#/ I can dig up the tutorial I found when I get home!

[ofcrossrcads]

@chiilds replied to your post “// when I figure out how to trim reblogs on mobile...”:

if you figure it out PLEASE let me know! it's been impossible for so long

​I FIGURED IT OUT!!! You need to download the developer version of Firefox or Firefox Nightly and then you can install X-Kit Rewritten through a series of complex witchcraft lmao

[tosuckmyweenis]

A man and his dog

I saw this post about Leon loving nintendogs, and my mind was melting. 

What would it be like to introduce him to it and go through the entire tutorial.

bonus pics of doggy at the end

Spring cleaning started, and it was one of the very few things Leon took seriously, going through every nook and cranny to see what he could get rid of and compress down; he liked living light and says it's because he doesn't want to trip on things when he comes home after a few too many, but you highly doubt that the only reason.

Sitting curled up on the couch corner, sipping your drink and watching whatever was on to pass the time before bed

"Hey, I found this in an old box that was falling apart in the closet; I thought you might want it" he held up the bright pink purse bag and wiggled the destroyed box in the other as proof before tossing it to the side.

"Oh hey! I wondered where it went; hand it over." you stuck your hands out for your treasured possession.

"What is it?" 

"It's my old DS; I used to play this all the time. My favourite game was Nintendogs." 

Opening the case, you pulled out the gray charger, inspecting it to ensure no exposed wires before holding it out to Leon.

"What do you do in it?"

"You take care of dogs, of course," Pulling out the pink device next, opening it until you heard the satisfying click, the memories it held bringing a smile to your face.

 He takes the cord from you and leans over the small table to plug it in, handing the end to you.

Saying a silent prayer before plugging in, letting out the breath you were holding when the orange glow hit your eyes

"And she charges still!"  

Setting it down on the side table and digging through the rest of the bag, you pull out the cartridges, looking for the one you're hoping is still there. Purrpals, catz, petz, all close, but not what you’re searching for. Leon takes his seat next to you, plopping down with a little too much force, jostling you into him. throwing his arm on the back of the couch behind you and leg crossed in his typical fashion, he observes you turning each cartridge before dropping them into your lap. “What are you rooting around for?”  “Nun ya.” snorting at your own joke “Haha, very funny.” the lighthearted tone in his voice made it clear he knew you were joking “Found it!” exclaiming excitedly, grabbing the ds and inserting the cart before powering it on to the familiar jingle, you select the game and hand it to him expectantly.

"I never started this one, so how about you give it a try?"

"I guess I could take a break; I have been cleaning all day" he wasn't too hard to convince; after all, he'd move the world if you asked him to.

"Please knock?"

"Yeah, take the stylus here and tap the door gently. " pointing to the side, making him tilt the system and slide the stylus out

the door swinging open when he taps has him fascinated

"This is kind of cool. I never had one of these growing up."

Leaning over to watch him, practically narrating the tutorial for him.

"You can go straight to buying your puppy or play with the kennel dogs."

"Of course, I'm going to the kennel; those puppies deserve love too" he sounded offended at the thought of just going straight to the buying.

The screen flashes white and the top screen switches to a dog view of a golden retriever digging on the ground.

"There's 3 of them! Look at this one; she's digging."

"You can have multiple dogs if you want." 

"What does this do?" he questions himself while pressing the button; a whistle is heard along with the pattering sounds of puppy feet and barks.

"It calls them to you," you say matter of factly 

"Thanks, genius," a small smile tugging at his lips

 He takes the stylus and begins petting the closest dog on the screen, which happens to be a tiny white chihuahua. After petting him for a few seconds, he rolls over, and you swore you can hear Leon gasp.

He takes his time petting each dog, ensuring they all get a turn before leaving the kennel.

"Alright, now we look at my options" Once the menu pops up, you can see his eyebrows wrinkle and nose scrunch.

"I didn't think I'd have this many options."

"It is called Dalmation and friends; it's not just one breed."

"Alright, the first option is a Yorkie; Pros: go."

It's not like any of these matter, but you play along anyway; brainstorming never hurt anyone.

"Pro: they are small, they are built for city life, and they bark at everything so no one will ever be able to break in." your reasonings were solid

"Cons: If they're too small, I'd probably step on them; barking at everything is a con if we live in an apartment, noise complaints and we don't want evictions."

Scrolling to the second one 

"Beagle, pros: Low maintenance, so if we go away, it'll be easier to find a sitter; if we ever get stranded in the woods, he could help us hunt rabbits for food, and they have floppy ears," he finished his list and looked over to you

"Cons: House training can be harder than other breeds; they are also very vocal, so no apartment life either." you countered

"Good points. Golden retriever, All pros and no cons, Next."

"Wait for a second; you can't just skip an entire br-"

"Boxers, Affectionate, could be box a pro and a con, watchdog which makes me feel better if you're home alone or I'm busy, and they are super smart. Your turn"

"Uh, well, They shed more, so extra cleaning would need to be done; they don't do well left alone, and with our schedules, it just wouldn't work."

"Sad but true. German shepherds, Loyal and love the outdoors, we could take him on our hiking trips."

"We could; that would be pretty fun; you know I always pictured you as a cat kind of person."

"I also like cats; I had one growing up and named him Peaches because there was a patch of fur in the shape of a peach. Loved him to death," Leon recalled with a sorrowful smile.

"Enough of that, though. Now for the start of the show, Dalmations.......I got nothing." he quickly changes the subject

"They make really cute firefighters?"

"Well, I guess we could put him to work, make him earn his keep" Leon chuckles at his joke

"Alright there, Come on. we know which one you're going to choose." 

Leaning your head on his shoulder, you slink your arm around his, cuddling into him

"Was it that obvious?" clicking the little golden retriever tab brought up another set of options

he stared at the screen showing 3 little puppies, two girls and a boy, all a different shade.

"So you can click one, and it'll bring up a little bit of info about them."

Clicking the first picture

"She has a very laid-back attitude, won't bark much and loves to sleep...Sounds a little like someone I know." 

The arm you're holding moves to nudge you in the ribs slightly, causing a small laugh to escape

"All reasons you love me, I hope."

"That and so much more." leaning over to kiss the top of your head lovingly before clicking the next one 

"The male puppy is full of love; he can get lonely at times but is still the perfect pup for family life."

Now that sounded like someone you knew, but you'd keep that to yourself for now.

"He's very charming" You look at the top screen, showing him scratching his ear before being barreled over, a toothy smile tugging at Leon’s lips

"And last but certainly not least, this little lady. She has a bright personality and is recommended for first-time owners."

The camera zooms in on the girl, you could see him staring fondly at the animation of her pawing and playing with the boy.

"So, what do you think?" you inquire, his eyes staying focused on the screen of the puppies

He didn’t even miss a beat, he already decided the minute he seen him "I'm picking the boy...Can't have him be lonely."

Your new life with your new puppy is about to begin He looks a little nervous, being in a new surrounding

"Aw, don't be nervous little guy."

Spend some time with your puppy to help him feel more comfortable

Touch the whistle icon to interact with him

Following the instructions, he presses the icon and watches the puppy run up to him, placing his paws on the screen while Leon pets his head

"He's very cute, and he loves head pets."

He seems to have calmed down quite a bit; Surely you must have an idea of what you want to call this puppy, don't you?

"Uh oh." 

"Can’t think of a name, what about meatball?"

"Meatball is a cat's name."  “What about someone important?”  It was like a lightbulb went off in his head after that, his eyes lit up to match “I know what I’m going to name him”

hearing him repeat the name over and over, it tugged at your heart, he had told you the story of that night and how he wished he could have done more to help

He seems quite happy you've given him a name. Keep calling his name so he can get used to the sound of it. 

"Marvin huh, That's a wonderful name." “Yeah, I think so too”

Watching him roll around on the screen and respond to the name, petting him every time for positive reinforcement

This is a good time to teach him how to sit. Gently pet the top of Marvin's head, then slide the stylus down his head to make him sit

"Already learning tricks, I knew my Marvin was a smart dog!"

"You can feed him the lightbulb!" He was ecstatic about that and fed him each one, not missing a single one

Now you need to make sure he can perform the trick you just taught him

"Marvin, Sit down"

the dog just looks at him

"Marvin, Sit down"

He sat.

"Yeah! Let's go, Buddy!"

 It looks like he responds to your voice and commands. You can now begin your life with Marvin

The pure joy radiating off of him infiltrated your soul; seeing him content with something small that brings him peace from the horrors he had to face day in and day out. 

You woke up to Leon shuffling next to you, trying to move as little as possible, you look over at the clock, and it read 3:48 am.  You think he is having one of those nights and is just settling down, so you decide to wait a few seconds before turning towards him or saying anything until you hear the tell-tale click and the beginning of the opening chime before it is cut off abruptly, Leon let out a hushed 'shit' before all movement halted, you could practically hear his heartbeat hammering in his chest. You felt his eye burning into your back, checking to see if he woke you; you pretended to be asleep. After a moment, you heard the light tapping of the stylus and a very, very faint bark.

[adyophene]

Hello ! I just have a little question, how do we start drawing ? I want go draw but idk how to start- any suggestion ? Or, if for starting it's better to do it with tutos, any tutorial to recommend ?

Have a great day !

Oooh, this is a tough question to answer! I suppose one the best pieces of advice I have is to figure out, before anything, what you are hoping to draw. What style, what tones, what media.

I have a feeling this might get long, so I will throw the rest under a readmore.

For me, when I started taking my art a little more seriously (I never went to art school or anything) I just focused on finding both tutorials on the fundamentals, and finding tutorials that focused on the aspects of art that interested me, which were animation and cartooning!

They go hand-in-hand, after all, and you'll find you end up honing in on the tutorials that coincide with your interests! IE- I ended up doing a lot of figure, and expression drawing because they would help me express emotion and movement better! I also spent so, so long just training my hand to be a bit more confident with drawing steady lines just because I loved the look of clean line-work!

So try to identify what your personal draw towards art is! By doing both something you like, as well as focusing the basics, I found that, at least in my personal experience, it put me in a positive feedback loop where I could keep seeing results in exactly the type of art I was interested in! And, once you start to feel confident, that is when you start adding in little bits of study from fields you might struggle with! A 90/10 split on what you're comfortable with and then what is new is usually a good way to go about it! Weirdly enough, though I don't watch him, I saw that the youtuber pewdiepie actually had a really good set of videos where he started from being a complete beginner and improving his art over 100 days. I believe its an absolutely great watch for a new artist, because he really does a great job in showing what a brand new journey into art can look like, and explains what he thinks each day. I think my favorite line was, 'after 24 days, I was finally having fun' because that can really sum up the new artist experience. It will absolutely be a slog at times, and can be really disheartening, but when you start to see progress, becomes so, SO fun.

Here is the link to the first vid, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLEudGbxQk and his second https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJDtQTTAogk

ALSO- this was just the first video that came to mind because I watched it recently. I would recommend finding other videos about people learning to draw, or doing 30-100-365 day challenge videos. As for my personal favorite channels for art tutorials (though keep in mind, I haven't watched them in a few years ;-;, I need to study again);

There were a number of others that I wish I could link as well, but I am struggling to remember them. I hope any of that is helpful. My own art journey has been very long, and non linear, and I have to say, I'm not even satisfied with my own art! Its a endless mountain to climb, but it is so worth it to do! And lastly, I want to say thank you so much for sending this ask, you've made me dig back in to artists I used to study, and made me want to really focus back in on my own improvement!

[tundrakatiebean]

Hi! I’m here from your quilt post. It was such a heartwarming story, and I wanted to thank you for sharing it.

I’m looking to get into hand sewing, and I wanted to dip my toe in by learning embroidery. When I was a kid, I embroidered a handkerchief for my dad, but I don’t really know anything about techniques or specific stitches or anything. I’ve looked online and there’s a lot out there, and I find it to be overwhelming.

How did you get into your craft, and could you perhaps share some resources you’d recommend?

I realize this is a strange ask; if it’s too weird, feel free to ignore it and thank you for your time.

That’s not a strange ask at all that’s a delightful one!

I’m actually pretty much entirely self taught. I had a special interest in the Oregon Trail growing up (I lived in Oregon so maybe a little less weird than it could have been) which meant I did a lot of pioneer things. My mom and gramma on that side also did a lot of sewing so if I didn’t get something I could ask them which was lucky for me because I was learning before the internet was an ‘at home’ thing for most people.

The fastest way to just dive into embroidery and play around a bit while learning stitches is to make a sampler. If you just google “embroidery sampler” you’ll find a lot of different options! There are some that have video tutorials included, there are kits you can buy that include everything you need, there are examples so you can just make your own that interests you! It’s a nice way to learn a lot of the basic stitches and have an item to reference when you’re planning other projects in the future. Me, being the big ol’ nerd I am found a vintage one that was similar to what Laura Ingles Wilder would have done in a very old library book that I no longer remember the name of. I think I ended up giving that to someone after I finished it 🤔 but you can really make a sampler into anything you want! Only want to embroider bees or flowers or strawberries? There will be options out there!

