#1555 words

[snoopyhq]

Can I request smut headcanons where his gn s/o worships Jayce, Viktor, Steb, Vander, Silco, and Ekko's bodies please?

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ the altar is my hips, even if it's a false god

type: misc. arcane characters x gn reader

summary: different body worship with different arcane men

warning: explicit content, mentions of restraints (silk), guided masturbation, mirror play (i think?? idk the name. uh, involves mirrors. viktor's part), implied sex positions, etc. i don't think i can write full blown smut, mainly because i'm not practiced, so i'll try to make it as romantic as i can with extra zealous passion

minors dni, thank you !!!

word count: 1555

a/n: false god is objectively a banger and is one of lover's most underrated tracks.

dividers used made by @/diviniyae

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ JAYCE

he's getting tied to the bedposts

no rope, no handcuffs, no nylon

red silk ribbons adorn his wrists and ankles, contrasting the warm brown of his skin like a trail of your freshly applied lipstick

which is now making its way down the column of his throat

he needs the stability and reassurance

you're restraining his limbs, not to hinder his movement, or as a play on his autonomy, but to hold him down so you could hold him close to you and dote on him like he deserves

he's completely shameless his breathy whimpers and gasps

which is great! it's exactly what you want

you want him to feel safe enough to express himself with you, especially during such an intimate setting

he's the most beautiful canvas in the world, and you're going to turn him into your next masterpiece

he's a marked up mess by the end. lovebites litter his inner thighs and upper body, and god forbid you's skimp out on his neck

each one is a physical reminder of the message you want him to carry with him everyday

i love you, jayce talis. don't you ever forget that

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ VIKTOR

mirror, mirror on the wall. who's the fairest of them all?

it's viktor

this man would be living off work if he could. he doesn't take the time necessary to just spoil himself, so you're taking matters into your own hands

quite literally

after weeks of contradicting schedules, you both have a couple nights completely free

the floor length mirror had its cloth taken off and now stands opposite your shared bed, gleaming faintly in the dim light

you'd taken off his clothes too, slowly, murmuring praises about each newly revealed part of his body

viktor isn't one to blush, but your words always make a softie out of him

you sit behind him, your legs on either side of his as you two look at your reflections. he wants to look away, but your encouragement keeps him from shying away from the revelation of his naked form

your hands find his, and as the jazz music continues its sensual crescendo, you trail them down down down, letting the tips of his fingers ghost over his skin in a featherlight caress

you're kissing his neck and telling him just how great he's doing and how gorgeous he is, and how much he deserves to see himself from your point of view (i love you chappell roan)

his head is thrown back. his soft brown locks are on your shoulders, shifting slightly with his labored breaths as he finally takes the time to love his body the way you always have, with your steady hands over his, guiding his motions and coaxing him to climax

you see now, viktor? can you see just how beautiful you are to me?

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ STEB

i'm sitting here cycling through a myriad of options for him

my first thought was hot springs, but then hmm. gross lowkey. i am a hot springs enjoyer, leave the scenic nature place alone! i berated myself

and then i moved on to a luxury bath

but then i remembered outdoor jacuzzis are a thing, and baths inside in like a house or apartment kind of became boring compared to this

so picture this: outdoor jacuzzi, secluded in the shade of your guys' garden

the giant trees sway in the wind and the sunlight filter through the leaves to create dapples that dance on both your slick skin, your hands on either side of his face as you two move in sync to the slow lapping of the water

he isn't a vocal one, but he has his tells

the way his breath hitches, the half closed eyes, the fluttering his gills when you add extra emphasis on the next roll of your hips

this man's an enforcer (unfortunate)

the stress of work often carries over to other aspects of his life, but he's been trained to remain stoic in the face of adversary

these stolen moments of intimacy are the few times he truly relaxes. be gentle and patient with him, and you'll have him beyond whipped

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ VANDER

the only vanderbilt i know is vander built like the man of mine and sza's dreams

more surface area = more space to love on. btw

being a single dad most of his life is stressful, even more so when you combine it with the leadership needed to keep the lanes in order

the worship you bring him is akin to one for a wine god

you're both getting blacked out wasted

it sounds irresponsible, but hear me out

a space where he doesn't have to be the responsible, upstanding adult in the room, where he can just go buck wild and release his inhibitions? that would fuck so hard, ok

especially having you as his drinking/party buddy

the amount of dirty dancing you'd be getting into with the drinking games available would make a sailor blush

the bedroom is empty, and the commodities of the bar have found their way to this little haven

pour out a cup for this much needed reprieve

maybe upon him too while your clever tongue provides the drunken declarations of love

the only vanderbilt i know is vander built like a fucking snorlax

more surface area = more space to love on. btw

being a single dad most of his life is stressful, even more so when you combine it with the leadership needed to keep the lanes in order

the worship you bring him is akin to one for a wine god

you're both getting blacked out wasted

it sounds irresponsible, but hear me out

a space where he doesn't have to be the responsible, upstanding adult in the room, where he can just go buck wild and release his inhibitions? that would fuck so hard, ok

especially having you as his drinking/party buddy

the amount of dirty dancing you'd be getting into with the drinking games available would make a sailor blush

the bedroom is empty, and the commodities of the bar have found their way to this little haven

pour out a cup for this much needed reprieve

maybe upon him too while your clever tongue provides the drunken declarations of love

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ SILCO

it's a game of tug-of-war

silco is a drug lord and basically rules the underground. he's not relinquishing power without a fight

crafty wit? physical passion? maybe even a game of chess. you choose

the game changes every time, which he finds refreshing and mentally stimulating

it eventually gets to a point where you're finally given the reins

your neck is covered in hickeys and there are scratches down your back by the time it gets there, but they're routine by then

you didn't leave him unharmed either

you may both be panting from the adrenaline and exhilaration, but the true reward comes from the deprivation of senses you love so much

the blindfold goes over, and silco's yours for however long you want to go tonight

you worship him the same way a feral animal would

it's pure instinct and desperation and hurts so good

the consequences can be felt in full later

when you've had enough of your fun, you finally remove the blindfold and let him see the wreck he's made of you, and you of him

make sure to remind him with extra kisses to the left one that he's the apple of your eye, no matter how rotten

aftercare. duh.

he's gotten his hands on the finest creams and bath oils, so you get cleaned and patched up in luxury. rivals a piltovan spa, really

the settle down from such ferocity to something so tame is the perfect balance for your stormy relationship

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ EKKO

worshipping ekko is an event that takes place over the course of the entire day

you've planned it down to the letter

similar to vander, he's in charge of so much and takes care of so many people, so you wanted to be the one pampering him for once

breakfast is brought to him in bed, and the watching the sunrise is a relaxing start to the day

here comes a medley of dates

a walk down his favorite street and hitting the shopping district

you insist he get himself something from at least three different stores

then treating him to lunch before heading off on your hoverboards as you guys race through the sky

back home, you'd put together a skincare basket to do together. the whole routine of exfoliate, moisturize, and then the face masks

you talk about the exciting day you just had, fingers intertwined the whole time until it's time to take the masks-and clothes-off

he doesn't let himself relax often, but around you?

completely gone

you make slow, leisurely love, taking every second as a chance to appreciate him, his body, his voice and that brilliant mind of his

everything about him really

as for aftercare, you'd go to the kitchen, and cook a simple meal to enjoy together before falling asleep right in the living room, too tired to trek back to the bedroom

he's the little spoon tonight

you left no room for argument, wanting to be the one to cradle him close to you and make him feel just as safe and protected as he makes you everyday

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Oaths & Exclamations

lo (Old English) ⚜ spi (c.1225) ⚜ how mischance (c.1330)

by my hood (c.1374) ⚜ by my sheath (1532)

by the mouse-foot (1550) ⚜ what a/the goodyear (c.1555)

bread and salt; by Jove (1575) ⚜ by my truly (1580)

by these hilts; by yea and nay/no (1598)

by the Lord Harry; by the pody cody (1693) ⚜ by jingo (1694)

splutterdenails (1707) ⚜ I snore (1790) ⚜ by hokey (1825)

shiver my timbers (1834) ⚜ by the (great) horn spoon (1842)

upon my Sam (1879) ⚜ for goodness’ sake (1885) ⚜ yerra (1892)

for the love of Mike (1901) ⚜ knickers (1971)

Honour-Related Oaths & Exclamations

aplight (1297) ⚜ by my troth (c.1374) ⚜ on one’s honour (c.1460)

upon my word (1591) ⚜ honour bright (1819)

With Reference to Life or Body Parts

by my life (c.1225) ⚜ by these ten bones (c.1485) ⚜ lifelikins (c.1644)

