#...but there's something about the way it can be used in a video game

[agustdtown1]

CLOSER TO YOU [JJK]

PAIRING: nerdy!roommate!jungkook x fem!OF!reader

GENRE: smut, roommates au, nerdy!jk, photography major!jk, friends to fuck buddies.

SUMMARY: After getting various comments about your poor filming skills for your OF page, you finally decided to give in and reach out to the one person that could help you with your problem. However, what started as your roommate just helping you to film your video turned into you begging him to fuck you.

How long would it take for Jungkook to finally give in? After all, all he ever wanted was to be closer to you.

WC: 8,7k

WARNINGS: smut, masturbation, fingering, voyeurism, dirty talk, nerdy!jungkook going from shy to freaky to shy and freaky again. Pet names, jungkook with glasses (that NEEDS a warning idc), jk being completely whipped for reader but also mocking her and being a little shit when he got into it. Use of “good girl” (1), mention of only fans and adult content. If I’m missing something lmk!

A/N: part one is finally out!! I honestly feel nervous to post again and I really hope you guys enjoy this one! lmk what you think in the comments or sending an ask, enjoy ur reading <3!

masterlist

“I need a favor.”

You barging into his room along with those three words were enough to break the quiet and cozy atmosphere that your roommate had going on. He was sitting in his gaming chair, with his headphones covering his ears and glasses slightly falling off the bridge of his nose. Jungkook looked startled, with his big, round eyes staring at you as if he had been caught doing something he shouldn’t, when in reality a loud and violent video game was the only thing playing on his computer screen.

“H-Hi to you too.” His response and his rapid way of blinking let you know that Jungkook was not expecting you to come into his room unannounced, however, there was not a single complaint flying out of his mouth. More often than not, you would invade his personal space with your overenthusiastic self, chatting his ear off about some new gossip from your class that he was not really interested in, but Jungkook being Jungkook could never tell you to shut up, even when it was needed. “What do you need? Is everything okay?”

A pang of guilt spread through your chest by the way he completely abandoned whatever game he was playing to put his undivided attention on you when he noticed how distressed you were; what you were about to ask him was far from being a serious or urgent matter, but rather something that might bring chaos and awkwardness into your friendship. In all honesty, you weren’t even sure why you decided to entertain the idea of asking for Jungkook’s help. All you knew is that Eunbi, your best friend, was very eloquent while suggesting your roommate as a solution for your problem, and while you weren’t exactly desperate, you didn’t want to spend more time thinking of other alternatives either.

So here you were, hoping that the following minutes would remain the same after you inevitably tell Jungkook the truth.

“Y/n…? Is everything alright?” He asked once again, snapping you out of your thoughts.

“Yes, right! It is. I just…” A frustrated sigh escaped your lips. “I need a huge favor, but I don’t know how to tell you.”

“You know you can tell me anything, I’m here for whatever you need.” His tender smile made that guilty feeling become stronger.

You tried to find the words to voice the idea running through your mind without making this situation painfully weird, but nothing could really prevent the inevitable awkward silence that was bound to be installed between you two once you put it all out.

The favor and the help you needed was regarding your line of work, something that Jungkook was pretty much aware of, but never fully involved in. Being a creator for adult content, more specifically for only fans, was already hard enough to explain to him when he moved in with you a few years ago, but somehow you managed to make it seem as if it wasn’t a big deal. You thought that it would be a dealbreaker, that Jungkook would run far away from you and never even consider being your roommate when you told him you made content for only fans, however, after a few days, he willingly showed up at your apartment with boxes full of his belongings and a shy smile, telling you that he was ready to live with you.

That memory was the only thing keeping you from running out of his room and hiding inside your own until the embarrassment subsided, instead, it helped you to follow through with your plan and accept the outcome of this, like the confident woman that you were.

However, the long pauses that you were taking to organize your ideas were starting to worry the brown-eyed boy in front of you. He’s never seen you like this before, hesitating and so unsure of yourself. Your confident demeanor would often throw him off, and the way you so surely carried yourself wherever you went was a stark contrast to his shy and awkward way of living, but that’s something Jungkook was used to, that’s how things worked between you two. You were the easygoing, extroverted friend that would strike up a conversation with almost anyone, while he was the quiet, shy and reserved friend that was ready to lend his shoulder if you ever needed a good cry.

But this, the way you were so notoriously nervous and preoccupied was something new for Jungkook, a new side of you that he never thought he would see.

“Listen, Y/n, you don’t have to tell me right now. I’ll help you with anything you need, but if you feel like it’s too much in this moment, you can talk to me about it whenever you’re rea–”

“I need you to help me film a video for my page.”

There, you said it, it was all set in stone, with no way to go back. No backtracking, no regretting, no way to undo it. Your words hung in the air with a heavy weight falling upon you two. If Jungkook was startled when you came into his room, he was completely dumbfounded after listening to what you needed.

“Co-Come again.” It wasn’t the smartest way to ask you to repeat yourself, but it sure fit into the conversation. “I-I mean, are you seriously asking me to do what I think you’re asking?”

He wasn’t stupid, Jungkook was familiar with your work, and while he didn’t consume your content, apart from a few pictures he looked at while scrolling through your page out of curiosity, the boy knew exactly what your deal was. Posting your whole body on the internet for almost anyone to see was the easiest way to describe your job; making videos, taking pictures that left little to the imagination for the people that came across your profile, even going as far as hosting lives to chat with your followers and sometimes cater to their filthy needs. That’s the kind of job you had, the kind of things you were willing to do, and it was crystal clear how comfortable and okay you were with it.

Jungkook had never judged you or questioned what you did for a living, not once in the years he’s known you, mainly out of respect and because it was none of his business, but also because he didn’t want to think or imagine the things you did in front of the camera. Now, however, he might have to, because what you were asking of him was more than what he was expecting from you.

Asking him to cook dinner, fix your laptop or pick up his clothes from the bathroom floor was okay with him, he could do it in a heartbeat, but filming a video for your secret page was something he was not ready for.

“I know it sounds crazy, believe me. I actually thought about this for a few days, but I wouldn’t ask you to do it if I truly didn’t need your help.” You were almost ready to beg him at this point. It has been weeks since the last time you posted a video and the lack of content was starting to upset your followers. There was really no other option. “I swear I’ll try to make it as normal as possible, but I really need you”

She needs me.

Jungkook had to look away from you, the pleading eyes you were sending his way were starting to affect him more than they should have, and while he was usually willing to lend you a helping hand at any moment, this time he really needed some time to think about it.

“I don’t know, Y/n…” He hesitated, taking his glasses off for a brief moment and rubbing his eyes. “I mean, why me? Doesn’t Eunbi usually help you with that stuff?”

“Yeah, she does, but it’s mainly to help me choose an outfit, makeup or the color of the lights. She doesn’t know about cameras like you do. And lately my followers have been complaining about my poor filming skills.” You finally explained your reasons behind it all. “You’re a photography major after all, wouldn’t you know about angles, settings, and all that stuff better than us?”

You took some cautious steps towards your roommate before making him turn around in his chair only for you to sit on his lap. You were aware that it was an unfair strategy to use on him, but desperate times call for desperate measures, don’t they?

A blaring alarm went off inside of Jungkook’s head the moment you became painfully close to him, invading his personal space. Then again, it was not out of the ordinary for you to be touchy-feely with him, but the boy still had a hard time getting used to your overly affectionate demeanor. His hands were eager to lay on the warm skin of your waist and feel your soft flesh against his, nonetheless, he knew better than crossing that line. If Jungkook wanted to maintain his sanity, he needed to remain still for as long as possible.

“Would you be a sweetheart and help me with this, Kookie?

Fuck, not that nickname.

Jungkook melted right on the spot whenever you called him that or any other short variant of his name. He was weak for you and both of you were aware of it.

“I…” It was a hard decision, but how could he say no to you when you were looking at him as if he was your only saviour. “Okay, yes. I’ll help you, but just this time. I will teach you everything you need to know to make your videos better, but next time you’ll be on your own.”

“Oh my god! Thank you, Kook, thank you so much.” Your arms found their way to his neck, engulfing the shy boy into an effusive hug. “I promise I’ll repay you with anything you want.”

“We can figure that out afterwards, don’t worry about it now.” He assured you with a sheepish grin while his hands finally reciprocated the affection by timidly patting your back.

The more you stayed in that position, the more Jungkook wondered if he was really ready to take such a big step into your dynamic, however, there was no way out. You were already counting on him.

What have I gotten myself into?

The following days were spent trying to figure out the logistics and set a schedule that would work for the both of you. Despite what anyone would think, Jungkook was a very busy guy, between his major, work and tutoring lessons he offered three days a week, he had little to no time to hangout with his friends or even watch a movie with you. Therefore, Saturday seemed like the safest option to film the video. Usually Jungkook would play online games with his friends during the weekends as it was the only time he could actually have some free time for himself, but he was willing to sacrifice one day just this time, especially if it was for you.

The boy was in a constant fight or flight mode during those days, overthinking every single minute of his day about how terribly wrong the whole thing could go. He had a plan from A to Z for any unfortunate situation that might occur, only to prevent ruining your friendship any further. Jungkook was so anxious and absorbed in the predicament that he didn’t even notice when Saturday finally arrived.

In a blink of an eye both of you were already making sure that everything was ready to start filming. You would use his professional camera instead of your phone to enhance the quality of the video; he helped you find the perfect spot in your room, void of your personal stuff or anything that could be used to reveal your real identity. He even showed you the angles that you could use to prevent your face from showing but still giving your followers what they wanted. The setting and ambience was perfect, with the perfect amount of lighting and the right color to make the whole moment more enjoyable for your viewers.

“Whenever you’re ready.” His soft voice echoed through the room while you were doing some touch ups to your makeup. Jungkook was doing a good job with keeping a straight face and calm attitude. It was barely impossible to tell how nervous and anxious he was at that precise moment.

“I’m ready.” You stood up from the chair in front of your vanity, and started your way towards the place where you would be filming. It was a corner decorated with a bunch of pillows and a fluffy blanket to make it comfortable for you. “I should take this off now, shouldn’t I?” A nervous giggle escaped your mouth while pointing to your robe.

It would be the first time you would present yourself like this to Jungkook, at least that you were aware of. The boy had already seen more of your body that he would’ve preferred, thanks to his curiosity, however, this time it was different, it wasn’t a simple picture of you in lingerie or with your bare chest showing. It was you in the flesh, quite literally. Naked and ready to put your body under a plethora of sensations he could only think of ��he shouldn’t even think about it in all honesty—, along with sounds that up until this moment were only part of his imagination.

“Do-Do you want me to like… turn around?”

It was an innocent and genuine question, yet you couldn’t help but laugh.

“There’s no point. You’ll have to see me to check that the filming is going right, either way.” You waved him off, trying to ease his worries. “It’s okay, don’t read too much into it, you’re only being a good friend and helping me.”

“Sure… a good friend.”

Why does it bother me so much when she calls me that?

Oh, if only he understood.

