#EDIT: added the second poster :)

[maturiin]

"the movement of the heart is the most frightening." fan movie posters for the age of shadows (2016)

[riding-with-the-wild-hunt]

"Mightier than Estë is Nienna, sister of the Fëanturi; she dwells alone. She is acquainted with grief, and mourns for every wound that Arda has suffered in the marring of Melkor. So great was her sorrow, as the Music unfolded, that her song turned to lamentation long before its end, and the sound of mourning was woven into the themes of the World before it began. But she does not weep for herself; and those who hearken to her learn pity, and endurance in hope." - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta"

@ainurweek day 8 ⇢ NIENNA

[ID: an edit comprised of two posters mainly in desaturated shades of dark blue and brown.

1: Aweng Ade-Chuol, a young south sudanese-australian model with dark skin and short hair. She wears a white and blue dress over a tightly fitted black shirt and gloves. The dress extends into a scarf that drapes over her head, and her gaze is faraway. Her hands are folded in her lap, and she wears several jewelled rings and a large bangle. White text in the center of the image reads "nienna" in all caps, and underneath, in cursive "lady of mercy" / 2: An extremely ornate arched ceiling decorated with different patterns, statues of winged figures, and many cutouts and rows of columns, as well as a large cylindrical chandelier. Same text as Image 1 //End ID]

[jinxthequeergirl]

The ol Switcharoo (pt1.)

Stan x reader/ Ford x reader

Summary: you liked to assume you knew Stanford Pines better then most, but when you return to him after am extended trip you aren't sure you really do

Warning: NONE, she's looking as all hell and I apologize, it's mess I know but it's a start ok

Chat feel free to tell me is this is a dumb idea

~~~~~~~☆~~~~~~

You where a weird kid growing up.

A fact you wouldn't deny. Even as a child you knew you where diffrent and what intrested you was odd. You embraced it. You loved all things creepy and crawly. While most kids your age had posters of there favorite superheros or cartoon characters while your room was plastered with that of monsters and ghouls.

Things from Dracula all the way to the Mysterious Mothman decorated your room, they were the movies you had on repeat books you stuffed your nose in. You loved it all. As you got older, you loved them more, thrusting yourself into science to prove they could existed in the natural world that they DID!

The supernatural world was out there and you where going to explore it. Even as a kid you would be caught monster hunting always running headfirst into adventure no fears.

Your mother was supportive of your every decision regardless of if she believed it lead anywhere or not. She was more happy you where just passionate about something at all and was eager to send you to college.

That's what led you straight to Stanford Pines. The man you would proudly proclaim as your best friend. You'd met during one of your shared classes in college, quickly finding out you had almost similar interests and ideals, everything he had to say fascinated you. And he was more then happy to have someone so eager to find the supernatural with him.

Soon enough you where inseparable. (Y/n) and Standford there was no stopping the pair of you two through all of college whatever you two went through you went through together ups and downs everything was shared. Adding fiddleford to the mix and your trio was complete.

You where of course the first person he had asked to move into his house in gravity falls to further your research together.

"This place is incredible Fordsie I mean think of how much is actually out there!" You exclaimed gesturing to the untamed woods of Oregon from the roof of the house. Ford chuckled adding the finishing touches to a page in his second edition journal before offering it too you for your stamp of approval.

You gladly accepted the book. "And just think about everything else there is to come once we get the machine up and running!" You took a pen of your own and scribbled something in, nodding in agreement to his statment before sitting down beside him.

You took in a breath of fresh air and exhaled a sigh of relief. Ford copying your action. "To think I almost would have never made it this far." He said staring up at the darkening sky.

"Well let's not think like that fordsie, everything that almost stopped you from coming here got you here didn't it?" You said as if you where asking the stars that began to speckle the sky.

He looked over at you. "Everything happens for a reason sixer. Plus you got me out of it didn't you?" You joked nudging him with your elbow.

"That It did." He mused while watching you stare up at the sky with content. He gave a soft smile. Of all the great mysteries in the world, you became his favorite. It didn't matter how well he though he knew you you still surprised him every day.

That was in the spring.

Everything about your life with Ford felt new, exciting, and perfect. You felt like your bond was stronger then ever, over the summer and fall. The perfect balance of cool and calculates and a fearless risktaker. You filled in for eachother where the other lacked completing eachother perfectly. Making your adventures flow smoothly.

Ford found himself thinking like this about you more often, stealing long looks at you when he thought you weren't looking. Standing closer to you, the trash in his room became filled with crumpled ink work of your likeness.

You had enjoyed the sudden burst of closeness you two had shared over the months you'd been in Oregon together it certainly didn't go as unnoticed as he had hopped it did.

He was a smart man, that was the one fundamental truth about himself no one could deny. But he was utterly clueless when it came to his own feelings

"Oooohwe you got it baaAAD don't you Stanford?" His face flushed at fiddlefords sudden outburst of excitement. "What are you talking about!?" He asked in a sharp hushed tone quickly averting his gaze from you only a few feet away.

"Standford I have known you almost ad long as you and y/n have been friends and I'm no expert but I do think I recognize how you look at them has changed."

"I pfft.. I wouldn't...that's my bestfriend-" He fumbled for his words face flushed a deeper red then before as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Mcgucket! Fordsie! I'm head up to bed for the night! Don't stay up too late." You chimmed in with a yawn.

"Hahah! Yes very good y/n! Very good get good rest for not let the gnomes bite! Ahaha" Ford blurted. You laughed as you continued up the steps.

Fiddleford laughed once where had va ished from sight. "I'm just making an observation...I'm not saying you lay awake at night thinking about her. But your secretis safe with me." Ford let out a sigh of relief at fiddlefors reasuring words they wherent up much longer before both retiring to their rooms. Stanford proceeded to lay in bed that night staring up at his ceiling.

"Oh no."

When the winter rolled around things began to change. All the good memories you had together seemed to suddenly get lost and where instead replaced with something bad.

You remember sitting next to fiddleford staring at your bestfriend fall asleep in the middle of the floor waiting for something to happen. "Do you think this is a good idea?"

You where the first tobask the question both of you had been thinking. "If this thing can offer Ford everything we need to know about starting up this portal...then I say the risk is worth it...right?"

You chewed on your inner cheek staring intently at the man on the floor.

Since the winter rolled around and Ford had met this mysterious "muse" You felt a sense of unease fall over the house, Ford had suddenly become distant always away with the being. "Are you jealous?" Fiddleford pipped up turning away from Ford.

"Jelous?" You chucked. "Of what? There's nothing to be jealous of! Or even a reason to be jealous! If Ford wants to abandon his friends for some interdemensinal being that he wont share much about or even introduce us then fine by me!" You huff out the words folding your arms over your chest.

Everything went downhill pretty fast or at least that's what your memory served, by the time you where ready for the first test of the portal all the way to fiddlefords accident with the machine your new exciting life unraveled before your eyes.

He wasn't functioning the way he used

"Fordsie...I think we need to take a break."

He was pacing infront of you rappedly tapping a pen against his temple. "We can't stop now! We are to close."

You frowned, he was different now no doubt this wasn't the same Ford you had be friened only a few years ago, this wasn't the same Ford you had grown to love. He was far more distant now, all the little things he thought went unnoticed by you completely stopped. He kept his distance now. He was losing sleep because of this now, if it wherent for you he wouldn't even be eating.

"Ford I'm serious! Fiddleford got hurt...I don't think it's a good idea to continue we need time to stop and clear our heads!"

"My head is clear y/n! With bill by my side I know we can-"

"STANFORD PINES."

Stan stopped in his tracks. It had been a while since you had referred to him like that. He turned to you watching you pinch the bridge of your nose. Since when did you look so tired? And where you...angry with him?

"Stanford our friend was hurt because of this , it's time to take a step back and to reevaluate before someone else gets hurt...we need to get out of this house...maybe out of gravity falls for a while."

Ford stared at you for a while and you stared back for some reason in only a few months it felt like the both of you where looking at strangers. You watched as the gears turned in Fords head before he spoke up.

"Your right."

You perked up at his words taken aback by them.

"I think it would be in our best intrest if we both went to see our families for some time."

Again you where surprised by the words that left his mouth. He'd never spoken to you about his family you had always assumed they wherent close. At the same time part of you hoped he'd want to vacation with you somewhere warm away from the snow. So place that would bring back the real Ford.

"OK, we can do that." You said offering a warm smile.

That night Ford helped you pack so you could catch the first bus out of gravity falls that morning, he promised he'd be leaving the next day.

It was quiet while he helped. He wasn't joking with you or excitedly retelling one of your adventures from the summer.

Your mind still kept wondering back to how this could be the same person. Maybe this was who Ford was all along and you where blinded by the thrill of adventure.

"Promise to write?" You asked

"I promise."

"I'll see you in a few weeks."

Still you knew things would be better when you both returned from a long over do break. You watched a bundled up Ford wave you goodbye from the snow as your bus pulled away and you sighed.

Ford frowned as he watched your bus drive into the distance. This was for the better right? He could see the worry and pain he had seemed to be causing you which was never his intention. He didn't want to lie to you just to get you away to take care of yourself but if that's what it took to do just that.

You eneded up returning when the snow had melted in gravity falls. You hadn't meant to be gone that long, your family had begged you to stay and your mother needed the help around the house, you had wrote Ford like you promised but it seemed like the mail was eating up your letters. Either way you had been well rested and eager to return to your friend and to work. You took a hopeful deep breath once your feet hit the gravity falls soil.

"StanFord!? Are you home yet!?" You shouted, pushing open the door to the house. You were met with silence.

"Fordsie!?" You stepped further in carefully. You noticed all of the science equipment and creatures you had collected over the past year or so had been moved and almost put on display. You heard a floorboard creek, and you stayed silent, pressing up again the wall by the door, ready to either surprise your friend or scare an enime.

The door swung open and a familiar face appeared yelling welding a baseball bat.

You screamed, falling back onto yours, butt. "FORD WAIT! WAIT, IT'S ME ITS Y/N!!!" You shouted, holding your hands up to shield yourself. He stopped yelling and lowered the bat. "Y/n?...."

"Yes, it's me. Please put the bat down!"

"What are you doing here?" He asked, placing the bat down and staring at you. "I live here with you, remember?"

The man seemed to stare at you like he was trying to figure out why he knew you. "Y/n! That's right!" He helped you up.

"I wasn't away for that long, was I fordsie?" You chuckled.

"Oh uh no no it's not that...uh come inside. we have some uh catching up to do.." You raised your eyebrow at him now, getting a better look at him. Something was off.

But you followed him to the kitchen, hoping your doubt and worry would wear off soon.

"Hey by the way...would you mind calling me stan from now on?"

[sttm99]

You've always noticed Bakugo.

Easily.

You almost took it as a thing of pride, having been able to see the potential so easily. When you were all fifteen-year old first years, you could so easily tell he was handsome. Your teenage eyes always seemed to search for him in every class, every room.

He was brash and unpolished, loud, obnoxious, and an all-round piece of shit. But that stupid, wattpad-infested, schoolgirl mind of yours couldn't help but eat it up.

You could never muster up the courage to talk to him, though. He was mean, and you weren't like Mina or Kirishima that could hang out with him and not be bothered by it.

So you settled with admiring him from afar, keeping your attraction to yourself and never really coming into the space that is Katsuki Bakugo throughout your first year.

Second year was the year you had your first encounter with him. It was in the final months of the year, when you two had been paired together for a project.

He came over to your table at the end of the school day with his bag lazily slung over his shoulder as he stood above you by your desk.

"My room this evening. 6:30. We'll start then and see how far we can go." He tells you swiftly, in that voice that had begun to crack already, eliciting slightly more mature thoughts from you.

"Sure." You murmur as you looked up at him.

He turned around and left immediately, not once turning back to look at you, his other friends following him out the door.

You knocked on his door at 6:33, foregoing your uniform for a simple, little t-shirt and plaid trousers. He opened the door almost instantly, ushering you in and shutting it quick behind you.

"This is how it's gonna go-" He begins as he takes a seat on his desk, powering up his computer. You take the small moment where he's facing away to admire his back, his shoulders bare from the sleeveless tee he has on.

When he turns back, your face is back to a blank stare, eyes directed towards the poster he has above his bed. It's an all might one, and you think you remember it being limited edition, an expensive one that was hard to get a hold of.

"Oi, over here." He scolds you, and you turn back to him.

"Sorry," you mumble, as you step over to him, standing between his desk and his bed.

He glances at you, taking in what you're wearing. "You can sit on my bed. Those aren't outside clothes, right? So it's fine."

You slowly sit on his bed as he begins to open up a Word document. The project was for history class, and you two had gotten a time period you were disgustingly educated in.

Bakugo had already started the work, surprising you a bit. He began pointing out what he'd already done, and what you'd be doing to complete it.

"And-"

"This is wrong, by the way." You cut him off.

Bakugo looks at you slowly, a scowl taking over his pictures. "Wrong?"

You nod, your shyness melting off in the presence of your intelligence. "Yeah. This -" You point to a paragraph header. "- didn't start happening until about 50 years later - 54 specifically, actually. So, if you talk about the monarch right before this, it would look weird cause he couldn't have come into power without this practice."

Your eyes are on the laptop, pointing out mistakes and making corrections. And for the first time since you started at UA, Bakugo noticed you.

It was a subtle switch, where he went from seeing you to actually noticing you; from hearing to listening.

Were you always this smart?

Was your voice naturally that way?

Have you always smelled so good?

The evening ended with you making suggestions and adding about three paragraphs to the work.

And as he closed his eyes to sleep, all Bakugo saw was you.

This is five years past. Mina had invited a small group of them to her apartment for a mini reunion, and just like in his room years before, Bakugo noticed you.

He noticed you standing in Mina's kitchen by the sink, washing off the sauce Denki had accidentally spilt over your palms, whilst the others were in Mina's living room playing a game of charades.

"Hey." You turn to look at Bakugo by the door.

It wasn't like you'd suddenly become friends after the project you two had done together, but you could tell he'd warmed up to you a bit. He looked at you sometimes, more often than before, and didn't look away immediately after making eye contact.

Sometimes, he'd ask your opinion on something(you liked when he did. He valued what you had to say), or he'd make some side comment about you when you'd pass him in the hall sometimes. But they weren't regular Bakugo mean. He was warming up to you, in his own Bakugo away, but warming up nonetheless.

"Hi." You say back to him, turning off the tap before going to wipe your hand with some paper towels.

"Haven't seen you in a bit," Bakugo mumbles as he steps closer, leaning his hip against the counter, some few feet away from you.

Whilst he came into the spotlight, bright and loud like his quirk, you'd decided to follow Aizawa's footsteps and become an underground hero instead- foregoing the limelight for a career in busting crime rings and fucking up drug lords.

You shrug, not really looking at him, your eyes instead focusing on your hands as you dried them.

You'd grown out of your little crush quickly after graduation. Even though you could appreciate just how blindingly handsome he was, just as you'd expected, he didn't have your heart racing anymore, didn't get your palms sweaty.

Sure, maybe the sight of his veiny forearms and large shoulders did something to your stomach, but you knew the difference between pure lust and actual romantic feelings.

"Kind of the point of my work, don't you think?" You ask rhetorically.

He shrugs back. "How's it going, anyways?"

It's not something he can do, the whole underground thing. His quirk isn't quite right for it, and neither is his personality. And with how his time in UA went, he was far too recognizable to go undercover anywhere.

But he could appreciate that you were good at what you did. He wouldn't admit it, but he did keep up with some of the people he didn't bother talking to after graduation. Just a few - Deku and Todoroki - sometimes he'd look at what Uraraka and Jiro are doing.

Admittedly, he checked up on you far more often than he was willing to expose. He knew a lot of your missions and was eerily familiar with your high success rate, too.

"It's fine." You say as you throw the towel into the bin and lean back against the counter behind you, your palms holding the edge as you looked at Bakugo. "Not so glamorous, a bit scary sometimes, I guess, but- that's hero work, isn't it?"

He hums, and at the back of his mind, he hopes the others don't bother coming to look for either of you soon.

"I guess so. But hey, you've been doing good." He admits.

You raise a brow and are unable to keep the smirk off your face. "You've been following up on me?" There's a teasing lilt to your voice which Bakugo had never encountered before. The tilt of your lips changes the entire dynamic of your face.

You're less melancholic now, more sultry and seductive, and it's pulling him in without him understanding why. It's something he'd never seen from you in UA, and he wonders... what else has he not seen from you?

He scoffs at your words, folding his arms over his chest as he stares you down. "I keep up with hero news."

You chuckle a bit. "You're doing well, too, though."

He shrugs. "Thanks, I guess. 'M just waiting for all those old geezers to fucking retire."

You laugh aloud at that.

Bakugo sees Kirishima step into the doorframe behind you. He glares quickly, purposefully as you're not focused on him, still laughing. He's signalling for Kirishima to leave - he doesn't want this moment with you to end just yet.

The redhead complies, not without shooting Bakugo a sly look.

As you turn back to him, his disposition is different. He's less put off, and he's gotten closer. "So -" He starts, drumming his fingers over the countertop"- what are you doing after this?"

And you smile at him, in that sly, sultry way you did before. "It's up to you now, isn't it?"

This most probably won't have a part 2. I just wanted to get it out of my drafts.

[w1w2]

Can I request for Yn surprise Sana in last day of misamo concert promotion . Tnx

Encore of Love

Minatozaki Sana x Fem!Reader

Word Count: ca. 4,5k

Synopsis: Reader surprises her girlfriend Sana during Misamo's final concert at Kyocera Dome.

Notes: My first request! *kicking my feet and giggling* I'm not completely satisfied with this, but I hope you’ll enjoy it!

English isn’t my first language so I apologize in advance for any mistakes.

♡ Enjoy! ♡

The grand Kyocera Dome hummed with electric anticipation, a living, breathing entity alive with the chatter of tens of thousands of ONCEs who had gathered for Misamo’s final concert of the HAUTE COUTURE promotions. The sprawling venue, renowned for its iconic architecture and exceptional acoustics, was transformed into a dazzling world of light and color, each corner meticulously designed to reflect the elegance and energy of Misamo.

Banners bearing images of Mina, Sana, and Momo adorned every available surface, their radiant smiles seemingly watching over the crowd. Outside, vendors sold exclusive merchandise, lightsticks, posters, and limited-edition concert wear, all of which fans clutched tightly as they shuffled into the arena. The faint sound of music seeped through the walls, further heightening the excitement.

Backstage, the mood was just as electric, albeit tinged with nervous energy. The members of Misamo were in the final stages of their preparation. Stylists fluttered around them, adding last-minute touches to their already impeccable hair and makeup. Mina reviewed her choreography with the precision of a seasoned professional, her calm demeanor a steadying force amidst the chaos. Momo bounced on the balls of her feet, her vibrant energy filling the room as she hyped herself up for the performance.

And then there was Sana, who was the heart of the group tonight. She stood near the mirror, adjusting the intricate details of her sparkling outfit, a mix of glittering silver and pastel hues. Her eyes shimmered with a mixture of excitement and focus as she practiced her warm-up routines. Yet, beneath her radiant smile, a hint of something softer lingered, a yearning.

Sana’s thoughts drifted momentarily to Y/N. It wasn’t unusual for her to miss Y/N before a big performance, but tonight felt different. The culmination of the Misamo second mini album promotions was a milestone, one she’d poured her heart into, and the absence of her partner left a subtle void. The phone call they’d shared earlier replayed in her mind.

“Baby, I wish I could be there…” Y/N’s voice had sounded warm but hurried, laced with a vague excuse that Sana couldn’t quite decipher.

“It’s okay,” Sana had replied, masking her disappointment. “I know you’re busy. Just… don’t forget to watch the stream, okay?”

“Of course,” Y/N had reassured her, her voice softening. “You’ll be amazing, I know it. I’ll call you right after.”

Back in the venue, Sana shook the thought away. There was no room for distractions now. She had to give her all for the fans who had supported them every step of the way. Yet, as she headed towards the stage, a small voice in her heart whispered, I wish you were here.

Meanwhile, in the audience, hidden among the crowd, a figure sat quietly in the shadows. Clad in a hoodie, a mask, and a baseball cap pulled low over their eyes, Y/N kept her head down, careful not to attract any attention. She gripped her lightstick tightly, heart pounding with anticipation and nerves.

Just a little bit longer, Y/N thought, stealing a glance at the stage where the preparations were in full swing. The plan she’d meticulously crafted over the past few weeks was set in motion. All she needed now was perfect timing.

In the distance, the roaring chants of the crowd swelled, echoing through the dome as the stage lights dimmed, signaling that the concert was about to begin. The countdown had started, not just for Misamo, but for the surprise that would light up Sana’s heart.

It hadn’t been easy, pulling off a gesture like this. There had been countless sleepless nights, a relentless travel schedule, and the constant fear of slipping up and giving herself away. But Y/N knew it would all be worth it when Sana finally saw what she had planned. As the lights danced across the stage, she allowed her thoughts to wander back to the whirlwind of planning that had led her to this very moment.

Few hours earlier Y/N paced back and forth in her hotel room, phone pressed to her ear. Her chest tightened with both guilt and excitement as Sana’s voice came through, soft and loving despite the distance between them.

“Baby, you sound exhausted,” Sana said, her tone tinged with concern. “Have you been eating properly? Sleeping enough?”

Y/N smiled despite herself, Sana’s caring nature always finding a way to melt her heart. She glanced at the clock, calculating the hours until she would see her girlfriend. Not long now, she thought, biting her lip to suppress the excitement bubbling inside her.

“I’m fine, love,” Y/N replied, her voice steady though her heart raced. “Work has been hectic, that’s all. I promise I’ll call you later tonight, okay? I have to go now.”

A faint pause came from the other end. “Oh… okay. Just don’t overwork yourself, alright? I’ll miss you tonight.”

Y/N’s throat tightened. She hated being vague with Sana, but the surprise was worth it. “I’ll miss you too. You’re going to be amazing tonight. I love you.”

“I love you too,” Sana said softly before the line disconnected.

With a sigh of relief, Y/N dropped onto the bed, her mind racing through the intricate plan she had spent weeks coordinating. This wasn’t just about showing up at the concert; it was about making a statement, proving to Sana just how much she meant to her.

Step One: Learning the Choreography

Y/N’s first challenge was mastering the choreography for the encore medley, a feat she had never attempted before. Dancing wasn’t her forte, but she was determined to nail every move.

Under the guidance of Misamo’s choreographer, she practiced tirelessly whenever her schedule allowed. Late nights in the dance studio became a ritual, her muscles sore and her body aching, but the thought of Sana’s smile kept her going.

“She’s going to freak out when she sees you up there,” Momo had teased during one of Y/N’s secret rehearsals.

“You think so?” Y/N asked, wiping sweat from her forehead.

“Absolutely,” Mina chimed in, offering Y/N a bottle of water. “But you’ll have to keep it a secret until then. Sana’s like a radar when it comes to you.”

Y/N grinned, her determination hardening. “I’ll make it worth it.”

