#this line feels like the start of a romance

[absolutebl]

GMMTV'S BL Line Up - Part 2

Presented in order of trailers I find most appealing:

The Heart Killers

FirstKhao & JoongDunk

Jojo directing an action romcom about assassin brothers (Khao & Joong) meet a tattoo artist ex-booster (First) and a mechanic (Dunk). I'm highly amused that Joong plays the older brother to Khao, and that we have a at take on Taming of the Shrew for that pair. I like that everyone is morally gray. This has all GMMTV's best chemistry in one BL and some fresh concepts that I've only really seen tackled in m/m romance (check out Amy Lane's Racing for the Sun, thank me later). I'm excited my only quibble is Jojo, I like his style but his characters can get unreliably messy so...

I genuinely dithered over whether this one should be first. Still it was the only trailer I grinned the whole way through, and had to watch 2x, so it takes top spot for me, but closely followed by a surprise silver medal...

Thame-Po (Heart that Skips a Beat)

EstWilliam

A boy band member and his documentarian start a forbidden relationship. I LOVE Est and am delighted to see him at GMMTV but I've been getting a fatigued by celebrity BL of late. However, after watching the trailer I'm 100% in on this show. I've been waiting for a Blinding Lights style idol romance and this looks like it might be it (Korea, Japan, and Thailand have systemically disappointed me over the past 2 years). Bring it, boys.

Revamp the Undead Story

BounPrem

GMMTV have taken on this IP about a vampire prince and the human who awakens him that was with WabiSabi. Interesting that GMMTV are bring out two vampire BLs as a result. This one involves a coven (hello, who called it way back in 2019? Me. I DID.) Anygay, coven includes Santa (no lies spotter with that one).

(Previously: Vampire Project from Wabi Sabi - trailer now removed, also previously My Broccoli)

Wonder if they will tank that JossGawin one? There'd likely be rioting in the streets if they did. But they might just let it fade away.

Sweet Tooth Good Dentist

MarkOhm

Finally Mark is leading out a BL! This one based on a Jittirain novel about a weird sunshine student dentist and his sugar-addicted patient, described as a romcom meets romantic therapy. Also, Jimmy is there, primarily to give me second lead syndrome. It looks silly but kinda earnest, I'm intrigued.

Perfect 10 Liners

ForceBook, PerthChimon, JuniorMark

New directing yet another university BL with engineers + their mentees. Based on a Jittirain novel. Massive cast. ForceBook playing the same old characters. Enemies to lovers tsunder/sunshine jock/nerd thing. PerthChimon are doing the cohabitation cool guy/dork trope. JuniorMark are doing popular sunshine meets lonely sad boy (the only interesting pair IMHO).

Not sure if these will be interwoven (My Engineer style) or shorter stand alones (Y-Destiny style).

The Ex-Morning

SingtoKrist

This is an original script written just for the OG, direct by Lit (SOTUS) about a news reporter plagued by scandal must work with his ex-boyfriend to rebuild his reputation. A reunion romance that's hitting pretty close to the IRL pair branded mark.

I've never claimed these two had any kind of chemistry and that would appear to still be the case. I think this one will bore me silly. I'm contemplating a trash watch but feel that's best reserved for...

Ossan‘s Love Thailand

EarthMix

WHY MUST THIS BE?!! I really don't like this IP but I still HAVE OPINIONS (of course I do) Look, I doubt even legendary EarthMix can save Ossan for me.

Shall I explain? Too much, let me sum up:

It's a terrible script based entirely on an unsympathetic love triangle, the viability of the whole show actually hinges on the boss character so he MUST be likable, because the lead is an unsympathetic looser (and user of people), and the roommate/love interest has no personality. Looks like this version is doing the same. ALSO Earth is grossly miss-cast. (On the other hand, maybe I'll like it more because of that, I would rather my H were toned down a bit.) Finally... where tf are my ladies? The female characters were the best thing about the original.

Of course I'll still watch it. I'm trash.

My order based on descriptions (and biases) before watching trailers was:

The Heart Killers

Revamp

Sweet Tooth

Perfect 10 Liners

ThamePo

The Ex-Morning

Ossan’s Love Thailand

Now that we have finally gotten part 2 I have only one burning question left for GMMTV.

Why didn't my man Thor get to lead something, damn it?

I will also take this as an opertunity to remind you all that my predictions about my own taste are notorious terrible.

(source)

#GMMTV line up #new bl #upcoming BL #forthcoming BL #2024 bl #GMMTV #Thai BL #The Heart Killers #ThamePo #Sweet Tooth #Revamp #Perfect 10 Liners #The Ex-Morning #Ossan’s Love Thailand #FirstKhao #JoongDunk #BounPrem #vampire bl #Youtube

[most-datable-datable-bracket]

QUARTER-FINALS MATCH 1

Grim propaganda:

“He's so babygirl coded, and also a husband material and he has a very pretty room. Also he's very very cute when you make fun of him and he doesn't know how to type and I think that's just so cute”

“The edgy grim reaper who wants to reap your soul but also gets incredibly flustered when you point out that he isn't using capitalization in messages correctly”

"grim literally travels all the way from the underworld to your home to give you flowers just because you offhandedly say youd like some

he's googling how to date once he realizes he has feelings for you (which is just endearing to me personally)

hes willing to throw away his responsibilities as a grim reaper if it means he can be with you....

and even if he can be grumpy, in the end he'll always make sure to be clear about his feelings for you

GUYS...im gonna pass out."

Gale propaganda:

“He is my cringe malewife I love him <3”

“Listen. Some may dunk on him for eating all of your magic artifacts (he only eats three!!) and others may dislike him for various bugs in his romance. But man oh man does this guy take devotion to the next level. He is such a romantic. Says the line "Whether I condemn this world or not, I choose you." after you successfully convince him to disobey his goddess who is also his ex girlfriend. He's a bit hungry for power, but in like, a sexy way, where he wants to get it to elevate you both to Godhood. And if you tell him that you want him for the man he is and not the God he aspires to be, he abandons that search for power and proposes. You can have wizard sex with him in the sky. His "rebellious streak" consists of staying up late reading and summoning a cat when his parents told him he couldn't have one, and also the aforementioned pursuit of godlike powers. What an absolute catch. He's always saying dramatic stuff in battle, but if you have him sneak around, he starts complaining like a grumpy old man. He's extra attracted to you when you're in battle. He has a bomb in his chest. And it is a very nice chest. Anyway. Boyfriend material.”

“This man is so sweet and idealistic. He wants everything about your romance to go perfectly like a fairy tale but that isn't really possible in apocalyptic settings, so he will use magic to help you forget  your surroundings when trying to be intimate to get as close as he can to perfect because he wants you to have the best. He is also attracted to literally all of your character and gets really turned on when you are musky and covered in blood after a battle. Just love my nerdy awkward horny romantic wizard.”

#Grim reaper #a date with death #casper a date with death #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #Baldur's Gate 3 #BG3 #Quarter-Finals #MDDC 2

[bangficsx]

DON'T GO TO STRANGERS

CHAPTER 1

previous | index | next

Genre: slow burn, romance, angst, smut, college setting, corrupt families, revenge, bodyguard, lots of parties, reckless hookups, denial, etc

Pairing: jungkook x reader

Warnings : consensual protected sex, slight mention of masturbation

As the flight takes off, Jungkook's arm shakes matching with the turbulence of the airplane. He closes his fists tightly trying to calm himself and takes a deep breath.

It's not the turbulence that causes his anxiety, it's fuelled by the uncertainty of the mission he is leaving his country for.

He has protected far more dangerous things than you, and been rewarded greatly yet he feels as if nothing he does will ever suffice to efface the doubts of those who don't believe in him.

He knows he's capable but this time what he's supposed to protect is a living, breathing person with her own will and ability to move around. It's you. He's being sent to Harwell to protect you.

Sitting on the seat behind yours, it's difficult for him to catch a glimpse of you. The sitting arrangement had been meddled with deliberately to have you in close proximity to him.

He hears you talk after the take-off with the guy that sits beside you. If he tries to focus he can hear the conversation that you two have going on.

You talk about your bachelor's subjects then why you have chosen to do a master's, and what your plans are for after you get the degree. Soon the conversation segues into things like dating and exes and quickly becomes NSFW.

"Morning sex or night sex?" You ask him and he titters before answering. Says it's different on different days and situations.

A blonde guy sits beside Jungkook on the aisle seat who leans over to the front, and says, "Hoseok look at this bro" he shows him something on his phone and the guy beside you laughs.

"Crazy humour" He settles back in his place.

Jungkook side glances at him before looking away. He's not shy and wants to stay away from becoming too attached to people because he's not here for the college experience but on a mission.

"Read this" Jimin turns the phone towards Jungkook's face. It's some webtoon panel that has a scene so freaking funny Jungkook wants to roll on the floor laughing. He somehow manages to just let out a little giggle.

"You also going to Harwell for uni?" Jimin asks keeping his phone face down on his thigh. Feels an urge to befriend this guy who sits beside him. He can't fathom why the cool looking guy is keeping quiet.

"Yeah, master's." Jungkook answers. He makes sure to not tell him too much about himself.

"Me too" Jimin smiles. "Psychology," he adds.

"Sociology," Jungkook replies. Bites his tongue, to punish himself for talking again when he didn't even ask.

"Where did you get your bachelor's from?" Jimin asks. Jungkook utters a curse in his mind, wanting to yet not wanting to continue the conversation.

"Yonsei," he answers. Knows the guy's gonna be like oh you must be so smart but he hates how he didn't really deserve it, and went there as a result of nepotism and power misuse.

They talk about some other things before becoming silent.

Jungkook can still hear you talk with Hoseok. His assumptions start to break down into little pieces slowly and slowly. With each line that he hears, another fact about you reveals itself to him, he feels how wrong he was.

Thinks he'd underestimated you. You weren't all that naive and reserved. He could tell that much with the way you were openly flirting and talking about anything and everything with Hoseok.

Your father had portrayed you as an innocent delicate doll-like creature in his descriptions. Jungkook had ignored the fact that fathers barely come to terms with their daughters growing up.

If your father could control it all he would still like to have you as a five-year-old throwing pretend tea parties in your princess-themed bedroom.

But you aren't five anymore, you're twenty years and five months. You graduated college with honours and finally got the ticket out of your father's house after an ugly fight with him.

Two years of your adulthood, you spent still bound by your father's rules. Now you were out, ready to live your life on your own terms.

You want what your friends had, which you had to struggle to get, freedom, and independence. You want to enjoy your youth that only lasts an hour.

Now it dawns upon Jungkook all at once, if you've been able to do things hidden from your father, what you would do now that you are going away?

You already have the boy by your side being all giddy and needy for you.

He realises his hands are full. It's gonna be almost impossible to keep an eye on you at all times.

You and Hoseok watch a movie together. None of you say it out loud, but it's like a date in very peculiar surroundings. You had just met him in the waiting area. Found that you two had adjacent seats. And he took it from there, his friendly demeanour soon blended with his attraction for you. You are everything he likes in his women.

Your excitement for a new beginning withers away when you grow tired of the slow-moving time, your body feels cramped, butt numb from sitting for so long. Even after a trip to the restroom, it doesn't go away.

Hoseok drifts off to sleep as you choose to read a book after the movie ends. Your father had insisted on getting you a business class seat but you insisted on getting the economy class experience like other students who were headed to the same destination as you.

