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[midseo]

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[ihavemanyhusbands]

Bacchanalia

Also on AO3

Pairing: Lucius Verus Aurelius x Fem!Reader

WC: 2.2k words

Summary: At one of Rome's debauched celebrations to the god Bacchus, you and a handsome, masked stranger have a little celebration of your own.

Warnings: MINORS DNI this fit is 18+, smut, porn with no plot, implied orgy (it's happening in the background somewhere lmao), masquerade type setting, oral (m and f receiving), shenanigans with wine, fingering, unprotected p in v (you better not try this at home), creampie, swearing, aaaaand I think that's its but lmk if anything else lol

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The atmosphere was heady, perfumed with sweet violet, myrtle, and the musk of sweat-slick bodies. The air was thick and smoky with incense, giving the vast room a dreamlike quality. The warm flicker of candlelight casted long shadows of writhing forms on the walls, moans and other sounds of ecstasy drifting to your ears as you passed by a couple of curtained siderooms. 

Still, nothing really seemed to pique your interest enough to get involved. At least, not yet.

It wasn’t your first Bacchanalia, so you already knew what to expect, but you were even more thrilled at the fact that everyone was wearing a variety of different masks. Even the naked servants carrying trays of wine did not show their faces. Pleasure did not always need a name, after all. Without it, one could be whoever they chose, if only for a few hours. 

Your mask was meant to represent Diana, lunar goddess of the hunt. You walked slowly and deliberately through the halls of the estate, doing exactly that, except you weren’t entirely sure what you were hunting for.

You passed an archway that led to the gardens and saw a couple of lovers playfully chasing each other in the moonlight, wearing the faces of nymphs and satyrs. You huffed with amusement, leaving your empty cup on a passing servant’s tray and continuing on your way.

Your eyes skirted past Jupiter who was clearly trying to get your attention, but his disappointment was short-lived as Juno came to lead him away. You sighed, following an instinct that led you down another hallway across the atrium.

And suddenly, rounding the corner, you saw a stag at the other end of the hall – or at least, a man who wore the mask of one. The two of you seemed to spot each other at the same time, freezing on the spot. Time seemed to condense into just that moment, while you assessed one another.

He was tall and statuesque, built like the beautiful Adonis. He wore a loose, artlessly draped toga, revealing most of his lean, muscled torso. The thought of him wrapping those strong arms around you, lifting you or wrangling you into different positions, immediately came to mind. As if he could sense your thoughts, he smiled, an eager invitation to make fantasy into a reality. 

You huffed once again in amusement, curiosity finally overtaking you. Like you, he didn’t seem to be accompanied, but that was all the better in your eyes. Something about him seemed to stir your greediness, unwilling to share the bounties of your hunt.

You pantomimed retrieving an arrow from a quiver at your back, notching it to an invisible bow and drawing it back, then releasing it with a splay of your fingers. He reeled back as if struck, clutching the imaginary wound on his chest and falling to his knees.  Your chin was raised triumphantly as you stalked towards him, looking down to see a pair of crystalline eyes staring back at you through the holes in the mask.

There was a spark of mirth in them, reflecting your curious desire. You grabbed his bearded chin with one hand and leaned in,  your eyes drawn down to the slight heave of his chest. A smirk pulled at the corner of your lips.

“Got you now,” you said, voice low. “Come with me, my trophy.”

You turned to lead him away, glancing back flirtatiously as you let your tunic slip off your shoulder. He scrambled to his feet, following behind as you searched for an empty side room. You beckoned him into the first one you found, slipping inside, and he took some wine from a passing servant before joining you.

The room was darker than the hallway, with only a few candles illuminating one side of it. You let your tunic fall to the ground just as he entered,  warm light flickering over your skin. He stood there for a moment, stupefied at both your beauty and your boldness. He felt himself the tribute to an actual goddess, blood already boiling even if he hadn’t even touched you yet. 

He approached, raising the cup of wine to your lips so you may drink. His free arm snaked around your waist, pulling your body flush against his. Instead of drinking some himself, though, he raised the cup above your heads and poured the rest of the wine on both of your chests. You gasped, taken by surprise, and he tossed the cup aside carelessly.

He buried his face in the crook of your throat, licking the droplets that had spattered there as you pulled at his toga, clumsily undoing it. His eager tongue lapped at your clavicles and sternum, moving down to the swell of your breasts. But before he could get there, you pushed him back only to get your mouth on him, too.

The wine tasted even sweeter on his skin, especially when you heard the soft little moan in his throat. Unable to resist, you bit one of his pecs, tongue swirling around his nipple. He sucked in a breath, kicking aside the fabric of his toga as it fell to his feet.  He gently tugged your head back by your hair, his lips meeting yours ferociously.

You weren’t sure if your head swam from the wine or the kiss, but you submitted to it all the same. His arms enveloped you once more, his tongue dragging over yours, eliciting a soft mewl from you. You felt a sort of frenzy overtake you, the impulse to devour him whole threatening to consume you. Especially as there was a rather pressing distraction between you, bumping against your navel.

You cupped him in your palm, smiling against his lips as his breathing hitched. “Someone’s excited.” 

“H-how could I not be?��� he rasped, head tilting back as your lips went back to his chest. “Who else can say they’ve been ravaged by the fierce Diana herself?”

You chuckled, flattered at his words. “No one, of course.”

You left a trail of searing, open-mouthed kisses leading downward until you were on your knees in front of him. You kissed one hip bone and then the other, repeating the teasing process with his thighs. His erection pulsed in response, demanding attention. In the low candlelight, you could see a glistening bead of precum on the tip of it, lightly smearing near his belly button.

You flattened your tongue and licked the underside in its entire length. He shuddered, thigh muscles clenching as he resisted the urge to guide your head. You teased the tip with a few kisses, swirling your tongue around it and tasting his arousal. You gripped the base as you took it in your mouth, his deep groan nearly giving you goosebumps. 

One of his hands hovered just behind your head as it bobbed up and down, taking more and more until you could feel the tip at the back of your throat. He murmured expletives, his eyes screwed shut. But before he could get too close to the edge, the muscles of his lower abdomen already tense, he pulled you back by the hair as he bent to kiss you. 

His tongue invaded your mouth, tasting traces of his precum. Given the mess you’d been making of him, a debauched string of saliva connected your lips as he pulled back slightly to look at you. You grinned, biting your lip, your hand still stroking him. He placed a hand over yours to keep it in place, drawing in a long breath.

“Not like this,” he husked, caressing your cheek with the back of his hand. “Let me have my turn.”

You slightly tilted your head to one side and nipped at one of his fingers playfully. You could feel your own arousal drip onto the floor, more gathering between your thighs. The least he could do was help clean you up.

“Come here, then,”  you said, rising. 

You had him sit on the floor, his back against the wide couch on the other side of the room. You drew closer, practically cornering him, and propped a foot on the edge of the couch by his head. You enticingly slipped your fingers through your slick folds, feeling his hot breath against your cunt as he lifted his head.

“Fuck,” he groaned, tongue tracing your inner thigh, followed by his teeth. “Sweeter than wine…”

“And there’s more where that came from,” you rasped, fingers threading through his hair so you could press his face against your cunt. 

He lapped you up with gusto, using lips, and tongue, and teeth to savor you properly. He gripped your leg for support, keeping you in place at the same time. Your head tipped back as a moan was wrenched from your throat, your hand keeping a tight hold on him. Absently, he stroked the head of his cock ever so slowly, keeping himself teetering on the edge. But he wanted to save it for the best part, when he’d be buried deep inside you, your bodies melding into one another.

Your hips rocked back and forth against his face, seeking the added friction. He moaned against you, feeling like he could stay there for hours, drawing out your honey and worshipping you. Quick little flicks of his tongue against your clit make heat spiral upwards from your navel, your legs beginning to tremble.

You held onto his head as a choked sound escaped you. You gushed on his tongue as you came, a few more erratic drags of your hips to fully ride it out. Your cunt clenched around nothing, achingly empty, but not for much longer. You were still dazed when he decided to take over control, grabbing you by the hips and turning you around to bend you over the couch. 

One of his hands pressed your head against the mattress, keeping your hips hiked up. You leaned into his touch as you felt him palming the swell of your ass, making you squeal a little as he bit the supple flesh. He teased the entrance of your cunt with the tips of his fingers, humming pensively.

“Seems like you’re more than ready for me…” he purred, a teasing edge to his tone. “Shall we try it out? Hmm?”

You could only nod desperately, hips wiggling as he pulled back to situate himself behind you. He dragged the head of his cock through your folds, coating himself in your slick, and lined himself up with your entrance.

“Nice and slow,” he said, pushing inside. “That’s it. Oh, you see how you’ve got me? How I’m aching for you?”

You gripped the cushion under you, nearly overwhelmed by the delicious stretch that bordered between pain and pleasure. He felt impossibly deep at that angle, hitting a spot that had your eyes rolling to the back of your skull.

“Gods,” you mewled, voice tight. “You’re so big.”

He chuckled, the sound melting into a low groan as he kneaded your ass with his hands greedily, spreading you to get a better look at his cock sliding inside your cunt. “And yet you’re taking me perfectly well.”

He was in no rush at first, keeping his thrusts shallow until you grew more accustomed to him, enjoying the velvety warmth that enveloped him. You pushed your hips back to meet his thrusts, his grip on them tightening. He was trying hard to stave off his growing pleasure, but you felt so good that he knew he wouldn’t last too long. He murmured praises as the snap of his hips became faster, obeying your pleas to go harder.

“Give me another one,” he pleaded in return, leaning more of his weight on you, pinning you down. “I want to feel you properly this time.”

You didn’t have much choice but to take it as he pounded into you, rough, feral noises escaping him every time he bottomed out inside of you. Your teeth sank into your forearm as you came apart a second time, dark stars dancing across your vision. 

He husked an encouraging ‘there we go, there’s a good girl’ close to your ear as he felt you clenching around him, pulling him along into oblivion. He stayed buried to the hilt on his last stuttering thrust, his grip on your hips bruising as he filled you with his spend.

His hand rested on the back of your neck like a mark of ownership, his cock twitching once more at the imagery. But you both needed to recover your strength first, and so he collapsed on the couch as you rolled over onto your side.

You looked at each other for a moment, sharing a soft, exhilarated laugh. He pulled you closer, one arm draped over your waist. In any other instance, with anyone else, this sort of intimacy with a complete stranger would seem off. But there was something about him that made it feel almost natural, and therefore you welcomed it.

“Who ravaged who, in the end?” You joked, making him chuckle once more.

“Let’s call it a tie for now,” he said, fingers tracing your back. “After all, we still have plenty of time to decide who the real victor is.”

You huffed, tracing his lips with your thumb. “Something tells me you think it’s going to be you.”

“Well, if there’s one thing you should know about me,” he said, nipping at your thumb. “It’s that I don’t like to lose.”

“Oh, is that so?” You countered, pushing him onto his back and grinning like the cat that got the cream. “As it happens, neither do I.”

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

[foone]

A good teleport should be barely noticeable. One moment, there's no one there, and the next moment, there is. No flashes of light, no sound, you could literally blink and miss it. You often don't even see them at first, because the human eye is watching for movement, and a well-done teleport has no movement, just an instant change of nothing becoming something. It's a subtle art, the kind practiced endlessly by magicians, and that goes doubly for anyone trained as a war wizard. You want to turn the tides of a battle with arcane powers, or slip an assault team in behind enemy lines, to decapitate (sometimes literally) the opposing force? You have to be discreet. You have to perfectly balance the spell so that your strike force can slip in unnoticed, with a bit of magical help, and teleportation is one of the trickiest kinds of magic to make unnoticeable. The universe doesn't like it when nothing becomes something, and vice versa. It tends to notice, and people around tend to notice as well. So there's really an art to a good teleportation spell, and you sometimes see the grand masters of the field give demonstrations before crowds of less experienced magicians, often to roaring applause.