Imprecations

woe (971) ⚜ woe worth (c.1275) ⚜ dahet (c.1290)

confound; sorrow on (c.1330) ⚜ in the waniand (c.1352)

woe betide you (1362) ⚜ wild-fire (c.1375) ⚜ evil theedom (c.1386)

a pestilence (up)on (c.1390) ⚜ hang; murrain (c.1400)

vengeance (c.1500) ⚜ plague (c.1566) ⚜ maugre (1590)

pox (c.1592) ⚜ rot (1594) ⚜ cancro (1597) ⚜ perdition; death (c.1603)

pize; vild (1605) ⚜ peasecod (1606) ⚜ cargo (1607)

confusion (1608) ⚜ pest (1632) ⚜ light upon (1642) ⚜ deuce (1651)

rat (1691) ⚜ stap my vitals; strike me blind (1697)

split my windpipe (1700) ⚜ rabbit (1701) ⚜ consume (1756)

capot me (1760) ⚜ foul fall (c.1775) ⚜ weary (1788) ⚜ drat (1815)

rats (1816) ⚜ bad cess to (1859) ⚜ curse (1885)

Damn

damn (1589) ⚜ damnation (c.1603) ⚜ damme (1645) ⚜ darn (1781)

dash (1800) ⚜ hot damn (1929) ⚜ dammit (1956)

Mild Oaths

before George (c.1592) ⚜ Gemini (1664) ⚜ dash my wig (1797)

Jiminy (1803) ⚜ Christmas (1897)

Implying Rejection

farewell fieldfare (c.1413) ⚜ twenty-three skidoo (1926)

Foreign Words

parbleu (1696) ⚜ sapperment (1815) ⚜ caramba (1835)

merde (1920) ⚜ sapristi (1932)

The recorded examples above start relatively late, in the 13th century.

People must have sworn as much in the first millennium as they do today (Beowulf would surely have let out something rather more Anglo-Saxon in his various fights than the expressively elegant locutions we know from the poem) but the words would never have been written down.

The lists show an increasingly colloquial character as time goes by, and writers more accurately incorporate the language of everyday into their work.

Source ⚜ More: Word Lists ⚜ Notes & References ⚜ Historical Thesaurus Writing Resources PDFs

[the-reader-insert-gazette]

Now Kiss - F!Reader x Tighnari

Featured Column - Genshin Impact

Reader never thought a kiss would ruin her composure. Tighnari never thought it would undo him completely. And neither of them realize that just beyond the trees, Cyno and Collei are trying (and failing) to stay silent.

✒️ Word Count: 1555

[Name] hadn’t meant for it to matter.

It was a dare, a fleeting, ridiculous moment that should have meant nothing.

But now, sitting across from Tighnari in the quiet of the forest clearing, she couldn't think about anything else.

It had happened two nights ago, during a rare moment of camaraderie in Gandharva Ville. Someone had suggested a game, and before [Name] knew it, she had been staring at Tighnari while the words "Just one kiss" echoed in her ears.

It should have been easy.

She had laughed, rolled her eyes, and leaned in like it was all a joke. Just a second, just a brush of lips before she pulled away, smirking at the stunned expressions around her.

But the second their lips met, the world around them went blank.

Tighnari had gone still, so still that it sent a sharp and unexpected ripple down her spine. She had meant to pull away immediately, but his breath had hitched, and that was all it took for hesitation to creep in.

For a heartbeat, neither of them had moved.

Then, just as suddenly, it was over.

The game continued, laughter filled the air, and [Name] forced herself to act like nothing had happened.

But something had.

Because now, every time she looked at him, she remembered.

She remembered how warm his lips had been, how he had frozen under her touch like he hadn’t expected it to mean anything at all.

And judging by the way he was avoiding her gaze now, she wasn’t the only one who couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Tighnari cleared his throat. “You’ve been acting strange.”

[Name] startled. “Me?”

“Yes,” he said, finally looking at her fully. “You keep—” He paused, as if rethinking his words. “You keep staring at me.”

Her heart stumbled. “I do not.”

He gave her a look. “[Name].”

She swallowed. “I mean—okay, maybe I have, but it’s not—”

Tighnari sighed, rubbing his temples. “It was just a game.”

She knew that. Of course she knew that.

So why did it still feel like something irreversible had happened?

[Name] exhaled, trying to summon the same ease she usually had around him. “Yeah. Just a game.”

Tighnari studied her for a long moment, ears twitching ever so slightly—his tell when he wasn’t convinced.

[Name] forced herself to meet his gaze, to hold it as if she wasn’t unraveling under the weight of it. She had always been good at keeping things light, at knowing when to pull away before things got complicated.

But this?

This was complicated.

Because no matter how many times she told herself that the kiss had been just a game, her heart still betrayed her.

Every time she looked at him, she remembered the way the warmth of him had lingered against her lips even after she had pulled away. And worse—she remembered the way she had hesitated.

Tighnari sighed, breaking the silence first. “You don’t sound convinced.”

[Name] huffed, crossing her arms. “And you do?”

His ears twitched again. "I never said that."

That stopped her.

Tighnari wasn’t avoiding the subject. He wasn’t brushing it off with a casual It didn’t mean anything or pretending he hadn’t thought about it since.

If anything, he was meeting her uncertainty with his own.

[Name]'s fingers curled slightly against her arm. “Then… what are we doing?”

Tighnari exhaled, glancing away as if searching for the answer in the rustling canopy above them. He was always careful with his words—always deliberate, always weighing things before speaking.

So when he finally looked back at her, his voice quieter than before, she braced herself.

“I don’t know,” he admitted.

Her breath caught.

He didn’t know.

It should have made things easier. It should have reassured her that they could both move past this, that it was just an awkward moment between two people who had spent too much time dancing around something they had never named.

But instead, the space between them felt heavier than before.

[Name] swallowed, shifting her weight. “We can just forget it happened,” she offered, the words tasting wrong even as she said them.

Tighnari’s expression didn’t change. But then—so soft she almost didn’t catch it—

“Do you want to?”

[Name] opened her mouth. Closed it.

Because no. No, she didn’t.

But saying that out loud meant everything between them would change.

She forced a small laugh, trying to sound like her usual self. “Why? Do you?”

Tighnari was quiet for half a second too long. Then—

“…No.”

[Name]’s heart stumbled.

Tighnari exhaled, his shoulders relaxing just slightly as if saying it had taken more effort than it should have. “I don’t.”

The words settled between them, final and fragile all at once.

[Name] felt her pulse in her throat, her fingers flexing as she tried to make sense of what this meant.

The kiss had ruined everything—but maybe, just maybe, it had also changed something neither of them had been ready to face before.

She took a slow breath. “So what do we do now?”

Tighnari tilted his head, watching her carefully.

Then, with quiet certainty, he said—

“We stop pretending it didn’t mean something.”

[Name] swallowed hard, but she didn’t look away.

Maybe it was never just a game between them.

Cyno had never considered himself nosy.

He didn’t try to eavesdrop. Really. It just… happened, intentionally.

Especially when it concerned Tighnari.

And especially when said conversation had been unfolding in the middle of Gandharva Ville’s quieter outskirts, where anyone with decent hearing could catch bits and pieces of a conversation that very much wasn’t meant for them.

From his spot behind a thick-leafed shrub, Cyno exchanged a glance with Collei, who was crouched beside him, wide-eyed and gripping the strap of her satchel as if she’d just stumbled into the plot twist of a novel.

“Tighnari…” she whispered, voice barely audible, “just confessed.”

Cyno nodded solemnly. “Finally.”

Collei blinked. “You knew?”

“Oh, I’ve been trying to make this happen for months.”

Collei stared at him like he had just said something completely absurd. “You’ve been wingmanning for Tighnari?”

“Of course.” Cyno adjusted his grip on his spear, peering through the leaves again. “I have been subtly guiding him toward this outcome through carefully placed advice and well-timed interventions.”

Collei’s jaw dropped slightly. “That was you being subtle?”

Cyno frowned. “Yes.”

Collei bit her lip, probably trying to be polite, but Cyno had known her long enough to recognize the slight tension in her expression—the same one she made when she wanted to tell him one of his jokes didn’t land but didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

“…What exactly did you do?” she asked instead.

Cyno exhaled, crossing his arms. “I strategically encouraged group outings where they would be forced to sit next to each other. I made sure [Name] was always paired with him during tasks that required teamwork. I even told him about the concept of ‘accidental hand touches’ as a known courtship method.”

Collei covered her mouth, shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter. “Accidental hand touches?”

Cyno nodded. “It’s a statistically proven method of increasing emotional awareness in potential romantic relationships.”

Collei looked like she wanted to question everything about that statement, but she only whispered, “What did he say?”

Cyno sighed. “He told me I was overanalyzing physical proximity and that I needed to stop reading relationship psychology journals written by scholars with no social experience.”

Collei wheezed, slapping a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound.

Cyno huffed, turning back toward the scene unfolding in front of them.

Tighnari was still standing close to [Name], tail low but flicking in a way that made it very, very clear that he was barely keeping himself together. [Name], on the other hand, looked torn between bolting and leaning in even closer.

Cyno leaned slightly toward Collei. “I also arranged the game night that resulted in them kissing on a dare.”

