#But I am determined to finish the prompt list!

[justcallme-ange]

Week 3 - Haunted House. For Loyal’s Rivals Duo Spooktacular event.

What if you’re the haunted house?

The prison never leaves, and Techno finds Dream somewhere else Techno can’t follow.

Inspired by Elk Tour Suite Pt. 5 from Centaurworld.

“Oh, this feeling, it came right in again and again

A feeling there just beneath the skin

And I tried so hard not to let it in

But you can't keep the ghosts out

When you're the one who's the haunted house

And you can't kick the ghosts out

When you're the one who let them in”

[wigglebox]

Destiel Pride - Day 23; Don’t ever change

[kohakhearts]

now that the insomnia fic is finished i can focus on the other fics i want to write but one of them is huge. giant. and here i am. writing it for a silly little rarepair

[pomefioredove]

Hiya! Hope you're doing okay, and take it easy if you haven't been!

For the flirty prompts starters list, could you maybe do: "Stop saying things that make me want to kiss the hell out of you." with Vil? I think it'd be a good one

Thanks!

(I hope you have fun writing this if you do! No biggie if you don't or if someone else already asked!)

GIGGLING SO MUCH

summary: "stop saying things that make me want to kiss the hell out of you" type of post: short fic characters: vil additional info: romantic, reader is gender neutral, reader is yuu, Vil experiencing cuteness aggression.jpg, not proofread a part of this event

Vil considers himself to be an eloquent man.

After all, how one speaks is just as important as how one carries themselves, and every last inch of him, from his looks to his body language to his words, have been refined to perfection. Each a golden thread in the dazzling tapestry that is Vil Schoenheit.

And yet, despite that, he still can't seem to find a way to describe you.

Frustrating is not quite right. Epel is frustrating. Those first years you insist on spending your precious time with are frustrating. But you...

You are not annoying, nor are you incompetent. His usual vocabulary for the students of NRC is useless when it comes to you.

...And different is too vague.

Vil just seems to forget what to do with his hands when you're around.

You look so soft in the golden afternoon light of the lounge, which is distracting enough as it is. Now you're giggling in the way you do, and he can't concentrate, and... what was he doing, again?

"Stop that," he says, plainly, not looking up from the textbook he'd been reading. Or trying to, anyway. He'd lost his place some time ago.

You make this... sound, this confused little hum, and he pictures you tilting your head to the side like a puppy. Sevens, you're just so...

He huffs. "I said, stop,"

"Stop what?"

Clueless little thing. Vil sighs, finding it within himself to make eye contact. He'd given up on finishing this assignment early, anyway.

"You know what,"

You stare back, unblinking. Are you really so oblivious? No, there's no way you aren't doing this on purpose, whatever it is, just to get on his nerves. Did those friends of yours put you up to this?

He should scold you. He invited you to study with him, a luxury which many would pay millions for, and here you are, being...

Ugh. He still can't think of the right word.

"Am I being too loud?" you ask, a confused lilt in your voice.

Sevens, you are so dense, he wants to just grab you and squeeze you like a stress ball until a thought comes out of that empty head.

The thought of that is no help. If anything, it just bothers him more.

He pinches the bridge of his nose. Are you really not doing this on purpose? "No. You're distracting me,"

"Oh... sorry,"

...In such a soft, meek little tone, like you really feel bad about it, looking up at him with those eyes of yours... ugh. He wants to bite you, squeeze you in his arms until this overwhelming, restless feeling passes. You're so...

"It's... fine," Vil relents. "I don't think I would've gotten much done today, anyway."

You actually tilt your head to the side this time, worsening his condition. "Something on your mind?"

Sevens, what are you doing to him? He can't sit still. He pictures himself reaching across the table to pinch your cheeks, to kiss that sweet, worried expression off your face. The effect you have...

And you're not even doing anything!

"No," he says, his voice strained with the weight of the lie. "Just burnout. It's a busy time of year for me."

You seem to take that as a cue, standing from your seat with wide eyes and holding out a hand, much to his chagrin.

"You should be resting, then. Overworking yourself will only make things worse. Come on, let's go back,"

Such a determined expression on that pretty face of yours. There's just something about how you respond so innocently, so intent on caring for him, you're...

You're so...

Vil feels his heart drop. Oh, Sevens. That's the word.

You're so cute.

"Stop that," he snaps. He can feel his face warming. "This is the last time I'll ask."

A little flash of annoyance crosses your face at his dismissal. How adorable...

"Stop what?" You repeat.

Even your scoff is cute. His face feels hot. He can handle beautiful. Gorgeous, pretty, sexy, even, But not cute. And now he's getting himself all worked up over it, and you're being so sweet, and...

"Stop saying things that make me want to kiss the hell out of you!"

Nothing has ever had such an effect on him before.

After all, it would take something incredible to fluster Vil- and here he is, blurting out every thought he has, blushing like a schoolgirl as he realizes what just came out of his mouth.

Vil Schoenheit, suddenly terrified of being rejected. It was as if he'd woken up in a parallel universe.

Or died, and went to his own personal Hell.

The shock slowly wears off your face, and you... laugh.

You laugh.

"You're very forward,"

"I'll take that as a compliment, and not the way you meant it," he mumbles, crossing his arms over his chest. "Though I'm failing to find what's so amusing."

You move around the table to sit next to him, eyes gleaming. "How would you like me to react, then?"

Vil stares back. Was that... flirtation? Perhaps you're not so oblivious, after all...

But still cute.

Still very cute.

He sighs, though there's a smile playing at his lips now. "Save me the embarrassment of being rejected,"

"Hmm... I suppose that can be arranged,"

And with that, he cups your face in his hands and draws you in for that kiss.

[factorydefaultlu]

So

About the Spice Prompt List 😶‍🌫️

4, 31, 40

Aaand character sugestions: Law, Luffy, Shanks

Please

Monkey D. Luffy, Shanks x AFAB!Reader

Exhibitionism, vibrators, orgasm denial

AN: I left out Law because I haven't seen the anime in years and I'm afraid I'll butcher him horribly

Monkey D. Luffy

He'd really done it this time. Luffy tries to be a good boy, but it's hard. Especially when he's bored, which is almost all the time.

You can't get anything done when he's hounding you for attention, so you get an idea.

"I want to play a game."

Luffy is excited by this idea, but he's going to be sorely disappointed when he realizes your full plan.

He's laid on his back in bed, a bullet vibe tied the tip of his cock, and it's been set to high.

You told him that if could hold his orgasm until you're done with work, then he can fuck you all night long.

Luffy didn't think of the technicalities of that agreement before he was nodding eagerly and pulling his clothes off.

You're sat at the desk across the room, finishing something or other. Truth be told, the work had been finished nearly 30 minutes ago, but you just wanted to torment Luffy a little longer.

He'd been a whining mess since the beginning, but after about 15 minutes of his cock throbbing and bouncing against his stomach, he began to beg.

"Please, please. Can't I just touch myself? I can make myself cum, you don't have to touch me!"

You reminded him of the agreement which earned a loud cry from him. It was hard not to give in, you'd stolen glances at him as you worked. The sight was absolutely divine.

His tummy was soaked in precum and his cock looked painfully hard and red. The sheets beneath him were wrinkled from how tightly he gripped them. Part of the agreement was not being able to touch himself.

You're shocked he'd actually lasted this long. You expected him to have cum all over himself within minutes, but he's determined to prove how much of a good boy he is.

Maybe you'll stop torturing him and let him finally drain his balls.

Shanks

"Started without me princess?"

His voice startles you, and you stare at him wide eyed.

Shanks is leaned against the doorframe, staring you down, a smirk on his lips and a devilish glint in his eyes.

You pull the vibrator from your clit, expecting him to come to you and make you feel good. He just clicks his tongue.

"No no, if you're start without me then you're gonna finish without me."

He sets himself in the chair by the desk, looking at you expectantly. You feel like prey under the eyes of a predator.

"Well? Show me how you get yourself off."

You press the vibrator against yourself again, your hips jolt as it hits your clit. The delicious waves of pleasure washing over your body once more.

Your thighs are wet with slick and sweat and you close your legs to feel more friction. Shanks narrows his eyes at this, "Darling, how am I gonna be able to see that beautiful, dripping cunt of yours if I you got your legs shut?"

He moves forward and grabs your knees, spreading you open and smirking at the sight.

"That feel good princess? Better than my fingers?"

You quickly shake your head 'no' and a whine leaves your lips as your orgasm draws near. Your wrist swivels the vibrator and you gasp at the pleasure.

Shanks admires your body, sliding his hands up your thighs and using his thumbs to spread your folds.

"Fuck that's good."

[catboydogma]

'til our hell is a good life

codywan week 2024 sol master list (solsterlist)

codywan week 2024 day 1 prompts, sol edition: no/different order 66, lightsaber/lightsaber training

notes: title from our hell by emily haines & the soft skeleton. i've been having a comically disastrous week/month (it's only the 4th? jesus christ) but god willing i will post for all 7 prompts (+ bonus anniversary prompt?). im not gonna lie i had to pop out the soju to finish this beast and i think that did set the tone for the rest of the week's writing. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER AMIRITE FELLAS

wc: 3,099

cross-posted to ao3

Obi-Wan supposed it might have all started because someone gave Cody a lightsaber. No, it had not been Obi-Wan, and even if it might have been, he knew to always cover his own ass. Qui-Gon had been an excellent teacher, for the most part, and there was one thing he had drilled into Obi-Wan above (almost) all else: never drop plausible deniability.

No, he’d no idea where the lightsaber had come from. No, Cody could keep it now. He wasn’t going to take the damn thing away from Cody when the good Commander had, evidently, come across it fair and square. Obi-Wan knew his Commander; it wasn’t like there was some fresh-faced thirteen year old Padawan wandering around somewhere sans ‘saber. If he had to take a stab at the quandary, he supposed it probably would have happened the time Cody’d dogpiled Grievous with the rest of his Command Corps. No, not that time. The time after that one, perhaps.

