#Also got to play with brushes so that was fun

[pinkskiessss]

LACY - chapter 5

Paige Bueckers x oc

Warnings: internalized homophobia, mature content

A/N: I feel like alot of the last few chapters have been about Layla really struggling with coming to terms with identity/sexuality. Which I wanted to write because I wanted to show the process of really coming to terms with being queer and how it isn’t just something you immediately accept in one night, based on my own experiences personally ofc. So with that being said, I hope someone else can find comfort in her character or relates. (Also forgot to write this in, but for anyone wondering, Layla has been involved “romantically” with guys in the past, but I think it’s just a realization now for her that it was like a cover up for who she actually is, because she’s feeling emotions she’s never felt towards a man, towards a woman if that makes sense. Basically she’s gay lol hope this helps! Which like same girl) Anywayssss sorry for the rant, enjoy loves!

—

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the folded note on my bedside table.

I hope you feel better. Text me when you get up.

I exhaled slowly, the events of last night still swirling in my mind. Her low voice, her subtle touches—it made my skin crawl, the way I feel when she touches me. Even if it’s only for a second. The way it made something stir inside me that I couldn’t ignore, but couldn’t accept either.

I grabbed my phone and texted her, my fingers shaking slightly.

Me: Hey, I just woke up. Thanks for taking care of me last night. I’m sorry for being such a mess.

Her reply came quickly, almost like she’d been waiting for me.

Paige: Don’t trip. You’re good. Seriously.

Paige: You feeling better?

Me: Yeah, a little. Thanks again.

There was a short pause before her next message came through.

Paige: Can we talk? In person, if you’re not busy?

I hesitated, biting my lip. I didn’t want to see her, not right now. I’d rather save myself the embarrassment. But I couldn’t avoid it forever.

Me: Sure. You can come over if you want. I’m heading to the gym soon to practice, though.

Paige: Volleyball grind? Big game coming up, right?

Me: Yeah, it’s the regional final this weekend. If we win, we’re in the Final Four.

Paige: No pressure or anything

Me: Tell me about it lol

Paige: Can I come practice with you for fun cause why not? I won’t distract you to much I swear.

I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of her trying to play volleyball.

Me: Ok sure, if you insistttt

When Paige arrived, she was dressed in basketball shorts and a black tee, her hair pulled into a messy bun. Somehow she always looks perfect like all the time. It’s crazy actually.

—

We set up the net, and Paige was already messing around with the volleyball like she had no idea what she was doing. I tossed her the ball.

“Alright, ready?” I asked.

She caught it but didn’t seem to know what to do next. “Uh, sure. Can’t be too hard.”

Her first attempt was… not great to say the least. The ball went flying across the gym, and she just stood there, looking at it like it had betrayed her.

“Okay, so let’s just act like you didn’t see that,” she said, laughing at herself.

I couldn’t help but laugh too, the tension easing just a little. “Maybe try not to hit it like you’re dunking a basketball.”

“Yo I didn’t sign up for this kind of slander, not to much on me,” she said with a grin. “But fine, I’ll try again.”

We kept going, and she got a little better—or at least, less terrible. But I couldn’t focus. My mind kept drifting back to last night, what I asked her in a drunken haze. How awkward it feels that I got drunk and slipped into a vulnerable state where I felt comfortable enough to ask her how she knew she was gay. Like come on Layla, why do you always have to make shit weird.

I tried to push it out of my mind, but when she stood beside me, her shoulder brushing mine as we took a break, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. The kind of knot that made me want to run. To escape this feeling.

“Layla,” Paige said softly, breaking the silence. “You okay?”

I glanced at her, swallowing hard. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

She didn’t seem convinced. She took a step closer, her eyes searching mine. “You sure? You don’t have to pretend everything’s fine if it’s not, you know this.”

I shook my head, looking down at the ground. “I don’t know what to think anymore, Paige. I don’t even know why I asked you what I did. It just… felt like something I needed to say. I was really drunk and confused I guess. But now, I just feel… weird.”

Paige’s expression shifted, a flicker of something defensive in her eyes. “Weird how?”

I was silent, except for the sound of my breath, heavy and uneven. I could feel the weight of Paige’s words pressing down on me, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something inside me was breaking. I didn’t know how to fix it.

“I just don’t get it, Layla,” Paige said, her voice a little shaky but firm. “Why are choosing to continuously hurt yourself by denying the facts.”

“I’m not. I just—” I paused, struggling to find the right words. “I don’t want to be that person. I don’t want people to look at me like it’s all they see when I play. I don’t want to be judged. People already say enough disgusting stuff online about queer people. Imagine what they would say if they found out an athlete they looked up to secretly liked the same gender. It would hurt my career so much if people found out Paige, you don’t get it.”

