#I have other asks but I'll answer this one because I was just thinking about this today | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

ladykailitha · 1 day ago

Text

Spellbound Part 4

Normally I would go back and forth between the two stories, but this one had more chapters backlogged, so it gets to go again.

Just a reminder, starting next week, I'll be taking a break from posting. I'm recovering from all the crazy writing I did this month. 12 ficlets, 1 multi-chaptered Christmas story, and a shorter one-shot of one of the ficlets. All total roughly 30k words in a month. So... yeah. I'm taking a well deserved break.

In this we have Dustin and Mike being teenagers, Robin spots a rogue Chrissy, and Steve has to deal with a very angry brownie (fae, not food).

Pt 1 Pt 2 Pt 3

A curly haired boy came bursting through the front door and Steve glared at him. “Dustin, how many times do I have to tell you to not just barge in?””

Dustin skidded to a stop and looked up at Steve like he didn’t know his ass from his elbow.

“Bav lets me,” he said smugly crossing his arms and grinning with that stupid gap-tooth grin of his.

Steve put his hands on his hip and sighed. He looked up at the roof, pursing his lips as he fought back the angry response. “Bav is not the only being with thoughts and feelings and while she ‘lets’ you it doesn’t mean you should. Because I sometimes work on dangerous things and if you come barging in, you might get hurt.”

Dustin scoffed. “Like she would let me in if you were doing something dangerous or whatever.”

The walls seemed annoyingly smug and tinted a shimmering grey-green.

“If these walls could talk,” Dustin continued with a smirk, “she would be agreeing with me.”

Steve pinched the the bridge of his nose and sighed. The truth was, he didn’t want Dustin bursting in because he was trying to find a ‘don’t hate me’ spell or charm to get Eddie to ease up off him a bit. But while there were friendship charms and love potions, neither really fit what he was looking for.

“What did you need?” he asked instead. “Or are you here to harass me?”

Dustin put his hands over his heart. “Ah! I’m offended that you think the only two reasons I would come visit are harassing you or wanting something from you.”

“There is another reason you come over?” Steve asked with a huff. He walked over to the bookshelf and began skimming the titles. He pulled out a large blue tome and flipped to a specific page as Dustin watched with suspicion. “How quickly do you think I could brew a truth potion and slip it in your tea?”

Dustin held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. All right. Sheesh. I wanted to beat Mike to the deliveries today because Mr. Jenner is making his apple cider and he always pours a glass for the one who delivers your asthma medicine.”

Steve blinked at him for a moment before throwing his head back and laughing. “Mike beat you by twenty minutes, man. In fact he should be back here in about five minutes.”

“Nooooo...” Dustin wailed, “that’s so not fair!”

The walls drooped and turned a pale blue. Steve shook his head. “It’s good thing I love you both,” he huffed stomping over to the icebox.

He pulled out an earthenware jug and took down two glasses. He filled both of them with a cool amber liquid and handed one glass to Dustin and then poured the other glass out the window and on to the foundation.

Dustin looked down at the cup and took a cautious sip and then a more enthusiastic gulp. “When did you get this?” He shook his head. “Wait before you answer that, did you just pour out a perfectly good cup of Mr. Jenner’s cider out onto the ground?”

Steve stroked the door frame to the back garden. “Sure, Bav deserves some too.”

The house seemed to get a little bit bigger as the walls turned a pretty, happy dusky pink.

Dustin blinked a moment before he finished the rest of his cider. “Seriously, though. I thought Mr. Jenner doesn’t make the cider until the afternoon.”

“The perks of being the town witch,” Steve said sagely. “People are very superstitious and I’ll often get the first wool or the first bag of flour. In this case, the first jug of cider.”

Dustin looked down at his empty cup and then up at Steve. “That’s actually kinda badass, you know?”

“Thank you,” he murmured. “I was about to make lunch if you would like to stay. Mike will be joining us...just...about...now.”

There was a knock on the door and Dustin went to go answer it. Sure enough on the other side of the door was Mike Wheeler.

Dustin looked back at Steve in shock. “How did you know it was Mike? Did Bav tell you? Can you see through walls?”

Mike just shoulder past him to get into the house, greeting Bav briefly before sitting down at the tea table.

“None of the above,” Steve said placing the cold meat sandwiches on the table. He pointed to the window. “I know how long each of you take on your runs and when I looked out the window, he had just passed in front. No sit down and eat your sandwich.”

Dustin grumbled but did as he was told. He took a big bite and hummed happily around his bite of food. “You make the best sandwiches, Steve.”

Mike nodded. “Thanks for the food. I just get so hungry these days and my mom keeps threatening to rehome me because I eat so much.”

Steve chuckled and sat down with his own plate of food. It was actually a normal amount because he hadn’t used magic today. “I remember what that was like, I’m not much older than you two, so I don’t mind sharing a meal or two to take the burden off your parents a little.”

“I think that’s why Ma doesn’t mind me hanging out over here,” Dustin said around a bite. “She knows you’ll take care of me.”

Steve smiled and shook his head, taking a bite of his food. Claudia Henderson was notoriously protective of her son. She wouldn’t trust the Pope with Dustin and she was Catholic. But somehow, someway she trusted Steve to take care of her Dusty.

He sent them off with full stomachs and cakes for their moms. They didn’t need to know that the cakes, which he was with absolute certainty never actually made it home, were just little charms of be nice to your mom magic. Karen Wheeler and Claudia Henderson deserved a day of their sons being so sweet to them.

Which was the real reason their moms were okay with Steve. Because they were always so nice when they came home from spending time with him. Or on the off chance the cakes did make it home, they had a nice cake to eat and were nicer to their families afterwards. All in all, win/win for everyone.

Robin chose that moment to come home. “I’m in love with your house, Steve. She made the journey home take a little bit longer so I could avoid the buttheads.”

Steve laughed. “Yeah, she’s great like that.”

“So guess who I saw coming out of the Munsons’ house on the way home?” she said, putting away the groceries she had into town for.

Steve paused his clearing of the lunch mess and straightened up. “No...really?”

Robin pursed her lips and nodded. “Apparently Chrissy Cunningham is branching out since her dramatic break up with Jason Carver.”

Steve finished the dishes with a sigh. “It’s no surprise that his confrontation with Eddie and Bav was public knowledge by breakfast the next day, but even I think visiting another man so soon after your ex went insane and tried to break into someone’s house is little reckless, honestly.”

Robin winced. “Ooh, yeah. I didn’t even think about the crazy ex. Yeah. Ooh. Maybe she was trying to come here and, I don’t know, apologize?”

“I don’t put the ‘no return’ spell on the love charms,” Steve said, drying his hands. “I like it when they find their truelove and they come back all happy and smiles. If she was looking for me, she missed the mark a second time.”

Robin spun around. “Wait is that why?” Steve nodded. “Are there other charms you don’t put your ‘no return’ spell on? Or is it just that one?”

Steve just shrugged. “My medicines, I guess. That’s where I make the most money or get the best trades. But as for the other things, I saw what happens when you don’t set a boundary with people asking for charms. They’ll start asking for charms for everything. They’ll want to be cured of every ill, want everything handed to them, so I created the spell myself. It’s unique in all the world.”

“I didn’t know that,” Robin said softly. “About...well any of that I guess. You really don’t talk about your past. Of your life before Hawkins.”

Steve sat down at the table and placed his hands palm down on it. “Look, I don’t talk about it because for the large part, other than a couple of years apprenticing in her shop in the city, I grew up in a town of witches.”

Robin’s eyes went wide and she sat down next to him. “So you can’t talk about it?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know if I would say can’t talk about. But it’s hard sometimes when I say something and everyone stares at me blankly, like I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“And with each look and with each comment about how weird you are,” she said softly, taking his hand, “the less you want to bring it up. I’m sorry, Steve.”

“And with there being trouble in town with the whole Chrissy situation...” He sighed. “I’m think starting to wonder if Bav sensed something about her and tried to keep her away.”

The house seemed to shrink on itself a little and the walls turned a light grey.

Steve looked up at the ceiling and cooed, “I’m not blaming you, Bav, I’m blaming myself for not taking in everyone’s advice and giving it to her. Merlin and Circe didn’t like her either. Especially Merlin.”

Robin nodded. “As my familiar I should I have listened to him, too. He’s been giving me the cold shoulder ever since she showed up, as well. It’s a whole mess.”

Just then Circe came bursting through the window cawing angrily.

Steve buried his head in his hands. “Fucking hell! As if this day couldn’t get any worse.” He sighed heavily. “Tell Dustin to keep his shirt on and I’ll be right there.”

Robin sighed dramatically, throwing her head back. “Who would have thought that a Roman Catholic would even have a house elf to anger? Scratch that, who would have thought that house elves even existed?!”

Steve stopped half way to rising. “Like everyone knows that house elves exist. We don’t have any because Bav thinks they’re pests, but like even my dad knew better than to insult Mom’s house elf. Her name was Nora and best seamstress I’ve ever met.”

Robin stared at him blankly. “You want to run that past me again?”

Steve just rolled his eyes and got out a cup of milk and a little bowl of sugar, setting them carefully in a basket. Then he added honey, walnuts, and mint. He wanted to cover all his bases he didn’t know what this elf favored and wanted to make sure they weren’t offended further.

Then he went over to the bookshelf and after skimming the titles for a moment, he pulled out a small green book. He handed it to her. “Read that while I’m gone. The whole thing is useful, but I’d start with page eighty-six. The chapter on house elves.”

Then before Robin could even squawk a protest, Steve was out the door following Circe at speed, running to keep up.

He skidded to a stop in front of the Hendersons’ door to find that Dustin and Walter had been locked out of the house while screams could be heard from inside.

It didn’t sounded pained, it sounded indignant.

“Stand aside please,” Steve said sternly. Dustin and Walter looked back at Steve, thinking he meant them, but suddenly the screaming inside stopped and the door opened. “Thank you.” He turned back to the Henderson men. “Please wait here.”

But before either one of them could protest, Steve had already walked into the house and closed it tightly behind him.

He surveyed the damage. Claudia Henderson stood on the kitchen table battling a broom with her rolling pin. It was worse than he feared. He set his load down on the counter and began unpacking his treats.

The broom stopped moving, and then was slowly, cautiously put down. Once Steve had finished unpacking the honey, suddenly there was a little round faced woman about the size of Steve’s palm standing next to his basket with a red flower as a hat and bright clothes.

“What is that?” Claudia hissed, jumping down from the table.

“You’ll excuse her manners, little one,” Steve murmured, “it appears that she’s never heard of house elves before.”

The elf glared Claudia over her shoulder and then turned back to paw over Steve’s prizes.