Regardless, there came a time when Cody’s tac belt had two lightsaber clips, not just one for when Obi-Wan strategically left his lightsaber in a secure place for safekeeping. The two of them never discussed the fact that Cody was likely Force sensitive. It didn’t seem something Cody was at all interested in; given the givens, Obi-Wan was predisposed to let him take the lead on the topic. Or not, as it happened.

But Obi-Wan couldn’t let that stop him in the face of something so egregious as this, even if Cody seemed determined to duck out of the conversation at every turn.

“I am not a Jedi, sir,” Cody told him for the fifth time that day. “I fail to see what tactical advantage there would be in meditating with a weapon.”

“It isn’t entirely a tactical advantage, per se,” Obi-Wan demurred. “But it can be. It’s difficult to articulate.” Especially when most resources for teaching lightsaber forms and meditations were meant for Initiates first starting out, or struggling Padawans; not outsiders to the Order, and certainly not ones that hadn’t grown up in the Temple. If they’d had the time—if not for this bloody war—Obi-Wan might have taken Cody to Jedha for insight. “Would you learn to fight with a particular blaster even when you haven’t familiarized yourself with its base components, or haven’t learnt how to disassemble and repair it?”

Cody frowned. It was a minute thing, barely a twitch of the corner of his mouth and a slight tilt of his head.

Aha. Obi-Wan pressed his advantage, absently touching Cody’s elbow to direct him around a group of techs as they walked through the halls of the Negotiator. “It’s the same for a lightsaber. The kyber—or heart of the lightsaber—is not just a power source; a strong connection between oneself and one’s kyber is paramount to maintaining a good working relationship with the lightsaber itself. And a good working relationship leads to better results in a fight; not just anyone can pick up any old lightsaber and start swinging it around and expect good results, you know. That’s why the black market money is mainly to be made in the raw kyber itself, not in the weapons.” Obi-Wan made eyebrows at Cody over this, who simply glared at him. Ah, well. A man had to find his fun somehow.

“You have me there, sir,” Cody sighed. He was graceful in his concession, at least. Unlike some others Obi-Wan could name upon learning that, yes, meditation with a new lightsaber was practically required…

“We can clear up an evening for it,” Obi-Wan said, magnanimous even in victory. As ever. “And perhaps I can show you what I mean, rather than trying to talk in circles around it.”

“But you do so love talking in circles around things, sir,” Cody said, dry as anything. Obi-Wan mimed shocked outrage at him, and they passed the next few hours in good humor.

“This can be done anywhere, really, but for your first time I thought to make it somewhat more formal,” Obi-Wan told Cody. He’d somewhere unearthed a spare meditation mat to set in between the cramped space between his ‘fresher and desk. Incense in a lump-shaped holder wafted smoke into the air; one of his last good joss sticks. But this was a special occasion. “Many Jedi like to do it in the salles, and many Consulars perfect it in the field.” There had been the especially memorable time during Obi-Wan’s own Padawanship in that nest of gilloms…

Cody inspected his new outfitting and seemed satisfied, though it was hard to tell. He sat on the mat with no complaints and suffered through Obi-Wan running a hand across his shoulders, then nudging Cody’s legs with his own into something more closely approximating a meditative pose.

“The floating is optional, then,” Cody remarked.

“Well, yes. It’s up to personal preference,” Obi-Wan told him, resolutely not letting his flush creep above the collar of his tunics. It was Obi-Wan’s personal preference, really, and usually something more commonly found in the creche than not. “You can hold your lightsaber, or set it in front of you, or in your lap. Many Jedi like to hold themselves in the Force with the lightsaber, hence why this is often accompanied by one’s lightsaber floating in front of oneself. For today, do whatever feels right to you.”

Cody nodded, then opted to hold his lightsaber loosely in his lap. After a moment of consideration, he mirrored Obi-Wan’s own pose: one hand folded atop the other in his lap, thumbs pressed to each other, lightsaber cradled in his palms and just under the arch of his thumbs.

Obi-Wan guided Cody through the preliminary steps of a light meditation, discarding many of the more Force-oriented aspects and focusing on the connecting to one’s lightsaber, on opening oneself up and letting the kyber reach out in turn. When he felt Cody slip deeper, into a state simultaneously more introspective and more concentrated on his lightsaber, Obi-Wan turned his own attention to his kyber.

The heart of a lightsaber could be a curious thing. This wasn’t all completely altruistic; Obi-Wan had left out the bit about also needing to meditate with his ‘saber, because then Cody might have given him one of those looks. But it was good to refamiliarize himself with his kyber, in a ritual both utterly familiar and yet somehow foreign. He just hadn’t done it in so long, or at least not as thoroughly as he might have liked. They had changed, the both of them. The war, Anakin’s Knighting, Obi-Wan’s own views of the galaxy at large and perspective of self… such was the nature of having a malleable brain and being subject to the rigors of time.

Some interminable time later, the soft beeping of a timer brought Obi-Wan up out of the depths of his meditation. He cracked his eyes open and took a moment to settle himself back down onto his mat, still feeling like a great river was still carving its way through his skull in vast, sweeping currents.

“Don’t give me that face,” was the first thing Cody said when he finally deigned to open his eyes.

Obi-Wan, caught mid-insufferable-smirk, quickly arranged his face into something with less smug. “I shall endeavor to do nothing of the sort. So?”

“I see what you mean,” Cody grudgingly allowed. He looked like he was still chewing something over, so Obi-Wan let him stew in silence while he packed up the remains of the incense and their mats. They shared a quiet dinner over formwork together, as well as a quick update sent to Mace when they dropped out of hyperspace to shift to another lane.

They continued to meditate together. Over time, not always with their lightsabers; Obi-Wan didn’t say anything about it, because a Commander Cody was—at times, very rarely—a creature easily spooked, and Obi-Wan had to be careful in his approach to certain things. But it was—good. To have someone else to share time and space together like this. He hadn’t realized how much he missed it until it became a regularity in their schedules; oh, he meditated plenty with Ahsoka, when the 501st and 212th was berthed together or they were sharing missions, and sporadically with Anakin in these same instances, but it… was somewhat another thing, to come to look forward to meditation with another.

Now it wasn’t just Obi-Wan—by himself, in his silent quarters—but it was Cody-and-Obi-Wan, and Obi-Wan was also realizing how much he had missed teaching. It wasn’t the same flavor of interaction as between a Master and Padawan, but Obi-Wan enjoyed that Cody was an excellent listener and genuinely enjoyed hearing Obi-Wan ramble on about whatever topic of the day it was. Or topic of the hour, as it sometimes happened. Not only that, but he was the most delightfully clever conversationalist—something that Obi-Wan had always known, at heart, yes, but was coming to explore more and more, as of late.

And then there was the other side of Cody’s learning how to wield a lightsaber.

“You’ve been holding out on me, darling.” Obi-Wan reset and swiped his hair out of his eyes with his shoulder, sweaty fringe just flopping right back over his brow. Of course. He needed a trim was what he needed, but first… he had this to sort.

“I bet you say that to all the men who try that shoulder lock on you.” Cody snorted and readjusted his grip with a quick twirl of his lightsaber. Obi-Wan felt something molten and shivery slide through him, because he had taught Cody that. He manfully ignored the quiet whisper in the back of his head that Cody’s fighting style, after this, would have the hallmark of Obi-Wan’s hands all over him.

The good Commander took Obi-Wan’s split second of distraction as his cue. Bastard. He’d probably been doing it on purpose. Obi-Wan very carefully ignored the frisson of feeling that thought gave him, focused on defense, and then, when Cody had settled into a rhythm, pressing the attack.

“Only you, my Commander,” Obi-Wan said warmly. He ducked under Cody’s guard when his step faltered at that little exchange and the quick twist of the wrist Obi-Wan gave his ‘saber, but didn’t quite press his advantage. This match wasn’t about beating Cody into the ground, though Obi-Wan had no doubt that his Commander would give him a run for his money even if that were the case; no, this was about teaching Cody, and drilling the muscle memory into him.

Cody had taken to lightsaber fighting like a quacta to slime. They’d rotated through each form, but Cody had returned to the first they had drilled for a strong foundation, and Obi-Wan had to say that it quite suited him. This variant of Shii-Cho focused more on lethality than disarming, something which might have given pause to the Jedi Obi-Wan of five years ago had been—but Obi-Wan of now couldn’t argue with results, if those results were what kept Ghost Company alive and well and the Sith from overtaking them. His Commander fought with a combination of focus and brutality, utterly utilitarian but almost elegant in its most efficient economy of motion. Obi-Wan found himself almost comparing Cody’s style to that of a Nabooan ballet dancer’s, famed for their relentless discipline and endurance.

The bout ended when Cody broke through Obi-Wan’s guard with a clever bit of bladework and bashed the crown of his head into Obi-Wan’s face, narrowly missing breaking his teeth in.

Obi-Wan laughed through the blinding pain—literally, his vision was still sprinkled with bright lights and strange afterimages—and said, lying on the floor, “I was right.”

Cody narrowed his eyes at Obi-Wan, lightsaber—now off—imperiously leveled at Obi-Wan’s chest.

“You have gotten better, now that you’ve been meditating with it.”

So, yes. It might have started when Cody found that lightsaber—and held onto it—and learnt to wield it properly. Obi-Wan had a suspicion—well, he had a number of suspicions. This primary suspicion, however, was how it ended.

It was supposed to be a routine inspection; rote, trivial, something necessary but not a thing anyone truly looked forward to. But a gaggle—or perhaps drove—of senators had decided to invite themselves along, some kind of publicity stunt, Obi-Wan didn’t know. Usually Adi handled these sorts of things, or else one of the other PR- or legal-inclined Masters. Thus, of course, Chancellor Palpatine had to say some words at the landing pad—some inane drivel about whatever the hell sentiment Palpatine was using to drive through his bill of the week. Obi-Wan tried not to grimace too obviously at the thinly-veiled warmongering the Chancellor was using to drum up support and inclined his head toward his Commander, about to comment on the daring sartorial choices of one bold politician, when Cody tilted his head towards Obi-Wan and nearly knocked him on the temple.

