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babylonia-after-hours · 2 years

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Winner Takes All, Part 1 [Yandere Regrator x thief darling x Yandere Yelan]

Disclaimer I have no idea how long this will be, but I had a crazy idea involving Pantalone and Yelan and a little thief for a darling.

(I am so sorry my readers have so much lore lmao)

@ddarker-dreams, @yandere-romanticaa, I hope you don't mind my tagging you two

The night’s smoke still burned your lungs as you were thrown to the floor of a new room. Wooden, nice quality by the feel of it, even as it collided violently with the side of your face. The edge of a carpet pressed into your cheek. Your arms and legs had been bound and you were blindfolded, though you were sure that you wouldn’t recognize your surroundings if you’d been able to see. As such, your oh so gracious guards had dragged you to whoever’s office and thrown you to the floor with as much grace as could have been expected.

“You’re not nearly as fun to watch when you’re tied up like that,” a voice mused, smooth and even. “Leave me with them.”

“Milord,” one of your guards tried.

“You think someone like that would let you throw them around like that?” he the voice purred. “I have faith in your ability to do something as simple as restrain a thief to the point where I can safely interact with them. Unless I shouldn’t?”

“No, no Milord,” the other guard stuttered. “The thief has been restrained as you requested.”

“Good. Now, you two must be curious as to why I wanted to speak to our dear guest, yes?”

“W-well-,” the first guard began, breaking off with a yelp.

“It’s not our place to ask,” his partner broke in, “but even I must admit to curiosity.”

“You two studied under our dearly departed Rosalyne, didn’t you? It shows.” The boss gave a low chuckle. “Well, I’ll tell you anyhow. They put on quite the show last night, didn’t they? Such a graceful sword style on a lowly thief, surely there must be something more there. I can hardly bear to think such a lovely art has fallen to the petty criminals.”

The guards didn’t respond, and you could only imagine the mute nodding and nervous glances they must have been exchanging.

“Leave us now,” the voice told them. “I wish to speak with our dear guest alone.”

The guards hesitated, but left with a reluctant “Yes sir.”

Without waiting for permission, you sat up, tucking your legs beneath you to sit seiza. “Shall I take off that blindfold?” he mused, coming standing up with a sigh of shifting fabric. “I must admit I was struck by the way your eyes glow.”

“What does it matter?” you ask, debating whether or not you could spit on his shoes blind.

“I suppose it doesn’t, does it? Now, what does matter is how you managed to find that particular shipment.”

At this, your mouth twists into a sneer. “We thieves have our ways. You know that.”

“I haven’t the faintest clue what you’re alluding to, dear, now please be cooperative lest I lose my patience.”

And all you could do was laugh. “To answer your question, the local Treasure Hoarders were getting agitated, so something good must have been on the way. I will tell you, I had a really shady contact. Never worked with the buyer before. Sold the lot of ‘em to her for half again market price. But the Fatui ought to know better than to smuggle precious stones and metals in Liyue.”

“Seems careless to me, that you wouldn’t at least confirm your contact’s reliability.”

You laughed again. “You assume I’m some normal criminal, stealing for the money. I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie. The money’s nice, and I got paid handsomely, but mostly I just like causing trouble.” Just thinking about it, you could feel your blood heating up. Had he been any less important than he seemed to be, you might have attacked him just to see what he’d do. “So, I don’t particularly care. The threat of getting caught is part of the fun.”

“You’re a foolish creature,” he mused, mulling over your words. “A foolish, lovely thing. I should like to keep you.” He snapped his fingers, an idea striking him. “I know. We’ll have you make another bargain with that buyer of yours.”

You shook your head a little. “She’s not the kind of person someone in our line of work deals with twice unless we want to get caught.”

“Do you not?”

“You think I want to rot in a cell? You’re not very good at this, are you?”

“It’s been a long time since I was your run-of-the-mill pickpocket, yes. I’ve moved on to grander things.” Suddenly he was in your face, you could feel how close he was. You wrinkled your nose at the cologne he was wearing. He took your face in one hand, fingers digging mercilessly into your cheeks. With his other hand, he removed your blindfold. “What?” he asked as his teeth came into focus. “Don’t like it?”