Collei whipped her head toward him, eyes huge. “That was you?”

Cyno nodded. “I calculated that with the correct level of peer pressure and an environment with minimal escape routes, a forced moment of contact would—”

Collei groaned, putting her head in her hands. “You are so bad at being subtle.”

Cyno frowned. “Tighnari didn’t suspect anything.”

“That’s because he refuses to believe you’re capable of matchmaking.”

Cyno hummed. “He is very wrong.”

Collei shook her head, but before she could respond, Tighnari suddenly shifted, tilting his head toward where they were hiding.

Cyno immediately grabbed Collei by the wrist, pulling them both lower behind the shrub.

[Name]’s voice carried through the clearing. “What is it?”

Tighnari narrowed his eyes, scanning the tree line. “I thought I heard something.”

Cyno held his breath.

Collei also held her breath—but mostly to stop herself from laughing.

After a moment, Tighnari shook his head. “Probably just wildlife.”

Cyno exhaled quietly.

Collei gave him a look, one that very much said we should leave before you ruin everything.

He was about to agree—except then [Name] reached for Tighnari’s hand again, fingers brushing against his wrist, and Cyno knew if they left now, he might never hear how this played out.

So instead, he very carefully adjusted his position, making sure to catch every word.

Because if he had spent months working toward this outcome, then he deserved to witness the result.

Editor's Note: Cyno is their #1 shipper change my mind.

[ltwilliammowett]

Silver circular seal-matrix of the Muscovy Merchants, with a semi-circular handle with moulding on edge. The Coat of arms: ship surmounted by lion and two roses. Date and legend with foliate scrolls between the words Refugium Nostrum in Deo Est ("Our Refuge is in God") Made in England, 1555

[artandthebible]

The Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple

Artist: Ludovico Carracci (Italian, 1555-1619)

Date: c. 1605

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, on deposit with the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)

Description

The episode of the Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple is only recounted in the Gospel of Saint Luke. The passage in question mentions the principal figures depicted here in the foreground. These figures are Simeon, the old man with his head covered who leans forward to receive the Christ Child in his arms and who would not die until he had set eyes on the Saviour, as the Holy Spirit had told him; Anne, holding a stone tablet with the words of Simeon; and the Holy Family. The modest offering of a pair of small turtledoves is located in the middle-ground, visible in a gap between the Virgin and Saint Joseph where the birds’ brilliant white plumage makes them a striking element. Following the Gospel account, the scene takes place on the steps that lead into the temple and Carracci remains close to the biblical text.

[megs-bee]

Fic: A Winter's Night, Merry and Bright

Some holiday fluff and fun with our favourite ghosts and cats, during their first December post-canon. Written for the Catwin Discord's @catwinter holiday prompt event. 🐈👑👻🔎

A Winter's Night, Merry and Bright

(1555 words) by megs_bee

Chapters: 1/?

Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Relationships: Cat King/Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne Tags: Post-Canon, Gift Giving, Christmas, Fluff, Catwin - Freeform, Catwinter Event

Summary: This year, it isn’t just Edwin and Charles anymore, hidden away or on the run. They have new friends, freedom from the threat of Hell and Death, and their entire afterlives ahead of them. And speaking of new friends…

“Do you mind if I step out?” he asks to the room at large.

“Did we forget something at the shops?” Charles eyes the office decorations consideringly. “We don’t have a lot of room left.” Edwin smiles. “It’s not that. I daresay we’ve decorated plenty.” He collects a pair of bags printed with stars and snowflakes. “I merely have a gift to deliver."

❄❄❄

[junkdrawerfics]

First Date

Part 5 of Series of Firsts

Previous

Summary: Jasper takes you on your first date, but getting to it is a little more up and down than you expected. Worth it though.

Words: 1555

Note: definitely not what I planned to write, but I think I like it!

---

He knocks. For the first time since you really became friends, Jasper knocks on your front door. He doesn’t scare you at the window with that stupid smirk or wait outside by his car, far away from your father.

He knocks.

And when you stumble down to the first floor landing, there he is, with his charming smile and the stupidly nice dark blue button-down that you’ve always loved. And there your father is, laughing. Actually laughing. You blink. Your father and the boy you like, who happens to be a vampire apparently, getting along…

Now it really feels like you’re in a different world.

The racket you make draws the attention of both men.

You freeze, giving them an awkward smile, “Hi, uh, did I, am I interrupting?”

“Just having a man to man chat with your prospective boyfriend here,” your father chuffs, slapping Jasper on the back.

Your face goes tomato red, “Dad!”

“Alright, alright,” he snickers, holding his hands up innocently as he backs into the kitchen, “I’ll let you kids have your fun.” Right before he slips away though, he gives you a not too subtle wink and whispers, “He seems like a keeper, sweetpea.”

You groan, wishing you could just melt into the floor. Mortified. You are absolutely mortified. Leave it to your dad to find the best way to embarrass you in a moment like this.

When you look back to Jasper, he’s giving you one of those wolfish grins, one dark eyebrow perked.

“And what do you think, darlin’,” he drawls, voice low and teasing, “am I a keeper?”

“I- You- Stop. No, I’m not answering that.” You trip all over your words, not quite able to make your voice steady. If only he’d stop looking at you that way. It’s hard to even think when he looks at you like that.

Jasper can’t help but soften at the completely flustered look on your face. Your heart is racing so fast, it almost worries him. Gently, he brushes his fingers along the small of your back, using his ability to sooth your frayed nerves as he leads you outside.

“I hope you’re not nervous about our date,” the blond murmurs, tone serious.

You sigh, fiddling with the hem of your blouse, “How could I not be?”

“It’s simple.” He traces his hand around your waist, bringing you to face him. You bite your lip, sight trained on your feet until Jasper places a finger under your chin, tilting your face up. You look at him, eyes so wide and doe-ish, his still heart melts. “You, darlin’, can do nothing to change my mind, so I don’t want you worryin’.”

You frown, heart fluttering, “Nothing?”

He traces his fingers along your cheek, his touch gentle and cool. You can’t stop your eyes from fluttering shut, another sigh passing your lips.

“Absolutely nothin’. I’m afriad I’ve already decided you’re a keeper.”

A snort escapes you. Just like that, the rest of your worries disappear. You peer up at him, trying to keep the smile off your face. You haven’t even gone on the date yet, but you’re already being swept off your feet. As if you weren’t swept off your feet on the very first day you met and every day after that.

“You, sir, are ridiculous.”

“You’re not nervous anymore,” Jasper points out cheekily.

You look down again as the smile finally breaks out across your lips, “No. Now I’m just wondering what else my dad said to you while I was getting ready.”

“Nothin’ much.” He shrugs, leading you over to his Ducatti. “Just that he’d string me up if I did anythin’ to hurt you.”

Of course. Your dad has always been a bit protective. He was probably joking…hopefully. Your brow furrows as a sudden thought hits you.

“Can you guys even get hurt?” You ask as Jasper passes you a helmet and a leather jacket.

“Not in the ways you may think,” he replies, “Most of what the world thinks is wrong.”

“So silver doesn't hurt you?”

“No.”

“Garlic?”

Jasper smirks, “No.”

“Sunlight?” That one, you’ve been wondering about. You’ve never seen the Cullens on a sunny day.

“Not quite,” he hums, climbing onto his bike.

You hop on behind him. “But it does affect you?”

Jasper purses his lips. He’s not sure he wants to admit to the whole sparkling thing. It’s not like you’d hate it, you had a strange pension for loving strange things after all. Like him. But maybe it can wait for another day.

So he settles with a small, drawn out, “It does…”

But you’re curious now, propping your chin on his shoulder with an innocently intrigued look, “How?”

The motorcycle suddenly revs to life under you, making you jump. Instinctively, you drop down to the seat and wrap your arms around the vampire’s waist. Jasper chuckles, the sound vibrating through his body so deeply you can feel it.

“Hold on tight, darlin’.”

You squeal as the bike takes off. Like all the Cullens, Jasper drives like a madman, going just a little too fast, taking turns like a drag racer. And even though you’ve ridden with him countless times, your pulse still races, your knuckles going white at his waist as you try to bring yourself as close as possible to him.

The forest blurs around you, turning into a canvas of green and brown smudges that you can barely make out as you fly down the street. It’s all but impossible to keep track of where you are, where you’re going, especially when a particularly sharp turn makes you snap your eyes shut and hide your face against his back.

You only dare peek out when the bike comes to a slow stop. Blinking the blur from your eyes, you let the world come back into focus, and what you see makes you gasp.

Part of you was expecting a simple dinner, like he said. A fancy restaurant maybe, humming with people and dimly lit. You were definitely not expecting a candle-lit picnic looking out over your town, the setting sun painting the sky with vivid reds and oranges. It makes the trees around you seem to glow, just like the candles scattering the ground around the thick blanket he laid out.

“How did you have time to do this?” You breathe, foot catching on the seat when you try to gracefully slip off of it.