This was not one of those teleportation spells. This was a C-, barely passing, "SEE ME AFTER CLASS" written on your homework type of teleportation. The kind you do when you don't have time to prepare, when you don't give a damn who notices your arrival, because the one thing that's of highest importance is that you Stop Being Here and start Being Somewhere Else. This teleportation spell would give anyone magically sensitive headaches for days, and you would have trouble missing the bright flash and deafening noise that accompanies a body's-worth of air having to get out of the way in an instant. If you could hear the fabric of space, it rang like a bell hit with a sledgehammer when that teleport happened. Light-years away there was probably some little green men confused at why their new gravity-wave-detector appears to have told them a black hole merger just happened on the surface of a habitable planet.

And through that cacophony of light and sound and gravity, there stepped a man. He was silent for only a moment, and then screamed in terror, almost equaling the sound that had come shortly before. He ran, his rationality giving out, managing to function only at the instinctive reaction of an animal that is on fire and needs to move, now.

Because it's one thing to know, intellectually, that there are planets out there where the evaporated water from lakes and oceans collects in the lower atmosphere, and somehow condenses into visible structures of suspended water droplets, which then sometimes comes crashing down to the ground. That makes sense, in the way that you can read about sex or skydiving but it can in no way compare to experiencing the real thing (and hopefully not at the same time). There's a huge difference between knowing that there are planets with precipitation, and being in the middle of a rainstorm, because your emergency teleport dropped you on the outskirts of Seattle in the middle of the wet season.

Rudapedi Yonfer is being rained on for the first time in his life, and the master magician is terrified in much the way you would be if you opened the door to your bathroom one morning and there was a cheetah sitting in your bathtub.

[apod]

2024 November 19

Undulatus Clouds over Las Campanas Observatory Image Credit & Copyright: Yuri Beletsky (Carnegie Las Campanas Observatory, TWAN); h/t: Alice Allen

Explanation: What's happening with these clouds? While it may seem that these long and thin clouds are pointing toward the top of a hill, and that maybe a world-famous observatory is located there, only part of that is true. In terms of clouds, the formation is a chance superposition of impressively periodic undulating air currents in Earth's lower atmosphere. Undulatus, a type of Asperitas cloud, form at the peaks where the air is cool enough to cause the condensation of opaque water droplets. The wide-angle nature of the panorama creates the illusion that the clouds converge over the hill. In terms of land, there really is a world-famous observatory at the top of that peak: the Carnegie Science's Las Campanas Observatory in the Atacama Desert of Chile. The two telescope domes visible are the 6.5-meter Magellan Telescopes. The featured coincidental vista was a surprise but was captured by the phone of a quick-thinking photographer in late September.

∞ Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241119.html

[kelcemenow]

Drive Me Crazy - Chapter 5.

Pairing Travis Kelce x Reader

Words 2799

Warnings Swearing, smut...all good stuff!

Huge thank you to the Anon who sent this in! They had such amazing words to say about my writing which I massively appreciate and then to top it off, had an incredible request for me! I only have experience with mechanics in the UK, so I've tried my best with this one! "I just recently got interested in Travis K. X reader stories and wanted to let you know, I read all of yours as quickly as I could. They are so well done and I couldn’t help but laugh/giggle and feel through each word you typed out. You’re doing amazing and I’m so glad to have stumbled onto your page. If you have any space for a request, I’d be curious about what Trav would think about having a military (like fighter pilot) or engineer or mechanic girlfriend. I see a lot of stories with him paired with models/singers/social media individuals (which are phenomenal!) but just wondering how he would be with a more tomboy like girlfriend!"

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

You spotted Travis in the bar immediately. He had secured one of the secluded booths that ran along the back wall. The bar was dimly lit with numerous candles and deep blue painted walls seemed to enhance the relaxed and cosy atmosphere.

Travis was holding a beer bottle in his large hand, his fingers gently picking at the edge of the label. You wondered for a second if he was nervous, before smiling to yourself.

"Of course he isn't nervous. He does this sort of thing all of the time."

Just as you were about to make your way over to him, his gaze fell on you. He seemed to take a deep breath before his eyes almost disappeared as his mouth moved into a wide grin. He stood up quickly, holding his hand out to warmly greet you. He was dressed casually in a white hoodie and leather jacket, black skinny jeans and comfortable Nike's finishing his look. Your ripped blue jeans and grey sweater seemed to compliment his outfit, and you secretly breathed a sigh a relief.

"Hey."

"Hey." You responded as you took hold of his hand. Travis pulled you closer to him and kissed your cheek lightly, his slightly spicy cologne sticking to you immediately.

You carefully slid into the booth, watching Travis opposite you as he did the same before pushing the second bottle of beer across the table.

"I didn't know what you wanted so I just got you the same as me. I can get you something else though, if you'd prefer." His eyebrows shot up as he craned his neck in search of an available waitress.

You smiled, "Beer is perfect, thank you." Your fingers wiped the cool condensation from the sides of the bottle before picking it up and bringing it to your lips.

Travis kept his eyes on you, watching your every move as you swallowed down the beer. You held your mouth as you nervously laughed a little, almost allowing the beer to escape your lips.

"What?" You said, dabbing the liquid from your mouth with the soft skin on the back of your hand.

Travis smiled and looked down at this hands and he rubbed his palms together, a quiet scratching sound of his slightly calloused skin, "Nothing. I'm just happy you've eventually agreed to go out with me."

"You know, I just said yes so you would stop bugging me." You shrugged, one side of your lips slowly curling upwards.

"It still worked though, didn't it?"

Your cheeks flushed pink as he looked back towards you, one of his glittering eyes winking and rendering you speechless.

"Can I say something?"

You smirked, "Yeah...sure."

Travis leaned in closer to you, resting his elbows against the table, "There's something about you that makes me fall apart."

A heat rose in your face again and he leaned in further, his mouth only inches away from yours.

"I can't stop thinking about our kiss the other night."

"Is this your way of getting another one?" You said in a low whisper, your voice rasping.

Travis grinned and closed the small space between you, his warm lips making contact with yours with a gentle pressure. As your eyelids fluttered closed, you tilted your head to the side and reached out to cradle the side of his face, his stubble prickling against your hand. You could feel him smiling into the kiss, which only spurred you on more, letting your tongue run across his bottom lip and your fingernails drag along his jawline. A fizz of energy rushed through your veins, culminating into a tightness in your core that made you push your thighs together, a throbbing sensation becoming very apparent.

You slowly pulled away from Travis, opening to yours eyes to see that his were still gently closed. His lips were still parted, a short breath escaping them as he eventually looked at you.

"Holy shit." He said with an elated grin, "I could do that all day."

"I'm gonna suggest something..." You started, "...and I don't want you to overthink this or to come up with some skewed opinion of me. But I really just want to head home and fuck you."

Travis immediately widened his eyes, his body leaning back a little.

"You're already overthinking it, I can tell."

He exhaled a laugh, blinking wildly and shaking his head, "Nah, I'm not overthinking it. I just...man, you really know how to make a guy speechless."

You took a long and deep breath, desperately hoping you hadn't been too forward. There was something about Travis that completely relaxed you and made you put your anxious thoughts to one side. You didn't feel the need to be anyone other than yourself in an attempt to please him.

You held your gaze as Travis raised his hand to scratch the back of his neck as his eyes seemed to dart across your features, analysing your expression.

"Take it or leave it, Kelce."

Travis quickly grabbed your hand, "Let's go."

______________________________________________________________

Your fingers rapidly tugged the denim fabric that was covering your lower body as your breaths became more laboured and heavy. A slight grunt left your lips and Travis pulled away from you with narrowed eyebrows.

"You okay?"

You sighed, "Yeah, I just can't get my keys out of my pocket."

Travis chuckled and leaned his body away to allow you better access, "I don't know? Making out against your door is kinda hot?"

"I don't think my neighbours would be too happy." You smirked before glancing across to the grey door not 10 yards away from you, "Although, come to think of it. Frank is a pretty big Chiefs fan, he'd probably be hyped."

After a moment of intense silence, Travis slowly tilted his head and lightly grazed his lips against your neck. Your skin seemed to burn with his touch, a gentle tingle washing over you. As your chest tightened, your fingers found the familiar cool metal and looped themselves around the ring, pulling the keys out with a light jingle. You attempted to turn your body to open your apartment door, but Travis only pushed you further against it, his hands wandering towards your lower back. His solid torso loomed over you and you felt tiny as he seemed to surround you with his large frame.

You felt his grip tighten, his fingers bearing down into your flesh. As you rose up onto your tiptoes, your hands reached for the back of his neck, pulling his mouth onto yours.

He smiled into the kiss as you expertly moved your lips across his. The hallway was silent, the only sound being yours and Travis' heavy breathing. Something inside of your core seemed to coil up, ready to release but you swiftly shifted your body weight and retreated from him, gazing up into his twinkling, mesmeric eyes.

"I think we should go inside." You croaked, your breathlessness causing your voice to crack.

Travis' eyes creased into a wide grin, his hands still gripping your waist. With no hesitation, he spun you around to face to door, eager to get you inside of the apartment. You clung to the keys, unlocking the door quickly and swinging the door open, stepping into the darkness. The familiar sweet scent of your home engulfed you as you reached across to turn on the large lamp positioned in the corner. You glanced over your shoulder, watching as Travis glanced around, taking in his surroundings.

"It's not anything fancy...and I'm not exactly an interior designer or anything." You said with a nervous laugh, as you quickly grabbed some oil stained towels that were piled next to the couch and threw them towards the laundry basket.

Travis smirked, his eyes surveying you, "That shit doesn't matter." He reached out for your hand, drawing you closer to him, "Besides, it's kinda hot that you could probably fix my water heater."

You raised your eyebrows as your hands ran over his chest and shoulders, "Really? Is this some sort of fantasy you never knew you had?"

"Something like that." He reached down, treating your lips to a gentle kiss.

You took a few steps backwards, leading him towards your bedroom, his eyes glinting in the dim light. Once he was in the room, you rotated yourself around, pushing him down onto the bed with a gentle thud. Travis lifted his upper body up with his elbows as he watched you slowly peel your sweater from your body, removing it above your head and throwing it down on the floor. Your fingers ran across your erect nipples that were poking against the soft cotton bralette that you were wearing, the excitement pooling in your stomach at Travis' obvious enjoyment of his view. His mouth had gaped open slightly, his eyes glazed and his chest was beginning to rapidly rise and fall.

"Come here." He whispered.

You tipped your head to one side, "Please?"

"P-please." He stuttered.

You smiled and placed your knees onto the bed, lowering your body and began climbing up his body.

"Fuck." Travis groaned.

As you reached his waist, you noted his growing bulge, his jeans stretching with the movement. Your hand ghosted over the throbbing mound as you bit down on your bottom lip, a sharp pain searing through your skin.

Travis shifted himself on the bed, his desperation visually building to an almost unbearable level. His fists grabbed at your sheets, balling them up in his palms as you rose to your feet again. With a slight smirk, you spun around and lowered your jeans, stepping out of them slowly and allowing Travis to gaze at your ass for a moment.

You heard his breath shake and his body move again on the bed, the sheets brushing against each other. You glanced over your shoulder and threw Travis a wink, your mouth quickly moving into a smile.

He sat straight up, his hands reaching out for you, "I need to touch you."

