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#that's epic my guy but i don't want you to get your hopes up about firing in the dark (i am the dark that consumes)

crossydude · 2 days

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Any updates on relationships within the gang? Any improvements?

I don't like Ink very much. I've come to the realization that he could've taken me out of my au at any time, but he just...chose not to? CORE Frisk offered to take me to the Omega Timeline when my au first collapsed, but...they never came back. I would've gone with them if they had come back. You know, I told Nightmare no at first too. But he came back. I think Dream was too scared of me.

Its funny, really, how the most wanted people in the Multiverse, for good reason, are the only ones that have actively tried to help me? That just seems...twisted to me. They aren't that bad, once you get to know them. Gosh, people are going to say I'm brainwashed. I'm really not! Epic and I have started hanging out again, and Nightmare was the one to come up with the idea.

Killer...I really hope he doesn't read this, but I've grown to really like sparring with him. He's a funny guy, but there's also more to him than that. His jokes don't bother me as much anymore.

Dust showed me his comic book collection, and he has really good taste! He's whooped my ass at video games quite a few times. His schizophrenia is an issue, but the others know how to handle it, and I'm learning too.

I met Horror's brother the other day. Horror was really protective of him. I think I understand him a bit more now. He's snarky, a bit of an ass sometimes, but he still cares, and that's a difficult thing to do.

Nightmare...is different. I guess that comes with being immortal. I still don't know much about him, but neither do the others. I don't think Dream ever really knew him either. He told me once, on a bad night, "I suppose we both have shitty parents, don't we?" I guess his mom wasn't the greatest at raising him. But he's done so much for me. For all of the guys. I think that I'm starting to relax. It's...nice.

Gosh, I guess I rambled a bit too long. Hope this answers your question?

#cross sans #ask #bad sans gang #bad sanses #nightmare sans #horror sans #killer sans #dust sans #ink sans #dream sans #core frisk #horrortale papyrus

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dadmareau · 1 year

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btw you can make your own dadmare AU. if u want. <3

Since there's more people here: You can have your own Dadmare AU!

Hell, I was inspired by One Small Dream by @calcium-cat (they are very cool!) and loved the idea of baby Dream so much that I drew the fan art that then inspired this story. I made this shit up in 3am Twitter thread, bruh. You can have a baby Dream. You can have a Dadmare. Do time-travel, I fucking love time-travel fix-it fics/AUs.

As long as it's not an intentional recreation of my exact same AU, it passes. If there's any doubts/questions, feel free to send an ask or message me. Also, translations are welcome.

DISCLAIMER: Don't pitch your AU idea to me. I won't respond, I'm taking a conveniently-timed nap. Love the enthusiasm, keep doing whatever you're doing, you funky little guy. Go keysmash about it.

(unimportant rambling under cut)

People have already made AUs with baby Dream or Dadmare before me, and they're so awesome to read. Same thing with Underfell, Swap, etc. The repetition of the same story by different people is what builds diversity and creativity. The retelling of an AU and of Undertale is what this community is built on.

We are echoes of the same beginning, through different eyes and voices. Tell a story that makes you feel something, anything, no matter how bad you write it.

(mangled noise) i love stories waugh (gmod metal object collision sfx)

#modmare #faq #info #announcement #people have been like pitching side stories and au ideas to me #that's epic my guy but i don't want you to get your hopes up about firing in the dark (i am the dark that consumes)#i have limited energy and i won't respond if you're spammin my inbox broski #by pitching your AU i mean: 'what if this thing happens and THIS thing happens' cool dude #the diff between pitching and asking is the presence of a question asking if we are too similar #<- for the homies who need me to specify

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emilsendo · 6 months

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(Dom)Baji Keisuke x (Sub) Top!male reader

Type: Smut

Warnings: Dom Baji, gay sex, riding, stimulation, etc.

Author Note: Hiya! I finished this one oneshot and I hope it will be good for you guys to read 👀👍 I started to writing a request with Drakenxtop male readerxMikey, so I just reminding xD.

_____________________

— Baji.... — you gasped hoarsely as your boyfriend bounced heavily on your dick.

Baji was insane, not even giving you time to breath as he rode you hard. You could feel his entrance squeezing you with pleasure with each firm bounce.

You tried to calm his movements by holding the brunette's toned waist, but Baji seemed even stronger now, not all the strength in the world could stop him now, he even had an expression of lust as he sat frantically on your dick, his walls sqeezing and sucking your dick in a delicious way.

Not that it wasn't good, on the contrary. It felt so good that you were almost drooling, it was so good that you felt like you were about to cum at any moment, but you didn't want to be there so early. Not that Baji cared about it, in fact it seemed like that was exactly what he wanted.

Every drop of your cum inside him.

— Baji......If it continues like this-Aah~! I'm going to....— you tried to warn while sqeezing his waist between your fingers, Baji's waist was firm, of course, he had a lot of muscles due to begin a delinquent, anyway he was beautiful, and he loved it when you held his waist.

— You will come? Do it inside me. Go on, cum in me, darlin'~ — the delinquent seemded fascinated with the idea of you cumming inside him, so he sat on you with all the strength he had, eliciting not only a moan of pleasure from both of you, but also one of surprise from you.

— Damn, Baji.....f-fuck! — you exclaimed, starting to tear up, with delicious suction that the brunette's hole made around your cock.

Baji's little entrance was sucking you in, he was tight and hot, it was comfortable to be inside him, but at the same time you felt like your dick was going to melt.

The room was stuffy and almost completely dark, if it weren't for the sunlight that the curtains let out. The only thing you could hear was your moans and muffled breathing.

Baji wasn't very affectionate when he grabbed some strands of your hair, throwing it backwards, so he could give himself space to bury his face between your neck, clean of marks, of course not for long, until he slid his tongue over the spot, that made you twitch slightly in pleasure. Having Keisuke suck on your neck was the least of the problems, considering the orgasm you were needing to get to.

— Hey, M/N, why don't you call me by my first name? — he moves a little away from your neck to ask, not far enough since you could feel his breath hit the spot.

It seemed to be a serious question, although Baji continued to move on your lap.

— I-I don't know, I just..... MH! Ah... I'm used to calling you Baji.— you replied sincerely.

Baji pulled away completely from your neck, holding both sides of your face, looking at you intensely seriously.

— Call me by my first name.— He demanded. You sighed a bit confused, but you didn't have time to reason when Baji doubled the speed of jumping on your dick, you gritted your teeth when you felt your dick hit your boyfriend's prostate. — G- ugh! S-shit...call me by my first name.—

— Kei.....— you tried to complete, but the words came out shaky as Baji's entrance practically devoured your cock.

— C-Come on, M/N....I know you....you can do it.— He encouraged with a strange smile, as he fumbled over his words. It was difficult to have a serious expression on his face when your length was literally widening his hole.

— Keisuke! F-fuck. Keisuke, please, I'm going to cum. Please let me!

That was epic for Keisuke Baji. He only needed a few more slightly sloppy bounces for his pleasure to fill him.

— Fuck. Cum inside, M/N. I want to feel ya, got it? Do it! —

You then came with streams of milky cum begin sucked into Baji's gaping hole. He moaned feeling filled, he came soon after, his cum got all over your and his chest.

Little by little Baji stopped moving and you fell silent, sweaty and panting.

— Are you okay? — You asked.

Baji nodded with an amused expression on his face, you smiled embarassedly.

— It's incredible that.... even though I'm bouncing like crazy on you, I can still feel my legs.— He joked ironically.

— Yes, I think that for you to stop feeling your legs you would have to sit on me a lot more.— you joined in, letting out an amused laugh.

You didn't even notice the suggestive smile that spread across Baji's face after your words.

— Then it looks like I'm goin' to have to sit on ya until tomorrow morning, my darlin'.

— What...?

The confusion on your face replaced by a noise of surprise when Baji sat on you once again, you grunted with your sensitive dick to the recent orgasm once again begin stimulated.

— Baji, I can't do it anymore! I-I....— you tried to protest desperately but was silenced by the full lips.

For Baji, nothing would be over until both of you had no more strength.

— I loved how you said my first name, from now on ALWAYS call me that.—

#tokyo revengers x male reader #baji keisuke #male reader #sub top #oneshot #gay #anime #tokyo revengers #top male reader #dom bottom

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guywrestlingaddiction · 17 days

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Everything Great About a Match: Joshua Goodman v Randy Stanton (bgeast.com)

Everything Great About a Match: +8

Joshua Goodman v Randy Stanton (bgeast.com)

SPOILER ALERT: I highly recommend viewing this match in its entirety before reading this post.

So let's begin:

+1: For the fan fantasy match. It starts off as a wholesome outing with star-struck Randy being led to the wrestling mats by his idol and obsession, Mr.Joshua. Randy looks like he cannot contain his excitement at being offered a chance against the man, the myth, the legend himself. That's right, out of all the men on this planet, he picked you Randy - this is going to be an epic day for you.

Randy: *Gulp* This is hot, what you got in here?!

+1: Definitely worth a point to spotlight Mr.Joshua and Randy's chiseled, statuesque bodies. Mr.Joshua is a ripped, muscled mountain of perfection and while Randy's got muscles for days, standing next to Joshua is a exercise in futility - the guy puts everyone to shame.

Joshua: Hey. Six packs are for amateurs, this my friend is an 8 pack!

Randy: Hey I'm working on it...

+1: Joshua play wrestling with the fan. I love how Mr.Joshua gives his fans the full heel treatment by letting them think they have the upper hand only to crush them. In fact, Randy even rallies a come back or two. I mean, we are talking about Mr.Joshua here, the guy is a wrestling god and to see him lure an unsuspecting rookie, later to crush his dreams and discipline him like a misbehaving child is worth a point.

Mr.Joshua: Yeah feel that chest. You like that don't you?

Does Randy have the upper hand or is this a trap ready to spring into action?

Mr.Joshua: It hurts, it hurts. Randy: Now you know what I felt like.

Mr.Joshua: Damaging my pecs?! I'm going to kick your ass for that.

+1: Dirty talk. Mr.Joshua knows he's the man. He knows when a guy wants him and he knows that Randy is aching for this domination. We all want Mr.Joshua but Randy gets some 'special' treatment here. I can't recall him indulging his opponent with seductive talk as much as he does here.

Mr.Joshua: I know you like that. You like those balls in your face! Who's the man? Randy: ... You are...

Mr.Joshua: I bet that gets you going. Those big thighs.

Randy helplessly squirming under the domination. Mr.Joshua: I know you like that. You like that, it turns you on!

Mr.Joshua: Look at you. Look at that package in the mirror...

+1: Mr.Joshua forces him to worship the body that dominated him. Randy is hurt and curled up in the fetal position only to be dragged back to his senses and forced to worship the man.

Mr.Joshua: That's it. Good. Worship that body.

Randy is looking mighty small against the adonis Mr.Joshua!

+1: Some of us wait for a perfect sunset, others wait for that perfect moment during the match. It's that moment when Mr.Joshua graces us with his sexy signature move - the "Adjustment".

+1: Randy gets owned in all the best ways. There's a moment, around submission #50 when Randy simply goes with it all. This match is not going the way he wanted it to go and he clearly has no chance against the muscle adonis, Mr.Joshua. So instead of fighting back, he is overcome with defeat and simply offers himself up to his dominator. Mr.Joshua says pose for me and Randy eagerly complies.

[+1] Bonus point for Randy's reaction to it all. The guy is in unconscious ecstasy here and nearly begs to be put away by Mr.Joshua.

Randy: *Muffled* Fuck... I submit.

Mr.Joshua: Flex for me. Show me your best pec.

------- Everything Great About this Match: +8

So there you have it. This is an instant classic match with a brutal beat down. While Randy might be sore in the morning, all he'll remember is Mr.Joshua giving him the time of his life. Randy follows Mr.Joshua on to the mat hoping to put through the ringer and our heel does not leave him hanging. By the end, all those tips from Mr.Joshua about building muscle are thinly veiled distractions to pump up our jobber only to have his world crash around him like a huge set of biceps chocking him out.

And with that I leave you with our final 'Adjustment' for the night.

Mr.Joshua: If only you were awake to see this...

#gay wrestling #bgeast.com #Joshua Goodman #Randy Stanton

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kasagia · 10 months

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Devoted

Pairing: Aleksander Morozova/General Kirigan/The Darkling x fem! shadow summoner! reader Summary: Aleksander and Baghra have been your family since you left the house of your father, who blamed you for your mother's death in childbirth. You and Sasha became more; he was your epic love interest and mentor. You wanted to be just like him... until one event radically changed your beliefs and led you to doubt your great purpose. Nonsense from me: This is a request from @justmasblack I hope that you like it! 💙🖤 P.S. I'm so sorry it took me so long. 😅 (Inspired by Vampire - Olivia Rodrigo) Warning(s): angst, mentions of death, blood, violence, the reader and Aleksander are lost, the reader can't go on like this any longer Word count: 6,7k Taglist: @aoi-targaryen @morrigan-crowmwell

Hate to give the satisfaction, asking how you're doing now How's the castle built off people you pretend to care about? Just what you wanted Look at you, cool guy, you got it

"How do you feel?" you ask, standing in the doorway to his chamber.

It's the first time since you've seen him after… the fold. He has his face down on the ground and looks at his hands. In one of them, he holds a handkerchief… soaked in his black blood.

He doesn't even look up at you.

"Good. How was your mission?" you sigh at his question and move deeper into the room, glancing briefly at the nichevo'yas present in the room.

"They have to be here even when you're talking to me?" you ask mockingly, but instead of immediately responding to your irritable provocation, he tenses up. Something is wrong. He tries to mask it with a fake, mocking smile.

"Are you afraid of them?" he asks, challenging you, looking at the remains of Morozova's stag in his hand.

"I fear nothing but myself." you respond to him with one of the rules you learned from living by his side. He nods his head in appreciation.

"Properly. Do you have what I wanted?" he asks and gets up from his chair, still with his back to you, and walks over to his desk, where his unfinished glass of whisky and bottle are.

"Have I ever let you down?" you ask and walk over to him, putting down all the important and needed notes and books he left in the Little Palace.

"Never. Not you." he replies thoughtfully, swirling the glass and drinking the rest of the alcohol in one gulp. "That's why I have another mission for you."

"You won't even ask about the freed Grishas? About how I managed to steal them from the palace and bring them here?"

"Since you're here, I'm guessing it went smoothly. Besides, I heard horses pounding in the courtyard. Everyone made it, didn't they?" he asks confidently, sorting through the things you brought him. You smile involuntarily. Always confident.

"Good to know the volcra didn't yank your arrogance out of you, but if you're going to mock me, at least look at my face, Aleksander." you challenge him, staring at his back defiantly, knowing full well that he feels your gaze.

"Only you can make fun of a volcra attack with such cruelty. Now I see why people hated you for that." he says, finally turning to face you.

You think he looks at you with more intensity than you do. Always judging, anticipating, and analysing his next move. Oddly enough, his behaviour interests you more than the black scars on his face.

You take a few steps towards him and stop, leaving a meagre, short distance between you two. One small step forward, and you could kiss him.

You hold back, though, and put your hand over his cheek. His rough beard gently tickles you as you run your thumb over the scar on his cheek. He is watching you intently, closing his eyes for a moment as he feels your fingertips on one of his black scars.

