#Also i found the chapter. Its chapter 25 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

novemberheart · 2 months ago

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{overview} John realizes his mistake, you and Simon grow closer

{warnings} cursing, some angst, fem reader, a/b/o dynamics, poly 141

Chapter 24 <- Chapter 25 -> Chapter 26

“Pick up your bloody phone,” he growled. He paced around his office, his mind automatically jumping to the worst. Well, could you blame him with your history? “Come on sweetheart,” He pleaded on the other line. He had shown up exactly three minutes ago ready to pick you up for a lunch date off base, yet you were nowhere to be seen.

He paced back over by his desk, wondering if he should start calling in the boys to look for you. It was then he saw it. The world went silent beside his heartbeat thrumming in his ears.

“No,” he nearly whined, his chest clenching painfully. He cursed moving as fast as he could down the hallway without attracting too much attention. He was going to shred that folder and its contents. He actually found it a bit funny when he found it. He was so against you joining and now you were one of the most important aspects of his life.

He should’ve destroyed it right then and there.

He could only imagine how you felt right now. The man who you had deemed your alpha rejecting you from first glance. The man who you had shared your mind and body with. He felt sick. He ran into Kyle in the elevator. His honey eyes widened at his appearance, his hand reaching out gripping onto his shirt. “What’s happened?” He urged.

“I fucked up,” he admitted instantly. “I don't know how to fix this, Kyle,” he gasped. His own hands grabbing onto the beta.

“It’ll be alright,” Kyle soothed, his own heart pounding in his chest.

“I still had those profiles Kate had sent, the ones with omegas she thought would work with us. I was a bastard and crossed them out. Including our girl. Well, I almost crossed all of them. I left one be,” he swallowed back his nerves, his hands beginning to tremble. He had never had such a bodily reaction before. The thought of losing you too much for his nervous system to process.

“What do you mean you left one be? Like there was one you wanted?” Kyle pressed. John nodded slowly, before shaking his head- contradicting himself.

“It wasn't that I preferred her. Given her history she just seemed like the best fit if we had to pick one,” John explained. At the time it had made sense. He didn't know any of you and it wasn't like he had put that much thought into it. He wasn't ready for an omega at that time. He hadn't even sent the papers back to Kate; he just let them rot in the bottom of his file cabinet. You were also the one Laswell was pushing for. If he rejected you, maybe she would leave him alone about it. At the time it made sense.

The elevator had gone up and down a few times before they had finally gotten off. Vernie greeted them at the door, but John beelined to your room.

Your sobs were deafening. He wasn't sure if he had ever heard someone cry so hard.

And it was his fault.

He tried the handle but you had locked the door. Your sobs continued so you either didn’t hear him or you didn't care.

“Sweetheart, it's me. Let me in so I can explain,” he knuckles rapped against the door desperately. He heard you sputter something. He wasn't entirely sure he wanted to know what you said. “Please, pretty girl. I know what it looks like, but please don't put any thought into it. I crossed you out just to get back at Laswell for pushing me to choose an omega. Please open the door,” he begged. Your sobs didn't decrease in the slightest, his alpha nearly throwing him into a frenzy.

“Can I come in, love?” Kyle spoke suddenly. You gave no response other than painful-sounding sobs. Kyle winced his hand rubbing over his chest like it would soothe the sharp pain.

“I love you,” John said. “I’ll be right here when you’re ready to talk about it,” his voice cracked. The alpha moved on shaky limbs to the couch, sitting with his head in his hands. He threw insults at himself quietly, before standing up again, making his way back to your door. “Please, honey, let me in. I need to see you,” he was back to desperation. His knuckles grazing against the door again.

“Give her time,” Kyle soothed, through his own gritted teeth. He couldn't understand how John had been so reckless. He had obviously left the folders in an accessible spot. You wouldn't just go snooping around. Kyle just hoped you didn't think he had anything to do with it.

It had been three hours. Your sobs had died down, making the house silent. That was almost worse. Kyle had talked him down multiple times from knocking your door down. The beta had to leave for training, leaving John by himself with his own thoughts. That had always been a deadly combination.

He had to relive it when Johnny came home, except the Scot wasn’t putting up with it. He grabbed a sharp tool out of his room, unlocking your door in five seconds flat. John stood up, but Johnny growled out a warning.

“Stay there,” he commanded. The alpha had no room to disagree with the burning beta. When they first met, John had assumed Johnny was an alpha based off of the way he carried himself.

“Peaches?” his voice was quiet and soft to not startle you.

“Go away,” you whined, making him wince.

“We had nothin’ to do with that, hen,” Johnny assured. He wasn't going to be in the doghouse because of the Captain’s mistake. Maybe on the field- but not when it comes to you. His hand reached out resting against your heated back. The emotional toll is already making you feel sick. You were burning up with a fever. “Come here, please,” it wasn't so much of a request as it was an order. You lifted your head up from the pillows, your raw eyes looking up at his. He whined low in his throat. His arms darting under your armpits, to pull you on top of him. You started sobbing again, the sounds hitting John on the other side of the door like a ton of bricks. You curled yourself against Johnny. You needed comfort, despite being mad at the world and everyone in it.

“He didn’t want me,” you mumbled sadly. “I called him alpha. I opened up to him. I trusted him. I slept with him. And the whole time he was wishing I was someone else,” you whined out. Johnny understood your hurt- he felt your hurt, yet he also knew that wasn't true in the slightest. John loved you madly.

“That's not true, Bon. He’s absolutely mad for you. He wouldn't trade you for anything or anyone. He had done it before he even met you, and he did it just to be obnoxious because Kate was pushing for you so hard and we weren't too keen on an omega- you know that,” Johnny reminded. You didn't want to be talked off the ledge. You wanted to jump. You wanted to be mad and be hurt without it being invalidated.

“But I wasn't enough to change his mind. Just one look at her on paper and she had him considering getting an omega,” you shot back. You tried pulling yourself away, wanting to find comfort in your sheets and not in the arms of Johnny. He didn't let you.

“Maybe for a split second, Bonnie. But if he had put any more thought into the situation he would've picked you. I know he would've,” Johnny reasoned. You weren't in the mood for reasoning.

“You can't prove that, Johnny. If he already had it in his mind that she would've been the better fit then I doubted I could've changed that,” your voice raised. John kept his ear against the door, his heart twisting painfully. “The only reason I was let into this pack was because Simon was hurt. He didn't care what omega Kate had picked for him as long as he could use them.” you had pulled yourself off of him, moving to a stand.

“Exactly! He didn't care which one he got. He didn't have his heart set on her bonnie. If he did he would've asked for her. You weren't written off because he didn't want you, you were written off because if he had approved you, you would've been flown out here the next day and none of us were ready for that yet. I know the reason you joined the pack feels like you were being used and you were. We’ll all admit that. But that's the world we come from, Bonnie. We are all puppets for our higher-ups to get what they want. They ship us off to the corners of the earth to fight in some war that no one, besides them, has reaped any benefits from. We are all being used in some way and you were too when you joined the pack. But I can promise you this, beautiful- and I can speak for everyone when I say we love you so fucking much. You're the best thing that has happened to us and we wouldn't trade you for anything,” he finished, his voice cracking at the last sentence.

You hated that his words made everything feel alright again. You still had lingering resentment at John and you probably would for a while- and every time you thought about it. But Johnny had made some good points- sincere points. Besides you had pulled a similar stunt with Simon not too long ago, and he managed to forgive you. You rested your head against Johnny’s shoulder, letting your body weight fall against him. You just needed some sleep.

You had woken up to a knock at your door. You were by yourself, but you could still feel the warmth of Johnny against the sheets.

“Come in,” you groaned. You needed water. It was John, carrying a takeout container of food. It was too dark for you to make out too much of him, yet you could feel the emotion dripping off of him.

“You need to eat,” He said softly. He flicked your desk light on. His beard was unkempt from him running his fingers through it. His eyes were so red and puffy, you were sure it was agonizing to blink. It hurt you to see him that way- yet you looked no better. His hand darted out, a natural instinct to guide you to your chair. You dodged away from him, sitting down yourself. He sighed, slowly sitting down on the edge of your bed. You remained silent. You didn't want to eat the food he had brought you- you didn't want to give him the satisfaction of taking care of you (like he always had), but you were starved, not having eaten since this morning. He remained quiet as you scarfed down your meal, his fingers picking at the calluses on his palms.

You closed it up, taking a few gulps of the water he had brought. You flicked the light back off beginning to get back into bed, until he grabbed you. You squirmed against him mumbling a few ‘let me go’s.’ He paid no mind holding you against his chest, his legs trapping you between them.

He buried his face in your neck, his grip on your constricting.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, making you halt. He sounded so small. He was no longer the booming alpha whose mere presence offered your protection and stability. Now he was afraid. Afraid that you didn't want him anymore. Afraid that you didn't want to be here. Afraid that you had regretted what had happened between the two of you. “I can't have you despise me, sweetheart. I just can't,” he whispered. Since you've joined he’s been discovering new things about himself every day. He was quicker to fall in love than he thought. He could be a good alpha to an omega. He was also weaker than he thought. If you had told him four months ago a little omega he was still getting to know could bring him to his knees so quickly he would’ve told you to fuck off.

His sad scent was seeping into you, softening the chilled edges of your heart. He was regretful, you could tell. You relaxed into him causing him a sigh of relief. “I love you,” he murmured. You didn't say it back and he didn't expect you to. “So much,” he continued.

“You didn't mean it, John,” you replied softly, your hand resting against his back. You may have forgiven, but you weren't going to forget so easily. He could tell by your tone. You could get in your head so easily. He supposed he could too. He pressed a kiss against your cheek, finally letting you go. You remained against him for a moment, before pulling away. He stayed solemn as he grabbed the containers off your desk, heading back towards the door. He paused by the door, resisting the urge to beg you to let him stay. To let him curl himself around you and make everything better. He settled for a quiet ‘goodnight’ the door shutting behind him.

He wasn't sure how you'd take the information. He couldn't imagine you’d be happy- he prayed you wouldn't be. That would be the ultimate jab.

“Sweetheart,” He greeted. You looked up from your phone, offering him a small smile. Things had been awkward between the two of you- not that you had had much contact since last night.

“We have a new assignment. Me and Kyle leave in two hours,” He explained. When your face fell he was relieved. What if you were just sad for Kyle? He chewed back the thought.

“How long will you be gone?” You questioned.

“Shouldn't be more than a week. It’s a fairly easy one,” he sighed. It was silent for a moment. You leaned forward, wrapping your arms around his broad shoulders.

“I’ll miss you,” you breathed. You started to pull away but he held you there. He just needed a moment longer.

When you saw Kyle you nearly tackled him over, your face smushing against his. He tried not to take it personally. You were still hurt. Feeling like you were second best and unwanted. He had to understand that. He was trying to understand that. Hopefully, his being gone will soften you.

“Come on pups, time for your walks,” Simon spoke, grabbing a pack of cigarettes off the counter and his mask. Vernie had learned that whenever Simon grabbed his cigarettes it was time for a walk. She wormed her way out of your lap, bounding over to the door. Simon attached her leash holding it out for you. It was dark out. The night sky making you think of your first kiss- then John.

You three walked along a walking path, Simon making sure to put himself between you and groups of jogging soldiers.

“Simon?” you asked. He grunted in response.

“How did you get over me not putting you down as my alpha? That must've felt like a rejection,” you questioned. While they weren't entirely in the same situation, you felt maybe Simon could offer you some advice.

“It did,” he replied bluntly. “But then I realized I hadn't been acting too alpha-ish to you. Then you heard me say all that bullshit that night so I didn't have any room to be upset at you anymore,” he explained, guiding you off to the side. He pulled out his cigarettes, rolling his mask up to his nose. You bit back a giggle. “I’m still surprised you weren't more upset about it,” he sighed. “At least not that you've shown.”

You would still think about his words- less and less over the past few weeks. You don't know why but they didn't burn you as much as John's actions had. Maybe it was because your feelings were stronger for John? Or maybe it was because you knew deep down Simon didn't mean it. But John's actions had confirmed a belief you had about not being good enough. You gasped softly. That was it.

“Confirmation bias,” you gasped. Simon narrowed his eyes at you. “John didn't think I was good enough to be in the pack- and I had already felt that way. That's why it still hurts so bad,” you explained your thought process.

“You need to get that out of your head,” Simon spoke. “It wasn't like we all sat around and discussed every omega and came to the conclusion someone was a better fit than another. The old man probably didn't even have his glasses on when he was skimming through the profiles,” Simon huffed. He knew his Captain. Every decision he made was well thought out and concise. If he had really wanted to pick an omega he would’ve interviewed each of you himself, made you fill out a ten-page survey, and discuss it with each member of the pack individually. Also, Laswell had sent the papers electronically, he had just printed off a copy to mess with. Probably after a rough mission and one too many whiskeys. The rest of your sentence finally hit him. “What do you mean not good enough?”

“Well, I mean you know,” you started, shrugging.

“No, I don't bloody know. That's why I'm asking,” he shot back.

“Kate has always said what an indispensable and vital pack you are. That's all anyone here talks about. Omegas come up to me all the time and ask what it's like to be a part of this pack, or how I got into this pack. Nobody believes I got in by just being myself,” you explained.

“They don't know you then,” he snapped. “Then they'd be askin’ why we were daft enough to go so long without you,” he pressed the rest of his cigarette out, grabbing another from the pack.

“Simon?”

“Yes, pup,” he sighed.

“Kiss me?”

He paused the cigarette still hanging between his lips, the flame just a few centimeters away. “What?” he asked out of the corner of his mouth.

“Please?” you breathed. Your hands reached out gripping the front of his jacket. His heart hammered in his chest, your eyes staring up at him wide and wanting. His hands covered yours, not making any move to push them off. He couldn't break himself away, his eyes holding yours as his head lowered. He stopped right in front of you, his lips brushing against yours. You stared back equally enthralled. You closed the distance, your eyes fluttering shut, as you pressed your mouth against his. He reciprocated instantly, pushing his head forward to deepen this kiss. Your hands moved up to hold his jaw and he quickly grabbed the leash from you not wanting it to get in the way of you touching him. Your hands cupped his face, pulling him impossibly closer, gasping when his teeth nipped your bottom lip. He smirked against you and you had half a mind to pull away as punishment until he backed you against a tree. You gasped his name, making him groan against you, his hands digging into the fabric around your hips.

He hoisted you up, his neck already growing sore. His kisses were exactly like your relationship with him. Starting off sweet, then a battle of teeth and tongue, then back to sweet before you could decide which one you liked best. You pulled away with a deep inhale, your lungs burning from forgetting to breathe. He ‘tsked’ softly, pressing kisses against your jaw.

“Don’t know how he didn't mark you, sweet girl. I'd be sinking my jaws into you the moment you’re under me,” he mumbled, his teeth nipping against your neck in emphasis. You moaned quietly, making him smile. He pressed one last kiss against your neck, setting you back down on wobbly feet. “Don’t look at me like that, pup. We’re in public,” he reprimanded playfully, handing you back Vernie’s leash. “Besides I’m not done playing hard to get,” he chuckled. Your phone buzzed in your pocket making you jolt. You pulled it out, seeing John’s number, pressing the red button before you really thought about it.

“The fuck was that?” he growled. “Call him back,” he urged. You quickly did as you were told, not quite sure why you had done that in the first place.

He answered immediately.

“I’m sorry,” you apologized quickly.

“S’alright. Just figured you weren't in the mood to talk, pretty,” he cleared his throat. You wondered how much he had hurt in those seconds you denied his call. “Just wanted to let you know me and Kyle are where we’re supposed to be.” he explained.

“Good. Good,” you replied softly. You were quiet for a moment. “John, I love you. You know that right?” you breathed. You heard him inhale sharply on the other line, before clearing his throat again. You could feel yours constrict as well.

“Thank you, sweetheart.” He breathed back. He needed that. He needed to know you weren't back home stewing at him. “I love you and I’ll talk to you soon, yeah?”

“I’ll be waiting,” you responded, your eyes blurring at the tightness in his voice. “Bye.”

“Bye, pretty girl.”

You buried your face in Simon’s chest, wrapping your arms around him as you cried lowly. You wished John was back, so you could curl up in his arms again. You wished you hadn't given him the cold shoulder before he left. What if something happened while he was away and your last physical interaction was you worming your way out of a hug? His hug.

“Easy, pup,” Simon soothed. His hands smoothing over your back. He wanted to scold you for not answering the first time. He could only imagine how John was feeling after being shipped away while not on the best terms with you. It was hard enough when you were on good terms. “Need a cigarette?” Simon questioned making you chuckle after your crying had slowed. You shook your head softly. He kept an arm around you, beginning the trek back home. “Don’t worry about it, pup. You've got a lot on your mind. Sometimes people do things without meaning harmful intent,” he soothed. You caught the double meaning of his words, and you pressed yourself closer.

“Simon. What would happen if something were to happen to you out there and you couldn't be sent back to base?”

He sucked in air through his teeth.

“Well we would get to the safest spot we could and try to be fixed up enough to be sent back here,” he explained.

“What if you couldn't though? Be sent back here?” you pressed.

“What would you want to happen?” he questioned. He didn't want to put ideas out there you weren't comfortable with. The easiest way to get the answer you wanted was by making you say it yourself.

“I’d want to be sent to where you were. No matter where it is or how dangerous it is. I'd want to be with you,” you nearly demanded.

“That's why you were paired with us, pup,” Simon smirked. “You’re just as brave and stupid as the rest of us.”

Hi friends! See you in three days for chapter 26! 🧡

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shuenkio · 3 months ago

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Rewrite the stars | PJ.s 🍂

Paring: Jay x Male!reader | Genre: Angst but fluff.

Synopsis: the man who once broke your heart, decided that he will make a change between you and him, to form the love once again.

Cw: nothing just two exes getting back together.

Non proof read | Eng is not my 1st lang.

This is a work of fanfiction, do not throw unnecessary tantrums on this nsfw/sfw blog. ©Shuenkio

A-N: This was way back in June so it's a bit 🤏 cringe and many dramatic scene you'd discover, again I'm still develop how to express character emotion:> .

Years of dating with Jay crumbled in a blink of an eye when m/n saw him with a girl on a date with his gift that m/n gave him during his birthday. M/N calmed down, trying to process what's truly happening. We can't judge a book by its cover, but the moment M/N saw Jay press a soft kiss on the girl's cheek, it's over.

