#let me introduce you to half a dozen of my friends

[holylulusworld]

The one that got away (1)

Summary: Your best friend breaks your heart.

Pairing: AU!Dean Winchester x fem!Reader

Warnings: angst, unrequited feelings, time jump, regret

A/N: This is a little gift for @elle14-blog1 for her birthday. It’s today, so happy birthday, lovely. And, I decided to turn this story into a mini-series. 😁

The one that got away masterlist

Dean Winchester would never break your heart. Right? He’s your best friend. You used to be thicker than thieves. Until. One day. You decided to tell him how you truly feel about him.

You wanted more than being his best friend. So, one day you decided it’s time to step up for yourself and tell him you want more. Much more.

Sadly, Dean didn’t require your feelings. He stammered your name, telling you he was sorry, but doesn’t feel the same. It was worse that he hugged you and told you he’s going to be your friend if that’s enough.

You shook your head and choked out his name. “No,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “I think we cannot be friends any longer. I love you, and it’s killing me inside. If you are my friend, you’ll understand that we can never see each other again.”

That day, you walked away with a heavy heart and tears in your eyes. Deep down in your heart, you knew it wasn’t his fault. Sometimes you just fall in love with the wrong person. You cannot force them to love you.

This doesn’t mean it won’t break your heart to cut ties with them…

A few years later, …

Today is a good day. It’s not only your birthday, but the day conference you have been waiting for. You just got a promotion and love your new job. But the best is, that you feel cute and self-confident in your brand-new dress. 

“Y/N, are you ready for the conference?” Your colleague asks. She nervously tugs at her blazer; eyes darting from you to the arriving participants of the conference. “I’m a little nervous. Uh-I hate talking in front of people.”

“Just imagine them naked and you are golden,” you chuckle at your own boldness. She gasps at your words and slaps your arm. 

“That’s not helpful.”

“Hmm…” you nod and drop your eyes to the notes in your hands. You’ll be the one opening the conference and now, you are a little nervous too. “Maybe we should take a deep breath and relax a little. They are all people, and no one is going to bite us if we make a mistake.”

“I wish I could,” she whines. “Wish me luck, Y/N. If I embarrass myself in front of all these strangers, I’m going to drown my sorrows in cupcakes.”

“Phew, I made it.” Half an hour later your colleague stands next to you, sighing deeply. “I won’t do this again. I’m telling you; my panties are soaked.”

“What?” You choke on your spit.

“I sweated like a nun in the church,” she whispers. “I wish you look. I’m going to grab the largest coffee and a dozen cupcakes to celebrate I didn’t embarrass myself.”

You chuckle as someone calls your name. It’s your turn to hold your speech, and you only hope you won’t ruin this. Speaking in front of many people is not your favorite task, to be honest.

While you walk toward the front of the room, you feel all eyes on you. 

You take a deep breath and sort your notes. “Hello, and welcome. We have been looking forward to this conference. All of us.” You smile at the people listening to your words. “Let me introduce you now to our newest project. The one we will be working on together. Cheryl will guide you through the presentation. You can ask me and her questions later.”

Cheryl, your assistant starts the presentation, and you step a little to the left to take the only free seat next to a man who has his back on you and the presentation. 

“Sir, you should turn around. The presentation is—” Your heart stops beating for a minute when the man turns around. A pair of familiar green eyes meet yours. You just stare at him – the man haunting your dreams and thoughts.

“Hello sweetheart,” he casually says, as if you parted ways just yesterday. Dean smiles that million-dollar smile making a woman weak in the knees. Damn him, he still can make your heart race. “How have you been?”

Dean watches you nervously shift in your seat. The presentation and your assistant long forgotten, you drink his features in. There are a few lines around his eyes, and his hair is a little longer. He’s wearing an expensive suit and a tie, but he still looks like the cocky guy who used to be your best friend.

“Good,” you finally reply. “You?”

“Good, I guess,” he clears his throat. “I mean, I like my job, and I still got my car.”

“Baby?” You can’t help but smile. “How is the pretty lady?”

“Still pretty,” he leans closer and brushes his thumb over your thigh. “Not as pretty as you, sweetheart. You look pretty in that dress. Blue suits you.”

“Now you try to charm your way out of this unexpected encounter,” you slap his hand, and chuckle. If only your heart would stop beating out of your chest close to him. “How’s Sam?”

“He’s a lawyer now, and married to Jess,” he says. “You remember the blonde he met before you left town?”

“She was nice.” You clear your throat. “They made a cute couple. I knew there was something special between them.”

He nods, but his eyes sadden a little. “So…are you already married to Mr. Fantastic?” 

“No, I—” you fake-cough. “I was busy making a career and building a life. I didn’t have the time to get married and such.”

“Same. I’m still the untamable bachelor looking for the one.” Your heart flutters when he looks at you. There is something in his eyes you didn’t see before. Sadness, or regret maybe.”

“Yeah,” you nod in agreement. “Finding the one is hard. People are…you know.” You shrug. “It’s difficult to fulfill all the things they look for in a partner. I didn’t fulfill anyone’s standard yet.”

“Y/N, you are perfect. Why would you want to change for a guy?” He squares his jaw when you look away. Dean knows who made you feel this way. 

Cheryl calls your name, and you reluctantly leave your seat to talk about your presentation and the project. 

Dean watches you every move. He licks his lips and leans back in his chair. Dean nervously runs his hand over his thighs, trying to calm his nerves. Seeing you after such a long time woke a longing in him.

There is more than the flutter in his heart when you shyly glance in his direction. If he allows himself to be honest, Dean knows that deep down in his heart he let his soulmate go back then… 

The one that got away (2)

Tags in reblog.

#dean winchester #dean x reader #dean winchester fanfic #dean winchester x reader #au!dean winchester x reader #The one that got away (1) #dean winchester x you #angst #spn #unrequited love

[coralinnii]

I love the villain scorned by the world feat: Riddle genre: fluff, hint of drama note: continuation of villain/ess au Riddle ver., hints of obsessive behavior (heroine), roughly 1.2k word count

series masterlist

After a week of being snowed in and getting sick TWICE, I live!

The heroine was set to appear during his birthday celebration a few years into his reign as king. The original story was a classic tragedy where love is trapped between bliss and justice. According to the text, the heroine was said to have truly loved the tyrannical Riddle but his madness inevitably compelled her to go against her beloved. 

However, since you’re working to avoid that version of your childhood friend, you assumed that the love would flourish in this more peaceful environment. When you asked Riddle if he had met the heroine, it seems that he may have been aware of her but was preoccupied with his pursuit for the throne. His response was very much like him 

“Yes, I’m aware of that family and their daughter. Since I am the king, I would know my subjects. What about them?”

Wanting Riddle’s happiness, you asked to be in charge of the guest list to Riddle’s birthday celebration and despite your own feelings, ensured that the heroine’s family was invited. It was a party such as this that brought their fates together so you were simply setting up the scene earlier. 

“I don’t think I’ve seen King Riddle this moody” Trey looked over your shoulder to watch Riddle stand alone before a few hopeful noble children walked up to him. “Are you really ok with this?” 

You were made aware that every year Riddle chose to only dance with his closest aides, Trey and Cater, for his second dance instead of interacting with others. It was said that it was because he already felt uncomfortable dancing with someone with romantic intent since he had you, regardless how incapacitated you were at the time. As much as you felt butterflies flutter when you heard that, a sense of guilt and fear settled in you. You never wanted your choices to haunt Riddle this way but you realized your absence affect your old friend more than you think.

“Riddle’s only idea of a romantic partner is me, someone his mother arranged and then imprisoned.” a solemn look rests in your eyes. “I’m worried that Riddle may still feel guilty for my imprisonment, so tonight he should have the chance to choose his love without me as a burden”

“I’m sure King Riddle doesn’t-“ Trey tried to argue but you cut him off, standing your stance on the matter. 

“This would be good for Riddle.” you insisted as you subtly maneuver your body to search for the redhead. You specifically ask him to dance with someone new, for the experience. And the sweet man he is, reluctantly agreed to your request. 

With mixed feelings, you saw him dancing with someone else already and lo and behold, it was none other than the heroine. Out of the dozens of admirers in the crowd, the two managed to find their way to each other given the chance.

"I wonder if this was fate"

“See? Perhaps we’ll be introducing a new queen soon enough” you joked half-heartedly, tearing your gaze away from the dancing duo. 

“He would be crushed if he ever heard you” Trey let out a sigh over the troubled couple he had to deal with. He glanced behind you and his lips suddenly formed a smirk. “You said you wanted Riddle to have the right to choose for himself, right?” 

You grew skeptical of the bespectacled man but nodded your head anyway. 

“Then, you should prepare yourself for his choice” he smirked.

You were confused over your friend’s cryptic words before you heard a soft sound, someone clearing his throat behind you. 

Riddle stood behind you, taking a quick glance to you before speaking to your dance partner. “Pardon the intrusion but I’d like to request a dance with my spouse, if you don’t mind” 

Trey hid his chuckle under his breath, barely disguising it as a cough. He released your hand and bowed to his King before leaving the two of you alone. 

Choosing to ignore the blatant laugh of his aid, he turned to you with a soft gaze and offered his hand to you. “May I have this dance?” 

Without second-guessing, you took his hand and nodded your consent. The two of you began to sway to the sounds of the live instruments. The rest of the attendees took the cue to make way for the royal couple to take center stage, which should make you a little nervous but being with Riddle tends to wash away such nerves. 

You started the conversation. “So, how was your second dance?” 

“It was…an experience, I supposed” Riddle answered a bit too unenthusiastic to your liking.

“A good one?” You pressed on as the two of you twirl in unison to the music. 

“If you mean that it went as expected then yes” Riddle replied indifferently. “It’s standard for children of nobility to perform a simple waltz, afterall” 

“Noooo, Riddle” you groaned at such a lackluster response which startled Riddle. “Dancing should be fun and enjoyable, romantic even” 

You should have expected that Riddle would see this as a nobleman's obligation rather than a moment of bliss but you couldn’t help your expectations. You let out a sigh as you made a mental note to teach Riddle the nuances of romance instead of just throwing him into the water at the first chance. Lesson learned, you supposed.

Riddle, on the other hand, was starting to sweat. He hasn’t realized how different the concept of dancing could be for others. He perfected the art as a standard of the noble class but you seem to see dancing as an enjoyable and even intimate activity. Does this mean when you dance with others, you are enjoying the closeness of others? Do you rather dance with someone like Trey because it was more enjoyable with him than with your own husband? 

“Am I…” Riddle hesitated which caught your ears. “Am I fun to dance with?” 

You blinked, taking in the question. You watched your childhood companion fidget in your grasp, his body still in time with the music but you caught the slight shake in his fingers and his avoidant gaze. You wanted Riddle to experience romance but instead you brought up an insecurity over his lack of understanding the details.

“Good grief, I’m the worst” 

Riddle felt your hand in his grasp shift, making him nervously believe that he had offended you in some way. However, your fingers worked to spread his own so you could interlocked your fingers between his. You called his name which Riddle automatically responded by turning his gaze solely on you. 

“I absolutely love dancing with you, Riddle” you assured him with a bold proclamation, which elicited a red flush in Riddle’s cheeks. You may enjoy teasing him but your words always hold truth in them. You questioned him back, “How about you?” 

Riddle recalled the times he danced without you. Aside from tonight, he has only danced with his mother, Trey, Cater, and even Chen’ya on occasion but the moment he shared with you in his hold as you allowed the music to sway you and Riddle unconsciously letting you manipulate his movement to your pace, felt incredibly different. It was the same type of music and the same type of dance, but yet the warmth and energy building in him feels so much better than anything he had experienced before. 

He finally answered, smiling the largest he has all night, “I think I love it too”

Hidden in the crowd, a pair of eyes bore angrily at the couple. The heroine glared intensively at you without your notice, envious of the affection pouring out from the king for you. No one has ever witnessed their King treat someone this kindly but for all to see, Riddle held you like you were a precious jewel and gaze at you with the such admiration made it too obvious to anyone in the room how important you were to their ruler. 

“I refuse…I absolutely refuse!”

#twst #twisted wonderland #disney twisted wonderland #twst scenarios #twst imagines #twst x reader #twisted wonderland x reader #twisted wonderland imagines #riddle rosehearts #riddle x reader #villainess au

[thegainingdesk]

Beach Body

Chapter 1

"So she does this every single year for her birthday?" I asked. "What if she wants to do something else?"

"It's a tradition!" Natasha insisted. "It's fun. No, really, it is! Oh, look out for a turning on the left."

"I hate these tiny country roads. And what if it rains one year?" I pointed out.

"It's the start of August, it doesn't rain. There it is, can you see?"

"It can rain in August." I wouldn't let go of this. I turned down the track she'd pointed out.

"There's a pub! We all go to the pub in the village and get pissed instead of having a barbecue on the beach, okay? And it's obviously not going to rain today." Natasha was obviously right about that, bright sunshine illuminating the Welsh countryside around us. "Look, I really don't know what you're worried about."

"I just don't know why I was invited. I've only - there's a car ahead, do you reckon they'll get past if I stop here? - I've only been working with you all for a couple of months, I basically only know you and Jackie." Even I had to admit that I was starting to border on whining at this point.

"But we really like you! And this is a great way to get to know people! Sun, food, a few drinks-"

"I'm driving," I pointed out, interrupting her.

"Well it's bad if you can only have fun if you've gotten drunk," Natasha scolded.

"That's not what I said at-"

"Here! Coming up! Do you see the car park on the left?"

I sighed and parked up, greeting Jackie and a large group of her friends, some familiar, some not. We grabbed various bags of food, drinks and blankets out of the car while we waited for the last few people to arrive. I greeted the few people I knew and introduced myself to some others, promptly forgetting half a dozen names.

Armed with a cool bag of meat slung over one shoulder, and a portable barbecue awkwardly tucked into the crook of my elbow, I joined the line of people making their way across the zigzagging tracks over the dunes leading to the beach. The dunes, while beautiful, were difficult to traverse, and the group split up into small parties, each determined that they'd found the easiest route around or over the steep mounds of sand.

"I'm just saying," I said quietly to Natasha after dropping the barbecue for the third time, looking around to check that Jackie wasn't close enough to hear, "that they are easier beaches to have a barbecue at, y'know."

A loud laugh from behind us, and I turned to see a handsome man I hadn't spoken to yet. "It is a really stupid beach, to be fair," he said, a wide smile on his face.

Jackie's voice came faintly from the next dune over. "What was that?"

"I said it's a fucking stupid beach!" the man called back. He caught my eye, and I must have looked taken aback because he explained: "I'm her brother, I'm allowed to tell her that her annual beach birthday's rubbish." I laughed. "Chris," he stretched a hand out.

I could see the family resemblance to Jackie - the same nose, the same dark blonde hair. Chris immediately put me at ease, with a thick blonde beard framing a constant smile, and deep smile lines around his eyes, despite looking like he was in his early thirties. His handsome face and deep voice set a tingle in my swim shorts.

I took his hand and shook it. "Adam. You must have been doing this your whole life then?"

He laughed loudly. "You'd hope so! No, this is actually a tradition she came up with at about twenty."

"Oh! I sort of assumed it was a childhood thing," I replied.

"That's what she wants you to think. I personally think twenty-eight is a little old to insist on being a special little birthday girl" he shouted this last part across the dunes, and a quiet "fuck off Chris!" came in reply, before he turned to me, and quietly now "but that's just me."

I laughed, his infectious good mood making me forget my earlier reservations about the day. By this point, Natasha was well ahead with some other people from the office and Chris and I were left alone.

"So you work with Jackie?" Chris asked.

"Yeah, just started a few months ago," I replied.

"Enjoying it?"

"Yeah! It's a nice company, people are really friendly." Speaking to Chris, even my boring job was sounding better.

"You're going to have to explain what it is you do, Jackie's never actually been able to make me understand."

"So I'm on the software side, I develop the algorithms that we use to…" I caught myself, realising I was being boring. "I do things with computers that make them make money," I joked.

