#I could make a game of it and train her too! | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

caesariawritesstuff · 3 days ago

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Hello Caesaria!

First- I just absolutely adore your writing, and when I saw your Valentines prompts I got so excited!(just SO NERVOUS TO ASK LOL)

Anyways, this may be super dorky, but for the Valentine’s ask could I get a 🌹💋Robin!Reader x Arkham Knight!Riddler with the prompt number 7 from your jealousy 2 list? I want you to have free reign with it!

Thank you!<3

P.s., I am so stoked for Arc 2 of C&M!<3

Only the Beginning

Summary: A run-in with the Riddler leads to an unexpected outcome.

Word Count: 2.4k

Content Warning: Hate-fucking, smut, brief violence

A/N: Ahh this was a blast to write and I really hope you enjoy, @riddled-with-fear! PLEASE don't be nervous to ever send me a request! And I am ALSO stoked for Arc 2 of C&M!

The Gotham Merchants Bank was surrounded.

Red and blue lights flashed against the darkness, the wailing of police sirens ringing in your ears. From your post atop the adjacent building, crouched on top of a stone gargoyle, your vantage point gave you a good view of everything below: the bank was completely surrounded by GCPD officers, their guns drawn, batons out, tasers at the ready. You narrowed your eyes, peering around, studying the situation. You green-and-red costume clung tightly to your body, the smooth surface and weave of the material perfect for to protect you from oncoming attacks, both from bullets and fists – the likes of which you’d felt many times over.

Sucking in a breath, you braced yourself against the stone, your gloved fingers brushing against the hardness, as you said, “Oracle, what’s the situation inside?”

“The Riddler is robbing the bank,” she said into your earpiece. “He has six hostages. You better move fast, Robin. He’s cleaning out the vault now.”

You nodded; you didn’t need to be told twice. For the last year, you’d been training under Batman and Nightwing, taking up the mantle as a new Robin after the last had been shot in the leg, rendering him incapable of fighting for some time. He was still in recovery, and right now, they were counting on you to get in there and get the job done. You couldn’t let Edward Nigma rob this bank dry and potentially hurt everyone inside. And knowing him, you didn’t know if he’d take any of these hostages as part of his twisted games, either. The thought made your stomach roll, but there was something else, too – the strange way your heart leapt into your throat at the thought of him, a flush burning on your cheeks.

Ever since you’d begin your career as Robin, you’d run into the Riddler more often than you expected. Time and time again, you’d gone toe-to-toe with him, taking down his most intricate of traps and puzzles, before hauling him away to the GCPD. But you had to admit, there was something about him that was…strangely endearing. Was it the sound of his voice? The way he carried himself? The way he spouted riddles at you as if you were an idiot, even though you answered each one without fail and with ease? Was it the way you watched his brow furrow in frustration when he realized you’d outsmarted him? You didn’t know what it was – but just the very thought of him clouded your thoughts more than you cared to admit.

And tonight was no different.

Shaking him from your thoughts, you leapt across the building and over to the bank. Luckily, there was a rooftop vent that you managed to crawl inside and shimmy your way down. Dust brushed against your suit, the smell of must invading your nose, as you crawled your way through the vent with ease. This wasn’t the first time someone had robbed this bank, and it wouldn’t be the last – and by now, you’d memorized this route like the back of your hand. You gritted your teeth, making your way through the vent, before coming to a stop at an opening in the central part of the bank – but the sound of a familiar voice made you pause.

“Well, well,” said the Riddler, his voice oozing that classic arrogance and ego that somehow always made your stomach clench with nerves and warmth. “What do we have here?”

“Please don’t hurt us!” someone cried.

“Oh, please. I’m not going to hurt you,” the Riddler said with an exaggerated sighed. “You aren’t even worth a shred of my cerebral capacity to spare you another thought. Now, hand over the jewels. I won’t ask again.”

You paused. It must be someone wearing nice, expensive jewelry, like rings and bracelets or necklaces. But you couldn’t sit here any longer and let him torture these people into submission – you had a job to do. Bracing yourself, you rushed out of the vent. The metal grating burst open as you burst into the central lobby.

“What?” the Riddler asked, spinning around, his eyes going wide as the sound caught his attention.

You immediately locked eyes with him. He looked like a mess: greasy, mussed up hair, goggles on his forehead, a dirty wife-beater with a green button down scattered with question marks and cargo pants. Every inch of him screamed the sort of man who didn’t take proper care of himself, and yet somehow you couldn’t pull your eyes away from him all the same. Your heart leapt into your throat, and you balled your hands into fists, bracing yourself into a defensive stance.

His lips pulled back into a smirk. “Girl Wonder,” he said. “Alas, we meet again.”

“We really need to stop meeting like this, Nigma,” you said, rolling your eyes. It was a good thing the mask covered your face. The last thing you needed was him finding out your secret identity. As you spoke, your gaze shifted to the six hostages he had held at gunpoint.

“I think you enjoy meeting like this,” he said, sighing, rolling his eyes. “Does the Dark Knight really think sending you will change anything? I’m far more equipped to deal with anything you throw at me, Girl Wonder, so please. Let’s not waste time.”

His gun turned on you, but you noticed his finger barely hovered over the trigger.

“Please,” you scoffed out a broken laugh. “As if. You can barely handle me at all.”

That made his smirk grow – long enough for him to lower his guard and drop the weapon just slightly – giving you enough time to pull out your own shuriken – and you threw it right at his hand. The movement was so fast, and the gadget flew so quick through the air that he barely had time to register it as it smacked right into his hand.

“Dammit!” he cried, hissing through his teeth as the gun slipped from his grip.

It was just the chance you needed. You raced towards him, your breath coming out in short bursts – just as you raised your leg and kicked him in the chest. Riddler went down, a strangled cry escaping his own lips, as he stumbled backwards and landed onto his back. His pupils were blown wide, a look of surprise crossing his face, as you straddled on top of him – trying to get a hold of his wrists so you could pin him down and grab a pair of handcuffs from your utility belt at the same time. But as you did, he only struggled against you, limbs flailing wildly, sweat beaded on his brow and trickling into his greasy hairline.

“Get off of me!” he cried, thrashing about.

“No!” you cried. “I’m taking you in, Nigma.” Your words were spoken with much conviction, so much determination. You glanced aside at the hostage and yelled, “Go!”

The six people jumped to their feet and scrambled out of here, almost tripping over their own two feet as they went. Riddler reached out, trying to scratch at you, but the thick gloves on his hands made it impossible. You reached down, one hand on his chest to keep him pinned while the other grabbed onto his throat, your gloved fingers wrapping tight around the thick muscle – but as you did, your eyes locked with his – and for one simple moment, time seemed to standstill. Gotham faded away into nothingness, and not even the wailing of sirens could be heard. The edges of your vision clouded as warmth filled your bloodstream, spreading down to your core – and when you shifted slightly, you suddenly felt it: a firmness in his pants.

And that’s when you realized he had an erection.

You blinked, barely able to comprehend what you were feeling. Barely able to realize that he was underneath you with a hard on as your straddled legs grinded against him. Heat immediately rushed in between your legs, pulsating there, and your mouth fell agape in surprise.

“You could get off of me now,” he said, but you noticed the flush creeping up his cheeks. “Or do you like thinking you have some kind of control over me? You think you’ve overpowered me, when I’ve simply let you—”

“God, don’t you know how to shut up for one second?” you cried, the words slipping out of your mouth against your control. “You’re so annoying.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“I hate you,” you said, rolling your eyes – but you still didn’t make a move to get off him. It was like the two of you were glued together at the hip, unable to be pulled apart.

“I hate you as well, Girl Wonder,” he muttered.

“It doesn’t seem like it to me,” you replied, unable to stop yourself. The words out of your mouth were so unexpected, but the warmth and heat in your core was too much to ignore.

A shadow passed along his face as he blinked, as if uncertain what to say. He shifted again, the heat spreading even more now along his cheeks. “Then you’re fooling yourself, Girl Wonder. You—”

“Oh, shut up,” you said – and pressed your lips to his to silence him.

He tasted like salt and sweat and something metallic. Immediately, his mouth parted to join with yours, and you pushed yourself harder into him, gliding your tongue against his own. The soft brush of his tongue made a moan, a gentle sigh, escape your mouth. It had been so long since you’d been kissed, so long since you’d felt this level of warmth. The hand around his throat loosened, trailing upwards towards his face and into his slick, oily hair. The Riddler groaned into your mouth and arched into you slightly, his erection pressing against your core. Heat spread across your skin, like you were being warmed by a fire and—

“Robin, are you all right?” Oracle asked. “Your vitals have increased exponentially.”

Her voice in your ear immediately made you pull away. A flush crept along your cheeks, and you stared down at Riddler as he gazed up at you with heavy-lidded eyes, smirking.

“As I thought,” he said. “Even the Girl Wonder can’t resist me.”

“Shut up,” you muttered. “I only did that to make you be quiet.”

“What else are you going to do to make me be quiet, hm?” he asked.

The question made you pause. The heat inside of you was too much to bear, too much to handle, and a needy desperation filled your center. You locked eyes with him for just a moment – but that small moment seemed to be enough of an answer for what you both wanted. Immediately, your hands snaked down to his belt, undoing it with rapid succession. You knew the cameras were already disabled, thanks to him, and you only had a few minutes before the GCPD would come barging in here.

“Hold the GCPD off,” you said to Oracle. “I’m busy.”

The Riddler locked eyes with you again, and you immediately pulled his cock from his pants. Long and hard, dripping with precum, the veins bulging out. His shaft was warm in your hands, and you gave his cock a few lazy pumps. He hissed between his teeth as you he grabbed onto the zipper of your costume and yanked it down in one smooth, fluid motion. You didn’t have time to dawdle – you needed this. Now.

You immediately shifted your suit to the side to expose your dripping wet cunt, angling it above his cock, and you sunk down onto him. Both of you sighed in ecstasy at how he filled you to the brim, sinking yourself onto him thick inch by inch. His hands gripped your waist as his back arched, his eyes fluttering closed, as if he was lost to the sensations you provided for him. The feeling of his thick cock inside of you was like heaven, and immediately, you began to move, riding him with a fierce desperation.

You clamped your mouth shut as you slammed yourself down onto him again and again, each time his cock hitting that sweet spot inside of you that made you see stars. Soft gasps and pants escaped your lips, grunts of pleasure escaping his own. There was no time for intimacy, no time for words – just a simple hate fuck as the two of you lost yourselves to the pleasure you both desperately needed and craved. You felt his thumb stray forward, the rough edge of his glove circling your clit, and you gasped, a low cry threatening to spill from your lips. The sensation of the glove and the pressure he added only increased your stimulation, sending tiny fireworks of pleasure all throughout your core and down your thighs.

“Fuck,” he whispered, his eyes opening just enough to look at you. “Who knew the Girl Wonder could fuck so well?”

“Shut up,” you hissed. “I’m not doing this for you – I’m doing it for me.”

His smirk grew slightly. “There are so many people out there you could be doing this with, so why me? The person you despise so much?”

His question made you pause – because you knew the hidden truth. “The thing is…I don’t despise you. Not really. I never have.”

His brow quirked upwards, a curious look passing along his face – but his smile widened into something tricky and tantalizing, before he slammed his hips up into you. You cried out, clamping a hand over your mouth to keep from crying out, as he thrust wildly into you with reckless abandon, a man in the throes of a lustful frenzy. Each thrust of his length into you made your pleasure increase – tightening and tightening – until it snapped completely.

You cried out as your orgasm washed over you, lightning bolts of pleasure running up and down your body. You trembled atop him as he stilled, cum spurting from his cockhead, filling you completely. Your eyes fluttered closed as wave after wave of pleasure and ecstasy consumed you – until your climax faded away into nothingness. Gasping for air, you peeled your eyes open long enough to look down at him to find him smirking that patented, arrogant smirk of his, looking like he was a king being serviced.

A beat of silence passed. But you pulled off of him, quickly zipping up your suit as he tucked his cum-coated cock into his pants, the both of you frantically cleaning up the remnants of what just happened before the GCPD could burst inside. Just as you jumped to your feet, his hand shot out, grabbing your wrist tightly.

“We’re not finished here, Girl Wonder,” he said, a low growl deep in his voice, before he let you go. You pulled away, glaring at him with malice in your eyes – but you knew the truth: this was far from finished.

It was only the beginning.

#caesariawrites #the riddler #edward nigma #arkham riddler #arkhamverse riddler #edward nygma #the riddler x reader #the riddler x y/n #the riddler x you #edward nigma x reader #edward nigma x you #edward nigma x y/n

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iamquiantrelle · 1 day ago

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GOLDEN BOY (chapter 6) ────── iamquaintrelle

⌗ pairing : trent alexander arnold x black oc

⌗ summary : trent is having a quarter life crisis but will a smart-mouthed girl whip him into shape?

⌗ warnings : 18+ only!! (☁️☔️💕)

⌗taglist: @trentswrld, @trentpov @judesvirtual @sailurmewn @eriks-girl @preetykookie @4ngryssgf @endlessmuse @noturbabe22, @sucredreamer @bbgkoo @hollablkgrl @notzara @chrisoppar @letmeapologise @amrx1

Focus. Compartmentalize. Breathe.

April's training methods weren't actually that different from what they'd taught him in the Academy. Breaking everything down into manageable pieces, keeping your mind where it needed to be. He'd been good at it back then - the local lad making good, hungry for every minute on the pitch.

Somewhere along the way he'd lost that. Started feeling like he was sleepwalking through life, going through motions without really feeling them. Even football had become... routine. Just another thing expected of him.

His mum had noticed first. "You seem lost love," she'd said over Sunday dinner a few months back. Some of the lads had mentioned it too - that spark missing from his game. Even Ty had suggested talking to someone professional about it all.

Maybe they had a point. Carrying everyone's expectations was heavy sometimes. Being TAA, Liverpool's golden boy, the next Stevie G... dead weight all of it. But how do you tell people you don't feel good enough when on paper you've got everything?

That was for later. Right now he had apologies to make.

"Look who's early," Virgil said as Trent walked into training ahead of schedule for once.

"Need to say sorry about Sunday."

"We won didn't we?"

"Yeah but..." Trent adjusted his boots. "I wasn't there properly was I? Team deserves better."

Virgil studied him for a moment. "You know we've all been worried about you lately yeah? Before all this..." he gestured vaguely, probably meaning April and the marks that came with her. "You seemed gone."

"Been feeling a bit lost," Trent admitted. First time he'd said it out loud to anyone but family.

"And now?"

He thought about April's lessons in focus, in accepting what you need. About finally feeling seen for who he was, not who everyone wanted him to be.

"Getting found maybe."

Virgil just nodded, that captain's understanding in his eyes. "Good. Now let's see this newfound focus in action yeah?"

Focus. Compartmentalize. Breathe.

Time to prove he could be better. For his team, for April, but mostly for himself.

Training started intense - Slot had them running complicated patterns, the kind that required complete concentration. Each movement of his was deliberate, each thought focused solely on the task at hand.

