#Decorative Coatings Market share

[pujarathod]

USD 100.60 Billion Growth In Decorative Coatings Market Size With 4.20% By 2032

Decorative Coatings Market Size Was Valued at USD 69.47 Billion in 2024 and is Projected to Reach USD 100.60 Billion by 2032, Growing at a CAGR of 4.20% From 2024-2032.

Decorative Coatings Market Share, Size, Growth, Trends, & Industry Forecast Analysis Report, By Type, Application and Regional Segment Forecast, 2024-2032, provides an extensive analysis of current market dynamics and predicted future trends.

Decorative coatings, being scratch-resistant, and giving a shiny color to metallic and plastic substrates, are used in lots of applications. Decorative coatings assist in enhancing the aesthetics and provide safety to unique surfaces. It may be implemented to residential residences on roof coatings, wall paints, or deck finishes, building, trims and fittings. Furthermore, the software of the decorative coating consists of automotive indoors and outside parts, and patron products, consisting of, cell phones, computer systems, cameras, earrings and watches, toilet equipment, door handles, and eyewear

Leading Key Players Covered in Decorative Coatings market:

Asian Paints,Axalta,AkzoNobel,Berger Paints,Benjamin Moore,BASF,Cromology,Covestro,DowDuPont,DAW SE,Dunn-Edwards,DuluxGroup,RPM International,The Sherwin-Williams Company,PPG Industries,Kansai Paints,Arkema,Masco Corporation,NIPPON PAINT,NOROO Paint & Coatings,Nuplex Industries,Ring International,Tikkurila and others major players.

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The study report goes into great detail on the predicted trends and consumer behavior patterns that will affect the growth of the global Decorative Coatings market. The product, application, and region components of the global Decorative Coatings market research study are separated into three segments. Each division is broken down into chapters that cover numerous aspects. Year-over-year growth graphs and segment-specific drivers and restraints are included in the chapters. The research also includes government estimates for regional markets that have an impact on the global Decorative Coatings industry.

Introspective Market Research offers a comprehensive overview of the market through the analysis of key parameters such as revenue, price, competition, and promotions, as well as the study, synthesis, and summarization of data from different sources. It analyzes the leading industry drivers and shows numerous market components. The information offered is thorough, dependable, and the result of a comprehensive primary and secondary study. Introspective Market Research reports offer a comprehensive global market as well as an in-depth strategic sourcing methodology and analysis based on qualitative and quantitative research to anticipate market growth.

Segmentation of Decorative Coatings market:

By Product:

 By Application:

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Regional Analysis for COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Decorative Coatings Market:

(U.S., Canada, Mexico)

(Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Rest of Eastern Europe)

(Germany, U.K., France, Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Spain, Rest of Western Europe)

(China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of APAC)

(Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Israel, South Africa)

(Brazil, Argentina, Rest of SA)

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Decorative Coatings market share for key players, along with new projects and strategies that players have adopted over the past five years

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[whore4abby]

christmas headcannons; abby anderson

+ some bonus insta posts

warnings; tiny mentions of smut - strap-on mention, mdni

౨ৎ takes you to the local christmas markets every year - holding hands as you pass by the christmas stalls which are all aglow with twinkling fairy lights, breath visible in the cold air but you’re both cosy and bundled up in thick jackets to keep warm in the icy weather.

౨ৎ would notice you staring at a snow globe or something and immediately have her hand in her pocket to fetch her wallet and buy it for you without even thinking twice about it.

౨ৎ buys you the BEST gifts. spends months slyly asking you questions trying to get an insight into what you’ll be wanting as gifts.

౨ৎ not the best gift wrapper her big hands make it hard :( but she tries her absolute best. ends up using absurd amounts of tape to keep the paper in place, ultimately making it look like it was wrapped up by a small child.

౨ৎ insists that she hates the matching thermal pjs you buy for the both of you, sulking in protest when you suggest the idea but after much persuasion, she finally caves, willing to do anything to make you happy.

౨ৎ loves to decorate the christmas tree with you but she takes it soooo seriously, she never half-asses it and is always groaning at you that you’ve hung everything in the wrong place. always lets you put the star on the top of the tree though, hoisting you up into the air effortlessly, smiling as she watches you gently place the glittering star onto the tree.

౨ৎ so good at snowball fights but she sometimes forgets her own strength. pummelling the icy snow at you a little too hard which results in knocking you off your feet and back into a pile of freshly fallen snow. she attempts to stifle her laugh as she scoops you up, pressing warm kisses against your frozen cheeks apoligetically.

౨ৎ abby loves to wake up before you on christmas morning in the the early hours to enjoy a cup of coffee, watching as the snow falls outside of your bedroom window, caressing your back softly as you sleep. finishing her drink just as you start to wake up which leads to groping each other through your thermal pjs, sleepily grinding against eachother.

౨ৎ abby adores ending the night by watching endless christmas movies, wrapped up in blankets and surrounded by your favourite snacks and drinking hot chocolate whilst using you as her personal heater. the two of you sharing sticky marshmallow coated kisses as you giggle and press yourself closer to her.

౨ৎ the night ends with the hot chocolate and christmas movies long forgotten as abby has you ride her strap, her big hands gripping at your hips and bouncing you up and down on top of her.

[12daysofchristmas]

Join us in the 2024 12 Days of Christmas Challenge as we hope to spread a little ✨holiday joy and cheer✨ through the magic of writing fanfiction.

About & Rules

The challenge will run from December 13-24, 2024.

The challenge is open to any and all fandoms.

Submissions must include at least one of the prompts for that day but can combine two, three, or all four.

Prompts for the day always include: a word/words, a scenario, a quote, a "famous" quote (taken from songs and movies)

Tag your submissions with #12daysofchristmas2024 and/or mention this blog so that we will be notified to reblog your submissions here. (Also, it would be super cool if you gave this blog a follow!)

Submissions for the day must be posted before midnight YOUR time. We're not super hard-and-fast about this rule, but posting within time is very much appreciated! 

If you’re posting your submission directly on Tumblr (as opposed to linking to an external site such as AO3), you MUST use a “keep reading” cut!

Please format ALL submissions with the following heading:

Title Day/Prompt Fandom/Character(s)/Ship Warnings (if applicable): Word Count:  Example: Santa, Baby Day 8 - “Prompt for that day” AEW - Adam Page x OC Warnings: Alcohol, cursing, sexual situations (explicit) Word Count: 7,290

You can also include a summary, gif, edit, whatever you want! Just don’t forget the “keep reading” if you’re posting directly on Tumblr!

2024 Prompts

Day 1 ❄️ First snow ❄️ Getting soaked ❄️ “Your hands are so cold.” ❄️ “I suppose it all started with the snow.” —Frosty the Snowman

Day 2 ❄️ Little lie ❄️ Trapped together in a snowstorm ❄️ “I thought you knew where you were going?!” ❄️ “I don’t know what to say, but it’s Christmas, and we’re all in misery.” —National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Day 3 ❄️ Accelerated heartbeat ❄️ Kissing in the snow ❄️ “Here, take my coat.” ❄️“Let's hope the snow will make this Christmas right.” —Queen

Day 4 ❄️ Mulled wine ❄️ Playing board games ❄️ “I have no regrets.” ❄️ “Cheer up, dude. It's Christmas.” —How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 2000

Day 5 ❄️ Cookies ❄️ Holiday-themed contest ❄️ “That definitely looks… interesting?” ❄️ “That is exactly why you want a high-quality fire extinguisher right in the kitchen.” —The Santa Clause

Day 6 ❄️ Present ❄️ Making a new Christmas tradition ❄️ “Not another Christmas movie!” ❄️ “You say you hate Washington’s birthday or Thanksgiving, and nobody cares, but you say you hate Christmas, and people treat you like you’re a leper.” —Gremlins

Day 7 ❄️ Decorations ❄️ A little accident ❄️ “I was just trying to help!” ❄️ “I want my house to be seen from space.” —Deck The Halls

Day 8 ❄️ Touch starved ❄️ Telling secrets around the fire ❄️ “Sometimes the hardest part is forgiving yourself.” ❄️ “Santa, can't you hear me?” —Ariana Grande & Kelly Clarkson

Day 9 ❄️ Christmas fair/market ❄️ Late shopping (together) ❄️ “Hmm, this is actually not bad.” ❄️ “When you're still waiting for the snow to fall, doesn't really feel like Christmas at all.” —Coldplay

Day 10 ❄️ Surprise visit ❄️ Lighting scented candles ❄️ “I didn’t know you were here.” ❄️ “You’re skipping Christmas! Isn’t that against the law?” —Christmas with the Kranks

Day 11 ❄️ Fairy lights ❄️ Christmas party/ball ❄️ “I never want this night to end.” ❄️ “I won’t even wish for snow. And I’m just gonna keep on waiting, underneath the mistletoe.” —Mariah Carey

Day 12 ❄️ Feast ❄️ Indoor picnic by the tree/fireplace ❄️ “I baked your favourite cookie/pie/cake.” ❄️ “You are all I need tonight underneath the Christmas lights.” —Sia

Extra Challenge

Angst or fluff, romance or platonic - you're unsure in what direction your fic should go? Spin our

Wheel

and let it decide for you! You can spin it once and write all fics with what comes up, you can spin it daily and change course accordingly, you can spin it as often as you need or not at all - it's all up to you.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions! Also, feel free to share this post and help spread the joy and cheer!

Happy writing, and good luck 🍀

[mystic-writings]

selfishly, i love you | eleventh doctor

PAIRING — eleventh doctor x fem!reader

SUMMARY — after two years of being burdened with love for the doctor, you make the choice to leave him behind. 

WARNINGS — angst

WORD COUNT — 1,818

NOTES — matt smith i will always love you

masterlist | navigation

You weren’t sure what hurt more — your utterly unrequited love for the Doctor, or the fact that you were leaving him behind. 

After years of waiting, of being his companion and seeing every corner of time and space with him, you were finally choosing to leave his impossibly addicting lifestyle behind. 

Oddly enough, it was such a trivial thing that brought you to the decision. 

Visiting the future was always a tricky thing; rarely did the Doctor get the timing correct. This was one of the few times that he had, on a trip that was just for you and him. No Rory, River, or Amy. Just the pair of you, exploring New New London in all of its intergalactic, interspecies glory. 

It was a treasure, seeing glimpses of a world that would only come to fruition after you’d be long gone. You think that’s why you loved travelling with the Doctor as much as you did. To know that despite everything, the world wouldn’t end when you eventually died. That no matter how bad the trivial things seemed in the smaller picture of your life, the world would keep on going. 

