#ADM Glass

[uravitypng]

big beefy number one pro hero deku is absolutely smitten with you, his chubby little girlfriend, and yeah you're a little bit of an airhead sometimes but that makes you all the more endearing to him.

prior to meeting you he used to feel embarrassed whenever he'd ramble too long about heroes or quirks. after some time people would drown him out after he started his disjointed babbling, not wanting to listen to him ramble. with you it's different, the first time it happened he went to apologise to you. jirou once told him he should try and apologise if he realised he did it to strangers afterwards- especially now that he's a pro hero.

so he goes to stammer out an apology after realising he spoke to you uninterrupted about all might's golden age for five minutes and you tilt your head and giggle at him. izuku draws in a breath. "why are you apologising deku? i really liked hearing you speak. what about his other ages?"

izuku felt like he was malfunctioning, "what?"

you bite your lip to stop yourself from giggling again. who knew pro hero deku is so cute? "like the silver age and the bronze age? are those all the ages or is there like a platinum age too?" izuku grins, you're so interested in what he has to say he can't help it. "wait was is all might's quirk again? he's like strong right? that's his quirk."

izuku pauses for a second before barking out a laugh. you pout and glare at him feigned annoyance. 'she's so adorable and ditzy. i need to speak to her again.'

you constantly praise him, not just for hero work either, and ever single time it makes his entire face red. it doesn't matter that you've been dating for four years now and izuku's brought an engagement ring, he still gets flustered with all the compliments.

people compliment him all the time, it comes with the job, but when you do it it means so much more. " 'zuku you're so brave!" "i don't understand this at all izuku, can you explain it too me? you're the smartest person i know." "you're so pretty." "your hair is so soft." "you're the best hero ever!"

a light sheen of sweat covers your forehead after being manhandled by your boyfriend into the cowgirl position, he loves holding onto your love handles and moving you up and down on his cock, with each bounce your body jiggles. you'll lay in bed with your face buried in his chest as you trace the scars on his arms with your fingertips lightly, "you're so strong izuku." you turn to face him and your chubby cheeks lift as you smile. "i'm so proud of you." his heart skips a beat. he's never loved anyone more than he loves you.

izuku gets possessive of you, he doesn't like people touching you. you're his. before you he never thought he would be jealous or possessive but then you came into his life and he nearly broke the glass of champagne he was holding when he saw todoroki talk to you. he knows todoroki doesn't like you like that, he's liked yaoyorozu since ua but he was too close to you and izuku hated it. his legs moved before he could think, walking up to you both with a forced smile on his face. he wraps his arm around your soft waist, tightly, and kisses your forehead. you smile sweetly at him and lean into his body. izuku brought you home earlier than you thought he would that night, holding onto your thick thigh with one hand while his other hand is on the steering wheel, driving you both home.

his jealous nature was cemented a week after when he saw kaminari talking to you. not just talking to you- flirting with you. if izuku was holding a glass like he was last time he most certainly would of smashed it in anger. you don't even realise what kaminari is doing and izuku knows you don't.

you listen to him talk intently and nod your head, you smile at him and laugh at his jokes. to some people they would think this would be you flirting back but you're not, you're just trying to be nice. kaminari has decided to talk to you and you want to be kind and listen to what he has to say and izuku has really admired that quality about you but right now he wishes you could pick up on the clear signs that kaminari is giving you.

izuku snaps when he sees kaminari look at your cleavage and glance at your body, his eyes lingering on your plush thighs. his voice is strained as he pulls you away from kaminari making some half-arsed, offhanded excuse as he takes you home immediately.

when he saves a small child and he gives them his award winning grin all he can think about afterwards is you. 'who are our kids going to look like? will they have my freckles? or maybe her hair? if they're half as cute as her they'll be the cutest kids ever.' he's already planning their bedrooms and his eyes drift to the baby clothes section at stores.

your boyfriend has the biggest breeding kink known to man and you get reminded of that as he folds your body into a mating press and groans deeply in your ear, "can't wait to see your soft body get softer puppy, promise i'll look after, you won't have to lift a finger." you loudly whine, grabbing hold of his large arms, every thrust causes a loud slapping sound with how wet you are. "you're gonna look so pretty puppy. i'm going to pump you full, make sure you don't spill any for me, just like the good girl you are."

izuku adores you and you feel exactly the same about him.

[swankii-art-teacher]

Oh fun, a spy story... looking forward to Aelin and Rowan being at each other's throats. Sounds like fun...

A Dangerous Match — Chapter 1: Homecoming

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Summary: Aelin Galathynius works alone. From car chases to covert sabotage, she is the best spy the B.A.N.E. has ever seen—she just wished someone would tell Agent Whitehawk that.

A classic spy dramedy featuring forced proximity, bickering, gadgets, world-saving missions, smut, and a happily ever after! Basically the Hating Game with Spies.

Masterlist Read on AO3

~2100 words

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Aelin Galathynius stood before the Royal Palace, cold mountain wind whipping through her hair, bringing the scent of sunlight and pine trees to her nose.

It was good to be home. 

She started up the stone steps, strutting one black high heel after another, passing by tourists and security, flashing little more than a badge to get inside Terrasen’s most important political building. 

It said she worked in the “verification department.” Aelin smirked. That department didn’t exist.

The palace was bustling, politicians and assistants skittering across the marble entry hall that functioned as a lobby. They parted for her like water as she went, skin-tight black dress marking her as different, tan from her months away painting her as a traveller.

Little did they know.

She rounded an ornate corner, heading for the Great Library. Another flash of her badge, another nod from security, and she was inside, navigating the labyrinth of stacks to the beat of her steadily clacking footsteps. Rainbows of light sparkled through the stained glass windows, rays of sun produced columns of swirling dust.

It was a beautiful sight. The perfect place to read. But it wasn’t why she was here.

Aelin walked to the very back of the library, popular and useful books long having faded away. Her destination? International translations of cowboy novels. An aisle that rarely had visitors. Not one that she would ever choose a book from.

But she skimmed her fingertips along the uncreased paperback spines, jumping from cover to cover until her index finger notched on just the book she needed.

Aelin cast a glance over her shoulder in both directions. Nobody was here.

She pulled the book out just an inch and heard a click. With a whir and a delicate rumble, the books started shaking, and the shelf, which had looked so permanent and untouched just seconds ago, rolled to the side, revealing a tight, metallic elevator.

She stepped inside, doors quickly closing behind her, and leaned over, pushing her eye up to the retinal scanner. Then she held her breath.

��Agent Fireheart,” the computer announced. “Identity confirmed.”

A whoosh of relief left her lungs. Aelin wasn’t going to be vaporized today.

 The elevator rattled and started its journey down. There were no buttons, it would take her where she needed to go on identity alone. Sixteen floors lived beneath the Royal Palace, each one more secret than the last. Even the people on floor fifteen didn’t know sixteen existed. 

When the elevator got to the very bottom, Aelin stepped out. She was greeted by sleek black tile, security cameras, and the B.A.N.E. crest—the symbol of the agency she worked for. 

Once, Aelin had thought to ask what it stood for. She was told she didn’t have clearance to know.

“Welcome home, Aelin,” the dark-haired receptionist said warmly, standing from her seat behind the desk with a salute. When her formal hand came down, a grin took over her face. 

“Thanks, Elide,” Aelin said, smiling back as she paused at the desk. Her fingers found purple spotted leaves spewing out of a terracotta pot. It was new. “Nice plant.”

“It’s Wyrdleaf.” Elide—Agent Oracle—smirked. “I’m growing it for Lysandra.”

Aelin dropped the leaf immediately. Lysandra—Agent Leopard—only accepted missions that involved poison. “Good to know.”

Elide chuckled. “They’re all waiting for you in Ops.”

Aelin winked and pushed off from the reception desk. “Can’t leave them hanging too long can I?”

She strutted down the main hallway, dipping at every heavy steel door to scan her retina. When she reached the final set of doors, wooden and more for civility than security, Aelin paused and shook out her shoulders. 

“Today’s a big deal, you guys,” she whispered to the massive portrait of her parents on the opposite wall. Or at least, she was pretty sure it was a picture of her parents. The faces were blurred out.

“I’ve finally completed enough missions to get that promotion.” Her dad’s redacted face looked proudly down at her. “I know it’s not as cool as falling into a volcano like you guys did,” she pressed her palm to the portrait’s glass, “but when Lorcan retires, I’m going to run this place. I’m finally going to continue the Galathynius legacy.”

It was her lifelong dream, second only to dying by getting sucked into an airplane jet while skydiving. 

Her parents were her idols and they were the greatest spies ever. Her dad had started as an agent for Terrasen, her mother an agent for Wendlyn. Two spies, who swore they’d only ever work alone, accidentally assigned to the same international mission. Somewhere between bickering over clues and reluctantly saving each other from bad guys, Rhoe Galathynius and Evalin Ashyver had fallen in love. And then, while Evalin was pregnant with Aelin, they’d started the B.A.N.E.

It was the single best spy story in history��not that history kept track of such things—and Aelin was going to follow in their footsteps.

Except for the romantic thing. She’d long decided all of the eligible bachelors in her workplace were idiots.

She smiled once more at her parents. “Wish me luck.” And then with a dramatic flourish, Aelin pushed open the doors that led to the hub of the B.A.N.E.

Ops was packed with people and computers and beeping sounds, but all of that faded away when the clapping started. Aelin’s smile was so wide it hurt her cheeks as her colleagues, friends, and fellow spies swarmed her.

“There she is!” Fenrys—Agent Wolf—shouted as he lifted her up in a hug and spun her around. “The legend that completed the Staghorn Mission!”

Aelin howled with laughter and slapped his shoulder. “Anyone could have done it,” she said as he put her down.

“Are you kidding me?” Dorian—Agent Ocean Eyes—replied. “Even us analysts read the mission notes, Aelin! The way you stopped those nuclear bombs with the Morphotron 3000 was brilliant.”

“You’re not wrong,” Aelin conceded with a grin. It had been fucking genius.

The rest of her friends gave her hugs and congratulations, asking questions about the Staghorn mission, taking turns telling her that she’d done the impossible. Lysandra even offered up a vile of poison as a congratulatory gift. Aelin accepted all the praise she could hold, even getting a reluctant nod from Chaol—Agent Salad.

Until the crowd cleared and she noted one irritating presence was missing. 

“No buzzard today?” she asked Fenrys as she noted their colleague’s empty desk.

Fenrys gave her an awkward smile. “You know Agent Whitehawk doesn’t like to show up for these things.”

Aelin pursed her lips together. She definitely knew.

Agent Whitehawk was the worst, most obnoxious, attention-seeking asshole that Aelin had ever had the displeasure of working near. Not with. She worked alone and so did he. Which in his case was for the greater good because nobody should have to suffer his obsessive professionalism.

Agent Whitehawk was the only agent who refused to share his real name. Names are against the rules, Agent Fireheart! And the only one that would actively cover his ears if you ever tried to properly introduce yourself. He was an insufferable stick in the mud, and he was rude about it too.

Aelin hated him.

But she’d hated him long before she knew what a stickler he was. No, Agent Whitehawk had done his best to secure her disdain on the very day they’d met, three years ago.

It had been the day of her homecoming from the Amaroth Mission, one of the most pivotal successes of her entire career. She’d walked in to the cheers of her colleagues, only for Agent Whitehawk to materialize five minutes later and steal her limelight. Everyone had been far more interested in the new guy than her record-breaking mission, and what Aelin had hoped would push her career forward, had fizzled out. Thunder stolen.

Agent Whitehawk didn’t even care that he’d done it, and now, he hated her so much that he always worked from home on the days that Aelin returned from her missions.

But for some reason, Lorcan—Agent Stormcloud and current head of the B.A.N.E.—liked him. Because Agent Whitehawk was the only other spy that was nearly as good as Aelin. They were the only two in the agency that could do the impossible missions. They were so black-ops that their names were redacted even from the Directory—a list of all of the B.A.N.E.’s operatives and assets that could only be decrypted by a special device called the Lock.

Aelin and Agent Whitehawk didn’t exist on paper. And she’d considered more than once what would happen if she were to make it so that he didn’t exist at all.

“Good riddance,” she muttered, dropping her purse down onto her desk. Of course, Lorcan had seated her and Agent Whitehawk right next to each other. “Saves me the trouble of putting salt in his coffee.”

Aelin tried to do that as much as she could.

Fenrys laughed knowingly, and she took a seat on the edge of her desk. Dropping her voice low, and crossing her legs so that her dress fell just right, she asked him, “Any interesting intel on upcoming missions?”

Fenrys was their head analyst, the data he collected kicked off every mission. And Aelin had discovered that when you asked for a mission before anyone else even knew about it, Lorcan was likely to say yes.

Maybe it wasn’t totally fair to Fenrys—as much as she loved him, he was one of the idiots she would never consider dating. But they were spies. Manipulation was part of the game.

Her friend’s gaze dropped down briefly, and he cleared his throat. “You just got back.”

Aelin smirked. “You know I like to keep moving.”

“I do,” he chuckled. “But no, there isn’t anything coming. We’re going through a quiet period.”

