#How to Take a Perfect Flat Lay Photograph

[emsgwenstan]

Personal or professional?

Chap 4| chap 5| chap 6.

Larissa Weems x fem(carpenter/joiner) named reader

Words: 3k

Warnings: smut, insecurity’s, aftermath of drunkenness, signs of anxiety- no self worth.

Note: mmmkay, so shit happens! Anyway feelings aren’t exactly admitted but Violet tells Larissa something important. No wonder I guess.

The early morning air seeped in through the stone walls and coated me in a thick layer of cold, waking up at sometime around 6am, I sat up slowly trying not to disturb Larissa. I was surprised at how solidly id seem to have slept even though it wasn’t for very long, i didn’t have nightmares and didn’t wake to any random pain my body decided It thought i should have either, the most surprising of all though was that i didn’t feel hung over. shuffling back i rested against the headboard and yawned so hard i might have dislocated my jaw and my eyes watered from how tired i am.

Just sitting staring out to space for a while trying to wake up, Larissa started tossing and turning frequently and it ripped me out of my trans like state, tilting my head to the side I watched as her breath would intake and exhale, pushing and pulling the hair that had fallen over her eyes, she lay facing me and I can’t help but shift down a little to prop my head in my hand and rest on my elbow. With a nimble yet ruined hand I tucked her hair away from her face and stared at her lovingly and for a while I stayed like that, all I want is for her to be comfortable and have a longer peaceful sleep.

After contemplating, I rose from the bed and retrieved my clothes from the arm chair while also finally taking in her decor, it was beautiful all the thick materials and trinkets, the large paintings and photographs that lined the walls, her aesthetic was a mix of deep rich colours with a lighter twist in some of the furnishing, all of it was utterly her, completely Larissa. Pacing quietly to the ensuite bathroom I looked at myself in the huge mirror and wiped the smudged mascara from under my eyes, in the reflection I saw she had a large claw foot bath and a walk in shower that was lined with different soaps, body washes and most of all hair products like, treatments with her toning shampoo and conditioner to keep her silver spun hair to perfection, it was so cute.

I was conflicted weather or not I should just keep on the pyjamas she lent me and wear them until I die or actually get changed, ultimately the latter was the chosen option. Exiting the bathroom I left the lended clothes in the designated Laundry hamper and made my way to the door leading back out into her office to retrieve my jumper and stoke the almost dead fire. My nerves were skyrocketing at the thought of the impending conversation that’s going to happen when she wakes up, I’m not going to cower and tip toe out of her home like a one night stand, not that we actually even went as far to have sex, but that’s besides the point. Suck it up Violet, deal with your own actions.

An hour and a half later Larissa woke alone in her crimson sheets, the sun fully risen and her dark curtains flowing the slightest bit from wintery breeze. Completely dazed at the sight she sat up and slid her feet into the flats she had beside her bed and stood grasping the satin tan coloured robe off the same arm chair as my clothes had rested on. Before making her way to the curtains, out the corner of her eye Larissa’s reflection from the wall mirror was what caught her attention, she internally berated herself with almost walking out looking the way she did, her little bedside clock read 7:46am and again she scolded herself for sleeping in. Quickly she shifted to something more presentable only her face and hair changed, her lips painted a blood red and eyes meticulously covered in natural looking eye shadow and mascara, her hair pulled into a neat low bun.

Drawing back the curtain, there sat on the balcony was me watching over the rail with my feet tucked under myself and a monotone expression washed over my face, Larissa didn’t hesitate to open the door and step outside. I knew she was there, of course, I could hear her, I sat in silence not really knowing what to say. It was a good minute of silence once she sat down opposite the small metal table. “How did you sleep?” Is what I came up with to break the quietness, even though I tried rehearsing what to say for the past hour and a half. “Well, and you?” She said almost if she had barbed wire wrapped around her neck preventing her from sounding sure. Ok so it’s like that. “Fine…” I began. “do you… uh- remember-.” I continued. “Yes.” She said hardly letting me finish. “Right…” I trailed. Another beat of silence. “Do you regret it?” She asked quietly. I paused really thinking about how to answer, I’m sure she did, regret it I mean- I don’t know… I’m kinda lost. “If you do then I suppose, but if not…” I started. “If not?” She asked actually looking at me, we had both avoided eye contact until this moment. “If not then I guess no, I wouldn’t regret it.”

Larissa relaxed into the chair and I was as stiff as a board, did she just basically say she wanted it to happen or am I reading into it too much? I looked back down the railing wondering why there were no students, it’s a Saturday, surely kids would be out and about. “I’m afraid I slept in to late to bid them all farewell, they all went home for the Christmas holidays.” She said as if she could read my mind. “And the staff?” I wondered. “Yes, them to, it’s just me.” Does she not have a family to go home to? Why would she still be here? I nodded at her statement as the cold wind started to pick up causing me to shiver, how she’s not dying of hypothermia because of her lack of layers I don’t know.

“I have to go soon, I need to go to one of the houses I’m renovating and polish a bench top.” I said tucking my hands into the pocket of my jumper. “Oh.” She said. Why does she look disappointed? I sat staring at her releasing that she is now in fact alone and will be for a while. It was always hard for Larissa at this time of year, no matter how much work she’d get done she still had to prepare and consolidate with others for the next year. I feel like saying could you possibly imagin spending all this time alone especially around Christmas, but I won’t because then I’d be a hypocrite.

“Would you like to come with me?” I asked not even registering what I asked until it was too late. “Oh I would want to be a bother.” She said. “You wouldn’t, no one’s going to be there, if your not to busy.” I said as if I was completely confident. “Sure, I suppose I can miss working for a day.” She said. Recounting back to the previous micro conversation I spoke again. “What time did they all leave? Surely we would have heard them.” Larissa quirked a brow. “I thought for someone who knows all about a house and buildings infer structure that you would know it’s not easy to hear through two and a half feet of stone.” She spoke with a hint of sass and a whole lot of tease.

I was taken a back at her new found tone. “Well then headmistress, do tell me what else you know about my job you seem oh so knowledgeable about it.” I quipped, sharing her mirthful voice. “Oh no I mustn’t continue, I might put you out of a job.” She smiled with her eye’s playfully glaring. “Oh shut up, don’t start something you can’t finish.” I said laughing, finally letting myself gradually come down from the nervous high. “You never know, I might know more than you think…” she said with a chesty giggle. “Fine, Larissa can you tell me what a Kimberly large is?” I spoke coming to a stand and towering over her sitting position. Nothing, I could see that all she could come up with was blank, nada, not a clue. “What in gods earth is that?” She asked after accepting defeat. I stepped away and walked back to the door, turning looking at her over my shoulder I said. “It’s a cutlery tray.” With the most innocent expression known to man. Well woman.

Larissa stood from the table with a smile plastered to her lips and headed back into the room as well. “Sorry for leaving the door open by the way, I overthought it because if I close it you wouldn’t know I was out there and if I open the curtains then you would wake up, but then I really didn’t think about how cold it is and I needed some air- so… sorry.” I said in a rushed voice. “Don’t worry about it vi.” She said in a sweet tone. “Ok well if I’m to come with you I’ll need to get changed.” She explained knowingly. “Right.” I turned on my heels and left the room to put on my boots and wait for her.

Stepping out into the room Larissa was in the most beautiful dress I’ve seen on her yet, even prettier than the one she wore to my house that time for dinner, it was just past the knee and was an adorable shade of pink that complimented her complexion, she had a matching coat that had fake white fur around the perimeter of the sleeve cuffs. I don’t even think of a snide remark about the fact we’re only going to someone’s house for me to work, I’m more worried about her getting it dirty and ruining the expensive fabric, but who cares I will always encourage her to look incredible, suitable for the conditions or not, if she’s happy I’m happy, I don’t think it’s physically possible for Larissa to not look good anyway.

“What? To much?” She asked wearily. “Absolutely not it’s stunning, just don’t get dirty now will you headmistress.” I said cheekily. Larissa rolled her eyes and adorned her gloves. Opening the door she looks back at her new desk again and smiles, we set off down stairs and made our way to the truck and drove down the nevermore driveway. “Are you hungry?” She asked. “Not really I don’t usually eat until lunchtime, but we can get you something.” I said. “No I’m ok, I just thought maybe you wanted something.” She said looking out of the passenger window. We sat in comfortable silence until we reached town, although I felt like I was slowly suffocating from my thoughts, terrible thoughts, horrible thoughts. I had to keep averting my side eyed gaze at her porcelain thighs, Larissa’s dress rode up and her coat fell to the sides of her gorgeous legs and my god. Keep it together.

Driving down a few back roads we arrived at the house, getting out I paced straight to the mailbox to get the spare key. Larissa followed behind and waited patiently for me to open the door, the house its self wasn’t overly wowing but it was quaint and homey, perfect for a younger family or older couple. “Ok wait here and I’ll go get my stuff.” I said exiting the house. Larissa took in the interior and thought it was sweet, charming in fact, she wandered through the empty halls watching her step on the drop sheets that lay on the floor, the walls were freshly painted with a light grey and the ceilings weren’t finished yet due to electrical issues with the lights, she walked into the first room she could find to take a moment to slow her rapidly beating heart, it turns out Larissa was quite flustered from the car ride too, and the morning in general.

“Larissa?” I yelled. I could hear her heals coming down the hall. “Hey, I got you these just be careful with your earrings.” I said holding out my pink pair of earmuffs. “Oh thank you, that’s thoughtful.” She said quietly as she slipped them on, her earrings did get caught and I tried to help her. “Here, let me help.” I practically launched myself towards her, I grasped one of the sides and tucked her ear in place trying my best not to hurt her. We were standing so close and my eyes wandered from the side of her head to her cheek and around to her lips, I slowly put down my hands and place them on her hips, I could feel her breath on my cheek. Kiss her, but remember Violet. Slowly I started to lean in, but as my eyes flicked up to see hers, they were already trained on me, in an instant I tense up and take a step back clearing my throat, now looking as red as a tomato.

I gave a shy smile and took in her appearance again. “You look cute.” I mimed, knowing how hard it is to hear with them on. Larissa also displayed a little smile with a light blush, she could hear her pulse in her ears clearly now and the butterflies in her stomach were going wild. I put on my spare pair of earmuffs and started the process of polishing the bench. Larissa watched in awe as it began to shine, but she wasn’t just looking at the material itself she also watch how my hands flexed around the machine and my shoulders moved in tandem with the actions. I could feel her eyes on me and I tried my best to not turn around.

Cutting the polisher off I spun on the spot and waved her over, I grabbed her forearm and pulled her to stand in front on me and place her hands on the machine so she could have a turn. What a stupid idea. My hands were on hers and I turned it on again continuing my ministrations, however the only thing I could think of was how her ass was pressing into my stomach and thighs, for a while everything was fine but when she turned and gave me her award winning smile and nose scrunch I just melted. Before either of us got hurt I turned the polisher of and took off my earmuffs placing them on the bench, Larissa did the same carefully talking them off her head, as I turned to face her again, Larissa looked at me for a moment then grabbed my face with both hands and kissed me, like really kissed me.

I was in shock but didn’t pull away- why would I? it was rough and urgent but fuck it was delicious, she was delicious. Larissa manoeuvred me to sit on top of the counter without breaking the kiss, I hopped up and fisted the sides of her dress and the plush skin that’s hidden beneath it, I felt her tongue lick at the the seem of my lips and with out hesitation I let her enter and explore my mouth. Her hands gently scratched at my scalp before she trailed them down the front of my jumper, her delicate fingers moving tantalisingly slow over my breasts as I grope her ass. Just as she went lower towards my stomach, I pulled back breathless with my eyes closed I, couldn’t see the look on her face as I did so.

Larissa stoped her movements and placed her palms on my thighs, she too was breathing quite heavily, the whole situation was so intense more so now that I pulled back, I didn’t want to but I can’t let her feel the parts of myself that I’m so ashamed of. Her thumbs stroke at my legs in a reassuring manner and her head ducked ever so slightly to catch my attention since I peeled my eyes open. “Sorry… um, we should get going now.” I said quietly it almost echoed through the empty house- it certainly echoed through Larissa’s mind, she was taken aback and so confused, but if I needed to stop, she wouldn’t begrudge me of that.

I quickly pack up my stuff and walked back to the truck in silence, safe to say I felt like shit, I don’t want to offend her in anyway because she’s perfect, beautiful, incredible in every sense of the word and I’m just… well, me. Turning the keys in the ignition and setting off again, I glanced at her fidgeting hands in her lap, hesitantly I placed my own on top of one of hers, Larissa looked at me directly as my eyes were trained on the road, my expression displayed a huge amount of guilt. She was watching me so intensely try to wrap her head around what’s going on in mine, I turned to her and really looked into her eyes as an apology, as a ‘it’s not you it’s me’ kind of look, she engaged the silent conversation with ‘it’s ok’ while also cracking a little smile. I returned my eyes to the road and never let go of her hand.

“Oh, see that house over there? It’s my dream home!” I said excitedly, my eyes lit up and my demeanour changed drastically. “That horrid, run down, abandoned looking one? I don’t even want to ask why.” She chuckled. “Look at it though, it has sooo much potential, imagine all of the work I could do to fix it up, it could be beautiful, and its would be massive on the inside.” I said, Larissa looked at me as if I were insane, to be fair if someone said they wanted to live in a shit hole like that I’d be pretty perplexed to. “Mm I can see that now…I suppose.” She hummed watching it fade from view, after a short couple of minutes we made it back to the work shop where I put away the truck and ushered Larissa to my personal car that stayed there overnight.

Without asking I went strait home in dying need of a shower and led Larissa to take purchase in the lounge room to wait, politely I offered her a drink in which she asked for a tea, I made it and placed it on the coffee table beside her. “Thank you darling.” She whispered smiling up at me once I straightened up. “I’ll be out in a minute.” I said leaving her to go to my room. Larissa sat in comfortable silence casually sipping on the drink, before she set it back down she took ahold of the poetry book that still remained in its previous place, as she opened it there were lots of little sheer sticky notes on the pages, only scanning through the highlighted ones there was one in particular she read over and over.

‘She was beautiful, but not like those girls in magazines. She was beautiful, for the way she thought. She was beautiful, for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful, for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No, she wasn't beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful, deep down to her soul.

She is beautiful.’

Larissa kept going throughout the book to relise they were all pertaining to women, it gave her enough satisfaction to know that I did take an interest to woman and that she wasn’t the only one.

Out of the shower, I reapplied light make up and dressed in baggy casual clothes -because I don’t have anything else- and stepped back out into her presence, Larissa set the book back in place before I could see and stood up walking towards me. “Do you want me to take you back now? Or do you want to go somewhere or watch a movie?” I asked. “A film sounds lovely.” She said. “Would you rather out here or in my room?” I questioned. “Where ever you’d like.” She answered. I turned and motioned for her to enter my room, she took off her heels, shed herself from her coat and left it on the floor beside her shoes and sat on the edge of the bed.

I let Larissa flick through Netflix, she’d look at one, contemplate it, watch the trailer, then move to the next one, It wasn’t a bother, it gave me more time to unabashedly watch her. While her eyes were glued to the screen I inched my hand closer to hers and lightly fiddled with her fingers, observing red painted nails against slightly chipped pink ones, our hand were close in size but her fingers were skinnier than mine, ultimately shes skinnier then me in every way. So lost in deep thought my hand traveled up her arm and to her shoulder, then neck, then face. Larissa was doing everything within her to not move, she didn’t want it to end, she was so afraid that if she breathed to hard I would stop.

Snapping back to reality I didn’t pull away, I tried to embrace it, that I did. I grasped the remote in her hand and crawled slowly to straddle her lap, though I didn’t sit on her I mearly hovered, I’m far too heavy for her. Larissa kept her body still and only moved her eyes. “I dont know what I’m doing.” I said quietly, I had her face in my hands and peered deeply into her cobalt eyes. “That’s ok sweetheart, you don’t need to… but, what do you want?” She asked at the same level of voice. For a moment I thought of how to say what I want. “I… I’d like to-uh… I want to touch you.” I said sounding like an inexperienced teenager with a burning blush. “Then touch me.” She said, her pupils dilated and her voice dripping with seduction.

But of course Violet does something stupid and starts to have a minor panic attack. Larissa’s expression turned concerned, she slung her arms around my neck, pulled me flush against her and stroked at my damp hair. “It’s ok, your alright.” She cooed in my ear, my hands and thighs were trembling and burning from clenching the muscles in my legs to stop me from putting my weight on her. Slowly I pulled back. “I need to tell you something.” I said shakily, I know I have to, she needs to understand what the fuck is wrong with me. Larissa nodded and waited patiently for my breathing to slow and to take a pause to muster up the courage of what I’m about to say. You haven’t spoke about this for 15 years Violet, what makes you think she’ll care?

“I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about this but…” I took in another deep breath. “When I was 20, I met a man and we fell in love…” Larissa nodded for me to continue. “We were together for 3 years and by the time I was 23, we were engaged. We wanted to start a family before we got married…” I said, Larissa’s brows knitted together wondering where I was going with this. “So… we tried to have a baby, but after a while, it wasn’t working. I went to the doctor and I was told that-.” I cut myself off to restrain any and all tears. “I was told I couldn’t have children, that I’m infertile.” I said. Larissa thinking I was finished told me that’s ok and that she’s very sorry for how unfortunate that is. “It doesn’t change my view on you though Violet.” She said brushing the hair out of my face.

“But… he thought he wasn’t trying hard enough.” I continued, Larissa’s face and stomach dropped at the statement. “So, he tried harder, more frequently, longer.” I said flinching at my own words. “And when he got tired of it… he threw me away. He told me I was useless and selfish for not being able to give him kids, and then two weeks later he told me that he got another woman pregnant.” I said filling with a little bit of relief as I finally let it out. Larissa was utterly dumbfounded, she sat in shock hardly knowing how to comprehend what I just said. “That’s why I moved to Jericho 15 years ago.” I added. “And… since then, I haven’t- been with anyone else.”

Oh. She thought, this makes so much sense now, Larissa understands how this is an issue for me and considers how I must be feeling. “I’m so unbelievably sorry that happened to you darling. I’m so proud that you told me. But I still remain unfazed, I will not hold you to a different light because of your past, I do not begrudge you of something that has been done to you and happened to you… I promise, it actually makes me more akin to you sweetheart.” She said softly.

I took the opportunity to smash my lips against hers, so full of passion, so full of love, on my behalf anyway. Our teeth and tongues clashing together being completely in sync, the both of us let out breathy moans from the pleasure, Larissa grasped the sides of my thighs and pushed me down to completely sit on her, uncomfortably I did so and without her disrupting asking me to get off I stayed there. In a bound of confidence I pulled her flush against me to access the zip of her dress, she let me drag it down the expanse of her back and pull it down her shoulders, pulling away from the kiss I observed her bra clad breasts and my mouth practically watered from the sight alone.