"Much better," Slot called out as Trent's cross found Darwin perfectly. "That's what we need."

The marks under his training kit tingled with each sprint, little reminders of his lessons in control. But instead of distracting him like before, they centered him. Grounded him in the present moment.

"Back to yourself," Mo said during a water break. "Whatever you sorted out this weekend, it worked."

If only they knew exactly what that sorting out had involved. Though the way Ibou was eyeing the edge of a mark peeking above his collar, maybe some of them had an idea.

"Just needed to get my head right," Trent replied, adjusting his shirt.

The tactical session that followed was exactly what April had prepared him for. As Slot broke down their approach, Trent's mind stayed sharp, focused. No wandering thoughts, no distractions.

"Questions?" Slot asked after laying out their press strategy.

Trent actually had several - good ones, tactical ones, the kind he used to ask before everything got complicated. The kind that made him who he was before he started trying to be someone else.

"Looking more like yourself," Virgil said as they headed back out to the pitch. "The real you, not that London version you were trying to be."

The real him. Maybe that's what April had been training all along - not just submission, but authenticity. Permission to be exactly who he was, marks and all.

"Right," Slot gathered them for set piece practice. "Show me that focus."

Set piece practice was where he used to shine, before everything got muddled. Today felt different - each free kick finding its target with precision that would have made April proud. His mind clear, focused solely on the curve of the ball, the weight behind each strike.

"Now that's more like it," Darwin called after heading in another perfect cross. "Our Trent's back!"

The phrase hit differently now. Their Trent. Not Sophie's polished version, not the media's golden boy. Just him, exactly as he was meant to be.

During the practice match, he found himself using April's lessons in unexpected ways. When to hold back, when to release. When to maintain control, when to let instinct take over. The same principles that had him kneeling in her bedroom were making him a better player on the pitch.

"Whatever you're doing differently," Slot pulled him aside as they wrapped up, "keep doing it. This is the focus we need."

If only his manager knew exactly what that "different" thing was. Though the way the mark on his neck was starting to peek above his collar again, maybe some hints were showing.

"Gaffer's right," Robbo said as they headed for the changing rooms. "You've got your edge back. That fire."

Fire. That's what it felt like - everything burning brighter, clearer. Even the ache of April's marks felt like fuel now, driving him to be better, sharper, more focused.

"Just needed the right motivation," he replied, carefully peeling off his training kit.

"That what we're calling it now?" Ibou gestured at the fresh marks across his shoulders. "Motivation?"

"When do we get to meet her properly then?" Mo asked, eyes following the trail of marks too. "The woman responsible for all... that."

"She's a very nice girl," Virgil said in that cool, collected captain's voice of his.

"Nice girl?" Danns snorted, gesturing at Trent's neck. "Nice girls don't leave marks like that mate. No way."

"Maybe Trent just likes it rough..." Dom added with a grin.

The changing room erupted, but Trent's face burning red and his desperate attempt to hide it only made them howl louder.

"Oh my days, look at his face!"

"Proper caught out!"

"Our Trent's got a thing for pain?"

"Who knew he had it in him?"

Questions flew from every direction, each one making Trent sink further into his locker. And there was Virgil, their captain, literally belly-laughing instead of helping.

"Virg!" Someone called out. "You're captain mate, do something!"

Virgil held up his hands in surrender. "Who am I to get in the way of a man's pleasure?" But then his expression turned serious as he looked at Trent. "You're not in danger though? Unsafe? Need a doctor?"

"Fuck no," Trent said firmly, rolling his eyes.

Virgil turned back to the group. "If he's happy, I'm happy. And if he plays like this against Tottenham, we should all mind our business."

"But she's literally marking–"

"And he likes it," Virgil cut in smoothly. "So let's mind our business. Besides, like I said, April is a very nice girl."

That was that - captain's orders. But watching Virgil leave, Trent couldn't help wondering. One brief meeting outside Anfield and Virgil was proper rating April. Almost like he... understood.

Trent squinted at his captain's retreating back. Come to think of it, Virgil and his wife did have all those kids back to back. Maybe they weren't as vanilla as everyone assumed.

The thought made him choke on his water, earning another round of teasing from the lads.

Some things were better left unknown about your teammates. Especially your captain.

"For real though," Mo said, watching Trent pull a towel around him. "We should all get together."

Several heads popped up around the changing room, suddenly interested. Trent focused on stuffing his boots into his duffle bag, thinking about that contract sitting in his email. Six social meetings with friends maximum and they hadn't even used the Virgil and Ibou encounter as one of them.

"Maybe after Tottenham," he said carefully, knowing full well he'd have to earn any social outings. April had been clear about that — everything was a reward now, even letting him show her off to his teammates.

"Could do that new spot in town," Darwin suggested. "The one with the private rooms."

"Nah, somewhere proper nice," Curtis cut in. "Show her we're not all savages like Trent here."

More laughter, more jokes about his marks. But Trent just shouldered it all, grinning. Let them joke - they had no idea that every social interaction was carefully negotiated, every meeting a prize to be earned.

"After Tottenham," he repeated. If he played well enough, showed enough focus, maybe April would agree. Another test, another chance to prove himself.

"Promise?" Mo pressed as Trent headed to the showers.

"We'll see."

Because that's all he could say really. Everything was in April's hands now - the when, the where, even the if.

And somehow, that felt exactly right.

*************************************************

The drive home felt longer without any messages from April lighting up his phone. She'd mentioned being busy - some athlete photoshoot that would take most of her day. Hadn't said who though. Probably some footballer trying their luck, thinking they could charm her with their Premier League status.

The thought made his hands tighten on the steering wheel.

Wait.

Since when did he get jealous about April's work? She literally had him signing contracts and wearing rings and kneeling for her. Not like some random athlete could compete with that.

Could they?

But she told him that he was enough for her–

No. Focus. Compartmentalize.

She'd proper trained that into him for a reason.

Still.

His mind wandered to her studio setup, how she'd had him strip down to nothing, positioning him just so. Was she doing that with someone else right now? Having them follow her commands, praising them when they got it right?

The Range Rover nearly missed his exit because his brain was too busy imagining April with some other footballer. Mental how fast she'd gotten under his skin. One minute he's signing a contract about their "arrangement," next he's getting possessive about her professional shoots.

Maybe this is what she meant about him being needy.

His phone stayed silent the whole way home. No commands, no praise, no teasing messages about his training performance. Just quiet.

Right then. Time to practice what she'd taught him. Focus on what he could control. Like making sure he earned that weekend in Liverpool with her. Show her he could be good, be focused.

Even if right now his brain was doing mental gymnastics about whoever she was photographing.

Proper pathetic that.

His house felt empty after a night at April's. No spiced vanilla scent, no judgy cat watching his every move, no commands keeping him focused. Just him and his thoughts about whatever athlete was currently in her studio.

Probably some tennis player. They were always doing artistic shoots. Or maybe a rugby lad - she'd mentioned photographing one before. Though the way she'd laughed about him flexing made Trent feel slightly better.

Focus. Compartmentalize. Stop obsessing.

He tried distracting himself with FIFA, but his mind kept wandering. Wonder if she makes them sign NDAs too? Or was that just for her... special projects?

His phone finally buzzed around dinner time. But it was just Tyler sending through more brand requests. Alexander Wang was proper keen apparently and wanted him now. Bunch of other fashion houses wanted him for their campaigns too.

All because of April's photos. The ones where she'd had him exactly where she wanted him, following her every command.

Like she probably had someone else doing right now.

For fuck's sake.

This wasn't him. He didn't do jealous boyfriend - especially when 'boyfriend' wasn't even the right word for whatever he was to April. Sub? Toy? Contract-bound pleasure object?

The marks on his shoulders tingled, reminding him of his place. Of who he belonged to.

Time for a distraction. Maybe hit the gym, work off some of this mental energy. Practice that control she'd been teaching him.

His phone stayed quiet all evening.

Proper violation how much that bothered him.

His alarm hadn't even gone off yet when his phone lit up. April's name on the screen had him properly awake in seconds.

April: Sorry about yesterday. Shoot ran late.

April: Glad you had good training though.

April: FaceTime?

He actually sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes to make sure he'd read that right. April never FaceTimed. Said it was too intimate for their arrangement — something about maintaining professional distance even during their not-so-professional moments.

His thumb hovered over the response box. Was this a test? Some new way of training his control?

April: Don't overthink it.

April: Just answer.

His phone started ringing before he could reply. FaceTime request from April Goodplenty.

Fuck.

His reflection in the corner of the screen looked rough - waves a mess, marks from their session still visible on his shoulders. Not exactly how he'd planned to first FaceTime his... whatever she was.

Deep breath.

Accept call.

Maybe this was part of his reward for staying focused during training. Or maybe she just wanted to see exactly how needy he'd gotten without her messages yesterday.

Either way, his heart was racing as he hit that green button.

He propped the phone against his bedside lamp, adjusting the angle. "So you were busy with shoots yesterday?"

"I was." Something flashed across her face. "Jealous?"

"No." Too quick. Too defensive.

"Liar." But she was smiling. "Tell me about training."

"Used your focus techniques. Worked proper well."

"Show me this weekend. After Tottenham."

"That a promise?"

"That's a challenge." She leaned closer to her camera. "Now, about your plans today..."

He caught her smile as he outlined his schedule - groceries, a visit to his personal shopper, meeting Tyler, getting a trim. That smile that meant she was plotting something.

"Keep me on the phone."

"The whole day? Why?"

"Because I want to." Her voice shifted into that tone that made his stomach flip. "Any questions?"

"No ma'am."

Something warm spread in his chest though. April wanting to watch him do mundane things? Cute really, even if she was commanding it.

He went through his morning routine while she watched from the screen — showering, brushing his teeth, throwing on clothes — everything and it didn’t bother him at all.

Trent connected his phone to his Range Rover's system, her voice filling the car as he headed to Tesco. Once inside, he popped in his AirPods, pushing his trolley down the aisles.

"Not those ones," she said as he reached for some protein bars. "The sugar content's ridiculous. Get the ones two shelves down."

He leaned on the trolley, grinning. "Controlling my shopping now?"

"I control what I want." But he caught her smile. "Including what goes into my toy's body."

He nearly dropped a packet of chicken.

"Speaking of control..." He lowered his voice. "The lads were asking about meeting you. Dinner after Tottenham."

"Have you earned that?"

"Not yet." He moved to the veg aisle. "But I will."

"Maybe." She watched him select peppers. "If you play well against Spurs. And if you're very, very good until then."

The way she said 'good' had him properly hot under his collar. Thank fuck for self-checkout - no way he could ever face a cashier if she kept on like this.

He was leaning against his trolley in the pasta aisle when the question that had been nagging him finally burst out.

"What do I call you? Like, to other people?"

Through his AirPods, he heard her shift in her chair. "What do you want to call me, given everything?"

"Girlfriend?" The word tumbled out before his brain could stop it. "If you want- I mean-"

"Interesting." He could hear that smile in her voice. "That's fine."

"Yeah?"

"Mhmm. Guess I'll have to call you something else besides good boy then."

"I like good boy though." His face heated as an elderly couple passed by, giving him odd looks.

"I know you do." That tone that made his stomach flip. "But if you're really going to be good and beat Spurs, I can't exactly call you that in public, can I? I'll keep it simple - baby or babes?"

Shit. All of it. Either. Both.

Didn't matter what she called him as long as she kept using that voice.

"Cat got your tongue?" She was properly enjoying this. "Or just thinking about hearing me call you baby in front of your teammates?"

His grip on the trolley tightened. "You're doing this on purpose."

"Always." She paused. "Baby."

The pasta sauce he was holding nearly ended up on the floor.

Proper violation, making him feel like this in the middle of Tesco. But now she was his girlfriend. Who was also his dom. Who was about to make him lose his mind in the pasta aisle.

Life was mental sometimes.

"Your personal shopper next, right?" April asked as he loaded groceries into his Range Rover. "The one who got you that turtleneck for family dinner?"

"Yeah, got some new stuff to try on." He connected his phone back to the car system. "You going to direct that too?"

"Obviously." Her voice filled the car. "Can't have my boyfriend looking anything less than perfect. Even if I prefer you in much less clothing."

The way she said 'boyfriend' made his chest do weird things. Like she was claiming him all over again, but publicly this time.

His personal shopper's eyes went wide when he walked in on FaceTime. Probably never had a client's girlfriend directing their fitting before. But April was specific - which shirts brought out his eyes, which jeans showed off what she called her "property."

"Turn around," she commanded as he tried on some designer jacket. "Slower. Yes, that one works."

The fitting room mirror showed his face going red. Even through FaceTime, she had him following her every command.

"Getting shy, baby?"

Fuck. That word again. Making him feel proper twisted up inside.

"No ma'am." Low enough that only she could hear.

"Good boy." Even lower. "Now try the black one."

His personal shopper definitely heard that one, based on how quickly she disappeared to "check stock."

But April just laughed, the sound making his stomach flip. She was enjoying this - having him on display, calling him pet names that meant something very different to them, watching him try to keep his composure.

"Meeting Tyler next?" she asked as he paid for his selections. "Want me to stay on the line for that too?"

The thought of Tyler seeing him this wrapped around April's finger...

"Maybe not for that part."

"Scared I'll expose how needy you are?"

"More like scared you'll make me proper lose it in front of my brother."

Her laugh echoed through his AirPods. "Fair enough. Call me after?"

"Yes ma- babe."

"Good save." He could hear her smirking. "And Trent?"

"Yeah?"

"I like being your girlfriend. Even if you'll always be my good boy first."

His hands actually shook as he ended the call.

Girlfriend. Dom. Everything in between.

He was so properly fucked.

**************************************************

Tyler's office at PLG took up half the top floor, all glass walls and views of Liverpool's skyline. The Alpine F1 model car on his desk was new - proper flashy reminder of his latest investment.

"They want you at a few races," Tyler said, following his gaze to the model. "Monaco definitely. Maybe Silverstone too."

"Sounds good."

"Now," his brother slid over Liverpool's latest proposal. "What are we thinking about this?"

Trent stared at the numbers. Not bad, but not even close to what Mo was currently getting. "Counter it."

"Arsenal's still interested." Tyler watched his face carefully. "Arteta keeps asking about summer plans."

London. Where April was. Where he could see her without planning train journeys and overnight bags. But that was mental wasn't it? Making career decisions based on a one-year arrangement that might not even...

No. Don't think about that.

"Keep the door open with Arsenal," he said finally. "But let's push Liverpool first. See how serious they are."

"Real Madrid called again too."

"Course they did."

Tyler pulled up some emails on his massive screen. "Got some brand stuff as well. Google wants you for their Pixel campaign. Nike wants you in another ad."

"Yeah, sound."

"And April's team reached out about scheduling that second shoot."

His face must've done something because Tyler's eyebrows shot up.

"Speaking of April..." His brother leaned back in his fancy office chair. "What's actually going on there? Just fucking or..."

Trent focused very intently on the Alpine model. The marks under his shirt tingled, reminding him of exactly what was going on there.

