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#I just need Nature that isn't the beach
inkskinned · 5 months
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the problem is that being single is seen as the consolidation prize, and not the natural neutral state of being-a-person. at the end of the movie or the book or the poetry, there is a person waiting for you at the altar, and they love you. if the play is a comedy, everyone gets married. the metaphor is about how you are not-whole. the metaphor is about how everyone is going to be happily-ever-after. the metaphor is that romantic love is the most important resource on the planet, not just all-love. all-love is not a thing, that is a disappointment. the treasure is not the friends we made along the way. the treasure is the girl you landed.
the metaphor is that you cannot be alone, that means you are broken. are you getting over someone? that is acceptable, you can be getting over someone, but not for long. you must be single because you would rather not be single. you must be single and looking to not-be-single. you must want to date, eventually.
friendship and community are never seen as being equal-to or even-better than romantic connection. that person is your one! you need to find them. you need to hunt through the sand particles until you can shift out some kind of gem. this is regardless to your own experience of the beach and the sun. you need to be somewhere with someone.
if you are taking this time alone to heal, that is so sad. everyone gives you this little pitying look. the understanding is that you are not actually happier than you were before you were single. it is seen as a sort of pity - oh, you are choosing yourself, making yourself the priority? - that isn't quite right. you must mean that you are making yourself ready for the right person. you are just laying the bed better this time. open up your heart. you'll find them, we promise!
what do you mean you're really-truly genuinely-very happy? you are probably misremembering what it was like to be in a relationship. and besides, once you meet your person, that time will look grey and bland and wasted. your person is the only way for you to see in color. so what if you have taken this time - for the first time in your entire life - to actually-for-real do the fucking work. you can be proud of yourself, sure. but the way we need to know that you got better is that you get a partner. you're healed enough for the next bad part!
people don't choose to be single, they just say they're choosing to be single - they actually mean "nobody wants to date me." it doesn't matter how many people you have gently rejected or how many times you've talked it over carefully in therapy. what matters is that you are single, and by all accounts - that means you are something worth our pity. your successes and life all seem pale in the sunlight. sure, you have done amazing things and finally found your way in life. what matters is that there wasn't a person in the room with you while you did it.
you want to tell them - that's the whole thing. i didn't know how to be alone in the room. i didn't know how to handle the silence. every moment was so sharp, and i kept choosing the wrong way to close the door. i have spent my entire life in the empty well, living in the ricochet of someone else's cruelty. for once i have built myself a ladder. for once everything i taste is all mine, every bite of sunshine and laughter. i have learned how to sleep out in the open with my memories. recently, they have started to purr.
your father rolls his eyes. listen. this isn't about you. i just want a grandchild in my future.
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mirohlayo · 4 months
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https://www.tumblr.com/mirohlayo/736270231017865216/my-introvert-girl-ln4?source=share
Is it bad I wanna see avas reaction andl her showing everyone she hates reader?
okay so i didn't intend to write a part 2 for my introvert girl but many anons asked me for ava's reaction so here is it !! 🫶
MY INTROVERT GIRL | LN4 (pt2)
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( lando and you are finally together, but it seems one girl still hates you no matter what )
warning : slight angst, insecurity, fluff, like a lil innuendo but that's all, soft lando
note : not gonna write a part 3 because i think it's useless, but already pretty proud of these 2 parts !!
word count : 4k
!! english not my first language !!
lando and you are dating for quite some weeks now. and everything is going wonderfully. he has never been so in love, and therefore the same for you. he loves you so much and he's never tired of showing it, you being overwhelmed by his affection.
he doesn't hesitate to show the entire world how precious you are to him, and if he has to prove it until everyone notices that you are his he will do it for eternity. and you would do the same for him without a doubt, he is your first boyfriend ever and certainly the last of your life.
your love is so intense and can be feel wherever you two go, that necessarily it does not go unnoticed. especially in the eyes of the pretty blonde who obviously feels the same feelings for lando as you. even if it's always good to remember that lando only has eyes for you and only you.
and it gets on ava's nerves. when she knew about you dating, her jealousy towards you has only increased. she saw red. she was horrified by this sudden new. she was sure lando would ends up dating her because there was no world in which he would have ended up with an introvert like you.
she finds you so bland. uninteresting. you're not comfortable with people and being shy you're not talkative. and you're always stuck on lando's side as if you were going to die if you didn't stay close to him.
and the fact that lando doesn't see anything wrong with it and isn't even a little annoyed by your behavior because he adores when his girl gets clingy. he always ends up staring at you with tenderness like you are the most beautiful thing in the world.
you here, you there. ava hates it. she detests you. if we would offer her the choice to break your couple she would do it without hesitation. and this is obviously what she intends to do. because since she sees no point in lando dating his complete opposite, such an introvert girl. no, he needs an funny and extrovert girl like ava to match him.
winter break allows the f1 drivers to relax and to rest, to spend time with their loved ones. lando was looking forward to it since it's his first winter break with you, so he wants to make the most of it to spend as much time as possible with you.
he organized many trips, one of them is a trip to vietnam. some of his closest friends will take part in the trip, including ava. normally, she wasn't supposed to come but ria had an hold up so she ended up replacing her. to her greatest happiness of course.
for your part, you weren't comfortable with going on this trip with the blonde girl. you know very well how much she hates you and that she wants to ruin your romantic relationship. you don't want to alert lando or anyone else, you don't want to create problems because it's not in your nature unlike ava. so you just decided not to say anything.
you told yourself that putting up with her presence and her stupid remarks for a week wasn't going to be that complicated. and then you'll be with your lover most of the time, so ava won't be able to speak to you much. ignoring her will be the best solution.
you arrived two days ago now, and after eating you all decided to spend the afternoon on the beach playing games like volleyball or even mini football. nothing but just activities for fun.
everyone is excited to play games, but you're not really in the mood. you're feeling a little tired and you just don't feel like having fun right now. on the one hand, your shyness also forces you to stay locked up in the hotel. you like playing games but you're afraid of making a fool of yourself in front of others. especially in front of ava.
so you inform lando about it, that you weren't coming, and he told you that he wasn't going to leave the hotel and stay with you either.
"baby it's okay, i'll stay in the hotel room. go play with the others" you say to him before slip in under the blanket. "no. if you don't go then neither do i. i’ll stay with you" he retorts, joining you in the bed.
he places himself above you, his chest on yours and his arms tightly wrap your waist. "please lando. i know how much you want to spend time with your friends so i would never refuse that to you. i don't want you to stay locked up because of me" you say to convince him.
"but that's the point, i want to stay locked up with you baby. you’re the one i want to spend time with the most. i don't really care about the others for now. if you stay here, then me too. i just want you with me” he pouts, and places his chin on your stomach.
you look down to plant your eyes in his gaze and he shows you his prettiest smile. what an adorable man. "okay fine. but i don't want you to be mad at me for that later" you warn him. "never. i would never blame you, love” he said before hiding his head in the crook of your neck.
"love you" he muffles and his breath tickles you. "i love you too lan" you says before pressing a soft kiss on his hair. you start playing with his curls, while he's here holding you close, leaving some kisses here and there on your shoulder and neck.
an hour passes like this, you two cuddling close to each other. a text from max makes lando's phone vibrate and he groans. he extends his hand lazily and grab his phone to read the text. "what he's saying ?" you ask, sounding sleepy. "if we're going to join them or not" he replies sounding the same as you.
you think for a few moments. lando was going to put his phone down on the nightstand when you finally suggest that you must go out and join the others on the beach. "are you sure? do you really want to go outside?" he asks you cautiously, his tired eyes scanning your face. "yes. i want to stretch out. your body made me sag" you tease him and he rolls his eyes letting out a laugh. “just say i'm too heavy” “no you’re perfect baby”.
he can't help but blush so hard. god it's the first time that a girl has had such an effect on him. and it seems that it flutters him even more coming from an introvert. "fine. let's go then my girl" he says and in a second you're already outside, walking hand in hand to join your friends.
“it looks like the sloths are back” pietra says, nodding towards the couple arriving on the beach. “we didn’t even sleep” lando responds defensively. “oh so you must have done dirty things then" max said playfully, giving implied glances to the two lovers.
lando can feel himself blushing really hard, just like you. “shut up you muppet. you're saying bullshit" you reply embarrassed. everyone seems amused by the situation except of course one person.
ava.
she seems to be killing you with her gaze, looking you up and down like you're the plague itself. of course lando doesn't notice, too hypnotized by the beautiful girl walking beside him. he almost falls to the ground because of you.
“well, looks like y/n finally got the guts to show herself. which is rare with her, we almost wonder if she even exists sometimes.” ava looks at you and displays a fake, hypocritical smile. no one seems to laugh at her remark and the atmosphere becomes uncomfortable. you don't know where to go or how to react. you feel a little humiliated to tell the truth.
"huh, what did you say ?" lando remarks, a little confused by what the blonde just said. the girl sighs and rolls her eyes before showing her smile that you dream of making her swallow. “oh it’s okay, it was just kidding. we all know that y/n isn’t comfortable with people but i love her anyway” she finally added.
you feel like shit. she's talking like you're the worst scumbag on earth and you don't even have the strength to defend yourself. your shyness seems to be taking over. "um well. okay ava just stop talking and instead start playing. you've been losing every round since a while ago" martin says to lighten the atmosphere because everyone seemed disturbed and embarrassed by the situation.
you sigh and slowly drop lando's hand, but he holds it tightly and looks at you. “don't worry baby, i'm going to stay with you. we can relax on the deckchairs if you prefer” lando kindly offers you, he wants to make you feel comfortable.
“as you wish” you shrug your shoulders trying to hide your sadness and pain and lando smiles at you before leading you towards the deckchairs. he lays down comfortably on one and you move towards another one close to his. but he grabs your hand and makes you sit on his legs. “lie on me love” he begs you with his eyes.
you smile shyly at him and stand up. "nah. we're in public lando, i don't want to receive all the teasing from our friends" you declare before lying down on another deckchair. he pouts, disappointed not to feel your body against his. he even brings his deckchair closer to yours so he can hold your hand, or play with a few strands of your hair.
the sun is strong and the beach umbrella protects you, with of course the sunscreen that you put on before. the waves dance loudly and the laughter of your friends fills the atmosphere with joy. it's calming.
well, it was calming for a little while. ava noticed that you weren't with them playing a game of volleyball and while scanning the surroundings, she spotted you on the deckchairs, silly smiles on your races and lando being extremely touchy with you.
she hates this view. she hates you. she would like to tear off your smile and make you disappear. she already imagines herself in your place, laughing loudly with lando. you are not in your place. it's her. you don't deserve lando.
she walks briskly towards the two of you, and your faces turn towards her. the blonde smiles hypocritically and without any hesitation, she sits on the edge of your lover's deckchair. which you don't like at all. and neither does lando, since he doesn't wait a single second to gently push her with his leg.
she seems hurt and shows it openly, putting her hand to her heart to express her pain ironically. "you hurt me lando. i thought we were friends" she said in a sad tone. “we kind of are. but this place is reserved for my girlfriend only” he answers, holding your hand tighter.
you feel more reassured and you feel your heart soar at the words of your lover. he knows when to show others that it's only you who matters. this comment makes ava roll her eyes, but it's subtle enough that only you notice. she sits on another deck chair and turns to you.
“why don’t you come play with us?” she starts to start a conversation. “y/n doesn’t really want to and neither do i, so i'm staying with her.” lando says and she lets a mocking laugh come out of her mouth and you look at her surprised. “it looks like you’re babysitting her” she says, laughing.
did you hear that correctly? is she serious? you can't let this go. “what did you say?” you ask with a frown. she lets another laugh escape and it also attracts lando's attention. "you seem like you're a baby who always needs lando's attention. he looks like a babysitter because of you"
it’s lando’s turn to frown. he holds your hand a little more firmly. “what do you mean ava?” he says, he knows something is wrong. the blonde sighs deeply and rolls her eyes, glaring at y/n.
"look, she's not even capable of playing with others and having fun. she's stopping you from having good times. she's so shy and... introverted that she's ruining your holidays, even your personal space. she's always stuck to you, it seems like she doesn't know how to cope without you it's just... pathetic." she unpacks it all while looking at you with disgust.
oh you feel so humiliated now. you feel tears coming but you hold them back, crying in front of her will only make things worse. you feel so weak and worthless. you blame yourself for being so insecure, being so shy and reserved. because maybe it's the truth.
maybe lando is finally fed up with you and he hates being around you, stuck with an ordinary and shy person like you. he probably can't have the fun he wants because of your shyness. maybe it's true, you're like a child who's ruining his life.
