing what they’d like to do to me. It takes everything in me not to pluck them from the table and crunch them deep between my teeth right then and there, to pour into her lap and rip her mind clean. Seo-yun is too much for me, but I’m in too far, too hard; I need to have her. She smiles at me. “Not hungry?” I glance down at my plate. I’ve barely managed a couple of nigiri. “I’m on a diet,” I mutter. “I understand,” she says earnestly. The ugly thoughts crawl over the tops of her hands, iridescent drops spilling into her soy sauce dish. When the waiter finally disappears into the kitchen, I move in to kiss her across the table. She makes a startled noise, gentle pink spreading across her face, but she doesn’t pull away. My elbow sinks into the exoskeleton of one of the thought-beetles, crushing it into black, moist paste against my skin. I open my mouth to take the first bite. “So, I’m curious,” murmurs Seo-yun, her breath brushing my lips. “Who’s Aiko?” My eyes snap open. Seo-yun smiles, her voice warm and tender, all her edges dark. “She seems sweet, that’s all. I’m surprised you haven’t had a taste of her yet.” I back up so fast that I knock over my teacup, spilling scalding tea over everything. But Seo-yun doesn’t move, just keeps smiling that kind, gentle smile as her monstrous thoughts lap delicately at the tablecloth. “She smells so ripe,” she whispers. “But you’re afraid you’ll ruin her, aren’t you? Eat her up, and for what? Just like your mum did your dad.” No, no, no. I’ve miscalculated so badly. But I’m so hungry, and I’m too young, and she smells like ancient power. There’s no way I’ll be able to outrun her. “Get out of my head,” I manage to say. “I’m not in your head, love. Your thoughts are spilling out everywhere around you, for everyone to see.” She leans in, propping her chin on her hand. The thoughts twisted around her head like a living crown let out a dry, rattling laugh. “I like you, Jenny. You’re ambitious. A little careless, but we can fix that.” Seo-yun taps on the table, and the waiter reappears, folding up the tablecloth deftly and sliding a single dish onto the now-bare table. An array of thin, translucent slices fan out across the plate, pale and glistening with malice. Bisected eyes glint, mouths caught mid-snarl, from every piece. “All it takes is a little practice and discipline, and no one will know what you’re really thinking.” “On the house, of course, Ma’am,” the waiter murmurs. Before he disappears again, I catch a glimpse of dark, many-legged thoughts braided like a bracelet around his wrist. Seo-yun takes the first bite, glancing up at me from behind her glasses. “Your mum was wrong,” she says. “She thought you were alone, just the two of you. So she taught you to only eat when you needed to, so you didn’t get caught, biding your time between meals like a snake.” “You don’t know anything about me,” I say. The heady, rotten perfume from the dish in front of me makes my head spin with hunger. “My mum was much the same. Eat for survival, not for pleasure.” She gestures at the plate with her chopsticks. “Please, have some.” As the food disappears, I can only hold out for a few more slices before my chopsticks dart out, catching a piece for myself. It’s so acidic it makes my tongue burn and eyes itch, the aftertaste strangely sweet. “Do you like it?” I respond by wolfing down another two slices, and Seo-yun chuckles. Harvey is bland compared to this, this strangely distilled pairing of emotions— I gasp as my body starts to warp, hands withering, burn scars twisting their way around my arms. Gasoline, malice, childish joy rush through me, a heady mix of memory and sensory overstimulation. And then Seo-yun’s lips are on mine, teeth tugging gently, swallowing, drawing it out of me. The burns fade, but the tingle of cruel euphoria lingers. She wipes her mouth delicately. “Ate a little too fast, I think, dear,” she says. “My point, Jenny, is that I believe in eating for pleasure, not just survival. And communally, of course. There are a number of us who get together for dinner or drinks at my place, every so often, and I would love it if you would join us tonight. An eating club, of sorts.” My gaze flickers up at her thoughts, but they’re sitting still as stones, just watching me with unblinking eyes. My mouth stings with the imprint of hers. “Let me introduce you soon. You don’t have to be alone anymore.” As the waiter clears the plate and nods at her—no check, no receipt, nothing—Seo-yun adds, “And tonight doesn’t have to be over until we want it to be.” She offers me her hand. After a moment’s hesitation, I take it. It’s smaller than mine, and warm. “Yes, please,” I say, watching her thoughts instead of her face. As we leave the restaurant, she presses her lips to my forehead. Her lips sear into my skin, nerves singing white-hot with ecstasy. “They’re going to love you,” she says. We’ll have so much fun, say the thoughts curling through her dark hair. She hails a cab from the fleet circling the street like wolves, and we get inside. • • • • I run into Aiko two months later in front of my apartment, as I’m carrying the last box of my stuff out. She’s got a startled look on her face, and she’s carrying a bag stuffed with ramps, kaffir lime, heart of palm—all ingredients I wouldn’t have known two months ago, before meeting Seo-yun. “You’re moving?” I shrug, staring over her head, avoiding her eyes. “Yeah, uh. I’m seeing someone now, and she’s got a really nice place.” “Oh.” She swallows, shifts the bag of groceries higher on her hip. “That’s great. I didn’t know you were dating anybody.” I can hear her shaky smile. “She must be feeding you well. You look healthier.” “Thanks,” I say, though I wonder. It’s true, I’m sleeker, more confident now. I’m barely home any more, spending most of my time in Seo-yun’s Chelsea apartment, learning to cook with the array of salts and spices infused with ugly dreams, drinking wine distilled from deathbed confessions. My time stalking the streets for small-time criminals is done. But why has my confidence evaporated the moment I see Aiko? And if that ravenous hunger from Harvey is gone, why am I holding my breath to keep from breathing in her scent? “So what’s she like?” “Older, kind of—” kind of looks like you “—short. Likes to cook, right.” I start to edge past her. “Listen, this box is heavy and the van’s waiting for me downstairs. I should go.” “Wait,” Aiko says, grabbing my arm. “Your mom keeps calling me. She still has my number from . . . before. She’s worried about you. Plus I haven’t seen you in ages, and you’re just gonna take off?” Aiko, small and humble. Her hands smell like home, like rice flour and bad memories. How could I ever have found that appealing? “We don’t need to say goodbye. I’m sure I’ll see you later,” I lie, shrugging her off. “Let’s get dinner sometime,” says Aiko, but I’m already walking away. • • • • Caterers flit like blackbirds through the apartment, dark uniforms neatly pressed, their own ugly thoughts braided and pinned out of the way. It’s a two-story affair, and well-dressed people flock together everywhere there’s space, Seo-yun’s library upstairs to the living room on ground floor. She’s even asked the caterers to prepare some of my recipes, which makes my heart glow. “You’re the best,” I say, kneeling on the bed beside her and pecking her on the cheek. Seo-yun smiles, fixing my hair. She wears a sleek, deep blue dress, and today, her murderous thoughts are draped over her shoulders like a stole, a living, writhing cape. Their teeth glitter like tiny diamonds. I’ve never seen her so beautiful. “They’re good recipes. My friends will be so excited to taste them.” I’ve already met many of them, all much older than I am. They make me nervous. “I’ll go check on the food,” I say. She brushes her thumb over my cheek. “Whatever you’d like, love.” I escape into the kitchen, murmuring brief greetings to the guests I encounter on the way. Their hideous dreams adorn them like jewels, glimmering and snatching at me as I slip past. As I walk past some of the cooks, I notice a man who looks vaguely familiar. “Hey,” I say. “Yes, ma’am?” The caterer turns around, and I realize where I’ve seen him; there’s a picture of him and Aiko on her cellphone, the pair of them posing in front of a display at a big event they’d cooked for. My heartbeat slows. “Aren’t you Aiko’s coworker?” He grins and nods. “Yes, I’m Jimmy. Aiko’s my business partner. Are you looking for her?” “Wait, she’s here?” He frowns. “She should be. She never misses one of Ms. Sun’s parties.” He smiles. “Ms. Sun lets us take home whatever’s left when the party winds down. She’s so generous.” I turn abruptly and head for the staircase to the bedroom, shouldering my way through the crowd. Thoughts pelt me as I go: Has Aiko known about me, my ma, what we can do? How long has she known? And worse—Seo-yun’s known all along about Aiko, and played me for a fool. I bang the bedroom door open to find Aiko sprawled out across the carpet, her jacket torn open. Seo-yun crouches on the floor above her in her glorious dress, her mouth dark and glittering. She doesn’t look at all surprised to see me. “Jenny, love. I hope you don’t mind we started without you.” Seo-yun smiles. Her lipstick is smeared over her chin, over Aiko’s blank face. I can’t tell if Aiko’s still breathing. “Get away from her,” I say in a low voice. “As you wish.” She rises gracefully, crossing the room in fluid strides. “I was done with that particular morsel, anyway.” The sounds of the party leak into the room behind me, and I know I can’t run and grab Aiko at the same time. So I shut the door, locking it, and mellow my voice to a sweet purr. “Why didn’t you tell me about Aiko? We could have shared her together.” But Seo-yun just laughs at me. “You can’t fool me, Jenny. I can smell your rage from across the room.” She reaches out, catches my face, and I recoil into the door. “It makes you so beautiful. The last seasoning in a dish almost ready.” “You’re insane, and I’m going to kill you,” I say. She kisses my neck, her teeth scraping my throat, and the scent of her is so heady my knees almost bend. “I saw you in her head, delicious as anything,” she whispers. Her ugly thoughts hiss up my arms, twining around my waist. There’s a sharp sting at my wrist, and I look down to discover that one of them is already gnawing at my skin. “And I knew I just had to have you.” There’s a crash, and Seo-yun screams as a porcelain lamp shatters against the back of her head. Aiko’s on her feet, swaying unsteadily, face grim. “Back the fuck away from her,” she growls, her voice barely above a whisper. “You little bitch—” snarls Seo-yun. But I seize my chance and pounce, fastening my teeth into the hollow of Seo-yun’s throat, right where her mantle of thoughts gathers and folds inward. I chew and swallow, chew and swallow, gorging myself on this woman. Her thoughts are mine now, thrashing as I seize them from her, and I catch glimpses of myself, of Aiko, and of many others just like us, in various states of disarray, of preparation. Ma once told me that this was how Baba went; she’d accidentally drained him until he’d faded completely out of existence. For the first time in my life, I understand her completely. Seo-yun’s bracelets clatter to the floor, her empty gown fluttering soundlessly after. Aiko collapses too, folding like paper. It hurts to take in that much. My stomach hurts so bad, my entire body swollen with hideous thoughts. At the same time, I’ve never felt so alive, abuzz with possibility and untamable rage. I lurch over to Aiko on the floor, malice leaking from her mouth, staining the carpet. “Aiko, wake up!” But she feels hollow, lighter, empty. She doesn’t even smell like herself any more. A knock at the door jolts me. “Ma’am,” says a voice I recognize as the head caterer. “The first of the main courses is ready. Mr. Goldberg wants to know if you’ll come down and give a toast.” Fuck. “I—” I start to say, but the voice isn’t mine. I glance over at the mirror; sure enough, it’s Seo-yun staring back at me, her dark, terrible dreams tangled around her body in a knotted mess. “I’ll be right there,” I say, and lay Aiko gently on the bed. Then I dress and leave, my heart pounding in my mouth. I walk Seo-yun’s shape down the stairs to the dining room, where guests are milling about, plates in hand, and smile Seo-yun’s smile. And if I look a little too much like myself, well—according to what I’d seen while swallowing Seo-yun’s thoughts, I wouldn’t be the first would-be inductee to disappear at a party like this. Someone hands me a glass of wine, and when I take it, my hand doesn’t tremble, even though I’m screaming inside. Fifty pairs of eyes on me, the caterers’ glittering cold in the shadows. Do any of them know? Can any of them tell? “To your continued health, and to a fabulous dinner,” I say, raising my glass. As one, they drink. • • • • Seo-yun’s apartment is dark, cleared of guests and wait staff alike. Every door is locked, every curtain yanked closed. I’ve pulled every jar, every container, every pot and pan out of the kitchen, and now they cover the floor of the bedroom, trailing into the hallway, down the stairs. Many are full, their malignant contents hissing and whispering hideous promises at me as I stuff my hand in my mouth, retching into the pot in my lap. Aiko lies on the bed, pale and still. There’s flour and bile on the front of her jacket. “Hang in there,” I whisper, but she doesn’t respond. I swirl the pot, searching its contents for any hint of Aiko, but Seo-yun’s face grins out at me from the patterns of light glimmering across the liquid’s surface. I shove it away from me, spilling some on the carpet. I grab another one of the myriad crawling thoughts tangled about me, sinking my teeth into its body, tearing it into pieces as it screams and howls terrible promises, promises it won’t be able to keep. I eat it raw, its scales scraping the roof of my mouth, chewing it thoroughly. The more broken down it is, the easier it will be to sort through the pieces that are left when it comes back up. How long did you know? Did you always know? I’ll find her, I think as viscous black liquid pours from my mouth, over my hands, burning my throat. The field of containers pools around me like a storm of malicious stars, all whispering my name. She’s in here somewhere, I can see her reflection darting across their surfaces. If I have to rip through every piece of Seo-yun I have, from her dreams to the soft, freckled skin wrapped around my body, I will. I’ll wring every vile drop of Seo-yun out of me until I find Aiko, and then I’ll fill her back up, pour her mouth full of herself. How could I ever forget her? How could I forget her taste, her scent, something as awful and beautiful as home?

From Horror photos & videos July 15, 2018 at 08:00PM

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DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 61

we get a peak into yana’s past, Q gets a crush, and the cavalry battle takes place!