I’m currently doing an embroidery project where I make a lot of different Pokémon and I’m mainly using satin stitch for that, which is one of my favorites. Some basic stitches I’d point out as The Important Ones in no particular order: satin, running stitch, backstitch, split backstitch, chain stitch, cross stitch, French knot, and long and short stitch.

Here’s a website with a bunch of different pictures of stitches and how to make them. It also links to a pdf book you can buy, which I haven’t, but the site has plenty of options for playing around with. Just in case you wanted to see what you liked and just dive in! You could pick ten you think are neat and just try them out on some scrap fabric!

And here’s a link to an Instagram account I like and has posted examples of stitches before as well as selling embroidery kits, just in case you needed things narrowed down more :)

https://instagram.com/dkmoonfeather

[prep4tomoro]

Dining Under the Sun and Stars:

When we do not have a stove to heat with wood or turn on with the flip of a switch, we have to find a way to cook. Additionally, using natural cooking solutions saves money and reduces dependence on "the grid". Our ancestors found a way to cook . . . even in winter. These Videos, Podcasts and articles explain how to cook good healthy food for a fraction of the cost of conventional cooking methods. DUTCH OVEN COOKING: There is something nostalgic about Dutch oven cooking over an open flame. The smell, the feel and the taste of this experience cannot be replicated by any other method of cooking. The Dutch oven brings out that warm feeling of being “home” regardless of where I may be in the world. As I huddle around the fire ring with my group, preparing our meal, the Dutch oven becomes part of my extended family. Dutch Oven Cooking Video Tutorial Dutch Ovens on Amazon.com SOLAR OVEN COOKING: When we do not have a stove we can heat with wood or turn on with the flip of a switch, we have to find a way to cook. Our ancestors found a way . . . In the Podcasts and Videos Learn:

How to harness the power of the sun to cook, dehydrate, purify water and be better prepared for emergencies.

How to never have to worry about burning dinner again.

How to use a SUN OVEN to naturally dehydrate fruits and vegetables, and enhance winter sprouting.

How to reduce your utility bills and the amount of fuel you need to store for emergency preparedness while helping families in deforested developing countries around the world.

Everything you need to know about using a SUN OVEN to bake, boil and steam foods. See how practical and easy it is to cook in a SUN OVEN and discover the many economic, health and environmental benefits of cooking with the sun.

Cook in the middle of winter and get out of the hot kitchen in summer. [Recipes and How-to Videos] [Solar Oven Cooking]    [Let's Cook with the Sun!] [Comparison of Solar Ovens/Cookers] [Solar Ovens on Amazon.com]

PRIMITIVE COOKING: Learning to cook with a campfire, without man-made utensils, can be one of the most relaxing and rewarding experiences. Whether you're camping or in an actual emergency situation, common primitive cooking methods are skills worth knowing. The first skills necessary, however, are knowing how to start and build a fire. Then choose the primitive cooking method appropriate for the situation, available resources and weather.

Ash Cooking: Gather the food and large, live, non-poisonous plant leaves (preferably edible with stems or vines still attached). Slowly let the fire die while flattening the hot coals (but not burning with flames). Wrap the food in the leaves, using the stem/vine to hold it together. Place the food onto the coals. Use a stick to move some hot coals over top of the food so it can cook on both sides.

Broiling: Unless a pan is available, make something that can hold the food over the fire without it falling in. Strong, live, non-poisonous branches fashioned into a basket-weave pattern may do. Then lay the food on the boiler to cook. Flip the food as needed to cook thoroughly.

Hot Stone Cooking: Use a flat surface rock no less that one inch thick. Make sure the rock is clean but dry. Heat the rock on coals or over the fire until hot to touch. Place the food on the rock to cook.

Plank Cooking: Best woods for making planks are poplar, cedar, and oak; not conifers (pines). Cut into planks or rounds large enough for your food and cook similar to Hot Stone Cooking.

Steam Pit Cooking: Wrap food in large leaves, as when ash cooking. Dig a pit in the ground a foot to two feet deep. Line the bottom of it with hot coals. Place the food on top of the coals and then cover it with the earth you dug up. Allow it to sit for at least a couple of hours (even small food will take a while to cook this way). Then dig it up, and dig in!

Spit Cooking: Like a whole chicken spinning slowly on a rotisserie, that's spit cooking. Bury two "Y"-shaped (the top of a K is a better shape for pounding into the ground) branches, one on each side near the fire. Another straight, non-poisonous, hard-wood branch will pass through the food and hang on the two "Y"-shaped branches. Secure the food with non-poisonous vines or twine so it doesn't fall off as it cooks and turns. Turn the food occasionally to cook completely.

Clay Cooking: Wrap food in large leaves, as when ash cooking. Dig far enough into the ground and you'll, usually, find clay. Make sure that the area you dig wasn't once the place of toxic chemicals. Pack the clay around the food, in an even layer, to promote even cooking. Lay the clay-covered package over hot coals and allow it to cook. The time of cooking will depend on not only the size of the food being cooked, but also the thickness of the clay.

Shovel Skillet: Most backpackers and bug-out-bags will carry a small, foldable shovel to dig a latrine, fire pit or cover fire coals to put out a fire. A Not-So-Primitive cooking method is using a shovel as a skillet when no pots, pans or griddle are available. The metal shovel is excellent for cooking meats, veggies and breads. The [usual] long handle, makes it convenient to maneuver the food in and around the fire for different temperatures.

Makeshift Cooking Tools help with the cooking process. A Rake or Pitchfork can be used as skewers for roasting meats. A metal fork can be repurposed into a pan handle by poking holes in a metallic can in line with the fork tines, inserting the tines into the holes then bending the tines in an alternating pattern. This provides a safe, sturdy handle to move the can of food in and around the fire.

[Campfire Cooking Tips 1]    [Campfire Cooking Tips 2] [Campfire Cooking Tips 3]    [Campfire Cooking Tips 4] [Reference Link] Related Resources: Cook a Raw Egg, in its Shell, in Campfire Ashes Uses For Wood Ashes Cooking and Heating With a Wood Stove

[11-Cs Basic Emergency Kit] [14-Point Emergency Preps Checklist] [Immediate Steps to Take When Disaster Strikes] [Learn to be More Self-Sufficient] [The Ultimate Preparation] [P4T Main Menu]

This blog is partially funded by Affiliate Program Links and Private Donations. Thank you for your support.

[klysanderelias]

I was just gonna put 'it's the racism' in the tags and call it a day, but I genuinely think there's more to it than that (and to be clear, it's definitely STILL racism to a huge degree) -

But when you think of the sort of things that Marie Kondo is 'competing' with in that sort of space, especially with her TV show, it's all meaningful, actionable, quiet things that you can do in the comfort and space of your own home, without having to spend a bunch of money or have huge radical changes to your life, and I think that's the biggest issue for a lot of people.

That doesn't SELL, because when Marie Kondo comes to your house, she brings little cardboard boxes and asks you to do the difficult work of analyzing and organizing your life, and she helps you find peace and happiness in the life you have.

But the Queer Eye guys will buy you a new RV and remodel your house.

And I think partially it's that Marie Kondo is bad entertainment TV, but also because it's bucking the trend of every other makeover/improvement show that is to a certain level wish fulfillment. I have to imagine that every person who's ever watched Queer Eye has fantasized about having them show up and tell you what you're doing wrong, and give you new clothes that are tailored and professionally selected, and bring you in at the end for the reveal that you really didn't have a lot of part in.

And I feel like I'm being a little unfair to queer eye, but honestly, that's what the show is. It's a straight injection of cash into people's lives, nothing more. I still remember the one where they taught a guy how to cook nice spaghetti, he fucked up the recipe for the noodles, and just used the dry spaghetti they'd put in a vase for decoration. I'm not shitting on the guy, to be clear, but like... they gave him a single ten minute tutorial on one recipe.

And funnily enough, the only episode of Queer Eye I've ever seen where the client had genuine personal growth was the Japanese special with Chiba Makoto ("I am saved by the fact that you exist" sexiest motherfucker alive), and aside from all the other things that stood out to me, I still remember how when they were going over his clothes, he straight up went 'thanks for the suggestions, but I want to wear this' and picked out clothes for himself without Tan's input.

And I think there's so much US TV that's based around having a bunch of experts with a huge budget come in and fix your life because that's sexy and a great fantasy, but also I want to be clear that like, sometimes that's what actually makes a difference. I shit on Queer Eye for buying a lady a brand new RV for her small business, but the fact is, she needed a new fuckin' RV. She didn't need fashion tips or skin care regimens, she needed material goods, and those should always take priority. I just think that they need to be honest about what they're doing as a TV show - you watch it to feel good, not to learn anything.

But that's the difference between a TV show and a self-help book. I've watched quite a few episodes of Queer Eye and never found anything actionable for me to improve myself with (and part of that is because like, you can't take fashion tips from someone who only wears tailored clothes), and a single episode of Marie Kondo's show can give you extremely actionable and simple ways to improve your living space.

And I think also there's a sort of knee-jerk resentment to that, in the same way that you see people say 'must be nice not to be mentally ill' to extremely basic self-care posts on here. We want to be saved, we want to be rescued, not because we can't do the hard terrible work of digging ourselves out slowly, but because surely, we deserve to be saved. Someone has to love us enough to save us.

Marie Kondo's method can dramatically change and improve your life, but it's hard, and it's painful, and that's because that's usually how change is.

And we watch other people get rescued from crippling debt and poverty with a brand new RV and a whole new wardrobe.

And damn, don't they look so happy, without having to do any of the miserable work.

BUT ALSO EVERYONE WAS REALLY REALLY RACIST TO MARIE KONDO HOLY SHIT

you know, the more i think about it, the angrier i get about how mainstream media and even people in general treated marie kondo when the life changing magic of tidying up got big. it's just so unnecessary and sad to me and i think the vast majority of people would love what she has to say if they just actually looked into it instead of maliciously memeing her to death? i'm not talking about the cutesy does it spark joy stuff but all the things portraying her as some bizarre evil cleaning dictator.

i actually read her book when i was about twelve years old, in the most shocking and probably only example of me ever being ahead of a trend, and even at twelve i really loved everything she said. at that point in time i lived in fear of my mother's threats that she would come and throw everything away while i was school, and my small and very adhd mind simply could not grasp the concept of "have less stuff". have less of WHICH stuff? how? i'd never actually been taught how to clean my room besides being told "pick up stuff" and "be organized", and as she points out multiple times, cleaning is not an intuitive thing. it's a learned behavior and skill.

anyways. her entire philosophy centers on surrounding yourself with things that you love, and only things that you love (or things that you absolutely need). she explicitly says over and over again that it is not about throwing things away, it is not about minimalism, it is not about "what is the smallest amount possible that you can survive on". she literally has a whole section where she talks about how hard it can be to throw things away when you've lived in poverty all your life and you don't have absolute confidence that you can replace something that you really needed if it gets thrown out, even though you're not likely to ever really need it--you've just been conditioned to think that because that's literally how you survive, when you're poor. she talks about how that mindset can serve and how it can damage. she talks about how minimalism is sort of a rich people thing, cause they can afford to throw everything away.

this woman really came out here and said "i want you to be surrounded by things you love and i'm going to validate your fears and your difficulties in getting to that place" and people somehow got mad at her. i don't understand it

[kenovele]

Bogs Blog 12

Bogs Blog 12

And just like that we have finished another week. As the weeks roll by we are getting better at settling in to New Zealand life, it has been a dramatic change, even for me who is essentially just coming home. Aafter three years away, I had slipped into that lovely Henry lifestyle and it took me a bit to get back to the slightly more full on Robinson lifestyle. Although there are many many things that I miss about Belgium, especially the beautiful people that we left there, I think I speak for both of us when I say we are enjoying being here. We are enjoying being able to start the process of building up our life together, it is exciting to begin the journey here in NZ. All of my friends are getting married and having kids, but I am honestly stoked to finally be building our tiny home and working towards that pathway of being free to live in our little hobbit home and travel to see our friends in Belgium during their summer that we have been talking about for years. Life, with all its stresses and lack of goats cheese, is pretty good.

Work wise, my week was slow and rather boring. I think the scary reality of the situation is that there is going to be a recession and I do believe that it is going to hit the construction industry first, and already we are feeling it. Hardly any work has come in these last few weeks, the office is quiet, and I am even happy when I get complicated questions from the council because at least it will fill up some time. How painful. I have however decided on working on my certification to become a professional engineer (which is what we need in New Zealand to be able to work for ourselves) and have been trying to do that in my down time as well as continuing education tutorials. Benoit has been keeping himself busy this week by painting our Tilsley offices, they aren’t the prettiest buildings in the world (honestly it would be better if they got demolished) but they are looking better with the new lick of paint on them that Benoit has done, they have gone from blue to white and look very flashy. On Wednesday however he had a bit of a change in scenery and went up to town to help my uncle dig out some ground to build his deck and then to return the favour my uncle drove our trailer back to our house.