There's no explanation for this. M/N's tears break down unconditionally; he wants to go there and scream at Jay's face and ask why he would do such a thing to his boyfriend here. That's the ugliest memory you had of him. Nevertheless, since I love him very much, he can't seem to let him go.

Not because of his wealthy status; it's because he loves him so much from the bottom of his heart that he swears he would do anything for Jay. However, Jay had asked M/N to break up with him, and with no more heart in those eyes that once used to be, the adorable expression he made just for you when he talked about his day is no longer in this broken relationship.

Begging for him to stay would just make you pathetic and blinded by love. When m/n has decided he has to let him go, the person who's once been the love of his life is now leaving for their own good. Are all of the memories and promises nothing to Jay? The question seemed unspoken without an answer, clenching in his chest painfully in sorrow, along with the hurtful words that haunted your sleep every single day.

"Let's break up"

—5 years later, after M/n graduated and found his true passion with his dream job. He was no longer stressing about nonsense; he got everything at the age of 25: money, a car, a house, importantly, a job. chapter of his life wherein he can get whatever he wishes for. I worked as a designer, making tons of exquisite and high-quality collections of luxurious clothes and dresses that hit the market every single time they were launched.

His name soon became the hot topic in society; not only did he walk with the trend, he was also loved by everyone with his relatability and kindness. Moreover, during the week, while he was spending his time at the spa, M/N got a call from his manager saying that there'll be a new member of a top-tier design team who wishes to work with you, especially as one of the co-workers. This was not new, nor is it difficult to handle, but what was coming for you was a blind spot.

The time has come; M/N is now in a meeting room, waiting for the new guy who is eager to work with him so much. He wonders who it could be, as a top-tier designer in this city will make an appearance in front of you at any moment soon. The glass door was opened by a pair of hands, and his manager came in with the taller man behind in his black suit. Everyone in the room stood up as a sign of respect except M/N.

He was so lost in thought at the new face behind his manager. He is quite familiar. M/N refuses to care if he's scolded by the supervisor, yet who cares? The whole group settled down in their own seats, and due to M/N sitting across from the table, he began to focus on the meeting instead of giving his attention to that guy.

"Everybody, Meet Jay Park! He will be working with us from now on, as a designer, of course, just like our gem, M/N. Haha, and it looks like this gentleman is here. I look forward to working with you. How do you like that m/n? " It was horrible the unrequited attention on you was your least favorite thing you thought would never happen; the uncomfortable shift in your seat explained everything.

"Very well, Mr. Park. So then, since I've already seen him, I'll take my leave. Please excuse�� me." Once m/n knew who he was, he spared no time before leaving the place immediately. A glance on Jay's face, flashing back all of those nightmares once again. I don't know if it's because of work or something else, but deep down, a part of him said Jay is probably planning to take you back. How annoying.

Ever since the first meeting, of working together with your ex, M/N got nothing but troubling. Whenever Jay had time alone with M/N, he would always bring up the past topic all over again. He was truly sorry for his actions—for hurting you and for cheating on you with another girl. Jay swears he would wear his skin to the bone just for you to accept him once again.

However, it was such a bad move. Due to how much popularity M/N had, there's some reason you thought he would come back for you just because you had fame. Along with the sudden request to get back together, what will happen if he's going to cheat and repeat all the events once again? A busy day ended with the finished touch of your creation. M/N didn't know how long he had been standing here in the studio. All the sections are in pitch black except him. Employees have all gone back to their own homes. Prepared for you stuff to head home after a long day, a fade of voice fills the room from behind. Well, it was loud and clear to recognize.

"M/n i... Aren't you supposed to go home yet?" He paused, dipping his hands into his pocket.

"I'm about to. It's getting late; you should too," m/n implied with no enthusiasm for a small talk.

"Look, um, I know it's hard for you, but please hear me out." Jay's words seem so desperate; the low tone in his voice gives me chills. From the head to the bottom, not gonna lie, it's true he's a total mess. The bags under those eyes were visible on his face, and the lip was dry like he hadn't drunk any water. Is he going to make you pity him? No? At least you give him a chance to talk.

"If you talk about our relationship again, you should stop. I have nothing for those past memories."

"I’m so sorry... I never should have hurt you. I'd let you go. But every day without you is like living in a world with no sun—cold, empty, and endless. I was wrong to think I could burn on my own and that I didn’t need you. Without you, I’m just ashes. Please, I can’t keep pretending I’m okay. I’m losing pieces of myself every day. Give us another chance—I need you more than words can say" He whispered, his voice thick with regret. His hands trembled as he reached out, but he hesitated. Still respect your boundaries and keep the space between them. M/N stood there, stunned.

His chest tightened, and he could feel the lump forming in his throat, making it impossible to speak. Memories flashed through his mind—the laughter, the nights spent together, all the moments they shared. Tears began to well up in his eyes, blurring his vision. He tried to hold them back, but they spilled over, one after the other. His hands shook, and he felt completely lost, unable to do anything but let the tears fall.

Unable to hide his own weakness, he covers his own face with the pair of his palms, breaking down on the spot as his knees feel weaker than ever. Why should you cry over someone who once broke your heart, someone who left you in the middle of the ocean with no shore at all yet? Till today, he was crawling back, begging for forgiveness, swearing he'd never done it ever again.

Isn't that two times more painful than before? Should you accept him back or not? Or are you scared of getting stabbed again? His heart sank as M/N started crying. Seeing him so broken made Jay's chest tighten with guilt and sadness. Jay can't contain himself to stand while watching you in this state; he was the one who caused this after all.

Unexpectedly, you were surprised to see him wrap his hand around you before pulling you into a tight hug. Listening to your sobbing was enough for him to bury himself alive in the graveyard. He wanted to wash all his sins away for having wounded you; if he could go back in time, he'd sacrifice anything just to keep you close

once again.

"Let's rewrite our story hm ? I'll be a better man from now on. I promise there'll be fewer tears in your eyes, pretty. I'll love you till the day that i die "

🗣️ Reblog and like is much appreciated ♥

🗣️ please mind my English! ><

🗣️ dividers: Thecutestgrotto and crd to all the pic owner..

Thanks for this pookie 😽❤️ IWALY!!!!

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diorsluv · 10 months ago

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feather , part 25

“ not caring where you are tonight ”

series m. list previous chapter next chapter

( socialmedia!au )

lhughes_06

liked by yourusername, trevorzegras, rutgermcgroarty, and 99,376 others

lhughes_06 i got you blocked after this, an afterthought 🎶

tagged: yourusername

view all comments

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→ lhughes_06 yes you have

username24 the way luke is so blatantly professing his love

username48 i was a dryshughes supporter from the start 💪💪

trevorzegras atta boy

liked by lhughes_06

_quinnhughes fucking finally

→ lhughes_06 be quiet

dylanduke25 only took you 100,000,000, years

→ lhughes_06 did not

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→ lhughes_06 liar

→ dylanduke25 truther

username38 oh so is that other girl finally gone

username79 y’all when i tell you i have the DRAMA

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→ rutgermcgroarty 🍏🍎🍐🍉🍇🍊🍓🍋🫐

mackie.samo did my pep talks finally get to you

→ lhughes_06 barely even pep talks but whatever helps you sleep at night

edwards.73 did bro finally do what i think he did

→ markestapa just found out he didn’t what a pussy

→ lhughes_06 I WILL I WILL just not rn 😔

jackhughes moosey grew some balls did he?

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jamie.drysdale yeah you better have blocked her

liked by lhughes_06

→ username66 protective jamie 🥹🥹

_alexturcotte AYEEE LUKEY BOY

adamfantilli YO????

username14 ITS FINALLY HAPPENING EVERYONE STAY CALM EVERYONE STAY FUCKING CALM

yourusername

liked by colecaufield, luca.fantilli, edwards.73, and 94,018 others

yourusername ridin in a getaway car 🚇

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trevorzegras is that not a fucking subway emoji in the caption of a post quoting our lord and savior taylor swift except the post is also in a FUCKING SUBWAY STATION

→ yourusername did not think this would evoke so much emotion from you trev

→ trevorzegras you used getaway car but it’s practically a damn train.

→ yourusername IM SORRYYY

→ jackhughes the paragraph…

luca.fantilli the yankees hat.

→ yourusername what r u gonna do abt it 🤨

→ luca.fantilli dont play w me 😒😒😒

_quinnhughes is that where u two went

→ username76 “u two” WHO

→ colecaufield was it a date 😱

→ yourusername it was not a date 🙅‍♀️🙅‍♀️

username71 oh my god is this what love feels like

→ username43 ask luke he can confirm (probably)

username9 body goals ahhhhh

markestapa stay safe on subways bc there’s a criminal minds episode where someone got killed in a subway station

→ yourusername bro that was like season 3??? it literally came out when we were KIDS

→ markestapa IT WAS A TERRORIST GROUP

→ yourusername oh my god you’re insane

→ markestapa if you die in a subway station just know i was right

jamie.drysdale who bought that drink bc ik it wasn’t u

→ yourusername how do u know

→ jamie.drysdale i can still see your credit card history

→ yourusername STOP.

→ lhughes_06 i bought it

→ jamie.drysdale such a gentleman lukey boy

rutgermcgroarty i do not understand your obsession with green-colored drinks

→ yourusername this is a judgement free zone

→ rutgermcgroarty ✌️🤙✊

lhughes_06 solid pics

→ yourusername appreciate the compliment that was definitely meant for me

→ lhughes_06 but i mean that photographer just seems to be super talented

→ yourusername mhm!

→ lhughes_06 and super cute too

→ yourusername oh!! well!!!

→ lhughes_06 just overall a great person

→ yourusername ofc ofc!!!!

→ markestapa goddamn just say you’re fucking

username26 mother is mothering

username19 WHERE IS THE TOTE BAG FROMMM

username57 the outfit is so good!!

username65 i swear luke is putting his heart out on the line ready to risk it ALL

→ username31 i meannn i would do it too

edwards.73 you’re either real fuckin oblivious or real fuckin evil

→ yourusername maybe a little bit of both 🤫

dylanduke25 i swear to god if neither of you make a move i will do it for you

→ yourusername aw you’re no fun duker

→ dylanduke25 you’re killing me here

_alexturcotte i’m so damn invested in this relationship i’ve spent literal dollars on you two

→ yourusername LMAOOO

→ yourusername it’s okay tho ur rich

→ _alexturcotte is that all u see me as 😐

→ yourusername my rich, loving, amazing, kind, generous, honorary brother 🤗🤗

→ _alexturcotte there we go

→ jamie.drysdale i feel like i’m being disowned and replaced here 😕

next chapter notes ) i’m really milking it here w the luke being a simp but it’s okay because we love that do we not?? BUT THEY’RE NOT DATING YET and that last jamie reply.. i just realized that’s basically what just happened with the trade but uh! it’s okay bc he’s happy fairly short chap but i hope you enjoy it all the same

tags: @aliaology @hockeyboysarehot @absolutelyhugh3s @jackquinnswife @freds-slut @love4ldr @blueeyedbesson @43hughes @v1olentdelights @dancerbailey3 @random-human02 @ho3forfakeguys@loveforaugust

#luke hughes fanfic #luke hughes fic #luke hughes x reader #luke hughes x y/n #luke hughes #quinn hughes #jack hughes #alex turcotte #jamie drysdale #adam fantilli #cole caufield #trevor zegras #luca fantilli #ethan edwards #mark estapa #rutger mcgroarty #dylan duke #mackie samoskevich

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lemon-natalia · 4 months ago

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Nona the Ninth Reaction - Chapter 25

Pyrrha really is committed to mentioning that she found Gideon’s mother attractive in every conversation that she has with her, i admire the dedication

haha what the fuck is this. Kiriona Gaia Her Divine Highness

MUMFUCKER PRIME ngl the bad jokes are mostly the only reason i’m pretty sure this is actually Gideon and not some doppelganger. idk whether its all the trauma she’s built up over the last two books or just having to be in the general proximity of Ianthe and John for an extended period of time, but something is up with this gal

'Judith Deuteros for some reason’ i relate to this on a fundamental level given i genuinely didn’t realise that Judith was here until this moment

as much as it pains me that two of my favourite characters immediately Do Not Vibe with eachother, Gid being a dick to Nona makes sense given Nona is currently occupying the body of the person Gideon cares the most about in the world, who is themselves god-only-knows-where rn. props to Tamsyn Muir for making the bold creative choice to have her protagonists all just fucking loathe each other at some point

okay there is no way in hell that Gideon actually wants to go back to the ninth for nostalgia. unless it's nostalgia for dunking on Crux

‘it was not a very friendly smile [...] there was something a little bit hungry about it’ haha what the fuck. really said let’s dial up the ‘came back wrong’ trope to eleven here. what in the Jason Todd is this

well miss ‘I am the Emperor’s construct’ has come a long way since ‘Go to hell Pops’, this was NOT what i meant when i said i wanted more of Gideon and John interacting this book 😭😭

tamsyn muir really said ‘oh you want Gideon back? i’m going to give you what you want in the most painful way possible’ huh. this is uh somehow worse than her dying actually :)

Gideon actually knowing anything about necromancy is the most disturbing part of all of this. what happened Gid i thought you and me were on a team of this ‘necromancy is confusing as all hell’ thing. can’t believe you’d betray me like this smh

also given we last saw Gid finding out she was born as a ‘bomb’ to open the tomb, and how much she hated everything about the Ninth other than Harrow, i am very concerned about why she suddenly wants to come with to open the Tomb

the saddest girl in the whole world is Gideon??? GIDEON?? the presence of Noodle in this book lulled me into a false sense of security so that i forgot just how much this series loves breaking my heart over and over again

i know everyone already knows from the broadcast (and possibly before if Pyrrha told them) but i do wonder how Corona, and Pal & Cam etc. reacted to finding out Gideon was God’s daughter. imagine having to deal with the revelation that the deity you are becoming increasingly disillusioned with has a kid that spent much of the time you knew her making terrible sex jokes

#lemon natalia reads the locked tomb #tlt #the locked tomb #the locked tomb liveblog #nona the ninth

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anim-ttrpgs · 7 months ago

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youtube

An absolutely incredible review of the beta version of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy by review Willy Muffin on youtube, complete with visuals and actual analysis!

I'm going to also add to this post a comment that I left on the video, offering further insight into the design intentions of the game, though the comment might not make as much sense if you haven't watched the video yet.

Hey, lead writer of Eureka here, first of all I wanna say how good and professional this review is, it’s almost indescribable how it feels to see our project taken so seriously and given real analysis, complete with visuals and everything! We would be super impressed and happy with it even if you didn’t like the game—but luckily it sounds like you loved it hahaha

I’d also like to address a few things throughout the video, not as arguments or rebuttals, just further developer insight for everyone

Re: “Urban Fantasy.” “Urban Fantasy” is basically just another term for “modern fantasy”, just a fantasy story that takes place in the 20th or 21st century and deals with the intersection of contemporary life with the supernatural, and it might be an Americanism, or even a Southern-ism, since it has a lot of connections and origins in the living folklore of New Orleans, so I shouldn’t be surprised it isn’t a term everyone is familiar with. Just think of it as the kind of genre where instead of the vampire living in a secluded scary castle, his name is Phil and he’s your roommate haha. What We Do in the Shadows, Shadowrun, and the World of Darkness games are all some other good examples of “urban fantasy.”

Re: Scooby-Doo. Oh we would LOVE for you to run a Scooby-Doo-like wacky mystery with Eureka. Even though the main tone is dark and gritty and noir, we did intentionally build it so that it could run more lighthearted stuff as well! There’s even a few Scooby-Doo references to be found throughout the text, and if we hit a certain stretch goal on the Kickstarter, we’re going to be adding a bunch of Scooby-gang-inspired traits, including the option to play a Talking Dog!

Re: Combat being the largest section, even larger than Investigation. First of all, that’s kind of an illusion that is the result of the game being unfinished. I have a tendency when I write rules to use really long sentences, overexplain things, repeat myself, etc, and that dramatically bloats the rules text and page count, but that’s why we have an editor! She goes through after the fact and trims most of the fat off my bloated writing style to make it flow smoother and read faster, and take up less space. The PDF that was read for this review has had the Investigation chapter copy-edited (and cut down in size by about 25%!), but the editor hasn’t gotten to the combat chapters yet, so they still have a hugely inflated page count. When she’s done with them, you can expect each combat chapter to also be cut down in size by about 25%, so they won’t be nearly so large a chunk of the book.

Secondly, I’ll explain our reasoning for why the combat chapters and advanced combat rules are such a big chunk of the rules text, it’s intentional design which I will now explain. If anyone still doesn’t agree with that design, that’s fair, and that’s why we made the Basic Combat Rules an option.

The reason that the advanced combat rules are the default, and the reason they exist at all, is because it incentivizes and rewards Investigation. If combat is super deadly, it makes Investigation, snooping, and spying more appealing than kicking down the door and getting your head blown off. But of combat is super deadly, it also needs to be very deep and tactical, because if it’s deadly but shallow, then there’s no player agency. “Combat starts, roll some dice, okay your guy is dead.” That’s no fun. So by adding rules and modifiers for cover/elevation, distance, the difference between a pistol and an assault rifle, etc. we make it so that not only is combat its own high-stakes puzzle, but make it so that when the PCs HAVE to engage in combat, all their investigation can really pay off and save their lives. Spying on a building to find out the number of goons stationed there and how they are armed helps you plan and assess risk, stealing the blueprints to the building helps you know how to get the drop on the goons, and know the best places to attack from so that they are stuck out in the open and you are not, etc. and having rules for those things means that all the PCs’ snooping and planning makes a real mechanical difference in whether they live or die.

That’s just my opinion though, and one of the biggest reasons WHY we decided to write the combat with as much depth as we did.

Anyway, thank you again for this review and analysis of our project, our Kickstarter jumped up by about ten more backers in the evening when this video went up after several days of no new backers, and we have to assume we have this video, and all of you watching and reading this, to thank. You’re really making our dreams come true. :)

Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy is kickstarting from right now until May 10th! Back it while you still can!

youtube

If you want to try before you buy, you can download a free demo of the prerelease version from our website or our itch.io page!

If you’re interested in a more updated and improved version of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy than the free demo you got from our website, subscribe to our Patreon where we frequently roll our new updates for the prerelease version!

You can also support us on Ko-fi, or by checking out our merchandise!

Join our TTRPG Book Club At the time of writng this, Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy is the current game being played in the book club, and anyone who wants to participate in discussion, but can’t afford to make a contribution, will be given the most updated prerelease version for free! Plus it’s just a great place to discuss and play new TTRPGs you might not be able to otherwise!