“I didn’t know the Chancellor used to be a Jedi,” Cody said.

Obi-Wan’s comment died halfway up his throat. He blinked at Palpatine, then at Cody. “Pardon?”

Cody shifted infinitesimally backwards on his heels, allowing Obi-Wan a better view of where Palpatine stood on the other side of Cody, with Anakin flanking the Chancellor’s left.

“He’s got a lightsaber in one of those concealed carry holsters at his back,” Cody told him, eyes still forward, settled in a textbook-perfect parade rest. “I was.” His eyes shifted to Obi-Wan and then back forward in a rare—and unsettling—display of trepidation. “Doing a bit of meditation. As it were. Haven’t had the chance to get the ‘saber out in too long with all these… press tours. So I felt it. First.”

Obi-Wan gaped, forgetting all about the attendant senators and cam droids and the battalion of clone troopers at his back. There were… well, very few reasons he could think of to explain why Senator Palpatine, of all people, had a lightsaber. In a concealed carry holster meant to hide it away even from the eyes of Jedi, of all things. Because—“He most certainly is not, and never has been, a member of the Order,” Obi-Wan said. In fact, he had never been a part of any Force sensitive sect. In fact, Obi-Wan had it on good authority and as a matter of public record that the Chancellor was as Force sensitive as a brick.

Allegedly.

Well. This would either be very, very funny, or disastrous for all of them. Obi-Wan held out a hand and yanked, not letting himself think of any other outcome. A cylinder of cool metal slapped into his hand, stinging his palm and sending an unpleasant shock down his arm. If not for his long history of battling Sith, Obi-Wan might have dropped it on the spot for how it reeked of the Dark, now out from Palpatine’s immediate sphere of control.

Mas Amedda’s blathering stuttered to a halt. Obi-Wan stared at the hilt in his hand, then at Cody’s expression slack with surprise. He thought he knew what the color of the blade would be even before his thumb hit the switch; it was almost like a dream, or a barely-remembered dreg of an old nightmare.

A venomous scarlet light sprang forth.

“Well,” Obi-Wan said after a moment. “I suppose now you can say that Sith lords are our specialty.”

Palpatine shrieked something hysterical and reached out, fingers curling into hooked claws and expression contorting from that of a kindly grandfather into a spitting tyrant. Obi-Wan braced himself for something—he didn’t even know what—and—

Brilliant green light split the morning. Cody caught Palpatine’s chain of Dark lightning on his blade and bared his teeth in a fierce challenge. The stark shock on Palpatine’s face was almost enough to make Obi-Wan laugh. Instead—he leapt forward with his own lightsaber raised in a cross with Palpatine’s—cutting off whatever poison Palpatine had been about to spit at his Commander.

In the end, it came down to the timely and swift intervention of the Coruscant Guard. Anakin had been too busy torn between shouting at Obi-Wan that there must be some mistake, and being goaded by Palpatine into drawing on Cody. Palpatine kept trying to say something to Cody, or else to the nearest officer—Gregor, taking potshots at the Chancellor or else keeping the other senators away from harm—but every time, Obi-Wan or Cody drove him back to the edge of the landing pad and parried another round of lightning or dodged Force shoves.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” Fox said to Cody, after, as the scene was taped off and various senators’ statements were taken. He’d shot Palpatine just under the heart, giving Cody the chance to take Palpatine’s head off. Obi-Wan would have been shiningly proud, except he was currently trying to keep his ribs from puncturing his lungs and steering Anakin away from going into histrionics.

“Er, Cody,” Obi-Wan said, tugging on the sleeve of Cody’s blood- and char-spattered greys. There was something very pressing he had to do, right before Mace got here, and his ribs were as supported as they were going to get until a medic got to see to him.

Cody turned, resplendent in his sweaty flush and still breathing hard. Fighting with him in a duel like that had been exhilarating; just as on the battlefield, they worked together like a well-oiled machine, and if not for the circumstances of it all, Obi-Wan would have been enjoying himself immensely.

“I’m tendering my resignation as an officer, effective immediately,” Obi-Wan told him, watching the way the Coruscant sun limned Cody’s tight curls from behind and gilded the edge of his cheek. With that out of the way, he fisted a hand in the front of Cody’s stiff uniform and pulled him down to kiss him soundly on the mouth. Quite a few troopers whooped at the sight; that was likely Gregor who was wolf whistling in a truly obnoxious manner.

“You had to do this in the most dramatic way possible,” Cody said, but he sounded fond, despite it all. He pulled back, cast a critical look at the way Obi-Wan was holding his ribs, then ducked back down for another—more chaste—kiss. “As long as you’ll take me with you when you go, my General.”

From just beside Obi-Wan, Anakin let out a sound previously only heard from gravely ill massiffs and tipped right over his breaking point.

[hippiichi]

Days 3, 4 and 5 of Adventuretober!! i am late... but determined to finish a prompt list for the first time in 5 years o7

[bcyhoods]

🎤 VOCALIST ── send in a character + any prompts in this cool tag or a lyric prompt of your choice for a blurb (remember to tell me which list the prompt is from!)

dreamy (from different types of kisses) + angel baby steve <3

— ivy / @inkluvs

i am realizing now how difficult kisses are to write smoothly lolz. hopefully this is okay <333 | 1.3k gn!reader

“You know, I don’t think you’re actually supposed to aim for my toes when we do this.”

Your head falls to his chest in resignation, a groan of equal sentiment dying out in the cotton of his shirt. Even though his subsequent laughter is genial and bright, your face still burns against him. You’re sure if you stayed there any longer that the searing heat of your cheek would leave a discolored patch on the garment.

“You are such a jerk, I’m trying my best!” You argue, pulling back with your eyes squeezed shut and nose facing the wall to avoid his gaze.

He watches with a wide grin as your expression twists in embarrassment. And though he can clearly see that your eyes are closed, he still ducks and tilts his head to make sure they’re level with his own. His stare is stuck on your eyelids, frantically darting between the two to see if you’ll give him the pleasure of opening them any time soon. He laughs again when he sees your timid smile before you pull your chin to your chest.

“How am I the jerk? I’m the one with a broken foot, here.”

As dramatic as he is, the words carry no real annoyance. He’s fine; his foot is intact and he’ll most certainly live. Still, your palm grows sweaty where it’s clasped with his.

It was a silly idea that he’d proposed. Well, enforced to be more accurate. An off-handed comment — a little muddled by a handful of popcorn in your mouth — about having two left feet made him spring up from the couch and offer his hand. He was absolutely determined to help you practice slow dancing, hyping up his adequate sense of rhythm and decent coordination.

And he’d looked so eager, with fluffy hair and old clothes for pajamas, smiling down at you with a fondness that made it impossible to refuse. You take up his offer with little hesitation, figuring it would be easy enough. Plus, it might be worth it to be this close to him for a while, and he’s thanking you for it in his head.

But a couple of scratchy, romantic records later, and all you have to show for it is an imprint of Steve’s big toe on the sole of your sock-clad foot.

While he’s red in the face from laughter and joy, frustration is pulling the corners of your lips into a frown. Because what should be a romantic scene is a little more difficult for you than you want it to be and you might be getting in your own head about it. Admittedly, you’re taking it a bit more seriously than he is.

“I promise I’m trying,” you mutter under your breath, barely audible as you stare down at your feet to make sure you don’t step on him again.

His brows crease in concern at the change in your demeanor. “I know,” he answers softly. When you don’t look up at him, his arm tightens around your waist to pull you against his frame. A reassuring squeeze is sent to your hand before he’s toying with the promise ring on your fourth finger, smiling as he recalls the matching one on his own. He finishes with a deeper cadence, still just as gently, “I know. I was just messing with you.”

There’s a beat of silence between you before he sighs and halts your swaying completely. He smooths his hand up your back, leaving a line of fire across your spine with his blunt nails until they end up at the nape of your neck. Meanwhile, the hand that’s wrapped in yours is guided to his torso, prompting you to hold onto him there instead. All for the greater purpose of cradling your face in his hands.

He knows you too well. A promise of love shines in his eyes as they catch the subtle annoyance hidden in the creases of your face. The softness of his smile, his touch, is a manifestation of that promise and it has you taking a particularly hefty breath to calm the chaos in your chest.

“Hey, you’re doing fine. Promise. Stop worrying that pretty little head of yours.” He looks you in the eye the entire time, rubbing his thumbs over your cheeks to emphasize his final point. And maybe being this close to him was a bad idea because you’re afraid your knees are going to buckle at his attentiveness.

And the fear becomes even more prominent when you spot his eyes dip down to your lips just for a split second before returning. You can feel your heart jump into your throat and the gooey smile being pushed onto your face before you can restrain it. He mimics the same expression, as if it’d be any help to your current state. You’re so out of it, you barely hear him ask, “Wanna keep trying?”

“You make me nervous.”

He blinks. “Me? Why do I make you nervous?”

“Dunno!…’Cause you’re, like…you’re looking at me like that,” you try to explain. It comes out in between nervous laughter, pushed out through teeth glued together in a smile only he can seem to cause. And he decides to take full advantage of it.

“Hmm. Like what?”

His brow raises suggestively before inching closer to you. His mouth just hovers over yours, tauntingly tickling your skin with a smug grin. You swallow down your nerves, nudging his nose with the tip of your own.

“Like…”

You push closer, puckering your lips against his in a kiss that’s barely there. Tenderness seeps through his fingers as they cup your jaw, and scratch the nape of your neck to elicit a sigh from you. His breath hitches at the sound and he’s pushing into the kiss out of poorly constrained excitement. His lips drag slowly, like he’s savoring the taste of you and committing it to memory. He all but whines when you’re finally pulling away for air, resting your forehead on his.