You’d been wandering a food market together when it happened, taking in the bustle of people as vendors displayed all sorts of things — clothes, food, anything your heart wanted. 

“Doctor, look!” You pointed excitedly at one of the market stalls. “They’ve got those candies! The three berry ones that I’ve been looking for!” 

The Doctor shared a smile with you as you dragged him by the sleeve of his tweed coat over to the market stall. 

Excitedly, you pointed at the bag of candies. “How much?”

“Four credits a bag, or two bags for seven credits,” the older man said, rather gruffly, despite the smile on his face. 

The Doctor transferred enough credits for you to take four bags of candies, and you thanked both him and the vendor profusely as you pocketed your bags. 

“You know,” the vendor grunted, “you two remind me of myself, when I was young. With my wife.”

Before you had a chance to open your mouth, the Doctor scoffed in disbelief. “Wh- us?” He nearly laughed. “We’re not- no, sir! We’re just friends, that’s all. Yes, friends.” 

You could feel your heart cracking in your chest, as it usually did. You were surprised there was anything left of it now, considering how many times the Doctor had unknowingly shot you down. 

“Thank you, sir. Have a nice day.” You muttered, voice cracking as the Doctor moved on promptly. Your chest ached at the pitiful nod the vendor gave you, delivering another blow to your battered heart. 

That was all it was. A comment from an unsuspecting street vendor, and the well-intended, panicked response from the Doctor. 

Upon returning to the TARDIS later that evening, you walked past the control panel and toward your room without a word. 

“Wha- Y/n!” The Doctor called out, likely in the middle of a one-sided conversation with you. “Where are you going?! We still have to decide where to go next!” 

“To my room, Doctor.” You shouted back, climbing the stairs. “I want to go home.” 

You paid the Doctor no mind as he made a noise of protest, but didn’t follow you as you headed into one of the hallways. The TARDIS materialised the door to your room, decorated with stickers and polaroids of yourself, the Doctor, and your other friends, from travels over the past two years. 

With a shaking sigh, you pulled the pictures down and walked into your room with them in hand, tossing them onto the bedside table. 

You dropped onto the side of the bed, shoulders rounded and sagging with the weight of your own mind. Replaying the moment with the vendor caused you nothing but pain, but your mind seemed to make the decision for you, displaying it on a cinema screen for you to pick apart and torture yourself with. 

It felt like hours of you doing only that; letting your mind wander, overthink the scenario and digging up long forgotten ones that all pointed to the same conclusion — you loved the Doctor, more than you could bear handling. And he didn’t love you at all. 

Of course, that wasn’t entirely true. He did love you, he’d said it himself. But he always followed up the word ‘love’ with ‘family’ or ‘friend’. He loved you the same way he loved Rory and Amy, as a member of his makeshift little family. 

Even though the Doctor had given you his love, it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t the right kind of love. 

Selfishly, you wanted more. You wanted him, in a way many companions had before, and in a way none of them had ever achieved. At some point, even Amy had wanted him that way. How could she not? The Doctor was entirely irresistible. 

But you knew you could never have him. If today was any marker of how he felt, then your paths ahead were simple: either stay and live with the pain that slowly chipped away at your heart, or leave the Doctor and his radiance behind in the hopes that one day, you’d be able to move on and live a life that resembled everyone else’s.

Surprisingly, the Doctor had left you alone during your time of contemplation. Typically, if he was alone for too long, he’d grow restless and come knocking on your door (or, more commonly, walking into your room unannounced) to talk to you about anything that was occupying his mind. 

Once you’d decided, it didn’t take you long to pack up your room. 

The polaroids were tucked neatly into an old leather suitcase, one that was probably stolen from the 1950s. Your clothes and trinkets — all of which were souvenirs from past travels — fit neatly into the main compartment, and suddenly, within fifteen minutes, your entire life was packed neatly into a single leather case, ready to be carried away to God knows where.

Your heart ached at the thought. At the reality that, for your own good, this life would be no more. No more hot cocoa and tea with the Doctor, no more karaoke with Rory. No more exploring alien planets with Amy, disregarding the Doctor’s cautious instructions. No more admiring River’s bravery. 

No more adventure. Just the trials of an average life on an average planet as an average human. And while you lived for the days you spent with the Doctor, you weren’t sure you’d be able to go on living with him. 

With the love you carried for him. 

Taking a deep breath, you held the suitcase with one hand, and opened the door of your room with the other. 

It seemed, as you stepped into the corridor, that the TARDIS had put your room further back than it had materialised it in the first place. You were forced to walk the halls, footsteps echoing in your ears as you soaked in your surroundings for a final time. 

When you entered the control room, the Doctor was flipping switches frantically, talking to you without looking. 

“Finally! You’ve come out of your room!” He exclaimed. “Look, I was thinking I’d take you to that planet I was talking to you about, with the cats and talking cars and two-headed people. Sounds like it’d make for an interesting visit, no?”

“Doctor,” you called out from the top of the steps, quietly. 

“Or!” He shouted again, moving about the console. “I could take you to see the Roman Empire! You’ve talked a lot about that one before-” the Doctor looked up from the console to find you with your bag in hand. He pointed to it, eyes gleaming. “What’s that for?”

“I want to go home, Doctor.” You said, chest bubbling with emotion. “Please, just take me home.” 

“Why?” He asked, wringing his hands. 

You exhaled a sigh, dropping your head. There was no way for you to be able to explain it. “Because, Doctor. I’m tired.” 

“But there’s a bed in your room, you can sleep in there, can’t you?” The Doctor asked. 

Descending the steps, you shook your head. “It’s not that kind of tired. I can’t just sleep it off. It’s been wearing me down inside for a long time, and it won’t go away if I stay.” 

“What d’you mean?” Worry pooled in the Doctor’s eyes. “Are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine, Doctor.” You gave him a tight-lipped smile, one you knew he would see right through. But you didn’t have the energy to try convincing him any further. “I just need to go home.” 

The Doctor nodded, solemnly, before pressing a few buttons on the console beside you, eyes barely leaving yours. The TARDIS whirred, bringing you back to your home. 

Within minutes, you were there. In your small backyard, leading up to the back porch door of your small townhouse. Where you’d be alone. 

You opened the door, and stepped outside. The Doctor followed you, catching your wrist and turning you to face him. 

“Doctor, please,” you pleaded. “I can’t do this.”

“Do what, Y/n?” He asked. “I’m going to come back ‘round later, okay? Maybe when you’re feeling better we can go see that planet I was talking about.”

Tears swelled in your eyes, blurring your view of the Doctor. Misty rain coated your hair and clothes, because of course it had to be raining. You shook your head solemnly, a shaking breath wracking your body. 

“I’m not coming back, Doctor. I can’t.” You told him, voice cracking and wavering. “It’ll hurt too much.” 

“What are you talking about, Y/n?” The Doctor’s voice cracked with worry. “What’s going on?”

You gingerly put your suitcase down, stepping closer to the Doctor and cupping his jaw with your hands as the rain began to set in. “You are the most brilliant person I’ve ever known, Doctor. You’ve shown me so much, more than I ever thought I’d see in my lifetime. But I can’t continue being with you. Because I love you, more than life itself. Wholly and selfishly, I love you, Doctor. And I know you don’t love me, so I have to leave. If I don’t leave, It’ll destroy me.” 

“But I-I do, Y/n,” the Doctor shook his head. “I do love you.”

“As a friend, Doctor.” You reminded him. “And I’m sorry, truly, but it’s just not enough.” 

Your tears fell freely as you let go of the Doctor’s face, stepping back and picking your suitcase back up. Solemnly, you smiled and said, “See you later, Doctor. Don’t do anything stupid.” 

The Doctor only nodded, watching you disappear back into your home. 

If only he could bring himself to chase after you and find some sort of way to get you back. But even he knew it wouldn’t work. It had been your choice, after all. And who was he to ignore that?

permanent taglist: @mazerunnerrose @theboldandthebootyful @miraclesoflove @heliads

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[02chois]

MISSED YOUR TOUCH

pairing: ex-boyfriend! soobin x fem! reader

summary: bumping into your ex was the last thing you had expected today. but you never would have thought that encounter will bring you back together stronger than ever.

word count: 3.2k words

content warnings: porn with (little) plot, profanity, big dick soobin, light size kink, soft dom! soobin, sub! reader, usage of pet names like sweetheart and princess, inaccurate way of knitting (I tried making it realistic ok)

author's note: my entry into the smut section of moaland in this site. I tried my best I hope you like it <3

Snow.

Snow danced in the light, a choreographed ballet conducted by the gentle wind. As you watched your eyes grew a tiny bit wider, as open as when you were but a child who saw snow for the first time.

You shoved your mittened hands into the pockets of your coat and continued walking, bright eyes wandered around the street. You watched as snow slowly fell upon the park bench as if it were a feather cushion, soft and warm. It covers the rich, deep wood in perfect white.

The market turned out to be filled with people shopping for gifts and trinkets to decorate their homes with. You hadn't expected it to be this crowded early in the morning—well, early in the afternoon. You made a beeline to the store between familiar fruit stands. The crunching of snow underneath your feet filled your ears as you walked, hurriedly opening the mahogany door and soon greeted by a wind chime hanging on top as you stepped inside.

Your shoulders relaxed, the warmth enveloping your trembling body. It was such a relief that the quaint shop has a fireplace near the registrar and it was enough to warm up the entire place.

You brushed the excess snow caught on your coat right before you made your way to one of the aisles. You searched the label for the basket with yarn written across it, then your gaze darted from one to the next. But to no avail you couldn't find it no matter how much you looked around.

You went to another aisle and at that moment you froze. Your eyes landed upon a familiar blond haired man, his tall frame towering over a small basket filled with colorful yarn.

"Soobin…?"

You were about to turn on your heel when the wooden floorboard squeaked beneath your feet, you looked up only to be met by those eyes of his. His lips slightly ajar from shock.

You locked eyes for a moment and stood there in silence. The faint sound of the crackling fire from the fireplace filled the room.

Soobin's gaze lingered on your face as if he were trying to memorize every single detail. You could feel the heat rising up to your cheeks right under his scrutiny. Why does he have to stare so intensely?

"Um… do you—do you need any help?" You spoke up, your voice soft and could be mistaken as a whisper. "What are you looking for?"

You were sure that your stutter had vanished long ago, yet you found yourself stuttering in front of your ex-boyfriend. He changed. A lot actually. You share the same friend group and because of that you often see each other whenever they gather in one place after your break up, but oftentimes, you'd only greet each other with a polite bow, or on rare occasions give each other a polite smile. Aside from those greetings they've barely spoken to each other as the two of you try and avoid the awkward situations between exes.

