#At least we got the vinyl player working

[goatmilksoda]

Me: Wow it's so weird that my Spotify Wrapped feels totally inaccurate to my music taste this year.

Also me when I don't know what to listen to and just want ambient noise (aka 90% of the time):

[strniohoeee]

matt and reader bffs to lovers and they don't know about eachothers crushes

he asks her to go stargaze on the beach, she sits on his lap and he's all touchy and then they have a steamy makeout session where she has to stop him before things get too heated and then they finish in his car

Tell Him

Pairing: Matt Sturniolo X Female Reader

Synopsis: A beach trip at night takes a turn once feelings are expressed. But does it go how they want it to?🌙

Warnings⚠️: SMUTTTT, car sex. Nothing too crazy though. This was actually super fun to write! Hope yall enjoy🤞🏽

Song for the imagine: Tell Him- Ms. Lauryn Hill

⚠️This is an 18+ imagine, so minors do not interact, or do??⚠️

Cause he’s all that I got

And tell him

Tell him I need him

Tell him I need him

And it’ll be alright

“Would you like to come to the beach with me?” Matt suddenly asks me as I’m sitting in nicks room

“Just me or both of us?” I asked him

“Just you” he said smiling at me

“Yeah sure sounds fun” I said

“Alright I’ll be waiting in the car for you” he said before walking out the room

I grabbed my stuff and looked over at Nick

“Why is he taking me to the beach?” I asked him

“Well usually he goes to the beach at night to have deep talks and get in tune with his emotions, so maybe he wants to talk to you. Since you always tell him about your own issues, and you guys bond over that” Nick replied to me

“Ohhh okay. Sounds nice I’ll see you later” I said hugging Nick

“Have fun” he said waving bye to me one last time

“Thanks” I said and walked out his room

I headed out the front door and got into Matt’s car. He put the directions in, and he started to drive off.

“So what’s the special occasion” I said giggling

“Nothing. I just go to the beach to think, and I felt like bringing you along so we can talk” he said

“Orrr you’re taking me there to murder me” I said

“Well if I wanted to murder you Nick and Chris know you’re with me, so I wouldn’t get away with it” he said sighing

“You weirdo” I said laughing

“You started it” he replied pointing his finger at me

We drove in silence as my phone was plugged into the aux “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” album playing as we chatted here and there.

“Oh I love this song” I said putting the volume

“Doo Wop” Matt said looking at the song

“Guys you know you better watch out, some girls some girls are only about that thing that thing” I said bopping my head to the music and singing along

“You play this album a lot” he said looking over at me

“Lauryn Hill is brilliant, and all her songs are amazing. This is my favorite album of hers” I said

“I know! I remember when you first got your apartment and I got you that record player this was the first vinyl you purchased” he replied

“Dang I forgot about that! You have good ass memory Matt” I said looking at him

“Well it was all you would talk about and all you played” he said laughing

“That’s very true” I said nodding my head

“I like it though, not my music taste, but her works amazing” he said

“I can respect that” I said

Another 30 minutes went by before we got to the beach. The longest hour of my life. My ass was hurting and my knees were cracking once I hopped out of the car.

“Such a long drive” I said cracking my back after shutting the car door

“Not that long of drive at least when you’re the driver” he said shutting his door

“I suppose that’s true” I said cracking my neck

“Let’s head out to the sand and watch the stars” Matt said clapping his hands together

“Matt there’s no one here” I said looking around

“Well yeah it’s 1AM” he said laughing

“Are you sure we can be here?” I said getting scared

“Yeah it’s 24 hours, it’s just 1AM on a Tuesday night. I don’t expect many people to be here” he said laughing

“Touché” I said looking at him

“Last one to the sand is a loser” I said smacking Matt and booking it

“HEY NOT FAIR YOURE A CHEATER” he yelled and began to run after me

I got the sand first and started running closer to the water when I fell over a rock in the ground. I face planted on the sand

“OH MY GOD” Matt said finally catching up to me

I rolled over holding my stomach and laughing.

“Holy shit” I said giggling trying to get up

“That’s what you get for being a cheater” Matt said

“I didn’t cheat” I said laughing

He held his hands out and helped me up as we continued laughing

After we calmed down we sat down in the sand watching the waves crash onto shore

“So tell me” I said

“Tell you what?” He asked

“Tell me why you come out here alone all the time” I said

“Well the waves help me think, I usually bring my notebook with me and write everytime I hear a wave hit the shore” he said

“Wow Matthew….that was deep” I said running my hand through the sand

“Sorry I don’t mean to get like dark or anything” he said throwing seashells in front of him

“No I don’t mind tell me more” I said glancing over at him

“Well I brought you today instead of my notebook, you get deep like me and I’ve genuinely been needing a talk with someone” he replied

“Well here I am” I said putting my hands up

“I just think a lot. About my future, where am I going to be, how I should go about certain things because I want a specific result….you know” he said looking over at me

“Well you know every cause has an effect, so I don’t think you should really try to focus on how you want to mold your future. Obviously you should give it thought, but we’re all humans and fuck ups make us. If you’re trying super hard to be perfect you’re going to wear yourself out” I replied

“That’s true….I never thought of it that way” he said smiling while looking at the water

“Well that’s what I’m here for. A second opinion…something like that” I said

“Do you ever think of just running away, and being someone else” he blurted out

“I mean it has crossed my mind, but not really. Do you think this about yourself?” I asked him looking over at him

“Mmm I also have, but I love my life. I guess sometimes I just think how my life would be without this publicity. Would I be happier? Would I be sad? Would I be more anxious? Just stuff like that” he replied

“I think you’d be worse, and I know it sounds mean, but think about it. This fame has brought you out of your shell in so many aspects.” I told him

“Once again, very true. I don’t know I just get in my head and start thinking weird things” he said shaking his head

“It’s not weird. Every human has thought this way at one point or another” I said

Matt nodded his head and leaned back resting his head on his hands as he looked at the stars.

I leaned back too, and watched the stars with him.

“When I’m with you, I’m just exactly where I want to be, I could die right now and feel happy. You complete me” Matt said

“Thanks Matt. I think we were exactly what we needed in each others lives” I replied to him

“You’re the best thank you” he said bumping into me

“Always Matthew….always” I said looking up at the sky

We sat in silence for a while as we let the breeze dance against our skin, as the stars reflected off our eyes.

“If there’s one thing you could tell someone right now what would you tell them?” He asked randomly

I thought for a few seconds really letting this question linger in my head. Was he giving me a chance to open up about my feelings regarding him, or did he mean something else? I was a bit scared to say how I felt, but something kept telling me to just say what I wanted, so I did.

“Well I would tell him that he’s an amazing person and that he should believe in himself more. He shouldn’t get in his head too much because he doubts himself too much. He’s a great person inside and out, and not many people get him; but I do. He has a beautiful soul, personality and he’s a charming guy. I would also tell him that I really liked him, and I have liked him for a while; but I’m not too sure if he feels the same” I said in a whisper

It got silent for a few seconds, and my brain was clouded with doubts and anxiety. I might’ve just made the worst mistake of my life.

“I think he would tell you that he likes you too, and that he gets in his head so much because you make him want to be the best version of himself. You make him think harder, love harder and overall want to be a better person. But I’m not sure” Matt said, sprinkling that doubt on his statement in case it would backfire, but it wouldn’t.

I turned my head and looked at Matt giving him a once over.

“You should be sure….because she does like you back” I said sitting up and looking down at him

He looked at me, his chest rising up and down as his pupils dilated. I licked my lips too and leaned down connecting our lips.

Our kiss became heated immediately and I got onto Matt straddling him. My knees buried into the sand as his hands ran up my thighs and to my waist.

Our tongues fighting against one another as he grabbed the back of my head with his right hand. Deepening our kiss as our teeth clashed against one another.

I pulled away and looked down at him. His cheeks tinted with a blush, and his lips swollen.

“I think we should head to the car before this gets out of hand” I said in a whisper

“Yeah I agree” he said nodding his head

We both got up and walked to the car. I needed him….I need his touch, his warmth, his lips….his tongue I needed it all

Once we got to the car I quickly turned around causing Matt to look confused. I pulled him in by his shirt and smashed our lips together, my hands running through his wavy hair

“Matt I…..I need more of you” I said in a whisper

“Okay my love” he replied back in a whisper

I opened the back door and hopped in, Matt soon following after.

“Listen I like you a lot, and I don’t want you to think this is all I want because it’s not. I want to know all of you” he said looking at me

“I want to know all of you too” I said looking at him

Matt licked his lips and pulled me in to connect our lips again. He slid to the middle seat, and I sat on his lap as we continued to make out.

My hands ran through his hair as I grinded down on him.

He pulled away to let a moan fall from his lips as he licked his lips

I moved my kisses to his jawline and then his neck. Peppering wet sloppy kisses down his neck as he leaned his head back letting pants fall from his mouth. His grip on my thighs got harder as his bulge grew.

I wrapped my arms around his neck as I reconnected our lips. My clothes cunt dragging along Matt’s bulge.

“Oh Matt” I moaned out looking at him

“You’re killing me” he replied moving his hands to my ass and gripping

I slid my shirt off and took my bra off. Matt’s eyes gazed down to my chest and he bit his bottom lip.

I grabbed his hands and placed them on my breast moaning at the feeling.

“You can touch me Matt I promise” I said smiling at him

He nodded his head and began to leave kisses from my neck down to the top of my breasts. Slowing inching over to my left breast and taking my nipple into his mouth. Swirling his tongue around as he looked up at me

My mouth fell open as I let a moan out

“Holy shit Matt” I moaned out grinding down harder on him

He slowly slid over my right nipple and swirled his tongue around the sensitive bud. My cunt was basically screaming for him, and it was getting harder to ignore it.

Math pulled away and pulled his shirt off. My eyes trailing to his tattooed arm looking it up and down….his tattoos were so attractive and this made my mouth run dry some more.

My nails raking up his arm, my eyes watching his own face. I raked my nails over to his chest and down his stomach stopping right at his waistband. Goosebumps littering his skin

“Are you ready Matt?” I asked him

“Yes” he moaned out breathlessly

I lifted off of Matt and slid my pants down along with my underwear. As I did this he unbuckled his belt and slid his pants and boxers down allowing his cock to spring forward

“Oh Matt” I said biting my lip and looking down

“Don’t say that” he said laughing and rubbing his eyes

“Who would’ve known you were hung” I said

“Stoppp” he said getting embarrassed

“Don’t get shy on me now” I said rubbing his face

I hovered over Matt’s dick, and he helped me sink down onto him. Our mouths falling open as we let our shaky sighs.

I completely sank down, his dick stretching me out in the perfect way. My hands gripping his shoulders as my head fell forward

“Fuck Matt” I moaned out

“You gotta move or I’ll cum from this” he moaned out

I nodded my head and began to bounce up and down on Matt’s dick. His hands on my ass as he helped me bounce up and down

All that could be heard is our moans and skin slapping as his dick hit all the right places.

Matt leaned his head down and took my nipple into his mouth sucking harshly

“OH MY GOD” I moaned out as my eyes screwed shut

I continued to bounce on his dick. Matt’s head falling back slightly as he let out moans

“Just like that baby” he moaned out licking his lips

His pupils dilated, his cheeks red and a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

I switched my bouncing to grinding as I was now chasing my high. Matt caught on and gripped my ass helping me grind against him

His pelvic bone kissing my clit causing me to shudder

“Fuck Matt I’m so fucking close” I moaned out, my nails digging into his shoulders

“Me too baby, me too” he grunted out

I leaned against him, our chests touched as my grinding became sloppy. I was getting tired, and my knees started to burn

“I got you baby” he said

Matt wrapped his left arm around me as he slid down a bit and started to fuck up into me

“OHHHH MATT MATT MATT” I began to moan out my toes curled as his hips snapped into me

My jaw fell slack and I caught myself drooling. My thighs began to shake as I felt my orgasm approaching. Matt was looking at me with his bottom lip in between his teeth

“You got this pretty, come on cum for me” he cooed

“I’m cumming oh my god im cumming” I moaned out as I clenched down on Matt’s dick

My nails dug into his shoulders as I began to shake, my thighs shaking and my jaw falling open as his name fell from my mouth repeatedly

“MATT MATT MATT” I moaned out as my chest heaved up and down against his chest

“I got you baby I got you” he said as he helped me ride out my high

He slowly lifted me off of him as I sat on his thighs. He began stroking his dick chasing his own high

He was staring at me with half lidded eyes and suddenly his face contorted and his mouth fell open

“Fuckkkk” he moaned out as his thighs began to shake and he began to shake a bit

He painted his lower abdomen with his cum. Watching him come undone because of me made my head spin, and it made me fall in love with him more.

I slid off of his lap and leaned over to the glove box grabbing him napkins so he could clean himself up.

After we got dressed again we sat in the back for a moment really taking in what happened.

“You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met” he said caressing my cheek

“You’re the most beautiful boy I’ve ever met” I said smiling at him

“I mean it when I say I want to know all about you. Your favorite color, your favorite makeup brand, your favorite childhood memory. I want it all” he said leaning in and placing a kiss on my lips

“I’ll tell you it all, only if you do the same for me” I said smiling at him

“I’m an open book I’ll tell you everything” he replied to me

“Good” I said kissing his hand

“Want to head back?” He asked me

“Yeah it’s pretty late” I said to him

We got back in the front and decided to head back to the house. One hour drive back home and we spent it the whole way listening to music and laughing about everything. Matt was really my other half and all I had to do was

Tell Him….

The End

I hope you guys enjoyed this one! I have one more request, and then I’ll start my Matt sad imagine🤭. Love yallllll🥹🖤🖤

-J💅🏽

[delosdestinations]

"We wanted to make a show about consciousness; the kind of boastful ambition that works when you're pitching--and then falls apart when you find yourself trying to figure it out. There were few guides. Philosophers who'd lost their tenure. Computer scientists who'd lost their stock options. Guesses. Expletives. Crackpot theories. Hands wrung or simply thrown in the air. Even now, humans know more about what lies at the bottom of a supermassive black hole than the dark center of our minds.

But there are clues: language, semiotics; the distance between the notions rattling around in our minds and the ways in which we share them, and the ways in which humans share ideas between each other.

There's a language older than language, though. One that predates the written word or even the spoken one. Music. Its effects on people are fascinating--raw, direct, like an older interface that bypasses the newer, clunkier inputs. What music may lack in nuance versus spoken language, it more than gains in emotive power, as if transmitting emotion directly into the brain. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the right chord progression might reach nine figures.

So for our series about consciousness, we knew the music would be vital--and that we had the man for the job. Fittingly, Ramin's journey as a composer had been launched, in part, by Elmer Bernstein's achingly brilliant theme for The Magnificent Seven. Here he got to take a detour into the future in order to find his way back to the West.

He wanted to use guitars. We wanted piano (because the player piano had been the original western robot) and he gamely went along. I remember the themes as they came alive, anointing each character, imbuing them with even more depth and power. The craft and performances that came together for the series were all hard won--Ramin's music hooked everything to an undertoe of menace, melancholy and beauty.

As for Ramin's arrangements of contemporary music, they served two purposes; first, as a gentle reminder that our story was being told in the future tense, not the past. And second, as manipulation. If music is evocative, then music you've heard before takes on another dimension, dipping into circuits of lived experience and harnessing their power. A song you've listened to after a triumph or a breakup--even one rendered in a different timbre or arrangement--still has a grip on you. One that Ramin could pluck at, like the strings on his guitar. We spent four seasons exploring these questions and the closest we came to understanding consciousness--at least the variety that afflicts humans--is that any attempt to explain it without incorporating emotion is pointless.

The show is long since over. But I find myself whistling Ramin's timeless theme. Often. And I smile. That's the power of this music: that the indelible experiences of making Westworld, all of the incredible people who were part of it, all the days spent chasing the sun and capturing it on film, can all be conjured, instantly, in 8 perfectly chosen notes.

Westworld never died. It simply became music."

Jonathan Nolan, Executive Producer Liner Notes from Westworld: Season 4 (Music from the HBO Series) Vinyl

[horseshoegirl]

Damn Those Dog Tags: Part 21 - My Fair Lady

📜 Merry Christmas, you filthy animals! 😏😂

❗️+18, strong language, godmother reader/original female character, mentions of an original child character, reunions, sexual themes (I mean smut, so get out of here if you ain't +18, I mean it!!!), they finally do it! (first times, nakedness, sex, all that jazz --> So yes, that is a spoiler!).

#10k words (this one is long, and I'm not apologizing for it, LOL)

Part 20 | Masterlist | Part 22

With Sadie away at camp, you finally got the time and the opportunity to surprise her and redo your guest room into her room.

The house was a mess. Boxes of new furniture waiting to be built: a desk, a bookcase, a new bedframe. Her mattress slanted against the hallway. Old white sheets covered every inch of the floor and things that could not be moved.

You'd taken the shade off one of the bedside table lamps and stuck it in the corner of the room, its soft, warm light guiding you as you stood on a ladder, carefully stroking a painter's brush covered in green paint just below the edge of the ceiling, balancing the paint bucket on the top step.