His lips are slick and kiss-bitten, face flushed and ears bright red. His chest is heaving and his eyes are closed in bliss. He looks wrecked and you’re not doubting that you look the same, but looking at him like this makes your stomach flutter.

You giggle, this time a more deliberate sound. “You’re distracting me.”

He huffs in disbelief and pulls back to look at you. You can feel his hands grow warmer in your skin with each passing second, the blush on his face deepening. “You’re distracting me! I’m supposed to be teaching you.”

“Well, you’re not doing a very good job,” you wince playfully, nudging his wounded foot.

As if it were possible, his smile widens and an airy laugh reverberates in his chest. “Yeah, cuz you’re looking at me like that.”

He dives in to capture your lips once more and hums at the contact. It’s notably more difficult this time around, your smiles getting in the way as your teeth clumsily scratch against each other. But it doesn’t stop either of you from pressing on, lips locking and clicking with every ebb and it makes your fingers twist into his tee. He pulls back with his lips comically puckered and placing them on your forehead for one final kiss.

“You're fine. You’re gonna get it, hmm?” He looks at you expectantly and you just about melt in his arms. It’s a silly thing, sure, but he sounds so sure, so confident in you. And his brown eyes are wide and teeming with ardor. You nod, a huge grin on your face.

“Let’s just hope you’re not in a cast by then.”

[savanaclaw1996]

The King of my Heart-Leona Kingscholar x Fem! Reader (TwstOber 2022)

Day 6: Crown. From the TwstOber2022 prompt list from @raven-at-the-writing-desk. Enjoy!

Warnings: mentions of Chapter 2 spoilers!

Word Count: 1,007 words.

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

Leona sometimes wondered why he was even born into royalty. If one is born a royal, that meant that they could be treated with the utmost respect, right? Well, Farena, his older brother, got that respect, so why not he? He was also born a royal. It just wasn’t fair. But, then again, life isn’t always fair.

"Life is determined for you from the moment that you're born, it doesn't matter how much you try to change it." Those were the words he told himself, and he believed them. If no one is going to respect or admire you, no matter how hard you work to make yourself appealing, why even bother trying to prove yourself?

Leona was lying on that certain one patch of grass under the tree in the Botanical Garden that's reserved just for him. It has been a week since his Overblot episode, and he was still slightly weak from it. He was still recovering from his Overblot episode and the rest of the dorms beating him up.

The Magift Tournament really took a lot out of him. But it still didn’t feel like it was enough. He did tell (Y/N) when they were in the infirmary that he would give it his all at the next Magift Tournament, but the vines grown from the seeds of doubt planted in his heart started to ensnare themselves around it.

"Would I really be able to give it my all next time?" he asked himself as he slowly opened his eyes as he looked at the sunlight shining through the Botanical Garden’s domed roof. "If Malleus wins the Tournament again, then what worth am I?"

He let out a heavy sigh as he turned to his side and shut his eyes, driving those heavy thoughts out from his mind and getting ready to snooze, when...

"Unca Leona!” a child’s voice yelled loudly, making Leona jolt in his spot. That screeching voice...! "Oh, no..." he groaned as he facepalmed in dismay. "Not him...!" Sure enough, a little lion child appeared from the bushes and ran up to him. He leapt and landed on Leona’s stomach, making him wheeze.

"There you are, Unca Leona!" Cheka said with a bright, happy smile on his sweet, cherubic face. Leona recovered from the pain and glowered at his screech-box of a nephew.

"How did you know I was here, furball?" he asked grouchily. "Did Ruggie tell you I was here?" Cheka shook his head. "Nope. Auntie (Y/N) said so. She took me here to find you." he said, pointing at the person appearing from behind the bushes.

"Cheka was wondering where you were, so I took him to find you. Ruggie-san told me you'd be here." you said, smiling. Leona scoffed as he rolled his eyes. Of course Ruggie would tell you and Cheka where he would be.

"I brought a little gift for you. Grim and I made it." you said as you knelt down beside Leona. "I helped her!" Cheka added proudly. "Oh? What is it?" Leona asked, raising an eyebrow.

You placed your backpack on the grass and took something out from it. It was a white cardboard box. You then placed the box on the grass, opened it. You reached your hands into the box and pulled out a little circlet. It was made of copper wire with gems looped inside and vines with purple flowers adorned the wire, providing the finishing touch.

"What’s that?" Leona asked, looking at the circlet in your hand. "Stay still for me, please." you replied. Leona obliged as he sat still. His ears twitched as you gingerly placed the object on his head. A few purple petals fell to the ground.

"There you go. Don’t you look regal?" you said with a playful smile as you looked at Leona's new look. Cheka clapped his hands in delight. "Unca Leona looks so handsome!" he exclaimed. Leona raised his hand and gently touched the flowers on his circlet. "Okay, what's the deal?" he asked in annoyance. "I'm not in the mood to play your silly little game, herbivore."

"Leona, I just gave you a crown." you replied. Leona froze as he turned to look at you. "A crown?" he asked. You nodded. "Yep. I got the copper wire from Sam's Mystery Shop, the gems I got from the Dwarf's mine, and the purple flowers I plucked from the woods near campus." you replied.

"Cheka came and helped me tie the vines on the wire." you said. "Those purple flowers are purple heliotropes. They represent eternal love and loyalty. Leona-senpai, that crown is a symbol of my undying loyalty to you. Even if you can’t be a real king, you’ll forever be the king of my heart."

"Huh... Is that so?" Leona hummed as he looked at you, his annoyed expression slowly becoming that of fondness. Despite everything that had happened, him Overblotting and nearly turning everything and everyone into sand, you leapt in without a single trace of fear and pulled him out from the inky depths of despair, thus saving his life.

Even when he wanted to nap, (Y/N) would tell him to attend his classes. She had complete faith that he could achieve something, that he could be more than a second-born prince.

He then looked at his nephew. Cheka will one day inherit the throne of the Sunset Savanna; thus, he will have the crown. While your creation may not be a real crown of royalty, your heartfelt declaration and gift were enough to make the vines of doubt wrapped around his heart to wither away.

He smiled. "Thanks, herbivore. I appreciate it." he said as he looked at you fondly. You smiled sweetly. "You're welcome." you reply. He then turned to Cheka. "Thanks, furball." he said, tousling his hair. Cheka smiled.

He then placed a tender kiss on his uncle's cheek, making Leona blush. "You're welcome, Unca. I love you lots." Cheka replied. Leona just scoffed. "Yeah, yeah." he said dismissively. But still, he truly adores his nephew.

[the-offside-rule]

Max Verstappen - Nice To Meet Ya

Requested: no

Prompt: Nice To Meet Ya by Niall Horan

Warnings: nope

Max sat in the Red Bull garage, looking over to a new member of the team, Y/n. Max could never seem to be able to introduce himself to her casually and that bothered him greatly. He just wanted to know her name and he couldn't even do that right. He would go asking, but then word would spread and people would assume things. Regardless if Max felt those feelings or not, he didn't want those whispers spreading. He carefully formulated multiple plans to find out her name and nott a single one seemed to work. Everytime he turned around, she disappeared which made everything so much more difficult.

Max looked away from her to talk to one of his engineers that was showing him something and the second he turned back around, she was gone. He groaned slightly frustrated. Where did she have to be all the time? He had given up on waiting for her, he decided to go and look for her instead. He turned to his engineer Paul and decided to just ask. "Hey Paul? Who's that girl that I keep seeing but never meet?" he asked, trying to sound as uninterested as possible but it didn't work. He tried too well and that's what betrayed him. "What? Do you fancy her or something?" Max was cornered now. "Yeah, yeah. Don't tell anyone! But who is she? I've never seen her before." he said, keeping his voice down. "Well you can go and ask her now. She's working on your car." Max spun his head around and low and behold, there she was doing a check. "Right guys, the car seems to be alright on the outside. Let's have a look inside and then fire her up." Max was almost captivated by her voice as he looked down at her admiringly. He heard a few chuckles and laughs which made him look up to see some of the other mechanics catching his stare. "Guys! Less of it, come on!" the mystery woman snapped. Max liked her. She was feisty.

"Can I help you at all or are you just going to stare at me from behind?" his eyes widened. "No, not at all. Just watching the car." Max replied cooly. "Actually, what's your name? I know everyone here except you." he continued on. "Does it matter really? You can't possibly remember who I am." she scoffed. "No really, I know everyone's name. I just need yours and I've ticked off my list." She stood up, finally finished looking in her side of the car. "Front right is fine." she called and walked to the computers. "Seriously, what is your name? What do you do here?" She finally gave in. "I'm Y/n Y/l/n and I'm Composite Event Support Technician for Red Bull Racing in 2023." Max blinked. Y/n. What a beautiful name.

"So then Y/n, any problems with my car at all?" Max asked as she worked away. "Nope. You don't have to worry about any of that. You just drive well so it proves we weren't wasting our time." She smiled, getting a bit annoyed with the driver. "I am getting the feeling that you don't like me all that much." Y/n let out a breath and turned back around to work. "Look, let me bring you out and I'll prove I'm not that bad of a guy." Max said swiftly sliding in front of her. "Out? Like a hangout?" she asked. "I was thinking more of a date." Y/n looked at him with wide eyes. "Isn't that a bit unprofessional?" she asked. "Very but I want to blow your mind. Just come with me." She chuckled and shook her head in disbelief. "You just met me and already you asked for a date. Why is that?"

"No reason. I just like the way you talk, I like what you wear, it's just perfection." he smirked. "You've only ever seen me wearing Red Bull gear." she laughed. "So let's change that. I'll treat you to a drink and you can determine whether or not I'm a good person." Y/n really didn't want to go but she was curious. Was he at all a good person? Only one way to find out she guessed...