He gave you a small smile then turned his head to the basket, his right hand holding a small ball of yarn. "I can't find a specific yarn."

You stepped forward and kneeled on the wooden floor right in front of the basket. You looked up and gestured to him, he responded by lowering himself alongside you. He was so close he could smell the scent of your hair products. Peaches. He used to really love this scent.

"The one you have seemed to be used already." You held up a larger red ball of yarn like an offering. "This will be better to use rather than what you have right now. It will allow you to create longer scarves or…"

You cleared your throat and Soobin watched as you handed him the yarn. You caught his eyes and averted your gaze. "I'm sorry. I'm talking too much."

Soobin placed the smaller yarn with the others and shook his head. "Don't be! I'd like to learn more."

He was being a little too polite. You're not used to the way he spoke so formally towards you, mostly compared to those times when he teased you. You couldn't help but smile at the thought. You missed him a lot.

From your kneeling position, you gently rose to your feet and turned to face the other shelf that had knitting needles. They vary in sizes, types of wood, and some are separated to a different group of knitting pins. Personally, you prefer the wooden pins.

"You'll need a pair of knitting pins for you to start. What size would you like to have?" You turned to him with a pair in hand, showing him the same pins you had at home.

"What do you recommend?"

His question was short and sweet. You purse your lips into a pout, your eyes trailed down to the pair of pins you had in hand. If you don't know what he's planning to knit, you wouldn't know what size would be a good fit for him.

"Ah, Soobin, what will you be knitting? The size of the needles affects the length of the stitches and thus your finished product. It's important to think hard about the needles you'll be getting."

Soobin remained silent for a short while before turning his gaze away to think. You watched him with great curiosity. What will my beloved make? You wondered. Wait… beloved?

"A scarf sounds like it would be the easiest." He said, maintaining eye contact with you the entire time to observe how you react. He determined that his suggestion was a suitable garment to make when he noticed how your eyes softened.

Before turning your attention back to the shelf in front, you nodded and gave him a small smile. "Scarves are the perfect first knitting projects for a beginner. They're easy to make and do not require any difficult stitching techniques."

"I'm still a beginner. What do you suggest we do?" Soobin finally asked, implying something from his choice of words.

You mulled over his words. "Well… I can offer you my assistance in knitting. It's difficult to start without any guidance."

"That'll be lovely."

You smiled and followed him to the counter.

You opened the door and stood aside to let him in, the kitchen welcomed him immediately as soon as he stepped inside. A small potted plant sat on the island countertop along with several herbs and spices, some condiments stored with them, and a bowl of fresh fruit at the side. Other plants were tucked in different places. On your hanging pot holder, you hung only about two utensils, the rest were ropes of garlic and bean sprouts in small plastic bags. Your refrigerator contained three small magnets; a sunflower, basket, and rice cakes. Soobin felt at home and he was glad to be back.

He stood there while you closed the door, then removed your winter boots and set them aside in the shoe rack. As you led him inside a large window that sat across the small living room greeted him, and there a single sunflower faced the sun. A small round table was right next to the window accompanied by cushioned chairs that sat across from each other. The scattered knitting supplies on the table drew his attention, there an unfinished red scarf laid there. The stitches were clean, professional, and clearly the work of skilled hands.

He slid beneath the thick cover of the table, exhaling a sigh of relief as the heater stopped the chill from trying to run up his spine.

"I'll prepare some warm drinks."

"Thank you." Soobin murmured.

Your lips quirked at his words. You went to one of the cupboards to pull out a jar of hot chocolate powder, it was half empty. You took a mental note to restock soon. You fill the mugs with hot water and the powder before setting it in front of Soobin and your other end of the table. You placed your unfinished scarf and the knitting materials on top of the table and motioned for Soobin to do the same.

Soobin watched you. He fixed his gaze on your hands, trying to mimic the way she handled the knitting needles. His left hand was tense as he moved, his brows furrowed, and his lips formed a deep frown. His fingers carefully applied enough pressure to the needles to allow him to hold it with ease. Curious to see how you would react, he looked up from his hands.

You were watching his every move. You gave him a small nod in approval as you felt his gaze on you.

"Good. That's a nice start."

He smiled at your words and, using the only knitting procedure he was familiar with, tied a knot with the yarn around the end of his needle.

You followed suit by enclosing your fingers around the yarn and wrapping it around your thumb. You looked at his work to decide whether or not to continue, slipped the tip of the needle into the loop you had created, and drew the yarn back to firmly fasten it. Although his left hand had some difficulty with the delicate yet complex movements, he was a fast learner. He's stubborn enough to overlook his left hand acting up, which is a relief to you. Though had you ever questioned him about his decision to take up knitting?

"Repeat these steps until the scarf is your desired width, and then we'll start casting on so you can start adding length to it."

You turned your attention to his face; his pretty lips formed into a pout and his brows were furrowed. He looked so adorable. Soobin continued, his eyes serious and focused, his fingers moving slowly but meticulously.

No one ventured to strike up a conversation as the room was filled with the subtle humming of the heater and the sound of fabric shuffling as their arms moved. You didn't feel the need to initiate any conversations with him, which is something Soobin appreciated because he preferred to keep to himself over awkward exchanges.

You put the example aside to continue knitting the red scarf you had put away for so long. Lately, you hadn't felt like continuing the scarf. While you neglected the scarf, the same thought plagued her mind, but Yeonjun's advice this morning gave you a little motivation to carry on. You just so happened to meet Soobin at the store, but it was only now that you realized you had forgotten to purchase a second ball of yarn because of your sudden encounter with your ex-boyfriend. You'll try to visit again tomorrow.

Your mind began to drift. You have doubts that he'd return your feelings. The last time Soobin spoke to you was a year ago and the fact that he was back definitely surprised you. If you knew what he would say, why did you make this scarf in the first place? It was only a bridge you will use to start a conversation and hope that Soobin will entertain the idea of getting back together. But the chances of him wanting to be with her again is low.

He might see you as a friend now, yet you still hold onto that small hope that he might see you the way he used to a year ago. Your break up was abrupt, after all.

Why does love have to be so difficult?

You sighed and tightened your grip around the needles. Soobin across from you briefly took a glance at you, pausing what he was doing.

Soobin took the initiative to push your mug after noticing that you were preoccupied with your thoughts. He brought the needles down, the sound of wood hitting wood shook you out of your reverie. You lowered your gaze, your gaze followed the movement of his hand. He carefully pushed the mug in front of her again.

"You should drink."

Soobin appeared to have finished the first section of his work, the width wasn't too wide nor too small. It was the perfect amount of thickness for a scarf. He was waiting for your next instructions.

"Thank you," you murmured.

"I missed you," Soobin suddenly spoke up. "I missed you so much that I still keep our photos even after we parted. I can't forget you and I don't allow myself to do so."

You lowered the mug that you were about to drink into, and so you slowly put it down on the table. You're careful as the drink was still hot and you don't want to get everything onto the blanket. The confusion was visible across your face as you were not sure how to react to his words. It was the thing you were getting worried about a while ago.

"I'm so glad that we ran into that store earlier. I knew that you like knitting and I hoped that I could see you again if I came there, and I did see you. I want us to talk about our relationship and just… just ask if you want us to be—"

"—In a relationship again?" You cut him off.

And this time Soobin remained quiet. He gave you a small nod, and there you saw a glint of hope in his eyes.

"I missed you too."

You're not sure how you ended up on his lap. The conversation was quickly thrown out of the window and you were immediately on him as soon as the both of you had given permission to touch each other. He had his hands all over your body, his voice low as he repeatedly whispered missed you so, so much with his lips latched onto your hot skin.

Soobin pulled away from your neck to look at you, his lips curled into a smile as he let out a breathless laugh. "A year. It's been a year and I want you so bad."

"Can I kiss you?" Soobin asked and you gave him a low yes with the voice you have left. That was all he needed before he leaned forward to kiss you.

He wanted to devour you. A moan threatened to leave his lips at the feeling of those plush lips of yours, trying to press himself more against you that left you whimpering. He wants to feel you more against him, to feel your skin on his and your hands on his body. His free hand gripped your thighs, his nails digging into your jeans clad thighs in desperation. He was trying to get a taste of you as much as he could, enough to make up for the year you've been separated. He could feel your thighs shaking underneath his palms.

When the two of you broke away from the kiss, a string of spit was connecting your lips. You quickly made a quick work of your pants and unzipped them, the soft shade of your panties greeting him. He helped you with your pants as you stood in front of him and pulled them away from you, tossing your pants somewhere around the room. You didn't have the patience to move to your bedroom and the curtains were not opened that wide anyway. No one will see.

He unzipped his own pants and pulled them down to his mid thighs and quickly you sat on his lap and straddled him with your legs on either side of his hips. You had your hands on his shoulders for support and pressed yourself further to his growing bulge. A sight left your lips from the contact, but then his hands got a hold of your hips and began to move you against him, earning a surprised moan from you. He was breathing heavily and he needed more than this right now. But he wants to satisfy you, and so he entertains what you want.

His gaze was focused on the way your hips moved, his bottom lip between his teeth. He moved his hips upwards, amused when you moaned from the friction against your clit. He could feel the wet patch from your panties on his underwear. You're so wet and you haven't even noticed the mess you've made.

He timed his pace with yours, feeling a bit generous for you tonight. "Did you miss me that much, hm?" You leaned down and hid your face in the crook of his neck, shying away from his question. "You're so cute. I miss the way you look whenever you're so desperate for me, and I love the way you make me feel so wanted. Fuck, I love you so much."

He turned his head, his lips close to your ears. "What do you want me to do to you?" His voice was hushed, breathy and lower than usual, and it sent a pleasurable tingle throughout your body. It's been a year since you've taken him, the mere thought of having him inside you had you clenching around nothing. God, he's so big and you're not even sure if he could still fit inside you. And yet you still want to feel his cum inside you, to feel it slide between your thighs, you want him to fuck you and ruin you 'till sundown.

His arms were now around your waist, roughly grinding his hips against yours to get a reaction out of you."I asked you a question, sweetheart." He knew that you loved his lower register so much and he had to take advantage of that weakness.

"Fuck me. Please Soobin." You whined, shifting your hips and felt him thrust his hips against you. The outline of his cock sent you into overdrive, desperate to put it inside you, you brought your hand between your bodies and under his boxers' waistband. He cursed as he felt your cold fingertips wrap around the tip of his cock, slowly spreading the bead of pre-cum around his tip. "Need you so, so much." You coo, muffling your voice on his hoodie.