We hope to see you there, and that you will help our dreams come true and launch our careers as indie TTRPG developers with a bang by getting us to our base goal and blowing those stretch goals out of the water, and fight back against WotC's monopoly on the entire hobby. Wish us luck.

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differentpostrebel · 2 months ago

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Lost and Found: A Pirate's Promise

Chapter 24: Into Enemy Territory

The first gif cause our love sick cook, was wild in Dressrosa.

This second gif, is because once you read what I have in store, it'll all make sense (heheh) also cause Sabo is fine too LMFAOO

A/N: Yall this chapter has so much involved! We got betrayal, drama, passion, everything dressrosa has to offer. And we also have a Sanji POV, and a surprise guest, you wont believe who it is. Don't worry we will be getting more flashbacks as well, once you see who is the surprise guest, as Y/N and him have a history together. Thank you guys so much for following along with the chapters, I will go back to link previous one. Thank you for the likes and reblogs, as well as interactions and follows. Chapter 25 is about to be good! and chapters 26 and 27.... ohh they cooking! again all is fair in love and war ;) And without further a do lets get to it!

Word Count: 5.3K

Sanji X Reader, Sanji X Y/N, One Piece Reader.

Y/N POV…

As we walked into the island of Dressrosa, the whole place came to life. The vibrant atmosphere was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. The streets were filled with the smell of delicious meals, and everywhere you looked, people were dancing. It felt like stepping into a dream.

“This place looks enchanting,” I said in awe, taking in the lively sights around us.

“Mmmm, smells good!” Franky exclaimed, his eyes gleaming as he sniffed the air. Luffy, Kinemon, and Sanji shared the same excitement, practically drooling as they took in the enticing aromas.

Zoro and I exchanged amused smirks at their reactions.

But what truly startled me was the sight of the dolls walking among the crowds as if they were human. They were everywhere, blending in so seamlessly that I almost didn’t notice at first.

“What... are those?” I asked, narrowing my eyes as one passed by, its wooden face unnervingly lifelike.

"Living toys?" Zoro muttered, frowning. "Weird place."

“I don’t trust this,” I whispered, stepping closer to him.

“Neither do I,” he replied, his eyes scanning the crowd, always on guard.Everywhere you looked, toys moved about like ordinary citizens, their wooden or mechanical bodies blending in with the bustling activity. Just then, a shout broke through the noise of the town.

"It’s happened again!" A toy frantically called for attention, its mechanical arms waving in alarm. "A man’s been stabbed again!"

“Again? You guys got a maniac on the loose or something?” Zoro asked, raising an eyebrow at the situation.

The toy in front of us shook its head, explaining in an oddly casual tone, “No, it’s just very passionate women, and they’re the jealous type, you know? So if their lover cheats on them… bad stuff happens.”

Zoro frowned in confusion, while the toy continued, “It’s always the pretty ones who are especially stabby.”

I slapped my forehead, muttering, “Great, just what I needed—jealous, stab-happy women.”

Luffy, unfazed as usual, crossed his arms and sighed dramatically, “Great, the toys are alive. I’m over it now! Come on, let’s eat!” he yelled excitedly, already marching off in search of food.

Kinemon then proceeded to conjure up our disguises. The men were dressed in sharp suits, blending into the refined crowd of Dressrosa. When it came to my outfit, however, I was left in a sleek yet revealing black mini dress. It had a high neck, but the back was open all the way down to my lower back. I wore tall black heels to match, and my weapons were discreetly strapped to a thigh holster, just barely noticeable under the short hem of the dress. My hair was pulled into a tight bun, with a few loose strands framing my face.

"Kinemon!" I protested, crossing my arms. "Why am I the most exposed here?"

Sanji, predictably, was in heaven. "You’re stunning, Y/N! Absolutely stunning!" he gushed, his eyes practically heart-shaped.

I shook my head, rolling my eyes, but then caught sight of Zoro, who was dressed in a sharp suit. I raised an eyebrow, unable to resist teasing him. "Wow, Zoro. I never thought I'd see you looking this... refined."

Zoro shot me a smirk, his eyes roaming over my outfit for a second. “I could say the same for you,” he said with a low chuckle. Then, leaning closer, he whispered just loud enough for me to hear, “That favor I’ve got coming... maybe now’s the perfect time to cash it in.”

My cheeks warmed at his flirtation, but before I could respond, Sanji burst into a fit. “Mosshead! Don’t you dare try anything with Y/N! She deserves better than some brainless swordsman like you!”

Zoro gave him a deadpan look, completely unfazed. “Yeah, well, I wasn’t asking for your opinion, curly-brow.”

The two started bickering again, as usual, but I couldn’t help but laugh at their antics. With that, we continued onward, Luffy already well ahead, practically drooling as he tracked down the scent of food like a hound on a mission.

As we sat at the table, food piled high in front of us, Luffy wasted no time stuffing his face, oblivious to everything except the delicious dishes in front of him. The rest of us, however, were more cautious, scanning the room for anything out of the ordinary.

“I must search for Kanjuro. There's no time to be sitting and eating, Sir Luffy!" Kinemon insisted, fidgeting nervously.

"Relax, Kinemon," I said, taking a sip of water.

“Yeah, besides, we need to gather intel first," Franky chimed in.

As we were discussing our plan, I noticed a blind man playing at the roulette table across the room. He was winning, but the dealer began to cheat. Sanji, puffing on a cigarette, muttered, “They're nothing but low-life thugs."

“Poor guy's about to get robbed," I said, feeling a twinge of sympathy for the blind man.

Suddenly, Luffy stood up, wandering over to the table just as the dealer tried to trick the man again. The blind man had bet on white, and sure enough, the ball landed on white. But the dealer, with a sly grin, claimed it was black.

“It landed on white, congrats gramps," Luffy said, casually continuing to eat from his plate, completely ignoring the tension building around him.

The dealer's face darkened with anger. "No, it's black," he snapped.

Luffy, unfazed, simply repeated, “Nope. It's white.”

A few bystanders whispered to each other, clearly recognizing the dealer's connections. "Doesn't he know who they work for?" one of them muttered.

"Looks like Luffy got himself involved again," Sanji sighed, shaking his head.

“Yup,” I replied, just as a waiter suddenly placed a glass of wine in front of me.

Startled, I looked up. “I didn’t order any wine,” I said.

The waiter smiled politely. “This one’s on the house,” he said, before walking away.

Zoro glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. “You gonna drink it?”

I grinned and replied, “You know I can’t turn down wine. But I'll share a little with you.”

I took a small sip, savoring the taste. “This is delicious,” I said, taking a few more sips.

Just then, the situation at the roulette table escalated. The dealers were about to strike Luffy, but before I could intervene, the blind man acted first. He unleashed a powerful attack that sent the thugs crashing through the floor, leaving a gaping hole in the ground.

“How the hell did he do that?!” Franky exclaimed, wide-eyed.

The blind man calmly made his way toward the exit as Luffy called out to him, asking for his name. But the man remained silent, disappearing into the night.

“This guy is no ordinary guy," I muttered, watching him leave.

Before we could fully process what had happened, Zoro suddenly looked down at his waist, panic flashing across his face. "One of my swords is missing... Shusui!" he growled. "How can I be so careless?!"

"It must’ve been the fairies," said a toy/waiter

“Fairies?!” I repeated, confused.

Zoro, without a word, bolted through the window, having spotted his sword stuck on a distant rooftop.

“You got cocky, now give it back!” Zoro shouted at the unseen culprit.

“Zoro!” I called after him, sprinting in his direction.

“Y/N, don’t follow mosshead!” Sanji yelled, chasing after us.

Kinemon joined the chase, shouting, “You will return that sword to its rightful owner!”

Luffy wanted to follow, but Franky grabbed him. One by one, we all took off after Zoro.

“Zoro, come back!” I yelled, struggling to keep up. "These heels aren't meant for gravel!" I cursed under my breath, running as fast as I could.

“Y/N! Get back here, leave mosshead alone!” Sanji hollered, still trailing behind.

Breathless, I finally had to slow down, glancing around and realizing I had lost Zoro. “Damn it, Zoro, where’d you go?!” I muttered to myself, scanning the area. There was no sign of Zoro. Or Sanji, for that matter.

“So much for staying close,” I sighed, gathering my bearings as I continued to search for them both.

The streets of Dressrosa were a maze, and it seemed like I was just running in circles. "Damn it!" I muttered under my breath. "At this rate, I’ll never be able to find them."

Just as I was about to stop and catch my breath, I heard a voice yell out, “Catch the girl! Don’t let her get away!” My heart jumped as I saw three men rapidly closing in on me.

“Crap, not good!” I gasped, my legs already in motion as I sprinted through the narrow streets. My mind raced for options, and I clenched my left hand, ready to use my ability for a boost to escape. But before I could act, a strong hand suddenly grabbed me, pulling me into the shadows of a nearby alley.

A gloved hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my panicked scream as the other hand gripped my waist, pressing me tightly against a firm chest. I struggled to break free, my instincts screaming to fight back, but a familiar voice whispered urgently in my ear, “Hush. Relax.”

The men chasing me ran past the alley, still shouting. “She vanished! Damn it, keep looking! The boss wants her!”

I stayed frozen for a moment, my mind still processing the sudden ambush.

“Phew, that was a close one, Princess,” the voice said again, calm and teasing. Just as I was about to use my right leg to send him flying, he swiftly dodged, his reflexes too fast.

“That anklet I gave you is coming in handy, I see,” he added with a smirk. The dim light of the alley revealed just enough of his face for me to recognize him.

Realization washed over me, my heart skipping a beat as I whispered in disbelief, “Sam?”

The figure before me grinned, his familiar presence both a surprise and a relief. What was he doing here?

Sanji POV…

“Damn it, Mosshead!” I growled, racing after him. “I told you to wait, damn it! Now’s not the time to wander off!” My voice echoed down the alley as I finally caught up to the green-haired swordsman.

Zoro turned to me with his usual nonchalant attitude. “Where’s Y/N?” I demanded, feeling the weight of her absence now that things were getting dicey.

“How should I know?” Zoro replied, shrugging as if it didn’t matter.

I clenched my fist, ready to punch some sense into him. “Damn it, Zoro! Now Y/N is more endangered thanks to you running off!”

The two of us immediately broke into our usual bickering, faces close, shouting back and forth.

Zoro scoffed. "If she’s in danger, it’s not because of me, Curly-brow.

“At least I’m not some lost swordsman who’s got no clue what’s happening half the time!”

“Better lost than chasing skirts every five seconds,” he grumbled.

I huffed, but before I could retort, something caught my eye. “Wait, what’s that?” I asked, noticing a crowd gathered just ahead.

“What, did you find the fairy?” Zoro asked, clearly uninterested.

“No… her,” I said, my eyes locking onto a woman getting ready to dance. Her movements were elegant and graceful, captivating the entire audience as she danced the flamenco, each step more mesmerizing than the last. For her grand finale, she tossed a rose into the air, and to my surprise, it landed right in my hand.

“She’s beautiful,” I said, staring dreamily at the rose and the woman, completely entranced by her grace.

Zoro rolled his eyes. “You forget how stab-happy these women are? A guy like you is going to wind up with holes all over.”

Still fawning over the woman, I barely heard Zoro’s warning. “Hmm, looks like you’re not lovesick for Y/N anymore, huh? Good, less competition for the rest of us,” Zoro added with a smirk.

That snapped me out of my trance. I turned toward him, fists clenched. “Oi, Mosshead, I’m still—” I started, but before I could finish, my gaze drifted back to the dancer as she winked at me. My heart fluttered.

“Oh, she can stab me as many times as she wants,” I muttered, clutching my chest, my mind clouded with affection. When I turned back, Zoro had already vanished. “Crap! He’s gone! That bastard gave me the slip!”

Frustrated, I marched forward, determined to find him, but my mind kept wandering. “Nothing but couples around here… it’s like they’re all trying to make me jealous or something.” I couldn’t help but picture Y/N in my thoughts again. What if I got a second chance with her? I imagined us strolling along the streets, her hand in mine, her head resting on my shoulder. What I wouldn’t give for just one more chance...

“Excuse me, sir?” a soft voice interrupted my thoughts. “Aren’t you the man I locked eyes with earlier?”

Startled, I looked up to see the dancer standing before me. “Wha—?!”

She stepped closer, her hands brushing against my chest. “Please, hold me in a romantic embrace,” she whispered, pressing herself against me, her lips suddenly sealing with mine before I could even process what was happening.

Soldiers nearby searched frantically. “Did you see where she went?!”

“No, looks like we lost her!” another soldier responded as they ran off in the opposite direction.

Her lips still on mine, I felt my body relax as I instinctively wrapped my arms around her hips. When she finally pulled away, she glanced around cautiously. “I think they’re gone now. Thank you, kind sir,” she said, preparing to step back.

But my grip tightened, refusing to let her go. “It’s okay… you can stay a little longer,” I said, hearts in my eyes as I felt the warmth of her touch linger. Blood trickled from my nose as I stared at her dreamily.

“Believe me, the pleasure was all mine,” I said, still completely smitten by the dancer. My nose continued to bleed as I stood there, heart pounding.

She tilted her head with a concerned look. “Are you alright? Did I bump my head into your nose, perhaps?”

“No, the impact I felt was the shock of meeting you,” I replied, the blood from my nose dribbling as my thoughts raced.

“But it must hurt,” the dancer purred, stepping closer.

“I’ve fallen off a cliff... into the abyss of love,” I said dramatically, clutching my chest as if my heart was on fire.

“Please, don’t say that,” she sighed dramatically, a sadness washing over her features. “I’ve already given up on love.”

Her words struck me, but before I could respond, she continued with a heavy heart. “Every man I’ve ever loved… they—” she began, but I quickly grabbed her wrist, eyes still swirling with hearts.

“Yes! They all died happy men!” I declared, completely entranced by her. My heart was blazing now, burning with the fire of passion I felt for this beautiful woman. “But those goons back there... why were they chasing you? Please, if there’s anything you need assistance with, just say the word!”

The dancer lowered her eyes and sighed deeply. “Those men... they are the police. There was a man, things between us went sour, and... so I stabbed him,” she admitted, her voice trembling.

My eyes widened in awe. “So, it’s true!” I said, eyes sparkling. “The women here are so passionate that they stab for love!” Giving her a thumbs-up, I added, “OK! I totally get it!”

“Wait!” she cried out, her voice breaking. Tears began to fill her eyes as she continued, “You must stop... I beg you not to indulge this wicked woman. I might just fall in love with you.”

Her words made my heart skip a beat. She’s already falling for me!

“I should have told you,” she continued, her voice softer now. “My name is Violet. If you don’t mind... could you escort me to the next town? And while we are there, there’s... a man I need you to kill.”

As she blushed, Violet grabbed my hands gently. Her eyes, so filled with emotion, sparkled under the dim light.

I barely heard the last part—my mind was too enchanted by her beauty, her presence, her everything. “Of course, Violet,” I whispered, completely under her spell. “Anything for you.”

To my dearest Nami and Robin... to my beloved Y/N... I pray that you have it in your heart to forgive this shameful man, for I may have found the one, I thought to myself, torn between memories and the woman at my side. Violet. Her presence drew me in like no other, and as we walked closer together, I couldn’t help but drape my arm around her shoulder, pulling her in gently.

"Think of me as your personal bodyguard," I said with a smirk, hoping to sound both charming and protective. We continued our walk until we arrived at a closed restaurant. I led the way inside, and as soon as I stepped into the kitchen, I noticed it was fully stocked with ingredients. Perfect, I thought.

Suddenly, the cooks appeared, looking baffled and defensive. “Why the hell are you here!?” one of them barked.

Without a second thought, I swiftly knocked them out. I didn’t have time for interruptions. My focus was solely on preparing a meal for Violet. I moved with purpose, gathering ingredients and beginning to cook with the finesse only I possessed. The sound of chopping vegetables and the sizzle of meat filled the air.

But then, through the haze of my focus, I faintly heard voices outside. Mosshead? Kin'emon? I paused for a moment, recognizing them. I chose to ignore it, continuing to work on the dish. My hands moved automatically, but my mind drifted to Y/N.

What would she think of all this? The thought gnawed at me. I wondered if Y/N would be upset seeing me so close to Violet. I could almost picture her face—disappointed, confused, hurt, maybe?

"What's going on?" Violet's soft voice snapped me back to reality.

"Oh, nothing!" I quickly replied, trying to mask the conflict brewing in my heart. I smiled at her as I continued prepping her meal, pouring all my care into every movement, yet my thoughts kept wandering back to Y/N. What have I gotten myself into?

Y/N POV…

I stood frozen, staring at Sam. My body wouldn't respond—shock had taken over. What is he doing here? I wondered, my thoughts racing. Could something have happened to King, John, and the others? Just as the silence began to feel unbearable, Sam broke through it with that familiar smirk.

"Well, princess, cat got your tongue? I never thought you'd be the silent type," he teased, his smile almost disarming.

Without thinking, I rushed towards him, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist. “Oh, Sam, I’ve missed you so much,” I murmured into his chest, nuzzling closer to the warmth I hadn’t realized I craved so badly. “I didn’t think I’d see you this soon either!”

He hugged me back, but something felt off—he was too quiet. That strange silence lingered, making me pull back slightly, looking up at his face. That’s when I noticed it.

“Wait, Sam... when did you get this scar?” I asked, reaching out slowly to touch the mark etched from his eye to his right cheek. His hair had also grown longer, much longer than I remembered. “And your hair... it’s grown a lot too,” I added softly, my fingers weaving through his strands.

Sam groaned in response to my touch, almost like he’d missed it as much as I had.

But before I could say more, he grabbed my wrist gently and led me inside a small, dimly lit home. Rose petals adorned the floor, and candles flickered along the walls, casting a soft glow. “Sam, whose house is this?” I asked, confused and slightly unsettled by the sudden change in atmosphere.

He stood with his back to me, his voice low and serious. “There’s something I need to tell you, princess.” He took off his hat, revealing his messy blond hair underneath. “I haven’t been entirely honest with you…”

“What... what are you talking about?” I stammered, a sinking feeling creeping into my chest. Slowly, I reached out to touch his shoulder, hoping to ground myself.

"My name... isn’t Sam. My real name is… Sabo," he said, turning to face me with an expression that was both earnest and heartbreaking.

“What?” My voice shook as I tried to comprehend what he was saying. “This isn’t funny, Sam. What are you talking about?”

“I know you have a lot of questions,” he said, stepping closer. "But I need you to know... those two years we spent together on that island, getting to know each other, all of that was real. The moments we shared, the things we did... those were real."