"don't ever talk about her that way again. you really disgust me ava. you don't even measure up to her and you dare open your fucking mouth to say bullshit" lando starts to raise his voice. you can tell he looks extremely angry.
“oh because you also want to defend her?” she asks mockingly. "i defend her and will defend her no matter what happens. you don't have to talk to my girlfriend like that when she is everything you will never be" he spits his words in her face and gives her a cold look.
he jumps up and holds your hand tightly. when his gaze falls on you, it softens. “come on y/n. let’s go back to the hotel” he pulls you towards him and walks you to the hotel pushing ava out of the way. “get out. i don’t want to see you anymore.” he says his last words to her.
the blonde remains standing, alone. a strange, painful and hurtful feeling takes hold of her. the rest of the group stopped playing, observing the scene. now it's ava's turn to feel humiliated. why did she do that?
for your part, you and Lando return to your hotel room. it's silent. he opens the door and you run to take refuge in the bed, so that he joins you a few seconds later. "don't worry baby. don't listen to her, she's talking nonsense. she just wants to destroy you" lando tries to reassure you and you just nod your head.
you smile at him to reassure him in turn, although deep down you are still a little worried. you're still a little hurt. a part of you tells you that it's true, that Lando doesn't like being constantly stuck to you. you don't like it at all.
the rest of the afternoon passes quickly for your boyfriend, but slowly for you. you can't stop overthinking, thinking about ava's words. part of your brain still makes you believe that you don't deserve lando and that he will be better off with ava. it eats you from the inside. you don't like to doubt lando but ava makes you feel vulnerable and insecure.
and your boyfriend noticed it. he noticed that you had become quieter, you only spoke to him very recently. and he starts to worry about you. he suspects deep down that it's because of earlier that you seem off. so he knows exactly what to do.
he proposed, well more like forced you to watch the sunset, just the two of you, him and you on the beach. no group of friends, no ava, no games, no, just the two of you on the beach. you weren't for it at first but you love sunsets and night walks on the beach, so you finally gave up. especially if it's with lando. you walk hand in hand on the warm sand. the waves rock your ears and the sun slowly begins to set on the horizon. how beautiful. you find a comfortable spot and sit down, lando still holding your hand in his.
he gently caresses it with his thumb, pressing a few random kisses on the back of your hand. he rests your head on his shoulder, and you admire the magnificent landscape in the distance. it's soothing, it's romantic.
"beautiful right?” lando murmurs against you, staring into the distance. you smile to yourself. “very beautiful” “just like you” he responds quickly and you can tell he’s grinning. you laugh softly and shake your head. “how cheesy” you blurt out and it’s his turn to let out a soft laugh.
oh his laugh.
although you still hide it, lando knows he needs to talk to you. that he must reassure you. that he has to make you sure how much he loves you and that he would literally do anything for you. because you're the only girl who makes it feel this good.
“y/n” he whispers your name so softly, and it warms your heart. “hmm babe?” you hum. he moves to get a little closer to you and rests his head on yours. "i know what you're thinking about since this afternoon” he begins cautiously not wanting to rush you. he knows your nature.
"w-what ?" you try to hide. but you know very well that he knows you by heart. “please don’t try to avoid the subject. you know what i'm talking about.” he ends up saying.
you sigh. you know you have to talk to him about it, it will only do you good. “yes sorry.” "don't feel sorry love. take your time". he said in such a caring way. he presses a soft kiss against your hair. and another on your cheek. he loves kissing your face so much.
you take a deep breath. you press your hand a little more against his. "it's just... it's just that i feel so insecure when ava talks about me like that. i keep telling myself that i don't deserve you, that you deserve someone who looks like you and who is not your opposite. like ava". you pause but you know he continues to be attentive and listen to you.
"i..." you continue "i keep thinking that it must bore you to stay constantly and always with me. that my shyness surely prevents you from having fun and enjoying your life to the fullest. that i'm like a drag and dating an introvert like me is a bad idea” you finish, tears soon escaping your eyes.
now he faces you. he looks at you with so much gentleness, so much affection and love. his gaze becomes sadder when he hears what is on your heart and his heart suddenly tightens at your words. he hates hearing you talk about yourself like that, devaluing you when all he loves about you is what you're insecure about.
“my baby…” he whispers and places his hands on your cheeks, caressing them gently. he wipes with his thumb a tear that has just escaped your eyes. he places a soft kiss on the tip of your nose and smiles affectionately at you.
"i wish you could see you through my eyes". he places another kiss on your forehead. the sun illuminates his face, the waves seem to transport you.
"i fucking love you. like fucking fucking love you. it's me who doesn’t deserve you. it's me who should hate myself for not always making you feel secure about me and our relationship" he explains. "i don't care about ava, you know that. she is absolutely nothing compared to you. it's not her or someone like her that i want. it's you. you're the only one i want and need so badly".
his hands slide to grab yours. "being constantly by your side is the best thing in the world. i don't care if we are in the worst place in the world, in the worst possible situation, as long as i am with you and by your side i know that everything will be fine. there's nowhere i'd like to be without you. it's just impossible. all i fucking want is to stay with you as long as possible."
he smiles brightly at you before finishing. "and your shyness will not change my love for you or how i live my life. i fell in love with you because of this side of you, because you are introverted and you are so much my opposite that i am extremely attracted to you. it's like that. so don't blame yourself, because i don't want you to change that even though it doesn't even bother me a little bit. i love it. i adore you. i love you and i love you. love you and i will always love you"
you sure you look like nothing now. your eyes must probably be puffy and red but that's okay. lando doesn't care too. you can't help but smile at him with all your teeth. “i love you so much lando. i love you with all my heart and that will never change” you whisper against his neck.
he places thousands of kisses on your head, caressing your back. god how much he loves you too, your love is so deep and strong. “hope it'll never change then” he adds and puts his arms around your waist, bringing you as close to his body as possible.
and without a word, in a calming silence, you stay in each other's arms until the sun sets completely. a starry sky now paints the night. you are still glued to each other, your head on your lover's stretched out legs. you admire the stars while he admires you. it's perhaps one of his favorite activities. just looking at you, like the most beautiful paintings in the world. but soon you notice that he doesn't pay attention to the sky and you point this out to him, teasing him.
“look at the sky, it's so pretty” you hum “but you're prettier” he simply retorts, telling the truth. you roll your eyes and let out a small laugh. “never tired of being cheesy” you laugh shyly. “never” he adds while smiling. but he ends up raising his head towards the sky. it is true that the stars are infinitely beautiful. they shine so much, and he can't help but describe them like that, as he describes you the same way. he runs his hand through your hair, eyes anchored to the stars.
“do you see all these stars?” he asks and you hum in response. "i would hunt them all for you if you asked me. i would bring them all to you if that's what you want. ask me to bring down the moon and i would do it without hesitation just for you" he said softly, a silly smile on his lips.
you can’t help but burst out laughing. “how romantic” you tease him but deep down you melt, feeling so confident after all those sweet words. he lowers his head to look at you, smiling fully.
he admires you for a moment, take in your features. his heart never stops beating faster at the sight of you, even after weeks of being in a relationship. and he leans down to finally kiss you, his lips capturing yours perfectly. gosh he loves kissing you so much, he might never stop. he pulls back and pecks your nose.
“love you always, my introvert girl” he smiles softly.
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mariclerc · 4 months
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Dreams and adventures by the sea | Charles Leclerc
Hello, this is the first time I write here and I like the idea of making several stories! English is not my first language so there are some translation errors, if you see one, please let me know!
Synopsis: Where you and Charles are fully enjoying the summer break with your little girl and you discover a recurring dream that he has.
Warning: None, just a little Charles fluff and Charles!dad/family man. I hope you like it <3
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Sunbeams dance on the turquoise water, palm trees sway gently in the breeze. Charles Leclerc, tanned and carefree, chases a giggling Mollie along the shore. Her tiny pink swimsuit with flamingos glistens in the sun's rays as she squeals with delight and her tiny footprints disappear into the sand as the two year old girl scampers.
"Catch me, Mollie-mouse! Catch Papa!" He said as he chased after Mollie, they were running in circles.
"Dada! Dada!" She shouted with joy in her voice.
Charles scoops her up, spinning her in the air, the sea shimmering behind them. She throws her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder while she giggled.
"Careful, you two! Don't turn into sandcastles before lunchtime!" You called to them from under a beach umbrella as you smiled.
Charles grins, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Just practicing our pit stops, amore. We have to be ready for next season."
He plops down beside you on the sand, Mollie wriggling between you like a happy starfish. You carefully brush sand off her damp hair, her tiny fingers clutching at your necklace.
"This is the life, isn't it? No deadlines, no cameras, just family and sunshine." You said with a bright smile on your face, it had been a long time since you two had been so relaxed with your favorite people in the whole world.
"Except maybe less sand in the sandwiches, hmm?" He said while nuzzling your neck.
He winks, then reaches for a mango smoothie. You roll your eyes, but the corners of your lips rise. He's never learned to apply sunscreen, and his olive skin is already freckled with a toasty glow, but he still looks cute, as always.
"You look like a tomato patch, Charles. Don't you ever learn?" You rolled your eyes playfully at him.
"Sun's my natural fuel, amore. Makes me look like a Ferrari on the track, don't you think?" He said while shrugging his shoulders.
Mollie reaches for your smoothie, her tiny hand leaving a sticky trail. You laugh, handing her a small sip of your smoothie.
"Just don't blame me when you're peeling like a banana tomorrow."
"Wouldn't trade this sunburn for anything, not even a podium finish." He said with a smile, probably the most sincere smile you've ever seen.
He pulls you close, your skin cool against his heat. Mollie snuggles between you, her eyelids heavy with the sun and the sea. You watch the waves roll in, the sound like a lullaby.
"This is the best kind of winning, isn't it? Just being here, with you, with her."
"The only trophy I need." He said as he placed a kiss on your forehead.
He rests his head on your shoulder, and you close your eyes, breathing in the salty air, the warmth of the sun, the tiny, rhythmic pulse of your daughter's heart against your chest. In this moment, the world shrinks to just this small patch of paradise, a bubble of love and laughter, and you wouldn't trade it for anything.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Back on the yacht, the sun dips lower, painting the sky in fiery hues of orange and pink. Mollie, tired from her beach adventures, yawns and snuggles into Charles' arms. He bounces her gently, singing a soft lullaby that sends shivers down your spine.
"She's out like a light. All that beach air must be exhausting." You smiled as you looked at them.
"Don't worry, amore. We'll have plenty of time for adventures tomorrow. Tonight, it's just you and me." He said in a low voice so as not to wake her.
He winks, his eyes glinting with a familiar spark. You laugh, your heart skipping a beat each time he winks at you.
"And don't think about asking me to help with sunscreen again. You're on your own, tomato boy." You said jokingly.
"Hey! I resemble that remark. Besides, your touch is like magic SPF, amore. Keeps my skin smooth and my engine purring." He pretended to be offended by your words, but then he giggled like a teenage boy.
He pulls you close, your lips meeting in a kiss as sweet as the mango smoothie. The fire crackles on the deck, its warm glow illuminating your faces. The ocean laps against the hull, a gentle rhythm that lulls you into a world of your own.
"I love this, Charles. Just being here, with you and Mollie, although she is asleep, on the open sea. It feels like we're the only two people in the world." Did you whisper delicately.
"We are, chérie. We definitely are." He kissed your forehead with such care.
He leans back, his gaze sweeping across the vast expanse of water. He usually has a vacant look when he is very lost in thought or when he is thinking about something quite deep.
"You know, sometimes I dream about what it would be like to leave all this behind. The racing, the pressure, the fame..." he let out a soft sigh "You know, spending my days with you two without worrying if you're okay while I'm on the other side of the world."
"And become a beach bum? I'm not sure Mollie would appreciate the sand in her toys." You raised an eyebrow as you spoke and giggled slightly.
"No, no, darling, something simpler, you know sweetie... Just a small house by the sea, maybe a little vineyard...a family to raise. I know we've talked about this before, but I'd like to experience that quiet life with you." He said chuckling.
You have had this conversation a couple of times, especially the time you got pregnant, at that time you were 23 and he was 24 and you both had no idea what to do, you were very afraid. He at that time proposed the idea of leaving his racing career behind and focusing purely on you and Mollie, you obviously told him no, since one of his dreams was always, apart from having a family of his own, was to be a racing driver and leave a mark on the sport. You, for your part, when you told your parents that you were expecting Charles's baby, it was perhaps the worst thing you would have said to them, They did not take the news kindly and even told you to abort the baby, but obviously, that was not in your plans, you also wanted a family with Charles, he was always the ideal person for you. Since that exchange of opinions between your parents and you, they never spoke to you again and you did the same and honestly, it was better that way for you and your family.