Paige’s face tightened, her blue eyes flashing with anger. “What the hell, Layla? Are you seriously forgetting that I’m gay myself? I would get it. People speculate about my sexuality all the time, and yeah, it’s obvious. Everyone knows it. Sure, there’s a small percentage of people who hate on me for it, and I see it. But if I let that control my life, I’d be a pretty shitty person. People always have their opinions, and most of them are garbage, but you can’t let them define how you see yourself. You’re letting people on the internet make you think you’re wrong for feeling how you feel. It’s fucking ridiculous.”

I flinched at her words, the anger in her voice cutting deeper than I expected. I didn’t answer, my heart pounding in my chest. She was right. She knew exactly what it was like to feel out of place. But I couldn’t help the way I felt.

“I’m sorry,” Paige says quietly, her voice suddenly soft, regret seeping into her tone. “I shouldn’t have said that the way I did at all. I shouldn’t have gotten that mad, I just hate hearing you talk about yourself like that.”

My hands were shaking now, and I wiped at my eyes, feeling the tears I’d been holding back start to fall. I couldn’t stop them. I couldn’t stop any of it.

Paige saw me crying, and her expression softened instantly. She stepped forward, reaching out to gently grab my arms, pulling them away from my face. “Layla, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have let it get that far. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I looked up at her, my chest tight. “It’s not you, I just don’t know what to do, Paige. I don’t know how to feel. I don’t know how to make this go away.”

Paige’s eyes softened as she held my arms. “You don’t have to make it go away, Layla. You don’t have to figure it out right now. But please, don’t hate yourself for it. You’re not disgusting, or weird. You’re… you’re perfect just the way you are.”

Her words hit me like a wave, and for the first time, I felt like I could breathe. Like maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t as lost as I thought.

“I really care for you,” Paige continued, her voice low and sincere. Hearing you talk about yourself like that—it hurts me. It hurts to see you think you’re not worth it. You are. You really are.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a surge of warmth in my chest. I stepped closer to her, not sure what I was doing but knowing I needed to be near her. “I’m sorry, too,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to make you feel like that.”

She smiled softly, her hand brushing against my cheek. “You don’t need to apologize. I just want you to know you’re not alone in this. I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

I felt a pull in my chest, an undeniable connection that I couldn’t ignore. I leaned in slightly, my breath catching in my throat. I was close enough to feel the warmth of her skin, to see the way her blue eyes softened, the way her pink lips parted just slightly. My heart raced, the air thick with unspoken words, with everything we hadn’t said yet.

For a moment, everything seemed to stop. The world around us faded, leaving just the two of us in this fragile, suspended moment. I could hear the soft sound of her breathing, the way it matched mine, both of us caught in the tension that had been building between us.

I barely registered that I was moving closer until our noses were almost touching, the smallest breath between us. I could feel the heat of her body against mine, the way her cologne lingered in the air, intoxicating and all-consuming. I could feel the pull, stronger now, undeniable, and it was like something inside me snapped.

I couldn’t stop myself. I leaned in, closing the space between us, and my lips brushed against hers in the softest kiss. It was tentative at first, a question, a hesitation, but it felt right. Her lips were warm and inviting, soft as velvet, and I couldn’t help but press into her, deepening the kiss just slightly, my hands finding their way to her neck, pulling her closer.

Her lips moved against mine with a gentle pressure, and I responded instinctively, my body leaning into hers, craving more. There was no fear, no doubt. Just the rush of the moment, the way her touch made everything else fade away. It felt right.

But then, just as quickly as it started, I pulled away, breathless, my chest heaving. I looked at her, my heart pounding in my ears, and I saw the same intensity reflected in her eyes.

“Paige,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “I—”

She didn’t give me a chance to finish. Before I could say another word, she pulled me back to her, her lips crashing against mine with a hunger that took me by surprise. This time, there was no hesitation, no softness. Her hands were on my waist, pulling me even closer, and I could feel the urgency in her kiss, the way she needed me as much as I needed her.

I kissed her back with everything I had, my hands threading through her hair, pulling her even closer, if that was even possible. I could feel the heat between us, the way our bodies pressed together, desperate to feel more. It was a kiss that left no room for doubt, no space for anything but the raw, overwhelming undeniable connection between us.

—

Taglist:

@unadulteratedcyclepaper

[tarareindeer]

Hello pookie.

Since you're taking requests, I'm gonna shoot my shot.

How about something with Vander, where the Reader came into The Last Drop, perhaps they are like a friend/acquaintance of Babette's that had a rough confrontation with a rude client of the brothel earlier. And the client like also appears in the bar and some kind of brawl happens? Gender neutral reader if possible, maybe they're also like low-key sassy and strong. This is totally self indulgent not gonna lie.

Off topic, I love the Vander part 1 fic you wrote! The concept is so AAAAAAA FIRE to me. I can't wait to see what's going to happen next. I have so many assumptions in my head about events that might take place further on.