Touma: *smiles* "Excellent. I'll need you to watch her house for a bit..." -elsewhere- Aizawa: "I brought medicine." -elsewhere- Patty: *giggling* liz: hmm? Patty: "I found old photos..." liz: oh? *takes a peek* *Tinier Yumi with tiny Kid* liz: oh my gosh, *chuckles* Patty: "Look at Kiddo in the bathtub!" liz: ^^ Kid: "What are you two looking--" o\\\\\\o liz: *snickering* Kid: *grabs the book, shutting it* "N-Not funny! It's just me as a baby..." stocking: cute~ Kid: =\\\\= -elsewhere- Chuuya: "You were a good girl today?" sonia: *nods* Chuuya: *smiles* "Then pick whichever flavor you want." -elsewhere- Relan: *washing dishes* "Just about done here." iris: ^^ Takehisa: "--and then my commander told us, 'Well, I guess that's one less Christmas present to buy this year.'" tamaki: Q_Q;;; Arthur: "...Was it going to be a good Christmas gift--" -elsewhere- Anya: *sighs* tsugumi: whats up? Anya: "What to do after the Festival? I mean, I'm not competing." -elsewhere- Medusa: *lies back* "Finally, some quiet..." -scratch scratch scratch- Medusa: "???" *looks around* pandora: dear boy, you've scratched so much that your fingernails are falling off... Mad!Kid: "I'm not through...Few more layers..." pandora: .... *glances at what he is scratching at* Mad!Kid: *small grunt* pandora:.... Mad!Kid: "I-I feel better like this...I-I just want to be back with her..." -...- Medusa: *covers her ears* -___- -elsewhere- Lucy: "Okay, now are you feeling better?" atsushi: yeah. Lucy: "Good." *pats his head* atsushi:.... =///= *purrs* Lucy: "..." *lets him rest his head on her lap* atsushi: *tail twitching* Lucy: "???" *looks* atsushi: =//////= ... o/////o um.... Lucy: "...What is...that?" atsushi:....my tail? Lucy: "...Sorry. Still surprised...I mean, it's got to be uncomfortable when you're clothes aren't designed for it..." .\\\. atsushi: i havent had a problem with it. Lucy: "...That's good...And the...cat ears?" *rubs a finger lightly around one of his ears* atsushi: >///< a-also normal. Lucy: *smiles* "Tickles?" atsushi: s-sure... 7/////7 Lucy: "Okay..." *strokes his back* atsushi: =///////= Lucy: "...Is this okay?" atsushi: *nods* Lucy: "...I...really like you." atsushi: i really like you too, lucy. ^////^ Lucy: ^\\\^ *pats his lower back* atsushi: o////o !!!! >/////< *smooch* Lucy: o\\\\o "..." -\\\\- "Mmm..." *smooch* atsushi: =//////= *his tail makes a heart shape* Lucy: "Oh my gosh...That's adorable." *smooch* atsushi: u/////u *smooch* -elsewhere- Akutagawa: *tossing in bed* -...- rashomon: ?? Akutagawa: *muttering in his sleep* "N-No...I'm not like you... rashomon:....*pulls the covers up over him and pats his head* Akutagawa: =___= *sleeps more soundly* -elsewhere- Poe: "Zz..." ???: we meet again... Poe: "Hmm..." -you're in a dark room, with moonlight shining through a single window, and a desk. leaning against the desk....is you?- ???: tell me, how have you fucked up this time~? hmm~? Poe: "Wh-What? I-I haven't. And how dare you use such coarse language!" ???: ufufufu~ oh dont lie to yourself, you know you've done _something_ to mess up~ *he grins maliciously* Poe: Q____Q "...Wh-What?" -the other poe has vanished, and a staticy black cat with a missing eye is left in its place- cat: you can tell me....i am part of you after all. -elsewhere- zoey: ahhh~ FD: *bites her lower lip lightly* zoey: mn~<3 FD: *he tugs on her lip--as his fingers tug the collar of her shirt* zoey: *soft sigh* *RIP* zoey: ah! FD: *bites deeper on her lip, forming blood, holding her ripped shirt in his hands* zoey: m-master~ FD: *runs his tongue over the newly formed cut, licking up her blood...his hands are ripping her shirt into strips of cloth* zoey: ah~ *panting* FD: *practically sucking the air from her mouth, as his fingers tie the strips of cloth along her wrists and neck...* zoey: nng~<3 FD: *pulls back, gasping...looks at her* "...Take the rest off." zoey: *sliding her dress and tights off* FD: *takes her tights in his hand...inhales* "...Your scent is all over these..." *his hand is along his member, rubbing through his pants* zoey: *panting* ahh.... FD: *tosses her tights aside--puts an arm around her lower back, drawing her to him, grabs her by her hair, tugging it back so he can reach her neck* zoey: *moaning* FD: *bites into her collarbone* keek: Q_Q *hiding under her covers* Hawthorne: *clutching his cross, praying silently* yana: *turning her music up* FD: *his hands are now at her waist, his tongue in her mouth, tasting her...* zoey: *moaning* m-master~ FD: *his fingers slide to her thigh* "Do you want me to keep going?" zoey: p-please master, i need it so badly~ FD: "I need you..." *turns her around, grabs her by the head--and shoves her head onto the bed* zoey: ah~<3 FD: *holds her head down onto the bed...his hand slides down her back to her bottom--which he slaps* zoey: ah~ s-so good~! FD: *his pants and boxers are down...* "You sinner..." *grabs her by the cloth tied around her neck, tugging on her--as he thrusts himself into her* zoey: *choking and moaning* m-ma-ah~ FD: *thrusts into her again, his other hand digging his nails into her hip* zoey: *panting, clawing into the mattress* FD: *thrusts into her, pushing her further up the bed, her feet dangling over the floor* zoey: ah~ FD: "Do you want something?" zoey: p-please punish me master! i-i want to be a dirty little sinner for you! FD: "Good..." *his thrusts increase, slamming into her, the bedsheets lifting up as he pushes her further and further* zoey: *moaning as her eyes are practically rolling to the back of her head* ah! fuck~ p-please god, fuck me! FD: *one last tug on the collar strap...he lets out a grunt as he ejaculates into her* zoey: *squeezing around him as she screams* FD: "ahhh…." *spills out of her...* keek: TT~TT *covering her ears* Hawthorne: "Our Lord in Heaven, forgive me for my sins..." zoey: *panting, twitching* FD: *pants slightly* "...Did you enjoy your punishment?" zoey: y-yes.....*looking up at him, a hazed look in her eyes* FD: "...Let's let you get some sleep..." *lays her down in bed...and starts tying the cloths on her wrists to the bed...and ties more to her ankles and the bed* zoey: ah~ FD: *lays down beside her* "Anything more you need?" *rests his hand along her belly* -elsewhere- Benimaru: "..." *shakes slightly* kirei: .....*holding him* .... Benimaru: "..." *rests against her* "Insane." kirei: *rubs his shoulders* Benimaru: =\\\= "Th-Thank you..." -elsewhere- Vulcan: *puts on the helmet...assumes tackle pose in front of a mannequin with Giovanni drawn onto it* "Okay...Time me." maki: *starts the timer* Vulcan: *presses a button on the suit, causing the flames to shoot along his forehead, propelling him at the mannequin--and past it* Vulcan: O____O;;; "WATCH OUT!" -BOOOOOM- maki: oh shit. person: MY VAN! Vulcan: *slumped over the burnt wreckage of the van* "..." -elsewhere- Dazai: *collapsed on couch* *snores* -...- {Dazai: "...It's not fair."} {odasaku: hmm?} {Dazai: *holds up library catalog* "I can't find that book!"} {odasaku: hmm?} {Dazai: "You keep going on and on about that series--so I wanted to read at least part of it. Maybe skip to the second in the series--"} {odasaku: ah. well, the 3rd volume isnt that easy to come by.} {Dazai: *pout* "That sucks. Probably expensive."} {odasaku:...i've read the 3rd volume, even though the writer said it was awful.} {Dazai: *shiny eyes* "Really?!"} {odasaku: *he nods*} {Dazai: "Tell me about it. Please!"} {odasaku: the book or meeting the writer?} {Dazai: "Meeting him!"} {odasaku: ah.....it was along time ago, actually....} Dazai: *snore...then falls off the couch* *THUMP* -elsewhere- Izuku: "Dishes are done, Mom!" *sets last one into the cupboard* -elsewhere- Kid: *small whimper* stocking: *hug*... Kid: "M-Mother..." stocking: ......*hums a lullaby* Kid: *shudders...whimpers...calms down a bit...holds onto Stocking* stocking: *rubbing his back* Kid: *sighs...sniffs...closes his eyes...* "Zzz..." stocking:....*angel wings shield him as she holds him close* Kid: *he looks to be resting more comfortably...breathes calmly* -elsewhere, on a roof- yana: ..... *watching a plane fly over* ..... {-a naked yana, having just come out of the incubator, is laying on the ground. she looks up at the figure above her-} {???: "Get up."} {yana:......??} {???: "I said get up."} {yana: *struggling to stand, but slips onto the floor* *wince* .... } {FD: *sighs, offers his hand*} {yana: .... ?? *she lookes up, confused* } {FD: "Hold it. Like this." *reaches for her hand, putting his fingers around it*} {yana: .... *grab* ?? *head tilt* ??? } {FD: *starts to pull her up*} {yana: *standing* ....... } {???: poor girl, she must be freezing.... *hands her a coat to cover up with*} {yana:....???} {FD: "Thank you." *looks at Yana* "It is good to stay warm. Remember that."} {yana: ........ *she points to him, confused* ???} {FD: "...You may call me Fyodor."} {yana:.....*nods, seeming to understand*} {???: and your name?} {yana:.......????} {????: i dont think she has a name, she was just born...ish...?} {FD: "...Then let's give her one."} {yana: ?? *pointing to herself*} {FD: "You...You...Hmm...How about..."} yana: ...... *sigh* (thinking: just how long ago was that now? i honestly lost track) *looking at the sights below* *There are two women walking together, a father pushing the stroller with his child inside...* yana: ..... *heading back over to the stairs leading back down to the ground* (thinking: cant help but wonder....where the other 7/8ths of me comes from...does it even matter at this point?) ???: "Hey there!" yana: hmm? *shaft head tilts to look back* Anya: "What are you doing out this late?" yana: *shrugs* well, nice weather out, so i thought i'd get a lil fresh air before heading home for the day. Anya: "Ah...Your family was okay with you heading out?" yana: *nods* i was just about to head to the quik-e-mart to picks some stuff up too. Anya: "...I should buy some snacks there as well." yana: cool, cool. -elsewhere- Assi: *locked outside of the house...in a towel* Q~Q -elsewhere- tsubaki: im home! Shamrock: *has tea set out* "Welcome." lavender: welcome back! tsubaki: ^^ Sakuya: "How did your day go?" tsubaki: it went well. naho: hmm? is belbel still at his girlfriend's place? otogiri: yes. Shamrock: *nods* -elsewhere- lana: im home! *Silence* lana:...dad? Mr Shephard: *asleep on the couch* lana:....*sighs and puts the blanket over him* *There's a note on the table in her father's handwriting* lana: *checks the note* note: "Sweetie-- That boy Edgar called. He sounded upset. And there was a postcard for you on the bureau. -- <3 Dad" lana: *checks the postcard* *The postcard has a photograph: "Visit Beautiful Transylvania! Sponsored by the Carpathian Commerce Committee." There is a message on the back...* lana: *checks the message* Message: "We have very much admired your service in the hospitality sector--and we seek new ideas from fresh young talent. You could say we have a mission for you. We'll be in touch. Sincerely, Taishi Touma." lana:......*she drops the card, her heart dropping into her stomach* -later- -knocking on poe's door- *Something crashing can be heard, as feet descend the steps...The door only opens a crack, an eye being seen* Poe: "...L-L-Lana?" lana: *breathing hard, uneasy* Poe: "!!!" *pulls open the door completely...It looks like he hasn't slept* lana: *hugs him tightly, shaking* Poe: "!!!" *instinctively hugs her* "Wh-What happened?" lana: *she shows him the post card* Poe: "...Oh! Transylvania is very nice this time of year--" -look at the name...- Poe: "...Oh God..." lana: *shaking* Poe: "..." *holds Lana, strokes her back* lana: *holding him tightly* Poe: "It's okay...You're safe..." *slight twitch* lana:....edgar?....are you ok? Poe: *sniff* "Y-Yeah...Just a bad dream." lana:.....*rubbing his back* do you want me to stay the night? Poe: Q__Q "...I think we could both use that. The ghosts will make sure no one else comes in from outside." eyeless ghost: we have eyes everywheeeere. lana:...*small sniff* t-thanks. Poe: *small smile* "...I-I-I haven't eaten all day...I-I could make something?" -elsewhere- Touma: *satisfied smile* "Did you drop off both deliveries?" tsurugi: you bet i did, mr touma! mafura: *nods* mafura-chan did her best! Touma: "Good...We'll see whether either party replies. You both deserve to be rewarded." -elsewhere- Joker: "Down to my last one...Got another cigarette?" scarlet: *tosses a new pack at him* Joker: "Thanks, Red." *lights up a cigarette, offers one to her* scarlet: im good. Joker: *inhales* "...You still thinking about...?" scarlet: ..... Joker: "...I see. Sorry." -elsewhere- Todoroki: *sighs* -morning- Black Star: *snores* tsubaki: ..... Black Star: *turns over, trying to hit the alarm clock* -elsewhere- Chuuya: *asleep in bed* sonia: zzzzz mito: zzzz *His alarm goes off* Chuuya: -___= sonia: zzz Chuuya: *gets out of bed...stretches--then winces, feeling a pain in his arm* "..." sonia: zzz Chuuya: "..." ("I better put on some ice first...Gonna be sore before competition...") -it's pretty foggy this morning, huh?