She frowned at that. Boring.

“Lorcan wants to see you anyways. Maybe you can stay in one place long enough to debrief on your last mission?”

“You’re an asshole,” Aelin snorted. But she got to her feet and headed for Agent Stormcloud’s office.

Overlooking Ops through a massive one-way mirror, Lorcan’s office was the coolest space in the B.A.N.E. It was the best view you could have 16 floors underground, and had once been the office of Aelin’s parents. 

She could still remember, as she lifted her fist to knock on the door, the time she’d melted her dad’s computer with a laser gun. It was one of her first and most cherished memories.

“Come in,” a gruff voice answered.

Aelin did, throwing open her arms for a dramatic hug that she knew Lorcan would not rise to accept. “Did you miss me?”

He managed a huff of a laugh. “Only until you got back.”

She plopped into the chair across from him, smoothing her hands over the giant black steel desk. “You wound me, Agent Gloomy.”

Lorcan sighed. He didn’t even bother fighting the nickname. “Good work on the Staghorn assignment,” he said, flipping open a folder. “Talk me through what happened.”

They always did this. Written statements, followed by in-person conversations. Lorcan liked to catch every detail and document it. When Aelin was done with the recap, he said, “This is your”—he squinted at the papers—“40th mission correct?”

Aelin sat taller. “Yep.”

“And how many have you failed again?”

She tried to smother her smug smile, but in the end, it was just too hard. “Zero.”

Aelin had never failed a mission.

Lorcan’s lips twitched like he already knew that answer—and her desire to shout it from the rooftops. “It’s very impressive, Agent Fireheart. Your parents would be proud.”

She swallowed hard. “Thank you, Agent Stormcloud.”  Aelin opened her mouth to mention that she was ready for more, that she deserved a promotion when—

“You have the second highest score for completed missions in the entire agency now.”

Her jaw dropped. “Excuse me?” she blurted. “Who has more—” 

Aelin didn’t finish her sentence. Because she fucking knew.

That bastard.

“As you’re aware, I’m retiring soon,” Lorcan said, moving past her shock. “It’s going to be very difficult to decide who will take my place. There are a lot of strong candidates at this agency. But keep up this good work, and I think your name will definitely be in the ring.”

Aelin wondered if he noticed her eye twitching. “Thank you, sir.”

“Now get out of here. Enjoy your success,” Lorcan instructed with a wave at the door. “And don’t forget about tonight’s banquet. The prime minister of Terrasen is going to be there, and if we want to keep our funding, we need to charm him.”

Aelin nodded. “I’ll be there.” She turned to leave.

“And Aelin?”

She paused, glancing over her shoulder. Lorcan was grimacing.

“No funny business with Agent Whitehawk tonight, understand?” he said—pleaded? “No pranks, no fighting. Just be professional.”

Aelin grinned and opened the door. She assured him as she went, “I’m always professional, Agent Gloomy.”

______

AN: This is going to be such a fun one! I can't wait for you all to meet Agent Whitehawk and for the bickering to ensue. Not sure what the posting schedule will be, I'm trying to keep things a little more casual than when ETL and S&D minorily consumed my life. But I really miss posting every week, so we'll see what happens!

I'm imagining it being about 80k words (an exercise in conciseness for me!)

Not gonna do a tag list for this one, but to get updates when I post, follow @heirofflowerswrites

[blakeswritingimagines]

I'm So Glad You're Finally Mine

Summary: Meeting your idol at a bar and getting his personal attention.

Warnings: Heavy petting, Public sex. mention of drinking but nobody is drunk, Fingering, Nipple play if you squint and tilt your head, No protection,

Word Count: 4.1k

You had walked into a bar one night when you spotted a few hockey players sitting in a booth nearby. Your stomach fluttered as you recognized one of them as Nico, the player you had always admired from afar even before your brothers joined the Devils. Nico was one of the most talented players in the league, and he was just as gorgeous in person as he was on the ice. You took a few deep breaths to steady yourself before walking over to the booth. As you approached, Nico looked up and your eyes met. Nico's gaze lingered on you for a moment, taking in your beauty and confidence. He gave you a warm smile, showing off his cute smile. "Hey there, can I help you?" His voice was deep and smooth, sending shivers down your spine. He gestured to the empty seat across from him, inviting you to sit down.

You returned Nico's smile, feeling your heart rate increase at his smooth, deep voice. "Sure," you replied, hoping your voice didn't betray your nerves as you took a seat across from him. The other hockey players around the table glanced at you curiously, but Nico's attention remained fixed on you. Nico leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving yours. "So, what brings you here tonight? Looking for some company or just enjoying a drink?" He asked, his tone friendly and non-threatening. His teammates seemed to relax now that Nico was engaging with you, and they went back to their own conversations. Nico's gaze flickered briefly to the others before returning to you, his interest clearly piqued. You glanced at the other players, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement as they returned their focus to their own conversations. You took a deep breath, trying to steady your racing heart. "I was just out for a drink," you replied, your voice coming out a little shakier than you intended knowing your brothers would kill you. "I didn't expect to run into you and your teammates here."

Nico chuckled softly, noticing the way your cheeks flushed slightly under his gaze. "Well, it's not every day I meet such a beautiful woman in a place like this." He said, leaning in closer to you. His dark brown eyes held an intensity that made your heart skip a beat. "Would you like another drink? Or maybe we could get out of here and find somewhere more private to talk?" You couldn't help but feel a flutter in your chest at his forwardness, his deep brown eyes holding your gaze. "Another drink sounds nice," you replied, trying to keep your voice casual. "And maybe we could talk a bit more before we think about leaving?" Nico nodded, signaling the bartender for another round. "Of course, take your time. I'm happy to chat with you as long as you'd like." He kept his eyes locked onto yours, a small smirk playing on his lips. Once the drinks arrived, he raised his glass in a silent toast before taking a sip. "So tell me, what do you think of our team so far this season?" He asked, genuinely curious about your opinion.

You took a sip of your own drink, the alcohol sending a warm buzz through your body that helped to steady your nerves. "Your team is doing really well," you replied, genuine admiration in your voice. "You guys have a lot of talent and you work well together on the ice. You've definitely been a pleasure to watch." Nico beamed with pride at your compliment, his chest puffing out slightly. "Thanks, that means a lot coming from a fan. We've put in a lot of hard work and it's great to see it paying off." He took another sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving yours. "Speaking of fans… I have to ask, how did you become interested in hockey? And more specifically, in me and my team?" He asked, curiosity etched on his face. You blushed at his question, feeling a little embarrassed to admit that you had been a fan of him for a long time. "Well," you began, trying to find the words. "I've always been into hockey, ever since my brothers started playing. And I became a fan of your team a few years ago because of how talented you all are. As for you, well…" You paused, looking away for a moment before meeting his gaze again. "Let's just say I've been admiring your skill on the ice for a long time."

Nico listened intently, his expression softening as he heard your confession. "That's quite a compliment," he said sincerely. "It's flattering to know someone appreciates the hard work we put into each game." He reached out, placing his hand gently on top of yours where it rested on the table. "But I have to ask, why admire from afar? What stopped you from approaching me sooner?" You felt a jolt of electricity at the feel of his warm hand on yours, your breath catching in your throat. "I guess I was just being shy," you confessed, feeling a bit foolish for not having spoken to him sooner. "And I didn't want to come across as just another fan with a crush." Nico squeezed your hand gently, offering comfort and understanding. "There's nothing wrong with having a crush," he assured you. "In fact, it's pretty normal for people to look up to athletes they admire." He released your hand slowly, only to move his arm along the back of your chair in a show of casual intimacy. "But now that we're talking, I can't help but wonder what else you admire about me besides my skills on the ice."

You felt your heart skip a beat as Nico's arm wrapped around your chair, bringing him fractionally closer to you. You tried to control your trembling voice as you replied, "Well, aside from your talent, I have to admit your good looks haven't gone unnoticed either." Nico chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Is that so?" He teased, leaning in even closer. "I must admit, I don't often hear compliments like that from my fans." He studied your face closely, as though committing every detail to memory. "What else do you admire about me then? My charm? My sense of humor?" You felt yourself get flustered under his intense gaze, your heart fluttering in your chest. "Well, you definitely have those in spades," you replied, trying to keep your voice steady. "But I think what I admire most is the way you carry yourself on and off the ice. You always seem so sure of yourself and confident, yet you never come across as arrogant or cocky." Nico nodded thoughtfully, appreciating your insight. "Thank you," he said simply, his voice low and sincere. "It's important to me to maintain a balance between confidence and humility." He moved even closer, his breath brushing against your ear as he whispered, "But enough about me. Tell me something, what kind of man interests you outside of the world of sports and celebrities?"

Your breath hitched in your throat as Nico's warm breath tickled your ear, your heart rate increasing at his proximity. You swallowed hard, trying to focus through the haze of attraction that was clouding your thoughts. "Well," you began, your voice trembling slightly, "outside of sports and celebrities, I guess I'm attracted to men who are honest and genuine. Someone who isn't afraid to be themselves and isn't trying to impress me with flashy things or grand gestures." Nico pulled back just enough to lock eyes with you once more, his expression serious but filled with intrigue. "That's refreshing to hear," he admitted. "Too many women are drawn to the superficial aspects of fame and fortune." He shifted in his seat, bringing himself fully upright and facing you directly. "And honestly, there's nothing I value more than honesty and authenticity in relationships." You found yourself hanging onto his every word, captivated by his openness and sincerity. His words mirrored your own feelings about authenticity and honesty, and it made you feel strangely at ease even though you were still a bit nervous in his presence. "I couldn't agree more," you agreed, meeting his gaze steadily. "It's important to me to have a relationship built on trust and genuine connection, not just fleeting infatuation or surface-level attraction."

Nico's smile widened, revealing a dimple in his left cheek. "Then perhaps we could explore that further," he suggested, his tone playful but also inviting. "Tell me, would you be open to getting to know me better, beyond just the athlete persona everyone sees on TV?" Your heart skipped a beat at his suggestion, excitement, and nervousness warring within you. "I would like that," you replied, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "It would be nice to get to know the real you, beyond the glare of the spotlight and the rink." Nico's smile grew even wider, his eyes sparkling with interest and anticipation. "Good," he said, reaching over to take your hand once more. "Because I'd like to get to know you too. It seems we have a lot in common already, which is always a promising start."

You felt an electric jolt run through your body at the feel of his warm hand gripping yours, your heart racing with excitement. "I think we do," you agreed, your voice softer now that you were starting to relax into the conversation. "I mean, hockey and honest relationships are two pretty important things to have in common, right?" Nico laughed softly, the sound rich and warm. "Absolutely," he agreed. "Those are two very important things indeed." He gave your hand a gentle squeeze before reluctantly releasing it, leaning back in his chair as if settling in for a longer conversation. "So tell me more about yourself. What makes you tick? What are your passions and dreams?" His gaze remained locked with yours, showing genuine curiosity and engagement. You couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious under his intense gaze, but you relaxed when you saw the genuine interest in his eyes. "Well," you began, thinking for a moment about how to describe yourself, "I guess I'm pretty passionate about music. I love all kinds of music, but particularly rock and pop." You hesitated for a moment before continuing, not wanting to seem like a typical fangirl. "And I've always dreamed of being a writer, but I never thought I was good enough to actually pursue it as a career."

Nico listened attentively, nodding encouragingly as you spoke. "Music and writing are both incredible forms of creative expression," he remarked approvingly. "It takes a lot of courage to put your heart out there like that, whether it's through song lyrics or storytelling." He leaned forward again, resting his elbows on his knees as he fixed you with an earnest look. "Don't sell yourself short. If writing is truly your passion, then you owe it to yourself to chase that dream, no matter how daunting it may seem." His words were full of conviction and support, making you feel seen and understood in a way few people ever had. "Besides, I bet you have a unique perspective and voice that the world needs to hear." Your heart swelled with an unfamiliar emotion as you listened to Nico's encouraging words, feeling strangely understood and valued in a way you hadn't expected. Your own self-doubts and insecurities seemed to subside as you absorbed his conviction and support. "Thank you," you said softly, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "I don't know why, but hearing you say that… it makes me feel like maybe I can actually do it, you know?"

Nico smiled warmly, clearly pleased to have offered some encouragement and hope. "Of course, you can do it," he insisted, his tone firm yet gentle. "If anything, your doubt only serves to prove that you're the type of person who doesn't take success for granted. That's a rare and admirable quality." He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully. "And besides, life is too short to let fear hold us back from pursuing our dreams." You felt a warm sense of gratitude welling up inside you at his supportive words. No one had ever believed in your dreams as much as he seemed to in this moment. "You're right," you agreed, feeling a new determination stirring within you. "Life is too short, and I don't want to look back on mine with regrets. I want to try and make my dreams come true."