It is a government-funded programme. Your parents could easily pay for the expenses but you don't want to take anything anymore from them.

Jungkook had gotten his place again through corrupt practices just like his undergraduate programme. Only going there to protect you. He did get to choose a subject of his liking. Concluded that if he were doing a degree, he'd rather study something he likes and actually learn a little.

He stands and politely wakes Jimin up to go to the bathroom. As he passes by, your gaze falls upon him.

You wish for a second, he'd been the one to sit beside you. The tattoo sleeve and the piercings only amplify how perfect he is.

You watch as he walks away, observing his broad shoulders, his veiny hands, his shiny nose, his starry eyes, and his silky hair. He stands out.

Then your gaze falls back upon the guy who sits beside you. He's perfect in his own way. He made you laugh like you hadn't in years. Talking with him was better than many other dates you have had.

You do happen to like him but he doesn't ignite that burning desire in you which that other guy had just threatened to.

You don't notice but when he comes back to his seat. He glances at you too. Tries to stop his brain from recalling your face again and again.

He noticed too much than he intended to just in that one glance towards you. Your dark orbs, long hair, slender neck and perfectly manicured hands that flipped through the pages of the book you are reading.

The long-haul flight finally comes to a stop as you reach the land where you are going to live for a while and make memories, learn from mistakes and gather life-changing experiences.

As you walk out following behind Hoseok, a little fluffy bunny face charm that was tied to the strap of your backpack, falls off. You walk away ignorant of it.

Jungkook picks it up and reads the letters written on it in handwriting that seems to belong to a child — ROMI.

"Romi" He calls after you pretending to assume that it is your name.

You don't hear him at first but when he calls again, you're standing numb at your spot, confused and startled at who is saying that name. It isn't a common name at all.

It's the name that your little sister gave to her bunny charm.

Jungkook walks up to you and says, "This fell" he hands it to you.

"Oh, how did this..." You are confused wondering how it was there. Then assume your sister must've tied it to your backpack while playing.

"It's not my name. This bunny is called Romi," you tell him. His lips curl up into a small smile.

You notice that the queue ahead of you has already cleared up and quickly run ahead.

A bus takes you to the campus where you are welcomed and shown around a little.

A university representative counts all the students who have arrived and checks the details on your documents with the ones that all of you have provided with your application.

All the students receive their student IDs and a booklet containing necessary details about classes and the campus.

Soon after all the boring things end, you finally go to the apartment that your father had arranged for you.

After a nice shower, being jet-lagged you decide to take a nap. You lay in your bed staring at the ceiling, thinking about how you were finally free. Obviously, you have to study hard but your freedom is exciting.

You don't have to worry about getting too drunk anymore, worry about how far a party is, look at the clock in fear you'll get home late or the worst, rush sex. You've had your share of sex but they've only been hookups so far. You know how much dedication and time, committing to somebody takes. And you just didn't have the liberty before.

Now you're ready to play the field. Find who you want to be with or who you definitely do not want to be with.

When you wake up and grab your phone to dismiss the alarm that was ringing, you find notifications from a text chain titled Oliver's Party.

Your number must've been shared by Hoseok.

The guy had sent details about a party at his apartment in the evening. He had asked for a response from whoever wanted to come.

You quickly type a Me!, thrilled by the idea of a party. Finally, an opportunity to enjoy yourself to the fullest.

You look at the other members of the group, there are some recognizable faces that you saw at the campus, then you find him. Him. The guy who sat behind you on the plane. The guy with a tattoo sleeve and a lip piercing.

You get to know his name, Jeon Jeongguk, it says on the screen.

His profile has a picture of him, a selfie with him pouting and making a peace sign.

You look at the picture for far too long than you know is appropriate. Stare at his lips and his doe eyes.

You shake your head goin back from his profile to the group chat and check the new texts. He hasn't replied so he might not be coming. He did seem a bit of a reserved type of guy to you. You didn't hear him talk too much, just once or twice with Park Jimin, he even denied Hoseok when he offered him chocolate, who is actually the type you think most people would like to talk to.

More than a guy, you also feel the need of a girlfriend when you are unable to decide what dress you should wear to the party. After getting into some and tossing them away, you finally opt for a white slightly oversized t-shirt and black skirt to be paired with boots.

You comb your hair nicely before you pick your purse up to leave. Switching off the lights, you check your phone for updates on the cab you had booked. You lock your door properly before going down the stairs.

There's an apartment across the hall from yours. You wonder who lives there. Most units in the building are occupied by students from nearby universities or young people who are singles.

When you reach your location, you find a group of girls moving inside together. They seem to be best friends, must've been together before they came here.

You don't wanna become part of a group because then you'll always be treated like an outsider somebody who doesn't know the fun times from the past or the inside jokes.

You want a loner who won't have many others to talk to. Somebody who if you lend an ear to them would lend one back to you.

You went through a friendship breakup at seventeen. She was your best friend since middle school. You only realised how one-sided it was once you grew older.

You heard her ran about her problems even at 2 am with full attention but if you told her about yours, she would make some excuse and change the topic or cut the call or pretend that she was busy.

You look around as you enter the house. You find those recognizable faces present, chattering away in different corners. Then your eyes fall on Hoseok.

He stands with a drink in his hands and a grin on his face. The people around him laugh. You recognise the blonde guy that was sitting beside Jeongguk.

You walk straight to him. Nervous about talking to strangers.

"Hoseok," You tap his shoulder and he turns towards you with a smile.

"Oh hey" He gleams when he finds you.

"I was waiting for you. Saw your text saying you wanted to come," You nod.

"Everybody came except Jungkook," Jimin says.

"Isn't it Jeongguk?" You ask. Thinking he must've gotten it wrong.

"Yeah, but he said he goes by Jungkook amongst friends," Jimin tells you.

"Oh," you tilt your neck slightly. He offers you a drink which you accept.

Taking a sip, you make small talk with them.

Your eyes wander, scanning the room for a girl you might want to befriend. After a few minutes pass by, you find someone.

You walk upto her as she stands near the counter where drinks were kept. You pour beer for yourself. One could take as much or as less as they want.

She turns towards you when you stand by her side. Hesitates before she asks, "Are these all alcoholic? I don't drink," she says.

"Oh no, they do have fruit beer. It's non alcoholic," you tell her.

"By the way, I'm Teja. Political science. And you?" She asks. You smile at her as she introduces herself. You can understand the hesitancy and nervousness in her tone because you feel the same emotions too.

You tell her about yourself and talk about some other stuff. Both of you share about your previous educational qualifications and other interests.

Soon you get her into the informal stuff. Ask her what she thinks about Hoseok. Her thoughts match yours. He's a decent guy, seems respectful and loveable.

You excuse yourself and go near him. He excuses himself too. The two of you stand in a corner to talk.

He tells you about how he met Jimin. They'd been in the same university, different majors but met through mutual connections and ended up applying and getting selected in the same uni for master's.

You think how lucky he is to have a friend accompanying him. It can be scary alone. It is for you somewhat, but you mentally prepared for months.

"I wanted you to come to the party so bad," He says.

"I knew you shared my number," you say and he agrees, nodding.

Hoseok keeps leaning closer and closer as you two talk. For a second, you fall silent, he looks in your eyes before he takes the final lean in and closes the gap.

His lips are on yours, you gently bite on his lower lip when you feel his tongue trying to push inside your mouth. You let him.

With his tongue in your mouth, you are pulling him in, grabbing his hair. His hand rests on your waist. He pulls back slowly. Looks at you. He's breathless.

"Wanna get out of here?" He asks getting all sorts of ideas he wants to execute.

You bite your lower lip before you nod.

"Before Jimin sees... let's go." He swiftly takes you outside. Asks, "mine or yours?"

"Mine," you answer. You trust him a little but not so much to be able to go sleep with him at his place. It's just the way you were brought up, you're always trying to protect yourself even when you are trying to have fun.

The cab ride to yours is silent, he passes a playful smile at you a couple times but mostly you two look out the windows, trying to learn and adapt yourself to the names of thed streets and such.

He rests his hands on your waist when you unlock your door. Turns you towards himself, once you two are inside and the door is locked.

"You are sure about this right? I mean you are a bit drunk so," He scratches behind his ears as he speaks.

"Hoseok, you have my full consent. I wanted to do it since before I got drunk." You reveal the secret to him. He smirks before kissing you.

Hoseok isn't the type to just sleep with anyone without knowing anything at all about them. It helps him that he does know something about you. Knows that the university does background checks and everything.

He isn't wanting to have sex with you just for the sake of sex, but because he likes you. Likes you far more than he should. Someone he's met less than twenty four hours ago.

There's just something about you that strikes right. You're just his type.

After a good amount of time spent kissing and stroking, you get down to business.

You're too aroused already. Thinking about how you don't have to rush anything. If you decide you can lay with him in bed later.

More so thinking about if he's gonna be the first guy to give you an orgasm. You always have to leave before it happens.

This time you don't have to.

It's not that you are a complete stranger to an orgasm, you have given yourself uncountable.

You look down at his cock wrapped with the condom. He's long, not as thick but long. You know he's better than the guys you've been with before when he asks you for consent again.

He's so sweet, you press a kiss on the tip of his nose. You pull your skirt up as you align yourself with him. He's sat on the chair by your study desk. You can't believe you're doing this here before you got the chance to sit on it and learn something.

Truth remains, you are here more for other things than studying. You know you'll do that too, because you are you. You are always on top of your work. Ace your exams. Complete assignments always at time. And once you start studying a topic, you don't stop until your brain can barely take in more information about it.

Hoseok moans as you slowly start to grind. It's been a while since he's had sex. Still he manages well to not just trip over the edge too soon. You feel good, too good. Your pussy, tight and warm.

There's a small square-shaped glass pane on the wall behind your desk. It gives a narrow view of the hall outside your room. It's one-way glass, meaning nothing can be seen from the outside but you can see a red colored view of the outside world.

The door across the hall opens and a guy steps out. You immediately recognise the tattoos that adorn his arm. He stands with his back to the wall and lights up a cigarette.

His all black outfit suits him better than the denim combo he was wearing earlier. He looks sexy when he pushes his hair back. Even sexier when he blows smoke out. You notice the flex of his jaw as he sucks in. His eyes have a hint of danger to them which has you clenching your jaw.

Well, something else clenches too, has Hoseok groaning, biting on your shoulder. Your pace increases as you finally feel yourself getting closer to a climax. And what's making it happen... you'd rather not acknowledge it.

You can barely believe he lives across the hall. Wish he is just visiting a friend. If he actually does, then you reckon, it's gonna be hell living in this apartment for you.

He stands there not just to smoke a cigarette. He knows that you've got a guy inside with you. He knows the guy's gonna leave. He's counting minutes before he'll have to make up something to check if you're still alive.

#jungkook fanfic #jeon jungkook #jungkook #jeon jungkook x reader #jungkook angst #jung hoseok #jung hoseok smut #jungkook smut #jungkook x reader #jungkook x you #jungkook fic recs #bts smut #bts fanfic #bts series #jeongguk

[heliads]

Newt x reader Bridgerton AU. Reader, the diamond of the season, is the Duchess of Hastings. She wants to marry someone who likes her as a person and isn’t after her money. Newt, son of a widowed viscountess, needs to marry to save his family’s reputation because his sister Sonya was seen alone with her fiancé Lord Aris before they were engaged. The anonymous writer Lady Whistledown is Ava, a widowed modiste who has her nose in everyone’s business, and Aris is the only one who knows.

