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#no wonder this card was banned
enigmaticgale · 1 year
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you know i made that post yesterday about keeping tabs on yahoo jp and ebay for the trading cards i'm missing and then i was like You know, it's actually been a minute since i looked at ebay! so i went and checked. Well, $150 later ,
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feypact · 7 months
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public libraries in the usa offering free digital library cards to people not in their areas (as of october 2023):
brooklyn (13-21yo us residents)
seattle (13-26yo us residents)
boston (13-26yo us residents, EDIT: just commonly banned books)
los angeles (13-18yo california residents)
san diego (12-26yo us residents, not the whole collection just commonly banned books)
these books unbanned cards (unless otherwise stated) get you access to each library's complete libby/cloud library collection, no hoopla/kanopy/physical copies included.
ebook collections are expensive to maintain (many american libraries have annual fees for non-residents because of this) but because of an uptick in book banning (particularly brutal in mississippi last summer) larger libraries have opened their doors more, which is very kind of them!
i've used my seattle card for the last several months and their libby collection has about three times the books that my local library does, which is wonderful for accessing more niche titles or skipping a waiting list. would love to hear of similar ebook initiatives internationally!
i use library extension (firefox/chrome/edge compatible) to check all my collections (+ the internet archive) at once, works for several different countries highly recommend it.
spotify seems to be offering 15hrs/month of audiobook listening to premium subscribers and while that does seem useful if you're already paying and are after a new release with a long library waitlist, libraries are better for everything else.
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starkwlkr · 1 year
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banned | charles leclerc
Charles and Y/N were in bed watching some netflix documentary. It was a Saturday morning, the couple didn't have any plans so they decided to stay in bed for an extra hour. Ruby was in her room playing with her dolls, but as time went on, she walked into her parent's room, still in her pajamas, and told them she had gotten bored of her barbies.
"Papa, can I play a game on your phone?" Ruby asked, climbing onto the bed and laying ontop of Charles.
"What happened to your iPad?" Charles questioned.
"Its with grand-mère, I forgot it." Ruby frowned.
"Okay, but not for too long." Charles sighed and grabbed his phone from the nightstand. "If someone calls, bring it to me, okay?"
Ruby nodded and climbed off. Her little feet took her to the living room. She sat on the couch and tried to find the game Charles had installed for her to play. Instead of clicking on the game, a certain colorful app caught her eye. She clicked on the Instagram app and the first thing she saw on Charles' feed was a picture of Y/N that she had posted recently. Her chubby fingers clicked on the heart then clicked on the comments. She knew how to spell since Y/N and Charles were teaching her so she slowly typed out a comment.
charles_leclerc MOMMY
seconds later, hundreds of notifications came flooding in.
f1lucyyy CHARLES WHAT
forzacharles SAME CHARLES
gasly10pierre he's so real for that
back in Charles and Y/N bedroom, Charles was too focused on giving his wife her morning kisses. They had completely forgotten about the documentary that was playing on the tv. Y/N was also too busy to even notice the notifications going off from her phone.
Ruby was having too much fun with her dad's phone. She kept liking photos and even took some up close photos of her face with funny filters. That's when she saw the LIVE option. Ruby, being the curious girl she is, clicked on LIVE and wondered what it was doing.
charles_leclerc started a live video
The screen showed her face, but nothing was happening. She was extremely confused. Then the comments started popping up.
schumacherlegacy BABY LECLERC
vettel.jpg BABY LECLERC WHATS YOUR DAD'S CREDIT CARD NUMBER
f1weekly yooo house tour
f1paddockgirlies omg someone screen record this iconic moment
"What's a credit card?" Ruby asked as if someone was going to tell her. She thought it was recording so an idea popped up in her head. She raced to her room with Charles' phone in hand and grabbed her favorite barbies. As she ran back, Charles called her name, unaware that his phone was capturing everything.
"Ruby! Slow down, I don't want you to fall." Charles called out.
al0nz04 OMG HER NAME IS RUBY
norriswag RUBY OMG WE FINALLY KNOW HER NAME
leclercxl/n i feel like i shouldn't be watching this 😭 she probably doesn't even know what's going on
y/nscloset guys don't screen record!! she's a child, we shouldn't be spreading information about her without y/n or charles knowing
"Sorry, papa." Ruby apologized.
"Its okay, baby. Are you hungry?" Y/N asked her daughter.
"No," Ruby quickly said and ran back to the living room.
"Ruby Jules!"
f1gossip omg they named her after jules 😭
wagstyle ok charles come get ur child before she leaks your address
Ruby positioned the phone against her mom's favorite candle and showed the camera a barbie that her uncle Lorenzo had gotten her.
"I like this one. She has pretty hair and my uncle Enzo got it for me." She brought the barbie extremely close to the camera.
leclercfamily she's in her vlog era
Ruby then set the barbie down and grabbed her favorite american girl doll that Charles got for her. "Papa got me this one. She has purple hair and has a crown, see?" Ruby showed the camera yet again. "I have more. And I have things for her hair." This time she ran to her playroom where most of her dolls were located. Instead of taking the phone with her, she left it propped up against the candle.
This game the users a clear view of the Leclerc family home, well some of it.
maxsupermax they really have a giant ass piano in their living room.
buttonvettel IS THAT THE MONZA TROPHY JUST SITTING BY THE DOOR
Ruby came back with all her american girl doll accessories. They were in the classic american girl red bag, but Ruby decided to dump it all on the floor.
"Ruby! What are you doing?" Y/N called out as Charles kissed her neck.
"Playing." Ruby said casually.
"Charles, get up. This girl might be writing on the walls." Y/N said, but Charles wouldn't get off of her.
"She's playing on my phone, she's okay."
"Still, let me get up. My amazon package gets delivered today. Get up, Perceval!" Y/N pinched his side, causing him to groan in pain and finally get off his wife.
Charles dramatically rolled onto his side. "It hurts. It hurts more when you don't have a shirt on."
"You're alive, dear husband." Y/N rolled her eyes and got up from the bed. She put on her slippers, not bothering to put on a proper shirt so she walked to the front door in her matching black silk shorts and lace top. She failed to notice her daughter on Instagram live.
y/nisamilf Y/N TURN AROUND
ricciardofiles RUBY GET UR MOM
verstappenxpiquet does she even know how to read?
"I know how to read." Ruby said to the camera.
Once Y/N opened the door, she heard her daughter say something. "What did you say, baby?" She said, still not looking in Ruby's direction as she retrieved her package from the front door.
"I said i know how to read." Ruby replied.
"Yeah, you do. You're a smart girl." Y/N nodded and went to her office that was right next to Ruby's play room.
Ruby continued showing the camera her toys.
leclercstype american girl haul slay
formulahoe STOP THIS IS GOING ON FOR TOO LONG
paddockbitches ruby is MY world champion
Then Charles finally came into the frame. He was shirtless so all the comments went by too fast for Ruby to read. Like Y/N, he didn't notice Ruby trying to read comments on the phone.
As Charles was about to ask Ruby what she wanted for breakfast, Y/N's phone started to ring. Charles quickly made his way back to the shared bedroom. He looked at the phone screen and saw that his brother Arthur was the one calling. He answered the call.
"Hey, good morning-"
"Get your phone! Ruby is on Instagram live!" Arthur said.
"What?"
"She's live, Charles!"
Charles quickly ran to the living room to find Ruby showing the camera a framed photo of Charles and Y/N's wedding. "Ruby, give me the phone!" Charles raised his voice, making Y/N come out of her office wondering what was going on.
"I was showing the pretty picture!"
Y/N ran to Ruby and saw that she was showing the viewers her wedding picture. "Baby, give papa his phone back."
"Okay. The game was boring." Ruby handed Charles his phone back and went to her playroom.
Charles quickly ended the live and put his phone on the coffee table. "She's never playing on my phone ever again."
"Who told you she was on Instagram?" Y/N asked.
"Arthur. He called you, I answered. He probably got a notification that ruby went live." Charles sighed. "Well, I think everyone knows her name by now."
"Oh my god, wait give me my phone. I have your post notifications on." Y/N gasped.
Charles handed her her phone. He watched as she scrolled through all the Instagram notifications. She then held the phone out for him to see. "She used your account to comment on my picture. Look what she said."
Charles laughed at the comment. "Well she's not wrong. The fans did call you a milf."
"Imagine the ones that missed Ruby's live, they're going to see this comment and think that you have some weird kink. Good luck explaining that, Perceval." Y/N kissed Charles' cheek and went to Ruby's playroom.
"From now on, Ruby is on a phone ban!"
ruby is so chaotic i love her, she's my fav leclerc fr
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leverage-ot3 · 1 month
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okay I absolutely get and adore harry being oblivious about ot3 developments, but consider:
after breanna makes it explicitly clear she’s queer in the card game job, harry starts Researching™
he’s trying to be good, be better. he likes this girl and wants to be there to support her and be her friend, someone she can trust. it doesn’t help that she’s around the same age as his daughter, who barely wants to associate with him anymore
he learns breanna is queer and dives into researching. watching TED talks in his spare time. reading ebooks on his phone in between playing roles in a con (bringing a physical book is less convenient and he doesn’t want to wave around the fact that he’s researching like he’s trying to be performative about it). he reads about legislation and book bans and wonders about how they could work their magic through a con to fix those things. he reads about asexuality and recognizes the flag colors from the sticker on breanna’s laptop, which he files away for later
he learns a lot! he has been peripherally aware of queer stuff- it’s kind of hard not to be in the 2020s, but now he is much more informed on a lot of issues. he has memorized at least 50 different labels and terms and has an index of resources in his head (and on his phone) if anyone might need them. he wants to understand the people he loves and cares about, whether it’s breanna or one of his daughter’s friends, or anyone in his life that is queer and he doesn’t know it yet. he wants to be ready and prepared to support them!
he learns about sapphicness and bisexuality and intersex rights and the gender spectrum. he learns about karyotypes and stonewall and other queer history. he learns about kink (blushing, but still reads because it’s important!) and relationship diversity… which leads him to discover the term polyamory
he tries not to actively apply the terms he has learned on the people in his life because he knows it’s wrong to assume things about other people. BUT. harry spends a few days reflecting on parker, hardison and eliot’s interactions and wonders. he thinks about the long hugs and lack of personal space and near telepathic communication not just between parker and hardison, but parker and eliot AND hardison and eliot. how parker knows how to make eliot take care of himself, how he knows when she forgets to eat because she’s so hyperfixated on planning a con. how parker jumps on his back for fun and no matter what, he always catches her. hardison’s absence is felt when he’s gone, deeply by the both of them.
it could just be a deep friendship, he knows. they have been working and living together for over a decade, of course they would be close!!! maybe they could even be queerplatonic! (another new word he learned!)
but. still. he quietly observes, watches closely, and thinks.
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The unexpected upside of global monopoly capitalism
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I'm touring my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me TODAY (Apr 10) at UCLA, then Chicago (Apr 17), Torino (Apr 21) Marin County (Apr 27), Winnipeg (May 2), Calgary (May 3), Vancouver (May 4), and beyond!
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Here's a silver lining to global monopoly capitalism: it means we're all fighting the same enemy, who is using the same tactics everywhere. The same coordination tools that allow corporations to extend their tendrils to every corner of the Earth allows regulators and labor organizers to coordinate their resistance.
That's a lesson Mercedes is learning. In 2023, Germany's Supply Chain Act went into effect, which bans large corporations with a German presence from using child labor, violating health and safety standards, and (critically) interfering with union organizers:
https://www.bafa.de/EN/Supply_Chain_Act/Overview/overview_node.html
Across the ocean, in the USA, Mercedes has a preference for building its cars in the American South, the so-called "right to work" states where US labor law is routinely flouted and unions are thin on the ground. As The American Prospect's Harold Meyerson writes, the only non-union Mercedes factories in the world are in the US:
https://prospect.org/labor/2024-04-08-american-workers-german-law-uaw-unions/
But American workers – especially southern workers – are on an organizing tear, unionizing their workplaces at a rate not seen in generations. Their unprecedented success is down to their commitment, solidarity and shrewd tactics – all buoyed by a refreshingly pro-worker NLRB, who have workers' backs in ways also not seen since the Carter administration:
https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/14/prop-22-never-again/#norms-code-laws-markets
Workers at Mercedes' factory in Vance, Alabama are trying to join the UAW, and Mercedes is playing dirty, using the tried-and-true union-busting tactics that have held workplace democracy at bay for decades. The UAW has lodged a complaint with the NLRB, naturally:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/alabama-mercedes-benz
But the UAW has also filed a complaint with BAFA, the German regulator in charge of the Supply Chain Act, seeking penalties against Mercedes-Benz Group AG:
https://uaw.org/uaw-files-charges-in-germany-against-mercedes-benz-companys-anti-union-campaign-against-u-s-autoworkers-violates-new-german-law-on-global-supply-chain-practices/
That's a huge deal, because the German Supply Chain Act goes hard. If Mercedes is convicted of union-busting in Alabama, its German parent-company faces a fine of 2% of its global total revenue, and will no longer be eligible to sell products to the German government. Chomp.
Now, the German Supply Chain Act is new, and this is the first petition filed by a non-German union with BAFA, so it's not a slam dunk. But supermajorities of Mercedes workers at the Alabama factory have signed UAW cards, and the election is going to happen in May or June. And the UAW – under new leadership, thanks to a revolution that overthrew the corrupt old guard – has its sights set on all the auto-makers in the American south.
As Meyerson writes, the south is America's onshore offshore, a regulatory haven where corporations pay minimal or no tax and are free to abuse their workers, pollute, and corrupt local governments with a free hand (no wonder American industry is flocking to these states). Meyerson: "The economic impact of unionizing the South, in other words, could almost be placed in the same category as reshoring work that had gone to China."