"Exactly," Nico said, his voice filled with enthusiasm and admiration. "The only thing standing between you and your dreams is yourself, really." He looked at you intently, his eyes reflecting a depth of understanding and empathy that touched something deep within you. "And I believe in you, so don't forget that." You felt a lump form in your throat at his fervent words, your breath catching at the intensity in his eyes. Nobody had ever expressed such unshakable faith in you before, and it filled you with a sense of purpose and hope. "Thank you, Nico," you managed to say past the lump in your throat, feeling a surge of emotion welling up in your chest. "I… I don't know what to say. I didn't expect this when I walked into this bar tonight." Nico reached across the table, taking your hand in his once more. The warmth of his touch sent another jolt through you, but this time it was different. It wasn't just physical; it was emotional, too. "I'm glad we met tonight," he said sincerely. "I think there's something special here, and I don't want to let it go."

Your heart rate quickened as you felt the roughness of his calloused hand against yours, the intense look in his eyes making you feel both vulnerable and protected. "Me neither," you admitted quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like… like there could be something really special between us." Nico's thumb brushed gently over the back of your hand, sending shivers down your spine. "I think you might be right," he murmured, his voice low and husky with emotion. He leaned in closer, his face inches from yours. "And I want to explore that, to see where it leads us." You felt your breath quicken as Nico leaned closer, his face so close you could feel the warmth of his breath against your skin. Your heart was racing, your body thrumming with anticipation. "I want that too," you breathed, the words slipping out before you could stop them.

With a soft groan, Nico closed the remaining distance between you, his lips meeting yours in a kiss that was both tender and hungry. His hands slid up your arms to cup your face, holding you close as he explored the depths of your mouth with his tongue. The taste of him, the feel of his strong body pressed against yours, was intoxicating, making you ache for more. As the kiss deepened, Nico pulled you onto his lap, wrapping his arms around you tightly. You could feel his hardness pressing against you, a potent reminder of the desire that burned between you. Breaking the kiss, Nico gazed into your eyes, his own dark with lust and emotion. "I need you," he whispered urgently, his hands roaming over your curves. "Let me show you how much." You gasped softly as Nico pulled you onto his lap, the hard length of his arousal pressing insistently against your thigh. The heat of his touch seared through your clothes, igniting a fire within you that threatened to consume everything in its path.

"Yes," you moaned, arching into his caresses as his hands roamed over your body. "Please, show me." In a haze of desire, you tangled your fingers in Nico's hair, pulling him back into a fierce, needy kiss. His tongue delved into your mouth, stroking and teasing until you were panting and aching for more. Breaking apart, you nipped at his lower lip before trailing hot kisses along his jawline and down the column of his neck. "Touch me," you begged, grinding your hips against his erection. "Make me feel every inch of you." With a growl of approval, Nico obliged, his hands sliding beneath your shirt to grasp at your flesh. His thumbs grazed over your nipples, coaxing them into hard peaks that ached for more attention. "Like this?" he murmured against your skin, nibbling at the sensitive spot below your ear. The sensation of his teeth and tongue combined with the pressure of his hands was driving you wild, your body responding eagerly to his touch. You could hardly breathe, your senses overwhelmed by the scent of his cologne, the taste of his lips, the feel of his muscular body under your fingertips. "Tell me what else you want," he urged, his voice thick with desire. "I want to please you, to make you scream my name."

With his strong arms wrapped firmly around you, Nico rose smoothly to his feet, carrying you effortlessly as if you weighed nothing. His pace was determined, his steps sure as if he'd done this countless times before. The world seemed to blur around you, the loud music and laughter of the bar fading away until all you could focus on was the solid warmth of Nico's body against yours. He guided you towards the restrooms, his grip on you unyielding as he held you up against the stall door. The bathroom was dimly lit, the door closed to provide privacy, the air heavy with expectation and unspoken promises. His expression was a mix of raw hunger and tenderness. "This is better," he murmured, closing the gap between you again to claim your lips in a searing kiss. The coolness of the stall door pressed against your back, a stark contrast to the scorching heat of Nico's body as he pinned you there with his hips. You could feel every hard plane and angle of him, his strength coiled and ready to unleash upon you. Wrapping your legs around his waist, you drew him even closer, desperate to feel him everywhere.

"Better," you echoed breathlessly against his lips, your fingers digging into his shoulders. "Now shut up and fuck me already." The crude demand fell from your lips before you could stop it, fueled by the sheer desperation coursing through your veins. You needed him inside you, stretching you, filling you, claiming you completely. Anything less would not suffice. Not now. Not after tasting paradise in his arms. A low growl rumbled in Nico's chest at your bold command, his dark eyes flashing with primal desire. "As you wish," he muttered, reaching down to roughly yank open your jeans. His hands were shaking slightly, the anticipation getting the best of him. But he refused to rush this, refused to give you anything less than his very best. He wanted to remember this moment, the first time he took you, for the rest of his life. You gasped as Nico's fingers found their way past your underwear, his calloused digits brushing against your slick folds. "Oh god," you whimpered, your head falling back against the cold metal of the stall door.

The contrast between the chill and the heat of Nico's hand was almost too much to bear. "Please," you begged, rocking your hips forward in desperate need. "I can't wait anymore." With a swift motion, Nico tore your panties aside, exposing you fully to his greedy gaze. He didn't waste a second, plunging two fingers deep inside you without a preamble. A strangled cry escaped your lips as he began to pump, his strokes fast and relentless. "That's it," he panted, his eyes locked on yours. "Take it. You're mine now." The sight of you spread open and pleading for him was enough to send Nico over the edge. He added another finger, curling them to stroke that sweet spot inside you that had your whole body quivering. "So tight," he groaned, watching your breasts bounce with each thrust of his hand. He leaned forward, taking a nipple between his lips, sucking hard while his fingers worked you mercilessly. "Come for me," he demanded, biting down lightly on your sensitive bud. "Show me just how much you want it."

The dual assault on your clit and nipple sent you spiraling into oblivion, your entire being focused solely on the pleasure coursing through your veins. Your walls clenched around Nico's fingers, milking them for more as waves of orgasm crashed over you. "Fuck!" you screamed, your voice echoing off the tiled walls. "Nico! I'm cumming!" Your climax hit like a freight train, ripping through you with such force that you saw stars behind your eyelids. Your body convulsed in his hold, your inner walls fluttering and gripping desperately at his fingers. The feeling of your pussy clenching around his fingers was nearly enough to undo Nico right then and there. But he wasn't finished with you yet. He kept pumping, drawing out every last tremor of your orgasm before slowly withdrawing his fingers. Standing upright, he pulled down his own pants, freeing his throbbing cock from its confines. It sprang free, standing proudly at attention, eager to be buried deep inside you. "Ready for this?" he asked, positioning himself at your entrance. Without waiting for an answer, he pushed inside, breaching your still-quivering walls with one powerful thrust.

The sensation of Nico pushing inside you was overwhelming, the fullness stretching you in ways you hadn't thought possible. "Yes," you moaned, arching your back to meet him halfway. Your inner walls clenched around him, trying to adjust to his size. "God yes, don't stop." Each word was punctuated by a gasp of pleasure as Nico set a brutal pace, pounding into you with no mercy. Every thrust drove him deeper, filling you completely until you felt like you were bursting at the seams. You could feel yourself tightening around him again, another orgasm building quickly on the heels of the first. Nico gripped your hips tightly, holding you steady as he drove into you with wild abandon. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the small space, mingling with your cries of ecstasy. He could feel your walls starting to flutter around him once more, signaling your impending release. "That's it," he grunted, his own climax rapidly approaching. "Cum for me again. Milk my cock dry." With a final, deep thrust, Nico buried himself to the hilt inside you. His cock pulsed, spilling hot jets of semen directly against your cervix as he rode out his orgasm. The intensity of it stole his breath, leaving him panting heavily against your neck.

The feeling of Nico's warm seed flooding your womb sent you careening over the edge once more. Your climax ripped through you like a tidal wave, crashing over you with such force that you saw stars behind your closed lids. Your body shook violently, your inner walls clamping down on Nico's cock in a vice-like grip. "Nico!" you cried out, your voice hoarse from screaming his name. Your orgasm seemed to go on forever, lasting longer and stronger than anything you'd ever experienced before. The sensation of your pussy squeezing him so tightly was almost enough to make Nico see stars. He rode out your orgasm, prolonging the pleasure by grinding his hips against yours, ensuring every last drop of his cum coated your insides. As the aftershocks subsided, he gradually slowed his movements, finally pulling out of you with a reluctant groan. He collapsed against you, both of you drenched in sweat and panting heavily. "Holy shit," he breathed, pressing a kiss to your shoulder. "You okay?"

You nodded, still trying to catch your breath. "Yeah," you managed to say, your voice barely above a whisper. "Just…wow." You couldn't believe what had just happened. The intensity of your orgasms, the sheer size of Nico's cock, the way he'd dominated you in that stall…it was all too much to process. But as you stood there, wrapped in Nico's strong arms, you knew one thing for certain - you never wanted this night to end. "Can we do that again?" you asked, looking up at him with hooded eyes. "Somewhere a little more comfortable this time?" Nico chuckled, nuzzling your neck affectionately. "As many times as you want, sweetheart," he promised, his voice low and husky with lingering desire. "But first, let's get cleaned up and find somewhere a bit more private, yeah?" He helped guide you out of the stall, making sure you were steady on your feet before leading you towards the sinks. Once washed and dried, he took your hand, intertwining his fingers with yours. "My place isn't far," he said, giving your hand a squeeze. "We can grab a drink, relax a bit, and then…" He trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air between you. "Lead the way, Captain," you teased, playfully tugging him along.

[louissatturi]

I just noticed something about Slime's family

EVERYBODY IN HIS FAMILY USES GLASSES (richas adm uses glasses and has myopia) that's so fucking funny omg

[dayslynthesix]

let the games begin | charles leclerc redbull!era x horner!reader

what would happen if charles signs a contract with redbull after the disastrous season 2023 was with ferrari? would it be unfair with himself to let go of his dream or would it be a jump of faith that those dreams could became real with the competition? this one is more like a platonic relashionship between charles and isabella (i got this very bad habit that i cannot write with s/n anymore)

f1

liked by redbullracing, maxverstappen1, charles_leclerc, izzyhaho, carlossainz55 and 677.876 others

f1 Charles Leclerc made his Ferrari debut in 2018, racing alongside with the 4 times champion of the world, Sebastian Vettel, now, finishing his 5th year with the Scuderia and far from the results that he wanted, he leaves the team. Charles raced 100 races with Ferrari, won 5 times, including his historical winning in Monza, 2019 and 28 poles. Very good luck, Charles.

maxverstappen1 let's hope for no more inchidents, on the race

redbullracing welcome to the team, charlie!

izzyhaho now that's what I'm talking about. hey, charles, hope you like me, because you're about to hear my voice on your ear fot the next 24 races haha

user1 ok hold on mom it's happening, charles is moving to redbull

user2 it was worth nothing to be il predestinado on a failure as a team, welcome home, leclerc

user3 now im anxious to see how ferrari will perform next year

user4 hope the santander sponsor is worthy

user5 IMAGINE CHARLES DRIVING THAT ROCKET IM ON 9TH CLOUD

charles_leclerc

liked by izzyhaho, arthur_leclerc, maxverstappen1, sebastianvettel and 988.325 others

charles_leclerc for 5 years this team and this car were my dream, i have won with ferrari and i have lost with them - many times, but i still had faith in the project, unfortunately, my dream was not enough to hold the love and the wishes i had with them. thank you all tifosi out there, for the indescribably suport and love you have showed me for the past years, it was my honour. my heart will always bleed ferrari red, but it is time to breath another air.

izzyhaho "another air" redbull air, competent team air, blue air, oversteering air, im about to faint, hold on

carlossainz55 best of luck, cabron!

landonorris well, i thought i would be the one who's gonna be max's teammate

redbullracing 💙💙

user6 you'll always be our man, Charlie

user7 i dont know if this is a dream or a nightmare

user18 nightmare was what was going on at ferrari

user8 lol it is actually happening

user9 will redbull do the multi 21 all over again or they will be free to fight?

user10 KICKING MY FEET NOW

scuderiaferrari

liked by charles_leclerc, carlossainz55, izzyhaho, lewishamilton and 655.985 others

scuderiaferrari it is with a sad heart that we said goodbye to charles, it was amazing 5 years. il predestinado will forever be our maranello sun. thank you, charles. good luck on your next chapter.

charles_leclerc thank you so much!

izzyhaho your maranello sun is now our sun haha

user11 isabella is so chronically online that im dying to see her liked tweets tomorrow

user12 christian horner is right now opening his 56 thousands of dollas bootle of wine to drink a good glass of the most expensive wine ever because he got his dream driver line up

izzyhaho he is, in fact

maxverstappen1 he's been drinking a glass of wine per day since charles went for a "casual talk" with him

user13 wait, so this mean that max is not christian golden boy anymore?

maxverstappen1 you wish (im scared)

redbullracing

liked by maxverstappen1, charles_leclerc, izzyhaho, arthur_leclerc and 698.655 others

redbullracing say hello to our new duo for the 2024 season, welcome home, charles, we are hoping to see you shine in navy blue. see you in march.

charles_leclerc thank you for the reception, i wasn't expecting the cake considering my birthday was a few weeks ago

maxverstappen1 why did you choose this photo, adm?

