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mostlysignssomeportents · 7 months

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The surveillance advertising to financial fraud pipeline

Monday (October 2), I'll be in Boise to host an event with VE Schwab. On October 7–8, I'm in Milan to keynote Wired Nextfest.

Being watched sucks. Of all the parenting mistakes I've made, none haunt me more than the times my daughter caught me watching her while she was learning to do something, discovered she was being observed in a vulnerable moment, and abandoned her attempt:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2014/may/09/cybersecurity-begins-with-integrity-not-surveillance

It's hard to be your authentic self while you're under surveillance. For that reason alone, the rise and rise of the surveillance industry – an unholy public-private partnership between cops, spooks, and ad-tech scum – is a plague on humanity and a scourge on the Earth:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/16/the-second-best-time-is-now/#the-point-of-a-system-is-what-it-does

But beyond the psychic damage surveillance metes out, there are immediate, concrete ways in which surveillance brings us to harm. Ad-tech follows us into abortion clinics and then sells the info to the cops back home in the forced birth states run by Handmaid's Tale LARPers:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/06/29/no-i-in-uter-us/#egged-on

And even if you have the good fortune to live in a state whose motto isn't "There's no 'I" in uter-US," ad-tech also lets anti-abortion propagandists trick you into visiting fake "clinics" who defraud you into giving birth by running out the clock on terminating your pregnancy:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/15/paid-medical-disinformation/#crisis-pregnancy-centers

The commercial surveillance industry fuels SWATting, where sociopaths who don't like your internet opinions or are steamed because you beat them at Call of Duty trick the cops into thinking that there's an "active shooter" at your house, provoking the kind of American policing autoimmune reaction that can get you killed:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/14/us/swatting-sentence-casey-viner/index.html

There's just a lot of ways that compiling deep, nonconsensual, population-scale surveillance dossiers can bring safety and financial harm to the unwilling subjects of our experiment in digital spying. The wave of "business email compromises" (the infosec term for impersonating your boss to you and tricking you into cleaning out the company bank accounts)? They start with spear phishing, a phishing attack that uses personal information – bought from commercial sources or ganked from leaks – to craft a virtual Big Store con:

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/business-email-compromise

It's not just spear-phishers. There are plenty of financial predators who run petty grifts – stock swindles, identity theft, and other petty cons. These scams depend on commercial surveillance, both to target victims (e.g. buying Facebook ads targeting people struggling with medical debt and worried about losing their homes) and to run the con itself (by getting the information needed to pull of a successful identity theft).

In "Consumer Surveillance and Financial Fraud," a new National Bureau of Academic Research paper, a trio of business-school profs – Bo Bian (UBC), Michaela Pagel (WUSTL) and Huan Tang (Wharton) quantify the commercial surveillance industry's relationship to finance crimes:

https://www.nber.org/papers/w31692

The authors take advantage of a time-series of ZIP-code-accurate fraud complaint data from the Consumer Finance Protection Board, supplemented by complaints from the FTC, along with Apple's rollout of App Tracking Transparency, a change to app-based tracking on Apple mobile devices that turned of third-party commercial surveillance unless users explicitly opted into being spied on. More than 96% of Apple users blocked spying:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/96-of-us-users-opt-out-of-app-tracking-in-ios-14-5-analytics-find/

In other words, they were able to see, neighborhood by neighborhood, what happened to financial fraud when users were able to block commercial surveillance.

What happened is, fraud plunged. Deprived of the raw material for committing fraud, criminals were substantially hampered in their ability to steal from internet users.

While this is something that security professionals have understood for years, this study puts some empirical spine into the large corpus of qualitative accounts of the surveillance-to-fraud pipeline.

As the authors note in their conclusion, this analysis is timely. Google has just rolled out a new surveillance system, the deceptively named "Privacy Sandbox," that every Chrome user is being opted in to unless they find and untick three separate preference tickboxes. You should find and untick these boxes:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/09/how-turn-googles-privacy-sandbox-ad-tracking-and-why-you-should

Google has spun, lied and bullied Privacy Sandbox into existence; whenever this program draws enough fire, they rename it (it used to be called FLoC). But as the Apple example showed, no one wants to be spied on – that's why Google makes you find and untick three boxes to opt out of this new form of surveillance.

There is no consensual basis for mass commercial surveillance. The story that "people don't mind ads so long as they're relevant" is a lie. But even if it was true, it wouldn't be enough, because beyond the harms to being our authentic selves that come from the knowledge that we're being observed, surveillance data is a crucial ingredient for all kinds of crime, harassment, and deception.

We can't rely on companies to spy on us responsibly. Apple may have blocked third-party app spying, but they effect nonconsensual, continuous surveillance of every Apple mobile device user, and lie about it:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar

That's why we should ban commercial surveillance. We should outlaw surveillance advertising. Period:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/03/ban-online-behavioral-advertising

Contrary to the claims of surveillance profiteers, this wouldn't reduce the income to ad-supported news and other media – it would increase their revenues, by letting them place ads without relying on the surveillance troves assembled by the Google/Meta ad-tech duopoly, who take the majority of ad-revenue:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/05/save-news-we-must-ban-surveillance-advertising

We're 30 years into the commercial surveillance pandemic and Congress still hasn't passed a federal privacy law with a private right of action. But other agencies aren't waiting for Congress. The FTC and DoJ Antitrust Divsision have proposed new merger guidelines that allow regulators to consider privacy harms when companies merge:

https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FTC-2023-0043-1569

Think here of how Google devoured Fitbit and claimed massive troves of extremely personal data, much of which was collected because employers required workers to wear biometric trackers to get the best deal on health care:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/04/google-fitbit-merger-would-cement-googles-data-empire

Companies can't be trusted to collect, retain or use our personal data wisely. The right "balance" here is to simply ban that collection, without an explicit opt-in. The way this should work is that companies can't collect private data unless users hunt down and untick three "don't spy on me" boxes. After all, that's the standard that Google has set.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/29/ban-surveillance-ads/#sucker-funnel

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

#pluralistic #commercial surveillance #surveillance #surveillance advertising #ad-tech #behavioral advertising #ads #privacy #fraud #targeting #ad targeting #scams #scholarship #nber #merger guidelines #ftc #doj

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marinawolf · 10 months

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(drum roll, please) I officially present, the widely requested and smutty as hell, bottom Lena fic. (there's some fluff too)

You’re All Mine Now, Miss Luthor (Supercorp)

by marinawolf

NSFW. 18+

Lena stood at the center of the grand ballroom, her hands gently clasping a crystal flute of champagne. Her eyes surveyed the room, taking in the sight of the attendees mingling and engaging in conversation. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation and excitement, as guests eagerly awaited Lena's announcement of L Corp's newest ventures and its charitable initiatives.

Lena felt a surge of pride welling within her. The turnout was impressive, the results of her efforts in reshaping the public perception of her family name. She had worked tirelessly to demonstrate that she was not defined by the sins of her lineage, and now, surrounded by trusting faces, she reveled in the knowledge that she had earned their respect through her own merits. She had meticulously worked to craft a legacy distinct from her family's dark history, to show her dedication and commitment to bettering the world through her company's ventures. The turnout at the event served as validation, affirming that people recognised her integrity.

Her fingertips traced the slender stem of the champagne flute absentmindedly as her gaze swept across the crowd, searching for one person in particular. The only person that truly mattered to Lena.

And then, her heart skipped a beat as she saw Kara Danvers entering the room. In that singular moment, the world around Lena seemed to fade into the background, leaving only Kara in her field of vision.

Kara's entrance was nothing short of breathtaking. A lacy blue dress clung to her every curve, accentuating her figure in a way that left Lena spellbound. Every movement Kara made seemed to unfold in slow motion. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders in perfect curls, framing her face like a halo.

Lena longed to go to Kara, to press her lips against Kara's. But the reality of their secret relationship held her back, reminding her of the delicate balance they had to maintain. So she stood there, a silent observer, captivated by Kara's mesmerizing presence.

The way Kara's lips moved, forming words that Lena couldn't hear as she greeted people, sent shivers down her spine.

Then, as if sensing Lena's gaze on her, Kara's eyes flicked to Lena and Lena's breath caught in her throat. Kara's startling blue eyes held a depth that threatened to consume Lena whole, and Lena felt like she could spend her life staring into them, willing to drown in those oceans. Noticing Lena, a stunning smile spread across Kara's face, causing Lena's heart to almost stop. For that fleeting instant, Lena allowed herself to bask in the radiance of Kara's smile. Lena remained rooted in place, her eyes locked with Kara's, savoring the electricity that pulsed between them.

Lena's heart fluttered as she watched Kara draw nearer, every fiber of her being yearning for their bodies to be close, for their hands to lace together. But fate seemed determined to keep them apart as the master of ceremonies' tap on his champagne glass shattered the moment. He called Lena to the podium amidst a around of applause. It was time for her to speak.

Reluctantly tearing her gaze away from Kara, Lena turned her attention to the podium, assuming her CEO persona. She had a responsibility to fulfill, a duty to address the attendees and present her company's vision.

As she approached the podium, the gazes of hundreds of attendees fixated upon her. The weight of their expectations settled upon her shoulders, reminding her of the importance of this moment. Lena took a deep breath, and stepped onto the podium.

"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests," Lena began, projecting an unmistakable tone of authority in her voice that she had perfected over time. "Tonight, I stand before you to share some exciting developments from L Corp, ones that will revolutionize the world as we know it."

A hush fell over the room as Lena described the cutting-edge medical technology that L Corp was spearheading, advancements that promised to revolutionize cancer detection. She painted a vivid picture of a future where early diagnosis and precise treatments would become accessible to all, which would save countless lives.

"But it doesn't stop there," Lena continued. "At L Corp, we are not content with resting on our laurels. We are proud to unveil our latest innovation, a prototype power supply that has the potential to transform communities. With just a single pod, we can power an entire neighborhood for an entire year, providing sustainable and clean energy solutions."

Gasps of awe and wonder echoed through the room as Lena described the immense possibilities of this breakthrough, proving L Corp's commitment to environmental stewardship.