The German Supply Chain Act was passed with the help of Germany's powerful labor unions, in an act of solidarity with workers employed by German companies all over the world. This is that unexpected benefit to globalism: the fact that Mercedes has extrusions into both the American and German political spheres means that both American and German workers can collaborate to bring it to heel.
The same is true for antitrust regulators. The multinational corporations that are in regulators' crosshairs in the US, the EU, the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea and beyond use the same playbook in every country. That's doubly true of Big Tech companies, who literally run the same code – embodying the same illegal practices – on servers in every country.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has led the pack on convening summits where antitrust enforcers from all over the world gather to compare notes and collaborate on enforcement strategies:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cma-data-technology-and-analytics-conference-2022-registration-308678625077
And the CMA's Digital Markets Unit – which boasts the the largest tech staff of any competition regulator in the world – produces detailed market studies that turn out to be roadmaps for other territories' enforces to follow – like this mobile market study:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63f61bc0d3bf7f62e8c34a02/Mobile_Ecosystems_Final_Report_amended_2.pdf
Which was extensively referenced in the EU during the planning of the Digital Markets Act, and in the US Congress for similar legislation:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2710
It also helped enforcers in Japan:
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Japan-to-crack-down-on-Apple-and-Google-app-store-monopolies
And South Korea:
https://www.reuters.com/technology/skorea-considers-505-mln-fine-against-google-apple-over-app-market-practices-2023-10-06/
Just as Mercedes workers in Germany and the USA share a common enemy, allowing for coordinated action that takes advantage of vulnerable flanks wherever they are found, anti-monopoly enforcers are sharing notes, evidence, and tactics to strike at multinationals that are bigger than most countries – but not when those countries combine.
This is an unexpected upside to global monopolies: when we all share a common enemy, we've got endless opportunities for coordinated offenses and devastating pincer maneuvers.
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If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/10/an-injury-to-one/#is-an-injury-to-all
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radiant-reid · 9 months
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A blurb on spencer with the audio thats like “I always thought you were the most beautiful girl i’ve ever seen” and it’s to reader? :))
love this !! and i don't care if it's such a cliche image, I'm not going to stop
Spencer jumps when you slide the balcony door open. Even with the serial killer caught, you're all still on edge, chilly in the Alaskan spring.
"Sorry, I hope you don't mind me interrupting." You step forward and close the door to stop any heat from the fire escaping inside.
"Not at all," Spencer assures you, smiling softly to encourage you forward.
You stand next to him, looking out over at the hill and evergreen trees, everything with a fresh dumping of snow on it. The sun's just setting even though it's not too far into the afternoon, the sky beginning to turn soft pink and orange.
"Things were getting a bit tense inside." You laugh at the very recent memory of some passionate arguing.
"Prentiss and Morgan?" Spencer guesses. You confirm with a nod. "Hotch should add Uno to the list of banned games."
You laugh at the rare joke from him. "We're not going to have anything left now that Monopoly, Clue, and all card games are banned."
"We'll have to all play chess." He decides, matching his enthusiasm with a grin.
"Then you'll have to sit out so it's fair." You remind him with a smirk.
He pouts at that, not the answer he was after. A comfortable silence falls between you as you watch the sky changing colors. It's really like nothing you've seen before, and it's a nice reminder that there's still beauty in the world.
"It's just wow." You say softly, in awe.
"The stars will be out soon," Spencer notes. "They should be incredible. It's meant to be clear and there's no light pollution here like there is in DC."
"You looked it up?" You wonder. It's sweet, really, and his interest seems to go beyond adding to his vast general knowledge.
He turns to you to nod. "I'm going to come out after dinner to watch them. I've never seen anything like this in the cities I've lived in, and we don't get many cases in such beautiful, remote places."
You hum with your own nod. "You're right. Or..." Your curiosity doesn't allow you to resist the opportunity to segue the conversation. "Many beautiful people, like the deputy that's into you."
You're trying to disguise it as teasing him, at least then you can play it off as being teammates and friends, and you're desperately hoping he doesn't notice that you're tense about his answer.
His nose scrunches slightly. Maybe disgust, maybe excitement. "I wasn't looking."
"Not your type?" You ask, slightly alarmed again. You do share some similar traits with her, so if she's not his type, your chances are slimmer.
"I always thought you were the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen." He says sincerely, knocking the wind out of your chest. "So, no, Y/n, I'm not looking at anyone."
You take longer than you should to get over your shock. "You're serious?"
"Sorry, sorry." He quickly apologizes as his cheeks heat up more than can be accounted for by the cold weather. "That was weird. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."
"No." You rest your hand over his, hoping to calm his spiraling worry. "You didn't... just thank you. That's... the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."
"It's true." He reiterates.
Your smile deepens. "Can I come stargazing with you?" You ask. "I promise I won't distract you."
"Looking like that? Impossible." He jokes, flirtier than you imagine. It's like your reciprocation spurs him on. "But I'd love company... your company, specifically. Inviting someone else would be weird."
You chuckle. "Just me and you."
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wosoluvrr · 5 months
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sorry about the blood in your mouth, i wish it was mine || a. russo x reader (1)
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summary: everyone knew the game against united was going to be scrappy, but no one was quite prepared for that.
warnings: lots of talking about blood and injury, angstangstangst, a curse word or two, not much else i don’t think
a/n: i love that quote by richard siken and i just have to be different so i figured including it in my first fic/writing thing (?) was the way to go. anyways, i hope you enjoy! i’m happy to be here, and excited to post more and hopefully get to know some of you:) all my love 🤍
"what the fuck is your problem, zelem?" the question came out more like an insult, your body taking over as you moved towards her on the pitch. in doing so, you left alessia's side, the girl flat against the pitch as she gripped at her ankle and fought back tears. vic and lia stayed kneeled beside her, the rest of the team taking notice and making their way towards the midfield where alessia had gone down.
katie only rolled her eyes at your screaming, sparing alessia a quick glance and then focusing back onto you. "i barely touched her, you've all gone soft," she replied with a scoff, her teammates remaining in their positions.
"the audacity you have is a bit mind blowing really, who'd you have to pay to get that armband?"
she doesn't reply this time, her face curling into an expression you can't quite read. you're not sure how the hell you'd come up with something like that, but you opt to keep your expression blank as you turned your attention to the ref who was jogging towards the scene.
alessia still wasn't getting up, the ref signaling for the medics as she made her way from the scene to the two of you. jen was approaching you as well, her face offering a warning for you to take the scolding and not let anything go further.
before the ref can reach you she pulls out a yellow card on zelem, writing her name down sloppily once she arrives and beginning her scolding of the two of you. jen's hand on your shoulder keeps you in your own spot, zelem's eyes fixed blankly on your own as the ref opts to check back in with the medics and leave the three of you alone.
"keep your mutt off my shit, beattie." she begins to storm off but you're quick to follow, your body slipping out of jen's hand as your pace quickens.
your only intent was to give her a push and bag the yellow card, deeming it worth the release of steam. however, somehow seconds after zelem had jolted forward and turned to make her way back towards you, a first slammed square into your face. you ended up on your hands and knees, spitting blood into the grass below you.
medics guessed a broken nose and a split lip which might need stitches due to your face accidentally getting stepped on when the players reacted.
sitting on the locker room floor was undeniably embarrassing, your body slumped against the wall as you struggled to keep the gauze firmly against your face. even with the pain consuming you, it was hard not to wonder just how badly you’d be punished.
benched for x amount of games? kicked off the squad? banned from football for life? the possibilities seemed endless, each one worse than the other.
"that was quite the shove you got in," alessia was standing in the doorway, the large puffer coat on her body making your eyes crinkle in place of a smile.
you didn't dare take your eyes off the floor as the shame burning within you only deepened in her presence. there wasn’t a single part of you that wanted to know how angry she was with you, the thought of her conveying her disappointment making you feel sick.
"your ankle?" you ask, ignoring her insinuation.
alessia laughs gently, properly walking into the room and shedding her puffer onto the closest surface.
"rolled, which really sucks." she moves a stool in front of a bench, slightly limping her way over to you as she extends her hand out. "i'll be out for a few weeks at worst.”
you feel like crying, the girl in front of you wrapped in a bandage and you had somehow managed to make things worse. you accept her hand and allow her to guide you to the bench, your head falling back against the lockers as you groan.
"why aren't you at the hospital?"
"i wanted to apologize before i went," you answer. "my selfishness is making sure i don’t do a very good job at that.”
your voice is more pathetic than you imagined it'd be, the pain from your face spreading all around your body. pain was doable when it was just pain, but this just had too much in it for you to feel able to manage it.
"let me help you," she beats your slew of apologies, hands reaching out to the hold the rag against you. her fingers are cold against your hand for the seconds they do touch causing you to pull away quickly, the burning in your arm from holding it up so long dulling down to an ache.
her pressure immediately becomes too harsh and you moan in pain, arm back in the air as your hand roughly grips onto her own. "please be gentle," you gasp, her face washing with regret as she nods, free hand moving to rest on your bare thigh.
her newly adjusted position has her face far too close to your own and you're certain if your nose was working you'd be able to smell her minty breath. it was really her eyes that had you going crazy, the deep blue they sported making you feel dizzy as you examined them.
"thank you," you start, eyes closing as you continue to fight the threat to cry. "i regret it already, i don’t want to be a violent person.”
you quickly find that it's easier to look past alessia, fixating on the door frame and instead of anything else. she's frowning back at you, trying to come up with the right things to say.
"you're a sweet girl," her voice is barely a whisper. "katie's completely fine, and you're going to be fine too, yeah?"
you nod, finally looking her in the eyes.
“is ella angry, you think?”
you hadn’t even considered how awful it must’ve been for you to start a fight with a team that coincided with tooney. there was somehow more guilt to be felt, your brain imagining the damage you may have caused between the two girls.
she doesn’t answer, eyes narrower than they were before.
"i'm sorry, alessia." it's sincere, your head nodding to convey your feelings better as she nods back, something resembling her usual smile creeping onto her lips.
"you can check that off the list now," she teases, a feeling of relief spreading through your body. “i just want you to be okay.”
you had expected her to be far more angry, far more disappointed in you. but, she's not. because how could she be? it was alessia, after all. sweet, composed, and painfully beautiful alessia.
it's embarrassing how caught you are by her even in the state your in, your mind barely able to keep up with just how closely you're getting to see the girl now. you decide now you have to very carefully memorize the small details of her face, selfishly noting you'd probably never be this close to her ever again.
"you're too good to me," it's barely a whisper, your eyes shamefully fixated on alessia's lips. it's hard to contain yourself anymore, your heartbeat finallt recognizing that there was more than pain against you in this moment.
"no such thing," she says.
she readjusts her hand and tilts your head to the side in an effort to examine if anything else had left you with marks. to her disappointment, she finds the scratches your face had taken from the rest of the cleat on your face. it wasn't a pretty sight, you were sure of that, but her gaze didn't feel like pity.
she was looking at you like she always did, merely taking you in for what you were.
she moves the gauze slowly away, wincing at the what was beneath the fabric. your nose is offset, blues and greens inviting themselves into your usual complexion. dried blood stained it’s way from your nostrils to your mouth, your bottom lip sporting the nasty gash.
it was uncomfortable knowing how ugly you must look right now. you opted to close your eyes and pretend you were somewhere else, desperately trying to act normal when she ran her thumb over your cheekbone.
“i’m sorry about the blood in your mouth,” she whispers. “i just wish it was mine.”
you’re crying now, body shaking with sobs as she pulls you into her chest, your chin hooking onto her shoulder as you cried. alessia’s fingers are rubbing your back, her lips whisper ‘it’s okay’ over and over until you start to believe her.
“i think it’s time you get some help with all this, don’t you think?” you’re still pressed against her, hands desperately clenching her jersey. you don’t want to pull away. you don’t want to leave when you’re certain you’ll never have her like this again.
it’s selfish, having her like this when she doesn’t know the way you feel. it almost feels wrong to be tended to so lovingly by her, your secret administration making the weight of her actions far different for you.
but, of course you nod, pulling yourself out of her embrace and allowing her sweet hands to brush the matted hair from your forehead to the sides. her touch is so gentle you almost cry again, cursing your stupid brain for making things harder.
you wanted to ask her about so many things. you wanted to ask what she had meant about the blood and what she had meant when she chose to rest her hand on your thigh. or why she had chosen to be kind to you instead of absolutely losing her head over your recklessness.
you settle for a later date. “can i call you once i’m finished?”
the laugh she lets out makes you feel warm, her arms helping you to stand up and bracing you as she walks you to the physios. you curse yourself for asking something that stupid, walking into the room with a newfound embarrassment.
“you think i’d let you go alone?”
a/n: part 2, mayhaps? part 2 for a kiss and some confessions, mayhaps? feel free to request, too! i’d love the help :)
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luvwestwood · 4 months
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"Build a Bear" - Nanami Kento
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3,077 words.
note: just re-posting this as i'm no longer shadow-banned, enjoy kento slutting you out in the victoria secret changing rooms lol
content warnings: nsfw (18+), sex, breeding, dom! nanami, pet names (princess/slut, doll etc), changing room sex, hair pulling, you walk around the mall with his cum stuffed into you lol, quickies, standing sex, semi-public sex? kento sluts you out in the vs changing rooms lol
banner cred. @/yunonoai on twt/ig
Nanami was your boyfriend of almost one year, and you must say, things were going pretty well. He was a gentleman, who was able to prove 24/7 that chivalry isn't dead at all. Kento was all you could ever ask for, and usually you'd spend your days with him wondering how did you end up with a man like the Kento Nanami?
Kento loved to spoil you rotten. He was more of a giver than a receiver. Acknowledging the fact that he’s financially stable, earns way more than what he needs, of course— the rest will go to you, his beloved girlfriend. It was almost like.. he found pleasure in doing it. He always anticipated the big cheesy smile on your face when he comes home with bags full of everything. He's always eager to whip out his sleek black credit card at any given moment as if it was toy money.