“I didn’t have any cream,” he continued. “So I hope the milk is fine.”

The elf put her little hand in the milk and then stuck her hand in her mouth. “It’s good milk. You do your mother proud.”

Steve grinned at that. “So I take it you know Nora then?”

“Who’s Nora?” Claudia asked drawing closer to the two of them at the counter.

“Of course I know my own sister!” the little squeaked. “I’m Nona by the way. Please to meet you, Stevie.”

Claudia stopped dead in her tracks as she realized what was going on. She turned on her heel and began rummaging around in her ice box. “Eureka!” she cried.

She brought over a bowl and set down on the counter next to Nona. “I’m sorry little one. I wasn’t raised with knowledge of your people. I’m new to this town and was not aware of its different ways.”

Nona turned around and sniffed at the bowl cautiously. She looked up at Claudia in awe. “Clotted cream!” She put her hand in and pulled out a handful of the cream. She shoved it in her face with a contented hum.

“I didn’t know your family wasn’t from Hawkins,” Steve murmured. But he turned to Nona. “Would you please let the boys in, they must be so worried about Claudia.”

Nona looked up from her feast in wide eyed shock. “Oops!” She snapped her fingers and suddenly both Dustin and Walter spilled out on the ground as the door opened under their weight.

Steve went over and helped them to their feet. “Sorry about Nona, she didn’t know you weren’t familiar with house elves and thought you were actively insulting her.”

Dustin and Walter shared a shocked glance then looked over at the little woman eating their clotted cream.

“This is a house elf,” Steve said as Nona curtsied. “Her name is Nona and she helps out around the house. This has been her home for longer than this particular building has stood here. She will do the laundry or any chores left over the night. All she asks in return is a treat of her choice.”

“Does it have to be clotted cream every time?” Dustin asked as she wiped the mess of cream from her face with her apron.

“No,” Nona said. “But it was nice apology, though. I like honey and milk. So as long as you keep a bowl of of one of the two out, your food will never spoil and I will help out around the house.”

The Hendersons all exchanged glances and then Claudia nodded.

Walter stuck out his finger for her to shake. “Welcome to the family, Nona.”

Tag List: CLOSED

1- @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog @sadisticaltarts @dolphincliffs

2- @gregre369 @a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @cryptid-system @kultiras

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji @dreamercec @blondie1006

5- @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @genderless-spoon @fearieshadow @thesecondfate

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

8- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @beelze-the-bubkiss

9- @wheneverfeasible @micheledawn1975 @gloomysoup @dotdot-wierdlife @tartarusknight

10- @ollyxar @yesdangerpls @two-vampires-kissing @themoonagainstmers @estrellami-1

#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #witch au #witch steve harrington

73 notes · View notes

wings-of-ink · 22 hours ago

Text

Alright, everyone!

HERE ARE THE ASKS YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR

Below the cut are the asks and my answers/responses. I do apologize for not answering these individually, but some of them contain spoilers for chapter 5 content. Given the developments and reveals of the chapter, I want to let things simmer a bit before I pop off responses like normal.

If my Nonies listed below want to pop back into the ask box and let me know they got their answer, I would appreciate that, but you don't have to either (or if you have an additional question or comment, that's fine too!). I will reblog this a few times to make sure you have a higher chance of spotting it.

I numbered the Asks and put my answers in another color so you can tell things apart a bit easier. This is a trial run on answering these this way. I will also tag things for spoilers. ^_^

Anon: "There's a she-wolf in the closet" made me laugh so hard I cried sdfjglkjl I was not expecting that out of nowhere 🤣😭 the temptation to name the wolf Shakira...............immense.

I'm so glad you got that reference! My husband and I sing that song to each other with the little "awoos" and all, lol. It was too good to pass up. Fun fact, if you name her Shakira, Oswin has a unique response.

2. Anon: Hmmm. "I like the name Aster I'll probably use it again" HMMMMM hMMMMM hmmmMMMM Is this new Aster the ??? RO

Remembered that, did ya 😁 (I was quietly cackling when I wrote that for the old ask). You questioning Aster just makes me want to mess with you Nony, you can't tempt me like this!

3. Anon: Aster is so hawt, carressing our cheek w his thumb???? "i wont hurr you" pls let him be an ro bc gah damnnnn

Glad that did it for you, Anon, lol. There will be more of that in store. ^_^

4. Ravioli anon here, hope you remember me LOL I just finished reading the new chapter and I HAD A BLAST The whole gang in here now!!!!!! Aster is no longer question marks!!!! (I will admit when they were introcuded I almost, ALMOST expected their name in game to just be ???)

Hello Ravioli! Still chuckling about that I hope you know. The temptation was unreal to leave ??? in there, lol. At this point, even I know him more by that than his name!

Also to keep up with my perfect choice of names, my she-wolf is now named Der, because together we are Ravi and Der Get it, Ravi 'n Der. Consider this as a way to honor our dear grandma we were named after by our loving dads, you'll never be forgotten, you girlboss of a woman

OMG, you are killing me over here, lol. This makes me want to code something for that, lol. Just your fathers shaking their heads at your MC while still being kinda amused and weirdly proud. Grandmother Ravinder would glare at you, but smile later.

5. @origamihoshi: Screaming about the necklace Oswin gives MC, my headcanon about MC wearing the snail shell as a necklace can now be canon! and I guess more reasons for my MC to be down bad for Oswin oops. I'm loving the update! I'm so happy to finally meet Rune, I love them so much! I wanna befriend them all. and I feel like there's been a good balance to spend time with all the characters so far and that makes me really happy. 😌Also cuddling with Zahn was so sweet oh my god, I love them so much too! I got so many more questions about MC and the curse, and the mark for that matter, looking forward to when we finally get some answers.

I very, very nearly told you that when you posted your MC, I was so ecstatic. I thought if you while coding that section too. I am so glad you enjoyed the new chapter and new goodies. Lots of fun stuff to come! ^_^

6. @mutsuowo: HELP I NAMED THE SHE-WOLF ASTER BECAUSE I FIRST CALLED THE MULE YARROW AND NOW I HAVE NOT ONE, NOT TWO BUR THREE ASTER* GOING AROUND (I know one changed to Lakota but the joke that count)

Whoops! Lol Sorry my friend! I don't think any more Asters are hiding about at least. Probably….

7. @mutsuowo: I got spoiled of Aster's name by accident and even then I mistook it for being Lakota, so I thought somehow Lakota had a divorce and took the children to be an option romance with the MC. Cue to me acting like a variety game host and going "We have a cult member, a magician, childhood friends and also a wolf...what about you Aster ? What do you bring to make we choose you ?" The answer was being a DILF

Lol! Oh dear, yeah, bestie has a quarter-life crisis and leaves his wife and 4 kids to live that DILF life. Love it, this is some quality daytime TV stuff. 😆

8. Anon: Hello there! I am currently in the middle of the newest chapter, very very good work! Spoiler ahead : So MC is absorbing magic? That might actually help the theory that somehow MC is a god, demi-god, or whatever that is: cursed because they are on this plane and needing magic as a very part of their being? I can't imagine that a god wouldn't be starving for magic if deprived of it. Perhaps in GC it's not magic gods handle, but something similar? The fact that we CHOSE the mark truly makes me think that somehow we were choosing an aspect of ourselves for some reason. Not only something physical either. If not our domain, perhaps a tell of why we were cursed in the first place ? I wonder if, before the Curse manifested, MC would have been flagged as a magic being ? I don't think there was anybody that could have sussed them out back then though ? Rune is amazing, btw, big fan. Can't wait for Purple Lad to accompany us and need a bath as badly as Duri did !

Oooh, are you perhaps my Nony who sent some other theories in about this? Very juicy theory as well. Next chapter you'll learn a bit more about Hayat's curse over the gods and see if it lines up or changes your thoughts more. 😁 I'm glad you like Rune too! They are in for a new experience for sure. Even if they aren't as stuffy as other nobles, they definitely appreciate more refined things. The little town MC grew up in might be a bit of a culture shock.

9. Anon: Sooooo... I'm thinking we ARE the mad god ! A reincarnation of it at least ! Thinking about how the cult wanted us dead, I am thinking that as long as MC is alive, they can't have another incarnation of them. But What exactly was it that drove the god mad ?

Oooh! This one is juicy too! These theories are so tasty! Lots of questions with this one. And like the one above, there may be some info in chapter 6 that may just give more evidence one way or another.

10. Anon: Me on my first playthrough: oh, Oswin's pretty cute! I think I'll try romancing him first Me when I meet Zahn: oh no you can't just make me choose like that how am I supposed to do this Me when I meet Duri: are you kidding me. Ok screw it I'm romancing Duri Me when I meet Rune: FUCKAIJASJDSAAA Me when I meet ???: No reaction because I'm already combusted. I can't even anymore

Lol! I am glad and maybe just a tiny bit sorry that you're so torn, my dear. Let's find some glue and get you patched up… ^_^

11. Anon: HAVE THEORIES! NATHAN IS DURI'S UNCLE, AND ASS-TER -HE DESERVES THAT AFTER THE RING BUSINESS >:( - WAS RAISED BY THOSE ASSHOLES WHO ALMOST KIDNAPPED MC! (I am open to Asster endearing himself later, but I'm mad at him rn, how dare he hurt my already hurt, lovely, MC 😡😡😡) Anyway, your writing is impeccable as always, can't wait to (perhaps) bring Asster to his knees (with love or spite, or maybe both?? He seems like someone easy to love-hate, lol). Tysm, for God Cursed, I love it <333

Yaaass, moar theories! That's a good one too! Nathan having some secrets wouldn't be shocking either. They'd get along too… And it is totally fair for MC to be salty! And ASSter is a perfect nickname, lol. It's also fair that in chapter 6 you'll be able to (try to) get after him about it. :3

12. Anon: TW SPOILERS ''There is nothing I want more than to hear you…hear you say what you- Nothing more… But for your own sake. Y/N, I'm a monster. I have been a monster. Your heart should be free of thoughts of me until you know what haunts my sleep at night. If you can do that for me and your heart does not change, then I will hear those words and I will spend the rest of my days showing you what you mean to me.'' UUUUHHMMMMM, EXCUSE MEE?????? LIKE THIS IS THE MOST-ROMANTIC-NON-LOVE-CONFESSION I HAVE EVER HEARD??? EVEN THOUGH IT BURNS ME TO NOT KNOW WHAT AFFLICTS OSWIN, AFTER HEARING THAT I'M WILLING TO WAIT FOR HIM.

I love that you love this! I might have cried juuuust a little bit when I wrote that scene, lol (shocking, I know).