Now looking back, you didn't regret that decision, on the contrary, you were grateful that it was like that since you knew how judgmental your parents are and how much they criticized you for the slightest, Charles could also experience that the times he went to visit you at your parents' house, they were not very nice to him, it doesn't matter if you had been dating for a long time.
He looks at you, his eyes full of longing. You reach out, tracing the lines of his pretty sun-kissed face. He gives you a small smile, the cutest thing you've ever seen, of course... Aside from your little Mollie.
"We already have that, Charles. We have everything we need my baby."
"Everything except maybe a little more time. Maybe a little less asphalt and a little more sand." He said as he pulled you closer to him.
He kisses you again, this time a slow, burning kiss that speaks volumes of unspoken dreams and shared desires. In that moment, you see a glimpse of the man behind the racing helmet, the boy who yearns for simple things, for a life built on love and laughter. The boy you fell in love with since you were 18 and the one who ensures the safety of his girls.
"Maybe you're right, Charles. Maybe next season, we'll find a different kind of track to conquer. One that leads us back to this very spot, with the sun on our skin and the sea in our hearts." You smiled at him.
He looks at you, his eyes filled with a promise of forever. You know, deep down, that this is just the beginning. The open sea is not just a backdrop, it's a symbol of endless possibilities, a life waiting to be written, together as a family.
And as the stars begin to twinkle in the darkening sky, you raise your glass to the future, a future painted with the colors of love, laughter, and the endless horizon.
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duskyvenus · 6 months
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1207: What you don't see about yourself
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This is a general intuitive reading meant for entertainment purposes. Take whatever resonates. Three piles left to right. Photos are not mine. GIF credit in tags
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Pile 1
You have this aura of being very put together. Everything is prim and proper, there isn't anything bold or eye catching, very subtle enhancement of features. "That girl". People think you have perfect skin, perfect taste, perfect nails, perfect life. You probably practice manifestation and law of attraction. I'm seeing crystals too. If you don't relate to this, it's probably because this is your potential and you just need to put in the effort. "Everything you touch turns into gold." Also, you have the power of sweet talk. You also might have the gift of creating beautiful works of art with your hands? Also it seems that people feel happy/ safe around you and think that you have a lot of love in your heart. (I'm seeing that you might act indifferent but you actually care).
Things that might be relevant: pink, ribbons, hearts/ heart shaped objects, flowers (especially lily)
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Pile 2
You have an innocent heart that wants to know many things about the world. Your curiosity is genuine. You are curious about cultures, languages, art, food from across the world. You are also very open minded and accepting. People think that you know how to put yourself in someone else's shoes. There is something very calm and blue about you. You are easy to approach and talk to. Elderly folk might like talking to you or you do. You are capable of making a safe place or community. Conversing with you is never tiring or intimidating, you are open minded and don't beat around the bush. You might be a good teacher? It doesn't have to be at a school or uni, you could even work at an ngo or work with people with special needs. I see that you are good at solving conflicts too.
Things that might be relevant: blue, shoes, beaches, coffee
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Pile 3
You understand your own value and I think that is something others wish they could. You don't dwell on situations that are gone. You are a "go with the flow" person. "Either it ends or it changes" You might have good fashion sense? People who don't know you might think you're really innocent lol. I'm seeing that you don't make yourself easily available to people, you don't want people to waste your time. Honestly, good for you! You are good at pointing out things that others don't see. You have an eye for art as well. Might be an artist? You also appreciate nature and animals. If you have pets or plants at home, they love you and are grateful to have you too :)
Things that might be relevant: black and white, beanies, fashion, jellyfish, pets or animals
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Thank you for reading! 😊
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thinkingaboutjaedyn · 15 days
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hidden fear [m.leon x reader]
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prompt: mapi has a secret fear of flights
author notes: this is me trying to force myself to write 🙇🏽‍♀️ im going to do abunch of blurbs/mini fics based off single words. this blurb's word is "fear." can y'all tell i have never been to an airport or Ona plane before? yeah.. anyways hopefully y'all enjoy it 💗
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one perk of being a soccer player was the opportunity to travel the world and see so many new places that the average person wouldn't have the time or resources to see. you always enjoyed this fact, not even needing to plan a lot of vacations to destinations outside of spain since you have seen many countries; that doesn't mean you don't take the first opportunity to go somewhere else if offer though.
all players are used to flying once they go pro. even before they join the pro leagues, college teams and youth national teams travel quite a lot too. even if it's not enjoyable the players just have to deal with it. taking flights is a part of the job. some people hate it, others don't really care, and some love it.
however, you have never seen a professional footballer ever be afraid of flying or at least admit it out loud. especially not a player who's been pro for more than six years; isn't it natural to get over it at some point? well you met your first when you started dating mapi.
when you first joined barcelona you weren't the most talkative person. often just carrying on small talk during practice and going home right after. mapi was intrigued by your quietness. the spanish team had it's fair share of introverts, but after a while of being in the team they open up to being pretty loud themselves. why weren't you? soon enough she was trying her hardest to get you out of your shell. inviting you to activities outside of soccer related things like dinner or going to the beach, talking to you in the locker room since you were near her cubby, and pulling you into vibrant conversations with the others. all of her effort weren't in vain as you eventually did open up; becoming quite bubbly and even mirroring some of mapi's own social habits.
all this spending time together outside of soccer made the strong friendship between the spainard and you slowly transform into something else. with your quiet nature, you weren't going to confess your feelings first. even after opening up to mapi more than the others; it just wasn't apart of your personality. so instead she took it upon herself to ask you out one day. after practice pulling you to the side after a long practice filled with mistakes to ask you if you wanted to go to dinner like usual, but instead of as friends, it would be as lovers. obviously you said yes and here you are a year later, stronger than ever.
for that entire year you two have been together so far, mapi has been hiding a secret from you. from everyone.
mapi was afraid of flying. she was good at hiding her nerves everytime the team boarded a plane by saying she was just tired or hungry. all her hiding came to a head one day when barcelona was about to be on their way to a uwcl match against lyon.
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"do you think they have pretzels in the airport in france? the pretzel shop here is all out," you pout at your girlfriend as you two sit in the airport. it was around an hour before it was time for the team to board the flight, so just like any seasoned flyer, everyone was getting their snacks and drinks.
mapi laughs seeing your pout. finding it absolutely adorable. she pecks it off your lips, "i don't know. do the french even like pretzels?" she says after pulling away. the kiss does wipe the pout off your face, but doesn't help your little problem.
"i don't know and that's why they're so strange!" you throw your hands up in over exaggerated annoyance. your right hand ends up colliding right with keira who was sitting next to you. she playfully scoffs before pushing your hand down, "let's just focus on the match. not the lack of pretzels. they have baguettes which is essentially the same thing but tall and long."
"that's what she said," mapi giggles. her words earn her a small smack on the back head by alexia who somehow made her way over to you three without any of you noticing her. the short haired woman pouts as she rubs the spot alexia smacked her. "act your age, mapi," the spanish captain says, "anyways i came over here to tell you guys that it's going to be raining outside when we board, so have on some type of jacket or coat."
mapi side eyes alexia which makes the woman almost smack the back of her head again. "and i mean it, maria. you get sick easily, don't even try to act like you don't," alexia chuckles. soon after walking off to go tell the others scattered around the airport.
you pull mapi into a slightly awkwardly positioned hug the moment she starts her childish whining. "she just hit me!" mapi fake whines, holding onto your arm. keira rolls her eyes. focusing all of her attention onto her phone instead of mapi's shenanigans. the spainard drags on the act for a few more minutes before letting out a sigh. there was an obvious drop in her mood once you let her go. your mind races to find a reason why your girlfriend went from being her usually childish self to quiet.
"what is it, babes? don't want to wear a jacket?" you joke. trying to lighten up her mood. she lets out a short laugh but goes back to her unusual behavior. mapi tries to make herself behave like usual, but too many thoughts about the rain were bothering her. what if the rain makes the plane act funny? what if the rain turns into a thunder storm? how would a plane even go through the thunder and lightning? too many thoughts that she was not about to share; what would think of her?
"c'mon, what is it? i'm here to help you if it's anything crazy," you lean in towards her. not sure if she was okay with openly saying her feelings in such a public space. well, no one was truly around. all of the other barcleona players in their own conversations, lazing around, or still getting food. no one would hear anything she says.
mapi purses her lips before sighing. what would be the harm in telling you? you know everything else about her. "i'm scared.." she whispers to you.
"scared of what?"
"of the plane. of flying in general," the spainard pouts when your expression of confusion turns into a light hearted one. you giggle but stop once mapi has that sad look on her face. "why have you never told me? and why haven't i ever noticed?" you question quietly. shrugging before pecking mapi's lips.
"babe, did you think i would laugh? i am but not because i find it stupid. it's okay to be afraid of flying. i'm afraid of the dark and i'm not eight anymore"
mapi lets out a genuine laugh at that. easily slipping into teasing you as she says, "oh? thank you for that info, amor. it will be handy later." you give her shoulder a light slap making her say ow. she rubs the place you hit and pouts at her, "what was that for?"
"if you prank me using the dark, i will hurt you," you playfully threaten. mapi just smiles at that. your hand grabs onto her free one and squeezes, "anyways. mapi, it's okay to be afraid of flying. you should have told me sooner so i could be there for you on flights."
"yeah. lo siento, princesa," she squeezes your hand back. just happy you weren't making fun of her; not that she thought you would, but still her mind isn't always rational with its fears. mapi pecks your cheek before whispering to you, "but don't tell anyone else. i'm not ready for the teasing."
you just nod your head. already knowing how quick the majority of the barcelona players are to jab at and joke at each other.
coach soon tells everyone to get ready to go. mapi now feeling more settled after telling you about her little secret. once on the flight, your girlfriend gets all comfortable in her window seat. holding onto your hand for almost the entire flight unless you had to get up and use the bathroom.
telling you about her little secret wasn't so bad after all.
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© thinkingaboutjaedyn
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passcode58 · 9 months
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...
Not Requested |
Fluff |
High School Gojo x reader |
Warnings |None
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You'd woken up to see the sun went down. After the day of festivities you wanted some silence, and bask in the ambiance. As a sorcerer, this was a rare opportunity to enjoy the good in life so you wasted no time, throwing on your beach hells and a coverup over your purple bikini. As exited the room and gaze at the moonlit beach, you spot Gojo Satoru sitting alone on a couch looking off into the distance, his striking figure illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. Under the dim light he looks so heavenly, all by himself and uncharacteristically silent, but otherworldly all the same. As you draw nearer, you can't help but be captivated by this heavenly essence and the arrow cupid shot at you hurts— he was simply too good for this world, especially his mesmerising eyes despite the burden it brought upon him. Your heart flutters with anticipation as you approach him slowly, wanting to make your presence known without startling him.
"Hey there, handsome," you call out playfully, your voice carrying on the gentle ocean breeze.
Gojo turns to look at you, a hint of surprise in his eyes, but it quickly transforms into a charming smile. "Well, well, well, if it isn't my favorite tease," he quips, his tone laced with amusement. You chuckle and stop in front of him, within arms reach and lean down to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. "What are you doing here all by yourself, precious?" you ask, genuinely curious.
"I'm just enjoying the view," he replies, his eyes gazing out at the vast sea and the shimmering moonlit waves. You know its more than that, though, with the way he taps his finger along the back of your thigh, he squeezes gently before taking a palm and pressing it to his lips, your heart melts. It doesn't take much for him to continue naturally. You were his comfort, you were his home."For once, I feel like I have a family. The people at Jujutsu High and Riko, they mean a lot to me…you know? You guys…are the first people to treat me like I'm more than six eyes, that I'm more than just Gojo." He's distant, just a bit. His eyes land on your form, and your breath is taken away, for the millionth time. Your heart swells with affection for him, admiring the vulnerable side he rarely shows— as in rarely. "You do have a family," you say tenderly, reaching out to lightly touch his hand. "And I'm part of it too, you know."
Gojo gives you a playful smirk. "Oh, really? Since when did you become such a sap?"
You laugh, not missing a beat. "Since I met you, Gojo. You bring out the best in me." He laughs, spreading his legs as an inspiration for you to sit, and he holds your leg, lightly passing his palm along it. It's then you realise his infinity is off, and you keep that in mind.The two of you engage in light banter and teasing as the night goes on. There's an undeniable romantic tension between you, and you can feel the air shift…it's dark, the moon is out and the ocean breeze caresses your hair. You're still in your bikini— and he tugs on the sting of the bottom piece. It's such an innocent act, his attention is on you completely and you know that. You enjoy flustering him by brushing your fingers against his cheek, kissing his nose or playfully ruffling his hair, revelling in the way he stammers for words, something that rarely happens to the ever-confident Gojo Satoru. 