“Okay, here goes nothing.” In a swift motion you undid the knot of your robe, taking the piece of clothing completely off to show your body covered in the prettiest set of red lingerie that you owned.

Your tits were engulfed by the soft lace of your bra, adorned with a red bow right in the center, drawing more attention to your cleavage. Your panties left little to the imagination; see through lace covering just enough to tease the viewers and make them crave for more of your beautiful body. In hindsight, it wasn’t the sexiest or most elegant set out there, but you liked the way it enhanced your features just the right way to feel comfortable and sexy with your body. And as it turns out, Jungkook thought exactly the same.

The boy could not tear his eyes, covered with his round glasses, away from your figure, taking his time to let the way you presented yourself before him sink in. So bare and vulnerable, yet so sexy and confident. You looked incredibly stunning, beautiful, gorgeous, delectable… words were not enough to describe what he thought of you the moment your robe fell to your feet. However, along with appreciating your body came the realization that helping you film this video would be the hardest task he would ever do.

How can I do this to myself?

“Does it look good?” A very dangerous question, but it was intended to ease the tension already forming in between the two. The longer Jungkook took to answer, the more you wondered if you chose the correct outfit “Should I change?”

“No!” His answer, then, was definitive. “I-I mean, you don’t really need to change, unless you want to. It looks… good, very good on you.” He used one finger to push his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

His cheeks turning red was something you could not ignore, it brought a sweet smile to your face.

“Alright then, let’s get this over with!”

A faint fighting came out of your roommate’s mouth while waiting for you to position yourself in front of the camera. The moment you stepped into the comfortable yet sexy set your whole demeanor changed. Your cheerful smile was replaced with a cheeky smirk; your eyes were charged with this sensual energy that made the boy in front of you swallow harshly; your velvety voice was like a siren chant, luring him to step closer and fall into the trap.

Jungkook was mesmerized by the nonchalant way you executed every single movement, as if it was second nature for you, and it sure was. It was part of your routine, part of your lifestyle. The brown-haired man was only now discovering what it was like, but you’ve been under the spotlight for quite some time. Your hands knew perfectly well the path they had to go through to get to the most sensitive parts of your body. Your fingers knew just the right amount of pressure they had to put into your flesh to elicit those sinful sounds. There was no hesitation, no second thoughts, you knew what to do and you loved every single second of it.

Jungkook was entranced by your performance, hands curled into fists to prevent them from acting on their own; cheeks tinted with a rosy color that got lost in the red lights adorning your room. His eyes were glued to your fingers dancing up and down your sides, stealing faint sighs out of you. He had a love-hate reaction to how long you were taking to strip out of your bra. It was sensual, teasing, yet it made the boy fall into a desperate state, eager to see you fully, in all your glory.

“I’ve missed you guys so much.” Your sultry voice sent a shiver down his spine, but the words coming out of your mouth were a cold reminder that he wasn’t there as a viewer but rather as a helper. “It’s been so long since the last time we saw each other.”

A small gasp fell from your lips when you finally pushed down the cups of your bra to display your bare chest. Your hardened nipples were glazed with your saliva after running your wet fingers over them. Little by little you let loose, forgetting that Jungkook was even there, watching you touch yourself and talk to the camera with the most cliche and nasty lines you’ve mastered up until now. Once again, it was part of your routine, and in that routine you needed to have some sort of interaction with your viewers. But truth be told, Jungkook was loving it. He loved how free you looked, and probably felt. He loved how careless you were, how you never hesitated to take a step further and further until you were fully naked, panting and moaning while your fingers graced your inner thighs with a tender touch. He loved it because you were in your element, you were in full control of yourself and body, and that was beyond attractive for him.

“Shit.” A breathy moan elicited from your soft lips when your fingers ran over your folds with a feather-like touch. “I’m so wet.”

Fuck.

Jungkook mentally cursed himself for getting into this situation. It was so hard to watch you in such a lewd way and not be able to get involved. But then again, even thinking of the possibility of being the reason behind your sinful sounds was beyond wrong. You were his friend, his roommate for fuck’s sake, he shouldn’t be thinking of you in that way.

He shouldn’t think of how beautiful you’d look under him, writhing and chanting his…

“Jungkook.”

Fuck, yes.

“Jungkook!”

If only I could make her sound like that.

“Kook!! I’m talking to you.”

Your urgent tone snapped him out of his dirty thoughts. His eyes connected with yours, with a disoriented expression as he fixed his glasses.

“Shit, sorry, I just… zoned out for a bit.” He tried to excuse himself, but the way his voice cracked in the middle of the sentence prevented it from sounding sincere. “Wh-What were you saying?”

You chuckled, deciding to ignore his reaction and cutting right to the point.

“I can’t get into it.”

“What do you mean?”

His tilted head and innocent, round eyes made your frustration lessen. The whole time you let your hands run free over your skin you were trying —almost begging, to get in the mood to continue with the video, but as it turned out, you were nowhere near turned on. It was disappointing — after putting so much effort into it and gathering the courage to ask Jungkook for help, you couldn’t even get aroused.

What is wrong with me today?

With a deep sigh, you sat right up and covered your naked skin with the fluffy blanket next to you. “What I mean is that I can’t get in the mood to, you know… do it.”

“I’m not following.” Jungkook shook his head slowly, trying to comprehend the message that you were sending him. “Do you need anything? Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s not that. I just can’t get turned on.” Plain and simple. He surely would get what you were trying to say.

“You mean that you’re not–”

“Oh my god, I’m not wet enough to continue filming!”

A pregnant silence fell into the room. Neither of you dared to move or say a single thing after that. Jungkook was rendered speechless after your confession and you could not even look at his face due to the embarrassment you were experiencing right in that moment. Maybe it was too much information, but then again, you were literally naked in front of him, voicing out your frustrations to the only other person in the room wouldn’t be that bad, would it?

Well, apparently it was, especially because it was not just anyone but Jungkook. The boy who not only had to endure seeing you touch yourself but also had to listen to your ridiculous complaints about not being aroused.

“Bu-But you just… you said you were…” He couldn’t even finish his sentence. “Fuck, I feel so lost right now.”

The brown-eyed boy was so confused, if your facial expressions and sounds were anything to go by, Jungkook could swear on his life that you were enjoying it. Your frustrated reaction and straightforward confession threw him off; how come he was fighting his own instincts and urges to not come right on the spot while you were faking it all along? Maybe it was due to being the first time in such an environment with you. Would your viewers know when you’re not being genuine and that’s why you stopped? Or was he really that clueless to women’s pleasure?

“I was acting.” You confessed. “Sometimes I talk like that to help myself and get in the mood, but clearly today is not working for me.” A dejected groan flew out of your mouth.

“Can I, I don’t know, help you with that?” He shyly asked, “Maybe it’s because I’m here. Perhaps having another person in the room is making it difficult for you, I can leave…”

You shook your head, “No, if anything, your presence is helping me to feel somehow relaxed.” You thought about it for a second, trying to come up with a quick solution. “Maybe we can try something else.”

“What would that be?”

It took you a few seconds to voice your idea, mainly out of fear and nervousness due to how much it could damage your friendship. In all honesty, involving Jungkook in the filming was already damaging and risky enough, but it was still within the limits you mentally established for this situation. What you were about to ask him, however, was beyond those limits.

“Could you step closer?” You waited a few seconds before developing your whole idea. “I mean, could you film me from a closer angle?”

“Would that really help?” He asked in a shaky voice.

“We could try and see.”

And see he did. Jungkook moved from his position behind the camera, trying to get his equipment and himself as close to you as possible —losing a little bit of his sanity in the process— with the utmost caution and respect. He didn’t want to overstep the boundaries that were established before starting filming, he also didn’t want to do a wrong movement and throw everything to waste. Jeon had the opportunity to see your body from a closer perspective, and albeit unsure, he managed to keep calm and resume his work.

“Is this okay?” Your roommate asked, angling the camera to focus solely on the space between your legs, right where your fingers wished to disappear in. “Tell me if it becomes too much, okay?”

“Will do.”

After listening to your words of approval and making sure you felt comfortable with the new position, Jungkook continued filming you and every single movement you did. It was hypnotizing how you so confidently went back to your previous endeavors to get you in the mood. Your noises sounded sexier, your breathing was heavier, your eyes were closed tighter than before, willing yourself to enjoy the moment thoroughly and push back the feeling of being so exposed to the only man you swore would never see you like this.

Jungkook tried to stay calm and collected, cool and relaxed, even when he felt the air getting stuck in his throat when he watched your fingers dive into your warm walls through the lenses of the camera.

“Fuck…” He breathed out without realizing. The boy was quick to cover his mouth with his hand when he noticed your quizzical look. “Sorry.” Jungkook mouthed and focused on his work as the cameraman.

You continued with your ministrations, ignoring the heat in your cheeks that wasn’t exactly due to finally getting worked up from your touches. Your fingers moved in and out of your cunt, slowly and carefully, as if you were calculating what you were going to do next. A faint moan fell from your lips, eliciting a raspy groan from the boy in front of you.

Right in that moment you noticed how aggravated Jungkook was. Eyes shining in the dark like a pair of beautiful stars but with a glint of lust covering them along with his glasses; lips parted, letting out his heavy breath and small sighs. His hands were twitching at his sides, eager to move and, most likely, to touch what he was not even allowed to taste.

Maybe this was more than he could handle, maybe you shouldn’t have asked him to help you with this video, perhaps this was already creating a dent in your friendship that you were nowhere close to know how to fix, but the way he was looking at you was nothing you had ever seen before, at least not from him. There was hunger, need and desperation mixed in his hard glare, and as much as you wanted to deny and ignore it, his reaction was doing wonders on you. And so a new idea was installed in your mind. Your friendship was already beyond salvation, how bad would it be to make a last request?

“Kook…” You breathed out, “I need you.”

It was so subtle, so fleeting the smugness that covered his face that you barely noticed. His eyes widened and his lips moved like that of a fish trying to survive out of the water, he didn’t know what to do, much less what to say.

“Me?” He whispered, completely clueless of the effect he was having on you in that moment. You nodded, fingers stilling in between your legs. “Wh-What do you mean?”

You sat up, stopping the filming once again. “Exactly what I said, I need you… I-I need your help with something else. You can say no, but… I would be forever grateful to you if you said yes.”

Jungkook was putting to use his 128 IQ score to try and understand what you were hinting at, but none the wiser, he needed the words spelled out to him to get your idea. And so, as softly as possible, you explained what your need was actually about. You noticed the way his body reacted to you and the show you were putting on for your viewers but more specifically for him; it was painfully obvious how much he desired you, and in all honesty, you weren’t any better.