13. Anon: replayed the IF from the start for the update and gosh i felt so bad for our dear MC who has gone through SO much in a (relatively) short amount of time. and the way MC just always thinks about their fathers makes me sobbbbbb. one that always gets me is the scene where MC cried out for their fathers when they were in pain (my heart broke when they said they wanted to be held by their papa). another is in the scene with jasper and co. (‘i learned it from my fathers!’, yesss go MC!!!!). but oh, just imagining the absolute heartbreak the fathers would feel if they knew how MC cried out for them and knew about everything that MC went through, makes me tear up! MC is SO loved by their fathers and MC loves them just as much and i love that. i hope we’ll be able to give da and papa the biggest hugs when we see them again 🥹wonderful update, author! i absolutely adore the world you’ve built and the brilliant characters you’ve created (shout out to one my favs.. our new she-wolf friend <3)

I set out on this IF journey intending to be a bit hard on the MC and I think I succeeded, lol. It might be hard to believe but I really do love the MC as a character too and I feel for them. Hopefully not too hard, but they're on a journey of perseverance so I have faith in them. ^_^ That scene really tore me up too, especially thinking about how hard it would hit the dads to know their beloved kid was calling out to them. 😭 I am so glad you enjoyed the update, my dear, there will be great big dad-hugs in the future, I promise (and more than a few tears). ^_^

14. Anon: idk if it's choice or route-specific but, zahn was NOT looking good at the end of chapter 5 and i'm worried 😟

Not route-specific (unfortunately???)…they're…going through some things. 😬 (sorry in advance)

15. Anon: Hi, hi!! Dropping by to blabber about the update after i've finally had time to lose myself in it! (Oh no it got long again.) Okay, so, from the very moment i saw your intro post (over half a year ago, methinks) i decided to go for Rune's route first. I have been very patient, very faithful. And now i can finally say it was so, so worth the wait!!! they have me wrapped all around their beautiful noble finger; they're perfect, they are everything (i mean, how many people can say a literal god shows up for their birthday? yeah, thought so). I know they are no exception either and have their own share of issues, but honestly? that's even better. I wish i was kidding about the amount of times i daydream about them. Look at me now how i'm smiling like a stupid idiot. And the fact that i can make my MC an absolute shy mess around them is just so!! *chef's kiss*

"Oh no it got long again" is like the tagline for my existence, lol. I am so giddy that you adore Rune! I think they've had less traction since they weren't introduced until now, but I also believe they are just the type of person that is better experienced. I enjoy writing all of the ROs, but Rune is such a presence in my heart and I really hope that comes through.

Also, did Duri seriously rat them out like that? Umm, for science, of what nature, exactly, are the books under Runey's bed?

LOL and I'm so glad you caught that bit about their "hidden literature." Rune LOVES romance novels, including the ridiculous smutty ones even if the plot is kinda bad.

Anyway, moving on, because you fed us so well with the story once again!! Can i just say i love your brain? Can i? Is that weird? Apologies. So!

You can totally say that, lol. I appreciate that you think so, my brain frustrates me sometimes, but I like how smooth it is. Very soft.

We learned so much in this update, and yet our answers are still too far to reach--but that's the whole fun about this! I'm thinking things, i'm suspecting, but i'll hold onto my theories for now… It is indeed very fortunate that each of MC's new friends can seemingly contribute a piece to this vexing puzzle; question is, is the picture only missing the very last piece, or are all four needed for it to be complete? I'm folding my hands and patiently waiting to find out in future updates.

Oooh, you're speaking my language, Nony. There are some theories up above, maybe those will get your mind spinning too. That's a very good question though too. Eveyone seems to have something that might help MC out…so the question could be, do they go full Power Rangers and combine them to solve this problem or is one strong enough on their own? Hmmmmm? Time will tell.

One thing i will say is, more people may know about MC and their whole deal than Oswin may want to even consider. People with not the best intentions, that is.

I'm sure it's fiiiiiine. Probably just a…crazy…crazy fluke. It's fine. 😀

Speaking of, Oswin is so sweet! He cares so much i think it's rending him apart. Perhaps he should partake of Nathan's pipe every now and then. You know, for recreational purposes. Frankly i admit i don't know how mean you still can be to Oswin because every time there's a choice during his scenes i just tunnel-vision to the friendliest one there. It really makes me feel sorry for him if there are MCs out there who are still bitter about their relationship. As he was opening up about what kinds of actual horrors he witnessed and had to deal with in consequence, it really made me think MC's little group should, as a side-quest, go out and find him a therapist, because this guy *slaps him on the back* can fit so much trauma in him!

That's a good way to describe Oswin. He feels very intensely and those emotions are difficult for him to manage. I try not to be too mean to him, but I do want to try and give a decent variety of responses to the past tension for some MCs. Negativity there isn't a huge focus, so I try not to go too far down the rabbit hole with it at least, lol. A therapist is a great idea for him, for real. You cracked me up with that reference, I imagine Lakota trying to sell him to the MC, lol.

I see Zahn has entered the trenches(TM). Just after i had them repeatedly stabbed in MC's place. And just after they finally got to cuddle with MC. This is fine. Not gonna lie, for a solid second you had me believe we wouldn't see them come back from that totally not evil or at least highly doubtful church of theirs, and that we'd had to leave without them. Haha, no waay. Lunan wouldn't do that to them, right? Right? Oh thank gods. See? I was right. Anyway, it seems like their character development arc is coming up soon, so i'm keeping calm and not cracking my knuckles, not at all.

Oh yes, there will be some development soon here. Tee hee?

Duri is so fun. Their playfulness is so endearing, so much so that i find myself repeatedly swayed in my decision to have them in a (now mostly) platonic relationship with MC. Simmer down, you'll have your turn. It had me rolling how they snapped once the bandits insulted their feet lmao! Also, also, their dynamic with Rune? Mmm, so good. I love the kind of friendship that's like "yeah i picked up this weird wet dog one day and now it won't leave me be and it's annoying, but only i'm allowed to say that. here, have a treat."

I love that you love that. Writing Duri is fun and I get to break some social norms with them so it's a win-win for us all. The relation to Rune is a blast.

Moving on, Duri sniffing MC after they talked with someone they didn't know; Duri immediately leaping at the opportunity to tease a jealous MC; Duri coming to MC's rescue to put a harasser in their place--they can't keep getting away with being so charming! Oh wait, they can. Human laws don't apply to them, after all.

Duri is already so loyal. Like a pup you picked up at the shelter, the connection is pretty quick for them. Also, if you didn't know, you can also get Rune to get defensive of MC being harassed in the tavern. Currently thinking of changing the code of that, but if you choose to stay neutral or a bit distrustful of Duri, Rune will get involved instead. Both have the confidence and the power to back it up though, can't go wrong.

And Aster? Something is up with him. Big time. Bost obviously, his name. I don't know, i don't know, i'm not convinced it's a coincidence or merely "fate." I'm watching you, Aster. Okay, and yes, i see why MC might need his help, but he never once elaborated on that part where he said he needs MC for power. Sooo, naah, i'm not putting my egg in your basket, not yet. Especially!! After he so brutally demonstrated just how much of a bigger hand he has over MC. That was evil. (In a good way.) He's unhinged, and i love that in a character. I would not trust him even with a cheese grater.

That may be wisdom here for sure, lol. Aster is quite the character, as are all of them I suppose. All have secrets he especially has some serious growing to do. He'll be an interesting addition - and a very smug one at that. Maybe juuuust maybe MC can get him to feel a little remorse for being an ASSter, to quote a previous ask, lol.

I almost thought MC's group of friends were going to mistake him for the kidnapper and everyone would want to throw hands, or would at least be very leery of him, so seeing how easily he slotted in had me a little surprised (and i think he was a bit surprised himself).

That very nearly happened actually. I cut it because of chapter length, and I'm thinking I want to polish the ending for that anyway. I feel like I was burnt out while writing that and I pushed it too fast. So, we'll see what happens in future….

I really, really liked the option of having MC be scared of him after he put a cork (dart) in Jasper's mouth (throat). The head tilt afterwards? Wiping away a stray tear? "Now come sit with me on my picnic blanket designer cloak to talk about how everything is drawn to you, including me?" "I'll need to study you?" Yes, i'll take your entire stock.

I'm glad you enjoyed your dessert, Nony. ;) There will be some serious studying in the next chapter.

Oswin being extremely quiet while MC was recounting their failed abduction because he was still recovering from those 6 panic attacks he had since finding MC's room empty and with signs of struggle.

THIS absolutely. MC may get an account of the experience later.

i can't wait to see what the dads are going to say about each of MC's new friends! I can already imagine who might not entirely vibe with whom, especially if papa and da are going to be in a sour mood after they see my (feral despite being the healer of the party) MC scarred and sore despite their letters containing nothing but rainbows and sunshine (oops). MC's right, though, how are they going to house so many people lol.

This will be so much fun, especially when it comes to sleeping arrangements…A couple ROs will get themselves sorted but there's a couple that we might just get a "one bed" trope with, lol.

And last but not least, MC got the promised puppy!!! (i named her "Ginger" <33)

Oh that is such a cute name too! She is kinda the color of ginger and she's also very gentle (ginger) AND she can be very spicy if you piss her off. Very gingery.

I have been here before and gushed about your writing on multiple occasions and i don't want to repeat myself over and over, so i'll just reiterate once more that i'm constantly blown away by how real and vivid you make everything feel. You're putting things down and i'm picking them right up, thank you, thank you, yup, i'll have that as well, thank you. You're painting pictures inside my head, and they're gorgeous and vibrant and moving now--hey, how did you even get in here? I'm convinced you're a mage. MC is not the mage here (yet?), but you sure are!! It's okay, you may fess up now. As always, thank you so much for all your hard work! May your holidays be full of joy and rest! Take care <333

I am so thankful that you resonate so much with my writing, my friend. That really truly makes my heart so glad and encourages me to keep at it. I hope each chapter brings you more and more enjoyment and adventure. ^_^

16. @rhiannon02: IM SCREAMING OVER CH 5 LITERALLY SCREAMING ASTER ??? IM IM LOSING IT

Well, hang on dear, maybe I can help you find it, lol. (I heard that one in my soul) ^_^

That's all for now! ^_^

#!SPOILER WARNING!#god cursed if #asks #gc if spoilers #gc if ch 5 spoilers and content

63 notes · View notes

blkkasa · 2 days ago

Text

Basketball Player! Connie x Instagram Model! Black Oc

Summary: you being his number one biggest fan (🤭)

Contexts/Warnings: a short-long fic, modern, short smut, fluff, famous instagram model black oc (Aya), a well-known basketball player connie springer, etc.

Notes: i made this because i missed writing fics and stuff but keep in mind... this is my first time writing a fic on this app so don't expect it to be perfect in any way. (Im thinking about making a part two but idk. what yall think?)