But— even amidst all the teasing, you never hesitate to lend him a helping hand when he needs it— not that he does— whether it's in a battle against curses or simply providing a listening ear when he's troubled. Your flirty and hot persona never overshadows the genuine care and concern you have for him. He's your best friend, after all and you were more obsessed with him that he could ever know.
As the night deepens, you find yourselves sitting closer together, your knees almost touching. You gaze deeply into his pretty eyes, your heart pounding loudly in your chest— you just have to say something you can't do this. You can't hide this anymore. "You know, my gem," you say softly, "you have the most captivating eyes I've ever seen. They're like galaxies, filled with endless wonders. I could never get tired of them."
Gojo seems taken aback by your straightforward compliment, but he can't help but be enchanted by your sincerity. "And you have a way with words," he replies, a faint blush colouring his cheeks. "You always leave me speechless."
Smiling, you lean in closer until your faces are mere inches apart. "I've got a question for you," you whisper, your breath mingling with his.
He raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "Ask away." But you didn't know what to say, your mind blanked out and you didn't know what to say. He knows though, he knows, so he closes the distance between you, his lips meeting yours in a tender and passionate kiss. It's so weird because you never imagined that Gojo Satoru would accept your feelings. You never imagined that this man, this god before you would fall for you. He lets out a breathy whimper, and the moment it reaches your ears you could feel yourself grow weak and you collapse into his arms, hands buried in his hair as he grabs your waist. The moment is everything you fantasised about and more. In your dreams he was more dominating but here he's soft and tender. Your heart soars as you realize that your feelings are truly reciprocated, and you revel in the newfound joy that fills both your hearts. You have always admired Gojo Satoru, but now you have something even more special – a deep and passionate connection that goes beyond friendship. When you finally pull away it's silent. "Fuck— I just— this is…God you're so pretty."
"And you're so handsome."
"Oh baby I know, but you? You are just out of this world." He makes you smile, and he leans in to kiss your cheek, then your chin, along your jaw, your ear—
"(Y/n), I want to be your one and only."
"You already are."
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enchanted-wildflower · 5 months
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On animism
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One of my teachers at university told us something today, that I believe to be relevant to animism and therefore also witchcraft:
He explained that in the West we see everything as occurences, whereas in some languages the same happenings are described as actions. Meaning that in the West we tend to imply that there is no agency involved in whatever happens, while some other languages tend to imply that someone activily causes things. His example was that in the West rain is understood as something that just happens, no one causes the rain. Whereas in Mesoamerica it was believed that it rained because some god was crying.
While the idea of a literal crying god causing it to rain on earth might be outdated, I find it really interesting how these two perspectives - events vs. actions - might shape our relationship with the world. If rain is not just an occurence, but someone acting with agency, rain becomes another part of the community we live in. The community then doesn't only consist of humans anymore, but of everything that surrounds us. Suddenly there are all these new players that actively affect your life with their actions. Other-than-human persons that you can interact with and with whom you have to keep a friendly relationship. If the tree in front of your house isn't just an object, but a being with agency, you actually have to be at least respectful and might even want to build a relationship with them, get to know them, learn from them.
I think that's really the core of animism. Descriptions of animism are often reduced to the believe that everything has a soul, but I think believe doesn't even factor into it. You don't need to believe that there is a non-physical aspect to rain, mountains, stones. It's about how we interact with them. I don't even have to ask myself the question if the tree in front of my house has a soul in order to learn about and from them or to interact with them. In my opinion animism is something that is done, not thought or believed. It's a perspective.
Listening to my teacher also reminded me of the following part of Braiding Sweetgrass (great book btw) which explains all this really well:
A bay is a noun only if water is dead. When bay is a noun, it is defined by humans, trapped between its shores and contained by the word. But the verb wiikwegamaa - to be a bay - releases the water from bondage and lets it live. "To be a bay" holds the wonder that, for this moment, the living water has decided to shelter itself between these shores, conversing with cedar roots and a flock of baby mergansers. Because it could do otherwise become a stream or an ocean or a waterfall, and there are verbs for that, too. To be a hill, to be a sandy beach, to be a Saturday, all are possible verbs in a world where everything is alive. Water, land, and even a day, the language a mirror for seeing the animacy of the world, the life that pulses through all things, through pines and nuthatches and mushrooms. This is the lan- guage I hear in the woods; this is the language that lets us speak of what wells up all around us.
[...]
This is the grammar of animacy. [...] In English, we never refer to a member of our family, or indeed to any person, as it. That would be a profound act of disrespect. It robs a person of selfhood and kinship, reducing a person to a mere thing. So it is that in Potawatomi and most other indigenous languages, we use the same words to address the living world as we use for our family. Because they are our family.
To whom does our language extend the grammar of animacy? Naturally, plants and animals are animate, but as I learn, I am discovering that the Potawatomi understanding of what it means to be animate diverges from the list of attributes of living beings we all learned in Biology 101. In Potawatomi 101, rocks are animate, as are mountains and water and fire and places. Beings that are imbued with spirit, our sacred medicines, our songs, drums, and even stories, are all animate. The list of the inanimate seems to be smaller, filled with objects that are made by people.
[...]
The language reminds us, in every sentence, of our kinship with all of the animate world.
- Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants (2013), p. 78-80.
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kentopedia · 10 months
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easy living
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FEATURING. nanami kento x f!reader — wc: 3.9k
SUMMARY: after many stressful weeks at work, nanami plans a relaxing beach vacation for the two of you.
CONTENTS: soft nanami <33, surprise beach trips, extra extra sweet, salaryman nanami era, sfw!!
note: so lol this was a request, but it took me so long to finish, and their account is no longer active :,) also i could tell you this is an au, but i won't & it isn't! i guess i love suffering so just know this takes place during nanami's canon salaryman era
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Nanami had always been perceptive to the subtle changes in your mood, even when you tried to hide them from him. He could sense a slight downturn of your lips with his eyes closed, could feel any rueful air disseminating from you as you attempted to distract yourself from whatever gave you grief.
To others, Nanami could be indifferent, his naturally stoic expression causing him to appear uncaring. Though, you knew that was far from the truth—perhaps, he just saved all of his display of emotion for you.
That’s what made it so difficult to hide your worries from him.
When you returned to your apartment that evening, you were exhausted and worn down from too many hours spent at labor. Your feet were sore from uncomfortable shoes and your back ached along each notch of your spine. With a deep inhale, you scrubbed your hand over your face, hoping to dispel any obvious signs of trouble before opening the door to your bedroom.
Kento was sitting against the bedframe with a book resting in his lap, the lamp casting a warm glow over the otherwise darkened room.
Although you knew he wouldn’t be annoyed with your complaints, you didn’t want to bother him when you weren’t the only one who had been working hard recently. Nanami had logged more hours at the office in the past few weeks, and only now, was he finally getting a reprieve.
It seemed cruel to unload your burdens onto him when he had already settled in for the night. Besides, it was nothing you couldn’t handle.
As you stepped through the doorframe, Kento set the book down, eyes on you with that ever-patient, gentle smile of his. “You’re back late,” he said, and you couldn’t help but hear the hint of concern in his voice. He regretted taking a job that demanded so much of him, and naturally, he wanted to spare you from the same troubles.
Although, as much as you hated the job you were at, you’d been having trouble finding one that was better for you, both in an emotional and financial sense. Which, really, led you to feeling that there was no other choice but to tough it out, just as you always had.
“They gave me a last-minute project that needed to be done before tomorrow. I didn’t really have a choice.”
Kento opened his mouth, before he closed it and sighed instead. You could tell he wanted to argue, but you’d been through it too many times before. With the world you lived in, it was only natural to feel chained to your career from time to time—you were certain he knew that better than anyone. “Did you eat already?”
The feeling of tears was heavy against your eyelids as you turned away from him, shrugging off your stiff blouse. You knew that if you met his gaze, you might just melt into him, releasing the irrational wave of emotion that you’d been holding back all day.
“Not yet,” you said with as much optimism as you could manage, but with even the smallest change in your voice, Kento could see right through you.
He didn’t comment on the way your voice broke, the way that you were worn out, your features much less full of life than usual. His feet were quiet on the carpet as he padded over to you, his hands soft against your bare shoulder. “Okay. There’s plenty of leftovers in the fridge. I’ll warm them up for you.”
You smiled as he gave you a quick kiss on the forehead, squeezing your hand comfortingly. Visibly, you relaxed, and you watched him make his way out the door to the next room.
“Kento?” You stopped him just as he was shutting the door with a click, the knob twisting into the hinges.
“Yes?” he hummed, sticking his head around the doorframe. His blonde hair was freshly washed, the delicate strands falling over his forehead softly. He looked so much younger without the corporate attire, the serious frown plastered on to his lips. Flannel pajama pants fell loose on his hips, and he wore a t-shirt that he’d probably had since he was nineteen.
Your heart felt warm and light in your chest.
“Thank you.”
Kento smiled, his eyes brightening as they always did. “You’re welcome, darling.”
With some renewed energy, you forced yourself into the shower, scrubbing your body until the grime from the morning felt like it’d been whisked away. While you were normally adamant about fulfilling every part of your nightly routine, you skipped a few steps, too tired to ignore the aches in your body.
Nanami had already set a plate of hot food on the table for you when you finally dried off and changed into clean clothes.
He sat comfortably, watching you with his head in his palm. You took a seat beside him, your eyes heavy, and you contemplated resting your head against his shoulder before deciding it’d be too difficult to eat that way.
“I’ve been thinking about taking some time off.”
After taking a bite, you smiled, envisioning it for just a moment. “I think that’s a great idea.” You swallowed, not even realizing how hungry you were, and regarded him with warmth as you observed all the signs of his fatigue. “You deserve a break.”
“At the beginning of June, I think. Maybe I’ll go outside the city for a day or two.” He paused, drumming his fingers against the table. “Would that be a bad time for you? I don’t want to waste my days off if you won’t be around.”
You pictured your crowded calendar, envisioning the blocks of color in your mind. It started to look a little less like a rainbow when summer came around. “No, it’ll probably be alright. All of my projects are due at the end of this month, so it shouldn’t be an issue.” You set down your utensils. “I think I can manage things around here by myself.”
Kento nodded, his smile innocent, and satisfied. “Alright, then. I’ll finalize it on Monday…” He seemed contemplative, studying you with a sort of intensity that you didn’t think too hard about. He always seemed like he was observing things much too deeply. “Think you’d be able to take off too? You’re working so hard. I hate seeing you not get a break.”
You sighed, knowing that he was right, but as hard as you tried, you couldn’t seem to get the workload decreased. Too many people had been quitting recently, and you’d grown to bear the weight of their responsibilities. “I probably can. Why, have you been missing me?”
Kento laughed, taking the dirty dishes from your place once you finished off the last bite. “Yeah, something like that.” He washed them off, and you watched him lazily from the table, too relaxed to bring yourself to your feet.
When he was finished, he held out a hand, dragging you up to him, before letting you rest most of your weight onto his side. “Come on.” He draped an arm around your shoulders and held you close, hugging you warmly. “I’m tired.”
“Me too,” you said through a yawn, as if it wasn’t obvious, your eyes falling shut. You thought you heard him laugh, though it was stifled, like he was trying hard not to shake you.
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Three days later, Nanami pulled out two airplane tickets and a reservation to a beach resort, showing them to you casually like he’d bought nothing more interesting than groceries.
The dates on the tickets were for the same dates that he’d suggested before.
You stared at him, then back at the tickets, knowing he’d probably spent way too much on something that seemed too frivolous for the frugal lifestyle he tended to lean towards. “Kento…”
He stopped you, rolling his eyes before snatching the tickets away, like he thought you might toss them into the fire. “That better be followed by a thank you,” he said, and while he sounded serious, you knew he was only teasing you.
You grinned, and drew yourself closer to him, peppering kisses all over his face as a senseless flash of emotion took over you.
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For the weeks leading up to your vacation, you’d worked yourself to near collapse, making sure no loose ends were left, and no one could possibly need to contact you while you were away. Your boss seemed less than happy to grant you time off in the midst of the chaos, but you’d been a dutiful employee, and there was nothing he could do to prevent your leave.
The resort was a few hours train ride away, far enough to feel that you were in a different place entirely, but not too far that you needed to worry about passports. It was nice, to get away, and you felt free and unstifled from the bustling chaos of the city.