Hair curler not working anymore? You’d be getting a new one the next day. Your car broke down? Look out into the driveway the next morning. He ripped your panties the night before? You’ll wake up to four bags full of bespoke lingerie, all specially made for you.
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Today was Thursday, which meant either two things. One, it could just be a normal Tuesday. Two, it was Nanami’s payday. And so you know what that means…
“Anywhere else you'd like to go?" Kento followed behind you, all of your shopping bags from earlier in his grasp. Both hands full. Don't forget, he was a respectful guy. He'd never let you carry anything, even if you wanted to. "We have all the time in the world."
You let out a hum, thinking. "Hmm.." You continued, "Maybe Victoria's Secret? I heard theres a 4 for 15€ sale happening on the undies!" The two of you step onto the escalator, Nanami behind you. "And that will be it. I don't want to spend anymore."
"Doll, you already know what I'm gonna say to that." He lets out a labored sigh, looking up at you as you look down at him. You turn around and frowned.
"...I know, but.." You pause your words as Kento abruptly cuts you off. It was as if he was doing this so you speak no further about this matter which you bring up every now and then. Okay.. maybe every time Kento brings you on a shopping splurge.
"Hey- eyes forward, we're getting off the escalator." He quickly moves all shopping bags to one hand, using the free one to guide you off the escalator by gently pressing on your back. It was good timing, cause it allowed you to shut your mouth before you go on your daily rant about how he spends too much money on you, and that you would like to be independent for once.
"Okay, but.." You turn to him as soon as you enter the store; the sweet smell of the body mists and dark, sultry ambience of the place enticing you. "You never let me give you anything in return. I want to do something for you for once." You say this in a stern whisper, as it was more of a small but silly couple's quarrel, and you didn't want other customers to get the wrong idea between you and Nanami.
You hold eye contact with him as he returns the same, Kento remains silent before you see the evident glint in his eyes as an idea sparks in his thoughts.
"Alright then," He ushers you to a quieter part of the store, specifically where last season's lingerie was displayed. "You wanna do something for me?"
You aggressively nod in response. "Yes pleaseeee, anything." Tugging on his blue dress shirt, you quietly beg. Beg that he'd let you do something for him for once.
He looks around the store for a moment to see if anyone else was browsing close enough to where you two were standing. The coast is clear.
"Hmm.." The suspense was killing you. "How about, you and I head to the changing rooms.." Oh, I know where this is going. "I stuff you full of my cum, then we walk out like nothing happened."
You froze. Completely. You weren't mortified, just amazed at how he was able to come up with something like this. "Wh- Ken, are you craz-?!"
"Ah- bap bap bap- I'm not done." He shushes you immediately. "After all that, I buy you a set of lingerie that I get to choose, which you'll wear later tonight." You notice that he holds a tighter grip on the handles of the shopping bag - his sleeves were rolled up and you could see the veins straining on his forearm. Kento was most likely turned on at the thought of what he had just said.
Your own throat goes dry, causing you to swallow your own spit. With furrowed brows you approach him closer to whisper what you were supposed to say less than twenty seconds ago - "..Are you out of your mind?"
He just shrugs his shoulders. "You said you wanted to do something for me, so I gave you an idea for that exact something."
Skeptical, you frantically look side to side before you let out a blabber of words. "What is this, Build-A-Bear?!" And that's exactly what it was. Although he was a gentleman outdoors, and of course indoors; but he's a completely different story under the sheets, Kento never failed to amuse you.
He wanted to stuff you full of his cum in the changing rooms like the bears at Build-A-Bear that get violated by the metal rod that pumps out the fluff. Then, when he's happy about how full you are, he'll pull your panties back up before bringing you back out like nothing happened, choosing a new lingerie set for his eyes to feast on later tonight.
Nanami stayed silent as he watched you think. The two of you weren't talking, your feet grounded in the same position. But he knows your hard-thinking face when he sees it, and he can tell that you're considering the offer. Maybe you were tempted.
You cross your arms. "Fine. But tell me how they're gonna allow us to stay in those changing rooms for more than ten minutes. You know how they are... in a store like this."
Nanami, with his free hand, reached over to the rack beside you, that displayed cute baby-doll sets in various colors. You watched as he grabbed one in every color - he at least took five. In pink, black, red, blue and purple. "That'll give us enough time."
Your stomach fluttered at his remark, was he really going to blow your back in the changing rooms right now? Oh God, if we were to get caught I'm never showing my face in this mall ever again.
You squint at him before turning around, unable to catch the pleasurable grin he had ended your conversation with.
The two of you walked to the back of the store where the changing rooms were, with occasional glares behind you to Nanami. You were practically scolding him with his eyes. Luckily it was more secluded and closed off in the back, and the fact that it was only Thursday resulted in the mall being the complete opposite of busy. That meant no staff will continuously pester you to hurry up, as there are others waiting in the queue.
As you approached the changing rooms, a brunette girl came up to the both of you. You assumed she was a worker by the lanyard on her neck. "Hi, how many?"
You held up the hangers, smiling awkwardly. "..Six items." She weirdly ogled you due to the amount of items you had and don't forget, they were all the same item just in different colours.. As if it were her business anyways.
"Oh- I couldn't make up my mind.. I h-had to try them all." Your breath hitched as you told a lie, you heard Nanami snort behind your back as he listened to how ridiculous you sounded.
Fortunately the girl let it slide. "...Okay, follow me." She walked down the hall of changing rooms until she reaches the one at the very far end. Of course, you and Kento followed. You chewed onto the skin of your lip, gripping onto the mesh fabric of the baby-doll dresses as you walked.
The worker unlocks the door with the key on her lanyard, pulling it open and stepping aside. Only yourself enters first, and you turn around to the two of them. "You can just.. wait for me outside of the door babe." You cycle glances between the worker and Kento. The worker thinks nothing of it. Your boyfriend just nods, smiling as he stepped a bit further back from the door, leaning against the wall behind him.
The girl makes a comment before closing the door. "There's a special button on the wall, if you need any assistance with sizing. Just press it if you need anything."
You take a look at the button before smiling at her, and saying thanks. The door finally closes. You give yourself a minute, taking a look at yourself in the mirror, breathing in and out. You place the hangers on the rail, and your purse on the tiny stool in the corner.
The worker was long gone, it seems that she was occupied with stocking the body-mist shelves outside. Nanami was still waiting outside of the door, until the sound of a lock turning was heard followed by you opening it slightly. Your head poking out in the tiny gap you made.
"..C-come here." You whisper, before he moves himself away from the wall, entering the changing room with you in it.
Nanami wasted no time, immediately grabbing the door open wider with his free hand, locking it behind him. Dropping all the bags on the ground, his lips found yours first. The two of you gently move against the wall, his hands roaming all over your body - but cups your face in the end.
"Are you sure?" He had to double check. Kento wasn't the type of guy to force you into anything you didn't want to do, he always made sure you were comfortable doing it. That's another reason why you loved him so dearly.
Breathing heavily, you eagerly nodded in response. He peppers a trail of kisses from your lips down to your neck, causing you to let out a breathy moan of his name in response. "..K-Kento," You shiver as you felt him plant wet kisses just below your jaw, the obvious tent growing as you continuously call out his name. In return, you wrap your arms around his neck like a sloth, whimpering and moaning as he reaches your sweet spots.
He groans as he indulges himself in your scent, which he never fails to lose his mind about. You were just irresistible and each time he had you - Nanami just yearned for more. The way you'd be dripping wet even though he barely laid a finger on you, and how sensitive you were to his own touch. It felt like he had won the lottery by just being with you.
Considering the time you two had, Kento quickly went back to kissing you on the lips, this time with tongue. By the time he was finished, a string of spit connected your tongues as he pulled away. You look into his eyes before making a request. "..I need you in me."
"Turn around, stay against the wall." He says in short breaths as he tried to catch his own, clearly pent up by the intense make-out session the two of you just had. You obey, your cheek against the wall as he kept you in place.
You looked to your right to face the full length mirror, the cold air hitting the skin of your ass as he flipped your skirt up, followed by your panties being dragged down your legs. He kneels and places a small kiss on your dripping hole before standing back up into his original stance. He grabs a handful of your soft flesh, giving it a spank. The quiet gasps from your mouth only rousing him more.
He struggles with his belt, eager to get it unbuckled. Silently, you watch until he finally gets it, his hardened cock springing up onto his stomach as it finally was able to escape from his pants. Your heart palpitates like crazy at the sight of the arousal dripping from his pink tip, causing you to push back onto him when you weren't meant to - you needed him. Bad.
"..Be patient baby," he grins, after seeing how needy you've become.
You arch your back a bit more, putting your pussy on display to him. He did nothing but devour your body like a work of art with his own eyes. His warm hands snake onto your shoulder for support as he aligns the tip of his cock with your hole that was quite literally begging for him.
A sharp inhale comes from you as you felt his thick cock stretching you out. Kento heard this, and he quickly gave you a peck on the temple before gripping onto your flesh harder. As soon as he slid all the way in, he planted a few more kisses on your nape allowing you to adjust.
He gave you nothing but sweet, slow movements to make sure he didn't hurt you. His chin laid onto your shoulder as breathy moans slipped from his lips - this had only made your knees weaker.
Still pinned against the wall, you snaked your hand to the back of his head, pulling him closer. "G-go ha-arder." And so he did. Kento knew the difference between faster and harder, and he never mixed the two up.
You grab onto the wall for support as he ruts in to you harder, his cock covered with ring of creamy white near the shaft. The gel from his hair rather non-existent from the way you grabbed for it earlier.
"F-fuck," You moaned out, it had only made him go crazier each time you gasped his name or little curses under your breath. The noise of whimpering and squelches from each thrust echoing through the rather tiny changing room.
Your stimulation reaches peak as he fondled with your breasts each time he thrusted into you, his balls making a slapping noise along with them.
He gently tugged your hair into a pony, causing you to haul your face off the wall. "Look into the mirror doll," He spoke between soft grunts. "Watch how you take my big cock like the little slut you are." Your face was messed up, along with you hair at this point too. Each hair was no longer in place with its curl, and your lipstick had been rubbed off into different directions.
You felt his pace change not too drastically, but he continuously deeped onto your g-spot. Your knees weaken and he notices this, the knot in your stomach tightening as he felt your muscle clench non-stop around him.
"K-Kento.. I'm gonna..-" You gasp as he yanked the low cut collar of your top down, causing your boobs to slip out. He pulls you back onto his chest causing you to stand up straight, interlocking his forearms around your elbows. The two of you are now facing the mirror. Warmth of his chest hitting your back as you leaned against it.
You watch as your tits bounce with every deep thrust, Nanami whimpering quietly as he feels his balls tightening. "I-I need to cum..." You whispered, at this point your voice was no longer there. "Please..."
He leaned into your face as you rest the back of your head on his shouder, you were in a moment of bliss. "I know princess, cum all over my cock like a good girl."
And that did it for you. You moaned out loud, your intense orgasm washing over you, and Kento was quick enough to cover your mouth so no one from outside would hear the filthy things happening inside of a changing room as small as this.
Not long after, his warm ropes of cum filled you up constantly as he whimpered quietly, the two of you drained from the intense session.
You use your own two hands to grab onto the mirror decorating it with handprints. Kento breathed heavily as he watched his cock slip out from your hole. Before a drop slips out, he gently pushed two of his fingers in to make sure his load stays inside of you. And kindly enough, he pulled his panties back up for you.
"Thank you baby, you're too good for me." He combs your hair with his hands, putting it back into place before giving your cheek a soft kiss. You turn around and do the same, but this time on his lips.
"I love you, Kento. So much." You smiled, still a bit overstimulated but it was nothing you couldn't take. Your legs were a bit weak though, and it was time for you two to leave.
Just a few finishing touches before leaving, you made sure to fix straighten your top again as Nanami does the same to his signature animal print tie.
You turned to the untouched sets on the rack he had taken for you earlier, giggling as you had completely forgotten they were there. "I guess I didn't get to try them on," You smiled as you bunched up the hangers in your hand.
"I'm sure you'd still look beautiful in all of them regardless," He responded, picking up the bags off the floor and opening the door. Luckily no one was wandering the halls outside.
You rolled your eyes, walking out into the open as if you weren't stuffed with his cum right now. Kento walked beside you as he caressed your soft hair from the back, giving you another kiss on your head. "Hold on," Confused, you stopped in your tracks as he walked off somewhere else, calling out for one of the workers.
She was occupied with arranging the underwear into the sizing baskets. "Yes, may I help you?" She approached you both. It was actually the same girl from earlier.
"I'd like to buy everything in this store please, for my girlfriend over here." He asked, and he was serious. I mean, he's the Kento Nanami.
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⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⤳ © luvwestwood ‘24. all works are owned by me, and originally come from my own head. please do not re-post on a third party platform without my permission!
⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⤳ as always, thank you for the love on each and every one of my posts. 🎀🩷
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miraculan-draws · 1 year
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It really does seem to be regardless of the play origins and backgrounds and classes chosen, the most common ranking for dragon age players is like
1. The Warden, undefeatable. They are missing because they're so powerful they'd ruin the plot of the other games. Essentially a banned trading card.
2. Hawke, a prodigy. Street smart, as in learned "on the job", plus being a natural talent. Champion. But the Warden could still curb stomp them.
3. The Inquisitor, a competent individual with an unfortunate ghost rash. Could get curb stomped by both previous protags.
This is not hate this is genuinely wonderful. This probably has a mechanical explanation, like the skill trees being SUPER CONDENSED and cookie cutter in inquisition, but I love that Stand Alone the Quizzy is a Worthy Opponent but compared to the other two protagonists theyre a big baby.
