#I get so happy getting a new sales notif

[maple-bee]

With there being so little merch of MK fanmade or official it’s nice to see the plushies I hope they succeed cause I’d definitely like to see more of them

Aaah thank you so much!!😭 I didn't really expect these to get much attention - but I'm so glad people are enjoying them 🥺💖

It all depends on specific character interest, but I for sure would love to do more in the future 💜

We're still a few sales away from fully funding - and possibly funding a new sample 👀

Preorders are still open till the 16th!

[tswaney17]

Accidental Chemistry Holiday Series - Part 2: Gifts Galore

Happy New Year!! 🍾 I thought we could kick off the new year with my final holiday fic of the season. If you sent me prompts, don't worry! I will definitely try to come back to those in the future. Hey, blink and @elriel-month will be here, right? 😉 A special thank you to @impossiblescissorspeachpaper for sending me this prompt. 💕

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​​​

My ao3 account: tswaney17

Please let me know what you think about this update. I love getting your feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 💕

Catch up here.

Credit to @featherymalignancy for Cassian’s nickname, Cash. 😘

Trigger warnings: minor language

Word Count: 2,772

This fic will be posted on AO3 only. Read the beginning below or click here to head to AO3.

Azriel watched as Elain brought in bag after bag of Christmas presents for Oliver.

At his raised brows, she shot him a sheepish smile. “I’ve been saving small bits of my paycheck for a few months now. And there were so many good sales. I saved like $200 on everything.” She shrugged, even as a blush touched her cheeks.

He reached to grab a few of her bags off her shoulder and set them on the table. Money was a sensitive topic for her, and one she didn’t like the dwell on. So, he said instead, “Well, it sounds like you scored a good deal today.”

She dropped her purse on the counter, peeking into the living area where her little one was crawling all over the floor. One of her rare smiles bloomed across her face. It was one she always seemed to get when she watched her son. And sometimes she shot at Azriel when she’d catch him playing with Oliver. A thing of secret, lovely beauty. That’s what he called that particular smile. “Thank you for watching him today. I appreciate it.”

“I was happy to do it,” he admitted, meaning every single word. Az had gotten comfortable with Oliver over the several months of them living there, building a relationship with the boy and his mother. He never imagined himself as a father figure, but something about the fierce protectiveness he felt towards Ollie—and Elain for that matter—the warmth that spread through his chest whenever he got one of those big grins, made him start believing that perhaps it was something he had truly desired after all.

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~~~~~

Remember, sharing is caring! Please reblog if you liked the fic. It helps spread my work and I truly appreciate it. 💕

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[absurdthirst]

Crossing Enemy Lines {Max Phillips x F!Reader}

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 10.1k

Warnings: Insults, vampirism, mentions of blood drinking, oral sex (male and female receiving), rough sex, crude humor, Max being Max, angst.

Comments: Competitors and enemies? You are both not the other's favorite person but for some reason, hate sex is great sex.

Co-written @storiesofthefandomlovers

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|| MasterList || Max Phillips MasterList ||

Click Keep Reading only if you have read the Rating and Warnings and understand the warnings may not be complete to avoid listing spoilers. As AO3 says 'creator chooses not to use warnings'. You also agree that you're the right age to be consuming anything here.

Max adjusts his tie as he strides into the conference. A new annual event for vampires who are in business. As the branch manager, he received his invitation to the conference last month and he’s been excited to dominate the scene. Especially after he heard you’d be coming too. Grabbing his badge, Max makes his way into the welcome event and that’s when he sees you. Red dress, professional yet just the right amount of tight to be sexy, and he smirks as he makes his way over to you. “Fancy seeing you here, sweetheart.” Max winks at you as he strides over to you. 

“Phillips.” You greet him coolly, “I’m surprised you’re here. I thought they had a separate conference for subpar regional branch managers who always fail to meet their quarterly quota.” You smirk, eying Max in his red tie and what he claims is a bespoke suit.

His smile falters for a split second before it’s back, more powerful than before and the sharpness in his eyes focuses on you. “I was surprised that you were invited too, sweetheart.” He reaches up and tightens the full windsor knot of his Hermès tie. The gold thumb ring and Rolex match the tie clasp, all coordinated with the cufflinks that wink at his wrists. Dramatic, but Max likes to dress for the job he wants, not the job he has. “I’m sure you’ll get those numbers up.” 

“Is that what your credit card companies ask for when you’re late on the minimum payment?” You retort, noticing what he is so desperate to show off about. “Oh honey, you’ll pay them off. You just need some more sales…oh wait…I’m not going to allow you to encroach on my clients. You’ll just have to tell those credit cards you can’t pay for those fancy cufflinks.” You click your tongue, reaching out to adjust his tie to just a hair off of being perfect.

Max hisses slightly, annoyed that you had messed with the lines of his tie. “Is that what you believe?” He bats your hand away, lifting a brow as he fixes the tie again and reaches out to flick his finger under your ear lobe. “The Moissanite is nice, but it doesn’t have the sparkle of a real diamond.” He chuckles. “I understand though. If I lost the Phalicite contract to another firm, I wouldn’t be splurging either. Oh right….I was that firm.” He boasts quietly. “What was it they said? She just couldn’t get it done?” He tuts, giving you a disappointed look before he gives a small shrug. “They are happy now.”

You bite down the growl that tries to escape from his jab. It pained you to lose that contract and you shake your head, letting out an unamused chuckle. “You might’ve won the battle, big shot, but I will win the war.” You pat his chest, “now it’s time to network big boy. May the best woman win.” You wink, striding off to meet the CEO of that company you’ve been trying to close for months.

Max watches you walk away, his eyes firmly glued to your ass. You are a pain in the ass, but you have a fantastic one, so he lets you get away with more than someone else could. Deciding that it’s war, he plasters on his most charming persona and starts working the room, eager to one up you on connections and leads for new business. You are competition and he loves a challenge.

By the time you’re done charming the hell out of most of the big wigs in the room, a lot of them spent far too long eying your cleavage. You lean against the bar, desperate for a drink. Thank God you can still get drunk from alcohol. Even if it takes more, you still get the effects. You gesture for the bartender to come over and order yourself a gin martini. “Two olives.” You add and the bartender gives you an odd look but goes ahead to pour your drink. When you have the drink, you take a much needed sip until his voice invades your ears again. 

“Olives? What you gonna do? Eat them?” Max snorts, gesturing for the bartender to come over. He orders a whiskey on the rocks and you turn to look at him. 

“I like the aesthetic.” You explain with a brief shrug.

“Aesthetic.” Max scoffs and shakes his head. “Why pretend to be human when we are so much better?” He asks, tapping his finger on the bar as he waits for his drink. “Name one thing that a human is better at, I’ll wait.”

“Sex.” You answer Max and he chuckles, thinking you’re joking. 

“Seriously? Why the fuck would you think that? They have to breathe, they need breaks. They can’t keep going all night long.” 

You snort, “exactly. Humans have enthusiasm. They have passion. It’s not perfect, it can be sloppy, but any human lover I’ve had has been one hundred percent into fucking me. Vampires are cold, emotionless. It’s just an act, physical pleasure. There’s no emotion behind it, not even lust really. We are heartless machines and that - the lack of compassion - makes us great in sales and boring in bed.”

Max snorts, sending you a pitying look. “Just because you choose bad lovers doesn’t mean that vampires as a whole are bad in bed.” Smirking he points at himself. “Take me for example, by the time I’m done, you will be as exhausted as a vampire can get, begging for a break from the orgasms and pleasure. Humans don’t stand a chance.” He boasts.

You roll your eyes after taking a sip of your drink. “Sure Phillips. Is that what they tell you? After you buy them the Louis Vuitton purse you can’t afford?” You snort, “I highly doubt you have someone begging for a break. Maybe a break from you, not your cock.”

Max is cocky, maybe a little too much sometimes but he knows how to fuck. He ignores the little insult towards his finances, he’s well aware of his bank balance and smirks as he leans in. “Only one way to find out, sweet cheeks.” He challenges. “I could give you testimonies from past lovers, or I could just let you experience Maxie boy for yourself.”

You roll your eyes, “you called my pussy the arctic circle and said that any man who dares to venture into it would surely freeze to death. So, you got some mittens?” You smirk, deciding to mess with him. “Or perhaps you can borrow some fuzzy socks from one of your pals over there.” You gesture to the group of vampires who are just like Max: egotistical and beyond cocky. You lean closer to Max, grabbing his tie to bring him closer and you brush your lips against his ear, “or you can go fuck yourself.” You smirk, leaning back to grab your drink, you down it and order another one from the bartender.

Max grunts, unable to believe that you just made his cock twitch with the breathless way you had told him to go fuck himself. He’s always like ballsy women and despite the professional rivalry, you are just his type. “If you can’t handle the idea of having a real man fuck you, that’s all you have to say, sweetheart.” Max coos, reaching out and sliding his index finger down your arm. “Stick with the blood bags who can’t bury their face in the Arctic circle until it’s hotter than a furnace without coming up for air. No skin off my teeth.”

You raise an eyebrow as he orders another whiskey. You glance around the bush room, the endless chatter almost melding into one noise. “I want to know something.” You announce after the bartender sets your drinks down. 

“Shoot.” Max says before sipping his double whiskey. 

“Why do you want to fuck me? I thought we hated each other?” You lean against the bar, showing him more of your cleavage. 

Max snorts, “hate fucking can be the best sex ever.” He admits with a shrug and your heart sinks a little that he actually does hate you so much despite you just doing your job. 

Yes, you’ve goaded him but to hear it confirmed, it takes you back for a moment. “Here’s a proposal-” 

Max interrupts you, “oh I didn’t say marriage-” 

You roll your eyes again, “an offer.” You amend and he hums, “if you still want to fuck me by the end of this event, come to my room…1012. If you still want to fuck me, you can come to mine and I want you to spend the entire night making me cum. If you can’t do that, don’t come. If you don’t want that, I understand. Now, there’s the CEO for HP. I think we have a deal in the works. Thanks for the drinks, Phillips.” You wink and stride off, leaving him with the tab.

It’s fucking hard to concentrate on business for the rest of the night. To socialize and pretend he’s not discreetly checking his Rolex and glancing around the ball room to see where you are in proximity to him. Even the cute little redheaded human who flirts with him doesn’t capture his interest, and he always likes the taste of redheads - very mellow. The idea of fucking the attitude and sarcasm out of you is almost as intoxicating at the four other whiskeys he drinks. Another plus of being the undead is that he doesn’t have to worry about alcohol affecting his performance in bed. When the clock strikes midnight, the official ending time for the event, Max looks around to see that you’ve disappeared. Making him smirk as he tosses back the rest of his whiskey and make his apologies before he leaves, foregoing the elevator and speeding up the stairs to the tenth floor. Pausing outside of room 1012 to adjust his hair and straighten his tie before he knocks.

You check your hair in the mirror, freaking out a little despite the drinks you’ve had. It’s hard to believe that Max Phillips is about to fuck you but you don’t try to think too much about what happens tomorrow morning when you open the door to Max Phillips, naked and waiting for his reaction. There was no point staying dressed. This saves time and as a manager, you’re all about time management. “You ready?” You ask him, chuckling at the dumbstruck look on his face.

“Jesus sweetheart.” Max manages after he stops staring. He sweeps into the room, “if you were that eager, we should have done this a long time ago.” He reaches down and unbuttons the jacket of his suit and shrugs it off to drape over a chair. He smirks and grabs your waist to step close to you. “Now, do I make you scream my name on my cock or my tongue first?”

“Eager? You wish, Phillips. I’m just efficient. Take your clothes off too. Wanna see if your ego is backed up by what you’re packing.” You reach for his tie, pulling him closer so you can press your lips to his while his hands dig into your waist.