Soobin pressed his lips on your neck, pulling your hips upwards to move your panties aside. His other hand pushing his boxers down to his thighs, pumping his cock before pushing you down against him. You sink down on him all the way, he was impossibly deep in this position, stuffed full and slick from your juices. You didn't expect yourself to take him in that easily despite his size. Your pizza was that eager to have him again, but the sting was still there as you stayed still to breathe.

"Shit… you're so tight for me." He groaned, barely hanging on. You wrapped your arms around his neck, clenching around his length as your legs failed you. A shaky breath escaped your lips when he began to grind his hips against yours, taking you to another level of deep, releasing a choked moan from your throat.

You tried to move, your ass bouncing on his thighs as you brought yourself up and pushed yourself down until he was buried deeply inside. "I want you to fuck me until you can't anymore, want you to cum in me. Please."

Soobin let out a breathy laugh, his chest heaving from breathing heavily. You felt heavenly around him.

"Anything for you, princess."

[chuuyrr]

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹ SANTA DOESN'T KNOW YOU LIKE I DO — DAZAI OSAMU ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

𐙚₊ CW(s): f! reader, exes to lovers, angst to fluff/comfort, christmas/holiday setting, he still calls you pet names like baby, love, and sweetheart

𐙚₊˚⊹ SYNOPSIS: underneath the twinkling christmas lights, you and osamu embrace the promise of a love rekindled

𐙚₊ NOW PLAYING: santa doesn't know you like i do by sabrina carpenter && new years day by taylor swift ᝰ.ᐟ

in the heart of yokohama, where the winter winds whispered secrets and the city adorned itself in festive lights, you find yourself wandering around in a deep sigh, clutching yourself with your coat adorning you.

the city exuded warmth, and the scent of roasted chestnuts, gingerbread, and an open fire from christmas markets and stores mingled with the laughter of children and adults enjoying the holidays.

as you strolled through the festive scene, you couldn't escape the echoes of your shared past with dazai.

you then stop in front of a familiar bar which was decorated with bright christmas lights and wreaths, and at that moment, you find yourself lost in a sea of memories, reminiscing about the shared moments with osamu, before the inevitable drift that led to your breakup.

among those recollections, two particular scenes painted themselves vividly in your mind, haunting yet bittersweet.

one memory that lingered like a gentle melody was the night you and osamu ventured into the same dimly lit bar, saying that you two deserve a treat.

the air hummed with the soulful tunes of saxophones and pianos as you two nestled into a corner booth. the ambient glow cast a warm aura, reflecting in dazai's brown sugar eyes as you and him clinked glasses of your high-ball whiskeys, toasting to the beauty of the night.

your laughter resonated with the rhythm of the music, creating a symphony of shared joy. osamu, with his enigmatic smile, leaned in to whisper secrets that only you could understand amidst the jazz-infused atmosphere.

it was a night where time seemed to suspend, and your connection deepened through the language of music, laughter, and stories which lead to a shared kiss that became your first.

another memory that tugged at the corners of your heart was the night you spent at osamu's apartment. the air was thick with familiarity as you found solace in the haven he had crafted, even if it was quite empty and rather mininalist, considering how he didn't have much.

either way, you and osamu talked about everything and nothing, the conversation weaving effortlessly between trivialities and profound truths—some even about his day at work, how annoying working on reports was. you even find yourself dancing with him around his kitchen in the middle of the night.

as that night unfolded, osamu's clothes became a comforting embrace, wrapping you in the scent of familiarity. wearing his oversized shirt, you found a sense of closeness, a tangible reminder of the intimacy you once shared.

the cityscape outside his window faded into the background as you and him reveled in the simplicity of being together in his futon, you in his warm embrace, head tucked beneath his chin as you lay on his chest, and he hummed a peacefully melody with his fingers running through your hair to lull you.

the quiet hum of his apartment became a sanctuary in those stolen hours, and even he thought it became a place he could call home when it was previously simply a scarcely filled space, and now it felt more than that. that is, until the fall arrived.

it was a night where the barriers between you and him melted away, leaving only the echoes of whispered confessions of "i love yous" and sweet nothings, along with the soft rustle of borrowed clothes.

now, you stand alone with the weight of these memories, you couldn't help but wonder if those moments were fragments of a love that had slipped through your fingers.

the bar and the borrowed clothes became artifacts of a time when you and osamu reveled in the magic of each other's company, a magic that time, circumstances, and perhaps your own choices had dimmed.

and still, you held onto those memories, recognizing them as delicate fragments of a past that was, in its own way, a testament to the beauty of what you two once had.

the air was crisp, and the city bustled with the festive energy of the holiday season, and you were about to turn away from the bar only to walk and bump into a familiar figure.

there, in the midst of the bustling crowd, stood dazai, and time seemed to freeze for an instant as your eyes met his ever same, warm brown sugar eyes, and the weight of unspoken words lingered in the air—a moment suspended in the delicate dance between past and present.

"osamu," you murmur softly, the name escaping your lips almost as a reflex. his gaze, once distant, softened with a recognition that mirrored your own.

a tentative smile played on his lips, a silent acknowledgment of the shared history that bounds you both, "hey, fancy meeting you here," he remarks, his voice carrying the hint of a memory you both couldn't escape.

as the crowd flowed around you and dazai, you find yourself standing in a pocket of stillness, a space where the weight of your past lingered.

"what are you doing out here? looking for presents, dear?" dazai strikes a conversation, but you can tell he seemed to be trying to hold himself back. you can tell he was very much ecstatic to see you again despite before.

"no, i was just going for a walk," you respond, rubbing your arm as you blink softly at him.

"just going for a walk this holiday, huh?" he narrows his eyes, a small chuckle escaping his breath, and his gaze soon draws towards the bar where you two would go for a drink, dine, and date.

like a canvas of unread stories, his eyes then hold, a mix of emotions, "funny how memories have a way of catching up with us," he replies, his gaze tracing the invisible threads that connected your past to this chance encounter.

"you know, sometimes, i do wonder if our memories are trying to tell us something," dazai muses, his words resonating with a quiet introspection as you two stood there, grappling with the unspoken question of what these chance encounters meant.

dazai's eyes, once filled with the mischievous sparkle that characterized him, now furrows in a subtle frown as he observed your quiet and somewhat awkward demeanor. the cheerful and festive background chatter of the city around you seemed to fade, leaving only the palpable tension between you and him.

"so," dazai began, a playful lilt in his voice as if attempting to break the uneasy silence, "you've become the epitome of quiet contemplation, i see. is this a new tactic to throw off my deductive skills?" his words were accompanied by a teasing smile, a familiar attempt to coax you into banter.

however, your response remained trapped in the awkwardness that seemed to have enveloped you. reminiscing memories had resurrected emotions that you struggled to articulate, and the weight of unspoken words hung in the air.

his playful demeanor faded slightly, replaced by a genuine concern mirrored in the subtle downturn of his lips. "heh, you're usually more... animated," he mutters, his gaze searching for clues in the quietness that now defined you.

"i guess i've changed, dazai," you mumble, attempting to offer an explanation for the unspoken shift in your dynamic. the words, however, felt inadequate, like leaves carried away by the wind before they could settle.

dazai's eyebrows knit together in a mild frustration, especially when you no longer address him as such, "change, my love, is a curious thing. but this quiet version of you doesn't quite suit the narrative i had in mind," he teases, yet the tease carried an undercurrent of genuine curiosity.

as he continued to speak, the air between you two seemed to thicken with unspoken tension. his attempts at light banter fell against the backdrop of my quiet contemplation, creating a dissonance that neither of you anticipated.

a sigh escapes him, a subtle acknowledgment of the unforeseen awkwardness, "i thought we could maybe reminisce and laugh about old times, but it seems like i've stumbled upon a different scene altogether," his frown deepening.

in that moment, the vulnerability beneath dazai's usual charm became apparent. the frown on his face reflected not just confusion but a genuine longing for the familiarity, the connection that once flowed effortlessly between the two of you.

"hey, since we're already in front of the bar we used to frequent, do you mind sharing a drink with me tonight?" he asked, his tone carrying a mix of nostalgia and vulnerability.

your eyes widen a bit in shock. you know you shouldn't, but it just feels so right to say,

"no, i don't mind at all."

memories of laughter, music, and stolen glances resurfaced, painting a vivid scene against the backdrop of the night in the bar of cozy glow of christmas lights and laughter and merriment, yet the weight of those moments hanging in the air.

dazai's gaze became more introspective, his words chosen with care as the two of you sat together by the bar on the cushioned stools with your usual high-ball whiskeys.

"you know, i've been doing a lot of thinking lately, about us and everything that happened," he starts quietly after taking a sip from his drink, "there are words left unsaid, and i think it's time to address them."

as dazai spoke, a rare sincerity colored his voice, unraveling the layers of complexity that often shrouded his emotions, and the night now became a stage for a conversation that held the potential for healing.

"i suppose so," you say back quietly as you swirl your drink around, holding it by the rim and making the ice cube clink against the glass.

you turn to look at dazai, and you see him a take a deep breath as he places his hands in the pocket of his sandy brown coat.

"i want to say sorry," dazai continues, his eyes searching yours for a reaction, "sorry for the moments i let slip away, for the words i said and didn't say, and for the distance that grew between us, and i never meant for it to end like that.."

the rare vulnerability in his admission hung in the air, a bridge between the past and the present. the ambiance of the bar now stood witness to a moment of genuine confession.

"and i miss you," dazai confesses, his gaze never leaving yours, and you can hear the sincerity in his voice, "i miss the laughter, the shared silences, and the way you understood the chaos within me, and if i can be completely honest, i still love you."

the weight of those words settled in the air, carrying with them the echoes of a love that had weathered storms and yet lingered in the recesses of the past. the quietness between you two even seemed to amplify the significance of the moment, as if the universe itself conspired to create a space for the honesty that had long been overdue.

your heart, a mosaic of emotions, responded to his words, caught between the scars of the past and the possibility of a future rewritten.

you, too, couldn't deny the resonance between you and him, "i guess, christmas has a way of making even the coldest hearts nostalgic," you say in a quiet giggle, your gaze meeting his.

the chilly night seemed to warm however.

"i'm sorry too. i'm sorry for giving up on us," you sigh, taking sip of your drink for liquid courage as the unspoken words became spoken now, "i just, it felt like there was no other way, and that this is for the best for us, osamu."

"you called me osamu again," a smile now tugs on his lips, his eyes lighting up with hope.

"oh, shut up," a smile, too, breaks on your face but you sigh softly once more as you look at him once more, "but i mean every word, osamu."