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plush-rabbit · 10 months
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Simmering and Smothering
Part 2 to It’s Always Coffee
Word Count: 7K
A/N: I’m soft for this guy rn. He’s so !!! Anyways, I um don’t know what else to say
- You stand with a group of people, a lanyard hangs from your neck, and you pinch at the plastic cover that holds a card reading “Visitor” stuck on it. People part of the group peek through windows, trying to catch a glimpse of the wonders behind the glass. You're sure at some point you saw Dr. Ohnn standing close to a coworker. He must have felt your gaze, because he looked up and you had to fist your hand to restrain yourself from waving at him. But when the scientist beside him puts their hand on his back, returning his attention to the project in front, you find yourself digging your nails into the flesh of your palms.
You look around, but nothing catches your eye as it should at Alchemax. While you knew that they wouldn’t show a tour group all the dark and gritty experiments, a part of you wishes that you were able to slip away to explore, but any chances of that were snuffed out with a warning at being kicked out and banned should you stray. However, you do enjoy getting to step foot into the building. The group is led through glass doors, and you hear a few people sigh in relief. Walking in, windows line the room and let in a nice glow of sun. 
“Okay,” Dr. Octavius says with a clap of her hands, “this is the cafeteria where we will be having lunch. Those tables over there-” she points over to a cluster of tables that have been protected with stanchions- “will be where you all will be eating. Lunch is one hour, and if anyone needs to go to the restroom, please contact a security guard.” Her gaze is friendly, smile wide and tone with the slightest hint of superiority, she speaks to all, before her gaze lands on you, her smile falling ever-so-slightly. “If you fail to inform a guard, and are caught wandering, you will be immediately removed from the premises.” Smiling, you give her an “okay” symbol, and in response, she looks away from you. “Okay!” She chirps, taking a step to the side, she sweeps her arms towards the selection of food. “Enjoy your lunch.”
You’re at a cart, holding a tray consisting of fruits, and a bottle of juice. You peer over the selection of bread, holding a saran wrapped bagel. You pull your mouth into a line, wanting to put it back, but unsure if that’s okay to do so. Sure, it’s saran wrapped, but what if it’s not okay to place things back. You’ve already picked it up, and with a sigh, you place it on your tray. You look over the rest of the selection of the grains, and perk up at the sight of a muffin. Happily, you reach to grab at it before your wrist is grabbed at.
“Hey-” You bark out, pulling your hand out of the grasp and turning to look at whoever it was that clutched your wrist. You stop short when you realize that it’s Dr. Ohnn. “I feel like we talked about appropriate ways to greet others,” you muse, grabbing at the saran wrapped muffin. 
“What are you doing here?” he hisses, and you frown. 
Your eyes scan his face, and you fold the tray closer to you. “You’re upset,” you conclude, tilting your head with furrowed brows. 
“Of course I am,” he hisses. Your ears begin to burn, and you look around the cafeteria, many of the patrons sitting down and ignoring you- including the tour group you are a part of. When you look back at him, he continues. “Why are you here?”
“I’m part of the tour.” You jerk your head over where your tour members sit behind the stanchions. “Fisk was promoting it- something to show off Alchemax and how family-friendly it is. But if you ask me, I think it’s just a cover to stop people from asking-”
“I don’t care,” he rushes. 
You pull your lips into a thin line. “Okay, you don't have to be rude.” His eyes widen, and his shoulders rise. He opens his mouth, but you press forward. “Listen, I paid my way in, okay? If you’re upset with it, then I don’t know what to tell you.” He stays silent and you look back to your group. Turning back to him, you start. “Is that all, Dr. Ohnn? May I go sit down, or do you want to continue reprimanding me?”
He opens and closes his mouth, and when you turn on your heel, he calls your name. You turn to him with a waiting look. “I apologize.” You encourage him with a nod of your head. “I just-” he looks around, and grabs your wrist, pulling you to another station of food, grabbing a tray, and standing in front of the selection of fruits. 
“You just?”
“I hadn’t thought that you would be here. I-” with his middle finger, he pushes up his glasses by the bridge- “I wasn’t aware there was a tour going on.”
“Does that matter?” You ask, grabbing at a cup of peeled mandarins. 
“Scientists are usually the one to lead groups,” he says quietly, "due to the fact that it is our projects we are showcasing. We all take turns with it given that leading groups take time away from our projects. This should have been a group that I would have led. Dr. Octavius must have seen your name on the roster and decided to lead it for the day.” He gives you a look. “I’m surprised that she let you in.”
“I paid,” you shrug. “She isn’t happy about it or anything, but-” you end it with a shrug. “Anyways, I won’t bother your lunch or anything. I’m simply here to see the building and enjoy lunch.” You give him a smile as you lift up your tray. “Have a good day Dr. Ohnn.” You nod your head, ready to walk away before he stops you.
“Do you have to sit down with the others?” You turn to him, and look at him quizzically. “We um- We never finished our conversation from the other day.”
You tighten your grip on the tray. “Yeah,” you breathe out. “You kinda left without exchanging numbers. But I don’t think I’m allowed to sit elsewhere.” You look back at your group. “I’d invite you to sit with me, but I’m not sure if I could give you quite a riveting conversation as your work buddies.”
“You can. You have,” he says so, without any hesitation. “Our last conversation was entertaining.” 
"You think so?" 
He opens his mouth, before being interrupted by someone calling his name. "Jonathan," calls someone far too cheery from the door. A few heads turn to watch as another scientist- you think that they look familiar- and turn back around once the scientist enters the cafeteria. They turn on their heel to wave at another and it clicks- it's the scientist that touched his back.
You look back to the doctor, giving him a raised look. He has a sort of flush that colors in his face, and you purse your lips together. 
The scientist walks toward the both of you, but their attention is solely on Jonathan. "Jonathan-" they say his name with a sickly sweet tone- "I thought you were going to wait for me so we can have lunch together." They smile brightly at the other and you watch as they reach over to squeeze at his bicep. "You hadn't forgotten, had you?"
"My apologies, Dr. Owens." You don't miss the way that he refers to the scientist by their last name while they refer to him by his first. A frown tugs at corner of your lips- they refer to him by his first name. You glance between the two and a pit settles in your stomach. "I hadn't forgotten, but I got distracted. It must have slipped my mind."
"You don't normally get distracted," they note, and their eyes dart at you. With the consequence of being acknowledged, you smile at them. "Ah. Part of the tour group, huh? No wonder you bothered our precious doctor." They're far too sweet with their words, it makes you uncomfortable. You open your mouth to apologize, but they continue on. “I was wondering if we could get the chance to go over our notes?” You feel as if you're in the middle of something. Standing besides Dr. Owens, you feel unsure of yourself. You clear your throat. They turn to you, and their smile is beaming. “Ah, I didn't mean to interrupt. While I’m sure Dr. Ohnn would love to engage with others about theories and his work, I do have to steal him away from you.” Their smile turns gentle, and you feel silly standing between them. “Sorry,” they apologize with a smile. 
"Uh, yeah." You grit your teeth- that came out less eloquently than you would liked. "Sorry, Dr. Ohnn." You tap your heel against the ground. “I’ll leave you to it.”
"Oh- Um-” he looks at you, and you smile at him, shrugging your shoulders. He returns his look towards the other scientist, and you let your gaze drift down. You walk away, catching only a glimpse of their conversation. “What would you like to discuss?”
Sitting down at a designated table, the other tour members greet you. You smile and pick at your bagel, taking small bites, regretting not getting some kind of topping. You bite at your muffin, nodding along as the other group members talk about the experiments going on at the building. 
It would make sense for him to have a partner. He's attractive, and has a good job. With the one conversation that you've had with him, he was well spoken. You eat your mandarins, letting the citrus fill your mouth. Dr. Owens isn’t unattractive and they certainly seemed nice. You do your best not to look at the doctor and his partner, keeping your head down as you listen to the other people in your group. 
You know why you feel so bothered by it all. It’s dumb. You only had one actual conversation with him, but it was nice. He was nice- much nicer than you had ever given him credit for. You feel silly over being jealous of a man you only knew for a minute. 
-
"Fuckin' driver," you mutter under your breath, your lips curled in disgust. Fixing yourself, you cross your arms and decide to walk to the train station. It's incredibly late and something that you actively avoid doing, but you don't want to risk yourself with another driver. "Now I gotta walk." 
A part of you pays with the idea of putting in your headphones and at least having a calming walk, but you shake your head at that idea. You will not be murdered just because you wanted to listen to music. 
Headlights flash by and you bite the inside of your mouth every time. A car passes by, and you watch as the red tail lights blink on. You stop in your steps, taking a look around. No one else on the sidewalk acknowledges the car. 
“Okay”, you think to yourself, “I can't get abducted in front of other people.” You take a step forward and pause. “That's dumb. Yes, I can.” You scowl and tap your foot against the pavement, holding tighter onto the strap of your bag. 
However, no one else seems fazed by a car pulling over, and that gives you confidence to walk further. At the end of the car, you see the passenger window roll down. You hesitate again. Sucking in a breath, you roll your wrists, and as you walk past the car until you hear your name being called. 
You turn, and through the windshield, you see a familiar doctor waving at you. Looking around, you clutch onto the trap of your bag before making your way towards him.
"Dr. Ohnn?" 
He smiles nervously. He looks far too tense for someone in their own car. "Hello," he calls you by your name. "I was sure you would have left ages ago."
"Tour ran late- one of the kids explored without permission," you explain. 
"I'm surprised it wasn't you." You weren't aware he could tease. 
"I wasn't in the mood for any trespassing charges. Maybe tomorrow." You shrug, and send him a grin. “Who knows? Night’s still young and all.”
He turns his head, and you follow his gaze out onto the street before the both of you. "Why are you walking?"
“People had their own rides, and I didn't. I took the bus. After the whole fiasco, I missed it. I got into a taxi, but uh-" you roll your eyes and cross your arms over your chest- "the driver was being too sleazy for my tastes so I decided to take my chances walking.” 
“Oh- I’m sorry to hear about that.” He leans over the middle console of the car, with his hand pressed down on the passenger seat. “It’s quite late,” he tells you.
Your lips stretch into a thin grin. “Correct. It’s no wonder that you’re one of the top scientists at Alchemax.”
“You’re hilarious,” he deadpans.
“I try,” you tell him. The soft glow of the streetlamps casts him in a warm glow. “But I'd be more inclined to believe you if you were actually laughing.”
“Yes, well, I’ll try to laugh next time.” He rolls his eyes, and you smile sharply at him. 
“Is that why you stopped? To hear my humor?” You tease, taking a step forward, and he tilts his head to look at you. 
“No, actually. I thought it was you,  and I wanted to know if you would like a ride?”
You’re taken aback. “Oh! Um- No, it’s okay. I’m okay,” you correct yourself. You turn looking down the street where the crowd of people slows. You look back at him. “I’m sure you have your own plans for the night. I wouldn’t want to intrude or interrupt or anything.” You twist the strap of your bag in your hand. “While I appreciate the offer, you don’t have to worry about me Dr. Ohnn.”
“You wouldn’t be interrupting anything. I don’t have any plans.” 
You stay silent, weighing your options in your head. While you’d like to be in a car and taken to your home, you also can’t just enter his car. Even if he is the one offering. No. You can’t. There has to be a line. You have a crush on him- maybe. You’re attracted to him. Wait, that’s actually worse. You shake your head.
“I shouldn’t.” You bite your bottom lip and look at the air freshener that hangs down the rearview mirror. “I would want to get you into any sorts of trouble.”
“Trouble?” He says in a quiet voice, but alarm is still laced into his words. 
“You know-” you wave your hand in front of you- “with Dr. Owens. Would they be okay with you giving me a ride?”
He gives you an incredulous look. “What does Dr. Owens have to do with this?”
Your chest begins to burn, and it travels upwards to your face. “Would they appreciate you giving a ride to a stranger?” 
“You aren’t a stranger,” the way that he calls your name has your breath hitching, and heart racing. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable with you walking so far to a station at night.”
“Okay,” you shrug. “But you have to put in the directions on your phone. I’m easily distracted and won’t be able to give you any good directions.”
“Fine by me,” he pulls away and the door unlocks. You open the door, and the window slowly raises. “Between you and I, I’m not entirely great with navigation.” The noise from the outside mutes as you close the door, the lock clicking down on itself.  You click the seatbelt as you give him a look. “I get lost easily,” he admits. He grabs his phone and sorts through his applications, finally passing it your way with the map function on display.
“Don’t you have a PhD?” You enter your address, and return the phone, watching as he places the phone on the holder stuck to the car. 
“Doesn’t mean a thing if a shopping center has me turned all sorts of ways,” he admits, setting the car to ‘drive’ and pulling away from the sidewalk. You laugh, it starts as a snort, and forms into a chuckle and it has you hiding your smile behind your hand, trying to quell the laughter. 
You turn to look at him, the corner of your lips tilting upwards and wrinkling at your eyes. “I don’t even think I could picture you getting lost in a mall.”
He sits up straighter, and casts a glance through the corner of his eye. “It isn’t a particularly good image of me,” he confesses.
Humming, you lean back into the seat, fixing your bag onto your lap, playing with the zipper. “No, I’m sure it is,” you hum. “A renowned scientist, lost at a mall.”
“It can be quite traumatizing.”
“I’m sure it can be,” you muse, trying to hide the smile that slowly grows. "Many children often fear the mall for that same reason." 
He scoffs at your remark. “Did you learn anything interesting on the tour?” He asks, and you cross your ankles.
“I think we learned about atoms?” He chuckles at that, and you feel warm. “I gotta be honest, I was hoping for something a bit more, ya know?” 
“Atoms aren't enough?” 
"Not nearly,” you tell him softly. “Maybe if they brought out some secret project or like showed some sort of light show, then I’d be impressed.”
