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turtletaubwrites · 3 days

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Numbers Game ~ Part 21

Pairings: Cross Guild x Fem!Reader x Shanks

Numbers Game Masterlist

Word Count: 4815

Ao3 Link

Series Playlist: Youtube Music Link | Youtube Link

Summary: It's hard to sleep the night before the big event. Everyone finds ways to cope with the stress.

Author's Note: This chapter contains big TRAUMA/DRAMA/HURT, but also big SMUT and COMFORT, I swear!! However, the flashback includes the trauma of the reader's father's death. I have bracketed that section between these symbols ~~~⚫⚫⚫~~~ and you can skip it without missing the story. Please do not read that section if parental death, trauma, shipwrecks, panic attacks, or grief may be triggering for you!

Alternate POV Symbols:

!!! SPOILER WARNING !!! Fic contains spoilers for the end of the Wano arc

Rating/Warnings: Author May Choose to Exclude some Warnings to Avoid Spoilers for Certain Chapters, Explicit Sexual Content, 18+ ONLY, MDNI, AFAB!Reader, She/Her Pronouns for Reader, Reader-Insert, Use of Y/N, Dark Content, Blood & Violence, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Dissociation, Grief, Death of Minor Original Character, Swearing, Alcohol, Cigars, Smut, Fluff, Angst, Drama, Jealousy, Manipulation, Humiliation, Pet Names, Power Imbalance, Cross Guild boys are VILLAINS, Parental Death, Possessive Behavior, Teasing, Threats, Size Difference, Daddy Kink, Anal, Hair-Pulling, Blowjobs, Face Slapping, Degradation, Inappropriate Use of Akuma no Mi | Devil Fruit Powers, Shameless Shameless Smut, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

Gods fucking damn it.

Shanks had the presence of mind to pull on his pants before running away from that room, but now he was wandering down the corridor with sex all over his skin, a sticky reminder of the scene he’d just left.

Fuck.

His clothes were in the middle suite, the one nextdoor to the room he’d just fled from like a coward.

Buggy’s scent, so precious, so craved for so long, made him want to smash his head against the wall.

The way they kissed…

Shanks opened the next door he saw, finding another suite, remarkably full of exactly what he needed. Except for the fact that it all belonged to that swordsman.

He’d found Mihawk’s “closet,” an entire suite of wardrobes, coat racks, and shelves for all of his annoying boots.

He wanted to burn it all to ash.

Shanks stomped across the suite, relieved to find the extravagant bathroom fully stocked. Stripping out of those sticky pants, he struggled with the fancy soap in its pretty packaging. Normally, he’d be able to unwrap it easily, years of practice with one hand.

But right now, his fingers were shaking, and he needed to get that fucking smell off of him.

Growling as he tore the soapy paper with his teeth, Shanks managed to get under the water, scrubbing himself like he was warding off disease. He resisted the urge to yell and curse since he didn’t want his old “friend” to hear him.

He fought with piles of fabric, hissing with annoyance until he found one of those frilly fucking shirts, tugging on the softest, loosest pants he could find. He pulled the laces tight, but left them untied, strings hanging down over his thighs as he left his sex-covered pants in Mihawk's giant closet.

Booze. Where the fuck is the booze?

Shanks became nothing, but that singular goal. The Emperor of the Sea was about to search every fucking room he passed until he remembered where he needed to go. Where he’d find the relief he needed.

It’s that room. The one with that stupid, green couch.

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

~~~~~~

You didn’t answer.

No storms.

No ships.

No voice calling your name.

Just the snail on the desk, and your pencil in your hand.

Then there was your body, trapped and suffocating. Too much heat, too much, too much!

You gasped when you woke, tasting the middle of the night on the air. Buggy’s upper body had tilted away from you, but his leg had you trapped, panicking with the need to move. Crocodile’s massive arm wrapped around you like a cage, and your breath went too light, too fast, too close to a scream.

Whimpers left your throat as you tried to wriggle free without waking the sleeping pirates. You managed to scoot down a few inches before that giant hand grasped your throat, pulling you against his chest.

“Sorrysorrysorrysor–”

“Fuck, I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Crocodile hissed, pulling his hand and body away from you, letting you breathe. His voice was full of sleep, groaning a bit as he rubbed his hand over his face. “Had a dream you were– Are you alright, babygirl?”

A tiny, sad laugh left your throat, and he kissed the top of your head.

“What do ya need?”

The darkened ceiling stole all of your focus for an unknowable amount of time before you breathed out your answer.

“I want to see Adam.”

~~~

“I thought you hated Adam,” you whispered, tugging on your robe before you left the room. You’d kissed Buggy’s cheek, pulling the blanket over his snoring form. Your mind struggled for a moment when you realized that there was no one else on the bed, but Crocodile touched your elbow, guiding you to the hallway before you could think about it too long.

“Why would I hate such a tiny creature,” he snorted as he opened the door to that cat paradise. Adam came up to you first, then rubbed himself against Crocodile’s bare ankles beneath his long, velvet smoking jacket. His sharp eyes glanced toward the cat’s servant that was dozing softly by the door. “Come back in two hours.”

Giggling while the guard hurried out, you laid on the carpet to spend time with your little tabby cat.

Not mine. Just pretend.

Heat filled your throat as you fought against an odd guilt. Guilt that you weren’t showing this innocent animal the perfect happiness that he deserved. Guilt that you were struggling to keep pretending.

“Sweetheart…”

Crocodile joined you on the floor. Sitting against the wall with his long legs stretched out for Adam to rub along, he offered you his comfort. He pulled you to him when you nodded, grabbing a pillow from the couch to set on his lap when Adam wouldn’t stop jumping onto that fancy, green jacket.

You leaned into his warmth, breathing in the scent of cigars while you curled up against him. Petting the purring cat, you smiled at how relaxed Adam was on the lap of your frightening lover.

No. It’s all just pretend.

“Your dad told you that story, right,” he asked softly, touching a tentative finger to the top of Adam’s head. “About the Jewel Tree Adam?”

“Yeah.”

“What other stories did he tell you?”

Crocodile’s voice was so deep, so soothing. That question made you sink into yourself, struggling between a smile and a frown.

“Most stories were about trees, or what they’re used to build. And math, always math. Great mathematicians that made their worlds better. But that story was my favorite.”

His strong fingers were so gentle as he trailed them through your hair, down your face, your arm, rubbing his thumb over your hand before letting you pet Adam again.

“Why don’t you tell me about him? Anyone that loved my sweet girl like that deserves my respect.”

Strange pride and sorrow made your eyes clench shut, pressing your face into his chest.

“He loved me,” you agreed, voice almost silent as you slipped away from the moment.

“But he cursed me.”

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

The end of the semester was close, and you’d already finished all of your assignments. Just the final was left now, and you knew you didn't need to study. You knew you’d already killed this class.

But the sound of your pencil scraping away, the crisp scent of your textbook, your dad’s comfy desk chair… It was all comforting.

Moving numbers around was satisfying. Especially when he’d come home, and go over every assignment with you, making up his own so you could show him how you thought things through.

You were erasing a mistake, brushing the bits off of your paper when your dad’s transponder snail rang. A little yelp left your throat as its lazy eyes turned to stare at you. You’d never heard a call this late before, even after all the nights you’d accidentally fallen asleep at his desk.

Should I answer?

The snail went on and on, until you finally reached for it, wanting to help your dad by taking a message.

“Y/N?”

“Dad?”

~~~⚫⚫⚫~~~

“Y/N?”

“Dad, is that–”

“Y/N? Can you hear me?”

“Dad?”

“Y/N, sweetheart! You can hear me?”

“Barely,” you yelled at the snail, struggling to hear through whatever chaos was happening.

There were people yelling.

Noises you didn’t understand.

Until thunder explained it all.

Waves.

Wood creaking.

Sylvad wood creaking.

Cracking.

“Y/N?”

“Daddy, what’s–”

“I love you, sweetheart. I love you so–”

Louder yells, louder sounds. Your body was about to explode with a terror you couldn’t acknowledge.

I fell asleep at the desk. This is a dream.

“Y/N?”

“I hear you, daddy,” you lied, pressing your ear close to the snail even as the crashing and creaking echoed through his peaceful office.

“My girl,” he praised, his voice straining over so many horrible sounds. “Knew you’d be working, my little numbers girl. Please be happy, be–”

Daddy’s voice.

His scream.

So many screams, and crashes, and Sylvad wood splintering beneath waves, until the snail finally gave nothing but choked, watery gasps.

…

“Dad?”

Your head was shaking back and forth, warding off what couldn’t be real.

“Daddy, can you hear me?”

The snail’s eyes looked even wider, even more hypnotizing when you clenched your fist around it, shaking the strange creature while you screamed, begging it to bring back the voice that had called for you on that stormy ship.

“DADDY??!!!”

~~~⚫⚫⚫~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

“Shh, I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” Crocodile soothed while your panicked breathing made you shake. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. Thank you for trusting me. I’m right here, babygirl. Not going anywhere.”

Why did I tell him that? He’s just going to sell me. Just going to use this against me.

Those instinctive, defensive thoughts fell apart as his voice kept washing over you. As Adam crawled off of his lap onto you, reaching up to rub his chin along yours until you held him, and sobbed.

You’d never told anyone about your dad’s last call. That you’d heard your dad’s last words.

The only people that knew about it were people that had used it against you. Had judged you. Had screamed at you.

Had sent you…

“Don’t tell anyone,” you begged, panic flooding your veins. “Please, don’t–”

“No one,” Crocodile vowed, his words heavier than the island you laid upon. “You know I’m here for you, Y/N. Anything you need.”

Somehow, relaxation moved through your body. Your mind battled between distrust and comfort, fear and peace. The contradictions gave you a headache, but soon you were nodding off against his warm, powerful body. A body that had frightened and satisfied you, overwhelmed and spoiled you.

A body that was now poised to protect you.

��You can sleep, sweet girl. Daddy’s here. I’ll keep you safe.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

~~~~~~

~~~🗡️🗡️🗡️~~~

Mihawk had no trouble crawling out of bed without waking his lovers. No trouble slipping on his silk robe as stepped into the hall. No trouble following that taunting voice to the lounge.

He had trouble opening the door.

“Don’t be shy, old friend. Come on in.”

I’m a coward.

“We haven’t got all night, Hawk Eyes.”

The rage in those teasing words had Mihawk’s hair standing on end.

I deserve it. I deserve every ounce of anger he wants to drown me in. Don’t be a fucking coward.

“There you are,” Shanks cheered, holding his arm out wide in welcome, a mostly empty bottle of wine sloshing in his hand. “My gracious host. Take a seat.”

Mihawk walked through the wine scented air, joining his old friend on that pretty, green couch. He wanted to stab himself in the leg for his urge to caution Shanks against spilling red onto the velvet cushions, or onto his stolen clothes that the emperor looked stunning in, even in his haggard state.

“Don’t be so stiff, Hawky,” Shanks laughed, turning to lounge against the armrest. He stretched his legs across Mihawk’s lap, shoving the bottle toward him until the swordsman took it, chugging the rest.

“What would you like to discuss,” Mihawk drawled, reaching for another already opened bottle on the side table. He almost smiled at how annoyed he used to get when Shanks would open every bottle in sight before drinking, just in case he couldn’t open them later.

He tried to at least look relaxed, but there was nowhere to rest his feet. Servants had cleaned up the splintered remains of Crocodile’s rage, but they hadn’t replaced the coffee table yet. Guilt started filling him again at the thought of all the lovely and terrible things he’d done on that table.

“Gee, I wonder,” Shanks mocked, snatching the new bottle, and taking a generous swig. “Why don’t we start at the beginning?”

~~~🗡️🗡️🗡️~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🔴🗡️🔴🗡️~~~

Shanks was glad the wine had dulled him, because his desire to kill the swordsman was still incredibly high.

Instead, he drank more.

And more.

Then he started, and he couldn’t stop.

“You left me in that tavern,” Shanks growled, almost reaching out to strangle the man when he had the gall to look confused.

The tavern… Of course.

Shame. An incredible amount of shame slammed into Mihawk, and all he could do was nod, grabbing another bottle for himself. Shanks had clearly prepared to stay on this couch, setting open bottles around everywhere, just waiting to spill.

“You told me love was boring,” Shanks spat, an old scar scraping open. “Don’t be boring, Shanks.”

“I–”

“You laughed at me. I told you I loved you, and you laughed in my fucking face!”

Mihawk had to close his eyes, the burn of bile creeping up his throat. He tried to speak again, but Shanks wasn’t done seething.

“You left me there. I got over it,” Shanks lied to himself. “We went back to drinking and fucking everytime we’d cross paths. So much fun, pretending that never happened. But I was okay with it.”

He gave a tired laugh at his own words, drinking more before he lost it.

“You’re Dracule Mihawk. Heartless. Cold. Of course you couldn’t feel that with me. You couldn’t feel it with anyone. I could live with that.”

“I’m…”

Mihawk couldn’t stomach the pain moving across his friend’s face. He wanted to look away, to run away, but this was the least he could do. To witness what his selfishness had caused.

“But now? With Buggy,” Shanks choked, looking up and away while he swallowed the heat in his throat. It wasn’t enough, his voice cracking when he met those horrible, golden eyes again. “My Buggy? Now you’re taking the only other person... Why are you taking him from me?”

“Shanks, I…” Mihawk failed. There were muscles moving in his face that were weak, that had never been allowed to move before.

Why does this hurt more than a fucking stab wound?

“What the fuck did I ever do to you,” Shanks cursed, stumbling off of the couch, his voice more manic with every step he took while he paced. “Were you sent from the fucking hells just to torture me? To take everything?”

“Please,” Mihawk begged. He didn’t know what he was begging for, but he couldn’t stop the need.

“You broke my fucking heart, Hawk! You laughed while you did it. And now you’re making me watch you… Why the fuck are you doing this to me?”

Shanks couldn’t think, couldn’t even drink, dropping the bottle to stain the soft carpet before tearing at his hair. He needed to fucking scream, to rage, to fight. Anything but let these pathetic tears keep burning in his eyes for this fucking monster.

“I’m so sorry,” the monster breathed, barely able to speak over the hatred that had replaced every drop of blood in his body. Hatred for himself, for a life wasted, for this pain. This pain that he’d… “I wish—”

“Wish what? Wish there was something else I love that you could fucking destroy? Why don’t you go slice my ship in two, huh? Go ahead, kill my crew. Then you’ll really get me. Take fucking everything you fucking demon. You fucking–”

“I’m sorry,” Mihawk cried out. Falling to his knees, he managed to grab Shanks’ hand with both of his, bowing his head against all those shaking fingers. He begged as he’d never done a day in his life. He cried more tears than he knew existed in his cold, unfeeling body. He let those tears fall onto their hands, vicious sobs ripping through him as he felt his heart break from his own selfish cruelty and cowardice.

“I’m so sorry, Shanks. I don’t know what to… I know I can’t do anything. I don’t know why it took me so long, I hate… I fucking hate myself for this. I wish I could…”

Mihawk pulled at his hand, desperately crying at his feet, and Shanks was frozen. Shock wasn’t strong enough for the sight before him. The red haired pirate was stunned. He couldn’t fucking believe what was happening. After Mihawk cried enough to soak all their fingers in salty tears, Shanks plopped onto the floor in front of him, leaving his hand to be cradled like one of the stray kittens Mihawk had saved.

“You didn’t do this on purpose?”

Shanks’ quiet wonderment pulled fresh tears and pleading from the world’s greatest swordsman.

“No,” Mihawk laughed, raw and weak. “Gods, no. I’d do anything to fix this, but I…”

He caught those gorgeous brown eyes, wide as they scanned his wretched face.

“I’m a monster. I destroy everything around me. I wish I’d never met–”

Salty, quivering lips, a touch that stopped their breath. Old friends, old lovers, having their first real kiss after decades behind masks.

They clung to each other, ignoring everything they knew they’d have to deal with. For now, Mihawk and Shanks poured every feeling they’d ever held back into each other.

For now, they kissed.