She reached behind her to unclasp her white lace bra watching me the whole time, the slid the straps down her shoulders and removed it completely and tossed it to the other side of the bed. My eyes flicked down and her breasts were on full view, I brought my hand up to her chest and palmed them slowly, Larissa’s head lulled to the side and let her eyes flutter close. Her skin was so soft and so smooth compared to the skin of my hands, but she didn’t seem to care. I leaned in closer to kiss her shoulder then eventually up her neck and jaw. Larissa tugged at the hem of my shirt wanting me to take it off. I pulled back yet again and lifted it half way before I paused to meet her gaze. She nodded and I continued to strip it off.

My own red bra was displayed in front of her, Larissa’s breath hitched as she took in the sight, my blush returned and all I could do was cover my stomach. I wasn’t too phased at my own breasts and the stretch marks on them at this moment, from the way she was staring I couldn’t tell if she was repulsed or just looking, she removed my arms from in front of me and her sight lowered to my stomach, obviously if we are to continue she’d have to see but all I wanna do is put my shirt back on.

Larissa traced her fingertips along my sides and hummed in what seemed to be delight. “So pretty.” She muttered. “I’m sorry.” I said at the same time, she looked at me through heavy lidded eyes. “What for?” She asked. “Well I’m not as beautiful as you, I’m sorry that if you want to stop because of it.” I said. “Fuck no Violet. Look at you, you’re curvy and delicious, you’re so sexy my darling... Do you want your know my favourite part?” She whispered leaning into my ear. “Yes.” I answered. “These, and this.” Larissa’s fingers danced over the stretch marks of my breasts and stomach. Internally my insides were fluttering and heat pulled at the apex of my core.

“Can I take this off?” She asked referring to my bra. I let her remove it, as a little gasp left her lips I once again took the opportunity to kiss her again. I couldn’t stop myself from bucking my hips into hers looking for friction to grind down on. Larissa clamped her hand on my hips and roughly guided me back and forth across her thighs whilst simultaneously diving into my chest with her mouth, she latched her lips around my left bud and sucked hard causing me to arch into her more and throw my head back in pleasure. She didn’t forget to give the other attention either.

I got off her lap and asked her to lay down, as she did so I ripped off her dress that was still wrapped around her waist and unceremoniously tossed it aside. Larissa’s stomach was pale and soft much like her breasts all I want to do is mark and bite it, I sat between her parted legs and hooked my fingers in the waistband of her panties and rushed to get them off her long legs, I couldn’t slow down even if I wanted to, she’s like a drug or aphrodisiac that runs freely within my veins. Her pussy now on full display and her body at my mercy, I looked down at her, my own lust exuding and at that moment we both knew this wasn’t going to be sweet or timid, it wasn’t going to be gentle. It was going to be rough and urgent. It was going to be sinful and nether of us could stop it. I’ve depraved myself for far too long long and I can’t push her away.

Making myself comfortable on my knees and bending to level with her heat, I gave her one last look before latching onto her clit. The moan she let out was almost pornographic and only made my own pussy contract around nothing and leave me with ruined underwear. Larissa fisted the sheets beside her with one hand and with the other she gripped my hair pushing my face into her impossibly harder, she ground down on my face searching for more. I gazed through my lashes to view her blissed out face and kiss swollen lips, like I said, it’s not possible for her to ever be unattractive.

She made eye contact with me and slightly controlled her face more to clearly see through her hazy eyes. I brought my hand up to her entrance and carried on with my assault on her clit, sitting up a little I made sure she could see what I’m doing, I held up a finger, then another, then another, clearly signalling three. With those three fingers I wiped up her folds before entering every single one at the same time, she hissed and her eyes rolled towards the back of her head, the sight of her was just as pleasurable as what I’m giving her. “Fuck… oh fuck yes.” She moaned.

After her third orgasm she pushed me away from her overstretched and over simulated core, crawling back up her body I left red and purple marks on her otherwise untouched stomach and sternum. Larissa yanked me up to her face and kissed me again using her tongue to taste herself. “Your turn.” She growled flipping me over onto my back, Larissa undid the drawstring of my pants and shimmied them of my legs along with my underwear, I hadn’t even realised I used my hands to cover my stomach again, not until she lifted them of and kissed my palms and placed them on her shoulders. Larissa sat on my lap and used her nails to graze over my arms and sides, this was only the beginning, she tormented and teased for a long time before she couldn’t refuse the inevitable.

Panting out of control and sweating to high heaven, we lay side by side completely naked and exhausted. Larissa stood from the bed and walked into my ensuite with her hips swaying, I sat up wondering why she left. She’s probably touching up her make up and getting ready to leave. I thought, a melancholy feeling filled me and I reached for my t-shirt and slipped it back over my head. Hopping off the bed as well I pick up the strewn clothes and place them nicely on the end of the bed. I smiled at the thought of what just happened, Larissa was so beautiful with her smudged lipstick and mascara, the tremble in her limbs when she came, the way she looked at me when I came undone, even the little bits of hair that came loose to frame her face. Larissa was more than this though, she deserved more, something more domestic, more beautiful than a passionate fuck I suppose. Larissa deserves home cooked meals and hand holding in the street, she’s worth the efforts that a romantic relationship includes, like bathing together and eating together or having someone she loves’ chest to lay on. I think the worst part is that I know I’m not that person.

Larissa walked out of the bathroom with a wet cloth and looked at me quizzically. “What are you doing?” She asked. I stood back from the bed and cracked my knuckles nervously, avoiding the art work I stained her body with. “I thought you wanted to leave… I was just picking up your clothes so they didn’t get to creased.” I said looking to the ground. Larissa paced towards me grasping my arm and pushing me to lay back down. I followed her silent instruction but was confused as to why she started to lift my shirt again. “What are you doing?” I whispered. “Cleaning you up.” She answered. It felt like the air was knocked out of my lungs at her statement. Tears threatened to spill from the corners of my eyes, Larissa spread my knees and started to gently wipe away the accumulated arousal.

She sat folding the material continuously and cleaned me until she was satisfied. Her eyes moved to looked at mine and her self satisfactory smile faded once she saw my burning cheeks and wet eyes. “Oh what’s the matter?” She asked tossing the rag to the door way of the ensuite and cupping my face. “No-.” I stuttered. “No one’s…” Larissa’s brows raised trying to understand. “Nobody’s ever done that for me before.” I said chocking on my uneven breath. “Oh darling.” She said dragging my body up to hers embracing me tightly.

Larissa looked at me like I was the most fragile thing in the universe, I hated it, I wish I wasn’t like this. A while later we decided on a movie and snuggled under the covers, she stroked at my hair and giggled at the screen from time to time, I didn’t give a fuck about the tv, to be in this moment with her was so for filling and wholesome. I pondered for a second before letting myself ask the question. “Larissa?” I started. “Mmm?” She hummed looking down at me. “I was wondering if you would like to come away with me after Christmas?” I said hoping she would but trying to come to terms with the possibility she’d say no. “Yes.” She said with a grin. Oh. “I have to go to my parents houses, dads for the first week then mums for a week… if you’re not comfortable with that-.” She nodded enthusiastically and said. “Yes I will, what day do we leave?” I looked at her wondering why she seems so excited but continued anyway. “The 27th, my sister’s are gonna be there and my nieces, which is nice I haven’t seen them for a long time.” I said. Larissa agreed and was looking forward to it, and of course she started to make a mental list of what to pack.

For the rest of the afternoon we stayed in bed and went through countless amounts of movies and whatever snacks I had in my pantry. She sat in my clothes, in my bed, in my room, in my home, Larissa to me felt like she belonged there, like this is exactly where she’s supposed to be, because to be honest I’m really being to think she is my home, Larissa weems owns it all though, all the materialistic things I own from the things in my house to the clothes I wear on my back as well as my heart and soul and if she wanted me to I’d kill myself if she asked. I love her more than anything. perhaps it is more personal than it is professional, but that’s the tragic part isn’t it?

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[ms-wwe]

SNEEK PEAK OF CHAPTER 2 DAMIAN PRIEST X OC(RIGHTEOUS DESIRES: LOVE AND REDEMPTION IN THE RING)

“Let’s go ahead inside” I say, stepping to the side to allow Cassie to go up the stairs, I follow behind her anxiously. She opens the old screen door and holds it open behind her allowing me to follow. “You have a lovely home” She says as she looks around the small living room that is still covered in old photographs of mine and my fathers childhoods. I smile at her compliment, knowing my grandfather would have cracked some joke about his old southern décor. “Thank you , this is actually my grandfather’s old home. I just lay claim to it when I visit” I tell her awkwardly as I try and curb my nerves. “Please, sit wherever you like. We can sit here in the living room, or the kitchen if you’d prefer to be at a table” I tell her as I try to mask the anxiety trimmers I feel beginning to take over my entire body. Cassie adjusted the items in her arms and replied in her cheery tone. “Let’s go to the kitchen, that way I can take notes easier” I nod in response and motion for her to follow me to the kitchen. We walk through the small living room and through the narrow doorway that leads to the kitchen. It still has the scent of morning coffee dancing in the air, and the sunlight is beaming into the space even more than it had just an hour earlier. Tucked in the corner of the kitchen is a small solid wood table with four matching chairs around it. Just like the coffee pot, the table had seen better days. It was an antique when my grandmother bought it when she was still alive, and it had survived two rough and tough boys, and a hell raising little girl. Cassie made her way over to the table and started sitting her things down as she pulled out the end chair. “Can I get you a drink or anything?” I ask her as I pour myself another cup of coffee. “Coffee would be wonderful” She says as she opens her laptop. I walk over to the cabinet by the fridge once more, pulling out a random mug from the top shelf. “Do you take cream or sugar?” I ask her as I close the cabinet. “Just black is perfect” She tells me as she opens her note book. I grabbed the coffee pot once more and pour her cup, this is when I notice just how bad my trimmers were currently, and I instantly felt intense embarrassment. Seeing my obvious unease made me feel weak, it made me feel like I couldn’t do this after all, like maybe this was all a huge mistake. “So I have to ask” She trails off as I make my way over to the table clutching our mugs. “Is Riot your actual name?” She questions hesitantly. I giggle at the comment, I can’t even count how many times I’ve been asked this same question. “Yes, Riot is actual name.” I tell her as I sit the mug next to her note book. “I had to ask, I know typically wrestlers use stage names, and I couldn’t find much information on yours specifically when I googled it” She admits as she takes a sip of her drink. I stretch my arms out across the table as I lean back in my chair, trying desperately to relax my body and mind as I reply. “It’s because Riot is my name. Riot Elizabeth Hardy if you want the full thing” I say as I focus in on the heat radiating of the mug in my hands. Cassie jots down a note in her book, I can faintly see her writing my name inside of it. We sit in awkward silence for a moment, attempting to make small talk about her drive here and how she struggled to find the road that lead her here, how the three houses threw her off and that she was worried she was driving up to the wrong one. I tried to joke with her and make some comment about there was no wrong house here, but as suspected, it fell flat. “Now, before we begin this I just want to go over a few things” She tells me as she pulls a small voice recorder from her blazer pocket. I tensed up in my seat immediately, this was it, the interview was starting, and nothing would ever be the same in my life again after it.

[photoediting7]

Mastering the Art of Shooting and Editing Creative Makeup Product Photography

Makeup product photography is all about showing off the product in a way that grabs attention and tells a story. 

Whether it's the bold color of a lipstick or the smooth texture of a foundation, capturing these details can make all the difference. 

This guide will help you learn how to take and edit creative photos of makeup products in a way that's easy to follow, even if you're just starting out.

1. Plan Your Photoshoot

Before taking any photos, you need a plan. This helps you get clear on how you want the final images to look.

Know the Product and Brand

Each makeup brand has its own style. Some brands are luxurious and elegant, while others are bright and playful.

Knowing the brand's identity helps you create photos that match their vibe.

For example, if you’re shooting for a high-end brand, use fancy background remove's like black velvet or marble. 

If the brand is fun and casual, go for bright colors and playful props. Always make sure the product is the main focus of the shot.

Create a Mood Board

A mood board is a collection of images that inspire you. 

You can use Pinterest to gather ideas on styles, colors, lighting, and props. 

This will help you stay on track with your vision and show others what you’re going for.

Choose Your Location

For makeup products, you don’t need a big, fancy location. 

A small, clean space at home or in a studio works great. A simple backdrop, like a white surface or pastel colors, helps the product stand out. 

You can also add texture by using props like wood or glass to make the photos more interesting.

2. Equipment You’ll Need

You don’t need super expensive gear to get good photos, but having the right tools will make things easier.

Camera and Lens

Camera: A DSLR or mirrorless camera is great because you can control the settings. 

Look for a camera that shoots in RAW format for easier editing.

Lens: A macro lens is perfect for capturing the small details of makeup, like the shine of an eyeshadow or the texture of a lipstick. 

A 50mm or 100mm lens works well.

Lighting

Lighting is super important in photography. It helps you show the true colors and textures of the product.

Softbox or Ring Light: These lights give even, soft light that reduces harsh shadows.

Reflectors: These bounce light onto the product, making the lighting look balanced.

Light Positioning: Try different angles for your lights. Lighting from the side adds shadows and depth, while lighting from the front makes everything look even and flat.

Tripod

A tripod helps keep your camera steady, which is really important for sharp, clear images. 

This is especially useful when taking close-up shots of small products like makeup.

3. Setting Up Your Shot

Now that you have your gear, it’s time to set up the shot. How you arrange the products is key to creating a great image.

Product Arrangement

There are different ways to display makeup products, depending on the look you want:

Flat Lay: This is a top-down shot where the products are placed on a flat surface. 

It’s great for showing multiple items or creating a scene with props.

Hero Shot: This focuses on one main product. The product is usually placed at an angle to highlight its design or texture.

Texture and Swatches: Makeup is all about texture. Show the creamy texture of a lipstick or the shimmer of eyeshadow. 

You can also photograph swatches to show how the colors look on the skin.

Background and Props

The background should make the product stand out. 

Use simple props that match the product’s style, like makeup brushes or flowers, but don’t clutter the image. 

Keep the background clean and neutral so the makeup is the star.

Angles and Perspectives

Try different angles to find the best way to show the product. 

A flat lay works well for group shots, while close-up angles are great for showing the details of the product’s texture or packaging.

4. Taking the Photos

Now that your setup is ready, it’s time to start shooting! Here are a few important tips:

a. Aperture and Depth of Field

Using a low aperture (like f/2.8 or f/4) will blur the background and make the product stand out. 

This is great for close-ups. For group shots, use a higher aperture (like f/8 to f/11) so everything stays in focus.

b. ISO and Shutter Speed

Use a low ISO (100-400) to avoid grainy images. 

Since you’ll likely be using a tripod, you can set a slower shutter speed to let in more light without worrying about camera shake.

c. White Balance

Make sure the white balance is set correctly so the colors in your photo look natural. 

This is especially important for makeup because you want the colors to look accurate.

d. Focus and Sharpness

Make sure your focus is sharp, especially for close-up shots. 

Use manual focus if needed and zoom in on your camera’s screen to check that everything looks crisp.

5. Editing Your Photos

Editing your photos is just as important as taking them. It’s where you can make the colors pop and enhance the product's details.

Editing Software

Most photographers use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Lightroom is great for basic adjustments like color and lighting, while Photoshop lets you do more detailed retouching.

Basic Adjustments

Start by adjusting the basics:

Exposure: Make sure the image isn’t too dark or too bright.

Contrast: Increase contrast slightly to make the product stand out.

White Balance: Adjust this to ensure the colors of the product look true to life.

Color Correction

You want the colors in the photo to match what the product looks like in real life. 

Use the color correction tools in Lightroom to tweak the hues, saturation, and brightness of each color.

HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) Adjustments: If the lipstick looks too orange, you can adjust the red hue to make it look more accurate. 

HSL tools let you change specific colors without affecting the whole image.

Retouching

If there are any small flaws, like dust or smudges, use Photoshop’s healing brush to clean them up. 

This makes the product look flawless and professional.

Enhancing Texture: Use sharpening and clarity tools to bring out the textures of the makeup, like the shimmer of eyeshadow or the smoothness of lipstick.

Spot Healing: Remove any distractions or imperfections to keep the focus on the product.

Sharpening and Reducing Noise

Sharpen the image to highlight the details, but don’t go overboard or the photo may look too harsh. If you had to use a higher ISO, reduce noise to smooth out any grainy areas.

Final Check

Look over your image and make sure everything looks right. Is the product clear and sharp?

Do the colors look accurate? Does the lighting highlight the product well?

Once you're happy with the image, save it in a high-resolution format for the web, such as JPEG. You can also save a higher quality file like TIFF if you need it for print.

Conclusion

Shooting and editing makeup product photography can be simple if you follow the right steps. 

By understanding the brand’s style, setting up your shots carefully, and using the right tools and techniques, you can create stunning images that highlight the beauty of the products. 

Don’t forget, practice makes perfect! The more you experiment with different angles, lighting, and editing techniques, the better your photos will become.

[officialjewelleryhat]

How do you photograph costume jewelry?

Photographing costume jewelry can be a rewarding yet challenging task, especially when showcasing the intricate details and unique designs of your pieces. At Jewellery Hat, the fastest-growing fashion jewelry brand in India, we understand the importance of high-quality photography in representing our stunning range of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings—all made from stainless steel with anti-tarnish properties. In this guide, we’ll delve into effective techniques, tips, and best practices for capturing the beauty of costume jewelry in photographs.

Why Good Photography Matters

Before we dive into the specifics of how to photograph costume jewelry, it’s crucial to understand why good photography matters. High-quality images not only attract customers but also convey the quality and craftsmanship of your pieces. Here’s why it’s important:

Attractiveness: Well-composed images can draw in potential buyers, making them more likely to explore your collection.

Detail Showcase: Jewelry often features intricate designs and textures that deserve to be highlighted. Good photography captures these details.

Brand Image: Consistent, high-quality images reflect your brand’s professionalism and commitment to quality, enhancing customer trust.

SEO Benefits: Optimized images can improve your website’s search engine rankings, driving more traffic to your online store.

Preparing to Photograph Costume Jewelry

Preparation is key to successful jewelry photography. Follow these steps to ensure you’re ready:

1. Clean Your Jewelry

Before photographing, ensure that your costume jewelry is clean and polished. Dust, fingerprints, or smudges can detract from the overall appeal of your images. Use a soft cloth and a gentle cleaning solution if necessary, ensuring that the pieces are dry before shooting.

2. Gather Your Equipment

While professional equipment can enhance the quality of your photos, you can achieve great results with basic gear. Here’s what you’ll need:

Camera: A DSLR or mirrorless camera is ideal, but modern smartphones can also produce excellent results.

Tripod: A tripod helps stabilize your camera, preventing blurriness and allowing for longer exposure times.

Lighting: Natural light is often the best option, but you can also use softbox lights or LED lights to create a well-lit environment.

Backdrop: A clean, neutral backdrop (white, black, or pastel colors) will help your jewelry stand out.

3. Set Up Your Shooting Area

Choose a location with plenty of natural light, ideally near a window. If using artificial lighting, ensure it is diffused to avoid harsh shadows. Set up your backdrop to create a clean and professional look.

Techniques for Photographing Costume Jewelry

Now that you’re prepared, let’s explore effective techniques for capturing stunning images of costume jewelry.