"i know you do, sweetheart," dazai says with a nod before he raises his glass to you.

"yeah," you hum softly as your raise the glass in return to his, toasting to him.

amidst the snowflakes and the soft glow of christmas lights outside, dazai and you find yourselves in the midst of an unexpected reunion, the chilly air echoed with warm memories, and beneath the twinkling stars.

this festive season really had a peculiar way of unraveling emotions, and as you crossed paths with dazai and it was evident that the connection between you two was more than a mere coincidence.

after a heartfelt conversation of unspoken words between you two with a few drinks at the bar, dazai offered to take you back to your place since it was quite late despite the holidays.

however, in a quiet corner just near your place, away from the laughter and merriment, dazai's eyes met yours as he walked right by your side.

"what is it?" you ask, looking up at him.

a subtle smirk plays on his lips as he pauses his tracks, and so do you, "you know, santa doesn't know you like i do."

it was a statement layered with memories of shared secrets and intimate moments.

as you exchanged glances, the familiarity of your history danced between you two, like a delicate snowfall. you genuinely smile nonetheless at his words, "maybe we've been on the naughty list for too long," you teased, a hint of nostalgia in your voice.

dazai took a step closer, his hand reaching for yours, "and santa may not understand us, but perhaps we can rewrite our story," he suggests, his gaze holding a sincerity that transcended the mask of indifference he often wore, "yeah?"

surrounded by the symphony of the season, you can't help but feel a little emotional as a genuine smile tugs on your lips as you nod and whisper, "yeah."

the clock struck midnight, time reaches its crescendo, and the world around you both seemed to pause in reverence to the magic of christmas, and just like that, coincidentally beneath the mistletoe that was hanging on the street light, his arms wrap around you and pulls you to him.

dazai's lips then meets yours in a kiss that spoke in volumes—a reunion of past and present, a bridge between shared memories and the promise of a love rediscovered.

as you two pull away, breathless, the quiet acknowledgment between you two lingered in the cold air of christmas eve. snow falls as he leans in again, and dazai holds you in his embrace like he always does.

"merry christmas, my sweet girl. i love you," dazai softly whispers in your ear before planting a kiss on your cheek this time around.

𐙚₊ A.N.: advanced merry christmas from yours truly my lovelies ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰ hope ya'll enjoy this christmas dazai fic i cooked in the kitchen—this is also my first time writing an exes to lovers fic, especially with dazai, so yeah !!

𐙚₊ TAGGING: @anqelically (here's ur food <3), && @dazaiyohane @lovedazai @osaemu (my dazai lover moots too ofc hehe, i think you guys will like this- ∩ ⸝⸝ ∩ )

[fili-urzudel]

Hello!! Could you do 14, 15 and 31 with Fili? Romantic or platonic, up to you. Thank you 💜

13. Sitting together

14. Handholding

15. Sharing a blanket (potentially violent)

31. Stargazing

This combination is classic and oh-so-fluffy, and with my favorite Dwarf to boot! I went ahead and added another prompt as well.

Everyone lives AU, because there is no other ending in my mind.

BTW I'm sick :( but I'm going to try to get at least one other prompt request out this week

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1.8k

Moonrise - Fíli Durin x Reader

The Durin's Day festival was always fun, but it was all the more spectacular in the newly reclaimed Erebor.

"The first autumn equinox since the mountain was reclaimed, can you believe it?" Fíli said with a bright smile, looking with pride at the crisscrossing bridges and vaulted ceilings of the entrance to the mountain. There was still plenty of work to be done, to be sure, but its improvement was impressive regardless.

"And in a couple days, the anniversary of when it was reclaimed," you nodded in agreement. "A few months after that, the anniversary of the first time you walked around by yourself."

"Hush, I'm trying to enjoy this," Fíli gave you a fake scowl, unconsciously probing the scar hidden beneath his tunic.

You changed directions. "Of course, my Prince," you teased. "You look very nice today."

You meant it. His hair was freshly washed, the slightly damp strands frizzing out in the cool morning air. Each bead was carefully placed, a few decorative gold ones added in place of a crown. His tunic was a smooth yet understated silk underneath his leather vest and wool coat. Every detail was precisely placed, the burnt oranges and browns blending seamlessly. He had clearly been seen to with the utmost care. He looked like royalty, even without the royal garb. Most importantly, he was healthy.

His smile softened, his cheeks turning a bit pink under his mustache. "Thank you," he glanced to the ground before looking back up at you. "And you're beautiful as ever."

You blushed deeper than him, unused to compliments. You plucked at the placket of your own wool coat, dyed a deep woad blue. It was your favorite. "Thank you," you said, choosing for once to believe him. "What duties do you have today?"

"None, surprisingly," Fíli breathed. "Thorin's let me have a break, so I can enjoy the first festival in our new home right alongside you." Something about that little word, our, set your heart ablaze. "You want to stick with me?"

"If you'll have me," he smiled again. That smile was impossible to resist.

"Of course I will."

Erebor had been steadily growing over the past year, but that day, it seemed more alive than ever. The market squares were full, overflowing into the wide side streets. Jewelry, blades, shields, ceramics, sculptures--anything made out of earth or in forges were certainly found somewhere in the expansive space. The Ereborian dwarves' tentative friendship with the Men of Dale caused new, less traditional stands to pop up as well: flower stalls, street food vendors featuring fish dishes, and clothing and homeware shops full of bolts of linen. The mountain had only dwarves—and Bilbo—in its halls, a presently rare occurrence, and so you were all free to speak Khuzdul, the sharp sounds ringing pleasantly in your ears.

The two of you strolled as quickly as possible through all the markets had to offer, determined not to miss the afternoon's performances. You exercised exemplary self-restraint, only stopping at one of every five stalls that caught your eye.

"No," became a very popular word as well, what with resisting Fíli's unceasing offers to purchase anything you liked.

"Well, if you will not spend any of your share of the treasure, I must spend some of mine and relieve what must be the terrible, stifling boredom of your living quarters, my friend," he teased, mustache beads swinging from side to side.

"I will have no prince wasting his money on me."

"Oh, it's never a waste if it's you," Fíli told you surely.

There he went again, saying things that made your palms sweat and your cheeks flush. "You're too kind."

Fíli smirked at the way you diverted your gaze. "Well, if I cannot buy you a rug, at least allow me to buy you lunch," he gestured to a permanent restaurant on the corner that was swarmed with dwarrow.

You couldn't help a smile at that. "Hot stew?" You asked, referring to the almost overpoweringly spicy meat-and-potato stew that was a dwarven classic. Benron's was your favorite.

"As hot as you like, of course," He agreed, guiding you forward with a gentle hand on your back.

The stew made your eyes stream in the best way, and you pulled Fíli out of the restaurant scarcely once he was finished eating. "We have to find good seats!" You reasoned as he raised an eyebrow, still wiping his mouth.

"You do realize that Thorin has the best seats, and by extension, we do as well?"

"Right," you said. You had forgotten. Somehow, none of the Durins were royalty in your mind. They were still your traveling companions, dirt poor and looked at as crazy.

"Still, it is sort of nice to take a seat before everyone starts filtering in and it gets too loud," Fíli reassured you. "After you."

The grand presentation began with a song to the mountain. In the ancient tradition, singing was a way to ask the mountain to reveal its secrets, a careful gathering of tones that would uncover its nature.

This song, however, was made more to please the ears of the listener. It was a song of thanks, of hardly believing that this mountain was once again the shelter for her people. You tried your best to control the tears that rose to your eyes.

Fíli leaned over, bumping your shoulder with his. You gave a small smile that he returned, and you could see in his eyes that he was thinking of all that it took to get there.

"We did it," you whispered.

"Yeah, we did."

The opening songs were followed by traditional dances, a speed-forging competition, and a few spars. You cheered on the brothers as they fought each other, with a healthy dose of brotherly teasing. Fíli let his little brother win, or so he told you. The look on Kíli's face was more than worth it. You congratulated him and let them both clean up as you headed to the gates.

The gates were still open, cool air pouring into the mountain as the sun dropped in the sky.

Dale was dimmer than usual—the city was empty. The men were lining the edge of the water with candles. This equinox now also marked the anniversary of the fall of Laketown and many of their loved ones. The dwarves tried their best to be respectful of their vigil.

You leaned against the wall and watched. You hoped they found peace and remembered to enjoy their new lives. Bard, standing at the back of the group, turned around. He caught your eye and nodded.

"Come with me, I think we should see something," Fíli's low whisper startled you from your reverie, and his hand wrapping around yours even more so.

"Where are we going?" You asked, not that it mattered. With his hand in yours, you'd probably follow him anywhere.

He led you on a trek around the front of the mountain, the setting sun turning everything orange and making his hair appear as flames as you went.

Caught in the daze of bliss, it took you a while to notice what was draped over his other arm. "Wait, is that—I told you not to buy that!"

It was the woven blanket you had noticed earlier, the tapestry depicting sunrays falling through a thick forest of firs. "And what if I bought this for myself? I have uses for it."

"Then it's alright, I suppose."

"You can keep it once I'm done with it, though."

"Sly fox."

"Coin pincher."

"Seriously, though, where are we going?" You asked.

Fíli smiled at you. "A certain very large staircase."

You gasped. "Leading to a secret doorway?"

"The very same. I figured, since we were both trying to help Kili, erm, not die, we missed the excitement, and now we can see it for ourselves."

"That's extraordinarily thoughtful of you."

"Eh, I'd say averagely thoughtful at best," Fíli shrugged.

"Perfectly suitable for me," you told him.

"Good."

The achingly long trip up the staircase was rewarded with a very nice sight: another, less decorative blanket spread across the stone, a couple flat pillows, and three lanterns, already lit and ready to face the darkness.

"When did you find time to do this?" You asked Fíli, grinning from ear to ear.

"I have my ways," he said mysteriously. "And help."

"That's where Bofur, Bilbo, and Dori disappeared to," you observed. "I see. Well, it's very sweet of all of you."

"I'm glad you think so," Fíli said, still holding your hand as he guided you to sit on the blanket with him.

The stairs had taken longer than anticipated, so the sun was already almost gone. You quieted as you realized how close the time was. The two of you watched in quiet admiration as the moon rose, bright and perfect, into the sky, before you turned, hoping to catch a glimpse of the door.

You gasped. "There it is!" The moonrise revealed the shape of a perfectly hidden keyhole. "That is very neat, indeed."

"Mmhm," Fíli agreed. "Beautiful." The keyhole was not what he thought was beautiful. He wasn't actually looking at the door at all, but rather you, and the way the moonlight reflected off every spectacular detail of your face.