The problem you had with projects like these was that you didn't really know when to stop. Staring when it was still light out, nothing but music playing softly through the speakers from your vinyl player, it was well past 2 AM before you knew it.

At least this passion project was one of the few things keeping you from obsessively worrying about Jake. And Bradley.

The static noise popping through your speakers was a welcome relief for your neck. With one last paint stroke, you climbed down the ladder, picturing your records and what one you could put on next. You bit your lip, reaching up to grab the bucket and the lid from the top step, covering it and hitting it closed with a thump.

You knelt next to the crate, searching for the record you had in mind when a persistent knock at your front door startled you. You weren't expecting anyone, let alone in the witching hours of the early morning.

Everything that happened with Tyler left you weary. Every white car you passed on the street made your skin crawl, and when Penny finally re-opened the Hard Deck and you returned to work, each time the door swung open in a dramatic fashion, you half expected to see Tyler standing there, a predatory glare in his eyes.

People also had a habit of knocking on your door late at night to deliver bad news. But something told you you needed to answer it anyway.

You slowly tip-toed down your hallway, plastering yourself to the wall, hoping to stay out of sight of whoever knocked on your door before peering through the peephole. Shocked to see the person pacing back and forth along your front porch, you whipped the door open.

"Alyssa?"

She stopped pacing, twisting her body towards the sound of your voice.

As long as you knew her, Lyssa had never once cried in front of you or came close to being visibly upset. She was direct, used humour in the most inappropriate moments, and always played things close to the chest. To see her face, beat red and tears streaming down her face, you couldn't help your unease.

Something had to be seriously wrong.

"Is Will okay?" you asked her.  "What's' wrong?"

She shook her head, stepping in front of you. "Um, no, he's okay. We need to get down to Top Gun. Now."

"Top Gun? It's almost three in the morning."

She shook her head again. "Will's father got word an aircraft carrier got caught in a hurricane somewhere overseas. It sunk. They're bringing in the survivors now."

Heart dropping into your stomach, your legs wobbled. You fell against your door frame, hands gripping the wood tight enough to hurt. Your throat was screaming at you, and you couldn't swallow. 

There was only one other time you could compare to how you were feeling now.

Friday nights were the worst fucking days of your life.

"Please don't tell me..." you croaked. "Please don't tell me it was theirs."

You gripped Jake's dog tags tight as you caught her harsh gulp, her face remaining stark. She didn't say anything. Not that she needed to. The very fact she was on your doorstep told you everything you needed to know.

She wouldn't have come to get you otherwise.

"Come on, we need to go," she managed to say through a harsh swallow.

You don't know how you managed to loosen your grip on your door frame or how you laced your shoes without screwing up the knots. Or how you got your key in the lock with your shakey hand.

You don't know how you got into the passenger seat of Alyssa's car, either. Or how you managed to put your seat belt on or not throw up as she sped out of your driveway and down to the highway.

A small part of you whithers when you realize you wouldn't have known, wouldn't have been here, hadn't Alyssa's Ex caught wind of it. Nat, Bob, and the rest of the daggers would have, too, eventually, but they probably wouldn't have been informed until it was too late.

You don't even know what's waiting for you at Top Gun, whether both Jake and Bradley were or weren't there. Or only one of them. Or if they would even let you in.

The gates were open to the facility when the two of you arrived. Lyssa followed several cars that were already pulling into the winding entrance, the line starting to build as more and more started to appear from the opposite direction. You leaned forward in your seat as she pulled into the parking lot, your heart in your throat as you tried to see behind the building to the runway. All you saw were blinking red and white lights against the night sky.

Alyssa hadn't even moved the parking brake when you threw yourself out of her car, not bothering to wait for her. The cool night wind bit at your face as you searched the building, looking for any indication they were letting people in. You spied a group of people charging across the parking lot to an open side door, someone in dress kaki's manning it. You followed them, skidding across the pavement as you reached the door, trying not to run anyone over and barrel through the crowd.

Cyclone saw you before you saw him, shouting out your full name amongst the chaos to urge you to the front to let you in with the next group. The words spill out of your mouth before you realize you're saying them. "Do you know if...?"

He shook his head. "If they did, they'll be on the next plane that came in."

A million thoughts skitter through your mind, like spiders across a floor, yet you push them aside.

"I have a friend, Lyssa. Let her in next."

He nodded without complaint, knocking hard on the door to let the group in.

Whether it was the threat of being yelled at for running or that they were inside the famous Navy facility, nobody moved quicker than a brisque walk.

You'd take on any military officer who would dare yell at you for the way you tried to weave in and out of the throngs of people.

The hallway you were guided down led to a hanger. The space had been turned into a temporary relief centre, with tables, cots, and supplies filling every inch. Medics were already helping a few of the officers who looked worse for wear, and dread filled you each time you spun, another injured officer upon another.

You weren't sure you were relieved or scared with each face you saw. Whatever they had to go through to get here, one thing was for certain. They had to do so in a rush.

You halted when you spotted the large military-like plane Cyclone spoke about sitting on the runway in the distance, viewable from the wide open door. Whether it had been there before or it had just arrived, you didn't know. Nor did you question it any further. The only thing that mattered was if Jake and Bradley were on that plane.

But with each group of people that passed, there was no sign of them.

Alyssa finally caught up to you, grabbing your arms from behind and tugging you backwards. "Liz," she started to say, but you tore out of her grasp.

"We didn't have time. We didn't have time," you said repeatedly, threading your fingers through your hair next to your temples. Alyssa reached out again, this time turning you by your raised elbows as you continued to force yourself to breathe. She pushed, and you slowly lost your hold on your roots, lowering your arms until she was grasping at your hands.

"I didn't want to tell him I loved him over a letter. I didn't want our last words to each other to be over a piece of paper," you cried out, trying to tug away. She didn't let go, her grip tight. It made you sob harder.

"I can't go through this again! Not with them, not with him. Not after everything Sadie and I have ever suffered through. It's too much, Alyssa!" you were on the verge of screaming. "We've been through enough!"

Lyssa opened her mouth, words just barely sounding out before her eyes locked on to something behind you. She gasped, and you twisted sharply, watery eyes searching a new crowd of officers making their way off the tarmac and into the hanger. You squinted your eyes, the night sky and the bright white lights from inside making it harder to make out faces.

A cluster of Navy officers broke off from the crowd, parting the way.

Then you saw them.

Both of them.

Jake was favouring a leg as he leaned against Bradley for support, hobbling along as they finally reached the entrance to the hanger, searching for a temporary cot. Even at a distance, you could make out a cut framing his eye, and one side of his face was bruised.

But he was here. He was whole.

He was alive.

You couldn't help it. You charged forward, no feeling in your legs as you zoomed past other families and officers, probably a few high-ranking officials in your paint-smattered shirt and overalls. Time slowed down for you as you ran, even if you were running as if your life depended on it.

"JAKE!"

Jake lifted his head at the sound of your voice, urging Bradley to stop. Bradley looked at him funny, watching his eyes glaze over and wondering if Jake hit his head harder than the medics originally thought. But then he followed his gaze, only to see you charging forward without a care in the world to reach him, and he knew.

Bradley unhooked his arm from around Jake's shoulders, steadying him for a second and then letting go, stepping to the side so you could have your moment.

You slid along the floor as you came to a halt in front of Jake, worried he was more damaged than you could see, arms reaching for him. Jake bracketed his arms tightly around your back the second you touched him, and you buried your face into his shoulder. He grunted as he pulled you tight, shoving his nose into your collarbone.

Jake smelt of the sea, of gasoline and sweat. His flight suit felt ripped under your hands as you tried to find a grip. Or maybe you were trying to assure yourself he was really there. Your mind flashed through all the possible things he might have gone through with each caress, your cries getting louder with each one.

Yet in your panic, you pulled back from his hug, only to take his face into your hands and kiss him hard.

"I love you," you gasped out between kisses. "I'm not getting you go. I'm here. I love you, I love you, I love you."

Jake's response was instant, fingers quickly gripping the back of your neck, the roots of your hair, to drive your head at all the angles he wanted, all the ways that made it easier for him to devour you.

You felt like you couldn't breathe, pulling away from his lips with a tightness in your chest. Your eyes fell on his lips, red and slightly swollen, and you were positive yours were the same. Until you looked up at those green eyes and the rest of the hanger, everyone else, faded away.

Jake smiled at you.

"Hi, Darlin.'"

You huffed a sad laugh through your tears, letting yourself fall into his body, hiding your face in his chest, sobbing.

Jake didn't let the grip on your neck go, curving his hand against the skin, holding you to him. His other arm, at some point, had dropped down to your waist. Whether it was to keep himself upright or keep you from falling over, he wasn't sure. Nor did he really care. Because Jake was pressing his mouth into your hair and closing his eyes to relish the feel of you in his arms.

He was home.

You turned your head against his chest to look over at Bradley, slightly surprised to see him hugging Alyssa. Her forehead was leaning against her hands, currently shaped into a triangle against his chest. She was shaking with silent sobs as Bradley hugged her back, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

The panic you felt before settles in your chest, warmth wrapping around your rib cage. As if he felt your eyes on him, Bradley opened his eyes, resting his cheek atop her head. You reached out, Bradley instantly extending his arm to grasp your hand. You smiled sadly at him with a fresh wave of tears in your eyes, squeezing his hand before burying your head back into Jake's chest, not once letting go.

Feeling you move against him, Jake lifted his head, catching your hand holding Bradley's. He found Bradley looking at the two of you with a smile, in a similar position, with Alyssa wrapped around him.

"Is there something you want to tell us, Rooster?" he said, eyes gesturing to Alyssa. You shook with silent laughter against his chest.

Bradley smiled at you, at Jake, before closing his eyes and letting his lips graze Alyssa's forehead. "Is that any way to speak to your saviour?"

There was no malice in Jake's words when he dropped his head back down to press a kiss into your hair, flippantly shooting back, "Don't push it, Bradshaw. I'm still ahead by one."

---

The ride home had been quiet.

After some harsh convincing by you and Alyssa, Jake and Bradley were allowed to leave. You had gotten the run down by one of the medical officers about Jake. He had no concussion and no broken bones but had ended up with quite a large amount of water in his lungs and a significant amount of bruising the days before.

You caught snippets of Rooster's conversation with the medics, enough to know what happened. You didn't want to know the deeper details unless Jake wanted to talk to you about it. Knowing he almost drowned and Bradley had saved him was enough.

He wasn't at risk of a secondary drowning, but more so pneumonia or an Edema. You'd be calling an ambulance at the first sign of a cough.

Bradley was helping Jake up the steps of your front porch as you went ahead and unlocked your door. Lyssa spotted Jake from below, hands out and ready. Despite her tiny frame, she was there, ready to catch him should he need help.

You were quietly surprised to see Bradley being the one to help Jake. You knew it wouldn't have been easy for either of them: Jake, who didn't want to need to accept the help at all, and Bradley, for whom he was helping.

But once Jake cleared the last step and straightened himself, he patted Bradley on the shoulder, murmuring a 'Thanks, Rooster' before limping over to you.

You looked up at him with a smile, cocking the side of your head in Bradley's direction before saying, "I'll meet you inside?"

Jake nodded, then nodded once to Rooster before continuing inside. Lyssa had walked off back to her car around the same time, leaving only you and Bradley standing alone on your porch. You pulled him into a hug.

"Thank you, Bradley. For saving his life."

Rooster stiffened at your touch but slowly relaxed, arms coming up to wrap around your back. "I know it's not worth much, but I'm truly sorry Lizzie," he murmured. "For all of it."

You shook your head against his shoulder, murmuring a low "Don't," but Bradley pressed on.

"I've been an ass since the start. I've been the one doing all the things I said Jake would do," he said next to your ear, refusing to let you go. "I think I was more worried about being replaced.. and everything else... I just didn't want to see you and the bug getting hurt. The rule was to put Sadie first. Instead, I was the one doing all that. He really does care about the two of you despite some of his faults."

You pulled back from the hug but still left your hand on his shoulder, wiping at your eyes. "Can I ask what made you change your mind?"

Bradley gave a fond look, and you could only stare at him for a second before a smile shot across your face. "Sadie?"

You had wondered what she had scribbled in that letter. She was shifty about it, too, refusing to let you see anything anytime you walked by.

Something told you you'd never know.

Rooster grinned. "Yeah," he said, scratching the back of his head. "Her and the fact, this one saved me yet again. Then gave me a heart attack."

You smiled, looking back at your open door. "I'd like to think he was giving you the chance to make it up to us."

Bradley dropped his chin to his chest, still smiling, before he looked over to Alyssa, leaning against the driver's side of her car.

"Call me if you need help?" he offered, stepping forward to place a hand on your forearm before turning to proceed down your front steps.

"I think we'll be okay," you replied softly, not really caring if he heard you, still staring at your front door.

--- 

 The tension inside the house hit you like a wave the second you closed the door. It was just Jake and you now, and despite everything that transpired the past few hours, you felt nervous. 

Looking down, you spied Jake's boots neatly lined up next to some of yours, making you wonder how he managed to get them off. It made you undo your laces slowly, tactically, as if to stall time. 

Something about standing here made everything more real. 

There was also the bit about you sending him that partial nude. And that letter - which you weren't as concerned about. But that damn photo, all inspired by a moment of brevity, had you yelling to yourself, what the hell did I just do? when you dropped it off at Penny's.

You couldn't worry about the shame currently building in the pit of your stomach. You had to press on.

Jake was hurt. He needed you. 

“Jake?” you called out softly, not expecting to find him hunched over, leaning against the wall of your hallway, facing you. You held out your hands, ready to grab him and support him. That was until he sharply lifted his head, eyes the only thing you could truly make out in the dim lighting, the dawn just peeking through your windows. You froze, lowering them, your voice stuck in your throat. Those eyes were challenging you to move, daring you to escape, to make a sound in the dead silence that wasn’t what he wanted to hear. With the predatory glint in his eyes, you knew right away what he wanted to talk about. 

Yet, Jake is the one to break the silence first.

"Where's Sadie?"

"Camp."

You feel like you've just given him the green light for something with those words. He seemed to know it, too.

"What can I do to help you?" the question comes out more quietly than you were anticipating.

Jake straightens himself with a groan but doesn't remove his eyes from you. On the contrary, they are still sharp and as intense as when he first saw you.

"Liz," he spoke lowly. 

He takes a step forward. You take one back. 

"I think you know the answer to that." 

"Do I?" you breathe out, taking another step, and he stalks forward as much as he is able. 

He nods once. "I got your letter. And your photo."

Your back hits the wall - you can go no further. 

It's not as if you couldn't escape him or tell him to stop. Jake is pinning you with his eyes as he approaches you and cages you against the wall. You know if you told him to stop, that all this was too much, he'd back away. 

You don't want him to, though. 

"Darlin," he roughs out, a hand reaching for your hip, his mouth next to your ear. "I've thought of nothing else."

Your trembling, heaving though no sound is coming out. You knew Jake was tall, muscled, and built like a freaking horse. It's stupid how the thought crosses your mind once again. You feel small against him, pressed up against the wall. 

"I take it you liked it?" 

You have no idea where this courage is coming from. 

"Liked it?" he pressed a kiss on your neck below your ear. "I got hard just looking at it." 

You title your head back against the wall; eyes closed, an arm coming up to wrap around his neck as Jake continues to press small kisses into your skin, slowly starting to add his teeth. An arm shoots around your waist, tugging you into him, and you gasp, racking up the wall with the movement. 

"Jake," you gasped to the ceiling, digging your fingers into his hair. He winced against your neck with a groan, pausing. You wondered if you had accidentally injured him more. Because as much as Jake was desperately trying to merge himself into your skin, as much as he was trying to show you just how much he loved you, how much he wanted you, he was utterly exhausted.

And he was hurt.

"There's nothing more I want than to be with you right now," you said calmly, stroking the hair at the back of his neck, sobering the moment. "But you're exhausted. And hurt, Jake. When was the last time you slept? "

Jake sighed into your neck, weight sagging with him, "Only a few minutes on the flight home. Not sure when before that."

It was true. Bradley had managed to resurface with him strung across his back, carrying Jake the rest of the way up that stairwell. His memory was fractured into bits and pieces of moments when he opened his eyes. Him being carried on a stretcher, Rooster sitting next to him in a med tent, voices yelling, and people poking and prodding at him. The flight home was when he really started to get his memory back, but he didn't dare fall back asleep, wondering if it had all been a dream and he really did die back there.

You frowned. "Let me take care of you, okay? I'm not going anywhere."

Pressing a long kiss on his cheek, you carefully untangled yourself from his hold, sliding down the wall. Hooking your arm around his waist, you led him down your hall to your bathroom. Jake's grip on your body was anchored tight. Hand threaded through the opposite pocket of your overalls, a part of him always touching you.

Leaving him to lean against your bathroom counter, you spun to turn on the shower, ensuring the water was okay before coming to stand in front of him once more. Resting your hands on his chest, you toyed with the zipper of his damaged flight suit.

"Do you need help?" you asked him softly.

He knew he could manage without you, even with his back being out of sorts. Yet, he still softly replied, "Go ahead."