"Do you want me to kiss it better?" you ask him, leaning closer to him.

"150 years by my side and I still don't know when you're joking and when you're serious." he says in wonder, staring at you expectantly.

You are smiling. You stand on tiptoe and plant a soft, tender kiss on his cheek, feeling the furrow from his scar on your lips.

He shivers, his eyes closed, as his arms slowly slide around you and wrap around your waist. He holds you close to him, as if afraid that you will run away from him at any moment.

"Aren't you disgusted? Are you not afraid?" he asks, opening his eyes and drilling into yours. His shadows and dark creatures circle you both as he lets his guard down for a moment.

"Your darkness is mine." you whisper before you pull him into a passionate, needing kiss. You let your power flow with his. The room is completely dark as your shadows move to play with his when both of you lose yourself in each other again.

I see the parties and the diamonds sometimes when I close my eyes Six months of torture you sold as some forbidden paradise

"Are you enjoying yourself, General?" you ask teasingly as you approach him at another winter fest.

"Quite. How about you, Colonel?" he asks, the annoyed look on his face after talking to the king softening as he looks at you.

You've been by his side for almost a hundred years. And he always admired the way you looked in black kefta. Something only you and he could wear. Your colours. A clear sign of your belonging to him.

"You look lovely, by the way." he adds casually after looking carefully around to see if anyone is interested in your conversation.

" Lovely enough to catch the eye of some worthy suitor? What do you think about it, brother?" you ask teasingly, making sure the last word comes out as sweetly and mockingly as possible from your lips. You smile at his irritated look.

"This is the last time I let you invent new identities for us." He sighs in annoyance. You laugh genuinely.

"You said yourself that last time I distracted you too much as your wife." you remind him, sipping champagne from a nearby table.

"And now you're doing it as my pseudo-sister when I can't kiss and hold you the way I want. That's why you will be my mistress next time." you sigh, feigning shock, and place your hand on your chest.

"Mistress? You want to make a poor, innocent girl your bed warmer? Aren't you ashamed to pervert me like this?"

"You are already perverted, my little shadow. Maybe you need a reminder? About who do you really belong to?"

"I belong to myself." he licks his lips, giving you a hungry, dark look that would make anyone flinch… anyone except you. You wanted nothing more than to succumb to his aura.

You lean in gently. Enough that anyone who happened to be watching you would assume that you were leaning over to the table for something. But you do all of this only to leave a hickey on his neck. He sighs, not expecting you to be this brave (or stupid) to do such a thing right here and now.

"You're lucky we're in public, my little shadow."

"Oh, come on. You love it when I torture you like this." you tease him, watching him carefully. You envied his ability to hide the emotions on his face, but his eyes... his eyes betrayed his every emotion to you. At least that's what you wanted to think.

"And I like reminding you even more of who's really in charge here."

"Be careful with that… your mother says I'm getting more powerful every day… maybe even more than you."

He laughs, mocking the thought that you could ever be his match, let alone be stronger than him.

"Baghra would say anything to put me down. I wouldn't trust her words so blindly if I were you. No matter how flattering they are."

"Yes? Then why don't you want to prove yourself right and take on me?" you say, pointing out to him your insistent requests to have a real duel with him. Not just the training sessions he personally walked you through when you and Baghra argued so much that neither wanted to see the other.

"For one simple reason, my beautiful, naive, defiant little shadow… I have completely different plans for you than to consume you in my darkness."

"Who said you wouldn't be the one consumed by my darkness?" you ask, staring into his dark brown eyes.

He laughs, not believing that you - the girl he took in less than a hundred years ago - could beat him. "Keep on dreaming, my little shadow. Now, won't you dance with me?"

You took his hand and let him lead you.

Continuing to be his amusement and plaything.

I loved you truly Gotta laugh at the stupidity

"Did you mourn over me?" he asked you, stroking your hair as you two were lying in his bed, taking deep breaths after what you were doing.

"Where did you get that question from?" you ask, lifting your head from his chest to look at him. The hand that was combing through your hair lands on your back, stroking your bare skin with his fingertips. You shiver at his familiar, soft touch.

"Answer... Did you cry for me? You cursed my name? Maybe you were tempted to create an altar for me?" you've never felt more watched than under the gaze of his dark brown eyes.

"I was so scared... when you didn't come back from the fold... I felt like part of me died there with you. I can't live without you, Aleksander. Please... don't do such a thing ever again. You are my only shelter and the only thing I care about in this bloody world. There is no me without you." you think, but you know better to say it out loud. To admit how much power he has over you, how much you've become addicted to him.

"I've been waiting for you to come haunt me as a ghost to tell you that I told you so, and that is all your fault. Maybe I would use your cult and the people who trusted you to take over Ravka and rule by myself." you say and he laughs, turning on his side to look at you.

"My cruel little shadow didn't shed a single drop of a tear for me? What a pity." he says teasingly with a smirk as he wraps a strand of your hair around his finger.

"I was planning a bloody revenge and include a mention of you in my first speech as Ravka's Queen of Kings when I'm done. You should be happy or at least show some appreciation."

"No king by your side?" he asks curiously, raising an eyebrow at you.

"No. You are my only equal. If you were dead, I wouldn't need anyone by my side."

"So you need me after all, cruel queen of vengeance?" he asks, amused, raising an eyebrow at you with a smirk on his face.

"Amazingly, you're a good thing to scare people. The mere mention of your name makes everyone tremble."

He laughs and leans in to kiss you passionately. He holds you tightly in his arms, as if making sure you won't run away from him, that you'll stay with him even when his shadows and nichevo'ya watch over the two of you. Making sure you're as drunk on power as he is.

"I will always be here. Together, we will destroy others with our sahdows. Everyone will bow to us, moya tsaritsa." he whisper in your lips, between the kisses.

"Moi tsar." you mumble as you feel your shadows release, forming a ball around you that completely obscures both of you.

"I have a task for you." he says, stroking your sides teasingly as he smiles and watches you squirm under his touch.

"Good. But I want one thing in return."

"Name it."

He agrees, his dark eyes completely engrossed in the sight of your beautiful face, desperate for him. He chuckles darkly as you straddle him impatiently. He keeps his hands on your hips as you lean in and whisper in his ear.

"You will show me how you create your nichevo'yas." you kiss him passionately, bringing him closer and stroking his black scars on his back.

He moans into the kiss, knowing full well that he will do as you wish. He will enjoy watching you try to create what he did, how you try to match him in his darkness.

'Cause I've made some real big mistakes But you make the worst one look fine I should've known it was strange You only come out at night

It was supposed to be an ordinary mission.

Track down the deserters, kill them, and teach the others a lesson so they don't even think about escaping or leaving the Second Army.

And everything went on as usual… at least up to a point.

Of course you tracked them down with Ivan by your side. Thanks to him, you knew which direction to go, and when you both managed to stop in their place, your favourite part was about to begin.

Screams and pleas for mercy, mournful cries, last prayers, and their words before dying gave you a sense of power. Every drop of blood shed through your cut was like a drug to you. It proved that you were in charge of life and death and that you were too powerful to be stopped by anyone.

"Where is your saintly little sun summoner now?" you ask mockingly, and as your shadows cover them all, the sunlight disappears. All they'll see before they die are you and your shadows.

Everyone is too scared to say anything. They know you. The deputy general. His lover, his little shadow. Shadow Summoner. More cruel and bloodthirsty than the Darkling himself. They'd be lucky if you ended their lives with just a cut.

"You betrayed the Second Army. Your General, a future tsar and all the Grishas. And now you will pay for it."

You form a cut by being merciful enough to quickly end their lives. And then you see it…

Little child in the crowd. Girl. Maybe she was 8 years old. You reluctantly remember yourself at her age. A girl abandoned by her father who wandered around the world until she found other shadow summoners like her. The terror in the baby's eyes, the tears streaming down her cheeks, and the way she trembles in fear stir something in you.

You've never hurt a child before. That was your only moral boundary. And now you were about to cross it against yourself. For the Second Army. For Aleksander…

You close your eyes and make a cut in the crowd.

After a while, it's quiet again. No screaming and crying. Just you, your shadows, and Ivan faithfully waiting by the horses. You take one last look at the girl's body before returning to your companion and horses.

Deep down, you know this sight will haunt you longer than you think. And you can't quite understand what caused such a change...

Or you pretend, shaking your head as you remember the scared look in her eyes… exactly the same as you had when you were an abandoned child who had to survive on her own.

I used to think I was smart But you made me look so naive The way you sold me for parts As you sunk your teeth into me, oh Bloodsucker, famefucker Bleedin' me dry, like a goddamn vampire

"So you're still here." these are Baghra's first words to you. She doesn't even look in your direction.

She stares out the window as if the view beyond him will change at any moment. Aleksander made sure you settled down with the Grishas, who were loyal to him, in a remote place. Nobody could find you here... at least not yet.

"So he finally locked you in a cage. To be honest, I felt you were going to cross the line soon, but to betray him? Your own son? I've never felt more disgusted by you." the woman just smiles mockingly. She shifts her gaze towards you for a moment.

"In a few days, maybe months, maybe years, even centuries, you will be in my place and do the same as me. As soon as you open your eyes and see that he's manipulating you."

"He loves me." you start, but you're not sure if what you're saying is entirely true. After all, he never said that.

"He loves your power. You'll see it one day." she said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"It doesn't matter. We shall rule together, side by side."

"Once, you wanted to be a protector. A hero. To ensure Grishas' safe future without war or battles. You didn't chase your own people. Look how you have fallen so low. The girl I met would never let her be a plaything in anyone's hands."

"I'm nobody's toy! I am a shadow summoner, more powerful than you or Aleksander. I am his equal, the future queen of Ravka. And I will achieve all this so that no Grisha has to go through what we have. No Grisha will ever suffer again for who he is."

"Then why are you chasing your people? Why do you cut them in half in cold blood? Because they ran away? Because they feared for their lives? What's the difference between you and Otkazat'sya or Drüskelle?" you clench your fists. You don't give in to her. Baghra won't get on your nerves. You're over it.

"You have no idea what you're talking about. Neither you nor Alina can understand our actions." you say, taunting her as you look at her in disgust. She betrayed you and Aleksander the moment she decided to help that little saint-bitch.

"Actions of you both or HIS?" she says, raising an eyebrow at you, not caring about your appalling attitude. She knows you. Just as good as her son. "Haven't you become that? A faithful servant who obeys his orders? Who kills the innocent at his command? Who gets his hands dirty for him?"

You sneer, but deep down, you're considering her question. The eyes of that puppy you cut in half with your cut cross your mind again. And a look full of fear—pure fear and tears in her eyes does not bring you the same satisfaction and sense of power as before. You wanted to be a hero once. Now you were the darkness. The evil parents used to scare their children at bedtime... and strangely enough, you felt like the weakest person in the world.

"At least I'm not rotting in this cage." you say as you walk towards the exit. "Oh! I forgot to tell you the most important thing. We're getting married. He gave me an engagement ring made of your bones as an amplifier, great, right, mom? We will finally be a family."

You walk out of the room with a cruel smile, not feeling as powerful and confident as before you walked in. And that little kid's cursed eyes full of fear will haunt you for the rest of the day.

And every girl I ever talked to told me you were bad, bad news You called them crazy, God, I hate the way I called them crazy too

You enter Aleksander's tent, furious. Your shadows circle around you as you walk to the mirror and undo the intricate hairdo Genya did for you.

"What has bitten you?" he asks, keeping his eyes on the map as he considers his plan one last time. Morozova's stag bone in his hand only fuels your anger.

"Your precious Alinoshka." you snort furiously, trying to let your damn hair out of your bun.

Aleksander chuckles and approaches you from behind. He wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you to him, his lips against your neck.

"She's definitely not mine... well, only her powers are. Unlike you, my little angry shadow." he says as he kisses your neck. For a second, you think he wants to give you a hickey, but he stops himself. He rests his chin on your shoulder and looks at you in the mirror. "You are all mine, and you look lovely in my coat."

"The idiots lost my clothes chest. I have to steal from you, you don't mind, do you?"

He purrs against your neck, shaking his head. With one hand, he unhooks his coat from you and lets it fall to the floor, leaving you standing in his black kefta that's only held on by a belt.

"How could I when it makes you look so gorgeously mine?" you snort with laughter as he wraps his arms around your waist and kisses your neck. "What has our sun summoner done to make my beautiful little shadow angry?"

"I went to her tent to convince her of our cause… she of course, started to argue. We shouted at each other a bit, like girl to girl. She called me a stupid, cruel bitch and said you manipulated me as much as you manipulated her."

"You threatened her with your shadows and almost killed her, didn't you?"

"Of course not… we need her, I was being completely careful. I didn't even get her close to agony."

"My good little doom." he praises you, stroking your cheek tenderly as he stares at you with a dark smile. "Once we've expanded the fold, you can do whatever you want with her. Even if you killed her, I wouldn't particularly care."

"Thank you." you say, turning to kiss him passionately. Your tongues intertwine, and your shadows merge, dancing in a familiar dance as you both feel the other's power and the empowering abilities that his touch brings. you are addicted. From him and his taste, the feeling of power that he gives you. You don't want to be anywhere else. Only by his side. "You know what… I think I know how you can help me forget about this crazy bitch."

"I will be more than happy." he says, pushing you onto the bed.

You're so convincing How do you lie without flinching? (How do you lie, how do you lie, how do you lie?)

"You lied to them without flinching. I'm impressed." you say when he returns from meeting the royal family. You took on a new identity. A Darkling's son and his wife (a distant relative) who both can summon shadows.

"A matter of habit. In a few centuries, you will be able to do it too." he assures you as he leads you to his chambers.

You snort when he puts his hand on your back. "I'm offended that you think I don't have that skill yet, husband." you say, teasing him. You didn't get married. However, that didn't stop the two of you from pretending otherwise. Maybe someday…

"I know when you're lying, wife." he says, also teasing you. Your black kefta billows behind you as you walk to the Little Palace.

"Because you know me well. If you lied to me, I'd know you did too." he laughs, incredulous at your ability to spot his lie.

He leads you through the familiar corridors of the Little Palace. You just hope they assigned him the same chambers. You loved going out on the balcony in the evening.

"Let's try." he stands in the middle of the corridor. "Baghra contacted me. She wants to meet. Am I lying or not?" he asks with a raised eyebrow, waiting for your answer.

"Partly. Baghra wrote to you, but not about the meeting. It was about something else."

The amused smirk disappears from his face. He looks at you with a twinkle in his eye, surprised and a little excited at the same time.

"How did you know?"

You take his hand and pull him to you. You kiss him, enjoying the feel of his lips on yours. "Your eyes tell me everything." you say, making sure he doesn't look at you.

Actually, it was completely the opposite. He was the one who could easily read from your eyes. That's why you're not going to tell him you know what he lied about just because you read the letter. You won't give him the satisfaction of not really knowing when he's lying.

Ooh, what a mesmerizing, paralyzing, fucked-up little thrill Can't figure out just how you do it, and God knows I never will

You loved the thrill of power when you used your shadow. Now all you could think of was those damn scared eyes every time you summoned your shadows.

That's why when you and Aleksander went to destroy Karemzin with his men, you "allowed him" to do the honours. Using your shadows has become traumatic for you.

