#Daffodil Grey

[life-imitates-art-far-more]

Oskar Zwintscher (1870-1916) "Portrait with Yellow Daffodils" (1907)

[drzibs]

the horse girl in me wants so badly to draw eom’s trusty steeds….. i can see buttercup and witchstomper so clearly in my head

[shilohsylvanian]

Daffodils are next on the Fairy's list, theyre growing so fast! 🏵

[haileygiustiillustration]

Flash Sheet from months ago that I keep forgetting to post 🫣

Find Me Elsewhere ✌🏻

Commission Me 🖤

[foxsoulcourt]

greens, yellows + more for @bishybarnaby

[dansnaturepictures]

03/03/2024-A beautiful day at Hayling Island Oysterbeds and home

Pictures taken are of: An angelic Mediterranean Gull the bird I came here wanting to see and it was amazing to see them with their stunning black heads, ruby red bills and pure white colour in summer plumage with their dulcet tones surrounding us in the hustle and bustle of them and the Black-headed Gulls coming into their nesting grounds here which was lovely to see, a bright daisy, in a nice meeting of the seasons one of the gorgeous Brent Geese I made the most of seeing close to their migration now today one of my favourite birds, views on a brilliant day by the sea at Hayling Island which I really loved being out here in, the tree in pink blossom and a key bird seen at home today Collared Dove on a sunny and frosty morning out the back and Roe Deers at Hayling Island it was lovely to have seen and photographed them three days running now a male we saw with nice antlers again I've not often seen this species with antlers really. Other key sightings at Hayling Island were Great Black-backed Gull, Great Northern Diver seen well again here this year, Pintail, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, loads of Redshanks, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk a bird I'm on a great run for to start the year, Grey Seal which was nice to see in the water, lesser celandine, daffodils, a group of mallow leaves climbing high at the shore and Cetti's Warbler heard. On the way it was lovely to see my first Brimstone butterfly of the year by the motorway with Goldfinches in the sun, Magpie including on the car and a stunning Blackbird singing at dusk other at home highlights. A day that epitomized the change, hope and joy of March.

[voucwjryey]

[zyqyyoenbt]

[wherekizzialives]

The Small Things Spreading Joy: February 2024

[evangelical04]

A Single Daffodil || 1

Summary: Getting arranged to be married to your long-time crush wasn't exactly the fairy tale romance you were hoping for. Nor is the dynamic of the marriage, with your husband treating you like you don't exist. But you're going to make this work, whether he cares about you or not. And he definitely doesn't...right?

Pairing: Min Yoongi x Reader

Rating: 18+ minors DNI

Word Count: 2.7K

Genre: angst, romance, unrequited love, smut, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage au, businessman yoongi

Warnings: parental trauma, sibling trauma, toxic parents, unrequited love, explicit language, alcohol usage, yoongi's kind of mean, future smut

Author's Note: hello! i'm Eva and this is my first fic on tumblr ever! I've been a reader for so long and I've always wanted to write my own stories, so I figured I finally would. I know it’s kind of short but I promise the other parts will be longer. Please give me any feedback you have and let me know if you'd like there to be a tag list or anything! I hope you guys like it!! p.s. I'm totally posting this instead of doing my morphology homework that's due in 15 minutes

masterlist / next

The door to your childhood home looked artificially welcoming. There were too many flowers lining the walls encasing the looming wooden door. The grass on the lawn just was a bit too green without a blade out of place and the paved walkway was freshly powerwashed and missing even a speck of dirt. You let out the deep breath you were holding and gently took hold of the overly ornate bronze knocker adorning the painted wood of the door. Two loud thuds rang out as you knocked and the door quickly opened afterwards.

“Hello, Miss Y/N, your parents have been expecting you.”

“Yes, I know. Thank you, Mrs. Oh,” you responded quietly, nodding at the grey-haired woman. She shot you a sympathetic smile before ushering you in, taking your coat and carefully laying it over her arm. After removing your shoes, you followed her past the foyer to the living room where your parents awaited. 

You knew what was coming, you knew that this had been decided long before you were born. Yet, you still felt unprepared. You had grown comfortable, living in your simple apartment in Gangnam and your quiet work routine. Biting your lip, you reprimanded yourself internally, You should’ve brought this shit up in therapy before it happened.

“Here we are, Miss Y/N,” Mrs. Oh said, snapping you out of your self-pity session. You nodded gratefully at her, sending a small smile her way. Her eyebrows wove together in her own pity-ridden expression and she quickly whispered, “Good luck,” while exiting swiftly. You steeled your nerves and forced your chin up high, knowing that you’d most likely cower inwards as soon as you faced your parents anyway.

Stepping into the room, you noted the almost intervention-like setup your parents had arranged themselves in, with your father sitting proudly in his reclining, leather armchair, clad in a dark blue quarter zip and khaki pants. Your mother stood facing the fireplace, arms crossed, in a simple and elegant turquoise dress and hair tied up in a tight and neat bun, with her baby hairs smoothed back to prevent any imperfection. You could almost imagine her pinched mouth, forever encased in a stern and unamused expression. 

“Hello father, mother,” you started, trying to smooth the slight trembling in your voice. Your mother turned around, eyes narrowing at your form, “Sit down.”

You promptly obeyed.

“Your father and I have decided on your marriage. It’ll be to the Min family, to Min Yoongi.”

“What? To him? But,” you began protesting but your mother quickly cut you off with a steely glare. 

“It has already been decided. Your wedding will be in eight months. I’ll forward you the invitation list and you can add three people of your choosing. You’ll be having dinner with us and the Min family on Friday at six. I’ll have Yujin send you an email with further details. Don’t be late.” 

You looked to your father in a desperate plea but were only met with stony silence and a passive face. You turned back to your mother and registered the composed expression painting her face. Your fate had been decided, and it had not worked in your favor at all. Rising slowly, you set your hands by your side and bowed towards your parents, “I understand. I’ll be there.”

Your mother swiftly exited the room, evidently deciding the conversation was over. You could hear her dangling earrings tinkling against each other in what felt like a mocking melody. Your father calmly produced a cigar from the table next to him and lit up, no longer acknowledging you either. You let out another slow breath and walked out. 

Collecting your coat from Mrs. Oh, who tried to give you a comforting shoulder squeeze but it felt more like condolences than anything, and made your way to your car parked in front of the gate closing off your parents’ home. 

That’s it then.

You felt eerily calm yet stressed as you started up your car and carefully reversed out, making sure to avoid hitting the carved statues your parents had in front of the iron gate. As you drove home, your mind started racing with the information you had been relayed. 

Min Yoongi as your soon-to-be-husband? What irony.

Does he even know you exist?

Will you be able to survive this?

Hand gripping the steering wheel hard, you quickly dialed the most recent number in your contact list. She answered after only two rings.

“Y/N! Are you still alive? How’d it go?”

“Hi Joohee, not great. I’m completely and totally fucked.”

Joohee chuckled on the other end of the line, “Want to come over?”

“Yes,” you breathed, “I was hoping you’d offer.”

“I’ll get the booze.”

“Min Yoongi? Now that’s ironic,” Joohee chuckled, seemingly at your expense. You shot a glare her way which she shrugged in response to.

“How long have you been crushing on him? This is, like, practically fate. Maybe this’ll be a good thing.”

You scoffed in response, “A good thing? Joohee, be serious. The last thing I want to do is get with my long-time infatuation, not crush, by forcing him to be my husband.” You took another swig of wine. It was a cheap pink Moscato, perfect for nights like these with Joohee. 

Joohee shoved a pillow in your direction in an effort to gain more room on the couch you had stuffed yourselves onto. The trash reality dating show you had on in the background was showing a rather dramatic fight but you paid it no attention, “It’s just…I haven’t talked to him in the last, what, five years? He probably doesn’t even remember me. And you’ve heard the rumors, I don’t think he’ll be exactly thrilled at giving up his playboy lifestyle just because he has to marry me.”

