#BUT I’m sadly still subjected from it from time to time

[no-144444]

older- d.ricciardo

꩜ summary: maybe you're both older than before, but you're happy, and that's what matters

꩜ pairing: husband! dad! daniel ricciardo x fem! wife! mom! reader

꩜ a/n: every time there's an american race i'm going to suggest preparing for a lot of danny riccy bc i miss him (especially when cota comes around)

Daniel’s back aches when he wakes up, and his moustache and hair is greying a little. That’s how he knew he was getting older. He was only 50, but he felt it. Every bit of it. 

And he wondered how you didn’t. Granted, you were a bit younger, only 43, but still. You basically looked the same way you did when you were 19. When he first fell in love with you. Sure, there were a few more creases by your eyes and maybe some greys were popping up, but in his eyes, you were the same. 

“Dad! Freddie told mom to fuck off!” Harry, your second oldest son, came rushing in the door, his school books in hand, an animated expression on his face. Harry had Daniel’s unruly hair, but your quiet demeanor. He was good in school, good in sports, and focused hard on what he wanted. He didn’t want to race like his dad (much to both of your delights), and he set his sights on directing. He was passionate, smart, and ridiculously good at surfing. He could go toe to toe, even with his old man, and would always win. It was impressive. He was also a bit of a tattle-tale when it came to getting his twin brother, Freddie, in trouble. Daniel couldn’t fault him though, he loved him too much. 

Daniel was on dinner duty, wearing his (stupidly hilarious) ‘kiss the chef’ apron as the delicious smells of steak and fries (and tiramisu for dessert) filled the kitchen. Since his time as a stay-at-home-dad commenced, he had become a passionate cook. He loved trying out new recipes, messing with flavours and cuisines, and of course, always making you his test subject. He whipped his head around to his son, a shocked expression on his face. 

“Are you fuckin’ kidding me?” his voice was low and dangerous and his eyes met yours the second you walked in the door. You shook your head, a frustrated expression on your face. Freddie looked guilty, but unrelenting, as all teenagers were. He turned to Freddie, handing the spatula to Harry, who took over steak-duty, listening to his twin get berated. Freddie also shared Daniel’s unruly hair, they were identical twins after all, but he kept it cleanly cut (speaking of that, he really should remind Harry to get his cut). He was a bit more tan than Harry, and he was always a bit of a trouble maker. Again though, Daniel could’t fault him, he loved him too much. But he certainly could fault Freddie for telling the woman he loved (and the woman who birthed Freddie) to fuck off. “What did you say to your mother?” he demanded. 

“Dad-” He silenced him with a look, it was going to be an excuse, and he knew it. “I’m sorry,” he turned to you, but you were already busy grabbing the plates and setting the table. You set the last plate down, all eyes on you. You looked up, staring into your son's apologetic eyes. “I was being a dick-”

“Little ears!” Harry reminded, covering his sister, Maeve’s ears. She’d walked in, clinging to her brother’s leg as a greeting. 

“Sorry,” Freddie repeated. “That wasn’t right mom,” he confessed. You sighed and walked over to him, hugging him. He was already taller than you, and only 17. Part of you wanted to let Daniel chew him out for being such a prick, but you understood that exams were coming up right at the same moment his rugby finals were on, and he had a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Yes, he was a dick, but he was your son. And sadly, that meant you loved him, and saw him as that little brunette kid who cried every time you had to leave for work. 

“Don’t ever do that again,” you huffed and he nodded. “I’m your mom, I’m on your side. I’m not trying to be mean, I just need you to think about your future Freds.” 

He nodded again, knowing you were right from the start. “I know,” he agreed. “I am. It just… stresses me.”

You shrugged. “That’s ok. But it’s not okay to take it out on me or your brother.”

“What did you do to your brother?” Daniel asked, and Freddie gulped. Harry held out his forearm, showing off a pretty impressive bruise. Daniel’s eyes went wide. “Fuck’s sake Freddie,” he cursed under his breath, pulling off his apron. Harry huffed again, covering Maeve’s ears. “What are you doing that for?” 

He didn’t have an answer. 

“Apologise to your brother, now,” you demanded. “And we’ll talk more about this later, alright? If you can’t start figuring out what’s up, we're going to have to have some serious conversations,” your tone was strict but caring, and the parenting part of Daniel was in awe. He was in awe of you all the time, but watching you be so good with your kids was just something else. “Maeve!” you called, kneeling down to pick her up as she ran to you. Freddie walked over and apologised to Harry, who accepted it. Maeve looked a lot more like you, and she was just 6. You carried her on your hip as you made your way over to Daniel, a flirtatious smirk on your lips. He smirked right back, his hands finding your ass as he pressed an open-mouthed kiss to your lips. Both Harry and Freddie cringed, but you just chuckled, used to his antics by now. 

“Missed you today,” he admitted, his voice low. 

“Oh yeah?” you questioned, smirking. Then your eyes softened with your smile. “Missed you too,” you admitted. “Excited for dinner.” 

“Yeah dad, these look good to me,” Harry announced, grabbing his attention. 

Daniel turned back to the grill and nodded. “Good shout Haz,” he smiled, his hands on his son’s shoulders. “You get ‘em onto a plate and I’ll finish up the veg. Fred,” he called, grabbing his eldest twin’s attention. “Call your sisters down please?” 

Freddie walked to the edge of the stairs and shouted. “Liv! Rhea!” 

“Coming!” Liv shouted back. 

“Oh yeah, Connor is over tonight,” Daniel wiggled his eyebrows at you and you raised yours. “Finally making the effort, I see.” 

 “It took you about 3 months to meet my parents, they’ve been dating for three weeks,” You chuckled and hit his chest playfully, Maeve speaking to Harry over your shoulder. 

Daniel shrugged, a cheeky smirk on his face. God, he was so pretty. That stupid backwards cap and pretty eyes, and that borderline porno moustache (which may or may not have been the reason Maeve was here…) made you want to jump his bones all over again. “I was a racecar driver-”

“He’s a high school student, be kind,” you reminded him with a kiss on his cheek. You brought Maeve over to the table and finished off the last bits as Liv and Connor came down the stairs. She was 15 and turning into the most beautiful girl you’d ever seen. She was so smart. She’d already been on her school debate and mathletes team, bringing both to the championship finals at the national level, you couldn’t be prouder. In all honesty, you’d met Connor before. Liv had wanted you to vet him before she started getting serious, so you got invited to a coffee date with them. He was sweet. Totally boy-next-door-vibes, which was totally her. 

He sent you a soft smile as he sat at the table. 

“Where’s Rhea?” Freddie questioned, sitting at the table, beside Liv. 

“She was on the sim,” Liv explained. “She’ll be down in a few.” 

As if by magic, she came barreling down the stairs and straight into your arms, a quick greeting before taking her spot beside Maeve. Rhea was 11 and every bit the racer her father was. You had hoped the racing gene skipped a generation but alas, it hadn’t and you were already busy researching European boarding schools to send her to in a few years time so that she could move on to single-seaters. She already had a place in the RedBull junior team (despite her father’s reservations) and she was excelling in every single one of her categories. She was a champion, and an F1 champion in the making. 

You sat at the table, the weight of your long day falling off your shoulders as your family gathered. You smiled at the table in front of you. “So, how was everyone’s day?” you asked as Daniel placed the last plate on the table and sat to your left, intertwining his right hand with your left, a smile on his face. 

“Aside from the bruising- thanks Freddie, it was good. Maths test went well,” Harry shrugged, digging into the meal. Freddie rolled his eyes, but Daniel let it go, knowing you'd both be talking to him about his behaviour anyway. 

“Can I see the paper?” Daniel asked through a bite of food. You grimaced. 

“Close your mouth when you eat,” you reminded him, covering his mouth with your hand. He chuckled. 

“I’ll give it to you after dinner,” Harry nodded. “What about you Maeve?” 

Harry was clearly overprotective of Maeve, he noticed how she was the baby of the family and babied her a bit more than everyone else, but they both loved it. She was like a mini him, just even less talkative (unless it was with Oscar- everyone was a big fan of him whenever he came over).

She shrugged. “It was good. We started on multiplication today.” 

“Woah!” Freddie gasped. “That’s pretty big,” he smiled brightly at his little sister. “You’re getting older,” he chuckled, ruffling her hair. She pretended to pout, but laughed as she fixed her hair. 

“That’s great Maevey,” Liv smiled from the other side of the table. “If you need any help with your homework I can give you a hand,” Liv offered and Maeve nodded, going back to eating her dinner. “I have another test next week.”

“What about this time?” Daniel asked, exasperated. “They need to give you a break at some point.” 

“Chemistry,” she sighed. “Connor has it too.”  “I didn’t know you took chemistry,” you turned to him, noticing how rigid his body language was, hoping to make him a bit more comfortable by bringing him into the conversation. “How do you find the teacher? Liv hates him.” 

Connor shrugged lightly. “I mean… he’s not the greatest teacher in the school, but I like his study packs, I think they’re pretty handy.”

“Who is it again?” Freddie asked, knowing Connor from the rugby team. 

“Mr. Brown,” Connor answered and Harry groaned. “I had him last year! He’s so annoying!”

You turned your head to Daniel, who was already looking at you with that lovesick look. You chuckled quietly. “What?” you mouthed. 

“Just love you,” he mouthed back. It still made your heart skip a beat. 

When everyone was finally down to bed, you tucked yourself into Daniel’s side and sighed against his skin. 

“You alright?” he whispered into the darkness of your bedroom, enjoying very much how close you were to him. 

“Just thinking,” you admitted. “The kids are so grown up.” 

He’d come to the exact same conclusion at dinner, watching as Freddie and Harry teased Liv, how Harry babied Maeve, how Liv laughed with Rhea, and how they all looked a lot older than 17, 15, 10, and 6. “I know what you mean,” he chuckled against your skin. “We did a pretty amazing job. We have some pretty incredible kids.” 

You laughed against his collarbone, a melodic sound he would never get tired of. “I guess we did,” you agreed. “Hard not to when they have such a brilliant role model,” you looked up at him with adoring eyes, and he felt himself soften. No jokes. No messing. Just pure… love for the life you two had built over the years. 

“Thank you,” he whispered. “For them. For you. For everything.”  “Thank you,” you smiled and leaned in, kissing him gently. Maybe you two weren’t the young guns you used to be, riding dirt bikes around his family’s estate, and kissing in cars, but you two were more than fulfilled.

navigation for my blog :)

redbull and vcarb masterlist

[itzpookiepooh]

Idk if you'd be interested in writing this and it's totally ok if you aren't. My request is the guys comforting MC when she calls them drunk one night apologizing for being a "bad gf" because they haven't gone any further than kissing yet? 🥲 It's her first relationship and she's nevr had yk, and feels guilty even tho she shouldn't. Tells them it's not them bc she's def attracted to them, she's just nervous about her first time. Just comfort and fluff, no smut. Idkk, hope you're having a great day <3

Bad Lover

Caleb was use to getting a call when you went out drinking with your friends. It was like a routine so when you called this time it wasn’t any different. Well yes it was because you were crying instead of screaming about how many shots you’ve had.

Caleb immediately perks up wondering why you were crying and whose fault it was. You were a blubbering mess and he could hardly understand what you were saying. He told you to calm down and slow down. You sniffled as you did so.

“I feel like a terrible girlfriend I’m always brushing you off. I feel like you want more but I keep messing it up.” You cry rather harshly. Caleb looks at you through the camera with worried eyes.

He didn’t care about that. He never cared about that he just wanted to be with you! You were his top priority! Your comfort, discomfort, love and care are all his top priorities.

“Pipsqueak, I don’t care about that. It’s not important, being together is important to me. Both of us being ready is what is important to me. Comfort is top priority!” He rambles as you wipe your tears and listen.

“Yeah?” You sniffle as he breathes a laugh. “Yes, now go back to your friends you can’t be on the curb by yourself.” He instructed making you nod.

You exchange “I love you’s” before hanging up. You knew how to get his heart rate going, goodness.

Sylus was on the phone trying to console a weeping you. A calm night turned sour (just kidding he adores talking to you) when you called wanting to talk and it turned into something else. It gave him whiplash at how fast you changed the subject. You wailed about being a bad girlfriend which took him by surprise. You did everything right so where was this coming from?

“Sweetie, where’s this coming from?” He asks crossing his leg over the other waiting for you to answer.

“We’ve only ever kissed! We haven’t done anything else and I know you want to…” You whimper sadly making him look confused.

“Have I ever expressed the need for more?” He questions you. You pause thinking about it. “No…” You answer quietly.

“Then why are you so worried about something so trivial?” He asks waiting as the only thing making noise was you breathing.

That gave you a reality check. You always thought of what was being said around you or online. Every relationship was different so why did you think he would be like them?

Sylus tells you he needs to shower and tells you enjoy the rest of your night. He explained he didn’t want you to worry about something that doesn’t bother him in the slightest. When you were both ready you could talk about but he refused to talk about it if you weren’t in your right mind. That made you feel warm inside.

Xavier dozed off when you called. He could barely find his phone as it buzzed incessantly. He saw it was you and started glowing. He groggily answers before you completely wail in his ear. He was shaken up his messy hair sticking up as he sat up abruptly.

“I’m such a terrible girlfriend! I can’t even move onto the next step because I’m scared!” You wailed loudly making a disheveled Xavier even more confused. What are you talking about?

“I don’t understand. Next step?” He finally responds and when you explain it. He relaxes slightly, his heart still racing uncomfortably in his chest.

“I don’t care about that and I don’t want you to think that I only want you for your body because it isn’t true.” He explains in his tired voice. You try to stop crying but you couldn’t due to high emotions from the alcohol.

“Really?” You ask as he nods tiredly. “Yes.”

After he calms you down you tell him to get some sleep. You told him he’d know when you’re home. After that Xavier thought about what made you randomly think he cared about intimacy like that when he enjoyed being with you like this.

Poor Zayne working overtime but now has to console his crying lover. He doesn’t know why you’re crying because he can’t understand you. Every time you try to tell him you wail louder. He knows people are probably staring at you because of your crying. He knows if you remember this you’ll be embarrassed.

“I just don’t want you to hate me! I know I can give you what you need but—“ Zayne shakes his head taken back. Give him what he needs? What is going on?

“Wait a moment…what I need?” He questioned as you explained going further in your guys relationship.

“My love that’s not a necessity. You can build a relationship just as we are right now.” He explains as he holds a finger up to Greyson who’s trying to hand him more paperwork.

“You don’t hate me?” You whimper as he sighs with a small smile on his face.

“No I don’t. I have the rest of my life to get there with you.” He tells you as you swoon.

“The rest of your life? Zayne—“ You go to swoon over him once more before he stops you.

“We can talk more when you’re more sober. Until then go have fun and we can talk about your feelings tomorrow.” He tells you as you agree and hang up.

Zayne sighs quietly thinking back to you. He wondered what made you group your relationship with everyone else’s but that was a conversation for a more sober you.

Rafayel was taken back. Did you really think all he wanted you for was your privates? He didn’t care about how far into the relationship it was he wasn’t going to beg or force you to do anything you didn’t want to do. He himself wasn’t ready either since you made him so nervous. What if he messed up and made it terrible for you?

“Excuse me? Do you think so low of me all the time?” He asks making you stop crying.

“Of course not…” You tell him, wiping your tears away.

“So why would you ever think I’d toss you away because we haven’t moved past kissing? That’s childish.” He explains his tone clearly offended.

“I’m not dating you to get in your pants. I’m dating you because I like you.” He says putting his phone between his shoulder and ear—crossing his arms.

“I just don’t want you to regret being with me.” You mumble.

“I would never. Couples do that when they’re mutually ready. I would never push you to do something like that.” You nod at his words.

“We can talk more tomorrow. You’re not in the right place mentally or physically to remember what I say right now.” He explains and you agree telling him you love him and you’ll talk tomorrow.

He made note to seek revenge on whoever got into your head.

Another one!

[pupkashi]

satoru loves yapping [to you]

satoru was always chatty, shoko could definitely attest to that statement, subjected to too many conversations she definitely did not care about.

“isn’t it hotter than usual? i swear last year it was colder around this time of year-” he began, continuing to talk as shoko tried to focus instead on healing an injured itadori in front of her.

it seemed that his chatty characteristic only amplified when you were around, his eyes would visibly brighten, practically gleaming when you appeared in his eyesight.

“sweetheart! how are you? staying cold in this heat?” you can help but smile at him, walking straight into his already outstretched arms and squeezing his waist a bit, pressing a soft peck to his cheek before pulling away.

“heat? it feels so good out today!” you sigh happily, waving yellow to shoko and itadori, “it is hotter than last year though I’ll tell you that,” satoru grins at your words, turning to shoko with a flint in his eyes before turning back to you.

“that’s what I said! global warming is getting too severe-” the two of you walking out hand in hand, the taller man still talking as you listened intently.

satoru never felt the need to be quiet around you, always finding things to talk about no matter the task or the hour.

“and so you would think that since they were doing so bad they would think of making changes right?” you nod along, humming so he knows you’re listening, “but no! they keep going with same stupid strategy and it’s so frustrating as a fan to see, i just want him to achieve his dreams,” he sighs sadly.

“can you pass the salt?” you ask, taking it from his much larger hand, thanking him before speaking up again, “why does he keep resigning if they always treat him so poorly?” you ask, satoru smiles, heart warming at the fact that you really do pay attention to him.