Step Two: The Flowers and Letter

Next on the list was preparing Sana’s favorite bouquet, an arrangement of pastel pink and white peonies, accented with delicate sprigs of baby’s breath. Y/N had spent hours researching florists in Osaka to ensure the bouquet would be perfect. Alongside it, she penned a handwritten letter, pouring her heart into every word.

Dear Sana,

I’ve missed more than just your concerts. I’ve missed you. I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished, and I can’t wait to tell you just how much you mean to me tonight.

You’ve been my light, even when I’ve been far away. I hope this little surprise makes you feel as loved as you make me feel every single day.

Love, Y/N.

She folded the letter carefully, slipping it into an envelope adorned with a small heart sticker.

Step Three: Gaining Permission

Convincing the managers to allow her on stage had been a delicate process. Misamo’s schedule was packed, and every second of the concert was tightly planned. Thankfully, Mina and Momo had pulled a few strings, vouching for Y/N’s commitment and the sentimental significance of her gesture.

“We promise she won’t disrupt the flow,” Momo had assured the managers with her signature cheeky grin.

“Just think of it as an extra special encore for the fans,” Mina added diplomatically.

Reluctantly, the managers agreed, giving Y/N clearance to join the stage during the closing part.

Step Four: The Disguise

On the night of the concert, Y/N’s final task was to blend in with the crowd unnoticed. She donned a simple black hoodie, paired with jeans and sneakers. A baseball cap and mask completed her disguise. As she entered the arena, she felt a thrill of nervous energy.

Y/N pulled back from her thoughts as the fans around her were buzzing with excitement, waving lightsticks and chanting Misamo members names. Y/N sat near the back, where she could watch the first half of the show without drawing attention to herself. She clutched her lightstick tightly, her heart pounding as the lights dimmed and the concert began.

For now, she was just another fan in the crowd. But soon, she would take the stage, and Sana would know exactly how much she was loved.

The stage, an intricate masterpiece of dazzling LED panels and towering floral arrangements, pulsed with vivid colors as the opening notes of Misamo’s first song reverberated through the air.

Mina, Sana, and Momo emerged from behind the massive screens, their synchronized steps and radiant smiles igniting deafening cheers from the audience. Their outfits sparkled under the stage lights, sleek designs that exuded both elegance and charm.

From the moment they stepped onto the stage, Misamo radiated effortless grace and energy, their performances honed to perfection. Mina’s moves were fluid and precise, every gesture executed with the poise of a professional. Momo’s energy lit up the stage, her sharp, dynamic dance style captivating the crowd. And Sana—

Sana shone brightest of all.

Her soft features were illuminated by the glow of the stage lights, her eyes shimmering as she sang and danced with effortless charm. Her radiant smile, the one that could light up even the darkest corners of a room, was ever-present, and yet… something was missing.

As Sana twirled across the stage during “Marshmallow”, the fans could see nothing but joy, but there was a subtle, fleeting shadow in her expression, a quiet longing. She gave her all to the performance, yet there was a small space in her heart that felt incomplete.

Hidden in the crowd, Y/N's eyes never leaving Sana. Her heart swelled with pride and affection as she watched her girlfriend perform with such grace and confidence. But she also noticed the faint longing in Sana’s gaze, and it only made her more determined to make her surprise unforgettable.

Y/N clutched her lightstick tightly, her fingers trembling slightly from the mixture of nerves and excitement. “You’re incredible, Sana,” she murmured under her breath, the words swallowed by the thunderous applause around her.

As Misamo transitioned seamlessly into “Identity”, the energy in the room reached a fever pitch. The camera operators expertly captured every moment, occasionally panning across the audience. On one such pan, the lens lingered briefly on a hooded figure seated discreetly near the back. Y/N froze for a split second but quickly turned her face away, pretending to adjust her cap.

The fans, blissfully unaware of the figure’s true identity, simply assumed she was another ONCE enjoying the show.

Y/N, however, felt the weight of the moment. Her chest tightened with anticipation as she waited for "New Look", her cue to slip backstage and put the next phase of her plan into action. Until then, she allowed herself to enjoy the performance, a proud smile tugging at her lips as she whispered to herself, “Just wait, Sana. I’ll make tonight unforgettable.”

The thunderous applause from “New Look” had barely subsided when the stage lights dimmed, casting the arena into a hushed anticipation. The opening notes of “Behind the Curtain” began to echo through the dome, a hauntingly beautiful melody that always left the audience spellbound.

This was Y/N’s moment.

While the crowd cheered in unison, Y/N slipped away from her seat and made her way through the staff entrance, her heart pounding. The plan was in motion, and there was no turning back now. A backstage crew member ushered her into a small dressing room where a coordinated outfit awaited her.

Y/N changed quickly, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she tightened the laces on her performance shoes. One last glance in the mirror revealed a nervous but determined woman. She took a deep breath, clutching the bouquet and letter she’d prepared.

“You’ve got this,” she whispered to herself before handing the bouquet to a staff member to bring to the stage later.

As the first song of the encore was ending Y/N joined the backup dancers lining up behind the screens for the encore medley.

Sana, alongside Mina and Momo, twirled across the stage with radiant energy, their synchronization flawless as they transitioned into the last part of the encore. Her playful expressions and smooth moves captivated the audience, drawing cheers so loud they vibrated through the air.

She was too immersed in the performance to notice at first.

When Y/N stepped onto the stage among the backup dancers, blending seamlessly into the choreography, she couldn’t help but smile at how surreal the moment felt. Each step she had rehearsed so many times now felt automatic, her focus entirely on Sana.

The crowd didn’t seem to recognize Y/N right away, though a few murmurs rippled through the audience as some fans noticed a new face on stage.

It wasn’t until the "Wah Wah Wah" part, when Sana turned to interact with the dancers, her gaze landed on Y/N.

For a split second, Sana froze mid-step, her eyes widening in disbelief. Her usual polished composure faltered as her radiant smile transformed into a look of pure shock.

“Y/N?” she mouthed silently, her voice drowned out by the music.

Y/N flashed her a small, playful wink before continuing the routine. Sana quickly recovered, her movements a little lighter now, as if she’d been infused with a burst of joy.

The audience, unaware of their connection, erupted into cheers at Sana’s visibly delighted reaction. Fans began speculating among themselves, sensing there's something more special then just friendship between two girls.

As the medley ended, the lights dimmed again, and the stage was briefly quiet. The members of Misamo moved toward the front of the stage to thank their fans, their microphones already in hand. But before they could begin, the spotlight shifted to Y/N, who stepped forward from the group of dancers, clutching the bouquet of flowers.

The crowd gasped in unison as Y/N pulled off a mic, lowered her head slightly, and began to speak into the arena’s microphone.

“Hi, everyone,” Y/N began, her voice steady despite the overwhelming mix of nerves and love. She turned her gaze to Sana, who stood frozen, her hand pressed to her chest as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

“I wanted to take this moment to say how incredibly proud I am of you girls. Especially you, Sana. I’m so proud of everything you’ve done, everything you’ve achieved. Even though I couldn’t be there for most of this journey, I’ve been cheering for you every step of the way. You light up every room you walk into, and you’ve been my light too. I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me.”

Sana’s tears finally spilled over as she stepped closer, her radiant smile trembling with emotion. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their phones lighting up the arena as they captured the heartfelt moment.

Y/N held out the bouquet, which Sana accepted with trembling hands. Pulling Y/N into a tight embrace, she whispered, just loud enough for Y/N to hear, “I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” Y/N murmured back, her voice cracking slightly with emotion.

As the cheers grew louder, Sana and Y/N stepped back together, still holding hands, their smiles beaming brighter than any spotlight. Rest of the Misamo joined them moments later, Mina and Momo grinning mischievously as they teased Sana for tearing up on stage.

The group waved to the crowd one last time before disappearing backstage, the echoes of the audience’s applause following them as they left the stage together.

The backstage area buzzed with post-show energy. Crew members congratulated each other, Misamo’s managers offered heartfelt praise, and staff snapped photos to commemorate the final concert. In the midst of it all, Y/N found herself pulled into hugs from both Mina and Momo, their teasing smiles already giving away their plans to poke fun at her.

“You really pulled it off,” Momo said, grinning as she leaned against the dressing room doorframe. “I was a little worried you’d trip on stage during ‘Marshmallow,’ part but you nailed it!”

Mina nodded in agreement, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “We’ve been keeping this secret for weeks, and honestly? Watching Sana’s face when she realized it was you made it all worth it.”

“Her jaw practically hit the floor,” Momo added with a laugh, glancing at Sana, who was trying (and failing) not to blush. “The fans noticed too. You might’ve just become the most iconic backup dancer in Misamo history.”

“Stop it, you two,” Sana huffed, though the blush on her cheeks deepened. She turned to Y/N with a small pout, her tone softening. “You really had to involve these two in your grand scheme?”

Y/N shrugged, feigning innocence. “I needed backup for the backup plan. And I’d say it worked out pretty well, wouldn’t you?”

Sana rolled her eyes playfully but couldn’t hide the faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “Stop teasing me,” she whined, though her soft smile betrayed just how happy she was.

Y/N, emboldened by the lighthearted banter, chimed in, “Come on, it was worth it just to see you cry on stage.”

Sana narrowed her eyes, pretending to be offended. “I wasn’t crying. It was… emotional perspiration!”

“Right,” Y/N said with a laugh, reaching out to take Sana’s hand. The group dissolved into laughter, the camaraderie between them shining brighter than ever.

After a flurry of photos with the crew and staff, the four of them retreated to Misamo’s dressing room. Momo flopped dramatically onto the couch while Mina carefully began removing her stage accessories.

Sana and Y/N sat side by side, their fingers intertwined as if they couldn’t bear to let go. Despite the teasing, Mina and Momo exchanged knowing glances, quietly slipping out of the room to give the couple a rare moment of privacy.

As they left the venue later that night, the streets of Osaka were alive with fans lingering in the afterglow of the concert. Y/N and Sana walked hand in hand, their steps slow and unhurried as they basked in each other’s presence.

“You know,” Sana began, her voice soft, “I didn’t realize how much I needed you here tonight until I saw you on that stage. It felt like… everything was perfect.”

Y/N squeezed her hand gently. “I hated missing so much of your promotion. I felt like I wasn’t there for you, and I wanted to make up for that. You deserve to know how loved you are, not just by ONCEs, but by me.”

Sana leaned her head against Y/N’s shoulder as they continued walking. “You don’t have to make up for anything. Just being here tonight was more than enough.”

“Well, I’m glad I made you cry anyway,” Y/N teased, earning a light shove from Sana.

Later that night, the warm glow of the hotel room’s ambient lighting created an intimate cocoon around Y/N and Sana. They sat cross-legged on the plush carpet, a late-night dinner spread out between them. The faint hum of the city outside was the only sound beyond their laughter.

Sana picked at a piece of sushi, giggling as she recounted the encore’s highlights. “Did you see Momo trying to suppress her laugh when the confetti cannon misfired? She almost tripped over Mina during the turn.”

Y/N chuckled, leaning back on her hands as she watched Sana relive the moment, her face animated and glowing with happiness. “I did. But somehow you managed to keep it together and still look flawless. Seriously, how do you do that?”

Sana shrugged with mock modesty, a playful glint in her eyes. “Years of practice. You pick up a thing or two when the cameras are always on you.”

Their lighthearted conversation slowed as they finished their food, settling into a comfortable silence. Sana leaned against the edge of the bed, her head tilted slightly as she admired the skyline from the room’s window. Y/N, meanwhile, shifted nervously, her heart racing. She reached into her bag, her fingers brushing against the small velvet box she’d kept hidden all evening.

Clearing her throat, Y/N finally spoke. “Hey, um… I have something for you.”

Sana turned to her, curious. “What is it?”

Y/N hesitated, her cheeks tinged with the faintest blush. “Just… open it.” She handed Sana the box with a shy smile, her palms slightly sweaty despite the calm demeanor she tried to project.

Sana’s brows knit together in surprise as she took the box, her fingers gently traced Graff logo on the box, carefully lifting the lid. Her breath hitched when her eyes landed on the delicate diamond necklace nestled inside. The necklace sparkled even under the soft hotel lighting, its intricate floral design exuding timeless elegance.

“Y/N…” Sana’s voice wavered, her fingertips brushing lightly over the diamonds. “This is… it’s stunning. But… this is way too much. I can’t—”

“You can, and you will,” Y/N interrupted, her tone gentle yet firm. She shifted closer, taking Sana’s free hand in hers. “Because you’re worth everything to me. This necklace, it’s not just a gift. It’s a reminder that no matter how far apart we are, I’m always thinking of you. You mean more to me than I could ever put into words, and I want you to have something that shows just a fraction of that.”

Sana’s eyes brimmed with tears, her lips quivering as she tried to find the right words. She shook her head softly, a smile breaking through the emotion. “You’re so ridiculous sometimes, you know that?”

Y/N grinned, brushing her thumb across the back of Sana’s hand. “Ridiculous in the best way, I hope.”

“In every way,” Sana whispered, her voice barely audible as she leaned forward, pressing her forehead to Y/N’s.

Y/N gently took the necklace from the box and moved behind Sana, her fingers deftly clasping it around her neck. The cool weight of the diamonds settled against Sana’s collarbone, glinting softly in the light. Y/N adjusted it slightly, leaning back to admire how it looked.

“Perfect,” Y/N murmured, her voice filled with warmth.

Sana turned around slowly, her face inches from Y/N’s. “It’s beautiful,” she said, her voice hushed. “But you… you’re the one who makes me feel like the luckiest person in the world.”

Y/N’s cheeks warmed, but she couldn’t help the soft chuckle that escaped her. “I think that makes two of us.”

Without another word, Sana leaned in, capturing Y/N’s lips in a soft, lingering kiss. It was tender, unhurried, and filled with all the unspoken love between them. Y/N cupped Sana’s cheek gently, her thumb tracing the curve of her jaw as they shared the quiet moment.

When they finally pulled back, Sana rested her head on Y/N’s shoulder, her fingers tracing absent patterns on Y/N’s arm. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For tonight. For everything.”

Y/N pressed a kiss to the top of her head, her heart swelling with love. “Always.”

Later, as they lay curled up on the bed, Sana’s head resting on Y/N’s shoulder, the necklace caught the faint moonlight streaming through the window. 

The soft glow of Sana’s phone illuminated the room as she scrolled through the TWICE group chat, her head nestled comfortably against Y/N’s shoulder. The two of them were snuggled under the blankets, their legs tangled together, exhaustion from the long day settling into their bones. But neither seemed ready to fall asleep just yet.

“Look at this,” Sana murmured, tilting her phone so Y/N could see the screen. The chat was alive with messages, the names of TWICE’s members lighting up with playful banter.

Momo: The way Sana looked at Y/N… iconic. Mina: Her jaw literally dropped. I should’ve recorded it from the stage instead of waiting for fan cams. Nayeon: Sana, if you don’t marry her soon, I’m calling dibs. Jihyo: Nayeon, stop stealing people’s girlfriends! Chaeyoung: Sana, can you ask Y/N to teach us the choreography? She’s a natural. Dahyun: The fans are losing it! Y/N is officially a Twice bias now. Tzuyu: You mean Sana’s bias.

Sana giggled softly, hiding her face in Y/N’s neck. “They’re relentless.”

Y/N laughed, her hand gently running through Sana’s hair. “I think Nayeon unnie might actually be serious about that marriage comment.”

“Not a chance,” Sana said with a playful pout, shifting to look up at Y/N. “You’re mine.”

Y/N smiled down at her, their eyes meeting in the dim light. “Always.”

Sana’s phone buzzed again, but this time it wasn’t the group chat. It was a flood of notifications from social media. Curiosity piqued, she tapped into one of the trending hashtags. Sure enough, the internet was ablaze with clips and fan edits of Y/N’s surprise appearance at the concert.

Fans gushed about Y/N’s unexpected presence, praising her dedication and swooning over Sana’s emotional reaction. The hashtags #YNSanaSurprise and #BestFriendGoals trended worldwide, with tweets and videos pouring in by the second.

“Look at this one,” Sana said, pointing to a video compilation of their moment on stage, set to a romantic ballad.

The caption read: “Y/N and Sana’s friendship goals… or something more? Either way, we’re obsessed!”

Y/N chuckled. “I guess the secret’s out, huh?”

Sana locked her phone and placed it on the nightstand, turning her full attention back to Y/N. “Let them guess,” she said softly, her fingers tracing small circles on Y/N’s arm. “As long as we know the truth, that’s all that matters.”

Y/N leaned down to kiss her forehead. “And the truth is, I love you more than anything, Sana. Today, tomorrow, forever.”

Sana’s smile was radiant, even in the dark. “Forever sounds perfect.”

They lay there in comfortable silence, the steady rhythm of their breathing syncing together. Outside, the city lights sparkled, a reminder of the bustling world beyond their little sanctuary. But in that moment, there was only them.

As the first light of dawn peeked through the curtains, painting the room in soft hues of gold and pink, Y/N tightened her hold on Sana, their bodies wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and comfort. Their breaths intertwined, their hearts beating as one, creating a silent melody that spoke louder than any words ever could.

No matter what the future held, grueling schedules, endless flights, or the watchful eyes of the world, they knew their love would endure. It wasn’t just a fleeting moment of happiness, but a steady force that grounded them, a light they could always turn to even on the darkest days.

Y/N placed a gentle kiss on the top of Sana’s head, her voice a soft whisper in the stillness of the morning. “We’ll take on everything together, no matter what. You and me, always.”

Sana stirred slightly, her lips curving into a small, sleepy smile as she murmured back, “Always.”

[upsidedownsmore]

Hollowframe 57 + Umbra, my submission for the TennoCon 2024 Community Showcase!

Sorry that it took this long to post! This update is special for many reasons, and I'll go through them all here!

First up, Dante AND Jade!

This is the first time I've added two frames to the project at once, rushing to get both finished in time for Tennocon. In order to do so I had to skip making backgrounds for them, however I still plan on making them as soon as I'm able!

You can find more details about the delay and my change of plans regarding their solo compositions in the thread here

In addition to the two new frames, I also took the liberty to rework and tweak a bunch of the older designs that I felt weren't fitting the goal of the project well enough. It was nice drawing simpler designs again! (old on left, new on right)

Here's a timelapse of the changes made to the poster! Tumblr can only have one video per post, so you can find a twitter reply with videos for Dante and Jade here!

Now to get sappy, cause this poster had two journeys through Tennocon! The first being that it got accepted into the community showcase, so here's pics of that! What an absolute honor omg

The second journey was my own personal print, which got signed by so many amazing and lovely people from DE!! I'm SO glad I got the poster printed for myself from Mercury Blueprinting the day of TennoVIP oh my lorrrrd

I might as well add that you can also find all this in my new ArtStation portfolio! Link to it here:

Aaand if you want to check out the Hollowframe Google Drive folder for free or more, it's now available on my new Ko-fi! Link to it here:

Previous Hollowframe update:

I think that's it! There's no way I would have ever guessed how far this project would go when I started it 3 years ago. Thank you guys so much for the support throughout the years, just absolute insanity and i'm losing my ability to word good i still cant get over iiiiiiiiiiiit

[lintwriting]

I'm making this post to compile the Weibo allegations against Jullian Champenois, the voice actor for Kim Kitsuragi, since I found navigating the screenshots to be a bit confusing. I've translated some of them to the best of my ability and would definitely be open to others reviewing these translations for errors, as I am Chinese American and therefore could be missing some cultural context. I've linked to Chinese definition websites to explain some of the translation choices that are more inferences.

The rest of the translations are from 阿阮 @woon__ton on twitter, who has been in contact with the original Weibo poster to ask for permission for their translated reposts, as well as permission for my repost here.

Outline of the Weibo Post

The allegations originated from a post on Weibo by a Chinese artist. The body of the post contains a summary of their experience, and attached are:

Screenshots of their personal Instagram DMs with Jullian

A screenshot of an older post where they express feeling weary about Jullian's DMs

Screenshot of vent messages demonstrating how this experience has affected their work.

After posting, other commenters chimed in with similar experiences, and this caused the original poster to update the original post.

They first updated it with a screenshot showing them blocking Jullian Champenois

Next, a testimony from a commenter

A second testimony from another commenter

Screenshots of DMs from that second commenter

*Update: Additional testimony from the original poster

The Body of the Original Weibo Post

Below will be screenshots of the body of the original Weibo post, with translations from @woon__ton on twitter.

(via 阿阮 @woon__ton on twitter)

This text was later edited to update about the additional testimonies and to add greater context. The added context explains how the Weibo poster could tell that Jullian Champenois's DMs were targeted, unprofessional, and sexual in nature, as the poster had gone through a similar situation before with another creator. The updated context is translated below.

* I realized something was wrong so quickly because I had a similar experience at the end of 2019. Scott lobdell, a DC comic writer and screenwriter of Happy Death Day, came back to like my drawings and privately messaged me after I followed him on Instagram. His account at that time was nuked (chinese internet slang for when accounts get banned or suddenly have all their content taken down) [so I can't access the logs anymore], so I don’t remember the content of the chat, but for specific news discussions, you can google the keyword “Scott Lobdell sex harrasment”. This situation is very common in the industry. They deliberately prey on people from their fan lists.

For context, Scott Lobdell, from what I can tell, would hit on young female artists working at the same cons as him, both in person and in text messages, with implications of him holding his position in the industry over them.

Although the Weibo poster can no longer access the log of Scott's harassment of them because his account got banned/deleted (at least, I think that's what the usage of 'nuke' is saying, they could also be saying that their own account got nuked), they note how their chat with Jullian Champenois was reminiscent of the same conversation they had with Scott Lobdell—a man known and 'retired' for his harassment of young female artists.

Lobdell's harassment is a good example for context due to how he demonstrates the inappropriateness of 'flirting' and hitting on young female artists in professional contexts.

1. Screenshots of their personal DMs with Jullian Champenois

Below are the screenshots of the Instagram DMs the Weibo Poster had with Julllian Champenois. Note the profile picture, as his profile picture will look the same across other screenshots with him in it.

Also note the way the conversation starts out polite, focused on both of their respective arts. Then he shifts the conversation to sexual topics, first by mentioning his explicit song, then by suddenly bringing up an explicit art account, @ken_chk, they were both following. The Weibo poster steers the conversation away from these topics.

They also mention this in the comments, but they find the fact that he asked their age, ethnicity, and sexuality afterwards to also be suspicious/sexual in nature. The sentiment being "Why would the artist's age matter?" or "Why would you fixate on me potentially being 17 years old when I've mentioned college graduation finals?" or "Why would you ask that if not for sexual reasons?"

@woon__ton on twitter notes that he is seemingly consistently looking for college aged girls, and other commenters/victims got the sense that the strange insistent questions about nationality were related to "yellow fever."

2. Weibo Screenshot of an older post where they express feeling weary about Jullian's Dms

The next attached photo was a screenshot of a Weibo post the Weibo poster had made in 2023. I'm assuming that in this screenshot that they're talking about Jullian Champenois, since this whole post is about him.