redbullracing mini boss who choose it

izzyhaho yes, i did, i thought it would be funny

user14 poor christian, if he thought his life was difficult with maxiel, now he have max, charles and his daughter around

izzyhaho oh he knows!

maxverstappen1 charles is still a little shy with the dinamics, but the prank week is on!

user15 im actually very happy with charles moving to redbull

user16 i wish i had good lawyers so i could say everything i want to say

user17 charles got a shitty car for 2 seasons and jumped the boat, never gonna be a world champion

izzyhaho at least he can drive a formula one car, something you could never 😜

user18 isabella was like "don't say shit about my new friend" and went for it

user19 so, we won on the lottery, i mean, charles is on a competitive team, have a nice car, have a nice race engineer and a team principal who looks for his best interests

user20 isabella is a race engineer?

izzyhaho noooo, im a physics student, but I'll work side by side with kai (charles engineer)

izzyhaho

liked by redbullracing, maxverstappen1, charles_leclerc, brazilgp, danielricciardo, landonorris and 655.918 others

izzyhaho ok, i was thinking about and ill give it a go: ask me questions about f1 and life and ill answer during my waiting time

user21 where are you going, iz?

izzyhaho I'm flying back to the uk, team meeting for the start of the season

user22 what exactly is your job at redbull?

izzyhaho i mean... almost everything? usually i stay with media duties, follow the drivers around, do the posts, stuff like that, but my thing is analyzing data and im the race engineers backup, i spend most part of the fp, qualy and race side by side with hannah

user23 who's your favorite driver?

izzyhaho jenson button, there's no other answer for it, but i really like lewis and seb

user24 where and what exactly is your degree?

izzyhaho im a physics student at the MIT, but im about to graduate early next year

maxverstappen1 what are your pets names?

izzyhaho very funny haha look how im laughing, but my dogs names are ascari, mirabel and mugham, 3 border collies

landonorris what happened in bali during the summer break?

izzyhaho you wish 🤭

user25 where do you live?

izzyhaho in boston, but after i graduate ill move back to europe, probably monaco or spain

user26 why do you spend so much time in brazil?

izzyhaho do i need a reason? lol, i like the country, the people, the culture, the food, the football... but most of it is just like, so i can feel close to senna, I've never saw him race, but my dad did, and i think he was amazing, especially as a person, so i like to feel close to the country and the people and the places who made him who he was, and i have friends there too

user27 fav sport?

izzyhaho tennis and volleyball, i love both and i have some very good friends who play booth

user28 how is like to work with your dad?

izzyhaho hey pops, do you want to answer this one? it is nice, we work along very well, we usually go for the same line of thinking when it comes to races and we have a very good relationship, and if max thinks he is my dad golden kid, he is absolutely right 😔

user29 did you never consider pursuing a driving career?

izzyhaho i did, for a while, i drove for formula 4 and formula 3 but then i realized that what i like is the theoretical part of business, but i hope to drive a f1 car at least once

user30 how is your relationship with charles?

izzyhaho 🤭🤭

user31 which are the drivers you are the closest with?

izzyhaho uhhhh... im very close with max, for obvious reasons, oscar and i are pretty friends as well, charles, zhou, lewis and george, but i got along with all of the grid

user32 what are you fav tswift songs, era and album?

izzyhaho AMAZING QUESTION! fav songs: seven, afterglow, all to well, lover and call it what you want. fav album: rep, obviously abd fav era: i love her red era

user33 expectations for the 2024 season?

izzyhaho win everything that we can possibly win

redbullracing

liked by mercedesamgf1, lewishamilton, charles_leclerc, maxverstappen1, izzyhaho and 766.986 others

redbullracing it's lights out and away we go for the 2024 formula one season. 1-2 for the bulls on bahrein and a great start of the season for charles, congratulations on p2, lets aim for first next one, congratulations to max for winning the opening race of the season. let's goooooooo (mini boss said we need to look more happy)

maxverstappen1 well done, team

charles_leclerc great work, let's go for saudi aiming all 44 points

izzyhaho amazing job, as the usual

scuderiaferrari congratulations, Charles!

user34 can we take a moment to appreciate how well the car married with charles? it was like watching the old times again

user35 verstappen and leclerc fighting for p1 all the race, redbull doing double stacks 2 times, no inchidents... we'll about to testify the most dominant season a team could everrrrr be

user36 the way thar charles left the car and immediately went for the team and the team was there to congratulate him

user37 this duo... let's hope it doesn't turn a britcedes 2.0

redbullracing

liked by mercedesamgf1, pierregasly, charles_leclerc, maxverstappen1, izzyhaho and 766.098 others

redbullracing: jeddah, melbourne and suzuka front row lockout 🔒 congratulations on charles first pole and first victory for the team, well done! congrats to max for his second win of the season. see you soon shanghai.

maxverstappen1 let's do it again next week, can we?

charles_leclerc hey adm, could i please fire isabella from being my race engineer?

izzyhaho you are saying this now that you won 2 out of 4 races just because i got i little too happy and screamed for 3 laps on your ear?

maxverstappen1 she did it with me too

sebastianvettel i think she just didn't do it with me too because she wasn't at the paddock the first time i won, but the first world championship... i can still hear her

pierregasly lil charlie is all for the team

landonorris charles is like troy bolton

maxverstappen1 that would made me gabriella montez?

danielricciardo no.

izzyhaho max, delete this, daniel is about to storm into the facilities just to cry in front of you

charles_leclerc i don't want this blond as my gabriella montez

danielricciardo hey isabella, he's talking about you

user38 100% of victories for redbull so far... im scared

user39 the way that even though we know rbr is going to win the season is good because charles and max are fighting all the time

user40 we all knew that with a good car charlie would shine

user41 no more nightmares about a understeering car

user42 no one is going to talk how ferrari dnfed 2 races and only stayed on points on jeddah?

besthorneriz karma takes all my friends to the summit

redbullracing isabella, get out of your private account!

[cor-obscenum]

I'll violate you (in the most sensual way)

Image from Pexels, edited. Title is from "It's All Tears (Drown in this love) by HIM.

Pairing: Terzo x AFAB!reader

Summary: you're a virgin, he's experienced. You're just a Sibling of Sin, he's Papa. And both of you are EAGER for it, to open your arms and drown in lust.

Contents: 18+, smut, loss of virginity, slow and sensual foreplay, massage (reader receiving), body worship (mutual), oral sex (reader receiving), PIV sex, aftercare, pillow talk, love confessions, cardiophilia.

Word count: 3.176

Read on AO3

“Satan, please, make that end well" You thought, silently walking through the hallways of the Ministry, awash in pure nervousness. It was late at night and the hallways were almost empty, with only a few sleepy faces making their way to their quarters. You took a deep breath, trying to keep your face neutral and praying to Satan below that you wouldn't encounter Sister Imperator or Papa Nihil on the way.

You were thinking about him, as usual.

The other Siblings of Sin never talked about that, but certainly noticed the sexual tension between you and Terzo during Unholy Mass, when you were face to face and he fed you unholy communion, looking deep into your eyes and uttering “body of Lucifer”. Under the dim light of the candles, it was still noticeable how your eyes sparkled and your face blushed charmingly as he placed the wafer into your mouth. For a while, your feelings remained hidden inside your chest. For all that time, it was a silent pining. You couldn't help but feel jealous when watching him give attention to other Siblings, flirt with his ghouls and do that one gesture during “Cirice” - that damn gesture was the worst. He would look deep into the eyes of a girl from the crowd and place her hand against his chest, right upon his heart. What wouldn't you give to be that girl: having his whole attention to you only, feeling his heart beating and, to top it off, earning a kiss to your knuckles.

You stopped for a short moment to pick up your phone and check your messages. You took a last look at the directions to the papal suite, only to be certain, and took a deep breath.

You remember, with a little embarrassment, the first time he talked to you outside of Mass: he said he liked your shoes, you blushed like a tomato and fumbled with words. Then another day, he said good morning and complimented your hair. The interactions were becoming more and more frequent, and soon you found yourselves strolling through Primo's garden, talking about your lives. And then one night he kissed your cheek goodnight. And then one day he gave you flowers. And then there's that afternoon, when he invited you to his Papal suite for a glass of wine. You accepted, and then a mix of dread and excitement took over you; there was going to be sex, you had no doubt about it. But it was going to be your first time. Like, ever.

Your mind was a chaos of reminiscences, fantasies and expectations as you kept walking, getting closer to the destination. You could feel your heart rate increasing with the anxiety.

Vittorio “Terzo” Emeritus. That was certainly a name for a Papa, you thought. Could a guy named Joe or Jeff become Papa? Very unlikely, in your opinion. And neither would a guy who wasn't as good-looking and charismatic as him.

And finally, you arrived at your destination. Two tall, beautifully ornate doors, like a bodice ready to be ripped. You knocked three times, heart pounding in your chest, and awaited.

After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, the doors finally opened, and in front of you were two mismatched eyes - one green, one white - a full head of black hair slicked back, a face stripped out of its usual paint with wrinkles denouncing its age (which were so sexy to you) and a wide grin. That smile, that damn smile.

- Buona sera. - Terzo greeted you, his voice husky. - It's a pleasure to see you. Please, come in.

- Thank you, Papa. - you muttered.

You explored the room with your eyes, admiring the beautiful decorations and furniture to keep your mind distracted from the nervousness you felt. Terzo closed the doors and picked up a bottle of wine and two glasses from the mini fridge, approaching you with an affable smile.

- Would you care for a drink? - he offered. - This is a nice Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile. 2013 harvest.

- Yes, please. - you took a glass from his hand.

A few minutes of small talk and timid sips of wine ensued. Your eyes studied the figure that sat right next to you on the small sofa in front of the bed. Black shirt, carefully unbuttoned revealing a bit of hairy chest. Hair slicked back. Timely smiles and laughs. That blasè attitude that drove you crazy. Oh, Terzo, sweet, sexy, commanding, cheeky, annoying Terzo. Why did he do that to you?

Then, the subject of, well, matters of the heart came to the conversation.

- Eh, Terzo, may I ask you something… Personal? - you asked.

- Sure, go ahead.

- Are you dating someone?

He chuckled at the question, earning an anxious frown from you.

- Well, if I was dating someone, I wouldn't have invited you over. - he replied. - I want to get to know you better.

You didn't reply, simply taking a deep breath. That answer tranquilized you a little, but wasn't enough to make you completely calm.

- Now if you don't mind, may I ask you a personal question now? - he asked.

- Sure…

- Tell me, has it been a long time since you got, well, intimate with someone?

You froze, blushing.

- Eh, well, it's a little complicated… - you replied nervously.

Silence. Awkward silence.

- Actually, I'm… A virgin. - you finally confessed, embarrassed.

- Oh, I see. - Terzo replied calmly.

Once again, silence. Awkward silence.

- You know, everything in our lives has its first time. - he broke the silence with a soft tone. - And when it comes to the matters of the heart and flesh, it has to happen when we feel ready for it.

- Yes, but in that case… Isn't it, eh, embarrassing that I haven't done it yet? - you asked.

- Not at all. - he replied. - As I said, it happens when you're ready.

Another interim of silence. Terzo looked deep into your eyes before getting really close, until his lips brushed your ear.

- And do you feel ready for it now? - he whispered, his voice deep and husky, sending goosebumps all over your skin.

- Yes… I'm ready. - you gasped out.

Both hearts were beating so hard inside your rib cages that your heartbeats were the only sound that could be heard in the room, along with the heavy breathing that came in and out of your nostrils.

Terzo placed a gloved hand on your shoulder, looking at you with a friendly smile.

- We don't have to do anything you don't want to, okay? - the Pope said softly, cupping your flushed, almost feverish face with the other hand. - Only when you're ready...

That said, he began to lightly knead your shoulder, probing your tension.

- You seem a little nervous... - he commented. - May I help you relax a little?

- Okay, but take it easy, please... - you replied, out of breath.

- It's just a massage. - he chuckled. - Nothing overly sexual yet, unless you really want it…

He opened a drawer and picked up a bottle of massage oil before helping you remove your habit and veil until you were only in your bra and underwear. You laid down on your stomach and closed your eyes, feeling his warm, oiled hands first knead between your shoulder blades, loosening the stiff muscles. You let out a sigh, enjoying the touch. Finally he was touching you, fulfilling your fantasies. His hands then skipped the area occupied by the band of your bra and moved to your lower back, where they kneaded getting dangerously close to your hips and ass. Damn. Arousal started to creep up in your lower belly, and you felt the first drops of wetness in your underwear.

- All done, that wasn't so bad, was it? - Terzo said, patting your back. - Now lie on your back.

You turned around, exposing your torso to him, having shaken off your shyness and swapping it for pure lust. Your desire spoke louder. You wanted his hands, his lips, his everything on your skin.

Terzo kissed your belly button sweetly, his lips easily sinking into the soft flesh. You felt his warm breath against your skin, which sent a shiver down your spine. Yes, yes, yes, it was finally happening, you thought. He nuzzled and kissed from your stomach upwards, until reaching the band of your bra, and pulled away slightly to face you.

- May I? - he asked politely.