'foxes and hounds' - newt

masterlist

The start of a new social season, although intended, supposedly, to be a cause for joy, feels rather more like a fierce uprising of dread, not celebration. Across the ton, young maidens find themselves new entrees– or, entrants– to the marriage mart. This game of rings and dances, men with ambition and women with more, will end in blissful happiness or deepest discontent. And all will be witnessed by every worthy family from one corner of the country to the next.

If all goes according to plan, an eligible would-be bride will find herself engaged to a man she loves, a man in possession of a handsome fortune and a sterling reputation. If luck slips past her, she’ll settle for someone decent, or someone without any income at all. If nothing goes in her favor, her first year in society will not be her last as a single woman. She will have to repeat her attempt the next year, this time without the glimmering aura of a new arrival, and hope that something within her has changed enough to attract a proposal. Otherwise, she will sink to the bottom of the pile of dance cards, ignored, abandoned, and grown up into a spinster. All that hard work gone to waste.

You’ve heard many young women discuss the marriage mart with nothing short of absolute terror in their voices. A good opening season can seal a girl’s fate forever. Attracting the eye of a worthy man is an impossible task for all but the best of the rosebuds, or so it seems. Most of us will settle for something halfway decent– a tidy sum per annum but nothing extravagant, a man with casual disinterest but nothing harsh. Something that can be shaped into something good, or at least ignored in favor of not being alone. Such is the romance of a married life.

You, however, hope to extract a little more out of the whole affair. As the Duchess of Hastings, you have no need for money. A marriage would be nice, the final touch on the portrait of a successful lady, but you do not require the financial stability of a husband. You have plenty of money and plenty of friends. You will inherit your estate. If you look for a husband, you will look only for love.

One would think, then, that entering your first season among the eligible women of the ton would be bereft of the panic permeating through most of your friends in search of husbands. However, when you line up with the rest of the young women to be presented to the Queen at the start of the season, you find that it couldn’t be less true. 

Your stomach is in knots, even as you sweep confidently through the corridor to wait outside the door. The white feather in your hair stands tall and proud. Your dress is crisp and finely stitched, the highest of fashion yet never gaudy. You attract stares wherever you go– from the other girls, envious and jealous and heartsick, from the men, longing and cutthroat and mercenary– but pretend they don’t phase you in the slightest. As duchess, you’ve had plenty of time to grow accustomed to onlookers. You won’t allow them to interfere with you on this all important day.

At last, your name is called, and you enter the throne room, your mother behind you. You keep your steps small but light, and seem to float towards your queen. When the time is right, you sink into an elegant curtsy. The moment seems to last forever, your knees bent, your hands shaking slightly, but when the queen calls you to stand, you look up to find her smiling benevolently at you.

“I believe I have found my diamond of the season,” she announces.

The room erupts in polite applause, and you do your best to smother a smile that’s entirely too giddy to be proper. As you retreat from the room, you gaze at the faces surrounding you, trying to remember which ones look genuinely happy for you and which seem to be identifying a prize pig for the slaughter. When the town gossips all gather later to share their thoughts on today’s proceedings, you’re certain that some of them will attempt to discredit you, saying that of course the queen would choose the duchess as her diamond, but you know just as well as all of them that you deserve the honor today. You were the best of everyone here, and it’s plain to see.

Among all of them, your gaze catches on a singular man, almost lost in the crowd from all the bodies packed together but no less entrancing. What strikes you the most is that his face seems kind, and his eyes sparkle with pride as they watch you go. Pride for you, for your accomplishments. As if he couldn’t be more delighted that you of all people were named the season’s diamond.

Then you’re gone from the room, and the kind man is no longer before you. Still, you puzzle over the encounter long after your carriage takes you home. You don’t believe you recognize him, but that doesn’t mean anything to sway you towards any decision. An image of the young man swims in your mind– short, dirty blond hair, an upturned mouth, dark eyes, his face almost spritely. Clever, for sure.

You know better than to mess with clever men. Clever men are the type to try and twist your mind, convince you that they only love you then attempt to make off with your money. You know full well what marriage to you will offer any would-be suitor. This season, you may be looking for affection, but every man in the room will be after your fortune. The task of finding someone who truly cares for you will be a difficult one indeed.

So, clever men or not, you’ll have to keep your heart under close guard. When the first ball of the season comes to be, you don one of your finest dresses, and firmly admonish yourself to be careful. The game of hearts is not one that you lose. Either you win, or you destroy yourself.

You time your arrival carefully, so as to make the best entrance, and your efforts are rewarded. From the moment you’re announced, all eyes turn to you. Were it not for your extensive experience with being scrutinized in the grand magnifying lens that is the ton, you’d be nervous to have that many people looking at you. Even still, you can’t pretend you don’t feel a small flutter in your stomach.

It gets easier once you sweep further into the room, once people start smiling at you again, when the conversation picks up and you’re asked for your first dance of the evening, which you accept. Your partner is a charming man named Minho– dark hair, witty eyes, an excellent sense of humor. He’s athletic and a decent dancer, and by the time the music stops, you’re back to your usual self again. You can’t stop yourself from mentally sizing up your dance partner. He seems nice, and you wouldn’t be bored around him, at least. His family owns land. Although he’s not of your precise social standing, few are, and he’s close enough to you that it would be a respectable match.

Still– still, you think to yourself, as you move away from the center of the floor once more to consider your dance card, it’s not quite enough. You want love, you want a spark, and you didn’t quite get that with Minho. There are plenty of eligible suitors here, though, and many more balls to come. You’ll have other opportunities to select a match.

A few dances later, though, your feet are beginning to feel heavy and you’re still no closer to finding someone of interest than you were at the start. A good lady of extensive training such as yourself should have no problem dancing the entire night through with a pleasant smile on her face, but you’re still human, still tired, and your charming demeanor is beginning to pinch at the seams before long.

The music for the latest dance ends, and you curtsy to your partner, praying silently that no one else will be looking to fill your dance card for the next rotation. However, when you turn around, you’re greeted with the sight of many anxious faces. Something inside you wilts, perhaps your endurance.

Before the mobs can descend upon you, however, a figure appears in front of you. You sigh in relief to see one of your closest friends, Miss Teresa Agnes. “Teresa! And here I thought I wouldn’t have a single good friend all evening.”

Teresa laughs, her dark hair shining. “I would never abandon you. Certainly not when our diamond is sparkling so spectacularly tonight.”

You smile at her. “I’m not the only one who’s sparkling, Teresa. You look lovely.”

“Thank you,” Teresa says sincerely. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to introduce someone to you. This is Viscount Newt, a good friend of mine. I met him through Thomas.”

You smile to yourself as Teresa turns to beckon someone towards you. Teresa has been harboring a not-so-secret admiration for Thomas since you were all small. This is her first season in the social circles, too, and if she doesn’t come out of it with a proposal from Thomas, you’ll think the sky has fallen. Even now, he’s watching her fondly from across the room, trying to pretend as if he isn’t pining madly while Minho teases him for it.

“Here he is at last,” Teresa says, and all of a sudden you can’t think about Thomas’ case of lovesickness for a second longer, because Teresa has brought her friend before you, and you know him. It’s the stranger from your presentation to the queen. The nice one, the clever one. The one that caught your eye, and then your imagination.

You curtsy automatically, and Newt bows. Once the two of you straighten up, you’re able to observe him more closely. You’d only gotten a fleeting glimpse earlier, but now you can drink in the sight of him, and you do. His eyes are dark, but catch the lights like stars. His mouth has a habit of twitching up at the sides, as if he’s always thinking of a joke but just barely managing to keep it at bay. When he looks at you, he really looks at you. You’ve been stared at all night by would-be suitors, but their gazes never went farther than surface level. Right now, it’s as if Newt can see through to your very soul, and most intimately of all, appreciates it.

Teresa gives you a confused look, and you realize you’ve been standing in silence for longer than is probably courteous. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” you say.

“I must return the sentiment,” Newt returns. “Teresa has talked about you many times. I’ve been quite eager to meet you.”

“I hope I’m worthy of what she’s told you,” you say.

Newt smiles again. “I believe you’re even better than that,” he tells you.

Teresa is looking at you with an odd smile. “I believe I’d better let the two of you get to know each other, then,” she says, and sweeps away before you can stop her.

Newt laughs. “She’s been wanting to set us up for ages. For a friendship, I mean,” he breaks in hastily. “Apparently, she thinks we have a similar sense of humor.”

“I look forward to finding that out myself,” you smile.

Newt’s eyes flash with mirth again, delighting you. Behind you, the music picks up again. Newt extends a hand towards you. “Would you mind if I shared a dance with you? Unless, of course, you’d rather sit for a while.”

“I’d love to dance,” you say quickly, and it’s true. All of a sudden, the pain in your feet is gone, as if it had never existed at all.

Newt smiles and takes your hand to lead you to the dance floor. The orchestra begins its melody, and you start your dance. You make a mental note to ask Teresa a little more about Newt later; he dances like an aristocrat, but he speaks so freely to you. It’s nothing like you’ve ever experienced in a suitor before.

Newt arches a brow as he steps through the dance. “Sizing me up, are you? It may be improper of me to ask, but I do hope I’m meeting your requirements.”

Your cheeks heat up. “I’m simply appreciating your mastery of this dance. Nothing more.”

Newt laughs easily. “Of course not. It’s not as if everyone else here is doing the same thing right now. Every dance partner is a strategy meeting. In just a matter of minutes, you’ll walk away knowing if I am a worthy wager, and I will do the same. This ball is full of hounds and foxes, my lady. We all know our parts.”

You glance at him, feeling a curious grin tugging at your lips. “And which am I? Fox or hound?”

Newt returns your proud gaze. “I suppose we’ll find out at the end of the season, won’t we?”

You laugh, feeling oddly triumphant. Newt has this way about him that you find enchanting. It’s  almost breaching impropriety with how candid he is around you, but it only makes you trust him more. The dance ends far sooner than you’d like. Newt relinquishes you to the storm of suitors outside, hopefully with just as much reluctance as you.

The rest of the night passes in a blur. Newt is truly the only one that stands out to you. You don’t have a chance to dance with him again, but you keep making eye contact as you dance with other partners. You can practically hear his clever words in your head, catching you in the act of evaluating the suitors in front of you. Fox or hound?

When the ball ends and you return to your carriage for the ride home, you’re blissful, practically dreamy. You’ve had enough time with Newt to dream about it until the next ball, where you’ll likely repeat the same cycle over and over again until the season ends.

However, your golden mood is shattered when your chaperone sits down across from you. Her face, by contrast, is twisted with disappointment. “Do you have any idea what sort of trouble you’re getting yourself into?” She asks once the carriage pulls away.

Still caught up in the heady dream of a merry boy who smiled the brightest when he danced with you, you don’t realize the trap descending around you until it’s too late. “What trouble?”

Your chaperone’s lips purse. “You’re meant to be dancing only with eligible gentlemen, my lady. I should hope that you’d be able to recognize the suitable candidates from the unseemly by now.”

The veil is pierced, and you’re beginning to be brought back to earth. “What are you talking about? I thought I made perfectly reasonable choices with my dance partners.”