You hoped it would pass. That Baghra's words, that fucking terrified look from the girl, and the growing doubts inside of you kept you awake in the night.

Fortunately, Aleksander didn't notice any change in you. Maybe he didn't want to, maybe he didn't care, or maybe his own problems were too big to notice yours.

Anyway, when you told him to destroy the town, he was at least... surprised. You always fought him to show off your powers, to show how powerful you are. Now you were standing back, watching him. His thoughts wandered towards you as he sent his shadows directly at unsuspecting people.

You, on the other hand, watched silently as the town collapsed under his shadows and listened to the screams of the people as they quickly came and disappeared. There was complete silence. And you trembled. Not the excitement or the wonderful thrill of seeing how terrifying and ruthless your Aleksander is. You trembled in fear. Aleksander blamed this on the exceptionally cold weather.

"We're setting up camp here." he announced to his men, and he walked over to you. Seeing this, you shifted your gaze from where Karemzin used to be to him and gave him a small smile.

"Nice show. I almost forgot you could still do that." you say, remembering the countless times you've destroyed villages for each other to save each other from discovering your little secret of immortality.

"Thank you, are you sure you're okay? You look pale."

"Maybe I need tea… and your arms around me in our tent." he giggles and immediately hugs you.

His coat and arms surround you, creating a safe bubble of warmth. However, all you can do is hear the screams of those people from a moment ago… and see behind your closed eyes blue, innocent irises looking at you in fear.

"Do you want me to show you how I create nichevo'ya?" he asks, pulling back to look at you intently. You pretend you're okay and smile back with a quick and excited nod of your head.

You hope this will bring back your power-hungry nature. That old Y/N would finally get out and play with her shadows again. That Aleksander will help you overcome this growing guilt within you and take away from you the burden of the sins you have committed in his name and out of fun.

However, when you manage to create your own nichevo'ya, to your and Aleksander's shock, you don't feel that relief and excitement. Guilt grows inside you, and your throat tightens as the nichevo'ya follows your every command.

Aleksander is speechless. Enough that he can only whisper: "My talented little darkness." before he pulls you in for a hungry kiss.

A little shadow turned into a little darkness. And instead of feeling overwhelmingly happy that he's finally seen your potential, you start to fear your power and about what he wants to do with it.

Went for me, and not her 'Cause girls your age know better

You used to mock Aleksander for how initially he was fascinated by Alina's light and what she could do as a sun summoner.

You also didn't know why he was so concerned about losing his connection to her through Morozova's stag bones. You knew how inconvenient this had become for your plans, but you couldn't understand why he was so easily engulfed by her light and worried about losing the ability to summon it.

You changed your mind when you faced her. As you watched her light scatter your shadows. For a moment, a small, fleeting moment, the sinner in you wanted to pray to Sankta Alina for forgiveness and help. For her to get you out of your darkness.

But then she attacked Aleksander. And you didn't hesitate for a moment to send a shadow barrier at him and create nichevo'ya to attack Alina.

And again, you saw the same terror in her eyes as in that little girl's eyes. And you came back to that clearing for a moment—to that moment when you sent a cut at them... when you closed your eyes in shame, not wanting to see what you had done.

You froze so much that Aleksander managed to save you from Alina's attack at the last moment. The roof above you collapsed, leaving you and Aleksander alone on one side of the corridor. You both ran outside.

"What were you thinking? What happened to you there?" he asks furiously, looking at you. This was your chance to grab her. You knew he would be furious with you. But instead of blaming you, he walks over and locks you in a tight, almost painful hug. "You are mine. I can't lose you, my little darkness."

And the worst part is, you don't know if he's holding you and clinging to you because he's hurt at the thought of losing the only person he cares about or if he just can't afford to lose your powers as well.

One thing is certain.

You can't go on like that anymore.

And in his arms, as you both cling to each other, you promise yourself that this will be the last time. You don't want power. You don't want the throne. You don't want everything you've wanted so badly... you don't want to be like Aleksander. You just want to finally feel at peace... just this once.

I've made some real big mistakes But you make the worst one look fine I should've known it was strange You only come out at night I used to think I was smart But you've made me look so naive The way you sold me for parts As you sunk your teeth into me, oh Bloodsucker, famefucker Bleedin' me dry, like a goddamn vampire

You remembered that day, like today. How you left your own house without looking back. When, after discovering that you were a shadow summoner, you decided that you could handle yourself. That you no longer have to live at home with a cruel father who blamed you for your mother's death in childbirth.

Luckily, you weren't alone for long. One day, you met them. Two people just like you, who welcomed you with open arms and welcomed you as one of their own (after a long time of both gaining each other's trust. Fate hurts both you and them.) But now you have your own little family.

You weren't Y/N Y/L/N, you were Y/N Morozova.

And that night, you were supposed to erase all traces of your past once and for all.

You told Aleksander and Baghra that you were going to visit your relatives. It was partly true. You think as you enter your father's house.

You don't tell him anything. You don't have to. From the determined, stern look in your eyes, a man knows why you're here. Aleksander taught you how to form the cut on objects. You decided a long time ago who would be your first living victim.

It's different than you imagined. When your shadows cut it in half... nothing happens. You don't feel regret, anger, or sadness. The blood on the wall and the blood that forms under it does not arouse any emotions in you. You just feel your shadows buzz inside you, wanting to get out, wanting to destroy everything around you, the last evidence of your old life and who you used to be.

But now you were Grisha. Shadow Summoner. Morozova's powerful ancestor.

And you had a goal. Destroy those who wish evil on you and your people. Anyone who dared hurt Grishas. And you started with your father.

You're leaving the house. You walk backward, watching your shadows crush the building to the ground. You feel a strange feeling of power rising in your veins.

And then you bump into someone's chest.

You don't scream. You don't attack.

You know this smell, especially the feeling of those strong arms around you. Only one person could just hold you to his chest in a situation like this.

"How are you feeling, little shadow?" he whispers in your ear. You don't know how he knew he'd find you here, how he tracked you down, or if he followed you from the beginning.

But it's good to feel his arms around you. They surround you almost like his shadows.

"Good. Free." Powerful. Invincible. Almighty.

You're not going to tell him. Not now. Not when you don't know how he'll react to it. But when he turns you around in his arms to look at him, you know you both share this thirst for power.

He tucks a strand of your hair behind your ear. His gaze penetrates your eyes deeply, making you shiver. You feel that he can reach into your deepest, most secret dreams. And that he finds there a reflection of his own desires.

So you stand on your tiptoes and lean forward to kiss him.

And when you feel his lips on yours, his hands wrapped around your waist to pull you as close as possible to him, and the way he amplifies the shadows inside of you that are already buzzing with excitement, you feel like you can do anything by his side. And you both know this is just the beginning.

You and he were going to change the world.

You said it was true love, but wouldn't that be hard? You can't love anyone, 'cause that would mean you had a heart I tried you help you out, now I know that I can't 'Cause how you think's the kind of thing I'll never understand

"Aleksander?" you ask him when you enter your chamber and see him engrossed in books and maps.

"Come here, Y/N! I need to show you something." He says excitedly, and the fact that he's called you by name only proves that how important it is.

You sit on his lap and study the maps he has spread out. There are red crosses in some places.

"The places of the amplifiers. We are so close to everything we have planned. I can't wait to see you in the crown by my side, my little darkness. They will worship us. The new saints and rulers of Ravka. Saviours of all Grishas." he continues excitedly as he holds you in his lap and looks at all the papers on the desk.

"What about Alina? Her tracker? The Grishas who followed her… your mother?" you ask. He stops stroking your hair and shifts his gaze towards you.

"You don't know? They will kneel before us. Traitors will be punished accordingly. I promise you, my little darkness. No one dares to oppose us. No one will be brave enough to fight our darkness." he places a tender kiss on your forehead. "We're both in it. We don't need anyone else, my little faithful, pretty darkness."

He glances back at his maps and plans. He doesn't notice your nervous look or swallow. And you realise more than before that you don't want it. You don't want to be queen through fear and violence… you don't want to see again, in dreams, behind closed eyes, and on the faces of others, that frightened look of the little girl you cut in half with your shadows.

You do not want to be like Aleksander.

You spent 150 years striving to be where you are now. By his side. His equal. Just like him. His matching darkness.

And now you would do anything to go back those 150 years… not to commit so many sins in the name of power and love for a man who can't love anyone because his heart died ages ago before he even met you.

"You and I will finally change this world, Y/N. We're so close, my little darkness." he says, pulling you closer to him.

You shudder at the nickname, which has become a sweet curse, uttered by him with tenderness. A curse that was another thing to remind you of your wickedness… that you had become a monster.

Aleksander frowns for the first time since you entered his tent, noticing that there is something wrong with you. That you don't have that excited twinkle in your eyes when he talks about his plans. That you don't have that dark smirk on your face that drove both of you to action.

"What is this? What's in your mind?" he asks, caressing your cheek tenderly.

You lean in and kiss him. Aleksander does not realise the importance of this kiss. He doesn't realise that this is your last attempt to get back at him. One last attempt to hold on to him with the last of his strength. Last try before you put your own plan into action. Before you make a final and irreversible decision about both of you.

You kiss him with everything you have. With all the passion, love and affection that he has instilled in you over the last 150 years.

Your mentor. Your saviour. Your great, epic love. Your sweet villain. Your worst doom and greatest happiness.

Your Aleksander.

You pull away from the kiss and rest your forehead against his. He notices your tears, but he thinks they are tears of joy, that you, just like him, are glad that your long journey is coming to an end.

"I love you, Aleksander." you whisper with tears in your eyes, silently begging him to say back those three words you've been missing for ages. To prove that he cares about you, that he's not completely consumed in his darkness.

But he smiles only and kisses you on the forehead again, stroking your hair as he whispers softly: "I know."

You kiss him again. You don't want to show him that you're broken. That with his answer, he sealed your fate… that you had completely lost all hope of saving yourself and him. Because there was no you without Aleksander. And you couldn't go on like that anymore.

I've made some real big mistakes But you make the worst one look fine I should've known it was strange You only come out at night I used to think I was smart But you made me look so naive The way you sold me for parts As you sunk your teeth into me, oh Bloodsucker, famefucker Bleedin' me dry, like a goddamn vampire

He was preparing for his… your quest for the amplifier. His men were assembling the camp; his tent was just your suitcases and a few key reports and plans he had yet to go through.

He planned everything perfectly. It's a shame you were about to ruin it all.

"Aleksander. We have to talk." you say, hiding the tremble in your voice.

"Now? We're about to leave, can't it wait a while? We'll talk on the way." he says without taking his eyes off the papers in his hands. Saints, if only he knew how hard it is for you to do what you have to do right now.

"I have a feeling that I wouldn't be by your side to witness your victory, Aleksander." you say to him, playing with the sleeve of your black kefta. A ring made of Baghra's bone has never weighed on you more as you let your shadows step out for a moment and roam the tent.

"Where would you be then?" he asks, finally interested in you as he looks up at you with a surprised and panicked look.

You just smile. Aleksander is trembling. It's not that smile that warms his dead heart, it's not that dark smile that makes him shiver, his shadows are eager to play with yours.

Your smile is empty, without hope, sad and as if… resigned. Tears form in your eyes. Aleksander takes a hesitant step towards you.

"Y/N..." he whispers, watching your emotions finally surface.

"I love you, Aleksander. I always did. You were my epic love. My shelter. My mentor. Everything I've ever known. The only constant in my life. I've always wanted to impress you, to match you. Stop being just your little shadow… I'm sorry I didn't love you properly. Not enough. Maybe it would be better if you ended up with Alina. She is… the light. And we are only darkness. Maybe it's my fault… that I went deeper into this darkness with you, that I pushed you into it myself and enjoyed it more than anything…" you say, no longer holding back tears. This is the first time Aleksander has seen you in such a… vulnerable state. And he's terrified.

"Y/N, what are you talking about?"

"I'm so sorry, Sasha... but I can't do this anymore." you whisper with tears in your eyes and start to form the cut.

"Stop. No, please stop! No! Stop!" he screams, terrified. He runs to you to stop you, but his nichevo'ya holds him in place. He can only watch, screaming in horror and great grief, as one of his shadow monsters crushes your neck before his eyes.

He screams louder than ever. And you close your eyes, unable to see the terror in his dark brown eyes.

When his nichevo'ya finally releases him, he runs over to you. He takes you in his arms, holding you close to him on his lap.

"I... I never meant for this... I-I swear." he cries, cradling you close to his chest in his arms. He knows there's nothing he can do anymore. He has a few moments left with you. And you realise that, unlike you, he can't control them. It's his shadows that control him.

"Sh... sh... I know... I love you, Sasha."

"Please… no… I love you, I love you so much, Y/N. Please..." he cries as he leans his forehead on yours. "I can't do it without you… I can't live without you. You are... my everything. Please... don't leave me..."

You taste his tears as he kisses you one last time, as if trying to keep you by his side. With the last of your strength, you take advantage of the connection between you and give him your power. So he will no longer be controlled by his shadows.

"I'm so sorry, Aleksander." you whisper into his lips, and you feel all your strength starting to leave you. Only loud screams and Aleksander's tight, aching embrace keep you in this world.

After a while, you feel nothing. It's just you and blissful emptiness.

You feel at peace.

And deep down, you feel that you and Aleksander will meet again on the other side… this time, maybe you'll both enjoy the light.

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ennoshitas-princess · 7 days

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A Mother's Wonderful Love

Wakatoshi Ushijima x chubby fem! reader Warnings: fluff, kid that is noisy, that's about it Synopsis: It is your birthday, and he tries to surprise you with a nice breakfast in bed, but got ruined because he had to wake you up. Word Count: 337 Thank you so much to the people who did my poll that I posted!! Now, I will grant the wish that my customers want. Enjoy!!

The sun started to illuminate the room with warmth and welcoming the incoming opportunity. His olive eyes fluttered open as he saw your body laying next to his. Getting up carefully, he glanced at you with a mesmerizing gaze, enchanted by how cute your soft belly rises and falls back.

Taking quiet steps, he headed into the kitchen to make you a nice breakfast. Opening the drawers and cabinets carefully, he took out a pan and everything else came clattering down to the wooden floor.

Ushijima heard thudding from the stairs. Turning around quickly, it was none other than his sweet little princess, not her mommy.

He placed his finger to his lips, indicating to the little toddler to stay quiet. All he got in return was a loud giggle from the little one.

Ushijima's face scrunched up, trembling in his place of what was going to happen next.

Running towards her, he tried to scoop her up, but failed epically as he bumped his head into the wall, a loud groan escaping his vocal chords.

"You can't catch me, daddy!" Mocked his little princess.

Agitated by her behavior, he had no other choice, but to call the one who CAN bring their daughter under control.

"Honey, we have a... problem." Muttered out Ushijima.

As your beauty sleep interrupted, you stretch your arms with a tiny yawn following right after, you get up to check what your husband is muttering about this time.

"What is going on?" You turn your head to see your daughter running like a mad dog. "Sweetheart, please behave for mommy." You bend down to her height.

"Yes, mommy." She gazed into your eyes.

She acted mostly like her Uncle Tendou, even though he currently wasn't here, but oh boy, she was acting crazy like him.