He had never known quite when he started to feel this way, only that he didn't in the Blue Mountains, when he barely knew you, and he did now.

You turned your gaze from the keyhole once the wonder had made a comfortable space in your heart, and looked to the stars, all too aware of how close Fíli was.

You read out the constellations to yourself in the comfortable silence, assuming the prince was doing the same. You then heard him shift.

"Lay with me," Fíli offered, and you turned around in record time, cheeks blazing and eyes wide.

"What?"

He was already lying down with his head on one of the pillows. "To watch the stars more comfortably."

"Alright," you said, voice quiet. You scooted down until you could lay your head on the other pillow, before changing your mind. You decided to take a risk and settle your head on his chest instead.

"Is this alright?" You asked immediately. The last thing you wanted was for him to be uncomfortable in this situation.

"Of course it is," he said softly, his arm raising to hold your waist. "I enjoy being close to you."

It wasn't quite a grand confession, but it was good enough for your heart to begin hammering in your chest. "I enjoy being close to you, too."

[bokutosbiceps]

‘tis the season | kengan ashura

gaolang wongsawat/kanoh agito/kure raian/tokita ohma x gn!reader | fluff | ~1k words

warnings: some suggestive/18+ themes but nothing explicit + obviously cursing bc rai is involved my piece of shit man

a/n: welcome to my xmas special for the kengan boys !! as usual, i chose to write for my fav men. it was sooo hard to decide wtf raian would do because he would refuse to do any of these activities but i think what i chose fits him p well LOL.also I’M SORRY OHMA’S IS SO SHORT BUT I THINK IT’S CUTE, m’kay, so pls enjoy 🎄

18+ MDNI | under the cut for length

gaolang wongsawat finds going to the christmas market with you to be the perfect way to spend his evening. the first stop that you two will make, which is a must, is the coffee stall. he’ll pay for both of your coffees and tip the stall attendant just a little bit extra since he’s feeling the holiday spirit. then he’ll tuck his hands into his pockets and you’ll thread your arm through his and thus begins your journey through the stalls.

gaolang holds you close as you trudge through the market, appreciating all of the pretty stalls decorated with lights and tinsel. you two will stop at every single food stall, and gaolang insists on sharing all of his food with you. he thinks it’s cute the way that your smile reaches your eyes and scrunches your nose when you bite into something that’s hot and tasty.

otherwise, it’s mostly silent, save for the quiet murmur of the crowd around you and your excited comments at anything cute your eyes may land on. gaolang is silently taking note of these things, because he will be coming back to the market without you to buy you each and every one of whatever you showed any interest in. 

kanoh agito is a man of many, many talents, including chopping down the christmas tree for your shared abode. you and kanoh make the long drive up to the mountains to pick out your tree, and you stand back and let your eyes rake over you man while he swings his axe against the poor tree of your choosing.

he sheds his coat and his long sleeve, leaving him only in a tank top to allow for full range of motion, spits into his hands, and grabs the axe like his life depends on it. agito, all rippling muscles, swings the blade of the axe against the tree like a pro, using his hips to add extra power into his swing until the tree is hanging on by a mere, woody thread.

“were you a lumberjack in a past life, babe?” you joke as you watch him tie the tree down to the hood of your car with twine.

“lumber…jack?” agito doesn’t stop what he’s doing but he throws a questioning glance over his shoulder at you. you giggle, remembering that this towering hunk of man still has much to learn about the world around him. you walk up to his side and give the twine a good tug to ensure that it’s secure before turning around and leaning your back against your car.

“don’t worry about it. you were just chopping down this tree like such an expert, i thought maybe you’d done this in a past life.” you watch as agito shrugs his layers of clothing back on and comes back over to you, leaning on the car next to you.

“i’m surprised you noticed my axe technique since you were too busy ogling me.” agito smirks at you, wrapping an arm around your shoulders and pressing you into his side. you gasp in fake embarrassment.

“i don’t know how i’m supposed to resist! you took off your coat on purpose!” you tease.

agito just chuckles and leans down to place a kiss to the top of your head, whatever you say, doll.  

kure raian’s least favorite thing about moving back into kure village is the fact that he is required to decorate the house with christmas lights. erioh gets on his ass, starting in september, to remind him that he must decorate his villa to keep the village looking nice and uniform for the holidays.

“the fuck do i care about uniformity and niceties? we’re fucking assassins, not little ass elves.” raian grumbles as he untangles the string of lights. he continues to mutter and and whine while he fights with the cord and you’re watching in pure delight as you lay out the corny, tacky decorations you bought for the front yard.

raian brings the ladder down from the garage wall with one arm, his muscle flexing and relaxing as he brings it to the spot under the peak of the roof. 

“get over here and hold the ladder for me.”

“can i get a please?” you raise your eyebrows at him, knowing full well you’re in dangerous territory as it is.

“i ask my bitch to do something for me and i get lip?” raian huffs a laugh, throwing his head back in an exaggerated manner. “just get over here before i lose my shit.” 

you laugh and obey your husband, dutifully holding the ladder steady while he quickly and cleanly hangs the lights on the edge of the roof. you’re surprised at how efficiently raian works, and how it actually doesn’t look like shit when he’s finished.

“i’m proud of you, rai.” you smile at him and press a quick kiss to his lips when he comes down from the ladder. despite the annoyed frown on his lips, he’s quick to snake his arms around the small of your back as he looks up at the roof, seemingly proud of his work. he nods in satisfaction before turning back to you.

“now, why don’t we go back inside and you can show me just how proud you are, hm?” raian’s hand drifts down the small of your back till it reaches the top of your butt. you just shake your head and smack his hand away. 

“we’ve still got the yard to decorate, stud.”

tokita ohma is okay with the holidays, because the holidays mean it’s gonna get cold, and the cold means you’re gonna turn on the fireplace, and turning on the fireplace means he will be napping by the fireplace. ohma really only finds it comfortable enough when you’re with him, though, so he’ll wait for whenever you’re not busy to pull you onto the carpet in front of the fireplace.

he wraps his body around you, tucking your head underneath his chin and bringing his knees up behind yours to effectively keep you trapped. lastly, he wraps his arms tightly around your waist and pulls you backwards until you’re flush against his firm chest.  he lets out a deep and content sigh, and you can imagine that his lips are curled upward into a soft smile as he closes his eyes.

“don’t leave, ‘kay?” he mutters before letting out another sigh. you chuckle softly at his request, wondering how on earth you’d ever even be able to escape the strong embrace of your lover. but it’s not like you’d want to anyways.

taglist: @ohmaswife | @kamesama | @thebigevilsamp | @itbitesback | @aloelotustea | @hoe4rairai | @himbo-in-limbo

[justporo]

First Snow

Winter has come to Baldur's Gate and finally with it the first snow. You're excited about it - Astarion is rather reluctant...