“What if he doesn’t give that up?”

You stared at Joohee in slight surprise, “What do you mean?”

“Like, what if he says that he doesn’t want to stop hooking up with other people? What will you do?”

Your brows furrowed as you considered the question, “I don’t know, I guess. I mean, I can’t really stop him. I guess I’d just have to live with it.”

Joohee hummed in response before continuing on, “Well, this is happening whether you like it or not. Just try to make it amicable at the least. Maybe it’ll work out, you never know. Just look at Jin oppa.”

Kim Seokjin, Joohee’s older brother and a friend of Min Yoongi’s, was arranged by Joohee’s parents to marry Song Yeonhee, and the two had seemingly fallen in love after a rocky start to their nuptials. You had seen them recently at Yeonhee’s baby shower and she had been glowing, looking unbelievably happy. You recalled the loving gaze that Seokjin had sent her during the party and the pang of envy you felt, knowing that you would likely never get to experience that. 

“Yeah, well,” you responded, “He’s an outlier. Most of these types of marriages don’t work out. I have a feeling I’m going to be a part of that group.”

“You’re too negative, you haven’t even met him for dinner yet. Maybe he’ll surprise you. You just have to give him the chance.”

You mulled over Joohee’s words and nodded, “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I guess I’ll see how Friday goes.”

You weren’t technically late. 

While you still had about 5 minutes before the dinner officially started, you weren’t early, and that was unacceptable by your mother’s standards. A mini emergency at your job had left you scrambling to leave on time, only noticing the late hour when one of your coworkers asked if they should order take-out for the team. After profusely apologizing to your team, they encouraged you to go, practically shooing you out the door, claiming they could handle the situation for now. 

Which left you barely on time to park in the lot outside the ridiculously fancy Japanese restaurant your mother’s assistant, Yujin, had sent to your email earlier that week. You quickly stepped out, smoothing out your dress that you had kept in the backseat of your car and had hastily changed into in the parking lot of your office. Tugging down the hem, you took a moment to look at your reflection in your car window and attempt to look more presentable. Your hair was slightly frizzy but nicely combed back, and you had extremely minimal makeup on from only remembering last minute this morning, and your eyes looked tired. 

You felt tired.

Shaking off your nerves, you headed inside the restaurant giving your family name to the hostess who took you back to a private room where your mother and father were waiting. Your father spared you only a cursory glance before returning his gaze to his phone and your mother looked you up and down before uttering a curt, “Hm.” You held in an eye roll and quickly sat next to them, trying to calm your heart rate for the sure-to-be exhilarating dinner ahead. At six on the dot, you spotted the same hostess leading the Min family towards your table. Your mother stood, welcoming them and urging them to sit down. You stood as well, a little less welcoming, a lot more obligated. 

Mrs. Min looked like the epitome of a rich older woman with dark black hair combed back and glittering jewels lining her ears and neck, complementing the midnight blue gown she had on. Mr. Min was dressed quite similarly to your father, in a simple suit, the only difference being his starkly greying hair providing quite the contrast to his dark blazer. Close behind them was the person you were the most anxious about meeting, Min Yoongi. His pitch-black hair complemented his slightly tanned skin nicely and his feline eyes remained straightforward and untelling. He was dressed in a simple black suit as well with an expensive-looking watch adoring his wrist. His mouth was closed tightly and he did not smile at your mother when she greeted him, not at your father when they sat down across from your family, and certainly not at you.

Your hands nervously played with each other in your lap as you took your seat again. You listened quietly as the mothers exchanged pleasantries and the fathers gruffly greeted each other. You were trying to avoid looking at Yoongi as much as possible.

“So, Y/N,” Mrs. Min started, making you startle to attention, “How old are you now?”

“Twenty-nine, ma’am.”

“Ah, so only a bit younger than Yoongi. That’s good then. How is your work?”

You felt your father stiffen next to you and prayed your discomfort didn’t show on your face, “Good. I’m in the middle of producing a new project with my team.”

“How lovely. Although I’m sure you’ll be leaving that soon after the wedding. You won’t need to work then after all,” Mrs. Min smiled at you. It was hard to read her so you couldn’t tell if she was being genuine or not, though if you had to guess, it was likely the latter. Your job was a point of contention with your family. Choosing to work in a video game production company did not go over well, and if your older brother, Kyungsoo, hadn’t been in line to inherit Seo Industries, you would’ve never been able to keep it. 

You smiled awkwardly in response to Mrs. Min and returned your gaze to the empty plate in front of you. 

As the conversation dragged on, you couldn’t help but steal a glance or two at Yoongi, who was periodically checking his phone and looking permanently bored of the conversation. Not that you could blame him. The dull talk of social circle gossip and work was beginning to get grating, and even the introduction of fancy entrees wasn’t enough to stop your stomach from feeling queasy. 

Yoongi had yet to say one word to you. To be fair, you hadn’t said anything to him either, but he had barely looked in your direction since he entered the private dining room. How exactly were you supposed to start a conversation with that? 

Soon after the desserts came out and were finished, with you politely refusing, feeling like you were going to throw up any second, Mrs. Min suddenly pushed her chair back and stood. She looked down at you and Yoongi and announced, “Well. I think we can leave them to talk on their own for a bit. Why don’t you join us for a drink at our home, Eujin-ssi?”

At the sound of her name, your mother stood, nodding, “Yes, that sounds lovely. Let’s let them get to know each other a bit more.” With that, the parents swiftly gathered their belongings and left, before you could even protest, leaving you staring open-mouthed at the exit. 

Slowly, you turned to face Yoongi and were startled, seeing his eyes already boring into yours. 

“Let’s get one thing straight,” Yoongi stated, his deep and stable voice wrapping around you for the first time that night, “This marriage means nothing to me. It shouldn’t to you either. I’ll do my thing and you do yours. Most importantly, stay out of my life except when necessary. Just because my parents are forcing my hand doesn’t mean I have to adhere to every little thing. Nothing will be changing except for our living situation and a ring on our fingers.”

A little stunned, you could only stutter a passive agreement and watch as he rose and left without sparing you another glance. 

Letting out a deep breath, you closed your eyes, trying to understand what had just transpired. Your heart raced as you quickly stacked up the dishes to be a bit easier for the busboy and quickly made your way to your car. Sitting down in the driver’s seat, you vaguely registered Min Yoongi’s cold demeanor towards you.

It seems he didn’t remember you after all.

The dress you had on was itchy, but you knew if you complained, you would only end up with a sharp stinging on your cheek and tear-filled eyes. You had escaped the boring party with grown-ups and were sitting outside on a stone bench in the garden, trying to remedy your hurt feelings at the hands of the mean, older boy, Hyunsoo. 

He had confidently poked fun at your appearance, saying the dress was a bit too small on you and that your parents should’ve sprung for a size that could fit an elephant instead. He continued on, saying your parents must’ve forgotten to vaccinate you for measles considering all the red spots on your face that were actually acne. Being a tender twelve years of age and going through the worst bits of puberty, his words hit you hard and you quickly ran from the scene into the garden. 

Unable to contain your tears, they slipped down your face in large droplets and soaked into the front of your dress. 

“Hey, you.”

Startled, you looked up to see a boy a couple of years older than you standing in front of you, black hair shining in the light from the garden lamps. His sharp eyes trailed down your tear-stained face. You quickly turned away in shame, not wanting to undergo any more embarrassment tonight. 

“Hey, snot-face.”

You shot him a glare but softened when you saw his hand extended, holding a handkerchief, his face turned slightly away, “Use this. You look ugly while you’re crying.”

You gingerly took the cloth from his hands and blew your nose, noticing him wince out of the corner of your eye. 

“Thank you,” you managed and he only rolled his eyes in response. 

“Yeah, whatever. I think Joohee’s looking for you,” he grumbled before turning on his heel and stalking off back towards the party. 

