#the progression of their relationship though is refreshing

[adrift-in-thyme]

Roy and Ed have the best mentor - mentee relationship. Discuss.

THEY DO

Roy after thirty minutes discussing a plan: Ed did you listen to a word I said

Ed: yeah totally. I especially liked the part where you suggested we go get some sandwhiches. I heartily agree

Roy: *internal screaming*

#in all seriousness though they really do have such a great relationship #roy saying ed’s got fire in his eyes always makes me grin #cause YES this guy GETS IT #he’s a dorky idealist at his heart after all #he knows what it’s like to need something to fight for #to make a better future #for yourself and others #and he kinda tries to guide ed in containing that fight #*continuing* #whether it’s introducing him to tucker (which yeah went horribly but he couldn’t have known) #or checking up on he and al to see if they’ve made progress with their quest #or allowing them the freedom to research #and even showing up like everywhere the boys go to make sure they’re as protected as possible #protective/parental roy is the best #and though ed is a little gremlin child #I do think he sees roy almost as an older brother #annoying but endearing and kinda cool at the same time XD #idk I’ve got many thoughts about these two #but I need to rewatch the show (in the process of doing it rn) #so that I can refresh my memory #and properly gush about them #trin answers #asks #lovely anon #fmab

[jinkiezzsstuff]

I know you wrote something similar. Can I request Valentino finding an excuse to spank bunny reader who's usually very obedient. She isn't doing anything bad compared to a lot of the other stars. He just reached for an excuse to tell Y/N she's naughty and spank her. She's perfectly fine with being spanked because she secretly loves it.

Smut plz!!

woooot i love bunny reader! thank you so much for this request sorry it took me forever to get to it i have been busy, i hope you enjoy it. also sorry it’s short but it was nice writing something that was short and easy to break the block <3

warnings: SMUT 18+, fingering only, spanking kink, valentino, unhealthy relationship dynamics, bunny reader, pet names, val’s a dick but like not always to you, not proofread i’m lazy teehee, i think that’s it? swearing :)

Valentino watched you prancing around the studio, your little tail flickering behind you. He tasked you will setting out some refreshment for the stars as you weren’t currently on the job, just here to watch and sit pretty alongside your Tino.

You were royalty around here and everyone knew it, you were Valentino’s yesman, he asked you did, he beckoned you followed. Lucifer forbid anyone made a mistake around you, you’d go hopping straight to the big boss, snitching to Valentino about what the others did.

You rarely got punished as well, Valentino never really attempted to quell his anger issues or explosive episodes, but when it came to his little bunny, he thought twice. You were a sensitive little demon and though he couldn’t care less about the tears- the fits you threw weren’t worth the short satisfaction of yelling at you. So it came to everybody in the studios surprise when Valentinos wings splayed out wide, scowl on his face as he watched you bend over to pick up the cup you had knocked over.

You looked over your shoulder and up at him, his body cascading shadows over you, wings out and hairs on end. Your lip puckered out as you stood, cup in hand, liquid on the floor. “Aí bunny you know better then this. All these expensive wires and cables. I can’t do my job without them.” Valentino hissed glaring down at your through his glasses, your ears had fallen behind you sad and droopy.

“I’m sorry Val, I won’t do it again.” You squeaked out meekly, not used to being at the receiving end of his anger. “No, you won’t,” Valentino hummed out voice laced with false kindness. “Private room.” The moth cooed at you, wings falling to his side as he turned and walked off toward said private room.

The others in the studio looked at you with little remorse, everyone had to put up with his anger, you weren’t special or getting any pity because you’re finally facing Val on one of his short temper days. Tears clouded your eyes, blurring the room as you walked, thankfully seeing wasn’t needed as you had the studio layout memorized.

You walked into the private room on autopilot thinking of all the mean things Valentino was going to say to you. Opening the door, Valentino sat, your surprise, calmly. Sucking large huffs of hot pink smoke into his lungs he waited, legs and wings splayed out, just for you. Closing the door behind you, you stood stiff by it awaiting to be told what to do.

Valentinos hand lifted, finger beckoning come hither, his gaze fixed in front of him not even looking at you. Frowning, you scuttled over like the prey you were until you reached his stuck out knee. That’s when he looked at you, removing his sunglasses he grinned widely. “You know, I hate to punish such a pretty whore, but ah, that’s how it is~” Everything he said was smooth and sultry, making your legs inadvertently clench. Patting his thighs with one set of arms, the other left arm coming up to the small of your back. “Bend over~ I won’t bite,” As you bent over his thighs, he leaned down and whispered in your hear: “Yet.” Before darkly chuckling.

It started with one wack, but it progressed quickly ending with him kneading your ass with two of his hands, with one stayed attached to his pipe. “Look at’chu baby, you’re a mess~” He sneered at you pulling your skimpy underwear to the side to play with the slick you had accumulated. “All for you, you’re the only one who can get me off without the cams,” You admit breathlessly between whines of pleasure.

Valentino chuckled darkly, slowly and teasingly filling you with two of his long fingers. A groan of pleasure with full timbre echoed within your chest at the feeling of him, not only did he have you off in some room like the whore you were for him, but he wasn’t really mad. He realistically wouldn’t have been so quick and kind with his affections.

“I bet you spilt it on purpose, just to have me spread you out, filthy thing.” Valentino spoke with an amused tone as he watched you squirm agaisnt his slow prodding. “Yes always want your attention,” You whined attempting to back up into the pimps thrusts, but he kissed his teeth disapprovingly at you. “Oh little conejita, you’ve been so good, i’ll give you mercy.” Without another word Valentinos finger’s vigorously thrusted in and out of you, curling to hit that spongey spot inside of you. Gripping his thigh, you cried out and wheezed the last of your breath as your orgasm came rough and fast. Stars twinkled uncomfortably in your vision as your felt his warm fingers leave your body, making you whimper.

Above you Valentino licked his fingers clean, long tongue slithering around his digits like a starved man. With an evil giggle, he pushed you off his lap and stood. “Maybe next time i’ll give you all of me, hmm?” You groaned at his remark, lifting yourself up enough to watch you leave, you’ll definitely have to get him back for this.

#hazbin hotel x reader #hazbin hotel imagine #hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel oneshots #hazbin hotel smut #hazbin hotel valentino x reader #valentino hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel valentino #valentino x reader #valentino smut #valentino #val x reader

[valeriianz]

Here’s another half-formed dreamling fic with them stuck in a snow storm while flurries currently whistle past my windows (and cover my screens in white).

Dream, sitting on the floor of his kitchen, surrounded by candles because the power is out, and sipping a glass of red wine. He’s bundled in a blanket and desperately failing to conserve battery on his phone, by texting Hob, who’s also lost power.

Dream slouches back against his oven, of which the burners are on to give off some blessed heat (thank God his oven is gas), while he reads the latest message from Hob, lamenting how bleeding cold it is in his own apartment, a newly renovated chrome building on the edge of the city, where everything, including the heat, was electric.

Dream mourns for him, even though Hob makes light of the situation with his witty texts and flirtatious hints of how Dream could warm him up.

They’d only been on a handful of dates, not yet fallen into bed together… Dream awkwardly explaining to Hob that it took a while, if at all, for sexual attraction to form within a new relationship. Hob had, surprisingly, taken it in stride. Becoming patient and thoughtful, always communicating, and never pushing Dream’s limits. 

It was refreshing, and– to Dream’s complete surprise– he’d found himself falling hard for the other man. Who knew a simple acknowledgment to boundaries would get him so wound up? His pulse quickened with every smile Hob gave him, his stomach tying itself in knots whenever Hob would take his hand, and his brain completely shutting off when Hob would kiss him. Chaste things that had progressively turned more and more heated with every encounter. Promising something more and more each time they met.

Currently, the sounds of his windows rattling from the flurries outside fill his dark apartment, along with the flutter of the open flames on his stove, and the quiet drip, drip, drip of the kitchen tap (to prevent frozen pipes, Dream had learned that lesson the hard way last winter).

After about an hour of texting Hob, Dream nearly halfway done with the bottle of wine, he receives a text that makes his heart jump.

So, what if i told you im actually outside your building?

Dream stood up so suddenly the candles around him nearly snuffed themselves out.

He yanked on his boots and pulled on his oversized winter coat, stumbling to his front door and marching down the stairs of the apartment complex he resided in, the age of which you could smell in its walls, see in the cracks and warps in the wooden floors. He made it down to the entrance and pulled open the door, the ice cold wind smacking Dream in the face immediately.

But then he saw a smudge of brown in the whiteness approaching. Dream kicked down the snow that had piled up at the door and waded forward in knee deep snow to meet Hob halfway and help him past the threshold.

Once the door slammed shut behind them, Dream took a proper look at Hob.

“You look like the abominable snowman.”

Hob laughed. He was absolutely covered in snow, piled high on his shoulders, his boots, even on his eyelashes.

“I feel like one.” Hob said, his voice cracked and breathless.

Once they’re back inside Dream’s apartment, and Hob’s outer layers have been stripped off and hung in the shower to drip dry, Dream sets off to boil water on the stove top for tea.

They sit on Dream’s couch, sharing a blanket and sipping tea while Dream admonishes Hob for coming out in the middle of a storm. What was he thinking?? To which Hob just shrugs and curls his nearly numb fingers around the hot mug, snuggling even further into Dream’s side and sighing.

“Worth it, to see you.”

“You’re insane,” Dream says, but smiles through it. 

Hob’s skin glows with the orange and yellow flickering of the candles, his features softening and barely noticeable in the limited light. But Dream knows them by now. Knows the curve of Hob’s thick, dark eyebrows, down to the scruff of his jaw, and back up to the prominent shape of his nose. He’s always handsome, but right now, shadowed in soft light and his cheeks still pink from the cold, he’s lovely. And Dream can’t help but set his mug down, taking Hob’s as well, and kissing him.

His lips arm warm from the tea, and he tastes of lavender and honey, and it makes Dream want. Want to climb onto Hob’s lap and crawl inside him. Make a nest for himself– warm and safe and cared for under Hob’s breast bone. There he could listen to the rhythmic beat of his heart, how it thunders now, under Dream’s hand as he caresses down Hob’s sweater and gets teasing fingers under the hem, touching the soft flesh of his hips and stomach.

Hob moans into his mouth, making Dream’s skull vibrate and he nearly gives in, something dark and unknown swirling in his lower belly that drives his fingers to press harder, feel the texture of Hob’s skin, the smattering of hairs at his stomach, but he forces himself to slow down, to take it easy, to enjoy and luxuriate in what they have now. 

Hob, miraculously, follows along. His own hands cupping each side of Dream’s head and only getting his fingers in his hair, matching Dream’s pace, kissing back with no intention of more unless Dream initiated. Moving his mouth at Dream’s pace, breaking apart and nudging his nose and lips under his jaw and nuzzling behind Dream’s ear and making him shudder pleasantly.

“Dream, Dream…” Hob mumbles, seemingly content in just kissing, just holding one another. “I could do this for hours.”

Dream grips the hem of Hob’s sweater, holding tightly as to prevent himself from ripping it off Hob. Another time, very soon, he knows. Dream has every intention to give into the temptation that is Hob Gadling, but the waiting is so much more fun. The anticipation, the slow understanding of his own feelings brimming up to the surface, will be that much more satisfying when he’s certain Hob will reciprocate them.

Hob just might love him back, right now. But Dream waits. Though, he does allow himself a confession:

“I could do this forever.”

#and then they roasted marshmallows on the stove #and snuggled in bed and it was perfect #dreamling #hob x dream #ace/demisexual Dream #it's cold as balls here and oh how i wish for a Hob Gadling of my own #my writing

[builtbybrokenbells]

It’s Never Over

A blowout resulting in an untimely breakup between y/n and her long term boyfriend leaves both of them broken. A year and a half later, after nothing but radio silence and unrequited love, they find themselves face to face once more. Both grown up, living completely different lives, but still hurting over mistakes their younger selves made, and still hopelessly head over heels for each other. They find themselves caught up in the struggle of choice; to allow history to repeat itself, or let the memory of their past fade away into nothing.

listen while reading: lover, you should’ve come over - Jeff Buckley

Pairing: josh kiszka x f!reader

Word Count: 17.7k

Warnings: SMUT 18+, unprotected sex, sweet soft makeup sex, oral (f!receiving), fingering, praise, pet names, body worshiping ig if you squint, breakups/breakup talk, angst (with a happy ending 😁), mentions of drugs, drinking, sad josh (needs a warning of its own), crying, some yelling, sweetness, tooth rotting fluff, sorry if I miss any!!!

so somebody requested some josh angst and i just couldn’t help myself 🤭 a very happy ending, pinky promise. you guys know me well enough to know I’m a slut for happy endings. also sorry it turned out so long, i HAVE to stop it with the literal novels. i just got super attached to the characters and got carried away (what else is new). i also wrote this mostly in one sitting so I had to trim a lot and add things here and there, but i hope this is satisfactory!! also not fantastically edited, cause I’m super lazy 🫣 as always, be kind, enjoy, and don’t mind any grammar mistakes!!

~

The silk of your dress clung to your skin, the slit in the leg just promiscuous enough to catch eyes, but not enough to be uncomfortably exposed. The deep emerald green was elegant, a fantastic choice on your part. Your hair hung loosely over your shoulders, the scent of your perfume radiating around you. You were dressed to the nines, much like the other women pooling into the lobby of the five-star hotel. Even so, you had never felt more out of place. As you anxiously awaited the progression to the main event, you couldn’t help but check over your shoulders every few minutes. You were hoping to catch sight of any familiar faces before they saw you, in hopes of a head start to hide away. You straightened your hair out and fixed the straps of your dress, trying to pass a few more minutes without focusing on your nervousness.

It was your first time back in Nashville after a year and a half of avoiding it. You’d moved to New York some time ago and hadn’t looked back since. Your hometown was greatly missed, but for no reasons that were obvious. You didn’t miss your family; you shared phone calls and texts, which was perfectly fine for you. They’d always been a bit hard on the head, raving about appearance and sophistication rather than fun and happiness, so the distance wasn’t terribly troublesome. Your siblings were scattered across the world, anyway, so the change in location really had no effect on the relationships you previously had with them. The town itself wasn’t troublesome to leave behind, either. You had gotten your fill of it in your first twenty-some years of life, and it was quite refreshing to get out into the world and see something new.

What you did miss, though, was the boy you left behind. Although, it wasn’t a choice to leave him; he’d made that decision for you, and without a hesitation, too. You never expected him to come with you while you followed your dream. It would be selfish to expect him to leave everything behind to chase you around the world. But, you did hope that there was a part of him that wanted to make it work despite the distance, like you’d done for him countless times. When you told him you had to go, that the move was something you desperately needed, all of the love he ever had for you seemed to disappear. He turned cold and distant, and ended things without a second thought.

“Please, Josh, just listen to me for one minute!” You begged, tears forming in your eyes. His usually joyous face was nothing short of indifferent towards you, now.

“I don’t have anything to talk about with you, y/n.” The words were equal to a stab to the chest. His eyes were looking anywhere but you, secretly afraid he’d break down and tell you everything he was holding back.

“You’re going to throw the last three years out the window over this? Without a compromise, or a conversation, or anything at all?” There was a few feet of space between you, both scared of breaking the invisible boundary.

“You’re leaving! You pack up all of your shit and move in with me, just to tell me a few months later that you’re moving across the country? You’ve known for a while, and you’re just telling me now?” He finally broke, the pain in his eyes clearer than anything you’d ever seen. The accusatory tone was infuriating, as if he was sentencing you with a crime you hadn’t committed.

“I haven’t known for a while, Josh. I just got the email today! I applied thinking there was no way in hell I would ever hear back, but I did, and I have to go. This is my dream, you know that. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted.” You pleaded for him to see reason.

“The only thing, huh?” You could tell the statement landed wrong, feeling guilty for even making him think that was what you meant. “I tell you all of the time you can come work with us, design for us; we’d be more than happy to have you there.”

“I can’t do that! I can’t always be in the background of your fame. I can’t backpack off of your success, live in the shadows of my boyfriend forever. I need to make a name for myself, to prove to everyone that I can do it on my own, without any handouts.” You explained. He nodded, barely responding to anything you had to say about it.

“That’s fine, y/n. Go, live your dream. I’m not stopping you.” He sounded defeated, like he was giving up.

“What about us?” You whispered, your voice hoarse from the hours of back-and-fourth yelling.

“Clearly you weren’t thinking about me when you made the decision, so why are you worried about it, now?” Your heart broke, the tears you were holding back finally falling down your cheeks. “You can go, but I’m not going to wait for you to come back.” Silence hung thick in the air, and for the first time in your long history, it was uncomfortable.

“So that’s it?” You snapped. “I can sit at home while you travel the world, wait for you to come home, not know if you’re sleeping with the millions of girls that throw themselves at you? That’s fine? But the minute I want to get out of here, escape the shitty 9-5 lifestyle and do something for myself, I’m the bad guy? I’m not asking you to drop everything and come with me, I’m just asking you to love me enough to support me while I do it!” You could see regret flash in his eyes, both of your emotions running high and clouding your judgement. When he remained silent, you got more than enough of an answer. “Okay,” you let out a small, humourless laugh. “I’ll get my shit, then. If this is how you want to go about it, fine by me. You’ll never have to see me again.” You turned towards the hallway, preparing yourself to pack up your entire life.

“Y/n,” he said, stopping you for a moment. “Just stay, please.” You could hear tears in his voice, too.

“So I can sit around and wait for you for the rest of my life?” Your voice cracked, effortlessly showing him all of the emotion you were trying not to let out. “I can’t put everything on pause because you don’t want me to go, Josh. I might never get a chance like this ever again. I don’t want to leave you, but this is my life. My dream.”

“I’m supposed to be a part of your life, too.”

“Not if you make me choose.”

“So you’ve already made up your mind?” The accusation fuelled a fire in you.

“I was hoping to have both, but I guess we can’t have everything we want.” He let out a long exhale.

“Yeah, I guess so.” He grumbled. “You’re leaving to chase after a possibility, y/n. You’re gonna move out there with no real offer lined up? You could get out there and end up at another shitty office job. Alone, away from everything you know. I’m here. I love you, and I’m certain about that.” Your stomach sank at his words, filled with dread knowing that he didn’t believe in you.

“You may be, but I’m not.” You scoffed. “If you love me, you’d support me. You know how bad I want this. You’re not being fair.” You waited for a moment, hoping he’d say something else. When you were met with another staggering silence, you stumbled away from him with your heart in your stomach and your head in your hands. You left your house key on the bed before walking away forever.