~~~🔴🗡️🔴🗡️~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🤡🤡🤡~~~

It’s cold.

Star!?

Buggy reached for nothing, a moment of panic that didn’t fade when he moved his arms around the empty bed. The bed that should have had three of his lovers on it.

Maybe four…

“Y/N? Are you in here, star?”

Buggy’s body floated through the room in pieces, a silent search that offered no clues, no relief from the pressure around his lungs.

Gone. Everyone’s gone.

Why would they all leave me here alone? Are they okay? Why didn’t they–

They didn’t want me.

Buggy choked on that thought. Choked on how fucking loud it was. Choked on the fears he’d been swimming in since his old friend had dropped back into his life.

What if I make the wrong choice? What if I lose everything?

What if I end up alone again?

He pulled his body together, fighting the sick feeling swirling in his gut while he found his pajama pants.

“It’s fine. Everything’s fine. They all just got hungry at the same time, and left me all alone.”

His comforting words turned sour too fast, and he took deep breaths like he did before taking the stage.

“Y/N? Are you out here,” he called softly, the long, empty corridor stretching on like a nightmare, like he’d never find his love again.

“In here, Buggy.”

The clown caught himself, cutting off the yelp he’d let out at the deep whisper from the door across the hall.

“Quiet,” Crocodile ordered, barely audible from Adam’s room.

Buggy held his breath when he opened the door, but still couldn’t breathe when he found the owner of that voice. Crocodile was leaning back against the wall, sitting on the floor. Y/N was curled up beside him while Adam was snuggled into a tight circle on a throw pillow, perched atop the ex-warlord’s lap.

The clown just stared for a minute until Crocodile sighed.

“Can you help me? I don’t wanna wake up our girl.”

The larger man raised a brow, glaring until Buggy moved, floating his arms as carefully as he could to lift Y/N into the air.

Our girl…

~~~🤡🤡🤡~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🤡🐊🤡🐊~~~

Do I just push it off? Will I hurt it?

Crocodile wanted to give his full attention to his pretty lovers as they left this ridiculous room, but he studied the purring cat as if it were a ticking bomb.

He shifted, tilting slightly as he tugged a corner of the throw pillow to slide it off of his lap.

Adam made a sleepy, disgruntled noise as he squeezed his paws over his face, almost like pulling a blanket over his eyes to ward off the morning.

Crocodile snorted, startling the cat out of his relaxed, circular pose, just when he'd gotten the pillow off of his lap and onto the floor.

Adam stretched toward him as he stood, but Crocodile had much cuter creatures he needed to cuddle.

~~~

Our girl.

Buggy didn’t think he’d ever held something with more care, not even his most explosive Buggy Balls. He carried Y/N to the center of that giant bed, floating random parts of his body to shove the pillows and blanket into place before setting her down.

“He’s calling.”

“Shh, baby. Just sleep now.”

Buggy set her up, his upper body floating above her while he made sure her face looked peaceful.

He bit his tongue to fight the surprised yelp he let out when a large hand touched his hip.

He's so soft with her.

Crocodile stood beside Buggy’s lower half at the foot of the bed, watching the gentle care his clown gave to their sleeping sweetheart. He chuckled at the shocked sound from Buggy’s throat, glad that it hadn’t woken her up.

Buggy followed the ex-warlord after he jerked his head toward the far wall, sitting on the new loveseat.

What happened to the old one?

“Come here,” Crocodile rasped. Buggy hesitated, but let himself be pulled into that world, Crocodile’s warm arm wrapping around his shoulders as he leaned down to whisper. “Sorry we left you alone, little clown. Didn’t wanna interrupt your beauty sleep.”

The tiny noise that escaped Buggy’s lips made Crocodile want to keep teasing. He was looking forward to making his little clown blush and squirm for him.

But their girl needed them tonight.

“Thank you for protecting her from me. I’ll never be able to repay that debt.”

Buggy was shaking. All the words Crocodile had spoken to him the last few days were overwhelming, confusing, enticing.

These words held respect, and it hurt. Pride almost poured in, but Buggy couldn’t help but wait for the joke.

He was everyone’s favorite punchline.

Crocodile frowned at the frown on Buggy's face.

“Help me protect her,” he urged, holding his hand out as he stood. “She needs you right now, Buggy.”

The clown stood slowly, unsteady on his feet as he blinked up at that frightening face.

That face that had terrorized him. Had made him fight, pathetically fail to fight, just for the slim chance that he could save his star from whatever harm this monster might inflict.

That face that had made her smile, made her scream, that had called him pretty things.

That face leaned down, a slow smile hovering close.

“All you gotta do is tell me what you want, little clown,” Crocodile purred, breathing in pleasure at the sight of those wide, crystal eyes, and those lips parted in soft awe while this pretty clown stared up at him. “Do you wanna help me take care of her?”

“Yes, daddy,” Buggy breathed, not realizing he’d spoken until the words left his lips.

“Good boy.”

They shared a kiss, quiet and quick before they cradled their sleeping girl, and fell into dreams.

That quiet kiss held a weight, a heaviness that seemed to anchor them in place. To draw them close. But for now, they left the kiss where it was.

For now, they slept.

~~~🤡🐊🤡🐊~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🔴🗡️🔴🗡️~~~

Whimpers.

There’d never been so many panicked whimpers between them. Plenty of needy whines, hungry moans, and filthy gasps, but the noises that left their throats tonight needed their own word.

Tonight, true need flowed through them. A need to make up for every moment they should have cherished.

Mihawk thought his tears were done, but every time they’d pull back to take a breath, he’d see Shanks’ face. His old friend. That lovely, crooked smile.

“You gonna help me feel good, bright eyes,” Shanks teased, his voice shaky as it fought for lightness. “I’d say it’s the least you can do.”

The swordsman barked a healing laugh, stretching his body toward the ceiling before wrapping his arms around Shanks’ neck, twisting his fingers into that red hair.

“I think I owe you a lifetime’s worth of pleasure. How can I—“

“Take your fucking clothes off, slut,” Shanks grinned, his body pulsing at how those simple words made his friend’s eyes flutter with need. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

Mihawk couldn’t hold in a moan at those deep, burning words. His hands flew to work, tearing each garment away from them both, not giving a fuck about where they landed. Not giving a fuck about anything besides feeling Shanks’ perfect cock, rubbing his hands along that silky flesh, licking at him, savoring his taste like the finest of wines.

“There you are,” Shanks purred, stroking his fingers through Mihawk’s hair as those intense eyes stared up at him. “I always knew you were good. So good for me. Just wanna please me, huh?”

“Mhm,” Mihawk nodded, voice muffled around that thick cock.

“This’ll be even more satisfying than usual,” Shanks laughed before he yanked Mihawk off of him, tearing at that soft, black hair while the swordsman twitched in painful pleasure. “That’s what you want, isn’t it? My golden boy doesn’t wanna be a monster. You just wanna get fucked by a monster.”

“Fuck, Shanks, plea–”

“Shut your mouth,” Shanks ordered, giving that perfect face a back handed slap. “You shouldn’t have gotten so good at fighting, friend. Can’t get off to getting fucking wrecked if no one can touch you. Must be so desperate, huh, baby? Want me to hurt you?”

Mihawk's eyes were already rolling white, his tongue hanging loose while he nodded.

“Think you deserve that? If you can’t even let me hear your pretty voice?”

“Shanks, need you so bad. Hurt me, daddy, pleease...”

“That’s what I fucking thought,” Shanks bragged, pleasure running through him. “Take me to a room I can fuck you in. Need to teach my little hole a lesson.”

“The table,” Mihawk gasped, reaching over the pull at the drawer of the side table, revealing a bottle of lube and a hand towel.

“You fucking slut,” Shanks laughed, shoving Mihawk onto his stomach before grabbing the lube. He poured it over his old friend's ass, smirking at how he twitched when the cold liquid touched his skin, dripping down onto that sensitive little hole he was about to rip apart. Watching his fingers sinking into him wasn’t nearly enough. “Tell me what you want.”

“Want you so–”

“Tell me what my slutty little boy wants before I walk out that fucking door.”

“Hurt me, daddy,” Mihawk cried out, his body twitching and curling with need, the rough fingers inside of him driving him mad. “Hurt me, fuck me so fucking hard, please.”

He was almost sobbing with that plea, his body on fire.

Shanks.

Gods, it was Shanks.

He was–

“How’d you like that,” Shanks taunted, eating up the sight of Mihawk’s reddened ass, the brutal slap bringing a filthy moan from the man’s throat.

“So good, daddy, please more,” he begged, “Hurt me, ruin– Fuuucck, daddyyy! Mmn, please…”

“That’s right,” Shanks growled, his body taking what it needed from the willing and desperate flesh beneath it. “Missed daddy's cock so bad, huh? Slutty little hole, just waiting for me to find you, to fuck you like the nasty whore you are?”

“Yes, please,” Mihawk begged, drooling onto the carpet.

“Gonna come for daddy? Gonna come like a good little slut?”

“P-please, hurt–”

“Ha, greedy little hole,” Shanks laughed, shoving harder, deeper, while Mihawk made such, delicious, pathetic noises. “Tell me what you are first, and daddy might be nice.”

“I'm your slut, daddy’s whore, your nasty little hole, your–”

Mihawk came onto the plush carpet when Shanks bit into his neck, teeth sinking deep as the red haired pirate filled his needy ass with come.

“Shanks, daddy…”

Shanks growled through that mouthful of skin, his last few thrusts more brutal at the memory of someone else getting called by his name. But then his eyes rolled back as he finished sinking himself into the perfect body of his old friend.

His old something more.

Mihawk whimpered, gasping when Shanks released his neck to kiss, and lick, and breathe along that sensitive skin. Shanks hummed with pleasure at those sweet little sounds, his cock still twitching inside that needy hole.

“Missed me, didn’t you,” Shanks breathed, heat and satisfaction radiating from him.

“Always,” Mihawk told the truth. “I always miss you.”