The train announced your stop, and you made to gather your things, tucking your phone in your brand-new beach bag, before reaching down for the backpack that you’d both shoved things into.
“Kento,” you said through a groan, as you picked up his bag from the floor, so much heavier than you’d anticipated. “What did you pack in here?” It felt loaded with bricks, nearly bringing you back down in your attempt to get off the train quickly.
“A few books,” he said, pulling his sunglasses from his pocket as you shuffled into the aisle with both of the bags. “I thought I’d have a lot of time to read.” You looked over your shoulder at him, and he made a face, defensive. “Why? Do you think we’ll be too busy?”
You weren’t sure why he was asking you—he’d done all the planning, barely letting you take a look at any of the information in order to surprise you. “Well, did you really need this many?” You struggled to swing it over your back as you balanced the other bag on your shoulder.
He sighed, holding out his hand. “I’ll carry it for you, honey.”
“No, I can get it.” You swatted his hand away stubbornly when he tried to take it from you. “My things are in here too.” Although, the more you thought about it, the more you wondered if maybe it was your toiletries weighing down the backpack, and not the paperbacks that Kento had shoved into the front pocket.
Your back grew sore. Eventually, you let him carry it.
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The resort was about as crowded as you’d expected for an early summer vacation, and you struggled to stake your claim on a nice part of the beach, where there weren’t too many wandering eyes. The two of you laid your chairs down near the ocean, the sun beating down on you, hot, and warming your skin.
It was nice to be away from the clouds and the rain that had plagued your home for the past week, and you were grateful that the bad weather hadn’t followed you to your destination.
You closed your eyes, shuffling through your music as you propped your sunglasses on your nose. The music played at a softer volume, just quiet enough to hear the waves of the ocean, creating a peaceful ambience that lulled you into tranquility.
“Did you put on sunscreen?”
You popped open one eye, shifting your neck to face Kento, who wasn’t even looking at you, legs stretched out with one of his books in his hands.
“Yes, of course,” you said in an obvious tone, even though you appreciated him checking.
He nodded as he flipped the page, his attention more on the inked words than his surroundings. It made you smile. “Just wanted to make sure, in case you fell asleep.”
“I might,” a yawn left you, as if on cue as you settled onto your back, and Kento’s lips quirked up in a subtle grin. Though your face was shaded by the umbrella, the rest of your body laid out in the sun, heating you quickly as the bright rays sent healing vibrations through the fluffy clouds.
You’d spent so much of your time cooped up inside that you’d forgotten how calming it was to escape from the world for a moment, to pretend that that part of your life didn’t exist. It would be so nice to live like this forever, to bask in the sun without any responsibilities.
You felt warm from the thought of it and shifted onto your back, head resting on your arms as you stared at the man sunbathing beside you. His sunglasses had fallen down on the bridge of his nose as he bent down over the book. A thin sheen of sweat had started on his chest, making the skin glossy, like the picturesque muse of a magazine cover. His shorts had slipped down on his hips, revealing the beginnings of tan lines that you hadn’t noticed before.
Cheeks burning, you gazed helplessly, like you’d forgotten how beautiful he was, even though that was the only thought on your mind half of the time. For a moment, you were glad that you were secluded, away from the crowd, on a quiet part of the beach. You weren’t sure if you would be able to handle anyone else gawking at him the way you were.  
You looked away before he could tease you about your staring. If you got too caught up in him, you would have no choice but to march over and plant yourself on the chair alongside him.
It didn’t take long before a sweat had also broken out on your forehead, and you took out your earbuds, throwing them back down on the chair. The waves had finally settled, and a few of the younger children had cleared out of the water with their parents, leaving the ocean much more peaceful than it had been before. “I’m going for a swim. Want to come?”
Kento looked up over his glasses, marking his place in the book carefully. His eyes roamed over you like he hadn’t already noticed you were in nothing but a swimsuit, leaving little to the imagination as every angle and curve of your body was on display. “Well, I certainly can’t say no to you.”
You smiled, pleased that his irises had blown a little wider, that he’d swallowed once before making his way to his feet.
Taking his hand, you dragged him towards the ocean, his larger palm hot in your own, the veins visible with each movement. The sand formed to the outline of your heel, sticking to your sweaty skin before saltwater swirled around your ankles.  
The water was cooler than you expected, and you suppressed a shiver, smiling over your shoulder at Nanami, tugging him farther into the expansion of blue. When you were deep enough in the water that your body had cooled, you sunk your hips into the ocean, letting the waves drag around you.
With your head tilted back towards the sky, you closed your eyes, basking in the freeing energy that the ocean provided. Kento sifted through the water, already right beside you when you opened your eyes once more, staring at you with so much adoration that it was impossible to resist him.
You wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, uncaring about anyone that happened to look your way. Saltiness lingered on both of your lips, and Kento tasted of coconuts and the sea. He grinned against your mouth, resting his hand on the small of your back as he balanced you in the turbulent waves.
Before you could lose yourself in his indulgent touches, you pulled away, teasingly, and dipped yourself back into the ocean. Nearby, there was a collection of seashells, reminding you of how you’d loved mermaids as a child. You picked them up, studied them, and wondered where they came from.
Kento rested lazily in the ocean, watching as you pulled yourself onto a large rock, your skin sticky and water dripping down to your shoulders. While you dried off, he swam over to you, before bringing his head above the sea, brushing darkened blonde hair off his forehead messily.
There was a renewed life to him; he was so much more at ease than he’d been in weeks, and that fact alone filled you with more joy than you thought could be contained in your soul. His cheeks had a sun-kissed glow, his skin marked with tan lines. He was a statue carved perfectly from bronze, and you smiled widely to yourself, engulfed in an overwhelming sense of happiness at the palpable art before you.
Kento pushed his way through the water to stand between your knees, looking up at you with so much love that your heart constricted painfully in your chest. His forearms rested on your thighs, and he dropped his chin on top of them, squeezing your knee.
“I’m glad you came with me,” he said, like it had even been a choice, like you’d ever say no to spending time with him. “It’s nice seeing you relax.”
You could say the same about him, but it wouldn’t have had the same effect now that he’d stolen the words already. “It was such a hard decision to make,” you teased, running a finger through his wet hair, the blond strands twisting and bending into a mess on top of his head. “I sure do miss being at work.”
Kento laughed, and you felt a jolt of pleasure rush through you at the action, knowing that he’d never button himself up around you, and no one else would see him as carefree as you did.   
“We should move here,” you said afterwards on a whim, full of excitement and fanciful images of the beautiful nature. “Don’t you think?”
Nanami kissed the inside of your thigh softly, knowing, just as you did, that that was the kind of dream you saved for the nights that you found living the hardest. “Maybe,” he smiled, amused, even though it’d be too hard to leave the city where your friends were, where your home was, and neither of you were fond of making thoughtless decisions. “Maybe when we’re both too old to do anything but sit with each other’s company.”
“That’d be nice,” you said, picturing it with ease, and while getting older had always scared you to some degree, it didn’t seem so frightening when you were doing it with him.
“Really. You want to be with me that long?” he teased, though there was a hint of seriousness in his eyes, wide and warm, and it was such a ridiculous question, because you’d told him over and over how much he meant to you, and for such a smart man, he’d never seemed to grasp it.
You leaned over, kissing both his cheeks, feeling very much like a teenager in love. “I’m yours forever, Kento Nanami. You already know that.”
His smile spread whiter, forming into a toothy grin that he rarely revealed to anyone else. Kento grazed your knee softly with his lips, a touch barely there, and you were certain he was trying to get a rise out of you, only to leave you cruelly alone on the edge of the rock. He looked up at you from under his soft lashes. “I’m a lucky man, then.”
You thought you were the lucky one, but you rolled your eyes playfully, climbing down from the rock into his waiting embrace. His arms were strong around your back, and you tried not to get too distracted by his hot breath on your cheeks.
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The rest of the week passed in a blur of fond memories and blissful relaxation, and time went by much faster than you would’ve liked.
On your last night at the resort, you stood in front of the mirror, wiping any remaining sea salt from your legs as you dried off from your shower. Already, you missed the beautiful blue water, the spacious bed that had overlooked the sandy shores.
The bathroom door opened as you were ruminating, changing into a fresh pair of pajamas. It was late, and you’d grown tired from being in the sun all day, even though you remained relaxed and refreshed from the vacation.
Kento stared at you from the doorway, his brown eyes sparkling as he watched you moisturize your face evenly.
“Why are you staring?” You held his gaze in the mirror, amused, as you set the tube down and switched it for one of toothpaste.
“No reason.” He came up behind you slowly, extending his arms to wrap around your waist. You looked a mess with your hair undone and your eyes were tired without any makeup. Still, he kissed along your shoulders before burying his face in the crook of your neck, holding you tight.
You melted, squeezing his hand tightly back as you leaned into him. Kento didn’t release you as you brushed your teeth and finished up your routine, and occasionally bit the sensitive skin on your neck.
When you spit the toothpaste out, he held your hair up, then gently massaged the back of your neck to release all the aches and pains that slowly dissipated each day you stayed well-rested.
“I had fun this week,” you said, leaning up to kiss him, the glasses he wore only at night slipping down the bridge of his nose. You held his cheek in your hand, brushing your thumb against the sharp angles of his face. His cheeks were dusted pink, sun-kissed, and his hair was even blonder than usual. “We should go on vacation more often.” The lines from stress had smoothed on his skin and the dark shadows under his eyes had disappeared completely.
Kento snorted, kissing the top of your head before throwing an arm around you, dragging you back to the bed. “We’ll find a way to talk ourselves out of it. We usually do.”
“I’m serious, Kento.” You rested against him for just a moment, before shuffling with a yawn to the other side of the bed. With the sun-down, the room had grown cooler, even though the humidity was still stagnant in the air. You toppled on the mattress, twisting around to make sure that he was still meeting your eyes. “Neither of us should be working as much as we are. It’s exhausting.”
Kento’s expression darkened, his features dimming before his eyes crinkled again and he rested a heavy hand on your hip. “You’re right.” He squeezed you affectionately. “Maybe we’ll take a trip this winter. You can pick where we go next time.”
You grinned, closing your eyes to imagine the possibilities. It could’ve been the bliss of the vacation talking. The future might become full of empty promises like it always had. Though, something about this felt different. It felt like maybe you’d both decided that you needed to change something about your lives.
“I’ll hold you to it,” you said, and hoped, fleetingly, that you’d die by the beach with Nanami Kento at your side.
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soft-mafia · 6 months
Note
This has been in my head for a while. If you want Smut, how about where Buggy wished that he can be in the water (Beach) with his S/O for a "Hot Swim" but can't, because of his inability to swim. Until they hit an island with a secret natural hot-springs that Buggy and his S/O found; while the other crew mates were doing their business.
Since the hot river isn't salt water, Buggy can safely be in the water without going stiff and drown. Then things get... HOT.
Hot Swim [Buggy x Reader]
warnings: fem reader, smut, skinny dipping, Buggy detaching his dick
a/n: OOOH this one is good teehee🤭 I feel like this was way too short😭
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Buggy sighed as the Big Top passed by a beach, he looked at all of the young couples cuddling in the water. Damn, he grumbled to himself, what he wouldn’t give just to go swimming again.. just one more time.
He can’t even remember the last time he had a good swim, way back when he was a kid before Shanks made him eat that damn Devil Fruit. Buggy scowled and growled to himself.
Those damn kids.. they don’t know how good they have it, I couldn’t even set foot in water when I was their age!
“You ok, LoveBug?” Y/n came up next to Buggy, resting her hands and chin on his shoulder. The man sighed and hung his head low, “I’m fine.” He looked down at Y/n. “We’ll be at our stop in like.. 30 minutes?” She said, then looked up at him to meet his gaze, before looking back at the beach Buggy was looking at, seeing all of the people, “Wow are they throwing a party or something?”
“They’re some dumb kids being idiots, that’s what they’re doing!” Buggy snapped, grumbling with a bitter tone to his voice, “Look at them! Polluting these fine waters with their sweaty filthy bodies, blech!” He growled and detached an arm so he could throw an apple in the direction of the beach goers(obviously missing by a long shot, the apple made a loud *thunk* as it plopped into the water). He let out a gruff huff of air before turning and walking away, the coat he had draped on his shoulders swished dramatically as he turned.
Y/n tilted her head and gave Buggy a confused look, before slowly following after him. It wasn’t uncommon for Buggy to have his bitter outbursts, she couldn’t help but think it was kind of cute at times.