Confused, your eyes followed after him, not knowing how he knew that Joohee would be looking for you. You unfolded the handkerchief and noticed an elegant embroidering of three letters in black near the bottom, MYG. 

Oh, you realized, Min Yoongi. Joohee’s older brother was friends with him but you had never seen him before. Joohee had described him as kind of rude and quite closed off, but you disagreed. He certainly didn’t seem that bad.

masterlist / next

[certifiedbueckethead]

paige x gamer girl 🎮 ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

paige bueckers x gamer girl reader

warnings: jealousy, fingering, strap, bad language, explicit smut

word count: 2.6k

a/n: my first paige post on tumblr, unedited because I am tired lol, lmk if you have any suggestions dms are open <3

Readers pov 

It’s a typical Thursday night for you, you’re sitting in your small dorm that you luckily don’t have to share with anyone. It’s about 2 am and you’re sitting at your desk, which has several monitors along with a few consoles, a keyboard and various other items. Your desk setup was your pride, since you spend so many hours playing some of your favorite games such as stardew valley, valorant, overwatch and occasionally gta online if some of your friends were on. You look at the time, it was still early for you so you close stardew valley, frustrated that one of your neighbors didn’t accept your gift, I mean who could say they don’t like daffodils? You open valorant, and message a few of your friends to get on. Azzi, Ice and KK join your party and you instalock your favorite agent - Jett. You have your headset turned on, and as the game goes on, your team ends up coming back and just as the score reads out 8 - 10 you hear a knock on your door. You move one side of your headset, muting yourself and yell out “doors unlocked, come in”, expecting it to be Paige.

You and Paige have an interesting relationship, you became friends through valorant and you both realized you went to UConn together, so that's when she introduced you to her teammates who you were currently in the game with. Little do your mates know that Paige comes in almost every night, around the same time like clockwork to play with you. The groupchat often is pinging Paige to come online and play, but all she says is that she’s been too tired from practice to play. Surprisingly, they never really pressed on when she wouldn’t join in. 

“Hey mamas, keep yourself muted for a bit will you?”, Paige says, smirking while looking at your set up, you clearly in an intense match. You hum in agreement and in the corner of your eye you see Paige taking off her shirt and is sitting on your bed, in her light grey sweatpants and her light blue sports bra. She scrolls through her phone as you play. You hear her laugh as you curse under your breath, it’s a tough match but you guys are coming back pretty well. “Paige come on, if you’re not going to talk I am gonna unmute we have to win this fucking match, I am still ranked gold.”, you say, unmuting yourself, immersed in the game. Paige, getting jealous that all your attention is on your game when she was quite literally in your room with you unlike the other girls who were on the other side of the screen. You see her get up and walk towards you in the corner of your eye but you don’t give her your attention. “Fuck it, Azzi, Sage and Viper are heaven we gotta clutch this round or there is no coming back”, you yell into your mic. You get your shot and you move onto B site. Before you know it Paige is under your desk, rubbing your thighs. Subconsciously, you move your thighs farther apart, giving her more access and you lean back in the chair. Paige squeezes your thighs gently, but when you don’t look down at her she slaps them. You mumble a quick, “Not right now” to Paige, trying to be quiet so no one can hear you through your mic. You hear KK say, “Huh what was that?”, and you quickly say you were talking to yourself. Paige starts rubbing your thighs again, slowly going up to your core. You bite your lip while you’re in the buy phase, choosing your weapon and finding your mates on the map. Paige starts to rub your clit, from outside of your pants slowly, and you know exactly what she is going to do. It happens so often it’s part of your night routine at this point, if it’s not starting out like this you are probably at her place, in her bed. 

You start to roll your hips to feel her touch more, the pleasure putting you into a trance to the point where you end up getting a AFK penalty in the game. You snap out of it when your mates call on you, and you quickly mumble, “Went to the washroom”, and Ice cursed at you, stating that you should've told them before you started another match. Paige, noticing this, pretty pissed off that you would even join another match when she was clearly trying to fuck you, she shoves down your pants. Since it happens often enough, Paige isn’t surprised to see that you aren’t wearing any underwear. “So you’re not going to give me attention then ma?”, she whispers, quiet enough for you to hear and not your mates. You roll your eyes, you have been getting a lot of wins lately and you can’t wait to move up tier. Paige suddenly pulls you closer to the edge of your chair, gripping your thighs as she takes a warm, long lick between your folds. Her grip is tight enough so you are unable to move your thighs apart. She pushes you back, so that your back is against the chair and your legs are spread wide enough and dangle from her shoulders. She latches her tongue onto your clit, sucking on it roughly. She usually was quite gentle with you but today, she was pissed that you barely even greeted her, you didn’t even get up to kiss her when she walked in. So before you know it she’s thrusting in a finger into your dripping wet cunt, and you quickly mute your headset, afraid your mates will hear the lewd wet sounds. You look down at Paige, her icy blue eyes glaring at you as she shoves a second finger into you. She removes her mouth for a second to say, “So now you give me your fucking attention, fucking unmute yourself. You’re going to have to control yourself, or your little friends will know how much of a fucking slut you are for me.”, Paige says, curling her fingers inside of you and you squeeze your thighs together, around her head and she stops. “Listen to me or I won’t continue.”, is all she says and you move your thighs and unmute yourself. Azzi is asking you to go mid, and you can barely respond, trying to hold back any sort of noises, as if the slick noises from your dripping cunt wasn’t enough. “Uh huh…”, is all you can muster. At this point you only have your hand on the mouse and the other on Paiges head, forcing her against you. “More…”, is what you say to Paige. You need her tongue against your clit, sucking harder. Your thighs start to shake and your breathing gets more shallow, and you accidentally let out “fuck I’m close”, into your mic and your face turns red. “To the spike?”, Azzi asks, confused and KK responds with “Nah, I got it don’t worry y/n”. Relieved, you focus on Paige, and your stomach starts to tense and just as you feel yourself about to release all your juices onto Paige’s face and your chair, she gets up. “What the fuck?”, you yell, staring at Paige. She always makes sure you finish, knowing that in all your past relationships you’ve never been able to until she came into your life. It was part of her ego, knowing that she only had this effect on you and made sure to let you indulge in it. 

Paiges POV 

How the fuck are you still playing your game, she can hear all the shot’s you’re making, seeing the screen say “Thrifty” on the reflections on your big glasses, that cover a large portion of your face. Clearly you are still able to play well enough. You haven't used it before on her, but you brought it today because you felt like there may be a need to use it. You open your bag, taking out a harness with a pale blue, 7 in dildo attached to it. Your face turns a deep, cherry red, a bit embarrassed taking it out. But you snap out of it, you know you have to fuck her hard enough that she can’t even focus on the game, that she gives you all her focus, her attention, her fucking love. You step into the harness, putting it on and you stare down into her eyes. 

Readers pov 

You were watching Paiges every movement intently, your eyes flipping back to the screen every so often to make sure you don’t get another AFK notice. You mates are literally yelling at you, “Y/N, come on what the fuck you always carry, why are you bottom fragging?”, Azzi states while KK is cursing at her end because you always carry her especially. “Uhm… yeah, bad match I guess.”, is what you respond with, and your focus is back on the game. You get a few kills and you make your way back to carrying your team when you see Paige pull you up, shove you against your desk with your ass up. Without any warning, Paige is behind you, pushing the tip of her strap into your still very drenched, sticky cunt and she starts to whisper in your ear.