~~~🔴🗡️🔴🗡️~~~

~~~~~~

“What’s he doing here?”

“Good morning to you too.”

“Shh, she’s still sleeping.”

“We need to get ready, it’s–”

“Daddy?”

You found yourself about to cry when sleep was torn away, but all of those voices reminded you of what a strange world you seemed to be caught in. A world that you hoped was real, even if it meant more torment, more people using you.

Pros and cons.

One of the pros was opening your eyes to find four incredibly powerful, beautiful men on that giant bed with you. All staring at you like you were precious. Like you were worth more than your name.

I’m definitely crazy.

“Shh, babygirl,” Crocodile soothed, kissing your temple to quiet your sick laughter before it could take over another day.

Too tired to panic today, anyway.

Today...

Oh fuck.

Likes, comments, and reblogs bring me much ✨dopamine✨ thank you!!

a/n: I loved writing this one, I hope you enjoyed reading it!

Part 22

Operation Olive Branch has compiled a working spreadsheet of ways to help families fleeing from the genocide in Palestine. If you enjoyed this fic, and are able, please click the link to find a list of GoFundMe's, as well as other ways to help.

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seeingivy · 9 months

Text

the softest kind of love

actor!eren x f!reader

**part of my method acting series

content: this is what we call fluff no plot. eren kissing reader every five seconds, me in my easter eggs era. eren and y/n enjoy your last days of your love struck bubble before I ruin your life.

an: you guys had me feeling like the devil incarnate after last chapter. anyways, I put that evilness away for 5k ish words before I unleash my true form again. enjoy <3

song of the chapter: invisible string!!!

previous part linked here

The second Historia walks into the room, Eren pops out of his seat, nearly running to the door to poke his head out. The hallway is empty - except for the crew members setting up the new costumes and fittings for filming next week.

No sign of you.

“You know, you could at least pretend you’re excited to see me.” Historia says, pinching Eren’s arm.

Eren gives Historia a swift hug and a kiss to the cheek before pulling back, his hands resting on her shoulders.

“You okay? How was the reception to the entire thing?”

“Good. More people are coming out. Backing me up.”

“I’m glad, Hisu. It’s nothing short of what you deserve.”

“Tell Y/N thank you, I couldn’t do it without her. Your girl has been bigger than life these days.”

He smiles, squeezing her shoulders once.

“You know. If you told me where she was, I could do it right now. Shouldn’t she be coming for the table read anyway?”

“She isn’t feeling well. She stayed out in the cold to talk to all of the fans that were lined up and then she was stuck in the airport for so long that she didn’t sleep. Levi and Hange gave her the day off to rest.”

Eren immediately runs over to his seat, directly across from Levi and Hange and gives his best smile.

“No, Eren. You can’t have the day off to hang out with Y/N.”

“I’m not going to hang out with her, Levi. Just let me take care of her, she spent two days in the airport after performing and interacting with people all weekend with Historia.”

“Eren. She’ll be fine. She just has to sleep it off.” responds Hange, the two of them scribbling through each other’s scripts.

“I’m not even in these scenes. And you owe me, Levi.” Eren says, narrowing his eyes.

Levi narrows his eyes, flitting his line of vision to the name card next to his seat, and then back to Eren. How was Levi supposed to know that Eren was all but estranged from his half brother?

“If I do this one thing for you, you can’t hold it over my head again.” Levi says, glaring at Eren.

“Thank you!”

Eren leans over the table to give them both a hug before running straight out of the room to the townhouse. Levi brings his hand up to his cheek as he grumbles under his breath.

“Is it just me or is he more touchy lately?”

“Poor, Y/N. He’s probably strangling her to death up there.” Hange responds, laughing.

After speed running through making a bowl of ramen, Eren all but runs up to your room, to find you nestled in your sheets, with a pink nose. You have your lines propped up against your sheets, your face embedded in the pages of your script.

Eren sets down the bowl and snatches your script before he leans down and presses the sweetest kiss known to man to your lips. He can feel you smiling against him, your cold hands coming up to cup his face.

“Eren. I’m kind of sick you shouldn’t-”

He rolls his eyes as he presses his lips to your palms, leaving two soft kisses on where you’re still cupping his face, before he climbs into the sheets with you.

“Tease. I’ve been waiting for a month now.”

“I’m going to get you sick. And then you’ll have to take a day off like I am.”

“I’m already taking the day off today. For you. So just try really hard to not get me sick okay?”

Eren reaches over to your nightstand, where the bowl of ramen is still steaming, and hands it to you. You give him a grateful smile - and Eren’s heart skips a beat - before cupping your hands around the bowl, the steam making your glasses fog up.

“How was it? The entire thing?” Eren whispers, his breath tickling your forehead.

“Good, Eren. They-they really believed Hisu.”

Historia had decided that she wasn’t going to be quiet about what happened with her agent. In fact, she was going to be loud about it.

And she asked for your help, because she wanted to use music to do so. Eren was immediately disapproving, not because he didn’t want Historia to do it, but because he didn’t want you to help her. It’s not that he didn’t believe in you, that he didn’t think the work was important. But what you guys were doing was the equivalent of putting a target on your back and there’s only so much he can protect you from.

You told him you had to do it, that you had to help her and he dropped all his protests and helped you both. The three of you wrote The Man in six hours and then you and Historia immediately went and performed it in New York.

Eren brings his hand up to cup your cheek, his fingers soft against your skin.

“You-you know it doesn’t usually go this way right? I-I don’t want you to-”

“Get my hopes up. I know, Eren. That’s why I’m glad it did work out for her of all people. She-she deserves her spot at the table and roles because she’s a good actress and she-

“I’m not trying to bring you down, Y/N. I-I just want you to be careful. Did you see what happened with Sukuna and Hyla? She’s basically dragging his good name through the mud. I was worried that if it didn’t go over well, they’d start coming for you. And they can be ruthless. And mean. And throw bricks through your bedroom windows and-”

You bring your hand up to Eren’s cheek, his eyes fluttering closed as he sinks into your touch.

“Is it weird having Zeke here, Eren? Does it remind you of-”

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess. Seeing him pisses me off. I like being here because it feels like home. We do other roles and movies but this is always where we come back to. It feels weird to have him intruding in on something like that, you know?”

“This is still our place, Eren. Him being here doesn’t change that.” you whisper.

You rest your head against Eren’s chest, his heart rapidly beating under your ear, as he brings his hands up to your hair. He’s messily braiding through the ends the way you taught him, his hands swiping through your tangled locks.

“We should come up with secret codes. We-we still haven’t told them all we’re dating and I-I’m not embarrassed but we should when it’s-”

“When it’s right, Eren. Maybe when we’re done filming this season, because knowing us I feel like people will catch on the second we start doing press.”

Eren nods, squeezing your shoulder once.

“That one. It means I’m here and I’ve got you.”

You take your elbow and jab it straight into his side, making Eren squirm.

“Ouch, Y/N.”

“That one means that we need a second. To talk to each other, without anyone else around.”

Eren shifts over to your side, reaching forward to secure the loose strands of your hair around your ear.

“And that one. It means I want to kiss you right now but I can’t.”

“God, Eren. We won’t even last a week without them finding out.”

You and Eren amble down six hours later to find all of them milling around in the kitchen and Armin standing there, camera in hand. His polaroids are well littered and taped to almost every wall now, barely an empty patch on the wallpaper.

You make your way over as Eren stops to talk to Armin, Jean and Miksasa giving you quick arm hugs and kisses on the cheek as you run your hand on the wall. You and Eren are smack dab in the middle - the pictures from season one and two at the forefront. Eren comes up at your side, tucking your hair behind your ear.

“Already?” you whisper.

“Can’t help it.” Eren whispers, giving you a smile.

Armin comes up behind you, slinging his arm around your shoulder and standing in between you two as you rest your head against his.

“Hey ‘Min. I just got to the end of the script, you’ve got some really big scenes this season. I thought we were going to have to put you on the death wall there for a second.”

“I’ve got a feeling that I’m going to be the victim of Levi’s insane standards this season instead of Eren.” Armin grumbles.

“Thank god. He’s ruthless.” Eren says, as he gives the both of you a pat on the shoulder before walking away.

“I heard that, brat.” Levi says, walking into the kitchen with Hange and Erwin in tow.

Armin gives Levi a sheepish smile as he walks away, finishing his season pictures. Levi beelines to your side, placing his hand flat against your forehead to check your temperature. You swat his hand off as you give him a smile, the two of you leaning against the wall to watch everyone.

Bertholdt and Sasha are fighting over a very lazily played game of Scrabble while Eren and Hange play a very intense game of ninja around Reiner and Mikasa’s cookie frosting.

“So are you guys dating?” Levi asks.

“Are you going to give me some unsolicited dad advice if I say yes?”

“Obviously. That’s part of my job description.”

You look over at him and give him a sheepish nod, confirming his suspicions. You don’t miss the way his face breaks out into a smile, which has your cheeks burning with the mushiest, sweet feeling you’ve ever felt.

Levi may not actually be your dad, but his approval means the world to you all the same.

“Good.” he says, looking over at the two of them - aggressively arguing over who won their game of Ninja.

“That’s it? Good?”

“I’ll save my unsolicited dad advice for Eren. Give him that whole ‘hurt my girl and I’ll kill you spiel’” he says.

“Spoken like a true father, Levi.”

Levi squeezes your shoulder once before tucking you into his arm, his embrace warm. He clears his throat as he talks and you swear his eyes are watering.

“Hange and I are doing a vow renewal at the end of this season. We haven’t told anyone yet because we’re just going to do a small thing in the backyard on the last day. But if you and Eren could write a song for us to do the first dance to, I’d really love it if you-”

“Shut the fuck up. You want us to write a song?”

“Language. It’s a surprise for Hange, they’re really into that whole music, serenading thing.”

“Really, Levi? You’d let us do something that important?”

“Eren is Hange’s favorite. You’re mine. And I’ll kill you if you tell anyone I admitted that out loud.”

You can feel the tears welling in your own eyes as you look over at Eren and Hange laughing near the sink and Levi smiling at you, every little part of your heart touched by the sentiment.

“Permission to say something cheesy?”

“No, Y/N.”

“I love you, Levi.”

He rolls his eyes, a deep sigh leaving his chest, before he responds.

“Yeah, yeah. Love you too, kid.”

Eren and Levi switch places, Armin pushing the two of you closer together to take the last season start polaroid.

“Okay, guys. What’s the pose this year?”

You and Eren give each other a look, before pulling up your sleeves at the same time. Armin gives you two a shocked smile as you stand to the side, pointing at each other's matching tattoos for the picture.

The second Connie catches sight of it, he immediately runs over with his camera, the bright light flashing in your face.

“This is part like ONE HUNDRED of the L/N-Jaegers. I-they have matching fucking tattoos oh my fucking god.”

You shuffle through the mess of letters Levi gave you - the ones he wrote Hange when they worked on La La Land together - to piece together the lyrics for your song. You and Eren agreed that it should definitely be a soft piano ballad, which is more their speed for this backyard vow renewal they’re having.

The letters are enough to bring tears to your eyes alone - the line between Levi faking letters for their method acting to really falling in love with Hange crystal clear. Because he went from writing her fake prose, soft flowery poetry to sharing memories with them, about himself.

Which is saying a lot, because Levi’s like a book glued shut.

Pictures of him from when he was younger, in Centennial Park with his parents. Him working a stupid job at a yogurt shop in between roles in Los Angeles. Him trying Hange’s favorite restaurant and sending her a very scathing review back.

That’s what love is, isn’t it? Sharing every little part of yourself and every feeling you’ve had - ecstatic, overwhelmed, happy, sad, bored, and soft.

You start scribbling the broken fragments of lyrics swimming in your mind into the notebook, your hand not moving fast enough for the places your head is running.

“Time, mystical time, cutting me open than healing me fine? You’ve got a weird mind, kid.”

You look up to find Zeke peering over your shoulder, before settling into the seat at the table right across from you. You immediately drop your pencil right into the book, instinctively looking to the left.

Right. Eren already left for set.

“Ah. They’re song lyrics.”

“That’s right. You’re the singer.”

There’s a tone in his voice, one you can’t place that sends a wave of discomfort down your spine.

You’re trying your best. To give Zeke a clean slate, to not let what Eren said taint the view you had of him because you should form your own opinions. But god does he give you the shivers, his entire aura ice cold - the complete opposite of the warm, fireplace Eren reminds you of.

“I’m Y/N. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Zeke. I’m Eren’s brother.”

“He mentioned. Welcome to the cast, I hope you’re liking it so far.”

He gives you a smile as he readjusts in the seat, sinking down into the chair.

“So what did he tell you? You’re looking at me like I’m the figment of your worst nightmares.”

“He didn’t say anything to me. You-you just caught me off guard because I was in the zone and stuff.”

“I haven’t talked to my brother in a while. But I still know him. What did he tell you?”

You swallow hard as you start gathering Levi’s letters, tucking them back neatly into their corresponding envelopes.

“Just that you guys don’t talk. Aren’t very close. It just came up once, he-he’s met my brothers before and just said you guys aren’t like that.”

“And you hate me for it?”

“No. No, I don’t hate you.”

“But he does?”

“Eren doesn’t hate you, Zeke. You just hurt his feelings, that’s all.” you respond, whispering the secrets he told you in confidence into the air.

Zeke sits back in his chair, his legs spread across the length of the seat as he gives you a smile.

You can already feel your heart sinking, irritated at yourself for even giving Zeke a sliver of information Eren wouldn’t have wanted you to mention.

“You love Eren, don’t you?”

“No, I don’t. I was just saying that because-”

“Would you believe me if I told you I had to stop talking to him? For his sake?”

“No. Who does that? He’s your brother. I can’t even imagine going a day without talking to my little brother, he’s literally my entire world.”

“Would you do it if it meant protecting him?”

He gives you a look as you ponder the question, the dilemma he just presented you with. Would you stop talking to Falco if it meant protecting him?

“Of course, I would. I love my brother. I-I’d do anything for him.”

“And I would too.” Zeke responds, giving you one last smile before walking out of the kitchen. He passes Eren on the way in, the two of them giving each other an ice cold look before Eren takes the seat next to yours. Eren pesters you about the conversation and you tell him all except for the last part.

You’re not sure if that’s something Eren should know. It would probably just piss him off more.

You watch as the makeup team takes Eren up to the top of the set, the crystal caves they made for the scene glittering in the light. You run your hand against the painted material, each sparkly crevice nearly blinding your eyes.

“They really went overboard with this one.” you murmur, walking with Mikasa.

“They got a bigger budget after last award season. I think they spent it all on this entire scene.”

You both snicker as you run to the sidelines, joining Sasha on the sides. You all sit in your respective seats as Eren, Historia, and Rod take their spots. Levi gives Eren a thumbs up from the directors chair and Eren quickly slips his shirt off, readjusting his hands into the arm restraints.

“Eren! Share the workout routine! I’ll lick those abs.” screams Connie, earning a fair amount of laughs from the cast and the crew.

You can see Eren turning red at the comment, the crew adjusting the last of the microphones and the props onto the set as Levi starts rolling the cameras. Connie leans over, whispering in your ear.

