#Adi my wonderful husband.

[darth-jess]

I LOVED your love/attachment meta and I wanted to ask what you thought about Obitine. I love Satine’s addition in The Clone Wars because her relationship with Obi Wan is objectively a healthy one and he’s not possessive of her but they CANNOT be together and it’s explicitly because Jedi cannot know love. Obi Wan’s self control and lack of possessiveness doesn’t matter, he cannot be with her and be a Jedi at the same time, and it feels almost like their relationship was included as a rebuttal to people who say romance/love was allowed for Jedi so long as it “wasn’t possessive attachment” (an argument I mainly see from the anti anidala/anti anakin crowd). Anyway, I just wondered if you felt Obitine was meant on commentary on the Jedi code in addition to being a contrast to Anidala?

Hi Bookishfeylin!

First off, I want to apologize for how long it's taken me to get around to answering your ask! I'm always very slow with these, so again, apologies, but my asks are always open and you guys are free to message me!

(For those of you who haven't read it, this is the meta they're referring to in their Ask.)

To Answer Your Question:

Short answer: Absolutely.

Long answer:

Somehow, there are quite a number of people who seem to think that Jedi were allowed to have romantic relationships. And while the Jedi did allow exceptions to this rule (Revan was allowed to marry Bastilla Shan, and Ki-Adi Mundi was allowed to have numerous wives because of the population of his species) there were very few exceptions.

In general, this was a hard, inflexible rule and Obi-Wan's relationship with Satine literally proves that.

In The Clone Wars, we are shown that Obi-Wan Kenobi has feelings for Satine Kryze, Duchess of Mandalore. Despite this, he kept these feelings locked down and tucked away. He never allowed what he felt for Satine to cross over into the raw, visceral attachment that Anakin and Padmé had for each other, and yet he still was not allowed to be with her. Yet even that muted connection, that quiet fondness, would have required him to walk away from the Jedi Order.

"Had you said the word, I would have left the Jedi Order."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Clone Wars: Season 2: Episode 13: Voyage of Temptation

Obi-Wan Kenobi was one of the greatest Jedi who ever lived, who embodied the Jedi Order of his time. And being a Jedi was his purpose in life, it was his calling. Obi-Wan Kenobi would always be a Jedi. And yet he would have left that behind to be with Satine. Yet why would he leave it behind at all if he didn't have to? If the Jedi were allowed to have relationships, Obi-Wan shouldn't have needed to choose between the Jedi and Satine, as long as he could have remained true to Jedi philosophy and not grow too attached, despite his love for her.

Now, let's address the rancor in the room: Anakin and Padmé. Anidala haters love to talk about how "unhealthy" the Anidala relationship is, and yes while their love was messy, intense, and deeply co-dependent, there's nothing inherently wrong with that because both of them took great joy in their relationship. Just because you would not enjoy being in a relationship like theirs does not make it unhealthy.

My parents have a relationship that would feel suffocating to me, and yet it is perfect for them. My relationship with my husband is very different, but it is perfect for me.

The thing is, all relationships are going to be as unique as the people involved in the relationship. As long as there is a balance, and both people are happy, there isn't anything wrong with it. And let's be real here, Anakin and Padmé were not normal people in the slightest, so they were not going to have anything resembling a normal relationship.

Did they have fights? Yes, every married couple has fights. Did they endure trials and tribulations in their relationship and as a couple? Of course they did, every married couple goes through that. And those who truly love each other, come out stronger on the other side, just like Anakin and Padmé did.

Were they always a perfect husband or wife to each other? No, they are people, and perfection is unreachable.

Their love was born from a deep connection, a shared understanding that transcended the boundaries of their respective roles. To say it was unhealthy is to ignore the genuine affection, the unwavering loyalty they had for each other. It's to judge them by the standards of "normal" people, which they most certainly were not.

Obi-Wan's relationship with Satine, in contrast, was a study in restraint. He held back, he kept his distance, and he ultimately chose the Order over her. It wasn’t that his feeling were less “real” than Anakin's, it was that he was able to follow the rules of the Jedi, which forbade him from having a romantic relationship.

That’s the commentary.

It shows that even a whisper of attachment was too much for the Jedi. It highlights the stark contrast between the Order's rigid dogma and the messy, unpredictable nature of human (or, well, sentient) emotions.

So, yes, Obi-Wan's relationship with Satine serves as a stark reminder of the Jedi's uncompromising stance on attachments, which I think makes a very good case for the fact that Jedi were not allowed to have romantic relationships.

That's my take.

[thereader-radhika]

The Bride

Nandini opened the jewellery box they brought from Pazhayarai. When Akka got married, she was given her share of ornaments, sarees and Amma's old box. She insisted that the new box be kept at home. When they returned from Pazhayarai, both sisters wanted to throw away the damn thing with its contents in Vaigai. But anger is the privilege of gods and kings! They had no other means but to use the fineries gifted by the two pirattis for akka's wedding. But none of these will be needed for Nandini's marriage.

Akka and Amma stood at the corner of the room and weeped silently. Annan too wore an inexplicable expression on his face. Nandini placed the big maangamaalai on tiny Nila and laughed. The necklace is almost as big as Nila. How long will it take her to grow up! When she grows up, the tiny lolakku will suit her face well and her hands will be big enough for these valayal. The baby took the chutti from her hands and started to bite it with her toothless gums. She cried when Nandini took it from her mouth. She tickled the baby who started to laugh again. Adi! The little girl is already obsessed with jewellery.

Maybe akka herself will start wearing these when she gets over her initial sadness. She wrapped each piece carefully. "Here akka, be careful. Why are you crying? This is a small gift to my vennila kutti. I am giving this to you only because she is too little", Nandini gave the bundle to akka.

She took the silver jewellery she wore regularly. She had washed them and put it on the windowsill to dry them. She gave her earrings to Arulvezhi, a neighbour of akka whom she had invited to their home.

"Do you like the design, kanne?", she pinched the cheek of the girl.

"Akka, when do you want it back?", the girl asked with apprehension.

"It is yours paapa".

"Really? You don't want it? Ever?", the girl asked again and again, as if she couldn't believe it.

She divided her bangles among twin sisters Mullai and Maathu who too looked at her with astonishment and thanked her profusely. She gave her mookuthi to Gnanam akka in the neighbourhood and silver chutti to her sister who had come to visit her. Though they tried to give it back, she insisted that they take it.

Amma and akka kept on crying. Maybe that's why Velvizhi was reluctant to accept the chelas. She was about to get married in a month. Nandini had considered giving her silk sarees too to Nila but she felt that Velvizhi needed it more than baby Nila who won't wear them for at least 12-13 years. No wonder Kundavai and Sembiyan Madevi gave away jewellery and chelas frequently. It feels so good. 

"Don't mind them. Actually you should call me when you drape it. I wish to see you in them. In my opinion, it is the green colour that suits you the best".

Obviously Velvizhi had questions. Nila was too young to understand anything and other girls thought Nandini was just lending them the jewellery, though she insisted that it isn't so. They didn't look convinced. She saw Gnanam giving the mookuthi back to Amma, saying that she can't accept such expensive gifts.

"Akka, why are you giving away all this? Won't you need it for your marriage?"

"I am married", Nandini declared. Amma and akka cried even louder. Baby Nila too started to cry when she saw her mother and grandmother crying. Annan took her out and Amma and akka went with them, unable to accept the madness which was unfolding before their eyes. Velvizhi's eyes looked like they will fall out of their sockets.

That day Velvizhi accompanied Nandini when she went to take a bath and pestered her. When did Nandini get married? Didn't get father die recently? Have they conducted her marriage secretly? Why is she giving away everything as if she has a lot of gold and silk lying around? Most importantly, where is her husband?

"He is here, he is there and he is everywhere".

"Is he a spy, akka?", she whispered excitedly. Velvizhi knew songs about about spies who infiltrate palaces, markets, and temples, collect information and pass it on to authorities. Is that why her marriage was kept a secret? She had heard about the feats of spies but never seen one in real life.

"No, he is a thief. Be careful about your clothes. He has the habit of stealing the clothes of aymagal when they are bathing", Nandini splashed water and wiped off her bright red pottu. Velvizhi got scared. Is this woman mad? She noticed that Nandini didn't wear her usual coloured chela after bath. Is that her father's clothes? It looked white like widow's clothes. Inauspicious!

Poor Velvizhi looked so uncomfortable, like she wanted to run away. Nandini consoled her that she will dip them in turmeric later. It will take some time to dye the clothes. Won't she help her?  The poor girl squeamishly said that she will busy with her wedding preparations. Nandini realised that she scared the girl and didn't trouble her anymore.

She smoked her hair with fragrant herbs and spread it so that it'd dry soon. After that she will tie it as a bun on the side, like Andal. Where are the flower garlands she made? There, she took them inside. She took another white cloth and covered her chest. She will make a small thiruman on her forehead later. Don't I look beautiful? She repeated what she told everyone today morning - "Naan kannane manakiren" (I am marrying Kannan) and smiled.

Maangamaalai - Necklace with mango pattern

Lolakku - Earrings

Valayal - Bangles

Chutti - Forehead ornament

Vennila kutti - Moonlight baby

Mookuthi - Nose ring

Paapa - Child

Aymagal - Cowherdesses

Thiruman - Tilak

Notes: I was a wee bit disappointed when I saw Nandini wearing silk and gold jewellery in the movie. I understand that it goes with the movie's story line (living as the ward of VP), but it doesn't portray the anguish of Nandini who was seperated from AK. In the books, when Karikalan meets Nandini after many years, this is her look. Plain look without any ornaments other than some strings of jasmine. She has renounced the world. In Pazhayarai, she wore coloured clothes and jewellery given by Kundavai. People like Nandini wore turmeric dyed clothes.

Anushka in Om Namo Venkatesaya

Nandini's clothes look like these

[dominimoonbeam]

Don’t Run - 9

This work is mine and I do not give consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted without my permission. I am sharing chapters as I work on this story but it is copyrighted material that I plan to rework and publish when completed.

you can find the series from the start over on patreon.

story tags: mobsters, romance, learning to trust, dark themes, bad childhood, arranged marriage, reference to past violence, reference to past murder

DON’T RUN - CHAPTER NINE.

Freya got no sleep with Adi in the apartment.

She tried, but even with the door locked there was no chance.

He was down the hall, in his own room.

She laid there and listened until the sun was almost up—until Adi was definitely moving around.

She gave up on sleep after he walked down the hall, past her door, and out of the apartment. Maybe she’d get lucky and her husband would sleep someplace else tonight.

Not for the first time, she had to think about whether that someplace else was Ezra’s apartment. She felt so stupid.

She hadn’t changed out of her clothes the night before, but she laced up her boots before unlocking her bedroom door and leaning out, giving the house another listen before sneaking to the front door.

They had a treaty of sorts, sure, but how far could she trust Adi Ellis? He’d break their agreement eventually, maybe even at the end of all this when he claimed he’d help her escape. No one was going to help Freya but Freya.

She grabbed her backpack and headed out, taking the elevator down to the lobby.

The doors chimed and slid open. Voices rolled in, almost stopping her from stepping out, but they weren’t any voices she recognized. Freya walked into the lobby just as a man in a suit slapped his palm to the counter.

Miles was standing on the other side of that counter, his lips pressed and his head tipped in apology. He shot Freya a quick glance and his usual head nod before returning his focus to the man in front of him, who hadn’t paused in his tirade about a missing package.

