#I am a red and warm color enjoyer

[bunnieswithknives]

have you ever drawn anti cosmo and anti wanda? I think they would look really cool in your art style

You just reminded to finish this drawing I started forever ago, I doodles them right as I started watching the show but never got around to coloring them

[ophelian-darling]

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬.

𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Jonathan Joestar, Joseph Joestar, Jotaro Kujo, Josuke Higashikata, Giorno Giovanna and Jolyne Cujoh - gn reader.

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 : There's more than a way to say I love you, yet there are many too ways to say I hate you.

TW : Obsession, delusional thoughts, verbal abuse.

enjoy ♡

𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫:

♡ : Thank you for everything you do for me, JoJo.

It fills him with blessing to know how much his words and actions are something with great meaning in your eyes. Faithful servant when in love- except that everything he does sources from the warmest atoms of his soul and from the deepest corners of his heart. Jonathan fights the world to see you happy, and rests with a smile when he earns the slightest curve of your lips; to him, it's the ultimate gift he can ever receive- your Love.

- You mean nothing to me.

Tears- everything that would wash him with agony strikes at once. the sensation of tearing the flesh of a heart open accompanies your words; deeply cutting and painful, causing all of his insecurities to float : Am I being useless again darling? Am I being a burden? Have you grown tired of me? He can't help it when he sheds these tears: He had lost all of your affection and care. the only source of warmth he had, now doused in the cruelest way possible. 

𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐡 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 :

♡ : I like you , you're awesome!

Just imagine it, that ghost of a blush coffined beneath a confident smirk and a glinting wink! Joseph catches a love fever once you state that his presence around you is enjoyable. He feels that he already aimed at the moon by gaining your trust and company- it meant that you were besotted with him in return, regardless of whatever you said about considering him as a mere brother or a dear friend. JoJo sees the colors of your eyes soften as you say so, it is surely, undoubtedly love!

- We're done.

a swift of a cut that it doesn't elicit any pain at first, then it's repeated again, slightly stinging, then it rolls down your tongue, fully sinking in his soul. How could you?! Was the thing in the middle of your chest a hard stone to not see or feel a fraction of his love towards you?! a heavy realization of being used falls on his head like a heavy anvil: the blood in his veins floats just right under his skin, painting anger as red, yet the pale dread underneath can't be helped. Why? He would scream at you, but the reasons were nothing of an importance, you just toyed harshly with his feelings. 

𝐉𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐊𝐮𝐣𝐨 :

♡ : I'm always by your side. 

It ignites a pleasant warmth within his heart and shines through his eyes; it confesses his undying love and loyalty for you, regardless of whatever mean words he utter. No force on earth can banish him from you: From the depths of Inferno to the ends of earth and above in the heavens, He would remain with you forever, his lineaments engraved under your eyelids and in the darkest curtains of your vision. JoJo doesn't show it, but he's on cloud nine to know that you're staying as well- that he finally earned your love. 

- Nobody loves you, not even me.

He's already aware. Half of people fear him, the other hates him, and there were you, probably feeling something negative swirl inside you towards him, now confirming it with each spiteful letter you let out. Couldn't you just shut the fuck up and swallow it instead of saying it out loud? He spits, the words of you reiterating louder and louder in his mind that now he can't unhear. You've just ruined everything for him, he had peacefully thought that everything went well, that your protests and complaints were just a childish fit- but now, it's all so grotesquely real: you truly hated him, and for the first time ever, he has no idea what he should do. 

𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐚 :

♡ : You're cute! I like your hair!

Nobody can stop him, the boy with a heart of diamond and eyes of warm seas! Everything in his eyes glints with beauty; especially you: everything about you is a well crafted detail, say your eyes, your smile or the contours of your face. The subject of his daydreams- they were made of spring rain drops and cotton candy, the enchanting human whom he had a silly intense crush on called him cute! Was there even a better time to be alive? to be praised by someone you adored was the epitome of being coddled beyond any wishes of a young man madly in love!

- Look at you, pathetic and ugly.

Huh?! 

It's all that he can think of as a response. Your words take a slow effect on him; as if he was trying to process it in another different light, in a gentle way that didn't convey the clear in them. At first, He's at sixes and sevens for a few minutes: people who are in love together were supposed to have each other's back, to boost each other's confidence and accept them whatever and whoever they were- so why were you saying this to him now? obviously it wasn't a joke, your voice was too cold to warm the words into a playful comment, he would have accepted them if you were just a tad above expressful, not a doll that just stares back eerily. He should be angry, but it just melts in tears, all of his hidden insecurities emerge into existence, and not even Crazy Diamond is able to fix the shatters of his heart. 

𝐆𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐨 𝐆𝐢𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 :

♡ : You mean the world to me.

Galatea to Pygmalion, Juliet to Romeo, Layla to Qays- You to Giorno. Romanticism wasn't something he was versed in, but in a blink of an eye, the world fell into a pink blur, filling everything with such amour a human never had in a little heart. GioGio ponders to himself that you were an Angel, a poor pure plumed creature that tripped and fell into the land of the stained; worth to be kept in a vitrine till the sun burns away. The smile that dances on his lips when he hears your gratitude, the joy he feels when his efforts of shielding you are finally noticed by you equate the flow of sweetness he tasted for the first time he saw you: Love.

- You're a monster. 

The gray flicker in his eyes blends with the greens of his irises; it doesn't reflect on your face that you just hurt him, while having the audacity to brand him as a monster. His patience contained all of your attitudes, he bottled up every evil word you threw at him and continued to offer more than he should for the sake of winning back some or little of your affection, but to no avail. The mayhem under his skin is concealed by force, consuming whatever left of his patience as he makes you toe the line. You're selfish- you always were, yet he can't help his love for you. 

𝐉𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐣𝐨𝐡 :

♡ : Good Girl! 

Valentine, Friends and dates- High school sweethearts and kisses! Her world is a ridiculously colored picture of a sunny day; her imagination paints a world where she is with you and nothing could ever go wrong. How much would she offer to just touch the tips of your fingers with her hands? nothing less than what she is able to count! JoJo wanders around you in the excitement of a puppy around its master, waiting for a treat or a word of praise for pleasing them. She wants you to say it again, over and over again, to no end! A Good girl was a girl in Love! 

- How annoying you are. 

She had heard someone she loved before say this, but who were they? 

Remorse falls heavily on her like a dark curtain- She'd just ruined the best thing she ever had in life. She blames herself for being too clingy, too needy and too desperate- she carries the shame and burden like weights on her shoulders, staggering as the remains of her confidence seep through the fractures. Your sweet words and praises were brightening her existence; was she to be something if you didn't adore her? The talkative, open and daring Jolyne is now nothing but a silent, gloomy and wounded little girl, asking for a little of love and receiving none no matter how much she gave. 

[imaginepirates]

Everything I Need

Jack and the reader both have feelings for each other, but have yet to act on them. When the reader sees him kissing someone else, they think he's already in a relationship, and they begin pushing him away to save their own emotions.

@emdrabbles @tesserphantom @viper-official @hellspawn-brownies @groovy-lady @ghoulishbehaviour @kittenlittle24