1. Use Natural Lighting

Natural light can enhance the colors and details of your costume jewelry. Aim to shoot during the golden hour—shortly after sunrise or before sunset—when the light is soft and warm. If shooting indoors, position your setup near a window to take advantage of daylight.

2. Experiment with Angles

Different angles can dramatically change the appearance of your jewelry. Here are some angles to consider:

Top-down View: This angle is perfect for flat lay photography and works well for necklaces and bracelets.

Close-ups: Capture the details of your pieces by getting close. This works particularly well for earrings and rings, showcasing intricate designs and textures.

Model Shots: Consider photographing jewelry worn by models to provide context and scale.

3. Utilize Depth of Field

Using a shallow depth of field can help isolate your jewelry from the background, creating a pleasing bokeh effect. This technique emphasizes the piece and draws attention to its details. To achieve this, use a low f-stop setting (e.g., f/2.8 or f/4) on your camera.

4. Play with Composition

Composition is key to creating visually appealing images. Consider the following techniques:

Rule of Thirds: Imagine dividing your image into nine equal parts and place your jewelry along these lines or at their intersections for a balanced composition.

Leading Lines: Use elements in the background or surrounding area to create lines that lead the viewer’s eye towards the jewelry.

Negative Space: Leave empty space around the jewelry to make it stand out more effectively.

5. Show Off Different Textures

Costume jewelry often features various textures and materials. Capture these details by adjusting your lighting and angles. For example, using side light can create shadows that enhance texture, giving your images depth.

Post-Processing Your Images

Once you’ve captured your photos, the next step is post-processing to enhance their quality. Here are some tips for editing your images:

1. Use Editing Software

Software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop can help you fine-tune your images. Adjust brightness, contrast, and color balance to achieve the best representation of your jewelry.

2. Crop and Straighten

Ensure that your images are well-cropped and straightened. Remove any distracting elements from the background and focus on the jewelry.

3. Optimize for Web

To improve loading times on your website, optimize your images for web use. Compress your images without losing quality to ensure they look great on your online store.

Creating a Consistent Style

For a professional look across your online store, maintain a consistent photography style. Here’s how to achieve that:

1. Stick to a Color Palette

Choose a specific color palette for your backdrops and props that complements your brand identity. This consistency will create a cohesive look across all your images.

2. Maintain Similar Lighting

Ensure that your lighting remains consistent in all your photos. Whether you use natural or artificial light, try to replicate the same conditions for each shoot.

3. Develop a Signature Style

Over time, develop a signature style that reflects your brand. This could involve specific angles, props, or editing techniques that make your images instantly recognizable.

The Benefits of Professional Photography

If photography isn’t your strong suit, consider hiring a professional photographer who specializes in jewelry. Professional photographers understand lighting, composition, and post-processing techniques that can elevate your images and showcase your pieces in the best light.

Showcasing Your Costume Jewelry Online

At Jewellery Hat, we believe that high-quality photography is essential to showcasing our stunning range of stainless steel, anti-tarnish jewelry. With our lifetime replacement warranty on polishing, we are committed to providing our customers with jewelry that lasts.

1. Create Engaging Content

In addition to product images, consider creating engaging content that showcases your jewelry in different contexts. This could include lifestyle shots, how-to videos, or even blog posts that highlight styling tips for wearing costume jewelry.

2. Utilize Social Media

Leverage social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest to showcase your jewelry photography. Use hashtags and engage with your audience to build a following and drive traffic to your online store.

3. Optimize for SEO

To ensure your jewelry photography reaches a wider audience, optimize your images for search engines. Use descriptive file names, alt text, and relevant keywords to improve your visibility online.

Conclusion

In conclusion, knowing how to photograph costume jewelry is essential for any jewelry brand looking to make a lasting impression. By following the techniques and tips outlined in this guide, you can create stunning images that capture the beauty and craftsmanship of your pieces.

At Jewellery Hat, we offer a wide range of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings, all crafted from stainless steel and designed to resist tarnishing. With our commitment to quality and a lifetime replacement warranty on polishing, we strive to provide our customers with jewelry that they can cherish for years to come.

Whether you’re photographing your pieces for an online store or simply capturing them for social media, remember that good photography can elevate your brand and engage your audience. Start experimenting with these techniques today and watch as your jewelry comes to life through the lens!

Contact Us :-

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Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewelleryhatofficial/

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Contact Us - https://www.jewelleryhat.com/pages/contact-us

WhatsApp - 7017675567

[ravikantphotography]

Mouthwatering Moments: How to Take Gorgeous Food Photos

Food is no longer just for eating—it’s for sharing, savoring, and, most importantly, photographing. In the age of social media, a picture of your favorite meal can tell a story, capture a moment, and make mouths water around the globe. But taking truly gorgeous food photos isn't as simple as pointing and shooting. It requires a bit of creativity, technique, and a dash of flair.

If you’re ready to turn your next meal into a masterpiece, here’s how to capture those mouthwatering moments that will have everyone double-tapping.

1. The Power of Natural Light

Lighting can make or break your food photos. The best source? Natural light. Harsh overhead lights or yellow indoor bulbs can cast strange shadows and dull your food’s vibrant colors. Instead, shoot near a window where soft, natural light floods in, illuminating your dish and enhancing its textures.

If the sunlight is too direct, diffuse it with a sheer curtain or even a piece of parchment paper to create a gentle, even glow. Natural light brings out the rich details in food, making it look fresh, inviting, and irresistibly delicious.

2. Play with Composition

Your dish is the star of the show, but how you frame and style it can make all the difference. Begin by thinking about the angles: Top-down shots work wonders for flat-lay presentations like pizza or salads, while a 45-degree angle is perfect for highlighting layers in cakes, burgers, or sandwiches.

Don’t forget the surrounding elements. A strategically placed fork, a sprinkle of fresh herbs, or a rustic wooden table can add depth and character to the image. Use the rule of thirds by placing your main subject slightly off-center to create a more dynamic, professional-looking composition.

3. Less is More: Embrace Simplicity

A cluttered frame distracts from the food itself. The best food photos keep it simple, allowing the dish to shine. Instead of overwhelming your shot with too many props, focus on a few well-chosen items that complement the food, not compete with it. A minimalist backdrop, like a clean marble slab or wooden surface, helps your food pop and gives the image a fresh, clean vibe.

Remember, the key to a gorgeous food photo is letting the food speak for itself.

4. Highlight Colors and Textures

Food photography is all about capturing the delicious details that make a dish irresistible. Look for vibrant colors and contrasting textures that can create visual interest. The crumbled cheese top a pasta or the crisp char on a grilled steak—these elements make the viewer feel like they can taste the food through the image.

Play up these textures with your lighting and positioning. Sometimes a subtle overhead sprinkle of salt or sauce can add that extra layer of texture, giving the food a more natural, just-served feel.

5. Get Creative with Angles

Not all food is created equal when it comes to photography. Some dishes look best from a bird’s eye view (like flat dishes), while others—like a towering burger or a slice of pie—shine when shot from a lower angle. Experiment with different perspectives to see what works best for your dish.

For drinks or layered foods, shooting at eye level can capture the depth and richness of the layers. Experiment with your camera positioning to find the most mouthwatering angle possible.

6. Use Props to Tell a Story

Food photos can transport people to a time, place, or memory. Using props like rustic tableware, a well-loved cookbook, or fresh ingredients scattered around the dish can create a narrative. Maybe you’re showcasing a cozy homemade meal, a farm-fresh brunch, or an elegant restaurant dish. Choose your props carefully, ensuring they enhance the story without overshadowing the food.

The key here is to make the scene feel real and inviting, as if the viewer could sit down and take that first bite.

7. Don’t Forget the Details

It’s often the little things that take a food photo from good to great. Think about the final touches—the steam rising from a bowl of soup, a dusting of powdered sugar on a dessert, or a squeeze of lemon over fresh seafood. These small details bring the dish to life and can evoke taste, smell, and texture in a single frame.

Before you snap the shot, step back and scan the frame. Does the food look its absolute best? A quick garnish, a tiny drizzle, or a wiped-down plate can make all the difference.

8. Post-Processing Perfection

Even the best photos can benefit from a little post-editing magic. Adjusting the brightness, contrast, and sharpness can bring out the best in your images, making colors pop and textures even more inviting. But be cautious not to over-edit—food should still look natural and appetizing, not overly processed.

Simple apps like Lightroom or Snapseed can help you achieve that professional polish without going overboard.

9. Practice Makes Perfect

Like any art form, food photography takes practice. Don’t be afraid to experiment, make mistakes, and try new techniques. Over time, you’ll develop your own style and feel for what works best for different dishes. And most importantly, you’ll have fun along the way.

So whether you're shooting your homemade breakfast, an elegant dish at a fine-dining restaurant, or a vibrant street food feast, remember these tips to capture mouthwatering moments that leave a lasting impression. With the right lighting, composition, and creativity, your food photos will be too good to eat—but perfect to share.

[noesheen--buksh]

Week 3 - SDL Task

Artist Research

Marcus Moller Bitsch

The following three images were taken by Marcus Moller Bitsch from 2023. The images are from his series called Home, which is a reflective familiar journey about sudden life-changing moments that he had encountered. this series was his outlet for dealing with the new change.

Clearer View (4/10)

"Time has passed, and from it, a clearer view of the spaceship is possible. The spaceship was not destined to make the long flight."

Within the composition of this image, we can see a rocket jutting out of a rocky ground with a man standing in the further left-hand corner from a higher viewpoint. The colours within this image are cool-toned and very even. The colour grading in this image gives off the feeling of hopelessness to me with the lightest part of the image being centered around the rocket and the rest of the image getting gradually darker towards the edges. The concept behind this image that I have gathered is looking at something that you had always thought would end up differently but as the dust clears it becomes apparent to you that this was all it was destined for.

The simplicity of this image caught and trapped my attention, and I felt myself being pulled towards the photograph. To me, this image feels like highlighting a low point in your life where all you felt was despair and hopelessness.

The Helmet's Resting Place (7/10)

"The space explorer has left the helmet behind, as the air of the new world is realised to be breathable. The imprint of the old self stays and leaves the impression of a state that didn't foster growth."

The composition of this image shows a glass helmet lying on a field of what looks like shrubs; the helmet lays on top of a figure-shaped dent on the ground. The colours within this image are also rather cool-toned however compared to the first image it is much brighter, and the light seems to travel through most of the image. The colour grading within this image feels like grief, with the lighting and tone being overall the same throughout. The concept behind this image is what I believe to be grief and loss. The grieving of a former version of yourself that you could not take with you to newer and better things, the version of yourself that you have to leave behind and in a way suffer at the loss.

The human-shaped dent caught my attention, and the juxtaposition of the fluffy greeny against the flat brown dirt drew my attention. The other thing that caught my attention was the glass dome that at first glance appeared as a bubble to me. To me, this photograph feels like a loss of one of the many past versions of me that I need to leave behind.

I learnt that with this image, he had removed the shrubs by hand to create that human shape, which is another form of photo manipulation we learnt about. The photographer manipulates the scene he is taking, staging it for his own ideas.

Acceptance (8/10)

"The space explorer starts becoming one with the surroundings through acceptance of the new world."

Within this image, we can see a figure that is somewhat transparent standing in a forest of tall grass and even taller trees. Above him a perfect white colour. The colours in this image feel much more warm compared to the last two, it feels inviting and safe in a way. The concept behind this image is acceptance, as the text says the explorer starts becoming one with the surrounding through acceptance which can mean that the artist finally started to feel at home and safe through the progress of acceptance that this is now his life.

To me, this image feels like the conclusion of the journey, after going through a rough patch of despair and hopelessness, you leave behind your old self and grieve that person you once were then slowly begin to accept this new version of yourself becoming hopeful like you once were. I was drawn to this image because of how out of place the cloud appeared within the forest.

What I liked most about Marcus MB's photographs was the simplicity of the images. They were whimsical and playful and had a sort of dream-like quality to them. Every element was well blended with everything which is something I want to attempt. Another I want in my own work is playful simplicity.

Honourable mention

Stuart Lippincott - Graphic Artist

While looking for an artist whose work I liked, I came across this graphic designer whose work had interested me. I had searched if they did photo manipulation and I couldn't quite get a clear answer as to why I just put them under honourable mention. However, the last image of the trio is a photo manipulation.

What drew me into these bodies of work was the bright light of colours. The supposed beam that embodied light seemed like a doorway to another reality which I found interesting.

[digi5studios-blog]

Mastering Ghost Mannequin Photography: A Must for Online Clothing Retailers

The ghost mannequin effect, also known as the hollow man effect or invisible mannequin, is a popular technique in clothing photography designed to remove models or mannequins from apparel images. This method involves taking multiple shots of a product on a model or mannequin and then combining these photos using photo retouching services to create a final image where the model or mannequin is invisible. The result is a realistic, three-dimensional view of the clothing that draws attention to the product itself. This technique significantly enhances the appeal of apparel, making it more attractive than flat-lay photos.

Why You Should Use the Ghost Mannequin Effect

As a business owner or operator in the online clothing industry, the ghost mannequin effect is essential. It allows customers to visualize your products better and be instantly impressed. Captivating your customers with high-quality images increases the likelihood of making a sale.

Professional photo retouching services can boost apparel sales by creating stunning, high-quality images that educate buyers about the products. This technique, originally used in eCommerce, showcases how an outfit would appear when worn, bridging the gap between online and offline shopping experiences.

How to Achieve the Ghost Mannequin Effect

The ghost mannequin technique involves creating a composite image from two or more photos. The first shot captures the entire apparel on a mannequin. Additional images focus on the garment’s interior, which is otherwise obscured by the mannequin, and are taken on a white foam board.

Advantages of the Ghost Mannequin Effect

Enhanced Visualization: Helps customers imagine themselves wearing the outfit, reducing concerns about fit and style.

Consistent Presentation: Shows clothing as it would appear on a person, making the online shopping experience more relatable.

Focus on Product: Typically done on white backgrounds, eliminating distractions from models.

Dynamic Images: Creates lively, expressive photos compared to flat-lay images.

Cost-Effective Props: Simple, inexpensive props like clips, tissues, and double-sided tape can be used.

Ideal for Expensive Clothing: Provides a premium presentation suitable for high-end apparel.

Disadvantages of the Ghost Mannequin Effect

Costly and Time-Consuming: Retouching product images can be expensive and exhausting.

Expensive Equipment: New mannequins with detachable magnetic pieces are costly.

Lighting Requirements: Requires strong and even lighting, making it challenging for beginners. Hiring professional photo retouching services can be beneficial.

Alternative Clothing Photography Techniques

Model Photography: While models make products more relatable and can display multiple forms of clothing, they may draw attention away from the apparel and are expensive to hire.

Flat Lay Photography: This method involves photographing products from above on a horizontal surface. It’s quick and simple, ideal for plain-looking clothes, but may make garments look stretched and lifeless.

Steps to Perfect the Ghost Mannequin Effect

Apparel Photography:

Place the clothing on the mannequin, ensuring it is smooth and wrinkle-free.

Capture the first shot with careful positioning to level the arms and legs.

Interior Shot:

Take a second photo of the garment's interior in the same lighting.

Spread the clothes flat to capture the colors and shadows accurately.

Post-Processing:

Use Adobe Photoshop to merge the images.

Employ clipping path tools, layer masking, and brush tools to create the final ghost mannequin effect.

Conclusion

The ghost mannequin effect is a powerful tool for online clothing retailers. Professional and appealing photos are crucial for increasing sales, and this technique helps achieve a better response from customers. Unlike live models, mannequins can maintain consistent poses, ensuring uniformity and wrinkle-free presentation. For best results, consider leveraging professional photo retouching services to perfect your ghost mannequin images.

[lovesosweeet]

MAY THE BEST MAN WIN

competing for the best toast at their best friends' wedding, calum and tanner go from being pretend rivals to… something like friends. maybe a little more? may the best man win.

read on ao3

part five

a few months later

Tanner is grateful that she left a full weeklong gap in her schedule between when her final shoot was before the wedding and the night of the rehearsal dinner. Despite Valerie and Ashton having an insane wedding budget, Valerie’s extremely picky nature meant that she was still overseeing and micromanaging everything. Their wedding planner was making a fortune for doing next to nothing.

The errands and decorating weren’t the worst part, despite them taking long hours and being emotionally draining as Valerie picked apart every detail of literally everything. No, the worst part for Tanner was that Lou, who’d been booked as the lead photographer for the wedding, was stuck in New York because of bad weather. The rest of his photo team is unavailable tonight, so the rehearsal dinner is left without a photographer. 

Except, naturally, it’s not. 

Caterers have been setting up for dinner all day. Cases of champagne, way more plates than should be in front of each seat stacked elegantly, people running around, Valerie toeing the line of bridezilla… it stressed Tanner out as the maid of honor, the best friend, and, now, the photographer.

No one else has seemed to notice, but Valerie and Ashton are incredibly annoyed with each other. They’re both aware it’s a stupid fight, so they’re holding their tongues as to not lash out and crossing things off their to do list with as few words as possible. It makes things tense, but only for those who know them well enough to pick up on the subtleties of their body language shifts. 

Tanner is lucky that she doesn’t travel without her film camera, which is all she’s promised the bride and groom. They’re limited to the 36 exposures on her single roll of film, but Valerie and Ashton assured her that was better than nothing and promised to compensate her for her work, which of course she denied. 

She’s running around in her dress, barefoot, trying to help get everything in its place so she can take a few pictures before everyone shows up. She knows she probably looks comical — a vintage film camera slung around her neck, her hair poorly held back in a claw clip, no shoes, a flowy black dress tied up loosely in a satin scrunchie so she doesn’t have to hold it up while she runs around without her heels.

Valerie and Ashton are talking to the head of the catering crew, both of them also dressed up and looking fashionable and far less frazzled than Tanner. She felt envious of the rest of the bridal party who got to spend the day at a vineyard, drinking wine and eating cheese and getting a tan, while she spent the whole time with Valerie at the venue.

The maid of honor isn’t sure if she’s relieved or more stressed out as the groomsmen and bridesmaids enter with their plus ones. They’re all rosy cheeked and cheery, laughing and talking without care. The girls start gushing about how good the hall looks and how stunning the floral arrangements are, which was mostly Tanner’s handiwork, so she feels at least a little better. 

“Having fun yet?” A familiar voice says from behind her while she tries to set up the perfect flat lay of the invitations to the dinner, the custom labeled champagne for the evening, and flowers.

She spins around, trying her best not to shoot a death glare at Calum. “No, no I am not,” she whispers.

Calum is stunned, nearly staggering backwards. “Woah, woah, what’s up? Are you okay?”

Tanner sighs, reaching up and letting her curled hair fall out of the claw clip, only so she can redo it. “Fucking Lou is trapped in New York, so not only am I being maid of honor to,” she lowers her voice while her eyes point to her best friend, “bridezilla,” she whispers.

Calum laughs, looking over at the currently unhappy couple before he looks back down at Tanner.

“I’m also in charge of taking photos tonight. With my film camera.”

He gives her a look that says he doesn’t fully understand the extent of why that’s such a bad thing. 