"And as we reach for the stars, quite literally, L Corp is invested in making space travel more accessible," Lena announced. She was extremely excited about this venture. "We are actively working towards developing interplanetary trade routes, opening up new avenues for resource exploration and fostering cooperation between worlds."

The crowd murmured with excitement, captivated by the vision Lena painted of humanity's future among the stars.

"In addition to our groundbreaking advancements, L Corp is dedicated to making a difference in our communities. Tonight, I am proud to announce our partnerships with three extraordinary charities. We stand with Cancer Research, investing in life-saving breakthroughs. We strive to uplift our communities through comprehensive development programs, empowering individuals and fostering growth. And we pledge our commitment to inspiring young minds by supporting Girls in STEM, nurturing the next generation of innovators and visionaries."

A round of applause and appreciation erupted throughout the room, the collective acknowledgment of L Corp's unwavering dedication to the betterment of society.

Before she ended her speech, Lena's gaze shifted to the side, locking with Kara's. The pride in Kara's eyes made Lena choke up slightly. Kara had stood by her throughout her efforts, motivating her. Whenever Lena felt the weight of the world suffocating her, Kara was there, to lift up that weight with her strength. When Lena struggled with the effects of her family's legacy, doubting herself and her own intentions, Kara was the one to tell her that she was more than that dark legacy, that she was Lena Luthor- a good and kind person. Kara was the force that fueled her drive to push boundaries and redefine what was possible. Her Supergirl was her strength and motivation through it all.

"To everyone who believed in me," Lena's voice quivered slightly, her gaze locked with Kara's, this a message for Kara alone. "You have made this possible. Thank you."

Kara smiled softly, her gaze softening. Lena lifted her glass up, her eyes still on Kara's. "Let us not stop reaching for greater heights at L Corp."

As the crowd's cheers reverberated, Lena's intense focus on Kara dissolved, her smile widening in response. The recognition and support from those around her reminded her of the impact she was making, the strides forward she was leading. In that moment, Lena embraced the applause, knowing that her vision for L Corp was not only being realized but celebrated.

James appeared at Lena's side, offering a hand as he helped her off the podium.

"Congratulations, Lena," James said, "You were incredible up there."

Lena managed a distracted thank you, her eyes scanning the room in search of Kara's familiar presence. However, James seemed determined not to let her slip away so easily. He extended his hand.

"Dance with me, please?"

Caught off guard by James' unexpected proposition, Lena hesitated for a moment. She knew that James wanted something more with her, and she didn't want to encourage him. Before she could respond, the photographer overheard their conversation, sensing an opportunity to capture a captivating moment for the newspapers.

"Brilliant, Miss Luthor" the photographer interjected eagerly. "It'll look great in the photo spread for the paper!"

Reluctantly, Lena acquiesced, agreeing to dance with James for the sake of the photograph.

As they moved to the music, Lena's couldn't help but look over James' shoulder, desperately seeking a glimpse of Kara in the crowd. But try as she might, Lena couldn't spot her. All she wanted was to spend this moment with Kara, with the person who matter to her the most. But the crowd swelled around her, joining the dance. Amidst the swaying bodies and enchanting melodies, Lena's thoughts remained fixated on Kara. She yearned for their secret smiles, stolen glances, and the warmth of Kara's body against hers. The dance with James felt hollow, a mere facade. She wondered what it would feel like to be in Kara's arms instead, swaying to the music.

Feeling overwhelmed by the constant flurry of activity and the need for a moment of respite, Lena sought solace in the privacy of a secluded room at the back of the venue. The air was heavy with stillness, illuminated only by the flickering glow of candlelight. Velvet curtains, tied back with silken ropes, framed the window, casting soft shadows across the room. She sat on the chaise lounge in front of the window as she pulled her phone out to call Kara.

As she was about to press call, the door creaked open, revealing the very person she had been yearning for. Lena stood up.

"I was looking for you everywhere," Lena breathed.

But instead of words, Kara's response was swift and intense. In an instant, Kara crashed her lips against Lena's a desperate, hungry kiss. Lena's senses ignited, the world around them fading into insignificance as she felt herself melt into Kara's touch. Kara kicked the door closed behind her, and there was an unmistakable shift in Kara's kisses, an intensity that spoke of possessiveness and desire.

Lena surrendered willingly, her own desire echoing Kara's as their bodies pressed together. Fire coursed through her veins. Kara's hands, firm and possessive, found their way to Lena's chin, tilting her head to the side, exposing the vulnerable curve of her neck. Soft gasps escaped Lena's lips as Kara's mouth trailed a path of heated kisses along her sensitive skin.

With each press of lips and the sensation of Kara's teeth grazing her flesh, Lena's body arched instinctively, a mix of pleasure and surrender surging within her.

"You look ravishing tonight, Miss Luthor," Kara whispered against Lena's skin, her words laden with longing and possessiveness. "And it's driving me crazy to not be able to touch you." The words, charged with raw emotion, further stoked the arousal Lena felt. The wetness between her legs was already a sign of her desperation, her longing.

Kara bit down softly on Lena's neck and Lena could only gasp in response, her body beholden to Kara's command. In this private haven, the outside world faded into insignificance and they existed solely for each other.

Kara's kisses grew more urgent, intensifying with each moment. Lena's heart raced as Kara's hands trailed down her body, igniting her skin with a fiery touch, as she guided Lena towards the back of the room. She felt Kara's fingers deftly unzip her dress and unclasp her bra, allowing the garments to gracefully fall to the floor, revealing Lena in nothing but her heels and underwear. A surge of anticipation coursed through Lena's body as Kara's hands guided her towards the plush chaise lounge near the window. Their bodies pressed together, igniting a palpable chemistry that sent shivers down Lena's spine as Kara gently lowered Lena onto the chaise. She felt the cool satin of the couch beneath her bare skin and shivered in anticipation, ready to be claimed by Kara.

In a moment of exquisite dominance, Kara's hand gently closed around Lena's wrists, raising them above her head. Lena's heart raced as Kara skillfully used a tie from the curtains to secure her wrists to the chaise lounge. The subtle restriction only heightened Lena's anticipation, and she felt something tighten within her.

Admiring her handiwork, Kara smirked and Lena saw the glint in her eyes. "You're all mine now, Miss Luthor," she declared, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her words sent a shiver down Lena's spine. She loved Kara like this, dominant and commanding, taking control of Lena's willing body. Their lips met once more as the world outside the window ceased to exist.

Lena felt Kara's hands pull her down, so that the ropes around her wrist held taught. She was completely at Kara's mercy, ready to submit herself to Kara, in every way possible.

She moaned as Kara's lips left her own, and trailed kisses down her neck and chest.

Closing her eyes, Lena surrendered to the moment, letting herself be consumed by the electric touch of Kara's lips on her skin. The world around her faded away, and the only thing she could hear was the soft sound of their breaths mingling in the air and her own desperate whimpers. Her body responded to Kara's every touch, her pulse quickening and her senses heightening.

Reaching Lena's breasts, Kara's lips captured a rosy bud between them, drawing it into her mouth. Lena's breath caught, and a moan escaped her lips. The pleasure surged through her, intensifying with each gentle suck and flick of Kara's tongue. She surrendered to the delicious sensation as Kara switched to her other breast, her body arching and her fingers instinctively seeking purchase, grasping the ropes that bound her wrists.

Lena's breath hitched as Kara's teeth grazed her sensitive flesh, sending a jolt of pleasure mixed with a hint of pain through her body as her back arched instinctively, a low moan escaped her parted lips. Every subtle movement, every gentle nip, sent shivers of ecstasy racing along her nerve endings, causing her to squirm beneath Kara's touch, craving more.

She felt Kara's hands explore her body, her nails delicately scraping against her skin, causing a surge of heightened sensation to course through her.

All too soon, Kara's mouth left her chest, trailing searing kisses down Lena's body. As Kara's lips descended further, Lena's breath caught in her throat. The soft brush of kisses against her stomach sent a thrill of anticipation rippling through her. She felt the heat pooling between her thighs, aching for Kara's touch, and she yearned to be consumed. Finally, Kara's fingers found the waistband of Lena's panties and she slowly pulled them down, Lena lifting her hips slightly to let her. Then, she felt Kara’s purposely icy breath on her heated core and couldn't stop the soft, desperate whimpers that came out of her mouth.

Lena looked down, her eyes finding Kara's, taking in the sight of her beautiful girlfriend kneeling between her thighs. She squirmed, arching her body towards Kara, but the pull of the ropes restrained her and Kara placed her hands on Lena's thighs, effectively pinning her down. The soft glow of the candlelight danced across Kara's features, accentuating her mesmerizing blue eyes, as Lena looked into them desperately.

Finally, Lena felt Kara's mouth press against her, her tongue teasing Lena's folds. Lena's body trembled with each deliberate stroke of Kara's tongue. She felt Kara tease her entrance before capturing her clit between her lips, causing Lena to gasp loudly. Lena's fingers curled around the rope that bound her as Kara's skilled tongue found its mark, and she dug her nails into her palms in a desperate attempt to ground herself as the waves of pleasure coursed through her. When she felt Kara's teeth graze against her, coaxing her pleasure to greater heights, she cried out at the delicious pain. The intensity built with every stroke of Kara's tongue, and as soon as Lena was about to reach her peak, Kara stopped, pulling away. Lena whimpered desperately as Kara moved her body up, against Lena's, before pressing a desperate kiss against Lena's lips once more. Lena could taste her own desire on Kara's lips, and she groaned into the kiss.

Lena's senses were ablaze with desire as she felt Kara's fingers press against her opening, softly teasing her. The mere contact sent shockwaves of pleasure radiating through her, igniting a frenzy of need.

"Look at how ready you are for me," she whispered against Lena's lips, and Lena felt her body respond more intensely to Kara's words.

Kara broke the kiss, leaving Lena gasping for air as she looked down into Lena's eyes, her blue eyes dark with desire.

"Watching you dance with James, seeing his hands on you, drove me crazy." Kara whispered, her fingers still teasing Lena, softly dipping in and out of her folds, teasing her clit, causing Lena to lose any sense of coherence.