~3100 words

~~~~~~~

The distinct slide of warm sand through your toes pulled a smile to your face. After six long months of roving, the Pearl had made port back at Tortuga, and your feet hit solid ground for the first time in half a year. As much as you loved sailing, a ship was only so large, and you could only walk the same fifty yards of deck so many times before it began to drive you batty. 

The scenery never changed on the open ocean, not truly. Oh, every day the water was a new shade, and the sky a new color, and the patterns of the waves and clouds never took the same shapes, but even when the sea changed from serene to angry, wind was still wind, and water still water. 

The little cove you’d tucked yourself into was a welcome change to all that. You relished the vibrant greens and yellows and reds of the plants, as well as the chirping of birds, and even the singing cicadas. Later, you would enjoy new company, too, and new stories alongside, but for the moment, you were content to sit only with the company of the land. 

Your seclusion, however, didn’t last long. A figure dropped down next to you, barefoot with their trousers rolled up to the knee. It hadn’t taken Jack long to find you; he knew you too well. It should have annoyed you more, that he always knew where you would be, but his company was never unwelcome. 

“Glad to be back ashore?” 

You accepted the bottle he held out to you, taking a swig before answering. “In all honesty, I am. But you’re already itching to be back out there, aren’t you?” You nudged him with a knee, and he smiled back at you, used to your teasing. 

“Can’t help myself, love. The ocean calls to me, and who am I to deny her? I have everything I need out there.”

“Except rum. You come back for that.”

“Except rum,” he agreed. 

It was easy, conversation between you. Jack had a way about him like a gentle morning tide, an ebb and flow to his words and thoughts, simple to wade through and enjoyably warm. A part of you wondered whether he shared this side of himself with everyone, and another, selfish part of you secretly hoped he didn’t. 

The truth you had come to accept was simple: after many long years of knowing him, somewhere along the line you’d fallen a little in love with your captain. That truth, of course, was a maddeningly frustrating one. There were many unspoken rules aboard a ship, the first and foremost being that no part of the crew was to have romantic, or god forbid sexual, relations with the captain. It was a grand violation of the fragile ecosystem that was ship life. Compounded with that fact was the deeper, more meaningful reason you couldn’t bring yourself to confess— Jack was a creature of freedom, and in desiring his affection, you would be denying him the full range of liberty he needed. It was a thing you simply couldn’t do. 

“What are the chances Anamaria has already gotten into a fight?” Jack was still staring out over the horizon, that characteristic gleam in his eye. 

“What are the chances she’s already won?” You knew Anamaria, and there was a high likelihood that by the time you got to whatever tavern she was in, someone would already owe her money. And have a broken jaw. 

Jack stood, helping you to your feet and corking his bottle. “I won’t let you be reclusive all night. I’ll need someone sympathetic there when Anamaria decides it’s my turn.”

“I’d pay good money to see that.”

Jack feigned offense. “How could you?”

“Because if there’s someone knocking you around, you likely deserve it.”

You walked into town like that, joking and placing meaningless bets on who had gotten up to what while you were both away. Tortuga was exactly like you remembered it, a city much like the sea, where things never really changed. Every building was still itself, if a little more tattered and worn. Not that you minded. That exact attribute was what made it perfectly suited for a group of pirates. The place had its charm, even amongst the heaps of mud and rusty door-joints. Old and battered, just like you all were.

Jack slipped past you into a crowded bar, and you promptly followed. You were overwhelmed all at once by the rowdy music, the sea of voices, the mix of smells, the different fabrics, and the heat created by so many bodies in so little space. You tried peeking around for a familiar face but had no such luck. Instead, you accepted the random fluke of drink Jack had plucked off a bar and set in your hands. 

It took careful navigation through multiple rooms before you saw anyone you knew. Sure enough, Anamaria had a stack of coins on the table in front of her, and half the room away a man was nursing a black eye and bloody nose. 

You settled down next to her, eyeing the considerable amount of money she’d won, grinning. You could swear she had some sort of gambling god sitting on her shoulder, whispering in her ear and telling her the right cards to play. Jack had wandered off somewhere else, presumably in search of something new to drink. You watched him go, letting your eyes linger on his form in the dim light, comfortable in the knowledge he couldn’t catch you, only to get an elbow in the ribs from Anamaria who sat just beside you. 

“You have got to stop staring at him like that.”

“Hey now, don’t be unfair.” You held up your hands, reluctantly tearing your eyes from Jack. “It’s not that bad. I really doubt many people have noticed.”

“Only half the crew. If excitement onboard doesn’t pick up, we’ll be betting on you two next.”

“That’s unfair. Pintel and Ragetti provide ample entertainment.”

Speaking of those two, you noticed them across the room, clearly bickering over some newfound subject. They always found ways to inspire philosophical discussion, even if the philosophy at hand was objectively ridiculous. 

Unfortunately, though, Anamaria was right. Your feelings for Jack were probably a bit obvious, despite trying to keep them to yourself. You were afraid Jack would find out, or worse — that he already knew. But you couldn’t keep yourself from noticing his smile, his laugh, any simple expressions of true joy that weren’t part of his facade. He put on an act, you knew, for most people. The perfectly suave pirate come to rob you of all earthly riches, leaving you dazed and a little enthralled. An alluring storybook character come to life. It was those real smiles, though, that you couldn’t shake from your brain, that kept you staring after him even as the moment faded and passed. 

Then there were the endearments, said out of habit if anything else, but they still had their charm. Every time he called you ‘love’, you got this warm sensation in your chest like the feeling of a good drink, spreading to your stomach and dancing across your limbs. Flirtation was in his nature, but that didn’t make it any less effective.

You sighed, taking a sip of the mystery drink Jack had handed you. It was some sort of cocktail, pleasantly fruity with a hint of grenadine*. Jack had disappeared, so your focus shifted toward watching other bar-goers. A tall blonde sawed a whipping fiddle, the tune drawing dancers to the center of the floor. The dancers, of course, were too drunk to keep their coordination, and the resulting chaos of limbs had you snickering. 

Tortuga really was the last bastion of revelry in the ever-shrinking world. You let yourself enjoy it; there was enough time for overthinking things later. For the time being, you relaxed back into your seat, cheering on Anamaria when another poor sod challenged her to cards, wheezing with laughter as Gibbs attempted a jig, blushing and breathless as the fiddler pulled you into the crowd for a dance of your own. 

By the time early morning rolled around, the bar was full of passed-out patrons, people napping wherever they could find room. You rose groggily to your feet, unaware of how long you’d been asleep, and staggered to the door. The outside air made a refreshing contrast to the stifling heat inside the bar, and the smell of brine helped clear your head. You rubbed your eyes and straightened up. 

You walked around the back of the bar in hopes of finding clean water with which to wash your face, only to see a handsome, redheaded young-man with their fingers buried in the front of Jack’s shirt. And their mouth firmly on his. 

You whipped around before either of them could notice you, stalking back the way you came. You didn’t hear the soft thud of the redhead’s body hitting the wall as Jack pushed them away, nor Jack’s voice, calm but firm, denying any further advances. Instead, you followed your feet until they hit sand, curling up in the cove you’d found the previous day. 

You should have known. You should have known Jack would already have someone, someone he was closer to than you. You couldn’t be the only person in love with him—if you’d noticed all the wonderful things about him, other people undoubtedly had, too. Jack had been a pirate for a long time, and had a whole past you knew nothing about. Of course there would be someone else. 

You curled and uncurled your fingers in the sand. The breeze off the ocean did nothing to cool the hot wave of jealousy that rolled over you. You let it sit there, broiling and festering and simmering within you, allowing yourself to stew over it. Warm tears fell over your cheeks, and you wiped them away angrily with the back of your hand.

Then it was gone. Like the recession of the morning tide, your jealousy left you in one fell swoop, and only exhaustion and emptiness remained as you hugged your knees. You had no right to feel jealous of Jack’s lover. You and Jack had never shared a romantic relationship, and you had no claim to him. All you had were the feelings you kept to yourself, and it was your own fault for never acting on them. If anything, you should be happy Jack had someone he cherished; it was so rare as a pirate to find time for partners. 

Still, a little nagging voice in the back of your head whispered its miseries in your ear. 

Back aboard the Pearl, the crew filed onto the ship, still dreary and in need of more sleep. But Jack seemed anxious to leave, and everyone was used to hangovers and quick departures. Gibbs grumbled something along the lines of ‘what trouble has Jack gotten into this time?’, but nobody argued about getting underway. 

For you, it was both a blessing and a curse. While you doubted anyone had noticed your absence that morning, you were less than thrilled with the prospect of seeing Jack every day and being reminded of the feelings you desperately needed to leave behind. Then again, leaving Tortuga meant you wouldn’t have to hide from the bars in fear of more…potent reminders. 

You spent your time avoiding Jack as much as possible. Somehow, there was always a task for you to do down below when he was on deck, or rigging to climb until he was a speck far beneath you. The crow’s nest was quickly becoming your favorite spot. You could climb there and brood for a while under the pretense of watching out for the Navy—any of them—and you didn’t have to deal with concern from the crew over uncharacteristic frowning. 

But he noticed. And you noticed he noticed because his gaze wavered whenever it landed on you, and that never used to happen before. He’d stopped speaking with you, though you felt how much he wanted to. You told yourself it was for the best, but it felt wrong at the same time.

In truth, it hurt. You missed your old conversations, the easy familiarity you used to share. Your life on the Pearl just wasn’t the same without it. It was your fault, too, which stung even more, and you hated thinking that you were putting Jack through any sort of torment of his own. Your intention was never to hurt him, but you feared that was part of the result you were getting. 

As it turned out, Jack wasn’t the only one who noticed. “Why are you avoiding him so much lately?” Anamaria sidled up to you, helping you secure belaying pins. Jack wasn’t on deck, so you were more free to talk without fear of anything getting back to him.

Leave it to her to sniff things out. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You tried playing the comment off, but knew you failed miserably. 

“Did something happen between the two of you in Tortuga?” 

“No.”

She put a hand over yours, halting your work and forcing you to meet her gaze. “Something’s wrong, of that I’m sure. Care to enlighten me?” Seeing your hesitation, she reassured you. “I’m your friend. I’m not going to tell anyone, and I’m not going to judge you. Too much.” 

You knew from her smirk that she was joking, and it was the first time you’d had any humor around in weeks. It felt good to have that dynamic back, and you warmed to the idea of opening up, though you were a bit mortified to do so. 

“It’s just…” you began, “you know I have feelings for Jack. And I was finally coming to terms with them, but the morning we left, I realized there’s no place for them.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I saw Jack kissing someone else.” You stopped mid-action, the rope in your hands suffering an unfinished knot.

You didn’t need to look at her to know Anamaria was shocked. You pushed on, the silence too much for you to bear at the moment. “It makes sense: I mean, he’s been a pirate for a long time, and he’s had all these adventures and travels, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he met someone on one of them. I have no right to feel jealous; we were never together.”

“That doesn’t make it hurt any less.” Anamaria’s hand came to rest on your shoulder, her thumb rubbing gently over your shirt. 

You sighed. She was right, as usual. “No, it really doesn’t.”

“I’d say let’s spit in his drink, but you’ve already acknowledged it’s not that sort of situation.”

You smiled a little in spite of yourself. You continued working in silence, taking as much comfort from her company as you could. Maybe with her around, and being friends with the rest of the crew, you could dull some of your pain with their companionship. No matter how much it stung that Jack couldn’t love you, you could never be truly lonely with the rest of them by your side. 

Evening fell with a cloudless sunset, nothing to obscure the reds and yellows and pinks of the darkening sky. You stayed on deck instead of retreating somewhere else, unwilling to let your negative thoughts get the better of you. You were still alone, standing at the rail by yourself, but you weren’t lonely with the rest of the crew milling about, wisps of conversation drifting over to you. 