We were a bit worried to drive it ourselves as it is max towing size, 3m wide by 7m long. So outside of work, Benoit and I have been very busy. The tinyhouse trailer arrived, thankfully not driven by us as apparently even for my uncle who is used to drive big trucks etc found it hard to manoeuvre as you couldn’t see it nor realise how wide it is on the tight roads. But our beautiful expensive trailer arrived on Wednesday night, so an exciting time for us. We ended up pushing it down to its parking spot as the access was very tight. The access was 3.10m wide and our trailer is 3.06m wide, so in the tightest areas we only have 4cm of wiggle room and it was a squeeze! But between us we managed to get it down there without having to take down any fences or take out any gates, which was a big relief. It really did seem like a big achievement to have the trailer arrive as all of a sudden the base of our house had arrived and now we can start the serious stuff! This weekend we had big plans, for getting all the frames together and the internal floors and the roof. It was a big plan but we started with an optimistic mindset. We had a few issues with levelling up the trailer on Thursday night, we had hoped we could just jack it up on the jacks that came with it, but it felt a bit unstable so instead we decided it would be worth spending a bit more time and digging pile foundations to sit the trailer on as it will be well worth it. A slight delay but we worked our hardest to get the piles done on Friday night, in the rain, so we could still continue the build as planned on the weekend. Benoit spent most of Friday outside in the rain digging the hole so we could give the concrete time to dry on Friday night before building on Saturday.

Unfortunately like all best laid plans, the week was perfectly sunny and then on Friday the rains came and it was bucketing down. Just in time for the long weekend and our massive list. I guess when it rains on your wedding day it is said to be good luck so maybe starting a build in the rain is also good luck? Luckily we had good raincoats and were rather optimistic so we just put on our wet weather gear and got into it. Definitely not as fun or easy on the mood but it is still possible. Since the trailer arrived it is all go, we have been waiting for this moment and were very excited to get right into it. Once the trailer was level and stable, our goal was standing the frames, building in internal walls and floors, frame the roof and then if all went to plan, clad the roof too. That way Benoit and I could work on the electricity and plumbing and then eventually preparing the walls for the wall cladding during the next few weekends while Jamie is away. Time with our builder is precious and limited so we are doing our best to make the most of it, hence the big push this weekend in the rain. But the silver lining was that it was a long weekend, Mum and Dad are spending their three days off at the lake, and so we could just eat, sleep and tinyhouse. Benoit will have to update you on how far we got with it in his next blog as I am hoping we will get all the finishing touches to our big list done on Monday.. to be seen. However we have got the trailer and the frames in place, which gives us a really good idea about the space and how our design is going so far. Obviously, the frames are not walls yet so it is still feeling reasonably big compared to what I thought it will be but I am sure once we start filling it up it will get smaller and smaller, to the point where I am not sure where I will be able to put all my shoes!

Another thing that I have been enjoying is our vocal messages, I only just started using them in Belgium with my mum, but Benoit and I have really been making the most of it and catching up with all our friends with the occasional vocal message, I love it because it is a great way to stay in touch as hearing your voices makes us feel so much closer and I hope it helps close the gap for you too.

What else is new… hmm considering our life is just revolving around the tinyhouse, talking about it, going to work to pay for it, building it, researching for it, we haven’t done a whole lot else.

Oh yes, we did play tennis, twice last week, once with my brother, who is better than us even with his broken hip and foot, which is probably to our advantage because if he didn’t have that injury there is no way we would be able to return the smashes he was dealing us! And once just a quick half hour after work. We are both enjoying our new sport, although wish we could find more time to do it, a goal to be continued.

Love Kate and Benoit

[tradewithraj]

How To Read Structure (Charts) Tutorial. Charts 1-5

By the time you are done with this tutorial, You will understand Structure, Trends, Reversals & much more! This tutorial will teach you how to dig deep into the charts & analyze where price is likely to go next!

Reading Structure can be difficult when you first start trading, however most professional traders (if not all) understand structure very well and it is definitely a skill that will dramatically help you on your journey to becoming a professional trader. I tried to make this as clear & simple as possible for anyone to understand but do not worry if this is complicated or a little confusing at first. If you are new to trading, you will benefit by studying and looking over these charts multiple times. I have found that it is also helpful if you grab a piece of paper and a pencil so you can draw the chart that you are looking at. Draw a very simple line chart and mark the highs & lows as shown in the tutorial with support & resistance lines.. You will learn much faster by doing this while training your eyes to identify trends & reversals. After you do this enough, it will start to become 2nd nature & you will spot these crucial moments in structure with a quick glance at the charts. This is the first section of the Reading Structure Tutorial. This section will consist of 6 Charts total: Chart 1- An Easy and effective way to determine trend. Chart 2- Following The Trend with Support & Resistance (Highs & Lows) Chart 3- Continuation of Chart 2 Chart 4- Identifying Possible Trend Reversals Chart 5 - When Structure Doesn't Make Sense, Do Not Trade! Chart 6- Another Reversal I have put a lot of time & effort into this tutorial so feel free to ask any questions you may have.. I will be publishing section 2 of the "How To Read Structure" tutorial next week. Please leave a comment below or message me with your thoughts regarding this lesson. I am happy to continue publishing them if they are helpful to you. We are going to scroll through this chart & follow structure. This is a 60 Minute Chart of GBP-USD .

Chart 1

Chart 2, In this Chart we are going to look at the highs & lows shown on Chart 1.

Chart 2 Continued, (Continuation of Chart 2.)

Chart 3, Identifying Possible Trend Reversals.

Chart 4, In depth Analysis of Chart 3.

Chart 5, Another Example of a trend reversal

Section 2 of "How To Read Structure" will be published next week & I will be sure to update this tutorial with the new charts as well as publish a separate idea. Take your time & really study these charts. There is a ton of valuable information in this tutorial & by the time you get through all the sections, you will have a much easier time reading structure. Please be sure to give this tutorial a thumbs up if it was helpful & you would like me to continue posting them. Thanks Traders & I hope you enjoyed the 1st section of this tutorial! Jul 12, 2017Comment:Hey Traders, Here is Section 2 of the "How to read structure (Charts) Tutorial". In this Section, you will learn some of the methods that professional trend traders use to bring home a profit week after week, month after month, & year after year! In this Section, I will be explaining- - The Characteristics of a healthy trend (Chart 6) - A simple method that makes identifying trend reversals easy (Chart 7) - Why you should not rush your trades plus when & why you should have a neutral biased as a trend trader (Chart 8) - Mastering Reversals & how to trade them properly (Chart 9) - Continuation of GBPUSD -0.29%Structure Analysis ~ How To Identify & Avoid Trading Ranges To Improve Your Trend Trading Strategies ~ The Importance Of A Candles Closing Price. (Chart 10) - One of my trend trading rules to avoid trading ranges & Intro to the 1st part of Section 3. (Chart 11) Section 1 of this tutorial is linked below. Please start with section 1 as it will lay some of the ground work for this section & will also show these methods on actual charts. This section of the tutorial is a breakdown of the methods taught in section 1 and when studied together, can really give you a good understanding of how trends, reversals, ranges etc work. Please feel free to leave feedback below regarding if these tutorials have been helpful. I will be releasing many more of these tutorials in future ideas and your feedback really helps me to improve them! It may take you a couple minutes to get use to the format of these tutorials so take your time & read over the charts multiple times as there is a lot of good information provided within these tutorials. Chart 6- Characteristics of a healthy trend

Chart 7- A simple method that makes identifying trend reversals easy

Chart 8- Why you should not rush your trades plus when & why you should have a neutral biased as a trend trader

Chart 9- Mastering Reversals & how to trade them properly

Chart 10- Continuation of GBPUSD -0.28%Structure Analysis ~ How To Identify & Avoid Trading Ranges To Improve Your Trend Trading Strategies ~ The Importance Of A Candles Closing Price.

Chart 11- One of my trend trading rules to avoid trading ranges & Intro to the 1st part of Section 3.

You Have Completed Section 2 Of The "How To Read Structure (Charts) Tutorial. Charts 6-11"! Thank you for taking the time to finish this section of the tutorial! I hope Section 1 and 2 have been helpful to you! In section 3, we will start looking at how you can use price action/structure & the methods taught in this tutorial to design your own trading strategy! After all of the sections are complete, you will have the tools needed to read structure, create your own rules based trading strategy and much more so please stick around as this is only the beginning of a very educational tutorial. Thanks Traders!

New Simple Patterns Tutorial Available Now! Strategy Insight!

How To Read Structure (Charts) Tutorial- Section: 3 Charts 12-18 Release!

[geltears]

sap

Manjiro (Mikey) Sano x Reader

Mikey really likes your cooking

Mikey vaguely remembers you whispering something about making his favorite but (he'd like to believe) it slipped his mind in his sleep laden state when he was more focused on rolling out of bed to get dressed than processing your words. Still, it catches him by surprise when the security guard tells him you're here to see him and even then, he has to blink at you for a moment when he sees you standing in his office doorway, with a bag in hand. He lets one of his rare soft smiles play onto his lips as you walk over to him. He takes in your frilly sun dress and as his eyes trace the butterflies embroidered into it, he recalls the image of you sitting so attentively in the living room of your shared home while you watched a tutorial on how to embroider. He was more than wiling to take the dress to a tailor to have it designed for you but you insisted on doing it yourself, he found it admirable— your stubbornness, he means.

"What are you doing here, love?" he says into your shoulder as he hooks one arm around your waist to pull you closer. "Did it get boring at home?" Now, he thinks about the time when you had asked him to get you a cat, for company, of course. He thinks, he had made up some excuse about his sinus but really, he just can't stand the furry things. You pull away from his embrace, just enough to properly look at his face. "No...I just- are you busy right now?" you start. Mikey lets his eyes flutter closed and he leans into your touch as you rub his temple while you speak. He does have a meeting in 5 and any moment now the Bonten executives could start filing into the room for the discussion to commence but now that you ask— no, he's not busy.

He shakes his head and though, he can't see you, he can clearly imagine the smile on your face that tempts him to crack one eye open. "Okay, good." There is a hint of pride in your voice that suggests you were well aware of his schedule yet you still came over to the building. When Mikey doesn't feel your nails gently grazing his skin anymore, he opens his eyes, just to catch a glimpse of you digging into the bag you came with before your thumbs rolled down his eyelids, closing them shut again. "Don't open them yet," you mumble, determination evident in your tone. He could almost laugh at it. The sound of plastic crinkling fills his ears, then he hears the moving of bowls that practically has him itching with excitement.

The moment you give him the ok, he's spinning his chair to face you and reaching for the bowls. The first thing he notices is the heart shaped dorayaki in the centre of the food arrangement. He guesses that it took you quite a few tries to figure out the shaping and that only makes his heart beat faster in his chest. It makes him slightly embarrassed because the leader of Japan's No.1 crime organization shouldn't be this sappy, right? "I can leave now, if you want- I'll let you eat in peace," Mikey hears you say. He catches your wrist before you can walk away and the absolute surprise written on your face makes his head hurt. "Stay, please?"

You nod as you take a seat and there, you watch as he eats messily but amusingly, only stopping to offer you things (his romantic gesture, you assume) to which you simply shake your head, no.

[cyberneticlagomorph]

Right ok

This is probably gonna be a long one but here we go

I'm stuck in a video game

Not just any game either, one that digs into your subconscious and pulls out all your phobias and Traumas and let's you fight them which I guess is supposed to be cathartic but if you've ever met me you know it's probably a horrible idea to go anywhere near my gray matter

Anyway

This all started on the 15th when some cops brought me in on suspicion of child murder but if you've ever spoken to me for more than 5 minutes you'd know I'd rather commit toaster bath than intentionally hurt a child so

They showed me a video of this black rabbit thing crawling out from under furniture a lot like I do so so I guess I can't really blame them for getting us mixed up

I can and do and will be removing more of their fingers the second I'm in the same room as them but I digress

So they bullied me into proving my innocence and I was led to a forum talking about more murders and disappearances that were similar to the rabbit one and apparently they're also really similar to a game called Ursumbra so I found the game and tried it out to look for any information or spooky shit but before I could I met a guy named Nick and a girl named Edith and they were teaching me how to play

And one of the tutorial levels involved me protecting my infant child from my crazy ex girlfriend and also the Shadow version of myself

It was very traumatizing

I got mad about that and logged off and went to go find the real version of my ex and found her in her trashed apartment full of gross zombie toys and leaking black pus everywhere

I got bit

A lot

I took my ex home with me to try and get her some help but I passed out and woke up back in the game somehow and now I can't leave

I also broke my wife's wrist on accident I'm so fuckin sorry babe

Anyway I think that the game is getting people sick somehow and toys and those toys are hurting people, mainly kids

I need to find a way to stop whatever's happening and somehow get back to my body before it does anything weird without me in it

If you hear scratching where I usually come through to visit you IT'S NOT ME

Keep rooms lit

Keep an eye on your toys, your kids and your kids toys

And that's what you missed on glee!

