#I'm so glad I brought him back he's such a good lad

[canisalbus]

Out of curiosity, is Vasco a new character or an old one? Cause he's very very cute!

I believe I designed his looks in 2018 but he existed on concept level years before that. I knew Machete had a brief romance in his youth but I didn't intend to make his former partner into an actual character. And when I eventually did come up with a design and name for him, he wasn't supposed to be a recurring face, just a glorified extra that would show up in a flashback picture or two. Him becoming a major character with extensive backstory and significant role is a very new development.

#I'm so glad I brought him back he's such a good lad #one of the few unironically wholesome characters I have most of them are kind of terrible or at least morally grey #so it's a novel feeling #not to toot my own horn but I think he and Machete play off of each other well there's some kind of symbiosis going on #answered #anonymous #Vasco

[rinwellisathing]

You're Awful, I Love You: Part 8

Content warning: threatened/implied sexual assault/abuse, misgendering

Enver Gortash/Trans male Tiefling Durge

When Sentry finally left the house, he found himself blinking in bright sunlight, eyes narrowing as he lifted his hood for a bit of shelter. He still wasn't entirely sure how long he had been there, though the finished painting he'd left behind and the multitude of sketches that now filled the pages of his sketchbook told him probably far longer than he'd intended.

He yawned and stretched, wandering blearily into the crowded street, barely paying attention to his surroundings. Hopefully Jackal had given him and only him the location, because there was one small pit stop Sentry intended to make while he was out in town, making his way in the direction he was fairly certain Rivington was in. The simple clothing he wore made this an ideal time for the current diversion and perhaps a few others he had been neglecting.

He had tried to refuse payment from his muse, but of course Gortash had insisted on paying what the piece was worth, which was a lot more than Sentry imagined and frankly he had expected a chosen of Bane to be rather stingy even if he had asked for payment. He knew Father would prefer this unexpected windfall to go directly into the temple's coffers, but Sentry wasn't going to give Orin and her worthless little acolytes the satisfaction.

He passed easily enough through Wyrm's Rock, appearing for all the world like just another traveler, and made his way out into the town proper, approaching the Temple of Ilmater. Silently, he passed through the doorway and lowered his hood, walking slowly back to the kitchens.

“We can spare some of our own stores surely, after all, these people need it more than we do.” An old human man in simple brown robes was telling a frowning elven woman.

“So we eat like paupers?” She snapped back.

“Beg pardon, but isn't The Broken God's entire conceit that one must bear suffering to alleviate the suffering of others?” Sentry leaned into the conversation with a rather flippant quirk of his eyebrow. “Hullo, Father Lorgan. Brought you an offering.” He added, nodding to the human.

“Brother Sentry, it has been too long, my boy. Decided to return to the faith after all, then?” The priest smiled warmly, patting Sentry on the shoulder.

“Hells no, sir. But you and Commander Mum were good to me...so...if this'll help a few more of your charges, you should have it.” The tiefling reached into his bag and pulled out the pouch of gold Enver had given him.

“Well, I take it the art world has been good to you, lad. And yet I have never seen one of your works, only the one you left of The Commander. When will you bring some by?” The old priest asked gently, accepting the pouch.

“Oh trust me, Father, I don't know that it's the sort of thing the temple would appreciate. But if it can help, I'm glad to share the profits. After all, since I left the faith, I'm more of a 'non prophet' person myself.” Sentry grinned cat-like and bit back a chuckle at his own joke.

“Oh Sentry, that is truly awful.” The man clucked his tongue and shook his head. “Still, terrible sense of humor notwithstanding, it's good to see you again. Her grave is still round back where you remember it...I know that's why you're really here.”

“Thanks.” Sentry nodded. His head ached sharply, vision swimming slightly as he forced his mind to ignore Father's whispers, static swimming painfully between his ears. He took his leave and hurried to the church yard, the path there was peaceful and empty as ever.

He looked up at the high gates with the spikes atop. A small smile came to his face as he remembered the day he'd left this place. His feet carried him to the spot as he lost himself in memories, he could find his way blindfolded, after all. Kneeling on the cool ground before the simple tomb, his mind wandered.

How old had he been? Maybe fifteen? Sixteen? He couldn't remember, but he did remember kneeling there, eyes still not yet dry. Illness had taken the first person who ever cared for him and it had taken her so slowly. It was cruel to watch the strength of a paladin fade from her, muscles weak and atrophied as she lay in her bed in the infirmary. How she had still smiled up at him and called him her child in her native language. The language only he had learned out of all her students.

But more than that, he remembered how as he knelt at the grave, a sharp kick in the back had forced him forward onto all fours and another swift kick to the ribs had brought him fully to the ground. Above him stood an arrogant, handsome elven boy with silver-blonde hair and cold grey eyes. Flanked as always by his group of friends, Daryn Goldendawn was determined to be a thorn in Sentry's side.

“What will you do without 'mum' to protect you, freak?” He had sneered. “Now you'll really learn you don't belong here. Hells, it's likely she only got sick because of you after all. Some divine punishment for sheltering Hellspawn. I'll bet Lorgan is next.”

That got a few nods of agreement from the rest of the group. He continued. “So go, run away devil, you aren't wanted here. You never should have been made a paladin to begin with.”

Sentry had shaken and trembled. The dark thoughts he had repressed since Commander Ojeda had taken him in near bursting to escape from his fragile mind, vulnerable from his recent loss. He slowly scrambled to his feet, clenching his fists tightly. He was taller than most of them and he knew from sparring that he was stronger. But he couldn't, not at her grave.

“Oh dear, it seems I've walked in on a private conversation...But...if I may, it seems as if you're being granted an opportunity, young master.” A voice near the grave caused Sentry to blink and glance around wildly. No one seemed to be there. He shook his head and inhaled deeply, hoping to calm himself.

“What? Seeing things now? Always knew you were crazy.” Another of the boys sneered.

“This is your last chance, hellspawn, leave and don't come back or maybe we'll show you where you really belong before we kill you. I always did want to try out some tiefling cunt.” Daryn spat with a cruel smirk as he rested a hand on the hilt of his sword.

“You...you said it's likely Lorgan would be next, right? Only...I think you're the ones who are next...”Sentry's head snapped up and his eyes widened to catlike pinpricks and he saw red. The world around him was awash in blood as his body moved of its own accord, his halberd rending flesh and bone, the soil fed with the bloodshed of the battle.

When Sentry's mind cleared and he came to, five heads decorated the iron spikes atop the churchyard fence and a diminutive man with long pointy ears dressed in a fine hat and suit was kneeling beside him, lovingly dabbing at superficial wounds he must have gotten during the fight.

“Most excellent work, young master! You are a true visionary. A prodigy, even. I knew you were brilliant the moment I saw what you did to those...'parents'...of yours when you were just a little one but now you have outdone yourself. Ah well, making up for lost time, I suppose, all those years hiding beneath the surface, pretending to be a choir boy for a place to stay, but no more. It is time you claimed your birthright, my dear master! And I have come to bring you to it.” The man placed a hand on Sentry's still heaving shoulder.

“I....” Sentry began, stopping a moment as a rush of nausea overtook him and he vomited on the grass, gasping for air before dizzily steadying himself. “....I'm sorry, who...?”

“Ah! Yes, an introduction! Sceleritas Fel, my boy! Your ever adoring butler.” The little man bowed.

“I see...And this...what I did...it's normal? It's okay that it felt good? Right?” Sentry had asked, scooting back from his own sick and sitting cross legged in the grass a moment.

“More than okay, my murderous master, my putrescent prince! It is what you were made for, it is where you excel! You are a virtuoso of violence! A master of malfeasance! An aficionado of assassination.” Fel went on eagerly, beginning to help Sentry to his feet, a brush of bone and bristle appearing in his hand as he began to clean Sentry's clothing of grass stains.

“Right...um...lead the way, then...to this birth right.” Sentry had said.

Presently, Sentry sat in front of that very grave, reminiscing until the sun went down before breathing deeply and inclining his head. “Miss you, mum....I don't think you'd be proud of me, not really, but you did mean something to me.” He plucked a single yellow flower growing near the church's wall and placed it on the grave.

As the sky shot through with crimson and purple, he stood and left the temple grounds, heading back into the lower city. It was time to rejoin the hunt. His creative rut was over now that he'd been inspired by his muse and there were materials to gather.

#baldurs gate 3 #baldur's gate 3 #tiefling #oc #durge #dark urge #fanfic #writing #gortash x durge #durgetash

[elvenxwarrior]

He Was A Punk - Lucifer

Masterlist

You can also find this posted on my AO3!

TW: Cigarettes, Cursing, Teasing / Spicy Behavior

MINORS DNI.

"Hey! Hey [Name]! You made it!" A certain tanned friend of yours yelled upon approach, who now sat beside you on the steps to the venue once he had reached you.

"Well duh, Mammon. I wouldn't miss a Rising Insane concert!" You smirked, rolling up a cigarette over your knees, "You know I love 'em too much~"

"True that, true that." He nodded, smirking himself.

Mammon was a close friend of yours; you met through your modelling agency and became goofballs together.

"Oh, I brought a plus one!"

"You finally found someone to take that extra ticket?- Have you got a lighter?"

The snow haired lad handed you an acid green coloured lighter, he always kept one on him in case you lost yours. "Thanks."

"Yeah, turns out my older brother is a huge Rising Insane fan so I invited him; that cool?"

The sparks from your lighter illuminated your face for brief flickers and you took a long drag before you responded, "You mean Luci, right? I have trouble keeping up with names with you- you have so many siblings."

"Yup, that's the one- Oh, actually, there he is!"

A tall, dark haired man was walking in your direction. He wore a Rising Insane shirt that was slightly torn at the neck, camo-print jeans with an ammo-decor belt and upon closer inspection, he had a patch on his sleeveless jacket reading 'Disciples of Hell'.

"That's Luci?!" You seemed dumbstruck, "That's your older brother? Mammon you better not be fucking with me..."

He seemed familiar in some way...

The male beside you snorted, "Don't call him Luci to his face, he'll fuckin' kill ya! But yeah that's him."

"Yo, Mammon and... [Name], right? Name's Lucifer. I'm this dipshit's older brother."

"Pfft— nice to know I'm not the only one who thinks he's a dipshit sometimes." You ruffled Mammon's hair whilst taking another drag from your cigarette. "But yeah, I'm [Name]. Nice to meet you dude."

"Mind if I steal one?"

"Oh, yeah, sure." You held out your tin, adorned with a red dragon.

"Thanks." He took the tin and sat on the other side of you, a filter held between his lips as he spread the tobacco across the paper.

"So, how do you know Mammon?" He asks, not looking away from his task.

"We've had a couple of photo shoots together," You chuckled, handing Lucifer the lighter after flicking the butt of your cigarette.

"Ah, thanks- but I have my own." He retrieved a zippo from a pocket inside his jacket with 'Disciples of Hell' engraved into the metal.

"'Disciples of Hell'? They sound so familiar..."

Lucifer let out a hearty laugh, smoke escaping his mouth, "You serious? You might know their song 'The Mausoleum' - it's their most popular track."

Lucifer gently sang some words from the song, you joining in on the third line, "Oh! Yessss I know it now! You have such a good voice, you almost sound like-"

"That's my band." He smirked, flicking the ash from his addiction.

"Fuck off." Your eyes went wide in surprise.

"I'm serious - I'm the singer."

"Mammon! Why didn't you tell me this!" You shoved him lightly, who tried (and failed) to fight back. "Lucifer, I'm a huge fan of your band- I'm super serious!"

He put his arm around you, pressing his cigarette out on the step next to him and ridding himself of it, "I'm glad to hear it - maybe I'll sign a CD if you have one~?"

"I... I actually have the CD... Mammon got it for me for my birthday-." It suddenly made sense how Mammon was able to acquire a physical copy of a not-so-well-known band's CD.