Word Count: 1232

"GO CONNIE! YOU CAN DO THIS"

He heard his girlfriend's voice and smiled while playing basketball. Everything about her motivates him to do anything, and all thanks to Sasha for introducing them to each other.

Aya and Sasha are sitting at the bleachers watching Connie from a distance but Sasha is having a problem getting no responses or answers from her other best friend.

"Aya, have you heard from Mikasa lately? Like... she isn't answering my calls or texts and here I am asking you where she's at" Sasha gets annoyed at her phone and looks at Aya like she's finna throw a fit at her.

"No girl. I haven't but if you do please remind me because... I need her to help me out picking outfits to wear for my next photoshoot next week."

"Oh don't worry bestie, I'll let you know but thanks for trying though. Ugh! Mikasa needs to answer her phone these days" Sasha whines.

Aya giggles at her friend's complaints about her best friend. She receives a message from her mom telling her to call her little sister at 5:00. "Okay mama..." She rolls her eyes while liking her mom's message and putting her phone back in her purse.

(2 hours later) The game ends and Connie's team wins.

Aya runs up to her boyfriend and gives him the biggest hug yet.

"Baby I'm so proud of you" She kisses him as she says this.

"Thank you mamas. I love you princess." He smiled at her and they both walked to the door by the lockers where the boys can grab their things out of their lockers.

"I'll wait out here while you grab your things."

"Okay beautiful" He winks at her.

Aya was worried about everything, her mom, her friends, and especially her boyfriend. She thought about what would happen tomorrow since it was going to be a long day. She scrolls on her phone looking at her friends' and celebrities' posts, liking them as if she hasn't been active on there since three weeks ago after her last photoshoot. Connie comes back with his things and sneaks behind her to give her a hug and give her neck kisses.

"Hey love, I'm back and I also have a surprise for you at my house" He smirked, loving everything about her.

" Oh? A surprise? For me?" She giggles

"Yes for you mamas" He chuckled and grabbed her by her hand and they walked towards Sasha.

"You're so sweet, you know?" Aya looked at him with glee and kissed him on his cheek.

"Yes princess" He kissed her hand and smiled.

"OH SHIT HEY GUYS" Sasha looked at them and hugged them

"Yo sasha wassup" Connie hugged her back and they did their little signature handshake.

"Hey sash" Aya winked at her

"Oh my gosh. You guys are would never believe what just happened to me"

"What happened?" The couple looked at her confused and interested at what Sasha was going to say.

"So... this beautiful man came up to me and asked me out on a date and bro. When I tell yall, i was screaming. I WAS SCREAMING but not to loud" Sasha was smiling so hard and cheesy about this dream boy.

"Okayyy boo" Aya cheered for her

"Oh shit sasha has finally found her a guy" Connie laughs

"Okay... not too much" Sasha rolled her eyes and smacked him by his arm

"No but in all seriousness he better treat you right or ill beat the shit outta his ass. Like i don't fucking play that shit" Connie huffed.

"Connie, chill... it's fine" Sasha chuckled

Jean and Eren came by them after communicating with the team.

"Wassup guys" The boys came towards them

"Oh shit is that Aya??" Eren looked at her and hugged her

"Heyyyy renn" She hugged him while jokingly slapped the back of his head and ran behind connie from him.

"OW???" He looked so shocked to the point that he didn't even process what just happened to him.

"my bad" Aya laughed

The group walked to the parking lot and said goodbyes to each other.

"Hey babe?"

"Yes mamas?" He turned to look at her while walking to his car.

"So... this morning after you left, my mama called me about something and i wanted to ask you... are you available next week? Because I asked my boss if you would like to participate in my photo shoots?"

"Really??? Yes, pretty girl, anything for you" He kissed her and opened the door for her.

"Yayyy omg" She hugged and got inside his car.

Connie got inside the driver's seat, buckled up, and drove home. He grabs her thighs and squeezed them while focusing on the road. Aya groaned a bit and moved his hand between her legs, letting him do the work. He gets to the red light and looks at her while putting his hand inside her pants. She groaned a bit louder after he rubbed her cunt, looking at her and smirked.

"You like this huh mamas?" He winked at her and rubbed her cunt a little faster.

"Ngh... yes" She moaned.

The light turned green and before he drove home, he drove into an empty parking lot where nobody could see them.

He unbuckled his seatbelt, removing his hand from her beautiful cunt while letting her remove her seatbelt, and got on top of his lap.

They made out for 10 minutes and removed all their clothes off. They switched places and he began to devour her.

"f-fuck! connie.... a-ah!" She gripped his neck for support while her legs were around his shoulders.

"You taste so good mama... shit! i could do this all day with you princess" He kisses and licks her up until she cums. He devoured her for 5 minutes. He kissed her thighs and bit them giving her bite marks.

"c-connie.... oh! you f-feel... s-so good... ngh!" She looks at him with teary eyes while he fingers her.

"ngh... mamas... you look so damn gorgeous crying for me, fuck...!" He fingers her faster until she cums on his face.

"FUCK" She cummed all over him.

They sat back to their seats and heavily breathed for 5 minutes trying to get their breaths back.

"Hey pretty girl, when we get home ill run us some bath water and order pizza. okay?"

"Okay babe." She blew him a kiss.

Connie looked at his phone checking any messages his friends or family sent him. He received 100 messages from the gc, 20 messages from his mom, and 5 messages from Jean.

"Shit. That's alot of fucking messages" He sighed.

Aya giggled at him and put her clothes back on while he did the same. They drove home without saying a word to each other.

(20 minutes later)

"Hey princess, I got your surprise in the room. go look" He carried her inside the house and put her down on the floor to take their jackets and shoes off.

Aya walked to their room and saw flowers, chocolate, candles, two presents, and an envelope on their king sized bed.

"OMG!! FOR ME?? THANK YOU SO MUCH BABY" She hugged so hard and gave him face kisses.

"Yes babe everything is yours, who else would i give it too" He laughed and kissed her face.

"It doesn't matter. all i know is that this stuff is mines" She smiled and closed the door.

@blkkasa

Notes: so if yall want visuals of Aya, Connie, and their fits in this whole fic then let me know cause I got yall. Also, let me know who i should write about next when i upload a poll, okay? thank you babes 💗.

#blkkasa 🤍#blkkasa #aot #connie springer #attack on titan #black reader #connie x black reader #black oc #connie smut #connie springer x reader #connie springer x black reader smut #aot smut #anime smut #anime #aot x black reader

43 notes · View notes

shy-canadian-snowflake · 23 hours ago

Text

Even even more Mentally Unwell Wade:

It was a long hard night, and not in the fun way. Actually it was the third in the ever growing pattren of Long Nights. Logan had him tucked into his strong arms, trying to hold him together while his reality fell apart around him.

"Bub, do you think it's time?" Wade pressed his head harder into Logan's sternum, hoping the press of metal covered bone would somehow stop the constant rumble of voices. Logan threw a leg over his body, pulling him somehow even closer and letting the body weight crush him a bit.

"I don't think they can help." He mumbled into Logan's chest.

"I'll make them." And Wade almost believed him.

(Longer post under:)

It was a long wait at the hospital. Even to register and tell them what his issue was took long. Logan, who no doubt would be pacing the waiting room, growling and grunting under his breath, wasn't allowed into registration. Some bs about not being Wade's family- he saved the god damn timeline with the guy, that's closer then family, but whatever fine.

Registration was okay, Wade explaining, "Hey my mind is a fucking nightmare. Help." And for a good 30 seconds he thought 'Holy shit they are going to help me!' Just for a simple question to fuck him over.

"Any thoughts of self harm or suicide."

Well, duh. That's one of the things the voices were saying, maybe he could off himself and make life easier for everyone. Less of a mess to clean up when Deadpool isn't around fucking shit up. That wasn't his main fucking reason to be there. He wanted to be less scared, even for 5 fucking minutes so he could sleep. He couldn't sleep, wouldn't sleep, while Logan slept. Someone needed to be awake, on guard. From what, Wade wasn't sure but he felt it in his guts, the voices were saying he needed to be awake while the other slept.

That answer had everything screeching to a stop though.

"Would you like to talk to our Crisis Team?" He wanted to say 'hey lady, I'm not suicidal because of the voices, the voices want me to be suicidal.' He said sure instead.

The worker was fine enough, asked him on and on about past history with self harm and suicide- though Wade did get a kick at explaining all the ways he had died, just for it not to stick. Healing factor to the rescue, fuck you Francis for that.

The worker ask if he's okay with being hospitalized, and yeah, that might do some fucking good. Have his meds adjusted in hospital so they can figure out what works better. Have Hank work with their team to find the right drugs that could work with his healing factor. Have a chance of feeling even 1% more fucking normal. The worker says how he'll pass on the notes to the doc and he's lead back out to the waiting room with Logan.

They sit together, Logan's arm around him, his head on the others shoulder and they wait. And wait. And wait. And wait some more.

When Wade is finally called into see the doctor, Logan gets up with him. Wade almost laughs in the nurses face when he said Logan had to wait out there. They aren't married so he's not allowed in. They poor bastards almost have to call security when Logan goes off on them, saying how they are family- not in the eyes of the law but are fucking family now. They have a dog together, they share a bed, Logan is there for Wade.

No means no, tho. So he sits back down and an annoyed growel rumbles through the room as Wade follows the nurse.

It takes 5 minutes for Wade to come back out.

"Okay Peanut, let's go home." Wade thinks Logan is going to blow a vain in his head at that.

"What the fuck happened Wade? Why the hell aren't they committing you?"

"Oh they upped my meds, gave me a sticker and told me to go fuck myself." Logan is claws out ready to fucking fight every doctor there until Wade is fine.

"I know Sweetpea. They know what to do when someone's suicidal- actually I have to talk to someone over the phone tomorrow about it, not that that's my fucking issue- but they can't do shit for me until I'm in a breakdown."

"So you mean tonight when you are biting your fucking hands to keep from screaming at the voices?"

Wade explains that hey, fuck him right? He's not self harming enough to be to be able stay, and isn't losing it enough right now to be able to stay.

Logan demands that he goes back in there and refuse to leave until he's less scared of his own fucking mind. Wade rather get something to eat, take a nap, and see how he is in the morning. If he's worse he'll come back.

"You could be worse tomorrow"

"Or I could be fine. Im fine now, I might be fine in the morning."

"I am going to marry your ass so that I can have you committed"

"Not how I thought you'd propose, but I'll say 'I do' to you"

There's nothing they can do, so they go home. And hope the voices don't follow.