A presence at your side made you turn. It was Jack, staring out over the horizon, looking a little anxious. You couldn’t blame him. You knew you were the source of his discomfort, and you wanted to make up for it as best as you could, though the prospect of confessing the reasons behind your behavior scared you. He would think less of you for this, you were sure. He was too easygoing to understand why you would be so caught up on jealousy.

Jack opened his mouth to speak, but you started. “I know I’ve been distant, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” You sucked in a breath, bracing yourself for what had to come next. “I saw you in Tortuga the morning we left, you know, with that boy. He’s a handsome sort, and I’m glad for you, but I had no idea you were in any sort of relationship, and I had kind of been hoping…” you trailed off. This was hard, but you had to grit through it, because not talking to Jack again would be harder. “I had feelings for you. Have feelings. And watching you with him has kind of been eating me up alive.”

You risked a look over to Jack after a moment, waiting on a response. To your surprise, he looked shocked, and beneath that, you saw a tinge of sadness. 

“I’m sorry to overwhelm you,” you began, but Jack cut you off with a shake of his head. 

“I’m the sorry one, love. You shouldn’t have had to see that, and it gave you the completely wrong idea.”

Now it was your turn for shock, and not a little panic. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I didn’t want him to kiss me.” The sentence hung in the air before Jack continued. “It’s not that he isn’t good looking, or that I don’t know him—I do, but I don’t feel that way about him. I don’t…” Jack frowned, looking for the right word. “I don’t love him.”

“Oh.” It came out so small you weren’t sure you’d even said anything, but Jack finally managed to look you in the eye. 

“I don’t know if I deserve your affection. My flirting gets me in trouble; you got to see it first hand. And that got me in trouble with you. I’m not sure I’m worthy of commitment.”

“Oh Jack.” You raised a hand to cup the side of his face. “I don’t think you have a choice. I’ve already loved you for so long, I’m not sure I can stop.”

“Even though I deserve one of Anamaria’s beatings?”

“Even though that.”

Jack’s fingers laced themselves through yours, keeping your hand in place on his cheek. “I don’t need land to find my lover. You said it yourself: I could stay at sea forever. Because I have everything I need right here.”

*I’m aware grenadine wasn’t invented until 1872, but I needed to put something there, and idk my alcohol. 

[echantedtoon]

Ocean Deep Ch6 A Slight Change In Planning

Warnings: Mentioned kidnapping and mistreatment of the mermaids. Mentioned death.)

@six-eyed-samurai

The warm sun shown down on the bright sand matching the golden colors of the sand grains making up the beautiful scenery. The waves gently lulled against the grinding grains. Golden sand meeting blue water as the waves gently hugged them good morning. 

Water hugged up to her waist as she giggled and dug herself deeper into the soft squishy sand just under the waves near the waves. She was so close to the surface all she really had to do was just sit up and push up a foot or two more and her head would poke right out of the water. One should always be careful when near the surface especially if humans were about but she couldn't help it. The sand was so soft and comfy. She was just curling herself into the comfort of it all.

"It looks like you're having fun." A hand held up a newly caught tuna. It still wriggled about in his hand trying to get away. He would've already skewered it but the sight of her giggling at her own fun and enjoyment.

"IT'S SO SOFT!! We should get some of this sand for our seabed! Makio's always complaining about the bed being too hard!"

"Heh. You think so?"

"I know so! ..But I'm hungry now!"

He blinked- "Pfft. Hahaha! You got hungry just from doing nothing but rolling around in the sand like a guppy?" He couldn't help the laugh he gave her. It was so random it was amusing. Of course the pout she gave her with her puffed out cheeks was also a bonus.

"It's not funny! I am hungry! You're just making fun of me for not eating anything yet!"

"Well it's a good thing I make sure to provide for my wives." He loved the way her big blue eyes just widened as he just held out the wriggling fish in his hand. "Looky here. I just happened to remember your favorite."

"HHHHHAAAA!!! TUNA!!" If she wasn't already underwater, her mouth would be drooling. "YOU GOT IT JUST FOR ME?!"

"But of course. I can spoil you all I want..Just don't tell Hina about this. She's still on my case on giving you that entire net's worth of shrimp for yourself."

"AAAAHHH!! You didn't have to do this!"

A hand placed itself on her head making her look up to the smiling face staring down on her. 

"Yes. I do have to. I also want to do this for you. After all, you deserve it so much, Suma. I'll catch you as much as your heart desires. Ok? So don't worry about it. I'll always take care of my girls."

"Aaaaaaahhhahahaaaaa!"

You had jumped as Suma doubled over and fell to her side in a crying fit, curling up in the fetal position. A fresh new stream of tears flowed down her tears and staining her eyes red. You were stunned by the sudden reaction completely unmoving and silent for a long moment before you looked at Hinatsuru next to you and seeing the pink eyed mermaid looking just as stunned as you but she looked much paler. Her pretty ruby jewelry stood out against her pale face. You looked behind you at Makio who had the same expression as her wife. You looked back to Suma as her sobs picked up in volume sobbing her eyes out in the fetal position and holding her clasped hands to her chest. After another few seconds you unsurely spoke-

"What's a...Tengen??" That's what she said right?

"A A A A A A H H H H H H!!!!!"

Your words had the opposite effect. Body jumping as Suma W A I L E D loud enough to probably shake your windows if this room had any! In a panic you held up hands in a comfort pose. If someone heard her then there might be trouble.

"Hey! I- it's ok! I'm sorry for asking! You need to calm down before someone hears you!" Two hands awkwardly patted her back in a vain attempt to comfort the gasping mermaid. "There, there! It's ok! Everything's ok- AH!!"

Without warning Suma threw herself at you completely throwing her arms around you and pulling you into a bone crushing bear hug. Her face buried itself into your shoulder as her ugly gasps and sobs continued..Um. Ok. This was happening you guessed. At least her voice was muffled now. 

"There, there??" You again awkwardly patted her back in an attempt to calm her down half expecting Makio to yell at her again to stop being a crybaby but oddly both were silent. "Look. Whatever upset you I'll fix. Ok? " You tried appeasing her to try and calm her down. "Shh. Shh." You hugged her back to you pulling her closer and patting the back of her head. "If it's the fish, I'll throw it out and just get you something else. How about that?"

Her only answer was the ugly crying wetting your shoulder. What just happened? One moment you were just sitting down having a good time and the next there was...Well this. What could've gotten into her that made her cry? Well cry more seriously than she usually does. Behind you Makio's eyes trailed from your head to Suma's hands gripping your back- 

?!

"What the-" Your head snapped back over your shoulder as you felt Makio just RIP away Suma's hand from your back nearly tearing a hole in the fabric of your dress. "What are you doing?!"

She said nothing as she just desperately forced her counterpart to open her palm only to tear out what was inside it. Makio's face if possible became even more pale than before as she finally got a good look at what it was sitting in her palm. The little Silver stones clinked together as they were jostled in her palms.

"Hina!" 

Wordlessly Hinatsuru leaned over to look at what Makio thrusted at her, and fell silent and wide eyed as her eyes fell upon the strand of stones. After a stunned moment of silence she silently took the strand from Makio to gently hold on her own hands. As she was beside you, you were able to finally see what was being passed around and saw they were holding-..

A string of stones??

Your brows rose as you just stared at it. It was a strand of plain looking but obviously cut and polished silvery grey stones. That's what made her cry? 

"What's that?"

"Tengen." Her answer was brief, blunt, and devoid of any emotion. 

That caught your attention. Your brows raised. F/c eyes looked at the strand of strange stones in Hina's hands in question. That's 'tengen'?? What the heck was 'tengen'?? A type of rock? Didn't sound like any type of rock you knew.

"What's 'Tengen'?"

"Tengen Uzui. He's our husband."

HUSBAND?! F/c went wide looking between her and then to Suma (who was still crying into your shoulder and had knocked the fish she gave you out of your lap-) and the to Makio who looked about ready to cry herself and then back to look at the stones in Hina's hands. That was their husband?? Well they did mention once about having two husbands on top of being each other's wife. ... Mermaid marriages were very strange. But no. Wait a second. It wouldn't make sense for them to be married to a strand of rocks. Did the rocks belong to this Tengen man?

"And these are his?", you asked gesturing one hand to the rocks.

Hinatsuru shakily nodded. "Yes. We'd recognize them even if we were blind." She looked at the basket of fish before back to you. "Where did you get those fish?"

"The butcher's. I told you that-"

"THEY'RE GONNA MAKE HIM INTO F-F-FOOOOOODDD!! AAAAAAAHHHAHAHAAAAA!!!"

You winced as Suma wailed again right next to your ear. "Ow! He's not gonna be butchered! The entire shop is an open space." You could literally walk in and see them cutting and the store room where the meat was kept to be dried, seasoned, or jerkied. "If there was any mermaids in there, I would've literally seen him. It's more likely that his ...rocks just got caught up in one of the fishing nets and transported here by accident." You took the chance to grab Suma's fish and toss it back into the basket where it landed on top of the others with a wet splat sound.

"Then that means he's close by." Hina's face lit up as she looked at you with wide eyes. "Where did these fish come from?"

"They're some of the last ones our sea boats could carry." You explained raising a brow. "Lately some rouge sirens having been sinking any ships  that's leaving the nearest port at the beach, so most of the men have been taking to leaving for other bodies of water nearby for our goods. That's why most of the overstock has been so cheap." Or free in your case.

"Tengen!!"

"AH!!"

You were suddenly shaken back and forth by Suma who finally pulled away from your shoulder only to grab and start shaking you with inhuman strength.

"HE'S DOING ALL OF THIS TRYING TO FIND US!! I KNEW HE WOULDN'T GIVE UP!! HE LOVES US TOO MUCH!!" She sobbed and wailed as she shook your body. "HE'S SO CLOSE BY-!!!"

"SUMA!! Quit shaking her before you bust her brain!!" Makio angrily grabbed your shoulders and halter your movements. Your eyes rolled around before shaking your dizzy head.

"Oops..Sorry. But he's here!! He's really here!!" Suma gushed happily grabbing her cheeks and smiling widely. "I mean not here-here but it's so close if something of his shows up right?!"

"It depends." Hinatsuru's expression and tone did not change from the blunt, far off stare she was giving the stones she still held before her hands slowly closed around them and she took an inhale before looking at you again. "How far away is the ocean from here?"

You blinked. "Uh. Well the nearest beach is a month away from here. Two weeks if by horse. But there's lots of rivers here that lead back to the ocean." You shuffled out of Suma's and Makio's grip. "That was kinda my plan from the beginning. I mean I wanted to make sure you three were strong enough to like swim through currents and stuff, and so I was gonna wait until the end of this month and then take you back up to the nearby river." As if to demonstrate you pointed north. "It'll eventually lead you back to the river."

"That won't work."

You blinked taken aback by Hinatsuru's blunt tone. You thought that was a good idea. "Why not? You guys would be home free!"

"If what you said I'd true about humans fishing in the rivers now, then there's the greater chance of us getting captured." You froze. "On top of that there's less safety than there would be in the oceans. It's not just humans and nets that pose a danger to us."

You... hadn't even thought about that honestly. If you released them into the river then they could very likely get captured again, and that time they wouldn't have anyone to help them. They were lucky to have had you there, and that time you were lucky to not have been caught at all. 

"Oh..I uh.. Hadn't thought of that before. But that's good right? That your husband is close by-.. Wait." Your brain whirled a bit as it processed a piece of Intel that was previously said before you slowly looked at her with eyes the size of plates as reality slapped you across the face. "YOUR HUSBAND IS THE ONE SINKING OUR SHIPS?!"

Hinatsuru blinked. "I-...Well to be fair it's perfectly justified-"

"Justified?! Our whole town is a fishing and trading community!" You frowned hard at her. "For months our ships have been destroyed and our whole way of life has been altered! Half the town has been considering just up and moving away because of the depletion! Fish aren't just food for us, but a way of life!"

Who knows how much this will affect you after he stopped? IF he stopped. Less fish means less income. Less income means the families her will suffer more than they had been for the last few months! 

"He's VERY justified thank you!," Makio piped up again behind you, "And so were we! He's only doing this because all of the humans in this town are bigoted greedy assholes who want nothing more than to make us suffer!"...You blinked as two arms suddenly wrapped around your body in a semi hug. "Except you of course."

"Y/N'S not like that and all!! Don't make her hate us!!"

"IM NOT SEA SLUG FOR BRAINS!!"

You rose a brow at Makio like she didn't insult half your remaining family and friends in the town. "...Right." You decided not to comment on the basis that they did suffer from the hands of humans. "So how can we make him stop?"