His cock twitches, already hardening just at the sight of you and he knows he won’t disappoint you size wise. His tongue slides into your mouth and he groans when you bite it before soothing it slightly. “Dirty girl.” He hisses, smirking happily when one hand slides up to squeeze your breast harshly and pinch your nipple, pulling down on it. “You want a striptease and denied me the same show.”

“I didn’t say I wanted a striptease, Phillips.” You chuckle, working on pulling off that ridiculously expensive tie. “I just wanted to surprise you.” You admit, moaning when he kisses along your neck while you work on unbuttoning his shirt.

“I was surprised.” Max pants, pinching your nipple again and biting down on your shoulder as he slides his hand down to grab your ass. His cock is tenting his suit trousers and he pushes it up against your hip. “Very happily surprised. You’d get a shit ton more sales if you just worked naked.”

You chuckle dryly, “I want to get sales based on my skills, not my tits. Otherwise I’d be like those girls from Chimtech. Just sleeping their way up the ladder. I’m not like that.” You tell him truthfully, reaching down to undo his cufflinks, tossing them onto the coffee table with accuracy, and you push his shirt off of his shoulders.

Max knows that. You are one of the few that he’s hadn’t seen at any of the clubs or honorable mentions at the orgies. It was one of the things that had caught his attention with you. He unbuttons his trousers and grins at you. “Ready?”

You roll your eyes and step away from him to sit on the bed, giving him an expectant look as he pulls down the zipper, opening his pants and shoving them down along with his designer boxers. You swallow harshly at the sight of his hard cock, thick and fucking gorgeous. No wonder he’s such a cocky motherfucker. “Fuck me.” You blurt out, surprised by the monster he has in his pants.

Max’s brow twitches and he sends you a cocky smirk. “Oh I’m going to sweetheart.” He promises as he kicks his pants off and bends down to peel his socks off to fling aside. His cock bobs heavily and he stands straight and wraps his hand around it to stroke. “Spread your legs, baby. I want to see the Arctic circle before I visit.”

You roll your eyes against his words, “you’re an asshole.” Yet you follow his order, shifting to sit back against the pillows and you slowly, with a smirk, spread your legs to display your cunt to his hungry gaze. You tease, caressing your thighs, “you gonna keep me waiting, Phillips?”

“Fuck, you have a pretty cunt.” Max groans, squeezing himself lightly before he lets go. “Bet you taste good.” His mouth waters at the idea and his fangs start to descend before he catches himself. He knows he wouldn’t want fangs against his cock so he wouldn’t do that to a lover. He stalks over to the bed and pushes you back before he drops to his knees, smirking and winking at you before he dives in. 

You gasp when his tongue slides between your folds and you reach down to tangle your fingers in his hair. “Oh you son of a bitch.” You hiss when he flicks his tongue expertly over your clit. You can’t believe how good he is already. He has already worked you up more than most lovers can during an entire night and the bastard has done it within thirty seconds.

Max chuckles into your cunt but he doesn’t stop. He eats you voraciously. Like you are the best goddamn thing that he’s ever tasted and if he pulls away your cunt would disappear. There’s nothing polite about it. No gentle licks or soulless sucks on your clit. It’s sloppy, messy and fucking pure Heaven for him. Loving the sounds you make while he repeatedly curls his tongue up inside your walls, shakes his head so his squashed nose stimulates your clit. He loves not having to breathe to eat a woman out, loves that his jaw doesn’t ache or get tired. He could do it all night if he needed to, even as his cock leaks onto his thighs as he wears your legs as a scarf.

You can’t even speak, your mouth falling open and fangs threatening to poke through as Max rocks your world. Your thighs press against his cheeks, suffocating him and you would’ve killed a human by now but Max isn’t human and he doesn’t need to breathe. His tongue is curled so deep and combined with that aquiline nose, you are close to your orgasm. “Oh fuck!” You squeal when you squeeze your tits, the added stimulation sending you over the edge and you curse Max for being so fucking good at that.

Max growls into you, licking and sucking up your release and working you through the orgasm before his tongue turns softer. Gently fluttering against your clit before he kisses it and gives you a self-satisfied smirk. “That was one, sweetheart.” He coos. “Ready for another or do you want to experience the ‘main event’?”

You can’t even offer him a smart retort as you recover from the way his tongue made you cum harder than you have in years. “Shit Max. The amount of bullshit that comes out of your mouth and yet it can do that. Fuck. I- main event? You are done already?” You tease, reaching down to rub your over sensitive clit.

Max snorts, aware that you are goading him but he’s going to make you eat your words. Smirking, he uses his inhuman strength to easily flip you into your stomach and yanks your hips up. Burying his face back into your cunt from behind. 

Your cry echoes off of the wall and you nearly rip the sheets as your fingers curl into them while Max’s tongue slides back into your sensitive cunt. “Oh fuck baby.” You gasp out, falling forward onto your forearms and arching your back as his nose presses against your puckered hole. You whimper when his fingers slide under you to rub your clit. “Max. Oh God, right there. Fuck. Yes. There.” You moan when his fingers curl and he finds that spot that makes your thighs shake. “That - that’s it baby. That’s it. Right there.” You whine until it turns into a loud moan as you cum for the second time, gushing over his tongue and chin.

He hums, keeping his tongue and fingers moving as your hips rock back in his face. He loves that you are chasing your pleasure and aren’t shy about giving orders. Max might be the boss, a powerhouse at work; but he doesn’t mind taking direction when it means that he will make you scream out his name. Something that will happen before tonight is over. When your thighs stop shaking, Max chuckles and slides his tongue up to circle the other little hole that has captured his attention with all its fluttering and begging for attention.

You gasp when his tongue presses against your puckered hole. “Fuck Max.” You rasp, voice growing hoarse from the moans that have rattled the room. “Get inside of me. Now.” You demand, reaching behind you to tug on his hair, now messy and out of its usual style.

He flicks his tongue against your hole one last time before he moves over and bites your cheek playfully. “What hole do you want me in first?” He teases, sliding his fingers up and down between both. “I think I want the Arctic circle first.” The slap of his hand against your ass is harsh in the room and he chuckles when you moan.

You can’t even bring yourself to roll your eyes as he grips his cock and teases your clit with the head. “Is this how long you take to close all your sales, Phillips?” You taunt, grinding back against him. When he just chuckles and notches his cock at your entrance, pushing into you in one thrust, your clever remark is long forgotten as his cock pushes into you and stretches you out.

“Fuuuuuck.” Max hisses, slapping your ass again as he circles his hips and grinds into you. You feel incredible and he would stay right here for an hour, just feeling your walls pulse around him but then you would complain. Instead, he wrap his arm around your sternum and drags you up before he drops his hips and starts fucking you like a madman.

You pant, gripping his forearm and you don't pull it away as you let him choke you. It's a good thing you don't need to breathe. "Fuck baby. It's-" You moan, leaning back against him as he hammers into you. His hips hitting your ass as he fucks you hard and fast.

Max hums, loving how you are taking his cock. “It’s what? Wonderful? The best you’ve ever had?” He drags his nose up your neck, pressing where he would have felt your pulse if you had one but there is nothing. “I know. I know it’s good baby, this pussy feels amazing. Taking me like this. Letting me fuck you hard…and now even harder.” He ramps up his thrusts to a pace that would kill a human without breaking a sweat or panting. 

The bed squeaks beneath you due to the sheer force of Max's thrusts and he takes your useless breath away. "O-o-h-m-y-G-o-d." You sound out each syllable as he fucks you harder than anyone you've ever had. Your pussy feels like it's being pounded in your guts and you can only let him use your cunt like this. "Maaaax!" You wail as he hammers against something magnificent inside of you.

“There it is.” He hisses, grinning into your neck and nipping your skin playfully. “That’s what I want to hear. Except - louder sweetheart. Gotta let the front desk know who’s fucking you.” The hand not pinning you to him gropes your breast and then slides down to slap your clit. 

His fingers hitting your clit makes you nearly fold over but his grip on your throat keeps you upright. Max has all the control right now but you aren’t mad about it. You kind of love it, the lack of decisions so unlike your work life. This is nothing but pleasure and you love it. “Oh fuck.” You gasp, turning your head as much as you can to try to find his lips.

Max knows what you want and he doesn’t deny you. His cock continues to shred up into your throbbing cunt with devastating accuracy against your g-spot and he slides his tongue into your mouth. Kissing you roughly while the quick slaps of his hips against your ass fill the room. Grinning against your lips when he slaps your pussy again.

You moan into his mouth, unable to help yourself, and when Max grins against your lips, you cry out and clamp down on his cock. Hard. Gripping him in a vice as your thighs shake and your cum soaks his cock. It’s the most violent orgasm you’ve ever had wrack your body and it’s caused by the man you hate.

Max groans out your name, loving how you are soaking him and the bed beneath you. The way you squeeze his cock has him caught up in your walls where he can barely move, grinding up into you while he seeks his own pleasure. Giving a rough half dozen thrusts before he groans again, filling you with a hot flood of his useless seed.

You pant against his mouth, just breathing him in as he rocks into you, pushing his cum out of you onto the sheet below. “Fuck.” You sigh in bliss, just letting the feelings move through your system as Max kisses your neck. “That was - I hate to admit it but it was good.”

Chuckling as he takes both of you down to the bed to lay down, he’s feeling smug as fuck at your fucked out posture. “Good.” He hums, twitching inside you before he pulls out and shuffles so he can watch your cunt drip his cum. “Fuck, I should take a picture.” He jokes, not serious in the least. Even as a vampire, he has some morality. 

You snort, knowing he wouldn’t do it, but you look at him. “So you could show it off to all your work buddies? How you fucked your ice queen rival?” You chuckle dryly, reaching down to push two fingers inside, scooping some of his cum out of your cunt and you shove those fingers in your mouth to taste Max’s cum combined with yours.

Max groans and he watches your tongue flutter around your fingers as you sucks them clean. He grins and his own finger dips into your dripping hole for a taste of his own. “Was thinking more to jerk off to later on.” He winks and licks his finger. “Fuck, you do taste good. Is it the blood you drink?”

You smile, “yeah. I only drink from the rich.” You admit and wink at him, letting him know you’re joking. “I think someone told me once that our taste carries over from when we were human.” You reveal, “so I tasted that good before.” You smirk and nudge him with your foot which he grabs. “So what is this? Are we - ?” You bite your lip. “Fucking?” Max provides and you nod. “Who would’ve thought it? Did you, um, did you enjoy it?” You ask, offering a rare moment of vulnerability.

Max is greedy, sliding his hand up your leg and thigh. “Mhm.” He hums, smiling as he touches you like he’s never been allowed to before. “Dick didn’t freeze off.” He teases playfully. “Definitely not the Arctic circle, it’s warm, tight, fucking gooood.” He reveals honestly before he winks. “Ready to go again?” He asks, waggling his brows. “Did promise to fuck you all night after all.”

You chuckle, moving fast to straddle him, reaching down to grip his still hard cock and you sink down onto it, your combined cum pushed out as you grip his shoulders. “It’s my turn to fuck you Phillips.” You smirk, clenching around him.

“Fucccccckkkk.” Max’s eyes roll back from how quickly you sit on his cock and his fangs do spring down and make him look like the predator he is. His fingers dig into the meat of your hips, right above the thighs and he bucks his hips up. “Fuck me. Ride my cock. Wanna see your tits bounce in my face.”

You reach out to caress one of his fangs with your finger before you cup his cheeks, working your hips to start bouncing on his cock. You shift, tangling your fingers in his stupidly thick hair and your tits bounce in his face as you ride his cock hard and fast.

He’s in fucking Heaven. Keeping his fangs away from your flesh, he captures a nipple to suck on while you ride him. Groaning into your tits and lavishing them with attention while his cock twitches every time you yank on his hair. Humans never do it hard enough and most vampires try to yank it out. Your pressure on his scalp is perfect. “Fuck.”

"You're such a dick but your cock is so good." You compliment him and insult him at the same time. "Fuck Max." You pant, grinding your hips to push his cock deeper and you are grateful your thighs won't ache as you rock on his cock like he's a prize stallion.