[wecandoit]

Hi everyone! I've been doing this challenge called 30 days of intentionality (30doi) and I thought I'd explain how I'm doing it in case anyone wants to join in! I have no prompts for this one bc it is by nature quite personal.

THE CHALLENGE

Similar to the 30 days of productivity challenge, this one is really open to interpretation. Anyone can do it and mold it however they like, I'm just here to give a little bit of guidance to those who need it.

For me, intentions include 'keeping in good health', 'studying for my dream job', 'working towards my career', 'maintaining and building good friendships'.

If you're unsure about how to format your posts, this is what i include:

- date - intentions (if you make these vague, it's a good idea to elaborate on how you plan to achieve your intentions) - a recommendation (current reads, songs, movies, videos, etc) - reflection - tags with #30doi here's an example of one of my 30doi posts for reference

other notes:

I usually update my post throughout the day, crossing out the stuff I've done and adding in a reflection before bed if i can.

You can do this challenge manually, I sometimes write my intentions down on paper for a few days and then transcribe (you don't have to transcribe)

This challenge should be for you, don't worry about posting consistently, or making your posts pretty. the important thing is that you are being intentional with your day.

Even if you don't physically post or write your intentions, try to think to yourself what they might be each day, and try your best to meet those.

Off-days are okay, in fact, they are what make this challenge a real challenge. if you're just running on the momentum of having had a perfect streak, there's no difficulty in this

Tag your posts under the tag #30doi so that others can see your posts and interact (including me)

if you want a reblog, i track the tag #heydilli which can be used for non-challenge posts too

That's all I can think of for now, but like I said, the 30doi is open to interpretation and i am by no means taking credit for 'creating' the challenge. like i mentioned for the 30dop, i don't really believe these challenges can be created. Below the cut is a rant about intentionality and my reasons for doing this challenge if you want to have a read.

Hope to see your posts and progress, xx dilli 🤍

What is intentionality?

We all know what intentions are—your purpose and meaning behind doing something. Intentionality is bigger, it is "the structure which gives meaning to experience." Intentionality is your capacity to have intentions. Having intentions governs how you perceive every experience you have. Take this example: if your intention for tonight is to wind down and relax, settling down in front of the TV will be viewed as a way to rest, reset, recover. If however, your intention for tonight is finish up uni work, watching TV will be viewed as a way that you procrastinate and avoid doing your work. Your perception of anything, then, is informed by your intentions. Without intentions, anything that you do can seem pointless. I often have a never-ending list of assignments, but if I don't actively intend to do work, watching Youtube all night doesn't seem like a bad thing—after all, it's not like I intended to do anything else with my time.

Why am I doing this challenge?

Lately I find myself moving through my daily routine rather mindlessly. I do a bit of schoolwork here, a bit of mindless scrolling there, but I don't really know why I'm doing these things. I have goals that I'm working towards, but they seem distant and unaffected by my day-to-day choices. In reality, though, the choices that I make every day are what determine whether I reach my goals, where I will be and what kind of person I am in five or ten or however many years. By setting intentions, I will make it clear what I should be doing and why it is important that I do it. The idea is that by merely logging my intentions and results over these 30days, I will subconsciously be predisposed to fulfil those intentions

Read more about intentionality here

[multifanhoe99]

Kinktober Day 3- Lingerie

This is gonna be self-indulgent as hell and I am not sorry but also I hope you enjoy it!

Pairing: non-idol!JB x afab!Reader

Warnings: Pet names (Daddy, Princess, Baby), mentions of panty stealing, mentions of masturbation, oral (fem. receiving), PIV intercourse, creampie (fem. receiving), no condom (be safe out there y'all), spanking, hair pulling

=Please let me know if I missed any.=

PROMPT LIST

MASTERLIST

~18+ MDNI ~

It was not often that you wanted to buy fancy things. Even less often the fancy stuff you happen to buy turns out to be something sexy to wear for your husband. This time you couldn't help it. One day in your boredom you decided to do some online shopping and found a gorgeous lacey emerald green set that you knew would look amazing against your skin tone. Even better it was on sale! One night's bored purchase is another night's fun. Honestly, you had almost completely forgotten you bought it until it came in the mail today. It was a pleasant surprise, a gift from your past self and you couldn't help but be thrilled. Just then you got another idea. You were going to make an event of it. You had the day off to relax anyway why not make it worthwhile. With that determination in mind, you went to take a shower to get ready for what you had planned. After your shower, you applied some light makeup and fixed your hair into neat french braids that finished off as low pigtails. He liked your hair like that for very obvious reasons. Then you put on the new lingerie set you bought. On top of it, you put on the dress you know he loves seeing you in the most. It's a long red sundress with flowers on it and a slit that goes up the middle rather than down the side. Once you were all dolled up and ready you decided to head to the kitchen to fix up his favorite meal and to set the table like they would in a restaurant.

When you were finally done you sent a quick text to your husband, -I have a surprise for you when you get home! I hope you like it I love you. See you soon!- You knew he should be on his way home by now and the notification would come up on the dash screen of his car. A few minutes later you get his reply, - I can't wait! I am almost home. I love you too!- It was exciting waiting in anticipation for him to come home. Not even five minutes later while you were putting the finishing touches on the meal you heard the front door open and close. You went out to greet him, "Hello my love how was work?"

"Ah, you know same old-," he pauses when he finally looks up from taking off his shoes to switch to his house slippers, "Wow, what's the special occasion that my beautiful wife feels the need to make my knees weak."

"There is no special occasion I just felt like pampering my handsome husband because he's been working extra hard lately," you replied moving closer to give him a kiss. He instantly returned the kiss and placed his hands on your hips. Before the kiss could get any more heated you pulled away, "Dinner is ready in the kitchen. I made your favorite."

"Have I ever told you that I love you," he asks following you into the kitchen/dining room.

"Only every single day Jae," you respond with a giggle at his affection. No matter how long you two have been together Im Jaebum gives you butterflies like it's still the very first date. Upon seeing the spread you had laid out on the table he came up to hug you from behind and whispered in your ear, "So you did all of this just because I have been working extra hard? I feel like you are planning something, Princess."

"What I can't just want to do something nice for you," you ask trying not to give your true intentions away.

"Okay, I will believe you for now. Let's eat then," he says giving you one more kiss on the head before going to sit down. You both enjoy your meal together and he helps you clean up. When everything was cleaned and put away you went up to JB and wrapped your arms around his neck. He placed his hands back on your hips. You lean closer to whisper in his ear again, "There is more to your surprise. Join me in the bedroom will you?"

"See I knew you were up to something," he says with a smile but follows you to the bedroom anyway. You sit him down on the edge of the bed and tell him to close his eyes. Once you are sure he isn't peeking you remove the dress you were wearing and throw it into the hamper in the corner of the room. You let him know that he can open his eyes and when he does you don't fail to notice the way his eyes darken when they look at you. His expression shifts from one of pure admiration to something darker and full of lust. You can hear it in the timber of his voice when he says, "Come here princess let daddy get a closer look at you."

You can't help but do what he asks this was your plan after all and you couldn't be more glad that it worked. As you step closer he places his hands on your thighs. It is gentle at first and then he moves up higher. Wrapping his arms around your thighs and pulling you closer so he can see as he moves his hands up to your ass and giving it a firm squeeze. Then he lands a sharp spank on your left cheek and soothes it by rubbing his hand softly over the spot. "Look at you, baby. You look so good for me all wrapped in lace like this. I will try not to ruin it while I am busy fucking you into oblivion," he growls from his position below you. From that same position, he lifts you up with no issues and tosses you gently onto the bed so that you're lying on your back.

He takes his sweet time kissing and nipping at your inner thighs. He makes his way so slowly to the place you need him most. You can feel how wet you are just from this and he hasn't even properly started yet. You know that he is doing this on purpose and are sure this was his own plan ever since he became suspicious of you planning something. He was moving so slowly and so gently and you knew that he could see how much it affected you from the ever-growing wet patch on your new panties. "Da-daddy please don't tease me anymore I c-can't take it. I need you please," you beg gasping when he nips just a little bit harder at your most sensitive parts.

"That's it, baby beg for me. Beg for me to use this pretty little pussy however I want," he replies finally giving you some type of relief by rubbing a thumb up and down your covered folds. He continued that for a little while longer and then gave in at the sound of your desperate moans. He pulled the panties down your legs and once they were fully off he shoved them into the pocket of his slacks. You already struggled to think and he was only getting started. It only got worse when he finally gave your pussy the attention you wanted him to. He licked a long stripe up your glistening folds humming in satisfaction at your taste.

"What do you think princess should I take my time eating you out until you cum again and again on my face or would you just like me to get you ready enough to take my cock," he asks. It was getting hard to form words. The combination of his tongue and his two fingers that joined shortly after his question was blurring your mind with pleasure. He stops all movement to say, "Come on baby use your words. Already so fucked dumb and I have barely even done anything yet. What do you want you can say it."

"I w- I want to-to-to- wanna get ready for daddy's cock," you say barely able to string the sentence together. Jaebum had a way of doing that to you and you loved it. You loved being able to give yourself over to the pleasure he brought you and he loved it too. Hearing your answer JB dove in like a man starved. After so many years he knew your body like nobody else and he knew exactly what to do to bring you over the edge. His mouth licking your sensitive clit and his middle and ring fingers plunging deep into you. Every time you'd touch yourself when he wasn't around you could never get your fingers to go as deep as his. He brought you ecstasy like nothing else. You could feel yourself getting closer.

"Daddy I am so close please can I cum I really wanna cum on your face please please, please," you begged almost crying.