"Come on," Tyler pressed. "Give me something. There's been talking about marks–"

"We're good." Trent cut him off. "That's all you need to know."

"Wow." Tyler studied him across the desk. "Marcel was right. You really like this one."

The model was suddenly fascinating once again.

"Never seen you this private about a girl before." Tyler was grinning now. "Usually can't shut you up about them."

Because usually they were just for show. PR relationships and carefully managed appearances. This thing with April was... different. Real. Even with all its contracts and commands. Maybe especially because of those.

"Google wants an answer by Friday," Tyler said finally, accepting that he wasn't getting any gossip today. "And April's team needs shoot dates."

"Sort Google." Trent stood up, ready to escape this conversation and this too-revealing glass office. "I'll handle April."

Tyler's knowing look followed him to the elevator.

Let them think what they wanted. Some things - like exactly how he handled April, or rather how she handled him - were better kept private.

Even if the marks on his neck told their own story.

The drive home from PLG had his mind spinning. Arsenal's offer hanging there like some kind of escape route. London. April. Regular morning coffees instead of FaceTime calls. But that was mad wasn't it? Making career moves based on a woman who literally had him sign a contract limiting their time together.

His phone lit up at a red light.

April: How was the meeting?

April: Tyler text saying you're being secretive about us.

April: Good boy.

His stomach flipped. Even through text she had this effect on him.

Trent: Contracts and brand stuff.

Trent: And Alpine wants me at some races.

Trent: Monaco. Silverstone.

April: Monaco could be fun.

April: If you earn it.

There it was again. Everything a reward to be earned. Even spending time with his... girlfriend? Dom? Both?

April: You're overthinking again.

April: I can feel it through the phone.

April: Focus on Spurs first.

April: Then we'll discuss rewards.

Right. Focus. Compartmentalize. One thing at a time.

His phone buzzed again.

April: Whatever you're thinking about

April: Stop.

April: You belong to me right now.

April: That's all that matters.

She was right. Like always.

Career decisions could wait. Right now he just needed to focus on Spurs. On earning whatever rewards April had planned. But part of him was already looking up London postcodes.

*********************************************

His house felt different after a day of April in his ear. Even the massive TV playing Match of the Day couldn't fill the quiet. His mind kept spinning like he'd just done dizzy penalties - Arsenal offers and London postcodes and April fucking Goodplenty having him wrapped around her finger.

Two months ago he was trying to be Sophie's perfect posh boyfriend, hosting dinner parties and practicing his wine chat. Now he was letting a photographer put a collar on him and tell him what to buy at Tesco.

The marks under his shirt still tingled every time he shifted on the sofa. Each one a reminder of how fast things had changed. Like his body was keeping score of every moment she'd claimed him.

Girlfriend. That word still felt mental. Like calling a lioness your pet cat. But something about it fit, didn't it? Even with all the contracts and commands and carefully negotiated terms.

His mind wandered to the Arsenal offer again. To London apartments and morning coffees instead of FaceTime calls. To seeing April whenever he wanted, not just when he'd earned it.

Was he really considering making career decisions based on a woman who literally had him sign paperwork about how often she'd attend his matches? But here he was, already thinking about which London neighborhood she'd like best.

He wasn't trying to be that guy anymore though — the one who changed everything about himself to fit someone else's life. April wouldn't want that anyway. She wanted him exactly as he was. Even if who he was happened to look best on his knees.

Marcel appeared in the doorway like he'd materialized from thin air, proper startling Trent off the sofa. "Oh shit, didn't know you were here."

"I live here, bruv." Trent gave him a look. "This is literally my house."

"Yeah but when are you ever actually in it?" Marcel dropped onto the other end of the sofa. "Between matches and your freaky ass girlfriend–"

"Shut up."

"Just saying." But his brother was grinning. "Want to hit the cinema? New horror film's out."

"We've got a whole cinema room downstairs."

"Yeah but they're not showing the new stuff yet are they?" Marcel was already reaching for his keys. "Come on, you're just sitting here looking proper tragic anyway."

He wasn't wrong. Trent had been staring at the same highlights for twenty minutes, mind somewhere between postcodes and punishments.

"Fine." He stood up, wincing as his shirt caught on one of April's marks. "But none of that jump scare shit."

"Can't promise that." Marcel's eyes caught the movement. "Though looks like you've got enough marks already."

The cushion Trent threw missed his brother's head by inches.

"Your aim's as bad as your crosses were Sunday!"

"Get in the car before I actually hit you."

The Range Rover purred to life, and the drive to the cinema was quick - perks of living in the posh end. Marcel kept trying to sell him on this horror film about some demon nun, but Trent wasn't having it.

"Not trying to have nightmares before Spurs."

"Soft lad." Marcel studied the listings. "Oh look, new Mark Wahlberg. Some crime thing."

"Better than demon nuns innit?"

Something about catching a serial killer seemed safer than supernatural horror. Plus, April would probably take the piss if she found out he'd bottled watching a scary film.

The cinema was dead for a weeknight - just them and a few couples scattered about. Marcel insisted on the back row like they were teenagers again, loaded up with enough snacks to feed the whole squad.

"So," Marcel started as the trailers played, mouth full of popcorn. "Arsenal yeah?"

Trent nearly choked on his Coke. "Tyler's got a big mouth."

"Nah, saw the speculation online. Plus you've been proper obvious, looking up London stuff on your phone."

"Just keeping options open."

"Nothing to do with a certain photographer then?"

The screen lit up with some horror film trailer, saving Trent from answering. But his mind was already there - April's flat in East London, those massive windows, that mental cat judging his every move.

"You're doing it again," Marcel laughed. "Getting that dopey look whenever you think about her."

"Watch the film."

"Can't yet, still adverts innit?" His brother turned in his seat. "For real though, you'd leave Liverpool for a girl?"

"It's not like that."

But wasn't it? Here he was, actually considering Arsenal because being closer to April felt more important than... well, everything.

"Sure it's not." Marcel threw popcorn at his head. "Just remember - if you sign for Arsenal, mum will actually kill you. Girlfriend or not."

The Mark Wahlberg film finally started, saving Trent from more interrogation. But his phone felt heavy in his pocket, April's presence lingering even here.

Crazy how one woman could have him reconsidering his whole life. Even more crazy how right it felt.

Anfield was buzzing hours before kick-off. Something about Spurs always brought out that extra edge in the crowd. Trent could feel it as soon as he pulled into his parking spot - that big match energy already building.

He'd woken up feeling different. Properly confident, not just faking it. Maybe it was the week of solid training, maybe it was April's influence, maybe it was just time to remind everyone who he was.

The home dressing room was alive with energy - Darwin practicing his English with Robbo, Mo and Virgil in their usual pre-match zone. Trent's phone lit up as he changed into his kit.

April had sent a photo of herself in his Liverpool jersey. No caption, no commands, just that. Proper girlfriend thing to do really. Almost normal, if you ignored all the marks hidden under his match shirt.

"Someone's in a good mood," Virgil noted, watching Trent tape up his socks with unusual precision.

"Just feeling it today."

And he was. This wasn't about earning rewards or following commands. This was about showing everyone - including himself - what he could do when his head was right.

The gaffer's team talk was straight forward. Control the game, press their weaknesses, make it count. Simple really, when you weren't overthinking everything.

"Ready?" Mo asked as they lined up in the tunnel, You'll Never Walk Alone already shaking the walls.

More than ready.

The first tackle set the tone - Son trying to cut inside, Trent sending him and the ball into touch. Anfield erupted. This wasn't Bournemouth Trent, bottling simple passes. This was Liverpool's golden boy remembering exactly who he was.

Ten minutes in, his cross found Darwin's head. 1-0. The Kop went mental, and Trent felt that familiar surge - the one he'd been missing lately. Pure confidence, no overthinking.

"Loving life!" Robbo shouted as they jogged back to position.

Son tried him again on the quarter hour. Same result - Trent proper bodying him off the ball. No hesitation, no doubt. Just instinct and ability and everything clicking into place.

Half time came at 2-0, Mo adding another from Trent's corner. The dressing room was bouncing, but Trent stayed calm. Job wasn't done yet.

"Keep this energy," Slot said, but his eyes were on Trent.

Spurs came out fighting second half. Didn't matter though - Trent was in that zone where everything felt possible. Every pass finding feet, every defensive read spot on. Even managed a cheeky nutmeg on Richarlison that had the Kop singing his name.

When the final whistle blew at 3-0, Virgil pulled him into a hug. "That's what we've been missing."

His phone was lighting up in his bag - probably Tyler with brand stuff, his mum being proud, April with... whatever April had planned. But right now there was just this. Just Anfield singing and his teammates buzzing and that feeling of being exactly where he belonged.

Though part of him was already wondering what reward he'd earned.

Priorities and that.

The TNT crew had him cornered before he could escape to the dressing room. Rio Ferdinand proper beaming about his performance like a proud uncle.

"Back to your best there," Rio started. "Two assists, dominant defensively. What's changed?"

"Just focused innit? Team needed a performance."

"There's been speculation about your future, Arsenal apparently interested–"

"Focused on Liverpool right now."

"And the photos of you and April Goodplenty–"

"Just focusing on football mate."

Rio's eyes caught the edge of a mark peeking above his collar. "Clearly something's got you motivated..."

"No comment." But he couldn't help grinning.

The rest of the interview circus was the same - everyone trying to connect his form to April, to Arsenal rumors, to anything but him just playing proper football again.

"Your girlfriend coming to celebrate?" Some reporter called out as he tried to leave.

"He said no comment," Virgil appeared, captain's arm around his shoulder. "Football questions only."

In the dressing room, his phone was blowing up. His mum, Tyler, the lads' group chat going mental. But he was looking for one message in particular.

April: Proud of you baby.

April: Now come collect your reward.

His hands actually shook packing his bag.

"Someone's in a rush," Darwin laughed, catching his expression.

Let them joke. They didn't need to know what those rewards involved.

Though based on the knowing looks, they had some ideas.

**************************************************

Trent barely had the door shut before April was on him, her hands in his hair, her lips against his like she was starving for him. His bag dropped to the floor with a thud, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was her.

"You earned your reward, baby," she murmured against his mouth, her fingers dragging down his chest, nails scraping lightly over the fabric of his hoodie. "Strip."

He obeyed immediately, kicking off his trainers, pulling his hoodie and shirt over his head in one go. April watched him with a slow, satisfied smirk, stepping back just enough to let the silk robe slip from her shoulders, revealing nothing but smooth, bare skin underneath.

His breath caught. "Fuck."

"Come to bed."

They ended up exactly where she wanted — her back pressed against his chest, both of them facing the full-length mirror in front of her bed. Trent’s hands gripped her hips, his fingers digging into soft flesh as he guided her down onto his dick, the stretch making her moan.

"Look at you," she purred, her gaze locked onto their reflection. "Taking me so well. My good boy."

Trent groaned, his hips flexing up as he started to fuck her slow, deliberate, dragging out every inch before pushing back in deep.

"Shit, April—"

"Eyes on the mirror," she warned, her hand reaching back to wrap around the nape of his neck, fingers curling, keeping him in place. "I want you to watch."

He swallowed hard, his dark eyes blown wide as he stared at their bodies moving together. April was fucking art — the way her tits bounced with each thrust, the way her thighs clenched as she grounded against him, the way her free hand pinched and rolled her nipple just to drive him crazy.

"Christ," he muttered, his jaw clenching as he tried to keep his pace steady, but she was too much — too warm, too tight, too fucking perfect.

"Harder," she demanded, her nails pressing into the back of his neck.

He obeyed without question, his thrusts turning rougher, faster, his fingers digging harder into her skin as he lost himself in the feel of her. The slick sounds of their bodies colliding, the way she moaned every time he bottomed out — it was fucking intoxicating.

"See how pretty you look taking me?" she taunted, tilting her head slightly to kiss him, biting his lower lip before soothing it with her tongue. "You love this, don’t you? Love being inside me, love how I let you fuck me like this?"

"Yes ma’am..fuck…yes," he groaned, his head falling forward and onto her shoulder, but she yanked his face back up.

"Watch," she ordered, her grip tightening. "Don’t take your eyes off us."

He had no choice but to obey, his gaze locked onto the mirror, watching the way she fucked herself on him, the way he filled her, the way her lips parted in pleasure. His stomach tightened, that familiar heat coiling low.

"I’m close," he panted, his breath hot against her skin.

"Not yet," she teased, tightening around him deliberately, making him curse. "You hold it, baby. I want you to last for me."

His hands tightened on her hips, his entire body trembling with restraint, but he did as he was told. Because this? This was his reward. And he’d do anything to please her.

April smirked at his reflection, loving the way his jaw clenched, his muscles taut with the effort of holding himself back. He was trembling, his hands gripping her hips so hard she was sure there’d be bruises tomorrow — but she didn’t care. She wanted him to mark her just as much as she marked him.

"You’re so fucking deep," she moaned, rolling her hips slowly, teasing him. "Feel how perfect you fit inside me?"

"April," he groaned, barely holding on, his fingers digging deeper.

Her lips grazed the shell of his ear. "I know you want to let go, baby. I can feel it." She clenched around him, grinding down hard, making him choke out another curse. "You’ve been such a good boy for me. Think you deserve to cum now?"

"Yes," he gasped, his grip on her tightening even more. "Please."

She smiled, dragging her nails down his arm before lifting her hand to cup his jaw. "Then give it to me."

That was all he needed. Trent’s restraint snapped, his hips slamming up into her, his thrusts rough and desperate. His hands slid from her hips to her thighs, spreading her open wider so he could fuck her deeper, harder.

"Oh, fuck–yes," she moaned, her head falling back against his shoulder, her hand tightening on his neck. "Just like that, baby. Give it to me."

His breath was ragged, his body shaking, his face buried in her hair as he lost himself in her. She could feel it — the way he tensed, the way his thrusts stuttered as he buried himself deep one last time, a low, broken groan spilling from his lips as he came hard inside her.

April let herself go then, her own orgasm crashing over her, her body pulsing around him as she moaned his name. She barely registered the way his arms wrapped around her, holding her tight as they both came down, their bodies still locked together, their breath mingling in the quiet aftermath.

When she finally opened her eyes, she met his gaze in the mirror. He looked wrecked, his curls damp with sweat, his lips swollen from her kisses.

"You looked so pretty cumming for me," she murmured, pressing a lazy kiss to his jaw.

His chest rumbled with a tired chuckle. "Gonna kill me one day."

She smirked. "Not today, though."

Trent huffed a breathless laugh, his arms still wrapped tight around her waist. "No, not today."

April moved slightly, relishing the way his body was still pressed against hers, the weight of him grounding her. His dick was still inside her, softening but not quite ready to part. She smirked, shifting her hips just enough to make him groan.

"Fuck, April—" His hands flexed on her thighs, the aftershocks of his orgasm making him overly sensitive.

"What?" she teased, tilting her head back against his shoulder, lips ghosting over his jaw again. "Too much for you?"

Trent exhaled sharply, his forehead pressing into her neck. "I swear, you’re tryin’ to ruin me."