"Now, I guess my king and tiny princess will need something to-"

"I will make breakfast, dear." Ushijima offered.

"I think you have done enough. Why don't you take care of our princess?" You smile at him.

A/n: hey guys!! Thx for voting again. Hope you love this one I made.

Thanks for stopping by, darling!!

ennoshitas-princess

Please DO NOT repost on any other platform!!

Reblogs are acceptable

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eddiemunsons80sbaby · 6 months

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Everybody Hurts

Chapter 17

Pairing: EddieMunsonxReader

Summary: You needed to escape, escape from your life, your messy divorce, and all the pitying looks. Looks you couldn't ignore when everyone in town had known you and Cam, had known your shame and failure. So, you took the first job you could get, teaching third grade in a town called Hawkins. Little did you know, you were walking right into another messy situation, a messy situation with big brown eyes and long dark waves. But he's resistant, at times unbearable and you start getting curious about the town's past, his past, especially when things don't start adding up.

18+ Only for eventual smut

Next chapter: 12/20

Word Count: 7K

Masterlist

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Nerves fluttered in your stomach as Eddie opened up the passenger door, offering you his hand. You took it, hopping down off the seat, your feet hitting the asphalt of the road with a thud. Your eyes peered up at Steve’s house with trepidation, the very idea of facing all of them after your epic and entirely embarrassing outburst at The Hideout making you want to lose the grilled cheese that Eddie had cooked for you as a late lunch.

It was a nice house. It looked like a basic American Craftsman with some touches of Spanish colonial. The colors were all earth tones, rusty orange siding with forest green details in the shutters, railings, and columns. You spotted a small balcony on the side that would be perfect for late night stargazing or watching the sun rise high into the sky with your morning coffee warming your hands. There was no garden but the front walk was lined with small trees, inviting and warm.

“Hey,” Eddie said, squeezing your hand in an attempt to assure you as if he knew the panic that was raging through your body. “It’s gonna be fine. Seriously. These guys aren’t going to care about any of that. And if anybody should be ashamed, it should be me. You just yelled. I’m the one who acted like an asshole. If they’re still happy to see me, they’re going to be overjoyed to see you. Nancy and Robin have been pestering me daily because you won’t answer their calls. Trust me. They’re going to be over the damn moon to see you.”

You hoped he was right. Not only had you acted like a lunatic in front of them, then you'd completely ghosted all of them. You had only done it as an act of self-preservation, trying to keep yourself from looking the part of the fool that you felt so deeply. It had nothing to do with any of them. But how would they not feel offended that you'd disappeared on them? You would have definitely taken it personally if the roles were reversed. They’d been so kind to you, welcomed you in, and then you'd just ghosted all of them.

“I guess we’ll see,” you muttered softly.

“Seriously, you should have heard the tongue lashing Nancy gave me. She backed me up against the wall at the bar, her finger jabbing my chest so hard she left bruises. Man, that woman might be tiny but she is scary as hell. Then Robin started in on me, then Gareth ripped me a new one, and then I had to listen to Mama Harrington lecture me about being a good man. It was fucking painful, man.”

Your face cracked into a smile, a quiet giggle escaping despite your fear. Leave it to him to make you laugh, to put you at ease, when you were feeling anything but. When Eddie had mentioned heading over to Steve’s, you had tried everything you could think of to talk him out of it, including pulling off your shirt but he would not be deterred. Apparently, everyone was heading over for a cook-out and some drinks. They were all expecting Eddie but no one knew that you were accompanying him. He had a great plan to surprise them all, to remedy his screw-up, and to make everything better for you. He was assuming it would be a good surprise but that remained to be seen.

What if they were all done with you? They barely knew you and you'd managed to dig into secrets that made them uncomfortable, create drama between them all, and then ignored them when they tried to reach out. What reason did you give them to want to keep you around? You'd given them no reason to. It wouldn’t be hard to drop someone you’d only met a few weeks ago. None of them would be feeling any great loss if you were no longer there.

“Is it bad if it brings me pleasure that it was painful for you?” you teased, leaning into his side, your cheek resting against the soft fabric of his shirt, a stark contrast to the muscle of his bicep beneath it.

A chuckle shook Eddie’s chest, his lips ghosting over your forehead, “Nah. I guess I did kind of deserve it.”

“Damn right you did,” you stated, poking him in the ribs, grinning when he arched his body away from you with a shriek. Oh, he was ticklish. That was good information to have and use to your advantage at a later time.

You stepped up onto the porch and Eddie looked down at you, “Ready?”

You nodded even though you felt anything but. You wanted to bolt, race down the sidewalk and away but before you could even process that, Eddie was knocking on the door and it swung wide open, Steve revealed behind it. With one hand on the door and the other on his hip, you watched as his face lit up upon seeing you and then his eyes trailed down to where your and Eddie’s hands were clasped together.

“Holy shit! It’s about damn time!” he exclaimed with a wide grin, his head shaking back and forth slightly. “I thought you two idiots would never figure it out.” Steve turned his head to look over his shoulder. “Munson and Sam finally got their shit together!”

A chorus of cheers, about times, and finallies could be heard from just beyond the door. You flushed as Eddie smiled down at you, an ‘I told you so’ look of arrogance on his face that should annoy you but he just looked so damn cute doing it. You shoved him gently with the hand he didn’t have a hold of, snorting and shaking your head. Of course he wouldn't be able to pass up rubbing this in.

Then Nancy and Robin were there, pulling on your arms, yanking you into the house. They wrapped you in a hug from either side and all of the anxiety you'd been feeling seeped out of your body like water being wrung from a sponge. You squealed, gasping for a breath as both girls squeezed you as tightly as they could.

“I’m happy to see you guys too but I can’t breathe,” you choked out.

They pulled back, laughing, Nancy saying, “Sorry. We were just so worried.”

“Yeah, when you didn’t answer the phone this afternoon, Nancy declared we were showing up on your doorstep tomorrow and we weren’t leaving until you answered,” Robin told you. With a raise of her eyebrows, she hooked her thumb toward the brown curly headed girl. “And trust me, this one can be scary when she doesn’t get her way. She would have broken in if she had to.”

“Then I guess it’s lucky I showed up when I did,” you laughed.

“Damn right,” Nancy huffed, her hand coming to your shoulder and shoving firmly enough to send you stumbling back. Damn, she was freakishly strong for being so small. “You don’t get to disappear on us like that. I don’t care what happened with you and Eddie. That doesn’t change that we’re friends. I’ve lost enough people in my life and I won’t lose anymore.”

You swallowed hard, remembering Nancy telling you about her best friend who vanished only to be found dead later. She had to have known people in the mall fire in a town this small. She definitely knew the boy who was murdered ten years ago as they were together at the trailer park. This girl had suffered immense loss at far too young of an age. Of course she’d panicked when you suddenly vanished and that only made you feel like an even bigger shit.

“I’m sorry,” you told your friend, meaning it with every fiber of your being, your hand coming to Nancy’s bicep, squeezing lightly. “That wasn’t fair to any of you. I was just so damn embarrassed that you all knew that I’d…well, I thought I’d let some guy pull the wool over my eyes again. I assumed Eddie was a womanizer and you all knew and you would think I was an idiot for believing him.”

“Eddie?” snorted Max as she walked up, slinging an arm around your waist in a side hug. “Eddie Munson, the biggest nerd to ever walk the Earth? Dungeon master and geek club leader Eddie? You thought he was a womanizer?” She threw her head back, laughing.

“Well, I mean he is in a band,” you stated in an attempt to defend yourself, narrowing your eyes down at Max who was turning red, her laughter taking over her whole body. “Women love a guy who plays guitar.”

“They also love a guy who plays DnD, is socially awkward as hell, completely lacks any self-awareness, and will talk obnoxiously for hours about things like heavy metal, government control, and Lord of the Rings?” challenged Max, her hand slipping from your side to rest on her hip, eyebrows raising.

“Maybe. I mean, girls are into a lot of different things. Look, he totally has the bad boy thing going for him. He’s got the long hair, the chunky rings, the leather jacket,” you argued, gesturing to where Eddie stood with Dustin, Lucas, Mike, and Will.

Nancy’s lips pressed together in amusement, watching as Eddie wrapped an arm around Mike’s head, placing the lanky guy in a headlock while the boy struggled. He brought his other hand up, rubbing it vigorously over the top of Mike’s black hair until Mike yelled out for mercy. Then he released the kid, his head thrown back with laughter just as Lucas jumped onto Eddie’s back and he roared, reaching behind him.

“Yeah, totally a bad boy,” Nancy mused with a roll of her eyes. “Sorry hon. You didn’t snag yourself a bad boy. You snagged yourself a man-child.”

“Oh, man-child. Are we talking about Eddie or Dustin or, honestly, it could be Mike,” El interjected, red solo cup in her hand, as she and Suzie approached their group.

“Or Lucas,” Max groaned, watching as Eddie spun, her boyfriend on his back, arms locked around his neck, legs locked around his middle until Eddie backed into the wall, crushing the guy between him and the plaster until Lucas cried uncle.

“Dusty-Bun may be immature sometimes but it’s just because he’s so young at heart. And he more than makes up for any immaturity with his incredible intellect and his very romantic nature,” Suzie stated and you noticed how the group just smiled endearingly at her.

“It’s not like mine’s any better. Him and Argyle are out back and you know what that means,” Nancy added with a laugh. “I’m surprised Eddie didn’t make a beeline for them straight away. Those three can usually be found in the sacred circle around the firepit.”

“You think that one’s any better? And for some reason, I have to claim him,” Robin sighed, hooking her thumb in the direction of Steve, standing in the kitchen, pulling out lettuce, tomato, onion, all the fixings for burgers on the grill.

You looked at her, confused, “He’s just getting ready to grill. I mean, looks very adult to me.”

Robin’s chin tilted down, snorting, “Yeah. Okay. Steve is very responsible, maybe too responsible. I got over here earlier and he was stressing out over how Lucas told him he was just going to charge a vacation for him and Max on a credit card and then he’d have time to pay it off. Apparently, they don’t have the money right now but he still wants to go. Lucas’s version is if you always wait to have the money, you’ll never do anything. You should have heard Steve. ‘He just thinks credit cards are free money or something. He doesn’t understand the interest he’ll be paying. He could be paying that trip off for years and wind up paying more than double what it actually coasts. This is why you budget and save for things like that.’ Seriously, the guy needs to join the sacred circle more often because he needs to chill.”

“Wait.” Max’s hand came up, her face suddenly tight. “I’m sorry. Lucas wants to do what? Excuse me.”

The girls watched as Max stormed over to the guys in the living room, grabbing onto Lucas’s ear. The poor guy yelped, wincing, as she dragged him out the front door, clearly in for a mouthful. They all looked at each other and then burst into laughter.

“Oops,” Robin smirked with a shrug. “Guess she didn’t know about the vacation plan.”

“What the hell was that about with Sinclair and Red?” asked Eddie, walking up and tossing his arm casually over your shoulder as if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if it belonged there, and you couldn’t deny how much you enjoyed it. You couldn’t deny how much you wanted this, all of this, to become natural, a part of your everyday life.

“Apparently, Lucas was planning a trip for the two of them but they don’t actually have the money to go right now. So, he was just going to charge it all to a credit card,” Nancy explained. “I guess Max didn’t know and Robin spilled the beans.”

“Damn, Buckley, that’s cold,” Eddie chuckled, thumb running along your arm absently. “How are you going to just rat out my man like that?”

Robin held her hands out beside her, “I didn’t know that she didn’t know. I was just mocking Steve for freaking out about it. Mr. Mom in there couldn’t handle one of his little chicks being so irresponsible with money.”

“To be fair, that is really irresponsible. Credit cards are for emergencies only or using them and paying them off right away to build credit. They’re not just for flying fancies that you can’t afford. It’s a slippery slope into a mountain of debt that you’ll be able to get out from under,” Nancy defended.

“Of course it is,” Robin mocked with a slow nod of her head. “Should have known you’d agree with Steve. It’s a wonder why you two didn’t make it, honestly. You’d think the responsible, follow the rules, parents of the group would have been the perfect match but then our Nancy throws everyone for a loop and goes for the stoner.”

“Speaking of, I’m going to go find Jonathan and Argyle,” Eddie grinned, tongue darting out between his teeth. He pressed a kiss to the top of your head. “I’ll be back.”

“Told you Eddie can’t resist the call of Mary Jane,” Nancy told you with a roll of her eyes.

You laughed, “Hey. I’m going to go see if Steve needs any help with the food.”

“Aww, such a good little dinner guest. You go right ahead. Good luck. I’ve learned not to get in that man’s way when he’s cooking,” Robin stated, eyes wide, taking a drink from her cup. “Come on girls. Let’s go upstairs and check out our game options before the guys choose Dragon Strike or something else similarly nerdy and nauseating.”

You watched Suzie and El trail behind Nancy and Robin up the stairs of Steve’s house before making your way into the kitchen. Steve stood at the counter, chopping up the tomatoes into perfectly thin slices for the burgers. His head lifted, a smile appearing as he caught sight of you.

“Hmm…it would appear that someone finally saw what everyone else did, huh?”

You rolled your eyes, “Oh shut it, Steve.”

“I’m just saying, I was right. You two annoyed each other too much. You were at each other’s throats too much, denying it too much, for it not to be an attraction thing, trying to act like you couldn’t stand each other like we all couldn’t see what was really going on.” He snorted, moving on to the lettuce, running it under the tap in the sink before tearing off large pieces. “We all saw it and when I confronted Eddie about it, he was way too defensive. I saw right through him.”

“You confronted him about me? Why?”

“Because he got all grouchy with me about you. He kept making these snide little comments, asking if we’d hooked up yet, asking what I was waiting for.” He rolled his sleeves up, his eyes moving along with them. “Look, Eddie’s not exactly hard to read. Man wears his emotions on his sleeve. You’d have to be blind not to know when something’s bugging him. It didn’t take a genius like Henderson to figure out he was jealous, thinking I was taking the girl he was interested in. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I thought about asking you out but once I saw how he felt, I backed off. Glad I did too. You two just seem right. I think you’ll be good for him. Man could use some good in his life.”

You knew what Steve was talking about because Eddie had made multiple comments about Steve to you too. It hadn’t made sense at the time but now you knew he was digging for information, trying to see if the two of you were a thing. He’d just assumed that you would be attracted to the pretty boy. And why wouldn’t he? That was the guy you'd married but after Cam, you wanted nothing more than everything that was the complete opposite of him. And Eddie, well, him and Cam could not be more different, in all the best ways possible.

You hopped up on a stool, resting your forearms on top of the speckled brown counter. Steve had a kitchen that had jealousy burning within you. Oak cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a light wood floor. It put your own kitchen to shame. You would need to find a second job if you wanted to update your kitchen. More likely you would have to do it piece by piece as you could afford it. A kitchen like this would cost a pretty penny, far more than you made in six months as a teacher.

“This kitchen is fantastic,” you told him, Steve glancing up from the cutting board where he’d moved on to slicing onions. “Was it like this when you bought it?”

“No,” he laughed, “definitely not. It looked like I’d walked through a time portal and straight into the seventies when I bought it. I remodeled it.”

“Damn, that must have cost quite a bit.”