That was the last time you spoke to him. A few days after that, you got on a plane to New York and spent months trying to rid yourself of his memory. Now, over a year later, every essence of your being was still plagued with Josh Kiszka. You never got over him, you never moved on, and you never stopped thinking of him. He was the love of your life; the type of love that overshadowed any other emotion you could ever experience. Sure, you hated him, too, and a part of you hoped you’d never see him again, but there was a bigger part of you that longed for one more hug, or even just another smile. He was one of a kind, and nobody held a candle to him. He never texted, he never called, or even so much as liked a social media post. Sometimes, you wondered if you’d spend the rest of your life yearning for someone who barely remembered you existed.

As much as you still loved him, the hurt you held in your chest was debilitating. He let you walk out the door, no hint of hesitation. It killed you, because you’d spent years cheering him and his brothers on while they lived their dream, but he wasn’t willing to reciprocate for you. You hoped he would change his mind, but the only thing you’d received in your year away was radio silence. There was no solid proof that you ever existed to him aside from memory, and that’s what hurt you the most. You watched his life through pictures, his face gracing your phone screen with new press releases and album announcements, sending you spiralling down the Kiszka rabbit hole even further. You listened to their music every now and then, even watched a few interviews, just to remind yourself of what his voice sounded like. You were well aware that their new album was bound to release within the next few months. It served as another reminder of how great his life was going without you in it.

You hadn’t done too bad for yourself, either. The move to New York stemmed from a submission to be considered for a spot in New York Fashion Week. You’d applied as a model for the event, with slim expectations for a response. When they responded to your headshots, it kickstarted the fire in you to follow your passion. Once you arrived, you modelled and found that taste of life you’d been longing for so badly. You had the opportunity to meet big names you had been dreaming of meeting your whole life, and somehow even managed to pick up a mentor to help you achieve your biggest dream: design. After a few months of solely shadowing her, then a year of sleepless nights and some blood, sweat, and tears, you were finally set to release your own line of designer clothing. Of course, it was partnered with your mentor company, but it still adorned your name.

Most of your presale items were already sold out, giving you an overwhelming sense of pride. Big celebrities were in line to own your clothing, eager enough to buy it that they were ordering months ahead. As much as it hurt leaving everything behind when you moved to New York, your life was more than you ever could have imagined it, now. Still, with all of the financial success, a part of you still felt like it was missing. Somewhere amidst all of the fame, you realized that you may have given up a bit too much to get where you were. You tried not to focus on it, knowing that dwelling on the past would only limit you from the future. If Josh Kiszka was meant to be yours, he would be. If not, life would go on. You had to understand that, because if you believed anything else, you were sure it would kill you.

The crowd began to filter away in front of you, letting you know the doors to the event were opening. The cameras outside were still flashing, meaning guests were still arriving. You were thankful you had a room booked upstairs so you could avoid the paparazzi. As much as you loved your work, the galas and celebrations could be a bit much by times. You almost preferred the quietness of the design room over the runway, now. At first, the pictures and cheers and magazine covers were a thrill. They’d begun to lose their novelty almost as soon as it started, just the same as the parties. When your boss handed you a plane ticket a few days prior, you questioned why you were heading to Nashville. She’d wasted no time in telling you about the Gala you would be not only attending, but speaking at. Your stomach was sick at the idea. Some of it was due to the public speaking, but more so because Nashville was the last place you wanted to be. But, part of the job was to keep up appearances, so you had no choice but to oblige.

The question of Nashville in specific brought up a whole world of information. Apparently, the success of your line of clothing had caused some speculation of expansion. That morning, the company announced your own outlet store opening in your hometown. They thought it as a gift to you, but it was more of a nightmare. That meant a lot more time in Nashville, even permanently, for a while. Also, more appearances, and more of a chance to run into the boy you’d rather run away from. Still, your appreciation of the gesture was unmatched; knowing they had faith in you to have your own outlets meant more than anything in the world. You felt like the success you’d been searching for had finally rewarded you. So, you hopped on a plane and threw on your best dress. You left your hotel room with big smiles and the determination to forget any uncertainty. Still, you were well aware that a gala in Nashville would indisputably include musicians. That meant there was a larger chance of seeing Josh than you were particularly comfortable with.

You followed the sea of people into the large room, noticing it was decorated in hints of golds and silvers, really showcasing elegance. The stage was lit up with low lights, hinting towards the anticipated guest speakers. Soft music flowed through the sound system, enveloping you in a warm embrace. Music was the best way to drown out the other noise, and in your life, there was always noise. “You know, there’s more to life than caviar and blow.” You looked to your side, focusing on your company for the night. You laughed at her comment once you’d processed what she said. “I don’t think many people here know that.”

“It’s a tale of the rich, Liz. Most of these people were born on a bed of gold plated fish eggs and were shoved straight into generational drug addiction.” You smirked, eyes scanning the crowd. You knew your parents weren’t poor, but they were far from the families some of these people were born into. They had good reputations in the community, but not across the world. You weren’t impoverished, but would never have fathomed this type of money as a kid. As much as they cared about appearance, they were good parents. They raised you with love and strong morals, and you weren’t a stranger to struggle. They didn’t pay your way through life. What you got came from what you earned.

“Can you even imagine growing up this way? First birthdays spent at the Met Gala and graduation parties thrown in Venice?” She chuckled, but disbelief was present in her tone. Liz was a university student you’d hand picked to hire after her graduation. She doubled as an assistant and one of your models, but she was more than that. Over the months, she’d slowly turned into your best friend. She wasn’t much younger than you, only by about three years. Her resume caught your eye faster than any other, and you’d called her almost instantly. She just wanted experience in the fashion world, but you were certain that if things went smooth over the next few months, you’d ensure she’d be given her shares in the company. She worked extremely hard, had fantastic insight, along with being bright, kind, and hilarious. She kept you on your toes and brought you back to reality when you needed it.

“I suppose if you don’t know anything else, it’s completely normal.” You theorized. “I don’t ever want my kids to grow up that way. I don’t want them to be scared of playing outside and getting dirty. I don’t want money to be their main concern. And, if I had to suffer through the American public school system, they will too.” You laughed. She joined in, agreeing completely. You turned your head towards her, noticing the material of her dress was misplaced around her shoulders. “Mm, hold on,” you said, reaching over to her. She faced you, already knowing what the look on your face meant. You straightened it out, taking a small step back to double check. “There. Can’t have you in disarray, darling. Sure way to get us kicked out.” She grinned, picking up on your joking tone immediately.

“You just want your designer dresses to look perfect.”

“I’m nothing if not vain.” You both shared another laugh. You noticed a photographer making his way around the room through the corner of your eye. “Lipstick check.” You said, panicked. You flashed her your teeth.

“You’re good.” She repeated the action back to you.

“You, too.” You let out a dramatic sigh of relief. “Can’t wait to get the pictures and introductions over with so we can start drinking.”

“You don’t need any generational alcoholism; you got that all by yourself.” She chided. You chuckled, eyes searching for a server with champagne. That was one thing that was always for certain; no matter how mind-numbing the gala’s were, there was always high-end alcohol floating around somewhere.

“It’s not all pretty patterns and cross stitching, you know. Have to drown the demons somehow.” Your conversation was cut short by a camera being shoved in your faces. You gave your best public smile, the kind where your lips were upturned but you looked a little dead behind the eyes. Somehow in the celebrity world, that equated to elegance. You posed with Liz, giving the camera a bit of a show. Eventually, you broke and gave a real smile, but only for a moment. Once the photographer moved away, you relaxed your posture, feeling a bit more human.

“Does fame always entail looking soulless?”

“Yeah, pretty much. You’ll get used to it.” You mumbled, eyes falling to the table that was overflowing with food. Your eyes lit up at the sight of self-serve champagne flutes. You grabbed Liz’s hand, bringing her along with you as you advanced towards it. You picked up a glass, immediately taking a large gulp out of it. The nude colour of your lipstick stained the rim, claiming it as your own. Liz grabbed one too, also indulging in the bubbly liquid. “You don’t have to look soulless all of the time. Just when you’re posing, or on the walk, or if you’re walking down the street, or at the supermarket.” You listed, humour radiating from you. “Interviews give you the chance to show a little bit of life. Takes the world as a shock, you know, when they realize you actually have a personality.” You continued the earlier conversation.

“That seems a bit odd, doesn’t it?”

“Oh yeah, definitely. But it’s what I was taught.” You gave a shrug. “I think people find power attractive, and that’s kind of what you encase in pictures when you look like that. At least that’s what I picked up from it.”

“Makes sense, I guess. Also makes the interviews more memorable, too. People cling to the emotion ‘cause they feel like they finally get to know some part of you. Feel connected, even.”

“Exactly, sweetheart. See? You’re gonna have my job in no time.”

“Oh, don’t say that, you’ve got at least two more good years before people get bored of you.” You couldn’t help the cackle that fell from your lips, finding the statement hilarious mostly because of its truth. The spotlight only shines for so long before it’s begging to move on. “I don’t want your job. I’d like to work with you forever, I think.” She picked up an appetizer from the table, eyeing it suspiciously before popping it in her mouth.

“Don’t you think I’d be more fun when I go batshit crazy because I don’t know what to do with myself after the fame?”

“No, because I’d have to take care of you.” She said without missing a beat. “I know the rest of the ass-kissers at the office won’t. They just want their five minutes of fame. They don’t give a shit about you.” You hummed an agreement, knowing she was speaking the truth. True connection in the world of money and power was rare, and she was the only person you’d ever felt it with aside from your own mentor. It was a constant struggle of use people or get used, and it was exhausting. As much passion as you had for your work, you were always the first to admit that the industry was ruthless.

“Yeah, sometimes I feel like Julius Caesar walking in there. Waiting for the day they all get together and stab me.” You took another sip from your glass.

“Well, they’ll probably stab me, too. At least we can go to hell, together.” You raised your glass as a cheers to the statement. She gently clicked her glass against yours in response. “Jokes aside, you are a good boss. They all have great things to say about you, so you don’t have to worry about planned assassination, yet.”

“Fantastic news. I’ve been preparing for it for weeks, now.” You smiled. Just as you finished speaking, the lights dimmed a little further. You paid no mind to it, assuming it was just a cue for everyone to gather around in preparation for the first speech. “I want to be a good boss. I don’t want to be the person everybody is scared of. I do what I do because I love it, not for the money. If I can make people fall in love with it, too, then I know I did something worthwhile. That’s the end goal.” You drained the last of your beverage, placing your glass on the tray to be taken away. You immediately went for another, needing the liquid courage for when the stage was yours.

“You do a good job. That office is full of inspiration. I never felt out of place, even when I had no experience. Made me feel like I was meant to be there, rather than just meant to work for you.” You let a smile out, one laced with genuineness.

“Cause you are, Liz. I didn’t hire you because i thought you’d stroke my ego. I hired you because I knew you’d challenge me. There’s no pride in getting your way all of the time. We all need a little criticism to thrive.”

“It’s insane, y/n. I remember being in my grad year and hearing about the new model catching the attention of everyone at Fashion Week. Less than a year later, you were working with one of the biggest designers in America, and starting your own brand. You made the industry your bitch, and when you hired me I was terrified of you. I thought anyone who climbed the ladder that fast had to be evil. But you’re just a person. My friend, even. You respect everyone, from the big bosses to the janitors. It’s very admirable.”

“Don’t stroke my ego, I just told you that’s not why I hired you.” You chuckled. “I was the same as everyone else, too. I didn’t come from money, I had to do the dirty work, I got my heart broken, and knocked down a few times, too. I can recognize what I have now had a lot to do with luck, even if I do have the talent. That’s just the way the industry works. But, everyone plays a part in success, even if you’re the one changing the garbages, signing the legal documents, or have your name sewn into the tag.” She watched you in admiration as you spoke, almost shaking her head in disbelief. Despite the tiny age gap, she always felt like she could get the wisdom she craved from you. She looked up to you, even when you told her not to. In your eyes, you and her were the same. You wished she’d start to see it that way, too. “You’ll realize I’m just me when I get up there and stumble over all of my words.” You chuckled.

“You’ll look hot while you do it, though.” She gave you a nudge with your elbow. You laughed, feeling redness rise to your cheeks.

“You think so?” You appreciated the compliment more than she realized. Deep down, you were hoping to look good, just in case Josh happened to be floating around the event.

“Oh, yeah. That dress was the right choice.” You both fell into a silence, meticulously people watching. By the time the first speech was over with, you were buzzing with nervousness for your turn on the stage. You realized just how many people were there as you observed the crowed, understanding that if you messed up, you’d be the laughing stock of the event. Liz picked up on your anxiety, soothing you with small jokes and comments intermittently. It was helping slightly, knowing that you weren’t there alone, at least.

You’d done a lot of behind the scenes work over the last year. You did a few shows, not minding the camera in your face because you didn’t have to say anything. There was no worry of stutters or misplaced rambling. Only recently had you started speaking publicly, beginning with interviews and press conferences. Now, they were integrating you into a spokesperson. As your mentor told you, your work is nothing without publicity. You needed to create the illusion of connection, make people believe they know you, make them feel appreciated. That was the key to success. You spoke at a few gala’s, but this was the largest one to date with some of the most popular faces. The alcohol was giving you a bit of a sense of confidence, and whether it was fake or not didn’t matter; you had it, and you were going to use it.

A hand on your shoulder sent a jolt of shock through you, as it was unfamiliar, yet strangely comforting. Somewhere in your soul, you recognized it without even having to look at the face. “I always told you green was your colour, sunshine.” The tone, the dialect, formulation of the words, even the barely noticeable Michigan accent at the end of the sentence was painstakingly reminiscent for you. Your stomach plummeted, heart pounding against your rib cage as you turned towards the voice. Your gaze connected with his, sending a wave of emotion through you more powerful than most you’d felt before.

“Jake,” you breathed. His lips upturned into a smile, unable to contain his excitement to see you.

“I missed you.” He said, wasting no time pulling you into a hug. As much of a shock as it was to see him, you couldn’t help but melt into the hold. As angry as you were with his brother, Jake had always been your best friend through the years of dating Josh. When your relationship came to an untimely end, so did your friendship. You’d grown estranged from the boy in the same way you had with Josh, and it killed you just the same, too. You spent days deliberating reaching out to him, just to check in, but you didn’t want to overstep boundaries. Instead, you mastered the art of becoming a stranger with him, too.

“You had time to miss me with all of that music you’re making?” You teased, pulling back but not fully letting go of him. Your hand rested on his bicep, hesitant to release him in case he slipped away. “An album and another world tour coming up, I’m surprised you have time to think of anything other than that guitar.”

“Always have time to think about you,” he said, trying to pass it off as a joke. You could see a flicker of hurt cross his eyes, the small emotion feeling like a stab to the chest. “What about you, though? Your own brand and an outlet store here in Nashville?”

“So you keep up to date with me?” You grinned.

“Seems like you do, too.” He chuckled. “I, uh… I’m proud of you, Sunny.” The words settled in your bones like cement, weighing you down. As kind as they were, everything seemed to hurt when it was coming from his mouth. Maybe it was the way he said it, or the way his tone of voice reminded you so much of the boy you forced yourself to stop thinking about. Maybe it was his mannerisms, or the face, because when he turned his head a certain angle, all you could see was Josh. Whatever it was, it hurt, and it hurt achingly bad.

“I’m proud of you guys, too. The single was phenomenal. I always knew you guys were destined for something big. I think I can even see the rock and roll hall of fame in your future.” You smiled.

“One can dream.” He laughed. “I saw you were almost completely sold out of pre-orders. Everybody has been talking about you. It’s crazy.”

“You checked out my website?” You asked, a fizzle of excitement sparking in your chest. He scoffed at the question.

“I think we were the first to put an order in.” He was telling the truth, you could sense the genuine nature of his words just by his eyes. “The men’s line is super cool, by the way.”

“Oh,” you squeaked. “You got something?” Your cheeks were burning with embarrassment.

“Of course we did, y/n. We all got something.” You wanted to press further about his statement of ‘all’, but you pushed the thought away.

“I thought you guys would have forgotten about me by now.” You admitted. A bewildered look flashed across his face.

“Forget you?” He asked, unable to believe you’d ever think that. “Sunny, we think about you almost every day. We talk about you all of the time.” You swallowed hard at the new found information. “I saw your name on the program and I knew I couldn’t let you get away without saying hi, at least. I’ve been looking for you all night. Recognized you as soon as I saw you over here. Could spot you from a mile away. I know… I know things ended pretty poorly, but the love is still there. That’ll never go away.” You almost didn’t know how to answer, wanting to pry more from him, but also not wanting to know at all.

“Is… is Josh here, too?” You finally asked, knowing the answer before he replied.

“Yeah,” he nodded.

“Is he,” you paused yourself, unsure if the inquiries were pushing a boundary. “okay? I mean, like obviously, but you know.” You rambled, embarrassing yourself slightly.

“He’s Josh.” Jake assured you, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “He misses you. He’s the first to check all of the fashion magazines to see if they’re talking about you. He hasn’t been… quite the same, since everything. He still laughs and drinks and rambles, but he’s a bit more distant, I think.”

“Oh,” you repeated your same proclamation from earlier.

“If you feel up to it, maybe stop and say hello. Even if you don’t talk to him, Sam and Danny would be over the moon to see you.”

“Uh, I don’t know, Jake.” A humourless laugh fell from your lips. “Some things are just better left as is.”

“I don’t think this one is,” he said, eyes boring into you. “It’s completely up to you, sunshine.” He said, smiling warmly to assure you he meant it. Before you could respond, the announcer called out your name; in the height of emotion, you must have missed your introduction. “Don’t leave without saying goodbye, okay?” Jake said, ushering you to the stage. You nodded, downing the last of your champagne before bustling towards the stairs. You were mindful of the skirt of your dress as you walked, fearing you may trip on it and ruin the entrance. Once you had both feet planted safely on the stage, you took to the mic stand.

“Thank you for that kind introduction,” You smiled off to the side of the stage at the host, assuming he had said something kind like he had for the other speakers. Otherwise, you would look a bit like a fool. “It’s fantastic to be here tonight.” You took in a breath, trying not to focus on the crowd staring up at you. “I spent a long time debating on what to say when I got here, tonight. If I’m being completely transparent, I’m still not sure. The boss told me to get up here and tell you about myself, so that’s what I’m going to do.” You started, eyes settling on Liz for some sense of security. You used her as a focal point until your comfortability grew. “It’s intimidating getting on stage and talking about success. Especially when I feel far behind in that department, sometimes. It doesn’t seem to matter how many sales are made, or how many congratulations are spewed; we always seem to be our biggest critic, and I haven’t been able to break that habit, yet. Growing up in Nashville, there was always buzz about the greats and the up and coming stars; this whole city, and state, is full of pride, and for good reason. To think that I can be considered part of it has been mind-blowing. Knowing the support I have from home and all over the world has been incredibly eye opening, and a bit of a confidence boost, too.” You flashed a smile, causing a chorus of laughter from the audience.