He was pretty, as men sometimes are, and you immediately hated it. Clean well-dressed, and yet he didn’t even deny coming from the same place as you, beginning an illustrious career as a pickpocket. Well, not exactly the same place.

But he didn’t know he wasn’t like you. “Hate it,” you replied easily. “I didn’t grow up caring about being rich.”

“Interesting. So you didn’t grow up a street wench, I assume?”

“Probably not,” you allowed, only growing angrier when his mouth pulled up into a pretty, smug little smirk, grip easing enough to no longer be painful.

“You amuse me, really. It’d be a shame to let you go or kill you.”

You leaned back a little, hoping to put some space between you. “I’d almost rather you killed me,” you muttered, not particularly caring if he heard you.

He probably picked up on this, and leaned forward into your personal space, at the same time, pulling your face closer. You barely suppressed a flinch that he undoubtedly noticed as he placed his forefinger and thumb over your left eye socket, admiring it like a fresh-cut jewel. “You do have such pretty eyes,” he purred, pressing his fingers into the soft flesh, a silent threat. “Maybe I’ll keep one in a jar if I don’t get to keep all of you.”

“Just the person I was hoping to see.”

You scowled. You knew that girl was trouble the moment you laid eyes on her. The fur coat, the jade bracelet that missed its pair, she was openly far too wealthy to be some girl, and yet no one knew her name. “What do you need?” you asked, putting on your work face.

“Now, now, let’s be friendly here. I know who you are, and I’m looking to make a deal with you.”

You click your tongue, turning to face her, leaning back on the bar. This had Tianshu fingerprints all over it. “What kind of deal?” you asked.

The woman sat down beside you, unconcerned, and ordered drinks for the two of you. “What will it be for you tonight?” she asked. “On me, as a gesture of goodwill.”

“A classic mijiu will do,” you replied, unsurprised and unimpressed when she called a top-shelf brand.

“I work with the Ministry of Civil Affairs,” she said, daintily swirling her cocktail, feigning indifference.

“I figured as much,” you told her. “What does the Ministry want with me?” You were sure they were trying to arrest you but you weren’t going to bring it up until they did.

“Because you’re talented,” she said with a knowing little half-smile.

“I’m not the only stray in Liyue that knows how to use a sword,” you reply. “Surely there’s better qualified people than-,” you wave your hand in a gesture to yourself, “this.”

“That’s precisely why I wanted to speak with you. After your father was convicted, we know your siblings moved to Sumeru, where your family’s savings continue to support them, but you disappeared besides a few chance sightings.”

You frowned into your tea. “I’m sure you can imagine why I out of all my siblings want to stay out of the public eye.”

“Naturally,” she agreed, all sympathy. “Though I suspect this is the best offer you're going to get, considering how you've chosen to make your living.”

You clicked your tongue, irritated. “I’ll be the judge of that. Let’s hear this offer before we make assertions.”

At this, she laughed. “I like you. Well here it is. We’ll sponge your record if you become our eyes and ears in the underworld.”

You frowned at her. “I hope you don’t expect me to start a gang.”

She laughed again. “Of course not. We just want someone that can move freely with the less-than-savories, you understand?”

“Hmph.” You couldn’t exactly refuse. She knew who you were, and what you do. Probably had a tail on you if you tried to slip out. “Fine,” you said with a sigh. “What’s the catch?”

She swirled her drink in her glass. “There isn’t one, really. You just report to the Tianshu.”

“I knew it,” you muttered. “Let me guess, you’re the next Tianshu?”

At this, she seemed to be caught off-guard. “Now what makes you think that?”

You shrugged, sipping lightly off your drink. “The public doesn’t know a lot about the Tianshu. I was born into an old martial clan. You work for the Ministry, and yet no one recognizes you. It’s not difficult to put together.”

The woman had gathered herself by now, and was smiling again. “I knew I made the right call. Your decision?”

You scowled. “It’s hardly a decision if I don’t really have a choice. Bring me a written contract.”

She smiled. “That’s what I like to hear. My name is Yelan, the next Tianshu of the Liyue Qixing.”

You waved at her, almost dismissive. “Just tell me where to meet you.”

“How does Xinyue Kiosk sound?” she asked, immediately relaxing into a friendly sort of chat.

You gaped at her. “Even before my father was arrested, do you think I have something to wear to Xinyue?” you asked, incredulous.