"Oh my god, I love computers and money!"

"And what about you? What do you do?" I asked.

"Very similar. Computers, money. Sometimes meetings."

"Meetings! Exotic. Is that around Cardiff as well?" I asked.

"Edinburgh." My heart sank, my already slim chances of a date with a handsome, funny man disappearing to nothing. "As much as I think this annual beach birthday is silly, it at least forces me to come back and see everyone."

We walked on for a while, making easy conversation with each other. After a while Chris turned to me. "It's nice to have someone to chat to at this thing. Usually it's just Jackie's work friends talking about office drama and her uni friends talking about decade-old gossip, with me in the middle."

"Surely there's the rest of the family?"

"Nah, she insists on it being young people, but we don't have any cousins, so it ends up just being me. We always do a family thing another night," he shrugged. "Still," he caught my eye and smiled, "I reckon this one will be good."

We heard a small cheer of celebration up ahead as the people in front arrived on the beach, and we sped up, running awkwardly through the sand of the dunes. When we arrived, we dumped our bags in a small pile and helped to spread out the blankets.

I took off my shoes before hesitating, self-conscious of my body. I had a perfectly average body, maybe a little too tall and skinny, but I was always nervous of taking my shirt off in front of other people, lacking the washboard abs and bulging muscles of seemingly all of my friends. I looked around and told myself that no-one would pay me any attention, but I froze, fingers on my top button.

While the other men were wearing swim shorts in various lengths and colours, Chris had stripped off both his fun Hawaiian shirt and particularly short shorts to reveal a pair of bright flowery speedos. His shirt was hiding a subtly chunky body, with a roll of fat sticking out ever so slightly above the colourful lycra, and below, thick legs pooched out ever so slightly where the speedos cut into them. All of this was covered in a veritable pelt of hair, hiding the slight softness of his body.

Chris looked up and caught my eye, and I realised I was staring. I looked away quickly, but could have sworn he gave me a small wink. Emboldened by Chris' confidence and by the lack of notice everyone was paying him, despite the amount of skin he was showing, I unbuttoned my shirt and put it with my shoes.

A while later I walked up to Chris who was manning the various barbecues and settled down next to him. Droplets of salt water still clung to my skin and in my dark chest hair, and I thought the effect was quite sexy, if you ignored all the sand that was sticking to me as well.

"The sea good?" he asked.

"Fucking freezing," I replied.

He smiled and held out a beer to me.

I put up a hand. "Designated driver I'm afraid."

"Fair enough," he pulled the top off and began to drink it himself.

"Are you always in charge of the barbecue?" I asked.

He nodded. "And the beer cooler. It means I get to have more than anyone else without anyone calling me out on it."

I gave a small chuckle. "Good plan," I told him, and took a cheeky look sideways at him. Sure enough, his hairy stomach did look a touch more bloated than it had done earlier. "So your umm…" I cringed at the words even as I formed them, "your girlfriend couldn't make it today?" Smooth Adam. Real smooth.

"Ah, no. My, well my boyfriend had to work." My heart sank. Still, I noticed that his smile shrank ever so slightly when he mentioned his boyfriend.

"Oh! Sorry to assume, I didn't mean to-" I flustered.

"No! No, it's fine really. It happens. Do you? Have a boyfriend?" He held my eyes. "Or girlfriend? Or boyfriend?" His smile was growing again.

"Nope. Single. I broke up with my last boyfriend a while ago." I stressed the word boyfriend more than I meant to. Despite the 400 miles we lived apart, and his boyfriend, I still felt the need to make sure he knew I was gay as well.

"Oh I'm sorry," Chris said.

"Not at all, it was a while ago," I smiled at him. "Just, you know, enjoying being single."

"Yeah, I miss it a little sometimes," Chris said, and I detected an ever so slight sadness in his voice, but he quickly covered it up with his usual, unchanging smile. My heart leapt a little. He was probably just making small talk, sympathising with the lonely singleton, but a boy could dream, couldn't he?

Chris offered me a chicken drumstick. "Have you tried these? They've got like a Korean marinade thing, they're gorgeous. It's like bitter and sweet at the same time. I've had about ten."

I reached over and took it from him, taking a small bite. It was good, and I duly gave a small hum in agreement, but I wouldn't say they were exceptional. Chris picked up on my silence and laughed. "It's probably just me," he told me. "Jackie's always said I'm like a labrador when it comes to food. Food motivated." He beamed at me and picked up another chicken leg, his eyes closing in bliss as he chewed.

I readjusted my shorts ever so slightly. My attraction to Chris was growing as I got to know him - his constant cheerfulness, his small jokes, the way he didn't seem to care what anyone thought about him.

Later that day, I drove back in silence, Natasha passed out after a day of gin in the sun. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face, as I thought back to the day I'd spent mainly with Chris. Despite all the reasons I could never realistically go out with him, I was utterly besotted by the man. I found myself surprised that I was already looking forward to Jackie's 29th.

Chapter 2

"Adam!" Chris called, almost as soon as I'd come from behind the last dune before the beach. "Great to see you!"

I grinned, a little embarrassed. I'd never be able to be so open about being so excited to see someone, but then that's exactly what attracted me to him last year. Paul, a friend from the office, gave me a confused glance which I purposefully ignored. "Hey," I greeted Chris, "looking good man!"

This, I thought to myself, was very true. He was wearing the same flowery speedo as last year, but it now looked positively painted on. He'd clearly put on some weight, last year's roll of flab turning into a sack of fat, suspended above the tight swimwear. His thighs had faint criss-crosses around the tops, not quite hidden by the thick hair there, and his chest now stood ever so slightly forward and down - he didn't quite have moobs, but there were certainly small pockets of fat that weren't there last year. He'd shaved his beard down to stubble, showing just a hint of a double chin forming below his jawline. While I'd never particularly gone in for the overly-ripped, action-man physique, I was still surprised by how much I enjoyed the changes to Chris' body.

I followed Chris back to where some barbecues were already set up. "Got a beer for me in one of those boxes?"

He passed one over. "Not driving this year?"

I nodded over to Natasha, who had a small crowd around her cooing over a small bump at her midriff. "Natasha's pregnant so she's not drinking anyway."

"Handy!" He clinked his bottle against mine and took a swig. I took my shirt off and was pleased to see Chris' eyes rake up and down my body, taking it in. "Sun's out, guns out, eh? You're looking fit!"

I smiled at the compliment and thanked him. I'd taken advantage of the company gym a fair amount over the past year, and for the first time ever I felt like my body could be described by more adjectives than just 'lanky'. I gave a small, joking flex, quietly proud of my beach body and was surprised when Chris reached out and gave my bicep a squeeze. "Looking good," he repeated.

We caught up for a while, taking advantage of being in charge of guarding the beer coolers, Chris eating seemingly almost constantly. While I'd thought back again and again to last year, I'd forgotten just how easy Chris was to talk to, and how much I enjoyed his company.

A few beers in, my courage picked up. "Boyfriend not here again?" I asked bluntly.

He looked confused. "Boyfriend? What do you- oh, John? God, you've got a good memory. No, he cheated on me, I found out around Christmas-ish."

"Oh god, I'm sorry. What an arsehole." I clapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, fuck him, y'know."

He laughed at this. "Fuck him! Funnily enough, that's what my mate Sarah did." He laughed again, clearly unbothered.

"Hey! Bisexual affair though! Very modern, very progressive," I joked

He nodded, still laughing, and I watched intently as his paunch shook. "That is a big comfort to me, that at least he cheated on me in a diverse way." His smile grew lopsided as he looked at me, and he shuffled a touch closer to me. "And you? Got a boyfriend on the scene?" He'd lowered his voice now.

"Umm, nope. No. No boyfriend. Some tinder dates, you know but umm," I looked down at his lips. "Single. You know. Available. For stuff."

He nodded and looked around at what everyone else was doing. "The dunes are lovely. To walk around. And stuff. If you wanted to-"

"I want to. Yep. Absolutely. Lovely dunes." I nodded furiously, the sudden movement making me feel more drunk. "The ecosystems and the, uh, crescent shapes."

"Fucking love an ecosystem," Chris said, standing up while he fished out another couple of beers to take with us and quickly grabbed one last hot dog to take with him.

We ran up the closest dune, laughing, and practically fell down the other side. Chris grabbed my hand and led me a bit further on, before pulling me towards him and kissing me, having to reach up slightly to account for the several inches of height difference between us. I melted into him, my shoulders immediately releasing tension I didn't know I was holding, and I ran my fingers through his hair.

The combination of beers, sun and arousal made us act like schoolboys having their first kiss. We stumbled again and again as we continued to walk through the dunes, not paying enough to where we were going, our hands grabbing at each other's bodies the whole way, and giggling breathlessly.

Chris' hand moved down to my swim shorts, and he pulled away slightly, his tongue briefly coming out to wet his lips as his hand rested on my straining cock. "Enjoying yourself I see?"

"Very much so," I replied, pulling him closer to kiss him again. My own hand moved down to his own crotch and I cupped his bulge through his speedos, running my fingers along his length before grasping his hard cock through the lycra. He exhaled shakily and I felt his body tense slightly as I stroked him, grabbing at the fat at his sides as I did so, kissing him deeply the entire time.

Chris stepped back and pulled me down onto the steep sand with him, grabbing my own cock beneath my shorts and began pumping his hand slowly. I pushed him back and pulled down his speedos and my shorts around our thighs. I sat up and straddled him before I grabbed both our cocks in one hand, my long fingers struggling around them both, and began stroking us off together. Chris gave a breathless laugh and laid back, his eyes rolling up into his head in pleasure. I kept my eyes open, watching the shaking of his beef with each small twitch of his body. Chris began to gently girate his hips and I sped my hand up, the fingers of my other hand probing into his flesh, the fat pooling up around them. I heard Chris' breath catch and I relaxed my body, letting my own climax come, so that we both sprayed thick jets of cum up his body at the same time.

I rolled off him and lay next to him, both of us catching our breath. He shifted his weight, rolling over slightly to kiss me. "That", he whispered, "was really fucking hot."

I laughed and nodded. "You know, I really feel like we haven't explored these dunes very much yet."

He took on a faux serious expression and nodded. "I personally don't feel I've seen enough of the unique flora and fauna endemic to Welsh dune ecosystems." He stood up, struggling to pull his too tight swimsuit back up his thighs, and I followed suit, my own swimsuit coming up easily. "There's a sort of cove-y inlet-y thing, that way," he said, pointing, "that's pretty secluded. We could clean ourselves up and explore a little more." He spread his arms out and motioned down at his sticky torso before wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Sounds perfect," I agreed, taking his hand.

A couple of hours later, we stumbled back onto the beach, Chris making a beeline for the barbecue. Thankfully, someone had taken over his duties so there was plenty of food for him to grab. My friend Paul sauntered over and raised an eyebrow suggestively. "You look like you've had a good time."

"We just went for a walk. It's very beautiful around here," I protested.

"Very beautiful," Paul nodded, his voice thick with sarcasm. "I wouldn't have had you down as a chubby chaser."

"What? I'm not a chub- nothing happened! And he's not chubby! That's very rude. And nothing happened anyway!" I could hear my voice go up too high as I blatantly lied.

"No, no, absolutely, I believe you," Paul said. "Your shorts are on backwards by the way."

I felt my face go even redder, if that was possible. I was saved from my embarrassment by Chris returning with a beer for me, and we moved towards the sea for a swim.

"Listen, I know you'll be going back to Edinburgh, but if you're around this week for a drink or something…" I suggested, once we were in the cold water.

The smile on Chris' face completely faded for the first time since I'd met him, not even a joking undertone left. "I'm going back tomorrow morning. 6 am flight."

I forced a smile. "Yeah, of course! That's fine, of course. You'd have wanted to spend time with your family anyway."

"No, no, I'd love to, I would. I really would." Chris looked genuinely sorry. "It just didn't work out. I'm sorry."

Later on, I sat in the back of Natasha's car, exhausted from a mixture of alcohol, food, sun and sex. Natasha was explaining to Annie in the front seat about how she'd actually had so much more fun while not drinking, and she was so embarrassed for all of us, convincing no-one, when Paul leaned over from the other side of the back seat.

"He seemed nice", he offered.

"Yeah, nice," I replied distantly.

"You guys going to see each other again?" he asked.

I shook my head. "He lives in Edinburgh."

"Shit, I'm sorry. Will he be there next year do you reckon?"

I gave a small smile. "Yeah, next year maybe."

Chapter 3

I got to the beach first, the usual work group trailing behind me. I was desperately trying to seem cool and calm, but I knew I was failing miserably. I looked around for Chris but couldn't see him anywhere.

"Jackie! Hey! Happy Birthday! Thirty! The big one!" I ignored her angry reply about how she didn't want to be thirty yet. "Yep. Uh-huh. Absolutely. Got to hate the linear flow of time. Anyway, Chris not here yet? He usually comes to this, right? Can't miss the big day!"

"Oh, do you two know each other? Yeah, he's going to be late, he was visiting our grandma so he's coming all the way from St Davids," she said the name of it like a joke, and I duly laughed, never quite getting the hang of Jackie. Me and Chris had texted a few times in the past year, but I'd been too nervous to ask him directly about coming to his sister's birthday, so I was relieved to hear he was coming.

An hour and a half and a few beers later, I heard a wolf-whistle behind me. "You've joined the speedo club I see!" I turned around to see Chris approaching me, fat jiggling with each heavy footstep. I'd been inspired by his confidence and my own improving physique to opt for something skimpier this time, and was happy to see that he hadn't worn anything less revealing.

It was clear that last year's weight gain wasn't a one-off. While before, he might be able to get away with being charitably called stout or burly, he was downright fat now. His gut was now a heavy, near-perfect sphere, bulging out to the sides and slightly sagging down in front of him, with genuine tits, round, plump sacks of flesh that sat on top of his belly. His always present smile now pushed two chubby cheeks out like a hamster, and he'd regrown his beard, much thicker than before, in a clear and futile attempt to cover a rounding jawline.

I matched his beaming smile and walked towards him, grabbing a beer and a burger on the way for him. I handed them over and slapped a hand onto his gut, emboldened by the few drinks I'd had while waiting. "You've got some new speedos yourself I see," I said quietly.

He twisted and pulled his gut out of the way to look, before looking back at me. "Ah, yeah, the other ones," he looked away sheepishly, "don't really fit anymore."

I bit my lip. "I'm sure they don't," I said jokingly. He smiled nervously back at me.

"Listen, I'm going to have a swim, grab some food. I'll talk to you later, alright." I watched him walk away, deflated. Did he regret last year? Or maybe something had happened, to make him so frosty? A new boyfriend maybe?

I sat and drank on a large rock, until he walked over to me and sat down next to me. Despite my nervousness, I thrilled at the thick fat on his sides brushing against my arm.

"I've been thinking about you, this year," he said finally. I looked over, heart rising.

"Me too," I replied with a smile.

His face broke into its usual grin. "Good. Good. I was a bit nervous, since you didn't text or anything. I wasn't really sure if you'd come."

"I thought the same, honestly," I confessed.

"And then," he continued, "I arrived and saw you looking really fucking good," he reached over and squeezed my strong thigh, "and I thought maybe I'd gotten too fat for you." His face had become bright red as he said this.

I laughed at him. "I like it. Really. It works for you. You carry it really well." I reached out and squeezed his own thick thigh, the fat feeling like butter beneath the skin.

"So you're into fat guys, hey?" He was still smiling, but looked a little embarrassed.

I shook my head. "Not really. I'm into you though."

His smile grew even wider. "I'm into you too." He reached out and held my hand. "I tried to diet for a bit," he confessed after a while.

"I can't imagine you dieting. You're way too confident. Like, you don't care what people think. It's sexy," I told him

"Well it turns out I'm not very good at it. I didn't actually lose any weight. But, y'know, I had the thought. Downloaded an app and everything."