Jasper catches you before you can go reeling into a tree, lips twitching with amusement, “My kind isn’t quite as limited by time as yours is.”

You give him a grateful smile, “So you’re fast?”

“Faster than a bullet, darlin’.”

“Wow. Okay, okay, then how about strength?” You lean towards him, all the questions that have been floating in your mind coming to the surface. “All the articles said vampires are, like, crazy strong. Could you lift me? Wait no-” Too easy. What’s something a really strong person couldn’t lift? “Could you lift the bike? Or a car?!”

“I could.” Jasper has to bite back a chuckle at the absolutely wide-eyed look you give him. It’s like a kid first discovering the world, disbelief and awe mingling in the air around you.

“That’s amazing,” you say, voice pitching up, “I can’t believe this. Any of this. It’s so beyond crazy.”

Jasper turns suddenly serious, drawing you close by the hand you didn’t realize he was still holding. You hesitate, mouth going dry at the proximity. His nose is practically touching yours and you can feel the coolness of his breath on your lips.

“Are you sure you want to be a part of this?”

Head tilting, you let your eyes linger on his face for the first time. You’ve never had the confidence to look, actually just look at him. He’s gorgeous. Dark brows, sharp jaw, and eyes like the sun setting behind him. Not a single blemish or wrinkle. And yet, you can read the concern written there with shocking ease. And the hope.

It makes your heart ache with something warm, knowing you both feel the exact same way about this.

You squeeze his hand, giving him the softest, sweetest smile, “I’m sure, Jasper. I know I should probably be scared, or at least freaked out, but, I don’t know, I’m just…not.” Your heart beats like crazy, making you feel almost nauseous as you finish, “You’re still you. And I’m still me. And I just, I think we’ll make a good we. I hope. So, I’m…I’m all in, Jasper. Is that okay?”

Jasper wishes he could drown in your timidly soft affection.

Tenderly, he raises your hand to his lips. It’s a ghost of a touch, like a brush of a cold breeze, leaving your skin tingling ever so pleasantly. His next words are a mere whisper against your skin.

“More than okay, darlin’. I’m all yours til the day I die.”

“Aren’t you unable to die?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“...good.”

The colors of the sunset did little to match the color on your cheeks as you sat down for the picnic. And the shine of the stars that come out cannot compare to the glitter in your eyes as you spend the whole night talking, asking questions, and sharing stories.

It may be the best first date you’ve ever had.

—-

Hope you guys liked this! I honestly didn’t know how to write the actual date part, so imagine what you will :) love y’all!

[oldiesstationlover11607]

Absolutely adore your work! It never fails to make my day <3

I was thinking a josh x drummer reader! Maybe they drum for a pop punk band so they're in similar scenes and josh has just been admiring and pinning for them, I don't have a specific era or anything in mind! Just something fluffy with the drummer boy <3

WWWY - Josh Dun x Iero!Reader

Warnings: none hehe

Word count: 1555

A/N: I've been watching all the WWWY videos and thinking about MCR and PTV a lot recently so here's a cute little fic about a pop punk drummer and Josh being at WWWY fest :)

The sun was setting behind the Las Vegas skyline, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple as I slid my drum sticks into my back pocket. We’d just wrapped our set on one of the smaller stages at When We Were Young Fest, and I was still riding the adrenaline high, my hands tingling from the final drum solo that I’d nailed—thank god. As the drummer for Neon Rebellion, I’d been dreaming of playing a festival ever since I first picked up a pair of sticks and plastered my bedroom walls with posters of all the bands who were now, somehow, my peers. It still felt surreal.

I wiped the sweat from my brow and grinned as I caught sight of a familiar face—my uncle Frank. He was talking to Mikey, and as I walked up to them, they both turned to greet me with warm smiles. Mikey gave me a little fist bump, and Frank pulled me into a quick, sweaty hug.

“Hey, Y/N, you killed it out there!” Frank said, his voice loud enough to carry over the hum of conversations and the distant echo of whatever band was rocking the main stage. “It’s so great to see you making music hun. You’re just like me!”

“Yeah, you guys sounded great,” Mikey added, nodding approvingly. “How’s it feel to finally play a festival?”

“It feels like a dream,” I admitted, brushing a strand of my damp hair out of my face. “I feel like I’m going to wake up in my room any minute now.”

“Nope, you’re definitely awake.” Frank grinned and ruffled my hair. “And you’re not going back to bar gigs anytime soon.”

I laughed and swatted his hand away. “Yeah, yeah, you’re right. This is just… huge. Thanks for all your support.”

He waved me off, looking almost embarrassed. “You don’t have to thank me. You did this all on your own, kid. We just knew you were gonna be a star.” He shared a proud look with Mikey, who nodded in agreement.

“Speaking of stars, though,” Mikey said, gesturing over my shoulder. 

I furrowed my brow and turned around, only to find myself locking eyes with someone I recognized immediately—even though I’d never met him in person before. My breath hitched, and for a second, I thought I was hallucinating because Josh Dun was walking toward us. Like, Josh freaking Dun. I must have looked like a deer caught in headlights because Frank chuckled under his breath and patted my shoulder.

Josh had this shy, nervous energy about him as he approached, his eyes flicking between me and my uncle, almost as if he was worried he was intruding on a family moment. His red hair stood out against the dark fest grounds, and he wore a faded band tee that I couldn’t quite make out. There was a nervous smile tugging at his lips, and it was like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with his hands—he shifted awkwardly for a moment before tucking them in his jean pockets.

“Hi, um… Y/N?” he asked, his voice a little hesitant, almost like he was testing out the sound of my name.

“Yeah,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fact that my heart was beating faster than the double-kick I’d just played on stage. “Hi.”

“I’m—well, I’m Josh,” he said, then laughed at himself. “Obviously. Sorry. I, uh, caught your set earlier, and I just wanted to tell you that you were amazing. Like, really amazing. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

I felt heat rising to my cheeks, and I cursed myself internally for getting flustered. “Oh, wow, thank you! That means a lot, coming from you. I’m a huge fan. Your band was one of the first that made making it seem possible to me.”

Josh’s smile widened at that, and I thought I saw a hint of relief in his eyes. “Really? That’s awesome. I actually, um… I’ve been following you guys for a while. You’ve got this insane energy on stage. It’s super cool.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. Josh Dun, a drummer I’d idolized for years, was standing here, telling me that I inspired him. It was almost too much to handle, and I felt my mouth go dry. Mikey stepped in to ease the tension, giving Josh a friendly nod.

“Josh, good to see you,” Mikey said, extending a hand. Josh shook it quickly, and they exchanged pleasantries, but I barely registered their words because my mind was still reeling. I managed to glance at Frank, who gave me a knowing smirk before stepping back with Mikey to give us space.

“So,” Josh said after a moment, shifting a little closer. “I noticed you’ve got some pretty unique gear. You’re using custom cymbals, right? I thought I heard a different kind of tone during that breakdown.”

He leaned forward slightly, and suddenly we were deep in conversation about drum gear—the exact sizes of our snares, the brands we swore by, how to get the perfect tone for different genres. I told him how I loved experimenting with hybrid kits, and he shared how he modified his drum pads to get the right sound for live shows. We geeked out about drumming techniques, the struggles of keeping up with intense touring schedules, and even laughed about mishaps during sets.

At some point, Frank and Mikey wandered off, leaving us alone. The festival buzzed around us, the noise a constant backdrop to our conversation, but it felt like we were in our own little world. Josh was so easy to talk to—passionate and animated when discussing the intricacies of drumming, but gentle and attentive when he asked me about my experiences on tour.

“You know,” he said, after what felt like no time at all, “I’d love to catch some sets with you, if you’re up for it. There are a few bands playing tonight that I really don’t want to miss.”

“Yeah, that sounds fun!” I agreed, trying not to sound too eager. “Who do you want to see?”

“Well, My Chem are playing soon so we should definitely head there later,”” he said with a lopsided grin. 

My heart skipped a beat. “I’d love to,” I said, barely able to contain my excitement. 

We spent the next few hours wandering around the festival, squeezing through the crowd to get the best view of some of my favorite bands. Pierce The Veil, Sleeping With Sirens, Taking Back Sunday—it was like reliving my teenage dreams, but with Josh by my side. When the time came for My Chemical Romance, he guided me to the side stage, his hand brushing mine for a moment before we stepped into the chaotic world of backstage passes and crew members.

Frank saw us as we approached and shot me a teasing look. “So, Josh, you finally managed to pull her away, huh?”

“Frank!” I groaned, feeling my face flush, but Josh just laughed.

“She’s a tough one to impress,” he said, sending me a sideways smile that made my heart flip. “I had to pull out all the stops.”

“Good luck,” Frank said, winking at me before turning his attention back to the stage, where Gerard was getting ready to kick off the set.