Your stomach fluttered immediately at his words and you obeyed him, straddling his lap and bringing your hands to the back of his head, your fingers stroking the short stubble that peppered his skin. His arms coiled around your waist and pulled you closer to him, his warm breath tickling your neck. The pressure in your core was building and as if Travis was aware, you felt his hips begin to roll underneath you. You reciprocated, grinding yourself against the hard mass in his jeans, a small moan freeing from his lips.

Suddenly, he arose from the bed, holding you up in his strong grasp. He spun you around and laid you onto the mattress, his hands running down your splayed legs. The pace of your breathing quickened as you watched him remove his jacket and hoodie, revealing his hair covered and toned chest. He kept full eye contact, intense and feverish, as he reached for his belt and pulled the leather away from his jeans at an agonisingly slow speed. Your bottom lip quivered in anticipation and you couldn't tear your eyes away from him once his hands released his engorged erection, a small bead of precum glistening against the tip.

Your jaw fell open at his sheer size, his swift movement towards you causing it to bounce slightly. You looked up into his gaze again as he loomed over your body, his mouth connecting to yours with an urgent pressure. His tongue danced against yours, your muscles trembling with ecstasy.

"Seriously you're going to make me cum...and you've barely done anything yet." You gasped.

Travis hummed against your mouth, pulling away to beam down at you, his eyes creasing with his wide smile.

"You're in for a whole lot of trouble then."

Without warning, he reached for your underwear and pulled them down your legs, before unclasping your bralette and tossing it aside. His eyes fell upon your breasts, hazing over as he took in the sight before him. You felt your clit begin to throb as he leaned down and took your right nipple in his mouth, his tongue rolling over the sensitive skin. Your hands brushed against the soft skin of his hips, guiding him in-between your legs. The throbbing intensified as his cock made contact with your slick folds.

Travis responded by moving his hips back and forth, causing your eyes to roll back into your head. Something tightened inside of you and Travis watched your face contort with delight.

"That's it, baby girl."

His low, gruff voice combined with a nickname that you never knew you wanted to hear was enough to make you completely lose control and you screamed out in pleasure as you felt yourself release. Travis glanced down in-between your bodies to see his cock shining with your wetness.

He smiled as he moved his lips closer to your ear, "You need a break?"

You silently shook your head, your eyebrows raised in suspense.

"Good."

He quickly lifted one of your legs and held it firmly in the crook of his elbow, thrusting his dick inside of you until you were completely full. Your face winced slightly as your walls adjusted to his enormous size. His head was tilted back and his mouth wide open, short breaths pushing out of his lungs. Your fingers dug into his arms, leaving red marks in their wake. Travis tentatively moved his hips backwards, enjoying the feeling of your pussy before looking down to watch himself slowly begin to shift in and out of you. His eyebrows lowered with concentration and you stretched your arms to reach for his face, bringing his eyes to meet yours.

He clenched his jaw as his speed increased, tears beginning to form in your eyes. You whined loudly in response to the growing second orgasm in your abdomen, the sensation spreading across your body. Travis held up with impressive stamina, his athleticism showing as he grunted with every thrust.

You gasped for breath, the sound of your bedframe slamming against the wall ringing in your ears. You were sure you were close to another orgasm but Travis noticed a change in your facial expression and responded by pulling out of you, holding onto your body and flipping you over onto your front.

Before you had a chance to realise what had happened, his hands were gripping onto your thighs and his tongue plunged deep into your pussy. The stubble on his cheeks pressed against your sensitive area and you pushed your face into a pillow, screaming into the soft material. He lapped at your folds, letting the tip of his wet tongue graze against your clit and dragging it up and towards your puckered hole. Your muscles twitched as you clamped your teeth down to stop yourself from wailing any louder. Travis removed his tongue and quickly replaced it with his solid dick again, loud slaps filling the room.

Travis' hands found their way into your hair and a sharp tug on your strands was enough to cause you to release once again. You squealed through your orgasm as Travis continued to thrust with force. He released your hair from his grasp and moved his large hands to hold onto your waist, allowing him to have better control of his motions. You struggled to hold your body up, your muscles weakening through your orgasm but Travis held onto you tightly, his own release growing.

With a sudden and short drive, Travis' hips snapped forward. You heard a loud and wet sound as your cum gushed out and onto your skins. Travis' muscles tightened and his hips juddered as he released into you, long sighs echoing into the room.

"Fuck." He exhaled.

Your upper body collapsed onto the bed, "Yeah, fuck."

Travis carefully pulled himself out of you and reached across to grab a tissue from your nightstand, gently cleaning you up before successfully tossing the tissue into the trashcan. You rolled over onto your back, tugging the comforter towards your body as the cool night air tickled your skin. Travis laid next to you, his rough fingers softly tracing the contours of your face.

Your breathing slowed to a normal pace as you looked deep into Travis' eyes, "This is crazy." You said, as you shook your head.

"Crazy good though, right?" He replied, with a smirk.

You nodded, puckering your lips in a request for a kiss when a loud knock disturbed your from your bliss.

You lowered your eyebrows and lifted your head to look through your bedroom doorway towards the entrance of your home. Travis studied your puzzled expression before turning his head towards the door when another knock resounded.

"Y/N, it's Jordan." A low voice said on the other side of the door.

"Jordan?" You whispered.

"Open the door."

______________________________________________________________

I'm so sorry this has taken so long but I took some time off over Christmas and then it got super crazy with work so I spent a lot of my spare time relaxing and not writing! Here it is, another chapter of my current series and I hope you all enjoy it and it was worth the wait! If you want to be included in my Taglist, just let me know!!

Taglist @rd14 @dandelionwrites8 @keiva1000 @fantasywritersstuff @caelipartem @anacarangel @she-lives-in-her-dreams @kkrenae @kristencochefski1125 @countrygirl120983 @charmed2000 @nouis-bum @cixrosie @delicateearthquakellama @wordsaresimple-imnot @amylouwho9 @queenisa17 @talicat713 @luvvtrent @purecinnamonextract @savaneafricaine @caelipartem @beyxgrande @caitdaniels @ezgirl1108 @vir-tual @lightsoutstyles @macey234 @s294749w @kelcemesoftly @calirindo @livinginmyfantasies @bernelflo @secretmywritingfictionlawyer @killatravtramp @there-goes-thefighter @unicornblueberry @calirindo @tjkelce87 @kristinamae093 @kmc1989 @ajbird18 @triski73 @ctn26 @kgcaputo07 @abby-splace @bobthe-turmpetman29 @cedricbitch @abby-splace @jmamas92 @bellstwd @killatravsworld @marchmaiden @chimchimmarie @blackstabbath6 @fanficfanatic15 @jessiemariebarnes @mmb219 @vanwritesfan-fiction @futebollover @ks-dreams-fantasies @laurenmcucm @blackstabbath6

[luxudus]

The Six Lords of Ko-ve-dor, and an introduction to my friend's project Star Odyssey

One last art piece to end the year on a high note. It's an entry @jennywolfgal's sophont in her sci-fi / spec-evo / worldbuilding project Star odyssey. A far future where humanity and a few other advanced species help to found a Galactic Coalition of Worlds spanning half the galaxy. Everyone go follow her and check out her project!

I genuinley consider this atm my magnum opus in every aspect, Linework, Texturing, Coloring, Composition, and ESPECIALLY rendering.

    The Commonality of Ko-ve-dor is an alliance between multiple sophont species evolving side by side on the same planet. All working together towards the prosperity for all denizens of the known galaxy.

     Planet Ko-ve-dor, also known as Kepler-442 B, is a super earth in a 3 planet star system all orbiting a K-Type main sequence star known as O-uosa. Ko-Ve-Dor’s higher mass, larger magnetosphere, denser atmosphere, 3 moons, larger continents and O-uosa’s longer lifespan make Ko-ve-dor a superhabitable world. Capable of hosting more biodiversity than our own earth for a far longer time.

    Plantlife on Ko-Ve-Dor is just as complex as it’s animal life and it shows. Most terrestrial flora possess a segmented exoskeleton that vary in shape and size akin to an insect. Most forms of plantlife exhibit both radial and bilateral symmetry in their overall body plan. Some species of Ko-ve-dor plantlife can even take in their surroundings with special segments that act as one big sensory organ.     And aside from some greenish phytoplankton, most flora on this world take on a red pigmentation to make the most out of its star’s dimmer light.

Not only is Ko-ve-dor more biodiverse than earth. But it’s greater abundance of life and more surface area means there's far more consumable biomass too. Allowing it’s animal life to reach greater heights and the option for greater brainpower. This paired with evolution’s trend towards more socialization. Means that sapient life has developed not once, or twice. But six times, all within a similar enough time frame for them to all interact with one another.      As each sophont species is a good representative of Ko-ve-dor’s kingdom of life. We will be skipping over the planet’s animal life to discuss their biology.     The Dor-Eø are the largest of the six sophonts and represent the planet’s many soft-bodied invertebrates. They take on a body plan very similar to earth’s flatworms. And being filter-feeders, they fill a niche not too different from whales. Their large carpet-like fins are actually enlarged partially external gills to aid in respiration. And they manipulate their environment with their two mitten shaped mandibles and opposable tusk thumbs.     They live in tight-knit nomadic pods where they ride the waves in search of plankton. They hunt said plankton like dolphins, continuously switching roles to either shepard the plankton and strike the condensed schools. And as they achieved sapience they’ve built nets to catch more plankton and dorsal fin flags to distinguish which pod they’re apart of.     The Dor-Ssri’ii represent a sapient species of aquatic, radially symmetrical fish analogs. They possess twelve eyes, with three on each side, a four sided jaw, and eight fins, four anterior fins and four posterior fins. Their intricate color palette helps them blend in with the yellow and red reefs.      They live in borderline eusocial schools where they manipulate their environment through their mouth like a tuskfish

    The Ko-Ka’Kta are terrestrial relatives of the Dor-Ssri’cai, these are a sapient species of para-reptilian pack hunters native to the deserts and shrublands of Ko-ve-dor. They retain their radial symmetry and are quite basal compared to their relatives. Their forearms have atrophied into small rudders used by females to attract mates and live in matriarchal packs.     And they manipulate their environment with four highly specialized tongues. Their lack of claws or fangs pushed them to crafting an array of weapons to hunt. That and their hierarchical pack structure paved way for sapience    The Ko-A’atur represent the most derived group of Ko-ve-dor’s Vertebrates. Descending from a group that forgone their radial symmetry and became secondarily bilateral. Their heads hyper-elongated to the point where it’s now two separate body parts all together. Their lips have pulled back and became large flaps to cool off and express emotions.     Of all the sophonts they live the least socially, They forage and occasionally hunt in groups of 3-5 individuals. But the social bonds formed are so tight and complex that it managed to bring them up to sapience.     Onto life in the sky. The Ve-Huik are one of two representatives of Ko-ve-dor’s aerial invertebrates. They are a species of hexapodal invertebrate flyers protected by a sturdy exoskeleton. They fill a niche similar to parrots,  capable of crushing nuts and fruits with their large mandibles that clench together like a fist. They live in small flocks and communicate by short whistles and hums. And they manipulate their environment with their remarkably dexterous six legs.    