“Just over a year ago, I was packing my bags and riddled with anxiety at the thought of jumping on a plane and flying away from everything I’d ever known. Somehow, by the grace of the universe, I’d been selected to participate in New York Fashion Week. When I moved there, there was no true promise of a career, but the publicity certainly seemed like a good place to start. As I flew away from here, all I could hear in my head was a million reasons to turn around and stay home. There was one voice of reason in the swarm of negativity that pushed me to follow my dream, and I’m so thankful I listened to it.” You paused, regaining your breath before you continued on. “When I arrived, I got to meet people I’d been admiring for my entire life; names that I never thought I would get a chance to speak about, let alone speak to them. I walked with pride, even in my ignorance. I had no idea what I was doing, I was just happy to be there. Somehow, in my clumsiness and lack of grace, someone saw potential. I was lucky enough to be graced with a mentor who never gave up on me; one who taught me everything I know. She is my rock, and my mother away from home. I owe every success to her, and I have no shame in saying that.” There was an awe from the crowd, appreciating the sweetness.

“She taught me design, sure, but more so than that, she taught me dedication, pride and the true meaning of hard work.” Another laugh sounded. “After a few months of relentless effort, it started to pay off. A few small companies picked up my designs, using them for miscellaneous projects. But one day, in the dreariness of winter, I was given my most valuable gift; the offer to launch my own line of clothing. Of course, partnered with my parent company, but my own work, with my heart and soul stitched into the seams. I still struggle to believe it’s real.” There was a chorus of cheers at the statement. You gave a smile, rose dusting your cheeks. “In the time from the early stages of production to now, I’ve made incredible memories. There were hard times, lots of tears and challenges, and even a couple nights leaving me with the desire to give up. But I pushed through, persevering only due to the strength that my team gives me every day. Every person I work with played a part in me getting here, and it would be incredibly dishonourable to walk away without thanking them for their hard work, too. I was lucky enough to bring along my assistant, Liz.” You pointed to her in the front row. “She’s been my driving force, my best friend, and my motivation. I have no doubt that she’ll take over for me eventually, or even be bigger than what I am, now. If anyone deserves applause, it’s her.” The crowd gave another round of cheers, causing the younger girl to erupt in a blush, smiling and waving slightly. When the crowd died down, you continued.

“I’m beyond grateful to say the presales for the brand have nearly been sold out already. That is almost unfathomable for me to think about. This morning our company issued an announcement, which I’m sure some have heard by now. After months of relentless efforts, and the dedication from my fantastic colleagues, in addition to launching this new line of clothing, our first outlet will be opening here in Nashville. We thought it only right for my hometown to be the first place to have access to our store. I’m at a loss of words at the moment; I cannot express my gratitude enough.” A round of applause sounded. You couldn’t hold back your grin, looking around the room at all of the beaming faces.

“I want to sincerely thank everyone here for giving me the time to speak. Telling my story still feels very odd, like I shouldn’t have a story to tell. I never expected to be here in my lifetime, let alone at the young age that I am. To be considered a part of Nashville’s pride is an extraordinary feeling, and proof that hard work does pay off. I would be nothing without this city, and to see the love it has for me is a beautiful thing. I also want to say thank you to all of the friends of the past, ones who I don’t necessarily speak with anymore, but I always hold close to me, no matter the distance. There’s a few in the audience tonight, ones who will forever hold a place in my heart. They helped me get here just as much as anyone else.” You gave a soft smile, trying to locate Jake. You caught sight of him, making sure he knew who you were talking about. You ignored the bodies that stood next to him, unsure if you could keep going if you caught Josh’s gaze. “So with that, I won’t keep you any longer. Enjoy your night of festivities. The food is fantastic, and so are the drinks. Thank you for allowing me to share my celebrations with you all, and here’s to a hundred more outlet stores across the world.”

As you stepped off the stage, you were finally able to fully catch your breath. The clapping and cheering didn’t fully dissipate until you rejoined Liz by the beverages. “You did fantastic!” She raved, handing you a new glass of champagne.

“I feel like I’m going to throw up.” You breathed, fanning yourself with your hand. You grabbed the champagne with your other, wanting to drink away the feeling of standing on stage. “This is so stupid, don’t you think?” You asked her. “A bunch of rich people bragging about how rich they are.”

“That’s only some of them. Others are people who worked hard and want to celebrate the success. That’s where you come in.” She gave you a pat on the shoulder. “Thanks for the mention. Made me feel special.”

“You are special,” you laughed. “Takes a certain type of person to be able to put up with me all day.”

“Mm, you seem pretty widely liked. Who was that guy you were talking to?” She pried. You grimaced at the memory of the interaction.

“Uh, that was ex-boyfriends twin brother.” You explained. Her eyes widened at the knowledge, almost as if she didn’t believe you. You were surprised she didn’t catch on. Well, more surprised that she wasn’t eavesdropping. If you were her, you would be.

“Like ex-boyfriend who broke up with you because you moved to New York?”

“That’s the one.” You nodded. She knew about Josh, but mostly just the basics. She was well aware of the constant internal battle of still loving him and hating his guts. “Jake was my best friend, too, though. Just ‘cause me and Josh ended badly doesn’t mean I don’t love him.” You shrugged.

“So do we hate Josh today, or love him?” She raised an eyebrow.

“To be determined.” You grabbed a napkin off the table and one of the more appetizing looking foods.

“Is he here?” You nodded.

“Whole band is. I’m not surprised. They have an album and a world tour coming up.”

“So you keep tabs on them,” she smirked.

“Yeah, obviously. You wouldn’t?”

“Fair enough.” She conceded. “Are you going to talk to him?”

You didn’t answer, mostly because you weren’t sure yourself. You had no idea if you wanted to talk to him, and no idea if he wanted to talk to you. You weren’t mad at her for being curious. She’d been trying to set you up on dates the entire time she’d known you, but you always turned them down. She only clued in to why after you told her about Josh. You had no interest in dating anyone, mostly because you were certain nobody would ever compare to him. The other part of you was terrified of getting hurt like that again. When Josh let you walk out without as much as a shred of hesitation, it shattered you. He was everything; the one thing in your life you’d ever been 100% certain of. Leaving him behind was gut wrenching, but knowing he didn’t care enough to fight for you was worse. You always believed he loved you enough to not care about the distance; the few tours he’d done while you were dating never proved to be an issue. You had a hard time swallowing the truth that he didn’t mind the distance as long as he wasn’t the one waiting at home.

“I don’t know, Liz.” You sighed. “It’s been a long time. I think it’s better to just let it go.”

“If you still love him this much after all of this time, maybe you shouldn’t.” You placed the flute to your lips, tipping your head back and taking another long drink of champagne.

“You’ll learn soon enough not to listen to your heart all of the time. Brain knows best.” You reminded. “And stop being an instigator, you little shit.” You laughed. She smiled, but her eyes were following something behind you. You furrowed your eyebrows at her sudden disinterest in you, finding it odd.

“Better turn your heart off, then.” She let out a quick mumble of words. She’d recognized him just from the similarities to his brother. There was no mistaking who he was, or who he was intending to talk to.

“What?” You questioned, turning your head to look in the direction of her gaze. As soon as you did, you wished you hadn’t.

Your heart sped, stomach erupting into nervous butterflies. Your palms were sweating and your breath was stuck in your throat. Josh was there, approaching you with intent. He looked different; his hair was fluffier, shaved down on the sides. He had facial hair, too, although not much. He really looked like he’d grown up since the last time you’d seen him. But, if you had to admit it, you did, too. No more kids pretending to be grown ups with too many hopes and dreams; real adults with real professions. Adults that admittedly, had been very stupid. Adults that were still very much hurting over the mistakes their younger selves made. The difference 18 months can make was staggering, you realized.

His confidence faltered once he caught your eyes. He was certain he was going to fall to his knees, weak just from the sight of you in front of him again. As he walked, he debated turning around, pretending he’d never seen you at all. But, he was certain there was a gleam of hope in your eye, and that drove him to keep going. “I’ll catch up with you later,” Liz said, quickly shuffling away to give you a moment of privacy. By the time she was out of sight, he was in front of you. The scent of incense and lingering cologne hit you like a ton of bricks. It was a scent you’d been craving for a long time, unmistakably Josh. Unmistakably home. The both of you stood, unsure of where to start. The emotion was too intense for a simple hello, but the uncertainty limited you both from saying anything else.

You looked over his face, taking in his features, studying him as if you were trying to memorize him all over again. He did look different, his jaw a bit more prominent and overall looked a bit more serious than he used to. Still, under the new facade, he was in there. The Josh you fell in love with was undoubtedly standing in front of you, just rebranded. You realized he couldn’t change enough to take away the type of love you had for him, for it was undying. “Is this the part where we cause a scene and I throw my drink at you?” You asked. The corner of his lips upturned into a smirk.

“If you feel the need to, I suppose I could understand why.” You returned the expression, happy to know that the spark was still there. At least to you, it was.

“How’ve you been, Josh?” You whispered. You were certain a flash of hurt crossed his eyes as the words left your lips. It was one that told you he thought too much of you for such simplistic small-talk. One that screamed rejection at the formalities, especially considering you both knew each other better than anyone else.

“Travelling the world.” He shrugged, but that’s all he gave. “What about you, Sunshine?” The sound of the nickname coming from his lips could have sent you straight to your knees. You had to take a long breath before you could respond, feeling the need to recover from his question.

“Dressing up and pretending I fit in with these people.”

“Pretending?” He challenged. “Could’ve fooled me.” You gave a soft smile. “That speech was phenomenal.”

“Suppose I’ve grown into the part, now.”

“Crazy what a year and a half can do, eh?” You caught his eyes, feeling your heart ache at the sea of brown you’d been missing so much. “Not like anyone was counting, though.” He added, trying to pass it off as a joke, afraid to let the vulnerability through.

“Yeah,” you agreed. “You look good.” You finally said, airing out what you wanted to admit. He chuckled.

“Have you looked in a mirror, lately? Success looks fantastic on you.” He breathed. “I didn’t think you could get any prettier, but you always seem to surprise me.” Your heart fluttered at the compliment.

“You’re all looking quite spectacular, actually. I’d like to meet your stylist. Seems like they really know what they’re doing. The stage outfits are a masterpiece. Maybe I could work with them, if you’re willing to open up a spot for an old friend.” You smiled, a warm one without any dishonest undertones. He let out a small laugh, nodding along to your statement.

“I’m sure we could work something out. We’d all be pretty thrilled to have you on board with us.” A painful moment ensued, one where you clearly picked up on his refrain. He was talking in broadness to avoid letting you know how badly he’d enjoy having you around, again. “Did you maybe want to go somewhere a bit more private?” He asked, breaking the silence you’d fallen into.

“Yeah, that would be alright.” You nodded. “Think I need a few drinks for this conversation, though.” You finished the last of your champagne and grabbed two more flutes. He nodded, appreciating the idea, then grabbed two for himself. He was grateful you hadn’t turned around and walked away. A simple hello was more than he was expecting from the conversation.

He led you in the direction of a side door, opening it and holding it for you. You slipped out, noticing that it revealed a patio area. The night was cool, but clear. The stars twinkled few and far between, and the moon casted a low light over the ground. There were a few tables and chairs places spaciously around the deck, the posts adorned with swirls of string lights. It would have been quite romantic had the mood not been so sullen. He pulled out a chair for you, inviting you to sit down. You did so, placing your glasses on the table. He pulled a chair from the other side of the table towards you. He settled in front of you, a little bit closer than ex’s should sit.

He took a long look at you, drinking in every detail and finding himself intoxicated from it. He’d wished for so long to have you in front of him again that he seemed to forget the effect you had on him. It had only gotten worse with time. He looked to be waiting for you to speak first, so you did. “Why’d you let me go that night?” Your voice was barely above a whisper.

“I was stupid.” He admitted.

“Yeah,” you nodded, agreeing with him.

“Why’d you leave like that?” He asked, challenging your question. You looked up at him, disbelief clouding your expression.

“You made me choose, Josh.” You reminded him, not willing to take the blame for the situation.

“And you didn’t choose me.” He said, not in an accusatory fashion. Just in a simple sense, as if he was recalling the night as you spoke.

“I didn’t want to choose at all.” You explained. “You were asking me to pick between the two things I wanted most in life. It’s not like I walked into that conversation planning to leave you.”

“You chose a job over me, y/n.” You shot him a look, one that he knew all too well. It would take a lifetime to forget it.

“What if it was the other way around? You know you wouldn’t have picked me over music.” He kept his gaze on you, almost smiling, despite the situation being completely humourless.

“I certainly would have thought about it.” He answered. You could see he meant it, but you weren’t sure if he understood the implications of what he was saying.

“Okay.” You nodded, acknowledging his answer. “Come to New York with me.” You said, crossing your arms in front of your chest. You thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head.

“What?”

“Come to New York with me.” You repeated, refusing to back down. He didn’t need to know you’d likely be staying in Nashville at least for the foreseeable future. He didn’t need to know your bags were packed at your apartment, waiting for you to return just so you could pick them up. Your homecoming was set in stone, but you needed to see if he realized the extent of his answer.

“Things are different, now, y/n.” He said, dismissing the subject.

“Pretend they’re not.” You urged. “Please.”

“I would fly to see you on the weekends. Stay with you as much as I could. But I couldn’t move there.” He said. You nodded along to his words, begging for him to see the issue in his statement.

“What if that’s not good enough? It’s all or nothing, Josh.” You felt your anger that you’d suppressed for so long begin to surface. “It’s me or the band.” You leaned forward, catching his eyes as he tried to look away from you.

“I get it, okay!” He finally exploded, likely feeling the same way you did. “I know what I did wasn’t right. I’ve spent a year and a half trying to forgive myself for it. But you were so caught up in being mad that you didn’t even stop to think about how I felt!” Rarely did you ever see Josh yell, let alone expel frustration the way he was doing in that moment. You were taken back, but not distracted from your feelings.

“Then tell me!” You pleaded. “You wouldn’t even look at me that night! All you said was you didn’t have anything to say to me, but clearly you do, so say it!”

“Fine, you want to hear it?” He asked, leaning forward, too. “I love, but I don’t fall in love with people. Never have. Thought it was too much commitment for such a short lifetime. I spent my entire life completely fine with never settling down. Then I met you, and you changed everything! I didn’t even get to decide whether I fell in love with you or not. By the time I started to realize how much you meant to me, I was already head over heels. I spent every day of my life, for three years, falling more in love with you every day that passed; I changed my whole outlook because you showed up and made me realize maybe I just hadn’t met the right person, and that’s why I never wanted to commit. We moved in together, and I started picturing this life with you, one where you had my last name and we had a few kids. Then you left. You just came home one day and said you were leaving, as if it weren’t an earth-shattering idea. I was so mad because you changed my entire life, and then you took it away!” You understood better, now. He felt abandoned, and you caused it. He never would have admitted it to you then, and he barely wanted to, now. Still, the idea of him thinking you were going to walk away and forget all about him stung like no other.

“I didn’t leave you, Josh. I left Nashville!” You exclaimed. “I never pictured a life without you, and I still don’t! I sit at my apartment alone and hope that maybe you’ll text me, or call, or show up! But you never did, so I had to learn how to deal with it!”

“It was the same thing, y/n! You left me behind for a whole new life. If we didn’t break up that night, we would have anyway!” You’re recoiled as if he’d burned you. “I didn’t call because you were perfectly fine leaving me here! You jumped on that plane and got to start over, and I got to sleep in a bed that haunted me with your presence!”

“It wasn’t the same, Josh.” You shook your head. “I sat at home in that apartment every day when you were touring the world, watching you live your dream from the sidelines. Watching girls throw themselves at you, always wondering if maybe I’d wake up one day and you’d find someone new. I waited for you, watching your life through a phone screen while I worked my shitty 9-5 and settled for video calls whenever you had time for me. Not once did I make you feel like shit about it. But the minute I get a chance at the life I’ve always dreamed of, it was a choice? One or the other? It wasn’t fucking fair, Josh. How was I supposed to stay after that?”

“You started dating me knowing that was my life! I spent three years with you building one of our own, one that we were used to, and comfortable with, one where we were happy. You came home one day and told me you’re getting on a plane and leaving for god knows how long. There was no discussion, I just had to be okay with it!” He was leaning closer with every word. Your faces were inches apart, both of you radiating with anger and on the defensive.

“Of course you were, Josh! You were my boyfriend! I told you I got invited to model in New York Fashion Week, and you made me feel like I didn’t have it in me, like you were already waiting for me to fail and come crawling back to you! You let me walk out that door like the three years we spent together meant nothing to you. Like you were only okay with being in love with me as long as it benefited you.” Tears were brimming in your eyes, the ache of the pain from that night still as prominent as it was a year prior. “You knew how much it meant to me. It was my biggest dream, one that I thought I would never achieve. I finally had a chance to live the life I always wanted, which still in included you, by the way, but you were too stubborn to understand anything other than your hurt. I would have came home every weekend to see you, called you every night, I would have done anything, because you were my whole world! You were supposed to support me, and you left me! I walked out that night, but you made that decision!” The tears spilled on to your cheeks, finally shed after so long holding them back. In the heat of the moment, at the sight of your hurt, he threw the anger and the fighting to the side. Without hesitation, his arms shot out and pulled you into a hug. You didn’t fight, just held him, too. As upset as you were, you knew that his hold was something you’d been longing for the whole time you were apart. The way he felt wrapped around you made you believe that the world was okay; the comfort was an impenetrable force.

“I never wanted to make you feel that way.” He whispered, holding your head securely in his palm. He used his other one to rub circles on your back. “I will always be your biggest fan, even if we never speak again after tonight. I’m so proud of you, and I can’t stress that enough. I was selfish, and I know that. You did so much for me, you always supported me, and I took it for granted. I was hurt when you left, but I never should have let you leave like that. I should have been there for you, cheering you on the same way you did for me.” He hesitated, but placed a kiss to the top of your head. When you didn’t recoil, he took it as a win. “I’m so sorry, y/n.”

“I am, too.” You said, the tears finally slowing. You pulled back, although quite hesitant in the action. He let you, but didn’t remove his hand from you. Instead, his thumb drifted to your cheek to wipe away the tears that had fallen. “It was never from a lack of love, Josh. When it comes to you, that’s not even a possibility. Breaking up with you was never an idea in my head. The distance didn’t scare me, because I knew I loved you enough to work through anything. When you wanted me to choose, I panicked. I was hurt, and I reacted based on that. I shouldn’t have walked out without fixing things. That was my mistake.”

“No, y/n. I shouldn’t have put you in that position, and I never should have let you leave like that. I was hurting and I was scared, I thought you would leave and forget about me. I didn’t want to lose you, but I ended up losing you, anyway, and I still haven’t recovered. It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.” You leaned into his touch, resting your head on his hand.