"What was the app?" I asked, quietly laughing.

He shrugged. "It counted calories, told me when I was being a fat arse. Turns out I was probably supposed to do something with that information."

"Probably," I agreed.

Eventually, I realised his cheeks weren't getting any less red. "You're burning," I said, jumping up, "I'll go get some sun cream."

"I'm fine! I'm fine, really, I don't burn" he grabbed my hand to pull me back down but I pulled away.

"You're bright red. I'll get you some food and beer while I grab it," I promised. He relented, pleased that eating and drinking would now be involved.

I came back with my hands full, and passed everything over. I sat behind him and squirted some sun cream onto his back while he ate, and started rubbing it in wide circles. I relished the feel of his soft fat under my fingers, sliding my fingers deep into the crevices and folds of his body, and grabbing thick slabs of beef, all in the name of his skin health. I repeated the process on his front, exploring his soft tits, and hefting his gut up towards his face before letting it go and watching the ripples move through his body. I lingered for far longer than was necessary, tangling my fingers into the hair that covered his body, down from his shoulders, spreading across his torso and arms.

A while later, we both lay sunbathing on the sand, Chris barely moving, while I'd periodically jump up to grab him a snack. I handed him a burger and he propped himself up on his elbows and looked at me. "Listen, I'm not going home for another few days, and I've got a room at the village pub. Did you want to come for dinner? Maybe stay the night?"

"Dinner? You've been eating all day!" I responded.

"I've been snacking all day, I'll need a proper meal," he explained. I could see why he'd put on so much weight.

"That sounds good though, yeah. We need to make sure you don't waste away."

We fell into bed that night, Chris' stomach stretched tight and even rounder than earlier. I pulled off his too small t-shirt, unaccustomed to seeing him in clothes at all. I watched him for a minute or two try to take his shorts off, the button pulled tight by his heavy gut above. I took pity on him and made him suck his gut in, which he managed to, with difficulty, just enough for me to free the button and pull down the zipper, to reveal his aching cock straining against his speedos, still on from earlier.

"There's some condoms and lube in my suitcase," he told me.

"Someone was confident!" I said, but fetched them nonetheless.

He struggled to sit up, his full gut getting in the way, so I pushed him back down. "Don't you worry big guy, I'll do all the work." I sat next to him on the bed and helped him rub his gut, filled with a day's worth of barbecue and beer, and topped off with a heavy dinner, including dessert. He groaned, and I kissed him deeply. I pulled off his speedos, and his dick sprung up, slapping against his distended belly, smearing it with a spot of pre-cum.

We spent the night fucking, being as gentle as possible with Chris' overfull stomach. We spent the next day together as well, lounging on the beach, and I called in sick to work on Monday so we could spend one last day together. As I got out of Chris' car outside my house, he got out and kissed me, making me promise to stay in touch.

Chapter 4

I walked out onto the beach and made a beeline for Chris, pulling my shirt off as I approached him. He'd continued to gain weight, and his ball gut had expanded out, retaining its spherical shape but sagging down, with a deep cavernous belly button at its centre. Thick love handles sat either side of the giant gut, and above it his ample tits sat thick, beginning to droop ever so slightly towards his sides. His thighs were like tree trunks and were easily larger around than my waist, and between them I could just make out a bright flash of fabric, his speedos almost completely covered up from the front.

"They still make those in that size?" I teased him as I reached him.

"Well I don't think they don't make them too much bigger," he laughed.

"You've got your bags?" I asked.

He nodded. "In Jackie's car. You're not driving anyone back?"

"Nope, free to go as soon as we're done here." I grinned at him, excited about our planned week in Cornwall. "You can have a drink though, if you want, don't worry."

He shook his head. "I'm happy just spending some time with you."

I smiled at him and gave him a kiss. Some work friends looked over curiously, but I saw Paul and Natasha lean over to fill them in on all the gossip.

"We'll be the talk of your office will we?" Chris asked.

"Oh, hardly. It turns out Greg might actually be the father of Natasha's baby, so we'll barely be a blip on their radar."

"Oh my god!" Chris said. "I don't know who any of those people are!"

I laughed and led him over to the barbecue.

As we drove away that evening to my house, I looked over at Chris, as he snored faintly. He'd not had anything to drink, but he'd eaten so much over the course of the day that getting back over the sand dunes had been a genuine issue, and by the time we got back to the car park everyone except Jackie and her fiancé had long gone. Jackie passed over Chris' bags and I put them in the boot while Chris collapsed into the front seat, the car dipping dramatically on that side.

That night lacked the urgency of the other times we'd met, not driven by lust, but rather just enjoying each others' company. We watched a movie while I snuggled into his side, sinking into his soft fat like a pillow. The next morning I made a large breakfast before we set off on our holiday.

Chapter 5

I walked out of the sand dunes and was almost immediately accosted by old colleagues. "How's Edinburgh?" Paul asked.

"Great! Really, really great! The job's basically the same thing, computers, money, meetings, you know," I replied.

"And Chris? How's he?" Natasha asked.

"He's great too, we've settled really well into living together, it just all works."

"Is he coming or…?"

I turned around to look at the dunes. "He's just taken the scenic route, he'll be here in a bit." For the most part I'd gotten used to walking at Chris' slower pace, and kept with him for most of the walk, but had run ahead at the last couple of dunes. Sure enough, after a minute or two he appeared between the bases of two dunes.

He'd put on more weight while we were living together, but he'd slowed down a little recently. Still, he was clearly bigger than the last time we were here, one year ago. While the changes might not be so obvious to a lot of people, just a fat man getting fatter, I noticed them all. His stomach stuck out just that bit more, his sides that much wider, his legs that much softer.

He walked over to me (waddled might be more accurate, I pondered, especially on the soft sand), and gave me a peck on the cheek. We put our bags down a convenient distance to the food, and stripped down to our speedos, Chris' once again new to stretch across his added weight.

"Fancy a swim?" Chris asked me, already walking towards the water.

"Sounds good," I said, quickly catching up to him. "Maybe afterwards we can go for a walk through the dunes?" I raised my eyebrows suggestively.

"Oh fuck off!" Chris said. "I'm not going back through those, I'm knackered after that walk. You're just going to have to wank me off in front of everyone, if it comes to it."

I laughed and kissed him on the cheek, admiring the plush softness. "Well hopefully it won't come to that."

"Why not?" Chris asked, joking. "Do you not think I'm beach body ready?"

#gaining fiction #weight gain #gainer fiction #gainer story #weight gain story #male weight gain #weight gain fiction #wg story #beach body #i wrote this aaaaages ago and decided there were pacing issues #i convinced myself id rewrite it to add another year early on but clearly thats not happening #so im posting it now #enjoy!

[late-to-the-party-81]

Colourblind

AN: this was written for Roo’s Mini March Madness and my prompts were Shoelaces, plaid shirt and panties in the mouth. I hope this tickles your fancy @darkficsyouneveraskedfor

Beta’d by Tits McGee herself, @yarnforbrains 

Dividers by @firefly-graphics and moodboard/banner by me 

Master list

Relationship: Dark! Steve Rogers x Reader

Word Count: 3.5k

CW: THIS IS A DARK FIC! Non-Con, Steve is a ‘nice guy’, Manipulation, Invasion of privacy, Kidnap, Knocking out (through removal of air flow), Forced Orgasm, Somnophilia, Bondage, ‘Basement Wifing’, Delusion.

With your eyes closed and your arms outstretched, you took a deep breath and took in the fresh air, feeling the warm sun on your skin. This was the new start that you needed. 

When the way that you worked changed due to  the pandemic, you took the opportunity to make the most of remote working and gave up the parts of the corporate rat-race you hated. You sold your soul-less apartment in the city and moved up-state to the rolling hills and tall mountains, where you could reconnect with nature and heal your inner self.

Years of stress, compounded by bad relationship after bad relationship had left you hankering for solitude. You still had some parts of your job that had to be done in person, but travelling back to the city for two nights a month didn’t seem so bad when the rest of the time you would be here, in your simple woodland sanctuary.

This move hadn’t been done totally on a whim; you’d done research into where you could be that was out of the way enough, but wouldn’t leave you struggling with all the chores needed. In the end you’d managed to find a place that had an electricity supply for lights and an internet connection, so you wouldn’t have to worry about a generator, but still required a wood burner for heating and hot water. That you could manage. Your mail would go to a PO box at the general store in the local town, and you planned to go once a week to stock up on the basics.

You’d arrived yesterday and spent most of the time since your arrival unpacking and sorting. But this morning when you’d awoken, the sun coming in through the curtains had been so inviting there was no way you could immediately resume your inside tasks without doing a little exploring and getting that peace that you’d moved here for.

You did have a vague idea of what the local area was like - you’d researched that as well, but you hadn’t had the chance to explore on foot before your arrival. You knew that in addition to  the rough road that led to town, there was a small path, worn by pairs of feet over the years, to the neighbouring property that sat about 2 miles away. You supposed now was as good a time as any other to introduce yourself to your new neighbour - it would be a blessing if you could be on good terms with them.

You made your way along the narrow track, enjoying the way the trees formed a canopy, letting dappled light through. The area was teeming with life, and you saw more flowers in 100 yards than you ever saw from the window of your old apartment. In the distance, you saw a few deer, and you stilled and held your breath as they lifted their heads, scented you on the air, and then disappeared further into the trees. Then, on top of that were all the birds. You had no interest in ornithology, but even your untrained eyes and ears could pick out half a dozen different species. All in all, the walk was exactly what you’d hoped it would be - a soul soothing experience. Hopefully, if all went well with your neighbour and you made a new friend, it would be one you’d repeat regularly.

The path in front of you widened and the trees thinned, and between them you could see another cabin, similar to your own. As you approached, you could hear a rhythmic noise, and it took you a moment to realise it was the sound of wood being competently split with an axe. You blinked as you came out of the shade, using your hand to shield your eyes, and you followed the sound around the side of the cabin, ready to meet your neighbour.

You didn’t know exactly what you were expecting, but the apparent ‘Greek God come to life’, there in front of you, was not it. He was tall - well over 6 foot - with broad shoulders straining the seams of his plaid shirt, a narrow waist and a denim-clad ass that looked like you could easily bounce a dime off it. You stepped on a small branch that cracked under your foot and he spun round, as if anticipating trouble. You were mesmerised though. His hair, both on his head and in his beard, glowed golden in the sunlight. His blue eyes, as deep and dangerous as the ocean, held yours captive, even as they narrowed. Your body thrummed with desire, a feeling that was almost alien to you. And there was just something about him that struck you as… familiar?

“Who are you?” His voice was gruff, like he hadn’t used it in a while, although you supposed if he lived here alone and had no-one to talk to regularly, that was highly likely. You swallowed and plastered a smile onto your face, forcing your strange reaction down. You held out your hand.

“Umm, hi! I’m your new neighbour. Just moved into the cabin at the other end of the trail.” You managed to give him your name as you trailed off. You were worried for a second at his unwelcoming expression and the way he was still holding his axe, but then his lips twitched, and he swung the axe down into the chopping block. With one stride, he was suddenly closer, enclosing your hand in his much larger one.

“Nice to meet you, neighbour. I’m Steve. And welcome to the neighbourhood.” He chuckled at his little joke, and it put you at ease. “What brings you to this little slice of paradise?” He released your hand, and you found that you missed the warmth of his.

“Looking for a quieter life, really. I don’t need to be in an office all the time to do my job, so I thought I might as well pack up, move out, and lead a simpler life.” 

He looked at you, eyes searching as though trying to work out what to make of you.

“‘I’? Not ‘we’?”

You looked down at your feet, feeling small under his gaze, and started to pick at your nails.

“Definitely ‘I’. I’m hoping some time out here -  to myself - will make me better at identifying red flags.”

Steve snorted.

“Well, all the green out here should help.  What have you got planned for the rest of your day?”

His friendly attitude had you looking back up at him.

“A bit more unpacking, a bit of wood chopping for the stove, and then a run into town to sort out my PO Box and get some groceries. It’s probably going to be a bit of a rush after taking time out for a walk and coming to meet you, but I just needed to connect with nature, you know?”

“I understand perfectly, doll. ‘S why I’m out here too. Had to get away from it all and spend some time by myself. Still do a bit of consulting, every now and again, but I’m lucky enough that I don’t need to work regularly any more. Oh, and don’t worry about wood chopping - I’ve got more than enough here - I tend to go a little overboard, get lost in the repetitive action. How about I drive some round to you in a bit, and then I can give you a lift down into town? I gotta go anyway, and it seems silly for us to both use up fuel.”

You started a little at the suggestion. It felt wrong to accept the help from him, having only been acquainted for less than half an hour, as well as the ‘stranger danger’ aspect. But… it would make your life easier, and you weren’t getting any ‘weird’ vibes from him since his initial confrontational facade had worn off.

“If you’re sure you really don’t mind?” 

He smiled down at you and it lit up his face.

“Would I offer if I minded? And besides, it’s the neighbourly thing to do. Shall I come round about midday? We can head on down and then I can show you the best place to eat in town. Sound good?”

You nodded in agreement. “Sounds good, Steve.”

It was the beginning of your friendship. Steve kept you supplied with chopped wood and drove you both down to town once a week, and in return you walked over to his cabin every couple of days, bringing him pies and cookies and your conversation. When you were in town, you started shopping for groceries, and Steve would collect both your and his mail, and you’d meet up at the dinner. It was nice and uncomplicated, and you were happy to have a male friend that didn’t set your alarm bells ringing.

3 months later

“Steve?” 

It was Thursday morning, one of your regular days for coming over to see your neighbour. You’d felt a bit like ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ this morning as you’d placed the apple pie in your old style basket so you could carry it over to Steve’s cabin without damaging it. 

You were hoping that he was in a better mood today. It was clear to you that something had been bothering him the last couple of weeks. He seemed to be more worried about your safety, trying to get you to stay longer and offering to come over and check on you more often. You weren’t sure what had started his paranoia. Maybe you could drag it out of him today over a slice of pie?

However, when you arrived in the clearing and made your way around the side of his house, he wasn’t there chopping wood like he normally was. His truck was still out front though, so maybe he was inside. You trotted back around, climbing up the veranda steps to rap on the door.

“Hello! Steve?” The door was slightly ajar, and you called through the gap.

“I’m in here, honey!”

Honey? Why was Steve calling you that? Odd.

You pushed the door open and walked in. Steve was standing in the corner by his stove, a cast iron skillet resting on the top, with something sizzling within it. He wiped his hands on a dish towel and turned towards you, a wide smile on his face. You smiled in return, glad to see he was in a better mood today.

“What have you brought me, doll? You know your baking is the highlight of my week.”

You waved your hand at him in a shoo-ing gesture, feeling heat travel up your neck and to your cheeks.

“Steve! Don’t embarrass me. And if my cooking is the highlight of your week, then you need to get out more.”

He cocked his head to the side, eyes sparkling.

“But I don’t wanna get out more. Sorta the point of living all the way up here, just like you.”

He had a point

“Touche.”

You breezed past him, your cotton dress swishing around your knees, as you made your way to his kitchen counter, placing your basket upon it and lifting out the pie. Steve came up behind you and peered over your shoulder. Part of your brain was disturbed by how close he was to you, but the other part reassured you that it was just Steve. He was so big that he felt close, no matter where he was in the room in relation to you.

“Oooh, apple! How’d you know it was my favorite, doll?”

You turned your head over your shoulder to look up at him. He really was a handsome man, and if you weren’t set on your path of self improvement and being man-free, you could easily do something stupid, but you didn’t want to lose his friendship.

“Who doesn’t like apple pie?”

He chuckled.

“You won that point, sweetheart. Will you stay for lunch? I’m cooking steak.”

You were sorely tempted. It did smell delicious, and all you had planned for you back at your cabin was grilled cheese and some soup. As you contemplated you nibbled your lower lip.

“I really shouldn’t. I’ve got some work to do, and I don’t want to impose.”