You ranked your eyes over the fabric as you pulled down the tab of his zipper. His suit was ripped in some places, and large chunks were torn out, revealing the black tank he was wearing underneath. The zippers of the side pockets were misaligned, and while both of his patches were still intact, the threads were sticking out around the borders, making them unusable.

You made a note in the back of your mind to steal them the second you could.

Once the zipper reached the end, you moved both of your hands down to his chest, taking both sides and pushing the fabric off his shoulders.

Yet you stilled when you felt something hard in one of the pockets, instantly unfolding the fabric and unzipping the pocket, Jake watching you with hooded eyes. You pulled out a water-tight bag, gasping when you saw your letter and the various polaroids through the clear material.

"You.. You saved them?"

Jake let go of your hips to shrug the piece of clothing off, freeing his arms. He placed one hand on your hip, the other taking the bag from you, holding them.

"Why wouldn't I?" Jake's voice was quiet.

You felt a lump in your throat, tracing the bag in his hands. You were curious to know which one is the cockpit photo, but you also know your spontaneous, risky shot is also in with them. It's not that you didn't regret it, nor did Jake's enthusiastic reaction deter you, but you still felt that little bit of shame and embarrassment knowing the physical proof still existed.

"I... I didn't think they would mean that much to you. It was just a thing Sadie and I did so you wouldn't feel left out," you admitted, feeling vulnerable.

"They were all I had of you and Sadie out there."

It guts you, the simplicity of such a statement, yet packed with so much meaning.

Jake placed the bag behind him on the counter, ready to resume his grip on your body. Except his eyes caught sight of the pieces of metal dangling over the front of your chest, and he reached out to take his Dog Tags into the palm of his hand.

"You're wearing them."

You followed the chain to stare at the two pieces of metal. Your reply was soft, "I rarely took them off."

He didn't need to know about your breakdown. Not yet. You had said enough in your letter for him to know you had done what you needed to do, but he didn't need to know about the events that led up to it.

That was a conversation for another day.

Jake sighed, letting them drop back down in between the two of you, hand curving around your hip and pressing his forehead to yours. The two of you stayed like that for a few seconds until you felt him fiddling with the clasp on your hip, never fully releasing it from its hold.

He didn't need to voice it for you to know the question behind the action. It was clear as day as to what he was asking of you.

Will you join me?

Remember all those times over the past year you told yourself to fuck it? This was definitely getting added to all those other times.

Because you found yourself reaching down to your side and finishing the job, releasing the button from his hold. You felt Jake's breath against your mouth, warm and wet, as he slid his hand up to one of the front clasps, popping the buttons out of the hooks as he tugged, repeating the process with the other.

The two straps fell down your back, and you held your arms up in a silent invitation. Jake seemed to hold his breath as he pulled at your battered shirt, up over your head, to reveal your bare breasts.

He tossed your shirt to the side in the general direction of your laundry basket, but you didn't take your eyes off his to find out if it hit its mark. You feel no shame as he dropped his gaze. He's seen them before, kissed them, touched them. But the way his eyes rake over them makes it seem like it's the first time he has.

But when you reach for his black tank, pulling at the hem to work it over his body, you catch the view of his back in your mirror and let out a terrifying gasp.

His back is one big purple bruise, marring his skin. It spread from the curve of his right shoulder blade, sinking its way across his spine and ending near his hip. The only comparison you could draw to it was a painter's palette of cool colours mixed in with black. Whatever he had hit, it was clear the impact had been severe.

"Jake," you cry out, stepping to the side so you can turn him and see the damage for yourself, not in some reflection.

"How bad is it? The medics told me it's there."

"It's not pretty." 

It was the most accurate statement you could give him without wanting to double or even triple-check the work of the medics on him. He let you investigate the bruised skin for a few seconds more before moving out of your grasp and facing you. 

"Come on," he uttered. "Let's get under the water." 

You quickly removed the rest of your clothing, letting the rest of your overalls and underwear fall to the floor, using your toes to work off your socks. Jake managed to get the remainder of his flight suit off with little struggle, boxers included. 

You weren't ashamed of your body. But you were a little apprehensive, letting Jake see everything in its entirety. It makes you step into the shower first, almost as if you were trying to run away. 

All this is new to you. And the internal battle currently raging on in your head was making you hesitant. Because even standing here, naked in your shower, Jake's eyes ranking over you like you were his last meal from behind the glass door, you still fought with yourself not to look at him.

But let's be real. You were a virgin, new to all of this.

You definitely looked.

And tried to mute the squeal that was trying to crawl its way out of your throat as you turned to let the running water hit your face. You could hear Jake's warm chuckle from behind you as he stepped into the boxed space.

"Like what you see?" he spoke lowly into your ear, dragging your back to rest against his front by your elbows.

"I'm not going to answer that question. 'Cause we both know if I do, it's going to lead to something."

You could feel all his ridges and sharply defined muscles against your back, and it took you everything not to mould yourself into him. Jake pressed a kiss to your shoulder, then another to your neck, before resting his cheek against yours. "And what would that be?"

"Jake..." you warned, your voice slightly shakey.

"Not tonight," he replied, dragging his hands up your arms. "I just wanted to see how far that blush of yours goes."

"Oh, you kinky.." but he didn't let you finish, catching your mouth in an opened-mouth kiss. You moaned, tilting your head back before turning to face him, wrapping your arms around his neck.

You released his lips to glaze up into his eyes, taking the moment to assure yourself yet again he was here with you. You matched his soft smile before he zoned in on your cheek, reaching up to thumb the skin. His face was hardened in concentration, no doubt rubbing at a stroke of paint you'd accidentally marked yourself with, working to get it off. You smiled, pressing a kiss to his wrist.

"What's this from?"

"I'm painting Sadie's room, trying to make it more hers as a Birthday gift."  

Jake hummed. 

The two of you continued to shower together, you mostly helping Jake. You tried not to get too caught up in staring at him, biting your lip in concretion as you rubbed body wash over him. You felt his eyes on your face the entire time, and you tried to resist the urge to lean up and kiss him. 

Jake made you spin around to face the showerhead to return the favour. Feeling his hands caress your skin, letting him work the soap under the swells of your breast, along your arms, even down the panel of your stomach, you had to fight the arousal pooling in between your legs. 

Not to mention, you could feel him growing hard and heavy against your lower back. 

"This isn't fair. I'm the one who's supposed to be taking care of you," you murmured, leaning your head back against his shoulder.  

He pressed a delicate kiss to your collarbone. "This is taking care of me." 

You ended up getting out first, picking up each of your discarded clothing, throwing them in the basket, and reaching for the towels you kept on the makeshift shelf on your wall as Jake finished with his hair. You saw the frown on his face when he stepped out, and you rolled your eyes affectionately at him, handing him a towel.

Helping him to your room, you left him to sit on the corner of your bed. You rummaged through your top drawer, pulling out the pair of his boxers you had accidentally missed when you packed up his bag. You found them on the day you were getting things ready to visit Ridley.

He took them without a word while you pulled on your sleep shirt and underwear, ironically the same baggy nightshirt you wore the night of that damn thunderstorm where he kissed you.

Climbing into your bed, you held up your comforter as an invitation. He fell face-first into your chest with an aching groan, grabbing your sides to pull himself half on top of you, his head finding a home in the crook of your neck.

Your suspicions from before are finally confirmed. Because even as he held you, Jake was desperately fighting sleep.

Pressing a delicate kiss to the cut on his cheek, you grazed your lips up until you could press them just below his hairline, your fingers threading themselves soothingly through his hair.

"Go to sleep," you whispered into his forehead. "I'll be here when you wake up."

---

You slowly awoke to the sensation of lips delicately pressing soft kisses into your forehead and fingers stroking along the back of your arm, the occasional touch of warm metal accompanying the touch. You mewled, curling yourself deep into the apex of his shoulder, lulled by sleep.

"I'm sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep."

You pressed a sleepy kiss to his bare chest. "I should be awake. I'd sleep the day away like this if I could."

Jake hummed, resuming his gentle caresses. He had raked down your sleep shirt along your back, fingers now dragging up and down your spine, getting lower and lower each time he did it, causing you to shiver.

"I had a dream like this. While I was away on the carrier," he spoke, pressing another kiss to your temple. "At the ranch in Texas. In my room above the barn."

"Tell me?" you yawned, still half asleep, warm and content.

Jake nosed into your cheek, trailing it over your skin as he spoke, "The two of us. In my bed. Naked."

You shook silently with laughter, turning your head back against his arm. "Of course you did."

You would have seen Jake smiling down at you had you decided to open your eyes.

"I'd dream I woke up with your back to me, sheets resting low on the curve of your back." He slid the back of his fingers across your exposed shoulder, getting lost in the image in his head. "The barn door was open, catching the first rays of sunlight in your hair. There must have been a storm cause the grass was so green, everything was so right."

You leaned away from his chest, resting your head further back on his arm to peer up at his face. Jake's hair is dishevelled, his eyes harbouring the remnants of sleep, worn and puffy. His bruise had already begun to yellow, and his cut didn't appear red or as swollen. Yet, looking up at him from within the safety of his arms, huddled against his massive chest, you find yourself wishing you could control the way air catches in your throat.

"Sounds perfect."

Jake smiled softly, leaning down to kiss you. You moan in protest, turning your head away and barely managing an "I have morning breath" to Jake as his lips land on your cheek.

"I don't care," he rasped into your ear. You turned your head back, and he placed his mouth on yours.

You give as much as he is giving you, letting Jake caress your tongue with his, letting him take and take at his pleasure, until he is releasing your mouth and mouthing across your cheek.

He’s taking his time with you, something so different from the previous times you've found yourself against or under him, at the mercy of his mouth and hands. There's hesitation in his movements, wary of making any sudden, intense movements that might have you bolt. 

"You're taking your time," you say aloud, carting your fingers through his hair. Jake laps gently at the corner of your neck, hand stroking down the side of your leg. He pulls back to stare at your face, you meeting his gaze.

"I almost didn't have time."

God, you know how true that statement is. And the fact, the Jake who left you standing at the end of your driveway all those weeks ago wasn't the exact same one who returned to you. 

Jake travels down the length of your body, and you let him push up your oversized shirt, revealing your breasts. "Hello, girls," he grinned, pressing a single kiss to each breast. "Oh, how I've missed you."

It makes you laugh, carting your fingers through his hair, messing it up even further. You can feel him smile against your skin. But then he is trailing his nose down your core, down your stomach, lightly grazing your skin with his lips as he goes. You watch him with careful eyes, your breath picking up quickly.

You know his intentions, where this is going, what it would evidently end up being. And you’re okay with that. You trust him, and you love him. There wasn’t anyone else you could imagine having your first time with. 

Working himself down to the end of your bed, Jake’s face hovers over your underwear, his eyes searching yours. You nod, reaching down to help him remove them, Jake flinging them behind his head in a dramatic fashion, making you laugh once again.

Until he’s lining up kisses down the inside of your thigh, stopping when he’s just that close to your core. And then he looks up once again. You can hardly see any green in his eyes, just a thin strip on the edge of being overtaken by black.

“Can I put my mouth on you?”

What do you do but stutter an embarrassing reply of, “If you want to.” 

Jake wouldn’t ask if he didn’t want to. You knew that. He even chuckles at your answer teasingly.

“You’re going to have to keep these open if I do,” he says, tapping the back of your thigh. “I’m not going to nearly perish a second time, though what a hell of a way to go.” 

You huff in amusement, tinting your head back against your pillow only to drop your chin to your chest, looking at him between your legs.

“Just be gentle with me, Jake. I’m not…” 

Experienced is the word you leave out, but you know Jake understands you. He always seemed to when it comes to you.

He places both of your legs on his shoulders before reaching up to thread his fingers through yours at your side. He barely has time to punch out the words, “Tell me to stop if it’s too much,” before his nose is parting your folds and he’s swiping his tongue up and down your cunt repeatedly. 

You pull against his hold on your hands at the feeling, wailing and then biting your lip to quiet yourself, muffling your sounds.

Jake lets go of one of your hands to thumb your bottom lip, removing it from your teeth. He lifts his head and says in one breath, “Sadie’s not here, Liz. Let me hear you moan for me.”

And then he’s sucking on your clit, and you can’t hold it in any longer. The noise you let out is practically a scream, and the vibrations from Jake’s moan against your cunt push you that much further. Cause the fact he mentioned her name while headfirst deep between your legs is filthy. 

And the sounds that follow, echoing around your bedroom, are raunchy.  The night Jake kissed you in your hallway, your worries about Sadie hearing both of you come to mind. Because thank God she wasn’t here, or else she’d think Jake was murdering you.

You’d have to work on being quiet if you ever wanted to do this again with Jake once she came back home. 

You felt hot with your shirt racked up around the top of your breasts, gripping the hem to rip it over your head, your back leaping off the bed as far as it could go. Jake glances up, still working his mouth against your cunt to watch, the only remaining piece on your body is his tags.

You buck into his mouth, having no control over your body as he just sucks and sucks and sucks, your grip on his hand getting tighter and tighter, and you’re gripping your comforter to the point your hand throbs from the force. Cause everything burns and feels so good and yet so bad, and you cry to whatever part of you decided you needed to wait to experience this.

But in the back of your head, you know nobody could make you feel the way Jake was making you feel now.

Something snaps, hard, your muscles pulling tant and the cry blaring out into the ceiling of your bedroom is anything but salacious.  And Jake's voice is muffled when he works you through it, chanting, “Good girl, that’s my good girl,” over and over as you chant your hips to chase the feeling.

You are a shaking mess when Jake finally lets go, and slides back up your body, letting his weight settle against your chest, arms threading themselves under your shoulders.

"Was that okay?" 

You don't even have the words to describe how you are feeling. Your eyes are wide, staring up at him, wondering why the hell he'd be asking such a question when he caused you to be in such a state. 

Instead, you lurch up and kiss him hard, your hands gripping the middle of his back, sliding down to slip under the fabric of his boxers. Jake jolts when he feels your hands cupping his ass. 

"Are you sure, darlin'?" he pants, pulling away from you. "Are you sure you want this? With me?"

This was Jake. He wouldn't have you without your consent.

"I only want you."

It's slightly cheesy. But there was no other way you could put it. You couldn't imagine doing this with anyone else. But he challenges you again, asking, "Are you sure you want it to be me?" 

You wanted to smack him for his sheer idiocy right now, bringing up his shitty perception of his self-worth. But you don't want to ruin the mood, and you know where it's coming from deep down. It has nothing to do with you. 

"I do," you say instead, rubbing your nose against his. "I just don't know how to make you feel good, though."

"It's not about me right now."

Except it was. It was about both of you.

"Get on top of me."

The both of you rolled, Jake grabbing your hips as you landed on top of him. You sat up, placing your hands on his chest. The action had you rocking yourself back onto his clothed cock, and Jake let out a moan, hands tightening on your waist to push and pull with your movements.

Leaning down to kiss him once, you followed his jawline, reaching his ear. "You want to know something?" you asked, suddenly emboldened.

"What?" he gasped, nails biting into your skin.

"I've been dying to do this since the first time I saw you on the beach."

You felt the pinch of his nails as you kissed down his neck, making sure to catch a patch of skin between your teeth softly. You continued down his chest until you finally got to your desired place.

The divet.

The perfectly sculpted yet slightly crooked valley that split the entire length of his chest in half. You had a brief moment of panic, a stutter in your heartbeat, when you realized just how forward you, the freaking virgin, were being. Hell, you didn't even know if you were doing any of this right.

All you knew, you had waited long enough.

Spread out beneath you, Jake's body is spread out for you like a personalized meal. You pressed a kiss into his skin first before letting your tongue press deep into that valley and swirl all sorts of patterns across his skin. His eyes nearly bugled out of his head before Jake groaned, chest puffing out and hand fisting into your hair. 

You work your way up, getting ready to take one of his nipples into your mouth, when Jake suddenly shouts and lets out a fevered, "Stop." 

You reel back in shock, scared you overstepped. But Jake only tugged you up by your hips, using you as a counterweight to pull himself to sit against your headboard with a painful groan. He settled you directly against his pelvis, where you can feel just how hard he is through his boxers.

He grips the back of your neck hard and slams his lips into yours. You whimper into the kiss, worried he's using it as a tactic to let you down gently. When he finally releases your lips, you burst out, "I'm sorry, I overstepped. I shouldn't have.." 

Jake grips your throat, thumb resting just barely on your Adam's apple, enough to know it's there. You can feel it with each hard sallow you take, his hand big enough to encompass the entire length and width of your neck. 

"Don't ever apologize for that," he states firmly. "I'm yours to do with what you will. And trust me when I say there is a lot more you can do to me than just a simple kiss on the chest." 

And there's the blush. 

"I told you I'd corrupt your innocent little soul," he smirks, pulling you to his mouth once again.  

The next few moments are filled with long, passionate kisses and heavy touches until Jake is reaching for the hem of his boxers, and you find yourself helping him pull them down, him kicking them off in some unknown direction. 