My breathing became shallow, the room spinning as I struggled to process the revelation. Sabo? I couldn’t think straight, and before I knew it, Sabo gently cupped my face in his hands, trying to steady my frantic breathing.

“Y/N, just breathe,” he said softly, but his voice felt distant as my vision blurred. The last thing I saw before everything faded into darkness was Sabo’s face—his eyes full of regret and something else I couldn’t place.

.As my vision cleared, groaning, I grabbed my head, trying to piece together what had just happened. “Wha... What happened?” I muttered, my thoughts still hazy.

“Well, I told you my real name, and you happened to faint,” came the voice next to me. My eyes widened as I turned to my left and saw Sabo lying beside me. Everything came rushing back in waves, the truth he’d revealed, the shock of it all.

Before I could fully react, I moved to get out of bed, but Sabo was quicker. With one hand, he grabbed both of my wrists, pinning them above my head. Instinctively, I kicked back, but he was already prepared. In a swift move, he straddled me, his weight holding me down.

"Now, Princess, you and I both know how well I know your moves," Sabo said with a calm smile, as if this was all some kind of game to him. He placed his free hand on my hip, rubbing small circles, his touch sending an unnerving shiver through me.

“Get off me!” I shouted, still struggling beneath him.

"Just hear me out, will you?" Sabo's voice softened, trying to coax me into listening.

“Why should I?” I shot back, anger rising in my chest. “You’ve lied to me for two years, and now you want to tell me the truth?!”

“You don’t understand, Y/N, I—” Sabo began, but I cut him off, headbutting him hard enough to make him loosen his grip. Seizing the opportunity, I tried to escape, but once again, Sabo grabbed my legs and dragged me back onto the bed with surprising ease.

“You’ve still got that feisty spirit, huh?” he chuckled, effortlessly pinning me down again. His blue eyes locked with mine, unwavering as he leaned closer. "I know you want to fight me right now, but just hear me out. After that, you can decide what you want to do."

His words hung in the air as he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek, then slowly trailing down to my neck. My body betrayed me, an involuntary moan escaping as he hit a sensitive spot.

Sabo smirked at my reaction. "I see you're still sensitive there." His tone was teasing, but his eyes held something deeper, something serious.

“What do you want, Sabo? Who the hell are you?” I asked breathlessly, still pinned under his weight.

“Well, are you going to relax so I can explain,” he teased, his face inches from mine, “or are you going to try and headbutt me again?”

His smile was both infuriating and disarming, and I could feel my resolve wavering as I debated whether to fight him or finally let him speak. Slowly, I began to relax, though my guard was still up. I looked at Sabo, narrowing my eyes. "Okay, fine! Talk!" I snapped, my voice betraying a mix of frustration and curiosity.

Sabo’s expression softened, relief briefly crossing his face before he began. “I’m the Chief of Staff for the Revolutionary Army. My boss is Dragon, who just so happens to be Luffy’s father, Your captain, Luffy happens to be my brother also.”

I felt my heart skip a beat at that. Luffy’s dad? What else had I missed? But Sabo kept going, gauging my reaction carefully.

“The reason I was on that island,” he continued, “was to gather intel for Dragon. I had to create that fake persona, Y/N, but you have to believe me—everything we shared, everything we did, that was real.” His voice trembled slightly, and I could see the weight of his words in his eyes.

“Why lie to me?” I whispered, my voice breaking as emotion started to well up. “Why did you pretend to be someone else?” Tears stung my eyes, the weight of the two years we had spent together crashing down on me. It felt like mourning someone I thought I knew—a person who didn’t even exist.

Sabo reached out and gently caressed my cheek, his touch soft but filled with regret. “I had no choice but to create that identity... But I swear, I never lied about how I felt. Everything between us was real.”

My breath hitched. “Is that why… you never came to send me off when my two years were done?” I asked, my voice cracking. His absence had haunted me, and now I knew why.

“Yes,” Sabo admitted, his gaze never leaving mine. “Once you left, I had to return to my mission. I couldn’t risk being exposed.”

He slowly released my wrists, sensing that I had calmed down, though he remained straddling me. My head throbbed with all the revelations, the betrayal, and the strange lingering affection I still felt. Before I could say anything, Sabo’s voice broke the silence.

“Do you hate me?” he asked quietly, his eyes filled with guilt.

I looked at him, my heart torn in so many directions. “I…” I paused, trying to gather my thoughts. “I don’t hate you, Sabo. I hate that you lied to me for two years… but I don’t hate you. I still see the same person I knew back then. And I still care about you.”

His expression softened, and without warning, he leaned down, pulling me into a tight hug. His face nuzzled into the crook of my neck, and the soft feel of his blond waves brushing against my skin made me giggle. “Sabo,” I laughed, the sound unintentional but welcome.

Sabo pulled back slightly, a mischievous grin spreading across his face before he kissed my neck again, his lips lingering. A soft moan escaped my lips, and I cursed my body for betraying me again.

“Sabo,” I gasped, the sound of his name slipping out before I could stop it.

His lips hovered near my ear, his breath hot against my skin. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you moan my name,” he whispered, his voice dripping with desire as he continued his attack on my neck, his kisses growing bolder.

I threaded my fingers through his hair, tugging slightly, causing a low groan to escape him. The sound sent a shiver down my spine.

I tugged at his hair again, feeling the heat between us rise, and Sabo let out another low groan, the sound vibrating through me. His lips found mine, soft at first but filled with something deeper, something he was trying to convey with every kiss. I pulled him closer, feeling the tension building, my body pressing against his as his hands moved expertly to unbutton his shirt. The fabric fell to the floor, revealing the toned muscles I had only imagined touching before. My hands roamed his chest and arms, exploring every inch of him as our lips locked in a passionate kiss.

A moan escaped me, and Sabo was the first to break away, both of us breathing heavily, our foreheads pressed together. My hands rested on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart under my fingertips. His voice was low, husky with desire. "You have no idea how long I’ve waited to kiss you again," he whispered, his breath ghosting over my lips before he leaned in to place a soft peck on them.

I couldn’t resist teasing him, a playful smirk forming on my lips. "Is that so?" I murmured, my fingers trailing down his chest with slow, deliberate movements, causing his muscles to tense under my touch. “You seem a bit eager, Sabo.”

His eyes darkened, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “Eager, huh? You think I can’t handle a little teasing?” His hand slid down to my waist, pulling me closer as his lips brushed against my ear. “You forget how well I know you.”

I bit my lip, stifling another moan as he nibbled at my earlobe. “Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think,” I whispered back, leaning in to kiss his neck, lingering just enough to make him groan again. My hands explored his back, feeling the tension in his muscles as I pressed soft kisses down his throat, each one a deliberate tease.

Sabo chuckled, his grip on my waist tightening. “Careful, princess,” he whispered, his voice dripping with that familiar mischievous tone. “You might regret teasing me like this.”

I smirked, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. “Maybe I’m counting on it.”

In a swift motion, he flipped us over, and I was straddling him, my back exposed through the open slit of my dress. His hands explored the bare skin on my back, sending a wave of heat through me.

Sabo pulled me closer, his lips finding my neck again. Each kiss was a tantalizing mix of affection and desire. “My brother is lucky to have you in his crew,” he murmured between kisses. “What I wouldn’t give to have you with me in the Revolutionary Army.”

His words were like a burning ember against my skin, making me gasp. “Luffy?!” I exclaimed, my mind racing. “Oh my gosh, how long has it been?! My crew—”

I tried to get up, but Sabo’s grip on my wrists tightened. “I need to go!” I urged, the urgency clear in my voice. “I have to find Luffy and the others!”

Sabo’s expression shifted from playful to serious. He stood up, pulling on his shirt as he spoke. “Before you go, you need to know something. You have to get to the Colosseum. There's something happening there that you can’t miss.”

I handed him his shirt, feeling frustration and concern building up inside me. “Sabo, this isn’t a joking matter!” I said, my voice tinged with desperation. “My crew needs me!”

He took a step closer, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. “You’re still as adorable as ever,” he said softly. “Go, find Luffy and the others. I’ll catch up with you soon.”

Without another word, I dashed out the door, my heart pounding with a mix of worry and anticipation. Sabo’s chuckle echoed behind me, slowly fading into the clamor of the bustling crowd. I had no time to lose—I had to find my crew and get to the Colosseum before it was too late.

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devilmen-collector · 6 months ago

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Origin of the names of the angels

Since I have done a post on the origin of the names of the seven kingdoms of Hell, may as well do the origin of the names of the angels.

Warning, this post contains religious content. If you are not comfortable, please ignore this.

Now let's go on with our trivia post

Seraphim

Now I just want to make a distinction. The Seraphim irl are called "the Archangels", but that doesn't mean they belong to the rank of archangel, the second-to-lowest rank, it only means they are the leaders and chieftains of all the angels, including other Seraphim.

Also, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the only named angels in the Bible.

Michael

"Michael" means "Who is like unto God?" in Hebrew. In the Bible, Michael is described as "the great prince, who standeth for the children of thy people" (Daniel 12:1), the angel who disputed with the devil over the remains of Moses (Epistle of St. Jude verse 9), the leader of the heavenly army fighting against the dragon (Revelation 12:7).

In the Christian tradition, Michael is the leader of God's army fighting against Satan, helper of the faithful Christians at the moment of death, champion of God's people, protector of the Jews under of the Old Testament, and of God's Holy Church. He is also the patron of many chivalric order of knights.

Michael, having led the battle against Lucifer, is the greatest of all angels, no angel could surpass him in honor and glory.

The feast day of St. Michael in Western Christianity is held on September 29, commemorating the dedication of first church built in his honor in Western Europe. In Eastern Christianity, St. Michael and all angels have their commom feast day on the 8th of November.

Gabriel

"Gabriel" means "strength of God". In the Bible, he appears as the messenger of God who delivers messages of utmost importance: he tells the Prophet Daniel two prophecies concerning the successive empires and the time elapsing before the coming of Christ (Daniel chapter 8 & 9), he appears before Zachary and foretells that his son will be the Precursor of the Lord (Luke 1:5-25), and most importantly Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary the Incarnation of the God the Son and that she is going to become the Mother of God (Luke 1:26-38). According to tradition, Gabriel was also the angel who appeared in St. Joseph's dream (Matthew 1:18-25; 2: 13-23), and also the angel who consoled Jesus (Luke 22:43). Thus, Gabriel is the Archangel of Incarnation and Consolation.

Some traditions have Gabriel as the angel of mercy while Michael is the angel of justice. Some others have it vice versa.

St. Gabriel's feast day, according to an old tradition, is on the 24th of March, the day before the feast of Annunciation.

Raphael

"Raphael" means "God has healed". The third Archangel appears only in the book of Tobit, in which he helps the young Tobias during his journey, ultimately aiding the young man heal his father's blindness and helping him find a good spouse. Therefore, Raphael is invoked as the angel of Healing and the Patron of finding a good partner for marriage.

Raphael was also the angel who revealed that there are seven Archangels. "For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" (Tobit 12:15).

The feast day of St. Raphael, in old tradition, is on the 24th of October.

Cherubim

Selaphiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel

Selaphiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel aren't found in Sacred Scripture, but only in the tradition of Eastern Orthodox Church.

For these three angels, I have already made a post about it. I'll link it here for you guys.

Selaphiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel: Origin of the names

Zadkiel

Zadkiel does not appear in the Bible, although some identify him as the unnamed Angel of the Lord who prevents Abraham from sacrificing his son during the time that God tested Abraham (Genesis 22:1-18). It's the reason why if a church (usually an Anglican church) does depict Zadkiel in its iconography, he's depicted as holding a dagger, for Abraham intended to use a dagger to sacrifice his son.

We will skip over Thrones (or Ophanim), Dominions, Virtues and Powers because there is currently no angel of those choirs in-game yet.

Principalities

Michelleel

"Michelleel" is a name that PrettyBusy completely made up themselves. No angel is known with the name Micheleel. Micheleel is the combination of Michael written in another way "Michelle" and the suffix "el", which means "God".

Archangels

Rashiel, Armisael and Zeruel

Just like with Michelleel, these three Archangels have made up names by PrettyBusy.

Angels

Samael

"Samael" means "Venom/Poison of God". He exists only in Judaism's Talmudic lore. Sometimes he is considered a fallen angel, with some people think he's Satan, while other times he is considered the angel with destructive duties.

#prettybusy what in “hell” is bad?#what in “hell” is bad?#whb angels #whb michael #whb gabriel #whb raphael #whb selaphiel #whb jegudiel #whb barachiel #whb michelleel #whb leamas #whb trivia

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andreafmn · 4 months ago

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Collision | Chapter 25

Word Count: 3.8K

Story Description: (Y/N) Uley is back home after being away for four years. Her life is at its first standstill and she is taking this time to find out who she is without school. But she never thought that coming back to the reservation would turn her whole life around. In the midst of secrets and mystery, a man crashes into (Y/N)’s and her life will never be the same.

A/N: I cannot believe two of my Twilight fics are coming to and end (just their first books) I'm excited and a little scared, but also so grateful for everyone that has stuck around these past couple of years with them. Hope I see y'all on the next books as well. 💖💖 Also, I need to stop making characters just for the plot and then falling in love with them when I know how things will end up 🫣🫣

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The next day, (Y/N) was supposed to go back to work as though nothing had happened. She had to pretend Alice had not come to town or taken Bella off to Italy without her father knowing. That Edward wasn’t planning on taking his life because of a girl he had left for dead half a year before. That Harry had not passed under her hands only two days before. And she had to pretend that she didn’t know Carlisle was gone, that she wasn’t the only one he had walked away from.

But pretending was something she had gotten used to. Putting on a mask was the first thing she had learned when she was younger. She had faked being happy for so long that truly feeling it became intoxicating. And once it had been taken from her, she collapsed.

Still, falling back into usual patterns of behavior was easy enough to do.

She had gotten up that morning and left her mother a plate of breakfast before heading to the hospital. There, she walked the halls with a kind smile on her face and her mouth muttering thank you to everyone who offered their condolences. It was much too easy to pretend she was fine.

“I heard you went by the Clearwater house,” (Y/N) smiled as she noticed Eden walking into the locker room while she slipped on her white coat. “You didn’t have to do that, but thank you. I wish I had stayed longer to have seen you.”

“I thought it’d be good to pay my respects,” he said. “It was a hard-hitting case.”

“Well, thank you. Not many people would have done that.”

“Yeah, of course,” he smiled, hiding the redness that was creeping onto his face with the door of his locker. “I, uh, wasn’t expecting you back today. I thought Davis gave you the rest of the week off.”

“I’d go crazy if I had nothing to do,” (Y/N) sighed. “Work will keep my head busy enough.”

“Hm,” was all Eden responded as he left his things in his locker and slipped on his own coat.

(Y/N) couldn’t help as her eyes lingered over Eden’s body. She stared at the way his navy scrubs clung to his figure, the seams of his sleeves stretching to their limits as his arms flexed before they were covered by the white coat. It was something she had only noticed she had been doing about a month before.

Somewhere along the way, she had begun staring, listening, remembering a little more. (Y/N) found herself noticing Eden a lot more than she had ever any man before, apart from one. Even as he seemingly held only disdain for her in the beginning, she couldn’t help the way she’d gravitated toward him. Thankfully, she had a reason to follow him around, but she knew that somehow, she’d do it regardless.

“(Y/N)!” His voice broke her out of her trance, a teasing grin splayed on his face. “All good?”

“Oh, uh, yes,” she stammered as she composed herself. “Morning rounds. Coming.”

“Seriously, if you need to take time off, you can,” he muttered softly, making the girl’s heart hammer rapidly against her chest. “You shouldn’t jump back in if you’re not ready yet.”

“I’m fine, seriously,” (Y/N) smiled, trying her best to subside the warmth that was overtaking her face. “I just zoned out for a second. I promise I’m ready.”

“Alright, then.” Eden conceded. “But if you need to tap out at any point, please let me know. Don’t keep it to yourself.”

“Yeah, okay. Thanks, Dr. Mollins.”

“Come on, (Y/N),” he grinned, “I think we’re past formalities when we’re off the clock.”

“Alright, then. Thanks, Eden.”

The Uley girl didn’t understand when her mind had shifted. Though she did focus on work and gave her everything to her patients, she found herself seeking Eden out. Since the shift between them from two days before, she felt comfortable seeing the man in a whole new light.

She had found herself liking the way he laughed, the way he smiled, even the way he stood. And, she thought, maybe that was the reason she had pushed the thought of Carlisle to the deepest, darkest corners of her mind. When she was around him, she didn’t spare a single thought about the vampire. Not even in the days after she had learned of the immortal’s disappearance.

Her heart did ache, she couldn’t lie. There was a constant tightening in her chest that she ignored every second of every day. But that was as far as it went. Maybe it meant she was healing. Maybe it was simply because she had not seen Carlisle. A part of her knew the answer. The part that she tried to silence so long ago with alcohol and distractions. The part she would continue to ignore until it was too much to bear.

But (Y/N) could do it. She could push down the overwhelming connection she had with Carlisle and allow herself to build something different with someone else. If Carlisle hadn’t cared enough about her to stay, she wouldn’t care enough to find him—at least, she knew she shouldn’t. And the girl always loved the rational side of her brain. It had kept her safe for long enough.

It was that side that kept her moving forward. The part that allowed her to go on day by day as though nothing affected her. It allowed her to lie to Charlie when he called about his daughter, allowed her to fix the strain she’d created in her relationship with Paul, and allowed her to set her gaze on someone else. If Carlisle was allowed to turn his feelings off and not care about the consequences, then so could she.

And for the past couple of days, that’s what she did.

(Y/N) had regained some momentum in her life. After allowing herself to feel what had been bringing her down, she decided to shift gears. She focused on her work, her school, and her family. And when she wasn’t focusing on that, she focused on Eden.

For those coming days, the pair that had seemed not to want anything to do with each other now could not seem to leave each other’s side. After squashing any animosity that had lived between them, they quickly realized how much they had in common. From their academic upbringings to the music they listened to while they relaxed. For the first time in more than half a year, the girl felt flutters building in her chest, and everything seemed to be settling in for her.

Yet, in all normal fashion, that didn’t last long.

“Did you know?” (Y/N) heard through the phone four days after Bella had left with Alice. “Did you know they were coming back?”

“What are you talking about, Sam?”

“The Cullens,” he seethed. “They’re all back. Just moved into their house.”