#tw psychosis #tw hallucinations #tw sui ideation #poolverine #deadclaws #tw hospital

23 notes · View notes

vickytaa · 1 day ago

Text

𝐅𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐌.𝐒.

summery: After a great game, y/n is not happy with her participation

___________________☆___________________

My team was happily celebrating winning the match, while I was thinking about what I needed to improve for the next one. I haven't been good enough, I made several mistakes that definitely won't happen in the next one.

I need to train more to improve, I must not drop any balls. Maybe watching the video of my match will help me see where I went wrong.

I played badly. I need to train more, maybe I'll sign up for another training session, surely another coach can tell me what I'm doing wrong. Or als-

"Hey," Matt's sweet voice interrupted my post-match thoughts. He walked over and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I quickly looked up, meeting his worried look.

He knew that I took the sport very seriously, but he never supported me in going to train more hours and refused to take me to training sessions that were "Too much" according to him.

I let out the breath I had been unconsciously holding. "Can we go home?" I asked, my eyes filling with tears. I didn't know why I felt like crying so badly, nor did I know why I felt like I had played so badly.

But it's true, I played badly.

Matt slowly nodded, not even asking why I hadn't celebrated with my teammates, or how I felt after the game, like he always does. But I think I know why he doesn't, it's because he already knows the answer.

I'm never satisfied with how I play, there are times when I come home crying, torturing myself all day about how I played badly while everyone told me I was the player of the match. But it wasn't enough, it never is.

That's why I always try to find ways to improve, watching my games and counting my mistakes in my notebook:

- 1 serving error, I got to 8/10 touches, I was blocked 3 times, I have to run faster, open up to attack faster, I need to train more.

We left quickly, people who passed me congratulated me for the great game we had, but nothing filled the emptiness I felt inside. Matt noticed it, he knew what was going on inside my mind. Well, maybe only a part of what goes on inside it.

When we got to the car, we got in but Matt wouldn't start the car. He knew this had to stop, what was happening to me was a very serious problem.

"Y/n" Matt said, his tone normal, covering the great concern behind it. I turned my head, just enough to look him in the eyes, and that's when I saw it. The concern, the fear.

The tears that had formed earlier were now rolling down my face. The silence filled the car with noise. Our gazes did not move away, as if they were communicating with each other.

Matt shook his head slightly, inviting me to sit on his lap. I had never given myself to him easily. Whenever I cried after a game I always found a way to cry alone, immersed in my own thoughts.

But this time it was different, there was nowhere to run, and there was no reason to. I slowly unbuckled the seat belt and curled up on his lap, my head resting on his chest, feeling his heartbeat.

It was all very intimate, the moment, the closeness, the love. I had never felt strong enough to let myself be so vulnerable in front of someone, but I couldn't with Matt. He was my safe place, where I recharged my energy to carry on with my day to day life.

He hugged me tightly, as if he was trying to gather the broken glass. The tears kept falling without stopping. Even though there was not a single word, he understood me, I understood myself.

"You shouldn't torture yourself like this. Please, Y/n, it kills me to see you like this every day" Matt confessed. I always knew that he had a bitter taste in his mouth whenever I came home crying from a training session or a game, but hearing it from him?

Pain flooded my chest, knowing how the mental damage I was doing to myself was affecting those I loved the most.

This had to stop, it wasn't good for me and even less for those who care about me. I must stop beating myself up for mistakes that aren't that big of a deal.

"I'm sorry," I said, my voice cracking. And I really did. My sobs were the only thing that could be heard at that moment, the sound of them ripping through Matt's soul. Seeing me this broken, this vulnerable, killed him.

He quickly gave me a small kiss on my forehead, and then hugged me even tighter, as if he didn't want me to ever leave. "It's okay, baby." He said, his words hanging in the air as I tried to hold them in and believe them.

It wasn't okay, not at all, but in that moment, I felt like everything was going to be okay. We were going to get through this together and we weren't going to let my frustration win.

"Thank you," I said, my voice low, almost like a sigh, but just enough for him to hear. "I love you," Matt said as he rested his chin on my head, trying to hold me as close as possible.

"I love you more," I said. My sobs slowly calmed down, the air became lighter and the voices in my head quieter.

𝐕 -

42 notes · View notes

sunnyie-eve · 2 days ago

Text

49 | Type

Series: Unexpected

Paring: (Matt Sturniolo x OFC Brock!) (Chris Sturniolo x OFC Brock!)

Word Count: 1.1k

Warnings: Matt jelly

| MASTERLIST |

Today Dani was having a guest on her channel that wasn't any of the boys. Honestly, Matt didn't like who her guest was because he knew how some of her fans were. They shipped her with almost every dude she talked to and knew.

"Did it have to be him?" Matt watches Dani play on her phone as they hung out in her room.

"Do you prefer your brother? You know, the one that everyone at the moment says we would've been a cute couple?" She looks up from her phone to look at him.

"That's stupid because you told him he missed his chance." Matt rolls onto his back, "So they need to stop staying they want it to happen." He adds then says in a mocking tone while making a face, "They would be such a good match for each other. Why can't she just agree to be his?"

"If they only knew I was yours." Dani leans over smiling before giving him a kiss.

"That's the only damn reason I want people to know." He sits up, "You're mine. Not his or anyone else." Dani giggles as he pulls her closer so he can hold her, "If guys wanted to they could try making a move on you because to them you're single."

"They could try but my answer would always be the same. No." She grabs his face to kiss him, "Now, stop pouting about me filming with Carrington." She moves away from him.

When he arrives they get into her car parked in front of the house, "Hi." Dani starts her car video, "I'm sure y'all know Carrington." She adds, "He's my first guest that's not my roommates or brother." She says as he smiles.

"I'm very honored."

"And this is only happening because Jake and Tara talked us into this. This is our first time hanging out alone." She laughs.

"That's why I'm nervous. It's new and I'm never like this." He laughs now, "But it's exciting."

Dani agrees nodding her head going for her phone but she didn't have it with her, "Oh, I forgot something inside." She motions towards the house.

"It's okay." He lets her know.

"I'll be quick." She opens the car door.

"Again, it's okay." He chuckles as she rushes inside. "Yeah, so we're doing this because our friends wanted us to." He starts to talk to the camera by himself, "We said okay. Okay guys. But today... We're here to gossip. What a great way to get to know each other. From what I see and know Dani seems amazing."

"Was I quick?" Dani rejoins Carrington in the car.

"Yeah, I've just been ranting to the viewers." He lets her know.

"Again, I'm sorry. I don't know how I forgot my phone inside."

"It didn't bug me." He says before changing the topic, "You know people said you have a type? Have you seen that?" He asks her.

"What?" She was confused never seeing such a thing.

"Yeah like..."

"How?" She laughs.

"Because when we had that group get together last week at Jake's. We were chatting in the background of a video Jake posted so people say you have a type." He explains to her then sees one on the guys leaving, "Oh look, a triplet is leaving."

"Matt." She waves at him so he waves back.

"But because we talked people think your type is brunettes with blue eyes." Carrington goes back to what they were talking about, "I feel like that is such a reach." He laughs, "Just because you're close to three others that fit that. What do you think?" He asks her.

"Actually, they aren't wrong for once." She giggles.

"So that's actually your type when it comes to looks? Is it the eyes that do it for you?" He gives her a look and she smiles since that was the main thing.

"Some blue eyes are just so beautiful." She tells him, "You, the triplets, Colby's and Sam's. I have dark blue but light ones..." She smiles more as Carrington looks at her.

"I love yours." He lets her know.

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's a deep blue." He nods his head.

"But yeah, my ex and everyone I've even had a crush on had light blue eyes." She tells him.

"Now people are gonna assume." He gives her a look and she nods her head rolling her eyes a bit.

"You and the other two."

"Just because someone fits that look doesn't automatically mean you like them. You can find them attractive but you aren't attracted to their personality." He goes on to add what he believes in.

"You completely get it. You and the triplets are good looking but I don't automatically have feelings for y'all."

"That would be odd." He laughs, "It's... Can you imagine just having feelings for someone based on how they look?"

"Good looking but is the biggest red flag." She adds.

"Like it's fine to be attracted to someone but you can't just go off of that. Don't do that guys." Carrington looks right into the camera, "Be smart."

"Be attracted to their personality." Dani does the same, "That's way better than looks."

"Looks are a bonus, guys, trust me." Carrington tells the viewers.

"Personality, looks." Dani makes a top three list, "What's third?" She asks him.

"I don't know." He thinks, "I don't know, you gotta be funny as well." He starts to laugh.

After about another like 20 minutes they finish up then he leaves while Dani goes back inside. Matt was still out and about so Dani got to rest by getting some time alone. With it being quiet Dani decided to take a nap because she woke up at 5:30am for some reason.

When Matt gets back home, after buying stuff for around the house and food, he goes to Dani's room to see her sleeping. Not having anything to do and bored out of his mind he slides into her bed next to her.

Immediately, his arms slip around her from behind, slotting himself right up against her back. The gentle press of her spine against his chest makes him smile to himself because he can never get enough of how fucking perfectly she fit there. Leaning forward he press his mouth to the soft skin of her shoulder, peppering a few soft kisses there.

Dani hums keeping her eyes shut, "What?" She quietly mumbles still super tired.

"I wanna nap too." He whispers to her as he nudges his nose against the side of her neck. Dani hums in response moving her hand to rest over the one Matt has pressed against her stomach.

Matt grins against her skin. "Love you." His breath warm against her neck. He made sure not to say I this time because he didn't want to scare her again like last time.

Both of them succumb to the comfort of being with one another, "I love you too." She whispers so quietly Matt almost didn't hear her. He stays silent with a smile across his face as his fingers intertwine with hers before allowing himself to fall asleep as well.

#sam golbach #colby brock #sam and colby #sturniolo triplets #matt sturniolo #chris sturniolo #nick sturniolo #oc #sibilings #matt sturniolo imagine #chris sturniolo imagine #ff #fanifiction #fanfic #sturniolo fanfic #best friends #friends to lovers #chris sturniolo fanfic #matt sturniolo fanfic

36 notes · View notes

writingdevil · 2 days ago

Text

Tongues and Teeth PT.5 (STP)

(Broken is the second voice I'm afraid I'll write incredibly wrong,more so than Cold,and I'm so sorry for that.Also,I apologize if the sneak peek in chapter 3 made anyone think it was Skeptic with Stubborn with the line 'listen to reason'.I didn't think about how that was more of a Skeptic than Hunted response.Sorry about that and I'll try not to mess up again.)

"This is bullshit!"

"You just need to think about it logically-"

"This isn't what we're here for."

"Alright,fellows,let's calm down now-"

"Fuck that!"Cheated exclaimed,grinding his teeth as he glared at a composed Skeptic.The inquisitive one had his hands on his hips,frustrated with Cheated but still somehow keeping a level of collected calmness about him,sharp eyes that glowed brighter than the stars now in the sky.