Also you're so real for the writing in English when it's not your first language, I'm the same.

thank u pooks,I'll do more in future give sum time to come up with the story :)

The Last Drop was as rowdy as ever, the kind of chaos that felt like home if you squinted hard enough. You stepped in, shaking off the leftover annoyance from earlier. Babette had convinced you to help out at the brothel for the night a solid mistake in hindsight. You were expecting the usual: side-eyeing greasy clients, keeping an ear out for any trouble, maybe breaking up a spat or two. What you didn’t expect was some wannabe top dog mouthing off like he owned the place.

And of course, now here he was.

You clocked him the moment you stepped into Vander’s bar. The same slimy guy with his oversized ego and cheap cologne, leaning over a table like he thought he was in a K-drama.

“Oh, hell no.” You muttered, weaving through the crowd. Your face must’ve been giving away your internal commentary because Vander caught sight of you from behind the bar, raising a brow.

“You alright there?” he asked, sliding a pint to another patron.

“Peachy,” you shot back, but your eyes were already locked on the dude. “Just peachy. Except for him.”

Vander followed your gaze and let out a low chuckle. “Guessing there’s a story here?”

“More like a Yelp review: one star, do not recommend, would fight again,” you said, rolling up your sleeves.

But apparently, karma was playing the long game, because there he was, right smack in the middle of the bar, holding court like he owned the place. You stopped dead, your jaw clenching.

“Don’t do it,” you muttered to yourself. “Not worth it. Be the bigger person.”

Then he spotted you, and his face lit up with a grin so smug it should’ve been illegal. “Well, if it isn’t Babette’s little errand runner,” he called out, loud enough to make the whole bar turn your way.

Oh, it was on.You grinned, all teeth, and took a step closer. “And yet, here I am. Living rent-free in that hollow skull of yours.”

You squared your shoulders and marched toward the counter, locking eyes with Vander. “Vodka,”

The guy stood up, all swagger and no substance. “Still salty from earlier, huh?” he sneered. “Thought you’d learned your place.”

“Yeah, I did,” you shot back, stepping closer. “It’s somewhere above you.”

The crowd ooh-ed, and Vander sighed, wiping a glass as though he hadn’t seen this exact situation play out a hundred times before. “You break it, you buy it,” he muttered under his breath.

You smiled, slow and dangerous. “Alright, bet.”

And with that, chaos erupted. Tables flipped, drinks spilled, and the poor bartender who tried to intervene got a swift “Stay out of it, Huck” from you. Vander didn’t step in until the dude was flat on his back, groaning like a broken accordion.

“That’s enough,” he said, grabbing the guy by the scruff of his neck and hauling him toward the door. “Out.”

Once the guy was gone, Vander turned to you, his arms crossed. “Feel better?”

“Immensely,” you said, brushing your hands off. “Also, sorry about the mess,"

“Yeah, but I’m the fun kind,” you said, grabbing your drink off the counter like you hadn’t just caused a small riot.

And just like that, the bar settled back into its usual rhythm. Well, mostly because now everyone was watching you like you were some kind of folk hero.

“Round’s on me,” Vander finally said, chuckling to himself. “Least I can do for the entertainment.”

[1toreyouapart]

Right Through Me

***FANFICTION THAT INVOLVES REAL PEOPLE. DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T LIKE THAT. 18+ MDNI***

Rae arrives on her former best friend’s doorstep, asking only for a place to stay while she gets back on her feet after moving across the country to escape her ex. Nick gladly opens his door to her, quickly pulling her into the fold with his friends and band mates.

Noah is just trying to survive. He wants to make it. Needs it. He has no time for anything other than the band. He’s got a point to prove. Nick’s friend challenges that and upends his entire world. She drives him crazy with her laid back, carefree ways.

Everyone can see the collision coming from a mile away, and nobody can stop it. Much less the two of them. Who will make it out in the end?

CW/TW: domestic violence, miscarriage, alcohol use, swearing, smoking, tobacco/vape use, smut, more to come as story is written.

Frustration

Steam swirled around her in the shower, the heat from the water relaxing the stiff muscles in her shoulder. Finally, after what felt like eons, she was able to leave the sling off. Having everything in one position for so long had left the muscles there sore and stiff as she adjusted to being able to use her arm a little more freely again. Groaning she dropped her head, squeezing her eyes shut as the water pelted down on her shoulder. All the guys had done their best making sure she wasn’t overusing her shoulder or arm, but she still snuck in time to do some of the things she used to do it. Her range of motion was definitely limited. Reaching over her head was a bit of a problem. Which made washing her hair difficult, still. But she had the scalp massaging shampoo brush, so at least she could keep her hair clean. It had been a life saver the last six weeks.

The water started to run cold, sending a chill throughout her. Pouting to herself she shut the water off, wringing a bit of excess water out of her hair. Her mind wandered, drifting to everything she needed to do in the next few weeks. Somehow Noah had cornered her into accepting his offer of having her hit the road with them to help with merch. Now she was getting set to travel with a bunch of stinky men. Part of her was excited to spend more time with Noah, though. Ever since Folio had interrupted them he hadn’t given them a chance to be alone together again. It was beyond irritating.

