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ultralightpoe · 3 months

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Pinky Promises - Chapter One

Authors Note: Yeahhhhh baby. Chapter one is out.

Word Count: 8,316 Main Masterlist

Series Masterlist

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Song of the Chapter : Hungry Like The Wolf

September 17th, 1983 - Saturday

“When I marry rich the first thing I’m doing is buying Eddie better taste in music.” Cece Miller mutters angrily whilst following her best friend through an over packed house 30 minutes outside of Hawkins, keeping a freshly manicured hand wrapped around the blondes wrist to keep her close as both their feet stumble across the floors. Via’s heavy boots thud against the linoleum of the kitchen while Cece’s heels click. The complete opposites.

When Via stumbles under the harsh new light of the kitchen her hand pulls Cece who stumbles as well, the former trying not to laugh when Cece’s face smushed into her back quickly with a disgruntled gasp.

“Slow down, Via.” She grounds out, her nails digging into the flesh of Via’s arm which makes her gasp out in pain.

“Easy on the flesh, I’m going as slow as I can. Unless you want to be stuck between a bunch of people grinding?” She teases, reaching her free hand behind her to release some of the tension of Cece’s hold. Both of them back up with a simple step as a random jock in a letterman jacket dashes past to the bathrooms. “And so the mighty are already falling.”

“Jesus.” Cece grimaces as they both watch him shove past others. “I can never tell if I love these types of parties or hate them.”

“A bit of both as I’ve come to realize. You know, from all my years attending them.” A shit eating grin spreads across her face as she turns to look at her friend, biting back a laugh when the brunette merely rolls her eyes as she smooths out her hair.

“How could I forget? Show me your partying ways ‘oh wise one’.” She mocks a little bow as she says it. The both of them already knew that their only experience of parties came from this past summer and this school year, and even then it’s whenever they can trick their parents.

“Well we’ve already had a couple drinks-”

“Whoope.”

“And Eddie is still playing this trash metal music-”

“Are you shocked?”

“So another round of drinks and then we go on a hunt for the damn speakers and switch out the music for something worth a damn.” Via offers, wiggling her eyebrows as Cece cracks out into a fit of laughter.

“Mission accepted. Let’s get moving.” With that she takes the lead, Via having to grab onto her wrist to stay connected as they once again make their way through the hectic floor. Bumping shoulders with partygoer after partygoer.

Cecelia Miller was a force of nature in settings like this. She was one of the few girls that knew how beautiful she was and flaunted it well. She wore short skirts, that had once been longer skirts her mother thrifted but the girl had a knack of turning anything into her fashion. 10 minutes on a sewing machine and she was wearing the type of clothes that could have been in one of those lame fashion magazines Via had seen her obsess over day after day.

It was a shame her fashion sense and beauty had earned her the label of ‘School Slut’ at Hawkins when anyone that knew the girl knew she was a virgin. But that didn’t matter to any of the assholes at school, they didn’t truly care about anyone else but themselves.

Tonight she wore a skintight black skirt that had once been a pair of pleather pants, and a pink off the shoulder top that had once been a long sleeve floral shirt that Cece’s grandmother would wear to their church.

Via’s own outfit had been one of Cece’s creations. A tight purple and black checkered dress hemmed from one of her sister's old ankle length skirts with a pair of pantyhose and an overly large gray blazer. When Via had thrown the blazer on she felt the same nervous bubbling she used to get whenever she tried on Nana's homemade dresses.

Cece’s face always held the same amount of excitement her Nana’s once held whenever she looked at her creations. It always made something churn in her gut as she remembered the worn lines of her Nana’s face and the happiness laid in her eyes. But that was gone. Her Nana was gone.

And Harrington had laughed.

But she couldn’t think about that memory right now, not when her friend had led them both to the kitchens and had snatched two cups. As she inspected the insides of the cups to make sure they are clean, Via moves to find the last unopened bottle of vodka and turns to pour them out.

Her father once said something about ‘yin and yang’ the first time Cece had spent the night at the old house. He laughed about how well they worked with each other, smooth and unbreakable. Working in tandem as they did the dishes or homework. Each others exact opposites and still never missing a beat.

That carried to this day, and Via truly had no clue what she would do without her friend.

“Do you want coke or lemonade?” Cece asks, still holding both the cups as she looks over to where the chasers were.

“The cap to the coke is lost. Better safe than sorry.” Via hums out and grabs the lemonade to pour into the cups while Cece keeps an eye around them. Once both of them are filled enough the lemonade is set half haphazardly on the table again and Cece passes a cup to Vias outstretched hand easily, scoffing a bit when the bleach blonde tries drinking before cheers. “Sorry sorry.”

“Cheers to us, bitch.” Cece giggles, wiggling side to side in excitement before she gestures for Via to cheers her back.

“Cheers to…” Surviving another year at Hawkins, not killing anyone and passing grades. “Being here?”

“Terrible toast. You’re never speaking at my wedding.”

“You mean when you marry a rich man?”

“Don’t laugh. I’ll buy you all the nice art supplies you want when I’m making the money.” She huffs once more, glaring at the boy that tries to come up and talk to them with his shirt off. “A little busy here? Find someone else to bother.”

He grumbles something under his breath before storming off and she merely rolls her eyes. “Ugh. Everyone here is disgusting.”

“How shocking that you think people are disgusting.” Via mocks, giggling at her friends' annoyed expression before they tap their cups together and pinch their noses to chug the drinks quickly.

They move to pour one last round before they abandon the kitchen and stagger their way across the floor in search for where the music was being played from. Their hands stay entwined tight, always keeping close no matter what. It was one of the rules they made at the first party they had ever been to after a risky interaction with one of the freaks Eddie had invited from that bar he always went to.

Now, no matter what party they went to, one of them had to keep their hands on the other. Like the buddy system in kindergarten.

“Okay so get into Eddie’s mindset.” Cece giggles, leading them into a hallway that has a little room to loiter. “I’m some sort of evil genius that throws random ragers which are just ruses to torture a crowd with my shit music. Where do I hide the radio?”

“Up his ass probably.” Via laughs, fanning her hand out to cool herself down a bit. Sweat began to cling to the back of her neck. “Do you have a hair tie?”

“Shhhhh I am thinking.” Cece snaps, putting her hand up to the blonde's face as she looks around.

“Or we can follow a chord from one of the speakers?” Via offers, snatching her friend's hand and stealing a hair tie from the slender wrist and putting her hair up while the other girls gasps in excitement.

“You are a genius. And not the evil kind like your cousin.” She exclaims before moving to find a speaker and before they know it they are following the chord to the radio and hijacking it to a different station. The crowd is a mix of boos and excited chants as dancing begins downstairs.

They escape the scene of the crime, giggling the entire time, especially when Via trips on the bottom step of the staircase leading back down to the living room area where most of the dancing was beginning.

Hungry Like The Wolf begins blasting through the speakers and Cece yells in excitement, dragging Via the last couple steps towards the dance floor and throwing them both in without a second thought.

1 song turned to 3 more. Which turned to 5 more songs and by the time Via managed to drag Cece away from the crowd and out the door, the sweat that had covered most of her skin sent chills down her spine as it soaks up the cold night air.

Cece leans against the railing close to the door, leaning back and fixing her hair so the air can hit her face a little better while Via staggers to the opposite railing with her eyes closed as every muscle in her body relaxes, wrapping the oversized blazer around herself to preserve some warmth.

“It’s not warm looking cool is it?” A voice from below the porch snaps her out of the calm daze, scaring her a bit before she blinks away the blurriness and finds her cousin sitting in the grass of the lawn smiling from ear to ear. “You the little shit that switched my music?”

The scent of caramel and sweat fill Via’s senses as Cece joins her side with an overdramatic huff. “The music you were playing sucked. So you can’t pull your better than thou attitude with us.”

“Hello, Cecelia.” Eddie grins, leaning against the wall of the house as he stares up at her. “You both would be a lot warmer if you dressed like me, you see I have a leather jacket and a flannel because unlike you I-”

“Look like a dweeb?” Cece scoffs, using her fingers to swiper under her eyes in an attempt to clean the makeup that had pooled there.

There is a slam of a car door not far off that pulls Via’s attention as the two around her continue their small argument, but the people getting out of the car have fully grabbed all of her attention. The three boys in the Hawkins jerseys all shoving each other drunkenly and laughing like maniacs as they stagger across the lawn to get to the front door.

Via watches for a moment, waiting to see if another figure would emerge, one that she knew like the back of her hand. When he doesn’t she takes a deep breath in and turns back to where her cousin was still sitting and hauls herself up onto the railing to throw her body over. The only problem was she had a little too much to drink so it’s not as smooth as she would like it to be and she ends up just falling forward.

Cece gasps out and it’s like a slow motion horror story as Via watches the ground come at her quickly, or well maybe she was coming at the ground too quickly but who's to say? Before she can really crash her cousin is there, laughing as he takes most of the hit and they both sprawl across the dirt and grass.

It takes her a moment to catch her breath since the fall knocked the wind out of her lungs, and by the time she finally does she has to pick herself up off the ground to spot Cece climbing through the rails rather than over them.

Eddie groans in pain as he dashes to help her before the jocks hit the porch, all three of them ducking down so the clowns in jock jackets don’t see them.

“Is there a reason you are hiding in the bushes?” Via taunts, still a little out of breath from her fall and her back shooting with pain.

“Party got a little boring.” He shrugs, leaning against the wall again as his hand pats down his jacket before he pulls a sandwich baggie with a joint and a lighter tossed into it. “Needed a break.”

“You fell down here after leaning on the railing.” Via guesses which makes her cousin lean to punch her shoulder harshly. She grunts in pain once more before slapping his arm back and before he can hit back Cece leans to snatch the joint from him while he is distracted.

“Of course. You two follow me out here just to team up on me as usual. This will not stand, you hear me?” Eddie rants, shaking his head. “I’m putting my foot down, Cecelia.”

“Don’t say my name like that, Edward.” She snaps, lighting the rolled up joint and taking in a deep inhale before passing it to Via. Eddie whines in the background as Via follows her friend's lead before handing it to Eddie finally.

“Do you ladies like…. My humble abode?” He squints, gesturing to the big house behind him before smoking as well, watching both of the girls look at the house fully now.

“How do you even find these houses?” Via questions, closing her eyes and laying down as the dizziness threatens to consume her.

Eddie had made a habit of throwing parties in houses for sell, empty and out of town bounds. An idea Cece gave him the last time Hopper caught him with weed, he had gotten into a lot of trouble and she was upset. So now the parties are in houses where Hopper couldn’t find them, and Eddie could sell to people from other towns.

“Oh it’s so easy. I simply read a newspaper and look for open houses then I go to the open house and look up what time they close and once I’m sure they are closed up for the night I break in - which isn’t a crime if I don’t get caught so do not make that face at me Cecelia-”

“Hate when you call me that Edward.” She grunts.

“-And then I call a random number to a different school from a telephone that cannot be traced-”

“A payphone.”

“Olivia, please I am trying to lay out my master scheme here. Anyways I call from a phone that cannot be traced to a random student from different schools and tell them the address for the night so I can never be tracked. It’s so simple.”

“I think you need help, Edward.” Via hisses, sitting up to flick his nose before Cece lays down to put her head in Via’s lap and close her eyes. They sit in silence for a moment, just taking a deep breath in as the party is still loud and booming within the house. Hungry Like The Wolf begins to play through the speakers again.

“I hate you guys for changing the music.” Eddie groans.

“This party blew before we did that so lose the tone Edward.” Cece mumbles with her eyes still closed.

“How are things going with you two? It’s been forever since I have seen you both.” He is quick to change the subject.

“We saw you yesterday.” Via reminds him, leaning back on her palms to relax as he relights his joint and Cece hums out while still using her friend as a pillow. No matter how many parties they went to somehow they always ended up sitting alone and gossiping about the dumbest things possible. Did that make them lame?