- Chuuya: *looking out the window* "???" ("Don't remember this in reports...") sonia: mmmn.... Chuuya: "??? Sonia? You up?" sonia: *yawn* Chuuya: *smles* "Well, hop into the bath--I'll get breakfast." sonia: ok. -later- Chuuya: "That's some fog, huh?" sonia: is it scary? Chuuya: "Maybe. I mean, you don't know what is behind it." *holds her hand* "So you have to be careful getting through it." sonia: *nods* wanna watch cartoons with me? Chuuya: "..." *smiles* "Of course!" sonia: yay! Chuuya: "You pick the one...I'll get the cereal." -elsewhere- Kid: *sneezes* stocking: feeling ok? Kid: *nods* "Just dust, I hope..." -elsewhere- Todoroki: *putting out garbage* -elsewhere- lana: *asleep* Poe: "...Mmm..." lana: zzz.... karl: *poke poke* Poe: "Nnnn...Five more minutes..." karl: *poke poke* Poe: *opens his eyes* "...Hello, Karl..." *pet pet* karl: =w= lana: zzzz Poe: *turns over to get turn on the light--* lana: zzzz..... Poe: O\\\\\\o ("...Right. Forgot. ...This is fine. This is great...I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!") lana: *stirring* mmn..? *opening her eyes and smiles* morning edgar. *kisses him on the nose* Poe: .\\\. "...Good morning. How was your sleep?" lana: good...thanks for letting me stay the night... Poe: ^\\\^ "A-Anytime..." -elsewhere- Kyoka: "Zzz..." atsushi: *making breakfast* Kyoka: *sniff sniff* *bolts upright from bed* "Food?" atsushi: *whistling* Kyoka: *enters the kitchen* "What are you making?" atsushi: panwiches. Kyoka: "??? Pancake sandwiches?" atsushi: yep. Kyoka: "What are you putting in them?" -elsewhere- Motojiro: *passed out on couch* miura: kajii? get up. Motojiro: "Huh...Wha?" miura: it's time to wake up now. ayako has already gotten to work. Motojiro: "...Can't she do the work?" miura: arent _you_ the teacher? Motojiro: "Yeah, and I'm teaching her to do the work..."} miura: *grabs him by the collar and drags him over* -elsewhere- Relan: *drying his hair* "All done." -elsewhere- Akutagawa: *exits his room* naoya: hey, i brought you guys breakfast, hope ya dont mind. Akutagawa: "Oh. Thank you." *looks at the food* -bacon and eggs from denny's- Akutagawa: "..." *takes a fork* "I appreciate the meal." naoya: no probs. is your sister up? Akutagawa: "Still in her room." naoya: gotcha... oooi, gin, you up ye- Gin: .\\\. higuchi: o-o;;;; naoya:....ok, you're still getting ready. breakfast is on the table when you're ready! *closes the door* ouo;;;; Gin: "..." *puts her head down beside Higuchi* "Oh, God..." higuchi: >///////////< Akutagawa: "Was my sister in?" naoya: yeah, she's in the middle of getting dressed. dont go in there for a while. Akutagawa: "...Okay." Gin: "..." *pats Higuchi's side* "Sorry." -elsewhere- Yohei: *adjusting his tie* chie: *kiss on the cheek* Yohei: ^\\\^ "I'll be home on time." *smooch* -elsewhere- Todoroki: *walking to the gym* ochako: toooodoooorooooki! *jumps onto his back* Todoroki: o\\\\\\o *trying to stay balanced* ochako: sneak attack successful! Todoroki: "...Okay. ...Why?" ochako: just cuz ^^ Todoroki: "...Not for combat practice?" -elsewhere- Sakuya: "We're heading out." tsubaki: have fun! naho: we will! lilac: *nod nod* Black Star: "Be careful out there." naho: ok! Sakuya: "So, what you want to do at the Festival?" -elsewhere- Dazai: *whistling* ango: oh. hello. Dazai: *waves* "Howdy! Got time to talk?" ango: i suppose. Dazai: "Great! Because I need a meal, too." -and so- Dazai: "--and that's when he said, 'I said 'were-tiger,' not 'what-tiger'!" *laughs, slapping his hand on the table* ango: haha..funny -*sweatdrop* Dazai: "Ha ha ha!" *then he gets serious* "Onto business: I want a double date." ango *SPITTAKE* Dazai: "I figure it will help Kirako--" *wipes spit from his face* ango: are you two...like...a thing? Dazai: "More like friends with benefits." ango: i...see. well....im not even seeing anyone, so... Dazai: "I could set you up!" ango: like the _last_ time? -_.-; Dazai: "??? Didn't have fun?" ango: .... 7_.7; Dazai: "Okay fine--I'll have Kirako set you up!" ango: riiiiight. 7___.7;;; Dazai: "So, what you want? Maybe a pianist, or a circus performer?" -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: "Zzz..." -elsewhere- Anya: *yawns* rowena: good morning, miss hepburn. lenore: *caw* Anya: "...Hi. Um...What did you say the bird's name is?" rowena: her name is lenore. lenore: *nod* Anya: "I see...How long have you had her?" rowena: a little while now. Anya: "Hmm...The dorm does have its rules about animals..." rowena: if that's the case, she can be in human form then. Anya: "Oh, okay." ^^ "..." o_o lenore: *sitting in the chair* yo. Anya: "...Okay, now things make more sense." *rubs her eyes* "...A bird with magical powers?" tsugumi: oh cool. kimiko: it's death city, stuff like this is the norm. Meme: *looking all around Lenore* "Wow...How do you do that?" -elsewhere- Vulcan: *putting aloe on his burn* "Ow..." -elsewhere- Izuku: *jogging at the park* tokoyami: ..... Izuku: "...Oh, hey, Tokoyami!" *waves* tokoyami: *he seems super focused on something* Izuku: owo;;; *looks* -he seems to be focusing on....an apple in a tree?- tokoyami: *eye glint* dark shadow. retrieve. Izuku: "???" dark shadow: *eye glint and grabs the apple, bringing it to tokoyami* tokoyami: *nom* Izuku: "..." *shiny eyes* *starts writing down notes* "Most impressive! The speed and dexterity make Dark Shadow efficient at the procurement of objects of various sizes and distances--" tokoyami: *not even looking at izuku* hi midoriya Izuku: "!!!! H-Hi! Didn't mean to keep m-muttering like that." *staring at Dark Shadow* dark shadow: *staaaaaare* Izuku: o_______o "...Um...Hi. D-Didn't mean to stare." -elsewhere- Bakugo: *on treadmill, working up a sweat* -some people are watching- girl: niiice. boy: dayum. pony:...meh. *walks away* Bakugo: *drop of his sweat hits the floor, just making a small spark* *looks at the people* "...The hell you side characters staring at?" -everyone just returns to their business- girl: *holds up a '10' card* Bakugo: .\\\\. "...The hell is wrong with these people..." -elsewhere- Kunikida: *writing on a whiteboard* kenji: *whistling* Kunikida: "Okay. This is the update on what we know." *"RAT" is on the board--and someone doodled a small mouse with it* kirako: we know their logo, so that's a start. Kunikida: *writes 'logo'* Track where we find it...Any witnesses?" ranpo: we could ask some of the tour guides that give underground tours? Kunikida: "Good." *writes 'tour guides'* "Who wants to head underground?" ranpo: i volunteer atsushi! Kunikida: "Very good. Atsushi will go." atsushi: D8 Kyoka: "I think someone should go with him." kirako: tanizaki, can you handle this? Tanizaki: "Just call me the light for the tunnel!" ^^; atsushi: i'd appreciate that. it feels like i dont see you enough. Tanizaki: "...I don't get out as much as I want to." TT____TT -elsewhere- Burns: "Faster. Faster." soldiers: *running* Karim: *trying to catch up* -elsewhere- Victor: "Hmm...Mushrooms." nozomi: sir? Victor: "Just thinking...The Nether probably has some amazing mushrooms growing in it!" nozomi: i...see. *sweatdrop* Victor: "I'll make sure to pick some! They'll be great on pizza! Oh, and we'll need cheese. And tomatoes from the garden..." -elsewhere- Sakuya: "Oh, that's cute." naho: hehe~ ^^ lilac: t-thanks... Sakuya: "Maybe add a hat to it..." naho: that sounds aweso-... YOU! Lucy: "Huh?" lilac: Q_Q naho: you're the one who trapped us in that barrier space! Lucy: "..." .____.;;;; "..." *starts to back away* naho: you didnt even apologize to us! >n< Lucy: "Now, hold on, I have a good explanation...ANNE! HELP ME!" -elsewhere- Poe: "Will you be okay at work?" lana: i think so. Poe: *nods* "Call if you need anything...I think I'll do writing at the restaurant here..." -elsewhere- Hawthorne: *puts crates atop each other* "..." *stands behind them* katya: -<so that's when i shot them right between the eyes.> Hawthorne: -___-; *opens his Bible at the 'podium'* -....- Hawthorne: "Our Lord in Heaven, look upon us with your grace..." -silence- Hawthorne: "..." *inhales* "We are but your humble children, born into this world blind, having no light, cleaving to walls and tracing our path up to you." -.....- Hawthorne: "Stay in our hearts, and fill our souls with your love. Amen." -.....- Hawthorne: "..." *shuts his book, holds his cross* -thud- Hawthorne: "?!!!" -silence- Hawthorne: "...Hello?" -...no answer- Hawthorne: "..." *takes his Bible and leaves the 'podium'* -elsewhere- Todoroki: *climbing the rope in the gym* "..." -elsewhere- Motojiro: o_o; "...What did you make?" ayako: explosive putty! ^^ Motojiro: "...Plastic explosives, then?" ayako: pretty much! Motojiro: "...Have you tested it?" -elsewhere- Iida: *stretching* -elsewhere- Kepuri: "...What happened to you?" akaderu: *covered in leaves and twigs, with a bird in his hair* ....long story. Kepuri: "..." *looks at the bird* "Is that thing endangered?" -elsewhere- Joker: "Uh huh. Uh huh..." *trying to get off the phone* misora: seeeee yaaa mr manager ^^ *hangs up* Joker: *loud sigh* "Thank God..." scarlet: that bad? Joker: "She's just...overwhelming. Talk, talk, talk..." scarlet: yikes. Joker: "Makes me appreciate people who are a bit more taciturn..." *pulls out two cigarettes* -elsewhere- Shamrock: *dusting* *looks down the hallway* -silence- {???: i think he's coming to!} {????: sir? are you up? hellooooo?} {Shamrock: "Wh-Wh..." *moving his hand, feeling bandaged*} {???: you're lucky we found you when we did, mr... *examining dogtags* w##t#? was it?} {Shamrock: "What? What happened?" *trying to open his eyes...only one is opening*} {-a young man in glasses looks at him-} {man: we found you out in a field passed out....sorry about your eye...} {Shamrock: "My what? 'You' what?" *his hand touches his face* "...Why can't I feel my face?"} {medic: *holding up a mirror* please, just try to keep calm...} {Shamrock: *sees his face...and his heart drops to his stomach* "...No..."} {man: ...*hands him a bucket, just in case*} {Shamrock: "...No!" *flings the bucket, letting out a howl*} {medic: oh sh- put him back under, NOW!} {Shamrock: *screaming, flinging his arms*} ???: sham? Shamrock: *his eye snaps open, as he flings his arm around--aiming the feather duster at--} lavender: woah, easy there. Shamrock: "...S-Sorry...You snuck up on me." lavender: tense much? Shamrock: "...Just remembered something..." lavender: ...*lightbulb* hey guys, im taking sham to the onsen for a bit~! ^^ higan: good call, he could use it, haha Shamrock: "...Um...Why?" lavender: you need to relieve a lot of stress. Shamrock: "...Maybe you're right. The hot water may be soothing." -elsewhere- Crona: "...A daycare center?" mami: *nods* Crona: "Oh...I-I think you'll be good at it." mami: *small smile* do you want someone with you while im out? Crona: "M-Maybe? Depends..." mami: *nods and hugs them* Crona: =\\\\= *sniff* "Th-Thanks..." -elsewhere- Lucy: -\\\\- *pouring tea...her clothes are a little ripped* "...So, I'm sorry about the whole 'locking you up in another dimension' thing. We're sorry. Right, Anne?" anne: *nods* Sakuya: *sips* "...Tea could be a bit better." naho: it's all good. at least you apologized. y'know. minus the whole 'it was a prison' thing, this room is super cute! Sakuya: *has a black eye* Lucy: "I know, right? It's adorable!" ^^ lilac:...soft...*laying on a big teddy* Lucy: "...So, what's your story?" *points at Sakuya and Naho* "You dating?" naho: ..... *bluush* 7w7 Sakuya: =\\\\= "Y-Yeah..." Lucy: "I knew it. I got an eye for those things." naho: you got someone in your life? Lucy: o\\\o "Y-Yes......The guy who freed everyone from here, before..." naho: ....... *horrified* the creepy doctor guy? Lucy: "!!!! N-No! The tiger boy!" naho: oooooh. i see. ^^ Lucy: *slight shudder* "His name is Atsushi...He works at the detective agency." naho: oooh, cool! -elsewhere- Fitzgerald: "THIS IS AN OBSCENE COST! I refuse to pay!" *he's shouting...at a video game* bram: -_-; Fitzgerald: *hands the game to Bram* "You talk to this miser!" bram: w-wait i-...um...er.... ._.;;; -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: "Hey, look at that!" fang-hua: hmm? *sign on infirmary: "Limited hours while doctor recovers"* Tsukiyo: "You heard what the Commander did to him?" fang-hua: no, what? Tsukiyo: "I heard the two got into a fistfight--real violent." fang-hua: oh my god! Tsukiyo: *nods* "I know, right?! They just kept slamming each other, hard...Fist colliding with body, gripping each other, throwing each other around that room...Close, intimate...All up on each other..." *soft pant* fang-hua: *shaking her* tsukiyo! focus! Tsukiyo: "I think I am..." =\\\\= *shakes her head awake* "R-Right! So, the doctor got the worst of it, and he's having to be hospitalized until his nose heals." fang-hua: what could have set the commander off like that, though...? Tsukiyo: "...Wild desire supplemented through wrestling with another hot guy?" fang-hua: ........... *stare* Tsukiyo: "...Oh, like you weren't thinking it, too!" fang-hua: no. no i was not. -.