MASTERLIST | AO3

Author's Note: Written for the "Snow & Ice" prompt for the BG3 Winter Holiday Challenge! We're kicking of the winter and holiday time with this first fill. Pairing: Astarion/GN!Tav (You) Warnings: none Wordcount: 1k

~~~ Temperatures in Baldur’s Gate had been dropping. There was ice forming now on the edges of the windows of the townhouse you shared with Astarion. And icy gusts of wind made you shiver now everytime you left the house.

Winter had come to the city and was firmly holding Baldur's Gate in its icy fingers. Some smaller side streams of the Chionthar close to town had already frozen over, inviting people to go ice skating. A winter market had opened its stalls somewhere centrally in the lower city. Windows were decorated with candles, ornaments and wreaths made of holly. And the townsfolk had started to wrap themselves in thick coats, wooly scarves and more comfy layers meant to keep them warm. For some the only thing still peeking out from all the layers of cloth, wool and fur were reddened cheeks and noses, coloured by the freezing temperatures.

But there was one thing still missing: snow.

And for the first time in your life were you actually excited for that to happen. Because now you were lucky enough to be in a position to enjoy the nice things that came with the colder weather. And you were so ready to make the best of it - together with your vampire soulmate.

When you had lived on the streets of the city you had always dreaded the coming winter because each year it had been cruel and painstaking to find enough food and shelter. But things were so different now. You had a permanent roof over your head now. And much more important: you had someone, just as permanent.

Someone to cuddle up with when the winter storms would be howling outside. Someone to decorate your home with. Someone to exchange gifts and trade kisses with during cold winter nights. Actually it all sounded pretty enticing.

Being with Astarion had made everything better. You never had been this excited about your future. And just as Astarion was ready to replace hurtful memories with new and pleasant ones, so were you.

So, tonight, you were going out. As you had done lots of times since you'd settled down. Astarion always found a reason to drag you out of the house and spoil you. You were planning to have a nice dinner, maybe stroll across the winter market and watch some of the brave fools thinking they’d be good at ice skating - at least as long as people were still out and about.

But the night was still young. The sun had barely set.

And this had been one of the first things that had made you change your opinion about winter: it allowed for so much more time and opportunities to go out with your vampire. Even if said vampire would have enjoyed that much more during summer time. You made the best out of it.

So when you stepped out of your front door, drawing your scarf and cloak closer around you, you immediately noticed one thing: Thick white flakes were drifting down from the dark night sky, illuminated by the street's mage light lanterns. The snowflakes fell slowly but steadily - as if they were trying to tell you that they wouldn’t be rushed, but would make their way surely. Light gusts of wind dragged around the small white tufts - sometimes taking them for an extra twirl before they landed on the ground.

Your eyes widened and you gasped as you beheld what was very much a fairytale snow flurry. “Snow”, you whispered silently and could barely believe how excited you’d become all of a sudden.

Then Astarion stepped out behind you. And you didn’t need to see the scowl to know it was there: “Ugh, snow.”

Immediately you turned around and gave him a look. You saw how he was fastening his cloak and threw a scarf around his head - he didn’t exactly have need for it but that surely didn’t stop him from another opportunity to make a fashion statement.

“What?”, he replied in annoyance. His lips were pressed together looking at the icy precipitation in displeasure.

“Don’t you think it’s beautiful?”

“My love, you are beautiful, life is beautiful - oh and I am certainly beautiful”, he started dramatically and for the last part sweeped a hand through his hair. “But this? Frozen water falling from the sky? I don’t see why that’s supposed to be beautiful of all things”, he finished with a scrunched up nose. And very pointedly a big snowflake landed on the tip of his nose right at this moment.

The vampire’s nose scrunched up even more when he felt the cold touch his skin and made a disgusted noise while you could barely contain a laugh.

“There, I can save you”, you said and stood on your tiptoes to kiss the tip of his nose and take care of this daunting snowflake.

“Cute”, Astarion replied when you stepped back again with a big genuine smile on his face. And then he quickly pulled you back in for a real kiss.

After the sweet kiss he pulled the cloak closer around you while you lovingly kept looking at him. He’d made that one for you specifically - picked your favourite colours, lined with sheep wool on the inside to keep you extra warm, marked with custom stitching. You had been in absolute awe when he had first showed it to you - he really was more talented than he would make anyone believe.

“Now, my love, at least take care you don’t turn into an icicle - I have standards when it comes to the temperature of my lovers”, the vampire lectured while he made sure you were appropriately wrapped, then pressed a quick little kiss to your forehead.

“Smoking hot?”, you asked with a sly grin. Astarion smirked back at you.

“At least above freezing would be acceptable”, Astarion replied and winked at you.

You stuck your tongue at him while Astarion laughed at you. Then you grabbed his hand and went out into the snow-filled cold winter night.

Tag list: @spacebarbarianweird @sunfire-ancunin @tragedybunny @dependsonthedream @tallymonster @magazzne @micropoe10 @aoirohi @my-bunny-prince @lumienyx @fayeriess

[victoryverse]

Together for the Holidays

words: 900

You had never expected to spend your first Christmas with Simon 'Ghost' Riley, but when he showed up on your doorstep, you couldn't help but smile. You never really celebrated the holidays before, but Ghost made you feel like it was something worth doing.

As he entered your home, his iconic skull-patterned balaclava was replaced with a red and green Christmas hat. His eyes twinkled with excitement and you couldn't help but feel giddy at the thought of spending the holidays with him.

Together, you decorated the house with lights and ornaments, placing a small tree in the corner of the living room. Ghost insisted on hanging mistletoe in every doorway, but you couldn't help but tease him about his love for cheesy Christmas traditions.

The two of you spent the days leading up to Christmas exploring the city, trying every festive treat and visiting every holiday market you could find. Ghost seemed to be in his element, grinning from ear to ear as he pointed out the beautiful decorations and lights.

On Christmas Eve, you prepared a feast for the two of you, and as you sat around the table, Ghost insisted on wearing matching reindeer antler headbands. Laughter filled the room as you both enjoyed a delicious meal, swapping stories and making new memories.

As midnight approached, Ghost suggested going for a walk to enjoy the silent streets. You bundled up in warm coats and scarves, with Ghost's arm wrapped around your shoulders. The moon shone bright and the snow crunched beneath your feet as you walked hand in hand.

As the clock struck midnight, Ghost turned to you with a sly smile. 'Merry Christmas, love,' he murmured before pulling you into a kiss under the mistletoe that he had cleverly placed above your heads.

The remainder of the night was spent cuddled up on the couch, watching Christmas movies and sipping on hot cocoa. Ghost's warm embrace and gentle whispers made you feel at peace, as if this was where you were meant to be all along.

On Christmas morning, you woke up to the smell of pancakes and bacon wafting through the air. Ghost had gone all out, preparing a delicious breakfast with an extravagant spread of toppings to choose from. You couldn't help but admire how well he could cook, despite his tough exterior.

After breakfast, Ghost handed you a small gift, a beautifully wrapped box that he had hidden under the tree. Inside was a delicate bracelet with a charm in the shape of a skull, a nod to his iconic balaclava. Tears pricked at your eyes as you thanked him for the thoughtful gift. He simply smiled and said, 'It's a reminder that you have a piece of my heart now.'

The rest of the day was spent in a state of bliss, with Ghost by your side. The two of you exchanged gifts and shared stories, laughing and enjoying each other's company. You never thought you could feel this happy, but Ghost had a way of making everything feel right.

As the day came to a close, Ghost suggested taking a drive to see the city lights. You bundled up in the car and he drove you to the tallest point in the city, where you could see the entire skyline lit up with holiday decorations. It was a breathtaking view and you couldn't help but feel grateful for this time with Ghost.

As the night drew to a close, and the clock struck midnight, Ghost turned to you with a serious expression. 'I have one more gift for you,' he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small velvet box. 'It's not much, but it's something that I've been holding onto for a long time.'

With trembling hands, you opened the box to find a beautiful engagement ring. Your hands flew to your mouth in shock as Ghost got down on one knee, a tender smile on his face.

'Ever since I met you, I knew you were someone special,' he began, his voice cracking with emotion. 'I may not show it often, but you mean everything to me. Will you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me?'

Tears streamed down your face as you nodded, unable to find the words to express your joy. Ghost slipped the ring onto your finger, and in that moment, you knew that this was the best Christmas you could have ever asked for.

Together, you stood on the hilltop, watching the city lights as the snow began to fall around you. The two of you were now each other's home, and you couldn't wait to spend every Christmas with Ghost by your side. Together for the holidays, and for many more to come.

[by-nina]

it's been another amazing royai week. i struggled to continue writing and return to this routine over the past two years, but i'm so glad to have been here with all of you again through my writing. hopefully, i get to keep making and sharing stories with this amazing fandom. nothing makes me as happy. ♡︎

I DON'T MIND FALLING FOR A LIFETIME

A Royai Week 2024 series by Nina

Second Glance (Day 1 - Curiosity) AO3 | FFN Her eyes are the color of deep honey, almost incandescent in the warm light of the street lamp just next to him. (Roy begins to think of Riza in a different way. K+.)

Shallow Grave (Day 2 - Appreciate) AO3 | FFN It’s Roy who is making her realize, despite the haze and the numbness, that the longing she kept hidden and worked hard to forget has resurfaced. (At the brink of death, Riza deals with old feelings that have grown stronger over time. T.)

Oh, what a way to die (Day 3 - Pressure) AO3 | FFN Worst of all, she easily forgets each of these men at the end of each night, but his is the face that she thinks of every single time. (Riza deals with the anxiety of being separated from Roy. E.)

A Smoke-Filled Room (Day 4 - Compose) AO3 | FFN It was a moment as quick as any other casually exchanged glance or an accidental brushing of their hands, but it’s enough to make Roy wish he were seated across her, enjoying her company, admiring every little movement when she twirls a loose lock of hair around her finger and plays with the sleeve of his coat and crosses one leg over the other, the skirt of her dress splitting at the slit and sliding off to the side— (Roy grapples with jealousy on an undercover mission. T.)

How a house becomes a home (Day 5 - Gift) AO3 | FFN “Well, I happened to be in the market early, paying a visit to my favorite florist,” he says, “and I remember you mentioning that you had trouble taking care of your flowers. I thought I might help.” (Riza decorates her home and soon finds help in doing so. K.)

[haddonfieldwhore]

headfirst, fearless - will borgen

will borgen x reader (welcome to the party pt.2)

summary: you and will go on your first date

warnings: none i think but i’m not super happy with how this one turned out tbh

word count: 1.8k part one is here

your head wasn’t pounding nearly as much as you thought it would be when you woke up, and you smiled at the fact that the drunken haze hadn’t wiped the cute brunette from your memories. after having a shower and some breakfast, you got out your phone and texted will, as you promised matty you would.

you smiled at your phone as you texted will your address, and he replied saying he would pick you up at five that evening. it was 11 am now, giving you plenty of time to get ready.

you were excited to see will again, and thankful that you hadn’t been so drunk that you’d made a fool of yourself last night. at least if you did, it wasn’t enough to scare him away.

will texted you at exactly five o clock to say that he was waiting outside your place, and after one quick look in the mirror, you were out the door. you were wearing a simple outfit, just a warm sweater, your jacket, and some jeans, along with your winter boots and some gloves to combat the chill in the seattle winter air.

will was standing next to his car when you got outside and you greeted him with a smile as he opened the passenger door for you.

“thanks,” you smiled. “it’s really nice to see you again.”

“yeah, i had a lot of fun last night,” he agreed as he began to drive down the road. “i am looking forward to not being a drunken idiot in front of you today though,” he said with a laugh.

“you weren’t an idiot,” you laughed with him. “i was worried i was, so i guess we were both worried for no reason.”

“i guess so,” he smiled. at a red light, he took off his grey beanie to run his hands through his hair, before placing it back on his head.

“did you and the guys have fun celebrating last night?”

“yeah, we had a good time. matty was still barely awake when i left to pick you up.”

“you guys live together?” you asked, and he nodded.

“yeah, we have a house together next to yanni and his family’s. it’s nice being so close together.”

“that does sound nice,” you agreed.

you spent the short drive to the market getting to know eachother; mostly small stuff like where you were from originally, what kind of music you liked, what you did over the holidays.

the car pulled up outside the market, strings of thousands of lights decorating the trees, lampposts, and stalls for different shops.

“wow, it’s gorgeous.”

“yeah,” will smiled, thinking that as you looked at all the lights, you were still the prettiest thing there.