“You don’t even kiss me when I walk in? And you expect me to let you finish? You are such a greedy slut, only taking and you never fucking give. Give me your fucking attention or I will force it out of you.”, she whispers in your ear, and you start to worry. You still have your head set on and your teammates know Paige, so they can recognize her voice. You reach for your mouse, and Paige smacks it away, before thrusting her strap into you. You quickly move your hand to your face, to help quit your moan that was alfully too loud, knowing that your mates for sure heard that. “Yo, Y/N you good?, you hear Ice say. You hum in a response, as Paige is thrusting into you at already an inhuman pace. She her foot on your chair, so can thrust into you at an angle that is moving you closer to your edge. At this point, you are full on moaning into the mic, feeling a tear slip down your face while Paige continues to abuse that one spot only she hits with her fingers, but feels so much better with her strap. Your mates clear their throats, a bit confused and you quickly say you have to go and take off the headset. You reach for the power button on your monitor and the game shuts off. You know you are going to get a penalty for this, but it was clear what Paige wanted. 

She picks you up and places you on the bed. You feel yourself about to cry, you’ve been close twice already and she hasn’t let you release yet. Paige takes notice of this, but her eyes don’t soften. You feel her blue, icy glare almost pierce through your skin and you make it easier for her. You know what she wants so you reach up, and place your hand on her jaw, pulling her in for a kiss. This kiss is more heated then any of the ones before, she doesn’t hesitate to suck on your tongue and put her hand under your shirt, rubbing your already hard nipples. You knew you would get fucked tonight anyways, so you didn’t bother putting on a bra. She pulls away from you. “On your stomach, if you want to finish tonight.”, is all she says to make you obey her words finally. You bring your favorite plushie into your arms and bury your face into it as you get on your stomach, and Paige puts a pillow under your stomach, so you can feel the full depth of her strap. 

She slowly enters you again, as if she hasn’t already fucked you against the table. You are already overstimulated from not being able to finish, feel a few more tears drip down your face. Paige places a hand on your lower back as she shoves her strap into you, making sure you take all 7 inches of it. “Why don’t get you get your fucking mates to fuck you? You clearly were having more fun with them when I was right here, trying to please you, trying to worship every inch of your slutty body.”, Paige spits at you. Her words were making you need her more and more and you arch your back, fucking yourself against her strap not caring how needy you looked. 

Paige’s POV

“Oh so now you want to pay attention to me, look at you taking me so fucking well, I didn’t know you’d be such a fucking filthy slut for my strap y/n.”, you say, smirking to yourself. Finally she wants to listen, and oh my fucking god she looked hot listening to you. Her face was buried into her favorite plushing, you couldn’t see her face but you could hear all the lewd noises she was making. “Paige… Paige please, I’ll be your best girl, just let me fucking cum”, is what you hear her say. You know she’s close, you feel her body start to shake and she barely has that same energy she had fucking herself against your strap, so you give in and help her out. You thrust into her a few more times, before she finishes, spilling all her juices against your strap. 

You notice her breathing deeply, not saying anything once she finishes. Usually she clung to you afterwards, wanting to be in your arms. You take off the strap, and get up. You figure she’s just tired, so you go to her bathroom, dampen a washcloth and come back to clean her up when you notice her face covered in tears. Your eyes soften as you feel worry fill into your chest. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong.”, you say quietly, pulling her into your lap. “I am so sorry if I was too rough tonight with you, I just really wanted your attention and it was selfish of-”, you begin to rant mindlessly, trying to explain yourself when she interrupts you and kisses you. “Felt good Paigey, too fucking good.”, she mumbles. “You were crying though ma, I didn’t even notice you crying before and I don’t want to do that to you.”, you tell her, looking into her eyes, feeling yourself tear up. You were too hard on her tonight, and it wasn’t for a good reason, you were purely just jealous and wanted her to want you. “P, no really, I wanted that, you just edged me and I was sensitive and needed to finish, I trust you don’t worry.”, y/n tells you and you nod your head. “Promise me, you are okay.”, you say, looking at her, still seriously concerned. You hold out your pinky, and she wraps her pinky around yours, “I promise Paigey,”, she says while returning your promise. You kiss her forehead and tuck her hair behind her ears, before carefully cleaning her, freeing her from the sticky wetness that covered her cunt and her thighs. Noticing her almost falling asleep, you pull the covers over the both of you, and she snuggles into you. “Wait fuck Paige, I am not going to peak platnim anytime soon if you’re going to keep getting me penalties like this.”

“Come on, you deserve at least the platinum tier for taking it so well mamas. I can send in a letter about it to Riot Games if you want”, you joke, watching her fall asleep on your chest.

[ellecdc]

Rosier Twin Microfic

CW: untrue anatomy and physiology of earth worms, cruelty to earth worms, the general oddities that are the Rosier twins

Evan was exploring the grounds of the manor in search of his sister under the direction of their mother.

He found he didn’t mind all that much; the green of the trees and grass, the blue of the sky, and the pinks and reds of the flowers in the garden were all a welcome reprieve from the sad, dull grey and beige that ‘decorated’ the inside of their familial home.

That is, he hadn’t minded until he found himself sinking up to nearly his knees in loose soil as Pandora materialized from behind some shrubs.

“Evan! What have you done?” She chastised, not looking at her brother but rather where the bottom half of his legs had disappeared.

“What have I done?” Evan shot back incredulously. “What the hells is this?”

Pandora simply let out a displeased huff as she dropped her gardening spade and moved to help pull her brother out of the earth.

“You’re standing on my worms.” She admonished as he finally stepped onto solid ground, sure enough brushing loose soil and earth worms from his professionally tailored trousers and dragon-hide boots.

“What in Salazar’s name are you doing with a colony of earth worms?” He all but sneered at his sister who barely spared him a glance, though her face read ‘I can’t believe you asked such a ridiculous question’.

“The worms are good for the soil.” Pandora responded simply. “After the trouble the Honking Daffodils had with the gnome infestation, I figured they could use all the help they could get.”

Evan turned to survey the space; the worms did seem to be attempting to make their way towards the vegetation, though he really thought they’d be more effective coming from both sides of the plant.

“You ought to put some to the right of the plants, too, Panda.”

“I could only find fifty on the grounds, I don’t want to separate them from their family members.”

Evan fought the urge to roll his eyes as he bent down and dug a worm from the loose soil. “You know that you can cut them in half, right? Then you’d have twice as many and can establish colonies on either side.”

The expression on Pandora’s face told Evan she was warring with the side of her that hated the idea of chopping up living beings and the side of her that valued experimentation.

With one look in her brothers direction, Evan knew the decision she’d come to in her mind.

“I…don’t think I can cut the worms, Ev.”

So, that’s how both Evan and Pandora found themselves being scolded by their mother for being late for dinner (and rather filthy) as Evan spent the rest of the late afternoon cutting up earth worms for his twin sister.

[shalomniscient]

shshdhhdjjsjs shalom………….. i miss her 😔😔😔 having so many thoughts about her but mmmm post-canon shalom………..

the past is miles behind you both, and buried deep beneath the soil. its corpse now feeds the fertile flowerbeds of your backyard gardens, encouraging blooms of roses and lillies and daisies and daffodils. shalom tends to her flowers every morning, and drags you out too—lest her notorious anti-green thumb cause her beloved flowers to wilt.

she stays at home while you go out to run a few errands and odd jobs here and there; you may be on a luxurious government pension, but the lack of something to do has never sat right with you. so you leave in the late mornings with a kiss pressed to her crown, and return just before golden hour with another against her lips. but sometimes— sometimes, the house seems a little too quiet when you’re gone. she knows you aren’t truly gone, and that you’ll always come back to her, but, well.

she misses you. that’s all there is to it.

and it’s what moves her to call you on a particularly gloomy afternoon. you were out, as usual, this time helping out a local store with some deliveries. she had smiled, amused, when you told her about the job— you never could turn down a request for help. it’s part of what she adores so deeply about you, enough to defy the will of heaven itself for your sake.

she counts the number of times the phone rings after she dials you—once, twice, almost thrice before you pick up. there’s a slight breathless quality to your voice when you speak.

“hey,” you say, and she can hear the smile in your voice. it makes one tug at her lips too.