"Mm.” She rolled her hips again, just because she could. “Maybe."

He gritted his teeth, but she could see it — the way his body twitched, like he wanted to move but didn’t quite have the strength yet.

April smirked at his reflection, pressing a kiss to his temple before finally easing off him. He hissed at the loss, his hands falling away as she climbed off the bed.

"Where you goin’?" His voice was rough, tinged with exhaustion.

She stretched her arms above her head, fully aware of the way his gaze dropped to the way her body moved. "Shower."

Trent groaned, scrubbing a hand over his face. "You’re actually tryin’ to kill me."

April just laughed, tossing a smirk over her shoulder as she made her way to the bathroom. "Come join me if you think you can keep up."

She barely made it to the shower before she heard the bed shift, the rustling of sheets, and the sound of his feet hitting the floor.

Trent might have been exhausted, yet he wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.

The water was hot, nearly scalding, but Trent barely noticed. His skin was already burning from how April touched him as soon as he got in, how her hands splayed over his chest as she backed him against the cool tile.

Her gaze flicked down to where he was already half-hard again, his dick twitching as she dragged her nails lightly down his stomach before dropping to her knees.

Fuck.

She licked a broad stripe up his shaft, swirling her tongue around the tip before taking him into her mouth. His head thudded back against the tile, a low groan escaping as she hollowed her cheeks and took him deeper.

"Goddamn,” he rasped, his hips jerking involuntarily.

April smirked around him, letting her spit drip down to coat him before pulling off with a soft pop. "Relax, baby,” she cooed, stroking him lazily. “Or I won’t let you cum."

His breath stuttered as one of her hands dipped lower, rolling his balls gently in her palm, massaging them as she took him back into her mouth. She alternated between sucking and licking, her other hand pressing against his tense thigh to keep him from moving too much.

Trent clenched his jaw, fingers grasping against the cold tile. The urge to grab her hair, to thrust into that warm, wet heat — it nearly fucking killed him. But he knew better. Knew April was in control here.

And she was taking her time.

His thighs tensed as her mouth continued to work the head, tongue flicking, teasing just enough to make his knees threaten to buckle.

"Shit—"

She hummed, the vibration shooting straight through him. His breath caught, his stomach tightening. He was close, teetering on the edge, but she already knew that. Knew exactly how to pull him apart.

"April, I’m—"

His warning broke off into a strangled groan as he came, pleasure ripping through him so hard his vision blurred. April swallowed every drop, her throat flexing around him before she pulled off with a filthy little moan, licking her lips like she’d just tasted something sweet.

Trent was still catching his breath when she rose to her feet, gripping his jaw, kissing him deep. He tried to resist for half a second, still wrecked from his orgasm, but April didn’t allow it. She licked into his mouth, letting him taste himself on her tongue.

Trent groaned, his whole body practically on fire. It was fucking filthy, the taste of his cum still lingering on her tastebuds. It should’ve made him hesitate, but instead, it made his dick twitch again, made him kiss her harder, sucking her bottom lip between his teeth before he even realized what he was doing.

April smirked against his mouth, her fingers curling in his damp hair. "Don’t you taste so good, baby?"

Trent exhaled sharply, eyes heavy-lidded as he looked down at her. His pulse was still erratic, his body wrung out, but he could already feel himself stirring again.

"Yeah," he muttered, voice rough. "But I think I need another taste of you."

Three days since Spurs and Trent was still buzzing. Not just from the match — though that had been proper perfect — but from what came after. The rewards April had given him still had him grinning like an idiot in training.

But this weekend was the big one. April coming to Liverpool, staying at his, meeting the lads properly before the Plymouth match. Even agreed to dinner with some of the team, though he had to properly earn that one.

Now he just had one problem: Marcel.

"You what?" His brother looked up from FIFA. "Get out of my own house?"

"Technically my house," Trent started, then caught Marcel's expression. "Just... make yourself scarce when she's here?"

"Nah bruv. I live here. Your dominatrix girlfriend doesn't."

He had a point. Fuck.

"Fine, just... don't be weird yeah? No jokes about the marks–"

"You mean the ones you come home covered in every time–"

"Marcel."

"The ones that look like you've been mauled by a tiger–"

"I swear to God–"

His phone buzzed.

April: Outside baby.

April: Come get my bags.

His heart actually skipped.

"You're proper whipped mate!" Marcel called after him as he headed for the door.

Trent stopped, took a breath. Centered himself like April had taught him. Then opened the door to see her stepping out of that red Ferrari looking like every fantasy he'd ever had - leather pants, cropped jumper, those boots that made her legs look endless.

Then he saw the bags. Proper luggage setup - carry-on sized case and a massive duffle. Like she was planning on staying way past Monday.

He wouldn't mind that. Not one bit.

Though Marcel might have something to say about it.

"Someone's been practicing their manners," April smirked as he grabbed her bags. "Good boy."

The way she said it, right there in his driveway... Christ.

"This is..." she paused as they entered, taking in the massive foyer with its spiral staircase and floor-to-ceiling windows. "Quite something. Very footballer."

"Too much?"

"Just very you." She wandered into the living room, running her fingers along his expensive furniture. "All that Liverpool money put to good use."

"Wait till you see it from the stands Monday." He couldn't help grinning. "Got you proper good seats."

"Earned those, didn't you?" But she was smiling too. "Though dinner with the team tonight... you might need to earn that again."

His whole body went hot. But before he could respond, Marcel appeared.

"So you're the one leaving all those marks then?"

"Marcel!" Trent wanted to die.

But April just laughed - that proper genuine laugh she rarely showed anyone. "Guilty. Though your brother seems to enjoy them."

"Too much information!" Marcel headed for the kitchen. "I'm ordering takeaway later. Try to keep the noise down yeah?"

Trent watched April explore his space - looking at family photos, examining his trophy cabinet, taking everything in. Mental seeing her here, in his massive footballer mansion, looking like she belonged somehow.

Even with his annoying brother trying to violate him.

"Nice setup you've got here," she said finally, turning back to him. "Lots of surfaces to... make use of."

Fucking hell.

Maybe he should've tried harder to get Marcel out after all.

"Show me your room then," April said, that look in her eyes that meant trouble. "Since I'll be spending so much time there this weekend."

Trent nearly tripped over his own feet leading her upstairs. Her heels clicked against his marble steps, each sound making his stomach flip.

"En suite's through there," he gestured, watching her take in his massive bedroom with its view over Liverpool. "Dressing room's that door."

"Of course you have a dressing room." She ran her fingers along his silk sheets. "Very nice. Though these will need changing after I'm done with you."

"I can hear you!" Marcel's voice carried up from somewhere below. "These walls aren't that thick!"

April actually giggled — proper girlish sound he'd never heard from her before. Made her seem younger somehow. More normal. Until she turned those eyes on him again.

"So," she started unpacking her bag. "Dinner with the team at eight. That gives us..." she checked her watch, "three hours to properly christen this room."

"Marcel–"

"Better be quiet then."

His head actually spun. This was different April - playful, almost soft, but still with that edge that drove him mental. Having her here, in his space, going through his drawers like she owned them...

"You're thinking too hard again." She was suddenly right there, fingers at his collar. "Want me to help you focus?"

From downstairs, the sound of Marcel very deliberately turning the TV volume up.

"Yes ma'am."

"Good boy." She pushed him toward the bed. "Now let's see how quiet you can be."

***********************************************

Two hours later, April was going through his wardrobe like it was her personal styling session. His skin still tingled from whatever she'd done to him - not that he'd been able to keep track after the first hour.

"Wear this." She tossed him a black shirt that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent. "And these jeans. Want you looking good for when I show you off to your teammates.”

Show him off. Like he was some prize she'd won. Crazy how much he liked that.

"You weren't very quiet by the way," she added, smirking as she pulled out her own outfit. "Good thing we locked that door."

"You did that on purpose."

"Maybe." She disappeared into his en suite. "Wanted to make sure you remembered who you belong to."

Christ.

April emerged from the bathroom looking proper incredible - something that managed to be classy but still had him thinking about getting her out of it later.

"Ready to face your teammates?" She adjusted his collar, covering some of her latest marks. "Show them what their TAA's become?"

Their TAA. Her good boy. Both somehow, now.

"Yeah," he managed. "Ready."

Her smile turned wicked. "Good. Because after dinner..." She leaned close, whispered something that made his knees weak.

They walked down the stairs arm-in-arm and Trent easily caught the look of disgust on his younger brother’s face. He told him to make himself scarce, didn’t he? Now he really had to use those noise-canceling headphones he’d bought last week.

Too bad, not sad.

The Ferrari keys dangled from April's fingers as they left the house. "I'm driving."

"It's my city though." But he was already following her to the car like the good boy he was.

"And I'm the one who decides how fast we get back after dinner." That smile again. "Unless you'd rather take the Range Rover?"

Fucking hell.

She looked so good behind the wheel, driving around his city, like she belonged in his world. Hard to believe this was the same woman who'd slammed a door in his face on New Year's Day.

"Where we meeting them?" She pulled out of his drive, engine purring.

"That new spot in town. Dead fancy. Darwin’s choice."

"Of course it was." Her hand found his thigh. "Nervous about introducing me properly?"

"More nervous about what you might say about those marks they keep asking about."

"Don't worry." That devilish grin. "I'll be a perfect girlfriend. Save the dom stuff for after.”

The way she said 'girlfriend' still made his stomach flip. Like she was claiming him all over again, but publicly this time.

"Though..." her hand slid higher. "Maybe I'll have a little fun. See how well you can keep your composure."

He actually whimpered.

"That's not very composed, baby."

It was going to be a long weekend ahead.

And he couldn't wait for every second of it.

The restaurant was one of those posh spots that was slowing finding its way into Liverpool. The Ferrari's engine turning off had heads turning before they even got out. April, of course, was in her element - that photographer's confidence of hers making every head turn.

She took Trent's hand as they walked in, all professional poise now. Different from the April who'd had him begging in his bedroom two hours ago.

Virgil and his wife were already there with Mo and his family at one end of the massive table, Darwin and his girlfriend chatting with Ibou near the bar.

"Look who finally made it!" Ibou called out, grinning like he hadn't been taking the piss about her and Trent since that day outside Anfield.

"About time we get to meet you," Virgil's wife pulled her into a hug. "You’re so beautiful."

Mo's wife, usually shy around new people, was already waving April over to their end of the table. Like April just had that effect on people – when she wanted to, anyway.

"Told you she'd fit right in," Virgil said quietly as they sat.

Watching her work the room was something else. The perfect mix of charm and privacy, redirecting personal questions into football chat or something else entirely. Even when Darwin tried fishing about the marks, she kept it professional. Proper different from how she'd wind up Marcel.

But Trent caught those little looks she kept giving him across the table. The ones that promised later wouldn't be nearly as professional.

The conversation flowed easier than Trent expected. April talking photography with Mo's wife, who apparently had a thing for art. Darwin's girlfriend fascinated by April's stories about shooting athletes in different countries.

"So what made you choose our Trent for your latest shoot?" Darwin's girlfriend asked, innocent like.

"His agent's persistence," April smiled, still professional as ever. "Tyler can be very convincing."

Virgil caught Trent's eye across the table, that knowing look again. Like he understood exactly why April had really chosen him.

"Looking forward to the match Monday?" Mo asked April, saving her from more personal questions.

"First time at Plymouth." She squeezed Trent's thigh under the table. "Should be interesting."

"Better score for her," Ibou grinned. "Show off a bit."

The way April's fingers tightened on his leg told him exactly what kind of showing off she expected.

Dinner arrived, yet Trent was more focused on April's hand still on his thigh, how she managed to look completely engaged in conversation while driving him mental under the table.

"You two should come over for dinner next week," Virgil's wife was saying. "Once the Plymouth match is done."

April smiled that professional smile again. "We'll see how he performs first."

Only Trent caught the double meaning in that.

Proper violation, this woman.

"Sorry I'm late!" Dom's voice boomed across the restaurant. "Traffic was crazy – oh, this must be April."

April's hand slid higher on Trent's thigh as she smiled at Dom. "Nice to meet you."

"Heard a lot about you," Dom grinned, dropping into the empty chair. "Well, what little Trent will actually say."

"Professional discretion," April said smoothly, but her fingers were anything but professional under the table.

The dessert menus arrived just in time to distract everyone from Dom's attempt at twenty questions. But April wasn't done torturing him - her hand wandering places that had him nearly dropping his spoon.

"We should probably head out after this," she said innocently. "Early start tomorrow."

Virgil actually chuckled - a knowing laugh that made Trent's face heat up. What was his captain playing at? Like he understood exactly what April meant by "early start."

Actually, no. He didn't want to know why Virgil seemed to get it. Some things about your captain were better left mysterious.

April's fingers traced patterns that had him properly squirming now.

"Right," Trent managed, voice slightly strained. "Should get going."

Another low laugh from Virgil. Proper violation that.

They made their goodbyes quick - April all polite smiles and proper handshakes while her other hand stayed busy making Trent lose his mind.

The Ferrari couldn't come fast enough.

Though based on April's smile, fast wasn't what she had planned for later.

***************************************************

April's heels echoed through the foyer as they got in, her confidence from dinner shifting into something else entirely as she headed for the stairs.

"Strip out of those clothes and wait for me on the bed," she called over her shoulder, voice pure command now.

"Yes ma–" he started, then properly panicked. Trent caught movement in his peripheral vision - Marcel on the sofa, spoon frozen halfway to his mouth, South Park playing quietly in the background.

"Properly address me when you–" April turned, following his startled expression. Her voice cut off as she spotted Marcel. The switch was instant - dom mode vanishing as she smiled. "Hey Marcel, what's up?"

The sudden change gave Trent proper whiplash. Like watching someone change languages mid-sentence. Made his head spin how she could do that — go from commands to casual in half a second.

Marcel just blinked, cereal forgotten, looking between them like he was watching some mental tennis match.

"Okay good talk." April's eyes found Trent again, that dangerous glint returning. "Five minutes, baby." Then she was gone, heels clicking up the stairs until his bedroom door closed.

"Bruv." Marcel finally unfroze. "You know what you're getting into?"

"I–"

"Like does she ever just... chill? One minute she's all proper nice next she's giving orders like a drill sergeant–"

"Marcel–"

"And what was that 'properly address me' shit? You two are proper mental–"

"Can we not–"

"Though got to say..." His brother looked thoughtful. "She's actually good for you."

That made Trent properly stop. "What?"

"You heard me." Marcel turned back to his cereal. "She's freaky as fuck but... you're different with her. Better different."

Coming from Marcel, who'd been taking the piss since day one... that meant something.

"Now go on," his brother waved toward the stairs. "Don't want to keep her waiting. I'm turning the TV up."

Trent's head was still spinning as he headed upstairs. His brother's approval somehow meaning more than the whole team's combined. The sound of South Park's volume increasing followed him up. Marcel was proper taking the piss, but at least he was being... supportive? In his own weird way.