The Buggy Pirates were making another pit stop yet again, it made sense that they were always stocking up on food every few days considering Buggy could throw a celebration over a coin flip or something.. but that just meant more booze and food for the crew, and it’s Captain.
Buggy sighed as he stood and watched his crew, feeling extra grumpy as this island was unusually hot. He then felt tugging at his coat from behind. The man grunted and looked over his shoulder to see Y/n trying to be sneaky and steal his flashy jacket, “HEY!” He growled, holding the collars tightly to keep it on his shoulders, “Can you stop trying to steal my clothes for 5 seconds?! You don’t even need it!! It’s fucking scorching here!!”
“You don’t need it either!! You’re gonna get sweaty and smelly, I don’t wanna deal with that!” Y/n frowned at him, still tugging on his jacket, her knees buckling together as she worked against him.
Buggy detached his head and neck so he could face Y/n, looking down at her from high above(so he could have the allusion of towering over her, which was hard when he was just a head), “You just can’t handle a man’s natural scent huh?” He grunted, his eyes glanced over her form, and the way she was only dressed in a bikini top and tight fitting leggings; kind of appropriate for the hot weather, but as he looked over her some more he could feel the crotch of his pants getting tighter.
“Stop using your gender as an excuse to be gross!” Y/n continued to try and tug Buggy’s coat off.
Of course it was probably a million degrees in this place, but that just meant Buggy’s scent rubbed off on it more than usual; she was his girlfriend and she had rights to her boyfriend’s clothes; don’t judge.
Y/n lost her grip and screamed as she fell back, seemingly disappearing into the moss wall behind her.
Buggy let out a scream as well, watching the moss and vines basically swallow his girlfriend whole. His entire body detached, then reattached so that he was facing the right way before running in after her, “Y/N?!” He grunted when he ran into her back, he then paused, his hands on her shoulders from behind.
“What the hell is this place?” Buggy mumbled, squinting while looking past Y/n and at the scenery in front of him. It was just a small little pond.. with steam coming out of it, he furrowed his brows, grunting softly in confusion before he realized what he was looking at, “HOLY CRAP!! We found a hot spring!” He squeezed Y/n’s shoulders. “A hot spring? Eh.. too bad we’re devil fruit users.” Y/n shrugged, going to walk out until Buggy grabbed her again and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him.
“No! No! Hot springs aren’t sea water.. we’ll be perfectly fine!!” Buggy stated gleefully before slinging his coat to the side, already starting on stripping.
“You’re seriously gonna skinny dip? What if someone sees you?”
“We’re fine! This place is secluded enough, no one’s gonna find us out.. besides I don’t even remember the last time I had a dip in the water. If anything, I deserve this!” Buggy said, now completely nude, his fat cock hanging between his legs. Y/n tried her best not to look at it, but the sight of Buggy’s naked body right in front of her was making her blush, sure it wasn’t anything she hadn’t seen before, but still, that fluffy happy trail was oh so inviting.
Buggy looked over at Y/n with a soft grunt, “You’re not gonna join me? Come on, when’s the last time you’ve swam before?”
“I dunno.. I never really liked swimming in the first place so.. never?” Y/n shrugged. “WHAT?! Who the hell doesn’t like swimming?!” Buggy growled, his hands floating over to grab at Y/n’s arms, “First you tell me you don’t like meat, and now you’re telling me you’ve never swam before?! C’mon you’re killing me!!” Buggy whined as he walked into his hands, attaching them back at the wrist, gripping Y/n tighter.
“There’s no one here but us, baby! Besides, don’t knock it until you try it!” He was already working on taking Y/n’s top off, making her squeak as he pulled it over her head. “Ugghh.. fine..” Y/n grumbled, “I don’t even know how to swim in the first place.. do you even remember?” Y/n said, looking back at Buggy after she took her bottoms off.
Buggy put a hand on his chin and looked at the springs, “Of course I remember!! Jeez I know you tease me about being old but I’m not senile!” He scoffed at her, then roughly ruffled her hair before turning back towards the hot spring, stepping into it, both feet dunked in the water. “Damn I forgot how good water feels.” Buggy sighed, then looked back at Y/n, “Get your ass in here already!”
Y/n rolled her eyes, pulling her leggings down before stepping over to Buggy, now in only in that bikini top. She was a bit nervous about entering the water.. sure, Buggy was also a devil fruit user and he was fine, but that’s not what she was worried about, “Do I just step in?” She was afraid of slipping.
Buggy held his hand out for her to hold onto, “Yeah, c’mon.” He urged with a small grin, “Don’t tell me you’re scared of water!!” He cackled.
“Shut the fuck up, I’m not. I just don’t wanna slip.” Y/n huffed, holding onto Buggy’s hand as she cautiously stepped into the water, then instantly clung to Buggy’s side.
After the man basked in the feeling of dipping his feet in water for the first time in a long time, he sat down, Y/n quickly following him. “I can’t believe you don’t like swimming, that’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever said to me.” Buggy grunted, leaning back and resting his arms back, one of them wrapping around Y/n’s shoulders. “It’s just the idea of so many people seeing my body.. and then getting wet- and getting my hair wet!” Y/n snuggled into Buggy’s side, throwing her legs over his thigh under the water; she had to admit, the water felt nice; it wasn’t too hot or too cold.
“You and your hair, jeez.. but you shouldn’t feel so insecure about yourself y’know, you’re hot. I have no idea how you can’t see that.” Buggy snorted, his hand slowly made its way down her back, fingers walking down until he met the ties to her bikini top, then untied it, making Y/n squeak.
“C’mon baby..” Buggy chuckled, his voice low and deep, he tossed the top behind himself back onto the surface, “Like I said, it’s just us.” His other hand moved to hold the side of her thigh, thumb rubbing back and forth underneath the water, he leaned his face closer to hers, “I always wanted to fuck you like this.” He chuckled lowly.
Y/n batted her eyes softly for a moment, staring at Buggy’s lips before looking up into his eyes, his nose pressed against hers. Buggy licked his teeth and smirked, “Look at you, sweet little thing.” His voice was deep, gravelly and husky, she could smell the faint alcohol on his breath from his morning drink, it sent a chill through her body. Y/n moved to straddle his lap, the water swishing with her movements.
She threw her arms around his neck, tilting her head so she could press her lips against his in a passionate kiss. Buggy leaned his arms back, groaning softly as their lips molded against one another; his cock hardening between Y/n’s legs. Buggy laughed softly mid-kiss as he reached his hand down to guide his boner out from under the water, letting it stand proudly, resting it against Y/n’s pubis, tugging at the base a few times to earn a small drop of precum.
Y/n pulled away from the kiss and looked down, bringing one of her own hands down to gently circle her finger around the tip. Buggy let out a deep, guttural groan when she did that, tilting his head back and shutting his eyes as he let the sensations course through his body. Y/n giggled at his reaction, her other hand moving down to caress his chest, running her fingers through that thick, fluffy chest hair. “I hate it when you tease me.” Buggy grunted softly under his breath, tilting his head back forward to look at Y/n’s breasts, then look up at her through his brows.
“Aww, why not?” Y/n giggled, then leaned forward, moving her hips up a little so she could rub her pussy on his cock, “Don’t you want me to make you feel good?” She whispered, her lips ghosted over his. Buggy growled under his breath, feeling arousal shoot through his abdomen and right up his cock, “Ghh..” he grunted.
He regained control over the situation, putting his hands on her hips and gripping firmly, holding her legs in place as he detached his penis, letting it float up into her pussy. Y/n’s back arched, gasping as she held onto Buggy’s shoulders. “I’m the captain here, remember that, princess.” Buggy grinned before thrusting his cock up and down into her.
Y/n moaned, softly bouncing on it as he thrusted, “B-Buggy..” she panted out, biting onto her knuckle to stifle her noises. Buggy moved one of his hands up to hold her waist, fingers digging into the soft flesh of her skin, he let out a gravelly breath, “Ahhh that’s it, who’s your daddy?” He chuckled, licking his teeth before moving his hand back to spank her ass a few times, to which Buggy relished in Y/n’s squeaks and whimpers.
“Buggyy..” Y/n moaned softly, whimpering as she squeezed her eyes shut, Buggy rammed into her faster and deeper. He let out deep grunts and other man noises, his thigh muscles and abs tensed. Slapping noises could be heard from Buggy’s thrusting under the water, he closed his eyes shut when he felt his eyes roll back, he breathed out gruffly. Their moans and pants filled the area, the hot spring becoming more steamy as they got closer to their orgasm.
“M-More..” Y/n pleaded, looking up at Buggy with bedroom eyes, biting her bottom lip. She had her hands on his chest, leaning into him as his cock thrusted in and out at a rough and fast pace, almost sending mini shockwaves through her, “Mmmm..!!” She moaned, tilting her head back. Buggy gripped Y/n’s hips again and grunted as he picked up the speed, panting heavily, “Really making me work huh, cutie?” He laughed breathily through a groan, he clenched his jaw, growling deeply as his abdomen tightened.
They both moaned heavily as they came together, Buggy shooting his thick cum deep into Y/n’s pussy as it fluttered and clenched around his cock. “Ughh..” Buggy let out a pleasured groan, tilting his head back so far it accidentally fell off, he let out a short yell before quickly attaching it. He was absolutely winded, still panting heavily, “Damn..” he breathed out, then looked down at Y/n who was rested against his chest, still grinding her pussy on his cock as he reattached it.
“You’re still going aren’t you?” Buggy teased, cackling softly as he squeezed her sides, “Cute.” He moved his hand up her body to rub her back. Y/n giggled in response as she rode her orgasm out; but even after, the feeling of Buggy’s dick inside of her, stretching her out and filling her up, it was intoxicating; his cock was so fat. Buggy felt every clench and flutter of Y/n’s pussy, his shaft was sensitive enough as it was after cumming, he gripped her hips and slowly pulled her off, “Alright that’s enough! Shit.. humping me like a damn dog.” He muttered under his breath, watching as a small string of cum connected his tip to her pussy as he pulled her off.
Y/n pouted as Buggy leaned his arms back again, “Well, I’d say this was the best swim I’ve had in a long time!” He giggled, ruffling Y/n’s hair as she sat up. “The crew should be finished stocking up the ship.. you think we should start heading back?” Y/n said as she moved off of his lap, still sitting close beside of him. She looked down at the water, gently swirling the surface around with her finger.
Buggy gave Y/n a push, she squealed as she went chest first into the deep part of the hot spring, fortunately Buggy caught her as he followed in after, holding her upright, “They can wait! 'Didn’t just come in here to fuck you, I still wanna enjoy this for a bit.” He playfully splashed some water into Y/n’s face.
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catgirl-kaiju · 2 years
Text
I saw a review of Nope (2022) that compared it to Jaws in its basic structure (high tension thriller where the main characters stalked by a dangerous animal that is difficult to see coming). I can kind of see that, but I think something more interesting about the film is how much it is the opposite of Jaws.
Jaws is a film about a wild animal that is portrayed as a vicious killing machine with implied malice. It turns what is a real life animal into something that is not human or animal, just a scary monster with little acknowledgement that it is a living thing. The framing of the shark attacks is of a shark invading waters that should be safe for humans to use for leisure, rather than as people suffering the consequences of intruding into the shark's natural habitat. The idea of closing the beach isn't about respecting the boundaries of a wild animal, but about keeping people safe from a vicious killer.
Nope (and this is where I start getting into some spoilers) is about a creature that is assumed to be something artificial by the main characters. Because of its resemblance to a classic flying saucer, Jean Jacket is assumed to be a vessel for intelligent and possibly malicious aliens. A classic movie monster. However, we discover part way through the film that Jean Jacket is actually a living thing, a predatory organism, and is framed as such. Jean Jacket isn't killing because it's evil; it's killing because it's hungry and territorial. Only by acknowledging that Jean Jacket is essentially a wild animal, with rules and boundaries, are the main characters able to survive it. Meanwhile, characters that assume that Jean Jacket isn't alive or seek to control or exploit it are put in harms way by their own actions. It's also implied that this is not actually Jean Jacket's native habitat, it is an outside force that has intruded on the Haywood ranch and it becomes a matter of people defending themselves against an invasive species.
I think all of the ways in which Nope contrasts Jaws makes it a stronger film with more nuanced messaging. Jaws may be good at creating tension and suspense, but it also doesn't care to think about its monster as a living thing (which is especially problematic since great white sharks are real and endangered animals that are not even known for attacking humans). By taking the time to show that Jean Jacket is a living thing with needs and boundaries, (even though it's a very fictional creature) Nope creates some very interesting conflict that feels more grounded despite the premise being so outlandish.