-; Tsukiyo: "You suuuuuuuure?" :3 fang-hua: -_-; Tsukiyo: "In any case, I figured it'd be good to leave some favors and sweets for the doc while he recovers." fang-hua: good idea. Tsukiyo: "Mind if we use your kitchen for that?" -elsewhere- Kid: "Here's another file, Father." lord death: thanks kid. ^^ Kid: ^^ "Just trying to be helpful." *he is re-organizing files* -elsewhere- Aizawa: "Feeling better?" -elsewhere- Shotaro: *spots a building on fire* "...Oh no..." *runs* -elsewhere- Q: *walking and humming* Arthur: "You got those bags okay?" tamaki: yep. Arthur: "Good. I cannot wait to--" *bump* Q: >n< Arthur: "??? Oh. Pardon me." Q: *glaaaaare* move it! i have plans! Arthur: "...That's just rude." tamaki: weird ki-.....arthur what happened to your face?! Arthur: "...I know. I am handsome." tamaki: is that......rock? -at the train station- Q: *taking a seat* =n= Assi: *sits next to Q, slightly bumping into him* Q: *glaaaare* move it! im waiting! >n< Assi: "??? Sorry. I just needed a seat after--" Q: *slaps him with the doll* MOVEITORLOSEIT!! Assi: >3< *knocked to the floor* "Owie!" Q: *shiny eyes* there! aya: *checking her map* *humming* Q: >w< doll: *heart eyes* Assi: *bleeding on the floor* Train Station Employee: "May I help you, ma'am?" aya: how do i get to... -for Q, everything seems to fade into the background but aya- Q: >/////< Employee: "--and then make a left, and you're there!" aya: thanks! Q: O.O !! aya: *boarding the train* Q: *also boarding* Conductor: "Ticket, please." Q: *handing his ticket in* Conductor: "Thank you, young man!" *clips the ticket, hands it back* "Enjoy the ride." Q: *nods, glances* aya: thanks sir! Q:... ~<3 -elsewhere- Akutagawa: *walking through streets* -just the usual fare of locals going about their business- Akutagawa: *approaches a vendor* "One soda." vendor: here you go, sir. Akutagawa: *pays* "Thanks..." *sips* -elsewhere- Arthur: *looking in the mirror* "...I think it makes me look distinguished." shinra: it looks like you were punched in the face. like, really hard. Arthur: "...Not that hard. I mean, it was just a child." shinra: *laughing hard* Arthur: "Sh-Shut up! That kid could punch hard!" tamaki: he didnt even hit you? was the kid an esper or something? Arthur: *shrugs* "Maybe? In any case, I better find the right makeup for this mark." -elsewhere- Kunikida: *examining letters* ranpo: *goofing around in his spinny chair* Kunikida: *holds up paper* "Recognize this handwriting?" ranpo: *squiiiiint* Kunikida: "Just curious why she's returning..." ranpo: oh! it's that kid of yours, right? Kunikida: -___-# "I don't have a kid..." ranpo: i was talking about that girl from a while back. aya? Kunikida: "...Yes, here. That's the one who wrote this letter. I'm just...Why is she returning?" ranpo: *shrug* Kunikida: "...What do kids nowadays even like? Is Napster still a thing?" ranpo: the fuck is that? Kunikida: TT_____TT "I don't know what is 'cool' anymore...Does anyone even still say 'cool'?" -elsewhere- Poe: "Thank you." *accepts the plate with his sandwich at the hotel restaurant...looks around...opens his coat, holds the sandwich to...* karl: *nom* ^^ Poe: ^^ *sips from the soup* Child: "Mommy! Mommy! That man has a rat growing out his chest!" Poe: ._.; mother: sweetie, that's not nice. it's a raccoon. Poe: .___________.;;;; Child: "Oooooooh. Okay!" *nom* -elsewhere- Touma: *turns on a TV set* -what is on the screen- *Looks to be a residential street* mafura: hmmm~? *head tilt* Touma: "Those cameras set up give me what I need..." *points...there's Lavender* lavender: *humming in the bath* Touma: "And if she's housing those vampires, it's just a matter of time before he returns to them..." *sits back, looking at Lavender* -elsewhere- Relan: *takes another bite into his burger...takes a bit of the cheese to give to Buttons* buttons: *nom nom* ^o^ Relan: ^^ "So, who you think is going to advance in the next alt-student round of the Festival?" shinra: seems that ozaki guy has a pretty good edge. not bad for a first year. Relan: *nods* "The tiger isn't bad either. I don't think we've seen all he can do. I mean, transforming just parts of your body shows some incredible control." shinra: *nods* .....*tiger sign* *fwoom* shinra: =3= uwooooo.... tamaki: -_-; Relan: Q____Q *his burger is torched* shinra:... shit! sorry! buttons: =3=; -elsewhere- Medusa: -_____- "Make him stop with that noise." shaula: OI! DOPPEL-REAPER! SHADDAP IN THERE! Mad!Kid: *growl...* *throws open the door* shaula: OwO; Medusa: "...You got to be kidding me..." Mad!Kid: *grabs Shaula by the neck* shaula: OwO;;;; um... Mad!Kid: "I shiver in the night...Desire...I want to be held. Tortured. Hugged. Ripped apart and stitched back up..." *glares at Shaula* "And I have no time for the whining of some locked-away witch with no powers and a horrible personality." shaula: ....seems he has beef with you, sis. Medusa: "Then why is he holding you by the neck?" Mad!Kid: *glares at Medusa next* "Tell this brat to be quiet." shaula: how old even are you? pandora: well- shaula: I AINT TALKING TO YOU, BLOOD HAG! Mad!Kid: *slams his fist into Shaula's jaw* shaula: *knocked down* augh....fughk....bruh... Medusa: "!!!" Mad!Kid: *leans down over Shaula* "You talk like that to her again..." *his fingers touch her bloodied face...* "And I will kill you." *licks her blood* pandora: *pap pap* good boy. shaula: O______O;;;; Mad!Kid: -\\\\- "Thank you..." Medusa: *goes to Shaula, looks at the punch* "...You'll recover. Let's get you bandaged." -elsewhere- FD: <How is the tracking algorithm?> yana: <coming along nicely.> FD: *looking at initial results* <All those are ability users in just this state?> yana: *nods* <seems death city has been attracting them by the busload> FD: <...> *smiles* <Herded into one spot...> yana: <like a flock of sheep> FD: <What have you called the software, then?> yana: ...... <i got nothin on me for names.> FD: <'Sheepherder'? 'Dog'?> barkova: *woof woof* *pant* 8D yana: <shephard?> FD: <Sure, that works.> -elsewhere- Giriko: "Hey, thanks for watching her today." anna: muu? Giriko: "Hee hee." *picks up Anna* "Were you a good girl?" anna: *nods* Giriko: "That's good...We'll be back here on Tuesday. Say 'bye bye' Anna." -elsewhere- Tanizaki: "When we heading down?" atsushi: *checking his map* Tanizaki: "See the path?" atsushi: ah, there it is. Tanizaki: "O-O-Okay..." owo;;; -elsewhere- Akitaru: *climbing the ladder* "How 'bout here?" maki: looks good! Akitaru: "Great!" *nails it* "Should spruce up the place. Feng shui and all that." -elsewhere- Shamrock: *reclined in hot spring* x\\\\\= lavender: *humming* Shamrock: "This is nice......I never got to go to these much." lavender: i can tell. Shamrock: "You go to them often?" *splashes water on himself* lavender: *nods* how do you think i keep my skin so smooth? *sticking her leg out of the water* Shamrock: X\\\o "...Makes sense..." *looks up at the sky* "It works well for you." lavender: mmhmm. ^^ Shamrock: *splashes some water on his face* "You know how to swim?" lavender: yeah. you? Shamrock: "Yes. Had to learn..." *swims over to the wall* "Was pretty good back in the day." lavender: i see. so what was being in the british army like? Shamrock: "...Like being in the army. Only British--so a lot stricter and more formalistic. Lots of commands to learn, chain of command." lavender: ah, i see. Shamrock: "You ever had any interest in the military?" lavender: not really. guess it just wasnt what i wanted out of life. Shamrock: *nods* "...You dance, right?" lavender: sure. Shamrock: "Ever think about going professional?" lavender: well, i did work the pole a few times before becoming a subclass~ Shamrock: X\\\\\O "...Seriously? I-I meant more like ballet..." lavender: well, i did take gymnastics as a kid. Shamrock: "You ever competed?" lavender: once or twice, but that was a long time ago. Shamrock: "...If you weren't discovered by Mr. Tsubaki...if..._that_ hadn't happened to you...would you have?" lavender: ....i guess i would have stayed at the brothel with the other girls, then. Shamrock: "...Yeah...I know Mr. Tsubaki was happy to have you...and Naho...and Higan." lavender: you too sham, dont sell yourself short. Shamrock: "...It's...hard to believe that, sometimes." lavender: ... Shamrock: "...The war...Injuries...Losing Mr. Tsubaki...Being captured...A lot of it catches up. Maybe I deserve this..." lavender: .....*sigh* Shamrock: "...S-Sorry...I know we're supposed to relax here. Just a lot on my mind." lavender: its fine, better to talk about it than to just let it fester. Shamrock: "...You're right. Lavender? Thanks for bringing me here." lavender: what are friends for? ^^ Shamrock: "..." *smiles* "Right." *stands* "Well, I'm ready to towel off and have a drink." -elsewhere- Poe: "..." *holds Lana's hand* lana: o///o Poe: .\\\. "J-Just making sure to o-offer re-reassurance as we walk...Please don't hate me for being so forward." lana: ^///^ it's fine, edgar. Poe: "O-Okay...F-Feel better to be done with work for today?" lana: *nods* how was your day? Poe: *sighs* "I'm afraid the muse was not with me. The writing I finished seems poor." -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *staring at a basket left by his bed* "???" -note: get well soon- -there is a rabbit and a doodle of fang-hua's face on the note- Mr. Tsubaki: "..." TT____TT *tries to reach for a cookie* -elsewhere- Todoroki: *sets out two cans of soda* -elsewhere- Kid: "Now add the chocolate chips..." shiori: uu! Kid: "And stir them in..." *shows the bowl to Shiori* shiori: o.o Kid: "And after we scoop them onto the baking sheet and bake them, we'll have cookies!" shiori: ^o^ Kid: "Yay!" *scoops one out--then freezes* owo;;;; "...Is it symmetrical? I mean, perfectly? L-Let me get the cookie cutter instead, then it'll be perfect..." -elsewhere- Gin: "Has anyone seen Q?" hirotsu: no? higuchi: O-O;;; oh no. Gin: "...This is why we should put trackers on him. Where to begin looking?" -elsewhere- Conductor: "Tickets! Checking tickets again..." aya: *hands hers in* Q: *same* Conductor: *checks Aya's* "Thanks, ma'am!" *hands it back* *returns Q's* "Yours, too, young man!" Q: ^^ Conductor: "The snack bar is also open, if you two want anything." aya: ok! Q: .///w///. Conductor: "...Do you two know each other?" aya: hmm? Q: owo;; Conductor: "Oh, I guess not. Well, I'll be on my way..." *keeps walking* Q: ... .////.;; aya: *checking her map* -elsewhere- Sakuya: "Later. Thanks for the tea." Lucy: *nods* naho: that was fun! lilac:....*nod* Sakuya: *stretches* "Heck of a place she has..." naho: it's super cute! i might have to rearrange my room a bit when we get home Sakuya: ^^; "That'll be cute." -elsewhere- Ponera: ._.; "...What did you do to upset him so?" shaula: i dont fucking know! Ponera: "Well, I suggest you give him his distance...Maybe this is some, um, 'madness-induced puberty'?" shaula: .....maybe?? Ponera: *looks at Shaula's bandages* "...It hurt?" shaula: nah, it just itched a little- OF COURSE IT HURT! Ponera: "DON'T YELL AT ME! I'M JUST TRYING TO BE CONCERNED!" *slaps Shaula's hand* shaula: >^< *whimper* Ponera: -3- *hug* shaula:..... Y~Y Ponera: *strokes her back* "It's okay..." -elsewhere- Patty: *looking over open mission listings* homura: anything catching your interest, patti? Patty: "Maybe...I just miss going on missions. Felt like it's been forever, so I thought I'd pick something easy." *holds up a mission: "50-foot monster terrorizing locals"* homura: i see. *sweatdrop* Patty: "Yeah! It's totes easy compared to that mission--" *51-foot monster...