(Y/N) felt her hands begin to shake. She’d had a feeling when Bella had gone that this could have been an outcome. But—silly her, thinking rationally—she believed they’d keep truth in their word and never come back. “I-I didn’t,” she stammered nervously. “Are you sure? I mean, I know Alice came for a visit…”

“You didn’t know, (Y/N)?” Sam questioned softly this time, hearing the panic in his sister’s voice. “I thought they’d at least give you a heads up about it.”

“No, I… but… last I heard, Edward was on a suicide mission, and Bella and Alice went to save him,” she said. “But she didn’t say anything about them coming back.”

“Damn, I’m sorry, Bean. I thought you knew,” he sighed. “The older woman called and said they were moving back in last night.”

The girl didn’t know how to react. Clearly, she hadn’t meant enough to any of them to be given notice about things that directly affected her. Maybe she hadn’t put her life in enough danger because of him for them to care. Maybe they never cared at all. “Is, uh, is he…” she tried to ask but couldn’t find the words. “Is he, you know…”

“I don’t know, Bean,” Sam responded quietly. “All she told me was that the family was back, so the treaty needed to stand. But that’s as far as my knowledge goes.”

“Well, uh, I was just on my way into the hospital. I guess I’ll let you know if he’s there.”

“Are you sure you should be doing this, (Y/N)?” her brother worried. “Why don’t you take the day off?”

“I-I can’t. It’s better if I just go on as though nothing has changed.”

“(Y/N), you don’t have to always be strong,” he reminded her. “You’re allowed to step away if you need to.”

“I know, Sam. But I already gave enough of myself for them,” she stated. “It’s about time I start to reclaim those parts back.”

“Just… let me know if you need anything,” Sam offered. “Treaty be damned, I’ll be there in a moment’s notice.”

“Thanks, Sam. I appreciate it.”

“Alright then, go kill it, doc.”

With a semblance of confidence, (Y/N) walked into the hospital, but it wasn’t long before her heart started rushing. If the Cullens were truly back, it could mean that at any given moment, those golden eyes that had cemented themselves into her brain could be staring right back at her. Everything she had done to push him into the deepest, darkest corners of her mind could unravel with just one look.

Luckily, she made it all the way to the locker room without a glance of the man. Everything in the Forks hospital seemed the same as it had for the past six months. If the Cullens had come back, the doctor had not been by the building.

For a second, she thought when she opened the doors that he’d be standing there, slipping on his white coat and flashing her that damned smile. Instead, she found Eden already inside, getting ready for his shift. And if he could tell that something was awry with (Y/N), he did not say.

Yet, everything he said sounded far away for the girl. She knew he was speaking because she could hazily see his mouth moving, but she couldn’t quite process his words. To appear alright, she went through the motions—putting her bag away, slipping on her coat, draping the stethoscope around her neck. She had to appear fine because she was fine.

“(Y/N),” Eden’s voice finally broke through her trance. “Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

“Yeah,” she croaked before clearing her throat. “I just didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Are you sure?” he pressed. “The offer still stands for you to take another day off. What happened…”

“No, I’m fine, Eden. I promise,” she smiled. “I just wanna get through the day.”

“Alright then. Let’s go.”

But before they could make their patient rounds, a nurse stopped (Y/N) in her tracks. “There’s someone asking for your, Dr. Uley,” he said. “They’re waiting for you in Dr. Cullen’s old office.”

“Oh, um, did you happen to catch a name?”

“Sorry, no,” the nurse answered. “But it’s a lady with long brown hair and these like dark golden eyes. She said you know who she is.”

And, of course, she did. “Thanks, Max,” the girl smiled. “I’ll be right over.”

“Guess we’ll start rounds without you,” Eden said as the nurse took off. “You know what this is about?”

“Yeah. Unfortunately so.”

There weren’t many people in the world that could ever fit the description the nurse had given. In her lifetime, she’d only met two, and only one of them had long hair.

(Y/N) felt sort of ambushed as she walked the trail she knew far too well. The hospital was one of the only places where any of them could seek her out, and she’d have nowhere to go. It was the perfect place to force her into an unwanted conversation. And she had an idea what it was that the woman wanted to talk to her about.

Inside the office, Esme was staring out the window when (Y/N) walked in, a trembling in her limbs she could not stop. Unlike seeing Alice, there wasn’t a surge of anger that rushed inside her. Maybe it was the dark circles forming under Esme’s darkening eyes, or the worry lines that had seemed to cement themselves in the furrow of her worried eyebrows, but (Y/N) could only feel concern.

The woman’s usual radiant beauty had dwindled, replaced by a darkening gloom that seemed to follow her like a dark cloud. It was one thing to ignore Alice’s appeal to find the patriarch of the Cullen family, but it was another to have the one person who had been moving heaven and hell to find him plead with nothing but her eyes. She had yet to utter a word, and (Y/N) already knew.

“You look well,” Esme spoke softly, frozen on the spot she stood. “Can’t say the same for this room, huh?”

“It’s been empty ever since,” she said without reciprocity of a laugh to the woman’s attempt at a lighthearted joke. “The hospital hasn’t really been able to fill the role.”

“Oh, well, I’m sure they’ll hire someone soon.”

“I think we’re past the amicable chit-chat, Esme,” (Y/N) sighed. “Just tell me what you’ve come to say.”

“I guess there’s no point beating around the bush,” the woman smiled sadly. “I’m guessing you already know that Carlisle is missing.”

“She blurted out something about that but didn’t really give me much more information on it. It wasn’t like she wanted me to find out—at least not in the way I did. But it’s not like you’ve all been very communicative these past few months.”

Esme was hesitant with her next words, taken aback by the bite in (Y/N)’s tone. She understood where her anger came from, and she had every right to feel that way. But the worry she felt for the man who had been her partner in life for so many years transcended the shame she felt for the way she and her family had treated the girl. “Alright, (Y/N). I know there are many apologies that we owe you, and I know they will never be enough. But, from the bottom of my heart, you have to know how sorry I am for what’s happened and the part I played in it,” the woman started. “But I’ve come today to plead for your help in finding Carlisle.”

“I’m sorry, Esme, but what makes you think that I’d have any idea how to find him?” (Y/N) said as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. Neither woman took a single step from their positions, leaving a cold distance between them—maybe out of anger, possibly just in self-preservation. “If a family of supernatural vampires can’t find him, how would I? I don’t even know how he disappeared.”

“We had just settled in our house in Ithaca when he said he was going to meet an old friend of his and we never saw him again,” she said. “I don’t want to burden you with how he was on that day, but he wasn’t himself, (Y/N). I have never seen him as defeated as he was then, and I am worried that he may have done something as dumb or worse than Edward. I have a very strong lead and someone who is quite certain that she can find him, but I know he won’t come back to us. I know it’s not my place to ask, and I understand if you want to turn me down, but I am begging you, even if it’s just to hear my friend out, just come by the house to talk.”

(Y/N) wanted to answer with a flat-out no or maybe say that she wasn’t like Bella and she wouldn’t drop everything in her life to save the man who had ripped her heart to shreds. But, at that very moment, she understood the Swan girl. She knew she had the power to show Carlisle the decency he had denied her, that she had the power to return a father to his family regardless of what he had done to her because at least some of them didn’t deserve the pain of losing him.

Still, there was a voice inside her head that tempted her to make them all pay for the torment she had gone through after they left. Even if the way she reacted to heartbreak wasn’t their fault, she couldn’t help but blame them for the indelible pain they had planted in her heart.

Before she could say anything, Esme added to her plea, sadness clinging to her every feature. “Look, (Y/N), I know this is a lot to ask, especially with how everything went down,” she said. “But all I am asking you is to just talk to my friend. Before you make any decision, just talk to her. Please.”

“I can’t promise you that I will, Esme. I just… I need some time to think about this. It’s a lot to just throw on someone.”

“Of course! Yes. Take the time you need,” the woman exclaimed. “Just please consider what I’ve said.”

“I, uh, I’ll try,” (Y/N) said. “But right now, I need to get back to work. I’ll call you once I’ve made my decision.”

“Yes, of course,” Esme muttered. “Again, I am so sorry.”

“Yeah, thanks,” she forced a smile. “I’ll see you around, I guess.”

(Y/N) turned before Esme could say another word. She was completely overwhelmed and could feel her anger and resentment bubbling inside her. Her eyes stung from tears she refused to let spill, and all she wanted was to break down.

Carlisle had not only broken her heart, but he had made some statements that she still carried with her. At one point, he had made her feel a happiness she’d never thought possible. He had sold her a life full of love and enchantment. Yet, in one conversation, he had shattered every illusion and dream she had created with him. He had shown her that someone could pretend to love you one minute and completely break your spirit the next.

But even knowing just how heartless Carlisle could be, she couldn’t help the worry that snuck into her heart. If he truly was in trouble, if he was gambling with his life, she didn’t think she’d be able to live with herself if she didn’t at least help. Unlike him, she couldn’t just turn off the love and care she’d had—still had—for the man. She especially couldn’t allow the family to live with the pain of losing someone they considered a father figure. (Y/N) knew far too well the anguish that came from losing a father, and she didn’t wish that torment on anyone—even her worst enemy.

“Hey, was everything okay?” Eden asked as they took their lunch break, a mask of concern clouding his face. “You seemed in your head when you came back for rounds.”

“I mean, it’s not not okay,” she shrugged, her gaze stuck on the plate before her. “It was… an old friend, I guess.”

“You’re not sure if she was a friend?” he chuckled softly, trying his best to lift the girl’s spirits.

“She was,” she smiled sadly. “She just came to ask for my help with something, and I’m not sure if I want to do it.”

“What did she ask for? If I may ask.”

“It’s a weird, long, and complicated issue,” she sighed. “But long story short, she needs my help with my ex. He’s been… different since the breakup, and he might be in some trouble, and she thinks I’m the only one that can help.”

“Oh,” Eden grimaced. “That is a long and complicated issue. I’m guessing there’s a bit of bad blood there.”

“Something like that,” she chuckled dryly. “He did and said some things in the breakup that cut deep, essentially…”

“But you still care for him.”

“Not just him. His family, too. They’re basically lost without their father.” (Y/N) noticed the realization in Eden’s eyes. The rumor that she had been with the town’s most acclaimed doctor had not died in people’s mouths, and she knew it was only a matter of time before he heard it, too. “I’m guessing you’ve heard what people have said about me and our last head doctor.”

“I won’t lie, I heard some whispers about that,” he confessed, “but I didn’t want to jump to conclusions.”

“Well, you’re the first person other than my family to have it confirmed, but yes, Dr. Cullen and I were in a relationship before he left, and it was quite serious. Just not serious enough for him to ask me to go with him when he moved,” she explained, trying her best to keep everything to a minimum detail. “We didn’t end on good terms, and I am unbelievably mad at him. But I also don’t want anything bad to happen to him. Am I crazy for that?”

“Of course not, (Y/N),” Eden stated. He placed a comforting hand over hers, stopping the picking she hadn’t noticed she’d been doing. It was a touch she didn’t know she needed. As he drew circles with his thumb over her knuckles, she could feel herself calming down. “He was a big part of your life regardless of how he chose to end things, and you care about what happens to him because you are a good person. How could you be crazy for that?”

“Would you do it? If someone that hurt you needed your help, would you?”

“I’d like to say I would,” he said. “But I guess it’s more of a question if I’d be okay with not helping them in the long run.”

“Is it bad if I say I don’t know?” the girl worried. “Part of me wants to think that I wouldn’t care what happens to him, but there is a big part that knows that I would.”

“(Y/N), whatever you choose has to be the right decision for you. Helping this guy can’t be about him or his family. It has to be about how you will feel when you face him and if it is something you’ll be able to do without putting yourself in harm’s way.”

Those words took her aback. She had been thinking of the Cullens and their feelings; she had been thinking of Carlisle and his betrayal, but she hadn’t stopped to think of what would happen if she allowed herself to see him again. (Y/N) didn’t want the family to hurt, but she didn’t know if her wounds were closed enough for her to be selfless and save Carlisle from whatever danger he had placed himself into.

Whatever road she decided to take had to be the right one for her and no one else. No matter how much she cared for the Cullen family and didn’t want them to lose Carlisle, her decision could not be at the detriment of her own heart. They had put her through enough, and she wasn’t sure there was anything left to give to them.

Next ->

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centrally-unplanned · 1 year ago

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Since I am discussing anime academia today, I was reading another paper that was equally frustrating, along a different axis:

“Do female anime fans exist?” The impact of women-exclusionary discourses on rec.arts.anime

This as a premise is a good concept; someone mining the 90's Usenet anime communities for how the fandom saw female fans back then (the article title is quoting one such thread). So of course, the opening line of this article about the anime fandom in the 90's is....sigh....a reference to Donald Trump:

Commenting on the 2016 American presidential elections, multiple news reporters noted that a relationship could be found between Donald Trump supporters and online anime fans

It of course goes on to discuss Gamergate, 8chan, online right-wing radicalization, references to the "Fascist" themes of Attack on Titan, and on and on. The obvious problem with this is that it is irrelevant; the "methodology" section involves this aside about how they pulled this data from Google Archives but Google is an advertising firm and not a replacement for a real archive and we need to Fight The System and buddy my dude that is not germane to your sample size!!! But more importantly, it is backwards. I don't need to explain the argument here in detail; the article is positing a throughline from 90's anime discourse to modern right-wing internet politics through a sort of 'lock-in' effect of built culture norms around misogyny. Which is fine, you can make that argument - but why is all this future stuff in the first section? You haven't really presented the argument yet! This isn't a book, its not the intro chapter - literally 30% of the text of this article is stating a conclusion upfront, justified not through the text itself but citations to other articles about its truth.

This is something media studies pulled from traditional science - traditional science states "established facts" up front that the paper is building on. But that is because - a thousand caveats aside - in chemistry those facts are....facts. They may be wrong facts, but they can, ostensibly, be objective descriptors. This paper cites "anime is still synonymous with far-right ideologies of white and male supremacy, and events of anti-Blackness" like its citing the covalent bond count of carbon. That is not and never will be a fact one can cite, that is an argument; and its not one that is important for understanding this analysis of Usenet groups. This structure is pulled from other sciences, but it flourishes because it lets you pad the citation count of your peers. Its embarrassing how often you can skip the first 1/3rd of a paper in this field - really the worst possible thing to copy from economics (ding!)

This paper also does the insane thing of jumping between citations from 1992 and events in the 2010's like anime culture is continuous between those time periods. Its an extremely bold claim it just does in the background... but lets set that aside.

This hyper-politicization & hyper-theorizing leads to the second issue of extreme under-analysis. This is the actual value-add of this paper:

From this search, I was able to find the discussion threads “How many females read r.a.a.?” (135 messages; opened on July 13, 1993), “Question: Girls on r.a.a?” (23 messages; opened on February 25, 1994), “Female Otakus” (221 messages; opened on June 25, 1994), “Women watching anime” (72 messages; opened on October 4, 1994), and “Female fans - Do they exist?” (61 messages; opened on October 26, 1995). While these discussions may seem like they were spaces for marginalized users to discuss their experiences, they were often started and overwhelmingly occupied by identified male users. In total, I extracted 252 messages from 1992 to 1996 that were relevant to the gendering of anime fandom, and among those, I classified them as 7 kinds of negative networking discursive practices: (e.g. Table 1. Negative networking practices on rec.arts.anime).

252 messages, five threads - later on it will name other threads, so its more than this, but you get it. It has a bunch of data. And from that data, the article quotes...less than half a dozen examples. There are no quantitative metrics, no threads are presented or discussed in detail from this data set. Some other event is discussed in detail, but again it quotes essentially one person once. The provided "Table 1", the only Table, is a list of the author's categorizations of the data; the data itself is not present. Its file format is a CSV, presumably to mock me for clicking it.

There is, from top to bottom, a complete lack of engagement with the data in question. This would fail an intro anthropology seminar; the conclusion is simply presumed from 1% of the sample size while the rest of the messages are left on read. I just don't think there is any value in that, a handful of messages from 1996 divorced from their context and stapled onto modern politics as a wrap-up. What did the people on this Usenet value? How did they think of women collectively? As anime fans, as outsiders, as romantic partners, as friends? What subfactions existed? Questions like those would presumably be the point of this investigation, but they are treated as distractions.

And this article was, in anime academic circles, a pretty well-trumpeted one. I'm not cherry-picking a bad one here, it was the "hot paper" of the month when it came out. Its just that the standards can be so low, its a field that simply lacks rigor. Which doesn't stop a ton of great work from being done btw, that isn't my point at all. My point is that the great work is not selected for; it goes unrewarded, bogged down by academic standards divorced from discovering real insights.

(I do not think the question "why are they misogynist" ever crossed the author's mind. That should be your literal thesis, and its a ghost. Just ugh.)

#anime academia

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missbubblesoda · 10 months ago

Text

early in the morning, especially when it rains, and a little before noon. (23)

erwin x fem!reader

chapters: (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) | (8) | (9) | (10) | (11) | (12) | (13) | (14) | (15) | (16) | (17) | (18) | (19) | (20) | (21) | (22) | (24) | (25) | (26) | (27)

summary: I basically took Isayama’s work, forced it into a romance story, and made Erwin the love interest. Commander meets cadet and they fall in love (not instantly though)

notes: very berry canonverse (but some events were modified to fit my narrative), wasn’t intended to be this long, but it all is in the details right?

content warnings: smut where it fits (or where I make it fit. Also, reader is NOT underage, so likewise, MINORS DO NOT INTERACT, please.) slow burn (I really mean it. I’m not olympic diving into any form of smut for the first chapters.) no angst. I dislike angst. I would never. I could never. (Although angst can be somewhat subjective so take it with a grain of salt?)

wc: 2.5k

“C-commander, you’re going to make me c-come.” You warned for the last time before letting yourself go. Where? Well, that was for him to decide, because your legs had stopped responding a long time ago. But you didn’t need them anyway; with his nails buried in your back and his dick, deep between your legs, you weren’t going anywhere. At least not anywhere he didn’t decide.

Like a starved soul waiting to be spoon-fed, you opened your mouth wide, a silent moan escaping your lips as you were about to taste the sweet orgasm he had so prettily gift-wrapped for you. Indulgent like thick cocoa in oversized cups, comforting like cinnamon upon custard, forbidden like molasses at midnight, or messy like melting ice cream dripping down your fingers. What would he taste like today?

You would’ve found out, if only he had stayed.

Because, without allowing time for confusion or emptiness to happen, he pulled out, slipped his arm under your waist, and turned you around, making you sit back up on the desk, where you finally came eye to eye with him, and the sweaty streaks of sunshine sticking to his forehead despite the unforgiving temperatures lurking outside your window.