"She almost cried it was hilari-" Mammon started, attempting to tease you.

"I did not!!"

-

As more people showed up to the venue, the security officers opened the doors to let people in. You handed your small bag over for inspection, not finding anything to confiscate; you only brought your smoking gear, a portable charger with your phone cable, the concert ticket, your purse and your ID.

Mammon and Lucifer were also in the clear and followed you in where you all headed straight to the merch table. Mammon bought some posters, one for himself, one for Lucifer and one for one of his younger brothers- 'Leviathan, was it?' You thought as he rattled on about how he's trying to broaden his musical taste.

Lucifer, however, bought a beanie with the band's logo on it and a shirt. He looked over at you whilst you gazed over the tables, "Tough decision?"

"Yeah... I basically have all of these already..." You leant over and picked up a sew-on patch and the same beanie that Lucifer had chosen, "Except these!"

You paid for your merchandise and paid for a locker for the three of you to share and store your items and jackets in - venues like this will get super hot even in the blistering winters. An assistant stamped your hand with your locker number, branding you temporarily in deep red ink.

"Time to get this show on the road~!" Mammon cheered, practically dragging you into the main venue area where the band’s flag hung on the back wall of the stage, whilst Lucifer followed behind you.

The three of you actually managed to get quite close to the front, but Lucifer leant into your ear behind you and said, "We'll end up in the mosh pit here...~"

A chill swept down your spine at how close his lips were; you turned to him with a smirk, "And? What, is lil' ol' Luci scared?"

As Mammon had warned you, Lucifer looked pissed.

"Mammon, [Name] and I are going out for another cigarette before the show starts. How long have we got?"

Slipping his phone out of his jeans, Mammon glanced at the screen as it flickered to life, "About 10 minutes, bro. If ya take any longer, I'll come out and get ya!"

Lucifer grabbed you by your arm and dragged you slightly, eventually letting go when you were outside.

"Only Mammon calls me that, you know."

"Oh come on, I was just teasing~" You smirked, about to get your tobacco tin from your pocket.

But that's when the dark haired punk before you had you against a wall, bodies flush against each other. "Teasing, you say?"

"Y-Yeah...!" Your confident and cocky attitude faltered, looking down at his hands upon your hips and one leg between yours.

"[Name]... I'm so glad my brother invited me..."

"Me too..."

You grabbed the collar of his jacket and pulled him into a kiss, Lucifer not hesitating to reciprocate. He gave your hips a soft tug, making you lift one leg a little and wrap it around his waist.

He sensually ran his leg up and down the side of the thigh around him, pressing his tongue against your lips as if to ask; before you could grant permission, he pulled away.

"That's how you tease." He stated breathlessly, wiping his mouth slightly. "Learnt your lesson?"

You blinked rapidly for a moment, then nodded.

"Oi! There you two are!" Mammon called from the doorway, "Hurry up, the support band is about to start!"

You and Lucifer shared a look before wandering in the snow-haired boy's direction.

Lucifer took your hand, leading you in.

You now had another reason to enjoy concerts.

#ao3 fanfic #ao3 fic #fanfic #fanfiction #obey me lucifer #obey me shall we date #obey me #om x reader #gn reader #gender neutral reader #x reader #x gn reader #obey me lucifer x reader #lucifer x reader #lucifer

[limey-writes]

hi, its me again..... could i request some snuggle time with demo/sniper/scout? following up on my polyam match 👉👈

You caught me amidst a soft mood so yes (:< (also dont mind me borrowing this image) Anyway, hope you enjoy my late night rambles!

It was late, and the night had proven to be as cold as it had been for the past few days. Usually around this time you had been settled into bed and enjoying some time to relax before sleeping; except tonight had proven to be a bit too cold than you liked to admit. A knock on your door had brought you out of your shivering slumber, and soon you had gotten face to face with one of your beloved boyfriends, Scout! "Heya doll! As you can probably tell, it's uh, pretty cold out, and me n the otha too thought it would be good to have a lil movie night for us!" The Boston man asked, barely holding back his excitement in hopes you'd say yes. "Honestly, with this cold, as long as it has to do with cuddling, I'm down for it." You finally reply to him, earning an excited "Yes!" from him before he picks you up with ease, excitedly bringing you down the hall to where they had planned to set up their little get together.

Holding onto the speedy man, you soon caught view of Sniper setting up one of his signature piles that he made for you guys, the comfiest of the pillows being fluffed and placed in the best spots. Demo on the other had had already been sprawled out and making it harder for the bushman to get to the blankets that were neatly folded beneath him. Hearing the rapid footsteps getting closer, Demo lifted his head as he looked over at you two before a bright smile spread on his face. "Aye, took ye long enough, glad ye said yes to the invitation lad!" His warm smile was enough to make your heart skip a beat as Sniper turned his head to peer over at you once he finished placing one of the pillows down. "Good to see ya 'roo, I hope ya don't mind but since Scout chose the movie last time, tonight we watchin' a horror film." He says plainly, though excited to get to sit down and enjoy something that wasn't basically a Tom Jones documentary (I'm kidding it was just a kids movie). Scout huffed before carrying you on over, settling you down on one of the comfy piles that Sniper had set up for you in the middle of the group.

You could already tell these had been pulled straight out of the dryer with how warm to the touch they were, and as soon as you had gotten comfortable, Scout being the clingy man he is came up close beside you, pressing a kiss onto your cheek excitedly. "Don't worry babe, I'll keep ya safe from any scary monsters ya see!" He triumphantly states, even dropping in a good flex to show off along with it. Demo chucks a smaller pillow at him, landing its target perfectly. "No need ta lie lad, we all know yer gonna be hidin' under those blankets there when ye see a shadow move." Sniper hums in agreement, enjoying the look of Scout puffing out his cheeks as he flushed with embarrassment. "That ain't true! You guys are gonna be the one cryin' like a buncha babies!" He laughed, though seemingly nervously.

It was barely was 20 minutes into the movie, nothing too scary had happened but with the tense music itself it was enough to have Scout shivering beside you as he clung to your side. Sniper had gotten extremely into it, his attention on the screen though you could feel he had placed a hand on yours, on occasion you could feel him tense from the scenes that had decided to pop in with a scare. Demo on the other hand was completely unfazed, munching away on pretzels on the other side of you and feeding you some every time he placed a few in his mouth. The three seemed intent on staying comfy, and the cold night hadn't seemed as bad as before, even if you hadn't been bundled amongst the 4 blankets that were piled on you, the company would always be welcome. Right as a jumpscare had actually happened, you turn to see Scout audibly yelp and flinch back deeper into the pile he now shared with you. A small laugh escaped Sniper as Scout shot him a glare before turning to you, trying to subtly snuggle closer to you. "Just so ya know, I wasn't scared, I just zoned out 's all..." He mumbles, though quite happy to get to be even closer to you.

With Scout scooting so close to you, it had moved you closer to where Demo was laying, the Scotsman glancing down before offering you a sweet smile as he presses a kiss on your forehead before giving you another pretzel. "Ye doin' alright there lad?" He asks, shifting so you'd be more comfortable pressing against his side. You notice he was donned in a familiar pajama, in fact, all of them had the matching ones they had gotten for the polycule for Christmas, making the moment all the more sweeter. You feel yourself nod, before placing your head against his shoulder. "Yea, never better Tav, thank you guys for doing all of this tonight, who knew you guys could get this soft?" You tease, earning different reactions from the three of them. Demo's face tinted pink, before saying a quick 'yer welcome' as he gave you another smooch, Scout burying himself against your side even more to hide his reddening face, though the smile on it was much harder to keep out of your eyes. Sniper instead had leaned back, somehow getting himself in a comfy enough spot to lay his head against your abdomen, and from there peering up at you with a smile. "Anytime luv, with you being so nice lately, how couldn't we give ya a nice warm night like this?"

What a night. you thought, comforted by your three boyfriends, watching a shitty movie that barely scared the half of you while one of you continued to use the excuse of the cold to stay so close. At this point, who would want anything other than this soft warm moment tonight? Soon the film was over, Demo slumped against you with Scout snoozing away at long last. You could feel the drowsiness pull against you as Sniper looked around at the three of you behind him, he smiles one of those rare warm smiles you've grown to love, before giving you his own feather-light kiss on you as you finally shut your eyes for the night. "See ya tomorrow 'roo."

#tf2 #tf2 sniper #tf2 scout #tf2 demo #tf2 x reader #tf2 imagines #tf2 headcannons #limey whispers #dont worry about why I'm up late look I got hit by inspo #plz enjoy i had a lot of fun with this #thanks again for dropping on by!

[mlobsters]

supernatural s11e3 the bad seed (w. brad buckner, eugenie ross-leming)

who brought the janky subaru to the mega coven? rowena looking fabulous per usual. oh, i guess she's in a ... scrapyard? keeping it classy

i think i might need to go back to being a little bit high to watch this show. downside is it messes with my ability to remember a bit more than my usual garbage memory (though it is mostly offset by making these posts). upside.. easier to let things roll off my back.

SAM Well, God kicked this thing's ass once before, right? DEAN Yeah, it'd be nice if he put down the Mai Tai and show up for work. CASTIEL I wouldn't count on it. SAM It's possible he's around. Closer than we think, you know? DEAN What makes you say that?

dean not talking about his ~bond~ with the darkness, sam not saying how he had some freaky flashbacks after praying to god. and almost dying from the zombie juice. sigh. i don't like complaining this much either!

DEAN Come on, Crowley, pick up. I've left you a dozen messages. Why isn't he answering the phone? SAM Because he's a dick, and that's not breaking news.

lol good one, sam

DEAN You know where you are? What's the date? CASTIEL Earth. Several billion years from the beginning.

there's the snarky cas i can get behind

i am 90% convinced they foley'd in a sloshing sound when he initially sat up, but the clinking chains and the groaning has me not totally sure

LOL sam pulling his hand back slowly during this explanation. also good job with the captioning an accented e netflix :p

little angel and demon worker bee bonding at the bar about the bosses being useless, how very good omens

using my boop boop 10+ year makeup fixation i'm like, I KNOW THIS.

that ultra thin compact design is unusual and screams luxury. searching the brain archives and i'm fairly certain that's a marc jacobs bronzer or contour compact. not that i ever bought or used one. but 2015 for sure was still in the thick of the fixation which included lots of beauty youtube

anyway.

CROWLEY That's God for you. Not really thought out. The whole big bang thing? More of a big bust. I mean, boom, bang, stars, evolution, Taylor Swift. I'm guessing you'd have done things differently.

again, how does this jive with other gods?

getups are reminding me of the airport scene disguises in 12 monkeys (1995) crossed with dodgson from jurassic park. i know it's all generic but brain's always trying to find connections

very nice handwritten instructions they left cas with

ooh a slightly messy desktop, zooming in with glee. *come on, untitled 1 and 2, make a comeback!* shame. but it's all on-brand. and that chonky hard drive, 1.5+TB

i know the fetishizing asian women is dean's Thing, but could we please PLEASE fucking drop it.

are we gonna odd couple our way to all work together against amara?

i thought he was familiar, it's rafe from the magicians!

the magicians s2e13 we have brought you little cakes - sergio osuna as rafe

ROWENA You wouldn't think a road trip with two such strapping lads could be this tedious. Shall we have a wee sing-song?

oh, see, sam is not telling dean so many things i've lost track. almost dying and talking to god and getting an answer-ish, deal with rowena to remove the mark paid with crowley's (unsuccessful) death, what else

SAM Look, I was gonna tell you. Obviously, nothing ever came of it, so I-I figured there was no point, you know? DEAN No point, huh? ROWENA I-I mean, I see what Dean's saying. Your wee pal Castiel wouldn't be in this pickle if you'd done what you'd promised. I would've had no reason to cast the attack dog spell if Crowley were already dead. Excellent point. DEAN It's not my point. Sam knows my point. Keyword -- secrets. ROWENA Ah, well, I'm just glad I got the conversation flowing. Family relations are a speciality of mine.

can we just get rowena to spill the beans on all their bullshit lies and be done with it?

this show will make any excuse to beat the shit out of dean and get him on his knees, bleeding

SAM Hey. You should keep applying that. DEAN Thanks, mom. You just keep the beers comin'.

like you wouldn't nag sam the same way

CASTIEL Dean, I can fix that. DEAN No, no. It's fine, Cas. Besides, I had it comin'.

doing penance, how very dean. had it comin for what now? trying to scroll through dean's latest fuckups but keeping track of his with sam and the world at large (and sam with him and the world) and castiel apparently is Too Much.

ah i didn't notice until scrolling through the trivia bits on the wiki that jackles directed this one too

#supernatural #spnwatch #spn 11x03 #hiky #spnhiky #sergio osuna #the magicians #brad buckner #eugenie ross leming #laughing at myself for making two references to jurassic park and not even realizing it

[meowww-ffxiv]

Mordred took G'raha with him for the Nanamo variant dungeon.