First I'll be transcribing the translation. Then I'll be clarifying the idioms/translation choices with asterisks, before giving an overall summary of the screenshot.

Feel free to skip to the 2. Summary section, as the translation clarification section is a little long.

“It reminds me a bit of my PTSD, the last time I was praised in private [instagram] DMs it was the Scott Lobdell [situation] where [he] later disappeared from the internet for some reason[.] I don't remember the reasoning, but at the time I had suddenly felt that he was kind of creepy so I indirectly lost my interest on Jason Todd(桶 is the Chinese nickname of Todd/Red Hood, Lobdell was the writer of n52 Redhood comic). It was not a good experience haha..." * "I feel that there is a cultural difference where Chinese people may take getting sent private messages out of nowhere a bit harder. It may also be a me problem. Maybe I am a Sakura girl at heart (internet slang, sakura is the culture symbol of Japan so it’s the nickname of Japanese girl, they tend to be a little bit more shy and social in a more careful and polite way to avoid offending anyone, no negative meaning behind this). uneasy desu ('I am anxious' but using the word desu to stand in for "I am")" "I don't remember the timeline, but it seemed like someone in the industry accused him of sexually harassing young female artists." “As a result, even when I am excited, I am still very wary of people because I have become disillusioned."

*UPDATE: I have updated this post''s translation with clarification from the Weibo poster.

I translated a phrase as "pulled up carrot," but it was actually the transliteration of Scott Lobdell's name into Chinese. I translated a phrase as "climbing the wall" "bucket," but it was actually the Chinese fandom term for 'no longer liking' and the Chinese name for Jason Todd.

In addition, I translated Sakura Girl as (slang based on Japanese animation, meaning a delicately stupid young girl) but the poster has clarified that Sakura girl is not supposed to have a deprecating connotation. The focus is on shyness or politeness, not stupidity!

I will keep my first translations in the next few paragraphs in to maintain transparency and to keep some necessary information, but they are no longer accurate. The paragraphs in brackets can be skipped over.

[[[[[The full idiom goes "the pulled up carrot also pulls up mud," or the idea that investigating a criminal who was arrested first can lead to the exposure of other criminals. The same way pulling a carrot out will pull loose some dirt, exposing one person may also dig up dirt on their associates.

With the mention of "later disappeared from the internet," I think the Weibo poster was referencing Scott Lobdell, whose account was nuked and who also had privately DM'd them with praise/sexual advances. The implication could be that the last time they got DM'd like this, it was in a creepy way and they were too afraid to speak out for fear of getting attacked/exposed themselves. Or that he disappeared to avoid getting exposed. This paragraph is a little unclear.

The 'pulled up carrot' situation might also have something to do with the explicit artist, ken_chk, mentioned in the DMs with Jullian. The weibo poster clarifies in a later edit that they didn't censor @ken_chk's handle in the screenshots because ken_chk was also embroiled in a sexual scandal involving targeting his fans.

"*About why I didn't delete the artist Ken mention in the chat history—because he was the reason why I raised the alarm. One of the reasons is that I read something about his character on Weibo about a few months ago. I just forgot to unfollow him on Instagram. I can’t find any evidence about what he did, but the Internet has testimonies, so I won't write it off." "* Regarding the artist Ken, the matter has been issued with the consent of the person involved. According to the person involved, Ken will also select fans to target. Please see the person’s experience for details"

So another implication could be that Jullian bringing up such a shady person in the DMs unprompted demonstrates his shady associations. Jullian is the 'carrot pulling up the mud' by doing so.

For context, the poster had felt the need to disavow ken_chk by clarifying that they had only been still following ken_chk by accident. Jullian still following him and even bringing him up unprompted could be a bad look in light of the similar allegations of misconduct surrounding both him and ken_chk.

I am unsure though, as I am not very familiar with this idiom, nor am I familiar with the allegations against ken_chk listed here. I could be totally misinterpreting this line of the post and the ken_chk edit, as I've had to infer some pronouns and commas that weren't originally there due to the nature of Chinese grammar.

'Climbing the wall,' in addition to cheating, can seem to mean getting over obstacles in various contexts, like getting over the firewall to pirate stuff. However, I've translated it as 'cheating' as there's the word "bucket" that follows it. Bucket is also a word for 'trash,' so it'd make sense to translate it as 'cheating trash.'

Later another victim who responded in the comments accounted that by sexually harassing them, Jullian Champenois was also potentially cheating on his girlfriend that they knew he had at the time, lending more credence to the idea that wall climbing comment is about Jullian, though I am still unsure.]]]]]

2. Summary Section

I think this post was first made right after Jullian first messaged the Weibo poster with the innocent messages about their art back in October 2023, months before the more recent sexual DMs from him on March 30th, 2024.

Despite the polite nature of these October DMs, the Weibo poster was weary of Jullian's DMs in this first 2023 post, mentioning how in the past they had gotten similar DMs from Scott Lobdell, only for those complimentary DMs to later be revealed as openings for sexual advances. Their 'PTSD,' as they put it.

In addition, they note a potential cultural difference between Chinese netizens and Western/English-speaking ones. It might be a bigger deal in China to get send someone DMs. Maybe it's more intimate/intimidating/professional, in contrast to it potentially being more casual in the West.

With the summary out of the way, I do want to say that some Western netizens have responded to the later DMs with the sentiment of "these are not examples of harassment, just flirting in bad taste," but this could be related to the cultural mismatch the poster mentioned here.

Getting flirted with in the DMs is very normal to a lot of people in the West, as 'sliding into their DMs' is synonymous with flirting, but perhaps in China, either this is not the norm or Jullian's type of flirting is not the norm, especially within the context of a professional art account.

If you find yourself thinking the same way as those western netizens, I'd ask you to reframe Jullian's DMs less as a casual instagram DM, and more like a work slack or LinkedIn message from a colleague/client, as the DMs we have been/will be talking about are in the context of their own work or hiring him for work. This should help you get a better sense of why the victims felt uncomfortable.

3. Screenshot of Weibo poster's vent messages demonstrating how this has affected their work

The next attached photo was a screenshot of vent texts. I'm not sure the context of the texts, but the content is definitely about their regrets with Jullian Champenois.

Why shouldn't I just be frank and rant a little? I want to be so woke (as in another way to say clear-headed, not related to American progressive slang) that you'll see me awake, anaesthesia-free on the operating table when they cut me open[.] Do you get me[?] Well Any way you look at it, I'm miserable On top of all this, I've got a big graduation project that's in comic form. That comic was adapting the poem that is currently acting as my temporary nicotine replacement for my disco elysium withdrawals*** So I would listen to [Jullian Champenois's] songs at the time God, it hurts so much Luckily, my nicotine replacement was for another character (they're probably saying that the poem reminded them of another disco elysium character, not Kim Kitsuragi, hence their relief) For a moment there, I was thinking of to talking to him about my graduation project and about disco elysium.

*** So I'm making the assumption that the original poster is talking about a graduation project that they're working on. Since they're an artist, it's a comic that they're making. They then say something about an original poem. They use the word that means "original" in the context of adaptation, like the original book a movie is based off of. So the full phrase is 'the comic's original poem,' which I'm taking to mean that they're adapting a poem into comic form.

This is relevant because I think they're trying to say that the poem is currently the thing they're obsessing over while waiting for more Disco Elysium content. They use the term "meal replacement," which seems to be a Chinese fandom term referring to the content people look at during a fandom drought—like people hitting the end of all the Disco Elysium content out there and deciding to check out Pathologic, since they've heard that game scratches the same itch.

So I think this screenshot is supposed to be them venting their feelings about how this situation with Jullian made them feel. They want to be clear-headed about his actions, even if it makes them feel miserable. And they note how his actions have tainted their experience working on a Disco Elysium-inspired comic.

1. Screenshot of the Weibo Poster Blocking Jullian Champenois

After talking with other commenters, the Weibo poster posted their closing remarks with Jullian Champenois, especially noting how he used their work and their interest in his work as a pretense for flirting with them instead of genuine artistic interest.

2. Next, testimony from a commenter

(translation via 阿阮 @woon__ton on twitter)

阿阮 @woon__ton also notes that "If anyone questions why I didn't release the screenshots, it's because this fan suffered severe trauma and was unable to provide the original chat log."

3. A second testimony from another commenter

Hello blogger, I also suffered sexual harassment from Jullian at the end of last year. Because my friends know that I like Disco Elysium very much, [they] said [they] could give me an autograph. I was very excited and happy at the time. A few days later, Jullian himself said that he could add me on WeChat, so I could directly tell him what I wanted him to sign. I was so happy and felt very lucky. After that, he was always very polite and took the initiative to chat with me, but within a few days he started to sexually harass me. I can't find the chat records from that time, only one or two that were sent to friends. I was very disillusioned at the time…so I blocked him, but he added me on New Year's Day. After I saw your Weibo, I remembered this incident again. He was really disgusting… I loved Disco Elysium so much, but he ruined it all. Okay, I hope you can share this. He is a habitual criminal and has yellow fever, and likes to chat up Chinese girls. At the same time last year, I searched for his name on Weibo and found that many people who followed him on Instagram were greeted by him. Everyone thought he was very nice, but that‘s not the case. When I first added him, I didn't expect him to talk to me a lot. Because it was such a surprise, I expressed a lot of my love for Disco Elysium and Kim. He asked me if I knew about Kim's sexuality. When I told him that I knew, he emphasized that he was a straight man, and then asked a lot about exchanging private information. After he sexually harassed me, I couldn't even tell him off for it because my friend was_____, I was waiting until he left _____ before I could block him. After I rejected him, he was still interested in striking up another conversation. I said that I knew he had a girlfriend, and it was very strange to do this. He said that his girlfriend didn't care and knew that he was doing it, which 'was its own kind of fun.' Made me feel very sick.

4. DM Screenshots from the Second Commenter

This commenter then submitted DMs that Jullian had sent them. The original poster has shared them, noting that the profile pic is clearly Jullian's.

This commenter also commented that the friends they had mentioned also had similar experiences with Jullian Champenois, which could push the number of victims to 4+.

I'd also like to share a comment on the original Weibo post from this same commenter:

"This incident did not affect my playing of Disco Elysium (the voice will be turned off hhh), but I really felt a huge spiritual pain, like my faith was completely shattered, like the statue of the Innocence in the church turned into a smelly rotten rag."

Additions

In addition, there is a testimony from a third person not attached on the post, which @woon__ton posted on twitter. It can be found here, and it outlines how an anonymous user paid Jullian in a professional context to voice for a product for her, only for him to make an unprofessional advance on her. Although the harassment is not directly shown in the WeChat screenshot, his apology for his inappropriate behavior is shown.

This testifier would like to remain anonymous.

*5 Update: Additional Testimony from the original poster on Weibo

The original poster is emphasizing the predatory nature of Jullian's DMs, differentiating them from the "just awkward flirting" narrative that some Western/English speaking people have had in response to these allegations.

First of all, his "yellow fever" aspect of specifically asking about Chinese girls, who are often fetishized to be more shy/submissive/less likely to talk. But in this case, it's also him specifically being inappropriate with people for whom there is a language/cultural barrier, making it harder for them to speak out—either due to a literal language barrier between them and his Western audience, or the plausible deniability of all this being a 'cultural misunderstanding' (which is very unlikely, since Jullian has apparently lived in China and therefore is very aware of the norms there).

Second of all, his usage of a professional/work account to make sexual advances. Again, comparisons to the Scott Lobdell situation should be made, as they highlight why it's sleazy to use their work as an excuse/opening to make sexual advances on someone. Not only does it cross boundaries, but it's also not treating the artist with the respect they deserve as someone just trying to work.

Closing

The Weibo poster would prefer if people not follow them on Weibo over this situation, as they posted the situation on their work/professional art account, and it is painful for them to see too many notifications about this.

They also note that they still love Disco Elysium and Kim Kitsuragi and that the allegations against Jullian Champenois should not reflect on the dev team of Disco Elysium, as there were also women working on the team, etc.

With this post, I've tried my best to accurately convey the sentiments of the original poster of the Weibo without commenting on the proof or the legality or what the ramifications should be or how we should interpret this, etc (beyond a quick mention of a potential cultural clash). I'll update the post with better translations if something comes up or if anybody mentions any suggestions/clarifications.

[nymphoheretic]

˜”°•.˜”°• You're mine now, Private •°”˜.•°”˜

Nymph: Hey! So this is a repost from my old blog that I've edited and added more to it! It's also for @semisgroupie's What's Done in the Dark Collab!

Summary: You decided to join the Marines in efforts to spite a certain blonde Gunnery Sergeant. Little did you know he’d taken an intense desire for you.

CW: Dom!Bakugou, Sub!F reader, Light Bondage, Blindfolds, Gagging, Vibrators, Shower Sex, Masturbation(F receiving), Hand Jobs, Oral Sex (M & F receiving), Vaginal Sex, rough sex, Sex Toys, creampies, squirting , Daddy Kink, Primal Play, Praise, Degradation, Counting, Usage of the nickname “Princess”

Word count: 16.8k

Tags: @katsukichu @bakugosbratx @hvziers @rinnori @sailewhoremoon @babiefwuit @angelltheninth @monaukah @awilddreamermain @tokyometronetwork @suyacho

You walked around aimlessly within the large ballroom that your college had to host the career fair in. You felt slightly overwhelmed by all the booths and panels around you. You were just a general studies major. The jack of all trades, yet master of none. You did not know where you belonged. You glanced over at a booth that held many colorful posters boasting about Telemarketing and how it would be the future of the world and couldn’t help but to scoff slightly.

‘Even I know a cheap hack job when I see one.’ A flash of camo caught your eye and you blinked owlishly at the panel near the center of the crowd. You could barely make any of it out due to the massive swarm of females that were blocking the view, but you did manage to see that it was two men standing in military uniforms. One was cute and had long, bright red hair that was tied up into a neat bun at the nape of his neck, kind red eyes, and a friendly smile.   

The other was a rather handsome man with short cropped yet still spikey blonde hair with an undercut design. His sleeves were tightly rolled up to show off muscular and heavily tattooed arms. His narrowed red eyes seemed to pierce right through anyone who dared to look into them.

You were fidgeting as you read the banner. “The Marines”. You were always a bit hesitant about joining a military branch even though you came from a military family and was a rather strong willed girl. You were graduating soon and did need to find a job, that was the whole reason why you were here at this career fair, but to join such a battle hardened company like the Marines? Did you really want to commit to this? You jumped when a gruff voice called out to you.

“Oi, Dumbass?” The blonde called out.

You looked around for a few seconds before pointing at yourself with a confused look. ‘I know this asshole...’ 

The blonde shot you a cheeky grin as he crossed his arms and motioned for you to move closer. “Yeah, I’m talking to you, Dumbass. Are you going to keep standing over there like a weak little Princess? Or do you want to join the Marines?” He was testing you, you could feel it. He wanted to see if you could handle the disrespect that would come out of the mouth of a Drill Instructor.

With a renewed fire in youreyes, you pushed a girl out of yourway and squared up to the blonde. “Who do you think you are?”

“Gunnery Sergeant Katsuki Bakugou.” He said smugly, his lips curled up into a smirk that you wanted to smack off his face. “So what’ll it be, dumbass? You think you got what it takes to be a marine?”

You crossed your arms over your chest, a sneer on your face as you stared him directly in the eyes. “Depends, Gunny, can you handle me being in the marines? They don’t usually let Drill Instructors be recruiters.” you smiled when his eyes widened slightly in surprise at your knowledge. You were a proud Military brat so you knew the lingo and the attires. You spotted the wide large brown brimmed hat that all Drill Instructors would wear during boot camp.

Katsuki smiled as he leaned forward slightly, towering over your smaller frame standing in front of him. “Not bad for a dumbass.” He then reached for the pamphlet resting on the table that separated the two of you. “Fill this out and come by the office when you’re done. I’ll make a woman out of you, Recruit.”

“I’m already too much of a woman for you, Gunnery Sergeant.” you took the pamphlet from his hands, but you did not expect him to grab your wrists and pull you as close as he could with the table separating you two. 

“Careful, Recruit. I may just end up being your Drill Instructor. And I won’t go easy on a dumbass like you.” His warm breath fanned over you, causing heat to burn at your face.

Carefully, you took your wrist back, but only because you knew he allowed you to. (His grip was strong and his hands were so large compared to your thin wrists). You curled your lips up into a catty smile as you began to walk away, making sure you did a perfect half-right turn like your dad taught you. “Only time will tell, Sir. I will see you in the Recruiter’s office at 0800 sharp tomorrow.” You gave the blonde a perfect salute before walking away.

Bakugou watched the small woman walk away from the booth, a smirk twitching at his lips. He crossed his arms back over his chest as he leaned back against the wall as his eyes followed you. You were certainly a bratty little future recruit.

He’d enjoy breaking you down and making you cry once you were in his company boot camp. He nudged his partner who was flirting with some random girl. “Oi, shitty hair.”

Kirishima rolled his eyes as he excused himself from the girl he was talking about. “Sir?” He grimaced slightly at calling his best friend so formally, but Bakugou was a higher rank than he was. He frowned when he noticed that the blonde was watching the young woman he’d just handed a pamphlet to. But then a smile crossed his face as a thought struck him. “You want to break her, don’t you?”

“Make sure she’s in my company once her profile is complete, Kirishima.” Katsuki said as he pivoted on his right foot in a clean half right and walked off without another word. He would break the brattiness out of that cute future recruit. He licked his lips in anticipation of seeing you  again the following morning for your interview. “You really think you’re too much of a woman for me, Princess? We will see indeed.”

-0-0-0

You woke the next day at 0715 and quickly got ready for your interview with that cocky asshole of a Marine Recruiter. When you had told your dad over the phone that you had decided to join the Marines, he’d scoffed while making a joke about how his “Squid-raised” daughter was turning into the enemy branch.

You knew that your father was holding out on the dream that you would follow in his footsteps and join the Navy, but that just never called out to you like the Marines did. A little evil voice in the back of your head told you that you were only interested because of the Gunnery Sergeant.

“Hell no, I’m not joining for that bastard!” you slapped your hands against your cheeks as you finished washing your face and brushed your teeth. You decided to wear one of your dad’s Navy t-shirts and a pair of cute denim shorts that showed off your legs and hugged your figure quite nicely. As you looked at yourself in the mirror, you realized what you were doing. 

You growled, “Dammit! I am not attracted to that man!” You checked your watch and saw that it was 0745. You needed to leave now to be on time cause in the military being early meant you’re on time, on time means you’re late. And you were not about to give that man the satisfaction of calling you out on practicality. 

You got into your car and drove to the recruiter’s office in less than five minutes. Double checking to make sure you had everything you needed to sign up, you got out. Walking up to the office, you drew in a deep calming breath to calm your suddenly frayed nerves.

What were you nervous about? It was just a meeting to talk over your enlistment. You may not even run into that cocky blonde asshole of a Gunny. Glancing down at your watch, you saw that it was 0755 and you needed to get inside or you’d be late.

Opening the door, you were greeted with a friendly smile. “Hey there! You must be the new recruit, Bakugou was going on about yesterday.” It was the redhead that was at the career fair. “I’m Sergeant Eijiro Kirishima, nice to meet you.” He reached out with a hand as a greeting.

You returned his kind smile with one of your own. At least this one was not a cocky sonovbitch like Gunny Katsuki Bakugou. “Nice to meet you, sir. I’m-”

Kirishima raised his hand to stop you as he grinned widely. “Oh, I already know your name, but for now, I’m just gonna call you “Tiny”.” He laughed when you gave him an annoyed look. What was with these Marine buffoons and never wanting to call new recruits by their real names?

You let out a huff and crossed your arms before walking over to the desk where Kirishima was standing next to. Looking up at him curiously when You noticed that he had yet to sit down, You arched a brow. “Aren’t you going to conduct my interview, Sergeant?” You nearly jumped out of your skin when someone suddenly clamped a firm hand on your shoulder. 

“Oi, Dumbass, you really came.” 

Your annoyance increased tenfold when you recognized that voice behind you. You quickly grabbed the hand on your shoulder and tried to remove it. You failed when he tightened his grip on you, causing you to grimace slightly. “Of course I came, Gunnery Sergeant. I am interested in becoming a Marine.”

Bakugou squeezed your shoulder tightly once more before moving to sit down in the chair behind the desk. His vermillion eyes scanned over you as you stared just as intensely as he was at you. “You’re dismissed, Kirishima. I’ve got this one.” He growled when his subordinate tried to protest slightly. “I said you’re dismissed, Sergeant! Don’t make me repeat myself, shitty hair!”

Kirishima was a bit surprised at how possessive Bakugou was towards this recruit. Usually they would share new female recruits, but it would seem as if Katsuki had no intention of letting this one go. Looking back over at you sitting in the chair, Kirishima sighed out dejectedly. You were a cute little thing, too. “Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.” Giving his commanding officer a salute and retreated to the back room.

“You enjoyed asserting your authority, didn’t you?” You said, rolling your eyes when he smirked down at him. You crossed your arms over your chest in an attempt to seem indifferent to him and that cocky ass smile on his face. When that did not work, you leaned over and grabbed your paperwork to hand to Bakugou. 

Your back stiffened when his fingers grazed over yours when he took the packet from you. You quickly snatched your hand back and held it to your chest, your heart racing slightly.

Katsuki smirked as he looked down at you. You were being so coy now that you two were the only ones in the room. He scanned over your attire and frowned when he noticed that you were wearing a navy T-shirt.

 Flipping through your paperwork, he saw that your father is a Navy veteran. “Tch, your dad was a Squid, no wonder you’re such a brat, dumbass.”

You let out a huff at the name he called me. “Look here asshole, do not insult my dad.” He could talk down about you all he liked, but no one and you meant no one was allowed to talk shit about your dad. Glancing back up at him, you drew in a sucking breath when you saw that he was staring at you with a predatory gleam in his eyes. Like he was the hunter and you were the prey. “You don’t scare me, Sir. I am a Navy brat and I know how you Marines are.” 

Bakugou crossed his fingers and placed them under his nose, tilting his head slightly. “Who said I want you to be afraid, little recruit?” His eyes never left yours and he could see the confusion wavering in those eyes of yours. Eyes of a bratty little prey that he wanted to put in your place. “Anyway, Dumbass, why do you want to join?” He stared at you intently, carefully judging you  as you took in another breath.

“Sir, I come from a heavily influenced Military family. My dad was part of the Navy, mother from the Air Force and I have two brothers, both in the Coast Guard.” you answered, never breaking away from his predatory gaze even though you wanted to shy away, but you never backed down from a challenge. “I am a strong willed person who can handle anything dished out to you and I will never back down from a challenge. I will serve my country beyond my abilities.” 

A feral looking smile spread over the Gunny’s lips as he placed his hands down on the desk, long fingers splayed. “Never back down from a challenge, eh?” He rose to his feet slowly, his eyes locked with yours as he watched you shrink back when he stood to his full height. His smile curled up more when you hopped out of your seat as he stalked closer to you . “Little recruit, I thought you said you don’t back down?”

You could feel your body starting to tremble as you took several steps back to avoid the blonde as he advanced on you. You felt like a rabbit waiting to be devoured by a hungry wolf. It was not until your back touched the wall did you realize that you were trapped. 