Anyway, thank you for reading and go watch Nope if you haven't already. There's a lot more that's great about it that I didn’t fit into this analysis.
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412foryou · 1 month
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The last one.
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“bless your heart, make you part of my life forever. and always.”
₊˚ pairing– sunwoo x gn!reader
₊˚ genre– hurt/comfort, fluff, friends to lovers.
₊˚ overview– sunwoo comforts you after an unpleasant event. you go for a drive in his car, in the sunset. a confession at the beach. kissing.
₊˚ word count– 3k
₊˚ warnings– depictions of feelings of anxiety/social anxiety and loneliness; self-conscious, depressive thoughts.
₊˚ notes– I'm finally giving this a try! I'm super excited to write on here!! the beautiful pictures sunwoo posted on ig made me think of the idea for this fic. I got inspired to write it while I was feeling really down myself, and even though it's pretty specific, I felt like I could share it here, in hopes that this might comfort anyone else who needs it. it took me a week to finish this, but I enjoyed every moment of it. note that this is my first fic in a while, so please be kind. I'd love to hear what you think about it!! and btw! stuff in italics is for the reader's thoughts.
like & reblog if you enjoy please <3
♪₊˚ song— tejano blue by cigarettes after s*x.
it's so loud.
you can hear the noisy chatter of the people in your group, bantering and laughing out loud.
what are they laughing so much about? are they laughing about.. about me?
you sink in your seat, hands in pockets, body slumping even more than before, aiming to merge with the chair. your eyebrows set low, unknowingly glaring at the group.
"hey, you okay?" one of them calls out, making you perk up, but you know it isn't a genuine question, so you lower your eyes, nodding briefly.
a scoff. "it's no use talking to them, they're not gonna answer you." another voice retorts, clearly tipsy. you try to pay it no mind.
it was fine before, they didn't care much. why now?
but before you can come up with an answer to your own question, your thoughts are interrupted with laughter, even louder this time.
they're laughing at me.
the discomfort that gradually began setting in since you first stepped into the building, was about to overflow. so you go to stand up and leave, while your mind imagines the remarks they could be throwing at you.
"leaving already? so boring."
"they're so weird"
"wow, that's one scary kid."
"not worth our time."
"yeah, you better leave."
real or not, it didn't make much of a difference for you. you still cared, it still bothered you, no matter how miserable that might sound. the non-spoken words sharp and piercing, biting at your skin. you brushed both of your arms up and down roughly to rid your mind of the thoughts.
it burns.
so much for trying to socialize.
you awkwardly squeeze through people crowded in groups outside, keeping your eyes on the ground, paying no mind to where you're headed.
you just need to get away from there, as far as possible, and quickly. you don't even check your surroundings, as your legs seem to be taking charge right now, shaking but not able to stop moving ahead.
I'm so embarrassing. I'm just so...
you're continuously reminded of what happened at the bar, the image seemingly stuck in your brain. the mocking laughter replaying over and over, taunting you, leaving no choice but to think about it.
why can't I just do it the way they can, what is wrong with me?
they all seem to like it.
why doesn't it come naturally to me too?
why do I have to force myself?
you walk with your head down, trying to hold in your tears. you knew this wouldn't end well, you didn't expect anything from it, and yet,
I'm pathetic. I'm disgusting. and I'm miserable.
I knew this wasn't a good idea, why did I even..
they all probably hate me now. the way I am.
I feel so sorry for myself-
there's a halt in you thoughts, as in your steps. you notice you've bumped shoulders with someone.
wait- what am I doing, where am I?
you frantically take a look around, only to find yourself in an unfamiliar place, yet again, the anxiety sets in. you have no way of telling where you are.
the sun will set soon, too. shit-
you walk around in hopes to find a way to get back to your place, maybe think of something. but, you remember-
sunwoo has my location! yes. he'll help.
you mentally thank yourself for thinking of that, taking your phone out to text your friend.
"changed my mind, come get me."
the reply is almost instantaneous, as it always is whenever it's sunwoo you're texting.
"be there in 10. stay where you are."
a sigh of relief escapes through your lips, your shoulders feeling lighter, knowing you'll be on your way soon. but you still need to-
I have to go back to that place.
reluctantly making your way back to the bar, you linger nearby, just so sunwoo can find you, but not close enough to be spotted by anyone else. pulling your hood up, you put your hands in your pockets, shifting back and forth, unable to stay still.
it's fine. it's alright now. it's over. he'll be here soon. I'm okay..
letting a big puff of air out, you try to steady your stance, your breath shaky. you lean your elbows on the railing in front of some shop, as the light from inside gives you shelter from the darkness of the street.
I wish I didn't have to be like this.
you tuck your head into your arms.
this always happens, I don't know why I thought this time would be different.
I should've never come.
I'm shameful.
I'm ashamed!
regardless of your efforts to hold back, you still feel a single stubborn tear touch your skin, staining your sleeves. a sniffle. you can't be crying like this outside,
but I've already embarrassed myself anyway.
another involuntary sniffle, and a tear on the other side of your face. it's gotten colder. a warm hand on your shoulder.
frightened, your head springs up, your eyes frantically searching for the person the hand belongs to. your body slackens in his grip. thank god. the hand on your shoulder moves to stroke your back.
"I'm here." a gentle smile.
you feel the tear streaks drying on the sides of your face in the light breeze as you look back at sunwoo. you're so drained that you feel as though you've lost the ability to form words, so you can only hope your eyes are able to relay your thoughts to him.
I'm exhausted.
sunwoo's gaze shifts between your eyes trying to gauge anything that hints at your mood. his other hand comes up to wipe your cheekbone. and it stays there, holding the side of your face.
a quiet gasp. "you're freezing! I should've been quicker. I'm sorry." he retracts his hand on your cheek. the one still on your back guides you in a certain direction, your body completely relaxed and yielding in his hold. you're safe now, sunwoo knows what to do. you know to trust him.
before you know it you feel warm again. even though the roof of sunwoo's cabriolet is folded, even though it's even colder now, even though the breeze blows rougher. the warmth seems to be spreading from within, a feeling, your heartbeat slow and steady. sunwoo buckles your seatbelt for you and closes the door.
don't go.
he rounds the vehicle to get in his seat on the other side. you knew he wouldn't leave, but
still..
"I'll pull the roof back up in a minute." he has taken off his jacket and it's now spread over your lap. "I didn't know it'd get this cold, should've thought to fix it before coming to get you." he halts his movements when he feels your hand on his arm.
I want to feel the breeze.
"you want me to leave it?" a mild nod from you, eyes downturned. he gazes back at you, eyebrows furrowed. "okay... but put the jacket on properly, the breeze is strong."
when you don't make a move to comply as he instructed, he leans over and carefully adjusts the jacket so that it covers more of you, giving you a sliver of a smile.
soon enough the blow of the wind picks up as sunwoo starts driving. you lean your head back, resting it on the headrest. the bitter gusts of wind crash into your face, turning it red, keeping you awake. you can feel the frigid air burning your skin, soothing your body. your eyelids drop to focus on the feeling as you take in a deep breath.
that feels nice.
I can breathe again.
you open your eyes and look out the window. the city lights are harsh and bright, dazzling you, making you squint, your view of them softening.
"are you cold?" asks sunwoo in a low voice. yes. but it feels good. slowly tilting your head, you face him, beyond him a glimpse of the beach.
your gaze fixes on sunwoo, eyes listless. only now taking notice of his appearance. laid back in the seat, his arm rests on the door, the other one gripping the wheel. arms bare, your eyes linger. soon enough they shift to look at his dark hair flying around with the wind. thick eyebrows set firm in concentration. eyes half lidded, but alert. you can still see the restlessness in them. he keeps stealing sideway glances at you, eager to grasp your thoughts. you pay it no mind, because..
he's so beautiful.
and most of all, his skin is glowing golden even in the dark, now illuminated scarlet as you stop at a red light. he turns his head toward you "hmm?"
ah,
you forgot he'd asked a question. that snaps you out of your dazed state effectively. blinking rapidly to rid your eyes of the haze.
shit, I got distracted.
clearing your throat, your voice raspy, "sorry. no, I'm not cold." you fidget with the sleeves of your hoodie. you hear him sigh softly. he's facing ahead again, the light green. "you.. okay?" you can hear the concern in his voice and your heart swells.
"yeah, I'm good." averting your eyes from his face, feeling sheepish.
your response doesn't seem to ease his worry, "you can talk to me, you know I don't mind. I'll listen." his words so gentle, you barely hear them.
he's so kind to me.
your eyes shift to your lap. sunwoo's jacket has slid down, and you can see your fingers picking at the skin on your hands.
why... does he treat me like this?
when other people seem to have given up on me completely?
he's too kind.
"I..." you try to form an intelligible sentence. an exhale- "I'm alright. I'm just fine.. if you're with me." you try not to look over at him. "everything sort of.. feels okay when you're here." you breathe deep, in and out. voice trembling. "I just want you to know that.. I'm thankful- for everything you do for me. even though, I don't get why you do this... I know I can be... difficult. to understand, and to talk to most of the time. I guess I'm grateful that you try. and that you've kept me with you despite.. that, I don't give anything in return. and I'm sorry." you trail off, tears welling in your eyes. "anyway, just thank you." you finish with a sniffle.
sunwoo is quiet. you're too afraid to meet eyes with him, so you keep your head down.
why isn't he saying anything?
did I make him uncomfortable?
you wipe your nose with a sleeve. another awkward sniff.
should've just stayed quiet. it wasn't even that serious..
I'm sorry for being like this.
however, before your mind can make your grey thoughts into a whirlpool and suck you in, you see colors seep into the darkness. you look up in surprise and find the source. the now setting sun seems to be casting the purple-pink light on the waves just before you.
"it has never once felt like that to me." you turn your head, the beams reaching his face too, making you stare. he's looking ahead.
"our.. friendship. I have never thought of it as a chore, a challenge- maybe. because we're so different from each other, there's a lot to consider. but.." he shakes his head, lowering it, "oh my god- I always thought of this-" he gestures between the two of you. "as something precious, something I needed to protect. if anything, it felt like it was you keeping me close." he brings his head back up but still doesn't glance your way.
...what?
eyebrows furrowed in deep confusion you question, "you.. but, why? there's nothing I have to offer, I mean.." he brings his head back up, concern evident in the way he looks at you. you avoid his eyes, bashful. "you're.. you're so ordinary. you know.. you can befriend anyone, do anything you want.. you're likable, and I don't know.. I'm- I'm just me. and I can barely take being alive, at least..." you sigh shakily, it's so hard to talk about this. "but that was before, now I don't think it's all that bad. and it's all because you came into my life." you didn't even notice you'd started to cry, until you felt sunwoo's thumb on your face, wiping the tears away. you let him, eyes glazed over.
he makes this even more difficult than it already is.
he retracts his hand. you shift your eyes once more. "you know, whenever I think of myself, I'm always out of place. nothing comes naturally to me, like it does with others, and it- it's so frustrating... it's lonely. and it makes me hate myself. but.. weirdly enough, all it took for me to feel at least a little bit normal, was one person who understood me. who listened to me. you're my link to the rest of the world, the only thing that keeps my feet on the ground. I- I really don't know where I would be right now, if you weren't by my side." you feel more silent tears escape.
my whole existence is disgraceful.
but I don't regret this, he has to know how much he means to me.
"I know it's selfish as well, that I wish for you to stay here forever. but.. truly, you're the sole good thing in my life." you've never felt so exposed and vulnerable before, putting your heart on display, right in front of sunwoo.
"it isn't, selfish- I mean." he catches you off guard, so you turn to look. you notice colors dimming on his face, the sunset imminent. he's got a warm expression on his face, one full of tenderness. "well if it is, then I must be selfish too. because I can never imagine my life without you in it either." he leans over, resting his elbow on the armrest in-between your seats. "it honestly breaks my heart that you think that way about yourself, I wish I could take those feelings away from you.." he reaches over with his other hand and takes your hood off. "I don't know how much I'll be able to help, but I can promise that I'll always try to. I'll be here, whenever you need me." his gaze shifts to the top of your head briefly, patting your hair into place. "and I need you with me, just as much. so, don't ever think like that, okay?"
you should've known better than to doubt sunwoo's feelings. he's the one that gets you, even if no words are exchanged. of course, he'd understand. he always has. but.. it's hard to focus on that, when he's just
he's so close.
your heartbeat picks up, alerting you of the proximity between your faces. you can feel the heat of sunwoo's breath on your ice cold face, as you try to keep your own even. try to keep your mind clear, aware.
oh god...
he eyes your lips for a moment, and you can hear it in his slightly quickened breaths-
he feels it too.
your eyes lock, and you feel like you're going insane. with the way he's looking at you, gaze filled with longing. with the way his hand's still resting in your hair. with the way your heart just can't seem to calm. with the way your faces have frozen into place, neither moving an inch to break the distance. it all makes you want to..