    And lastly the Ve-Z’qi, a Is a seafaring relative to the Ve-huik, they are a sapient species of flying arthropod analogs native to the many coastlines of Dorveko. They live in nomadic flocks, hopping from island to island. They hunt their aquatic prey by looking for disturbances in the water before diving in to catch their target     Their history is one defined by sheer first contact and a long road to equality. The Dor-Eø and the Ve-Z'qi,a were the pioneers of exploration due in part of their nomadic lifestyles giving them a global range to freely explore. Slowly each species would suddenly learn the existence of their contemporaries and how to work with them.     Their society is egalitarian and very xenophilic, each species is born with full citizenship and everyone regardless of origin and identity are treated truly equally. yet their government is surprisingly autocratic. Each planet is ruled by a handfull of philosopher kings and queens who come from all walks of life. And are chosen by the state based on their view of life and understanding of the humanities. All to improve the lives of their people. They are also very welcoming towards outsiders, and have made themselves a beacon of liberty and safety for the galaxy's downtrodded.     With so many different sapient minds at work in a society that promotes harmony and teamwork. The Ko-ve-dor Commonality has advanced rapidly, being able to become a spacefaring civilization a thousand years before mankind. Their architecture and spaceships are large and bulbous, containing vast aquariums and spacious domes to accommodate all the different lifestyles. And have become one of the Galactic Coalition of Worlds' most important members.     Depicted here is a human diplomat posing with a friend group eager to take a photo with an unfamiliar face.

I'm happy i managed to get this out before 2024, though there still maybe work to be done, mainly to expand on their worldbuilding, and i hope everyone else has a happy new year!

[livingforstars]

A Spiral Galaxy Gallery - April 9th, 1996.

"A progression of beautiful spiral galaxies is illustrated above with three photographs from NASA's Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT). Flying above the Earth's obscuring layer of atmosphere on the Space Shuttle Columbia during the Astro-1 mission in 1990, UIT's cameras were able to image these distant spirals in the ultraviolet light produced by hot, young stars. These bright stars, newly condensed from gas and dust clouds, give away the location of the spiral arms they are born in. Because they are massive (many times the mass of the Sun), they are shortlived. Dying and fading before they move too far from their birth place, they make excellent tracers of spiral structure. From left to right the galaxies are known as M33, M74, and M81, and have progressively more tightly wound spiral arms. Astronomers would classify these as Scd, Sc, and Sb type spirals using a galaxy classification scheme first worked out by Edwin Hubble."

[beautifulmars]

Frosted Gully Slopes in Shadows

At first glance, this image looks like a mistake because the gullies of interest are entirely hidden in a large shadow filling most of the crater. At this latitude, gullies preferentially form on pole-facing slopes, but these slopes are in shadow during northern spring and summer.

This image was acquired just after the northern winter solstice, when Southern Hemisphere shadows are longest. However, the fine dust in the Martian atmosphere scatters light into the shadows, and HiRISE has the sensitivity to acquire useful images within shadows.

The bluish areas are covered by seasonal carbon dioxide frost. In fact, this frost is key to forming the gullies. A good deal of carbon dioxide condenses in the shallow subsurface, and when it warms up in the late winter, it produces pressurized gas. When this gas escapes it fluidizes loose rocky materials on these steep slopes forming debris flows.

Initially this was considered a type of secondary activity, but we now realize that this activity can fully explain the formation of the fresh-looking gullies on Mars. The HiRISE team monitors sites such as this through the winter to better understand the actively-forming gullies. (Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across.)

ID: ESP_044327_1375 date: 10 January 2016 altitude: 249 km

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

[koboldfactory]

so i would like to ask about how magic is powered and works in your world.

like, how it works, how minds interact with magic, and what is the fundamental "mana" making magic up, if there is just one type?

Magic comes from 3 main sources in my world

1 - the ambient energy filling the atmosphere as a result of The Rift Star pouring out of the earth’s core (this is basically Mana)

2 - condensed elemental energy crystals that appeared suddenly thousands of years ago

3 - harnessing the power of one’s own soul

runes and spell circles can be used to harness and modify these energies into refined and complex magics. Runes in my setting resemble circuits to a degree combined with symbols that represent universal concepts, why these symbols function and who gave them meaning remain mysteries lost to time.

Also magic cannot be cast without a catalyst or runes. Forming complex spells out of thin air is considered the domain of the gods. You can like strike a magic crystal and make it explode but you’re not gonna cast “precise lightning strike blizzard attack III” doing that, nor can you “blows up pancakes with mind” either.

Potions can also be made with magic through the use of runes and mixing elemental crystals with the ingredients.

[ficthots]

Bonded: Chapter Six

A/N: Hello everyone! My absence has ended and I am back writing once more. I've missed you all and I hope this makes up for it. Please remember, this is a hobby and sometimes life overtakes hobby time. Luckily, things have seemed to even out for the time being. As always, enjoy and let me know what you think!

Word count: 5.2k+

Chapter Five

Weather holds more power than most people will ever realize. A planet’s atmosphere has wondrous effects on the life below which is why with each planet you travel to, you will experience a climate you never have before. It was one of the first things you noticed on this galaxy trek.

How one day you can look up and see the crystal skies beaming back down at you, offering immaculate views of the horizon far off in the distance. Yet, landing on another planet just the following cycle, storms wreak havoc over the innocent civilians down below unleashing a fury that blows eyes wide open in surprise and fear.

Demolishing anything that stands in its way, altering life as you knew it right before your very eyes. Watching as lives are ruined, some spared, others continue as before with little to no change.

Packing for such weather was difficult to do. Hence why nearly your entire wardrobe had been brought with you on this trip. As your cruiser descended on a tiny spec in the sector, the humidity pummeled you immediately. The condensation formed on the windows as a repulsive greeting and then dripped downwards towards the forever soggy ground.

A small sigh escaped your mouth as you knew how uncomfortable this short day was about to become. This wasn’t even a planet on your list. A courtesy stop if you will. An unplanned detour that you knew would only last the afternoon and early evening before continuing on with your actual planned route.

“I can only imagine what sort of creatures thrive in this type of environment,” Calista murmured with her nose almost pressed flush to the glass. Briefly looking up from your notepad you watched as Tamsyn began preparing for landing.

Only humming in response, there wasn’t much enthusiasm in your reply. You were exhausted. Having been traveling for nearly two entire months, your journey was finally nearing the end. Another week and you would be back home.

Home.

It was odd to think of the ship in that way, but that was what it was. Home. A sense of longing to go back to it, sleep in your bed, see Kylo. You couldn’t believe that you missed him.

Your eyes drifted to the string on your wrist. A gift before your original departure. A safety measure. A token of thought. That you were occupying his thoughts just as much as he was yours. As your thoughts descend into him, the rough landing of the ship jolted you out of your little world.

Tucking the bracelet under your thin gauzy sleeve, you stood as the ships door opened, allowing you to step into the jungle terrain. This was their opportunity to sell themselves to the Order. Explain how they could be of use. With what you could see, it wasn’t much.

Yet as you walked down towards the small gathered crowd to greet you, they were all beaming with enthusiasm to see you, the Empress, actually here visiting. Tamsyn and Calista were hot on your heels, your personal guard so close the armor he adorned nearly pressed into your side.

A precaution courtesy of Kylo and General Waylan. One you didn’t believe was necessary, but your own thoughts fell onto deaf ears. You weren’t even offered his name. No indication about who he really was.

He was just…there. All of the time. A shadow stapled to your own. When you moved, so did he. He was in charge of all the safety measures in regards to this trip. And he was certainly displeased to discover you made a decision to stop on this desolate crater without informing him earlier.

The leader stepped forward enthusiastically, his robes trailing on the moss ridden steps he descended to reach you. “Empress, we are beyond honored to welcome you here. Thank you for taking the time to join us.” As your eyes settled on the thin man, you nearly fell backwards. The striking resemblance had you hesitating to utter your own greeting.

An immediate cold sweat erupted over your body. The man looked eerily similar to the one who had lost his head at the gala. The gruesome memory flashed in your mind as you watched the lifeless eyes stare at you. Courtesy of your husband, but almost as fast as it hit you, the feeling faded. Almost as if he disguised himself when he saw your discomfort with his appearance. Those fully black eyes now had irises, the color still coal, but some ivory peeked out.

Perhaps your mind was playing tricks on you, you thought to yourself.

As he spoke, he clasped your hand within his own and brought it to his grayed forehead. There was something different about them as you took in the odd faces of the civilians. All looked different than each other, but it was as if they weren’t entirely real. A mask over their true selves. You weren’t entirely sure. But your guard was immediately up.

For being in such a bright and warm environment you couldn’t help but fight the chill that shot up your spine from the ice cold grasp he had. Their eyes almost one solid color, bordering on black, but not quite fully gone. They all appeared grey, no hint of color anywhere on their forms. The palace behind them appeared desolate.

The stark green vines enclosed around the sandstone brick that was almost completely gone beneath the never ending greenery. The varying creatures and animals chirped through the forest, cocooning the group in a symphony of songs. Not one of comfort, but one of warning.

A warning you ignored to heed.

Your hackles were raised without so much as a second thought. “It is our pleasure, Monton. I hope you don’t mind the short visit. We don’t have much time together, but I am looking forward to getting to know you and your people more intimately.” His smile stretched across his taut skin, making him appear less human as he did. Your pleasantries second nature to you despite the overwhelming sense of dread filling each of your senses.

A few hours was all you needed to muster through. Then back to the scheduled trip. You echoed that lifeline in your mind over and over to keep your nerves rested.

Stepping to the side, he gestured towards the ancient building. “Shall we?” Nodding in reply, you turned toward your guard. “We won’t be long, if we need assistance I will call.” His helmeted head only bowed before turning on his heel and ascending the stairs back aboard the ship.

You prayed you wouldn’t need his assistance. A few hours.

Tamsyn and Calista trailed behind you, not interested in any of the information this man was offering. Yet, they did not seem the least bit put off by their odd appearances or behaviors. It ran through your mind that you were being overly cautious. His similarities to the man from the gala had knocked you off your game, but no one seemed to pay that any mind.

You were hardly listening either. The entire time he spoke your thoughts were occupied with what rubbed into your wrist. The bracelet so delicately clasped around your skin felt as though it was burning an indentation, leaving its permanent trace behind in its remembrance.

“Your presence has been requested by the Supreme Leader, Empress.” You were sat in your living quarter, the final details of your galaxy journey had been finalized that afternoon and you were beyond spent. Pulling yourself up from the comfortable cushion, you followed the Order official to wherever they were leading you.

When you arrived at a section of the ship you didn’t recognize, you spoke. “Where is the Supreme Leader?” He stopped walking as he approached to extremely large doors that were monitored by three different entry systems. “Supreme Leader Ren's quarters, Empress.” He turned towards you with a subtle bow before turning and leaving you standing alone in the darkened corner.

You could recall the doors from your private tour with Kylo, but you had been brought an entirely different way and didn’t recognize where you were.

Not sure what you were supposed to do, you walked towards the different identification panels and attempted to solve how to enter. You weren’t entirely certain how long you were stood there, but when the door receded into the walls with a loud whoosh accompanying, you jumped up.

There he stood, helmet removed, gaze immediately pinned to you. “What are you doing?” He spoke, not a crack of emotion on his face, voice the standard deep monotone you were accustomed to. “Um, they said you requested me. I couldn’t figure out the door,” you nervously responded.

A slight tilt to the corner of his mouth was all you received as he returned inside. “Come with me.” You followed a few steps behind him. Eyes darting around to the new sights, the smell of him wafting over you entirely. It was incredibly neat, like no one had ever resided there.

The dark furniture was exactly what you expected. Everything drenched in reds and blacks, his signature colors of course. Almost cliche, you giggled to yourself. The sound alerted him, causing him to turn and face you to see what had you laughing. “What?”

Only shrugging you were still smiling. “Nothing. Just that your quarters are exactly what I expected. The blacks and reds, you know?” Your fit of giggles continued as he eyed you, eyes narrowing in your direction, a slight tilt to his head. Faded remnants of a smile graces his plush lips for only a mere second.