“Josh, I fell in love with you the day I met you. That never changed. I still walk around New York City, hoping I run into you, praying it won’t be like this forever. Your memory lives in everything I do; I couldn’t forget about you, even if I wanted to. Trust me, I’ve tried.” You laughed. “You’re the love of my life, whether it was only for a period of time or if we still have a chance. Nobody could ever replace you.”

“I never moved out of the apartment. It’s still decorated the same. It still has little reminders of you, everywhere. I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of them. Jake thinks I’m insane, or I’m torturing myself. I guess I just thought you’d come back for them, someday.” He confessed. “I still love you the same as I did a year ago.”

“Me, too.” You closed your eyes, hoping to hold on to the memory of his words forever. “So we’ve both been waiting for each other to come back this whole time? We’ve just been too stubborn to send a message first?”

“Yeah,” he laughed. “Both of us watching the others lives through social media, the most impersonal way possible.”

“You looked so happy. I was worried you were happier without me.” He scoffed, rolling his eyes at the statement.

“See? Impersonal. I’ve been miserable, mama.” Your heart soared at the term of endearment. You reached for your champagne glass, taking a sip, careful not to let your eyes leave him.

“Yeah, me too.” You eventually laughed. “We don’t have to be miserable, anymore. Not tonight, at least.” You said, wanting to blame the advance on the alcohol, but knowing deep down that it was wholly untrue.

“Are you saying what I think you are?” He raised an eyebrow. The Josh you knew so well was starting to make an appearance, again. You gave a shrug.

“I have a room upstairs with free room service. King bed, too.” He looked at you with intrigue, wanting to jump at the chance but still being afraid your judgement was clouded. He didn’t want you to regret it in the morning.

“There’s probably still a lot we could get off our chests. Did you want to talk more, first? I just want you to be sure this is what you want.” You stood, drinking the last of the liquid from your glass and moving on to the next.

“Fuck, Josh, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life. We can figure it out in the morning. I haven’t had sex in a year and a half, and I’m tired of waiting. I want you.” He took a deep inhale at the words, fighting the urge to take your clothes off right there. He stood, too, grabbing his own champagne glasses. He had no fight left in him, because he wanted you just as bad.

“Lead the way, mama.” For a moment, things felt right. Like no time had passed and you were both the same people as you were before all of the hurt. You turned on your heels, heading back to the door you came through, earlier. He was hot on your trail, not willing to let you leave his sight.

You slipped back inside, noticing the speeches had come to a close and the lights were off. The music was louder and the mood lighting really set the tone for the rest of the night. If you weren’t in such an entanglement, you thought you might enjoy it. But, you were certain that the nights events would top whatever enjoyment the ballroom could give you. You dropped off your empty glasses on the way by, watching Josh discard his, too. You reached out for him, looking back over your shoulder. He tangled his fingers with yours, over the moon at the feeling after so long without it. You guided him to the exit, managing to sneak out without too many curious glances. Liz, however, noticed you as soon as you came back inside. Josh’s brothers did, too. All of them were well aware that it wasn’t over between the two of you, and it never would be. They were waiting for the reunion just as much as the two of you were.

You both ran down the hallway to the elevator, giggles slipping out intermittently. When the doors opened, allowing you inside, Josh jumped at the moment of seclusion. His hand found your waist, pulling you into him like it was the most natural thing in the world. His free hand guided your chin upwards, finally taking the chance to lean down and kiss you. You melted into the feeling, closing your eyes in bliss. It was sweet, no provocative nature present. Just both of you savouring the moment in which you’d been denied of for months. When the ding signified your destination was reached, his wandering hands were reluctant to pull away. Thankfully, your room wasn’t too far away, meaning he wouldn’t have to wait too long to continue.

You keyed into your room, barely getting the door closed before he was back on you. You both kicked off your shoes, leading him further inside before things got too heated. You parted from him to click on the lamp by your bedside. He took the chance to admire you, now. No more residual tension was clouding his vision. “You look stunning, y/n.” You turned to him, a smile on your lips.

“You look pretty good yourself, Joshua.” He approached again, slower and more cautious. He raised his hand to your cheek, brushing away all of the hair obscuring the sight of your face.

“Has it really been that long?” He didn’t need to clarify; you knew what he was asking. You gave a nod, hoping you didn’t have to dive into it too far. In truth, you didn’t want to hear a submission of guilt from him. If he’d been with other people in your time apart, it was his free will, and you couldn’t be upset about it. There was no disloyalty of any kind, but you certainly didn’t want to imagine it.

“I guess it never felt right. Always felt like I was still yours, I think.” You shrugged. He smiled at the words, overjoyed at the profession.

“Me either,” he said, running his thumb over your cheek. “I was always yours, too.” You let out a sigh of relief, almost feeling the need to cry again. The entire night felt so surreal, almost as if you were dreaming.

“God, please tell me this is real life. I don’t want to wake up disappointed.” You pleaded. He chuckled, finding the statement quite cute.

“It’s real, mama. Trust me, I feel the same way.” He leaned down, kissing you once more. Your hand reached for him, landing somewhere on his side. You didn’t care where it landed, only that you were touching him again. “Sounds like we’ve got a lot of time to make up for.” He stated, pulling back just enough to get the words out. A laugh fell from your lips, one that was quiet and still laced with disbelief. “Turn around for me.” You obliged, spinning to face the other direction.

His fingers drifted over your exposed skin, gathering your hair and pushing it to the side. He unzipped your dress, gently brushing the silk straps from your shoulders. He leaned forward pressing his lips to the spots they once graced. You let out a hum of delight, closing your eyes at the sensation. He let you decide whether you wanted to let the fabric fall, and you did. It dropped with as much elegance as it held while you adorned it on your body. He bent down, waiting for you to step away from it. Once you did, he cautiously picked it from the ground, gently laying it over the chair by the bedside. Once it was safely out of the way, he finally turned to look at you again. His breath caught in his throat, completely taken off guard at the sight of you naked before him once again.

“My beautiful girl,” he whispered, taking a step towards you. You were standing, completely naked aside from your underwear, at full disposal for whatever he chose to do with you. There was no worry in your body; the minute his hands found you again, you were certain you’d found home, again. After so long wandering through life, gaining success but never really feeling like you belonged, it made sense again. All of the money and the fame was satisfying, but never fulfilling. His touch reminded you of why everybody loved to say money can’t buy happiness. There was no financial value that would ever equate to the feeling of being loved by Josh. If you were put on earth for a purpose, it was to be loved by him, and to love him. Nobody could look at you and see right into your soul the way he could; he knew every part of you without even looking or having to ask. “Lay down, baby.” He insisted.

You allowed him to guide you down on the bed, your head finding home in the nest of pillows. He rid himself of his jacket, and his shirt wasn’t long following. You watching him in awe, not being able to comprehend how one boy could posses so much beauty. It was in everything he did, his words, his actions, his appearance. He was perfect. He slipped out of his pants, climbing in bed with you. He pulled you into his arms, just enjoying the intimacy for a moment. Eventually, you were both stripped naked and tangled in each others limbs. As heated as the journey to your room was, sex was no longer the most pressing thought in your heads. You found yourself lost in chatter, laughing and giggling at stories you’d been longing to tell each other for the last year. In between, there were stolen kisses; some short, and others laced with neediness. No sexual gratification would compare to the emotional connection you started to restore.

Eventually, he found himself laying between your legs, mouth exploring the spots on your neck he was aching to reunite with. Every so often, his teeth or tongue would grace over a sensitive area, pushing a breathy moan from your lips. The sounds were heavenly, ones he thought he’d never get the chance to hear again. “I want you, Josh.” You sighed, finally growing restless after the hours of relentless teasing.

“Tell me what you want, gorgeous.” He hummed against your collarbone.

“You. I don’t care, anything, please.” You sighed, not caring about the desperation. You felt him smile against you, clearly pleased with the state you were in.

“You want me to touch you?” He asked, fingers ghosting over your rib cage, sending a jolt of electricity through.

“Please,” he brought the pad of his thumb to your nipple, brushing it over you. He watched as you drew in a shaky breath. If there was one thing you knew about Josh, it was that he loved viewing sex as a marathon. If you were to let him, he’d go all night, dragging it out as much as possible. Tonight, you couldn’t take it. He could tell how you were feeling without you saying it aloud, not finding it in himself to push you any further. He let his hand drift downwards, shifting his weight onto one side so he had better access to you. He slipped his fingers between your legs, running them through you and getting a feel for your arousal. Your back arched at the feeling, it was familiar yet almost foreign.

“All of this for me, pretty girl?” He asked, running your wetness up to your clit. He slowly rubbed circles, just light enough to allow you to adjust to the feeling. You muttered a curse under your breath, almost having forgotten how acquainted he was with your body. His fingers kept a steady pace, gradually applying more pressure as he continued on. His eyes remained on your face, wishing to engrave your expression into every part of his brain so he could never forget it.

As his hand explored you, his lips did, too. His mouth drifted across your exposed stomach, trailing kisses all over the skin. Eventually, he worked his way up to your breasts, pulling a hardened nipple into his mouth, grazing his teeth and tongue over it, begging for a reaction. When he heard a whine fall from your lips, he closed his eyes in satisfaction. He slipped his finger down towards your entrance, moving his thumb to your clit in place. He pushed his middle and ring finger inside you, starting at an agonizingly slow pace. His thumb brushed over your clit with every pump of his fingers. The sensation was much more intense than you remembered it, maybe because of the depravity of the feeling, or because you missed him so much.

The sex was slow, much slower than it used to be. Both of you wanted to savour the experience as much as you could. But the praise, the words, even the way he worshiped you like you were the most beautiful thing to walk the earth was all the same. Neither of you allowed any of the negativity to change the way you appreciated each other. You’d been with plenty of people before Josh, but never any who loved you in the way he did. Every touch was sacred, filled with love and tenderness, even if the act wasn’t supposed to feel that way. As stupid as you felt about waiting so long for him, you were thankful you did. Nobody could make you feel the way he did. The wait just resulted in the usual pleasure being escalated by a thousand.

“Does that feel good, mama?” He asked, finally pausing his assault on your breasts. He looked up to you, eyelids heavy and lust clouding his pupils.

“So good, Josh.” You sighed, looking down to meet his gaze. He gave you a lazy smile, content at the confirmation.

“Did you miss me?” He questioned, his tone dropping slightly. He curled his fingers upward with the next movement, causing a gasp to fall from you. “Hmm?” He hummed, still waiting for you to answer.

“Missed you so much.” You admitted, eyelids fluttered closed at the pleasure he was causing.

“Think she missed me, too.” He muttered, eyes flowing down towards his hand working into your cunt. You swallowed hard at the words, taken off guard by the cockiness but knowing he was speaking truth. His jaw clenched, clearly pleased with the sight. He was good at putting his pleasure aside to ensure yours, but you knew him well enough to recognize what his expression meant. He’d been depraved of this, too, and the view was driving him insane. “Right?” He asked for clarification, his chest rising at his deep inhale.

“Yeah,” you whispered, a pressure beginning to build in your belly.

“She knows she belongs to me.” He hummed. Your face flushed at the statement, unsure where the possessiveness was coming from. That was something quite new; before, he always acted as though the access to your body was a gift. The simple statement dripped with entitlement, but you didn’t mind. He was right. No matter how much distance between you, or how much time passed, you were his. You didn’t mind the claim in the slightest. In fact, you enjoyed it.

“Fuck, Josh,” you let your head fall back on the pillows, the knot in your stomach tightening more with every second that passed.

“Yeah?” He beamed, knowing exactly what the warning was for. “Look at me, mama. Wanna see that pretty face while you cum.” He pleaded. You were in no state to deny him the request, eyes falling back on him. He was watching you, desperate to see your expression. His movements remained steady, gently coaxing the orgasm from you. Your mouth fell open slightly, a sharp inhale sounding as the pressure peaked and sent you into a down-spiral. You managed his name through the intense wave of moans, eyes squeezed shut and all of your muscles tensed. He rode you through it, whispering notes of encouragement as you were clenched around his hand.

When you relaxed against him, he let out a long breath. The tail end dissolved into a groan, absolutely floored at the sight he had just experienced. “Was that good, baby?” He asked, slowly pulling his fingers from you. You sighed at the loss of contact, still yearning for more.

“So, so good, Josh.” You didn’t mind fuelling his ego, because it was well deserved. At first, you wanted to blame the quickness of your orgasm on the length of time it had been since you had one. Deep down, you knew it wasn’t true. Josh had the ability to make you cum simply by looking at you with enough intent. It had everything to do with him, and you knew nobody else could ever affect you in the same way.

“Can’t believe you had nobody to take care of you for so long,” he let out a disapproving tsk, slowly sinking down further on the bed. “All of those New York boys really missed out.” His soft lips grazed over the inside of your thigh. “A woman like you deserves more than that.” His teeth sunk into the flesh, causing you to jump at the sudden sensation. “What was it, mama? Couldn’t find anyone to fuck you right?” Your jaw clenched at the profanity of his statement. You were well aware that he was only messing with you just for show, so you played into his game.

“Mhm,” you agreed. “Nobody could fuck me like you, Josh.” You told him, lowering your tone. The muscle in his jaw tensed at the confession.

“No?” He asked, lips dangerously close to your heat. “My poor baby.” He sympathized, his facial hair gently tickling the skin of your legs. “I’ll always treat you right, honey.”

“Mhm,” you hummed, agreeing with him.

“Y’know I’ll give you whatever you want, whenever you want it. Always fuck you like you just how you like it.” The teasing was torturous; you needed him more than you needed water. It wasn’t a desire, it was necessary for survival.

“I know you will, baby.” You breathed, your sultry tone quickly dissolving into whiny.

“That’s why you’ll always come home to me, right?” He asked, dipping his head even closer to your cunt. “You know who you belong to, beautiful.” You gave a nod of desperation. “Wanna hear you say it, mama.”

“You, Josh. I’m all yours. Only yours.” You promised. A smile graced his face.

“Sounds so pretty when you say it like that.” He was trying not to sound needy himself; his mouth was practically watering at the sight before him. He almost felt wrong teasing you in such a way, because he was certain he was more desperate for you than he’d ever been. “I’d treat you better than that. I’d fuck you every day if I could, just to make sure you know what you deserve. Just to make sure you were happy.” He explained, feeling his guilt resurface. You felt your heart ache at the statement, the words reminding you that as good as you felt, things weren’t the same as they used to be. He saw the emotion flash across your face, realizing how his statement may have come off in a context he didn’t intend. “I can, and I will, if you’ll let me.” He let down the act for a moment, fully letting you see into his heart.

“Yeah,” you managed to muster out. “I’d like that.” He couldn’t hold back the look of happiness that forced its way onto his face.

“Be mine again, baby. Promise I’ll make up for everything. I’ll never let you get away again.” He whispered, but he was pleading with you. There was no way he could walk away from you after this. It would kill him.

“Okay,” you agreed, no hesitation present. It wasn’t the alcohol, or the sex talking. You wanted him, and you were certain of that before you’d even spoken to him. Maybe everybody else was right, you thought. This wasn’t one of those things that you couldn’t walk away from. If you did, you’d be 80 years old and still wondering what it would be like to love him again. When it came to Josh, it was never over. Just a wrong turn that ultimately led you back to the same destination.

He let the thought settle in his soul; no more yearning for someone he wasn’t sure he would ever have again. The universe had granted him another chance, and he’d be damned if he took it for granted a second time. You were his again, and he was yours, as if that was ever untrue in the first place. He wasted no more time, slipping his arms under your thighs and pulling you down on his mouth. He let his tongue run through you, savouring the feeling and moaning against you. He was eating you as if he was a starved man offered his first meal in weeks. In his eyes, he was. Being depraved of the home he’d found between your legs was a terrible feeling, and he never wanted to feel it again.

You let a moan out, your hands snaking down to his hair. You noticed the lack of it on the sides, understanding that it would be hard to get used to. Instead of focusing on the difference, you tangled your fingers in the hair still atop his head, losing yourself to the familiarity of his tongue. You couldn’t help but admire him through the waves of pleasure, the way he got enjoyment out of making you feel good, how pretty he looked with his head nestled between your thighs. You noticed the way his hips would grind into the mattress, just enough to give him a bit of relief, or the way he was completely lost in you, not having a notice for anything other that what was in front of him. You had no doubt he would stay there forever, if you let him.

He pulled back for a moment, just to catch another look of your face. “Taste so good, baby. Even better than I remember.” He slipped his thumb in place of his tongue, just so he didn’t lose the progress he was making. “Missed having you like this. Thought about it every fucking night.”

“I thought about it too, all of the time.” You sighed, mesmerized by the emotion he adorned in his eyes. He returned his other fingers to you, pumping them in time with his thumb for a moment. He studied you for a while before he returned to work with his mouth. The combined feeling of him pumping his fingers into you, and his tongue focused on your clit was overwhelming.

You were nearing a second orgasm, desperate for him to keep going. He could sense it in your breathing, the tugs at his hair, and the profanities you were expelling every so often. He remained steady, curling his fingers every so often in attempt to find the spot inside you he knew so well. He hit a particularly sensitive spot, causing your hips to buck forward. He didn’t have to say it aloud for you to know he enjoyed it; a groan produced from deep in his chest, his fingers attempting to get the same reaction from you again. You closed your eyes, unable to focus on anything other than the knot tightening in your belly.

“Josh,” you breathed, a verbal warning that you were close. He hummed against you, encouraging you. Your head fell back, blissfully unaware of anything other than the feeling of his tongue. Soon after, you were coming undone again, crying his name and quickly dissolving into a mess. He coaxed you through it, more dedicated to making you feel good rather than getting the satisfaction of seeing your face.

When you came down, he didn’t ease up; his tongue was still determined, fingers never slowing. Even in the burning oversensitivity, you couldn’t help but still enjoy the moment. You were certain that after 18 long months, he could cause you nothing but physical pain and you’d still enjoy it, just because he was the one doing it. Part of you wished he never had to stop, because you never wanted to come down from the high of the intimacy. The overpowering sensation was driving you insane, the previous orgasm never really having a chance to dissipate before the next began to bloom. The noises you were making were filthy, pornographic, almost. Josh was almost praying the walls were thinner than they appeared, cocky enough to know how good he was making you feel and egotistical enough to want everyone to know it.

When your third orgasm was begging you to let go, you couldn’t even get the words out to warn him. Your knuckles were white against the hold on his hair, all of your muscles rigid and lungs aching for a full breath. It took little time for you to reach your peak, panting heavily and glistening with a thin layer of sweat. This time, he slowed his movements as your body relaxed. He removed his tongue first, followed by his fingers once he knew you were back to earth. “There you go, mama.” He sighed. His lips ghosted over your torso as he inched his way up your body. “That’s all you needed, hmm?” He hummed, sucking a few marks into your collarbone. “Someone to take care of you,” his head nuzzled back into the crook of your neck, mouth exploring the area once again. “Someone who knows how to make you feel good?” His moustache tickled the sensitive skin, causing a tired giggle to fall from you. You could feel him smile against you in response to the sound.