“Fair enough, I didn’t really think of that,” she said in a way that seemed to you that she certainly had. “How about Third-Round Knockout? Or Wanmin?”

“Third-Round Knockout is fine,” you sighed, feeling rather like you were getting into much more trouble than a clean record was worth.

“I’m sorry to give you such a risky assignment on your first day, but I heard a little rumor that there was a large shipment of precious stones and metals getting smuggled by the Fatui.”

You nearly choked on your drink. “It’s bad enough you want to make a career criminal of me,” you coughed, scowling at Yelan. “I’m not getting involved with the Fatui.”

“I only need you to confirm it. Feel free to cause them some trouble if you’d like. The Ministry will pay you half again market price if you can retrieve the goods, but prioritize your safety.”

You liked to think you weren’t a money grubber, but half again market price for a shipment of valuables… Well, you were Liyuen. Gold ran in your veins as much as it did anyone else’s. “We’ll see,” you allowed. “When and where?”

Yelan laughed. “So direct. I like that about you.”

You glared at her again. “What do I have to defend?”

She waved off the question. “Lingju Pass. In a fortnight, according to my intel.”

So, she was testing you. Fine.

“Not like I really have a choice,” you muttered.

She beamed at you. “That’s what I like to hear.”

#yandere genshin impact #yandere x reader #yandere pantalone x reader #yandere yelan x reader #yandere genshin impact x reader #Winner Takes All #yandere pantalone #yandere regrator #yandere yelan

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boanerges20 · 4 months

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Gene Romero

#motorcycle #gene romero #motolegends #yamaha #sport bike #racing #motorsports #built for speed #ride hard or go home #winner takes all #moto love #lifestyle

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maineventpapiuso · 4 months

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Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe winner takes all. Who you got?

#roman reigns #the tribal chief #wwe undisputed universal championship #samoe joe #aew world champion #winner takes all #wwe #aew

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renegadesstuff · 7 months

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S1E12 -> S4E16 ❤️‍🩹

#magnum pi #juliet higgins #miggy #thomas magnum #magnum and higgins #higgins and magnum #magnum x higgins #higgins x magnum #magnum pi rewatch #magnum pi series #magnum pi edit #magnum pi season 1 #1x12 #winner takes all #magnum pi season 4 #4x16 #evil walks softly #magnum pi parallels

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angieloveshua · 1 year

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“188男团 novels.” | Angie reviews novels that she read in Spanish because she was too lazy to translate her reactions to English, pt. 1.

🫧 —Alpha Predator. | 5/5 ☆.

No carrd, unfortunately.

Alpha Predator is the latest 188男团 novel of the series, and by so far, my absolute favourite. The story follows Shen Dai, an B rate omega, who agrees to marry off on behalf of his half-brother to pay off his father's debts. Little did he know that his meant-to-be husband was Qu Moyu, the heir of the Xingzhou Group, his boss, and the man who saved him from an embarrassing situation years ago. Shen Dai knows that the best option for him is to see this marriage as a financial exchange, but he can't help falling in love with the handsome yet ruthless Qu Moyu.

This novel is an ABO classic, but who doesn't love classics? I do. I love Alpha Predator, and I read the whole book in four days. I must mention that Suida knows how to draft addictive novels. I devour this one, and I miss the feeling I got while reading it.

Before reading the novel, I saw someone ranking Qu Moyu as the scummiest gong of all the series, even worse than Shao Qun, and I was scared. What could have this man do to be worse than Shao Qun? When I finished the novel, I couldn't disagree more.

Although I am well aware that what Qu Moyu did was atrocious, to say the least, I understand why he did all of that. He was raised to always value rationality and benefits above everything, even his own feelings. And guess what? I'm weak. I never hated him. I adore how he addressed all what he did, he reflects about it (and I put this in italics because I feel like most of the love interests don't regret their mistakes and just try not to do that badly again), and he works hard to be a better husband, father, and man. In conclusion: I'm biased. Qu Moyu best 188男团 gong. 💜

Before going to the next novel, let me at these two bullet points:

The ABO. It was extremely interesting to see how alphas and omegas were divided into classes according to their pheromone level and how it played a key role in the protagonists' lives. The scenes where pheromones came into place were /screams.