"Look!I'm just as worried about Hero as the rest of you,but we saw Stubborn chasing Hunted,so shouldn't we follow them first?"

Skeptic sighed,as they had had this conversation a million times since finding each other in the forest. He gestured with his hands as he spoke,"No, because they're not going to give us the answers we need."

"The answers to what?"

Skeptic started counting on his fingers."Why are we here?Where is here?What happened to the Long Quiet and the Shifting Mound?What are those monsters?How-"

"How can we get back to our beloved Princess?" Smitten dramatically cut in,and Skeptic sighed,but nodded."Yes,that as well.Hero is who will give us those answers,not the others.You and I both know that he was the closer voice to Him,so if anybody knows what's going on,it'll be him."

"Yeah,but we shouldn't ditch the others just because of that!"Cheated argued,"Hunted looked terrified back there."

Smitten smiled at him in reassurance,one hand motioning theatrically about, while the other was busy petting Broken,who was pressed against Smitten's chest."We shouldn't worry about Hunted-I have faith in our most resilient friend and his abilities."

"Yes,Hunted will be fine,"Skeptic said,only making Cheated roll his eyes."The others all have a means of survival-"

"You think Contrarian has survival skills?"

"That's not the point.The point is,we should be focusing on what's really important-"

Cheated groaned in frustration,which grew into a full on yell.He glared at Skeptic as he snapped,"He isn't fucking here right now!There has not been a single Princess in sight!I want to understand what's going on as much as you,but I also want to find our flock,because they're the only thing that makes sense right now!"

Smitten's soft and loving smile finally dropped,and his feathers that puffed up around him and made him look more large and eye-catching seemed to wilt with his mood."Do not say that,"Smitten quietly pleaded,"do not say such harsh things about the love of our life.She was the only one that was with us to the end.What could be more important than reuniting with her?"

"Literally anything else,"Cheated bluntly said,not missing the flash of hurt in Smitten's shiny eyes,but he couldn't help it."Do you know who else was with Him until the bitter end?We were.We were there in His head,every step of the way,through whatever crap was thrown at us.But we're not in His head anymore,so-"

"Yes,but why is that?"Skeptic interrupted,only looking to get more invested the more questions were left unanswered."There has to be a reason for it all!"

"Who knows!"Cheated threw his hands up in the air,"Maybe one of the others know a thing or two. Let's go ask them."

"We just need to ask Hero.He'll know what to do."

"Yes,"Smitten added,his dramatic flare back in his voice,if a little softer now."Our chivalrous knight will be able to lead us back to our beloved."

Cheated sighed,giving both of them a heavy look of irritation.He could understand wanting to know what happened and where He went,but Cheated just didn't like the thought of simply abandoning the others for the sake of answers.

He looked down at Smitten's chest,then softly nudged Broken."Hey,what about you?What do you have to say about all this?"

Broken twisted his head just enough so that Cheated could see half his face,with an eye shining with disbelief,and Broken opened his mouth to speak,but then Smitten gasped loudly,wrapping his arms around Broken's head and shoving his face back into his chest.

"How dare you!Of course he wants to find the Princess just as much as we do!There was no one more devoted to her than him!"

"Yeah,I'd like to hear that from his own mouth," Cheated said,and motioned for Smitten to release him.Smitten only eased up on his hold,letting Broken take a step back,but keeping his arms slung over his shoulders.

Broken looked down at the ground,smaller than all three of them.His voice was low yet firm as he finally said,"She's not here anymore.She doesn't need us anymore."Cheated wasn't expecting this, but he was happy to hear the other's thoughts. Smitten and Skeptic though,looked less pleased.

"We're not worthy to be around her anymore," Broken shook his head to himself,"so who's going to protect us now?"

"Are you saying that...you don't want go find Hero?" Cheated asked,and Smitten looked appauled at the notion,trying to bring Broken closer as he said,"But what of the Princess?Don't you miss her?"and Broken actually glared into Smitten's chest,before firmly shoving himself off of him.

Broken ducked his head low,refusing to look anyone in the eye."I loved the Princess because I loved her power.I miss the safety.She chose the Decider over us,so I want to choose what will protect me the most now."

Cheated hadn't expected this response,but he's glad he asked now.He sent Skeptic a triumphant smirk,who just frowned at Cheated with a disapproving look in his eyes.

"See?"Cheated pointed out,"Not everyone cares about what the happy couple are up to now.Some of us just want to see our flock again."

Skeptic rolled his eyes."Neither of you are thinking about the biggest picture."

"Oh fuck your bigger picture!"Cheated snapped, taking a step towards the taller bird.Broken flinched,and Smitten reached out to embrace him again,but Broken stepped away from his grasp, hugging himself and inching closer to Cheated.

"All you two care about is getting back to what you used to know,and not the people around you who actually care about you,and that's not fair on them! So have fun chasing nothing-we're going to find our flock."

With that,he turned to Broken,nodding his head towards the distance as he said,"Come on little guy, let's get outta here."He turned around,marching away from Smitten and Skeptic,feeling Broken keep close as they walked,almost pressing up against Cheated's too small wings.

He felt Broken try to grab his elbow and he stopped,looking down at him softly.Broken tried not to look him in the eye,and Cheated held back his words of comfort,knowing that would only piss him off after the way Smitten coddled him.

Instead,he sighed and glanced over at Broken's wings,or lack of,he should say.The appendages were missing the majority of its feathers,leaving them bony and naked,and with Broken unable to fly.

"Would it make you feel more safe if I carried you?So that I can get us both out of danger if something happens?"Because Cheated couldn't fly either,because what was more unfair than just not having wings?Having wings that were too small to actually carry you.

Broken looked up at him in surprise,then seemed to be deep in thought about it for a few minutes, before asking,"I won't weigh you down?"

Cheated smiled."You could never weigh me down."

Broken quickly ducked his head again,but then nodded in acceptance,and Cheated easily hoisted him onto his back,giving him a piggyback ride.

Cheated didn't miss how Broken melted against him or how tightly he clung to him,but he didn't mention that.Instead,he said,"Great,now let's go find our flock."

"Hey Jitters,long time no see."

Jitters smiled tiredly as Opportunist approached, sitting down next to him on the makeshift beds that Hunted made.

After Hunted had calmed down,he was quick to fall back into his instincts and habits.He suggested that they make camp here for the night,and nobody objected to that,too tired after the events of today. Soon enough,they had a fire going,and beds made of grass and leaves to sleep on.

Opportunist's gaze wandered around the camp. Hunted was crouched low,staring into the fire,but whenever someone moved,his head was instantly turning in that direction,alert written all over his face.

Cold,who Opportunist hadn't expected to stick around-but when Jitters had come out of his chant, he gave Cold an almost defeated look and said, "Well,I suppose you'll leave,now that you've seen it." But Cold merely shook his head and replied with, "No.I don't think I want to right now."

Opportunist had no fucking clue what they were on about,but at least Cold was with them now.

The icy bird had merely looked at his bed in boredom,and was lying down,limbs and wings glued to his sides,and if you didn't know who he was,you'd think he was dead.

Contrarian was on the other side of the camp,using his bed as a place to rest only his head,as he was sleeping upside down,his body leaning against a tree.Opportunist had no idea how he was comfortable,or how he could possibly be sleeping in that position,but he hoped he got dizzy from all the blood going to his head.That would show him.

He still hadn't forgotten how Contrarian pushed him out of the way as Hunted and Stubborn ran past them.His brain had stopped working,and all he could manage to think about was the fact that Contrarian helped him.He could've let Stubborn run him over,but he didn't,and that scared Opportunist because he had no idea what that meant.

He understood the meaning behind Jitters trusting him-he showed him his true self,for only a few minutes,and they both came to an understanding that finding everyone was the top priority.Did Contrarian see that as well?Or was this entire thing a joke to him?

"Hey,"Jitters whispered,nudging him with his wing and bringing him back to reality."What are you thinking about?"

"Contrarian."

"Wha-Why?"

"He told an awful pun,so now he has to die."

"Ah,understandable."

They both caught each other's gaze,and then they suddenly burst out into quiet giggles,careful not to wake the other two up.

It felt-nice,to just sit and laugh about nothing serious for once.Opportunist wasn't used to it,not familiar with talking without a motive or a reason behind it,just-chatting.

Was this why Contrarian talked such nonsense?Was this why he said that terrible pun?To make everything not be so heavy?

"Good job on getting Cold on board,"he whispered to Jitters,"I'm honestly surprised he's still here."

Jitters shrugged,looking over at the bird in question,watching as the icy breath left his mouth. "I'm just as surprised as you are,but I guess I just had something he wanted."

Jitters looked back at him and said,"I take it everything went okay with the monster?"He nodded,and Jitters smiled,but now he was hugging himself and nervously glancing around them."Do you think more will show up?"

"I don't know,but I'm pretty sure Stubborn is the only pain we have to worry about."But that didn't satisfy Jitters though,who kept fearfully looking around him,hugging himself tightly.

Opportunist sighed,scooting closer so that he could drape his wing over Jitters,who froze,but didn't freak out at the touch.Opportunist quickly looked at the fire in front of them,so that Jitters couldn't see the nervous look in his own eyes as he said,"You should give us more credit,Jitters.Hunted alone could probably protect us from ten of those things,and hey-that clown and I managed to escape without a scratch.So I dunno,just-have faith in us."

He knew that advice like that was rich coming from him,but he wasn't used to comforting someone and trying to mean it.Usually,all he had to do was reassure the Decider that what he was doing was the correct choice,and in the end,it didn't really matter.

Opportunist had no experience with trying to make someone feel better because he wanted to,but judging from the way Jitters relaxed under his touch,he must've done something right.

They sat there in a comfortable silence,just watching the fire glow in front of them,until Hunted caught Opportunist's attention again.This whole time,he had been scurrying around,making sure the fire had enough sticks to keep it going,and that Cold and Contrarian were okay.Although Hunted's face did scrunch up in confusion at Contrarian's sleeping position.

But then Hunted silently walked over to Cold again, and he just stared down at him for a few seconds, before leaning down to rub his face against Cold's neck.

Jitters stiffened underneath his wing,and Opportunist just shared a look of bafflement with him,as Hunted gently rubbed Cold's neck,who did nothing but lazily reach a hand up to ruffle Hunted's head.

"What's he doing?"Opportunist asked,but Jitters just shrugged with an incredulous smile,watching as Hunted then went over to Contrarian.He actually looked a little bit hesitant at first,before ultimately deciding to cautiously rub his nose against his face.