“Sir, what are you doing?” Your breath hitched when he slammed his hands against either side of your head and your hand came up to clutch at your chest. Why did you feel so small around him right now? 

“Come now, little recruit.” He said as he leaned down on his elbows, his hot breath fanning out over your face. “Where are those nerves of steel you had yesterday? You can see you trembling. All talk no bite, dumbass?” 

Bakugou reached out and cupped your chin in his fingers, tilting your face upward so that you were staring into his eyes. “Or was all that the Squid in you. You were such a little brat.” He slid his knee in between your legs, pressing up against your crotch.

A small whimper left your throat as you tried to turn your head away from him. “Sir, this is inappropriate.”

Bakugou leaned in closer, his scent overpowering your senses. “What is, Princess?” His lips were just a breath away before he pulled away with a cocky laugh. He moved his knee away from your  legs and moved to sit back at his desk.

“I like you, little recruit.” Katsuki folded his hands under his nose once more as he analyzed the young woman. Your face was still slightly flushed and your hand still clutched your chest while the other was pressed tightly against the wall. “I’ll schedule your swearing in for next month.” 

He grabbed a pen and began filling out some information in a small folder that was next to your  paperwork.

You blinked in confusion. What the fuck just happened? Did he do all of this just to fluster you? You could feel your anger start to get the best of you as you marched over to where the arrogant male sat and pointed your finger at him. “You ass! Don’t you ever pull some shit like that ever again. I am not some little toy that you can play with.” His laugh caught you off guard.

“On the contrary, little recruit. Once you’re in boot camp, heh, your ass is mine.” His eyes narrowed in challenge as he dared you to question him. 

Your eyes narrowed in challenge, glaring at him. “I belong to no one, sir. Just try to make me.” With those words said, you gathered your things and exited the building. “I will see you at training, Gunnery Sergeant Bakugou.”

-0-0-0

The following month seemed to fly by. You had spent time with your family and friends as they all prepared themselves for your inevitable departure to Parris Island, South Carolina.  You hadn’t heard anything from that arrogant ass Katsuki Bakugou since that incident at the recruiter’s office. Your face still flushed every time you thought about how close he was to me. You could literally smell the bitter chocolate scent of the cologne he wore and feel his hot breath against your lips. You quickly slapped your cheeks. “Get it together, girl! You do not want that asshole! He insulted Dad.” But an evil sounding voice in the back of your head told you that you indeed did want the blonde and wanted him bad.

“Fuck it all to hell.” You cursed when your  phone started ringing loudly on your  desk. Who could be calling me? You told everyone that you would be busy this week in preparation for you swearing into the Marines. Glancing down at the screen, you saw that it was a number you did not recognize. “Hello?”

“Oi, dumbass. You ready for departure?”

You instantly pulled the phone away from your ear as shock registered on your  face. How in the hell...Oh? The paperwork had your number on it. “With all due respect Sir, kindly fuck off, I’m busy.”

“Is that any way to talk to the man who changed your life?”  His voice was a slight mocking sounding laugh. 

Your blood was boiling. You could not stand this arrogant man! Screw what that evil little voice said. “Get off my line, Gunny.” You then promptly hung up in his face. Feeling quite satisfied with what you had done. You got back to work with filling out all the appropriate paperwork you would need for swearing in. You felt mentally prepared, now to work on your physical condition. 

You considered yourself rather fit, as you did go to the gym about four times a week and go to a high intensity cardio class twice a week. But you knew that the training under the Drill Instructors was going to be brutal as they weed out the weaklings and only accept the mentally, emotionally, and physically strong.

You dug around your closet for your workout mat and quickly began doing multiple sets of push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, jumping jacks, up and down planks and other various workouts. Once you were done, you decided that you would go for a run knowing that running was going to be a huge part of everything especially during phases one through three. Grabbing your phone, headphones and fitbit, you left your apartment.

Running felt good. The air was cool with the approach of fall and although you dreaded doing all this training during the winter, you knew that it would only motivate you to work even harder. You knew that you would have to run both a 5k and 8K hike during week one so you pushed yourself to run at least a 10K, making sure that you stuck to more off road trails to simulate the uneven terrain that was going to be the beaten path. 

Sweat ran down your body by the time you were finished and you were exhausted. But you felt amazing. You accomplished your goal of running a 10K hike. It only took the whole month! And just in time too. You swore in in three days. Meaning...You’d have to see Katsuki Bakugou again due to him being your recruiter. You were dreading that. You hoped he would behave himself in front of your family. Only the Gods knew with that man. 

After reaching your apartment, you quickly hopped in the shower to wash the sweat and grime off of your body. You loved getting clean, but you knew after you swore in it would only be a matter of time until you would not be able to enjoy such long hot showers for about thirteen weeks. ‘Ugh, I’m so not looking forward to that part of boot camp.’ you reached for your favorite shampoo and washed your hair quickly before rinsing off and getting out. Wrapping a towel around yourself, you left the bathroom and laid out on your bed. “I am making the right choice, right, Dad?” Your eyes felt heavy as sleep overcame you.

-0-0-0

You drew in a calming breath as you tried to not fidget with the bottom of your skirt. Today was the day. Today was your swearing in and then you would get your departure date. You could only hope that they would wait a few months so you could spend more time with your family. Your dad’s health was not the best after years of working on the Navy Ship’s engines and you wanted to be close to him for a bit longer.

“You nervous, Squirt?” you heard your dad call out as his hand landed on yours to give it a comforting squeeze. “You can always back out and join the Navy like your old man?”

Laughing at your dad’s attempt to have you change branches like he’s been doing since you told him you were enlisting in the Marines. “No, Dad. For the last time, I’m not joining the Navy just so you can brag to your buddies that your little girl is following in your footsteps.” you flashed him a reassuring smile. “I really do want to join the Marines and serve this country beyond my own expectations. I won’t let the Drill Instructors intimidate me into quitting.”

“Is that right, little recruit?”

Your back crawled at the sound of that, now, very familiar gruff voice that could only belong to Katsuki Bakugou. “Gunnery Sergeant Bakugou,” you placed a fake smile on your face as you extended your hand out for him to take. “How are you today, sir?”

Bakugou stared at your extended hand for a few moments before arching a blonde brow. “That is not how you greet a commanding officer.” His lips curled up into a snarky smile when you blushed and quickly tried to change your greeting to a salute. “Calm down, recruit. You’re not at boot camp yet.” He glanced over at your family that had come to witness your swear in ceremony. “You must be the family she boasted so much about. I’m Gunnery Sergeant Katsuki Bakugou, the man who’s stealing your daughter away.”

You sucked your teeth at the way he said that last line. He was not stealing you away! Crossing your arms over your chest you rose to your feet and introduced your family. “Sir, This is my Dad, a retired Petty Officer 3rd Class. My mother, a retired Senior Airwoman.” 

You smiled as you glanced down at your two brothers. They were the ones who were most excited for you to enlist in the Marines, although they hated the fact their little sister was stronger than them. “And these are my brothers, both Lieutenants in the Coast Guard.” 

Dad rose to his feet and gripped Katsuki’s extended hand and clapped him on the back. “Nice to meet the recruiter that managed to convert my Squid raised daughter to enlist?” 

Bakugou returned the gesture, clapping the older man’s back. “Likewise.” He cut his eyes over towards his little recruit and signaled with his head for them to follow after him. “If you’ll follow after me, I’ll take you to where the swearing in ceremony will be held after that she will learn her departure date.” He shot you a smirk that he thought only you could see, but your father’s watchful eyes caught it.

Your back stiffened when you saw the smile that was sent your way. Cocky asshole. You blinked when your dad grabbed your hand and squeezed it. Did he see the look Bakugou gave you? 

No. 

You shook your head. He could not have or he would have said something to your brothers. You followed the Gunnery Sergeant to the back room where there were three other people there waiting to be sworn in as well.

The ceremony lasted about thirty minutes and you were allowed to take pictures afterward. Mom cried when she heard you recite your oath, your brothers were grinning as they watched you salute the General, and Dad simply was watching Katsuki with a stern look on his face, but clapped when the ceremony ended. 

After everything ended, you followed the General to sign your contract that would bind you to the Marines for a minimum of four years if you did not fail boot camp.

Katsuki leaned back against the wall, his eyes following after his little recruit as he watched you sign the papers that would allow him to do whatever he wanted for thirteen weeks. Sure, he’ll have to pull a few strings and get yelled at by his superiors, but he would make sure that you would be put into his platoon and that he would be your drill instructor.

He grunted when someone placed their hand on his shoulder and he noticed that it was the retired squid. “Can I help you, sir?”

“You’ve been staring intently at my daughter for a while now, Gunny.” Dad replied quietly, not to alert his sons of the situation. “What are you planning with her?”

“Heh, with all due respect, sir, what I have planned for my training of making your daughter into the perfect Marine soldier is private information.” He said with a slight smirk, his heavily tattooed arms crossed over his chest with a blonde brow raised. “But I promise you she’ll be in good hands, sir.” His smile widened just a bit at the double meaning to his words that seemed to calm your father. 

If only he really knew of the plans he had for the little dumbass.

-0-0-0

A month. You were given only another month to spend with your family. You finished school and graduated top of your class. And now you are spending your last few days of civilian life in your apartment. You had already prepared myself for the nearly three months away from family and friends. You told your landlord that this would be your last week here and she was kind enough to let you stay rent free for this last month.

You packed your rucksack with only the necessary items i.e. travel sized things that will only get tossed after receiving week. You sighed as you remembered your Dad’s words. He told you to be careful around Gunny Bakugou and he really did not have to tell you that. You were already going to avoid him like the plague although that little voice in the back of your head told you that you liked this game of cat and mouse you were playing with Katsuki. 

...And it was right. The more you tried to deny your attraction to the blonde, the stronger it got. But you would not let him distract you from your goal.

Deciding to go for one last run before you were shipped off to South Carolina, you grabbed your phone and headphones and took off.

-0-0-0

It was time. You were on the long white bus heading towards Parris Island. It was late at night and most of the other recruits were trying to get the last bit of sleep that they could, but you could not.Your nerves were too frayed. What if Katsuki was your Drill Instructor? But he’s also your recruiter? Is there not some military code that disallows that? You buried your hands into your hair and pulled. “Ugh! Stupid asshole!”

“Woah, Dollface, what’s got you so uptight?”

You turned at the sound of the voice and saw that it came from a young man with bright red hair and stunning turquoise eyes. You sighed and removed your hands from your head, before shaking it. “It’s nothing that concerns you.” You frowned when you realized that he had called you a doll. “And who are you calling a dollface, redhead?”

He chuckled as he lifted his hands in surrender. “Sorry, bad habit of mine to give cute girls nicknames. “I’m Touya Todoroki, but a girl like yourself gets to call me Dabi.” he sent you a flirty wink and smirk.

Rolling your eyes, you held out your hand for him to shake. “Nice to meet you, Dabi.” Your eyes widened slightly at the sight of the nasty burn scars that lined up his arms and you could not stop the gasp that left you. Realizing what you had done, you started apologizing immediately. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to stare.”

Dabi cracked a slow smile that pulled at the corners of his cheeks. “No worries, Baby girl. I’ve got more scars if you wanna oogle them too.” He laughed when you punched him on the arm. Grimacing playfully as he rubbed the sore spot your strike caused, Dabi was slightly surprised at your strength. “Damn, Dollface, you’re strong.”

You sent him a smile and started to reply when the bus came to a startling halt, nearly causing you to be ejected from your seat. Your heart began to beat a mile a minute when the first gruff voices of the Drill Instructors began barking out demands for you to get off the bus. You quickly made a beeline for the center aisle because rule number one of boot camp: Never be the last person off the bus. You will get slayed. You felt bad for leaving Touya behind but it was every person for themselves from now on. As you rushed to get into formation you ran into something solid.

“Watch where the fuck you’re going, Private!”

A chill went down your spine as you immediately recognized the voice. It belonged to the one man you both were dreading and elated to see. Gunnery Sergeant Katsuki Bakugou. Steeling your face into a neutral expression with a blank look in your eyes, you saluted, “Sir, I apologize, sir!” you withheld a gasp of surprise when his hands snaked out and grabbed you by the waist and pulled you closer. Damn him! He was using the rush of chaos that was receiving week to camouflage what he was planning.

Bakugou pulled his prey closer to him, slightly thankful that Kaminari, Kirishima, and Sero were his fellow underlings and would turn a blind eye to what he was doing to his new little private. “I told you, dumbass. Your ass is mine now.” His hands tightened around your waist when you tried to pull away. “Oh no, princess. You’re not getting away that easily.”

You kept a blank face as you tried to pull away from his strong grip. “Sir, I’d like to get to in-processing now.” A blush warmed your face when his fingers dug into your flesh and yanked you even closer to his chest. You placed your hands against him to prevent your face from colliding with his. 

Big mistake on your part. 

You nearly melted from the feeling of those strong muscles of his under your fingertips. ‘Fucking hell...Muscles are my weakness...’ You shook your head when you felt your expression trying to change. “Sir, I am asking you to let me go through in-processing. It is very late and will take a very long time with how many of us there were on the bus.”

“Tch...” Katsuki scoffed as he knew his time was running out. Kirishima and the others would not be able to buy him much more time. “Okay, Dumbass. You go do your in-processing, but remember for the next thirteen weeks, heh, I’ve got plans for you, Princess. Got it, Private?” He said in a commanding voice, smirking as he knew that you would have to do everything he said. When you replied with a dry “Aye, sir.” Bakugou grabbed your wrist. “One more thing, Private.” Twirling you around, he pressed his lips against yours in an intense, passionate kiss.

What. The. Actual. Fuck. 

That was all that was going through your mind as you felt the Gunny’s lips on yours. Your heart was racing a mile a minute as you debated whether you wanted to grab that blonde head of hair and pull him closer or to bite his lip to get him the fuck off of you. His tongue took advantage of your open mouth and snuck inside to wrap around your own. A low soft moan rumbled in the back of your throat at his flavor. Bakugou tasted surprisingly sweet like he had eaten some kind of caramel candy. But before you could respond, he pulled away with a smirk on his face.

Bakugou released you, stunned, with a sly look on his face. He ran his tongue over his lips slowly. “I’ll be taking a lot more than a kiss next time, little Dumbass.”

-0-0-0

For the next few weeks, you’ve been on your toes whenever Bakugou was around. There were a few times where he’d managed to trap you. Each time kissing you and his hands wandering a bit further each time. You could feel yourself anticipating his next attempt and was starting to lose focus on your training. I’ve gotten slain so many times by other Drill Instructors that my muscles were beyond exhausted. You even got your whole platoon slain due to you laughing at something Dabi had said. And it was by Bakugou no less. 

You had let out a very short, barely there laugh when Dabi commented on how Kaminari seemed to always go into a stupid daze when Jirou was around. Your back immediately stiffened when you heard Katsuki call out your last name with a certain sternness to his voice. You’ve learned to differentiate the tones to his voice. That level of sterness was meant as a warning for you. As those vermillion colored eyes landed on you, you knew what was about to happen and sent Dabi a mental apology.

“Private Todoroki, want to tell me what was so goddamn funny that this little dumbass had to laugh?” Bakugou stepped up to the redhead’s face, their noses nearly touching as he glared into the man’s blue eyes.

Dabi said nothing as he rolled his eyes. “It was nothing, Sir. Just said an observation, Sir.” He scooted back discreetly and moved just a bit closer to the woman he’s set his sights on.

Bakugou eyed the new recruit standing way too close to his prey. The smug looking bastard had the audacity to question him! "Oi, Burnt looking bitch, you will respect my authority! And I'm giving you orders to shut the hell up!" An evil smile crossed his lips and a vile thought entered his mind. 

Time to slay them. 

“Better yet!!” He yelled, his eyes gleaming as he witnessed the slight shoulder drop of the whole platoon. "Too easy. Half right face! Front leaning rest position! In cadence! Move!" Bakugou watched with mild glee as he watched the frustrated look on his Princess's face as he slowly counted out each up and down movement, making sure to make them wait for thirty seconds on the up. 'Maybe that will teach her to be so close to that burnt asshole.'

You groaned as you did the push ups as the Gunny crossed his arms, staring down at you. He was purposely slowing down the count and was also not counting certain ones. He then made you all  do Iron walks all the way back to the barracks. Your legs and thighs were screaming at this point and all you wanted to do was shower and lay down to prepare for the next day. Because tomorrow was the start of swim week. You’ve up put with Katsuki’s slow burn torture for over a month now. And you've caught yourself thinking about him way too often. 

Sure, he was an insufferable asshole, but he was an asshole with the softest pair of lips and the most sinful of touches. You knew the next time he’d caught you in a trap, you may just break and give into his seduction. You were starting to like the Gunnery Sergeant and you knew you were tempting fate because he would soon be your superior (which you think he’d like due to his superiority complex), but you did not care. That little voice in the back of your head was right. You did want him.

You waited until you were able to be the last person to take a shower and let the lukewarm water soothe your aching body. It did not help that all those teasing touches Bakugou does is leaving you with pent up desires. That was the main downside of being a woman in boot camp, there was no way to relieve any type of tension. The guys could make jack off socks, but you women were out of luck. ...But you had to try. You needed to release some of this pressure that the Gunny had built up in you or else you’d go insane.

Peaking your head out of the shower, you scanned the area and saw that there were only a few loose stragglers. You had a few minutes before Jirou came in to make sure the entire bay was in bed. So, you need to be quick. Softly, you trailed my fingers along the front of my body, skimming over my nipples and tugging at them briefly. You tried to mimic the way Katsuki’s rough fingers would touch you. You twisted a bit more roughly than you would usually and had to bite back the loud moan that escaped. “Yes...” you hissed. “Katsuki...”

Knowing that my time was coming to an end, you quickly touched my slickened slit and rubbed at the hard bundle of nerves. You were grateful for the water as it made it easier for you to quickly glide your fingers into your quivering hole. You rode your fingers hard as you tried to bring myself to completion before Drill Instructor Jirou caught you still in the shower with your fingers up your cunt. Within minutes you came, your legs shaking as you let out a broken sounding moan of Bakugou’s name.

Your embarrassment was instant. You quickly cleaned up and washed everything within seconds. You could not believe you just did that while thinking about Katsuki Bakugou no less! But...you could feel the heat swimming in my cheeks, you could not deny it anymore. 

You wanted him. 

“Fuck...” you whispered as you got out of the shower and dried off. You changed into your PTs for bed and hurried out. You just barely made it to your bunk when the Drill Instructor came in. Your eyes widened when you realized that it was not Jirou as usual but Katsuki.

Bakugou walked into the barracks, his hands behind his back as he scanned over the beds. His slow methodical footsteps echoed through the bay area. He was on a prowl, looking for anyone who dared to have anything out of place, but he was also seeking out a certain little Princess who got a bit naughty. He’d overheard yourr little escapade while you were in the shower. Hearing his little recruit moan out his name in that sweet voice of yours was such a goddamn turn on. He stopped when he reached the foot of your bunk.

You quickly close your eyes and tried to feint sleep when you heard Bakugou’s boots stop at yor bed. Sweet mercy, you prayed that he did not by chance hear you outside the barracks. Even if the water was loud enough to muffle your cry from the inside, you knew that you were in the shower closest to the window. Your face grew even hotter when you felt the tips of his fingers graze the top of your feet before slowly moving upward. You struggled to remain still even as those firm caresses reached my upper thighs. By the time you felt them ghosting over your sex, you were already wet again.

The Gunney smirked down at his captive, happy for the darkness of the barracks to conceal him and that you had chosen the last bunk. “You naughty little private.” His voice rumbled from his chest as he leaned down to growl in your ear. “Were you fucking touching yourself while thinking about me?” 

Bakugou chuckled as he watched your face scrunch up in embarrassment. He moved his fingers to cup your sex through the blanket, grinding his palm against your clit and causing you to gasp out. “Quiet, Dumbass. Don’t want the others to hear you.” His lips curled into an evil little smirk. “Not quite how I’d imagine hearing you moan my name for the first time but, heh, it was fucking hot, Princess.”

You let out a quiet whimper when he pressed his hand down harder against your dripping sex. Fuck, you wanted him to touch you directly and not over these blankets. You wanted him to kiss you so you could taste more of that sweet caramel flavor of his favorite candy on his tongue. You wanted to run your fingers through those soft looking blonde spikes as he took advantage of you. “Sir...” you let out a soft whisper before he placed a finger against your lips.

“Soon, Private, very soon.” The look on his face held the promise as his crimson eyes bore down into yours. “You will be mine. Until then how about I give you a little sample of what’s to come?” He arched a blonde brow as his lips curled up into a feral smirk at your confused look on your face. Bakugou curled his fingers inward, digging them into your center. “Do you want it, Princess?”

Your body was visibly shaking with anticipation. You wanted to touch him so badly, but my hands were spasming under the sheets from his hot touch. “Yes, sir, I want it, please.” Your voice came out in a breathy plea. You wanted, no you needed more. To feel him, to touch him, to become one with him. Although you knew that Katsuki would not be a gentle lover. You’ve experienced his hard touches so much that your body was used to them. You saw the slow smirk that spread over his lips at your nod. And then the sound of a zipper echoed in your ears. ‘He wouldn’t?!’

Katsuki watched the surprised look on your face as he tugged down his zipper. He leaned over and pressed his lips against hers as he pulled out his semi-hard cock. His hand stroked down the length, his mind replaying the sound of your sweet voice calling out his name. He felt himself harden fully as his eyes slid closed and swept his tongue between your parted lips. His fingers grinded harder over your clothed crotch as he stroked himself faster, smearing his pre-cum around the thick, swollen head. “Fuck, you’re such a naughty little Princess.”

You wanted to touch him. You wanted to touch him so badly. Even in the darkness of the barracks you could tell that Katsuki was long and thick. Fuck. You let out another moan muffled by his kiss. Slowly to not draw attention to yourself, you reached out for him. You felt his jump in surprise when your nail grazed the tip of his cock before your hand wrapped around the thick shaft.You was right. The Gunny was thick, so thick that your hand could barely wrap around it fully. You stroked him firmly as his tongue invaded your mouth, claiming you as his. You could feel his pre-cum smearing over your hand with each upward pull.

To say he was surprised that his little private touched him was not the furthest from the truth. He had slowly been training you to respond to his touches. But damn did it feel great to have your small, yet rough hand on his cock stroking him so earnestly. He pulled away from your sweet lips to let out a grunt as he felt his release coming. “Damn it, Private. You’re trying to milk me for all I’ve got?”

 Katsuki wanted to rip that thin blanket off of you and shove his hand down your shorts to touch you directly, but he knew that you would scream out if he did that. And he did not want Jirou to catch him inside the women’s barracks this late when all he was supposed to do was a bed check. He curled his fingers in deeper, pressing them tightly against your throbbing clit while he cut off your gasp with his mouth pressing against yours. 

The rush of liquid that left you when his strong fingers ran over your sensitive nerves made you dizzy and you could barely register the wet feeling of his cum against the top of your fist. As you were reveling in your high, you came to a realization. He’d made you cum without touching you directly. 

This man was the devil. 