“How does it feel to see someone else living your dream?” he says, a laugh falling out of his mouth.

“What the hell are you talking about, Con’?”

“Historia and Eren are about to be the new couple of the show. I can see the edits already.” he says, poking your sides.

You swat him off, giving him the finger as you focus back on the scene as Eren and Historia start acting in the scene. Your reaction only goads Connie and Reiner on more, the two of them just trying to piss you off now.

“Look at how they look at each other, Y/N. You wish that was you, huh?”

“Shut up, Reiner. We’re literally the main couple of the show. You’d be stupid if you shipped Historia and Eren after the Thank You scene.”

“Feeling territorial over your man, Y/N?” Bertholdt says, the group of them laughing.

“Bertholdt. I thought you were above stupid shit like this.”

“You make it too easy. You’re-you’re looking a little green.” Bertholdt responds, pressing his hands to your face.

“And you’re looking gray. Like a half dead loser who gets eaten by Armin of all people at the end of the season.”

They all laugh at your response as you feel your cheeks burn with irritation, the thought of the entire thing pissing you off. You look up at Eren and Historia, the two of them sitting on the ledge as Eren gets caked in the red makeup for the scene before they start filming again. They’re both smiling, looking down at you guys.

When you make eye contact with Eren, he gives you a wave which you halfheartedly return. Which only fills Connie and Reiner with more delight, because now they’re mimicking you, all of them laughing with tears in their eyes.

“Imagine losing a two season lead to Historia.” Connie says, poking you in the sides.

“Imagine being one of the only characters without a romantic interest. At least my character can get some.” you respond.

“You think they’re method acting? Looks pretty real to me, don’t you think, Y/N?” Reiner says.

You stomp off to the other side of the set, to the snack table, where you’re angrily chewing down one of the pastries when Hange walks over. You can still hear them joking over there, tears flowing out of Connie’s eyes.

“You frown any harder and you’re going to get wrinkles, kiddo.” Hange says, poking the soft of your cheek.

“Sorry.” you respond, your tone harsh.

They give you a laugh as the crew starts pulling Eren and Historia down from the ledge. Historia and Eren are wiping the makeup off each other’s faces as they laugh, chasing each other off the main set as they join the rest of them on the sidelines.

You turn to the side, angrily biting into another pastry on the snack table as you hear them giggling behind you.

“Where’s Y/N?” you hear Eren ask, as he slips his jacket back on.

“She’s moaning and groaning by the snack table.” Jean says, smacking Connie on the back.

“You guys are being mean. You’re obviously hurting her feelings by insinuating there’s something between Eren and Historia.” Mikasa says, shaking her head disapprovingly at them.

“What?” Eren responds.

“We were just joking with her and she got all mad for no reason. You and Historia just looked really romantic up there for a second and we were teasing her about it, saying you’re going to forget all about her.” Connie explains.

You can feel your cheeks burning, the entire situation mortifying as you feel your face turn red. Because them saying it is one thing but telling Eren is another. The crew starts working on getting your harnesses attached for the next scene as Eren walks over, politely asking them if he can have a second with you.

“Hi Y/N.”

“Hi Eren.” you grumble, crossing your hands across your chest.

He gives you a smile as he snakes his left hand around your waist and uses his right hand to cup your face and kiss you straight on the face. He’s pulling you closer with his hand, your cheeks burning at the sounds of them all cheering and screaming a few feet away from you. He lets go after a few seconds, his forehead resting against yours.

“What happened to telling them at the end of the season?” you whisper, a smile making its way across your lips.

“They were pissing you off. Had to set the record straight.” he responds, pressing a kiss to both of your cheeks before pulling back.

Sasha and Mikasa run over, crushing the two of you in a hug as they all excitedly squish you in their embrace, hundreds of questions falling out of their mouths.

How long have you been dating? Are you in love? Have you done it?

“Connie. You’re disgusting, you know that?” Armin says, snapping a picture of everyone crushing you in a hug.

“Guilty as charged.” Connie says, smirking.

“Connie. Bother her again and I’ll make it a point to do it in your bed.” Eren says, cupping your face in his hands as everyone laughs.

Eren joins you at the piano, two steaming cups of tea in his hand. He sets them both at the head of the piano before pressing a kiss to your cheek.

“Hey.”

“Hi. I-I think it might be done.”

“We’re sticking with invisible string?”

“Seems right, don’t you think?”

Eren leans forward to press a kiss to your cheek again before settling his hands on the keys as he starts playing the tune, your voice filling the empty air of the set.

Time, curious time Gave me no compasses, gave me no time Were there clues I didn’t see?

You give Eren a nod to join you on the melody as you play the notes on your side of the piano, your cheeks hurting from smiling.

And isn’t it just so pretty to think All along there was some invisible string Tying you to me?

Eren stops playing the keys as he leans his head against your shoulder, pressing a kiss to your shoulder before talking.

“Maybe we shouldn’t sing right now. Your voice is sounding tired, love.”

“We just did so many takes of that scene yesterday with Armin and Erwin. And then we all spent a good twenty minutes crying after we realized it was Erwin’s last scene, so I’m all spent out.”

Eren plays a loose melody on the piano as you press a kiss to the top of his head.

“Where’d you come up with invisible string?”

“It’s one of those old folktales, Eren. About soulmates.”

He gives you a confused look as he keeps playing, the piano singing in the air.

“Basically, when you’re born, there’s a little string tied around your pinkie and one around your soulmates. And no matter how far you are, you’ll eventually find the other end of your string and your other person because you’re tied together.”

“Do you ever think about stuff like that? About soulmates and other lives and stuff?”

“Sometimes, it can be fun. Like what we’re doing in another life, how we ended up together.”

“You think we’re together in other lives, Y/N?”

“You don’t, Eren?”

You give him a fake angry look which has him back pedaling really fast, the words spilling out of his mouth.

“I-no. Of course, we’re together. We’re meant to be together, every universe and every time-”

“I’m teasing, Eren. You don't have to think that just because I do.” you respond, smacking your fist against the piano and sending a shred of discordant notes in the air.

“Ouch, princess. You’re no musician.”

“Oh?”

He laughs, taking your closed fist off of the keys and lifting your hand to his mouth to press a kiss to your knuckles.

“We have hundreds of love stories out there, Y/N.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“All the classics, of course.”

“Like? I need concrete examples, Eren.”

“There’s one where we fake-date and fall in love. And then there’s one where you somehow end up being my roommate and-”

“Roommates? That’s so fucking corny, Eren.”

“Roommates. Like you somehow end up having to live with me against your will and then obviously start liking me because I’m so charming.”

“Ew, Eren. You would hate being my roommate. I’d probably piss you off by singing in the shower every morning.”

“See that’s the thing. I’d hate it at first but then it becomes super endearing to me. It’s part of the romance, falling in love with the little things.”

“Okay, Cupid. I didn’t realize you were an expert here.”

“Let’s go home, yeah? We need to wake up early for the vow renewal tomorrow.”

Eren starts packing your notebook into the bag and handing you your cup of tea as you slide around on the bench. He walks down the length of his set before realizing you’re not next to him and trails back, bending down to sit in between your legs.

“Hey. What’s up?”

You put your hand against his cheek as you look at his green eyes, round and full, staring into yours. It’s on the tip of your tongue. You love him. And you miss him when he’s not even gone.

“Nothing, Eren. I just thought about how after this week, we won’t be coming back here for another three years. When am I gonna see you?”

Eren jumps off the ground and takes his seat on the bench again, wrapping his arm around your shoulder. He presses a kiss to the top of your head before murmuring against your hair, his voice soft.

“I’ll come where you are. You can come where I am. We-we’ll see each other, okay?”

“Okay, Eren. You’re right. I-I’m just being silly.”

He leans forward to drag you up on your feet and the two of you stroll your way back to the townhouse together in the dark. And the confession still burns on the tip of your tongue.

You and Eren stay seated on the piano bench, well after you guys finish singing your song for Hange and Levi, to watch everyone from your perfect vantage point on the front of the dance floor.

Levi and Hange are still swaying in the middle, the two of them laughing into each other’s faces as Hange steps on Levi’s feet for the sixth time. Sasha and Reiner are doing some very serious tango dancing, and destroying anyone who makes it into their pathway, and Jean and Mikasa brushing noses as they softly smile into each other’s faces.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I am right now, Eren.” you say, looking over at his green eyes.

He’s all dressed up, in a nice black suit and his hair nicely styled against his forehead. He’s wearing a pink tie, intended to match the pale pink long dress you borrowed from Mikasa.

“Why’s that?”

“I don’t know. There’s so much love in the room.”

“Connie getting seconds for the tenth time is love?”

You laugh as you lean your head on his shoulder, laughing into the fabric.

“No. But look. He has an extra plate that he’s piling onto for Sasha. Her feet have been hurting all night and instead of making her get up with him, he’s doing it for her. That’s love, Eren.”

“You always notice things I don’t, sweet girl. Tell me more.”

You smile as you place your chin up on his shoulder, pointing out each little thing in the room.

“Mikasa and Jean have been in the back corner all night. And when we were singing, Jean pressed the softest kiss to Mikasa’s cheek and her face turned all pink, even after all this time.”

Eren places his hand around the small of your back, rubbing small circles into your back as you go on.

“Armin is the most competitive Monopoly player known to man. Marco’s been sliding all his extra money to Reiner so he can stay in the game.”

“Erwin took a picture of Levi and Hange during their first dance from the back side, because he knows Levi wants the view of the picture to be Hange and not him.”

“And Levi and Hange, they’ve been swinging in the middle of the dance floor since we stopped singing and the orchestra started playing. Which was like forty-five minutes ago. They-they’ve been talking this entire time, never running out of things to say to each other, with the biggest smiles on their faces.”

Eren looks over at you, the soft, sweet look in your eyes as you look at everyone in the room and it makes his heart melt.

“Levi and Hange are really in love, aren’t they?” Eren asks, drawing his eyes that give away too much from you.

“The softest kind of love. I-I’ve never seen two people so in sync before. I feel like every time I look at Levi when he’s with Hange, he looks like he’s never been more at peace.”

And Eren can see it - the way Levi’s shoulders are relaxed, the smile on his usually blank face, and the wrinkles near his eyes.

And when he looks over, all he can see is it on your face too. The marks of love. Full, pink cheeks - which he’s sure is from the makeup Mikasa helped you with. The softest, most excited smile on your face as you scan the room, only pointing out more and more of the tiny little signs of love he’d never even see on his own.

“I love you.”

You look over at Eren, his green eyes gentle and heartfelt as he takes your hand and squeezes three times.

“Eren, you-”

“I love you. The three squeezes - that’s what they’ve always meant.” he whispers, his hand warm in yours as me mimics the motion you’ve done a hundred times.

You can feel the tears stinging in your eyes as you bring your hand up to his cheek, memorizing the way he looks, bathed in the golden lights strung from the ceiling to the end of the backyard.

“There’s love in the room. And it’s right here between you and me.” you whisper, before Eren closes the space between you and leaves the warmest, softest kiss against your lip - so deep you can feel it tingling all over your skin.

The softest kind of love.

next part linked here

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criminalskies · 8 months

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The Aaron Hotchner Mega-masterlist. Part 1/?

Hi!! I wanted to make a sort of recommendation list for some Aaron Hotchner writers in this gorgeous community and what makes their work so special in my eyes. Please note this list is not exhaustive by any means. If you would like me to add you or your work to this list, please just fire me a message and I'll run through your masterlist or fics to see what you're all about <3

please note, this is a way to support writers on here. So play nice.

@honeypiehotchner - (K) an extensive masterlist, mixing fluff, smut and angst or hurt/comfort, they use the most stunning imagery and descriptions to really make you understand how reader's feeling in each moment. She never writes hotch out-of-character, able to make him sound exactly like himself, no matter how far off-canon the story takes place. The dialogue always feels like real chemistry between real people. I also adore how they write hotch x autistic!reader. Such a beautiful understanding and patience and love between them. I really enjoy K's ability to show how thoughtful & considerate he is of his lover's needs. mostly fem!reader fics, some gn!reader. K's masterlist.

@show-your-fangs - (A) does an amazing job of writing Aaron's mental battles with himself as he moves outside of his comfort zones. She can orchestrate such a sea of emotions in every scene I read, and I can never pick out even one word in the entire fic that seems out of place. Not only can she beautifully capture every shift in emotion or thought process throughout these fics, but jesus christ can she make Aaron Hotchner the sexiest motherfucker on earth. The scenes feel so natural and just ooze raw sex appeal. Marvellous work, not every piece is linked in this masterlist but i highly recommend giving her blog a good old search.

@hotchs-big-hands - (A) doesn't have many works currently released, but oh boy do we get quality over quantity. Her three part series 'what did you call me?' is stunning. She takes her time to really make me feel what the reader is feeling and it's so easy to step into reader's shoes. Not to mention that she manages to infuse suave and sexy into every hair on Aaron's head. Every step this man takes seems to leave me breathless because he is just so smooth and sure of himself, but simultaneously we get a glimpse of the war going on in his head. Most works are plus!size!reader (female reader) but some gn!reader works as well. A's masterlist.

@greg-montgomery - (Fay) can make a splinter in your thumb feel like a warm cozy blanket, every domestic or blissful or lovestruck situation you can dream of with Hotch has been written, and made to feel like hot cocoa on a rainy day. She does a gorgeous job of writing a brief, fleeting moment with him like it's something you'll remember forever. Fay's masterlist.

@ssahotchnerr - (Katie) has a beautiful way of melting readers hearts with the softest little moments that can be shared between two people. Whether Aaron's changing your tyre or building your a bookshelf, the tiny little details can make it feel like the most heartwarming thing a man can do. She really captures that certain unplaceable Hotch quality in every single scenario Katie's masterlists.

@reidersspencer - (Miso) is always a breath of fresh air, her fic ideas are creative and fun, she is very active, always working on several hotch fics/blurbs at once. Miso responds to every request within days, having produced something sweet enough to make you prediabetic, she does a fantastic job of keeping hotch, well, hotch, with just that extra sparkle in his eye as he looks at reader. Miso's masterlist.

@slutforsilverfoxes - (she/her), I truly think sf2 could find inspiration in a glass of water. Her fics are so original, and she has a way of making sure the dialogue never feels forced or unnatural, and the chemistry is thick in the air between her characters. You can always see just how reader and aaron became drawn to one another, she's always able to make me envy just how much our star-crossed-lovers have in common. She's able to make every character's actions seem deliberate and measured, and the imagery adds so much depth to her scenes. slutforsilverfoxes' masterlist.