"You're mine, Lena." Kara growled, before finally plunging two fingers into Lena, claiming Lena in every sense of the word. The sudden intrusion elicited a guttural cry from deep within Lena's throat, her walls clenching around the invading digits. Lena's hips immediately took up the rhythm set by Kara, trying to keep up with the unforgiving pace. Kara's movements were fast and hard, pushing Lena further into the depths of her pleasure. Lena moaned and whimpered, unable to stop herself, as Kara's fingers took her to her peak, each thrust deliciously stroking that sweet spot deep within her. She wanted to tell Kara that yes, she was hers, only hers, because Lena had always been hers- she could never belong to anyone else, but the pleasure took away her ability to form coherent sentences.

Lena gasped as she felt Kara add a third finger, the delicious stretch causing her to cry out, loudly. Kara's lips crash against her own again, muffling her screams of pleasure. The ropes bit into her wrists painfully as she pulled at them, unable to keep her body from arching towards Kara. She felt her pleasure peaking, reaching the edge, and desperately moved her hips against Kara's hands, pressing against her harder.

Kara, probably sensing Lena's desperation, curled her fingers, causing Lena to cry out again, the sound muffled by Kara's lips.

"Cum for me." Kara whispered against Lena's lips, and Lena's body immediately responded to the command. Lena came undone, waves of pleasure washing over her, building and building until they crested in an explosive climax. She clenched tightly around Kara's fingers, the intensity of her release consuming her as she surrendered to Kara's control and her own pleasure, gasping and moaning. Finally, Kara's fingers slowed down, bringing Lena down from her orgasm. Lena, breathless and wholly consumed by the pleasure, fell back into the couch, her body finally sated.

Kara slowly undid the ties around Lena's wrists, her touch now gentle and tender, and placed a soft kiss to each of Lena's wrists. When Lena's hands were freed, she looked up at Kara, smiling softly. Kara's gaze was on Lena's neck, and Lena saw her lips curl into a self satisfied smirk. "I might have been a bit too eager," Kara said, a playful tone lacing her words, as her fingertips caressed Lena's neck, where Lena knew that Kara had left marks. "Looks like I've left a mark. Sorry."

Lena laughed softly, because she knew that Kara was definitely not sorry. Those were marks of Kara's possessiveness. Lena reached up to Kara's hand on her neck, and laced her fingers with Kara's before leaning in, capturing Kara's lips in a tender kiss.

She broke the kiss and pressed their foreheads together, their breaths mingling in the space between them,

"You know you never have to worry, darling" Lena reassured Kara, "The only person I want to be dancing with is you. I love you."

She saw Kara'a soft lips curl into a sweet smile at her words, and Lena's heart fluttered.

"Good. I love you too," Kara whispered, "Now, let's get out of here. There are people here to see you, Miss Luthor."

Lena groaned, and slumped against the couch. "No. Let's stay here. This is perfect. And we’re not done yet,” Lena said, her eyes scanning Kara’s exquisite body.

Kara stood up, and reached down to pull a reluctant Lena up as well, laughing.

"Don't worry, I have much more in store for you later tonight, my love. But only if you behave," Kara teased, and the Lena's desires immediately reignited.

"And what if I don't behave?" Lena asked, turning to look at Kara, a hint of challenge in her voice.

A wicked glint flashed in Kara's eyes before she leaned in, her warm breath tickling Lena's ear. "Then, Miss Luthor, I might have to find creative ways to discipline you," she whispered, and her words sent shivers down Lena's spine. As Kara made to exit the room, she paused and turned around, her eyes soft, "I'm so proud of you, you know that, right?", she whispered.

"Thank you," she whispered, and she hoped that Kara knew that it wasn't just for this- it was for everything.

After Kara left Lena alone to get dressed, Lena exited the room and caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror just outside the entrance to the bustling ballroom. A gasp escaped her lips as she beheld her reflection. There, on her neck, was a very visible mark left behind by Kara, vivid against her pale skin.

With a soft laugh, she swiftly undid the clips that held her hair in an elegant chignon. The dark tresses cascaded down, strategically covering the evidence of their intimate rendezvous. She entered the ballroom, already waiting for the end of the event as Kara's promises for later echoed in her mind.

#supercorp #kara danvers #lena luthor #supergirl #supercorp fanfic #kara x lena #kara zor el #fanfic #supercorp smut #bottom lena #top kara #kara danvers x lena luthor #smut #spicycorp

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afeelgoodblog · 11 months

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The Best News of Last Week - June 6, 2023

1. Biden orders 20-year ban on oil, gas drilling around tribal site in New Mexico

Hundreds of square miles in New Mexico will be withdrawn from further oil and gas production for the next 20 years on the outskirts of Chaco Culture National Historical Park that tribal communities consider sacred, the Biden administration ordered Friday.

The new order from Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland applies to public lands and associated mineral rights within a 10-mile (16-kilometer) radius of the park. It does not apply to entities that are privately, state- or tribal-owned. Existing leases won’t be impacted either.

2. Groundbreaking Israeli cancer treatment has 90% success rate

An experimental treatment developed at Israel's Hadassah-University Medical Center has a 90% success rate at bringing patients with multiple myeloma into remission.

The treatment is based on genetic engineering technology. They have used a genetic engineering technology called CAR-T, or Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy, which boosts the patient’s own immune system to destroy the cancer. More than 90% of the 74 patients treated at Hadassah went into complete remission, the oncologists said.

3. Federal Judge Makes History in Holding That Border Searches of Cell Phones Require a Warrant

With United States v. Smith, a district court judge in New York made history by being the first court to rule that a warrant is required for a cell phone search at the border, “absent exigent circumstances”. For a century, the Supreme Court has recognized a border search exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement.

4. Indigenous-led bison repopulation projects are helping the animal thrive again in Alberta

Indigenous-led efforts are reintroducing bison to their ancestral lands in Alberta, bringing back an iconic species that was nearly extinct. These reintroduction projects, such as the one led by the Tsuut'ina Nation, have witnessed the positive impact on the bison population and the surrounding wildlife.

The historical decline of bison numbers was due to overhunting and government policies that forced Indigenous peoples onto reserves. These initiatives aim to restore ecological integrity while fostering spiritual and cultural connections with the land and animals. Successful results have been observed in projects like Banff National Park, where the bison population has grown from 16 to nearly 100, providing inspiration for future wilding efforts.

5. Breakthrough in disease affecting one in nine women

Sydney researchers have made a world-first leap forward that could change the treatment of endometriosis and improve the health of women living with the painful and debilitating disease. Researchers from Sydney's Royal Hospital for Women have grown tissue from every known type of endometriosis, observing changes and comparing how they respond to treatments.

It means researchers will be able to vary treatments from different types of endometriosis, determining whether a woman will need fertility treatments.

6. Latvia just elected the first openly gay head of state in Europe

The country’s parliament elected Edgars Rinkēvičs to be its next president, Reuters reported prime minister Krišjānis Kariņš saying.

Rinkēvičs publicly came out as gay in November 2014, posting on Twitter: “I proudly announce I am gay… Good luck all of you.” In a second tweet at the time, he spoke about improving the legal status of same-sex relationships, saying Latvia needed to create a legal framework for all kinds of partnerships.

7. France bans short haul flights

The introduction of France’s short-haul flight ban has renewed calls for Europe to cut down on journeys that could be made by train. Last week France officially introduced its ban on short-haul flights.

The final version of the law means that journeys which can be taken in under 2.5 hours by train can’t be taken by plane. There also needs to be enough trains throughout the day that travellers can spend at least eight hours at their destination.

----

That's it for this week :)

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#best news of last week

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religion-is-a-mental-illness · 2 months

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Yes, let's talk about "your" pronouns for a moment, because I have some thoughts on the matter...

What's that? Oh, silly me. By "let's talk about," what you actually mean is "unquestioningly comply with my demands."

Be that as it may, "we" - which is to say, "I" - am going to talk about it regardless.

Let's analyze this for a moment.

She gives the game away right up front: blue heart is for boys, pink heart is for girls. This ideology is based on stereotypes. If you still doubt this, I don't know what else to show you to convince you.

Secondly, her "gender" isn't a profound knowledge of personal identity, because it changes faster than the weather. I'm not even sure it's her personality, because anyone whose personality changes that rapidly and that wildly has some kind of severe disorder. What she's calling "gender" seems to be nothing but her mood.

Thirdly, and I keep having to repeat this, if your "gender" requires others to participate, then it's not a "deeply personal sense of self." Just like your faith cannot be "a personal relationship with Jesus" if everybody else has to pray or refrain from pointing out the flaws in the bible. "Gender is a social construct" means that your "gender" only "exists" to the extent people play along. People are sick of being bullied into pretending for narcissists.

More importantly, you don't get to make others participate and then deny them any say or input. You can't give people an obligation with no authority, because if you think you can, then others can give you an obligation with no authority.

And you don't get to make others responsible for your mental wellbeing, to carry the burden you cannot or will not, and then get angry when they don't meet your standards or decline the obligation at all. You are responsible for you. Trying to make other people responsible for your emotions or mental state is psychotic. Xians insist that humans - and particularly children - are responsible for keeping their god happy, evidently because he cannot do it himself. You're just as much of an immature psychopath. We are not responsible for keeping you from bursting like a fragile soap bubble.

You can have a personal, unquestionable conviction, or you can have a matter of public interest and discussion. As soon as you insist others participate, you forfeit the right to cordon your beliefs off from scrutiny. If you want your beliefs to go unmolested, then keep them to yourself.

If it's nobody else's business, don't make it other people's business. You can't claim your "gender" is nobody else's business, nobody else gets a say, and then insist it is their business to comply with these demands and prop the whole delusion up.

Private concern or public interest. Choose one.

Fourthly, anyone who comes up with rules like this is a sociopath who is trying to control, manipulate and trap others. Since third-person pronouns are used primarily when someone is not present, when referring to an individual when talking to others, this is a form of authoritarian thought-control. You do not get to dictate how others must see you or think of you. They get to decide for themselves what they think of you, regardless of whether or not you like it, and it's none of your business. And if your sense of self is so flimsy that you must coerce them to conform their view of you to your own view of yourself, then you have bigger problems than "your" pronouns.