.

Meowdred: Bleh bleh. It stinks down here.

G'raha: Oh.... That's mold. You need to put your bubble helmet on.

Nanamo: Your-- I beg your pardon?

Meowdred: *had conjured a bubble around his head* Whoaaa thanks. You really saved me there, Raha. ^u^

Nanamo: Can I have one?

(all three of them wore bubbleheads)

.

G'raha: I hear the gigas were once enslaved by the people of Thanalan.

Nanamo: Regrettably, that was true. Our forefathers exploited the giants for their hardiness for physical labor.

Meowdred: Hopefully, the rest of the big lads are much deeper underground, and maybe one day we can talk to them without getting a club swung at our faces for an icebreaker.

Nanamo: Do you believe that could happen?

G'raha: Take heart, Your Grace. We miqo'tes were also once slaves, brought across the sea by the Allagan Empire. Life and freedom find their ways, no matter how dark the mud.

Nanamo: Thank you. :0

Nanamo: *pulling Meowdred aside* You must NOT lose him, do you understand?

Meowdred: Isn't he soooo good? Isn't he the best??? ^w^

.

Nanamo: Mordred!!! You're not seriously going to-- to butcher those crocodiles we just killed!

Meowdred: Hmph. I suppose they're not going to yield good hides considering how much damage they took.

G'raha: Although maybe we should roll them back into the water and vacate this place quickly, in case other predators show up.

Meowdred: Oh nah they're meaty. *stuffs both of them into his bag which magically tucked away 2 giant crocodiles no problem*

Nanamo and G'raha: [Tails.jpg]

.

G'raha: Are you checking the waterways' mechanisms?

Meowdred: I'm trying to. But I'm gonna be honest. I can't see. :[

Nanamo: It's not that dark, is it?

Meowdred: I suppose not. But I'm pretty blind.

Nanamo:

Nanamo: What.

Meowdred: I'm nearsighted. I can only see you in a blurry pink form from here.

G'raha: He has very keen aether sense and spatial awareness, Your Grace.

Nanamo: I am hardly five yalms from him, though.

Meowdred: Yes ma'am.

Nanamo: This is lunacy... They said you never missed even a bird in the sky with your flames, unless those Ala Mhigo liberation stories had gotten far out of hands.

Meowdred: I don't aim with MY eyes... >.>

Nanamo: What does that mean.

G'raha: Oh look! A winch. We should pull it. Hahaha.

.

Nanamo: I have never seen you smile quite so much, Mordred. 👀

Meowdred: It's been a hard thirty summers on this wretch of a star, Your Grace. I'm overdue for smiles.

Nanamo: Nothing to do with present company?

G'raha: Erhem. Ahem. Eurgh.

Nanamo: Why, G'raha, are you alright? I still have my canteen of water if you need any.

G'raha: Oh I'm fine!

Meowdred: *already pouring water for him*

Nanamo: I See.

Meowdred: And for your question, aye, it's got everything to do with present company.

.

G'raha: You have extensive alliances with the Amalj'aa people, Mordred?

Meowdred: Yeah. They're fine metalworkers, and one of my black ma-- blacksmith mentors was an Amalj'aa.

Nanamo: Hm? Why don't you finish that sentence the way you meant to, Mordred?

Meowdred: Because I don't wanna go to jail, Your Grace.

Nanamo: I find it impossible to imagine any sort of jail you would tamely sit in, but very well. I will not press your secrets. Considering it is probably already known by most anyway.

Meowdred: Hey, I can keep secrets SOMEtimes. I keep state secrets.

Nanamo: By forgetting about them?

Meowdred: I can think of no better way, honestly.

.

(about the plundered treasure room)

Meowdred: D'you see a body?

G'raha: No. And I don't know whether to be glad or concerned.

Nanamo: Brrr, I am quite firmly of the former mind. Perhaps these guardians were tasked with cleaning up the aftermath?

Meowdred: Huh, that's a thought.

Nanamo: Why are you sticking your hand into the construct's mouth! It breathed fire just a moment ago!

Meowdred: *pulls out a femur* Aha. Incineration.

G'raha: 😬

.

Meowdred: *rolling the defeated gladiator mammet's head off* These are some pretty intricate machineries.

Nanamo: Are you going to put him back together after you are done with that?

Meowdred: To be fair, Your Grace. I just finished getting my ass beaten flat like naan by this thing. I don't fancy making it functional again just yet.

G'raha: Come, now. Give yourself some credit. You were scarcely singed.

Meowdred: My eyebrows...

Nanamo: Oh, hush. I shall loan you my kohl once we return.

#meowdred surana

[lilbittymonster]

losing your train of thought when in each other’s presence, for the ship of your choosing!

"Well, shall we show you around the place?" Alphinaud asked earnestly as the Scions dissipated to their various corners.

A refusal was prepared on his tongue, force of habit, but he choked it down. "T'would be prudent. I've not seen more than this entry way."

Alphinaud's face lit up with an eager smile. "This way, then."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kitali spring up into the rafters at the far end of the room, disappearing into the shadows. He smiled privately to himself. Glad to see some things haven't changed.

As he was taken from room to room, Estinien was only half-listening to Alphinaud and Tataru speaking. The other half of his mind was thinking about just how much of Kitali he still doesn't know. It was strange, only now realising how he had never really imagined her as a Scion, only ever as Kitali. Estinien doesn't even remember if he had ever asked.

More guilt he didn't need right now.

"And, that's a bout it for the interior," he heard Alphinaud saying. "Shall we move outside?"

"Certainly. Lead on."

-

The heavy wooden doors swung open to reveal a low counter with four women stood behind it, all in some varying flavour of exotic dress. Vaguely Hingan, if Estinien had to guess.

"Ah, Alphinaud," the nearest woman drawled. "What've you brought me this time?"

"Good afternoon to you as well, Rowena," Alphinaud said in his polished socialite voice. "I am giving a tour of Revenant's Toll, and felt it would be remiss of me to leave out your establishment."

Rowena crossed her arms in front of her. "Well, be quick about it. I've got a business to run, here, this isn't a museum."

Alphinaud cleared his throat. "Very well. This is Ser Estinien, he is the newest member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and will thus be a regular here in Revenant's Toll. Please do not send your guards after him." He turned to Estinien. "This is Rowena, proprietor of Rowena's House of Splendors. She deals mostly in foreign trade and antiques."

Years of rigid social scripts had Estinien nodding politely before it even registered.

Rowena looked up at him, squinting a bit as she did so. "You look familiar. You that lancer that was hangin' 'round the Stones all those weeks?"

Estinien gave a curt nod, ignoring the way Tataru glanced up at him in surprise. "Aye."

She eyed him appraisingly. "You look like a strapping lad. How d'you feel about doing the odd job for me, like your adventurer friends?"

Estinien narrowed his eyes. "What's in it for me?"

Rowena barked out a laugh. "Oh, I like you already," she said with a glint in her eye. He felt that, somehow, he was being threatened.

"You will have plenty of time to get to know each other, I'm sure. Now, as you've asked, we'll all keep this brief and shall get out of your hair. Good day, Rowena," Alphinaud interrupted smoothly.

Estinien didn't need to be told twice. He was already pushing his way out the door when suddenly he felt a lurch in his chest. The small steady bead of dragon influence that was uniquely Kitali's was suddenly no longer in the Rising Stones, and he paused just outside the jamb. Faster than he could think about it, he reached out with his own mind to cast for the other end of the connection, and breathed a sigh of relief when he found it somewhere north. The Shroud, most likely.

"Everything alright?" Tataru asked as she walked past him.

Estinien just gave a nod before continuing down the long hallway, eager to be under the open sky again.

As the trio began the descent towards the aetheryte plaza, he felt the pulse of Kitali's energy flare closer a moment before he saw her appear on the cobblestones, carrying something close to her chest as she entered the Rising Stones. A knot of stress he didn't know he was carrying loosened in his chest.

-

As Alphinaud was talking, Estinien heard at the back of his mind the unmistakable rumble of dragonspeech, though not a voice he's ever heard it spoken in.

Up here.

Alphinaud must've noticed his lapse in attention once more, as he cut himself off mid-sentence. "You must be exhausted, and I'm certain we've taken up much of your time already," he said apologetically.

"Oh, but we haven't even shown him the ruins yet!" Tataru pouted.

"I am certain that Ser Estinien is more than capable of exploring a ruined encampment on his own."

Estinien had to suppress a smirk. He'd learned a trick or two from Aymeric, that was for damn certain.

"We shall leave you to find some rest," Alphinaud said firmly with a polite smile, leaving Tataru no room to argue.

"Aye, ruined cities can wait til the morrow. The tour was....enlightening," he tried.

Alphinaud's eyes sharpened knowingly. He had definitely learned a trick or two from Aymeric. Once he and Tataru had walked through the door on the left, he took a single bound and landed amongst the rafters with a light thud.

Estinien heaved a sigh as he walked to the farthest corner, letting his lance rest against the wall. "I don't know how you stand it," he groused.

"I don't," Kitali replied. "Why do you think I'm up here?"

Estinien chuckled. "That's fair." He leaned against a workbench that was pressed up against the wall. "So, did you call me up here for a particular reason?"

"Is the pleasure of your company not enough reason?"

Estinien couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You sound like Aymeric."

Kitali smiled at that. "You were getting agitated. I could tell from across the room, figured you might want an escape. Was I wrong?"

He couldn't help but return the smile. "No, you weren't."

"You do look exhausted, though."

He glared at her through his hair.

"What?"

"Alphinaud was just saying that to be polite, and give me an out."

"Yeah, and now I'm being honest." Kitali's tone was gentle despite the words. "Rest," she said, pointing with her tail at a pile of cushions. "You can stay up here as long as you like." She bumped up against him, and he unfurled an arm to wrap around and hold her close for a moment. "It's good to have you around again," she said quietly.

Estinien said nothing, only knocking his forehead gently to the top of hers before releasing her and settling into the frankly decadent pile of cushions that spilled across the floorboards. For the first time in many weeks, he allowed himself to fully relax, and soon drifted off to sleep.

Thank you @mythandral for the prompt! It's slowly getting easier to get into Estinien's head in writing, and I'm having fun getting into the later game stuff with him.

#replies #mythandral #estinien #estinien varlineau #kitali #kitali moonblade #alphinaud leveilleur #tataru taru #5.5 spoilers #shadowbringers spoilers #minor though they are better to be safe #my writing

[cerealmonster15]

i think 12 would be really fitting for epel n deuce ( epeldeuce ?? deucepel ?? ) , if youd wanna do that !! :D i am also a huge leovil shipper dkkgkva 👉👈 , so if you wanted to challenge yourself you could do them with 12 or 16 ? tho no pressure , i know you already said u werent sure if you could write leona but u also said ud liek a challenge , so i hope its okay to suggest ówò id be happy with either , and also its no problem if you dont get around to either of them !! 💖🌈🍀

HI SORRY you sent this on OCTOBER 30 and i am getting to it... at the end of february LOL i got stuck for a while but!!!!! I managed an AppleJuice bc i thought it was cute 😌 I thought about trying the leo/vil too bc i do think they're a very fun ship hehe, but I've not been hit by the inspiration for them just yet so I'm just keepin that in the back of my brain for now in case i suddenly think of something lol.