“Oh, of course,” he says with sarcasm laced into his words. “A secret project shown to the masses, especially where one child had gone missing.”
“Explored,” you correct, turning our head to look at him.
The GPS voice speaks, and he misses a turn. He mumbles an apology, the application already rerouting him. “If you join another one, I’ll make sure that there’s a light show.” He casts a glance, and misses another turn, his hands tightening around the steering wheel. “I’m thirsty,” he tells you.
You blink at him. “You can stop somewhere and get something. I don’t mind waiting in the car.” The metal zipper of your bag shines under the passing streetlamps.. “You’re already doing me a favor by driving me home.”
“The coffee shop is still open. Would you mind accompanying me for a drink?”
“Oh! Uh, yeah- sure. I’d be okay with that. I still owe you that cup of coffee. You know, from when we met at the shop?”
He shakes his head. “Consider it my treat. I am inviting you after all.”
“But you did win that little wager, and you are driving me home. I could at least buy you a cup of coffee or something.” He shakes his head. “Come on-” you slap the back of your hand lightly against his bicep- “don’t make it difficult.”
“I’m not making it difficult,” he frowns.
The GPS continues to tell Dr. Ohnn to make a right when he can, and he fumbles with turning it off, grumbling under his breath until you offer your hand out. The phone is placed down, and you shut down the application. The phone is held in your hand, the application minimizing to show his background- a picture of- the phone is pulled out of your grasp.
“I don’t even get to learn what your background is?” You give a faux pout, leaning back against the seat. “Come on, I didn’t even get a chance.”
“Don’t worry too much about it,” he tells you. “It isn’t all that exciting.” You stick your tongue out at him in response and he fails to suppress a smile. 
Pulling to the side of the road, you place your bag on the floor, snagging your debit card before zipping the bag up. Getting out of the car, you’re careful not to slam the door. You rush to beat him from opening the door. “Okay,” you draw out the vowel, slipping to move in front of him, “how about this. You buy my cup, and I’ll buy yours. I’ll even let you get a pastry- you know as a thank you for driving me home.
“You don’t have to. I offered to drive you home, it was completely my own volition.”
You give an exaggerated sigh. “Whatever you say, but the offer is there.”
As he orders his drink, you press your card against the payment terminal, telling the barista that it’ll be two separate transactions. You can feel his eyes on you and you can only smile, nodding when the barista confirms. Lacking your energy, he pays when you order your own. You’re sure that the barista is annoyed with the two of you, but at this point, you had a win that he was owed. 
With the lack of patrons, the two of you find a table placed beside the window. The two of you sit across from each other, and wait for your drinks to be called. Tapping your hands against the table, you look out the window, watching the people and the cars. 
“I was more than happy paying for your drink,” he comments. 
You look at him through the reflection, and he meets your gaze there. “I know. But you’re already doing me such a favor by taking me home and stuff-” shrugging, you turn to face him- “might as well buy you a drink.”
“You didn’t have to,” he mumbles.
“I wanted to.”
Looking at you, he opens his mouth to speak, but closes it when he can’t find the right words. You nod, letting him take his time and to continue with whatever he is going to say. Clearing his throat, he can only get a breath out when the two of your names are spoken. You turn just in time to see the drinks placed on the counter as the barista walks away.
“I’ll go get them for us.” He stands from the table and you watch him. He takes long strides, his head bent and arms close to himself, as if trying to make himself to the public. You hadn’t realized that he had such squared shoulders. He almost reminds you of a rectangle.
Placing your drink in front of you, he takes a seat. His teeth bite at his bottom lip and he brings the cup to his lips. Placing the drink down, he clears his throat. “Why did you ask about Dr. Owens?”
Ah. Maybe you should’ve kept quiet about that. “What do you mean?”
“You mentioned that I would get in trouble with them if I had driven you home.”
“Oh um, yeah. It’s whatever, don’t worry about it.”
“I’m not worrying, I’m asking.”
“Okay,” you whisper, your gaze focused on your drink. “They just seemed into you is all. I thought there was something you know-” you lift your head looking at him- “between you and them.”
“You thought they were into me?” You choose to ignore the wonder in his voice. Opting to stay silent, you nod. “I can assure you, Dr. Owens is not into me.”
“It sure seemed that way,” you mumble into the rim of your drink. He stares at you, and you shift in your seat, hiding behind your cup. “What?”
“What made you think they were into me?” 
Your molars grind against each other. The rim of the cup is brought to your lips, but you don’t take a sip, you only press your lips against the opening, before lowering it back to the table. “Oh gosh, are you into them? Look, that's sweet and all, but I’d rather not play matchmaker to some scientists.” He stays silent, and you look outside the window, watching a couple walk past by. “You really wanna know?” He makes a noise of confirmation, and you let out a held breath. “In that little time that I saw the two of you, they had no trouble touching you. And they call you by your name, too.”
“My name?”
Nodding, you twist and untwist your legs. “Yeah.”
“Is that usually an indicator?” 
Lifting your hand, you make a see-saw motion. “Sometimes, I guess. Depends on how it’s used and all. Context, ya know?”
“I call other people by their names,” he counters. You nod, letting him continue. “I call you by your name.”
“Oh yeah- I um, I guess so,” you mumble, taking another sip of your drink, desperate to keep yourself busy.
“You never call me by my name.”
“I wasn’t aware that I was allowed.”
“Of course you are. Why wouldn’t you be allowed?”
“I always thought you found me annoying.”
“I did.” You frown, and he gives you an apologetic smile. His hand lifts up, grabbing at a strand of hair and twirling it around his finger. “That doesn’t mean that I disliked you. I have to admit-” he lets go of the strand and it falls back to place- “I always did find your drive admirable. You weren’t one to give up. You’re quite stubborn.” You stare at each for a few moments, heat blazing itself against your skin, making a chill over your body. He breaks eye contact and tilts the cup, making a circle with the bottom edge. “Do you really believe that Dr. Owens likes me because they call me by my name.” You nod, your mouth too dry despite the drink in your hand to even consider speaking. “Hm, okay,” he hums. His hand runs over his stubble, and you wonder if he’s growing out a beard. “You said that they touch me.”
“I um, saw the two of you in an office- while on the tour.” Your hand pulls up to scratch at your shoulder. You feel the need to hide from him.
His smile stretches even more. “I thought I was losing my marbles.” You take a sip of your drink. “I thought that after all my imagining about-” he clicks the last consonant, and you straighten yourself, leaning forward- “I thought that finally, after all of your incessant questioning, that I was beginning to imagine you.”
“Mhm,” you hum, taking another sip of your very diluted drink.
“You were saying.” He rolls his hand expectantly.
“When you turned around- when you saw me- they immediately turned you back around.”
“So? I believe we were discussing the recent project that we’ve both been assigned on”
Grabbing a napkin, you dab at the table where a ring of water from the condensation has formed on the table. “It was how they touched you. They touched your back and lingered their hand on you.”
“I’m not following.”
You make a noise of discomfort, and fist the wet napkin in your hand. “I can’t explain it in words. It’s- It’s in the details and stuff. The observer's point of view.”
“Can you show me?” 
“Like?”
“Touch me.”
The napkin is clenched tightly in your hand, your nails ripping through the soft paper. Warmth flushes through your body, and you fear that he can notice the change in you. You know that he doesn’t mean it that way, but for him to say something so- so, intimate sounding, without meaning to, made your heart skip a beat. His eyes widen, and he stumbles over his words. “No- Not- Not like that. I hadn’t meant for it- I’m so terribly sorry-”
“It’s fine,” you reassure, waving your hand in front of you. “It’s cool,” you smile at him and he stops his ramble of words. There’s a rapid beat that bruises inside of your chest at his words- even if he did mean them innocently. “But you know, they touched you at the cafeteria too. They went up to you and touched your bicep.” You lift your hand, reaching over the table, letting it hover over his forearm. Glancing at him, he’s watching you, and you close your fist, pulling your hand back to you. 
“And you believe that all of those actions are due to the fact that they like me?”
Shrugging, you suck in your bottom lip. “It’s just my theory,” you whisper, embarrassment laced into your words. “They wanted to eat lunch with you too.”
The two drinks remain untouched and outside, you can hear sirens. His hand lifts up to rub over his mouth, and he has this faraway look in his eyes. “Okay,” he mumbles. 
“Okay?”
“Is there anything else that you want to add?”
You pout. “No.”
In the corner of your eye, you see a worker clean a table with a rag. You watch for a moment, and turn your head when chairs are fixed back into their positions, scraping along the floor. A part of you feels unsure about the conversation. While you wouldn’t believe that the scientist had a crush on you, you had at least humored the idea, but knowing that he isn’t interested in you, makes you want to go home.
You open your mouth to speak, and he beats you to it. “I’m hungry,” he states.
“I told you you could have gotten a pastry,” you point out.
“I want dinner. An actual dinner.” Sitting straight, it’s as if he has a new resolve. “Are you hungry?”
Blinking in surprise, you lift your shoulders. “Oh, uh, yeah. I guess I could eat something.”
“Good,” he nods to himself, and stands up, the chair squeaks against the floor. You follow his eyes, looking up at him as he adjusts the chair and stands by the table. “I’d like for you to accompany me to dinner.” Clearing his throat, his shoulders bunch together, and any confidence that he did have, is slowly evaporating. “That- That is if you want to, of course.”
You scoff with a smile. “Yeah, I’m game with that, Dr. Ohnn.” 
“Jonathan. You can call me Jonathan. I don’t mind it if you call me that.” He twists his hands, interlocking them, and pulling on the back of his palm, his skin stretching thin over his knuckles. 
Straightening yourself, you nod. “Okay. Jonathan it is. The same um, goes to you of course. You can call me by my name.”
“I already do,” and the way that he says your name, softly and tenderly, held with a smile, makes you turn your head and scratch at your neck in a desperate attempt to hide how wide your smile is.
“Mhm,” you squeak out. Standing up, you make sure to push the chair in and grab at the loose napkins and your drink. 
Following behind you, he throws his drink into the trash. This time, he’s made sure that he stands in front of you, stretching his arm out to hold the door open for you. Mumbling, you thank him, standing beside the door as he goes to open the passenger side door.
None of what he’s doing is helping quell your attraction to the scientist.
Clicking his seatbelt, he starts the car, driving away from the coffee shop. “Do you have a preference?”
“On food?” He nods, fumbling with the radio that plays the song of the week. You tap your foot to the beat. “Um, I think I’m good with most stuff. Restaurants are pretty inclusive about diets and stuff most days.”
“There’s a burger place on the way to Alchemax, do you know the one I’m talking about?” 
“With the really good burgers?” 
“Yes. Would you like to go there?” 
“Isn’t that too far?”
“They opened one relatively nearby.”
“Oh okay,  yeah.” You nod. “I’m game with that.”
“Good. That’s good.”
The drive to the restaurant passes by quickly as you chat about miscellaneous things- the weather, work, different coffee shops. Uncomfortable with silences, you keep the conversation going, jumping from topic to topic, trying to make something stick. However, the driver seems to be content with silence, nodding and giving one-worded answers, only really contributing to the conversation when you give your opinion on something.
Pulling into the restaurant, he takes a glance at you, and you smile in response. He opens his door, and steps out, and you follow close behind. The door is held open for you, you order your own meal, and before you can pat your pockets to find your card, he’s already paying for the meal. You aren’t sure how to feel about the whole situation. You feel good- happy and flustered even- but you can’t kid yourself. It’s dinner. With a scientist who you have pestered for a good while about what exactly is going on within Alchemax. It’s dinner with a guy who you had coffee with- twice. That’s it. 
When he sits in front of you, and smiles, you think you’re about to pass out.
Oh. He’s really cute.
No. Whatever feelings you’re having is a moment of weakness. Maybe you should download a dating app or something. 
Your newfound emotions aren’t settled by the end of the meal where you tell him a story about an old job that you used to work. He’s an avid listener, expressive and laughing when you start to smile uncontrollably. He pushes his tray closer to yours, letting you snag what little left of fries that he has. Even with bags under his eyes, he remains attentive during your story.
“No, and like my supervisor tells me “Well whole milk is regular milk,” and I’m so adamant-” you laugh mid-sentence- “that two percent is regular milk. Or like can be qualified as regular milk.”
“Why were you so adamant about it?” He laughs softly, leaning forward.
“Honestly?” You lean forward, stealing a fry of his and plopping it in your mouth. “I just really hate being wrong. Anyways-” you wave your hand in the air- “we have this whole spiel about milk of all things. And I tell him that I like oat milk and he’s like-” you deepen your voice to portray your supervisor- “‘Oat milk isn’t even milk. How do you even milk an oat?’”
“How do you milk an oat?” He asks with knitted brows.
“I-” you pause and tap at the table. “I always thought you blended it. You know, like peanut butter?”
“Yeah, but people don’t drink peanut butter.”
“I bet you that there is at least one person in the world who does drink peanut butter.”
“Okay, you find me that person and I’ll buy you a coffee next time.”
“Yeah, yeah-” you wave your hand, trying not to let your competitive side leak out. “Anyways, I’m sure they make almond milk the same way. Blended.” You lift a hand and point with your index, swirling it in the air.
“I’m partial to oat,” he admits.
“I gotta be honest, I think all milk tastes the same,” you whisper out the confession, covering the side of your mouth with one hand.
“Oh, now you’re being difficult,” he says with a roll of his eyes, adjusting his glasses by the leg. 
“I’m not, I swear! It just all tastes the same. Doesn’t stop me from asking for it at the coffee shops.”
“Even if it tastes the same?”
“I like feeling fancy,” you lilt, and he laughs.
“So you’re tricking your mind?” 
“Oh totally.” 
“With the fake milks?”
“Real, regular milk,” you counter. “Soy is fake- I think.”