“I want you, Josh.” You said. As fantastic as he was making you feel, your patience was non-existent. It had been too long since you’d had him, and you didn’t feel willing to wait any longer. He lifted his head from your neck, eyes scanning your face for a moment. His lips upturned into a smirk, likely feeling similar.

“You want me?” He whispered, already shifting between your legs for a better position. You gave him a nod. “How bad, beautiful?”

“So bad, baby. It’s been so long.” You admitted, not willing to challenge him in the slightest. His fingers gently grazed over your hips, a moment of innocent love before such a dirty act. He pulled you towards him, grabbing your legs and guiding them over his shoulders. The excitement brewing in your stomach was barely containable.

“Been so good for me, mama. Won’t make you wait any longer.” He promised. You felt his hand leave you, moving down to guide himself towards your entrance. Without another word, he pushed himself inside you. You both let out a sigh of relief, finally feeling at peace with each other. The battle of experiencing so much pent up love with nowhere to channel it had come to an end; the solution to the issue being clear the whole time, but only now was it truly acknowledged. You needed each other, and no distance would change that. There was no separation or heartbreak big enough to rid yourselves of the connection you had. You both knew that before the night dissolved into the current situation, but it was only solidified further once you both felt what it was like to be reunited in such a way. There was no way you could walk away from each other again.

His hips moved slowly, the only motive being the need to feel the closeness. The movements were barely stimulating, but more than pleasurable to you both. “God, y/n.” He hissed, sucking in a long breath through his teeth. He pulled you closer to him by your thighs, thrusting as he did so and causing a gasp from you. “Feel so fucking good.” He picked up the pace, realizing he was only torturing you both. The memory of him inside you was nothing in comparison to the real thing. The angle allowed the tip of his cock to brush your cervix, sending a jolt of electricity through you each time. “Wish I could have you like this forever.”

“Me, too.” You groaned, your hand reaching out in desperation for his. He met your gesture, pulling your hand into his and resting them on your thigh. His eyes were closed, intently focusing on his movements, making sure he kept a steady rhythm. The low light of the lamp was casted over his face, allowing you to really admire his beauty. The slight furrow of his eyebrows, the tension in his jaw as he fucked into you, his lips that always looked so soft and inviting. He was a masterpiece, and you felt lucky to even be able to experience him in such a way. His free hand found your breast, at first just a gentle acknowledgment, but then he took your nipple between his fingers and applied a bit of pressure. The shock lit up your face, causing him to give you a small smirk. As much as he loved to please you, he loved to be an asshole, too.

It was all in the nature of the relationship; the time that passed didn’t change the dynamic. You both still seemed to be on the same wavelength, remembering what the other liked, incorporating small humorous expressions and actions to lighten the intensity. You were grateful that he was still so familiar to you. It took the nervousness away, and made sex feel lighthearted and carefree. There was never a worry of embarrassment or fear of judgement. He was your best friend, still, after everything, and he was making sure you knew that. The same goofy, sweet boy from the beginning.

You could tell he was growing bored with the position. As much as he loved the feeling, you knew what he wanted, and you were fully willing to give it to him. “Lay down,” you told him. His eyes connected with yours, an unspoken question of certainty. You gave a nod, and he didn’t wasn’t any time pulling out of you. He collapsed onto the bed beside you, turning towards you and practically pulling you on top of him. He had a grin plastered across his face, cheeks a bit rosy and eyelids heavy.

“You know me so well.” He said softly, almost as if he were talking to himself.

“You act like you’re the only one who enjoys this position.” You rolled your eyes.

“I know you do, but I really like it.” His excitement was clear in his face. You couldn’t help but smile, too.

“Yeah, ‘cause you don’t have to do any work.” You joked, securing your legs on either side of him. You lifted yourself up, reaching down to guide him back into you.

“No, ‘cause you look so pretty on top of me.” He answered, tone of voice matching yours. His hands found your hips, slowly bringing you down on him. “I’d be happy to do the work as long as I get to see you like this.” You couldn’t find the words to reply, already lost in the new position, revelling in the angle and depth he was reaching inside you. You began to roll your hips on him, slowly catching up to speed. “Oh, and because I can do this, now.” He reached around, pinching your ass between his index finger and his thumb. Your eyes widened, giving him a look of bewilderment. He gave a chuckle, keeping his hand there and gently running his thumb over the spot he’d just hurt.

“Not being very nice to someone who’s trying to get you off,” you grumbled. He erupted into a real laugh, giving his head a small shake.

“Don’t have to try very hard, mama. Never did.” He joked, but there was a hint of truth to the statement. “But, I suppose I could be a little nicer. Since you’re being so good to me.” He brought his free hand up to your cheek, brushing the hair from your face. You leaned into his palm, closing your eyes in content. You were still moving your hips, just enough to satisfy the craving while he joked with you. It felt so natural, so familiar. It felt like home.

“You’ll be nice for a while, then you’ll do something to piss me off again. It’s just what you do.” You giggled, remembering his constant antics to get on your nerves. It was intolerable by times, but always in the most loving and sincere way possible.

“You love me.” He stated, in a completely relaxed, natural way. Your breath caught in your throat at the word, surprised that it made an appearance again so soon. He said it as if he’d never stopped saying it in the first place. He finally noticed what he said, expression losing its humour almost instantly. “I hope you do, at least.” He mumbled.

“I do,” you whispered, nodding your head. “I really do.” You were overcome with emotion, swallowing back the tears begging to be shed at the statement. The high intensity of the emotions in the room were unimaginable, and they hadn’t subsided all night. A small smile graced his lips as a laugh filled with relief sounded from him.

“God, it’s been so long since I’ve heard you say that.” He guided your head down, connecting your mouths in a gesture of gratitude. “Too long.” He mumbled against your lips. You pulled back just enough to speak clearly.

“I’ll say it again, if you really want me to.” You grinned.

“Please, baby.” He begged, wanting to hear the actual words.

“I love you,” you breathed, happy to finally be able to tell him again.

“I love you.” He replied, bringing you into another kiss, much more desperate than the last. As he did so, he suddenly seemed to remember where you were and what you were in the middle of. Without breaking away from you, he thrusted upwards with force. The impact caused you to let a moan slip into his mouth, only fuelling him further. You raised your hips slightly, allowing him to move with ease. He took it as an invitation, repeating his earlier action and continuing with a steady pace.

You parted with him, catching your breath. You straightened up, placing a hand on his chest to support your balance as he fucked you. You let out a slur of curses, indirect praise for the work he was doing. You moved your hips in time with his, greedy for more. He dropped his hands back to your waist, fingers gripping at the flesh like he’d gone feral. As much as you liked to tease him, you liked the position just as much as he did. There was something that drove you crazy about him under you, the freedom of his hands in which he used expertly. Plus, the pleasure he got from it fuelled yours, too. You were certain you could spend the rest of your life doing nothing but pleasing him and be happy while doing it.

His hips stuttered and he let out a low groan, the telltale sign he was getting close. It had been a long time for both of you, the stamina barely existing on either part. He held you still, wordlessly telling you to slow down. You fought against the hold, not caring if he came or not. In fact, you were hoping he would. He’d been generous in the orgasm department with you, and you were eager to do the same for him. “Slow down, mama.” He warned.

“It’s okay,” you assured him.

“Don’t want it to be over yet.” He admitted, catching your gaze.

“S’okay, baby.” You repeated. “I have this room all weekend.” He eyed you with an emotion you couldn’t quite place, like he was already thinking about the luxury of fucking you again. Like he was making a list of how many places around the room he could have you in. In a split-second decision, his fingers shot to your clit, finding it without any issue.

“Gotta cum with me, then. You know the rules.” He ordered. You have a nod, a hum of pleasure sounding straight from your chest. He stopped your movements, allowing him to set the pace and ensuring his hand didn’t slip from you, either. You locked your hips in place, fully allowing him to do as he pleased with you.

You both knew it wouldn’t take long; the joys of knowing each other so well meant that you knew exactly what to do. He kept his movement steady and consistent, uttering small praise as you allowed him to work at you. The noises falling from your lips graced his ears and settled deep in his chest, begging him to never forget them. “Look at me,” he wanted to sound authoritative, but he was nowhere close to it. Still, you obliged. You caught his eyes, finding yourself lost in them as soon as you did. “Come on, mama. Cum for me.” He begged, both of you knowing he couldn’t last much longer. The intensity grew with each second that passed, your head spinning with pleasure.

“M’gonna,” you moaned, promising to fulfill his request. He let out a groan, the end dissolving into a bit of a growl. The sound alone seemed to be enough to do it for you. “Fuck!” You exclaimed, your climax hitting you hard. You kept a steady hold on his chest, your other hand reaching for his arm for support. He didn’t have the ability to coax you through it; his cock twitched inside you, the sight of you coming undone sending him over the edge. He held you down on him as he spilled his release into you.

“Fuck, y/n,” he groaned, fingers digging into your hips with a promise of lasting bruises. When he came back down from the high, you were both breathless and seeing stars. He released his grip on you, guiding you down to lay on him. “My beautiful girl,” he sighed, placing a kiss to the top of your head.

“I missed you so much.” You confessed, focusing on the drum of his heartbeat against his chest.

“You have no idea how much I missed you.” He admitted, letting his fingers run through your hair. He sounded tired, enveloped in comfort and peace. “I thought about you every day. You never left my mind.”

“I’m sorry I left, Josh. I didn’t want to leave you. Especially like that.”

“I know, mama. I’m sorry for trying to make you stay. It wasn’t fair. I should have supported you no matter what.” He gently scratched your head. You closed your eyes, fully immersed in the intimacy. “I promise I’ll never do anything like that again. I was lucky enough to get a second chance, and I want to do it right, this time.”

“Me, too.” You agreed. “I never want to lose you again. It was a horrible year without you. Yeah, I did great stuff, made a name for myself, but it didn’t really mean a whole lot without someone to share the excitement with. Everybody was talking about me, but I had nobody to talk to. It was lonely without my best friend.”

“I know what you mean. Great things happened, I’m proud of what we accomplished, but I just wanted to be able to come home and tell you all about it. Every time I realized I couldn’t, it all just lost its shine.” You smiled at the statement, thinking he worded it perfectly. Life was fine without Josh, survivable in the least, but he made everything shine. He gave everything just a little bit more novelty. It was dull without him. Lacklustre, even. “Was it too soon to say I love you again?” He asked, finally airing out his anxiety.

“I think I was shocked, hearing it again after so long, but I don’t think it was wrong to say it. We never really stopped being in love; all of it was still there, it just had nowhere to go. If anything, I’m happy you still feel that way, too. Made me feel less stupid.” He didn’t respond, but you could practically feel him smiling. “You never moved out of the apartment?” You remembered he had said it earlier, but you wanted to clarify that you’d heard him right.

“No. Never changed it, either. There’s still shampoo bottles in the shower that belong to you, clothes in the closet, our pictures on the wall. I think I always hoped you’d come back home. Wanted you to know it was still yours, if you ever did.” Your heart ached at his words. You’d both been so stupid, suffering for so long that you both forced yourself to believe you’d forgotten about each other. “And it is. I mean, still yours, if you ever want to come back.” His free hand drifted over your back, fingertips gently ticking the exposed skin. “I know you have a career in New York, and I understand if you can’t, or you don’t want to. If you ever do want to, or change your mind, I’d be more than happy.”

“Thank you,” you wanted to express it in the most sincere way possible. The knowledge that he still wanted you there with him was extremely comforting. You didn’t mind the idea, either.

“But, for now, I’m happy to fly out and see you whenever I can. I’ll call every night, just like I should have from the beginning. I’ll never let you think I forgot about you ever again, or that I don’t believe in you, because neither of those are true.” You placed a kiss to his chest, finally feeling ready to tell him the news. You would have, anyway, but knowing he was willing to make it work even if you lived so far away made it impossible not to tell him.

“Actually, I was wondering if you could give me my key back.” You grinned. His lax stature immediately changed, pulling back just so he could look to see if you were joking. “Now that the line is releasing, and the outlet store is opening here, I’m gonna be in Nashville for a while. On and off, sometimes, but here for the foreseeable future, at least.” The look on his face made it seem like you’d just told him he won the lottery. “I was kind of dreading staying in a hotel, or having to hunt for another lonely apartment.”

“Are you serious?” He asked, still catching up to speed.

“Yeah,” you laughed. “I’d really like to come home, Josh. If that’s what you want, of course.” You felt that the need to go through the motions of dating again were quite silly, especially since you’d spent most of your adult life with him. The brief pause when you were gone didn’t really mean too much. You’d both changed, but clearly not enough to become anything close to strangers.

“Of course I do!” He wrapped you up in a hug, holding you like he’d never get the chance to, again. You both dissolved into a fit of giggles, excited at the idea of building a life together, again.

“I know you have to tour, and that’s okay. I’ll have to be in New York sometimes, too. I can come visit you, wherever you are. If you get some free time, you can come see me, or we can meet in the middle. I don’t care where that is, because if I’m with you, I’m home.” If it was possible to hold you tighter, he did just that. “I love you.”

“I love you,” he mumbled, words muffled due to his face being buried in your hair. “So much, mama.”

“I do think we should probably get cleaned up, though.” You eased into the idea, realizing the state you were both still in.

“A shower?” He asked, hidden implications written all over the question.

“Sure,” you laughed, sitting upright. “But we should do it, like now.”

You both made your way into the bathroom, getting in the shower and cleaning yourselves off. The night turned into the early hours of the morning, but sleep refused to come to either of you. You were too caught up in the stories, the jokes, and the touches, and the sex to care about anything else. More than anything, you were both just content finally being back in each others company. The sunrise barely put a damper on your night of reunion, because you were too immersed in each other to notice it. Too immersed in the overwhelming feeling of finally being at home after an unexplainably long, tiresome day.

#greta van fleet #danny gvf #gvf #jake kiszka #sam gvf #danny wagner #jake gvf #josh gvf #sam kiszka #gvf fic #greta van fleet smut #greta van fleet angst #greta van fleet fluff #greta van fleet imagine #greta van fleet fanfic #josh kiszka smut #josh kiszka #josh kiszka angst #gvf fanfiction #gvf smut #gvf imagine #gvf x reader #josh kiszka x reader #gvf fluff #greta van fleet fic #fanfic #my writing #mine #builtbybrokenbells #writing

[howtofightwrite]

Sorry if this is an odd question but my intro to this blog was a post about invisibility and how it affects combat. This query is also a bit wordy too.

Say there's this super-powered person whose ability is that you forget them after breaking sight of them and only remember the person along with the instances of meeting them after seeing the person again.

- There's a brief period where a person still retains their memory for 6 seconds before the amnesia hits.

- By contrast, the process of remembering them is immediate.

- Looking at them in photographs, video footage, and reflections follow the same rules.

- Obscuring themselves like wearing masks or something also doesn't affect how it works. They cannot turn the ability off.

How difficult would it be to fight against something like that?

My first thought is the Arcane background from Mage: The Ascension. Though, in the case of Arcane, it also tended to wipe out physical records of the Mage in question. At low levels, other characters would remember the mage existed, but details would become fuzzy, and records of the Mage's existence, would become harder to track down. An example was that if your character had a pink mohawk, witnesses would be able to say, “oh, yeah, it was that guy with the hair,” but wouldn't be able to remember anything more specific than that. Photos, school or work records, would go missing. With a high enough Arcane score, video cameras would fail to reveal the Mage, you couldn't take their finger prints, because the cards would go missing almost as soon as you took your eyes off them.

Arcane was an extremely powerful utility option for a mage, but it didn't have a lot of combat applications. And, that's kind of what you've set up here. At high enough levels (well beyond what normal mages would ever reach), it would even become a significant advantage for stealth, as people wouldn't even notice the mage was present, and then proceed to hit them with their cars. That last part isn't, really, a joke, as that was a downside for characters with a staggering number of points in the background, and by that point they'd lost the ability to voluntarily turn off the ability. Normally characters would cap out at 5 dots for their backgrounds, the 6 to 10 dots are extremely potent, but actually create a kind of horrific situation where the mage is progressively less able participate in the world.

So, some weird quirks with your version. It wouldn't directly affect combat, but it would make it a lot easier for the character to break and escape from combat. However, the instant recollection means that if your character was spotted, even momentarily, after they escaped, then their enemies would immediately set off an alarm, and might even jump straight to shooting at them, while they tried to escape.

The amnesia (especially if firearms are involved) would likely create a bit of confusion in the moment that would make escaping even harder. Their foes wouldn't know what they were looking for, but they also wouldn't be worried about advancing on the position they were just firing on. While that's exploitable, that's also extremely dangerous for your character.

If the scope of the power was fully understood, an antagonist, with henchmen armed with HUD systems, could just flash a small image of your character onto their HUD every four or five seconds to, “refresh,” their memory, and effectively negate it.

With the perspective of having known multiple individuals who have issues with impaired object permanence, your character is going to have an extremely lonely life. They can't be in a relationship with someone, because, literally, six seconds after they walk out the door, their romantic interest will kick their mental status back over to single. Again, speaking from personal experience, that's fucking rough.

They may have more casual friends, but it's going to be a case where they literally only matter to someone while they're in the room. Which, again, that's a pretty demoralizing way to live your life.

Worse, your character probably can't hold down a job, meaning they're going to be in a rough situation financially. I mean, it's pretty hard to land a job if the recruiter forgets you exist 6 seconds after you walk out the door, and even if you land the position, it's going to be pretty hard to get on the schedule if your manager has 6 seconds to put you down for a shift, before they forget about you completely.

Ultimately, yeah, this wouldn't help that much in a fight, you're unlikely for the ability to function during combat. It might help escape from pursuers. But the psychological costs would be astronomical. So, you know, it's a good idea to play with, but this is more of a utility power than a combat focused one. And the implications of it are absolutely soul crushing.