Via didn’t think so but Steven Harrington would probably disagree. Just the thought of his stupid face has her clenching her jaw and imagining ways to hit him with a car. But the thoughts betray her, just as they always do. It goes from hitting him with a car to remembering his face that night.

When she had heard the news about Nana, when she panicked and ran to the one person she thought would make her feel better. But she should have known better, she should have known that he wasn’t who she thought he always was.

Eddie had warned her long before that and her freshman year had proven as much. But she was still a fool, and she was upset and he had been so drunk .

The glassiness of his eyes made her stomach sink, the wet of the grass digging into her socks as she tries to process her next words.

“My Nana is gone…” She sobs, and he only blinks.

“Are you crying?” He slurs and she can’t tell if he can hear her or not. When she does go to respond she is interrupted by the sound of Tommy Hagan cackling behind Steve.

He turns to stare at Tommy and Ollie watches in slow time as his chest begins to rise and fall with… laughter. Steve was laughing. At her.

“Via? Helloooo?” Eddie calls, snapping his fingers in front of her face.

“Sorry? What?” She balks, trying to act calm as both of her friends peer at her as if she were crazy.

“We thought you were like…. Dying or something. We have been trying to get your attention for hours.” Cece huffs, tears in her eyes. “Don’t die.”

“Okay, don’t get too dramatic Cecelia.” Eddie huffs, though his face still holds a small but of panic. “She is right though. You went pale and just zoned out for a minute.”

“Sorry. Got caught in my head.” Via answers, tension coiling in her chest as they both watch her with fear. When neither of them seemed to relax she lets out a fake laugh, doing her very best to make them believe it. “I’m fine mom and dad. Take a breath.”

“Fine. Just tell me if I need to go grab water.” Eddie huffs, finally sitting back which makes Cece relax as well, though she doesn’t lay her head back in her friends lap and rather sits against the wood hold of the porch with a skeptical look. One Via notes immediately.

“What were we talking about before I zoned out?”

“We were just catching up.” Eddie mumbles and Via doesn’t miss the way he smears out the rest of the joint, throwing it back in the bag and shoving it in his jacket with shaky hands. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m good.” Steve’s laughing face is still deeply engraved in the center of her thoughts but that’s where he stayed whether she liked it or not.

“I was telling Eds about my essay, the one you helped me with? I got an A on it.” Cece mutters, reaching up to smooth out her hair. “Who knew Cleopatra was so interesting?”

“I did…. And Wiley. He gave me the books for the research, you know?” Via smiles as both their faces melt at the mention of her little brother.

“Oh I love Wiley!” Cece blurts, her voice filled with the same tone in which you talk to a tiny kitten. “He’s just so sweet!”

“I don’t understand how Wiley doesn’t have friends!” Eddie snaps aggressively, his face pinched up in annoyance. “That kid is so metal. He rocks and I’ll pummel those kids that made fun of him. I promise you that.”

“That’s a crime, Eds.” Cece reminds.

“Only if you get caught.” He snaps back. “I seriously don’t know what that Wheeler kids problem is.”

“We don’t know it was Wheeler.” Via rushes out, palms outstretched in an attempt to get them both to calm down like they were wild animals. “But the stutter has gotten better around the house. I have no clue what he sounds like at school.”

It was a partial truth. Wiley had developed a really bad stutter due to some bullying at school and over the years he started to avoid talking all together. His stutter had gotten better around their family lately but that was due to the fact that he avoided talking any chance he could. No matter how much their dad pried for conversation.

“We should dress up as middle school boys and sneak in to see.”

“Hate to break it to you Cecelia but you have a very large pair of knockers.”

“EDWARD!” She snaps, sitting up to slap his forehead quickly which makes him gasp out in fake shock.

“That was so rude Cecelia. You truly just hurt my feelings.” He whines, and she rolls her eyes when he smiles at her.

“Grow up, Munson.”

“You first, Miller.”

“Get a room, Mutts.” Via scoffs, moving to stand on shaky legs.

“Get a life, Ollie.” Eddie scoffs back, eyes widening when Via picks up a tiny rock to throw at him, and within seconds he’s scrambling to run away as both girls move to attack him.

20 minutes later Via stands before the side of the house, two cans of spray paint within her hands as she sticks out her tongue from the corner of her mouth in an attempt to better concentrate. Steve used to say it was ‘frog mentality’ and that she would pass all her classes if she kept doing it. But that was back when Steve wasn’t the devil incarnate.

Cece and Eddie lean against the tree facing the house, both watching my work and critiquing it any chance they get to bother her.

“I would like to remind the group one more time that I am still working on the project. And you shouldn’t judge it until it’s done.” Via snaps out, tossing the red spray paint into the duffel bag and snatching up a different color, shaking it quickly as Eddie tilts his head to admire the work.

“It looks uneven.” He smirks and Cece gasps dramatically. “Eds I was literally about to say that.”

“I hate you both.” Via mumbles under her breath which makes them laugh as she continues on. They begin talking amongst themselves, Cece reminding Eddie about homework to which he argues that he did it and they begin a whisper debate, and at some point Via begins to zone them out and focus on the project at hand. Their words fade out, and the colors become the only thing that matters. They blend together and soon enough a face comes into view, the brick all turning into a portrait of despair.

By the time she steps back all she can do is blink at the creation, smiling from ear to ear as her cousin whistles slowly and walks up to where she stands. “Is that Marilyn Monroe?”

“Oh my god Eddie. It is obviously Marilyn Monroe.” Cece sighs, coming up to huddle next to them both for warmth as each of them fight off shivers. “I cannot believe you did that with spray paint.”

“Is she crying or smiling?” Eddie asks, tilting his head to further admire the portrait.

“Both? I don’t know. I kind of just let the paint take control.” Via admits, face heating as both of them immediately groan out.

“I’m Via and I speak to the paint.” Eddie mocks, pretending to flip his hair over his shoulder before his face goes dead serious. “You’re not….huffing the paint are you?”

“Shut up Edward!” Cece snaps which makes Via smile, laughing a bit until the defense turns against her. “She only does that every now and then. She mostly huffs the bleach for her hair.”

“YOU do my hair!” Via groans, shoving Cece away as she packs up the duffel of spray paint and snatches the polaroid camera from the bag before stepping back and taking a picture of her latest mural.

The second the picture is formed she can do nothing but smile at it.

“Alright, go pose.” Cece giggles, snatching the camera and shoving Via in the direction of the mural. The blonde doesn’t argue, and immediately dashes to pose in front of the brick wall with a wide smile, both her middle fingers pointed to the camera as Cece takes the picture.

She shakes the picture with excitement as Eddie shuffles closer to see it. Once it’s developed they both show their excitement, Eddie with a ‘hell yeah’ and Cece with a loud squeal.

“You look so good!” The brunette laughs.

“Badass.” Eddie confirms and Via snatches the photo to look at it herself.

Sometimes seeing her reflection or photo these days still kind of shocked her, like a stranger she had never had the chance to properly meet.

After Nana had passed she had gone through many changes.

It had started the day she chopped her long hair down to her collarbone, sobbing violently until she rushed to Cece’s house before her parents could see it. Cece’s mother had evened out the chop and helped the girls bleach her hair, since she was a hair stylist.

The pink came from a night at Cece’s house while her mom slept over at her nasty boyfriend's place. Cece had been upset and Via had of course rushed over, they read in one of her lame magazines that color in the hair was the new thing so they started with Via. But by the time the pink had been dyed Cece lost her nerve and had never added any blue to her own.

This led to a fight, one of their biggest, and they went a whole 20 minutes of not talking to each other. It was intense. (Eddie says they are both too codependent. They both tell him to shove it)

Gone were the days of the handmade dresses her Nana used to spend hours making, gone were the days of being bullied over them. Not that Via ever hated the dresses, they were all gifts from her Nana, but she liked that she could grow into her style some more. There were still a couple dresses kept safe in the back of her closet though. Kept safe and hidden.

Cece had taught her makeup…. Well she tried to teach her makeup but the two had very different thoughts on how makeup should look. Cece went for a glam look, foundation and glitter. Via went for a…. She liked eyeliner.

And Via loved her new look, she loved everything about it. She just wishes she had more time to grow into it rather than changing it in one summer.

But it was time things moved forward. Freshman year from hell had proved as much. Harrington and his friends had made it dreadful. And her one best friend…..

“Okay, we need to get out of here before the cops show up. That party is only getting louder.” Eddie reminds. He makes sure everything is picked up and gives them both one more protective look. “I’m gonna go find my sophomores. You two good to get home?”

“Tell Gareth and Jeff I say hello.” Cece smiles, fluttering her eyes which makes Eddie roll his eyes once more. Everyone knew both of them had huge crushes on her, the kind that left them speechless whenever she was near.

“I already told you not to bully my youth, Cecelia.”

“Blah blah blah.” She snaps, leaning to kiss his cheek before moving to walk away leaving Via behind for a moment.

“You okay?” He blurts after a moment, both of them watching Cece walk across the lawn in her heels, yelling in disgust when they keep sinking in the mud.

“Oh my god I’m fine. It was just a zoned out moment. I’ll drive her home and walk.” she sighs in aggravation, twisting the bracelet on her arm nervously. “You can even come knock on our door when you get home to make sure I made it.”

“I meant about the day.” Eddie mumbles, finally turning to her with that knowing look that normally sets her on edge. “I know how…..close you were .”

“I’m fine. It’s just a day.” She laughs, not enjoying the queasy feeling coiling in her stomach or the way her palms seem to itch with sweat. Memories lunging for her, all around that stupid boy with the stupid smile. “Are you okay to get home?”

Best way to handle Eddie is to change the subject to himself, it’s something she had learned pretty quickly. He gets as defensive about being okay as she does. Fight fire with fire.

“How about you call the trailer later and make sure I am alive?” He teases, punching her shoulder. Situation diffused.

“COME ON!” Cece calls, finally having made it to her car. “I WANT DONUTS!”

“CAN YOU YELL ANY LOUDER?!” Eddie calls back, flipping her the bird before turning back to the house. “Go get the princess her donuts. I gotta find the boys.”

“Bye Edward.” She mumbles back, using his full name to piss him off.

“Bye Ollie.” He mutters back in the same tone and the grunt of shock that passes his lips when she punches his shoulders makes her smile. “Fine. Via.”

“And don’t you forget it.”

September 17th, 1975

“I officially hate 2nd grade.” Ollie mutters, trying to pull away from her mom as the older blonde fixes the pigtails she had sent her daughter to school in.

“I just don’t understand how a crayon melted in your hair Ollie.” She grunts, frustration flashing in her eyes as she picks the comb up from the table to once again try tugging some of the wax out. “Stevie? Did you see her?” “No.” He lies, watching from his spot at the kitchen table with his legs swinging back and forth. “She was on her own for this one.”

That part was true at least.

“Why would you do this Olivia?” Charlotte groans right as Flip comes down the stairs.

“What did Olivia do?”

“Dad! Mom is pulling my hair!” Ollie snitches which makes Steve snort in amusement until she sends a glare his way, promptly shutting him up.

“Don’t pull my baby's hair.” Her father mumbles, coming up to kiss his wife’s cheek before he stops short. “Olivia Diane Fraser. What the hell did you do?”

Steve sits up straight, eyes widening as he begins to panic. His friend was in deep trouble if her dad was using her full name. There is an urge to defend her, to tell her parents that it wasn’t her fault even if he knew it was. And apart of him knew her dad would never raise a hand to her, but there was still that fear, deep in his stomach that made him want to throw up.

“I was making Stevie a gift!” She yells back, her face going red with frustration. “It’s his birthday!”

“Oh you don’t say.” Charlotte laughs, turning to give Steve a wide smile. “Have I said Happy birthday yet Stevie?”