“Ride it.” Max growls, grinning at the fight you put up but your cunt is soaking wet around him. “That pretty little cunt likes my big dick inside it, doesn’t she?” He coos, thrusting his hips up. “Wanna ride it all the time now, dontcha?”

You want to roll your eyes at his words, cringeworthy if you were sober and not currently sitting on his cock. You slam down onto his cock, "you wanna be inside of this pussy all the time now, dontcha?" You taunt back, tugging on his hair to tilt his head back so you can lick along his neck.

There’s a distinct, needy whine that pours out of Max’s throat while you clench around him and lick his skin. “Shit yes.” He chokes out. “Work while I’m inside you. Have you sit on my cock while we- we fucking make money.” His fingers dig into your hips even harder and he lifts you up and pulls you back down on his cock just as harshly as you had, groaning again.

You throw your head back when he starts to move you on his cock but you won’t let him have control. You push him backwards, grabbing his forearms and pushing them over his head. You are stretched over his body, tits swaying in his face as you start to ride his cock, grinding back onto it while you restrain him as much as you’re physically able to.

“Fuck.” Max grinds his teeth together, getting your unspoken warning to stay still and he tries to comply. It’s so hard when you feel so fucking good around him. He had never imagined it would feel this good. “Jesus Christ, sweetheart. If my heart pumped you would stop it.” He grunts out.

You giggle breathlessly at his compliment, looking down at those now black eyes, full of lust for you. “Thanks Maxie. Your cock isn’t too bad.” You tease and he makes you cry out when he thrusts up into you. “Oh fuck!” You moan,  especially when he takes your nipple into his mouth again. “Again. You’re gonna make me cum.” You plead, bucking back onto his cock.

Now it’s not a fight for control, it’s just a race for pleasure. Both of you know it’s going to come but you’re greedy. Max obeys your order and bucks up into you, bouncing you on his cock and he nearly chokes with how hard you squeeze him when he hits that magical spot inside your silken walls. “Shit baby, cum. Cum all over my cock. Wanna feel it- wanna-“ he breaks off with a loud moan when you squeeze him again, so close to cumming himself.

Your mouth falls open and nothing comes out as two more thrusts of his hips has you falling over the edge, clamping down on his cock in a way that you are squealing his name when the noise finally breaks free. Soaking him with your cum as you still above him, shaking from the intensity of the orgasm.

Max whimpers, eyes closing and his arms wrap around you. Holding you while he rocks up into you frantically. Chanting your name over and over again for another three thrust before he is pushing deep, wanting to crawl inside you while he fills you up again. Loving the perk of being a vampire and unable to get STDs or cause pregnancy.

“Fuck.” You huff shakily, shifting to look down at him and admire his handsome face, fangs pointing out, and you lean down to lick one playfully with your tongue. “Shit. That was good, baby.” You caress his cheeks and down to his neck and then his chest.

Max smirks, proud of the fact that you are saying that it was good. His strokes your back, your skin still smooth and cool, unable to sweat since you are technically dead. “Still think sex with a vampire isn’t better than a human?” He asks, brow raised and curious as to your answer.

You bite your lip, hating to say no but you can’t deny it when he has made you cum so hard. “Maybe you’re starting to change my mind.” You tease and Max growls, turning you over and playfully biting down on your neck. “So…we, uh, this is it? Just one night.” You say after a moment.

Pulling away so he can look down at you, Max makes a split second decision, reading your tone and the searching look on your face. “Doesn’t have to be.” He hums, running his tongue over his teeth and his fangs retract. “We are both busy, real go-getters.” He muses. “It would make sense that we continue this. Work out our needs, frustrations on each other. Use this great sex we have.” He doesn’t say that he wants it again, but he does. He really does. Fuck, he wants to stay the night. 

You hum, thinking about it for a moment. “I suppose it makes sense to get our…frustrations with each other out in a healthier way. Keep business as business but enjoy our pleasures too.” You sit back to get off of him, flopping down on the bed beside him. “You can’t tell anyone about it though.”

He frowns for a second, not liking the idea of secrecy but then he decides to let that go. “Of course.” He manages a smirk and a shrug by the time you turn your head to look over at him. “Lips are sealed. I’m not going to tell that the Arctic circle is conquerable.” He jokes, winking at you before he sits up. He needs to go back to his own room before he argues about your condition to continue fucking.

You roll your eyes at him before you sit up, glad you don’t ache like you would when you were human. Max probably would’ve killed you with how hard he fucked you. “I guess I’ll see you around, Phillips.” You shuffle off of the bed, anxious for a shower to clean up and he gets up, grabbing his clothes to start dressing. “I’m going to shower. Let yourself out.” You tell him and he nods, watching you make your way to the bathroom door. “Oh by the way, I like that tie.” You inform him with a wink and saunter into the bathroom, leaving him to it.

****

Max smirks when he knocks on your door before just pushing it open. You’ve been sleeping together for nearly three months and he’s just made himself at home with walking into your house when he gets off work. You hold up a finger, still halfway dressed when he knows you would normally be naked, your phone still to your ear. “Jerry, I promise you the projections are wrong.” You tell him, making Max’s smile widen even more. Your stocking are still on and you obviously was interrupted from your task of getting ready for him to fuck you by the business call. Max strides over to you and caresses your hip while you narrow your eyes at him, obviously wanting him to be quiet while you work. Winking, he lowers himself to his knees and shreds the underwear under your garter belt so he can get to your pussy. 

You gasp, “fucking hell” and Jerry asks you what’s wrong. “Nothing Jerry. Nothing. Ma- My tea was hot.” You lie even as Max’s tongue carves a path through your folds. “Fuck you.” You mouth down at Max whose dark eyes are watching you with amusement. You won’t let him win, tangling your fingers in his hair, you force yourself to concentrate on the call, listening to Jerry rattle off numbers. “Jer-Jerry. That’s not right. It’s one hun- oh.” You moan when Max sucks on your clit. Flustered, you clear your throat, “sorry about that Jerry. Tea was delicious.” You manage to lie, continuing to rattle off the numbers despite Max driving you to distraction with his tongue.

Huffing quietly in amusement, Max slides his hands up to massage your ass while he licks into you. Noticing that you have no issue pulling your leg up onto his shoulder while you sag against the counter. Smirking to himself while his tongue licks into you and he shakes his head to brush his nose against your cunt. Fuck, it’s fun to watch your control pull thin, to hear you try to keep your composure while he is unraveling you. 

Max’s tongue slides deep but it’s not enough. You lift your leg onto the counter, giving him more access than before, and he shifts to sit on the floor, wrapping his arm around your leg to keep you stable while his tongue slides deeper. “Fuck.” You hiss, head tilted back to rest against your fridge that’s full of blood bags. 

“What?” Jerry asks and you can barely think with the way Max is destroying your composure. 

“I’m sorry Jerry. I’m gonna have to - to call you back. You have the numbers. Figure it out.” You growl and hang up, tossing your phone on the counter and you reach down to tangle your fingers in Max’s hair, rocking onto his face. “You’re a bastard.” You tell him with a groan.

His laugh is louder now, his hand slapping your ass loud enough that ‘ole Jerry would have heard it if he had still been on the phone. Instead of pulling away and making a snarky comment, he decides he’ll make you cum first. Hearing you cry out is rapidly becoming his favorite fucking thing in the world, better than landing a huge sales contract. Better than beating you. His tongue flicks over your clit and he moves one hand to push three fingers into your cunt while he sucks your clit into his mouth to suck harshly, as if he’s trying to drink from your cunt. 

You decide to give in to the pleasure and not be mad, especially when he is fingering you exactly how you like it. You moan and rock down onto his digits and his face, moaning wantonly at the way he sucks on your clit. “Fuck. I’m gonna cum.” You tell him, “Max. Oh shit. Max. Max. Ma-” You choke, knee buckling as you clamp down around his fingers and soak them with your cum.

Holding you up, Max groans as he works you through it. Loving how his fingers squelch your cum slides down his knuckles. Sucking on your clit until you are whimpering his name and your stomach heaves with overstimulation. His cock is fucking hard as rock but he just kisses your curls and smirks up at you as he pulls is soaked fingers out of your cunt. “Good job, baby.” He coos playfully. “I don’t think he knew you were having your cunt devoured.”

“You’re such an asshole.” You say breathlessly, reaching down to drag him up onto his feet and when he’s standing, you press your lips to his. “Fuck me.” You order, reaching down to squeeze his cock through his pants before you work them open, managing to wrap your fingers around Max’s throbbing cock. “Someone got turned on eating pussy.” You tease, kissing his chin.

Rolling his eyes, he huffs at you. “Duh.” He is throbbing and he knows that just a few strokes of your hand would have him cumming but he wants to fill up that fucking perfect cunt of yours. “Up,” He orders, grabbing your hips and lifting you easily onto the counter with his inhumane strength. Your legs spread easily for him and he loves how soaked you are for him. “Should bend you over and make your ass bounce.” He grumbles, leaning in and pressing his lips to yours while he lines up and sinks inside you. 

You moan into his mouth, gripping his shoulders before you shove your hands under his shirt to caress his back, admiring the strength of his muscles. “You like kissing me too much.” You murmur, crossing the invisible line that neither of you discuss the other’s preferences too much. It makes it more than what it is. Just sex. Max nips your chin, making you moan, and you shift so you are hanging on the edge of the counter, allowing him deeper inside of you.

He does like kissing you. As much as he can. Too much if he were to sit down and think about it, so he doesn’t let himself. You were very clear where he stands and he isn’t fucking this up. Instead, his tongue slides against yours when he presses his lips to yours again, starting a rhythm that has his cock punching deep into your walls, desperate to feel you after hours spent away.

You let him kiss you, especially when his tongue traces your teeth like it always does. It must be his thing. You moan into his mouth, letting his fuck you hard and fast, his hips slamming against your thighs as you shuffle ever so close to falling off of the counter and Max makes you squeal when he grabs your thighs, lifting you up and fucking you on his cock. You squeal and wrap your arms around his neck to stop yourself from falling backwards as he moves your body. “Oh fuck Max.” You moan at this sheer display of his strength.

It’s easy to do, to lift you up as if you weigh nothing. You could do the same to him if you wanted to. It’s the symbolism for him, the way that he can have you any way that he wants to. It’s thrilling. The fact that you let him do whatever he wants and eagerly takes the positions, the pace. You bounce on his cock as he moves you up and down, “fuck, look at that.” He groans, looking between you and watching you take him. Seeing the way your lips stretch around him. “Tell me that’s good, baby. Tell me how much you love my cock.” 

You watch him watching his cock disappear inside of you and you moan his name, “it’s so good baby. So good. I love your cock. Love it. Always - always so good. Making me cum every damn day. I love it. Want you to - to fuck me all day every day if we - if we didn’t have to work.”

“Fuck.” Max hisses, closing his eyes and his fangs spring down at the mere thought. “After- after I get this new job I’ll fuck you every- every day.” He huffs, imagining it clearly. You sitting on his cock while he signs contracts, answering his phone with your pants of pleasure in his ear. He would lay you out on his fucking desk like a feast everyday. 

In a turn of events, your rival businesses are merging and Max is getting a senior position in a separate department to yours. No longer enemies, you and Max are not competing for sales. It’s strange to not be battling him for contracts. Especially when the merger will mean he will be in your building. “Yes. Yes. Every day. I want you to eat me for lunch.” You demand, kissing his neck as you rock down onto his cock, taking over the pace.

“Fuck yes.” Max whines, holding you in his arms and letting you fuck him. Your thighs squeezing him as you lift and lower yourself. “Best fucking lunch. Better than the interns.” He jokes, toes curling in his shoes as you squeeze him with your inner muscles. “Pour some blood on your pussy and pretend you're on the rag.” 