Your chaperone shakes her head, a quick, sharp gesture. “All but one. Goodness, haven’t you heard about the trouble with that one family? I can’t believe Miss Agnes had the nerve to introduce him to you, but perhaps the fact that she’s so besotted with Lord Thomas is upsetting her mind.”

Your heart freezes in your chest. “You can’t mean to say that the Viscount is not a suitable bachelor? What else could he be?”

The other woman sighs. “You don’t know, do you? My lady, I would not interfere if I did not feel the need, but I can assure you, his motives with you are purely mercenary. That man is desperate for something to cover up the follies of his family, and you, my dear, are the perfect gilded shield.”

You feel cold. “What follies?”

“His sister, Miss Sonya, was seen alone with her fiance,” your chaperone murmurs at last. “Lord Aris. I would think you would have heard his name, although perhaps not connected it with Viscount Newt. Miss Sonya and Lord Aris were happily engaged, and by all accounts it was a fine union, but they were seen together without a chaperone past dark. Quite the scandal. The Viscount knows it and is eager to get the ton talking about anything but his sister’s misdeeds. Entering into a courtship with you would do just the trick.”

She’s right, and you know it, and you hate it. “He seemed so genuine,” you whisper, and instantly know how foolish it sounds.

Your chaperone, to her credit, is kind enough to take pity on you. “He did,” she tells you, “and you looked happy together. You would be less happy, however, when you found out the truth. I would rather you know now and stay away. Men like that are nothing but trouble.”

You nod solemnly, turning your head to watch the dark landscapes rumbling past. The sun is already beginning to rise, a hallmark of a late night out. It had been a beautiful night up until this, and now the entire evening is ruined in your mind.

“I feel for Miss Sonya,” you whisper. “She was already engaged. They were just talking.”

“She knows the rules of society, and so do you,” your chaperone reminds you. “We all have our roles to play.”

And the consequence of setting a foot outside your role is instant public mortification. Yes. What a forgiving world. You immediately plant your exhausted body in your bed when you return, hardly sparing the time to wash and dress, but the only things to bloom from your rest are troubled dreams of the boy that could have been yours. Now that you know the truth– that Newt was only trying to use you for a better reputation– every interaction with him is tainted.

You’d meant what you said in the carriage, though. You did think Newt was genuine. Hadn’t he laughed more than usual when he was with you? Hadn’t he regarded you with that fierce pride of his, as if he’d finally found a mind that was an equal to his? Hadn’t he watched you with something akin to jealousy when you danced with the other men that weren’t him?

Hadn’t you wished he would only dance with you? And don’t you wish that you could truly do what you promised yourself and marry only for love, never mind the rest? It is a simple dream to think that love is easy. Marriage is not simple, not in the ton, not in your lifetime. Every one of your days will be shaped by the whims of society, even when they take Newt away from you.

When it comes time for the next ball, you do your best to strengthen your spirits before you go. You intentionally avoid him, making sure to always have your dance card full whenever the music ends. It’s easy enough to find a crowd large enough to hide you from him, and yet you still catch glimpses of Newt from across the hall, several partners down, in a carriage many behind yours. You successfully go two balls, then three, without seeing him, but it aches like a knife in your ribs when you think about what could have been.

As it turns out, you’re not the only one wishing you were with him. At the fifth ball of the season, your attempts to distance yourself from the viscount are foiled at last. Newt tracks you down, signing his name on your dance card before you can stop him before leading you out to the dance floor.

“That’s a rather abrupt way of asking a lady to dance, don’t you think?” You ask as you curtsy.

Newt bows. “I felt it was the only way of guaranteeing that you would dance with me.”

“A lady never declines a gentleman in need of a dance,” you remind him.

The music picks up, and the two of you begin your paces. “A lady also never avoids a gentleman as thoroughly as you have at the last few balls,” Newt says. “Were it not for the fact that I know you to be as perfectly agreeable a duchess as there could ever be, I would say that it was personal.”

You can’t look him in the eyes, even with his hands on you, guiding you through the steps. “It’s not meant to work out, my lord. Us, I mean. We cannot forget the rules.”

When Newt speaks again, his voice sounds hurt. “Why not? Forgive me, my lady, but I remember what it was like that first night. You were happy. We were happy, and happy together. What changed?”

At last, you risk a glance towards him, and instantly regret it. Newt’s eyes are filled with genuine hurt. Are you wrong? Did he actually want you as more than a cover-up? “I heard about your sister,” you say as delicately as you can.

Still, Newt flinches as if you’ve hit him. “You don’t know the full story,” Newt says raggedly.

“Then tell me,” you beg him. “I would choose you if I could, but everyone seems to think that you are only interested in me to advance your station. Give me a reason to believe in you, not them.”

“I can’t say it here,” Newt whispers. 

“I can’t go somewhere with you alone,” you tell him quietly. “Especially not after what happened to your sister. You must tell me now, or we will never have another chance.”

“Alright,” he says at last. “But you mustn’t breathe a word of it to anyone.”

Once you agree, Newt begins to speak in a hushed whisper hardly audible to you, let alone the other couples around you. “Sonya is deeply in love with Lord Aris, and he is in love with her. So much so to the point that he has been battling a deep rage ever since that awful gossip rag, Lady Whistledown, slightly disparaged her last season. He took it upon himself to find out Lady Whistledown’s identity, and somehow, he did. The only problem is, Lady Whistledown is not someone Sonya would consider a friend. He wanted to warn her about the dangers of being anything less than perfect around that insidious writer, and he didn’t want to waste a moment. He called on her to meet with him as soon as possible. He didn’t think they would be seen, but they were, and of course Lady Whistledown ran with it to discredit them in case they would reveal her.”

You suck in a harsh breath. “It was never anything wrong, then. He merely wanted to protect her.”

Newt nods. “Lord Aris is a good man. He never would have done something like this if he realized how it would backfire. He regrets it daily, even though all he wanted to do was keep my sister safe. The ton knows their characters, too. Neither of them would do anything unseemly. The rumors diminish by the day, and soon, it will all be over. They will be happily married.”

He sighs and looks at you again. “I tell you this to explain myself, and to clear my name. I have nothing to hide from the situation with my sister and her future husband. In fact, it is only because they directly asked me not to spread this information that I haven’t gone public with the identity of Lady Whistledown herself to spare their reputations. I have nothing to fear, my lady. Certainly nothing that would make me risk the happiness of my marriage on a good rumor. I would court you because I have never met anyone like you before, nor do I think I ever will. You are utterly entrancing in every possible way. If you do not wish to be with me in that fashion, I would understand.”

You shake your head quickly. “I do want that, my lord. I want you.”

A careful smile slips across Newt’s face. “Do you mean that?”

“I do,” you tell him. “I have wanted you since the moment I saw you at my presentation. I would have found you no matter what lies they spread.”

Newt grins. “I believe I have decided something important, my lady. About your inner nature.”

You arch a brow as he spins you. “And what is that?”

“You’re a hound,” he informs you matter-of-factly. “Sharp and bright. Brave, too. But, then again, I am a hound as well. We make quite the pair, I think.”

“I think so too,” you tell him. In the days to come, rumors will abound about the viscount and the duchess. At first, there will be surprise across the ton, but then, even the most tenacious of gossips will realize that this makes perfect sense. The most clever of men and the most ambitious of women, bound together in holy matrimony. Even the best of poets couldn’t concoct a story that beautiful.

requested by @thornyrose463, i hope you enjoy!

the maze runner tag list: @blondsauduun, @ellobruv, @retvenkos, @neewtmas, @mayfieldss, @hiya-itsamber, @gods-fools-heroes, @hope92100, @23victoria, @w1shes43, @imwaysthelastchoice, @fadedver, @il0vebeingdelulu

all tags list: @wordsarelife

#newt #newt imagines #newt x reader #newt oneshot #tmr #tmr imagines #tmr x reader #tmr oneshot #the maze runner #the maze runner imagines #the maze runner x reader #the maze runner oneshot #maze runner #maze runner imagienes #maze runner x reader #maze runner oneshot #tmr newt #tmr newt imagines #tmr newt x reader #tmr newt oneshot #the maze runner newt #the maze runner newt imagines #the maze runner newt x reader #the maze runner newt oneshot #bridgerton au #au #regency au

[acourtofthought]

@starsreminisce posted these comments on their blog:

And the last paragraph really stood out to me.

Something I've seen said by a certain side of the fandom is that a bonus chapter should not change the trajectory of what is in the actual book. I disagree with that because I look at the bonus chapters as a sneak peek of what's to come in future books (with this particular bonus following the pattern talked about in a post yesterday, with the resolution to the small story pointing us in the direction of Gwynriel), things that Sarah will at a later point expound on within the actual series even if they weren't initially clear to us without having read the bonus.

But say that's the truth, say the bonus chapters are only in line with that which we already know (which still works for Gwynriel because though the bonus hinted at Gwyn having a curiosity towards Az and him possibly having a bond with her, we do see bits of that in the actual book as well, there are scenes with her staring in his direction and scenes where he's staring in hers, where he shows admiration for her, where she's teasing him, where Nesta calls Az her new ribbon).

One of the big arguments is that it's extremely clear that Elain has no interest in Lucien, that it's been the case for multiple books. It's said Elain does not owe Lucien an explanation, that she does not owe him her time or attention.

So why not write an Elain bonus chapter in SF where she and Lucien have a conversation discussing how they don't want to explore their bond? According to E/riels there's no need for it in the first place since she's made herself clear but they have also claimed that she won't break the bond until we have her POV. Then wouldn't a bonus in Elain's POV before her book be the perfect place for something that's so obvious so that when she starts her own book "with Az", there's nothing standing in their way and the focus can be on their romance and the plot and not the emotional toll that her severing her bond with Lucien would take? If the Elucien bond is as much of a non issue as some claim it be be, then why not deal with it in an Elain Bonus Chapter? When her book starts, Sarah could even recap the events of the bonus for those who had missed it.

Elain thought back to that conversation she and Lucien shared shortly after Solstice. Where after Azriel's rejection, which had cut her deeply, she realized there was no place in her heart for anyone but Az even if she wasn't sure he still wanted her.

That would have actually be a perfect way for SJM to move us past the Elucien bond with very little in the way of feeling devastated on Lucien's behalf, where his heart is not being broken in real time within her romantic arc.

But the author didn't do that. She gave Az and FEYRE a POV. Feyre who already had 3 books and a novella and Elain with a total of 0.

We know Az doesn't think Lucien is good enough for Elain but we don't know if Elain agrees with that.

We know Az questioned the Cauldron because of his brothers and her sisters, that he hadn't thought of being with Elain beyond his sexual fantasies but we don't know where Elain stands on the whole "just wants one taste / why wasn't Az made my mate" debate.

We know Az thought of Elain as too trusting and hopeful but we've no clue whether Elain was really thinking anything of the sort.

We've got Feyre thinking back on how she made sure to keep her mouth shut on Elain not wearing Lucien's gloves, how had she put them on she would have never been pierced in the first place but we still don't know whether Elain's actions with the gloves actually line up with her thoughts.

If Sarah wanted to continue on with what is apparently so evident in the four books of buildup for E/riel there was nothing preventing her from finally giving us Elain's POV in SF and having her tell Lucien that there's no reason for him to hold out hope any longer.

The more likely explanation for why Elain wasn't given a bonus is because everything that E/riels and Az claim that is so very obvious regarding Elain's character might actually not be as obvious as they think.