His head dropped, a small box sitting on the corner of a table. “Come here.” You immediately followed his orders, walking towards him and closing the distance. Knowing better than to try and battle him, you were nearly flush against him.

Grasping your wrist with his bare hand, electricity jolted through you. You despised when that would happen. Unable to hide the effect his simple touch had on you. This had been happening more and more. The more time you two spent together, which was occurring much more frequently, it only riled you up more.

His touch was incredibly delicate, the long and nimble fingers worked quickly and effortlessly. It was gone as fast as it had appeared. A slight twinge of sadness nestled in your stomach at the loss of contact. Your eyes never left the new addition on your arm.

It was simple, just a black string with a fabric you were not sure of, a small gemstone sitting squarely in the middle. A glow cast out around the unidentified stone, sitting on your skin. Eyes finally peeling away, you cast your gaze upwards to see his features already studying your own.

He never faltered despite the close quarters you two were currently in. “Specially made by request of myself.” Your brow furrowed in question, looking back down at it. “It’s a beautiful bracelet, Kylo. Thank you.” Offering a genuine smile, you felt warm.

Kylo had specifically gotten something made for you. Gifted to you by Kylo himself. You couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit more…special. That he was going out of his way to please you, bring a small sense of joy. Even if it was a stretch to anything more than him trying to appease you.

“This is for…my piece of mind while you’re gone, dove. If you are in danger, I can only use the Force to communicate with you when I feel the need to. I cannot always sense if something is wrong. I’m still attempting to sort out what this bond means and how to use it. For now, this will do.” His hand cupped your wrist once more, his thumb hovering over the gem.

Clearing his throat he continued. “You press this gem down and to the right. It will immediately track your location and notify me that you are not well. Promise me you’ll wear this the entire time you’re gone, dove?” The gentle tone in his voice had butterflies erupting in your stomach as he spoke so plainly with you.

A knot formed in your throat, but you nodded eagerly. “Of course. Thank you for this. So, just down,” he nodded, his hair lightly falling forward at his motion. “Down and to the right.” You smiled at the demonstration and peered back up at him.

Holding eye contact for the following few seconds was the most intense interaction you two had yet. Peering into one another, it was almost like you were able to communicate with him through look alone. A silent heartfelt thank you for caring about my safety. A glimmer of an unknown emotion first registered in his eyes, then his entire face, before fading.

Admiration? Joy? Something you didn’t quite know how to label because, well, it was Kylo. He only ever showed two emotions. Rage and annoyance. Nothing more, nothing less. A side to him that no one else ever got to see. Reserved solely for you. In these private moments.

Pride bubbled in you at the knowledge that no one else in the entire galaxy saw Kylo in states like this. His hardened facade broken. Not without great effort on your end. In fact, it had been painstaking work for months on end.

After Kylo request to attempt a new beginning with you, you decided to agree to his offer. Whatever that meant for him. After the first couple of days and no changes, no sightings of him, you reached out.

An invitation to accompany you at dinner that evening in your quarters. No response had been given and you were quickly losing hope that anything was going to change, an empty guarantee from him. Then, just as the table had finished being set and you were notified that dinner would be served as soon as you were ready, he entered your quarters.

Not able to fight against the smile that took shape on your face, Kylo looked extremely awkward. Unsure what he was supposed to be doing. Yet, attempting to make the effort. Even though it was almost pitiful to see his obvious discomfort.

Deciding to take the lead for the night, you welcomed him in. You weren’t quite sure of yourself enough to try anything physical like a hug, but you lead him into the dining room. Sitting at opposite ends of the table, you mainly ate in silence.

But he was there and that was a victory all in itself.

You didn’t ask him back the following evening, but he came back anyways. And nearly every night since then. Unless he was gone on a mission, it was almost a grantee that Kylo would be at your dining room table, enjoying a dinner with you.

As these meals happened more frequently so did the conversation. At first, extremely basic and generic, testing the waters to see how well you two could communicate. It didn’t take much time for you to warm up to him enough that you were constantly sharing stories of your childhood, upbringing as a royal, funny experiences you had since joining the Order as their Empress.

Kylo pitched in with conversation despite choosing to let you fill the void of his lack of words a majority of the time. Even cracking smiles, his eyes and features more life like and softened with happiness. You know you had made great progress when you got a laugh out of him for the very first time.

It had been like striking gold. A melody of tone you had never heard and weren’t sure you would ever again. Such a beautiful sound you never wanted to forget it, never wanted it to end.

The following night he had arrived at your quarters for dinner, you eyed the table set up. Grabbing your plates and utensils, you ushered yourself down to his end of the table, sitting on his left side just like at the meeting tables. His eyes watched your movements daringly, unsure of what exactly you were doing.

But when you seated yourself and gave him a large smile, he felt an almost sense of…relief. Having you choose to be so close to him. Something no one had ever done. Dinner carried on like nothing had changed.

The new behaviors of the infamous Kylo Ren had started to bleed out into other aspects of your relationship as well, including professional. One afternoon, you two walked the corridors of the ship together, chatting about your upcoming travel plans, when his hand landed on your hip, pulling you away from a wall of storm troopers rounding the same corner. His hand firmly pulled you into his side, his helmeted demeanor seething at the group. “Watch your movements.”

Instant apologies to Kylo and you were spoken. Your heart rate never went back to normal after that. At one supper, Kylo had asked you if you had ever flown a ship. He was instantly taken aback at your response of no. “When I return from this mission I will be teaching you how to pilot a ship.” You were giddy for his return, counting down the cycles until we was due back home. Unable to contain your excitement when Kylo had entered your quarters for dinner, you crossed the room and embraced him. A warm smile greeted him in accompaniment despite his entire body stiffening the way it did.

It didn’t phase you in the least. Speaking about how you had missed his presence at dinner. His cheeks warmed to a pink hue at the terms of endearment. He spoke, clearing the waver in his voice as he did. “I’m taking you flying tomorrow.”

The following day had been the best you two had ever spent together. That morning, Kylo appeared at your door and you followed him. What was supposed to be just a flying lesson turned into an entire formal tour of his section of the ship. He showed you where his training facilities were, where the Knights of Ren were located, the entry to his residence. You didn’t enter, but at least you now knew where he was located at.

The tour wrapped at the massive bay of ships in the hanger. You were nearly jumping for joy when you knew what was next. Wandering eyes monitored the two of you as Kylo led you towards the ships. A duo that was unanticipated. The Kylo Ren watching as the Empress of the First Order looked like an excited school girl.

You truly didn’t care. As you approached one of the ships on the fleet, you turned and beamed at Kylo. “This one, right?” He shook his head, motioning for you to follow him. Stopping in your tracks, your jaw hung ajar.

“You’re going to let me fly your ship?” The smirk that danced across his mouth had your heart doing somersaults. A squeal escaped your lips, rushing towards the tall man and crushing him to you in a hug. Your arms wrapped around his neck, feeling the soft locks of his raven black hair tickle you, your cheek pressed against his neck. It ended as quickly as it had happened. You didn’t look at his reaction before quickly climbing aboard the Supreme Leaders personal ship.

With only one seat in the cockpit, you weren’t sure how this was going to work for you to learn. Kylo followed you in and within a minute was situated in the pilots seat securely. Standing off to the side, you were about to ask where you were supposed to sit when his arm wrapped around your waist.

Grabbing you from behind, he dragged you effortlessly to his lap. You were in a fit of giggles at the fast motion. Adjusting yourself to sit comfortably for however long you two were about to fly, you were ecstatic to get on with your lesson.

Both of Kylo's arms came from the sides, caging you in as he grasped the controls and swiftly left the hangar. Despite thinking you were going to be taking up too much of his space and view, he flew the ship like it was nothing.

He was silent behind you despite your constant chatter and observations of the planets that flew by. As you two settled on a desolate planet, you were ready to begin. His warm breath fanned across your cheek and neck as he spoke, goosebumps erupting over your entire body.

Fighting the chill that shot up your spine, the slight tremble in your hands you were able to play off. “I’m nervous,” you chuckled, rubbing your hands across your pants. “It’s simple. Here,” he lifted your hands to grab the controls, his sitting over your own.

Given the nature of his sheer size in comparison to your own, you could hardly see your own flesh beneath his own. “Alright dove, you always want to make sure that these lights are on,” Kylo fell into his detailed explanation of the control panel and what each thing meant.

You weren’t sure you could place the exact moment he called you dove for the first time, the term of endearment awarded to you by friends and family, but it was almost second nature to him now. Mainly using it instead of your name or your titles.

It sounded different coming from him. Felt different. Like you only wanted him to use it. Holding a different meaning than everyone elses uses. You adored it. Waited for it to fall from his lips with baited breath each time. Knocking the wind out of you with each muttered dove.

It was safe to say that the flying lesson had not gone well. Apparently it was more of a natural talent activity than you realized. After nearly driving it straight into the ground, you erupted in laughter.

Kylo held onto the controls as you lost control of your laughter. He chuckled smally to himself. “Alright, we’re done for today. I don’t need you destroying the best ship in the fleet.” As your chuckles faded, still seated firmly in his lap, you smiled widely at him.

“Thank you for today. It was a lot of fun,” without so much as a second thought, you leaned in, hand cupping his jaw and turning his head towards you. It nearly happened in slow motion, that first kiss. Feeling the soft, tender flesh of his lips meld to your own. The shock waves that exploded over your body was unlike anything you had ever experienced. You never wanted to stop. But you did and when you pulled back and opened your eyes, you watched as his grip tightened on the controls, you smiled to yourself.

He cleared his throat, refusing to look at you. “You’re welcome.” Kylo left the next day for a mission that he desperately needed. Some space from you so he could catch his breath, readjust his bearings, figure out what was happening between you two. Why he wanted to be sitting at a dining room table with you instead of making progress that he needed to make.

Why he was dreading your trip. That he wouldn’t be near you for so long, unable to do anything to protect you while you were so far. He had his own copy of your schedule, but that wasn’t enough.

Instead, he assigned one of the highest regarded troopers to be your personal guard through the duration of the trip. One he knew you wouldn’t accept unless it came from someone other than himself. Waylan quickly agreed and you accepted with little word otherwise.

Perhaps he was slightly obsessed. Which is why he constructed the bracelet on his own. Something that would allow him direct access to you should you need him. Not that he wanted to bother you, but he still didn’t know the limit of the bond you two shared. Wanting nothing more than your protection covered while away from him.

Seeing your reaction to it as he placed it on you was a relief. Seeing that you seemed more sure of yourself wearing it. Knowing that you could contact Kylo as quickly as possible. A slight weight off your shoulders.

If only you knew what was in store for you.

The tour had dragged for so long and was so dull, you had sent Tamsyn back to the ship to prepare for your departure. The stories shared with you were sending alarm bells tolling your head. Far too similar to the mans from the gala to be purely coincidental. You knew at that moment why they had wanted you to come here.

When you had returned back to the palace you began to take note of some alarming things. Guards blocking each doorway and nearly every window, being led further and further through the maze of doorways and twisting hallways, the men that were directly behind you and Calista were seemingly moving closer and closer.

You knew something was seriously wrong when you entered what appeared to be a drawing room with no furniture present in it. Offering as polite of a smile and interruption you could, you spoke. “Would you mind allowing myself and my lady speak privately for a moment?”

The king nodded, ushering his men out with him, one last eye locking glance in your direction before shutting a door. You wasted no time, whipping around to face her, fumbling to unclasp the bracelet.