“Don’t be silly, honey. You fit right in, in here. Makes it feel more homely when you’re around. But how come you’ve still got work?”

“You know, cos I work.”

His brow furrowed.

“No, you don’t.”

What?

“Umm, yes I do.”

“You are silly, doll. You did work, but you resigned, remember?”

You spun around to face him and found yourself trapped between his large frame and the counter, his arms barricading you in. A prickle of unease made its way up your spine.

“No I didn’t. I think I’d remember if I resigned from the job I love.”

“But you love me more than that silly job though, don’t you, honey? You resigned so you could be with me. Live here and keep me company and have our babies.”  He smiled at you. A smile you didn’t recognise on his face. Ducking under his arm you stomped across the room.

“I don’t know what type of joke you’re trying to make, Steve, but it’s not funny.

You started to make your way towards the door, but found yourself pulled to a stop by Steve’s arms wrapping around you. In other circumstances this would be wonderful, but with the way Steve was acting and things he was saying, you were entirely freaked out.

“Steve! Let me go! I’m not in the mood. I want to go home and I’ll speak to you later when you can be nice.”

You repressed a shiver as his face came down to your neck, his nose sliding up it, followed by his beard, that rasped and tickled over your sensitive skin.

“I am being nice, honey. And you don’t need to go anywhere. You are home.”

You tried to break out of his hold, but his arms were like steel bands around your frame.

“Steve! It’s not funny any more. I have work to do.”

He growled low in his throat, and you froze.

“I told you, you don’t have work any more. You might not have sent the letter, but I knew you wanted to be here with me. It was easy to get their address from your payslip when I picked up your mail. Told them you didn’t want to be contacted, and they just had to accept it.”

As his words settled in your brain, your struggles began anew, and with more vigour. Steve wasn’t just being strange, he was downright deluded! You kicked at his shins and tried to wriggle out of his grip, chanting “Let me go! Let me go!” But all Steve did was shush you, like you were a toddler having a tantrum.

“Shh, shh, honey. Don’t be like this. You accused me of not being nice, but what is this, huh?”

One of his large hands came up over your mouth, and he pinched your nose between his finger and thumb. Your eyes went wide with panic as your head started to swim.

“Calm down, doll. Take it easy. That’s it. That’s it. Sleep now.”

Your vision went spotty as your heels kicked ineffectually against him, your lungs burning as you started to run out of air. Then it all went dark.

Your body trembled, waves of pleasure running through you, despite the uncomfortable ache in your shoulders and arms. The ecstasy continued, and you whined, not knowing if you wanted it to stop or continue. It had been so long since you’d felt it and…

Your memory returned like a flood. Your eyes shot open to see Steve’s blue eyes looking up at you from between your legs, where he was feasting on your cunt, bringing you to your peak even as you lay unconscious. Those pools of ocean blue danced when he saw your awareness come back in, and he sucked harder, tipping your traitorous body back over the edge, moans leaving your mouth against your will.

As you came back down from your orgasm,and gained more control over yourself, you tried to shift, moving your legs up the bed and away from him, but a sudden twist caused pain to arch down your arm. That’s when you realised that both your upper limbs were bound above your head. You drew your gaze away from a grinning Steve -  a Steve whose beard was soaked from your release - to peer up at how you were tied.

Shoelaces. Tied around your wrist, loose enough that they wouldn’t cut off your blood supply, but tight enough that you couldn’t slide your hand out unless you managed to dislocate both your thumbs.

Steve crawled up the bed slowly, but you couldn’t get away. He cupped your face and kissed you, your own scent filling your nose as he forced your mouth open and invaded you with his tongue. The denim of his jeans scraped your thighs, thighs that were sensitive and raw from the burn of his beard as he’d violated you.

“Hey, welcome back, honey. Sorry I started without you, but you looked so sweet, I couldn’t help myself. Been waiting a long time, ever since Wilson and Barnes told me that a beautiful young thing was interested in the property.”

Wilson and Barnes? That was the name of the realtor company that had brokered the sale of your cabin to you. How did Steve know them?

“My old friends knew exactly what I needed in my retirement. I spent so long saving the world - it owed me. And look… it gave me you, honey. And we’re going to be so happy. I know it. You just gotta let yourself get used to it.”

He was mad. Saving the world? What on earth did he mean?

“And when you’re ready, you can be Mrs. Rogers. Would you like that, sweetheart? How many ladies get the opportunity to get married to one Captain America, while another and the Winter Soldier act as witnesses.”

Rogers? How had you gone these last months without finding out his last name? Everything slotted together like a frightening puzzle in your mind. Why you’d felt so at ease with Steve when you’d first met him, why he seemed familiar despite having never met him. It was the beard - it had been enough to stop you instantly recognising America’s Golden Boy, thought dead after the final battle against Thanos. And Sam Wilson, the new Captain America had sanctioned - had assisted! - in this kidnapping, as a favour to his old comrade.

You heard the metal sound of Steve’s jeans zipper and it triggered your fight instinct.

“No! No! Get off! I don’t want this. I don’t want this!” You bucked your hips but only succeeded in rubbing your bare mound over Steve’s bulge, encased solely by his briefs.

Steve looked down at you with condescension.

“Honey, you’re too shocked by all this to know what you want, and I think you need to stop talking before you say something you’ll regret. Let me help you with that.”

He reached to the side, to a scrap of fabric lying near your feet. He enclosed it in his large hand and brought it up to his face, eyes closing as he took a long, indrawn breath through his nose. Part of the cloth poked out from between his fingers and you recognised it as your panties.

“Fuck! Now that you’re here I can smell this delicious scent whenever I want…” He opened his eyes and looked back down at you. “...and taste it too. But right now, I need you to understand that we belong together.”

With his free hand he squeezed your cheeks, forcing your mouth open, and even as you glared at him he pushed your panties into your mouth, then stroked the side of your face with the back of his knuckles

“There. You look so pretty, honey. Hope you’re ready? You’re gonna enjoy this - I know I will.”

You knew you should still be struggling, but as he pushed his jeans off and followed it quickly with his plaid shirt, part of you knew there was no point. He was too big. Too strong. Too determined. Any resistance would probably end up with you being hurt even more.

As Steve pulled down his briefs you turned your head away, a tear rolling down your cheek. It appeared that despite your best intentions, you’d been colour blind - mistaking the red flags for green.

Tag list: @jobean12-blog @tuiccim @flordeamatista @krissy25 @bodeckersdiamonddoll @goldylions @luxeavenger @wheezy-stucky @doasyoudesireandlive @chemtrails-club @seitmai @marvelstarker-mha98 @talia-rumlow @peaches1958 @pono-pura-vida @lunarbuck

#roosminimarch #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x you #dark steve x you #dark steve rogers x you #dark steve x reader #dark fic #late writes

[novaaaaaa-writes]

𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞

for @queenpiranhadon, who requested an atla modern school au ;)

genre: atla modern!au

warnings: very minor swearing, tackling (american football game)

also forgive me if i got some terms wrong im not a football person

“Aang! Come on!”

“Wait up!”

Aang winced as he entered the stadium, hundreds of voices scraping his ears while he speed-walked behind Bumi. Tripping over the steps (and bumping into a few sneering highschoolers - “Sorry!”) as he and Bumi ascended up the bleachers. Bumi stopped at two empty seats a little bit behind the front row.

“Dude, how did you manage to get us tickets to a highschool football game?” Aang asked.

Bumi ran a hand through his spiky hair and winked. “I have my ways, old friend.”

He always did.

Aang grinned. “Bumi, you’re a mad genius.”

“Shhh, the game is starting!” a boy in front of them hissed.

The stadium dimmed, and a spotlight shone on the football players in the middle of the field, burly guys in blue and red numbered uniforms sneering at the opposite team. 

“Introducing the game of the century! Or should I say, the semester?” the commentator chuckled.

Silence.

“Wow, tough crowd...erm, anyway. On the right side, our home team, Omashu High School's Turtleducks!” the commentator announced, the spotlight shining on the team in blue. A chorus of cheers and boos sounded.

“And please welcome our visiting team on the left, Boiling Rock High’s Dragons!” The spotlight shone on the team in red. More cheers and boos. 

“Let the semi-annual tournament games begin!” A horn blared. The teams kicked off and immediately started tackling each other.  

“Who are we rooting for again?” Aang whispered to Bumi after a while. Aang knew nothing about football. He bounced his leg up and down in his seat, almost without realizing it.

“The Turtleducks, dumbass.” Bumi muttered. “Look at our side of the stadium.”

They were literally surrounded by kids in blue shirts, waving the Turtleducks’ team logo, a little green and yellow turtleduck wearing a football helmet, on little flags and cheering them on.

“My bad,” Aang chuckled. “They aren’t doing very well, though.” The score was 6-2 for the Dragons, and it was nearly half time. The way this was going, Aang didn’t think that the Turtleducks had a chance at-

“Sokka, you idiot! You weren’t supposed to catch that!” a girl near the front row shrieked at one of the football players in blue. 

“I KNOW, KATARA!” the guy yelled back, exasperated.

The girl, presumably Katara, rolled her eyes and sank back in her seat. She was cute, with her long, braided dark hair and bright blue eyes, the same shade as the sea. The girl looked older than Aang and Bumi, though. Probably a highschooler.

Bumi nudged Aang in the side…less than gently.

“Hey!” Aang yelped, causing a dozen pairs of eyes to shoot daggers at him. He offered a sheepish smile, and the eyes went back to watching the game.

“I see you eyeing that girl over there,” Bumi mummered, smirking. 

“Uh, no I’m not!” Aang blurted quickly.

“Calm down, man, she’s two rows down.” Bumi gave him a light shove. “Go shoot your shot.”

Aang knew that there was no arguing with Bumi. He trudged slowly to the front row and stopped at the seat next to Katara. The Dragons had just scored a touchdown, and Katara groaned loudly. Aang jumped. 

“Oh, sorry!” she exclaimed, scrambling to regain her composure. “I didn’t see you. Do you wanna sit here?”

Aang glanced back at Bumi, who had apparently forgotten that the football game was happening and was watching him and Katara intently. Bumi grinned and gave him a thumbs up.

“Sure!” Aang said, a little too loudly. He flushed.

“Uh…yeah, I guess so.” He tried again, trying to sound careless and giving a little shrug for good measure. Suddenly self-conscious, he pulled his beanie farther down his head and plopped in the seat next to Katara. “I’m Aang.”

“Katara,” she said, smiling and putting her hand out to shake.

Aang took it. 

“Sorry for scaring you,” Katara continued. “But my brother, Sokka, is the shittiest defense to ever grace this team.” She pointed in her brother’s direction, who was being tackled by one of the Dragons. Aang shuddered internally. Football was not a sport for pacifists. 

“Who’s the guy suffocating him?” Aang had to ask.

“That’s Zuko, he’s the Dragons’ offense. Kind of a legend,” Katara groaned again. “Look at him! He’s not even trying to get up!”

“Yeah,” Aang agreed, wondering how a person could get up after being completely crushed by another. Who knew? Aang sure didn’t.

“What grade are you in?” Katara asked. “I’m a freshman. Sokka’s a junior.” She rolled her eyes as Sokka finally got up from the ground. “Mentally he’s still five.”

Aang considered lying and saying that he was the same age. After all, she was really cute. He heard Uncle Gyatso scolding him. Aang, my boy, if I’ve learned anything in the decades I’ve been alive, it’s that lying never gets you anywhere.

“Eighth grade,” he told her. “I go to Omashu Junior High.”

“Oh, cool! I went there,” Katara said. “Who do you have for English?”

They chatted more as they watched the match, Katara occasionally cursing her brother as the game went on. Aang learned that Katara was part of Omashu High’s debate team. And part of the girl’s basketball team, the water polo team, the student council, and a part of Kyoshi’s Girl Scouts. This girl really did everything. How in Omashu does she do all that?

Aang, enthusiastically, told her that he was captain of his Uncle Gyatso’s airball team. That got him an impressed look from Katara, and his cheeks felt hot. 

A loud whistle rang through the stadium, causing everyone to wince and cover their ears in an attempt to block out the sound. 

“That’s halftime.” Katara nudged a zoned-out Aang in the shoulder, sending sparks down the latter’s arm.

“Oh, right,” Aang exclaimed, jumping out of his seat. Katara gave him a puzzled look and rose from her place on the bleachers. She gathered up her water bottle and slung her purple backpack on her shoulder. 

“I’m gonna go find my brother,” Katara said before bounding for the steps, her high tops clicked against the dark wood of the bleachers. “See you after halftime?”

“Um…yeah, see you then.” Aang tried playing it cool, but on the inside little fireworks were going off because Katara invited him to sit with her after halftime. Aang sped-walked back to Bumi, who was sitting cross-legged in his seat with a playful smirk on his face.

“You two sure hit it off,” his best friend teased.

Aang rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. “Shut up, man.”

#nova writes #writing #atla #avatar the last airbender #avatar: the last airbender #atla modern au #writers on tumblr #writing requests

[mdhwrites]

Why Does The Owl House Feel Like Fanfiction?

So there’s a lot that could be used for this but a lot of it can also go back and forth on simply being bad writing. To genuinely feel like fanfiction, you have to make it clear that as an original writer, you’re still leaning on the biggest joy and sin of fanfiction.

You need to show that you still don’t want to do the setup work for your story. You just want the payoffs.

That is the big strength of fanfiction after all. You don’t need to make the characters, introduce the world, etc. like that. You can just get to the juicy stuff without bogging yourself down. Even AUs often don’t have to actually make new designs or establish what a character’s personality is unless it’s directly opposing the source material because the audience will assume they’re the same otherwise. If you doubt me on that, I will start linking you all the comments I’ve gotten of people having to remind themselves that Odalia isn’t pure evil in my own fanfics.

But that also presents a danger when going to original fiction. After all, if you don’t setup the world, characters, etc. like that and just do big payoffs, they’re going to feel increasingly more shallow as they make less and less sense or don’t feel like they’re happening when they should. The seams of your writing will show if you don’t put that effort in.

A perfect example of this is one of the most celebrated things in the show: The Enemies to Lovers arc. To really highlight this, let’s break it down to what it would look like in fanfiction, what it would look like commonly in original fiction and then how TOH did it.

Fanfiction: The enemy relationship is already made. You don’t have to do that unless you’re changing a LOT. So all you need to do is the inciting incident that makes the two see each other in a new light and the romance can spark from there, possibly without even becoming friends because the writer just wants to see the two kiss and that’s fine. I’ve done plenty of Luscha stuff like this.

Original Fiction: HAHAHAHA! Oh god, fuck this trope in original fiction. It takes SO. FUCKING. LONG. I’m not even just talking about my own stuff. Catradora took THREE SEASONS for a reason. My own works took literally dozens of chapters to even get the characters on SPEAKING terms, let alone as friends and even then, needing to figure out what just friendship looked like to them.

This is because Enemies to Lovers DEMANDS a character arc on multiple sides. It’s a very big change from the introductory dynamic... But you also have to explore that first dynamic. You need to set up that they’re genuine enemies, explore it and sell it to the audience. Then you need to start whittling away at the base of the problem between the two, start showing their other sides like you would a villain redemption arc, and THEN you can start moving towards romance after they’ve stopped trying to fight each other or oppose each other, etc. like that. It cannot be understated that this trope is so powerful because it requires just a fuck ton of effort and patience on the writer’s part and while you can make cheats for it, like I did in Eyes Beneath the Water by making two people ex-friends but neither wanted the friendship to end, you cannot half ass it.

The Owl House: Amity is, at best, an enemy of Luz’s for three episodes. Teenage Abomination, Covention and TECHNICALLY Hooty’s Moving Hassle, even if her social media post feels awkward post Covention because... Why she is still antagonizing Luz? It makes Lost in Language somewhat confusing because she sounds like she was just trying to dismiss Luz. Like, she couldn’t get her quite out of her head but she was ready to leave her alone.