“Sir, again, all I can say is that there has been no delivery.”

“So, you’re saying the courier is a liar?” the suit ground out each word like he was asking if he was being told the world was flat.

Freya took a few steps, pitching an eyebrow.

“I can’t know that, sir. All I know is that no package arrived.”

The suit pushed away from the counter and spun for the door, clearly planning to storm out, only he collided with Freya first. It was just a fender bender of bodies, no wreckage or need for insurance companies to be involved, but he reeled back, arms up, like she’d spilled a beer down his front.

He was tall and well dressed. He looked like he belonged in the same places Adi did. In fact, his clothes looked like they could have been pulled from the same hyper-organized closet. Only he looked nothing like Adi and had none of the Ellis charm. His blond hair was slicked high and his tan storebought.

“Christ, who are you?” He twisted back to shoot Miles another sneer. “You know you’re not allowed to have family hanging around here, right?”

“She’s not—” Miles began but the suit was already throwing a hand back at him and finishing his storm out.

Freya blinked, watching him go and the doors gently slide shut behind him. There was no slamming those. “Who’s the asshole?” she asked, hands in her pockets.

Miles took a breath, annoyed but barely showing it. “Just another tenant, ma’am.”

“Freya,” she reminded, wondering if there was some sort of policy that kept Miles from divulging the asshole’s name to her. “Is that sort of thing normal?”

Miles glanced toward the door, the sunny morning outside, and then back to Freya. He shrugged one shoulder and smiled a little. It was one of the most noncommittal unanswering answers she’d ever gotten. Freya wasn’t sure if that meant yes or no, they’re usually worse.

Interesting. “Okay, I’ll bring you back something!” She left before he could tell her she didn’t need to.

The morning light was bright, making her squint once she was outside those tinted doors.

Gil, the mountain of a thug, looked down at her with a tight frown that spoke of the trouble she’d caused him the day before.

Freya nodded like she understood, like his stress was anything compared to her pending death sentence. “Yeah. So, I guess you’ll be accompanying me into the dressing rooms for now on?”

Gil continued to frown. “No, Mrs. Ellis. I was told there had been some understandings and that yesterday won’t be repeating itself.”

She rolled that around in her head, not sure she liked how it sounded, but kept a light expression and nodded because she’d learned not to show too much. She could be as offended as she wanted, but she wasn’t going to let anyone see it if she could help it. She needed to play nice if she was going to find another way out. “Well, great then.” She tapped his arm and then stepped around him.

A couple blocks away, still walking down the sidewalk, Freya pulled the wallet from the pocket of her jacket. It was real leather. She flipped it open. His ID was tucked between a black and a silver credit card. She thumbed it out. Henry Simms. The building asshole had a name. She tucked it back in before tugging out the cash and folding it into her palm. The wallet went into the inner pocket of her jacket while the cash went into the front pocket of her jeans. Simms was buying her breakfast.

She was almost to the café before remembering that there was a chance of running in Ezra there. How could a city be so big and so small at the same time? She had just decided to turn and find a new place, when a familiar figure pushed off a wall up ahead and turned toward her.

He looked out of place on the asphalt, his jacket and boots used to dirt and hard wind. She imagined he smelled like the woods and his hand rolled cigarettes.

Freya walked straight up to him, wondering if he had any of those cigarettes on him…

The brim of his hat cast a shadow over his face, but she still caught the curve of his smile.

“Clayton…” Did she stand out as badly as he did in Everton?

“Miss Frey.”

She waited. There was no chance he just happened to be in the neighborhood. Clayton worked for her aunt, just like his parents had before him. He was ruthless and could even keep some of her cousins in line when Aunt Sybil set him to the task.

“How are things goin?”

“What do you want?”

His smile grew. “I was told to check on you. Heard you tried to make a run for it…” He tipped his head to the side, to lay one blue eye on her. There’d been a time when she had nightmares about Clayton being the one dragging her out to that graveyard in the trees.

Freya stared back at him. “If I ran, I wouldn’t be standing here, would I?”

His gaze flicked over her. “I s’pose not…”

“So, unless you have something important to say, get the fuck out of my face before someone sees you.”

Clayton didn’t move and his smile didn’t waver. “Your aunt will be in town next week for the party… She expects you to have something useful for her by then.”

Freya’s heart squeezed in her chest, but she fought hard not to let any of that show. “You coming to the party, Clayton? Going to wear your fancy jeans and bring your formal guns?”

Clayton took a step closer, hip to one side and somehow turning her into the wall without even touching her. Fuck! Like she was a damn horse. “You going to dress up like one of them? Think living in that penthouse makes you different than you are? Should I be callin’ you Mrs. Ellis now?”

Freya pushed the heel of her palm to his chest, shoving hard but not really moving him. “I’m a fucking Morgan and you’d be smart to remember it.”

Clayton grinned, not taking a step back. “As long as you haven’t forgotten… Wouldn’t want you to start playing princess and need a reminder.”

Freya pushed at his chest again. “Get out of here. If I see you around again before the wedding party, I’ll shoot you myself.” Could she get away with that? Was that an option? …Maybe.

Clayton grinned like it definitely wasn’t. “I think I’ll be keeping an eye on you… Wouldn’t want you running.”

Freya hated how that sounded more like, “wouldn’t want to miss the chance to chase.”

“Freya?” a familiar voice asked, but for a split second she couldn’t place it. Ezra had never sounded like that before.

Freya’s heart jumped into her throat. She shouldn’t have cared one way or the other about Ezra anymore, not after he tricked her, but that didn’t stop the stab of panic at having him anywhere near Clayton.

Ezra stood beside them on the sidewalk, his hands out of his pockets and his expression hard. His gaze flicked over her before settling on Clayton, who was now staring right back at him.

There was a split second when Freya could practically feel Clayton deciding what to do—whether to escalate or not.

Ezra stared back at him, waiting for him to make that choice. Say something or step back.

Finally, he eased back. Aunt Sybil didn’t want a street war, not yet, and Clayton was a good dog.

But sometimes a good dog’s job was to bite.

Clayton tapped the brim of his hat, like he was some fucking gentleman and not the worst thug in her aunt’s arsenal.

He turned and walked away, not saying a damned thing.

Freya exhaled when he was down the street and around the corner.

Ezra stepped closer and his expression was the one she had been used to again, soft and open. “Are you okay? Who was that?”

She pushed past him and started down the street again, in the opposite direction as Clayton. “If Adi wants to know, he can ask me himself.”

“I tried to call you,” Ezra said, following her.

“I ignored you.”

“Freya, please give me a minute,” he asked.

It wasn’t what she expected. It wasn’t even a demand.

Freya stopped walking, she looked up the side of a building to squint at the sunny sky before sighing and turning around to face him. “What? What are you going to say? That you weren’t spying on me for Adi? Or do you want to rub it in?”

He winced but shook his head once. “No. But when I met you that first morning, I didn’t know who you were. I didn’t want to hang out with you to spy on you, but I did tell Adi I would later on and that was fucked up. I knew it as soon as we went on that date, and I told him afterward that I couldn’t do it and that I’d tell you the truth.”

Freya rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Okay. And why would you do that?”

Ezra blinked at her like he thought she’d understood something she clearly hadn’t. “Because I like you.”

She exhaled, feeling like he’d hit her. She took a step back. “You’re really still trying?”

He started to reach for her before thinking better of it and dropping his hand. “I won’t lie to you, and I won’t tell people things about you.”

She forced a laugh. “Even Adi?” She didn’t believe that for a second.

“I love Adi,” he said, the truth of it so naked and unabashed that it jarred her. “I’m not going to lie to him, but I won’t tell him things about you that you don’t want him to know either. Unless you’re plotting to kill him, of course… Then I kind of have to tell him.” He smiled carefully. It was actually a joke when he said it, where it had been a real possibility in Adi’s mouth.

Ezra didn’t think she was a danger.

That could be useful.

“You need a friend, Freya.”

“Is that what you want to be? My friend?” she shot back.

Ezra stared at her, the lightness in his expression again and a nearly-there smile playing at his lips. “If that’s all you want.”

Freya hated how easy it was to lean back into his charms. How had he done that? Maybe she was as stupid as they all thought she was…

Ezra’s almost-smile faded, like he could see the direction of her thoughts. “I’m sorry,” he said again and, god help her, she believed him. Maybe he was right, and she wasn’t dangerous. Maybe Ezra was the dangerous one.

“I can’t trust you,” she said.

“You can’t trust anyone, so what does it matter if you hang out with me?”

“Maybe I don’t want to.”

“Then say that and I’ll leave you alone.” He took a step closer, into her personal space, blocking her from the sunlight and wrapping her in his shadow. She could smell his bodywash. It was hard not to lean into him. “Tell me to fuck off,” he said, voice low because they were close enough for whispers now. His chin dipped, some of his light-brown hair falling into his eyes, but nothing stopping them from holding her gaze. “I didn’t know who you were when I started talking to you, Freya, and I’m not here to spy on you. I just like you.”

She wanted to call bullshit. Everyone either wanted to use her or bury her. No one had ever been a friend.

She leaned closer, breathing him in. She had seen a lot of scary things in her life, a lot of truly frightening people, but right then she thought Ezra was the most terrifying person she’d ever met. It felt like he could hurt her in ways that might make her choose the graveyard.

She took a step back and her chest ached when his expression fell, a flicker of hurt on his face like she’d been the one with the power. How? And why did it make her feel bad?

She turned and walked away from him before he could ask her to stop, every step wishing he would and praying he wouldn’t.

She pulled the thin metal case of hand-rolled cigarettes from her pocket. It had Clayton’s initials on it.

 -

 Ezra watched her go.

It was hard not to follow her, but he didn’t want her to feel like he wasn’t giving her a choice. If she wanted to walk away, he had to respect that. Freya Morgan was alone in unfriendly lands. The last thing he could bear to do would be to corner her.

He’d really fucked this up.

Although, to be fair, the whole situation was fucked up well before he ran into her in that café.

When she was out of sight, he crossed the street and marched the handful of blocks to his gym. He punched in the code and the door buzzed when it unlocked. The narrow hall echoed with the sound of fists hitting punching bags and heavy breathing.

The gym wasn’t much, but it was his. It had been a rundown boxing studio when it went up for sale. The previous owner had been hesitant to let it go, even though he couldn’t keep it open any longer himself. He had plenty of offers looking to gut the place and turn it into another café, restaurant, or shop. But it had been home to the local kids boxing club for three generations. Ezra had been one of those kids. He bought it for less than the other offers on the table but with a promise to keep the ring and the club schedules. Over the years, he’d cleaned the place up and cleared out the junk clogging the loft overlooking that main floor to put in more treadmills and stationary bikes. The boxing ring was new, along with the mats and the punching bags, but the weights and the benches were the same as when he’d been a kid.

The place was pretty empty after the early morning group and before the lunch break trainers. Sterling was in the office at the back of the room, drinking coffee from a Big Gulp cup and doing paperwork. She lifted an arm to wave at him through the windows before swiveling back to the desk.

Ezra waved back even though she hadn’t looked long enough to catch it.

He was surprised to see Adi in the gym, occupying the left side corner and beating a bag like it had insulted one of his sisters.

Ezra hadn’t seen his car out front. Had he walked? Or maybe he parked around back?

Adi had a gym in his apartment building and memberships to the nicest places in town, but he’d been the first to sign up at Ezra’s gym. Adi had wanted to buy the whole place for him when he was first talking about the idea. Ezra had refused and almost bailed on the whole plan. Adi had seen it and changed tactics, going back to just being excited about the idea and then eventually suggesting he be an investor. It would make them business partners.

