Aug 2, 2022
♡。
seen from Russia
seen from Türkiye
seen from Germany
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Yemen
seen from Bangladesh
seen from Netherlands
seen from Bulgaria
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from Singapore
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seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from Canada
seen from Germany
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♡。
For call of duty, can you write how 141 would react to you coming home after being announced KIA?
Love your work btw ❤️❤️
Not gonna lie, anon, but I genuinely read this as us reacting to the 141 coming home after being announced KIA, not them reacting to us coming home. I literally dumped everything I had planned and redid it because I missed that ONE word. (oops). Still, it's an emotional one. Your tears fuel me. :)
For the masterlist and how to submit your own request, click HERE
Task Force 141 x Task Force 141!f!Reader
Content & Warnings (MDNI): angst, reunions, fluff, kissing, secret relationship, established relationship, grief/loss, swearing, mild humor, suggestive themes, mild sexual content
Word Count: 2k
ao3 // main masterlist // imagines & what if masterlist
John Price
Reality isn’t fair. It’s not kind or forgiving.
A week gone and John is simply floating, going through the motions, simply existing. This is why you don’t date military while in the military. It’s shit like this. It’s being told the person you love is fucking dead and now you’re the one left to pick up the pieces.
There wasn’t even a body. Vaporized is what they told him. Instant and painless. You felt nothing. It’s a small comfort, but John would rather have you in his arms than knowing you’re nothing more than atoms.
He sighs, and then puffs on his cigar. Smoke curls around him. It’s all quiet on base. Everyone is gone other than the routine patrol. John sits alone in his office, looking for files for an upcoming mission.
There’s a soft knock on is office door.
“Come in,” he says, not knowing who it might be but it must be important for it to be this late.
The door clicks and then creaks as it opens. John glances up, the cigar halfway to his mouth before the world around him completely stutters to a halt.
A phantom—a vaporized phantom—stands just inside, one hand on the doorknob. You are unharmed—clean. No scratches or wounds that John can see and wearing civilian clothing.
John is already standing, already moving, unable to resist the urge to remain in his chair and write this all off as a delusion. The cigar is forgotten, probably burning a hole in the wood of his desk. You match the forward momentum, shutting the office door, reaching out to him. When his arms go around you, and pull you in, John realizes that this is not an illusion. You are real and alive and here.
“You’re dead,” he murmurs, disbelief in his tone.
“I know. And I’m so sorry. It wasn’t—”
John grasps the back of your neck in a harsh hold, pulling you in for a kiss. He silences your voice, only needing your warmth and taste. You melt for him perfectly, answering the kisses with your own. With a gruff groan, John presses you up against the closed door.
“John,” you mumble, pulling back slightly.
“How are you here?”
“I’m sorry. We had to. It was the only way to extract me safely.”
John presses his forehead to yours, breathing you in. “Never again. Promise me.”
“Promise, John.”
Kyle "Gaz" Garrick
One. Two. Three.
The seconds tick by, and still, Kyle refuses to move. For the last two weeks, Kyle has been cold and distant, sitting in the recliner in the corner of the living room.
He doesn’t read, doesn’t return the numerous missed calls and text messages, and he doesn’t turn on the television. He just sits, staring off into space, unable to figure out where his life will go next.
Why you? Why are you gone and not him?
It’s not fair. It’s not fucking fair. You should be alive and whole and happy. You should be home, wrapped in Kyle’s arms.
Kyle sighs, running his hands over his face. An overwhelming wave of grief bubbles up, threatening to rip a sob from him. Leaning forward, Kyle rests his elbows on his knees, cradling his face in his hands. He takes a deep, shuddering breath. The wave crashes against his resolve, eroding some of the numbness.
The coffin is empty. No body to bury. He still hasn’t contacted your family. He can’t do it. Can’t face them. That fact that he is here and you are not is a failure on his part. Kyle promised that he’d look after you, and now you’re gone.
Around him, the air stirs—shifts. Kyle rubs at his face, sudden awareness slipping in. There’s an anticipation in it—a tension.
“Kyle.”
That voice. He knows that voice.
Shaking his head, Kyle keeps his face covered, his breathing becoming ragged.
“You’re not real,” he gasps.
Phantom fingers lightly brush across the back of palm, traveling to his wrist. Another set join them, and two warm hands gently wrap around his wrists. They tug, and Kyle surrenders, glancing up at the delusion his consciousness is creating.
Your smile is a beacon in the dark. It is everything he’s dreamed up these aching days, only wanting to see you again. And this is no dream, this is the waking world—reality. Somehow, you are standing before him, grasping his wrists, smiling down at him with such happiness that Kyle doesn’t entirely understand how this could be possible.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Kyle.”
He’s standing, wrapping you up in his arms. There is no mistake. You are here. You are here.
Kyle murmurs your name over and over again like a mantra. He touches you everywhere, needing to know that every inch of you is real and not a figment of his imagination. You curl against him, tears forming, threatening to fall and stain your cheeks. Kyle kisses them away, grasping the sides of your face to steal your breath.
You melt beneath him, and Kyle’s only desire is to keep you near him, to relearn your every moan and whisper. He can get answers later. Later. Right now, you are here, you have returned to him, and that is enough.
John "Soap" MacTavish
Johnny made the choice, and now he has to live with the consequences.
It’s his own fault for caring about you, for deciding that you were the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He should have found a civilian. That way they’d be mourning him and not him mourning you.
Three months and the missive still burns a hole in his chest. It’s folded up nicely, faded and worn from him unfolding and refolding it, tucked into an inside pocket beneath his bulletproof vest. It’s right over his heart. Right where you should be. Right where you belong.
The missive doesn’t belong to Johnny. It’s addressed to Captain Price, but the man handed it over to him, because he knew—even though Johnny did his best to hide it. He didn’t want to share what he had with you with anyone. That was just for the two of you.
“You all right, Soap?”
Simon’s voice cuts through the static.