April was perched on the edge of his bed when he walked in, still in that short ass dress that had been driving him mental all night. Her heels were off though, making her look smaller somehow. More normal.

Until she looked up.

"Lock the door."

The command in her voice was back - no trace of that casual girl who'd just chatted with his brother.

"Your family's interesting," she said as he turned the lock. "Marcel especially."

"Sorry about–"

"Don't apologize." She stood, all fluid grace. "Though we should probably be more careful about commands in common areas."

The way she said 'commands' had his stomach flipping.

"Now then," she moved closer, that dangerous smile back. "I believe you were about to address me properly downstairs?"

His brain short-circuited as she reached for his collar.

From downstairs, Marcel turned the TV up even louder.

Proper long night ahead.

At least his brother approved. Even if he was never going to let Trent live this down.

***************************************************

Hours later, they were tangled in his silk sheets, April's head on his chest like she belonged there. Different April now - softer, almost gentle. Mental how she could switch between dominatrix and this.

"Your brother's funny," she murmured, tracing patterns on his skin. "Protective too."

"More like nosy."

"Reminds me of my cousin in Virginia. Always taking the piss but means well."

This was new - April actually sharing something personal. Usually it was all commands and contracts, not family chat.

"Tell me about Virginia," he found himself saying.

"Hmm." Her fingers found a mark she'd left earlier. "Not much to tell. Military bases aren't exactly exciting. Though watching my dad try to teach the Americans to understand scouse was pretty entertaining."

He could picture it - little April caught between cultures, probably giving everyone that same look she gave him when he tried to push boundaries.

"My dad would like you," she said suddenly. "He appreciates people who know what they want."

Coming from April, that was proper high praise.

The TV downstairs had finally gone quiet. Marcel must've given up waiting for them to finish and went to bed.

He definitely needed to soundproof his room. Maybe better insulation for the whole house then if this was becoming an ongoing situation.

"Sleep," she commanded softly. "A lot of travel tomorrow then big match on Monday."

Even gentle, she couldn't help giving orders.

And he couldn't help wanting to follow them.

Home Park was properly packed for an FA Cup match, but Trent's eyes kept drifting to one spot in particular. April in the family section, looking proper editorial in Prada sunglasses and his jersey, her hair swept up in some complicated bun thing.

And that fucking lollipop.

The way she was working it had his mind going places it shouldn't before a match. Though maybe that was because twenty minutes ago those lips had been... right. Football. Focus.

But she knew exactly what she was doing, didn't she? Even from up there, he could see that little smirk as she proper performed with that sweet. Every movement calculated to drive him mental, like she was still training his control even from the stands.

His warm-up routine was suffering. Passes going slightly off, stretches not quite reaching far enough. All because he couldn't stop looking up there, watching her turn a simple sweet into something that should be illegal in public.

"You're proper gone mate," Robbo appeared at his shoulder. "Should blow her a kiss."

"Nah." Trent tried focusing on his stretches. "She won't do it back."

"Oi Ibou!" Robbo called. "Tell this melt he should blow April a kiss!"

"Do it!" Ibou bounced over, grinning like Christmas had come early. "Is romantic!"

"She's not that type," Trent tried explaining. The idea of April doing cutesy public displays was mental. This was a woman who had him signing contracts about their relationship, who turned eating sweets into psychological warfare. More chance of Marcel keeping quiet about what he'd witnessed.

"Look at him," Robbo stage-whispered to Ibou. "Proper scared of his girl."

"Not scared–"

"Chicken!" Ibou made clucking noises. "Big man Trent, afraid of little kiss!"

Their pestering wouldn't stop, both of them proper taking the piss now. Even Darwin had wandered over to join in, making exaggerated kissing faces.

Fine.

He did it - exaggerated kiss blown up to the stands, already bracing for April to either ignore it or give him that "you'll pay for this later" look she'd perfected.

What happened next actually made him stumble.

April pulled the lollipop out with a pop, caught his kiss with her free hand, pressed it to her heart... and blew one back. The movement so graceful it looked choreographed, like she'd been waiting for him to try it.

"Oh fuck." The cameras. He'd forgotten about the fucking cameras.

Robbo and Ibou were proper losing it, jumping around making kissy noises like year seven kids. Darwin had actually fallen over laughing. Tomorrow's papers would have a field day with this one - Liverpool's right back and his photographer girlfriend doing lovey-dovey shit during warm-ups.

But the look April was giving him over those sunglasses... that mix of public sweetness and private promise that had his stomach doing flips.

Worth it. So fucking worth it.

"Now who's the romantic one?" Robbo was still cackling. "Proper Mills and Boon stuff that!"

"She's got you wrapped," Ibou added, wiping tears from his eyes. "Never seen anything like it!"

They weren't wrong though, were they? Here he was, making soppy gestures in front of thousands, just because she looked too good in his jersey. The same woman who'd had him properly begging this morning was now catching kisses like some rom-com heroine.

And the maddest part? He didn't even care who saw it. Let them take their photos, write their articles. April had him exactly where she wanted him - in public and in private.

Though based on that smile she was giving him, public April was just as dangerous as private April.

Proper violation, this woman. But she was his violation now.

Even if the whole world was about to know it.

From the stands, April's lips moved silently: "Focus."

Even from this distance, he could read it perfectly - the same word she'd whispered against his ear this morning as she straightened his collar. The word had different meaning now - less about control and more about proving something.

Plymouth came at them hard from kickoff, but Trent was in that zone where everything felt possible. Each touch perfect, each pass finding feet. Like that kiss from April had charged him up somehow. Even Slot was nodding approvingly from the touchline.

"Someone's showing off," Virgil grinned after Trent skinned their winger with a nutmeg.

The free kick came in the 34th minute - proper perfect position, just outside the box. As he placed the ball, his eyes found April in the stands. No lollipop now, just that intense photographer's focus of hers, like she was already composing the shot in her head. Some of the other WAGs had migrated to sit near her, but she kept that cool distance. Professional as ever in public.

The wall lined up. The whistle blew.

Top bins. No chance for their keeper. The kind of free kick that reminded everyone why they called him the best right back in the world.

His body moved before his brain caught up, hands forming an 'A' above his head. He'd been doing it for ages - for little Aura who loved seeing her uncle on TV. But based on the commentators losing their minds and the cameras cutting straight to April, everyone had their own ideas about which 'A' he meant now.

"Romantic today!" Darwin shouted as they celebrated, making kissy faces again.

April's face gave nothing away behind those sunglasses, but he caught that little smirk playing at her lips. The one that promised rewards later.

Mo added another just before half time, making it 2-0. The second half was just control - keeping possession, staying focused. Though his eyes kept drifting to the stands, to his jersey hanging off April's shoulders like it belonged there. Mental how something so simple could be so distracting.

Even the Plymouth fans were watching her now, probably trying to figure out what kind of woman had Liverpool's right back blowing kisses and making letter celebrations.

If they only knew.

When the final whistle blew, the cameras found her again. Still cool as anything behind those shades, but he saw her hand move to her heart – where she'd placed his kiss earlier.

Proper soppy that. But he couldn't stop grinning.

And neither could she.

……………..tbd

#quainwritings #quain’s masterlist #golden boy #trent alexander arnold fanfiction #trent alexander arnold #trent alexander arnold x reader #trent alexander arnold x black oc #footballer x oc #footballer x reader

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ndrv3expert1 · 3 days ago

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Why Tenko Chabashira is a Great Character pt. 1: Tenko’s Backstory and PersonalityA

Another essay excerpt because that did better than I expected last time and I'm suprised people actually want to read my stuff.

Tenko Chabashira is an over-hated character in the fandom with people before the game even came out criticizing her and hoping that she died.

Now this is not everyone’s opinion.

I've seen many people praise Tenko, but it’s a widely accepted opinion that she sucks, ranking near the bottom on a lot of people’s tier lists and having people post on every social media platform how much they hate her.

I love Tenko.

She is my favorite character in NDRV3 and right now my favorite character of all time.

With the game already in its eight anniversary I thought, what a better time than ever to fulfill my civic duty as a Tenko fan and explain why she is a great character and doesn’t deserve nearly all the hate she’s gotten.

Backstory

One of the main reasons people hate Tenko is her hatred of men.

I would like to lessen this to dislike because Tenko shows multiple times in the game that she does not hate men and there are also reasons behind her sentiments.

Tenko took her master's teachings very seriously; he was like a father figure to her (which makes sense especially since her parents abandoned her), and she was adamant about mastering neo-aikido.

Tenko is also really gullible.

It's why she believes Himiko can do real magic, so she would believe her master wholeheartedly when he tells her that interactions with men would weaken her.

It's similar to a child being told by their parents that if they are good Santa will give them gifts.

Another factor contributing to Tenko’s dislike of men would be her crime fighting which not only adds to her childlike nature but gives more of a reason to her so-called “man-hating.”

In one of Tenko’s ftes with Shuichi, she says:

“As practitioners of Neo-Aikido, Master and I… are also heroes of justice! Master and I wear masks to disguise ourselves! We serve to save, whether it is day or night! We do everything! Help an old woman carry her belongings… Help a child cross the street…Oh, yeah! I caught a thief the other day! We also punish degenerates who cheat and bring divine justice to gropers on trains. And even help girls who just had tough break-ups!”

Even though those don’t seem like the best reasons to “hate” a whole gender overshadowed by being hurt by men emotionally or physically.

If you think about it, it’s not the worst reason either, Tenko was just a kid and her master filled her head with misconceptions and stereotypes about men.

(In the end, he was just trying to protect but there are many more ways to go about it.)

Of course, Tenko didn’t have to believe it, but by being exposed to bad men on the streets when she and her master were fighting crime, and not having many interactions with good men, you can start to see where she comes from.

She’s just like a kid who never grew out of the boys' cooties phase (with a little more trauma), and as a kid, she wasn’t taught that all men aren’t bad, she wasn’t shown that all men aren’t bad, and she wasn’t exposed to the idea either.

I don’t think we should blame Tenko for something really out of her control.

Children are very impressionable that's why they're easy targets (well them and elderly people).

Their frontal lobes aren't fully developed so they don't think critically plus when your a kid small and vulnerable you tend to look to your parents for safety and guidance.

Imagine yourself in Tenko’s shoes. The man who is basically a father figure to her tells her all these misconceptions about men—and that they will stop her from fully mastering Neo-Aikido, something she has dedicated years to. With her low self-esteem, she likely already believes she isn’t good enough.

(While most of her self-esteem issues seem to be tied to her physical abilities, strength could play a role in that too. )

Wouldn’t that make you dislike them?

Then when he takes her out and she sees the men doing exactly what her master told her that they would do it would not only prove that her masters teachings are true it would solidify that hatred.

Now at the beginning of this section I said that Tenko doesn’t hate men but now I’m saying she does?

I believe Tenko had bad teachings and exposure that made her man hatred reasonable.

I don't think Tenko hates the whole male species as she says she does but if you're a man who hurts women Tenko is going to hate you with a burning passion an important distinction I need to make.

Tenko’s backstory isn’t perfect I’ll admit that but based on how she interacts with men during the game and how she acts overall bad exposure and teachings are a fine reason.

Personality

She’s rather boisterous and is like a ball of energy and can be overbearing to other students especially Himiko since how she acts with other students (not just the boys) is not “normal” per se (but no one in this game is normal) many people chalk it up to her just being annoying.

Still, I would like to add something else that may be a factor in her upbringing which I know I have already discussed.

Still, Tenko grew up in a temple with priests she was sent there when she was very young (there isn’t a specific age but many suspect five to six) so we can assume that she didn’t have a lot of interaction with kids her age (especially boys) with the only time interacting with people probably being people going in the temples for religious purposes or the people she saved while fighting crime.

A person’s upbringing especially if it’s bad or not normal can influence how someone acts just take Maki Harukawa, for example, she grew up in an orphanage and was trained to be an assassin during the game when Shuichi and Kaito are fighting she makes Shuichi watch her teaching Kaito to assemble and disassemble a crossbow so that they can make up, and when Kaito is kidnapped she reverts to the only thing she knows and tries to kill Kokichi.

Or Gonta Gokuhara who was raised in the forest by wolves doing odd things like not wearing shoes, lacking general cultural knowledge, getting suddenly controlled by strong emotions and having trouble with language.

So it makes sense for Tenko to act strangely and lack strong social skills, given her isolation from kids her age when she was young.

Unlike someone who has been interacting with others their entire life, starting from kindergarten, her experiences have been limited.

Or you can just say it’s her lack of understanding social cues and she’s neurodivergent coded.

...

Tenko, while claiming she hates men, gets along fine with them and shows them support. Some of these scenes include:

Joining Kaito’s strategy meeting

Telling Shuichi not to be too hard on himself after Kaede’s death

Yelling at Kokichi when he makes fun of Shuichi without his hat

Promising to avenge Rantaro and Ryoma’s deaths

Complementing Gonta for being calm and reasonable after Kirumi accuses him

Feeling bad after flipping Shuichi over her shoulder and carrying him back to her room

Allowing Shuichi to participate in Aikido with her

Telling Shuichi he needs to gain more confidence in himself.

She is also lovely and caring, volunteering to protect all of the girls, placing herself at risk alongside Kaito and Gonta to save Kaede from her execution, and her friendship with Himiko, in which she tries to help her overcome her emotional suppression, demonstrates her compassion for others.

She is one of the most vocal characters when it comes to opposing the killing game they were imprisoned in, and she is always willing to offer assistance or emotional support.

Tenko has a wonderful personality. Her deep emotional core, supportive persona, and childlike thinking are qualities that I and many others can identify with.

These qualities, in my opinion, dampen the hatred of her "male-hating" mentality in some aspects and make her a charming character.

Tenko's development

While having many ‘annoying/ undesirable’ traits Tenko eventually does have character development.

The main one is her dislike of men. I've already discussed that this dislike doesn’t seem genuine because, since the beginning of the game, she’s been having friendly, kindhearted interactions with men but taking that out of account Tenko does develop from the beginning of the game to her death.

Tenko’s journey reveals layers of her personality, showcasing how bad experiences shape beliefs and attitudes.

And how a good experience can turn it all around for the better even if her transformation is not entirely linear and overshadowed by other major characters (Shuichi Maki and Himiko.)

In her Free Time Events (FTEs) with Shuichi, she is very mean to him.

Nicest thing she says is that he can improve himself through Neo Aikido and become a good man like her master.

However, the interactions in her FTEs specifically with Shuichi amplify her disdain for men making it seem worse than it is in the game.

Despite all this she still she moments of genuine growth realizing that not all men are as bad as the ones her master told her about and the one she saw while crime-fighting through her experiences with Shuichi and the other men in the game she slowly but surely alters her perspective, and the journey leads her to form a friendship--though some would say acquaintanceship--with Shuichi (a man 😱.)

It’s a shift for her from her initial male-hating persona as she learns to accept that not every man is as bad as she was taught to believe by her master.

I could go on but this is getting long so in Part 2 I'll delve deeper into Tenko’s character arc and development in chapter 3.