Adi swung at the bag, working imaginary ribs with his knuckles, again and again.

Partners.

Friends.

Ezra and Adi had been in plenty of fights, but they were always on the same side.

Adi dropped his arms, hair sticking to the sweat on his temples. He had on sweats and a tank top. In fact, he had on Ezra’s clothes. He either came from the apartment or he’d raided his locker. He pivoted to look at Ezra, still dragging deep breaths. “Why are you staring at me?” he smiled around the question, despite that deep exhaustion in his eyes.

Adi had been looking increasingly tired lately. Not the kind of tired that could be resolved with better sleep, either. It was something in his soul. His life was wearing down parts of him and Ezra didn’t know how to fix that. He’d suggested they leave plenty of times, both jokingly and seriously. Just bail on their lives and their businesses. Just pack up and go. But they both knew Adi couldn’t leave his family.

“Because you’re going to bust that bag,” he lied.

Adi grinned. “I’ll buy you a new one if I do.”

Ezra rolled his eyes, unimpressed. He nudged the still swaying sandbag.

“Come to the party with me?” Adi asked and it sounded sudden, like even he hadn’t expected it to come out of his mouth.

“Which party?”

“All of them,” he said automatically, smiling and taking a step closer. “Next weekend. Saturday.”

Ezra touched Adi’s chest, over his heart, feeling it slam against his palm. “You mean you’re wedding party?”

Adi shrugged. “It’s not like she doesn’t know, and everyone else we know is going to be there. It would be weird if you weren’t.”

Ezra doubted Freya wanted him there and it had nothing to do with Adi’s feelings about him. But, then again, it was probably going to be a party busting at the seams with enemies for both of them. “Yeah, okay.”

Adi’s gaze shot to his. “Really?”

It was Ezra’s turn to grin. His hand slid up, over Adi’s neck and then around to the back of it to grab hold and drag him forward. There was a flicker of surprise on Adi’s face when he was pulled almost off balance, into Ezra’s chest. Ezra loved when Adi looked surprised. It was rare.

He kissed him, soft for a split-second before pressing harder and adding tongue. Ezra grabbed his hip with his other hand, pulling Adi flush against him and eliciting a moan.

“Fuck,” Adi panted against his lips. “I’m all sweaty… You’re going to mess up your clothes…”

“So?” Ezra countered between kisses. “I’ll steal yours.”

Adi groaned against his lips, squeezing his side and rolling his hips into his.

The lock on the front door buzzed before the heavy door was pulled open, voices mid-conversation echoing down the hall.

Ezra squeezed the back of Adi’s neck, kissing him right up until those footfalls were close before breaking contact. Adi stared at him, still breathless but it was no longer from his workout. “I’m going to go shower and then we can get lunch…”

Ezra nodded, watching him back away and then turn—watching him tuck a sly smile into the corner of his mouth when he went for the employee locker room instead of the members one where the other people were going.

With a groan, he followed, trying not to look too hurried. He hit the stereo on his way, flooding the gym with music so that no one would hear the door locking behind him.

[barrefaeli2]

Ich seh’ dein’ Stolz und deine Wut dein großes Herz, dein Löwenmut. Ich liebe deine Art zu geh'n und deine Art mich anzusehn. Wie du dein’ Kopf zur Seite legst immer seh ich wies mir geht. Du weißt wo immer wir auch sind dass ich dein zu Hause bin. Und was das mit mir macht wenn du jetzt lachst

[dreamcatcherrs]

when you pout at them; mcyt x reader

+ enjoy some wholesome fluff :)

dream:

“no. fuck off.”

tosses you over his shoulder and runs off with you while wheezing at you screaming for him to let you down

george:

finds it pretty cute, actually :]

“you’re such a silly goose🤪”

sapnap:

gives that pout a big ol’ smooch

“do that again and see what happens😠.”

badboyhalo:

turns that frown upside down ):)

no, literally, he pushes your pout into a smile using his thumbs

“c’mon muffin, no need for that.”

technoblade:

waits there for you to stop pouting, crossing his arms over his chest

when you don't though, and just keep looking into his eyes, he has to look away and let you win

“I swear, sometimes I wonder why I’m with you, you brat.”

wilbur soot:

wilbur just starts simping over you

giggles uncontrollably and leans down to kiss you on the lips

“how come you're so cute when you're mad?”

jschlatt:

acts as if he’s disgusted by you, but really, we all know schlatt’s a softie (have you seen him with his cat?🥺)

“what the fuck is that on your face?”

corpse husband:

tries to hide his smile as his heart melts, shyly looking away

“fine. you win - but only this once.”

karl jacobs:

giggles loudly and pulls you into his chest

“you’re so adorable, y/n.”

skeppy:

“stop, y/n! you’re gonna make me simp for you and the others are gonna tease me :(”

obviously he doesn't hold for long, and crumbles right into your hands

fundy:

boops your nose and places his hands on his hips

“you’re not fooling me with that, honey.”

quackity:

“don't look at me like that!”

shakes your shoulders to get you to stop pouting

and when that doesn't work, he squishes you cheeks together, at least just to get a laugh out of it

punz:

grabs you by your chin to pull you closer to him so you're eye to eye with him

“good thing I’m feeling nice today or you'd be in big trouble, princess.”

awesamdude:

walks up and hugs you tightly

“don’t be mad at me, that’s not fair :(”

slimecicle:

grabs your face and shakes it with a large smile of his face (you know the one)

“stop being so damn cute.”

eret:

ruffles your hair up playfully

“you’re very adorable, though I do prefer it more when you’re smiling.”

foolish:

just laughs at you, throwing a pillow at your face

“what are you even doing that for, y/n? you’re so silly.”

jack manifold:

does the thing where he flexes his arms on either side of him, puffing up his chest and trying to look a lot bigger than you

“you’ll have to do a lot more than pouting to get me to change my mind, sweetheart.”

tommy:

“no. no. no. don't do that, y/n. I am not a simp.”

literally turns his back to you with crossed arms

though when you hug him from behind, his heart can't help but to melt for you

tubbo:

hooks his pinkie with yours and swings your hands in the air

“you're so cute.”

ranboo:

“don't do this to me. please, I beg you.”

tackles you onto the bed when you don't stop, only to hide his crazed smile into your shoulder

____________________________________

tag list✰

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[bloodandrunes]

A/N: Just a lil snippet for Adys and Zara I wrote before starting the marketplace branch in chapter 2.

.

Adys is resting in a chair on their balcony when Zara finds him, his bad leg stretched out across a little table nearby. His cane leans against the chair and he taps his fingers against it in a slow, languid rhythm as he watches guards run drills in the courtyard below. She steps out onto the balcony quietly, two teacups in hand.

His head raises at the sound of her footsteps, gray eyes swiveling towards her. "Zara," he rasps, throat still hoarse from the festivities of last night, "it is good to see you."

She hums quietly to in acknowledgment, moving to sit beside him. "It is good to see you as well. Though it would be a remarkably more pleasant experience if you had not gotten raging drunk during celebrations of your own cousin's birth."

Her husband grimaces at her words and reaches out to rub at his temples. "How furious is Ralys with me?"

"She is not impressed."

His head drops back against the chair. "Damn."

Zara scowls as she swirls the tea in her cup. She hands one to him as well. "For your headache," she explains at his questioning look. He grunts and takes a sip, sighing in appreciation.

"My thanks, beloved," he says.

Zara's eyes narrow. "Do not think that talking sweetly to me will get you out of trouble, Adys."

He throws a lopsided grin her way and sets his teacup down on the table. "In our four years of marriage and five years of friendship," he drawls, "I have utilized that strategy multiple times. And, more often than not, it has worked."

She raises an eyebrow. "Has it, darling?"

He nods, grinning. She waits until he has turned his attention back to oggling the guards below -- who are running drills shirtless, she notes-- before setting her own teacup down and pinching him hard on the forearm.

"What in the hells!" he yelps. "That hurt, Zara!"

"I meant for it to," she says dryly. Her indifference fades as she sees him wince when he shifts in his chair, rubbing at his left leg. "Does it hurt especially terribly today?" she asks, tilting her chin at it.

Adys closes his eyes. "Yes," he mumbles.

She moves her chair so that she is on his left side and, gently, takes hold of his leg. Pulling it into her lap, she kneads at the flesh just above his knee. Well practiced in this movement by now, she begins to undo the knots there as best as she can. He groans and she pauses.

"Am I making it better or worse?" she asks.

"Better, beloved. Definitely better."

She nods and resumes her movements. Absentmindedly, her gaze follows his to the guards below. She snorts at the blatant, shameless want on his face. "And you wonder why rumors spread about you," she teases, fingers pressing into his flesh.

Adys throws her a look of mock indignation. "You're one to talk. Your eye wanders so often, you make me look like ever the saint and faithful husband in comparison."

"Now," she tuts, clicking her tongue, "do not let your bitterness at the fact that women find me more beautiful than men find you handsome ruin our pleasant mood. Jealousy does not become you."

"Jealo--" he gapes at Zara and she laughs. Finished with his leg, she helps him prop it back up against the table.

"I will have the servants bring you medicine for that leg of yours," she says, rising. "I am afraid duty calls for me to clean up your image after yet another one of your parties, and so I bid you well."

"Zara, wait," Adys says, and he grabs her wrist. She turns back to him, an eyebrow raised. "Stay," he implores, gray eyes shining, lip jutting into a pout. "Please. I shall be so dreadfully bored without the company of my best friend."

She stares at him. He stares back at her. And pouts even more. A minute passes where they simply stay like that until Zara tilts her head to the sky and sighs deeply. "Fine," she says, moving to sit by him again.

Before she settles back in her chair, she winds her fingers through his hair and presses a kiss to his curls. Damn Adys and his insufferable charisma.

He shoots her a triumphant look as she sits and she pinches him again, harder this time.

"Damnit, Zara!" he snaps, and she throws back her head and laughs.

They stay there, languishing on the balcony and exchanging quips, for the rest of the morning. And though she has other things to do, she finds she does not regret it one bit.

[jalebi-likes]

Channa Mereya Liveblog | E5: Aditya Needs MBA

Dedicated to the OG liveblog queen *charan sparsh* @tellywoodtrash​ and to the relentless PR of this show by @aye-masakalii​

I ended up with this title because seriously, Aditya’s best friend has a better take in business than Adi puttar who literally knows how to screw a deal than make it! 

Episode 5: Aditya Needs MBA

Lol Ambar just shitted his pants hearing his father’s plans of giving everything to Aditya. Lol, he wish he put the zeher in the lassi to Daarji. 

I love Adi NOT SAYING A WORD and killing it with snarky smiles. 

Tayiji trying to instigate her husband to get the reign from Daarji. It’s all about status. Tayaji wondering what he did to get Ambar as brother and his wife in his life. 

(If yaar I’m stuck had a face)

I like Adi keeping things to himself. It’s… practical. Daarji should you be drinking with your grandson at this age - your heart is weak.

Yes, I like Adi being yo… I didn’t react to getting the family business keeping Daarji ka dil. But I want the dhaba and then get out of the family business. 

Yo Adi, you should make an offer they can’t refuse, not a one option only offer. Koi business sikhao iss munde ko. 

I love that Gulabo ji starts her day by cussing her idiotic son Goldie in her mind. 