You roll your eyes at his lewd comment but you know that’s just how Max can be. “Fucking weirdo.” You tease, kissing his lips, “you’re such a dick but I- God, I don’t want to stop fucking you. It’s like you’ve got some kind of drug in your cum because I’m addicted to you.” You admit, scaring yourself honestly at how attached you are to him.

Max chuckles, taking over the pace again when you let him. Rocking up onto his toes to grind into you. “Caught me. Been feeding you cocaine laced cum.” He teases, feeling the same way. “Don’t worry baby, gonna - gonna fuck you for as long as you want.” He’s almost said something about doing more than just fucking, but he’s scared you would turn him down so he keeps quiet. 

His words send you over the edge, making you cry out as you clamp down on his cock, unable to stop yourself from climaxing as he promises to keep fucking you. He groans at how tight you grip him, keeping you upright as you shake. “Baby.” You gasp, “want - want you to cum down my throat. Let me - let me suck you off.”

He groans, knowing this is special. It’s rare that you don’t want him to cum in your pussy. Not that he minds. He talks a big game about blow jobs but he’s never once asked you for one. If you want to suck his cock, you will. It’s that simple in his mind. Nodding, he sets you down and watches as you wrap your hand around his length, kneeling down in front of him. “Fuck.” 

You waste no time in taking him into your mouth with a moan, loving the tangy taste of your own cum coating his cock as you take him down your throat. Another plus of being a vampire: no gag reflex. You look up at him as you take him deep down your throat, loving the way he's watching you.

“Look at you.” He coos, reaching down and stroking your jaw. “You look so pretty with my cock in your mouth.” His eyes roll back and he tilts his head back and moans your name when you press your tongue to the underside of his cock and swallow around the head. “Oh fuck.” He huffs, hips lurching forward to chase that feeling. “So good baby.”

You repeat that action, desperate for him to cum down your throat. You whimper around his cock, reaching down to roll his balls in your fingers, keeping your eyes on him as you watch him moan and groan as you swallow around his thick cock.

“Shiiiit.” Max hisses. “I’m gonna cum.” He warns you. “I’m gonna cum down that pretty little throat of yours. Fuck gonna fill you up, and-“ He tenses up, moaning as he does just that. Pumping spurt after spurt of his cum down your throat. 

You eagerly swallow every drop, closing your eyes at the salty taste that doesn’t have that tang that human cum has in it. You swallow until his balls relax under your touch and you pull off of him, cheekily opening your mouth and sticking your tongue out to show him your empty mouth.

“Good girl.” Max lunges down, eager to taste the remnants of his cum from your mouth. Moaning into you while he kisses you. He’s fucked. He realizes it right at this moment. He wants you. Not for some hate fucking, he’s never hated you. But he wants more that just sex.

You kiss him back, letting him pull you into his arms and you realize how dangerous this is getting. It’s no longer hate fucking, it’s turning into something else and you don’t know how to stop it. You do know that Max would break your heart once he gets bored. “I, um, I still need to call Jerry if you - you can take a blood bag to go if you want.” You step away from him, wishing you had a robe or something to cover you, cover your emotions.

Max’s silent heart clenches and he frowns slightly before he nods. “Sure.” He covers up the hurt with a chuckle and sends you a small smirk. “I have to go move into my fancy new office anyway, sweetheart.” He tucks himself away and zips up before straightening his clothes. He can’t help but feel like you are shoving him out the door. “Until next time.”

You watch him go, leaning against the counter and covering your face with your hands. Fuck, when did it happen? When did you fall in love with Max Phillips?

****

Once Max is settled into his office, you must admit you’ve been avoiding him. Deciding that he doesn’t feel the same and you’d only embarrass yourself by asking him such a question, you avoid Max at all costs. Having your assistant screen calls and meetings for the man, you succeed in avoiding him until you hear his name mentioned in the break room. “Yes. He invited me into his office and we…” The intern giggles as she looks around, not seeing you behind the door, “we had sex on his desk.” Your heart sinks, breaking in two at the news that Max has already moved on. You swallow harshly, unshed tears stinging in your eyes as you make your way back to your office.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Phillips. She is in a meeting with orders to not be disturbed.” Max sighs as he listens to your secretary yet again tell him that you aren’t available. The same thing he’s heard from her every day for nearly two weeks. He’s gone from having sex with you every since day to not seeing you and he hates it. 

“Yeah, thanks.” He mutters into the phone. “Tell her to call me when she’s done.” He drops the phone into the cradle and sighs. He knows you won’t call him, you haven’t despite the messages to your secretary and the texts to your personal phone. He’s getting desperate to see you and figure out what the hell is going on.

You are working late, unavoidable considering the new contract you’re working on, but you curse your assistant leaving on time when your door opens and Max Phillips strides in unannounced. “Phillips.” You greet him coolly, not even looking up from your computer.

Max blinks at the acidity in your tone and it’s on the tip of his tongue to ask if you’re on your period but he knows that doesn’t happen anymore. Unable to deflect with humor like he usually would, he decides to be upfront. “What the hell is going on?” He demands. “We went from wanting to fuck everyday at lunch once we were in the same building to you ghosting me.”

You bite your lip, wanting to growl at him, but you just respond calmly. “Oh, sorry. I thought you had found a new pretty intern to fuck during lunch and I was no longer needed?” You frown, tilting your head at him.

His brow scrunches in confusion and he shakes his head. “What are you talking about? What intern?” He demands, leaning against the door jam. “Only person I’ve fucked is you and I haven’t been doing a lot of that lately.”

You huff, standing up from your desk, you walk around it to face Max. “Are you serious? I heard her earlier. She said she fucked you in her office and as I walked away she said - she said you traced her teeth with your tongue.” You choke, knowing that is something Max and only Max tends to do.

Now he’s pissed, that she’s lying and that you believe this person. “She must have heard that from someone else I’ve fucked before you.” He growls. “Because I’ve not stuck my dick in anyone but you.” He sees that you don’t believe him and scoffs. “Fucking convenient for you to hear this. If you wanted to stop fucking you don’t have to lie. I don’t fucking force anyone to have sex with me. I don’t need to.”

You shake your head, “it wasn’t - fucking hell. That’s the problem. I didn’t want to stop fucking you. You’re lying about fucking someone else and I shouldn’t be mad because I can’t - we can’t keep doing this. You’ve got me tied up in knots. I can’t focus and I- you need to leave before I change my mind and beg you to fuck me on my desk.”

Max stares at you for a moment in disbelief before he pushes off the door and slowly starts to clap. “Bravo.” He shakes his head, a sarcastic grin on his face. “Amazing, you almost had me. See, I knew it was stupid to fall in love with you, knew I was going to get burned eventually. Especially considering I’ve called you every single day and you’ve been the one rejecting me.” He huffs and drops the smile. “The arctic circle ain’t in your cunt, it’s your icy cold heart. Good luck on the next poor fucker.” He growls, turning on his heel to leave this fucking office and go get drunk somewhere.

“You’re a bastard.” You rush to follow him, lucky that no one is around to witness you as you grab Max and spin him around. ���This wasn’t in the plan. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with you.” You rush out, eyes wide as you stare at him. Your heart would be beating out of your chest if you were human but all you can do is stare at him.

Max stares back at you, ready to lash out and deny it. “So if I love you and you love me, why would you think I’d fuck anyone but you?” He demands. “I don’t even know what intern you’re talking about. And I- Jesus, you’re the best lover I’ve ever had. Where could I go after you? No one could ever beat you.”

You swallow harshly at his words, reaching up to cup his cheeks. “I just - I thought you hated me still. I thought it was just sex. I never - I thought you were just fucking me for a release because it’s - it’s the best sex I’ve ever had. No one compares. You are a pain in my ass, but baby, you are strong and smart, so fucking smart, and handsome and you’re funny - even if it’s in a college frat boy kind of way - I just never imagined you’d feel the same way.”

Max chuckles and shakes his head. “I’ve never hated you, sweetheart.” He promises. “I just liked getting under your skin. I liked pissing you off. You’re sexy when you’re annoyed. Like pulling the braids of the girl I like on the playground.” He confesses with a small grin. He steps closer to you, more serious than he’s ever been. “I have not slept with anyone but you since the night we started. I haven’t even looked.”

You believe him, caressing his cheeks, “I love you, Max Phillips.” You whisper, smiling at the cocky bastard who used to make your life hell but now you can’t imagine being without him.

“I love you.” He promises, reaching up to brush his knuckles across your cheeks and he smirks. “Now that we know where we stand, can I fuck you?” He asks, lifting a brow. “I really, really miss being inside you.”

You giggle, reaching up to wrap your arms around his neck, “you want to fuck me in my fancy office, Mr. Phillips?” You tease, leaning in to nip his jaw and you are relieved that you are both on the same page.

“I do want to fuck you in your fancy office.” He smirks, his fangs sliding down and he looks behind you. “You have a drop cloth or a sheet of plastic?” He asks. “Might get a little messy.”

You chuckle, “I might have a bedsheet I snuck in just in case we happened to fuck in here.” You take Max’s hand and guide him into your office, letting go of his hand to get the sheet from your bottom desk drawer, laying it out on the sofa in your office.

Max smirks and starts stripping out of his suit while you adjust the sheet. Eager to touch you, his cock is already throbbing. “I’m going to fuck you so hard baby. The security desk is going to think you’re being staked.”

You playfully roll your eyes at his cocky words but you know he can make you squeal and scream. You finish adjusting the sheet and struggle to pull down the zipper of your dress as Max kicks off his shoes and shoves his pants and boxers down.  

“Too slow sweetheart.” Max tuts, taking over and dragging the zipper down and peeling the dress off of you in the blink of an eye. “Fuck, I love stripping you down. You should stay naked all the time.”

You sigh when Max kisses your neck and shoulder as you kick the dress aside, stepping out of your heels and you spin around to face Max. Pressing your lips to his, you press your chest to his and tangle your fingers in his hair. “Fuck me Max.” You plead, feeling his hard cock pressing into your hip.

“I’m going to.” He promises, happy that you are in his arms again. His tongue trails over your neck and he can’t help himself, sinking his teeth into your flesh while he grabs your ass and hauls you back towards the couch.

You look up at Max as he lays you down on the sofa and you caress his chest, over the space where his heart would be beating. “I love you.” You murmur, spreading your legs to accommodate him as you continue caressing his chest.

He hums, loving hearing you say that. “Love you too.” He groans, sliding his hand between the two of you so he can line up to push inside you. The head of his cock slips inside your cunt as he ducks down to take your nipple into his mouth.

You moan when he pushes into you, feeling like you’re finally home, where you should be. With him. “Max.” You moan, tangling your fingers in his hair as he bites down on your breast and he starts to rock his hips, pushing into you. It’s slow, unlike the always frantic pace, and you sigh in pleasure.

He’s never set a slow pace with you, knowing that he had to make sure you had the most pleasure he could offer within an hour or two. Now he takes his time, he’ll spend all night right here if he has to. Wanting to drag it out for as long as he can. Enjoying the slow drag of his cock in and out of your walls while he works his hip.

“Fuck. That feels good.” You moan, caressing his back as he rocks into you. You whimper when he hits something deep and slowly fucks you. No, he doesn’t fuck you. He makes love to you. “God, you feel so good. No one has ever felt like this.”

Max groans in agreement. He reaches for your hand and laces his fingers with yours. “Bite me.” He begs, wanting to feel your fangs in his flesh. You’ve never bitten him before but he thinks it’s hot to have you do it while he’s buried in your cunt.

You squeeze his hand and feel your fangs appear so you cup the back of his head, pulling him closer so you can sink your fangs into his flesh. There’s no blood but you moan at the sensation of his cock inside of you and your fangs in his neck. It’s incredible and you moan into his flesh as he rocks into you.

“Fuck.” Max groans loudly, cock twitching deep inside you but he doesn’t push harder or faster into you. Keeping his pace slow and steady, while he love the feeling of your fangs breaking through his skin. “Again baby, fuck, mark me as yours.”