"You can't." You froze again as Hinatsuru stared seriously but calmly. "If it really is Tengen, then he isn't going to stop until he gets what he wants."

"And..What is it that he wants?"

"Us. Of course."

"...How long exactly have you been gone from the ocean?"

She shook her head. "I lost track after we were brought here. How long has these attacks been happening?"

"Nearly a year now. It just started with rumors that a few boats in a different and far away area was experiencing but no one thought much of it." You shrugged as you felt Makio slowly start to untangle and comb through your hair again. "They were only rumors at the time and there was no way to really know if they were true. Plus even if it was it wasn't a concern. Sometimes ships sink because of the weather or the sailors are inexperienced. It happens. But-.."

"But?," Hinatsuru pressed raising a brow as you trailed off. 

You made an 'eeehhh' face with a roll of your wrist. "Strange things started happening."

"Like what things?" The way she was looking at and speaking to you reminded you of a mother or teacher interrogating a child.

"Well..A ship or two went missing along with everyone on it." You slumped your shoulders with a heavy sigh. "A lot of people were grieving over the massive losses." You'd never forget about all the crying faces and sorrow the families felt. By far that was the biggest mass funeral your town had ever seen. "And then the disappearances started to happen. Within the span of a few months four girls-" Your hand held up four fingers. "-went missing." No one had gone missing since you were a child. So the sudden disappearances made you scared. "And then more ships started to get damaged and sink and it just kept escalating and escalating until eventually the culprit was identified and now no one can even place a boat in the water because it'll just be torn up and sunk. No one could really stop them so they all started to fish in the nearby lakes and rivers instead."...You hummed. "Now that I think about it..All of the disappearances happened right at or close to the river." The three exchanged glances. "Would you three know anything about that?"

All three either shrugged or shook their heads. "No. Even if those disappearances were caused by someone we know, we couldn't have any way to know. We've been trapped, and hauled around like cargo for a long time."

"Hey. I know this might be a sensitive topic but how did you three get captured in the first place?"

"It was an accident at first." You rose a brow. "Really. It was. We were sleeping in a seabed and a net was scrapping along the seafloor. Caught us off guard and by the time we realized it, it was too late. The sailors were as surprised as you when you first found us..But as you can obviously guess, they didn't exactly have any ideas of letting us go."

"That must've been why he started sinking those ships."

Jeez! Just how strong WAS this single merman in he could sink solid thick wooden ships so easily?! You knew that these three alone were obviously very strong as they yanked you around. Were mermen stronger than mermaids?? Or was it just this one merman who was incredibly strong? It was so, so confusing. At least you had an understanding of the situation now. 

"Y/n can take us back can't she?!"

A duck sound went off in your mind. ..What?

"Gah!!" You were once again grabbed by the shoulders by Suma who lit up brightly smiling. 

"You can take us to the ocean right?! You already brought us here, so you can do that too! Right?!" And like dominos the other two looked at you expectantly.

"I-...*sigh* It's not that easy. I don't have anyway to travel with you all."

"HUH?! But why?! You  had that wagon."

"Had. Past tense. The wagon wasn't mine, and the owner already took it back weeks ago."

A tense silence passed over the four of you as wondering thoughts and realization take it's course. Eventually but quietly they moved. Makio started on your hair again and Hinatsuru picked up your hand once again to look at your nails. Suma was the only one who still looked ready to cry with her bottom lip quivering and and eyes watery. 

"You mean..W-We're never gonna ge-get home?"

"No!" Suma jolted as a hand clasped onto her arm. "I mean yes!" You held up your other hand despite Hina's protest. "You will get home. I-I just need some time to figure out what to do next, but I promise you I'm going to get you there... Somehow."

You just needed more time to figure out how you were going to do that...

It was a Wednesday morning when you came into work as usual. And as usual you saw Mrs. Henya glaring across from the street with an enraged scowl. Nothing too different for now at least. Your body only ignored her as you just made your way down the street and to the shop doors. You didn't want or need her targeting you next. You just pushed in the doors, stepped inside, and stepped inside- Only to freeze as a familiar face turned to look at you, and he smiled widely.

"Well if it isn't the most beautiful girl in town.~"

"Akira?!"

A dripping sound cascaded down on the surface of the water. It was really peaceful to watch and not at all harmful to anyone else who was under the water and watching the storm turn the top of the sea into rippling broken glass. Pink eyes gleamed up to the sky as she hummed and watched the pretty sight.

"Here you are. I was wondering where you were when I didn't find you in bed with the others."

She didn't have to turn around to know who that was. "I couldn't sleep. It kinda fascinating isn't it?" She gestured up to the surface. "If you were above it, you'd be knocked about and drowned but from down here it looks almost pretty. Like thousands of stones being tossed across the water. "

A chuckle was given as two arms wrapped around her body pulling her flush against a well toned and muscular chest. "Well it's a more flamboyant sight down here.~"

"Why do I get the feeling you're not talking about the Water's surface?" Her answer was a kiss to the top of her head. 

"I can't help that my wives are all visions of beauty.~ The first time I ever saw you scrounging around for lobsters, I thought 'there's a flashy woman who's gonna be my wife'."

"Mmm. I remember it differently."

"How so?"

"You stuttered when you tried talking to me and then you swam away when you panicked. I still think it was cute when you smacked into the dolphin swimming by."

"Hmph. I don't remember anything of the sort. You must be mistaken."

"And I suppose what really happened in your memory was me instantly swooning into your arms??"

"Well...maybe not instantly." If she could see his face, she would've seen him light up red in embarrassment as she giggled. "HEY! S-Shut up! I was totally under control the entire time!"

"Ok. If that's what you want to go by..But I still think it's cute when you stutter."

He grumbled just burying his face in her hair holding her tighter, making her giggle all the more.

"Hinatsuru? Hey, Hinatsuru!" 

Pink eyes blinked out of their dazed state. Gone was the soothing water and comfy hold around her body. Instead cold hard floor and a tub too small was what her eyes saw, along with a hand forcing a vegetable her way. A carrot it was called if she remembers right.

"Quit your daydreaming and eat. You're not doing yourself any favors by ignoring good food."

"Right...Not doing any of us any good."

[courtney-deserved-better]

Do you have any tips for getting yourself to actually focus and write for a while? I have so much motivation to write but then I open my laptop and go to write the next chapter and I just feel like oughhhhhhhhhh

no that's so real. if you're not sure what you're working on is what you WANT to be writing, i would say investigate that further instead of trying to keep hacking away at it. if you ARE sure it's what you want to write, it's just hard to get started, here's some stuff you can do!

📜 change the aesthetic of your document. this can be with the font (comic sans is shockingly helpful) but what i've been doing lately is changing the page color to something that fits the theme of my fic. it's so much more enjoyable writing on a pastel yellow or a dark red than just a harsh white page.

☕️ go to a cafe! if i have spending money and i need motivation i go to my local cafe, get a coffee, and sit down to write. changing to an environment that isn't my apartment/workplace/university is refreshing, plus i get a nice little drink. and i tell myself because i spent money, i have to write or i'm wasting money. guilt trippy, but it gets the job done. that, plus the caffeine lol

🎧 find or make a playlist you like (i like lofi instrumental stuff i find on youtube) and tell yourself you have to write for as long as the playlist plays. could be 15 minutes, could be an hour, but sometimes having a time limit and some funky beats helps

📝 skip whatever the first scene of your chapter is and write the second. or skip it and go to the scene you're most excited to write that chapter. once you get into a flow state, it's easier to go back and write the previous scene and then later edit it so the overall chapters makes sense

💭 freewrite! just start writing out your stream of consciousness, it's a lot more easy to get started when you're just typing whatever comes to mind and then you can eventually transition into writing your fic. sometimes you gotta warm up first!

👟 take a walk! getting out of the house and just stewing in my thoughts about my fic is great at helping me connect plot points, explore themes, and just think about why i'm excited to write my fic in the first place

💬 create social pressure. deadlines are great, but it's easy to talk yourself out of them if they're self-enforced. so find someone who you're comfortable with reading your fics, and tell them you'll have a chapter/scene/section to show them by a certain date. then you feel forced to have something to show them by that date. only do this if you know it will motivate you and not make you horribly anxious.

the MOST important advice i have is this:

NEVER END A CHAPTER WITHOUT STARTING THE NEXT ONE.

i am SO serious about this. as soon as you finish your latest chapter, go ahead and write at least the first sentence of the next one. starting is the HARDEST PART of writing for me and already knocking out some of that while i'm in the flow has been a game changer when it comes to fic writing. if your problem is that having to start the next chapter kills your motivation, take starting the next chapter OUT OF THE EQUATION.

thanks for the ask! i love talking about writing, best of luck with your fics!

[respectthepetty]

I just spent midnight to 2 am reading through your entire pit babe tag and I am having the time of my life, your muted colors watch posts of the show are so fucking funny.

Also I am so very deeply impressed on all the stuff you picked up and and also often how early (meanwhile me over here with subtitles and pre-spoiled still suprised pikachu face over half of the show).

I can't wait for your muted colors watch of season 2 and can't wait for Sonic to drive you insane once more. Also justice for Kenta.

@the-iron-queen, thanks for reading through my wild posts because watching Pit Babe muted, on double speed, and without subs made the show so much more enjoyable for me. It was a nice challenge for me, and I'm actually very excited to do it again for season two just so I can hate Vegas' Hedgehog and Southwest Airlines more for not understanding the group (color) assignment.

However, that experience has greatly affected how much I'm (not) enjoying The Love Doesn't Have Long Beans since I'm getting flashbacks to screaming at Alan not to trust that scheming Jeffrey!

Because in any universe, Pon's character will wear blue and lie to Sailub's character.

Like I can't even enjoy Sailub's fine ass because I keep yelling about Jeffrey and that damn blue even though I fully know these are two different shows.

Sailub is too attractive for me to be haunted by a color like this!

But I really wanted Red Rascal turned Blue Boy Kimberly and Black Brooder Kentana to run off into the sunset together, so This Love Doesn't Have Long Beans is fulfilling that giant void in my Pit Babe heart and winning me over in that department.

If Kentana couldn't have Peter (GIVE ME POLY!!!!), then I knew Kimberly could keep Kentana warm at night.

I mean, look at Benz. He knows how to kiss a homie, yet Pit Babe wasted those lips!

En of Love: This is Love Story and Prom showed us that.

So I'm hoping CHANGE2561 doesn't disappoint me twice!

Because if so, I guess I'll just have to pray the third times a charm and that Benz gets to kiss TWO boys in Pit Babe 2.

GIVE ME POLY!

[its-chips-main]

Rules: answer and tag people you want to get to know better and/or catch up with! Tagged by @mosscosmos

Favorite Color: i have SO MANY !!!! in no particular order: red/black, PINK, and all warm colors INCLUDING warm-toned purple.

Last Song: Death to Chronos by Darren Korb (Hades II OST)

Last Movie: ...i think this is actually still Barbie. wow

Currently Reading: the most normal kind of fanfiction imaginable. (academia has me incredibly burnt out on real books unfortunately)

Currently Watching: a lot of drawfee on youtube <3 also severe weather coverage. there's a lot of that going on rn it's kinda yucky

Currently Craving: physical company bc my new room on campus is Soooo nice and i want to show it to someone and offer them snacks and throw a tangerine at them

Tea or Coffee: as much as i am now a tea enjoyer i HAVE to say coffee...... iced coffee is just such a good little treat. tea isn't a treat it's just a way of life (to me).

I tag: @nebulous-nevermore, @sugar-free-byproducts, @dykedragons, @everysinglepheel, @thewisestdino, @photographerh, & @cowardishh (IF U ARE SO INCLINED!! no pressure & feel free to lmk if u prefer not to be tagged <3)

[drumlincountry]

Hiiii i got tagged by my friends @penisgirlfriend and @life-lifeisalongtime to answer fun tumblr questions!

RULES - answer the questions and tag 9 ppl

favorite color: almost all my fav clothes are like. wine red. I also like forest green and gold.

last song listened to: Warm Blood by Carly Rae Jepsen. I spent most of this afternoon listening to my vampire playlist

currently reading: "Debt: the first 5000 Years" by David Graeber, which I DID start reading cause a cute girl at work recommended it. However its REALLY GOOD I am fascinated with how coercive hierarchies existed beyond & before capitalism & how keeping these hierarchies from destroying society (which does mean perpetuating em) takes the development of unique cultural technologies such as: believing anyone with too much charisma is a cannibal. I might write an actual post about it.