Unlike this morning, there's no hesitation when you take him in, his cock hard and standing to attention. You regret your reaction to the comment you made about his helmet last year. Cause there was truth behind that one missing letter. 

Jake reaches for you, helping to position you over him before he suddenly freezes.  "Shit," he gasped, pushing you to sit on his thighs. "We don't have anything."

You ducked your head shyly. "We don't need one if you're okay without one. I... I'm on the pill."

"You're on the pill?"

You know what he means behind the question instantly.

"Two months before Penny asked me back. Other reasons, though. Not that I was expecting to get laid at any point in time," you answer him quietly, lifting your head. "You know me, Jake. I don't do one-night stands. I never have."

Jake relaxed under your hold, a small part of him sighing in relief.

"Worried I moved on?" you ask him softly, stroking your finger across his brow.

"You had every right to," he's almost ashamed to admit. You shook your head. "When are you going to get it through that stubborn head of yours that you are worth it, Jake? I love you. I'm not going anywhere."

Jake sighed again, dropping his forehead to your collarbone.

"Besides, you painted a pretty picture in the flatbed of your truck," you tease, quickly reciting the words he had rasped into your ear when his fingers were almost knuckle deep in your cunt. You drop your head forward and whisper into his ear, "The day I can have you gripping my cock?"

Jake growled at your words, reaching for your thigh to properly position you over him. Straddling his waist, you rest on your knees. Jake grabbed his cock, angling it just so as to rub the tip against your cunt slowly. You weren't sure whether he was teasing you or getting you used to a feeling.

Maybe it was a bit of both.

Then his tip caught at your entrance, and you let out a whimper. 

He stops, not doing anything else except letting go of himself to latch onto your other hip. Tilting his head, he places a kiss on the underside of your jaw, breathing in deep.

You understand why Jake had you move on top of him for this. He was letting you control the pace and do what only felt comfortable to you. It warms your heart, even if it is on the verge of jumping out of your chest.

"Take your time, darlin," he encouraged you softly, mouthing at the skin under your collarbone. "I'm here whenever you are ready. And we can stop at any point."

You took a deep breath, finally finding the courage to press yourself down onto him.

Something between a whine and a gasp escaped your lips as you felt the tip of his cock enter you. You had no previous experience to compare this to, but you were sure you weren't supposed to feel this stretched out. Or this full. 

You got about halfway down before you cried out, sightly in pain. Jake's grip tightened on your leg and hip, muscles flexing as he halted you. You're slick, but it's a tight fit. And his breath was just as ragged as yours.

 Sliding the hand that was griping your hip up your back, Jake encompasses the nape of your neck in his hand, tiling your head down so he could take your mouth into an open kiss.

"Jake," you whimpered into his mouth, your nails digging hard into his shoulder. Jake kept a tight rein on his control, but it was a battle he was struggling with. You just felt too good around him.

"Such a good girl for me," he cooed. "Taking my cock." 

"I don't know if I can go any further," you whimper. But Jake is quick to reply, "We don't have to, not if you don't want to. But you're almost there, just a little bit more." 

"Fuck," you whined, tearing yourself away from his mouth to bury your face into his shoulder.  His hand tightened against the nape of your neck, fingers tangling themselves into the roots of your hair. The grip is reassuring and grounding, and you take several deep breaths before you press down once again.

Then, just when you think you can't take anymore, he bottoms out, his hips pressed tightly into yours. 

That's it. You were a virgin no longer. 

And suddenly, with that thought, you felt nervous. Because, of all things, that damn fucking sign in the girl's bathroom of the Hard Deck flashes in your mind.

Jake is experienced. You're not. It was one thing for him to say he didn't mind you were a virgin, but it was something else for him to be the one to change that status. Because every story you've ever read about how men would compare their previous partners to their current one eats away at you.

There was no way you would stack up to the long list of women Jake had bedded, for lack of a better word. But Jake only nuzzled the valley between your breasts, tongue delicately tracing the underside of one while rubbing soothingly down the curve of your spine.

"Perfect," he murmured softly. You can't help yourself when your next words come out more anxiously than teasingly. "Live up to your imagination?"

If Jake caught on, he didn't let you know.

"Better," he groaned. "I don't care if we do anything else. I'm perfectly content to be like this the rest of the day."

He twitches inside you, and you gasp, dropping your mouth to rest against the top of his head. You know what he is doing. He's letting you adjust, letting the pain subside, assuring your anxious thoughts.

"Like this? Me, wrapped around your cock, barely moving," You manage to pant, and he hums against your chest. "What if we have company? Rooster tends to show up unannounced."

"He better not," his growl vibrates off your skin, hand flexing on your thigh in an effort not to thrust. "He should know better than to show up at your door when he knows damn well what we're getting up to."

Jake titles his head to set his teeth into your collarbone in a warning, making you clench involuntarily and whimper. He snarls into your neck, "Don't mention him when I'm inside you. This is not going to end badly, not for your first time."

The heat laced in his voice did nothing to stop the small chuckle that racked your chest. Your muscles pull tight across your stomach, and you choke, "Are you trying to make me combust?"

"Is it working?" 

Jake doesn't move. Not at first. Not until you decide to test the waters and flex your hips once, rocking yourself on his cock ever so slightly. 

Your mouth is resting open against his forehead, and your nails are biting into his shoulders as you moan, letting the first thumps of pain, turn into pleasure. He's tense under you, Jake, using every ounce of willpower not to thrust himself hard up into you to match your rocks. He wants to take this slow. He wants you to enjoy this, no matter how badly he wants to feel you clench around him.

Instead, he rasps into your breast, “Feel good?” 

Why is he so obsessed with asking you questions?

You’re unsure if your noise is intelligible, but you try to force out an affirmative hum. Then he hits the back of your cervix, making you howl and curl into him.  

It must have been the sound you let out because Jake growls. Gripping the flesh of your butt tightly, he flipped the both of you. You weren't expecting him to, not with how beaten up he was. The movement of your back hitting the bed caused him to hit something deep inside you, causing you to cry out and grip the planes of his shoulders, nails biting hard and uncaring if you happened to touch his bruise.

The slow movement of you rocking on him was nothing compared to the way he started to thrust in earnest. 

"You have no idea how much I've wanted you," he panted, increasing his pace. "The day I saw you at the Hard Deck when you were dancing in your kitchen. The clean fucking slate."

You whimper at the growl he spun on the word fucking, adding to the heat already spreading across your body. Even with the pleasure he’s bestowing across your body, you know this must be somewhat painful for him.

"Jake.." you gasped. "Your back."

"Fuck my back," he grunted, angling his hips in an urgent thrust. It made you tilt your head back into your pillow, your head almost hitting your headboard, your nails biting into his back, letting out a heated cry. Jake went for your neck, teeth, and lips, pressing hard to your pulse point.

"I don't care if I fucking break it," he growled out. "I'm not stopping until you cum for me." 

A particular thrust caused you to turn your head, and Jake sunk his teeth into your neck. You lifted your leg, wrapping it around Jake's waist. The angle of this next thrust changed, and you whimpered loudly, tears leaking down the sides of your face as Jake lurched over you with a desperate groan.

It has you wrapping your other leg around his waist, your hips slanted downwards, his cock pounding you at a new angle.

His hand, supporting himself on the bed next to you, shot out to grip your bedframe. Alternating between deep thrusts and shallow teases, Jake watched you underneath him. Your breasts bounce with every thrust, your eyes fighting to stay open, and dog tags - his dog tags - jangling against your stomach.

 He almost didn’t have this, the stark realization haunting him. He had literally been a breath away from never seeing you again, never feeling your warmth or hearing your cries of pleasure or even your laughter. He would take any chance, any glance, anything to assure him you were real. And that you were his.

His back spasmed, and he fell on top of you, saving himself from crushing you at the last second. But it doesn’t deter him. No, Jake still flexed his hips, more than determined to get you over that edge, to have you cum. Even if he didn’t, he wanted you to experience at least that. 

But those dog tags cause a possessive feeling to rise in his chest - because the only word going through his head right now is mine. 

"You’re mine, Elizabeth,” he grunted. "Say it. Please say it.”

There's the possessive kink you know and love. 

“I’m yours,” you cry out, consumed by the feeling of him driving his cock into you. “Yours Jake, just please…”

It is then a mantra of "pleases" and "I needs" fall from your lips, of which you aren't sure what for. All you knew was that Jake was working you higher and higher off that edge, fully determined to see you tumble over it.

“Cum for me Liz,” he whines.  “Cum for me, just for me. Please my darlin’ girl.”

He drops his hand between the two of you, seeking out your clit and rubbing hard, tight circles that have you screaming. Your soaring, going over that somewhat unfamiliar edge he’s brought you over only twice before.

You swear you black out, just for a few moments, until Jake is at your ear, whispering praise after praise about how good it finally felt to have you cum around him. How only he would ever be the one to experience this, how proud of you he is.

Then he thrusts, once, twice, before your hips jolt up, and he's pressing himself deep, flooding your core. You sob, burying your face into his neck and tightening your legs around him. Because amongst the overstimulation, you can feel another one creeping up from out of nowhere. Pure white heat shoots up to your chest as Jake's haunting moan vibrates your entire being.

Then it's quiet, and you want to bury yourself in this moment. 

You don't even care that you're crying. Because, with all the thoughts and feelings flying back and forth through your mind, there's one that stands out the most. 

Your so fucking glad you waited.

"Are you alright?"

When you don't say anything, too blissed out to form words, Jake pants out your name against your neck; his voice laced with urgency.

"I need... I need a moment. Just a moment," you manage to pant, forcing breath into your lungs. Jake moves, trying to bring himself onto his elbows as his back screams in protest.

"Did I hurt you?" he asks, stroking your cheek. You manage a small shake of your head, the sides of your mouth turning upwards. "No," you reply softly.

You finally open your eyes to see Jake staring down at you. His brow pulled together in concern. And, of course, you, being you, had to say the first thing that came to mind.

"I guess you did give me a good time after all."

Jake tilts his head for a second before his memory catches up with him, and he shakes his head, though you can see the puff he takes out of pride. 

"What am I going to do with you, Elizabeth Beck?"

You grin up at him. "Hopefully, a repeat of that sometime in the near future?"

Jake rolled onto his side with a groan, pulling you with him to lie half on his chest. The action caused him to slip out from you, which you were grateful for. The quick movement only caused a brief amount of pain, and you were sure if he drew it out, it would have been worse. 

Jake was pressing kisses to your forehead as the aftershocks finally made them known. You trembled against him, hands trying to find purchase along his chest, and Jake didn't stop until he was sure you were okay.

But, in the blissful silence, once you calmed down, Jake playing with your hair against your back, did he finally ask the question you knew was coming since he walked through your front door.

"Does she hate me?"

You weakly lifted your head from his shoulder, watching the conflicting emotions play across his face.

"The day at the beach. She was devastated..." Jake trailed off, absentmindedly staring at your bedroom wall. You pressed a kiss to his chest. "We've both had a lot of people in our lives that have hurt us."

"I'm used to disappointing people, but her? She has every right."

You frowned. "She missed you so much, Jake."

He shook his head, slamming his eyes shut. You lifted your hand off his chest to cradle his jaw, your thumb stroking across his cheekbone under the newly darkened skin. "She could never hate you. She asked me every day when you'd be coming home."

Jake didn't open his eyes, but he did lean into your touch, his shame and guilt still evident.

You wanted to tell him about the most recent thunderstorm, Sadie waking up and crying out for the both of you in the middle of the night. You had done your best to soothe her, but deep down, you knew she wanted Jake. Nothing could compare to his words of reassurance or the way she felt when he hugged her that night.

In the end, lifting his dog tags off your neck and placing them around hers was the only thing that worked. Huddled in her bed with your arms around her, she fell asleep with them gripped tightly in her hand.

Something told you even if you did tell him, it would only make him more upset.

You stroked your fingers over his forehead, asking him softly, "Come with me when I pick her up from camp next week? I promise she will prove you wrong."

There was a silent pause, and then he opened his eyes. He searched you for any hint of deception, not that he would find any. Sadie was just as important to him as you were. In the end, he nodded once with a sigh.

It was a few more minutes before he carefully untangled himself from your hold. He swung his legs over to the side of your bed with a groan, his muscles spasming as he sat up. Even in your blissed-out state, you reached out and placed a hand on his upper back, where his bruise was the least dark, hoping to soothe some of his pain.

"Where are you going?"

"Getting something to clean you up."

"You don't have to, Jake. I can take care of it."

"It's my job," he countered, turning his head to look at you with a cheeky grin. "Let me do this for you."

He stood, lumping slightly to your bathroom to grab something to clean you up. You watched him go, taking him in in all his naked glory, biting your bottom lip hard.

You still couldn't believe he was yours.

You weren't expecting this: the gentleness as he took the rag between your legs when he returned, the kiss he placed on your thigh when you whimpered from the sensitivity.

After tossing the rag into your laundry hamper to be dealt with later, he maneuvered himself back into the position he assumed last night when you fell asleep, head buried in your neck, arms wrapped under your shoulders.

It was soothing, his weight on your chest almost counteracting the dull throbbing in your core.

"How long do I have you for?" you asked, threading your fingers through his hair.

"I have nowhere to be for the next two weeks," he mumbled into your chest.

"Stay with me?"

"As if I'd leave you now."

😏😘 You hate me now?

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@its-the-pilot

Part 22 - Jump in progress

Wickett ;)

[aliteral-ghost]