Lol Gulabo just put a wedding menu to her daughter. 

Aunty ji you don’t know you’re welcoming your future damaad and business hadapne waala. 

Lol Adi going “meri deal gayi” with seeing who the business owner is. 

Yes, a good exchange of words. Also… Adi being rude to the owner’s mother is not a way to get a business. Koi business ki degree do isse.

Oh ok, the ten lakhs is an advance. HMMM… 

Yo ginni looks like she wanna fry Adi up in her pan. 

YES GINNI TELL HIM HOW THE MONEY AIN’T ENOUGH. 

Yes, what business tactic is it to coerce a person to selling property? You… aren’t even mafia. 

25 lakhs for this property????? ADI THIS IS AN IDIOTIC PRICE. 

Ok, Armaan is trying to sweet talk Aunty ji into selling the property. Thappad maaro inn sab ko. 

YES GINNI YELL AT THEM ALL. STOP THEM. 

YO I feel Armaan is more enamored by Ginni at this point, lol. Wah, kya sunaya dono ko. 

Ok Tayiji subtly trying to take power from Supreet by overtaking the meeting the big family decorations. Tayaji just has one expression - wtf is happening in my life and why. 

Lol the head chef just resigned out of Adi’s fear. 

(Also those are the two types of couples anywhere, lol)

Interesting how Ambar and Supreet are so loving with big big dialogues. I’m laughing at how Tayiji is done with the other half of the family having more important in her daughter’s proposal.

Armaan has future in business - he has researched about the family and the loan. OMG GOLDIE’S WIFE RAN AWAY WITH 12 LAKHS WTH. 

Ok this is super interesting how Adi quickly understood intimidating Ginni won’t work so he’s using Armaan’s sweet words to try and manipulate Gulabo - very very interesting. 

Is Adi interested by whatever Ginni is saying? Lol. Yes Adi finally started opening his mouth and talk about parivar. 

Could Adi really not buy an empty plot and turn it into a dhaba?

Ok, Adi is taking a leaf out of previous MLs and being a bit of an ass to get the property. Huh.. blank cheque… interesting. *unlocks Arnav Asad Singh Khurana Khan Rathore to empty his bank*

Lol Supreet taking over Tayiji in establishing relationship with the important Chima family. Lol Tayiji doing her own praises in front of the family is hilarious. 

Ok now the history of Supreet’s gloved hand - how Adi burned it is fresh in memory. 

Adi really giving a blank cheque to Ginni? She’ll tear and throw it on his face. Hahahahaha she burned it. Good good oh wait maybe Adi will fall in love with how she burns things the way he did.

Adi’s like how dare she take my signature move. 

What’s with the stupid editing? Let me see the acting for god’s sake! 

Which… is pretty good. It’s good they’re giving Wahi restrained anger cause he has a very soft face. 

Thoughts: measured dialogues, good use of side characters. For the life of me I can’t understand the bgm and editing technique. You have talented cast at your plate LET THEIR FACE DO THE TALKING instead of the “oooeeaaaaahhhh” in the background and swoosh swoosh editing. Honestly, looking forward to the next episode!

- Jalebi

(if anyone needs this to be in full English instead of mixed Hindi lemme know)

[badedramay]

hello back after my qualification exams stuff, i loved imlie walking away from him THREE TIMES in one episode, symbolism or symbolism yah? Aru walking away while imlie watches so it's both of their povs on that song? also good. i also thought narmada's points were really interesting bc that's the crux of all the issues with imlie imo, she's SO SUNSHINE WONDERFUL BALL OF DELIGHT SELFLESS SACRIFICIAL LAMB and its like guess what imlie you can love people without burning yourself to keep them warm!!!! [cue ARS motivational speech] btw i don't think they're getting married just yet, i think it's just promo shenanigans like the car out the window which i personally think they shot when they thought aryan might still be grey/villainlite but then everyone fell in love with him because fahmaan is so wonderful. also think atif calling adi as majnu puts him as the obsessive one now that he knows malini's truths and out of guilt wants to make things okay, and then layla/her husband who were married and then of course everyone died bc lol persian poets were living their best tortured lives so i'm really interested to see where this all goes.

If ITV FLs learned to love without burning themselves out then quite literally the entire foundation of the the industry will crumble xD Imlie didn't just walk away from Aditya, she made sure she expressed the disgust being around him, which I loved more than the walking away. Far too often we see FLs in our desi dramas forgiving their spouses for every bit of abuse they inflict on them so to see Imlie not being able to forget, let alone forgive, Aditya character shaming her and accusing of being an adulterer was just refreshing to watch. she thinks THAT to be his biggest crime. it's not 'my love, my devotion, my care' that she wants accountability for..it was simply, 'my character!' that has her questioning him just how could she ever be the same to him and for him after that was treated as suspicious?

Wedding promos are never fake so yeah, we're definitely getting that marriage. the circumstances around it are still unclear but unlike that car promo (which STILL baffles me because it made no head or tail) this promo is gonna about something that actually happens. Malini's track is all but over. Tripathis got their son back. Imlie too appears to have gotten her closure. it would be stupid for the makers to agaiiinnnn get Imlie involved in one more of Tripathis ka drama so I think yes, the next track is gonna focus on Imlie individually. and what better way to do that than MARRIAGE?! :)))))))

Atif's sneakpeeks from the promo have been hella cryptic. I just wish we get that darned thing officially released today :@

[tellywoodtrash]

balh2 31.08.21 lb

priya stops the auto to let ram in, but he's whisked away in the now-fixed car by his posse, and she's like yeahhhhhhh seems about right for rich ppl, and goes her way.

very subtle playing of song show title is based on. ram hums along happily while priya tells auto bhaiyya to pls turn it off. lol she really does hate any type of sentimentality, and i'm here for this peak grumpy girl representation.

blah blah time waste establishing ram's family. aaaaaaaaaand they have shubhaavi choksey playing his mom when she's the same age as him irl. wonderful. best. very nice. i'm not angry about this at all.

snobby rich ppl greeting exchange. air kisses missing.

priya comes home to discover maitreyi and her husband are visiting. she just ignores them and walks into her room.

meanwhile ram walks into heartache after heartache. ek toh sagaai went on without him, and shivi's toast is only for her other brother shubham and her mom and her besties. (one of whom looks very familiar, where do i know her from???????) anyway someone give ram a (non-vegan) cupcake to feel better from having a shitty fam.

vedu notices ram and points him out to shivi, who's suddenly all RAM BHAIIIIIIIIIIIII, MY BIGGEST SUPPORTERRRRRRRR. pssssh.

oh btw, that fucker who wanted to use that totally non happening video for blackmail seems to be vedu's husband/???

ponky from naagin 5 is a friend of ram's. but he's a literal fetus???? i'd have thought he was a younger brother ala rudra.

priya's brother has his fucking shoes on her bed and mereko jo gussa aa raha hai na by goddddddd. YOU JUST CAME IN FROM THE FUCKING RAIN YOU DIRTYASS............

anyway priya's like idgaf that maitreyi married my ex bf.

"humein khush rehne ke liye kisi ki zaroorat nahi hoti." she's saying words i agree with, but show immediately cops out by showing her tearing up and blubbering "i don't need anyone, i'm fiiiiiiiiiine" unconvincingly. guh. idk if i'm gonna be able to watch this show if it keeps diluting its messages like this.

ram toh udhar giving lecture on baarish. BRO ENOUGH. I AM SO DONE WITH THIS TOPIC OF CONVERSATION. itna toh baarish se lagaan ke champaaner waalon ko pyaar nahi tha jitna iss show mein log karte hain.

priya doing a very convincing mimickry of kinda pretentious maitreyi to entertain one new younger sibling. how many fucking siblings does priya have??????? (too fuckin many, is the answer.)

i do not appreciate the characterization of ram's chamcha friend's wife as a nagging ball and chain type.

new mangatar and bitchy shubham are snidely remarking about ram and his bechaara broken dil thanks to vedika.

ok if shivaay was obnoxiously self assured, ram is just......... almost annoyingly roll over and show your belly type of soft and diplomatic and people pleasing. only extremes for nakuul sir i guess.

adi's wife (brinda?) catches him looking out into baarish and shedding a few silent tears, and she's here to nag HIM now about getting a wife. yes brinda, because you make marriage look like SUCHHHHH AN APPEALING PROSPECT.

ram's like no i don't need anyone and then wistfully stares at vedu saying i'll never find someone who loves like she does her husband.

brinda's like it's all fake, dude. real couples fight and argue and cuss at each other and wow.... i think brinda and adi might need couples' counseling coz..... you're not SUPPOSED to be so complacent about your marriage being so dysfunctional.

oh breakup was 6-7 saal pehle. ok yeah sir you should have gotten over it by now. therapy for you too.

NO NOT THE EK TARFA PYAAR KI TAAQAT SPEECH NO FUCKIN NO OK

SHUBHAAVI AS NAKUUL'S MOM WILL NEVER NOT ENRAGE ME. I NEVER THOUGHT IT'D GET WORSE THAN MANASI SALVI, BUT LOVE THAT TELLYWOOD MANAGES TO FUCKING ENRAGE ME WITH THIS SHIT WITH EVERY NEW SHOW.

priya refuses to have ice cream because of her principles against capitalism. which............... ok??? there's no ethical consumption under capitalism, sis. just eat the overpriced ice cream.

just realised that the eldest sister is played by the actress who was jai's elder sister in just mohabbat.

anyway eldest sister (sara) and youngest sister (sandy) are team!priya over maitreyi.

priya is as anti-shaadi as me and asks sara if she's happy (priya clearly doesn't think much of sara's husband who leaves all the child-rearing to her, in addition to running the bakery) and sara's like "maate, mujhpe mat shuru ho jaate, pls" snort. yeah, no one likes their bad choices rubbed in their faces.

oh, their dad ran away after allll the betiyaan and married someone else. zindagi gulzar hai sitch hai.

more of priya asserting that she's happy single and show undermining her with the music cues and character reactions. fuck this messaging. why can't it be that she's genuinely happy single and ram is just a good complementary partner she finds and decides to change her mind about marriage coz that's what they want for themselves. i hate this black and white nonsense.

sisters are forcing priya to go on a date (with whom?????) and the scene just cuts off awkwardly.

ram has PINK shoes on today. man this is so a nakuul thing, this one (1) atrangi styling element of an otherwise formally dressed man.

ram also being set up on date by adi/brinda. should be with someone else, i guess. i don't think brinda and priya run in the same circles.

ram is right in that the least these ppl could do is ask consent before setting it all up.

priya is grumpily refusing to do any thaam jhaam dress up for date. good for her.

lol @ sara trying to sneak away priya's beloved raincoat.

anyway psych 101 shit ki priya has confidence issues and is so down on herself that she rejects everyone before they can reject her.

lmao priya is me at hearing the date is in some hoity toity place where they give small portions for exorbitant amounts of money.

sara di gets call ki some "unhone" didn't pay their share of bakery emi? the nikkamma husband? or some other business partner??

priya is out on warpath to go confront that person.

she's psyching herself up outside their door. i think it's her dad?