“he’s always wanted to win with Ferrari- let me take you back to the beginning” he begins, giving you a summary of charles leclerc’s life as you finish cooking dinner.

you could always tell when he got a bit insecure of how talkative he was, but you’d always smile at him, urging him to go on. “and then what? why’d you stop talking?” you’d say, making him smile widely before quietly starting again.

“I’m listening, angel boy,” you mumble in between dreams, listening to him talk about how orange juice isn’t the same as it was when he was growing up and how the new game he downloaded was more complicated than it seems.

it could be nearing 2 in the morning but you wouldn’t mind, satoru would be discussing how and why wombats have cube shaped poops and how koalas eat eucalyptus and pandas have half a brain cell they don’t bother to use.

“it has no real nutritional value and that’s why they have to eat so much of it,” he mumbles, eyes drooping as he cuddles closer to you.

“aren’t they made to digest meat?” you whisper, head tucked into the crook of his neck, your breath running a chill down his spine.

“think so, dunno” he mumbles back, breathing evening out before he’s fully asleep.

your eyes open slowly as you crane your neck, his pink lips slightly parted as he takes soft breaths, snowy hair pointing every which way.

you can’t help but smile at your lover.

“goodnight pretty boy” you whisper, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek, “my little yapper,” you chuckle to yourself, already looking forward to what he’d talk about tomorrow.

masterlist

a/n: hi friends ! just a quick little something i put together bc i miss satoru so bad lately </3 he’s def a yapper and i want to hear him talk all day and night

taglist (send an ask to be added!): @chilichopsticks @anime-for-the-sleepless @safaia-47 @nanamikentoseyebags @fushironi @nineooooo @the-mom-friend-dot-com @gojoshooter @sat6ru @beautiful-is-boring @sweetheart-satoru @luna0713hunter @torusmochi

[nobodyfamousposts]

Scarlet Lady Top 10 Favorite Characters: Number 9

for @zoe-oneesama

Number 10 Here

Now let’s be fair about this. This list is subjective and according to my own personal bias. It’s not about who is deserving or who is “Best Boy/Girl”. These are just the top ones I like and enjoy seeing in the comic. My favorites may not be your favorites and I quite frankly don’t expect them to be anyone else’s favorites in the same order or even on the same list at all. And just because someone is not on my list doesn’t mean I don’t like them or that I don’t find value in them.

This is just a list of the characters I like the most and my reasonings as to why. What makes me like them? What makes them stand out? Because Scarlet Lady has a LOT of really great characters who all deserve a shout out, so these are just ten of them that stuck out to me the most.

And while I am at least attempting to value them here on their own merit in the Scarlet Lady comic as opposed to Canon or its many MANY issues or the differences between the two, it stands to reason that at least SOME mention of Canon is going to be made. That said, I am trying very hard to not rate them based on my feelings from Canon but more on how I feel about them in this comic.

And because naturally I like my dramatic moments, I’m going to do the list in descending order from number 9 to number 1.

So without further ado…

…

…

Number 9: Alya

I love Alya in Scarlet Lady. So much so that I feel bad that she’s not higher on the list, but to be fair, she has some pretty tough competition. And it says something when that’s the case because it feels to me like everyone deserves a spot on this list…it’s just that some deserve it a little bit more.

Alya certainly warrants her spot on this list. She was one of the characters with the fewest changes from her setup in canon and yet ended up with such a major and lasting impact that her canon self can’t match.

But if I have to break down the reasons:

1. Alya is a good friend.

When mention is made of Alya being Marinette’s best friend, SL!Alya is the version that comes to mind for me. And honestly, she’s the image I long had and long wished for Alya of canon.

A friend who is supportive in all the right ways. A friend needing her own level of support. A friend who will disagree with you on points but still be your friend. A friend who can make mistakes and jump to conclusions but you can always forgive because you know she would do the same for you.

In Mr. Pigeon, Alya was willing to throw down with Chloe Bourgeois to defend Marinette’s honor and her hat design. And this was only two episodes after Lady Wifi, where Chloe had abused her power to get Alya suspended over a relatively minor infraction that had literally nothing to do with Chloe except that Chloe chose to be offended by Alya’s incorrect conclusion. Sure, it can arguably be for payback (given how keen Alya was to confront Chloe), but let’s be honest here: after being forced into a position where you are completely helpless at the hands of a bully and even authority figures are not willing or able to step in, most people would hesitate to confront the bully again regardless of whether they know they’re in the right. And Alya arguably didn’t have proof at the time that Marinette’s hat was actually her original creation.

And yet, Alya was going to act anyways. WANTED to act. For friendship. For vengeance. Not quite sure HOW she was intending to take down Chloe in this case, but I imagine it would have landed her in trouble again and she was fully willing to do so on behalf of her friend.

And speaking of her friend, remember Alya in Reflekta? She was excited of the idea of Marinette being a hero and part of me thinks she really pushed the “Marinette is Scarlet Lady” angle because she idolized Scar at the time and very much WANTED her to be Marinette—someone she also adores. Having two of her favorite people be one and the same would have been amazing for her! Sadly (or fortunately depending on your view) that was not the case, but Alya still got to have her moments of seeing her best friend as a hero, and her starry eyes sell it for me. As does Marinette later arranging an interview for her as Marigold—something especially important given in this version, one of the two primary heroes simply has no time for interviews while the other wouldn’t give a blog like Alya’s the time of day regardless of how much Alya did to help promote her.

Plus how in Troublemaker, she got the entire class to come to school dressed in Chat Noir gear to show support for the poor catboy and to help protect Marinette after the way her room and her multitude of pictures of Chat Noir were revealed on live television. Just to try and limit her friend’s embarrassment after her privacy was violated and her crush was outted.

See this? This is the friendship I wanted to see in canon. The ride or die. A counterweight. Supporting each other in reasonable and healthy ways. To be able to say with certainty that when the chips are down, they have each others’ backs. And Alya does.

Then there’s the Love Square—and if the change to the setup didn’t already improve how it went, then Alya’s involvement certainly did.

Part of the reason the Love Square struggled in Canon was because of how forcefully it was pushed with such shoddy foundation, and Alya was the biggest pusher. She forced so many situations out of some misguided attempt to “help” that only ended up creating stress for Marinette, cringe for the writing, and no actual momentum on the progress of the pairing. If you want a metaphor, then let’s describe it like this: If the Love Square is an actual ship and if Alya was a tug boat, she wouldn’t have been helping her ship “set sail” so much as dragging it underwater across the ocean and to its watery demise.

But in Scarlet Lady, Alya is supportive and encouraging—and not in the way where she blows off Marinette’s anxieties or Adrien’s obliviousness and forces them both into a position they’re clearly not ready for only to turn around and be annoyed that it didn’t work out. 

No, she was aware of Marinette’s feelings and interests to the point she recognizes Marinette has a small crush on Adrien even before the girl herself did. She also seemed to be aware of Adrien’s crush on her. So knowing this, she tried to help nudge things along. Note I said “NUDGE”. 

She knows a spark could be there. So when Alya had an opportunity, she helped to set things up in a way that would give Marinette and Adrien time together to explore that. Not to confess. Not to date. Just opportunities to be together, interact, and see what happens.

Heck, it feels at times like she’s more of Adrien’s wingman than Marinette’s. Especially given the whole bit in Stormy Weather, which remains to date one of my favorite strips of the entire series. Alya was the reason Marinette even made it there in the first place. And when she was picked for the modeling spot, she still tried to influence things to let Marinette take over. Similar to canon, yes, but a notably better feel to it. Better humor. Better outcome.

Which is ultimately what a friend should be trying for. For ALL of her friends.

And by the end of the comic, I can say that Alya is a friend to not just Marinette, but also Adrien and Alix and the other classmates. Yes, even Lila. Which says something given how much she initially despised Lila for the fake interview and how long she held that grudge against her. Going from outright dislike to grudgingly hanging out with to swallowing her pride and giving a real chance to actual collaboration on revealing a major truth.

Now that’s progress.

And speaking of progress…

2. Journalist Has A Point

Look, many a story will have THAT character. You know the one. Whether a detective, journalist, or conspiracy theorist, THAT character is devoted to uncovering the truth, whatever it may be—and usually in the form of plot-relevant secrets and useful information. 

So one of the biggest disappointments you can create is having such a character 

with all the drive and reasoning to investigate be in a prime position to uncover a major plot point, in which you give them all the resources and all the motivation to make the discovery…and yet have them do nothing.

Or worse, have the truth spoon fed to them instead when it’s convenient. No effort. No drama or antics. No surprise. No real reaction to the revelation. Just take away all the fun why don’t you?

Alya is a major fan of heroes and a journalist in the making. When these things mix, you have a ready-made source of humor and drama in a character with the dual position of he hero’s best friend who doesn’t know her secret and a wannabe investigator who risks discovering the hero’s secret. Normally, such a position would involve a number of antics over a multitude of episodes, with the friend being in a prime position to out the hero and the hero having to regularly come up with ways to distract and mislead the friend in question in order to protect the secret.

In canon, we get all of two episodes that even play with this setup. Two in the four seasons it takes for Marinette to just blurt it out to Alya. Lady Wifi and Pharaoh. That’s it. And of those two, Lady Wifi had Marinette completely unconcerned with Alya’s claim of knowing Ladybug’s identity. No drama. No conflict. No antics. No attempts at misdirection. No introspection or question if maybe revealing the city’s hero is even a good idea. No internal questioning if Alya should be told the secret—if she’s trustworthy or if she would be in danger. No continued attempts to uncover her identity as if Alya had just gotten bored with it. Nothing.

And if you know anything from my previous essays, you know that few things frustrate me more than having a great setup that practically writes itself and doing NOTHING WITH IT.

In Scarlet Lady, that setup is nixed from the start since Marinette didn’t start off as the hero. Instead, what we have is a situation where Alya idolizes the self-proclaimed hero of the city, completely ignorant to the truth that we as the audience were already immediately made aware of: that said hero is Chloe and she is ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!

Marinette is aware of her being horrible. Adrien is FULLY aware of her being horrible. WE all know she is horrible. But Alya, like most of the city, is enthralled and supportive of her as the “Hero of the City”.

This change immediately created a whole new setup. Where Alya is a fan of a hero while being ignorant to that hero’s true nature. Where WE know and even other characters in the show know, but it’s impossible to convince anyone else of this truth. I’m sure you all know what it’s like watching any character in that sort of situation. It hurts. But not as much as it’s bound to hurt her by the end.

And indeed it does, as it kickstarts what initially starts off as a funny setup where Marinette and others stay quiet and try to be supportive while inwardly cringing as Alya creates and manages a blog dedicated to the worst person ever sans Hawk Moth and Gabriel Agreste.

Adding to this is that said person won’t give Alya or her blog the time of day. Chloe has no respect or appreciation for the level of commitment Alya has or how much Alya helped her to get her fame, and even calls Alya a “stalker” at one point. (Not that she’s technically wrong to be fair, but bear with me.) This is a testament to Chloe’s view of heroism as a whole and her expectations regarding the treatment she should receive. Nevermind that Chloe’s initial rise to the spotlight was in great part because Alya was the one to put said spotlight on her in the first place. Chloe doesn’t acknowledge favors, only what she is owed.

This puts Alya in a difficult position. Unlike Canon, she doesn’t have the support of a hero to promote her blog. She is a teenager with no preexisting status as a reporter and no real connections or backing for people to take her seriously. And in a world of already established media and tons of fans like herself no doubt also trying to make names for themselves in similar niche areas, she has nothing to really make herself stand out. What ends up working for her is the live footage she gets of the akumas and the battles, which is exceedingly dangerous and puts Alya in danger. But to her, it’s worth it to be able to enjoy her two passions.

It is painful. It HURTS me to see Alya so devoted to someone who I know full well doesn’t deserve it and it hurt even MORE to see how Alya was finally forced to face the truth. Her reaction was real. Her difficulty accepting the truth that we all knew from the start and that Alya could have (and probably should have) picked up on as a journalist if she only investigated everything outside of the “Heroes WOW” light.

But this doesn’t make me look badly upon Alya. It’s not entirely her fault. It’s reasonable that Alya wouldn’t have known. Given Scar’s refusal to work with anyone outside of publications that “meet her standards”, Alya hadn’t gotten to interact closely enough with Scar to really see her “in action” so to speak. Not for some time.

Alya does ultimately end up finding the truth, but it’s not the one she initially went searching for. What started out as a love for heroes mixed with her interest in journalism slowly turned into a realization of what heroism actually is and who the true heroes are…and aren’t.

And with this realization comes a new outlook, new alliances, new goals, and a new plan to reveal the truth about Scar and just who is really the hero or the “sidekick” in the heroes team.

This here? This gives Alya purpose. It also emphasizes her role in the story and the impact she has. Because over time, the thing that most showed her flaws and ignorance became a major strength—AND ended up benefiting the city as a whole.

She was the only person who actively tried to help Chat when he was on the run in Copycat and gave him the info to know what was going on and who the true culprit was (especially important because Adrien had NO way of knowing what was going on or why he was being framed and Scar certainly wasn’t going to help).

She gave Lila and others a chance to share their stories that otherwise never would have been told. Especially notable given Alya’s initial dislike of Lila for her lies, something she continued to hold a grudge over for a long time after.

And as a result, she is a major contributor to Scar’s declining popularity as she helps spread the truth. Which adds a nice bit of irony to the situation that the little blog that gave Chloe her start and that she ignored ended up becoming something so major that it destroyed her narrative. 

Alya had been seeking the truth, been blinded to it, struggled to accept it, went out of her way to confirm it, and then shared it. Maybe it’s not as impressive as taking down the akumas directly, but it has a much greater overall impact on the story and helping get some of that sweet sweet karma we’d all been waiting for. And best of all, she does the one thing that many of us have also been wanting for Canon: to have SOMEONE investigate Hawk Moth and realize the puzzle pieces are pointing at Gabriel Agreste. 

If only she could have confirmed it a little sooner…

3. Alya as a Person

Alya is a teenager. She is a teenage girl and that shines in Scarlet Lady.

We see her PUMPED at the discovery of heroes in Paris. We see her genuinely EXCITED over the prospect of being a hero. We see her flip her focus and be SERIOUS over serious and not so serious things. We see her unapologetically and hilariously reject Adrien’s pleas for a trade of jobs only to be a hypocrite and turn around and beg him for the same. We see her get terrifyingly ENRAGED at Nino for changing her script without discussing it with her. We see her be PETTY and RESENTFUL over falling for Lila’s lies. We see her be IN LOVE after Animan. Plus how could I not love her sheer GLEE over getting to face off with Nora?

But what really made me love this Alya and put her leagues above canon is her growth. Growth that she didn't really get in Canon. And a lot of that growth was evident through her discovery of the truth that was right in front of her and how she had gone so long without seeing it.

And when she is finally hit with the reality that her hero is no hero and that she was wrong? It’s hard. No kid wants to admit being wrong about anything, but especially not about a belief like that. Not the idea of heroes and not over your hero specifically. Especially when you realize you spent so LONG devoted to something only to find out you were wrong, other people knew, and you could have/SHOULD have known had you really tried to look.

And Alya….did NOT take it like a champ.

Denial was the name of the game. But her growth came in acknowledging that she was wrong, WHERE she went wrong, and taking steps to move forward with what she knew. Not by doubling down and demanding “evidence” that should have been easy to find if she just looked, but by investigating the truth even if it’s one she knew she wouldn’t like. And even if it involved things she didn’t want to do. To this end, she made up with Lila and the two actually ended up working together to change the tide of public opinion against her over time. 

Let’s note that: She went back on her earlier promise to herself, forgave and worked with someone that she disliked, and let go of her own pride and resentment in order to get to the truth that she originally never wanted to acknowledge.

Alya in Scarlet Lady plays more of a role in the series than she did in Canon. She wasn’t just “Marinette’s best friend” and “Ladybug fangirl” or a tool or prop for setting up certain scenes where Marinette suffers or Adrinette is given a half hearted attempt.

Alya is her own person. She disliked someone the others like or come to like. She adored someone the others and even we as the audience couldn’t stand. She stood up to her sister for herself and with the backing of her friends. She was silly at times for all that she tried to be serious and mature. She was oblivious and opinionated. She was wrong about a core issue to the story.

And that was perfectly okay.

Not because the narrative said so. Not because anything she did was hand waved. Not because Marinette or anyone else was thrown in as a scapegoat to distract attention away from her.

But because Alya is a well-written character with a personality that makes her a PERSON rather than a prop. Which makes her development into a hero feel rewarding rather than an obligation.

4. Alya as a Hero

Okay, Sapotis in Canon wasn’t bad. It worked as a new hero episode. It worked as the FIRST new hero episode. It made sense for Alya to help corral her sisters. I loved Trixx and his subtle means of testing Alya. It also had Alya getting some personal development as she changes from her initial stance of wanting to reveal her identity as a hero to knowing when to keep some truths hidden.

The problem is that lesson didn’t really stick as Alya goes on to demand a truth from Marinette that isn’t her right to know, try to force Marinette to tell a truth when she isn’t ready to reveal it, and betray Marinette’s trust and reveal the secret just to make things easier for herself and her relationship with Nino.

Gotta say, not impressed with Alya as a hero in Canon. Especially given how much the narrative had gone out of its way to keep portraying Alya as being in the right in each instance she was involved in regardless of what she actually did.