“I’m aces, Lt. Don’t worry about me.”
The words feel false on Johnny’s tongue. He hates lying—but he especially hates lying to Simon.
Even behind the balaclava, Johnny can sense Simon’s frown. But the big bloke says nothing, appearing content with his answer.
“Price wants you in Conference Room B.”
“Now?” asks Johnny. “We’re supposed to transfer out in a few.”
Simon shrugs. “He didn’t say much. Just said he needed to talk to you before we leave.”
Johnny sighs but he goes, patting Simon’s arm before jogging to one of the main buildings. It’s inconvenient—and Price could have just met him on the fucking tarmac.
“What do you need, Captain?” says Johnny, pushing open the door.
Captain Price stands just inside the doorway. And he’s not alone.
At first, Johnny doesn’t understand. It’s like all but one singular bulb has been extinguished, the remaining light illuminating the one ghost in the room. Because that’s what you are. A ghost. Unreal and ethereal. Not reality at all but a simple hope in the back of Johnny’s mind that has finally blossomed into delusion.
“Soap.” Price’s voice is gruff. He sighs and then takes a step away from you. “I’ll leave the two of you to it.”
He brushes past Johnny, lightly squeezing his shoulder as he makes his exit.
And Johnny does not move. He stands in the doorway like a bloody git, unable to understand how you’re standing before him.
You’re dead. You’re supposed to be dead.
Your smile is hesitant at first, your movements even more so. It’s a tentative walk to him, and you don’t touch, you only gaze at him, eagerness and hope in your eyes.
“Johnny,” you breathe, and he knows that voice.
So crisp and clear and real.
Johnny reaches out, and pinches. He pinches your arms, your waist, your cheeks.
“Ow,” you laugh. “What the hell?”
You are not cold, but warm. Solid.
Johnny laughs in disbelief. “Had to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”
Your arms go around him and suddenly, like a firework bursting with color, Johnny is happy and whole.
Simon "Ghost" Riley
Simon shuts the front door and frowns.
Whenever Simon comes home, Bravo always greets him. The all-black German Shepherd is a singular ball of energy, turning in quick circles and tap tap tapping his paws against the hardwood in anticipation of back scratches and belly rubs.
For the past week, Bravo’s presence has been the one bright thing, the only bit of happiness keeping Simon going. The rest of it was snatched from him, torn apart and shattered, scattered to the wind. The letter is tucked inside the drawer of the bedside table. He only read it once. And once was enough.
You are dead. That’s what the letter says anyway. And it infuriates him more than anything. Every mission you’ve ever been on has been with Simon. Except this last one. And on this last one, you did not come home.
“Bravo!” shouts Simon, dropping his keys in the designated spot next to the front door.
Removing his coat, he hangs it up, and then kicks off his sneakers. Sighing loudly, Simon heads down the hall but Bravo does not emerge. Simon pokes his head into the living room and finds no dog. Kitchen, and still nothing. He even checks the backyard. No Bravo.
As Simon turns into the bedroom, he comes to an abrupt halt.
There’s Bravo on the bed, and sitting on the edge—
“You—”
You hold the letter in your hands, attention turning to Simon as he enters. Standing quickly, you extend the arm holding the letter while you bring a singular finger to your lips, implying silence.
Simon’s stomach flips, and then twists quickly. He moves across the room a couple strides, grasping your waist and pulling you close. He says nothing, only searching your face as you keep that finger pressed to your lips.
You flip the letter over to the blank side.
Compromised.
Everything clicks into place. Either you faked your death or someone lied.
Simon cups the side of your face as you drop your finger away from your lips. His mouth replaces, tasting and seeking, wanting to remember. You open for him, accepting it all. His hands tighten on your waist and it takes every ounce of Simon’s control to not throw you onto the bed and rut like an untamed beast.
But he does refrain.
Simon has the car loaded and the alarm system armed in ten minutes. Even on the road, Simon doesn’t speak. He’s not sure if he can. All he does is keep his hand on your thigh, squeezing tightly, attempting to ground himself and keep his focus on the road.
At the safehouse, Bravo takes off, running through the tall grass as you and Simon enter the barn through a small side door. The moment the bags are dropped onto the floor, Simon is on you, fisting your clothes, tugging at them in a need to seem them gone.
“Simon,” you groan against his mouth.
He wants answers. He needs to know what happened. But reconnecting with you is far more urgent.
“After,” he begs. “Please.”
You nod, understanding.
The two of shed your clothes quickly, falling onto the sofa in a tangled heap. Simon’s hand delves between, fingers finding your arousal. You’re ready for him—just as eager as he his. He makes no gentle effort, just a quick thrusts until he’s in to the hilt. Your brief gasp is swallowed up by his mouth, tongue delving inside for a taste as he starts to thrust.
This is what he needs. More than anything.
Talking can come after.
OP81 - For you, for us. (smau) Pairing - Oscar piastri x norris!fem!reader Face claim - Ariana Grande Summary - After a very special McLaren podium you and oscar begin to soft launch your relationship to everyone.
A/N - First time doing a smau but i actually really enjoyed it! there will definitely be more to come!
Masterlist <3
“this win was for you. for us.”
lando
Liked by yourusername, oscarpiastri and 987,261 others
lando what a weekend! a mclaren one-two, some extraordinary moments with fans and, of course, my favourite little sister.
yourusername i’m your only sister lando
-> lando oops
user I WAS ONE OF THOSE FANS!!!
user what a day it was
mclaren our papaya boys 🧡 -> liked by oscarpiastri and author
yourusername i quite enjoyed that. can you do it again next time? -> liked by mclaren
-> lando i don’t know can we? oscarpiastri
-> oscarpiastri i’ll have to think about it
user not oscar saying he’ll have to think about getting another podium
user she looks so pretty!! —> liked by yourusername and oscarpiastri
-> user well hello oscar???
-> user is lando just going to ignore this?