* -elsewhere- Wes: *humming* julie: ?? Wes: "??? Oh, hey, Julie!" *taps on the piano* "Was just writing out a tune..." -elsewhere- Joker: "Another?" *sips his beer* scarlet: sure. Joker: *opens a bottle for her* "Here you go...Hey, I got an idea..." scarlet: *rolls eyes* oh _this_ ought to be good. Joker: "You know the game 'have you ever'? Someone asks 'have you ever,' and if you haven't, then you take a drink. So, Round 1: 'Have you ever seen "Steel Magnolias"?'" -elsewhere- Yohei: *stretches* toru: *mimicing him* chie: *giggling* Yohei: "???" *scratches under his arm* -elsewhere- Higan: "How did it go?" lavender: it went well i think. Higan: "Sham got that stick out his butt?" lavender: *chuckles* Higan: *strokes her arm* "Smooth..." lavender: oho~ getting turned on? Higan: "Always..." *slides his hand up to her shoulder* -elsewhere- Mori: "So you have no idea where Q is." higuchi: no, we're calling everyone we can to find him! Mori: "...'Everyone'?" -elsewhere- ebie: hhmm? mr steinbeck? who're those guys? Steinbeck: *looks* "What?" ebie: who're those guys? they dont look to happy! naoya: alright grape juice, where's Q? *cocking gun* Steinbeck: o_____O "...Okay, I can see why you would think that, but I assure you, we don't. So...good day!" *tries to close the door* naoya: oh dont think you can play stupid with us! we know you guys have a knack for kidnapping little boys!... mafioso: ….coulda worded that better. naoya: ....er-....um.... y-y-you know what i meant! mafioso: *plays 'the price is right' fail horns on his phone* Steinbeck: *mortified expression* "...We haven't seen that boy. I don't know what else to tell you. Don't you have him chipped or something?" -elsewhere- Dazai: o____o;;; Poster: "Have you seen this boy?" atsushi: O__________o; ???: are you looking for this boy? Dazai: "We...happen to know the boy's 'family.'" ^^;; aya: oh! well, he's been following me since earlier today. Q: O-O;; *ducks behind a wall* *INTERNAL SCREAMING* Dazai: "..." *shiny eyes of realization* "Oh~? Hey, Q! Your daddy's been worried sick about you! Come over here and talk with us and--" *smiles politely at Aya* "I'm sorry, young lady--what's your name?" aya: my name's aya! atsushi: oh! you're kunikida's friend from a while back, right? aya: *nods* the very same! ^^ Dazai: "..." *looks around her* "Huh. You are exactly as he described you." aya: mmhmm. ^^ is he in? Q:..... *dark aura* OuO# Dazai: *nod nod* "Why don't you go inside and say hello to your old friend?" aya: ok! Dazai: ^^ *looks at Q* atsushi:..um...hey.....Q. Q: IWASNTDOINGANYTHING! Dazai: "..." *smirks* "The suspect is always in denial..." Q: *tosses his doll at dazai's face* you wouldnt get it! >3< Dazai: "GRK!" *knocked back* atsushi: were you following her? Q: mori said that you're supposed to follow them so you know what they like! atsushi:..........................*facepalm* Dazai: *sits up* "...Creepy. I mean, sure, you get to know her (and likely get your ass kicked in the process), but she'll never like a stalker." Q: ...Q_Q *HUUUUUUG* Dazai: "..." *pat pat* "It's okay...because now you have two awesome men to give you advice on dating!" *pulls Atsushi to them* atsushi: O_O; odasaku: >->;;; Dazai: "Step one: talk to her. In person. Not just stalk her." Q: *going inside* Dazai: "??? Huh? What, was my advice not helpful?" -elsewhere- Shousaku: *looking at an ankle bracelet* "..." ???: *shriek* Shousaku: "!!!!" *looks around* -seems to be coming from a tunnel- Shousaku: "..." ("Maybe I can ignore this...I'm not a hero...") ???: please! i dont want to die! {Kunikida: "Discipline yourself, for justice..."} Shousaku: "..." *growls* "Damn it..." *runs into the tunnel* -a young woman is running- zoey: t-there's a man after m-me...h-he's going to- Shousaku: "Stay behind me...I'll get you out of here." zoey: t-thank you... Shousaku: "We'll just go out this tunnel, down the street, get you to--" -a sharp pain can be felt in his neck- Shousaku: "AAH!" zoey: *smiling as she pulls the needle out* uhuhu...nighty night~ Shousaku: *his vision blurs, his words fail...* "Yyyyyooossss..." *falls* -elsewhere- Kunikida: o_o; aya: long time no see, huh mr kunikida? Kunikida: "...I didn't expect you to get in so soon." aya: ^^ so what's new with you? Kunikida: "..." *holds up a notebook* "I got a new one?" aya: cool! Kunikida: ^^; "I suppose...*ahem* Was your train trip better than the last time in the station?" aya: yeah, this one kid followed me though. Kunikida: "...A kid? Who were they?" Q: um..... uhhhhh.... aya: i think he might be lost. your friend in the trenchcoat said he knows his dad. Kunikida: "..." -_____- "In a way. Did he give you any trouble?" aya: not really. Q: ummmm... .///w///.;;;; Kunikida: "We'll return him home. In the mean time, Aya, where are you staying?" aya: me? no where right now, my grandma's in the hospital. Kunikida: "...I'm sorry." aya: do you guys have a place for me to live till she gets better? Kunikida: "We can arrange that. The dorms we have are amenable." aya: thanks! *hug* Q: .....*looking around* Kunikida: "..." =\\\= *awkward back pat* Q: *takes some flowers off a shelf and hands them to her* aya:....um.... ._.; Q: if you arent doing anything, maybe we can go out together and i can pee in you? aya:..... *pale with shock* atsushi: *FALLS OVER* Kunikida: "..." *removes a gun from his notebook--and fires at Q* Q: *ducks and hides under a table* Q~Q;;;; *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* aya: who is it? "Q's Dad": "H-Hello? I am here to pick up my son?" aya: he's under the desk. Q: *peeeeek* O_O;;;;; fukuzawa: what's all the-...... o___________________________o; Kunikida: ._. "Q's Dad": owo;;;; "I WILL LEAVE NOW WITH Q--THANK YOU!" *pulls Q* Q: Q^Q aya:....w-what was that just now? Kunikida: "Stupidity." fukuzawa: .......................*too stunned to move* -outside- Q: -.-; Mori: *sighs* "Why were you here?" Q: i wanted to ask that girl out.....i think i messed up. Q_Q Mori: "??? How so?" Q: that kunikida tried to shoot at me! >^< and she looked pretty upset when i asked her out. elise: if you seriously used that peeing line, you need professional help, kid. Q: =3= Mori: owo;;; "Ha ha ha! I have no idea where you learn these things." ^\\\^;;; elise: *judgemental stare at mori* Q: but isnt that how a girl gets pregnant? elise:....*facepalm* oh you poor bastard. Mori: o\\\\\\o "...M-Maybe this is a conversation for another time..." elise: ok, Q, real talk here.... -elsewhere- Tachihara: "...!!!" *slides over* "Well, hello~" naomi:....uh, can i help you? Tachihara: "You already are. Your company would be great." naomi: um...im kind of busy right now, thanks. 7_7; Tachihara: "Too busy for just one drink~" Tanizaki: *appearing behind Tachihara* "..." naomi: .... *smug grin* Tachihara: "See? That's the beautiful smile I wanted to see--" Tanizaki: *grabs Tachihara by the neck, pulling him away and slamming him against the wall* Tachihara: "?!!! The fuck--" Tanizaki: "Back off. Now." naomi: *hug* thanks big bro! Tachihara: "...'Bro'?" *glares* "Get your hands off me!" *tries to lunge at Tanizaki* Tanizaki: "!!!" *dodges--and slips* O_o Tachihara: o____O *CRASH* *SMOOCH* naomi: ..... o//////o *taking pictures with her phone* Tachihara: O\\\\\\\O Tanizaki: o\\\\\\o ("Kill me now...") -elsewhere- Gin: *sighs* "Q was recovered." higuchi: *sigh of relief* thank god. naoya: ....good to know... =///=;;; Gin: *opens a bottle* "...Naoya? You okay?" naoya: just...nothing. =////=;; -elsewhere- Shousaku: *groans* keek: ?? Shousaku: *opens his eyes* "...Where am I?" keek: ...... -beep beep- Shousaku: "...And what's that beeping?" keek:... *pointing to her neck, and his* Shousaku: "...!!! Wh-What is this?!" keek:... ???: oh that? it's a bomb collar. Shousaku: "...And if I remove it?" ???: good luck. keek: *whimpering* Shousaku: "...Who are you all? Where am I? Why are you doing this?!" -someone enters the room- Shousaku: "...Wh-Who are you?" zoey: .... FD: "I am Fyodor. And you are now in the service of the Rats." Shousaku: "..." *glares at Zoey* zoey: nothing personal....im just...doing as master asks of me... keek: *whimpering* Shousaku: " 'Master'? Is that what I'm supposed to call him?" zoey: *holding a scalpel up to his neck, growling* Shousaku: "!!! W-Was it something I said?" FD: "Zoey." zoey:....*backing up* Shousaku: "...What is it you all want?" FD: "...Tell me about Doppo Kunikida." -elsewhere- Sakuya: "??? Naho, I think you got a text." naho: *checks her phone* hmm? *It's the Tanizaki x Tachihara pic* naho: O////w////O Sakuya: "..." -_____- -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: "We did good!" *hugs Fang-Hua* fang-hua: *smiles* ^^ Tsukiyo: "Hope the doc likes the cookies...So, what's next? Dinner?" -elsewhere- Joker: *passed out drunk* scarlet: -_-; *Joker's phone starts ringing* scarlet: ?? *picks up* yes? Victor: "Oh, hey! Is he in?" scarlet: drunk off his ass, but yeah. Victor: "Darn. Well, just wanted to let you know we're not yet at the Nether. Loading up on a lot of new tech and still mapping some corridors before descending." scarlet: ah. Victor: "I also have some advice on waking him up. You got any ice cubes?" scarlet: *checking the fridge* Victor: "So shove those down his shirt, pants, or socks--that'll get him up and going." scarlet: -_-; Victor: "Trust me, I had to do this a thousand times--works every time. Just be careful if he starts igniting..." -elsewhere- Chuuya: *asleep on the couch* "Zzz..." sonia: ..... *looking through a photo album* *There are photos of Chuuya as a child...* sonia: *small smile as she looks at the pictures* *There's one of Rain...* sonia: ..... *Chuuya is blushing in one with her* sonia: ...mama... Chuuya: *shifts in his sleep* "Hmm..." sonia: *looks up.....puts the book back* Chuuya: *yawn* "...!!! S-Sonia! Oh, no--Am I late?" -elsewhere- Lucy: "??? You look haggard." atsushi: weird day today. Lucy: "...Same." *she has a tear at the bottom of her dress and looks like she was in a fight* atsushi: !!! are you ok?! Lucy: ^^;;; "Remember those people I pulled in with you and everyone into my dimension in an attempt to kinda-sorta kill you? ...Yeah, I ran into them." atsushi: ... .///.; oh. Lucy: "We fought. Punches were thrown. Clothes torn. Tears shed. Reconciled over tea. So, it worked out..." atsushi:...i see. Lucy: "What happened on your weird day?" -he explains what happened- Lucy: .____. "...What the heck is wrong with that child?" atsushi: i have no idea. Lucy: "Kids like that need a better influence in their lives..." *looks at Atsushi* atsushi: yeah -elsewhere- Vulcan: "Got a minute?" shinra: whats up? Vulcan: "I had a question...about when you punched Giovanni in his stupid ugly face." shinra: ya? Vulcan: "Did it feel like a normal human nose?" shinra:....not really, now that i think about it. Vulcan: "...That's what scares me...Look what I found in some of my dad's materials..." *it's a claw arm* shinra: woah. Vulcan: "Yeah...It's kinda creepy. And it's used as a replacement for a human arm. And there's something even worse about it..." shinra: what's that? Vulcan: "...It's not even animal themed." shinra: *face fault* Vulcan: "...Want to use this arm to scare the piss out of Arthur?" shinra: im all ears. Arthur: "Zzz..." *asleep on the couch* Vulcan: *hands the arm to Shinra* shinra: *grins* Arthur: *turns on the couch, dead asleep* "Zzz..." shinra: *looks at vulcan* Vulcan: *touches his own nose, indicating where to put the clawed hand* shinra: *poke poke* Arthur: *grunts, waves his hand in front of his face* "Merlin, no...Put that wand away." -elsewhere- Kunikida: "Is this satisfactory?" aya: *she nods* yep! this'll do nicely! thanks again, kunikida! Kunikida: *nods* "You're welcome...Did you need a meal?" aya: can we order pasta? Kunikida: "Certainly." *takes his phone, calls* "...Hello?" -something watches...- yana: oh? who's this kid? Shousaku: "..." yana: *shaft head tilts* you know 'er? Shousaku: "...If I don't answer you, what happens?" yana: well, you not saying anything doesnt help us, sooooo....*shrug* Shousaku: *sighs* "I encountered her earlier the last time I faced Kunikida." yana: oh? she his kid or something? Shousaku: "No, nothing like that. At least, not biologically." yana: ah, got ya. Shousaku: "...Why is your dad like this?" yana: ......he just is, from what i've seen. Shousaku: "And your mother?" yana:........*excalibur face* Shousaku: "...What? I don't like her much either, but she is your mother--" yana: it's........complicated. very complicated. Shousaku: "...Oh. You're adopted." yana:....you _could_ say that...ish. Shousaku: "And what do you get out of this? Out of putting explosives on people's necks?" yana: what do _i_ get?.... *shrugs* im honestly not sure. i mean, i sort of have a roof over my head, so i guess that's nice. Shousaku: "But isn't a parent supposed to do that, unconditionally?" yana: listen, im gonna level with you kid, my 'parentage' is really complicated to talk about, and you would probably not believe me, even _if_ i gave you the full details. Shousaku: "I'm stuck underground as a hostage, all because your dad has some hard-on over an ability user. Try to surprise me. I dare you." yana: well.....sit your ass down, it's a doozy. -elsewhere- Kid: *sighs* stocking: busy? Kid: "Just thinking...What's up?" -elsewhere- Fitzgerald: *holds up a Gundam model kit* mary: ooooh, that looks neat! louisa: *sweatdrop* Fitzgerald: "I'm so used to building ships in bottles, and this was on sale! Let's get started..." -elsewhere- Shamrock: *sits back in chair* x_____= naho: how was your day, sham? Shamrock: "I don't know...A bit exhausting despite how little was done. Yours?" -elsewhere- Kunikida: *washing dishes* -knocks- Kunikida: "???" *looks through peephole* naomi: *wave* Kunikida: *opens the door* "Yes?" naomi: what's up? Kunikida: "Was washing dishes after having dinner with Aya. You?" naomi: might we come in? Kunikida: " 'We'?" -she brought tanizaki with her- Tanizaki: owo;; *waves* Kunikida: "...Come in. What did you want to discuss?" -elsewhere- Benimaru: *mapping out something underneath the village* kabuki: ?? Benimaru: "There used to be smugglers who used tunnels underneath this village...Hide their loot before returning to claim it." kabuki: oh? Benimaru: "I need someone to navigate those paths for an exit out of this village--and to guard both the entrance and the exit." kabuki: is there a reason? Benimaru: "...Getting someone out of here. At least for awhile." kabuki: i see... Benimaru: "...You and Tsukiyo start digging out the tunnel. A fox and a rabbit should make quick work..." kabuki: understood. Benimaru: "Report directly to me or Konro--no one else." kabuki: right. -elsewhere- Todoroki: *looking at his superhero uniform* "..." fuyumi: shouto? i got dinner ready. Todoroki: "...Coming." *sets down his uniform, opens the door* "Thank you..." fuyumi: ... Todoroki: "...Is something wrong?" fuyumi: you ok? Todoroki: "...Same as ever..." rubs the back of his neck* -elsewhere- sonia: .... Chuuya: "...Sonia?" sonia: ....