Pulling her shirt over her head she tucked her hair up in a towel, huffing out a sigh. So what if Noah had kissed her? It was barely even a kiss before Folio had shown up and ruined it. All freaking week after that it was a constant stream of “You shouldn’t get caught up with him.” Or “He’s not a relationship type of guy, Rae.” She didn’t want a goddamn relationship. After thaw last one she was good for a long while on those. Didn’t mean she couldn’t have fun once in a while.

Rae made her way to the living room, dropping down on the couch. She picked up her phone, scrolling through movie options on Hulu. Folio wouldn’t be home for a bit yet. He was with the band, going over things as they prepped to go on tour. The closer it got the more Noah was on edge, working tirelessly on everything. She had never seen someone so set on everything being perfect. Rae also suspected he may be a bit of a workaholic.

Nerves pricked at her spine and she got up, checking that the door was for sure locked. Logically she knew that if Sean was looking for her he hadn’t found her yet, otherwise he would have shown up by now. He had been out nearly a full two weeks at this point. That didn’t stop the nightmares. The constant looking over her shoulder. Or the constant fear.

Satisfied it was locked she dropped back down on the couch, finally deciding on some campy horror. Enough to get her heart rate going, but not so much that she would put herself into a state of full blown panic. Hitting play she settled back into the couch, pulling her blanket over herself.

Right as the first jump scare came on Folio walked in, a grumpy and tired Noah right behind him. Rae screamed, diving for the bat Folio kept in the living room. Terror lanced through her, white hot and insistent as she spun around, ready to beat someone’s head in.

“Whoa! Rae! It’s just us!” Folio held his hands up, eyes wide. Noah stood behind him, watching her, a single brow arched.

“Whatcha gonna do with that, Princess?”

Heart still pounding she lowered the bat, eyes flitting between a worried Folio and a less than pleased Noah. Though he couldn’t contain the slight smirk as he stared her down.

“Jesus Christ. I thought you were Sean.” Rae chuckled, dropping the bat on the floor.

“So that’s his name.” Noah nodded, appearing to make a mental note of it. “Well, you can calm down, Princess. It’s just us.”

“Why are you here?” She asked, dress still churning in her belly.

“Well, I tried to text you. See if you wanted to go grab a burger or something.”

Rae tipped her head to the side, looking between him and Folio. No way was he going to let her get away with being alone with Noah.

“Yes. He’s coming.”

Rae groaned, casting Folio a weary glance. He had gone from acting like an overprotective brother to acting like he was some overbearing father trying to keep her “innocence” intact. It was getting tiresome. And here she was spending a month on the road with him.

“Nick. I don’t need a chaperone to go get some fucking dinner.” She looked down, realizing she was in an old pair of sweats and a tank top. “I’m not even dressed, anyway.”

“Looks fine to me.” Noah offered with a small shrug. His tone was still clipped, though a little less so now.

“Let me go to the bathroom real quick and then we can leave.” Folio nodded his head towards her before disappearing down the hallway.

“If you’re worried he’s going to find you, you’re gonna need a lot better than a bag to defend yourself with, Princess.”

Rae’s eyes snapped to Noah’s, taking note of how his features had softened. A look she had come to know well the last couple of weeks. She had mistaken it as pity at first, but she had a feeling it was far from it. It was more a look of understanding. Of giving a shit about what happened to her.

“Well, it’s what I’ve got, Noah.” She shrugged, pulling the forgotten towel out of her hair. “Why are you so interested in his name, anyway? Don’t think I didn’t notice the mental note you took.”

“Doesn’t matter, Princess.”

Tags: @collisionofyourkissmakesitsohard @lacy1986 @mrscevans @supersquirrel1996 @alwaysfightforwhoyouare @ichoosetenderomens @dontwantthemoney

[annunen]

NHLWAM S12 E7: Niko Mikkola & Eetu Luostarinen

I translated the highlights of the video for any florida finns fans to enjoy.

TLDR: the finns love chirping each other and Lundy needs a babysitter.

Manninen and Putkonen are the NHLWAM hosts.

Under the cut <3

Manninen: We've got two Finnish Fort Lauderdale locals here. Niko Mikkola, new guy, and Eetu Luostarinen, who's already one of the vets. So what's up?

Mikkola: Nothing bad, getting to know new places and the sun shines. Great people here.

Luostarinen: It's always fun to get more finns here. Always welcome.

Manninen: Eetu, how would you describe Niko as a person and a teammate?

Luostarinen: He's a chill Oulu guy. Chill company, easy to hang out with him, he gets along with everyone. Really nice.

Manninen: Do you agree?

Luostarinen: Sure, i'll take what i'm given.

Manninen: Counterquestion for you.

Mikkola: We've known each other pretty long. He's one of those Savo guys, a little twisted like they all are. But there's only great guys here, like i said, so it's been easy to come here.