“I need you to listen to me very carefully, Calista. I need you to remember every thing I’m about to tell you.” She looked bewildered as you began to speak quickly. “You are going to leave this room as soon as I am done talking,” as the bracelet fell off, you cupped it. “You are going to board the transport and tell the pilot to not, I repeat, not go to the next destination.”

Calista had no idea what was happening. “What are you talking-” you cut her off. “Calista, please we don’t have a lot of time. They are going to be back any minute. These are the same people from the gala just with some sort of disguise on. They are going to attempt to track the transport which is why you are not to go to the next destination.” Her eyes quickly began welling with tears.

Stuffing the bracelet into her palm, you forcibly closed her hand around it. “You are going to get as far away from here as possible. An unknown world or moon or something, okay? As soon as you get there the Order will have already been notified that we have not arrived at our scheduled destination.”

She sighed, going to speak. “But Kylo-” You shook your head. “They won’t tell Kylo because they know he will not be happy and they will want to solve it themselves. When you get to wherever you go, you will activate this.” Calista opened her hand to look at it.

“Push down and twist to the right. It will immediately send a signal to Kylo with your exact location. He will get there very fast and when he does, he will be furious. Kylo will read your mind after you tell him about the events that have happened. You must tell him this was my plan, do you understand?”

She sniffled as you continued on. “I’ll be fine. I want you all to get to safety.” Calista pulled you into an embrace, whispering in your ear as she did. “I’ll-I’ll tell him everything,” you offered a relaxed smile to try and qualm her nerves. “Kylo will find me. Now, go. You need to go.” Pushing her towards the doors, she glanced once more at you before rushing away.

A shaky exhale escaped your lips, fear pummeling you at what was about to happen. The leader returned mere seconds later, a large inhuman smile on his features. “Ah, where did the beautiful Calista go?”

Smiling politely you spoke. “To ready the ship for us. I want to thank you for your generosity and enthusiasm today, but we do have a schedule to keep to.” As you took a step back, the leader and his men made one towards you.

“So soon, Empress? We were hoping to enjoy supper and share more tales of our people. Our traditions.” Sweat dripped down the back of your neck. “Unfortunately, it was a fast trip. Perhaps next time we can extend it.”

His smile fell immediately. All warmth snapped from him in an instant. “No. I think you don’t understand.” In the blink of an eye, both of your arms were restrained by the guards he had brought back with him.

The king crossed the room leisurely. “You need to let me go. You know they will look for me.” He smirked as he approached you. Twirling a strand of your hair around his straggly finger, he inhaled deeply. “No, I don’t think they will, Empress. None of you will be leaving here today.”

As soon as he finished, the roar of the transports engines flooded the palace. Barking out an order in an unfamiliar tongue, you let a devilish smirk cross your face. A snarl emulated from him as he whipped his hand back before making contact with your cheek, drawing a surprised gasp.

It was just the start.

Nearly two full days later, their transport ship collided with the rocky terrain of whatever desolate planet they had found. Calista activated the gem as soon as they landed and just as you had said, Kylo ship touched down not long after.

The burnt landscape around them displayed his anger that he had unleashed with his saber upon discovering you hadn’t gone with them. Almost the entire area around them had been decimated.

What you didn’t realize was that Kylo had been unable to connect with you. Despite all of his efforts, the moment he had been notified of your missing status, he couldn’t find you. Connect with you. Speak with you.

Perhaps too far from him. Given you weren’t Force sensitive, this was uncharted territory. One he didn’t realize had a location cap. When you had sent him the ping of your location, it was lie salvation had washed over him.

Upon discovering you were not onboard that ship and had sent them off without you, it only ignited his rage. Far beyond the point of anger, he couldn’t believe you had put yourself in this situation. One he didn’t know how to solve. Fix. Get you back to him where you would be safe and protected.

Kylo's robes whipped around him as he turned and stalked towards the group who had watched the entire scene unfold before them. “Notify all of the Order that my Empress has been taken and is missing.”

He climbed back into his ship, beginning the search for you. His Empress. His dove.

[izvmimi]

cw: reader develops a new form and a new nickname. cold open in the middle of a fight.

When you finally come to, Asta’s cradling you practically like a child. Opening your eyes and looking directly into his concerned ones, irises crimson as he’s still in his demon form, nefarious aura swirling around him, and hanging in the atmosphere between you two, but no longer burning you as it seeps into your skin. Not like before you passed out, where a single touch had you in excruciating pain, the type that knocks air out of your lungs and doubles you over, contorting and stretching every muscle in your body like you were in hell incarnate. 

Somehow that feels like forever ago, but from the still wet, angry tears in Asta’s eyes you can tell you were only out for a short while, and he’s still breathing in, heavily and slowly, as he holds you close.

“Asta…” you whisper. Your voice comes out clear and gentle somehow, and you can remember the strain on your vocal cords as you screamed earlier, now gone. Similarly, your body is light as a feather, and the skin of your face feels cool to the touch as though it were just washed. Rejuvenated. Purified.

“I’m here,” he replies and he’s smiling at you but quickly buries his face in your neck, letting out a sigh of relief that runs through his body, enough that he practically shakes with it. His arms pull you closer still, somehow and he kisses your forehead.

“Fuck, ___. You fucking scared me.”

The way he says your name feels as though he’s worried it would be the last time it would cross his lips. Your arms find their way around his body, but as you do so, you feel a new weight in your upper back, on both sides.

“I’m sorry, Asta. I didn’t mean to.”

In your peripheral vision, you can see bright brilliant feathers, gold and white and shimmering in the evening sun, spread wide and engulf you both; you feel them as they unfold and stretch and cocoon you.

Something miraculous has happened,  you immediately know, triggered by the pain set off from his body making contact with yours. Something about his demonic aura awakening something deep and repressed inside the deepest depths of your soul, something at odds with the rest of your body.

You were prayed on for weeks to months as a newborn to keep evil from taking root inside your soul and perhaps the purification had been incomplete then.

Until now. 

You breathe out and you can feel droplets in the small circumference around you, interspersing with Asta’s dark flames of energy. The air condenses, and as it falls onto him, you can see the slashes on his face and shoulders close up and heal. 

Your hand moves to his cheek, and perhaps now is not the time, not in the middle of a battle, not with everyone watching and waiting, and enemies that remain to be defeated. The reason why he’s in demon form anyway, the reason why you were attacked and needed to be saved, and the reason why your bodies linked, and half your body appeared to be engulfed in the flames of Hell.

If only for a couple of minutes.

Asta looks like that short time aged him years, but as he looks up at you again, and you finally offer him a smile, and caress his cheek. The black marks of his demon form seem to fade gently where you touch him, if only for a moment.

“I’m okay, Asta. I promise.”

His face practically melts into softness, wet tears again resting at his lash line. You gently push him away from you, signaling that things are not yet finished. The small intimate world shared between you two is now filled in with background noise, and you can hear the shouts of your teammates holding off the demons. Crashes, clashes, magic.

“Let’s end this,” you offer him. You’ll have so much more to say to him later, but for now, there are many sick to heal and you don’t know what your new wings mean, or the surge of magic power you feel flowing through you relentlessly like a waterfall that never abates. Your grimoire glows and you can tell a new spell has been added. 

Whatever this is.

He looks at you for a moment, really appraising whether or not you’re okay and won’t die on him any moment, then smiles, taking your hand to get you to your feet.

“I’ll be right back, angel.”

Your cheeks warm as you watch his concern and affection turn into an ever determined look,  and the hanging dew drops fall all at once in a light rain.

He flies off, taking your heart with him. Your new wings flap, knowing your aim before you know yourself, and you’re flying over towards the sick, putting whatever new transformation this is to task.

[midseo]

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[blueiscoool]

George Washington's 250-Year-Old Cherries Found Buried at Mount Vernon

Archaeologists found something incredibly rare in the cellar of George Washington's home at Mount Vernon: Two intact jars of cherries buried in the basement of the first U.S. president's house.

Nick Beard, project archeologist at Mount Vernon, said on Tuesday that he had been excavating the basement "for quite a while" when he saw the lip of one of the jars in November.

When the bottle started to peek out from the earth, he proceeded carefully but said he didn't think it would turn out to be anything out of the ordinary, adding that it's common to find wine bottles and glasses at the site about 15 miles south of Washington, D.C.

In fact, Beard stepped away from the bottles to help on a more immediate project. Only when he returned several weeks later did he realize what he discovered.

As he worked, more and more glass became exposed. He tried to wiggle the glass out of its resting place, but when he did his fingers got a little wet.

That's when he noticed whatever he was working on was full of liquid.

"Which means if it's that full of liquid then it has to be intact enough to hold that liquid," said Beard. "That's not common, so that immediately got me excited."

Uncovered jars reveal centuries-old cherries

When Beard further revealed the jars, he called other archeologists to come check his findings.

The jars were fully excavated on March 22. The cherries were removed from the bottles to help preserve the glass, but after April 30, the glass will be sent off for conservation. Its contents will be sent to a lab for analysis and be tested in a controlled environment by specialists, according to a press release from Mount Vernon.

"It's extraordinary," Jason Boroughs, principal archaeologist at Mount Vernon, saying something similar has only happened twice in Virginia in the past six decades:

The latest discovery is a part of the privately funded $40 million Mansion Revitalization Project at Mount Vernon.

What was in the jar?

Beard and Boroughs said that cherries and a mystery liquid were found in the jar. And the cherries, Boroughs said, actually look like cherries, even after hundreds of years.

"They're plump, they have flesh, they have pits and stems," Boroughs said. "They don't look as if they've been sitting in a bottle for 250 years, although they have."

The liquid inside even smelled like cherry blossoms, according to Mount Vernon.

The cherries in the bottles were probably dry when they were buried, Boroughs said.

While the archeologists know what the cherries are, the liquid is still a bit of a mystery.

Lily Carhart, curator of the preservation collections at Mount Vernon, said it's possible the groundwater got into the bottle after the cork that sealed it deteriorated.

The liquid still needs to be tested, Boroughs said. And there is a small possibility it could've been a type of alcohol, like a brandy or cognac.

Why were the cherries buried?

Enslaved laborers picked the cherries, wiped them off to avoid condensation and placed them into the jar. Then, that jar was corked and buried sometime between 1758 and 1776, when both George and Martha Washington were living at the home, according to Boroughs.

He added that the method would've kept the fruit inside the bottle preserved for up to a year. It was one of the most popular ways to preserve berries and its how folks in colonial America preserved food before there were refrigerators.

"It pretty much keeps them isolated and sealed from the atmosphere, from air and from fungus and other things that could attack" he said.

According to Boroughs, the cherries were supposed to be served on George Washington's dinner table, but instead were forgotten and buried under a brick floor that was placed in the 1770s, sealing its fate as a sort of a "time capsule."

Can you still eat the cherries?

"You would not want to put that close to your face," Carhart said about the cherries.

Boroughs said that it could actually be possible to eat them, but "nobody wants to try."

Why is this discovery significant?

Boroughs said the discovery is remarkable because he "can't count the number of times 18th-century food remains have been found intact" the way the cherries were.

"We're the first people to touch these objects since they were put in the ground by an enslaved person," Boroughs said.

While the discovery itself is incredible, the archeologist said the stories that can be uncovered from it are just as amazing.

"We think of these items sort of as the material bits of lives that we can recover from the ground," Boroughs said. "These bottles tell stories. They're attached to people who had real lives and if we know how to put the pieces together, we can piece together something about their lives."

Beard added that it feels "surreal" to have such an "immediate connection with the people that lived back then."

By Julia Gomez.