She huffs, picking her camera up and spinning the back to face him so he can see the number of shots she has left. “See that?” She asks, pointing to the tiny number 31 in the corner. Calum nods. “I have 31 chances to take the perfect pictures of this whole night. No room to fuck up. Oh, and, amidst all the other stuff I’ve been told to do today, I still haven’t written my goddamn toast for tomorrow.”

When Calum smiles arrogantly, she holds up a finger.

“Shut the hell up, I’m still winning the bet.”

“I’ve never seen you this sassy,” he says, giggling.

She frowns. “I’m just stressed.”

He nods. “Oh, no, I can definitely tell.”

“Tanner! We missed you today!” Elle comes over, pretty tipsy from all her wine, but not drunk. She slings an arm around her friend and pulls her closer. 

“I know, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it. Did you have a good time?” She asks.

Before Tanner can even finish asking her a question, Elle is reaching for the camera hanging from her neck and pushing Calum next to her. 

“Squeeze in, gotta get a picture of the maid of honor and best man! Best buddies!”

Both Tanner and Calum laugh, but Tanner is panicking about losing one of her 36 shots to Elle taking a blurry, overexposed photo on her vintage camera. She holds her hands out, trying to take the camera from her, but it’s a lost cause.

“Elle, wait!”

The flash goes off and the camera whirs, making Tanner’s heart sink.

In an effort to prevent Tanner from crying out of frustration, Calum grabs the camera from Elle. “Let’s leave the photos to the professionals,” he says gently. “Which, speaking of, sorry to disrupt your workflow, Danny. Elle, do you know where the bathroom is? I’ve been looking but can’t find it.”

He looks back over his shoulder at Tanner as they walk away, holding up a thumbs up as she mouths ‘thank you.’

[aman24593]

Product Photography At Home: A Complete Guide for Beginners and Intermediates

In the digital age, product photography has become more critical than ever. Whether you're selling products online, creating marketing materials, or simply showcasing your creations, high-quality product images can make a world of difference. While professional product photographers are readily available, there's a lot you can achieve by learning the basics of product photography at home. In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover everything you need to know, from types of product photography to essential tips, tools, and when to consider hiring a pro.

Types of Product Photography

Before delving into the tips and techniques of product photography, it's essential to understand the various types of product photography you might encounter:

E-commerce Product Photography: This is the most common type, where products are photographed against a white or neutral background. The aim is to display the product clearly and without distractions.

Lifestyle Product Photography: In this style, products are showcased in real-life settings, often with models or props. This helps potential customers visualize how the product fits into their lives.

Flat Lay Photography: This is popular for smaller items like accessories, cosmetics, or food. Products are laid flat on a surface, and the photograph is taken from above. It offers a stylish, minimalist look.

360-Degree Product Photography: For a more interactive experience, some e-commerce websites use 360-degree product images. These allow customers to rotate the product and view it from all angles.

Macro/Product Detail Photography: This style focuses on capturing intricate details of the product. It's commonly used for jewelry, electronics, or anything with fine textures or features.

Now that you know the different types, let's dive into some essential product photography tips and the process involved.

Product Photography Tips and Process

Plan Your Shoot: Start by planning your shoot. Decide on the type of product photography you want to achieve, and create a shot list to stay organized.

Choose the Right Lighting: Good lighting is crucial in product photography. Natural light works well, but you can also use artificial lighting with softboxes or diffusers to control shadows and highlights.

Use a Tripod: To ensure stability and avoid shaky images, use a tripod. This will help you maintain consistency throughout your shoot.

Select the Right Background: For e-commerce product photography, a plain white or neutral background is ideal. You can use a white sheet, poster board, or a dedicated backdrop.

Consider Props and Styling: Depending on the type of product, add props or styling elements that complement your item. Ensure they don't overshadow the product itself.

Camera Settings: Use a camera with manual settings, if possible. Adjust settings like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to control exposure and depth of field.

Product Placement: Position the product according to your shot list, and pay attention to angles. Consider using reflectors or diffusers to control reflections and highlights.

Post-Processing: After taking your shots, use photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom to enhance your images. Adjust colors, contrast, and sharpness as needed.

Consistency is Key: If you're photographing multiple products, maintain consistency in terms of lighting, angles, and composition. This ensures a cohesive look for your product catalog.

Practice, Practice, Practice: Like any skill, practice makes perfect. Experiment with different techniques and learn from your mistakes to improve your product photography over time.

Tools to Get Started With Product Photography

While you can start with minimal equipment, investing in the right tools can significantly enhance your product photography efforts:

Camera: A DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual settings provides more control over your shots compared to a smartphone.

Lenses: A prime lens with a wide aperture (e.g., 50mm f/1.8) is excellent for product photography. It allows you to create a shallow depth of field for that professional look.

Tripod: A sturdy tripod is essential for stability, especially when shooting at slower shutter speeds.

Lighting Equipment: Softboxes, diffusers, and reflectors help control and shape light, resulting in better images.

Backdrop: Invest in a quality backdrop or background paper for clean and consistent backgrounds.

Props and Styling Tools: Depending on your products, consider using props, fabric, or other styling elements to enhance your shots.

Photo Editing Software: Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom are industry standards for post-processing your images.

Why Product Photography Increases Conversions

High-quality product photography plays a significant role in increasing conversions for several reasons:

Visual Appeal: Stunning images capture the attention of potential customers and make the product more enticing.

Clarity: Clear, well-lit photos provide customers with a detailed view of the product, reducing uncertainty and increasing confidence in their purchase.

Trust: Professional-looking images instill trust in your brand, indicating that you care about the quality of your products.

Storytelling: Lifestyle product photography, in particular, helps tell a story and allows customers to visualize how the product fits into their lives.

Competitive Advantage: High-quality product photos set you apart from competitors who may have lower-quality images.

When to Consider Hiring a Professional Product Photographer

While learning to do product photography at home is an excellent skill, there are times when hiring a professional photographer is the better choice:

Complex Products: If your products have intricate details, specialized lighting needs, or require extensive styling, a professional photographer can handle the complexity.

Time Constraints: When you're running a business, time is precious. Hiring a pro frees you up to focus on other aspects of your venture.

Consistency: Professional photographers can deliver consistent results across your entire product catalog, ensuring a cohesive look.

Technical Expertise: For specific types of product photography, such as jewelry or automotive parts, professionals with specialized equipment and expertise are invaluable.

Your Best Option for Professionals - Praveen Bhat

When it comes to professional product photography, Praveen Bhat is a name that stands out. With years of experience and a portfolio that includes working with renowned brands, Praveen Bhat brings unmatched expertise to the table.

Praveen Bhat's work is characterized by its creativity, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering exceptional results. His understanding of lighting, composition, and styling allows him to bring out the best in every product he photographs.

Whether you're looking to elevate your e-commerce business or create compelling marketing materials, Praveen Bhat's professional product photography services are your best choice for achieving outstanding results.

Product photography is a valuable skill that can benefit both individuals and businesses. Learning the basics of product photography at home allows you to create high-quality images that can enhance your online presence and boost conversions. By following the tips and techniques outlined in this guide and considering professional help when needed, you can create stunning product images that captivate your audience and drive success.

In today's competitive market, product photography isn't just a luxury; it's a necessity. So, start practicing, invest in the right equipment, and watch your product photography skills grow, ultimately leading to increased conversions and success in your endeavors. Remember that Praveen Bhat is your go-to professional for exceptional product photography

[clippingpathhouse]

How to Take a Perfect Flat Lay Photograph

Many Instagram photos are flat photos of foods or objects that look aesthetic. Photos like these get a lot of likes as people love to see a good-looking food photo. So, it is very important to take a perfect flat photo without making any mistakes. So here we are going to discuss about how to take a perfect flat lay photograph for your photoblog.

 The most effective method to Take a Perfect Flat Lay Photograph

 1. Utilize natural lighting

My main tip for capturing a flat lay picture is to be aware of your source of light. Normal light gives pictures a wonderful, delicate look. This implies everything in your photo is equitably lit, evading heavy shadows.

To accomplish this look, try to set up your flat lays close to a big window so as to have a plenitude of normal light accessible.

 2. Utilize a spotless, plain background

In some cases, toning it down would be best. Unbiased foundations work best while shooting flat lays. This guarantees your items stick out and don't contend with the foundation.

The absolute most famous foundations are: froth board, marble contact paper, and development paper.

 3. Utilize the rule of odds

Studies have indicated that things are all the more satisfying to the eye when assembled in odd numbers. While styling your flat lay photo, try to have a point of convergence gathered in 3. I guarantee it will have any kind of effect.

As usual, careful discipline brings about promising results. So, make a point to organize and revise your props until you are happy with the final product. Continuously make a bigger number of efforts than you might suspect you'll need and play around with the separation between your camera and your subject, just as the separation between the articles you are styling. As a rule, you will understand that your props should be nearer together than you at first idea they did.

 4.Photo editing

Flat photos are naturally beautiful if you shoot it in natural light. But you can tweak your photos to make it even better. Many people use adobe photoshop or lightroom to tweak their photos to perfection. There are also some very cheap photo retouching company that will retouch your photos for you. This is time efficient and very low priced.

[tiredbuthappy]

Champagne Problems

CS x Reader x DR

A/N Hello friends! I apparently go on long hiatus' and then drop fics out of nowhere. Please enjoy the first part of what will be a series! Huge thank you to my muse and brainstorm buddy, @haterpenny. Any messages are hugely appreciated!

✨Please reply/reblog if you would like to be tagged in future parts.✨

Warnings: Smut, fwb situation, some light swearing, some questionable decision making, drinking.

Word count: 5K

✨FULL SERIES LINKED HERE✨

It never failed to blow your mind how a race felt like it lasted forever, but it was over in the blink of an eye. All you knew was how desperate you were to win.

For the first twenty laps, you and Lewis were neck and neck, with him about a second or so behind. You’d gotten away well at the start and did everything in your power to keep that lead. Unfortunately for Mercedes, a pit stop error plus your “perfect” (Christian’s words, not yours) performance led you to the race win.

You crossed the finish line feeling elated, shouting into the radio, likely blowing out the eardrum of your strategist in the process.

You pulled into the spot reserved for the race winner, feeling as though your heart may burst from your chest. One more race completed, the championship still within your reach.

You composed yourself enough to stand upon the car’s halo, your arms thrust over your head in celebration. The roars of your team and the massive smiles made you swell with pride, and you did everything you could to soak up such a perfect moment.

After leaping into your team’s arms and receiving several slaps to your helmet you were being rushed towards the podium. You climbed atop the highest perch, just past Lewis and- oh hell, was that Daniel in third? You had not yet had the opportunity to share the podium with your closest mate on the grid, and you were equal parts thrilled and disgusted at the shoey that was surely coming your way.

You stood as your National anthem played, bobbing slightly on your heels, finding it difficult to be still for even a moment with all of the excitement bubbling in your veins.

And then, those speakers began blaring Bizet’s beautiful Carmen and you were shaking that champagne as vigorously as your tired arms would allow. You coated Lewis with a generous spray, and shared a nice half-hug, exchanging words of respect and congratulations at one another’s result. Then your eyes caught Daniel’s, sparkling with mischief as he knelt down and removed his boot, his finger pointing at you and beckoning you towards him with a devilish grin across his lips.

You tried to look annoyed, but it was nearly impossible; he was glowing, that successful post-race mix of champagne and sweat making his curls lay flat, his cheeks flushed and pink from exertion. He filled his shoe to the brim, some overflow sloshing as he raised the boot to his lips before taking a long, generous gulp.

You wrinkled your nose in slight disgust, as you realized you were next. Soon he was standing before you, his hand outstretched in offering. He had that huge, gleaming smile that nearly blinded you, and then you were drinking out of the man’s shoe. One gulp, then two, then three, earning a delighted eye raise from Daniel and a laugh that made his Adam’s apple bob ridiculously. If you were going to do it, you were going to do it right. Lewis politely declined the offered shoey, an uncomfortable smile on his cheeks- this wasn’t his first rodeo.

Then Dan was slipping an arm around your waist, his trophy in one hand, to pose for the mass of photographers and fans standing below. After a moment he set his trophy down and playfully hoisted you up, earning a surprised laugh from you.

Your friendship with Daniel was well known among fans and other drivers alike, and this was your first shared podium after three years in the sport together. What they didn’t know was just how close you and Daniel were. The look he was giving you on that podium- you’d know that devilish expression anywhere. It gave you a glimpse into his plans for the evening ahead, plans that promised hours with his head trapped between your thighs.

“Can’t wait to have you all to myself,” He whispered as he eased you back down to your feet, topping it off with a cheeky wink. You hadn’t expected him to be quite so forward in front of so many people, but his boldness just made you even more excited for the celebrations that the evening had in store.

After stepping off the podium and speaking to the many news outlets, you were sticky from the champagne and wanted nothing more than to take a shower. You decided to throw your hair up in a messy bun and opted to wait for the much nicer shower in your hotel room rather than the cramped, lukewarm water that your private room at the track offered.

In the car back to the hotel you were busy reliving the afternoon’s events, the pure elation you felt as you passed the finish line and the absolute glee that seemed to burst out of you as you stood upon the highest pedestal. And to top it off, Daniel was standing right beside you, just as he always had.

You hopped out of the car and checked your phone as you stood in the lobby, waiting for the elevator. Almost as if on cue, a light vibration alerted you to a text.

Big Dick Ricc: Is now a good time to celebrate? 😈”

His text read, simultaneously making you roll your eyes and smirk. That was what he had chosen to name himself in your phone, but it never failed to make you laugh.

Y/N: Room 355.

You replied simply, wandering down the hall and swiping your key card.

You and Daniel had been casually hooking up on and off for the last year or so. It was spontaneous, fun and no strings attached. The adrenaline of race weekend was something you both understood, not to mention the fact that it was nearly impossible to maintain relationships with people outside of the sport. It had started with too much champagne in Monaco, and your familiarity began to drift into lingering touches and lustful looks exchanged until he invited you back to his room. Initially, you were worried about complicating your relationship but surprisingly, things remained rather simple. You had agreed that you weren’t interested in a relationship, rather the opportunity to blow off some steam with someone you trusted and truly loved. You had also agreed that it was best that your escapades remain a secret. You didn’t want the other drivers- or anyone else for that matter- judging you. You were the only woman on the grid and with that role came garnering more harsh judgment.

You started the shower and allowed the steam to fill the room as you undressed, your still-damp coveralls tossed carelessly into your sink to dry. Just moments later you heard the sound of a knock at your door and you wrapped yourself in a towel to answer it. You tugged it open, expecting to see Daniel, but instead stood Carlos Sainz. Your initial reaction was confusion, followed by embarrassment at your state of undress. Carlos smiled, his eyes sneaking a quick glance at your form before pretending he didn’t notice. Carlos was back in his regular clothes, a dark green t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

“I’m sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to stop by and say congratulations.” He said honestly, his red lips pulled into a grin.

“Oh, thanks. I uh, was just about to get in the shower. I’m sticky from champagne.” You explained, laughing slightly before realizing maybe just how suggestive that sounded. You swore his cheeks flushed lightly just from the picture your words had painted for him.

“Of course. I just thought I’d let you know, we’re going out tonight. If you want to come.” You were touched at the invitation and smiled warmly in response.

“I’ll see what I can do. I’ll text you later.” You told him, leaning against the doorframe and looking up at him with big eyes. He paused for a moment and looked as though he wanted to speak, but instead opted for a smile and a nod before saying his goodbyes and turning on his heel. You mentally breathed a sigh of relief that Daniel had not managed to arrive during that short period of time. That would open you up to questions you didn’t wish to answer.

And then there was your relationship with Carlos. He had been putting in a bit of effort to speak with you and spend more time with you. He’d even asked you out for a meal or two. But whether he was looking for romance or pleasant friendship was unclear.

The hotel room was big and elegant, the walls painted a dark blue color with gold accents littered about. One thing you loved about this sport- your accommodations were always top-notch.

You went back in to check on the shower when finally you heard a weirdly elaborate knock that was surely Daniel. You tugged the door open and there he stood, arms already outstretched and waiting for you, a big goofy grin on his face. You grabbed him by his t-shirt and pulled him through the door, dropping your towel in the process. His hands felt so big and greedy against you, and you’d been craving his touch all day. He kissed you eagerly, his one hand splayed over your hip while the other came up to caress your cheek.

“You looked so fucking sexy up there,” Daniel said hotly, pulling back for a moment to take you in in all of your glory.

“Winning beside you makes it so much better,” You sighed, desperately reaching for his lips once more. You led him to the bathroom and started grabbing at the hem of his shirt, and he quickly obliged, tossing it aside carelessly while you worked on unbuttoning his pants.

“You still taste like champagne,” He told you before taking a long, slow lick from your collar to right below your ear pulling a moan out of you.

“Oh fuck, Danny. I need you.” You leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the tattoos splayed across his bicep as he kicked his pants and underwear aside. The shower was a large walk-in, perfect for the amorous activities you had planned.

Daniel loved to put his hands on you. He had no problem letting you be in charge, but there was something indescribable about the way your body responded to his ministrations. He pressed you back against the wall, the chill of the tile bringing goosebumps to your skin.

“You know you’ve got me, you’ve always got me, doll,” He said as he dropped to his knees, edging your thighs apart with his palms. God, you’d never get sick of seeing him worship you the way he did. You watched as the water slipped through his hair, dampening his curls and sticking them back on his forehead. His lips were parted as he looked up at you, his chest heaving slightly as if holding back from you were an effort in and of itself.

You reached down and fondly ran your knuckles over his cheek before tracing his bottom lip with your thumb.

You used your hand to pull him closer to you, earning a slight chuckle at your impatience from him before he put his mouth where you wanted it most. You loved when Daniel went down on you. He was relentless in his pursuit of your pleasure, licking and sucking lightly on your clit. Your legs felt like jelly already, and he’d barely just begun. He wrapped his hands around your thighs and held you in place as you wriggled against him, bucking your hips against him, desperate for friction. You nestled your hand in his hair, tugging slightly in encouragement and guidance, although he certainly didn’t need it. He knew your body and made you feel better than anyone else ever had. One of his palms snaked up to your ass, which he grabbed a greedy handful of eliciting a surprised groan from you. Once he was sure you could handle it he pushed one finger into you, and then a second. You could feel yourself flutter around him, and knew that you were already dangerously close to your orgasm.

Daniel always ate you out like it was the last chance he’d ever get, zeroing in on the spots that drove you wild until your legs were shaking and all you were capable of doing was moaning his name. He settled into a rhythm and lapped at your core until you were seeing stars and his name was falling from your lips like it had from the crowd of fans just that afternoon. He helped you ride out your orgasm, his fingers thrusting in and out of you at a more gentle pace, his tongue licking long, languid stripes over your clit until you settled back into yourself.

He steadily got back to his feet, one hand finding its way back to your hip (he loved your hips) while the other brushed some of your damp hair out of your face.

“You earned that, sweetheart.” He said before pressing a deep kiss to your already swollen lips. Still, you could barely process what he was saying, you felt tingly all over like he had electrocuted you somehow.