You pulled your hand away when he moved away from your mouth. If he wants to be a devil, then you can show him a demoness. “Bet you’re tasty.” While looking him directly in the eyes, you stuck out your tongue and licked your hand clean.You were surprised at how sweet it tasted. He must eat plenty of fruits as well as that sweet caramel candy he loved. 

Bakugou’s eyes widened briefly before a feral grin overtook his features. “Not bad at all, Princess.” 

-0-0-0

It was finally swim week. You’ve actually been dreading this week. You may be a Navy brat with Coast Guard brothers, but you can barely swim to save your own life. No matter how hard my dad and brother tried to teach me, you just could not get swimming down. 

Your mom often joked it was because you belonged in the sky like her. But you just think it was that you were just not a swimmer. You looked down at the large pool with slight fear in your eyes as you could feel every pound of the heavy gear we had to wear.

“Alright, you unmanly weaklings!” Kirishima barked out. “Today you will learn how to survive in the water!” He smiled, teeth gleaming sharply in the dimmed lighting of the pool house. This was his favorite week to train. Kiri loved being in the water more than anything. “You will learn to tread water while in full combat gear! You will also use issued epiquitment to stay afloat and shed your equipment while still in the water.” He held up a stopwatch, his smile still in place even as his red eyes shined with an evil glare. “Oh and you will only have fifteen minutes to do it all. If you cannot do it you will be dismissed from boot camp!”

Shock ran down your spine. Dismissed? Fuck. Your. Life. You adjusted the heavy pack on your shoulders and repositioned your helmet. Fifteen minutes. You can stay afloat about twenty on your own. So you quickly calculated the extra weight and it came to about fifty extra pounds on you. ‘I can do this.’ you patiently waited in line, your eye catching a flash of blonde hair and your body instantly warmed. He was watching you. That gave you a slight confidence boost knowing that he was there.

You could not explain why you felt better with the thought that Bakugou was watching me. How did you go from not standing that man to wanting him to ravage you so badly it hurt? You drew in a calming breath when you locked eyes with him and he gave you that little smirk that has begun to grow on me. When they called your name, you took another deep breath and jumped. The water was cold and instantly began trying to drag me to the bottom. You had to claw your way up to the surface and slowly began to kick your feet and wave your arms to tread the water.

“Oi, Dumbass. Catch!”

A long floatation device smacked you in the head as you were treading causing you to lose focus and you began to sink. Desperate to remain here in boot camp, you struggled back to the surface launching towards the floatation device. Once you had it secured under one of your arms, you began shedding the heavy equipment down to just your military green t-shirt, camos, and boots. Quickly you swam over to the other edge of the large pool and pulled yourself up out of the water. 

“Time!” You heard Kirishima call out. “13:45!”

 You beamed brightly. You did it. Youfucking did it! You glanced over at Katsuki to see the tiniest of smirks on his face as his eyes gleamed. He was proud that you would be able to continue boot camp. You felt my racing heart finally ease into a normal pace as you grabbed the towel that Jirou had set out for you. As you walked back to the door, you could hear the Drill Instructors yelling at a few other recruits who were taking up a lot of time just trying to tread water. You could only hope they weren’t part of your platoon. You did not feel like getting slayed today. You were exhausted.

But it was no such luck. Dabi was one of the recruits that was getting yelled at by the Drill Instructors so of course, our entire squad got slayed...in the fucking sand pit while we were still wet from the pool. Jirou and Kaminari kept us out in the sand pit for hours, calling out push ups, sit ups, burpees, high knees, every single type of plank and squats. 

You were caked in dirt and grime by the time of it all it was over. You had sand in places you did not even want to describe. The sun had already set by the time Jirou and Kaminari let you all go, so it was also freezing. Wrapping your arms around your wet body, you hurried to your barracks.

You let out a surprised yelp when someone caught you by the waist and quickly covered your mouth with their hand. While you wanted to flip the person over your shoulder, your  body seemingly melted into their touch. It was not until that familiar gruff voice rumbled in your ears, did you realize who had captured you. “Drill Instructor, sir, what are you doing?” you questioned, trying to pull away so that you would not dirty his pristine camo uniform.

Bakugou leaned over you, his hair tickling your forehead. “There will be a line for the showers at your barracks. Come on, Private.” He wrapped his large hand around your wrist and pulled you alongside him. You moved in the opposite direction of yourplatoon’s barracks and closer to the Drill Instructors' personal barracks. An area where you, privates, are not allowed to go. “What are you waiting for, Dumbass? Get inside before someone sees you!”

You swallowed dryly as you stepped into Katsuki’s private quarters. Why were you here? You could have waited to shower or atleast scrubbed off some of the sand and grime off your body in the sink. “Sir,” you said in a quiet, nervous voice, “Why am I here? I need to get back to my barracks before Drill Instructor Jirou notices.”

A feral smile spread over his lips as he stalked towards his prey. His eyes gleamed as he watched you take a step back every time he moved closer until you were pressed against the wall. “Private...” Katsuki growled out. “You know why you’re here. Don’t act like a dumbass.” He slammed his hands on either side of your head when he saw that you were contemplating your escape. Leaning in, he pressed his lips to your dusty ones, not caring that he would taste the sand covering them. “You think you're dirty now, recruit? Get in that shower and I'll show you just how dirty I can make you.”

Your eyes widened as you nodded your head, a sudden wave of nervousness washing over you. Were you really about to do this? Were you really prepared for this? That evil little voice in the back of your head was rejoicing and telling you to just indulge in your desires. Desires that only Katsuki Bakugou would quench. With that confidence boost, you slowly began to peel off your wet, sand covered clothing as he watched with eager eyes. 

“Do you like what you see, Sir?” you taunted as you walked into the bathroom. “If you want it, just try and come and take it.” With those words floating through the air, you started up the shower and began rinsing away the sand and grime that coated your body.

Bakugou felt his lips spread even further at your taunting. Oh, he would enjoy breaking you and making you into a Princess meant just for him. He would fuck the attitude right out of that little recruit. But he will make you wait and anticipate him for a while. Then he would pounce. Walking over to his bed, he opened the top draw of the bedside table and pulled something out. Another wicked smile curled at his lips as he set the items down on the bed. Oh, it was going to be a very long night for his little naughty Princess. 

You were nearly finished with your shower and were just enjoying the warm water like you did when you were back at home. ‘Guess he was all talk, no bite.’ you laughed to yourself as you allowed the water to run down your face as you scrubbed it with a towel. You let out a small yelp when rough hands grabbed your waist and pushed you against the wall of the shower. Firm lips caught yours and a slick tongue found its way inside and wrapped around yours. That sweet hint of caramel flooded your taste buds and you moaned softly. “Gunnery Sergeant...” you let out a whimper when those firm fingers of his twisted at one of your niples while the other pinched your clit.

“Oh, no little dumbass, tonight I’m either just Sir or Daddy.” Bakugou slid his fingers hard against your already slick nerve. “Got it?” He smirked at your consenting nod. “That’s an obedient  Dumbass.” Katsuki pressed his lips back against yours, trying to mark you as his. 

His fingers found their way inside of you, the water from the shower making it easier. As he pumped two fingers in and out at a slow, almost maddening speed, he watched your face contort with pleasure. “You know what, I take that back. Cry out my name, baby. Moan it nice and loud for me.”

You shook your head, not giving him the satisfaction of hearing you turn into putty in his hands. you bit your lip hard to hold in your whimpers when he picked up the pace of his thick digits, sliding along your slick folds. 

He was going to break you. 

You could feel it. But you were not going to go down without a fight. No, he wanted to hear you cry out his name, then he will have to work for it. You gasped when you felt his teeth and tongue on your neck, nibbling down to your pulse point. Fuck... He found a weak spot. Your legs began to quiver and threatened to give out.

Katsuki smirked against your flesh. “What’s the matter Dumbass? Stand straight or can’t you handle a little teasing? Or maybe you want to be impaled on my fingers?” His teeth grazed over the junction where her neck and shoulder met and gained the same reaction from her again. “Oh? Sensitive here, I see.” 

He trailed the hand that was not currently inside you to trace random patterns on your back. His nails scratched a line down to your lower back and you opened your mouth in a loud wailing moan. “Heh, looks like I found the ultimate spot here, Private.”

‘Fuck...’ The things he was doing to you should be illegal. The things he was making your body feel should not be right! You bit your lip again to stifle your cries when he inserted a third finger, stretching you out. You could feel his hard cock against your stomach but the maddening pleasure he was giving you had one of your hands clenched tightly at your side as you drew the other to your lips to bite down on your knuckle after your lips were bruised from your abuse of them. It did not help that everytime you could feel yourself nearing completion, the cocky asshole would slow back down and start the build up again. “Sir, please...”

“Please what, Princess?” He lifted his head to look into her eyes. A smirk titled at his lips as he saw the lewd expression on her face. Eyes glazed over with lust, mouth open as she panted around her knuckle, face flushed with an adorable blush. “Give me what I want to hear and I may be merciful and let you cum, little dumbass.” He shoved his fingers inside your dripping hole roughly, nearly picking you up off of your feet as you were forced to grab onto his forearms to keep from falling over. “Stand up straight, Private. That’s an order.”

“Fuck! Katsuki!” you screamed out. The response was immediate. His fingers drilled in and out of you at an almost inhumane speed, hitting depths that your own could never reach. You were a sobbing mess as you pleaded for your release. “Katsuki, please. Let me cum!” you begged him as you held onto his forearms, the feeling in your legs finally giving out.

 He pushed you against the wall and lifted one of your legs to wrap around his waist. You were so close you could taste it. “Shit, shit, shit...please?” you tilted your head back against the wall of the shower and let out a lustful mewl of Bakugou’s name as you came hard on his fingers.

You felt dizzy as you leaned your head against his chest to try and catch my breath. you saw that the sleeve of tattoos that went up his arms, also covered his chest and down his abdomen. you blinked when his fingers were suddenly pressed against your lips. ‘Did he want me to...?’  Seeing the stern look in those carmine eyes of his, you knew he was serious. Parting your lips, your tongue slipped out and curled around his thick digits and licked your juices off them.

“Good girl.” Katsuki murmured as he picked up your other leg, “I’d rather taste you directly.” With just his arms, he lifted his little recruit up on his shoulders and buried his nose into your crotch. “You smell fucking delicious, Princess.” He wrapped your legs around his neck and held your hips down with his hands. “Let’s see if you taste as good as you smell. What did you say to me before? Oh, right. Bet you’re tasty.” Bakugou slid his tongue along your wet slit, grunting at the flavor of you.

A rush of liquid flooded my center as you tried to thrash around when you felt his tongue on me. It was too much too soon. you had just come and he was already doing more torturous pleasure to your body. You were still sensitive. He curled his wet muscle around your clit while his lips sucked at your labia. “Oh god...” you cried out when he moved one of his hands off of your hips to spread your lower nethers further for his assault. You bit at your knuckles when his chuckles sent vibrations all through your body.

“God? Thanks for the compliment, Dumbass. But the name is Katsuki. That’s the one you should be screaming.” He glided his finger over the swollen nub and gave it a pinch as he stuck his tongue inside your quivering hole. He was not going to stop until you were a sobbing mess underneath him. Right where you belonged. “Maybe I should spell my name down here? The only name you’ll ever cry out.” Katsuku growled against your sex.

Your voice was starting to go hoarse from the overuse of it, but that did not stop him. You were starting to really believe that Bakugou was a sex demon sent from hell to tempt you. And it was working, you curled your fingers into his thick, wet blonde hair, pushing him closer to your core as his tongue worked wonders over you. 

You could feel him spelling things out on your clit, but you were too dazed to figure them out. The pleasure was almost painful, so you did not know if you wanted to pull him even closer or try to shove his head away so you could breathe. That warmth in your lower belly grew hotter with each stroke. “F-fuck...Katsuki...please?”

Bakugou chuckled once more as he sucked on your clit. “Begging again, Private? I can't understand you with the water running.”

You bit your lip. You did not want to give him the satisfaction of hearing you beg him to let me cum. But damn it, if he did not give you a release soon, you were going to go insane. But your pride?  When his teeth grazed over that sensitive little bundle of nerves, you broke. “Please, sir, let me cum!” you screamed when Katsuki bit down on your clit again and shoved two fingers inside your slick, quivering hole at the same time. You felt drunk as you came hard, a flood of your juices coating his face. Your breath came out in pants and your body was still twitching as he gave you little licks and nips, easing you down from your high.

He grinned as he lowered you back down onto your weak legs. He licked his lips, still tasting you before grabbing your chin and pulling you in for another wild kiss. “That was how I imagined hearing you saying my name, Dumbass.” He watched your face go through a myriad of emotions before settling on bashful. “Now,” Katsuki said, his voice stern. “Turn around, Private. Right fucking now. That’s a direct order.”

Your eyes widened as you stared up at him. you had just come again. Could you not get a chance to rest? Plus the water was starting to get cold. But the look in his eyes said that he was not going to wait. If you did not turn around, he would make you. “Aye, sir.” You said as you showed him your ass, pressing your hands against the shower wall. You flinched when his hands slammed against the wall next to your head. “Sir?” you said shly.

Katsuki leaned his head down on your shoulder, his hand stroking over his cock. “Listen Dumbass, count the inches and you better not fuck up.” He smirked as he rubbed the tip against you, circling around yourr tight little hole. “Or there will be hell to pay.” Slowly he pushed inside, a groan caught up in his throat.

“Fuck...” you cried out, Just as you imagined. The Gunny was large. Very large and thick. This felt very different than having him in your hand. The feeling was not the same. In your hand, it felt like steel wrapped in velvety skin, but inside you? You could not describe the feeling. “1..sir...” You began to count as he slid deeper within you, inch by painstaking inch. “2..sir...3...sir..” you let out a loud gasp when he purposely shoved it in deeper and pulled out. “Katsuki!”

“What was that, Dumbass? You messed up the count.” He pulled out completely and slapped the head of his cock against your ass cheeks. “Do it again. Right now, Private.” Bakugou growled against your neck, hands pulling at your waist as he sank back within the warm depths of your clenching insides.

You could not think. Your mind had gone blank at this point. The pleasure was driving you insane. And he wanted you to count?! You could not do that with how he keeps going in and out at such a pace you could not keep up. Was it eight inches or ten? You could not remember. All you know is that he was long and thick to the point it nearly hurt to take all of him inside. The tip of his cock was pressed so tightly against your cervix that your legs were shaking. 

You could not keep yourself standing for long. You needed a break. The back to back orgasms. The over stimulation of your senses. It was all too much. And with the water turning cold against your heated flesh, striking against your back was also doing things to you. “Ah, Katsuki, please. I can't take it anymore.”

Katsuki, the sadistic asshole he was, wrapped his hands tighter around your waist and pulled you down more. “Yes, you can Princess. Or are you really Marine material?” He knew that would awaken your competitive, strong-willed side that attracted him to you. And it did. He felt you start to push back against his thrusts, your inner muscles clenching down on him. “F-fuck...heh...maybe you are Marine material.” He sped up his thrusting.

Your legs were about to give out at this point but you were not going to let him win. You were going to make him go mad for you. Using your hands as leverage, you pushed back against him and squeezed down, trying to milk him of everything he had to offer. You enjoyed the feeling of him sliding in and out, rubbing against your walls, but this was a competition now. He was going to cum for you first. You were not going to cum anymore for him. “Oh shit...” you moaned when his fingers began sliding over your clit. ‘Fucking cheat...’

“Did you think you could beat me, Princess?” Bakugou licked the shell of your ear before nibbling on the lobe, working his digits over that cute little sensitive spot of yours. “I know all your weaknesses.” He trailed his teeth down to your neck, grazing the flesh roughly before biting down on your pulse point. 

He could feel your legs trembling as you tried your best to keep up with his pace. He decided that maybe he should end her suffering. Dragging his nails down the small of your back and sucking at the bite mark he had created, Katsuki started thrusting even harder.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck...” the curse left you as a mantra. Damn it. You were not going to last much longer. You could feel your walls fluttering around him as that itch for release burned in your belly. When he gave another sharp, hard thrust, you felt yourself come undone. Your mouth hung open as your tongue fell out as you came. 

Your chest was heaving heavily as you tried to catch your breath. That was such an intense orgasm that your arms and legs finally gave out and Katsuki had to wrap his arms around you to keep you from falling. “Oh hell...”you drew in several deep breaths, trying to calm your racing heart.

Katsuki waited for you to catch your breath before he slowly slid in and drew a surprised gasp from you. He smirked down at you. “You really thought I was done with you? Oh no, Dumbass. I’ve only just begun.” He pulled out completely and picked you up in his arms, ignoring your protests and demands for a rest. “You’re mine now, Private.” He walked out of the bathroom and tossed you on the bed.

You wanted to protest but you had no strength left in your arms and legs. Your eyes widened when you saw Bakugou reach for something that was sitting next to you. “W-why do you have those?” He smiled that feral smile I’ve grown used to seeing when you were alone and your heart began to beat even faster in your chest. Why did he have a blindfold? Not to mention a fucking vibrator! What did he plan on doing with that! “Bakugou, sir?”

He silenced you with another deep kiss, his tongue wrapping around yours. “Listen, Dumbass. You trust me?”

Did you?  You did just let him have his complete and utter way with you in the shower?   

Slowly, you nodded my head, “Aye sir.” As soon as you said that my vision was stolen as Katsuki placed the blindfold over your eyes. A sense of panic washed over you briefly until you felt soft touches running along your body and your skin felt alive. “Oh?”youI cried out, unprepared for the rush of sensitivity that spread over you. 

Katsuki trailed his fingers along his recruit’s body slowly, stirring you back up in a state of arousal. He brought his hand up to your face, caressing your cheek before moving to your lips. His cock twitched at the thought of having those pretty little lips wrapped around him, to feel your warm, wet mouth sucking him dry. “Fuck...” He cursed as he grabbed the back of your head and guided you down. “Open your mouth, Princess.”

You flared your nostrils, taking in his manly scent as you did as you were told. You opened your mouth and stuck out your tongue. He filled your mouth and stretched your lips to the fullest extent. You took in as much as you could without choking, but he touched the back of your throat. 

So you wrapped your hands around whatever was left out. You bobbed your head up and down on his lap, working your tongue over him. The sweet taste of his precum flooded your senses and you couldn't help but moan at the flavor. You heard him groan in pleasure and you so desperately wanted to see his face contorted in ecstasy, so you silently cursed the blindfold around your eyes.

Your tongue felt so amazing on him. His head fell back and his hands came up to run fingers over your hair, wrapping it around. Bakugou guided you down further on his cock, wanting more of your lips around him. While he was careful to not choke you ‘Too much.’ He needed more. “Use your tongue more, Dumbass.” He grunted out when you took his command and ran your tongue over the underside of his cock. 

With each drag down your throat, you worked your tongue over the sensitive head, licking up any liquid that may have collected at the slit. Fuck, he tasted so good. Shaking his hands off of your head, you said, “You’re holding me back, sir.”

With renewed freedom, you placed your hands around the base of his dick and licked at the tip with the tip of your tongue, drawing small circles around him. You could hear him moan out and that only spurred you on as a rush of liquid dripped down your thighs. Gods, he sounded so sexy. “Keep your hands off of my head.”

Katsuki curled his fingers into the sheets of the bed, letting you take control. Watching your head go up and down on his cock, seeing it slip in and out of that pretty little mouth of yours was mesmerizing. He would let you have control for now, but... Bakugou reached for the hitachi wand and turned it on. If you noticed the buzzing, you paid it no mind. He bit back a smug laugh when you jumped as the wand glided over your back, sending tingles down your spine.

He moved the vibrating wand over the curve of your ass until he reached that dripping hole of yours. He pressed it against you and felt you moan deeply against his cock, the vibrations of it causing him to tremble and let out a groan. His hips began to move as he slid more of him down that pretty throat of yours as he kept the vibe in place on your sex. 

You moaned again, your body beginning to spam when he placed the device on your throbbing clit.

 “That’s it, Princess. Let’s cum together.” He commanded as he felt his balls tighten in preparation for his release.

You swallowed him down your throat, working your hands over the parts you could not fit. Drool was leaking out of your mouth and your jaw was starting to ache, but you were not going to stop. You wanted to taste more of his seed, fresh from the source this time. You sped up your sucking, hollowing out your cheeks and working your tongue over him. 

Slowly, to not scare him, you brought your hand up and cupped his balls, rolling them around between your fingers. That seemed to be his undoing asyouI felt him swell in your mouth before a rush of hot liquid struck your tongue. That same sweet, yet slightly salty taste filled your mouth and you moaned at the feeling.

Bakugou’s hips gave soft little jerks as he felt his release come to stop. His lips curled into that trademark feral grin as he turned the wand up to the maximum settings. He watched as your body twitched beautifully as your head swung backward with your mouth still full of his cum. 

“Don’t swallow yet, little recruit.” He grabbed you and pulled you back against his chest, the toy pressed so tightly against her clit. “I want you to come undone first.” Katsuki bent his head and bit down on your neck, soothing it with his tongue right after. Your moans were like music to his ears and he wanted to hear more. Using his free hand, he scratched a long line down your back.

You let out a muffled moan as you started to cum against the intensity of the vibrator and from Katsuki running his nails down the length of my spine to your lower back. Hot liquid ran down your thighs as you tried to cry out the Gunny’s name. You swallowed when he gave you the order before he pressed his lips against yours in a sweet, gentle kiss. 

You crawled into his lap when he pulled the wand away and pulled at your arms, cuddling against his chest as he pressed soft kisses to your forehead. “Katsuki...” you said his name in the softest of whispers. “C-can I take the blindfold off now?”

His eyes widened for a second before his lips spread into a grin. “Not yet, Private.” Even as he was just holding you against him, he could feel his cock twitch back to life. Bakugou took your hand and placed it on him. He laughed at the confused expression on your face as you bit your bottom lip. “You ready for round three?” Katsuki took hold of your leg, placing one over his shoulder and giving it a long, wet lick.

You bit your lip in anticipation for the first thrust of his hard cock sliding inside your weeping sex. I still let out a surprised gasp when Bakugou probed at your entrance with his fingers, spreading you with his thumbs. “Katsuki...I...I need it.” you could sense the smile that was more than likely spreading over his lips. 

He had won. 

You were a pleading mess under him. You wanted him so badly that it hurt. You did not care if your body was still tingling from the multiple orgasms. You wanted more from Katsuki. To feel his long, thick cock filling you. “Please, Daddy.”

Katsuki licked his lips. He’d finally gotten you right where he wanted you. His Princess was where you belonged. A dripping wet, begging little dumbass that was only his. “That’s a good little naughty Princess.” He leaned down and gave your ear a nibble as he aligned his cock with your honeyed entrance.”You’re mine now, Dumbass.”

With those words, he sheathed himself inside in one smooth glide. His hands tightened on your thighs, feeling them tremble. Bakugou knew that you would not last long but he couldn't help but to torment you a little. He gave slow, shallow thrusts meant to drive you up the wall with desire as he kissed all over your body.

You could feel your legs shaking as Katsuki moved slowly within you. You could feel each and every inch as he took his time. The pace he was going was damn near maddening. While you liked that he was taking his time and tending to your sore and tender body with wet kisses and slow thrusts, you wanted him to take you fast and hard like in the shower. 