“hello to you too,” she hums in return, leaning against the window as she sits in the little alcove, watching the grey sky and the lazy, rolling clouds. “i’m not disturbing, am i?”

“never,” is your immediate, sure answer. her heart jumps a little in her chest at the sound, and she brushes a hand over the firm plane of her breastbone, feeling the pitter-patter of the organ beneath.

“such a smooth talker.”

“i learned from the best.”

her neck and ears warm, and she breathes a laugh against the cool surface of her phone. “is that so?”

“sure is,” you confirm, and she hears vaguely the sound of muffled conversation and the rustle of a bag. you cup your hand over the reciever, speaking to whoever it was beside you, before talking to her again. “was there something you needed?”

was there? shalom ponders the question briefly. the answer comes quickly to her, and she needed not any of paradeisos’s great computational techniques to find it. the answer was always there, locked in her once-unfeeling heart.

i need you, she thinks, always. “no,” is what she answers.

you’re silent for a moment on the other line, then hum quietly. “okay. i’ll see you soon, then.”

“yes,” she breathes, eyes fluttering shut. funny, how she could once rip and tear even the strongest of people into nothingness with just her tongue, but when it comes to saying those words to you she finds it tied into knots, heavy like lead in her mouth. you end the call, and shalom lets her head thud against the wall as she looks up at that overcast sky.

but then, not even a few moments later, she hears the rattling of keys in the door, and a layer of tension settles over her form like morning dew. she can’t help the slight widening of her eyes or the surprised part of her lips when she sees you walk into the room, a knowing look in your eye and a gentle smile playing on your lips. there’s a paper bag in your hands, and it smells like freshly baked pastries.

“you came,” she manages, her voice uncharacteristically small as she cranes her head upwards while you lean down, letting your forehead rest against hers.

“you called,” you answer softly, then let out a tiny chuckle against her lips as your free hand runs through her wine-red hair to settle at the nape of her neck. “or not exactly, but i know you.”

she kisses you instead of saying anything else, because no word that she knows could ever do justice the way she feels about you. she remembers, distantly, reading a poem on love—on a love so much greater than words, that the poet has chosen to fall silent. she did not understand then, but she understands now. your words echo in her mind and the four chambers of her racing heart, carried by her blood to every fiber of her being.

i know you.

yes, she thinks as she parts from you, gazing into your eyes, fathomlessly deep with love. yes, you know her, and for once in her life that prospect doesn’t fill her with something adjacent to dread. for what is there to dread about being known, other than the fact it shows she is loved?

[mydearestbeloved]

Chapter 13 [Draft]

Sung Jinwoo/Trial Player!Reader

CW:

Inspired by @circeyoru ‘s “Future Power Couple”

[Masterlist🦋✨️]

The day you met her was vivid in your memory, even after all these years.

It was two years after you had set foot in Seoul, still trying to adjust to life after practically being a recluse for five or so years. Though you’d like to think that you were already pretty well-settled into your rhythm.

Your flower shop had grown from a modest corner tucked away into a beloved staple for locals—a sanctuary of blooming life amidst the bustling city. Most days brought a steady flow of regulars, some looking for gifts, others seeking solace among the vibrant petals.

On a quiet weekday afternoon, just as you were finishing a delicate arrangement of daffodils, the bell above the shop’s entrance chimed.

The sound was nothing out of the ordinary, but something about the presence that entered your shop that day was different.

Your eyes flickered up to find a teenage girl hesitantly stepping inside as if she were intruding. She was probably around eighteen years old, her figure lean, dressed in a worn red tracksuit, a black mask covering half of her face, and a baseball pulled low over her brow. She appeared more like someone ready for a jog than a customer browsing for flowers.

Despite her attempt to blend in, there was something distinctly youthful about her—a sense of innocence and naiveté that stood out, an air of unpolished grace—something that drew your attention even before you saw her fully.

You observed her quietly from behind a high rack of ferns and succulents as she lingered near the doorway, her gaze sweeping over the cascading vines and rows of colorful blooms before wandering tentatively through the butterfly-filled aisles.

Blond hair tied in a ponytail sway as she moved. Her beauty was fresh and striking, though something else was itching at the back of your mind—her bright grey eyes seemed to glow with a subdued curiosity as they darted around the shop.

Every few steps, she paused to smell the fragrant blooms, a small smile tugging at her lips as if savoring a rare moment of peace. You had seen countless customers react similarly, but there was something about her that stirred a faint sense of recognition in you.

It wasn’t until she pulled down her mask to take a deeper breath, her eyes widened with an unmistakable expression of relief, that you realized who she was.

Cha Hae-In.

Or at least, a younger, less hardened version of the woman introduced as a rising star from the beginning of the story.

The Hae-In you knew from Solo Leveling was a force to be reckoned with, an S-Rank Hunter who would one day capture the heart of the world’s strongest man. But this girl in your shop, dressed in a red tracksuit with her face half-hidden, was just that—a girl. She hadn’t yet become the indomitable swordswoman who would one day stand by Jinwoo’s side.

You stepped out from behind your plants, offering her a soft greeting. “Welcome to Perennial Atelier. Can I help you find something today?”

She turned at the sound of your voice, her gaze locking onto you with an expression that shifted quickly from polite interest to something more… surprised. Almost shocked.

She stared at you for a moment, before her expression softened, though her mouth opened, then closed, before she finally murmured, a hint of confusion in her tone, “You... you don’t have a smell.”

“Pardon?” You asked, though the recognition was already dawning on you.

Realizing what she had just said, her face turned beet red. “I-I’m sorry!” She began to stutter, hands flitting frantically as if to physically pull back her words. “I didn’t mean to—that came out wrong! I just...” She paused, taking a deep breath, trying to collect herself. “I mean, um, it’s just that… I usually pick up on, uh, people's scents, but you… don’t have one at all.”

You listened quietly as she tried to explain herself, her words coming out too quickly, too jumbled. But you understood.

You remained calm, though inwardly, her words set off alarms. This must have been related to her heightened sense of smell. Her olfactory sensitivity, a trait that allowed her to smell mana, able to distinguish every hunter’s strength and presence by scent alone, where most she found foul. It was also what first drew her to Jinwoo, the first person she found bearable because his scent was different, almost pleasant to her.

But with you… she said there was no scent at all.

Though before you could dwell too long on the mystery, something cliché happened.

One of your many children, a silver one you named ‘Trick’, decided to pop into existence right in front of Hae-In’s face, nose-to-nose.

The poor girl let out a small yelp, stumbling backward, her shoulder colliding with a steel shelf.

The shelf creaked, and a potted plant teetered dangerously near the top. Her hands flew up as the potted plant began to tumble toward her.

Reflexes kicked in. You summoned your scepter in its sleekest form, and lunged forward, all the while positioning yourself between Hae-In and the falling plant, just in case. The thin blade slashed through the air, and the ceramic shattered harmlessly to the ground, split neatly in two.

Fortunately for you, the soil didn’t make too much of a mess. The unlucky plant also still hummed, faintly, its life thrumming just below your skin.

Hae-In blinked up at you in stunned silence as you held out a hand. You were close enough to see the slight tremble in her eyes.

“Are you alright, Miss?” You asked, concern coloring your tone, keeping her eyes on you as you discreetly wave off your weapon.

Professionalism came first. Wouldn’t want to scare off your costumers, right? Even if this customer would one day become an admirable warrior.

Her face flushed an even deeper shade of red, whether from embarrassment or awe, you couldn’t quite tell. “Y-Yes! Thank you…”

“Sorry for you causing trouble!”

Hae-in, mortified, had insisted on paying for the broken pot and plant, voice filled with earnestness, apologizing profusely. You held her hands in yours before she could gather the scattered broken pieces.

"Oh, not at all. In fact, it was my fault. This shelf has been unstable for a while now.” You said lightly as you waved her offer of compensation off. “Think of it as a good reminder for me to get new shelves. I appreciate your help with that.”