I felt a flutter of excitement in my chest as Josh and I took our spots at the side stage, the bright lights from MCR’s setup casting long shadows across our faces. I’d seen them play a million times before, but something about watching from here, with Josh leaning close to make comments about the drum technique or to share an inside joke, made it feel completely new.

The set was electric, every song hitting me harder than the last. There was a moment during “I’m Not Okay” when Josh and I both looked at each other, grinning like idiots as we sang along at the top of our lungs. It was the kind of moment I knew I’d never forget.

As the last notes of “Helena” faded out and the crowd roared their appreciation, Josh turned to me, his eyes catching the dim lights of the stage. “So,” he said, a little breathless from singing and shouting, “can I… take you out for real sometime? Like, a date?”

I stared at him, feeling my heart hammering in my chest. “Yeah,” I said, almost too quickly. “I’d like that. A lot.”

“Awesome,” he said, grinning so wide that his eyes crinkled at the corners.

Before I could say anything else, Frank reappeared, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Well, well, well,” he teased. “Looks like someone’s got herself a date with a rockstar.”

“Shut up,” I muttered, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks.

Josh just laughed, looking over at Frank with a playful expression. “Hey, you know what they say,” he said, nudging me gently. “It’s all about the drummers, right?”

“Right,” I said, feeling a warm glow in my chest as I looked back at him. “It’s all about the drummers.”

And as we stood there, watching the stage lights fade and the crew begin to break down, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be—right here, in the heart of the music, with Josh by my side.

//

REQUESTS OPEN

[ao3feed-piltovers-finest]

Pain of the Past

by cricket_thestarman

Vi hasn't gotten her period since she was a teenager, too focused on survival. Until she lives with Caitlyn and she no longer has to fight for her life.

Words: 1555, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Arcane: League of Legends (Cartoon 2021)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F

Characters: Vi (League of Legends), Caitlyn (League of Legends)

Relationships: Caitlyn/Vi (League of Legends)

Additional Tags: Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, i think, There's definitely comfort, Periods, it's sweet i swear, Caitlyn is in love with Vi (League of Legends)

Read on A03. from AO3 works tagged ‘Caitlyn/Vi (League of Legends)’

[the-fiction-witch]

Mr Crown P5

Media - Morbius Character - Lucien Crown Couple - Lucien Milo X OC Reader - (OC) Anastasia Morton (Assistant) Rating - 18 + Smut - Sex toy discussion / sexual launague Word Count - 1555

Lucien smiled as he felt her lean her head on his shoulder, her breath coming in small gasps as she tried to recover from the intensity of her orgasm. He loved the way she looked, her skin flushed, her eyes glazed over with desire. He took his hand from under her dress, bringing it to her chin and tilting her face up to his. "You're absolutely gorgeous, darling," he whispered, his gaze roaming over her face, taking in her flushed cheeks and the satisfied look in her eyes.

"I uh ... I assume I should arrange things for a visit to your new lodge?"

Lucien chuckled, his hand still holding her chin, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw. "You assume correctly, darling. I fully expect you to make all the necessary arrangements. I'll leave that in your very capable hands." He let his hand fall from her chin, his fingers trailing down her neck, his gaze fixed on her eyes. "And I have a few specific requests for what I'd like you to arrange," he added, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

she nodded sitting up and letting out a breath doing her best not to reveal what had happened, she grabbed a small notepad and pen from her purse "Yes sir?

"I have a few specific requests for the lodge. Firstly, I want it fully stocked with the finest food and beverages. I'm not talking about your average grocery store fare. I want the best of the best - the finest champagne, the most expensive whisky, the most exquisite caviar."

"yes sir," she nodded making a note on her pad "The lodge is in Canada so I could get it specifically stocked with specialist Canadian items? Or we can bill the import fees of us items over the border though crown transports our own internal company and thus not pay the actual fees"

Lucien nodded a satisfied smirk on his face. He was pleased that she was already thinking ahead and making detailed notes, as usual. "Good girl. I appreciate your attention to detail. Let's do both - stock the lodge with some Canadian specialities, and have our imports sent through Crown transports. We can certainly afford a few extra fees to ensure we get exactly what we want." He paused for a moment, his eyes roaming over her body, the way the dress clung to her curves.

she nodded "next request?"

Lucien allowed himself a moment to admire her body again before speaking, his mind already moving to his next request. "Next, I want the best entertainment. A top-of-the-line sound system, a state-of-the-art home cinema, and a library stocked with the best books and movies. I'm talking about the kind of entertainment that will make us never want to leave the lodge. And, I expect you to arrange for some... private entertainment as well," he added, his eyes glinting with something between mischief and desire.

she continues making her notes "Private entertainment sir?"

Lucien chuckled, his smirk widening at her question. He could see the blush spreading across her cheeks as she asked, and he knew she understood what he was talking about.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, darling," he said, his voice low and seductive. "I want the lodge to be equipped for... our intimate encounters. Make sure the rooms are well-appointed with the finest linens, the most comfortable beds, and the most romantic atmosphere."

she nodded slightly blushing "Outwardly equipped or ... Less obviously" she asked basically asking how openly he wanted the lodge stocked for their romantic stay, usually somewhere between candles, roses and hidden boxes of toys to well condoms on every surface, and a dungeon set up in one bedroom

Lucien chuckled, amused and aroused by her question. "Let's go with a mix of the two, darling," he said, leaning back in his seat one arm over the back of her chair. "I don't want it to be so obvious that just anyone could figure it out, but I do want it to feel personal and intimate like the lodge is designed specifically for us, and what we like to do together."

she nodded "next request?"

Lucien chuckled, enjoying the way she was following his instructions so obediently. He paused for a moment, thinking of his next request. "Next, I want the lodge to be secluded. I don't want any neighbours within miles, and I don't want any uninvited guests dropping by. Make sure all the security measures are in place - cameras, motion sensors, the works. I want it to feel like we have the entire lodge to ourselves."

she nodded as she knew the usual level of security for a properly Lucien actually used "anything else?"

Lucien shifted closer to her, his hand moving to her thigh, his fingers tracing circles on her skin through the fabric of her dress. He could feel the heat coming off her body, his mind already imagining all the things they could do in the secluded peace and quiet of the lodge. "Just one more thing, darling," he said, his voice dropping to a low, seductive purr. "And this one is more of a request for you personally." He leaned in closer, his mouth close to her ear, his breath hot against her skin. "I want you to bring your best wardrobe, darling," he whispered, his fingers moving higher up her thigh, his hand sliding under her dress again. "Pack all your most beautiful dresses, your most provocative lingerie, and anything else you think would... excite me."

"yes sir" she agreed "anything else?"

Lucien chuckled, his hand continuing to tease her through her dress, his touch becoming more brazen. “And your new jewellery. Incase I want to take you out and show you off. Or… I just want to see you in it,”

“Yes Lucien,”

"That's all, darling. You have your tasks - stock the lodge, arrange for transportation, and pack your wardrobe. Make sure everything is perfect for our stay at the lodge. I expect nothing less than excellence from you."

"awww Lucien" she cooed grabbing her phone and the folder of paperwork for the lodge confirming they owned it and all the details "This is what you pay me for" she smirked already getting to work in the middle of the gala

Lucien chuckled at her comment, admiring her ability to multitask. He knew he paid her for her efficiency and organizational skills, but he was still impressed by the way she could handle so many tasks at once. "That's true, darling," he agreed, his hand finally leaving her thigh as he leaned back in his seat to watch her work. "But don't think for a second that I don't also have you around for other reasons."

"do you?" She chuckled

Lucien smirked and leaned back in his chair, his eyes roaming over her body with an appreciative gaze. "Darling, you know very well that I have you around for a variety of reasons. Your organizational skills and efficiency are certainly valuable, but so are other... attributes which you possess." He let his eyes linger on her body for a moment, his gaze roaming over her curves and the way her dress hugged her figure.

she chuckled as she worked "When do you want to arrive at the lodge?" She asked so she knew the time frame she has to work with,

Lucien thought for a moment, his mind already picturing the two of them in the secluded, intimate setting of the lodge. "As soon as possible, darling. I want to get away from here and spend some time alone with you in that lodge as soon as I can." He paused for a moment, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "How quickly do you think you can have everything arranged?"

"I can... Have us leave by tomorrow morning?"

Lucien's smirk widened into a grin at her words. The thought of leaving so soon and having her all to himself was extremely appealing.

"Excellent.” He paused for a moment, his gaze roving over her body again, his mind already imagining all the things he could do to her once they were alone in the lodge.

she nodded already making arrangements on her phone with multiple people to ensure the place was set up, their bags packed, and everything was prepared with the plane

Lucien watched her work with a sense of satisfaction. He loved the way she managed to get things done quickly and efficiently, and he knew that she would make sure everything was perfect for their stay at the lodge. He couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and desire as he thought about the secluded, intimate setting of the lodge and all the things he was going to do to her once they were there. "You're doing a great job as usual, darling," he said, his eyes still roaming over her body as she worked.