- Yes, please…

His hands slid down your back to unclasp your bra and he removed it slowly, exposing your breasts. He cupped them with his hands, studying them, kneading the soft flesh while teasing the erect nubs of your nipples with his thumbs.

Your first moan escaped, spontaneously, as he delicately grazed the skin of your areola with his lips and planted a few kisses before latching on and sucking gently. The next moans came right after, as his tongue played with the hard nub in circles. His warm mouth felt like velvet against your nipple. You tangled your hands on his hair as he worked his way to the other nipple, repeating the operation. The arousal in your crotch increased the longer he spent sucking, licking and kissing.

He trailed kisses down your stomach until the band of your underwear, pulling it down with his teeth and uncovering your sex, already so wet and burning with arousal. But he had to ask for your permission first.

- May I?

- Yes, yes…

He pulled away for you to remove your underwear and spread your legs open, exposing your awaiting cunt. He kissed the inside of your thighs, trailing up to your labia, which he first grazed softly with his lips, teasing you with his warm breath. Then he finally tasted your juices, parting the folds with his tongue, licking his way up to your clit and stimulating it more vigorously. Your breathy moans were almost turning into screams as he pleasured you with his deft tongue, eagerly lapping at your clit. Your hands still tangled in his hair, you gasped out a string of yes, yes, yes, signaling your pleasure as the first orgasm approached. And then it came, naturally but violently, rocking your whole body.

- I'm c-cumming! - you shouted, gasping for air, as you climaxed.

Climax hit you like a bell curve, finally tapering down and being replaced by the most blissful post-orgasm glow. Terzo pulled away upon hearing your breathing slow down and gave you time to recover before going for another round, petting your hair as he waited.

- Now that I've touched your body, would you like to explore mine? - he asked with a smirk.

- Oh, yes, please. - you basically begged.

He started unbuttoning his shirt, revealing his bare torso, and you felt your breath catch in your lungs as you saw that gorgeous body being slowly exposed before you.

- Your turn. - he muttered, parting the shirt open to put his torso on display. - Touch me as you please.

Passively, he watched you examine his body for a long time, first with your eyes, then with your hands. A little awkwardly, you placed your hands flat on his chest and took a deep breath.

He was real, you thought. That man, whom you had envisioned taking off his shirt so many times in your fantasies, seemed more real than ever under your touch.

Terzo smiled and gently took your hands, guiding them slowly over his torso, letting you feel every detail of his body. The warmth, the fast heartbeat, the movements of his breathing, the hair covering his chest, the tempting nubs of his erect nipples, the softness of his stomach - you were in pure ecstasy with all those sensations.

You couldn't take it anymore. Without hesitation, you pressed your lips against Terzo's, kissing him passionately before trailing kisses down his neck. You closed your eyes and focused on the sensations of every inch of skin you ran with your lips and tongue over. The relief of his Adam's apple, the accelerated pulse of his carotid artery, the sound of his breathing, which was also beginning to accelerate, and his scent, that intoxicating scent that you never got tired of inhaling with each intake of breath.

There it was: that chest sculpted by Satan himself, bare and heaving, right before your eyes. You buried your face in it, gently nuzzling it with your cheek and relishing in the feeling of the soft hairs that adorned his skin. You pressed your ear against his sternum and heard his heartbeat, so fast that it seemed to want to break through his rib cage. Thumpthumpthump. That was music to your ears. You let out a sigh as you listened to his heart pumping, signaling how excited he was. After a few seconds of relishing in that sweet little sound, you pulled away to give attention to another pretty thing on his chest.

His perky, perfect nipple. You wrapped your lips around the dark pink areola and tasted it, running your tongue eagerly over the delicate, soft flesh, eliciting breathy moans from the raven-haired man. And then you latched on, sucking greedily like a hungry baby.

- Ow… Take it easy, bebè, or you'll hurt me. I only have two of these - Terzo said with a giggle.

You pulled away a little startled, but Terzo's serene expression reassured you. You moved to the other nipple, this time sucking more gently. You worked your tongue around the nub while your hand caressed below his pec, feeling the Pope's fast, excited heartbeat. Terzo cooed and moaned softly, his hand petting your hair as if saying “good girl”.

- Mmm, you really do know how to turn a Papa on, even though it's your first time. - he praised you between moans.

After enjoying his nipples, you moved down to his belly, which you kissed and nuzzled with your cheek, relishing in the soft, hairy skin. He let out a sigh as he felt your warm mouth trail wet, sloppy kisses all over his stomach, lingering on his bellybutton and happy trail, until reaching the band of his pants. Now, it was your turn to ask for permission.

- May I? - you asked, grabbing the zipper on the fly.

- Thy will be done! - Terzo replied with excitement.

You opened the zipper and pulled down his pants, your hand moving to feel up his erect cock trapped in the underwear while looking up to face Terzo. He let himself be felt over the fabric, looking into your eyes and giving you his terrible smirk.

- Like what you feel? - he asked smugly.

- Oh, yes… I want this cock inside me.

- Really? Are you sure about that?

- I've never been more sure in my life.

- Thy will be done, then!

You laid down on the bed and spread your legs open, inviting him, while he finished undressing and grabbed the bottle of lube. He squeezed a generous amount of lube on his cock, lathering it on the gel, and finally came close to you.

- Is missionary position okay? - he asked breathily.

- It's fine… I just want your cock inside me. - you replied.

- Very well, dolcezza.

He first started fingering your cunt, stretching the walls gently, probing your reactions. Your moans were like a green light, and he proceeded to penetrate with his cock, filling up your awaiting hole. You let out a loud gasp as you felt the girth and pulse of his cock inside you and he started thrusting, gradually increasing the tempo. His face close to your ear, you could hear his breathing increasing and him moaning softly. Yes, yes, yes, you moaned. It was finally happening, and it felt so good.

You dragged your nails up and down Terzo's back, and he hissed with the sensation - it hurt, but it hurt deliciously. Gasps and moans filled the air, hearts pounding, pleasure running all over your bodies like an electric current. Each nerve ending in your bodies was like a bare wire. You wanted each other so badly, so badly.

- I'm gonna cum! - Terzo announced as he felt the orgasm approach. However, your climax wasn't picking up at the same pace as his.

- Can you wait a little longer for me to cum? - you asked between gasps.

- Sure, dolcezza…

You felt Terzo's load spurt from his cock inside you, but he kept thrusting until you came. Finally, it came like a bell curve, and you announced it with a loud moan as it hit its peak.

- I came… - you gasped out as post-orgasm glow fell upon you.

Terzo pulled away and laid down on your side, kissing you softly. He patted his chest for you to rest your head and you followed through, listening as his fast heartbeat slowed down to a normal pace. Thumpthumpthump. The most beautiful music in the world.

Terzo allowed you to take a few minutes to bask in post-coital glow before breaking the silence:

- You wanna hear a secret? - He whispered.

- Mm-hm.

- I love you so much, dolcezza. - his fingers ran through your hair. - I love you so much it hurts.

Love... That word, on that fateful moment flooded your brain with oxytocin amidst the violent passion that dominated your being. It was happening: Terzo was confessing his feelings for you. You felt so loved, so welcomed and so accepted, that the emotion brought a tear to your eyes, which ran down your face and fell on Terzo's skin.

- Amore, what's wrong? - he asked, concern in his voice.

You didn't know how to respond. It was a contradictory emotion: joy and pain at the same time. Your world was turned upside down. You were used to being in the position of admirer, a face in the crowd, but in the end Terzo chose you. Like the girl he chose during “Cirice”. You were that girl.

- Tell me, love. - the Pope insisted with a sweet voice, outlining your face with his fingers. - Are you worried about something? Is it because of what the other Siblings of Sin will think? We can work it out.

- It's not that, Terzo, it's just that… I didn't expect you to actually love me.

- Well, it may take a while for you to come to terms with that. But I assure you that my love for you is true. - he planted a kiss on your head.

You wondered if Terzo was being sincere or manipulating you. But in fact, the former was happening. Terzo liked your company, and his heart always found peace when he was with you. You were his safe haven amidst the chaos that was his busy routine as Papa Emeritus, combined with his family dramas with his brothers and his father.

- You're safe here with me, silly. There's no need to be afraid. - Terzo finished, running his fingers through your hair.

You snuggled back into Terzo's chest and closed your eyes, focusing on the sounds his body was making. The steady, gentle rhythm of his heartbeat calmed you; it was as if each beat said "I'm here, I'm here" right in your ears. The air coming in and out of his lungs was like the sea crashing against the shore, melodious and deep.

Taglist: @boomerangjr @runscold-runsdeep @anamelessfool

[earthpleasures]

RUNNING UP THAT HILL !

Lucy Gray Baird x fem!reader

Summary: On the faithful day of Reaping Ceremony, you finally became aware of what you've been lacking in your life. Lucy Gray Baird's love. Your one and only childhood friend. You were ready to throw yourself in front of starved wolves for her sake, and you decided to prove it.

Warnings: ANGST / swearing

Word Count: 2.2k

A/n: me trying to write something happy, result:

"and if I only could

i'd make a deal with God

and I'd get Him to swap our places"

- running up that hill by kate bush.

Streets of District 12 was filthy as ever as Y/n and Lucy Gray dragged their feet to The Hub. Tomorrow was the day Reaping was going to happen. Neither of the girls felt any excitement over fourth of july, just like rest of whole twelve districts that were about sacrifice their children to Capitol's psychopathy.

“Lucy Gray, you're unusually quite today.” Y/n spoke as she fixed the fruit basket pressed against her side. They were planning to ask Hub if they would let Covey do one last show before reaping, and then make their way to flea market. Maybe they could exchange a piece of clothing for a few strawberries Y/n farmed.

Lucy Gray's face lit up with a smile, Y/n could never differentiate if these smiles were true or not.

“I was thinking of this night's show. I have a song I wish to sing.” That thought made other girl smile. She always loved the infamous Songbird’s voice and songs.

She ate one of the strawberries from the brown basket. “Oh well, I will wait for your song with all ears. However, how do you plan to sing it? You haven't teach us anything about its melody.” Lucy Gray chuckled at her friend's worried tone.

“No worries, love. I've wrote it over one of our songs’ melody. I think tonight's lyrics fit to it better anyway.”

“I… if you say so.”

She could never disobey or say something against her songbird’s statements. And finally Hub became visible from the distance. Old walls were ready to crumble on its residents but all two girls saw was a roof to gain a few coins.

Lucy Gray held the door open for her since she was clinging into the basket, making sure no strawberries fell out. She nodded her head to her to thank her. Inside was stinking as usual. Smell of mold, poverty and cheap gin. It wasn't like Y/n lived in a clean or new home. However she could never prevent the nausea from rising in her throat every time they entered this place.

Disease and death traveled through the whole Panem without knowing any borders, she didn't have a reason to act wary against The Hub.

Besides the disgusting smell, the place was almost empty. Most of the audience were peacekeepers and they seemed nowhere to be found at this time of day. They were on ‘duty’. More like haunting the poor folk of 12. Y/n thought of it.

Conversations were always made by Lucy Gray, no one could resist the sweet way of the words spilling from her lips. “Hi! How have you been, Ben?” She spring on her heels while talking, her alluring personality ready to charm its flies.

Bartender's tense shoulders relaxed when her image entered his vision. “Hi, Lucy Gray. I assume you are here to ask if Covey can perform tonight.” Lucy Gray nodded slowly, she jumped to sit on a chair, her legs swung around since they couldn't reach to sub board of the wooden chair.

“Always a smart one. Yes, I was going to ask if we can perform one last time before Reaping.” Ben sighed while rubbing the dirty cloth to an old striated glass. “I guess you can do it, tomorrow ain’ the brightest day for us after all.” She added a hint of sorrow to her smile.

“But we must make the most of the lifes we have, mustn't we?” He nodded to approve her statement. “As much as we can in this shitty district.”

After some chit-chat talk, they left Hub with the guarantee of a few coins to throw in their pockets that night. Y/n watched Lucy Gray's happy expression, the way she spinned around herself, her colorful dress’ long skirt flying around. She loved to admire anything Songbird did.

Flea market wasn't too crowded either. Mourn of unknown loses was already hunting people of District 12. Two or three stalls of clothing seemed to be present. A woman from last week was absent. Poor lady, perhaps she died because God knows what kind of disease or she fell in hands of a peacekeeper.

Y/n intertwined her fingers with Lucy Gray's, moving as close as possible was safer in a place like this. To be honest, staying together was the best choice in all places of 12.

A man with a women's clothing stall caught her eyes. His face was tired and sick, probably had the flu. “Look, maybe we can exchange these strawberries with a pair of shoes. Maude Ivory was sad about Peacekeepers tearing her sandals.” Lucy Gray nodded and followed her lead.

Y/n harshly put the basket in front of the man, leaving a tough first impression was important if they wanted to have a fair exchange.

“Ah, famous doves of Covey. What do you have for me?” She could smell of starvation from his breath even at this distance. All she needed to do was to push him a bit.

“A basket of fresh, clean strawberries.” She arched her eyebrow in a daring manner. “Do you really think a basket of fruit can buy clothes?” Man raised his chin. He was stubborn, but could never be as much as Y/n.