But also... Lost in Language is Amity’s next episode. By the end of it, they’re friends. By the end of Adventure in the Elements, they’re DEFINITELY friends. Period. And by the sixth episode Amity has a major role, fifth if you don’t include Hooty’s Moving Hassle, she’s blushing at holding Luz’s hand because that’s Understanding Willow which leads directly into Grom where she wants to ask Luz out.

That is no time, especially since Adventure in the Elements has Luz and Amity in it but it’s not really about the two of them. It’s kind of an all over the place episode frankly where Amity is in it but could have been swapped with anyone else. In fact, it would have made Luz look less awful for stealing from a friend. But they are enemies, strictly enemies, for three episodes at most. They are friends for three episodes at most and for most those, they aren’t exploring their friendship or their relationship in general. The only time Amity’s enemy phase will be referenced will be once by King and Amity doesn’t even react to it. It’s literally everyone else except Luz and Amity who are talking about as a joke.

It’s them lampshading the fact that they, you know... Didn’t actually do the trope. That they speedran Lumity because they like the Enemies to Lovers trope, wanted the payoffs of smiling, blushing Amity and the two getting together like you get with that trope but didn’t put in the work. They minimally setup up Amity before ripping her character apart so as to do what they wanted. They never explored the different phases of the two together, barely really made any sort of real dynamic between them at any point before they’re just the love interest and hero because... That’s what they were actually interested in.

And this is isn’t just with Amity. The Boiling Isles has all of its world building repeatedly kicked in the dick for the sake of whatever the writers want to do. The magic is abused and contradicted all the time because actually working with it would get in the way of what the writer wanted to do. Eda’s criminal background and Hooty’s strength would have made them not able to send King and Luz off to show a big payoff to Momma Eda. Actually having to show the Owl Family get close to each other would have taken too much effort so immediately after the body swap episode, the first time they ever even try to understand each other, they’re already now best friends and King is acting like he already views Luz as his big sister come Really Small Problems, their second major episode together.

And that is fanficky. It setup such a bare bones world and the like just so it could do what it wanted. It tore apart characters and rushed arcs even back in S1 because those elements would have gotten in the way of actually doing the tropes they wanted. They wanted to just get to the good stuff which is probably why most characters, after their trope hits their highlight, become really boring and one note. The writers don’t care anymore because they no longer have a big moment to work towards.

Why do you think so many fanfics are so short? And... That is the really painful part for someone like me. TOH truly was blessed by the shortening because while this whole blog is about how TOH fucked up in its FIRST season as far as Lumity’s base trope goes, they will still tell me to just blame the shortening. To blame Disney meddling with the show. It’s not fanficky because writers are bad or the writing is bad, it’s fanficky because of things that let you just ignore the rest.

And that makes my stomach churn and my eyes water, both as an analyst, and as a writer who keeps getting scared about new ideas because to do them right, means doing them long and I don’t know if my brain will manage to see it to the end so I can get that payoff.

But I’m not willing to just cheat like TOH did, not with my original stuff, even though TOH’s cheats also made it the most popular of Disney’s recent animated shows. Maybe that just makes me a fucking idiot then.

===============

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead, If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

And finally a Twitter you can follow too!

#TOH Critical #the owl house criticism #amity blight #lumity

[gentrychild]

DFO translator: chapter 360

“Gentry,” they call for me, “have you seen the last chapter? Will you make a dfo translator?”

To which I answer: “Sorry but I have seen the light. AFO can’t be Hisashi because Hisashi has a fire breathing quirk.”

AFO:

Katsuki: “This is but a scratch.”

AFO: “No, seriously, why is he so hard to find? Even my little brother wasn’t as good at avoiding me!

Katsuki: “I hope that nerd is on a beach drinking Mai Tais or something.”

AFO: “After all, I don’t want to succumb to the temptation of ripping you apart limb by limb and crushing your thick skulls between my fingers.”

Katsuki: “... That’s an odd line to draw for a supervillain.”

AFO: “After all, I don’t want to accidentally give you a quick death.”

Katsuki: “Ah, that suddenly makes more fucking sense.”

AFO: “After all, I did miss his birthday and he tends to get grumpy when he doesn’t get a gift.”

Katsuki: “This whole thing starts to feel awfully personal for a guy I met once in my life.” 

AFO: “Oh, Bakugou, this is not personal. That would be personal.”

Katsuki: “... Oh.”

AFO: “See? I knew you would get the difference!”

Katsuki, trying not to make eye contact with the tunnel of white light: “Are you... hyping Izuku???”

AFO: “Someone has to in this goddamn manga.”

AFO: “Now, why don’t you absorb a bit of damage for me?”

Katsuki: “I have been deprived of oxygen for the past two minutes.”

AFO: “But did you die, though, barely adequate meat shield?”

Mirio, saving Katsuki: “Fly, my dude! I have never seen something so personal in my life! What did you do to that man?”

Katsuki: “I can’t answer as I am being currently being buried under a dozen of layers of sheer denial to keep my sanity.”

Tomura: “EXCUSE ME BUT I HAVE PLENTY OF FRIENDS!”

AFO: “Not now, Tomura.”

AFO: “Ah, one of those powers of friendship ones. In my defense, it’s hard to believe in something that has never saved any of the heroic friends I have been killing for more than a century.”

Tomura: “Pinata, you dumb fuck. Pinata are made to be broken.”

AFO: “I could mention how this kind of mindset make it easier for corrupt systems to stay in place but let’s be real, I do not trust you to understand half of the words I would use, suspiciously similar substitute of Yagi...”

Mirio: “Lemillion. My name is Lemillion. I introduced myself five seconds ago.”

AFO: “I don’t care.

Best Jeanist: “WHAT DID YOU DO TO THAT MAN FOR HIM TO GET SO MAD AT YOU?”

Best Jeanist: “THERE WAS A WHOLE CHAPTER ABOUT ENDEAVOR, HAWKS AND I REALIZING THAT IT’S HARD FOR HIM TO HATE PEOPLE. YOU SINGLE-HANDEDLY PROVED US WRONG.”

Katsuki: “If you don’t mind, I am going to stay here and not say a thing because I am assaulted by the memory of what Izuku looks like that one time I tore that exclusive All Might figurine.”

#dfo translator #bnha 360 #bnha manga spoilers #dad for one

[mechaknight-98]

Gathering: Chrome Mox

“What’s his real name?” Gaeul asks pulling out her phone. The group all reference back to Astrid’s messages about staff she had been sending out. One thing she just forgot to mention… Theodore is not my actual first name. All of the paperwork I have is under my birth name which she knows and does the correct thing in terms of writing that down but my real name is not actually Theodore. So they were all shocked when nothing came up when looking for me.

Seeing that this easily could be fixed Yujin ran outside to find me.

But by that point, I was already back at Astrid's. When I got back to the penthouse Astrid and her two siblings were waiting. I see them all getting ready to order food to eat out.

I groan before walking to the fridge and pointing out how stocked it is. Astrid groans back and says “I’m too tired to cook can you make us something Tj and I’ll pay you later?”

I laugh and start to tease my friend, “With how much you’ve been saying that you’re going to owe me the Porsche.”

“I know but it’s your fault for being so good at being helpful,” Astrid says as I start cooking food for her and her siblings. I just made teriyaki chicken ramen noodles for them. When I was done I also cleaned up and packaged the leftovers. They dug in hungrily and the smiles they gave me were so big and large.

“Mmm, this is so good Tj. An excellent warrior, A great cook, A Shrewd businessman...is there anything you can't do?" Astrid's sister asks

I chuckle before responding. "Talk to people correctly, that's why I am single."

Really are you sure? because I can fix that. I’d love to make you mine.” Astrid’s sister says euphoric. Astrid laughs

“Careful wheels, his girlfriend might not like that,” Astrid said as she pointed at various places where I noticed lipstick stains. Astrid smirked and said to me “I am happy for you. You better introduce me later.” With that, I take my leave and then go to sleep.

The next day I worked with Astrid at her office. She finished up everything else she could do at home and now just prepping payroll for the event. The other reason we were in her office was that Ive was coming in to discuss some minor details. I feel a funny feeling when she says Ive is coming but I can’t place why. I leave the office to get coffee and food for the meeting. when I got back in and saw them I knew why my gut was feeling funny because I saw Yujin and about half a dozen other girls whom I recognized in varying degrees. I feel incredibly awkward when I see the Ive girls talking to Astrid so I try to leave silently after placing the food down, but the door has other plans it creaked and groaned as I attempted to close it a large number of eyes turned my way. Most of them read as confused but two pairs read as familiar. I’ll let you guess which was which.

“Oh good you’re here. The girls were just asking about you. Girls this is Theodore Sobek More Jr. You’ll hear me call him TJ, but that’s because we go way back to call him Theodore or Theo for now. He will be head of security during filming.” As Astrid was introducing me I noticed Gaeul and Wonyoung eyeing me with fury while Yujin was all coy smiles. It was kinda jarring. I waved to the girls who got up and did their little group introduction followed by their individual introductions. Rei one of the Japanese members recognized a few of the Japanese symbols I was wearing on my shirt and made a pleasant comment about it.

"I like your shirt but why you were the Raijin symbol?" she asked

"I just like it," I responded casually

Both Wonyoung and Gaeul continued to have their gazes bore into me like I killed their dog(which for the record I would never do I love dogs too much). The whole time Yujin stared at me even during the rest of Ive’s meeting with my Astrid her eyes tracked me down. Every time I’d catch her she’d give me the cutest smile possible. As the meeting was ending Astrid asked the girls if they had any questions for her or me.

Wonyoung feeling protective of her best friend (again understandably) asked “One question. We looked up “Theodore” (she pointed to me accusingly) and he didn’t show up anywhere!” Wonyoung exclaimed towards. Astrid looked at me and then the Ive girls confused. Understanding the confusion I just slid them my ID and said “Theodore is my English name my birth name is Tshomba. Theodore just happened to be the closest name phonetically and in denotation.” I explained. To allay her fears the girls. They searched me on their phones and sure enough I popped up really quickly. Their eyes widened.

"You work for the BRIPE?" Rei said Loudly. I nod before clarifying

"I am more of a consultant. I only help when things are really bad."Rei nods and then gives me a thumbs up which I return to her.

Gaeul approached me apprehensively, and I smiled in a goofy manner.

“I love eleven, love dive, and after like,” I said while scratching my head. Rei laughed. As Rei and Gaeul sized me up a comforting voice could be heard behind me.

Anyeoung Tj-ah.” I heard as two soft arms wrapped around me.

“Ah Eunbi Noona. How are you?” I asked recognizing the voice. the shining ball of positive energy popped from behind me to the front of me.

“Great! What about you?” Eunbi said and I gave her a thumbs up. At this point. Eunbi turned and noticed Ive. her smile grew even brighter if that was possible and she forgot all about me. I swore I almost saw a tear from Wonyoung…Almost.

“Ya fighter Oppa, what are you… Chaeyeon said before breaking down at seeing so many of her friends. I could also hear the voices of Le Sserafim, Minju, Yuri, Nako, Hyewon, plus a few others. So I just took this as a time to exit. As I inched away to the door to let Le Sserafim in, and escape Yujin said, “Wait TJ don’t go I have questions?” I groaned as I was reaching my Social limit, and if any more people showed up I would be certifiably less fun. While the izone girls all mingled Eunchae approached me surprisingly.

“Hey ajusshi,” she said. I violently turned to her but before I could say anything I remembered there was almost a 10-year difference between us. So I took a breath and recalculated my response

“Yeah, kiddo what’s up?” I said

Eunchae glared at me annoyed, but eased before asking “Do you ever feel like you don’t belong sometimes?” I looked at her and wondered where this was coming from. She pointed to all the Izone girls Plus Yunjin chatting leaving Eunchae and the younger Ive girls on the fringes of the conversations.

I nodded then turned to her and said, “All the time but I don’t think you’re as alone as you think gesturing to the Ive girls.”

Eunchae smiled and then said, “Thanks ajusshi.” I groaned hearing that, as I didn’t feel that old. Astrid saw that and smiled at me before texting me, “That was really sweet.”

“Okay now that you’re all here let’s iron out staff and dietary restrictions before we go. Tj can you go pick us up some breakfast.” Astrid asks. I looked at her confused. "Oh right, you already did. Thanks. You da best." Astrid said.

After the meeting, Yujin stayed a little bit longer to “get to know the security guy.” she approached me slyly with a mischievous smile

“So long time no see” Yujin opened.

“Yeah, 13 hours 56 minutes, and 27 seconds,” I said

“You made that up.” Yujin teased

“Nope just really good with numbers,” I replied

“Okay,” Yujin said her eyes fixed on me unwavering her look was a mix of that weird look from yesterday and hesitation. “So tell me about your psionic powers," she said with a serious tone. I began formulating my response or trying to as I didn't want to tell her but I needed something at least somewhat believable. before I could really come up with something intelligent Yujin said with an insistent tone, "Come on tell me."

"it's complicated Yujin-ah," I replied

"Oh really how?" Yujin asks with a pout

"Well..." Before I could explain any further I was saved by Chaewon thanking me for the food I brought. I gave her a thumbs up and after that, Astrid asked for my help.

The next day was the flight for the event. Connor Dexter and I all just used our Psionic abilities to place ourselves back in the States. Me back in California and then back in NYC. While I wait I pick up a pack from Lost Caverns of Ixalan. In it, There was a Sultai legendary creature that was named “HWI Geneticist”. I instantly fell in love. I looked to the shop keep to get his showcase foil and grabbed a few essentials for his deck which was just the land base sol ring, arcane signet, the appropriate talismans, mox amber (because he was so cheap mana value-wise), and lastly a pet card; growth spiral. After that, I grabbed stuff for Thrasios Tevesh (my merfolk deck). On the way out one of the vendors I frequent was selling K-pop photo cards. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a familiar face and copped the card.

When I got home I just threw stuff together for HWI and after a few hours he was ready for testing.

I decided to rest when Connor and Dexter called and said to meet them at the lobby. I got up from my bed and space sifted. We checked into the hotel and then waited in my room.

Unfortunately due to delays, I would be taking point on settling in the girls for everything. I was careful to keep track of everyone, with the intent of making sure the transition was as easy as possible. When the Weskers did arrive Astrid was giving me a dumb and apologetic smile

“Sorry about that but you seem to be quite good at setting this all up, I have only heard positives from all the girls and staff at how you took charge,” she said I groaned before speaking.

“Shut up,” I said before adding “I’m going to my room don’t ask me for anything at least for a couple of hours,” I said

Astrid nodded then said, “Love you! See you in a bit.”

Wheels and Specs Astrid sister and brother respectively (these are their preferred nicknames by the way I am not being funny) see me and Wheels says “You look like you fought a demon bear.”

“That would have been easier than this.” I walk away to the elevator overstimulated and raw.

before I could leave though wheels said to me, “You know from what I’ve been hearing and seeing you’re pretty good at all this stuff. Why aren’t you more well-known.” Wheels asked

“I’m crippling shy,” I responded

“No, you’re not. You are very easily socially drained from the looks of it.” Specs asserted

I noticed Wheel's concerned expression about the demon bear comment as I went up to my room. As I’m riding up God must be feeling merciful because I see no one and talk to no one.

A few hours later I got a call from Siyeon. She wanted my help on a song she was working on. I said sure and went to meet up with her. I rolled out of bed and made the trip to her room. on the way up Chaewon saw me and smiled. Winter was also walking with her.

"Ah TJ what's up?" Chaewon asked

"Oh Hi, Chaewon. Hi Winter. Siyeon just asked my help for a song." I answered

"Oh, that's so cool. do you know what it's about?" Winter asked

"She didn't say." I replied, "I am in the dark like y'all." I added

Chaewon giggled and said, "Well have fun." I nodded and waved them off.

When I arrived in the room Sakura was just leaving, with Yujin. Yujin saw me and smiled. "Oh, my Bant Buddy." She said. I groaned but let her call me that well sort of.

"You say that but you don't know me," I reply.