Manninen: You got pretty lucky, your training center moved from the middle of nowhere (lit. horse ass) to the neighbor. You could bike there, have you ever done that?

Mikkola: I don't have a bike but i've been planning to buy one. It's 5 minutes away so it would be pretty nice to bike there.

Manninen: Or an electric scooter! Has anyone ever come with one?

Mikkola: No, but Kaapo Kakko always used one in NYC. I'd walk and he'd drive past me.

Luostarinen: I haven't biked there either but some guys have electric bikes. And golf carts, pretty cool that you can come to the rink with a golf cart.

Manninen: Now that's style!

-----

Manninen: I asked "Lunkka" Lundell this same question, now i want to ask you Eetu too. Looking at your points, this season hasn't been as good as the last. The big crowds only look at points, they're thinking "what's up with Eetu, he hasn't scored points". So what do YOU think, has this season actually been worse than the last, or have you actually gone forward as a player?

Luostarinen: I wouldn't say it's been worse than last season, pretty equal. Just haven't had those successes. There's also a lot happening in the background, in the game. I play a lot shorthanded too, i've got to take credit for that. If i can't get confidence from points, i have to find it somewhere else in the small things.

Manninen: Are the points so important? I don't remember if you lead the league right now, but as a team you're playing really well.

Luostarinen: It's a team game, if your team is doing well, you're doing something right, and you have to be happy about that. But if i have less points than Mikkola, that's when i should be worried.

Mikkola: Why am I suddenly being attacked?

Putkonen: God damn, throwing you under the boat, right there under that Catamaran.

Manninen: What about you Niko, do you ever set - even though you're known as a defensive brush, let's not say broom (that's Hakanpää's "nickname") - do you set some personal goals for points when starting the season?

Mikkola: Defensive brush, i'll take that. Good name. I don't really set any goals for points. The beginning of the season was pretty wild for me, but now i've returned to a normal phase. Probably getting close to 30 straight pointless games now.

Luostarinen: Yeah, early in the season they were throwing the nickname "Niko Norris" around there.

Putkola: You were on a phase for 80 points.

Mikkola: It was crazy, but now we're back to the roots. You can't only get confidence from points. You need some guys who play shorthanded, keep the own net clear. Take some confidence from those.

-----

(Someone walks by with a dog.)

Putkonen: Cool dog. How's your dog doing?

Luostarinen: Yeah, we have a new one in the family - cavapoo, it's a cavalier poodle mix. And then we have Rose, she's a little over 4 years old now.

Putkonen: Who in your team would you not let dogsit your dogs?

Luostarinen: Lunkka. Even if we speak the same language, i wouldn't trust him with them.

Manninen: Is Lunkka your team's little rascal?

Luostarinen: He is, a little. You need to watch what he's doing sometimes.

Mikkola: But he's so young still.

Manninen: You're allowed to be careless when you're young. We've been careless too.

Putkonen: ...older too.

-----

Putkonen: Roberto Luongo was in the net at your practice. He still catches pretty well.

Mikkola: Yeah. I've said that he'd only need one training camp and he could play an NHL game again. I can't score on him either.

Luostarinen: Best possible EBUG.

-----

Putkonen: Let's take some fan questions. Does Sasha "whip" (reprimand) you?

Luostarinen: No, just constructive criticism.

Mikkola: He's flicked me a couple times with a video where I ice the puck or something. More as a joke. He doesn't really "whip" (reprimand) me.

Manninen: But he gives that to Lunkka!

Mikkola: Lunkka is "in his teeth" a little. In a good way.

Putkonen: Yeah, he was already the last time we visited. Gave him an earful from some celly, telling him "don't jump to the glass, only juniors celly like that".

-----

[allthebestscreennamesaregone63]

Hiiii bestie @knightjane Thanks for the tag!

Last Song: the Kayla King cover of "Born This Way"

Fave Color: Purple.

Last Book: The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln

Last Movie: I started watching Red One, bu I got distracted and haven't finished. The last full-length non holiday movie was Rogue One. The last holiday movie was Frosty the Snowman

^me and the girlies leaving the job interview knowing we failed and still have no job.

Last TV Show: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Sweet/Savory/Spicy: For food, sweet. It's a problem hehe. For fanfic, spicy all the way. If my mom doesn't have a heart attack when she reads over my shoulder, it didn't happen bruh.

Relationship Status: oui ghostin' (haha I'm single and got ghosted the last 3 times I tried to date. ffs)

Last Thing I Googled: I somehow forgot what rule 34 was. I refreshed my memory on Rule34.

Looking Forward To: I more or less want to see the new Superman movie in July. I also have a job interview today, and well, girls just wanna have fun(ds)

Also me:

Current Obsession: Uh... I have a couple I could list. Mostly Star Wars and related content, but I also have a thing for Hellraiser, Scream, and cakes. Like, I want cakes and regular brownies so bad rn. I am the only person I know who could eat 400+ cosmic brownies a year for 5 straight years, and still want a brownie. I need sugar, halp plz!