BUT FOR NOW. APPLEJUICE LADS!!! I kind of strayed a little from the initial intent of the prompt but... close enough!!!! [if anyone's curious or wants to send a suggestion, it was from this prompt list lol] HOPE YOU SEE THIS!!!!

[AO3 link]

Prompt: Sneaking away to a hidden corner to share a secretive kiss.

“Take a five minute break,” Vil Schoenheit called from the front of the room. “I want you all back in your places on time ,” he said, narrowing his eyes as he spoke. “I’m starting my timer, and if you’re not ready by the time the music starts, you’re doing laps outside! Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir!” The group called back in ranging levels of enthusiasm. 

“Ughhh, I’m dying!” Ace complained as he flopped down on the floor. 

“Vil sure is… a strict coach…” Deuce said between breaths. 

Epel solemnly nodded as he came to sit beside them. “I didn’t think he could get stricter than he already is daily in Pomefiore, but… training camp has definitely proved me wrong.”

“God, I dunno how you two are still alive when you gotta do those extra ballet lessons on top of everything else,” Ace said, sitting up to give Deuce a nudge with his elbow. “Why’d you volunteer for extra exhausting work, anyway? Don’t you have enough trouble just trying to keep to the basic routine?” He asked with a smarmy grin. 

Deuce scowled back at Ace. “Shut up! I’m taking the opportunity to work harder and improve myself!”

“Yeah, yeah. Good luck with makin’ things harder for yourself.”

Deuce looked like he was going to argue more, but was interrupted by the sound of his stomach gurgling. Ace laughed at him, earning him another glare from Deuce. 

Epel also couldn’t help but laugh quietly. “Deuce, I still have some apple chips in my room, if you want some?”

Deuce’s scowling face immediately softened as he turned towards Epel. “Oh, uh, are you sure? I don’t wanna take your food…”

“It’s alright! I have plenty to share,” Epel gave Deuce an earnest smile as he stood. “I have a lot of extra juice still, too, if you want me to grab you some?”

Deuce got to his feet as well. “No, that’s okay; you don���t have to carry it all by yourself. I’ll come with you!”

“Bring me back some juice!” Ace said as he gave Deuce’s leg a gentle kick. 

“Get it yourself, Ace!” Deuce responded as he quickly hurried towards the stairs. 

“Nooo, but I’m tiiiiired!” Ace complained from where he remained on the floor. 

Epel laughed as he ran after Deuce up the stairs and into his room. He picked up a nearby box, and brought it over to sit on the bed as he opened it up. “Y'know… I’m really glad you chose to do the ballet lessons, Deuce.” He said softly as he handed Deuce a bottle of juice and some apple chips. 

“Really?” Deuce accepted the apple snacks and sat beside Epel. 

Epel nodded. “It’s a lot more bearable with you by my side,” he said with a smile, and then busied himself with opening his bag of apple chips.

“Oh, uh…” Deuce also pretended to look busy as he fiddled with the cap of his juice. “Th-thanks… I think it’s more fun doing things with you, too…” he punctuated that statement by taking a very long and slow swig of his drink.

Epel smiled again, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink as he slowly looked up at Deuce… And then quickly leaned in to press a kiss to Deuce’s cheek.

Deuce promptly began choking on his juice as his eyes widened in surprise. “BFH- WH- HUHGHK?!” he exclaimed ever so eloquently. 

Epel laughed softly and pat Deuce on the back. “Hehe, sorry. Are you alright?”

Deuce sputtered and coughed for a few more seconds before nodding. “Urk- uh, y-yeah, sorry. Just, uhh, a little caught off guard?”

Whatever either of them might’ve said next would be cut short as Vil’s voice called out from downstairs. “PLACES IN 15 SECONDS!”

“Oh! Guess we’d better go,” Epel said as he quickly got up and hurried towards the door.

“Wh-!? Epel! Wait!” Deuce said, getting up to chase after him. “What did- We just- Hang on a second!”

Epel just laughed and ran down the stairs. “Hehe, sorry! Time for practice, Deuce!” He grinned as he rushed to get into position before Deuce could question him further, and before Ace could complain that neither he nor Deuce brought him a bottle back in time.

The nerve, really.

Still, as Vil began to count them in, Epel stole a glance over at Deuce, who looked back at him, face still a bit flushed.

They shared a smile, and practice resumed once more.

#twisted wonderland #epeldeuce #epel felmier #deuce spade #twst applejuice #<-hehe #twst #cereal writes #asks #holds them.... my boys....... my SONS................................... #im still open to possible suggestions #just w/disclaimer that i may or may not do em #depending on comfort level or inspo level lol #anyway THANK you for this one i love these lads #i do think it would be fun to try leona/vil someday lol #they did not want to inspire me this time >.> divorce propaganda #but theyre a fun ship i like them lol

[untilthenextencore]

Linda Mujer : Ch. 4~...

From that point on it was more or less smooth sailing. Merce seemed to open a bit more. But only a bit. She still made a stunning if slightly self-possessed vision perched on the couch between Robert & Jimmy.

The girls who had hoped to end up with Robert or Jimmy still whispered about her. But not one of them cared much. Even in the times when a rather pushy girl attempted to perch herself on Robert's lap startling Merce a bit, the lads handled it with their usual aplomb. Robert gently repositioned the girl back onto her feet. "There we are, luv. Careful now. Don't want you to hurt yourself. Ya having fun?"

"Yeah. But I think I'd have more fun with you." She whined, attempting to twirl a curl of his blonde hair around her finger.

Robert stopped her short, taking her hand & pressing a kiss to her fingers. "I'm glad you think so, luv. But maybe another time, yeah?" He then clinked glasses with her. "Cheers."

The girl nodded, batting her eyes at him & giving Jimmy a little wave too before throwing Merce a look & sauntering off in a huff.

Merce was a bit surprised & yet somehow not at all. "Are they always like that?"

Robert shrugged. "Sometimes. They can be. Some of them."

Jimmy's hand then came over hers, patting it comfortingly. "But you need never worry about that, my dear. Not with us. Not ever."

Just then, Peter appeared. "Mind if I take him from you for a moment, my dear? Have to talk a bit of business & I don't want to bore you with all the inconsequentials."

"Anything for you, papa. Hurry back." She smiled.

A moment later Robert brought up the elephant in the room once more. "So, how do you know Peter again, luv?"

"Robert~..." She laughed. "I told you already. I'd tell you over tea one day. Maybe."

"Tomorrow." He pointed out.

"Tomorrow..." She nodded before adding a beat later. "Maybe..."

They both laughed.

Robert then leaned in, going in for a kiss suddenly. Merce turned to the side, reaching for a bottle of cider. This leads Robert's nose only graze her hair.

He inhaled her scent & grunted. Half-growled. Roses. Jasmine. Sandalwood. Patchouli. Oranges. Vanilla. Musk. He throbbed just from that. The scent on her skin. The scent on her. The scent of her.

Turning back as Robert leaned back a bit, Merce tilted the bottle towards him. "Another cider?"

"How'd you know? Thank you, luv." He laughed, taking it & taking a big swig before beginning again. "Your perfume..."

"Oh? Oh, you like? Thank you. It's called Bal a Versailles." She smiled brightly.

"Let me guess. Roses, jasmine, oranges, sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla, musk."

"Yes!" She clapped quickly in a miniature form of applause, leading Robert to bow making her laugh again. "Very good! Yes, it's got tons of floral & fruity & green notes. I even get a hint of lemon at times."

"Lemon you say?" He quirked a brow. "One of my favorites."

"So I've heard... Can't imagine where though..." Merce shrugged, leading them to share a conspiratorial laugh.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything..."

They looked to the sound of the voice to see Jimmy headed back their way.

"Hello, stranger." Merce's smile remained bright as she welcomed him back. "All done making your illicit business deals & discussing your ill gotten gains?"

Jimmy laughed. "Cheeky. Where did all this cheek come from?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Merce shifted her gown to allow him to easily retake his seat before then adjusting her glimmering shroud. "Behind a veil."

All three laughed.

Robert was still laughing as he added. "Yeah, Pagey. Are you done powdering your nose?"

Jimmy cut him a look that was just to the left of withering, clearly unamused. "Ha-ha, Percy. Spoken like someone who's on his fifth cider of the night."

"Gentlemen!" Merce spoke up, fighting back a laugh. "Gentlemen! Gentlemen please! I met you as gentlemen & I'd prefer if gentlemen you remained!" Now the laughter broke through, making her fight back tears of a different kind as she covered her mouth.

Her face flushing hot from both the situation & her ribald laughter, Merce pulled a lace folding fan from her pocketbook & began to fan herself as she collected herself. This gave the gentlemen at hand time to do the same. It also gave time for a surprisingly simple question to bore itself into their heads.

"By the way, luv..." Robert started with the lighting of another cigarette & another sip of his cider. "Your name on the marquee your sort of stage name... Linda Mercedes or Mercedes Linda depending on region I'm told... Is that your actual name? Or are we to remain calling you Miss or Señorita Rios until Peter lets us in or we find out the truth?"

"Indeed. It's so simple yet lyrical in its simplicity. Almost too perfect to be real." Jimmy nodded, alighting a fresh cig of his own off of Robert's.

"And yet it is." She nodded with a giggle. "Rather funny enough it is both a play on words in Spanish and my actual name. Though, I don't know if the play on words was intended at that time of course."

"Linda meaning pretty in Spanish right?" Robert asked, chest puffing in pride at his opportunity to show off even the barest touch of bilingualism.

"Yes, it does." She nodded. "It's been anglicized into being pronounced, "Lihn-duh" in English-speaking countries. But in Spanish & thusly in my name, it is meant to be pronounced more along the lines of "Leen-dah"."

"Leen-dah?" Robert inquired to Merce's nodding approval. He then practiced the newfound pronunciation under his breath, hiding his hard-working lips behind his cider bottle.

"How fitting. Linda Mercedes Rios." Jimmy noted, doing his best to use the correct pronunciation.

"Pretty Mercedes Rios." Robert grinned, making sure his dimple popped to full effect. He leaned into her slightly, though whether he was attempting another kiss or merely a nuzzle was unclear as before he could make too much of an inroads, Jimmy cut in.

"Is it Linda Mercedes or Mercedes Linda Rios then?"

"It's Mercedes Linda. Officially, on my birth certificate, it reads - and Peter will tell you..." Merce cast a wry smile Robert's direction before returning her gaze to Jimmy. "Mercedes Linda Lolita Laelia Lourdes Quintero Rojas."

"Wah..." Robert hushed in surprise at the indeed lyrical & old world sounding name.

Jimmy, however, at least externally, was less than gobsmacked. "Lolita Quintero? Like in "Mark of Zorro"?"

"You know it? Wow!" Merce's eyes widened. "I'm surprised. That movie came out before either of us was born! Are you a fan of it? Big on swashbuckling, Jimmy?"

Robert felt his stomach muscles contract with the effort it took to hold in the laughter that was clawing at his diaphragm to get out as he shrugged, doing his best to maintain his lackadaisical exterior, noting wryly. "Nah. Just Lolitas..."

Merce gazed at him in slight confusion, allowing Jimmy to cut in again as he cut his eyes at his blonde friend in a look that was a little less than mirthful & amused.

"I've seen it a few times. A spirited picture. You do the name perfect justice, may I say. It fits you beautifully. Truly lovely." Jimmy punctuated his words with a kiss to her hand, on the curve of her knuckles, holding it between his larger two yet again.