Ever since you two started living together, you swore that you wouldn’t act on the small and silly crush you developed for him after meeting for the first time. It was just a silly attraction that wasn’t worth the hassle of getting involved with your roommate; his built body and big biceps drove you crazy, and you couldn’t turn a blind eye to the intricate tattoos adorning his arm, which was such a stark contrast to the type of man he made himself out to be; the lip ring shining from his mouth was so painfully enticing, and more often than not, you found yourself wondering what it would feel like against your lips while kissing the life out of him. And God bless the person that gets you started on how much you loved those black rimmed glasses that adorned his eyes almost 24/7, giving him a geeky look that would never fail to make you weak in the knees. But all of those features, as well as the lewd scenarios conquering your mind minutes before going to sleep, had made it difficult for you to stay in your lane all this time. Tonight, however, might be your one and only chance to turn your dirty dreams into reality, only and only if Jungkook agreed to your idea.

“I don’t want this to ruin our friendship.” He murmured, looking down at the floor and avoiding your hopeful eyes glaring at him. You reached out for him, your soft hands coming in contact with his covered thighs while you kneeled in front of him. “Y/n… don’t do this to me.” His whole body stiffened, fighting the urge to jump your bones and turn you into a crying mess just like he always imagined.

“You don’t want me like that, Kookie?” You so innocently asked, lashes fluttering against your cheekbones. “Is that the real problem, hm?” Your hands were sliding up and down his thighs, teasing him.

“God, no.” He answered breathlessly, “You have no fucking idea how bad I want you…”

“Then why don’t you show me? What’s stopping you, hm?” Your cheek resting on his jean-covered thigh elicited a soft gasp from your roommate. “It's just a small favor.”

“I… fuck, you’re driving me crazy right now.” He ran a hand through his hair, pulling at the ends while letting out a frustrated groan. Jungkook took off his glasses while rubbing his eyes before looking at you again. “You have to promise… you really have to promise that it will be a one-time thing. No more favors after this, at least not of this caliber.”

You nodded eagerly, looking at him with a spark in your eyes. “I promise, just this time.”

“Okay,” Jungkook nodded, “I’ll help you with anything you need.” One of his hands, albeit shakily, reached out to push away a strand of hair falling into your face.

With a wide grin you pull his hand to get him closer to you. It was a bit hard to get his face and the majority of his body out of frame, but both of you managed. Jungkook sat behind you, with his built back leaning on the soft pillows while yours was resting on his firm chest. Both of his strong arms wrapped around your body while his hesitant hands touched your skin lightly.

In all honesty he didn’t know what to do, it felt unreal to be this close to you, especially under those conditions. Jeon was trying so hard to figure out what to do next that the tension conquering his body was noticed by you.

“Relax, Kook, do what you would do with any other girl.” You tried to reassure him while softly stroking his forearm, but the silence in between you two was making you feel uneasy. “You’ve done this before, right?”

Should he answer honestly? The short answer would be yes, he’s done it before; the long one though, would be that he only did it once when he lost his virginity at a random party his friends at the time invited him to. Jungkook couldn’t even remember the name of the girl or how she looked, all he could recall from that time was the awkwardness and how short it lasted. Jeon wasn’t sure that he could live up to your expectations, and while he was not clueless to how it worked, he doubted his performance would be as amazing as that of all your previous sexual partners, which caused part of his nervousness.

He was reading too much into it whereas you were starting to feel desperate and needy. You had the boy of your dreams right behind you with his hands very close to the place that was basically begging to be touched, but not much has happened. It was a bit disappointing how long it was taking him to act, but you also understood that it might not be an easy task to do, especially if it was your roommate doing it.

“Let’s go with an easy start, okay? I’ll lead.” Your hands reached out for his, guiding his right hand towards one of your tits. “You can explore my body as much as you want, don’t be afraid to touch.” And just as if you were reading his mind, you added, “Don’t think too much about it, I won’t be mad if this doesn’t go as planned.”

“Okay.” With a deep sigh he let his fingers feel your skin up, touching, caressing, pinching even.

His slender fingers wrapped around one of your already hardened nipples, toying with it, which elicited a soft gasp from you. His other hand slowly reached for your other tit, trying to stimulate both at the same time.

“Yes… like that, Kook.” Your praising words were helping him to build up his confidence. The more you praised him, the more adventurous he got, letting his hands explore the entirety of your body.

After a few more minutes of playing with your boobs, his hands finally started to drift south, with feather-like touches here and there before reaching your tender thighs. His big hands looked very attractive against your flesh, like the prettiest accessory. The one that was cladded with a bunch of tattoos started to descend more and more, landing small smacks on your inner thigh.

“Oh…” you breathed out, a bit surprised by the sudden move.

“Sorry, should I not have done that?” Jungkook asked, retrieving both of his hands.

“No, no, no!” You pulled them right back where they were placed before. “Please continue… I really liked what you were doing.”

“Okay.”

With a more confident attitude, Jungkook started to touch your thighs, kneading your skin while his hot breath was hitting the back of your neck. In all honesty, it all felt surreal, you never thought that a moment like this would ever happen, that you would have the same boy that you had fantasized about many times before touching you and willing to please you.

“You can use more than your hands, you know?” You whispered softly, closing your eyes due to how good everything was feeling.

“Are you sure?” He murmured really close to your ear, sending shivers through your body. You hummed in response, leaning more and more into his touch. “So, it would be okay if I do this.” His lips graced your neck with a faint kiss, eliciting a small gasp from you. “Or this,” a firmer kiss was placed right under your ear, Jungkook’s lips moving skillfully. “And since I’m at it, you surely wouldn’t mind me doing this,” His teeth sank into your skin suddenly. “Right?”

“Shit…” You moaned out loud, “N-No, I… I don’t mind, at all.”

A husky chuckle erupted from his throat, “Good.” His hands kept moving in between your legs, now finally reaching your needy cunt. “Are you sure you want me to do anything I want to you, Y/n?” You once again hummed, unable to properly answer due to his touches. “I think I might need to hear you say it, before I go any further.”

If he was trying to get your consent or just teasing you, you didn’t know, but you were sure of one thing, you needed to feel any part of him inside of you. Now.

“Fuck, yes, I’m completely sure, don’t make me wait anymore, please.”

It was the please added at the end that really did it for him, the way your needy and desperate voice echoed through the room was enough for Jungkook to give you what you wanted.

He finally pushed one of his fingers inside your velvety walls, slowly sliding in and out with enough easiness that got you wondering just then how wet you were before he started touching you. Your whole body squirmed, reacting at how great it felt to be touched like that. Curses, moans and gasps were falling from your lips, creating the most sensual cacophony.

“You like that?” His husky voice rang through your ears, earning an effusive nod from you, “You like that I’m touching you like this, hm?” You could feel the smug smile against your skin, right under your earlobe, “Maybe I should try harder, since you’re not answering to me.” With no further warning, Jungkook added a second finger, stretching you out deliciously. He picked up his pace as well, pushing in and out with such vigor that got you sinking your nails into your palms.

“Oh my god!” You breathed out.

Where was this sudden change in attitude coming from? Not a minute ago he was acting shy and reserved, as if he had never touched a woman before, as if he didn’t have it in him to wreck you in the way you wanted. But now, that whole act was left behind and there seemed to be no trace of the innocent and nerdy Jungkook you thought you knew, only this suddenly confident and teasing boy, ready to make you fall apart on his fingers.

“That’s not quite the answer I’m looking for.” Jeon goaded you on to the response he wanted from you. “Come on, pretty, tell me how much you like it.”

“Fuck…” You cursed out loud, “I-I can’t.”

It was difficult for you to concentrate on gathering the words that your roommate wished to hear due to his fingers moving deliciously inside of you. He was hitting the right spots with his long and slender digits, over and over again to the point that tears were pooling in the corner of your eyes.

“Hm, and why is that?” Jungkook questioned with feigned innocence in his voice. “Is it really that difficult for you to speak?”

You nodded desperately, looking into his eyes right through those slutty glasses you adored so much. “I can’t… I-I can’t con… centrate.” You finally admitted.

A mocking chuckle flew out of his mouth, his fingers never relenting, “Poor little you.”

“Ah, fuck, Kook.” Your sounds were becoming dirtier, needier, more naughty and desperate as the familiar hot sensation started to invade your body. You knew your release was coming with such rapidness and ease.

It was astonishing how Jungkook could so effortlessly get you to your breaking point, when it took you several minutes to even get aroused. You wanted to believe that it was all due to your previous touching, but deep down you knew that doing it on your own would never get you the pleasure you were experimenting in that moment.

“Shit, you’re squeezing my fingers so much.” He pointed out, struggling to move thanks to the firm grip your walls had on his digits. “So tight and warm.”

If only he knew that his way of talking was only contributing to your forthcoming release. Your eyes could not look away from his face. His hard features and the way his lustful orbs were looking right down at you got you in a trance, one that you didn’t want to get out. The faint smirk on the corner of his lips, along with the lip ring were once again taunting you, tempting you; threatening you with a good time, and just as you were about to reach and find out if your assumptions were correct, Jungkook leaned down and captured your lips in a harsh kiss.

Kissing you for the first time was life-changing, or so he would say, because despite all the girls –only a few actually– he has ever kissed or been intimate with, Jungkook has never felt like this with any of them, so addicted, so eager to taste more of you; craving you in ways that he probably shouldn’t.Your lips were so soft and sweet, and it was right in that moment that he realized that it would be a living hell to go back to normal after getting a taste of you. The way your mouth was chasing after him when he pulled away briefly due to running out of air, it drove him crazy, making him feel light in the head. Being able to see that look in your face as your orgasm was approaching, while your puffy, red lips were begging him to kiss you more was, in fact, something that Jungkook would never forget.

Kissing Jungkook for the first time felt exactly like you imagined, dangerous and messy. It was dangerous because it was right in that moment that you realized that there was no way to go back to your normal routine after this; it wasn’t only because of the intimate act that you both decided to engage in, but because there was no way in hell that you would let him go on with his life without having him like that again. Your previous words became an empty promise the more his lips devoured yours, kissing and biting as if his life depended on it. The coldness of his lip ring was making you shudder and chase for more; you finally got an answer to your question: it felt amazing while kissing. On the other hand, it was messy due to the both of you being so eager to feel more of one another; saliva coating your lips while his tongue finally made an appearance inside your mouth, making you squirm and fight the urge to burst right in that moment.

“I’m so close.” You announced against his lips, panting ridiculously loud.

“You’re gonna come for me, baby?” It was so strange to hear him talk to you like that, using pet names and saying things that Jungkook would never even think of saying in any other situation. “Wanna come on my fingers, hm?”

“Yes, yes, please.” The begging and whiny voice almost made him come in his pants, but Jeon managed to maintain his composure.

“Go on, let go, baby, but keep those pretty eyes on me.” Jungkook’s free hand came up to lay right under your jaw, squeezing lightly but firmly enough to keep you in place. You didn’t have to be told twice, the moment his hand came in contact with your hot skin you felt the waves of your orgasm crash over you. “That’s it… you’re doing so good.”

Fuck, if only he could talk to you like that all the time.

“Oh my god, Jungkook!” You moaned, closing your thighs tightly, capturing his hand in between your legs. “Shit, it feels… so good.”

“I know, doll, I know.”