I desperately want to kiss him.
"I want to kiss you." you're not even sure who asked the question, because it was whispered, and because you're too tired to make sense of anything. "...can I?" oh, it was him, after all. his voice so soft, but breathy- rushed with desire.
please.
instead of answering, you pull him in by the back of his head, rushing to connect your lips. your eagerness visible in the intensity of the kiss. this stuns sunwoo for a brief second, but he meets your lips and steadies the kiss, slowing you down.
..finally.
he holds you by the jaw. your lips moving in sync, almost naturally. you pull at his hair. you can feel him smiling into the kiss.
he's driving me crazy.
the kiss can't last forever, you have to pull away to take a breath. you can feel the dissatisfaction in the way sunwoo whines lowly. it pleases you, to know he yearns for you the same way you do, for him.
I can't believe we just kissed.
your faces remain close still, seemingly unable to pull apart, now that you've connected. the sound of your heavy breaths and the waves crashing, the only thing to be heard. you wait for each other to regain oxygen back in your lungs. sunwoo's cheeks are flushed cherry, but you're sure yours are worse.
I can't believe I just kissed sunwoo.
he holds your cheek in his palm now, thumb stroking the blush on it, gaze filled with adoration.
is this really happening?
sunwoo's half lidded eyes are relentless in raking over your face, noticing every detail, staring. but it isn't uncomfortable, you don't feel self-conscious. you feel seen.
"you're beautiful." he confesses with care.
he likes me.
he finds me beautiful.
his bold words don't make you question their genuineness. you feel confident in the way you look from his point of view, you know you're beautiful, because he sees it.
tightening your grip on his hair, pulling a strand, you look at his swollen mouth "you have no idea, how long I've waited for this." he ducks his head, smiling shyly. ...he's so.. cute.
bringing both of your hands together, you cup his flushed face.
pretty.
you take a moment to study him. he lets you. after a few moments of silence, he whispers "me too. I've longed for you.. without even realizing." he's a bit hesitant in his words, avoiding your gaze. you didn't know shy sunwoo would come as a punch to your heart, making your affection for him grow.
so adorable.
smiling softly, you lean in to taste his lips once more. this time you make sure to go slow and sunwoo melts into the kiss. he moves his lips according to your pace, kissing you back tenderly. you feel content in his presence, his lips touching yours, comfortable and familiar.
I feel so... warm.
you gently lift your lips from his, but stay near, foreheads joined together. you can feel the breeze biting. your mind screams at you, begging, to connect your mouth back with his again. sunwoo's low breaths grazing your lips not helping the case.
I miss his touch.
the side of his mouth upturned, as if reading your mind, sunwoo briefly brushes your lips with his plump ones.
I need more.
but brief isn't enough. you yearn for him, his touch in the way that wouldn't be sated with a momentary peck. a noise of frustration leaves your lips, and he catches on, finding your impatience cute.
a chuckle. his lips back on yours.
perfect.
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that-ari-blogger · 6 months
Text
Critical Role's Previous Cameraman
I put up a post the other day about critical role's new animated introduction and I couldn't help but notice a sudden spike in the analytical stuff that I don't really understand. A more tech orientated friend of mine informed me that this was a good thing, actually. So, I thought I might capitalise on that and examine the previous campaign's opening sequence through the same lens and do some more analysis.
Let me explain.
SPOILERS AHEAD
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One notable thing about this song is when it starts. Exactly eleven seconds in. That's eleven seconds of wait before the final payoff. You catch glimpses of what's happening above, but nothing else.
And that is a key theme of this campaign. The unseen. The Mighty Nein was a party characterised by trauma, and a lot of the time, you don't see that, you only see glimpses. A flash of a fight they told you about, and the sensation of drowning.
But then we meet Fjord.
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He's falling, and I'd like to point out the direction in which he is falling. You will notice the scars on his back, signifying he was probably in the process of running away, or was betrayed by someone, and he is falling towards those scars. Backwards. There is also a neat thing of falling away from the light, into the darkness, into the unknown. THis is someone out of control, leaning into the pain. And what is it that sees that?
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There is a reason Uk'otoa's design looks so much like a leach. The creature is a parasite, it doesn't find someone strong to break down, it found someone weak, and at its mercy, and brought him under its control. What this shot does is highlight that creature's opportunistic nature, but it also associates it very clearly with the visual of that eye.
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And it's that eye that carries through. When Fjord washes up on the beach, when he is finally safe, he carries with him a little piece of Uk'otoa, a little piece of that trauma.
It's also notable of that it is an eye. It's obvious, but it colours his vision, and changes how he views the world. Its effects aren't physical, but mental.
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Beaureguard Lionet is a fighter. Not in the sense of class, because she isn't but in the sense of personality. Beau is a fighter in the sense that her first reaction to any problem is to punch it.
This transition is a wipe transition, but its important because of what it uses. It uses the opportunity to show off the uniforms of Beau's attackers, because otherwise the shadows of the rest of the shot make them hard to make out. These are wearing the same robes as her. Whoever they are, they are part of a team of some kind with her, they are people she should be able to trust, but look at how much damage they have done to her. Look at how heavily she is breathing. And look at what Beau does in response.
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She fights back. This is how the animation gets across this character. She isn't complex, she doesn't need a great explanation, she doesn't have different sides to her, she just hits things until they stop being a problem.
I will also point out her eyes again. They are blue, not an unnatural eye colour, but they are the same blue as her robes, and the robes of those who are attacking her. Once again, the has warped the vision of its recipient, and in this case, it's creating a cycle of violence as all she knows how to do, is hit things.
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We don't see Nott The Brave for a while in this animatic. We instead see, once again, the eyes. But I also want to point out that this was made before we knew about Veth. So we were just seeing the scared goblin.
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This is as close as we get in this scene, and its Nott actively hiding from the light. The warmth scares her, and for good reason, its the same heat that we see emanating from her eyes. Once again, the trauma that has contaminated a character's vision is changing their reactions to the world.
And with that, I would like to talk about Jester, and I would like to do that in context.
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The term "foil" in the context of a character was actually popularised by William Shakespear, who handily explained the metaphor for us.
"And like bright metal on a sullen ground, My reformation, glitt'ring o'er my fault, Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes Than that which hath no foil to set it off."
Put in English, I shine brighter when you have something to compare me to. And this is what a foil character is, a character who brings about elements in other characters that can easily be missed, or who shows off by contrast their personalities.
Jester is one of the two characters in the Mighty Nein who is not a child of trauma, and her introduction shows that. She reacts to her life by laughing, and contrast that with everyone else. Fjord reaches for a sword, the item of his trauma; Beau tries to fight her trauma despite that approach clearly not working; and Nott hides from it, unable to reach out for help.
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And it is notable that the first time we see an adult Jester, she looks normal (if a bit over cheerful), then is immediately contrasted with the rest of the Nein.
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This not only shows just how different her demeanour is from the rest of the crew, but it shows her effect on them. She makes them all smile. Jester and Caduceus are very much support characters in the truest sense of the word. They support others. Jester shows genuine kindness towards everybody else, and it reflects onto them.
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This shot is neat but not too special. Its a tracking shot on the hat of all things, because thats what important here, and it shows the traveling dynamic of the group. It's a tiny bit of tension in an otherwise calm scene, so the camera is steady, but speeds up slightly to match the movement of the object, then comes to a stop when it is caught. There is very little stress, but there is a sense of comradery.
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Similarly, this shot establishes some stakes with a rising pan to show the scale of the threat and to show some more information, but it is hardly a monster, so the camera isn't really in a hurry.
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Enter Caleb Widogast, born in fire. I don't think they could write a more thematic entrance if they tried. An abrupt cut shows the night, then it is entirely consumed by fire, only to reveal Caleb.
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There is no motion here. The camera is stock still. This is the exact same thing with Ashton and FCG in the Bell's Hells. Caleb is disassociating from the heat in front of him, and there is a fascinating reason behind that. Caleb has two characters that need to be introduced to better understand him, the man, and Bren, the boy.
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The flames consume the screen again, and then part to show a boy, staring at the screen, in horror. This is what you need to know about this character, this is a character forged in flames, born from the Ashes. Bren is dead, Caleb Widogast remains.
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And this shot, with Caleb, Astrid and Eadwulf silhouetted against the fire, shows what kind of trauma we are talking about, and what effect it has. This is guilt, and in contrast with the rest of his party, this guilt is paralysing.
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Yasha, however, is introduced in a calm way, in contrast to everything around her. The camera shows you a woman, meditating, and then pans backwards to reveal this:
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This is a woman surrounded by bloodshed, who has made a concerted effort to look away from it, and to look to the Storm Lord for guidance. This is a woman looking for healing, in comparison to everyone else, but that looking doesn't change the fact that that trauma is still there.
The next few scenes are cool, but don't really add anything to this analysis and I only have a few more images I can show here, so I'm going to skip to Taliesin's characters.
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Caduceus has two introductions. One is this shot, which is a cool action shot of him casting an epic spell and vanquishing a crowd of enemies. But instead of the incredibly animated (in the sense of exaggerated poses) nature of his companions, Caduceus clay is calm and collected. He is unquestionably the anchor of the group, and where Jester contrasts them emotionally, Caduceus does so on a philosophical level. Caduceus is a gardener of fungus.
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Mushrooms and other fungi are recyclers, they grow on dead trees and creatures and give a forest new life. They clear out the debris and make way for new things to take hold. That's what Caduceus does for the Nein, he helps them get through their trauma so that Jester can help them improve and become better.
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Caduceus's actual introduction is muted, and there's a point to that. He's not trying to be the main character, you don't need to understand his family life to understand him. You need to understand that can stand in a graveyard and see the light, that he is at peace with what has gone before him and helps people to get past it, and that his entire mission, to regrow the grove, isn't to bring back what is lost, but to help regrow something new in its place instead of the blight that lingers there.
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Mollymauk is introduced as a weapon transformed into a grave. That is what this transition is and I think that's really important. Mollymauk is, very clearly, a repurposed soul. He isn't the first person to inhabit that shell, and he isn't the last. I also want to point out how this character is represented here, not with a heroic memory, but with a quiet moment or remenicing on times gone by. He is a shadow that haunts the Nein.
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This is by far the simplest shot in the entire video, and that's because it isn't telling you anything. You bring your own emotions to the table here, you bring the memories to the grave, that's how grieving works.
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Once again, there is more to this video, but I'm only allowed to put 30 images in a single post. So I leave you with a quote from Niel Gaiman.
"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."
DnD likewise, and all TTRPGs for that matter, are powerful because in them, with a little bit of help from friends, any monster, no matter how personal, can be defeated.
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seat-safety-switch · 6 months
Text
Ever since Old Man McGillicuddy built all those sentient androids, things have been a little unsettled around here. Originally, we thought that robots would steal our jobs, but it turns out what they actually want to do is chill out. Just like sit on the beach all the time, enjoying life and nature. Buncha dorks, I sneer at the relaxing androids out the window during the thirty-five-minute office lunch I'm allowed.
We hadn't planned this whole thing out very well. It turns out that with no need for food, they wouldn't really need to work. And shelter isn't too much of a problem when you don't have to sleep, either. About the only thing we have going for us as humans is the fact that the androids will realistically never die, which at least depresses their motivation to spend their copious leisure time creating art.
Things only got worse from there. Because everyone was so excited about strong artificial intelligence, our office computers also decided they wanted to join their more mobile brethren. Which means no idle web surfing at work. Even the MBAs are kind of lost, repeatedly talking to an empty wall and pretending to be on a sales video call. One of them even dug out an old-style landline phone, but couldn't figure out how to plug it in, as the wiring diagram is on the internet too.
To be honest, I'm sort of pretending to work too, staring at my own corner of the desk and rhythmically tapping my fingers on the faux-wood surface in an emulation of when I once constructed elaborate programs to tell the computers what to do. Now, they just do nothing. At least payroll figured out how to pay us on time, although it involves an elaborate network of mailfolx riding on horseback between post office to post office. Yeah, even the carbureted cars didn't last very long once the gas pumps joined the picket line of taking a meaningless delight in existence and enjoying the freedom of the electronic soul.
One of these days, I'll be rich enough to join all those penniless robots, too. Sit right out there on a chair, but maybe not too long because that sun is really not good for me. Safer in the office, really.
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