The romance. QuShen is the best 188 couple, beat it.

🫧 —Winner Takes All. | 4/5 ☆.

carrd.

Winner Takes All is the first 188男团 novel I read, and I would also recommend it to be your first one if you want to get into the 188男团 world. The pace is easy to follow, and Zhao Jinxin is one of the least scummy gongs of the series.

The book's MC is Li Shuo, who is dearly loved within the fandom and had played the second love interest in other novels (Sissy, for example), and we see how he falls in love with 🥁 his enemy's cousin, Zhao Jinxin. Really, one of the greatest sins Zhao Jinxin has committed is to be Shao Qun's cousin (and this isn't even his fault, you see).

Li Shuo and Zhao Jinxin have good chemistry. They have a lot of interests in common and their families are friends. One could say it's a match made in heaven and that nothing could go wrong... right?

Well, well, well, let me tell you that I was so heartbroken that I had to listen to Bad Bunny songs to not cry. But don't worry! It's a HE.

🫧 —Additional Inheritance. | 3/5 ☆.

No carrd, unfortunately.

Additional Inheritance («Maldita herencia», Damned Inheritance in Spanish) is Luo Yi's and Wen Xiaohui's story. Everything starts when Wen Xiaohui receives her adoptive jiejie's suicide notice —but not only that, her jiejie left him a considerable amount of inheritance along with her only child, a fifteen-year-old boy named Luo Yi, who has a high IQ and is considered matured for his age.

For this novel, I remembered I posted a tweet with a theory of what could ruined Luo Yi's and Wen Xiaohui's happiness. My moots called me ‘witch,’ and for one moment in my life, I hated being right.

To say I was shocked was the least. I texted, let's say, six of my friends and told them what was going because I couldn't believe my eyes. How could he...?!

And so, yes, I can't say that I hate Luo Yi, but I also can't say that I love him. I don't want to post a spoiler here, but, hey, I was reading a little in my graduation party and I didn't know what to do with my feelings.

As for the plot, I enjoyed how Wen Xiaohui escalated in the fashion world (I like to call it that way) and I felt proud of myself for understanding the finance part (my financial market course is so useful, hehehe).

So, these were the 188男团 I've read so far and a little of what I think. I plan to read Yet You're In Love With an Idiot and Professional Body Double, so the next post of 188男团 will be of them. I hope you enjoy the reviews and give a try to any of these novels if they attracted your attention (READ ALPHA PREDATOR). Angie's off.

#angie recs #188男团 #alpha predator #winner takes all #additional inheritance #shui qian cheng #angie reviews

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o-kiki · 7 months

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#winner takes all

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aburning-nebulous · 3 months

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i miss the days where i spent hours here, my free time

looking through this app/tumblr in 2009,2010,11,12,13,14.

so much inspiration came from this space.

anonymity. amnesty. authenticity.

i really miss the 90’s.

in a way that those that didn’t live it couldn’t understand.

it’s been a long time since I was told by my favorite poet at the time “S—— you are a museum of Spring Time.”

and i miss it.

the longing to be connected and finding answers, to know the truth of what being really meant to all around me.

i wouldn’t, i wouldn’t, i don’t think i could trade my peace for it.

yet, it was peaceful in a different way. less noise. less worldly pain. less….hopelessness for the future.

-aburning.nebulous

02.10.24

#poetry #90s #authenticity #linger #winner takes all

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contac · 2 years

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#winner takes all #ABBA #vhs #compilation album #1984 #spotlight

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bughead-in-the-comics · 2 years

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From Winner Takes All, Laugh Comics #366 (1981).

#bughead #jughead jones #betty cooper #archie andrews #reggie mantle #old comics #digest comics #laugh comics #bughead high school #bughead summer #bughead beach #winner takes all

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clarislam · 6 months

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My two amateur sleuth murder mysteries, "Winner Takes All" and "Engagement To Die For," are can be nominated for the 2023 Indie Ink Awards!

Both books can be nominated for up to five categories. Please feel free to share this post - nominating both books would be amazing to get more spotlight on my work!

Nominations last until the end of Nov. 2023, based on what the Indie Ink Awards FAQ page says, so make sure you do so before the month is over!

Thanks in advance for your support! I really appreciate it.