-> user SHE LIKED!!
yourusername
Liked by oscarpiastri, mclaren, alexandrasaintmleux and 325,961 others
yourusername when the team does well so you get to go out for dinner! (also who new that oscarpiastri knew how to take photos?)
alexandrasaintmleux the prettiest girl -> liked by author
user not lando not being in the likes because there’s sushi -> liked by lando
lando i still can’t believe that you chose SUSHI out of everything on that menu
-> yourusername i wanted sushi so i got sushi? i don’t see the problem?
-> lando you could’ve killed me!
-> user lando is so over dramatic, it’s hilarious
user is everyone just going to ignore the fact that she pretty much just said that oscar took the first photo for her???
oscarpiastri i really enjoyed my salmon, how was your sushi? -> liked by author
-> yourusername it was AMAZING
-> lando my two favourite people trying to kill me 💔
-> oscarpiastri you’re so dramatic
-> user wait do we think they planned this as a joke on lando??? -> liked by author and oscarpiastri
-> user YES! YES WE DO!!
mclaren glad you enjoyed it -> liked by author
f1tea
Liked by user, f1 and 1,684,074 others
f1tea racing hotshot, oscar piastri, was spotted out and about with a mystery woman late yesterday evening! a girlfriend or just a friend? the media only got little glimpses of her but many are speculating that oscar has opened a new chapter in his book!
user OH?
-> user THIS WAS MY EXACT REACTION
user is that f1 i see in the likes?? -> liked by f1
user f1 admin are having a field day with this one
user guys what are we thinking? girlfriend? -> liked by author
-> user definitely!
-> user it could just be a friend
-> user GIRLFRIEND!!!!
user it’s literally none of our business
user i’ve not seen him show this much emotion — let alone happiness — in like… forever
user something about the coat gave me yourusername vibes -> liked by author
-> f1tea we’re listening
-> user i think you might be onto something…
user not my dreams of marrying him slowly slipping through my fingers -> liked by oscarpiastri
oscarpiastri
Liked by yourusername, f1tea, lando and 747,181 others
oscarpiastri a quick break before we get back on track
user not yourusername being first in the likes
user i wonder who he’s taking a photo of in the third pic
-> lando me obviously
-> oscarpiastri we aren’t even in the same country
-> user clocked
yourusername i like your hoodie —> liked by author
-> user what a random thing to say yourusername…
-> user whats going on here then?
-> user i feel like user in f1tea’s post was onto something
-> user i lowkey agree
yourusername
Liked by oscarpiastri, tatemcrae, lando and 2,748,107 others
yourusername hoodie dump <3
f1tea WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH
f1tea ARE YOU GUYS SEEING WHAT IM SEEING RN?
-> user WHAT ARE YOU SEEING??
-> f1tea yourusername IN oscarpiastri’s HOODIE
-> user OH MY GOD
-> user HAVE WE BEEN WITNESSING A SOFT LAUNCH IN REAL TIME????
-> user I THINK WE HAVE!
lando sister.
-> yourusername yes?
-> lando whose hoodie is that?
-> yourusername … -> liked by oscarpiastri
oscarpiastri 🤍 -> liked by author
-> yourusername 🤍
-> lando …
-> lando oscar reply to my messages.
-> user lando is NOT happy
->user my jaw dropped lower than my grades
tatemcrae i have the perfect song for this
-> yourusername do not sing a word
f1tea
Liked by user, f1, mclaren, tatemcrae, alexandrasaintmleux and 5,685,702 others
f1tea just a couple of hours ago, racing legend oscar piastri was spotted leading his alleged girlfriend — his teammates younger sister, ___ norris — into a very fancy restaurant.
user the whole thing screamed date to me
user the secrets out, both mclaren and f1 admin liked the post -> liked by author
user i told you all so in the very moment i saw the coat in the first post you made about them
-> user you were right
-> user i know. -> liked by yourusername
oscarpiastri and yourusername
Liked by tatemcrae, charles_leclerc, lando and 7,429,619 others
oscarpiastri the cat may be out of the bag but i still refuse to share you with the world 🤍
comments on this posts are limited to close friends
yourusername i love you <3 -> liked by author
-> oscarpiastri i love you more <3
tatemcrae can i release sports car now?
-> yourusername yes, yes you can
charles_leclerc finally, watching you soft launch was slowly killing me -> liked by author
lando WAS I REALLY THE LAST PERSON TO FIND OUT?!??
-> yourusername oops?
alexandrasaintmleux so happy for you baby
-> yourusername 🤍
mclaren do we now have to share you with the rest of the paddock? —> liked by author
-> f1 yes you do
-> lando F1 AND MCLAREN ADMIN KNEW BEFORE ME?
love and hate -a
Sue's
pairing: keys mckey/f!reader wc: 3700 tags: fluff, meet cute, a LOT of gamer talk, one (1) smooch prompt from @cpnsteverogers: 🥺 Maybe a meet cute with Keys this 4th of Key-ly weekend? A new retro arcade bar recently opened up where Keys meets reader and they really hit it off ❤️ something cute, sweet, and nerdy af? a/n: yet another love letter to myself. :') thank you for letting me indulge. &&
“I might meet the love of my life there,” you said, ignoring the way your sister rolled her eyes at you.
“Yeah, because women always meet guys who are husband material at bars.”
“Lots of people have,” you argued, though you had no empirical evidence to back it up.
“I mean, yes, I will go with you, if only to make sure you don’t end up drooling over the wrong nerd in a fedora.”
“I avoid men in fedoras like the plague,” you replied.
Your sister rolled her eyes at you. “I remember—”
“That was in high school,” you said. “And I dumped him after he said m’lady.”
“So what time are we going?” she asked you, finishing up folding the towels she’d just pulled from the dryer and picking up the stack, heading over to the linen closet in the hall.
“After dinner?” you replied. “If you don’t mind me staying.”
This time, she rolled her eyes. “You practically live here anyway.”