#danganronpa #danganronpa v3 #drv3 #tenko chabashira #i'm so normal about her

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naamahdarling · 8 months ago

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I cannot BELIEVE I am making progress on training Fancy to "sneeze" on command!

It looks sort of like shaking her head no, so I'm not sure what verbal cue to use. Do I use "sneeze" or "achoo!" or do I train it in as potentially part of a funny "dialogue" during a performance? "Ya think?" "*sneezes NO*"

I really like them both!

Here she is looking regal and not like a shop towel, btw:

#she fake sneezes when she wants to go into one of the sometimes-only rooms #and i think it is because she sneezed naturally a few times and noticed i reacted favorably to it and would let her in more often #so she started doing it on purpose and it DOES work #so i just decided that if she is going to offer the behavior spontaneously to train ME #I could make a game of it and train her too!#it's going slow because i can only do it a couple of times a day but i let her in IMMEDIATELY #and now she often sneezes again when she goes inside as well which she did not ever do before #the connection is forming #she doesn't have it down yet but i truly think she's gonna get there #cats #my cats #fancy #littlemissfancypants

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scorpiusmalfoylovesoscarwilde · 8 months ago

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I've said it before, I'll say it again, and I'm sure it won't be the last time. I AM SICK AND BLOODY TIRED OF THESE MFS, HALF OF WHO DONT EVEN CARE ABOUT CURSED CHILD, BITCHING AND MOANING ABOUT AN ANGSTY TEEN DARING TO BE AN ANGSTY TEEN, I WILL FIGHT THE LOT OF YOU

(this is gonna be a bit long and probably incoherent so sit down and fucking listen to me 🔫 stick with me because I'm not just complaining about albus haters)

eVERYBODY wants cOoMmpllEeXx relatable HUMAN characters - and then SHIT themselves when the flaws a CHILD has isn't just 🥺 uwu im socially awkward and traumatised 🥺. that's why scorpius doesn't get this fuckass treatment, because his terrible human flaw is that he's a bit shit at conversation and gets sad about his dead mum (generalised understatement, but this post isnt about him. dont come for me i love him 🫶🏻)

god forbid albus, who feels unloved and unwanted (with valid evidence for a teenager), albus who feels completely out of place and outcast from his entire famously-close-knit family, ablus who is well known by the world by default via Harry and hates the attention and high expectations, albus who then gets targeted and bullied by his peers because he's not as perfect and brilliant as his father, albus who is then isolated from his one friend because Harry is making irrational ptsd fueled decisions, albus who tells Harry completely sincerely that he knows he's unlikeable but he'll try and change himself and be more like his siblings because he genuinely believes that's what Harry and everyone else whos had the misfortune of meeting him wants, albus who spends the entire play trying to prove himself and fix things via idiotic childish decisions BECAUSE HES A WHOLE UNSTABLE CHILD

god forbid that CHILD doesn't react like a patient, supported, well adjusted, level headed adult. god forbid he reacts outwardly. god forbid he reacts at all, my bad. clearly he should just sniffle a bit as if he doesn't feel suffocated and helpless by everything in his life, because obviously hes just a spoiled brat who doesn't know what real suffering is. god forbid he complains or feels anything negatively, or doesn't quite grasp that other people are struggling too because he is too busy trying so hard to deal with himself and his declining mental health the best he can with basically no support or understanding. god forbid he isn't completely perfect.

you all sound like some fucking boomer telling teenagers they don't know what real struggling is, they aren't mentally ill, they dont have any problems because they have a roof over their head, they should all go to war kids are too soft these days 😫😖😱 fUCKING‼️SHUT UP‼️

he does things wrong but he knows he does and he does everything he can to fix it! and he is fourteen!!! do none of you remember what being fourteen is like 😭😭 I swear half of you have got to be basically fourteen yourselves cmon man

cause I'm seeing this fucking pattern a lot recently. not just for albus, not just in this fandom, everywhere. ‼️ no one can fucking handle flawed characters anymore ‼️ the only thing any character is allowed to have wrong with them is trauma apparently, otherwise they have to be perfect, and I'm getting sick of it. characters and stories are meant to reflect real life, they're meant to help shape our world view, why are you expecting everyone to be fucking perfect??? what happened to nuance? what happened to understanding character development? you are all acting like characters and people are so black and white. either they're perfect or they're insufferable and evil. I won't lie, the most common victims i've noticed of this are women. but the flawed women are typically demonised, whereas the men are typically turned into uwu baby boys who actually aren't capable of doing anything wrong and then fanon goes nuts making them into ittle wittle victims. and I'm so fucking sick of all of it, I hate this. (obviously this is not a strict rule. Albus Potter, and also Albus Dumbledore now I mention it, are demonised beyond belief)

BRING BACK FLAWS AND BRING BACK NOT COMPLETELY WRITING OFF A CHARACTER BECAUSE THEY DARE TO BE HUMAN

I AM FED UP, ALBUS POTTER GET BEHIND ME

#he did many things wrong BUT I PROMISE YOU HE IS MORE AWARE THAN YOU ARE #HE HATES HIMSELF MORE THAN YOU EVER COULD #this post has been building a lot because i just kEEP SEEING ALBUS HATERS AND ITS DRIVING ME INSANE #i am albus potters defence lawyer actually #also eloise bridgertons i am seeing far too many people jumping on that hate train #i know shes going through her im not like other girls i hate pink phase but OF COURSE SHE IS #SHE LIVES IN THE 1800S WOMEN ARENT ALLOWED TO DO SHIT SHE FEELS TRAPPED IN A BOX AND ALL SHE SEES IS OTHER PEOPLE PLAYING THEIR PARTS #i could talk about her a lot more but this isnt the time or place 😔✋🏻 eloise bridgerton they could never make me hate you #also sansa stark i havent even watched game of thrones but i would fight to the death to defend her #her only crime was being a naive child and yet people hate her mercilessly #these are the people coming to me off the top of my head but there are countless fucking others #we are witnessing the death of media literacy and the death of nuance and its killing me i cannot fucking do this #i sincerely hope anyone complaining about al dont ever have teenage children because they will be shit at supporting or understanding them #hpcc #harry potter #albus potter #scorpius malfoy #years spent on tumblr and i still dont know how to tag #albus severus potter #harry potter and the cursed child #scorbus #is it cheeky if i tag bridgerton or game of thrones?#it feels cheeky 😔#the marauders #tagging that too because that fandom are fucking perpetrators of this #(said as someone in it dont come for me)

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millionsknives · 1 year ago

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*starts listening to the thg playlist*

augh -1 health

oof -1 health

ugh! -1 health

mmf -1 health

ugh! -1 health

augh -1 health

etc

GOOD that’s the effect i wanted >:)

#i wish so badly that i could annotate it. when will my husband (8tracks annotations) come back from the war #i made a rule that i was not allowed to take any songs from the soundtracks #until it was all finished and then i can pepper the best ones in sparingly #(abraham’s daughter & gale song & everybody wants to rule the world r going on there for sure)#i wanted to make myself get really creative without the crutch of the soundtracks although they r bangers #like we HAVE to start with the woods by daughter because it’s about sisters.#and if you forget that the hunger games is a story about a girl who loves her sister you have lost the plot #o children by nick cave is about children killing and being cleaned up and shipped off on a train. like ok #eat your young is self explanatory #so is kill our way to heaven (really digs into the mentality of a tribute imo)#glory and gore is on there because i genuinely thought lorde made that song for the movie #die first? well that’s katpee to a T (people who call them everlark u are boring and people who call them peeniss that’s too much for me)#(i think katpee is the funniest ship name ever so i’m using it)#who are you really is like who are you. really. but also i have nothing left to lose / see me bare my teeth for you !!!!!!!!#GOSSIP BY MÅNESKIN. FINNICK SONG. SIP THE GOSSIP DRINK TILL YOU CHOKE.#17 by ladytron :| also a finnick song perhaps :| but works for the other victors also :| they only want you when you’re 17 :|#AND THEN FEED THE MACHINE IS SO MUCH FUN RAAAAAAAAA WTF IS A LABOR UNION HEY (HEY) YOU (YOU) FEED THE MACHINE #if you only listen to one song on the playlist is should be that one because its just such a banger #wires by the neighborhood is like help me kill the president we’re gonna send him straight to hell (and it rules)#and then feel something by jaymes young is about a young person who is emotionally damaged beyond repair 🙃 had to end it on that one

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silverselfshippingchaos · 11 months ago

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could cozy up to me- ahem

#ash rambles 💚#i love him soooo much! i know i get stubborn about it sometimes but he really does have my heart #him and ash get together post-game so i love writing him and his development and him learning to be a better person #theyre not together during the game. theyre enemies during the game. theyre also both kinda immature late teenagers/young adults #(i just wanna make it clear that there's nothing weird there going on!! he and ash have had mutual attraction to each other since they were #kids but they dont get together until theyre adults and he is an adult in canon!!!)#but back to what i was saying #his development with ash is sooo goooddd! they spend a little while doing mercenary work together! ash has quite long hair and man ajsjajsh #the way he learns how to take care of her hair always makes me soo warm and fuzzy inside! he may be a bit of a meanie but he is a #surprisingly affectionate bf! f.f8 s/i probably also straightens her curly hair like i do and he just likes helping and stroking her hair #there's a lot of playful bickering though! lots of matches of triple triad too! whoever loses does the dishes LMAAOO #man.. he's so handsome and strong... i love how he's always so dedicated to being a knight and a protector... i know he uses that as an #excuse to like. do horrific things in the game but!!! in the mobile game you can see him develop and i really do like his redemption arc #from mean ass bully to kinda mean ally that'll protect you no matter what. his character is so good especially when you consider that he's #literally been forced into training since he was five. lots of things to analyze and think about there #but back to the knight thing!! he always says he's ash's knight! makes my heart flutter hehe! though he is very well-aware that ash could #kick his ass... and he loves it! he's not big on using her beloved guns (shes very picky about who touches her sweethearts too) but he does #like watching her epic gunslinger gf in action hehehe! okay yeah i think thats enough rambling for now #i got sick 😔 i'm okay and it'll pass but expect a lot of half-asleep f/o rambles LMAAOOO #okay yeah. tldr: i <3 s.eifer a.lmasy #your knight until the end 🤍

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teaboot · 1 month ago

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One time my mom took me to a hibachi grill with a bunch of her friends and if you've never been to a hibachi grill basically the draw is that theres a bunch of interactive performance stuff done by the cook who cooks for you at your table, and one of the tricks they did at this one was take a squeeze bottle full of liquor and shoot it into your mouth across the table (with permission)

And now at our table my mom explained this because it was my first time going, and she wanted to make sure to warn me it was liquor because she knows I don't drink- she just said "if he offers to shoot at your mouth, say no because it's alcohol".

And so the chef does his thing and it's all very impressive, but the time does come where he pulls out this squeeze bottle of booze and asks me if I wanna try

I of course say no, because I really don't do alcohol, so he moves on to someone else

And I watch, and slowly come to understand that this is some sort of game, because once someone is drinking from the continuous flow the chef starts counting "ONE! TWO! THREE!"

I realize that we're trying to see who can keep drinking the liquor from three feet away without choking or spilling, and its a bummer cause i kinda wanna try and I CAN'T

But he goes around the table with everyone there, and I think my mom makes it to three, one friend makes it to five, I think my brother got to three as well, and he comes back to me

And I'm REALLY bummed out now but I will not drink alcohol, so I sort of sadly repeat that I can't when he pulls out a SECOND BOTTLE and grins and goes "juice?"

And Im like FUCK YEAH LET'S GO and I'm a bit worried he's gonna spray it into my eye or something but he doesn't, it hits me right at the back of the throat, and I start drinking while the whole fucking table counts "ONE! TWO! THREE!"

And like

It just sorta

Kept going?

And Im looking at the chef and he starts freaking out by the time we get to six, and at around seven I kinda start looking around and my auntie is staring back in shock, my brother is laughing his ass off and my mom has her face in her hands

And then at like nine or ten it gets like. Super tense and quiet, and only the chef is still counting

And I guess it got too much for even him cause we're at eleven and I don't believe in quitting early and it is almost painful how awkward it's getting

So he cuts me off at twelve and raises his hands in the air and everyone else cheers and claps like a dumb movie

and I just sit back in my seat to look back at my mother staring at me surrounded by everyone she knows, bright fucking red in the face and choking with honest to god tears in her eyes and she puts her face back in her palms and starts chanting "I don't want to know. I don't want to know. I don't want to know"

So I give her the biggest, proudest grin and tell her, "I won."

So now every time something suggestive happens in a movie, or in conversation, or something shocking happens around us and she goes to jokingly cover my ears, I just ask her, "Remember when I won?" And she goes face-down and groans, because I know EXACTLY how she thinks I trained to develop that particular skill and she HATES knowing that about me

The truth is though, I'm a whole ass 28 year old virgin. I've never so much as kissed anyone in my life. I had no idea I could do that trick until that exact moment

But she doesn't know that, and I'm never gonna tell her

#EVER #That is the proudest I have ever been #teaboot #teaboot stories

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arolesbianism · 2 months ago

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I have been playing beastieball and first of all very good game second of all smth smth Olivia Broussard

#rat rambles #oni posting #the second I heard the basic concept I knew I had to make my player character olivia #Ive also been ofc doing an oni naming theme but thats a given #important context in my hcs olivia was a pretty sportsy teenager #but yeah Im also enjoying the endless sense of dread I get anytime I make story progress in this game #I need that guy dead NOW #also I forget their name but yeah rpedictably the nonbinary scientist is my favorite npc currently #but yeah I feel like Im at a weird point game progression wise where Im strong enough to take every fight I know of but I don't know how to #access most of the side content I want to do first so Ive mostly just been further training #dont get me wrong I was still underleveled for the last star coach match I did but they were like level 50 so y'know #I won btw because Im a hashtag gamer (I got my ass kicked the first time but the second time I barely scraped by)#ok I say barely but Im pretty sure I only lost one round most of my party was just on deaths door the whole time #I recently decided to rework my team since I wasn't having a lot of fun with my old one #I might end up mixing and matching my old and new teams a bit eventually but I rly like my current team #Im definitely still learning how to use it well tho and I can definitely feel that offensively it could be better #well actually more like it needs better defense to be more offensive #all my guys have good bulk in at least one damage type but only two are all around capable of taking hits #the other three are incredibly fragile in different stats and as such a lot of my gameplay at higher levels involved baiting and switching #which has been working out well enough so far but it definitely means my battles run slower than Id like #in particular because I only have one beastie capable of healing itself so its easy to back myself into a corner if I take too long #I also definitely need to look into redoing the stats for my dragonfly beastie as while shes fairly bulky she rly needs a bit more bulk #I also super need to look into getting some friendship skills for her since she just doesn't have the tools she needs rn to truly flourish #I believe in her tho she was the main inspiration for my current team and how I wanted it to play #which unfortunately we aren't quite able to do yet due to the fragility of everyone #again they Are quite bulky in certain areas but extremely fragile in others #the exception is my boy joshua who can tank most hits but is noy particularly helpful outside of that rn #which I also want to remedy #now the main question for me rn is if I considered switching out one of my more offensive units for someone with more utility #because a certain nikola may be a needed pivot currently but he was also supposed to be far more offensively useful than he can be atm

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harrysfolklore · 5 months ago

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max verstappen being the perfect boyfriend: a compilation

summary: max verstappen can’t help but talk about his girlfriend whenever he cans, fans make compilation videos about it

folkie radio: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAXIEEE, it's been a minute since the last time i did a compilation blurb and this felt like the perfect occasion to bring them back, i hope you like this!