She chuckled before hanging up her phone, “Got workers setting it up, Marshal is flying out in an hour to supervise with the card, he’ll leave when we land, The plane is set, everything is sorted other then our own packing,”

“You are magic you know that?”

“I’m good at what I do,”

“I know,” He nodded, “Come on, let's head back so we can… get cosy and prepped for our little getaway,”

“Yes Lucien,” She agreed giving his cheek a kiss before she got up to get organised for them to leave.  

Commissions here

[ao3feed-superbat]

Inside the mind of a man in love

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/zHQFe6c by eden_3 Bruce and Clark have been too busy to talk, let alone hook up. Bruce is pretty sure it's over, until it feels like it's not. Words: 1555, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Series: Part 3 of Inside the mind of Superbat Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, Superman - All Media Types Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Damian Wayne Relationships: Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne & Damian Wayne Additional Tags: Love Confessions, Jealousy, Fluff, Clark Kent Loves Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne Loves Clark Kent read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/zHQFe6c

[fics-not-tragedies]

Bad Habits: Chapter Two

prologue - one - two - three - four - five - six - seven - eight - nine - ten - eleven - twelve - thirteen - fourteen - fiveteen - …

@andyrubei you give the best motivational comments I've ever received, love you boo! ❤️‍🔥 New parts coming Saturdays and Wednesdays.

Words: 1555; Warnings: lots of Italian pet names, perhaps some drinking; Summary: You finally cave in and dance with Santino;

Readers tag list:

@marytvirgin; @penwieldingdreamer

Chapter 2: “The Dance”

Without a word, you nodded, sliding off the barstool as Santino extended his hand. His fingers closed around yours, firm but not forceful, guiding you toward the dance floor. The crowd seemed to part around him as he moved, as if the universe itself conspired to clear the way. 

The music pulsed louder, the bassline vibrating through your chest as he turned to face you. His hands rested lightly on your waist, his touch confident but not invasive. You felt the heat of his body through the thin fabric of your clothes, the proximity sending a shiver down your spine.

As you moved together, the rest of the world disappeared. There was only the rhythm, the heat, and the intensity of his gaze. For a moment, you allowed yourself to surrender to it, to lose yourself in the moment. But even as you danced, a question lingered at the edge of your mind, persistent and unshakable.

What would happen when the music stopped?

But as for now the rhythm of the music seemed to sync with the beat of your heart, each movement blurring the lines between instinct and intention. Santino’s hands guided you effortlessly, his touch firm but not overbearing, as though he knew exactly how far to push before it became too much. You hated how easily your body responded, how quickly the tension from earlier dissolved under the spell of his presence. 

His eyes never left yours, even as the crowd pressed in closer, the bodies around you moving in chaotic synchronization. It felt like you and Santino were locked in a bubble of your own making, the rest of the world reduced to a haze of lights and sound. His confidence was infectious, a silent encouragement that made you feel weightless, uninhibited. For the first time in what felt like forever, you weren’t thinking about tomorrow or the consequences of tonight. 

But then, as you twirled under the dim, shifting lights, a flicker of doubt sparked at the back of your mind. You’d come here to escape, not to be swept into something you couldn’t control. And Santino? He wasn’t just another face in the crowd. There was a gravity to him, a magnetic pull that felt less like chance and more like intention. 

“What are you thinking, bella?” His voice cut through your thoughts, low and intimate, just loud enough to be heard over the music. He leaned in slightly, his breath warm against your ear. 

You hesitated, unsure how to answer. Did you tell him the truth? That his presence both thrilled and unsettled you? That you couldn’t decide if this was fate or folly? Instead, you settled on something safer, a half-truth. 

“I’m thinking this isn’t what I expected tonight,” you admitted, your voice steady despite the way your heart raced.

Santino pulled back just enough to meet your gaze, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Life’s better when it’s unexpected, bella” he said, his tone casual, though his eyes betrayed a deeper meaning. “Don’t you think?”

Before you could respond, he spun you again, his hand catching yours as you turned back to him. The movement was smooth, practiced, like he’d done this a hundred times before. You landed against his chest, your breath hitching as you felt the solid warmth of him. He didn’t let go of your hand, his thumb brushing lightly against your palm, a gesture so subtle it sent a shiver down your spine. 

“I have a feeling,” he continued, his voice softer now, like a secret meant only for you, “that tonight is just the beginning, bella.”

You tried to ignore the way his words sent a thrill through you, tried to remind yourself that this was nothing more than a fleeting moment—a distraction. But Santino had a way of making everything feel larger than life, like he was offering you more than just a dance. Like he was offering you a choice. 

And then, just as quickly as the thought came, a shadow passed over his face. It was brief, barely more than a flicker, but it was enough to make your stomach twist. For the first time, you wondered if the allure you felt toward him was only the surface of something deeper, something darker. 

The song changed, the tempo slowing, and the crowd around you shifted. Santino’s hands lingered on your waist, his touch grounding you in the moment. “Do you trust me?” he asked, his voice a low rumble, almost lost beneath the music. 

The question caught you off guard, and for a moment, you could only stare at him. Trust? The word felt loaded, heavy with implications you weren’t ready to unpack. 

“Why would you ask that?” you said, your voice softer now, your earlier confidence faltering.

His smile returned, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Because trust is the only thing that matters,” he said, his tone lighter, almost playful. “And because sometimes, it’s the only thing that keeps us safe, bella.”

The words hung between you, their meaning elusive but undeniable. A chill ran down your spine, and you found yourself searching his expression for answers you weren’t sure you wanted to find. Was this still a game, a flirtation? Or had the stakes just changed?

The weight of his question lingered in the air, making it hard to think, let alone speak. The pulsing beat of the music faded into the background, leaving only the thrum of your heartbeat and the piercing intensity of his gaze. Trust. It was a simple word, but the way Santino said it made it feel like a warning wrapped in a dare.

Your instincts screamed for you to pull away, to reclaim the distance you’d lost. But your curiosity—and something deeper, more primal—held you rooted to the spot. There was something undeniably magnetic about him, a pull you couldn’t seem to break, even as unease whispered at the edges of your mind.

“I don’t even know you,” you said finally, the words slipping out before you could stop them. They sounded defensive, almost accusatory, but it was the truth. Who was Santino, really? A stranger in the night, a fleeting connection—or something more?

Santino’s smirk returned, softer this time, almost fond. “True,” he said, tilting his head slightly, his dark eyes still locked on yours. “But isn’t that part of the fun? Trust doesn’t always come from knowing. Sometimes, it’s a feeling. A leap, bella.”

He took a step closer, his hands still resting lightly on your waist, his presence swallowing the space between you. “And you… you don’t strike me as the type who plays it safe.”

Your breath caught at his words, at the way they seemed to burrow under your skin and latch onto something raw and unspoken inside you. Was he right? Was that why you’d come here tonight, to step out of the neat little box your life had become? To feel alive, reckless, unchained?

But Santino wasn’t just a reckless choice. He was… more. And that “more” felt both exhilarating and dangerous.

“You talk like you know me,” you said, your voice steadier now, though your heart still raced. “But you don’t. Not really.”

His smile widened, and for a moment, it was disarming, almost boyish. “No,” he admitted. “Not as much as I want to. But I’d like to know more of you, bella.”

There was something about the way he said it—so matter-of-fact, so certain—that it left you momentarily speechless. The rest of the club seemed to fade entirely, the music and the lights and the crush of bodies dissolving into a distant hum. It was just you and Santino, locked in this strange, electric moment.

“Why me?” you asked, the question escaping before you could second-guess it.

Santino’s expression shifted, his smile fading into something quieter, more thoughtful. For the first time, he seemed to hesitate, as if weighing his words. “Because you’re different, bella” he said finally, his voice low, almost reverent. “You don’t even realize it, but… there’s something about you. Something that pulls people in.”

His eyes darkened, the intensity of his gaze making your stomach twist. “But you don’t let them get too close, do you? You keep them at arm’s length, always afraid they’ll see too much.”

Your breath hitched, his words cutting too close to the truth. How could he know that? How could a man you’d just met read you so clearly?

“I’m not afraid,” you said, though the words felt hollow, more a reflex than a conviction.

Santino’s smirk returned, softer this time, almost sad. “Aren’t you?” he murmured, his voice barely audible over the music.

The vulnerability in his tone, the way he said it like he wasn’t just talking about you but about himself too, sent a jolt through you. Before you could respond, he released your waist and took a step back, his hand outstretched between you.

“Let me prove it,” he said, his voice steady, his expression unreadable. “Let me show you there’s nothing to be afraid of, bella.”

Your eyes dropped to his hand, hovering there like a challenge. Every instinct screamed for you to walk away, to turn and lose yourself in the anonymity of the crowd. But something stronger, something reckless and defiant, urged you to take the risk.