[meltwonu]

| 🍒 CH-CH-CHERRY BOMB! 🍒 |     [CHAPTER 20] FINAL

pairing; dom!seungcheol x camgirl!reader

this chapter’s notes; camshow, sex toys, shibari, dom!seungcheol, dirty talk, overstimulation/forced orgasms, squirting, degradation, name calling, daddy!kink, gags! 😍💕 ✨HAPPY NEW YEAR!!✨ Here’s to more fun fics in 2021! I can’t believe this is our last chapter though omg 😭 It’s been suuuuch a journey and a privilege to write this little series out! I’ve honestly thought about a camgirl/boy series for like, over a year now, and I’m glad I finally did it! I completed one of my goals! 🥺💕 2020 was definitely a wild one, but I want to thank you all so fuckin’ much for supporting me and stickin’ it out with me all year! Here’s to more in the coming year!💕 Also I was proofreading this at the dining table last night thinking my roommate wouldn’t come out of their room but they did(while I was making dinner and my hands were dirty so I couldnt close my laptop ☠️) and they walked past my laptop and now I’m convinced they saw my fucking smut fic right in the open so yes my little mini-break next week is MUCH needed cause I am ✨embarrassed✨ 🤣 I’ll still do my inbox roundup tomorrow and probably answer a bunch of small thirst posts ‘n stuff throughout the week but there won’t be any drabbles! For now, enjoy chapter 20 🥺, have a safe weekend, and remember that I love you~ ❤️🍒💕

chapters; 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 COMPLETE

Seungcheol wakes up much earlier than you do the next morning; pressing a kiss to your forehead as you groan and snuggle deeper into your pillow.

“Baby, I need to go run some errands for a little bit, okay? Just keep sleeping, you don’t need to get up yet. But, I made breakfast and put it in the microwave for you when you decide to get up later.”

His voice is muffled and you can barely understand what he’s saying but you nod; a soft sigh on your lips when you drift back into dreamland. He takes his time getting ready, checking his phone notifications as he gets dressed and places a note on the nightstand knowing that you didn’t catch a single word he said.

‘Hey, did you get everything I asked for?’

Jimin🧍🏻: of course, who do you think I am? Jeongguk?

Jimin🧍🏻: and btw, i’m just giving you a crash course okay? We don’t really have a ton of time

Jimin🧍🏻: did you watch those tutorial videos I sent you?

‘Yeah, I did some practice on my breaks, but I guess you can tell me if I’m doing anything wrong.’

Jimin🧍🏻: okee, i’ll be waiting. Don’t get here too late!

‘I’ll be otw soon. Thanks again, Jimin.’

“Ow--damn, okay, you don’t need to tug on it so much!”

“Sorry, I’ll be careful! And why are we practicing on you anyway?! Couldn’t you just have shown me pictures or something?”

“How else will you learn if not on an actual body? It doesn’t work the same way, Seungcheol.” Jimin pauses, checking himself in the mirror. “Also, keep in mind she does have boobs so just… go slow, okay? It’s not gonna sit like this on her.”

Seungcheol blushes a crimson red; biting the inside of his cheek at how amateur he was at this.

“Okay…”

Seungcheol is gone for a lot longer than you anticipate and although he replies quickly to your texts, you can’t help but be curious about where he’d gone and what he was doing.

Especially knowing that the two of you had to film tonight and knowing that everything was up to Seungcheol.

A shiver rolls down your body at the thought and you quickly try to shake off the nerves that seem to slowly invade your body when your mind starts to wander.

“It’ll be fine, I’m sure…”

“I’m home!”

“Where have you--oh, that’s… a b-big box? Um, should I be concerned...”

Seungcheol grins, shrugging as he sets it onto the kitchen counter. “Just some supplies for tonight. I had to go pick them up from a friend but I had to make sure everything was right.” He notices the way you can’t seem to take your eyes off of the box; eyes twinkling when he makes his way towards you.

He tilts your head up to meet his in a searing kiss, lips easing into a smile when you wrap your arms around his neck and melt under his touch. You moan against his lips just before he pulls away; staring dreamily at him while his hands start to roam over your clothed body.

“We have a long night ahead of us, sweetheart. Let’s pamper you a little before then, hmm?”

j__min: ??? where’s the loverboy

j__min has donated $200

angelhan has donated $75

therealchan99 has donated $50

xcaliburDK has donated $75

xcaliburDK: is that the sybian? Haven’t seen that in a looong while

You bite your lip and nod, somewhat shy as you sit alone in front of the camera. “Seungcheol’s still… setting up but he told me to start! I’m a little nervous, to be honest…” Your eyes flit to Seungcheol who rummages through the box in the kitchen and from the angle you’re sat in, you can’t see a single thing he takes out.

Earlier, he’d cooked you your favorite meal and even took the time to give you a full body massage before the two of you cuddled on the sofa and watched a movie. To you, it seemed a little too suspiciously tame and you only found yourself more nervous when he made you drink two glasses of water and ever so quietly announced it was time to start getting ready for the camshow.

“He’s being so suspicious! He was even gone for a few hours earlier today…” You mumble; brows furrowed at the camera before checking the comments.

It still amazed you every time with how much money you and Seungcheol made from the camshows and videos and it made you feel even better knowing that everyone loved the chemistry the two of you had together. There were a lot of video requests and ideas mixed in with the comments at any given time and you were definitely ready to pitch some to Seungcheol now that you’d rebranded your channel to be a couple’s channel instead.

“Almost done, sweetheart!”

gc__koo: he told me to watch cuz he was being suspicious with me too 

gc__koo has donated $50

alphagyu97: what is he even plotting

alphagyu97: i am excited to see the sybian again tho ngl

artist8hao: pretty baby gonna squirt for us again?

universe_WZ: hell fuckin yea let us see how fuckin wrecked you get on that machine

You feel your pussy clench around emptiness at their comments; already feeling yourself getting wetter and wetter with the anticipation.

Movement out of the corner of your eye catches your attention and Seungcheol walks towards the bed with a wide smile and the same box in hand. “Ready?” You can only nod back slowly, watching as he dumps the contents of the box right next to your body.

gc__koo: oy

chwenon: oh shit

sleepy_wonu: oh baby, you’re in for it now

sleepy_wonu has donated $100

Your entire body fills with warmth as you look over the various objects; unsure of where to really look first. “I, um--”

A stack of red ropes sits next to a small bullet vibrator that sits next to a ball gag that sits next to a pair of EMT shears and your eyes immediately flit up to Seungcheol who only smirks back at your shocked expression. “I had some other toys I wanted to use but I figured I should go easy on you, y’know? Since you showed me some mercy last night.”

Nodding, you reach out towards the ropes, touching them shyly. “Why red?”

“Thought they’d be on theme for you, babygirl.”

Seungcheol takes his time; remembering Jimin’s words when he tugs the ropes around your wrists.

“Colour, babygirl?”

“G-green… daddy…”

He nods, sitting up on his knees behind you as you sit on the sybian and face the camera. You bite your lip, somewhat embarrassed that you were already soaking the toy underneath you as Seungcheol worked to bind your arms behind you.

“D--daddy, where did you l-learn this?” You whisper, somewhat curious if this had anything to do with why he was gone for so long earlier in the day.

“Mm, daddy’s friend Jimin was kind enough to help me get the tools and teach me a few tricks to make sure I kept my babygirl safe. Wasn’t that kind of him?” You nod gently, gulping when you shift atop the machine slightly in hopes of relieving some of the growing sexual tension in your body. “Why don’t you thank him properly, sweetheart?”

Your hazy eyes make eye contact with the camera, head tilted slightly. “T-thank you, J-Jimin… for--for helping daddy…”

j__min: omg a shoutout ive made it

kitty_junjun: we never thought we’d see the day

tangerine_kwan: and here we all thought you were gonna be the bad guy huh

hoshi_tiger_xx: like when u only see previews of the book online but the rest of it is different ykwim

Seungcheol makes sure your arms are bound snug enough but not too tight; leaning away slightly to admire his rope work. “Feeling okay so far, babygirl?”

Nodding, you whine back slightly. “Y-yes, daddy… But… my--my pussy wants s-something…” He laughs in return, readjusting so that he’s sitting on your side this time to give himself easier access to start the rest of the bindings.

“Is that so? You’re gonna have to be a little more patient this time ‘cause daddy’s not done yet.” He starts working on the rest of the harness; going slow and checking in with you often to make sure none of the ropes were digging into your skin or making you uncomfortable. “You’ll have to forgive me a little though, I’m admittedly a ‘lil inexperienced so our pretty babygirl is only going to be tied up in this pretty harness for tonight.”

gentleman_josh95: the fact u even took the time to learn just for her

gentleman_josh95 has donated $100

artist8hao: seriously, the dedication

kitty_junjun: we stan a man who knows safety and etiquette 

Comments of reassurance and donations flood in at Seungcheol’s small apology and although the two of you are in your own world; you can tell from just the amount of pings coming from your laptop that they all seemed to be encouraging him.

The two of you fall into a comfortable silence as Seungcheol continues to move around you on the bed to finish the harness and a smile graces his lips when he starts to secure the last knots in the back. He can’t help but mentally pat himself on the back at how neatly he’d done it for his first time.

“There. All done, baby.”

Your eyes flit to the laptop’s screen to see yourself; cheeks hot when you see how fucked out you already look and he hadn’t even touched you properly or turned on the machine.

The star harness Seungcheol had tied looks pretty with red ropes and you can’t hide your smile at how good it looks on you too either. “Ah, daddy made it really p-pretty… Thank you.”

This time, Seungcheol nods, letting you admire yourself as he silently reaches for the small remote for the sybian, switching it on.

Your entire body lurches forward as soon as the vibrations attack your clit and you immediately find yourself moaning and grinding down onto the machine as he gives you some relief.  

“You’re welcome, babygirl. Now let’s really have some fun, huh?”

You need to cum.

Badly.

“Awww, is my pretty baby drooling? Does it feel that good on your sensitive ‘lil clit?” He teases, smoothing down your hair as you cry around the ball gag in your mouth; drool seeping out from the side of your lips when he raises the vibrations a setting higher.

You don’t know how many times he’d played with the settings and edged you by now, but all you do know is that the urge to cum only grows stronger as you grind against the machine, soaking it with your wetness as you chase the pleasure building up in your body again.  

Surely cumming was okay, right? He never said you couldn’t.

You whimper around the ball gag, eyes fluttering shut when the tension in your body snaps in the blink of an eye and your thighs clamp down onto the sides of the machine. Throwing your head back, you moan against the gag and ride out your high as Seungcheol watches you from the side.

“Mm, bet that felt good, huh? But I know you want something in that greedy ‘lil cunt of yours, don’t you? You want daddy’s cock slamming into your tight ‘lil hole ‘til it’s full of my cum, right, sweetheart?” He licks his lips, turning off the sybian as you slump forward.

universe_WZ: shit shes so sensitive

chwenon: especially with her arms bound like that i bet she’s on cloud nine rn

gentleman_josh95: her cute lil head is probably all fuzzy already from all the sensations

therealchan99 has donated $100

gc__koo has donated $75

j__min has donated $150

All you can do is whimper and nod; teary eyes blinking back at Seungcheol as he smirks and leans in towards you.

“Mmm, you’ll get what you want eventually. But for now, you’re gonna cum again.”

He turns the sybian back on, licking his lips when he sees your body tensing again. It was always easier to get you to cum a second time and his point is proven when you mewl around the ball gag a few minutes later; chest heaving in stuttered breaths as you try to shy away from the toy still vibrating against your overly sensitive clit when you’re quickly thrown into another orgasm.

“You always cum for daddy so easily, don’t you, babygirl?”

Your head feels fuzzy after already cumming twice in such a short span of time but you nod, head lolling to the side as Seungcheol finally turns the sybian off for good.

Seungcheol gives you a second to catch your breath before he’s scooting in and fiddling with the clasps at the back of your head to take the ball gag off.

A thread of saliva connects your lips to the gag and you whimper at how good it feels to be able to actually speak again. “D-daddy…” Drool drips from your mouth as your lead lolls forward and Seungcheol is quick to bring a hand up to keep your head up as he looks into your lust filled eyes.

“Colour, sweetheart?”

“Still g-green…” He nods back, checking to make sure none of the ropes had shifted. “Would you like some water before we continue, baby?”

“Yes, daddy…”

He fetches you a glass of water, tilting it against your lips as you down the entire glass and you find yourself a little surprised at how needed it was. “Thank you, d-daddy…”

“You’re welcome, babygirl. Ready to keep going?”

You nod, a little bit more energized. “I hope everyone, mmh, l-likes the show so f-far~” Your teary vision prevents you from reading the comments and before you can even make an effort to, Seungcheol is already helping you off of the machine and helping you sit on the bed across from him.

alphagyu97: ugh she looks so fucking good in that harness

angelhan: right? That shade of red looks so good against her skin too

angelhan: so fuckin pretty

tangerine_kwan: pics for the private room later? Plz i beg

Seungcheol takes this time to take off his boxer briefs, cock curving up against his abdomen when he’s fully naked across from you. He wraps a hand around his cock, moaning and spreading the precum down his shaft as you watch. “D’you want this, baby?”

Your lips fall open in a silent moan as you watch Seungcheol jerk himself off and you can’t help but squirm. “Y-yes…”

“Tell me exactly what you want then. Let them hear what a filthy little slut you are for me.” You can’t help but feel miserably empty watching him and despite having already cum twice, you want his cock fucking you open and making you cum again.

“I--I--”

“Yes, babygirl?”