Your body was thriving with pleasure, but your clit was throbbing, aching because your body wanted release. You were damn near in tears behind the blindfold. “Daddy...I need to cum. Make me cum!”

“Hmm?” He hummed in between kisses. “What did you say, little recruit?” He slid his tongue over your collarbone down to your chest and closed his lips over a taut nipple. You mewled so beautifully for him when he did that, your back arching off of the bed. Katsuki decided that he wanted to see your eyes as you came for the final time due to his cock. 

Reaching for the blindfold, he ripped it off of your eyes and at the same moment, sped up his thrust. He heard your strangled cry and saw the way your eyes crossed and your tongue hang out as the pleasure drove you mad.”Look at me, Princess. Fucking look at me. That’s an order.”

You tried to focus your eyes on Katsuki as you wrapped your arms around his neck. You pulled him in closer and he met your seeking lips in a wild, sloppy kiss, wrapping his tongue with yours. Your breasts jiggled from his deep, powerful strokes and you broke away to gasp out. 

The tip of him was pressed so tightly against your cervix, striking the sensitive spots deep within you repeatedly. You felt that telltale itching warmth in your lower belly. You lifted your head to gaze into his bright vermillion colored eyes like he had ordered you to.

Katsuki grunted as he stared down into your eyes. Fuck, you were so beautiful with sweat glistening on your body, tears in your eyes from the intense pleasure. “Fuck, Private...” He could feel your inner muscles fluttering around him, trying to milk him of all that he had. 

Bakugou cursed as he took hold of your legs and pushed them towards yourr chest, ankles by your head. He began thrusting in and out, satisfied with the new position that allowed him a deeper penetration. Leaning over you, he moved his hips, drilling into you at a fast, hard pace as he felt his balls tighten up with the pending threat of release. “Princess...” he growled.

“Fuck, Daddy, Oh, shit Katsuki...” You screamed out as he held down your legs by your ankles. The new position let him reach even deeper parts of you and you could feel your walls spasm around his cock. You opened your mouth and let out a soul shattering mewl as a rush of honeyed liquid left you and dripped down the sides of your legs to pool underneath you. You placed your hands against his tattooed chest, your whole body trembling. “K-Katsuki...”

“Keep moaning my name, baby.” He kept thrusting for a few more strokes until he locked his hips in place. His warm seed flooded your tight cunt as he left out a deep groan. He fell against you, his forehead touching yours. 

Katsuki pressed gentle kisses to your lips as he slowly eased out. He then wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you against his chest. “Sleep, Dumbass. I’ll wake you at 0200 so you can leave in time for formation.” He knew that he had to have you back before 0400 or Jirou would have his head for having someone from her platoon late.

Yiou looked up at him, cuddling against him for warmth as he pulled the blankets over the two of you. You smiled when he stroked his fingers along the side of your cheek and down your neck. He was being unusually tender and you enjoyed it. This was a side of Katsuki that only you would get to see and you felt a sense of happiness fill your heart. “And to retaliate, you’re mine too, Katsu.”

-0-0-0

Over the course of the next month, Katsuki had pulled you into his barracks atleast twice a week to fuck you senseless. Not that you were complaining but it was a bit of a distraction. Your grades in the classroom were slacking and your endurance was going down. So for the past week, you’ve been denying him anything more than a kiss. 

While it was hard resisting him because he was being so very tempting, rubbing his hands along your body and trying to pull you towards his barracks. But you put your foot down. Last week was Basic Warrior Training. You were taught basic skills of survival in combat, such as combat marksmanship skills, land navigation, proper gas mask use, and how to maneuver under enemy fire. 

The gas chamber was the first thing that you did and the tear gas burned at your eyes, nose and mouth when they made you take off your gas masks. You could barely breathe without it feeling like fire was spread down your lungs. 

Combat marksmanship was fun and you made high marks at the range and you were able to bring Dabi to his knees during combat. You could tell that Katsuki was happy about you bringing that redhead down since he was constantly flirting with you. The intense kiss he had given you along with the heavy petting after the day was over confirmed that. 

Land navigation was a bit tougher due to you being clueless when it came to maps, but you managed to pass the class with average marks. Your platoon did get slayed during learning how to maneuver under enemy fire because some people thought it would be fun to turn the safety off the weapons as a joke. 

Drill Instructor Kirishima was nearly shot but luckily the bean bag pellet struck a large boulder next to him instead. But dammit, Kirishima is the last Drill Instructor that you wanted to get slaid by. He worked you down to the bone and did it all with a smile on his face. Situps, crunches, butterfly kicks, squats, high knees, a five mile run, every high intensity workout you could imagine the Sergeant made you do.

The next week you still avoided Bakugou’s attempts to snatch you away to his barracks. This was an important week of your training and he knew it. The advances grew less, but the looks of want and desire still continued. 

You could tell he was just biding his time until he could get you alone. You knew the next time the teo of you were alone, he would show you no mercy. Your studies for the practical application evaluations were important, and you were not going to let your own desires get in the way. 

You worked hard and managed to pass everything unlike a few of your comrades. You were determined to see this through to the end and get your title as a Marine. Nothing would stop you! You will pass the final exam.

It was finally time. Week ten began with a physical test which you aced due to the many times your platoon got slaid and along with your own endurance. Next was the written exam and that was not too hard since Katsuki offered to help you study, but only if you did it while sitting in his lap and for every question you got wrong he left a mark on your body. 

That nearly broke you down. The feeling of those lips, teeth and tongue dancing over your body was so arousing. You were glad that you were wearing your winter gear due to it being early December, so that the many dark bites were hidden. You were dead tired by the end of the day. You  showered and went to bed. Tomorrow was the Crucible.

Katsuki was slightly bitter that his little recruit had been avoiding him other than the few times he’d managed to pull you aside to kiss you senseless and slip you a few fingers inside your awaiting hole before you’d shove him away. 

The only time he’d managed to convince you to come to his barracks was to help you study for the exam. His conditions were for you to sit in his lap and everytime you got an answer right, he’d reward you with a kiss, but everytime you got one wrong, he’d leave a mark on your body anywhere he chose. ‘And the little dumbass got many questions wrong before she started to get them right.’ 

But, he had plans for when it was time for the 54-hour long field event tomorrow. And they all included having a certain Princess screaming his name. He ran his tongue over his lips in anticipation. Bakugou was going to make you wish that you'd not denied him.

-0-0-0

You were nearing the last couple of hours of the Crucible. Your water was starting to get a bit low so you moved to go towards the spring you had managed to find, your weapon held close to your chest. Your eyes scanned the dark forest as you slowly made your way over to the water source. You made it to the spring without being tracked by an enemy platoon member.

Before refilling your water camel, you got down on your hands and knees and took a deep sip of the cool water. You shot up when you heard the leaves rustling behind you. “Hello?” You asked automatically before clamping your hand over your mouth. Fuck, that was stupid of you.

Holding your weapon close, you strained your eyes to see who could be hiding in the shadows. Your fear and anxiety was starting to get the best of you. You had been lucky so far as to not run into an enemy except during the first 12 hours, but you managed to beat them down without much of a challenge. 

Just beyond the treeline, you could faintly make out the silhouette of a tall figure hiding against a tree. Taking aim with your weapon, you shouted. “You’ve been located! Surrender now or I will shoot!”

You waited for the other recruit to step out of their hiding place and admit defeat like they were supposed to, but they did not. Your nervousness grew. Why were they revealing themselves for hand to hand combat? Could it be that someone snuck into the field? 

Your anxiety grew as you slowly began to back away from the silhouette that was slowly advancing on you. You took a few steps back when the clouds moved away from the moon, lighting the area. A gasp left you when you saw who was stalking you. It was Katsuki. He was dressed in his full camo gear, face paint included. “K-Katsu?”

Bakugou moved closer to his prey, a grin spreading over his face. “You’ve got to the count of ten, Princess.” He growled low in his chest as he crouched down, pressing his hands against the ground in a runner’s pose. “Then I’m hunting you down.”

Carnal desire and fear streaked you through as you watched him drop into that position. Your eyes widened and breath shortened as you dropped your weapon on the ground. You knew your current location so you could always come back to pick it up before the Crucible was over. 

When he started counting backwards from ten, you took off in a sprint. Your heart was beating so loudly you could hear it in your ears. And with your limited vision, it made the thrill of the chase even more fun. You ran as fast as you could, but all too soon, you could hear Katsuki’s heavy footsteps closing in on you.

You quickly jumped over a fallen log, using the momentum to propel yourself further over the ground so put more distance between you two. After running for a few minutes, you got curious as to where he could be and ducked behind a tree. Kneeling, you took in a few breaths to calm your racing heart, you glanced around to see if you could spot him. A few clouds had obscured the moon, making the lighting limited. You sighed a small breath of relief when you could not spot the feral hunter. 

Your heart stopped when you heard a soft growl rumble above you. You looked up and could see glowing crimson eyes gleaming at you; eyes the same color as the fading sun over the horizon. You quickly jumped back to your feet and took off running. 

Heat was coursing through your body, so you shed your heavy camo coat and tied it around your waist. You were not going to make this easy for him. Launching yourself through a low hanging tree branch, you hid behind a large boulder. Despite the cold, sweat was running down your body. A chill ran down your spine and you scanned the area for Bakugou.

Katsuki observed his prey from the tree above you. He made sure to stay out of yourr sight, but he knew you could feel his presence. A wicked smile spread over his lips as you tried to search for him but you could not find him. 

He silently dropped to the ground behind the boulder you were hiding next to. Taking extreme care to not make a sound, he walked around your hiding spot. As Bakugou watched you scan the area, he let out another growl, the sound loud and primal, that caused you to jump. “That’s two times I’ve caught you. One more, Princess.” He slinked off back into the darkness.

You watched with wide eyes as he moved back into the shadows, the camouflage paint on his face concealing him even further. Your heart was beating a mile a minute in your chest. You could not let him catch you again. Wiping at the sweat that formed on your brow, you took off again. You pushed leaves out of yourway and jumped over fallen logs. 

The hidden threat in his voice made adrenaline pump through your veins that you barely registered that it was starting to snow. Your feet crunched against the leaves as you ran. You kept running this time despite the burning of your lungs. Each time you stopped, Katsuki managed to find you; so to resolve that you needed to keep running.

Pushing your legs beyond their limits, you could faintly make out the outline of the homebase camp that the company had set up. If you could make it there, Drill Instructor Jirou would make you stay there until morning. 

A smile crossed your face as you ran in the direction of camp when something hard slammed into you, tackling you. You rolled onto the ground with whatever crashed into you and rough lips claimed mine in a passionate kiss. ‘Katsuki.’ Your body instantly melted against him as he pinned me to the ground.

Katsuki pulled away from your soft lips to smirk down at you. “Caught you, Princess. Now you’re mine.” He quickly pulled your shirt over your head, but kept your hands trapped inside, tying it around your wrists. He made quick work of the plain white bra that was issued to the recruits. 

“You know, Dumbass, if you hadn’t refused me for so long and been such a fucking brat about it, I wouldn’t have had to hunt you down like this.” His deft fingers twisted a nipple, making you moan out loudly. “Careful there, we’re awfully close to Jirou’s home base. You wouldn’t want them to hear the slutty noises I make you make.”

A blush lit up your face as I realized just how close I had made it to the line of lights of the home camp. You were so close that you could practically see Drill Instructor Jirou marking off tasks on her clipboard. You pulled at the shirt tied around your wrists. “Katsu....” I pleaded. 

He knew there was no way you could be quiet and that Jirou had some type of supersonic hearing. You were actually surprised she did not notice you earlier. He silenced youwith another kiss, his tongue pushing between the seam of your lips to intertwine with yours.

“Be quiet.” He growled. “Prey do not speak once the hunter has captured them. Now be a good little Princess and let me devour you.” His lips trail down to your jawling, where his teeth left his marks as he sucked harshly at your flesh. Katsuki reached into one of the pockets of his camos and pulled out a small cloth gag. “Only because I don’t need Jirou on my ass.”

You could only whimper as the Gunny tied the cloth around your mouth, using it to muffle your cirlcries as he attacked your neck once more, licking and sucking his way down to your breasts. His hot hand cupped one and brought the taut nipple to his lips. Your body gave a jolt when his other hand went between your thighs, pressing tighty against your covered pussy. 

Katsuki bit down on your nipple, tugging on it as his paint of his face began to smear into you skin. Trailing his hot, open-mouth kisses down your belly, tongue flicking out to taste the salt on your skin from the light mist of sweat. He knew that he couldn’t take his time like he did the first time he took you. “Y’know, little Recruit. I can’t be gentle this time.”

A moan bubbled up in your throat when he smirked so ferally down at you, the black paint smeared over his eyes making his crimson eyes glow in the darkness. He’s never been this rough with you and it makes your thighs squeeze together in anticipation as Bakugou nibbles his way down your body. When he reached the apex of your thighs, his hands forced your legs to part as he slotted his torso in between them.

Bakugou smirked when the heady scent of your arousal assults is nose. Leaning down, he pressed his nose against your crotch and took him a deep breath. “Fuck, you smell good.” Using his teeth, he slid the zipper of your pants down beore popping the button open. Quickly he yanks them down to your knees and folds your legs back against your chest.

You let out a squeak when you feel his sinfully hot tongue lapping through your folds. You bit down on the cloth covering your mouth as you try to buck your hips to get away from the eveousl licks and bites. His nose rubbed your clit as his tonue dipped into your gushy hole. Saliva dampens the cloth as your tongue wets it when he pushes two of his thick fingers in with a lewd squelch.

“Be a good little slut and cum f’me already. Then I’ll give you my cock so good, you’ll barely be able to walk for a week.” His thumb worked your clit as he pumped his middle and ring finger in and out at such a pace that your breasts were jiggling from each impact. Each push and pull, the intense drag of the pads of his fingers, in your sticky walls brought you closer and closer to the explosive finish. “Atta fucking girl.” He cooed.

Coming apart from the rough treatment of your cunt, you could feel your juices run down the line of your ass and pool on your jacket. Your moans were muffled by the cloth ties around your lips as you clenched down tightly on his fingers as his tongue dragged across your clit in furious circles. Your back arches off the ground as you felt your climax hit, soaking his fingers and tongue. 

Katsuki wasted no time as he licked up everylast drop you had to offer like it was his last meal. His fingers still trust in and out, albeit a bit slower as your slick coats them. “Look at the mess you fuckin’ made, Princess.” He growled as his other hand unzipped his pants and freed his throbbing cock. Stroking his lengh a few times, he pushed your legs up to your chest as he swiped the fat tip through your sticky folds.

“You’re fucking mine and don’t you ever refuse me again.” He leaned over as he slid his cock into your pretty cunt, his hands caging your head as his body pushed down on your legs. Ankles by your ears, Bakugou started harsh, deep snaps of his hips into yours, the front of his thighs slapping against the back of yours and made a wet lewd sound that echoed in your ears.

You could only lay there and take the slow, deliberate thrusts Katuski gave you, each one growing in strength that makes you tits jiggle. The clapping of his thighs meeting yours rang so loudly in your ears, that you were worried that Jirou could hear them. Your cries were muffled as you tried to press your bound hands against his chest. You plead with him with your eyes to slow down as you feel that tight ball of heat burn low in your belly.

He was going to make you cum. His quick animalistic thrust into your sloppy pussy, the gooey pat-pat-pat, his growls and groans in your ear all overstimulating your nerves. Your belly clenches as your clit throbbed, begging for release. Tears stung at the corner of your eyes, running down the sides of your face and into your hairline as your back arched off the cold ground violently. Hot, honeyed liquid squirted out of you, drenching Katsuki’s cock.

Katsuki’s face splits into a shit-eating grin. He just fucking made you squirt all over him. “Look at the mess you made. Am I fucking you that good, you had to squirt?” He laughed before reaching up to pull the gag away from your lips. Before you could make a sound, he covered your mouth with is own, swallowing down your pathetic cries as he fucked you through your high, chasing his own.

Heavy balls slapped against your ass in a rythmic pattern that was beginning to grow sloppier with each passing second. “Gonna fill this slutty pussy up. Mark you as mine on the fucking inside.” Katsuki growled against your lips as his hand came up to cover yours. His cock twicthed as it swells, his abs clenching as he felt his end nearing. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” 

His voice came out in snarls as his hips pumped once, twice, three times before stilling. Cocking twitching within your drippig pussy, his cum paints your walls in thick, creamy ropes of white. “You’re fucking mine. Got it?” He placed his forehead against your, the greasy war paint smearing against your skin as he moved his hand away. 

Bakugou kissed you over and over again as he rocked his hips gently, making sure none of his sticky seed escapes. “All fucking mine.” 

-0-0-0

You stood tall and proud on the podium, dressed in your new uniform; your Marine blues. You had finally done it. You made the transition from a civilian to a US Marine soldier. You received the highest marks in your platoon. You waited for the Drill Instructor to hand you your Eagle, Globe and Anchors, the three awards that symbolized your transformation.

You held your breath when you saw Katsuki step in front of you, your three pins held out in his palms. His face was the usual stern look of a Drill Instructor, but his eyes were burning intensely with an emotion that was meant only for you. 

“Congratulations on your transition, Private!” He said loudly, voice strong and clear. As he pressed your awards into your hands, he leaned in close without being noticed and growled, “I’ll give you your proper graduation gift later. My barracks. 2300, Princess. And don’t you dare be late.”

Your knees nearly gave out as memories of the Crucible drifted through your mind. He really almost made it so that I could not walk for the next couple of days after. You have a barely there nod to let him know you understood. 

Gunnery Sergeant Katsuki Bakugou always gets what he wants.

[twis-world]

Perfection

Mentions: Vil Centric, 2nd Person, Fluff, Gender Neutral Reader

Vil knew that he was beautiful.

Thousands would sing and brag that he was the epitome of beauty, if not that of utter perfection. He had millions entrapped in the mere palm of his hand, willing to trip and fall to follow his every desire at the drop of a hat. There isn’t a single compliment nor praise that he hasn’t already heard before and will continue to be showered with for years to come.

Yes, Vil knew that he was beautiful.

Would he ever grow bored of such a fact? No, never. He had worked far too hard to ever throw it all away for something as meager as ‘burn out’ but…he cannot deny that deep down he’s grown just the slightest bit tired of the same old flattery. Every second of every day seeing the same comments, the same edits, the same predictable applause. 

So could anyone really blame him for finding such amusement, such appreciation for such sheer boldness?

“Yes, yes, that’s it. Now tilt your head just ever slightly to the left…yes! Hold it there!” 

Ever since he had first become acquainted with you, you had made it clear of your utter love for photography. Never had he seen you without the bulky device hanging from your neck, the beginnings of fabric burn always barely showing from constant contact with the strap. No matter how many times he scolded you, saying it would be much less strain to simply carry it around in a case, you always remained the stubborn one.

“Beauty doesn’t wait for anyone, Vil. I want to capture it the moment I see it. Any longer and it’s just a second hand product.”

Now he could see what you meant, currently being the subject of the very beauty you wanted to capture. To freeze in time forevermore at its peak.

Never before had he had to fight back against such a fierce blush that desperately attempted to scrawl up his neck. The utter need to want to melt from your gaze and oh damn you…

You peaked ever so slightly from the lens, scrutinizing his form from just a few feet away. Eyes scaling over every inch of his being so tenderly he had to keep himself from squirming. He wouldn't admit that his wrist was beginning to slightly ache, the one cradling the side of his face as his elbow rested against the fine glass table. He was grateful for the shade the surrounding trees provided, it had been quite the sunny day when you both left for your date. The grass of the field was lush, daisies barely sprouting yet adding the perfect touch of color.

He had barely sat down to enjoy the moment with you when you yelled for him to freeze, utterly insisting that you had to capture a photo that very second. Peeved as he was for a bit, he couldn’t deny you something he knew brought you such happiness. Yet, any agitation immediately washed away once he saw you in your element.

You didn’t lay a finger on him once that past few minutes, but you managed to handle him with such care with your words alone. Each praise, each smile of satisfaction, your mere gaze set him ablaze like no other could before. He was the center of your attention, of your entire being in that instant, and it felt better than anything fame nor fortune could ever give.

“Done!” You cheered, breaking him out of his reverie. You stood from you crouch with a groan, swiping away at the leftover grass that continued to cling to your clothing. Any other instance he would have instantly berated you for allowing such a nice outfit to be dirtied, but the words caught in his throat as you sped to his side, allowing you to lean you weight against him just a bit. “See, I told you it would be a great shot! Just look at how much your eyes pop despite the shade-”

You rambled on and on, excitedly going over every aspect of the photo that he normally wouldn’t care for. However, as he gazed upon the digital copy of him, he couldn’t help but be in utter awe. He had seen himself in thousands of different poses against hundreds of numerous posters, seen his entire being in dozens of films, looked upon his reflection millions every morning. 

Your one photo, however, captured something that he couldn’t put a name to…It was just one measly photo, yet it…it was…

“not to mention how you managed to angle your body just right for a great mix of relaxed yet alluring. It’s perfect!” You exclaimed, pulling the camera back and continuing to look upon it.

Warmth sprouted in his chest, one that he has come to grow familiar with in his time of courting you. 

Yes…all was perfect…

[thetirisfaltheatretroupe]

Coming September 7th: "Hellsqueal, the True Warchief's REMIX"

WHO: The Tirisfal Theatre Troupe...and YOU! WHAT: "Hellsqueal: The True Warchief's Remix", a live performance! WHERE: The Shrine of Fellowship, Jade Forest WHEN: Saturday, September 7th, 6:00 PM PST // 8:00 PM Central

(Original poster by our beloved friend Erialin. Miss you always <3)

Many years have passed since the fall of Garrosh Hellscream, widely referred to as only the second worst Warchief to ever live. In the wake of his legacy of failure, come have a laugh at his expense as we take a brief and historically accurate look at his career as Warchief of the Horde! Come join the illustrious Tirisfal Theatre Troupe as we perform this revision of a classic story, filled with drama, heartache, betrayal, heroics, and jokes about bronze frogs and dubious medical typos!

The show will be held at the Shrine of Fellowship in the Jade Forest (Wyrmrest Accord's shard, non-Warmode), a quick portal away for both factions on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH at 6:00 PM PST // 8:00 PM CENTRAL! Runtime is approximately an hour and a half, though technical difficulties may cause us to go slightly over!

It's been a number of years since the Tirisfal Theatre Troupe last performed the play that put us on the map! While we said goodbye to the Hellsqueal trilogy of comedies a long time ago, with the advent of the wildly successful Mists of Pandaria Remix, we figured now was as good a time as any to dust off the old script and give people another taste of this timeless classic from the Timeless Isles. This time around, a few things are a little different - our standard of quality in what we've written is a little higher, our production value is a little larger, and we've got a number of new and old talent alike returning to the stage! Come join us for this recollection of a simpler time, and maybe find something both new and old to love about this new spin on the Tirisfal Theatre's very first major production that we premiered way back in 2013. Whether you are an old troupie, or someone who has merely heard of us in passing... you're certain to have a Hellscream of a time. Note: This post will be updated and reblogged as more information becomes available or clarifications are added! Special thanks to @shamanofthewilds for editing the time and date details on the poster on such short notice, you're an amazing asset to the company and crew! <3 And best Thrall.