[dhr-ao3]

No Words Needed

No Words Needed https://ift.tt/C3ZLYsi by ReadstheRoom Hermione Granger doesn’t speak. Not one noise has spilled from between her petal lips since she’s entered the castle for eighth year and Draco Malfoy wants, no, needs to understand why. or Hermione’s vocal cords are shredded and damaged by extensive exposure to the Cruciatus Curse. Draco and Hermione must learn to communicate eighth year as they move past years of trauma and misunderstood feelings, comparing scars seen and unseen. Words: 1555, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/M Characters: Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Luna Lovegood, Theodore Nott, Harry Potter Relationships: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy Additional Tags: Speech Disorders, Muteness, POV Draco Malfoy, Protective Draco Malfoy, Falling In Love, Fluff and Angst, Eventual Smut via AO3 works tagged 'Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy' https://ift.tt/tZmzJTn January 02, 2025 at 10:45PM

[lifblogs]

Have You Heard of the Venomous Twirfang?

Day 6 of Neurodivergent Tech Week Prompt: Special Interest @neurodivergent-tech-week

Rating: General Audiences Word Count: 1555 Summary: Tech and Omega are repairing the Marauder, and Tech gets the chance to infodump about an animal he finds interesting. READ ON AO3

“Wait, does it really have one hundred teeth?” Omega asked with a delighted smile on her face, pressing against the crate before her, leaning in.

Tech looked over at her from where he was repairing the ship, a wonderful delight filling him at the thought that she was interested, that he was able to talk, and talk.

“Spanner?” he requested.

Omega handed it over in a flash.

“And yes, one hundred teeth,” he told her, imagining the large creature in his head. “Picture multiple rows of needles. The venomous twirfang has muscles just underneath the gums that it uses to gyrate the teeth, further shredding its prey.”

“Whoa. How do you know all this?”

Tech adjusted his goggles.

“I take special care in learning about the creatures in the galaxy. I find them fascinating.”

“So is the venomous twirfang aggressive?” Omega asked. “I mean, it must be since it has so many teeth, but does it only attack if provoked, or does it hunt?”

Tech smiled, a wonderful thrill filling his chest. “Oh, it hunts all right. Though, I will say I don’t quite understand why it has venom. The venom is only on the teeth, which by that point, you’re dead anyway. Perhaps to incapacitate its prey to make an easy meal for it—I know some snakes do something similar, or even constrict their prey to keep it still while they eat it whole. But I digress. The venomous twirfang could have possibly just had a useless trait from evolution. After all, most lifeforms have something like that.”

Omega was rifling through the tools, like she needed something to do with her excitement.

He handed her back the spanner, and asked for the solder.

She gave it to him, and he was soon fixing some faulty wiring that had been giving them trouble with life support.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Have you ever wondered why humans have an appendix?”

Omega put her elbows on the crate, her chin cupped in her hands, a thoughtful expression on her face that Tech was happy to see.

“Oh. Huh.”

“So, as I was saying, there are useless traits, which the venom might be one. Perhaps it helped at one point—hmm, maybe the teeth were smaller, or there were less of them. The mouth could have been smaller too.”

He straightened as an image of what the creature might have looked like thousands of years ago entered his mind. He pictured something smaller, slimier, maybe even without its four eyes.

Tech had the urge to find a data retrieval center so he could dig into this.

“Oh, perhaps there weren’t muscles under the gums!” he added.

“Do you have a holo of it?” Omega asked. “It sounds weird.”

He gave her a grin, and got back to the soldering work. “The word I would prefer to use is fascinating. And yes, I can show you after dinner”

“Sweet. So what else does it look like?”

“Well, picture a fish, but it has legs. Six of them.”

“Six?!”

“Yes. The large amount of legs is necessary to move its considerable, round mass across swampy land. The feet have thick webbing between the toes to help it not get stuck in the swamp.”

“What does it get out of living in a swamp?”

Tech couldn’t stop thinking, couldn’t stop smiling. Someone hadn’t asked him this many questions about his special interest in quite some time. To be fair, they were busy running from the Empire, but his mind was busy with this; always busy with something.

“It feasts on smaller predators, and some large prey. It blends in well with the landscape because of its green skin. I do believe it fits in the class of amphibian, actually. So it has slick, slimy skin.”

Out of the corner of his eye Tech saw Omega scrunch up her face in disgust, and he almost laughed.

“It tends to sit halfway in the water, halfway on land, waiting for its prey to approach unknowingly. When it moves towards prey it can move fast thanks to its six legs. They are deceptively long, letting it make leaps one wouldn’t expect.”

Omega fiddled with the welding torch, and— Oh no, Hunter would not like that.

He promptly took it from her, and put it on a crate on his other side. She gave him a disappointed look, but with a raise of his eyebrow she ended up letting out a huff, letting it go. He almost expected an eye roll, having seen similar expressions on lifeforms countless times through his recordings. The slight pinch to her eyes showed that she was just a hair from doing so, that she was resisting.

“The venomous twirfang mates by—” He glanced at Omega, a twelve-year old. Sure, she probably knew a bit about her own reproductive system at this point with puberty, but…

“Never mind,” he said, blushing slightly. Right, not everyone wanted to hear how creatures mated.

But it was so interesting! The venomous twirfang was able to change its sex to suit the needs of a potential partner. There was even documentation of males carrying the eggs. And there was at least one more documented sex, and a hypothesized fourth one, though those studies hadn’t been well corroborated seeing as, well… the top researcher had died getting too close during the mating (which was often violent).

He did his best to search through the catalogue that was his mind for something else to talk about regarding the venomous twirfang.

Ah!

“They have gills on their stomachs that let them breathe underwater during the long hours waiting for their prey.”

Omega started patting her own stomach, and he couldn’t help but find it highly adorable.

“Gills on the stomach,” she repeated, words punctuated with emphasis as she thought it over.

“Yes.”

“I wonder where humans would have gills if we needed them.”

“You’re not going to like that answer,” Tech immediately responded.

Omega leaned in again, so much so the crate tipped, and he held out a hand to steady her. She didn’t seem to notice.

“Oh?”

“Well, if we look at how gills work and how they need access to the lungs, and based on human metabolism, they’d be on the chest.”

Omega’s eyes widened and she looked at Tech’s chest, then her own, horrified.

“All over the chest, in fact. We would not have any free space. They’d be large for our blood supply.”

I wonder where the breast tissue and mammary glands would go then. Hmm… Perhaps the stomach in this case.

Omega shuddered, perhaps imagining what he was, and how gills looked when they were at work, the way they moved.

“Oh gosh, okay.”

“Would you prefer if I tell you how many lungs the venomous twirfang has?”

She nodded.

“Four. Usually it only has two lungs at work, but the other two act as reserve lungs for situations that require more oxygen in the blood, such as the rare times they chase after their prey, or are attacking something because of a perceived threat to their habitat. And mating,” he added. “It also helps with injuries. It has been documented that the venomous twirfang has been able to survive while missing two of its lungs, or with injury to two. If one of their lungs is infected with something or is decaying due to prolonged illness they can actually rework it through their body into their stomachs where they can purge it through the mouth.”

Omega’s eyes were wide. He hoped with wonder, because that was certainly what he was feeling.

“Wow,” she breathed. “That is the grossest thing I’ve ever heard.”

He paused in his work, gesturing at his chest. “Worse than the human gill thing?”

“Way worse.”

“Oh, um…”

“Cool.”

Tech inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

It went on like that, Omega asking questions, Tech answering them, and they finished the repairs in a little under an hour.

She was helping him carry the crates of tools back into the ship, the sun setting, and Tech couldn’t help but feel not just a sense of accomplishment about a job well done, but something deeper, something special.

He was content. Actually, he was more than content.

During dinner at Cid’s place, everyone sitting around a table, and enjoying surprisingly lovely fried food that perhaps did not meet military nutritional standards, Hunter nudged Tech.

“You’re in a good mood.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Only you could be in a good mood from repairs,” Wrecker said.

Tech nodded because it certainly was true. He loved doing work like that, loved using his mind in a way that felt like he was delving deeper or stretching it, coming to new conclusions, new solutions, new thoughts, new ideas. It was invigorating, it was fun. But today it was more than that. He felt light, giddy, like he had released something and it was met with wonder.

“You get in a good mood from building explosives,” Echo pointed out.

“Yeah, of course I do,” Wrecker said. “Duh.”

“Well, it was more than the repairs,” Tech began.

Omega immediately put her food down, slammed both hands on the table (subsequently rattling their cups and plates), and stood, leaning towards all of them.

She asked, breathlessly, “Have you heard of the venomous twirfang?”

[artandthebible]

Adoration of the Magi

Artist: Jacopo Bassano (Italian, 1510–1592)

Date: c. 1555–1560

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Austria

Adoration of the Magi

With his rural scenes and their convincing realism, Jacopo Bassano brought a new accent to Venetian painting. At the same time, in his finest works including this one, he proved himself to be a leading exponent of Mannerism at the height of that period. With extremely bold contrasts of colour and refined design, he unexpectedly paints realistic details and abstract motifs right next to one another.