If she's so happy in the NC, then why hide her thoughts?

If she's so in love with Az, that it's clear as day, then why hide her thoughts?

If she's so disinterested in Lucien, then why hide her thoughts?

If we're supposed to believe that Elain's choice is Az, that there is no competition and that it should not be a mystery to anyone at this point, then why has she been so reticent to put us into Elain's head?

#elain archeron #pro elucien #elucien #lucien vanserra #pro lucien vanserra

[jinx-on-mars-19xx]

Nothing Less Than True Romance

🩸 Previous Parts Here 🩸

Dom x Colson (Yungblud x Machine Gun Kelly)

Warnings: ABO dynamics (knots, slick, heats, mpreg), alpha serial killer/hitman Dom, omega mob boss Kells, nervous boys, smut heavy chapter, past abuse, teasing, Dom's thicc ass, Dom's pretty uncut alpha cock, desperate boys, d/s undertones, Kells being a dom, Kells being a mouthy top, directions, hand jobs, blow jobs, talks about anal, talks about triggers, choking (with a cock), cunnilingus, masterbation, accidentally saying the wrong thing, crying, hormones, Dom being a caring alpha, Kells being a sneaky omega, accidental sex(?), body worship, enemies to lovers 💣 Rating: explicit

All ideas helped by @iamnotanearthlingmotherfucker 🖤

The closer the Alpha was to Colson's cock the faster his heart sped. They had fucked in the midst of a rough heat and rubbed off on each other like horny teens but this? This was on purpose, no question about it. The moment his Alpha touched him there he had to admit what he was. A needy omega who liked men. Well… one man. And fuck he was a pretty one.

“You cringing at the fhought of me? Ain't touched ya yet.” Dom teased as he settled on his stomach between his lover's legs. He could feel the apprehension, the man was obviously nervous but he understood. Col had been through hell too and they could be careful. They could take it slow.

“No. Shut the fuck up. I was cringing at the thought of your damn shoes on my bed. Plus, you've never done this. You might think you're supposed to use teeth or some shit.”

“You ain't?” Dom teased back, his crimson eyes wide with faux innocence. The color and scent of his desire in the room slightly ruined that picture.

“Dumbass.” Kells huffed but his partner surprised a laugh out of him when he turned to look over his shoulder.

“Don't look dumb.” The Alpha hummed, wiggling his hips till the ass in question bounced.

“Dummy thicc maybe.” The omega sighed under his breath and wondered for a moment what that ass would feel like wrapped around his dick. How against Alpha's was his, he wondered. Would Dom allow something like that? “You ever play with yourself?” He asked before he could help it. He knew the boy was mostly virginal but there was a chance… Besides, it gave him a moment to panic to himself. There was nothing wrong with being with a man but he had left over self hatred from his dad.

Dominic paused and tilted his head, he wasn't sure what his mate was asking. “Like…” He trailed off, moving one hand in a vulgar motion.

The hand signal was so close to Colson's cock he swore he could feel the fist around him and he had to swallow hard as he shook his head. “N-no. Your ass.”

“Oh. Um-” Without thinking Dom curled his palm around Col’s cock, as if he did it all the time. As if it wasn't some huge step between them. As if Kells wasn't battling internal homophobia. Or was it a form of misogyny? The omega jumped and bit his lip. He knew the bastard did that on purpose, he could feel his lover’s pride whether at his own sneakiness or Col’s reaction he wasn't sure. “I ‘ave a few times yeah. Jus' to see. Why?” His palm squeezed softly and he practiced a stroke. He was trying to act nonchalant but saliva was pooling on his tongue and he knew he was leaking a puddle of precum on the bed. His mate was going to be so upset.

Col could be honest or he could play a game. They had already crossed the starting line and he couldn't look away. It seemed obscene but he knew it was only the first step. “Was picturing my dick in your ass.” He didn't mean to be so blunt but he never had been good at faking demure. He'd acted as an Alpha so long it was part of him now.

“Oh. Yeah?” Dom's voice was breathy. He didn't know that was something either of them might want.

“Yeah.”

“‘Is dick?” The boy teased as he inched closer, flicking his tongue over the crown.

Colson's hands scrambled to find purchase in the sheets and he squeezed them to keep from bucking up. “Yeah. Would you want it?”

“Long as it's you and ‘is dick.” It was weirdly intimate and romantic and Col would have smiled if the freak didn't strike. Those plush lips sealed around his tip and his sharp tongue teased all it could reach. It was messy as soon as he started, spit dripping down his shaft. Dom was eager though and thorough as fuck. Beginner's luck he was sure.

“Mmm fuck- yeah. Just like that- look at you.” Kells had forgotten to warn his boy of one very specific thing- he was a mouthy bitch. The only reason he hadn't gone off when they had sex was that he'd been so gone from his heat but there was something about having someone blow him. About watching someone choke on his cock. “Good boy. Little more? Deeper? You can take it.” He rasped and was surprised when Dom didn't just obey but fucking moaned for him.

Dom was so fucked. He never had the chance to find out what he liked in bed so everything was a new experience between them. He knew deep down it was probably childhood trauma but hearing someone praise him was a rapture. He twirled his tongue around the edge of his mate's crown and sucked as much as he could. His knot was already pulsing where his cock rest against the bed and his hips were rolling in small sharp thrusts.

“You look so p-pretty like this. Good mmm- good boy. More. Just like that. Can I- fuck-” Kells couldn't finish his sentence so he tested the waters with a gentle push. When his Alpha choked and whined through his nose he couldn't help but groan.

Dom didn't know how to say yes, he couldn't seem to make himself pull off. Instead he rolled his gaze up to meet the other's and tried one small nod. When Colson just watched him he huffed softly and patted his hair before letting his mouth go slack. He might have been mostly virginal but he wasn't daft- normally- and he was desperate to let his omega to fuck his face.

Kells cursed under his breath and thanked whatever part of the universe blessed him with such a weird ass Alpha. As his fingers tangled in the boy's messy hair he caught his psycho bitch wink. “Ya know I was almost scared I'd miss pussy with you. But look at that fucking mouth. Already a slut. Taste good don't it?” He asked as he wrapped his long legs around Dom's chest.

The first thrust was careful and the Alpha rolled his eyes, but something warm and safe was happening in his mind. He could trust the man underneath him and he wanted his mate to feel comfortable with him too. Somewhere deep inside his mind he wanted to be used. It felt akin to when he finally let go and let his urges win. He was surrendering to Col's needs completely and it felt like the other side of the coin to his darker edge. He could be used for destruction and that's all he was used to but he could also play fuck doll to his mate and help the man through his fears.

Dom was too up in his head but with every tug of his hair he was sinking deeper and losing his train of thought. What the fuck was happening? What magic did Kells have over him? Slick smeared against his chest and the scent was intoxicating, he felt baptized anew in his mate's need. Colson's mouth never stopped and it almost made it Alpha blush. He'd never felt so complimented and debased. “Perfect fucking mouth. Shit- gonna- yeah, just like that. Hold your breath?” He barely warned before Dominic was choking on his dick. He didn't ask and he didn't retreat when the boy turned pink.

Col was in heaven, his nerves were washed away on a rush of wanttakeneed. Dom's throat was spasming, his body fighting for air, but the fucker trusted Kells so completely he knew he could let him pass out and he'd be thanked for the deed. It felt like too much power for one man, the thought of a leashed Yungblud, but the omega's favorite thing was control of a deadly weapon and power to do whatever the fuck he wished. For just a moment he wondered how he got so damn lucky but that too drifted away as he watched plush lips nearly kiss his inked skin. “Almost. Al- fucking hell- such a good bitch.”

Dom preened internally as his head went dizzy but he kept his lips tightly sealed. He hadn't meant to let the other man finish so soon but he knew the telltale signs. The taste of precum coated his tongue and the weight in his mouth was twitching. His own cock was throbbing so hard that he thought he might pass out but for the moment everything felt secondary. His fight or flight said he could die but the Alpha in him purred happily. His head tingled where his hair was pulled but pride welled in his chest when his lips met skin. “Fuck- oh god look at you- fucking-” Something must have worried his omega because Colson's voice went thready and he started to try and pull out. Dom tried to growl and press closer and his throat swallowed hard. “Fuck!”

Kells tried to be nice, he felt frantic as pleasure zinged up his spine but crimson eyes met his and he felt a chill at what he saw. It was Dom but… not. Somehow it didn't frighten him and instead just pushed him closer to that edge. When the bastard refused to move he couldn't help what happened next.

When white heat choked the Alpha his mate finally pulled him off. The last few drops landed on his tongue and he savored his lover's flavor as he panted for breath and grinned like the Cheshire cat down at his fucked out lover. As he waited for Col to regain his ability to speak he couldn't help but be drawn to the soft wet place between those long spread legs. The scent was so intense it felt like it was all he could breath or taste. It was thick on his tongue like he'd already licked and he wondered if now his mate might allow…

Colson jumped at the feeling of hot breath over his slippery wet folds and he felt himself clench tight around nothing. He didn't slam his legs closed but it was a near thing, if letting Dom blow him was a big step this was a jump over the damn grand canyon. “Fuck are you-” He stopped himself from being mean, this was exactly what the boy was supposed to do. He wasn't even doing anything yet, just breathing Col in. Fucking weirdo. He could almost see himself falling in love with him. Shit.

“You smell like sex.” Dom growled, his voice rough and scratchy and dripping desire. It made the omega's breath catch in his chest. He did that damage to the killer.

“Duh.” He huffed simply, his mind barely online. The bastard had just blown his mind, wasn't he supposed to find his own release? Was Dom ever selfish? He couldn't be the only demanding one, it might make him spoiled. Or worse... Make him think he needed to be nice.

“I'd like to taste you.” The Alpha tried to purr. It was a simple request that felt monumental.

“You just did.” Kells knew he was being a dick, his lover was being patient and calm and it bothered something in the older man. Maybe if he just fucking took but no, he was forcing Col to give consent at every turn. “What do you want?”

The question reminded Dom of their first time. He'd held the man down and demanded he give him explicit permission. If his mate wanted to play that game… “To taste ya cunt while I play wiv me’self. Wanna put me tongue inside you as deep as I can and preferably make you squirt on me face.”

The Alpha held such strong eye contact through his whole spiel that by the time he was done and licking his pillow lips of any remnant of cum and his own blood, all Kells could say was- “Oh.” He couldn't answer aloud, his heart was racing and the bastard was choking him right back with his own speeding pulse stuck in his throat. What he could do was grip the pillow next to him and hold it against his chest but Dom took that too and tossed it aside.

“Fuck tha’. I wanna ‘ear you scream.”

“Cocky fuck.”

Dom just smirked and swiped his fingers through the mess of slick on his chest before he flicked his tongue obscenely around them to prove his point. Maybe he had a reason to be cocky. “Is there anything on you not weirdly perfectly sized for porn?”

Dom snorted a laugh and choked on his own digits but the human moment soothed a little of the raging nerves in Colson's chest. “Look in a mirror luv.”

Kells shrugged but he couldn't snark back as his Alpha started to move in again. Their eyes locked as his breath hit wet skin and when the omega didn't move to stop him again he let himself relax. With the first taste he knew nothing could ever compare. He had no idea what he was doing but he let himself take it slow and explore. The tip of his tongue traced blushed quivering wet skin from the omega's ass to his balls. Occasionally he let himself slip between and circle his hole but mostly he was just learning the shape of his mate and what made him whimper. It wasn't long before the man's legs were trembling and threatening to close around his head.