Contrarian giggled,and soon enough,he was falling over,making Hunted jump back in surprise.But as Contrarian flopped to the ground,he grinned up at Hunted,reaching his arms out,as if inviting him for a hug.Opportunist saw the way Hunted's eyes lit up,and then he instantly flew into his arms,holding the other bird tight and rubbing his face all over his neck,face and chest.

Jitters giggled at the two,while Opportunist was just trying to figure out what was going on.When Hunted finished doing whatever it was,Opportunist lifted a hand up and whispered,"Psst!Hunty!"

Instantly,Hunted stood up,body alert and in a defensive position,until he realised that it was just Opportunist talking,and he pinned him with a gaze so powerful that Opportunist actually felt a little in danger.

"Hunted,what are you doing?"Jitters asked,but Hunted continued to stare at Opportunist,until the next thing he knew-Hunted was running straight for him.

Opportunist scrambled on the spot,but there was no escaping Hunted and his speed,and he let a loud,"Oof!"out as Hunted tackled him to the ground,followed by the cackling of Contrarian and even the light chuckling of Cold.

But Opportunist couldn't focus on any of that right now.

Because Hunted was gripping him by the shoulders,rubbing his face against his neck,not rough,just firm enough that Opportunist's head was being moved slightly from the action,and he sighed deeply,as if he had been waiting for this.

"Need to scent you,"Hunted whispered,rubbing his cheek against him and softly petting the feathers that Opportunist tried so hard to keep in place,but he could feel them all puffing up now and sticking out."Flock needs to be scented-so I know where you are-and you know that you are not alone."

Opportunist couldn't think.His whole body was frozen,while still heating up at the physical affection,and he stared up at the stars in the sky with wide eyes.

His body was shaking and his mind was full of mush,and there was no sweet talking or charming that could get him out of this-and a tiny part of him secretly wished it never end.

His breath hitched as Hunted rubbed closer to his neck,and he felt Hunted whisper against his skin, "Good-you're good here."

Opportunist has never felt anything like this before. He's never felt this warmth that was blazing beneath his feathers,setting every nerve alight,as if his body had been starving for something like this. For what,touch?Was he that pathetic that a single bit of affection felt this good to him?It felt like an explosion of heat and sweetness was whirling around in his brain,and all he could do was crave more.

Warm.Everything was so warm and soft and oh God he's never felt like this before-

A giggle pulled his out of his spiral for a single second.

Jitters was gazing down at him,a fond look in his eyes as he simply said,"Cute."and that was when Opportunist truly knew he was fucked.

He didn't have a mask on.Everything that he was actually feeling was just on display for the world to see.There was too much warmth to even think about putting on an act,or pretending that this wasn't affecting him.Opportunist was stripped bare of his weapons.

What was wrong with him?First he was laughing at Contrarian's jokes,and now he was getting overwhelmed from some cuddling.This was not how this was supposed to go.This is not the way he should be acting,or how to get people to trust him. Back in the cabins with the Decider,there was no line that he wouldn't cross if it meant keeping Him safe.He would deceive and lie and take control, because that was what he was all about-taking advantage to gain the upper hand,because that would keep them all safe.

But the Decider wasn't here anymore,and all that's left is Opportunist,and he doesn't know whether that's a good thing or not.

#slay the princess #stories #my writing #stp #stp voices #stp opportunist #stp contrarian #stp paranoid #stp cold #stp hunted #stp smitten #stp skeptic #stp cheated #stp broken #We almost have all the voices!Woo!#I tried to make this chapter more chill #With more just characters talking to each other #tongues and teeth

20 notes · View notes

velvetvexations · 9 hours ago

Text

Since we're talking about forcefem, here're most of the forcefem-related asks I've had in my inbox, some of which are a few days old on account of technically going in the vexatious tag if not exactly kink asks. I wanted to answer one from today on it's own which I'll get to later but I wanted to get to the older ones and also get to a few of the others from today while I was at it.

i just saw a post where a trans guy was showing some messages where someone was (unconsensually) basically roleplaying forcefemming him. despite him telling them that he did not want that and that it was very much transphobic, and he atill got a message boiling down to "you're not a man, silly, you're a girl :D" and. to be honest. this was the thing that stopped the brainworms of "what if the whole concept of transandrophobia is actually transmisogynistic and i am entirely wrong" bc at least some of these people will just say the most bog standard transphobic shit to trans guys and not register it as transphobia. so why the fuck would they be right about anything transmascs experience also on that note thank you for being so outspoken in favour of transmascs getting to discuss their oppression. it's really helpful to see trans women stand with us here, especially when it comes to aforementioned brainworms

congratulations to that transphobe for creating a new transandrobro

the 'forcemasc isnt revolutionary' shit is the most annoying iteration of stupid tumblr discourse. like im going through the tag trying to read some horny shit and oh look. theres someone being stupid and hypocritical. in my horny tag.

people are getting tribalist about kinks and it's depressing

Every time people are saying that trans men & mascs cannot possibly fathom being objectified & fetishized, I think on all of the posts I’ve seen that did that exact same thing. And yeah, some of it might have been kink, so no hate no judgement I dabble in that tag too, but I’ve also seen “get in the dress” type posts that seem to be genuinely calling for trans men to be more feminine, untagged & in the wild, enough where I’m like — am I just imagining this? Like am I crazy? Am I missing something, or was that extremely detailed post about why I MUST stay feminine — or become more — for someone else’s benefit being 100% serious? And, again — if it’s kink, all the power to them, I love that for them, I even occasionally love that for me. But I have encountered enough people who were dead serious that I sometimes want no one but trusted friends & advisors to ever witness me again. And then I look at statistics & feel genuinely ill. And yeah, I’m gnc — and there’s the rub, because while I feel genuine joy being fem as well as masc, I want it to be a Choice, not something forced upon me.

people need to be fucking normal

Yh like ik a lot of shitposts don't have any tags but people have. Really gotta tag forcefem. I've blocked a large amount of people making these jokes + filtered their names n I still see it

I'm sorry, anon. <3

Fuck thank you so much for talking so openly about forcemasc. I’m so dumb I thought there wasn’t a name for that kink that I’ve been into for years, albeit my version is way more weirder. It would be like a… forcemascfem??? Like first it’s forcemasc and then it turns into forcefem and then right back to forcemasc…. And then back to- Idk my gender is weird and my kinky fantasy for that is weird

Cross as many boundries as you want, that sounds rad. Forcefem has a lot of infrastructure to jump off of.

“I’m doing a kink in a non kink way so it’s not kink blog!” Sorry this pisses me off It’s still a kink. Like. If someone made an I-suggest-BDSM blog and tried to claim it wasn’t a kink blog I’m sure more people would see how silly this is but because it’s the transfem approved virtuous forcefem they just let it slide??? Like. You are engaging in a kink and thats fine. You can say there won’t be anything explicitly sexual! But it will still be a kink blog because it’s a blog about a kink! A kink blog if you will! It doesn’t matter if you’re not getting off to it, it’s still a kink! That you are participating in! On your blog about that kink!

It SHOULD piss you off! It's extremely fucking scummy!

what the hell? for like one solid minute(longer than that but i like saying it this way) all the forcefem on my dash was tagged and i could blissfully not have to see it every other post and then just today i had to unfollow a buncha people for an assload of untagged forcefem :/ like im transmasc i think its understandable that i do not wish to see that anyway hope your day is goin well miss velvet

yeah it's praxis to not tag kink anymore

trfs are perfectly aware what the "force" bit means when forcemasc comes up in conversation

strange how that works

#vexatious #forcefem #trans radical feminism #discourse

17 notes · View notes

coff33andb00ks · 2 days ago

Text

Recipe for the Perfect Christmas 11/12

One part small town girl coming home from the big city. One part handsome stranger. Five parts lifelong friends (don't forget to include their partners). One part stubborn father. A dash of Christmas spirit. Part: Eleven of Twelve Pairing: Oscar Piastri x ofc (with appearances from Mark Webber. Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Pato O'Ward, and George Russell) wc: 5,210 warnings: smut soundtrack: spotify ⋆❆⋆ apple music nav: One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve a/n: final part tomorrow!! (i will be posting an epilogue on Christmas Eve) Also this part is later than I wanted to post, but we'll blame work

Oscar wasn't sure if Mark was happier to see him or Penny when they arrived at his house. He was greeted with a grin and a slap to his shoulder, while Penny's arrival was enthused over so greatly the dog nearly went spastic. Following them into the house, he watched his dog walk close to Mark's side until they reached the living room, where she sat by the couch until the man sat down. She then hopped up to lie next to him, wagging tail slowing as she settled her head on his thigh and gazed up at him adoringly.

"Some days I think she likes you more than she likes me," he commented, glancing over his shoulder to the staircase.

"She only likes me because I spoil her," Mark chuckled. "She loves you."

He was about to ask if Natalie was ready but stopped himself. He wasn't a kid going on his first date. It wasn't a date. After their walk the day before she had invited him to go with her to dinner with her friends. As friends. To talk more.

Not a date.

"Natalie will be down in a couple minutes."

"No rush." He finally moved to sit on the other couch, eyes moving to the tree placed in front of the window.

"How are Max and Eve liking the house?"

Oscar grinned. "They're loving it. Eve said it took Lucas a while to settle down and get to sleep the other night, but they're settling in. There's still a lot of stuff to get from the apartment, but I'll be doing that this week."

"And what are you gonna do after the holiday?" Mark stopped rubbing Penny when she closed her eyes and sighed.

"I haven't decided yet." So many things hinged on the answer. Mr. Wright had given him ideas that he wasn't sure yet he could pursue. He knew that Max and Eve wouldn't kick him out the day after Christmas, and Eve had even approached asking him about redoing the basement into a guest suite. He knew she didn't want him to leave town, because she had went on to talk about how Max would be working extra hard at the bakery to make sure things there went alright, and she would be going between the bakery and home dealing with the kids and doing the online work she would be starting after the first of the year. She hadn't come right out and said she wanted him to stay and help as they got adjusted to their new life, but he wasn't stupid.

"I hope you stick around. The town's better for having you."

Oscar smiled and murmured a quick thanks. "When is your surgery?"

"The fifth. I go in the night before."

The older man looked down at Penny and Oscar could feel his fear. "I'm sure it'll be fine, Mark."

"I'm praying it will be." He sighed, suddenly looking twenty years older. He looked up, and the fear and worries faded away as he smiled.

At the same instant Oscar heard a whisper of movement. He knew it was Natalie coming down the stairs and rose to his feet, turning just as she stepped off the bottom step. His breath caught when he saw the brilliance of her smile and he let his gaze dip to take in the green and gold sweater she wore over a pair of leggings. Raising his eyes to hers, he smiled slowly. She walked into the living room, the tiny bells of her earrings jangling with each step, and the sound reminded him of her giggles.