What the Bible says about the Magi or three Wise Men

We assume that there were three wise men because of the three gifts that were given: gold, incense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). However, the Bible does not say there were only three wise men. There could have been many more. Tradition says that there were three and that their names were Gaspar/Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar/Balthazar, but since the Bible does not say, we have no way of knowing whether the tradition is accurate.

It is a common misconception that the wise men visited Jesus at the stable on the night of His birth. In fact, the wise men came days, months, or possibly even years later. That is why Matthew 2:11 says the wise men visited and worshiped Jesus in a house, not at the stable.

We know that the magi were wise men from "the East," most likely Persia, or modern-day Iran. This means the wise men traveled 800 to 900 miles to see the Christ child. Most likely, the magi knew of the writings of the prophet Daniel, who in time past had been the chief of the court seers in Persia. Daniel 9:24-27 includes a prophecy which gives a timeline for the birth of the Messiah. Also, the magi may have been aware of the prophecy of Balaam (who was from the town of Pethor on the Euphrates River near Persia) in Numbers 24:17. Balaam’s prophecy specifically mentions a “star coming out of Jacob.”

The wise men were guided to look for the King of the Jews by a miraculous stellar event, the “Star of Bethlehem,” which they called “His star” (Matthew 2:2). They came to Jerusalem and asked concerning the birth of Christ, and they were directed to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:4–8). They followed God’s guidance joyfully (Matthew 2:10). When they arrived in Bethlehem, they gave costly gifts to Jesus and worshiped Him. God warned them in a dream against returning to Herod, so, in defiance of the king, they left Judea by another route (Matthew 2:12).

So, the magi were men who 1) read and believed God’s Word, 2) sought Jesus, 3) recognized the worth of Christ, 4) humbled themselves to worship Jesus, and 5) obeyed God rather than man. They were truly wise men!

[lemoncrushh]

Cubicle // 5) Tonight

STORY PAGE

Word Count: 1555

Roni

I was barely in the door properly when I heard my ringtone chime. I hurriedly dropped my bag on the floor, pushed the door shut with my foot and grabbed my phone which displayed Harry's name.

"Wow, that was fast," I breathed.

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't you just leave work?"

"Actually, I haven't left yet," he explained. "I'm walking to my car as we speak."

"You model employee," I quipped.

"I wouldn't go that far." I could hear the smile in his voice. "But I wanted to get your address so I can put it in my phone."

After I gave it to him, he reminded me he'd be here at eight. As I hung up, I felt the butterflies begin to flutter in my stomach and I got goosebumps. Not from nerves per say, but from a slight release of sexual tension, knowing that I was finally getting a chance to be alone with Harry.

I stripped off my clothes in the bedroom and turned on the shower, stopping for a moment to look at my reflection in the mirror. I'm not vain, but I'm proud to say I like my body. I wouldn't consider it perfect, but I've worked hard to keep it fit and toned. I have curves like any woman, and I'm not ashamed to flaunt them.

In the shower, I lathered up my body head to toe, imagining the places I might just let Harry touch this evening. I ended up getting myself quite worked up but decided against going any further with my own fingers. I wanted to reserve myself for Harry. I shaved my legs and underarms thoroughly, as well as the edges of my pubic area. Some people like to shave it all, but that's just never been my cup of tea. It makes me feel prepubescent and a little too Lolita-ish.

I dried off with a towel and walked back to the bedroom, examining the contents of my closet. I had decided not to stress previously over what I would wear tonight. Last minute decisions tend to work best for me. I pulled out a little black dress that I adore with a swing skirt and spaghetti straps. Harry hadn't told me where we were going, and I hadn't asked, but I figured this little number would work with just about any scenario, not to mention drive Harry crazy.

I grabbed from my drawer the only undergarment I would need, a black lace thong. Then I slipped the dress over my head and stepped into my favorite black heels. I applied my make-up the way I always do. The guy sees me at work every day, there's no sense is shocking him with a clown face. Then I curled my hair only slightly at the ends with my flat iron, letting the tendrils fall softly on my shoulders. Finally, I dabbed a little bit of perfume on my wrists, behind my ears, and down my throat to the bottom of my cleavage. Taking one last look in the mirror, I smiled at myself.

Harry

The truth is, I was a nervous wreck. I've never been this nervous before a date. I'm always so cool, calm and collected, but something about Roni is different. I don't know, it's as though she's got my head spinning. On the way to her place, I stopped at the florist. Something tells me Roni's not your typical red rose girl, so I opted for a bouquet of stargazers that smelled amazing.

I stopped my car in front of her building and made my way up the stairs to her flat. My palms were sweaty, so I quickly wiped them down the front of my jeans, rotating the flowers in each hand. Then I took a deep breath and knocked on her door. Seconds later, Roni opened it, standing before me like a Playboy model in the hottest little dress she could have possibly worn. I felt myself salivate and I temporarily lost my speech.

"Good evening, Harry," she smiled, breaking the ice. "Don't you look handsome."

I let out a breath and blinked. "Thanks. You look beautiful." My voice was raspy and barely audible.

"Thank you," she said as she looked down at her dress. "I hope this is okay."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I let slip out before thinking. With her eyes wide open, I apologized. "Sorry, it's just...you look incredible."

Her eyes then twinkled as she smiled and beckoned me inside. I stepped into the open living area as she shut the door behind me. Everything was a palette of white on dark wood, with splashes of black and light blue. It was all very calming.

"Oh!" I exclaimed when I remembered the flowers. "These are for you."

Another sexy grin grew slowly across her face as she took the bouquet from me and sniffed them.

"How'd you know, Harry?"

"Are they your favourite?" I asked.

With a wink she turned slightly to the right and revealed a stargazer lily tattoo on her left shoulder. Of course, I had never seen it before because her work attire covered it up.

"What are the odds?"

"It's fate," she declared as she turned around and headed towards the kitchen. "Just let me put these in some water, and we can go."

I internally cheered to myself, proud that I not only had gotten something right, but I'd been dead on. Roni returned with the flowers in a tall clear vase. She sat them down in the center of the coffee table and grabbed a small handbag that was sitting near the edge.

"Ready?"

"After you," I nodded and gestured toward the door.

Roni opened it and I followed her back into the hall, waiting while she locked up. I let her walk ahead of me down the stairs, mostly so I could watch her. Fuck, she's so gorgeous. I knew I would have a hard time keeping my hands to myself tonight. I already wanted to touch the skin that I had no doubt was incredibly soft. Even the click of her heels on the wooden stairs was erotic.

When we reached the bottom, I opened the door for her and led her out to my car. When I held the car door, she said thank you and as she brushed past me, I got a whiff of an intoxicating aroma. I groaned as I walked around to my side. As soon as I got in, I glanced over at her legs. Just like my fantasy, only this time her skirt wasn't tight. The way it flowed actually showed more of her legs and it was hot as hell. Possibly catching me gawking, she adjusted her dress, but not so it showed less skin. Bless her.

"So where are we going, Harry?" Roni inquired as I turned the key.

"La Colombe d'Or," I answered in my best French accent.

All I heard was silence so I turned head towards her. Her eyes were huge and her jaw was open.

"Is that okay with you?" I asked.

"Well, yeah, but...Harry," she began and then dropped her voice, "It's so fancy. And...expensive."

"So what? You're not worth it?"

I looked at her again and she gave me the cutest puppy dog eyes. Then she sat back in her seat, resting her head against the headrest with a satisfied look on her face.

Roni

I think the whole idea of keeping a man waiting is total bullshit. He's asked you out, he's coming to pick you up. The least you can do is be ready when he gets there. So I was just sitting on the couch watching the telly when Harry knocked on the door.

My heart almost burst out of my chest like in a cartoon when I saw him. He was dressed in black jeans, a shirt that was such a dark blue it almost appeared black, and a black jacket. His shirt was unbuttoned to the middle of his chest and for the first time I noticed he had tattoos there. I couldn't tell quite what they were yet, but I was determined to find out.

The best part was the way he looked at me. I could tell the dress had been a good decision. When I invited him inside, he handed me the flowers he had been holding. Stargazer lilies are my absolute favourite. So far, this date was going splendidly.

I knew he was checking out my ass on the way down the stairs. I can tell he does that a lot at work too, but I don't mind. When he opened the car door for me, I made sure I touched his arm as I got in. Then I adjusted my dress but not too much. Harry liked what he saw, and that knowledge gave me tingles everywhere.

When I'd asked him where we were going, I was not expecting the answer he gave me. La Colombe d'Or! It's French for The Golden Dove. A super swanky restaurant that I've only been to once with my ex, Roland. Ugh, why did I have to think about him? No, he's no Harry. I can tell that much already. I sat back in my seat, ready for the evening to officially begin.

A/N: Sorry these early chapters are so short. I didn't really write long chapters back then. I usually wrote blurbs that were around the same length, but I never kept up with the word count lol. I think as the story moves along, the chapters get longer.

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