Then there’s the matter of the issue of her getting the Fox Miraculous after everything that happened with Lila and the complete LACK of Fox Vs Fox/Alya VS Lila/Truth VS Lies setup that such a setup would have been primed for. And if they weren’t going to do that or even anything with Alya and Trixx, then what was the point of giving Alya the Fox? There was just really nothing else that came out of a truth-seeker like Alya getting a Miraculous specifically involved in setting illusions and how that could develop her character.

@punchlord has already done multiple evaluations of the characters and Miraculous and which ones would best/least fit and why, and has done so much more detailed and eloquently than I can really offer here. Instead, I want to focus on SL!Alya and the changes Zoe made.

Here’s the thing: we all knew going in that Zoe was going to follow Canon for the most part. She admitted as such. We also knew that some kwami-swapping was bound to happen as a result of the changes to the world. Chloe gets the Ladybug. Marinette gets the Bee. Sabrina was bound to get something at some point that wasn’t the Dog. And yes, Lila too.

But NONE of us were expecting that Alya and Nino would swap their Miraculous AND their hero episodes!

And it worked. It worked so well.

Koki Marina is an awesome hero with such a stand-out look. And the one image of her playing with her fluffy hair always makes me smile.

The changes Zoe made vastly improved the Anansi storyline. Nino deserved his own hero episode that wasn’t just focus on him secondary to an issue for Alya and ultimately accomplish nothing on his own while someone else solves the problem for him...twice. And Alya deserved to be the one to deal with Nora and take control of her life.

The thing is, this was an episode with a lesson that was misplaced. Misplaced andmishandled, much like many episodes in the original series.

In Anansi, the biggest problem wasn’t that Nino couldn’t prove he could protect Alya, it was that Nora was overstepping on Alya’s life in the first place, especially when it wasn’t necessary. She didn’t consider that ANYONE ELSE could protect Alya—even the heroes when it is their job to fight the akumas. 

But more specifically, she wasn’t willing to consider that Alya could protect HERSELF. Especially of note considering that by this point in both versions, Alya had been running around and getting involved in the fights with the heroes for blog views. And in Canon specifically, Alya had already been a temp hero—I was surprised and disappointed that Alya didn’t argue more and struggle with NOT revealing that fact in the episode. But I digress…

If Alya was to get a hero episode, this was the better setup for it. And Zoe saw that and provided us that sweet sweet payout, with Alya proving herself and helping to take down her older sister. And just the absolute GLEE she had in doing so. The sort of glee you’d see in any younger sibling getting a chance to take on and show up their older sibling. All the younger siblings out there should know it. 

Plus her and Wayzz bonding, omg they are so cute.

While Canon Sapotis was decent (if not a bit frustrating with the lack of lessons for the twins after all their antics), in my view, SL Anansi actually HIT in all the right ways and felt more satisfying overall in comparison as Alya’s hero episode and ESPECIALLY in comparison to the Canon Anansi itself. 

It’s a good episode with a stable episode-centric arc, where the conflict starts with Alya NOT really being able to face down Nora alone and only manages to overpower Nora in an arm wrestling contest because her friends back her and take on Nora in a 4 on 1 match and overpower her together. This is highlighted later in the episode when Alya faces Nora alone to buy Marigold time and is shown to struggle. Then gets the power boost through the Turtle Miraculous that lets her effectively take her down save her. Cough. Yes. Just save her.

It’s a very empowering story for Alya. But it plays a bigger role than that, too. It’s not just the start of Alya being a hero, it’s also the point where she really starts to turn things around in terms of the overarching story of the comic.

This episode is the follow up to Sapotis, where the other characters are having a sleepover partly to look after the younger kids but also specifically to try and support Alya as she comes to terms with the realization that her hero is a fraud. Yes, Alya already knew that Scar was horrible by the time Anansi happened, but actually being a hero and having to work with Scar gives her an up close and personal look at how Scar treats the other heroes and how much—or rather little she actually does in a crisis.

It’s also the point where Alya seems to gain more confidence and also direct her reporting to a better end. And by the end of the episode, we really see Alya starting to use her skills to this purpose. This is when we get to see Alya actually BE the journalist she wanted to claim she was.

This? Right here? This goes to show that not only does Alya herself make a great hero, but that becoming a hero helped Alya improve herself as well. Which is something we should be seeing more of in such stories with teenagers gaining superpowers.

So all that being said, SL Alya succeeds where her Canon counterpart fails. The narrative points out when she’s wrong. She learns lessons. She is silly at times and acknowledged to be silly. But through it all, she retains the heart that makes her a good friend and the passion that shows her to be not only a journalist, but a HERO in the making.

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: Accidentally Conquering Humanity

*Audience claps as talk show begins

Human Host: Good morning world, and welcome to the start of your day.

Human Host: I’m your host David Jefferson.

Human Host 2: And I’m Joy Menferd.

David: Our first guest today is a recent tech entrepreneur visiting our little planet today all the way from Vengon VI; please give a warm welcome to Kelnor Hi’tel!

*Audience begins to clap as Kelnor slowly levitates on to the stage from the back. They nervously wave their tentacles at the human gathering before sitting down on the couch next to Joy.

Kelnor: *Slit in mouth vibrates but never opens

Kelnor: Greetings human David and human Joy.

Kelnor: Kelnor is most joyful to be on this human entertainment circuit.

David: *Laughs and smiles

David: Well if that isn’t the warmest welcome I’ve had since we invited Drumstick the acrobatic chicken.

Joy: Didn’t we have him on the show last week?

David: *Shrugs

David: What can I say; it’s been a long week.

Audience: *Laughs

David: Now Kelnor I understand you are here to show us one of your latest inventions.

Kelnor: This is correct.

*Kelnor’s tentacle reaches into pocket and withdraws a small vile

Kelnor: Kelnor calls it “Serum PS”.

David: Did you come up with that name?

Kelnor: Kelnor did.

David: Then I would invest in a marketing firm before you put that to market

Audience: *Laughs

Kelnor: Kelnor thought it an appropriate name as it has a connection to your people.

Joy: Oh?

Joy: And what would that be?

Kelnor: I believe your culture calls it the “Philosopher Stone”.

Audience: *Quiet gasps

David: If I’m not mistaken, that is the legend of a stone that can turn metal to gold or give its user eternal life?

Kelnor: That is correct.

Joy: He learned that watching harry potter last night.

David: I’m a raven claw and not ashamed of it.

Audience: *Laughs

David: So are you telling us that this will make us, say, live forever?

Kelnor: *Shakes head

Kelnor: Sadly no.

David: Well that’s a sh-

Kelnor: But it will drastically increase the lifespan of your indentured servants.

Audience: *Awkward silence

Joy: Pardon me?

Kelnor: Kelnor asks for forgiveness.

Kelnor: Human language is still a subject Kelnor is learning.

Kelnor: Kelnor believes you would call them “Pets”.

Audience: *Silence

Joy: Could you repeat that?

Kelnor: How Serum PS works is when it is injected into the body of a creature, it induces the host to begin producing more cells that are more abundant during the development stages of early life.

Kelnor: These cells normally cease production when the host reaches maturity, but with the injection the host begins to produce them again for an extended period of time.

Kelnor: Now while tests have shown that when used on human bodies the desired effect is not reached as the body cannot handle the sudden influx of new cells, your pet’s bodies can handle it as their life spans are much shorter.

Kelnor:  The shorter the original lifespan means it is easier to restart the cell production process without causing harm to the host.

Audience: *Hushed whispers

Joy: So given your tests, how far can you extend the lifespan?

Kelnor: Projections show that the pet host can reach the age of 80 human years before their bodies can no longer accept the influx of newly generated cells much like your human body can.

Joy: Well that is simply fascinating, don’t you think David?

David: How much do you want for that vial?

Joy: David?

David: I’m being totally serious, how much do you want for that vile right now?

Kelnor: Kelnor had not expected to sell so soon.

Joy: *Laughs nervously

Joy: I can tell someone’s-

David: *Snaps at Joy

David: Shut it!

David: *Turns back to Kelnor as audience members begin making some phone calls

David: My retriever Baxter is 18 years old and he’s gone blind, and you say this could make him young and see again?

Kelnor:*Thoughtfully nods

Kelnor: If the blindness was a result of age process then yes, Serum PS should reverse that as the cell influx begins.

David: I’ll wire five thousand credits to you right now for that vial.

Joy: David!

Kelnor: Kelnor had no plans to charge so much for-

Audience member: *Shouts

Audience member: I’ll triple that!

Audience member: My Mr. Snickers needs that more than his dog!

David: I’ll pay 50,000!

David: I’ll even throw in my hover car in the parking lot on top.

David: *Reaches into pocket and pulls out electric key, then shoves it into Kelnor’s tentacle.

David: Top of the line model, can go from 0 to 120 in under a minute and it’s all yours plus the money!

Kelnor: *Looking a bit nervous now; tentacles coiling around their body and the vial as Kelnor can sense the raw desire for the vial.

Kelnor: Kelnor can assure you, human David, and the other human’s watching that there is more than this vial soon to be for sale.

David: But that is the only one right now?

Kelnor: Well, yes, but-

Camera Man: *Leans around camera

Camera Man: I’ll trade you blackmail material on Joy and David for it!

Joy: What?!

Camera Man: They forget to turn off the camera drones when they go back into their dressing rooms and that footage is all yours for that there vial!

Joy: You sick son of a bitch!

Joy: I’ll have you fired and out on the street!

Camera Man: What part of “Blackmail” do you not understand?!

Camera Man: My lizard Finchy’s been acting up lately and doctors don’t know why.

Camera Man: Unless you want that footage showing up on the web you’d best get me that vial, Joy!

*Camera spins around as audience members begin walking towards set with wallets, keys, jewels, and other materialistic items of value all in an attempt to entice Kelnor for the vial.

*Camera feed cuts as several audience members begin fighting each other while David continues upping his offer to Kelnor. --------------------------------

*6 weeks and 357 trillion credits profit later

Kelnor: *Sitting with fellow researchers

Kelnor: Well……..this escalated quickly.

*Researchers all nod slowly as they sip their drinks.

Researcher Tinuk: Tinuk thinks we own another continent of the human planet after this morning’s shipment trade.  

Kelnor: We now own ALL, their continents now.

*Researchers mumble in disbelief

Researcher Nav’ra: When we were making this, Nav’ra honestly expected it to be a novelty item in gag shop on homeworld.

*Researchers collectively nod

Researcher Yuni: Agreed.

Researcher Yuni: Yuni did not think any species would care so much about lower life forms.

Kelnor: *Takes deep swig

Kelnor: Humans are not like other species.

Kelnor: *Refills glass

Kelnor: Kelnor watched elderly human female drive through line of other humans at distribution center to save their pet pig.

Kelnor: *Downs another glass

Researcher Tinuk: What is a pig?

Kelnor: *Shrugs with tentacles

Kelnor: Kelnor still does not know, but it was important enough to decease thirteen humans for in process.

[takusan-no-ai]

Our Rising Star is the Mask We Wear

PAIRING: Astra x Male Reader (Platonic) (Fluff)

SUMMARY: (Y/N), Phaethon’s youngest brother, isn’t a fan of Astra’s music.

After you found out your older sister and brother were not only proxies, but THE Phaethon, your distance became very apparent. You didn’t spend as much time with them anymore, nor did you continue to pretend to have the same interests; before you would pretend to be somewhat intrigued, but now there just seemed to be no point to that.

The same could be said when your sister and brother kept begging Fairy to buy them Astra Yao tickets. You didn’t hold much of an interest in her, heck you outright disliked her music. Much to the chagrin of Wise and Belle. For the most part you just minded your own business, happy to fade even more into the background. Sadly, a chaotic fried rice decided to befriend your siblings.

That is to say that Astra found herself a lovely little hideout whenever she wanted to just run away. Belle and Wise were overjoyed to say the least. But for how happy Astra was to befriend them, she was saddened by your apparent apathy towards her, among other things.

So Astra made it her mission to put a smile on your face. From finding out your interests to building a bond, she wasn’t going to give up until you would proudly say, “Yeah, I know Astra Yao. She’s my friend.” But like a shooting star, your presence was there one moment and then gone the next for hours, sometimes days, on end.

“Oh, (Y/N)! There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.” Astra had strode up to him, a skip in her step, with no apparent intention of leaving. His room quickly became her new hangout spot; she had already made herself comfortable on his bed. (Y/N), sitting at his desk with his headphones on, sighed.

He paused the song, turning around to look at her. “Wise and Belle aren’t here right now.”

Astra pouted. “I’m not here for them! You know why I’m here—now don’t be shy~ let’s hang out!” She said while hugging his spider pillow. (Y/N) finally got up and sat down next to Astra, flopping over on his bed. He curled halfway into the fetal position, eyes staring off into the distance.

“Do you ever feel like the people you love hide secrets from you?” He asked her.

Astra’s smile faded, her face becoming more pensive. She shifted over towards (Y/N), now lying face to face with him. “Yes. And I know what her secret is.”

“So do I. But it hurts, doesn’t it? Why keep such a secret? Where was the trust?”

Astra pondered for a moment before smiling. “I’m not sure what your situation is but…I know I can trust her. Thats why it didn’t bother me. And even if she never trusted me, I’d be happy. Because the moments that we spent were…,”

“Astra-nomical?” (Y/N) jested, a small smirk finally having lifted on his face. Astra nodded in agreement. “I can’t say that I agree with that, but I’m glad that I can confirm this at least.” Astra looked at him quizzically.

“Confirm what?”

“That you’re genuine. To be honest Astra, I don’t personally like your music. And I’m always suspicious of celebrities. So I’m happy to know that your personality isn’t a facade.” He stood up and went to his personal computer. “I may have my…issues with Belle and Wise, but I still don’t want to lose them; they’re the only family I have left.”

Astra, now standing up, hugged (Y/N). “This got a little too serious so let’s change the subject. What kind of music do you like?” She watched him with starry eyes.

“I like rock music. A lot.” He answered plainly.

“Ooh! That makes sense. Perhaps I’ll sing a rock song; then you’ll surely be an Astra Yao fan!” She giggled to herself.

(Y/N) looked at her confused. “Ignoring the part about you singing rock…what makes sense? About me liking rock?”

“You’re just really emo, so it makes sense!”

“???”

- Fin

[charcoallbaby]

professor sturniolo

smutttt everyone is 18+ nothing is underage.

my longest work yet! watched millers girls and got inspired, enjoy ! ending is petty hehe ^_^

do you ever wish you could have someone you know you can’t have? especially your married professor.

well that was me two months ago

i placed my books down onto my desk infront of me. the class was empty other than me, two quiet students sitting at the back and the professor of course. he had his back to us, writing the subject of todays class onto the chalk board. i studied his broad shoulder that flexed underneath his thin shirt.

i looked down at my blank phone screen. a notification quickly popped up. it was my mom.

mom💝

me and your sister are going out before you come home, we’ll be home late. make sure no drinking when i’m not home !!

“good morning everyone!” the professor spoke.

i quickly locked my phone before looking up. “well to the 3 people here,” he cleared his throat then leaned against his desk. he scanned his eyes around the room looking at us. his eyes met mine. i could feel my stomach drop. “while we’re waiting for everyone else would you like to introduce yourselves?” he crossed his arms. his eyes were still directly on mine. i looked down at my phone, reminding me of my mothers text. i rolled my eyes. she always has some excuse to not be home.

“you!” the professor called out. i quickly looked up. “me?” i pointed my finger on my chest. he nodded his head. “im y/n,” “y/n y/l/n.” my voice was shaky. “nice to meet you ms y/l/n,” he gave me a small smile. i gave him one back.

he was about to speak before he got interrupted by students piling into the room. “ah!” “you guys decided to join us,” “i’m mr sturniolo.”

he passed papers around the room. he was standing above me. i looked up at him before he placed my paper on the desk. he stared down at the books placed infront of me. “that’s a good one,” he pointed at my current read. i looked down at his hand especially a ring. fuck he’s married.

the book was was the virgin suicides.

“have you watched the film?” the words spilled from my mouth. “yeah i have actually, great movie too.” he gave me a smile before walking back to his desk.

“the paper i gave you is very important, so keep it close to you, if you lose it i sadly cannot replace so please do me and favour and don’t lose it,” someone raised their hand. “claire was it?” she nodded her head. “why can’t you replace a piece of paper?” she laughed. “something about the usage of paper, listen i have no idea, it’s a policy here,” his eyes quickly scanned to mine. he turned around and broke it. “now t-” he was cut off by the loud door opening. “sorry!” my best friend ivy smiled and rushed to sit beside me. “it’s fine, just don’t be late next time.”

“he’s so fucking fine,” ivy whispered into my ear. i turned and looked at her. i shook my head. “are we looking at the same person up there?” she looked at mr sturniolo. his back was to us. “look at his back,” she wined. “i would eat that up!” she licked her teeth. i rolled my eyes. “he’s like ten years older than us,” i placed my pen between my teeth. “what age are you?” “you look very young for a professor!” ivy spoke out. the whole class erupted into laughter. i face planted my head onto my desk. he cleared his throat. “that’s very inappropriate question to ask….” “ivy!” she spoke. “well ivy that’s a very inappropriate question to ask your professor but i’m 29 and im guessing you all are what 20, 21?” “im not that old.” i finally lifted my head. “good to know thanks!” ivy smiled.

class finally ended. people were packing up their belongings. mr sturniolo made his way towards us.

fuck.fuck.fuck.

he looked at me before looking at ivy. “ivy can i speak to you?” he asked. “sure!” she zipped her bag up. “i’ll leave you guys sorry.” i stood up. “no need,” he fidgeted with his watch strap. i nodded my head. “don’t be late and please don’t make comments or questions like that anymore please ivy?” “i don’t wanna be the asshole teacher, can you do that for me?” i looked down at his hands again.