“Okay, listen the deal old man. You give us these shoes.” She pointed to an old, worn pair of shoes. “And I leave all of these tasty things at your stall. ‘kay? And if you don't, I can go to another stall.” He looked at the basket then at her face. His mouth was salivating for a taste of anything, and giving away the shoes seemed to be a good option.

“Take the shoes.”

Y/n took a deep breath as relief filled her veins. She emptied the whole basket to an old bag man owned and placed the shoes inside it. Exchange was fair, he wasn't going to die from starvation and Maude Ivory was going to get a pair of wearable shoes.

“Don’t you think you've been hard on him?” Lucy Gray mumbled while her index finger lovingly caressed the fabric of the shoe. They would fit the little girl just fine. “Being nice doesn't grant us any living in District 12.” Y/n shrugged and dismissed her question.

All members of Covey were exhausted from last night’ performance, which led them to hardly wake up for Reaping. Their house was already hot from weather outside, shattering walls were making it worse by letting the fresh sunlight in.

Y/n, as always, was first to wake up. Even on an effing day like this. A few more hours of sleep wasn't even a choice given the fact Peacekeepers would drag them out to watch Reaping or, to be reaped.

She groaned with ache coursing through her bones, makeshift bed cracked under her weight. Slipping her shoes to her feet, she looked around to check other Covey members. None seemed to have a peaceful slumber, Lucy Gray was sweating, Maude Ivory was panting heavily, Barb Azure's eyebrows were furrowed. The expected disaster made everyone uneasy inside.

She took off her pajamas, her hands extending to the shirt and skirt she wore yesterday. “Why don't you wear something colorful, love?” Her head practically snapped to the direction the voice came from. Lucy Gray's eyes were closed, yet a subtle smile sat on her sweaty features.

“Good morning.” Y/n murmured as she stood up from her bed. She considered her options. The most fancy thing she owned outside of a few stage clothes was a faded purple dress with flower-covered frills on its skirts. Her hand hesitated when it reached the folded fabric. She got this at the insistence of Lucy Gray and Barb Azure for three coins in the flea market last year. For special days.

What could be more special than the day she would be presumably sent to death in her life?

Accompanied by an ache in her heart for dirting the dress with memories of such a melancholic day, she pulled it over her head, messing up her already disheveled hair more. Stained mirror was reflecting a seventeen year old girl's ruined beauty, face worn by living difficulties.

Two lean arms sneaked around her waist, securing her against the girl behind her. Lucy Gray pressed her chin to her shoulder, observing their imagines from mirror. “You're beautiful.” She whispered, as if possibility of anyone else stealing her compliment to Y/n scared her.

“So are you.” She whispered back, unconsciously closing her eyes and leaning to her touch. Silence was comforting, almost like an inaudible lullaby singing to two awake girls’ ears. “I have a dreadful feeling about this day inside me, something is gnawing at me.” Lucy Gray chuckled and tucked a strand of hair behind the ear of the girl in front of her.

“Now don't make such a long face, be positive. Death isn't an end, remember?” At her light words, Y/n turned around with her arms still wrapped around her waist. She cupped her face, looking at her beautiful brown eyes. Maybe they could swallow her, so she would never leave her.

“No, Lu. You don't get it. Something bad is about to happen. I feel it, you know I always feel it.” Lucy Gray's eyes widened at her hurried sentences. The worst case in a Reaping day would be reaped as their district's tribute. Everyday was a survival struggle in District 12, but being thrown to arena? Now that would be a different story.

With their fingers locked to each other, Y/n dragged her after herself to the little place where they grew strawberries to exchange or sell. “I know that you have no will to trust anyone after Billy Taupe, but just… just hear me out.” Brunette furrowed her eyebrows, she wasn't stupid, guessing where the conversation was about to go wasn't hard. But did it matter at this point?

“I am listening, Y/n.”

“What are you two doing there?” Maude Ivory's childish voice interrupted her before she can speak. And that killed her last piece of courage to confess her feelings for Lucy Gray.

“Nothing, honey. We were just chatting.” She quickly smiled and turned her attention to little girl, she was wearing the pair of shoes they got for her yesterday. “Are they comfortable?” Little girl stared down at her shoes. “Yeap. They're so easy to wear! Thank you.”

Her lips pulled themselves into a forced smile. The girl was as naive as a child in districts could be. Perhaps it was because rest of the Covey sought their best to raise their youngest as pure as possible.

People were gathering in front of the stage one by one. Between age 12-18, kids were separated to groups. Covey made their way to their groups. As always, Reaping day was hot and everyone was sweating under cruel sun and stress.

First to go was female tribute. For male tribute, she wasn't worried at all. Clerk Clementine was old enough to be excluded from Reaping.

But what about us?

“Lucy Gray Baird!”

She could swear her heart missed a beat, maybe a few beats, when she heard the name. Out of instinct her eyes found Lucy Gray. It looked like she was ready to put on a show one last time.

Lucy Gray began to walk towards the stage.

“I volunteer!”

A desperate voice erupted from between waiting kids. Y/n threw herself in front of Lucy Gray, eyes filled with terror and tears. “I volunteer as tribute!” Brunette extended to hold her hand with shock. “Love, what the hell are you doing?” Girl in front of her turned to look at her with guilt.

Before any word being shared, a peacekeeper caught Y/n's arm, dragging the girl to stage. Lucy Gray tried to run, only to be thrown to ground by another peacekeeper. Even while walking to death, they couldn't take their eyes from each other.

“No, no, no. I am chosen. You chose me! Give her back!” Maude Ivory wrapped her arms around her as Barb Azure pressed her head to her chest so she couldn't see Y/n.

She stepped on the stage in front of pitying eyes. After all, what kind of moron would throw herself into a lion's den for whatever reason?

Mayor looked at her with grand disgust, as if girl interrupted something she wasn’t supposed to. “District 12's female tribute, Y/n L/n.”

She didn't even bother to listen who was chosen as male tribute. Whoever it was, he was going to walk to death with twenty two other tributes.

Whole time she watched the rest of the Covey. They all looked disheveled with one of them being sent to Games.

She didn't even get to confess to her, kiss her, embrace her one last time. Like all District 12 kids before her, she was going to turn into a drop of blood to write Capitol's pages of history. She remembered the hide and seek game the played when they were children.

“You can't catch me, Lucy Gray!”

She kept her head high, this wasn't a display of pitiful love. That was a worthy sacrifice to keep her darling alive. Everything was worth it to Lucy Gray.

“You can't catch me anymore, Lucy Gray.”

She whispered, knowing Lucy Gray won't ever hear her again.

©2024 earthpleasures do not repost, copy, translate, modify

[ellylly]

XZEROWEEK DAY 6: DESTINY🌼

@xzeroweek

HAI GUYS ITS ME AGAIN :D well Heres another of my drawings! I took my time and it came out perfect! I loved it so much I even used the X and Zero of my AU where they are married, and the "alliance" are tassels :) [I was inspired by Adm Vicente's Headcanon :))] and I used flowers to represent each thing. I dunno what they're called in English but here they are (Chrysanthemum flower of mourning, glass of milk flower that can represent new beginnings, and pansy flower of love !)

[benisaiber]

I made my edition of a Richas design, i tought i would post it on twitter but that place gives me chills. I was kinda lazy and just wanted the design out of my head so i didn't bother shading or making super clean lineart, it's the only thing i've drawn in about 4 months... art block it's still winning sadly. About the design:

Richas brazil shirt was canonically forever's, richas stated in one of his signs that when the brazillians found him forever gave him his shirt and that's why he walks around shirtless. I tried green and blue for his scales but i really loved the pink, i love how most people draw Richas to be very similar to felps, so i gave him the hair and i made it long so it resembles both forever and cellbit, the ties in his hair were a gift from Roier. And fun fact, Forever used to wear glasses but stopped at some point and idk why, that makes so 2 out of his five parents + his adm also wears glasses so i made the design that way, forever also used to wear braces, and so does richas admin, so i gave him braces. The red belt he has is a gift from quackity, and the necklace was a gift from tio bad and dapper, the prosthetic leg and braces were made by tazercraft but the glasses are mike's old ones. There is a friendship bracelet from pomme, and there is a bracelet for quackity, that he gave to Richas during his kidnapping. The belt and sword he carries used to be forever's, since the sword "Macetada" (he made another for himself called "Cacetada" after) that used to be forever's was given to him in his 1 month birthday.

Edit: you can inspire yourself with my design just give me the credit by linking my post please.

[the-kittens-of-vol-tron]

It's Just Pretend

Chapter 1: Hear Me Out!

Summary: Lance and Keith are fresh out of college. They are already "living" the post-graduate dream. Well paying jobs in their respective fields. Solid friendships, just one thing is getting in their way. They need an apartment as soon as possible. Everywhere they look goes with another couple.

An idea given by a friend leads these two boys into a fake engagement just to score an apartment.

They find an apartment quickly, but will the engagement stay fake forever?

AO3!

Word Count: 1,733

Hey everyone, I'm back with another random fic!

I've been wanting to write this for a while and finally started a month ago <3 (Shout out to @shirokeithpidgearemybesties for motivating me to write <3333)

Enjoy~

“Oh that’s fine, thank you for getting back with us,” Lance rubbed his eyes as the person on the other end of the phone apologized once more. “Have a good night.” He ended the call, leaning his head back with a groan.

“What did they say?” Keith asked in a knowing tone.

Lance cleared his throat, raising his voice an octave to match the person on the phone. “So sorry Mister McClain, but we rented the apartment to someone else.”

Keith rolled his eyes, “we make three times the rent combined! We were more than qualified.”

“Tough market I guess.” Lance slipped his phone back into his pocket, “I’m going to get a drink. Need anything while I’m out?”

Keith shook his head, reaching for his laptop. “I’ll be looking at some more places while you’re gone.”

Lance nodded, moving to grab his keys and slip his shoes on. “You’re the best man.” He unlocked the door, “be home later.” And while a mumbled goodbye he clicked the door closed and started down the hall.

---

He slammed his glass down, grimacing around the bitter liquid. “I just don’t get it, Adam. What are we doing wrong?!”

The bartender slid him another shot, grabbing his other glass. “Sounds to me like nothing.”

Lance groaned, resting his head on the cold wood. “We are freshly graduated, both make way more than the ‘required’ renters amount. Is it because we’re young?! Do people think we’re party animals?!”

Adam shrugged as he started to polish some glasses. “Could be several things. It’s hard to say.”

“You’re no help.”

“I’m a bartender, not a real estate agent.” He placed the glass he was holding down. Grabbing a new one right after. “How much longer can you and your roommate stay in your current housing?”

“Another month max. It’s student housing, they’re going to kick us out once the semester starts.”

“Running out of time.”

Lance sighed. “It’s not like we haven’t been trying. Each one we applied to just gets taken right from under us.”

“Maybe it has to do with how you present yourselves,” Adam said with a bored expression.

Lance shook his head. “We always shower before and wear nice clothes. We make sure we look responsible and put together.”

Adam hummed. “Maybe they just want couples.”

“What?”

“Like married couples? Some studies have started to look at that.”

“They legally can’t discriminate like that.” Lance downed his other drink.

Adm shook his head. "They actually can." He stared at the other boy for a moment before sighing. "Look,” he placed the glass he was polishing down. Placing his hands on the countertop, the towel draped on his right shoulder. “I moved in with my fiance after our engagement. Our other friends did the same. So I’m not sure what your experience is but we didn’t have any place to turn us down. And neither did our friends.”

“Way to rub it in my face, I'm single.” He slid the cup to Adam. “If I ever get engaged I’ll keep that in mind.”

Adam grabbed his glass, “fake it.”

“What?”

“You and your roommate, fake it. Just for the sake of finding a place.”

Lance stared at his bartender. Slowly blinking a couple of times. “I’m sorry, did you get drunk instead? What are you saying?”

Adam sent him a small smile, “where did you get confused?”

Lance laughed. “My roommate would never be okay with that.” He stood, fishing for $20 out of his wallet. “We’ll find a place. By next week. We’ll have a place.”

---

One Week Later

“Any updates?” Adam slid two shots toward Lance and Hunk.

Hunk sent him a smile while Lance quickly downed his drink. “Two more rejections.”

Adam whistled, “New weekly record?”

“Ha ha, very funny.” Lance crossed his arms and rested them on the table. Dropping his head on them. “It's hopeless, we’re going to be homeless at this rate!”

“Take a breath man, you two will find something.” Hunk rubbed Lance’s back, trying to soothe his friend.

“Easy for you to say, you and Shay scored a place months ago,” Lance grumbled back.

“I don’t know what we did differently,” Hunk said. Sounding a bit exasperated. A conversation they had numerous times.

Lance looked at Adam who was giving him a knowing look. “Nope nope nope,” he lifted his head. Pointing his finger at the man behind the bar. “Don’t even suggest that again.”

“Suggest what?” Hunk asked.

“What does Shay have that neither you nor your roommate has?” Adam sent a smile toward Lance.

Lance mumbled out an answer.

“I’m sorry what?” Adam leaned forward slightly.

Lance sighed. “A ring.”