Not once did your eyes look away from him, not even when the tears started to spill down your face like the most beautiful raindrops, all due to the overwhelming feeling or your orgasm. You couldn’t even grasp the fact that you just came on Jungkook’s fingers, or that your body was shaking uncontrollably while his hand kept moving rather slowly, going from sliding up and down your soaked folds to rubbing your swollen clit. Even in your post-orgasmic state you recognized that one was not enough; as good as his fingers were, you needed more of him. It was more a want than a need, but you couldn’t finish the day without knowing what his cock felt like inside of you.

Craving.

That’s the best way you could describe this feeling; you were craving his body on top of yours, even under, sideways, it didn’t matter, but you had to have more, even if it was just for the night. Even if it would leave a burning memory in your brain to fantasize about in the solitude of your room, when your hands were the only solace for your lewd desires and obscene scenarios playing in your head.

And so, letting the wild side of you speak, you uttered a sentence that was bound to change the whole course of your friendship.

“Jungkook…” You called for him, getting his attention right back on your face rather than in the space in between your legs. After listening to his humming you added “I want you to fuck me.”

His hand came to a halt, fingers not moving an inch, completely frozen in place. His brown eyes were now coated with a glint of fear and uneasiness. Jungkook had been taken by surprise a lot during the day, but right there in that moment, with you eagerly waiting for his response while looking at him with perfect innocent eyes, it had to be the most unexpected thing that could have happened to him.

A deep silence fell in the room once again, with Jungkook quickly retrieving his hands from your body. It took him several minutes to come up with something to say, something that wasn’t pure stuttering and nonsense coming out of his mouth.

“I-I beg your pardon?” His feeble voice rang through your ears due to the proximity, otherwise you wouldn’t have heard him. “I don’t think you understand what you’re asking me.”

You sat up straight, turning in your place to be face to face with Jungkook. “I’m fully aware that what I’m asking of you might be too much, but I honestly can’t ignore how much I want you, Kook.” You leaned forward, straddling his hips and resting both of your hands on his shoulders. “I thought you liked this too.”

It was funny how minutes ago he was completely into you, adamant on making you come and talking with his sultry voice until you fell apart on his fingers and now he was back to his shy and reserved persona; stuttering while trying to gather his thoughts. There were two sides of Jungkook as it seems. One was simply Jungkook, the co-founder of a comic club at your local library; the boy that spent a whole night trying to recover a document you foolishly deleted the night before you had to submit it. Jungkook who always pulled you close whenever you walked near a group of guys whose eyes were glued to your legs, and the one that didn’t hesitate to go and buy you a bunch of snacks as a way of comfort when a date you were so excited to go on went terribly wrong. That was the Jungkook you knew and adored, the one that was ready to do anything for you, being at your beck and call, but that also would get upset if you interrupted him while watching his favorite show.

And then, there was Jeon Jungkook, the boy that rocked your entire world with a few touches. The boy that spoke to you in such a sensual voice with the craziest sentences that you would never imagine him uttering. The Jungkook that called you baby, doll, pretty and kissed you so passionately that you almost forgot your name. The same man that unexpectedly acted with confidence, sure of himself and what he was doing, moving his skillful fingers in and out of your cunt with an ease that left you beyond surprised. There was the side of Jungkook that you didn’t know, and that was exactly why you needed to have more of him.

“It’ll be just this time, remember? Why not go all the way out and have a little fun yourself?” You reiterated your previous promise, even though you knew it was far from being the last time having each other like this. Without thinking too much about it, you started to grind your soaked cunt on top of his crotch; hips moving slowly to rub deliciously on top of him. “So what do you say, hm?”

You could see his self-control starting to crumble the more you rubbed yourself on him. His hardening cock felt wonderful under your hot pussy, along with the rough material of his jeans, because yes, he’s the type of guy to wear jeans while being home, even if he wasn’t expecting anyone to visit him.

You were getting too lost in the sensation, in the way Jungkook was fighting against his own moans escaping his lips or his hips thrusting up into you that you were startled by the weight of his hands on your hips, stilling you in place and preventing you from moving any further.

“I say,” He began with a husky tone, “that you’re making it really difficult to be nice to you.”

Those words caused a shit-eating grin to appear on your face, and with the most seductive voice you could muster you said “I didn’t ask you to be nice to me.” Leaning in closer to his ear you added “I asked you to fuck me… as hard as you possibly can.”

A hiss abandoned his lips while Jungkook’s hands squeezed your hips deliciously tight.

“Is that what you really want, hm? For me to fuck you senseless.” One of his hands weaved through your hair, pulling you away with enough strength to get you to look right into his eyes. “Didn’t think you would be that desperate.” A mocking chuckle echoed through your four walls, bouncing on every corner and back to your warm ears.

“You clearly don’t know everything about me.” You said through gritted teeth, the harsh grip he had on your hair was hurting you in the right way, making you wetter by the second. “Please say yes… I need you so bad, baby.”

It was the first time you called him that, and Jungkook would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy listening to your sweet voice saying it. He retrieved his hand from your hair, changing his direction to rest his thumb right onto your bottom lip.

“I did promise I would help you with anything you needed, didn’t I?” A playful smirk adorned the corner of his mouth.

“That you did,” You pointed out. “And now you have to keep your promise.”

“Alright, alright. I wouldn’t want you thinking I’m not a man of my word.” Jungkook sighed. “But you have to be good, okay? You gotta be good for me.” His thumb brushed against your bottom lip, ever so slightly, making it bounce right into place after playing with it.

An electrifying rush went down your spine by the way his voice tone changed so quickly. Once again, there was no trace of his shy demeanor as it seemed to blend into this smug attitude growing slowly inside of him. A lazy smile took place on his face while his hand continued to caress your tender skin.

“You’re gonna be my good girl, hm? Do exactly as I say?”

A moan flew out of your mouth, not expecting him to say it so confidently. You nodded effusively, though, wanting nothing more than to follow whatever order he had for you.

Hot cute, he thought, admiring the way you were so eager to agree to anything he said.

“I need you to say it, Y/n. Use your words, sweetheart.”

“I’ll be good, I’ll do anything you ask me to.”

“Alright then, let’s see how much you can handle.”

taglist 🏷️: @petalsofink @goldietigers294 @ggukieshoe @jk-190811 @hanamgi @internetbelle @songbyeonkim @berryonasummerevening

if your user is in bold it means i couldn’t tag u !

[soangelbaby]

˗ˏˋ now introducing . . . incel!rafe ˎˊ˗

daddy’s money superiority complex a full time red-flag

he’s not just heartbroken he’s hateful he’s misogynistic .ᐟ

⌨︎ incel!rafe who . . . watches porn religiously. claiming he hates it, claiming all the girls in them are ‘fake whores’ and ‘that’s what they deserve’ — and it never fully satisfies him. but still he does it again. and again. and again. it’s his twisted therapy. and he never finishes to the regular stuff — only to scenarios where the girl is being degraded, begging, crying. he searches for girls who look like you, a little too pretty and too soft, getting the worse shit done to them. sick nasty videos that would get him put on a list, like ‘girl crying during sex’ ‘forced orgasm compilations’ or ‘blackmail porn’ he knows it’s wrong, but it’s never enough to stop.

⌨︎ incel!rafe who . . . has an obsession with purity. it’s dark and dangerous, he sees women who experience any type of sexual freedom as ‘threats’ if they dont fit into his narrow view of what a woman should be. he’s disgusted by them for not catering to his desires or for having autonomy over their own bodies. he wants women who are innocent, untouched, and under his control — his way of proving he’s the one in charge. but the hypocrisy is glaring. while he condemns women for their sexuality, he’s consumed by fantasies of dominating, ruining, breaking them down, and making them submit to his twisted will.

⌨︎ incel!rafe who . . . has no sympathy for women. when he “loves” a woman, he might tell her that no one else will ever love her like he does—playing the long-suffering martyr, claiming that he’s the only one who truly understands her. but the love he offers is never pure. he’ll constantly tear her down, calling her worthless, stupid, or fat, all while claiming it’s for her own good. if she gets upset, he’ll accuse her of being “too sensitive” or “overreacting,” further alienating her. if a woman cries, gets upset, or expresses hurt, he finds it pathetic. he might mock her, call her weak, and tell her she’s just “looking for attention” when she’s truly in distress. his inability to comprehend or care about a woman’s emotional well-being only deepens his hatred for them.

⌨︎ incel!rafe who . . . uses sex as power. he doesn’t believe in mutual consent, he believes in ownership and if he wants something he takes it. he might try to guilt or manipulate a woman into sex, telling her that if she “really loved him,” she’d give in. if she says no, he twists it into a game of control, making her feel like she’s the one in the wrong for denying him. his need to dominate extends to every interaction, including sex, where he treats it like a conquest, not an intimate exchange.

⌨︎ incel!rafe who . . . has a fragile ego. when a woman shows she doesn’t need him, it triggers something deep inside him. he can’t stand it. he feels entitled to every woman’s attention, and when that attention isn’t directed at him, it makes him feel worthless. he’ll hide it behind a mask of false confidence, but internally, he’s seething. it’s like a personal affront to his existence, and he can’t stand it. instead, he’ll find ways to undermine her; through force, threats, or sabotage, even make her doubt herself, or try to control her until she becomes dependent on him.

⌨︎ incel!rafe who . . . craves humiliation. there’s a deeply destructive side to him, when he’s alone — he watches porn that makes him feel sick and helpless. it’s the only time he can let go of his need for control and let the chaos wash over him. but it’s also a form of self-punishment. he knows he’s toxic, and part of him wants to be punished for it. he’s caught between wanting to control and wanting to be controlled, and he’s too deep in the spiral to break free.

⌨︎ incel!rafe who . . . knows he’s a monster. part of him, the deepest part, has moments of clarity. when the high from his toxic behavior fades, he’s left with the aftermath—his reflection staring back at him, judging him. there are flashes of guilt, self-awareness, where he recognizes that what he’s doing is wrong. but instead of taking responsibility, he doubles down, justifying his actions, telling himself he can’t help it. he’s too far gone to fix himself, and that thought terrifies him.