You repeat the action, allowing yourself to dive into your instincts, your animalistic ways shining through as you bite him, marking him as yours. The marks will stay, a shimmering scar once they heal over - as soon as your fangs are removed - and you are close to cumming at the thought of Max being yours and only yours.

Max grunts, closing his eyes and smirking as he continues to rock into you. “Love you, so fucking much.” He groans out. “Perfect vampire for me, perfect woman, perfect little pussy.”

You lick over the marks after withdrawing your fangs. “I love you baby. So much. God, you are - you’re an asshole but you’re my asshole. I wouldn’t change you for all the sales in the world. Perfect for me.” You pant, getting closer and closer with every slow rock of his hips until finally, you fall over the edge and clamp down on his cock. Your orgasm is slow, seeming to spread to every inch of your body.

Max buries his fangs in your neck as you come apart for him. Your walls clamp down like a vice around him, soaking him in your release. He loves the way you cry his name, needy and loving. “Love you,” he pants, withdrawing his fangs and pressing his lips to yours when he starts to cum, filling you with his own release in agonizing pleasure.

You cling to him as he cums, filling you up and you’ve missed this so much, missed him so much. You peck his lips over and over as he rides out his orgasm and you caress his shoulders and back. “Love you.” You murmur, actually feeling tired. 

Max kisses your jaw when you tilt your head back. “Not as much as I love you.” 

You snort, “always in competition.” You love him and he loves you. Never, in a million years, would you have imagined that if you’d been asked four months ago but here you are. In love with a blood sucking bastard

[britt-kageryuu]

Leo is streaming, lounging on the big beanbag chair again. His model is in space themed comfy clothes, with slippers, and a star covered mask.

He was playing through a rouge like game, not fully sure what he needs to do yet, but still having fun fighting off the multiple waves of enemies. It's noted that he's sticking to the sword based weapons, even if there are multiple weapons available from the beginning.

Suddenly the graphic of a cartoony slider riding a skateboard, rolls across the screen followed by "Thank You Chaotic_CinnamonRoll for the $10, 'Why did you decide to go into the medical field? You might've mentioned medical books in the past?'"

Leo let out a nostalgic sigh, "Well, that was part of why I got into medical stuff, let me tell ya. I think Dee mentioned how we didn't have legal identification for years, so if something happened with us Dad couldn't really take us to any medical facility. But he got ahold of as much supplies, and field medic training manuals, and medical guides as he could find." Leo has a smile on his face as he continues, "And while Dee is big on science, they don't like viscera, so Pops started to show me how to help. It just goes from there."

Leo spys a comment in chat, "For the person asking about Pops not using insurance, well after his sudden retirement, he didn't have insurance anymore, and he didn't know how to apply." Leo lets out another sigh, "Plus he wasn't familiar with how things worked, because he had a manager or assistant to do all that stuff for him. He was just a confused father of 4 who was trying his best while dealing with his own depression! I'm not trying to justify anything, just stating a fact."

Leo suddenly stretched himself out to grab something and rolled over onto his stomach, facing away from the camera, he's grabbed his phone to check a notification that wasn't heard over the mic, for once. What ever the message was it made his happy, because his tail was wagging a bit fast. He spends a few minutes messaging back and forth with who is assumed to be Leo's boyfriend.

He eventually remembered that he was in the middle of a stream, and sheepishly apologized for ignoring them.

"So since this game is newer than most that I've played, there aren't many guides on what I chould do yet. Sooo I gotta keep throwing things at the enemy and see what's most effective. Like that, wait was he a Croc, or and Aligator? Either way he was the first mini boss! Image how hard the other will be until we get more upgrades!" Leo says excitedly as he goes over the upgrades menu after returning to the start after dying right after the boss, from low health. "We also got this new 'Side Scroller Beatem Up' game because it and the DLC was one sale. Though that might be better played with more players, and our schedules don't always line up multiple people being on the stream. Plus I promised Dee our next game would be his choice."

Leo is half focused on going through the upgrade menus, and talking to the characters around the hub area. Thinking that the blue guy he was playing as could lighten up a bit, be more like the orange dude, but hey their Dad is missing and everything is tense. And where is the last person of the group, or do they only appear after going a certain distance in the game?

"Though I do like the look of that spikey turtle dude, reminded me of Red, though he's wearing, was it dark blue or a deep teal, either way cool dude. Hope he shows up in the hub area. Now do I want to switch to one of the other 3, or just continue as my blue guy?" Leo is rambling, if only because the analytical part of his mind is currently at war with the 'Oh Shiney! What was I doing?' part of his mind. "ALSO! What is with the odd element system that the flavor text is talking about, not the water I get that, this Utrom thing, it's kind described as tech based, but what is an Utrom? Why am I asking chat when they mostly say they've never seen this game before?... Did I forget to take my medicine, because I don't usually ramble my thoughts out loud this much."

He then pauses the game to check his phone for his medical data. "So I need to take a break again real quick. I either didn't take my medicine, or somehow took the wrong medication. So please hold while I go check. And don't any of you go looking up the game to purposefully cause spoilers. I want to figure out enough on my own first. Okay BRB!"

The screen switches over to an animated scene of the guys cartoony turtle selves are swimming about, though Mikey is jumping between Raph and Leo, and slightly submerging Leo in the process. Donnies is occasionally trying to bite Leo for bumping into him.

The chat is talking among themselves, notifications are going off, and some jokes about the medic taking the wrong medication.

------------------

Masterpost

I still don't quite understand my own writing process. Like I had only the 'why I got into the medical field' part planned, then just decided to have him ramble about the game which is 'TMNT Splintered Fate' but not quite. Then at the last minute I was like 'I should make up a reason for him being very ramble-y right now'.

If I should change this, let me know. I do like feedback.

[ultrainfinitepit]

Shop Update December 2023

Hello Tumblr followers, I hope you are having a pleasant week and have fun plans for the weekend. 2023 is coming to a close and so is my shop for the rest of the year. I will be closing my Etsy shop December 8 2023, if you're hoping to purchase any holiday gifts now is the time. To sweeten the deal, all items in my shop are on sale now until the shop closes and every order will get a free sticker and/or seconds pin while supplies last.

I will reopen the shop sometime in 2024, no specific date yet but probably sometime in January. Look out for another update, keep an eye on my social media, or opt in to email notifications for my shop once it's closed, to be notified when it's open again. While my shop is closed, you can purchase from my stockists who have most of my items as well as some older ones.

I have just a few new items this month, here's the list:

Baptism by Fire, a spicy Wolfwood/Trigun-inspired pin

Another putto for the Astrological Putti series, for the constellation Ophiuchus

A restock of the Clock pin

Seconds Grade Mystery Cowboy Monsters Pins

Variety Pack Mystery Bags

Restocks of items from the SJMade Holiday Fair

New pin hoops!

I've gotten a few comments about pins selling out quickly, so I thought I'd talk about that here. Recently, I have reduced the quantity of pins I order for self-funded designs. This is to save on space since I have a lot of designs I'd like to make and not enough space to keep all of them in-stock. Additionally, I am planning to start selling wholesale and on Shopify soon, meaning even smaller quantities of my pins and other items will be listed on Etsy. Going forward you should expect my listings to sell out more quickly.

If a design is popular, I will consider making it with new colors or plating. You can find a catalog of my pins on Tumblr along with a link to a Google form to suggest restocks or variants. It's more exciting for me as a creator to make new pins and recolors instead of the same pin in the same colors over and over, so that's why I may not restock a design in its previous colors.

If you miss out on a pin you really wanted, please check with my stockists. Please be patient with them, it can take months for them to receive and catalogue new items. They get a lot more orders than me so they may be slower to ship to you as well. I am planning to send a few of every item I make to each of my stockists so long as I have enough inventory to do so. You can also tag me on social media if you make an ISO (in search of) post and I will share it. I hope this helps you in your pin collecting journey.

Finally, one more thing I'd like to mention. My current newsletter service Tinyletter is shutting down soon, so I will be moving to EmailOctopus. If you're a current newsletter subscriber, I've already moved your subscription over to EmailOctopus. You can expect January's update from that service instead of Tinyletter. 

That's all until 2024. I hope you have enjoyable winter holidays and a happy New Year!

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT ECOMMERCE NEWS (INCLUDING ETSY), LATE JUNE 2024

Welcome to my latest summary of Etsy and other ecommerce news, relevant for small and microbusinesses online!

Get these updates plus my website blog posts via email: http://bit.ly/CindyLouWho2Blog Get all of the most timely updates plus exclusive content by supporting my Patreon: patreon.com/CindyLouWho2

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES 

Etsy has yet again changed how processing times work for some countries, and this time, they’ve opted everyone into working on every national holiday. [post by me on LinkedIn, with screenshots] Many people are happy they can officially opt out of working on some days, but not so happy Etsy opted them in. The next day, Etsy clarified that this is currently only available for Canada and the US, and is only for national holidays, not regional or provincial ones. 

The old Etsy listing form disappeared as promised on June 25, and the new one is still a mess [post by me on LinkedIn]. Etsy claims to have fixed numerous issues with the new listing form, including manual translations, bulk editing, and sharing to Pattern. No word on the numerous pricing issues that have affected non-US sellers in particular through the domestic pricing tool, and that have apparently changed both variations and shipping prices for US sellers. The latest new listing form fix is the inability to save drafts, although it doesn’t seem to be working for everyone. 

USPS seems to have reused its tracking numbers early recently, with widespread reports of labels created June 18 and later showing as already being delivered in April or May. I’ve updated that linked Patreon post with info on how to get Etsy to correct their own records, so that seller protection and Star Seller status are not affected. 

ETSY NEWS 

Wondering if your images meet Etsy’s minimum size requirements? I did a video for you [on Patreon] so you can easily check for yourself. 

Etsy is still pushing shop loans through YouLend, “up to two times your monthly revenue.” Thanks to Michele from Artologica for the screenshot of the dashboard notification, and some of what you see once you click it:

and a link to the Etsy program at YouLend. Please read the terms carefully, as they get repaid through your future sales. It appears to be US-sellers only. 

There’s a new “Made for You” page with a lot of links to various features for buyers, but I don’t see it linked anywhere on the desktop version of the site. I also don’t really see the point, but maybe we’ll have to wait and see how they use it. 

Apologies for missing this one, but sellers in Turkey must now use “ShipEntegra” to mail orders, unless they already use another service. In effect, this means all new shops in Turkey are required to sign up and only ship orders through ShipEntegra, as of June 3. 

Apparently the “Buy More and Save” badge Etsy applied to some listings that already had multiple quantity discounts is just a test [item 2] per Etsy.

ECOMMERCE NEWS (minus social media)

General

Facebook appears to be removing links to EcommerceBytes on its platforms. 

Amazon

Amazon's "Subscribe & Save" feature will be available for products that are not Fulfilled By Amazon items, as of June 27. 

Amazon's Prime Day 2024 is July 16-17th. 

“Ad Relevance” is Amazon’s proposed solution to the end of ad cookies; it has AI at its core. 

North American Amazon orders will stop using plastic air pillows by the end of the year. 

Amazon is facing another lawsuit on copying successful sellers’ products and manipulating the Buy Box, this time in the UK. 

eBay

As of July 1, eBay will be charging most of its sellers more for Express Payouts: $2 each time instead of 1.5% of the total. 

eBay is now charging buyers of luxury wallets and handbags an optional $40 for authentication, for items between $200-$499.99. Items $500 and up are still authenticated for free. 

The eBay Summer 2024 Seller Update included new tools and renamed programs, but some of them had already been announced. 

If you are using the eBay seller app, watch for draft listings disappearing. 

Shopify

Businesses selling through Shopify can now apply to sell on Target Plus, a third-party marketplace that currently has around 1200 sellers. 

Shopify now has a chatbot for site owners, called Sidekick, but it is currently only available to English stores in North America. 

Walmart

Walmart+ Week started June 17th, almost a month before Amazon’s Prime Day. 