“sure, sorry.” she gave him a awkward laugh.

“great, see you guys tomorrow!”

it’s been a couple of days. i catch mr sturniolo staring at me every once in awhile, but im in the one who started staring first, so he’s just innocently staring back.

i was the first one in class. i internally sighed and found myself to my seat.

“morning ms y/l/n,” mr sturniolo turned around from the chalk board. “morning mr sturniolo,” i took my books out of my bags. “did you anything nice this weekend?” he asked. “um, went to a party wasn’t that fun though i went home after awhile, i hate going out,” i twisted the ring on my right index finger. “its been awhile since i’ve been to a college party, they usually aren’t that good aren’t they?” he let out a chuckle. “no not really, especially the boys,” i looked down at my lap. “one day they’ll realise they’re idiots don’t worry,” i looked up at him. “let’s hope!” the classroom door opened making us both look at it.

“y/n talk to me please,” my ex friends with benefits/situationship chase walked up to me.

“what the fuck?!” i exclaimed. “why are you coming to my classes chase?” “please, i need you so bad,” he whined. i let out a shocked laugh. “okay buddy that’s enough,” mr sturniolo stood in front of him. “professor please!” “no, out of my class!” “but!” “your harrasing one of my students leave now!” he pointed the door. chase growled and sped out of the room.

the class was now starting to fill up. he leaned down on my desk. “you okay?” his eyes met mine. i nodded my head. “i know it’s none of my business but see me after your classes today okay?” “okay.” i said softly.

i stood beside mr sturniolo’s desk while waiting for him.

the door opened, he hurried in.

“sorry y/n!” that’s the first he called me by my name which made me feel a way i know i shouldn’t have liked.

“it’s okay,” i licked my lips. “anyway i just wanted to ask if you want me to report that guy who came in earlier?” he titled his head while looking at me. i swore i tried to hold in a whimper. i looked down at the ground. “no, it’s okay thank you though,” i gave him smile. “you sure?” i nodded my head.

“yes he’s just some loser he’ll get the message soon.” “ex boyfriend?” he asked.

i wasn’t an expert but i knew he shouldn’t be asking me that, but i didnt mind.

“no……” “something worse you can probably imagine what i’m talking about,” i gave him a straight lined smile. “ah yes i can!” his cheeks quickly heated up. “i’ll see you tomorrow mr sturniolo.” “have a good day!”

i got home and layed down onto my bed, looking up at the ceiling thinking about the day.

especially mr sturniolo. his broad shoulders and his long fingers. i closed my eyes. having a wild imagantion was a blessing in disguise.

i slowly moved my hands down under my jeans, unbuttoning them and discarding them somewhere in my room. i slid my hand under my panties, i was soaking because the thought of him. holy fuck this was so wrong. he was my professor. he was a married man.

i slid my middle finger inside of me. i let a desperate moan.

“look at you,” “your in such a mess underneath me y/n." i picked up the pace, adding a second finger while imagining them words coming from his mouth.

his pretty pink lips eating me up as i grab onto his hair and watch his broad back clench.

it didn’t take me long to clench around my finger and shiver. i took a deep breath, trying to get my breathing back to normal. god i’m fucked up, i needed severe help.

i got to class, it wasn’t empty which i was definitely thankful for.

“morning ms y/l/n,” mr sturniolo spoke. “morning.” i muttered for a response. ivy was already sitting in the seat beside me. she finally didn’t skip.

“i didn’t get a morning,” she frowned. i rolled my eyes and took my seat beside her. “he’s just being nice,” i stated. “yeah sure, he stares at you like your a piece of candy waiting to be eaten,” she looked down at her nails. “what?” my mouth suddenly got dry. “he wants to fuck you bad, i can tell!” the glimmer in her eyes shined. i shrugged my shoulders. “i don’t think so,” “of course you don’t, you think no one wants you when your hot,” “he doesn’t want me.” i tapped my finger off the top of her nose. she smiled at me. “denial, denial, denial.”

i couldn’t concentrate in class after ivy’s comment and the fact that mr sturniolo wasn’t wearing his wedding ring. i shouldn’t care, but i do.

“mr sturniolo!” ivy exclaimed as people started to leave the class. “yes?” he looked at ivy. “ms y/l/n here is having problems with her paper!” ivy shot up. “oh you are y/n?” mr sturniolo asked. “i-” ivy cut me off. “sorry i have to go, my next class is on the other side of campus!” she scurried out.

“what’s the issue with your paper?” mr sturniolo stood behind me looking down at my work. “mr sturniolo-“ “you can call me matt,” he spoke. i nodded my head. “matt,” i cleared my throat. “i know im not a writer, but i feel like i have writers block, i have no idea to write about” “there’s nothing that comes to my mind,” i looked up at him. he was staring down at me. he looked so yummy oh my. “well, you want ideas?” he stood up straight. i nodded my head. “something you fantasise about, could be a dream job, something you wish could happen but you know it can’t, it could be a person,” he licked his dry lips. i gulped. “so you want me to write about something i wish i could have?” “i have to write about a fantasy world, a world i wish i could live in?” i asked. “that could work,” he rubbed his jaw. “okay thank you!” i gave him a small smile. “of course, just email me if you need any help.” he nodded his head. “definitely.”

“i’m jealoussssss!!!!” ivy put her head back and groaned. “you realise you have to fuck him now?” she sat back up and sipped her drink. “how?!” “i’ll just walk up to him after class and ask him to fuck me?” “yes!” ivy yelled. i laughed and shook my head. “listen, i’ll do the dirty work for you,” “which is?” i wondered. “i’ll be nosey in class and ask him does he have any plans for the weekend and if he gives us an answer, boom we show up there!” she smiled. “will this work?” “oh yes.”

“oh i didn’t realise you came here weekly ms sturniolo!” ivy exclaimed. “did you follow me here?” he asked looking me up and down. “no we’re here with some friends you know chase right?” she asked. “yeah i do,” he sipped his drink. “i’ll see you soon mr sturniolo.” ivy ran off as she always does.

“you look nice,” matt spoke. “you too matt,” i gave him a smile. “why are you here alone on a friday night?” i leaned against the bar. “i don’t know either y/n, i probably should be correcting papers but i’d rather be drinking my sorrows away!” he finished his glass. “i get you, i hate correcting papers on a friday night too,” i joked. he laughed. “you wanna go outside for a cigarette?” i asked. “i don’t smoke, but sure.” he grabbed his jacket.

he followed me outside. i put the cigarette between my lips, lighting it and slowly inhaling. i passed him the cigarette. he gladly took it and placed it between his lips. “thought you don’t smoke?” i turned to him. “thought you didn’t like going out?” he raised an eyebrow at me. “fair point,” i took it from his fingers. “your way too mature and way too much of a perfectionist for my class you do realise that don’t you?” matt leaned his head against the wall beside us. i smiled. “totally not true,” “i bet you have an apartment that’s perfect, i bet everything is planned out,” matt smiled. “i wish, my controlling mother told me that i still have to live with her while im in college, she says she wants to keep an eye on me but she just doesn’t want to me to turn into a drunk just like her,” i passed him the cigarette. “your not that type of girl from what can i see for the outside,” smoke exited his mouth. “and what can you see for the outside matt?” i looked up at him. he dropped the cigarette “a smart, smart girl,” his warm hand met my waist. “oh really?” i tried to contain myself. “mhm.” he mumbled while leaning down.

his soft warm lips met mine, it was better than i would imagined. i hungrily kissed him back, my hands wrapping around his neck. he pulled my bottom lip between his teeth making me feel dizzy. “you wanna go somewhere?” he asked. i quickly nodded my head.

we ended up at an hotel.

matt pressed the key card against the reader. the door beeped, matt pushed the door opened.

“sorry it’s a bit messy, i just got here last night,” matt stated. “why are you here?” i let slip out. “i caught my wife cheating on me again,” he sighed before shutting the drapes. “again?” i wondered. “yeah i caught her awhile back, i forgave her but i fell out of love with her a long time ago,” he cleared his throat and placed himself down onto the bed. “im sorry.” i bit my lip. “it’s good, c’mere,” he put his hand out.

i walked over to him and took it. he smiled up at me. his hand met my inner thighs, making me glad that i picked out a mini dress. "no panties?” matt growled. i gulped. he pressed his thumb to my clit. i whined. he looked down at his hand while slipping his fingers inside of me. a small moan came from my mouth. he moved his fingers inside of me. “matt.” i whined as he worked fingers deeper inside of me. he leaned his forehead against my stomach. “i wish you weren’t this wet, i would of loved to work for it.” his voice was deep. my eyes rolled onto the back of my head.

dirty talk never did it for me usually, but i never wanted matt to stop talking.

i grabbed onto matt’s hair. “there it is, it’s right there isn’t it?” he panted. “mhm,” i mumbled as he pounded his fingers into me, hitting my g-spot. “keep going,” “i’m not stopping until you finish all over my fingers baby,” his pace slowed down suddenly, i was confused. he took his fingers out, licked them and put his head between my legs. “lay down, so i really taste you.” i quickly followed his order and layed myself down.

matt laced his fingers up and down my wet my folds. “i bet you taste sweet do you?” his eyes looked dark. “i-i don’t know,” i whined. “taste yourself then,” he put his fingers infront of my mouth. i took his fingers into my mouth and licked them clean. “you do taste so sweet,” he dipped his head low between my legs. his warm tongue met my folds. he came back up. “you want me to ruin you?” i nodded my head. “i need a answer princess,” he took his shirt off. “yes, yes.” i breathed out. “let me eat you up first.”

he was roughly eating me out like he couldn’t get enough of me. my legs were wrapped around his shoulders, his hands were gripping my thighs.

matt made me come with his mouth, which has never happened before especially with a man.

“your so wet and silky,” his tip met my folds. a quiet moan came from my mouth. he pounded into me. his hand was hovering over me grabbing onto the headboard, he was making the whole bed shake. but i had always had a feeling he liked fucking girls rough.

i was dreading class after friday. matt fucked me until the sun came up, god it was a come fest.

me and ivy found our seats, i stayed quiet, he didn’t say hi to me which he does most mornings but he fucked me all night on friday so i guess he’s done with the hi’s now.

“morning everyone,” he rubbed his hands together.

he had his ring on. i looked at ivy who was too busy looking at her nails. “ivy,” i whispered. “yeah?” she looked up at me. “he’s wearing his ring,” i gulped. she didn’t answer but only looked at matt.

“this saturday me and my wife went on a little trip so i haven’t corrected any papers that were handed in yet, but you’ll get them by this friday i promise.” he spoke. me and ivy quickly made eye contact. “wife?” “i thought she cheated?” she whispered. “well apparently he’s back with her, he got back with her the last time.” i sighed.

“what is so interesting girls?” matt interrupted us. “oh nothing, just talking about boys you know how it is mr sturniolo!” ivy winked. he let out a heavy sigh. “alright guys topic for today is on the board,” “ms y/l/n, could i speak to you outside?” i froze. “yeah sure.”

i followed him outside. this is the day i die.

he closed the door after me. “what?” i crossed my arms. “i dont need your attitude,” he snapped. “did your wife cheat on you because you have angry issues or are you guys back together now?” i titled my head. “actually!” “i couldn’t care less,” i smiled. “i wanted to say me and my wife are fine, i love her and friday was a mistake i wasn’t in the right head space when i found her and some guy in our bed,” he sighed. “don’t trauma dump on me, i couldn’t not give a fuck about you and your wife, but if you love her so much did she know you were pounding inside of a 21 year olds pussy on the weekend huh?” “be quiet!” matt whispered. “fuck you.” i opened the door to the classroom.

“ivy let’s go get your bag,” i stated. “what?” she said confused “we’re leaving this assholes class room.” the whole room was staring at this point.

matt walked back in flustered.

“just to let everyone know, this man right here, your teacher, indulges in sex with college girls!” i yelled and left the room. “he also has a tiny dick!” i yelled before the door shut.

“is it actually?” ivy asked. “no it’s huge but i can’t let people know that.”

hi! this ending is kinda silly <3333

[bwobgames]

A pointy dart!

Maybe there’s a bar on the train? The worker’s cafeteria? Something from the other wagon?

Whatever it is, it’s dangerous to leave it out in the open like this, looks sharp.

Quite sharp, actually.

Oliver get’s a brilliant idea on how to kill two birds with one stone.

He calmy goes back to the cafeteria and settles in one of the tables.

He remembers when the upperclassmen at the academy dared him to do this with an equally sharp object. At first, he thought it was to test his motor skills, but when he told Ángel he said it was probably an intimidation tactic. Sadly for them, Oliver has incredible hand-eye coordination.

“Now, how did it went… Oh yeah! I have all my fingers 🎵 -“

“OLIVER”

And there it is. Ángel’s “Oliver is doing something dangerous” senses have activated.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

“How did you and Vivi get to the normal class wagon”

“Don’t change the subject! What do you have there?!”

“Nothing at all”

“Is that a dart?!”

Now it’s a great time to put into practice that trick that Owen showed him.

“Ta-da! It disappeared! How could this happen? Perhaps the ghosts stole it”

“You can’t out-trick me you scamp. I’ve done bigger illusions for mere emeralds! Empty your sleeves!”

“Hm? There’s nothing here, Ángel”

“The other sleeve!”

“Nothing here either”

“Oliver, I can see it!”

Messing with Ángel is so fun.

As he is about to make a daring escape, fit for his dominion imitation, one of the workers tell them is dinner time.

“You will not get away with this you thief! You shall be punished with the highest might of- Ooh milanesa!”

Turns out a few hours of travel is enough to open everyone’s appetite

Oliver looks out the window, he sees nothing but fields, trees and the mountains.

He likes seeing the mountains. It means they are far away.

He’s barely hearing what Natalia is saying to Ángel. Why she sat here? He has no clue. He feels like back at school when the teacher sat rowdy kids beside him, so they’d behave.

Well, he has plenty of practice trying to block his surroundings.

“And then it was the Death card! Can you believe that?!”

“I’m pretty sure the death card is not specifically meant to signify death”

“But still! That’s so creepy! This train is cursed for sure, even the cards say so!”

Ah, death. That thing has been haunting him all day. Truly can’t let a man rest for even a second.

Haunted houses, assassination attempts, drug busts, inheritance fraud… Death seems to follow him everywhere he goes.

He supposed is partly his fault, he is the one feeding the crows after all.

While looking in the distance, the almost unending fields, he can’t help but reminisce about the times when he was young.

When his parents worked on a field, and he was but a mere farm boy.

When he got close to death for the first time.

<PREV START NEXT>

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - The grace to accept the BL we are given

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

Feb 2025 Week 3

Ongoing Series - Thai

ThamePo (Fri YT) ep 11 of 13 - oh noes. classic ep 11 break up. Doom! Despair!  Only in this show it’s all very genteel and soft. I suspect a separation is in order.

The Boy Next World (Sun IQIYI) ep 7 of 10 - It wouldn’t be a Mame show if somebody wasn’t a chronic liar and another someone refused to take no for an answer. Let the red flagging commence. I gotta say, without the actual parallel world (?) the mind reading kid doesn’t make sense anymore. OMG Tong is playing original Thorn again. Gosh its been ages. Do we really want a TT flashback tho?

Also now I am distracted by wanting Thorn to get a romance, only not written by Mame.

Perfect 10 Liners (Sun YT) ep 17 of 24 - Yes. I love them. This couple. These are them for me! Fai is my favorite broken sunshine. I cannot wait to see how this romance progresses.

Flirt Milk (Sat YT) ep 5 or 10 - I actually really love the side couple. I could not give a wet rat's arse about the mains. Lovely to see Tenon turn up, no matter how briefly (and sadly covered in clothes). 

Ossan‘s Love Thailand (Mon YouTube) ep 7 of 12 - EarthMix give cute BF. But then EarthMix always have given good boyfriend. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

When it Rains it Pours (Japan Thurs Gaga) fin - This had a solid little ending, and I wasn’t sure they were gonna stick the landing. But they did. Certain other pre-existing relationships did not end in a satisfying way, but for our lead couple, we got closure.

I really enjoyed this show, not despite it's darkness but because of it. Certainly cheating and escaping dysfunctional LTRs is dark subject matter and not for everyone (frankly it usually isn’t for me) but this was Japan at its BL best, and they handled it with consummate (if stiff) elegance. In the end this was actually a lovely little narrative about finding your person despite being held in stasis by the wrong one already. And while I’m not sure this will get many re-watches from me, but I still appreciate this BL for the unique voice and storyline that it added to the general BL zeitgeist. 9/10

FC Soldout (Korea Thurs iQIYI) eps 5-6 of 8 - The most amazing thing about this show is how little actual football is being played... ever. At all. I love a sports romance, and we get them so rarely in BL. I wish there were more sports. And more romance, for that matter. Although this installment was a bit of an improvement in the love arena. I am living for the side couple. Captain Oblivious should’ve known what he was doing when he called his pretty boy "pretty." Left himself wide open. (Sports pun intended.) And I do love our new 11th hour pretty boy as well. He v fine.

Eternal Butler (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 10 of 12 - oh good, a bit of a fight scene. Confession time! I guess the Ever models are all fully functional? Also yay verse!!! I kinda miss Ever 4's sexy glasses. 