He shrugged, “I mean, yeah, but I saved quite a bit too because I did most of the work. Eddie and Jonathan helped quite a bit. Labor is always where they really get you. I probably paid a third of what I would have by putting in the work myself. It took a few months between everyone’s work schedules but we got it done.”

“I know what you mean. My kitchen is horribly outdated. It’s barely even workable. I would love to remodel my kitchen but there’s no way I could afford to have someone else do it. And, while I am more than willing to put in the work, I wouldn’t have the foggiest idea what I’m doing with some of it.” You sighed wistfully. “Who knows? Maybe someday, far into the future, I’ll be able to pay for something like that. Until then, I’ll just have to make do with my birch cabinets and avocado green counters. At least the appliances are newer.”

Steve paused, lips pouting in thought, “You wouldn’t have to wait that long. I bet we could do it if we all help. I mean, it could take a while. But between all of us, we could definitely knock out a kitchen renovation.”

“Oh no. That’s way too much, Steve. I appreciate the offer but I can’t possibly ask all of you to donate your time like that,” you insisted, shaking your head.

This group of people were so kind, had been so wonderful to you, and you could never thank them enough for readily accepting you into their group. They’d given you hope for your future. They’d made you feel alive again, made you feel as if you could move on, could have a life beyond Cam and your failed choices. They'd given you a place to belong. They helped you find your strength to take that step forward. And knowing them had brought the possibility of…no, you couldn’t bring herself to say that word, not yet.

You couldn’t bring yourself to hope for something that big, not yet. This thing with Eddie was new. You were excited to see where it led and you hoped it could be the beginning of something, that maybe, just maybe, he could be the one. Maybe you'd chosen wrong but maybe it was because your life was always meant to lead you here, to him. That was such a wonderful thought. There was a spark of excitement and possibility but you had to tread carefully, baby steps, not scare Eddie off.

But it was hard because you had never felt with Cam the way you did with Eddie. It was a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation all at once. You couldn’t stop thinking about him, longing for the next time his lips found yours, the next time his hands touched you. He was like a drug and you were hopelessly addicted. It both thrilled and terrified you because you'd never experienced anything like this before. You knew you were already in too deep and with that came the possibility of your heart shattering once again. But something about him made you feel he was worth that risk. You were ready to close your eyes and leap off the cliff. You just hoped Eddie was there to catch you at the bottom.

“What are you talking about?” Steve asked, bursting through your thoughts. “That’s ridiculous. Of course we would help you. That’s what friends do and you’re one of us now.”

“Not really. I mean, you’ve only known me for about a month and I know I’m…” What were you doing with Eddie? Were you just hanging out? Were you a couple? The only time you'd brought it up he’d said you didn’t need to label it and maybe you didn’t. He’d told you he wasn’t going anywhere so that had to mean you were together, right? “I’m…hanging out with Eddie.”

“Hanging out?” Steve’s shoulders shook with the laugh that rumbled out of him. “Is that what it’s called now? Huh, I must be getting too old to keep up with the young kid’s lingo these days.”

You grabbed a dish towel from the counter and threw it at him, hitting him in his handsome face. “Shut up. I don’t know what to call us, okay? We haven’t exactly defined anything so for now, hanging out seems the most appropriate definition. Anyway, I definitely don’t know you all well enough to expect you to donate hours of your time to help me with some huge project at my house. I know Nancy and Robin helped with my garden but that was a few hours. This would be months. It’s way too much.”

“Well, it’s too bad you don’t get to make that decision. Trust me, the minute I mention it, they will all be in. That’s what we do. Just provide food and drinks and everyone who can will show up. And with me as your foreman, I’ll make sure that boyfriend…” He leaned over the counter, pointing at you with the dish towel tightly in his fist. “Yes, I said boyfriend because that’s what it is. Let’s stop kidding ourselves. Hanging out is for friends and you two are far past friends. I’ll make sure your boyfriend doesn’t nail his own hand to the wall or something. And I’ll make sure it’s all done right.”

“I don’t know,” you countered, really not wanting these people to think you were just using them or something.

“I do know. So, just let me handle it, okay?”

“Fine. Do you need any help?” you asked, remembering what you'd come into the kitchen for in the first place before you got distracted with his kitchen.

Steve glanced around the kitchen, “You want to mix up the pasta salad?”

“Sure.”

You hopped down from the stool, coming around the counter just as Steve opened a high cabinet. He stretched up onto his tip toes, his hand reaching, causing his shirt to rise up, exposing a strip of the skin along his abdomen. You audibly gasped when your eyes caught sight of the pale scars that covered it, perfectly matching the scars that Eddie had on various parts of his body.

Steve’s eyes shot over at your gasp, following your line of sight down to his stomach. When he realized what you were looking at, he dropped down onto flat feet, pulling his sweatshirt down quickly but the damage had been done. There was no unseeing what you'd just seen, no putting that Pandora back into the damn box. How could he and Eddie have the same exact scars?

“Steve…how did you get those scars?” you asked, stepping into him as he stepped back into the counter, eyes widening with panic when he realized there was nowhere to run or hide from your question.

“What? I…oh…uh…”

His eyes darted around the kitchen like a wild animal desperate to find an escape. You took a step closer, your own eyes narrowing in suspicion, refusing to let him out of this. You were so sick and tired of all the secrets and lies. If you were going to be a part of this group, the way he claimed you were, the way they all claimed you were, shouldn’t you know what the hell had happened? If they really wanted to be your friend, why didn’t they trust you enough to be honest? Every time you thought you could be okay with not knowing, had put it all in the back of your mind, something else reared its head, reminding you, pestering you. You couldn't stand it.

“The scars,” you repeated. “Where did they come from?”

“Eddie told you about the raccoons, right?”

Your eyes slipped closed, a long, aggravated breath escaping from your lips, because you knew it was bullshit. All of it was bullshit. You'd known it was bullshit from the moment Eddie had told you about the raccoons but tried to accept it, but only an idiot would keep accepting these flimsy claims. There was no way raccoons did that to two grown men. How many of them could there possibly have been? Steve and Eddie maybe would have gotten bitten once, twice, but they would have kicked or thrown those little bastards. There was no way Eddie would have the amount of scars he did from some little woodland creatures.

“Can you please stop with all the bullshit?” you pleaded. “I know you’re all lying to me. I just don’t know why. The disappearances, the toxic chemicals, the lab, the mall fire, the murders…none of it makes any sense. Don’t try to tell me raccoons did this to you too because there is no way.”

“Sam…” Steve warned, shaking his head. “Trust me, you don’t want to go there. Just let it go.”

“Why? Why don’t I want to go there? Eddie said he wouldn’t tell me because he wouldn’t put anyone else at risk. What does that even mean? Why would telling me put me at risk? Is the murderer still out there? It’s been a decade. How is that possible and if it is, shouldn’t I know if some psycho is running around Hawkins? Did he come after you two? Is that where your scars are really from?”

Steve’s head dropped, large hands covering his face, the muscles of his arms tense. You knew you were pushing him and maybe you should feel bad about it but you couldn’t manage it. What could possibly be so bad that they couldn’t even talk about it? It happened ten years ago. Some of it happened even longer ago than that. Why were they all still so scared to speak about it? Why did Eddie think it would put you in danger? Why did they feel the need to lie?

“It’s not that simple,” Steve said, his head lifting, eyes finding yours, willing you to just forget you saw anything, to just walk away. “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you. Trust me, you don’t want to know. I promise you. You can’t unknow it once it’s said. You’d run straight out of this town as fast as you could if you knew. Either you’d be terrified or you’d think we all needed to be committed.”

“Why do any of you want me around if you don’t trust me enough to tell me, to believe you? You keep telling me I am one of you, that I am part of this group, but you keep secrets and you lie.”

“It’s not that we don’t trust you. I swear. Shit. I wish I could tell you. I wish we could just be honest. None of us likes lying but there’s no way to explain this so that it makes sense to you.”

“Then just explain it. Where did those scars come from?”

“Bats.”

“Bats?” you asked, even more confused than before. Bats were just a different animal. Same story, different mammal. “So instead of rabid raccoons you expect to believe that rabid bats attacked you two?”

“It’s true. The bats were…not like your normal bats.”

“Why? Because they were affected by the toxic chemicals?”

Steve’s eyes widened and he nodded emphatically, as if you'd just given him the out he was looking for, “Yeah. Yeah. Those chemicals were really bad, you know? They killed Barb.”

“They killed a fully grown human but not the bats?” you interrogated suspiciously, folding your arms over your chest, fully aware that you were just being bullshitted all over again. “What was so special about the bats that they survived exposure?”

Steve shrugged, mouth pursed, hands out in front of him, the strangest sound coming from him, a cross between a whine and a grunt. Jesus Christ. None of them were ever going to tell you what was actually going on. You were always going to be on the outside, the one who didn’t get to know, the one they kept in the dark.

“Steve!” you yelled, slapping your hands down on the counter so loudly that he jumped. “Come on! Do you all really think I’m an idiot?”

“Whoa, what’s going on down here?” asked Nancy as the girls made their way back down the stairs. “We heard yelling. Is…” She paused, looking between you and Steve. “Is everything okay?”

The front door opened, Max and Lucas stepping inside. Lucas looked properly chastised but both of them were also looking between the two people in the kitchen, clearly having heard your outburst. Then the back door opened and closed as Eddie, Jonathan, and Argyle came down the hallway and into the kitchen. Shit. You'd just managed to get past one very public, crazy meltdown and now you were in the middle of another.

“Is someone fighting?” asked Argyle. “We got more stuff if someone needs to chill out, man. No need for tension. Tension is not allowed in the sacred circle. Just let Puff the Magic Dragon take you on a wave of relaxation.”

“Everything’s fine,” you muttered, glaring over at Steve who flinched. You snatched the bowl from his hands, slamming it down on the counter. “I’m just helping get the pasta salad together.”

“Oookkkaaayyy…” came Eddie’s voice from behind you.

“Steve?” asked Robin with concern.

“It’s fine Robs,” he said, grabbing a container of pasta, a cucumber, olives, cherry tomatoes, and Italian dressing from the fridge and placing them on the counter next to the bowl. “Just a conversation that got a little lively. That’s all. Seriously, it’s fine.”

“Doesn’t seem fine,” Dustin argued, eyes narrowing. “She was definitely yelling at you. What did you do?”

“Henderson, why do you always assume I’m to blame?”

“Shit, it’s just nice it’s not me for once,” chuckled Eddie.

You seethed, dumping the pasta in, trying to focus on your task. Not a single one of them was going to tell you anything so what was the point? They wanted you here, at least they acted like they did, but then they all lied to you all the time. You grabbed the knife, chopping the cucumber with force, each slice feeling satisfying, a release of the tension and anger that stirred within you.

“Hey, princess,” Eddie said softly as he slipped up behind you, his hand coming around to cover your wrist, stopping your motions. “You okay there? I don’t know what that cucumber did to you but the way you’re chopping it feels kind of personal.”

You closed your eyes, inhaling slowly through your nose, feeling the rise of your chest, the way your belly filled. You focused on the warmth of Eddie, this man you would never truly know, this man you were already falling for. Shit. Your eyes shot open. No. You couldn’t be. It didn’t happen that quickly, right?

Devastation coursed through you because you knew it was true. No matter how much you'd tried to fight it, tried to deny it, to tell yourself he was a jerk, you'd fallen for him. When had it happened? Had it been that first night, those deep brown eyes burning into you from through the fire? Was that even possible? Love at first sight? That was nuts, right?

Did it even matter? How could anything between you ever be real when there would always be this part of him that he kept locked up from you? How could you ever have something true when you would never get to know all the parts of him? The person you were with should be your best friend, the person who knew you better than anyone else, but you could never be that person for him. And you'd stupidly told him that you could accept that so how could you demand it of him now?

Swallowing down the sour taste that was creeping up your throat, you rolled your shoulders, forcing your body to relax. Pulling your wrist from his hand, you dropped the knife, spinning in his arms to offer him a smile that you hoped appeared genuine even if it was anything but.

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Sorry.”

Eddie’s head tilted to the side, his mouth curving up on one side in that little smile you loved so damn much, the backs of his fingers running down your cheek, metal cooling your flushed skin, “You sure?”

“Yep. Totally fine. Just going to finish this salad, okay? You guys pick out a game?” you loudly asked the girls, trying to change the subject to anything but how insane you were acting. Because that’s what it was. You were insane. You had completely lost your mind trying to figure out what they were all hiding and if you didn’t get it under control, you were going to lose all of this, everything that had made you so happy this past month.

“Yeah, uh…pictionary,” Nancy said, looking as if she didn’t believe you in the slightest.

Well, that was fine. Let her see how it felt to be lied to. Maybe that was mean. Maybe you were being an awful person right now but you couldn’t help feeling a little vindicated. If they weren’t going to tell you what was going on with them, then you weren't going to bother telling them what was going on with you. You couldn’t anyway because if you did, then it would just create more tension, tension you couldn’t handle right now.

“Okay, but then we are playing trivial pursuit because I am going to wipe the floor with all of you,” Dustin announced.

“You are the king of Trivial Pursuit. No one can beat him. My Dusty Bun’s big brain is what made me fall in love with him,” Suzie cooed, her hand coming to his chest, cheek against his arm.

“Uh…yeah, okay,” Eddie snorted. “Because knowing a bunch of useless facts is a real life changer.”

“You’re just mad because you never win,” Steve teased.

“Never win?” asked Mike. “Last time, he didn’t even get one piece of pie.”

“Shut it, Wheeler. You only had two,” Eddie countered. “Don’t act like you’re so much better.”

You listened to all of them arguing as you sliced the tomatoes in half, adding them in, along with the olives before opening the dressing and pouring it over the top. Grabbing Steve’s salad tongs, you tossed the mixture around, focusing on the task, the repetitive nature, telling yourself to let it go, to not rock the boat. You were happy. You were in a new relationship. You had friends. You were starting a new life. Getting angry wasn’t going to change anything or help in any way.

“Salad’s done,” you said simply, handing the bowl to Steve.

“Thanks,” he replied, giving you a smile you didn’t return. He cleared his throat. “Hey, while you guys argue about who is the king of some dumb board game, I’m gonna go get the burgers going.”

“I’ll help you, man,” Eddie offered, trailing behind him, the other guys quickly following.

You stood in the kitchen awkwardly, nibbling at your lower lip, the rest of the girls looking at you anxiously as if you were a rabid dog about to attack at any moment. Clearly, you weren't doing the best job of pretending everything was fine but it was getting harder to do with each lie, each denial, each refusal to tell you the truth.

“You sure you’re okay?” asked Nancy.

You lifted your head, smiling wide, “Yep. I’m fine. Everything’s fine. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“You just seem…angry?” Max offered. “I mean, Lucas and I could hear you yelling from the front porch. You drowned me out and that’s saying something.”

“Did you tell him off?” you asked in an attempt to change the subject.

“I mean, yeah, I absolutely ripped him a new one. I don’t know why the hell he would even consider starting our life off drowning in debt. But that’s besides the point. Why were you yelling at Steve?”

“I know he can be a dingus,” Robin laughed, “but why were you asking him if he thought you were an idiot?”