All Other Marketplaces

Just a few months after ending selling fees, Mercari is laying off a substantial portion of its US-based workers. It’s also still looking for new sellers, offering credits that can be spent on the site for opening a new shop and inviting friends. 

Payment Processing

Apple Pay Later is being phased out in favour of “Affirm”, a third-party Buy Now Pay Later app that will be available in more countries than Apple’s own product. 

Shipping

USPS hopes to change its non-standard package surcharges by region, charging more when the package travels further. 

[misc-obeyme]

NEW MAMMON CARD AND I'M HERE TO YELL ABOUT HIM, I GOT HIM WITHIN 20 PULLS YAYY

But now i gotta pull for Levi !! I haven't read Mammon devilgram yet but I'm so excited!! And the new memory card with 13 and Beel, Im dYING. BEEL IS ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVES AND THE COLLAR AND THE TATTOOS (?) AND WJDJJFKF. AND THIRTEEN?? MA'AM. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ONE CHANCE?!

She looks so prettyyyy 😭 happy pride to me, the bisexuals (me) are winning !!! I'm getting this card no matter what!! My poor coworker watched me have a Moment™ when I saw the cards because I got the notification near closing. AND I JUST SAW THERE'S ANOTHER MEMORY CARD WITH MAMMON IN IT?? I AM SO GRINDING THIS EVENT, CELESTIAL BOXES DON'T GOT NOTHING ON ME !!

Also the login support bonus where Mammon is like "let me show you why they go for the bad boys" like 1. YES PLEASE but 2. okay whatever you say mister heart of gold (would burn the world down for MC probably).

the gloves AKWJDJF and the CHOKER AAAA. THEY'RE ALWAYS GIVING HIM CHOKERS AND COLLARS AND MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT. 😭😭 i needed this after the terrible day i had on Sunday, retail ain't for the weak. It makes me wonder who in the cast could handle working in retail. I'm trying to think of Mammon or Lucifer as managers and having to explain policies, and the specifics of coupons and sales. Or even theft, because you're not allowed to do anything but be overly annoying with customer service. That's a funny idea.

ALSO I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT MY COFFEE AU, I'VE JUST BEEN WAY TOO TIRED TO PUT ANYTHING INTO WORDS OKAY BYEEE

- ✨ anon

AH I got the card tooooo!! I haven't read the Devilgram yet either but that is next!

I actually really like all the villain outfits?? The hero ones are okay, but they're a little boring in comparison. And like the villains got Barbatos, Solomon, AND Mammon!?? I mean there's no question which side I would choose lol.

And yesssss, Beel looks amazing, too!! AND THIRTEEN. She's stunning and I love her.

I pulled more than I maybe would have in the Nightmare because I wanted to grind this event too!! There are so many things that I'm totally loving!! Straight up, it's the villains and the CARDS are really good, too!!!

LOLOL I laughed so hard when I first saw Mammon's login bonus line! I was like listen, I know you think you're a bad boy and that's really dang cute, but we all know you're a good boy. :)

But yes, they REALLY NEED TO STOP with the choker/collar situation!!! I swear it's every single Mammon outfit nowadays and every time it feels like a personal attack lol.

Oof I'm sorry about working retail, I know it sucks! I think Lucifer would be good at being a manager, but he'd probably scare the shit out of customers. Maybe that's a good thing lol. Mammon would charm everybody just by being his adorable self. He's just got that outgoing personality, so I think he'd do all right. Might blow up every now and again with someone pushing too far. I think Asmo would also do well, but he's also not gonna let anyone get away with just anything.

I kinda see Beel being too nice. Like he'd be good at it, but he'd be the one who just lets customers yell at him without defending himself at all.

Belphie, Satan, and Levi would all be failures for different reasons, put those guys in the back lol.

And no worries at all, take your time! No obligations here, I love to hear about it as long as you wish to share it, whenever that may be!

[louisisdaddy42]

Chicago, P.1 (A Louis Tomlinson Fanfic)

After two years of recovering from an abusive relationship, you're finally dipping your toes back into the dating world—thanks to the relentless encouragement of your best friend. Swiping through a dating app, you stumble across a profile that catches your interest: Louis. Charming, cheeky, and refreshingly genuine. The connection and chemistry are instant. Louis becomes your guide to rediscovering yourself and gaining self-confidence. Together, you navigate trust, communication, and intimacy, all while unraveling the parts of yourself you’ve kept hidden for far too long. (CW: Mature, non-detailed mentions of abuse)

Tuesdays truly are the worst day of the week.

Some would say Monday, but at least on Monday, you’re feeling rested from the weekend. Wednesdays, you can celebrate because you’re halfway through the week. Thursday, the day before Friday. And then Friday, of course.

But Tuesday? A truly awful day of the week.

This is what goes through your brain as you sit in a conference room, being lectured to about sales quotas, or something like that - you’re obviously a little tuned out. Your phone buzzes in your pocket, and you glance at it quickly under the table. A notification from that new dating app you downloaded. You roll your eyes.

After the meeting ends, you head back to your desk and look a little more closely at the notification. It reads, “someone liked your profile - match now!”

You ignore the notification - that app is such a waste of time.

After a couple more hours of boring desk work, you can finally clock out. You grab your purse and head for the train. As you walk out of work, you receive a text from your best friend, Jen.

Got us a table, chips and salsa on the way :) c u soon

You get to the train station and hop on the Red Line to meet her for happy hour. When you arrive, Jen is sitting at a table waiting for you. You wave at her from the entrance and go over to the table, slinging your purse over the back of the chair and sitting down.

“Oh my god, Jen,” you say, chuckling. “How are we going to finish this entire pitcher of sangria?”

“Listen, it’s Thirsty Tuesday,” she replies. “And I know how much you love sangria.”

“You’re thinking of Thirsty Thursday, I think,” you say, laughing. “But I love the spirit.”

You pour yourself a glass of sangria and take a chip out of the basket on the table. You and Jen clink your glasses together, both saying, “cheers!”

You order some more appetizers, and, as the server leaves your table, Jen asks, “so... any luck on that dating app?”

Rolling your eyes, you reply, “no, all the guys on there are either ugly or douche bags.” You take a sip of your drink. “It’s honestly a waste of time.”

Jen, a little tipsy, encourages you, “you just need to keep looking!”

“I think I’m good,” you reply, rolling your eyes again.

She places a hand on your shoulder and says, “you can’t swear off love forever, dude. It’s been two years since you left Adam.”

Anger rises in your body just hearing that name. What a piece of shit.

“Yeah, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been, Jen,” you reply, irritation in your voice. “I’m perfectly happy on my own. I’d rather be single for the rest of my life than ever risk going through something like that again.”

Jen can see the tears welling up in your eyes and places a hand on your shoulder. “Hey, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to pressure you,” she says, “I just want to see you with someone who makes you happy. You deserve that.”

Wiping a tear, you reply, “thanks, Jen.”

After finishing your pitcher of sangria and appetizers, you and Jen walk to the train and get back on the Red Line. You get off on your stop, giving Jen a hug. “Love you, text me when you make it home safe.”

You walk to your apartment building and unlock the front door. After grabbing your mail, you walk upstairs and open the door to your apartment. Your cat, Eddy, greets you at the door as you flip on the lights.

You take a shower, brush your teeth, and get settled into bed, Eddy laying at your feet. You check your phone, scrolling mindlessly on social media. Maybe it’s because you’re tipsy from the sangria, or maybe you’re just genuinely curious - you open the dating app. You check your messages. A long list of men’s names with messages like “hey sexy” and “wanna fuck” underneath. You are about to close the app when you see one message that catches your attention. The message reads:

Hey beautiful, hope you’re having a great day :) I have a very important question for you

You check the profile, some guy named Louis. He’s pretty cute, and your interest is piqued. You reply,

I’ll bite, what’s your question?

Within seconds, he starts typing. He responds,

Team Edward or Team Jacob?

CONTINUE READING ON AO3:

[zeldahime]

Highway to Pail Day 23

[Day 1] [Prev] [Next] @do-it-with-style-events

February 23: Bitter coffee.

Set. Pull. Pour.

Don't think about Lindsey.

Set. Pull. Pour.

Don't check your phone; you already know what's in those texts and you have to get through the rest of the day.

Set. Pull. Pour.

Is it four yet? Can't start closing up til four. (Maybe we'll get some of those mid-afternoon business types, then. Stay open til six, rake in a few more sales.)

"Give me death," a joker tells Rhiannon for the fifteenth time today, and you want to pour this espresso over his head. No, waste of good coffee; you want to pour the pot of decaf over his head.

Set. Pull. Pour.

Running through oat milk faster than you did last month, seems like. Gonna have to pick some up from the shops to get through to the next delivery. Is it worth a trip to the restaurant supply on Shaftesbury?

Set. Pull. Pour.

No, god, if you have to go all the way over to Saftesbury you'll be a full half-hour. Lindsey'll go mental.

Lindsey's already going mental though, if the buzzing in your pocket is anything to go by. Might as well.

Set. Pull. Pour.

Certainly isn't four yet but it must be getting on to eleven, and haven't seen hide nor hair of Stevie yet have you? If they're late again you'll have to be big mean boss lady, and it's not like that's not what you are anyway, but you really do need someone 'round in the afternoons who shows up when they're supposed to. Rhi needs to go eat while it's slow and you need a second pair of hands at the bar during the lunch rush.

Set. Pull. Pour.

Skinny latte—oh! From across the road. She always seems to be having a hard time of it lately, poor lamb. Nobody really buys records anymore, do they, not since CDs were invented anyway. Wonder how she's managed to stay in business so long....

Set. Pull. Pour.

There's Stevie, thank god, maybe Rhi can get a bite before the lunch crowd starts in earnest.

"Just set your bag behind the bar and get on the register, we'll figure out your clock later. Rhiannon, food, insulin, go." Rhi looks relieved. It must be even later than you thought.

Set. Pull. Pour.

Just check the time. All you have to look at is the time. Don't worry about the notifications. You don't have to look at those. Just the time. You can check the time without thinking about—fuck, Lindsey's pissed.

And it's 11:13. Stevie's almost an hour late. You should've called them forty minutes ago.

Set. Pull. Pour.

And you didn't have to check the time, because in comes Mr Fell, 11:15 for his tea and biscuits. You could set your watch by Mr Fell's tea and biscuits, though not by anything else about him. Weirdest opening hours you've ever seen. You grabbed the new white peony tea, just came in from that bloke in Chiswick, and set it by the register for Stevie to show Fell.

Set. Pull. Pour.

Lindsey should know better than to think you've got any interest in that Chiswick guy. Right? You don't even like tea. Chiswick isn't your type. There's no way that conversation on the phone was flirtatious. It was all business. It was about tea vending for Christ's sake. Lindsey's got to be reading into things.

Set. Pull. Pour.

....Right?

Author's note: It was so hard not using any pronouns for Lindsey! I had to keep reworking sentences to make sure it didn't read too awkwardly. This is also my first time writing in 2nd person in a very long time. I think I'm happy with that decision; it helps the stream-of-consciousness feeling.

[stolenslumber]

pas de deux (psh) (preview)

Fresh off of an ankle injury and all too cognizant of the time you have left in your professional ballet career, the last thing you want to do this Nutcracker season is dance opposite some boy band idol sensation who can't even do a split. You're sure Park Sunghoon can serve no purpose in your life other than being a nuisance and standing around looking pretty to bring in more ticket sales, but there are 10 weeks of rehearsals ahead of you, and he's determined to change your mind.

PAIRING: park sunghoon x female reader GENRE: one-sided professional annoyance to lovers, pining (sunghoon falls fast and hard lol my guy is chomping at the bit), some angst but mostly of the career malaise flavor, romance as always but trust me there's an Actual Plot this time i swear WARNINGS: swearing, kms/kys jokes, kissing and suggestive content/sexual themes WORD COUNT: ~2.8k preview (final wc... who knows? that's between me and god)

When you get the news, you’re just leaving a physical therapy session that went worse than you had expected, so you’re already in a bad mood. 