“Oh, soy is fake, but the others aren’t.” He scoffs. “That’s where you draw the line.”
You laugh, taking the final sip of your drink. “Yeah, obviously.”
He joins your laughter, dipping his head down, and stray hairs fall in front of him. When he lifts his head, his smile is wide and open, and he has such a nice laugh- deep and the type that shakes his body. Pride makes your chest swell and heat burn over your cheeks at making him not only smile, but laugh. Fighting back the urge to move away the tray pieces of hair that have fallen, you clench your hand into a fist, your laughter slowly dying down. 
A quiet moment befalls the two of you, and you both look at each other. You rub the bottom of your shoe over the top of the other, and check the time. With a click of your tongue, you gather your trash onto the tray.
“We should probably get going. It’s close to closing time for them,” you explain, nodding your head back to the register where two workers chat.
“Oh, should we?” Despite questioning you, he follows your example and gathers his own trash.
“As someone who used to work customer service jobs, yeah.” Tossing your trash into the designated area, you stack the tray overhead. “I’m pretty sure that the employees probably hate us by now.”
“Good point.” He holds the door open for you, and you follow him back across the mostly empty parking lot. Inside the car, he waits for the engine to heat, and he turns to you. “I apologize for keeping you so late.”
“No, this was,” you hesitate choosing your words, “fun.” You nod your head and pull your bag up onto your lap. “I had a good time.”
“I’m glad that you did,” he says softly, giving you a final look before he gives his attention to the road. 
-
After a long day, you stand in front of your building, Jonathan joining you. You’ve always been much more comfortable with chatter than you have been with silence, but as you stand with him, you don’t feel as uncomfortable. You might even like the silence if it gives you reason to look at him. You stand on the steps leading to your home, finally looking him in the eye, and you hate the fact that he has such soft brown eyes. 
“Thanks for driving me home. And getting me a drink.” You kick at the ground, scuffing up at the dirt that lays in a thin layer. “And paying for dinner.” A jitteriness falls over you, and you can only twist and grip onto the strap of your bag. “Thanks for all of that Dr.-” he gives you a narrowed look and you quickly correct yourself- “Jonathan.”
“You don’t have to add my title,” he tells you. Beside him, his hand twists at the hem of his shirt. 
“Force of habit,” you say shrugging. Clearing your throat, you start. “Still, thanks. This was nice, Jonathan.” You like his name, and you hate the way that it makes you feel.
He nods, and raises a hand to scratch at the back of his neck. “Well, thank you for accompanying me to dinner. I had a good time.” He says your name delicately, rolling off his tongue, and you never thought that you would want to hear your name repeated over and over.
“No worries,” you answer breathlessly. You can’t think around him. Everything feels as if it’s too much- too hot, too close, too sweet. 
It was one day- two technically- but it was a short amount of time. You wear your heart on your sleeve despite trying so desperately not to. All it took was one day with him, and you think that you might like him. 
Oh, how you wish he was with someone else, then you could give yourself a reason to look away from him. 
With cotton stuffed into your mouth, you don’t trust yourself any further. You think that you should go inside- that maybe you shouldn’t be taking up his time. A part of you wonders when you’ll see him again. Shifting your weight between each foot, you pat your hands on your thighs, drying off the clammy feeling. You wish he would start talking again. Or maybe you should. If you go inside, then this could all be over. You turn your foot, and wave your hand in a goodbye, when he starts to speak.
“Will you be joining another tour group?” There’s a hint of hope that’s weaved into his words. He’s looking at you, and you wonder if you look pretty.
“As much as I enjoyed it, no.” You think you imagine seeing his shoulders slump at your words. “It wasn’t really for me. It was nice, but much more kid-centered.” His glasses are slipping down his nose and you wonder if he’d get upset if you pushed them up. “Will you be going to the café tomorrow?”
“I work tomorrow,” he admits.
“Oh,” you clear your throat, and fighting away the burning feeling that is burning in your chest, you suck in a deep breath. It makes sense to do this now. You have to take a risk. It’s dumb and highly unprofessional, but you need to tell him something. He has to stick around, just for a moment longer, just so you could get whatever pink and sweet is in you, out. “Would-” he word comes out much softer than you would have liked- “Would you want to exchange numbers, maybe?” You hope he says no.
“Really?” He looks so shocked, and so happy. A grin tilts his lips upwards, and like seeing his smile.
Nodding, you rub the flat of your middle finger against your jawline. “Yeah. It would be a better alternative than meeting during lunch on a tour group or a random chance meeting at the café. Only if you’re okay with it.”
“I’m okay with it,” he says eagerly.
You nod eagerly, unable to fend off your smile. “Cool, cool.” You suck in a deep breath, and wait for a moment, before you start to pat your pockets, pulling out your phone and clicking at the ‘New Contact’ section. Holding the phone to him, he grabs the device and places his information. 
Holding the phone tight in your hands, you tap your fingers against the back of the case. “I’ll message you later?”
“I’ll look forward to it.” He lifts his hand and waves at you. You watch his back as he steps into his car.
You can hardly believe that you even made it inside without dropping your keys from excitement and nerves. Behind your door, you clasp your hand over your mouth, pitifully trying to stop the smile that beams across your features. Oh, this isn’t fair. And oh, you can’t wait to message him.
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bombshelllblonde · 5 months
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here’s some thanksgiving modern AU rdr2 head canons:
arthur is the only one allowed to carve the turkey. hosea, dutch, person, and grimshaw have tried perfecting it over the years, but have since now been banned. arthur carves it so perfect and meticulously that knives are hidden from everyone else until it is time, then arthur carves it
every year hosea makes a wonderful pineapple upside down cake. his secret ingredient is canned pineapple. everyone thinks he uses a fresh whole pineapple but it’s a lie
lenny is in charge of potatoes. he brings a whole spread of mashed potatoes, from the red potatoes, to yukon gold, to sweet potatoes
john is in charge of the canned cranberry sauce. it’s the only thing he can’t fuck up
every year there’s a gravy contest. dutch is the undefeated champion, with bill always coming in second
javier makes the best sides. his speciality is a maple brown sugar Brussel sprout side dish. everyone loves it, including young Jack
trelawny’s job every year is to have a magic show, and each year it gets better and more extravagant. one year he made john disappear and they couldn’t find john for three days. after that, dutch and hosea said he needs to stick with card tricks and smaller illusions
albert mason comes and as a gift everyone gets to choose a portrait of what he photographed that year!!!!! so lovely!!!!!
bill and micah’s job is to bring the alcohol. and they ALWAYS deliver
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brabblesblog · 3 months
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Ch 16: Abide in me, and I in you.
Astarion has ascended, and she has stayed with him. Life in the Crimson Palace isn’t as idyllic as it seems. Is there a chance for their relationship to go back to how it was? Or is it too late for the Ascendant and his consort?
This series is about Ban, my Tav, and the Vampire Ascendant. Will be angst and smut, with sprinkles of fluff.
This fic is a softer take on Ascendant!Astarion and of the changes he undergoes after the rite. Can Ban handle the change, and if a chance came, would she choose to run? And can the Ascendant win her back in time? Inspired by the concept of vampire wives and that IGN interview with Larian that discussed the ascension.
Professionally edited by @editing-by-night
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Astarion and Ban travel. They visit an old friend, and the truth of the circumstances regarding Astarion's ascension is finally laid bare.
Read on AO3.
Masterlist.
“Reithwin?”
It wasn’t so much indignation as it was confusion. Of all the places to go, Ban chose Reithwin?
His body was tangled with hers; they were in bed, having retired for the day. She nuzzled into his bare chest, nipping him playfully.
“We haven’t seen what it looks like since the curse was lifted. I figure it’s a good place to start. See the fruits of our labor, so to speak.”
A good enough answer, although Astarion couldn’t help but feel that there was something else, something left unsaid.
The past month since they’d returned from Waterdeep had been wonderful. Astarion didn’t dare rock the boat yet, though, choosing to push aside any niggling doubts he had about their relationship. They had forever to work on it, after all, and he was frightened, so very terrified, of a repeat of the past four months.
“It would mean sleeping in tents. Again.” He doubted any inns had cropped up in such a short time.
“Problem?” She poked him in the side and he growled, flipping them so that she was underneath him. Ban didn’t protest, giving him an amused smile.
“My clothes are too lavish to be ruined by dirt and mud, Ban,” Astarion huffed. His legs straddled her hips and he leaned forward to mouth at her throat.
“Suit yourself,” she shrugged.”I’m going. You can stay if you wish.”
Her hands carded through his hair and he melted into the touch, his body settling over hers. “Fine,” he sighed, voice muffled with his mouth pressed against her neck. “Reithwin it is, then.”
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Ban had been elated when Astarion had offered to travel. Finally, a chance to explore all that Faerûn had to offer. She’d known her first stop would be Reithwin, however. She’d been thinking about it since hearing Halsin describe his new settlement.
She didn’t want to admit it, but there were moments when she wondered what it would’ve been like to live there with Halsin, caring for scores of orphaned children - a rather chaotic but potentially fulfilling life, one filled with laughter. The children’s, and their own. Ban had never wanted children, but the idea of raising a gaggle of them alongside Halsin didn’t repulse her, surprisingly.
She brushed the daydreams away; they were just thoughts, speculations that came creeping in whenever she was dissatisfied with the choices she’d made. The night she’d left Astarion she had considered staying with Halsin instead of Gale - had strongly considered it, in fact; but the thought of exposing the children to the Ascendant’s wrath if Astarion came after her had nixed that idea.
They took the carriage to Reithwin when they went. Of course.
As Ban gave the driver final directions once they’d arrived in town, it slowly dawned on Astarion that she wasn’t going around Reithwin just to sightsee. She seemed to be headed somewhere in particular.
“There’s something you’re not telling me.” He crossed his arms. They were seated opposite each other, the carriage heading towards the last landmark Ban had described.
“Hm?” She didn’t look back at him.
“Don’t.” He shook his head. “Don’t start with this ‘I’m innocent and have no idea what you’re talking about’ thing you like to do, Ban. Where are we going?”
Ban sighed and rubbed the back of her neck, a little sheepish. “We’re visiting a friend for a few days.”
“Friend? Since when do we have friends living in such godsforsaken places?” Astarion took mental inventory of all their former companions; his frown deepened as realization hit him.
“We’re seeing that damned druid, aren’t we?”
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Halsin’s little community wasn’t easy to find, it being intentionally hidden from prying eyes. But he found them himself while on patrol, and soon enough they were situated in their own little hut.
The children gathered around them when they arrived, tugging on Ban’s hands. They could tell that something was amiss in the way her skin felt, the way her and her companion hid behind soft smiles - never showing their teeth, but they knew that she was the hero of Baldur’s Gate, the hero Daddy Halsin had adventures with, and the subject of most of the bedtime stories he told them.
The elf accompanying her was more of a mystery. His red eyes were distant, cold, his bearing haughty. Some of the more audacious children tried to tug on his hands as well, but the flash of anger in the man’s eyes and the way he snatched his hands away kept them from attempting it again.
Astarion was scowling over dinner. He found that he didn’t mind the more… laid back, if he was to be polite, environment as much as he’d thought he would, but the children vexed him. They had initially tried to touch him without permission, but had now settled for simply staring. He tried to ignore the numerous pairs of eyes locked onto his every move, but it was proving difficult.
Beside him, Ban was engaged in conversation with Halsin.
“Do you ever miss being in the wilds, Ban?” Halsin asked between bites.
She smiled sadly. “I do. This is the first time in, gods, I don’t even know. Months?”
The pang of guilt was even harder to ignore than the children. Astarion forced himself to keep eating.
Halsin nodded. He glanced over to Astarion, the worry evident in his gaze.
“Are you well, Ban?” The question was posed innocently enough. The implication behind it, however, was all too clear. The last time Halsin had seen Ban, she had been running away from Astarion.
“Yes. We’ve… made amends.” Ban didn’t want to discuss this, not when whatever Astarion and she had was still so tenuous.
Astarion shot Halsin a glare. “We are fine, thank you.”
Halsin met Astarion’s eyes, his own expression neutral. “Astarion. Whatever offense I have committed against you in the past, I did so for your spouse’s happiness and well-being.”
Astarion’s jaw tightened, and he set his fork down. “Apology accepted,” he said stiffly. Halsin wasn’t wrong, and though he knew the man wasn't really apologizing, he needed to preserve what little pride he had left.
The dinner continued in silence.
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“Astarion, please.” Ban tried not to match his anger with her own. They were back in their hut and the moment the door had shut, Astarion had begun haranguing her about visiting Halsin. “Don’t do this. Not again.”
“Me?” Astarion stared at her incredulously. “Me. You’re seriously blaming me for this? Ban, are you hearing yourself?!”
“I can see you’re getting angry-”
“Well of course I am! I am irate. Are you happy now?” He began pacing. “Am I not permitted feelings unless they are in your favor? Am I to be the villain here yet again? Oh poor Ban, so scared of Astarion, the fearsome Vampire Ascendant!”
Astarion’s hands balled into fists as he tried to maintain a sliver of self-control.
Ban kept silent. For once, she knew his anger wasn't unreasonable, given her history with Halsin.
“You said we were coming here to see the ‘fruits of our labor’. To see how the land has healed. I didn’t hear anything about visiting godsdamned Halsin!”
“Astarion, I thought-”
“Look.” He rounded on her. “Either you thought I knew he lived here and you didn’t mention anything about staying with him, or you knew I wasn’t aware of that rather consequential detail and decided to oh-so-conveniently keep omitting the fact. And arguably? Both are remarkably bad.”
Ban took a moment to respond, abashed.
“I thought… had you known, you would have refused to come.” She watched Astarion’s features twist painfully at her words, and felt a wave of guilt.
She doesn’t trust you, Astarion thought. Of course.
They both spoke at the same time:
“Why am I not surprised?”