[towersofviolet]

phrases that work for me in my office job and don't require lying (i know some autistic people struggle with even harmless lies) (also these are how i would say them and i'm very british so tailor them to your way of speaking):

"doing anything nice over the weekend?" (works best on a friday, or earlier in the week if you're not going to be speaking to that person again until after the weekend) - you can then add additional comments based on their response: e.g. they're going to see a movie -> "i've seen the trailer for that, it looks good" or "i haven't heard of that, what's it about?" or "oh i haven't been to the cinema in ages, i should go sometime"

related phrase to the above, for mondays: "get up to anything nice over the weekend?"

note, if asked about your weekend and you just stayed inside playing video games (and don't want to say that), you can say "oh i didn't get up to much, just had a relaxing one"

in general, if they tell you about something they did, aim to ask 1 specific question about it, even if you're not that interested. this shows interest to them and can raise your friendship bar (if you've played the sims you know what i mean). example: if they went somewhere, ask them "was the weather good?" (if it wasn't local/you don't know the weather they got on that day) or (if you do know the weather) you can comment on it like "aw it was a lovely day for it, did you get to spend much time in the sun?"

holidays are basically fancy weekends, so you can ask similar questions tweaked for the event: "was it just you and [family member] for christmas day?" (implied question: did you visit family/friends) or "do you normally do anything for halloween?"

if they say their kid did something, you can ask "aw did they enjoy themself?"

in general (at least in the workplace) people love talking about their kids. try to remember their name and approximate age (infant, teenager, etc.) so you can tailor questions, e.g. if you know their kid is about 15/16 you can ask "is [name] doing their gcses this year?"

times of year you can conveniently ask about their kids: september (start of school year -> "is [name] back at school yet?"), december (christmas if they celebrate -> "has [name] told you what they want for christmas?"), summer (holidays -> "when does [name] break up for the summer?")

caveat: don't ask too much about their kids that it comes off as creepy. if in doubt, wait for them to bring up their kid in conversation first, then ask a related question

weather is another topic, especially if you live somewhere with very changeable seasons

rain/overcast -> (glance out the window) "ah, it looks like it might rain but i didn't bring my raincoat" or (light-hearted tone) "i was planning on going for a walk at lunch but i might stay in now!"

rain after a long dry period -> "oh we've been needing this" or (variant, works best if you have plants) "the plants have been needing this"

sun -> (light-hearted) "what a lovely day, shame we're inside!" or "i hope this weather keeps up for the weekend"

sun after a cold/overcast period -> "the sun's finally out!"

long period of hot sun in summer -> "looks like it's going to be a scorcher!"

very cold period -> "i wonder if we'll get any snow this year"

talk about your commute to work: "the train was really busy today, i couldn't find a seat" or "the roads were so empty, i wonder if the schools are closed today" or (combining weather and commute) "i just managed to avoid the rain. i got to the building just as the heavens opened" (heavens opened = sudden heavy rain)

if a colleague shares a similar commute to you, you can be more specific: "did you get caught in the roadworks on [road name]?" or "was your train alright? all the ones from [your local station] were delayed by at least 15 minutes"

work-related conversation topics are great too! this will need to be tailored to your job/area of work. i work in an office and use lots of spreadsheets so these are things i say:

while working: "my spreadsheet's so slow today, how's yours?" or "i have so many tabs open, i keep clicking on the wrong one!" or "have you done the update? how long did it take to restart?" or "did you see the email from [name]? do you read it to mean [explanation]?"

towards the start of the day: "have you got a busy day today?" or "got many meetings today?"

you can also comment on the time at work: "almost lunchtime! i'm getting pretty hungry" or "only an hour to go" or "wow, i can't believe it's 4.30 already!" (if the day has been busy and passed quickly)

and the day works too!: "monday already, that weekend went way too fast" or (excited tone) "friday tomorrow!" or "how is it only wednesday?"

note: try not to just use negative comments like this, or people may start to see you as negative/a downer. try to inject at least as many positive comments, e.g. if you complain about monday then also celebrate friday! unfortunately there's a cultural caveat here. different cultures will prefer a more positive or negative style of small talk (e.g. people may be expected to moan and complain all the time) so it will depend on the culture of your workplace!

when you're autistic and you learn how to smalltalk it literally feels like you started hacking real life

[amiableness]

Hockey!James Potter x Lupin!Reader ❆ 1016 words | i found this in my drafts and reworked it a bit, enjoy!

series masterlist ; main masterlist

Your phone buzzes relentlessly in your pocket, and without looking, you already know it’s the group chat—the boys asking why you’re not outside the locker room like always. Win or lose, you’re usually there, ready to be swept along to their celebratory pub of choice or back to the house to drown their sorrows with video games.

But you haven’t had the time to text them back.

“You’ll have a good time if you join us, I promise.” You can’t recall his name, but you’re certain you’ve seen him on the ice during games against the boys. He’s never approached you before—probably too deflated by past losses to muster the courage. But tonight, with his team riding high on their win, his confidence has soared, and he’s wasting no time putting it to use, trying to persuade you to grab a drink with him. “We’re all heading to the pub down the road.”

“Doesn’t exactly feel right celebrating the win against my team.” You say blandly, your hand reaching up to pinch at the fabric of your brother’s jersey, drawing his eyes downward. The fabric is loose, but you regret the gesture as soon as you’ve done it, feeling uneasy about his eyes dragging over your frame.

“I won’t tell if you don’t,” He shrugs, that infuriating smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His broad shoulder, the kind you might have admired under different circumstances, press casually against the cold wall as he mirrors your stance with a confidence that only fuels your annoyance.“C’mon, just an hour.”

Irritation twists in your gut. How he’s missing the hint is beyond you. You made it painfully clear you weren’t exactly thrilled when he sidled up next to you—yet here he is.

“Sorry, the only team I’m celebrating with tonight is the losing one.” You shrug, feigning indifference, but your patience is wearing thin. Your fingers twitch with the urge to pull out your phone and text the boys to come rescue you—something you’re two seconds away from doing.

“Celebrating what, sweetheart? Their loss? There’s nothing to celebrate—” The cocky blonde’s words falter as his gaze shifts to something over your shoulder. His smirk fades slightly as he straightens up. “Potter,” he greets, the name rolling off his tongue with a distinct lack of warmth. Your stomach flips at the sound of his name, and you peek over your shoulder to see those dark eyes trained on the hockey player in front of you.

He doesn’t stop until he’s right behind you, close enough that you swear you can feel the heat radiating from him, chasing away the chill that’s seeped into your skin from the arena. “Harrison,” he says, his voice low and deep, a sound you secretly adore far more than you’d ever admit. His gaze shifts, catching yours as you glance at him over your shoulder, and the intensity in his eyes sends a spark down your spine.

“Angel.” His cold tone softens slightly, and any greeting you had for him dies on your tongue. You’d never admit it—to him or anyone else—but you love the way he says it, the way his voice wraps around the nickname.

For a moment, you find yourself simply admiring James—his freshly washed curls still damp from the shower and that tight black workout shirt clinging to those muscles you’d happily drag your tongue over. The angry bruise blooming high on his cheekbone from a particularly brutal hit catches your eye, and as fucked as it is, you find it unbearably hot. Though, truthfully, you’d shot out of your seat in a panic the moment you saw him take that hit.

He catches your gaze, an eyebrow arched in silent question, and you can’t tell if he's asking whether you want him to handle the guy you’ve been talking to or if he’s just caught you checking him out.

“Do you two know each other?” Harrison asks, and irritation burns inyour stomach at the question. As if he has a right to ask that.

James nods, “Pretty well.” Your brows pinch, that wouldn’t have been the words you would have picked. “What were you two talking about?” James continues, his tone casual, almost lazy—but there’s a protective edge to his voice. One that makes your head feel fuzzy.

“I was offering for her to celebrate with the winning team.” Harrison shrugs, tucking his hands into his pockets. But you can see it—the shift in his posture, the subtle crack in his newfound confidence since James steps closer.

“Oh, did you?” James replies, his voice smooth and relaxed, but there’s the slightest scrunch of his nose, the subtle way his lips press inward—just like they always do when he hears something he doesn’t like.

“The offer still stands, sweetheart.” Harrison speaks, his eyes flickering back to you in a last-ditch effort to convince you to go out with him. That familiar unease crawls up your spine at the way his gaze lingers on you. Without thinking, you shift back into James, who instinctively places a hand on your hip, pulling you against him. Your breath hitches as the warmth of his large palm seeps through, and for a quick moment, you wonder what it might feel like against your bare skin.

Harrison’s eyes flick down to where James has you pulled close, his thumb hooked casually through a belt loop on your jeans. There’s a cocky glint in James’s eye now—and just like that, the sting of that loss from forty-five minutes ago seems to vanish from his mind, replaced by something far more satisfying: the look on Harrison’s face.

You reach down, your fingers grazing over James’s hand, and he looks down in surprise at the touch. Without hesitation, you flip his hand, threading your fingers through his. “Sorry, I’d much rather celebrate with him.” Fed up with the situation, you pull James along who follows you without a question. You catch sight of Sirius and Remus lingering near the locker room entrance, both quietly laughing to themselves at the smug, thoroughly satisfied look on James’s face.

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[kdinjenzen]

As a trans woman voice actress who's been doing VO professionally for 12 years I've been keeping myself out debates on social media about the SAG video game strike aside from an occasional "Please support voice actors during this time, we've lost a lot of livelihood in the pursuit of fair treatment."

What I will say is that getting all your information from sensational YouTube videos, short videos with half the information, or third/fourth hand from other fans who have gotten their info from these sources it is only going to harm the industry more by perpetuating and spreading it.

Fans, regardless of what you're a fan of, I know that you want more of "the thing you like." But understand that when a strike is happening if you're getting more of that something and suddenly the entire cast is replace... you have to understand that it's coming at the cost of people's livelihoods.

From the voice over artist perspective… we WANT to work, but we also want to ensure that we will still HAVE work in 10 years time.

And with things progressing as fast and as aggressive as they are, all your "favorites" won't be able to work at all if things continue down this path.

In seriousness without the fans a lot of "household names" in the VA industry wouldn't have what they have now, and I assure you that they are forever grateful for your support.

When these high profile VAs are talking about what's at stake, they're talking to you and appealing to your hearts.

For those of us who are marginalized, who struggle to book things because of our gender, the color of our skin, our sexuality, etc, and don't have that level of support, we are struggling even more during these times.

We don't have the pull nor platforms to truly tell you how we're suffering now.

But understand that we WANT to work, we want to CONTINUE to work, and what we're fighting for right now is a FUTURE where we can make that sustainable and not be replaced by cloned or generated voices.

Union? Non-Union?

It doesn't matter which or what because it'll all be a wash in the end if this is able to move forward as the cheap, lazy, easy way will cut out the people who have built this industry will take over every aspect of it.

I'm a trans woman voice actress.

I love my art, my craft, my colleagues, my industry and I love the fans that support these efforts so that we can make wonderful experiences.

I want to be able to work and to do more than struggle.

I want to continue using my voice to craft worlds and characters.

[bumbled-bees]

Getting Close Was What Set Me Free

(Or: Why I Do This Work)

So I've come to realize that getting close to Lily was what set me free. And by that I mean: the reason I was able to finally see Lily for who she really is wasn’t because I stumbled across some damning document or a big exposé. It was because I got too close to her to keep lying to myself.

I was in her server from June to September 2024. Three months. Not long in the grand scheme of things, but long enough to change everything.

Before that, I was just a casual fan. I watched her videos, nodded along with a lot of her takes, maybe rolled my eyes at a few. But I still trusted her. I still believed in the version of herself that she presents—the version that’s loud, unfiltered, “honest to a fault,” as she might say. Someone who’s rough around the edges but ultimately good-hearted. Someone who "says what everyone else is thinking." That’s the version she wants you to see.