@canuck-eh - (she/her), wrote some of the most beautiful, delicate, authentic, raw hotch fics I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Some of her works are as long as 20k words, but not even one of those words is wasted. The most beautiful characterisations and imagery. Hotch never feels out-of-character and these fics deconstruct him so well, giving you a beautiful look inside his mind. Please note, this account no longer writes for hotch, as of right now. So please do not run to her inbox asking for more. But I promise you, her masterlist is enough to sustain you for a lifetime. Canuck’s masterlist.

@montyfandomlove - (Mon) does a gorgeous job of making your wildest fantasies come true. Her response to every request will both melt your heart and make your pussy throb. Mon writes Aaron as both smooth and sure of himself, but also sensitive and self-conscious. She can use any situation to bring that old man to life, making him feel younger and more carefree in the process. Mon's version of Hotch feels so true to himself, and don't we all love him that way? Mon's masterlist.

@hotchs-bitch - (T) does such a beautiful job of breaking my heart. She has a real talent for building angst until my eyes well up. She writes so realistically about Hotch's struggles and triumphs with love, but also the happy little moments in his life with you that make it worth living. Lovely characterisation of the man himself. T's masterlist.

@chateauhotchner - (Andi) also loves to break my heart and make me cry. But, the angst is so beautifully tragic. Wonderful imagery and she's even been capable of making me want to smack my favourite man in the world. Andi's masterlist.

@hotchs-babygirl - (Zeina) can always capture the thoughtfulness and gentleness of our Aaron Hotchner. Makes me want to squish his silly little cheeks and stare into his big shiny doe eyes forever. Zeina's masterlist.

@alluring-andrayav - (Andraya) this girl likes to not only have Hotch break my heart but also stomp it into smithereens and spit on it in the process. Levels of angst I can never quite recover from but it's done so well I can't bring myself to hate her for it. Andraya's masterlist.

@whiskey-bumblebee - (Hannah) loves to give me cavities by making our man so sweet and beautifully himself. Hotch-in-love is a different beast, and one that Hannah captures really well. Also, some sweat-inducing smut here and there that I cannot fail to mention. Hannah's masterlist

@honeybrowne - (she/her) manages to write the very best and worst parts of dating aaron hotchner, having the most attentive, thoughtful, considerate boyfriend is of course a pleasure greater than words can say, but at the same time, he can only ever give you half his time and he tends to eat away at himself for it. A great cross-section of this man. honeybrowne's masterlist.

@hotchscvm - (Neens) writes some of the most carefree, caution-to-the-wind, sexy aaron we all need sometimes. But she also doesn't miss when she writes the soft moments between you two, the little things that make you fall in love with him (and get butterflies). Neens' masterlist.

@dudeitiskarev - (Cat) does such a fantastic job of creating whole worlds in each of her stories. She paints the most beautiful pictures of her scenes with each word, I never have trouble getting a crystal clear mental image of what's taking place. That's not to even mention how well she sees right through the many layers of Aaron. note that I believe cat is retiring from writing for Aaron but please cherish all of her works, they are gorgeous. Cat's Masterlist.

@masterwords - (Angela) has written hundreds of thousands of words about our Hotch, although most of her works are for hotchgan (hotch x derek morgan). In the years she's spent writing for these two, it is clear she knows both of their minds even better than her own. Every single romantic situation/scenario I can cook up in my imagination has already been written in completion by Ang and it is just amazing. Even if she breaks your heart, she'll usually put it back together even better than before. Angela's masterlist. (this is the hotch-only masterlist, the hotchgan list is here)

@ssahoodrathotchner - (Andi) writes the most feel-good fluff, if you just want to hold aaron in your arms or have him look at you oh-so-longingly, snuggle up nice and warm and read some of Andi's work. Mostly gn!reader <;3 Andi's masterlist.

@angelhotchner - (Marl) I do NOT see enough people freaking out on the daily about these works. An awesome range of gn!reader & fem!reader both sfw & nsfw. Like, reading the titles of these fics alone should clue you into just how stunning most of these works are to read. I highly highly recommend a deep dive. Marl's masterlist.

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Again. There is definitely still two hundred blogs I want to add to this list, and I will as time goes on add to this because the talent and love and passion being poured into loving on this man is so staggering to me. I hope you've found at least one blog on this list that you maybe didn't know of before, or that it's a reminder for you to check out some writers you already know of.

If your name made it on this list, please know I adore you. If your name didn't make it on this list, please know I probably still adore you, and I will almost certainly get there in time. <3 I really just want an excuse to tell a bunch of writers why I fell in love with their work, so! if you have another writer in mind, please just drop their username or info in my inbox and I will get to work.

#Rome's recs #aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotch hotchner #fanfiction #aaron hotchner fanfiction #TALENT #RAW TALENT #come and see 'em!

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bonsoir-tyrelliot · 1 year

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So I’ve read like most of the Tyrelliot on AO3 at this point (minus the high school and college AUs because that stuff isn’t my jam) and I wanted to post my recs! I have tagged authors wherever I’m aware of them. Keep in mind this is my personal taste, which tends toward the soft. In no particular order:

1. Last Request (series) - This author’s instincts for romance are better than 95% of the published romance market. It’s unfinished but by the time you get to where it stops you’ll believe in Tyrelliot’s love so hard you’ll believe they can get through their final obstacle. AU.

2. Lend me your heart, I swear I won’t break it - Does anyone else get a literal physical response from sweetness in fic? I do, and I spent all 27,000 words of this in that tingly state. There’s angst but it’s so worth it for how sweet they are to each other. The ending is either happy or sad depending on your personal headcanons.

3. Beside the white chickens - A cute, longer oneshot where Tyrell comforts Elliot. I got the tingles from this entire thing too.

4. Lacunae - As I think the name implies, this fic gives us scenes from in between canon scenes. It also gives new takes on some canon scenes. WIP. Some of the best writing I have ever seen, no exaggeration. You have to read it to believe it. @auntarctica

5. the two-body problem - Elliot saves Tyrell after 404 and plays grumpy nurse. Both are incredibly in character. Tyrell high on morphine is cute but heartbreaking. Excellent writing. @cainightfics

6. This world will always be here - Technically this is Tyrobot, but it’s too good not to include, and it’s all Elliot anyway right? Incredibly sweet, incredibly well written. The softest Tyrell you'll ever meet. @the-fossilized-writer

7. In the dread of night and it’s sequel Sleeping at last - Two one shots that fix Tyrell’s death. I never knew I wanted Tyrell to be good with a wrench but it turns out I did want that.

8. Reboot to Recovery - A oneshot inside Elliot Alderson’s mind. Very cute and sweet and satisfying.

9. On your side, always - This is the most straightforward post-canon Tyrelliot get-together I’ve come across. Almost no angst, some pretty good smut.

10. I, Robot - A oneshot where Mr. Robot gets to relax for a minute with Tyrell. Very in character and adorable. Tyrobot.

11. Know you by heart - Tyrobot scenes from the basement in season 3. Expands on Mr. Robot's character in very cool ways. @zeiskyte

—Bonus-three recs that are PWPish.

1. Tender are the hands of god - Robot-Elliot strangles Tyrell during sex to celebrate the successful hack. Also, weirdly, this is some of the best prose I have ever seen on AO3.

2. World full of uptight gentlemen - Elliot makes Tyrell wear a vibrating butt plug during an E Corp meeting.

3. The evolution of Elliot Alderson - Elliot as power bottom. Sex in a limo. @deviantdarkbelle

#mr. robot #tyrelliot #tyrell wellick #elliot alderson #blogging about mr. robot in 2023 bc i'm like this #tyrell x elliot #tyrelliot fic #tyrelliot recs

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bm-blog01 · 9 months

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My Favourite Kate Looks Review...

Tomorrow I will be posting my number one favourite Kate look, but before I do let's review numbers 2-10

10. My list began with the number 10 look, Kate in Bridgerton Blue. This had a light summery feel to it, but noticeably Kate's dress was coordinated with Anthony's waistcoat with both a similar colour and pattern.

9. In the number 9 position is Kate's Pall Mall look. The dress is lilac, but still of slightly heavier material than some later dresses she wears, and her hairstyle is not overly loose or undone as yet, however, throughout the game we do see her hair loosen and begin to come undone, to symbolise that this is the beginning of Kate coming 'undone' in terms of her emotions through the series.

8. Coming in at number 8 is the Sheffield Dinner look. This dress is a teal with a sheer white overdress that gives it an ombre effect in some light, and with movement. The dress is made of a satin type of material and inlaid with rhinestones which makes the dress shimmer and sparkle.

7. In seventh place is Kate's bridesmaid look. Kate's dress here is again lilac and at first glance it looks relatively simple, but on closer inspection it can be seen that there is quite a lot of detailed embroidering on the dress.

6. Coming in at sixth place is Kate's Haldi Look. In this Kate is wearing a marigold gown, and her hair is mostly loose, the overall look her is very simple and reflects the intimacy of the moment with the Sharma women.

5. In fifth place is Kate's riding habit, noticeable about this in the hunt scene is that the colour of her habit matches the lapels on Anthony's waistcoat. This reflects back to the tea earlier in the episode where Kate's dress and Anthony's waistcoat matched.

4. In fourth place was the Featherington Ball look. This was Kate in an Orange Gown with a Gold overlay. I like to think that in a way it was meant to represent a wedding gown, noting orange is next to red on the colour wheel. In this gown I also see aspects that are reminiscent of previous gowns Kate has worn.

3. In third place was the Hearts and Flowers Ball. I loved seeing her in pink, and this is a very soft look emphasising Kate's vulnerability, but it also has some romantic aspects to the look.

2. In second place, as revealed last week was the Epilogue look. This was Kate's softest look in the entire show, and represented her coming to a happy place in her life. She is loved and has found her place in the world.

So what do you think will be number 1? Do you have a favourite, and if so what is it?

#Kate sharma #Bridgerton season 2 #Bridgerton

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mermaidsirennikita · 5 months

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One reason why I think Mila Finelli's mafia books do work for me better than most other (Italian--I did really love Kresley's series) mafia romance novels I've read is that the characters do feel DISTINCT and so do the relationship dynamics.

In a lot of these somewhat darker, more erotic reads, you do get the sense that any of the characters could be switched out for one another. The heroes are always the same types of alphas, the heroines are always the same types of a) virgins or b) defiant rebels who may also still be virgins, and what really sets the books apart are a few bananas scenes here and there, and some distinct sex scenes.

And while I definitely think there are distinct sexual dynamics and kinks at play with each couple (Fausto/Frankie are obviously daddy kink-central, Enzo and Gia are.... generalized freaks with some heavier BDSM by way of CNC vibes, Giulio and Alessio also have some D/s vibes but with a more competitive edge and are very into each other's violence, and Giacomo/Emma are obviously a breeding kink/softer touch vibe) they're also just super different people.

I guess the closest couples would be Fausto and Frankie and Enzo and Gia, but even then... Fausto is a dick, but he's more rational, more doting (see: daddy), and though Frankie is absolutely defiant and strong, I actually think that though she and Fausto have more of a traditional partnership in terms of gender than Enzo and Gia (which also could be because Frankie wants a billion kids and yes she has her MBA but she's very much a wife and mom first, whereas Gia is more about her career, which keeps them from being too similar). Enzo and Gia are more into the defined D/s shit sexually, but you get the sense that she has more control in the relationship and that, at the end of the day, he is very much... her bitch. Enzo and Gia have a very similar age gap to Fausto and Frankie, but Fausto and Frankie have more of a care-focused DD/lg relationship, whereas Enzo and Gia thrive on the friction of her giving as good as she gets.

And Alessio and Giulio, aside from the obvious of being the only queer relationship in the series, are very much coded as D/s as well... But not as inflexibly as the previous two couples. Aside from them switching it up in the bedroom a little, there's also a lot of space for Alessio to take care of Giulio. Like, Giulio kinda doesn't know shit about what he's doing lol, whereas Alessio is hypercompetent (which also makes sense, as Fausto for sure spoiled Giulio and Alessio has been in essentially a different class his entire life). So while Giulio is more sexually dominant, Alessio is really the stronger, steadier, and more threatening partner otherwise. And again, they both really get off on watching each other do what they do best, which is: crime.

I do think Giacomo and Emma have the softest relationship in the series--but it's not so much because she's this kind of babe in the woods virgin (and I will say, I did love that Frankie and Gia were NOT lol) but because Giacomo is just a much more tender guy. Like, yes, Fausto and Enzo both also had loved ones, but I think that because they'd both been running their shit longer than Giacomo had before he met Emma, they had these very set roles. Fausto and Enzo come off as more brutal, and honestly more crazy (like, Enzo is THE CRAZIEST for sure, but Fausto is a fucking nutball). Giacomo seems like a dude who's good at killing people and doing mafia stuff, but it's really like? His day job. It's not his life and it doesn't feel like his culture, even, which makes sense because he was on the fringes of the types of levels Fausto and Enzo have always been in, because his father and brother kept him separate from it. Even Giulio is more connected to that space than Giacomo, because he was groomed to take over for years.

I think it would be very easy to rely on these great sex scenes and wacky plots she writes, but the thing that does make it clear that Mila has the chops (.... and it also makes it clear that she's very experienced, lol, and someone who has had to write series with very individualized characters for professional editors in the past........) is that the characters are very DIFFERENT. Like, Frankie and Gia may both have their partners' balls in their pockets, but you see Frankie do a wheedling kind of little girl pouting thing to get her way with Fausto because she knows he looooves it, whereas Gia is like LISTEN UP ASSHOLE with Enzo (and it makes the relationship the best because nobody else can do that with him, Enzo and Gia are the greatest, thanks for coming to my Ted Talk). Giacomo is willing to let Emma go in a way that Fausto, Enzo, and honestly I would say Giulio too after working out some things, really aren't okay with. He's probably the best guy out of the series, on a moral level, while also being a scary murder man.

(Except for maybe Alessio? Because Alessio is also a scary murder man, but he literally just does it for the cash or to protect Giulio. It's PURE BUSINESS.)

I find the distinctiveness of the characters really cool, especially when I reread the books, and that is probably why I've had a hard time finding a series that really clicks for me in the same way within the sort of Italian mafia genre.

(That, and: so much of the other books center on Italian-American mafia stuff and that shit DOES NOT HAVE THE SAUCE the way Mila's Italy-set books do. Like, be real here, the Italian-American mafia has not been raking in this kind of cash for DECADES.)