OMG CHACHI FROM IMMJ2 LMAO, IS SHE THE SECOND WIFE?

ok dad's a rudeass fuck. he's all she's not my daughter, but all ready to dole out thappads when she says it like it is. sperm donors like these should be kneed in the nads.

idgi tho? there's ONE beta there tho???? is akshay not his biological son?????

anyway, priya is right in thinking men suck. #yesAllMen

precap: her date niiiiiiicely validates the misandry by being a fucking jerk. looks like ram is cheering her up in a sweet moment? priya catches akshay getting cosy with.... shivi i guess??? idk all these girls look the same to me. #faceblindness

[raevenlywrites]

for the polyamory meme: zane/rei/danica for A1 or J2

J2

I don't know how we came to this. I am standing between my two men, as I have done countless times before. But instead of breaking up a fight, I feel like almost like a third wheel. They are talking about our latest session in the bedroom of the many weapons, Rei regaling Zane with stories of my temper, of moments so private I could have only experienced them with Rei, my best friend. And here he is, sharing them with my husband.

I shouldn't be embarrassed, but somehow, unsurprisingly, I am. In the past, I could only share myself with Rei. And now, that I am meant to share myself only with Zane, I freeze before them both. And they carry on without me, somehow having formed a friendship out from under me. I do consider Zane a friend, I realize, but no where near as close as he and Rei seem to be. I don't know how I missed this.

"It's a pity you two don't share better." Zane says it with the forced lightness I now recognized as his most vulnerable. "The things Adelina could teach you..."

"Are you talking to Danica or me?"

I hear challenge in Rei's voice, and heat. That brings a blush to my own cheeks, and I almost want to ask them if I should just leave the two of them alone. But Zane's hand tenses on the small of my back, and I realize he has not brought this up at this moment on a whim. He's been planning this, and for whatever reason, he wanted me here as a buffer.

I wish he'd told me. I don't know how I would have reacted, but I would have had a chance to do so in private. Now, I feel I have to put my own feelings aside, to help the most important men in my life through whatever happens next.

This won't spare Zane from my temper, only delay it. Perhaps I will seek Adelina out on my own and ask her for new ways to torture my wicked prince.

"I think I'd like to see how Adelina punishes you," I say boldly. My smile deepens as I feel them both stiffen in surprise. "You certainly deserve it."

Zane's laugh rings out, his touch shifting into a one-armed hug. I lean into him, pleased to have delighted him. Being with Zane has taught me how to have many emotions at once, and how to hop lightly from each one like a dancer, beat to beat to beat. We can discuss my issues later. We can only enjoy the playfulness of this moment now.

"I certain do," Zane agrees. "Though if you are too rough with me, I may have to call our Rei in to stand in our stead. Big, tough warrior such as himself can surely take whatever punishment you care to dish out."

We both look to Rei, Zane for an answer, and me because I feel like making him as uncomfortable as his stories about me made me. A little turn about is good for goose and gander alike.

But Rei goes quiet, and I see that our teasing has hit a nerve. I am still not accustomed to thinking of my childhood best friend as the son of falcons, or what that means. I slip my hand into his, and, feeling its not enough, wrap my arms around his waist. With my face against his chest, I can hear his heart beating too loudly, too fast, feel the rise and fall of his broad chest as he wills himself to calm.

"Don't hide," I whisper. The words are habitual to me now, repeated so often by myself and Zane. Zane who is behind me, and adding his arms to mine.

"Don't hide," he echoes. "If the bondage play bothers you--"

"No."

Rei's answer is too swift, too sharp. There is an edge of lie to it, then, and his power is forcing him to reconsider the words he'd been about to say. Another deep breath, and I think that perhaps it is easier for him to answer with our faces too close to truly see him, and our arms holding him too close to be distant.

"All memories of the White City are hard." And I don't need to know that Ahnmik binds him to know those words are true. "But the pleasure of bondage, of watching you beneath the ties and ticklers... No. The play itself does not upset me."

There are deeper issues to work out here. This is not surprising. I squeeze Rei tighter, and wonder fleetingly if even this much compression might do something for him. I don't know that I can give him my body in the way that a wife might, in the way that I have not yet given myself to anyone, not even Zane. But, if I can learn to dance to Anhamirak's drums...

Maybe I can learn to dance to Ahnmik's beatings as well.

Thank you so much to @qaraxuanzenith for being patient and to @adie-dee for reminding me that I've been meaning to work on this stupid fic again XD

The Ties That Bind Tag list: @thehellinsideyourhead @therecouldbecolorsandlove @adventuresofacreesty @writing-with-melon @rainydaydarling @faithfire

Raev’s Gen Tag List @lordkingsmith @writinglyra @drbibliophile @mperialscribe @adie-dee @lexiklecksi @theramwrites @writinginslowmotion @raenawrites @apollon-arium @anika-writes @faithfire @thehellinsideyourhead @adventuresofacreesty

[ad1thi]

If your still doing fic recs, could u rec any soft stevetony ones?

absolutely!! this got pretty long so ive hidden most of it under a read-more so i don’t annoy people. a couple of authors feature more than once. ive tried to avoid that as much as possible, but if an author features more than once - take that as a sign that they have rly good stuff for soft stevetony

disclaimer: don’t forget to leave kudos and comments for every author!! (a disclaimer i regrettably forgot to add to previous fic rec lists but will be adding from now on)

soda pops: @starklysteve

If anybody asks, Steve would smile and say it was very romantic. Very Tony. Because if he went into any further detail, nobody would quite believe him.

Tony, on the other hand, would laugh and say that Steve’s in love with a man in a can. So, really, it wasn’t outside the natural progression of things.

me voy pa’l pueblo: @firebrands

two times steve walks away, and one time that tony walks with him.

/ or, my very fluffy take on my bingo card prompt "farewells." steve is on vacation when he meets tony.

fill for my stony bingo prompt: farewells; also for bookworminaslump on tumblr who asked for a tourist/knowledgeable local au!

Tumblr Ficlets:  @omg-just-peachy (this is 115 chapters of stevetony being soft!!)

A collection of enough tooth-rotting fluff to last a year, all in one place.

tender offerings: @omg-just-peachy

Five times Steve carried Tony to bed.

the best thing (is that it’s happening to you and me):  @captainstarkreportingforduty

Or, five times the team saw Steve Rogers and Tony Stark in love.

Sweet On You: @miniblackraven

It’s the 1940’s and Tony is working as a Donut Doll for the Red Cross. His job is to go around to various military bases and offer comfort food and conversation to homesick soldiers. He’s come to expect a lot of things in this job, but he doesn’t expect to fall in love with Captain America, the hottest most awkward soldier Tony has ever met.

Bespectacled Avengers Society (Membership of One):  @baffledkingcomposinghallelujah

Tony gets glasses. Glasses get a Tony. Steve loses his mind and walks into walls.

a flower crown for your love: @anthonyed

"There, there," Pepper cooed. "Tony likes flowers?" she said with a shred of doubt in her tone. But when Steve peered up, she's smiling her bright toothy smile. He squinted and she sighed, dropping her hand from his shoulder. "He does." she insisted. "Even more so than me."

if this was a movie: @omg-just-peachy

“One of our seniors is being generous with his time this year—by force of his own actions, but generous none the less—and he’d be happy to help you, I’m sure. Tony Stark? I’ll set something up for later this week. I think between the two of you you’ll be able to pull your average up enough to make it through to playoffs,” Coulson said, with that ever-hopeful lilt in his voice.

Or, Steve needs a calculus tutor, Tony is available, but how is Steve ever supposed to focus when he's been in love with Tony for ... his entire school life?

you take me higher than the rest (everybody else is second best): @firebrands

tumblr fill for adi & anthonydarling, who asked for "'Prank' war, but the kind to see who can make the other blush the most in public" from this prompt list

amore mio:  @brucewaynery

Tony has had it with Steve being dumb and reckless out in the field, he has a family to think about now, Steve promises him that he'll be with him, kingdom come.

(initially based on that one headcanon about Italian Tony yelling and gesticulating at Steve but Peter thinks he's doing some weird dance and tries to copy him, but it got very fluffy very quickly)

Lost My Mind in a Coffee Shop: @betheflame

“Boyo,” Bucky muttered to his best friend. “I swear to God that if you don’t ask that man for his number soon, I will create a Grindr profile for you and you will not like it.”

Steve rolled his eyes. “I am here to finish grading, not hit on men.”

“Can you not do both?” Natasha smirked. “Nearly tenured, historical genius, feels like something you should be able to multitask.”

&&&

In which Steve is a history professor and Tony's an engineering one and Bucky owns the joint where they have their meet cute.

AU-gust Chapter 7: @iam93percentstardust 

stevetony, childhood friends AU

Right Up The Road: @gottalovev

The day at the senate committee in Washington DC wasn't supposed to end with Tony and Steve transformed into animals by a baby witch. That said, the 350 miles trek back to the compound to get help promises to be quite an adventure too!

(or the adventures of Cat!Tony and Wolf!Steve - and how to readjust when you're back to human!)

i’ll take care of you: @elcorhamletlive

“Hi.”

Steve blinks. The sound of loud thunder roars outside, but he doesn’t jolt, too focused on the image in front of him to be startled by the noise.

He has no idea what to say, and he isn’t sure if the shock is because of Tony’s absolutely sodden state – his hair glued to his forehead, his clothes dripping with water, forming a small puddle in front of Steve’s door – or because he wasn’t expecting to see Tony for at least three more days.

“Hi?” he says, a little tentative, before his brain catches up to reality. In his defense, he was getting ready to sleep when Tony knocked. He looks at what Tony is holding – a wet mess that seems to have been a flower bouquet at some point. “What are you doing here?”

The Tally System:  @betheflame

Everyone on the team knew about the tally system.

Whenever Steve would save Tony - whether from a monster or from his own stupidity - he’d say, “tag”. Whenever Tony do the same, he’d say, “your turn”. Thor thought it was adorable, Clint thought it was ridiculous, Bruce refused to register an opinion.

Natasha thought it was something she could work with.

what’s mine is yours: @robertdowneyjjr

5 times Tony stole Steve’s clothes, and 1 time Steve returned the favor.

or

For a billionaire, Tony Stark really doesn't pay for a lot of what he wears.

I like Shiny Things But I’d Marry You With Paper Rings: @betheflame

Rhodey: I just confirmed with Sam that he’s going to make sure he cooks tonight and that his entire team is briefed. I’m heading over now to strategically arrange a fuck ton of ficus trees to block them from gen pop.

Pepper: They’re not getting engaged in a prison, Jimmy.

Rhodey: Tony Stark and Steve Rogers show up to Circe on a Saturday night in May and you watch every person in that restaurant turn into someone I’d rather arrest than eat with.

****

In which Tony and Steve get engaged, but they're kind of extra about it, because they are always themselves

the road to the stars: @shell-heads

Tony is seven years old when he sees the ballet for the first time and meets his future pas de deux partner.

His father is invited to sweet-talk politicians into a new weapons deal and explain his latest idea for their program, and his mom goes to catch up with old friends she hasn't seen in years, but Tony goes because his mom had smiled down at him and told him he would love it.

His mom's never wrong.

-

In which boy genius Tony Stark meets girl wonder Natasha Romanoff at the ballet, and they fit their broken little pieces together to make something beautiful on the dance floor.

Steve? He's just a dumb, awful, chaotic, extremely supportive older brother that really should just shut up and admit he likes Tony a lot more than he pretends, because Natasha only has five people in the world she likes; it only makes sense her two favorites would fall in love with one another.

They always were a little slow, though.

A Second Chance To Take it Slow: @omg-just-peachy

Tony loves his adopted son, Peter, but that doesn't stop him from wishing he had someone to do this whole parenting thing with. After a failed one night stand, Tony's parent-teacher conference with Mr. Rogers comes with quite the surprise.