"But I do know you. I have seen the way you play magic, and it's very bant-centered. you create safe spaces for people who wish to explore themselves. You're not an enforcer of their will like Dexter or Connor, but you won't be trampled. You are kind but not weak." Yujin said with a happy smile. I chuckled to which Yujin added, "Besides. you are much too kind for Sultai. Much too fair, Much too forward-thinking. When you make deals it's for everyone's interest and you think of yourself last. Unlike others. I respect it." I smile as Yujin hugs me and before she goes I feel leave something in my front Jacket pocket. I checked it, and it was a magic card. It's "Ellie and Alan, Paleontologists" Attached is a little note that says, "Build it and free yourself, from the burdens and expectations of others". On the other side was her number. I smiled at the note and I considered her words. I put both in my pocket as I walked into Siyeon's room.

In the room, Dami and Siyeon had set up what seemed like a mini studio inside. I walked in confused but didn't focus too much on anything out of the ordinary. Siyeon looked up to me and said, "Okay now we can work on the song." I appreciated her brevity and directness. it made me feel less out of place as I took my seat next to her.

"So here is the concept. I want to do a person who is trapped by society into being perfect but wishes to be something else." Siyeon said quickly.

"I like it how can I help?" I asked

"Write what's on your heart!" Siyeon demanded as she handed me a notebook.

"I am not a good..." I began

"Don't even start. I found your poetry page. You are the perfect person for this." Siyeon said before I could finish my thought. I groaned, knowing that I wouldn't be able to wiggle my way out of this. So I sat down and began writing. I started with simile lyrics and branched out while I wrote Mrs Lee (Siyeon) asked me how I felt about Yujin

"Hmm. I am not fully sure. She's so pretty and witty." I said. Siyeon nodded and then said

"She's cute right?" I nod at Siyeon's question and go back to work. after finishing a verse I handed her what I was working on. Siyeon smiles, then gets a text. she looks at me and then asks if I am hungry. I shake my head which leads to her saying "Well I just got invited to get food with Dexter and Connor you are free to join but you don't have to." I nod then say

"I'll go back to my room and sleep for a bit." Siyeon nods and we part ways.

Siyeon regroups with Sua, Eunbi, Connor, and Dexter in the lobby. "Hey Unnie," Siyeon says to Sua and Eunbi." Dexter and Connor smile as they turn around and see her. following this the group goes and looks for a pizza place. they find one next to a magic shop a few blocks away with some really good reviews. While waiting for a table Dexter goes into the Card shop to pick up a pack and some cards. His eyes go wide when he sees something that catches his eye. when he gets back he reveals to Connor the last OG Dual he needs Volcanic Island, along with two packs. He hands you one and cracks one open for himself.

"Ooh, what did you get?" Siyeon asks

"I got a Arid mesa Borderless, and a Ragavan." Connor says

"Oh nice I got foil scene Aragorn, and the one ring," Dexter answers

"Oh, those are nice pulls," Siyeon says the two young men nod in agreement as they admire their pulls. Eunbi and Sua are kinda bummed feeling left out by this interaction so Eunbi texts me this as her response

"Hey TJ can you teach me Commander?"

I see the text and Acknowledge it by saying "Sure just not right at this moment."

This causes Eunbi to smile. Dexter notices this and asks her what got her smiling.

"Oh, just a friend agreeing to help me," Eunbi said

"Oh, Nice!" Dexter replies.

"Speaking of friends. how are you and Yunjin Connor?" Sua asks.

"Oh, she's great!" Sua says almost yelling because for those who know her...her default setting is Loud.

after that, they all had Pizza and a great time. Upon arriving back to the hotel. Connor and Dexter were called by Astrid for something. I was also called and was already in her room at the time waiting for them. We all found each other outside Astrid's door, and we all walked in.

in the dimly lit room was a face I was unsurprised to see but was disappointed to find.

"Mrs. Radames," I said. I watched as Connor froze, while Dexter and I pulled out guns. "What do you want?"

"Oh please gentlemen hear me out?" Mrs. Radames pleaded. I cocked my hammer back.

"No!" Dexter said furious.

Knowing how ladies like her think I figured she would have something dumb at the ready in case we were not in the listening mood. "Spit it out because I don't have the patience to hear your sob story," I said to Connor and Dexter's shock.

"Oh good at least you're reasonable. well, I'll have you know..." Mrs. Radames began before trailing off into monologue territory.

"Listen lady tell us your proposition as to why we shouldn't kill you now because I don't want to hear your dumb back story," I replied

"Oh to the point I dig your style, Theodore. Well, I'll have you know I have several X-virus sleepers who are waiting for my signal, or lack thereof to begin a new outbreak. So if you kill me here you will be the direct cause of many needless deaths." Mrs. Radames explained as I lowered my weapon. "that's a good boy, you might be wondering where Astrid is, well I'll have you know she is safe. don't try..."

"I am going to stop you right there. Tell me where Astrid is right now." I said coldly. "

"You have my word. She is safe." Mrs. Radames said

"I don't want your word. I want the location. Tell me where my friend is right now, and I won't kill you."

"You would sacrifice..."

"Again don't do that speech monologue thing I don't care, but for the record, if I kill you here no one needs to worry about their being problems. Now tell me where Astrid is." I say.

"She is being guarded in a warehouse not too far from here."

"Where do I need specifics right now," I said to her She looked at me shocked.

"She is in the abandoned Facility near the waterfront two miles North eas from here."

"Okay great. I am going to get her now. For your sake, I hope this isn't a lie. For your guard's sake, you may want to tell them I am coming from my friend. I'd rather not make a massive mess of them. Cool, Cool (I gesture to Dexter and Connor.) You two are free to handle the situation with Mrs. Radames however you see fit. I trust y'all judgment." I say as I walk away from them. After I take my leave only Connor and Dexter are left. They look at Mrs. Radames with disgust and confusion.

"Quite the peculiar person." Mrs. Radames says about me.

As I walk away, Dexter and Connor exchange glances, uncertainty lingering in the air. Connor seems conflicted, torn between the disgust for Mrs. Radames and the unsettling bluntness of my approach. Dexter, on the other hand, keeps a stern expression, clearly not swayed by any attempts at sympathy.

Mrs. Radames, now realizing she might have underestimated the situation, attempts to regain control. "Gentlemen, please, you don't understand the complexities of the situation. The fate of many lives rests in—"

Dexter cuts her off sharply, "Save the monologues. We've heard enough. Now, what's this X-virus sleeper situation?"

Connor, perhaps more diplomatically, adds, "And why should we trust any information you give us?"

Mrs. Radames sighs, realizing that her grandiose plans are unraveling. "I suppose you'll need some proof," she says, gesturing to a laptop on the table. "There's a file. The location of the sleepers, their activation protocols, everything you need to neutralize the threat without causing undue harm."

Dexter picks up the laptop and glances at Connor, who nods in agreement. "Theodore might be a bit rough around the edges, but he knows how to handle a situation. If he's going after Astrid, we'll deal with your mess."

"I am surprised you trust him so much despite how little you know about him."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dexter asked trepidatiously

"Well, I am just surprised you all don't know anything about him. All you know is my daughter trusts him with her life, but what do you two know about him. I mean really, Do you even know who he is?" Mrs. Radames said realizing she had an in.

#kpop fanfic #fanfic #male reader #edh #mtg commander #le sserafim yunjin #aespa giselle #aespa kpop #an yujin #ive yujin #izone

[thewritetofreespeech]

hi! i love you kirishima tōru x reader fics!! (⁠●⁠♡⁠∀⁠♡⁠) i'm wondering if i can ask for another one but a halloween special? (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡

Got this after Halloween, but spooky season forever!!

Toru Kirishima x Reader

Although he had come to Yaeka’s school dozen of times now, Kirishima still felt awkward every time. The small fixtures and space intended for children made him look like a giant, coupled with their shining enthusiasm an innocent, made him feel more out of place than ever.

Especially today, since it was Halloween.

Kirishima had to pass no less than 5 fairy princesses to get to Yaeka’s class, who was having a Halloween party. Parents & guardians were invited to attend; and since Yaeka’s father couldn’t attend (much to his silent disappointment) Kirishima was to act as her stand in.

He arrived at the classroom, dressed in his ‘normal person’ costume, and was greeted by the parents who recognized him from pick up. Sara and Kaede also come up to see him, excited to show him their costumes.

“Kirishima-san!” Sara exclaimed in her usual enthusiasm. “Look, look! Do you like my costume??” The tag on the collar of her puppy costume jiggle as she jumped up and down.

“Ah, of course. I almost thought they brought a real dog in her. Makes me wish I had some treats for you.” Sara beamed with an excited ‘woof, woof’. “And, Kaede-chan, you’re a mermaid?”

“Y-Yes…” The typically shy girl answered. “M-Mermaids are my favorite books.”

“Well, it looks good.” Kirishima told her, which made her smile.

“Kirishima-san.” The yakuza looked up to see Yaeka coming over. Her cat costume still as cute as when she left the house today. “Here. I saved this for you.” Kirishima blinked when she handed him a small pumpkin plate with a cupcake on it. “Chocolate is Kirishima’s favorite.”

He smiled softly at Yaeka’s gesture. Then took the cupcake before immediately biting into it. “Wow. These are good.”

“[Y/N]-sensei made them.” His little cat replied. As well as explain that she made vanilla ones, which she had had.

‘Oh…’ Kirishima thought. That was right. He hadn’t seen Yaeka’s teacher yet. He hadn’t seen her much since that originally met that afternoon after she was hired.

He scanned the room quickly and spotted her by the snack table. Dressed like a princess and handing out sweets to the needy. “I’m gonna go thank her for the cupcake. You play with your friends some more, then we’ll go home.”

“OK!” Sara answered for Yaeka, and was already dragging her off to play.

He weaved his way through the crowd. Before he could introduce himself quietly, [Y/N] spotted him and announced, “Kirishima-san! How nice to see you again!”

“[Y/N]-san…” He replied back bashfully. He still wasn’t use to people being excited to see him.

“It’s nice of you to come to the party and help out. Or are you just here for the free candy?” She teased. To which Kirishima had to smile.

“Oh, I’ll go just about anywhere there’s free food.” That’s basically how he joined the yakuza.

[Y/N] smiled and handed him a juice from a tiny, paper cup covered in ghosts. “You didn’t wear a costume? I know it wasn’t in the invitation, but adults were welcome to dress up too.”

“It’s not really my thing.” Kirishima didn’t have the heart to tell her that his outfit was as much of a costume as anything for him. “But look at you. It’s….a lot.”

“Oh. I don’t do anything half way.” [Y/N] replied with a chuckle. Adjusting her crown. “I let the kids pick and princess/queen/royalty theme won out. There were a few votes for ‘dinosaur’ but that felt a little ageist on the back end.” Kirishima choked on his juice at the joke. Trying not to laugh completely.

“Well it…look nice. You look nice I mean.”

“Oh,” [Y/N] replied with a blush on her cheeks, “thank you.”

Kirishima smiled back, and was about to say something, when he felt a smile tug on her sleeve. “Kirishima. It’s time to go home.”

“Oh. Right.” He replied to Yaeka’s soft prodding. Then turned to [Y/N] and said, “I suppose we should get going.”

“Of course,” she replied. Then seemed to have a light bulb moment before she quickly fussed at the dessert table. “Here. Take these with you.” She said as she offered Kirishima a plate of cupcakes. “Yaeka says you have a lot of people visit or stay over with your family. You should take them home and share. Sweets are always better with friends!”

The way she smiled when she said that, Kirishima was sure she meant it.

“Thanks. It’s more than those bums deserve.” [Y/N] giggled. Then waved them off as they left for home.

Kirshima still gave the cupcakes to the guys. He wasn’t a monster.

But he did keep one more chocolate one for himself. Enjoying it as he thought about Halloween decorations and the pretty princess who made them.

#;ask and ye shall receive (request answers) #toru kirishima #toru kirishima x reader #toru kirishima scenario #the yakuza's guide to babysitting #the yakuza's guide to babysitting x reader #the yakuza's guide to babysitting scenario #kumichou musume to sewagakari #kumicho musume to sewagakari x reader #kumicho musume to sewagakari scenario #imagine #scenarios #female reader

[thatstrangegiiirrlll]

I love that I’ve found someone who takes request for nijiro. Could you pretty please do a long time best friend nijiro falling in love and confessing to reader. Just some cute shy boy niji for the soul 🙏

Finally finished this! I’m so sorry if I made you wait long. I hope that it ends up being worth the wait, my love.

Nijiro Murakami x Reader

Summary: You invite Nijiro to your housewarming party when he asks you to step outside with him to talk.

“Nijiro,” you say, looking him up and down in the doorway. You sling an arm over his shoulders and pull him in for a heartfelt hug. “I’ve missed you.”

He brings his arms around you, exhaling himself into the hug. “I’ve missed you, too.”

You release from the embrace and shut the door, locking it. You turn to him smiling. “Um, grab a drink, have some food—do whatever you want. My home is your home. You know that.”

He nods frigidly, scanning the living room in front of him. You currenly have about a dozen people over; just a chill housewarming party. Buying your first home at such a young age is a big deal.

Nijiro walks over into the kitchen and grabs a beer, striking up a conversation with people already in there. Hm. That’s new. Nijiro, to your knowledge, doesn’t drink. And you know that man better than he knows himself. You watch him for a second in amazement. You’re overjoyed to see him like this after almost a year. Everything feels complete to you now.

His eyes glance over to your focused stare and your eyes widen a bit before smiling. He caught you being a little creep.

He shifts in his stance, leaning against the counter. You nod to yourself, leaving him to finish his conversation.

“Y/n, your house is gorgeous,” one of your college mates compliments. “If you need a landscaper in the near future, hit me up, okay?”

You ruffle their hair playfully. “Of course. Who else would I ask?”

While trying to steal another look at Nijiro, you realize how much of a negligent host you are.

“Fuck,” you curse, palming your forehead. You make your way through the clutter of bodies in your living room and enter the kitchen.

“Niji,” you call, grabbing his wrist lightly. “Let me formally introduce you to everyone.”

He looks from the people he was talking to and back to you. He whispers timidly, “You don’t have to do that.”

You dismiss him altogether and clear your throat powerfully. “Attention, please.”

The room goes quiet and everybody turns to you. Some of them make jokes or silly noises.

“This is my best friend since fourth grade. My heart, my soul, Nijiro Murakami,” you announce, kissing his cheek.

The room fills with applause and a few hoots here and there. You squeeze Nijiro’s hand and smile

He blushes and snickers, peering down at his feet like they’re the most interesting thing ever. “Thank you, everyone. Nice meeting you all.”

“Aw. He’s shy,” one of them says. “We don’t bite, Nijiro. It’s Y/n you gotta watch out for, shit.”

They laugh and you glare at them “Yeah, y’all would know, huh?”

Nijiro looks at you as you reply; a look of adoration. Still chuckling, you turn to face him. Your hand is still intertwined with his.

His palm gets a little damp and he pulls away, scratching the back of his neck. “Can I talk to you outside, y/n?”

Your smile drops, slightly worried. “Sure, Niji.”

You shut the door behind the two of you, stepping out onto the front porch. You must admit though, the anxiety dancing around in your stomach is making you queasy.

“What's going on, Niji?” you ask, your frantic mind already assuming the worst.

He fiddles around with his fingers, tugging on the sleeves of his sweater. You recognize this gesture all too well. He's nervous as fuck right now.

“Just promise me you won't freak out, okay?” he half asks half warns. Your stomach and chest tighten apprehensively. Is this why he was drinking? Is he this petrified about telling you whatever it is he's about to tell you?

“Niji. Stop it. You're scaring me,” you answer, shoving his shoulder. “Just say it. You know how much I hate it when people beat around the bush.”

He sighs and begins to rub his elbow, finding it hard to keep still.

“You know how you asked me a few weeks ago if I was seeing anyone yet?” he begins, recalling a previous conversation.

You nod once. “Yeah?”