currently watching: Literally currently watching Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind with my housemates. Enjoying the post apocalyptic disney princess of it all.

currently craving: I'm having a pretty good evening but I could go for a hug from my partner who I MISS!! They have been covid positive for a whole week !! :'(

coffee or tea: I reject your binaries as I am a real beverage enjoyer.

tagging @ailbhetross32 and @eternalbefore and @sailorpants and @palofbibbo and @jealousofthetea and @herbertvvest (love the new blog title by the way) and @saintssebastian and @piratearrowxab and @consultingzoologist and

[violettduchess]

A/N: Arthur won the poll for which vamp suitor to write for @aquagirl1978 and my Summer Days Sultry Nights CCC. This is also my first stand-alone Arthur fic!

Prompt: Summer Festival

WC: ~1.1k

Festival Entrance

An archway bedecked with blush-colored summer roses welcomes you both to the Festival d'été. You squeeze Arthur’s hand tightly, clearly taken by its charm and he finds himself smiling. As you pass through, he casually steals one of the soft pink blossoms, careful not to crush the delicate petals. As he’s tucking it into your braid, you ask him where he got it. He winks one blue summer-sky eye and murmurs: “Magic, luv.”

Games Tent

The shiny pyramid of tin cans stands tall and proud, almost daring him to give it his best shot. The vendor hands him the small rubber ball and wishes him good luck. You’re watching him, eyes bright with anticipation. He clears his throat. He may be excellent with his hands, but he has never been the best shot. C’mon, he tells himself. You are a supernatural creature. You can manage to topple some tins. He winds up, throws and.......

......the throw is wide. The vendor chuckles and you cover your mouth with the back of your hand to hide your amusement at the utter dismay on his handsome face.

“Perhaps the young lady would like to try her luck.” Arthur steps back, head cocked to one side as he watches you, his lips curving up into a skeptical smile. “Surely, if I am not able to–” The tins topple to the ground with a loud clattering sound. You turn to him, a very satisfied smirk on your face. “Which prize do you want, sweetheart?” 

Arthur walks away with a stuffed dog wearing a smart red bow tie and an only slightly bruised ego.

Food Stand

Hand in hand, you stroll past the food stands with their incredible smells, each one valiantly fighting for your attention. The popped corn almost wins but then you both stop in your tracks when you see the white stand with the word “Caramel” written in bright pink lettering.

“Fudge!” You both make a beeline for the stand, working with one singular thought: “Must have some.” The vendor smiles warmly as you two approach, as excited as children entering a candy store, and asks if you would like to try a free sample. There are so many different kinds, your mind is swimming in possibility. Dark chocolate? Toffee? Walnut? Penuche? 

Then you spot it: Coffee. Tugging on Arthur’s sleeve you direct his attention to the warm brown fudge and you swear his face lights up. The vendor offers you both a free sample. Arthur’s eyes close as soon as the sweet confection enters his mouth and you have to grin at his expression. It is absolute bliss, a man transported to the heavens via condensed milk and sugar.

The vendor kindly offers you a paper bag where at least half her coffee fudge now lives and Mr. Barker, the stuffed dog, is riding along, guarding the sweet treasure.

Wine Stand

“Cheers.” How he managed to order himself a cup of coffee at a wine stand is beyond you but you raise your glass towards his porcelain mug, gently tapping it with a small clink. The blueberry wine is sweet and cool, the flavor spilling like summer over your tongue and sending a shot of sunshine right through you. 

He’s watching you over the rim of his coffee cup, eyes gleaming like a feline following a bit of string as you lower your wine glass. “Tastes good, does it?” You lift your glass in offering. “Would you like a taste?”

“Would I.” But he does not touch your wine glass. Instead, he leans over, brushing his lips over yours in a surprisingly sensual move that has you raising your eyebrows even as your heart leaps up in excitement. And then you lean in, conscious that you are in public but unable to deny how enjoyable it is to kiss him like this. It's sweeter than the wine, you decide when you lean back, and just as delectable.

Town Square

Mr Barker and his precious cache of coffee fudge are set down at the base of a nearby lamp post as Arthur sweeps you into his arms, pulling you into the dancing crowd. The musicians are playing their hearts out, fiddle bows flying over strings, accordions singing, as they send a raucous melody across the entire square that has everyone tapping their feet.

You’re swept up in the joy that rolls across the gathered people, your hand holding tight to Arthur’s as you spin, feet deftly navigating the cobblestone ground. You are light as a feather, bright as the sun’s reflection in Arthur’s brilliant eyes. He holds your gaze and you are flying through all that blue, a bird on the wind, wings beating in time to the music. His touch steadies you like a dancer’s focal point as they pirouette, a whirlwind of beauty and grace.

His strong hands are at your waist, lifting you towards the bright sun as it smiles down on the crowd and you stretch upwards, your body arching to greet it. And then he’s lowering you back down to earth and his sapphire eyes are aflame with a different light.

Alley

Even sunlight can’t penetrate the curtain of shadows the buildings at either side of the narrow alleyway provide. They stand like protective guardians, sheltering you and Arthur from any gaze that aimlessly glances at the narrow, inconspicuous passageway. 

The brick is hard and rough against your bare shoulders, snagging at the bunched up material of your dress. But you don’t care. 

Not when Arthur’s gifted hands are everywhere all at once, touching you in a way that has your body coiling around a lightning rod of desire. 

Not when his mouth is on your neck and his voice is weak with the sound of your name. 

Not when he emulates the sun and all it's powerful heat, your body a conduit for pleasure that courses through you like plasma until you explode into nothing but bright embers that ever so slowly drifts back down to earth.

Bedroom

Mr. Barker is nestled comfortably against the arm of the couch. The precious coffee fudge is on Arthur’s desk where it will disappear within a day. The rose from your hair is now on your nightstand in a glass where it will live until its bright pink petals begin falling, one by one, in a final swan song. 

The sun has long since sunk to its rest, giving the care of the sky over to a full summer moon. You shift within the circle of Arthur’s embrace, sighing contently. “Thank you for a perfect day,” you murmur, tipping your head up to place a kiss right at the corner of his mouth. You linger there long enough to feel those lips curve into a smile. He turns his head slightly to kiss you back, properly, a tender press of his mouth to yours. 

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, luv.” 

You roll away from him and then scoot back until he has curved his long body around you, a silent safeguard. A vow of safety, protection and above all, love.

Tagging: @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @rhodolitesrose @ikemen-writer @bellerose-arcana @aria-chikage @redheadkittys @tele86 @dear-mrs-otome @firestar-otomeobsessed @curious-skybunny @rhodoliteschaos @kpop-and-otome @writingwhimsey @mxrmaid-poet @silver-dahlia @wendolrea @otomefoxystar @nightfoxqueen @myonlyjknight @kissmetwicekissmedeadly @bubblexly

[ryemackerel]

this might be a really small or weird thing but this is the blog that made me the warm colour enjoyer I am now. I used to hate warm colours but idk

wyllow and everyone else and you made me appreciate how pretty reds and yellows and browns can be :)

YAYYY OH COME TO THE DARK SIDE BOY!!! or warm side. whichever!!!!

im so happy my art makes people appreciate even the smaller aspects of my style, especially when it comes to colors <3 makes me jump around even. warm colors are my genuine favorite things to use when it comes to art, happy to know youve started appreciating them :) 🫶

[rafent]

dance, sender sticks a hand out to receiver and invites them to dance.

( au: what if the masquerade didn't end? giggles )

behind a simple mask lies a complex face. a large feather---distractingly large, who wears something like that anyways?---parts the crowd its wearer pushes through akin to a dorsal fin out of water.

he does not know the true identity of the golden mask he approaches and yet his suspicions rise, rise, rise. their mannerisms, the way they speak, their verbage---it's all unmistakable, but he can't be sure without some kind of confirmation. there is no way to undo the things he thinks of doing.

so instead, black-and gold approaches gold-and-red. a luxurious set of colors to be sure, and dangerous besides. but he is not afraid of anything except his own imagination.

that is what the knife behind his back is there for. just in case.

" good evening again, my friend. " feather and tassels droop as the body bows perfectly. " i do hope everything has been well for you since our last chat.

" by the by, the dance floor looks quite lonely, " he notes, off-track but now focused on the observation. his free hand flourishes outward, offering. " would you like to make it a little less so? maybe a dance or two? "

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒 — no longer accepting

Behind every mask stood a stranger, eldritch and unknowable in the vastness of their mystery. None could be made perfectly certain of a sharp-tongued dragon tucked behind a devilishly horned face, nor of his partner with an extravagant one, fond to oversized plumes and playful whims. Each would have their theories, of course, but in the end these truths dangled out of reach. An enticing ceiling to be lowered with every subsequent encounter with some deemed closer to it than others.

"Well enough, if only for the great many things to be observed and done."

Though calm and measured his speech, the holes of Rafal's mask did little to conceal his interest at a certain sunny reappearance, two glittering eyes peering outward. Too darkly shadowed to tell their bloody color. Another perfect ninety degree bow; the other's ostentation impressed upon him twice now, beyond the realm of coincidence. Likewise, there existed no coincidence in the purposeful slide of one hand into another. Grip warm and firm - smirk heard before seen.

"A single dance would be to fine favor, I am no accomplished dancer. Although, I imagine you must know a thing or two to be asking me." No, not merely imagine, but theorize, bespoke his amused tone. His induction into twirling steps and ballroom routines had come about with both humility and sparsity, on a single dance shared with Poe. Far be it from his present capability to ask another to dance with such unassuming freedom.

Even so he would be no liability.

Known to the motions, he stepped into position. Hand-in-hand, hand-on-waist, and the tethering of two antithetical forces with themselves as sole witness. Empty the dance floor save only for them; masks horned and plumed, a slanted vision of the serpent and bird in timeless if harmless embrace. Questions, answers, curiosities, all to be smelted down to insignificance with an inevitability and enjoyment hard to deny.

[asher-agere]

I just came back from trick or treating and I am so tired. My legs ache so bad. It is always a bad idea to do things that require a ton of walking for me because of how weak I am… but I got tons of candy so it was worth it!!

Per usual, I have yet another request for you. Can you share your thoughts on caregiver Yosano with a little who refuses to share their feelings out of fear of Yosano being angry if they’re not absolutely positive… and they don’t do this when not regressed it is specifically when they’re feeling little only!!

- Fyodor Enjoyer

Candy is so super awesome! Where I live there’s no trick or treating :( It’s a culture thing sadly. Make sure you rest up! Don’t want you pushing yourself to far hehe

Caregiver Yosano + Scared Little

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⚬ Yosano would always be kind and gentle. She’d never ever lash out or get frustrated with her little one! As a doctor she’s used to handling kids, or those who throw tantrums like children (Glances at Ranpo the man-child and Dazai our residential doctor hater). At most she might do some light teasing? So when her little one is suddenly scared to express how they’re feeling she’d be surprised to say the least! She can’t understand what she could’ve done to scare them like that… But she’s able to assume it wasn’t anything she did

⚬ She’d give plenty of options for the little one to communicate how they’re feeling! I’ve seen many different systems, colors (Red bad, yellow bleh, green good), numbers (0 bad, 10 good), or even temperatures (Warm good, cold bad)! Of course that’s still a way for them to need to say how they’re doing. So she completely understands if that’s still too much. If they keep saying they’re doing good when they’re clearly not she’ll stop asking, not wanting to overwhelm them!

⚬ I think the best solution to the problem would be to give the little something to hold that shows their mood! That way they’re not verbally saying they’re going bad, it feels less overwhelming and scary! A beautiful example is the flippy octopus plushies?

These things! They can flip it to the angry side so they don’t have to verbally say they’re doing bad. Other options though can be like colored bracelets, colored pacifiers… Subtle things!

⚬ Above all else though her best way to know if something is wrong though is just to know her baby! Watch their breathing, hold them in a way she can check their heart rate. She’s a doctor after all! She’d know all symptoms of anything going wrong!