“It doesn’t matter, okay? None of it matters because no one is ever going to tell me the truth. There’s no point in rehashing it. I asked him a question and he lied to me just like everyone else. I asked Nancy and Jonathan about the murders and they lied. Eddie flails in his sleep, whimpering and crying out, and he lies to me. Steve has scars just like Eddie’s and when I ask, he lies. It’s all lies. Clearly none of you trust me and none of you want to tell me so it’s fine, okay? I’m done bringing any of it up. You can keep your secrets.”

“Oh, I…” Nancy said sadly, pressing her lips together.

“It’s fine, Nance. Really. Clearly, whatever happened is between all of you. I wasn’t here and it’s none of my business. I’m the one in the wrong. I shouldn’t be pushing to know things that have nothing to do with me. Can we please just drop it because I can’t take any more lies or half-truths right now?”

“Okay. Yeah,” your friend agreed with a nod. Of course she did. Nancy was more than happy to drop it. She probably wished you hadn’t ever picked it up. “So, are you and Eddie like…together now?”

“I don’t know,” you shrugged. “I think so. I mean, he told me he’s not going anywhere so I assume so.”

El smiled, “Well, that’s a good thing, right?”

You couldn’t help but return the girl’s smile, “Yeah. It is. I really like him. Lord knows why but I do. I mean, it’s all new. We’ll see where it goes but for now, it’s really good.”

“Good,” Robin stated, her arm coming around your shoulder, cheek resting against the side of your head. “You both deserve some happiness. I’m happy for you and we’re all really happy you’re here. Really, we are. Regardless of everything else, please know that. Now, how about we go check on those burgers, huh? I don’t know about all of you, but I’m freaking starving.”

A murmur of assent rose from the girls so you all made your way out into the backyard. Damn, Steve was quite the handyman. You stepped out onto a beautiful wooden deck, the guys just down to the right, standing around the grill that sat on a stone patio. Eddie smiled at you, cigarette in his hand. Out in the middle of the yard was an above ground pool.

“Steve even has a pool?”

“Yeah,” Max grinned. “That’s why his house becomes the designated hangout in the summer. He bitches about how much we’re all over here but he actually loves it. He had shitty parents and no siblings, so he really likes all the chaos. He just has to act grumpy to save face or something but he really loves the family we’ve created.”

“He does. Why else do you think he installed the pool? The guys helped him with it a couple summers ago, along with the deck,” Nancy added. “He’s done a lot to this house.”

“Speaking of which,” Steve called from where he was manning the grill, adding cheese to half of the burgers, “our girl here has a really old kitchen and I told her we could probably help with that.”

“Oh yeah!” Dustin exclaimed. “We all helped Steve. We’re like kitchen restoration experts now.”

“I am a pro with a nail gun,” Lucas stated proudly.

“Don’t let him fool you,” Max whispered conspiratorially, “there was an incident with about thirty nails in one spot because he couldn’t get it right so he just kept adding more.”

You giggled, “Oh boy.”

You made your way down to stand next to Eddie and he instantly pulled you into his side. You snuggled in, inhaling the scent of him, letting it ease all the tension from your body. This should be enough. Good friends who were willing to help you, a beautiful man who made you feel things you didn’t even know you could, and a fresh start. Anyone else would be satisfied with this, would stop digging and causing problems. Why were you your own worst enemy?

“All good, sweetheart?” he inquired, lips brushing over your forehead.

“All perfect,” you assured, arms coming around his waist because it was. It really was. You just hoped it stayed that way.

Chapter 18

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kirbybecomesastarwarrior · 6 months

Text

If I became the Monster...

If I became the monster, and threw that guilt away Would that make us stronger? Would it keep our foes at bay? If I became the monster to everyone but us And made sure we got home again Who would care if we're unjust If I became the

Lyrics from "Monster" from Epic the Musical

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Guys, this is Meta Knight's song... it fits him perfectly!

This scene takes place around the time of Garlude's death...

Due to MK's reputation & everyone's prejudice against him being part demon. Many rumors spread that he ran away from the fight or he had jinxed her... Meta Knight couldn't help but blame himself.

Things have just been getting harder... and he was just getting so tired of losing people... which got him to think of something... something awful...

However, Jecra wouldn't allow it... he had no desire to see Meta Knight sacrificing himself... thankfully, he talked to him before he even got the chance to...

Convo:-

MK: Jec... what if I could save all of us with this

J: Oh no, you don't... I'm not gonna let you destroy yourself for us...

MK: But you all have homes and families to return to... Oh no... Garlude had a daughter, right? And I... Jec I should hav-

J: META KNIGHT! Don't you dare finish that!

MK: But it's my fault Jec... it's the least I can do-

J: DON'T LET THOSE F#CK*NG RUMORS GET TO YOU! IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT YOU HEAR ME!... Meta, please don't do this...

MK: Jecra I just...*starts tearing* I just don't want to lose anyone else... I'm just so tired of Jec- *cries* It just keeps getting harder...

J: I know, Mets... I know... You're okay with me... you're safe with me... We love you so much... Meta, your life matters too! I'll say it as many times as I have to until you believe it... *Pulls him in for a hug

MK: Jec- I don't know what I'd do without you...

Finally, Meta Knight allows himself to cry in Jecra's arms and mourn the death of their friend...

Guess who ends up becoming the monster first... Oh, the irony is so painful... I can't believe I produced this.

Keep reading for more context & lore...

LORE TIME BABY!

Since the betrayal of Yamikage & the disappearance of the Ancients (the only people who had the power to reign him in), the GSA was now on the brink of ruin... Due to the lack of soldiers, everyone was spread out thin. This was when Uther reached his peak madness...

Similar to MK & Garlude... Sir Arthur & a small group (higher-ups who had some sort of moral code left) were sent out on a crusade to find the legendary sword Excalibur. (Which I will get into later...)

But in truth, these were all just "fool's errands" and were just ploys to get those who opposed him to be killed. And with Sir Arthur gone...(presumably dead), no one had free reign of the GSA...

Uther took this as an opportunity to cut Meta Knight's unit in half... putting them in squadrons that would surely use them as death fodder. Meta Knight loved his everyone squadron... he couldn't change the order... so he did something else.

Every time someone from the other half of his unit was dragged out to fight, he'd volunteer to go with them. Sir Uther used his affection for his team against him... (hoping he would die out there...)

(He tried to pull the same trick with Galaxia, and he was supremely pissed that MK came out alive... )

Meta kept sacrificing so much of himself to keep Jecra and his squadron safe... So many of his friends were dying now... and were forced to be scattered about. He couldn't save all of them (he couldn't be in two places at once...); now Garlude and his mentor were gone.

So yeah MK was already in a bad place... Garlude's death was just the cherry on top...

This brings us to this... "what if he became the monster", Meta Knight contemplates whether or not he should allow himself to unleash untapped power... and use his dark magic.

I can't say that much (because of spoilers), but he has a connection with Nightmare that allows him to tap into his pool of power... everyone in the GSA knew of his wings, but only his team (Team Halberd) knew of this connection of with Nightmare.

They knew he was playing with some dangerous forces...

But for those of you who were wondering what Meta Knight meant in the previous chapter in "Had I not tried to play the hero back then…... Perhaps this is my punishment..."

It's referring to this... Meta Knight does eventually go berserk after the death of Jecra! It was to protect the remaining people in his squadron... but it was all for not... they all still ended up dying.

But ultimately it was these powers that allowed Meta Knight to be the only one of the only survivors of the war... though he paid a terrible price because of it.

For those of you who were keeping up with the previous post... it was Jecra (Knuckle Joe's father).

I'm not going to confirm anything just yet, but Jecra was Meta Knight's right-hand man... his rock... his person... <3: Feel free to use this as shipping fodder... (MetaxJecra)

There's gonna be more lore-dumping before the next chapter 2-3 weeks until the next chapter. (which means more Jecra)

I hope you all enjoyed it!

#kirby #meta knight #kbasw #jecra #knuckle joe's father #hoshi no kaabii #garlude #metajecra #kirby anime #epic the musical #kirby right back at ya #knuckle joe #angst #kirby gsa #gsa

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gravidwithlore · 5 months

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A human in their early 20's, raised from birth to be a Hero, sets out on their first journey, tasked with putting together his first adventuring party. His family has high hopes for him, but he's never wanted to be a hero. Free from his families constant pressure and able to make his own choices for the first time in his life, all he wants to do is spread his legs and sleep around every city, town, and village he wanders through. He quickly begins to collect admirers and lovers across the land, as he has the time of his life being the carefree little slut he knows in his heart he was always meant to be.

Until, one day he gets kidnapped and held prisoner by the BBEG because of a new prophecy that states our young "hero" would end their evil reign. Once he meets the young man, the curve of his belly is unmistakable. The BBEG assumes the prophecy means that the child growing in his belly will grow to defeat him, and plans to keep the "hero" hostage until he gives birth, then raise the child as his own evil heir to try and prevent the prophecy coming true.

Little do they know an adventuring party made up of our slutty little "hero's" baby daddies are on their way to kick their ass and set him free.

I was gonna put this in the tags but then decided to just put it under a read more:

-The guys name is Hiro because that'd be so fucking funny bc despite his entire life revolving around becoming a true (traditional) hero, he is absolutely NOT that at all

-He's not even mad about the kidnapping, I dont think he even realizes he's been kidnapped. He's like 'oh you wanna adopt my baby? Thats cool I don't think I'm ready to be a parent yet anyway. Oh, AND I get to stay in your sick-ass mansion the entire time??? Hell yeah dude you're the best!" And the BBEG is like 'what the hell kind of mind game is this?????'

-Hiro keeps trying to seduce the BBEG bc his libido was crazy before, but with the pregnancy hormones it's off the charts. But, the BBEG thinks the seduction is a ploy to trick him into letting his guard down so he can betray them later. Despite how much his body wants to give in he always rebuffs Hiro, but its getting harder and harder to resist his advances. Hiro barely notices the BBEG white knuckling his way through yet another attempt at seduction, then shrugs and tries to seduce one of the BBEGs minions. But word spreads quickly and soon all of them are fighting every nerve in their body to resist Hiro's advances bc theyre so scared of their boss and how he might react if they found out.

-The adventuring party is on a grueling fantasy quest to save him, but Hiro is living out his Beauty and the Beast fantasy except instead of a woman who reads and a man cursed to live as a beast, its a slutty knocked up himbo and an evil murderous tyrant. The more the BBEG rebuffs his advances the more intrigued by him Hiro becomes, and the time they spend with Hiro they find themselves wanting to be a better person for the sake of this sweet horny himbo.

- They are so far off from being on the same wavelength, the BBEG is living out an epic romance novel about the hero's love and affection transforming them into something redeemable, possibly, someday, bordering on good. Meanwhile Hiro's like 'why doesn't this guy wanna fuck me? Huh, what an interesting person, I sort of wanna know more about him other than just how good they can lay that pipe, if ya know what I'm saying, although, if they're ever down I am always down to clown.' All the BBEG minions are watching the romantic tension develop and thicken, their collective blood pressure has never been so high.

-And I haven't even mentioned how gently and reverently the BBEG carasses Hiro's baby bump. The first time the baby kicks, Hiro runs to find the BBEG so he can bring their hand to feel, and the Big Bad evildoer almost bursts into tears.

- At first the plan to steal the baby and raise it as their own (to be evil of course, every true hero's worst nightmare!) was just out of desperation to avoid the prophecy, but they begin to find themselves really warming up to the idea of being a parent, of maybe even having a family. With Hiro? No, of course not what a silly little daydream, the hero never falls for the villain! How could they ever think Hiro of all people could love someone like them!

- Around this time Hiro really discovers that being pregnant? Sorta hot actually. Sorta really hot actually. He didn't plan on having kids really, but then again he hadn't known before how good being so full and round with life would feel. He knows that this kind rich guy offered to adopt his baby then go their separate ways, but they're really cool actually and nice to be around, and Hiro wants to stick around. Maybe eventually they would want some siblings for the first kid? Hiro wouldn't mind being asked to give them. He definitely wouldn't mind being asked over and over again. And if the kind man asked if he wanted to stay to help raise their kids and watch them grow up, then Hiro probably wouldn't say no. The more he thinks about it, the more he'd be likely to say yes, actually. Yes, please. Yes, please, ask him to stay! Ask him to stay forever and ever!

- Eventually they confess to each other. Hiro never seems to realize that the BBEG ever had evil intentions, even when explicitly told that was the case, but the BBEG eventually catches on to Hiro's wavelength and it makes them love the adorable idiot even more. All the minions are relieved the romantic tension is gone, but now they're stressed about the drastically increased possibility of running into Hiro and their boss fucking like rabbits no matter where they go in the giant labyrinth of a castle they work (and live) in. Nowhere is safe, but at least their boss is happy???

- Eventually the adventuring party of baby daddies shows up. Hiro is like 'oh geez, my past one night stands/exes are here, thats so awkward, oh shit what if one of them is the bio dad to this baby???' And BBEG is like 'omg, I've changed, im changing, i swear ill do better, he's free to do as he pleases and I'm in love with him, I guess the prophecy came true bc I fell head over heels for him, and all my evil plans are ruined bc all i want is to make him happy, I'm a new person on a new path, please don't fight me, I swear it's true!' And the party is exhausted and worn down and just so very confused (they also may not have known Hiro was even pregnant and that they're all potential fathers, they just all cared about Hiro's safety).

-Cue a shaky truce between the now morally gray BBEG and the rest of the world, while Hiro is living his own happily ever after with his hot rich bf who keeps him (and his kids) well taken care of and as knocked up as he could ever want.

#mpreg #my ramblings

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epicbuddieficrecs · 7 months

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Epic Buddie Fic Rec | October 9th-15th 2023

Hey guys!

I'm trying to get back into the habit of making these recs every week. I've been working on a banner and it's not ready yet, but I didn't want to wait for it to be ready before making fic recs because procrastination = bad!! 😆 I hope you enjoy!

If you don't know me from my other fic rec blogs, I rec pretty much all the fics that I've read and that I've enjoyed in these recaps, but I put an emoji next to the ones that I liked just a liiiiiittle bit more 😉 For Stucky, I used blue hearts (💙), for Steddie I used black hearts (🖤), and for Buddie... well the decision wasn't too hard to make 😜

Complete

take me to the edge (then let me fall) by honestlydarkprincess/ @honestlydarkprincess (PWP | 1K | Explicit): Or, the one where Eddie edges Buck until he loses his mind all the while calling him a good boy.

🔥 but i can see all along, love (it was you all the way down) by diazchristopher/ @captain-hen (Post-S6, Time Loop | 28K Mature): He puts his laptop away after a bit, and paces the length of his apartment as he tries to take stock of the situation at hand. One: The date is March 22nd, 2024. Two: It has been March 22nd for 3 days now. Three: Buck is trapped in some kind of time loop that is forcing him to relive this day. Four: Eddie is, apparently, in love with him. And. And. Five: Buck doesn’t feel the same way.