"Cum baby cum all over my face and then again one more time on my cock after," he said temporarily removing his mouth from your clit and then going right back. When he replaces his mouth you feel yourself let go coming all over his face and fingers. It feels so good but you know you aren't done yet. He wastes no time moving away to remove his own clothes and then flipping you over. He pulls your hips up and once he has the right position he slides right in. He gives you enough time to adjust to him and as soon as he's sure you're okay he sets a fast pace. At first, his hands are on your hips giving your ass harsh slaps every so often that make you yelp and moan at the painful pleasure. Then his hands move to your hair each hand taking one of the pigtails and then pulling back making your back arch and he is able to hit a new deeper angle. He can feel you tightening around him and he knows you're close again which is good because so is he. He leans down into your ear, "That's it, baby just a little more, and then let's cum together yeah?"

He keeps up this pace and it is only a matter of time before you're falling off the edge cumming all over his cock and he follows seconds after. Cum spurting out in thick ropes into you. It takes a moment for you both to calm down but when you finally do he goes to the bathroom to get a warm rag to clean you up. "That was amazing and you should online shop more often if this is what it leads to," he jokes.

"Yeah I will get right on that," you respond with a laugh. He helps you clean up, take your make-up off, and let your hair down. You both fall asleep in each other's arms after exchanging a sincere 'I love you' and you couldn't be happier to end your day with him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: HOLY COW!!! I am so sorry for being so late on this one but like I said it was really self-indulgent and I definitely got super carried away. Luckily day 3 is done and day 4 will be out later today so as a bonus for this one being late you technically get two in one day! HOORAY!

[csuitebitches]

Rebranding Yourself Online using ChatGPT

Summary from “Brand Aid: Taking control of your reputation before everyone else does” by Larry G Linne and Patrick Sitkins. This book is from the early 2010s so some things are outdated and not exactly applicable. It’s also a more corporate/ business focused book. I took away what i felt were the major lessons and were more applicable to young adults/ teens/ people on social media today (because social media in 2013 vs today is very different).

I also wanted to add my own input to the summary. I’ve added prompts for ChatGPT that you can use to help figure your personal brand out better.

When rebranding yourself online, I would highly recommend:

1. Archive all your personal Instagram account’s posts (if you have an online business, create a separate page and show very little of yourself). Remove all your stories and highlights. Deactivate your account for at least 8 months.

2. Spend the next 8 months building your social media strategy, your personal brand and reinventing yourself in any way and form you want to (mental, physical, spiritual, etc).

3. Use Pinterest and figure out a theme that defines you the best. Take a look at @mafeanzures

————————-

* A brand is what people think of you.

Questions to ask yourself:

1. What do you think other people think of you?

2. What personal attributes would you benefit from the most if those items were well known to everyone?

Question 1 and 2 in the next few prompts refers to these 2 questions.

ChatGPT prompts after you finish writing down the above answers:

“I want to develop my personal brand on instagram (or any one social media site at a time). Currently I’m seen as a (2 of the most negative qualities and 2 of the most positive qualities from question 1). I want to be seen as (4 of the most positive qualities from question 2). What should I do to be seen as that?”

This will give you a STRATEGY that you can further modify.

Now, ask the same question again but with one change:

“I want to develop my personal brand on instagram (or any one social media site at a time). Currently I’m seen as a (2 of the most negative qualities and 2 of the most positive qualities from question 1). I want to be seen as (4 of the most positive qualities from question 2). What should I post online to be seen as that?”

This will give you CONTENT that you should consider posting.

**

* It is very likely that if you are to meet someone new and you’re aware you’re going to meet them, you’ll check their social media out. Whether its LinkedIn, facebook, twitter, instagram… keep your online presence clean.

* Before you post ANYTHING online, ask yourself: “how will this affect my brand?” If you post a story about a nasty break up/ a friendship falling apart/ a negative restaurant review… how do you think other people will see you? Be extremely mindful of your brand and what you post online.

* Rather than the age old advice “just be yourself”, look at “just be your best self.”

**

7 steps to a great brand:

1. Write down what you think people think of you: both positive and negative

2. Determine your goals in life (career, family, etc). What brand items do you need to get there? For example, the brand item “intelligent” to move up the corporate ladder. What will you need in order to be perceived as intelligent?

3. Gap analysis: the difference between point 1 (current situation) and point 2 (desired situation).

4. Develop action items. For example, if you want to be seen as innovative at work, start bringing ideas to meetings.

5. Influences on your brand: your dress, style, voice tone and quality, health, recreation, the car you drive, social environments, where you live, the language you speak, the subjects of your conversations, social media postings all impact your brand.

6. List what you must do to protect your brand. For example: not drinking in public; dressing a certain way; etc.

7. Review every 6 months.

Ask ChatGPT: “I am (ethnicity) (gender), (age) years old based in (City, country). Currently I’m seen as a (2 of the most negative qualities and 2 of the most positive qualities from question 1). My viewers would mostly be people from (conservative/liberal/ rural/ urban/ define audience. In case there are two audience types, ask one at a time) backgrounds. I want to be seen as (4 of the most positive qualities from question 2). What behaviours should I not engage in?”

**

Using the power of “always”: 5 specific things you pride on yourself for doing regularly.

“I always take the time to be updated in my field of work.”

“I always volunteer every Sunday.”

**

Things to keep in mind:

A. Are you easy to find online?

B. Is your content consistent?

C. Do your pictures, videos convey your personal brand?

D. What will enhance your brand?

E. What will damage your brand?

Ask ChatGPT: “I want to develop my personal brand on instagram (or any one social media site at a time). Currently I’m seen as a (2 of the most negative qualities and 2 of the most positive qualities from question 1). I want to be seen as (4 of the most positive qualities from question 2). What can potentially damage my brand if I’m not careful?”

**

If you are willing to see what you are doing and saying on the front page of a newspaper tomorrow, proceed with it. If you wouldn’t want it on the front page of the newspaper, STOP immediately.

**

More things to keep in mind:

1. The internet amplifies everything

2. Context matters

3. Consistency is everything

4. Your “at home” brand is as important as “outside of home” brand

[cissyenthusiast010155]

The First Corruption pt. 1 ~Lucifer Morningstar (sandman) xFem Eve!reader

Lucifer Morningstar (sandman) tempting Eve… Lucifer uses they/them. Perhaps a second part where there is a happy ending…?

Link to Part 2

Mommy…Master List

Requests & Prompt-List

Warnings: NSFW, 18+!!!, religious talk, smut, Virgin!reader, fingering, tongue fucking, eating out, corruption kink, praise kink, bondage kink, gagging kink, sex with the devil, etc…

Longer Fic; part 1 of mini series

Enjoy (;

The Creator had done many things over the life times of humanity, but the one thing he really messed up on was you. Or as The Creator liked to call you: Eve.

You despised that name. The second you died, you had changed it. And only The Creator and his followers still dared to call you that. You scoffed at the creation story. You were created for Adam for fucks sake. I mean, how sexist was that?? You couldn’t believe that The Creator wouldn’t suspect you to stray.