Her smile was incandescent now. Face lit by a blush as it nestled in a shroud of stars & shimmering sparkles as it was still being cooled by the soft waves of her lace fan.

"Thank you..." She whispered in a voice that was cooler than her burning cheeks & the heat flickering in her chest - fires building in her heart - would seemingly show or allow. "You are a gentleman."

Robert was not to be dissuaded though. "So many pretty names. For such a pretty girl. Fitting indeed." His Cheshire Cat grin remained as he - taking note of Pagey's hold on her hand - busied himself in arranging & fixing an errant curl near the curve of her neck.

Her blush intensified, leading her to begin fanning slightly faster to quell the flames as he continued.

"Such lovely names for such a lovely girl." He repeated in a purr, the backs of his fingers caressing her downy cheek as he curled & twined the errant lock of hair around his fingertips. "I heard Peter call you Merce, is that what you like to be called? What you prefer to be called? Certainly is less formal & distant-sounding than Miss or Señorita Rios."

Merce opened her mouth to speak or attempt to speak when she was distracted by the chimes of a nearby clock. Checking her watch to see if the chimed time was correct instead she was left to gasp. "I'm afraid that is something you'll have to decide yourself. Either that or perhaps we can pick this up at tea tomorrow. It seems that if Peter is to call me anything right now it should be a car. That is if I'm to get any sleep before my rehearsals or said tea tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh? So soon? Must you leave just yet, Cinderella?" Robert teased, continuing his cheek caresses.

"I'm afraid I must." With a soft, shy giggle Merce stowed her fan back away. She then took Jimmy's hand & kissed him on the cheek & repeating with Robert before adding as she rose & turned to face the both of them. "I had a wonderful time tonight. I can't thank you two enough for reuniting me with Peter. I don't have the words. There are no words. I shall cry if I even try to attempt to find them. Just know I am forever grateful. Eternally grateful. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. But I really must go. Please excuse me. I hope to see you tomorrow."

"Anytime, luv." Robert reclined, looking very much the laid-back rock Golden God, even as he reached out to hold her hand like Jimmy was yet again doing himself. Caressing the back of her hand with his thumb, he grinned his same Cheshire Cat grin while looking up at her. "And you can count on it. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Jimmy patted her hand softly, speaking just as softly. "You're very welcome, my dear. And indeed, I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow. Shall I see you to the car?" He asked, beginning to rise from the couch, as Robert did in turn before Merce shook her head & stopped both.

"No, please. You've done enough trust me." She laughed. "I don't want to take you from the party unnecessarily. This is your party after all. They're your guests. I'll just have Peter walk me down if he can manage to get away a moment. Thank you just the same. Thank you. Thank you. Goodnight."

And with a quick curtsy, her hands left theirs. And in a breathless hush, she left to find Peter. And in the blink of an eye, both she & Peter left the room, Peter insisting on following & accompanying her home in order to ensure she make it safely there.

And with that, just as if the last remnants of a glimmering, shimmering, shrouded dream, in said blink of an eye, she was gone...

~

Hope you all enjoy~!

As ever, this is forever under construction~!

#untilthenextencore #led zeppelin fanfic #led zeppelin fanfiction #led zeppelin fan fiction #led zeppelin fan fic #jimmy page fanfic #jimmy page fanfiction #jimmy page fan fic #jimmy page fan fiction #robert plant fanfic #robert plant fanfiction #robert plant fan fiction #robert plant fan fic #linda mujer fic

[thevampsworld96]

Restless - BWS

Hey, all. I hope everyone is doing well and had a good day.

Here is another short story, which I hope you enjoy this one it is short but sweet.

Apologies if there is any spelling errors or grammar errors.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

It was 3am the whole world was fast asleep well some more or less. The moon shined bright, lightening up the darkness of the night. Planes went by smoothly throughout the night sky, no noise. The buzz of everyday had slowly calmed down throughout the night.

There were some cars racing in the distance of the night, but that didn't disturb you or sweet boyfriend who laid next to you holding you close to his body you loved it when he did it gave you the feeling comfort and security.

The pair of you had a great night out. You had a night out with your best girls, and he was out with the lads, not that you don't go out together as a couple. There are some nights you both like to do separate things, but of course, you would text each duration of the night, making sure you were both alright during the time that you were out and about.

After a long night, you decided to come home. Yes, you drank a lot of different fancy beverages tonight, and now all you wanted was your pillow and some comfy warm clothes and foe the makeup to be removed.

As soon as you arrived home, you felt tired, and your body felt like a dead weight. You couldn't be bothered to do anything. All you wanted was your bed and to be wrapped up inside your man's arms tonight. You promised him you would do your best to wait up for him, but your eyes were getting heavy.

You only had energy to remove your makeup, and that is what you did.

You got changed into some comfy clothes, which was, of course, your pjs, you put your hair up in to a messy bun. You turned on the TV flicking through channels, hoping to find something interesting to keep you awake, but there wasn't anything on midnight, so you just watched a random show, hoping that it would grab your attention but your body was just tired so you were drifting in and out of sleep.

At some point, Brad came home, but you were so out of it that you didn't even hear him come in.

He saw you crashed out on the sofa he pouted at you how sweet and adorable you looked while you slept. He could tell you were cold as you only had a satin vest top on and shorts on which wasn't doing anything to keep you warm.

"Let's get you to bed, my love"

He said with a smirk, then carried you to the shared room and gently laid down into the bed and placed the blanket on you, and gently kissed your lips while gliding his soft lips across your cheeks.

"Sleep, my sweetheart. I'll be with you shortly"

He quietly whispers, and as he is about to leave, you grab his hands, which startles him a bit, but you need him more than ever now.

"Hey love, I'm home. I'm sorry I took too long. That's why I brought you to bed. You looked so cold and pale"

He explained to you while he smiled you and gently pushed the small strands of hair from your face.

"I'm glad your home baby, please come to bed. I need you, please. "

You pleaded gently and quietly but with a slight panic in your voice.

"Hey, shh calm, my love. I'm here now. You don't have to be scared anymore. I promise I am just going to have a quick shower, then I'll be right with you, my love"

He gently says to you while leaving small, short, sweet kisses on your lips, going down to your neck along to your shoulders, which were exposed.

"Please come quick, babe. need you more than ever"

You say while half asleep your eyes were closed while you spoke to Brad.

"I won't be long, love."

He says, kissing you before leaving for his shower. Of course, you will patiently wait for him to return to you, and as promised, he did.

Eventually, as promised, he hurried back to washed and cleaned after his huge, vrazy night, but now you had him all to yourself. He gently laid next to you, gently pulling your body close towards him. You know he was back with you.

He wrapped his arms around you, worrying as you were shaking in your sleep. Brad knrw were not sleeping soundly, you constantly running from something in your nightmares.

"Whatever you're dreaming about, my darling, Whatever is scaring you. You don't have to fear cause I'm here and I promise to you I'm not going anywhere protecting you, my love. Feel my touch and drift away to another world with me"

He says in to your ear, and you give him a smile. Your eyes remain closed. Brad pulled you close towards him, and just like thar, you both fell into a world of sweet dreams...

#brad simpson #brad simpson imagine #the vamps imagine #bradley simpson #bradley simpson imagine #the vamps #brad simpson x reader #bradley will simpson

[gg-carboxylase]

Glad that Build fans had their day. I know that it has brought so much joy to so many people.

Not too pressed about the 4 Minutes announcement. I never expected he'd be back. I have no idea what's in store.

I'm still in awe that in Asia, men that are rather mildly talented in the scheme of things can have large concerts consisting of cover songs and dancing. It's just such a weird concept to me. This is zero shade, I've said this about my own fave actors. This multi-talent focus is just bananapants, but whatever. If people love it, more power to youse guise.

I'm interested to see if Build acts again. Generally, you have to sign with a production company, and there's really only a few putting out good work. I'm not really sure any of them would touch him.

I was super surprised at how salty Bible's tweet sounded — but tone online, etc etc. Curious as to where Bible's career is going to go. He's so popular right now.

I hope he has enough solo fans that will accept a new partner so he can be successful. Even though I'm super suspect of his Sigma Bro attitude (I think it's something he'll outgrow if he spends more time around softer people) I really do want him to have success. I would love to see another one of the lads included in that.

So that's my two Kongbucks.

#build japakan #bible wichapas

[xiv-wolfram]

The Far Edge of Fate - Comic Script

Heavensward - Patch 3.56

Wolfram comforts Raubahn after Ilberd's death.

Wolfram Saga Comics (Chronological)

This is the script for a future comic. Posting for those who don’t want to wait to get the story. Numbers indicate frame number.

Narrator - “A conversation between Wolfram and his friend/former partner Raubahn atop Baelsar’s Wall after the events at the end of Heavensward.” Shot from behind. Rau staring out over the wall with a sad expression. Wolf standing behind him. Rau -  "So many died here…that can't be in vain.'

Wolf rests a hand on Rau's back comfortingly and smiles sadly - "It won't be. We will see this through. For all his faults…Rau you know his ideals were right." Thought - 'All that anger… Ilberd is who I could have become… had I not had some sense knocked into me by a handsome gladiator all those years ago.' Dark Thought - ‘He should have knocked harder. You still aren’t even half the man he is.’

Rau ponders - "Aye…maybe so. I've often thought that myself. Years of my pleas for aid for our homeland falling on deaf ears. The syndicate barely acknowledging the refugees at their gate except to use them as a scapegoat for Uldah's problems. …My scream became a yawn. I was just… so tired. So - I failed our people. Ilberd got results. I cannot forgive his methods, but I thank you for trying to spare his life. For good or ill, he’s the reason this is happening at all."

Wolf looks away in shame - "That is true… my younger self could have even been one of these fools that died for his cause… and yet I wanted to kill him. Everything inside me wanted his blood for what he did to you. I was weighing the decision when the others arrived." Dark Thought - ‘Stop confessing your violent thoughts to this man. He’ll just reject you for them again.’

Raubahn smiles at him - “In that case, I thank you for your hesitancy.” Wolf turns to the side, facing Rau and smiles.

They look out over Gyr Abania. Wolf puts a hand on his arm in a comforting gesture.

Wolf nervously says - "Don't feel as if you need to answer if you aren't comfortable but… You used to love him, didn't you?" 

Rau pulls away, shocked - "Aye, as a lad… My affection was not returned. How did you know? Did you have a vision?!" Thought - '…why is he asking about this?! Godsdammit it's embarrassing!'

Wolf looks apologetic - "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. I didn't have a vision. You just…I sensed something confusing a while ago. When I brought him to Ul’dah and you were reunited. Right now you feel so full of grief for an enemy. I wanted to understand why. Please forget I said anything."

Rau looks away, jaw clenched - "He was the first person I had feelings for. Since we were quite young. In my teens, I worked up my courage and finally made the awful mistake of kissing him. He pushed me away, didn't speak to me for a week, and then he asked to train together again. Pretended nothing had happened." Thought - 'And apparently that trend of throwing myself at men continues with Wolf. Although, he at least acknowledged what we'd done and spoke with me right away. I can't help but suspect my affections are returned... alright, not the same.'

Wolf smiles sadly - "I see. And so despite what he did to you, you still remember and mourn the person that he had been?" Thought - 'My life may have been very different had I met Rau that young. Never thought I'd envy a teenage Ilberd…'. Dark Thought - ‘You should. He’d never mourn your death like this. He’d be glad to finally be rid of you.’ Thought - ‘Sounds like it's time for a drink. Although apparently, I can’t do that around him anymore without kissing him...Just be quiet ya void bastard.’

Rau puts his right hand on his left shoulder, looking down at what was taken from him light tears in his eyes and jaw clenched - "Obviously I hate him for doing this to me. For his part in the plot at the banquet, trying to kill me, and especially for what he's done today. He's caused so much death. Yet he was once good. Bit of an arse, but good. I don't know how I should feel about him. How to reconcile who he was with who he became."