🔥 still by brewrosemilk/ @gayhoediaz (Post-Season 6 AU, Near Death Experiences | 9K | Teen): “Your guess was correct, Diaz,” the bomb technician tells them, as he gestures to the orange circle. “You’re standing on a large sensor plate, wired to a detonator. It’s incredibly important that you don’t move. Don’t shift. When you put your weight down, it was like cocking a gun - you take your weight off, this thing is powerful enough to take the entire house with it."

to feel the need of your touch by honestlydarkprincess/ @honestlydarkprincess (PWP, Light BDSM, Post-Season 6 | 7K | Explicit): When Natalia had casually suggested they stay fuck buddies, at least until he got his shit together about Eddie, Buck had seriously considered it. But it just wasn’t what he wanted. So, he had said no and Natalia had understood, and that was that. And now, Buck was miserable. He was so sensitive. His skin felt like a live wire. Any and all touches he received started to feel like a shock to his system. Or, the one where Buck is touchstarved and desperate for Eddie. They fuck but it's also really sweet.

reassure me with your praise by honestlydarkprincess/ @honestlydarkprincess (PWP, Kinktober, Getting Together | 5K | Explicit): Or, the one where Buck is concerned he might be bad in bed and Eddie has a solution.

bet on it by honestlydarkprincess/ @honestlydarkprincess (PWP, Kinktober | 4K | Explicit): Or, the one where newly together Buck and Eddie make a bet to see who can last longer without sex. The bet lasts one day.

Something Dumb to Do by glorious_spoon/ @glorious-spoon (Friends to Lovers, First Time | 8K | Explicit): "Too bad we can't just date each other." Eddie laughs. "What?" "No, I'm serious!" Buck sets his beer down, the better to gesture with both hands, face lighting up, and Eddie just—he really loves the guy, okay. Ridiculous as he is. "It would be so much easier! You wouldn't have to introduce a new person to Chris—he already likes me anyway—and you could tell Pepa so she'll stop setting you up on dates that don't go anywhere—" "And what would you get out of this?" Eddie asks, grinning. - Or: Buck and Eddie try something out together.

hope is a sword by marcato/ @callaplums (Post-Season 6, Near-Death Experiences | 5K | Teen): Holy shit, Eddie loves him so much. He’s been so stupid, telling himself to wait for the right moment. What right fucking moment? It should have been yesterday, three weeks ago– hell, it should have been three years ago when he was telling his best friend about the goddamn will. It doesn’t matter right now, though. The only thing that matters is keeping as much of Buck’s blood inside his body as possible. One can only hope and wish and pray.

🔥 Four Can Keep a Secret by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Post-Season 6, Secret Relationship | 20K | Teen): When Ravi and Hen accidentally see Buck and Eddie, who are trying hard to keep their new relationship a secret, in the middle of a romantic moment, they try to make them confess without the rest of the station finding out. Shenanigans ensue.

early hours of yearning by brewrosemilk/ @gayhoediaz (PWP, Kinktober | 4K | Explicit): “You really wanna go again?" “Yes,” he confirms, gently scratching his teeth down the side of his neck, treasuring the deep moan he gets in response. “God, you’re fucking insatiable," he hears Eddie moan as he tilts his head back, giving Buck more space to work. “Doesn’t feel like you’re complaining."

how forever feels by icesculptures/ @ice-sculptures @athenagranted (Post-Season 6, Getting Together | 8K | General): Or: tired of the growing distance between them, Eddie asks Buck to dance at Maddie and Chimney's wedding, healing more than his own heart along the way.

WIP

Don't They Know It's the End of the World? by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Fallout 4 AU, Post-Apocalyptic | 4/14 | 7K | Mature | Warning: Violence): After being put in a cryogenic sleep for over a hundred years to wait out an apocalyptic event, Eddie Diaz wakes up, too early, to find his son has been stolen from his cryo-chamber. Scared and alone in a frightening world he doesn't recognize, Eddie is willing to do anything to get his kid back.

🔥 Nothing Left But You by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars ("Blip" AU | 8/9 | 24K | Teen | Warning: MCD): In May of 2021, 25% of Earth's population suddenly disappears. Including Eddie. In May of 2026, they all come back. Eddie finds himself suddenly in the middle of a world he doesn't recognize, where the people he loves most have changed significantly.

Innocence died screaming, honey, ask me I should know by JJK/ @trenchcoatsandtimetravel (Demon Buck, Canon Divergent | 2/? | 4K | Teen): Buck is a demon with the power to help with pregnancy, childbirth, and infant health. When the Buckleys make a deal asking for someone to help 'save their baby', Buck leaps at the chance as it will give him what he's always wanted: a life on earth. But demon deals are tricky and neither of them gets quite what they're after. This is Buck's journey as he navigates growing up on earth and remembering how to help those in need.

🔥 for all the haunts and homes of men by euadnes/ @kananjarus (Canon Divergent, Post-Apocalyptic, Station Eleven Crossover | WIP | 10/? | 85K | Mature | Warning: Violence): The year by the old calendar is 2025. Home is gone. Home is a failed rescue mission and an echo of a memory. Home is a lost boy living in a wooden house by the sea. But first, there was a promise. Christopher, when it's safe, I'll take you back to your father. Buck had all but given up on keeping it after the world had died and everyone in it. But just as some oaths refuse to be forgotten, so the same can be said about the endurance of love.

#buddie #buddie fic #911 fanfic #911 fanfiction #911 fic #buddie fanfic #buddie fanfiction #buddie fic rec #epic buddie fic rec

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roarriita · 1 year

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roommates - ellie williams (2)

femreader!xelliewilliams!

part one, here

// initial summary: the day after you officially moved into your new college dorm, you decide to take a look around the school, getting familiar to the clubs they have to offer as well as the libraries, classes and cafeteria. you come back to your dorm in hopes of taking a shower and sitting in quiet solitude, but your plans are disrupted by your new roommate moving in… ellie williams. //

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the entire week has been trial and error for you. everything was so different from your usual routine. did you miss home, completely? no. but you did miss the things that used to be? a little, like daydreaming in class and not having to worry about missing something because it's high school and it's not that serious. in college, especially in your first week, you can't not pay attention, not even for a second, not unless you want to be forced to ask the professor to repeat themselves again for the thousandth time or settle for half-assing your work with what you think they might've said or meant.

you were just thankful that it was now saturday morning. you had today and tomorrow to not stress over the things that have had you pulling out your hair since monday. you laid on your side, on the twin sized bed as you rested your head on top of your pillow. the sunlight shined through your white curtains as it danced around ellie's face. you smiled at how delicate she looked sleeping and took another moment, since meeting, to observe her features.

this was the first time you've noticed the slit across her eyebrow. your thoughts went wild on how she could've gotten it. was she in a fight? was it some stupid prank some girls pulled during a sleepover? or was it merely by her own doing? your own eyebrows furrowed together in curiosity. a loud knock on the door, woke ellie up. panicking at the fact that you were staring at her for god knows how long, you quickly shut your eyes and pretended to be asleep.

as the knocking continued and only seemed to be getting louder, ellie forced herself out of bed. "hold your horses, i'm coming!" on her way to the door, she glanced at you, wondering how you could sleep through such obnoxious pounding. once she swung the door open, she was met with an overly enthusiastic jock with flyers in his hands. "can i help you?" she asked, tiredly.

"hey, i'm brody from house alpha alpha-" he then did a small chant, startling the already on edge girl. "we're throwing a party tonight, starting at 9." he then handed ellie a flyer. "make sure to tell all your friends, this party is going to be epic!"

"and if it's not?" the girl looked at the poster.

"what?" the boy was confused as most people by now would have slammed the door in his face or matched his very excited and pumped-up energy.

"if it's not epic-" she looked back up at him. "what do i get for my troubles?" you had to suppress your laugh by stuffing your face in the pillow.

"uh, i don't know?" the boy looked genuinely concerned and confused, "what do you want?"

"dude, i'm just fucking with you." ellie let out a small chuckle. you held back another laugh and admired how confident she was to joke around with a stranger.

brody let out a laugh of relief. "oh, okay."

ellie gave him a look that she was done with the conversation and tried closing the door. "wait, but i'll see you there, right?"

"hmm..." she pretended to contemplate it. "we'll see." before she could give him time to respond, she closed the door. the auburn-haired girl sighed annoyingly as she sat back down on her bed.

not being able to hold the uncomfortable position you were in after 10 seconds, you pretended to sir awake. you carefully sat up and rubbed your eyes before looking over at your roommate. "good morning."

"good morning." she smiled at you.

"who was that at the door?" you asked.

"some frat guy." she shrugged, then handed you the flyer. "he invited us to a party his fraternities throwing." you looked at the flyer, reading it over.

"are you gonna go?" you asked ellie.

"no." she immediately responded.

"why?" you questioned.

"because fraternity houses are gross." she answered.

"you've been to one before?"

"yeah." she hesitantly answered.

"what? how?" you asked since she was just a freshmen.

"it's a really stupid story, i don't think you'll want to listen to it." she cringed.

"what? no, i definitely want to hear it." you begged, itching to know more about her.

"uhh..." she struggled out.

without realizing it, you had pulled out the puppy dog eyes. "please! i won't judge! I swear."

ellie looked into your big (y/c/e) eyes, her heart skipped a beat at how persistent you were. for a while there, ellie thought she had maybe done something to offend you over the past week since after your first interaction, you'd avoided her gaze and only kept your conversations with her to things that related to the dorm. "okay, fine." ellie gave in.

the smile that formed on your lips caused a small amount of dopamine to release within the helpless girl's mind. "when i was 16, i was bummed out about my older sister having to go back to college so i snuck inside her car right before she left and when we got to her sorority house, i snuck inside. a few minutes later, one of the sorority girls found me, which led to my sister finding out i had her unknowingly smuggle me 6 hours away from home."

"oh my god." your hand covered your mouth.

ellie sheepishly laughed. "and to make it a long story short, her sorority sisters thought it'd be fun to take me to a real college party before my dad came to pick me up. obviously, my sister knew taking an underage girl to an adult party wasn't a good idea, but she also knew me well enough to take me to a frat house where i was forever scarred into never doing what i did again.”

"holy fuck." you cursed. "i can't believe you did that. the craziest thing i've ever done as a teenager was skip geometry class."

ellie chuckled. "unfortunately, that's not the worst thing i've ever done but i appreciate how impressed you seem."

you blushed. "you have more stories? i'm all ears." you tried redirecting the attention back on her.

"hmm, maybe another time." ellie told you as she stood up. "i need to take a shower."

"maybe?" you repeated. "we're roommates, ellie. you can't escape me."

ellie smiled at the sound of you saying her name. it rolled off your tongue sounding so heavenly. she wished to hear you say her name again and again and again...

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it was half an hour into ellie's shower that you finally decided to pull yourself out of bed. you took out your laptop and decided to play one of your favorite albums as you did a few quick stretches before heading over to your dresser. you found yourself constantly asking what ellie would think. does she like pink? is she into lace? how would my boobs look in this? you groaned out in frustration, asking yourself why the hell your roommates opinion mattered. deep down you knew why, you just couldn't bring yourself to admit it.

you settled on a flower-patterned dress that hugged your curves perfectly with a small, white shrug-cardigan. you hummed along to the melody coming from your laptop as you took off your shirt and shorts. right as you were slipping on your dress, you heard the doorknob turn. you quickly tried your best to pull up the dress before ellie could come out. you somewhat succeeded as the dress was now covering almost your entire body.

you turned around quickly, covering up the small part of your chest that was exposed. "oh, sorry, i didn't realize you-"

ellie cut you off, pretending to not even notice your cleavage. "it's fine, don't stress it. we're roommates, like you said. i'm sure this won't be the last time either of us walks in on the other changing."

you tried your best to hold back the blush that fought against you. you internally cursed at yourself when the blush won. "well, in that case, could you help me zip up my dress? i always forget this thing comes with a stupid zipper." you tried to make up for the blush by acting just as unbothered as she was about this.

"sure." she almost stuttered. you couldn't help but watch her push her damp hair behind her ears as she walked over to you. her signature scent smelt even stronger in this moment. it was such an intoxicating smell that you could, so intensely, feel your skin crawl with the need for her skin to touch yours.

you carefully pulled your dress over your exposed cleavage and pulled the spaghetti straps over your shoulders. "ready?" ellie asked in a lower and quieter tone.

"mhm." you hummed, too anxious to form any words.

ellie tried her best to focus on the zipper as she reached for it but couldn't help the way her eyes lingered over your back, your arms and your neck. she blushed to herself when the thought of what she'd do to you if you were just some stranger at a party looking for someone to make you forget your own name, intruded her mind.

goosebumps formed on your back as her knuckles brushed up against your skin. wishes for this moment to never end laid prominent in her mind. "there." she let you know once she was done.

you turned around and gave her a shy smile. "thank you."

"anytime, (y/n)." she told you with the utmost of sincerity.

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part three, here

// authors note: broooo, so i am the kind of writer that starts writing without really knowing where the story is going and yeah i don't know how i feel about this. i love it but i just don't want it to sound like it's moving too fast? i'm not going to make this a painful slowburn but i do want the longing, the tension and the angst before making them endgame so we'll see where it goes, lol. i hope you guys are having an amazing day and if not, i am sending wishes to you for that to change immediately! //

#college ellie!#ellie williams fanfic #ellie williams au #ellie x reader #fanfic #fluff i think #kind of but not really smut

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cbsghostsmetasandtrevor · 2 months

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Season 3 x 5

I'm hoping this one's good but last episode left big shoes to fill...

With that, live reaction below.

Starting off right when they take the body away. Thor is excited about telling the story of watching his body decay.

Jay OMG.

HETTY you're not helping.

Oh, Pete's such a good guy. Laughing at the Donut Holes. LMAO.

LMAO - Trevor "Epic" to his body being found.

YOU DON'T NEED to borrow the money from Isaac. It's YOUR money.

TREVOR! telling on Jay.

Founding Farter???

WHY TREVOR?? You're not helping? (Although I do like Isaac listening to him). 'cause he's right - bad business people.

Trevor didn't go to Warton. He went to Penn.

LOL - no they aren't. I might be able to like this episode.

NANCY! Love the ghost dating.

Carol asking Pete if he's dating someone? OMG.

Hetty/Sass wanting to know what's in her purse. They are hilarious.

DONT LIE AGAIN. (Didn't you learn the last time?). I do like Carol assuming that it's okay to move on and being happy for him.

PETE getting mad about this. "I SERVED MY TIME."

THOR! OMG.

LMAO - Jay is right. BUT OMG Isaac walking in on that.

Nose candy? OMG THIS SASS/HETTY SL. I LOVE IT.

Also you can only touch things when the same person touching it - how does that work for HMONEY????

AWWWW Alberta! DAMN ALBERTA. He was so thinking that.

OH FUCK TREVOR. You put in it a brokerage account.

ALSO why does it take him so long some times and not long other times?? Wouldn't the computer time out??

ALSO "WE KNOW TREVOR."

OMG $200,000 - I love it. WAIT FUCK. OMG Trevor made them ALOT OF MONEY.

NO NO NO. Isaac, it's HER MONEY.

Or Trevor's Money since he did the work.

Trevor's impressed.

OMG Pete - THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T LIE.

OOOOOH PETEEEE.

I'm DYING. This is terrible.

Ohhhhhh, Carol is like "I don't know from experience." Yes, you do.

A cat magnet???

I do like this solution. I mean, like Isaac should realize that THEY OWE HIM NOTHING.

URINATING ON THE FLOOR????