“I, ngh, I want d-daddy’s cock… Please? Ah, I--I wanna feel you fucking my--my pussy into the, mmh, s-shape of your c-cock… And I w-want you to c-cum inside my--my slutty little h-hole…”

Seungcheol scoffs, hips shallowly thrusting up into his enclosed fist. “That’s right. You’re just my slutty ‘lil babygirl that lets me use all her tight holes how I please, right? You like it when I cum down your throat and in your pretty ‘lil ass. But we all know you like it best when I cum in your hot ‘lil cunt. Makes you feel all warm and full, doesn’t it? You like it when my cum is dripping out of your spent cunt and sliding down your shaky thighs.” This time you nod furiously as you whine back in response.

“P-please… Can’t wait any--anymore!”

This time, the impatience takes over as you slightly tug on the ropes; whining when they don’t give. “Daddy!”

And this time, he gives in quicker than he anticipates, growling as he reaches for the EMT shears to cut you from the harness. “Don’t let your arms down, no matter how much you want to. You’re going to strain your arms if you move too fast so let me handle it, okay, sweetheart?”

The sudden gentleness in his voice has a giddy warmth pouring over you as you nod and sit still while he cuts at various points of the harness to make the ropes fall loose around your arms and chest. You keep your arms in the same position like he requested and you soon feel his hands roaming your skin and massaging your arms to get the blood flowing again.

“You’re so good for me, baby.” He whispers against your hair, leaning down to kiss your shoulder before he slowly easing your arms down from being folded behind your back.

He continues to massage your arms for a few more minutes before it’s you that’s getting impatient. “Daddy… Can you fuck me now?” Whispering, you slightly turn your body to the side to meet his gentle stare.

Seungcheol laughs under his breath, nodding. “Lay on your back for me, legs spread.”

You follow his orders as you quickly scramble to get into position; legs spread wide for him to situate himself between.

“Mm, your pussy is still so fuckin’ wet. I wanna taste you on my tongue, baby.” Whines spill from your lips as you shake your head ‘no.’

“No! My p-pussy feels empty, I need y-your cock, daddy… ‘n I’m so wet, you can probably, ah, just s-slide your cock in…”

He wraps a hand around his cock just as you wrap your legs around his waist and he guides himself until the head of his cock is right at your entrance.

Neither of you say a word as he slowly starts to sink his cock in; guttural moans on his lips when he meets no resistance and bottoms out in a singular thrust. “Holy fuck, your cunt is so fuckin’ wet. Shit, and so t-tight!” You clench around him, already feeling good with his cock inside of you as you beg him to fuck you hard and fast.

“Ngh, p-please fuck me like--like I’m your, hah, c-cocksleeve… I want it f-fast, daddy!”

He grits his teeth at your words; drawing his hips back before snapping them into you just how you wanted. “Fast, hmm? All you think about in that pretty head of yours is my cock pounding you open, huh? Slamming into you so fuckin’ good, it makes your toes curl when you cum.”

Seungcheol starts a quick pace, already feeling the pleasure building up for himself when you’re reduced to garbled noises and broken cries of his name. The heels of your feet dig into the small of his back as you try to press him in closer and he’s quick to reach for the small bullet vibrator left on the bed next to your body.

“Your body is so fuckin’ sensitive, I can already feel how tight you’re getting around me. So fuckin’ greedy to cum too. Already came twice and you still want more. You’re not satisfied until your whole body is shaking underneath me, huh, sweetheart?” He turns the small toy on, pressing it to your clit as you yelp and let out choked sobs.

“Ah, ngh, d-daddy, my--my clit’s t-too sen--sensitive! I--I can’t--!” Squirming, you feel the pressure building up obscenely quick; bottom lip quivering when he takes one of your free hands and makes you hold the toy to your swollen clit.

“Just a little more, sweetheart. Don’t you wanna cum?”

He angles his thrusts to graze against your g-spot and loud cries of his name leave your lips in a hurried, jumbled mess when he only doubles his pace.

The sound of donations and comments pour in like water and get lost within the ringing in your ears; unable to even warn Seungcheol that you’re about to cum when you feel your entire body starting to lock up underneath him.

Your lips part in a silent scream and your back bows off of the bed, thighs shaking uncontrollably as you cum for the third time. Seungcheol growls, fucking you through it as you squirt all over his lower half.  He finds it harder and harder to thrust into you as you cum, but he feels himself quickly following suit with your warm walls fluttering around his cock.

“Fuck, baby, that’s right. Squirt for me, get me fuckin’ soaked while you cum.” He uses a free hand to make sure you keep the toy pressed to your clit, growling when he starts to unload his cum inside of you. “Mmh, gonna fill your cunt up with what you want, baby.”

A shaky moan leaves your lips as you feel him throbbing inside your pussy; walls clamped down onto him in a vice grip as you ride out the remnants of your orgasm.

“Ah, d-daddy’s cumming suh--so much inside of my p-pussy…”

Whining, you feel Seungcheol’s grip on your hand give way as he rides out his pleasure and you take the opportunity to turn off the small bullet vibrator while he doesn’t notice.

You watch his face contort in pleasure, hips still shallowly thrusting into you as his entire body shivers above you.

“D-daddy’s so h-handsome...” You mumble, cheeks hot when he cracks a smile through the pleasure wracking his body and chuckles under his breath. 

“Thank you, babygirl.” 

After you end the show, Seungcheol makes sure to cuddle with you on the bed for a little while longer.

“One more glass of water, baby.” You whine in response, pouting up at him before he gets up from the soaked sheets. 

“But I already had a glass! If you have a piss kink just say so, ‘Cheol!”

He lets out a boisterous laugh at your comment, trudging back to the bed from the kitchen with another glass of water for you. “You need to be hydrated, sweetheart. You came three times and we played a little more rough today. I just wanna make sure you’re okay.” 

“Fine, but you didn’t deny my comment.” You snarkily reply, taking the glass from him as you down the water. 

“Don’t make me have to punish you again! I’ll have you know I still need to get you all washed up and change the bed--”

A faint pinging has the two of you turning to the laptop; still on your camming homepage from where you’d checked the revenues from tonight’s show. 

A small [1] sits above your inbox and Seungcheol is quick to turn to you with an eyebrow raised. “I thought you turned off the messaging system on your profile?” 

You tilt your head in confusion, handing him the emptied glass. “I did. The only messages I should get are from, like, the actual system admins or other creator accounts which, I haven’t received any ‘til... now, I guess?”

Seungcheol sets the glass down onto the nightstand before he takes a seat next to you, dragging the laptop closer as you go to check the notification. 

“’Love&Letter Films’? Aren’t they one of the biggest adult film companies?” Mumbling, you click on the message, giving yourself and Seungcheol a second to process the message that stares back at you; a shocked smile on your lips.

‘Hello!

I hope this message finds Cherry and Seungcheol well. 

We, at ‘Love&Letter Films’, have really enjoyed the shows and videos from your channel throughout the years and we really have enjoyed watching the growth of your channel and the addition of Seungcheol to it. The dynamics between the two of you are rare in this industry and we’ve yet to see anyone like the two of you in this market. 

The shows from the last two nights have proven that the two of you have the right kind of chemistry to film together for bigger productions and we would love to hire you for a few film productions we have planned in the upcoming weeks as a feeler. Of course, all expenses paid by us if you would kindly take our offer. 

We love the various scenes and roles that the two of you take on with ease and we would love to help propel your careers forward, should you pursue a career in the adult entertainment industry. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me as I’ve listed my contact information below. I’m excited to hear from the two of you and hope to work with you in the future on many projects.

Respectfully, 

Kwon Soonyoung, L&L FILMS CEO’

[wonderwomanfantasy]

braid boy

Okay so I wrote two versions of this fic one where the reader is black/ has natural hair (this one!) and one where they aren't (read here)

Sero x reader

warnings: I am white as sour cream and I followed a couple tutorials to write this I'm so sorry if what I've written makes no sense.

word count: 1,000 (about)

summary: Hanta just can't keep his hands off of you...r hair

“Oh, hey sweetie,” you said looking up at Hanta. Sero smiled at you and leaned over the back of the couch, he cupped your chin and tilted your head back, and kissed you. He felt you smile against your lips and he started to melt.

Sero groaned and fell over the couch and landed in your lap. You laughed and stroked his cheek.

“Well hello there handsome,” you said. Hanta tried to brush his bangs out of his eyes but the hair fell right back in his face. He tried again and again, it fell right back in his face. You laughed as he huffed.

“Babyyy help I can’t see you,” he whined. “I need to cut my hair,” he huffed.

“No It’s sexy when it’s long like this,” you said making Hanta flush. He knew you thought he was hot, but it was nice to hear you say it.

“Here let me,” you said pushing him to sit up, he followed your lead and sat, even though he was tired enough to fall asleep standing. Gently you carded your fingers through his black hair pulling it away from his face and off the back of his neck. You picked a hair tie off the coffee table and snapped it on.

“tada,” said holding up your phone so he could see. Sero turned his head looking at the braid. Man, it had been a while since he’d seen his forehead.

“It’s perfect,” he said turning around to give you a kiss. “Now I can keep my hair long and see you,” he said kissing you one more time, he cupped your cheek and pulled you into him, he stroked the side of your head, accidentally touching some of the baby hairs that framed your face.

“Any plans darling? We’ve got the whole day to do whatever you want,” he said smiling at you goofily.

“I was actually going to do my hair today,” you said

“Oo let me help,”

“You can’t braid my hair the way I braided your Hanta,”

“I know,” he scoffed, then got suddenly got bashful. “I’ve been watching tutorials online and some of my friends even let me practice on them,” he explained.

“Please?” he asked. He looked so cute, you just couldn’t say no.

The two of you settled in the living room, everything you used laid out for him, and enough Real House Wife’s episodes to last you years.

“This is going to take forever,” you warned, he cracked his knuckles.

“I’m ready,”

He started by combing through your hair than doing a little bit of prep work, priming spray, straightening your hair slightly with a heated brush, moisturizer, then coconut oil to lock in the moister. Then Hanta made his way around your head sectioning the hair into smaller pieces using tiny elastics. Then he got down to business, he took two pieces of synthetic hair, linked them together in the middle then laying one half of the loop over your natural hair right at the base of your scalp, wrapping and knotting it in place, then keeping the hair as close to your head as possible he started to braid. He was very careful to braid the hair in the direction the braids would eventually lay.

You hadn’t lied, it took the better part of the afternoon and you went through way more Real housewives than either of you’d like to admit, but Hanta sat back proud, looking at his work.

“Done, praise me beloved,” he said. You smiled.

“Not half bad,” you teased and leaned in to kiss him.

But before you could reach him, the lights shut off. “Huh,” Sero said, he tired the tv, nothing. The lights the ceiling fan, the stove, all nothing.

“I think the power’s off,” you said, he nodded, his face grave like he’d snapped back into hero mode.

“Will you find the candles? I’m going to call the building manager.” you nodded and followed his orders, digging through some drawers until you found a handful of candles and matches. The sun was setting casting golden rays of light into your shared home. It was romantic, or at least it would be if you weren’t freaked about the power outage.

“Apparently the powers out down the block but it should be back in a few hours,” Hanta said clicking his phone off

“How long is a few hours exactly?” you asked

“The landlord said two hours but I’m willing to bet it will be at least four,” he sighed. Your frown deepened, “awe don’t pout baby we can still have fun even without internet, we’ll play battleship or something,”

“Hanta if the power is out, the AC is out,” you sighed and Hanta’s face fell as he came to the same realization. You were in the middle in one of the worst heat waves Japan had ever seen, both of you were going to be cooked alive.

“We’re going to die,” he said, the grave look on his face made you burst out laughing. Hanta grinned, you were so pretty when you laughed.

“Would you like to spend the night with me while we’re roasted alive?” he asked offering you his hand, you grinned and took his hand in yours lacing your fingers with his.

“Of course.” It was already starting to heat up inside, the hot air seeping through the walls, the summer mugginess inescapable. You wondered if this heat was what caused the outage, everyone in Japan running their air conditioning on full blast.

Normally Hanta would use this opportunity to pull you into him for a long nap and some snuggles. It had been a long time since Hanta had been scared of rejection, but he was fairly sure that if he asked you to hold him now you’d shoot him down.

“How about a nice cold shower together? I mean the water still works,” he asked.

“There aren’t any windows in the bathroom, we’d be completely in the dark,”

“That’s what the candles are for, we’ll just stick the candles in the shower and-” he offered, then immediately backtracked. “Nevermind that was a bad idea, a bath?”

“Hmm, a candle-lit bath, how romantic,” you said, tugging him to the bathroom.

The two of you lounged in the bath across from each other. Hanta had spent a pretty penny getting a bathtub long enough for him to fit in comfortably as an added bonus the tub ended up being large enough for two. The water was cool, lit with several different candles placed around the lip of the tub.

Hanta let himself relax for the first time that day. He loved his job but sometimes it felt like the world was on his shoulders, but being here with you and just basking in your presents made it better. Even if he had to work hard to be everyone’s hero, but at least you were there for him his own personal hero.