When she walks into room, people stiffen because they have to talk like idiots around her - and that's part of the appeal. She wants to be "misgendered," because who is she if she's not a marginalized victim and the center of attention? That's the trick: either you comply, and she wins, or you refuse, and she gets to pretend to be a victim and she wins. Nobody's obliged to pay attention to these insane, imaginary rules, much less play along. When she's already gamed it to win no matter what, the only way for you to win is to retain your integrity and self-respect and tell the truth.

And finally, you do not have pronouns. The pronouns belong to the language, in this case, English. The English language has pronouns for you. You don't have your own pronouns any more than you have your own conjugations or your own adjectives. Other languages, such as German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese and Japanese, have their own structures, and they're not for you to "fix" with your stupid activism.

And yes, languages change. They evolve through common usage and common acceptance, not through narcissists performing blunt-force creationism enforced with emotional manipulation and vilification.

She's an average, unremarkable girl who's found a socially acceptable way to control other people and pretend to be interesting.

My adjectives are amazing/brilliant/impressive.

Misadjectiving is hate. #BeKind

P.S. I miss the days when pink, green or blue dyed hair was a sign of rebellion and uniqueness, rather than a predictable trope and red flag that warns the world about all your views and opinions before you ever open your mouth. #MakeDyedHairCoolAgain

#gender identity #pronouns #pronoun culture #nonbinary #tell the truth #narcissism #gender ideology #intersectional feminism #gender identity ideology #malignant narcissism #queer theory #Be Kind #authoritarianism #woke authoritarianism #religion is a mental illness

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galene-gothic · 1 year

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𝖱𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗒𝗈��𝗋 𝖿𝗎𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾

୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅* ‧₊ I hope this reading found you in good health, every reblog is appreciated and thank you for everything :) ˖♡ ˎˊ˗ ꒰ 🐇 ꒱

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗ PAID SERVICES

⸼ ۫ ︎︎⊹ ! 🪡︎ Pile 1 ꒱

✬ They're a traditional person in many ways and also a traditional lover

✬ They'll get you flowers, buy you stuff and help you out with everything that they can help you with once they're sure that they like you (even when you've not entered a relationship yet)

✬ They are extremely dependable and expect the same from their partner too

✬ They might have major taurus placements

✬ They're really well mannered, the type to not speak with food in their mouth or the type to wait for the person who bought them the meal to eat first

✬ They might also avoid cursing in public

✬ You'll see them as someone who knows a lot, they might know about various different topics that aren't even related to each other

✬ They're a very wise and mature person, they've learnt a lot throughout life and have a strong moral code

✬ They want a committed and strong relationship that's also a very strong investment (they won't be interested in marrying or dating someone who has nothing to offer)

✬ They care about the finer things in life and are extremely ethereal

✬ They make everything around them beautiful, comfortable and luxurious to their own liking

✬ They are a sensual and materialistic person who wants the finer things in life and will work for it

✬ They like to be taken seriously but they are actually very funny

✬ People might not express or be able to see how wise they are at times but the ones that do really appreciate them

✬ They have people who can't forget them even after a long time has passed by

✬ Your beliefs will probably align with each other's and when they don't, you'll learn from each other

✬ They prefer deep conversations over small talk

✬ They enjoy travelling and don't mind paying for everything as long as you're good company according to them

✬ They want a 'grow old together' kind of love

✬ They believe in themself but they have the tendency to be incredibly hard on themself

✬ They're grateful about life's experiences though

✬ Even though they're traditional, they understand the need for space, they'll give you enough space to grow and experience life and will expect the same in return

✬ You'll be able to count on them whenever you're struggling

⸼ ۫ ︎︎⊹ ! 🪡︎ Pile 2 ꒱

✬ They're an optimistic and confident person

✬ They warm up whatever environment they're in

✬ They like expressing themselves (in terms of values and positive emotions) and presenting themselves as a warm and bright person

✬ They're the kind of person that won't dim their light just because it makes others uncomfortable and they do have the tendency to make insecure people uncomfortable

✬ You'll just look at them and wonder how they're so optimistic and open

✬ They're someone who a lot of people look up to

✬ They are the center of attention wherever they go

✬ They're going to be very successful when you meet them and I'm getting that they're already pretty successful in their own ways, they're someone who anyone would look at and can predict that they'll be successful in the future

✬ They know how to have fun and I'm getting that you both will share a bond where when one of you enters the room or conversation, that's when the other thinks to themself 'finally, this place is going to be fun'

✬ They have a lot of willpower to make their dreams come true, they're a hard worker and also a natural leader (people naturally follow them)

✬ They possess a lot of charisma and it stems from their personal integrity and understanding nature

✬ You both will feel really excited but also very sleepy around each other because it's a comfortable and cosy atmosphere

✬ Their positive outlook on life is truly admirable

✬ You'll both absolutely adore each other

✬ You'll both feel so lucky to have met each other, there's a lot of admiration, adoration and understanding towards the other

✬ They go around spreading happiness and know how to grab opportunities

✬ They're a driven individual who knows how to make things happen for them

✬ 'You win some, you lose some, that's life, not me though, I win all, lose none' energy, even when they do lose something they gain an experience, they gain a lesson

✬ You'll feel physically hot around each other because sparks will be flying

✬ They're confident and will completely sweep you off your feet

✬ They'll know how to make you feel like you're the only one in the room, I'm getting a lot of 'pretending to look around the room when they're actually looking for the you' energy here

✬ It'll be difficult to hide your feelings for each other, people around you will notice the tension between the both of you, many will ship you or atleast guess that something's going on

✬ You'll both flirt with each other in many different ways, flirting with eyes, comparing hang sizes and roasting each other

✬ They'll fill your life with excitement and comfort

✬ They'll like your eyes

⸼ ۫ ︎︎⊹ ! 🪡︎ Pile 3 ꒱

✬ They really care about their reputation and the way they present themself is very important to them

✬ They might have something that they're really good at

✬ They're a skilled individual who knows how to create the life they wish to live

✬ They're dedicated, ambitious and confident

✬ They are busy achieving their goals and are extremely focused on them

✬ They might be a life path 11

✬ They are diligent and have high standards (both regarding themself and others in their life)

✬ They might be kinda commitment phobic when you first meet them

✬ They inspire and motivate others to be the best version of themselves

✬ One of you really likes wearing black

✬ You'll have a lot of interesting conversations when you're alone with each other but act kinda indifferent when others are around

✬ They're intelligent and cautious with who and what they invest their energy into

✬ They present themself as a go getter who's charming, warm and has a lot of energy

✬ They'll sweep you off your feet and you'll feel really excited around them

✬ They'll be attracted to you like a moth to a flame because I'm getting that they wouldn't want to get attached to anyone when they first meet you

✬ I'm getting a temporary parting here, they'll really miss you during this time, when they'll see you again, they'll just want to come to you and express their feelings but since not much will have happened between the both of you, they'll choose to keep things light

✬ They'll feel really passionate towards you and will eventually just choose to accept it and pursue you

✬ 'Make you mine' started playing, oh my god, that's what the energy will feel like

✬ You might both end up saying mean things to each other, very impulsively too

✬ A crush like energy here, frustration, attraction, denial, happiness, resistance, etc.

✬ They'll be able to see themselves spending their entire life with you really early on but they'll choose not to

✬ You'll be in a similar energy too, 'too tired to date' is the energy that you'll be in when you first meet them but you'll be trying to stay open to love

✬ 'Marry your daughter' started playing, you'll both share an emotional connection right from the start even when you don't want to, this is so cute

#pac #tarot reader #tarot pac #tarot pick a card #tarotblr #pick a card reading #future spouse #future spouse pick a card #intuitive readings

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withwritersblock · 2 months

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Shadow in the Sun

~Shadow in the Sun by Joe P~

Author's Note: this song is such a BANGER. also, it's always the girl who gets feelings in a friends with benefits situation. Not this time *wink* As always italics are flashbacks Summary: Cole gets feelings in a fwb situation Warnings: Implied smut, cursing, toxic reader Word Count: 2,200 Cole Caufield x fm!reader

It was a bad idea. It’s always the one who offers the idea of friends with benefits who gets hurt. He never realized that maybe the reason he wanted this arrangement with her was more than mere attraction. Mere sexual tension.

The arrangement had the same stereotypical rules. Dont catch feelings. End it if feelings get involved. Well, months ago Cole caught feelings. Did he stop it? Of course not. He always knew that maybe he’s always had feelings for her but he convinced himself he didn’t.

He stared towards her as he slowly brought his cocktail to his lips.

He was sweating as he panted hard as he rolled onto his back opening his arms allowing her to rest her head onto his chest. She brushed her hair away from her face as she took a deep breath. Instead of taking his invitation she laid on her own pillow staring towards the ceiling fan spinning fast. Praying it would help cool her off.

He shut his eyes hard as he squinted the sweat away from his eyes. It was fun; the whole no strings attached laws. It was fun to see each other in the bar with each other's friends knowing that they’d leave together and have one hell of a night together. They were drunk and already two rounds deep.

She rolled her body onto her side to stare at his side profile. He turned his head to meet her gaze as he took another deep breath. “You just keep getting better and better,” she mumbled as she pressed her lips to his cheek as she began climbing off of the bed. In search of her clothes, he furrowed his eyebrows as he trailed her movements.

“Thank you?” he let out in a questioning tone. His voice was rasped from the night's activity. He leaned back on his elbows as the blanket fell from the center of his chest to only cover below his v-line. “It’s late, you don’t have to go back to your apartment,” he expressed.

She smiled widely as she squeezed the tight top over her body, “No sleepovers, Caufield, you know that,” she said as she pulled her jeans up onto her body. She let out a huff of air, “Good luck tomorrow,” she said before she walked out of his bedroom.

His lips pulled between his teeth as he shook his head as he collapsed on his back staring towards the ceiling fan. “Fucking hell,” he let out.