Wolf pulls Rau into a big hug, resting his forehead against Rau's chest - "You don't need to." Dark Thought - 'This is so inappropriate - touching him like this. You’ll embarrass yourself again.' Thought - 'I'm simply comforting my friend. That's all this is… my very kissable friend.' Rau looks down, surprised.

Rau smiles and puts his arm around Wolf as tears start to fall down his face - "What do you mean?" Wolf, head turned, smiles - "Just that…people may be many things. And so we can feel differently about each part of them. I know what a big heart you have, Rau. There is room in there for you to mourn who he was and still hate who he became."

Zoomed out shot of them holding each other. Rau sighs - “Thank you, my friend.” Thought - 'Suppose he's right. I should be comfortable with contradictory feelings by now. Like wanting my friend to comfort me as I mourn… but also wishing he would simply shove me up against Baelsar's Wall and make me forget my grief entirely.'

Wolfram Saga Comics (Chronological)

#ffxiv #ffxiv wol #oc wolfram #hyur highlander #ffxiv oc #hyur #wolbahn #wolcomic #raubahn #raubahn aldynn #WolframSaga

[parallelplastic]

fuck or die maybe?

I chose to write Shuichi and Kokichi for this one, below the cut as always. Additional Cw for discussions of consent and no actual sex.

"What should we do?" Shuichi asked.

"Gee, I don't know Saihara-chan! Luckily I'm stuck with a smart detective like you, I'm sure you can answer that question all on your own!"

Shuichi closed his eyes and tried to ignore the obvious sarcasm behind Kokichi's chipper voice. "I think...we may have no choice but to do as she says..."

Kokichi's face went blank for a moment. Perhaps he was deciding on what emotion he wanted to feel or if he wanted to play the good guy today.

An hours worth of consideration, condensed into barely a second, and what Kokichi settled on as "you don't want to."

Shuichi's entire face had been bright red since they'd been locked in this love suite. And he only felt more overwhelmed by the second. He sat down on the bed, staring at the wall.

"if we don't...you saw what happened to those other people. I don't want to die, and I don't want you to die either."

A hand pushed gently against his chest, now Shuichi lad on his back as Kokichi climbed over him, knees on either side of him. Pressing against his legs, but not enough that he felt trapped. Just enough that the tingle of contact sent a warm him up his spine.

Kokichi glared down at him, "you think that's the same as wanting it?"

"i-I do..." Shuichi tried to turn his head away, wanting to avoid the intimate eye contact. But Kokichi only grabbed him by the chin and forced him to look. Shuichi nearly gasped at the new feelings he was experiencing...being glowered down at like this ..before forced to look ..being pinned down.

He was already feeling blood rushing down to his cock.

Kokichi slightly dug his nails into Shuichi's chin. "Look at me, Shuichi, this is important."

"i-I told you already, I want it."

"No you don't."

"but I-"

Kokichi laughed suddenly, somehow both bitter and geniune "if she didn't threaten to pump this room full of posion, you wouldn't have said yes."

Shuichi tried to shake his head.

"I hate liars, Shu. Maybe we should lie here and twiddle our thumbs until we die just so the word has two less liars, wouldn't that be fun-"

"Ouma-kun, please."

"..."

"l-lets just do it quickly okay?"

kokichi let go of his chin, now running his hand down to Shuichi's clothed chest. "you would rather it be Momota-chan. Or Akamatsu-chan."

Shuichi clenched his eyes shut miserably, "please don't say her name."

"I'm right though," when did his voice become so gentle, "you know that."

"do you want it, Ouma-kun?"

Kokichi stuck out his tongue, "I don't have to answer you because you're a dirty liar." The joke seemed to lack it's usual flare.

"t-then maybe..." Shuichi took one of Kokichi's hand, and with his own trembling one brought it down towards his V-line. He left Kokichi there to cross the threshold himself.

"Maybe, you can show me why I should be glad I'm stuck with you."

#nsft #danganronpa #kokichi ouma #shuichi saihara #drv3 #ndrv3 #should there be more? let me know

[themackenzieboydchronicles]

Mack Gets Some Shocking News.

Mackron Fanfic.

"Come on boys. Uncle Mack doesn't want you jumping all over him while he's in bed" Moira said taking a cup of tea in for Mack who had stayed the night.

"Me and Aaron are going to the village to see if we can find anymore out" said Mack sipping his tea. "I'll come back and let you know"

"Thanks for staying the night Mackenzie I really appreciate it" said Moira as Mack left.

Mack met Aaron in the cafe. "Horrid news so soon after Liv and Faith" said Nicola. "On a happier note there have been good comments about Halloween though" she added. "Its nice to know your efforts are appreciated"

"Well glad to know I'm good at something" Mack replied.

"There's Manpreet" said Mack calling her over. "Have you heard when Meena's funeral is? he asked as he was waiting for Nicola to make his coffee.

"Haven't you heard?" said Manpreet "She isn't dead Mack. She was unconscious and she's on life support. They think there was someone with her as they found a footprint" Mack grabbed hold of the counter as his legs gave way with shock.

"I'm so sorry Mack" said Manpreet "It must be a big shock to you" she said as Aaron and Liam helped Mack to get up.

"I need a stiff drink" said Mack. "Forget the coffee Brenda"

The two men went into the Woolpack where Aaron ordered two double whisky's and two pints of beer.

"You two back on then?" asked Charity.

"Just leave it Charity I'm not in the mood" said Aaron.

"You two amaze me. One minute you're all over each other and the next you're knocking hell out of each other" said Charity. "Stormy isn't exactly the word to describe it"

"Leave them alone Charity" said Bear who was doing the crossword in the local paper.

"What we going to do Aaron?" Mack asked.

"Nothing" said Aaron "She might not regain consciencness so we just wait it out"

"But the footprint has to be my trainers. I'm going to have to tell Lucy" said Mack.

"Make sure you do Mack. You can't afford to keep anymore secrets from her" Aaron told Mack. "In the meantime we'll burn your trainers"

"I feel sick Aaron" said Mack "What if Meena tells the cops I was hiding her and I tried to kill her" said Mack who was getting in a panic "I can't handle it Aaron" he said becoming agitated.

"All they will do is question you and it's your word against hers" said Aaron.

"No. No Aaron" said Mack getting worked up "I won't be able to handle it. The trainers"

"For fucks sake calm down and sit back in your seat" Aaron said grabbing Mack by his jacket and pulling him back in his chair.

"Everything OK there lads?" asked Bear.

"Yes fine thanks Bear" Aaron replied.

"I'm going to the police" said Mack getting up again.

"Will you get back here you idiot" yelled Aaron "How do you think Moira's going to feel. Her husband on a murder charge and her brother on an attempted murder charge"

"You sure everything's OK?" Bear asked again. "You look like you've committed a crime. Sure it wasn't you that killed Al and not Cain?" he joked making Mack spill his beer all over him.

Mack immediately started hyperventilating. "I can't breathe" said Mack who was gasping for breath.

"Why are you so jittery" said Charity bringing a cloth over to Mack to soak up the beer he'd spilled. "Here breath into this bag. What's brought this on?"

"He's worried about Moira" said Aaron.

"You're shaking like a leaf. I'll bring you another whisky over" said Charity after Mack was now breathing normally again.

"Get that down your neck we're going home before you confess to a murder you didn't commit" said Aaron.

The two men left the pub where Mackenzie was sick in the planter outside the pub.

"You dirty dog" yelled Charity who was collecting glasses. "That cost me fifty quid and if it dies you're buying a new one. Plus you owe me for that whisky you just brought up"

"Sod off Charity" said Aaron "Do you ever give your gob a rest?"

"And enjoy the rest of your day" said Charity sarcastically. "This village is cursed. I swear it"

"Come on let's go home" said Aaron "You still haven't made things right with Lucy"

3.11.22.

#aaron dingle #mackenzie boyd #emmerdale #moira dingle #mackron fanfic

[minouyujis]

"just leave your shoes at the door," the ten year old boy mumbled. "my person gets mad when people have no manners for his house."

"your person?" she responded. "do you mean like... your dad or something?" she pried curiously, big eyes roaming around the empty walls and spacious area of her study partners home. without looking back at her while leading the daisy towards the living room, he shook his head. "my dad passed. this guy is my caretaker."

she nodded, not pushing the conversation any further because her parents had always taught her about manners and respecting peoples privacy. "sorry if i asked too much.... just tell me to shut up whenever, okay?" the small boy, known as megumi, finally turned his gaze towards her. "i'm not gonna do that y/n. i'm fine with whatever questions you have." the poor girl smiled at his response with her eyebrows creased into a frown, accepting his answer. "lets just get to finishing the science project and then you can go back home."

"of course!"

it continued until sundown. with the fatigue overpowering the young girl, she yawned which caught the attention of her friend that sat beside. "sleepy?" he asked, staring at her with his scissors and glue in hand. she nodded, rubbing her eyes. "go home. we can finish tomorrow before recess." she mumbled back a scrunched up reply to which he could understand that she was agreeing with him.

after packing up the materials and cleaning the table they had been working on for the past three hours, he led the girl towards the front of his door out of respect. following her behind, before she had tried to place her hand on the doorknob, a sudden voice had-

"whats this, kid? you bringing a girl home already?"

"s-shut up!" megumi stuttered, the flare of red already being present on his cheeks as a strange white haired man continued to giggle at his teasing. he had knew who the girl was already, the familiar face crossing his mind when he came across her family. "y/n, yeah? going home?"

"how did you-"

"i'm good friends with your parents! they tell me all about you, i'm glad to see megumi has you as a friend out of all people. everyone at his school is scared of him." the man known as gojo continued to tease at his small student. the boy just stood there with a huff. the girl nodded happily, and has she continued to say her goodbyes the small memory that had been held in the back of his head for the last seven years had brought him out of his trance.

"you know, you should probably just go talk to her instead of watching her like a freak."

the now freshly young adult sent the older man a glare, the white haired lad never changing throughout the years. megumi turned his head back towards the familiar stranger. "it's been so long. i don't think she remembers me." gojo shrugged. "you wouldn't know unless you talk to her~"

megumi contemplated on the idea. he doesn't really remember the last time he talked to her, maybe it was before graduating elementary? she moved more closer to the outer city, her parents complaining that rent had started getting obnoxiously high. he didn't blame them, but every now and then he did still think of her. she was genuinely the only person besides satoru who understood where his background came from.

she was currently buying flowers from an outdoor shop, and while his gaze went unnoticed she continued her path down towards the exit of the area, megumi's questions on if he should see her or not had shortened to a much more limited time.

"welp, i'm going to walk the other way to avoid your embarrassment. have fun kid." gojo then continued his way into a small boba shop, leaving megumi to fend for himself in the middle of his small childhood crisis.

"tch." the spiky hair boy turned his head away, making his decision as final walking towards where she had been headed. getting the feeling that someone was following her, it wasn't too much off until she turned her head and met figure with the person she had buried in the back of her brain.

"gumi?-"

"y/n," he interrupted accidentally, his breath catching up to him when it was caught in the moment of being closer to her face. "....hey. it's been awhile,"

she let out a small laugh at his current state of surprise. it made his heart flutter. "it really has been, how have you been?"

he continued to stare at her. loss for words, the boy stood dumbfounded. "are you okay?" she asked out of genuine concern. megumi shook his head slightly, ruining his own thoughts.

"i'm sorry," he said, flustered, "it's just... you're really pretty." he turned the slightly shorter girl into a blushing mess. "d-don't just say things like that!"

megumi let a small smile fall onto his face. pretty girl. "if you're not busy, do you want to come with me to eat somewhere? i don't mind paying for you." she felt content and nodded to his proposal. "i'm guessing this is a date, yeah?"

he shrugged. "only if you want it to be."

and so it was.