“Only because my game room isn’t set up yet. I need this bar.”
“And you need me as your wingwoman,” she said. “Chinese ok for dinner?”
You grinned. “You know who you’re talking to, right?”
&&
Sue’s—the new retro barcade that was currently hosting its grand opening—was a short walk from your apartment. Your sister had made you stop at your place on the way so she could steal some of your clothes, not wanting to look like a normie (her word, not yours). You’d told her it didn’t matter what she wore, but that didn’t stop her from taking your Kingdom Hearts 2 t-shirt and tying it up into a cute crop top.
You, however, had opted for your Ms. Pac-Man shirt because the bar was literally named after one of the ghosts and you were nothing if not a sucker for a gimmick. After a quick couple of pregaming shots, you two made your way to the bar, actually a little surprised that there was a line to wait on.
“Your people come out in droves for this kind of shit,” your sister said, and you just laughed a little to yourself.
“Yeah, well, we like to be let out of our enclosures on occasion,” you joked back, and she just rolled her eyes, stepping forward as the line moved, and after a few minutes, you were actually let into the bar itself.
It was dimly lit inside, but not too dim to be able to see, red and blue lights washing everyone and everything out, but the decor was great. Vintage arcade games lined the back wall, a pool and air hockey table were adjacent to the bar on either side, and you even saw a door to a separate room with a sign reading “PC방” above it. That sounded promising and kind of fun—but it was packed, and so you made your way to the bar instead.
A couple of cosmos later, and you were eyeing the retro Street Fighter II console while your sister was pushing you off of your stool.
“I’ll be right here,” she said, slapping her phone down on the bar and opening up her crossword puzzle app.
“So much for wingwoman,” you said, slinging your bag over your shoulder and making your way to the token machine. You fished a $10 out of your wallet, took one of the Sue’s Bar + Arcade branded cups to fill with your tokens, and then made your way to the Street Fighter game.
Just as soon as you placed a hand on it, someone else did at the exact same moment, and you sighed inwardly, because you’d definitely gotten there first, and you didn’t feel like getting into an argument with some douchebag about it.
“Oops, sorry,” the other person said, and when you lifted your eyes to his face, you found him smiling at you. He even retracted his hand.
“No problem,” you said, taking that to mean he was about to step away, and leave you to play as God herself (Chun Li) in peace.
“Well,” he said, and you tried not to roll your eyes in a way that was super obvious and allow him to see. “I’ve kinda been waiting for this game to open up all night.”
You shrugged. “I won’t be long. I want to go play Contra after,” you said, pointing over the guy’s left shoulder to another console.
He looked, and then turned right back around. “Would you believe that was my next stop too?” He smiled again, and you noticed, as the overhead lights shifted from red to blue, the freckles on his cheek, the way his eyes crinkled a little.
“No shit,” you said, a little smile making itself known. But just a little one.
“Nope,” he said, and you watched as his smile faltered a little, obviously unsure of how to progress the conversation. That tracked for a guy in a barcade.
“Well,” you said, plucking a couple tokens out of the cup you’d settled onto the console. “What if we play this together… and then move over to Contra?”
“Yeah?” he asked.
“Yeah,” you said, then held out your hand, introducing yourself.
He took it, shaking your hand, then spoke. “I’m Keys.”
“Keys. Really?” you asked.
“Really,” he said, keeping a straight face, and you just laughed quietly.
“Ok, gamer,” you said, “let’s go.”
You chose, of course, Chun Li, while Keys went with Dhalsim.
“I’ve never seen anyone pick him before,” you commented, and Keys just smirked over at you.
“I’ve played a lot of Street Fighter in my day,” he said. He reached into the chest pocket of his shirt and pulled out a pair of glasses, slipping them on. You bit your lip, because he looked even cuter with them on. “Just watch.”
And you did. Because he schooled you. You were no slouch when it came to the game either, and even though you’d decided on best two out of three, it didn’t even matter—he wiped you in all three games, because you’d insisted on the third after he won the first two.
Sighing heavily, you rested your arms on the edge of the console and pressed your forehead to it, scowling to yourself because you didn’t want him to see how upset you were.
“Hey, c’mon,” Keys said, his voice soft even though he had to speak loudly over the din of the bar. “I didn’t want to go too easy on you… figured you wouldn’t appreciate that.”
“No, it’s fine. I just—I’ve never had my ass so thoroughly handed to me before,” you said, straightening up.
Keys gave you a small smile before he spoke again, leaning his hip on the game. “Could I also maybe… pay for a drink to be handed to you?”
“You want to buy me a drink?”
“Least I could do,” Keys said, “for destroying you. In a video game, I mean.”
“Yeah, ok. True.” You picked up your cup of tokens and followed him over to the bar, sitting opposite your sister. When you looked over, she was watching you, and she waggled her eyebrows at you, nodding approvingly as Keys removed his glasses and slipped them back into his pocket. You subtly flipped her off as Keys ordered a Guinness (draft, not bottle), and then he turned to you, his hand accidentally nudging your upper arm as he did.
“Ack, sorry,” he said, and it brought you back to high school when you guy friends would touch you unintentionally. Half awkward, half endearing. “What did you want?”
“I’ll just have a cosmo,” you said to the bartender, and Keys grinned.
“Pink like Sue,” he said, as the bartender filled a glass with beer for Keys, then stepped away to go mix your drink up.
“Only at first,” you replied. “She turned purple later.”
“Very true,” he said, sipping his drink. “So—you’re into retro games, clearly… Street Fighter and Contra. What else do you like to play?”
“A little bit of everything,” you replied, nodding to the bartender when he placed your cocktail in front of you with a napkin. The garnish was an orange peel, cut into the shape of one of the Pac-man ghosts. “I dabble, I guess.”
“Dabble,” Keys repeated. “In everything, really?”
“Kind of!” you replied. “Shooters, visual storybooks, walking sims… dating sims.”