His breathing was labored and ragged, like an elaborate quilt. Warm. Homelike. Handmade. But that was something you both had in common. Your chests, rising and falling against each other; your faces, so close you were stealing each other’s oxygen; his lips, hovering over yours, reminding you of butterflies fluttering around a marigold garden; making you realize how long it had been since the last time you kissed; and your folds, desperately dripping and clenching around the overwhelming emptiness, reminding you of how ready you were for that to change.

You lifted a hand up to his face, pulling him closer; your eyes staring into his, blue like the sky after a storm.

Or perhaps, the storm was just on its way.

Strong arm still wrapped around your waist, he smoothly glided back into you; his lush eyebrows furrowed in pleasure, and his mouth hanging slightly open, as your walls squeezed his swollen member. Suffocating him. Just the way he liked it.

Feeble, sheepish whimpers escaped your lips at the gentle intrusion. As gentle as the raindrops now tapping on the window, announcing the last rainfall of the winter.

Or maybe, the first one of the spring.

“I’m sorry.” He grunted against your lips, before finally closing the distance between you.

And even if he hadn’t spelled out the words for you, you could taste them in his kiss. You could taste it all, even though the tea you had prepared for him remained untouched at the other end of the desk. You could taste the lemon, bitter like regret, yet also fresh like new beginnings. And there was also the honeycomb, nostalgic like a sunset, yet sweet like the waltz your tongues were dancing inside your mouth. A slow, gentle waltz under the rain. His tongue, in perfect synchrony with whatever magic his dick was performing inside you, making you moan against his lips, just in case he didn’t know how good he was making you feel.

And the sensation of your mouth stuffed with his tongue and your pussy, with his cock, quickly became too overwhelming for your poor body to bear; your insides crumbling like sand as a sinking feeling took over. Not the type that precedes a bad day however, but the floaty, funny type you always experienced when jumping from treetops during ODM practice. And even though you were perfectly safe there, held in place by his arm around your waist, and your legs around his hips, you felt like you were free-falling, plummeting down into something unknown. And like so, you pulled away, deciding to wrap your arms around his neck instead, burying your face in the crook of his shoulder, where you felt the safest.

“Me too.” You whispered against the damp collar of his shirt. “I promise there’s no one else, Erwin.” Finally able to lay your worries down on his chest, as you let your weight fall against him. “Only you.” And you felt his grip tighten at your words, bringing you impossibly closer to him. “Yes, I’m yours. Only yours. A-always yours.” You repeated over an over, answering the question his cock was relentlessly asking, as it stabbed you repeatedly. “I belong to you and no- no one else mmmhh~ I don’t want anyone else inside me but you.” You closed your eyes, now saturated with tears, not knowing if it was because of how much you missed him, or because of how big he was.

But whatever the reason, your words caused his thrusts to hasten, and his nails to bury even deeper in the thick flesh around your hips, burning your skin like the hot iron they use to mark animals. And you called his name for good measure, just in case he needed further confirmation that you were his. You called his name as repeatedly as the drops falling from the sky outside. You called his name as fireworks exploded all over your body; your back arching against the muscular arm he kept around you, your head thrown all the way back, and your breasts in full display, like a ceremonial feast offered to a king.

And when your muscles stopped spasming, you collapsed on him, desperately gasping for air against his neck, as if you had just come back to life after almost drowning. And you honestly didn’t know if the moisture on his shirt was coming from his skin or your eyes.

While your forehead took a much needed rest against his shoulder, you looked down to find him still buried into you, your sweet nectar spilling out of your hole, dripping down his thighs like honey, messily sliding down the glossy wood of his desk.

And you looked up at him through heavy eyelids, a fucked out smile on your lips, silently asking if he too found it beautiful, the mess you had created. And this time, for the first time in days, he smiled too. His hand temporarily leaving the abused skin of your hips to tuck sweaty strands behind you ear.

Please fuck me again.

“Please stay.” You requested softly, clenching around him, hoping he wouldn’t pull out. Hoping things would stay as they were right now. Between the two of you. Trapped in your little bubble. His eyes like the clear sky reflected in a stream, like gentle sun rays tickling your skin, on a Sunday morning, just a little before noon.

I love you. Your lips quivered, tempted to let the words spill. I love you, Commander. But you didn’t want the bubble to burst. You wanted to stay forever trapped inside with him. Together. As one.

I love you, Erwin.

“Please keep making love to me.”

I love you so much.

He placed a soft kiss on your lips just as his hips started to move again. Unhurriedly, gently, indulgently. Like stirring thick cocoa together, by the kitchen window, on a snowy night.

You held his face as he sucked on your bottom lip, as his tongue savored all his favorite flavors on yours, as his lips condensed a million thoughts into a moment. And not long after, when the pace of his thrusts hastened again, you pulled away, not wanting to miss a second of his face when he came, something so captivating and artistic it belonged in a museum. Truly a masterpiece. His temples covered with salty dew as he panted for air, forehead resting against yours. And you had never been this grateful for the unforgiving training that scouts had to go through. You had never been this grateful for that early morning run he never skipped. Because there was no doubt in your mind that he could fuck you all night long. You had no stamina left, but he did, and that’s all that mattered. After all, his body was the one doing all the hard work, and yours just needed to bounce and react.

“Command-”

“I missed you.” As breathless as you currently were, your heart couldn’t afford the luxury of skipping a beat. Yet it did, your entire body choosing to stay silent, just in case he said it again. Because, the thing is, you really needed to hear those three words again. From those very lips that were now hovering over yours. “I missed you so bad.” He ran his thumb across your cheek, his touch as soothing as the gentle breeze from a faraway childhood summer. “Those days were the worst.” He paused, intently scanning your features as if carving them inside his memory. “Realizing I was no longer on the receiving end of that smile.” His thumb found your bottom lip, and caressed it gently. “Asking myself if I was losing you every time you closed the door behind you.”

“Erwin.” His sweet name on your lips, and salty droplets on your eyes. “I want to be with you.”

Forever. You added in your head, remembering the cabin in the woods. By the stream, a faraway windmill as your closest neighbor, the climbing hydrangea guarding the door, and the stepping stones leading up the hill, where the sycamore was always waiting, in front of the snow-capped mountains, the wooden swing below and its musical creak, its only company. Forwards, backwards, forwards and then backwards again. Never getting tired. And neither do you. But how could you? Waking up next to him every day, his bare back beneath the morning light; and making love, your only plan for the weekend. And if it only existed in a fantasy, why could you describe it in such detail? If it wasn’t in your future, then why could you see it all? Smell it all. Hear it all.

Feel it all.

“So do I.” He answered, his eyes like a sunlit lake, and his eyebrows like the evergreen foliage surrounding it.

“Erwin.” You used his name again, as if it was a promise; your voice impossibly breathy as his hips continued its satisfying dance, that by now had grown more and more erratic, telling you that it was near. You could tell, even if words didn’t forecast it: The cloudburst about to happen between your legs.

He buried his nails even deeper in the abused flesh of your hips, presumably looking for some form of stability as his movements became more and more unsteady. And he was so hard it must hurt. So hard you had to stare, not wanting to miss a second of that spectacular finale: his rich, indulgent cream, the sweet result of your lovemaking, a recipe you had created together, splattering everywhere like fresh paint once he pulled out.

But the thing is, he wasn’t pulling out. You looked back up at him, searching for an explanation, not wanting to get your hopes up, since you didn’t know how ephemeral his mistake would be. But it didn’t look like a mistake. Not when he was staring at you like that, so intently, as if he was fully aware of his actions.

You looked down again. He was going to come; there was no doubt. You felt it inside, and it would happen any time now.

“You look the prettiest when you’re happy.” He said all of a sudden, his voice a mixture of grunts and labored breaths, and his lips curving into the sweetest smile he had given you yet. And maybe it was that, or the window behind him, or the fact that it had also been raining back then, but your mind traveled to the very first day you met. So many nights ago. He had told you to come in, and then apologized for how boring and repetitive your days were about to get. All while smiling, just like today.

Oh, if only you knew back then.

“I want to make you happy.” He said, his eyes wrapping your naked body like the softest of silks, and his smile feeling like a promise, one you couldn’t wait to kiss.

“You already do.” You replied, voice filled with sweet adoration, just mere seconds before he collapsed on you, forehead resting against your shoulder, as you ran soothing fingers through his hair, completely drenched, almost as if he had been fucking you under the pouring rain instead.

I love you. “You did so well for me.” You whispered against his forehead, holding him like you wished you could for the rest of your days, and closed your eyes, enjoying the tickling of his breath against your neck, as well as that of his warm cream sliding down your belly. Someday, maybe in the not so distant future, it would be inside instead.

Or maybe not.

But you didn’t feel like entertaining uncertainty tonight. Not when you finally had him in your arms like this.

“I’m sorry.” He said, and the words tickled the sensitive skin of your neck. His fingertips were drawing soothing patterns on the tender flesh of your hips, but the tone of his voice told you that bruises and hickeys weren’t the only thing he was apologizing about.

“Erwin, I swear there’s nothing between him an-”

“Shhh.” He hushed you softly, leaving his comfortable spot on the crook of your neck so he could look into your eyes. His cheeks were so red, perhaps from being under the sun all day. But you liked to think it was from fucking you so hard just moments ago. “It was never your fault, yet I blamed you for it without even asking you first.”

“You can ask me now.”

“You already gave me your answer.” He smiled, and even though you still wondered what had led him to believe there was something between you and Leon, you couldn’t stop yourself from wrapping your arms around him, hugging him tight and pushing the question to the back of your mind. Your eyes closed, and your cheek resting against his shoulder. Maybe you could try asking him again some other time.

“I’m sorry too.” You said, and even though you were only wearing your underwear, in his embrace, you had no complaints about the cold. “For pulling away all of a sudden, for leaving you in the dark.”

“You can tell me now.”

“Not now.” But maybe some other time. Because, like you said, you didn’t feel like bursting the bubble with your explanations and concerns.

And maybe you were on the same page, because he didn’t pry any further. Instead, he silently caressed your bruised hips and thighs. “I promise I’ll be more gentle next time.”

Next time. You liked that. You liked how those words sounded on his lips.

You took a look at the red skin his fingertips were tracing, skin that would surely be turning purple in the coming days, and smiled teasingly, realizing you hadn’t felt playful in a long time, so the feeling was as foreign as it was welcome. “I guess someone did miss me, after all.”

“You have no idea.” He replied, wistfulness in his words, as you pulled him back to your chest.

next chapter

taglist: @elnyrae @mchlist @apts2000 @angelaevangelion @depitaangeline @ynackerman9499 @afatalheat @pumpkin-toffee @velouria17 @gassytritis @goddessinsweats @nube55 @jeanboyjean @crazychaoticizzy @braunsbabe @erwinawesomeness @lucifers-nipple-piercing @karmabyfernando

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helenlvsbooks · 9 months ago

Text

• Elain Archeron as High Lady of the Dusk Court •

CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR ALL OF ACOTAR AND HOFAS

DISCLAIMER: This is a pro Elain, pro Elriel theory, if you know this is something that will upset you, scroll and don’t interact with my post. I am not responsible for the content you choose to consume.

This is a post made with love and appreciation for Elain Archeron and all of my beautiful elriels, you guys are the intended audience for this post and I hope you guys enjoy it, as much I enjoyed writing it.

✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵ ✵

POWERS

As of February of 2024 we know very little of Elain’s powers, and while we know for sure that she has visions or something close to it, making her a seer; there’s reason to think that she might be able to do more than that.

ACOWAR CHAPTER 75

It’s been said throughout the series that the cauldron is taken with Elain, and gifted something to her. While Nesta took power from it, Death itself as Rhysand called it in ACOSF, Elain was blessed by it.

While I have a preference for what those powers might be, I’m not going to stick only to my ideas, but I’ll also mention some alternatives the fandom has come up with.

ACOWAR CHAPTER 74

There’s two things I want to talk about when it comes to this passage.

— Elain stepped out of a shadow.

While there’s a lot of possibilities as to why Elain was able to do this, the exact moment it was needed, there’s two main theories I would like to mention.

One. Elain was able to winnow.

ACOMAF CHAPTER 7

ACOMAF CHAPTER 13

This is the most simple explanation to what happened in ACOWAR, and it could be an indication of Elain’s power being greater than that of a normal high fae.

“Only the stronger fae can do it.”

But it also leaves the question of what about the training? We all know Feyre is a High Lady, and even she had to train to be able to use that ability, so how is Elain able to do this so easily at the right moment in the middle of the battle field?

I would love to offer you an alternative.

TWO. Elain used Truthteller’s powers.

HOFAS CHAPTER 25

We learned in CC3 that Azriel doesn’t know how to use Truthteller to its full potential, what if Elain was able to see it with her Seer abilities and make use of it?

ACOWAR CHAPTER 30

It’s known in the fandom that Elain foresaw Cassian’s death. And while some still think this is going to happen in future books, I believe it already happened and Elain found a way to stop it.

ACOWAR CHAPTER 69

If Elain was able to winnow all along, why didn’t she take the dagger that Cassian offered her? She could’ve killed the king with that one just fine. Unless, she isn’t or didn’t know she was able to until she possessed Truth-Teller.

It’s been proven in CC3 that The star-sword and Truth-Teller possess a unique ability when combined/used together, but Vesperus was referring to Truth-Teller on its own.

HOFAS CHAPTER 12

This conversation in CC3 tells us two things:

Truth-Teller doesn't possess the ability to kill the unkillable we saw with The Starsword and Ataraxia. So, a simple dagger could've killed the King of Hybern.

It's implyed by the name of the dagger and what Azriel said that it might possess truth powers.

What if Truth-Teller showed Elain her ability to winnow or the dagger's innate power to help her do it?

HOFAS CHAPTER 12

"The dagger shone with darkness" - "Elain stepped out of the shadow."

As for the second thing I wanted to mention about ACOWAR 74: Only those with the power of the starborn can wild the Sword and the knife. And this is a fact.

Healing - Life Powers

ACOWAR CHAPTER 76

Going back to the Cauldron and Elain's gifted powers. It would make sense that while Nesta stole Death itself from it, Elain might've been gifted with Life by it.

Throughout the ACOTAR books, Elain's been linked to spring and gardens, and there have been many instances where SJM wrote about Elain growing plants, growing life.

ACOWAR CHAPTER 80

All of this aligns with what we learned about Theia and the Dusk Court in CC3.

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HOFAS CHAPTER 22

This right here is what inspired this theory, the moment I read this, everything made sense to me. This is what Bryce senses in the prison with her starborn powers, sounds familiar?

ACOWAR CHAPTER 24

Even Lucien knows that what Elain is saying doesn't seem to be about him, and I never believed it was. The wording is very specific.

"I can hear your heart through the stone." - "There was a beating, vibrant heart locked away, far beneath them."

HOFAS CHAPTER 67

"Off making more gardens?" - "I think the world needs more gardens."

Again, the wording used here was too specific to be a coincidence. A Garden, that's how SJM referred to the mountain Bryce awakened in Avallen, which is almost the exact copy of the Prison/Dusk Court.

HOFAS CHAPTER 19

"blossomed under her care,"

All of this makes me think of something SJM mentioned in ACOSF.

ACOSF CHAPTER 22

There was no reason for SJM to mention this particular detail unless it's something that might come to happen in the future; and with all of the foreshadowing I just showed you, I think it's pretty clear who they might be referring to.

In HOFAS, Bryce takes Theia's power from the mountain and this awakens the land. She already did this in Pythian, but we didn't get to know if the same thing happened there. What if the land needs a High Lady to really blossom and come back to what it once was?

I can't think of anyone better than Elain to do that.

DRESS FORESHADOWING

One thing that some elriels noticed is that SJM makes it a point of having Elain 90% of the time in either pink or blue dresses, this is a fun detail that we love to mention when talking about The Sleeping Beauty retelling theory, this one is one of my favorites so definitely check it out.

While this is true for most of the series, SJM decided to make Elain wear another color in Silver Flames, purple, the mix of the two. Where am I going with this?

I think this Google image speaks for itself, but one last thing! There's a particular line of inner monologue from Cassian that a lot of gwynri3l's use to justify Elain "not belonging" in the Night Court.

ACOSF CHAPTER 57

While they love to forget that the Inner Circle did this on purpose to make Elain look "plain", so Eris would keep his attention on Nesta; they might have a point because no, Elain won't stay in the Night Court.

ACOSF CHAPTER 57

Nesta looks stunning in black tho, so she'll most definitely stay there. Right?

COLORING BOOK SYMBOLISM

On another note, user acoracaodefogo found something really interesting in the official coloring book for the series. Remember how Archeron's father named three ships after his daughters? Well, each of them has a symbol that correlates to something important about the sisters' future.

The Feyre has a crescent moon and stars, symbolizing the night court, and The Nesta has a creature that looks close to what the hounds of the Daglan are described as (intriguing), and a sun, like the one in the mask of the trove.

Elain's however, has an eight-pointed star, the symbol of the starborn and the Dusk Court.

HOEAB CHAPTER 21

As we already know, only the starborn can wield the Sword and the knife, and Elain happened to wield one of the two already.

STARBORN HERITAGE

Were the sisters already part of the Starborn line? I think this might be the case. It never made sense to me how Nesta was able to shield her mind from a high lord, or that Rhys could feel Feyre, his mate, while still being human; or how their father was able to make a deal with Koshei. We know he was known as the Prince of Merchants before losing all of his fortune, but what could he offer Koshei? What could be so important that a death god was happy to strike a deal with that old man?

ACOTAR CHAPTER 35

And there's also this. This little piece of information is what made me believe the sisters weren't completely human after all. Why would their parents know and old name of the fae? The humans hate the fae, they are scared of them, why would they choose that name for their youngest daughter?

There's also this new piece of information we got in CC3. Ruhn has healing magic, from the starborn line? This aligns perfectly well with what some elriels have been speculating since ACOWAR, that Elain saved Cassian not only by stabbing the King of Hybern, but also by immediately running towards him and healing some of his wounds.

HOFAS CHAPTER 94

NOTE: One last thing that came to my mind just now, the Starborn lake is in the Spring Court and it was said multiple times in Silver Flames that Elain would love to see that court. Just a thought.

This is going to be it for now, if you have something else to add to this please do; I would love to talk more about it!

ACOSF CHAPTER 21

BUT ELAIN TURNED ON HER HEEL. "FIND ME WHEN YOU WISH TO BEGIN."