MASTERLIST | MY PATREON

Max Verstappen, three time world champion and the best driver of his generation is known for his incredible driving skills and relentless pursuit of victory on the track.

However, behind the wheel, Max has another passion that rivals his love for racing: his girlfriend.

In every interview, press conference, and social media post, Max can't help but gush about her, seamlessly sharing stories of their life together into conversations about lap times and race strategies.

Fans quickly began doing compilation videos about all the times he mentioned his girlfriend publicly, and those gathered millions of views across social media platforms.

The most popular one was called "Max Verstappen being the perfect boyfriend: a compilation," and it began with a video of Max arriving to the paddock for media day, Red Bull's social media team filming him while he answered some rapid fire questions.

"Waffles or Pancakes? You know I used to love pancakes but I think I've had too many because my girlfriend is obsessed with making them," he said as he signed some stuff, "So I would go for Waffles at the moment, but if my girlfriend is watching this I'd say I take her pancakes every day."

The next clip was from a post qualifying interview, and of course, Max earned the pole position, the interviewer had asked him what was expecting for the race the following day.

"To win of course, that's what I'm here for," he said with so hesitation, "But I'm also looking forward to it because my girlfriend will be here, it's the first race she attends this season and I can't wait to see her in the crowd while I take on the podium."

The video moved to show Max with his teammate Sergio Perez, they were playing a game of Green Flag or Red Flag, they were asked about people who film themselves at the gym and Max immediately waved the red flag.

"I actually don't go to the gym anymore," Max added, "I get annoyed by everyone else so I just exercise at home."

"So no topless selfies, not even at home," the interviewer said.

"I don't need to impress anyone, I've got my girlfriend, so," Max shrugged.

The next clip was taken from Max's own Youtube channel, he was showing some of his preparation routine for a race, that included some neck training, checking statistics, quick meetings with his team and engineers among other things.

And of course, his girlfriend made an appearance, standing in a corner watching everything unfold. He approached her, race suit on and helmet in hand, kissed her lips gently as she caressed his arm.

"Be safe out there okay?" her voice could be faintly heard.

"Always schatje, I love you."

In the next segment, Max had just earned his second world championship and was doing a casual interview for a sports channel.

"Do you have your girlfriend now call you 'Two time world champion Max Verstappen' or just Max,"

"Definitely not the first one," Max laughed, "She'd never do that, she says she likes to keep me humble."

"Your girlfriend has a pet name for you?" the guy asked again.

"We call each other a bit different but I prefer not to say that on camera," Max laughed again, "I don't want the internet to make fun of me for being cheesy."

The next clip was from Max's streamings, he was too immersed in a game that he didn't hear his girlfriend come into the room, noticing her presence when she leaned into him.

Out of habit of keeping their privacy, he covered the camera but forgot to turn his mic off.

"Schatje I'm streaming," he said, unaware that everyone could hear him.

"Oh I'm sorry, I was going to ask if you could feed the cats but I'll do it myself," his girlfriend spoke.

"No I'll do it, just let me get off the stream,"

"Baby, there's no need," she insisted.

"I was missing you anyways, just give me a minute."

His audience couldn't see anything but they clearly heard how Max kissed his girlfriend's lips, turning his attention back to the screen, he realized that he was broadcasting their conversation to everyone.

His viewers went wild in the chat, spamming heart emojis and comments about how sweet the couple was. Max ended the stream with a laugh, addressing his fans. "Alright, you heard the boss. I gotta go feed the cats. See you all next time."

On the same note, another clip from a video for RedBull with Checo was included, they had been asked to show the most recent picture in their phones.

"Oh it's from this morning, my girlfriend with the kids," Max said, showing the picture to the camera.

"The kids?" Checo asked with a laugh.

"The cats are our kids," Max shrugged, "Jimmy and Sassy Verstappen."

A particularly touching moment was from a press conference after a difficult race. Max had finished fifth, a rare position for him given his usual dominance. When asked how he dealt with setbacks, he gave a candid response.

"It can be tough, but my girlfriend always knows how to lift my spirits. She's my biggest supporter and always finds the right words to say. Just being with her makes everything better, no matter how bad the race went."

During a clip of Max giving a tour of the Red Bull factory, he stopped at a wall covered in race-winning memorabilia. Among the trophies and champagne bottles, there was a small, framed photograph.

"This is special to me," Max pointed it out, "It's from my first win with Red Bull. But look closer..."

The camera zoomed in to show a young woman in the background of the photo, cheering in the pit lane.

"That's my girlfriend," Max said softly. "She was there for my first win, and she's been there for every one since - even if she can't always be at the track. The team knew how much that meant to me, so they made sure she was in this photo when they framed it."

In the next segment, Max was asked about his favorite off-track activity.

"I love cooking," Max grinned, "Well, more like watching my girlfriend cook. She's amazing in the kitchen, and I'm just there to taste-test everything."

The compilation included a moment during a press conference, Max addressed a question about his girlfriend facing criticism online. The question arose after she received negative comments following a public appearance with him.

"Look, it's tough sometimes," Max began, his expression turning serious. "She didn't choose this life, but she supports me through everything. It's not fair for her to get hate just because of who she's dating. If you have a problem with me that's fine but don't go after my family or my girlfriend because that is just unacceptable."

The final clip that wrapped the video us was from the FIA Prize Giving ceremony, Max received his trophy for winning the 2023 championship.

In his acceptance speech, he thanked his team, his family, and, of course, his girlfriend.

"Winning races and championships is amazing, but having someone by your side who believes in you and supports you unconditionally is truly special. To my girlfriend, thank you for being my rock and my biggest cheerleader. I love you."

The screen faded to black, showing a text that read: Max Verstappen, three time world champion and the perfect boyfriend.

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irisinluv · 6 months ago

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Isekaied as the Yandere Villain!? PT 1

All I could do was stare at my reflection. This had to be a joke. I was going to wake up in my bed, right this instant.

“FUCK!”

Ok, so, pinching myself hurts. That’s fine. This is like. Some sort of lucid dream. What do they say to do if you’re lucid dreaming? Oh, that’s right, put your finger in your palm, it’ll phase through!

I resist the urge to scream as my finger meets solid flesh.

You see, I’m not in the right body. Or the right world from what I can tell. No, I’m supposed to be back home, waking up in a panic as I realize my alarm didn’t go off cuz my phone died after I stayed up way too late reading manga.

But of course, I’m not late to work, I’m in a lavish bedchamber right out of the latest webcomic I’d been reading! And by the looks of it…. I’m the crown princes crazy fiancé! As much as I love reading about the Isekai trope, I never wanted to be in one! And come on- as the Yandere Villain!? Couldn’t this at least be original? There’s hundred of stories just like “my next life as a villainess,” why couldn’t I be like… a stable hand or something? Ugh. Ok. Think!

I need to get home. Do the protagonists ever get back home in the stories I read? I pace around my room and rack my brain over every webcomic I’ve ever read, every manga I waited in line for, every anime I binged, even the unfinished manhwas! I can’t think of a single fucking one where they get home?

Well this isn’t going to stop me. I have a cat who’s going to absolutely flip if she’s not given fresh kibble in the morning. She has enough in her bowl for another 2 days but she needs it topped off ok! She’s a princess! I can’t be stuck here! Who’s going to throw her pompom toy for her if I’m not there???

What did all these have in common? What’s the barebones trope layout? Ok let’s see

1) person either died or falls asleep and wakes up in a new world…. Check

2) person is the villain!…. Check

3) to avoid the characters terrible death, person tries to change the story, ends up being new protagonist…

Ohhh… hey…. Do these Isekai characters ever just…. Play along? Even the “reincarnated as a baby” ones, they only play along till they’re old enough to try to run away or rework the political structure of the entire city. Maybe that’s it. Make it to the books natural end, and you’ll wake up where you belong. It’s like when you get part of a song stuck in your head. Play the whole song, and it’ll get out.

Ok, I’ve trained most of my adult life for this- I can totally ace this trope! I just have to stalk the crown prince, act totally in love with him, and be a bitch to the female lead. Then my finance will leave me, I’ll do some crazy dramatic act to try to kill the female lead, and then I’ll be exiled or executed, and wake up to feed my cat. How hard can it be?

Hard. It’s very hard.

Where the hell did he go!? My fiancé, the crown prince Eric, was JUST HERE. I swear! He turned that corner back there and then went down this hall… at least I think it was this hall? Ugh! This is impossible! For someone with such loud shoes and an armed escort, you’d think he’d be easier to follow! Now my feet just hurt. They don’t make these fancy shoes to run around the castle all day. They’re meant to daintily peek from beneath my many skirts as I host a tea party or some shit.

Ok. I’ve got this! I’ll just peek into each room until I find him, maybe I can get a better feel for the layout, or maybe find his office and see if he has a schedule or a day planner or something I can use to make this whole stalking thing easier.

I begin snooping, and it’s a bit of thrill to be honest! Back in my real life, I’m the kind of person to hide a wrapper deep in the trash can if I’m babysitting, sitting on the floor playing a game on my phone after the kid goes to bed rather than “making myself at home” the way the parents insisted as they showed me how to access Netflix. I’ve never been a snooper. Now…. Well. It’s totally on brand for this character! I’m not me, I’m a psycho lovesick fool! I giggle a bit at that as my fingers trail over a shelf of beautiful pottery in some sort of sitting room.

“What’s so amusing dearest?”

I practically screech as my heart leaps to my throat and I whirl around, and see the very person I’d been searching for has snuck up on ME…. That’s so unfair!

“W-what? O-oh! Nothing! I was just- uh, admiring the pottery?”

I stutter out as I try to recall how to act like a human being while simultaneously trying to stop feeling my own pulse in my ears. The idiot has the nerve to LAUGH! Full on snort and everything!

“What are you doing in this wing anyways? Weren’t you meant to be out riding today?”

Shit. I was so busy trying to figure out his schedule, I didn’t consider maybe the body I was shoved into had a schedule of her own. Ok. Play it cool- I’ve got this!

“Yes, well, I decided I wasn’t in the mood and wanted to stay in today instead.”

His brows furrow

“Oh, but you love riding? Are you feeling ill? I can fetch the royal physician for you if you-“

“No! That’s- that’s quite alright! I simply wanted a change of schedule, that is all. Um… what about you? What are your plans for the day?”

He looked a bit surprised at that, and a small smile danced on his lips.

“I was just going to the library to do some paperwork, boring stuff really, and then of course our dinner at its regular time.”

I nod like that means anything to me. Ok think, if I were crazy in love with this man, what would I say?

“Would you like some company? Reading in the library sounds really nice, maybe we could have some tea as well?”

Ok. I’m already fucking this up. He looks confused…. God damnit …. I knew I shouldn’t have skimmed over those early chapters- but the translation was shit ok!?

“Well… I’d actually love that. But are you sure? You haven’t exactly shown interest in reading, and you’ve never requested something like this before…. In fact I don’t think I can recall the last time we’ve interacted outside of dinner or a scheduled social event in… well. Ever.”

Wait…. What? Isn’t my character like goo-goo-ga-ga over him? Are you telling me she never asks to just… spend time with her lover? They only talk during dinner and parties or whatever?

“Of course, I think it’ll be relaxing! Just lead the way!”

My brain is working overtime as I smile politely at him as we reach the library and I pretend to browse for books. I’m missing something here. What is-

Oh. Shit. That’s right. I’m supposed to be really insecure and awkward about him. That’s why she stalks him- she spends all her free time obsessing over this man from the shadows, threatening the competition…. Yet chokes up when it comes to how to act natural. Her inferiority complex is what drives her entire character. And then to him, they’re just two nobles in an arranged marriage who speak on dull subjects like the weather and horse rides…. And who barely interact.

This must have been a real big shake up, she always stays out of sight, they never run into each other by chance. And she certainly never would ask to sit and read with him…. Maybe watch him do his work from a hidden keyhole somewhere, but that’s right…. She IS more of a traditional lady with her hobbies. She was raised to be the perfect noble wife, so naturally, her hobbies include things like dancing, needlepoint, and horse riding. The only studies she’s interested in are etiquette and things that noble ladies are supposed to know.

Well…. Shit. That’s so like me to already have fucked this up. But that’s ok. That’s ok- he’s going to meet the female lead and fall in love and so I just have to be the obstacle they need to overcome. Surely the details don’t matter too much…. It’s my first day in the job ok? Not everyone’s perfect!

I find a book that honestly actually sounds interesting, it’s historical, but it’s giving Hellen of Troy, the closest to a dark romance I think I’ll get from an academic personal library like this. I settle into what looks like the comfiest chair in the central area, and begin reading. The prince and I exist comfortably, the only sound being the scratch of his pen, and the occasional rustle of paper as he flips a document or I finish a page. We continue like this for several hours until he puts down his pen and clears his throat, getting my attention.

“I know it’s a long way from dinner…. But I was thinking I’d grab something light for a mid day meal and then take a walk about the gardens …. Would you care to join me?”

Honestly, some lunch and pretty royal gardens sounds like so much fun, so I agree. As we begin walking, I ponder how I can recover from all this.

You know what.. this can totally still go to plan. This is just me being the evil villain and sinking my claws into him! The female lead will appear, and I’ll reveal my true, nasty side to her! She’ll have to fight to save the prince from his marriage to me!

*insert evil laughter!*

“You’re smiling.”

“W-what?”

“A smile. It suits you. You’ve been doing that a lot today….. I like it.”

Ok and now I’m blushing. I go to reply when I suddenly find myself weightless for a moment, and then hit the ground with a hard thump.

“Ow! What the-!?”

My eyes snap up and glare at this pretty blonde girl who just rammed into me, and sent me flying

“Do you not know how to watch where you’re going!? Owww…. Ugh.”

Ok I’m sorry I’m usually a nice and understanding person but I’ve never been literally knocked over before! Who does that to a person?

Eric helps me to my feet and sends a reproachful glare toward the girl, asking me if I’m alright with most concerned look…. And the girl gasps and says,

“C-crown prince Eric! I apologize! I’d didn’t recognize you!”

She drops into a curtsy and lowers her eyes all demure and modest as if she hadn’t just bulldozed me. I send an incredulous look toward Eric…. She… didn’t see HIM? I’m the one she took out? He gives me an equally puzzled look and so I decide, you know what, fuck it. I’m this evil person in this world…. I need to act like it!

“And not recognizing his highness is an excuse for taking out the princess consort, soon to be crown princess? Are you blind or just daft?”

Oh my god I really just called someone daft! This feels like when you stay up late thinking all the witty comebacks you could’ve used against your high school bullies, except actually using them in the moment!