Keys smirked. “Like the Arcade Spirits kind of dating sim, or the HuniePop kind?”
“Who showed you my Steam library?” you asked, and at that, you both laughed. “No, try Dream Daddy.”
“I think you can tell a lot about a person by their first dream daddy and their favorite dream daddy,” Keys said.
“Oh yeah?” you asked. “Who are yours?”
“First was obviously Mat,” Keys said. “But favorite? I dunno, there’s just something about Hugo.”
You lifted your drink to your lips, nodding as you took a sip, pondering deeply. “Ok. Yeah, I think you’ve just shown me a side of yourself no one else in here knows.”
“What about you?” he asked, leaning on the bar.
“My first was Craig,” you said, and he scoffed. “What! You have eyes. He’s cute.”
“He is…good-looking,” Keys agreed.
“And my favorite is Robert.”
Keys sucked his teeth. “Yeah, ok. I know you now.”
“Whatever,” you said, grinning into your cocktail. “Now that we’ve bared our souls, let’s just enjoy our drinks.”
You may have imagined it, but he moved a little closer, just a touch.
&&
“I am telling you,” you said, as the two of you wended your way through the crowd toward Contra. “Chris Redfield punching a rock is stupid.”
“Chris Redfield punching a rock, yes, would be stupid,” Keys agreed, as you reached the game, currently occupied by another player. He stepped up and placed a token on the console, signifying that he wanted to play next. “But he punched a boulder.”
“That’s what makes it so dumb,” you said vehemently, and Keys just nodded along as you went on your diatribe. “He’s a regular guy. He might be STARS or whatever, but they’re just regular guys.”
“Do you think Leon could punch a boulder?”
You stopped, biting the inside of your cheek. You’d told him just a few minutes ago how Leon was the ideal guy in the Resident Evil franchise, how he had it all: looks, one-liners, personality. Even in the newest installment where he was 30 years older and more grizzled, you’d still let him hit. (And then you felt absolutely mortified about saying that to a guy who you’d just met.)
“Shut up,” you said, and Keys laughed.
“I’m taking that as a yes,” he said, as the guy currently at the Contra console died, using his last life, and then ambled away from the machine.
“Thanks,” you said after him, because he could very well have chosen to play some more but let you and Keys have the machine.
You both slotted tokens in, and since this was a co-op game, kept your conversation going.
“I’m an Ada guy myself,” he said.
“You would be,” you replied, running your character through the sidescrolling game.
“You like Claire?”
You scoffed, picking up a powerup in the game so your gun was better. “Try Countess Alcina Dimitrescu,” you said, and Keys hummed approvingly. “Or, honestly. Heinsenberg.”
Keys glanced at you. “How could I possibly measure up?”
You looked at him sharply, shocked that a guy who hadn’t even known how to ask you to play Street Fighter with him was being so brave now. Must have been the liquid courage of the beer.
“Well, you’re real, for starters,” you said. “So that’s like, several ticks in your favor.”
“Yeah?” he asked.
“Yeah,” you replied. “Big time.”
Contra went great actually, and since no one was waiting for you after you’d both lost all of your lives, you started another game, the two of you working exceptionally well, in sync, and you got to the end of the game before both of you died one final time, the “Enter Token” message flashing on the Start screen again.
“Damn,” Keys said, but before he could keep talking, your sister popped up at your elbow.
“I’m gonna get out of here,” she said, looking Keys up and down, then turning back to you. “You good?”
“I’m good,” you replied, giving her a hug and a kiss goodbye.
“You coming back to my place?”
“Not sure yet,” you said, which was maybe a little too telling, but whatever.
“All right. Have fun. Be safe,” she said, then pinched your elbow before she walked away.
“My sister,” you said, by way of explanation.
“I could tell,” Keys said, leading you away from the game over to the section of the bar featuring claw machines. “You look uncannily alike.”
“Because it’s so dark in here,” you said, watching as he pulled out a handful of tokens from his pocket and fiddling with them in his hand as he scoped out the machines. “She’s way older than me.” And she would kill you if she ever heard you say that.
Keys smirked, then took a step toward a machine, turning back toward you to make sure you’d follow. You did. You watched in silence as he poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue, concentrating deeply as he put in the required number of tokens, moved the hook, nudged it again a little more, a little more, a little more—then slapped the button to lower the claw.
With bated breath, you both watched as the claw lowered down into the jumble of Kirby plushies, and because it had been quite expertly placed, hooked perfectly around one of the round little bodies and clamped down on it, lifting it into the air. For a moment it looked like it would fall out—but no, down he fell through the chute and into Keys’ waiting hand.
Your expression changed from pleased to surprised as Keys handed the plushie to you.
“How’d you know I like Kirby?” you asked.
He shrugged. “Everyone likes Kirby.”
You took it, hugged it. “Thank you,” you said. “I have plenty of tokens left over, too. I can try to win you something.”
“Maybe next time?” Keys said. “The lights in here are getting to me.”
“Oh,” you said, because again—you weren’t sure if he was angling or just informing you he wanted to leave. So, you took matters into your own hands. “Well, I have normal lights at my place. Like, warm white, low wattage. Super easy on the eyes.”
Keys nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Would you also happen to have, like, a Nintendo Switch?”
“I would,” you said.
“With… Mario Kart?”
“Of course,” you replied.
“Well,” he said. “I guess you convinced me to hang out with you some more. To be clear, it’s because you have a game I like.”
“Right,” you said, heading to the bar to close out the tab you’d made earlier with your sister. “Obviously, duh.”
The walk back to your apartment wasn’t overly long, but a few steps out of the barcade, you felt Keys’ fingers brushing against yours. Without acknowledging them, you turned your hand to his and let him take it. His hand was warm and soft, and as he laced his fingers in between yours, you turned and hid your face in the Kirby plush, because oh my god.