ACOSF FEYSAND BONUS CHAPTER

"LET'S HELP ONE SISTER BEFORE WE START ON THE OTHER."

#elriel #pro elain #elain archeron #acotar #dusk court #pro elriel #elainduskcourt

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entertext · 8 months ago

Text

HGSN 25-1

Chapter (Japanese)

(Please hit the green thumbs up at the end of the chapter to show support)

Rough translation by me

Folktale: The Farmer's Head

A long long time ago, there was a greedy farmer and a kind farmer who went to the mountain to forage for food.

There, the greedy farmer found a big mushroom.

"This one is all mine!" said the greedy farmer.

Trying to hide the mushroom, he poked his head into a hole on the mountain. When all of a sudden...

Pop! His head fell off and into the hole!

Afraid, the kind farmer returned to the village as fast as he could.

When he got there, he found that at some point...

His basket had been filled with a ton of rice and delicious food!

Dad: "That hole had been the mouth of the hungry mountain god."

Dad: "and in thanks for filling its stomach, the god had given the kind farmer a reward. And so the farmer lived happily ever after."

(sfx: close)

(sfx: cicadas)

Yoshiki: What kind of story is that...?

(sfx: cicadas)

Dad: Dad doesn't know either...

(sfx: RAIN)

Dad: ...

Yoshiki: ...

(sfx: RAIN)

Dad: ...How's school lately?

Yoshiki: ...It's fine. Normal.

Dad: I see.

Dad: Is there...something you're worried about or...?

Yoshiki: Actually, I want to ask about Hikaru's dad.

Dad: About what...?

Yoshiki: What did the Indou family do in the past?

Yoshiki: What's their "sin"?...

Dad: Who did you hear that from?

Yoshiki: I found out on my own...

Yoshiki: It's something I need to know right now

(sfx: RAIN)

Dad: Why?

Yoshiki: ...

Dad: ...

Dad: ...Kouhei and I, we had talked about it and agreed

Dad: that we didn't want to burden our sons with that though...

Dad: The men of the Indou family go to the mountain once every 5 years or so

Dad: To apologize...and to ask the god not to come down the mountain

(sfx: RAIN)

Yoshiki: Because the Indou family did something during the mass deaths in the past...?

Dad: ....Once, I asked Kouhei what the Indou family had done.

TV: {...after the bubble burst...clubs in Ginza...}

Kouhei: The reason the Indou family is hated is 'cause...

Kouhei: The young head of the Indou family at the time had a wife, who fell sick during an epidemic and was made into a "head"

Kouhei: So he went to the mountain and offered up her head

Dad: Uh-huh...

Kouhei: And what do you think he asked for?

Kouhei: He said, "Bring my wife back to life!"

Kouhei: "You can have whatever head you want, just not the Indou family!"

Dad: Ah...whoa...that's already kinda...

Kouhei: Haha! And then...

Kouhei: She really did come back to life!!

Dad: Huh? No way

Kouhei: And in exchange...

Kouhei: Within the day, a third of the village had died bizarre deaths

Kouhei: Deaths by hanging, cutting the throats of their family members and then themselves, having their head be trampled by horses, even cases where someone's head disappeared the moment you turned around

Dad: Wh...oa...All "heads"...

Kouhei: Right! And of course, the Indou family had zero deaths

Kouhei: The wife who had come back to life...

Kouhei: Was still a severed head

Kouhei: So she suffered and died that night

Kouhei: Then, the strange deaths stopped as well

Kouhei: Strangely, after that, the harvests got better, and the epidemics became fewer.

Kouhei: Well, I guess my ancestor was also pretty unlucky...Apparently, up until that point, no matter how many heads you offered, nothing in particular would have happened.

P10

Dad: How much of that is true?

Kouhei: Dunno. But the head of that wife is still around.

Kouhei: So guess that's why they make the Indou family go up the mountain.

Dad: Huh!?

Kouhei: She's called "Indou Hichi"-san

Kouhei: Seems like even if you return her to the mountain, she comes back again somehow.

Dad: You're always...

Dad: Don't say stuff like that like it's nothing...You don't think anything of it?

Kouhei: No, it's not like that at all...

Kouhei: It's something I have to bear after all...

Kouhei: And it's something we have to pass down to our kids as well...

P11

Kouhei: Oh right!! That's why I wanna get married to Yuki-nee* quick!

Dad: Yuki-chan again?

Kouhei: In the Indou family, 'cause there was an incident like that, they say "If you have someone precious to you, you'd better get married quick and bring them into the Indou family."

Kouhei: 'Cause if they're a member of the Indou family, then that angry Unuki-sama won't take them away.

Kouhei: I gotta protect Yuki-nee!

Dad: Even though she turned you down 11 times? You creep.

Kouhei: Aw, shut up! Why do you even remember that!?

* -nee - affectionate suffix for an (older) woman

Next chapter: 2024/03/12

Twitter Extra (link):

If you had to pick one, Yoshiki resembles his mother more.

Both siblings inherited the tendency for moles from their father.

Comic:

Yoshiki: *sigh*

Dad: Huh!

Search suggestions:

Search bar:

"m"

"moles how to remove"

"moles lots why"

"moles so annoying"

"moles reason increase"

"moles removal DIY"

"moles world record"

Dad: So it bothers you that much...?

T/N

In chapter 14, Kouhei calls Yoshiki's dad "Toshi", but I'm not sure if that's his full name or a nickname, so leaving him as "Dad" for now.

The term used for "head" (kubi) can also refer to the neck specifically, so if you're wondering why deaths by hanging and cutting the throat count as "heads" here, that's why.

#hikaru ga shinda natsu #the summer hikaru died #hgsn spoilers

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ladykailitha · 11 months ago

Text

Royal Pain: Epilogue

I know I said I would hold off posting until the Christmas story was completed, but this one literally had one chapter left and it felt rude to make you wait for it.

Happy boys!

Pt 1 Pt 2 Pt 3 Pt 4 Pt 5 Pt 6 Pt 7 Pt 8 Pt 9 Pt 10 Pt 11 Pt 12 Pt 13 Pt 14 Pt 15 Pt 16 Pt 17 Pt 18 Pt 19 Pt 20 Pt 21 Meta Pt 22 Pt 23 Pt 24|Pt 25|Pt 26|Pt 27|Pt 28

****

Six months later:

They were having a holiday plus everyone celebrating something awesome party.

It was held at Steve and Eddie’s new house. Steve had decided to move out the apartment and buy a house now that the business was so successful. And on their six month anniversary, Steve asked Eddie to move in with him.

It had two studios. A music one for Eddie, where he could write songs and the boys could practice so that they no longer had to rent out that garage.

The second one was for Steve to get his art degree. He was still running Royal Pain, but wanted to learn new styles and techniques that would help him become a better tattoo artist.

Chrissy, Robin, and Vickie had also moved into together, but into a bigger apartment that had three rooms so that they could all have their own space, but still remain a committed polycule.

Argyle and Chrissy were both full time tattoo artists, leaving time for Steve to go back to school.

Robin was going back to school, too. To become a translator.

Eden and Argyle were still a couple and expecting their first child in the summer.

Nancy and Jonathan remained broken up, with Nancy in therapy and Jonathan dating a friend of Miranda’s.

Jeff and Miranda were getting married in February, the reception to be held at the Nightmare Holes.

Mike and Will were official now, too and were in talks to move in together. They were trying to decide to move to Will’s apartment, Mike’s, or a find another apartment all together. One that was both their space.

Erica had moved to New York to be with Max and Lucas. But all of them were in town for the party. Having planned it around when the Knicks would be in town.

Hopper was loving Eden as his apprentice, hers almost being up. He was eyeing the first of the year to promote her.

Brian came out as ace and that Cecil was his platonic life partner and had been for the last couple of years.

Gareth and Gethin were still sharing the apartment, but they were still single. Gethin was always looking for the next Mrs Hughes, but Gareth was content to find out more about himself before diving into a relationship.

Dustin and Suzie were also expecting, but they had just found earlier that week.

The Binghams were so excited that two of their daughters were pregnant and were planning to come up in the summer to help with Eden’s baby and help Suzie get ready for hers.

They were all gathered around in the kitchen with a package that Murray had sent over that morning.

“Come on, Ed,” Wayne said softly. “Open ‘er up.”

Eddie nodded and tore the brown paper off the gift. He let out a choked out sob.

Steve put his arm around Eddie’s shoulder.

“Oh sunshine,” Steve breathed. “Show everyone.”

Eddie nodded and lifted it over his head so everyone could see.

There in a black frame and nestled in a white background was a gold record for their song, Pretty Boy Under Bright Lights. The first love song Eddie ever wrote for Steve. And it had just sold its five hundred thousand copy.

They all started cheering.

Steve kissed Eddie’s cheek fiercely. “See? I knew you could do it on your terms, Eds. You are a rockstar now.”

Tears ran down his cheeks nodding his head. Then he was surrounded by his band. They were hugging him and cheering.

Sometimes it really does work out for everyone. Even if didn’t happen the way they thought it would.

Eddie thought back to that day so long ago when Max had called him to let him know that she was leaving. He never thought that losing a tattoo artist would change his life forever.

Later that night, he pulled her aside.

“I owe you big time, Red,” he said, wrapping his arm around her.

Max grinned. “Hell yeah you do.”

“Anything you want, you’ve got,” Eddie promised. “My left kidney. My first child.”

She laughed. “When you two get married, I want to do matching tattoos on both of you.”

Eddie blinked. “Deal!”

Steve wandered over just then. “What’s a deal?”

Max grinned up at him. “Eddie just promised me that I get to do wedding tats when you two get married.”

Steve looked at Eddie and then back to Max. “Yeah, that’s fair.”

Max nodded once. “Damn straight it is.”

“Oh, honey,” Eddie teased. “There ain’t nothing straight about this relationship.”

She smacked his arm.

But Eddie just giggled.

“Come on,” Max said. “I want to see it.”

Eddie rolled his eyes. “You saw it on my Insta.”

“It’s not the same and you know it,” she growled. “I want to see Steve’s masterpiece.”

Steve blushed. “Come on, Max...”

Eddie looked at his blush and then turned to Max. “Fine. But here and not out there where everyone can gawk.”

“Well, duh,” she said. “That’s why I asked now.”

Eddie took off his shirt and turned around.

“Oh shit,’ she hissed. “It’s even better than the pictures give it credit. Steve, this is incredible. There’s no way I could have done something like that.”

Steve ducked his head. “I really really like how it turned out.”

Eddie put his shirt back on. “Yeah. Me too. I just don’t like showing it off, because it’s so personal. Between me and Steve.”

Max nodded. “Yeah. Absolutely. Thanks for showing me.”

Eddie nodded back and wrapped his arms around, Steve. “Thanks for everything, Red.”

She waved them off. All she had done was leave. But they didn’t see it that way. So yeah, they owed everything to Max, for choosing to live her life on her own terms.

“Before we go back to the party,” Steve said. “I wanted to give you another present before we got to the main one later.”

Eddie’s shoulder sagged. “Babe you didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to,” Steve said scratching his cheek. “In fact it was something I’ve been meaning to give to you for a long time.”

He pulled out a brightly wrapped package the size of baseball.

“This isn’t a baseball, is it?” Eddie asked playfully.

Steve laughed. “No. It’s not that.”

Eddie removed the wrapping paper to find a small black velvet box. He opened it slowly.

“Babe, you can’t give this to me,” he begged. “This is the only thing you have left of your grandpa.”

Steve took it out and slid it on Eddie’s middle finger on his right hand. It fit perfectly. “I’ve been wanting you to have it since you gave me your lucky guitar pick. I wanted to give you something that was on the same level of importance to me that this was for you.” He tapped the pick gently that was under his shirt.

“It’s not–you’re not–”

Steve shook his head. “I will propose. Just not yet and not with that. You’ll get a ring on your left hand, sunshine. Make no mistake.”

Eddie nodded. “I love you, babe.”

“Steven Courtney Alexander Harrington you better not be making out in there!”

Eddie and Steve laughed and kissed deeply, then they walked back to the party, arms wrapped around each other.

“Right names, wrong order,” Eddie teased as they rejoined the group.

Robin blinked. “Wait, really?”

Steve nodded.

“I can’t believe you told him before you told me!” Robin hissed. “I was here first!”

“But I liked watching you guess,” he said laughing. Then he turned to the rest of the crowd. “Who told?”

Robin wiggled her shoulders smugly. “No one told me. I looked up your grandparents. They’re both pretty famous, after all.”

Steve sighed. “Again which of you told her to look it up?”

Robin’s jaw dropped and Vickie’s hand slowly went up.

“Traitor!” Robin said in mock outrage.

Eddie leaned down to see that Steve was pouting about her learning his middle name.

“Don’t worry about it, babe,” he said kissing Steve’s cheek. “We can make her guess my middle name.”

Steve immediately brightened up. “Oohhh. Yeah, okay. It’ll take her years to guess yours!”

“It’s Wayne,” Robin said confidently.

Wayne snorted from the corner. “You really think my deadbeat brother would name his son after me, the responsible one?”

She frowned.

Steve turned to Eddie gleefully. “You’re right, sunshine. Best game ever.”

Robin started shouting out names and it wasn’t even Eddie correcting her. It was Jeff, and Miranda, and Gareth, and Brian and everyone else who knew Eddie’s middle name.

And of course Steve knew it too, but he liked watching their friends and family laugh and try to guess. Because the truth was, Eddie didn’t have a middle name. Robin could guess forever and never get it right.

Steve curled up against Eddie’s side and sighed happily. It was his best year yet. And as long as he had Eddie by his side, they would all be great years to come.

END

****

Tag List: @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @artiststarme @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @pyrohonk @bookworm0690 @chaosgremlinmunson @goodolefashionedloverboi @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence @plyerice27 @thedragonsaunt @sapphirecobalt-1 @a-little-unsteddie @i-must-potato @danili666 @carlyv @rozzieroos @wonderland-girl143-blog @itsall-taken @justforthedead89 @emly03 @aizawa-emma @yikes-a-bee @redfreckledwolf @thesuninyaface @bookbinderbitch @archermightbegay @littlewildflowerkitten @scheodingers-muppet @hallucinatedjosten @ellietheasexylibrarian @anne-bennett-cosplayer @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @bestwifehaver @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @oldwitcheshat @nightmareglitter @tinyplanet95 @novelnovella @jonesn4coffee @slowandsteddie @awkwardgravity1 @steaddie-on

#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #tattoo artist steve #complete

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badbatchposts · 2 months ago

Text

Quiet Corners of the Galaxy, Ch. 28

Relevant tags/content warnings: Crosshair/Original Female Character, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Periodic Smut, Canon-Typical Violence, Alcohol Use, 18+/Explicit

Read the full fic so far on AO3

Read previous chapters on Tumblr: Ch. 1 l Ch. 2 l Ch. 3 l Ch. 4 l Ch. 5 l Ch. 6 l Ch. 7 l Ch. 8 l Ch. 9 l Ch. 10 l Ch. 11 l Ch. 12 l Ch. 13 l Ch. 14 l Ch. 15 l Ch. 16 l Ch. 17 l Ch. 18 l Ch. 19 l Ch. 20 l Ch. 21 l Ch. 22 l Ch. 23 l Ch. 24 l Ch. 25 l Ch. 26 l Ch. 27

Chapter 28 summary: Dara makes a difficult decision when preparing for the Partisans to arrive at the clone base.

Extra content warnings for this chapter: Smut! Unprotected PIV sex, hair pulling, jealous Crosshair, biting, breastplay, handjob, oral sex (m receiving), dirty talk, borderline degrading language, slight dom/sub dynamics

Dara wasn’t sure how long he had been fucking her up against the console, the locked buttons biting into the skin of her breasts, when she finally thought to ask.

“Wait—whose ship is this?” she panted out.

Crosshair answered with a particularly hard thrust and a harsh tug on her hair. “Howzer’s,” he grunted.

She rolled her eyes at him over her shoulder. “Seriously?”

He nudged the side of her face so that she was once again looking forward, watching their reflections in the darkened transparisteel of the viewport, and didn’t deign to elaborate, just nipped at her shoulder and redoubled his efforts.

Dara had spoken to Howzer for maybe five minutes earlier that day, finally getting a chance to take him aside and apologize to him personally for her deception. The clone captain had received it politely but distantly, but apparently that brief conversation had been enough for Crosshair’s jealousy to rear its head. When she had found the sniper that evening, arms crossed, leaning against the empty ship, and he had jerked his chin in the direction of the ramp, she hadn’t hesitated to follow him—both of them desperately tearing off clothes and armor before the hatch had even fully closed—but she also hadn’t realized, when he bent her over the dashboard in the cockpit, that he was looking to prove some sort of point.

She should have known. Honestly, she wasn’t completely sure whether Crosshair was actually attracted to her or just couldn’t stand the thought of someone else having her when he didn’t.

Of course, that wasn’t to say that she didn’t think he enjoyed this; he had made abundantly clear what he wanted from her, and since that first time on Xagalus she had felt his eyes on her even more than usual. And though she had to admit that she herself had been thinking about it almost nonstop, after the second time it had happened, she had resolved—again—to stay away from him.

Then she had found herself with a spare minute and with his gaze no longer burning into her, and before she knew it she was on her hands and knees on a rooftop getting absolutely railed.

And then there were all the other occasions since…

At least this time, with the privacy afforded by the ship, they could strip fully. Crosshair’s skin felt hot against hers, his well-muscled thighs pressing tightly against her ass at the summit of each thrust and his chest flush against her back, his stubble rubbing along her shoulder as he tongued every bare inch of her that he could reach. His free hand massaged at her breast, and his cock was angled perfectly, drawing her higher and higher.

Crosshair must have felt the way she was tensing and knew her climax was approaching. Dara’s eyes fluttered closed, but he yanked at her hair again and they shot back open.

“I want you to watch, cyar’ika,” Crosshair growled. “Watch yourself cum for me.” Their gazes met in the transparisteel, the intensity he aimed at her almost unbearable, and Dara couldn’t stop the orgasm from rocketing through her. Her face contorted with pleasure, and Crosshair smirked, that arrogant kriffing asshole, but she felt too good to care, every muscle in her body relaxing all at once. All she could do was pant through it as Crosshair’s brow tensed before he released inside of her with a groan and one final, hard drive of his hips.