-Starke

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#writing reference #writing advice #writing tips #how to fight write #starke answers #urban fantasy

[lliminall]

yandere!itachi uchiha x reader | general headcanons

tags: gn reader, stalking, controlling/obsessive behavior, itachi being a creep but he knows it

itachi is largely a hands-off yandere. at least in the beginning, he really doesn’t interact with you much. you would have no idea the extent of his attachment to you, or how much time he spends trailing you and simply observing your each and every mannerism. he considers himself to be a kind of silent protector, someone who watches out for you without expecting anything in return.

the longer this goes on though, the stronger the pull towards you becomes. itachi doesn’t just want to be stuck in your peripheral. it loses its satisfaction the more he sees you smiling and chatting with friends, family, coworkers. why does he have to be stuck on the outside, while they bask in the soft light of your presence? he does more for you than any of those people do, and you don’t even know it. he’s more devoted to you than any of those people are, and you don’t even know it.

when the quiet (and intimidating) shinobi begins hanging around your work place more often, you don’t think anything of it. he’s been nothing but courteous in your interactions with him, succinct but polite. it’s the strangest feeling, though. you can’t seem to shake the feeling that you’re being watched while he’s there, sipping on a cup of tea in his quiet corner of the cafe. when you turn to look, his eyes are never on you.

itachi is lucid enough to recognize that there’s something wrong with his behavior. creepy, even. but as a shinobi he’s done far worse things than follow some civilian around from the shadows. and anyway, he’s doing this for your own good. you can’t use chakra. you can’t fight. and itachi has spent his entire life witnessing how dangerous the world around him is. however questionable his actions may be, those concerns are easy enough for him to brush away when he remembers that his reason for doing them is just. he’s more than willing to dirty his hands for your sake.

it’s endearing, how kind you are to him despite knowing nearly nothing about him (certainly not as much as he knows about you). you emanate a sweetness so uncommon in his world, so often snuffed out by the harsh realities witnessed by shinobi. it makes you rare. it makes you special. it makes you a cool and healing oasis for him to come and be refreshed by, when he needs to be reminded that not everything is violence and drama and underhanded work.

your relationship with itachi likely doesn’t progress beyond that until you begin seeking him out. asking him about his day when he arrives for his usual order. waving him over when you see him on the street. itachi really was content with being a nameless figure that protected you from the dark, or at least he tried to be, until you began encroaching further and further into his life until he could no longer ignore how good it felt to have you there. you don’t even know that you’re sealing your own fate with every conversation you tug him into.

itachi is a yandere so subtle that you may not ever realize just how deep and dark his feelings for you run. even if you were to get into a romantic relationship with him, he easily plays off any concerning behavior as harmless overprotectiveness. he just cares about you so much. and you know how much violence and death he’s surrounded by in his work, surely you can understand why he would want to keep you safe? you don’t need to worry about any of it. itachi will take care of everything. you just need to let him take the reigns.

all of that can change in a second if you try to leave him, though. itachi is a loner by nature. he doesn’t form intimate relationships easily, and when he does, he’s locked into them. that uchiha loyalty is not to be taken lightly, and if you force his hand he’ll use any means necessary to keep you under his protective wing. it would be easy enough to put you under a genjutsu to keep you in line. you’re a civilian; you wouldn’t even know what hit you or how to break out of it.

that’s assuming he even has to go to that length, though. itachi is one of the most revered shinobi in the leaf. you know that you can’t overpower him, run from him, or hide from him. even if you had the courage to try, one hard glare from him is enough to put you back in your place. he doesn’t like the thought of scaring you but he’ll do what he must. you’ll wonder what happened to that gentle and good-natured man you used to know, as he’s tugging you back to your home and you’re shaking with the memory of that cold, blazing red glare.

as long as you can stay within his carefully placed guidelines, itachi is a relatively easy yandere to have around. if you never cross his barriers you’ll never have to witness that dark and possessive streak he holds for you. even if you do, he’s more than ready to forgive and forget if you’ll just learn your lesson and give yourself back up to his protecting arms. ultimately, he wants you to be safe and happy and his. he doesn’t want to take any more from you than he absolutely has to—he just needs you to meet him halfway.

#naruto phase is forever #itachi x reader #itachi uchiha x reader #yandere itachi #yandere itachi x reader #yandere itachi uchiha x reader #naruto x reader #yandere naruto x reader #itachi uchiha #uchiha itachi x reader #yandere uchiha itachi #yandere uchiha itachi x reader #itachi.ll #my works.ll #shippuden.ll

[ceapa-mica]

A Relationship with Grand Admiral Thrawn 💖 - a headcanon

I can't stop writing! 😄 Thrawn's my newest blorbo and it's so refreshing and a pleasure to write for him.

Reader is gender neutral.

🔞 This will be a bit NSFW 🔞

I dedicate this one to @thrawnsboots

May you never recover from this one hehehe

So, you made a certain emotionally constipated blue Grand Admiral fall in love with you? Congratulations! 🎉 Good for you!

Now let's get into this headcanon of what you can expect in a relationship with Thrawn. 💙

Secrecy. As long as you're not engaged or something your relationship will remain behind closed doors. Thrawn values his privacy and wants to keep you safe from people who might want to harm him through you.

Keeping a secret like that aboard the Chimera is still impossible though. So eventually your relationship will become the biggest open secret on the ISD.

The crew is grateful since you impact Thrawn’s mood in a positive way.

Outside of his quarters you both will keep a professional distance.

Thrawn is a busy man, but he takes as much time as he can to spend with you, whether it’s having sex in his quarters or traveling to worlds in nearby star systems he's familiar with, showing you the Galaxy.

Every date with Thrawn is special. Visiting restaurants, hours spent in art galleries and museums, or a simple picnic in a beautiful landscape. He makes sure it never gets dull, is open for suggestions for the next date, and you will have so many meaningful in depth conversations together.

Those dates can become irregular at times given his busy schedule.

When it's just the two of you, he always shows you the love and appreciation you deserve.

As your relationship progresses he teaches you phrases in Cheunh and Sy Bisti.

Thrawn’s love language consists of acts of service, gift giving and words of affirmation.

Seriously, this man spoils you, he treats you just like you deserve.

Keep in mind he treats you like everyone else at your workplace though! Safe for glancing your way every so often when no one else is looking.

I hope you don't mind a partner who's super enthusiastic about art, because oh boy, Thrawn could talk about art for hours!

He has never been in a relationship before. When he joined the Empire, falling in love wasn't in the cards for him. He didn't expect it would happen…until you came into his life.

Your long time compatibility with Thrawn depends on what your own personal goals are.

Let's say you want to be at this man’s side for the rest of your life, I see engagement and marriage in your future, if you're up to it.

As a Chiss, Thrawn is a man of tradition. He won't share you with anyone. That's unheard of where he comes from.

Being in the Imperial Navy during a Galaxy wide war complicates things, but he's determined to keep Imperial affairs away from his private life, that includes your relationship as well.

Thrawn can become a bit jealous in situations where another man gets flirty with you, but never in a toxic way. He trusts you to make the right decision and remain faithful.

He will remind you in the bedroom what you would lose if you weren’t. In other words, he ruins you for any other man.

Tbh I picture a relationship with him as healthy, he doesn't seem to be a man who disrespects his partner y’know.

From a partner, Thrawn needs someone who's competent and just… gets him. He's different, not due to being an alien, I’m talking about his mind. (He's autistically coded)

If you put a serious effort in understanding him, show genuine interest in who he really is, not just as a Grand Admiral or because of his abilities, but as a person, with all his flaws, and you still love and accept him the way he is, this man is yours for life!

Stay tuned for the engagement headcanon coming soon!

Feel free to add to this headcanon! 💙

#thrawn #grand admiral thrawn #mitth'raw'nuruodo #thrawn x reader #thrawn x you #thrawn headcanon #blue man hot #thrawn fanfiction #star wars rebels #ahsoka series #star wars

[mcverse]

If you're still doing requests, could you do a oneshot for Kuroko x reader where someone is being rude to Kuroko about his basketball abilities but reader is a lil chaotic and ready to throw down? After that situation the team is probably very cautious if they choose to poke fun at Kuroko

𒁷 Pairing: Kuroko Tetsuya x GN! Reader

𒁷 Requested: Yes/No

𒁷 Type: One shot

𒁷 Word count: 1.6K

𒁷 Sidebar: love kuroko ! He’s so soft spoken and ugghh

𒁷 Warnings: blunt reader, healthy relationship, temper, soft fluff, loyalty, honor?, swears

please keep in mind that all characters in my stories are always 18+

The sun was at its highest point, casting a scorching heat over Seirin High School that mid-afternoon. Its relentless rays beat through the window of the gym, down to the basketball court and turns the atmosphere into a sweltering furnace. The practice session had been grueling, pushing the Seirin High School basketball club to their limits.

The final whistle reverberated through the air, bringing an end to their grueling training session. A collective sigh of relief escaped the lips of the players, their exhausted bodies yearning for respite. Beads of sweat glistened on their foreheads as they swiftly gathered their belongings, a sense of urgency propelling their movements.

They sling their bags over their shoulders, their steps heavy with the weight of the intense practice. The thought of grabbing a refreshing beverage from the nearby corner store and seeking solace in the cool embrace of air conditioning consumes their minds.

Together, they move to file out of the gym, chatting tiredly with each other. You stand on the sidelines, watching the practice from start to finish. Your eyes scan the court, following the movements of the players with pride and admiration. Being the team manager and Kuroko's significant other has strengthened your connection with the team, making them equally important to you.

Kuroko, however, lingered behind, taking a moment to quench his thirst before glancing in your direction. His gaze, though usually understated, held a softness that spoke of his affection for you alone. He looks away when his name is called, Kagami urging him to hurry up. Kuroko complies, throwing his water bottle into his bag and zipping it up.

Instead of joining the group of boys first, he heads towards you, "I can stay and help," he offers a hand in clean-up, as he always does. But of course, you decline. He has worked so hard during practice, deserving of a break.

"It's fine, Tetsu," you tell him, leaning closer to give him a kiss on the cheek, "It's my job."

Kuroko's internal conflict is visible, his yearning to push back against your rejection evident in his torn expression. However, he relents with a nod, "Text me when you're finished. I'll come back to walk you home." He turns away to join the rest of the group, immediately disappearing in the middle of them. With that, he turns away, seamlessly blending in with the rest of the team as they make their way towards the door.

They all approach the exit, their progress comes to an abrupt halt as they encounter a group of opponents from an upcoming game. The atmosphere instantly becomes charged, tension crackling in the air. The Seirin team members exchange wary glances, a mixture of curiosity and caution painting their faces. It's clear that this unexpected encounter is about to escalate into something more than a simple exchange of words.

"Heard a member of the Generation of Miracles was on this team," one of them speaks up, overlaying confidence and smugness.

This puts everyone on guard, wondering why they are specifically looking for Kuroko. Sensing the tension, Kuroko, not one to fear confrontation, takes a bold step forward and suddenly appears in front of them out of nowhere.

"That would be me," he tells them, his voice steady and unwavering.

The opposing players look at him up and down, exchanging bewildered looks with each other to confirm they are indeed looking at the same person. However, instead of awe or respect, they burst into laughter, unable to contain their amusement.

"There's no way this guy's from the Generation of Miracles!" one of them exclaims, bent over and clutching their stomach from laughing too much.

"He looks like he'll break just from lifting a ball," another interjects in between fits of laughter. The rest of the opposing team joins in, their voices blending into a chorus of derision.

"The hell did you say?!" Kagami growls, pushing Kuroko back with his pinched eyebrows and eyes burning with a fire reminiscent of being in a heated game, "You wanna fight, punk?"

But the opposing team remains unmoved. They look unaffected by Kagami's threatening demeanor and continue to mock Kuroko, belittling his supposed lack of abilities on the court. Everyone present knows that such claims couldn't be further from the truth.

Having stood off to the side for far too long, you've had enough of their disrespectful behavior. With a determined stride, you stomp over to the group, pushing your way to the front and brushing Kagami aside, leaving him in stunned silence behind you at the force you gave to move him.

"What's your problem?" you challenge, your voice cutting through the tension with an edge of anger. The rude players turn to face you, their smug expressions faltering under your intense gaze, "You think you're so tough, coming over here to mock him? You clearly have no idea what you're talking about!"

One of the more intimidating members of the opposing team sneers at you, stepping forward with a menacing glare, "Who the hell are you?" he demands, attempting to intimidate you.

"I'm the fucking manager, and I don't appreciate you strutting in here like you shit doesn’t stink," you retort, placing your hands defiantly on your hips. Your stance exudes confidence and readiness to face any challenge that comes your way.

The insulted player's face contorts with anger, his veins bulging in his neck as he clenches his fists, "You bitch!" he spits out, his words laced with venom.

A smirk tugs at the corner of your lips as you take in the situation. It's amusing how they weren't threatened by Kagami, yet your entrance has turned their world upside down. Like a whirlwind of chaos, you've disrupted their arrogance.

"Fuck you," you shoot back, your words dripping with disdain, "Kagami warned you earlier, but it seems you need a reminder. These hands are rated 'E' for everyone, assface."

Your words hang in the air, a potent mix of defiance and readiness to engage in whatever confrontation may come your way. The opposing players exchange uncertain glances, their bravado momentarily shattered by your fearless attitude.

Aida, having silently witnessed the exchange, rushes to intervene before the situation escalates further. She steps between you and the opposing team, her voice firm yet composed. "Alright, that's enough. We're here to focus on our training, not engage in pointless quarrels."

You reluctantly back down, still seething with anger but recognizing the need to prioritize the team's goals. Casting one last withering glare at the opposing players, you turn away, your head held high.

“Woah, I didn’t know they could get that mad,” You overheard Koganei whisper amongst the group, watching you walk away when the opposing group finally left, “It was kinda scary.” his words resonate with the rest of the teammates, eliciting nods of agreement.

“It was like hulk mad but less smash.” Izuki chimes in, his comment met with a chorus of groans and chuckles. The team resumes their departure, their conversations gradually shifting back to lighter topics.

Kagami pauses at the door, observing Kuroko following closely behind you. Recognizing the importance of giving Kuroko his space, he shrugs his shoulders and decides to let him deal with things on his own, knowing they can catch up later.

Still seething with anger, you storm towards the basketball rack, forcefully slamming the remaining balls onto it. The sound echoes through the empty gymnasium, reflecting your frustration. As you reach for another ball, you suddenly feel Kuroko's presence in your field of vision. He extends a basketball towards you, offering it as if to ease your tension.

You take the ball from him, placing it on the rack with a bit more care than before. Glancing up at Kuroko, you can't help but notice the concern etched on his face. He reaches out to hold your hand, his touch gentle yet comforting.

"What's up?" you ask, your voice still tinged with irritation. You want to vent your frustrations, but at the same time, you were more interested in how he was feeling.

Kuroko meets your gaze, his eyes filled with genuine worry, "Are you okay?" he asks, his voice soft and filled with genuine concern.

Letting out a huff, you squeeze his hand, the touch grounding you, "I'm not the one who was insulted here," you playfully tease, trying to lighten the mood despite the lingering anger..

A small smile graces Kuroko's lips, his eyes sparkling with affection, "Yet, I'm the least mad between us," he jokes, his words holding a hint of warmth.

Nodding, you step closer to him, seeking solace in his presence,"I'm okay," you assure him, your voice softening, "But how about you, Kuroko?"

Kuroko's smile grows, and he pulls you into a gentle embrace, his arms enveloping you with warmth and reassurance, “I appreciate your concern," he replies, his voice steady and filled with conviction, “But I'm used to facing such challenges. I won't let their words affect me. As long as I have you and our team by my side, I can overcome anything."

Moved by his resilience, you lean in closer, resting your head on his shoulder, "You're incredible, Kuroko," you whisper, your voice filled with admiration, "Let's finish up here quickly and do an early milkshake movie date. We both deserve it."

A week later, the day of the match arrives. The team that had disrespected Kuroko learns a valuable lesson on the court. Seirin High School emerges victorious, their skills and teamwork shining brightly. As the final buzzer sounds, you can't help but feel a surge of pride. The opposing team, humbled by their defeat, can only hang their heads in shame.

During the post-match celebration, you make sure to rub their defeat in their faces, a playful smirk gracing your lips. The Seirin team witnesses your triumph and takes note, realizing that teasing Kuroko is no longer a wise choice.

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like &/or reblog if enjoyed babes

#✮⋆˙ 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 — 𝐤𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐨 #knb headcanons #knb #knb x reader #kuroko no basket #kuroko no basket headcanon #kuroko no basket x reader #kagami taiga headcanons #kuroko tetsuya x reader

[loveemagicpeace]

Progressed moon part 2

💕Moon in 7th house-many things are related to relationships. You can meet new people, improve your attitude towards others. You can go into a relationship or your relationship takes on a new look (marriage, engagement). Or you decide to end the relationship. This progression is notoriously hard on marriages. You must refresh and restructure the lines of communication with your partner or your closest friends. So speak up. Declare yourself. Hang in there with the process. New people arrive in your life now, often helping, sometimes complicating the situation.

✨Moon in Libra-you are more inclined to want to understand others and relationships with others. You can think a lot about the relationships you have with others. Maybe you can start looking more at fashion and beautiful things. An increased need to be with people, to socialize, and to compromise are featured during this period of life. You may have the need to do all activities with your loved ones so you should be careful not to become too dependent on others. You will long for diplomatic and pleasant discussions.

🌊Moon in 8th house-The 8th house is usually always a dark part of life that you go through. You get to know the truth and life in a profound way. You confront some of the less attractive aspects of your own character. It is not a pleasant process or a breezy one, but if you open yourself, it heals you. You face fears and parts of life that may not be so familiar to you. This lunar progression tells you that those psychic things are brimming over and that it is time to carry out the trash. Quiet yourself now. Here your life changes and you can feel depressed and only as soon as you are alone. We do often feel a deep need for intimacy and bonding with others.

💙Moon in Scorpio-this is an intense period of your life. Your thinking becomes deeper, darker and more obsessive. Scorpio drives you very deeply into yourself, into the mystery of life, and sometimes into its horror. There is no dodging the truth now. Your thinking can be more psychological and tend to analyze things. An awareness of death arises. Oftentimes, this progression suggests an actual confrontation with the death of someone close. You are integrating the unconscious mind into your personality. But you are strong and you have a power. Be careful of losing perspective, though. Don't let your thoughts fool you.

🧚🏼‍♀️Moon in 9th house - This is where you begin to live life and experience it in a more optimistic, positive way. You begin to see life more joyfully with many opportunities. This is time to live. You could travel a lot more. But the progression doesn't always signify literal travel, but travel is a perfect metaphor. You need to break up old routines and patterns. Take chances. Study something that fascinates you. Philosophize! Speculate about the meaning of life. The best advice here is to go find that old movie and sit through it twice. Go to places that excite you, play lotto, explore.

🌉Sagittarius moon- you become happier, more optimistic, you start to find joy and happiness in yourself. Everything seems more vivid, more real. Senses tingling, you are ready to stretch out into life, seizing opportunities. You need a breath of fresh air in your life. Be ready to change. Risk an adventure. You are learning to break up routines of thought and feeling: You have memorized a mood. Finding the positive is easier here.