Ok! Tagging:

@sariastrategos

@hug-me-brutha

@xbankaii

@kylosbreedingkink

@badjokesbyjeff

@grandmofftarkinsuggestions

@doctorguilty

@bitchin-beskar

@bellas-lemonade-cap

@umnitsa

@lapisllong

@thrawns-babygirl

No pressure, anybody!

//GIF descriptions ID:

1. Obi wan kenobi moving up into frame. Text reads: hello there. 2. GIF of Frosty the Snowman leading a parade of marching children. 3. Woman being interviewed. She says "I'm supposed to care about that bitch? I don't." 4. Sabrina Carpenter wearing a signature smirk and silver dress. 5. Jennifer Check walking away from background characters in the swimming pool sequence at prom in Jennifer's Body. 6. GIF of actor who played Derek Hale on Teen wolf. He is shirtless, in a towel, and brushing his teeth. 7. Bugs Bunny counting money out of a suitcase. 8. GIF from Hellraiser: Bloodline, where the female antagonist Angelique licks blood off the back of her index fingernail. The fingernail in question is long and painted, so in the lighting of the gif, it looks like a claw. END ID//

^Kyla King, "Born This Way Goes Rock"

Thanks @teaandjumpers for tagging me in "10 People I'd Like to Get to Know Better"! This was fun and reading your responses was really interesting :3

Last Song: "Lullaby" by The Cure

Fave Color: Same! Dark Green

Last Book: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, which I'm still reading and probably will be for the next three months lol

Last Movie: The Hilarious Posters (1906) but that's only four minutes long so idk if it counts, before that it was Stay (2005)

Last TV Show: Skeleton Crew!

Sweet/Savory/Spicy: Sweet, my sweet tooth is diabolical lmao

Relationship Status: Singleee

Last Thing I Googled: "lustful synonym" 💀 just smut writer things

Looking Forward To: Finishing my current wips that have been giving me trouble, summer break even though the semester hasn't even started yet, hearing back about the new job i applied for

Current Obsession: None in particular rn so I'll default to my longterm obsession with Obi-Wan <3

Tagging @brazen-kenobi @spirkkock @thousandevilducks @loycspotting @grapenehifics @decapthor @vaderwcn @desmothene @mostlykenobi @bi-wan No pressure!

[tinyspectre]

Gotta be alert, even when you’re amongst the stars

[zoof-katt]

Haven't watched Last Life in a long time so I decided to draw them from memory

[puppppppppy]

fascinated by LINE stickers lately, so i tried making fake ones with my sona lol

[mumpsetc]

Focus on the Way to Get Out

[pallases]

IM FREEEEEE

[suddenrundown]

currently repeating "you are under no obligation to be good at the things you do for fun" to myself over and over

[keeps-ache]

good morning and merry christmas !! aesthetic photo of my cookies be upon ye

[lemonbeemon]

Not to be sappy on main, but I will forever be a hater to people who say video games can't be a productive use of your time.

[biohazard-inevitable]

The plus side of being too busy to watch shows or get super deep into any games is that I’m so active that my only media consumption is audiobooks at work and at school so I can finally get in on all those funky book fandoms!!! :D

[wr0ngwarp]

over the past 3 days i have been playing Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania as beat and doing all the SMB1 challenge modes. beat im so sorry for rapturing you to monkey heaven. video games are scary

edit of first image i made after ACCIDENTALLY RESTARTING MASTER MODE several painful hours in under the cut (eyestrain warning):

As you can see i did not take it well

[writereleaserepeat]

Chemical Romance

Loosely inspired by @justplainwhump's story Pet Safety. In Pet Safety, the MC drops some details that suggest Romantics in their universe can be chemically altered to need another person nearby. I thought this was a brilliant idea and ran with it for a short story (that I haven't really edited or revised, fuck it we ball).

Summary: After countless trials and many failed experiments, X001 is the first chemically-altered Romantic available for sale. The scientist responsible watches over his subject as she is introduced to her buyer - and carefully-tailored chemical match - for the first time. X001 soon learns what it's like to need someone more than she needs life itself.

CW: institutionalized slavery, implied medical whump, chemical modifications, fade to black noncon/dubcon

X001 knelt patiently on the plush carpet beside the chaise. She could sense that her handler wasn’t quite as patient, particularly with the way he kept twisting the leash between his fingers, a gentle tug on her collar each time.

Perhaps her handler was just as excited as she was. Not just excited, but nervous. X001 hadn’t been this nervous since her first days in training. Today she was going to meet her new owner, her Master, the very person she had been working so hard to learn how to please. A chill ran up X001’s spine, a sensation she was barely able to swallow down. She couldn’t let her nerves show, not now, not when it mattered the most.