“This morning.” Steve nods, watching Ollie stick her head in the sink to try and get the crayon out again. “You want to see what Ollie made me?”

“Sure.” Flip sighs, dragging his eyes away from his daughter to see Steve hold out a piece of construction paper with melted crayons all over them. He blinks for a moment as Steve smiles like it’s the best art he’s ever seen.

Flip however cannot figure out what it is. He just stares, hoping if he blinks enough the image will come to him.

“It’s flowers!” Steve supplies. “See the wax of the green crayon is the stem and then she was making red and pink flowers with the other crayons and-“

“How the hell were you meltin these?” Flip laughs, turning back to his daughter.

“The sun….. and by pressing them into a lightbulb from a lamp.” Ollie explains, somehow managing to escape her mothers hold and dashing to where Steve sits. “Do you really like it?”

“It’s the coolest thing ever. I’m keeping it.” He smiles, pulling it closer to him.

“Alright. We’ll worry about Ollie’s hair later. For right now the big question is upon us.” Flip laughs, sitting at the table and turning to Steve. “What does the birthday boy want for dinner?”

September 17th, 1983 Saturday

The mini mart that sat right on the edge of town was probably the worst place to be so late in the night, and this only became apparent to Via when she walked in to find it empty.

Well, not empty. The lights were on and the radio by the register was playing music but there wasn’t another human in sight. It had an unsettling feel to it and for a second she is glad she had the mind to lock the doors to Cece’s car since the other girl was passed out in the backseat with a ‘car blanket’ strewn over her. Via wouldn’t have even stopped for the donuts if she didn’t want a snack herself.

The weed and the liquor both claimed hunger in her stomach.

So, even though it gave her a bad feeling, Via smiled as she used the emptiness of the mini mart to her advantage. Unzipping her purse as she passed through the aisles and shoved some things in it quickly. A small bottle of liquor, a pack of donuts, band-aids, chocolate, matches.

She is debating if she should shove some gum in when the bell of the door sounds out and her attention drags to it, only to find the one person she never wanted to talk to again.

Steve Harrington blinks in shock, eyes wide as he looks torn between holding his ground or running away, his hand still on the door. His mouth opens and shuts a couple times before he clears his throat which snaps her back to attention.

She turns quickly, willing her spine to relax as she lamely stares at the gum choices before her, blinking and waiting.

Finally after a moment the door finally shuts completely and she lets out a breath, hoping that meant he left. She wasn’t so lucky because a moment later his footsteps can be heard as he passes her until he is an aisle away and looking at the selection of chips they had.

The only problem was the aisles barely reached their shoulders so they could still see each other. She was just fine ignoring him, but it seemed he would not let this moment pass.

“Is anyone working?”

“Do I look like I work here, Harrington?” She snarks, snatching up a pack of gum and moving to leave before she realizes that he would probably snitch which meant she would have to pay. Shit.

Turning to make it look like she wasn’t about to leave she waltzes to the counter and rings the bell, ignoring the feeling of his eyes on her back.

“Did you walk here? Or is that your car out there?” He asks again, and though she can’t see him she can hear him moving to another aisle to grab what he needed.

“It’s not my car.”

“So you walked? I can give you a ride to-”

“It’s my friends. I’m fine.” The answer is more of a disgruntled sigh, one that she wishes held more of a bite. She wishes she knew what would hurt him just as he hurt her, wanting nothing more than to make him bleed the very same way he made her bleed. “Besides. Mormon girls aren’t supposed to be with guys without an escort.”

His grunt of shock makes a small amount of pride bloom in her chest as she hits the bell again, a couple times to see if anyone would bother to hear her.

“How’s Wiley? Haven’t seen that kid in ag-”

“HELLO?!” She calls, frustration claiming her as he walks a little closer now, hands filled with items. She takes one moment to see what he’s got. Packs of pudding, a bag of chips, and a slim jim.

“Dinner.” He answers at her look, shrugging a bit. “Fancy isn’t it?”

She doesn’t answer, shaking her head as she turns back to the counter. She would not admit to remembering what day it was, she would never admit anything to him.

Reaching for the bell once more before she is cut short by the lights in the mini mart flickering before going out for a moment, then when the lights come back on Via finds herself blinking at Steve in shock.

He blinks back before a thunk is heard from the bathrooms to the left.

“Has the worker been in the bathroom this whole time?” Steve asks, setting his items down before heading to the door and knocking lightly.

“Seriously?” Via scoffs. “You’re gonna bother their bathroom break?”

“I… well- What am I supposed to do Ollie?”

“Don’t call me that-” A loud thunk from the back of the store catches their attention before a couple cans of coke fall off one of the shelves.

“Nope.” Via grunts, snatching her gum and moving to the door. “I am not dying here.”

Steve is quick to follow her lead, only stopping to grab a box of matches before dashing out the door.

She, like a fool, waits for him to escape before shutting the door behind him and moving to dash to the safety of Cece’s car before he is calling out quickly. “Hey Ollie…via!”

“It’s late. I have to go.” She snaps, rushing to unlock the driver side door. “If my parents find out I’m this close to Hawkins Lab after dark I’m dead.”

“I… I was just going to say I like the….. Hair?” He mumbles, and she risks one look at him, blinking slowly. The nervous look on his face reminded her of the way things used to be, when they dressed up as pirates and detectives. But before she knows it his laughing face is flashing through her memory.

She doesn’t bother responding, giving him a glare before getting in the car and starting it up, leaving Harrington at that stupid mini mart.

It’s not long before they reach Cece’s house, and Via helps her friend stagger inside while doing her best not to wake her little sister that shared the room. She helps get her into bed, tucking her in before leaving the pack of donuts on the nightstand and sneaking out the window.

The walk to her house was filled with memories and anger, her arms wrapped around herself in a lame attempt to keep warm as her boots crunched on the gravel beneath her. For 10 minutes she combed over that entire interaction with Steve, thinking about all the things she could have said.

She could have told him to shove it, or that she hopes he loses all his hair. There were so many options and when her home came into view she had to stop from kicking herself at all the lame responses she had given.

Wiley called this house ‘Grimoire’ since he claims it’s the kind of house you would find in an old warlock's grimoire. And looking at it now, under the little light the moon could offer with the forest behind it, there was no better description. It looked… old and depressing.

The last few years with Nana all their extra money had gone to her chemo and treatments. When she passed they had been a bit…. Panicky to find somewhere new to live. They had no money.

This house had been a lucky find. Eddie’s Uncle Wayne had helped them fix it up a bit when they began renting it and over the summer they tried to make it their new home.

It wasn’t.

Nothing was these days because they were missing someone.

But Via couldn’t think about that right now, not as she climbed onto the stack of milk cartons she set up to help her climb through her window in the one story home, doing her best to keep quiet so she didn’t wake anyone up.

It didn’t matter in the end since the second she closes her window the sound of her door creaking fills the air as Wiley comes into view.

“Hi, Wye.” She greets, smiling softly as she sits on the edge of her bed to unlace her boots. “What are you doing up?”

“C…couldn’t… couldn’t-t sleep.” He shrugs coming a bit closer and sitting at the chair of her desk where all her art supplies were currently strewn about. Her spray painting gear is hidden in Cece’s trunk of course. “W-were y-y-y-you at…”

She watches him take a deep breath in, choosing to focus his attention on one of her drawings to ease himself and not make eye contact so this was less stressful to him. “Were y-you at Stev-ve’s birthday party?”

“No. I was with Eddie and Cece. They say hi and that they love you by the way.” She smiles, throwing her bag on the bed before pulling out the two chocolate bars. “Look what I got you.”

This pulls a smile from his face as he eagerly snatches one from her hand and tears it open.

“Did you talk to that Sinclair kid?” Via asks, watching him closely, watching as his face falls a bit and his cheeks redden.

“T-they were t-talking ab-bout a new c-c-c..”

“Comic? They are reading a new comic? You don’t have it?”

“N-no.” He shakes his head. “Goodnight.”

He gets up and walks out without another word, but he does send her a small smile and she hears the sound of his own door shutting soon after before she gets up herself.

Wanting nothing more than to crawl into bed she heads down the hall and sets the box of matches in the kitchen drawer where her mom complained about being out before she left, and then she goes into the bathroom to switch out the empty box of bandaids with the ones she got tonight, smiling a bit to herself when she shuffles back to her room.

The panel in the bottom of her tiny closet lifts easily, and she reaches in to hide the bottle of liquor she stole earlier, her hand grazing something familiar as she pulls it out. The broken half of a canvas she had made herself years ago.

She remembered the day her dad helped her staple it so she could paint it for her friend, the bob ross picture staring right back at her with a painted figure. It was messy and her work was choppy at best. An ugly painting by an untalented freak.

But it still pulled all the wrong strings to her heart, drawing tears to her eyes. “Happy birthday Steve Harrington.”

With that she shoves the canvas back in the hole and covers it back up before crawling into bed.

September 17th, 1975

Steve and Ollie sat together at the table, faces covered in Nana’s famous pudding as they giggled over the wax painting she had made.

The wax was out of her hair thanks to Nana pouring half a bottle of lotion in it, now she smelled of lavender and lotion which Steve thought hilarious.

They shared the last helping of Nana’s pudding right now, Ollie letting Steve have most of it since it is his birthday.

“Thank you for the gift. I can’t wait to hang it up.” He mumbles through a mouthful of pudding.

“Happy birthday, Stevie.” Ollie giggles. “You’re my best friend ever.”

September 19th, 1983 - Monday

“That damn tagger did it again Lottie!” Flip Fraser huffs, slamming the newspaper against the table as both his kids shuffle around him to get ready for their day. If he looked up at this moment he might have seen his oldest daughter's humored smile or the way his youngest son gives a fake glare at his sister.

“They did?” Lottie Fraser asks, dashing into the room with her blonde hair flowing behind her. “Show me.”

It was safe to say her parents were both a little too invested in this tagger situation, since ‘the tagger’ first appeared in the paper for tagging the grocery store with a portrait of JFK three months ago. Not Via’s best work but that one was a dare given by Gareth. Ever since they both always waited for the news to reveal more.

“A house outside of town. Closer to Hawkins Lab.” Her dad grunts, shaking his head in annoyance. “And no one saw a damned thing.”

“Oh my…” Her mother mumbles, sitting at the empty chair of the table as she reads the article with her husband. “It is a nice mural though. I can’t tell if Marilyn is crying or smiling.”

Via snorts as she remembers her conversation with Eddie. This draws her fathers attention as he looks at her with a smile, dropping the paper on the table and moving to stand and finish brushing his wife’s hair. “How was work yesterday, Olli….via. Olivia. I said Olivia and everyone heard it.”

“Work was fine, nothing really to note.” Via had applied to the town's movie theater the second she found out they were hiring, saving up money to help her parents and maybe get herself a car. It had mostly been the former whether they knew it or not, her parents never wanted her to ‘waste her money on them’. “It was our senior citizen discount night so not much business. Barely had to sweep up popcorn.”

“Good good.” He smiles, leaning to kiss her forehead as she passes to wash her bowl from breakfast.

“Wye? You ready for today?”

“Y-yes.” Wiley smiles, cheeks red as his dad watches him.

It’s silent for a moment before Lottie leans forward to kiss his cheek. “How has it been going with making friends, baby? You talk to anyone?”

Flip begins braiding her hair, as she continues staring at Wiley with such hope in her eyes.

“Th-they w-were all talking ab-b-b-”

“Deep breaths, bud.” Flip says gently, smiling when Wiley takes a deep breath in before starting again.

“They were all talking about a n-new comic book.” He goes slow, not that anyone in the room minds.

“Do you have the book?” Flip asks, watching Wiley shake his head.

“But it’s f-fine.”

“No bud, you did all your chores this week.” Flip grunts, finishing off Lottie’s hair and grabbing his wallet. Her fathers cheeks redden as he hands Wiley a dollar. “Is this enough?”