Kazuha calls you as she’s making dinner; you can hear pots and pans clattering in the background as she attempts some new pasta sauce she saw on Instagram. You let her chatter on for a while as you stew in your thundercloud of frustration about your PT session and your anxiety about the upcoming Nutcracker rehearsals, so you’re barely paying attention when she starts saying something about idols and boy bands.

“... can you believe it? Oh my god, I hope it’s like… Jimin, or Taemin! I would probably pass out if I saw them at rehearsal, though.”

“Huh? What’s this about passing out at rehearsal?” 

Kazuha tsks. “Were you not listening to me? I just told you the company has invited a male idol to feature in a couple of Nutcracker performances this year! It’s part of an effort to spread more appreciation for ballet among the general public, or something.”

You scoff. “The general public coming out to see the same show for a month straight doesn’t show enough appreciation for ballet?”

“Oh, come on, you know our Nutcracker sales have been down lately. I’m sure this idol thing is going to shoot them through the roof, though.” Kazuha sighs dreamily. “I hope I get his signature, whoever it is.”

“Whatever. As long as he doesn’t drag our rehearsals down,” you mutter.

“It’s supposed to be someone with at least a little bit of a ballet background, and all idols dance, so he can’t be that bad.”

“What is he even going to do? Dance with the studio company kids? He’s going to look so out of place.” You laugh to yourself, picturing some fully grown man amongst a throng of young ballet students. “Not my problem, I guess. Hey, I’m going to get on the train, but I’ll see you on Monday for rehearsals, yeah?”

“Happy Nutcracker season!” Kazuha sings gleefully.

“Happy Nutcracker season,” you echo, though you’re much more subdued. It’s not like you can really complain— you’re lucky enough to be one of two ballerinas in the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy this Nutcracker season. Lucky, because you tore an ankle ligament six months ago, and the company still entrusted you with the role. It’s your third time dancing it, but the pressure feels more intense than ever; Nutcracker sales have been down lately, and more than that, you know everyone is watching to see how you’ll perform after your injury.

Your phone vibrates in your hand, pulling you out of your mental checklist of things you need to bring to rehearsal on Monday. An email from your ballet company’s assistant manager sits at the top of your screen; probably a reminder to shut the doors properly when entering and exiting the building as the weather gets colder. You tap at the notification just to get rid of it, but you’re surprised to see your name pop up near the top of the email.

Looking forward to Nutcracker rehearsals… blah blah blah… something about an exciting collaboration…. ah, there it is. “This year, we are pleased to welcome Park Sunghoon from ENHYPEN as a special guest in The Nutcracker,” you read under your breath. “He will dance the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier, alongside— motherfucker. You’ve gotta be kidding me.” That’s your name. 

Visions of a perfect Nutcracker season leading to your dream role as Odette/Odile in next year’s production of Swan Lake come crashing down on you in an instant. The only thing you can think of is: Who the fuck is Park Sunghoon?

find my friends: don’t leave xx break version (heeseung, jay, jake, sunghoon, sunoo, jungwon, and niki)

sunghoon: RISE AND SHINE MY BEAUTIFUL BEST FRIENDS

heeseung: kys

sunoo: jeez what crawled into your bed and died

heeseung: i did. i am.

jake: don’t mind him he was gaming until like 5am lmao

jungwon: what’s up sunghoon? usually u only call urself beautiful…

niki: LMFAO GET WRECKED

sunghoon: how is that getting wrecked? i AM beautiful

jay: okay anyways! is this about that press release about you doing ballet

sunghoon: jay MY ONE AND ONLY UNIT yes that is exactly what this is about

jungwon: we’re thrilled for you

sunghoon: you don’t sound very thrilled…

jungwon: YAY SUNGHOON HYUNG YOU’RE GONNA BE SOOOO COOL WE LOVE YOU TWINKLE TOES

sunghoon: okay that’s not exactly what i was hoping for but i’ll take it

sunghoon: rehearsals start on monday i’m so EXCITED

sunoo: ur kind of cheating on us if u think about it… rehearsing with other people </3

sunghoon: first of all i see you guys like all the time 

jake: right like we’re supposed to be on a break sunghoon get out of my apartment

sunghoon: i’m literally cleaning your living room rn you ungrateful whore i can’t watch you live like this anymore

jake: that’s jay’s mess not mine

sunghoon: whatever. second of all these are BALLET dancers!!! refined elegant sophisticated ballet dancers. they are not remotely in the same league as you smelly stinky gross losers 

niki: dude they’re just regular people they probably sweat and stink just as much as we do

jay: yo i’ve seen pictures of sunghoon’s ballet teacher from when he took lessons for ice skating… she’s a milf if i’ve ever seen one. maybe he’s still hung up on her and he’s projecting that onto all ballet dancers everywhere

sunghoon: wtf don’t put miss tatiana’s name in your dirty mouth

sunghoon: also i’m ngl the dancer who’s going to be my partner is a hottie lol

sunoo: never say the word hottie ever again

heeseung: please god LET ME SLEEEEEEEEP

Against your will, Monday arrives exactly on time. So, too, does Park Sunghoon, whom you don’t even notice in the middle of your stretches.

He notices you, of course. He had looked you up as soon as he heard the news, but all he could find was a perfunctory biography of you on the ballet company’s website and a private Instagram account. In your headshot on the website, you had appeared dignified and serious in black-and-white. In person, you seem… frustrated. A grunt escapes you when you go on pointe for the first time in a few days, and your eyebrows seem permanently furrowed as you go through the motions of various stretches. 

Still, your mastery of your profession is undeniable. Sunghoon watches from a corner of the cavernous studio as you and at least fifty other dancers are led through a series of warm-ups by someone who he thinks is the ballet mistress, accompanied by a live pianist hidden from sight by the tall back of the piano. Sunghoon’s eyes meticulously follow the lines of your arms and legs through tendus and jeté rond de jambes; the repetitive movements draw him into something of a trance, and he’s reminded of adjusting the tilt of his head over and over again to match his members, and even further back in his memory, he thinks of endless circles around the ice skating rink. Truthfully, he’s not sure if he has ever made the motion of his body look as beautiful as you do.

He feels like he hardly blinks before thirty minutes have gone by, and then everyone is dispersing for a short break. He spots a petite ballerina approach you and whisper something in your ear; that’s Sieun, he thinks, based on his deep dive into the company’s website. He doesn’t have much time to continue matching faces to pictures and names, though, because your eyes meet his for the first time just then, and he can feel himself shrinking underneath your steely gaze.

By the time you’ve approached him and greeted him and his manager, you’ve gotten your expression under control. You are no longer looking at him like the dirt beneath your shoe, so that’s progress. He hopes.

After the customary round of introductions, Sunghoon bows to you again. “Thank you in advance for your guidance and support,” he says robotically. 

“Of course,” you respond, equally as robotic. 

The ballet mistress comes over at that point, so it’s another round of introductions. Sunghoon takes the time to peek at you out of the corner of his eye, flitting his gaze over the neutral set of your mouth, which belies the impatient tapping of your right index finger against your left wrist behind your back. 

Sunghoon tunes back in when the ballet mistress begins talking about his schedule for the day. “You will watch us complete the morning class, so that you may get a feeling for the movements you will need to learn. Afterwards, I will assess you in a personal session, and I will pair you with one of our studio company students to start you on the basics. At the end of the day, you will meet us back here, where you can watch one of our Cavaliers demonstrate the pas de deux with the other Sugar Plum Fairy, as that is what you will be doing in ten weeks’ time.” The ballet mistress claps her hands. “Any questions?”

Sunghoon resists the urge to raise his hand; that would be so dorky. “Um, yeah— where’s the bathroom?”

The look you give him could wilt flowers.

Sunghoon barely sees you for the rest of the week, although he’s not sure if that’s due to your schedule or his. Some teenage kids from the ballet school who remind him of Riki when they first met are putting him through his paces; Sunghoon re-learns basic ballet steps five hours a day, every day. An additional hour every day is spent stretching and strengthening his muscles to a level of flexibility he has never approached before, and the final hour of every day is spent in a personal teaching session with the ballet mistress. It’s the most exhausting thing he has done in a long, long time.

In the hour that he gets off for lunch, he tries to look for you in the various hallways and studios in the building. Sometimes, he spots the back of your head as you’re entering or exiting the building, but so far, he hasn’t found a good opportunity to actually talk to you.

He gets lucky on Friday afternoon, just as he’s about to leave for the day. It’s technically after hours, but you’re still in the big studio where he met you on the first day. Sunghoon has watched enough videos and actual rehearsals of The Nutcracker to know that you are not dancing any of your Sugar Plum Fairy parts in it. In fact, he’s certain that you are dancing something entirely otherworldly.

The song is hauntingly beautiful, as are your movements. He watches as you fold forward on the floor, one leg extended in front of you and the other tucked underneath you. Your arms flutter down to your extended leg, which then sweeps behind you as you rise to straighten your torso, and then your back arches so that you fold backwards. Notwithstanding the physical prowess of it all, he’s more shocked by the look of exquisite joy on your face, and the way it transforms into wrenching sorrow as you bend forward again and sweep your arms across the floor. He continues watching until the very end, transfixed by the intense emotion in your expression and in each of your movements; he doesn’t realize he’s crying until it’s over, and you’re folding forward on the ground again, arms quivering to a stop at your toes.

It feels like watching a dying thing; some creature far too magnificent for this world leaving it, at last.

The applause that bursts from his hands is instinctual. Your head jerks toward his direction immediately, so he waves awkwardly. Somewhere in between him wiping at his eyes and trying to figure out what he’s going to say to you, you make your way to stand in front of him with your arms crossed and your eyes narrowed.

“What are you doing here? Wait— are you crying?” You come in much closer to see for yourself, which certainly does not help him feel less nervous.

“I, uh, yeah… It’s been a long week,” he offers weakly.

You uncross your arms as you pat his shoulder, also a little awkwardly. “It’s always hardest when you start again after not having danced in a long time,” you say. The words are generic, but you’re not sure what else to say to him. The last thing you expected to see today was Park Sunghoon tearing up in front of you. 

“Yeah, for sure.” He clears his throat. “But, um, to be honest… I was just watching you dance, and I guess I was, like, moved to tears?” He laughs at himself. “You’re really good. I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

You flush from the unexpected praise. “Oh, well, thanks. The dance is called The Dying Swan; you can look it up on Youtube if you’re interested. It’s supposed to portray a swan in its last moments, so it can be quite… emotional.” You have to look away from his admiring gaze. “I’m… glad you liked it.”

“Liked it?” He scoffs. “I literally cried because of it. Seriously, I didn’t even know anything about it, and I could tell that it was incredible.”

You make a face at him. “Thank you, but you’re kinda freaking me out right now.” When he tilts his head at you in confusion, you’re surprised to find the sight a little bit cute. “I’m not really good at accepting compliments,” you explain. “Comes with the territory, I think.”

“Always expecting critiques instead, right?” He chuckles at your surprised look. “I was a professional ice skater before I became an idol trainee, so I know a little bit about the endless pursuit of perfection.”

You nod thoughtfully. “Is that where your ballet background comes from? Ice skating?”

“Yeah, but this week has made me question whether I really deserve to call it a ballet background.” He frowns in the form of a pout; cute, again. “These kids who are, like, maybe 15 years old are absolutely kicking my ass.” 

Unexpectedly, that makes you laugh, and he smiles automatically in return. “The studio company kids will do that to you,” you say as you start to untie your pointe shoes. “The advantages of being young, I guess.”

“Tell me about it. I don’t think I’ve ever been this sore in my entire life.” He winces when he hears your hip pop in a stretch. “Yep, I’ve heard that too many times this week.”

It’s silent as you finish your stretches. He takes the time to work out his next move in his head— what’s the best way to express to someone that you want to have a good working relationship with them, but you also think they’re really cool and pretty, and you’re also a little terrified by them, and you also want to learn from them? 