[crepes-suzette-373]

One Piece Magazine Reiju short story

I recently bought One Piece Magazine to read the Reiju short story. I don't know how to share this experience other than just straight up translating the whole thing, but it was utterly hilarious chaos with the brothers trying to cook and it just ended up being a disastrous mess.

I'll give a summary, I guess...

Reiju and her brothers went to another kingdom for a diplomatic discussion, but once they were done, the Germa ships that were supposed to pick them up got delayed by the weather. The bros can't wait so they demand the locals to be given a ship.

Niji/Yonji: "Oh good, they understand. So we don't have to steal a ship."

Well, they did tell the people that Germa will compensate them, but still.

And yeah, the guys were so hungry that they were like "Even though royals shouldn't do menial things like cooking, we're dying of hunger here so it can't be helped."

All writers apparently agree that Niji misses Sanji like an utter dumbass because in the kitchen he out of nowhere says "Didn't we used to have a younger brother called Sanji who likes to cook?"

Yonji says "Yeah, he was kind of lame" and Ichiji says there's been wanted posters of him being spread around.

(Edit: I saw another post saying that the one who brought up Sanji first is Ichiji. To be fair, in the actual text there's no dialogue tags indicating who was talking. It's definitely not Yonji, because it specified "younger" brother. I personally read this as Niji because the sentence was more informal-sounding)

Based on the info they got, Reiju is aware of Sanji's history with Baratie and the Straw Hat crew, and thinks that because he's listed as just a cook on the wanted posters and not "fighter/combatant", he's probably still not much stronger than before.

Ichiji found some pork, labelled to be from Broc Coli. Reiju mentioned that Broc Coli specialises in pig farming and the pigs have been selectively bred to improve the meat quality. Ichiji commented "Oh, it's similar to our lineage factor modification, then", but then the next second he suddenly gets mad about it himself, throws the meat to the ground and was like "How could pigs compare to our Vinsmoke royal family."

Reiju: "You brought it up yourself out of nowhere though? :/"

Ichiji is grumpy and wants to go fishing instead. With the Raid Suit. Don't know how, wasn't explained, maybe he Sparking Valkyrie'd the fishes.

Niji wants to make chocolates, but had a meltdown because the recipe calls for cooking/confectioner's chocolate. He was like "Why?? do you?? need chocolate?? to make chocolate??? If the chocolate is already there I'll just eat that directly???"

(Note: It's not making cake or brownies or anything, it's making something along the lines of chocolate truffles or milk chocolates or other forms of chocolate that isn't just straight up dark chocolate/confectioner's chocolate. He's confused because the final product is still just "chocolate")

Yonji wants to make bread because it looks easy. Reiju decided to try to make something too, and wanted to make tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelettes) because she remembered reading about it in a story book with Sora before.

Reiju's logic: "If a penguin (in the story book) can cook, then even a beginning like me can do it." (so much for Reiju being the rational one)

Yonji starts shouting for help. His bread is a goopy mess and is a total failure. Apparently he didn't add the yeast because the recipe says 3g of yeast, and that's almost 0, so he didn't add any. Reiju tells him to make sure to follow the steps properly.

Ichiji comes back with a giant fish, and is asking for poison check. No poison, so Reiju left him to cut the fish.

Yonji is still having trouble, and he says he had added the ingredients properly this time. The dough is still gloopy and will not firm up even after kneading. Reiju said that maybe because of the exoskeleton, their skin are too cold for the fermentation process to start activating.

Yonji is grumpy and asks if this means he can't make bread. Reiju suggest using hot water to warm his skin, but he's already really disgruntled and says that it's so lame that they have to rely on microorganisms to make bread (well, at least he knows yeast is microorganisms, not just another type of flour).

(Note: This part really does not sound right to me, honestly. Maybe this was just meant to show that Reiju and Yonji have zero knowledge in cooking, but bread dough not firming up and gloopy is usually not related to yeast or fermentation, but the gluten. Most cases that I know of are either caused by adding too much water, not enough kneading, the flour itself is not suitable for bread, or even the dough being over fermented. I've never heard of sticky dough problems being caused by hand temperature.)

(Edit: I've discovered that Japanese bread making guides do mention temperature affecting the dough, but it's nevertheless because of the gluten and not the yeast. This one might a goof on the author's side.)

Ichiji gave up fileting the fish because there's bones everywhere. he dumped all the dead fishes he caught back to the sea. Yonji gave up trying to make bread and tossed the failed dough away (and also threw away Reiju's egg attempt even though it was fine :/). Niji can't find any chocolate, so he has nothing.

They can't do anything except wait until they reach Germa and then just go "AAAAAAA FOOODD" (well, they act cool in front of the servants, but still).

Reiju herself showered and got cleaned up first before going to eat. Seeing the poisoned stonefish served, she wondered how normal chefs handle the poisonous ingredients and so she went to the kitchen to ask.

There was a young cook on cleaning duty that immediately panics, but then a senior cook named Beryl came out to answer her questions. Reiju says old lady Beryl has been there for a very long time, even before the kids were born.

Beryl explains that to treat the armoured stonefish to make it safe to eat is to let it swim in a tank with Ruby Wakame seaweed. The seaweed will absorb the toxins and after 3 weeks, the fish will change from purple to blue, and this indicates that the toxins is completely gone and it will be safe to eat.

An easier method would be to just skin the fish and take out the poisonous organs, but fish skin is a delicacy, and so the chefs would do this so they can serve cuts of the fish with the skin attached.

Reiju makes a comment that cooking must be very hard because her brothers are all picky eaters (not just Niji, apparently), but Beryl says she and the other chefs are happy to adjust the prep to make the food palatable to the boys.

"Ichiji-sama dislikes green vegetables, but if you chop it up finely and mix it with meat dishes such as hamburg steaks, he will eat it without noticing."

Reiju: Is he a toddler?

(Note: Dunno if this is a universal thing, but it's a Japanese thing that when toddlers hate vegetables, the parents would chop up vegetables and put it in meatballs or the toddler's other favourite food so that they can get the vegetable nutrients even though the child dislikes the vegetable's taste)

"Niji-sama dislikes things with complex seasonings, so things like the sauces and such has to be made to be very simple to the utmost extent."

Reiju: That's dumb.

"Yonji-sama doesn't like food with dry texture, but if it's served to him when he gets hungry between meal times, he'll usually eat it."

Reiju: Is he a dog?

(Note: There is a section where Reiju muses that the cooks "safeguards" their meals just like how "Germa 66 protect peace". What peace? In the main series they're fine with siding with whoever, as long as they get paid. This comment doesn't make sense unless maybe she was being ironic/sarcastic here.)

Reiju apologised for bothering the cooks at this time, and Beryl then lets slip that Sanji has been to the kitchens often. When Reiju presses further, eventually Beryl reveals that Sora likes to make desserts often. Sora would say that she hoped to someday be able to cook together with her kids.

Hearing this Reiju briefly fantasised baking together with her mother and Sanji. Knowing it's just idle fantasy, though, she thanks Beryl for telling her all these and helping her appreciate cooking more.

Reiju thinks of Sanji and reevaluates her opinions on him. He's not "just" a cook. People's lives are basically in the hands of the cook, especially on long voyages at sea. She is glad that him having a place as a ship's cook means that he's found good friends who rely on him and trust him.

She then transforms, and uses her ability to suck out the poison from the fish, saying that the cooks are welcome to ask her for help to take out the poison if they need to cook with the stonefish.

[miraitrunks]

okay, so… here it is: a larger post of most of the treasure planet merch i’ve received but haven’t shared here. this stuff gets more and more niche/rare the further you scroll, so check it all out! let’s start from the top:

first up— we’ve got my complete collection of all the loungefly products. each one has jim on it so it was a must <3 personally the first release (middle) is my favorite but i think the pink backpack is prettier

second up— my 20th anniversary pin as well as my cursed concepts pin. such lovely grabs <3 then we have the pin i bought off the artist Dean Grayson from his “Heroic Rides” series on etsy. it’s fricken huge!

third— probably one of my favorites, my hallmark treasure planet cups. i got these off ebay and i have absolutely no idea what year they’re from. aren’t they so cool?! i got so many and they’re brand new. the print of jim on the cup is just top tier. “honey, we’ve got guests. bring out the fine china!” 10/10.

number four— my jim & silver keychain toys. these are olddd! if you know me though, you know i don’t keep stuff in the packages. silver could stay, but jim definitely had to come out. he zooms forward like a toy car when you pull him back and then let him go!

item number five— treasure planet for the playstation 2. i’m especially fond of this one considering the ps2 was my first ever gaming console that i owned myself. so many fun memories!

number six— my japanese art promo book featuring some of the japanese voice casting! as an anime fan, collecting japanese promotional material for american media is something that i’ve always wanted to do. i haven’t gotten my hands on a japanese movie poster yet, but it’s on my list for sure. this is a pretty close runner up though! i love all the pngs used for this booklet! (sorry for my weird hand placement in some of these, as the pages folded out and it was hard to photograph with one hand)

number seven— last one for now! i think i saved the best for last personally, but this is my disney adventures collector’s edition magazine for treasure planet back from 2002, the movie’s release year. let me tell you, this thing is such a throwback from the events of the year to the ads that come in the thing.

…AND THERE’S A WHOLE CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE COMIC IN HERE?! i had no idea! it was like striking gold! this is also one of my favorites of all the things i own. can we get a load of how cute he looks on the cover? he almost looks like he’s aware he’s posing for a magazine cover. so adorable!

…wow, that’s all from me for now! while it’s definitely not all i own, this is just some of the newer stuff i’ve gotten since i’ve been away and/or some of the stuff i think is cooler. did you recognize any of this stuff? find anything new? lemme know!

[turbulenthandholding]

The Bear Season 4: Theme Prediction

I have a little Season 4 prediction that I’ve been playing with in my head pretty much since Season 3 came out and I wanted to write it up before the year ends.  

Since Season 2, they have been more overt with picking a theme to pull references from in The Bear.  Season 2 was sports, in the lingering presence of Coach K and Jimmy telling Carmy that the real fuckup of the 2003 Cubs playoffs run wasn’t Steve Bartman but rather an unforced error by Alex Gonzalez.   Season 3 was full of gorgeous film references which also tie closely into sleight-of-hand or magic (the legerdemain) and 4th wall breaking references we get as well.  

In an effort to try to predict where we are going in Season 4, I have been thinking about the following:

As we round what seems to be the third act of the whole arc of the show, what themes would make sense?

And, related to that, it feels like we are going to be out of the freezer and actually vibrantly collaborating in Season 4…

The whole “The Bear is NOT a comedy” discourse in wider media (about which I disagree with everyone lol)

Are there specific Chicago things that could be referenced, like the city’s political notoriety?

My prediction is that Season 4 is going to pull from a theme of comedy – specifically improv comedy.

Modern improv came out of the University of Chicago in the 1950s, pulling from older forms of comedy and theater (like commedia dell’arte, featuring improvised dialogue).

This grew to the formation of the ImprovOlympic (now iO Theater) and The Second City theaters/training facilities as well as touring groups and other theaters and the vibrant improv scene that still exists in the city today.  

This theme feels possible to me because:

Improv is done by adding and building (the improv concept of “Yes, and…”), collaborating, being open (as Luca told Marcus in season 2)

Improv and comedy have deep roots in Chicago (and leaves room for an actual Bill Murray sighting (after Mikey’s Ceres story in season 1))

There’s a through line between earlier mentions of comedic media (i.e. Carmy and Richie quoting Blues Brothers, posters, fuckin Kevin McCalliper) and the Season 3 theme of filmmaking that would be an interesting through line of continuity here

Season 3 was Carmy (and, consequently, almost everyone else) being stuck and improv is distinctively about motion and movement and creation.

Season 4 could bring a return to form of the same style of comedic moments we saw earlier in the series (i.e. the surge rates, fucko scene and pretty much all of Dogs…)

Focus (Or, formerly, Point of Concentration)

Focus is a fresh start.  The past is made to loosen its grip. - Viola Spolin

As I was doing some background reading for this, a major theme arose to me in probably the watershed text related to improvisation - Improvisation for the Theater by Viola Spolin.  Spolin was an acting teacher and coach.  Her work heavily influenced not only her son (Paul Sills, who was the original director of The Second City in Chicago) but also countless improvisers and actors through her improv games and methodologies.  

In the third edition of her book, she writes about how she renamed one of her preeminent concepts, Point of Concentration, into Focus:

“Focus”…suggests to me a moving energy, like a ball in a constant state of movement, the players all acutely conscious of everything going on around them while keeping their eye on the ball.  Similarly, whereas “relationship” is static and implies role playing, “relation” is a moving force – seeing, hearing, perceiving. (page liv)

Focus is a word that is very familiar to us in The Bear, particularly in relation to Sydney and Carmy and their relationship:

…I just need your focus like you need mine.  I…I don’t want to share it, I’m sorry…

…you deserve my full focus…

There is an interesting aspect to the way that Viola Spolin writes about what happens during improvisation; there’s almost a metaphysical or psychological or spiritual quality to how she discusses it, which feels similarly to me as the Season 3 references to Freudian psychology.  I feel like this concept could inform Season 4 in the same way.  

Anyway…I’m going to wrap this up by leaving this passage from Spolin’s book here, which speaks to me of our two chefs.  May we see their mutual focus only grow into Season 4.

This combination of individuals mutually focusing and mutually involved creates a true relation, a sharing of a fresh experience.  Here old frames of reference topple over as the new structure (growth) pushes its way upwards, allowing freedom of individual response and contribution.  Individual energy is released, trust is generated, inspiration and creativity appear as all the players play the game and solve the problem together.  “Sparks” fly between people when this happens. (3rd edition, page 24)

Things to read if you are interested:

Excellent short article on the history of Improv in Chicago

Viola Spolin's book Improvisation for the Theater - pdf of the 1st edition here in full for free

Also an extra article on Viola Spolin because turns out the roots of her improv work are really cool

[infiniteglitterfall]

the worst part about the i/p discourse

it's NOT the posters of Nazis with the swastikas on their flags replaced by stars of david. or the pages and pages of blood libel conspiracy theories in instagram posts about why local pride organizers are such big meanies. or the newfound insistence that jews just exaggerate and make up antisemitic incidents to smear the pro-palestine movement....

it's the fact that every. single. time. i try to post anything about any of these things, i end up in a rabbit hole SO DEEP IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM.

Yesterday, I saw a --

YOU SEE? I went to Reddit for a second to find the link to the post about the Melbourne protest this week that had people carrying the Nazi-star-of-David posters. But first, I saw a post that began, "All I see on social media and the news is more and more attacks. Who beat up a Jewish family here, who stabbed a 1 year old in front of a synagouge. Those are two examples, I've lost track of all of the other ones."

and I was like, SOMEONE STABBED A ONE YEAR OLD IN FRONT OF A SYNAGOGUE?!?!

And I started to look that up. AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS. EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Two days ago, I saw an article about Cincinnati Socialists setting up a table at North Kentucky Pride without asking, it sounds like, to hand out flyers saying the war in Gaza was Netanyahu's "Final Solution" for Palestinians. Cincinnati Pride organizers alerted the NKY Pride organizers, who kicked them out.

I was like, "okay, well, let's see what Cincinnati Socialists say about it." Then I discovered that their instagram not only "names and shames" the two Cincy Pride organizers and one NKY organizer. Which led to the Cincy ones getting so much harassment and violent threats that they resigned....

But also has a related post that goes on for pages and pages of pure blood libel.

So then I sat there fact-checking all their blood libel and finding out that not only was it untrue and impossible, but half the stuff they referenced didn't even exist.

Then I ended up fact-checking things in the "article" that they'd clearly used as their source. Fact-checking things I found while fact-checking those.

Trying to write a Facebook post about how fucked up it all was. Giving up on the Facebook post after several hours because it made more sense to write it on Tumblr, or at least to write it on Tumblr FIRST.

Then I'm also looking at the post they made "naming and shaming" the organizers, which is like... "the Cincy ones are partners! two days after Hamas's incredibly violent and brutal massacre, one of them changed his profile picture to a photo of them honeymooning IN ISRAEL two years ago! they did it through some group that COVERS A LOT OF THE COSTS FOR HONEYMOONS IN ISRAEL!!!!" and "the other one went to a protest of Hamas's massacre!!! with a sign saying to free the hostages!!!"

oh no. the fucking horror. truly how did these genocidal monsters even end up on the pride organizing committee. this is a shanda scandal.

then I'm responding to people's comments, trying to talk them down from horrible positions. telling people things like, "I know it's asking a LOT, but if people could grasp the idea that "going to Israel for your honeymoon" ISN'T "committing genocide," it would be really great. Or that wanting the hostages freed is actually something that both Israeli AND GAZAN protests have called for, and it's only Westerners who are opposed to it. Or that in fact, saying you "Stand with Israel," a few days after an incredibly brutal attack that burned multiple towns to the ground in one day, killed entire families and their pets, an attack which Hamas has promised to repeat "again and again and again" till Israel is violently destroyed... is opposing that attack, NOT calling for genocide."

then i'm like, "oh, i should edit these images to show the correct info, and i can explain that I drew arrows and added the correct info!" so then i'm doing that and working on writing alt text, and holy shit??? how many fucking hours??? did i spend on this?????? just because i read a frigging reddit post that linked to an article about it?????????

and like. i can go through and debunk all that shit in the comments. (and did. i responded to every single comment that believed this shit.) but ultimately, everyone who pulls this shit has way more reach than I do.

just. like. THAT'S ONE ORG IN ONE PLACE. And it was bad enough that I persevered and finished debunking it and commenting on it today and started telling people about it. Do you even know how many more of those I've seen?! How many I would see if I looked for them on purpose?!

The tsunami of deliberate disinformation is SO FUCKING BAD. All of it is SO FUCKING LAYERED. In any single bullshit post, there are SO MANY horrifically bad and wrong assumptions. So many of them are DESIGNED, BY HAMAS, to lead people down the path to "All Zionists should die! Israel should be violently destroyed!"

There were so many comments on a "Free Palestine Melbourne" group's instagram post (Sydney? Could've been Sydney) asking, pointedly, how many Jews are Zionists. What percentage of Jews are Zionists, again?

One (1) had a response telling them it doesn't matter what the percentage is, no percentage would justify collective punishment of Jews.

The rest all said things like, "Too many."

It feels like constantly being lied to. Just constantly being lied to about things I have looked up and verified myself from solid sources, now and in the past, by people I counted as my community.

Then just now I opened Instagram because I hadn't taken screenshots of a couple of the pics I wanted to add. And I'm hit with these:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by jewsinschool (@jewsinschool)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jewish on Campus (@jewishoncampus)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jewish and Proud (@jewishpridealways)

Then some brighter posts (including one of a baby bat!!) and then a post which sums up a lot of what I'm feeling right now.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jess Cook (@jessicagcoook)

It's like, yes, that, plus the uncomfortable sense that some people are getting thisclose to going, "Most Jews are Zionists anyway, so YEAH, I DO think most Jews deserve to die."

[cherri-balms]

♡﹕𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓, 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓! — CH.1 — Normal Girl

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။ ၊|• 0:01

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A/N ﹕Chapter 1 is finally out!! I apologize if this took a little while, I have an idea for an Alastor fic brewing and if all things go well, the prologue/pilot chapter will be the next thing I post!

As always if you would like to be added to the taglist, shoot me a DM and ill get back to you asap!! <3

This chapter is primarily exposition and fluff, so there are no content warnings for this chapter aside from a brief description of making oneself vomit.

𝐄 × 𝐌/𝐅 × 𝟓.𝟐𝐤 × 𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 × 𝐀𝐎𝟑

♡﹕Bring-your-reader to work day as one of the most famous idols in hell! Or, what it's really like working as one of the most famous idols in hell under the thumb of the VEES.

6:00 PM

Your alarm begins your morning with its typical assault to the ears and dragging  you out of what was once a beautiful slumber, for a while your subconscious was even able to create a darling little wonderland blend of hell and personal heaven, but all good dreams had to come to an end at sometime soon.

Sitting up, you begin your typical morning work routine of getting dressed, brushing your teeth and whatever other morning activities that needed to be done. Surrounding you are dozens of printed posters and scrolls of yourself watching you get changed, most of which being limited edition merchandise from your concerts, and almost all of them had in bold letters “MONΛRCH” somewhere on the prints. After your meeting with Vox that day, he insisted that if you were going to work with the brand of the Vees that you were to take on a stage name to said brand. Before you could go through your mental filing cabinet to find something that would fit, Vox informed you that he had already picked your name from the moment you walked in: Monarch. It took a second for you to realize, but the patterns currently adorning your body with the resemblance of a monarch butterfly made it click. Plus, you did like how powerful the name sounded.

The last step of your routine was always to consult yourself a sprint checkup on your voice synthesizer and then perform some finetuning. Your current synthesizer is nowhere close to your first one, hell the damn thing originally couldn't even get wet, nor was it surgically bolted into your neck, though the two still shared similar parts in case the need for a quick repair arose.

… Aaaand of course speak of the fallen angel, that said scenario was precisely why you keep a constant eye on the quality of your synthesizer, because the screw connecting your voice bank and vocal chords was chipped. Sure, it was minute but even the smallest imperfection could lead to rust and infection that you just couldn’t afford.

The bottom half of your dresser vanity would appear to be nothing but a foundational box with a front facing panel and some regal metalsmith carvings  if not for the card-slot keyhole poking out the right side. You keep the key hidden on your person at all times, while the contents inside hold no value in money or power you’re sure the reactions to what could be construed to be a stalkerish shrine to your boss would be the end of your reputation.

And his too you guess but you’re the cute one here.

Lifting your pointer finger to the back of your neck, using the slight dent of your nail to nudge out a tiny rectangular panel of your synthesizer. Or, it would be rectangular if not for the carefully cut notches on one of the sides.

You slip the key into the slot as far as it will reach, bypassing all 4 clicks then rewarding you with a 5th at ths decompressing tightness of the spring lock hinge. The once stiff panel now slides open, though not exactly with grace with it getting friction jammed against the frame caused by lack of use.

Not quite having time to spare getting distracted by your keepsakes you reach to the glass case to the left containing your prototype voice bank collar displayed like a diamond atop a blue silk pillow. You’re absolutely certain if  Vox discovered you still held the beta technology he would gag like you were saving a meal that's gone bad. Absolutely adorable, knowing if you’d present it to any sinner in hell it’d be easy to convince them it was state of the art, brand new.

One screw acquired and you’re out of there, locking everything the way it was before, box, vanity, bedroom door, apartment door. The commute to the VHQ could barely even be considered a walk, actually, most of the housing within a 3 mile radius of their building was ultimately owned by the Vees reserved for employees. Smart way to both keep their people in line and control exactly who’s around at all times, gotta give them credit when credit is due.

The dredging silence over the span of two months had you in an urge to claw beneath your skin to tear out the stabbing anticipation that seemed to grow within. Should that evolve into a spiral well of anxiety you'd been worried the business plan sealed in ink turned into a ghost, but you were informed before your leave that Rome wasn’t going to be built in a day so you were left with nothing to do but respect his unspoken wishes.