Where Col had been a mouthy bitch about his cock this felt different. He didn't know what he liked and he couldn't direct the boy anywhere. His inner walls spasmed every time Dom teased, his tongue nearly dipping inside over and over. The omega had never even played with himself besides the night he met the younger man and he didn't think that counted. Of course he liked his g-spot touched, that felt like a given, but Dom just wouldn't go inside. He shook when the boy sealed his lips against his hole and sucked before the fucker pulled back and spit pink tinged slick into his palm. Kells watched with round eyes as Dom wiggled his hand under himself and when that tell tale sticky wet sound hit his ears he knew he turned pink.

The Alpha groaned and pulled back enough to speak. Everything felt overwhelming and he knew he wouldn't last long but he needed to check in. The difference in his mate was too stark. “Wha’ you need?”

“I don't know.” Col whispered honestly. “It feels-” He flushed hotter but he couldn't finish the compliment. “Deeper?”

Dominic nodded and fought his deep aching need to shove his cock where it belonged. He wouldn't be like that, they had to learn each other first, but fuck it was hard to battle instincts. “Can I go inside?”

“With what?” The fear was immediate but he trusted Dom. It was a knee jerk reaction he knew they could overcome.

“Me tongue. Tha's all. Or you could touch ya’self?” Somehow his pride wasn't wounded that he might not make his lover scream. He knew they had time to find out what drove each other wild. This was about so much more than that. This was about making his mate feel loved- something Dom had never tried to do before. He'd never built trust in that way or cared to connect. So much was so new to them both.

The butterflies in Colson's stomach threatened to make him sick but the need rushing through him was stronger. He could see his own desire dripping down the Alpha's face. He wasn't ready to touch himself again, that felt too close to admitting what he was which admitted what grew between them- literally- but he could admit something he wanted. “Show me your dick. Sit back.”

Dom's brow arched but of course he obeyed. He settled back on his ankles and inched closer as Kells spread his legs. They both froze for a moment when the shiny pink tip of Dom's cock brushed his folds. It was an accident but they both felt wetter at the touch. “Fuck m’sorry.” The boy muttered but Col could tell it was just as torturous for the younger man as it was for him to keep their puzzle pieces from slotting together. Shit, why were they being careful?

“Why aren't we fucking again? It's not like I can get more-” He stopped himself short and grit his teeth but he knew the fucker read between the lines by the smile on his face. “Would you just shut the fuck up and put something inside me before I make you?” He felt the mistake as he said it and his heart dropped but his lover just shook his head as if to say it was okay. He caught the slight fall of a smile though and it made his heart ache. Here Dom was trying so hard to be careful of his limits and he just bulldozed over his. Fuck.

Dominic wondered if everyone had to be so careful, if all sex was a journey of learning each other. He didn't think so, he was pretty sure they were just a special matching set of mental issues but he wouldn't let it mess anything up between them. When he caught the shine of tears in his omega's eyes he let go of his cock and moved to crawl over him. For just a moment he didn't even notice how close they were again. He was too concerned about Col’s emotional state. Could he start blaming hormones yet or was it all on him? He supposed either way it was his fault. “‘Ey, you okay. Did I do summat wrong?” His voice was soft and rasped but Colson just scoffed.

“Did you? Fuck you. You have to tell me when I push it. We literally just talked about this shit. I'm sorry.” Kells sniffled but the pretty bastard just grinned. It was like he wasn't used to anyone caring. Maybe he wasn't. Fuck.

“We good. You can make me do whatever you want. Use me. I trust you.” At Dom's soft words Colson gasped, those three little words were almost worse than the others. Didn't he just prove he couldn't be trusted to censor himself? “‘Ey, stop tha’. Can feel ya brain. Be nice.” He huffed, pressing a still bloody and slick wet kiss to Col’s lips. Another. His cum covered tongue swiped across the seam of his lips and the next noises between them were soft whimpers.

Kells pulled the younger man flush against him and when he felt his lover's cock ghost his folds again his hips bucked up to chase him. They were both so wet they slipped against each other but Dom was still trying to hold himself back. Col threw his leg around the boy’s waist and tried grinding his core against the ridge of his Alpha's knot. As their tongues met and their breathing sped he kept inching closer to what they both so obviously needed.

“I were trying to wait.” Dom panted and Colson answered by biting his lower lip and sucking it between his own. “I- we shouldn't. Not yet.” His voice was as broken as he felt. The feel of Col’s hot wet cunt was too much. The omega made it to the tip of his dick, his hole catching and waiting there. It was torture. It was too much. It wasn't like the sociopath was good at self control.

“Are you waiting for me or for you?” Colson's voice was trembling as much as his body and his desire burned in his belly like fire. The look of need Dom gave him was a beautiful sight but he felt the man struggling against himself.

Dominic took a loud breath, something more akin to a groan. “Boff. You.” He admitted, he was having trouble remembering why though.

“And if I need more?”

“Fucking ‘ell-” The words were choked out as the Alpha released the last of his self control and their bodies moved fast in tandem. Dom bucked up and Colson thrust down and their shared breath sounded almost like a shout.

Kells didn't berate his shaking mate for his size or anything else. For once he couldn't find anything to complain about. The stretch was intense and overwhelming but somehow still felt exactly where they belonged. Dom’s arms wrapped tight around him as their sweat wet bodies slid against each other in a sticky loud mess. There wasn't an inch between them and Dom barely pulled out before rocking back in.

It felt slow and desperate, their holds tight and bodies weak for each other. It wasn't a push-pull but they met in the middle and their gazes never left the other except to blink away sweat. They couldn't kiss anymore, they could barely breathe. They just held on and swayed together as their pleasure built closer to release.

Every catch of Dom's crown against his spot had Colson nearly breaking, there was a knot of heat in his belly pulling tight and putting pressure where he wasn't used to it yet. The Alpha was going to get what he wanted but it wouldn't be on his face. “I'm-” He tried to speak but he couldn't and thankfully his mate seemed to understand.

“Please?” Dom was so close it ached but he wanted to watch his lover's pleasure and it was as if Kells had been waiting for just that word. His golden eyes went wide and his lips parted on a gasp. His body trembled in the Alpha's hold as he came for the man just as he asked. He could feel his own need rushing through his veins but he tried to keep his forming knot from slipping inside as Col gushed for him and made the slide so fucking smooth.

“P-please?” The omega pleaded right back, his leg tightening behind Dom's back.

“But the b-” He didn't get to finish his worry before his mate was grinding them tight. They shared a breathy moan as their bodies locked together and Dom’s cock jerked hard as he filled his lover's womb somehow fuller.

“Shut the fuck up.” Col teased, trying to kiss his boy into submission. It wasn't like they could separate without damage.

“Pushy bastard.”

“You love it.”

And even though it confused everything inside the sociopath, he knew his mate was correct. He didn't just love it, he loved Colson. He loved his mate. He wisely kept the revelation to himself, they both liked his knot too much to risk the man trying to pull away. “Eh. Maybe.” He teased instead and they shared a strangely gentle kiss for two normally rough men.

Author's Note/Tags: @iamnotanearthlingmotherfucker @hollywoodxwhore @jaxbreaker @fenoy7 @cole-way-iero28 if anyone wants tagged let me know 🖤

So I'm not sure this is up to my usual standards but I'm pretty sick today so I hope it's okay. I love them being needy and gentle though. I honestly thought they would just play but Kells was insistent they do more 🤭 I hope you enjoyed it! 💣🖤

#yungblud #dominic harrison #dom harrison #machine gun kelly #mgk #colson baker #dom and colson #dom and colson fic #dom x colson #dom x colson fic #yungblud and machine gun kelly #yungblud and machine gun kelly fic #yungblud x machine gun kelly #yungblud x machine gun kelly fic #com #com fics #domson #domson fics #jinx fics #my fics #abo #alpha beta omega #alpha dom #omega kells #serial killer fic #hitman fic #mob boss fic #past abuse #nervous boys #enemies to lovers

[bengiyo]

Boys Be Brave Eps 1 & 2 Stray Thoughts

I've been anticipating this one. Roommates romance from the director of Our Dating Sim.

Episode 1: Anxious to Say I Like You

Interesting. We're starting at Christmas.

Oh boy, our protagonist is a perfectionist who has convinced himself he's single purely by choice.

Hold on. I'm with Kim Jin Woo on this rush home and freakout if Jeong Gi Seop is squatting. What's with the flashes of cute photos? Do they know each other well?

Oh, I see. Kim Jin Woo is gay for Jeong Gi Seop and hasn't said anything before.

So, Jeong Gi Seop is definitely a squatter, but just crashing with an old friend for a month before a major move is far more reasonable.

Damn, this guy lacks a real appreciation for how his blasé attitude impacts people he's with.

Curious. How has Jeong Gi Seop knowing Kim Jin Woo likes him affected his previous behavior as a player?

Oh ho! Jeong Gi Seop just said it out loud!

I'm glad Kim Jin Woo didn't lie, and am glad we're moving quickly. I gotta know what Jeong Gi Seop wants out of this, because he seems flaky from Jin Woo's perspective when it comes to romances.

Episode 2: Finding Your Type

Viki is getting on my nerves. Making me put in my PIN because this is rated R means they better do more than just be pretty and smile at each other in this.

Oh, good! We're going to explore the interiority of Jeong Gi Seop and why he says yes to everyone.

Okay! He's drawn to Kim Jin Woo's isolationist nature and ability to say no all the time. I appreciate that he could see Kim Jin Woo mooning over him the whole time, and was curious why he wouldn't say no. Still, as a formerly closeted person, I have a lot of easy answers to that, which may place this show in the bubble.

Kim Jin Woo said he's not like other girls. 🙄

He let that man be cold all night because he thought he was lying. I feel you on having someone barrel past your boundaries, Jin Woo, but we can't be that bad of a host. Once you let him stay you had to do your best for basic comfort.

Gi Seop, how have you made friends this whole time?

Don't read that man's diary!!

What sort of agreement can these two make when Gi Seop keeps ignoring Jin Woo saying no?

Incredible. This Ji In Ho guy shows up at the very end to initiate his own rushing past lines plot as well.

I am intrigued! This started off differently from what I expected, but I'm excited to see what this show pulls out of these two boys on opposite ends of the spectrum. I will have to do some thinking about Kim Jin Woo, because I panicked for a bit with him when Gi Seop called out that Jin Woo liked him.

#Ben watches #boys be brave #korean bl #bl series

[citrusbusiness]

Hey it's time for me to rant about mildly annoying things about society and being aro/ace! (Long post warning)

Okay so when I was eating dinner with my parents today and we were talking about our grandparents for a bit. Specifically, my grandma getting sick, and how my uncle traveling around all the time but living with them did not help that. Anyway then I was thinking about him, because he's unmarried with no kids and so is my other uncle. So then I brought up the fact that I have no first cousins, making my one joke about the topic that I'm the onliest only child ever. And we laughed about it for a bit, but then my mom said something else.

“See that's why –and I feel a bit like Jane Austen saying this– that's why you have to get married”

And my aroace brain already did not like that, but obviously I wasn't going to tell her that because I'm not out?? And then my dad then butted in with a joke about the reason being that the family line would end if I didn't, which annoyed me, but interestingly, my mother brushed that aside.