Wake Up!: @randomstufffromotherblogs

Tony came home from a business trip and is woken up by his husband and their three-year old.

pull me closer to love:  @captainstakreportingforduty (part of a series)

“A Mother’s Day card? For... Tony?” Steve clarifies, and can’t help the smile on his face as six familiar little heads nod in response.

“But... guys, Tony’s not—“ he pauses and takes a breath, any explanation dying in his throat against the excited gleam in everyone’s eyes. “Why do you guys want to do that, hmm?"

compromises:  @robertpattisons (when i looked up OP on tumblr, this is the blog i was directed to - but i sincerely apologise if ive gotten it wrong)

Steve should have expected it, he really should have.

There were regulations that came with dating Tony Stark. Things that were clear and things that they needed to work through.

Things like how Steve always got strawberry ice cream, while Tony got rocky road. Or when Steve needed to get his homework done before he was down to make out - even though Tony always got his way.

Things like that were clear

all that you are is all that i’ll ever need: @natasharxmanov

Tony Stark and Steve Rogers announced their engagement on Good Morning America through Tony Stark’s previous secretary now CEO, Pepper Potts. And over this past weekend, I got the chance to sit down with them both, to visit their home and attend their gala, all to write this article about the most powerful couple in the world.

(Or, the fic in which Tony and Steve get married.)

(i won’t ever) trade my mistakes: @brucewaynery

Toddler Peter, painting a masterpiece with his dad.

aka: a dumb amount of family fluff to help you power through the week

[emzchaos]

✨ 𝔅𝔢𝔤𝔦𝔫𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤 | 𝔓𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔬𝔲𝔰 | 𝔑𝔢𝔵𝔱 ✨

Hana: Daizie Goth.. You put the food in your mouth not the dogs.. *Daizie babbles happily as she feeds Lilo* Hana: Two? Two kids I’m in the nut house.

Adan: Hana she ate? Hana: Well Lilo & Nani ate.. Adan: Daizie are you going to. Hana: Ady don’t leave me alone with her *Adan smiles*  Adan: I have work and the new hires will be getting their interviews. *Hana sighs as their daughter pours her milk everywhere*  Hana: Daizie.. Adan: She’s not that bad.. Hana: I know, she’s half you.

Hana: Promise me to come home right away? Adan: I promise. I’ll take her to work tomorrow. Hana: What about daycare? Adan: Ships! I’m late, Love you Hana. Hana: Wait what about my kiss? *Adan smiles and kisses his wife*  Adan: Happy? Hana: So happy? *Adan leaves and Daizies drops her milk on the floor* 

Oh wow.. I feel like I was a horrible mother here. Maybe it was the constant stress of my two year old hating everything but her daddy. I wasn’t sure how to handle her at this point. My mother in-law Hazel was like a Queen she had 5 kids and still had her shit together. I was one with one and going out of my mind. My husband and I have been through a lot in the past two years. We seperated for two months and got back together and he is also bisexual which always makes me wonder if he will meet someone else. I tried to do the open thing but I’m a selfish dragon lady bitch. Adan always comes back. I guess 2016 was our new start.

[harleytonks]

Pt 2

"Mommy!" Vivian squeals, running towards me, Snuffles at her heals. " Hi, baby girl, were you good for daddy?" I ask her, scooping her up in my arms. She looked just like her daddy, freckles everywhere and hazel eyes that look into the soul, and flamming red hair. " Yup! I even helped him give Snuffles a bath!" She excitedly bounces in my arms. " I'm very proud of you, baby. How about we go for a walk before dinner, ya?" "Ok, mommy!" She runs and gets her shoes from her room. "Don't forget your jacket!" Fred walks up behind me, and wraps his arms around my waist. " Mommy is going to have fun tonight." He whispers in my ear, sending shock waves through my body. I turn and face him. " Oh ya, daddy I'm all yours." Kissing his lip, gently biting his lower lip as I pull away, receiving a groan from my husband. He wraps his long fingers around my neck and gently pushes me against the wall, making me moan lightly, and kissing me deeply as Vivian walks back in the room. " Ewwwwww." She giggles. Face red, I push Fred away from me slightly. " Sorry, baby girl. Daddy loves mommy and loves to show me." " Only because your a queen, and deserve to be treated as such, mommy." She says, pressing her cheek against mine. I kiss her head and grab the leash, wrapping it around my wrists a bit and stretching for Fred to see. His eyes become darker and his jaw becomes more set. " Oh, mommy can we feed the birdies?" " Of course, angel. Go grab the seed from the back." She runs if, and as soon as she rounds the corner, Fred is inches from me, hand on neck again. " Are you teasing me?" He growls, inches from my face. Biting my lip, I run my fingers through his hair. " Maybe I am. What are you going to do, daddy?" " I'm going to-" "daddy can you come get it for me? It's heavy." Viv asks, poking her little face around the corner. " Sure thing, baby doll, here daddy comes." Before he walks away, I grab him by the shirt and pull him to eye level. " Say that again tonight." Kissing his neck. He moans and goes to help our daughter. I get the leash in Snuffles, and hold him like a baby, rocking him in my arms, when my phone rang. Looking, I saw it was mione. " Hey, mione, what's up girl?" " Hi, Adi, you guys got plans for dinner?" " No, about to go on a walk with viv." " How about we all meet up, and have dinner. We can see if molly will watch viv for the night." " Ok, I'll talk Fred, where do you want to meet?" "How about somewhere fancy?" " Perfect, I have a perfect dress that will have Fred drooling." Giggling, we hung up. " Who was that?" " Mione, she's taking us to dinner. Something fancy. Molly's going to watch viv." " I get to go see nana?" "Would you like that?" I ask, kneeling down to her. " Yes! Can we go now?" " You got to get your clothes ready, and we need to take Snuffles on his walk." "Can't we walk him to nana's house? She's really close." " Ok, go get your jammies and then we'll leave." She runs to her room, and I go sit on the couch. Fred comes and pulls me on his lap, and I feel his hard member through my yoga pants. " What were you giggling with mione about?" "You will see." I say kissing him and grinding into him a bit. Before he can respond, Vivian runs in and we leave.

Once we get back, I to go my closet and grab my dress. A deep red, that hugs my body and comes to my mid thigh. Stepping into my shoes, I walk out of the closet to see Fred buttoning up a bark blue shirt. " You clean up nice." I say, leaning against the door frame. He looks at me through the mirror for a split second before turning around, mouth hanging open. " So do you, bloody hell." He says licking his lips and running his eyes up and down my body. A knock on the door signals that ron and mione are here, so i get the door. " You look beautiful!" She exclaims when I open the door and she hugs me. " As do you. Purple is flawless on you." She blushes and walks past. " Hi, ads, how's my brother treating you?" Ron says, giving me a hug. " Wonderful, like always. You clean up nice. Better than your yule ball outfit." I laugh when his face goes red. Fred walks out and says hi, then we leave. When we get to the restaurant, fred pulls be aside before we head in. " Sit next to me. Ask for a both." He grabs my ass as i walk past. "Mione, ask for a both."

@writing-wh0re @elwynnprincess

[santalsaburablog]

Adventures of Santal. Chapter 8: Aunt's Visit.

Your children are not your children. They appear through you, but not from you. You can give them your love, but not your thoughts, because they have their thoughts. You can give home to their bodies, but not to their souls. You are only bows, from which living arrows are sent forward, which you call your children.

     Santal starts training! Together with the rest of the children, under the guidance of experienced instructors, she enters the Jedi path of life. And this is not so easy. And it all begins in the Jedi Temple, where groups of younglings comprehend the Force, learn to wield a lightsaber and experience the world in all directions and aspects.

     The next day was almost the same. The only difference was that instead of history, there was politics, which many of her clan did not like. Santal herself was neutral about the subject.

     But in the evening something interesting happened.

     - Santal! - Landa ran up to the girl. - They are waiting for you at the gate. About two statues. Do you know those at the entrance where the stairs are?

     Sabura immediately jumped off, although she was tired after a long school day and wondered what awaited her. What a surprise? She even had time to think that it could be a trap. Suddenly someone again wants to give it somewhere, that is, sell it. Or take it somewhere. Or maybe even kill?

     While the girl was thinking, she did not notice how she got there. She had already prepared herself for the worst, even for a new encounter with the Evil Hat. But…

     - Santal! “It was my aunt and uncle.

     Not remembering herself, Santal threw herself into an embrace.

     - Santal, our girl! Well, finally we found you!

     Suddenly, the aunt pulled back, looked the girl up and down.

     - What are you wearing? The woman frowned.

     Santal was frightened. What did she do wrong?

     “Nothing,” she said timidly.

     - Nothing ?! Santal cringed. She did not like her aunt's tone at all. - Have you been enrolled?

     - Yes.

     - What?! - Elina screamed. - Just took it and enrolled? And the permission? Didn't they ask permission from us or you? So, what?

     - No, they asked me. More than once. I agreed.

     - Do not lie! Don't you dare cover them! I do not believe! You couldn't agree to that! They've already brainwashed you. Were in time, you bastards, but you did not notice anything. But we don't blame it at all.

     - Aunt, calm down. Nobody washed me anything. They only bathed in the bath.

     - Here you go. Something must have been mixed in. Well, they definitely did something.

     - Elina. - Nobi could hardly restrain himself from twisting his finger at his temple. - Can you hear yourself? I think you started delirious.

     Santal decided to change the subject, although she knew she would return to the old one.

     - And how did you find me?

     Nobi was quick to reply:

     - Taking all the money, a little from the savings that were, and also ...

     Then Elina interrupted her husband:

     - Quiet, quiet dear. I'll tell you everything myself. - And switched to her niece. - Taking all the money, a little from the savings. It's good that it was enough, otherwise I would have to borrow from the neighbors. We barely bought a ticket for the near future. I had to wait six hours for the flight. Then, when we arrived, they caught a taxi for a long time to take them to the Temple. And now we were simply not allowed there! - Elina again could not restrain herself and switched to screaming.

     "Of course we are not Jedi," Nobi replied.

     - What's the difference? Our niece is there, they don't understand, or what? Fiends! Don't they value family ties at all? They had to let me pass!

     “You wanted to say" us. "

     - Well yes. Okay, Santal, now to the cosmodrome and home. Just collect your things.

     With these words, the Letanka brought her niece into a stupor. She didn't want to leave. If my aunt had made an offer the day before yesterday, Santal might have agreed. But not now. When she began to explore the world.

     “Auntie… I… I… don't want to go home.

     - Sorry, dear, I misheard. It seemed to me, literally for a moment, that you said that ... Baby, you're wrong. You are still quite small and you do not know anything about life.

     - That's it! Therefore…

     - But still. Why tempt fate? Do you know why we protect you? Only here, with us, will you be whole. You, of course, do not yet understand this, but you will. So please listen to your aunt. The galaxy is very scary. Well, I'm not going to lie. And how much evil is around. There are so many doubts and temptations around. All sorts of hunters, bandits and other criminals! Giant slugs. Blue vampire. Crime is the entire underworld. O Strength, I will feel bad now! All in all, I want to say that the world outside Ryloth is very dangerous, cruel and scary. And on the planet itself, in our city there is a family that loves you. There aunt and uncle will be there. You will feel good with us. So to hell with the drama, listen to your aunt!

     - No, aunt. I cant. I feel like I must stay. - Santal spoke in short pauses, wanting to correctly express the idea. “And I see nothing wrong with traveling the galaxy. Here, listen.