Wiley nods, jumping to hug him before running to grab his school stuff.

The rest of the morning falls into one of a rushed panic as everyone races around to grab everything they need. Her mom kisses her cheek and does her best to smooth out her daughter's hair before dashing to the blue car Nana left behind and nodding for Wiley to get in.

Her dad hops into the truck and waits patiently for her to hop in before zooming off to drop his daughter off.

He stops down the street, telling her to have a good day before driving off to let her walk the rest of the way, just as she requested at the beginning of the year.

She passes the familiar car that Steve and all his friends usually hang out around, noting that today he was by himself before walking past him to go into the building.

September 17th, 1983 - Saturday

Steve Harrington didn’t believe in fate, his mother had spent her days pouring wine and complaining about her horoscope. She claimed fate led her to his father and if that was fate then Steve wanted absolutely nothing to do with it.

But seeing Ollie tonight had to have been fate. There was no other reasoning behind it. What are the chances he would see her on the night of his birthday? It. Was. Fate.

But that hateful, despising look she gave him before leaving? That was gut-wrenching.

It clung to him on the rest of the way home from his trip. He hadn’t wanted to go to the party in the first place, he would’ve rather wallowed in self pity all night like an idiot. But he knew if he didn’t make an appearance then Tommy would have said something, but by the time Steve’s car pulled up he saw the lights of police cars and figured he would just go home.

So he stopped on the way home, where he saw her.

She looked so different, seeing her on the first day of school this year had been a shock to the system already. But that punching feeling he got in his gut every time she made eye contact? That was a mix between guilt and amazement.

Walking into the empty house, that had just finished getting redone, he throws his keys on the fresh counter before dropping his junk on it and slamming his finger in the answering machine.

He already knows there wasn’t going to be any messages, not from either of his parents, yet he still feels disappointed when it’s confirmed. So he reaches into the cabinet and pulls out a candle, throwing one of the pudding cups open aggressively and shoving the candle into the cheap pudding.

“Happy Birthday Stevie.” He whispers, blowing out the candle and eating the pudding before heading up to his room and digging in his closet. There is a box of things he keeps hidden for when his friends come over and dig through his stuff, so they won’t see all the memories he keeps stored away.

The broken half of a beautifully painted canvas is the first thing that catches his attention, the colors blending in his sight as he grabs the sweater knitted for him and tosses it on quickly.

The painting had looked so good, he wondered what Ollie’s paintings looked like now. But before he can think about it too much he slams the lid shut and shuts the light off before heading to bed.

“Happy birthday indeed.” He sighs.

x Next Chapter x

#steve harrington smut #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington stranger things #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington #steve harrington x oc #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington fanfiction #steve harrington fandom #steve harrington fic #stranger things fanart #stranger things fan #stranger things imagine #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things

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a-small-batch-of-dragons · 1 month

Text

Land

Random wingfic idea- Virgil refusing to preen himself and the other sides chasing him around the mindscape trying to catch him, hold him down, and do it for him lol (it’s for his own good!) – cherry-sofa-729

Read on Ao3

Warnings: non-consensual grooming

Pairings: dlampr, can be platonic or romantic you decide

Word Count: 2577

”Virgil,” comes Janus’s slightly—alright, way more than slightly—reproachful voice from just outside the door.

Virgil curls up tighter on the bed, his wings creaking in protest as he tries to pull them closer. He bites his lip and says nothing. Janus sighs.

“We can either have this conversation through the door, and the others will potentially hear it and wonder why I have to talk to you through your door, or you can let me in and keep a modicum of privacy from them.”

See, this is the part about talking with Janus that he really hates when it comes up. Because he’s capable of being reasonable, so reasonable that there isn’t a good argument, and it just makes Virgil madder.

Still, he’d rather deal with one really annoyingly-caring Side than five right now, so he pulls a blanket halfway over his lap and lets Janus in.

“Thank you,” he hears as the door clicks shut behind him.

The silence that follows is filled with silent judgment that makes Virgil’s skin crawl. So he digs his hands into the blanket and ignores the twinges of pain in his wings as Janus sits on the edge of the bed.

“I’m not going to touch you without your permission, sweetie,” he says quietly, because he’s actually a decent person and he won’t, Virgil knows he won’t, “but I’m not leaving either.”

“Why not?”

“You know the answer to that.”

“But why? It’s not like…”

“Like you haven’t done this before?” Janus fills in when he doesn’t finish. “I know, sweetie, I remember. I was there when you realized that wouldn’t work anymore. Which is why I’m not leaving.”

See? Stupid and reasonable. Virgil glares at the seam on his sleeve that’s starting to go as if he could telekinetically sew it back up. Janus doesn’t say anything for a moment until his wings shudder again.

“You’re giving yourself muscle fatigue on top of everything else,” comes the quiet voice that makes Virgil’s blood boil, “that’s only going to make things harder.”

“Shut up.”

“Why are you being unkind to me, sweetie?”

Because you’re being unkind to me. Because you’re here and I don’t want you to be here right now. Because you’re making me uncomfortable. Because I don’t know what else to do. Because I’m scared. Because—because—because—

He doesn’t say anything. After another moment, Janus sighs. The bed dips as he shifts his weight.

“Do you want to know what I think?”

“No.”

“Do you want me to tell you anyway?”

“…yeah.”

“I think you’re afraid of being vulnerable in front of us because you’re still anxious about whether or not we’ll hurt you, even though part of you knows that won’t happen.”

Virgil was right. He didn’t want to hear what Janus thought. Mainly because he knew he was going to be right.

“And,” he continues, because of fucking course he does, “I think we both know that being angry is easier than being scared.”

“Shut up,” he growls, only making Janus’s point for him, wrenching his wings as close to himself as they’ll go.

“Don’t do that,” comes Janus’s voice, firmer now, “you’re going to hurt yourself.”

“I don’t care.”

“Well, I do. Relax your wings, Virgil, you’re going to hurt them.”

“So?”

“So, they’re a part of you. A part that deserves just as much taking care of as the rest of you.”

Virgil bares his teeth in a snarl, hides behind his hoodie-clad arms. The pain in his shoulder blades agrees with Janus, though, and slowly he feels his wings relax just a bit. As they do, the build-up and debris in the crooked feathers shifts just enough to jolt a noise of pain from his lips before he can stop it.

“You’re hurt,” Janus stresses, “please, sweetie, let me help.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Janus’s shadow reaching for him and he flinches away, knocking one of his wings into the wall. He whimpers again.

“Okay, okay, I won’t touch you, I promise, okay?” The bed shifts back. “But you—Virgil, you know.”

He does know. He remembers the nights of gritting his teeth and hissing in pain as he tried in vain to get his wings right by himself, the days of having to walk hunched over because his back wouldn’t allow for anything but, the sports bras that were covered in oil and grime and sweat by the end of the day and having to wash them by hand in his bathroom as his shoulders screamed in pain. He remembers all of it.

But he also remembers the itching feeling under his skin when the others would take care of him. The weird bubbling feeling in his stomach that just wouldn’t go away, making him sick and fretful even when they were handling him as gently as they could. The sinking pit that would open up in his chest when he had his wings outstretched, so far away from him, and in someone else’s hands.

The memory of that alone is enough to make his wings jerk closer to himself again.

“Talk to me,” he hears Janus murmur, “please, sweetie, what’s wrong? Everything was alright for a while, wasn’t it?”

“…yeah.”

“Did we mess up? Did one of us hurt you by accident?”

“No.”

There’s a pause. Virgil squeezes his eyes shut, because technically that wasn’t a lie, but he’s talking to Janus and he knows better than to assume that’s going to be enough.

“Virgil,” and yep, it wasn’t true enough to escape his notice, “tell me what happened, please.”

“It’s fine, J.”

“It’s made you avoid getting your wings taken care of, it has made you feel unsafe and scared, and it has made you lie to me. It is not fine, now tell me what happened.”

Virgil shuffles. His wings twitch at the memory of it.

“I…I wasn’t doing a good job of remembering to get my wings groomed,” he starts, “and I guess it got sort of obvious.”

“Go on.”

”I was just sitting on the couch and then—and then Remus was lunging at me with this huge butterfly net thing?”

“That sounds like something Remus would do.”

“And I told him to fuck off, obviously—“

“Obviously.”

“—but he didn’t stop, he just kept trying to catch me and so I ran away because I didn’t want to be caught and then Roman—“

“Roman?”

“Yeah, he—he didn’t have a net or anything but he was trying to catch me too and I just kept running because I didn’t know what was going on and they both kept laughing that they were going to catch me and kept chasing me and I—“

‘Shh,” Janus interrupts, voice soft and low, “take a breath first.”

Virgil manages a shaky breath, his hands and wings trembling. “And then I saw Patton and I thought he was going to h-help me and make them stop chasing me because I didn’t want to be fucking chased, I just wanted them to leave me alone, I didn’t even know why they were chasing me—“

“And what did Patton do?”

A lump swells up in Virgil’s throat. “:H-he caught me.”

Janus is silent for a moment. Virgil’s breathing starts to get shakier again.

“He caught me and then Roman and Remus laughed and they—they—“ he swallows— “they—“

Janus inhales sharply. “Did they groom your wings without your permission?”

Virgil nods miserably, a sob choking up from his throat. He hears a quiet mumbling from Janus before he’s reaching out despite himself and there’s a soft oh, sweetie and he’s scooped into his lap.

“Shh, shh, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Janus murmurs, lowest pair of arms slung around his waist, “you’re alright, you’re safe now, no one will touch you without permission, it’s okay.”

The murmurs in his ears are doing wonders to coax every last tear from his eyes and he just wraps his arms as tightly as he can around Janus’s neck without choking him. Janus holds him just as tightly, pressing kisses to his temple between quiet reassurances.

“I know I need to get them groomed,” Virgil mumbles after a while, “but I…”

“Shh…you don’t need to say anything else, sweetie, not to me. I understand. That was…that was an awful thing they did, and I promise you I’ll have a word with them about it.”

”They didn’t know—“

“Remus did,” Janus interrupts firmly, “Remus knew better and he should have done better.”

“…yeah.”

”Oh, sweetie, I’m not angry at you.”

“You’re not?”

“No, not at all. I’m upset for you, but not at you.” A hand scratches lightly at the base of his spine. “Do you think you’re comfortable enough to have your wings groomed now, or do you want to wait?”

Virgil shifts. “We can...we can do it now.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” He bumps his head against Janus’s chin. “As long as it’s you.”

Of course, just as he says that, there’s a knock at the door. He tenses, Janus’s hand soothing it away, before Logan’s voice comes from the other side.

“Virgil? It’s Logan. I have a question for you.”

Janus glances down. Virgil chews on his lip for a moment before he raises his hand and opens the door for Logan.

“Thank you, I—oh.” Logan stops, seeing Virgil with his wings huddled around him on Janus’s lap. “My apologies, is this a bad time?”

”It’s not ideal,” Janus says diplomatically, “what did you need?”

“I—well, I’ve been…doing some research,” Logan admits somewhat sheepishly, holding out the basket in his hands, “on how to care for wings properly. I’ve attempted to synthesize a solution that can help prevent build-up on the oil glands.”

Virgil holds out his hand. Logan brings the basket over to him, not touching his wings. He pops the lid of one of the bottles and sniffs. It smells…good. He looks up at Janus, who shrugs.

“It’s up to you, sweetie.”

“Will you help?”

“Now? Certainly,” Logan says, setting the basket on the bed and resting a hand on Virgil’s shoulder, “what can I do?”

The base of his spine prickles as Janus starts gently directly Logan through cleaning the gunk from his feathers, carefully removing the broken ones and straightening the crooked ones, but when nothing suddenly touches his sensitive places or moves too quickly or too harshly, he starts to relax into the soothing touches. Logan’s low voice murmurs a warning before his thumbs reach up and slide over the oil glands, drawing a soft whine before it turns into a sleepy mumble.