“Do you want me?” He asked, his forehead nearly touching yours, his eyes searching for your response.

“Yes, Daniel, please.” You finally found the words you were looking for and wrapped your arms around him in an effort to better support yourself. He lifted your leg and secured it around his hip while your other kept you steady in the slippery shower. Daniel took the space he needed between your thighs and lined himself up with your entrance and pushed in, allowing you just a moment or so to adjust before pulling out and thrusting back in again. Soon he was moving faster and you felt like a mere ragdoll in his arms, so blissed out from your high that he could do whatever the hell else he wanted for you and you’d happily take it.

You had had Daniel so many times before, in so many different positions, but there was something about this position and the access it offered that you found so incredibly satisfying. His wet, strong chest pressed against yours, the tight grip of his hand supporting your thigh while he buried himself in you in a way that made you eagerly await his next “You up?” text.

He let out a low groan that you were all too familiar with, one that meant he was about to finish. You ran a free hand down his chest and captured his moans with a kiss as his hips stuttered and he came inside of you. He stayed with you frozen in that closeness for a moment. While you weren’t exclusive, everything between you and Daniel was full of love and tenderness because above all else, he was your best friend.

“That is the best way to celebrate a podium,” He said after a moment, chuckling deeply in a way that usually made you roll your eyes, but you couldn’t disagree with the sentiment. You grabbed the washcloth that hung on the spigot and held it out to Daniel and looked up at him with big, pleading eyes.

“Wash me?”

“Since you won today? Fine.” He replied, accepting it and pressing a chaste kiss to your lips before returning to his knees once more. Dan lathered the washcloth with some body wash and ran it up and down the length of your leg, and over the curve of your ass- an area that he liked to give special attention to.

“I mean, I feel like you made the mess. The least you can do is clean it up.” You quipped, a playful smirk pulling at your features as you watched him work.

“Oh, you mean the mess you begged me to make? This mess?” He asked, reaching up and cupping your sex, making you jump slightly and giggle. You swatted his hand away and allowed him to get back to his task, adding a bit more soap before continuing up towards your back.

“I forgot to tell you, Carlos invited me to a thing tonight. Do you want to go? I think Lando and Charles and the other guys will be there too.”

“Yeah, we’ve still got celebrating to do.” He agreed, popping the lid on the hotel’s shampoo and pouring it into his hands before running his fingers through your hair. You groaned at the feeling- you loved when Daniel washed your hair. It was the ultimate luxury as far as you were concerned- and certainly, one you deserved after such a triumphant day.

Once you were done enjoying your shower, you stepped out and began to get ready. You rifled through your drawers for something fun and sexy, hoping to feel confident and enjoy the wealth of attention you were sure to get.

No one on the grid knew about you and Daniel’s little arrangement, and you preferred to keep it that way. You’d known Daniel for far longer than the other drivers and your relationship had always come with a simple wordless understanding that you knew one another better than anyone else could. Still, you were the only woman on the grid and you wanted your competitors to respect you. You weren’t in Formula 1 to fuck around, you were there to win. Daniel understood. You didn’t have to explain yourself to him, you could let your guard down and say or do whatever you wanted, and you knew he’d never look at you any differently. But if you were bed-hopping on the grid you’d look like a joke. You refused to let that be the narrative that surrounded you. Instead, you’d be the first woman to win the World Drivers’ Championship.

Finally, you settled on a pink dress, one short enough to show your legs off, and low cut enough to draw eyes. Nothing made you feel quite as sexy as holding a trophy above your competitor‘s heads while people chanted your name, but a hot outfit for a club wouldn't hurt.

As you did your makeup, Daniel finished showering while loudly singing a song you didn’t know. Once you decided your makeup was acceptable you moved on to your hair, dying it quickly with a blow dryer before plugging in your curling iron.

“You look nice,” Daniel said, stepping out of the shower and grabbing a towel to dry off. Just as you were about to respond, your phone dinged on the counter.

Carlos: Here’s the address. See you soon!

You gave Carlos the thumbs up on his text and started curling a section of your hair.

“Danny, you almost ready?” You asked, glancing in his direction in the mirror. He was pulling his outfit from earlier back on, a quick nod in answer to your question.

Once you were satisfied with your looks, you headed down to the lobby together to grab a taxi. The club was only about fifteen minutes away, and you were eager to see the rest of your friends. It had been a while since you had been out with the other drivers. Everyone’s schedules were always so jam-packed, that you often didn’t have time during the season to hang out with anyone other than your teammate, who just so happened to be Checo Perez. And while he was lovely, he wasn’t exactly the biggest party-er on the grid.

After posing for a few photos and a quick check-in with the bouncer, you were ducking into the dimly lit club, immediately overwhelmed by the pulsing music and crowd of sweaty dancers. You searched the crowd until you finally caught sight of Carlos, sitting in a corner, shouting into the ear of Lando Norris.

____________________________________

Carlos looked down at the text, his chest now feeling much like a swarm of butterflies, his leg anxiously bouncing below the table. Lando seemed to notice, a smirk pulling at his features to see his normally suave friend in such a state.

“Relax, man. She’ll be here.” Lando said, raising his soft drink to his lips.

“Yes, I know. It’s fine, I’m fine.” The Spaniard replied almost a bit too quickly, forcing a smile and turning his phone face down. Pierre and Charles were on the other side of the table, much oblivious to the situation, quickly speaking in French to one another. Finally, the pair paused and turned “Shots? I think we need shots.” Charles announced, reading the expression of the two former teammates that were not matching his vibe.

“No!”

“Yes!” Carlos agreed, much to Lando’s chagrin. Perhaps a bit of liquid courage would help him calm down a bit.

“Right, you can do a shot. I’ll be fine, thanks.” Charles was satisfied enough with the responses and went to the bar with Pierre to help bring their drinks back.

“Carlos, what exactly is the plan here anyway? You’re gonna have a dance, tell her you’re in love with her?” Lando questioned sarcastically, leaning awkwardly close to be sure Carlos could hear him over the extremely loud bass of a song that he couldn’t understand any of the words to.

“I’m not in love with her,” Carlos yelled back, somewhat defensively.

“Sure,” Lando replied, fully unconvinced. Carlos went back to eyeing the entrance, trying not to seem as desperate as he truly felt. Luckily for him, Charles was back and handing out Tequila shots, which proved to only distract him for the amount of time it took the liquid to pass his lips.

And then he caught sight of you, pushing through the crowd, scanning faces in search of his. He threw his hand up to catch your attention, a big smile across his face. A smile that fell as he caught sight of Daniel Ricciardo trailing behind you, holding onto your hand.

“She brought Daniel.” He said, the dejection clear in his voice. Lando pursed his lips and furrowed his brow, admittedly a bit disappointed for his friend.

Carlos stood in greeting and you pulled him into a hug, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“What are we drinking boys? Except you, Lando. I know you’re drinking Root Beer.” You only half-joked, an unamused smirk covering his features.

“Daniel, I didn’t know you were coming,” Lando said, rising to give his teammate a friendly slap on the back.

“Um, we’ve got a world championship contender to celebrate,” Daniel replied, nudging you in your side. You rolled your eyes, embarrassed about all the fuss.

“Lewis has been blowing us away and we’re finally catching up. If that’s not something to celebrate, I don’t know what is.”

“Cheers to that!” Charles yelled in agreement, raising what must have been his third shot.

“Apparently we need to catch up. I’ll be right back.” Daniel told you, nodding towards the bar. You shouted your order after him along with a thank you and turned your attention back to Carlos.

“I saw you finished P4 today, brilliant result.” You told him, poking him in the chest suggestively.

“Yeah, definitely happy.” He replied although he did not look happy in the least. In a moment, Daniel was back and pulling you from Carlos’ side. You threw back a shot. Then another. And Charles and Daniel egged you on enough that you had a third.

Once he deemed you tipsy enough, Dan pulled you onto the dance floor. Few things made you laugh harder than Daniel dancing, and since you were a little drunk, the dancing got a little dirtier. He held your waist and planted a thigh between your legs, allowing you a little friction as you bobbed and swayed to the music. You ran your fingers through his hair and he leaned down into your neck, his hands starting to wander to your ass. Truthfully, you should have been way more composed. You didn’t want the other guys seeing you looking horny and drunk, but eh. You decided to indulge and enjoy the evening. After a few songs, Daniel pulled away, determined to get another drink into you.

Charles and Pierre were somewhere on the dance floor, also too drunk to know how stupid they looked.

Still, you couldn’t help but notice that Carlos didn’t quite seem to be himself. You decided to do something about it, locking eyes with him and pushing past people, and making your way over to where he sulked.

“Come on, come show me that Spanish passion I’ve heard so much about.” You said, shooting him a wink and reaching your hand out to him. His expression finally broke, a big, goofy smile spreading across his features. You led him back to the dance floor, not without noticing the pleasant way in which his hand fit into yours.

“Oh, I can show you passion.” He whispered as you turned your back towards him, rubbing a little more ass across his crotch than friends usually do. You snuck your hand back behind his neck, pulling him close as you swayed, his hands firmly planted on your hips. Feeling Carlos moving behind you was new and exciting, and maybe it was just how drunk you were, but there was nothing that you wanted more than to take him back to your room. Still, you were friends, and maybe it wasn’t entirely appropriate for you to be grinding so hard against him. You swore that maybe he was thinking the same thing you were, the way his hands glided down your skin and his hips moved against yours- you were thinking some very not PG thoughts. He spun you around and pulled you into his chest, his fingers pushing some of your loose hair behind your ear, then tilting your chin up to make you meet his gaze. You were pretty sure he wasn’t looking at you like you were a friend. You found yourself thinking about his full, pink lips and how flushed his cheeks were. He looked so focused with his brow knit together, so in the moment- like there was no one else around. You loved when Carlos had a fresh shave, he looked so damn handsome and he even smelled amazing- you swore you saw Lando throw a thumbs up in your direction, but you didn’t get time to think about it before-

“OI! Get your ass over here! I’ve got another round for you!” You don’t know how Daniel’s voice was able to cut over the noise of the club, but it did. His voice pulled you back to reality, almost like a rubber band snapping. You dropped your hands away from Carlos, suddenly feeling embarrassed by how carried away you had allowed yourself to get.

You avoided his eyes for a moment before saying “How about another drink?” Carlos looked a bit dejected but followed you anyway.

After your drink, you headed back to dancing, this time with Charles and in a much more PG way. He had you laughing, and you could tell the next morning would certainly be rough for him.

Finally, at around 3 am, you were running out of steam. You were seated in the booth, trying to understand Charles’ broken English when Daniel nudged you on the shoulder.

“You ready to go, darling?” He asked. “I think you might need a chaperone.” He added cheekily, shooting a wink in your direction. You stood, and immediately you were a bit wobbly. He was right. You linked your arm in his and turned to the other men, all in various states of sobriety.

“Salut, boys. Thank you for a good time, Carlos.” You told him, pressing a kiss to his cheek before focusing all of your lowered inhibitions on Dan.

He helped you into the back of a cab and you leaned against him, his arm slipping around you.

“Alright, let’s get you home. How would you feel about… keeping this party going?” Daniel asked lowly, his appetite insatiable as always. You giggled but returned his question with a kiss.

————————————————————

Carlos hated having to watch you leave with Dan. Holding you in his arms, getting to feel you move against him, it felt so good, so right. There was no way you could be oblivious to that. He laid in his hotel room bed, scrolling through Instagram when Daniel’s most recent post popped up. It was a picture of you, from the club last night and the caption read “Winning GPs and hearts. Here comes Trouble.” Trouble was the affectionate nickname the reporters had dubbed you upon your arrival in F1. The reason being you were a fierce competitor and always ready to cause trouble on the grid. Well, no one could argue how well it suited you. Carlos clenched his jaw in frustration, feeling so close yet so far away from you. It seemed like he could never have a moment alone with you as Daniel was never far behind. He knew you’d been good friends for many years, but your relationship seemed far more intimate than any other typical friendship. Just as he felt hopeless, his phone dinged.

Y/N: Thank you for the invitation last night and the dance. 😏

The message did not quell Carlos’ frustrations, it was just as ambiguous as every interaction he had with you. He decided to roll the dice and send back a flirtatious reply.

Carlos: I’m more than just a good dancer.

He pressed send feeling like he may explode and immediately took a screenshot and sent it to his best friend.

Carlos: I'm fucked.

Lando: I know.

Part 2 : I Knew You Were Trouble

Part 3 : It’s Nice To Have A Friend

Part 4: Mad Woman

Part 5: This Is Me Trying

Part 6: Everything Has Changed

Part 7: Dancing With Our Hands Tied

[foreverrogers]

muse

"You have a shrine to me in your closet?"

"I wouldn't really call it a..." You trail off as you walk towards him, cross your arms and tilt your head at the expanse of pictures tacked to the door. "I guess it could be a little... creepy."

Pairing: tasm!peter parker x f!reader

Summary: peter has no idea how you keep showing up every week with the best pictures of spider-man he's ever seen.

Warnings: SMUT!!!! 18+!!!!!! enemies to lovers, unprotected sex, language, snark

Words: 5.2k

A/N: soooo this was originally going to be for an anon who requested a rivals fic but I got like a thousand words in and realised it was not even remotely going in the direction of the request soooo if you're that anon: sorry! your rivals fic will come to form one day! anyway i'm kinda obsessed with this fic, hope you enjoy!!!!!

request something! masterlist

You're there like clockwork. Always before him, always taking up the lone seat outside Mr Jameson's office, always utterly, infuriatingly beautiful.

You're sitting there, so effortlessly exude this ineffable confidence, legs crossed as you filter through the shots you've printed for the week.

Peter's never seen anything as smug as the smile you give him when you notice him approaching. "Parker."

"Y/n." His tone is equally as flat, doesn't let his eyes linger before he's turning to lean against Jameson's door frame.

"D'you have fun with your little polaroid this week?"

Peter rolls his eyes, shakes his head with a scoff as he slips off his backpack and starts to dig around for his own photos, chooses not to offer any other response.

He hears your small exhale, the huff you give at being ignored, the tap of your nails against the glossy paper. "Only a week left. Still holding out hope you're gonna win?"

"It's not a competition," He says, a little too quick, holds a little too much bite, and it makes you grin when he looks back at you, triumphant in your ability to provoke him.

"Don't fool yourself, Parker," You start, let your grin fall, raise your eyebrows and feign as much seriousness as possible. "This is absolutely a competition. And I'm eating you alive."

Peter opens his mouth, snide comment on the tip of his tongue, and is promptly interrupted by the door of Mr Jameson's office swinging open.

"Miss Y/l/n! Can't wait to see what you've brought me."

Peter watches you stand to attention, present that perfect plastic smile with your hands behind your back. It's the same one he's seen every day since you were freshmen, is almost impressed by how realistic you've made it look over the years.

Mr Jameson turns his attention to Peter now, lets his smile melt back into his typical expression of general dismay. "And Parker. You're here too."

Jameson turns, his usual signal for you to come in, and you shoot Peter one last smug look before following into the office.

The routine is the usual from there; you take your respective seats in front of his desk, you perched at the very edge of your chair, and start to lay out your selection of photographs.

Peter never knows how you do it.

It should be objectively impossible. He's Spider-Man for God's sake. He poses for his own pictures, sets up his own angles, and yet every Friday at 4pm, like clockwork, you show up with the best photos of Spider-Man he's ever seen.

He's never once caught you taking them, either, which only makes the surge in his veins burn hotter every time he sees them.

"Beautiful work, Miss y/l/n. Stunning."

Jameson's leaning forward now, raking his fingers just above each of your pictures, looking for the smallest of details to differentiate them, rank them, make them worthy of being published.

He turns, gives the same treatment to Peter's pictures.

He leans back in his chair then, crosses his arms, taps a quick beat with one finger as he studies the images from a different angle, mulls over his options.

"Right. We'll print this one, this one, this one, and..." He slides three of your pictures towards him immediately, tilts his head with a hum and circles both exhibits again. His finger lands firmly on one of Peter's. "This one."

"Thank you, Mr Jameson." You say it in unison, a product of the Summer's worth of habit, look at each other out of the corner of your eye quickly before moving to collect your remaining pictures.

Jameson is still studying the shots he's chosen when you both stand, already a few steps towards the door. "Both of you, before you go," He starts, stops you in your tracks. He tilts his head again, weighs up the question. "You're young, with the times, you don't this whole front page public enemy Spider-Man situation is getting a little... tiring, do you?"

"I think it could-"

"Not at all," You interrupt, speak as though you had never heard Peter start in the first place. "Even if it's not necessarily what we believe it's still what sells, what the people want. Some people think he's a hero but everybody knows he's a mystery, and people can't help being afraid of what they don't know."

Peter moves to speak, tries to get in the smallest inkling of defence, is cut off by Jameson yet again. "But you don't hold the mystery against him, you're not afraid of him?"

You smile then, just faintly, and Peter thinks it might be the most genuine one he's ever seen from you. "I find him exhilarating."

-----

So what if Peter can't stop thinking about you.

It doesn't mean anything. It's the way you think about that one thing that's ruined your day, that interaction you replay over and over imagining how you would redo it, haunting you, never letting you rest. It's the way you think about an enemy, a nemesis, a rival, a person whose very idea makes you seethe.

It's all of that, the stuff that he's used to, that he's prepared for—except this time the particular part he can't get out of his head is you calling him exhilarating, that look on your face like you could talk about him for hours, that you just exist in the world with complex thoughts and feelings about him, without knowing it was him.

And so Peter resigns himself to it, your constant presence in the back of his mind. It's so constant that this week, this last week, he vows to finally catch you in the act.

It's late and it's dark and it has not been Spider-Man's night.

Peter stumbles into an alley, just around the corner from where he's left a group of not very nice guys webbed to a brick wall for the police to find, and has to lift up the bottom of his mask to spit out the sharp taste of blood in his mouth.

And then he hears it. The faint whirl of a shutter being adjusted, the quiet click from only a little far off.

He pulls his mask back down harshly, whips towards the direction of the sound and only just catches your retreating figure moving swiftly down the road across from him.

He's quick to scale the building behind him, careful not to lose you as you turn the corner, finds the best spot where he can swing down and catch up to you.

The smack of a web attaching to the building above you makes you freeze before you ever see him.

And then he's there, standing just a couple feet away with his arms held up in resignation, and you think you might stop breathing.

"Now, that can't 've been the most flattering picture."

He's never seen you like this, shock in your eyes, mouth open trying to shape words you can't quite reach, and Peter would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it. "I don't know what you're-"

"You don't know what I'm talking about?" He asks, faux confusion in his voice. He takes a step closer, hands on his hips, watches you press your camera bag behind your back. "So you're not the one who's been selling all those front-page pictures of me to the Bugle? I gotta say, my PR guy hates you."

You breathe a laugh, still sourced in the shock etched across your features, eyebrows furrowing lightly together. He watches you swallow then, straighten your posture and tilt up your chin, sees that composed facade he's used to slipping over your face in real-time. You clench your jaw, fist tight against the strap of your camera bag. "Sorry... I guess."

"Thank you, you know I really appreciate that. But I can't lie, either way, you do know how to take a great photo."