It was the off season, just a few weeks shy of the pre-season activities starting. The new members of the team were in town and it was time to start integrating them into their team. They were all in the bar with their friends, partners, and even families.

She was the sister of one of the players on the team. Since Cole was close with everyone it was easier for the pair to get along.

She was fiery and confident. She was the sun and everyone around her glowed. He’s never been attracted to someone who was so confident and willing to speak her mind. But something about her and the way she looked towards him had him locked in from day one. It was difficult to not be attracted to her. She was everything. There was always this look in her eye that would have him on his knees.

Every time they were in public together, their tension would fill the room as they both would yearn for each other’s touch. It was as if she would give him one look and was ready to call an Uber to take them both back to his apartment. Except tonight was different.

She stood at the edge of the bed as he was kissing her urgently. Her hands traced the curve of his muscles, the feeling of his biceps under hands sent electricity through her veins. His lips moved to her jaw as he trailed wet kisses from her jawline, down the skin of her neck.

He slowly kissed her collar bones as he lowered his lips passed her chest to the center of her stomach, his hands holding her in place as her fingers ran throug his hair, tugging at the reddish strands. His tongue circled as his fingers began tugging at the lacey mesh of her underwear. “Sit,” he demanded.

He cleared his throat as he finished the glass as he placed it onto the bar top. He dropped his gaze towards the bartender who was already handing him another drink. He smiled towards the bartender, sliding a twenty from his pocket towards him. He took a long sip as his eyes searched for hers instead she was met with Nick and Caitlin walked towards him.

“Cole Caufield not being the center of attention? I’m shocked,” Nick teased as the bartender handed the pair new drinks. Nick handed him a twenty as well. Cole rolled his eyes as his cheeks flushed pink.

“Shut up Nicholas,” Cole let out as he dragged his tongue over his bottom lip to see Y/N smiling as she was walking towards the three of them. There was like a yellow hue over her as she was walking in slow motion. She was the sun.

“I’m liking Alex, he’s gonna fit great,” Nick muttered as he leaned his body against the bar top. Cole simply nodded as he met her gaze. She smiled a cocky smile as she met his eyes.

“Yeah,” Cole let out as he cleared his throat, “He’s funny,” he continued as he forced his gaze towards Nick.

She stopped short, greeting the other bartender. It was another part of their rules, ever since their arrangement started five months ago, they were not allowed to be near each other in group hang outs. They didn’t want to reveal anything to any of their mutual friends. He needed it to be kept a secret, he couldn’t have anyone in his ear telling him it was a bad idea.

“Did something happen with you and Y/N?” Caitlin asked. Cole’s eyes widened as he shook his head. He brought the glass to his lips. “I thought you guys used to be friends,” she questioned. He nodded.

“We are,” was all he could spit out. Nick stared towards him suspiciously as he shifted his gaze towards Caitlin. She raised her eyebrows as she fought off a smirk toying to her lips.

“Just sex, right?” she asked as he pulled away from her lips and began kissing her neck, sucking on the skin. He hummed, her breath caught in her throat at the sensation. “No strings,” she let out breathily. He lifted his gaze to meet her eye.

“If you don’t want to do this-”

She took a hold of his neck and pulled her towards him, devouring his lips.

“I need this,” she muttered as she pulled away. He smirked as he began trailing kisses against her skin.

The conversation rang through his mind as Nick and Caitlin were staring back towards him. Nick could easily tell that Cole was hiding something, so could Caitlin because Cole was horrible at hiding his face. His face wore every emotion he was feeling.