”You’re doing so well, dear heart, we’re right here. You’re safe, nothing is going to happen to you right now.”

“I know.”

Janus presses a kiss to his cheek as another set of hands takes his. “I’m going to lift your arms up now, alright? That way Logan can get the rest.”

Virgil just mumbles his assent, wincing as it tugs on his muscles. Logan’s hands are firm and gentle as they begin to work through the marginal covets, the wooden hairbrush slipping easily through the feathers.

“Did you try the…the solution yet?”

“Hm? Oh, yes, I did that a moment ago. Did it help remove the build-up without as much pain?”

“Yeah. Didn’t even realize you did it.”

Logan chuckles. “I suppose I’ll take that as a good thing.”

“Mhm. Definitely.”

Janus squeezes his hands, slowly lowering them so his arms are around his neck again. “You did so well, sweetie, I’m so proud of you. Are you feeling better?”

“Mhm. Thanks.”

“Always, sweetie,” Janus murmurs, kissing his cheek. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I do believe I have something to attend to.”

Virgil mumbles a protest but lets Janus get off the bed. Logan makes to leave as well but he catches his wrist.

“Can you stay? Please?”

“Of course, Virgil. Would you like to cuddle?”

“Yeah.”

“Let me lie down, then, and—“ Logan lets out a noise of surprise that morphs into a laugh when Virgil flops on top of him the second he’s able— “oh, alright, you little spider. May I continue to groom you as we lie here?”

“Just don’t touch the glands and yeah.”

“As you wish.”

***

Janus reaches through the Mindscape to summon all three of them and none-too-gently brings them to the Dark Side’s living room.

“Ow, what the hell? You grabbed me by my hair!”

“Yeah, kiddo, you should try and be more gentle!”

“Jeez, Janny, if you wanted to play rough, you only had to say so.”

All three of them see his expression and shut up.

“I’ve just found out something very interesting,” he says lowly, “about our dear Virgil. Would you like to know what that was?”

Patton nods slowly, followed by the others.

“He hasn’t felt safe enough to get his wings groomed properly, now isn’t that interesting?” He tilts his head. “I wonder what could have been the cause of that. Can any of you think of why that might be?”

Roman gulps. Remus goes pale. Patton fidgets with his hands. “I-is it because we…?”

He winces when Janus’s gaze swivels to meet his. “Is it because you what, Patton,” he says in an icily-pleasant tone, “what did you do?”

“We, um, we noticed that his wings were getting bad and so we, um…” Patton wilts under Janus’s glare. “…we tried to do it for him?”

“You tried to do it for him, is that it? Well, what on earth would that have to do with Virgil feeling unsafe?”

“We didn’t get his permission,” Remus whispers, all play gone from his voice, “we…we forced him into it, and we…shit. Fuck. We fucked up bad.”

Patton doesn’t even call him out on his language.

“I expected better from you,” Janus hisses, the anger starting to slip into his voice, “you know how much it takes to get Virgil to trust someone with his grooming. What the hell were you thinking?”

”I wasn’t. I wasn’t, I just—oh, no…”

“Is he okay?” Roman breaks in, already shrunken out of his normal Princely demeanor. “Is—is he okay now?”

Janus softens the slightest bit. “Yes. He is now.”

“Can we apologize to him?”

“On his terms.”

Roman seems to accept that, nodding and bowing his head. Remus is still muttering to himself, his hands clasped over his mouth. Patton looks like he’s on the verge of tears. Janus takes one last look at all of them before he sinks out again.

Later, much later that evening, they will have another movie night. Remus will stumble and stutter over an apology in the way that only he can and Virgil will grin because there’s the Remus he remembers and give him a big hug, wings and all. Roman will swear never to do something like that again and Virgil will swat him over the head with a pillow, grinning the whole time. Patton will offer an apology of his own and Virgil will accept it with a nod.

But for right now, he’s dozing on Logan’s chest as Janus cleans up the last of his wings, and everything’s going to be just fine.

General Taglist: @frxgprince@potereregina@gattonero17@iamhereforthegayshit@thefingergunsgirl@awkwardandanxiousfander@creative-lampd-liberties@djpurple3@winterswrandomness@sanders-sides-uncorrect-quotes@iminyourfandom@bullet-tothefeels@full-of-roman-angst-trash @ask-elsalvador @ramdomthingsfrommymind@demoniccheese83@pattonsandershugs @el-does-photography @princeanxious@firefinch-ember@fandomssaremysoul@im-an-anxious-wreck@crazy-multifandomfangirl @punk-academian-witch@enby-ralsei@unicornssunflowersandstuff@wildhorsewolf @thetruthaboutthesun @stubbornness-and-spite @princedarkandstormv @your-local-fookin-deadmeme @angels-and-dreams@averykedavra @a-ghostlight-for-roman @treasurechestininterweb @cricketanne @queerly-fluid-fan @compactdiscdraws@cecil-but-gayer@i-am-overly-complicated@annytheseal@alias290@tranquil-space-ninja @arxticandy @mychemically-imbalanced-romance@whyiask@crows-ace @emilythezeldafan@frida0043 @ieatspinalcords @snowyfires@cyanide-violence@oonagh2@xxpanic-at-the-everywherexx@rabbitsartcorner @percy-07734@triflingassailantofmyemotions @virgil-sanders-the-gay-emo@cerulean-watermelon@puffed-up-bees@meltheromanstan@joyrose-fandomer@insanitori@mavenmush@justablah65@10paradox10@uhhh-hi-there-i-am-nervous@cutebisexualmess@bella-bugatti-frogetti-baguetti@ultrageekygirl

#dragonbabbles #sanders sides #fic #roman sanders #virgil sanders #remus sanders #sympathetic remus #janus sanders #deceit sanders #sympathetic deceit #logan sanders #patton sanders

24 notes · View notes

absentmindedadmirer · 1 year

Note

>×> I loved your headcanons for the 3-A so I wanted to know if you had any for the 3-B as well

If we're being honest- then no!! I did not have any on hand at the time of ask. However, I did let my brain go ballistic at 3AM again so... here we go again.

CLASS 3-B HEADCANONS

General Headcanons:

Nazuna is so damn done with these people (except Kuro and possibly Tsumugi).

Kanata likes patting Nazuna on the head while talking to him. Nazuna noisily complains it but if Kanata ever stopped, Nazuna would find it pretty weird.

Tsumugi likes to sit down and sew with Kuro sometimes. Wataru often interrupts such sessions by claiming that he can also make scarves and proceeds to pull out a neverending chain of them out of his sleeves.

Once when Nazuna bit his tongue, Leo had concluded that he was a space invader and threw a pencil at him.

Nazuna likes sending "Get Well" cards with cute stickers and doodles whenever one of his (when they were his current and still when they are his former) classmates are sick.

Kanata likes to take naps on peoples' shoulders, usually Rei or Wataru, but he has slept on everyone in 3-B various times.

Leo often comes up with script ideas and askes Wataru to visualise them for him. It mostly ends up dragging everyone else into it.

Kanata likes hearing peoples' voices in conversations (Rei probably has his favourite voice, by tone) so he closes his eyes while he listens to them and then doesn't end up responding because he fell asleep.

Kuro holds leo underneath the arms like a rabid animal to stop him from causing havoc.

Nazuna has had a hyperfixation on flower language after trying to decipher the message Wataru would send when he kept on giving people different coloured flowers [There was no reason, Wataru just likes those flowers at the time]

Tsumugi likes sending out cards after important events for each classmate. They're usually something from a cornerstore like a card with a puppy on it saying "I'm PAW-SITIVELY proud of you!"

Nazuna likes buying stationery on impulse but he hates when Leo finds out because then he begs to use it and it always ends up with glitter, marker, and stickers on the floors, walls, and both of their faces.

Rei likes to use a "secret language" with Wataru and Kanata so that he emphasised certain words and is very cryptic in speech. Nazuna just looks at him in confusion, Tsumugi and Kuro don't pay it any mind, and Leo asks if he's an alien. Wataru and Kanata don't actually know what it means either, they just like playing along.

Leo jumped into the ocean after seeing Kanata walk in with his clothes on. He immediately found an unidentified creature and wrestled with it, it omitting his vision, until Kanata peeled the octopus off his face.

! era:

Leo has called Kuro mother before. It was probably after something simple as Kuro chiding him for drawing on the desks on the rare occasions Leo did show up, but nobody's letting Kuro live it down.

Rei now calls him mother to tease him, as well as Leo who now frequently does it. Kanata does it with no malice whatsoever but because he thinks it's fun. He just playfully goes, "ok, 'mother'" whenever Kuro says something to him. Tsumugi tries to console Kuro on the fact but ends up accidentally calling him mother anyways. Nazuna wants to tease Kuro but he simply can't bring himself to call Kuro mother. Wataru, on the second Sunday of May, showers Kuro in bouquets as he walks into the classroom, wishing him very loudly a "Happy Mother's Day!! "

Leo was really interested in Rei's vampirism and spent a whole week trying to act like him. Eventually, he tried to sleep upside down like a bat [Despite Rei telling him that he, in fact, does not do that.] and Nazuna walks into the classroom that day with Leo falling on top of him from the ceiling.

Kuro, after some persuasion from Nazuna, embroiders and customises different types of fabric for his classmates.

He gifts Nazuna a little hankerchief with detailings of bunnies. He makes a towel for Kanata customised with various sea creatures on the edges. (Kanata barely remembers to use it, his hair always dripping wet anyways) He gifts Rei a pillow to place into his coffin because he assumes that it couldn't possibly be that comfortable in that thing. It's victorian styled (because he asked Shu for an idea) with little bats on the sides. Tsumugi gets a blanket in a clean geometric pattern. Wataru gets a cape with doves embroidered on the sides and it's very flowy. He showingly whirls it around and uses it in some of his performances. Leo got a scarf, but in the process of making, Leo kept demanding that it would be longer and longer. Kuro argued that if it reached his feet, Leo would trup over it, but Leo would keep on insisting so kuro would shake his head as he continued stitching. Leo did indeed trip on his face when he ran outside the first time he wore it.

Leo once shot an arrow into the classroom and used the rope attached to it to slide in through the window from the tree that he just happened to climb that morning, scaring the shit out of Tsumugi who was already in the classroom.

They held a puppet show in their classroom for funsies!!!

Leo had tought of it and ended up manifesting a script out of nowhere. Wataru looks it over and encourages everyone to participate to bring the vision to life. Tsumugi helped with the stage and Kuro made the puppets. Rei said that he was doing important work by supporting them (which just meant he wanted to watch it and do nothing) Kanata didn't know what everyone was doing but he likes putting the puppets in his hand and wiggling them around. Nazuna becomes the second unpaid actor forcibly. After the rehearsal, they do, in fact, force 3-A to watch it.

Nazuna likes to doodle on his notes when he gets bored, and Tsumugi when he notices, made Nazuna little charms that resembled his doodles and gifted to him.

Tsumugi did not find the need to mention his birthday, but when everyone pried, the class found out and Wataru pulled out party supplies, streamers, and balloons out of a hat he just flourished out of nowhere and strings them across the classroom so they can celebrate.

Wataru likes to enter the classroom in various different ways.

Once he jumped out of jack-in-the box set in the middle of the room and knocked Nazuna on his ass.

Tsumugi keeps a first aid kit on hand in case his luck acts up again, but he ends up lending it to Kuro a lot of the time, when he pricks his hand on a needle working with them in class again.

Nazuna forced Kuro to sit in the front with him because he was too short to see from the back and did not want to be alone.

Rei simply suggests that they stack books on a chair for him to sit on and Nazuna scowls (Rei doesn't even go to class!!)