     Elina frowned even more, turned purple.

     - Well, go travel. Get in trouble. Or let the villain tear or dishonor. I'm just an aunt, what do I know? Just how to feed, love, cherish. So leave me, I deserve it. Throw it all alone at the end of the day. But know, it will become clear later. I know better that you are better. And I'm smarter, I'm your girlfriend. Just me and Uncle Noby. Nobody else. All our lives we have fed and watered you like our own niece. Accepted as it is. You are always welcome in our house. The door is always open. And here is the unfamiliar Jedi Temple. What if someone deceives you there? One you will definitely be lost. I speak about this only out of love ... We will always understand and console! Safe only with us!      

     Santal listened out of habit to the end and continued:     

     “Aunt, you don’t understand, and by the way, you promised me a secret.      

     - Exactly! Listen ...      

     Elina just wanted to start when she changed her mind and took the girl around the corner. Making sure no one would hear, she said:     

       - You see. I thought not to tell anything at all. But it seems that this cannot be done without. We gave you Sabur's last name for security reasons. So that no one knows. Otherwise they would have found out, and we would have been quickly identified and killed. In fact, you are Santal Shang. You are Bastian and Adira's daughter. According to Twilek's' Santals'Abura Bastian Lia. You always knew that the hunters killed your parents. In principle, it was so. More precisely, this is our version. Because we don't know what to think. A month before what happened, Adira came to me and shared the news. She said that there would definitely be a girl and that she wanted to name her Santal. And you know, your mom was my best friend who saved me from slavery. And I made a vow to Adira that if something happens, I will take care of her. Adira, of course, denied it, they say, why, it is not necessary to take it to the extreme. But I insisted and took an oath.      

     And what do you want to repay? Black ingratitude. You have a home and a loving family. You will not be denied anything. No restrictions, just obey. And in the Temple, early wakes, constant study and no childhood await you. Then you grow up, you will have a teacher. And then the fun begins. You will go on missions with him. You will be told that you will help. In fact, you will take risks. The meaning of life as a Jedi is you never know when you're going to die. And you can die already on the first mission. Anyway, any of your missions can be your last. Unfortunately, it is impossible to see the future. You can live to be eighty or ninety. Or you can play the box at twenty.      

     And deaths are also different. You can die with honor or shame. So, I think your parents have a shameful death. To die even from a tough hunter is a shame. Or you can die in the alleyway, and no one will know what happened to you. Do you want it?      

      Santal never thought about it, and therefore did not find an answer. Elina brought her niece to her original place. And what was her surprise that several Jedi were standing nearby. Among them were Yoda, Adi Gallia, a black Jedi from the council and an even larger-headed one with a white beard.      

     - Well! Here you are, monsters! Know! First, your guards would not let me see my only niece. Second, you won't get it! Leave us alone!      

    - Woman, calm down. - said Adi Gallia. “We're not taking anyone by force. And Santal herself expressed a desire to study here.     

    - Not true! Not true! Most likely, you forced her! My baby has become a victim of your manipulations. You were brainwashed with these things.      

    The woman's eyes widened at such words.     

    - What's wrong? We don't do that. Santal made her own decision. She wants to comprehend the Power and help others.      

   “It's true,” the girl said. - It is very important for me. Perhaps I will find out more. Yes, I want to know a lot and perhaps I can solve the mystery of Bastian and Adira.      

    - How do you know? - the black man was surprised.      

   - I told! - Elina snapped. - Everyone knows this legend! The hunters killed and further, further. And I think they died because of you! You are to blame for everything!      

   At this point, everyone was dumbfounded. And Santal couldn't understand why. From the words of Aunt Elina, or from the fact that it was not a Jedi who spoke to the Jedi in such a tone.      

   “Woman, I don’t know why you think so of us, but your niece will be completely safe here. A happy future awaits her here.      

- Until he goes on some mission and dies! - shouted, straining, the Letanka.      

“If she tries, she will become a very strong Jedi and live a long time,” Gallia answered absolutely calmly.      

- Aunt, don't worry. I have already lived here one day. And I'm comfortable here. I'm new, but I'll probably get used to it. I met other children. And they treat me normally. They like me.     

 - Do you like it, Santal? - Elina grinned. - What nonsense? That's what I've always been afraid of. Honey, you don't know people at all. Oh my poor naive child! Well, what could you like? Naivety and sweetness? In just a couple of days?     

 - And you did not let me go anywhere further backyard. In recent days, I have seen so many things, with whom I have met. And I still want! I want to know the world. To help. It is very important for me. And I am very glad that I am Force sensitive. - For the first time Santal was angry with her aunt. For the first time I wanted to express my opinion.     

    “You see,” Yoda smiled. - She herself wants. She has a dream. She believes in her. Even at the meeting, she demonstrated loyalty to her principles and herself. She is polite, benevolent. I think the Jedi will come out of her.     

     - Understand. - Elina is already desperate. - I just want to save the girl. I want her well. I want her to live a happy, cloudless life, knowing nothing of denial. So that she does not know any troubles.      

    “Woman, we now perfectly understand what you want,” the black man answered harshly.      

    And Elina didn't even turn her ear. I switched to Santal.      

     - Okay, niece. Don't be stubborn, come with us. Aunt…     

    - No! Shouted Santal.      

     - What? - Elina asked half-suspiciously, half-disbelievingly.      

     - No! Aunt, you don't understand what's best for me. You know what's best for you. I'm not you!      

     - Santal, you are a traitor! - said the aunt loudly.      Everything inside the girl clenched.     

      - Why?    

      - Santal is smarter than everyone, intends to stay. Knows how to choose the environment. If you decide so, then so be it. Roll towards them! If you're sure, but first I'll give you something back! The woman waved her hand towards the Jedi, then tossed Santal to her mother's Padawan scythe. - Since you value communication with strangers who killed your parents, and not with those who raised you, who put their souls into you. If you want to repeat the fate of mom and dad. If you don't want an easy and carefree life. I want to save you! But you are smarter, and if so, then please, but keep in mind that I am issuing a waiver! Everything! You're not my niece anymore! But if you come to your senses, I will not accept you! I'll slam the door in my face! Survive on the street yourself! You will be sorry! You're an idiot! Come on, Noby.     

      The man looked at the girl with regret and went with his wife away from the Temple. A dumbfounded Santal was left to stand with her new family.      

     The girl seemed to have turned to stone. She watched, without taking her eyes, as two silhouettes left her. Red and green. They got smaller and smaller until they disappeared altogether. The stretched string in the chest area snapped. Santal imagined that she was running, running, as a bridge appeared in front of her. She wants to step, but the bridge collapses from the opposite end. And it doesn't just collapse. There is a fire. Conflagration! Everything, the bridge is burned. This path is closed. And never get through. Unless just jump over or fly over. Both the first and the second are impossible.      

     “Let's go,” Gallia called.      

    And Santal went, at first backing away, gradually shifting to constantly looking back at the place where her uncle and aunt had been just recently. Now they are gone. The girl even began to think, maybe she was in a hurry with the decision? Maybe we should try to find them? Catch up, talk again. But she was afraid, what if she would be lost again?      

     When Santal was about to change her mind, look away from the Order and confidently follow the Jedi, as Yoda said:      

    - Go.      

    For Santal, it was a signal, and she jumped off the spot and ran up the stairs. As I ran to the end, caught my breath, looked around. There was no one around who closely resembled her spiritual relatives.     

    - Aunt-ah! Aunt-ah! It's me, Santal. Your niece, who didn't want to quarrel. Sorry. Let's talk.      

   This time Santal acted smarter, remembered the road. And I walked so long that I did not notice how far I wandered. The girl called again, but received nothing in return. No response. Not a sound. Frustrated that everything had turned out this way, Santal was trudging back. As I heard:      

   - For help! Help! - The sound was so loud that it literally crashed into the brain.    

    Everything inside Santal shrank. The eyes fled. Where are they shouting? What happened? Where to run?      

    A few minutes later, relying only on her Jedi instinct, the girl was still able to find the source of the scream with half a sin. Some human woman was holding something to her chest while the being above her tried to take it away. It didn't look like those lizards from Devaron.      

   - Hey, you! Leave me alone! Can't you see that she doesn't want to give? Not ashamed, huh? Santal's voice was much bolder than herself.      

    The creature with many braids turned around and laughed.     

    - And what is this squeaker?      

     But Santal did not appreciate the joke. I tried to smile predatory to match the Evil Hat. This time, she completely concentrated, imagining a future picture, in order to repeat the same technique again on Devaron. And it worked! The man crashed into the boxes behind his back. But I didn't pass out. And he chased. Santal, of course, did not expect this. And, quickly turning around, she started. First to the right, and then, seeing the boxes and hiding behind them, back to the Temple. After making sure that the creature does not return to her or to the woman. 

     Fortunately or not, on the way back, she ran into that woman again.

     - Thanks. Thank you so much. I don’t know how to thank you. - Words of gratitude and flew from the lips. Hands folded into the castle were shaking. And the brown eyes were shining.

     "And her eyes shine," - thought the girl and added aloud:

     - That's enough for me, thank you.

     Just about to leave, they called her:

     - Wait. What's your name?

     Santal thought and answered:

     - I am Youngling Santal Sabura.

     - Are you a Jedi?

     - Yes. I recently became one. Santal rubbed the back of her head, feeling uncomfortable.

     “Strange, usually Jedi, especially young ones, don't go that far.

     - Do you know about us?

     “I've heard a lot about you. That you are helping people unselfishly. That you are the keepers of the world. And it seems to be true.

     Santal was bursting with pride that, as a Jedi for only two days, she had managed to make a positive impression, and besides, she had confirmed the reputation of the Order.

     “You know my name, but I don’t know yours.

     - I'm Rana Martez.

     - Glad to meet you. Well, I'll go if you don't need me anymore. Bye.

     Saying goodbye, Santal ran home in a great mood. Oddly enough, she did not get lost, although she went far enough. Maybe the Force helped?

     Santal appeared in the Temple, barely standing on her feet. Well, she was avoided today! The girl intermittently crossed the hall, simultaneously looking to the right and left with a wide smile on her face. Now this is her new home. There is no turning back. And the aunt made it clear. Therefore, she will not return and will try to forget, or from time to time will remember with light sadness those times when she was still small and carefree, wearing rose-colored glasses. Best time! The best time of life!

     Suddenly, for some reason, Santal thought again about her uncle. How is he? What is he doing now? What is he thinking about? About her, how is she about him? Or completely forgot how a dream? And why does she herself think of him? Who is he to her? None. Just the man that brought her to the Jedi. So, maybe he is not so much to blame? And does not deserve punishment? No. Even if the little one deserves it, it should be discouraging to steal and offend small children. Santal even imagined how she would grow up, become a real Jedi, and then she would show him! The girl promised herself that she would do so.

     But, despite the bloodthirsty attitude, Santal caught herself thinking that she did not consider the man a complete monster. If he was, he would have killed her on the spot. No questions or analysis. I wouldn't take it to other planets, try to sell it. The argument in favor of this opinion was the fact that he slapped her on the cheek, snapped her nose. So not very angry. Just harmful. Or maybe he was unhappy, although it doesn't look like. It is so? Or not? Okay, now it's not up to him. We need to focus on learning.

     And Santal Sabura, completely determined to the brim, went to the library to enjoy reading and preparing her homework.