"Isaac's House of Horse Pie?"

YES JAY STAND UP FOR THINGS!

OKay, NOT A REAL PERSON?? That's a bit far.

He did deserve to be stepped through. BUT PLEASE DON'T CAVE.

He took a bath in tomato sauce?

I don't think that's fair to Jay AT ALL.

Unclogging videos?

"In my experience... logistics." Oh, god.

Alberta calling him hot stuff.

I do like that Pete's finally standing up for himself to Carol. I love Pete! He's finally doing it. That he's told her that he knows about the affair (which she should've realized) and that it was all faked with Alberta/Nancy. It also explains why he doesn't say anything about his feelings for Alberta PRIOR to that first episode with Carol even if it was obvious.

OMG Hetty/Sass and Candy. - DAMN. Might be my favorite side plot.

Sass - they choose Higginstoot????

Awww Isaac's Table. For Isaac and his friends.

Love Hetty calling it a terrible business decision.

Isaac- LMAO.

Awwww that was sweet. I do like the ghosts being about to be surrounded by people and smells again - They were missing some friends though. Alberta? Pete? Nigel (his fiancé?)

HOLY SHIT - this is an Alberta fantasy yes? or or is that his power??? I'm Curious WTF.

YOU CAN'T END LIKE THAT!

I'm screaming.

OVERALL Good Episode after all.

Come Talk to Me People!

#cbs ghosts #ghosts cbs #ghosts cbs spoilers #cbs ghosts spoilers

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antimony-medusa · 6 months

Note

It’s very interesting hearing you talk about rpf dynamics in the myct fandoms. I’m a casual enjoyer of it and only follow a few people in the fandom. The boundaries thing is just so weird to me bc rule 34 is a thing, people are gonna do what they want to do. Every other fandom I’ve interacted with has had the rule that fandom stuff is for the fandom and shipping and rpf aren’t things regulated by the cc’s. Going up the the person and asking about their boundaries feels worse to me than just writing or drawing whatever it is that you want and then just putting it in the proper tags or website on the internet so that the cc’s won’t find it.

Yeah. I agree.

I think the whole notion of boundaries started in a good spot, with not wanting to make the creators uncomfortable, which is a laudable goal! And with this fandom being really close to RPF, it's the sort of thing that you think about if, if you're sort of inventing a fandom from first principles and not checking in to how actual ethical RPF fandoms have learned, painfully, how to work. (First rule is to NOT SHOW THE PERSON THE RPF, the second is that we all know that it's fictional and not real truthing about the person, and the list goes on. I don't believe MCYT is truly RPF, but it's close enough that I think we wouldn't do badly to adopt RPF fandom principles from people who already know the pitfalls to avoid.)

And then we had, as a neutral statement, unprecedented access to the creators through TTS and Twitter, so while I might have the thought "I hope this doesn't make this actor uncomfortable" I'm not likely to be able to actually get in contact with the guy playing Steve Rogers— But I CAN get in touch with the guy playing Technoblade. (or y'know. I could. Anyways.) So people could start to show up and ask things, and then that became normalized, and then questions that really are rude if you think about it for a second ('what are your feelings on shipping?' why are you bringing up shipping— maybe they don't want to talk about it—in a context where the person can't avoid it?) get followed by the same questions over and over again, and both more petty (what do you feel about scars) and more invasive (how do you feel about age regression?) questions, until it's just a constant barrage of the person being asked to weigh in on things they might wish to not look at! But we're shoving it in their face!

And then this whole thing combines really badly with the parasociality of the fandom, with people feeling like they actually know these streamers and they're friends. You get people cruising Ao3 (a thing the streamers know not to do) going "how would I feel if this was about me, like it's about my friend streamer", and then they go out and send death threats and doxing in the defense of their friend streamer, and you get people writing for the approval of their friend streamer and convincing themselves that their friend streamer really approves of what they're doing and they'd love to read it, and suggesting things like a QSMP fanfic library, and you get people bringing up fanfic to their friend streamer in their chat and comments, both in the sense of "isn't this horrible please condem it" and "isn't this great don't you like it", and in all cases that behaviour, throwing all this information in their faces, is the thing that I think is inappropriate to do to a real person.

Just let them make jokes and play block game. If we're getting a little too into it and wriitng royalty au epics, we should not bring it up to them. This seems straightforward to me.

#discourse #fandom meta

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trillscienceofficer · 9 months

Note

(I know you didn't sign on to become the 'Kai Winn discourse blog', so I hope you don't mind me jumping into this discussion) but something I find odd is when people say the reason they *hate* Winn is that they know people like her IRL, but Dukat is just a sci-fi fascist, so they don't relate him to real life at all. Kai Winn is reduced to stereotypes yet Dukat is put on this opposite pedestal of 'he's so evil that no one in real life is like that, therefore I can ironically enjoy him because it's so far removed from reality' and I just don't get it. It's a perspective that feels so far removed from (at least from my) reality. Like sorry, but there's *plenty* of people in real life like Dukat. (I mean, I think setting up some sort of dichotomy between the characters is inherently reductive, but people treat them so differently it's hard not to see misogyny as a huge factor here. It's just so bizarre to see constantly.)

yeah, I've said in one post I've made about Dukat that even in my experience he's just a very common type of guy? I come from Italy and let me tell you... petty, slimy tyrants like Dukat are just dime a dozen in the so-called 'patria'. I think it's silly to pretend that Dukat is far removed from reality, and it goes against what DS9 was trying to say imho. Dukat isn't a 'special Cardassian', he's just a guy who isn't afraid to step on anyone's neck if it'll allow him to stay afloat. And also isn't afraid to rape Bajoran women as soon as he can get away with it.

Which brings me to my next point, about the general questions on 'why is Winn so vilified in comparison to Dukat'. There's a really interesting discussion in the replies of my previous post, and I recommend reading it but in short I think this attitude towards Winn starts already in the show. DS9 went out of its way to humiliate Winn in specifically gendered ways; by having Dukat rape her (a guy who is a serial rapist of Bajoran women specifically), by having her die painfully after having everything stripped away from her, and her death is ultimately meaningless unless you frame it as her 'just punishment'. Dukat in comparison gets to have an 'epic fight' against the show's protagonist (even if I think that storyline is so fucking stupid, it's still an epic fight.)

And so I think people are primed to feel like propping up Dukat and wanting to humiliate Winn further, by directly comparing her to him as being so much more deserving of punishment, it's just no big deal because it already happened in the show after all. But by doing so they're making it so much worse. Folks, that is a genuinely disturbing part of the show, it's never been good, Winn was mishandled so badly by the final episodes of DS9. There's something very sinister in insisting to not recognize that and wanting to hand even more punishment on Winn. Ask yourselves: why? Why do you feel like your violent fantasies are justified on her? Didn't DS9 already do enough to her?

#askbox #rape mention #'she got to throw out dukat though' CONSIDER THAT MAYBE SHE DIDN'T NEED TO BE RAPED AT ALL #ESPECIALLY NOT BY DUKAT

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fillsta · 10 months

Text

Les Amis & Co: Beach Day Edition

Because it's summer and I had to

Enjolras:

My guy, he's so pale he needs an entire bottle of sunscreen to not get sunburnt. And he really doesn't care, everyone is after his ass holding the sunscreen, trying to 'at least cover his back because he'll be looking like a blonde strawberry by the end of the day'. Brings only a towel and his wallet or sth. Wears his swimsuit, flip flops and a t-shirt.

Combeferre

The dad of the group. Makes sure everyone has sunscreen on amd everything they need and you can hear him yelling "DON'T FORGET YOUR HATS" every hour or so. With every opportunity he gets, he's dropping random facts about the sand, the sea, the random crab grantaire just found etc etc. 80% of the time he's reading a book in his lil beach recliner chair. Brings an entire backpack filled with everything anyone could possibly need at the beach. Same kinda outfit w enj's, just with sneakers (bc he's driving everyone there) + a nice hat

Courfeyrac

He cannot put his ass down. Homeboy is always hyping someone up to play games. Beach rackets, volleyball, whatever. He and Gavroche sre having a BLAST. Nags to Combeferre about having to wear his hat the entire time. Brings a small bag w his stuff + another one filled with beach balls, rackets etc. Swimsuit + unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt and a funky bucket hat

Grantaire

Vibes around drinking beer. The type of friend to splash water on everyone while they're trying to get into the water (particularly Enjolras). Goes looking for random shit on the rocks. Brings a fanny pack for his phone and cigarettes. Towel?? Don't know her. Shows up only in a swimsuit and at some points, he takes it off for shits and giggles

Bahorel

Have you ever been to the beach near a cliff side and there's this one mf who climbs on top of the cliff to perform an epic 11 meter backflip into the water? Yeah that's Bahorel. Bitch just goes around looking for ways to possibly get hurt. He doesn't. Deffo has a paddle board. Gets a crazy ass tan. Brings only the bag for the board and puts the rest of his stuff in there. Wears one of these shitty low armpit shirts. And a 'women want me fish fear me' baseball cap

Feuilly

He be taking beach day seriously. Brings snacks for everyone, randomly pulls out a sketchbook at some point. Gets excited over cool rocks and spends more time than necessary on making a sandcastle. Cannot go into the water on his own, at least one of his friends have to be swimming as well. His back is red asf at the end of the day. Hawaiian shirt but buttoned up. Carries an extra tiny bag for his book and sketchbook.

Bossuet

Somehow, he'll find a way to get stung by a jellyfish (and grantaire will almost immediately offer to pee on him). If not, he steps on a sea urchin. Or gets his leg scratched on a rock. But still he manages to have fun. In charge of the aux chord. Is extremely annoyed by grantaire and his splashes. A standard bag, has a t-shirt on but it obviously falls into the water by accident so he has to be shirtless on the way home (Musichetta and Joly don't mind at all). Lost his hat :(

Joly

Speaking of joly, mf's crazy over sunscreen. At least 3 times a day, they apply a new coat, hydrate every 10 minutes and will not let ANYONE go into the water if they've eaten anything, not after at least 2 hours pass by. Pull up wearing a speedo, jorts and a short sleeved button up. Amd a big ass hat. Huge af beach bag.

Jehan

It's their time to shine. They spend most of the time posing for pics but at the same time they're kinda shy abt it. Went into the water like once. One of these 'beach please bags'. They're wearing a flowy summer dress and like swimming shorts and a bikini top kinda thing. Staw hat person

Marius

He's dying inside. Bro's under the umbrella, watching everything, hoping time will eventually come for them to go home. Courf tries to get him into the water and he succeeds. Unfortunately, les amis do not let him go, they force him to be a part of the summer fun and at some point, he starts enjoying himself. Gets sunburnt. Bro shows up in jorts snd a polo t-shirt and changes into his swimsuit there (also he's definitely one of those guys who keep their underwear underneath). Unironically wears a fedora hat. Carries 26383 bags + Cosette's bc he's a gentleman above everything.

Cosette

Photographer of the group. Takes pictures of everything and everyone. Also takes videos of the stupid shit grantaire does and makes sure they o over to the gc immediately. Provides everyone with data, she's the hotspot friend. Jehan is her main model. Tries getting a tan, fails. Short flower dress over her black bikini and sandals. Matching straw hats w jehan.

Eponine

Omg sis has 2 siblings to take care of. Runs after Gavroche and Azelma all the time to keep them from doing stupid shit. She and bahorel do swimming competitions. Has like a big ass water bottle (joly approved) because she always gets dehydrated. And Gab and Azelma never drink water, ever. Doesn't go for a tan, still gets a great one. Old crusty bikini and just jean shorts over it. She'd like to go topless but isn't all for it yet. Has to carry her siblings stuff as well.

Musichetta

Ok sis is a great swimmer. She's in the water 24/7 vibin, swimming, playing games. No-one can get her out of there. She doesn't really eat much but if. There's any juice, she is drinking it all up. She loves her beach juice time okay? One piece swimsuit and a see-through coverup tied around her waist. Just a small beach bag is okay for her

Gavroche

As soon as they arrive, lil bro's in the water playing already. Then he pulls out water guns and declares war on everyone. Annoying little shit, but they all love him so much. Courf keeps him occupied by playing with him all the time. No one complains. Eats all of Feuilly's snacks. Begs Eponine to let him do stupid shit with bahorel. She does NOT give in, so he just finds a small rock to jump off of into the water nearby. Creeper swimsuit.

Azelma

Quieter than her brother but she follows along. Hellps Feuilly w his castle. Keeps Marius company when she's not in the water. Cosette asked her if she wanted her pics taken and she was ECSTATIC. Flowy dress and a flower pattern one piece underneath.

Bonus Montparnasse:

Floatie guy. Bro has like an inflatable donut and once it's in the water, he's off. Falls asleep on it and someone was to swim like a mile away to bring him back. Brings very few stuff with him. Like grantaire, just a swimsuit is fine

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dangermousie · 5 months

Text

What the hell, broccoli? You have met the guy for a total of literally three seconds where he said hi and walked off and have also observed him goofing at a date with ZY for an additional minute a week before. That's a...unique ability to form any sort of opinion about a person from that amount of interaction.

Any time anyone starts a convo by saying "pardon my frankness" type of intro, nothing good can come. But seriously, wtf! YOU DON'T KNOW HIM, THIS IS INSANE! She's never gonna bang your broccoli self, give up.

She is so much more polite because if anyone who wasn't my BFF of 10 years had the presumption of saying they know better than me who is suitable for me - good god. That would come better even from her mother who is, at least, her actual mother!

I literally started clapping. The thing is, LX may not be everyone's cup of tea (frankly, wouldn't date him myself, would brain him within an hour) but ZY clearly knows him inside out and sees him clearly and likes what she knows and sees - she is not some Victorian ideal wanting to change him into a better man for love - she likes him just fine the way he is and that is why that relationship can succeed. Going into any relationship, friendly, working or romantic, hoping to change the other person, is futile. But if you know what you are getting and like it, then there is every chance. Broccoli, like her mom, can't really see ZY for the grown up she is, who may make choices they disagree with or wouldn't themselves, and who has different tastes than they do. Broccoli's whole basic assumption is that she's fallen for Li Xun being attractive or w/e and has overlooked his personality and/or hopes to change it, he genuinely cannot get that ZY he knows, the good girl, can genuinely like the personality of a feral cat x human hedgehog crossbreed. But she does and honestly, she's allowed to and it is only her business. The only time people should intervene in a relationship is if the other person is abusive or an addict or some other similarly terrible stuff. Otherwise, butt out. Even if she were a misguided naif falling for an immature domineering jerk, guess what - her business and college is the perfect time to make those mistakes.

AAAAA! How is he so annoying? What kind of an answer is that? 50% is a failing grade for a reason! How can you make any relationship judgment when you don't know one half of said relationship aaaaaa!

That was GLORIOUS!!!! And she does not consciously realize it, but an epic slam of her own mom who she equates this dude to. (Broccoli is another one of those born on third base thinks he hit a triple people. Her mom, broccoli and ZY all come from privilege but honestly only ZY is cognizant of the same.)

Broccoli winding down the convo with "I hope you are right" made me want to stab him with a fork because that is so what people say when they mean "you are WRONG but I am too mature to continue and I am making that clear."

#cdrama #zhang jingyi #lighter and princess

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