Rei, in an attempt to outdo Eichi's 3-A field trips, suggests places for the group to go to, but ends up dying when it comes to actual event because he's in broad daylight.

Wataru likes to hold scavenger hunts throughout the school by leaving clues and leading everyone along. Nazuna ends up being the most invested.

Nazuna wanted to paint his nails in a cute style when he saw nail decals in a store window. He attempted to get Kuro to do it for him, but Wataru insisted he do it instead when he found out. It turns out surprisingly well, and Nazuna hesitatingly asks him to do more.

Kuro refuses to get his nails painted in any colour but black and runs away when Wataru points a glitter coat bottle at him.

Leo once asked Nazuna if he could be in charge of one of the broadcastings. Nazuna relented and that morning everyone could see Leo messily vlogging his day.

Like, "I climbed a TREE this morning, guys!! And thennnnnn I had a bagel--"

Tsumugi likes holding little trivia games in the classroom when they're all present (rare! also they don't do actual classwork I refuse to believe)

Kuro wins all the time. Tsumugi is the host but when he taps in, he only gets a close second surprisingly. Wataru, Rei, and Kanata always fail the pop culture sections. Leo answers the same thing to every single question and gets frustrated when Tsumugi shakes his head and tells him that's not the answer.

!! era:

Rei keeps on asking Nazuna how his phone works and Nazuna feels like he's talking to his grandpa.

Wataru still likes leaving cryptic notes in his old classmates' belongings and encourages them to finish the quest.

Kuro complains about being too old to do scavenger hunts anymore but still plays along. Nazuna doesn't want to show he's invested but curiosity gets the better of him.

Tsumugi somehow flounders and Rei and Kanata are the first ones at the end of the quest where Wataru holds a party. Wataru has to guide Leo specifically so the guy doesn't get lost.

Nazuna formed the groupchat when he was sitting in college, bored. He often gets frustrated when he doesn't get a response in the next 0.001 seconds.

Tsumugi usually responds first and Kuro follows with them asking how Nazuna's day was. Wataru likes entering the chat with a bunch of sparkle emojis. Rei misspells things frequently and accidentally sends random gifs. Leo just likes sending random voice and text messages about what he sees in his day, ignoring any logical progression in the chat.

Leo usually contacts Wataru when he wants to do some cool (vandalism) pieces on the walls of ES for the sake of art (and mostly so Eichi would be less mad).

Kanata asked Nazuna to puka puka with him in the pond. Nazuna didn't feel like saying now so now he spends the rest of the afternoon getting algae out of his shorts.

Rei likes to collapse on the floor during little meet-ups they'd have in a cafe or similar space for attention. Nobody really seems bothered by it and he usually cries out that the kids of this generation have no heart.

Nazuna once accidentally smacked Tsumugi with a door. He profusely apologised but became more erratic when Tsumugi simply responded that he was used to it.

Kuro has the same instincts to call his old classmates out on thing (like a mother hen-)

He sees Leo run around and wants to grab him by the scruff of the neck. He sees Nazuna biting his nails, he wants to swat it. He sees the Oddballs goofing around he wants to comment.

Kanata takes everyone on a trip to the aquarium.

Leo likes pressing his face against the glass. Nazuna keeps on pointing to cute fish that he sees while Tsumugi talks about little facts about them as Kuro listens. Rei fell asleep so Wataru drags them across the floor by the shoulder, loudly exclaiming at all the fish.

Nazuna wanted to get matching bunny keychains and decals for his phone with Kuro but Rei heard it and begged to be included. Nazuna didn't think he'd still have it but when Rei pulls out his phone in Rhythm Link meetings and Nazuna sees the bunnies, he gets psyche damage.

Aahhh. This class is interesting. In the way that none of them show up to classes and their interactions would be. stagnated somewhat. But I like them, they're eepy.

Thankies for the ask!! I love asks, they make me think more than I ever have in school- More Enstars Headcanons: Class 3-A Headcanons || Marine Bio Headcanons

#enstars #enstars headcanons #headcanons #rei sakuma #leo tsukinaga #tsumugi aoba #wataru hibiki #kanata shinkai #kuro kiryu #nito nazuna #sketchie's fandom archives #my brain is so active in the middle of the night i hate that it never works in the day #these were fun to think about tho #another long post!! sorry!!!

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frogg093 · 1 year

Text

~ Second meetings and reluctant apologies ~

Synopsis: When your mother told you about Aunty Buer's nephew, who was visiting for the summer, you were expecting a kind, shy boy who loved helping out his aunty and spending time with the lonely elders and cheerful children of the neighborhood. It was quite the surprise when you found out just how mean Kunikuzushi really was. Your first encounter went poorly, and you were absolutely dreading your next meeting. You already hate him. But, a lot can change in one summer... perhaps you'll have different views of each other by the time school starts again, and Kunikuzushi has to return to Inazuma..?

a/n: Hahaha... I took forever to write this part... I'm sorry pookies 🤧🤧🤧

Kunikuzushi x Sumerian!gn!reader / no pronouns used / <3

♡ Part 1

☆.𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊.☆

Kunikuzushi was a lot of work.

For someone who was constantly being praised by both your mother and his aunty, he was quite difficult to tolerate. As a person who was always quiet and reserved, you hated how obnoxious he acted at times. It’s not like he was loud or boisterous, but he was quite disrespectful, and just an overall jerk.

On your first meeting, you ended up responding to his disgusted gaze and rude remarks with some... not so nice words. You two ended up arguing, and your mother gave you an earful when you got back home. She forced you to go back to Aunty Buer’s house the next day and apologize with some sweets, which was an infuriating experience.

☆.𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊.☆

“I hate sweets.” Kunikuzushi said, crossing his arms and looking at you with an indifferent expression. It took everything in you not to glare at him as your grip tightened around the tray you were holding. You put your whole damn soul into this stupid dessert, all while your mother scolded you for arguing with him, even though it was completely his fault, and he doesn’t even like sweets? You almost feel like throwing the whole tray at his stupid face. But you don’t, because that would defeat the whole purpose of coming here today.

“You can give them to Aunty Buer, then.” You mumble, trying not to sound irritated as you look around before setting the tray down on the table beside you. What now?? You’ve gotten the apology bit out of the way - but he hasn’t said whether he forgives you or not. All he’s done is reject the sweets that took you a painful amount of time to make. You stand there awkwardly, wondering if you should say something about it.

“...well? What are you still doing here?” He asks. You flinch a little at the judgemental look on his face. How the hell are you supposed to word this? Internally cringing, you decide to just say it.

“Uhh... you didn’t answer my apology. Do you forgive me?” You fidget with your sleeve. You wish you could just turn around and leave, but you know that you’ll be scolded if you go back home without a clear response to your apology.

“Oh. Yeah, whatever. It’s fine.” He looked at the clock on the wall, like he had other things to be doing. You followed his gaze. “Is that it? You can leave now.” He covered a yawn behind his hand, waving you away with the other.

Gladly, You think, as you nod and glance at your shoes.

“Okay. Bye, Kunikuzushi.” You give him an awkward wave and turn around to leave. Was... was that really it? You were expecting him to insult you again, or tell you that he doesn’t forgive you. But oh well. You walk out of the living room and through the kitchen. Buer is sitting at the table with her sewing machine.

Oh, you think. So that’s why the chairs are so tall. You feel a little stupid for not realizing earlier, but you ignore it and walk to the table to say goodbye.

“I’m going now, Aunty Buer. Thank you for having me.” You hug her, and you feel her little arms wrapping around you in return.

“No problem, [name]! Did you and Kuni make up?” She asked hopefully, taking your hand and smiling kindly at you. Her smile is so cute, you just want to eat her.

“Um, I guess so.” You respond, trying not to stare at her too much.

“Ah, I’m glad.” Her smile grows even bigger. “I know Kuni can be really mean sometimes, but he’s a good kid at heart. He’s just not very good at socializing. So please don’t be too mad at him, okay?” She gives your hand a gentle squeeze.

You almost scoff, but Aunty Buer is just too sweet. It’ll be hard, but for her sake, you’ll try not to be offended by his behavior.

“Okay, Aunty.” You smile and nod at her.

“Thank you, [name]. I’ll talk to him for you, okay?” She pats your cheek and pinches it gently.

You hesitate. You don’t want it to seem like you asked her to talk to him for you, but either way, it’s not like you can convince her not to. You’ve learned not to try and dissuade an aunty once she’s made up her mind.

“Okay. Thank you.” You give her one last hug. “Bye, Aunty. I’ll see you soon.”

“Wait, let me open the door for you.”

And with that, your little visit was over. As much as you wanted to forgive him, for Buer’s sake, you were still a little pissed off by the way that he acts. Sure, he might hate socializing, but he could definitely be a little nicer about it! But then again, maybe you’re just being petty. You look up at the sky as you walk down the street. You hold an arm over your head to protect your eyes from being burned off by the sun. Should you just get over it and be nice to him anyways? You’re still a little shocked that he forgave you so easily. Maybe you were overreacting.

You think about what Buer said to you.

“I know Kuni can be really mean sometimes, but he’s a good kid at heart. He’s just not very good at socializing. So please don’t be too mad at him, okay?”

'Kuni' was a cute nickname.

You push that thought aside as you reach your house at the end of the street. Time to relay your experience to your mother and hope that she’s satisfied with your apology.

☆.𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊.☆

Taglist: @scarasvision , @kunikuzushisbeloved , @chocolate-koala , @wings101 , @sakeeeee (Please work please work please work please work)

Ik it's short I'm sorry 😔😔😔 Part 3 coming soon (maybe)!!!

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designsfromtime · 1 year

Photo

WANT TO LEARN TO SEW YOUR OWN COSTUME?

After a decade of back-to-back commissions, I’m shifting my focus from creating costumes to teaching my techniques and walking students through step-by-step on-line courses that will be available through Teachable.com.

I’ve been working without any substantial time off since 2013! The only time off during the year I took was the month of August to participate as a cast member at the Washington Midsummer Renaissance faire each year. That’s not really a vacation ya’ll! I direct a fiber arts demonstration group so while I wasn’t sewing, I was still working as an entertainer!

While I am SOOO grateful for the success I’ve had with a full commission schedule booked out one to two years in advance, I need to free myself to travel, finish writing my historical based novels and FINALLY publish them, and sew for the passion of it again! – Hell, sew for myself and my family again because I “want to” rather than have to! Americans are notorious for taking their passion and torturing it until you end up hating what used to bring you joy. So, I’m changing that!

At 63 It’s time for me to take my 50 years of experience sewing, and my 20+ years of historical costume construction, and pay it forward to a new generation! My courses will be very detailed, with step-by-step videos, printed handouts, and a private Facebook page for my paying students. I will be able to answer questions, post videos to answer questions when necessary, and my students can post pictures of their work and support each other.

While I’m not closing down my Etsy store, I have drastically pared back my listings and will only be taking commissions for projects that inspire my creativity.

I am currently booked out to January 2025, but after that I’m closing my commission books for a year or so to concentrate on teaching and writing. Once my courses are filmed and uploaded, I will open my books again but will only take a limited number of commissions every year - or not at all if my sewing courses take off. I’m leaving my options open!

I’m hoping to have the first course available by January 2024. If you’re interested in taking my courses, I recommend following me on Facebook. I will be posting information there as well as my TicToc and Instagram. I’m not on Tumblr very often but will ‘TRY’ to keep ya’ll posted.

My first class will be a 16th century kirtle (bodice and skirt) like you see in the picture above. I will be offering my students a custom drafted pattern for their kirtle bodice at a cost of $30. The listing is available on my Etsy store.

Other classes will include:

- 18th century stays

- 16th Century men’s doublets

- 16th century children’s clothing

- 16th century smocks

- And more! - - Tell me what YOU want to learn sew!