Nick’s eyes widened as he took a small step towards him, “Oh my god, did you..?” he trailed off as Cole’s eyes widened as he dramatically shook his head. “You’re a horrible liar,”

~~~

It had been a few days since Nick found out about Cole and Y/N. Cole was still quiet on the details but Nick begged him to shut it down. It was hard to want to stop the arrangement because he wanted to make the arrangement into something more. But the way she was flirting with some of the random locals in the bar last night added to his suspicions that she doesn’t feel the same way.

Apparently, she was very good at keeping emotions out of sex. Cole on the other hand wanted a life with her and not one that was behind locked doors.

She was on her way over and Cole wanted to tell her how he was feeling. It could go in two ways. She feels the same way and they start an amazing romantic relationship or she doesn’t feel the same way and they end their arrangement to spare anymore of Cole’s feelings.

He lifted his gaze as there was a sound of four knocks on his door. “Come in!” he shouted as he licked his lips nervously. She excitedly entered the apartment with two bags from an online lingerie store. Cole blinked rapidly as she bit her lowerlip excitedly as she walked towards him.

“I’ve got some new lingerie, dark green and the other one is dark blue. Which one do you want to see first?” she asked as she held up the bags. His lips parted slightly as he pushed his tongue against the inside of his mouth as he scanned her perfected features. He pointed to the bag with the dark green one as he wandered back towards his bedroom.

Maybe next time, he’ll say something because right now he needs to see her in her new lingerie. He slowly sat down on his bed, leaning back against his hands as he patiently waited for her to walk into his bedroom.

After a few more minutes, she knocked on the bedroom door before she pushed it open and confidently strutted into the bedroom. She spun in a slow circle showing off every revealing part of her body in the dark color.

“Fuck,” is all he could let out as she slowly walked towards him, smirking.

“Do you like it?” she let out, shyly. The first time in their whole arrangement she felt or even looked shy. He nodded as his gaze scanned her body again. His hand rested on the lace underwear that revealed more than it covered. His hands slowly ran from her lower back to the curve of her ass.

She leaned towards him and kissed him slowly as her hands ran into his hair. Tugging the ends of it slightly as he continued to run his hands along her frame.

He pulled away from her as he shook his head, “I can’t do this, Y/N,” he let out as he slowly pulled his hands away from her body. She remained on his lap as she stared towards him, confusion written all over her features.

“What?” she asked, her heart beating out of her chest.

“I can’t do this anymore,” he let out as she finally stood up from his lap. He stood up from the bed, walking over to the robe hanging on the hook outside of his bathroom door. He handed it towards her, letting her cover her frame. She reluctantly took a hold of it and covered her body with it.

“Since when?” she asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“We said no strings, Y/N,”

“That’s what we’re doing? I don’t understand,” she said as she shook her head, she met his gaze and saw the sad smile on his lips as he tilted his head to the side.

“Oh,” she mumbled. She stood awkwardly, unsure of how to reply because she was still with the whole no strings side of things.

He clenched his jaw as he dropped his head. She didn’t feel the same way. He should’ve known. Taking a deep breath, “I think you should go,” he muttered before he went towards his bed, alone.

“Cole,” she pleaded.

“No it’s okay. Don’t feel bad,” he met her gaze briefly before he looked back down towards his lap as he began fiddling with the end of his blanket. “I’ll get over it,” he muttered, his voice cracked as he spoke.

She took a deep breath before she began walking out of the bedroom. She dropped the robe off of her body before she walked out of the room. He bit his bottom lip as he nodded his head a few times. He pulled his phone from the side table to distract his mind.

After a few more minutes his bedroom door had been pushed open and Y/N was standing in the doorway. Her former clothes covered her frame. “How long?” she asked, her eyes teary.

“What?” he asked, his breath caught in his throat.

“How long have you had feelings, Cole?” she asked again, frustratingly. He stayed quiet, avoiding her gaze. “Because I feel like it’s been a while and I was trying not to see it because you would’ve told me. You should’ve told me,” she said as she stepped back into the bedroom.

“Why does it matter? You know now,” he replied, his voice breaking again.

“I don’t like hurting people, Cole. We said we would tell each other when feelings got involved. I didn’t want to hurt you,” she let out as a tear fell on her cheek.

“Seriously, Y/N. I’m a big boy, I’ll get over it,” he let out as he stood up from the bed. She clenched her jaw as she licked her lips before she walked out of his bedroom for the last time that night.

#cole caufield #cole caufield x reader #cole caufield imagine #cole caufield imagines #montreal canadiens #montreal canadiens x reader #juraj slafkovsky #nick suzuki #Kirby dach #nhl imagines #nhl #nhl x reader #nhl fic #hockey #arber xhekaj

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lilyginnyblackv2 · 1 year

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Buddy Daddies and Existing Outside of Social Norms:

I love how all of the named characters in Buddy Daddies has something about them that places them outside of societal norms. Some of them are more integrated into the regular systems and flows of society to some extent, but others are very divorced from it.

1. Kazuki, Rei, Kyutaro, and Ryo: They all work within an organization centered around assassination.

We don’t know as much about Kyutaro and Ryo yet, but facts like how their names (either last name in the case of Kyutaro or both their first and last in the case of Ryo, seem to be aliases, due to them not existing at all or in the way they are written and read phonetically, also adds to this).

Meanwhile, Kazuki didn’t grow up with his parents. It seems he was a child who was part of the system. Many of these children often slip through the cracks.

And Rei...Well, Rei grew up within a hitman-based organization and did not have a normal childhood. We don’t know much about Rei’s past yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Rei didn’t get much traditional schooling (and therefore no traditional socialization) either because of this. We’ll have to wait and see on that though.

2. Misaki, Carol, and Dorothy: All women who work within the adult entertainment industry. This is an industry that faces discrimination in Japan still (for example, during the height of the pandemic, adult entertainment workers were excluded from the Covid Aid Package, thankfully, there was public pushback on this - link to an article discussing this topic will be in the comments below).

Misaki is also a single mother, which means she exists outside of the heteronormative “nuclear family” structure. Her being shown as a resentful mother is also something outside of the norm that is often presented of mothers in media (in general).

Meanwhile, in regards to Carol and Dorothy, we can see that Carol has darker skin. She may have naturally darker skin or she could tan her skin. Regardless, darker skin is often looked down upon on women (or fetishized due to the connection it has with the Gal street fashion, which is a whole other can of worms). And Dorothy’s two-tone hair makes her stand out instantly.

Their names are also non-Japanese. They could be fake names that they use to sound more cutesy and appealing to customers (and for safety), but this could also be an indicator that they are biracial, which also makes them stand apart from “the norm” of Japanese society (despite the fact that number of biracial children in Japan is growing more and more with each year).

All of this is speculation that we may or may not get any further clarification on in the future regarding these two characters, regardless, their line of work and how they choose to express and present themselves makes them stand apart from the rest of Japanese society on some level.

The rest I’ll put under a Read More.

3. Yuzuko and Karin - Now, we don’t know much about Yuzuko, but her marriage to Kazuki instantly placed her outside of normal society, due to the nature of his work.

And Karin states that she wants to study fashion abroad in France. The number of Japanese living permanently abroad is at a record high currently (as of 2023).

Her desire to learn and study abroad is an example of someone in the cast physically leaving the system and society in place in Japan. It’s for study, but it still shows her having a passion that requires her to exist outside of Japan.

5. Miss Anna - She works in childcare, an accepted field, and doesn’t have anything about her outward appearance that would set her apart (no tan skinned, no dyed hair). However, she isn’t skinny and that does set her apart from what is viewed as “normal” society.

Being overweight in Japan is still viewed as rare, even though there are plenty of Japanese people who aren’t thin, however, the stereotypical image in society is still attached to thinness. That means Miss Anna exists outside of the societal norm. She won’t be able to walk into any clothing store in Japan and have any and all options available to her and there are also likely other issues that she faces in society because of her weight as well, that others simply would not, doubly so since she is a woman.

4. Miri - She is the product of a mistress and mafia boss. Her father was associated with the underworld part of society, and her mother is in an industry that is discriminated against (on a governmental level as previously noted). Now, she is living with Kazuki and Rei. She has always been in a family structure that was against the societal norms of the heteronormative nuclear family, but at least with her mother they shared a name.

Whether Miri was registered under a koseki (family register) or not is unknown. But given the situation, it is possible she’s not or wasn’t. We don’t know exactly what Kazuki did for the forged paperwork to get her into daycare. But we do know that they all kept their own last names and that one of the themes the series wants to focus on is a “bloodless” family. So having a family set up like this and having Miss Anna point out that they all have different names, could be a social commentary on the koseki system, since it is so heavily tied to blood relation. (This is something I saw someone on Twitter mention).

Of course, we still have a number of episodes to go, so who knows how they will continue to handle Miri’s status in this regard, as well as the role of her mother, and if we will learn any more of how the relationship between Kazuki, Miri, and Rei is presented in the forged papers.

We know that the “story” they are telling everyone is that Miri is a relative’s kid. Now, we know that Buddy Daddies takes place in Fukuoka, but what city isn’t made 100% clear (as of yet, as far as I know - if someone does know though, please feel free to share!). One city in Fukuoka, known as Koga City has a (ファミリーシップ) “Familyship” system in place (this is a system that allows same-sex households with children to be viewed as actual “families” and therefore have more access to rights, benefits, and tools that can help with childcare that a simple Partnership wouldn’t allow them access to).

In that system, the child in question has to be related to one of the people in the Partnership, either through birth or adoption (but in Japan, same-sex couples can’t adopt kids and adopted kids must change their last names to that of their adopted parents because of the koseki system). Miri could be viewed as being fostered by Kazuki and Rei, since same-sex couples are allowed to foster, but that still wouldn’t qualify them for the “Familyship” system. I’ll link to the Japanese page for Koga City that goes over the “Familyship” system for anyone interested. It also goes over the Partnership system too.

Anyway, given the nature of this series and how its focus is basically on found family and a bloodless family, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kazuki didn’t place them in a Partnership or Familyship and they are just existing as is. It would be the least “realistic” aspect of the more realistic child-care/SoL aspects of the series, but that may be due to the message they are trying to make.

Of course, the above is all based on pure speculation, since we just don’t know the details of any of the forgery paperwork stuff. But, definitely some food for thought at the very least, and fitting for the “outside of normal society” message they have going on with all the characters thus far.

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kimsohn · 11 months

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we all want what we can't have

pairing . prince! jake x knight! gn reader (ft. yuna of itzy) about . 5.4k words, fluff + angst warnings . i wrote this 2 years ago so brace yourself. there's angst but it has a happy ending! jake is a flirt and yuna is gay (cause why not). this is written in a style that is meant to mimic romantic old-fashioned fantasy but i didn't do a very good job of it 😭 as always, terribly sorry in advance for this monstrosity.

synopsis . you thought coming face-to-face with prince jake would be the end of you, but sadly, getting dubbed by him seemed to be the least of your worries. note. this was originally a secret santa fic with a different idol, so sorry if there are name mistakes! this is also a repost from my old account if it seems familiar. i also apparently wrote this at 4am so please excuse the mess that this is. tagging . @stealanity @haerinz

Far, far away, past the weeping willows of the dark forests and the scorching sands of the sunburnt deserts, there laid a small vine opening, covered with twigs and vines, embedded in secrecy. Only those who seek this door could enter, and only those who dared to venture could truly experience the treasure they were meant to seek for.

Here beyond this secret entrance lay the land of Senkō, a land filled with prosperity and enchantment alike. Home to one of the world’s most charming cities, this empire carried an aura of purity that wrapped around and around and encased you tight, never wanting to let go.

And in the center of it lay a prince to match, feasting on the fresh pears from the palace garden and radiating a smile that could rival that of the blazing ball of fire that shone upon him.

“Master Jake! You shouldn’t be eating those pears; those are for the royal family’s bouquet at the end of the month!”