Heart Stain (Korea Weds IQIYI) eps 5-6 of 8 - I’m still liking this quite a bit. The teen angst of a love triangle notwithstanding. The drama over previous relationships too. Admittedly, I could get pretty much all of this but 1000x better with Light On Me but that aired a while ago, and I'm disposed to be pleased that we get any new KBL at all right now. All that said, I do generally prefer KBLs set in the adult sphere.

Checkered Shirt (Korea YT) ep 3 of 8 - now I'm back to liking this. The leads have good chemistry and it’s fun when they’re just kind of in conversation with each other, even if it’s awkward. Plus there was some linguistic negotiation, always makes me happy. Also cute kisses! 

Fight for Love (Vietnam YT) ep 3 - honestly not the best idea to make a pass at a boy right after he’s discovered his boyfriend cheating.

Impression of Youth (Taiwan Weds Viki) eps 7 of 9 - I just wish this were better. But unfortunately we have to accept the BL we are given. especially from Taiwan

Exclusive Love (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 3 of 12 - I’d be confused too if a dude was clearly in love with me and just kept denying it. This remains an extremely odd show with random murderers and flautists popping in out of nowhere. It's a bummer because the chemistry is good all round, I just wish there as a story or something.  

Teenager Judge (Vietnam Sat YT) ep 20 end? - if that is the last episode it was a pretty ghastly last ep. I’ll give you a summary review next week if no ep 21 drops. Ooof.

It's airing but......

Gelboys (Thai Weds iQIYI) ep 1 of 7 - I’m immediately terrified by the fact that he’s carrying a guitar around. It’s slow with that dirty gritty high school authenticity thing from OG Love Sick. Which is not my favorite style of any show, let alone BL. I always get Kids PTSD. I think I’m gonna give this show a pass. It’s just too far out of my wheelhouse. I don’t have patience for this right now.

Slashes and Hearts (Pinoy YT) - the Philippines is doing Drop Dead Gorgeous only all gay boys queening their little asses off. Nobody has any chemistry with anybody else, so I have no idea where this is going (ore meant to go). I’m not mad about it. (Well I was a little upset by the terrible dance number. ) But I’m not gonna report on it in the weeklies, either.

The Last Time (Thai WeTV) trailer - from 2024, not sure about this one, looks dark. Since it's also difficult for me to get hold of I am giving it a pass until I know about the ending.

In Case You Missed it

Among others, My Ride is leaving Gaga soon, if you haven't watched it you should do so before it gone.

Thai BL grew up with this pulp (the first ever to make my end of year top 10). It’s a truly lovely and special little show featuring the extremely rare pairing of sunshine/sunshine (AKA a cinnamon roll couple) plus mature explorations of relationships using one of the softest, sweetest and most innocent friends to lovers vehicles. Kindly, overworked doctor meets broken-hearted motorcycle taxi driver in an “other side of the tracks” slow burn romance. The support cast is excellent, making for great friendship groups and family dynamics (elder gays!). With honest queer rep that adds to, but doesn’t impede, the story, and genuine conversation about the nature of class, wealth, and classism, not to mention communication, honesty, and respect for boundaries, you can’t go wrong with this show.

End of 2024 wraps are here:

2024 Trend Report

MY BEST & WORST BLs of 2024

Best Kisses (and sex scenes) of 2024

BL's 2024 Quirky Awards

2024 Awards - Quick Picks

Next Week Looks Like This:

2/27 Secret Relationships (Korea iQIYI) - Stars Wei's Kim Jun Seo. Adapted by Cradle Studio (Kakao). About clever and resourceful Daon who has worked hard to overcome being poor. His cheap ways annoy his coworker, Sunghyeon but after “an incident” with his parents, Daon grows closer to him. But Daon also has feelings for his former tutor. This has the signs of a classic Kdrama all over it: Office setting, love triangle, lead suffering for his self-actualization. I’m optimistic about a longer treatment.

2025 Line Up

BL Announced for 2025 - PART 1

BL Announced for 2025 - PART 2

20 BLs Announced for 2025 That I'm Really Excited About

GMMTV 2025 Line Up - My Totally Biased and Wildly Flawed Feels

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENT

Got nothing. Wasn't a memorable week.

(last week)

The tag BLigade: @doorajar @solitaryandwandering @my-rose-tinted-glasses @babymbbatinygirl @babymbbatinygirl @isisanna-blog @mmastertheone @pickletrip @aliceisathome @urikawa-miyuki @tokillamonger @sunflower-positiiivity @rocketturtle4 @blglplus @anythinggoesintheshire @everlightly @renafire @mestizashinrin @bl-bam-beyond @small-dark-and-delicious @saezurumurmurs

[angelus-scripturae]

Pls pls write anything for Astarion. Like maybe an imagine, idk. I would much prefer something fluff but literally anything else is fine.

I'm starved :(

Well baby I’m gonna feed you tonight. Can’t have my lovely followers starving now can i?

Astarion Ancunin

Nightmares

Summary: You comfort Astarion after you defeat Cazador (not ascended)

Themes: Hurt/Comfort, fluff, mentions of suicidal thoughts and abuse, gn! reader, no use of y/n, no specified pronouns, (shitty writing because this is my first time writing in 2 years)

Astarion couldn’t sleep. Not that he didn’t want to, but he physically couldn’t. Every time he closed his eyes, phantoms of his past plagued the skin behind his eyelids.

He should feel better. Cazador was dead. The ritual was stopped and his kin were saved. So why did he still feel trapped?

He shifted in his bedroll a few times before letting out a frustrated sigh and sitting up. Running a hand down his face and glancing around the dark tent you shared. The only light being the remaining embers of the fire outside.

Experimentally, Astarion attempted to close his eyes in a futile last attempt to rid himself of the visions. Only to flinch and open them again upon seeing those agonised faces and mutilated bodies.

Sensing the sudden lack of presence beside you, you begin to stir awake and feel the bedroll beside you only to feel it empty. Feeling a jolt of panic, you open your eyes fully only to find your companion sat barely a foot away from you.

Astarion’s head turns as you join him in sitting up. “Sorry if I woke you.” He mutters and runs a hand through his hair. The frown on his face highlighting his fine lines and blemishes.

You shake your head and yawn as you come into a comfortable sitting position. “Don’t apologise…” You shift closer to him but stop once he flinches slightly. “What’s wrong?”

Worry laces your voice as you reach out to touch Astarion’s hand. His hand twitches as if wanting to pull away before he lets it close around your soft skin.

“It’s nothing, darling.” He forces out a chuckle. An obvious attempt to brush the subject off. You’d known him too long to fall for that. You let out a small sigh and move to sit as close to him as you could.

“Star… You can’t lie to me.” You smile sadly at him. “Tell me what’s bothering you. You can trust me.”

Astarion hesitates. Even after months of adventuring with you and getting used to your heroism and kindness, he still struggled with the fact that he could trust you. It’s not that he didn’t want to. He trusted you with his life. But it was still new to him.

“I spent 200 years not trusting anyone…” He speaks quietly. “200 years… suffering at the hands of that maniac.” He swallows as if trying to gulp down a lump in his throat.

“I’m supposed to feel free… happy. I’m finally able to live without the fear of being used as a pawn in some sick plan…” He squeezes your hand ever so slightly, trying to find comfort in the warmth of your skin.

“But I don’t, that bastard is dead and yet I still feel him looming over me. As if gloating that his death was quick.” His voice cracks a bit before he clears his throat. “Do you know how many times I wished for that? Preyed? A quick death to save me from him and my torture?”

His words made your heart break into uncountable pieces. Your eyes softening as you shift to hold his other hand with your free one. “Star…” You start only for him to cut you off.

“You killed him though… I know that…” He clears his throat again. “It’s silly for me to still worry about him. And the people he made me hurt.”

You shake your head and move to get a glance at his face. “Astarion, it’s not silly.” You speak softly, letting go of one of his hands to cup his face and turn his face to yours. “You’ve gone through so much. More than I can even begin to fathom. What you did was not your fault. You were coerced and manipulated by a man who was selfish and ruinous.”

His eyes finally move to meet yours, instantly softening once he sees the kindness in your gaze.

“You’re a different man to who you were under his power. A better man. Even if you don’t believe it. I’ve seen it.” You smile softly and run a thumb along his cheekbone. “It’ll take time to move on from this. This has been your life for centuries. Those habits will be hard to break, but I’ll be right there. By your side. Because I love you.”

Astarion smiles as his eyes gloss over with emotion at your words. “You mean that?”

You nod and press a soft kiss to his nose. “With my whole heart.”

He leans into your touch. Moving closer until he’s able to press soft kisses to your lips. “I love you too.” He whispers against your lips before pulling away and lieing back down on his bedroll.

Your smile widens and you lay down with him. Your head resting on his arm and your body pressed against his in a comfortable silence. No other words needing to be said to explain the bond the both of you share.

Your eyes get heavy again quite quickly as your breathing steadies drifting into a state of rest. Astarion glances down at your sleeping face with a soft smile and moves some of your hair to give you a kiss on the forehead.

He takes a deep breath, readying himself to tackle his demons again. However, for the first time in days, closing his eyes didn’t bring visions of victims and abusers.

But visions of you.

[tikosblogg]

A Helping Hand

Part 2 Here

Summary: you’re in college, still a virgin and frustrated. You just wanna know what sex is like. Noah wants to offer his help.

Warning: oral (f receiving), fingering.

A/N: college boy Noah. HOT AF. Not proof read I apologize for any mistakes. Please enjoy.

The air in the apartment was thick with laughter and the scent of popcorn as me and my only two friends on campus lounged on the couch, binge-watching a new series. The conversation had turned to relationships—everyone was discussing their latest crushes and dating escapades.

I listened, a bit detached, nursing a twinge of envy. The thought of my virginity weighed heavily on my mind.

"I want to know what it’s like," I sighed, glancing down at my half empty drink. "I don't want to be a virgin anymore."

My friends exchanged glances, and Clara leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"You know, I heard about that guy on campus, Noah Sebastian. He's supposed to be amazing in bed. I’ve heard stories, you should ask him." I rolled my eyes, feeling my insides flutter at the name.

"I am not gonna ask Noah Sebastian to fuck me. I don’t want to feel like some charity case." I sighed. If He asked me, you bet your ass I’d let him. But sadly I’m also aware, that he is way out of my league. Hence why he hasn’t asked me.

I’ve been around him and his friends at parties a bunch of times. We even had a nice long conversation one time about our favorite music. Yet he always found a girl the complete opposite of me to take home.

"Come on! It’s a great way to break the ice," Layna smiled nudging me playfully. "You’d be in good hands!"

I hugged my knees to my chest. "I don’t know. He’s had plenty of chances to ask me, and he hasn’t. He isn’t interested. I’ll probably just go out and find someone at one of the bars in town.”

They both smirk at each other, before quickly changing the subject. I decide to let it go, and join their new conversation. A couple hours later, I walked them to the door, as they gathered their things to leave. Layna turned towards me, pulling me into a hug. “Please just think about asking Noah. I promise you won’t regret it.” Clara nodded, hugging me as well.

I sighed nodding my head. “Yeah yeah, I’ll think about it.” I waved them off as they drove away, making my way back into the apartment. That night I stayed up late, looking up Noah’s socials, going through his pictures like a stalker. “God why are you so hot.” I mumbled under my breath. There is noway I’m asking him.

I entered my apartment, tossing my keys onto the counter. The glow from the livingroom lamp casting a warm hue in the quiet apartment. I settled into the couch, flipping through channels aimlessly as I tried to shake off feelings of loneliness.

Each ding of my phone caught my attention, but I dismissed the notifications as my friends being typical sent: memes, inside jokes, and rants about the day.

Suddenly, a knock echoed through the silence. I glanced at the clock—it was unusually late. Hesitantly, I stood up and opened the door, and my heart nearly stopped. There stood Noah, looking hot as usual.

“Hey, I hope I'm not interrupting,” he grinned, his eyes casting down, and slowly back up my body. Confusion washed over me, as I struggled to respond. "Clara and Layna sent me." He chuckled, as my face fell in shock.

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I remembered our conversation from a few nights ago. “Oh… wow, um, yeah I’m sorry for… this," I stammered. "I didn’t know they’d... well, um…" I trailed off, feeling anxious and down right humiliated.

He chuckled softly, his presence magnetic, making it hard to look away. “It’s alright.”

I shifted, biting my lip, an apology spilling out. "I really didn’t mean for them to set this up. I’m just—I'm…you really don’t have to be here."

“No, I’m mean it’s okay. No pressure, but I’m glad they sent me,” he assured gently, taking a step closer. “I want to be here. And honestly? I’d love to help you.”

My heart raced as I processed his words. This impossibly sexy guy, the one everyone talked about, wanted to help me. The weight of my own inexperience settled heavily on my chest, embarrassment mixing with excitement.

“Noah, I’m really shy about all this. I haven’t—”

“Y/n,” he interrupted softly, tilting his head slightly. “We can take it slow. I want to make sure you’re comfortable. I won't do anything you don’t want to.”

His genuine tone wrapped around me like a warm blanket, easing my anxiety. “What if I mess it up, and completely embarrass myself?” I whisper, my face on fire at this point. “I promise, it’s not about perfection. It’s about enjoying the moment. And trust me, the right person makes all the difference.”

The room felt charged with tension, uncertainty melted into curiosity. I took a deep breath and gestured for him to come inside. As he stepped in, I felt a rush of disbelief. This was really happening.

Noah looked around the apartment, his gaze landing on me with an intensity that sent my heart fluttering. “So, what do you want to do first? You’re in complete control right now. We can take it slow tonight. start with the small things, and then next time we can a little further.” he smiled, his voice low and inviting.

I searched his gaze, finding kindness and patience. Next time? He wants to come back? My body fidgeted as I took a step closer. “Um I really don’t even know how to start..” I whispered, my shyness slowly overtaking me.

He smiled, and the warmth in his expression reassured me. “We can take all the time we need. Do you want me to take the lead?” His voice was low and smooth, carrying an invitation wrapped in gentle authority.

I looked up at him, his deep brown eyes searching mine, and felt a rush of warmth spread through me. My heart pounded in response, whispering its consent even before I found the words to say it. Nodding slowly, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness coil within me.

With a soft smile, Noah took my hand, the warmth of his touch sending a jolt of comfort through me, as he guided me to the couch, the plush fabric a welcoming embrace as I sank into its depths. He threw a behind my head, resting it on the back of the couch. His grip remained gentle yet firm, a reminder of his steady presence.

“I promise I’ll take care of you,” he assured me, his voice rich with sincerity. “And if you ever want me to stop, you just say the word, okay?” I nodded again, a small but powerful gesture, and felt a wave of relief wash over me. I was safe here with him.

He leaned closer, his hand gently cupping my cheek, sending another rush of warmth through me. Our eyes locked, and Without breaking our gaze, he began to lean in, and instinctively, I tilted my head to meet him, closing the distance.

His lips brushed softly against mine, a tentative exploration, as if tasting the sweetness of the moment. The kiss deepened gradually, shifting from tender to a more passionate embrace. I found myself melting into it.

He pulled back slightly, and I could feel my breath quicken. The warmth of his palm still lingered on my cheek, and I craved more of his touch. “You okay?” he asked, his voice a blend of curiosity and concern.

I nodded again, a smile breaking across my lips, unable to find words that could capture how I truly felt.

Noah leaned in again, claiming my lips with a newfound urgency that sent my heart racing. I surrendered to the moment, letting him lead. I melted into him, as his hand slowly crept up my thigh, squeezing gently.

A whimper escaped my lips, surprising even me, but it drew a teasing smile from him as he pulled back just enough to look into my eyes.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, the corners of his mouth twitching upward in that way that made my wet core throb. His gaze was soft, and teasing an invitation to share my thoughts, and yet I felt my cheeks heat up.

With a shy nod, I felt a rush of warmth trickle through me. I was fumbling with my words, my heart racing as he challenged me to speak. “I—I…” I stuttered, feeling the weight of his gaze. “I feel really good.”

His smile widened at my confession, and he leaned in closer, brushing his lips against mine in a soft, lingering kiss before trailing them down my throat. A soft moan escaped me, unexpected yet welcome, as I let my fingers find their way into his soft brown hair.

I gripped it gently, feeling the softness between my fingers, grounding me in this moment that felt unreal.

“Good? Just good?” he whispered, his breath warm against my skin, sending shivers through me. He licked, and nipped along my neck, each time igniting a fire in my veins. I could hardly keep the gasp at bay as his lips danced over sensitive spots, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake.

“More than good,” I finally managed to reply, my voice barely above a whisper, caught between vulnerability and desire. The honesty in my words caused his teasing demeanor to shift, his eyes darkening with something deeper, something more serious.

He raised his head, his eyes locking with mine, stripping away the teasing to reveal a sincerity that made my heart flutter. “I want to make you feel amazing,” he said softly, his thumb brushing lightly over my inner thigh, so close to where I really needed him. “Tell me what you want.”

His words hung in the air, and I could feel the weight of them. My breath hitched, and I felt a blend of excitement and insecurity. I wanted him to keep kissing me, to keep this connection alive. “Just—keep doing that,” I whispered, motioning towards his hand on my thigh, my voice cracking just a bit. “But…but higher.” I whispered. 

Noah grinned, a spark of mischief igniting in his eyes. His hand slid up the rest of the way, his thumb pressing directly on my swollen clit through my shorts. “Right there?” His voice was low, and teasing.