[putschki1969]

2021/10/12 Blog post by Wakana 12月とモンブランと想い出〜18年前の出逢い〜 

❗This is Fan Club EXCLUSIVE content❗ ❗PERSONAL USE ONLY❗ Do ❗NOT SHARE❗ on other sites ❗ Join her FAN CLUB! Check out my detailed TUTORIAL ❗

December, Mont Blanc and Memories ~An Encounter from 18 years ago~

When I went out for the first time in a long time, I suddenly had a craving for something sweet so I decided to buy a cake, that is really rare! 🍰 Here’s the Mont Blanc I got 🌰 It looks like a pine cone 🤣🤣 I bought it on the dessert floor of a department store, I was surprised by the sheer amount of sweets they had😵💦 I usually only check out the sweets section when I want to buy some provisions for rehearsals and lives, in that case I typically go for cakes that have a longer shelf life and are individually packaged, I rarely look at cakes with raw ingredients or whipped cream. I had never really picked something out for myself so I was wandering around aimlessly without really knowing how to choose a cake. Then I thought to myself, “just trust your gut-feeling and pick something!” That’s the exact moment I came across THIS here... ❗️ There was only one type of cake lined up in the entire showcase and the price was shockingly high but it really caught my interest!!! I couldn’t help but buy it. Earlier I had intended to buy two cakes anyway so I thought that instead of buying two I could just get this very expensive cake 😆🌟 After I got home, it was time to eat! 🍽 The beautiful Mont Blanc cream has a moderate sweetness that is surprisingly refreshing while still giving off a strong chestnut taste, there was also a slight liquor flavour. This was my first time eating Mont Blanc, it was so nice and smooth. On the inside there’s whipped cream! Very refreshing and not bland at all. And if you dig deeper, oh my God! There are real chestnuts hidden inside ~ 🌰💕 There way too much too eat! I couldn't finish it all in one go because of this huge portion size so I really took my time savouring every bite. It was Mont Blanc from a shop called MORI YOSHIDA PARIS 😋 It was super delicious!!!

Hello, this is Wakana (0￣ ▽ ￣0) /

It's nice to eat these fancy sweets once in a while 💕 It truly heals your heart 🥰

By the way, the other day, we announced that I will holding a concert on December 10! This concert, titled "Wakana Birthday Classic ~ Happy Hello Day ~", will be held at Kioi Hall once again ❗🤗🎹🎶 I am super happy to be able to hold such a luxuriously classic style concert on my birthday 💕 Sin-san will join me once again on piano and as music director. Takahiro Yuki-san will once again be in charge of cello. And on violin we have Yuya Yanagihara-san 🎻 Also, we will welcome Yuuka Nanri as a guest vocalist~ 😍😍🎉🎉 Can you believe it, it's been 18 years since I first met Yu-chan (OMG!!)??!! I will forever look up to her and for me she will always be a shining angel! 🥰💘 I still vividly remember the shock of meeting Yu-chan for the very first time. It was a very hot day in midsummer, back then I was still travelling back and forth between Fukuoka and Tokyo. I had my first meeting with Yu-chan during one of my longer stays in Tokyo. I was supposed to wait for Yu-chan and our manager at a certain place in Harajuku. At that time I was completely unfamiliar with Tokyo. To make things worse, the restaurant where we were supposed to meet was located inside of a building and there were no visible signs outside. Somehow I managed to find the place by wandering around while constantly turning my map upside down. It was in a quiet back alley far from Harajuku station. For the longest time I doubted that I had actually found the right spot...Is this really the place ? What if I am at the wrong place?... Back then I was still so young and inexperienced with no real confidenence, I thought that maybe I should continue wandering around the area. But for the time being, I decided to wait there for a little while. (By the way, I arrived 30 minutes early because I was scared and knew I would get lost in the maze of the city. And keep in mind that this was a lifetime ago so of course I didn’t have a smartphone with Google Maps, I had actually printed a map and brought it along). Then all of a sudden, a slender girl in a pure white dress with an elegant parasol walks into the alley ... slowly she is approaching me... the sun was shining brightly so I couldn’t make out her face but I could tell she was coming straight towards me ...I thought that maybe ... maybe this girl is...? And yes, that was indeed Yu-chan 😂😂💕 Eighteen years after such an encounter, I cannot believe that we will be holding a concert together ... 😭✨✨Just by writing all of this I got a little emotional 😂😂 Ahhhh, I am so happy!!💕 I was reunited with Yu-chan the other day, as expected, she was still a dazzling angel 🥰 I'm really looking forward to December 10. Let's all meet at Kioi Hall 😃🎄🎶 Click here for concert information 🌟 https://wakana-fc.jp/contents/461885

Before the concert in December, my "Wakana Billboard Live 2021" will take place this month and next month!!! I will be accompanied by piano, guitar and percussion, with Satoshi Takebe-san as music director and on piano 🎹. On guitar we have Masanobu Fukuhara-san, it’s been a while 🎸And for the first time we are joined by Shinji Asakura-san on percussion 🥁 I already mentioned it on Instagram, the rehearsal was absolutely hilarious and I couldn’t stop laughing, even when I got home, I kept remembering all the funny stuff and started laughing again. What kind of live will it be? We will start this month on the 23rd at Billboard Osaka, And November there will be another live on the 13th at Billboard Yokohama 🎵

https://wakana-fc.jp/contents/454834

I'm looking forward to spending an amazing time with you ❗️

Well, until next time~ ☆ (*'∇' *) /

*** Wakana ***

[language-of-love]

aesthetic... 

Mild M / 1800 words / early relationship fun / AO3

“I think I need to stage an intervention.”

“Huh?” Patrick says over his shoulder, finding David staring into his closet with his hands perched pointedly on his hips.

“There has to be an addiction or something driving this. It’s the only explanation.”

“Driving what?”

He knows, but watching David get wound up is one of the things that Patrick first found made him go absolutely crazy about this man, so he never hesitates to find reasons to get him going. Especially now, when he’s in a position to act upon the impulses David’s actions conjure up.

“The blue, Patrick. All. Of. This. Blue.”

Abandoning his laptop where he’d been searching Netflix for a Sandra Bullock film they haven’t already watched, Patrick leans back against the dresser and folds his arms tight across his chest. He knows it thins the material of his shirt along his biceps and that, apparently, is something that gets David going, so he never hesitates to find reasons to do that, too.

“I just like the color, David. It’s not that serious.”

“Fashion is always serious.”

David looks actually offended, which honestly, just makes Patrick want to laugh. But he holds it in, albeit barely.

“How is me wearing a lot of blue any different than you and your constant stream of black and white sweaters?”

It’s an honest question. One he already knows the answer to, because this isn’t the first time they’ve had this interaction.

“This,” David says as he gestures down his body, “is an…”

“Aesthetic,” Patrick finishes for him. “I know. But why can’t blue just be my aesthetic?”

There’s a slight narrowing of David’s eyes and Patrick wonders why he’s never thrown that retort back at him before as it appears to have hit an unexpected target. He can feel his chest rising just a little as he notches a win on his belt, but then, David’s crossing the few steps towards him and he wonders if maybe that was a bit premature. Those perfect lips he knows every dip and curve of are curling into a knowing smile just as David’s hands reach out and take purchase of Patrick’s arms. His thumbs are digging into the muscle Patrick’s placed on display and in that instant, Patrick knows he’s about to let David win this round.

“An aesthetic is something you craft and nurture, perfect over time through nuanced choices and careful exclusions. Is that something that sounds familiar when it comes to…”

David pauses and lifts his hands from Patrick’s biceps, leaving Patrick embarrassingly breathless with an ache to have his touch return.

“This?” David continues, his long fingers gripping the open collar of Patrick’s button down and giving the material a gentle tug. Patrick has a fleeting concern over the cheap construction and the strength of the buttons, but that thought falls to the wayside when David steps even closer, his long, lean body pushing Patrick deeper into the dresser.

“No,” Patrick somehow manages to answer through the lump of desire clawing its way up his throat.

“Didn’t think so,” David whispers as he tugs Patrick forward by his lapel to meet his mouth for a kiss. It’s been about a month since the first time Patrick tasted this man on his lips and even now, after he’s lost count of how many kisses they’ve shared, he feels that same rush of excitement that was there that night in his car.

As David slips his tongue into his mouth, Patrick unfurls his arms so he can grab at his waist to drag him closer, an impossible thing that just knocks the dresser back into the wall and sends some of Ray’s knick-knacks flying onto the carpet. He can feel David’s fingers between them fumbling with his shirt buttons and a flash of heat surges up the back of his neck, the sudden flush making him feel lightheaded and in need of a breath or two. Prying his mouth free, he sucks in some air and opens his eyes, welcoming another surge of heat when he’s met with David breathing just as hard as his lips curl up into a smile Patrick can only categorize as fond. He smiles at David the same way multiple times a day, so he knows it well.

“You know,” David begins to say, leaning back enough to give himself better access to pop the first of Patrick’s shirt buttons free. “Just because it isn’t an aesthetic, doesn’t mean you don’t make these blue shirts work.”

Another button comes free and Patrick inhales sharply as David’s fingertips feather lightly down the skin he’s exposed as he begins to work on the next one. His belly is now in an anticipation spin cycle and he has to reach back and grab the dresser to steady himself a little.

“If you’re not offended by it, why are you currently taking it off?”

David’s fingers stop moving for a brief moment and Patrick immediately regrets the words he’s just said. But then, David’s chuckling under his breath and tugging the bottom of Patrick’s shirt up and out of where it’s still tucked into his jeans. He doesn’t say anything right away, just keeps unbuttoning until the shirt falls open and Patrick’s chest is completely bare.

Patrick might feel a little bit on display, but he can’t stop the flush that follows David’s gaze from his belly button all the way up to his neck. When he meets David’s eyes, they’re darker than he’s ever seen them.

“Because I like how you look in pink,” David says on a long breath that adds unnecessary heat to Patrick’s already flaming cheeks.

He doesn’t need clarification on what David means, knowing from how sweat is building beneath his arms and beneath the waistband of his jeans that he must be flushed all over. And thankfully, David doesn’t make him dwell in the embarrassment of that fact a second longer because David’s mouth is back where it belongs, tugging at Patrick’s lips and coaxing a groan from his throat as the cool metal of his rings press into the hot skin of Patrick’s back inside his shirt. As David’s fingers dig deeper into his skin, Patrick just clings to the back of his neck, letting that sense of desperation that David’s touch always seems to conjure take over once again.

Before he knows it, Patrick’s sitting on the dresser with David grumbling about how stiff his jeans are as he struggles to drag them down his thighs.

“Are you just going to disparage my entire wardrobe tonight?”

“Yes. Or you could help me? Unless you want me to stop and wait for Ray to get home and...”

“No!” Patrick practically shouts. “I’ve got it. Go put the thing…”

As Patrick frees his legs from the denim and his briefs, David shoves the chest in the corner against the door, the only solution they’ve found to delaying Ray’s inevitable intrusion the moment he arrives back home. David still has a bruise on his hip from the time last week he had to roll completely naked off the side of the bed and out of sight while Patrick threw a pillow over himself as Ray poked his head in to say goodnight.

When David returns to Patrick, he’s pulled his own sweater and undershirt off and Patrick’s traitorous blush is back full force. But David spares him this time and just steps in close again, cupping his cheeks as he nips playfully at his bottom lip. Their next kiss is deep and sensual, arms wrapping to bring their chests flush and relish in that heady feeling of skin against skin.

Over the next ten minutes, Patrick’s skin burns over and over beneath David’s lips and fingers, electricity sparking from David’s tongue down the inside of Patrick’s thighs where they are anchored over David’s shoulders. Crying out David’s name with a fistful of his hair trapped between his fingers as he comes, Patrick’s still struggling to catch his breath as David gently lowers his legs and presses kisses into the now sweaty hair beneath his belly button.

“You look like a fully cooked lobster.”

“Don’t care,” Patrick pants.

And he doesn’t. Not right now. Not while David’s looking so smug as he stands up and teases his fingers along the button of his own jeans. He’ll never admit to it, but even with his more olive complexion, he’s flushed, too - along his neck, on the apples of his cheeks, and even a little beneath the swirls of dark hair curling around his nipples. Patrick’s legs are a bit wobbly as he slides off the dresser, but he somehow manages to put one foot in front of the other and guide David backwards towards his bed with one hand on his hip and the other swatting David’s hand away from the now open front of his jeans.

“Unlike some people, I don’t need help getting you out of your pants.”

Patrick’s too naked and David’s too dressed and all of his focus is now on rectifying this imbalance. He’s got the jeans unzipped only halfway when David’s hands come up to steady himself on Patrick’s shoulders.

“Oh really?” David teases. “I seem to remember someone needing a tutorial to find your way around my Rick Owens just last week.”

“Fine, but I can handle jeans,” Patrick relents as he gives David a playful shove onto the mattress. It does take a bit of shimmying on David’s part and more than a few laughs shared between them, but Patrick does, eventually, get David out of his jeans and those long, perfect legs draped over his own shoulders where they belong.

They’re still naked, but thankfully covered by Patrick’s comforter when the door to Patrick’s bedroom smashes into the chest on the floor a half an hour later.

“Patrick, there’s something in the way of the door!”

“Ray, we’re not decent,” Patrick groans.

“Oh, sorry boys! Just wanted to say goodnight. Goodnight David. Goodnight Patrick.”

“Night Ray,” Patrick and David say in unison.