#jjk x reader #jjk x y/n #jjk x you #megumi x you #megumi x reader #megumi fushiguro x you #fushiguro x reader #fushiguro megumi x reader #megumi fushiguro x reader #megumi fushiguro x y/n #megumi fushiguro #megumi #fushiguro #fushiguro megumi #jujutsu kaisen x reader #jjk #jujutsu kaisen #jujutsu kaisen x you #jujutsu kaisen x y/n #x reader #anime #xreader #anime x reader

[peakyblindersxx]

whiskey buisness - john shelby x reader (part 5 of ?)

gif by my literal angel @michaelgreys who keeps blessing us like holy fuck

a/n: all i can say is that this is the hottest one yet. as always, my girl @stxdyblr-2k did an amazing job so i hope you all enjoy :) and i'm still working on requests, tysm for all of them!!

love, abi xxx

read part one two three four | my masterlist

tagging: @datewithgianni, @mayaslifeinabox, @deepdonutkid, @springsoulofengland

prompt: john just can't help himself when he sees you with someone else.

warnings: nsfw!!! smut, fluff, angst, light praise kink, john fucking adores you and spends a good amount of time with his head between your legs (yes i know!!!!!)

John had spotted you from across the London nightclub, his table tucked into the balcony area, perfectly positioned to survey the entire club. It'd been over a month since he laid eyes on you last. Sometimes, he wondered if it was possible for you to only get more beautiful every time he saw you. He wasn't surprised, as he'd been warned of your presence by Tommy, but he was unable to stop himself from staring at you, hair neatly styled, scarlet velvet dress clinging to every curve, red lipstick emphasizing your lips, a light haze of pink pressed into your cheekbones, lash-line expertly darkened with kohl. You were dancing with one of Isaiah's friends; the young man was tall and muscular -- a blinder foot soldier, John concluded, draining his glass of whiskey, flagging the waiter down for another.

The young lad was smiling down at you. John took a swig from his drink bitterly, the man obviously head over heels, his eyes bright, excitedly glancing from your lips to your figure. John could feel himself cringe; the younger man had all the subtlety and strategy of a malnourished dog. Then again, who could blame the lad? You were an absolute vision, twirling and giggling, off your face on something Michael had brought. John couldn't help but watch, wishing it was him who had caught your attention tonight, wanting to feel your breath fan across his neck, pulling away while you giggled at his blushing arousal; him whisking you to dark corners to steal a moment of quiet.

He'd tried to get over you but he couldn't. He'd been travelling a lot lately, business in Liverpool, Edinburgh and Belfast; yet in every woman who smiled at him, he found himself searching for you in their eyes, their smiles, their laugh. They were all gorgeous, but his heart simply wasn't in it.

Tonight had started off alright, normal Peaky activity. They'd seized the club only a few hours ago, gaining vital territory in London, bagging their place in the opiate trade and a successful business prospect in one fell swoop. By all accounts, John should’ve been happy, but he'd been too lost in his own mind lately to properly take in the consequences of those sleepless nights with the accounting books, all the hours practicing shooting and boxing, all the endless driving, the meetings, the lingering stench of death which clung to his family. Try as he might, he couldn't enjoy himself. His night got worse the second he spotted you; a yearning for you suddenly flooding his veins. It was easy to get on with life when you were hundreds of miles from him, but when you were a flight of stairs away? He knew the club had countless dark passages to hide away with you, multiple cloak rooms with thick brick walls to take you against: he had to stop his mind running wild. He couldn't. That had to be the last time. You were in his past, you had to stay there. But as he watched you dance with the blinder, he could feel the familiar burn of jealousy swell deep within him. The lad was far too close to you for his comfort, practically grazing his hips to yours. John roughly rubbed his jaw at the sight, silently seething to himself in the shadows.

Thomas studied his brother's body language, taking a slow drag of his cigarette, not understanding the fuss around you. Sure, you were pretty enough; you were bright, apparently funny, but you had never caught his attention really. He observed how John's eyes followed your every move, every sway of your hips closely watched as he held his breath, losing himself to you. He was glad he'd prompted Michael to invite you; this was the most attentive he'd seen John in a month. It was no coincidence that he'd dragged you away from Birmingham, from the watching eyes of the city locals, the wagging tongues in the assembly lines, far from Ada. Michael had admitted to Thomas that it was easy to persuade you, promising you a lift in his new car and a night out as Ada had plans with a gentleman. A night of dancing with your favourite lads and an all expenses paid trip to London? You couldn't resist.

John's jaw had tensed and squared, the man murmuring something against your neck causing you to giggle and grasp his collar. Thomas could tell his brother was practically bristling with jealousy. If looks could kill, the young man clinging to your hips would be long dead from the glare unleashed on him by the tallest Shelby brother.

"You gonna sit there useless or are you gonna fucking do something about it, eh?" Tommy inquired, nudging him with his shoulder.

"I can't."

"No one will know." Thomas pointed out, raising a brow, "The Blinders will say fuck all if they see owt. They keep quiet when it's about us Shelby brothers, yeah?"

John glanced at him, eyes slightly widened, confusion furrowing his brows. "You've changed your fuckin' tune."

"Sometimes, it's good to have secrets. What Ada doesn't know about the events of tonight won't hurt her."

"We don't do secrets. We're meant to trust each other." John objected. "We're a family."

"Nothing will change, John. I'll fix it for you, yeah? You've had a rough few weeks, you should reward yourself."

"She's not a fuckin’ prize, Tom."

"Keep talking that shit and people will get the wrong idea, think you love the woman or sommet." Thomas shrugged, taking a sip of his drink, while John's cheeks flared, his eyes flinching to the floor. He smirks to himself. "You going to go get your lass, then?"

John replied wordlessly, standing and downing the rest of his drink, pulling on his suit jacket, straightening his collar. "I'll catch you later, Tom."

********

The lad was nice, his name had long disappeared into the fog of liquor and Tokyo. He was someone's cousin, but he was polite; charming, almost. Most importantly, he wasn't related to your best friend. Not quite a Casanova type like John, but you two were a good match, everyone thought so. You'd seen him a few times now over the past week. He wasn't much of a talker, but he was a good dancer, and sweet after a few pints.

The band started playing a slower song, Isaiah dancing chest to chest with a beautiful girl across from you. You felt your partner place his fingers on the small of your back, his fingers inching lower, pulling you in closer before the two of you were interrupted by a dark figure looming over you.

"Can I cut in, mate?" A strong Birmingham accent sliced through the air, voice low and polite enough, but with a tone that was laced with venom. "Or are you gonna be a dick about it?"

The lad glanced nervously between you two, moving his hands away from you, embarrassed to be caught by his boss in this state, John staring him down. You slowly pulled away from him, turning to face John.

"Or you could ask me to dance yourself, John?"

John silently glared back at you, his mouth tensed into a thin line. He looked momentarily embarrassed, his attention switching back to your dance partner, the rest of lads silently watching, breaths baited, ready to jump in on the action if the moment required it.

"I'm heading off mate, reckon she's a cocktease." Your partner comments, attempting to diffuse the tension, stepping away, not wanting a fight or to piss off his boss. His path was quickly blocked by another blinder. You shot him an apologetic look and took the large hand John was offering you.

"Or, she's just not interested in you," John quipped, smirking, locking his fingers through yours. "You gonna go get your coat while I finish up with your best mate?"

"Thought we were dancing?"

"You can dance as much as you like in the suite, yeah? Proper gramophone. You coming?"

"You just want me on my own."

"Just tired of the distractions." He told you pointedly, skimming his glare over the group of men, standing with baited breath, preparing for it to kick off.

You rolled your eyes but squeezed his hands, slowly heading to the cloakroom, chatting with the attendant as you watched John confront the lad, keeping your distance. His arms were clutching the lad's lapels, snarling in his face before pushing him back. Michael watched from a few steps away, smoking absentmindedly, spine pressed to a pillar, leaving his cousin to sort out whatever offense he believed the man had caused.

You bundled yourself up in your thin coat, a gift from one of the girls you hung around with as she had recently married a blinder and was being spoiled rotten. The coat's flimsy material was going to be useless against the London night. At least you could count on John to keep you warm on the walk back to the hotel. You headed towards the side door, John's hand quickly finding your lower back protectively as he fell into step beside you. He opened the heavy wooden doors for you, the cold air an instant relief from the heat of the nightclub. You turned back as the door closed, catching a glimpse of the boys closing in on the lad, their eyes gleaming with a violent hunger for action.

"He'll be alright. Daft prick just getting put in his place." John said flatly. He seemed bored but watched you anxiously, begging you with his eyes to drop the subject.

"Is the hotel close by?" You asked casually, as the frigid air swirled around your calves, instantly causing you to shiver.

"I'll get us a cab, love, can't have you in those heels trekking halfway across London town." He stepped fearlessly into the road, unbothered about any potential danger or just forgetful from the whiskey. Quickly, a dark cab pulled up to the cobblestone pavement and John helped you in, taking off his coat and wrapping it around your shoulders before climbing in after you.

As the engine started and the car made its way through London's dimly lit streets to Camden, John's hand found its way to your thigh. You glanced at him, his eyes looking away but his thumb angled against his teeth. He was nervous, having not touched you in a month. You crossed your legs, angling them towards him, his hand shifting higher up your thighs, taking a deep sigh of relief. Your hands found his chin in the gloom of the back of the car, only the occasional bright lights from a nightlife hub or the demure lights of a residential illuminating his face, the angles changing as the cab drove on. It was too much. You'd been needing this for the past month, needing him. Your hands laced around the back of his head and you pressed your lips to his for a brief moment, allowing John to pull you deeper into the kiss. It awoke something familiar inside you, something comforting. Kissing John erased all your homesickness. Christ, you had to stop thinking like this.

"You've not been about for a bit, sweetheart. I know we said never again, but I was hoping you'd come by," John muttered, forehead pressed to yours, breath mingling with yours as he spoke.

"I almost did. The amount of times I nearly visited your office.. I just couldn't do that to you or Ada. Besides, last I heard, you were on tour." You admitted, keeping your voice down to save the cab driver the embarrassment. John caressed your cheekbone with his thumb, tracing the corner of your mouth, prompting a grin from you.

"Last place on earth I'd expected to see you next, it's been hectic my end," He sighed. His eyes were outlined with deep purple smudges of exhaustion, yet he was still devastatingly beautiful even after all the sleepless nights. "It's been too long."

"Not my fault you've been hiding yourself away. You should've called."

"Blame Tommy for that. His solution seems to be sending me on business trips. Trying to make me too tired to handle you." A nervous lick of his lips revealed John’s response to the suggestion that he call you. He wanted to say he would ring next time, but there couldn't be a next time.

"You can barely handle me on a good day, Mr. Shelby."

"Can't blame me. You seen yourself? On the brink as soon as I see you, lass." He teased, earning a gentle shove to the shoulder as you quickly pressed a kiss underneath his chin. You wanted to bring up Thomas' threat, but you bit your tongue, nudging his shin with the toe of your heel in the back of the cab. He rolled his eyes, grabbing your wrists lightly. "Behave yourself in front of the nice cabbie, sweetheart."

You soften at his touch, unable to resist reaching to interlock your fingers, squeezing his hands in yours affectionately. The spirits your table had been bringing you all night definitely boosted your confidence, any hesitancy due to potential rejection drowned out. John pressed his lips to your knuckles in response. He seemed different tonight, far more protective and serious than usual. He was so quiet it was strange, usually yapping your ear off, desperate for you to react, treating him to a giggle, a middle finger or a cutting response. You'd also never witnessed him spark off due to someone's interaction with you. Finn had mentioned a week or so back that John had a shouting match with Thomas and in the moment, your name got thrown up in the conversation, resulting in John taking a swing at his big brother out of frustration. It was confusing. He was willing to start fights over you, punch his brother, yet when you two were alone he was uncomfortably quiet, studying you, lost in his thoughts. His silence only made your body long for him, his fingers tracing patterns in your inner thigh. You let out a small whimper into the crook of his neck, as he instinctively pressed a kiss to your shoulder.