[nexility-sims]

𝐍𝐎. 𝟐 (𝟐/𝟐)   ❛ 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 ❜   |   ZUYATL HOUSE, APRIL 1991

❧  𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲  /  𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠  /  𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬  /  𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭.

   ❛  Once the cake had been cut—always an elaborate act of skill and expertise that Olalla performed while her relatives oohed and ahhed—the party resumed its relaxed atmosphere of casual conversation. The night had a scheduled end, but it had gone well enough to ensure everyone would trickle out slowly, in pairs or one-by-one, well into the late hours. Matias ate his cake slowly, taking small bites even once everyone else had left the table to converse elsewhere. He had retired himself to a more comfortable chair in the corner when Arnaut, having just finished a winding conversation with Olalla about the cake, approached.

❧ i wish i hadn't had to split it up into two posts, but !!!! in any case. spent the entire time paranoid about mixing up the two mats here ksdfds name diversity is for schmucks smh

𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 & 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭 ↓

“Happy birthday, Papa,” he offered by way of greeting. 

Matias, pulled from his thoughts, glanced up. “Thank you.”

“Wrong flavor cake?”

“What?” 

Arnaut exhaled, not quite a sigh as much as a resignation. “It was a joke,” he offered, deflated. “You look disappointed, so.” 

“Birthdays become bittersweet at a certain point.” Matias rarely regarded anyone with anything except soft openness, but Arnaut felt especially exposed as his father gazed up at him, adding, “Sit down. Let’s hear it.”

He chuckled, which was more of a self-deprecating delay than a sincere sign of amusement. “No poker face whatsoever, huh?”

Arnaut sank heavily into the other chair. This was a well-established routine, albeit one that had been subjected to the disembodiment of telephone calls until recently. Forty years on, Arnaut still wasn’t sure what tells always gave it away. Matias would have told him, had he asked, that it was easy to tell when untroubled minds were burdened. It wasn’t an indictment. Arnaut had always been easygoing, carefree, disturbed only in the fleeting way skipped stones did a lake’s surface. When he was truly beset by a problem, it was unmistakable. Liars did so naturally; for those accustomed to carrying burdens, it was the same. 

“Zifar is very unhappy with me,” Arnaut huffed. “We've been arguing all week.” The particulars didn’t matter, so he restrained himself from launching into an extended complaint about the petty conflicts over filing systems and paper trails and forms of address for people whose jobs Arnaut hadn’t known existed until he was being asked to involve himself in them. 

Matias crossed an ankle over his knee. “Well,” he began, pausing as if reasoning his way to a conclusion. “You know what they say about chiefs of staff: usually single-use, quick expiration date.”

Instead of a humoring chuckle, Arnaut stared at the tiles of the floor and insisted, “I can make it work. I just don’t know how yet.”

“Maybe it’s worth saying you don’t have to ‘make it work,’” Matias offered. “The idea, I believe, was that keeping him on could help with the transition. If that’s not the case—” 

Arnaut imagined himself firing Zifar. He would enter his office and find him there already, laying out neatly typed briefings in colored-coded folders. It was a system Safya had devised nearly two decades earlier, and Zifar must have learned it when she hired him in 1981. It was difficult for Arnaut to appreciate. He wanted Zifar to just explain the highlights to him. He wanted him to condense five pages of summary, itself condensed from fifty or five hundred, into a couple minutes of easy listening. Better yet, he wanted simple the assurance Zifar would inform him on the fly—that he didn’t need to prepare or memorize anything because Zifar would be there, aiding him as they went, a ventriloquist of sorts. So, there would be something rich in interrupt him to explain this system was no longer necessary. Zifar and the collection of byzantine practices he represented would no longer be necessary. 

The satisfaction of that imaginary scene made him feel guilty, and Armaut interrupted Matias as a reflexive response. 

“He’s trying,” Arnaut insisted, raising a hand, all too eager to defend the man whose job he entertained imperiling moments before. “He’s doing everything right.”

Matias cocked his head to the side. “What’s the problem then?” 

“I’m not there yet.” 

It went without saying. With more effort, more time, perhaps more patience, Arnaut could learn the system. He could muddle his way through the processes and mechanisms that Safya had devised, or otherwise inherited herself, to make work manageable. Although lacking the power of the Crown itself, this office of theirs unfurled from Arnaut’s desk into various units and projects and employees, all connected to each other and the rest of the government in ways that boggled the mind. Some people were meant for bureaucracy. They thrived in it. Every day, evidence mounted that Arnaut was not among them. He was not the most devout but, if he had been, he would believe his divine role was to set Uspana back a century through his personal failings. That was a crushing notion—that Safya’s death was not just tragic in and of itself but rather because it was the first domino in a greater series of losses.  It was this idea, or the fact that Arnaut couldn’t stomach it, which forced him to conclude he could change. There was no other option. 

Matias had other ideas, although his primary concern in this moment was soothing his son’s nerves. He was floundering, already in need of a lifeline that didn’t appear to exist. 

“It’s not a defeat to hire someone who meshes better,” he said, assuming Arnaut needed permission, perhaps simply in the tacit form of a gentle suggestion. 

Arnaut was quiet, and Matias allowed the moment to extend as long as he needed. He watched Arnaut’s features, seeing the effort he put into thinking through the proposition. For some time, Arnaut furrowed his brow and chewed his lip, Matias observed this, and the party continued apace around them. 

Finally, Arnaut said, “It would be, I think.” 

Matias had suspicions, but he understood that it wasn’t a capricious or unreasonable position to take. More than that, he knew Arnaut was a person propelled by emotions, including a fierce sense of loyalty. His decisions, insofar as they rested on reason, were always doomed or fated to half-hearted execution if they weren’t underwritten by some kind of passion. Arnaut’s motivations were not abstract concepts or aspirational virtues. His motivations were flesh and blood; they had names and faces. It wasn’t hard for Matias to imagine what led Arnaut to believe he had to keep this way of doing things alive, even at the expense of himself. 

“Stick it out then, if that’s what you believe is best,” Matias replied, his tone gentle and without judgment.

As Matias and Arnaut talked, Leonor was down the hall within the house, changing her clothes in a guest bathroom. She had shoved her gown into a garment bag, and now she stood in front of the mirror in her underwear. A pair of slacks and a tee shirt waited, stacked on a chair nearby. She turned this way and that, frowning. Earlier, Olalla had shoved a plate stacked with cake into her hands—thick icing, four layers, moist cake with a delightful crumb. Leonor praised it enthusiastically to distract her aunt from the fact that she had mostly mashed it with her fork and eaten just a single bite. 

With a sigh, she hurriedly put on her clothes, ran her fingers through her hair, and threw the door open. She planned to leave discreetly, headed for a party whose start coincided with a respectable time to depart the family gathering. Matias wouldn’t mind. She assured herself that her grandfather understood her life was busy; he would be grateful she had stayed through dinner, and he would be grateful for the matching tie and pocket handkerchief she gifted him. Her mind wasn’t on him but rather on the time, unknown because she lacked a watch, as she hustled out of the bathroom.

“Are you leaving?”

Mateo’s voice startled her. Leonor scowled at him once she had recovered and whipped around to see him lingering in the hallway. She replied, “I have plans.”

Hoping that would suffice but knowing it never did, she began walking. Mateo, retorting, “But this is our plan,”  followed her. 

Leonor stopped abruptly, and Mateo stumbled to avoid running into her. She sighed. 

“Can you give me a break?”

“You know what?” Mateo said, quickly walking around to face her. “No, I can’t. I need to talk to you, and you just walk off every time I see you.” He paused, frowning, then tacked on, “Which isn’t often, by the way.”

“You’re going to have to elaborate because I don’t—” Leonor stopped herself. She shook her head, then started walking once more. “Actually, no. I have to go, and I’m not going to get sucked into ... whatever this is with you.”

Still, Mateo followed her. “Why are you being like this?” he demanded.

He imagined himself to be on the verge of a sobering adult conversation, but Leonor heard everything he said in the cadence of a whining child.  Needful. Their mother had called him that once, speaking to Leonor in an offhanded way as they did a task at home. Once, her mother’s willingness to talk to her like a friend had been a great source of pride for her. Safya would share little anecdotes and opinions as they kneaded dough or cleaned paintbrushes or put on their shoes for work. Being the oldest child, and being her quiet companion throughout the day, Leonor was allowed small glimpses into her mother’s relationship to others. That included her own siblings from time to time. Needful seemed to ring true. Leonor, perhaps twelve at the time, recalled in part when Mateo had been born. She was not quite five that year, which meant she had been old enough to be enthusiastic about there being a baby at home but too young to appreciate what it meant. Her earliest memory was exactly how needy her infant brother was. Greedy and demanding, he clung to their mother and ate up the time that belonged to Leonor. Even when he was asleep or in someone else’s arms, it felt like there was less of Safya left for her. 

Leonor knew on some level that her mind had, as she grew older, magnified those emotions and deepened them. As a soon-to-be five year old, she hadn’t resented her brother. She didn’t know the word “needy”; she would have thought about the problem in terms like “mine” or “now” instead, self-centered and impatient as all little kids were inclined to be. Even that would have been momentary. Her mother’s kisses and attention blotted away the dissatisfaction. So, too, did pridefully carrying around this living baby doll—kissing his soft head, making him laugh, helping Safya hold his bottle. Nonetheless, that was what she magnified now, the idea that Mateo had not outgrown the clinginess of infanthood and that, in fact, her mother had understood this. It didn’t matter that Safya and Mateo maintained a special relationship—that she called him needful because she wanted him, needed one of her children, to need her. 

Leonor and Gil each had an independent streak. For her, it was a product of responsibility. It could have been the people-eater in her, too. Not so with the middle child. Mateo and Safya were, in more ways than Leonor had ever cared to count, cut from the same cloth. 

Mateo was willing to wait for an answer, and Leonor had scrunched her face up in a way that suggested she had one. Finally, she did respond to him. 

“... I don’t know what you want from me,” she began. There was a callousness to how she said the words. There was no frustration. It was matter-of-fact, inarguably so. “I don’t want to be your mama, if that’s what you’re getting at. You don’t need me. I didn’t need anyone when I was your age. Time to grow up. Go drink some wine and dance with Aunt Prissy.”

Taken aback, Mateo blinked a few times before mouthing, “What ... ?

Leonor rolled her eyes. “You’re being childish,” she said, aiming to clarify. With a handwave, she added, “Hanging around. Interrogating me.” 

Mateo’s disbelief was palpable, but Leonor remained unaffected. She could have addressed the truth head on. Like Beatriz, she knew what this conversation was supposed to be. She knew what Mateo wanted to say to her, and she knew that she wasn’t ready—wasn’t willing—to engage with it. When he did finally shake his head and speak again, she had already made up her mind to disregard him and resume her plans for the night.

“You’re my sister, Leonor,” he pleaded. It wasn’t meant to sound that way. He had hoped it would be a strong, persuasive statement. Instead, it came out as a quiet, wavering appeal. “I just want to feel like we’re family. I never see you anymore, and I don’t get it. I just feel like Mama would—”

Leonor cut him off, shrugging,“I don’t know what to tell you, Mat.” 

She was walking again before he could devise another tack to take. Weaving around him, she called back, “It’s not that serious. I’m going to be late.”

TRANSCRIPT:

ARNAUT | Happy birthday, Papa. MATIAS | Thank you. ARNAUT | Wrong flavor cake? MATIAS | What? ARNAUT | [Exhales] It was a joke. You look disappointed, so.

MATIAS | Birthdays become bittersweet at a certain point. Sit down. Let’s hear it. ARNAUT | [Chuckles] No poker face whatsoever, huh?