And for a while, I bought into it. A lot of people do. Especially if you’re neurodivergent, LGBT+, or otherwise looking for a voice that feels like it “gets” you. She markets herself directly to us—those who’ve been overlooked, who’ve been hurt, who want to believe that someone loud and confident must know what they’re talking about.

But once I got inside that server, once I was in her space every day, I saw the real Lily. Not the polished version, not the performance. The person.

It started small. Subtle acts of condescension toward her own viewers. Passive-aggressive remarks she clearly expected people to just “get.” The way she acted offended if someone asked a question she didn’t feel like repeating herself on. That kind of thing. It wasn’t abusive in an overt way at first. But it chipped away at you. It created this atmosphere where you always had to tiptoe around her mood. And if you didn’t? Well, you were either ignored, mocked, or quietly exiled.

What really changed things for me was realizing how much effort she puts into controlling the space around her. That’s what it comes down to. Control. Everything is about control—what people are allowed to say, what kind of questions are allowed, what “tone” you’re supposed to use when addressing her. And the more time you spend in that environment, the more you realize that nothing you say is ever just a question. It’s a potential offense. A potential threat. Every interaction with her is a test you can fail, and she gets to decide the rules.

The incest game folder is when I started going back to old allegations, to posts I’d brushed off as “haters” or “drama.” And suddenly everything clicked. It wasn’t just “cancel culture” or “jealous ex-friends.” These were patterns. These were consistent behaviors. And they matched exactly what I was now seeing firsthand.

That’s when I got out. But that’s also when I realized how dangerous her grip really is.

Because if I’d stayed a casual fan? I wouldn’t have looked any of that up. I wouldn’t have believed the claims. I would’ve kept assuming that anyone who criticized her was just bitter or couldn’t handle a “strong personality.” And that’s what scares me most. How many people are still in that mindset? How many people are still where I was?

That’s why I started documenting. That’s why I made this blog. Not to “get back at her,” not to cause drama. But to lay out the patterns. To name them. To put them in the light. Because they are recognizable—and not just in Lily. The same red flags show up in other online spaces, in other creators, in other parasocial relationships. And if this blog helps even one person get out of a toxic space, or recognize that they’re not crazy for feeling like something’s off? Then it’s worth it.

I do this because I’ve been there. I saw it up close. And I got out. Now I want to help others recognize what I did—before they get pulled in too deep.

This isn’t a callout blog. It’s a flashlight. And I’m just trying to shine it where it’s needed.

[stekken]

Hmmm, I mean, yeah, I was abandoning the Star Trek context and thinking about if replicators were real in our world's future, but if our future went down a similar path to Star Trek and capitalism ended, it wouldn't be because of replicators. They wouldn't "replace capitalism"; you CAN sell things to people who can just make them appear out of thin air. We do it all the time. A replicator would give physical matter most of the attributes of digital information: permanent online storage and easy reproducibility. Therefore (if they were invented before capitalism ended), artificial scarcity would be enforced on them like it is on digital media, with some tweaks and unique emergent behavior. Why do people pay for TV shows and video games today? Faith in capitalism and in the right of the proprietor to their money, fear of being caught pirating, not knowing how easy pirating is, fear of malware from pirating (both justified and manufactured), they think it's easier, etc etc etc. And then there's monetizing by way of adverts, and the value of selling your users' info, and the value of having customers reliably give your app or software attention three times a day, which can be turned to your advantage in all sorts of ways. Some industries would fight the replicator and die, but investors would be ALL OVER IT. People would jump ship from the industries being made obsolete because the writing would be on the wall, and billions of dollars across the globe would be thrown into figuring out how to use this thing to maximize profit. Every roadblock would be met with an army of engineers, starry-eyed stock holders, government funding, and ambitious startups. There'd be even more enthusiasm than there's been for LLMs and image generation, only it wouldn't be misplaced.

As for this problem of storage being solved by small reusable files that make food unsatisfying and homogeneous, I just don't think that's right. I was writing up something about how the uncompressed scans wouldn't actually have very much relevant information in them, but that's not really the point. The point isn't that this or that argument against good tasting replicator food is wrong, but the fact that these arguments keep popping up like weeds. I think sentimentality toward cooking is leading us to invent ways for the replicator to fail, to exhaust our imagination condemning its ability to prepare meals like humans can. Like, let's say you're right, and smart algorithm-driven psychogustatory compression to cut file size down to a fraction just isn't possible (mp3s can get a 10 to 1 ratio before most people notice a difference). Our sense of taste is just too different from sight and hearing so compression isn't viable here. The replicator (or its cousin) is still used to copy entire humans so exactly that they don't lose their train of thought going in one end and out the other. The human brain has staggering amounts of complexity compared to anything else in the universe (or, since this is Star Trek, anything except other brains). Certainly more complexity, more relevant info to keep track of than a chicken dinner.

But let's put that aside too! Maybe the complexity of any two things becomes equal once you zoom in far enough and have to take every little interrelationship into account, and the difference in complexity only appears when you zoom out far enough to regard the thing as a whole instead of the series of atoms or collection of energy that a replicator would see it as. Or maybe human scans are so large, they only store one at a time, then get rid of it to make room for the next scan, and that's with top of the line machinery that can't be spared for someone's chicken dinner. Ok, but this isn't as significant as it seems: if the file tracks every particle, complexity is mostly a function of mass (that and energy differences between particles, which at scale would be more or less proportional to mass I think). A human's mass is enough for a good number of meals, and that's before you start getting smart. Here's how you can get smart: a side of asparagus is created from a scan of ONE asparagus. Tiny file size comparatively. Sauces, dressing, etc? A scan of a representative sample of the sauce, which would be a speck if it's an even solution. Seasonings? That's nothing. Save one of each grain/particle in the mix and use metadata for the ratios between them. Same for beverages—save a few molecules and you have all the info you need. In this scenario, replicator food would heavily favor separate morsels with dips. It would be different, but it wouldn't taste worse. And that's just for the storage space of a single human body scan. For a whole ship's crew, the cost-to-benefit ratio of extending your storage seems like a no-brainer, especially with how cheap computer memory has gotten in the last few decades.

But this doesn't pass the variety test! you say. And that's because we're all holding replicator food to a standard we aren't holding cooked food to. It seems obvious to me that replicators would greatly increase the variety available to 99 percent of people who use them. Unless you can afford to travel across the world just to have dinner where the microorganisms in the water make the sourdough ~just right~ for your pizza crust, your only option besides happening to live there already is using a replicator. All the regional variety in the world at your fingertips from the comfort of your own home! (Assuming we don't invent obstacles just to make that impossible.) Lots of the complaints in this reblog chain apply just as much if not moreso to fresh food. Can't get your food to taste just like it does at your favorite restaurant? That's a problem in the real world to, except it's harder, more costly, and takes longer to do it yourself. And if people aren't pointing out issues that fresh food has too, they're inventing new ways for replicators to fail. "They'd edit all the fat out." Well, no, maybe they'd gain the ability to do that, and then some people would opt for it—good for them! Most people wouldn't. Why are we inventing problems? I don't think it's just curiosity/imagination fueling this, or people wouldn't be satisfied with the arguments in this reblog chain, because most of these problems are just silly. Really, it's because we don't want people to have access to all the world's regional variety without leaving their flat. The idea of hitting an express key on your magic microwave and getting a five star Michelin meal or a McDonald's happy meal or your grandma's pumpkin pie as it pleases you seems to offend people. I think what people are actually doing, when they wax poetic about buying a tamale that tastes like home and then invent a replicator tamale that tastes like homesickness, is saying that this new technology would disenchant the world.

I don't believe that. I think these arguments sidestep reason and actually win people over with sentimentality. This doesn't satisfy me because I don't care what I'm sentimental about here, I care about what the future generations in this imaginative world will be sentimental about. And they'll be sentimental about the replicator food! These imagined people would never invent these hundred-and-one reasons for replicator food to be inferior unless they fell down some "RETVRN! REJECT MODERNITY!" rabbithole. Replicator food will be the subject of their nostalgia, at least for the average person. They wouldn't see it as a pity if they never got to try freshly cooked food, they know it's the same.

And if we were to imagine, say, the year 30XX, where everyone needs to upload their minds to the machine aboard a nomadic space station or else be destroyed by some bioweapon, everyone will be upset about replicator food being replaced with VR food simulations. I just think our imaginations get way more interesting when we stop trying to sabotage the imagined new technology on the basis of this-makes-us-human-because-that's-how-it's-always-been.

As a side note… I am really annoyed by one thing about Star Trek.

“Replicated food is not as good as real food.”

That’s ridiculous.  In Star Trek, replicator technology is part of the same tech tree as transporters.  Replicated food would be identical to the food it was based on, down to the subatomic level. 

[stellaspectral]

Hi! Any headcanons for dating rise donnie?

A/N: Sure! 😊

Dating Rise Donnie (SFW)

💜 ROTTMNT Donatello/Gender Neutral Reader 💜

CWs: None. All characters are aged-up.

Donnie’s initial attempts at flirting might just sound like his usual sarcastic commentary, leaving you wondering if he’s insulting you or hitting on you.

But when he does decide to ask you out, expect something needlessly complex. Maybe a holographic presentation detailing the benefits of a romantic partnership, or a custom-built gadget meant to deliver the message that backfires spectacularly.

His hyper-focus, occasional arrogance (masking insecurity), and social awkwardness require understanding. You’ll need to learn to read between the lines of his sarcasm.

Since direct emotional expression isn’t his forte, you’ll become an expert at reading his micro-expressions, the specific type of sarcastic comment he uses when he’s secretly pleased, or the way he fidgets with his goggles when nervous.

Over time, you might notice moments where a genuine, non-sarcastic compliment slips out before he can catch it. He’ll likely blush, stammer, and immediately try to cover it with more sarcasm, but you heard it.

If you’re upset, his instinct isn’t always a hug (though he might learn). It’s to solve the problem. You’ll need to gently explain that sometimes you just need empathy.

Donnie’s love language is acts of service. He’ll build you custom gadgets to solve your problems, upgrade your tech, etc. Need something specific? He can probably build it.

Verbal affection, on the other hand, is … awkward. Compliments might come out sounding like technical assessments. Genuine, heartfelt words are rare. He might stutter or get flustered trying to express them.

Donnie isn’t always the most physically demonstrative of affection, partly due to his focus and often his touch aversion. Initiating small gestures and seeing how he reacts is best. Once comfortable, he might surprise you with possessive hand-holding or leaning into your space.

He doesn’t display overt PDA. But maybe him resting his hand possessively on the back of your chair, angling himself between you and perceived ‘threats’ (like overly friendly strangers), or using custom tech (like a paired communication device) that subtly marks you as connected to him.

After a huge success (a battle won, an invention perfected, etc.), he might be so overcome with adrenaline and relief that he actually initiates a brief, possibly clumsy hug or leans against you. Don’t make a big deal out of it; just accept the rare physical vulnerability.

When he seems extra arrogant or dismissive, it sometimes masks insecurity. He might fish for compliments by presenting an invention and asking for your ‘objective analysis,’ secretly hoping you’ll just say it’s amazing.