“Why are you so miffed about staying with Halsin?”
Astarion glared at her.
“Because you didn’t tell me! You didn’t respect me enough to be honest!”
If she had only told him, it would have been fine, if perhaps a little discomfiting. Astarion would’ve been disgruntled, but he would’ve held his tongue and gone with her anyway.
But this? She’d intentionally manipulated him. He couldn’t help the wave of indignation that washed over him, nor the overpowering sense of betrayal he felt.
Ban watched Astarion pace like a caged animal, the tension evident in his shoulders. She had expected some resistance regarding visiting Halsin, yes, but not to this extent. Especially given how Astarion had seemed not to care about their history before.
“It doesn't concern me. You are mine. No one can change that.”
“Go right on with Halsin. Far be it from me to hold your hunger against you.”
His words from so long ago. Ban remembered his dismissive tone; he genuinely hadn’t cared then - or so she had thought. But she’d thought he hadn’t cared about anything else back then, either, which she now knew wasn’t the case. Ban debated bringing this up, her eyes distant as she weighed her options.
“Are you not going to say anything?” Astarion prodded, coming to a halt before her. He crossed his arms and waited, frustration and hurt etched into every inch of his face.
Ban gave him a long, careful look, then began to speak.
“I thought Halsin didn’t bother you. I asked, and you told me it didn’t concern you.”
Astarion stared at her, incredulous, but upon reflection he couldn’t pretend she was entirely unjustified in thinking so. He rubbed his hands over his face in exasperation.
“Ban. I- look. I know that is my own fault; I specifically wanted you to form that impression.”
He struggled to get the next words out. “I was jealous. I wanted to rip Halsin apart for even considering asking you, for even daring to covet what was mine.”
Especially as I was already losing you.
A low growl accompanied his words, a small sliver of the Ascendant peeking through. It disappeared as Astarion mastered himself.
“But you’re not… you shouldn’t be mine. Not in that way.” His alone to love, yes, but not to hoard as if she were an object rather than a person.
Ban scoffed. “Oh, learning now, are we?”
He glared, more wounded than he’d care to admit. “Do you want to hear this, or do you not? Because I’m perfectly happy sniping at each other, if that’s what you prefer.”
She fell silent then, realizing he was trying to open up and she probably shouldn’t be discouraging that. “Sorry.”
Mollified, Astarion continued. “When you asked me about Halsin’s proposition, I said what I said not expecting you to actually do it.”
“So you were, what? Daring me?”
“Taunting you. Goading you. I-”
He took a deep breath. He had been drunk on power, on his potential. He’d assumed she wouldn’t dare fuck Halsin; not when at that point she had still thought herself a spawn. Surely she would never want to risk offending her master?
“I didn’t think you’d dare being on the receiving end of your creator’s ire.” The words came out in a stammered mess. He wanted her to understand, but he was also so, so frightened of revealing his thoughts from back then. Frightened they would scare her off.
“Because I was supposed to think of myself as a spawn,” she said, a little anger returning when he nodded.
Ban was smug. “Well. I did it, Astarion. I let Halsin fuck my-”
“I know!”
He took another deep breath. Calm down. He had not talked directly to Ban about Halsin after that conversation, he’d told himself it was beneath the Ascendant’s concerns; in truth, it would have hurt him too much to hear. He remembered seeing Ban walk back into their room after that night, smelling like arousal and him. How he had barely been able to let himself think about it, much less be calm enough to talk to her about it.
Ban backed off, realizing belatedly that she may have gone too far.
“Okay. Sorry. Look. I’ve never understood - what’s with this…” She trailed off and waved a hand at him.
“You ascended, and you were just such a prick, which I suppose I get, but this… possessiveness of yours, Astarion. Where did that come from?”
That had always been the worst part for Ban. The selfishness and pride weren’t new, and she found that she could handle those things. But his greed for her - his need to keep her under lock and key - that was what had ruined it all for her.
This, Astarion had an answer for.
“Wouldn’t you want to keep the only thing you’ve ever had? Do everything within your power, now that you do have the power and the means to keep it? Wouldn’t it have hurt for the only person that has ever meant anything to you to decide you weren’t enough?” He averted his eyes, not wanting her to see his shame.
“I’ve had nothing all my life, Ban, until you. I did not want to let you go.”
She was confused. “You had me, even before the rite. You didn’t seem to be so concerned about losing me then.”
“I had nothing to offer then,” he replied quickly, “Nothing to hold you with. Nothing to provide; not even my body, at that point. I was counting the hours, Ban. Waiting for you to tell me it was over.”
To admit to all of this was difficult, one of the most difficult things he’d ever done. Astarion wanted nothing more than to just back away from this topic. It was too dangerous, their relationship too unstable. One look at her hopeful expression, however, and he felt his resolve return.
“If you’d left when I had nothing, I would have understood,” he said, “But when I finally had something to offer you - everything, in fact - and you pulled away anyway, wanted someone else anyway?”
He had felt frustrated. Helpless, in what was supposed to be his moment of triumph.
“I wasn’t meant to feel that again, Ban. Not after the rite. I- I was meant to be free. Stronger. Happier. Fearless.”
“And the only way to no longer fear anything was to cow me; to own me so fully that I could not fathom leaving,” Ban angrily finished for him.
“Well. You did stop seeing me the moment the rite was over,” Astarion challenged her. “The only thing left was to ensure you’d be mine forever by binding you to me.”
Her stare was hard. “You sound like Cazador.”
That one got him, slipping under his skin like a knife. He felt bile rise in his throat; for a moment, his restraint left him.
“SILENCE! How dare you speak his name?”
The command was met by laughter. Ban shook her head at him. “Astarion. That won’t work anymore. Either we talk about things or this is over.”
“Why? Because I misbehaved, like- like I’m some ill-mannered dog, Ban? Is that it?”
“No, you idiot!” She couldn’t help it, her anger rising to match his. “You changed in an instant. You ascended and then-”
“I WAS HAPPY!” he screamed, “I finished the rite and I was so godsdamned happy, Ban, because I was finally free, and then I saw your face, felt your thoughts, and all I found was fear and judgment; I could feel your revulsion through the link, and I had to protect myself!”
“By hurting me?”
“Don’t act like you’re innocent. Don’t you dare. You’re complicit in all of this.”
Astarion began pacing again, just to do something - anything.
“You agreed to kill every single one of those people. It wasn’t just me. It was you, it was Gale, it was Halsin - but the moment everything was done, I was the monster! You all returned to the Elfsong, washed your hands of it all, told each other how cruel Astarion was, murdering all those innocents - never mind what some of them did to me, never mind that freeing them all was an incalculable risk - YOU NEVER GAVE ME A CHANCE!”
Astarion stilled, tears streaming down his face, his chest heaving.
“I had to protect myself. I… I was hurting, and all I wanted was you, but I lost that too.”
That fierce joy after the rite, disappearing so rapidly the moment he’d seen the horror on her face - on all their faces - horror that had started as soon as Rhapsody first touched Cazador’s back. Didn’t they agree with him, with what he’d done? Hadn’t she actively helped him? They could have stopped him, killed him even, if it had come to that. But she had stood by him as he’d ascended, only to betray him the moment he finished. Of course he’d had to hide behind his walls, behind his anger, behind indifference. What else did he know to do?
He’d felt like she had stabbed him in the heart, and the only recourse had been to hide the soft parts of himself from her - from all of them. And so he had hid, until he had destroyed their love.
Finally, the truth laid between them.
Astarion instinctively stepped forward, seeking her. Ban flinched, startled; he paused to study her expression. Upon seeing mere surprise, rather than fear, he pushed on.
The wards are up, I’m sure. But he couldn’t make himself care. He needed her, needed to hold her.
He rushed to Ban and was met with her body against his, her arms wrapping around him and squeezing him tightly.
“I’m sorry,” he heard her say as she pressed her face against his chest. “I didn’t know what the rite would do. I thought… I thought it changed you, that I had lost you.” She choked back tears. “You’re right. We were all there. We all made that choice, one we carry to this day. I’m sorry I left you when you needed me most.”
She’d done it for him, but that didn’t mean the responsibility was all on his shoulders.
Astarion couldn’t help the sob that broke through.
“I… alright. I understand why you all held me responsible. But it hurt.” He pressed a desperate kiss to her brow.
“Had it only been the rest of them, I wouldn’t have cared. But it was you, too. I saw your face, and I knew I’d lost you. I had - I felt like I had no other choice than to be what you expected me to be. To protect myself.”
He rubbed at an eye, trying to stem the tears. “I thought I could win you back by just giving you things. Sex, coin, all of that. I could just-” He shook his head, finally out of words.
“I suppose that’s the past now,” he said brokenly, “I still don’t forgive them, just so you know.”
“And me?” Ban asked.
“Of course I do.” He pulled away to peer at her face, and then pressed his lips against hers. “I don’t really have much of a choice there, do I?” He couldn’t stay mad at her. Not now, when the truth was finally out and his chest was beginning to feel impossibly light.
Ban kissed her husband just as eagerly as he did her, tongues dancing together in a pattern known only to them.
As they parted, Astarion smiled.
“I thought you’d have your wards up, you know? I was expecting to be sent flying.”
“I got rid of them,” she said.
He tilted his head in surprise. “When?”
“Oh, when we were in Waterdeep,” she replied, “I had Gale do it before we came back to Baldur’s Gate.”
He beamed, understanding this for what it was - a gesture of trust. “I know it’ll take time, Ban. But do you think…”
He trailed off, unsure of what he was actually asking. Did he want her love? Her trust? Both?
Ban pecked his cheek. “It’s not a switch I can turn on and off, Astarion.”
At Astarion’s frown she cupped his cheek, meeting his gaze. “I can’t do this on a schedule, love. It’s…”
“I know. I understand. Sometimes I just… resent the time it takes.” He tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, and he also knew that he didn't have any other recourse but to wait for her.
“I’m sor-” she began, but her words were cut off by another heated kiss.
“No,” he said, kissing her lips again and again, fervent little attempts to express his devotion which fell entirely short in expressing its intensity.
“I can wait. I can see you slowly coming back to me.”
For once, it was entirely true. He smiled again.
“I love you.”
"Mm," she said, a slight tease in her tone. She paused for the space of a heartbeat, then smiled. "I love you too, Astarion."
When their lips met again, the world shrank down to just them. For the moment, nothing else mattered.
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mousy-nona · 20 days
Note
Headcanon that Lucifer and Alastor have two different date nights each week, one is for them to have alone time, while the other is a family date night.
“Uno!” 
“No, Dad, you still have two cards!” 
“Oh.” Lucifer dropped a +4 onto the pile. “Now uno!” 
“Hey, Big Daddy, it ain’t your turn anymore. It’s Tall, Dark, and Creepy’s turn to go.” Angel Dust peered at Alastor who, despite his trademark smile, looked like he was in physical pain. His left eye was twitching rather alarmingly. “You hangin’ in there?” 
“Yes, fine,” Alastor snapped. “I’m simply at a loss at how such a simple game can defeat Lucifer’s intellect. You would think he would have learned something after a few million years.” 
“Hey!” Lucifer threw the cards in his hand at Alastor – which, being a grand total of one, wasn’t very impressive. The sad little +4 gently tapped him on the nose before fluttering to the ground.
Alastor sighed, very loudly. “Great. Why do we bother with this again?”
“Because it’s game night!”
Lucifer was referring, of course, to the weekly tradition that had started because Lucifer had insisted if you date me, you date my daughter too, and Alastor had shuddered and agreed just so he wouldn’t have to hear him say that atrocious sentence, ever again. Then Charlie had insisted on bringing Vaggie along, because she was her partner, and therefore family.
Then Angel Dust had overheard there was a weekly game night going on, and dragged Husk into coming along. Niffty was the only one that Alastor had personally invited, although none of them knew that (it was their little secret). 
“Can we have just one game night where we actually finish a game?” Vaggie complained. “I actually have a good hand this time!” 
“I don’t know why y’all put yourselves through this,” Husk called out from the bar. Ice cubes clinked as he poured himself another stiff one. “They’re going to start trying to kill each other in five minutes.” 
“We will not,” Lucifer sniffed as he collected his card and sat back down. “And we do not try and kill each other every time.” 
Angel Dust started ticking off incidents on his fingers. “Let’s see. We never got to finish that game of Monopoly, Clue, Yahtzee, Catan –” 
“Family Feud,” Vaggie added, staring hard at Alastor. He sniffed and looked away. 
“You cannot ask a gentleman from my time to guess what you barbarians from the 21st century think about things. That was a poor choice of game.” 
“Scrabble, Secret Hitler–”
“Alastor was cheating that time!” Lucifer burst out.
“I was not,” Alastor said smugly. The rest of them shuddered at the memory. Alastor had been surprisingly good at Secret Hitler – so good, in fact, that it and any other political manipulation games like it had been banned from the halls of Hazbin Hotel.
“Apples to Apples, Sorry!, Hive Pocket–”
“That one was Niffty!” Charlie broke in, desperately trying to keep the peace. “She stabbed the game board, remember?”
Niffty started vibrating and jabbing at things. “Bugs!”
Angel Dust sighed. “My point still stands, toots. These two are physically incapable of ending a single game without flirt-fighting in the middle of it.”
Alastor snarled. Lucifer turned red. And everyone else nodded. 
------------------
What none of the others knew was that Lucifer and Alastor had another weekly tradition. A secret they kept hidden from the others. 
Every Sunday, after Alastor had finished his script for the next day and Lucifer had put the finishing touches on his latest invention, Lucifer summoned a golden portal and whisked them off to the far reaches of Hell. 
It was a different wonder every time. A hill near the Greed Ring, the toxic plumes of smoke creating a beautiful emerald mist over the dilapidated city. The very top of the skyscraper that towered over the Lust Ring. A relaxing dip in one of the lava pools of the Wrath Ring, which made Alastor hum and stretch like a cat as the boiling liquid lapped at the scar on his chest.