Your apartment was a very recent acquisition—you’d moved in like, literally, two weeks ago, and so everything was still shiny and neat and clean. The spare bedroom hadn’t been set up yet but all of your gaming stuff was in there.
“You can grab a drink if you want,” you said, gesturing to the kitchen, “I’ll be right back.”
You heard the refrigerator door open as you made your way down the hall, grabbing the milk crate that held your Switch stuff, and by the time you’d picked it up and turned around, Keys was silhouetted in the doorway. He reached in, flicked the light switch, and you saw his eyes widen.
“Holy shit,” he said. “You’re like… hard core.”
“I stream in my spare time,” you said. “Been a rough couple weeks without it.”
“I bet,” he replied. “If you want any help setting your stuff up… just let me know.”
“Thank you,” you said, “but for now, I need to kick your ass off Rainbow Road.”
His grin widened but his eyes narrowed. “Oh, you think so.”
“There will not be a repeat of Street Fighter,” you said. “I swear on my Atari 2600.” You jerked your chin to the side, where the retro console that had once belonged to your dad sat atop your otherwise empty desk, a place of honor since it was the only thing unpacked.
“Loser pays for dinner,” Keys said.
“It’s like… 10:30,” you replied.
“Breakfast then?” he asked.
You were so taken aback by his proposition that you scoffed, laughed, and then said, “You know what? Sure. Impress me and maybe I’ll let you buy me breakfast.”
“Wait… so I have to buy even if I win?”
You nodded. “Yup!”
Keys scoffed, but it was more of a laugh than anything else, and he took the milk crate of game paraphernalia from you as you led him back to your living room area, which was immaculate because you spent more time at your sister’s place than you did here. You’d slept at her apartment at least five nights since you’d moved in.
Despite your attempts to elbow Keys out of your way and set up the switch yourself, he didn’t let you, instead uncoiling wires and plugging things in, and so you just went to your kitchen and grabbed a drink for yourself, since you’d clocked that he’d already helped himself to a can of Monster, a wonderful choice after you’d both had alcohol. You grabbed the pitcher of iced tea instead and poured yourself a cup, carrying it back to the couch, sitting down and watching the boy you’d brought back here on a whim set up your video game console for you.
“You an Animal Crossing guy?” you asked.
“Eh,” he said. “I played during the pandemic but fell off of it. You?”
“Still logging in every day.”
“You have to show me your island,” he said.
“Maybe later,” you said. “You’re not getting out of this ass-kicking I’m about to bestow upon you.”
Keys smirked, coming to sit beside you on the couch, handing you one of the controllers and settling in, his knee absolutely resting against yours. You chose to ignore it because he was not going to psych you out using physical touch as psychological warfare.
“Let’s do best three out of five. First one’s a practice race,” you said, starting up the game.
“Sounds fair,” Keys agreed, and when you came in 1st and he came in 6th in the practice round, you felt much, much better about things.
But because the universe could not let you exist peacefully, you ended up tied with two races each after the practice round you’d given yourselves. You’d both already decided to have Rainbow Road as your last race, so it kept getting pushed back as you won, or as he won, and so race 5 was the lucky one. You selected Rainbow Road from the map screen, and then locked the fuck in as Keys took one last swig of his Monster, your tea all but forgotten and surely no longer iced after being out on the floor beside your couch for so long.
It was tense: He picked up a blue shell almost immediately, but you purposely held back just enough to keep yourself out of 1st place. You pulled out in front of Luigi (both of you laughing a little at the stankface he shot you as you passed) and once you heard the chime indicating that the shell was close to you, you eased back—a risky move—but Luigi shot past you, taking the blue shell in your stead—and you continued on your way, in 1st place leaving Keys no way to stop you, unless he managed to get another blue shell.
He didn’t—and you crossed the finish line moments later, 1st place in the race, and besting him three out of five.
“Fuck yes,” you half-shouted, tossing your controller to your side, where it bounced a little on the couch.
“That was slick,” Keys admitted, putting his controller down too, knocking back the rest of his room-temperature Monster. “You are the better racer.”
“You’re the better Street Fighter, and we’re both cracked at Contra, so I guess it all evens out.” You looked over at him, shifting yourself to face him but also settling a little further back on your couch.
“So, what do you like for breakfast?” Keys asked.
You glanced at the TV, the endgame race screen still playing, your character (Toadette) speeding around the raceway, victorious. You looked back at Keys, reaching out to put one of your hands on his knee, then leaned in and closed the distance between you, taking his lips with yours in a kiss, soft and sweet and innocent, not anything more than just something new and tentative, trying it out.
He kissed you back, though, parting his lips just a little against yours, pulling back just to move back in, his hand covering yours on his leg, the other moving to your thigh, skimming up just enough for you to know he was into it, but not necessarily wanting anything more.
“I guess you’ll find out,” you whispered in response, and he smiled, giving you a short peck on the cheek before pulling back.
“Can I see your island now?” he asked. “I assume there’s an arcade area.”
“Right next to the museum,” you said. “Nothing like checking out some deepsea fish and then going next door to play Brake Tapper.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Keys said, stretching his arms along the back of your couch.
You grabbed your controller, switched to Animal Crossing, and then—in a move that you wouldn’t have considered if you didn’t get such good vibes from Keys—settled yourself against him. His arm moved down to hold you instead, his hand on your hip, as you gave him a tour of your own little slice of (virtual) heaven.
&& taglist: @sunriseinhawkins @ghostlyriddles @souperbloom @sheisjoeschateau @cheugy-djobe @cpnsteverogers @nowandajenn @configurre @cecesblogg @britt-mf @harringtondarling @valentine-night @charismatickeery @charlston-chews @bearwithegg @starkleila @sommie08 @xoxocelestial @kristywidget97 @calelundaa @mistyblueinks @projections-mortal @cupofdjoplease
comment to be added to the taglist !