Patrick turns to David with an apologetic smile, but Ray’s back entirely too soon.

“Oh Patrick, I picked up your dry-cleaning. I’ll just hang your shirts up in my closet. That new dark navy one will really bring out your eyes.”

“Thank you, Ray. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Yes, yes. Night boys.”

He can just feel David itching to say something and turns to him with his finger raised.

“Don’t say a word.”

“What? I wasn’t going to say anything,” David says with feigned disbelief.

“Uh huh…” Patrick grumbles, sliding closer and dragging David in so he can hide his surely beet red face beneath his chin.

It’s quiet for a minute, maybe two and Patrick takes a deep breath, knowing it’s just a matter of time. But David doesn’t say anything and Patrick wonders if he’s really going to let that go.

“It’ll really bring out your eyes?”

Maybe not.

[tossawary]

Chapter 24: “Seeing is Believing” of “pride is not the word I’m looking for” random favorite lines and commentary. Not a full list or full commentary, but longer commentary than usual to talk about quest construction. 

-

AN: This was... a weird chapter to write. When I started outlining, I had... the conversation with Shen Qingqiu planned... the conversation with Shen Yuan planned... the fact that SQH, SY, LQG, and LFL was the quest party... and the fact that they get the Eye at the end of it. That was everything. 

The entire rest of this chapter came together FRIDAY LAST WEEK. 

Huan Hua Palace wasn’t going to be there. The Weeper didn’t exist. The Eye or its previous owner wasn’t at all connected to the Garden Master. The Shadow Cave Wolf Spiders didn’t exist. The murder plant didn’t exist. The mysterious monster showing up at the end wasn’t originally planned either. 

I mean, I had a lot of pre-existing plot threads to tie in and weave with, but ohhh boy! Picture someone lying facedown on a floor like, “I forgot to plan the contents of the super important quest...” 

I was originally going to have the Eye quest a lot simpler, but given the weight “Death of the Author” had when I finally reached this part of the story, that wasn’t really going to do! It had to be bigger than that! It needed oomph! This also felt like a good opportunity to really establish the new SQH-SY dynamic. To explore SY fumbling to find a place in this world without strict character role, especially in relation to settled and well-supported SQH. 

- 

“One attempts to remain dignified,” Shen Qingqiu agrees. “As there is little point in kicking and screaming about how such ignobility isn’t fair.”

“Ha! Is there ever?”

“Not in my experience.”

“Yeah, it’s definitely not cute when I do it,” Shang Qinghua jokes.

Shen Qingqiu’s lips actually twitch at that.

Success?!

- 

AN: I wasn’t going into this fic with the intention of writing any Shang Qinghua and Original Shen Qingqiu almost friendship! But it started developing and it seemed a shame not to explore Shang Qinghua developing a real relationship with Shen Qingqiu (though not a particularly close one) when the man is suppose to be the scum villain (and the readers know that the man might get replaced by Shen Yuan). 

I can see myself writing more Shang Qinghua and Original Shen Qingqiu content in the future. Someone dropped a particularly nice prompt for them in my inbox that I’m looking forward to exploring at some point. 

(I mean, not to say that Shang Qinghua has a type, but Shang Qinghua has a type and it’s handsome, deadly, intimidating, frosty men with a villainous character design and trust/abandonment and communication issues. I could make it work.)

- 

“Ah, well, two ‘ideal’ situations come to mind: severing the personal relationship for good… or, ah, talking about how to do better and trying that. You don’t have to forget or even forgive if you don’t want to! But, ah… there’s got to be a difference between totally swallowing your anger and cutting ties forever, right?” Shang Qinghua says awkwardly. “If there’s… ever going to be anything good afterwards…”

Shen Qingqiu stares at him for a sweat-inducing length of time.

 “Ah, fuck,” Shang Qinghua thinks.

“Sorry,” he says. “Ahhh, I’m just… thinking about something someone told me… in… in regards to some of my own problems. Never mind! Never mind!”

- 

AN: Luo Jiahui really is out here making Moshang and Qijiu get their fucking act together just by setting a better example. 

- 

“Shizun, my apologies for the interruption, but I came to ask Shizun if he would be willing to join our music lesson today? The disciples have missed his playing and are eager to present their improvements.”

“...Very well, unless anyone here would disagree…?” Shen Qingqiu looks directly at the Qian Cao Peak cultivator, as though daring her to object and die.

“It’s an excellent suggestion!” the Qian Cao Peak cultivator says quickly.

The young woman smiles. “And perhaps Shizun could sit in on the calligraphy lesson afterwards? In order to offer his opinion on my progress as a teacher?”

“Fishing for compliments is unbecoming,” Shen Qingqiu says dryly.

“Wait, what?” Shang Qinghua thinks.

- 

AN: So, this has all been happening in the background, but Shen Qingqiu accepted this House of Rejuvenation woman onto his Peak about... 6-ish years ago now? This is kind of meant to parallel Shang Qinghua’s once-secret relationship with Luo Jiahui. 

Shang Qinghua was out here trying to be a better person and Shen Qingqiu noticed; now Shen Qingqiu has his own positive (platonic) relationship with a nameless background character who was meant to die for plot reasons. What a thing, huh? If the story was saved because Shang Qinghua started a domino effect of saving random people who went on to change things? 

- 

After all, as Shang Qinghua said to the kid, besides Peerless Cucumber’s apparent talent for cultivation, he knows that his fellow transmigrator has three very important skills that will serve him well on An Ding Peak! 1) An encyclopedia knowledge for even seemingly pointless bullshit (which is kind of flattering, honestly). 2) The willingness to fight total strangers over seemingly pointless bullshit. And 3) a sharp enough tongue to win.

Peerless Cucumber didn’t find these points as funny as Shang Qinghua did.

- 

AN: Shen Yuan was always going to end up on An Ding Peak. I thought about sending him to Qing Jing or Qian Cao or Qiong Ding... or any other Peak... but that would take him too far away from Shang Qinghua to really explore their relationship and to move him around conveniently in the story. And SY sticking to An Ding seemed to best illustrate the fact that SY is lost and doesn’t know what to do except cling to SQH. 

- 

“It’s not much, sure, but it’s yours,” Shang Qinghua says finally. “You’ll be joining the talisman classes soon, so don’t try anything from a book and then need to request some home repairs.”

Peerless Cucumber nods and puts his stack of manuals down on the table.

“How’s your tutorial mission going?”

“Fine,” the kid says shortly. “Have you found anything for the other one yet?”

“Ah, not yet.”

- 

AN: “Are you winning, son?” meme energy here. 

- 

Ah, now Shang Qinghua recognizes his fellow transmigrator’s expression! That’s the same stunned expression one of his Huan Hua not-disciples, Yu Chaonan, made upon meeting the Bai Zhan Peak War God for the first time. Shang Qinghua assumes that Peerless Cucumber was expecting a man who looked more like a musclebound giant and less like a pop idol (if one with amazingly muscular arms), which is a super common and never-not-funny misconception people have about Liu Qingge.  

“Brother of one of the most beautiful women in this world, bro,” Shang Qinghua reminds his fellow transmigrator, amused. Aha! Now Peerless Cucumber’s vehement disinterest in the harem stuff is making even more sense than before!

Shang Qinghua’s assumption gets 100% confirmed when it comes time for Peerless Cucumber to fly with Liu Qingge for the next leg of the journey. The other transmigrator is so embarrassed and awkward about it that Shang Qinghua’s super direct brother-in-law asks if the young man is alright.

- 

AN: This was so fun to write. Shang Qinghua really can use the Liu siblings to gauge people’s sexual/romantic orientation. 

- 

The map (or rather, the copy Shang Qinghua made of the delicate original map) takes them to a green and grey landscape of leafy trees crawling over a wide network of tall cliffs and deep gorges. Gurgling rivers cut through twisting rock formations. Shang Qinghua can’t see any of these rivers on the map. Or these deathly drop ravines. From the outside, the whole thing looks like a natural maze (holy shit, there could be so many monsters and death-traps in there!), and Shang Qinghua would know those golden robes flying low over the hanging trees anywhere.

“Huan Hua,” Liu Qingge mutters.

“Do you think they’re looking for what we’re looking for?” Luo Fanli asks.

“That’s usually how it goes,” Peerless Cucumber says, before Shang Qinghua can.

- 

AN: I came up with the skeleton idea first. Then I was like... “I should give it three eyes.” And then I was like... “But who IS this dead author? A god? A spirit? What grander implications am I spinning here?” 

And THEN I remembered that I had some ambiguous powerful being force the Garden Master into exile due to a flood. This was because, in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the immortal man Gilgamesh meets in the abyss is the survivor of a great flood. So I was like, “Reduce! Re-use! Recycle! There’s my skeleton!” 

So I wanted to relate the skeleton to water because of the flood angle. Water as a symbol of cleansing/reincarnation is a big thing throughout many cultures. I can’t remember exactly how the crying aspect came up, but I knew there was going to be water in the temple now, so at some point my brain like was, “Bro, this skeleton should totally be crying because mythology vibes.” 

So I built the surrounding land off the idea that there was water flowing from or around this temple. At this point, I had decided that Huan Hua Palace should also be looking for this artifact, so I had to come up with a way to hide the temple, yet have a way for SQH’s party to track it down. 

- 

The damage to the doors is worse: someone once upon a time collapsed a part of the cliff face around the entrance, essentially leaving only the top fourth of the utterly smashed stone doors visible. It’s a wall now and has been for ages. It looks like it would take days to dig through the rubble. Someone has even super helpfully carved, “These doors will never open again,” just above the wreck.

“Guess we’ll have to go in as intruders rather than guests!” Luo Fanli says.

“What would be welcoming us inside a lost temple exactly?” Shang Qinghua asks vaguely, inwardly cursing the fact that explosive mining techniques will definitely attract the Huan Hua Palace Sect cultivators’ attention and also probably collapse the whole cliff on them.

“We only have to clear a passage for us, not the whole door,” Peerless Cucumber says optimistically. “Is there a special technique for this kind of thing?”

“Aha, not really.”

“Oh.”

“Why don’t we just keep following the water?” Luo Fanli says.

“...How so?” Shang Qinghua asks.

“Some of those waterfalls could be passages inside,” Liu Qingge explains, because he and the little sister-in-law apparently share the same brain. He’s already eyeing the waterfall wearing down the giant statue on the left.

- 

AN: Temples in quests need to have traps and obstacles and monsters! Well, not ALL of the did, but this one did. I based the obstacles they faced as much as I could around the whole “Death of the Author” theme, while using this whole quest to explore Shen Yuan, Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua, Shang Qinghua and Liu Qingge and Luo Fanli, and so on. 

The idea here with the door is that the “author” is not going to let them inside the temple to take the interpretation of the narrative (the Eye) for themselves. The story is over (the temple is closed for business)! The author is dead! If they want to get inside, they have to break inside or slip inside as intruders. 

This also creates a convenient obstacle to hold up the Huan Hua Palace Sect cultivators so that our party can be nearly caught later! And shows off Shang Qinghua, Liu Qingge, and Luo Fanli’s twisty lines of thinking. 

- 

Luo Fanli is holding the light and Shang Qinghua passes the other transmigrator to her, while accepting Liu Qingge’s hand for help getting out of the water.

“Ahhh, that was fun,” Shang Qinghua mutters.

Then he notices that Liu Qingge has the Cheng Luan sword out and ready. Shang Qinghua looks through the surrounding darkness, but all he can see are columns and water. For a moment, he thinks he sees something, a prowling shadow at the other end of the cavernous room, but he wipes the water out of his eyes and it’s gone.

- 

AN: The water in Shang Qinghua’s eyes briefly lets him see a flash of the invisible monsters who show up later! It helps up the tension. 

- 

Another low growl rips through the darkness and Peerless Cucumber shuffles a little closer to Shang Qinghua. Because that sounded really fucking close and yet Shang Qinghua still can’t see the thing that’s making that sound.

He doesn’t see Liu Qingge lunge at him either. He only feels his brother-in-law shove him into Peerless Cucumber, knocking them into the water, out of the way of something that howls when Liu Qingge slashes at it with his sword. Shang Qinghua rolls off Peerless Cucumber and looks up just in time to see dark blood splatter across the watery floor. Liu Qingge pursues the attacker with a second slash, but only seems to meet thin air this time.

“It’s invisible!” Luo Fanli cries. “Fuck!”

“Behind you!” Liu Qingge snaps, and spins to slash at the thin air beside him. Dark droplets of blood hit the water again and something hisses at him.

Luo Fanli whirls and slashes, searching for an opponent.

“They’re reflected in the water!” Liu Qingge yells at her, standing guard over Shang Qinghua as he gets to his feet again. “Listen for their footsteps and vocalizations! Feel the demonic energy and air displacement!”

- 

AN: I got this from a list of Dungeons and Dragons puzzles. The idea is that there’s some puzzle that must be solved, but the truth of the room can only be seen in the reflection of the nearby water (or mirror or whatever). 

Which felt fitting for a “Death of the Author” quest! Whatever an author’s intentions, the story is what they actually wrote, so the audience interprets a text without the context of the author’s insight. The truth (of the story) is in the reflection (audience interpretation)! It felt like a fun idea. 