Especially when the other option was a tempting, tall, blonde, corrupted goddess… You still remember the day vividly… The day your world turned upside down… The day you picked your own side.

~~~

You were in a separate part of the Eden after fighting with Adam. He didn’t trust you to go off without him. What an asshole. You were determined to prove him wrong, so you and stormed off. You were caring for the nature when you sensed a presence watching you.

You weren’t as blind as Adam and The Creator painted you out to be…

“Whose there?” You asked.

A dark, looming presence revealed themselves from the shadows.

“Only me, my dear…” the tall, white cloaked figure purred.

You gulped.

“You’re…” Your voice chocked out, not being able to finish your sentence.

The stunning presence chuckled, “Yes. I am. But you can call me Lucifer.”

The fact that The Creator’s followers still stick with the stupid snake story was such utter bullshit…

You gulped at their being. Your stomach moved around in a new, heated way… Your throat became dry… Your legs trembled, but not out of fear…

“What are you doing here?” you hesitantly asked.

Lucifer made their way closer to you, slowly pining you against the tree you were admiring.

“Well…” they purred into your ear, “I’ve been watching you for some time… and I could help but notice how… unsatisfied, you are…”

You gulped.

Looking back, Luci had been completely right. You were so innocent and unsatisfied before they came into your life…

“I’d like to propose something to you.”

“What…?” You whispered back, intimidated and flushed at their close presence.

“I believe you haven’t been shown how beautiful you truly are. You haven’t been shown true satisfaction and pleasure. Let me show it to you…” she purred into your ear, slightly nipping at your ear.

You breath fled from you.

“I don’t know what you mean.” You naively responded.

Lucifer chuckled, “I know you don’t. So here’s the proposition; Be with me, leave Adam and come with me. Let me own you instead of The Creator and Adam…”

You gulped at this. You considered the tempting, fallen angels proposal.

“Show me…” You spoke in a hushed tone, “Show me what you mean. What it would mean to be owned by you. And then I’ll decide.”

A devilish smirk plastered across Lucifer’s face.

“Deal.”

Lucifer’s eyes shifted at the sight of you and your innocence, they grew darker with lust.

“Be a good girl and sit yourself against this tree…” they instructed you.

The nickname made your body shiver… This all being new and exciting for you. You did as you were told. Lucifer sat himself in between your legs.

“What are you doing?” you inquired.

Lucifer chuckled at your purity, “I’m going to show you what true satisfaction is, Darling…”

Your heart beat started to race at their words.

“What should I do?”

“Nothing, love… just sit back and relax…” Lucifer reassured you.

Lucifer brought their hands down to your thighs, parting them. You gasped at the sensation. They smirked to find your pussy already soaked.

“Your soaked…” Lucifer remarked out aloud.

“I… I don’t understand…” you panted, starting to feel hot.

Lucifer met your needy, innocent eyes.

“You will…”

Lucifer waved their hand, and a pair of vibes came down from the tree. The vines gently grabbed your wrists, bringing them above your head and holding your wrists tightly in place.

“What…?” You breathlessly and dazed self questioned.

“Do you trust me, love?” Lucifer inquired.

“Yes.” You immediately responded, making Lucifer blush and hum in delight.

“Just one more thing…” Lucifer muttered, gering up to grab something and then kneeling back in front of your spread out legs.

“What’s that for?” You inquisitively asked the tall, fallen angel.

Lucifer held a piece of fruit from the tree you had been nurturing mere minutes ago.

“For your mouth, Darling.” Lucifer explained, as they stuffed your mouth with the supple, sweet fruit, “Wouldn’t want the entire cosmos to know who you belong to, now would we?”

You raised your eyebrow in confusion, and Lucifer couldn’t help but giggle at your innocence.

“You’ll see in just a second, my love…” Lucifer purred, bringing her face down to meet your wet cunt.

Your lower body fluttered at the proximity of the winged blonde. You squirmed against your restraints, the pain obvious but you didn’t seem to mind it…

Then all of a sudden, your felt a spasming, overwhelming, hot wave wash over your body. You cried out, the fruit muffling your moan, and clenched your legs instinctually around the fallen angels head. Lucifer moaned in your pussy at your reaction to just one lick of your cunt, sending even more sparks through your body. You mewled in response, tugging at your restraints.

Lucifer looked up at you, “Want me to stop?”

You shook your head desperately, making the Lightbringer grin a devilish grin. They went back to your throbbing pussy, and continued to lap through your folds at a slow and agonizing pace. They now held your thighs spread wide open with their glorious, black wings, so you didn’t crush their head from all your hip jerking at every contact with your touch starved cunt.

You cried out and begged, the restraints making you dizzy in such a delicious way. The fruit, sitting in your mouth and gagging your every cry of pleasure. It was dripping down your chin at this point from your teeth penetrating it’s skin.

God you looked so good being corrupted…

Lucifer began tongue fucking your aching core, adding a finger to your clit. You arched your back at the new sensation, tears streaming down your face. As much as the fruit was muffling your whimpers, mewls, and screams, Lucifer could still very much hear how much pleasure you were getting from this very non-innocent experience.

Your body began getting hotter and hotter, and you felt a tension start to build in every fiber of your being. You desperately tried to tell the glorious, winged being who was eating your cunt out like a starved man. Lucifer registered that you were close, as your walls were fluttering and tightening around her tongue more and more.

“Let go, Darling… Let go for me… Let it wash over you…” Lucifer encouraged you, as they picked up they pace of their tongue fuckings.

You cried out, the fruit gagging you, making you even more dizzy and tension filled. Suddenly, Lucifer sped up her motions on your clit, eliciting a scream from your gagged mouth.

Your whole body seemed to snap in that moment. Your legs shaked relentlessly… Waves of warmth and ecstasy crashed over your whole body… Your back arched against your restraints as your eyes rolled back… Lucifer greedily ate up your cum as you howled in pleasure.

But they didn’t give you any time to come down from your blinding high… Instead, they replaced her tongue, with their finger running through your folds. You yelped and whimpered at your sensitive folds being stimulated even further. Lucifer brought their cum splattered face up to your level, still swirling their finger in your juices.

“Such a good girl…” they praised you, before plunging their finger into your tight, overstimulated pussy.

You cried out in pleasure at their fingers inside your needy and desperate cunt.

“But I don’t think your quite satisfied…” they wickedly purred into your ear, as they thrusted into you.

You shook your head, desperately wanting more.

“Hmmm… Just like I thought…” Lucifer lustfully mused, “Adam could never properly satisfy you, could he?”

At that, Lucifer added another finger into your needy, fluttering cunt. You shook your head relentlessly at their question, making Lucifer smirk. They picked up their pace, thrusting deeper into your core and curling their fingers inside your pussy. Their lips were by your ear, as you cried out in pleasure by their actions.

Tears streamed down your face as you sloppily bucked your hips up to meet their thrusts. Lucifer let out breathy moans and obscenities into your ear, only spurring you on even more… The fruits juices were running down your breasts at this point. Lucifer hungrily gazed at the sight and lowered themselves to your sticky breasts. You groaned at the sight. They greedily licked and sucked all the juices of the fruit off your chest, around your breasts, and off your nipples.

It was all too much. The restraints… The fruit gag… The nipple play… Their dirty words in your ear… Their fingers squelching in and out of your cunt…

This time the orgasm hit you out of nowhere. You screamed in pleasure as it ravished through your body. Your head jolted back in pleasure, slamming against the tree…Your eyes rolled into seeing stars… You wrists squirmed against the vines… Your thighs fought against their wings… Your pussy squirting and clenched all around Lucifer’s fingers.

Lucifer moaned at the designer of you…They helped you down from your second, massive high, leaving you a panting, breathless mess. They gently removed their wings from your thighs, and their fingers from your dripping, sensitive cunt.

“You did so good, my love…” They purred into your ear, untying your wrists from the vines.

All you could do was whine in response. They took out the smushed fruit gag from your mouth, throwing it aside, and clashing their lips into yours. The kiss was a mixture of you, Lucifer, your cum, and the sweet nectar of the fruit gag. You both moaned into the kiss. Lucifer pulled away first, eliciting a whimper from you, causing Lucifer to chuckle at the sight of you.

“So darling, are you satisfied now?”

You bit your lip and eagerly nodded in response. Lucifer couldn’t help but blush at your response.

“Well… Will you be mine then?” They purred, nipping and marking your neck.

“Yes. I’m yours, forever…” you breathlessly moaned, as Lucifer bit into your neck drawing blood.

“Good girl…” they purred, “And let this eternal marking be a reminder of who you belong to…”

It was your turn to blush now.

But your time was cut off all too short that day…

From a distance you both heard Adam looking for you. You panicked, and for the first time noticed your naked body.

“Hey, it’s alright love.” Lucifer comforted you, “I have to go now, but we’ll be together again one day.”

“When?” You asked with a rushed tone, “When will I see you again??”

“Not for a while unfortunately, darling…” Lucifer confessed, sorrow lacing their tone, “But we’ll be together in the end. I must go now.”

As Lucifer got up to leave, you pulled them into one last kiss. It was full of emotion, care, and love. It was promise that you would see each other again one day.

Then Lucifer left. And Adam had found you, against the tree of knowledge with the forbidden fruits juices all over your chest…

Part 2 of Lucifer reuniting with Eve!reader 😏

[gigglesandfreckles-hp]

52 and/or 63 from that drabble prompt list please! love your stuff <3

from these prompts

“It’s simple really,” Lily says, spreading her various scribbled-on parchments out on the table between the three of them.. “Like taking sweets from an ickle baby.”

“That’s just plain devious, Evans.”

Remus clears his throat. “I think,” he glances toward James then looks back to Lily with a polite smile, “we would enjoy hearing this plan.” He smile grows. “Not that the build-up has been anything less than delightful.”

Lily rolls her eyes. “Your sarcasm and lack of appreciation for proper story-telling has been noted, Lupin.”

“I appreciate your story-telling, Evans,” James points out, smiling proudly at her.

She raises an eyebrow at him. “You do know that my willingness to get naked in front of you has nothing to do with your false flattery, right, Potter?”

Remus makes a miserable sound. “Can we please get back to the matter at hand?”

Lily winces apologetically, but James just grins, his eyes crinkling at the corners. It’s not as if Moony and the other lads aren’t used to this by now. He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, his fingers drumming lightly against the wood. His gaze is steady on Lily, a mix of amusement and admiration. Lily catches his eye significantly, then glances away.

“Right. Anyway.” She aims a puff of air at her fringe, so that the hairs scatter away from her eyes. “They cut through the South Courtyard on their way back from the library, every night except for Wednesdays, because of—”

Remus nods in understanding. “Slug Club, right.”

“So if we do it Tuesday—”

James sighs, shifting in his chair, his brow furrowing with impatience. “Evans—”

“No, hush, I’m not done.” She waves him off, determination lighting up her features. “If we do it Tuesday, it’ll be easy. A quick Disillusionment charm for the two of you, I’ll be around the corner waiting for the signal and—”

“That’s not going—”

Remus kicks him under the table, shooting him a warning look. “Let her finish, Prongs.” James slumps back into his chair, but otherwise motions for Lily to keep talking.