He ends up going with, “So, do you have any dinner plans?” 

You pause in the middle of zipping your bag. “I’m going to PT for my ankle right now.”

“Oh god, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know you were hurt!”

“Relax, Sunghoon. Injuries are fairly common in ballet, as they were in skating, I’m sure.” You sigh. He looks so forlorn and apologetic that you find yourself adding, “But I could have dinner afterwards, if you don’t mind a later start. And as long as you’re paying with that idol money, pretty boy.” You wink at him to let him know you’re just teasing, in the hopes that it’ll get him to loosen up, but he seems to only get more flustered as a result. 

“No problem,” he ekes out. He’s just glad he didn’t stutter. “I’ll text you a place, then?”

You raise an eyebrow. “You don’t have my number.”

“Riiiight.” Sunghoon smiles sheepishly. “Uh, do you want me to, like, email you instead…?”

“Oh my god, who knew you were such a dork.” You roll your eyes and hand him your phone. “Just put in your contact info. What would your fans think if they could see you now?”

Sunghoon huffs. “I don’t give my number out to just anyone, you know.” He squints at you. “Wait, you’re not secretly a sasaeng or something, right?”

“Do I look—”

He surprises you by laughing. “Relax,” he repeats. “Just teasing.” He winks, too, for good measure. It’s more charming than you had expected; that, combined with having your actions thrown back at you, is how you justify the sudden heat creeping up your neck.

“Whatever. Bring your wallet!”

[billowyy]

Tagged by @overwhelmedbumblebee 💕💕

Pass the happy! 🌈 When you get this, reply with 5 things that make you happy and send this to the last 10 people in your notifications! :D

1. The new pink hat I ordered. It's The Linda Linda's merch (love this band). I've been wanting a pink hat for ages and this one is on sale rn (I also got the pink shirt that's on sale 🥰💕 TLL's are coming to my city this summer but! They're opening for Paramore at an arena and I'm not interested in that experience, nor can I afford it, so I'm very happy that this merch (pink!!!) was on sale)

2. The little new growth my raven zz plant has

3. Ghost Files

4. My bouquet of Lego flowers that I see every time I look up from my computer

5. Sufjan Stevens 🎶 (to the surprise of absolutely nobody)

[someplace-that-is-else]

GOOD AFTERNOON, LIKERS!!! How are you doing? I don't think I will #ever get used to the day growing darker earlier.

Meanwhile...in the war against #mercuryretrograde, it has been neck and neck here.

I have won some. I was happy to hear from #Amazon about the books I needed shipped to myself for the winners of my last contest which was during the last Mercury Retrograde. lol. I am also glad to announce that I got notification that I would be in the Local Author Exhibition at my local #library...one of my long-term writing goals for this year. Amazon.co.uk was about to get hit by a Darkened Soul sale. Last, but not least...DARKENED SOUL: THE RYN was being posted weekly over at my book page at www.facebook.com/darkenverse . So some good things.

I also lost some. Lost paperwork. Technology most #Definitely has been on the fizz. And did I mentioned here waiting for what felt like forever for book copies to arrive? It has been a mess, and December 15 (a #fullmoon) can't get here soon enough.

So how was the week going? Well, let's get into it. Otherwise known as EDITING, TYPING, & WRITING!!!

EDITING. There's been a lot of that. And there was going to be a LOT more of that. lol.

I finished the short stories that would be making up my forthcoming DARKENED SOUL: THE BREAKING OF CIRCLES. My focus was now on the titled novella that would also be in my newest collection. I was a third of the way through editing it. I have already been editing on it more today. And will probably edit some more tonight.

There were some other projects that I had a #mind to edit this week. And I'm happy to find myself in that zone. Momentum was afoot. I didn't want to lose it, either.

TYPING. Nothing to see here. Keep moving. lol.

WRITING. Last week's writing sessions had done their #job. How do I know? Even when I was at my jobs or on transit or apparently even in dreams...my mind was in writer mode.

This week would also have writing sessions. Who knows? I might give a #tease of my horror WIP this week. ;)

That was how the week was looking. The personal goal for me...was focus and time management. And using both to carve something new.

[vaskemire]

when you get this, please respond with five things that make you happy! Then, send to the last ten people in your notifications 💕

Owww, that's cute

1) my besties (hiii @ceander )

2) comments on my content, especially ao3, since I often don't know if anyone's still reading my stuff, and then I post a new chapter and get a new comment on that chapter 🥰

3) when I get my paycheck (between work and uni I may not have much time, but at least I get paid)

4) Hollow Knight went on sale on steam recently and I finally got it, and it's been so much fun

5) There's this one professor of mine that's an absolute wonder, the kind that when we had oral exams last semester my friends and I didn't want to do badly not because of grades or because we'd have to retake the exam, but so we wouldn't disappoint her. Still have class with her and I'm so happy about that

[maddasherxxbeautyroom]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN I GO LIVE.

[hotarutranslations]

Washiho--, Radio, Scawaii!, #Da-nce, Rockin' Announcement

Evening

Washiho--!!!

I checked the results in between a shoot, It was heart pounding, with the same points and the extension…

After the shoot,

🔴After the match real LIVE

When I saw the notification on YouTube, I had confidence in! Washiho--! Head-to-head! Washiho--!

Today I have a lot of things to share!

Today it released🎈 Scawaii!

Oda Sakura-chan and I had a shoot, It was fun one way or another, Everyone on the Scawaii-san staff as well, They were kind to the presence of Daasaku lol It was cute and fun to have published🎈

We also talked in an interview, The conversation may have been brought up because of the space It is something we normally talk about though but.. We hadn't really done it in public so,

By all means! Check out Scawaii, ok!

From when we shot the autumn goods

The goods penlight, T-shirts, Stickers, the ultra acrylic stands, the members also have the patch on the outfits, Its all cute💙

Here

By all means

From today its streamed Miyo=chan's Engawa💜

Hello! Radio

I talked a lottttt, With BEYOOOOONDS's Hirai Miyo-chan!

WIth Miyo-chan, We always talk about dance in this way, Talking about our activities We have very similar thoughts, Sometimes our concerns are similar, Therfore, its often like, I get it! I'm also helped by her💜

I'm happy we can send out, a bit of sometimse thats normal for us on the radio

There were various corners, Since its super interesting on radio lol

Please definitely listen

Playing things in reverse, and theater, is amazing lol

A lot of updates today💙 Da-nce practice ver.

I updated all the songs from 2015 together It was really the era of a truly new system

Sukatto My Heart..🕺 I've really liked the dance to the song since that time, Now we're definitely matching the mood of the song and the way its danced, I'm confident I'm good at it, Its true that time has passed, The fine waves and steps, Also how to change my center of gravity, I'm conscious of it without fail as I thought it would be in good style

Comparing it to ENDLESS SKY, (Although it may look different) I think you can see that the posture is different

With Yuugure wa Ameagari, Since we haven't performed this song in a long time, I was checking the choreography at the beginning but, My dancing was reallyyyyy awkward at that time⚠️ With that, even now, Although I've never really studied ballet, I wonder which angle would look pretty.. I've faced this many times, certainly since then

..I could write about all of them but

Seishun Kozo Naiteiru, Please definitely watch until the end lolol

Announcement⋆͛📣 Rockin' Announcement

🤍

Really, everyone please don't be late

Its Grass Stage Its Hitachinaka Its crazy, right, the stage

We're first in the morning, Morning Musume '24 will be making it exciting

By all means! Please come and support! I'll be waiting!

Thank you very much for the ceremonial pitch, at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi⚾️

Play▶️List

Debut song 48th Pyoko Pyoko Ultra~

I danced a lot on my own..

🕺

Graduation Announcement Blog🐣🪽

Now Accepting Photobook Preorders🤍

Hello! Station #531 I also talk about my graduation in this video

📺The MusiQuest 2024 They're airing a live digest from that day!

̗̀📣 Over-Air Broadcast September 14th (Sat) 4:00~4:30AM~ ̗̀📣 CS Broadcast September 28th (Sat) 12:00~5:00PM

📺Sendai Broadcast "Ara Ara Kashiko"

I appear once a month as part of the AraKashi Family

The previous shows, and makings, are on OX VIDEO STORE!

📺Hello Pro Dance Every other Thursday at 11:30PM~

Season 12 will start airing, On October 17th (Thurs)🕺

Thank you for following.. Instagram💙🩵

💿 August 14th new single✨ "Nandaka Sentimental na Toki no Uta/saiKIYOU"

🪩"Morning Musume '24 Concert Tour Autumn WE CAN DANCE!"

Its Ishida Ayumi's last tour💙 I'm looking forward to seeing you

🪩"ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2024 in HITACHINAKA" September 22nd GRASS STAGE 10:30AM~

→Tickets are on general sale

📚SCawaii! Releasing September 17th

Ishida and Oda will be published in it We had a shoot~

📻Morning Musume '24 Morning Jogakuin ~Houkago Meeting~

Airs Every Saturday, On Radio Nihon at 12:00AM~

Past Broadcast Episodes Are Available →Program Details

I visited as a guest🪽 "Sayashi Riho and The Time From Now On" presented by Meiji Bulgarian Yogurt

📻I visited as a guest🤍 Harami-chan no Harami Fan Radio♪

Web The Television

see you ayumin <3 https://ameblo.jp/morningmusume-10ki/entry-12867953354.html

[writtenbyidah]

We are going to UK

Rougly a year ago, I planned on something out of my comfort zone. Been wanting to visit my parents on my own– a solo trip, on my own.

So I decided to tell Khairi on what I've been planning. Initially he wanted to come to me but like I told before. Things came out pretty much coincident. Khai's late father got cancer.

Told him, he do not have to come with me and let me be with me, a transit to Dubai and walla, I'll arrive within a day, it is not that scary but he will not let me.

So I listened to be support him during his difficult time. I will be there when he need me the most. Glad I was there during his father last breathe. Besides him, comfort him and all.

Less than a month past, I told him I want to go to the UK, celebrate raya with my family in the UK.

He was not that happy, you all should see his face when I told him that. I confront him that he need to at least cut me a loose. I want to travel so bad, away from work. I was mentally drained but I did not tell him that.

Confronted him again and again until he agrees and he did. Alhamdulillah (why he acted like a husband now).

But with one condition, yes one.

He want to come with me.

I gasped and asked "are you serious? isn't it a lilttle too early for you to leave you family especially after you dad passed?" he stared into my eyes and said "i will never be ready but this is not all about me, you've been wanting to leave and I shall accompany you. I cannot make this only about me- ignoring and neglecting your feelings. I should be the one thanking you for staying. So, I say we should go. He passed away, I did what i could to keep him alive, done everything for the family, did not get enough rest, sleep or even alone time with you, you did not complaint nor rebel instead you devote. Thank you."

Yes, a very meaning full expression of words that long enough made me tear up, shed my tears quickly and smiled.

Thank you too sayang.

Made the decision pretty much fucked up that night. I was not that sure if we should go or not but i was sure enough with or without him, I shall make that happen.

Like a miracle, few days after, an ads showed up on my page, I remember someone reposted the post of RBA having a new year sales. Estimate of airplane fare was about $1.8 grand but it was 40% off? Probably something like that.

$1.2 grand return ticket? I quickly called him and told him. He said yes we should go. It is a sign.

Told my boss 3 month early notice, picked a date, deciding how long we should stay, booked a ticket, got the money and made a transaction because we want to claimed 10% off with this specific bank.

Return to the car, quickly wanted to make the payment, opened the app, filled in all the details and lastly into the last part. Yes, 'agree and pay' section.

We looked at each other, smiled and gasped for an air. Was nervous obviously.

Pressed the pay button. Waiting, loading, still loading. Waited for few minutes and popped, "you have made your payment." notifications.

Glad and happy.

"We are going to UK, baby" he says.

"We made it"