Instead, she said “because when you get old you won't have any siblings or cousins to help you.”

I... Had not been expecting that. So I sat there, not liking where the conversation had gone but not doing anything about it. I just put it aside to rant about later (this is that) and moved on with my evening

But I've come back to it now.

I'm not mad at my mom for telling me that I have to get married. I'm annoyed at my situation and our society for existing in a way where she's right.

I don't have siblings or cousins I'm close with who could help me. The only people I have are my friends, and who knows if I'll still be friends with them? Also, I have maybe one actually aro friend, all the others are highly likely to get into romantic relationships and maybe have children. They'll have their own people to be taking care of. I'm just going to be lower priority, that's how our society works. Hell, with the internet the way that it is, there's no guarantee that I would even live in the same area as most of my friends.

And this isn't even just an old age thing. What happens if I need a serious surgery? What person, with their own job and family and life, has the time to spend taking care of their friend for an extended period of time? I mean, I might, but I don't have the whole romance thing getting in the way.

I realize that I'm being pessimistic and that I should probably have more faith in both my friends and the way the world works. I'm just frustrated that because we place so much more emphasis on romance than we do friendships, once people start pairing up the friendships get left behind a little bit. I'm frustrated that you could make an argument that I might have to get married, not because I truly want to, but for the sake of my own health and comfort in the future. I'm frustrated that someone can say something as uncomfortable to me as “you have to get married,” and still have a decent point.

Again, I'm being a pessimist and I'm not mad at my mom. Or my dad.

…I need more irl aro friends.

#aro #aromanticism #aromantic #aroace #kinda #mostly a post for the aros though #rant post

[imustbenuts]

im free from yakuza kiwami 2. fuck the writing in this one. this was a complete mess of pulling from the most popular generic east asian drama tropes at the time of 2006 and having it be handled by a super inexperienced writer at the helm.

i went from having no expectations, got somewhat surprised, only to end up downing alcohol and laughing hysterically before the credits rolled. so that should set the mood for how i feel about this one. thought vomit under the cut, a lot of info dump about culture incoming

yakuza kiwami 2 is pure heterosexual east asian romance bullshit.

im gonna just. describe as best as i can what i know and remember from the general media coming out from the 90s to the 2010s in around this part of the world before i just start explaining why i think this story is a mess.

so. 2 parts i swear is responsible for this rubbish.

1) East Asian Beauty Standard

the general consensus for a beautiful feminine woman AT THE TIME in this sphere is the following

be willowy thin (fat = lazy and ugly)

have black hair that ISNT short (dyed = too much individuality, too much WESTERN INDIVIDUALISM, gasp how dare!)

fair skinned (bc dark = she works in the fields and is from a lower class)

young. if you heard of the term "Christmas Cake" in japan context, yeah. (ie women over age of 25 are undesirable)

be educated and refined, bc that indicates class and femininity (failing this means shes vulgar and gasp like a barbarian)

be submissive to her male peers in the sense that her authority cannot override his at least in public (for the sake of his face)

dresses feminine and not like a man (trousers and jeans are man-ish. traditional clothing, skirts and dresses are preferred. the further back the stronger this sentiment is.)

incidentally, theres a lot of classism tied to this EABS due to sinocentric culture influences. it has to do with the chinese court system and how korea and japan copied it and a lot of the culture wholesale but. anyway. thats like over 1000 years of history in there thats not really worth detouring to rn.

and also, the worth of a man is sometimes (not always) upheld by how classy and feminine this wife of his is. as of 2024 though, this line of thought is still around in the more conservative pockets. also, the education might not matter as much these days as how deep her and her parents' pockets and wealth are.

moving on.

2) media tropes

so. off the top of my head.

if you wanted a popular romance drama in this time period, the popular offerings no matter where you looked tended to offer the same flavors of tropes.

the woman always has dark hair, is fair skinned, thin and younger than her male love interest. ive never seen this broken or subverted in my time absorbing via osmosis the dramas playing on local tv growing up in the early 2000s.

everything else about her can be subverted though. sometimes she can wear fancy pants or have short hair to indicate her strong individualism. BUT, her personality no matter how strong it begins, no matter how her intro begins will 99% of the time encounter an effect where catching feelings turns her into a meek loyal woman to her love interest.

bc she cant override his authority in this culture context.

at worst, she becomes highly irrational and even hysterical in the dramas when bad things happen. this includes things like love triangle, or a fallout of family business, drama, plot or whatever. she would cry and sometimes even die.

see: sawamura yumi. sayama kaoru.

meanwhile, the male love interest can be anything. ive seen middle aged guys to young good looking upcoming actors playing the lead, with looks varying from haggardly okay to young and handsome. it. really depends on the genre.

depending on what specific country it came from, the drama would have the male either grow, become manlier (by learning honor ig), become stupid in the name of love, but he rarely if ever actually dies. the woman effectively becomes yoshi for mario to lauch off on when they're crossing a chasm

the romance is forced. a lot of the BIG LOVE SPARK ie kissing happens in tense moments bc it builds drama, but in reality comes too fucking close to sexual assault (some of the old jackie chan movies does this iirc for slapstick even)

see: sayama getting kissed right after handling her biological father's ashes less than 24 hours ago and admitting to kiryu that shes scared. this scene right fucking here.

bc in general, the scriptwriters for popular dramas tended to be guys themselves and tended to write more human dudes. and the women in the stories are reflective of the ideal societal expectation at the time: being a Refined Housewife.

so her character development is often headed in the direction of marriage and being a stay at home mom.

if it sounds a little like tradwife bullshit, it is.

Refined Housewife

(i have massive negative thoughts about this which i KNOW for a fact is a thing bc a lot of these societal culture femininity was impressed on me as a kid in a world where it was already getting increasingly impossible to have 1 spouse be a SAHP. and also i hated the whole thing about giving face to the patriarch of the house when i personally saw so much ego dick measuring from my uncles. anyway understand that this is both a bias an a lived experience, so proceed with that in mind)

there is a problem with the Refined Housewife expectation: education.

in general, education has been a good metric to judge how classy or smart one is in asia's largely on-the-surface meritocracy based culture. people will look at each other's school first and then judge them from there, and pretty hard too.

so everyone regardless of gender will be expected to study super hard. and bc having good test scores and going to good schools looks good for the family's face, parents will often pile on tuition to the child to get them a leg up in life.

bc also no good degree from good school means no future.

but then... the woman is expected to be a housewife. 🙃 meaning... the education, her accomplishments, are kinda... tossed away in this context. put a pin in this.

it wont matter how much she studied or accomplished, bc the expectation is that the woman would marry and obey her husband, and give him face/honor that way. the kids will come eventually bc having kids = being filial to ones parents in this context.

also uh. no, having adopted kids is not thought of as being filial. continuing the bloodline is.

and if you've been paying attention, then yes, ive been skirting around the backbone of sayama kaoru's writing foundations this entire time.

Her story has been butchered so clumsily i cant even...

lets just. ugh.

she fits the EABS standard, her tropes are trying to subvert the expectations of a womanly woman in this context, she has IMPRESSIVE education and career achievements. she works in a male dominated field, and is keenly aware of sexism. she is strong, stronger than her male peers, at least we are told.

by 2006s standards, its still considered a fresh take with those alone in japan. sexism there is its own flavor of crap. (if you noticed ive not spoken about LGBTQ+ stuff at all, its bc how ridiculously BINARY the expectation is at that point in time. it still is today but less so)

however, the writing has this sense of trying to copy the popular tropes at the time while not fully understanding and dissecting them, and ends up butchering sayama's character before the romance even properly began.

i mean, for fucks sake even, sayama and kiryu has a whopping 14 year age gap. when im told these are supposed to be believable people living in japan, this is too big for me to just go 'oh ok!'. and remember the Christmas Cake thing? shes 25. (FUCKING--!!!! !!)

the problem here that i see is the writer trying to apply all of those while trying to play the tropes straight. trying to imitate. trying to make a statement but then finding out theres nothing within yourself to stand by what you want to say and backtracking.

we are told:

sayama is strong yet she goes down with 1 slap by random thugs and needing kiryu to come in and body them. because romance ig.

we are told shes a yakuza hunter but she doesnt scare a single one beyond her introductory scene.

she goes from defiant and bossing kiryu around to getting her actions overridden by kiryu and ryuji, both men, towards the end

her subtext is that shes not feminine and therefore conventionally undesirable, but then kiryu tells her shes actually feminine and therefore desired, as if its all that matters.

she becomes so stricken by grief and freaked out that she runs off solo to deal with ryuji in the most out of left pocket planning ive ever fucking seen.

and then yells as she takes out her police baton to take down the big yakuza dude, drawing attention and turning herself into a hostage.

i know the writing will fumble but i didnt expect it to fumble this bad.

for all the good the surface chemistry kiryu and sayama has, its being undermined by a fundamental failure to understand tropes and then using said tropes as a crutch so much that everything here has become a bloody mess.

this failure of over-relying on tropes without understanding them extends to yumi too. sawamura yumi was young and beautiful, and became the Refined Housewife to the Not-Male-MC and ends up regretting it, and gets killed for it.

her defining trait is that she is beautiful in subtext. thats. thats what the tattoo is. in a world where the tattoo makeths the person, thats what she is and all that she is.

dear lord.

ive read up a bit more on sayama and you know what. good that she chooses her career over kiryu. the romance would have caused both of their characters to explode with the trajectory this was heading in. ffs sayama could have had her own game. she has so MUCH potential.

and also GOOD that the writer is forced to think of kiryu in the position of the Stay At Home Parent for haruka and the orphanage down the line!!! subverting the fucking traditional BS expectation! yes!!!!!

all i got was sayama and kiryu making out before the bomb went off in front of my alcohol and salad while they're like 'eh, haruka will forgive us for dying :')'

and i ran out of alcohol.

sexism? maybe. incompetence? definitely.

hhgrhgrhrghrghrgrhgr wow this got long. ugh. guhhhhhh.

#yakuza #ryu ga gotoku #sayama kaoru #kiryu kazuma #yakuza kiwami 2

[growwithmeastrology]

Thursday, April 25th 2024 Sun in Taurus ♉️🌎 Moon in Scorpio ♏️🌊 and Sagittarius ♐️🔥

Finally! We begin to see a lift in the foggy energies today. Just keep in mind that we’re not completely out of the woods just yet. The biggest news of the day is Mercury finally stationing direct after a month of wreaking havoc in the Aries ruled area of our lives. We’ll still feel some of these effects a little while longer. He’s not doing the backwards dance any more but is in a full stop so the brain might be feeling a little stuck too as he turns around to move forward again.

The Moon in Scorpio is opposite the Jupiter and Uranus conjunction in Taurus. With Jupiter it can help us feel more relaxed and friendly but with Uranus it can quickly cause some emotional detachment or distraction. Together this can cause a lack in self control. All of these feelings can be adapted so how you apply them is purely up to you.

The Moon in Scorpio will also trine Mars and Neptune in Pisces adding levels of courage and allowing us to use our intuition better. Dreamy feelings of romance begin to fill the air with Mars and Neptune coming together. Just be cautious to not over idealize situations.

The Moon will move into fun and spontaneous Sagittarius later tonight where we finally start seeing the path clear, officially putting eclipse season behind us. The heaviness is starting to ease up a bit energetically allowing for more forward action. I still advise to take things slowly today so we don’t trip before we get to the finish line but yes, the fog is lifting. Brighter, sunnier days are ahead!