This is the piece I did for @hermitzine! It was so much fun to be a part of this project and get to work with everyone! The theme of this zine was music and I hope that's obvious in this piece :)

~~~~~~~~~~~

The sound of the record skipping is Joe’s alarm clock this morning, and it’s only because it skips multiple times that he actually gets up. Darn, he slept in again, and now he has to stay up late again so he can finish the parts of the machine that he needs to get done, and it’ll just end with him sleeping in again. At least he has–oh. The record that has been playing all night (and also for the past few weeks, if he’s honest) has a massive groove in it, tearing through all of the ridges and splintering the vinyl.

“Aw, man,” Joe mutters, staring at the destroyed disk in his hands. “That’s my last one of those.” To be fair, he probably should have expected something like this to happen after using the record player while placing hundreds of blocks of sand, but it’s still sad. To be fair, this has happened to the last five disks he overplayed, but Joe is nothing if not persistent. 

The next day he and Cleo are halfway through their weekly crafting session when they hum. “No music today?” Joe waves a hand.

“Some days the best music is the sound of nature around you.” He sets down a pencil and listens to said sound of nature, which is currently someone very violently chopping down trees. “You know, be in the moment, and all that.” He’s never lived in the moment once in his life and they both know it, but then again neither has Cleo.

“Sure.” Cleo pauses for just a minute. “Not this music, though. Ugh, who is…” They both glance over across the river, where Keralis is hard at work collecting wood. He pauses briefly to wave once he’s noticed them looking, smiling widely. They both wave back and Keralis continues, moving on to the next tree.

“Do you ever think about how our lives have a soundtrack?” Joe says after a minute, mindlessly coloring the sheets of paper he brought, tracing out the blueprint for a part of the pinball machine. Cleo looks over from where she’s drawing in her own notebook. 

“No?” They say, voice lilting up like a question. “I don’t? Why, do you?” She wrinkles her eyebrows, more focused on the calligraphy than really focusing on the conversation. It’s how they roll, most weeks. Joe talks and Cleo nods along.

“Well, sure! I like to think about the song that might be playing while things are happening. For a while, it was otherside, but…” Cleo glances over again, this time more interested. 

“You broke all of your disks, didn’t you?”

“Yeah. I must have played them in the sand too much or something. Whomp, whomp.” He follows the statement up with a laugh, sort of high-pitched and frantic. “D’you think we all have different soundtracks then, if we do?”

“Oh, for sure,” Cleo says, in a voice that still sounds like they’re just humoring him. “Like Doc? His soundtrack is all scary, like heavy metal, right? There’s no way he and Scar have the same backing tracks.” They pause for just a second. “No, I lied. Doc’s isn’t heavy metal, he’s too much of a softie. Pearl’s is. She’s bloody hardcore.”

That’s an accurate assumption, Joe guesses. He hasn’t been privy to much Pearl has done this season, but he’s fairly certain she just built an entire Ender dragon out of pilfered dragon eggs. If there’s someone able to intimidate Cleo, it’s her.

“So what’s yours, then?” Cleo asks, setting her pen down and leaning on her hands. “Whatever song you’re obsessed with now over and over?”

“I don’t have much time for anything else.” Joe laughs again. “Besides, sometimes the best soundtrack is the same song, over and over, just played at different tempos depending on mood.”

This earns him a patented Cleo lookTM as she turns back to her journal, picking up a small knife. They don’t talk for a while after that, instead listening to the leaves rustle, water flow, and trees topple. 

“Here,” they say eventually, after the wood-collecting has gotten to be too much, and pass Joe a record. “Put this on, I know you’re aching to.” He gasps, energy he hasn’t felt in a while jolting through him, and pulls out his jukebox. 

“Thanks, Cleo!”

The aforementioned record is a simple piano tune, the melody and harmony weaving in and out of each other’s path, spinning down the river and floating high into the air. It fills the server with its music, and although Joe knows that the little song is barely reaching further than Keralis he’d like to think that Tango, in the depths of Decked Out 2, and False, high up on a snowy peak, and Grian and Doc, fighting their battles over the perimeter, can hear it. 

It’s a song that, although the notion is cliche, feels like home. It has managed to encapsulate the feeling that persists, from all ten years of Hermitcraft, of family and friends and feeling like belonging.

[philaet0s]

Celebrity/Social Media AU - Part 12

Previous Part: Part 11

Next Part: Part 13

So, what happened on August 4th? ;)

Simon

I’m not surprised when Baz approaches me and says he has something he wants to show me. He’s been eyeing me weirdly all day. I knew he was hiding something…

I follow him to his study. It’s one of the nicest rooms in our flat, and definitely the one I spend the least time in. He never truly forbade me from coming here, even when he’s away on tour, but everything about that room is so… Baz. It’s his place. It’d feel wrong intruding on it. 

Still, I always love having a chance to come inside it. One of the walls is completely covered by bookshelves, that are so full I’m surprised they still hold up. There are books piled on tops of other books everywhere, and yet, somehow, he still always has room for new ones, without ever getting rid of any of them. The wall that is opposite the door has a large window that lets in tons of natural light and that. On a summer evening such as this, the setting sun paints the room in golden hues.

Against the last wall, there is a vinyl shelf, as full as Baz’s bookshelf, and topped with a record player that cost a fortune. There’s also a desk, with a monitor, tower, and very good speakers. And Baz’s macbook. Because in spite of the other equipment, he remains faithful to the laptop that got him through uni. It’s his longest relationship, I might get jealous one day.

Obviously, all of Baz’s stuff is wonderful, and some people would probably delight in the selection of books and vinyls, but my favourite element in this room is absolutely none of that. It’s the couch in the middle of it. A gorgeous piece of furniture, in dark green velvet, and the most comfortable sofa ever. Baz knows how much I love it so he bought the same one for our living room, but somehow, it’s different.

Naturally, the first thing I do when coming inside the room is sprawl on the couch. It makes Baz smile.

“So,” I say. “What did you want to show me?”

“It’s on my computer,” he explains, as he bends over his desk chair to type something on the keyboard. “I’ve reworked the song I played for you on your birthday.”

I perk up.

“Oh? And we’re listening to it here, not at the studio?”

“I don’t feel like going all the way to the studio, if I’m honest. Don’t want to change out of my inside clothes,” he says with a chuckle.

I give him a long, appreciative look. His inside clothes are a simple t-shirt, too large for him, and an old pair of football shorts. I love when he wears his football shorts. They make his legs look even longer. They make his arse look phenomenal too but sadly the shirt hides that.

I get up from the couch and walk behind him until I can put my arms around his waist. I lean down to kiss his shoulder. 

“Fair. I don’t really want to leave the house either, to be honest.”

“We’re so boring. And lazy.”

“You’re on a world tour and I wake up at 3 every morning to go to work, we’re allowed to be a bit lazy.”

“Hm, you’re right. Ah, there it is.”

He clicks on a file named ‘Point of View (After Midnight Version)’. I hadn’t even asked the title of the song last time… 

He straightens his back, so I line my body up with his and press my cheek between his shoulder blades to hold him close. 

The beginning of the song is the same, I think. I’ve only heard it once over a month ago so I don’t remember it very well, but I’m not hearing anything particularly striking.

Until…

One of my hands flies up to my mouth. I gasp.

“Baz.”

His index finger is tapping on the desk. Not for the rhythm, this time. He’s nervous.

“I can’t believe… Fuck. That’s… so hot,” I whisper, as obscene sounds continue to play as background vocals for the chorus. It’s subtle, an echo, but it can definitely be heard. 

That has to be something he got from what he… recorded when we were at the studio. Jesus.

He pauses the song. 

“I wasn’t sure if you’d like it or if you’d think it was… too much.”

I shake my head vigorously. He can’t see me but he must feel it.

“It’s not too much. I mean. It is. But in a good way. A really good way, darling. I… I love it,” I say, tightening my arms around him to let him know I’m truly not mad. 

My cheeks are burning. He used a recording of us fucking as background vocals for one of his songs. A song he wrote just for me. 

“We sound so… Do you still have the recording?”

He shifts in my arms to look at me. He’s cocking his damn eyebrow. He has no business looking hot like that.

“Why?”

“Why do you think? I want to listen to it.”

“You want to listen to…”

“Us fucking? Yes, Basilton, of course I do. You can’t be having all the fun.”

He laughs, softly, and oh God, that sound is just as good as those he put on his song.

“I still have it, yes.”

��Good.”

I let go of him and step back. I need a moment to cool down before he plays the recording. I’m not going to cool down with him in my arms. I rub my hands along the side of my thighs and take a breath. I can’t fucking believe him. How can he still surprise me?

“I found it. If you still want to…”

“Yes.”

When I look at him, I notice that he’s flushing. Embarrassment or arousal, I couldn’t say.

He presses play. I will myself to stay away from him, as tempting as it is to hold him again. 

I close my eyes and listen.

He forwards the recording. How many times did he listen to it to know when to forward it? When it starts playing again, I hear him. Familiar sounds that bring a smile to my lips. They sound different, though. The pitch of his voice is always a little different in recordings, and the sounds are at the same time more distant and more clear than when he’s making them live.

It’s also strange hearing Baz moaning when I’m standing in a middle of a room, fully clothed, and not in bed with him. Strange but not unpleasant. I can focus on it more. 

The strangest part, however, is hearing myself. That’s not something I usually focus on at all. It’s slightly embarrassing. I prefer the sounds Baz makes. They’re hotter. I wonder if he thinks the opposite. Hearing myself really does make me experience it from his ‘point of view’...

It’s a surprisingly long recording. If you’d asked me, then I probably would have told you I didn’t last more than 5 minutes –I hadn’t seen him in a while. After a bit, as enjoyable as it is, I get a little bored, so I open my eyes and look at Baz. That should keep me entertained for a minute.

His butt is on the edge of his desk but he’s not properly sitting down on it, his feet still firmly planted on the floor. His hands are holding the desk on either side of his body. His eyes are closed and his head low. It bobs as he listens to the recording. To us.

He’s hard.

Watching him is not nearly enough.

I close the distance between us. I know he’s heard me, but he doesn’t open his eyes. I slide my hands up his thighs until I can close my hands around his hips. I slot my body between his legs and pull him closer.

He opens his eyes. His pupils are wide.

“Simon,” he murmurs, his voice low and sultry, so different from the loud, uncontrolled sounds he’s making on the recording.

“I want to hear you for real.”

[why-the-heck-not]

Top 5 technologies that, unfortunately, have fallen out of use

okay this was interesting, had to rly think. Also idk if my definition of "technology" is right, but anything resembling will go. ALSO damn I rambled a lot, sorry abt that, apparently I like thinking about old tech

CDs. I miss owning albums, it was so nice to like actually have the physical copy of something u love. I think that's what missing now and is why I sometimes get actually annoyed abt loving a band/song (rn it's The Vantages (a band) & I'm actually mad about it) bc the "listening to it is not enough, I need to inject it to my bloodstream"-mood, which in actuality is that I'd love a physical copy to make it feel like a concrete thing. It's like the next best thing to going to a concert, and I can't keep buying merch I'll never wear outside my house to compensate. Also made u like decide on what album u want to listen to & the songs are always gonna be in the same order the artist decided them to be in, no mixing songs from the same or diff artists, you had to make A Choice. (actually my dad has my fave bands CDs (old-ish band & he an og fan) and it's kinda comforting to me that if (/when?) some Spotify apocalypse eventually happens, I'll have a way to listen to them anyways). Also been thinking for years about buying either a CD- or a vinyl player, or something like that bc I want to have physical copies of my faves (but haven't decided on what yet (probs vinyl tho. for the vibes.) and also the money aspect of it is not great)

Nokias. I just talked with my sister how we've both been thinking abt just buying an old Nokia keypad non-smart phone and just using that instead of like the current phones (but alas, not rly possible, like I can't get into my gym without a smart phone and that's just one thing, u kinda need a smartphone or life becomes unnecessarily complicated). But the durability, the worm game, the ''oh no in a hurry and need the letter s, oh shit I went overboard and went right back to p''). Also Finland represent lol

tamagotchi type things. like a "gaming console" (it's not but idk what those are called) that has the one game with abt 3 pixels and no color. Also I had one like that had a monkey that collected dropping bananas and that was the whole game, the only function that thing had (I have a suspicion I got it from McDonalds??? idk why I keep thinking that) (Googled and yes it was from McDonalds, called Aiai banana catch)

those big computers that were for the whole household. We didn't have one growing up (bc my parents had computers at their work and so we didn't need one) but the thrill of going to like a friend who lived near and they used their 1h of computer time to like play some horse game; unparalleled. Or like the games at Miniclip ?? or later on CLUB PENGUIN !!!!! (still to this day the best game that has or ever will exist) (tho I think at around club penguin-era my sister got a laptop so I used that until I got my own)

Those calculators that prints on paper what u've calculated right after, idk what they're called. Never used one & obv never had one bc was a kid, and actually not fully sure if ppl still do use them (but guessing at least that they're not as popular anymore) but damn. The pure aesthetics and vibes. Like the movie scenes of a character calculating using that while looking at bills to indicate that the said character has some finance problems? phenomenal, cinematography etc.

[jayoonology]

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰/ 𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐮

𝗮/𝗻 - procrastinated and then gave birth to this. I low-key want to make the Beomgyu part a proper one shot but idk if I should.

𝘄𝗰 - sb (331), yj (324), bg (346), th (314), hk (290)

Choi Soobin | 최수빈

manga shopping date

It took him weeks and I mean weeks to ask you out. He sits behind you in class and Beomgyu swears Soobin spends more time looking at you than he does at the teacher. From all that creepy staring (as Beomgyu likes to call it) Soobin noticed your wallpaper. Is that jujutsu kaisen..? No way! If it was somehow possible Soobin likes you twice as more. After some (bad) hyping up from Beomgyu and an entire night of pondering he finally decides to ask you out.

Low-key he zoned out while he was talking to you because he couldn’t believe he was actually interacting with you. But somehow he didn’t mess up and asked you if you wanted to check out a manga shop with him. And you said yes?!?! Soobin was still zoned out so didn’t actually process it till later but Beomgyu (who was rudely eavesdropping was SHOCKED) 

On the day of the date, however; Soobin was NOT calm. Man was internally freaking out, he must have changed his outfit at least 3 times. When he did make it there he couldn’t help but overthink the entire thing. Are you actually coming? Do you know this is a date? Is he wearing his shirt backwards?

All his fears melted away when he saw you though. The conversations flowed easily and he sort of forgot it was even a date, everything seemed so easy with you. The both of you spent hours at the shop, browsing and recommending each other series. Most of the time both of you were just freaking out that they had every single jjk manga, even the super rare first edition ones. And by the end of the date the both of you had two heavy bags full of books. You two agreed you’ll never have a date again at the manga store as you’re both most definitely broke now.

“Next time we should go to watch the new jjk movie!”

“next time?” MAN WAS OVERJOYED!!!!! 

Choi Yeonjun | 최연준

chill evening at roof top bar

you and Yeonjun both work the same shift and for months now there’s been so much playful tension between the both of you. Enough to make your coworkers think there’s something going on. Now Yeonjun can’t lie, he does like you a little bit (a lot) and he admits you’re gorgeous (the most breathtaking person he’s ever seen) but he also knows that you’re his coworkers and things could become awkward (he’s too much of a pussy) This game of cat and dog had been going on for a while now and frankly, you’ve had enough of waiting for Yeonjun to make the first move. If he isn’t going to do it, you’ll do it yourself. So you super confident go up to him and don’t waste any time on pleasantries.

“Yeonjun there’s a new rooftop bar that opened down the street, do you want to go—”

“Yes.”

Literally the two of you bolt the second your shift was done. This is your first time seeing Yeonjun outside of work, and there was something different about it. The two of you seemed even more unhinged, even more flirty. You didn’t even need alcohol turns out you just needed to leave that grey office. When you were at the bar the two of you ordered almost every drink on the menu and refused to leave before closing getting absolutely wasted. It was fun sitting on a skyscraper looking at the tiny people below you.

As far as first dates go, it must have been the most brilliant one you’ve been on. You and Yeonjun didn’t leave a single topic uncovered discussing popcorn flavours to white sand beaches. And you have to admit, it was kinda cute how Yeonjun got wasted, he looked like a lovesick boy. And then there was when drunk Yeonjun went on a tangent about everything he likes about you. (you made sure to never let him hear the end of that)

Choi Beomgyu | 최범규

vinyl shopping

So Beomgyu ended up getting a vinyl player from Hyuka for his birthday, the only problem is, he doesn’t have any vinyl albums. So now he has two options:

Sell the vinyl player and make some cash.

Ask his pretty roommate to go vinyl shopping with him and blow his entire paycheck.

Logically, Beomgyu chose the latter. He isn’t exactly sure when he started developing a crush on you, he just knows that one day he woke up and no one seemed to matter except you. But there’s a little bit of a problem, how is he going to make the outing seem like a date? As roommates you practically do everything together, this needs to be special. He knows that you like music and him buying your favourite vinyls could be called romantic but with no previous warning, it’s just platonic.

He’s determined to make this seem special, but how? Naturally, he watched a romcom, sure he could have consulted his friends but they’re bitchless anyway: how could they have even helped. He landed on getting you flowers, that’s the most romantic thing a guy can give you right? So the next day as you get ready he quickly runs to the grocery store and back and gets you a bouquet of tulips, awkwardly handing them to you.

“uh what’s this?”

“flowers.”

“but why?”

“cause this is a date.”

“okay cool.”

OKAY COOL? WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? Does that mean you like him too? Does that mean you’re uncomfortable? You can see the gears turning in Beomgyu’s head and figure you should probably help the poor boy out. You grab his hand, dragging him out of the apartment. Beomgyu’s face was pinker than the tulips he got you.

You two spent the entirety of the afternoon picking out cool records you found at the shop (and emptying Beomgyu’s pockets) buying the most obscure music you could find. Despite the long day, it was rewarding cause the two of you just chilled the rest of the day, playing the music you bought and eating takeout.

Kang Taehyun | 강태현

escape room

You and Taehyun have been project partners for a while now and instead of completing your project, Taehyun has spent more time falling for you. He’d vowed to himself that 2023 was going to be the year he was going to focus on school but here you come knocking his walls down.

Now Taehyun knew for sure he was going to ask you out, it was clear to the both of you that you liked each other, you were just patiently waiting for Taehyun to make the first move. The dilemma is, Taehyun doesn’t know where to take you. Sure he could be a basic bitch and take you out to the movies or a restaurant but you were more important than that. He wanted you to enjoy and remember the first date. He thought of many things like bowling or going to a school game together but they’re so crowded and loud, how will he be able to focus on you?