And Eric is being a sweetie and letting me handle this, waiting expectantly for blondie to answer me, just prompting her,

“Well?”

“Forgive me…. Princess consort…. You are right. My oversight in inexcusable. It appears neither of us were looking where we were going. I hope we can start fresh!”

I scoff- that’s it? Who does this bitch think she is? Yes, I was looking at Eric, but I was going a walking pace, who rounds a corner with so much force that you knock someone over?

Suddenly something clicks- oh shit! This is the female lead!!!! This scene happened in the story, just without the prince here. This is good, that means this is on track. Although I gotta say- I was much more on the female main characters side when reading it. Now, I just feel like she’s one of those mean girls in high school who’s not *technically* doing anything mean. Anyways- what was I supposed to say? That’s right.

“Yes…. Well. I’m sure we won’t be seeing much of each other anyways. If you’ll excuse me-“

Nailed ittttt…. Now her line?

“Well, actually…. My name is Lady Cressida, and I’ll be staying in the place for several months as my father is a foreign ambassador overseeing trade agreements with his highness the king. So I imagine we will be seeing *plenty* of each other. That goes for you too your highness! So please- forgive me, I look forward to getting to know each of you better!”

Oh that’s so cool, seeing her recite the lines from the story. But ok- I have a role to play as well. I scoff and grab Eric’s arm, pulling him behind me as I storm off, playing the part of entitled lover, stuck up and irritated at this ambassadors daughter who DARED to speak to my love.

Yea, this will work, Eric will think Cressida is a genuine sweetie, and see me as being the unreasonable bitch who’s refusing to accept her apology, or apologize for not looking where I was going either. And now I’m manhandling him- totally unlady like. God I’m killing this aren’t I? Minimum wage job and demanding cat, here I come!

What I don’t see, as I lead Eric by the arm, is the cold glare he shoots towards Cressida, before smiling down at our connected hands, an unreadable look in his eyes.

Part 2

SERIES IS DISCONTINUED- sorry y’all, just not inspired to write this anymore and don’t wanna force it.

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nmakii · 2 months ago

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must be love

— you find sae’s phone opened, and you decide to snoop.

or; sae gets exposed for being a fake idgafer. this is too sappy. 2.7k words, this is my longest fic in my whole life… what life feels like as a girl who loves too much core

tags: @narcjsistx

— for @itoshiluvbot. love ya, partner.

‘she seems really eager to please,

but she has quite the backbone.’

you huff out in frustration. “ah!! ugh…” you scowl. sae raises his eyebrow. “my groupmate never started on her share of the work… ugh, now i have to cram it..!” you explain your sudden outburst. sae scoffs. “then tell your teacher or something. it’s not like i can do anything about it, im not your teacher.” he, quite obviously, points out. “wh… ugh, i’m gonna… i just— needed to let out my anger.” you groan, face planting and screaming into your textbook. and he hums in response. although he didn’t show it on his face, your outburst was quite out of character for the person he had grown to know. it was… weird, to say the least. and it had caused him to make a mental note not to anger you.

‘her generosity knows no bounds.’

“sae, this is for you. merry christmas!” you hand him a wrapped box. “hm..? i don’t take christmas gifts.” he bluntly states. “i haven’t gotten any gifts since i was 10 years old.” you scoff to yourself. “maybe that’s why you’ve always got that stick in your ass.” you tease. “excuse me?” he glares daggers at you. “aaaanyway! open it!” you shove the box into his hands. he looks at the box, and then at you, and he decides to open it. “new cleats.” he acknowledges. yes, mhm. these were indeed cleats..! “i didn’t need these, i was going to buy them myself.” he states.

“i know, you could probably buy them yourself. but, i thought i’d save you the hassle, y’know?” how thoughtful of you. he eyes the cleats up and down; it’s an expensive brand, but it’s worth the price for the quality. “…thanks.” he says, at last. he didn’t expect a gift from you, he doesn’t have one prepared for you. he’ll make sure to buy you something you’ll love later. “oh! hold on, i wanted to give you some other things ♪~” you fish a keychain and envelope out of your bag and hand it to him.

“…cinnamoroll..?” he questions. “it’s cute right? i thought you’d like it.” what an odd way of thinking… never once has he mentioned anything about cinnamoroll. but then again, it is pretty cute. “…well, i won’t say i hate it. thank you.” he thanks you as he eyes the envelope. “ah, don’t read it in front of me..! i got a bit sappy, it’s pretty. embarrassing…” you awkwardly laugh. “ah, got it.”

later that day, he opened the envelope. there was a letter; it had cute doodles all over. and, he’d be lying if he said that he didn’t feel your affection radiating off the letter. it was… really sweet.

‘what a beautiful human being she is.’

itoshi sae is what you like to call a shy lover, if you were to put it kindly.

you know for a fact that he loves you, he just isn’t good at verbally expressing it. words of affection are too sappy for him. he prefers to show it through the thoughtfulness of his gifts, and the longing touches of his hands, which seem to never leave your’s.

you know he loves you. but, you can’t help but wish for him to say it more often.

it wasn’t many nights lately that the two of you would have a date night. with sae’s rigorous training schedule and endless interviews, the only thing he wants to do at night is to fall asleep beside you.

however, today was the end of the season. meaning, sae would have much more free-time for you.

with sae’s last game for the year completed in 0-4, the first thing he had to do was call you. even though you weren’t far away at all, sitting in the VIP lounge with the relatives and girlfriends of sae’s teammates.

“s/o?” he calls your attention. “mhm? congratulations on your win, babe! i knew you’d win.” you congratulate him. “they could barely keep the ball when they had it. is it really an achievement for me to have won this match?” he says, almost sassily. “pssh— alright. i get it, mr. ‘tepid.’.” you tease.

“don’t call me that.” he huffs. “stay where you are. i’ll go to you.” he commands. you hum in acknowledgment, and he hangs up.

he doesn’t keep you waiting too long before showing up. “there you are…” he sighs in relief, kissing you as his hands automatically find themselves on your body— one tangled in your hair, and the other resting on the curve of your spine.

once he finds the will in himself to finally pull away, he’s breathless.

he looks like he wants to say something, but he holds himself back, his fingers flowing through your hair. “…get ready for our date later tonight, yeah? formal wear.”

you nod, and his lips curl upward. “i’ll see you later.”

you decided to go all out, pull all the brakes. and when sae picks you up in his car, he can’t help thinking that you look like a dream. ‘are you sure you aren’t a model?’ he muses to himself. his heart twists, and the fat of his cheeks redden with affection. your hair flows like silk, and that glimmer in your eyes was once a star, handpicked from the skies, he’s sure of it.

everything about you encourages him to keep staring, but he manages to get ahold of himself. “…you…look beautiful.” is the only thing he can get himself to say. but, beautiful doesn’t seem to encapsulate it, not at all. it’s not even close. beautiful is only a fraction of what he thinks. “heh, you think so?” you ask. “yeah; beautiful.” he assures. “let’s go.” he says, barely turning his attention away from you as he turns to the road.

the drive to the restaurant is quiet, but sae’s mind is screaming at him. his eyes can’t stop moving back to take sneaky glances of you. he drinks up your beauty like a serpent, and he still hasn’t had his fill.

“…we’re here.” he pulls the shift into its’ brake. he gets out, and hands his keys to the valet boy— his words are inaudible through the car door, but he quickly finishes his conversation and moves to open your car door.

you take your first step out, and his hand immediately moves to help you out. god, you might be even prettier under the gleam of moonlight, shining like the pearl of the planet.

his arm moves and snakes around your waist, guiding you into the restaurant under the flash of paparazzi cameras. he grimaces at the loud, pitchy voices of news interviewers, begging for a comment; anything for a headline quote.

the gentle touch of his fingers tighten, as he silently encourages you to walk faster, and lose the crowd. the two of you hurry up, and dash into the restaurant, where you’re greeted with a dim candlelight, mahogany walls, and the rhythmic trumpet of jazz.

“welcome, mr. itoshi.” the receptionist greets. “your table for two is right this way.” she quickly guides the two of you into a secluded part of the restaurant, just like he’s always done as to make sure neither of you are spotted and harassed in public.

lamps hang on the walls, creating a romantic atmosphere. and the curved dark-brown leather booth couch perfectly complements the dark oak roundtable.

the date isn’t too different from the others. the two of you chat about anything that comes to mind. but, it’s actually more like it’s just you chattering on, and sae listening as he admires that excited grin on your face.

on the outside looking in, it’s obvious how he has heart eyes when he stares at you. he’s in a trance as he listens to the rich honeying sweetness of your voice; his finger traces the lines on the roundtable, wishing that it’d be the crinkles of your smile he’s tracing when he blinks and opens his eyes again.

his trance is broken though, when his phone rings. damn it, he forgot to put his phone on do not disturb… “something wrong?” you ask sae, and he takes his phone out of his pocket. “not sure. there shouldn’t be a problem, i cancelled everything for tonight. ugh… just a second, amor…” he remorsefully takes your hand in his as a silent gesture of apology. he took too long to pick up the phone, it already went out…

he opened his call app, and saw that it was from his publicist, dabadie. he groaned before picking up.

“sae! you didn’t mention that you’d be going out on a date today, your paparazzi shot is already all over social medias..!” he worriedly stammers. “i didn’t? well, whatever… it’s just a date photo anyway.” sae shrugs, speaking quietly to ensure that you don’t hear. “right— but… you know the internet… they might criticize you, and say that she’s distracting you from soccer…”

sae is about to correct him— he’s about to say that you aren’t distracting him from his career, but he holds back once he remembers that you’re right beside him, eagerly waiting for his attention to be back on you.

“i… have to speak to you for a second, im already outside the restaurant… the paparazzi didn’t censor out the location well enough either… so, the agency’s security car will follow you two home…” he adds on. sae sighs. “i have to speak to you too. i’ll meet you outside.” he hangs up. he huffs in exasperation and shallowly drops his phone, making it clatter on the table; the screen is left open on his call record. “im sorry, amor… i have to quickly take care of something, i’ll be back soon, i promise.” he kisses your hand.

“hmph, don’t worry. it’s dabadie, right? he’s always worried about something…” you laugh. of course you’d be understanding about it. you always understood. “heh, that he is.” he sasses before leaving the table.

…and you can’t help but notice that his phone is still open.

his phone is practically yelling at you, “check out what’s on me, s/o! check it out right now!”, and you simply can’t resist the temptation to!

first, you simply scroll around at his call record; nothing too interesting, it’s filled with calls from dabadie, and you. as well as occasional calls from his mom. how tepid, as sae would put it. you exit the app, and find his home screen wallpaper to be a picture he took of you; you’re looking out into the distance, the large castle of sleeping beauty in the background.

you smile to yourself at that cute photo, and move to his photos; it’s filled with photos of you, and almost none of him— not unless you were beside him. you scroll down to check out his older photos; they’re childhood pictures, only a few of them are with rin included.

…

…anyways, ‘what is in sae itoshi’s notes app?’, you ponder. you open his notes app.

‘things i want to eat: 1. omelette, 2. paella, 3. pesto pasta’

‘onitsuka tiger mexico - kill bill/grey, new balance 2002r - grey, asics gel NYC - oyster grey’

‘laundry’

‘i love you’

you laugh at the randomness of his notes, quickly scrolling through them. it’s true when they say that a boy’s notes is truly random.

but that last note catches your eye. it’s a pretty odd note that just says ‘i love you’ with no additional text. and, it makes you wonder.

sae’s an organized person, more or less. so, his notes must be filed too. and, you’re correct. there are three files; ‘lists’, ‘important documents’, and a file with your initial as its’ name.

the other two don’t seem as interesting, nor seem as mysterious. so, you click on the mysterious file.

and, the file is filled with everything about you; he’s written down your birthday (including the time…), your family members’ names, foods you like to eat when you aren’t feeling well, shows that you like to watch… everything.

and, there’s a note that catches your eye. it’s a cut-off sentence, since it was too long. you decide to feed your curiosity and click on the note.

‘she talks to everyone, even the people she doesn’t like.

it takes a lot to piss her off.

she’s always kind to me, after all.

she seems really eager to please, but she has quite the backbone.

she works really hard, but i don’t think many see it.

her generosity knows no bounds, and she always knows what kind of joke to make.

i didn’t think it was possible for a soul to be so beautiful.

nor, that someone like i would meet a soul like her’s.

but, im grateful to the stars above that i met her.

someone as kind as her deserves to receive all the love she gives.

i don’t think she knows how loved she really is though.

what a beautiful human being she is.

there simply isn’t enough words to describe the way her dimples crinkle when she’s happy.

the day she was conceived, the gods must’ve tenderly sculpted her heart out of ivory and gold.

the way she enamors everyone in the room simply by walking inside, and the way her personality shines in her rushed, yet sweet handwriting.

one day, i hope she’ll finally be perpetually happy.

so, that she can always shine that enchanting smile of her’s.

she deserves all of it.’

was this a poem..? it didn’t seem like it, it didn’t rhyme, and the stanzas didn’t have equal amounts of lines… but, the way he worded it out almost made it seem like he was a poet.

you don’t… even know what to think at such a romantic confession. it’s certainly much more than sae has ever verbally said to you. but, the fact that he had written this with you in mind makes your heart pound like crazy.

you’ve always known that sae loves you, but seeing his private thoughts all written out for you to read was… overwhelming.

“going through my texts, amor? i’m not texting any other woman besides you.” sae nonchalantly jokes. shit— time went quicker than you’d thought. “ah, nn… just got a bit curious, babe…” you hum. “what were you looking at..?” he asks, and his eyes widen the moment he sees what you were reading. out of all the things on his phone, that was the last thing he wanted you reading.

he embarrassedly closes his phone. “so… what was all that writing about..? were you trying to be a poet?” you jokingly ask; you knew that sae wasn’t mad, per say… he was probably just embarrassed. “n..no… it was, ah…” he clears his throat. “it was just… something i typed out when i realized i had many observations about you that i needed to write down. i just got sidetracked while i was typing.” he explains.

you smile, your entire body feeling like you’re on fire. the love you feel for sae itoshi feels like too much to contain in your heart. “it was really sweet, sae…” you assure him. for some reason, you have the odd incentive to just… cry right now. you love him so much.

“i know. but, it’s also too sappy.” he huffs. “aw, don’t be so shy… i know you’re just a huge softie under that tough surface…” you tease, moving closer to cuddle up to his side. “im not soft. i just love you, okay?” he groans. “don’t make me say embarrassing things.”

your smile widens, making him look at you with that lovesick look in his eyes. “aww… well, i guess i know how much you love me now anyway, so that’s good enough..!” you mentally fist pump at this small victory.

the atmosphere suddenly feels light again as you start to chatter again, teasing him slightly before going back to what you were speaking about before he had left. and still, sae’s looking at you like you’re the world cup trophy, like you’re all he’s dreamed of.

and sae thinks…

‘…you’ll know how sappy i can get when it’s our wedding day.’

but he should save that for another 5 years, or so.

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