Something lights up your eyes when you hear him say it, breaks through that facade again, and he would almost call it giddiness if he didn't know you better. You can't help the softening of your expression, the small smile you give. "You think they're good?"

"Are you kidding? You've got a real good eye for catching a guy in full-body spandex swinging across the city."

And- Well. This had been intended to be a less complimentary confrontation, but there's something about the way you're looking at him, the earnestness in your eye, that pulls it out of him without much thought.

"I would love to see the ones that didn't make the cut some time."

"Oh, well I only live a couple blocks ov..." You're still loosely pointing in the direction of your apartment, trail off mid-sentence like you hadn't really thought the offer through before it was slipping out of your mouth. But you've started now, and half inviting Spider-Man to your apartment wasn't really something you could take back. "Over. If you wanted to see."

He's a little too eager to accept. And he's also a little too eager to offer to swing you the rest of the way home.

"I- I couldn't, really."

"Oh, c'mon, we'll be there in 30 seconds. You spent all that time taking pictures of me and you never wondered what it was like?"

And, sure. It's partially because it'll be faster than making you walk the rest of the way, but it's mostly because he's quickly come to enjoy this power he has over you, his ability to make you this flustered with just a simple suggestion.

"What d'ya say?"

The part he hadn't quite thought through was you agreeing, of having to approach you and wrap your arms around his neck and slip his arm steadily around your waist, a touch so different to the deliberate knocking of shoulders in hallways he's used to.

He also hadn't expected you to enjoy it so much, only takes you a yelp and a few moments of tension before you're laughing into the swift air.

"You have a shrine to me in your closet?"

You're across the room, slotting your camera into its rightful place under your bed, hadn't realised you had left your closet open before leaving that night. In your defence, having Spider-Man in your room wasn't exactly part of the plan.

"I wouldn't really call it a..." You trail off as you walk towards him, cross your arms and tilt your head at the expanse of pictures tacked to the door. "I guess it could be a little... creepy."

Peter can't help but smile. "No, no, it's-"

"I just keep the ones that aren't sensational enough for the Bugle, you know... Or the ones they don't deserve." There's something in your voice that he can't quite place, like a quiet admiration, encroaches on dangerous territory.

You're still looking at the pictures, and all he can do is watch you for a second, still can't put aside his surprise by the way you're talking to him, the way you would never be caught dead talking to Peter.

"Sorry," You start, look at him out of the corner of your eye, frown as you flinch a little. "I have a habit of interrupting people when I'm nervous."

"Oh, no, it's..." Peter falters, had not expected tonight to be the night he learns there's a real person behind the aloof exterior he's grown accustomed to. He leaves the sentence long enough that you have to look at him again, raise your eyebrows as you wait for him to keep going. "You don't have to be nervous."

You laugh a little at that, look down at you feet for a second before glancing back up at him. "Can you blame me? Even if you weren't a masked stranger standing in my bedroom, the guy I work for hasn't exactly been using my pictures to say the nicest things about you?"

"And do you believe it? The stuff the Bugle writes about me?"

"No! No way, I-" You've fully turned towards him now, arms still crossed, eyes wide with defence. "I think you're a hero, not an enemy or a vigilante or whatever they call you in headlines. It's nothing personal, it's just- it's-"

"It's what sell," Peter finishes, repeats your words from only a few days ago. "I get it."

He watches you bite the inside of your lip, reads the flustered nervousness on your face as you glance back at the pictures.

There's another beat of silence. "You really think I'm a hero?"

You smile then, really smile, that same smile you had had in Jameson's office. "Of course."

You're watching him now, like you can somehow see through the mask, like you're looking right into him, and all of a sudden there's a heavy pang of guilt washing over him, incapacitating him, makes it impossible for him to speak. He really hadn't expected it to go like this, to have you next to him calling him a hero and have the words tug at something deep in his chest.

He doesn't turn away, just looks at you, is silent for so long it makes you narrow your eyes at him. "Hey, Spidey, are you-"

"I think I have to tell you something." He blurts it out, like a plug bursting at the pressure, knows he can't take it back from there.

Your eyebrows knit even closer together. "What do you- Oh, you really don't have to-"

But it's too late, because with as little time to hesitate as possible Peter's grasping the top of his mask and tugging it off, rips off the bandaid in one fell swoop.

Now it's his turn to watch you, watch as the realisation dawns on you, makes your face fall and your features go slack, mouth hanging agape.

He holds out his arms in defence. "Look, I know-"

"What the fuck?" You start, and he sees the split second the emotion on your face changes, turns from shock straight into anger. "What the fuck?"

You start to walk back slowly, stumble a little when the back of your knees hit your bedframe.

"Y/n, listen, I know this is-" He tries to walk towards you, is only interrupted by a decorative pillow hitting him square in the face.

"What the fuck?!" And this time you're yelling, makes Peter flinch, watches as your face changes yet again, circles right back around to shock before your sitting at the foot of your bed, face in your hands. "Holy shit, holy shit, holy-"

"Seriously, Y/n, I-"

"What the fuck is wrong with you, Parker?!" You exclaim, make Peter sigh at the interruption, knows he deserves it nonetheless. You're looking at him now, gesturing wildly. "You're just- You just let me say all of that like a fucking idiot and- God, I knew those pictures were too set up to be-"

"Y/n," He says, firm enough that it stops you, finds the only position available is one kneeling in front of you, hands on your knees. He knows whatever he says won't even start to be enough, and so he just looks at you for a long moment, eyes finally able to look into eyes, lets the pressure of his touch steady you.

It works, somehow, makes your heavy breathing slow down just a little. "You really shouldn't have let me tell you- God." Something in your expression softens, makes way for you to scruch up your face in embarrassment, head back in your hands.

"Hey," He whispers, moves one hand up to your wrist, urges your own away from your face. "Does knowing it's me really change anything you said?"

You frown when you look at him, eyebrows still pinched together, can't ignore the way that this close, touching the way you've never touched each other before, his eyes flit down to your lips for a millisecond. You sigh, shake your head. "No."

But it has changed something, charged the moment with something inexplicable, the balance of your dynamic suddenly toppled. Still, it makes him smile a little, just the slightest quirk of his lips, is enough to lighten the moment and make you return the same gesture. "Good."

More silence, hesitation in the faint twitch of his hand, keeps looking you straight in the eye, and then he's slipping his hand around the side of your neck, fingers grazing over your cheek so slowly, painfully slow, slow enough that you could pull away if you wanted to.

You're just as surprised as he is when you don't, lean into it instead, find your mouth already open when he kisses you.

There's no reluctance to it, no resistance even though there should be, both of you almost too accepting of the movement of your mouth against the others.

It doesn't take much more of this, of the heaviness and the fervour of the kiss, for you to hook two fingers into the neckline of his suit and tug him towards you. "Come up here, Jesus."

He lets you pull him up, move him so he's climbing onto the bed beside you.

"God, you have no idea how long I've wanted to do this."

You smile against him, wrap your arms around his neck to hold him closer. "I thought you hated me."

"I hated how perfect you are, how beautiful you are, how smug you are about being better than me."

The admittance does something to you, telltale in the way you gasp into his mouth and dig your nails lightly into his shoulder, only exacerbated by the way his covered hands slide underneath your shirt, find the soft skin waiting.

Peter's the one smiling now, dips his face into the curve of your neck, tries to find the spot that'll make you gasp again. "Does that turn you on? Hearing me tell you you're better than me? Is that what you wanna hear?"

Your next breath is shaky when you release it, hitches at the feeling of him sucking harshly at a patch of skin right above your collarbone. "Maybe a little."

You feel his lips curve against your skin, breath hot, don't resist the urge to tangle your fingers through his already messy hair and pull him into another kiss.

His arms snake around your waist when you get on your knees, start to shuffle your way up to the pillows until you can position him against the headboard.

You pull away, entirely intending to climb into his lap, and find yourself caught by the sight of him.

"Stop right there. Don't move a muscle."

Peter freezes instinctively, suddenly realises just how heavily his heart is pounding when he feels your hand against his chest steadying him.

You move away from him, still on your knees, and he watches as you reach under your bed, camera in hand when you return. That sly smile he's grown familiar with comes back when you look at him. "Can I?"

"I don't..." He trails off, looks down and half-gestures at his suit.

"Hey," You start, tone stern but teasing, leaning forward suddenly to grasp his chin in your hand. "What did I say about moving?"

Oh.

So maybe there was something about the taut tension to your relationship that did something to him, the confident, commandeering, biting attitude you aired, something he had missed in your conversation with Spider-Man. So maybe the way you've got him so firmly in your grasp right now stirs him a little, makes him strain against the tight spandex of his pants.

You urge him back into his original position, find the way the street light filtering through the window catches his features just right, the shadow against the emblem of his suit.

You're so close his only thought is kissing you again, his mind blank of anything else, which is why when you ask for the second time all he can do is nod. You smile at him, release his chin. "Thank you."

You sit back against your heels, slowly bring the camera up to your face.

There's a long moment of silence, Peter watching as you adjust your position ever so slightly, a fraction of an inch at a time. The silence is so long that the first shutter makes him jump a little, earns a smile from underneath the camera.

Another click, and this time you're shifting slowly to the side, taking him in at every angle possible.

When you're all the way in front of him he forgets he's not supposed to be moving, turns his head to look towards you, too overcome with the urge to watch you in action.

"Parker."

"Sorry," He smiles, and he hears the quick click of the camera as soon as he does. You lean forward then, move once again to take his chin in your hand, but this time when your skin meets his, faces so close together, all you can do is look at his lips.

He notices, follows your gaze as you rake over his features, eyes finally his meeting again.

You're not sure who leans in first, but you think you might meet each other in the middle.

It's different this time, heavier, mouths moving against mouths so eagerly, so desperately, pour years of frustration into this one thing neither of you thought could ever happen.

It's not a difficult shift into his lap, one of his arms wrapping around your waist to hold you closer, and you're so dizzy from it all that when you move to slip your arms around his neck you forget you're still holding your camera.

You gasp when you feel the weight of it disappear from your hand, jerk away to watch it fall to its inevitable fate, shattered against your floor.

Except when you look down your camera is precariously balanced in Peter's hand, fully intact, still a foot off the ground.

You look at him, breath still heavy from the kiss and the minorly avoided destruction of your lifeblood, and Peter looks just as surprised as you do.

You give a shocked laugh, move your hands up to frame his face. "You didn't let it fall."

There's confusion in the pinch of his eyebrows. "Why would I?"

"The- The Bugle, and the internship and the-"

He can see the racing behind your eyes, decides the only way to cut you off is to kiss you. He shakes his head. "I would never do that to you."

You smile when he has to lean to the side a little, settles the camera gently onto the ground, and when he's back you're impatiently tugging at the top of his suit. "How the Hell do you get this thing off?"

You laugh against each other, and Peter leaves you with one last eager kiss before he's moving to pull off the top of his suit.

You can't help the grin that spreads across your face as you watch him struggle out of it, have to bring your fingers up to hide it.

He's breathing extra hard when he finally manages to fling it into the corner, shakes his head when he notices your reaction, amusement in his eyes. He leans in, tilts his head up at you when you pull away last second. "I thought we were past you laughing at me."

It only makes your grin wider, biting your lip to try to subdue it. You're shaking your head now, too, leaning down to brush your nose against his. "Never."

It's all forgotten soon enough, because the feeling of his hands on you, unfettered by his suit and slipping and groping and exploring makes your brain go foggy.

You do your fair share of exploring, too, roam the planes of hard muscle along his front. It's evidence, more than anything, of this utterly antagonising boy you've known for years holding the same strength and power as a superhero. It's tangible evidence in your hands, right here under you, flexing and melting under your touch, and the idea that tonight you get to have him all to yourself is dizzying.

Peter's tugging at your own shirt now, helps you pull it away in a blink, and as soon as his hand finds the small of your back he's shifting you onto the bed.

You welcome the change, the way he slots himself between your thighs, presses against that place you need him the most, where you can already feel yourself soaking through your underwear.

His mouth moves back down your neck, quickly finds the places your most sensitive, has you arching against him and fisting your hand through his hair. "Fuck, want you so bad."

And he's smiling again, can't hide his smirk even as he's kissing down your sternum, looks up at you from between your breasts. "Never thought I would hear those words coming out of your mouth."

"Yeah, well, looks like tonight is full of me stroking your ego, so-"

"God, do you have any idea how mouthy you are?" He's back to meet you now, face hovering just a breath above yours, has this annoyed look in his narrowed eyes, a stark contrast to the movement of his hand sliding down to unbutton your jeans.

You try to give him that smug smile again, find yourself betrayed by the way you gasp when his hand slips into your pants, against your clothed core, barely touching. "Wanna do something about it?"

You press your hips against his hand, try to chase that friction so close to your reach.

The attempt only makes him pull away, would make you whine if not for him leaning back on his knees to tug down your jeans, hooks your panties along with them.

And then his mouth is back on yours, impossibly hungrier, molten honey on your tongue. "God, you're so fucking beautiful."

You don't challenge it, the sudden shift away from the biting back and forth that's somehow slipped into this most intimate possible moment, gladly accept the praise, especially when it comes in the form of two fingers pressing inside you.

A sharp inhale, swallowed by his mouth against yours, the curl of his fingers chasing that response from your body. "Fuck, Pete."

"'S that feel good? 'S that what you wanted?"

"Want you inside me," You mumble, voice already breathy and needy. Your nails graze the nape of his neck, the sensation sending a sharp shiver down his spine, and you take the opportunity to slide your own hand down his body, brush against the growing bulge in his pants.

There's a softness when he looks at you, despite the way his mouth is hanging open and he's pressing into your touch and he's still knuckle deep inside you. "You sure?"

"Yeah," You breathe, nod your head, try to match his expression but can't help the way you squirm at the work of his fingers.

It's softer when he kisses you next, somehow makes everything infinitely more intimate, lets you pretend like your situation was even remotely normal for a fleeting moment.

You sigh when he slips his fingers away, makes you clench at the loss of contact, readjusting yourself under him as he busies himself with peeling off the bottoms of his suit.

"Do you have any-"

"Pill," You say quickly, press closer, find the right position with your arm around his neck, nails sinking into his shoulder in anticipation. "Doesn't matter. Just want you."

This is definitely something he could get used to, he thinks, the neediness in your voice, hearing and seeing and feeling what he can do to you so intoxicatingly different after being brushed aside for so long.

You're still lucid enough that you notice, can read the power you give him in his eyes, can't help but smile even as he's moving to hook one of your legs around his waist. "This really is good for your ego, huh?"

Peter grins, presses it into the next kiss as he takes himself in his hand, lines himself up with you. "You have no idea."

He takes his time filling you up, glides into you so agonizingly slowly it makes you both gasp into open mouths. You revel in the stretch of him, the heavy ache that settles in the pit of your stomach, and when he's finally hilt deep he has to drop his head to your neck.

"Need to you to move for me, Pete. Feels so good, so-"

You're cut off by the slow drag of his hips, breath hitching, lose to ability to make sound come out of your mouth at the feel of him slowly pulling away and sinking back into you.

It hits him just as hard, draws this strangled groan from the back of his throat that he presses right against your ear, picks up the pace ever so slightly when he feels the hand in his hair give a steady tug.

"Holy fuck."

His grip is harsh at your thigh, anchors him, keeps him from losing it right then and there as his movements get even faster, chases those gasping moans that slip from your lips.

It doesn't take long for him to find the rhythm you need from him, the one that has you moaning his name into the staticky air between you, makes you impossibly tighter every time you clench around him.

And then his mouth is back on yours, sloppy and hot and open, kisses you like he needs it to breath, pours everything he has into you.

The look on your face when he pulls away is enough to make his hips stutter, those blown eyes and the faint pinch of your eyebrows and the gape of your mouth, slips his hand between your bodies just so he can see the expression deepen with the first brush of your clit.

"Pete-"

"God, you have no idea how perfect you are," He mumbles, quickens the circling of his fingers and watches as you throw your head back against the pillow, the arch of your back pressing bare chests together.

"Fuck, just like that," You breathe, voice strained, squirm and buck your hips against the movement of his hand, trying desperately to meet his thrusts and find that delicious edge. You have to force yourself to look at him, think you must look as far gone as he does. "Gonna make me cum, baby. Feels so fuckin' good."

He thinks it might be you calling him baby that does it to him more than anything, pet names falling through the cracks of what not so long ago was nothing but the spitting of last names, impersonal, disdainful. It's a shift that goes straight to his cock, movements sloppier, sharper, faster as he tries to get you there first, meets your mouth again harshly. "C'mon, sweetheart."

"So close, Pete. So, so— ohfuck."

The orgasm hits you like a tidal wave, like a tsunami, pulls you under and holds you there until your legs are shaking and your ears are ringing and you can feel Peter be sucked in right down with you.

It's the mingling of heavy breath, the meeting of heaving chests and the hot pulse of you wrapped around him. It's the feeling of Peter collapsed against you, the tightness of your arms as you hold him there, the knowledge of a dynamic broken, and something brand new blooming there.

request something! masterlist

[twice-inamillion]

Busy day with Sana

Part 146 (TIS)

You’re laying on your bed and staring at the door. You want to go to sleep but you’re afraid of what might come. You even took some precautions by locking the flimsy door. Footsteps are heard in the living room and the bathroom door is shut. You don’t hear anything for some time, until the sound of water falling gets you at eased. “Ok, Sana is in the shower. I’m okay” you say to yourself.

You try to stay awake but you can’t and end up falling asleep. The night goes by and it’s morning. The first thing you do is to check the door to make sure it is still locked. “Oh, it’s still locked, she didn’t come in” you  sigh in relief. You get ready and head to the kitchen to make some breakfast before heading out to the photo shoot with sana. As you open the door and head to the kitchen you see sana awake making breakfast.

“Ohh, good morning y/n, how did you sleep” she says with a smile. “I slept okay, how about you.” “I slept great. Look I even I made breakfast. Here I made you some. Sit down” she says. “Oh… uhh okay. Thank you sana” as you sit at the table. Sana serves you a bowl of what she made and you just stare at it. “Did she put something in it? as you take a taste of the food with caution. “Hmm this taste good” you say out loud. “I’m really happy you liked it” with a huge smile on her face.

You finish the breakfast and change your clothes for the photo shoot that sana is going to be taking part of. You wear a nice semi formal wear and wait for sana to come out. Sana comes out with a nice dress, that’s perfect for the weather. As you two are about to head out sana stops you. “Y/n, wait a bit” as she tries to fix your twisted collar. “You don’t want to go with a twisted collar do you” as she’s really close to you and is keeping eye contact. Being this close to her makes you feel a bit weird and nervous.

After that both of you walk down to catch van that will take you to the event. The ride to the event is silent, until you pull up to the entrance of the building. The doors are opened and you help Sana get to the dressing room. Sana tried a numerous of clothing for the photo shoot and every time she would stare at you, as the photographer would take pictures. You felt that she was staring you down and reading your mind.