“Well, I lied about my reason,” he resumes, locking eyes with you. “It's not because I haven't found a good person yet. I have. I'm just worried they won't like me back.”

You chuckle making a sad face. “Oh, babe. What's not to like? You're a sweetheart. A true gentleman, Niji.”

You inch closer to him and rub his arm soothingly. “Shoot your shot, love. I'm sure they're gonna be so happy that you did.”

He looks at you in a way you've never seen before. The look gives you a sensation he's never given you before. You take a step back. Shit, shit, shit. I’m so fucking dumb, you shout in your mind.

“Nijiro,” you say in a tone so hushed, it's barely audible.

He stares at you apologetically, the soft sun highlighting the side of his face. The glow from the sun paired with the heat of the moment is making your limbs weak.

“I'm sorry,” he apologizes, fumbling around with his fingers even more. “I can't help it. I don't see myself with anyone else, y/n. I love-”

“Wait,” you cut him off, holding onto the wooden handrail on your porch. “Hold on a minute. Ten minutes ago you were just my childhood best friend. So, my bad for needing a second.”

He looks away, eyes guilty and full of hurt. “I should have stayed quiet.”

You shut your eyes tight, relishing in the short but refreshing breeze that tickles your skin. The sound of the trees in the wind brings you back to the present.

“Niji,” you say, trying to gather yourself. “I'm not mad at you, okay? I just-”

His face is beet red from embarrassment as he looks anywhere but at you.

“I'm confused, taken aback, happy, and flattered right now,” you confess shaking your head as you speak. “Because... I feel the same way about you, Niji.”

His sad eyes widen at your words. “Y/n...”

You nod, standing just inches from his face now. “I've been scared of my feelings toward you for a while now. Especially since I haven't seen you in so long. I've been scared of all of it: you liking me back, you not liking me back...terrified of you not liking me at all anymore. All of it.”

His eyes get watery as he smiles. “You're beautiful, so damn beautiful.” his hand presses against your cheek, shaky and unsteady. He kisses you softly and you melt into the action. The kiss is the best one you've ever had. Not because of the technique or the depth of the kiss, etc. But because there's a mutual transaction of deep love and connection already established between you two.

You share an emotional hug and talk a bit more. The sun is starting to set.

“Hey,” you say, tapping under Nijiros chin. “How about I kick these idiots out and me and you just chill and eat the rest of that junk food in there?”

He smirks and nods in excitement. “That honestly sounds like heaven right about now.”

🥁 I'm baaaaaccckkk. - Ash <3

#requests #nijiro murakami request #nijiro x reader #fluff #love confessions #confession #im back #nijiro imagine #nijiro murakami #imagines #fluffy #cute #japanese #requested #requests closed #hi #hello everyone #hello tumblr #this was so cute #this was fun to write

[vodika-vibes]

The confessions PA & Fox gave to each other are so sweet 🥹 They made me smile 🥰

Everyone deserves to love Yuu and Fox. Everyone. They're adorable. Now let's pop backwards to Yuu getting hired as the Chancellor's personal assistant.

I decided to go with Bean and Nibling as family nicknames. Since those seem to be the most accepted nicknames.

You lean back in your seat, your feet tucked under you as you doom scroll through on your datapad. You are a recent graduate from your local high school, and while in an ideal world you'd be out hanging with your friends before they disperse into the universe like butterflies, but nooo. Your parents say, "Yuu, this is the last time you're going to have the chance to see your family before you go to college, you have to spend time with them." Jokes on them. You're not going to college. You weren't accepted to the one you applied to. Half applied to. Honestly, you're kind of done with school. You kick your feet up on the chair in front of you, and sent a message to your bff asking about the party. He sends a series of pictures, and then a sad face, with a note that he wishes you were there. "Yuu! Your uncle it here." You roll your eyes, and drop your feet to the ground as your uncle, opulently dressed as always, bursts into the room looking like Sinter Klaus. Well, if Sinter Klaus was skeletal, blonde, and had a ruddy nose from drinking too much liqueur. "There they are!" He bustles over to you, his heavy boots clomping across the floor, terrifying your tooka, as he holds his arms out to you. He smells like a brewery. And not in a good way. "My adorable little bean! So smart! So clever! Valedictorian!" He hugs you tightly and you grimace, "Tell me, Yuu! No one has told me yet! Where are you going to college?" He beams at you, "Here on Coruscant, yes? My Alma Mater, you know-" "I'm not." The room falls silent, and a dozen pairs of eyes turn to you. "You..." He laughs, "Ah, Yuu! Such a joker! It almost sounded like you said you aren't going to college-" "Because that's what I said." You shrug, unconcerned, "I never finished my application to any of the colleges you all waited to apply to, so...yeah. I'm not going to college." "Yuu...my adorable little nibling, you need a job to live-" "Oh, yeah." You pull open an app on your datapad, "I've put in my application for a sugar baby website-" Your uncle releases a noise that was definitely a wail, "Absolutely not!" He pulls out his comm and makes a call, "Come here, Yuu!" He tugs you next to him, just as the call connects and Chancellor Palpatine appears on the other end. "My friend! I wasn't expecting a call from you!" "Sheev! Allow me to introduce my sister's child, Yuu. They just graduated from High School, as Valedictorian." Your uncle smiles, "Tragically, they've decided to play child," He pins you with a pointed glare, "And doesn't want to go to college...are you still in need of a Personal Assistant?" Palpatine peers at you curiously, and then he nods slowly, "I'll give you a six week trial period, young lady. I'm sure you'll impress me." He smiles and then the comm cuts off. You glare at your uncle, "Young Lady?" "He's old, little bean. Be patient." Your uncle says. "Fine. It's only until someone else gets elected anyway." You grumble. "Oh, Yuu. No one else is going to get elected." Your uncle says with a laugh.

#star wars #star wars au #PA AU

[timemachinereviews]

I Watched The Big Lebowski — Am I Part of the Cult?

HELL YES. (Spoilers ahead.)

I’m not entirely sure what I just watched. 

But it was fucking amazing.

The Big Lebowski. Where do I even begin? Well, why not with the fact that I finally watched the damn thing? You don’t need me to tell you how beloved this film is, how it’s one of the biggest cult classics out there. I was alive the year it came out, I had no excuse. Sure, I was in diapers, but that’s still no excuse. I’m kicking myself in the shins right now for not having watched it sooner.

Regardless, I watched it, and the minute I finished it, I knew this was going to be one of those movies for me. You know, the ones you constantly quote, the ones you have dozens upon dozens of conversations about with several different people, the ones you force every movie fan in your life to watch.

I’m not much of a Coen Brothers fan. Before The Big Lebowski, I had only seen one of their other films: True Grit. That was such a long time ago, though, and I don’t remember much — really, the thing I remember most about it is that it introduced most of us to Hailee Steinfeld. However, The Big Lebowski has got me seriously interested in watching more Coen Brothers films, particularly because of how fantastically funny the screenplay is.

Man, this movie is quotable. So, so quotable. I tried to keep note of all my favorite quotes while watching the film but after a certain point, there were just so many, I decided a rewatch would have to be necessary. I’m sure I missed out on a ton, but here are some of my favorite quotes from my first watch:

“I’m talking about the Dude here.”

“It’s down there somewhere. Let me take another look.”

“Yeah? Well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.”

“Her life is in your hands, Dude.”

“Careful, man! There’s a beverage here!”

“The goddamn plane has crashed into the mountain!”

“I dig your style too, man. Got a whole cowboy thing going.”

If you think these quotes are a lot, they’re not even half of all the great quotes present in this movie. According to IMDb, very few lines were improvised and virtually every line, every "man" and "dude," was scripted. That’s insane to me and a testament to just how talented the Coens are at screenplays — but it’s mostly insane to me because the acting in the film felt so natural, I was convinced some of these lines had to be improvised.

Jeff Bridges, especially, owns the role of The Dude. No other actor could’ve played him, which is pretty wild because according to Joel Coen, he and his brother did write for John Goodman and Steve Buscemi, but didn’t know who was going to play the lead role. Mel Gibson was even considered and thank God that didn’t happen, because The Dude was pretty much the role Jeff Bridges was born to play. The way he brings this character to life is absolutely top-notch.

The rest of the cast is a delight too — nearly all of them shine in their roles, delivering their lines with terrific comedic timing and a perfect understanding of their respective characters, but the two particular standouts to me were Philip Seymour Hoffman as Brandt and Julianne Moore as Maude Lebowski. The two aren’t on-screen a lot, but when they are, they’re irresistible — it’s near impossible to not pay attention when they’re talking.

Of course, given the spoiler warning above, you’ve probably already seen this movie, or you just don’t care much about spoilers. Let’s talk about this film’s ending then, where apart from the death of a friend, nothing in The Dude’s life really changes. Everything just kind of resolves itself and The Dude goes on living nearly the exact life he had at the beginning of the movie, presumably never interacting with the majority of the characters he met in this film ever again.

Does this make the whole thing pointless? I can see why one would think that. After all, if the protagonist doesn’t seem to have undergone any significant changes throughout the story, why bother telling the story at all? If, by the end, he’s almost the exact same person he was at the beginning, why was this specific period in his life the one the Coen brothers thought was worth making a movie about?

The way I see it, The Big Lebowski’s whole point is that it’s pointless. There have been plenty of times in my life when something big happens, only for everything to go back to the way it was right after. That’s just how life works sometimes — does that mean these stories aren’t worth telling or remembering?

Of course not. Maybe this film is just a blip in The Dude’s life, an interesting story he tells at parties but one that never really made a big impact in his timeline. (Again, apart from Donny’s death.) Still, he has fun telling this story, doesn’t he? Or at least the Coen brothers do. And we have fun listening to it. Maybe that’s just what life is sometimes — a series of events that don’t seem to add up to any discernible purpose, but we have fun living through them anyway.

But you know, that's just, like, my opinion, man.

P.S. Y’all know that stoner comedy cult classic called Dude, Where’s My Car? Apparently, that title is a reference to The Big Lebowski. I knew it the minute John Goodman said, “Dude, where’s your car?”

#The Big Lebowski #Big Lebowski #Coen Brothers #Film #Dude Where's My Car

[leavingautumn13]

Do you have any burning regrets in life? Also who is your favorite fictional pet and why is it dogmeat?

because dogmeat is the best boy, duh.

as for your first question... the first job i got after i moved out of my bio mom's house was at a pet store. stupid naïve sheltered younger autumn, not quite disillusioned with the capitalist hellscape that is modern america, thought to herself, "a pet store will be a great job for me! i love animals, i'll love getting to work with them every day!"

wrong. (well, okay, i did enjoy getting to pet dogs regularly.)

so, here's the thing about pet stores, or at least the pet store i worked at: ultimately, it's retail, and those animals are products for the company to sell to turn a profit and not, you know, living creatures who deserve care if we're going to be removing them from their natural habitats. it's also, you know, RETAIL. with all that that implies. suffice to say i was made very bitter very quickly.

another thing you should know about me is that my beloved father introduced me to spyro the dragon when i was four years old, and i've loved dragons and all manner of reptiles ever since. naturally, when i started working at the pet store, i got pretty attached to the selection of geckos and bearded dragons and what have you and endeavored to learn everything i could about them. i even bought a beardie and a skink of my own.

anyway, all of this culminated in me being the "reptile person" at the store. if customers had a question about reptile diets, or terrarium care, or whatever, talk to autumn. i was known for sending customers home with big printouts of what the best foods would be, what temperature ranges needed to be, etc. and if i didn't have that information out of pocket, well, i'd take them up to the register and look it up for them. i was a damn good employee.

so one day, i'm in the reptile section, and this super sweet lesbian couple is talking to me about wanting to purchase a bearded dragon. we're going over heat lamp requirements and how you definitely can't have a baby beardie on sand because of the ingestion and compaction risk, when this middle aged man steps between us and demands my attention. no waiting for a pause, no "excuse me," just bursts right in with his question. this might be petty of me, but i thought it was pretty rude, and to be honest i don't even remember what he asked, but i directed him on his way and got back to helping the couple.

once i get the couple sorted with their tank, substrate, uvb and heating lamps and accessories, etc, i let them know i'll meet them at the register once i've wrangled their little dragon, and that we can get their food situation sorted once we get up there, since live bugs were kept behind the register. so i do so, lizard in his little carry box, but there's a line. no worries, i hop on and help my coworker check people out.

middle aged dude from earlier is also in line, and actually DIRECTLY in line before the couple. i get him and his lady friend checked out, and the lesbian couple approaches the register. i turn around and grab the box of small dubia roaches, which in my somewhat professional opinion are the best starter food for a little beardie, since they've got a higher protein-to-chitin ratio than mealworms or crickets. the caveat though is they're more expensive, so i'm about to try and make a hard sale to these two nice ladies to please buy some cockroaches.

i've got the box open, and i have to dig around for a dubia because there were only about a half dozen left. (they go really quickly, even being .5 USD per bug. like i said, good eating.) but now i've got one in my hand and am holding it up to show the nice lesbians, and they're going "oohhh" and leaning into look at it and whatever.

middle aged guy from before and his lady friend overhear me talking about bugs, and for whatever reason, turn around halfway to the door. they come back to the register and get in the nice lesbian couples' space, and lady friend says,

"that's DISGUSTING! you'd have that in your HOUSE?? i could NEVER have something so gross in my home!"

here's another thing you've got to know about me. i was in the gifted program as a kid but got shit grades in school and was always getting in trouble for reading during class. but i was a girl child, so instead of the adhd diagnosis i needed (and actually only got last year, FINALLY), i got told i had all of this potential i was wasting.

but it's not that, the potential was never there, whatever. i just have adhd. it makes me, let's say, the tiniest bit impulsive.

i look this lady in the eye. i smile. "actually," i say, leaping to the defense of one of my favorite invertebrates, "they're an excellent source of protein."

i am about to eat that cockroach in front of her, in front of the nice lesbians, in front of my coworker tom, in front of the whole damn line, just to ruin this lady's entire fucking day.

but.

but. i only have six roaches left. and i really want to make this sale. and like i said--dubias are pricey for bugs.

i don't eat the roach.

and that is my burning regret. fuck that company and fuck its profits, and especially fuck working retail in the first place. i should have eaten that cockroach.

#thanks for the ask! <3 #autumn.ask

[crossbackpoke-check]

56 and any Yamo pairing! 🫶

i just wheezed so hard when i saw what the song was i almost snorted coffee out of my nose i am so sorry for this one

#56 - kyoto phoebe bridgers + yamo

the story of how this song ended up on my wrapped is too long so it’s going in the tags but. let me set the scene for you.

2026 NHL GLOBAL SERIES™️ JAPAN - Presented by YPPI

November 13 & 14, 2026: Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks

Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan

It’s a pitiful excuse of a consolation prize for not being able to go to the Olympics, but Kailer’s not going to look a vacation horse in the mouth. The arena’s cool. It’s huge. The people are cool. There’s so many more of them than he thought there’d be with jerseys that have his name on the back, and a lot more that have the familiar orange and blue. He takes a picture of the fifth Oilers Yamamoto jersey he signs—this one’s the good Reverse Retro—and texts it to Connor, says,

no one here has even heard of mcjesus

and gets a moon face emoji in response. Leon’s influence. Kailer’s still never really deciphered what that one means, and he doesn’t think Connor knows either.

They don’t have a lot of time off between games, but Kailer’s trying to be a good tourist. His dad had been so happy when Kailer had told him about the series that Kailer’d had to stop him from trying to book a flight a year in advance, and his mom’s been just as bad, sending him every article she sees about Best New Spot in Tokyo! Cool Restaurant! Have You Seen This Japanese Cat Café? that she scrolls across on Facebook since June. Suzy’s in the same boat, so they’ve been crossing off their compiled travel-guide list together, looping in as many guys as they can. Everyone’s been pretty game. All the teams are crammed into close quarters at the same hotel, which means everyone wants to spend as much time as possible outside of it, and it helps that Kailer’s gotten pretty close with all the other guys that the NHL picked up as Global Series figureheads. Robo’s memes? Absolutely fire. The groupchat loves them.