One day, Lucifer took them to a bustling street packed with street vendors and shops selling the exact same merch. The smell of caramel and popcorn and cotton candy was heavy in the air. He looked uncharacteristically nervous, his face paler than usual, and his hands were constantly picking at his hat, his coat, his staff.
Alastor peered at him. “Whatever is the matter with you?” 
“I have something to show you.” 
Lucifer led them deeper into the colorful, fantastic clutches of Lu Lu World. Past gaggles of hellborn children and their exhausted parents, past lines for rides that looped at least ten times before disappearing into the buildings proper, past storybook houses and little animatronic villagers.
“Business must be doing well,” Alastor noted.
“Terrific. Our newest ride is a hit.” 
“Newest…?”
Lucifer stopped abruptly, staring at something above them. He was sweating slightly, his feet shifting this way and that. “I hope you don’t mind,” he said, in a tiny voice. “I got, well, inspired.”
Alastor looked up, and his eyes widened. Towering above them was…him. A flawless version of him. The demon grinning at the top of the ride was perfect in every way, his smile hiding a million secrets that both enthralled and frustrated the viewer. Enthralling. Alluring. The shadow coat he was wearing created a natural barrier between him and the audience, but his outstretched hand seemed to beckon you closer, to touch what was forbidden.
Can you defeat the enigma? Was the tagline stamped at the bottom of the board.
“It’s an escape game,” Lucifer said hurriedly. “I thought of it during one of our dates, and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. You don’t mind, do you? I was so nervous about it, but I thought I’d –”
“He’s a bit perfect, don’t you think?” Alastor said, his voice gruff.
Lucifer squinted at the display. “I don’t know what you mean,” he said, sounding honestly confused. “It looks just like you.” 
Alastor groaned, unsure how to handle the unfamiliar, powerful feelings batting at his too-small heart. This is how he sees me? 
“You don’t like it,” Lucifer babbled. “I’m sorry, I’ll take it down–”
“No, it’s fine.” Alastor said. “It’s…good.”
“Really?” Lucifer relaxed, all the tension leaving his tight shoulders. 
“Really.” 
They stood there a while, simply breathing in each other's company as the muse and the artist stared at the work they had created together.
Finally, Alastor spoke. "May I suggest a game for our next game night?"
"You? Have a suggestion?" Lucifer nodded warily. "Go ahead."
"Secret Hitler."
"No!"
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wordsvomit101 · 8 days
Text
This will be a short one, with credits to Hikifans (@shyanimeboi), and here is the link: https://twitter.com/shyanimeboi/status/1778300826995335505
I will use metaphors this, a lot of metaphors for the H-scenes if you're curious. Hopefully it Bible friendly.
Ok here we go
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I could never be an MC, like I cannot be a player, I do not have the rizz to think of another man while rubbing another dude's abs like this
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Well MC isn't wrong, I barely see his abs in his S card. The guy looks broad but I thought he wore baggy clothes the longer I look at him.
So Ppyong slipped into MC's clothes and touched her soft stomach and apparently, it might be MC's weak spot causing her huha be quaking and ya'll:
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It might seem normal but think it is the regular Ppyong saying it. MC is stronger than me cause I would already be laughing at the images in my head
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I'm so gonna draw this, but it gonna be Minhyeok wearing what he wears in my other fics-
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Are we fighting???
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"Was always careful with you"... in what??? In WHAT????
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... I guess the reason why I like this ship so much is how it could work. It's weird, but it's not as weird as MC's romances. They literally felt like that side couple or ship in drama media that I often like more than the main couple. I'm also a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope
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WOAH OK- Sir you spend too much time with Sitri-
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Wait- Hold up- MC has rizz- OMG they have rizz
YO she taco-ed her legs around his thighs and holding his waist and saying all this? Absurd- I could never- The girl got game
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You don't have to call me out like that you know?
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Idk why but it's kind of wholesome, his smile is so cute that it is hard to focus on the tension. Like that smile is a puppy smile but his hands do be parting MC's rear like Moses parting the Red Sea like- Bro is giving her booty a rubdown treatment
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It can be somewhat flattering and comedic in fiction but it would be scary irl, but that's just me
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I-🧍- Ihsbhjdabdsjbd- What? What do you mean by that?? *Shaking him on the shoulders* Ayo what do you mean by that??????
I need to calm tf down cause either I'm misreading and misunderstanding his words or the translation sucks but it could mean A FEW THINGS HERE SIR *(¬¬)🙄 bombastic,side eye(¬¬")(◔_◔)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)¬‿¬(ಡ᎔ಡ)( ͡º ꒳ ͡º)* and one of them is how you definitely want to be sandwiched between them-
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Ok now this is the cringy smack metaphors territory, don't say I didn't warn you:
Ok so when I said his hands are kneading her double cheeks like dough I mean it, like he could rip both her pants and bum open right there-
Then he went on to ask if Minhyeok had ever seen her making her applesaucy face before and they were sweating because of their sitting marathon session with their hands and Ppyong dead ass told MC to lick his sweat to see if it was the same as Minhyeok.
And MC does what MC does, it doesn't matter if she doesn't know what Minhyeok tastes like, she sucks on Ppyong's face like he is the last ice cream cone in flaming summer. As if his face is a soft serve with zero net carbs, as if he is cannoli gelato, and her tongue is all over it, or in her words "like a dog that stuck his nose in a bowl as soon as the rein is released"
It tastes salty mixing with the sweet scent of flesh if you're wondering and she salivating all over his face. Going full Beelzebub on his face like she is slurping on the finest meal of her life. Hey at least, Ppyong enjoys it👍
Then when Ppyong asked if Minhyeok ever saw her this parched and MC recalled how Minhyeok always came into his room on time after she was done petting the cat, finding Nemo, sexy DIY, etc... you get the gist. MC speculated that Minhyeok was definitely outside waiting for her to be done like a peeping tom, you know, creeper behavior <3/jk
The thought makes MC dripping like a faucet, overflowing like a dam. Then they are back in their hands on investigating shenanigans and we get to the part where it would get the original poster banned on YouTube if they posted there. I also just gonna leave these here, MC is a player istg:
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OK that's enough smut for this week bye-
46 notes · View notes
directdogman · 11 months
Text
i love that with how much twitter’s gone in the shitter, tumblr could’ve deadass fixed their spambots issue with a bandaid solution (just extend the auto-remover for linked posts to include shortened links/unfamiliar domains with individual sites) and offered itself as a viable alternative to twitter and they would’ve regained a lot of its lost userbase as people fled twitter a few months ago.
...but instead, they are not working on any of the fucking issues this site is plagued with in any discernible way (I emailed them about the issue, they just said ‘working on it!’ and provided no specifics to any questions I asked. months later, no improvement) and are instead turning old tumblr posts into merch and pushing them onto its userbase with ads that we can’t block.
Seriously, I asked Tumblr support how come their autoremover was removing my links to verified sites but somehow missing all of these pornbots and their response was: “we’re working on it! no specifics, thanks for asking!” It’s like they don’t even know! With the semi-broken functionality across the whole site (like the glitchy and temperamental post editing system that glitches out on me almost every time I write a long post), I have to wonder why Tumblr works WORSE than Twitter rn, a platform that laid off, like, most of their staff??
As soon as they saw that people were desperate for a Twitter alternative and willing to give Tumblr a chance again, they thought “how can we squander this golden opportunity by gouging our userbase for every penny we can get until everyone loses interest and leaves?”
From Dashcon to the NSFW-ban exodus to this, it’s like everything this godforsaken site touches is cursed. is this site allergic to success?? is that it? i’m surprised that CEO of tumblr hasn’t transformed into a giant pillar of salt yet. that’s on my bingo card for 2023
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alxtiny · 6 months
Text
Hiiii ! Back to request again !
Got inspired by San singing Rewrite The Stars in his Toktoq live and thought of this.
What about idol San and idol (fem or gn) reader being part of groups considered as rivals or rival agencies but San and reader are dating. No one knows about it until one day, they do a collab stage in which they perform Rewrite the stars together. And at the end of the song, in the heat of the moment, they kiss on stage, in front of everyone
Requested by @s1riushwa
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Rewrite the Stars | Choi San x Reader
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Synopsis: where you and san wish to change the way the world works
Pairing: choi san x gn!reader, idol au
Genre: fluff, slight angst
Word count: 1.2k words
Warnings: none :)))
Notes: I am seriously so sorry for posting this so late it didn’t show up in my notifs and I didn’t think to checks inbox and submissions and ended up not seeing your request, i hope this meets your expectations 😭😭😭
masterlist
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The tension between JYP Entertainment and KQ Entertainment was always palpable, both companies boasting top-tier idols. However, hidden beneath the rivalry was a secret that no one knew—except for you and San. Despite being idols from rival companies, you and San had been secretly dating for over six months.Your groups had no dating bans, but you both decided to keep your love life private, away from the prying eyes of the media.
You know I want you
It's not a secret I try to hide
You know you want me
So don't keep saying our hands are tied
The atmosphere backstage was electrifying as you prepared for the highly anticipated joint performance between JYP Entertainment and KQ Entertainment at the annual music awards show. The crowd in attendance would be a mix of diehard fans from both companies and newbies alike. You’d have an opportunity to showcase just how talented each company is and put aside their differences.
You claim it's not in the cards
And fate is pulling you miles away
And out of a reach from me
But you're hearing my heart
So who can stop me if I decide it's on my destiny?
As you and San stood side by side, waiting for your turn to perform, you exchanged a knowing glance. The chemistry between you two was undeniable, and your fans had noticed it too. They often tagged your companies in tweets, suggesting that you and San collaborate on a stage together. Tonight, that dream was about to become a reality.
What if we rewrite the stars?
Say you were made to be mine
Nothing could keep us apart
You'll be the one I was meant to find
The announcer began calling out your names before introducing the two teams’ newest starlets. The crowd roared with anticipation as you took the stage. You held your mic up, clearing your throat as you readied yourself to sing.The music started, and the stage lit up, casting a warm glow on both of you.
It's up to you, and it's up to me
No one could say what we get to be
So why don't we rewrite the stars?
And maybe the world could be ours, tonight
The opening notes of "Rewrite the Stars" filled the air, and you began to sing, your voice blending seamlessly with San's. Suddenly, the stage went dark, and bright lights shone on the two of you. For the first time ever, you shared the same stage. Your voices blended perfectly, your dancing synchronised, and the cheers of your combined fanbase echoed throughout the arena.
You think it's easy
You think I don't wanna run to you, yeah
But there are mountains
And there are doors that we can't walk through
It was almost like everything you’d worked towards since becoming stars came full circle in that moment. This could have been your big break, but instead, it felt more like you were living a dream. The lyrics spoke of defying the odds and rewriting destiny, a fitting sentiment for your relationship.
I know you're wondering why
Because we're able to be just you and me within these walls
But when we go outside
You're gonna wake up and see that it was hopeless after all
As the song progressed, your eyes met San's, and in that moment, it felt like the world around you faded away. You sang with passion, pouring your heart into every note, and San matched your intensity with his soulful voice. The audience was captivated, swept away by the emotion in your voices. As the last chords rang out, everyone exploded into thunderous applause.
No one can rewrite the stars
How can you say you'll be mine?
Everything keeps us apart
And I'm not the one you were meant to find
That night, your joint performance set the tone for your relationship and laid the foundation for what was sure to be an epic romance. Although the two companies kept your relationship under wraps in the heat of the moment, San leaned in and pressed his lips to yours. It was a soft, sweet kiss, filled with love and tenderness. The crowd gasped in surprise, and then erupted into cheers and applause. Your fans and his fans alike were overjoyed, their tweets and messages immediately flooding social media with support for your relationship.
It's not up to you, it's not up to me, yeah
When everyone tells us what we can be
And how can we rewrite the stars?
Say that the world can be ours, tonight
The kiss only lasted a moment, but it spoke volumes. It was a declaration of your love for each other, a moment of vulnerability shared with the world. As you pulled away, San's eyes were filled with affection, and you couldn't help but smile at him. As you finished your performance, the applause grew even louder, turning into a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes. All the while, your cheeks flushed red with embarrassment, feeling like you were blushing again for the first time since meeting San. Bowing with the biggest smiles on your faces, you exited the stage.
All I want is to fly with you
All I want is to fall with you
So just give me all of you
Backstage, your fellow idols congratulated you both, showering you with hugs and high-fives. The performance had been a success, not just because of your vocal prowess, but because of the genuine love and connection you shared. Your fans continued to express their support online, sharing clips of the performance and praising your relationship.
It feels impossible
Is it impossible?
Say that it's possible
In the days that followed, the video of your performance went viral, garnering millions of views and countless positive comments. People admired your bravery, your willingness to share your love with the world. The media picked up the story, highlighting the overwhelming support from fans and fellow idols alike. Everyone agreed that this was the start of something special. Even JYPE and KQ Entertainment couldn't deny that there was nothing but love between you and San.
And how do we rewrite the stars?
Say you were made to be mine
And nothing can keep us apart
'Cause you are the one I was meant to find
After winning awards for Best Collaboration and Rookie of the Year, it seemed that things were going to continue to get better and better. One week later, news broke that JYP Entertainment and KQ Entertainment had decided to do more collabs together, agreeing to promote each other's artists in order to further develop their business.
It's up to you, and it's up to me
No one could say what we get to be
And why don't we rewrite the stars?
Changing the world to be ours
The announcement ignited controversy amongst the entertainment industry, sparking heated debate among industry insiders and fans alike, but to you it didn’t matter because you knew your fans and atiny supported your relationship. After seeing all the comments on Twitter and Instagram, it was clear that the decision to make your relationship public was one of the best decisions you'd made.
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