It also allows Shen Yuan to actually contribute to the quest via monster lore and bring up his impaired vision problem. And to confront Shen Yuan with the reality of this world. And to show off Luo Fanli’s fighting skills. And to show off LIU QINGGE’S legendary fighting skills, instincts as a warrior who fights many dangerous beasts, and the fact that he’s clever and observant! 

Liu Qingge is good at what he does! And this is what he does! 

- 

Someone has… angrily… or desperately… carved a lopsided message into the wall.

 “‘If I go blind, so does the world,’” Peerless Cucumber reads.

“...That’s probably not good,” Shang Qinghua says.

“Nooo…” Fanli agrees.

The messages continue as they climb, carved into the walls, the ceilings, the floors. Most of it is illegible. Some of it is just nonsense. Some of it looks like the same kind of historical records carved into the broken tablets. Some of it looks like someone attacked the walls after reading what was written there. There are deep gouges in the walls and cracked marks that would match a giant’s hands.

 “‘The water cleans the lies,’” Peerless Cucumber reads. “‘I am the only one who can see.’ ‘Lies everywhere, lies everywhere, lies everywhere.’ ‘The water cleans the evil.’ ‘I do not have enough tears.’ ‘Everything is nothing now. Everything in vain.’”

“You really don’t need to read them!” Shang Qinghua tells the kid. “It’s fine. It's totally fine.”

- 

AN: This is mostly here to up the tension, but it’s also here to try and give insight into this being and relate them more to the “Death of the Author” and the “Seeing is Believing” themes. 

I also saw the phrase “If I go blind, so does the world” while I was browsing a list of riddles for D&D campaigns and I was like, “THAT’S SICK, I’M USING THAT.” Really brings the “an eye for an eye” and vengeance vibes. (The riddle was longer than that one phrase, but the answer was “the sun”.) 

- 

The top of the temple reveals one massive room that looks like someone was alternatively scratching their insanity into the walls and tearing chunks out of the interior design with their bare hands. Overtop of the rubble is that eerie overgrowth. There’s a fine layer of water over the floor. At the center of it all is an incredibly enormous desk, cracked in half, with a robed skeleton sitting behind it, slumped over the top. It’s a little too large to be an ordinary human.

Plus, its skull is a little too long, probably to accommodate the third eye socket in the forehead. There’s something gleaming softly yellow in the third eye socket.

“Is… there water dripping from its eyes?” Luo Fanli whispers.

“It looks like it…” Peerless Cucumber whispers back. “Like it's crying…?”

“Still…? Is it dead or not?”

 “Holy shit,” Shang Qinghua thinks, slightly nauseated. “System, bro, the worst bro I’ve ever known, tell me that we have not been swimming in a three-eyed skeleton’s magical undead tears or something this whole time.”

The shitty, no-good System stays unsurprisingly silent. 

- 

AN: Okay, so the idea here is that this being was someone who recorded history and shared their knowledge freely. This being had the ability to discern the truth of a person - they were extremely perceptive. (The Weeper is either female or doesn’t have a gender, by the way.) 

The Weeper met the Garden Master at some point. The Garden Master was an asshole, a liar, arrogant, etc.. The Weeper and the Garden Master clashed badly, until the Weeper sent the cleansing flood that nearly destroyed the sect and the Garden Master essentially had to flee to a personal abyss. 

The Garden Master sent the plant as a final “fuck you” to the Weeper. The plant caused the Weeper to slowly go mad. The smashed tablets and destroyed temple are the Weeper’s work. The Weeper (not in a great state of mind) had the temple closed themselves once they realized they and their work had been corrupted. This was a “you destroy my (embellished) reputation, I destroy yours (and your entire life)” plot by the Garden Master. 

The idea behind the tears is the whole “water is cleansing” thing. The Weeper tried to clean away the madness using their magical water-related abilities... and it actually worked for a long time. But eventually the madness began to overpower the effects of the magical water. The Weeper’s tears are from frustration and helplessness at losing control. 

The water inside the temple combats the plant’s physical effects. Also stabbing the root killed the plant and essentially broke its mental/spiritual powers. 

- 

Unfortunately, to get the fuck out of here, they have to go back through the temple. But hey! That’s still a lot better than an extended hike through an underground, haunted desert in darkness! The battle with the now-dead plant caused its growth to writhe around the temple. The vines need to be hacked through sometimes as they travel down through the rooms of broken shelves and shattered tablets.

“So much history lost…” Peerless Cucumber murmurs.

 “He still thinks of himself as a reader - an observer, a visitor, separate from the flow of fate.”

- 

AN: This is... absolutely based on the Heart from the Dishonored franchise. But this sort of item didn’t originate with Dishonored and I need it! It’s a surprise/mystery tool that will help us later! 

The Eye isn’t exactly a mind-reading object. I mean, it kind of is, but it works in a very specific way that I’m looking forward to getting into. 

- 

From there, their path back out of the natural maze is even more careful and stressful than before, now that the Huan Hua Palace Sect cultivators are actively looking for them rather than the temple. It’s slow-going and stressful and silent, except for when the Weeper’s Eye presses too close against his chest.

 “He is afraid that if he starts screaming, he will never stop,” it tells him, when he’s looking at a pale-faced Peerless Cucumber, as they fly over a particularly deathly-looking drop.

 “Oh, me too, bro!” Shang Qinghua thinks. “Seriously! Tell me something I don’t know!”

- 

AN: Having Shang Qinghua be totally unimpressed by an object like this was very funny to me. He’s the author! He’s a transmigrator! He knows these people well! He already has insight into their situations. 

- 

Shang Qinghua groans, but supposes that Peerless Cucumber would have at least been disguising Liu Qingge from the back. “You tell them that you were tracking thieves who stole something from Cang Qiong Mountain Sect,” he says quickly. “Rule of embarrassment! Admitting something that makes us look bad to a rival makes it sound true. Don’t tell them what was stolen and act really offended if they try to poke into Cang Qiong business. I’ll come back as soon as I get these two out!”

Liu Qingge nods and launches forward into the fight.

“We’re just leaving him?” Peerless Cucumber says, as they do exactly that.

“I’ll get changed and come back ‘looking for him for urgent sect business’ as soon as I’ve dropped you two off in the last town,” Shang Qinghua says. “I’m really good at acting stressed and confused, and at desperately needing an unstoppable wandering Liu Qingge back at Cang Qiong Mountain Sect immediately. Now let’s go! Let’s go! Mission isn’t over yet!”

- 

AN: Shang Qinghua is, at heart, a liar. I love him. 

[ddagent]

Jaime tries to surprise Brienne for Valentine’s Day with a romantic dinner in her apartment and has to contend with her curious pet cat.

Thank you for the prompt, Anon! I hope you enjoy my take on it. 

Jaime quickly realised why Brienne did not allow people back into her apartment. 

Ever since Brienne had started at King’s Landing University a year ago, it had been a running joke. At first, they’d assumed she was shy. Recently returning from an archaeological dig in Ancient Valyria, Professor Tarth was competent if not compelling. But as the year had gone on and she had insistently turned down offers to host the weekly moderation-slash-potluck, a different kind of pot had started. Bodies in the freezer, a partner she didn’t want anyone to meet, truly horrendous taste in furniture...these theories and many more were bandied about by the department. Jaime had never much cared until he and Brienne had grown closer and yet...still no invitation. 

He could see why now. 

“Hello...” he murmured in a low voice to the half-foot tall dragon that had backed him into a corner. “Aren’t you a...pretty thing.”

In truth, the dragon was reminiscent of the beautiful drawings Jaime and his brother, Tyrion, had poured over as children. Black, bottomless eyes; scales the colour of molten gold that shifted red in the light. It was a thing of beauty – and power. He had worked on sites where the dragons of old had decimated the population. He had dug up the bodies of the Dragon Queen’s victims near Highgarden; had examined the shields burnt black with flame. But this was not the fully-fledged dragons that had resurged during the War of the Three Queens. This was barely bigger than a cat. 

“Now, now, little one,” he said, rising to his feet slowly. “I am just going to take a step towards the door and go home. That’s all.”

But as he turned towards Brienne’s front door, abandoning the groceries he had brought to make a romantic Maiden’s Day feast, he realised there was more than one. Two other dragons stood in his path. The first had blue scales almost the same shade of Brienne’s eyes; the other was jet black and seemed to stare into Jaime’s very soul. He edged forwards towards the door, hoping he could evade them, when his foot caught on the rug. 

Sprawling across the floor, Jaime’s head hit hardwood. As six dragons focussed into three, he watched with terror as they approached his face. “Oh, fuck.” He didn’t want to die like this. Didn’t want Brienne to come home and find him half-eaten by her pets. He’d wanted her to come home from her late class to a romantic dinner. Music, sunflowers, wine. Three little words he’d wanted to say for some time...

“Don’t eat me.”

 --

Brienne checked her phone as she got off the tube and began the slow walk to her apartment. She usually kept her phone off during seminars and one of her students, Podrick, had drawn her into conversation all the way from campus to her home at Visenya’s Hill. But now she was free to look at her phone and the string of messages from Jaime. She’d disliked him immensely at first; found him rude and arrogant if blindingly attractive. But he had a romantic heart under his armour, and she’d found herself softening as they co-taught a class on romanticism in the Dragon Age. 

Jaime ♥: Missed you today in class, Professor. Someone was talking smack about the Blue Knight and I almost, almost sent him to your class so he could learn something.  Jaime ♥: But then I realised, if anyone’s getting sent to your class, it’s going to be ME.  Jaime ♥: Hope your last class goes okay.  Jaime ♥: Oh, and Happy Maiden’s Day, Professor. Want to talk about the historical development of the day as a romantic holiday with our clothes off? 

Brienne laughed, shaking her head at her Jaime. With her late class and his six am tutorials, neither had pushed to make plans. But if Jaime wanted her to come over, she certainly would oblige. 

Jaime ♥: There’s a romantic surprise waiting at your apartment, Professor. You should come and unwrap it ;)

Eyes widening, Brienne stared at Jaime’s last message. “No, no, no, no, no...” Shoving her phone back into her bag, Brienne sprinted the last few streets to her apartment. 

While taking part in a dig in Ancient Valyria, Brienne had uncovered three dragon eggs perfectly preserved. The dig’s leader, a particularly odious man by the name of Randyll Tarly, had declared them nothing more than tourist trash. He’d encouraged her to throw them aside. Something had called to Brienne, however, and she’d kept the eggs. Vindication and validation had quickly followed. 

Along with three carnivorous pets. 

Pushing her way through the front door of her apartment building, Brienne skipped the lift and threw herself up the three flights of stairs. Her place was at the far end of the corridor; light and soft music floating underneath the door. Maybe he hadn’t found them. Maybe they’d remained in the spare bedroom with the chew toys. Maybe—

“Here we go, Gerion; that’s a good boy. How does that taste?”

Brienne stepped into her apartment to find Jaime Lannister cooking a romantic meal with her three dragons sitting atop the counter. Gerion, with his golden scales, jumped up to catch the pieces of steak Jaime was throwing from the pan. Elenei, who reminded Brienne of the waters of Tarth, had her head in Jaime’s oven glove. Galladon was butting a sunflower from a nearby bouquet with his head. 

“Jaime?”

“Brienne!” He grinned, threw another slice of steak to Gerion to catch, before crossing the distance to take her hands in his. “First of all, I want to apologise for breaking into your apartment. I thought it would be charming and romantic.”

“You can see why I haven’t invited anyone round.”

“Of course. I honestly thought they were going to eat me to start with. But then they just started licking my face and chewing on my shoelaces, and here we are.” He rubbed his thumbs over the inside of her wrists and placed a featherlight kiss to her lips. “Happy Maiden’s Day, Brienne. There’s half-eaten flowers on the kitchen island and dinner is nearly ready.”

Brienne nodded, approaching the scene with trepidation, as Jaime returned to the stove. A romantic dinner for two had been set up in the living room: candles, romantic music, an expensive bottle of wine. Sunflowers lay strewn across the floor, and half of their dinner looked like it had been devoured by her dragons. Brienne’s journals, detailing their growth and activities, lay open near the sink. Jaime had clearly done his reading. 

“Now, Elenei, I’m going to need those gloves back. I’m not impervious to heat or fire.” The dragon playfully nipped at Jaime’s fingers before jumping down from the kitchen top to attack Jaime’s expensive loafers. “Gerion, I can’t feed you any more; I’m sorry. But if you’re a good boy, I’ll let you have some marshmallows later.” 

“You brought marshmallows?”

Jaime nodded. “And other things we could dip in chocolate. Thought it would be romantic.”

As he ushered Galladon off the counter so he could plate their dinner, Brienne was overwhelmed by how lucky she was. Anyone else would have called the Gold Cloaks. But not Jaime. He treated them as if they were just exotic pets that Brienne had around the house rather than the fire-breathing, life-destroying monsters they would grow up to be. He smiled at her, as warm as always, and pulled out a seat for her to take at their romantic table for two. 

“Wine?”

“I love you.”

Jaime’s grin split from ear to ear. Her dragons, who had seemingly taken to Jaime quicker than she had, puffed in approval. “I love you, too.”