Jake leaned against the tree, eyeing the half-eaten pear in his hands, before glancing at the short maid who had come to warn him against his irresponsible actions.

And then he grinned.

He watched the maid’s cheeks turn bright red, resembling the rubicund apples in the orchard nearby. Nations far and beyond have acknowledged Prince Jake’s dazzling smile and incredibly handsome aura, and he was well aware of it, using it to his advantage to get out of trouble. Being flattering was simply a pastime for him.

“Are you sure I can’t have a few more pears? I’m sure I can… let you have a bite of this one if you wish.”

The maid turned profusely beet red as if she couldn’t have possibly turned into more of a tomato, and with a quick squeal, she scampered back into the castle, leaving behind a laughing Jake and a half-eaten pear.

“Didn’t know you were the designated castle flirt,” a familiar voice remarked, causing Jake’s eyes to shift to the new subject.

“You seem quite observant, Commander Sunghoon. I wonder if you would like a bite too?”

Jake dangled the pear in front of Sunghoon, commander of the royal army and his best friend, only to be met with mock disgust and a silent scoff.

“Quite humorous aren’t you, Prince Jake? Anyhow, I’ve come to ask for your presence at the induction ceremony for our recruits. Can’t have the nation’s brightest soldiers be dulled by the absence of the ever so coquettish prince, can we?”

Jake, biting the last part of the almost-finished pear, met Sunghoon’s glance with a smile. “Well, what are we waiting for? Lead the way.”

You were quite nervous.

Throughout all the rigorous training you’ve endured for the past two years, you’ve never felt so anxious. Wielding a blade and charging headfirst were tasks that came most naturally to you, but social integration and public speaking were far from your line of expertise. A million uncertainties were running through your mind at the very prospect of failure in being dubbed a soldier, and you hoped you wouldn’t end up being the nation’s royal laughingstock.

What if you tripped on stage? What if you accepted the wrong award? What if you—

“Nervous?” you heard a voice murmur next to you, filled with light amusement and tender undertones.

“In your dreams Ni-ki,” you whispered back, not willing to show weakness, although you supposed your best friend knew you better than you knew yourself.

He let out a soft chuckle, well knowing of your dishonesties, and patted your uniform-covered shoulder in a gesture for comfort.

“You’ll be fine Y/N. Besides, everyone tends to get a little weak-hearted while standing next to Prince Jake. If anything goes wrong you can just blame it on him!”

It’s not that simple, you wanted to retort, but you didn’t have the heart to diminish Nishimura’s extra-cheerful attitude today. So, you just dipped your head in respect as a mere thanks, hoping your nerves would settle down and let you breathe.

“Oh, that’s my name! See you on stage Y/N!”

You watched as Ni-ki pranced onto the carpet-covered stage, a smile flitting across your face in pure affection. Eons ago, you both had vowed to become the finest soldiers of the royal guard and here you were today, fulfilling your dreams side by side.

You found your eyes shifting from the now kneeling Nishimura to the man upright in front of him, slender hands repositioning a blade from Ni-ki’s left shoulder to his right, a movement proclaiming your best friend’s newfound royal status.

Prince Jake. The man of everyone’s dreams and desires alike. You wished you weren’t prone to his charms, but alas, everyone has their weaknesses. Jake Sim’s smile just happened to be yours.

Having been lost in your contemplations, you hadn’t realized time was nearing your turn until your wandering eyes noticed Ni-ki making his way off the stage.

“And now, let us welcome the highest-ranking recruit of this division, Y/N!”

It felt like a blur walking onto the platform, clad in combat boots and your royal uniform. Despite the loud clapping and the shrill cheering from your comrades, your eyes were trained on the man adorned in regal blue, a man you supposed you’d need to grow accustomed to.

Your breath hitched as he stepped forward to perform your accolade, and you mentally cursed yourself for having the qualities of a fangirl at this very moment. Ni-ki was right; Prince Jake had the vexatious ability to take anyone’s breath away (not that you were complaining).

“I don’t suppose you need this dubbing,” you heard, the faintest whisper of a melody so familiar yet so unique, “for your skills are far more worthy of recognition than my blade.”

Cheeks burning, you turned akin to a beetroot as you bowed your head in respect, heart thumping at the mere delight of such a wonderful man praising yours truly.

“We mustn’t skip formalities, your royal highness,” you whispered back, kneeling on one leg before him, “because even one as skilled as me would enjoy the honor of your unsheathed steel on my shoulders.”

You sensed the lightest grin pass across his face as he performed the rite of passing, and as he helped you stand back up to shake his calloused palm, he leaned in to make the faintest promise.

“One day, I hope I can have the opportunity to duel with you, the ever-so-skilled Y/N, in a match of fencing. After all, you aren’t quite the only one to receive such honor, hmm?”

True to his word, Jake arranged a duel with you. Rather than just wanting to see your form in action, the fight was arranged for a more subtle aim: Jake’s desire to get to know you. Surprisingly, or rather, unsurprisingly, he admitted that he still remembered every detail of your first encounter. He knew it seemed a little obsessive, but then again, all the male characters in books have been victims of the love-at-first-sight syndrome.

Why exactly he found you so fascinating? He didn’t quite have the answer to that himself. Maybe it was the way your confidence was nowhere to be seen despite your highest-ranking title, or the fact that you were still able to utter out cautions about formalities despite looking like you were to go faint any moment. He couldn’t deny that he found you a little cute (just a little). He’d never had a knight fancy him, especially a high-ranking one, but he wasn’t one to carp. The thought of your duality merely aroused his attention, which is why he was so keen on carrying out this match.

Although, Jake’s plans didn’t exactly schedule themselves as he wanted, because when he arrived at the grass training grounds, uniform poised and blade in tow, he was met with the faces of the rest of your peers, eager eyes ready for action.

“Sunghoon, what is the meaning of this?”

“My apologies Jake, for how would the elders take it if the royal prince wanted an individual match with a recruit?”

“Oh, you know I meant no harm—”

“Obviously, however, other people simply don’t have the pleasure of knowing your royal highness as well as I do. I kindly ask you to adjust to the current circumstances and carry this forward as a teaching lesson, rather than a chance to fancy yourself with a new lover.”

Jake paled at Sunghoon’s words, turning to face him with an impeccable glare.

“Don’t be so surprised Jake; I too am capable of noticing wandering eyes. Whether your thoughts start as mere interest or mad infatuation, please be cautious of your actions. Tis the season to be betrothed, after all.”

With the warnings ringing throughout his ears, Jake stepped up to the platform, meeting your curious eyes. Simultaneously, you both bowed, and Jake was taken aback to the formalities you’d mentioned previously before. Today you looked more at ease, and he couldn’t quite figure out what for. Was it because combat came naturally to you? Or perhaps it was the reconnection of you both? Only time would tell.

Although this was an obligatory battle, seemingly for educational and ritual purposes, Jake could sense that you wouldn’t go easy on him. That wasn’t what worried him. Jake also wasn’t the most skilled in hand-to-hand combat, and he knew what the outcome of this event would be. That wasn’t what worried him either.

What worried him was the realization that he was excited to be with you again. He recalled the past few days, tracing through them to find that his mind had often wandered off to the upcoming battle with you. The thought of getting to know how you carried this particular interest of yours, the thought of meeting your gaze again, the thought of merely perceiving you had plagued his mind until this very moment. He felt like a fool, like a little boy eyeing a certain pastry he had craved through the windowsill. Maybe Sunghoon’s wandering eyes were right; maybe he was smitten with you.

He looked up to see you unsheathing your sword, preparing for the beginning. He mimicked your action, the blade unfamiliar and uncomfortable in his hands, designed to flaunt rather than to function. The both of you poised with your arm outstretched, blades crossing and knees bent.

He could tell by the slight grin on your face that you were well aware of the outcome. He wondered if you knew he visited for entirely different reasons than battle, but judging by your expression he knew the answer was quite evident.

He was so distracted by you that he didn’t even realize the start of the duel. He focused to see that you had knocked the heavy blade of out his hand (doing him a favor, really) and as it soared in the sky, you twirled him around and pulled his back flush against your frame, encompassing him in a body lock. Jake couldn’t care less about what you were doing to him. The mere feeling of you sharing contact with him was enough to make his brain go dizzy. And quite surprisingly, he sensed that you were affected too, due to the evident rising heartbeat against his chest.

As the fight commenced and the audience clapped (blasphemy really, Jake hadn’t carried out a single action the entire time), his attention focused on your figure, which was walking off the platform. He noted your slight trembling hands and your heavy breathing, accompanied by the lack of eye contact he had once received before.

Were you nervous? Embarrassed? Or perhaps, blushing? These thoughts haunted Jake as he returned to his chambers, falling into a restless sleep filled with you, you, and only you.

A couple of weeks later, you had the opportunity to tour the extravagant castle. It was a part of your training, in case the palace ever fell under attack and you were required to defend it, however, most of your comrades took it as an opportunity to finally experience a sliver of royalty that they had never had growing up. As most of you came from poor backgrounds, the diamond chandeliers and velvet carpets seemed daunting and awe-striking, and you swore some of your units had hearts in their eyes as they dragged their fingers along the winding corridors of the palace.

You, however, weren’t quite as interested. The sole purpose for your visit was education and you made sure to concern yourself with only that, disregarding most of the accessories and amenities the palace had to offer. You didn’t really focus on most of the extravagant interior (although that was probably the most vital segment in your training) because you knew it was filled with barely-touched rooms designed to complement and boast. All fortresses were built with the sole impression of looking majestic, and the only part you deemed important for your training were the places in which the royal family frequented.

You were told that Jake enjoyed the palace gardens, so you ventured off to exactly there, mentally mapping out particular landmarks that you help you familiarize layout. You could see exactly why he frequented this location; the white rose bushes and worn stone paths resounded a sense of serenity, and you soon forgot about the actual reason you were here, continuing to inhale every petal and feel every path of grass underneath your sole-covered toes.

Somehow you had found your way to the fountain, sitting on the edge and tracing your palm across the clear water drawing ripples. You had laughed when you first found the location because of the angel sitting atop the basin, reminding you exactly of the man behind the reason you had come here.

Jake. It always seemed to steer back to him. After your duel you simply couldn’t stop your brain from wandering off to his presence, the way he moved, his pretty eyelashes, his kissable li—

“Y/N, are you okay?”

You hadn’t realized you were extremely close to falling into the fountain until Jake’s voice resounded, bringing you out of your quite embarrassing daydream. A flush covered your rosy cheeks as you locked gazes with him and nodded, letting him pull you up to your feet and away from the water.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, gripping your shoulders lightly.

Your brain felt dizzy from the direct contact, and your throat dried up as you attempted to speak.

“Training, walking around memorizing—”

“Calm down Y/N, I understand. Please take a seat love, you must’ve had quite the shock from almost falling into that fountain,” he responded, gesturing to a patch of pasture as he pulled you down next to him.

If your brain wasn’t malfunctioning already, it definitely was now. Love. The word floated through your head like dandelion seeds in rough winds, like a kite gone lost. No one had ever called you such an endearing term before, and despite not knowing Jake’s intentions behind it, you still cherished the four letters he had chosen to label you.

You wondered what Jake would say if he knew the reason you almost fell was the fact that you were daydreaming about him. Or perhaps he already knew? You turned to ask him something of the sort, only to meet his preset gaze on you already.

Maybe it was a part of your imagination, but he stared at you as if you held the universe in your arms. If Jake Sim was the sun, he stared at you as if you were an even brighter star speckled somewhere far, far away from his vicinity, yet so, so close. His stare was so warm, so tender that it made you want to shine more brilliantly to keep that expression within his eyes and his heart and never, never ever let go of it.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” you found yourself asking instead, your tense atmosphere dissipating and shifting into something more fond, more affectionate.

“Like what?” he returned, a slight grin on his face indicating he already knew the answer.

“Like you’re in love with me,” you blurted out, the impact of your words hitting you only after you’d recited them.

His gaze shifted, turning into something rawer and more emotional, almost as if you had crossed an unknown boundary and he didn’t know how to react to it. You could feel regret filling your feelings, and maybe he sensed that too because he changed the topic, effectively shutting down any potential outbursts.

“Come on Y/N, let’s get you back to the castle. Your comrades must be worrying about your absence.”