#romance novel blogging #anyway my musings on the mafia fuckbooks continue #i really do need to read annika martin's books #bc she's another author i have been pleased by with other books #and similarly to mila did a hard left into mafia novels #but yes #i do think that giacomo being sort of fringe-level with the mobster CEO shenanigans did deprive us of some of the funniest shit in the book #which would be like #enzo and fausto sending each other severed heads and getting on the phone like #'is that-' 'the severed head of your employee? yeah. :)'#or giulio bopping over to be like 'LISTEN UP THE ONLY COKE DEALER IN SPAIN IS ME NOW!!!!'#like i do remember her saying she hadn't originally been planning to write a book for emma #which seemed wild to me at the time #but you can tell this story was conceived of separately from the others #bc there's a pretty clear pipeline from fausto and frankie -> the villain enzo getting a book w gia ->#tying up the arc with fausto's son falling for the guy enzo paid to kill fausto lmao #(the comedy of this series will never top enzo fully forgetting he put a hit on giulio bc of all the bomb sex he was having on his yacht)#anyway that doesn't make mafia virgin a lesser book in any way it just reads as the most oN ITS OWN

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absolutebl · 2 years

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This Week In BL - The Rankings have CHANGED

Oct 2022 Wk 3

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying the most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

My Only 12% (Fri iQIYI) 11 of 14 - pretty disingenuous of iQIYI to muscle in an ad for its own app and not show it immediately serving ads to the boys. In other news, I still love Peak on screen, the years have not changed my delight in that boy. (I may need to do a Make it Right rewatch.) The question is does Cake feel left behind and jelly as a friend or is he actually in love with Eiw? And if he is, does he realize that about himself? The conflict is so good with this show, so well established, entirely based in characterization, and not an ounce manufactured. I couldn’t be happier it this BL got handed off this this pair, it was made for SantaEarth. I do think, since we got a ton of family life establishment (not to mention Love of Siam reference) that the big separation for these two will be family driven in ep 13. But first we get a whole ep of adorable boyfriends! Yay!

Big Dragon (Sat Gaga) 3 of 8 - bathroom drama, naturally. This is a true enemies to lovers, these two spy on and bully each other. They even talk about non-consent. It’s the harshest version I’ve seen since China existed the field (aside from the Japanese dark stuff, of course). But also this show is using actual BDSM to drive plot and character (not just touring kink), the stuff Unforgotten Night couldn’t even dream of and Mame has never bothered to research. We got Dom voice, roll play, service submission, orders, humiliation. It all turned out to be a tease but the point was also to show these two have compatible kinks (which means compatible intellectual and physical chemistry, so the narrative arc is going to be around emotional chemistry) and that they both know the scene. Someone behind the camera knows what they’re filming too.The way these two transition between anger, resentment, titillation, and flirting (and the way, with kinksters, this can all be the same thing) is really well done. I guess what I’m saying, ultimately, it that this BL is proving itself to be a lot more sophisticated than I expected. I could not have loved the Domme rep more, quite frankly. I’m excited for next week as Big is playing the faen fatal and I love him.

The Eclipse (Fri YT) 11 of 12 - A very tense 11 doom ep but also... off. I did see the twist for the teachers but not the students. That’s because the teacher twit was set up but the student betrayer twist was... not. If Thua was so into the truth why never tell it himself? The resolution was abrupt and most of the second half very odd. It made me wonder if this had a really intended to be a 15 episode arc, in which case they compressed the last 5 eps into 2? The pacing felt totally off from all the previous eps and the pool scene felt like reused footage.The rapid fire character and relationship changes and shifts in arcs was rushed and confusing. But the flirting and claiming was cute, I guess. Also horrible suspicion we may get a sad end now? Truth or another round of Bad Buddy suckering?

Ai Long Nhai (Mon iQIYI) 4 of 10 - I don’t know what to say about this show. I’m enjoying it but I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t be. (This happens to me a lot with pulps.)

Ghost Host, Ghost House (Weds YouTube) 3 of 8 - Honestly I speed though all the ghost stuff for the few BL moments. But it’s worth it because Pluem delivers the softest most seductive krap ever and watching them flirt over noodles is an unalloyed pleasure.

Remember Me (Sun Gaga) 2 of 8 - The BL parts are good, and JaFirst excel. But it moves incredibly slowly with way too many establishing shots, just like The Yearbook. If it’s Mean directing again, he’s gotta shake of the New-yoke right quick.

Hard Love Mission (Sat WeTV) 1-2 of 4 - it’s a short run, so what not? Well because the subs are terrible, everyone looks like they should be in high school, the acting is awful, there’s a dumb feen fattale, the actor/seme seems to have been chosen on the basis of height not talent, and they already leaned in to awkward in a big way. On the bright side the uke is older then the seme and v cute, tropes are dropping thick and fast (there’s only one bed!), and the size difference is vast (if that’s a thing you’re into). All in all, it’s not good but what the hay?

Work from Heart (Thurs YouTube) 5 of 7 - I like the lead pair better in this show then their last one but its nothing on JeffGame, and the lack of plot is challenging for me.

Love in the Air (Thurs iQIYI) 9 of 13 - I still mostly think Pai’s a douche, but it’s nice to see him taking care of Sky, especially as Sky clearly needs someone to do it so badly. Still Sky could do better... and Pai still has to. DUMPSTER FIRE TRASH WATCH ALONG HERE.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

My Tooth Your Love (Taiwan Fri Gaga & Viki) 3 of 1 - Honestly it’s such a relief to watch something from Taiwan in amongst all the Thai folderol. I might be liking this that much more because it’s restful by comparison. I could not be happier with the bratty rich kid kissing a waiter to make a point to his parents. I know, consent, but also... great characterization. I fucking love the ultra-grumpy bar manager character. And the dentist with the sad eyes who worries too much. And our poor boy who needs a therapist more than a dentist. They are all so awkward and broken and CUTE. GAH!!! (I’m getting very @heretherebedork level emotional about this one.)

Roommates of Poongduck 304 (Korea Thurs Viki) 2 of 8 - Poor JaeYoon, HoJun is so mean to him. The camera work in this drama has much more voyeuristic gaze than most KBL. In other words, the directing of this show makes it feel a bit more genuinely gay than a lot of the other BL that comes from Korea. It is fun to watch these 2 slowly become friends. I wish we had enough time to watch them also slowly fall in love. But since this is KBL, that part will be a rush job.

Kabe Koji (Japan Mon Viki) 3 of 10 - I guess this episode was a little bit better. The show is just so painfully EXTRA. As is often the case with Japanese stuff, I keep feeling like there's bones of great story in this drama. And I get glimpses of it, but then it’s covered again - like tasty steak smothered in Kewpie mayo. Oh, Japan.

It’s Airing But I’m Not Watching It

War of Y 20 eps - it’s just all too much for me.

My Roommate 32 eps of 2 minutes each + terrible production values? - I’m not bothering.

Fahlanruk (Sun GaGa) 12 eps - I cut my losses at ep 5. Someone can tell me if the 2nd half is worth it, after it finishes, but I’m not gonna bother to watch it every week. I don’t like any of the couples and the fujoshi framing is repulsive under the context of a narrative trying to be this authentically gay. I’ve lost all patience.

Oh My Sunshine Night 20 eps - I’m scared it’s gonna be sad, so I’m waiting for spies to tell me it’s safe, so far reported to be quite the soap opera.

To Sir With Love AKA Khun Chai 28 eps - dito

2 Moons 3 Thai (Mon ??) 10 eps - I searched for it in a lacklustre manner but couldn’t find it legally anywhere convenient. I will watch it if it’s easy to do so. Possibly as a binge. Rumor is it’s quite banal.

SELF (Thurs ??) - same again without any rumors

Wish Me Luck (Sat ??) - seems to have be delayed into next year

In Case You Missed It

That’s Work From Heart, The Staircase is back.

Gossip

I’ll have more for you next week as I process the Nov release announcements.

UWMA rewatch! The plan was: one UWMA ep a day for the 17 days before Between Us launches on Nov 6. However, I missed the start date (stupid work) so I’ll start tomorrow (Mon 24) and double down on the days when there’s no other BL airing (see calendar below). Wish me luck!

The UWMA Praise Watch along (opposite of a Trash Watch) will happen here on this blog.

Next Week Looks Like This:

October 2022 line up is here.

This week’s best moments?

Ai Long Nhai serving up the Gay Advice Dads!

That’s Aye for ya, brutally honest.

I love a bit of self reference.

I will love her forever. (Big Dragon) Viva la bisexual rep!

Look could we please get a BL featuring this boy? I love him.

Gay identity ownership in BL is still so rare, I cheer every time it drops. (My Only 12%)

Ouch.

(last week)

Current earworm? N.Flying - The Night (Pairs well with My Only 12%)

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patpran-kinnporsche · 2 years

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Kinn is the best boyfriend 🥺

Throughout the 12 ep Kinn has been there for Porsche and has provided him the confort that he needed and he has been a caring, loving and supporting partner.

Let’s start with this scene 👆🏻

Kinn was feeling so guilty because, even though it was the last thing he wanted to do, he hurt Porsche but, since he has finally understood how to commucate better, he tried to solve this problem immediately by apologizing multiple times with the softest voice. Then he tried to touch him because we know how important is touching for Kinn, it’s his love language but when Porsche wouldn’t let him I could feel the fear and the desperation in his eyes because he’s more afraid of losing him than die so he promised to help Porsche find every answer he wanted to reassure him and to calm him and he didn’t hug him until he felt that Porsche was somehow ok with being touched by him.

Then there’s this scene 👆🏻

Kinn gave up on everything, on his home, on every comfort, on power, went against his father and he also tried to make food just to demostrate to Porsche that there’s nothing more important than him because Porsche’s life means the world to him, he has been very happy since he got Porsche and he can be anywhere as long as he is with the man he loves.

Then this scene 👆🏻

Kinn was there for Porsche whatever he decided to do.

He was ready to see Porsche kill the man but he was also ready to support him if he could’t do it and that’s what he did, he told Porsche what no one probably ever told him, that he was doing well, that his mom and his dad would be proud of him just like he is... Then he conforted him, hugging him so thightly and I’m so glad that Porsche finally has someone to hold on to, someone to lean on, he doesn’t always have to smile, to be strong, he can be weak and he can be sad.

And then the last scene, one of the best of the entire series 😭

KInn took Porsche where they first met.

He wanted to start over, to forget the lies they told and while he was asking him to be his bodyguard he was on the verge of tears because Porsche is the light of his life, the source of his freedom and his world.

P.s he also eat fried bugs just for Porsche, man is WHIPPED 😂❤

This episode proved once again how much Kinn and Porsche love each other and I know there will be other obstacles for them but they’re going to make it trough, together, like they always do.

#kinnporsche #kinn theerapanyakul #porsche pachara

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dr-lizortecho · 1 year

Text

A collection of Echo centric fics (if your echo fic or favorite isn’t on here feel free to send me a link so I can add it to my bookmarks!)

General Audiences

Today’s Milkshake by @tasyfa (183 words)

Summary: With Max’s secret out -not being a big fan of mint- Liz sets out to determine what flavor of milkshake he actually enjoys.

Rec: This fic however concise really captures the playful and loving side of Liz. Focuses in on her love of science and the structure it comes with, in a light hearted and warm way that doesn’t usually get depicted in fic. It captures a short and sweet moment between the two of them that displays exactly how well their personalities complement each other.

Content Warnings: no archive warnings apply, Max as a science experiment (alright, ik I’m not funny, sorry guys)

A Milkshake and a Sweater Conundrum by @aflawedfashion (525 words, Isobel Evans & Max Evans with mentioned Liz Ortecho/Max Evans)

Summary: Isobel needs fashion advice, and her brother is the last person who could actually help. But in the wake of his recent resurrection he’s the one place she wants to go. To her surprise she finds him drinking a Little Green Man.

Rec: Even though Liz isn’t in this one it really does show how much Max is hung up on her. Using the milkshake as a vehicle for him to discuss those feelings with Isobel.

Content Warnings: no archive warnings apply

Coda by @wunderlass (618 words, canon divergent)

Summary: alternate ending to 4x13, Liz holds onto Max for a little while longer, before making a life altering decision.

Rec: This fic really takes the final moment of the series and allows it to breathe. And in doing so it breathes life back into both Liz and Max, allowing their characters to continue to make complex decisions. Specifically allowing Liz to have what she wants while opening up endless possibilities for her, something she has been striving for her entire life. The choice also allows her to keep one last promise to Max, one of the very foundational pieces of their relationship, back from when she refused to kiss him the very first time. As for Max it allows him not to make yet another sacrifice for the alleviation of guilt.

Content Warnings: 4x13, no archive warnings apply

Where I follow, you’ll go by @thesquidkid (1.605 words, AU, all human)

Summary: Liz is a researcher who happens to be in Roswell for a science convention. Max is a writer passing through Roswell on a road trip to inspire his next novel. The universe interferes, and they collide. Not once, but twice.

Rec: It really captures the heart of their dynamic in a less straightforward sense. Instead this story relies on the narration to paint a scene, one full of contradictions and facts. How some would claim fate, and others mere coincidence. Which draws from the very thing that brings Echo together not once but three times throughout the show. The very thing Max noted in his farewell letters in season three. In a way it captures their different perspectives on their relationship. Max’s more poetic, Liz’s more realistic. (Truly it holds the same theme the show runners depicted in the song choice of Superposition)

Content Warnings: no archive warnings apply

We were once upon a time in love by @thesquidkid (2.665 words)

Summary: Liz gifts Max with a challenge, one she knows he will both be delighted and distraught about. For his Christmas present she will buy anything from the local Barnes & Noble, under specific and difficult conditions of course.

Rec: This fic really captures their physicality, how they move in tandem and seem to occupy the same space naturally. Both Max and Liz being more than tactile throughout. It also has casual everyday uses of telekinesis which isn’t something a lot of Echo/Max fics incorporate. Most of all though, it shows Liz doting on and having fun with Max’s nerdier side. Depicting them at their softest while allowing the same light teasing their more domestic scenes in season three and season four had.

Content Warnings: no archive warnings apply

Becoming Ortecho by @ajna-eye-cogitations (4.891 words, WIP)

Summary: Max goes to ask for Arturo’s blessing, but when he suffers a heart attack Max has to kick into action. Once Arturo knows the alien secret he starts asking questions, one’s Max doesn’t have the answers to. And in an attempt to prove he is worthy of wielding Arturo’s name, deserving of his daughter, and not some freak of nature, Max sets out on a journey of self discovery.

Rec: The narration is beautiful, weaving a story inside of Max’s head gloriously. Tapping into his feelings of love and guilt and adding meaning to each action he takes. The story has Liz for just a short span of time in the latest chapter, but their connection was effortless, Max aware of her without his senses online. Liz stepping in to play negotiations between Max and Arturo, as well as biting her tongue as not to break her father’s heart shortly after his injury.

Content Warnings: fatal heart attack, discussions of religion, no archive warnings apply

Blueprints for a Great Escape by @myrmidryad (29.505)

Summary: Max spends time researching dungeons and dragons after he and Liz watch Stranger Things. Which leads to him going through a research spiral. So Liz gathers the podsquad and Team Human together for a campaign as his birthday gift.

Rec: It captures Max’s angsty nerd persona so well, while also allowing him to be the damsel in distress (to Rosa and Isobel’s teasing that is). Echo’s dynamic feels so lived in throughout, homely and warm like the decor of Max’s house.

Content Warnings: no archive warnings apply

Teen and Up Audiences