The encounter left a spark. Cha Hae-In became a regular visitor after that, dropping by the shop almost daily, each time with the same blend of subdued curiosity, excitement, and shyness.

Most of the times, she would linger, chatting awkwardly at first, then more comfortably as the days passed. There was sincerity, a softness to her that was endearing, and you found yourself subconsciously looking forward to her visits.

It became clear that this place, and perhaps your company, offered her a rare reprieve. You didn’t miss the way her eyes softened each time she entered, relieved by the lack of foul scents around her. Her unique ability, you could only imagine how difficult it must be for her to make friends, to connect with others in general—yet here, in your shop, she found solace.

Befriending her now felt like stepping into a space that wasn’t meant for you. But when she looked at you with that earnest gaze, so full of hope and longing, you couldn’t turn her away.

Despite the risks of forming such a bond with someone who would eventually be tied so closely to Jinwoo, that loneliness of hers was one that echoed your own. An outsider in this world, a stranger playing a role—

Cha Hae-In was the first person to breach that solitude.

At first, she seemed to come up with excuses to drop by, asking for small bouquets or browsing the potted herbs, likely out of guilt for taking up your time. But eventually, you took the initiative, gently letting her know that she was welcome to visit anytime, with or without making a purchase.

The shyly joyful smile she gave you was enough to melt the remaining reservations you had.

And apparently, she was too adorable for you at this stage that it triggered your cute aggression. That was how you found your hands cupping her face, squeezing and pinching her cheeks, her hands flailing about in the air, more flustered than ever since that day she first met you.

Thus, a routine was born.

Each day, like clockwork, she would step into your shop after school or on her days off just to chat, filling the air with her eager energy. She was still clumsy with her words sometimes, but the honesty that was rare to find never left, and her shoulders less tense. At times, you would invite her to your afternoon tea, talking about everything and nothing, while at other times, she would help you tend to the plants. You guided her hands when she fumbled with the watering can or pruning shears, her eyes lighting up whenever she managed to do something right.

It was infectious. Her joy a balm to the quiet ache you carried.

The shop, usually filled with the soft flutter of your butterflies and the gentle rustle of leaves, became livelier with her presence. Trick seemed to take a particular shine to her, often tickling Hae-In with her wings by being the nearest to the teenager’s face. Hae-in would sometimes sit on the stone-covered ground, playing with Trick and your other children, their delicate feet settling on her form. Hae-In’s laugh became a sound you grew fond of.

Even though you chided her every time she sat on the stone floor without a matt, dirtying her clothes with dirt and the occasional wild grass in the process, she would look up at you with that pleading expression, and you relented every time.

Hae-In would then turn to grin at Trick, and despite her not understanding exactly what that child of yours was saying, Hae-in seemed able to piece bit by bit what the mischief-butterfly was conveying by observing the flutter of wings and flight patterns.

At this point, you honestly don’t know if it was a blessing or a curse.

One day, as you were pruning a row of gladiolus, out of the blue, she asked you, “(Name), you’re a Hunter, right?”

You paused, uncertain where the question would lead, but nodded nonetheless. Her eyes seemed to sparkle, and before you could even process it, she had both of your hands clasped in hers.

“Please, teach me how to fight!” she blurted out, her face inches from yours, filled with a hopeful determination that was impossible to ignore.

You almost wanted to laugh, though you were touched by her eagerness, you masked your hesitation pretty well if you said so yourself.

This was Cha Hae-In, Jinwoo’s future partner. Training her, influencing her growth, could have unintended consequences. In the original story, Cha Hae-In had trained under someone else. But looking into her earnest eyes, so filled with the desire to become stronger, to help people, you couldn’t bring yourself to refuse. In the end, you agreed, though with a caveat.

“I can teach you the basics,” you said, “Let’s see what suits you first.”

And so, you became her mentor—or well, her half-time mentor. She was a diligent student, showing up on time for every session and practicing tirelessly even after you were done for the day. In the weeks that followed, her natural aptitude for swordsmanship came to light, just as you predicted.

“Here. If you truly want to master swordsmanship, there’s a dojo run by a skilled kumdo teacher —a swordsman named Song Chi-Yul. I’ve only heard good things about him.” After all, you were first and foremost a healer slash mage, but there was no need for Hae-In to know that. Sure, you became a jack of all trades to survive the trial stage, but that came second to your specialty: long-range and control over magic. A mainly supportive role.

If Hae-In wanted to augment her strikes with mana however, you would gladly be her magic teacher, which you did after a while of her refining her sword skills under Song Chi-Yul’s tutelage.

The fierce resolve in her eyes reminded you a lot of a certain protagonist.

Years passed, and by the time Cha Hae-In turned 22, she officially became Korea’s 9th S-Rank Hunter. You couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride, both as her magic mentor and her closest friend. She had grown into the formidable warrior she was meant to be, and though you knew she would have reached this point even without your help, it was still gratifying to see her bloom.

Even with her newfound fame and responsibilities, Hae-In still made time to visit your shop, albeit less frequently. Her smile, as always, never fail to brighten your day every time she came by.

Now, standing in your shop once again, she looked every bit the strong, confident young woman she had become. Perhaps today was one of those rare days off she had.

“How have you been, Hae-In?” you asked, a warm smile gracing your lips as Trick fluttered excitedly around her.

“I’m good!” she replied, practically bouncing on her toes. “I just had to come by and see you. It’s been too long!” The tickling sensation on her cheeks made her giggle, “And I miss you too, Little Guy!” You watched, amused, as Hae-In reached out to stroke Trick’s wings after that child fluttered down to land on her shoulder

You listened with a fond smile as she chattered on about the recent missions she went on and all the little things that had happened since she last visited, sparing no detail.

Despite the changes and the years that had passed, some things, it seemed, would always stay the same.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting your shop in a warm, golden glow—

As your shop gradually closed for the day, the two of you lingered in the dimming light, the soft scent of flowers hanging in the air—

You suppressed the small pang in your heart.

Soon, Jinwoo’s path would cross with hers.

---

The ice cream parlor was cozy: pastel-colored walls, little round tables with cushioned chairs, and the sweet, irresistible aroma of freshly made waffle cones lingering in the air, tucked away on a quiet street, a haven from the chaos of Seoul. It had become your go-to spot whenever you and Hae-In found a spare moment to relax, away from your respective worlds—hers filled with the rigorous training and responsibilities of a rising Hunter, and yours with the quiet rhythms of tending to your flower shop. The soft hum of conversation, the gentle clinking of spoons against glass cups, and the faint scent of vanilla that filled the air made it a perfect place to unwind.

Today, the two of you sat by the window, where the afternoon sunlight filtered through the glass, casting warm golden hues across the table. A small cup of vanilla ice cream sat half-melted in front of you, while Hae-In opted for her usual, a decadent swirl of dark chocolate and mint. The gentle glow illuminated her flushed cheeks as she stirred her ice cream absentmindedly, lost in thought.

You had barely taken a bite of your dessert when she suddenly broke the silence. "I met an interesting person today," she said, her voice almost thoughtful, as if she was still mulling over the encounter. It was an unusual tone for her—Hae-In was usually direct and straightforward, never one to mince her words.

And she rarely described people as "interesting"; most of the time, she kept her interactions simple. Whoever she was about to talk about had made quite an impression on her for sure.

“Oh? Do tell,” You tilted your head, curiosity piqued. “Who was it this time? Another persistent admirer?” you teased lightly.

Hae-In shook her head, a small, exasperated smile playing on her lips. “No, nothing like that. It was a Hunter working with the mining team,” she began, taking a delicate spoonful of her ice cream. “He... didn’t smell bad.”

So she’s already met Jinwoo. The pieces were falling into place.