⚬ Another tiny thing that I think would help is she’d explain things that indicate they’re upset! For example “I notice when you twist your fingers it usually means you’re upset” This gives an opening!!!!! It shows the baby that she notices these things, so they’re able to start using it as an indicator! They’re not directly saying they feel bad, they don’t need to explain, but it lets her know. Only if she’s paying attention! If she’s busy she wouldn’t notice, so they wouldn’t be a bother! (They’re not a bother anyway but I get the anxious baby way of thinking)

⚬ When Yosano sees any of these various signs that something is wrong, she never asks what’s wrong! If they’re too scared to even tell her that they’re feeling bad they definitely wouldn’t feel comfortable voicing what’s upsetting them. Instead she’ll just sit the baby down in her lap and say things until she notices a shift in their behavior! Examples “You know I love you right?” “And I would never be mad at you” “You’re definitely not a bother darling” The shift can be bad or good! Whether they’re reassured or get more worked up. It means she’s found the sensitive topic and is ready to cheer up the baby!

⚬ Once she’s found the sensitive topic she goes all in with the praise! She’ll reassure them on every possible thing relating to the sensitive topic! All while gently bouncing them in her lap! She’ll be whatever they need. If they need to cry into her neck, that’s ok! If they wanna play to distract themselves, she’s got their toys all ready! She finds the issue and makes it all better!

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I love caregiver Yosano! She’d be the best at noticing and stopping panic attacks, handling depressive episodes… All suffering babies need a caregiver like Yosano

I’m very sad that I can’t boop my wonderful Anons who bring me so much joy :( My solution however! Is this

*BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP BOOP*

Have a wonderful day!!

[nerdieforpedro]

People I'd like to get to Know Better

Last Song: Bad Girl by Usher (because it's a song I will sing full volume with windows down - no matter if I'm losing my voice or not) 🤣

Favorite Color: Blues and Reds. I like the juxtaposition of cool and warm together and I feel I look good in both. 😎

Currently Watching: Just finished Bosch on Prime. Keeping up with Chicago PD, Med and Fire (I love them all okay), Tulsa King (I enjoy this show way too much and should not just be watching for Mitch but I am so it is what it is.), Star Trek Discovery - watching with my mom is really fun. I'm enjoying Brilliant Minds and I just have to remember it's TV - stop getting mad at the screen (due to medical inaccuracies but it really is an enjoyable show. It's because of my job.) I still have to figure out if I'm caught up on Found of not but I loved what I saw of it.

Last Movie: It was either Rebel Ridge or Blink Twice. I know I saw Blink Twice in theaters and I think I came home and tried to watch Rebel Ridge which was a bad idea. Didn't finish Rebel Ridge. I'll try watching it again but then it made me want to watch John Wick or The Equalizer for a faster pace. 👀 I'll need to give it another shot. Blink Twice had a warning about the material which I was surprised to see but is was well warranted and still didn't quite prepare me for what I saw. Excellent movie though.

Current Obsession: Playing my video games since I can't seem to write. I've been playing Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Final Fantasy 16 and got a game trial to Baldur's Gate 3 because just from the TikTok's it seems like I would have the same type of obsession with that game I had with Final Fantasy Tactics. Which honestly maybe that isn't so bad. I also have way too much sunscreen (always trying different ones because my skin is now combo - oily forehead and nose with dry cheeks and acne because it's been there since puberty, my longest relationship outside of family lol) 🤣 Though Korean ones work well for my skin it seems as well as cleansers and stuff.

Relationship Status: Single and chilling.

Last Thing I Googled: About a sunscreen. Nerdie be nerdy. 😊

I was tagged by @bitchwitch1981 @soft-persephone @yopossum @inept-the-magnificent @baronessvonglitter

Like most things I'm late to it so if you'd like to do it, please do and tag me. 🤗

[jokerownsmysoul]

midnight, the stars and you

Summary: the strike of midnight in between the last moments of the past year & the first moments of the new one lived with arthur. aka, a slice of your first new year’s eve together.

Warnings: smut.

Words: 5300

Notes: this was born as a drabble written in haste at 4 am but I got carried away a bit. very funny of me to post an unplanned new year's eve piece before the much planned Christmas ones I've been working on, but my writing flow works in mysterious ways. I wish you all a wonderful start of the year and a more wonderful unfurling, I hope that it'll be kinder and gentler with your hearts and will keep you away from any kind of hurting. 🤎

It’s nice to think that this is the first written piece of the year; I’m looking forward to a year full of creation, writing and arthing, and the many emotions along with it. 🤎

The roaring sounds of fireworks was almost overlapping the regular noises of the city, which gave no chance of respite even on New Year’s Eve. Muffled to the point of being nearly hard to define, Gotham was covered by cheerfulness.

They looked beautiful as they shone in the starry winter sky, sprinkling its navy mantle with confetti of various colors and illuminating the skyscrapers of Gotham to the darkest, farthest peaks of the horizon as they darted downhill on the streets like shooting stars.

Yet, your eyes could not stop falling on Arthur. The fireworks looked a lot more beautiful when reflected visibly in the green of his dreamy eyes, tinging his skin of different shades on the way. They granted to the apples of his cheek the resemblance of a painter's palette flecked with different splashes of colors.

It had been Arthur’s idea to reach the fire escape and watch the midnight fireworks after a cozy evening indoors. He’d grabbed the warmest and softest cardigan he managed to find in his closet to keep you warm as soon as the first shades of fires flashed into the living room through the windows stripped bare by the curtains, shielding your arms left bare by your dress from the snowy cold while pecks of flurries flecked the streets below in white. On a last thought you grabbed also the radio you would otherwise keep on the edge of the bathtub, already tuned on the Gotham City New Year’s Eve GCR local station where the countdown to the strike of midnight would start soon, and together moved outside on the fire escape; your personal made-up romantic balcony.

Beyond the fire escape, behind you, you’ve given your evening celebration a different touch once the fireworks started, the Gotham city’s way to say goodbye to the past year and greet the new one with flying sparkles and flames. The champagne flutes to toast at the strike of midnight were ready, resting on the coffee table in front of the couch next to the dinner glasses, the red lipstick mark signing the edge of yours distinguishable from his, and the candles scattered all over the room, never missed in your celebrations, fluttered in the night.

It was easy for Arthur to get lost in these moments of earthly wonder and let his mind flow into his fantasies. Moments like these that showed the enchantment of the city, that prooved that something magical was possible to find in the continuous mundanity of the world, unleashed his nature of the dreamer; not only because he got to live these moments while appeared possible to him, but because he shared them with you.

Your gaze lingered on Arthur, on his curls caught in the light and on his eyes completely transfixed on the fires. His youthful enjoyment boosted him to lean over, forearms perched on the railing while a cigarette hung from his middle and forefinger, its embers standing out in the night almost as much as the fireworks above your heads did, and definitely more adept at catching your attention.

Arthur brought the tiny firework he held in his hand to his mouth. His lips squeezed between the stick, then a sucking, your belly trembling at this sight that triggered your desire to take over his lips and a second later there was a cloud of smoke puffed upwards to reach the others in the sky, larger and louder, imposing and out of reach. He watched the fires through the thick smoke circling around his face, not letting it be a distraction.

You loved the way he payed attention to things. Not only with the things he cared about, not only with you, not only with people he was careful not to hurt – Arthur took seriously the knowledge of how important it was to keep his attention always vigilant about anything that mattered. Even now you could see that as he enjoyed the fireworks and didn’t avert his eyes from them once. You wondered what he was thinking, yet a part of you didn’t need to ask to know.

You recognized his eyes lost in the rapture of the flaming skyline, and the pad of his middle finger was tracing the curve of his lower lip, a familiar gesture that used to give away the extent of his full immersion in his fantasies or thoughts.

When Arthur finally turned to you and caught you looking at him already, he smiled. “Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?”

His question struck with you, but wasn’t unexpected at all. You shrunk in yourself, clutching his cardigan to your chest and to your heart from both sides. It smelled like him. You squeezed it even tigther, to get as many whiffs of him as you could.

There had been a time when New Year’s resolutions were punctually made, and punctually failed – which frankly, was part of the fun. There had been a time when making resolutions encouraged you in the spirit. But then followed also a time when you stopped believing in it, when you thought better things could never occur; you’d made yourself believe that it was all for nothing, even celebrating. The time that had lasted the longest.

But meeting Arthur had inspired you back to life again. To have dreams, aspirations, something that ignited the soul of desire and hunger to grab life with bare hands. Falling in love with him had allowed you to live the greatest desire of all and see it finally fulfilled after years of longing: to be in love, to find your twin flame. Arthur’s infectious nature of the dreamer and, above all, the certainty of how right you were, how happy and safe he made you feel, had stilled into you the craving for new wishes you wanted him to be a part of. It felt as though Arthur was the serenity that the universe had wanted to gift to you after so much endurance.

You thought about how happy you were to wake up and go to bed with Arthur every day. Simple moments of mundanity that marked and conditioned everything: your day, your mood, your life, your happiness. To start and then to end each day with Arthur was a blissful gift, some favorite moments of the day. You would’ve liked to start and then to end the year to come with him, too. To make of your whole life a simple moment of mundanity shared with him sounded like the kind of life you’ve always wanted, the apotheosis of happiness.

“Umh... I think my only new year’s resolutions is to start and end this year with you, and to be able to tell you again on every New year’s eve to come. Wait, the second, is to love you very hard.” You told yourself these were the only resolutions you wouldn’t have failed that you’d ever made. You didn’t know how much of resolutions they were though. More than resolutions, those were declarations of love. But you didn’t mind. It sounded much better that way.

Happiness took over his dimples when he smiled at you, hollowed the creases around his eyes. A smile that made his eyes shine bright with promises and vows more than any other firework was able to do. “I like your resolutions,” he commented sweetly.

The transfixing-by-fireworks look you’ve seen in him was easy to mirror when you gaped at Arthur, and you grew transfixed by him. “What are yours?”

His answer was ready, perching already at the tip of his tongue. “They used to be always the same. To keep trying. To do better… to become someone worthy of finding my one and only person.” He swallowed, and threw away the cigarette butt; melancholia of the things that had been tucked itself in the lump of his throath as he continued. “They still are... but now I feel happy with you and I like my life a little more. And when you first told me you loved me, I thought maybe I didn’t have to become more than myself to find love.”

You scooped closer and nestled his bicep, hugging him fondly and tight around his middle, hoping that all your love would seep inside him. You pecked his shoulder and nodded as you rested your cheek there, letting him now that you were present in his feelings, meeting him in a place of trust that was made of attentive listening and understanding. There was a peculiar exhale through his chest that told you he had more to add.

“But there’s just one small thing I still want.”

You tilted your head up lightly, just enough to read his expression. “What do you want?”

“A spotlight,” he confessed.

“A spotlight?”

“Yes. A spotlight. I'm not sure what kind.” He ducked his chin, the squishy skin on its underside starting to crinkle in that endearing way that used to give you always butterflies. “It’s silly, I know.”

“I don’t think it’s silly. I think it’s brave.” You held him tighter as a firework burst into the sky. You both turned toward it in tandem, observing its fiery ascend upon Gotham in a silence that spoke of many things that for the two of you were easy to understand. You stayed there for a few heartbeats. This silence, too, was a important part of your conversation. “I’ll help you get this spotlight if you want me to.” You let it float into the open, just to let him know that you would support anything he wished for. His arm drifting over and then squeezing yours was his most sincere answer, telling you he really did want to.

You enjoyed this moment together, focused only on the padded voice of the reporter coming from the radio that you’ve put on one of the step of the fire escape, close enough to outline what the reporter would say without interfering. His voice was growing high-pitched and stilled with increase excitement, and the fireworks were picking up the pace, clue that midnight was very close. Before midnight struck there was something else you wanted, after all.

“Can I ask for a last wish?” Your voice was a sudden sound that went to blend with all the others around you.

Arthur turned to you, willing alertness to whatever your request would be. “What is it?”