Praise is his kryptonite. He thrives on validation, especially regarding his intellect and inventions. Genuinely praising his work or intelligence will make him puff up with pride.

When he excitedly explains the intricacies of quantum physics or the schematics for his latest battle shell upgrade for twenty minutes straight, he’s sharing his passion with you. A big sign of trust and affection on his part.

If you’re passionate about something, he might suddenly become an expert on it overnight after intense research. He might not share the passion, but he’ll understand its mechanics and history, which is his way of connecting.

Prepare for dates involving beta-testing his latest invention, competitive video game marathons (he will gloat), trips to the junkyard for components, or maybe even falling down rabbit holes on weird corners of the internet together.

Though a significant portion of your quality time together will likely be spent in his lab. Sometimes you’ll be helping (handing him tools, being a sounding board, etc.). Other times you’ll just be chilling amidst the controlled chaos while he hyper-focuses. Oh—and bring snacks. He forgets to eat.

Eventually, you’ll get your own lab space. It might just be a small, meticulously organized corner of his lab initially, but he’ll later designate a space for your stuff or for you to comfortably hang out.

Once you’re his person, he’s incredibly protective. He’ll use his tech and intellect to keep you safe, even if his methods are … unconventional.

If you’re ever in genuine danger, the sarcastic, dramatic Donnie vanishes. He becomes ruthlessly efficient, calculating, and terrifyingly focused on neutralizing the threat and getting you to safety. His tech becomes lethal, his plans precise.

One of the best signs he’s truly comfortable is when he can just exist in the same space as you, both doing your own things (him tinkering, you reading/scrolling/etc.), without needing constant interaction.

He secretly loves being taken care of. When he’s truly exhausted or sick (which he’ll deny until he collapses), having you bring him soup, enforce rest, or just quietly sit with him means more than he’ll admit.

It takes immense trust for him to let you see his experiments blow up (literally or figuratively) without him getting overly defensive or dramatic. If he can sigh, complain about the variables, and start cleaning up with you there, you’re truly integrated into his process.

For Donnie, acknowledging the validity and soundness of your reasoning, especially during a discussion or debate, is one of the highest forms of respect and affection he can offer. It means he sees you as an intellectual equal.

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: Video Games Continued

Alien: What is this floor, and why is there so much killing upon it?

Human: Have you not seen the things you meet on it?

Alien: No, why?

Human: You’ll understand once you do. -------------

Alien: Why are these humans going back for blood?

Human: What?

Alien: If they are going back for it why didn’t they pick the blood up when they were there last time?

Human: A world overrun by worm zombies and this is what you focus on?

Alien: Inefficient time management will always be the deadliest of threats. --------------

Alien: Why is this baby in an egg?

Human: No idea.

Alien: What are these invisible creatures are stalking us?

Human: Got nada on that one.

Alien: For what reason does that other human have a golden mask?

Human: I honestly couldn’t tell ya.

Alien: Well what can you tell me about this then?

Human: You’re basically an amazon delivery driver heading up to an isolated compound and hoping it isn’t 2024 again. -----------

Alien: If you are part of an army of super soldiers, why do they always send you out in groups of 3?

Human: What do you mean?

Alien: Wouldn’t deploying even 10 of their kind at once provide absolute success in any mission you embark on?

Human: Only if one of them wasn’t from the Lamenters chapter. -----------

Alien: Why would vampires want to be on an island?

Human: I don’t understand your question, please expand it.

Alien: By your own history vampires can not cross running water, ergo they can not cross over water to get to an island; so why would vampires wish to go hunting for humans on the one place they would end up trapped on?

Human: But oceans are not running water.

Alien: Ocean water is constantly in motion via the rotation of the planet, therefore it is running water.

Human: It’s meant to be more about streams and rivers.

Alien: Yet both of those feed into oceans.

Human: I would say focus more on the vampire killing than the story, but after trying it myself I would say this discussion is a more enjoyable experience. ---------------------

Alien: Why are these humans going into hell?

Human: For democracy! ---------------------

Alien: You would think with this being the fourth game of the series they would have learned how to deal with zombie outbreaks.

Human: What do you mean? They already have a solution.

Human: If shooting them in the head doesn’t work, use more bullets.

Human: If that doesn’t work use an RPG.

Human: And if THAT doesn’t work then just nuke the whole area.

Alien: You went from, what is the sayin…… “0 to 100”, rather quickly there.

Human: Yeah, we tend to do that a lot when it comes to zombies.

------------------

Alien: What is your fascination with apocalyptic fallout aftermath?

Alien: You have so many mediums focused solely on this subject yet showing the harsh reality of the situation.

Human:  In a way it is within our desire to break down society and from the ashes of the old try to make something better.

Alien: And has it worked?

Human: No.

Alien: Why do you say that?

Human: When the price for a better future is blood of innocents there are no winners. --------------------

Alien: Is this about going on a quest to destroy jewelry?

Human: No.

Alien: What about joining a fellowship to destroy evil?

Human: Nope.

Alien: Then what is the point of this?

Human: To grow potatoes and get high. --------------------

Alien: May I ask you a question?

Human: Isn’t that what you’ve been doing this entire time?

Alien: What is this event called the “Elder Scrolls Crusade”?

Human: It’s what happens when you dangle a game in front of gamers long enough without delivering and then the gamers get angry.

Alien: Ah, much like the “Grand Theft Massacre” then? ----------------------

Alien: Which Dynasty are these warriors fighting for?

Human: Whichever one has the most interesting color pallet.

Alien: What?

Human: I always side with blue myself. ---------------

Alien: I don’t know how I’m going to fight through this army of human soldiers with just a sword.

Human: Have you tried using the rotary grenade launcher?

Alien: What are you talking abo-

Human: *Proceeds to pull out M32A1 Grenade Launcher and blast their way through soldiers with spears and swords.

Alien: This feels unfair. ----------------

Alien: What makes this sequel different from the first one?

Human: It’s colder and there are even more pissed off people you need to deal with.

[velvetvexations]

I've felt since about 2014 or so that a lot of the way we talk about privilege as a concept was a mistake.

One: while I fully understand the need to have an umbrella term for these things because they originate from the same place and sometimes overlap as more of a spectrum than discrete categories, it's a little bit confusing at best that we ALWAYS use the same term to describe advantages NO ONE should have, like the ability to buy your way into any college you want, AND the lack of DISADVANTAGES that no one should suffer, like being presumed dangerous just for walking down the street and potentially getting jumped or shot for it, AND the lack of daily annoyances that serve as a grating, constant reminder that you are Other, like "flesh tone" very conspicuously not even coming close to matching you or romance being presumed M/F by default everywhere. Yes, we need to talk about what all these things have in common, but we ALSO need to be able to talk about how they're different, and honestly, for the sake of outreach and ~optics~, I feel we've gotta be able to present the similarities and differences up front because I have met NO shortage of people who were super on board with trying to improve society somewhat but got really alienated from theory talk by the straight conflation of those categories, ESPECIALLY the latter two. Never mind the decision that the word for this should be something that most people first hear in the context of an extra hour of video games for good behavior or something along those lines.

Two: No category of privilege is granted universally to every member of a privileged group. Few if any men have all aspects of male privilege. In any lavender scare, NO ONE universally and automatically receives cishet privilege. It's even hard to find white people with all aspects of white privilege, and race as an oppressive class was INVENTED to make it easy to use visual markers to determine who's "in" and who's "out". It's also much easier to lose a lot of aspects of privilege than the language gives it credit for - sometimes, just NOT being enough of a bigot is enough to get you treated like a second class citizen.

Three: Every disprivileged group has some privilege over the next in some ways, AND is disprivileged under them in other ways, and the ways in which this manifests get REALLY chaotic once you start looking at the individual level rather than the group level because of the above. Treating "privilege" like a black and white thing that EVERYONE outside a specific highlighted group has makes futile attempts at "scorekeeping" and the bullshit infighting that comes with it almost inevitable. In fact, a lot of the time, the unshared aspects of closely related axes of oppression can intersect in ways that can't fully be dissected without also examining the axis that an exclusionist is trying to "beat" or disprove - for example, I'd go so far as to argue that because oppositional sexism runs so deep in society, every aspect of transandrophobia has a transmisogynistic flip side AND vice-versa; if we talked about privilege and gender in a way that DIDN'T make it so easy for people to think only one of the two can exist and naming the second is therefore a denial of the first, we'd probably be collectively a lot further along in dissecting both.

Four: Systems of privilege and disprivilege cannot be dismantled by treating the privileged as monsters; this only justifies and perpetuates the system by emphasizing the strength and power of the privileged vs. the hopeless, futile struggles of the oppressed, even when it DOESN'T result in "movements" where the oppressed fear losing their identity if they escape their oppression. In the very worst cases it ends up being every bit as classically bigoted as the ideas it calls out - note how many varieties of radfems arrive at a conclusion where they believe the SAME things about men and women as any manosphere redpill chud, they just think the power imbalance that privileges men is a BAD thing instead of a GOOD thing.

Every damned exclusionist cycle just makes me more and more sure of this. I feel like I've been screaming it into the void for over 10 years and yet no one but the teeny tiny choir has ever listened. At least I've seen more people starting to talk about point 1 specifically over this past year...?

Anon, I'll be honest, I love you but this is a bit too long and dense for me to process so I'm going to post this and put it in my #I just work here tag.

[heartforce830]

to add on, there are alternatives ways to view/buy games without needing to buy directly from Microsoft/XBOX and not give them as much money

Buy them used or borrow a game. Not only are you supporting the used game market(something they are trying to kill off), the purchase will go only to the used game store you brought it from instead of the publisher. Or using just getting it for free from someone you borrow

Watch the games/cutscenes(they have no commentary videos a plenty) on YouTube or sites like it. This is good if you simply want to follow the story or get a rundown for fandom wise and don’t really care about playing the game. At worse, there could be ad revive but considering how stingy YouTube can be, odds are that it doesn’t make as much money as just buying a new copy or getting stuff for mutiplayer.

If all else, sail the seven seas and pirate it🏴‍☠️

in case people weren't aware, BDS has called for a boycott of microsoft gaming products:

Cancel your Xbox Game Pass subscription.

Boycott Candy Crush, Minecraft and Call of Duty – flagship videogame franchises owned by Microsoft.

Boycott all Microsoft Gaming products, including Xbox-branded consoles, headsets, accessories and all games published by Microsoft-owned publishing labels (such as Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Bethesda and Blizzard).

more info on the boycott and microsoft's collaboration with israel from bds' own website. microsoft is directly partnered with the israeli military, providing cloud services and ai technologies that actively contribute to the genocide of palestinians.

bethesda and blizzard are specifically named, but other companies under xbox game studios include mojang and obsidian entertainment - i'm highlighting obsidian here because (afaik) i haven't seen anyone bring them up specifically. i don't mean this in a condemnatory way, i'm an enjoyer of obsidian games myself, i just want to make sure people are aware.