     But this was not the only thought that occupied the girl's mind. He also analyzed all day from the beginning. And in the end it was concluded that she made the right choice. For the first time in her life, she had to choose, and she did it! And if she had left, she would not have been able to save the woman, she would have perished. She's great.

     Then it dawned on Santal: what happened today was a lucky coincidence. And how many more successful coincidences are ahead? Well, that's what she has to find out.

[elegant-etienne]

Yarrow: What would your character go to war over?

Flower and Tree Language Prompts!

CW: References to stalking and related violence, canon-typical violence regarding the Garlean occupiers.

Thank you for the ask, @ren-roelanberry!

Etienne: "To eliminate monsters, or protect those I love."

The letter said this: I heard you got married. I heard he's a doctor. You must worry, working at an adventuring company and all. You must worry that one day he won't come home to you, and leave you all alone in your little apartment home in the Goblet, with that little black kitten.

The fire scryer had answered Etienne's question: Yes, he is coming. Yes, you are in danger.

And now it is clear: he knew where Etienne lived.

So Etienne knew what to do. They wore light armor and took their staff to go meet him at the place he specified. Of course, they knew it was an ambush. Of course, it was stupid to go alone. Of course, they stood in the doorway of the apartment they shared with their husband and wondered if that would be it. If perhaps this would be the time that Henri finally won, and their corpse would be left mutilated, violated somewhere.

But one does what one must.

Adi: "To keep the sickness contained."

"Nadira? Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while." Telesphore's voice dripped like honey, rolling slowly over the plates and goblets. "Why, I'm sure she's dead by now. Why do you ask?"

Adi bit hard on the side of his tongue with his molars a moment.

"Just - wondering if you would've preferred a son or daughter by her, rather than Momma. If you would've still had me if she'd borne you someone."

"Oh, no, Nadira's spirit was far too unsuitable to serve by my side. She didn't adapt to our way of life. And she never sang on-key. She wasn't one of our own. Let that be a lesson for you, boy. Don't choose a wife for the fire she puts in your loins alone! But why the sudden interest?"

Adi shrugs. At least he's practiced at doing that. "Other folk," he mutters, "Would be celebrating their name day now. So I guess I imagined what it might be like to have a party. With family."

"Oh, you poor thing, " Telesphore says quietly. "They've really done a number on you up there, haven't they? You should just stay at home. Didn't you say you'd only stay up there a turn or two?"

"I'll stay next time," Adi lied, "I promise."

Houmei: "For self-preservation."

He could not point to a single radicalizing moment, not really: there were thousands building up to it. It wasn't the part where the new mayor lied to him about where they'd taken his big brother and father. It wasn't how, when the new mayor explained to him that big brother and father had been enlisted to help build boats not far from there, he saw a vision of his brother and father --

("Please," his father said, "I am an old man. If you must punish someone, punish me. He is a young man. You'll get years of work out of him. He didn't know."

The boy-who-wasn't-Houmei-yet saw this like he was there, but he was not there, and the world wobbled, and he could do nothing--

"You savages are really nothing better than animals," the headman said, "Even animals are not so eager to die."

The boy-who-wasn't-Houmei-yet screamed and screamed and screamed and could do nothing, and the headman shot them both.)

Mother knew about the visions, the thing Houmei would later learn as the Echo, and the boy-who-wasn't-Houmei-yet tried to think of the lie he could tell her that would not destroy her hope. He wanted to protect her from the truth. That was the thought he had as he drifted back from his episode. He was on the ground. Muffled. Mother was shielding him with her body. The new mayor’s boy-son was kicking him, saying, “What’s wrong with him?!” And she cried, “He’s fainted from hunger! All of my children are hungry!”

The mayor walked over to a street cart selling satay and bought two. He handed each to his son, one for each hand. His son took a huge bite and spat the meat on the ground. "Too spicy," he said. "Disgusting." But he did not offer anyone else his satay.

It wasn’t that day, not exactly, but Houmei remembers thinking: No one is going to help us.  But he didn’t feel afraid, he just felt anger like the sting of a poison barb.

[theshijlegacy]

Rise of Skywalker ramblings

Saw RoS last night and loved it. 

I’d seen the mixed reviews and was a bit apprehensive going in, but was pleasantly surprised in a lot of ways.  It kept some of the spirit of TLJ that I liked while still delivering a lot of the “safer” Star Wars story that I expected.  Being part of a super enthusiastic opening night crowd is always fun too.  And it’s nice to see that I’m not the only person who liked the whole 7-8-9 trilogy!

Spoileriffic thoughts below.

--Rey Palpatine was one of the theories I’d kicked around, but it would have been nice if she really was nobody, like the Force doesn’t care who you’re related to. Timeline-wise she would have been better off as his great-granddaughter but I completely buy Sheev having lots of kids and/or having some later in life.

--I’d been running with the “Skywalker is the new name for Force user” theory for a while, but I’m OK with Rey adopting it as her last name.  She doesn’t have to be a Palpatine and the name of the family that saved the galaxy is continuing.

--HOLY CRAP FINN IS FORCE SENSITIVE.  I would love it if that was what he wanted to tell Rey.  (Best answer from Reddit: “I’m in love with Poe and don’t know how to tell him!”)

--Ben Solo didn’t make it to the end!  I was convinced he’d get a redemption arc and live happily ever after. Props to JJ/whoever for going in that direction, especially with the Jedi fadeout.

--The opening crawl getting right to "oh hey the emperor isn't really dead.” So happy they didn't drag out the “when-do-we-see/hear-the-emperor???” mystery

--Sheev Palpatine and his motherfucking contingencies for contingencies, plans-within-plans shit.  This guy was a thousand steps ahead of everyone else, all the time.  Got a glimpse of that in Empire’s End too.

--LOL the tank of Snoke clones.  Sheev loves his clones, in both canon and legends!

--Poe’s lightspeed skipping.  Poe being an ex-spice runner.  Poe and Zorii!  Poe in general.  Poe is great.

--Luke/Leia training flashback!!  Leia's lightsaber!!!!  Which she presumably built herself!!!!!

--3-way Finn/Poe/Rey hug.  And the sound of a thousand fanfics being composed…

--More First Order defectors who had been kidnapped as children.  (Also a plot point in Empire’s End, complete with a 6-year-old-ish Armitage Hux ordering around a group of kidnapped-and-brainwashed child recruits)

--Hux being the mole, not because he agrees with the resistance, but because he hates Kylo Ren.  I bet he was hatching a plan as soon as Snoke was killed.

--Force-healing onscreen!  And it wasn’t just “Force magic” (which I also would have been OK with), it was actual taking life from one to give to another.

--Rey was noticeably better at lightsaber fighting.  She was… not great in TFA.  Only slightly better in TLJ.  Her year of training really shows and I like that we’ve seen a pretty clear progression.

--Rey stopping that transport with some Kyle Katarn shit and Kylo trying to get it back and OH SHIT REY SHOT OUT FORCE LIGHTNING  

--Palpatine: GLADoS edition has been added to my recent “horrifying scene that works but really gives me the creeps” list (also includes flashback to Coulson resuscitation/brain surgery with him repeating “just let me die” on Agents of SHIELD, Brainy getting rebooted on Supergirl)

--Aside from his GLADoS-esque support arm complete with wires, I liked undead-Palpatine's look - missing fingers, whited-out eyes, and his transformation after he stole life from Rey & Kylo.  Especially the red-lined robes.

--Got serious Endgame vibes at the end with all the ships showing up. Husband unit also pointed out the parallel of “I am inevitable”/”I am Iron Man” and “I am all Sith”/”I am all Jedi”

--OMG ALL THE JEDI SPEAKING TO REY.  I didn’t recognize everything at first but I heard Obi-Wan (young & old), Yoda, Mace Windu, Ahsoka(!!!!!), and Anakin.  Per the credits, voices also included Qui-Gon(!), Luminara Unduli, Aayla Secura, Adi Gallia, and Kanan Jarrus(!!!!!).  Two notable absences: Cal Kestis and Ezra Bridger.  I can accept Cal’s fate as TBD since Fallen Order just came out, but this is really good news for Ezra.  I am now super super interested to see where these two have been.

--Kept the Rey/Kylo force-connection deal.  It weirded me out in TLJ but I’m really glad it was kept here.

--Wedge coming back for one last ride!  (and aging pretty well, wow)

--RIP Snap.  :-( I’d grown a bit attached to him after the Aftermath trilogy, but I think Norra and Brentin would have been proud.

-- ForceGhost!Luke has a new attitude; I guess being dead for a while tends to mellow you out.  I am still 100% OK with his character in this trilogy.

--Kylo not being as good at fighting after he dropped the dark-side allegiance – specifically the 6v1 fight against the Knights of Ren before he got the lightsaber.  Like he'd been into it so deep for so long he forgot how to fight without it.

--Han coming back one last time for some Ghost Dad Advice

--THANKS FOR NOT KILLING CHEWIE!!  I was seriously worried

--Rey fights herself!

--Where can I buy a replica of that Sith wayfinder?  I do like shiny force-user crystals/holocrons/etc

--Rey finally builds her own lightsaber!  And it’s yellow.

--TAKE THAT REYLOS: Oh you want a kiss huh?  There’s your kiss!  AND NOW HE’S DEAD.

--That whole scene.  Kylo staring at dead Rey.  Kylo force-healing Rey and bringing her back to life.  And now they’re staring at each other, and I’m thinking don’t kiss you idiots, don’t fucking do it.  FUCK they did.  I actually booed out loud.  (I will not deny being a little bit happy that Kylo died immediately after)

--All of the “are you happy Ep 7 & 8 haters???” stuff: Rey is super powerful because she’s Palpatine’s granddaughter, someone bringing up a “why don’t we Holdo this” argument and getting shot down with good reason, showing Leia’s Force powers with a flashback to being trained by Luke AND having her own lightsaber

--The urgent timeline got kind of.. muddled?  Forgotten?  They had 18 hours or 12 and still had time for all those spacejumps and Lando gathering friends from all over?

--A bit too on-the-nose with some of the ROTJ parallels.  Lando in disguise saving the day on a desert planet! Speeder bike chase!  Emperor taunting Our Hero while their friends are losing a huge battle outside!  A Skywalker dies so Our Hero can live!

--Also wondered if one of the writers played SWTOR: Emperor who really isn’t dead uses Super Mega Force Lightning and tries to jump into Our Hero’s body to take over their mind.

After chewing on this for a day, here’s my ranking of Skywalker/Palpatine saga films from best to worst:

5 > 8 > 9 > 4 > 7 > 6 > 3 > 2 > 1

And including Solo and Rogue One:

5 > Rogue One > 8 > 9 > 4 > 7 > 6 > 3 > Solo > 2 > 1

tbh I’m so far into the “inject all Star Wars content directly into my veins pls” territory that I can’t say I hate any of it, and even the cringiest prequel moments are leaps and bounds ahead of a lot of other junk I’ve watched/read/played.  So much about Star Wars is just FUN, and I will gladly handwave away most of my nitpicks (SpeedForce, I ain’t gotta explain shit) for the sake of enjoying the story.  Even the ridiculous stuff that I poke fun at is still a part of the whole mess; it can’t all be great or even good or OK and that is fine with me.  [NOTE: I have not watched the Holiday Special but the husband unit is weirdly enthusiastic about me doing so; it may happen yet this year.] 

I really like this comment from the A.V. Club.  More cynical than my overall take on the whole shebang but I totally know with where they’re coming from.  I don’t agree with all the responses but it’s a pretty good discussion.