*hug* can we....see mama? Chuuya: "...Sure...Are you okay going to the...going there?" sonia:....*nods* Chuuya: "..." *pats her head* "Brave girl...We can head out now if you want." sonia: ...ok. Chuuya: *nods* "Okay. Put on your coat..." *picks up his keys and phone* -and so- sonia: *hugs the grave* Chuuya: "..." *his eyes are wet...* sonia: papa bought these for you. *puts a bouquet on the grave* Chuuya: *small smile, wiping his eyes* sonia: night, mama. we love you a lot, ok? Chuuya: *pats Sonia's back* "Yes..." sonia: *looks up at him* Chuuya: *tears falling* *hugs Sonia* sonia:....*hug* u.u Chuuya: *sniffs, cries* sonia: .... Chuuya: "L-Let's go home..." *sniff* sonia:...ok. Chuuya: *shaking, trying to walk to the car* -later- sonia: *asleep* Chuuya: *staring at a glass of bourbon* "..." mito: o^o~? Chuuya: *mindlessly pets Mito, still staring at the glass* "..." mito: *purrs* Chuuya: "..." TT_____TT *pushes the glass away, puts his hand over his face* mito: ?? Chuuya: *sobs* mito:...*nuzzles against his leg* Chuuya: "..." *picks up Mito, hugs her* mito: ^w^ Chuuya: *sniff, strokes Mito* mito: *soft purr* Chuuya: *closes his eyes* -elsewhere- yana: so that's basically how things work around here. you follow? Shousaku: o______o "...So...You're a test tube baby?" yana: more or less, yeah. Shousaku: "...And I'm held here...with an explosive...like everyone else?" yana: so far, it's just you two...and the other prisoners. Shousaku: "And I get the explosive just to keep me here? Why? What does your d--...your supervisor want with me?" yana: you'd have to bring that up with him, then. Shousaku: "..." -_____- "He was preoccupied." yana: -_-; say no more. keek: i dont know what that lady sees in him... yana: well, chapter 1, she's fucked in the head. Shousaku: "And he's using her when she's not all there upstairs?" yana: .....well, i think he's the reason she's like this now... Shousaku: "...What the hell did he do to her?" yana:.....it's not really my place to say. Shousaku: "..." *points to her computer* "You monitor people with cameras? Or is that thing just for Mario Kart?" -elsewhere- Akutagawa: "...What's wrong with you, Q?" Q: love bites. Akutagawa: "...Yes, it does." T_T Q:....do you want to lay on the floor too? Akutagawa: "..." *lies down, stares at the ceiling* TT_TT Q: TT3TT Mori: "...I can still advise you how to--" higuchi: advise them how to _what_? Mori: owo;;; "...Get the girl? Or boy? Whatever these fellows are desiring." higuchi:...*raising a brow at him* Mori: OWO;;;; "Higuchi could demonstrate! Tell Akutagawa what the Were-Tiger wants to hear..." higuchi: .... *awkward glance at akutagawa* Akutagawa: "...I can't imagine her as the Were-Tiger. She looks nothing like him." Q: no kidding. Mori: "...I can fix that!" *holds up an outfit that looks like Atsushi's...and a roll of tape* higuchi: *already fled* Mori: OWO;;;;; "Then who's going to wear this?" *holds up an outfit similar to aya’s* -elsewhere- Tanizaki: "Thanks for dessert!" naomi: ^^ Kunikida: "...You're welcome. I do not usually have people visiting." -elsewhere- Poe: o\\\\o lana: what's up? Poe: *looks at Lana* "...You look...beautiful." lana: ^///^ thanks. just thought i'd have my hair loose for a change. Poe: "It-It's a letty prook for you...I mean! Um, a pretty look for you..." lana: *smiles and pats his head* i appreciate it, edgar. *kiss on the cheek* Poe: ^\\\\^ "Th-Thanks..." -elsewhere- Touma: *sips wine* mafura: zzzzzz Touma: *adjusts camera* -elsewhere- Hyde: *soaked in soda* Q___Q -elsewhere- Patty: "--and then the princess sliced off the dragon's head, saving the prince." julie: Q-Q poor dragon. Patty: "...But the dragon was going to eat the prince." -elsewhere- Sakuya: *staring at the ceiling* naho: *asleep* lilac: *sleeping under the weighted blanket* Sakuya: "..." *leans his head near Naho's* naho: =w= Sakuya: *closes his eyes* =\\\= -early morning- Kid: *kitten yawn* stocking: morning~ Kid: =w= "Good...*yawn*...morning..." *hug* stocking: *huuuug* Kid: *smiles, as he kisses her cheek* "So nice..." -elsewhere- Dazai: "Zzz..." -alarm clock going off- Dazai: *smashes the alarm clock* -rip alarm clock- Dazai: =_______= *sits up in bed, stretches...looks at the time listed on the dead clock* -7:45 am- Dazai: *grunts, gets out of bed, leans back--snapping his back into position* "Okay..." *slips off his pajama pants, walks into the bathroom* -on the calendar, ango's birthday is listed for tomorrow- Dazai: "..." *light bulb* owo "Yay! Birthday!" *opens his window* "BIRTHDAY!" Bystander: "PUT ON SOME PANTS!" Dazai: "...Birthday suit!" -elsewhere- ango: o____.o; i had a bad feeling all the sudden.... -elsewhere- Kyoka: *tosses bunny plushie to Atsushi* atsushi: hmm? Kyoka: "...It's cute. Hug it." atsushi: *hugs* soft. *SNAP* atsushi: O_O;;;;;; what was that? Kyoka: *holding phone* "A photo." atsushi: oh. haha. ^^;;; Kyoka: *send* atsushi: *small smile* -elsewhere- Relan: *snores* shinra: zzzzz..... Relan: *turns over, his arm thrown over* shinra: =///= Relan: *hug* shinra: mmmmm~ Relan: *smooch* -elsewhere- Shotaro: "Look what I found!" *holds up a raccoon* mana: O-O;; Shotaro: "He was in the garbage can! I also found Assi and some sticky person." mana: *glances* Assi: *stuck in another can...with Mineta stuck on his head* "Kill me..." -elsewhere- Izuku: "Heading to the grocery, Mom! Need anything?" -elsewhere- Chuuya: "Zzz..." sonia: zzzzz.... Chuuya: *grunts...* *sits up* "...Rain..." -...you know she isnt here- Chuuya: "..." *covers his face* mito: *mew* Chuuya: *shakes his head, walks to the bathroom* sonia: zzzz.... Chuuya: *locks himself in the bathroom, sits on edge of the tub, putting his hands over his head* mito: *paws at the door* Chuuya: "..." *opens the door...stares at Mito* "..." mito: *she looks worried* Chuuya: *sits on the floor* "..." mito: *nuzzle* Chuuya: "..." *pets* mito: ^w^ Chuuya: *crying silently* sonia:.....*yawn* Chuuya: *shaking* sonia: papa? Chuuya: *lifts his head...his eyes are red* "...I'm sorry." sonia: *hug* Chuuya: *hug* "I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." sonia: u///u Chuuya: "I-I want to do all I can for you..." sonia: ... Chuuya: "I'm going to be there...because that's what your mother wants." sonia: .... -elsewhere- Bakugo: "Stupid, stupid, stupid..." eijiro: ??? Bakugo: "Not even in first place...Gonna need to do something desperate..." -elsewhere- Victor: *running* "DON'T KILL ME!" nozomi: ?!?! Victor: "I DIDN'T MEAN TO--" *ducks under a table* maki: GET OUT HERE! Victor: "NEVER!" *pulls a Nerf gun out from the table--and fires* maki: OW! Victor: owo;;;;; "I made it worse, didn't I?" -elsewhere- Kunikida: *knock knock* aya: hmm? Kunikida: "Checking in. Did you sleep?" aya: yep! thanks again for all this. Kunikida: "It is what must be done to expedite circumstances for you to acclimate yourself to this environment." aya:....huh? Kunikida: -___- "It was easy to get you an apartment than leaving you homeless." aya: ah...well, thanks a bunch ^^ Kunikida: "...What are you doing for today?" aya: i might just watch the sports festival today. Kunikida: "...Well..." *scratches his cheek* "If you want...the office has a big-screen TV..." aya: awesome! Kunikida: "...Very well. Follow me to the office." -elsewhere- midnight: the next round is....cavalry battle! ochako: cool! Mineta: "..." Q___Q "I suck at those..." midnight: -at the top, izuku midoriya is worth...ten million points! Izuku: ( | ) ~ ( | ) -eye glints from everywhere- Iida: *red eyes* Bakugo: *murderous red eyes* Izuku: ("Pressure. Under pressure. Pressing down on me...") midnight: alright everyone, get your teams ready! Izuku: *muttering* "I will have to think about who to include...Maybe him...Her? Yes...And maybe--" -everyone is avoiding him- Izuku: D: "U-Um, Ojiro?" -many surround Bakugo- Bakugo: o_____o Mineta: *waving his arms* Shouji! ???: hey deku! Izuku: Q_______Q "Huh?" ochako: want to be on a team? *smile* Todoroki: "!!!!" *turns, looking* Izuku: "URARAKA!!!!" *explosion of tears* ochako: *hammer space umbrella* well, wouldnt it make sense to team up with a friend? ^^ Izuku: "E-Even when everyone wants my ten million points?" ~_____~ Todoroki: "..." *he's sweating* ochako: sure. ^^ we still need two more teammates....!! iida! Iida: "..." *looks* "Yes?" Izuku: *happy face* "JOIN US!" Todoroki: "..." Iida: "...I'm listening." Iida: *looks at Ochaco* eijiro: oooi! bakugou! Bakugo: "...What?" eijiro: let's team up! *thumbs up* Bakugo: "...Why? All you can do is get hard." mina: phrasing, boom! eijiro: you want to get the ten-mil, right? Bakugo: "...You're one to talk, Raccoon Eyes. Got any handle on your--" *hears Eijiro* "...The hell did you just say?" eijiro: we can help you get the ten-mil! ^^ mina: im not a raccoon. Bakugo: "...And take down Deku..." *evil devil grin* mina: o-o;;; hanta: o.o;;; -with izuku's group- Izuku: "--and while Ochaco makes us weightless, you'll be the horse. That just leaves one more person as a rider, someone physically strong. I was thinking--" Iida: "I expect no less, Midoriya. But I decline." Izuku: owo;;;; "...What?" ochako: wait what?! D8 Iida: "You are wonderful friends, Uraraka, Midoriya. But if I want to be better, I can't depend on you alone. I have to get stronger. And it is not only Bakugo and Todoroki who see you as rivals..." *steps away...to Todoroki's team* Todoroki: "..." *whispers to Iida* "Did you manage to convince Uraraka--" Iida: "No. Stop asking." Todoroki: "...I-I was just curious." ochako: *sad face* well that's a bummer. ???: well well well, seems you two are in bit of a pickle here. ochako: yes, but-... 0-0 wait? mei: WANT TO TEAM UP WITH ME?! Izuku: "TOO CLOSE!" ochako: oh! you're the girl from the marathon! Izuku: "What are you--" mei: mei hatsume! support team student! nice to meet you! again! no doubt that they'll have their eyes on the number one winner, which means i'll be in the spotlight, and more importantly, my precious babies! Izuku: O_______O "...But you're so young." mei: in the support department, we work on equipment to make hero's quirks easier to use! ochako: oh. Thaaat’s what you mean! Izuku: "...Oh." .\\\. "Um...Oh! Is that a jetpack?" mei: yep! Izuku: "It looks like an exact replica of Buster Hero's! How did you do that? His agency used to be in my neighborhood! I remember seeing him..." *mutter mutter mutter* hitoshi:.....hey you. nirengeki: y-yes? -nirengeki's eyes glaze over- hitoshi: you're on my team, ok? nirengeki:....yeah. midnight: time's up! Monoma: *chuckles* Izuku: *putting on his headband* hitoshi: .... ochako: *determined* mei: hehehe~ Tokoyami: "Dark Shadow...Prepare." Dark Shadow: *roar* Izuku: "Let's do this!" midnight: get ready....BEGIN! Izuku: *sees two teams coming at him* O____O hagakure: we're gonna getchu, deku~ ^^ ochako: deku! the backpack! Izuku: O______O "R-Right! Ignition! Tokoyami, block--" Tokoyami: *tries to move--and looks down* "...Quicksand?" Izuku: "!!! Ochaco! Help us out!" *turns on jet pack to get them out of the quicksand* honezuki: you're not getting away _that_ easy! -FWEEEEEE- announcer: TEAM MIDORIYA HAS GONE AIRBORN! Tokoyami: "Not happening." *blocks* Izuku: "This is great, Mei! Your babies are amazing!" mei: arent they? ^^ Izuku: *nod nod* "I'll have to ask your help with more babies!" Dark Shadow: "PHRASING." ochako: we're making a landing! Sato: "Let's get them, Hagakure! Let's--" *looks up* "...Um, I think you're missing some clothes." jirou: dont stare at her per-......YOUR HEADBAND IS GONE! hagakure: OH NO! Sato: "Oh, sugar!" Monoma: *whistles, twirling headband* announcer: it's already chaos out there! Izuku: "!!! Shoji is coming at us! Ochaco, let's get back into the air!" ochako: on i-...IM STUCK?! O_O;; Izuku: "Wait...That's Mineta's ball! But where is he--?" Dark Shadow: *mutters* "Phrasing..." Mineta: "I'M EVERYWHERE!!!!" midnight: and bakugou's team is down to 0! Bakugo: *feels something sweep by his forehead* "What?!" Monoma: "I guess you won't need this..." mina: D8 HEY! Monoma: "It did not take a genius to realize what would be the next round--as the obstacle course was about thinning the herd, then raising the stakes in this round. Unlike you, jumping to the first action, Class 1B did long-term planning." mina: o-o; itsuka: o-o;;; oh no. Bakugo: "..." *smirks* "Long-term planning my ass. If you're so big on long-term planning, you wouldn't be some single loser with no chance of someone wanting to be around your unlikable ass." Monoma: "..." kosei: ouch. talk about a burn, and he's not even using his quirk. Monoma: *smirks* "Like he even has a handle on it." Bakugo: "...The fuck you say?" Monoma: "All this time at this school, and Bakugo is known for only one thing: getting trapped by the sludge monster." Bakugo: "..." Monoma: "It's so common, we might as well make it a yearly holiday: 'Bakugo gets captured day.'" Bakugo: *SNAP* "Kirishima...New plan..." eijiro: ?? .. O_O;;; um....baku- *Holy cow--he's on fire!