For those who already own the games or the console, the organizers said, the ideal move would be to stop playing, but the primary ask from organizers is to help deprive Microsoft of revenue. Therefore, players can be compliant with the boycott by avoiding future purchases of games or consoles and by avoiding transactions inside the games.

a cultural boycott has not been called for, but there's no avoiding the fact that fandom is effectively free word-of-mouth advertising. i am not here to tell you what to do or act as your moral arbiter, all i can do is give you information and ask you to be conscientious. please refrain from making any new purchases or from encouraging other people to buy games/products that provide revenue to microsoft - consider donating to a gazan mutual aid fund, such as a campaign run by the sameer project instead

[mariacallous]

Kyle Brett had a feeling Sinners, the new supernatural horror from Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, would have a big opening weekend—but he was also hyper aware of the consequences of failure.

“It’s already extremely hard to have a successful original horror movie or just any original movie,” Brett, a former Netflix lawyer who works as a creative executive at Blumhouse, the production company behind M3GAN, Get Out, and the Insidious franchise, tells WIRED. “If that shit had bombed, original film would have truly gone away.”

The night before its US release, Brett predicted on X that Sinners would clear $60 million, based “on nothing but the number of Black folks who have asked me about it.” In the business of Hollywood, nothing is guaranteed, least of all a hit movie that’s based on an untested story. But not only was Sinners a hit, breaking multiple box office records, it’s becoming a full-on cultural phenomenon, complete with memes and literary deep dives.

Perhaps most importantly, it has challenged what’s become conventional wisdom in show business: the idea that audiences won’t respond to original stories.

Sinners has almost everything you could possibly want out of an original film: sex, vampires, a haunting score by composer Ludwig Göransson, and Michael B. Jordan in maybe his best performance yet. The movie opens in Jim Crow–era Mississippi during 1932 and follows identical twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both played by Jordan, who have returned home after time away in Chicago, where they moonlighted as gangsters for Al Capone. They’ve come back to start a juke joint but are put to the test when a coven of vampires encroaches on their new business. Across its two-hour-plus run time, what unfolds is classic Coogler: a lush, complex story about family, community, and survival that dares to reinvent the horror genre into something new altogether.

The premise has resonated with audiences in such a powerful way that Sinners opened with $48 million domestically and $63.5 million globally, making it the biggest debut for an original film since 2019, when Jordan Peele’s Us opened to $70 million. (The anticipation surrounding a new Coogler project likely also played a role.) Sinners likewise surpassed Nope, also by Peele—which pulled in $44 million its first weekend in 2022—as the biggest opening for an original film since the pandemic began. It is now the only horror flick in over 35 years to receive an “A” on CinemaScore.

“IPs are a comfortable, safe bet, but originals, when you have something that right out the gate can connect with audiences, they can have as big a punch,” says Daniel Loria, an analyst at the Boxoffice Company. “That’s definitely what we’re seeing.”

It can still be hard to pinpoint exactly what kind of movie works best in Hollywood these days. The success of big-budget blockbusters—Dune, Barbie, Wicked—aren’t exactly a litmus test of how well the industry is faring or what audiences are ultimately satisfied with. Certain IP, like The New Mutants from 2020, bomb or never take off for a number of reasons; often it has to do with earnings, but poor reviews and studio mismanagement can also be a factor.

“Some franchises are past their best and haven’t performed. This happens every decade or so, which means the studios are looking at new franchise stories to take forward,” says David Hancock, an analyst at Omdia. “A Quiet Place did this. Minecraft may do it.”

Minecraft, a Warner Bros. property, currently holds the top spot at the worldwide box office, with $720 million, and is estimated to eventually top $1 billion. Video game IP is especially hot right now. The Super Mario Bros. Movie, released by Universal Pictures in 2023, topped $1.3 billion. Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog has yielded major dividends for the studio. Until Dawn and Mortal Kombat 2 are also slated to drop this year.

One of the things Sinners got right, Brett says, “is that they treated themselves like they were IP.” That means, per his agreement with Warner Bros., Coogler gets the rights to his film back in 25 years—the type of deal that’s mostly unheard of today. Some studio executives believe it sets a “very dangerous precedent” for copyright ownership and distribution entitlements, Vulture reported, saying it will crater the current power dynamics of the studio system, “effectively imperiling the cinematic back catalogue: the core asset behind all movie-studio valuation.” But “that’s the kind of attitude you need with an original,” Brett says. “It's like, No, this is my intellectual property.”

For a time, a new Marvel epic was a proven seat filler, but the fatigue and declining critical reception around superhero movies that has bubbled up in recent years—a consequence of Marvel flooding the market with comic book IP—means that is no longer the case. Marvel is currently in rebound mode. It dropped Jonathan Majors, who was a rising star in the MCU, in light of his domestic assault case (he was found guilty of two out of four charges), and The Marvels became the studio’s lowest-grossing film across its 33 titles, earning $206 million globally, well below its $374 million budget.

It’s “hard to reinvent that form, and I think this next generation is looking for ways to tell their own stories that service their own sort of collective ADHD,” Avengers: Endgame codirector Joe Russo told GamesRadar+ last year, likening young moviegoers’ communication style to “memes and headlines.”

Not all original films are seeing a huge demand, as the age of streamers has reshaped consumption habits. As of March, movie sales in the US and Canada were down 7 percent this year compared to the same period in 2024, according to Comscore.

In a recent interview with The Independent, director Steven Soderbergh bemoaned that very reality. His latest feature, Black Bag, a spy thriller starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender that was released in theaters last month, has yet to turn a profit; it pulled in $37 million worldwide on a budget of $50 million. “This is the kind of film I made my career on,” Soderbergh said in the interview. “And if a mid-level budget, star-driven movie can’t seem to get people over the age of 25 years old to come out to theaters—if that’s truly a dead zone—then that’s not a good thing for movies. What’s gonna happen to the person behind me who wants to make this kind of film?”

Still, the success of Sinners offers a beacon of hope. It’s currently on track to have a second weekend increase, which “would be much more impressive for a non-IP April release,” Erik Anderson, the founder of Awards Watch, noted on X. It also belongs to a cohort of original films, many centered around identity, from directors that have also found audiences, commercial appeal, and critical acclaim in recent years, including Celine Song’s Past Lives, Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction, Lawrence Lamont’s One of Them Days, and Sean Baker’s Anora, which won Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards.

Hancock predicts the “next decade will see a return to original stories” as a bid to bring in a wider range of audiences.

But the takeaway from Sinners and other movies like it go beyond just IP fatigue, says Brett, noting that these films—and their unique audiences—need to be adequately marketed and prioritized.

“If there is anything Hollywood misses it’s how much Black audiences will continually engage with them,” he says. “It’s not just like this one-time-customer type of thing. People will return to Sinners. The excitement of it, to me, shows that it has a long shelf life.”

[cranberrymoons]

WAIT can you drop some wisdom on changing your life at 32 im 33 and i know SOMETHING needs to happen but i feel so trapped in my life TT TT (also oblogatory i think that buck calls eddie papi as a joke one time but it blows eddies mind and cue buck bouncing & squealing on it etc etc)

hi yes of course! I will acknowledge the privileged position I was in to have the freedom to do this (no spouse, no kids, mediumish financial stability) but to be really honest it was not easy and has not been a straight linear path. it was way more mental work than anything else, and I think the key to success at least for me really has been like a compilation of random things picked up from miscellaneous internet users "don't let yourself give up on yourself" "the time will pass anyway" "your fear of looking stupid is holding you back" "who cares what other people think about what you do with YOUR life" "the things you do during the day is how you are currently spending your life" "do it scared" like these are all random throwaway comments but I have actually repeated them to myself so so so many times. and said them in the mirror. and spoken them out loud in my car while I'm on my way to do something that is really really scary for one reason or another. and they have all genuinely helped me.

long rambling story below the cut lol also the papi thing is not my personal journey tbh but yay forever re buck bouncing on it 😌

about 18 months ago I had the Thing happen to me where your job that's been remote since covid suddenly decides they want everyone to be in the office. and so I had to decide if I wanted to move halfway across the country to do that, or if I wanted to lose my job. woohoo. :)

and so I started thinking about it and it kind of made me realize I actually fucking hated that job 😭 I'd been there for OVER FIVE YEARS and there were so many things I did notttt like that I had just kind of gotten used to? but as soon as I decided I didn't want to move for this job, it was like I could not stop noticing the things that had been like. low level annoying me for a really long time.

and so I started looking for a job and looking and looking and realized like. I don't actually want to do these jobs. the idea of taking another job like the one that I had was literally making me feel sick to my stomach (it was a vague email job where I had like a "project manager" type of title but even though I had that job for 5 years I honestly do not really know what I did all day or what my job really was. one of those like extremely fake office jobs that still somehow manages to give you anxiety because everyone else is always talking about how BUSY they are etc)

and anyway long internal personal journey blah blah blah, I started to say to myself like. you are 31-32 YEARS OLD!!!! it is time to finally be an active participant in your own life instead of just doing what everyone else wants you to do. but also like – okay, so you don't want to do this vague officey email job, but you have to do SOMETHING so what do you want to do??

and eventually I noticed this pattern in my life of like, I have always sort of done the thing that's *next to* the thing I actually want to do. if that makes sense? like – I've always done the thing that "makes more sense" for what people expect of me, or the easier option, or the thing that feels safer. idk. so I was like okay – moonshot, you can do whatever you want, life is just an open world video game (again, I am unmarried and don't have kids, so there's no one directly depending on me to take less risks, which makes this a little easier). if you could do anything, what would you want to do.

and so over the past year and a half, I quit my job, took a pay cut to take an easier/chill fun job in the meantime while I went back to school, started to get super in shape for literally the first time in my life lol, became an EMT, and now I'm planning to start with a fire academy at the end of the summer, which is like 70% something I have actually always wanted to do but was embarrassed about for some reason / 30% hyperfixation so strong it became a profession. which – turns out! – is a profession that I am actually super good at and love in a way that I have never loved a job before. like, looking back at my life 2 years ago it is unrecognizable to what I'm doing now. yay.

[random-autie-fangirl]

The holy quartet of video game narrators which are actually living beings (...and also kinda suck)

[vaguely-concerned]

just for fun this time during 'sea of blood' I counted out all the venatori corpses I think we can be pretty sure were lucanis' handiwork before we show up (not including the ones he kills in his initial cutscene, and with an assumption that he's been at work mainly up and down in the areas we move through until we find him, not behind the locked door -- I think that's mostly the work of rampaging undead and other venatori-hoisted-by-their-own-petard suchlikes). can thus happily inform you lucanis has killed at least 32 venatori before rook and company get there. at least one of them he's impaled on their own weird crystal spike things the venatori mages cast as an AOE attack and that they're trying to keep him contained with when we find him. so he's clearly been keeping busy lol. that's my boy dispensing poetic justice and claiming some enrichment in his enclosure while he's at it good for him!

[lunarharp]

played dragon age 2...just simple scribbles