Since then, it had become quite the regular occasion for you to cross paths with the prince in the palace gardens (willingly or unwillingly, you wouldn’t answer). Sometimes you had Ni-ki in tow (only for him to be cast aside anyway), and sometimes you strolled alone, subconsciously keeping an eye out for the man that had somehow bewitched your heavy heart.

You didn’t know when the line blurred between admiration and romance, but you quite simply didn’t care because the Jake Sim had given you his time in return for conversation. He seemed to be enjoying seeing you, talking to you, breathing with you, sitting with you so close that your shoulders almost touched and you could lean over and kiss him. Out of all the pretty humans, he wanted your time, your affection, your words, and your smiles. And you certainly weren’t complaining.

At times you’d find yourselves talking about anything and everything in the world, and at others, you’d fall into silence, bedridden with comfort. His presence grew consolatory to you, an aphrodisiac you’d simply succumbed to throughout the routine of your lifestyle. His figure often occupied your thoughts before you slept, and you’d wake up to the chirping birdcalls in anticipation of your next meeting. Dreaming, you were, as you floated with your feet in the dappled clouds blessed with the warm sunshine that was Jake’s laughter.

Deep within your mind, buried for a later reflection was the hidden notion of restriction, of not being allowed to fall for the charms of his royal highness. A dangerous tightrope you pranced on, shying towards his flirtatious advances and straying away from the acceptance of your feelings. You knew that one day had to come to terms with reality, but that day was not today, not yesterday, not tomorrow. Soon, you presumed, soon enough to infiltrate your worries but not soon enough for you to distance yourself from your growing affections.

One day, when the night sky was particularly clear and the white stars were particularly bright, Jake asked you a simple question.

“Y/N, what happens when you… you want something you can’t have?”

You turned to your side, meeting the heavy, cautious glance of the human next to you. Jake always seemed very grown up to you, perhaps because of his princely duties, but at this very moment, he resembled a childish boy, as if he had broken a vase behind his mother’s back and tried to hide from his consequences.

You couldn’t tell if you enjoyed his cautious vulnerability, but you did have the slightest inkling of the layers hidden underneath his seemingly simple question.

“Well, it’s human nature, your royal highness. I suppose it—”

“No but, what happens?” he prompted, effectively cutting your words off and leaving you wordless.

“Well,” you started after some consideration, trying to phrase your answer quite sensibly, “well then, it’s simple. You bear the consequences. Because Jake, we all want what we can’t have.”

And the look on his face haunted your dreams for many nights.

The royal banquet was an event many anticipated, Jake very well included. Delicacies from far and wide were served upon gold platters (made with numerous ingredients such as the pears Jake was discovered feasting on), and although it served as a chance for royal delegations with countries much like theirs, the entire palace staff was invited. It was an occasion simply to remember, and Jake being excited was a bit of an understatement.

Jake couldn’t deny that a factor of his enthusiasm was your attendance this year. Despite having many acquaintances, the only person Jake typically interacted with at formal events was Sunghoon, and your presence would be a nice contrast to his usual experience.

(And maybe he’d been waiting for a chance to see you outside of your occasional garden getaways, but he’d never admit to it.)

From the moment Jake arrived at the occasion, his eyes were searching for you. Although he knew training kept you for quite a while, his gaze was always focused on the entrance, hesitantly waiting with a chocolate mousse in hand.

“Sunghoon, when do you suppose the knights will arrive?”

“Your Highness, not to be disrespectful but you’ve asked this question thrice already. They will be here soon, I swear.”

“Sorry Sunghoon,” Jake responded, embarrassed but too bashful to care, “as you can see, I’m quite impatient.”

“It is quite obvious, your Highness. Here, why don’t we preoccupy ourselves with conversation? I’m sure our comrades from far and wide will be expectant to speak a few words with you, hmm? It will take your mind off, ahem, a particular other person.”

Conversation was the plan and Jake followed it, mingling with his guests to distract himself. As a prince, Jake was born and raised to frequent polite manners and converse equivalently, but truth be told, his usual acquaintances were young women seeking a way to his heart (and his money). At normal times he wouldn’t be bothered by such minor inconveniences, but today he just couldn’t seem to return the same flirtatious advances.

Maybe it was due to the certain soldier lingering at the tip of his tongue, the corners of his brain. Jake was extremely lucky that he was graced with a good enough appearance that women seemed to be entranced by because, without it, he most likely would’ve received complaints regarding his obvious disinterest towards people who garnered it.

He was able to flutter around casually until his mother pulled him aside, excitedly urging him to direct his attention to his father’s annual oration. Jake was, simply put, perplexed as to why she was so enthusiastic about a simple speech, but he followed his mother’s orders, anticipation bubbling inside his ever-so-faint heart.

He should’ve protected his heart while he could’ve.

“With proud honor, I would like to announce the betrothal of my son, Jake Sim, to the elegant princess of the Shin kingdom, Princess Yuna!”

The only emotion Jake felt was numbness. Despite Sunghoon shaking his shoulder like a madman and a multitude of cheers resounding around him, the only thing that phased Jake was the distant sound of a plate crashing, igniting an unknown fear hidden deep within his heart.

And as clapping echoed around Jake, he whipped around to see broken shards of glass speckled on the floor, and the love of his life running away with the intention of never seeing him again.

In many novels you had read the phrase ‘the heart grows fonder with distance’, but you never assumed it to be true until you started evading the prince.

It had been approximately three weeks since your last meeting (not that you were counting), and you seemed to be facing insanity. Once a narrative that followed romance novels, your tale now diverged into that of heartbreak and sorrow, betrayed by the person whom you were most bewitched by.

No books in your library explicated how to heal a torn heart, so you confided in the most trustworthy source you knew: Nishimura Riki.

“See Y/N, this is why you should never trust a man.”

“But Ni-ki you—”

“I’m the exception.”

Was your best friend the most suitable option for comfort? Mayhaps not, but he tried to the best of his abilities, and you appreciated his efforts.

Three consecutive knocks startled the both of you and before you could even stand upright, Ni-ki had opened the door, coming face to face with the royal commander. The both of you bowed to your superior, who merely waved the formalities off and requested an audience for a short while.

“Knight Y/N, I request you see the prince immediately as—”

“With all due respect Sir Sunghoon, I have no desire of interacting with his royal highness ever again.”

“Y/N—”

“My decision is final.”

With a dejected expression and a heavy heart, Sunghoon left the building, leaving you with a shattered mind and a dull ache in your chest. Today’s interaction had broken the thin wall you had mentally built to separate you and your lover, and you traveled right back to the beginning as if you had just run away from a shattered glass plate and a wedding announcement.

The only word to describe your predicament was reality. You and Jake had spent weeks floating around in the heavens, soaring through the skies like kites let free. Now your feet were grounded, bound in shackles that hauled behind you, growing heavier and heavier with each teardrop.

You suppose there was a way to free yourself, but it wasn’t a solution that would be found yesterday, today, or tomorrow. Once soaring, you were now drowning, ruined in the faint memories of him, him, and only him.

Days passed with monochromasy, and you buried yourself in work with the hopes of distraction. The gardens were a plate untouched, unseen to your naked eye, and instead, you frequented the confines of your bed, once slumbering with dreams about a certain man now only to slumber with cold rivulets gushing down your cheeks instead.

Hatred filled your once curious heart, seeping deep within chambers once filled with pliant affection. You found yourself obsessively irritated at training, lashing out at your colleagues for the simplest of matters and aggressively sparring during practice. As a knight, you well knew that patience was key, but Jake Sim had ignited your murderous streak and cursed you with eyes of red vision, fury the only lens through which you noticed your surroundings.

But most ironically, you hated that you wished him back. Dusk was spent with tear-stained cloths and torn newsletters, every inch of your being reminding you of who you once were. And you hated that while you were suffering, he was enjoying his new fiancé, frequenting ballrooms and relishing lively conversation.

You wanted him gone (and yet you wanted him close). You really did.

“So, Jake, what’s your favorite color?”

Jake hated everything about this setup. Currently, he was spending time with his bride-to-be (his parents had forced him to for a good relationship), and he wouldn’t be lying if he said this was extremely awkward. There was nothing wrong with Yuna per se; in all the right circumstances, Jake would’ve thought her an ideal bride. However, she wasn’t you. She wasn’t the one that he was in love with, the one that flitted through his dreams every night, the one he spent every day thinking of, the one he was smitten with.

“It’s blue. Yours?”

“Mine too!”

They both fell silent. Silence. Whenever the noise diminished between you and Jake, it felt comfortable. It was nice to cherish and he basked in it. But this silence? This silence was awkward, something he wanted to throw off a jagged cliff and never see again.

“You’re in love with someone, aren’t you?” Yuna suddenly asked, chewing on a piece of asparagus.

“What? Of course not. And even if I was, it wouldn’t matter.”

“Jake, I don’t want to spend an eternity with someone that doesn’t love me.”

His heart softened at her words, and he turned to glance up at her calculating gaze as if he was a mathematics theorem she was meant to prove. And Jake despised math.

“But we can’t—”

“We can Jake. If you will for something so badly, the universe will grant your wish. And I can see your desperation, Jake. You’re in love.”

“Stop. Please. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

They both fell silent again but this time it seemed tense, conniving. After a few moments of shifting the uneaten steak on his plate, Jake spoke up again.

“I apologize. I shouldn’t have been so impolite,”

“No no, the fault is mine. I intruded into decisions that you should be making, and I just heavily influenced you.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, have you ever been in love with someone Yuna? Do you know what it feels like?”

Yuna stopped playing with the food on her plate, freezing at Jake’s words.

“I have been in love, actually.”

Jake waited silently, noticing Yuna’s shaking hands.

“Love is a fragile thing, Jake. Once shattered, no matter how much you try to put the pieces back together, they won’t ever fit the same. I shattered it, Jake. I shattered my love for her because I wasn’t brave enough to back out of this arrangement.”

With caution, Jake outstretched his arm, silently holding Yuna’s as a sign of comfort. Although he couldn’t see her teardrops, he could hear them.

“Please Jake, please don’t make the same mistake as me.”

He looked up at her, teary-eyed and soulless, urging him on.

And then he ran.

He ran and he ran, as far as his legs could take him and even past the point of that, with only one goal in mind. Time felt supersonic, a blur that he seemed to experience only with the presence of you. Your name was all that echoed in his mind. He didn’t know where you were, or how you were doing, but he knew he had to find you. To tell you how much he loved you, how much he wanted you, how much of a fool he was letting you go. He was an idiot. But he was yours.

Your house was the first place he had visited, opening the door to a slightly angry Nishimura who relaxed once realizing the situation. He didn’t know where you were. He tried the training ground, only to see it empty. The garden, and the banquet hall, all empty. He felt like he was losing his mind, a game of cat and mouse making him a madman.

And then it hit him.

He burst open the doors to the stage, seeing you sitting on top, tracing mindless circles into the polished wood. You looked up at his entrance, your eyes filling with rage and angst as you turned to get up and leave the area.

He hated it. Eyes once filled with love and affection towards him now were violent. He loathed that he was the cause of your misery. And he was going to do everything to fix it.

“Y/N! Y/N please, please don’t leave. Just listen to me for five minutes. That’s all I ask.”

You stilled, your backbone facing him. “And why should I?”

“Because, because I made a mistake. I’ll admit it; I knew that day would come. I knew my fate was predetermined and it was my stupid fault for being a coward to not change it. And yes, I made a mistake in falling for you.”

“Is this what you—”

“But I don’t regret it. Not one bit. Because if loving you was a mistake, then I’d make it over and over again for the rest of my life. If loving you was a mistake, then suddenly I adore mistakes, because loving you was the best thing that could ever happen to me.”

He trudged up the platform, facing your tearful eyes.

“You once told me that we all want what we can’t have. I couldn’t have you Y/N. But I wanted you. I still do, so, so badly.”

He kneeled, handing you the sword he’d dubbed you with the first day you two had met.

“I want to be with you Y/N. No matter how hard it is, I want to try. So will you dub me as a knight for your love?”

He couldn’t tell what you were thinking. With tears streaming down your face and his heart pounding out of his chest, he braced himself for the worst, closing his eyes shut.

Only for you to shakily shift the blade from his shoulder to shoulder, dropping down to your knees and hugging him, crying into his shoulder.

“Knights swear an oath to never do the wrong thing, you idiot,” you speak softly, breathily, and he can feel your small smile against his shoulder. “Then I’ll be an idiot. Your idiot.”

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