The thought sent a strange pang through your chest, though you couldn't quite pinpoint why. Was it relief that the story you knew was unfolding as it should?

Ah right, it was natural, this familiar pang in your chest. You felt this before, and you were not alone in doing so. Like a fan knowing that they couldn’t touch their idols. A reader that couldn’t cross the boundaries between their beloved characters through the pages. Your circumstances might be an exception, but it will be too reckless to charge in blindly. There was a reason why there was a line between fantasy and reality. Too many unknown consequences to really breach these boundaries were put exactly to ensure that it stayed.

You pushed the thought away and focused on her words.

“At first,” she continued, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she were reliving the moment, “I thought it was just because he was an E-Rank.” She stilled, “I didn’t mean that in a bad way! You know, umm… their mana is usually too little to produce that overwhelming foul scent.”

“There’s something about him, though,” Hae-In added, leaning back in her chair. She stared down at her cup, stirring the ice cream slowly as if lost in her thoughts. “I had this nagging feeling that there was more to him than he let on.”

“More to him, how?”

“When I first saw him, I could have sworn he was holding weapons— Not something subtle either. Swords, or are they daggers? Like, right there in his hands.” She paused, frowning. “But as I got closer to talk to him, there was… nothing.”

You had to hold back a smile. Did Jinwoo almost get carried away again? The scenario matched perfectly with some of the incidents you’d read in the manhwa, where he’d nearly given himself away. It seemed some solitary habits were really hard for him to shake.

A small smile tugged at your lips. If you looked at it in another way, even now, it seemed like fate was nudging Jinwoo and Hae-In closer together.

"And his scent..." she added softly, almost as if she were confessing something. “It’s... bearable, almost... pleasant.”

“Oh my!” you said, placing a hand dramatically over your heart. “Did you fall in love at first sight?” You couldn’t resist the urge to tease her, letting out an exaggerated sniff as if you were on the verge of tears. “Our little Hae-In, all grown up and already falling for some mysterious Hunter.”

Hae-In’s reaction was immediate and priceless. Her eyes went wide, and a blush crept up her neck, flooding her cheeks and even the tips of her ears with color. “Hey! You’re only three years older than me!” she huffed, her voice rising an octave higher than usual. She leaned forward, jabbing her spoon in your direction as if she might swat you with it.

You leaned back with a laugh, dodging her mock attack. “I didn’t hear a denial~” you sing-songed, drawing out the last syllable in a playful lilt.

“Cut it out!” she grumbled, but there was no real heat behind her words. Her blush deepened, and in her flustered state, she reached out to swat your shoulder lightly, her movements more akin to a kitten batting at a string.

You couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up from your chest. The way she reacted was too endearing—like a shy teenager experiencing her first crush, though she herself might not even realize it yet. She kept lightly hitting your side, her pout growing more pronounced each time, but her lips twitched upward despite herself.

“All right, all right, I’ll stop teasing,” you said, raising your hands in mock surrender. “But in all seriousness, if he’s caught your attention, there’s probably something special about him. Your instincts are pretty sharp, after all.”

“Sometimes the people we meet by chance end up playing a bigger role in our lives than we expect.”

Hae-In’s expression softened at your words, the playful atmosphere giving way to something more thoughtful. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice quiet now. “There’s just… something about him. It’s like he’s trying to hide something, but I can’t figure out what.”

You watched her as she spoke, the way her brows furrowed slightly in concentration, her eyes growing distant as if she were replaying their meeting in her mind. If only you knew, Hae-In. Knowing her future with Jinwoo, it was almost surreal to witness this stage in their journey. Here she was, unknowingly at the beginning of what would one day become a bond so deep and unwavering. A part of you ached at the thought, but another part of you was grateful, too. Hae-In deserved to find someone like Jinwoo, someone who would cherish and understand her in ways few others could.

Lost in thought, you almost didn’t notice when Hae-In glanced up at you, her gaze curious. “Do you think… I should get to know him better?” she asked, her voice soft, almost hesitant.

You smiled, reaching across the table to pat her hand gently. “I think you should trust yourself. If there’s something about him that makes you feel drawn to him, there’s probably a reason for it. Don’t ignore that feeling.”

Hae-In looked at you, her eyes searching yours for a moment, as if trying to decipher something deeper in your words. Then, she smiled—a soft, genuine smile that reached her eyes.

Eventually, she broke the silence, her expression a little more playful. “You know, you’re awfully wise for someone who pretends to be so clueless.”

You let out a mock gasp. “Pretend? Me? I’m hurt, Hae-In,” you said, feigning offense as you placed a hand dramatically over your heart. “I’m just a humble florist with a penchant for giving sage advice.”

She rolled her eyes, but there was a warmth in her gaze as she looked at you. “Thank you, though,” she said softly. “I… I don’t know if I would have had the courage to follow my instincts without you reminding me. You’ve always… made things feel less confusing.”

With a gentle smile, you squeezed her hand once before pulling back. “Anytime, Hae-In.”

For the rest of the afternoon, the conversation shifted back to lighter topics, the two of you exchanging stories and laughter over melting ice cream. Sitting here with Hae-In, watching her cheeks glow with that familiar blush, you allowed yourself to live in the moment, savoring the peace of this ordinary day.

---

Jinwoo’s grip tightened on his dagger as he assessed the battlefield, eyes darting from one side to the other. The dungeon was shrouded in shadows and the stench of blood, the ground littered with remnants of the high orcs that Kargalgan commanded. This one’s different, he thought grimly. Kargalgan was leagues above the other two bosses he had encountered in the Demon Castle. Metus, the skeletal lich, was capable of commanding thousands of undead, but his defenses had been weak—easily punctured by Jinwoo's relentless assault. Kargalgan, however, was a completely different beast. His defenses were formidable, coupled with a mastery over powerful, wide-area spells that sent shockwaves rippling through the air with every cast.

What made it worse was the damn trick Kargalgan pulled—expanding his size, making himself appear as a hulking, monstrous giant. The moment he grew, towering over the battlefield, Jinwoo's grip on his weapons had tightened, a flicker of unease crossing his eyes. Memories clawed their way up from the depths of his mind—memories of the stone statues in that cursed double dungeon, back when he was barely capable of keeping up with the others. The echo of that terror, the raw, primal fear as those towering figures moved and he’d been utterly helpless against them. His breath hitched, but he forced it down, shoving the fear away.

Yet, there was another memory that followed, a more recent one that left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth. Vulcan. The morbidly obese bastard whose massive club had struck down his soldiers. The same battle where he had seen you, for the first time, bleed.

Jinwoo's mood soured as the images flashed through his mind. The bitterness lingered, like a dark cloud over his focus. He pushed those thoughts away as best as he could, his MP dangerously low. He needed to concentrate on the battle at hand.

When his mana finally hit zero, Jinwoo cursed under his breath, feeling a slight edge of desperation creeping in. But his hand found the small, smooth crystal from his inventory. It was one of the leftover mana crystals you had crafted for him after that snowland of a dungeon. He had been saving it, reluctant to use the precious item except in dire situations. But now, with Kargalgan rampaging before him, there was no better time.

The warmth of the crystal against his skin was immediate, a gentle heat that spread through his cold, battle-weary hands. Huh, Jinwoo thought absently, rubbing his thumb over the smooth surface. The sensation was oddly comforting, reminded him that time back in that hellish land again, your hand on his, unfazed by the demon’s blood as it coated both of your palms.

Your hand had felt even warmer than this crystal, and softer. His heart gave an odd, unsteady beat.

Jinwoo blinked, realizing where his thoughts had wandered. Focus, he mentally chastised himself, shaking his head. He crushed the crystal in his grip, feeling the satisfying crackle as it disintegrated, releasing a burst of mana. The air around him filled with a delicate flurry of butterflies, each one shimmering with the faintest glow of magic as they fluttered outward. They spread through the battlefield like a gentle breeze, healing his injured shadows and replenishing his mana in a surge. The rush was intoxicating, bringing a fresh burst of energy to his limbs.