Voices murmured outside the door, warm words running together, the comforting hum of idle conversation. No commands came for her, not yet. X001 was certain if there was a command, she wouldn’t miss it. Every sense was attuned to her handler, and soon, to her Master. Her handler had told X001 that if her new Master was satisfied with their trial, she would get to go home with them.

Home was what she had been working so hard towards, wasn’t it? It's what she was made for.

---

“As you can see, ’01 is a physically spectacular specimen,” Val said as he gestured towards the one-way glass. The girl knelt unmoving where she was nestled in the thick pile of the carpet, her posture perfect, and her brilliant green eyes fixed glassily on some distant point. As unflattering as the training facility uniforms could be, it was hard to mistake the delicacy of her petite figure, and impossible to tear one’s eyes from the thick russet curls that cascaded down her shoulders.

At least, that’s what Val had been told to regurgitate from the facility’s marketing materials.

“That’s why I chose her,” the buyer said, his gaze transfixed on the subject, not once turning his attention back to Val.

Perhaps Val would have been irritated if he was in marketing. But that wasn't his business, never had been. He continued, unbothered.

“As you’ve surely been reminded by the purchasing agent, X001 is the first product available for sale with these particular modifications. Although our experimental models have shown great success and promise, there is no guarantee that X001 will perform to specifications.” Val also regurgitated this, all but verbatim, from the materials he’d been given. He wasn’t a salesman, no, he was a scientist.

It had been years of hard work and tireless nights. It had been dozens of destroyed products, specimens that were ruined beyond refurbishment, and millions of dollars of company money poured into equipment and supplies. It had been begging his superiors for another chance, promising them that he would make the company's next cash cow.

Eventually, it had also been a success.

“I hear you,” the buyer said, the patience in his voice slipping. “I’ve been told that same thing at least ten times now. I think it's worth the risk, especially for a pretty thing like that.”

Val’s grip on his pen tightened. He’d waited for this moment for many months now, and it was finally here. It was time to prove himself.

His heart thundered inside his chest, and Val nodded to himself as much as the buyer.

“Very well. Are you ready for your trial to begin?”

Lust dripped from the buyer’s tongue as he answered.

“Absolutely.”

---

A clicking tone came through the intercom, a sound which seemed to signal something to X001’s handler. She didn’t move as he unclipped the leash from the ring on her collar and pulled away. He took a single step, then paused, and she felt his hand rest gently on the top of her head.

“Remember your training. Don’t disappoint me, ’01.”

“Yes, sir.” The demure whisper was one she’d practiced until she’d become hoarse, but today, it was as smooth as honey. X001 was merely grateful it hadn’t cracked under the nerves that strained her body.

The comfort of the hand disappeared. Her handler exited the room, leash in hand, leaving X001 alone.

She knew what came next. It would settle in her stomach within the next thirty seconds, and over the course of five minutes, it would buzz throughout her body like electricity. That insatiable longing, the primal need to be close to a human person, would begin to broil to the surface. Her skin would get covered in gooseflesh, like she had been plunged into an ice bath.

To be isolated like this, utterly alone in a room, would slowly become agony.

X001 thought back briefly to the time before her body had been weaponized. Early in training, before she’d been dragged to the medical wing every morning for new injections and infusions, she hadn’t felt like this. She could be alone in her cell for hours, sometimes days, and be perfectly content with the solitude. Not just content, but grateful.

That had changed, though, and she didn’t know why. They'd done something. Something she'd never have the privilege of understanding.

All X001 did know was that she needed someone. She needed them now, at her side, before the pain in her chest became unbearable. Her handler, a different handler, her Master. Anyone would be enough to settle the unease.

---

“As you can see,” Val explained as gestured towards the subject that sat beyond the glass, “we’ve engineered a nervous response upon isolation from human contact.”

It had hardly been a minute since Handler Jones had left the room, and already X001 was trembling where she knelt. Muscles strained beneath her supple, tanned skin; her effort was apparent as she tried to keep still. Those stunning green eyes, once unblinking, now fluttered nervously.

The warmth in his stomach spread as he watched his experiment succeed, fulfilling his decade of promises to his superiors. Val continued his explanation eagerly.

“Part of this response is conditioning, and part of it is the chemical manipulation I discussed earlier. Her very brain chemistry and nervous system function have been altered to make her not just crave human contact, but require it for survival. The moment you walk in, you should notice her relax. She’ll be inseparable from you. Even in her sleep she’ll reach out for you, her body telling her that she needs your touch.”

The buyer hummed beneath his breath, and he watched ’01 tremble with a languid smile.

“And what if I do leave her alone?”

“That, sir, would be one of the most painful things you could do to her.”

---

Seconds became minutes, and the aching in X001’s chest mounted. Her heart fluttered uncontrollably, her muscles ached, and her head spun. Her training slipped away so easily when she got like this, when she was alone. The only thought she could hold on to was the thought of touching someone, curling up against their body, sinking against their naked skin. It was the only cure for her present sickness.