His eyes never leaving my face. I let out a whine, nodding my head, as he once more dove back in, planting soft kisses all over my neck and jaw, eliciting soft sounds from me that filled the otherwise quiet living room. With every kiss, and stroke of his thumb, I felt myself unraveling, losing the grip of shyness and diving deeper into the growing intimacy between us.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured against my skin, his words swirling around us that made my heart race. In that moment, nothing else mattered. Noah slips from the couch next to me, moving with a sense of purpose that sends a flutter of anticipation through me.

He kneels between my thighs, the warmth of his presence enveloping me as he gently pushes me back until my back rests against the plush fabric of the couch. Pure excitement courses through my veins.

“You want me to take these off?” he asks, his voice low and smooth. I nod my head, unable to form words, my heart racing at the thought of what might happen next. There’s a moment of stillness, as if time itself is holding its breath in anticipation.

With careful hands, Noah reaches for my shorts, and slowly pulls them down, and off. There’s a sense of vulnerability, a rawness in the air. My breath catches, and I can feel the pounding of my heart echoing in the silence that surrounds us.

He gazes at me, his eyes sweeping over my form, a mixture of admiration and desire illuminating his features.

Once my shorts are gone, his eyes land on my undeniably soaked panties, and I feel a surge of warmth flood my cheeks.

There’s something in the way he looks at me – not just with hunger, but with a deep appreciation that makes me feel confident. The moment stretches, electric and charged, and I can see the unspoken questions dancing in his gaze.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice softer now, checking in as if the weight of the moment bears heavily on him too. I nod again, feeling any nervousness fade slowly. His presence is grounding, and I find comfort in his gentle demeanor.

He takes his time, studying me as if he’s tracing the shape of my form with his eyes. A shy smile tugs at the corners of my mouth, and I can’t help but feel a sense of empowerment.

“You’re soaked baby,” he groans. His thumb stroking down the wet patch of my panties, mixed with the pet name, sending flutters through my stomach, igniting a warmth that spreads throughout my body.

He leans in closer, and I can feel the heat radiating from him, hitting my aching cunt. Our gazes lock, before he grips my thighs, pulling them further apart. His lips ghosting my core before placing the softest kiss against it. The soft action sending a desperate whine flying from my lips.

I looked down at him, my breath hitching as he looked up from between my thighs. His deep brown eyes sparkled with mischief and affection, a teasing smile playing at the corners of his mouth. The vulnerability in that moment was intoxicating.

"What do you want?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper, sending shivers down my spine.

I felt another soft whine escape my lips, a plea both innocent and desperate. "Please Noah... take them off," I managed to murmur, the words barely forming as they left my lips.

Noah’s smile widened, illuminating his features with a warmth that made my heart flutter. He leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on my thigh. The sensation was electric, igniting every nerve ending in my body.

There was a playful glimmer in his eyes as he slid his fingers beneath the waistband of my panties, moving slowly as if savoring every second. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, the anticipation building with each deliberate movement.

Time seemed to slow as he carefully pulled them off, exposing my wet folds to the cool air of the room.

His touch was featherlight, and every instinct in me screamed to draw him closer, to press deeper into the moment. I offered a shy smile, nodding my head encouraging him to continue. Noah’s gaze held mine as he removed the last barrier between us, dropping them to the floor beside the couch.

"Fuck baby," he whispered, his voice a husky murmur that sent a thrill coursing through me.

He bent forward, wrapping his hand softly around my throat, before pulling me forward into a messy kiss. His tongue licked into my mouth, tasting every inch of it. He pulled away, releasing my throat.

His lips dropped down trailing soft kisses along my inner thigh, as his fingers reached up softly rubbing up and down my slit, making whine his name. He paused, looking up at me with that beautiful teasing smile. “You like that baby?” I nodded, my hips bucking slightly.

“Please Noah.” He laughed softly, before slowly reaching up, shoving two of his long fingers, into my mouth. I licked, and sucked on them until they were covered in my spit.

He bit his bottom lip, as he watched me before slowly pulling them out.

Without another word, he ran his wet finger down my slit, and back up softly circling my swollen clit. He watched my reactions closely, with a small smile.

He slid them back down before slowly sinking his middle finger deep inside me. I let out a loud moan, gripping the couch cushions beneath me. “Feel good baby?” He groaned, like he was experiencing just as much pleasure, while doing it.

I slowly ground my hips against his finger nodding my head. “Fuck…yes” he nodded before pulling it out, and shoving in his ring finger in with it. I whimpered at the stretch.

His fingers reaching deeper inside of me than I ever could. He pumped his fingers a little faster, watching my face for any discomfort. I was losing my mind in pleasure. If his fingers felt this amazing, I could only imagine what his dick feels like.

“You gonna cum for me baby?” He asked, his fingers never slowing down. “Fuck Noah please…please make me cum.” His usual sweet, and playful demeanor suddenly turned dark, as I met his eyes.

His fingers crooked up, hitting that perfect spot, driving me wild. He leaned down, placing a kiss on my throbbing clit, before running his tongue flat from his fingers all the way up to my clit before sucking it into his mouth.

Hips stuttered, as my hands flew to the top of his head. I gripped his hair, tugging on it as he moaned against me, sending vibrations through my clit.

He released with a pop, before flicking it with his tongue softly. “Oh fuck Noah please, right there right there.” I was babbling nonsense over and over, lost in the pleasure of his tongue and fingers.

Noah never let up, pumping his fingers faster. He pressed his tongue flat against my clit, before shaking his head side to side. I instantly lost it, my orgasm hitting its peak. Noah slowed down, and kept a steady pace, and his tongue and fingers continued fucking me through it.

“Fuck baby you taste so good.” He groaned, trying to keep his composure. My thighs shook before closing around his head. When I finally came down, he pulled his lips away, stilling his fingers. I laid there catching my breath, as he sent a proud smile my way. I couldn’t help but smile and blush, realizing what just happened.

I quickly covered my face, laughing softly. He slowly pulled his fingers out, reaching up to remove my hands, before pulling me into another kiss. When he pulled away, he tapped my lips with the two fingers that were just deep inside of me. I opened up, letting him press them against my tongue.

I softly moaned around them, as pulled them out, shoving them between his own lips, cleaning them. I could have came again at the sight. He finally stood back up, sitting back on the couch next to me.

His hand softly gripped my jaw, turning my face towards him “Was that okay?” He smiled, but his question was genuine. The smile on his face was infectious, I couldn’t help but smile myself. “It was amazing.” He let out a soft laugh, leaning down bringing me into another kiss. This kiss was slower but just has needy as the rest. His teeth bit down on my bottom lip, and pulled away letting it pop back in place. “Yeah? You just wait til next time.”

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Dark Humor

Dark or twisted humor is an acquired taste, as not everyone appreciates the taboo humor others find in disturbing subject matter. But, for people who experience stressful jobs or complicated family dynamics, dark humor often serves as an important protective mechanism.

This concept is exemplified by the ability of healthcare workers to employ dark humor as a way of coping with chronic job stress (e.g., Schulman-Green, 2003; Talbot & Lumden, 2000; Wanzer et al., 2005).

Importantly, gallows humor used in this way is not aggressive or hurtful to others. This idea is explained by Wanzer et al. (2005) in their aptly titled article If We Didn’t Use Humor, We’d Cry.

The authors note that nurses use humor to deal with specific situations such as daily medical routines, difficult patients/families, and even death. And while approaching such situations with humor may not make sense to others, humor helps nurses deal with their distress when encountering extremely difficult situations regularly (Wanzer et al., 2005).

Dark humor has also been found to enhance resilience during some of the most horrible events in human history.

For example, during the Holocaust, victims reported using humor in ghettos, concentration, and death camps to better cope with extreme trauma and adversity (Ostrower, 2015).

Ostrower (2015, p. 184) describes humor coping within this context as a defense mechanism that “under the nightmare circumstances of living in the ghettos and camps during the Holocaust, laughter was a form of rebellion against reality. Humor was the weapon of those whose lives were utterly in the hands of the executioners, those who were powerless to rebel or resist in any other way.”

Along with the Holocaust, dark humor has been used as a coping and survival mechanism across a broad range of life-threatening situations.

Gallows Humor - is, by definition, from the perspective of the victim or at least expressing empathy. If anyone else laughs at the victim or the author tries to make the situation funny, it's some other form of Black Comedy, hence the phrase "it's only gallows humor if you are on the gallows". This trope is generally when the joke itself or simple laughter allows you to deal with your problems.

The term itself refers to the wooden frame used to hang people from in Public Executions and it is still quite common to see creators make use of Gallows Humor in scenes between characters awaiting their hanging.

However the term has broadened to apply to the making light of any bleak, morose, or deadly occurrence.

This trope is when you are able to make the best of a bad situation - this is finding something funny even in Hell itself. "Laughter is the best medicine", says the age-old adage. Therefore, these tend to be stories that focus on a select group of individuals who are in recovery or surviving an ordeal. It is highly unlikely for a gag of the week format to be Gallows Humor. It is also likely that the main character suffers from depression and is cheering himself up.

Some Examples

I’d say at least I’m alive, but currently that’s one of my biggest problems.

"Stop telling the suicidal jokes." "Don't worry, suicide would be the last thing I'd do."

"When is the best time to commit suicide?" "Ate a glock in the morning."

"Suicide is not a joke, get help." "I can pay someone to shoot me."

When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.

“I'm thinking about killing off the main character in this book I'm writing.” “What type of book is it?” “An autobiography.”

Someone asked me if I've ever tried to kill myself. I responded, "Absolutely. A few times actually. I'm just not very good at it."

There are going so many things through my head. Sadly none of it is a 9mm.

Forky in Toy Story 4 knows that he is indeed a piece of trash and constantly tries to throw himself in a garbage can.

This exchange in Romeo and Juliet after Mercutio has been (mortally) wounded in a duel: Romeo: Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much. Mercutio: No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[flippinpancakes64]

Can I request the cullens x reader whose love language is like playfully bullying, like insults and bickering but like in a joking way they don't actually mean to be rude but they cullens don't know that so they just think reader suddenly doesn't like them anymore.

Thanks for your time❤️

The Cullens with a reader who playfully bullies them

I’ve sort of got this issue where my normal speaking cadence is sarcastic and people don’t know if I’m being honest or not. So I understand the struggle.

Thank you for requesting and I hope you enjoy!

Edward:

He can tell when you’re joking

You know, reading minds and everything is pretty helpful in that scenario

Doesn’t mean he doesn’t get confused sometimes tho

He knows you like to tease him from time to time

And he never usually takes it personally

But for some reason the last comment you made on his hairdo really got to him

Somehow he missed the playful hint in your mind and now he’s sulking

Like actually pouting

He is up in the piano room sadly plinking on the keys

You have to go up there and personally apologize

Obviously he can look into your mind and tell that you’re being serious

This kinda thing happens from time to time, him missing those little cues

But he’s pretty easy to reason with afterwards

Just apologize profusely for hurting his feelings

Alice:

She’s got some pretty thick skin

Especially when it comes to physical attributes about herself

Except for her hair

Vampire hair can’t grow and in the books/graphic novel it’s a lot choppier and shorter

She does her best, but it can never fully live up to her fashion standards

So all it takes is one backhanded remark about her hair and she’s really upset

She won’t tell you, she just excuses herself

She’ll bring it back up later when she’s more calm though

She needs a bunch of cuddles and kisses to forgive you

And even then you might have to go shopping with her

Jasper:

He’s a bit insecure when it comes to certain things

Namely the scars on his arms

He doesn’t mind your playful bullying

But when you joke about something he’s so ashamed of, he shuts down

He knows that you know that it’s a touchy subject for him

So he assumes that you’re trying to hurt his feelings

He stays in the forest for a day or two

He intends to be alone

Since you don’t want him, he’ll stay away

You’re gonna have to go find him and stop him from moping and being sad

Apologize profusely right now

And tell him you didn’t mean it

He can sense the sincerity coming from you

And even though he is still a little hurt, he’ll forgive you

Just don’t bring up his scars again

Rosalie:

She’s also one to playfully bully you

Sometimes she crosses the line

But she’s always quick to fix it

She’s not going to let shit stew

If you insulted her in some way and didn’t seem like you were joking, she asks you about it immediately

Not one to beat around the bush

And as long as you clarify that it was a joke, you didn’t mean it, etc, she doesn’t hold a grudge

If you didn’t mean it to be harmful, she won’t take it that way

Overall she’s pretty chill when it comes to misunderstandings

However, if there’s ever a time where she can’t talk to you about it quick enough to resolve things, she’s angry

She starts second guessing herself, asking if you really meant it, why you would say that, other things

She just gets really pissed off

Like she could punch something

Not you of course

But again, she doesn’t wait around

As soon as both of you are available to talk about it she’s striking up the conversation

10/10 communicator

Emmett:

He’s got thick skin

But he’s also easily confused

He doesn’t understand sarcasm too well

He just hears the insult and he’s like “…babe?”

So if you wanna play bully him you’re gonna have to explain that it’s a joke

Usually he catches on if you start laughing afterwards

But if you don’t, he’s lost

It’s happened a couple times

Usually he asks right after you say it if you mean it

And he just looks at you with these wide eyes and you can’t resist

But if you double down, maybe you’re in a more playful mood, it just re-establishes it to him

And he just sort of says “oh…ok” and walks away all sad

You’re gonna have to go find him to apologize

And don’t do it again

Esme:

She also gets a bit confused by it

Like wdym your way of showing affection is by insulting me???

She doesn’t get it

And she’s pretty upfront with the fact that she would prefer if you were just… nice to her

We love a partner who can properly communicate their boundaries

Because of this, every time you do insult her and take it a step too far, she takes it personally

She gets really hurt

And when she’s hurt she tends to isolate a little

Please go find her and apologize

And cuddle

And watch a movie

And whatever else she wants to do

Carlisle:

He’s sort of similar to Esme

He’s not a big fan of the playful bullying

But he does understand it better

He’s not too fond of the fact that sometimes you make fun of his clothes or his hair

But he also knows when you’re joking

He doesn’t ask you to stop

But he does set very clear boundaries

If you go after something he’s insecure about or he feels you shouldn’t joke about, he tells you

It’s very very rare that he misunderstands you

He knows that’s just how you are

And he doesn’t usually take it personally either

What can I say he’s a very well rounded guy

Vampire! Bella:

She’s got some insecurities, we all know that

Specifically when it comes to the other vampires

If you say literally anything about her not being as graceful, as smart, as funny, literally anything, she is so upset

She wants to be like the other Cullens so bad that if you say anything like that she shuts down

She trusts you, and even though she knows you like to joke around, this is the one thing she can’t joke about

You’re gonna need to apologize a whole lot

And even then she’ll be touchy

Just don’t talk about that tho and you’ll be good

[daisyblog]

I Think I'm In Love

Our Story Masterlist Summary: Fans meet YN at LOT Wembley N4.

Based on this request. Also a big thank you to @onlyangle1 for helping me.

Molly and Ava, two best friends who shared their love and obsession for Harry Styles. The pair had waited for what felt like years for this day. The day they finally got to use their Harry Styles Love On Tour tickets.

They had tickets for the front area of the standing pitch. Despite not being at the barricade and having an up close view of the man himself, they were content in being at the concert and having a large space around them, to be able to dance and jump around in later on.

The two girls had just sat down on the ground, as Wet Leg had left the stage. “What do you think he’ll wear?”.

Ava thought as she played with the boa around her neck. “If we see hitties, I’m gonna faint.”.

“Oh please, that would literally make my night if he does!”. Molly got herself excited at the thought.

The two friends, took some photos together, wanting to remember this night and of course to post on their social media’s to let everyone they knew that they had seen Harry Styles.

The sound of the stadium singing Angels by Robbie Williams filled their ears, but what caught their eyes was YN, stood to the side of them, recording as she sadly smiled.

“Fuck, is that YN?” Ava nudged her friend.

“It is, I think I’m going to have a panic attack!” Molly spoke as she repeated to herself how much she needed to remain calm.

“She looks sad.” Ava observed. “Do you think we should ask her if she’s alright?”.

Molly managed to calm her nerves and get the attention of YN, who smiled at the sound of the girls calling her name.

“Hi!” YN gave the girls a genuine smile as she walked over to where they were now stood.

Ava took the lead, not trusting Molly to hold it together. “We’re sorry to bother you, we just wanted to check you were alright?”.

“You looked a little sad.” Molly added.

YN placed her phone in her pocket. “Yeah I’m alright.” YN hesitated. “That song reminds me of me Mum and sister.”.

“Awww.” Molly felt herself get emotional. “C’mere, have a hug.”. She wrapped her arms around YN, who gladly took it.

“Thank you!” YN rubbed a stray tear away from her cheek.

Ava couldn’t help but notice the band that now laid on YN’s finger. Wanting to change the subject as she could see YN wiping away her tear. “Congratulations on your engagement!”.

“Oh my…yeah…congratulations…I literally fucking screamed when I saw your post last night!” Molly spoke, excitement evident in her voice.

YN laughed at the girls outburst. “Aww thank you!” Blush creeping up onto her check. “It still hasn’t sunk in.”.

"It's such a beautiful ring." Ava complimented, the gold band that sat upon YN's finger.

"The boy did good!' Ava nudged Molly for her comment, but YN let out a loud chuckle, finding the comment funny.

YN nodded in agreement. "He did...I'm very lucky.".

The sound of Bohemian Rhapsody beginning, got the crowd excited knowing that Harry would be on stage soon. Ava and Molly joined in with the singing stadium.