It was like a eureka moment when it struck him while having a shower. He could take you to an escape room! It’s private and fun, plus teamwork. The two of you were good at that (despite not finishing your project that was set 2 months ago) When he proposes it to you, you were overjoyed. Not only have you been waiting for Taehyun to make a move, but he also made the perfect move.

You work together to decipher the clues and solve the puzzles, using your teamwork and problem-solving skills to make your way through the room. Taehyun's quick wit and intelligence are a valuable asset, and you can feel yourself growing more and more impressed by him with each passing moment (his plan is working !!) now not only did you and Taehyun enjoy working together and talking about your interests, but it was also the most memorable date you’ve been on.

Huening Kai | 정카이

create your own plushie workshop

You’ve been trying to go on a date with Kai for weeks but something or another always comes up. First, you two had a planned a picnic and it turns out it was going to rain, then he gets called to pull an emergency shift, and then your car breaks down. You’ve been wondering if it’s a sign from the universe, the universe is definitely against picnics and you know what it’s fine, who wants to sit on the grass surrounded by weird bugs anyway?

So you decide to come up with something new, something fresh and better. So scour the internet for new events happening in your hometown. Wait, what’s that? A plushie-making workshop? If that isn’t the universe giving you a sign you don’t know what is. Kai loves plushies and wait for it, it’s happening this Saturday when the both of you don’t have work. It’s perfect.

So you call up Kai, telling him to write it down in permanent marker cause there’s no way in hell that this date is going to get cancelled. Luckily the two of you make it there early and basically have the workshop all to yourself. With the help of the instructor, you work on making a plushie together.

Of course, it had all the essentials, plus a little note the two of you wrote, hiding it in the stuffing on the plushie. Your plushie was perfect in every way and the icing on top was that you got to make it with the guy you’ve been crushing on for ages.

[zombiestarter]

too good to be true — steven grant

୨୧ ꒰ synopsis ꒱ whilst moving in to your newly shared apartment, a box full of figurines shatter and leave you saddened. reminiscing on your first date, steven is determined to cheer you up.

୨୧ ꒰ genre ꒱ fluff

୨୧ ꒰ warnings ꒱ n/a

୨୧ ꒰ word count ꒱ 1k

a/n: first post! ahh, i’m so excited to see what this account has in store for me.

“careful, careful,” steven’s voice trails off, making sure not to trip with every step he takes. “we’re almost there. need a break?”

you shake your head, wiping a bead of sweat off your forehead before quickly holding onto your side of the couch. “no, i’ve got it. it’s just… why did we choose one of the hottest days of the year to move our stuff?”

the brunette couldn’t help but laugh, taking the first step into their newly shared apartment. a sigh of relief escapes both of your lips once you both let go of the couch.

“alright, time for a well-deserving break.“ he says, mostly to himself as he dusts off the dirt from his jeans. absentmindedly, steven extends an arm to grab you and pull you into a hug. noticing that you were not at his side, he furrows his brows to find you rummaging through a set of boxes that were placed at the counter.

“something the matter?” he muses, wrapping an arm around your waist before pressing a soft kiss against your cheek. 

you furrow your brows, opening the last of the boxes and gasping. “no!” you exclaimed softly, a frown settling on your features as you gently pick up the broken pieces of a glass figurine. “our figurines. they’re all broken.”

steven watches as you pull up a stool, sitting on the newly polished wood, and try to put all the pieces back together. to your dismay, the figurine was unfixable. “all of our stuff…”

steven’s gaze softens, placing a hand over your shoulder as he looks into the box. Looking into the broken shards of what used to be memorabilia of their time together. It’s bittersweet, really, trinkets and figurines from years back are nothing more than disposable now. steven has hope, rummaging through the pieces of ceramic in the box before pulling out a glass penguin, “well, look at this dapper little fella.” he muses, gently tapping the black bowtie it wore. a tap too many led to the figurine’s head falling right off. “oh, bollocks.”

an airy laugh escapes your lips, and with a sad smile you pick up the pieces of the glass penguin. “this was on our first date.” you teased, elbowing his side. “you took me to the zoo in the middle of december.”

steven’s eyes brighten at the memory. warm scarves, knitted gloves, tight hugs, and uncoordinated dances to old pop rock, and jazz. a day he could never forget. “yes! we almost got soaked at the penguin exhibit.” he says, the corners of her eyes crinkling as he smiles. “i bought you this little guy to remember our first date.”

both of you reminisce in comforting silence. you sigh, pressing your cheek against your palm as you pick up another broken figurine. “so much for the memory box.” you mutter, placing the broken fragments back into the cardboard box.

“memory box?” steven says, amused.

“title is a work in progress.” you say matter of factly. “or at least it was.”

steven takes your hands in his, “i’ll make it up to you, darling.” he says. “promise. always.”

giving his hands a small but reassuring squeeze, you smile fondly before shaking your head. “no, no, it’s alright.” you say, a small peck on his lips. “we still have a lot of stuff to unpack.”

steven returns your kiss just as softly, hand lingers on her before reluctantly pulling away. loving gaze follows your figure as you walk to another room. 

the rest of the day went by with you and steven putting things and organizing rooms. once night had fallen, you were the first to race to the shower after such a long and hot day. steven was quick to work. skimming through an array of vinyl before pulling out a record and placing it over the player. glasses of wine sitting on each side of the decorated table as the food cooks on a low fire from the kitchen. both of you had made the decision to order takeout after finishing up with the apartment. however, as you showered steven had made the decision to get started with an actual dinner, not just some gyros you spotted on the drive home. 

home. 

to many, a home would be their house or even a town they used to live in. but to steven grant home is where he can find comfort and safety. where he is truly welcomed. home is…

you open the door and step out of your shared bedroom, hair still wet from your shower. steven has his back turned against you. “steven?” you muse, eyebrows furrowed together at the home-cooked food on the table. “you made dinner?”

his fingers go right to the record player, he knows exactly the right one to play. only when frankie vallie’s voice fills the living room does he turn towards you. 

you're just too good to be true

can't take my eyes off of you

walking towards him, your smile never fades. a smile that incarnated his tender adoration for you. arms wrap around your waist before you instinctively lay yours on his shoulders. 

you’d be like heaven to touch

“is this what you were hiding?” you ask, looking into his eyes with a smile. 

“a little,” he revealed, the corners of his eyes creased with amusement. “i don't need a trinket or a glass figurine to show how much i adore you, dear.” his eyes scan your features, hand brushing against your cheek. “i only need you.” 

you let the music guide you, with the help of steven’s soft swaying to the music as he held you close. you’d break a thousand more figurines if it meant you could stay in this moment for as long as you wanted. 

“pretty impressive that you managed to do this in such a short time.” you tease, laying your head against his chest as you both sway to the music. 

“shh,” he says, pressing a finger to your lips. “no words. just us, dear.” 

with that, he ends the night with a needed kiss.

main masterlist / moon knight masterlist

tag list in reblogs

[kanazawa-division]

ABR Birthday Special: Kyler Aaron

~~ August 23rd ~~

“True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of Justice.”

Login Lines:

“You know I appreciate you calling me, Roxie, but isn’t it in the middle of the night over there? I don’t want you to be exhausted come when you actually have to wake up.”

“…Hm? Am I forgetting something? I don’t think I am, our anniversary isn’t until-…Ah, right, of course you would remember my birthday when I don’t, thanks, babe.”

Voice Lines:

“Damn, 28 years old already and I’m still nowhere near my goal…it’s weird to think about, sometimes I wonder if I would’ve turned out differently had I not been in a coma those four years of my childhood.”

“Y’know, I’ve only been here for what, at least a year now? Crazy how used to the wackiness of the whole DRB and its contestants I’ve become, no one back at home won’t ever believe me if I told them the things I’ve seen and did.”

“Even while completely busy doing who knows what, Evelyn’s still managed to get me a present and wished me a happy birthday, I hope she’s doing well, I know she has Ace with her but…to be honest that only fuels my worries even more.”

“Ah, hello Wataru, thanks for the card, it was nice. I’m surprised you’re taking the time to visit me, aren’t you supposed to be on break? Alright, if you say so, I don’t mind the company. Hm? You got something for me? What is it?”

“Oh whoa…these are really cool, nice to know that vinyls haven’t gone completely out of style, sometimes it’s just not the same as listening on digital. Ha, I know you’d get it, Wataru, thanks, this is a really nice gift.”

“Don’t even think about it, Joey, I could hear you coming a mile away, you really ought to learn the meaning of “stealth” if you’re going to be sneaking up on someone. Yeah, yeah, well somebody’s gotta keep you in line, so what’s that behind your back?”

“Oh sick, thanks Joey. Right, did you enjoy that game I got you on your birthday? Haha, I expect nothing less from you. Well, I’m not going to be doing anything special so maybe when you get off work, we can play a few rounds together, right, we’ll see who’ll be crying later.”

Wataru Lines:

“A very happy birthday to you, Kyler. That I am but that doesn’t mean I can’t make the time to at least wish you a happy birthday, speaking of which, I got you a present.”

“I’ll admit, I was surprised when you told me that you still listen to vinyls so I bought you some while I was in a record store last weekend, I’m glad you like them. I couldn’t agree more, honestly, I think we should take a break from all the tech and go back to the classics. Of course, happy birthday.”

Joey Lines:

“Owwww! What was that for, Ky?! So I wanted to scare you a little, sue me. Oh, c’mon! I was only trying to have some fun, somebody’s gotta be the life of the party here since it’s not gonna be you and it’s definitely not gonna be Taru! Eh? Oh right! Here you go!”

“It’s the new soccer video game that Player One Studios released! It’s all the rage right now and I knew that you, as a soccer lover, would enjoy it! Oh that? I beat that game like 7 times when you first got me it, thanks again, it was really fun! Wait for real?! Oh hell yeah, now I’m pumped! Just don’t start crying when I beat you over and over, ha!”

[fallingforel]

PROMPTMAS DAY 6- Gingerbread house- Sam fender

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so sorry this has taken me so long i have had a super busy week. i have no idea how im meant to get 6 more out by christmas day. but enjoy. el xx

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⋆｡°✩

It was christmas eve, Sam’s and I’s second christmas as a married couple fourth together. We were currently at my family house on the outskirts of newcastle in the countryside and we were having our traditional gingerbread house making competition. Every year the couples of the extended family take part in a gingerbread house competition of recreating their own houses, the ones who were single were either judges or teamed up with another singleton and created one of the pairs house, when we were younger and for the kids currently they usually help with their parents, sometimes they help judge, but it’s usually the competiveness that stops them from participating, This year sam and I were announcing our pregnancy during this years competition, it was a great way to announce it. My sister and Brother were the judges this year for the fourth time in a row, because naturally they were the only singletons of the L/N family left.

“Welcome to the annual L/N gingerbread house making competition. Okay as always Y/B/N and I are the judges because we have had way too many dates gone wrong this year. you know the rules by now for those who have forgotten it’s as follows, we make the gingerbread cook them, do our annual presents giving for those who won’t be here tomorrow. We then come back, build the houses and by 9pm tonight we have a winner. Jeanie i’m routing for you this year” my sister jokes,great aunt jeanie was always the one to make hers the least realistic as she had a wild imagination and was a cake creator so she brought in ideas that she wanted to try out, she’s usually last place.

“Okay enough, Can we get on with it?” My dad says “yep go start making your gingerbread” My sister says becoming bored and going back to her phone, I must ask her later what that’s all about she’s been glued to the bloody thing all morning.

“we’re bound to win this year” Sam whispers next to me. “Oh for sure this pregnancy announcement is gonna blow the roof of everyone’s” I whisper making sure to keep quiet, not wanting to spoil the surprise. “You make the house, I’ll make the people and fence as always?” I say to him “Yeah we’re bound to win this darling” He says next to me before placing a kiss on my cheek.

⋆｡°✩

1 hour later and all the gingerbreads were in the ovens, and we were all gathered in the living room to open presents.

“Y/n and sam this one’s yours” My little cousin passed me a rather large present placing it in front of us.

by the time all the presents had been placed in front of everyone and had a pile.

“great aunt jeanie, open yours from us first” I say, “Okay darling, what have you gotten me this year? another phone” “mum that was one year, And they did it as a favour to me because you cannot be sending me letters every time you need me to be popping to the shop besides it was only a landline. open it anyway i’m not having this conversation” My aunt Lucy replies.

She rips the present open “awwh how lovely” she holds up the square cardboard where sam’s face sat “we knew how much you wanted to listen to sam’s music but didn’t know how to work a cd player and music online so we got you the hypersonic missiles vinyl, the seventeen going under one is to follow if you like the first one, jeanie” I say.

“how thoughtful. I think it’s only right if you open my one to you two” “which one is it?” sam asks moving his hand from my thigh to reach to the floor “the rectangle one.” “ahh found it” he says picking it up off the floor and placing it in my lap I open it and it’s a reed diffuser with mine and sam’s initial on it placed in a love heart “Oh this is cute and thoughtful” I say “Lucy found it on the face book. she already got you guys something so she got that from me to you” “It’s not preowned before you ask some woman makes them, and i asked her to make one for you guys” “oh thank you, even if it was preowned it still would’ve been thoughtful” I say

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After all the presents were done we went back into the kitchen and started building our house, sam and I had disguised the pregnant gingerbread into a normal gingerbread person and created two little balls and passed them off as “snowballs” that were going to be incorporated into the gingerbread people throwing them.

“okay do you remember how to build the house, you forgot last year.” I say “i didn’t forget i forgot to bring the sheet i write it down on and had to remember how to build it from memory and i also had to remember how our house looks from the outside. “Still can’t believe you forgot what our house looks like” “we had just moved it was difficult” sam says “whatever, it’s not too late to divorce you” I say in a whisper knowing that if anybody heard the D word it would cause a riot. “might i remind you that your pregnant with my baby” he whispers back in my ear.

we had built the house and had to wait 5 minutes until we could start decoration it so i decided to create the pregnant gingerbread while we waited.

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2 hours later and our gingerbread house was done we used white dripping icing for the snow on the roof, black fondant for the gutter chimney and arial, white fondant for our front door gold fondant for the doorknob beige fondant for our steps, green fondant for the bushes over the gingerbread fences, and then outside the front was the two gingerbread people holding hands stood on the doorstop, with the pregnant and at the base of the house was icing writing that read “welcome baby fender due summer 24”

“Okay times up, we need 30 minutes to judge everyone’s and come up with a winner. so please excuse yourself”

once everyone had vacated the kitchen about 30 seconds later, a loud “OH MY GOD, THERES NO WAY!” sam and i giggled to ourselves before subtly high fiving.

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half an hour later we were all gathered back into the kitchen.

“Okay, so we have a clear winner. announcing their PREGNANCY. yes. PREGNANCY. which has been a first and I certainly hope it’s not the last… I mean we’ve had marriages, divorces. that was a weird one, bless carol i miss her. but never a pregnancy. so for that. Congratulations to the fenders you won this years annual gingerbread house competition” a chorus of “oh my gosh”’s and “awwh congrats” and applauses but sam and i were in our own world hugging and him placing kisses on my cheek.

“this time next year you’ll all have a baby fender to spoil.”

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end

[hanako-arasakas-twink]

One-Shot: "The world in my arms."

Pairings: Hanako x Husband!Reader

Warnings/Tags: Fluff; Hanako being all loving 😦 (shocking)

A/N: CDP could've made a story path where V would have to agree to work for Hanako, running errands and all—before meeting her at embers. They should've let us see some shady stuff from her dealings and all 🥲

Synopsis: Amidst the chaos and constant demands of the corporate world—tonight, they all slowed down... especially the dances.

The night had settled peacefully over the Arasaka estate, the distant hum of the city muted by the sprawling gardens surrounding their home. The soft glow of lights illuminated the large windows of their private quarters, casting a warm, golden hue inside. It was a rare moment of quiet, one that Hanako and Y/N both cherished, especially after weeks of ongoing tension, meetings, and endless responsibilities.

Y/N stood by the old-fashioned vinyl player he had insisted on acquiring—a relic from the pre-Collapse world that had somehow survived the test of time. He had spent hours scouring black markets and collectors' shops to find the right records, sifting through boxes of worn-out labels and faded covers until he found exactly what he was looking for. It was a hard bargain, to say the least. Some black market vendors are putting up too many zeros for a single record. As a man who has charmed bigger names than the ones he met online, he's able to secure the goods and make sure that they're all working.

Tonight, he had a surprise in store.

Hanako sat by the window, her focus drifting between her thoughts and the peaceful view of the garden outside. She hadn’t noticed him yet, the way he moved quietly around the room, setting the record on the player with careful precision. The soft crackle of the needle meeting the vinyl broke the silence and it caught Hanako’s attention. 

She turned to see Y/N standing near the player, his usual stoic expression softened by the dim light. He met her gaze and gave a subtle smile, a rare and gentle look that was reserved only for her. 

“I’ve been thinking,” he said, his voice deep and calm as always.

He took a step toward her, the smooth, melodic sound of an old-world love song beginning to play in the background. It was soft, soulful, and with the unmistakable charm of the 1960s—a time long past yet somehow preserved in the melody. Unlike today’s music and melodies, the old world seemed to have captured what the world does not have anymore—passion, romance, and the rawness of one’s feelings for the other. And although Hanako and Y/N have lived in a world where they’re expected and needed to be cutthroat, in the privacy of their shelter, they’re just Hanako and Y/N. Two people who have found love amidst the chaos and uncertainty. 

Hanako’s eyes flickered with curiosity as she turned to look at Y/N, “Thinking about what?” she asked, her voice equally soft, as if not wanting to disturb the tender moment.

Y/N reached out a hand to her, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, “That we never got to slow dance.”