Change by The_Young_Wolf (250 words)

Summary: Max’s POV of seeing Liz for the first time in a decade.

Rec: It really drives home how much Max can get into his own head, especially in regards to his attempts to help people (by joining the force). But in showing how stuck he can be in, it really opens up how far gone he was for Liz from the start. Shedding a bright light on how affected he was by her presence, even after a decade apart.

Content Warnings: no archive warnings apply

no grief or folly ventures by @haloud (1.535 words, season three au)

Summary: After their victory over Jones, Liz gets a quiet moment to just be with Max. To contemplate him and their relationship, everything that led up to them being able to share this moment.

Rec: The physicality is easily reminiscent of their sex scene from 1x13, while maintaining the softness and gentle touches of 2x10. The narration reads like poetry, weaving story and emotions together flawlessly. Allowing Liz to reminisce on their shared history, the mistakes and victories that made them themselves, while depicting exactly how much of an eternal mark they’ve left on each other. And how much more they have left to do.

Content Warnings: no archive warnings apply

Love the Very Blood of You by soldierwitch (13.304 words, AU)

Summary: Set in an alternate universe where Max was adopted separate of Michael and Isobel, growing up apart from them and never having been reunited by fate. He goes through life without ever becoming fully connected to Earth or it’s inhabitants. All while Liz struggles through the highs and lows of supporting and propping up her sister, helping Rosa get clean time and time again. Their paths cross one fateful night in a hospital. Max a priest attending a bedside, Liz a sullen family member awaiting news.

Rec: This AU keeps both characters so well intact it’s beautiful. With Max taking up the priesthood for the very same reasons he joined law enforcement, to help people in hopes it will ease the guilt that weighs him down. All while Liz keeps her frayed edges and distrustful nature, though she didn’t lose Rosa, she faces the same wearying journey year in and year out in regards to Rosa’s addiction. They both meet in this space that’s been carefully constructed and orchestrated to depict both of their struggles and fears as characters. One made to depict and pull to light all the spinning questions and possibilities thrown so casually between them in season one, about religion and the universe. It also makes a point of maintaining that original draw between them, Max finding Liz magnetic and Liz finding him a mystery to be solved.

Content Warnings: no archive warning apply, drug addiction, blasphemy, religious content

Heart of Lightning: A Roswellian Tale by @suzteel (20.095 words, AU medieval)

Summary: Ser Elizabeth Ortecho is sent by her queen to retrieve King Maxwell’s heart from a dragon. The first step in her decade long journey to waking her sister from a curse.

Rec: This au does a lot to display how both Max and Liz are leaders in their own rights. Warriors and lovers to their very cores. It shows Max’s anger and how quickly it can light, while depicting how easily he trusts and relies on Liz, putting his faith and surety in her above all else. While showing Liz’s quick thinking, and determination. The whole story following Liz as she becomes willing to unlock the cage around her heart so she and Max can build something together.

Content Warnings: violence, non-consensual mind control

Mature

Cowboy Take Me Away by @wunderlass (960 words, smut)

Summary: Max returns home to Liz in a playful mood, she decides to prance about in his cowboy hat and loot his work belt.

Rec: This really nails home a sense of saftey and surety in their dynamic. Cause yes it’s smut, and yes it’s rough, but the start and end really do a great job of depicting those as pleasures. Something they can take part in after a long day, both having removed their armor so they can be fully seen.

Content Warnings: explicit sexual content, bondage

Blanco Navidad by @ajna-eye-cogitations (2.336 words, smut)

Summary: Liz reminisces about childhood as she prepares the same cookies she, Arturo, and Rosa used to make during the Christmas season. But after she sends Arturo to bed she’s all alone in the kitchen, till Max shows up with the promise of a memorable night.

Rec: This fic really captures Liz’s almost wistful side, the pieces of her drawn to memory and attachment to the past. While showing her in a place where those memories can be beautiful again instead of just full of pain and regret. The way the memories are interwoven with desert imagery is stunning, the narration building a world that comes to life with each new emotion she feels.

Content Warnings: explicit sexual content, no archive warnings apply

Crash Into Me by @wunderlass (2.948 words, canon divergent au, smut)

Summary: Set after Liz learns the truth about Rosa. Max has secluded himself outside of town to keep from causing another blackout. Isobel sends Liz after him, hoping she can curb is anxiety and maybe calm him down.

Rec: This story really allows Liz’s betrayal to breathe, while examining the complex feelings she has towards Max. Because those didn’t fade or twist when she learned he loved his sister as much as she loved hers. The conversation and physicality is weaved together with storm imagery that serves to keep in mind what’s at risk. While creating an ‘electric’ atmosphere.

Content Warnings: no archive warnings apply, explicit sexual content

Choler by soldierwitch (14.576 words, canon divergent, WIP)

Summary: Their relationship is fractured post resurrection. Liz having been scarred again, left behind with no warning or understanding. Leaving her spinning and creating a new form of armor over her heart. All while clinging to Max and pushing him away all at the same time. For fear of losing him, for memory of losing him.

Rec: Liz’s internal dialogue is flawless, it allows her character to feel the complex emotions and wants and anger that should follow such a traumatic event. Closely examining what she might have meant in their 2x13 breakup about ‘trying to find where you end and I begin’ and ‘I love you and right now I hate it’. But it does more than that, it shows all the small moments that lead up to that break, allows her the complexities the show only ever hinted towards. All tied together with symbolism and physicality. It really examines how much their relationship is forever imprinted by their mistakes but Max and Liz get to choose to love each other anyway.

Content Warnings: no archive warnings apply, depression, sexual content, so much angst and it’s not completed so take that as you will

State of Love and Trust by @wunderlass (18.188 words, canon divergent)

Summary: After Max’s resurrection his memory is wiped, leaving him a husk. But Isobel and the rest of the squad have prepared for this, for the inevitable supercharge he will be coming back with, the urge of destruction and chaos. Max’s fears of killing them not being taken lightly. And no matter how much Isobel and Alex protest and push back against, Liz won’t let herself be far off when Max comes to. She’s his connection to life and humanity after all.

Rec: The entire cast is allowed to be exhausted and grieving for the entire start, showing their cracked and frayed edges. Liz in particular is allowed the space to worry and mourn, even as Max breathes on the other side of the glass. Her self reliance shines through beautifully in an ensemble piece, that’s built around her complex feelings and wants. There’s storm imagery and mystery, tapping into that same vein of magic season one seemed to hold over the viewer, each new piece of the puzzle bringing more questions. But it’s the physical aspects and the way they’re drawn by something almost primal to each other in the end. Max incapable of truly hurting Liz, not once he’s connected enough to feel her, remember her.

Content Warnings: no archive warnings apply, violence, light horror aspects, explicit sexual content, dubious consent

Explicit

Inside Me by @suzteel (313 words, smut)

Summary: Things take a turn during sex, and Liz is of course going to examine that while letting pleasure wash over her.

Rec: Alien strangeness is why the show has appeal, and this really nails home how little we know about their sex lives in reference to alien biology. It also keeps in mind Liz and Max’s penchant for getting it on despite… literally anything.

Content Warnings: explicit sexual content, no archive warnings apply

No Plan by treaddelicately (1.571 words, smut)

Summary: They’re horny morons in love, with pesky public sex kinks, which of course leads to Liz crowding Max against a wall during his break at the Pony.

Rec: Liz’s confidence is flawless, the way she knows how much power she wields over Max and uses it to her advantage is amazing. While Max does what he does best, buckles under the force of her wind.

Content Warnings: explicit sexual content, no archive warnings apply

beneath this bowl of stars by sabrinachill (2.897 words, canon divergent, smut)

Summary: Liz is restless post resurrection, she doesn’t know Max’s secrets yet, but when their psychic connection brings him- or rather an astral projection of him into her bed things take a sexy turn.

Rec: The narration really builds a picture of what Liz knows and doesn’t know, allowing her scientific mind to reel. But mostly it examines how their armor is fully removed, how the darkness seems to crack them open bare. Both Liz and Max allowing themselves to get close and want what they want. It works well because it doesn’t rely on Max’s logical decision making to have him pull away, both of them convincing themselves it isn’t real on some strange level.

Content Warnings: explicit sexual content, dubious consent, no archive warnings apply

Truly Madly Deeply by circular_infinity (6.092 words, canon divergent, smut)

Summary: Their first time having sex is planned -though they get a little bit out of hand, abandoning the plan in favor of just jumping each other’s bones.

Rec: The communication is flawless, them both asking the right questions in the sexiest ways. Because though they’re both consumed by lust and just allowing the moment (or rather moments) to envelop them, they’re forever conscious it’s something they’re doing together. Both Max and Liz are purposeful in their communication, allowing full consent to be given without ever breaking the action and lust. Both characters come to life flawlessly, echoing their canon selves in their desire and recklessness. Also, peak filth just seems to naturally exist between them, Max able to weave dirty talk like poetry and Liz able to make control and lack of control something that can exist in tandem.

Content Warnings: explicit sexual content, unprotected sex, no archive warnings apply

When I Say “Forever” it’s the Goddamn Truth by @maeglinthebold (7.829 words, fluff and smut)

Summary: Max and Liz go on vacation, exploring Europe together and separately.

Rec: Their playful banter is beautifully depicted throughout, both of them smiling and happy. Finally getting to experience the world together like they’d dreamed of as kids. The story weaves together that exploration with their differences, Max spending time in museums while Liz is at a science convention for example. But it also depicts how those differences bring them together and their genuine fondness for those aspects of each other. While characterizing them flawlessly, with Liz ready to make a sharp witty crack at any moment and take control. While Max is willing to ramble about anything he’s learned and try anything Liz wants to try.

Content Warnings: explicit sexual content, no archive warnings apply

#roswell new mexico #rnm #rnm echo #liz ortecho #max evans #fic rec #rnm echo fic rec #rnm fic

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cboffshore · 1 year

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What a shame the poor groom's bride is a... plot device. This is "All I Wanted To Hear."

For his third wish, the only one that ever actually mattered: something to love, I think. Something that isn't himself.

As I've discussed previously (not in this series, just in general), a common critique I see about Nadakhan is that he's a little too erratic. And, yeah, that comes out on any casual Skybound rewatch: his master plan is kept under wraps until past the halfway point, his respect for his crew wavers from being touched at their support to screaming at them every five minutes, and we're never quite sure if he actually loves his home realm or if he just wanted to become some kind of urban legend by going home. This, naturally, leads to complications: in order to maintain a facade of respectability, he covers all of his idiosyncrasies up with an utterly batshit terraforming plan that only has minor relevancy to his ultimate goal. In other words, he exercises those first two wishes I analyzed - notoriety and control - in excess to cover up the third, softest one: love. An actual, loving relationship that he's not ashamed of somehow.

Because, let's be real: does his crew actually love him?

Jury's out on this one, and unless we ever get more of The Splinter in the Blind Man's Eye or some kind of Nadakhan revival season, it'll likely stay that way. The Tall Tales shorts, if accepted as canon (a massive if!), don't even answer the question. Most of the crew's recruitment shorts read as begrudging submission at best (Flintlocke and Dogshank) and near-indentured servitude at worst (Doubloon and Monkey Wretch). Clancee joins through sheer luck, and only because he's attracted to the pirate lifestyle itself, not to Nadakhan's leadership. I refuse to acknowledge the Sqiffy/Bucko short's existence, but their canon induction is much the same as Clancee's: they show up, fuck around, and find out. The shorts, fortunately, aren't canon (two words: electric drill); the only reason I'm considering them here is that they're just close enough to the canon blurbs to fill in the cracks in the meantime. Their loyalty is held on with bubblegum and a wish no matter how you look at it.

Canon or not, the shorts don't address Delara. The season doesn't, either - at least, not in a way we can see clearly.

It's well-established that Nadakhan is very secretive about what he actually wants, and for the first nine episodes or so, Delara falls into that category: he deflects any mentions of her by others on his crew, almost so quickly as to imply it's a weakness of his. Still, he can't avoid it entirely - stolen moments with his pocketwatch (snapped shut the moment anyone else arrives) and his obsession with Nya based solely on her resemblance to Delara prove this. As hard as he fights to hide that, others notice - Flintlocke's criticism comes to mind, but even Jay comments that the way Nadakhan looks at Nya is peculiar. Look what happens in both instances: Nadakhan, although not present for the actual conversation, sweeps in immediately to shelve that discussion and inflict pain on whoever brings it up. And once there's nobody left to remind Nadakhan of his grief - once the wedding party's been banished or driven out of the temple - his first personal wish is to bring her back.

Strangely, this... doesn't help. Their reunion scene is almost awkward, honestly. We open with Nadakhan in disbelief that it actually worked, which is weird considering how unshakable he was about the plan before, but that's not the concerning part. The most damning evidence of Nadakhan's desperate need to be loved comes in the second part of the reunion scene in this incredible exchange:

Nadakhan: Do you forgive me, Delara?

Delara: You did what you had to do, so that we could become all-powerful.

Nadakhan: But do you still love me?

Delara: Of course. How many times must you ask?

This was scream-into-a-pillow frustrating for me the first time I thought it through, and it remains so to this day. Now? After all the stalking, manipulation, kidnapping, and psychological stress he put Nya through to get to this point - now he's doubting it? The moment he succeeds and pulls his beloved back from beyond the veil, he starts questioning his own morality? And he does so to the point that Delara - who might, if her casual tone is any indication, be worse than Nadakhan - has to reassure him that he doesn't need to keep asking? Imagine the irony of wanting to be loved so badly that the things you do for that make you wonder if you're worthy - but only after the fact.

And then the Keep crashes into the temple and the bravado goes right back up. When Delara's spirit is torn from Nya's body, Nadakhan says her name one last time... but that's it.

That's all.

----------

It's no secret that both Nya and Delara's characters get the short end of the stick here. With Delara, it almost makes sense: she's included as a plot device. She's Nadakhan's lost Lenore, his green light across the bay; losing her is the inevitable low point of Nadakhan's fall from grace.

All the official information we get on her is that she's important only because she so strongly resembles someone we know a little better: Nya.