Mama, life had just begun But now I've gone and thrown it all away Mama, ooh, didn't mean to make you cry If I'm not back again this time tomorrow Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters

The two friends, expected YN to have disappeared now that Harry was due to come on stage any moment. But they were pleasantly surprised to see YN still stood to the side of them but this time with Brad by her side.

As the intro video played, Ava and Molly were on edge waiting for the first glance of Harry. As Daydreaming began, and Harry appeared wearing his signature overalls but for the last night at Wembley decided to be shirtless, showing off his butterfly tattoo. Ava and Molly held onto each other as they jumped up and down at the sight of Harry and his lack of t-shirt.

But what set the two girls and the other fans around them into laughter was when YN could be heard shouting. "THE HITTIES ARE OUT! WOOOOO!".

Livin' in a daydream She said, "Love me like you paid me" You know I'll be gone for so long So give me all of your love, give me something to dream about

Ooh-ooh

Stay until the morning 'Cause, baby, loving you's the real thing It just feels right When you give me all of your love, give me something to dream about So give me all of your love, give me something to dream about

Ava and Molly were jumping around, just like the other fans in the stadium. Dancing, singing and having a blast..completely in awe of the man on the stage. YN and Brad were still near by also enjoying themselves, singing and dancing along.

The sound of Golden began and Harry was instructed the fans to get low. "Are you ready to have some fun with us tonight, Wembley?".

Molly turned to Ava, completely forgetting who was standing behind them. "I think I'm in love!". The girl shouted, as she was still in denial that they were watching Harry Styles perform.

Bringing the girls back into reality was YN's accent from behind them. "He has that affect on you!". Most girlfriends, in YN's case fiancée, wouldn't have liked that comment being said. But YN understood, she really did because Harry did have that affect on others. He was infectious!

As Adore You came to an end, Harry made his way down the platform to wave to the fans who stood towards the back of the stadium. Ava, Molly and the fans near by were quick to cheer and wave to the man himself.

After Harry's little speech thanking the opening acts and explaining how he had burnt his tongue on some soup, he sang Keep Driving. It was no secret that fans loved singing along to a particular part so Molly and Ava were preparing themselves to belt out the famous line.

Passports in footwells Kiss her and don't tells Wine glass, puff pass, tea with cyborgs Riot America, science and edibles Life hacks going viral in the bathroom

But making Brad, the girls and fans around them explode with laughter was YN's version as she sang behind them. "Cocaine, side boob, choke ME with a sea view!".

Toothache, bad move Just act normal Moka pot Monday, it's all good Hey, you Should we just keep driving?

One Direction fans loved Stockholm Syndrome so it was no surprise the stadium went crazy as they showed their love for the song written and performed by their favourite band. YN also joining in with the fans around her.

The sound of Sweet Creature beginning to play, caused the stadium to become a calm atmosphere, almost like everyone was enjoying the moment as Harry hadn’t sung it live for a few years. YN could see the two friends, holding onto each other whilst listening to Harry sing, wanting to capture the moment she snapped a quick photo from behind the two girls and took a short video as they had their arms wrapped around eachothers shoulders. Hoping she could try and send it to them later.

Still standing at the front of the stage, Harry peered out at the crowd looking from one side to the other. “Uh speaking of Sweet Creature…I wanna say before we go any further a massive massive thank you to you and the people of London for all the support you have given me over the last thirteen or so years of my life. This... city has blessed me with a home, and certainly the most important people in my life who have supported me over the years and I would not be here without them, thank you so much, and to all who have made it tonight. The first time I ever came to London was thirteen years ago, it was just across the street, for the boot-camp stages of X-Factor I’d never been here before, it was quite scary coming to London; but making that journey meant I got to meet my special person…the better half of me and Wembley will always be our special place for us so I’d like to play a song for her tonight, this is for you YN…this is Love Of My Life”.

During Satellite a large group of fans created a circle and YN couldn’t help but join in. They waited for Harry to sing “Spinning out, waiting for ya to pull me in” before they all ran into the circle and then dance around in crowd.

YN loved the TPWK dance that the fans had created and she spent hours learning the steps when it first went viral. So when Harry began to sing the lyrics, she couldn’t help but fill with excitement of joining the fans around her. “Maybe we can…find a place to feel good…and we can treat people with kindness…find a place to feel good”.

Whenever Harry surprised the fans by singing Medicine, her heart filled with joy over the fans screaming with happiness as the music to the saucy song began. She would admit though that Harry singing the unrealised song and moving his hips in certain ways made her feel a certain way too, one that would have to wait for the end of the show and they were alone in their hotel room. “You got that something, I got me an appetite, now I can taste it…we're getting dizzy, oh, we're getting dizzy, oh…la-la-da-da, da”.

Knowing the set list by heart now, YN knew it was her queue to leave when Harry finished singing As It Was. Wanting to thank the two girls for being so kind and friendly, she quickly gave them a cuddle and promised to follow them back on instagram later on.

Molly and Ava watched as YN left the pit and quickly made her way backstage to meet the main man himself. “I can’t believe that just happened”.

Ava felt like she was in a dream and she was going to be woken up to reality any minute. “Pinch me…but did we just spend the entire concert with YN Tomlinson?!”.

“She worked her way through a cheap pack of cigarettes”.

---

molly_x

liked by avaflorence, yntomlinson on and 463 others

molly_x Ava and I’s reaction after watching Harry Styles with YN!!✨❤️🫶🏼 🪩 View all 46 comments tagged: avaflorence harrystyles yntomlinson

avaflorence Amazing night✌🏼I want to do it again! YN made our night so much better x ⌞molly_x She’s such a beautiful soul🩷

friend2 So lucky 😩

yntomlinson Thank you girlies for letting me join you at the show🫶🏼I had the best night and have told Harry about two of his biggest fans!❤️ ⌞harryfan6 your so lucky yn commented and liked your post!! ⌞molly_x Sorry I just needed to calm myself because I can’t believe you’ve actually commented and liked my photo (fangirl moment 😱). Thank you for being so lovely to us…and taking that photo and video of us, we are so grateful!❤️❤️❤️

harryfan9 Is YN starting a new trend of being in the pit with the fans????

harryfan7 Things like this never happen at my shows😢😢😢

Tag List:

@pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @harrys-flower @platinumbarbie143 @frickin-bats@harrysbbyh0ney @chronicallybubbly @goldensunflowe-r  @walkingintheheartbreaksatellite@kaverichauhan @peterholland04 @panicattheuc @or-was-it-just-a-dream @hittiesontour@bunnyharold @fanfictioncafe @lilfreakjez @iamahallucinationnn @theekyliepage @indierockgirrl@buckybarnessimpp @ashleighsss @jerseygirlinca @fake-coolbeans @itsmytimetoodream@treehouse-mouse @mrs-anna-styles211994 @macy-tpwk

[just-aake]

Boundless Devotion - Part XI

Pairing: princess!Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader

Summary: MedievalAU. Natasha is the eldest princess of the Romanov Kingdom. As the time of her coronation approaches, she is suddenly forced to make a decision – either find herself a partner or her parents will choose one for her.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15

Warnings: light angst, light fluff, slight violence

Words: 4350

The distant rumble of thunder causes your horse to fidget nervously as the two of you press on along the trail from the manor.

Your gaze shifts from the darkening skies to the princess, riding slightly ahead of you. 

Since leaving, a heavy silence has hung between the two of you with the both of you choosing to focus on the path ahead or, in Natasha’s case, glaring into the distance.

You can easily read the tension in her body from her stiff back, letting you know her current feelings.

Unable to stand the quiet anymore, you decide to call out to her.

“I can tell that you’re still upset, you know.”

At the sound of your voice, Natasha relaxes her posture slightly, slowing her horse to ride alongside you.

With a tired sigh and a slight bow of her head, she grumbles under her breath.

“Not at you,” she clarifies before her hands clench the reins in anger, and she grits out. “Just this situation.”

You sigh sadly at her explanation, looking down at your hands in disappointment. This is precisely what you had hoped to avoid — adding more stress to her mind. 

Noticing your expression, Natasha's hand reaches out to rest on your shoulder, drawing your attention.

Her eyes soften when they meet yours with a knowing look.

“Hey, I’m serious. This is not on you,” she stresses before continuing with a pleading tone, “You’re my best friend, Y/n. I just want you to be safe.”

Her proposition from earlier reappears in your mind. The offer was kind and generous but accepting it would create too many complications, especially for Natasha. 

Breaking away from her intense gaze, you look down to focus on your horse instead, finding small comfort in stroking its mane gently before quietly telling her your answer with a resigned sigh. 

“I can’t stay at the castle, Natasha.”

“Why not?” she asks with a frustrated sigh.

Returning your gaze to hers, a sense of nostalgia washes over you as you look at her. 

Despite growing up together, you’re still amazed at how she still manages to maintain the same determination and compassion that you’ve always seen in her since you were young. 

Rather than responding directly to her, you ask a different question.

“Do you remember what you told me the first time we met?”

Natasha tilts her head in confusion, but still, she decides to go along with it anyway, curious about the point of your abrupt change in subject.

“I remember saying that you were the most stubborn person I’ve ever met," she recalls with a pointed look in her eyes.

Amused, you let out a small laugh and shake your head lightly. 

“Says the one who wouldn’t stay still after she fell out of a tree.”

Natasha rolls her eyes, but a tiny smile forms at the corner of her lips at the memory of her first official meeting with you outside of royal events. 

Your mind also drifts to the past, recalling the state of the kingdom at that time when you were still children.

Even after years had passed, people were still recovering from the effects and loss of the war. 

After a brief moment of contemplation, you continue.

“During that time, even with the peace treaty, there was still some resentment between our people and the Stark kingdom.”

“Yeah, I remember,” Natasha sighs solemnly in recollection before giving you a small teasing smile. “Even someone as kind as you didn’t like them back then.”

That was true.

At that time, the twins had recently entered your life after the devastating loss of their parents to some Stark stragglers in the kingdom. With that incident as well as Madam B’s constant comments throughout your childhood of how the Stark kingdom should’ve lost the war, it’s understandable why your sentiments towards the other kingdom weren't exactly favorable.

However, your perspective changed on that fateful day when you stumbled upon the injured princess at the base of the tree by the lake. 

Pulling yourself from the memory, you nod your head in acknowledgment of her words about you before commenting.

“You could say almost everyone in the kingdom had some animosity with the Stark kingdom.” 

Your eyes then drift to Natasha, looking at her with admiration.

“But not you,” you say softly.

When Natasha tilts her head curiously, still confused at your point, your hand reaches for hers, and she gives it to you without hesitation, intertwining your fingers. 

Despite the slight roughness on her skin, a result from years of training, you only feel the warmth of her palm spreading to you and the gentleness in her grasp. 

For a brief bittersweet moment, you can’t help but think about how her hand fits perfectly in yours. 

Shaking away the thought, your thumb instinctively caresses the back of her hand as you explain to her.

“You have a kind heart, Natasha, always wanting to protect and care for everyone.”

Pausing your movement, you remember her words from years ago.

“Back then, you told me that when you became the queen, you’re going to heal the pain that the war had caused. For everyone. For both kingdoms.”

A small smile plays on your lips as you reminisce about the memory. 

“That was the moment I knew you would become a great ruler.” 

Looking up into her eyes, you tell her earnestly, “I still do, which is why I decided that day to do everything I can to help you accomplish that future you envisioned.”

Giving her a small smile, you end with a soft tone, “Because I believe in you, Natasha.”

Natasha’s eyes widen, and her mouth opens in surprise, stunned speechless at your words.

After a moment, your smile fades as you glance back down at her hand in yours before releasing it with a resigned sigh.

“But that means you can’t keep trying to protect me from every bad thing. Not when you need to focus on the entire kingdom soon.”

“I can do both,” Natasha asserts with a frown. 

Determined, you shake your head in refusal.

“No, you need more allies among the other nobles than just me. When you become queen, you’ll be working with the heads of the houses, not their daughters or sons who are already charmed by you.”

Natasha huffs in annoyance at the mention of the older nobles, recalling their greed for power and favor. 

You shoot her a knowing look as you point out.

“You know that bringing me into the castle will show favoritism.”

Natasha huffs in disbelief before arguing, “First of all, you are my favorite, and second, everyone already thinks we’re together.”

“But we’re not going to be for much longer,” you remind her, repeating her words from this morning. “After your coronation, you and I don’t need to be in a fake relationship anymore.”

“I didn’t—that was before—,” Natasha groans, rubbing her forehead in frustration. 

You are right concerning the situation with other nobles. Navigating and balancing the political scene has always been a challenging task, even for her parents. 

Once she takes the throne, all of those nobles’ scrutinizing eyes will turn to her, and they will ruthlessly pick apart every action she takes.

Bringing you in will just put you in the forefront of their attention. 

Natasha drags her hand down her face tiredly, giving you a conflicted look.

“That still doesn’t make what your father is doing right,” she says.

“No, but it is my problem to worry about, not yours,” you assert firmly.

Natasha starts to argue, but you interrupt, emphasizing your point. 

“As queen, you will have to choose your battles, Natasha,” you stress, giving her a serious look. “Even if it means you don’t choose me.”

Her expression twists in displeasure at your last words, a sentiment she finds difficult to accept.

However, confronted by your unrelenting and expectant gaze, Natasha sighs in frustration, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You know, I feel like you got those words from one of my mother’s lectures," she says, slightly exasperated.

Her tone eases the tension in the air a little. 

“Maybe,” you reply with a small laugh.

Natasha watches you with a resigned expression.

While she doesn't entirely agree with your point, she’s not going to force you into something you don’t want. 

“I still don’t like the idea of you going back to him,” Natasha remarks.

You sigh, admitting, “Well, as long as I follow his orders, he usually just leaves me alone.” 

Her expression twists unhappily at that information, prompting you to place a reassuring hand on her arm before continuing. 

“I do have a plan so that I can leave eventually, Natasha. Until then, I can take care of myself.” You give her a reassuring smile. “And I’m not alone. I have the twins.”

“You also have me,” Natasha says earnestly, covering your hand with hers and squeezing it gently.

“Whatever you need, the castle is always open to you.”