ARNAUT | Zifar is very unhappy with me. We’ve been arguing all week.

MATIAS | You know what they say about chiefs of staff: usually single-use, quick expiration date.

ARNAUT | I can make it work. I just don’t know how yet. MATIAS | Maybe it’s worth saying you don’t have to “make it work.” The idea, I believe, was that keeping him on could help with the transition. If that’s not the case—

ARNAUT | He’s trying. He’s doing everything right. MATIAS | What’s the problem, then? ARNAUT | I’m not there yet. MATIAS | It’s not a defeat to hire someone who meshes better.

ARNAUT | It would be, I think. MATIAS | Stick it out then, if that’s what you believe is best.

[Leonor sighs]

MATEO | Are you leaving?

LEONOR | I have plans.

MATEO | But this is our plan.

LEONOR | Can you give me a break? MATEO | You know what?

MATEO | No, I can’t. I need to talk to you, and you just walk off every time I see you—which isn’t often, by the way. LEONOR | You’re going to have to elaborate because I don’t—

LEONOR | Actually, no. I have to go, and I’m not going to get sucked into … whatever this is with you.

MATEO | Why are you being like this?

LEONOR | … I don’t know what you want from me. I don’t want to be your mama, if that’s what you’re getting at. You don’t need me. I didn’t need anyone when I was your age. Time to grow up. Go drink some wine and dance with Aunt Prissy.

MATEO | What … ? LEONOR | You’re being childish. Hanging around. Interrogating me.

MATEO | You’re my sister, Leonor. I just want to feel like we’re family. I never see you anymore, and I don’t get it. I just feel like Mama would— LEONOR | I don’t know what to tell you, Mat.

LEONOR | It’s not that serious. I’m going to be late.

[selfixsworld]

I´m bored...

so i´ll give some ideas for quirks for BNHA DRs or OC:

Script Template: @/mx.levias on TikTok — linktree (NOT MY SCRIPT)

HYDROFORCE:

Powers MASTERLIST

Quirk Inspired By: Waterbenders (Avatar: Legend of Aang) - Aqualad, Mera and Aquaman (DC Comics)

¦ ⌈Quirk Type⌉ ⩵ Emitter

APPLICATIONS:

Condensation

Freezing

Water Manipulation

Tidal Wave Generation

Underwater Walking

Water Attacks

Water Breath

Water Detection

Water Generation

Flood Creation

Water Separation

Water Solidification

Water Walking

Whirlpool Generation

Healing Water

Hydrokinetic Cloning

Hydrokinetic Combat

Hydrokinetic Invisibility

Hydrokinetic Regeneration

Water Exoskeleton

Water Mimicry

Water Teleportation

Special Moves:

💧 Liquid Mirror: By manipulating water, the user creates a reflective barrier that mimics their opponents' attacks. The barrier can also absorb energy-based attacks and reflect them back, with added water energy.

❄ Frostbound Cascade: Combining freezing powers with water manipulation, the user releases a tidal wave of icy water that instantly freezes on contact, trapping foes in thick ice, slowing down their movements, or immobilizing them completely.

💠 Crystal Waters Form: By solidifying water, the user creates crystalline, weaponized structures such as blades, shields, or spears. These weapons retain fluidity but are sharp enough to slice through metal.

🌊 Aqua Nova Burst: A concentrated sphere of water energy is created and launched at high speed, causing an explosive force on impact, drenching and disorienting opponents. The water pressure can crush solid surfaces.

🌬 Hydrokinetic Veil: The user surrounds themselves with a rotating veil of water, which deflects projectiles, cools the air around them, and provides healing by absorbing moisture from the atmosphere.

Backlashes:

🔱 Energy Drain: Creating and maintaining large bodies of water or powerful waves requires immense energy. Prolonged battles or high-energy moves can drain the user’s stamina, making them weaker over time and forcing them to rest.

🌀 Backlash of the Whirlpool: If not controlled properly, whirlpools or strong currents may spiral out of the user’s control, potentially trapping or harming the user and their allies along with enemies.

🌬 Weather Sensitivity: The user’s powers can be affected by the weather. For example, during extreme heat, their water may evaporate faster, and during storms, the unpredictability of the environment can interfere with their control.

💠 Solidification Strain: Constantly creating solid water constructs like weapons or barriers puts strain on the user’s mind and body, leading to severe headaches or muscle cramps if overdone.

[gay-jesus-probably]

When you have a chance please infodump about fossils!! I would love to hear more about it- I’m Canadian and had no idea that four of the oldest were here that’s so cool!

OH SHIT HEY YES I CAN DO THAT NOW! Typing is much easier; my hand is still a bit fucked, but it hurts less, and also my sibling made an emergency delivery of bandaids so that I'm not just sitting here with a fucking kleenex taped my hand like before SO IT'S INFODUMP TIME!

Anyways Canada is actually really fucking baller for fossils, we've got a LOT of them, because Canada's got some really cool geology stuff going on! The oldest major fossil site in Canada (and second oldest on earth) is over by Lake Superior for a reason, and that reason is entirely the Canadian Shield! It's some of the oldest land on earth, and one of the only places where you find a lot of rock that was formed in the Archean eon.

What's the Archean eon? Great question! You asked about paleontology, but first we've gotta do a geology lecture, because we're talking fossils that are several billion years old - at this stage, paleontology IS geology, they're one and the same. So, the Earth's lifespan is split into four geological eons - Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerzoic.

The Hadean eon began with the formation of the earth, and the most notable event during it was baby Earth colliding with the deceased planet Theia - the broken chunks of mantle from both planets were launched into orbit, with the further away ones condensing to form the moon, while the rest of Theia is believed to have been sort of just absorbed into the Earth's core, which explains a lot about why the Earth's core is unusually large for a planet of its size, and the effects of its remains also explains some very specific seismic phenomenoms... it's a whole thing, very cool. The chunks of earth/theia mantle that didn't become the moon came back down eventually, in an event known as the Late Heavy Bombardment, which marks the start of the Archean eon. That's where the planet stabilized, the oceans formed, the very first (tiny) landmasses appeared, and the earth underwent abiogenesis, which is to say life being created! ...In the form of single cell lifeforms.

Abiogenesis is very interesting by itself, but I don't think I can adequately cover that, so let's not get too into it. The short version is that an electical spark (such as lightning) in just the right conditions can make a whole lot of exciting proteins that, if left to their own devices, may develop into microbial lifeforms. The protein creation has been replicated in lab conditions, but synthesizing new life from that isn't exactly do-able; those proteins are very appealing to basically everything, so if they come into existence, they're snapped up pretty quickly by whatever bacteria happens to exist in the general vicinity. Those proteins can only really develop into lifeforms when there's no lifeforms around to eat them in the first place. And ensuring conditions where bacteria can't be present also means conditions not being viable for life to form anyways... it's a fun paradox. Not the point.

Anyways, that's believed to have gone down very early in the Archean eon, and the microbes were just sort of vibing in the oceans for a couple billion years until one of them evolved in a certain way, got Ideas about the elemental composition of the atmosphere, and decided it'd be pretty cool if all that oxygen was in a more convenient form... Which brings us to the Great Oxidation Event, which rolls us into the Proterozoic eon, killed the majority of the Archean lifeforms, and ensured that us oxygen breathing bastards became the dominant form of life. Proterozoic era was where things got really exciting; some more land began surfacing, and more importantly the microbial life began evolving into plants! Which is extremely cool and exciting.

And THEN we entered the Phanerozoic eon, which is the one we're currently in. This began with the Paleozoic era, and THAT started with the Cambrian period, which is notable for being the point where life diversity really exploded; more complex organisms had been slowly evolving in the Proterozoic eon, but the Cambrian period is where shit took off, and the very first 'animal' life appeared, mainly in the form of itty bitty sea creatures, like molluscs and trilobites. This was all about 500 million years ago. For obvious reasons, the majority of fossils are from the Cambrian period or later; anything pre-cambrian is a Really Big Deal (for science nerds). Which is also why Australia and the Canadian Shield are such a big deal geologically speaking, because not only are they some of the only cases of pre-cambrian landmasses, they're also some of the only Archean landmasses on the surface! Fuck, western Australia's so old, we've found (tiny) rock samples from the Hadean eon there!! It's absolutely wild, I love it.

Anyways, sorry Australians, but let's focus on the Canadian fossils now, cause that's where I live so it's more exciting to me. So, Canada's oldest fossil deposit is my beloved Gunflint Chert! It's the only major hotspot for Archean fossils apart from the Apex Chert, but we know Gunflint is younger, because it's also got examples of veeeery early Proterozoic fossils, which is also quite cool! Our second oldest fossil deposit is the Mistaken Point Formation, up in (shockingly enough) the Mistaken Point region of Newfoundland & Labrador, and that's entirely late Proterozoic eon fossils, which is quite cool (it's also the 4th oldest; number 3 is also late proterozoic, and is in northern Australia). Number five is also Australia, and is our last example of proterozoic fossils; 6 is, once again, Aussie, and that's where we roll into early Cambrian fossils (number 7 is, again, a bunch of very interesting cambrian trilobites in Morocco).

Aand that brings us to the eight oldest fossil deposit on earth, which I HAVE personally been to several times, and found samples in! Burgess Shale formation my beloved!!! It's in the BC-Alberta Rockies, and there's some very nice hiking in the area - if you're ever in the Banff area, I 100% recommend the Stanley Glacier trail, because the top portion comes out into a wide rock field, which is a hotbed for fossils! ...Don't take any, it's very illegal and also bad for science. They've got a fossil deposit box chained to a boulder up there for paleontologists to put samples in for later collection, and from what I saw the standard practice is for hikers to leave fossils they find on top of the box for the paleontologists to collect (and for other hikers to see. I found a trilobite fossil up there, it was AWESOME. And left it on the box with the other fossils. Just... Burgess Shale man, oh my god, it's so cool!

Aaaand then number 9 is Krukowski Quarry down in Wisconsin; I haven't been, but it's pretty cool, I think that's where we found the oldest example of a jellyfish existing, which is awesome. Also don't know much about number 10; it's Manuel's River up near Conception Bay, so also Newfoundland & Labrador, where I've never been.

ANYWAYS detouring a bit, while old fossils are extremely cool, y'know what's even more cool? REALLY WELL PRESERVED FOSSILS and oh boy do I have news for you about where the holy grail of dinosaur fossils is. That's right, CANADA BABY. Arguably the best part about Alberta is that this godforsaken hellhole is at least a really good hotbed for fossils. We've got some of the Burgess Shale out west in the mountains, the oil sands up north have so many fossils that everyone just has paleontologists on call all the time, and down south is the Dinosaur Park formation of fossils, which is such a good hotspot that it's literally a UNESCO world heritage site.

BUT. The most important Canadian fossil of all... is my beloved Nodosaur, the Borealopelta. We dug that bad boy out of the oil sands up near Fort McMurray accidentally in 2011 (hell of a surprise for the guy running the excavator that day), and once it was safely extracted, it turned out that hot fucking damn, that thing didn't just look good, it was perfectly preserved. Like, it somehow wound up in the PERFECT circumstances to mummify it after death, and then that mummified body hit the right circumstances to be fossilized. Paleontologists were able to get pigment samples off of its scales. It still has organs. It's most well preserved fossil ever discovered. Ever. It's on display at the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, AB - I've been to see it in person, and it was AMAZING, I swear I spent like half an hour in that room, it's so cool. Cannot recommend visiting there strongly enough, it's awesome - Drumheller's on that Dinosaur Park fossil deposit, so the Royal Tyrell is just entirely a paleontology museum. And it absolutely slaps!