[id in alt]
ohhhh if i knew how to actually draw this it would be so over for yall i swear to god. lore dump under read-more
so the lore of maekrenia goes that everything and everyone has a little bit of magic of them, it's kinda synonymous with their soul i guess? and in the entire world there's this one little mountain of life (aka the maekrenian archipelagos) in this big stone barren wasteland. and that's because of this little kudzu-like flower, which feeds on magic. it was likely a weapon of war gone wrong, and it kind of ate everything. except maekrenia itself, which is only currently alive because of a Big Magical Storm Entity.
anyway this flower is technically fine if u touch it, but if u eat it or something it's gonna suck up all of your soul and youre gonna be a dead stone statue thing very fast and it ain't fun. for incarnates (creatures made purely out of magic), just physical contact alone is enough to corrode them. guarding is one of these incarnates.
at this time there was a big kind of fearmongering campaign thing going on against wraiths, which is a type of incarnate and also what guarding (and wildway!) is. gralyth was sent by Big Scary Unnamed Person to kill wraiths, and that caused guarding to hate her. and all this back-and-forth stuff happens to the point they really hate each other and it's impossible to tell who is really the bad guy now.
so, marivam's parents were scientists who were studying this flower, mostly to try to figure out a way to reverse its magic-eating properties and stop the world from Literally Being Turned To Stone. i don't think gralyth actually really knew them, probably just stopped by. guarding, who was actively hunting down gralyth, came to confront her there. idk i'm super fuzzy on this part LOL but the general thing is that it's supposed to be one giant extremely unfortunate coincidence.
guarding killed them all, marivam's parents and also her two brothers, but gralyth wasn't there. the only reason marivam survived was cause she happened to throw a jar containing some of that flower, and that caused guarding to flee in Complete Agony. i think guarding was completely mistaken coming here honestly, rushing too fast in his anger and mistook someone there as gralyth, i'm not sure yet. i want to avoid making guarding a flat bad guy, just... a guy who made really, really, really, REALLY bad mistakes for the sake of his fellow wraiths and ultimately will pay the price for them. he just sounds Particularly Bad rn cause i'm not going into his whole deal here oop this post is already too long
(also marivam has the ability to see these little magic spirits that are otherwise invisible, i think this is when it happens i'm just not sure exactly how yet o_o)
so gralyth comes and sees marivam, this sobbing brokenhearted little kid in their destroyed family home, and kind of realizing this is partly her fault for leading guarding there, gralyth takes in marivam and stops fighting wraiths, which... her superior wasn't too happy about.
and now marivam has debilitating nyctophobia among other things :) this stuff is all subject to change because i am extremely bad at keeping to one thing, but it'll probably remain this general concept.
this is what's in that upper left corner btw. gralyth concepts! antlers/spikes like these is an indication of how much magical potential someone has, but unfortunately a lot of that has been lost these days. gralyth here has a lot, relatively
OP81 - for you, for us (smau)
Pairing - Oscar piastri x norris!fem!reader
Face claim - Ariana Grande
Summary - After a very special McLaren podium you and oscar begin to soft launch your relationship to everyone.
A/N - First time doing a smau but i actually really enjoyed it! there will definitely be more to come!
“this win was for you. for us.”
lando
Liked by yourusername, oscarpiastri and 987,261 others
lando what a weekend! a mclaren one-two, some extraordinary moments with fans and, of course, my favourite little sister.
yourusername i’m your only sister lando
-> lando oops
user I WAS ONE OF THOSE FANS!!!
user what a day it was
mclaren our papaya boys 🧡 -> liked by oscarpiastri and author
yourusername i quite enjoyed that. can you do it again next time? -> liked by mclaren
-> lando i don’t know can we? oscarpiastri
-> oscarpiastri i’ll have to think about it
user not oscar saying he’ll have to think about getting another podium
user she looks so pretty!! —> liked by yourusername and oscarpiastri
-> user well hello oscar???
-> user is lando just going to ignore this?
-> user SHE LIKED!!
yourusername
Liked by oscarpiastri, mclaren, alexandrasaintmleux and 325,961 others
yourusername when the team does well so you get to go out for dinner! (also who new that oscarpiastri knew how to take photos?)
alexandrasaintmleux the prettiest girl -> liked by author
user not lando not being in the likes because there’s sushi -> liked by lando
lando i still can’t believe that you chose SUSHI out of everything on that menu
-> yourusername i wanted sushi so i got sushi? i don’t see the problem?
-> lando you could’ve killed me!
-> user lando is so over dramatic, it’s hilarious
user is everyone just going to ignore the fact that she pretty much just said that oscar took the first photo for her???
oscarpiastri i really enjoyed my salmon, how was your sushi? -> liked by author
-> yourusername it was AMAZING
-> lando my two favourite people trying to kill me 💔
-> oscarpiastri you’re so dramatic
-> user wait do we think they planned this as a joke on lando??? -> liked by author and oscarpiastri
-> user YES! YES WE DO!!
mclaren glad you enjoyed it -> liked by author
f1tea
Liked by user, f1 and 1,684,074 others
f1tea racing hotshot, oscar piastri, was spotted out and about with a mystery woman late yesterday evening! a girlfriend or just a friend? the media only got little glimpses of her but many are speculating that oscar has opened a new chapter in his book!
user OH?
-> user THIS WAS MY EXACT REACTION
user is that f1 i see in the likes?? -> liked by f1
user f1 admin are having a field day with this one
user guys what are we thinking? girlfriend?
-> user definitely!
-> user it could just be a friend
-> user GIRLFRIEND!!!!
user it’s literally none of our business
user i’ve not seen him show this much emotion — let alone happiness — in like… forever
user something about the coat gave me yourusername vibes -> liked by author
-> f1tea we’re listening
-> user i think you might be onto something…
user not my dreams of marrying him slowly slipping through my fingers -> liked by oscarpiastri
oscarpiastri
Liked by yourusername, f1tea, lando and 747,181 others
oscarpiastri a quick break before we get back on track
user not yourusername being first in the likes
user i wonder who he’s taking a photo of in the third pic
-> lando me obviously
-> oscarpiastri we aren’t even in the same country
-> user clocked
yourusername i like your hoodie —> liked by author
-> user what a random thing to say…
-> user whats going on here then?