* mina: O-O;;; hanta: O-O;;;;; Bakugo: "We're gonna get Deku...but first...I'M GONNA MURDER EVERY LAST ONE OF THESE CLASS 1 B MOTHERFUCKERS! (Excluding Itsuka...)" Monoma: "..." *smirks* shihai: well, this doesnt sound good. kosei: OwO;;; kaibara: i think we made him a bit too angry. eijiro: calm down man, he's just trying to get to your head! Bakugo: "NO, HE HASN'T!" *starts beating on Eijiro's head* "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR! CHARGE, MOTHER FUCKER, CHARGE!!!" Monoma: "Huh. Maybe I did. Well, time to dodge." mina: let's go! Izuku: "What's the damage?" ochako: um...i think we're cornered. Todoroki: "..." Iida: "..." Izuku: o_o;;; "...This is a competition." ochako: OwO;;; Mineta: "Hey! We lost my headband! Let's get Izuku's!" announcer: SO FAR THEY'VE MANAGED TO EVADE TODOROKI FOR 5 MINUTES! can they keep it up? Izuku: "...Oh, super-crap." Todoroki: "...Oh. Other teams are coming. Momo, the cloak, please." momo: right! Todoroki: "Denki, begin." -SHASHOCK- itsuka: ORORORORORO Sato: X______X Mineta: "I DON'T WANT TO DIE A VIRGIN LIKE THIS!!!" hiryuu: <shiiiiiii-> ochako: O-O;;; this is bad- Izuku: "At least they didn't get us..." Todoroki: "Now, freeze." *sends out blast of ice across the floor, entrapping other teams* "Iida..." ochako: !!! Iida: *nods, as he speeds across, snatching the other teams' headbands* denki: *SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAM* -denki is now pantsless- jurota:....are those pikachu print underpants? manga: "nice" Todoroki: "...Momo, we'll get him new pants later. Iida, work around his pantslessness. Dark Shadow: *whimper* Izuku: "??? Tokoyami...?" Tokoyami: "As I said, we're lucky that Dark Shadow could withstand even that light..." ochako: ... -grab- ochako: !!!! Izuku: "...Wh-What just happened?!" Iida: *panting...* "Recipro Burst...an ability I have not shown..." *smiles* "I told you, Midoriya: I am your rival." Izuku: Q____Q >_____< "CHARGE!!!!!!!" ochako: *charging forwards....making a small glance to the audience* (thinking: is that...?) Endeavor: "...What a weak fool." ochako: ....*focusing* Izuku: "..." (Ochako: "I have to become a hero, to help Mom and Dad...") "..." *charges his hand...* Todoroki: "!!!" *holds up his arm--which ignites* Endeavor: "..." *smiles* ochako: !!! announcer: 10 SECONDS LEFT! Izuku: ("Which is it...I'll just grab the one he flipped around...the top one!") *power up grab--knocking back the flames and Todoroki's hand* Todoroki: "AAAAH!" *his hand is hit, limp* Izuku: ("I'm so sorry, Todoroki...but this is mine!") *grabs the headband, escaping* -9...8....7...- Bakugo: "DON'T YOU DARE FORGET ME, YOU ICY-HOT BASTARD!" Todoroki: *holding his hand, panting* "My hand!" -6....5...4...- Izuku: *looks at the headband* "I got it! I got--" ._.;;;;; -70- Izuku: Q____Q "...Shit." -5...- Izuku: "Turn back! We got to--" -4...- Dark Shadow: *swings back* -3...2...- Todoroki: "????" *looks up at his head* "What?!" Bakugo: "AAAARG!" -BEEEEEEEP- midnight: time's up! Bakugo: *face-plant* *Price Is Right fail theme plays* person: *answers phone* yeah? announcer: in first place, team todoroki! denki: will someone please give me some pants? announcer: in second place, TEAM BAKUGOU! mina: whew. announcer: in third place is- eh? team shinsou?! hitoshi: thanks for the help. nirengeki: ....*blinks* w-wha? is it over already? Iida: "Momo made these for you, Denki." *holds up plaid pants* Bakugo: *banging his head against the ground* denki: .... QuQ ochako: ....hey deku. *points to tokoyami* Izuku: "Guys, I'm sorry I--" mei + ochako: *pointing to tokoyami* Izuku: "But I wanted to apologize--" Tokoyami: "Stop. And promise you won't cry." Izuku: "...Okay, I promise." Tokoyami: "When you hit Todoroki, you shook him. I tried to get the 10 million, and I failed. I am sorry." Izuku: "...But this is my fault--" Tokoyami: "But I got another." ochako: OoO mei: !! Dark Shadow: *holds the 519 headband* Izuku: "..." *geyser tears* Dark Shadow: "HE SAID NOT TO CRY!" Tokoyami: -____- announcer: in 4th place. TEAM MIDORIYA!! inko: *geyser tears* IIIZUUUUKUUUUU!!!! neighbor: *stomping* KEEP IT DOWN! inko: sorry! Neighbor #2: "Her son won something--you shut up, Frank!" frank: .n. *shuts up* ochako: ^^.....*looks over at todoroki* Todoroki: *clutching his hand...shaking...* ochako:....*looks up at the audience* Endeavor: "...Disappointing." *turns away for the exit* ochako: ..... Endeavor: *walks down the stairs* -elsewhere- Kunikida: "...That was quite impressive." aya: did you see them? they were like WOOOSH and KABLAM and NYYYYOOM! Kunikida: "Hmm. Yes. There were many explosions...Would you be interested in attending the games in person?" aya: *shiny eyes* for reals?? Kunikida: "We have favors to call in. And some of our members are participating in the games." aya: woah really?? -elsewhere- miura: that was quite a spectacle, sir. Mori: "...Who was that boy?" miura: *looking it up* neito monoma. a UA student. Mori: "A UA student, who has stayed under the radar this long? He has a quirk?" miura: yes. being able to copy the quirk of anyone he touches for 5 minutes, but he is only able to use one at a time. Mori: "Hmm...Ask Akutagawa to keep an eye on that boy." miura: understood, sir. Mori: *smiles, sips his drink* -elsewhere- Benimaru: "Get in the hole." Mr. Tsubaki: "I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THE HOLE!" Benimaru: "Do I have to force you into that hole?" Mr. Tsubaki: "I'm too big for your hole!" Benimaru: "No, you're not. Just push yourself in--" Tsukiyo: *outside* O\\\\\\\o *brain has broken* kirei: ^^; Mr. Tsubaki: "Fine! I'll hide in your stupid, smelly hole." Benimaru: *nods* fang-hua: you know he means the tunnels, right? Tsukiyo: *squishes Fang-Hua's cheeks* "Don't ruin this...for me..." fang-hua:.... -.-; Mr. Tsubaki: "...Where does it go?" Benimaru: "Just follow the path. I have someone waiting for you." Mr. Tsubaki: "???" -elsewhere- Sakuya: "..." *his hands are shaking* "I-I-I don't believe this..." naho: is something wrong? Sakuya: *holds up a photo...of him as a baby* naho: .... !!! Sakuya: "It-It's from the hospital..." naho: ....sakkun... Sakuya: Q_____Q naho:....*hugs* Sakuya: *hug* Y______Y -elsewhere- ango: ._____..; kirako: ^^; Kunikida: -_______- "I was going to spend a quiet evening organizing my books." ango: -_.-; Dazai: "Come on--you two needed to come out! In public. For fun. That's all I meant." kirako: ^^; Kunikida: "..." *eyeglass flash* "Which is why you promised to pay for Ango's meal, yes?" Dazai: OWO;;;; "...Huh?" ango: did you forget what tomorrow is? any birthdays? *glasses shine* Dazai: OWO;;; *looks into his wallet* "...My poor babies...Daddy has to give you away to buy food..." ango: -__.-; please dont refer to yourself as 'daddy'. Kunikida: "The thought of you procreating is repugnant." Dazai: Q_________Q kirako: ^^; Kunikida: "Ango, what will you be ordering? Something expensive, I imagine." -elsewhere- Bakugo: "GET BACK HERE, YOU SMUG, SMIRKING PIECE OF SHIT!" Monoma: *dodging* "Sorry, can't hear you!" hanta: come on, you already won, bakugo- Bakugo: "I WAS GOING TO RIP THE POINTS OFF OF DEKU BEFORE THIS ASSHOLE GOT IN THE WAY, ALL BECAUSE HE KEEPS HARASSING ITSUKA! I'M GOING TO BEAT HIS ASS, THEN I'M GOING TO BEAT DEKU'S ASS, THEN I'M GOING TO LOCK TODOROKI IN A REFRIGERATOR AND TOSS IT OFF A CLIFF!" hanta:.....holy cow. mina: .-.; eijiro:....*softly, but with a lot of emotion* bruh. Todoroki: *leaving the nurse's office, his sprained wrist healed* "..." ("I screwed up...I wasn't supposed to awaken it...") ochako: hey todoroki. ^^ congrats on making first! Todoroki: "..." *stares at her* ochako: ....how's your wrist? Todoroki: "It's fine." *turns* ochako: ....is something bothering you? Todoroki: "...Why did you work with Midoriya?" ochako: eh? well, because we're friends. ^^ plus he looked lonely, i dont want anyone to feel left out. Todoroki: "What if I wanted you on my team?" ochako: me? *points to herself* then maybe tsuyu would have joined deku's team then? Todoroki: "And if you were on my team, your weightlessness could have been helpful..." ochako: i guess it would have been. ^^ Todoroki: "...You...did well out there." ochako:.... *smiles* thanks. Todoroki: "...Well, I should get something to eat." -\\\- -elsewhere- Rin: "Yay, Izuku!" Death the Kid: Izuku: ^\\\\^ madoka: congrats on winning 4th! kyouko: not bad. shinra: you did awesome out there, man! Izuku: ^\\\^ "I-I couldn't have done it without my team..." Dark Shadow: *gobbling another apple* mei: ^^ hmm? where did the gravity girl go? Izuku: "Oh...She said she wanted to check on Todoroki." mei: ah, i see. Izuku: "...I hope he's okay...I didn't mean to hit his hand so hard...but that fire--" shinra: it didnt seem like the same kind of fire that i use, or anyone with an ignition ability, really. Izuku: "I thought the same...I think it has to do with Todoroki inheriting his ability as a Quirk, whereas Ignition Abilities...well, you had told me..." shinra: *nods* Izuku: "...Something not hereditary but...transmitted..." shinra: ?? tsuyu: hey izuku. Izuku: "!!! H-Hey, Tsuyu--Tsu! Um...I'm sorry about the competition." tsuyu: it's fine, no hard feelings, right? Izuku: ^\\\^ "R-Right...You have dinner yet?" -elsewhere- Yohei: *holding up burnt pasta* o___O -elsewhere- Endeavor: *standing outside the stadium* All Might: "Been a long time...Endeavor." ochako: ?? *peeeeek* Endeavor: "..." *flames higher* "All Might..." All Might: "...Happy to see you! Let's get ice cream!" ochako: *listening* Endeavor: "Get out of my sight. As if I'd have ice cream with you--" All Might: "Oh, right--sorry! That was insensitive! We'll get something hot--" Endeavor: "I don't want any damn tea!" ochako: ... (thinking: jeez, mr endeavor's a jerk.) All Might: "...I just wanted to congratulate you and Little Shoto. That was an impressive victory, all without using his left side. I know someone is raising him well--which is why I wanted to ask for your help in training the next generation--" Endeavor: "..." *chuckles* "That happy-go-lucky attitude of yours...That is your undoing. It pisses me off." All Might: *tiny voice* "I-I'm sorry--" ochako: *glare* (thinking: wow, he's _really_ a jerk! ) Endeavor: "I didn't raise that boy. I created him." All Might: "...Huh?" ochako: ?? Endeavor: "That rebellious little brat...I made him for one purpose: to surpass you!" All Might: "...Eh?!" ochako: ?! Endeavor: "I'm gonna make sure he surpasses you...With the power of that mother of his, and my power, all he needs is the right motivation...His mother made sure to give him that. Now he'll desire to surpass me...surpass you...to be the best hero. My blood in his veins will make sure of that. Say goodbye to all that fame, All Might..." *sneers* "It's mine now." ochako:.....*exits* ....