It was the the last shoot before the end and she asked for your help,grabbing your hand, and taking you to the dressing room. “Can you help me take this dress up? I can’t reach the zipper that’s on my bad?” With a bit of hesitation you pull down the zipper, starting from the nape until you reached her waistline. She thanked yiu and began to undress herself. You could clearly see her clear white skin that had no blemishes, a tight waist and a flat stomach. She had no reaction that you were standing there, watching her, as if she wanted you to her he semi nude body. All that was left was her small bra and the small safety shorts that had a tight fix on her.

“Can you pass me that dress over there with the purple tag?” she asked. Without hesitation you grab the dress and pass it to her. “Thank you” with a small smile. Sana puts on the dress and asks you again to help with her zipper. You do as you’re asked and she heads back for the last photo session.

She then has a small interview that takes about an hour. During her interview she can’t help but look your way as she answers the questions from the interviewer. You could feel her reading your actions or mind and that scared you.

Once the sesión is over she changes to her normal clothes and asked you if you were ready to go back to the hotel. You agreed and headed outside to take the van that picked you up earlier. It’s dark outside and can’t believe it took so long for the photo shoot, so many clothes that were worn. The van arrives and you open the door for sana to get in and you follow. On your way back she can’t help but to rub your thigh. It’ll start from your knees and slowly she would work her way up. Once she reaches too high for your comfort you push her hand away.

She takes off her hand and instead places she legs on your lap. “Can you give me a massage? My legs are sore from standing up all day” she says in slight begging manner. You reluctantly agree and begin to massage her legs. You start from the bottom of her legs and work your way up. Nothing that’s too sexual, until sana tells you to go higher and higher. Once you reach her thighs, you feel the softness of her creamy white thighs. She moves her legs a bit as you are massaging, right on top of your cock. She moves her legs in a manner that begins to stimulate your cock. The more she moves the harder it gets. The feeling of your cock getting played with by Sana’s leg, you try not to show it as you are both in the van going home.

The van arrives to the hotel and you take her legs off of you. You try your best to hide your boner as you help sana get off the van. Sana hands you her bags and escort her to the hotel room. Both of you go up the elevator, walk down the hallway, and open the door. Once you’re in you set the bags on the living room table. Sana runs to the couch and lays down. You ask her to get ready since you’re going to make dinner. She agrees and heads to the shower.

You prep the side dishes while sana is taking a shower, get the rice in the rice cooker and let the curry sauce cook. When sana is done with her shower, it’s your turn to take one as well. You get to the bathroom and it’s seaming hot. You get the scent of the strawberry shampoo as you get into the shower. You think about seeing Mina again and getting your family back together.

Once you are done with the shower you hurry to get changed and make sure the curry is done. You taste the sauce and it’s perfect. All you need now is to cook the chicken cutlet and you’ll be done. As you are getting the chicken ready, Sana comes out from her room and walks towards the couch. She’s wear a loose white t and some small loose shorts.

“What time is the food going to be ready? I’m starving” says sana. She lays down on the couch while looking at her phone. She’s watching videos and moving around the couch as she’s laughing. As you are flipping the chicken cutlet you noticed that Sana is crossing her legs in a manner that you could see parts of her inner thigh, almost her but not quite her pussy. You try not to pay much attention but it’s right there in front of you.

You call sana that they good is ready and she takes a seat. Sana talks a bite of the food and gives you complement on your food. You might talk about what happened during the shoot.

She then places her cold foot onto your leg. “Hey, your foot’s cold.” “Haha, I know and your legs are so warm.” She then lifts her leg and places her foot inside of your shorts and says “let me keep my foot inside right here, where it’s nice and warm” while giving you a cute smile. You try to get her off but she places her other leg in the other side of the shorts. Her cold feet is giving you goosebumps and making you weak. You then go for the sole of her foot and tickle them. She laughs and let’s go. “Haha, stop… stop… I I’m ticklish”she says. “I’ll stop but stop putting your feet inside of my shorts.” “Okay… I will” while pouting.

You both finish your food without any accidents and sana offers to do the dishes. You agree and tell her that you’ll clean the table. As she is washing the dishes she asks for help at drying the plates. You grab a towel and get the plates as she finishes washing them. You get in back of sana to grab the dishes and you begin to notice that he oversize shirt let’s you get a view of her tits because of your height differences. Her tits giggle as she moves her arms to reach for the soap or place the dishes in the dish rack. You try not to stare but it’s unavoidable. You try to finish as fast as you can to get out of this situation.

Once you’re done you tell her that you’ll go back to your room to rest. “I’m going to try to go to sleep, sana. Good night.” “Okay y/n, I’ll stay here in the living room for a bit and watch some videos on the couch.” You brush your teeth and then head to your room. You close the door and lay down, take out your phone and plan for tomorrow. As you look at your phone you get sleepier and sleepier, until your phone lets your face and you knock out.

A hour passes by and sana is ready to go to bed, she brushes her teeth and does her face routine. She leaves the bathroom and gets curious if you locked your door. She thinks of how she’s been teasing you by letting her tits and her inner thighs show. She wants to get your attention but OC keeps rejecting her. She looks at your door knob and reaches for it to give it a turn.

Previous Chapter 145 Next Chapter 147

[prettyboykatsuki]

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shoujo manga | k. bakugo 

➳ tags ;; fluff, angst/injury, very midly nsfw towards the end, kisses (?), pro-hero!bakugo 

➳ wc ;; 1.5k

➳ plot ;; how bakugo kisses you differently. 

➳ a/n ;; might do this for other characters? idk.. katsuki brainrot haunts me everyday of my life.. 

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Bakugou speaks more than one language. 

Japanese, English, Spanish, and a little bit of Arabic and French. He’s fluent in the first three and conversational in the last - but the words still feel slick on his tongue. He’s the type of person that knows things well, when he can. He can curl around the syllables easily with enough patience - practice and time. A language is tool - or a love letter or a hopeless romantic. 

It’s something we never tire of listening too. 

For Bakugo Katsuki, the language he speaks to you in is kisses. It’s the one he feels best at, rolls of the tongue and mouth easiest. He’s well-versed in the foreign tongue of affection. It used to be.. choppy to say the least. But these days, Bakugo can tell you anything with nothing more than a few pressed lips and tongue-tied exchanges. 

It starts with a morning kiss. For it to be perfect, the sun has to hang just barely beneath the clouds. It can be any color out, blue, or orange, or grey - the sky just has to have light in it. He wakes up with a grunt, always before you - vermillion eyes peering open at your unconscious state. The verbs in his sentence are his hands, large palms that smooth down your hair. He nudges his nose against your jaw before his lips pucker against your cheek - travel down to your mouth until your eyes flutter open. 

“Wake up, brat,” with another kiss, this time on the corners of your lips. He waits for a while, sometimes letting you sleep for another ten minutes before his heart decides he’s running on empty time. Then he kisses you again, along your jaw like he’s tracing the lines of your art-work. 

“Oh? G’morning, Kat,” 

And he presses his cheek against your shoulder, kisses the edge with another grunt. These kisses always mean good morning, I’m happy we woke up together. In his language of love they mean, I like being here with you. 

Some kisses come after work - especially on those days where he’s working and you’re not. Bakugo dreads leaving you alone during the day, has to force himself out of bed and into his work clothes. It’s easier to be gone but always so hard to leave. When he comes home from work, he finds you in the living room with your legs propped up on the ottoman. Your laptop is on your lap and your head rests 

You can feel his presence before you see him. A warm hand, calloused and a hot, wraps around your throat and pulls you back to look upwards at him. He looks down at you with something unreadable in his expression - his thumb running against the column of your throat. He can feel your pulse under his fingers when he looks down on you - bows his head to kiss like an act of respect. This kiss is slow but deep - like a large wave crashing against the sand. His gravelly voice leaves you with a hum before he pulls away. 

This kiss means he’s missed you much more than you know. That’s why he stares at you for so long right after - why his fingers linger against your neck. 

“Whaddya want for dinner, huh?, is the only words he’ll say in the whole exchange but he looks like he’s gonna kiss you again. He wants to kiss you so many more times but he knows you’ve forgotten to eat so he just asks you what you want. He’ll make it for you. 

Other times, he kisses you in public. They’re not the kinds of kisses you can predict, you have to admit to yourself. It’s thee Dynamight afterall, and he rarely takes you anywhere the paparazzi can see. But you have to do normal things together sometimes - like grocery shopping. Even so, he always keeps his mask on up under his eyes, his sunglasses and army green hat and baggy clothes all covering him up.

But you mention it to him off-hand while you’re looking at salad dressing that you miss looking at his face when you’re out. A wistful, cheeky smiling on your lips as you tell him that you don’t mind if the world knows who you’re with. He scoffs, like always, and tells you to pick the spicy one for him. 

When he takes you outside, the sun falls over your skin like a halo. He’s sure there’s someone trailing him and watching from afar - some obsessed photographer examining his every move. Yet you look like gold, look like magic in the middle of this parking lot - packing groceries into the trunk of your car. 

He pulls his mask down just below his face, and takes his glasses off and pulls you toward him when the last of it’s over. Your hip bumps the shopping cart clumsily as his hands finds themselves under your jacket. His mouth melts against yours - this kind of kiss is searing against your lips Your hands are gripping the front of his shirt at first, but then they lay flat against his chest. It’s the kind of kiss where you let it happen, let it overwhelm your senses till your stomach turns. 

You leave it in a dazed and return to see him smirk, grin cocked like a pistol. He kisses you again, much softer as confusion dances along your face. 

“What? I thought you missed my face?” 

This kind of kiss is a reminder that your his and he’s yours. Nothing in the whole world could come between that, not even some shitty gossip column. When you laugh against him breathlessly, his expression melts into the most tender smile. You miss it - too busy laughing, but it might be better that way.  

Then, there are kisses that are desperate. Not sinful but somber. When you’re rushing to a hospital in the middle of September with a prayer clamped desperately between your tongue and teeth. You don’t really feel like you know yourself anymore, hands clasped around the steering wheel like religion. Your feet are the weight of crucifixion on the gas and it seems like you cannot go fast enough. 

You rush and rush and rush until the air in your lungs feels like it’s stomping at your chest. You wind up in a sterile white room, and he’s there. He’s alive and you know you should be grateful for that. Yet there’s a gash on his cheek and eyebrow, a wound in his side that makes everything in your knees feel weak. You don’t walk towards him, but stumble to where he’s sitting. 

“I fuckin’ hate hospital food,” 

He pushes the peas around the tray and you’re crying - shaking like a leaf in the wind as you cling to him. He lifts his arm and let’s you in. You sniffle against his shoulder and cry like a baby. You weep for the love you haven’t lost. You hear the plastic clink on the plate as he lifts his hand, brushes any stray hairs from your face. He tugs on your ear and makes him look at you, and kisses you. 

This kind of kiss is placating for certain. A warm mouth, not a hot one. His lips are so gentle, touch effervescent. When you hiccup a sob in his mouth, he nudges his forehead against yours and mumbles something incomprehensible.

You can hear his kiss before he speaks it.  

“I’m fine, dumbass,” but there’s no bite, no malice - just a hand wrapped in yours “I’m gonna be fine,” 

There are also times where he kisses you hotly. It’s the kind of kiss you wouldn’t want your children to see. When he comes home from a long day of training but the energy is still burning in his head. He’s sweaty, skin glistening and glazed. His teeth seem so sharp when he enters the threshold of the door. You can feel him pressed against your spine, the thick print in his basketball shorts. When his hands come up underneath your t-shirt and dance along your stomach. These times - he kisses you twice. Salacious and unrelenting. 

Once just like that in the kitchen. It’s all too much tongue and teeth that way - but god it feels so right. Makes you squirm, makes you hold the counter top to keep steady. You tremble before he even touches you. 

The second time is right in the middle of the fire, when he’s inside. Slow, sensual and needy - his tongue finding it’s way in your mouth like you’re a fountain. 

Both kisses speak the same words, the same desperation. It’s always the same with him, the inevitable scorching that bruises your lips and turns them red and swollen. 

“I want you. I want you. Give it to me, Give all of yourself to me” 

His kisses so harshly you can’t breathe, like even the breath in your lungs has to be his or he won’t stay still. These kinds of kisses always happen when you two touch. He can’t help but keep you all to himself. 

After all, in this language that only you two can speak, who else would he tell his secrets to?

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[jiminzfilter]

slow dancing in the night

→ Pairing. Taehyung x reader

→ Genre. established relationship, fluff, slice of life, model!taehyung, model!reader, taehyung missed you a lot, he is starving (his words not mine), gets a bit hot by the last 40 lines, mentions of oral (f) so I guess this counts as mature content, implied smut, making out (kinda), there is a bit of swearing

→ Summary. what could possibly be better than coming home after a long day of work to someone you love and missed a lot ?

→ Word count. 3.2k (!!!)

→ because I wrote this over a year ago when I still didn't know what I was doing with my writing, I had to go through a deep process of editing and re-writing before posting it. This might not be my best work but it's still a fic that I really really like :,)

→ song rec. slow dancing in the dark, Joji// still with you, Jungkook

Fridays have always been exhausting days for both you and your boyfriend, especially on runways weeks. As models, you were put under a lot of pressure.

Pressure to be perfect, to smile but never smile too much, to look good, to not fall on stage.

Falling has to be the most tragic thing that can happen to your carreer as a model, the hungry stares of thousands of photographers and reporters ready to share the latest news to the press.

Yeah, it was exhausting.

This week was no exception... or maybe it was since, this time, you were the only one working until late.

It’s four in the morning and you’re already on your way out - kind of running late, oBviOusLy - quietly wishing your boyfriend a good day.

He is not working today.

That lucky bastard.

He gets to enjoy his free day in bed, lazing around, while you work your ass off all day. He mumbles something that you assume is a sort of goodbye. He is still asleep.

You look at him one last time before leaving the room and smile. He looks so peaceful.

You still remember the day you met, by pure luck even though you both call that fate. That was 5 years ago, when you just debuted your career as a model and were not that comfortable around high heels.

Okay no. Let’s be real.

You hated wearing them because you couldn’t walk in heels higher than 5 cm.

It’s still a wonder how you managed to make it in the first place.

Were you wearing flat shoes for the audition ? Damn you really must’ve done an impression on the judges if they made you pass without the heels try-on.

Your first day at the agency was chaotic to say the least. Your manager made you walk around the building, to visit she said. She made you wear heels. HEELS. That devilish person.

But, thank to that, you got to meet Taehyung. Your eyes landed on him as you were visiting the lounge and couldn’t tear them away from his figure. The poor man had to witness you fall down because you weren’t watching your steps anymore.

I mean.

Who could blame you ??

That was Kim frEaking Taehyung

!!!

He even came to help you get back on your feet and asked if you were alright, kind of amused.

It’s not everyday you see someone falling down in here, let alone a newbie

Let’s be honest, you were so embarrassed.

First day of work and you’re already failing falling.

That night when you came home, you spent the night wearing heels and prayed really hard you’d never have to face him again. After all, the building was big enough and there were enough workers that you could avoid Taehyung easily

If only

The NeXt day, you were told that you had a couple shooting, with none other that Kim Taehyung.

GreaT

He would occasionally tease you about your fall and check on you to see if everything was alright. He watched you carefully as you were walking around with heels.

From up close he looked even more handsome.... :)

After this day, you started talking with Taehyung more and more. He introduced you to everyone around the agency. You met outside of work, got to know each other. You both became regally good friends but there was something lingering in the air, in the way you’d look at each other or stood so close to him after a couple glasses of wine that you could breathe his air.

So what was bound to happen happened and you went from friends a to lovers without really noticing it.

He was still your best friend...somehow

Eventually, you took things to the next level and moved in together... maybe a half and a year ago or so ? You’ve never been happier in your life

And, well, you’d actually be happier if you could spend the day with boyfriend instead of running around trying to find god knows which accessories you need for the rehearsal.

8 in the morning is noT a time to be doing cardio.

Especially while wearing heels

Become a model they said, it’ll be fun they said

“Y/n! Come here please I need you to try on this dress before you go!” Your personal stylist calls “I made sure to fix it yesterday so it’d be a perfect fit for the show”

You stop your tracks and go to her “make this quick i have to go get changed before 9 otherwise I’m screwed. Why did they even decide to do the rehearsals so early today ?” You sigh, frustrated, and put on the dress she’s handing you “thank you”

“Okayyy...it looks great. Gold looks amazing on you.” She smoothes the dress and gives an approving nod, visibly satisfied ; “You’ll look perfect for the Grand Finale. Oh god it’s already 8:30 you better go before Mr.Kim throws a fit because you’re late”

You both giggle ; “thank you for fixing the dress Naeun, see you later today. Well, probably tonight. Byeeee”

The rehearsal seems to never end. You’re squeezed in dozens of different outfits, gorgeous for sure but sO tight. Mr. Kim, the one who organised the runway, is such a perfectionist that you have to re-do some things multiple times before he’s satisfied. One time the lighting isn’t right, the other the models are walking too fast, not on beat and so on.

Everyone hates him for that but he always makes the best shows so you just follow.

After multiple tries, the rehearsal finally comes to an end. It’s already 4PM. You barely get time to breathe and go pee before you’re back into the ‘running-around-to-find-my-dress-and-fix-my-makeup-oh-god-i-gotta-be-on-stage’ crazy mess.

Walking on the runway feels amazing, running backstage is terrible.

It’s so hot and small back there you can hardly move around well.

It takes 2 hours for the whole fashion show to be over, one more for pictures outside the catwalk and chat with reporters. Since you’re kind of a famous model now, you get invited to the afterparty and spend few extra hours interacting with some celebrities that attended the show. Other models were invited and you’re happy to see familiar faces amongst them. Jimin, an old colleague and friend of yours, comes your way and compliments you. You chat with him for a while before deciding you’ve had enough for the day and leave the party. A few more people greet you on your way out.

A taxi takes you back to you company, where you left your stuff in the morning. You spend an extra thirty minutes getting rid of your heavy makeup and striping off that gorgeous but awfully tight golden dress you’ve been wearing ever since the end of the runway.

Now, you can FinaLLy go home. yassssss

It’s almost 12am when you leave the agency and climb into yet another taxi. The ride is quiet, background music playing over the car’s radio, and you take some time to look at what you were gifted for your performance : fancy makeup products, accessories, pieces of clothing-but not those from the runway, you sadly never get to keep those. Being kinda famous has its perks :,)

You then decide it’s time to warn Taehyung you’ll arrive soon and send him a few texts. As if he was waiting for them, he instantly replies saying he’ll be waiting for you and proceeds to spam you with heart emojis. Sometimes, it looks like this man just discovered what emojis were and is trying to use them as much as possible. What a child…

It’s way past midnight when you finally step into your duplex and the first thing you notice is that the place is way too quiet.

Maybe Tae went back to sleep, who knows, it’s super late after all…

:(

You remove shoes and jacket and drop your bags in the entrance before going further and you call out quietly “anyone here? Tae, you sleeping?”

There is a faint glow from the tv on your right but the sound has been muted.

Weird…

“Taehyung ?" You call one last time

Suddenly, two strong arms wrap themselves around your waist and you’re pulled into someone’s chest. You gasp, almost scream, but soften up when you feel the warmth on your back

“Hi baby” a deep voice says in your ear, sending chills down your spine “I missed you”

You turn around and are very pleased to see a handsome face and a warm exposed chest your boyfriend smiling at you.