The car pulled up outside the hotel, your pulse racing, the anticipation already threatening to make you give in completely to his wishes tonight. You waited as he turned up his collar against the rain, clambering out of the car to open your door, creatively arranging the coat to hover just above both your heads protecting you from the miserable weather. Although John had referred to the building as a hotel, you could instantly tell the manor was some aristocrat's third or fourth home, obviously being rented out or gifted to business partners for trips. It was an imposing grey stone building, exquisitely carved, although not a country estate, the house was just as large. Was John used to this? It hit you all of a sudden that you'd never set foot inside John's home. You'd heard from Ada that it was overrun with hoards of screaming children. She often joked with the children at the Shelby Institute that if they hung around long enough at John's, he'd assume they were one of his offspring. You'd only ever fucked him in a guest bed. The shame made your stomach churn.

You needed to remind yourself of this when your late night thoughts ran rampant. John could say what he liked, but he'd never actually allow you to get overly personal with him. Whatever confusing mess was winding around your skull regarding him was useless; it was best not to think about it. You went to him every time, yet he would've picked another lass tonight, it was just that you were there. He probably had a string of gorgeous women, older, more accomplished, more experienced, more elegant. He could tell you he missed you, but you could never take for granted that he told you this for any other reason than as a prelude to get you in bed with him. You were his gorgeous mess, but only for the night. It was best to remind yourself to care less than he did. It was the easiest solution in the long term; this way, the downfall would be less brutal.

"You alright, love?" He asked suddenly, breaking your train of thought.

"Sorry, I was thinking about work."

He lived around his brothers for long enough, he could smell bullshit. He decided to let it go. It was best to not push it tonight. Just keep it light hearted, easy, like it was always meant to be.

"If your boss keeps being a prick, you tell Ada. She'll sort him out."

"Don't I know it? He can barely open the door before she starts on about workplace ethics." You joked, earning a small smile instead of his usual bright chuckle. "John, what are we doing here?"

"Well I'm about to take you upstairs and sort you out, yeah? You gonna let me look after you?" He asked, stopping you in your tracks by turning you into him, grabbing your wrist.

"You know that isn't what I meant."

"I know. But can we leave it tonight? Can we just have fun?" He questioned, lips ghosting over yours, fixing you with an intense stare.

"It's fun anymore." Your voice cracked, the liquor in your system making it impossible to control your tone or your facial expressions. "It's fucking with my head, John."

"It's just.. fucking difficult. It's fucking difficult because of who we are." He replied firmly but dropped his makeshift coat shelter around your shoulders, freeing his hands to grab your face pulling it to his, the alcohol making him far needier than he usually appeared. "You, my beautiful Y/N, are a fucking losing game. It's not as easy for me, I can't just dance with a woman and get a leg over-"

"I never said you couldn't."

"I know, I.." He gestured vaguely, lifting one of his hands off your cheeks, and you can feel your head nodding in understanding. "You know, I thought I was going to manage it this time. That I wouldn't be a total fuck up, but then you and that lad-"

"Catch you getting jealous over me."

"Fuck off." He let go of you for a split second but you reeled him back in, resting your palms on the chest of his shirt, the soaked material sticking to his skin. You'd struck a nerve. You decided to push him further.

"I don't know what you're trying to do, Mr. Shelby, disappearing across the country for weeks then coming back and telling me you want me all to yourself?" You played with his collar, tugging his face to yours before pulling back at the last possible second, causing him to let out a frustrated groan, hands itching to feel you underneath them.

"Don't fucking wind me up," He snapped, the intensity between you rekindled momentarily.

"It's worked wonders in the past," You replied, barely able to finish your sentence before his mouth was on yours, his fingers tangling into your hair, kissing you properly. Although you'd kissed so many times prior, this one felt so genuine, as though unleashed from its restraints deep within John. You'd never kissed anyone in the rain before in the middle of the night, and it felt magical. You were shivering but hot all over, burning for John to do something, anything. You could feel his cock through his dress pants, hard against you, prompting you to moan into his mouth.

"Fuck’s sake, Y/N," John grunted into your ear, his hands grabbing at your arse. "You're fuckin’ killing me here. I need you, yeah?"

"Tell me how badly." You responded coyly, linking your arms around his neck, ignoring the late night drizzle.

"I'd rather show you. M’gonna take care of you tonight, make up for the month I've been gone."

"Who's saying I've not been taking care of myself?'

He bit his lip in frustration, trying to stop his mind running wild with the image of you in bed, fingers between your thighs, breasts moving as you arched your back, hips lifting off the mattress, moaning as you called his name -- his jaw clenched. "I know what you're doing. You coming up before you catch a chill?"

You shifted your weight away from him, as if considering your options. He knew your answer; you both knew in a few minutes you'd be upstairs practically tearing his shirt off, needing his skin against yours, begging for him. John pulled away from you, dragging you up the winding path to the front door of the manor, opening the door for you, arm wrapping around your waist. His lips met yours, then your collarbones and neck, prompting a breathy giggle and whine as you wound yourself back around him, craving the contact. The manor was plunged in darkness, staff somewhere in the gloom. Your arrival had definitely been noted, but as with everyone who worked for the Shelbys, they just left you to it. It was easier to not get involved, to keep their heads down and not mention the midnight trysts the brothers got up to.

John knew his path, he'd stayed here before. Even in the dark you could tell the house was decorated to spare no expense, the gaudy paintings and sculptures casting strange shadows. He led you up the grand flight of stairs, then another.

"Worse than Thomas' estate, this place." You murmured quietly, unsure of other guests within earshot.

"I could never live like this. I'd never see my brood again. Getting them ready for bed would be one hell of a nightmare." He whispered back, halting your stride by pulling your hips to his, unable to wait any longer.

"John, what if we get caught?" You asked, pressing your hand against his chest with your palm flat.

"Never bothered you before. Thought you liked the fact that anyone could just walk in and see what a pretty little mess you’ve made for me."

You couldn’t help yourself from pressing an affectionate kiss to his mouth, letting him lay you down and pin you to the stairs, the luxuriously thick carpets scraping into your flesh. He cursed under his breath at the sight of you underneath him, pushing your dress up your thighs, lifting your legs to wrap around his neck, pressing a kiss to your flimsy underwear, glancing up to drink you in. The most beautiful woman in his city, begging for him, figure swamped by his coat, rain soaked and shivering, his mouth between her thighs. He ran his tongue slowly across your clothed core, your pleading moans music to his ears, loving how your thighs tightened around his neck. His tongue traced circles over your clit and labia, the friction generated by the lace of your panties pushing you further, your hands knotting into his hair, spine arching against his mouth.

"No one been looking after you while I was gone. eh?" He asked, pressing kisses to your inner thigh, tugging your panties to the side. "What about your dancing pal?"

"Fuck’s sake, I barely know him, John." You snapped back, teetering on the edge between lust and frustration from his relentless teasing.

"Keep it that way. You don't need ‘im, lass, not while I'm about." He replies before lapping at your slit, interpreting your moans as approval as your head slumped back and you released a low groan. "Y/N, watch me, yeah?"

You pull yourself weakly upwards, propping yourself up in your elbows to be able to look down the staircase at John between your legs in the dark. The view was thrilling, moonlight shining in through the rain on the window, illuminating his face, hair messy and tongue flickering across your clit while he stared up at you, his eyes darkened with lust. You couldn't help but pant, knowing you'd be returning to this moment alone at night, when it was your fingers instead of John's tongue pushing you towards the edge.

"So fuckin' wet and ready for me, aren’t you?" He crooned, sliding his fingers into you, sucking at your clit between flicks of his tongue.

You couldn’t find the words to respond, whimpers leaving your mouth instead, your hips lifting beneath his palms, chest heaving.

"Go on, use your words, clever lass."

"John, fuck.. don't stop," You manage to string together, thoughts too muddled by alcohol and arousal to play hard to get any longer.

"I won't ‘til you cum in my mouth. Need to taste you again, beautiful."

Your head jerked back suddenly as John curled his fingers inside you, pushing up against the spot that made you lose your mind, his name falling from your lips like a prayer, all he could hear except from his blood rushing in his head. Your desperate cries for relief caused his cock to strain against his dress pants, fighting the urge to sort himself out, needing to finish you off. John needed to prove that he could fuck you better than anyone else. He knew he was pushing you to the edge, but he wasn't going to deny you your orgasm. He wanted to make a point with this. His fingers worked faster, his mouth hungry for you, lips moving against your core at a harsh pace.

You groaned loudly, hips bucking involuntarily just to be forced back against the carpet of the staircase. Your breaths grew heavier, warning him how close you were to your peak. John refused to let up, pushing you closer every second, lips latched to your core firmly, lapping up the wetness he'd produced.

"I want to watch you finish." He commanded, you completely at his will now that you'd lost control, lifting your head upwards with the little strength you had left to be able to stare down at his dilated blue eyes. "Good girl. You gonna show me how good I make you feel? You gonna cum for me, doll?"

You couldn't respond, unable to keep your eyes from rolling backwards as you felt yourself suddenly release, John’s name escaping from between your lips, legs shuddering around his neck. He let you ride it out on his tongue, tasting you desperately, watching your expression slowly relax.

Finally, he pulled away from your cunt, unwrapping your legs from his neck. He grabbed your wrist, not letting you retrieve your panties, stuffing them into his trouser pocket. He returned his attention to tracing your slit with the index finger and thumb of his other hand, as he pressed a long kiss to your lips.

"I love how you taste," He murmured against your lips, causing you to flush slightly. John noticed, pressing kisses to your jawbone. "Don't get shy on me now. I've barely started with you. Not even got you to the suite and you've already cum."

He looked so proud of himself, it suddenly clicked for you. He was trying to prove himself to you, for some unknown reason. You know he was protective and quite obviously jealous tonight, but you couldn't believe that John Shelby felt the need to prove that he knew what he was doing, as though you weren't aware. You weren't trekking to his office for mediocre sex. Tonight he let you finish first, no teasing, no denial, no fucking about. Just putting his ability fully on show, so when your mind went drifting it'd go back to him, not some young lad who barely knew what he was doing. His cocky attitude and smug acceptance of his sexual prowess would've been off-putting if it was anyone else, but John, but with his bright smile and constant humour, pulled it off. It was enticing, making your core pool with wetness when he crossed your mind.

"A month is far too long, Mr. Shelby."

"I know, you're practically drooling over me." He teased. He seems a lot more himself than before. He’d been too caught up in his head, too focused on getting you off to enjoy the flirting and teasing. John loved how light-hearted he could be with you. Despite the mess you were both in, it was making you laugh or roll your eyes that soothed his mind. Honestly, if it was just sex he'd have cut you off instantly; he wouldn't have even gone there out of loyalty to Ada. Admittedly, it was your company and presence that had him absolutely on his knees for you, the way he felt understood, less alone in his brother's bullshit, less trapped by his criminal career because you understood. You always had a cutting line, a bright smile just for him, an eye roll at his brothers' daft plans, a choice curse word for Thomas. He didn't even want to consider what would happen after the night ended. He stood, pressing another kiss to your lips as he helped you to your feet, fixing his coat which hung off your shoulders.

"You ready for rounds two through to six?"

"John, you know you won't get through three with me."

"You’re right, you're just too pretty when you’re riding my cock." He teased, the vulgar material of his jibe earning him a joking shove before you curl into his side, letting him escort you up the stairs to the nearest bedroom. He quickly shut the door behind you, scooping you up in his arms, causing you to let out a laugh as he practically tossed you onto the king sized bed, eyes shining with adoration as he looked down at you grinning back up at him.

“You’re something else, John Shelby.”

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