A soft laugh escaped Hanako, the idea catching her off guard. It was such a simple thing—something so far removed from their usual responsibilities. Yet, it was the kind of moment that felt timeless, untouched by the chaos of the world they lived in. This side of her beloved was one thing she never wanted to share with anyone else in the world. Aside from the power, authority, influence, and wealth she has now and for the years to come, Hanako knew that this love—this moment—was the one thing she would never trade for anything else. Despite the burden her name carries, she’s willing to set aside the corporate aspect of her fate and let this moment bring her somewhere else. Somewhere calm and somewhere better. 

Hanako stood, smoothing the front of her dress before taking Y/N’s hand, allowing herself to be pulled gently into his embrace. The music filled the room, rich and warm, as he led her into a slow, effortless rhythm. It was a song she wasn’t familiar with, but it wasn’t an unwelcome feeling. If anything, the song was calming and soothing. It’s as if they’re brought into a time and place where the world seems to have not ended yet. Ended by corporate wars, corporate affairs, and everything that is soulless and mindless. 

Their bodies moved in sync as if they had done this a thousand times before. Although, in truth, it had been years since either of them had danced like this—free from the weight of their titles; free from the world beyond their walls. For now, it was just them in the comfort of their home, holding onto each other as though nothing else mattered. As if it was just them living in this world. Y/N’s hand rested on the small of her back, pulling Hanako just close enough that she could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest. His other hand held hers gently, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in a small, affectionate gesture that sent warmth coursing through her. 

The old-world love song played on, its lyrics tender and bittersweet, speaking of a love that defied time. It was a song that, perhaps, they had never fully appreciated until now. In a world where every moment was fleeting and uncertain, this song felt like a promise—a reminder that some things could last forever if only they held on tightly enough.

Hanako rested her head against Y/N’s shoulder, closing her eyes as they swayed together in time with the music. While they swayed in a slow and loving rhythm, she felt the tension in his body ease. Even the usual sharpness of Y/N’s movements was replaced by something softer, more relaxed. It was rare to see him like this, so at peace, so open, and she cherished every second of it. In the corporate world, Hanako has seen Y/N be all strict, forward, and stoic. But now… right now he was different. He was a loving, caring, and protective husband. And Hanako? She’s not the Arasaka heiress, not even the “Ice Princess” of Japan. She’s simply Hanako, a woman who loved and was loved unconditionally. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this,” she murmured against Y/N’s chest, her voice a quiet whisper against his chest.

She added, “You’re always so... composed.”

Y/N let out a soft chuckle, his breath warm against her hair, “I suppose you bring out a different side of me,”

His hand on her back shifted slightly, drawing her closer. There was something deeply intimate in the way he held her—not just physically, but emotionally. It was as if every unspoken word, every quiet moment they had shared, was being poured into this simple, gentle dance.

As the song continued, and its melody weaving through the air around them, they danced in silence for a while. Content just to be in each other’s presence and to feel the connection that had only deepened with time. It was moments like these that reminded them of who they were beneath the titles, beneath the responsibilities. They were just Y/N and Hanako, two people who had found each other in a world that so often tried to tear them apart. From the dangerous missions up to nerve-wracking business meetings, it was safe to say that both Hanako and Y/N have survived the jaws of their corporate world. 

As the song neared its end, Y/N pulled back slightly, just enough to look down at his wife. His hand moved from Hanako’s back to gently cup her face, his thumb brushing lightly over her cheek. There was a softness in his gaze, a tenderness that was usually hidden behind his calm exterior—showed only when it was just them here. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever told you how much you mean to me,” he said quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Hanako’s breath caught in her throat, the weight of his words settling over her. She searched his eyes, seeing the sincerity there, the depth of feeling that he so rarely expressed in words. But it was more than enough. 

“You show me every day,” she replied, her voice equally soft.

Then, she added, “You don’t have to say it.”

Y/N smiled faintly, a rare and precious sight, before leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I know… but you should hear it too.” 

The song faded into the background, the last notes lingering in the air as they stood there, holding each other in the quiet aftermath. For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped, like time itself had slowed just for them.

Then, Hanako closed her eyes, resting her head against his chest once more. At this moment, nothing else mattered—not the empire they had built, not the conflicts waiting for them outside these walls. Here, in their private world, they had each other, and that was enough.

As the silence settled around them, Y/N leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered softly, “Dance with me again tomorrow?”

Hanako smiled, her heart full in a way that words could never quite capture. “I will… even after the night after that.” 

And with that, they stood there, holding each other close, the echoes of the old-world love song still lingering in the air, a reminder that even in a world full of chaos, moments like this—moments of love, of connection—would always find a way to endure. Even for an heiress like Hanako, or even for a man like Y/N, it finds a way. 

[thedawningofthehour]

Galois Room Post!

I made Gale's room in the Sims! It took a ridiculous amount of time for such a tiny room. Overall I'm pretty happy with how it turned out-it's faithful to what I was picturing, and the places it's not can be blamed more on the limitations of the Sims 4. One thing I struggled with was the size. It's supposed to be a pretty small room, most of the living areas in Draxum's house are, but I definitely had trouble placing everything I wanted in there. Sizing it up 1x1 made it feel too big though. (Sims 5, please let us build walls on half or quarter tiles, I'm BEGGING you) In the end I couldn't fit in a real bookshelf, which was my only real gripe, but he still has plenty of space for books. (plus Draxum has so many bookshelves, he can offload some if he gets too cramped)

I wanted to have it mostly Galois but not 100% Galois. He's a teenager and wants to decorate his bedroom to the nines because that's what teenagers do, but I also wanted to keep in mind that this furniture was not bought for him and was mostly left over from its last occupant/bought when Draxum viewed Donnie as his new science slave and not his son.

Without further ado, here we go!

It's...yeah, it's white. Nothing else really looked good. It was Bella's room first and Draxum didn't bother to repaint. She probably had this place papered with posters and cringey 90's wall hangings when she lived here. In retrospect pale purple walls were a trend in the 90's, but whatever it's done now.

(I also forgot to paint the walls originally so I might have just gotten used to the white)

Also just imagine the ceilings are a little lower, the wall height needed to be on medium for the rest of Draxum's house to work and due to how the Sims 4 works I couldn't give just Gale's room shorter walls. The top of the cabinet should be touching the ceiling.

Other side! Gave him some nice plants, he's got some hanging ones around his bed and computer area. :) I'm not sure how I feel about the rug but I was feeling a circular rug and the colors worked. Left door is to the bathroom.

Huginn and Muninn 100% made that knitted turtle for him.

Did I give him one of those fairy light canopies every movie and sitcom character had in the 2000's? Yes. Yes I did. Look, I wasn't planning on it, but I saw it in the lighting section and I had to give it to him. I know I'm terrible to him but he is my baby and I will spoil him.

Better view of the bed. (the canopy kept fading from existence) Got the salt lamp and the lantern Cass gave him, I'm so happy I found those. I'm probably the least happy here, he needs more stuff on his shelves and more pictures under them. There's so many goddamn pictures in this room but HE IS A TEENAGED BOY and this is how they express themselves.

Also the clutter under the bed. In-fic that platform is actually storage space, so it works. Please enjoy how he's hiding his fashion magazines behind the pillow.

His little computer corner! The Draxum family stays pretty unplugged when they're not at work, (Draxum would like them to be anyway) but Gale's allowed to have all the tech he wants in his bedroom as long as it stays in this corner.

Swing back again and-

Just pretend that the vampire doll is Atomic Lass, okay?

So that bookcase thing. Is NOT a bookcase. It is a thing of evil. It drove me absolutely nuts because I wanted to fill those shelves in with clutter. Those are not snap points. But the bookcase has snap points. So I couldn't alt-move stuff there or use 9-0 keys because they'd just snap to the bottom there. So now they just look empty and stupid while he has books on the floor.

But other than that, I like this corner. He's got some binders for schoolwork in the cubby there, got some artsy stuff for relaxing and his box of vinyl records with no record player. (Draxum probably has a record player somewhere) It looks like how an actual teenager would organize his shit. I'm not sure how I feel about him leaving a stack of books on the floor, but overall Gale is a very good book owner so I'm sure he's careful.

He doesn't get a window so I gave him a nice picture with curtains so he can pretend.

On a side note, I absolutely fucking hate the curtains in this game, that was the only set that looked good and didn't cover up the whole damn picture AND THEY DIDN'T COME IN PURPLE. Really, there's such a lack of purple in this room. Blame the color swatches, because I tried. God I miss Create-A-Style.

Again, please use your imagination and imagine the bulletin board filled with pictures of him with Cass or Pax and loving notes from the goyles. There's also a watch on his dresser-before he recreated his tech gauntlet, Draxum gave him a really nice watch to wear. He doesn't wear it anymore because having his gauntlet on hand is a major source of comfort, but he still loves the watch. I also realize this looks more like a girl's bedroom, but to be fair Donnie is very gender and Galois inherited that from him.

(I was SO tempted to put that box of kleenex behind his computer)

Close-up of the clutter in his corner. I know Donnie's canonically not into geology, but this game really wants you to use rocks as decor. Also purple.

I don't know what that orb thing is supposed to be. Maybe like a mini version of the orb Draxum was looking into during the Goyles episode? That sounds like something a Yokai teenager would have in their room.

I wanted to give him a stereo too but my game glitched out and wouldn't place any, so I put a mixtape there in honor of that. We'll say Cass made it for him.

I did make his bathroom too, but it's not the most interesting because

Yeah, pretty small.

God, doors in this game look so silly when they're up against a wall.

It was looking way too white so I gave him the fishies and the plants for a splash of green. That sink is also SO not the style I was going for but everything else was clashing with the other counter. We can say this bathroom was remodeled at some point when vessel sinks were in fashion. I don't know why because no one was living here when they were. (Huginn and Muninn probably did it as a weekend project just for fun) I feel like he needs a rug and a big piece of art on the opposite wall, now that I'm looking at it.

I definitely went overboard with the bathroom clutter. I was just very excited that I was able to squeeze in a whole counter just for decoration. Seriously, I just wanted to add in that eyebrow pencil so he could draw on his eyebrows, then that evolved into the blush palette and the makeup brushes and the lotions and the nail stuff. He doesn't even fucking wear blush.

He did make his electric toothbrush, though Draxum makes him keep a backup because he's skeptical about how that works.

And that's the build! I'm also building the rest of Draxum's house, but it's taking a while due to the absolute utter ridiculousness of the layout. (I mean, it's my own fault, I'm the one that chose this layout)(and also because I need to use the curved wall tool for his mushroom house, and by god curved walls are impossible to work with) Decorating should be quicker though, the only place with this level of detail should be the lab and maybe the greenery. I'll probably revise his room a little, maybe paint his walls an actual color. I also want to do something more with the cactus he has on his counter. Maybe I'll download some more CC so I can give him purple curtains.

I also have no idea if this is actually playable. Probably not, I feel like a Sim wouldn't be able to figure out the platform bed thing. But whatever, I didn't make this to actually play in.

[birlwrites]

what's wizarding music like in the ttdl universe? i've almost always got music on in the background and especially when i'm studying, but all of your characters are just. they're just sitting there studying and doing homework in silence! that would drive me insane!! so i was wondering what wizarding music is like, how available (? accessable? idk) it is in day-to-day life, and if you know, what are the 5th year slytherins' musical preferences? :)

anon you have hit on something that i think about a LOT and still don't have a totally developed 100% this-is-ttdl-canon answer for, so you're going to get a ramble!! and also INFORMATION ABOUT JOHN DOWLAND

(note from the birl who has completed her ramble - actually, less about john dowland than i anticipated, because i had Restraint because there was too much other stuff to talk about. i also haven't really read anything about dowland in like 2 months so WHAT IF MY INFORMATION ABOUT SOMEONE WHO DIED IN 1626 IS OUTDATED)

i generally think of wizarding technology as being behind muggle technology, for the obvious reason that it is. in the 1990s, they've got radio, but they don't have telephones, television, CD players, or computers

some of this is explained by the 'magic and electricity don't mix!!' principle but i'm a little suspicious of this principle bc... well, because i am afjslkghsjkdf. mostly because of 'how do the radios work then'

so imo the REAL reason wizarding technology is behind is because of, as with many things, Blood Purity Mentality. they're not really inspired to figure out how to adopt these things

so, where are they at in the 1970s? there's still radio - it operates on a ~magical frequency~ that manages to get down into the dungeons of hogwarts, so go magic. i think they have gramophones and even vinyl (just in time for muggles to figure out cassette tapes ajfslkghkjldsf), but a certain class of pureblood will sometimes sneer at vinyl for being Too Muggle.

if we think of wizarding culture as being, say, 15-20 years behind, then vinyl's been around for about 10-15 years, so it's been adopted pretty successfully in wizarding culture, but it's viewed as inferior to live performance (create an idea of scarcity and exclusivity!!!!)

like, with things like pensieves and enchanted art, the idea of recording a song so you can play it again without needing to go to a concert where they happen to play it is less special. can you afford a reasonably-sized enchanted oil painting of a string quartet? if you commission one with a list of your favorite pieces etched into the back of the canvas so it's guaranteed that they'll know the pieces you want to hear, you're good to go, no record player needed

so record players definitely aren't ubiquitous, and they tend to be a little unwieldy, so the only people who are going to be lugging those to hogwarts are people who really care about being able to listen to Specific Music. radios are more common. (people also generally aren't lugging oil paintings of musicians to hogwarts ajfskhgskf - wealthy students interested in music might have a miniature- to medium-sized painting with one to three musicians and up to 8 pieces on their 'setlist')

the rosiers have like. over a dozen small portraits of john dowland with his lute the dream and OH MY GOD i don't have room to talk about this on this post this post is already long and hhhhhhhh ANYWAY. if your family ever acted as patrons for a musician, you've probably got at least a couple of paintings of them lying around

but live music is still definitely viewed as Elite. ghost ensembles are popular to hire for events - they have basically infinite time to practice and learn new pieces, and they really don't ask for much in return beyond an audience and applause. live music performed by live people is Especially elite, bc exclusivity mindset

lucinda grew up listening to popular music on the radio and she got maeve into pop with her - there's definitely a radio in the girls' room, i just can't decide which of the two of them it belongs to ajfslkghlksjdf. charlotte will start pulling her hair out if people are playing music while she's trying to think, so they have a lot of Quiet Hours, but charlotte does a lot of her homework in the library anyway so it's not a huge restriction. emma will beg and plead and bribe people with candy to listen to as many quidditch matches as she can possibly manage - lucinda's usually down to listen to pro matches, but sometimes she'll go 'emma i have literally never heard of those teams' and emma goes 'THEY'RE THE FARM TEAMS FOR THE BRITISH LEAGUE' and that's usually when the bribery starts happening, because lucinda likes quidditch but she doesn't like it That much

(maeve gracefully avoids being dragged into those discussions. she's down for whatever :) which means she does not actually want to listen to an exhibition match between farm teams but emma does so)

evan's got a radio stuffed into his wardrobe somewhere - he usually listens to quidditch matches in the girls' room with emma and other than that he doesn't really care ajfslghsjdkf

barty's family has a ton of records thanks to his mom, spanning a wIDE range of genres - he doesn't really bring any of that with him to school (his trunk is already full of books and, you know, unimportant things like his uniform) but he knows a surprising amount about random things here and there. lots of information from liner notes his mom read aloud. he's a mars the bringer of war basic bitch but i forgive him because it is a banger and aren't we all, and also mars the bringer of war is significantly less basic in wizarding culture because it's a Muggle Composition

and regulus fjslghslkdghjsljk. regulus LOVES his peace and quiet. there's a reason he used to do almost all of his work in their dorm room and only moved out into the common room to be Seen. like charlotte, he would lose his mind a little if he was trying to listen to music and do work at the same time - he'd have to block the music out. no radios or enchanted oil paintings for him

so for regulus, listening to music is an Activity all by itself. he's been to a handful of (classical) concerts, and heard plenty of live music at the more salon-y high society gatherings, but his education in pop music (or other genres of commercial music) is,,,, sub-minimal ajglshkgjsldf. (evan's not much better tbh - lots of those salons are In His House, he's just as immersed in art music as regulus is, except for when he happens to be in the girls' room when they're not listening to quidditch)

i haven't put much thought into the development of magical instruments or techniques, because tbqh i am a singer and things like the mechanics of instruments often totally fail to enter my mind as a thing that should be thought about - now i'm having thoughts about dark arts applied to vocal abilities to build quite literally superhuman voices

but i think that one of the reasons that regulus doesn't listen to a lot of music is because it affects him too much. that boy is repressing so much shit and if he listens to too much beethoven or tchaikovsky or dowland or god forbid a REQUIEM MASS (other than like. fauré's) it's all going to come out

[notebookmusical]

Hi! I'm sorry I took a few days to reply. Omg I'm so sorry you don't have a voice right now! That sounds so awful. Just try to drink as much water as possible I guess and hopefully it gets better. I think baking is a lot easier for me too..just because I don't make that many cooking recipes or anything and it's harder to know what dishes to make. I also think it takes a lot longer and same here..everyone is better at it than me and never gives me enough time to learn or anything. But I definitely think it will be a New Year's resolution for me to work on it more and just try harder. I hope your voice has at least gotten a little better since I last replied to you and that you're feeling better overall. Hopefully you can start the new year healthy but I hope you feel better sooner than that haha. The only time I've ever lost my voice is at concerts. I remember after my Taylor show, my sister lost her voice and couldn't talk for three days..but I've never had laryngitis. Well I also enjoy apple pie and I'm a fan of most desserts actually.