“Thank you, Remus. This is why you’re my favourite.” She sends a sharp glare toward James. James, her boyfriend, who has been sitting here for an hour  like an angel listening to Lily’s ridiculous plan to try and get back at Mulciber for his hexing of Mary last week. “We won’t leave him without any of his clothes, of course, because that’s more of a punishment to the rest of Hogwarts than it is to Mulciber, but—what do you think?”

Remus taps his fingers along the table, considering. “I think it’s a good starting place.”

“Are you open to some feedback?” James asks, leaning forward.

Lily shakes her head, self-importantly. “Not at this time, no.”

He tosses his head back and laughs. “Evans.”

“Don’t ruin this for me, James. I swear I—”

“It’s not that I don’t love to see you plotting and planning to give it to Mulciber,” he says, then laughs again at the offended look on her face. “No, seriously, it’s a good thing Moony is here because, the effect it has on me, Evans…the ideas in my head right now just simply aren’t appropriate for the library.”

“Thank you so much for your restraint,” Remus says dryly.

“But?” Lily demands, her sharp gaze fixed on James.

“But,” he continues, dropping his voice even though they’re practically alone in here this early on a Saturday morning. It’s why he and Remus are the only ones who responded to her owl, while Sirius and Peter opted for a lie-in. “We have an Invisibility Cloak. And a map. We—”

Lily hits the table in front of them, shaking her head fervently. “That’s cheating!”

James scoffs. “How is it—”

“Careful, Lily,” Remus hums lightly.

“Is that what you think? All these years?” James yelps, his voice rising in pitch. “You should be impressed. Who else in this castle has—”

“I am impressed by the map, James, and you know it. Magic that advanced…” She smiles cheekily. “It’s at least half the reason I’m dating you. But it just puts all your ridiculous pranks in a new light. When you consider the fact that you’ve had an easy way of becoming invisible—”

“Take that back!” James insists. “It’s still impressive!”

Remus leans back in his chair, smirking. “I told you, Lily.”

“Look,” Lily tries for an appeasing tone, but it only serves to make James pout further. His own girlfriend thinks all those brilliant pranks were only accomplished by cheating? What kind of cruel world is this?! “You are very intelligent and I—”

“Stop talking to me like I’m six,” he mumbles, folding his arms over his chest and sticking out his lower lip.

Lily and Remus lock eyes across the table for a moment, then immediately burst out laughing. The sound is loud and unabashed, echoing through the otherwise quiet library. Lily’s shoulders shake with mirth, her eyes shut tight, while Remus leans back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he tries to catch his breath.

“What?” James demands, scrambling to sit up straight again in his chair, eyes darting between the two of them. “What’s so funny?”

“Have I mentioned how much I like having you around, Lily?” Remus says through his laughter, completely ignoring James. “Merlin, it’s so much better when there’s someone else to humble him.”

“I hate both of you,” James says, glaring. “And, Lily,” he purses his lips, haughtily, “your plan is rubbish. I’m not helping you.” He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose for good measure, because he means business.

“Okay,” Lily snorts loudly, leaning back in her chair with a mock-serious expression. “Damn, Potter. I’m truly gutted. Honest to God, I’m not sure how I’ll ever recover or find the will to go on.” She turns smoothly toward Remus. “You’ll help me, won’t you?”

“Of course.”

James makes a sound of indignation, his face reddening further. “We’re not friends anymore, Remus.”

“Shame.”

“And Lily?”

“Yes?” She lifts an eyebrow, daring him to say something equally scathing.

“You and me,” he says, struggling to commit to the false threat while she’s looking at him with those eyes, bloody Merlin and Morgana. “We’re…we’re…”

“Uh huh?”

“Well, I am…not very happy with you right now,” he finishes lamely.

She grins at him, eyes sparkling with amusement. “I’m sure the feeling will pass. Just as soon as I’m naked again.”

[dragons-bones]

FFXIV Write Entry #19: Levinstorm

Prompt: taken || Master Post || On AO3 (coming in October)

A/N: *poking at the list of intransitive phrases "taken" is a part of* ho-hum, so many possibilities, what to--ah. ahhhh. "taken sick."

*digs out idea from when she first ran through Dawntrail*

...oh right, spoilers for Dawntrail. :D

---

“We’ve got incoming!” Krile called out.

Synnove whirled on the ball of her foot, grimoire at the ready, and sucked in a breath. A battalion of Everkeep sentries and aerostats marched towards the Solution Nine aetheryte plaza from the Residential Sector, the heavy stomp of their movements ringing out against the electrope walkways. The civilians clustered behind them began screaming in alarm.

“Gods be good, that’s a lot,” Lamaty’i breathed out, even as she brought her axe to bear and settled into a defensive stance. Heron joined her, grim but determined.

“There are still civilians on True Vue,” Sphene said, hands clutched to her chest as she watched aerostats fly overhead. “We won’t be able to reach them in time!”

Synnove’s carbuncles joined the defensive line with herself and the others, warily watching the slow but inexorable advance of the machina soldiers. As Alisaie spoke further down the line, however, a wiggling in the pouch on her hip—one with a void storage metafold installed—caught her attention. Since the carbuncles wouldn’t let her be caught unaware, she risked looking down, just in time to see Amandina pop her head out of the pouch in question.

The ward Synnove and the others had devised had worked to alleviate the worst of the levin-overload that Amandina experienced within Alexandrian borders, but the black pearl carbuncle was still not her usual self. Listless, constantly napping, only crawling out of the metafold pouch to burrow her face into Synnove’s neck for cuddles and aether-siphoning. Her little girl looked up at her now with still-crusty eyes, but her face was set into a determined scrunch.

Mommy, Mommy, I can help, Amandina said. Even her aetheric harmonic gave the impression of congestion, and Synnove felt terrible at how heartbreakingly adorable a stuffy-nosed carbuncle sounded. I have an idea.

She was trying to crawl out of the pouch and Synnove hurriedly knelt so Amandina could use her thigh as support without the risk of falling. Roksana’s head popped out of the pouch once Amandina was clear, her ears wriggling excitedly.

Amandina carefully sat up on Synnove’s thigh and put one paw on each of her cheeks. Mommy, Amandina said seriously, take the levin-ward down.

“What? No,” Synnove bit out, trying to gather the carbuncle up into her arms, but Amandina kept eeling under her arms and hands. “You’re even worse inside Everkeep, I am not putting you at risk—”

Mommy, I can HELP, Amandina warbled. It doesn’t need to be down for even five minutes, and I’ll get really staticky and sparky and it’ll be enough that I can knock out all the machina and then you can put the ward back up and I can take another nap!

“Sweetheart, you don’t have any combat capabilities yet, you’re too small,” Synnove said, fighting down the panic rising inside her. Shite shite shite, she really should have finished the suite of upgrades before they left for the New World—

Mommy, I can do it! Amandina’s little face was stubbornly determined in a way that Synnove had never seen before.

Indecision clawed at her heart, as she looked first from the black pearl carbuncle to the still-advancing machina.

“Synnove, it’s worth a chance,” G’raha said quietly. “At worst, she can teleport right back to Roksana’s side, and with these numbers, any help will get us to True Vue faster.”

Synnove closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath, then heaving it out again. “Fuck,” she breathed softly. Then, louder, “Fuck. Fine. Roksana—”

She looked down towards her hip, but the white pearl carbuncle had already dived back in and returned with a bottle of enchanted ink in her mouth. Synnove sighed again, and worked the cork free, then held out her hand. Roksana’s eyes narrowed as she concentrated—the ink was liquid but the water content wasn’t high—but within a few seconds, a stream of glittering black ink slithered free like a serpent. It splashed onto her open palm, and once sufficiently doused, Synnove snapped her fingers.

An array flashed across both her palm and the back of her hand, and thus prepared, Synnove plunged her hand down into Amandina.

The carbuncle’s side rippled as the aether comprising her physical form obediently allowed her summoner access to the code that floated in the heart of her. Amandina giggled as Synnove wiggled her fingers, up to her mid-forearm. Levin-ward, levin-ward, where did it go—there.

With a twist of her fingers, she disabled the ward, and withdrew her hand.

Almost immediately, Amandina drooped, and what little purple iridescence was in her fur dimmed to nothing. She jumped down to the ground with a wobble and took a big, snotty snorting sniff.

Blergh, she said, somehow even more congested than she was not even ten seconds ago.

“Amandina,” Synnove said gently, “you don’t have to do this,”

I can help, she insisted. Levin began to crackle along her ears and tails.

Synnove moaned low in her chest as Tyr leaned into her side and Rere hugged her from the other. She watched, heart in her throat, as Amandina shook her head, levin now crackling all along her body, and began a wobbly run towards the oncoming battalion. Purple glowed and pulsed around her, and somehow, the little black pearl carbuncle began to pick up speed.

[Alert: levin in Junior Construct Amandina approaching critical levels,] Ipomoea said in her bland voice.

Synnove whimpered.

Now is not the time, Galette hissed.

But then all of their heads swiveled as a sound from ahead got their attention.

Ah—

Heron swore, and lunged forwards, the wings of Passage of Arms growing around her and snapping open protectively as she took point. “G’raha!” she snapped.

“Oh, shite,” the archon said, darting forward to join her with his own Passage wings.

AH—

Amandina was almost at the front line of the advancing sentries and all that could be seen of her was a bright ball of levin, crackling so loudly now that thunder began to quietly rumble. And out of the corner of her eye, Synnove spotted Ipomoea turn to regard Sphene with an oddly shrewd look. Then the sapphire carbuncle reached out, and tapped the foot of the Alexandrian queen.

Sphene yelped as she began floating, a round shield completely encompassing her.

ACHOO!!!

Synnove slammed her eyes shut, ducking down over Rere’s head, but her vision still went white as levin exploded outward in a wave. The ground shook as thunder roared in its wake, and for multiple heartbeats, Synnove was blind and deaf to the world.

When her senses returned, spots danced in her vision and her ears rang like cymbals.

“Holy fucking shite,” Rereha croaked.

“What?” she said, voice raised.

“What?” Rere said back. She thought.

The former battalion of Everkeep sentries and aerostats was now a smoking pile of electrope; the front lines that had taken the full brunt of the explosion of levin were utterly obliterated, and the only units that remained fully intact, if deactivated, were at the back. A glance around, however, showed that the lights of the Residential District had gone dark, as had the holographic displays of the Nexus Arcade close to the aetheryte plaza. In fact, the only thing that still seemed operational on this level of Solution Nine was the aetheryte itself.

And Queen Sphene, as Ipomoea flicked her ears and the shield around her dissipated. Sphene landed with a soft click of her heels and she stared, jaw slightly slack. “Oh, dear,” she whispered. G’raha, meanwhile, was pushing himself back to his feet, and Heron was hauling a dazed Lamaty’I up as Krile, Alisaie, and Alakhai began checking the civilians.

Roksana crawled out of the hip pouch, and made a motion as if she was biting on something, and yanked. A small, black form shot through the air, and Synnove scrambled upright to catch Amandina as the carbuncle thumped into her sternum. She still had aetheric ink on her hand, so with another finger snap, she was shoving her hand into Amandina and turning the levin-ward back on.

Amandina’s sniffle was less snotty. Oops, she said, peering with half-open eyes at the darkness of the Nexus Arcade. Sorry.

Synnove laughed wetly and dug out a handkerchief, holding it up to Amandina’s nose. “No, you’re not,” she said.

Amandina HONKED into the handkerchief obediently, wiped her nose on a clean spot, and then sniffled again.

No, she grumbled, crawling up Synnove to tuck into the comfort of her neck. This place sucks.