“Three for three,” Adam said, leaning back some while crossing his arms.

Lance sighed, “I need another drink.”

---

“No, absolutely not.” Keith crossed his arms, sending Lance a stern look.

“Come on mullet! It’s just pretending.”

Keith stared at his roommate, his face unchanged. “No.”

Lance threw his hands in the air in frustration. “It wouldn’t hurt to try.”

“I’m not pretending to be married to you.”

“Engaged.”

“Right…engaged. Because there is such a difference.” Keith scoffed.

“There is.”

They both fell into a stiff silence. Neither of them dared to break it. Lance chewed on his inner cheek, his hands fidgeting by his upper thighs. Keith stared at the floor, his feet hanging off his bed. Lance sighed, “Keith, buddy, my man. It could work, we can just try it-”

“No,” Keith slid off his bed. He moved to slip on his shoes. “Don’t bring that idiotic idea up again.” He left the room with a slam.

Lance sat on his bed and mumbled under his breath. “We’re never going to find a place.”

---

One Week Later

Keith stormed into the room, curses being sputtered quietly. Lance sat up, lifting his headphone off his right ear. “Yo, what got you pissed off?”

The other boy fished his phone from his pocket. Shoving it in Lance’s face. A rejection email meeting his blue eyes. Lance groaned. “We’re running out of options.”

Keith took his phone away and paced the room. His hands found a home in his hair. “We only have two weeks left, what are we going to do?!”

“Well-”

He stopped and pivoted towards Lance. “No.”

Lance raised his hands in the air, “I didn’t even say anything!”

“You were thinking about it.”

"Keith,” Lance stood from where he was laying. “What do we have to lose?”

“My pride,” he mumbled as he flopped on his bed. Sighing as he stared at the ceiling.

“You lost that long ago.”

Kieth scoffed. “When?”

Lance raised his eyebrows at him as if the answer was obvious. “Ah-hem. One word, six letters.”

“Stop-”

“M U L-”

“STOP!”

“L E T. MULLET-” Lance sat up from his bed, Keith following suit.

“I don’t have a mullet,” Keith ran his fingers through his hair. Yanking at the long locks, a groan of annoyance escaped his lips.

“Sure buddy,” Lance sent him a tense smile.

Keith dropped his hands, “how would it even work? Pretending to be…together.”

Lance giggled. “You don’t have to sound so scared of the idea.”

“I don’t like intimacy.” Keith crossed his arms over his chest. Trying to keep his posture stoic.

“Keith my man. My buddy,” Lance stood and took a couple of steps to his roommate's bed. Sitting down next to him, casually throwing his arm over his shoulder. He pulled him closer so his head was almost forced to rest on Lance’s shoulder. “It’s not real. That’s why it’s ‘fake.’ All we have to do is say we’re engaged, and make up some ‘this is where we met’ story. Which, we can say we met at in college-”

“We did,” Keith mumbled.

“See! One step is already done. You’re so smart.” Lance squeezed him tighter, raising his voice into a mushy tone.

“Lance!”

He laughed and loosened his hold. “We can use our actual friendships as the timeline for our relationship. Maybe get a fake ring for one of us and let me do the talking. No kissing, at least on the lips, and holding hands and hugs are the max we will do around others. It’s not torture, it’s just pretend.”

Keith didn’t reply, his breathing low and evening. He was mulling it over. Weighing the pros and cons as if his life depended on it.

“Take the night and consider it? I’m meeting Hunk for dinner.” Lance made his way to the door, grabbing his signature green jacket as he slipped his shoes on. “Later, Mullet.” He twisted the handle, reaching for his keys as he opened the door.

“We can try it.”

“Hm?” Lance froze, his eyes falling on Keith.

Keith sighed, his eyes burning the ground. “We can try it. But only for a week.”

Lance grinned. “See you later then…. Babe.” He closed the door, not missing Keith’s groan of regret.

---

“All of the appliances are brand new, top of the line. It comes with both a washer and a dryer. All utilities are included in the rent. Any pets are an additional $25 a month each and each apartment comes with two numbered parking spots. Any additional vehicles just need to park in the uncovered lot.” The girl, Nyma, stopped in the kitchen. Placing her binder on the white marble countertop.

“This is really…wow this is gorgeous.” Lance walked through the living room once more, leaving Keith in the kitchen. “Babe, what do you think about it?” He glanced toward Keith who was staring out one of the windows. “Baby?”

Keith’s eyes snapped to Lance, and a small blush formed on his face before he cleared his throat. “It’s perfect.”

Nyma looked between them, her eyes gleaming. “Are you two interested?”

Lance nodded excitedly as he made his way over to his friend. “My fiance and I have been looking for a place for months but none of them have come close to this.” He intertwined their hands together, his thumb unconsciously rubbing along the backside of Keith’s hand. Unaware of the tension Keith held in his body over the touch.

“How long have you two been together?”

Keith froze, but Lance took charge. “Four years together, but one year engaged.” He sent Keith a smile who nodded.

Nyma grinned, moving to open her binder. “Let me talk you through the application.”

They were approved that night.

-----

I'm aiming for a biweekly update, but I do work full time so I write when I have energy <3

I hope you liked it

Thank you for reading <33333

[o5-blackbird]

Hm.. the first time I managed to dive to the bottom of deep end of the pool was when my grandma accidentally dropped her glasses down there. She bought me ice cream as a reward for getting them back for her.

Adm. K: That sounds very brave of you and like a very good reward for such a noble feat! I think a lot of people would do a whole lot to help family. Even Claire, even after all these years. I cannot say that I would do the same in her shoes. Adam is gone. Claire is returning to the others, I think I am seeing where she fits into this all. They're still talking. They've been talking. Petty things that do not matter. The talking itself does not matter. They both think they've gotten the best of each other. Neither of them will get any kind of reward for what they're about to do, they're all going to be losers here and they don't even know it. All he has to do is bide just a little more time. All he has to do is keep gesturing widely while speaking; she's come to expect it from him. All he has to do is move his hand to his belt mid-sentence and- ... There it is. Through the throat; as predicted. He's falling down like glasses in a pool. The good dogs are letting off a few shots and running back, leaving behind their owners. ... .. . You know what my favorite memory was when I was a kid...? ... It was a time before you all, before so many people, but I remember it so clearly and fondly... It'd be all quiet... My mom and dad would sit me down on the steps of a nice chilly night when the air was soft and their touches were nice and gentle with each other and... In the end... My dad would pull out a nice big box from the garage, set it up and just to scare us a little when we least expected it on those nice mornings... Fireworks. [CONNECTION TERMINATED.]

[octochick]

talullahs adm is the one who put the glass around the tree

[horseshoe-bay-ledger]

Stasis

I was bored. I wrote this. It’s something. It’s also not the requests sitting in my ask box so sorry once again to those who have left them. 

Essentially we’re in Curse Era but Ace shows up at Nancy’s door injured.

———

“Ace?”

There was panic in Nancy’s voice, the same that always came when she knew Ace was in danger or could possibly be hurt.

Except this time that possibility was very real and right in front of her. The physical proof stood in the entryway, leaning uncomfortably against a dooway and bleeding from a cut above his right eye.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Ace promised.

He was still trying to reassure her even as he bleed onto her floor.

“Ace,” she sighed, as an admonishment almost. He was downplaying it because of course he was, it was Ace she was dealing with after all.

He seemed to take it as a critique of his presence there instead, though—like she was at all worried about him bothering her.

“I know. I’m sorry. I thought it would be maybe Carson and, um, or Ryan here.”

“No, just me,” she explained quietly.

Ace looked at her with an expression of unsureness to the point that he almost looked contrite. The wrongness of it echoed throughout her very being. She could feel herself frowning. It was the exact opposite of what they were and she could only really blame herself. It was an awful decision to be made, but in the end it was her who had made it.

He seemed to take her continued silence as an ostracisation rather than a lamentation of circumstance. That was another thing she could probably blame herself for—making him doubt how he understood her, what he saw when he looked through her eyes.

“I—I wouldn’t have come it’s just… I lost my keys at—uh, somewhere. Here was the closest. And there’s just no way I could go to my parents’, you know? Not with my dad right now. Not like this,” he waved his arm gesturing to himself. “And—”

He was more concerned about justifying his presence there than the potentially bruised ribs he was maybe carrying. She knew it was her fault he felt like this but it still pierced her heart like like a shard of glass, and the very fact it was her fault actually made that glass even sharper.

Of course he could come here, come to her, for help.

“Ace,” Nancy said one more time, decisively to cut off his unneeded apology. “Come in. You know your way round. You can stay here tonight but we need to clean you up first.”

She turned, hugging the door so he could pass. And he did—just very slowly. Not a good sign. All she wanted to do was reach out and help him. She settled for supporting his elbow a few steps.

“I’m okay,” Ace lied.

“Hmm.”

“I promise.”

“I know you, Mr. I’m Okay. I know you’re alright no matter what but that doesn’t mean you always have to be okay.”

She was telling him something about herself.

“C’mon. Kitchen stool’s probably best. I’ll run upstairs and grab the first-aid kit.”

She made her way hastily up the stairs and once she’d pulled the kit out from under the sink she took the briefest of moments to herself. She clutched the basin with her hands and let gravity take the weight of her head if just for a second. Then she drew herself up, wiped her face with her hands and took a deep breath. She made eye contact with herself in the mirror and did her best to muster some semblance of a brave face.

As she glided back down the stairs she saw that Ace had uncomfortably settled on one of the kitchen stools. Without looking at him directly she put the first-aid kit on the kitchen island with a loud thunk and opened it dramatically.

“Quite the extensive first-aid kit,” Ace commented.

Nancy hummed in agreement.

“I was a troublesome child,” she replied.

“I don’t doubt it.”

Her eyes flicked to his then. The look they shared was loaded and utterly unconnected to the words they were saying.

There was a long stretch of silence as Nancy tended to his (visible) wounds. Ace was trying to be stoic but she saw the slightest scrunch of his nose when something stung or hurt. She hated to admit she felt every single thing along with him. Awful thing to have your heart exist outside of your body.

She didn’t like she was adding to his pain either, even if it was helping him. There was some broader metaphor there but she was too emotionally exhausted to pay too much attention to it.

He was right though, it wasn’t as bad as it looked. He had that going for him at least.

“So,” Nancy said eventually, not as a beginning of a sentence but as a full sentence.

Ace only raised his eyebrows in response to her raised eyebrows so she decided to make the conversation, if you could call it that, more productive.

“You going to tell me what happened?” she prompted.

Ace just sighed, considering.

“Had a thing. Dug a bit too deep,” he said. “Some people didn’t like what I found.”

“Ah,” said Nancy. “The Nancy Drew Special.”

She granted him some time away from her probing questions, but they both knew that she wouldn’t drop it forever. He had known that when he said it but he had been asking for some time, a moment, some room to breathe—so she relented.

“You don’t have to do it on your own, you know,” she said after a beat.

“I know, I was going to call but…” he paused. Nancy knew exactly what the ‘but’ was about.

“Right,” she said, pausing. “Well, next time I’d still rather you call.”

Ace nodded.

“Noted,” he replied kindly. “Thanks.”

She gave him a tight smile and went back to work. She felt the weight of his gaze on her as she did.

Once she was done fixing his face up best she could she surveyed him. His face looked much better but he was still sitting awkwardly.

“I need to look at your side.”

“W—why?”

“Because I can tell by the way you’re leaning something’s wrong,” Nancy explained. “Can I please just have a look at least, I’ll be gentle.”

Ace gave her a discerning and somewhat disbelieving eye.

“Okay,” she conceded. “As gentle as I can be. Can I?”

She ran her fingers lightly along the hem of his shirt. His face hardened briefly before he quickly schooled his expression and nodded shortly so Nancy pulled up his shirt to see.

She poked around, but gently as she promised. She rode every wince with him, hating it all the way.

She pulled her head back after her examination. But her hands remained where they were. They feathered lightly over his side now, barely touching him and not with enough pressure to hurt. It was almost instinctive and she couldn’t help herself.

She needed to stop.

He blinked quickly and she thought she heard a stutter in his breath.

“I, uh,” Nancy tried, swallowing thickly. She hadn’t fully registered—or allowed herself to register—until just now how close he was and she was beginning to feel unsteady, a little heady.

She could not be distracted.

She would not be distracted.

Her mouth was slightly open now, she was probably going to say something but she had no idea what it would be, if it was anything at all.

Why was he looking at her like that?

She wanted him to stop but, also, she never wanted him to stop.

They both looked down at her fingers still traitorously tracing thoughtless shapes along his skin.

“I don’t think your ribs are bruised or broken,” she said more composed than she felt but barely above a whisper. It was easier now he wasn’t looking directly at her. But only marginally. “You’ll probably have a nasty bruise but there’s, um, not a lot to be done. I can grab you an ice pack or something.”

“Uh-huh,” Ace said, far off. He brought his hand up and grazed it along her wrist, cradling it in.

His fingers were barely touching her skin but she felt goosebumps in their wake. That was to say nothing of what it did to her heart. It felt like it was about to explode even with the most inane of touches.