She dug her fingernails into the soft skin of her palms. Her hands were still folded neatly in front of her, but the subtle flexing gave her something to distract from the pain wracking her body.

No, it wasn’t pain, not exactly. She knew pain, she’d grown accustomed to it. This sensation was need. It was like thirst, or hunger, or desperation for air. Every part of her thrummed in its cadence.

Then the door handle clicked open.

It took all of X001’s training not to throw herself at the man who’d walked into the room. In an instant the discomfort in her body began to ebb, but the fluttering of her heart continued. She wanted to be touched, held, comforted. It was the only cure for the ache deep in her bones.

Although she hadn’t looked up at the man’s face – she wasn’t permitted to – she was drawn in by the intricate designs on his well-polished shoes. The well-tailored pants and unscuffed leather dripped with and air luxury, and a scent of burnt vanilla and whiskey seemed to follow as he entered.

The man sat down on the chaise beside X001, and she had to clench her teeth to stop from leaning into him. Her handler had made it incredibly clear that she was to remain in position, as perfect as she had been trained, until she was granted reprieve. She listened attentively, straining for the sound of a command, hearing as he settled into the soft plush of the furniture, then-

“Release. Come up here with me.”

X001 didn’t need to be told twice.

---

Val couldn’t help but smile, his cheeks aching as he watched years of work pay off before his eyes. ’01 slunk up onto the couch with that effortless fluidity all Romantics were trained in. She slid into the spot beside the buyer’s body, already cozy against his chest without a moment of hesitation. Her chin tucked against his collarbone, her nose buried against his neck, and her body shifted with a deep sigh.

“Shit, she never had this reaction with the test sticks you had us use in training,” Handler Jones said with disbelief.

“That was a very low dose of the buyer’s pheromones,” Val explained, attention only partially on the handler. A mere handler could never understand the beauty and complexity of what was unfolding beyond the glass. “She’s never been given unrestricted access to the source. It must be overwhelming her.”

“Bitch better be able to remember what we’ve worked on these last few months,” the handler grumbled.

If she couldn’t, Val wouldn’t be surprised. The experimental models had been almost delirious when they were first introduced to their chemically engineered pheromone match. This had been the most successful of the chemical alterations he had been pioneering, and X001 was absolute proof of that.

All humans had this reaction, at least, to some extent. Despite having some of the weakest noses in the animal kingdom, the human body still sends messages to other humans in smelling distance. And in these messages the body conveys arousal, genetic compatibility, and desire.

What Val had done was nothing more than play with these senses inside a laboratory's sandbox. It had taken a couple of years of development and chemical tweaking, but Val had finally developed a course of treatments that would make the buyer’s scent irresistible to the product. The treatments overrode the product’s innate senses, the natural desire to find genetic compatibility, something that only the subconscious animal mind could know.

A few weeks of daily injections and that innate instinct was overwritten. The product's true nature had been wiped out, replaced instead with the extact chemical makeup of their new buyer. The scent of the buyer would be irresistible, intoxicating. It would immediately invoke lust, and when coupled with a Romantic's conditioning, it would naturally create the ideal product.

The waitlist for chemically-altered Romantics had already surpassed the waitlist for standard-issue Romantics. After all, who wouldn't want their perfect match, a divine creature that believed in its animal mind that its owner was its perfect match?

---

X001 had never experienced anything like it before. The scent flooding her senses was not merely sweet. Sweetness was something found in baked goods, or the treats that her handler snuck her when she was performing well. This was ambrosia, a full-body sensation that drew her ever-closer to the man on the chaise. It was like the space beside him had been built just for her.

No matter how close she drew herself to the man’s skin, she couldn’t get enough. It was all she could do not to drag her tongue across the hot flesh. She was burning with need, the urge to sink deep into him and never leave.

Hands ran through her hair, across her hips, but she hardly felt them. Instincts from her training took over and she let them move her body. All she cared about was getting closer, her skin warm with the desire for contact with his. All of X001’s instincts were filling her with the need to be with the man, a need even greater than her own need to breathe. It was beyond intoxicating.

Relief and pleasure coalesced as his smooth hands grabbed her hair, her waist, her neck. Bliss. Relief. The understanding in her mind that this was her purpose, and this man is exactly who she was meant for.

If this was truly her Master, she couldn’t imagine anything better.

---

"Hey, labcoat, isn't your job here done?" Handler Jones asked as the buyer began the more intimate engagements of his trial run with X001.

Val pursed his lips and reclined in the seat in front of the one-way mirror.

"I'd like to see the fruits of my labor in action. You've worked in X001 for what, four months? I've worked on this project for more than nine years. This is my moment, my success."

"Whatever you say, man," Handler Jones muttered. "Call me when the bitch has had her fun. I've got two new trainees to worry about, no need for me to watch the show."

Val merely waived the handler off. Solitude is what he needed now, the opportunity to bask in his own success. After all, he deserved it.

No, the thought idly as a grin crept onto his face, I deserve one of these for myself.