🌴Moon in 10th house- here you start to look more at the community. Show yourself and present yourself in your own way. You are starting to stand up for the seriousness of life, stability, career. Maybe more left to fate and some mission. There can also be a lot going on with the parents and maybe the relationship with them can be improved. Gives us a role to play and a sense of belong-ing. With the progressed Moon entering your tenth house, the time has come to scrutinize and restructure your relationship to the community. You might need a new job, or to revamp the old one. You might marry or divorce.

🌙Capricorn moon- Time to get serious. Not heavy, not miserable, not melodramatic- just serious. Look clearly at yourself and the world you've created. You are starting to be more aware of your responsibilities and what you are doing. You are in the mood to accomplish something. You feel a need to be recognized for your accomplishments and for your effectiveness. Too often we create unnecessary loneliness for ourselves under this influence- and with this kind of power available, that's not only painful, it's dangerous. Look more from the positive side, focus on the important things in life and get things done.

💚Moon in 11th house-your focus is on friends and the society that surrounds you. How do you see yourself with them and do you belong there. Maybe you can realize more and more that the company you have now does not suit you or that you feel like you don't belong in it. You can start to perceive friends more emotionally. You are starting to dream a lot and embark on dreams and how to make them come true. Claim what is yours, and most centrally, insist upon your right to be recognized for what you have done. You can take your place now within whatever social stratum you have chosen to make your mark. Set goals. Establish priorities. Think strategically. What is really important to you. What was a feeling then is a reality now.

🧼Aquarius moon- you become more unique, different, rebellious. You are starting to think from a different point of view and more on your own. You don't let others tell you who you are and what you can do. Break the rules with this moon. Your mood needs to be rebellious and free-spirited. Other people have been too successful at telling you what to feel. Don’t be afraid of anyone disapproval. Listen to your voice.

🎨Moon in 12th house-this is time to let go of things. You may feel more emotionally isolated and alienated from others. You have come to the end of a cycle. Accept that. Something within you is failing now, but don't worry once it fails utterly, you will be happier, wiser, and stronger. It is like you are going through a rebirth. But it is in a private way. What was once opportunity now enslaves you. What once tasted sweet has now turned bitter and dry. Recognize those transformations and release the past or you fight a losing battle for your right to retain your slavery and your bitterness. Again, we experience a time of withdrawal. Find the deep center around which the merry-go-round of life orbits. Find it and stay there, where it is safe. Meditate, pray, relax, stare into candle flames-and trust the process that is happening within you.

🧸Pisces moon- Relax, and trust this often surrealistic feeling. Laugh with it, because it will ask you to laugh- but the object of the humor is not your favorite one. It is yourself. Life begins to look like a cartoon now, two-dimensional, stylized and funny. Be dreamy and crazy. Don't let the bad sides of the pisces get you. Be more calm and trust your intuition. This is often a friendly time, but a vague one. By taking ourselves less seriously- and by seeing our own pretenses mirrored in the crystal-clear pretenses of others--we prepare ourselves for the new emotional beginning in Aries.

-Rebekah🎨🧸🌉

#astrology #energy #zodiac signs #planets #astrological houses #moon #progressed moon #progressed chart #progression

[dailydragon08]

Soft Comforts

See my full masterlist here.

Pairing: Luke Skywalker x F!Jedi!Reader Summary: In the depth of night on Yavin IV, you give both Luke and Grogu comfort against their fears. Requested by @acupnoodle​. A/N:  "Remnants" is a series of one shots in no particular order about the budding relationship between you and Luke as he trains you in the ways of the Force. Slight mention of future pregnancy at the end. Read here on AO3.

*

Something woke you from your deep sleep, or the lack of something did. You opened your eyes to the darkness of your and Luke's shared bedroom and sighed at the empty side of the bed. He'd been doing this more often lately. The reason was obvious: you'd found another Force-sensitive child and he was leaving in a few days to see if they wanted to become a padawan. So far, Grogu was your only student and although Luke was an instant master at teaching, you knew he still stressed over whether he was good enough—whether he could complete the task Yoda had set in front of him. You never doubted him, but you could understand. You doubted your own teaching skills many times. And just like how he always comforted you, you pulled yourself out of bed to do the same for him. 

You shivered in your oversized t-shirt as you padded down the cold hallway barefoot. Your hut on Yavin IV consisted of two bedrooms, an adjoining refresher, a small kitchen, and a workshop Luke had sequestered himself in. He sat on a stool with his back to you, hunched over your broken lightsaber hilt. Tools were scattered everywhere with his jacket thrown haphazardly over the table's edge. 

Words felt too difficult in your groggy state, so you simply wrapped your arms around his middle, laying your cheek on the bit of bare shoulder exposed by his tank top. 

He sighed and paused in his work, laying a hand on top of yours. "Hi, sweetheart. Sorry I woke you."

"'S okay," you mumbled, your voice thick with sleep. "Making any progress?"

"Almost there." He chuckled and leaned his head against yours. "You really did a number on it."

"Didn't mean to. Grogu was distracting me."

"Hm, he's good at that. What was he doing this time?"

"Trying to chase a butterfly off a cliff."

He laughed. "Oh, Maker."

You hesitated. "It'll still be there in the morning, you know. And so will the next child."

He didn't respond, just squeezed your hand harder in his. 

You moved to stand before him, plopping on his lap and squeezing between him and the table. He readily opened his arms for you and pulled you closer to him, burying his face in your neck as you leaned yours on his shoulder. Your fingers weaved into the hair at the back of his head and began to gently massage. He sighed and you felt him melt underneath you, running a hand along the curve of your side. 

"I'll miss you when I'm away," he murmured in your ear. "We've never been apart for this long."

"I know." You kissed his jaw softly and nuzzled into his neck as his fingers ran through your hair. "I'll miss you, too…Promise me you'll be careful."

"I will. Try not to walk off any cliffs chasing after Grogu."

You laughed sleepily and pulled back to look at him, gently tracing the contours of his face with your thumb. He smiled softly at the gesture, closing his eyes as you stroked your fingers over the bags underneath. "You know, it's a lot easier to be careful when you've had enough sleep."

His face fell. "I just…" He opened his eyes and leaned into your touch. "Rebuilding the Jedi…is a lot."

"I know. You're not doing it alone though."

His smile returned and you felt his love for you flow through the Force. "I know. I'm so glad I found you and that you're here."

You pressed your lips to his, reveling in his greedy reciprocation and the press of his hands against your skin. For several moments, you just let yourself get lost in his taste and smell. His upcoming trip would likely be uneventful, but you still committed everything to memory to keep you warm while he was away: the silkiness of his hair, his Tatooine-roughened and pockmarked skin, the gentle insistence of his hands, the swipe of his tongue against your bottom lip. 

Before you could get too distracted, you began to pull away, laughing against his mouth when he leaned forward to follow you. 

He chuckled with you. "Where are you going?"

"I need to tell—mmph." He cut you off with another deep kiss that almost made you forget what you wanted to say all over again. You stared at him for a moment and took his face between your hands. "You're doing amazing and I'm really proud of you."

His blue eyes widened slightly and you could feel a multitude of emotions burst through the Force as he burrowed his face into your shoulder. He pressed a soft, but insistent kiss to your skin. "I love you."

You sighed against him. "I love you, too."

"You've made my life incredible…even if you are a shirt thief."

You laughed and pulled back to look at him. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He smiled. "Mm-hmm, I've been wondering where this shirt went."

"Oh no, this isn't your shirt."

He adjusted his legs so you were pressed even closer to his chest, holding you tightly. "Oh, just a coincidence that it looks exactly the same?"

You nodded, biting back your smile as he shook his head. His hand gently caressed the back of your head before pulling you forward to press his forehead to yours. You gently bumped your nose against his before giving him another lingering kiss. "This shirt thief wants you back in bed. We can worry about my lightsaber tomorrow."

"Ooohhh, so now you'll admit it."

 "Do you want it back?"

He laughed. "No. It looks better on you anyway."

"Well, you'll have to take it back and wear it again at some point. How else will it smell like you?"

"Maker, you're impossible. And very lucky you're cute."

You laughed and slid off his lap, wrapping his discarded jacket around your shoulders. "Well, if you want this back, you'll have to come back to bed."

Your heart fluttered at the smile he gave you, abandoning your saber to take your hand and follow you back to the bedroom. As you navigated the dark hallway and settled back into bed, you could sense his pride, love, admiration, and a little arousal through the Force. He sighed in contentment as you laid your head against his chest. 

"Incoming," he murmured into your hair. 

Before you could question him, the door to your bedroom creaked open slightly and a tiny silhouette with large ears toddled towards your bed. You smiled at the tiny groans and grunts that left him as he hauled himself up onto the mattress. He was trying to be sneaky, but you could see his head bobbing under the covers and felt his ears bump against your legs. 

You couldn't hold in your laugh. "We can see you, Grogu."

The covers lifted to reveal two large eyes and downturned ears. He made a little squeal of discontent, and you could sense his nervousness and lingering nightmare through the Force. 

"You're perfectly safe here, Grogu," Luke said, gently petting his head. "Remember, don't let your fears consume you. We're here to protect you, just down the hall."

He cooed sadly and his ears sloped down even more. He turned his big dark eyes to you and even in the dark, you could picture his pleading face perfectly. You turned to Luke. "Well…one late-night cuddle session wouldn't hurt, right?"

Luke looked back and forth between you in the dark and laughed as his head fell back against the pillow. "I can't handle both of you doing the eyes at once…All right, but just for tonight."

Grogu chirped happily before crawling to settle against your chest, his little green hands gripping your shirt. You smiled as he nuzzled into you, glancing at Luke as he wrapped an arm around you to bring you both closer.

His fingers gently brushed your cheek. "You look good…holding a child."

You met his gaze. "Yeah?"

He smiled and kissed your hair. "Yeah."

"What are you gonna do about it, Skywalker?"

"I can think of several things."

#star wars fanfiction #star wars x reader #luke skywalker #luke skywalker fanfiction #luke skywalker x reader #luke skywalker imagine #star wars imagine #luke skywalker x fem!reader #luke skywalker x jedi!reader #star wars remnants #my writing #luke skywalker fluff #luke skywalker comfort

[beargyufairy]

Just My Thoughts Pt. 19

Fairy Tail Manga Reread Version

It’s been a while! Let’s get right into it ❤️

This S-class mission on Galuna Island is still a relatively new point in the formation of the original Team Natsu. I like how worried they are for Lucy’s safety. They did tease her a bit by questioning why she even grabbed Angelica the rat (why did she do that?!) but nonetheless, they are still concerned for her. By this point, they haven’t done a lot of missions together yet their relationship has grown and developed so much. Natsu voicing his concern for Lucy becomes something he does often as the story progresses but I love seeing him say it here. Previously, he questioned why she bothered joining them to save Macao or fight against Eisenwald/Lullaby. But here, he not only specifically wanted her to the mission with him, he’s also worried about her. I would also like to note that prior to coming to the mission, Natsu still viewed them as a Team, even though Lucy thought he only asked her because she’s a blonde which was the requirement for Duke Everlue. Natsu even got her a pink dumbbell/weight (I think that’s what it’s called) to train with Natsu and Happy. It’s the little things that matter and here he’s thinking about what she might like and does it to be inclusive of her. The shift in his perspective of Lucy is refreshing to see. And Happy, he’s worried she might’ve died so he goes to check on her. I really like this. Lucy and Happy might bicker back and forth often but their relationship is so wholesome. Before this point in the story, Happy took Lucy away from Lyon even though he was worried about Natsu. This shows how much he cares for Lucy since he was crying yet knew he couldn’t do much more than escape. I love how the story is progressing so far and I’m excited to reread the rest!!!

Until my next thought!

#fairy tail #lucy heartfilia #nalu #natsu dragneel #artists on tumblr #natsu x lucy #writers on tumblr #lucy x natsu #illustration #fairy tail fanfiction #i’m back #i miss you #just me and my thoughts #just my thoughts

[herotome]

Hi there! I’ve been following for a fair while (I was interested in the premise) and have been meaning to play the game for a while as well, but only started the last day of 2023! One heck of a way to start a year though!

I was wondering, how would the ROs feel about/interact with an MC who is touch averse? If MC can’t stand for people to touch them without getting a little sick feeling? How would that affect their relationship? Would that be a thing that would determine if they would or would not enter a romantic relationship with MC?

And maybe as a lil tiny bonus if you’re feeling up to it, how would the ROs feel if MC one day tried linking pinkies with them? If MC told them that their specific touch isn’t that bad and they wanna try slowly building up physical affection?

Sorry, this is kind of a long ask >.< I myself am iffy on touch at best and I know it’s commonly seen as a “necessity” in relationships of all kinds. Herotome is a VN that kinda breaks down modern relationships and I was curious so I wanted to ask, but alao totally understand if you don’t want or are unsure of how to answer this. Have a lovely whatever time it is in your time zone and I can’t wait to see how Herotome progresses!

Dude(gn) you're valid as hell thank you sending this over <3

I do wanna give a quick shoutout to @crescencestudio who - I know through my direct experience of editing for Alaris - is putting a huge array of touch-averse dialogue options in their VN. Do give them a follow if that interests you...!

I also want to express how flattered I am that Herotome kinda breaks down modern relationships - that's definitely been an unstated goal of mine.

Now let's see about your ask...

Warden: Fuck yeah he's down-- gosh what's gotten into me I'm cursing so much today but I'll make an effort not to censor myself <_< But yeah... honestly a touch averse MC would be right up his alley - assuming he is reassured that he has not done anything wrong/offensive with any accidental touches. To some extent, he enjoys the concept of self-restraint(...) and begins both his professional and romantic relationships rather carefully - so not having to worry about whether he's not touching someone too much or too little - and instead focusing on not touching them at all - should be quite refreshing for him tbh? He may want to touch sometimes, particularly after spending a LOT of time together... but being respectful and ensuring his beloved is comfortable is way more important to him.

Griffin: ..... well, Griffin would do her best LOL. They would have to set expectations and really communicate upfront (which you would always be doing with Griffin regardless of touch aversion, lets be real) - what is not on the table, what could be on the table in the future, what MC wants out of a relationship - and if MC is prepared to discuss these topics and - most importantly, if MC is 100% ready for a relationship - in all likelihood a touch averse MC will be able to make things work with Griffin. Just gotta be clear and communicate.

Mia: ngl she can get pretty needy, it might be rough with her...! She'll want to hug when she cries and she can get pretty insecure about herself, so I wouldddn't super recommend a touch averse MC getting into a romantic relationship with Mia... Communication can be rocky with her even when both sides try their best. But gosh she'd treat touch averse MC sooo well in the time they spend together, if MC would allow Mia to cook and pamper!!!

Dart: Eh.... Why not? He's willing to give it a shot, and if it doesn't work out then it doesn't work out. ....... I'm sorry this is all he's giving me ;;;;;

Jade: lmao she's touch averse on and off herself so she'd understand MC best out of everybody with very minimal communication no questions necessary. They'll be perfectly happy reading on opposite sides of the couch or something...

As for linking pinkies and slowly building up physical affection-

lol idek what to say bc that's so stinking adorable and swoonworthy

Warden, Griffin, Dart, and Jade would make sure MC is not pushing themself over their comfort zone just for their sake - they went into a relationship knowing not to expect touch (I assume?!)

Mia would be too busy having the happiest day of her life straight up vibrating and also having a heart attac like

#creatorofstars #ro: everyone #herotome ask #can I promise a full set of touch averse choices in my own game no #are touch averse mcs valid hell yes #both can be true at the same time

[chryblossomjjk]

bts fic recommendations | 03.07.23

→ hi friends! this is a little segment i do every tuesday (reviewsday get it, aren’t i funny, pls tell me how funny i am) where i read and review two-three fics. as a content creator, i know how big of a role other creators play in your growth, therefore, i want to do my part in making sure everyone gets the recognition they deserve! so with that being said, please check out the amazing fics listed below. make sure to like, reblog, and leave feedback! ♡ #reviewsday #kikirecs

stardust - @euphoricfilter (jjk x reader | fluff, smut, f2l)

summary:  if jungkook would have known an unintentional orgasm would have led to this, then he would have begged you to work out with him sooner.

naur bby when i tell you i loved this from the first paragraph...

"If every living being’s foundation is made of stardust, scattered when born, then Jungkook thinks the two of you were made from the same star."

and the way you continued the analogy throughout was pure literature gold (or should i say diamond teehee). its stuff like this that i read and im like damn, the moots are really out here posting fics that could easily be published best sellers for fucking free!! how lucky are we!!!

OOF AND THE PILLOW PRINCESS COMMENT HAD ME LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM BLUSHING BC HOW DOES HE KNOW ME LIKE THAT I FELT CALLED OUT LMAO

and the whole workout scene hits even better after his workout live like i legit was able to visual everything... and sex in the mirror will never not be top tier :')

i love this jungkook dearly. this is how i imagine irl jk yk? just that hopeless romantic vibe, feeling that he has someone on this earth that is meant for him and he's meant for them. thats encapsulated so beautifully in this fic. such beautiful writing, thank you for blessing us with this fucking masterpiece!!

knee high socks - @minniesvenus (jjk x reader | smut, college au)

summary: after being obsessed with you and your knee high socks for forever, jungkook can't believe that you finally notice him.

okay so do you ever just hear a song or smell a smell that feels so incredibly nostalgic and fills your head with dreamy thoughts and stars and stuff... that's exactly how i felt while reading this! like i just kept thinking of the arctic monkeys song and the way you characterized jungkook's crush is just so authentic. its just that pure school crush feeling where you anticpate seeing this person and the more time you see them you pick up on little things and it makes you fall even deeper oof. there's just something so fimilair about the way you wrote this and it's probably one of the most realistic depictions i've seen of the natural progression of a crush like uGH THE FUCKING TALENT !!!

and it makes you root for him so much like i was internally cheering for him when she asked him to sit next to him. it was so fucking wholesome and sweet i screamed

and then shit got unwholesome real quick whew

her giving him praise actually made me so happy though! like you definitely inspired me to write more of that bc its so refreshing and cute!! and the smut was saur naughty but so sweet bc she was just guiding him through the motions and once again it just felt so natural which is no easy feet!! like you really hit the nail on the head with this one and it will be added to my comfort fic list asap!! so so so lovely!!

in the seom: love for dummies - @thvhoe (jjk x reader | smut, fluff, angst, fwb, college au, camping au)

summary: always the friend, never the girlfriend. jeon jungkook doesn't date. at least that's what he thought until he met you, a chemistry student who seemed to have it all—except for love. meeting at a mutual friends frat party, you hit it off right away. however, due to both of your stubbornness, it has never progressed beyond being friends with benefits. the annual camping trip with your friend group was supposed to be the turning point in your relationship with jungkook. but what happens when your best friend of 18 years unexpectedly comes back from busan and confesses to you, further complicating matters?