His head was still bent, silently looking down at his right side—their hands. They were so close she could feel his hair brush gently at her forehead. She didn’t know if she had forgotten how to breath or whether she just unable to in this moment. Ace had stolen that away from her with just an index finger. She felt utterly and overwhelmingly entranced.

She should have left immediately—gone and got an ice pack freezer but instead she continued to stand in in place. Her feet, too, had turned traitors it seemed. What had happened to her will power? But she knew what happened: Ace had eroded it without even really trying.

If they just stayed like this, though, that would be alright. She could look at the nook of Ace’s elbow and want to push her thumb into it. She could think of doing the same to the crease now between his eyebrows. She could think about kissing him until neither of them could breathe, and then just a little bit more. She could do all of that and it would still be alright. No harm done. No fatal curses triggered. But then he had to go and look at her again.

And everything came undone. All her resolve, all the work she had done these past weeks to avoid him, everything. Her ears were ringing and the only sound she could make out now was that of her thundering heartbeat and Ace’s uneven breathing. Or maybe that was her uneven breathing—it was hard to tell.

They had a silent, one-second conversation that lasted a lifetime.

Then she saw the glint in his eye, and she knew the moment he decided he was going to lean forward and cross a threshold that could not be uncrossed.

Something screamed out a warning from deep within her and, suddenly, it was like someone had dumped a bucket of water over her head.

It took everything in her, but she pulled back. For him. Anything, even this. Even hurting him to help him.

She cleared her throat loudly. Ace was startled into refocusing on her abrupt re-routing of the moment. She could see him clock it, recover from it and put it away so he could dissect it later. For just a second she wished they weren’t so similar.

“I need to, uh,” she was quickly forgetting how words worked. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Ice pack.”

When she came back with a bag of peas (it was all they had), she did her best to be as even and perfunctory as possible.

“I’ll bring a mattress down so you’re more comfortable and you don’t have to go upstairs,” Nancy said. “I can sleep on the couch.”

Ace’s throat bobbled and he looked like he was going to confront her. It was nothing but misplaced hope on her part that made her feel like there was even a possibility of avoiding that. How could she have made such a disastrous misstep? How would she parry this one?

She felt herself subtly pleading at him with her eyes. Desperately trying to reach out from behind the façade she once again had to put up.

She saw his expression change as he looked at her and his mind deviate at the last second. He knew her too well for his own good. She let out the breath she had been holding.

She knew that it was only a stay of execution. They were too much alike for him to be able to drop it entirely. She just hoped it could be delayed for as long as possible until she could figure something else out.

So he chose something else to argue with her about.

“I’m okay on the couch,” he insisted. “I’ve disrupted your night enough already.”

Nancy just shook her head and he relented. Normally he would keep insisting and end up taking the couch but he looked… tired. He probably figured out that she didn’t have the bandwidth to fight him on it either. Not after they had reached some sort of multifaceted truce on confrontation.

She went about setting them up for the night. Ace kept trying to help to the point where she literally had to slap him away at one stage.

“What’s the point of me doing this if you’re just going to hurt yourself more?” she’d said, buried under an armful of blankets and pillows.

“You wouldn’t have to carry so much,” he said simply.

He was telling her something about himself.

“Sit there and drink your tea. It’s some fancy brand Ryan bought and he’d be mad if you wasted it.”

That seemed to finally strike a chord with him and he sat back down.

In all honestly, she could’ve taken one of her dad’s beds but she wanted to be near so she could be sure Ace was okay (that was what she told herself anyway). It hadn’t passed by her notice that he could definitely have picked the locks at his own place but they’d deal with wherever Florence was tomorrow. And the fact Ace probably needed to see a doctor.

They just needed to get through the night.

“Ace,” she whispered into the dark. “If you snore I will kick you out.”

There was a moment that all her anxieties threatened to rush up and fill but then…

“Fair,” he replied sleepily.

It was quiet after that but Nancy knew it would be short lived. She found that, not for the first time, she was somewhat dreading her morning coffee.

[sanemyamen]

Denatured Alcohol Market to Observe Strong Growth to Generate Massive Revenue in Coming Years

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Denatured alcohol is also referred to as is ethanol, ethyl alcohol that is not fit for human consumption as they use to add one or more chemicals (denaturants) to this alcohol. The chemicals that are used are Denaturing which helps in referring to removing a property from the alcohol which is being able to drink it, hence these denatured alcohol contains ordinary ethyl alcohol. These are used in solvent, fuels for different applications such as burners, stoves and many more. It is observed that, in the United States, there is a much greater percentage of Methanol as compared to ethanol. Hence the application of this denatured alcohol in various products is driving nature. Key Market Trends: Acceptance of Methanol as the Main Additive used in the Manufacturing of Denatured Alcohol

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Presented By

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[mixergiltron]

Feeling Groggy

On the menu of most Tiki bars is a drink with 'Grog' in the name. This is due to this gentleman:

His name is Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon,and in the pantheon of Tiki gods,he's right up there with the legendary Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic. Why do you ask? Because on the 21st of August,1740,the good Admiral issued Order to Captains No. 349 for sailors of the British Navy to be issued a daily ration of rum,watered down,and livened up with lime or lemon and sugar cane for "good husbandmen"(the lime later became standard issue to prevent scurvy,and is why the British are called 'limeys'). This became known as "grog",and was basically the very first Tiki cocktail.

Back in the day,life aboard ship was,how should I put this,crappy. One of the many issues faced on long voyages was a lack of potable water. Water was stored in wooden casks and would go bad in short order. Beer was carried aboard ship because it would last longer. But when British ships began operating in the Caribbean,they switched to rum because it was easy to find and cheap to purchase,and it would last longer. Originally it was issued straight,but as this caused 'disciplinary problems',it was later watered down. The name grog came from Adm Vernon's nickname "Old Grog",which came from his habit of wearing a grogham cloth coat or cloak in bad weather. The grog was issued twice a day,just before noon and again at the end of the workday. The rum used was generally around 114 proof,and this was confirmed by the Purser(or Pusser) who would mix an amount of rum with gunpowder and light it;if it burned,then it was of the proper strength to be issued. It is from this test that we get 'navy strength' rum. Fortunately,in modern times we have ice to mix with our drinks,so we can actually enjoy our grogs. So give these cocktails a try,and be sure to use the toast,"splice the mainbrace!".

Mix #10 Traditional Grog

1.5oz navy strength rum* 1oz lime juice 1/2oz simple syrup**

*I recommend Pusser's Gunpowder or Hamilton's Navy Grog Blend. **Rock candy or Demerara syrup work best.

This is basically a historically correct grog recipe,save that it is shaken with ice. It skews a bit sour depending on the syrup used,and actually utilizes navy rum.

Mix #11 Navy Grog

1oz light rum 1oz dark rum 1oz Demerara rum 1oz honey syrup 3/4 oz lime juice 3/4oz grapefruit juice 2oz club soda

Shake everything except soda with ice. Pour into double rocks glass and top with soda.

This is the traditional Tiki drink. The 'legit' method uses a cone made of ice with the straw going through it,but really regular ice works just fine(and doesn't require any extra effort). Note that with three ounces of rum,plus the honey,you will probably feel pretty groggy the next day after a couple of these.

Mix #12 Sailor's Grog

1.5oz spiced rum 1/2oz 151 Demerara rum 3/4oz lime juice 3/4oz orange juice 1/2oz falernum 1 dash Angostura bitters 1.5oz ginger beer

Shake everything except beer with ice and pour into double rocks glass. Top with beer.

BG Reynold's riff on grog is a spicy cocktail for folks who like a little zip to their drink. It terms of power,it splits the difference between the other two grog recipes.

FYI,the rum ration was ended by the Royal Navy on 31 July,1970(called Black Tot Day) due to concerns that consuming high proof spirits was not compatible with the complicated machinery and electronic systems on modern vessels. So now the poor squids have to drink beer. Yet one more reason why I was Air Force instead of Navy.

[thecorazone]

Oc questions based on @saint-14s-gay-pigeon ask post

(Because I know no one would ask me and I want to flesh my characters out. Any questions I answered in my sheet I will not answer again) ((I will post the link to ask at a later time))

Kota-8

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

1.What is your Guardian’s favourite colour? Is that preference reflected in their gear and/or appearance?

Kota likes softer and pretty colors: Pink, purple, blue, white, though purple is his favorite.

2.What is your Guardian’s favourite season/weather?

Kota is a autumn/fall boy and is a fan of windy days.

3.Is your Guardian part of an established fireteam?

Kota was loner before he formed a fireteam with Admes after Six Fronts and remains a strong fireteam today. They formed fireteam Fenrir with Xäræswulf after their raid on the Vault of glass.

4.What’s a talent/hobby your Guardian has outside of combat?

Kota is an excellent wood carver, he likes to make little figures and leave them in random places amongst his friends belongings. He also likes to fish, a hobby he taught to Xäræswulf-2 and Admes, though only the first of the two truly enjoys doing it.

5.Which NPC does your Guardian get along with the best? What do they like about them?

Amanda, Devrim, Cayde, and Ada-1

He has known Devrim Amanda and Cayde for years and had built up good rapport with all. He and Devrim act like old men together and he sees Amanda as his wild little sister. He had always appreciated Cayde's ability to be serious even when fooling around. His "attitude" had grown on Kota over the years. Kota very much has a thing for Ada stemming from her grace and nobility. He also greatly admires her stubbornness.

6.Are there any NPCs they’re especially at odds with? Why don’t they get along?

Asher Mir, Drifter and Variks are the ones he is most at odds with. Asher Mir for his arrogance, Drifter for his Scammynes and Variks for his role in Caydes Death

7.How would your Guardian comfort a friend after receiving some bad news?

Despite his harsh outside demeanor, he understands and has a lot of experience with such things. He would watch and react to exactly what they need, it would be like being comforted by your father.

8.What is your Guardian’s idea of a good party/celebration?

A hunter den is where the party is in his opinion, but he wouldn't turn down a good bar party.

10.What does your Guardian do to relax? Do they ever relax?

He goes back to his roots in the outdoors as relaxation (i.e., hiking,hunting, fishing, camping). He also pays visits to Hunter dens if he is in a really good mood to blow off steam.

11.Does your Guardian have any tattoos/piercings/engravings/other body modifications?

No, but he is covered in dents, scapes and scratches

12.Your Guardian is in charge of arranging takeout and a movie for the fireteam to enjoy together; what kind of food and genre of movie would they pick?

He would pick american styled takeout (burgers, fries, shakes etc) and he would pick a thiller or a survival flick for the fireteam to enjoy.

13.How does your Guardian show affection? Are they very free with their affection or is it typically reserved for a special few?

He reserves his affection for the ones closest, even then it is not of the touchy Feely kind.

14.A Warlock has invited your Guardian to an hour of quiet group meditation; does that sound appealing to them? Would they go regardless?

He wouldn't like it and would decline, rudely most likely depending on who asked. If it was Admes, he would begrudgingly go.

15.How would your Guardian dress for a formal/black tie event? How about for a day at the beach?

He wouldn't go to a black tie event even if he owed you glimmer. For a beach day he would be in shorts, t-shirt and sunglasses, you know, like a old man.

16.Is there an animal that you associate with your Guardian or that you feel represents them?

A wolverine considering they are mean bastards and can kill things many times their size.

17.Is there a specific weapon or type of weapon that they’re most comfortable using? How about one they rarely, if ever use?

Kota is most comfortable with bows as in his previous life he was more accustomed to using them. He rarely uses autorifles as he prefers the mobility other weapons provide him.

18.Does your Guardian have any bad habits or vices?

He is very closed off and jaded, so he tends to snap and be mean to people he doesn't know or trust. He also has a bad habit of disappearing without telling anyone where he is.

19.Did your Guardian kill Uldren or did Petra?

No, because he was on house arrest for some time after Cayde died and was not allowed to join Xäræswulf

20.Does your Guardian like to dance? What’s their go-to emote, if they have one?

Kota does not like to dance and cannot dance to save his eternal life. He is perfectly fine,However, to watch Admes and Xäræswulf make fools of themselves on the dance floor.

21. What was your Guaridan’s reaction when meeting Crow for the first time? How has their impression of him changed over time?

He wanted to kill Crow the first time he met him. Xäræswulf and Admes had to run strong interference for a while before he calmed down. After the avarice began to subside, he began to reluctantly teach Crow how to be a Hunter with Xäræswulfs pushing. He still wants to kill him half the time for his stupidity.

22. How does your Guardian feel about using Stasis?

Strongly against it at first. He was part of the old guard of guardians who believed using darkness was wrong. It took watching Xäræswulf bear the weight of stasis without falling to darkness that began to change his mind on its utility.

23.What are your Guardian’s thoughts on Misraaks? Caiatl?

He still holds a grudge against them for the things their people did so he doesn't favor them strongly

24. Where does your Guardian live/stay while not on duty?

He either stays in hunter hideouts or crashes in Xäræswulfs apartments since he isn't there half the time. He will also crash Admes apartment to hang out.

25. What is your Guardian’s Ghost’s name?

Her name is Aurora, named for the Aurora Borealis that was present during his resurrection.