will held your hand as you walked through the thin layer of snow that coated the ground.

“i love the snow,” you smiled, watching as tiny snowflakes twirled through the air, falling from the sky and covered the roofs of each market stall. there were vendors selling baked goods, crafts, hot chocolate, and so much stuff that you couldn’t even see everything at once. there was even a small skating rink set up, not big enough for hockey, but large enough that people could comfortably skate around.

“what do you want to see first?” will asked.

•

your toes had gone quite cold after about two hours of walking around the market, and even the hot chocolate you’d bought only marginally helping fight off the chill of january.

you had bought a couple craft items, such as a handknit potholder from a sweet old lady, as well as some cookies that you and will shared while watching people skate around.

“do you know how to skate?” will asked, and you shook your head.

“no,” you said with a laugh. “i think i would hurt myself if i tried.”

“you said you trust me?” he asked, extending a hand to you as he stood up.

“yes, but we don’t have skates.”

“even easier then,” he smiled, leading you out into the ice. it thankfully wasn’t too slippery where you felt like you were going to fall down, but enough that you could easily shuffle around. will ‘skated’ backwards as he held onto both of your hands, making sure you didn’t slip. somehow, you knew if you fell he would catch you, and it took away any fear you had in that moment.

“i don’t know how you do this, never mind while trying to shoot the puck and not get hit.”

“practice,” he smiled. “it’s kind of like second nature to me at this point.”

after a few more minutes you felt a little more steady on your feet. still , you didn’t travel too far from the edge of the rink, and never let go of will. you couldn’t imagine the added difficulty of trying to balance on skates.

“you should come to a game sometime. the guys want to see you again almost as much as i did.”

“really?” you asked, and he nodded.

“yeah. just let me know and i can get you tickets,” will smiled. “and yeah, the guys think you’re great.”

“thanks! they seem really cool too.”

“they kept asking me when i was going to see you again,” he said, and the pink blush on his cheeks from the cold hid the slight embarrassment in his face.

“well you can tell them that we went out today. and i don’t know about you but i’m having a really good time,” you smiled, hoping he felt the same.

“me too,” he smiled, and you breathed a sigh of relief. “it is getting cold though, so it might be time for me to take you home.”

“okay,” you agreed, and he helped you off the ice. you walked hand in hand back to his car, rubbing you hands together once you got inside as you waited for him to start the engine.

“what is it?” you asked, his eyes lingering on your face with a smile as he waited for the windows to defrost.

“you have a snowflake on your cheek,” he said, and reached over to wipe it off your cheekbone with his thumb. his hand lingered on your face, and your heart sped up.

“you know all i could think about in the cab ride home last night was how much i wish i had kissed you,” you whispered, and his eyebrows raised raised.

“really?” he hummed. “that’s good to know,” he smiled. “do you want me to kiss you now?”

you nodded, and will leaned closer, gently pressing his lips to yours, the taste of hot chocolate on his tongue. you smiled as he pulled away, the kiss definitely worth the wait.

“i really wanted to kiss you last night too, just for the record.”

“good to know,” you repeated what he’d said, and he smiled before putting the car in gear and starting the drive back to your place.

it was only around 8:30 when you pulled up outside your place, and you didn’t want to say goodbye just yet.

“do you want to come in for a bit?” you asked, hoping it wasn’t too forward.

“sure,” he agreed thankfully, turning off the car and following after you up to your apartment.

his phone beeped in his pocket and he glanced at it with a laugh.

“matty’s asking where i am,” he smiled, and you laughed as you turned the kettle on in case either of you decided to make coffee or tea.

“you didnt tell him where you were going?” you asked, and he shook his head.

“no,” he said with a laugh. “i was worried he might try to tag along.” you laughed as you walked over to the couch and sat down.

“while i did like hanging out with your friends, it was nice to hang out just the two of us,” you admitted, and will walked over and sat down on the couch next to you.

“yeah, it was.” he watched as you shivered slightly. “are you still cold?”

“a little,” you grabbed a blanket from the basket next to you couch, but will pulled you gently into his side, wrapping his arms around you as you pulled the blanket over your laps.

“better?” he asked.

“yes, thank you,” you hummed as you snuggled into him.

“maybe i just wanted to steal the blanket from you,” he teased, as it now rested over his lap as well.

“well if that was the case you could’ve just asked,” you laughed, looking up at him.

will leaned down and pressed a sweet kiss to your lips, and then another on the tip of your nose.

“i’m kidding,” he smiled. “that’s just a bonus.” you hummed softly as you grabbed the remote and passed it to will, deciding on something to watch together.

about an hour into the movie, will looked down and noticed that you were asleep, and smiled to himself.

he sent matty a quick text saying that he wouldn’t be home, and not to wait up for him, before kissing the top of your head.

he ignored matty’s response, and took of his beanie, running a hand through his hair to smooth it out, before he reached over and shut off the lamp. the movement caused you to stir, and he smiled at you.

“hey,” he whispered. “uh, i told matty i was staying out because i don’t want to wake you, but if you want me to go that’s okay.”

“no, that’s okay. i want you to stay,” you stood up, grabbing wills hand and leading him in the direction of your room. “but this couch is terrible for sleeping.”

“bedroom on the first date?” he teased. and you pushed his chest lightly as you grabbed pyjamas from your dresser, finding and old grey t-shirt that would probably fit will as well and handing it to him.

“you’re lucky you’re cute, or i’d make you sleep on the couch for that.”

“sorry,” he raised his hands with a smile, and you went to the bathroom to get changed.

you came back out to see will sitting on the end of the bed, having changed into the shirt you gave him. you walked over and stopped in front of him, and will placed his hands on your hips, his fingertips gently brushing against your skin under them hem of your top. you leaned down to kiss him softly, and he smiled as you yawned slightly after pulling back.

“tired?” he asked, and you nodded, crawling into bed and pulling him down to lay next to you.

“come here,” you giggled as you pulled him into your arms, his legs tangling with yours beneath the blanket as he kissed you again.

“goodnight will,” you mumbled as you snuggled into him, your face resting on his shoulder as his arms wrapped around your waist. he hummed softly as you placed a kiss on his neck.

“goodnight,” he smiled.

disclaimer: all screenshots, events, and/or interactions depicted in this are a work of fiction. i have no association with any parties mentioned

[werewolfnightwalker]

Home

It wasn't much, at first.

In fact it was nothing at all, just an empty one bedroom apartment and a mattress on the floor. But for Hawks, who never had anything that truly belonged to him, and for Touya, for whom this was a fresh start, it was everything.

Touya worked his ass off at his new job at Hawks' new agency; it was smaller than the first had been, the dozens and dozens of sidekicks reduced to a select few teams, who found themselves actually able to help their boss instead of just cleaning up his mess. Touya only had a desk job, days filled with filing reports back and forth, but when his desk was literally in Hawks' office and gave him free access to the hero's snack stash, he had no complaints.

Eventually, when they were able to pocket their first paychecks, they bought a table and chair set. It was secondhand, but it fit perfectly into the corner they designated the dining room. They even had enough left over to order takeout, which they got to eat at their new table.

At the next check, it was a bed frame. Some slats were missing, one leg wobbled, but Touya solved that with a quick venture to a cheap crafts store. They managed to find a couch, a recliner, and even an end table just by taking night drives through neighborhoods and whisking the furniture off the curb where it had been left out for trash. A handful of nails and duct tape, and a 24 hr rental of a steam cleaner did wonders for the old junk.

Mirko gave them their first TV.

"We don't want charity." Dabi scowled.

"It's not. I lost the remote and was gonna toss it anyways." She rebuked. They took it, and Hawks found the remote for five bucks online. Friday night was spent curled up under a shared blanket, watching a show on a streaming service they paid for themselves.

Bit by bit by tiny bit, their apartment came together. Soon they had a bookshelf, that they filled with books and knickknacks from garage sales and secondhand shops. They bought posters and paintings and flags and neat things to decorate their walls, until the apartment was colorful and alive. They found a desk and chair set at a flea market, and suddenly Touya had a place to do artsy things and try out hobbies he'd never had before.

Hawks won a laptop in a giveaway at another hero's agency, and found that he really liked online puzzle games in his downtime. Their Friday nights in front of the TV started to include playing games and knitting together. Eventually, they had enough to replace their cheap and plastic cookware with actually decent stuff. Touya, admittedly, cried a little when he bought his very own rice cooker.

It took months, maybe even years. But one day Hawks- Keigo, he wasn't at the agency right now, he was allowed to be Keigo- stopped and took a look around at his little apartment, at the coat rack he put together last weekend and the new curtains Touya had picked out, at Touya sitting on the couch with a book and the cat they took in from the streets, and realized he was home.

[love-marimo]

thinking about kaveh feeding a lost scarab on a lonely winter day…

winters in sumeru don't contain snowy days, but it does get colder significantly.

it's enough for kaveh to replace his usual attire with thicker coats and sweaters.

he'd be cleaning the shared apartment of him and alhaitham on one of his days off and then he sees a weak little scarab crawling by the window sill, its wings twitching slightly.

i just know he'll contemplate whether he should throw it away but deep down his princess heart wants to nurse it back to health and release it back to the desert.

"my, how did you even get here?" he'll mumble to himself.

he watches his surroundings to check if alhaitham is home, and when he's sure that he's not yet there, he'll sneak into his library and find some books about bugs.

he'll look for a way to feed it and when he does find a way, he'll also make it a little home filled with sand he bought from the market, a small hollowed log and some pebbles for decoration.

when alhaitham comes home and finds out, he's most likely gonna tell him to give up since it's not gonna live long anyway.

"wow, what an insensitive thing to say." kaveh would complain, raising his voice a little. he turns to the scarab and coos (yes he will treat it like his child) at it, earning a disapproving look from alhaitham.

"it's just an insect-"

"insects are animals too!"

"fine. do what you want." he sighs, resigning back to his room.

remember what i said about releasing it back to the wild?

that never happened. kaveh grew attached and eventually kept it as a pet.

he'll feed it lettuce and some pruned dates, because the thought of catching smaller bugs for food unsettles him.

knowing him, he'll replace the log with a small tent similar to what eremites use, so that the bug would have shelter.

kaveh knew that alhaitham was right ーthe bug would not live long, but somehow he ignored that because he wanted it to enjoy its last days amidst the cold winter season.

yeah. he will bawl his eyes out when it dies

alhaitham would probably mumble an "i told you so." and kaveh would shut him up.

weeks after, when the days grew warmer, kaveh would come home to find a scarab figurine placed on his desk

it was totally not given by alhaitham 😂

ー Lolita

[shadowglens]

thinking about dinners at the hawke estate.

it starts with just leandra and frances, the two of them eating leaning against the kitchen cabinets because the old dining table was termite-eaten and neither of them could be bothered to go to the market just yet. varric joins next, offering decorating advice with a whiskey in hand while fran shifts around him in the kitchen, magic grabbing utensils and spice jars. carver finally gets leave and appears just in time to help aveline lug in the monster of fran's new dining table, and the siblings bicker as always until leandra lays out an indulgent feast.

there's a rotating cast of guests, never just the hawke women after that first, lonely night - isabela attends to raid fran's liquor cabinet and gossip, merrill waters the plants dying on the windowsill, even anders reluctantly attends because he adores leandra's cooking. fenris takes longer, unused to friendship and family after so long, but after a few months he too gains a dedicated chair at the table (a chair that, ever so slowly, inches closer to fran's).

after leandra's death, the dinners stop. fran avoids the kitchen like it's haunted, their group converging on the hanged man like they had all those years ago instead. orana is the only one who even enters the room for weeks, until varric quietly lets himself in one night to help with the cleaning.

nights in the estate aren't quite the same for months, until finally, slowly, they are. isabela gifts fran an orlesian recipe book, half joking, but smiles as fran offers her a sweet pastry when bela's by next. things with fran and fenris settle into love, and he suddenly has not only a chair but a bottle of his favourite wine on the shelf and a side of her bed and a spot to hang his coat in the entryway. carver, anger and grief and guilt aside, makes more of an effort to duck in for dinner, even if he and fran only sit in companionable silence. merrill brings tea leaves and house plants and old dalish tomes for them to look over at the table. aveline invites donnic for the first time and is given so much shit about it. anders slips in through the latch in the storeroom and pretends as best he can that things are going to be ok, if only for the night.

fran isn't quite as good of a chef as her mother, but it's a close thing. varric sits with his chin in his hand, shares a soul-tired smile with fran across the table, and eats his dinner.