When the hour struck and you received the details for the date and time of your next meeting in a bare bones text, you wish you could say it put your short term torture to a close, but the years worth of screaming in static was finally going to be over. You couldn’t make time move any faster, only make yourself move faster to prepare for your next encounter with the overlord that could now be considered your master.

“Monarch! Good, right on time, Now come sit.” Your overlord spins around the chair to your direction, beckoning you his way. You silently do as you’re told sitting legs pressed together handbag in your lap, before you even had a chance to touch the zipper for your tablet he waves your hands away.

“Nuh-uh, you don’t need to bother yourself with that anymore. I’m sure you know why I called you?” By the way his smirk stretched across the screen while his left hand reached below his desk you’d nearly assume he was just as excited as you for this day. You feel your eyelids pull back and you swore your eyes reflected twice as much light than when you first sat down if you could catch a glimpse of yourself.

The device presented to you in his hands looked identical to its future self if not for the fresher coat of polish it bore. You must confess you weren’t too sure what you were envisioning for this gadget to come out looking like, actually you realized you were never imagining something metaphysical at all, the technological cure to your aid came in the mental form of an intangible concept closer to a myth. But what was before your eyes was.. actually pretty underwhelming.

It looked like nothing but a steel box speaker attached to a collar with a dial, bare and simple. You caught a peek at something poking out on the other side behind it, but it didn’t catch your interest long enough to retain the observation. You weren’t aware enough to try and hide your confusion but you may have done a better job than you thought at not letting it show since he didn’t react until you cocked your chin to the side.

“Well what are we waiting for! Let’s get this show on the road and try it out, yeah? Turn around.” You were practically standing and turned before he could even finish the command. Sharp blue needles brush over your cheeks and under strands of hair lifting them behind your ears. You make the sound of the buckles on the collar before it’s veiled over your vision and behind your neck. “Fair warning, this will definitely be painful!”

Mayhaps you should’ve taken a bigger note on what you saw behind the box earlier, because you instantly got to discover what it was as spear headed clamps bury dormant in your throat through your neck so sharp it could pierce bone. Pain didn’t even begin to describe what you were feeling, it was like your brain tossed you back in time to repeat your lungs combusting to ash and your body soon reacted like you were suffering such fate again, causing you to start jumping and swatting out of the arms of your savior as if he were your next next killer.

“AAAAAAHH-aaahhhh?” Was that y- there’s no way. 

You tested again in case this was another instance of your psyche filling in the gaps of a voice once more.

“aaahhhhhh~AAAHH~~” You weren’t dreaming. What you were asking from him from the start felt like asking the impossible but the result you were given far exceeded any daydream you conjured to cope with your situation, but not only had the overlord given you a brand new voice by some miracle, the voice he gave you was the same you had in life, the same smooth melody you forgot you could produce.

You turned around to face him, this time with tears blurring your view. Not an ounce of anger from your embarrassing attack his way earlier, only intrigue in your reaction to the gift. For the first time in years, you could speak and say anything in the world you wanted and now your mind was white noise. All you could do was bow your head in gratitude, though you aren’t sure if he was expecting that just based on the noise he made after.

“Hey- woah, no need for that now, not that I’m necessarily complaining,” You raise your head and you aren’t surprised by the shadow of ego stretching his grin across the screen. “I did some investigating into your mortal life to find samples of your work to make sure your voice would be nothing short of yours! Getting hands on anything in the overworld is a royal pain in the ass, though. I hope you keep that in mind.” 

Was he jesting? You were going to keep every bolt and circuit in mind for the rest of your afterlife. Perhaps it was the adrenaline, or the subtle new feeling of electrical surges flowing down the rivers of your veins, but just standing still with the amount of energy pumping in your body currently had you revived into a frankenstein marionette. 

You suppose a start could be a proper thank you, but when you attempted to mouth the words the frequency in which the simple “thank you, sir” stitched themselves together didn’t carry harmoniously, more like a broken collage of vocal pitches. Your hand cuts off your lips with a flare of pink to your cheeks, the oncoming cackling from your new boss turns that shade into deep red.

“Hahaha! I was wondering when you were gonna find that part out!” The laughter settles to a halt and he lifts a finger to wipe away a pixelated tear that doesn’t actually budge. “This model is just a beta voice bank and synthesizer, speaking will take some getting used to and once I get enough data from your use of it in the following weeks, I can begin working on improvements. I have a manual in my drawer containing the details for maintenance but for now, I have some people you need to meet.”

You were nodding your head along but you had to admit, you were not following completely. True you were unfamiliar with the recent spike in tech, but you didn’t think you were this poorly informed. You make a mental note of this as something you should start fixing asap if you were going to continue your career this way. Meanwhile, outside your thoughts, your boss is leading you to the front elevator.

Before you could prepare for a silent and awkward ride down, the TV filter breaks it again. “Oh, and can you stop with the whole “sir” talk, it’s a painfully stuffy-outdated form of addressing authority. Just address me as Vox, and everyone will know I’m your boss.” The elevator bell rings signaling the stopping floor. Your vision is brought to what looks like a madhouse production with women bustling in every direction skewing fabric across the space. It didn’t take long to put two and two together that this was some kind of clothing production, but seeing a fashion lineup in what you thought was a tech company put you in uncanny valley.

“No! No! No! Fucking disgraceful- what the hell is this shit Shae? Did you get sick all up on our silk or are you actually using vermillion and oli- VERMILLION AND FUCKING OLIVE SHAE DID YOU LEARN COLOR COORDINATION FROM THE COLOR BLIND?!” Alright that definitely drew your attention. The voice sounded like a female Gordon Ramsay for fashion instead of cooking, so it wasn’t difficult to assume she was the one in charge.

“Velvette! You’re as bitter as ever before.” The woman turns over, you had to admit her namesake fit well with her appearance and instantly the aesthetic made sense. Something about that cute white swirl she has in her hair reminded you of a sweet cheesecake frosting you could've devoured her on sight.

“Vox fuckin’ piss off mind you can’t you see I’m in the middle of somethi- who the fuck is this” Velvette squints in your direction like your appearance sucked away the rest of her eyesight. Seconds go by, and then a few more without a word being exchanged, only the next electrical surge from the nervous gulp of saliva reminding you that things didn’t have to be this way anymore.

You introduce yourself unashamed of the robotic slurred speech pattern and the face she makes could only be described as bewilderment.

“I- what in satan’s name was tha-”

“She’s mute, Velvette. Sweetheart this is the cornerstone of my little “Monarch” project I informed you of, and I actually came here to discuss that with you.”

“Wait a second the star of your new network is a mute bimbo- Vox did your motherboard circuits go fucking smooth?!” Self control was a virtue you’d mastered since life one, through thumb-tacks in your heels to schmoozing slimy pigs with deep pockets, the poker face would remain sewn to your cheeks. But here, you could feel the slightest twitch anytime this woman spoke. You couldn't give a damn how powerful she thought she was, the kinds of implications she was making towards Vox only made you want to shove bars of soap down her throat until it cleans the filth coating her mouth.

There was no fucking way you were ever going to tolerate that cunt.

The frosted blast of studio AC and diamond perfume became your standard morning welcome when clocking into work, upon so being greeted by the models and seamstresses on the floor of your first stop with your typical “good mornings” and “how are yous”. One of the newer interns approaches with multiple cardboard cup holder trays of coffee, and it didn’t take very long to find the cup with your favorite order, even if it weren’t for the bold lettering of your stage name on the outside.

You finish up your typical greetings making your way over to the dressing rooms where the rest of your stagemates are already gathered looking at the schedule. First on the docket was choreography training, no surprise since your instrumentalists were nowhere to be found, and then after lunch iss… oh wonderful! Outfit fitting! Which meant the whole afternoon with just you and Velvette.

This was going to be a perfect day, wasn’t it?

Speak of the devil and she shall not only appar, she’ll kick the front door down like it cheated on anniversary night and throw what was- probably a brand new Goeccia hand purse in the face of whomever was closest.

“EACH ONE OF YOU BETTER BE FUCKING CLOCKED AND AT YOUR POST IN THE NEXT MINUTE OR YOU’RE ALL SEWING THE ANGELIC!!KILLS LINE BY TONIGHT EVEN IF YOUR FUCKING FINGERS ARE WORN TO NUBS ARE WE CLEAR?! Now where the ever loving fuck is- There she is!!”

“Velvette!!”

The two of you run and embrace in the middle of the room like you had just returned from the great war and reuniting with your long lost lover at the end of a shitty romcom. This display, was one that also became a tradition between the two of you at the start of the work day, one you weren’t ignorant to the handful that still felt the need to eyeroll or squint.

Okay so,, your seeded disdain for Velvette was one you admittedly locked away in the vault of embarrassing memories to reap its head around only when trying to get a good night's sleep. You initially had spent the first month or so practicing every torture method known to man on the images your eyes sent you because of how she talked down to Vox like a dog, this was… before you found out she was an overlord too and suddenly the context of the relationship they shared made sense. A bitter part of the pride that landed you where you are today still wanted to leech onto any grain of malice toward her, eventually turning into a humiliating envy and possessiveness over Vox’s attention. In that span of time you made no effort to get to know Velvette or care about her work, even while she was making the outfits you wore on stage for you and she somewhat mutually felt the same about you. 

Luckily for the two of you, there was a third much more obnoxious V that was too perfect of low hanging fruit in the art if feminine hazing for you both to latch onto and find common ground on.

“I think this new hair style might be my new favorite! Locs look good on you~” Compared to how you felt the first time speaking with the prototype that sat in your vanity, the newer model of your synthesizer had a way more diverse voice bank and finetuning that made speaking feel and sound much more natural. Even with the mounds of progress from your prototype to present day, it was still obviously unnatural and robotic. These became factors that slowly mattered less as your gratitude increased, and you were content that not everyone was going to see it that way.

“See? I fucking told that nasty bed bug upstairs that I’d eat butterfly locs but what the fuck would he know when I can read my damn future in his forhead,” Velvette went a total of two minutes of the conversation before she pulled her phone out to check her instagram feed, a new accomplishment. You were proud. “Just so you’re aware by the way, Verosika Mayday announced  the release date of her Paint it Pink album like 35 minutes ago and people are already bringing your name into it. You got a lot to deliver with this upcoming tour.”

Lucifer bless Velvette for having the brain cells to keep up with surfing the modern social media tides you continuously wipe out on with every attempt. You could stomach social media enough for your job, but Velvette made sure to get you a top notch social media advisor to handle your accounts to make it seem like you were more active than you were. True as it was that your vocal synthesizer brought a new flair to the world of music; especially in the rise of electronica, techno and pop where your new voice couldn’t compare to any other sinner in the genres, this factor has also lead to a cluster headache of… Let’s just say controversy. Old fashioned demons in particular were the bane of everything you deemed holy just because how fucking annoying they were making their periodic hangups your god damn problem.

Before you could properly offer your gratitude your attention is taken by an obnoxious thump and “A-hem!” in the direction of the dressing room. Turning you can see the green lop bunny ears of your costar and you can assume she’s trying to tell you to move your ass. Drama was the last thing you had energy for so you blow a kiss goodbye to Velvette and made two shakes of a lamb's tail into the dressing rooms.

Today you didn’t need to worry about outfit planning, just something comfortable that you don’t mind sweating in for the better part of the day. A simple pair of running shorts, tank top and loafers should work more than fine for today, hopefully as long as Valentino didn’t decide to sit on today’s choreography exercises…

It wasn’t exactly the norm for dance practices for the remaining member of the V trifecta to sit in and give his shit commentary- kind critiques on your movements and appearances. If it were up to you or any of your coworkers, Valentino wouldn’t be anywhere near your production but alas, contractual standards came first. One of the stipulations upon starting your career as Monarch was your introduction to the Vee network and the ongoing partnership the three overlords held to upkeep their power within hell. Long and short, this meant that with each contract the Vees delt the other two business partner would also have to reap some sort of benefit; typically monetary gain.

In your case, Velvette easily got her reward by using your team as breathing mannequins to advertise her fashion line, not to mention she would ultimately be credited in every comment of the flashy costumes you wore at concerts and venues. Valentino’s side had free royalties to your music to play in his clubs and this usually came along with him having a say in the dances that go with the song. Every fucking time it was a Valentino session you all knew you were in for a long day of overtime, muscle pain, and playing sexual harassment bingo.

Two knocks on the door put your thoughts to a screeching halt.

“Monarch dear, are you descent~” Ah, it was your favorite voice in all of hell~ you run to the door with a skip in each step like a puppy listening for dangling keys outside the front door.

“Never~”

“Are you dressed?”

“Yes!”

“There’s the answer we’re looking for,” You welcome him inside with a pleasant “come in” and Vox follows as such. You maintain a safe distance and subtly restrain yourself by clasping your hands behind your back but you weren’t going to deny, days like today the tightrope beneath your feet of professionalism and your heartache was especially loose. You’re certain the love you felt for the man who saved your spirit was last year's news to everyone in the building, actually your “inappropriate devotion” has been the source of countless catfights among your bandmates.

“Monarch love! Horrific morning isn’t it~” You could listen to him talk all day, and when he approaches you and clasps a hand over your cheek leaning into the touch feels like second nature.

“Every day in the studio is a horrific morning, but I know that’s not what you came to talk to lil’ ol me about, isn’t it?”

“Why, you hurt me! Can’t I just start my morning visiting a beautiful painted lady?” You blink in a moment of silence until he finishes. True you loved soaking in his flattery, but not in feigned procrastination. “Valentino and I spoke this morning, or rather he threw a tantrum because I didn’t tell him I put Pomp and Circumstance on your schedule today..” 

Aaand there it is, of course you get to not only work with STI Patient-0, but he was already off to a shit mood to start the day. If the scales of fortune decide to tip your way at all during today you hope this tips in your favor, given the… technique you developed to avoid interacting with him as much as possible.

When you lift your head to meet your reflection, you have to tilt your head a bit higher than you remembered last, and your arms were now coiled around his waist. Oh, it seems matter won over mind again. The hand that once danced feathers over your cheek now caress massages in your scalp. Scandalous, sure. But there was nothing wrong with comforting a friend after a rough morning, right?

“Come, everyone else is already in the studio. Sorry I couldn’t start your day with anything pleasant, I hate being the reason you have a frown. So,” Your vision cuts into frames of bright white and a following zap, once, then twice again. In what feels like an instant Vox disappears and reappears within the electricity, but the second time he holds a brown fast food bag and a bright green M.

“OH MY GOD I LOVE MAMMONALDS! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOUUU!!!” Stars of reflected light build in your eyes when you saw the bag. Reading the receipt taped to the front you can already tell the breakfast order is your favorite even down to your specific requests that made the receipt  go down past the bag but you knew the employees wouldn’t even dare try and get Vox’s order wrong. 

“Take a minute to eat and come to the studio, I didn’t get you a drink because I knew you were going to get coffee so I’ll get you a milkshake after choreography, kay?” You nod your head while already pulling out your side of hashbrowns and chowing down like a hamster nibbling a sunflower seed.

It was a sight so cute Vox wanted nothing but to squeeze you so tight your eyes pop out of your skull.

But there was no time to waste. Vox vanishes with a flicker of the lights and bolts yet again, and you take a couple last chews before you’re sure hes gone.

Standing up you make way to the connected bathroom to your dressing room and open the toilet seat. Immediately you shove two fingers into your throat and probe the back until it triggers your gag reflex enough to regurgitate every last bite you took. The slime of cheap grease and burn of overused salt always made you restrain a gag without fail anytime fast food was given to you, but god Vox just would not stop ordering that shit for you. Perhaps there was a chance you sold your “love” for Mammonalds a little too hard the first handful of times he’d gifted it to you; actually, you probably wouldn’t be in this situation at all if you just refused his offer to hand feed you a fry earlier on in your contract, and by all means you wanted to, but your body’s impulse had won that that day.

Tossing out the remaining food out of the bathroom window to the dumpster in the alley below you and flushing and cleaning any remnants of bile, you give yourself one last tidy up and make way to the next place you’re needed: the dance studio.

By some unholy miracle when you stepped out of the elevator, you weren’t met with condensed red smoke to the ceiling and a moth throwing a drink at your head. Drink or a bullet, whichever he thought would please him more.

“Fucking christ all mighty, the “Princess of the Hour!” finally arrives.” As expected, everyone had already gathered long before you while you were caught up with Velvette and Vox, the first one to greet you being the same moody green bunny from earlier, rolling her eyes and doing little jazz hands mid sentence to hammer in her sarcasm.

“Good morning to you too, Tea!! I’m glad you’re feeling well~” You made a decision to go on the dismissive today, Tea in particular always seemed to be in sour moods when it came to you being as chummy as you were with the Vees for a mere contracted soul. At the end of the day you couldn’t give less a shit about that twats petty jealousy issues if she only had the decency to keep it to damn self instead of making it your problem, and your problem at work nonetheless.

“Oh shut the fuck up Tea we aren’t in the mood for this today,” The lanky azure colored salamander man gently flicked Tea on the back of the head with a roll of the eyes and a vertical reptile blink. Out of all the members of your little group, Sirius was the closest thing you had to a voice of reason and it made him the most tolerable out of the bunch. In the corner too engrossed in their own conversations to even pay mind to any of you were two harpy girls, sisters actually. Black Marlia on the left and White Russian on the right, both of them added a much needed flare to your concerts and were the only two who could go airborne long enough to perform choreography above the stage, you liked to think they were valuable assets even if you could count the amount of times either has spoken to you on one hand.

“I hear we have to deal with Valentino’s bullshit today…” Sirius attempts to continue the conversation as the five of you start properly getting into position for when said moth comes in, it would look as if you’d all been wagging your tails for his arrival this whole time.

“You are the third to remind me of his existence today, if that number goes up I might have to fly away and leave you hanging~”

“Oh and here I thought you’d be ecstatic to be commanded by one of your masters for the better part of today.”

“Not the one who immediately calculated my ass and chest size in his head as an introduction.”

“Was he right though-”

“EVERYONE SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOW!” And just like that, any hope of this being a well off- or even standard Valentino work day just died on arrival. You all do exactly what he says and don’t utter a peep until he says bark. Throughout the early hours of the rehearsal, it was evident that he wanted to be here the least out of any of you which was something that as much as he made your skin crawl, you had to respect. No one likes work already but you could understand how the brand you had was so softcore in comparison to what he was used to, the whole choreograph just looked like a bunch of pillows flopping around on stage to him.

Your understanding should not be confused with sympathy however, simply put knowing how your bosses think is rule #1 when it comes to maintaining a proper work/life balance, and in this case it would be minimizing the amount of halts and rechoreographing out of nitpicks. So, while your brand was one that strayed away from deviance and sex to keep the illusion of ownership, being a bit more risqué than your typical sets here and there wasn’t a crime and would give Val more to look at even if only teasingly.

“No! No! NO THIS IS ALL FUCKING WRONG!!” Yeah who the fuck were you kidding, if you all weren’t having an orgy this jack off was never going to be pleased.

“Did you all learn how to dance in a fucking church?! Are you all such angel cunt lickers that you can’t handle presenting any TNA is that it?!”

Yeah… This was going to be a long work day…

TAGLIST﹕@hurtworld401 @feral-ratatattat-king

[fleshengine]

unironically, dealing with like... casual transmisogyny is the most exhausting thing. I see a post on instagram, the first slide says "trans erotica" and I think "awesome, I wonder what's in it?" As I go through the slides I notice... huh these first couple are all transmasc erotica, well maybe the last few will be transfem. So I keep scrolling, and while it doesn't specify if the books have transmasc or transfem characters, there are tags for the relationships and they're all fucking Ms. "MM relationship" "MMM polycule" and I get to the end and there's not a single one that has a transfem character. I go to leave a comment like "hey please put 'transmasc' instead of 'trans' so people know what you're talking about. But I check the description first because that's polite. They've already added a section in the description (at the very bottom) saying next time they'll be clearer. "Title slide should definitely say transMASC erotica! I will makes this more clear in future versions, as trans women and femmes are too often neglected in discussions of trans literature [double heart emoji] (added 7/8/2024)"

Remake the post? I'm not kidding. If other transfems see this post, get excited and then scroll through the whole thing and then go to the comments, enough that the poster was made aware of the mix up, then it's going to push this post in the algorithm. This person is benefitting from misleading people, and they are aware of it. But fixing it is just too much work. And like... okay fine I get that it's a little exhausting to re-edit the image and then takedown and reupload the post. But when I went to their account to take a poke around I saw they made a part II to their trans erotica post.

I thought "oh cool they didn't change the first image, maybe they've included transfem erotica now!" Second sentence of the first paragraph of description: "Offering up transmasc erotica collection PART TWO bc I've been staying fed recently [trans flag][black heart][bow][smiling devil face]" Which at least personally I found really frustrating to read. They used the exact same graphic for the first slide as they used in part I, again implying that there would be trans people in general. I went through the books, there's two amab enbies, both of which are side characters it seems one of which is the devil So yeah, horray, you included tranfems. But the focus is still clearly on transmasc characters. But to be fair, it was posted before the edit to part I's description was added. But also even though part II was posted before that edit, it doesn't have an edit of it's own. Probably because there's plausible deniability in the form of the amab enby characters, so they can claim that all trans people are included. Despite it being two characters in ten books, neither of which are a trans woman. It's the sort of fake, tokenizing inclusion that really starts to get under my skin and pour sand in my joints.

I went through all the posts they've made since part II, I'd go through all the ones since part I but I don't have that kind of time and frankly this is fucking exhausting. Every book they talk about, sans the two featuring amab enbies mentioned earlier, is about transmasc characters. In both erotica and other genres, that's all this person offers. It's also really telling when they make a post about "trans enby & gender queer book accounts of follow", where I would assume that they might shout out a transfem account that focuses on that side of erotica, and from what I can tell every single account of the nine they shout out is transmasc.

People in real life: "hey dude what's up?"

Yeah yeah reality check whatever. Okay so is this account in and of itself a problem? No, a 800 follower instagram account that talks about books does not a cause for alarm make. Is this indicative of a wider spread issue in the queer community? Yeah actually, the exclusion (intentional or not) of transfem stories and creators from the community starts with what individual people are engaging with. If all you read is transmasc books, and all you talk to are transmasc people then you're going to have issues when trans people aren't that. I'm not trying to attack this account, I didn't include their username very intentionally. I'm just using them as an instance of a specific brand of transmisogyny that I see a lot and find fucking exhausting, that being extremely trans positive accounts that only ever talk about transmascs. I don't know where I'm going with this. I didn't really have a plan.

There's an aversion to trans women. For a variety of reasons society hates us. People who have an easier time integrating with society at large tend to overlook that, and instead often adopt some of those aversions subconsciously. They're not going to mistreat you in public, or do anything obvious, they've got manners, but they're not gonna read books about you, or shout you out. It sucks because I feel like a crazy person pointing it out. I didn't talk about it for years because I thought people would think I'm weird, but discussions of transmisogyny on tumblr have opened my eyes to the fact that I'm not alone, that other people also see this, and that it's an actual problem.

Thanks sisters. It sucks on this boat, but at least it's crewed.