You bit your lip. “Can you kiss me at midnight?”

Even with the fireworks tinging his features you could distinguish the familiar blush on his cheeks as he giggled softly. “I'll kiss you at midnight, darling. Any time of the new year you want.”

You grinned at him. You knew a romantic at heart like him would’ve appreciated the gesture. You both were romantic at heart; it was nice to know that each of you had the other to share and experience your wishes with, as cheesy as they could be. It felt as though your hearts were tuned on the same radio station talking about romance and love languages.

Then the fireworks stopped. It was a brief, customary moment that lasted only a few seconds, if only to mark the passage from one year to another. Silence settled upon Gotham all of a sudden, a sense of suspence despite some distant, typical noises of the city came back again audible. Everyone was waiting for the new year. As on time, you heard the repoter from the radio starting to count down and encourage the listeners to follow along.

10, 9, 8, 7…

You locked your eyes into one another as the numbers went by. You spent the last moment of the year focused on each other’s features and the love pooling from this exchange of glances. Your minds were flipping through every page of the wonderful story you’ve written together over this year coming to an end, loving every little word, grateful for every chapter.

3, 2, 1...

The fireworks broke through as suddenly as they have left once the countodown came to an end, yet this time looked and sounded much bigger and louder, more imposing than the ones you’ve seen so far.

“Happy n–”

Arthur didn’t give you any more time. He drew you into him in a flourish and captured your lips in a passional kiss, looping an arm around your waist and cupping your cheek with the other hand to pull you close. It was a kiss worthy of a black and white movie; those kisses visibly overwhelming and with not-held back abandon, with mouth pressed eagerly against another mouth, as if the lovers were taking each other somewhere very far away. Yours felt even better.

“… New Year,” you completed in a after-kiss daze when he pulled away. You smiled at each other. The reporter continued to talk, but this time neither of you wanted to pay attention.

“Happy new year.”

You brought your hand to his chest clad in a gray sweater, caressing a line along his front. He was looking so beautiful, with chestnut locks falling along his cheeks caught by tiny flurries, and a twinkle in his eyes that rather belonging to the reflections of fireworks belonged to the joy you were sharing. A giggle lifted the corners of your mouth as you noted the lapels of his shirt collar tucked purposefully underneath the sweater. You loved him and his little quirks so much. You took a mental note to leave a red lipstick mark in one of them later... or in both. “It's nice to start things with you, and to know you'll be there when they will come to an end,” you told him. “You’re the beginning of everything to me.”

He hugged you close, his chin grazing your temple like when you danced as your arms drifted around to clasp his shoulder blazes. His eyes fluttered closed as your words reached his heart, soothing every itch of the past not yet healed. Before you, he didn’t even know if he had a life at all. It’d started with you. “I love you too, y/n.”

Your embrace lasted until you remembered about the flutes on the coffe table. You withdrew as on a mission. “We need to toast. Hold on.”

He watched your back with anticipation as you walked back inside. You reached the kitchen to grab the bottle opener, then returned to the living room where you filled both flutes with a few inches of champagne and went back to Arthur right after. Fireworks had again caught his attention. You found place by his side and handed him one of the flutes.

“What do you want to toast to?” You asked, flutes ready to sing against one another.

His anwer came quickly. “To us.”

You nodded with a smile. “To us. And to spotlights.”

You let your flutes collide against one another and took a sip together, then another one. The night was getting colder, a blanket of flurries was descending slowly through the wake of fireworks, but you decided to stay a while longer; fireworks didn’t occur very frequently in the city, and it was important for you that Arthur enjoyed them till he could. You put both flutes on the windowsill and leaned on the railing by his side. One of his arm looped around your back while you rested your head on his shoulder. You snuggled into each other to shield from the cold and turned towards the skyline together, and together, you watched the fireworks wonders highlight the brightness of the flurries in the sky, tinging them red, green, orange, their sparks mixing with the flakes of snow as they covered the streets. The multicolored fog the fireworks left across the horizon would already begin to vanish as soon as another one would pop. It looked almost like a dance above ground; maybe that’s also what Arthur saw in them. 

You stayed like this for awhile until you felt Arthur start shivering against you. “Are you cold?” You worried.

“A little bit.”

You waisted no time and slid the cardigan off your shoulders. The chill of the night hit your bare skin like a knife, the kind one that made you crave to be under the covers intertwined with Arthur. You ignored it and put the cardigan over his back instead.

He tried to oppose, an attempt that failed while he loosened in your care and ended in a flustered chuckle. “I gave this to you. You must be freezing.”

“And now I give it to you.” Your hand drifted to the collar of his shirt to let it fit more snuggly. His skin was cold at the touch. “We need to get you a flannel shirt to wear beneath this sweater.”

He chuckled. “I don’t mind this one.”

You rubbed your hands across his back to warm him up. You worked to keep him as warm as you possibly could until you figured it was time to go back inside. You took with you the radio and the flutes, closed the windows for the night, and a minute later you were warm and safe in your home. A slow song came up on the local station a few minutes later, with the repoter wishing a happy new year and saying goodnight, thank you for staying here with us, before the first notes started playing.

Arthur didn’t let this opportunity fly away. He reached for your hand to pull you close for a brief dance, his request implied in how his arm was outstreched towards you and in the peculiar twinkle his eyes held only when there was music. It was impossible to resist him. Your eyes sparkled with excitment when you took his hand and let him drew you in, hands going to land in familiar places of each other before he begun to rock you gently in his arms. The pace he followed was slow and lazy, as though he wanted this to feel a lot like cuddling now that you were about to settle in for the night.

Now back inside and heated by each other’s embrace, you were starting to feel warm again. His hold was comfortable around you. The orchestra was lulling every sway or light shift of his feet when a thought dawned on you, one that made you smile to yourself and therefore wanted to share with him. “You know what they say?”

He shook his head from left to right. “What do they say?”

“If you dance on New Year’s Eve, you dance all year long.”

He puffed a snort, the sweetest you could hear. “That would be nice. We can make it happen. Ehy, it can be our shared new year’s resolution.”

You gave him a toothy grin as you tried to tame the swelling of your heart. “I love this idea. There’s no one I would rather dance with other than you.” You squeezed your arms tighter around him, giving in to the cozy bliss his closeness gave you. The fabric of his gray sweater underneath the palm of your hand, his loving eyes as he looked at you, how safe he made you feel when his body was secured to yours so protectively with confidence.

Arthur made you twirl three times.

The first, delicately, to get you used to the rhythm he wanted to follow. The second, passionately, to crash his lips to yours in a very old-fashioned demeanor once the twirl made you land on his chest. The third, eagerly, to pull your body flush against him.

Every part of your body became aware of his. Your breast found itself sensitive to the warm nearness of his chest as it brushed against your nipples through the light material of your dress, leading to stiffen whenever he twisted in the right angle. Your breath itched in unison when you pressed yourself to his crotch and kept on dancing so knotted together. Your minds started to get hazy as you focused more on what your closeness felt like rather than on keeping a steady pace. 

Even dance with Arthur felt like a foreplay. Especially dance.

When your eyes fell on the lapels of his shirt, you remembered the promise you’ve made to yourself a few minutes prior. Bringing your mouth to the right white lapel, you pressed your lips to it prolongingly, to make sure the lipstick mark left behind would depict neatly your lip texture and no one else’s. “I don’t mind this shirt either,” you whispered, pecking the side of his neck before breaking away.

Arthur looked visibly flustered. His breath stalled in his chest. You adored to make him feel so loved, how he let it show. You lifted up and connected your lips to his, cupping tenderly his cheeks. You planted a tender, chaste kiss on his lips before your mouth nudged and pecked the scar of his upper lip. You relished in the scruff below his nose scratching the smoothness of your lips when you reached that area to kiss him there. When his eyes fluttered shut lost in your affection and dancing, you leaned on to peck his eyelids, too. It made him giggle in surprise and open his eyes back to you. 

You watched him watching you, and he watched you watching him. The rhythm of your rocking was changing, becoming slower, each back and forth dragged out as you got lost in each other’s gaze. Soft unspoken things floated between you. You wanted to show him how much you wanted him, how much you craved for him; all evidences of how much you loved everything about him, from the most wonderful quality to the little quirks only you knew. You halted your rocking halfway through the song only to grab his hand and guide him timidly towards the bedroom, blowing out all the candles on your way and exchanging knowing smiles of connectedness. Anticipation guided each of your steps while his fingers clutched between yours, his mind spinning for what you had in store for him. 

Once the lights were off, you hoped to tell him how your measure of time now was before and after him, with or without him. Maybe that was the reason why time with him stopped flowing by, and with the same force rushed by all the same, making you feel like you were rotating around every never ending circle of the ancient web in the arrow of time, without any traces of an ending.

You wanted to undress him, and he let you. You undressed him slowly in the penumbra, caressing with tenderness every part of his body as it went exposed to your touch and your gaze, folding his clothes with care on the bed bench at the foot of the bed at your left. You didn’t want to rush things tonight. His bare body unfolding before you article by article, ready to be loved on, felt like the prayer you uttered under your breath every night before you knew him; those lonely nights when you longed for some arms to hold you, for a gentle smile to reassure you, for a soul to love with ardor.

You stripped him bare from any clothes until he was standing naked in front of you, enlightened by the glow of the street lamps below and of the hues set afire by fireworks. A map of sinews and muscles caught in the light meant only for your mouth and your hands. You couldn’t still quite believe that someone like him, that Arthur, loved you back. To meet the person who seemed to be meant for you wasn’t as hard as people may thing, oftentimes. The very fortune was, once you met them, that they loved you back. You felt so blessed that he did. You still thanked him for it quite often. Sometimes openly, sometimes in silence as you watched him simply exist next to you.

His look was welcoming as he gave himself to you. You drew yourself closer, nestling your face in the warm curve of his neck. Your nose nudged the tendon there, breathing in his scent as if it was the only thing managing to keep you alive, and somehow it was. His soft meowling weakened your heart when you let your nose skim along it as you moved upward to lick his earlobe.

Your hands brushed along his sides, halting when you reached his love handles that you held carefully in the palm of your hands. You held him close in an embrace. “You’re my wish that came true.” Your breath fell hot in the spot below his ear as you whispered love to him, your voice gravelly born from a love confession that couldn’t wait any longer.

Then you kissed him, swallowing his answer that you knew was love, too. You didn’t bother to hide the craving for him. Cupping both of his cheeks, your lips parted to one another as you licked the soft hum falling from his mouth. Your tongue was missing the taste of him, and your heart felt heavy of all of those feelings it held for him, of all those things you hoped to tell him in this way that didn’t require any words.

You pulled him backward to lay him down on the mattress as you deepened the kiss and straddled him to settle on top. You let him watch you while you peeled yourself off your dress and underwear above him, to tell him that every part of you was his to see as well as to touch. Fireworks caught the peak of your nipples when you unclasped your bra and tossed it aside, its curve on the underside overshadowed by the nightlight. Heavy exhales filled his chest when your breasts appeared bare before his gaze, outstretching his tummy with desire.

You leaned over to kiss him. He moaned in your mouth when your breasts squeezed against his bare chest and your hand drifted low. You took hold of his hardening cock, and watched him while you stroked his lenght until you felt him writhe in your hand and beneath you. You relished in the feeling of fullness of his cock growing harder and slippery in your fingers as they fluttered around him, the sensitivity of the head when your pads scanned its outline or the vein across the underside visibly swollen; all ways of his body responding when you loved him like this, knowing that every expression and reaction was for you.