I will also be offering blackwork cuff and collars to my students, and I’m kicking around the idea of offering to embroider your fabrics for noble gowns - just the skirt facings, bodice front, sleeves and “maybe” the forepart (under skirt) - of course for a fee. Embroidery fees can be rather pricy, but I charge the industry standard of $1.00 to $1.50 per 1000 stitches.

So, stay tuned for more information and thank you for all your support!

#Historical Sewing #renaissance #renaissance faire #renfair #renfest #historical costume #historical fashion #historical clothing #costume design #costume #costume designer

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butchybats · 2 months

Note

ask meme: how many crochet projects do you have going at the moment ‘:|

Okay so it’s only four rn everyone cheer and clap for me HGHGH ideally I would take pictures but I don’t wanna get up so I’m just gonna talk about them <3

1. Halloween sugar cookie sweater!! This is definitely my biggest project as of right now, it’s meant to look like those Pillsbury ghost, jack o lantern, and cat sugar cookies and it’s so CUTE!! It’s seriously such a me pattern, I love it. I have the front panel entirely done, I need to finish the border for the back panel, crochet the shoulders for it, sew the two panels together, and then crochet the sleeves and add ribbing. Honestly that’s probably less work than what I’ve already done like it really shouldn’t take super long to finish, I just have chronic can’t finish things disease. That being said I did spend a good chunk of money on both the pattern and the yarn and plus it’s so cute that I really gotta try to finish it.

2. Cardigan for my sister! I literally just said that I have chronic can’t finish things disease and if you want proof of that then this cardigan was supposed to be done for my sister’s birthday in the summer! And then it was supposed to be done by Christmas! It is halfway done! To be fair I hate the pattern I chose to do 😭 it’s a granny hexagon cardigan and it actually looks pretty cool but it takes FOREVER to work up (probably my fault for using a 3.75 mm hook but it matches the yarn my sister wanted) and it’s literally halfway done like if I really put my mind to it then I could finish it. That being said just thinking about it fills me with dread LMAO I’m thinking about doing either a raglan or patchwork cardigan instead because I would like to actually gift her the cardigan I’ve been promising for like 10 months now 🤡

3. Beetlejuice inspired vest: this project is sitting halfway done on my table right now TAUNTING ME. I was having such a fun time with it when I got the genius idea last night to try it on for size. It is way too big which means I have to frog almost the entire thing!! Trying to tell myself it’s a good thing because it’ll be quicker to work up if it’s smaller but it’s also disappointing because I have to undo my work!! Also to clarify when I say beetlejuice: it’s this bulky yarn that changes color from black to dark purple, lilac, chartreuse, and neon yellow-green. Such a fun combo that I had to have when I saw at Michaels

4. Forever ago I told @loelett that I would make them a bat. Said bat literally only needs feet, to be sewed together and stuffed, and shipped out. I struggled so much with the feet that it got put on the back burner 😭 but other than that it went well HGHG

This isn’t even counting the ideas I have that haven’t made it to the crocheting stage yet (I want to make an iwtv sweater so badly it makes me look stupid) but hopefully I can finish these up soonish so that I can start on new ideas!!

ALSO I FEEL THE NEED TO SAY THAT I LOVE CROCHETING AND CONSIDER MYSELF GOOD AT IT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS POST SEEMS KINDA DOWN JGVHGGHG i would literally be unstoppable if I had the motivation to finish things is what this post amounts to. Thank you for coming to my ted talk

#thanks for asking!#charles 🐈‍⬛#bat notes

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dmagedgoods · 9 months

Note

aAAAUUUGH 1 and 2 for the BG3 act 1 ask thingy, tell us about your Tav tell ussssss

Ohhh nice! Thank you so much! Let’s start at the beginning, very good idea. 👀💕 1. Tell us about your Tav! Name, class and subclass, race, pronouns. Do you have a headcanon for where they're from? Their family? Are they a Dark Urge? Or did you choose an Origin Character? Was it an easy decision? (1) I usually have the most fun with games if I throw in one of my main OCs. Therefore, Dark Urge was not an option for me. (Not for round one that is, I may try it later though 👀). This time I picked Rowley. He’s been with me for around 11 years already and, to my own surprise, works greatly as Tav. Most games don’t allow enough unhinged madness or don’t have the needed kind of humor to play as him, but BG3 really hits the right tone to imagine him. I also didn’t have to change a lot about his story to make him fit the universe and premise. Rowley is a rogue and an assassin from Baldur’s Gate, half-elf, he/him. Originally, he was born in Red Larch. He and his twin brother are the sons of a human father and an elven mother (forest elf). She was a seamstress and dressmaker, their father a gambler and small criminal, and taught Rowley all his tricks at a very young age, mostly because the boy proved useful to him and had a natural talent for cheating, and lying, and theft. Rowley’s twin brother, on the other hand, was treated cruelly. Their father viewed him as worthless because he lacked Rowley’s talents (to get him money). His brother was calm, more withdrawn, drew, sewed, and wanted to become a dressmaker like his mother. His father often beat him and used him as an outlet for his aggression - the reason for a growing fierce hate Rowley developed against their father (and mother who never stepped in). When things became worse during their teenage years, Rowley took his twin brother and fled with him to protect him. 2. Was there something about the character creator that just couldn't capture your Character? Please tell us about their hair, facial hair, tattoos, piercings, disabilities, their trans or intersex body, or anything else you're comfortable sharing. There is a lot the creator wasn’t able to capture about Rowley and I only went for the face that came the closest. The flair is right (and I’m glad), details aren’t. His scar is wrong, his face appears a little too juvenile and the small character model isn’t tall enough while the tall character model too bulky for him. I would need something right in the middle. Anywayyy, here is a little description of him: Rowley is tall (183 cm) and lithe, fast, and dexterous, his body athletic though lean. A long scar leads from the corner of his upper lip upwards across his right cheek. There are more scars on his back, arms, hands, legs and almost every body part. He has sharp features, attentive eyes, the tip of his nose goes slightly upwards, his lips are relatively thin, but his mouth seems to be a touch too wide for his face. His insolent grin became his trademark. Furthermore, the scar makes it appear somewhat asymmetrical. His eyes are of a cold, stormy gray. He has short, straight hair, but it’s long enough to look wild and unruly. The dark ashen-blonde tone is cold but can look warmer in the sunlight. During missions and exploring, Rowley likes to wear leather: black coats with broad shoulders and cords and laces and belts and buckles, usually boots and gloves (sometimes fingerless). His style is practical but extra. In his spare time, he wears loose shirts with wide sleeves, mostly white, sometimes in bright colors, and dark simple pants. When the occasion allows it, he goes for more fancy fashion choices, eye-catching pieces fitting for a noble but casually worn and just the slightest bit loosened in this way or that to break with the etiquette. His ears are pierced in many places. He wears necklaces and bracelets of silvery metal and dark leather. His posture is confident and casual, very relaxed. He often has a provoking grin or mischievous smirk on his lips. His movements are smooth and graceful.

While he knows how to stay unseen when he wants to - and highly enjoys it -, he also likes to get attention by creating chaos or acting provoking and disrespectful. Here is a picture of him made in the game in comparison to the one I drew of him recently:

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #tav #my ocs #oc: rowley #ask games #dmagedtexts #my art

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squeakadeeks · 11 months

Note

I’m planning to make a cosplay from scratch. Do you have any tips regarding sewing, patterns, how to know how much fabric to buy, best fabrics, etc? Btw, I absolutely love your Cookie cosplay! It looks so good

thank you!!

especially for a costume from scratch, i'd really recommend starting with a premade pattern. fabric stores often have pattern sections you can reference but you can also find them online from """brand names""" like mccalls, smaller creators, and custom cosplay patterns made for specific characters. if you're really struggling to find one that works you can also look into pattern blocks that will contain basic building blocks of certain garments that you can mix and match sleeve, collar, bodice styles etc. however before digging in brushing up on terminology about what those styles are called can help you know what to search/look for!

as for how much fabric and what works best, theres really no such thing as a ""best"" or ""worst"" fabric just their usage application (like even that cheap crushed velvet people tend to hate on a lot i was able to use on my collector had and it worked great. similarly if i tried to use a fabric thats commonly thought of as being hoighty toighty, like a silk dupioni on a project like knives, it wouldnt have turned out as nice as what I used).

the only real tips i have here is 1) in terms of amount, patterns will often tell you how much material you need! however I would recommend adding +1/2 yards in case you make mistakes or need to reorient things. store bought patterns will actually help you a lot in getting started by telling you what and how much you need and how to orient the pattern pieces. And 2) it can certainly be hard since in-person fabric stores arnt always super accessible, but especially when getting started i'd really recommend trying to go to a fabric seller in person. this will help you directly see and feel the differences in fabrics and conceptualize what might be good for your project between flowy lightweight fabrics, heavy fabrics with good structure, something shiny, something matte, etc.

hope this helps!!

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ljnsdump · 5 months

Text

Broken? No, Just Rearranging (SERIES)

Kim Mingyu x Female Reader

Kim Mingyu as Lucas Blue Ramirez and Y/N as Ara Riona Teves De La Vega

Just let go of the illusion that it could have been any different.

Genre: M/F, old friends to lovers, fluff(in the next chapters), smut (not in this chap tho), angst, late 20s established career setting

Warnings: Just mean, bratty and hateful OC

Word Count: 2 318

Hello and welcome to my first ever series! This is the second chapter already, I hope you guys would enjoy reading this!

----

CHAPTER 2: Welcome Note

She woke up early dahil alam niyang marami siyang kailangang ngayong araw. As usual, her outfits are never toned down.

Her hair was just dried and brushed today leaving it with natural waves. She's wearing a baby blue high neck, bell-sleeved wide leg jumpsuit with belt and a pointed-toe pump of the same color. She wore those with simple accessories with white crystals on it.

Pagbukas ng elevator, nakatayo na doon si Blue. She threw the car keys to him.

"May nag-iwan ng bulaklak para sayo." Sabi ni Blue at umangat ang isang kilay ni Ara.

"Galing kay?"

"Hindi namin alam. Dineliver lang naman ito ng isang flower shop." He shrugs. Pumunta sila sa may sala at nakita ang flower arrangement na napakalaki.

"Orange lillies." Bigkas ni Ara habang kinukuha ang note na nakalagay dito.

"WELCOME HOME, THIEF."

It said.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Who could this be from?" She asks herself. "Burn that." Utos niya sa kasambahay na nagmadali naman para kunin ang bulaklak.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "What's my schedule for today?" Tanong niya kay Blue habang nagtitimpi ng galit.

He held the iPad up. "You'll have a meeting with the board of directors in the morning then later in the afternoon you'll have a meeting with the corporate officers and then film and shoot for both Clear Cosmetics and DLV Fashion." He reads.

Sumakay silang dalawa sa puting Aston Martin Rapide ni Ara. Si Blue ang nagdadrive.

"What was written on that note?" Tanong ni Blue.

"It's got nothing to do with you." She replied.

He snickered. "You were flustered upon seeing it. You can tell me, I can help you with anything."

"You're making me hate you." She said through gritted teeth.

"So you don't hate me yet?" He grins at mas lalong nagpapainis sa kanya.

She shut her eyes and ignored him. Pagdating nila kompanya ay gumawa ng mabilis na check up si Ara sa mga nagtatrabaho. Pumunta siya sa laboratory kung saan nagfo-formulate ng mga bagong produkto. Isinuot ni Blue sa kanya ang lab coat, protective eye glass, mask at gloves.

Isang magandang babae ang bumati sa kanya pagpasok ng laboratoryo. "Magandang umaga po, ako po si Anne ang Creative Director ng Clear Cosmetics. Isa rin po akong cosmetologist."

She smiled and nodded. "What are you guys currently working on?" She asks.

"Well, we're just working on new formulas for a new eyeshadow palette and we're just waiting for your ideas about it." She replied.

"Maybe I'll come back here tomorrow. I have my schedule packed for today kasi. I'm just doing a quick look right now."