I think I will be happy with any vault songs she gives us and some of those are familiar to me too. I'm not sure why she didn't release Let's Go (Battle) but I think Need could be put on rep eventually..even if we know it's for Lover, it almost sounds more like rep. But it also reminds me a little of False God too so I'm not sure. I think she will add Beautiful Eyes to debut honestly which would be good since I don't really listen to it. The holiday album I'm more iffy on but I guess it could come this year maybe? I think I heard a rumor about it so idk.

Well I think I might have been confusing that one with NFU cuz he says I just miss the way that we talk..but I agree that I should give it another listen. But I really liked that one, and Glitter and Honey. I'm sorry you couldn't make the concert..that's such a bummer. Btw Saw you in a Dream is one of my fav songs ever but I actually haven't heard many other songs..just a few besides her newest album and maybe her EP before that. I don't actually know what my vinyl player looks like because it's unopened so I have not played anything on it yet but I hope you find what you're looking for and get lucky.

I liked him and think he will do good in the role but only saw one clip so far which was Wait For Me. I will have to look for more. Ooh who is the euryidice stunt cast? I hadn't heard about it. I still haven't got a chance to watch the parade performances or any Dancing performances actually. The only thing I saw was Taylors tour choreographer talking about the Vigilante Shit chair dance which is cool. She is the same choreographer who worked on the La La Land movie so that's pretty cool and I love the dancing in that movie so maybe I will watch a few. I also like the dancers in the tour during Lover and Enchanted.

Well I guess one goal I have is to finish more books that I start lol. Then of course finish the ones I'm in the middle of right now which is going to be paired up with a few on the list. My sister wants to read more too and I have a few in mind we can read together already that we never got to..which is the ones about twins and also the Night Circus. We also started Daisy Jones together a long time ago. Read more books that I own and are on my shelf and I made the goal of reading two books a month so far so we'll see how that goes. Wow that also is the same number of the year which is 24! So hopefully I stick to that. I also said that this year and failed miserably lol. I think I only read two full books this year and maybe two I was in the middle of from the previous year lol. Or maybe I will try to finish one or two I'm in the middle of right now before the year ends. I do not know many upcoming releases yet but Emily Henry and Carly Fortune are definitely two I'm looking forward to and the If he had been with me sequel. So I am supposed to reread that with my sister maybe next month since it comes out in February I think. Or Night Circus and Starless Sea too..idk cuz maybe those will take more than a month though. If you have any other books you think we can read together this year let me know. There is also the Today Tonight Tomorrow sequel and I hope to read the first one as it gets closer. What are some upcoming ones you're looking forward to?

So the movie was good! Like it was a pretty good and faithful adaptation I think. But I also didn't love it as much as other people really seem to either. It felt like they changed a few little things from the book or maybe just cuz I speed read it..oops. Although I'm not sure if you would get it as much if you didn't read the book..like if it would be confusing. I filled in a few things for my sister for example. I feel like the narration in the book made things clearer that was hard to show in the movie. The performances were good though at least. I liked the songs but I need to listen to the soundtrack again. It did not feel like the kind of movie I would wanna watch again really and it was kinda long. In fact it just made me want to rewatch the Hunger Games again and those movies were a lot better. It's just my opinion though I guess. I do like all the edits I've been seeing or connections and reading people's analysis though. I think we are also going to see the Renaissance movie this weekend too and I will probably enjoy that more lol. Although I'm worried it looks more like a documentary of the tour than the full concert..which kinda sucks cuz we didn't get to go.

I know she's been working on it a lot so I guess I wonder what will happen. What genre would you hope for in her new music? I've always wanted her to try more rock honestly so it makes sense why I loved I Can See You so much. I know it might be about her breakup though so I'm not really sure. Red also had hints of rock like State of Grace which is another one of my top favorites so I still have some hope. I also wonder if the music she's working on now could be for her upcoming film too..which it seems like no one has considered. That's so awesome that you saw all of your faves live this year..omg! If I ended up going to Paramore..then I could have said the same haha. They are definitely going to be one of my top artists haha. So I got Say Don't Go right technically but I think that was the only one. I also forgot that she already sang Afterglow or else I wouldn't have guessed it. Yes omg! I think that was my favorite pairing of these shows but I would've been fine with Innocent and Now we don't Talk. I love Say Don't Go but dislike it's Time to Go lol. Now that she's resetting the surprise songs next year, it will be harder to guess..which also makes it more fun! She also says there's extended version of the movie for her bday but didn't mention Cardigan in that list. Also she just put You're Losing Me on streaming finally. Maybe I will finally appreciate this song more but its also kinda just there for me lol. I wish I liked it more. I think it's honestly one of my least favorites out of all the songs she has released this year so hopefully TS11 has better songs. I hope you feel better and continue to have a good week. Happy wonderful Wednesday!!! 🩷

hi friend !! it has been ... ten (?) days without a voice now, which is just very frustrating but i'm mostly still in good spirits! the one downside is that my friend is coming into town friday through sunday, and i'm worried i won't have a voice by then still. but i can't really do anything about that, so we'll see. might have to continue doing text to speech robot voice! it's her first time in seattle too which makes it all the more interesting! but yes, staying hydrated, sitting next to the humidifier and just hoping i'll feel better soon! i went back to my best friend, the doctor's, and he gave me some new medication yesterday so hopefully that'll do it's magic soon! i'm surprised that i didn't lose my voice from eras weekend at all, but i did from boston (although that one is more so because i got sick → got laryngitis). guess it also makes a huge difference that eras took place over the summer!

what's your favorite dessert? mine is a toss up between black forest cake (what my mom makes for my birthday every year), tiramisu, and chocolate cake! but i also love oatmeal raisin cookies (probably my personal favorite thing to bake). my mom's also really good at baking bread, and i definitely need to pay more attention to her little tips and tricks when she does!

oh i could see the false god/need comparison! two of my close friends really want need to be released, and i hope it is for their sakes! i would loveeee the holiday album to come soon but i feel like it might be a "end of tour" gift next year? maybe? if tour is even over by then?

i was listening to i miss you already + i haven't left yet on vinyl yesterday as i worked! was thinking of you 🤍 i do think i still like his debut album more than i miss you already, but i also have listened to that one more/longer/etc. so maybe it's just recency bias! i feel like i'm starting to get burnt out (?) on new music? if that makes sense. but i'm also really excited for the holly/MUNA into your room, and then noah kahan/gracie abrams everything everywhere remixes that come out this week! but i think that's different since it's not new new music? i've been listening to fruitcake ep by sabrina carpenter a lot though! that one's really fun. saw you in a dream is soooo good and i also really like f a r a w a y ! but sunshine baby is definitely my favorite.

i heard rumors about lizzy mcalpine as eurydice? which i don't know how to feel about! for many reasons! here's an audioboot, if you're so inclined! i did see that quote and i thought that was really cool! i'm really excited that eras movie will be on streaming; i've got like ~ $25 amazon digital credits saved up, so i'm going to be streaming it on her birthday i think! just a little something fun! i notice new things every time, and i like picking a dancer — or two — to focus on! i would love to see a a BTS documentary of eras after it's done; i'm so curious about the quick changes, the rehearsal process, etc.

two books is still two more than you previously read! it's not a competition, and reading is supposed to be fun!! i almost started a new book tonight but i was too tired and then i remembered i haven't replied to you yet so i grabbed my laptop to do so! i think i'm going to try to work more on my les mis/night circus annotations tomorrow, and that'll probably be the last time i get to read until sunday or monday! i also need to update my reading thread — and make my 2024 reading tracker in google sheets! so much to do! i usually do a post on my book blog for 2024 anticipated releases, but i'm SO out of it that i can't even think of anything aside from my friends' books that are coming out!

i've never seen the hunger games movies aside from the first one, but i think what i want to do is do a series reread, watch the movies, read tbosas, then see it? maybe? or maybe read them all then watch them all? i have no idea! but all my friends have been talking to me about it and i have to be like WAIT I HAVEN'T READ IT YET DON'T SAY ANYTHING !!! it definitely has taken over my entire fyp, and i'm always in awe of how good people's editing skills are! i hope it's the full concert; you'll have to let me know how it is since i won't be seeing it for a while (if i end up seeing it)!!

i'm also not the biggest fan of it's time to go! i love the "but i've got me" line and think it's so symbolic of how this entire tour has been for her, and hearing her sing it live has definitely made me like it a bit more but i'm still not the biggest fan of it for some reason! out of all the surprise song combos in 2023, which one was your favorite? i wonder if cardigan will be on the streaming version, or in a physical DVD exclusive? we'll just have to wait and see! feels weird for her to exclude just cardigan. i did not expect her to release YLM today! i woke up and my phone was blowing up from friends about it haha! i do like it more with you know, proper production, dolby atmos, etc. and not ripped from an audio somewhere, but it's definitely not my favorite!

hope you have a good rest of your week!! 🤍 are you doing anything fun this weekend/anything you're looking forward to in december? love you!

[eva-knits12]

What sweater curse?

Summary: Eva knits her bf Colin Shea a sweater for his birthday.

About the sweater curse: It's been said that if you knit a sweater for your boyfriend or girlfriend before getting a ring on your finger, the relationship will end before you have a chance to finish a chance to finish the sweater.

Side note: Since What's Your Number? was released in 2010/2011, the events take place at around the time of filming, which was most likely a couple years before the release of the film, so around 2007ish or 2008ish. Knives Out was released in 2019, but the sweater pattern that is linked is more recent. Otherwise, an aran sweater is a classic piece of clothing that everyone should own at least once in their life. In fact, I'm a huge fan of any kind of cable knit sweater.

Trigger warning: This is mostly fluff, but there is some implied smut, but don't worry, it's not graphic or descriptive at all. I like to keep things on the fluffy side, because not every is comfortable with smut.

As a knitter, there is a curse about knitting your significant other a sweater. I chose to ignore this, even though everyone in my knitting circle had warned me about this. My knitting books also had this in them, and here I am, with my knitting needles, yarn, and the pattern for Colin's sweater, that was going to be gifted for him on his birthday.

I moved to Boston two and a half years ago, after securing a job in the IT industry. I came here, after the company I was working for in Detroit laid me off. I took up knitting to help with the boredom of working backstage. Knitting also helped with my depression and my anxiety.

Little did I know that moving here in the spring 2007 would change my life.

Three months after I moved here, I met Colin Shea, after my friends from work took me to a local bar to celebrate my co-workers birthday. His band was playing at the bar, and I had an awesome night, and I managed to get Colin's number. It devastated Jake, who has quite the crush on me.

When Colin picked me up for one of our date nights, he discovered my yarn stash.

"What's this?" Colin asked, when he saw a pair of knitting needles poking out of my knitting bag, and picking up a ball of yarn.

"Colin, it's my knitting. I knit and I also crochet. It sounds boring, and you're thinking it's a hobby for old ladies, "I said .

"That's so cool. I don't think it's a hobby for old ladies," Colin said.

That was one month into our relationship, and it just keeps getting better.

"When did you start knitting and crocheting?"

"I took it up in college. It gave me something to do when I would be working in the costume department. I majored in theatre before I majored in computer sciences ", I said.

"Can you make me something?"

"Sure. I can make you a hat, a scarf, a dish cloth, a pair of fingerless gloves, a blanket, a sweater..."

"I didn't expect a whole inventory...", said Colin.

"I'll surprise you," I said, giving Colin a kiss.

"Let's go to dinner, and then we'll see the new Batman movie."

"I know it was filmed in Detroit, so I'll point out anything of interest if it comes up on screen."

Colin and I went on our date, and we even cuddled in the movie theatre seats, with a huge bucket of popcorn and a huge bag of M &M's between us.

That led to some more dates, and eventually, I moved into Colin's apartment because my landlord raised my rent, as I could barely afford the place by myself anymore.

One year later, on our first anniversary in 2008, Colin wrote me a song, and played it for me on his guitar. I'll never forget it, because it came from his heart. I got Colin a vintage inspired record player, along with some old records that I found at a local used book and record store. One of those records was Kick Out the Jams by the MC5, and I had a story that went along with it.

Here we are, two years later in 2009, and we couldn't be happier. We even found a small house that was in our price range, and are moving into it in the fall.

On our second anniversary, Colin tried to cook me dinner, only for it end in disaster, and the smoke alarm going off when I got home.

"Oh, honey, this was supposed to be a surprise," Colin said, with a laugh, while Dickens, our dog that we rescued, was happily wagging his tail, sitting by Colin's feet, waiting for me to come home.

"Oh, I'm surprised all right, but coming home to the house nearly burning down is not my idea of a surprise," I said, laughing.

"Okay, I'll order us that pizza that we like", said Colin. "Happy anniversary, sweetheart," Colin said. "I love you so much," Colin said, capturing me in a very deep and loving kiss.

"Happy anniversary, Colin," I said, giving Colin his present, which was a pair of fingerless gloves and a matching scarf and hat that I knitted for him that would keep him warm for the upcoming colder weather that Boston and Michigan are famous for later in the fall.

"This is lovely, honey. Thank you. Thank you for agreeing to be my girlfriend two years ago," said Colin, grabbing my waist, and dancing around the kitchen with me.

"Colin, I am proud that you're my boyfriend. I love you, my favorite rock star. Every day has been full of happiness, and every day is always a brand new adventure with you", I said, with tears of joy in my eyes.

The pizza came, we ate our favorite pepperoni pizza, and then I pulled out the special dessert that I picked up for us at our favorite bakery. After that, Colin kissed me deeply and lovingly, and picked me up bridal style.

"What's next, rock star?" We already had the perfect anniversary, even though it didn't go according to plan", I said.

"We're going to the bedroom, for another surprise," said Colin, with lust blown eyes.

Later that night, Colin and I enjoyed a nice romantic bath together.

Two years later, I was knitting Colin his sweater, which was a lovely cable knit in a cream color, much like the one Ransom Drysdale had worn in the movie, Knives Out, but without the holes.

As I was working on the sleeves to Colin's sweater, I didn't hear him come in.

"Honey, I'm home", Colin called.

"Have good day, rock star?"

"Yeah, the kids weren't as unruly today as they were weeks ago," said Colin.

"That's good. Plus, you're getting along well with my brother, so that's a good sign," I said, while giving him a kiss.

"Honey, is that for me? Just being with you is present enough", said Colin.

"Colin, you know your birthday is coming up soon, and you know you're mom, she always makes a huge deal of it", I said.

'This sweater is for my brother", I said, putting the sweater back into my knitting bag. "Plus, I have something special planned for your birthday ", I said, winking.

"But three years ago, everyone thought I would still be single, and not have a girlfriend that lasted longer than three months", said Colin.

"Colin Shea, listen to me. Your family still loves you, even though you chose a much different path," I said, trying to cheer up, when I saw the devastated look on Colin's face.

Just then, Dickens our dog, came running into the room when he heard Colin. Dickens was licking his face, trying to cheer him up, too. In the process, Dickens knocked over my knitting bag. Yarn flew out, the sweater had managed to somehow fly across the room, and the sleeves came off the needles, only to frog several rows from Dickens wanting to do his part of cheering up Colin. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

I had managed to gather up the yarn, and wind them back into the skeins as best as I could. I had managed to get the sleeves back on to the needles, and luckily, Dickens managed to only frog them back to the cuffs. Colin scooped up the sweater, but luckily, there was no damage.

"Dickens, you certainly have given us quite the surprise," Colin said.

"You know, how about we order some Chinese tonight?" I said, laughing at Dickens surprise appearance, after napping by my feet all day.

"I just hope it stays down," I said.

"Wait...are you...?" asked Colin.

"You'll find out soon", I said with a wink.

Two weeks later, I finished Colin's sweater. I found a gift box, and wrapped it in tissue paper, and wrapped it. I even found a cute card for Colin.

"Happy birthday, rock star", I said , kissing him.

"Honey, you didn't have to do this", said Colin. "I wonder what this is."

"Open it", I said.

Colin unwrapped the gift, and opened the box, and carefully undid the tissue paper. Inside, was a lovely cream colored cable knit sweater.

"Honey, I love it" said Colin. He gave me a loving kiss.

"There's something else," I said.

"Honey, I don't need anything else. Everything I want is right here, under this roof", said Colin, capturing me in another kiss.

"You'll love this one," I said opening the top drawer on my nightstand and grabbing the envelope with the small box attached to it. I gave Colin the package, nodding at him to open it.

Colin took the envelope with the small box I attached to it. Colin opened the small box, and inside the box was a pregnancy test that was positive. Colin then opened the envelope, and inside was an ultrasound sound picture.

"Honey, how could my birthday just have gotten better?" asked Colin, love filling his eyes, and his large hand going to my non-existent bump. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"That's why I've been nauseous lately. It's why I've been throwing up a lot lately" I said. "It's also why I was sent home early from work two weeks ago, and have been working from home ever since", I said.

"I really wanted this to be a surprise," I said.

"Eva, I always knew you were crafty, but how did you manage to keep it a secret for two weeks, knowing that your family thrives on gossip?" asked Colin.

"Easy, I didn't post my pregnancy on Facebook," I said, referring to the newish social media site that became very popular among everyone. "Plus, I wanted to get my pregnancy confirmed before we announce it. I had your mom take me to the doctor, and Dr. Westfield confirmed it."

"I can't wait to meet him...or her", said Colin. "I love you," said Colin, capturing another kiss.

"Daddy loves you so much," Colin said, talking to my non-existent bump. "I'm so happy you exist, and I never thought I'd love someone as much as I love your mom", said Colin, kissing my belly.

"I love you, rock star", I said. "I love you, and I love your daddy, and you wouldn't exist if it weren't for me meeting and falling in love with your daddy," I said, rubbing my belly.

Colin and I fell asleep again that morning. Dickens jumped up on the bed, and placed his head on my stomach. After a few hours, I woke up in Colin's arms, with Colin staring at me and smiling at me lovingly. Dickens and Colin didn't want me to leave the bed, even though I really needed to pee. I couldn't wait for Colin's birthday party tonight, in which, we would make the announcement.

Colin was going to surprise me on my birthday, but not with a sweater. He was going to surprise me with a ring, as he had been secretly shopping for the perfect ring.