His eyes trailed after the butterflies, lingering for a moment on the remnants of the crushed crystal in his hand. There were only a few left now. Jinwoo knew he couldn’t afford to be reckless with them. It would be wasteful to use them on anything less than an emergency, but now that the situation called for it, he felt a twinge of regret for having held back for so long.

I should thank her properly later, he thought. Maybe even take her out for that dinner I keep promising myself I’ll treat her to.

A slight smile tugged at his lips, but he quickly sobered as he turned back to the battle. In the chaos, with Kargalgan roaring and his spells crackling in the air, Jinwoo found himself thinking of you again.

He analyzed the shaman’s moves with a new sense of clarity. Kalgalan’s spells were powerful, his defenses near impenetrable, and his control over his minions formidable. But for all his strength, Jinwoo couldn’t help but see the similarities between Kalgalan’s approach and yours—the way he wielded his spells with practiced precision, the same controlled energy you used when in battle. Yet the more Jinwoo compared, the more he saw how the orc shaman fell short.

The ability to switch between offense, defense, and support on the fly.

He lacks your versatility.

The moment a magician loses their guards, they were nothing but a sitting duck.

---

Cha Hae-In watched from the sidelines, her heart racing as she observed Hunter Sung Jinwoo’s every move. She had expected something, certainly—word was spreading fast about the oddities surrounding Hunter Sung Jinwoo. But what she saw now went far beyond what she had imagined. His movements were fluid, precise, quick, each one calculated and relentless. This was not the skill set of a mere E-rank, nor even a typical high-rank. Hunter.Jinwoo moved like a phantom on the battlefield, his shadows surging and swarming. How many are there?

But what truly took her breath away was what happened next. Just as his shadows began to falter, and the B-team members appeared at the brink of collapse, Jinwoo did something completely unexpected. She saw him crush something in his hand, and suddenly, a distinct, soothing warmth filled the air. Cha Hae-In’s eyes widened further as she felt it—a familiar energy, subtle yet unmistakable, like a gentle breeze on a summer day. The members of the B-team, who had been on the verge of collapse, suddenly stood a little straighter, their wounds mending before her very eyes. Even the team’s healer, who had been nearly depleted, looked around in bewilderment.

Where have I felt this warmth before?

Hae-In’s brows furrowed as she tried to place the source of that warmth. It was distinct, different from Hunter Sung Jinwoo’s mana—something softer, more comforting.

The sensation nagged at her mind, tugging her back to memories of visits to your flower shop, of the quiet strength and warmth you exuded, of the unique aura that seemed to flow around you like an unseen embrace. Could it be…? No, she thought, feeling her heart skip. That’s impossible… isn’t it?

---

Jinwoo was still basking in the satisfaction of a hard-won battle when he felt a faint twinge of awareness—someone watching him. With a slight twist of his head, he saw Chief Woo Jin-Chul and, standing beside him, Hunter Cha Hae-In, both watching him with wide eyes.

Shit, did I get too caught up in the fight again?

"You did."

Jinwoo nearly jumped when your chiding voice echoed in his ear, though it came not from his surroundings but from one of the butterflies that had perched itself on his shoulder. He cast a quick glance around, noting that no one else seemed to be aware of the conversation between you two. Your butterflies were cloaked, visible only to him, their magic attuned solely to his presence. Jinwoo chuckled to himself, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he murmured back to you.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” he muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for the butterfly to catch. “Guess I still have a few things to learn, huh?”

---

Cha Hae-In watched from the sidelines, her heart racing as the last remnants of Jinwoo’s magic faded. The echoes of your advice from the previous day rang in her mind, filling her with a hesitant determination. "Why don’t you try talking to him again?"

Still, she took a steadying breath, her mind made up. She was going to speak to him. She took a step forward, parting her lips to call his name—but before she could utter a single word, Jinwoo was already being ushered away by members of the association. She hesitated, hand half-raised, her heart pounding as she watched him go.

And then, life seemed determined to make her embarrassment complete. One of the B-team mages nudged her, raising an eyebrow at the pickaxe still clutched tightly in her hand. She looked down, realization dawning slowly as mortification blossomed on her face. Oh no. The pickaxe. She hadn’t even thought to drop it. She had come all this way, heart pounding, ready to face him—and all while holding a pickaxe.

What am I doing?! she screamed internally, feeling the blood rush to her face as she hastily tried to shove the tool out of sight. Help me, (Name)! Her thoughts went into a frenzy. I messed up so badly!

---

Far away, in your flower shop, a butterfly delicately landed on your shoulder. You listened to the faint echoes of Hae-In’s jittery mental plea, a small smile playing on your lips. “Looks like I’ll have to check on her soon,” you mused to yourself. As you resumed tending to your flowers, your thoughts were already turning to the ways you could tease her about this little mishap over your next ice cream date.

End Note:

Unfinished Draft of [13/11/2024] -

Did I make Cha Hae'in too... jittery?

[goldenamaranthe-blog]

Vaggie’s spear turns into a Child

Hi, pingasking-brhdft!

I was waiting for this to happen. @a-dauntless-daffodil knew what they were doing when they created this au!!! You want the spear turning into a kiddo? Let's get this party moving!

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Vaggie: Hmmmm-hmmm-hm-hm-hmmmm~ *humming and sharpening spear after the battle* Aw, yeah! That's looking good.

Charlie: Vaggie, are you done fixing up your... spear....?

Vaggie: ....Why did you say it like that?

Charlie: Like what?

Vaggie: Like that? *cuts her hand on the spear's edge* Ah! Fuck!

Charlie: Oh, no! Vaggie, are you okay?! *rushes forward and cuts herself trying to check Vaggie's hand* Son of a bitch! *sucks her finger* Dat's shawp...

Vaggie: Yeah, I know. I just sharpened it.

-Bloods intermingle on the blade and pool into the small circle on the flat side of the steel. A bright light flashes through the room and a cloud of dust poofs in Vaggie's hands-

Vaggie: GAH!!! Fuck! My good eye! *blinks away the temporary blindness* Ugh... Charlie, are you okay?

Charlie: Ugh... Yeah, I'm good. *rubs the light out of her eyes and glances at Vaggie. Her eyes snap open as she sees a little baby with white skin, grey-purple wings, and white hair with blonde highlights* Uh.... Vaggie?

Vaggie: Yeah, babe?

Charlie: *points to the baby in Vaggie's lap* Baby.

Vaggie: Baby? *looks down and nearly jumps* WHY THE FUCK IS THERE A BABY HERE?!?!

Charlie: How should I know?!?!?! And don't swear in front of the baby!!!

Vaggie: What do we do?!

Charlie: I don't know!!! I've never seen a baby in real life!!!

Vaggie: HOW?!?!?!? Doesn't Hell have Hellborns?!?!?!

Charlie: I mean. We DO!!! But they aren't in the PRIDE RING!!! I'm not exactly going around to the other rings to go kiss babies, babe!!!

Spear Baby: *wiggles their head and looks up with pink and red eyes, flashing a two fanged smile as it reaches up with pudgy fists and coos*

Charlie: Awwwww!~ *takes the baby and cradles it in her arms* Who's a little cutie-pie?

Vaggie: I thought you hated that thing?

Charlie: I hated your SPEAR!!! This is a BABY!!!

[dansnaturepictures]

01/02/2024-Winchester

Photos taken in this set are of; Peregrine and Blackbird at Winchester Cathedral, Grey Squirrel at Abbey Gardens, the Guildhall looking nice in the sun, this evening's stunning sunset, views at the River Itchen and the cathedral and bergenia at Abbey Gardens. Daffodil, Jackdaw, Grey Heron, Buzzard and House Sparrow were other highlights across my working day today. A pleasant day where delectable early feelings of spring mixed well with winter's chill.