You crawled down across his body to the foot of the bed to reach him where his needs were leading you. You smooched the red tip sweetly before you buried your face in the private nook on the underside of his cock, nudging with your nose the crease found at the base. You lapped the drooping skin of his most sensitive area below it, playing with swipes of your tongue and the grazing of your teeth while your hand continued to caress along his shaft. The salty taste of his skin was addicting. His unrestrained moans triggered yor hunger, hard to contain when every intimate part of him was beneath your ministrations and throughoutly cared for. You evoked a sudden twitch when your mouth wrapped yet again around the velvety area and pulled away with a sucked-in pop. You’ve never met someone who made you want to love like this, so down to the flesh without shying away, open to feel any carnal desire he made you feel, giving in to any taste and any impulse never had before.

You stopped before you would feel the familiar evidence that he was coming undone and moved back up to him again. You laid a gentle caress on one of his cheek and let your arms drift down to brush across the dark hairs on his chest as your eyes met. You stared into each other’s eyes while you sunk down on him with ease and a broken whimper as he gasped in delight. Your hands latched the top of his shoulders for grounding before your hips started rolling around him, then up and down along him, to make him feel good from any angle and any pace you managed to keep.

A symphony of moans filled the bedroom as you made love to him in the night, intertwining each other through arches of your back and the continuous seeking of his hands across your sides and over your back. Its notes where at the highest pitch when Arthur grabbed your hips, making you roll over to land on the soft mattress so that he could lay atop you.

You smiled at each other when his face appeared above you, all around you. You loved the way he looked whenever he was on top of you. His silhouette was darkened by semidarkness but its outline standing out from the background was neatly recognizable, being revealed to you openly only whenever a firework burst from the window and enlightened his features through splashes of light. But you didn’t need light to recognize them – to recognize him. Your hands would’ve always recognized him in the dark, would’ve always know where to go to touch him. Even in the dark, you would know how he laid next to you.

You hoped to tell him the extent of how much he ignited you into fireworks when you felt him seathe and unsheathe himself in and out of you. You pulled his face close and kissed his sweaty forehead, nestling his face as a white-hot throb took over, turning everything into a distant blur while his face guided the path for you to come back on earth but always without leaving his embrace.

Fireworks were still darting in the night when his orgasm sprung into melody from his throath. You wondered if rather than cushioning them, your melodies of pleasure were enriching them in to a song made of sparks and craving; all things of what it felt like to love him.

You stayed in this cosy shelter made of sweat and warmth through the night, protecting each other’s pleasures long after you came down back on earth together, never pulling away.

Late at night had gone by when fireworks gradually ended. When they left, on their way to go they encountered Arthur’s back laying on the mattress as he held you close to his heartbeat. Your fingertips were tracing patterns of affection on his chest as he stroked your hair and his heartbeat lulled you. You enjoyed the last fireworks beyond the windows holding each other close in warmth and joy, already missing their lightning and looking forward to see more of them on the next new year’ eve as soon as the last one broke through, ending this dance of colors and flames with a majestic roar and a loud sound of farewell. A kind of festive silence coating your apartment marked the thrilling unexpectdeness of a new beginning. There had been a time when you would’ve been nervous about it, but now with Arthur by your side and his heartbeat under your skin, it was impossible to be.

It made sense to celebrate the arrival of a new year with Arthur. Time for you didn’t exist the same way it did for others. Things with Arthur had a beginning, but never an end. You managed to go beyond it together. Arthur would always be the beginning of everything, even the finite realities.

No matter what the year had in store for you, you knew you’d experience anything always together. No matter what kind of spotlight Arthur would have found out to desire, you would have supported his dream and continued to illuminate him with the spotlight of your love, casting a light of healing and self acceptance from any corner of your soul to any part of his own, a stage where he was going to shine forevermore just like he shone at the center of your heart.

•••••

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[pesterloglog]

Marquise Spinneret Mindfang

Act 5, page 3507-3510

~ On the 14th 8ilunar perigee of the 2nd dim season's equinox ~

The Orphaner poses a caliginous riddle like no other I've met. I am presuming him 8othered 8y jealousy, and it would 8e sickening if it were not so marvelously amusing. 8ut then, who 8ut royalty could have the finned cheek to show disdain for the manner in which his 8lack lover conducts her red conquests? Less has acceler8ted meeker than I to homicide, and the viol8tion would hold me aghast, again, if his misgivings did not complement his so endearing arsenal of qu8nt flaws. It is impossi8le to stifle this grin even now as I write.

He surely understands this as my maritime overlord, a superior while through gritting fangs he would concede the expanse of my plunder makes his seem hardly worthwhile to trou8le a map with good ink over. I know he understands. I will take what I want. I expect nothing less from Dualscar, and truly, less would offend me. Is it the crude 8lood of the suitors from which I have taken enjoyment recently? If his displeasure is with my 8lithe treatment of the social order then he has either not spent enough time in the warm company of my indifference, or is simply very stupid. I saw the look he gave. He's so secure in knowing I can't feel what's in his mind he forgets the tr8torous ways of his own face. His little looks are words to me, interjections in our deliciously 8itter repartee. First a look as I summon a slave from the hold, with such ease 8etween my remarks. Why yes, Dualscar, they were the very slaves in your hold until 8ut this hour. Another ship deployed carelessly, languishing in strategic vulnera8ility. Is this not our routine? Our dance? What is this look, my dear kismesis? Is it shame? Envy? Contempt for what he knows will follow?

I nod her over. She is fearful and it makes her prettier. He scoffs without a movement or sound. I know there is disgust feeding the shadows in his corner of my 8lock. At least prick her in the light, he surely thinks. Determine what vulgar hue she 8leeds 8efore persisting with your a8asement, Marquise. Do try to understand, Orphaner. Not knowing is the point, and if you truly understood this, your crusade against the Gam8lignants would not 8e among our Grand High8lood's most uproarious punchlines. (If only one truly needed to 8e so high to find it amusing!) And so not knowing, I take her will, 8ut leave enough of it to enjoy her response. Her hands are in my service 8ut they still shake. They unfasten the first 8utton at my jacket's waist, clumsily. I have masked the line 8etween my puppeteering and her volition exquisitely, and her uncertainty over her own control fuels her fear. She unfastens the second 8utton, and 8etween the second and third, I make a casual remark to Dualscar, continuing our convers8tion. He does not respond.

I look again at the face of my slave, imagining for a moment her mind is not an unguarded port to her every dread. I imagine I cannot feel her conviction that it's not merely a matter of whether she will 8e put to the irons, 8ut how hot they will 8e if she fails to please. Poor thing. Her horns make attractive shapes and pair themselves pleasantly amidst her violent snarls of hair. Her fingers, which I have lost track of, to my surprise have come 8etween the petticoat and my skin. The heat of her touch tells me the likely range for the color of her 8lood. I wouldn't have guessed it to look at her, not with her sign stripped. Her mouth opens slightly and I squint. Ah! Razor sharp, and none missing. Perfect. How disappointing it is to find quivering lips hiding dull teeth. I pause to consider. What will her fear 8ecome if I choose to show her mercy later? And even, in days, kindness? Will this 8e the red dalliance that 8ecomes fully flushed? Love demands my cunning just as my raids. If it is to 8e, she will never understand how thoroughly she was manipul8ted, her 8ody, her mind, her devotion.

I remem8er Dualscar again. My distraction from our 8anter was momentarily a8solute, and I inquire into the shadows. 8ut he is gone.

Then go, my kismesis. Fume with the indign8tion I gave you. I can only pray it 8lackens our 8ond. I must know such exhi8itions agit8 him and hence why I 8other, otherwise it would 8e easy to dismiss him 8efore I partook. Let it 8e a gift of antagoniz8tion to you, my dear rival, on which you may 8rew pitch for me anew. And if it is true envy, a vermilion yearning I can't a8ide, then though it pains me it will 8e farewell.

Alas, it may 8e that I am too good at spurring h8. Too good, at least, for him. I only hope he is not so foolish as to tread a path of less torrid malice.

For if he does........

~ On the 16th ~

My suspicions have 8een confirmed. I'm not grinning anymore, Dualscar.

Our orderly contention has dissolved right 8efore my vision 8fold. It was once a handsome 8lack, 8ut now sits like good strong tea sullied and cooled 8y unwelcome dairy.

Thus my heart was 8roken twice. I was fond of the slave. There was surely promise in her red investment. He had her assassin8ed.

And so I am visited 8y a 8it of 8ad luck for a change. It's not possi8le to evade it forever, I suppose. I will simply have to endure the misfortune of o8serving his 8ase and artless measures of retali8tion.

He's applied his own resources to increase the 8ounty on my head. I wonder if he intends such a laugha8ly ineffectual gesture as anything more than a formality, a sym8ol of his intent. If not, my smile. How it threatens to revisit. Almost.

I've 8roken laws, yes. 8ut what has there 8een to pay for? If any act I've taken should demand a 8ounty, it was paid up front. I foot the 8ill myself with guile and supremacy.

[arcstral]

The first friend she had made upon enrolling here stood before her, blue hair and eyes beautiful as the sky above them, a kind smile that was nostalgic yet unique to him alone. Despite their first meeting many moons ago being a little awkward at first, his welcoming nature made forging a bond much easier.

What she wished to convey today was gratefulness for that day but most importantly to celebrate that he exists in this lovely world. "Today's a special day, Marth. I brought two little gifts to celebrate."

She trailed closer to the archanean, a curve forming on her lips as their distance was cut short. In silence she placed a small box in one of his palms the contents inside were a pair of earrings with a simple design, golden with a small blue gem incrusted in them. Alear had noticed his ears were pierced, although the design wasn't close to what she had seen him wear the color of the gemstone reminded her of his eyes.

On the other box that she held as to not busy his hands rested a necklace, a golden chain with a charm at the center of it shaped like the falchion incrusted in the place were the red gem of the sword would be rested one mimicking her hair color. This gift was complicated to find someone capable of making it but she was glad it was able to be completed. "I am so happy to know you and the bond we have, you were the first to welcome me when i joined the academy, that day is special to me. It's truly an honor to stand by your side as friends, now and always."

"Your life is precious to those who love you so i wanted to tell you... happy birthday Marth!"

To enter into another year of life spent beside countless loved ones and allies is bliss enough for the Altean king. Which is to say, Marth does not often desire for material possessions, either on the day of his birth or any other. His interest is captivated by the gifts already planted into his hand; an Archanea unshackled by conflict, the daily pleasures of life attainable due to a world at peace, and - last but not least - the priceless bonds regarded as his treasures. Those maintained from old as well as those newly forged.

"A special day, you say? Hah. I am truly happy that you think so. To me, it is not that special when compared to every day I spend in enjoyment of life." Cerulean gaze sparkles warmly, pleased and amused in equal measures by the Elyosian woman who numbers among said bonds. Her honesty easily met with his own.

But his attention soon switches tacks, awe occupying a wonder-filled face as he is presented with two gifts. A fashionable pair of earrings alongside a resplendent necklace, one evocative of his emblematic blue color and another of Falchion itself. Their quality is easily discerned even by one who knows mandates and laws better than precious metals and gemstones. The heart he expresses is deeply touched and above all sincere: "Goodness, I am at a true loss for words! They are beautiful gifts and your consideration for me has gone to lengths I scarcely deserve."

Her regard alone would have been enough to make this a shining occasion. Not for the first time he finds the aura surrounding Alear to be curious. Though earnest, thoughtful, and undoubtedly kind, from their first meeting across the monastery grounds he could sense a certain way about her deeper than all those things - just as he'd observed of the male Alear. A phantom familiarity, perhaps; as one might judge of a tune or cuisine reminiscent of childhood.

And, naturally, what is familiar to Marth is comfortable.

He smiles, gratitude mingling with friendliness, an expression tenderly warm. "You have my thanks, Alear, for gifts and sentiments both. Let today not merely be a celebration of myself, but also that of our friendship. I would like to imagine us always at the sides of one another. . .as welcome allies."