-> user i feel like user in f1tea’s post was onto something
-> user i lowkey agree
yourusername
Liked by oscarpiastri, tatemcrae, lando and 2,748,107 others
yourusername hoodie dump <3
f1tea WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH
f1tea ARE YOU GUYS SEEING WHAT IM SEEING RN?
-> user WHAT ARE YOU SEEING??
-> f1tea yourusername IN oscarpiastri’s HOODIE
-> user OH MY GOD
-> user HAVE WE BEEN WITNESSING A SOFT LAUNCH IN REAL TIME????
-> user I THINK WE HAVE!
lando sister.
-> yourusername yes?
-> lando whose hoodie is that?
-> yourusername … -> liked by oscarpiastri
oscarpiastri 🤍 -> liked by author
-> yourusername 🤍
-> lando …
-> lando oscar reply to my messages.
-> user lando is NOT happy
-> user my jaw dropped lower than my grades
tatemcrae i have the perfect song for this
-> yourusername do not sing a word
f1tea
Liked by user, f1, mclaren, tatemcrae, alexandrasaintmleux and 5,685,702 others
f1tea just a couple of hours ago, racing legend oscar piastri was spotted leading his alleged girlfriend — his teammates younger sister, ___ norris — into a very fancy restaurant.
user the whole thing screamed date to me
user the secrets out, both mclaren and f1 admin liked the post -> liked by author
user i told you all so in the very moment i saw the coat in the first post you made about them
-> user you were right
-> user i know. -> liked by yourusername
oscarpiastri and yourusername
Liked by tatemcrae, charles_leclerc, lando and 7,429,619 others
oscarpiastri the cat may be out of the bag but i still refuse to share you with the world 🤍
comments on this posts are limited to close friends
yourusername i love you <3 -> liked by author
-> oscarpiastri i love you more <3
tatemcrae can i release sports car now?
-> yourusername yes, yes you can
charles_leclerc finally, watching you soft launch was slowly killing me -> liked by author
lando WAS I REALLY THE LAST PERSON TO FIND OUT?!??
-> yourusername oops?
alexandrasaintmleux so happy for you baby
-> yourusername 🤍
mclaren do we now have to share you with the rest of the paddock? -> liked by author
-> f1 yes you do
-> lando F1 AND MCLAREN ADMIN KNEW BEFORE ME?
love and hate
-a
Wait until I tell you guys about how many excuses I've made for Autumn to be in a certain situation to meet one character.
(I'm actually going to tell you guys now)
Oops, her friend from college needs a backstage crew member for a movie. Who's there? Sabrina. Diantha. She just happens to be there.
Shit, she's out of a job? Guess she's joining Team Magma with Maxie. Or maybe Team Aqua with Archie. Or she got offered something in Team Rocket with Giovanni. Or maybe, Corbeau sought out her work and she eventually takes his offer to join the Rust Syndicate.
She vacationed away for a bit in Alola. Yikes, now she's got herself caught up with Team Skull and Guzma. We're going to ignore that I ship Guzma with both of my OCs for now.
Perhaps everything is fine though. Wait, nevermind, that's Arlo wanting to battle her. She hates battling but he knows the right buttons to press to make her.
She needs a change. She wants to settle down for a bit in Paldea. Suddenly, she's a tutor at the Academy, and has befriended Jacq, Miriam, Raifort, literally everyone?? Somehow she'd run into Iono here too?? Maybe Larry?? Brassius???
Maybe she's just travelling to Johto. That's where she meets Lance. Or Koga. Who knows.
Anyways yeah sorry for the lore dump
i neeeeeed the tea on marla x alysanne farman 🙏🙏🙏
teehehehehe this ask has me giggling and kicking my feet! i’m so happy someone noticed because it’s JUICY!!
alysanne farman is a canon character who canonically marries gerold lannister, marla’s older brother. all we know about her is that they don’t have any kids, and she presumably dies because later gerold marries rohanne webber! she’s literally just included once in the lannister family tree in the world of ice and fire and that’s it. canonically she’s a nothing burger, so i’ve essentially made her an oc in the characterization and story i’ve given here (hence the oc tag)!
marla and alysanne are childhood friends who eventually develop into a homoerotic codependent situationship during their teenage years. alysanne is marla’s first everything, and the two have the time of their lives sneaking around casterly rock doing everything together.
and then alysanne is betrothed to marla’s older brother gerold. it’s not a love match (gerold is a whore, alysanne is a lesbian), just convenient. the two get married but the marriage is never consummated, which confuses tf out of gerold. also around this time damon lannister (marla’s father) arranges a betrothal between marla and prince daeron. everything is fine though until gerold walks in on his wife and his younger sister being more than friendly…
gerold and alysanne’s marriage is immediately annulled and she’s sent to oldtown to become a septa. i think she probably ends up escaping and working as a sailor (like her ancestor elissa), but that’s after she gets in trouble at the motherhouse for having lesbian sex with the other septas. oops.
and that leaves marla alone. but the lannisters are nothing if not proud, and damon lannister is NOT allowing this “incident” to get in the way of his daughter marrying a targaryen prince. he threatens to maim anyone who would even suggest that marla’s engaged in impropriety, and while it’s an open secret at casterly rock, the truth doesn’t get back to king’s landing. and even if it did, it might not change anything. literally none of the other great houses were willing to betroth their daughters to the drunken, whore-mongering prince so far down the line of succession.
for a while, marla really misses alysanne. she tries to think of ways to send her letters, but knows it’s impossible. there’s no happy ending for these two, but i imagine they both go on to find even greater happiness later in their lives.
thank you again for this ask! i really enjoyed getting to dump about these two <3