Either here or elsewhere - I'm no longer sure - I've spoken of the accidental perfection of Nya's place in Nadakhan's schemes. Her seasonal arc centers on her striking out and trying to find herself; Nadakhan wants to tear that away from her, but without even caring if that means anything to her in the first place. Unlike how other villains treat the ninja, there's no desire to strip her water power here, or taunt Nya for some personal grudge. (I mean, the grudge does exist, but Nadakhan never acknowledges it.) Here, it's all about appearances: Nya conveniently looks like Delara. Whatever traits Nadakhan tries to sweet-talk Nya with don't actually matter. She's a warm body for the taking. The fact that she's associated with his realm's death is a bonus, and probably the only reason Nadakhan went for her and not for, say, Cyren. That Nadakhan would go to such lengths just to use Nya is simply another sign of his desperation.

Nya's treatment at the end of this season is awful, even seven years later. Plot-appropriate? Sure. Honestly, I think it works, but it doesn't change the fact that I feel that Nya was shortchanged. In that spirit, there was really no other way to evaluate her role but via a heavy remix of the canon wedding dress (which Nya's right about: that thing is hideous.) There are touches of Nadakhan analysis in here, too, but given that Nya was the catalyst, most of this rides on what the season should have highlighted about her importance beyond her haircut.

If we're going to lean so heavily on visual significance, let's at least get it right this time:

As a way to honor Nya's vehement dislike for dresses, I built this outfit around an ivory jumpsuit. Although the rest of the outfit looks like it was attacked by a coffee frother, this sleek layer calls to mind the athletic lines of Nya's seasonal gi and her efficient, determined personality. It also references her final fate with vein-like, venom green spiderweb embroidery blossoming out from the chest.

An ivory jacket serves to anchor the entire outfit, both physically (to stabilize all of the other elements) and metaphorically. Sharp shoulders, layered hip accents, and solid gold lapels call to mind the royal armor worn by both Nadakhan and his father - a nod at the canon dress' origin. The hems, sleeves, and lapel borders feature intricate sky-blue embroidery as an alternative to the massive blue flowers on the canon gown.

A fragile yet suffocatingly heavy floral lace train and layered bell sleeves dominate this ensemble and cover whatever the jumpsuit and jacket don't, representing how Nya's body and identity are slowly taken over by desires that aren't her own. However, that grip is as fragile as Nadakhan's security in Delara's love - look close and you'll find the whole thing held together by little more than delicate golden piping, liable to rip apart the moment anything shifts. (I should mention that I did not hand-draw the lace - I'm nowhere near skilled enough for that. Instead, I did a little digging on Google and found this excellent file with built-in transparency, which I colored over and cut to size: blueJAY2's "Lace" on DeviantArt .)

Blue lace gloves, almost lost in the riot of finery around them, are a reference to the hand imagery that Nya's torn apart by throughout the season. There's an interesting phenomenon throughout Skybound that serves as an excellent divider between Jay and Nadakhan: both are insistent on having her, but the subtle differences in their methods are best demonstrated by their dialogue concerning her hands. Jay's line, "Take my hand," is repeated only twice; urgency aside, it offers Nya the ultimate choice in what happens. Those outcomes appear in the premiere and the finale. Nadakhan, however, twists that line and her metaphorical wrist in episode 61 with "Give me your hand and they live," which is phrased as an order that Nya has less of a say in. I chose to use the same filigree texture as the jacket embroidery to represent how Nya attempts to play into Nadakhan's plans for an advantage; however, the color choice betrays this. The blue shade foreshadows one of the few choices Nya's able to make in this season: the choice to accept Jay's hand during the rooftop reset. (Like the lace, the base texture for this one was not my own creation; I have unfortunately lost the exact link, but it was on some kind of weird free PNG site and I ended up snagging it from the Google results page instead of the site itself. Again, I recolored and cut it to fit as needed.)

Gold aiguillettes on the shoulders and top layers of the train are a direct parallel to those in "Sure Of It" as a link between Jay and Nya. Throughout this season, Nya wears her independence as a badge of stubborn honor even when in the worst situations. These ropes, tucked under the lapels and frills of the jacket and train, aren't as obvious as Jay's - a sign of how her role is, sadly, pushed off to the side for most of the season. Still, they're an important part of the outfit: they hold the front of the train open in the same way that Nya's mere presence drives much of the season's action.

The jewelry choices in the original outfit were remarkably dated and didn't match the rest of the ensemble well enough for me - I have a hunch the designers threw the necklace on just to match the bracelet - so I redesigned those, too. Nya's distaste for glitter and gold (which is technically not a thing until Sons of Garmadon, but I like to think it started in Skybound) lends itself nicely to all of these next elements:

The closest element here to the canon jewelry, the gold choker is a heavy reference to the cutthroat pearl necklace that went semi-viral a little while back. Instead of blood and pearls, though, this version soaks the golden spheres of the canon necklace in neon venom droplets and serves as the only asymmetrical part of the outfit.

A pair of drop earrings, fashioned after venom droplets, complement the necklace.

Tucked behind the lapels, a high web collar with blue crystal accents is a blend of the weaknesses of the men trying to overtake her life: the venom that weakens Nadakhan and Jay's vision in the ice. The blue crystal is also a symbol of Nya's new powers and role on the team, although their small size represents how that's not her true motivation.

Given that all of the other jewelry is venom-centric, I don't think I need to explain the spider brooch creeping along the web embroidery.

Nya's brief stint as queen is never mentioned, but it's a thing that does happen; that's represented by a delicate tiara. Of course, she's possessed pretty much immediately after; Delara's acid-green eyes lent me the color scheme for the attached spiderweb veil, a symbol of Nya's thorough, tragic loss of self at the end of the season. For technical reasons, I've chosen to let the tiara and veil dangle from the mannequin's hand instead of placing it on the head. I think this works well, though - the other entries in this analysis series are holding a symbolic item, too, and the placement of this crown represents all the identities Nya holds but isn't able to utilize throughout her arc.

Even though this was my longest entry analysis yet, I don't think I'm quite done. This may be the last entry, but I've got more to say - in the coming weeks, you'll eventually get a wrap-up post summarizing this series and closing things up as neatly as I'm able.

Special thanks to @abunnsburrow, whose Delara Rant reminded me that I needed to post this - and might have influenced this particular analysis.

#ninjago #ninjago skybound #ninjago couture #Yours To Keep: Rethinking Skybound Through Fashion #ninjago nya #ninjago delara #ninjago nadakhan #ninjago fanart #fashion design

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putonmyfavoriteshow · 1 year

Note

ok i dont have a specific character or ship but hit me with some of your SL hot takes girl

Ooh yes here’s a few that came to mind:

Luna is a solid protagonist. Haters gonna hate. People attack MCs for either being selfish/annoying or Mary Sues. And Luna is neither!! She cares so much for her friends and always puts the team before herself to the point where she even sacrifices a huge solo spot in s3 for the team (which may have been a bad decision from an outside perspective) but it shows her priorities are genuine. Also throughout the show we see plenty of her flaws, and she does suffer for her mistakes. Ámbar easily manipulates her because she’s always losing things, she has to work twice as hard to get her grades up, she practices non-stop to get to everyone’s skating level and sometimes doesn’t win. Her plans don’t always work out!! S3 got a bit too perfect for her and the Roller Team and I do wish there was more of a struggle there but out of the entire series you can’t say she didn’t earn her spot or deal with things not going her way. To me she worked hard to get where she was and nothing was easily handed to her. Not to mention her ability to forgive the ones who wronged her. That’s my baby and I really am proud!

I don’t like Matteo BUT I could fill in the gaps if I wanted to explain his behavior….but the writers should’ve done that and I don’t care enough to do it 😁 But at the end of the day he’s still part of the core four and from a story POV I find it hard to ignore him completely as their stories are so intertwined but to me Matteo’s the weakest link and my loyalties lie with Luna/Ámbar/Simón who’s individual arcs I think are way better and earned my sympathy. Matteo I’m just like please get over yourself 😭. That being said I’m a Gastteo bro besties/Mambar diva couple liker — I know make it make sense!! and sigh Lutteo - they do have chemistry, and of course I just want to see Luna happy. There are scenes I like of them and I do root for them in the end but what’s my other option? Michel ☠️? But I’m not attached to them and would love to hear other peoples HCs of her future that wouldn’t involve an endgame Lutteo. But I’m also fine with accepting canon - they were the least egregious in s3 and I’m willing to jump on board to make my viewing experience enjoyable. I guess it comes down to I don’t hate him enough to throw him overboard but he can walk the plank :)

Pedro is a nice character leave the old man guy alone lmao!!! Nico can go but Pedro is a sweet drummer boy who worships his gf Delfi and loves his bandmates. He’s a good friend and super silly like when he wears his dad’s oversized suit to help save the Jam & Roller? The fact that he dresses like the grungiest rock boy and he’s the softest softie?? Just give the boy his flowers and put it in his hair!

Jazmín and Emilia 5ver I CAN FIX THEIR ENDGAMES but you already knew this 😜

#soy luna #hot takes #i probably have more but those were the first that came to mind #Luna defender mode is always my hot take I think lmao #also idek if these are hot takes but they’re my takes :)

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chaoticgeminate · 2 years

Text

Kinktober 2022 - Day Eight

Pairing: Javi Gutierrez x f!Reader

Rating: Explicit (If that was not entirely clear)

Series Summary: You're a fanfiction writer turned novelist, which was great since it was the path you wanted your writing to take you down in life. What you never thought would happen was meeting the Javier Gutierrez, who you actively write smutty fanfiction about from his film with Nic Cage, and you especially didn't expect him to have a crush on you.

Fast forward several months of dating, with a good chunk of your relationship being distance due to his constant traveling and having to go home to Mallorca, when he surprises you with a prompt list and a vacation planned around exploring it.

You haven't even worked up the nerve to tell him about what you write and post to Tumblr about him as a character yet.

Notes: Going to be using prompts from @ the-purity-pen for my meta as hell indulgence! There are feelings in this (I have no idea how they got there) and I may end up removing some possible chapters here and there depending on how I'm feeling, I apologize in advance if that happens because my brain is super mean sometimes.

Possible Warnings: None, just mega fluff and implied smut! These two are the softest 💙

Interlude (941)

Javi’s day was taken up by phone meetings with the studio that picked up his newest project, you hadn’t been able to follow every little bit of what he’d told you was happening because of how quickly he was rushing to get ready, and you decided to take the day and write as many drabbles as you could to post for your mutuals and readers online. Why he had to do all this on a Saturday you would never really know, you had thought it would be handled by people with a nine-to-five schedule Monday through Friday but evidently you were wrong.

So, writing it was.

There wasn’t much point working on your novel, still far ahead of schedule and unable to look at the sex scene without cringing, so in a spur of the moment bit of fuck it energy you’d reached out to your fellow conspirator in all things sexy -your darling Tumblr wife- and asked her to read over your slowly developing rough draft to get her opinion on the sex scene.

The professional editors that you’d sent it to had all been very vocally approving, it made the scene “more widely acceptable” in its symbolic nature versus a descriptive nature, but when you’d pushed back with the reminder that this series was meant to be darker and grittier and dirtier than what you’d already published they had tried to claim it would ruin book sales.

Maxie had tried to push you to conforming but you just couldn’t do it.

The rougher, harsher, pace and more descriptive sex scene felt integral to showcase the characterization of the male lead through the eyes of his female partner.

Why was it so hard to publish through a company?

The idea of cutting ties and self-publishing was starting to look really appealing. Especially with the information you had from the convention panel.

You grumbled and returned to your tablet where a blank page was waiting for you, opening up Tumblr on your phone and grinning at the shower of notifications, and it may have taken an hour to get through all the well wishes for a good vacation that you spotted a reblog from Amigo-con-cage of your vacation announcement.

‘You deserve a vacation, constantly providing us with immaculate stories, have a good time!’

Whoever this reviewer was you appreciated them, a lot, always offering support and kindness on just about everything you posted; you’d tried to invite them to your Discord server with your closest mutuals but they’d refused. Which was fine, you hadn’t pressed and they’d said the invitation was very sweet but they were too shy.

Shooting them a DM to thank them, mentioning you were indeed having a great time and that you appreciated their sweet message, all your focus went back to your tablet where you debated making Joaquin the subject of the random kinktober bites you were plotting. All your content for him had slowed to a grinding stop when Javi had asked you out, the only fic you were still writing for him was the series that wasn’t quite done yet, and until you talked to him about your hobbies… it felt weird to think about posting another update.

But that meant admitting to Javi you were writing smut content about him, since the film was based off his actual life and events that actually happened.

Whoreno hours it was, you decided instead.

Tapping away at your Bluetooth keyboard as you lounged on the padded bench under the shade of the gazebo, a double walled bottle of water and a chilled drink beside you, the drabble turned story began to come together easily enough to your relief. By the time you’d finished giving it a read over, making the post, and then scheduling said post for the correct day a few hours had passed and you were starting to feel peckish.

Checking the time, glad to know you had managed to work through most of the hours Javi was supposed to be busy with calls, you stretched out and let the warmth wash over you for just a little longer before deciding you could get a little something to munch on and maybe check in with Javi to see if he needed anything.

Snagging some of your favorite snacks, since Javi had insisted on them being stocked for you while you were here, a genius idea crossed your mind before you dialed Lorna about good takeaway in the area.

One order from a place called Agave later, to be delivered by eight or so, you began throwing together everything you needed for a movie night in the private theater and set up the most amazing blanket fort with a massive grin on your face. It was perfect and Javi was in for the biggest surprise ever, he’d spoiled you rotten so you were absolutely returning the favor.

You remembered him mentioning he’d never made a blanket fort before so it was time to remedy that.

“Solecita, what is-“ He came in about ten minutes after dinner had arrived and you’d set up the theater room with fairy lights and had the movie queued up, and your giggle made him look at you as you tugged him to get into the fort with you.

“Blanket fort! Figured we could watch some movies-“ He cut you off with a kiss and you yelped when he pinned you to the cushions you’d set down, one of his big hands holding your hip as the other held him up a little, and dinner was forgotten when he pulled your underwear down your legs and decided to start with dessert.

All Fics Taglist: @hardc0rehaylz @wordsnwhiskey @pagannightwitch @radiowallet @musings-of-a-rose @amneris21 @trickstersp8 @practicalghost @rominaszh @alwaysdjarin @alexxavicry

Just Pedro Taglist: @maievdenoir @beecastle @littlemisspascal @writeforfandoms @AynsleyWalker @lovesbiggerthanpride @mswarriorbabe80

Alt Taglist: @imtryingmybeskar @fan-of-encouragement @grogusmum @sizzlingcloudmentality @deadhumourist @prostitute-robot-from-the-future

Kinktober Only: @nicolethered @katareyoudrilling

#kinktober 2022 #javi g x f!reader #javi gutierrez x f!reader #fluff #chaoticwrites

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