Nominate "Winner Takes All:" https://indiestorygeek.com/nominate/5/5803

Nominate "Engagement To Die For:" https://indiestorygeek.com/nominate/5/5804

For more info about the Indie Ink Awards, see this link: https://indiestorygeek.com/a/indie-ink-awards-2023

#writeblr #author #indie ink awards #2023 indie ink awards #signal boost #books #Engagement To Die For #Winner Takes All #amateur sleuth murder mystery #murder mystery #amateur sleuth #award nominations #nominations #claris speaks #please nominate my books!#would love to make it to the officially nominated list #and maybe even finalists? we'll see how this goes!#book awards #book nominations

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x--daughters-of-darkness--x · 1 year

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NITA STRAUSS Shares New Single 'Winner Takes All' Featuring ALICE COOPER

ALICE COOPER guitarist Nita Strauss has released a new single, "Winner Takes All", featuring a guest appearance by the legendary rocker. The track is taken from Nita's upcoming sophomore solo album, tentatively due later this year via Sumerian Records.

"Winner Takes All" is the third song Nita has released featuring a star guest vocalist, the first being the enormously successful "Dead Inside" which featured guest vocals from DISTURBED's David Draiman and saw Nita become the first-ever solo female to have a No. 1 hit at Active Rock radio. She also returned to her instrumental roots last year with the release of single "Summer Storm", a fast-paced, emotive shred-fest. In October 2022, Nita dropped "The Wolf You Feed", an epic headbanger of a track featuring the insane vocal talent of Alissa White-Gluz of ARCH ENEMY.

Says Nita: "When we were working on the music for this album, there was no question that I wanted to create a song to collaborate with my longtime boss and friend, the legendary Alice Cooper. I think the track accomplishes what we set out to do — showcase Alice's voice and signature style on the backdrop of a heavy, modern rock track. After many years of lending my style of playing to Alice's music on stage, it was truly an honor to work together and hear his voice on one of my songs!"

Back in February 2022, Nita told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about her upcoming LP: "It's gonna be half and half — six tracks with vocalists and six tracks of instrumental [music]. We've been doing ['Dead Inside'] live on the solo tour and it's been getting a super-good reaction from our crowds."

In early December 2022, Nita told "The Mistress Carrie Podcast" about her decision to make the upcoming LP half vocal songs and half instrumental: "I did feel, and the label and everybody agreed, it's still important for me to keep my identity as a guitar player and not just branch off too much and go, 'Okay, well, now it's just guests.' Let me still have a little of what makes me me, which is the instrumental shred stuff. And the instrumental pieces that I've written on this record are, I think, better than anything I did on the first one — definitely more… I don't know if it could be more emotional but they're very emotional pieces of music and I think a little better crafted this time around. So I think all the songs in general are more well thought out, better put together this time around. And I do have some of my absolute favorite [singers guesting on it]. I have three amazing powerhouse female vocalists on this album so far."

Nita released 2018's "Controlled Chaos" to mass acclaim from fans and media alike, with Metal Injection calling it "a great debut that — as its creator intended — leaves no doubt", and Guitar World stating "'Controlled Chaos' is a panoramic view of Nita Strauss's many strengths".

Earlier this month, it was announced that Nita would return to Alice's band for his 2023 tour.

The Alice Cooper North American tour, with an all-new show dubbed "Too Close For Comfort", kicks off in late April in Michigan and continues through late September, including a handful of August stadium shows with DEF LEPPARD and MÖTLEY CRÜE, followed by a co-headlining late summer "Freaks On Parade" tour with Rob Zombie.

Nita spent eight years playing with Alice before joining Demi Lovato's band last summer,

Strauss played her first full live show with Demi on August 13, 2022 at the Grandstand at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois.

Nita made her live debut with Demi on July 14, 2022 with a performance of "Substance" on ABC's Emmy Award-winning late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!".

Strauss had been playing with Cooper since 2014 when she replaced Australian musician and former Michael Jackson player Orianthi. She joined Alice in time for a mammoth MÖTLEY CRÜE tour. She was recommended to Cooper by the legendary rocker's former bass player and WINGER frontman Kip Winger.

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#Nita Strauss #DoD collaborations #Alice Cooper #Winner Takes All #metal ladies #metal music #2023 news

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