He held her by the waist for a moment, stroking gently with both thumbs, before pulling out carefully. Dara pushed herself up and watched for a moment as he pulled his boxers back on—skin-tight black ones, she imagined GAR- or even Empire-issue, which hugged his ass so deliciously she wanted to take a bite—and settled into the pilot’s seat with a toothpick. He was sweating a little with exertion, looking extremely satisfied with himself, and he ran a hand through his hair to smooth it down. His gray locks, so closely cropped when they had first met, were growing out a little, beginning to curl chaotically around the burn scar at his temple. She liked it a little longer, selfishly wanted something to run her fingers through and pull hard like he always did to her.

It was too bad, really, that she couldn’t let this continue.

“You’re distracted,” Crosshair observed as she began to pull her own underwear and breastband back on. How it was that he always knew what she was feeling, she could never tell, and not for the first time she wondered if his genetic enhancements had something to do with his powers of observation, though even keen eyes shouldn’t have made him read her so well. She looked away, searching for wherever her pants had gotten to while they’d been frantically undressing.

She kept her voice flat, unaffected—he couldn’t think she was angry, her stronger emotions were like a beacon for him, only drawing him in further.

“This can’t happen again,” Dara declared firmly.

Finally managing to locate her trousers, she perched on the edge of the co-pilot’s chair to pull them on and glanced up to find Crosshair staring intently at her. When she met his gaze, he sneered and shrugged, indifferent.

“If you’d told me before, I would’ve drawn it out longer,” he drawled. Dara rolled her eyes and stood to begin searching for her shirt, but he stopped her by curling his long fingers around her wrist. “Give me five minutes, and we can go again.” He raised an eyebrow. “If it’s the last time.”

She scoffed. “It’ll take more than five minutes.”

Crosshair smirked and relaxed his grip ever-so-slightly, stroking along her forearm. “I’m an enhanced clone. Better stamina, better recovery… you can’t compare me to other men you’ve been with. I’ll always be better.”

Dara snorted. “You’re so full of yourself.” But she sat back down all the same, feeling tingles on her skin from his touch even after he released her. Another round tonight couldn’t hurt, she told herself. One last time.

Outside the ship, the base was quiet and calm, and she closed her eyes, savoring the companionable silence. This had gone better than she’d thought it would, perhaps proving her suspicions correct—that, whatever strange compulsion had led Crosshair to pursue her almost incessantly since they’d met, now, with his curiosity sated, he would rapidly lose interest.

For a moment, on the rooftop, she’d begun to doubt it, confused by his strange reaction to her scraped knees (hardly her first or worst sex-related injury, but Dara didn’t think he’d appreciate that bit of trivia). She’d been unconcerned until the moment she’d caught sight of him, looking so sullen he inexplicably reminded her of a wet tooka, and wasn’t that a strange image for someone she knew was so deadly, so ruthless. It was difficult to parse where that morose vulnerability had come from. Whatever it was, it was clear that he wanted—needed, maybe—to feel in control, and didn’t take any slips lightly.

She wasn’t sure if her steadfast refusal to allow him that was what kept him coming back for more, or if it was steadily driving him off. Not a rotation had gone by since the rooftop where they hadn’t managed to find themselves sequestered in some dark corner of the base, but he was more closed off since then, all growls and posturing in response to her prodding and stubbornness. They hadn’t spent much time together otherwise, one or the other of them always strolling casually off the moment they were dressed, practically radiating satisfaction.

Crosshair’s voice disrupted Dara’s reverie. “Why?”

“Hmm?” she responded. She glanced over at him lazily, trying to retrace her thoughts back to the last thing they had said, but his expression was blank as he stared out the viewport.

“Why can’t this happen again? You can’t tell me you aren’t enjoying yourself.” The last sentence came as a seductive, self-confident purr, a tone she was now all-too-used to hearing in her ear as strong hands explored every inch of her. Crosshair met her gaze in the reflection, eyes smoldering and a familiar smirk on his lips.

Dara rolled her eyes. “That’s not it.” He raised an eyebrow, patient, waiting her out, and she sighed, resigned. “My people arrive tomorrow. There will be a lot to get done. I can’t afford to be distracted.”

He scoffed, folding his arms and turning to look at her directly. “Didn’t realize I was such a distraction.”

“You know what I mean.” Dara schooled her features, willing herself not to take the bait. This had to be done, and the less of it turned into a fight, the easier it would be to move on from.

Of course, nothing with Crosshair was easy.

“I’m not sure I do. If you ask me, it’s been good for you,” the sniper remarked. He looked her up and down, gesturing with his toothpick. “You’re less tense.”

The worst part was—he was right. She’d known, long before her breakdown on Xagalus, that she was too tightly wound, liable to snap at any moment, her life a constant stream of paranoia and risk management and death and atrocity, and none of this fixed any of that, but it sure made it easier to forget. It opened a release valve on the pressure.

“That’s not important,” she objected anyway. “I need to be focused on the mission. The cause takes priority.” It was the reason she hadn’t had even had a one-night-stand since shortly after she’d rejoined Saw, and if she hadn’t really had a repeat partner like this since before the war—well, she didn’t have the cause as an excuse, but that was her business.

This situation was rapidly deteriorating. Already, Dara could tell that Crosshair wasn’t prepared to accept that as an explanation, his expression too keen, searching for a gap in her armor where he could strike home.

“Really? Or are you just worried your Partisans will find out you’re fucking an ex-Imperial?” he spat out, and yes, that thought had vaguely occurred to her, but he was still probing for his plan of attack, she should get dressed and get out of here before things escalated even further— “Or is it Saw?” he tried. His eyes flashed with recognition, certain he had spotted a weak point. “Is that it—you and Saw, then? Planning on going back to sleeping with your leader?”

“Oh, fuck off, Crosshair,” she exploded. At the back of her brain, a logical but entirely ineffectual voice pointed out that, yet again, she had let him goad her into a reaction, but it wasn’t nearly enough to stop her. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, since you still won’t let go of that thing with Howzer.”

He sneered. “This isn’t about Howzer,” he countered heatedly, as though they were arguing half-naked in some other man’s ship.

Dara considered him a moment, deciding on a different tactic. “How old are you?” Crosshair scoffed, beginning to roll his eyes, but she insisted, “No, I really mean it. The clones have accelerated aging, right? So how old are you?”

He crossed his arms and glared back defiantly. “Younger than Omega.”

“Dank farrik, that’s—”

“What does it matter?” he interrupted, and she would have to just tuck away her reaction to that troubling bit of information for another time.

She sighed. “What it matters is that I’ve been having sex for as long as you’ve been alive. If you’re going to bother being jealous of every person I’ve ever slept with, it’s going to be a long and frustrating battle.”

Crosshair chewed on that for a moment, and Dara wondered if, like her, he was struck by the enormity of it—that she’d accumulated a lifetime of experiences in comparison, had the luxury of living slowly, collected pleasures with meaning and without, nights remembered with fondness and some hardly remembered at all.

It didn’t matter—and he didn’t need to know—how close he was to the best she’d ever had. How much her body wanted this to continue, even while her mind insisted she was asking for trouble if it did.

Whatever Crosshair may have been thinking, it was tamped down quickly beneath a familiar veneer of snide cruelty, his suspicions confirmed. “So you are fucking Saw.”

“I’m not having this conversation with you,” Dara huffed.

Crosshair smirked and flicked his toothpick across the cockpit. It bounced against the viewport before disappearing amid the buttons of the console. “Hmm. Didn’t think the great Saw Gerrera would make it a habit of sleeping with his subordinates.”

“I’m not his subordinate,” she snapped.

“Then what are you to him?” He was regarding her seriously now, and she realized that, beneath the smug, irritating prodding, the question was genuine. It was an impressive interrogation, one she could hardly believe she had fallen for, but as usual, he’d played her emotions like an expert.

Dara sighed again, feeling herself giving in. “Saw and I have been friends a long time.” It was the truth, though a complicated one, the strands of their shared history far too difficult to untangle here, now.

Crosshair only hummed mockingly. “Hmm. Is that what you call it?”

She stood, and closed the short distance to the pilot’s seat to tower over him. “Listen. I’m only going to say this once, and then you’d better back off. Saw and I slept together twice, and neither time was a good idea.” And what a bad idea it was, both times mired in grief and a quiet desperation to acknowledge they were still alive, the silence afterward a durasteel wall between them. She shook her head to free herself of the memories. “It won’t be happening again, and it has nothing to do with this.”

His piercing amber gaze held hers a moment, but Dara struggled to read its significance.

“I know it won’t,” he crowed quietly. He placed his hands on either side of her waist and stroked his thumbs over her hip bones, a smug expression coming over his features. “Not now that you’ve had me.”

Crosshair’s fingertips moved slowly upward to tug her breast band over her head, his eyes drinking her in as her breasts tumbled free. It occurred to her that this must be the most they’d ever actually seen of each other, the soft lights of the cockpit exposing what had been, in their earlier encounters, partly hidden in shadow or beneath clothing hastily tugged aside. She let her own fingers stroke lightly over his torso, tracing the lines of his tattoos—a skull over an Aurebesh 99 on his left pec, a target on his right, an impressive likeness of his rifle along the crease of one hip, a two-headed snake slithering across his ribs—and felt the way his muscles twitched at her touch. It was unfair, really, how perfect his long, lean body was, how tempting it was to follow the salt and pepper trail of hair down his abdomen to where his cock was already hardening at her attentions, tenting the fabric of his boxers.

But she was giving into temptation already, wasn’t she, and so Dara slid her hand beneath his waistband and took his length firmly in hand. Crosshair groaned and squeezed her breast, pulling her closer with his other hand at the small of her back. He rolled one nipple between his thumb and forefinger as he enclosed the other in his hot mouth, sucking lightly at first, then harder when Dara began to stroke him steadily. She sighed in contentment, the feeling of velvety-soft skin against her palm and his tongue working her nipple to a peak sending waves of arousal to her core. Crosshair slowly slid his hand up along her spine until it rested between her shoulder blades, pressing her even tighter against him, as though he couldn’t taste enough of her, needed more and more even as Dara straddled him in the pilot’s seat.

When Crosshair finally released her nipple to take a sharp, gasping breath she gripped his shoulder, pressing him back against the headrest, and captured his lips against hers. Their tongues battled ferociously for a moment until Dara picked up the pace at which she was pumping his cock, swiping her thumb against the sensitive head and using the pre-cum she collected to torment him further. Crosshair broke away from the kiss with a groan.

“You’ll be the death of me, burk’yc,” he murmured, resting a hand against her cheek. The gesture was oddly affectionate, and Dara found she couldn’t hold his gaze.

“Should I stop?” she teased. She trailed her lips down his jaw, his neck, his collarbone, sucking and nipping as she felt the urge, greedily tasting the salt of his skin. Crosshair didn’t reply for a long moment, mesmerized as she tongued the lines of his tattoos and scars then sank onto her knees in front of the pilot’s seat. She paused at the end of a long lick over the Firepuncher at his hip and toyed with the edge of his waistband, looking up at him coyly.

Dara could tell he was close to losing control, jaw clenched and hands curling into fists at his side, eyes ravenous and predatory like a starving nexu, but he quickly recovered his composure, disguising his insatiable need under an insufferable smirk.

Crosshair settled a possessive hand at the back of her head. “You don’t want to stop. Go ahead, mesh’la—take what you want.”

She felt a twinge of annoyance at how he still insisted on pretending like he was the one in charge even as she practically had him eating out of the palm of her hand, but it was competing with a purring part of her that agreed wholeheartedly, that felt the gentle pressure of his long fingers petting through her hair and wanted to lean into it. That wanted to give in.

And if it was going to be the last time, well, she might as well enjoy herself.

With one smooth motion, Dara slid Crosshair’s boxers down his slender legs, eyeing his erection hungrily as it bounced back against his stomach. His cock was as beautiful as he was, really—also incredibly unfair, he had a big enough ego already—all golden-brown skin and a dark head, long and a little thin like the rest of him, curved just fucking perfectly like it was designed to make her see stars. As eager as she felt, she went slowly, sucking marks along the inside of his thigh, tonguing the crease of his hip, then just breathing gently on his cockhead as she made her way to the opposite side to do it all again.

Crosshair tightened his grip in her hair a little in warning. “Don’t tease, brat,” he growled.

Dara grinned up at him mischievously. “But you said I could take what I want,” she protested, her tone all faux innocence, and before he could snarl at her she was already mouthing at his shaft, kitten licking her way to the head where she swirled her tongue around the sensitive glans and swallowed him down. It had been a long time before Crosshair, but she had always been kriffing good at this, so she relaxed her throat easily and took him far enough that she could press her nose into the coarse gray hairs at the base.

“Karking hell,” he hissed through gritted teeth. She could feel him twitch at the back of her throat and held him there a moment before she eased up a little, breathing deeply through her nose.

Maybe she would be the death of him.

She dedicated herself to putting on a bit of a show, alternating bobbing up and down while gently tonguing the thick vein at the bottom of his cock, only to then suck hard, or take him down to the root, or press the head to the inside of her cheek so he could see it protrude a little. Whenever she looked up, he was watching, nearly unblinking, unwilling to tear his eyes away from the sight.

He was breathing hard, chest heaving, unable to hold back his groans. “Fuck. Look so good… on your knees for me…”

Dara hummed around him, and he tightened his grip in her hair, maybe resisting the urge to make her take him deeper, faster. She liked this, liked the taste and feel of him on her tongue, liked seeing him nearly out of his mind with pleasure. His eyes finally drifted shut, and his head tilted back for a moment before he eased her off of him.

“Ride me,” Crosshair rasped, demanding, and his tone brooked no disagreement. She considered disagreeing anyway, just for the sake of it, to push him, make him finally lose control—but then, she did want to ride him.

Still, “Say please,” she goaded, even as she shed her pants and underwear and straddled him once again, hovering her wet pussy over his rock-hard length.

Crosshair seized her by the hips hard enough to bruise, eyes glinting dangerously. “You don’t want me to say please. You want me to split you in fucking half. Ride. Me.”

Then Dara was choking out a cry as he sank into her. When he withdrew a little, she chased after him, craving the feeling of him inside of her, unable to resist her own need any longer. She held tight to his shoulders for stability and he let her set the pace for a while, watching from under heavy lids as she fucked herself on his cock.

So perfect, it was so perfect the way his cockhead stroked against the sensitive spot inside her, making her feel impossibly full, the way the friction against her clitoris when she grinded down against him sent pleasure tingling through her veins. Her thighs burned with effort as she rose and fell against him, helped only by his hands against her hip and ass guiding her up and down, but it was easy to ignore as she focused entirely on the promise of ecstasy that awaited her.

Crosshair was always uncharacteristically talkative during sex, and now was no different, though she wasn’t sure he even knew what he was murmuring. “That’s it, meshla. So good. Getting so close now, keep going. Can’t decide which I like better, your mouth or your cunt, they both feel so kriffing good for me. But you don’t need me to decide, do you? You’re happy with any way you get to take my cock.”

Dara cried out, her orgasm finally spilling over her, though she was careful not to let her cries and moans transform into words, fearful they would say too much, the voice in her head echoing, it’s true, it’s true, she wanted him, would take whatever he gave her, and now she had him and it felt too good and this couldn’t be the last time, she didn’t want it to be the last time.

Unable to keep moving through the force of her orgasm, Dara had half-collapsed onto Crosshair, who was thrusting slowly, almost gently, while she put herself back together.

She kissed the skin of his shoulder lazily where she had landed, panting, “I’m— I’m done, you can go ahead and—”

“No,” Crosshair interrupted, speeding up his pace only marginally. “You’re going to give me another one.”

Dara furrowed her brow into his shoulder. She had blown him to within an inch of his life earlier—he had to be close enough, and she wasn’t sure why he was holding out now. “What? You haven’t had enough already?” she managed to snark through her post-orgasmic daze.

Crosshair nosed his way down to her mouth and captured it with his, teasing her with his tongue and sucking on her bottom lip. “I could make you cum every morning, noon, and night for a tenday straight and it wouldn’t be enough,” he growled.

She shivered, his words sending electricity straight to her core, riling her up all over again, but before she could even think to reply he was back to thrusting hard, rough and demanding, marking all over her neck and breasts with lips and teeth. His strong hands at her waist helped her keep bouncing on his cock despite it feeling like all the strength had fled from her limbs, and soon she could already feel another climax barreling toward her like a railspeeder.

By the looks of it, Crosshair wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer either, his furrowed brow and nails biting into her skin betraying how close he was, and all she wanted was to feel his warm spend leaking out of her again. He gripped her jaw and held her pressed tightly to his chest, pistoning up into her relentlessly, forcing her eyes to meet his.

“Say my name. Tell me who’s making you feel like this.”

And Dara no longer had the wherewithal or even desire to resist, crying out, “Crosshair!” as bliss, sweet bliss, invaded every one of her senses. She was just barely aware of him burying his face in her neck, releasing his own moans, and she felt the telltale twitch of his cock as he came inside her.

It took her a few moments to come back to awareness enough to realize she was shaking. Crosshair still held her tightly, his arms wrapped around her waist and hands rubbing soothing circles against her back. She breathed deeply, trying to regain control of her body, and moved to extricate herself.

“Hold still. Too sensitive. Just—wait a minute,” Crosshair murmured. Dara took pity on him and stopped wiggling. He kept his forehead resting against her shoulder, just breathing for a long moment. It was warm and comfortable, resting in his lap while he softened inside of her, and she toyed unthinkingly with a stray curl at the crown of his head and let herself relax. Kriff, that was amazing. It was always amazing.

She didn’t want to stop.

If she didn’t stop now, she might never be able to.

“You good yet?” Dara asked. When Crosshair finally nodded, she slipped off of him, quickly pulling on her underwear and trousers before too much of his cum could leak out onto her thighs. They dressed in silence, though it took Crosshair much longer to retrieve the scattered pieces of his armor and fit them back into place. Dara stood uncertainly when she had finished, feeling like she should say something, but not sure what.

Crosshair glanced up at her from where he was still working on securing his vambraces. His eyes were hard, his expression cold. “Go on. You got what you wanted.”

Dara grumbled in frustration. “I thought we both did.” Sure, now he was angry, and she would be able to make sense of that, if he hadn’t also gone from indifferent to jealous to smug to disdainful to fucking her brains out all in the past forty minutes.

He didn’t reply, just looked away dismissively.

Rubbing her eyes where she could already feel the tension coming back, Dara made her way to the hatch, pressing the button to lower the ramp before turning to him one final time. “Listen… really, it’s been…” She sighed. “Just, know that— This isn’t about you.”

Crosshair waited long enough after she left to be sure she was too far to hear the clatter before he chucked his helmet against his reflection in the darkened transparisteel of the viewport.