(thinking: todoroki....) All Might: "Um...Okay...Well...Good...talk?" Endeavor: "Go fuck yourself." All Might: o____O Endeavor: *leaves* -elsewhere- Lucy: Q_____Q "Oh no..." atsushi: what's wrong?? Lucy: "I...kinda put a bet on who would win the round in the Sports Festival." atsushi: o-o oh. with who? ranpo: YEAH! hello 20 bucks! welcome to my wallet! Lucy: >______< "T-Take it, you overgrown child!" *tosses money at Ranpo, hugs her plushie* ranpo: ^^ Kyoka: "Too bad. I guess it doesn't pay to bet against someone thinking four steps ahead." atsushi: (thinking: im convinced he may be an esper in some way...) *a knock against the door, as it sounds like someone has dropped a body there* atsushi: O-O;; Dazai: *collapsed in front of the door* TT____TT atsushi: um.... ._.; kirako: *helping him to the couch* Dazai: "My money...All my money..." Kunikida: *enters* "...I brought dessert." Kyoka: "Mine." atsushi: ^^; Kyoka: *offers a slice of cake to Ranpo* Lucy: "So, you get your date's number--" Kunikida: *glare* Lucy: "Eep!" *hides behind Atsushi* -elsewhere- Kid: *changing into pajamas* stocking: *in negligee* Kid: *smiles* "Looks great on you." stocking: thanks~ but i bet it'd look better on the floor~ Kid: o\\\\o "...I-I would have to do a comparison to check..." -elsewhere- Shousaku: *looking at a Bible* "Whose is that?" yana: that would be the padre's. leo: i shall return this to him. *picks it up and walks off* Hawthorne: *writing onto scraps of paper* leo: *knocking* pastor. you forgot this. Hawthorne: "...Oh. Thank you." *holds out his hand* leo: *hands it to him* Hawthorne: "...Do you like sermons?" leo: i dont have the time today. perhaps some other time. *she walks away* Hawthorne: "..." *hugs his book* YY____YY leo: ... Hawthorne: *sniffs, opens his book...continues writing* -elsewhere- Todoroki: "Oh, you're back." ochako: ...just had to use the facilities. ^^ Todoroki: "...Ah..." *looks at the clock* "...Are you returning home?" ochako: *nods* Todoroki: "...I'll walk you home." ochako: ... *thinking about what endeavor said...* Todoroki: "...What?" ochako: ....you want dinner with us? ^^; Todoroki: "...'Us'?" ochako: me and my family? Todoroki: "...Would they mind?" ochako: i'll call and ask. ^^ Todoroki: "...I would like that." ochako: ^^ -elsewhere- Victor: X________X -elsewhere- katya: *siiigh* bored....im gonna get something to drink... Shousaku: *in the kitchen* katya: who let you outta your cell, brat? Shousaku: "...I said I wanted a glass of water. The guard led me here." katya: ah. yana:...*smug smile* Shousaku: "You wanted a drink, too?" yana: nah. i told zoey that fyodor wanted some tea, so she went to bring him some....meanwhile ivan is _also_ bringing him tea. i have the camera set up. want to watch? katya: oh hell yeah! this is gonna be good, i can tell! Shousaku: "??? Why would that be a problem?": yana: oh dont worry, my dude. this is gonna be hysterical. zoey: *entering the room....at the same time as ivan....* *smiles, twitching slightly* Ivan: "...Hello, Miss Lewis." zoey: .....might i....ask what you're doing? *hands shaking.* Ivan: "To tend to Master Dostoevsky. He asked me for tea." zoey: what a coincidence...master fyodor...asked the same of me.... -murderous aura- pushkin: *turns the corner...spots them....turns and walks away* nope nope nope nope not touchin that nope. Ivan: *smiles...shaking* "That seems unlikely. Master Dostoevsky would not want to trouble you. He knows how difficult it is for you to make tea as he desires." zoey: i would...gladly...go out of my way for him. ^^# Ivan: "Oh, I know, Miss Lewis. But let's face it--you do have difficulty following instructions." zoey: *vein burst* i always....do as...master asks...of me... ^^## katya: *malicious chuckle* yana: *whistle* how she gonna recover from that one? Ivan: "...You try. But sometimes, Master Dosyoevsky wants someone who knows how to fulfill his every desire...Otherwise, if he was already fulfilled, I don't think he would be asking me." katya: OH! dang that gotta sting. zoey: *snarling* Ivan: "And there we go, with the snarling, like the bitch you are--" zoey: why y-you little- keek: um...excuse me? Ivan: "Yes, child?" keek: i was just....wanting to know where the bathroom was? QuQ zoey: *opens the door and goes in* Ivan: "!!!" *pushes past Keek to get to the door before he's locked out* keek: *knocked over* >< Ivan: *pushes his way inside* Shousaku: "!!!" FD: "...Zoey. Ivan. What the hell?" zoey: y-your tea master fyodor! yana: do we have a tie on our hands? lets see what the judge has to say. Ivan: "I made it just as you want it!" *pushes into Zoey* FD: O_O "Um, be careful--" zoey: >^< -nice catch- yana: his tea didnt even drop. katya: we have a winner for this round! FD: "..." *looks at the tea...sips* zoey: D8 ..... *hateful glare at ivan* Ivan: *smiles at FD* "I only wish to serve you, Master~" *smirks at Zoey* FD: "Not bad." zoey: *shaking* FD: "Let's try Zoey's." Ivan: D8 "What?" zoey: *shiny eyes* yana: OOOOOH PLOT TWIST! FD: *sips her cup* "...What did you add to this, Zoey?" zoey: i put my own blood into it. yana: .....im not even shocked. katya: ew. Ivan: O_______O Shousaku: "..." *dry heave* FD: "...Zoey, we need to talk about that..." zoey: do you...not like it? FD: "Did you add it because of my condition?" zoey: i wanted....to be a part of you....<3 Ivan: "..." ("She's mad...") FD: "..." *smiles* "But Zoey, you're already part of me..." zoey: ah~<3 yana: ugh, massive cringe points. katya: he's doing this to troll us, i just know it. *gag* FD: *strokes a finger under her chin* Ivan: "S-Sir! I could...I could..." zoey: *small glare back at ivan* FD: *looks at Ivan* "You could what?" Ivan: O______O "...I could let you lick more of her blood!" leo: ..... (thinking: ivan....) *sigh* FD: "..." *looks at Zoey* zoey: would you....like that, master? FD: "...Sure, why not." Ivan: *already holding a knife* zoey: *slicing into her shoulder with her scalpel* Ivan: D:< FD: "..." *smiles, as he licks up the blood* zoey: ah~ u////u Ivan: "...Sir, I--" leo: .... FD: *presses Zoey down onto his bed* zoey: ah~! Ivan: "..." *sets his tea down on the table...turns to leave* leo:....ivan. try not to be too disheartened... *she seems concerned* Ivan: *slams the door shut behind him, storms forward--knocking Keek down again* keek: >^< WHY leo: ....ivan? will you be alright? Ivan: "I'm fine!" *keeps walking* leo:....do you want something to drink? Ivan: "...Sure." leo:....*small smile* -elsewhere- Monoma: Q_____Q pony: sorrya ya didnt make it to da next round, nate. Monoma: "I thought the plan was perfect..." pony: ?? Monoma: "How did that hot-head break through defenses?" kaibara: he seemed pretty pissed off....scary. Monoma: "No kidding...He's like a villain." student: and interesting way to call the kettle, pot. Monoma: "NAME ONE VILLAINOUS THING I HAVE EVER DONE!" kaibara: stalking itsuka, harassing bakugou for talking to itsuka, lying about owning a Rolex. Monoma: "I DIDN'T KNOW IT SAID 'FOLEX!'" kaibara: you own and show off a bootleg watch. and that's terrible. Monoma: "..." *takes off the watch, puts it in his pocket* "There. Better?" -elsewhere- Todoroki: "...This is your home?" ochako: yep. Todoroki: "It looks...cozy." mama uraraka: welcome home honey! ochako: hey mom! mama uraraka: yuu came over today too. yuu: welcome home. ochako: hey yuu! *hug* Todoroki: "...???" ochako: todoroki, this is my cousin, yuu. yuu, mom, this is my friend from school, todoroki. mama uraraka: nice to meet you. Todoroki: "...Likewise, ma'am." *holds out his hand* -elsewhere- Joker: Q________Q "So cold..." scarlet: i have the heat on. Joker: *shakes ice cubes out of his socks* scarlet:...im not even going to ask. Joker: *puts his feet near a portable heater* =\\\\\= -elsewhere- Relan: *with a laptop* "..." iris: whats up? Relan: "...Just looking at an outfit..." -elsewhere- Kid: *purrs* stocking: *sigh* how was that~? Kid: *smiles* "Perfect..." *cuddle* stocking: ^^ *smooch* Kid: ^\\\\^ "Stocking..." *pats her inner thigh* stocking: ah~ Kid: *small massage of her thigh, as he rests his head against her shoulder* -elsewhere- Izuku: *in his All Might pajamas, writing notes* "--then Dark Shadow's abilities in absolute darkness would be its power at its greatest..." -elsewhere- Bakugo: *grumbling, holding a bowl of melted ice cream* papa bakugou: you did great today, son. ^^ Bakugo: "It wasn't first. How is that 'great'?" papa bakugou: at least you made it to the next round, right? Bakugo: "And when I get there, I'm going to beat Deku into the ground!" -elsewhere- Akitaru: *looking at old newspaper articles* shinra: ?? Akitaru: "This is what newspapers covered after...what happened to my family." *sets it down...there are images of firefighters, Akitaru with his head buried in his hands* shinra:......*his stomach drops....and he just hugs akitaru* ........ Akitaru: "!!! ..." *pats his back* "I didn't mean to upset you..." shinra:.....its fine.... Akitaru: "I just...was thinking something here has to show a link...I don't think this was an accident." shinra: .... Akitaru: "The bugs...Human combustion...Something just seems connected." shinra:.... (thinking: those dreams too...) Akitaru: "I want to be careful going into the Nether. Giovanni is a smooth talker--he can confuse people with his pseudo-intellectual stuff. So don't fall for it." shinra:... *he nods* Akitaru: "Let's review these files in the morning. Get some sleep, son." shinra:....ok, night dad. Akitaru: *smiles* "Night." *pats his back* -early morning- Todoroki: "Zzz..." fuyumi: *making breakfast* Todoroki: *sits up* =_____= -elsewhere- Black Star: "Zzz..." Sakuya: *yawns* lilac: zzzz tsubaki: morning. Sakuya: "Hey...Sleep okay?" tsubaki: *nods* you? Sakuya: "More or less...Weird dream about...childhood." tsubaki:....want to talk about it? *making tea* Sakuya: "...You have baby photos?" tsubaki: *she nods and gets out a photo album* .....*sad smile* Sakuya: "...We never had many photos...That's your brother?" tsubaki: *she nods* ... Sakuya: "The family resemblance is strong...He looks tall." tsubaki: ....*she nods....wiping her eyes* Sakuya: "...I'm sorry...I...know a bit about that." tsubaki: i-it's fine. Sakuya: "...I miss her." tsubaki: ?? Sakuya: "M-My sister..." tsubaki:....*pats his back* Sakuya: "..." *hug* -elsewhere- Patty: *serving seven stacks of pancakes* stocking: *nom* Kid: Q___Q "I wanted another one..." stocking: you can have one of mine. Kid: TTWTT "Thank you..." stocking: ^^ Patty: *puts a dollop of blueberry jam on her pancake* -elsewhere- -rain begins to fall- Chuuya: *looking out a window* sonia: *brushing her doll's hair* Chuuya: "Really coming down hard out there..." sonia: *looks out the window* ... Chuuya: "...Raining cats and dogs, as they say..." sonia:...but i dont see any, besides mito. mito: *mewl* Chuuya: *chuckle* "It's an expression. Just means a lot of water coming down." sonia: oh....*looks up* do you think the sky is sad today? Chuuya: "...Maybe. Not sure why it'd be..." sonia:....do you think it misses mama too? Chuuya: "...It wouldn't surprise me." sonia: .... Chuuya: "A lot of people miss her..." sonia:....*hug* Chuuya: *hug* -elsewhere- keek:.....*hearing the sound*.... !!! *running towards it* (thinking: rain drops....i-i can hear rain drops!!) *drip drip drop drip* keek: *running so fast she's practically tripping on her own feet.....she can see a light from the outside....tears falling down her cheeks* ah... ???: "...Things I almost remember, and a song someone sings..." keek: *paralyzed with fear* ......*eyes wide, pupils shrunk....she slowly looks behind her* FD: "...safe and warm..." *aims* keek: *making a beeline for the exit, screaming* FD: "...prance through a silver storm..." *BANG* keek: *collapses as she feels a sharp pain in her right calf* !!!! ... *crawling to the exit, tears still falling from fear* FD: *already standing over her...puts a heel on her hand* keek: AH! *looking up, terrified* i....i do...i dont.... FD: "..." *aims at her head* keek: *crying* I DONT WANT TO DIE!!! FD: "Then why do you run?" keek: *screaming* S-SOMEONE! HELP ME! PELASE!! ???: "What are you doing to her?!" FD: *eyeroll--as he fires a shot just past her leg* keek: !!! Hawthorne: "She is already terrified! I think she got your message..." keek: *sobbing, trying to get away, but about to pass out from the pain* zoey: shall i.....put the pastor back in line?....then take care of the patient? FD: "...Tend to the patient first." zoey: of course. *she drags zoey back into the darkness of the tunnels as she screams and cries for help* keek: *glancing up at some text on the wall...* -Zverkov Mining- -elsewhere underground- pushkin: ?? hey gon, kat, did you hear those gun shots too? katya: *already has her guns out* are we under attack? Ivan: *follows the sound* leo: !! keek: *fainted* zoey: oh she isnt dead....yet anyway. Ivan: "And you're cracking jokes while she's bleeding out?" leo: ._.; zoey: *just drags her to medical* katya: looks like she got shot. Ivan: "Yes...But why--" FD: "Because." Ivan: o\\\w\\\o yana: guessin she tried to run? FD: "Yes. Make sure she doesn't again." yana: i could tell. FD: "So, keep an eye on her." -elsewhere-

@toolwithatrade happy birthday!!! I've only been following for a bit but I adore top femmes and I would adore being able to take you on a nice date, go for a walk in a park on a sunny day and then maybe if we're able to find a secluded spot I could get on my knees and worship you, kiss up your thighs, subtly grind against your leg as I start to take the tip of your cock into my mouth. God I'd whine at feeling the weight of it on my tongue.

Hii 🥰🥰

that really does sound like a perfect date <3 it would feel perfect drooling over my cock, huh? perfect getting your knees or the front of your jeans dirty for me? walking around with dirty knees for the rest of the date for everyone to see? so they know what a cock whore you are?