OoF WHAT A FUCKING OPENING SCENE LMAO!! i was horny from fucking JUMP!!! and kook juggling between pet names and not knowing what to call her made me giggle but always made me extremely soft like aw :') &lt;3

and y/n really whipped that fuckboy into shape we love to see it!! he better buy gifts n work for the coochie!!! >:(

"Pookie🩶: Can't sleep. Send me a pic of your boobies?"

this had me cackling bc this behavior is saur... annoyingly endearing like he legit is a big baby and i love him lmao even though unholy he is extremely cute.

^y/n and i both having immaculate taste and listening to ditto

and i am so thankful things turned out well for this pairing. i felt so sad for him like ugh the protectiveness and worry over her. he was generally just so wholesome throughout this entire fic. def a fav protrayal of jungkook. thank you so much for sharing this beautiful peice with us my love!

#reviewsday #kikirecs #jungkook #bts jungkook #jeon jungkook #jungkook smut #jungkook x reader #jungkook imagine #jungkook scenario #jungkook au #bts fanfic #bts fic recs #bts #bangtan #jungkook x y/n

[mysadcorner]

Can I pls request being childhood friends with the batboys and Bruce and confessing your feelings for them?? I'm not fluent in English so this may not have made sense so sorry

Confessing To The Batfam Headcanons

- Credit to the gifs owner - Please be specific about characters wanted in requests -

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Bruce Wayne

• A confession is one of the last things Bruce would expect from you, or anyone for a matter of fact. He isn’t the type of person to just open themselves up to someone, so he’s very surprised that he’s done it towards you without even noticing.

• He certainly didn’t expect a person like you to fall for someone like him and then confess your feelings. He doesn’t have much experience in relationships after cutting himself off genuinely from the world, so it’s nice and refreshing to have a new aspect to his life that can be healthy, and non-violence related.

• Of course, Bruce likes you back, he just isn’t the best at expressing it at first. He’s awkward and fusses around because he doesn’t know how to act, but once you reassure him that he doesn’t need to change to be with you then he’s able to accept the situation more gradually over time.

• At first things would progress slowly, but that’s because he considers caution in everything he does. But once he’s comfortable with you the relationship is at a steady pace, and he only goes further with you if he knew you’d be okay and comfortable with it.

•Bruce would have had a crush on you for a long time, and maybe even a small one from the first time he ever met you. You’re irresistible to him, and just having you in his presence brightens the life he’s seen as dull for so long.

Dick Grayson

• Dick would be happily surprised with finding out that you like him so much, and he wouldn’t be that surprised after how close the two of you have managed to become. He isn’t the type of person to be very loud about this revelation, so if you’re shy about the situation you won’t need to worry about him telling others about it.

• Dick never expects anyone to fall for him, but it does happen because of how generous and lovable he is as a person. As long as he’s close to you and feels a deep connection with you then he won’t be too surprised by the whole thing.

• After getting to know you so well, and learning so much about you, it would be hard for Dick not to fall for you. There are a limited number of people he is actually pretty close to, so the fact that he’s allowed you to see many intimate sides of himself emotionally is a sign to both you and him that he feels something important between the two of you. 

• Dick would want things to progress at whatever speed you felt alright with; he’s patient and doesn’t need to rush things that he knows will turn out really well for him in the end. He’d be very sweet about the whole things and would reassure you if you weren’t too experienced in relationships, but other than that, progression would come quite naturally. 

• Dick reciprocating his feelings for you is probably the thing that encouraged you to confess to him, as he’s certainly been liking you for a while. Dick can always tell when someone is truly a good person deep down, and since he sensed that he’s had a special place in his heart for you.

Jason Todd

• Jason would be completely shocked when you confess to him as he isn’t used to people being affectionate or having such a positive look towards him. He’ll gladly take it though, and once he does, he finally realises how much he’s been missing out on.

• He wouldn.t have expected it if you hadn’t showed any sign of you being interested in him before, but if you had then he wouldn’t be completely clueless. He can be quite flirty, so he doesn’t know how-to pick-up signs of attraction and interest when it’s obviously directed towards him; you won’t be able to fool him easily if you tried to hide it from him for a while.

• Jason probably likes you back, after all, he wouldn’t have been so kind to you if he didn’t like you in some way. It’s hard for him to admit his feelings at first, but he does try once he realises that he really wants to be with you too.

• Things would have to go slow at the start while you’re both laying out your boundaries and other aspects of what you expect out of the relationship. He makes sure to do this as he isn’t the most responsible or reasonable when you first met, and healthy relationships do eventually come to him after you show him what they’re like.

• Jason gets attached easily so it’s pretty likely that he has feelings for you before you confessed to him. It doesn’t stop him being surprised, but the mutual feelings do reassure him and make him feel less insecure about certain things.

Tim Drake

• Tim would be very sweet about you confessing to him, and since he knows that you’re going out of your own way to express your feelings then he’ll try his best to be polite and not make you feel bad about it. He won’t let you down, but he doesn’t want you to think that he isn’t taking you seriously.

• Because of how well he’s able to read the people around him and figure out what’s going on, he probably knew that you liked him before you confessed. Despite this, he would keep it to himself and let you decide what to do with your feelings as he wants you to do only what you would feel comfortable with.

• He probably likes you back too but just never said until you approached him first. He gets shy when expressing his own emotions, so he wasn’t too inclined to tell you about how he felt before you took the chance to tell him yourself.

• Tim would take you on a few dates if he wanted things to progress slowly and at a simple pace. But if you had known each other for a long time and were already extremely close then he wouldn’t have a need for dates and would progress however you would like.

• Tim could have possible liked you for a while even, without realising it himself. He always felt a deep connection to you, so the fact that you’ve confessed to him on top of this is probably a sign that things will work well between the two of you.

Damian Wayne

• Damian may come across as stoic and insensitive at first, but he really doesn’t mean to make you uncomfortable or any offence to you. He just isn’t used to these types of feelings being expressed around him, especially towards him, so he does need a little time to process things.

• He’s pretty oblivious to these kinds of things so he probably wouldn’t have expected it, and he may have not noticed your liking to him before you confessed too. However, he wouldn’t be disappointed about it, so it comes as a nice surprise once you’ve decided to let him know.

• There would be no reason for Damian to not like you back in this way, as he would have to trust someone completely for them to get close to them. Eventually, after spending time with you on a regular basis his feelings for you would only develop and grow until he felt the same way you did for him. 

• Progression in your relationship with Damian would come very naturally, and the two of you have a good set up of communication because of this. Communication and a mutual understanding are essential to be with Damian, so it’s very rare and unlikely that the two of you wouldn’t know about how the other is feeling.

• Damian would have had a strong sense of belonging with you for a long time before romantic feelings even developed. He’s slow with things like this, so even though he didn’t know he liked you in the way that would spark a relationship, you would still be the closest person he’d allow to be near himself. 

#bruce wayne headcanons #bruce wayne x y/n #bruce wayne x you #bruce wayne #bruce wayne x reader #dick grayson x y/n #dick grayson headcanons #dick grayson x you #dick grayson x reader #dick grayson #jason todd x you #jason todd x y/n #jason todd headcanons #jason todd #jason todd x reader #tim drake headcanons #tim drake x y/n #tim drake x reader #tim drake x you #tim drake #damian wayne headcanons #damian wayne #damian wayne x y/n #damian wayne x you #damian wayne x reader

[numinousmysteries]

Dancing the Tandava (2/10)

[on Ao3] @today-in-fic

Geneva, Switzerland 2023

Their plane touches down just as the sun is rising. It’s a smooth landing that Scully manages to sleep through even as the wheels bounce on the tarmac. Mulder smiles to himself. Thirty years and some things never change.

A lot has changed, though. Thirty years ago they would have been on a domestic flight headed to an anonymous town in the middle of the country to track down the latest unexplained phenomenon to catch his attention. He would have been hesitant to wake her up, unsure if he had permission to touch her. Now, they’re visiting their 22-year-old son a few months into his prestigious research internship at CERN. They have wedding bands on their hands instead of guns holstered to their hips; hard-earned wrinkles on their faces marking their years of fighting in the darkness.

Now, he knows the best way to wake Scully up after a long flight is a gentle kiss on the smooth skin of her cheek while brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Her hair is longer than it was when they first met and he likes how it curls softly when it hits her shoulders. She sleeps peacefully, free of the threats that once loomed over them. He loved the sharp lines of her work suits, the expensive sartorial armor she used to steel herself against the world, but he likes the softer fabrics she’s embraced recently even more. In their narrow airplane seats, he’s soothed by the gentle brush of her oxblood cashmere sweater against his forearm. So much has changed for the better.

“We’ve arrived,” he whispers in her ear, his lips grazing the thin ridges of cartilage.

“Mmm, that was fast,” she says, rubbing her eyes.

“Maybe for you,” he smiles. “For those of us who didn’t conk out the second the fasten seat belt light turned off, it was an eight-hour flight across the Atlantic with disappointing film options.”

“They didn’t have The Lazarus Bowl?” she asks, grinning.

He grimaces at her and stands up to retrieve their luggage. His knees are creakier than they used to be. He knows his back will be sore in a few hours once his muscles realize they’ve been stuck in an uncomfortable airline seat for hours. At least he travels with his own personal physician who can work out the knots with her delicate but strong hands.

“I can’t wait to see William,” Scully says as she rises to meet him and stretches her arms overhead. “It’s probably too early to check into our hotel. Why don’t we stop by his apartment first and see if we can catch him before he leaves for work?”

“Maybe let him know we’re on the way so we don’t catch him in flagrante with Hannah.”

“Mulder,” she sighs, following him down the jetway and into the terminal. “They’re just friends.”

“You’re right, Scully. Two good-looking, intelligent, young adults who work together and have palpable chemistry between them can never go from friends to something more.”

“I’ll text him,” she concedes.

William and his friend Hannah Schwartz had a spirited academic rivalry in MIT’s undergraduate physics department and it was almost unheard of when they were both offered internships at CERN. It made sense for the two to share an apartment when they moved abroad.

Hannah had come to stay with them for a weekend over the summer. She’s a petite, whip-smart brunette from New York City who, Mulder could tell, drives William wild. As they were waiting for her arrival Mulder watched William anxiously refreshing the Amtrak website tracking her train’s progress on his laptop. Mulder hadn’t seen his son that excited since the Christmas mornings of his childhood.

Even though Mulder and Scully assured William they didn’t mind if they shared his bedroom, he insisted on sleeping on the living room couch and giving Hannah his bed. He told Mulder it “wasn’t like that” between them and all his father could do was take his word for it. Mulder knew from personal experience that some relationships can’t be rushed, but he hoped, for his son’s sake, that William didn’t take the better part of a decade to realize what was right in front of him.

In the airport, Mulder pretends to impress Scully with his high school French, pronouncing all the words on the signs (even though they’re paired with English translations) in an exaggerated accent, and Scully pretends to be impressed.

“Mon amour,” she purrs.

It’s fun to travel with her without the mystery of a case hanging over their head. Even when William was growing up they didn’t vacation much, as if subconsciously making up for a lifetime on the road. They spent a few Christmases with her brother’s family in San Diego and although Bill never exactly warmed to Mulder, the two men reached a detente. It helped that William was a cute kid who got along with his cousins—and that Scully shot daggers with her eyes if Bill dared to be less than perfectly cordial to Mulder.

Outside the airport, they navigate to a taxi stand and give the driver William’s address.

“You two scientists?” the driver asks with a hint of a Swiss accent. He’s a gruff older man with a black leather jacket and bony knuckles.

“My wife here is,” Mulder says, beaming at Scully. “Why?”

“You’re headed to CERN. Figure you’re visiting physicists. Lots of them pass through here.”

“Our son is a research intern,” Scully says. “We’re going to visit him.”

“Must be a smart kid,” the driver responds, turning onto the highway. “Strange stuff going on there, though.”

“Strange how?” Mulder pipes in.

“I don’t know,” the driver shakes his head. “But you hear things. Like they’re making new black holes that could eat us all up or trying to recreate how the universe was formed in that collider thing. Seems like messing with God’s business to me.”

“It’s fascinating research,” Scully says leaning forward. “But the large hadron collider is extremely safe. The particle experimentation is occurring on a subatomic scale. I can assure you there’s no risk of a black hole forming.”

The driver nods. “Anyway, that stuff’s all above my head. Like I said, your kid must be pretty smart.”

“We’re certainly proud of him,” says Mulder. He winks at Scully and she smiles at him in return. They’re both so proud of William—their miracle baby who, scientifically speaking, shouldn’t exist had grown into a curious kid, a bright if slightly awkward teenager, and now a young man with interests and passions of his own. It’s certainly not something either of them would have imagined when they met, and it’s more than they could have ever hoped for when they first dreamed of having a child together.

A glint of sunlight catches on a small gold medallion hanging from the rear view window. Mulder looks closer and notices it depicts the Hindu god Shiva dancing in a circle of flames. He turns to Scully to check if she sees it too, but she’s nervously thumbing at her phone.

“Hmm, he hasn’t written back yet,” Scully says.

“He’s probably busy getting ready,” Mulder reassures her, resting his hand on her thigh. She clasps her hand on top of his.

William still hasn’t texted Scully when they pull up to a square building striped with gray and white brick that matches the address they gave the driver. Mulder pays the driver and retrieves their luggage from the trunk.

“Did you notice his Shiva medallion?” Mulder asks as they make their way through the parking lot.

“His what?”

“The driver had a little gold Shiva symbol hanging from his rear view mirror. You know, the four-armed Hindu god whose cosmic dance supposedly created the universe—and has the power to destroy it.”

“No, Mulder, I didn’t notice it. Should I have?”

Mulder shrugs. “I dunno. Just seemed a little odd for a guy who seemed intent on mentioning the work of a singular god.”

“He probably doesn’t even know what it symbolizes. Or maybe it’s not his car?” she says impatiently. “I’m much more concerned about seeing William.”

William’s building is exclusively for temporary CERN employees and there’s a bustle of activity in the lobby. They overhear conversations in a mix of languages, picking up the occasional technical English term dropped in. Mulder feels the contagious energy of youth and intellectual curiosity. He looks at Scully, knowing she feels it, too. They ride the elevator up to William’s floor and knock on the door.

There’s no answer. Scully glances at Mulder with concern and knocks again.

This time, Hannah opens the door, her cheeks red and her eyes ringed with tears. She’s wearing sweats and her frizzy hair is tied in a knot on top of her head.

“Hannah,” Scully says, squinting with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Hannah whimpers, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks. “William’s gone.”

#xfiles #txf #xf fanfic #msr #xfiles fanfic #x files #the x files

[wildissylupus]

hi idk how much you analyze on hanzo but something thats been on my mind is the progression of his character through non-canonical events/interactions. I am aware there isn’t a lot of canon Hanzo content so take this thought with a grain of salt.

In Overwatch 1 hanzo’s personality was more stand-offish and maybe even rude. Now in Overwatch 2 he’s more approachable in a weird way? He’s still the same brooding guy but it’s almost like we see this “healed” version of his in overwatch 2. Not just from interactions but also from his character design aka the underbags being less prominent, him looking physically more healthy, the lack of bottle that has his sake (ofc this could just be them upgrading his look in the game).

While this is amazing and something I have always hoped to see from hanzo, part of me hopes that the developers/writers still remember hanzo from Overwatch 1. There hasn’t been a lot happening canonically with hanzo since the confrontation with Genji and if they were to skip from the last we saw of hanzo to the hanzo in overwatch 2 it feels like a lack of potential and even story telling?

Don’t get me wrong I love that hanzo is being given more personality and depth. It’s so refreshing that he gets to be something other than the ex-yakuza that murdered his brother lmao.

I guess I’m afraid that his development will feel rushed or like there’s gaps in it. I want to be able to see the rugged, tired bitter hanzo turn into the hanzo that literally contemplates the idea of settling down and adopting a dog, you know what I mean? I don’t just want it to be a thing that is skimmed over. I hope Overwatch touches on the more difficult situations in regards to mental health. And this isn’t just for hanzo, it’s for the whole roster.

I hope that each characters gets to grow and learn even if it’s unpleasant and “ugly” and that we actually get to SEE it in progression. Not just time skips and flashbacks or whatever.

Maybe it’s too early in canon mission events content to judge but it is something that has been in the back of my mind. I may be proven wrong later or be completely off but thoughts???

I do agree with this, though I don't think he should still be standoffish when he joins Overwatch, I do want there to be this awkward period where everyone adjusts to having him around. I also think that the reason for his character progression is going to be explored in his short story with Kiriko. It seems from the description that he's going to be getting some closure with his father, which would explain his change from OW1 to OW2.

However I think there is a different thing that could explain his change. Kiriko. I've explained this in passing but I think that both Genji and Hanzo are going to be given a second chance to be siblings, not to each other, but the people they have found on their own respective journeys.

Genji has stated that he sees Cassidy as a brother, which is interesting considering so far, other then Angela, since even OW1, he's shown the most concern about Cassidy's well being. Specifically his mental state. Unlike with Hanzo where is has been shown that Genji wasn't really knowledgeable of what Hanzo was going through with being the eldest son. Genji shows a lot more observation with Cassidy.

(Honestly I could write a whole essay about those two and how Genji is given a second chance to be there for who he views as an older brother BUT THIS POST AIN'T ABOUT HIM!)

I believe this is going to be the same with Kiriko and Hanzo but in reverse, while Genji gets the opportunity to look out for his older sibling, Hanzo actually gets to be an older sibling. He finally gets to relax and joke around, contemplate something other than Genji's death and how he can atone for that.

It would also be a nice parallel to Genji with instead of staying hang up on a previous relationship, he ends up creating a new one that is overall better for him.

It's also the matter of Kiriko and Hanzo's relationship is a lot more salvageable then Hanzo and Genji's. Listen, as much as I love those two, there is no way in hell they're going to get the normal sibling bond the fandom likes to give them. Even if that is the end goal for the writers, they would need to write a whole other novel for that kind of relationship between the two to not feel rushed.

Now I do want to point something out about his OW2 redesign because there's more then just the lack of Sake. It that fact that he's now covering his chest. This might not seem like a lot but in his first design he isn't protecting any part or any organ that is slightly to the right, in the middle, or the the left of his chest, meaning his left lung is exposed, his heart is exposed, his spine is exposed, basically a lot of stuff you would want shot at is exposed.

Combing this with and interaction with Genji from OW1, that is alluding to the fact that Hanzo "finds living challenging", then Hanzo covering his chest is a big step.

Anyway the fact that Hanzo is now on his way to being added to the list of characters who are practicing selfcare is so funny, cause out of all the characters to end up on that very short list at the beginning of Story Mode, I did not expect it to be Hanzo.

#overwatch #overwatch 2 #overwatch lore #overwatch headcanons #analysis #ow hanzo #hanzo #hanzo shimada