“Mhm, missed you too” You wrap your arms around him and rest your head against his chest, happy to hear his heartbeat. Taehyung places his head atop of yours and gently strokes your hair. You tighten your grasp around him and hum.

Few seconds later, he lifts your chin up and gently lays a kiss on your lips.

“How are you doing?” He asks, his right hand cupping your cheek. The warmth of it is comforting.

“Exhausted, but you know how it goes” You shrug and he smiles

“Not too tired for dinner ? I could cook something if you want”

“Mhm... let me just go shower and put something else on” You sadly let go of him

“Sure, go ahead” he whispers and you give him a kiss before regretfully tearing yourself away from him.

You walk up the stairs to your bedroom, where you find the bed undone. You smile, Taehyung never really liked making the bed and, very honestly, neither did you. You slump onto the mattress and bury your face into the pillows, inhaling his scent. Lavender. Relaxing. Just like he is.

After a warm shower, you find a t-shirt Taehyung left on a chair in the room and wear it. It’s big enough to reach your thighs and, if you were more energised, you’d probably stay like this. You grab large pants and put them on.

Once again, you smell lavender all around you.

When you’re back in the living area, you see Taehyung busying himself in the kitchen. He hears your steps and his eyes find yours as a smile appears on his face when he notices that you’re wearing his shirt

“My shirt looks better on you than it’d ever do on me” He teases, his gaze longing on your frame.

“maybe I should keep it then” you smile and ask ; ”Do you need any help?”

“no no no no no, you’ve worked enough already. Go and have some rest. I'll call you when everything’s ready okay?”

Too tired to argue on this anyways -and thankful for the given rest-, you go lay down on the couch, your body oriented to let you look at Taehyung.

As he hums and moves to the chill music that was playing in the background, you start to detail his beautiful figure. From the curl of his dark hair (which you knoW are so so soft to the touch) to his beautiful profile and his nose you love so much down to his broad shoulder and then his tanned abs you see from time to time when the opened shirt of his pyjama moves according to his steps.

oH! Let’s not forget his perfect hands gripping at the pan’s handle while he cooks… vegetables? Something like that yeah.

Taehyung is giving his best into what he’s cooking. Vegetables with rice, that’s the only thing he could do quickly.

Quickly as in less than half an hour, unlike his friend Namjoon who’d take this time just to cook the rice.

The music he put earlier is slowly starting to bore him. After washing his hands, he reaches out for his phone and plays a different playlist. It’s one you name yourself when the two of you were still friends (aka not dating yet). “Taetae fm” because you once joked he should have his own broadcasting channel on the radio. He’d always criticise the music playing so why not have his own channel 👀

“You know Y/n, I actually watched the fashion show live this afternoon. I mean, of course you know because I always do that haha. Anyways, you really were the highlight of the runway tonight. And I’m not saying this in a biased point of view. Okay I might be a bit biased as your boyfriend but I swear that it’s true!! You literally shone back there, especially in that gold dress you were wearing and even the audience was impressed by your looks maybe you didn’t see it on stage but some cameras filmed their reactions and everyone was looking at you. Really, you were so gorge-oh” Taehyung looks at you and smile fondly “Of course you’re asleep, baby”

He lets his phone aside and checks the now cooked food before making his way to the couch. There’s a blanket on the sofa, he covers you with it, scared you might get cold. Taehyung put a loose strand of hair behind your ear and places a kiss on your chin.

You slowly open your eyes and find yourself face to face with him. You both smile.

“Hi there beautiful” He whispers

“what time is it? Did I sleep until the morning?” You’re scared of having slept through the entire nap without realising

“almost 1:20am, I just finished cooking. I thought you might be cold so I went to cover you with the blanket. You should go enjoy the food while it’s still hot, imma go to the toilet”

You nod as an answer and watch him leave upstairs. Getting up from the warmth of the couch is the hardest part so you keep the soft blanket draped around your shoulders and walk towards the kitchen. You grab two bowls and two pairs of chopsticks that you place on the counter along with glasses and a bottle of water.

You then go take care of the rice and the vegetables, which you mix in the pan. The song playing changes and your favourite nighttime tune starts.

“I don’t want a friend, I want my life in two” you sing along

“Waiting to get there, waiting for you” Taehyung’s voice startles you as he grabs your wrists and pulls your back close to him. You smile as he makes the both of you dance slowly. You put his arms around you so it’s like he’s hugging you from the back. You swing around for a little while, enjoying the close proximity as you both softly hum the song, making your body vibrate against each other, moving in perfect coordination.

“I love you” he whispers in your ear and then kisses it, sending chills down your spine, before lifting one of your arm up to make you turn so that you’re now facing him “did my baby sleep well?” You nod as you place your arms around his waist, paying attention to go under the shirt so you’re touching as much skin as possible.

Taehyung chuckles before asking you in that same, chill-sending, low deep voice ; “Still hungry? Because I’m starving”

If you didn’t just wake up, you would’ve definitely caught that lust in his eyes and also the fact that this wasn’t as innocent as it seemed.

As an answer, your stomach growls pretty loudly, making Taehyung laugh . “I’ll take that as a yes. Sit down, princess. Let me take care of you”

You do as he says, jumping on a stool, detailing all of his moves. You only realise how hungry you actually were when you start eating. Rice with vegetables has never tastes better. You eat everything in less than 5 minutes when you’d usually take your time to finish your plate.

“Damn, that was a well needed dinner! Thank you Tae” you mess a bit with his soft locks

“Imagine me who was waiting for you all evening!! I was hungry too” He pouts.

“Oh come on, I was working today. Cardio in heels isn’t the best way to wake up, let alone spend the whole day standing in tight clothes. When I think you has a day off… pfff. I saw the bed, I’m sure you stayed there all day, you lazyyyyyyyyy ass.”

He mumbles some gibberish and you giggle, knowing that you're right. He looks away, crossing his arms and obviously sulking. You leave your stool and stand behind him, wrapping your arms around his neck. You leave a few kisses on his cheek and neck

“- Don’t be such a babyy. You know I love you.

- You do?

- of course, you dummy” you bop his nose "Sooo, what do we have for desert?

- You. Uh I mean!! Yoghurt, fruits, cakes, fruits…anything” he clears his throat

“Great! What do you prefer?” You open the fridge

“ I’d very happily eat you out honestly but an apple sounds good”

“Oh sur- wait whaT!?” You snap your head to him, eyes wide open

what did he sayyyyyyyy?????

whaT am I even supposed to say noW oh my goddddd

You close the fridge’s door, suddenly not so yogurt-hungry.

There’s a sudden silence between the two of you, only disturbed by the music still playing in the background.

“Mhm? What is it?” He turns around to face you, asking so innocently “did I say something wrong ?”

This man knows what he is doing for sure. Has he ever been that straightforward before ?

Taehyung stands and closes the distance between your bodies, now towering over you.

He lowers himself slightly to speak in your ear “what is it baby? Mhm?” You feel his smile on your cheek when he lays a kiss on it “what happened to my all proud and fierce y/n who was so confident telling me I was being lazy all day, huh? Tell me” He lays another kiss on your temple

OkaY

now he’s being a tease

Great

1 A.M. fluffy and bare chested teaser Taehyung

gReAT

Anyhow, it’s a good turn on.

Really.good.freaking.turn.on

Being tired and turned on was definitely not a good mix for you. You could feel the heat rising in your body and hear your heart pounding in your ears.

“Tae…”

He laughs gently seeing you silently begging for more, brushing your face with his lips, teasing another kiss.

“Tsk tsk, you gotta speak darling, I cannot guess”

You should calm down and go to sleep, it’s 1am and you have work tomorrow you should definitely-

“Fuck-“ You sigh and grab his face, sealing your lips together while closing your eyes.

It doesn’t take long for that kiss to turn into a heated make out session.

You grab and pull some of his dark curls while his hands travels under his your shirt.

You break the kiss just a second to catch your breath.

“Have i ever told you you have the perfect body?” Taehyung asks

“Did I ever tell you how perfect you are??” You reply

He laughs, deep raspy laugh.

You’re too tired for this

And because you’re tired, you’re even more horny :D

Taehyung puts his hands behind your thighs and you jump, locking your legs around his waist, hands still in his hair, lips against his while carries you to the bedroom.

He leaves your lips to travel down your jaw and then collarbone. You throw your head back.

Taehyung gently lays you on the mattress of your king sized bed and makes it his personal mission to pleasure you tonight.

[svchengss]

two halves | l.mh

PAIRING. mark lee x reader

GENRE. fluff, heavy angst

WARNINGS. major character death, grief

WORD COUNT. 2.4k

SUMMARY. right after his death, mark watches how you cope with the loss

A/N. i saw this one tiktok and it kinda inspired me to write this

// just to let you guys know, reblogs and feedbacks are appreciated !! thank you for reading :D

white walls, white room.

mark scrunched his face, his eyelashes slowly fluttering open, the dark brown iris adjusting the size of the pupils due to the brightness of the walls reflected upon it. a soft groan vibrating from his throat, he assessed his surroundings where nobody or nothing else is present. he looked down to inspect his clothing, hoping that it would give him any clue of this room or space he’s in - an all white outfit. this scene looks exactly like the one in the movies where the characters realize they are dead. except this time, he really is.

THE REALIZATION.

the muffled sounds of cries and sobs rang through his eardrums, triggering a reflex to wake up from the state that he thought was a slumber. he is lying on the hospital bed with the light blue clothing piece, faint light illuminating the space where people are huddled up around him. he waved his right hand in the air to let them - who he later remembered as his family members and friends, know that his eyes are already open. nobody moved even the slightest, the atmosphere being very much dead, scent of medicine intoxicating his mind.

then he saw someone who he holds very dear to his heart - you, enter the hospital room, dropping onto her knees as soon as she saw his state of condition. in an instant, he shot up from his lying position and ran over towards the crying you, shoulders shaking and all. bringing his hands to hold you in his embrace, not even a glance spared by you brought a hundred and one questions to him. why didn’t anybody acknowledge him when he woke up? why can’t you feel his touch?

“mark lee. time of death, 10:23 pm,” the tall doctor with glasses rested on the bridge of his nose announced before leaving the room, holding the clipboard close to his chest. mark gauged the monitor screen next to the bed, the line indicating his heartbeat is no longer showing spikes going up and down - instead becoming a flat line, deafening beep present with it. then he sees himself still laying on the white sheets, eyes still closed and no signs of breathing evident. a surge of panic rushed through his veins.

this can’t be real.

mark rushed into the bathroom, a surprised gasp leaving his lips. his body is semi-transparent, the shape of the toilet bowl can be seen through his left shoulder. his body shakes with terror, slapping himself in the cheeks multiple times just to make sure that this whole fiasco is just a nightmare.

oh my god. no, this is real.

mark stood in the back of the crowd, witnessing the funeral of someone and that someone being him. of course, he’s never expected to get the sight of his own service. his mother is standing beside you, her hands rubbing circles onto your back in an attempt to calm your mourning state. you’re still looking ever so pretty, a black chiffon dress on your body with white pearl necklace on your collarbones and your wavy black hair hanging down your shoulders. not that anybody else would notice, it’s someone’s death after all.

“stay strong, y/n. he will always be in our hearts,” the same rhythm of sentence in tones full of pity being directed towards you. mark’s sister enveloped you into a warm hug despite the chilly atmosphere, whispering comforting words into your ears before getting into the family’s car. you’re not going back home, not yet when you still feel reluctant to let him go.

“why did you leave me?” the only coherent words from your hoarse voice can be heard. mark, who is crouching next to you, is holding his tears back. instead, he sends a sorrowful smile - not that you can see him anyway. is there any way to let you know of his presence?

“goodbye, love. i’ll see you tomorrow. i promise,” you dusted the back of your dress from any dirt or debris, leaving a rose on his tombstone. the thing is, he doesn’t want to part from you. and that’s why his figure is seated beside you in the cab. he grazed his thumb on your knuckles, making you feel tingles rushing through. you pushed the slight thought away, you must be tired to be feeling things.

you slowly opened the door to your apartment, you and mark’s to be exact. the whole house is making those memories make their presence in the back of your head again. the kitchen where you two baked cookies for christmas last year. the bedroom where you snuggled upon his chest, not wanting to start your day just yet. the piano where he sang those cheesy songs for you. the living room where you slow danced at 3 in the morning. his favourite mug resting on the countertop, probably will not be used again. this whole situation is too overwhelming for you. you feel weak.

with each day passing by, you didn’t even miss one without a visit to his resting lot. you would tell him stories of how your day went or something that you read which would made him ponder. the words carved on it are already etched onto your brain.

mark lee. a son, a brother and a loving partner.

the clock hanging on the grey wall has it’s arms stretched out to display the time - two in the morning. you can’t sleep just yet, not having any for the past few days even. dark circles are appearing around your eyes, not yet recovered from the puffiness from all the crying. mark’s heart aches everytime he takes upon your state. he feels very guilty, not that death was his choice after all. it’s simply fate, a cycle of life, a destiny that every single creature on this planet will end up with.

you’ve taken the whole month off work, still feeling ever so helpless. in fact, you can’t even remember the last time you’ve stepped out of the apartment, the night before his passing perhaps? you’ve completely shut yourself out from any interactions - deactivating your social media, not accepting any calls. you just need time to heal.

as if you’re being controlled by some type of mastermind, you shoot up on the balls of your feet, pulling away from the couch. those images of you slow dancing with mark, hands in each other’s holds, your chin rested in the crook of his neck and being ever so engrossed in love are coming back more often now. you trudged to the vinyls arranged neatly on the shelf, picking one before placing it on the turntable - frank sinatra, one of his all time favourites.

holding your hands up at about his usual height, you start twirling around. you can almost see the outline of his smile, his features right in front of you. except, he is. he’s been observing your moves the whole night. mirroring your current position, as if you can really see him, it’s a miracle for him. overjoyed actually, he doesn’t realize the salty tears streaming down his cheekbones and so are yours.

“thank you for coming, dear. it’s a pleasure seeing you in what, weeks?” a laugh escaped the woman’s lips. you reciprocated her hug before stepping into the living room. it’s been a long time since you’ve been here, was it in january? mrs. lee had invited you over for a simple dinner, checking up on how you’ve been. you can see that the family is still struggling over his passing, the way his sister’s eyes are not twinkling as usual makes it hard to cover up the lie.

“you see, this was on his high school graduation day. he was very happy that day, doing all sorts of dances and stuff. finally escaping from hell as he said,” she giggled. she’s been displaying all sorts of memoirs to you, photo albums and photographs scattered on the wooden floor. to be honest, you’ve never seen these before. all smiles mark lee, easy to notice among the crowd. not that he’s changed, he’s still that boy now. mark just sat on the couch - his favourite spot, observing the throwback session going on. if he’s still here, his sister for sure is going to tease the hell out of him.

“he told us so much about you, you know? as if everything reminds him of you, that boy is lovestruck. really,” that sudden confession made your tongue dry, unable to find a perfect response. you were really that special to him.

“drive safe honey, you can come over whenever you want. you know you’re always welcome here, right?” mrs. lee handed you the small box filled with some things you’re going to keep. she kissed both of your cheeks, mr. lee standing behind her giving you a small wave. a small smile crept up onto your face before igniting the engine, turning your wheels out of the housing area.

the netflix show is playing on the television, the faint voices of the characters playing in the background. you’re sitting on the floor, flipping through the photo journal you two decorated throughout your one year of relationship. you can see his little scribbles and doodles, often a little dinosaur symbolising your always grumpy personality.

in one photo, a golden birthday hat is nicely placed on your head with him kissing your right cheek. you remember clearly, a surprise party for you last year. in the following ones, they are mostly candid shots - you blowing out the candles while he looks at you full of love, him eating a portion of your dish while you pout your lips. you would say it was the night of your life, spending it with the guy who stole your heart.

the next page of the journal is a shot of mark taking a photo of you in the park. you suppose it was taken by donghyuck? that one picture of you was stuck as his lock screen wallpaper for a while, you remembered getting so embarrassed over it. mark would give you the same excuse every time you questioned him about it, implying that the sight of you would light up his whole day. cheesy really, but that was what remained as memories of the past, tied neatly in your heart.

the rain trickling against your window eventually made you doze off to wonderland, creating the perfect chance for mark to browse through the journal in your hands. carefully lifting it from yours so that you won’t be stirred from your sleep, he settled down in the space beside your sleeping figure. slowly turning the pages, he smiled fondly at each photo holding a thousand moments that can’t be recreated ever again. some of them would make him giggle. he kneeled down slightly to place a soft kiss on your forehead, making you squirm a little due to the faint touch.

“give him a chance. i’m not saying that you should forget mark but it’s been months, you should live up a little,” yerim’s voice sounding concerned from the other end of the line. perhaps she’s right but you just need more time. but how much longer? you’re afraid you yourself have no specific answer for that enquiry.

you’ve been feeling better by now, welcoming people back into your life and carrying out the same daily routine of yours. going to work, buying groceries, going to the drive-thru and whatnot. of course, the void is still obvious - coming back home to an empty atmosphere instead of him waiting for you on the couch, sometimes dozing off, no more weekend cafe runs. but at least you’re trying your best. you bid your goodbyes before tapping the red button, ending the call. plopping the device onto the mattress, you stared at the white ceiling, deep in your own thoughts.

you should give him a chance. live up a little.

yes, you should.

getting hold of the phone and immediately opening the messages app, you searched for jungwoo’s number. he’s been trying to take you out for dinner for a while now. you still remember his exact words, whenever you’re ready he’s always there, waiting for you. you’re not really sure about that particular question but it wouldn't hurt to give it a try, right?

typing in the words ‘okay, sure’ is already a pressure for you but you still proceeded to press the send button. glancing at the clock showing the time, the notification ping redirected your focus onto the screen.

jungwoo: cool, is tomorrow night okay with you? i’ll drive, of course :)

tomorrow night. okay, tomorrow night.

an elegant red gown is wrapping your curves perfectly, a thin necklace with the seashell charm around your neck while your lips is decorated with the dark red tone, highlighting your poise appearance. hearing the doorbell ring, you tidied up the dresser as your eyes landed onto the picture frame holding a photo of you and mark. a sad feeling crept into your heart but you pushed it away, opening the door to reveal jungwoo in a black and white tuxedo.

you would say that the dinner went well, none of his questions or chatters crossing any borderline. he’s just so polite, even you are amused. feeling comfortable with his presence, the small gap in between is eventually closing down since you’ve learned so much about each other during the other few dates. one night completely changed it for you, him offering you a dance at some event he’s bringing you with.

you observed that his moves are slightly similar to mark’s - not completely of course, mark’s is very unique and very…mark-ish. for the first time ever in the recent turn of events, you flashed a genuine smile. one that is not just for show, one that only comes out when you’re truly elated, one that you only manage to give to certain. mark just observed the scene from a distance, admiring how you’ve managed to find the spark of happiness you once lost.

alas, mark saw his other half become full again with another, her eyes twinkling with the same joy but this time, it’s not him in the reflection.