If you enjoy my daily forecasts please like, comment, share and consider a gratitude tip in support. 🅿️ PayPal, Venmo or CashApp - @NaliniFlor

Learn more about your personal energies and how the daily forecast affects you! Comment below⬇️ or DM me for a consultation.

#astrology #growwithme #zodiac #horoscope #daily horoscope #daily energies #taurus season #mercury retrograde #Mercury stations direct #jupiteruranusconjunction #scorpio full moon #sagittarius moon

[lily-orchard-gossip-blog]

Time to do another dramatic reading of our least favourite avatar.

Today, I will be subjecting myself and all of you to the vignette titled "space".

Unfortunately, it's not about the cool space. Which is a shame, because that would have less incest in it.

I wish I was joking.

So we once again start off with a republic city tabloid making the Avatar upset.

That is twice that this framing device has been used, and while this vignette came first, I think Lily needs to come up with a better opener. We can only have Niva read so many tabloids, and getting upset by it, as a framing device so many times before I start to question why Niva keeps reading them.

And because the author has a barely disguised fetish, we get to jump right into the incest using the tabloids as an excuse:

WHO TALKS LIKE THAT TO THEIR SISTER????

If people are reading your behaviour as romantic, to the point that it's getting printed into tabloids, it really makes me question just what you were doing to give off that impression. (We get a good idea of this pretty fast in this vignette.)

If I didn't know they were sisters, I would think they are dating.

Because this is a couple spat.

As for the claim that people can't comprehend sincere devotion without sex, well, if the Avatar and her sister are always touching each other in public in the ways that lovers do, then it isn't the public who is misreading the situation.

Again, this isn't how SIBLING'S talk.

This is how romantic partners speak to each other.

If I can pull this lines out, and show them to a total normie, and they would think this is a couple, then you have written a romance, not a sisterly bond.

And I'm sorry, but if someone is always having their arms wrapped around each other in rather intimate ways, and talking about how devoted they are to said person, then people are going to make assumptions. It's not them misunderstanding what they're seeing or reading too much into it. It's them seeing how too people are acting, and making a conclusion.

Alright, moving on.

Here's a red flag for any relationship:

Our supposedly confident, self actualized Avatar needs an excuse to assert her boundaries.

So either the Avatar isn't actually a confident, self actualized badass like Lily claims, or, her sister has reacted negatively to demands for space in the past, making the avatar nervous about asking for said space without an excuse.

Either way, this is yikes behaviour, and something any other author would explore, but we all know Lily won't explore it.

We then get a little bit about how Niva hate's Republic City because it makes her feel overwhelmed and overstimulated, which if Niva is meant to be on the spectrum, is a nice bit of character building.

We then get them bashing the food in Republic City because it's "corporate" and then Lavi tells her to "just be honest about her need for space", they hug, and we end on this groaner:

Probably the most normal part of this relationship, and guess what?

It sucks.

I think it's the last two lines. They just scream "I need a witty closer".

And that was Space.

I think I need Space from it. 🤣😭

This was another episode in our growing series called "the author's barely disguised fetish". And while I'm certain Lily gets a lot of enjoyment out of subjecting people to it without their knowledge or consent, I do not.

And I went into this knowing exactly what it was going to contain.

To summarize my thoughts on this literal nothingburger of a story...

I don't have any.

Despite being gross because of the incest, it really doesn't actually tell you much about the characters outside Niva feeling like she can't even ask for space from her sister, which would be fine... if Niva wasn't supposed to be a self-confident badass. So now it just reads as problematic, but we all know this will never be addressed.

Honestly, the incest is the only thing that either of those characters have going for them, and that's both parts gross, tragic and hilarious.

Now get out of my house.

#Lily orchard #avatar niva #space #fanfic review

[myrkulitescourge]

i'm surprised i haven't seen any text posts yet about the Unsubtle Differences between astarion’s tiefling party/high approval forest scene and the one you get after the goblin party.

there’s something so terribly interesting about how the conversation afterward plays out depending on which variation you pursue.

like, most people have seen the tiefling party version by now. astarion basking in the sunlight the morning after, playing off most of what tav says with relative ease, even when they ask about his scars and he tells them about cazador. his cadence is smooth and composed, his smile almost friendly, even though you know, as the viewer, he’s playing a game of manipulation at this point. the only real crack in his demeanor is if tav notices that cazador’s “poem” was written in infernal, which, understandably, startles him.

but recently i watched the goblin party version of this same scene, and everything reads so differently. unlike at the tiefling party, it’s still the middle of the night when astarion tries to leave, thinking tav is asleep—almost immediately after the act, in fact. when tav does speak to him, he’s visibly nervous, halting and stammering in the middle of lines delivered unflinchingly in the other version of the scene. he gestures broadly and fidgets more while talking, his smile comes and goes. there’s even some of his distinctive high pitched, fake laughter sprinkled throughout the exchange, almost identical to later scenes where he's very, very obviously uncomfortable (like if raphael mocks him and magics off astarion's shirt to show the party his scars in act 2, or when confronting the gur children in their cell in act 3, etc etc).

siding with the goblins represents something deeply familiar to astarion, a level of cruelty he's more than familiar with and embraces likely because cruelty and duplicity, to him, go hand-in-hand with the power and freedom he craves so badly—but he won't stay the night with this tav, even if he approves of their actions. no, in this case, he'll keep to what's familiar and attempt to leave them in the forest under the cover of the very same darkness he resents having been cast into by cazador. when he gets caught, it sets him on edge, and everything he says becomes such a blatant lie to save face that tav would have to be completely oblivious not to see through him, or maybe just not care enough to.

but if tav saves the refugees? challenges his worldview and comes out victorious? oh, he'll complain of the poor rewards for his trouble at the party and whine about it being boring, but he decides to stay with tav through the night while they're asleep and on past dawn. he takes a moment to enjoy the morning sunlight, returned to his life after two centuries without. the same is true if you have high enough approval that he asks before the party, in which case, you've almost certainly hit his biggest approval gains: trusting him and supporting his safety. maybe he doesn't trip over his words when he speaks because, well, maybe this is someone he doesn't have to worry about. someone who's already more than proven themselves a foolish, heroic sort with a bleeding heart or otherwise demonstrated that they're already in his corner. in other words, not a threat—at least not to him.

does any of this make sense. i wanna study this guy under a microscope.

#the text may be the same but the line delivery is so enormously different it HAS to mean something idk! idk! #what he knows best but doesn't quite trust vs what's new but seems almost safe seems like the differentiating factor honestly #at least in whether he decides to leave tav immediately or stay with them till morning #which in turn affects how he feels by the time tav speaks to him #not to rag on the goblin route but man #he seems. well. frantic when he gets caught trying to leave asap. #to the point where listening to him feels... pretty bad imo #i'd love to know if it changes his romance later on because that seems like. well. a rough start #astarion #astarion bg3 #astarion ancunin #bg3 spoilers #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 meta #sort of idk #long post

[pixelatedquarter]

New McDonald's Alignment Chart just dropped, "Emo Trinity Saying They're Straight" flavored

#paramore #fall out boy #my chemical romance #hayley williams #patrick stump #mikey way #hayley “a tragically straight woman how do i keep making these [fashion] choices” williams #patrick “straight if that's a thing that exists” stump #mikeywe'rebothheterosexualmalessortofmaybeummnext!way #and bonus gay supporter's straightest line to date “i kissed a boy just to start shit” to represent all the offstage stage gay #do you feel like saying you're straight in a way nobody will believe #or saying it's a tragedy #or mayhaps you don't really believe straight people are real #(you could put things pete wentz has said all over this chart if you zoom out and add the just straight up queer territory)

[difeisheng]

chewing glass someone else watch draw the line please please PLEASE it's such a smart show

#i adore the way they're weaving different cases/arcs/interpersonal developments together it feels very natural #and it's a neat glimpse into the legal system #also the acting is really good i just finished episode 17 and MAN #listen i took a calculated gamble starting this drama i've seen no one talk about here #and it's because cheng yi is specifically second lead and not first #because i figured that at the point this man's career was at by 2022 #he didn't need to take a role in which he wasn't the main lead unless he thought the script was worth it #AND IT IS #y'all if you like legal dramas please watch this #the only thing you'll be lacking is if you want romance because that's not a focus at least of rn #but i'm truly delighted with it so far #draw the line #ashton originals

[forcedhesitation]

*wheeze* slowly, but surely, working on art of them all

#bg3 #myart #wip #I want to make every tav/companion pairing I have a dedicated. fancy piece. #these started with a concept for a wyll drawing that was very...storybook! inspired. #I would have been done all the linework for these two pieces by now had my weekend gone better :/ #I was violently unwell for...about a week and a half? chronic illness bullshit. had started to feel better friday of last week... #...unfortunately fate had it that the weekend ended up being particularly stressful. so the pain returned anew. #it was. somewhat better today. but still not enough for me to really be productive in my free time :( #I will try to complete the linework tomorrow if all goes well. I really would like to start colouring them! #I have delightful colour schemes chosen... #gale/illamin piece has already been sketched in a notebook. once I finish these two- I will begin lining theirs! #illamin's connects to cadence's because they're intertwined like that. but I have yet to finish planning out cadence's piece. #I've gone back and forth on who I should romance with him...the thing with any of the companions is that they are all written to be- #-immensely compatible with each other. so writing a tav FOR a specific companion is a bit hard. often the tav could fit with any of them. #hell. I'm STILL working out details of jantar and corydalis' story & characters. because I can't be normal about this. #that aside- I DO have other. finished pieces...finally. #well. I had some long before... but I didn't want to post them because I wasn't happy with them. #so I went and finished new stuff that I DO like. #4. technically 5 drawings. all horror/horror adjacent in theme. #my extremely detailed hux painting is also NEARLY done. after months upon months of work. #and I continue to slowly chip away at the big scifi themed dbd piece I've had in progress. #I really never run out of things to draw and it's a bit torturous because I never have the time or energy to draw everything...

[traitorsinsalem]

2am: fandom shipper brain is detrimental to storytelling and approaching art and media with that mindset perpetuates a manufactured, consumerist, and unattainable idealistic mindset to the very personal and varied ideas of narrative fiction and interpersonal romance

2pm: listening to my bandana dee x king dedede playlist on the bus to the doctor's office ✌️👍💙🧡

#succ speaks #mostly because kirby is a baby game #yes it has crazy ass themes regarding religion however 8 year olds playing star allies aren't pausing for lore in spicy mode #when we start talking about things like the half of it that's where i draw the line #because people whined that it wasn't 'gay enough' because grown adults cared more about another teenage romance but gay this time #than they did about exploring the feeling of being a perpetual outsider as a kid and having to save multiple faces at once #which methinks is the sort of thing people mean when they criticise fandom for being 'too white' or 'obsessed with the surface level' #because most of the themes that go ignored in favor of 'shipping culture' are related to class race gender religion ability and immigration #but idc if someone cares more about marxolor than the insane intentional christian themes in magolor's 2011 betrayal and 2023 redemption #because kirby is a baby game and the themes of religion and redemption aren't meant for audiences to consider and reflect personally on #they're meant for the huge fucking nerd fans that hal knows love to analyze lore crumbs in the pink circle nintendo game 👍