For every item he crosses off the list, Kailer takes a picture and keeps it tucked in his phone notes. It’s like speed-running a scavenger hunt—they’re only here for four days—but he’s doing a pretty good job. His favorite so far has been all the gardens. They’re stunning, trees shining bright red and yellow, and every vendor has been selling maple candies, maple cakes, and even fried maple, though the official maple festival doesn’t start until next week. The second garden he visits, he does it on his own after practice, buying two cakes from a cart near the gate and walking until he loses the bustle outside. It’s easy to get lost in the winding pathways, heading deeper into the quiet, and there’s dozens of benches underneath the burnished leaves where young couples are tucked away on dates, or old friends are laughing and catching up. In some of the little clearings, there’s small shrines where people leave offerings, a prayer for good luck or good fortune.

Kailer stops at one without any people and sets the second maple cake on top of it, then sits and scrolls through all the texts that he’s missed. His mom gets replied to with a picture of him outside the garden gate, grinning and surrounded by other travelers. He sends his brother a picture of a trashy graphic I Love Japan t-shirt with the threat that he’ll buy one for him, and Kailer’s dad gets a picture of the meticulously arranged and cut bonsai that are across from the bench where he’s sitting. The Seattle groupchat gets a recycled meme from Robo, and he gets two thumbs up and an “LMAO” before he can even exit the thread. Finally, Kailer takes a picture of the half-eaten maple cake in his hand, holding it next to a fallen maple leaf on the bench, and gets halfway through typing another message before he thinks better of it.

(On the plane over, Drieds was reading them a story about how when they first introduced the high-speed railway, people were afraid to use it because they thought it would be too fast for their souls to keep up.

“Bro, if that were true, you just left your soul in the middle of the Pacific,” Ebs had laughed. “Planes are faster than trains.”

“Are they?” Matty asked. “Isn’t the train in Japan the fastest in the world?”

Drieds couldn’t make it through the rest of the story over the sound of everyone ripping Matty to shreds, so Kailer didn’t get to ask whether or not they found out anything about planes. Kailer’s not worried about his soul, but the logic makes a strange kind of sense; after all, he traveled 429 miles in five and a half hours once, and that was a little too fast for his heart to keep up.)

Fuck it. Kailer’s been trying to write a response for the past ten days, and he’s sick of swiping in and out of the message, staring at the keyboard so long he starts to see swirls in his vision.

Kailer drafts the text again and sends it, no context, no caption. A text travels faster than a high-speed train or a jet. Maybe it’ll pick his heart back up on the way.

#I don’t know how this song ended up on my Spotify wrapped because phoebe bridgers is too emotionally damaging for me to listen to like. #at all unless i am In It HOWEVER. there is this one silly video that brings me so much joy and made me feel semi-reasonable about listening #to kyoto & it’s the one video of the two painter guys painting the room & the lil guy is being a menace & the other guy just looks at him s #fondly & so lovingly & is that not the thesis of kailer yamamoto. be small be a menace be beloved by everyone. ANYWAY #liv in the replies #look this was going to be such a different thing and then. my brain went HEY BUDDY GUESS THE FUCK WHAT kyoto is a city in Japan. #day off in kyoto. guess who’s Japanese. guess what the nhl loves to do as HIFE publicity. also growing the AAPI audience is HUGE and i thin #they should. like originally i had NO idea what this was going to be (i’m so lying. the line ‘i’m gonna kill you’ but incredibly fond a la #the two painters video kept replaying in my head and i was like l m a o. klimmer & kailer. no plot all vibes it’s klimmer & Kailer that’s i #there is no real plot there is no actual idea the amount of googling that i did to write just this is UNREASONABLE i would love to be norma #about anything ever but i ALSO invented so much backstory to this that has no way of appearing in the actual fic and also jokes for ME #for instance. YPPI is the american manufacturer for yamaha motorcycles and. suzuki. yamamoto. (it’s not my brainworms it’s due to a fancam) #respectfully also i cannot write this fic. i have never been to japan and i think it would take me eight years to google enough #to be relatively comfortable like y’all have never seen the extensive research i put in to fucking phiLLY and a whole other COUNTRY??? #where the premise of the fic is learning how to be a tourist in your life and sometimes you have to grow out of things? #yeah i AM going to make something with the idea of Momijigari and life is ephemeral. is that a plot? no it’s vibes. #kailer goes to japan in the fall and realizes he’s a liar. who lies. (he misses [redacted]) (the redacted is because i haven’t decided) #also also. the garden reference is because a) i spent WAY TOO MUCH TIME ON GOOGLE and found out things to do in saitama and also that #kailer’s grandpa had a meticulous garden and i just think that’s neat #hiding-from-reality-56 #random ficlet is unbeta’d un-anything’d i don’t know WHERE this came from or the real plot of it at all. ok thanks byeeeee

[giffenprep]

Unbelievably

We'd been chatting for weeks before I came over. She was fifteen years my senior and said she'd be happy to introduce me to real-life spanking, something I'd fantasized about since puberty, if not before. Apart from the age gap and our spanking interest, it felt like we'd become close friends and had several activities planned 'down the road'.

Every chat we'd had, she'd offered to be a little stricter, 'show me' a little more, and I'd encouraged her every time. She'd heard dozens of confessions from me and by now I'd promised at least five visits to 'rectify my life of misbehavior'. (Only then, she said, would we take up the subject of my marriage and recent divorce).

When I arrived I realized that I'd made several mistakes. My first two spankings were to be by hand, the first easy and the second 'real'. These would address some minor childhood transgressions. But I'll also 'learn' about the hairbrush and experience the cane.

"If I'm in the mood you might feel a few of my other toys," she'd mentioned. That was on-line. In person she promised I'd go home with an 'unbelievably sore bottom'.

Unfortunately, I hadn't been sure of that and hadn't wanted to take any chances. I was wearing my oldest, rattiest (though clean) underwear, thinking it might inspire her.

Worse (much worse), I'd been told to shave the lower half of my pubes and I'm sure she meant all of it. But I had left a few little patches for her to discover (again, for motivation).

Lastly, I could only hope that her pronouncement was based on her having read the extremely cheeky e-mail I'd sent just before leaving my apartment. But I was afraid to ask.

"Let's get started, shall we? I have enough in mind to set you crying in the corner," she said. "Then, while you have a little think, I'll check my list and plan out what we'll do next."

Her 'list', our list, was in her e-mail, along with my bratty one, almost certainly still waiting to be read.

And my pants were coming down.

photo credit @spanked2realtears

#dialogue #first #big trouble #post

[alerstheworst]

Yes this is a vox machina self insert thanks for noticing! Enjoy

Think vines of flowering greenery grew across every outlying wall of the tavern. White, yellow, and pink flowers shimmered in the sunlight of the setting sun, wafting the sweet dents of honey and jasmine. Light, playful music could be heard just inside, only slightly too quiet for them to hear the words of the song but the tune made them smile despite themselves. The sign read “Honeysuckle Song”.

This certainly was not the scene that Vox Machina frequented. Usually, the promise of the strongest booze is what lead them from one place to another. But today, these flowers had charmed them.

“Are we sure about this place?” Grog groaned, “It doesn’t even look like they have ale here!”

“I’m with the big guy,” Scanlan joined, “I feel like walking in here will ruin my street cred.”

“Oh come one guys, you always get to pick the places we go. It’s my turn and I like it here! Keyleth interjected.

“I’m with Kiki,” Vax said with a nod of his head.

“Big shock there,” Vex grumbled under her breath. Percy muffled a chuckle at the sight of her glowering.

With an eye roll in his sister's direction, Vax declared, “Whatever. I’m going inside.” And despite the unhappiness of a few, the group followed suit with little disagreement.

The sight that greeted them on the inside was even stranger than that of the outside. The bar was made of living branches of vines and trees encouraged to grow in the fashion of a counter. Along it were dozens of little flowers and countless leaves. The stools seemed to be made similarly. The room had a few tables, mostly empty at the moment save for a halting couple in the corner enjoying what seemed to be tea and a sweet of some kind. Turning the wall accords from the bar, they noted how this wall was covered in a green, dense moss from floor to ceiling.

“This is a Keyleth place for sure,” Vax mumbled as he stumbled towards the bar. He looked over to what seemed to be a small stage that had a band with a lute player, a flutist, and a lovely human girl smiling a song in a language he didn’t recognize. He was tempted to hum the tune regardless.

“Why hello there!” Greeted a woman at the bar. She was shorter, almost enough to be mistaken as a dwarf. But she was human, with shoulder-length blond curly hair that framed her round face and dark green eyes. She seemed quite young to Vax.

“Hello,” Vax replied with a half-smile as he sat on one of the stools, “What in the world is this place if you don’t mind my asking.”

“That’s a very fair question,” She giggled, smiling brightly as Vax as she wiped her hands on the apron she was wearing, “This is my tavern! It might look a little different,” she said gesturing at the counter, “and we might serve a few more teas and pasties than most other places, but a tavern nonetheless.”

“Your tavern?” Vax questioned giving her a look up and down clearly pondering her age.

“Yes, let me introduce myself. I am Lily, the owner of this lovely place. And the baker as you can see from the mess all over me,” Lily answered, waving her hand to the mess of flour and chocolate on her apron.

“Vax,” he said, putting his hand out for a handshake, which she happily returned, “and those idiots,” he pointed behind himself to where the rest of Vox had piled themselves onto one of the tables in the tavern and were currently heckling the band, “ are my friends. Hope you don’t mind us being a bit rowdy.”

“Lovely to meet you Vax! And I’m happy for the energy in here, it can be a bit deery in here when we are slow so I appreciate it.” Lily grinned, her eyes shining.

“Hope you don’t end up regretting that,” he chuckled.

“Me too! So, what can I get for you guys?” Lily asked, quirking her head to the side.

“Those folks will probably want ale, but I think I’d rather have whatever you recommend,” Vax replied resting his head on his hand, looking up at her through his eyelashes.

“Okay! But I don’t promise that it’ll be your taste,” she winked at him already turning to fulfill his request.

“That just fine,” he sighed, closing his eyes a bit, listening to the music. The tune settled into his bones, relieving him of some of the pressure on his mind and body. He strangely felt, at ease sitting here quietly in the care of this song and this woman.

“This place is awesome!” Keyleth exclaimed as she came and sat at the bar with him, “however made this place did a crazy great job! Like a plant mad scientist.”

“I don’t know why, but I think she’d be flattered if you told her that,” vax replied looking over at the red-headed Druid.

“Aye, are you talking about me?” Alise said as she returned with a steaming mug for vax.

“Only good things, I promise,” he promised looking down at his cup. A fresh and sweet scent lingered.

“Better be! This is my favorite tea blend. It’s lavender blueberry tea with honey and lemon. Give it a try,” Lily explained pushing the mug closer to him.

“That sounds yummy!” Keyleth grinned looking towards Lily.

“And you are?” Lily asked, turning her attention towards the redhead.

“Keyleth! And you? Are you the owner?” Keyleth answered, pulling her hair over her shoulder and messing with it. Vax picked up the mug and gave it a long sniff before taking a sip. It was sweet and fresh and tasted like sunlight and summer.

“I’m Lily! And yes, I’m the owner.”

“I totally love what you have done with the place, including all these plants is really cool, it’s like being outside, but inside!” Keyleth chittered.

“Thank you! By the way, you are really beautiful! Your hair is so pretty and I got to say freckles are one of my favorite features!” Lily smiled giving Keyleth a wink. “Now I need to grab some drinks for your friends, but I will be right back okay love?” Lily finished before disappearing again to finish her task.

“I’m gonna go hide now,” Keyleth squeaked getting up.

“It was just a compliment, Kiki. No need to get all embarrassed.” Vax ensured her.

“Let a super pretty girl compliment you and see how well you take it!” She said running away, presumably to hide from the owner of the business.

“Yeah, whatever,” he mumbled as he sank back into his mug. Vax was not a tea drinker most of the time, it reminded him too much of syghorn, of his father. But this tea had no taste of the bigotry of that place, it tasted of love and freedom. He looked up as Lily appeared once more, carrying a large tray covered with full mugs, and headed towards the group. He watched as she placed the cups in front of his friends, smiling and greeting them in a cheery manner. He couldn’t hear everything that was said, but he did catch them joking to her that she didn’t seem old enough to own anything. She chuckled and said something that made them all look quite surprised, presumably her age.

Lily seemed to be as much part of the tavern as the wall of moss, she swayed to the music as she talked and her clothes were that of fresh greens and smiley pinks. She had put herself into her business, the place seemed be an extension of herself. Vax thought about this, about this woman with the comforting air, as she pranced back over to her bar.

“What happened to your friend?” Lily greeted as she made her way back, “I wanted to talk to her. Not all the time I we see such a lovely lady here.”

“I think you freaked her out. She’s not one for compliments.” Vax smiled softly to himself, running his finger around the rim of his now empty mug.

“Is that right? I wonder how she makes it through the day!” Lily thought out loud, “But I guess you’ll do, my edgy little friend.”

“Well I’m not too bad I think, though I know Keyleth is a bit prettier,” he replied looking up at Lily. She was leaned down on the counter now, giving him her full attention. It took him aback for a moment.

“As I was joking! Trust me, I like the pretty boys like you. You’re just my type,” she grinned giving him a wink.

“Now don’t get my hopes up!” Vax coughed, leaning back on his stool away from her. He was nervous having her so close so suddenly. Keyleth was right about being complimented.

“Wow! Can no one in your group handle some light flirting?” Lily chuckled, folding her arms taking in Vax’s embarrassed look.

“If you’re looking for that, literally anyone else in the group would have worked. You chose the awkward ones to chat up,” Vax settled, shaking off his shock.

“You guys came up to me! I guess I just attract the weird ones,” she jested.

“Hey! Where did all that affection go?” Vax smirked, running his hand through the roots of his long dark hair.

“Oh? Can you handle it now, love?” Lily purred. Vax turned red and looked down at his cup. “That’s what I thought! How’s that tea for you?”

“Lovely. I’ve never had anything like it, do you make it?” Vax answered, blinking hard.

“I sure do! It’s all pretty typical, but the lemon juice makes it special I think,” she rattled on.

They chatted like that, her embarrassing him while he made jokes, for hours until the moon had risen high in the sky. His party decided to stay here the night, before returning to their journey to the next major town the next morning. But truly Vax hardly noticed these choices being made. All he noticed was the way Lily’s real laugh was full and loud, and that her eyelashes were thick and lovely. For years he’d felt the tension from his life building in his joints, along his spine, making him sit up a little too straight. But this evening he felt himself slump, he sat comfortably and felt the easy he hadn’t felt since childhood wash over him.

When he woke up the next morning to hear of his party’s plans to leave that moment, he couldn’t help but feel a part of himself clinging to this place. But still, they went. The last he saw of her before they exited, was her behind the bar give him a bittersweet smile with a nod.

“Bye,” she mouthed. He took that moment, and tucked in into his pocket to think about later. To think about it now was a little too much.

Don’t be too sad, brother!” Vex sang as she slung a arm around his shoulder as they started to walk towards the nearest large tree, “We can always come back when we have some free time. Never took you for a tea drinker though.”

“I didn’t either, but I think I’ve come around to it,” Vax replied giving his sister a small smile as they were transported via plants onward to their query.

Lily found herself thinking after that man made of shadows and sadness. She daydreamed of running her hands through his hair as he told her about his adventures and his friends. At night she wondered if he was a cuddler or if he rather not be touched. She found herself thinking about so many ridiculous things, thoughts she’d never had before, wishes she couldn’t fathom, all in regards to Vax. She was confused and lovestruck and crestfallen because she’d probably never see him again. Lily felt stupid for the first time in her life. Weeks passed just like this.

#dnd #dnd character #vox machina #vax'ildan #oc x canon #self ship #self insert #tlovm #critical role #fanfic