Anne smiles. "Wala pong problema."

Lumabas sila Blue at Ara sa laboratory. "Put that on my schedule for tomorrow." Sabi niya kay Blue at agad itong tumango at binuksan ang iPad na dala niya.

Sumakay na sila ng elevator paakyat ng ikalawang palapag. All these sewing machines and mannequins are riled up on the entire floor. Sa pinakadulo ay may mga opisina. Doon sila nagtungo.

"Hi, how are we doing here?" Tanong ni Ara general manager ng De la Vega Fashion na bakla.

"Good morning, Miss de la Vega." Bati nito. "Everything's running well. We have our three professional designers here with us. The production of our current products are always on going, they never stop. Our designers have designs that need approval from you so we can start the production and launch them soon."

"Send them to my office, I'll look at them as soon as I can. Medyo busy pa kasi ngayon kasi pangalawang araw ko palang dito." Sagot niya.

"And we'd also like to see designs from you as well, Ms. De la Vega. But for now, please take your time." He smiled and she smiled back.

"Thank you."

Nagring ang telepono ni Blue, tumatawag ang secretary ng kompanya. "Blue, andito na ang board of directors."

"Sige, aakyat na kami dyan." Sagot ni Blue. Lumapit siya kay Aya at bumulong. "Nandun na sila lahat."

"We need to get going." Paalam niya sa kanila at umalis na sila. Before riding the elevator, he took of all her PPE and handed it to someone.

They rode the elevator and she scanned herself through the glass.

"You look fine." Blue comments.

"I know." She replied and he rolled his eyes in her confidence.

Pagkatapos ng kanyang meeting ay agad siyang pumunta sa kanyang opisina kasama si Blue.

"Anong gusto mong kainin?"

"Coq au vin."

Kinuha ni Blue ang kanyang phone mula sa bulsa at may tinawagan.

"Pakiluto po ng Coq au vin, diyan kakain si Ara." Sabi niya.

Nagulat naman si Ara. Hindi siya makapaniwalang nasabi ni Blue ng maayos at perpekto ang French na salitang iyon.

"Tara?" Tanong ni Blue sa kanya.

"Where?"

"Kakain."

Lumabas sila ng building at sumakay sa sasakyan. Pinaharurot ito ni Blue. Huminto at pinarada ang sasakyan sa restaurant na may pangalang Le Patrimoine.

"Why did you bring me here?" Tanong niya. Dinala kasi siya sa restaurant na kanila rin. Iba-ibang branches at locations at bawat isa nito ay naka concentrate sa isang cuisine. Le Patrimoine ang tawag sa restaurant na ito na sa ingles ay The Patrimony. Iba iba ang pangngalan ng mga restaurant nila ayon na ayon sa cuisine na ginagawa nito ngunit iisa lang rin naman ang kahulugan sa ingles.

"Wala namang ibang restaurant na malapit na gumagawa ng pagkaing gusto mong kainin eh."

Ang namamahala ng buong De la Vega Foods ay ang pinalitan ni Ara na namamahala noon ng Cosmetics and Fashion company nila na mommy ni Aimee.

"You're so annoying." Sabi ni Ara kay Blue at pumasok na ng restaurant.

Pagpasok niya ay nakita niya agad ang kapatid ng dad niyang si Margarette na para bang naghihintay talaga sa kanya. "Kamusta naman ang kompanya?" Tanong nito sa kanya habang nakangiti.

She smiled back, but fakely. "It was fine." But her face suddenly turned serious and emotionless within a second. "But it could have been better."

Margarette was insulted by her remarks but she stayed cool despite the rage in her chest. "Why don't we eat together?"

They both sat across from each other. "What would you like to drink?" Tanong ng waiter sa kanila.

"Château Montelena Chardonnay." She said in thick French accent.

"I'll have champagne." Sabi naman ni Margarette.

"How's Aimee?" She asks.

"She was actually studying fashion but you suddenly came." She smiled bitterly. "Now she has shifted to culinary. Her place was stolen from her, apparently."

Something in her mind rang when Margarette said 'stolen'. She received flowers this morning and had a note that called her a thief, now, Margarette says that she stole Aimee's place from her. She smirked at the thought.

"Aimee is good with me. Honestly, she was the one who told me first that I was going to replace you in that company." She replied and their drinks arrived.

"You're food will be arriving soon." The waiter said and poured wines on their glasses.

Pagkatapos nilang kumain, umalis agad si Ara.

"You're so fucking annoying." Sabi ni Ara kay Blue pagpasok niya ng sasakyan. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Blue at nagtaka.

"Tita mo yun." Sagot niya.

"Just shut up. Buy me food."

"Hindi ka pa busog?!"

"SA TINGIN MO MAKAKAIN AKO NG MAAYOS KASAMA ANG BRUHANG YUN?!" She screamed in anger at him. He stopped the car and took a deep breath tas pinaharurot ulit.

"Anong gusto mong kainin?"

Hindi sumagot si Ara kaya dumaan nalang sila sa drive-thru ng isang fast food at bumili si Blue ng kahit ano.

They went to her office. Dala dala ni Blue ang mga paper bag na may take out food.

"Ms. De la Vega, mag nag-iwan po ng regalo para sa inyo. Nilagay nalang po namin sa opisina niyo." Sabi ng nakasalubong nilang trabahante.

Kumunot ang noo ng dalawa. "Sino ang nag-iwan?"

"Hindi po namin kilala, naka helmet rin po." Sagot nito.

Pagpasok nila sa opisina ay agad nilang nakita ang kahon na kasing laki ng shoe box na nakapatong sa lamesa ni Ara. Kinuha niya ito gamit ng dalawang kamay pero pinigilan siya ni Blue.

"Ako nang magbubukas, baka ano pa ang laman niyan." Sabi ni Blue at babawiin sana ito ngunit hinigpitan ni Ara ang hawak niya dito.

"Kala mo naman kung sinong may kapangyarihan." She rolls her eyes at him and opened the box.

Every small motion of her body stopped when she saw a dagger. Ginto ang hawakan nito at may disenyo. Agad itong binawi ni Blue mula sa kanya.

"Akin na yan!" Nagpupumilit si Ara para makuha ito dahil may papel sa ilalim nito. Kinuha naman iyon ni Blue at binasa.

Padabog siyang lumabas ng opisina dala ang kahon at laman nito at bumaba. Hindi na siya naabutan ni Ara dahil sa bilis ng kanyang paglakad.

Bumalik nalang si Ara sa opisina niya. Kumuha siya ng bote ng wine at wine glass sa maliit na wine bar na kanyang pinagawa talaga para sa opisina niya.

Nakasandal siya sa lamesa niya habang umiinom at nag-iisip kung sino man ang maaaring magbigay sa kanya ng ganun. All she can think of is Margarette or her cousins.

She was snapped back to reality when Blue's phone rang. Katabi ito ng mga pagkaing binili nila.

'SECRETARY'

She picked it up.

"Blue, andito na ang corporate officers." Sabi ng babae sa kabilang linya.

"This is Ara, I'm coming." Sagot ni Ara at lumabas ng opisina para pumunta ng conference room.

Tinapon ni Blue ang kahon at ang laman nito maliban lang sa sulat na kasama nito. Bumalik siya sa opisina ni Ara. Nakita niya ang bote ng alak at baso na nasa lamesa ni Ara. Napasinghap nalang siya at kinuha ang phone niya. Lumabas ulit ito habang mag dinadial na numero. Pagkatapos ng ilang ring, sumagot naman agad ito.

"Blue?"

"Aimee, pwede ba tayong mag kita?" Tanong ni Blue na para bang nagmamadali.

"Ngayon? Like right now?"

"Oo."

"Sige, saan ba?"

"Yung cafè malapit dito sa kompanya. Wala kasi akong sasakyan."

"Sige sige."

Walking distance lang naman yung tinutukoy nilang cafè mula sa kompanya. Unang dumating si Blue obviously, umupo lang siya dun para hintayin si Aimee.

Dumating siya sakay ng kanyang sedan.

"May problema ba?" Tanong niya kay Blue nang makaupo na siya sa tapat nito.

Kinuha ni Blue ang sulat na kasama nung kahon at binuklat ito sa harap ni Aimee. Napataas agad ang kilay ng dalaga.

'Thiefs belong somewhere else.'

"What's that?" She asked.

"May nagpadala ng balak sa opisina ni Ara kanina at ito ang kasamang sulat."

"Sino ang pinanhihinalaan niyo?"

"Hindi pa kami nag-usap dahil may meeting siya at dumiretso ako dito pagkatapos kong itapon yun." Sagot ni Blue na halatang nag-aalala. "Sino ba kasi ang mga kaaway ni Ara? Ba't bigla na lang siyang umuwi dito?"

"Hindi ko rin alam. Eh anong balak mo ngayon?"

"Ako mismo ang maghahanap sa kung sino man ang nagbibigay nito sa kanya."

She worriedly looked at him. "Umiwas kayo sa pahamak, ha!"

"Wait, kasama naming kumain ang mommy mo kanina. Galit na galit siya kay Ara pero hindi niya lang pinapakita, halata naman."

"She was the previous president of that company."

Pagkatapos ng meeting ay agad na lumabas si Ara. Nakakita niyang naglalakad papunta sa kanya si Blue. Naka puting button-up shirt nalang ito na rolled up ang manggas at tinanggal na ang kanyang blazer na suot. Nasa bulsa ang kanyang mga kamay habang nakatingin kay Ara.

"Wala ka sa meeting." Sabi ni Ara at huminto si Blue sa harap niya.

"May pinuntahan ako." Sabi nito ng walang kahit anong emosyon sa mukha. "Tara na sa studio ng Clear, gagawa ka pa ng video."

Pumasok sila sa studio na maraming reflectors, ilaw at camera. "Hi, I'm Wendy, the social media strategist of Clear Cosmetics. Congratulations for being the new president of both Clear and DLVF." Bati ng babae.

Ngumiti naman si Ara kahit wala siyang gana ngayon. "Thank you."

"Today, you'll be doing your own make up on camera using our products, and introducing yourself as the new president of this company. This will be uploaded on YouTube and will also be shown in our website."

"Am I going to do a lot of talking?" She asks.

"Unfortunately, yes. You're supposed to look and feel active and lively." She replied.

"I want to change my outfit." She said.

"Oh, okay." Wendy nods. "Let's go next door. This is the closet for shoots. All clothes are from DLVF. Please choose whatever suits you well and take your time."

Lumabas ng closet si Wendy at naiwan dun ay sina Blue at Ara na lang. Nagkatinginan sila.

"O, anong tinitingin tingin mo?! Magbibihis ako!" Sigaw ni Ara sa kanya. Tumalikod naman siya.

She chose a crimson red frill-puff sleeved bodycon dress. The dress ends a little higher than her mid-thigh and shows her body curve.

She also wore fluffy slides since she did not find any heels that would suit her dress. "I'm done." She said at humarap na si Blue sa kanya.

He looked at her from head to toe. The dress looked perfect on her but he doesn’t have the courage to say. "You're so short." He, instead, points out.

Sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Ara. "Don't get me started."

Lumabas silang dalawa sa closet at pumasok sa studio.

Nasurpresa ata si Wendy nang makita si Ara. "Ang sexy niyo naman po! Umupo po muna kayo nandito na ang hairdresser."

Inunat ang buhok niya habang tinatanggal ng isa ang make up niya. Nilagyan ang kanyang buhok ng pulang clips na babagay sa suot niya.

Nakaset-up na ang lahat. Nakaupo lang si Blue sa harap ng monitor. "Simula na po tayo." Sabi ni Wendy.

"Hi, guys! I am Clear Cosmetics' new President and CEO, Araa Riona de la Vega. Today, I will be showing you a few of my favorites from our cosmetic line."

"She's totally different on camera." Blue thought.

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