“I know,” you say appreciatively. “Thank you, Natasha.”

~~~~~~~ ⧗ ~~~~~~~

After reluctantly accepting your decision, Natasha and you continue until the two of you reach a fork in the path.

Natasha slows her horse to a stop, looking to you for direction as she realizes that she doesn’t know your intended destination. In the back of her mind, she recalls Pietro mentioning something about you finding answers.

“So, where are we going?”

“The prison,” you respond to her casually, already urging your horse in its direction. 

Natasha raises a brow, an unsettling feeling creeping in as she remembers Clint’s message to her on the day of the festival about the stalled interrogation of the man from the cemetery attack.

“Who are you going to see?” she asks hesitantly, catching up beside you.

“Captain James Barnes,” you reveal.

Natasha lets out a small breath of relief at your answer, her body relaxing momentarily before tensing up again as she recognizes the name. 

“As in Stark’s old captain?” she questions.

At your nod, she asks in surprise, “What is he doing there?”

You pause for a moment before answering, humming a little in thought.

“My father assumes it was an assassination attempt, but when I met him, he suddenly tried to take me away,” you explain nonchalantly before noticing Natasha’s shocked expression and quickly continuing to reassure her.

“Pietro stopped him, though, and he was captured before he could do anything else.”

Natasha raises her hand in a stopping gesture as she tries to process the new information, pinching between her eyes in exasperation at you before taking a deep breath.

“So you’re telling me…you were almost kidnapped by this known criminal, and now we’re on our way to the prison to talk with him?”

You nod, confirming her words. 

Natasha stares at you in disbelief for a moment in silence before quickly turning her horse around and grabbing your reins.

“That’s it, we’re going back to the castle,” she declares firmly.

“Natasha, we just talked about this,” you say, pulling your reins back from her grip.

“No, this involves a war criminal. I think I have some power over the decisions in this case,” Natasha says with a pointed look.

Despite her serious expression, you return her stare with an all-too-familiar pleading look, causing Natasha to quickly turn away, refusing to maintain eye contact with you. 

It was already difficult to refuse any request from you when you look at her with that expression, but with the recent realization of her feelings, she knows she stands no chance right now.

“Natasha, please.”

She groans internally at the sound of your voice, taking a deep breath before giving you a tiny glare, which you return with a slight tilt of your head and a small pout. 

Immediately, Natasha’s head falls to her chest in defeat. She can already hear Yelena’s mocking voice in her mind about how easily she gives in to you.

In a final attempt to see if you may change your mind, Natasha gives you another hard look before ultimately relenting with a sigh.

“Okay, fine, but I’m staying beside you the entire time, and you can’t get too close to him.”

When your face brightens with a satisfied smile in victory, Natasha huffs and shakes her head in disbelief.

Despite her reaction, though, a warm feeling spreads in her chest at your happy expression, reminding her of the original reason she had come to see you.

As the two of you ride side by side on the path, Natasha decides to take this opportunity to continue the conversation that was previously interrupted.

However, before delving back into that discussion, there was another topic concerning something from earlier that she wanted to ask you about first. 

“Y/n, back at the manor, when I was climbing to your window…,” Natasha starts, causing you to look at her curiously.

“I overheard some parts of your conversation with the twins,” she admits.

With a desire to confirm her suspicion based on the fragments she heard, Natasha presses on with her question when she notices your surprised expression.

"When you told me that you liked someone…you didn’t mean Carol, did you?"

Natasha observes as your eyes widen and your lips part in surprise before you quickly shake your head to get out of your shocked state.

“Oh, that’s—uh, I mean, Carol’s…great. Anybody would like—um…” you wince slightly at your loss of words.

With a raised brow, Natasha waits as you stumble over your words before you finally confess under your breath with a sigh.

“...no, I wasn’t talking about her.”

A sense of relief washes over Natasha at your words before she questions you with an amused smile.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” 

You respond with a disbelieving huff. 

“Well, why did you assume it was her?” you counter. 

“The two of you seemed so close during the festival, and at the bonfire, you were blushing a lot with her,” Natasha points out accusingly.

“That’s because she was teasing me about y—” you shut your mouth, stopping yourself before you finish.

In the heat of defending yourself, you nearly revealed that all of your flustered reactions at that time were about Natasha.

Glancing over at her to see if she noticed your slip-up, you groan internally when you recognize her pleased expression.

Natasha is grinning widely at the revelation, her eyes lighting up happily as if she's finally solved a mystery. 

When your hand covers your face in embarrassment, she knows you also figured out that she has already guessed what you meant to say. 

At your slight blush, she can’t help but want to tease you a little bit more, tilting her head to try and catch your attention.

“You know, I think I heard you mention my name too. What were you about to say about me before I appeared?”

You purposely avoid meeting her eyes, wishing the ground would just swallow you up already.

Having Natasha suspect that your feelings for someone were actually for her was not something that you had expected to happen, especially considering how your previous discussion this morning ended.

Choosing to ignore her question, you point to the distance ahead and try to divert the conversation.

“I think we’re nearing the prison. We should probably concentrate and focus our attention on what we’ll do when we get there.”

Natasha's grin widen at your flustering and poor attempt to change the subject. 

As you prepare to urge your horse forward, her hand reaches over to hold your reins again, stopping you.

Done with all the teasing, Natasha decides to reciprocate some vulnerability, understanding that you might be feeling exposed at the moment.

She nudges your arm gently to get your attention.

Once your eyes reluctantly meet hers, Natasha begins softly.

“Remember how I said I realized something? Turns out I'm facing a similar problem to what you had this morning.”

Confused, you furrow your brows, prompting Natasha to smile fondly at you. She takes a deep breath before admitting with a happy sigh.

“Apparently, there is someone I like, but I don’t know how they feel about me,” Natasha echoes your words from this morning before tilting her head meaningfully, adding, "She’s one of my closest friends too."

Your eyes widen in surprise and uncertainty as you try to come up with a response.

That warm feeling returns to your chest, but you try not to let that hope grow too fast.

At your silence, Natasha presses on, asking, "What should I do?"

Clearing your throat nervously, you finally find your voice as you repeat the response she had given you.

“Well, you said you would’ve just asked them directly about how they felt about you.”

“I did, didn't I?” Natasha says in contemplation. She pauses for a second before a small smirk forms on her face, and she focuses her intense gaze on you.

“So, Y/n, how do you feel about me?”

Your eyes search hers in disbelief at the implication of her question towards you. You try to spot any signs of her usual teasing, but there is only genuine anticipation and hope in her expression.

Caught off guard by the sudden realization, you stammer, “I—um…” 

As Natasha waits for your response, the sound of rustling and footsteps from the shadows of the trees catches her attention, setting her instincts on edge.

Her body instantly straightens in alertness as she observes the surroundings. 

At the faint sound of a mechanism engaging and then a quiet click, Natasha quickly grabs you, pulling you off your horse and onto the ground just as a heavy net shoots out from the trees.

Your horses whine in panic as the net soars past them, where it would have caught you and Natasha if the two of you hadn’t moved.

Instead, the complex mesh of thick ropes and weighted edges lands with a resounding thud on the ground, ensnaring nothing but air.

Natasha and you landed in a tangled heap, her hands instinctively shielding your head and body as the both of you roll to a stop.

The surrounding area seems to hold its breath for a second before the sound of hurried footsteps causes the two of you to rise quickly to your feet.

Three menacing men emerge from the trees, each brandishing a weapon as they advance toward you and Natasha, undeterred by the failure of their initial trap.

Natasha pulls her sword from its sheath and hands it to you with a smirk.

“It’s a good thing we practiced this morning, huh?” she teases lightly. 

You roll your eyes exasperatedly as you take the sword.

Natasha is more than capable of taking on these ruffians, but knowing that you are not defenseless will probably help her concentrate more on them than having to also worry about you. 

The attackers quickly rush at the two of you, and Natasha immediately engages in combat with two of them simultaneously while the third one dodges her attacks and goes for you.

You raise the sword in defense as it clashes against his before the two of you engage in a fight.

He was bigger than you, but luckily, that just means that you are faster than his movements.

You find yourself dodging and parrying his swings, but his experience with a sword allows him to defend from most of your attacks easily.   

Seeing no way to break through his defense, you spot a large tree nearby and come up with an idea.

While dodging his attacks, you discreetly move toward its direction, leading him closer. 

Right as your back hits the trunk of the tree, a particularly powerful swing knocks the sword out of your hand.

The attacker grins victoriously, thinking you are cornered, and lunges forward with a powerful thrust.

Swiftly ducking out of the way, you cause his sword to impale deep into the tree instead.

With him stunned at his stuck weapon, you knock his arm away from the sword and then swiftly hook your leg around the back of his knee, sweeping it out from under him.

Before he can recover, you quickly pick up your fallen sword and slam its hilt against the back of his head.

Catching your breath, you let out a breath of relief when you see that he is unconscious.

Next thing you know, your body is pulled away from the man, and Natasha’s hands are moving gently across your face as she examines you.

Seeing that you are okay, she glances at the man on the ground before giving you an excited smile in realization.

“You were watching me that day,” Natasha points out happily.

That last action that you just performed was almost exactly the same as her finishing move during her spar with Steve. 

Based on your evasive behavior toward her at that time, Natasha had thought that you were avoiding her to the point where you didn’t even want to watch her train anymore.

You offer her sword back to her with a small roll of your eyes.

Behind her, you see the other two attackers already on the ground, subdued.

“You already know that I’ve always liked watching you train," you remind her. 

Instead of taking the sword, Natasha wraps her hand around yours and pulls you a step closer to her, bringing your body and face near hers.

She playfully tilts her head at you with a teasing glint in her eyes.

“Weren't you just about to tell me about something else that you like before we were interrupted?” Natasha challenges. 

You huff and shake your head in disbelief, realizing her intention.

Refusing to be the first to give in, especially with her confident and charming smirk in place, you decide to lean in even closer instead, bringing your face just a breath away from hers.

“I don’t know, Natasha, is there something you want to tell me?” you whisper challengingly, lowering your tone.

Natasha’s smirk widens in amusement as she maintains her position, seemingly unaffected, but looking closer, you notice a slight change in her eyes as they darken and briefly dart down to your lips.

Understanding dawns on you as you recall all the times you’ve seen that look on her before.

A charged tension fills the air as both of you stubbornly await the other to give in.

After a moment, Natasha finally releases a shaky breath and leans her head against yours, unable to resist anymore with you so close to her.

However, before any word can escape her parted lips, the tranquility is shattered by the sound of an arrow being released and a grunt emanating from the trees.

Turning in unison, you and Natasha witness the hidden attacker tumbling from the tree to the ground.

Your gaze then shifts to the source of the arrow, revealing a familiar figure behind the bow.

“Clint,” Natasha greets before complimenting, "Nice shot."

He puts away his bow and approaches both of you with a raised brow.

“You two are adorable, but next time, please check your surroundings again before running into each other’s arms,” he advises.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, you clear your throat awkwardly and take a step back from Natasha.

However, her hand catches your side, keeping you close.

“Where are the two of you going? And without an escort, at that,” he ask, with the last part directed pointedly in reprimand at Natasha, who responds with a slight roll of her eyes.

"To the prison," you answer him.

"What about you? What are you doing running around with your bow again?" Natasha asks curiously.

Clint gestures to the attackers, unconscious on the ground.

“These men are from the Hydra's den, which happened to be suspiciously deserted when I passed by this morning,” he reveals with a serious tone.

Natasha frowns upon hearing the information.

The central area where mercenaries usually occupy being suddenly empty is never a good sign.

“Rumlow?” Natasha asks in suspicion.

This behavior is too unusual for the noble known for his affiliations with such groups to deny any knowledge of what is happening.

Clint shrugs unsurely, grimacing, “He’s not at his manor. My informant didn’t arrive at the usual meeting time either, so I came to investigate.”

He gestures towards you and Natasha.

“If you two are also heading to the prison, then it's better if I stay with you, especially after this ambush. I’m assuming you're taking Lady Y/n to see…,” Clint trails off when he sees Natasha discreetly shaking her head, signaling him to stop talking, but it is too late. 

At his words, you quickly turn to Natasha with suspicion, raising your brow.

There’s no way Clint would know about Barnes so soon, so he must be referring to someone else at the prison, and judging by Natasha’s reaction, she knows exactly who he meant.

Natasha shoots a glare at Clint, who has suddenly taken an interest in looking up at the skies. She winces slightly when she glances back at you and sees your accusatory stare.

With a resigned sigh, she reveals, “There may have been a request…by that attacker from the cemetery to speak with you before he would answer any of our questions.”

“Natasha!” you exclaim in reprimand for keeping such information concerning you a secret.

She raises her hands in defense, arguing, “He’s a threat against the kingdom, which means I can make decisions concerning him about you.”

“You can't use that excuse every time,” you tell her, poking her in the shoulder pointedly at her attempt of creating a loophole to indirectly protect you. 

Natasha responds with an amused smile, catching your hands and interlocking them together. She raises her brows and remarks teasingly.

"Yes, I can. I'm still your princess, remember?"

Rolling your eyes at her usual teasing reminder, you shove her lightly in response with your clasped hands, which elicits a chuckle from her.

Clint lets out a smile as he observes the close interaction between you and Natasha, commenting with an assuring nod, “Yeah, you two really are adorable together.”

~~~~~~~ ⧗ ~~~~~~~

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15

Series Masterlist : Boundless Devotion

a/n: Thank you for reading! I may have been delusional saying that there would two/three more parts left of this series two parts ago, but it should be around two parts left after this one (i think).

Taglist: @lightwhoranoutoflight, @taliiiaasteria, @romanoffprentiss, @canvascoloredin,  @silentwolfsstuff, @blacklightsposts, @arcturusseer, @presser24, @dvrkhcld, @jujuu23, @screechcat, @vivs46, @cd-4848, @youneversawmehereooooooo, @pancakefan7529, @confusedspaceotter, @natbelovasblog, @izzy-b09, @iamheartless, @mrsrushman, @fxckmiup, @natty-taffy, @2silverchain, @traveler-at-heart, @autorasexy, @natsxwife, @mviswidow, @slut4johansson 

[scarfacemarston]

Stucky and Angie/Peggy History reading list! (Or, a 1930s-1950s LGBT History List)

It took me a considerable amount of time to create this list. Please take just a second to “like” or even reblog my list. It makes a huge difference. I researched two different library databases, which took hours, and scoured through Amazon.

If you don't have time to read the whole list - my recommended pick overall is number 7.

I have tried to find free copies of the book when I can, but it's not easy with the newer books. Off we go!

Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940 by George Chauncey

Amazon Link: Here. Archive Link: Here.

This is one of two defining gay in New York books. It’s an older book, but it has earned its place in the LGBT Book Hall of Fame. However, the book can be a bit dry. There are sometimes so many details that you lose the point of the passage. On the other hand, the details are incredibly useful, as he’s able to locate historical places by address and name the buildings around them, along with their histories. Most historians don’t bother to indicate exactly where buildings were located or where they are now. (Standing or not standing). I don’t know why more historians don’t follow this example. As a historic preservationist, it’s not that hard. There are times when the book is sexually explicit, so just be aware! Much of the book predates WWII, but two things: 1. You need to know the history that precedes it. Where did we come from? What has changed? 2. If you’re looking for Stucky history, you’re going to want the 30s and 40s, so you’re going to want the second half of the book.

2. A Queer History of the United States (ReVisioning History) by Michael Bronski

Amazon: Here. Archive: Here.

I’d be crazy not to include this book. It’s a more modern guidebook to LGBT+ history. I included the Disability History of the United States in the disability guide. This is a great introduction to LGBT+ history, and I think it provides a solid foundational understanding of the subject. Yes, WWII is mentioned, but I think the general history is great in the book. It does not shy away from difficult topics, and some people may find the book triggering as it contains blunt language to these topics that people may not be used to. However, this is the norm for minority history. Sometimes, we need to use more direct language to convey our point. The book is easy to read, so I highly recommend it. There is also a great deal of diversity between races and religions.

3. Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers: A History of Lesbian Life in Twentieth-Century America by Lillian Faderman

Amazon: Here. Archive: Here.

I own this book. Lillian Fadermen is literally the premiere historian of lesbian history. Like, there may be only ONE other historian that rivals her. If you want lesbian history, this is where you go. Don't let the age of the book fool you. Look at the beginning for the reasons why again. This book is actually on two of my LGBT lists because of the span it covers. This book covers everything, I swear.  

With all that said, her writing can be a bit dry. Some parts of the book were a bit of a slog, but she does use a lot of primary resources, and that livens it up a bit. Her book definitely has diversity in it, especially covering Harlem. There is definitely a lot of content that would work for Peggy and Angie. It's at least three chapters worth, but I still recommend the whole book.

4. Fighting Proud: The Untold Story of the Gay Men Who Served in Two World Wars by Stephen Bourne

Amazon link: Here. No archive link, sadly.

I’m actually thinking of buying this book. This is probably the easiest to read out of all the books. The tone is more conversational or story-like. The author’s preface and introduction were great. The first half of the book discusses World War I, which is almost never discussed, so that was refreshing. I recommend reading it but feel free to skip to the WWII section. He writes with great respect and reverence for the subject. It was extremely easy to read through the preview. (I used the Google Books preview.)

5. When Brooklyn Was Queer: A History by Hugh Ryan

Amazon: Here. No Archive link, sadly.

I didn’t expect to like this book, given the way the author focuses on himself sometimes, but he approaches his history through storytelling and interviews with members of the community. The information that couldn’t be gleaned from an interview came from his own investigations and subsequent historical research. The book kind of reminded me of Anthony Bourdain. It has a very rich span of history, and the last third of the book is most pertinent to Stucky, but the content preceding that is actually quite nice as well.  He’s similar to George Chauncey (First pick) in that he’s able to pinpoint locations. What’s unique about this is that the book was written in 2019, so his investigations would have to be updated from what Chauncey found decades earlier.  If you like Walt Whitman, you’ll especially appreciate the first chapter.  I recognized many of the locations discussed in the book as they were places featured in Steve’s history, including Red Hook.

6. Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian Community by Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy and Madeline D. Davis

Amazon: Here. Archive: Here.

I'm not sure how much this book pertains to Angie and Peggy, ONLY because of the discussions of lesbian bars. It's up to you all if you hc Angie and Peggy visiting these. The book is set in NY but more outside of it. 

It also discusses being in the closet, but focuses more on out lesbians or at least, lesbians who didn't explicitly hide them selves. (I use lesbians in my writing just for ease. The book pertains to bisexual women as well!) The only thing that may frustrate some people is that femme women take a back seat in the book.  In a book about lesbians, it would be way better to have equality. However, the book talks about the working class a lot, which is a refreshing change. That fits Angie more in terms of her job, but I'm not sure about lifestyle. Peggy is more middle class. The book is also incredibly diverse, talking extensively about African American and Latinx communities. So, honestly, you have to decide whether this book is enough about Peggy/Angie or if you're interested in that aspect of history.

7. Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men and Women in World War II by Allan Berube

Amazon: Here. Archive: Here.

I liked this book so much that I actually bought it on Amazon after reading the preview.That should tell you all you need to know. In all seriousness, this is a great book. It's my number one pick. It’s highly respected for its high-quality research and writing. It’s a little bit technical in tone, so you may have to read carefully. I didn’t have much of a problem. I just skipped some of the acronyms, and I was fine. He conducted numerous interviews, which was wonderful. I went through the book very quickly. One thing I LOVE is that he works VERY hard to give lesbians their light in the book. It’s been very frustrating to see most of these books neglected women. Some of the book was actually humorous, and unsurprisingly, some of it was heartbreaking. I definitely recommend this book.

8. Hidden from History: Reclaiming the Gay and Lesbian Past by Martin Bauml Duberman (Editor), Martha Vicinus (Editor), George Chauncey.

Amazon: Here. Archive: Here.

It is another old book, but it is considered a must-read for historians or those interested in LGBT+ history. Many classes read from it. 

It discusses how to research these individuals while also providing diverse chapters on various subjects from different historians. The last six chapters of the book are most closely related to Peggy/Angie and Bucky/Steve.

One of the authors for one of the chapters is actually Allan Berube, who was already included in this list. Madeline Davis also has a chapter in the book. George Chauncey has a chapter on World War I for those interested. I don’t have the time or room to discuss each chapter. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.

Important Notes: You may notice that there aren’t a lot of books about women. That is partially due to laziness and misogyny, but also the true problem that there isn’t as much easily accessible information about lesbian, bisexual, or transwomen outside of stereotypes. There are academic papers that discuss how difficult it is to write about WLW. I can prove it. However, I call some of these historians lazy as while it is true that it is significantly harder to find sources about women, I get the feeling that some of these historians didn’t even try. 

A lot of the books are older, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth reading. A lot of the books have updates to them. They didn’t achieve such a high status of quality and success for nothing. For some reason, there were more scholars interested in the subject, OR they had more resources, even though we have a more advanced internet with databases.