"You look great," he said, wishing he'd done more than jeans and an old sweater. He'd never been one for dressing up. It had nearly taken an act of God and Eve threatening him with injury to get into a tuxedo for their wedding.

"So do you." The bells tinkled again as she went to the kitchen. She returned a moment later carrying a covered casserole dish, bells tinkling as she leaned to kiss Mark on the cheek. "We're just going to dinner. Do you need anything before we go?"

"Nope. You two have fun."

"There's roast beef and vegetables from lunch. Do you want me to warm it—"

"I can warm up my plate." Mark shook his head. "Go on. Have a good time. Me and Penny are gonna eat and watch some movies."

"What are you going to watch?" she asked, leaning to give Penny a loving head rub.

"White Christmas, Elf, Home Alone, and I think we'll top it off with Snoopy."

"How long do you expect me to be gone?" she laughed.

"No telling with you two."

Choking on an embarrassed laugh, Oscar turned away before either of them could see his burning cheeks. Natalie was groaning and telling her father not to be disgusting. After an amused goodbye, he headed into the foyer, getting her coat and holding it for her to slip her arms into.

"I'm sorry about Dad," she said once they were in his truck, the casserole dish in her lap. "He's just a little crazy. And he's not stupid, so he figured out what happened when I stayed that night. Plus he likes to tease."

"I don't mind it," Oscar assured her. "At least he's not coming after my throat."

"No, he's not like that. Especially if he likes you. And we both know he likes you."

Her hand found his and squeezed after he turned onto Main Street.

"I like you, too," she said softly.

"I was gonna say the same thing."

"But really we keep you around for Penny."

Laughing, he made slowed to make another turn. "Yeah, I figured."

"You could just sell her to us," she teased.

"Sorry, we're a package deal."

"Buy one, get one free?" Her thumb smoothed over his after their fingers twined.

"Something like that."

"My friends like you, too," she announced as the street turned into a country road.

"Yeah?" Oscar smiled. He considered them his friends now, too. Stopping in the road when he saw a deer up ahead, he saw it was starting to snow. He waited until the deer finally moved into the woods before continuing on the way. "Max and Eve like you."

She sighed. "I wanted to hate them. But I already liked them, so…"

"I know." He squeezed her hand. "Oh and the kids adore you."

"I give them cookies, of course they do."

"Oh I think it's a little more than that," he said, slowing as they approached the driveway of the farm. Or was it a ranch? He didn't know what they called their spread of land. He did know that he liked the split-rail fence corners on either side of the end of the driveway, each of them adorned with twinkling lights. The sign announcing the Ocon Riding Academy was embellished by a strand of lights as well. Cruising up the drive, he saw lights wrapped around the top rails of the fencing on either side, ending in spirals of multicolored lights around two towering evergreen trees.

"You know Hannah and Michael love you?" she asked after he'd parked beside Carlos's car.

Looking at her in the glow of the lights decorating the yard in front of the house, Oscar grinned. "Yeah. Why?"

"I think I have a lot in common with them," she commented. She gave his hand a squeeze before opening her door and jumping down.

It wasn't until they climbed the steps to the front porch, which wrapped around both sides of the house and merged into the large back deck, that it hit him what she had said. Catching her hand, he spun her to face him. "Did you mean that?"

The lights reflected in her eyes, turning them to sparkling amber. Her mouth opened then her bottom lip was caught by her teeth. "I think so? Yes. No? I don't know. I just know—"

"What are you guys doing standing on the porch in the cold?" Pato asked, flinging the front door wide open.

"Oh my god, would you give us a minute?" Natalie groaned, whipping her head to look at the man.

He snorted, pushing the door closed. "Fine, fine, get frostbite."

"Where was I?" she sighed, turning back to Oscar.

"Getting frostbite, apparently," he quipped. Rewarded by a disgruntled laugh, he gave her hand a squeeze. "You just know…?"

"I never felt like this with anyone before. It's a little bit like the stomachache I used to get when I ate too many cookies, and I feel like I do when I'm riding with someone and they go over a hill? You know, a little exhilarated? I can't explain it. Because at the same time it's as though I just wrapped myself in a warm blanket. I like it, though. I think. I want to explore it." She frowned. "But—"

"Do you remember what you said about going to church?" he asked softly. "About how it felt like a good talk and a warm meal?"

"Yeah."

"That's what you make me feel." He tried to think of another way to describe it. "Comfortable. And a little exhilarated, too."

She blinked up at him, lips pulling into a smile. "Like your favorite jeans and an old sweater?"

"Yeah," he whispered. He grinned, because she got it. "Just like that."

"What is it, though?"

"It's…" He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. "It's us. And I want to explore it."

"I want to, too."

"And I want y'all to come in already," a voice said from behind her.

Oscar froze, having been leaning to kiss her. Glancing over her shoulder, he saw Pato leaning in the open door, grinning. With a sigh, he tugged on Natalie's hand before she could grumble at her friend again, and stole a quick kiss before guiding her to the door.

"About damn time," Pato drawled.

"Like you and Amira never have to talk?" Natalie snorted.

"We move and talk at the same time. Makes life so much easier." Once they were inside, he nudged the door shut. "Take your coats off, stay a while. They're here!"

Oscar grinned as the announcement was met with a cheer.

"Okay!" Susie hollered from the direction of the kitchen. "Come peel the potatoes!"

"Which one of us?" Pato yelled back.

"I don't care!"

"I'll go," Natalie laughed, handing her coat to Pato.

Esteban came from the living room, grinning, rolling his eyes when Pato pushed Natalie's coat at him.

"No kids?" Oscar asked once Natalie disappeared into the back of the house.

Esteban slung her coat on the hall tree and motioned for Oscar to put his up, too. "They're with my folks. They like getting all the grandkids together for a couple nights before Christmas."

"That's sweet." Oscar followed him into the great room, with its large couches, big-screen TV, and a comfortable lived-in feel. There were a few toys scattered on the rug near the fireplace, a laptop on the coffee table, and the evidence of homemade ornaments in the works. Blankets were readily available on the couch, and as he flopped down next to George he watched Esteban scoop the toys up and toss them into the toybox in the corner.

"You and Natalie are good now?" Esteban asked, dropping into one corner of the couch.

"I think so."

"So she's not gonna take the job in Atlanta?" Carlos asked.

Oscar felt his brows pinch together. "Atlanta?"

"Yes… You know, big city in Georgia?"

"I know what it is, asshole." He rolled his eyes. "What job?"

George made a face. "Weren't supposed to tell him," he murmured, taking a sip of his drink.

"Ah, damn." Carlos's eyes widened and he licked his lips. Cleared his throat and began drumming his fingers on his thighs. "You didn't hear it from me."

"Is it a writing job?"

"Hey, you want a drink? A beer? Tea?" Esteban asked, hopping to his feet. "How about some apple cider?"

"I'm fine." Oscar noticed neither of the men were looking him in the eye and sighed. "What's the job?"

"I don't know anything," Pato said, holding up his hands. "Just that Amira had an emergency girls' meeting this morning."

"That was about Maddie," George announced. "She wasn't feeling well."

"Is she feeling better now?" Esteban asked.

"Not sure, I don't think Lils has heard from her since this morning."

"Surely Lando would let us know if something was wrong," Pato commented.

"It was about the job, too." Carlos shrugged when everyone looked at him. "Sasha told me about it when she got home. But I don't know anything."

Pato rolled his eyes. "You literally just asked about it though?"

"I know nothing!" Carlos insisted. "Just that she applied. And that she got the offer this morning. I don't know what the job is or even if she's gonna take it."

Esteban sighed, sitting back down. "It's a writing job."

Oscar nodded, forcing himself to settle back on the couch. He wasn't going to go confront her, because that would probably lead to another argument. He didn't want that to happen. But he did want to know if it was true she'd gotten a job in Atlanta. He wanted to know if she would take it and leave the town and her father again. He needed to know why she hadn't told him.

"I know," Esteban said suddenly, clapping his hands against his thighs and jumping to his feet. "Let me take you out to the barn and show you the new stall doors."

"When did you get them?" Standing, Oscar followed him out of the great room and reached for his coat.

"Uh… "A month ago."

"Then I've already seen them." Oscar dropped his hands.

Esteban smoothed a hand over his face. "I thought you'd wanna get some fresh air."

Oscar made a face. "I'm fine."

"You aren't mad?"

"Not mad. Just…" He shrugged, because he didn't know what his emotions were. Disappointment? Sadness? Worry? A molten mixture of all three?

"Oscar, do you want something to drink?"

He turned and saw Susie walking towards him, smiling warmly. Returning the smile, he slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Hey Susie."

"We got coffee, tea, cocoa…" She paused, glancing towards the ceiling. "Soda, water, milk, orange juice."

"Apple cider," Esteban told her.

"That's gone."

"Already?"

"It's not my fault it's your son's favorite drink."

"I thought your son's favorite drink was cocoa."

"Only when there's cookies."

"He drank cocoa at breakfast and there weren't cookies."

Slipping away while the couple continued to debate their son's favorite beverage, Oscar headed towards the kitchen. Bing Crosby was crooning softly from the Bluetooth speaker on the counter, and he paused in the doorway, greeting the women with a quick wave. They all waved in return, but his gaze was already on Natalie

She was humming along to the song playing, her back to him, one foot lightly bouncing against the floor.

Maybe she would take the job. Maybe she would leave, probably not until after her father recovered from his surgery. Maybe she planned to tell him. Maybe not. Sighing, he crossed over to her, clearing his throat so she would know he was approaching, slipping his arms around her in a gentle hug.

"Bored with guy talk already?" she asked, dropping a peeled potato into the bowl in front of her.

"Can I ask something?" he murmured, aware of the pressing silence around them as Bing Crosby continued to sing about days being merry and bright.

She set the peeler down and turned in his arms. When she saw his face, she looked concerned. Her brow puckered and she sighed. "I was going to tell you tonight."

"Are you taking the job?"

"I don't know yet." She swallowed anxiously. "I have until next week to let them know."

"Do you need to talk to Mark about it?"

She shook her head. "I need to figure some things out."

"If you—" He sighed and leaned to press a kiss to her forehead. He hated seeing her looking so worried. "If you need help figuring those things out, I'm here, okay?"

"You're not gonna yell at me for not telling you right away?"

"That's your job."

The silence was broken by a choked laugh.

Natalie's jaw dropped and she slapped his arm. "That was below the belt."

"Are you even wearing a belt?"

"Stop," she groaned. "You're not mad?"

"I'm not mad," he promised, pulling her close for a quick kiss, cheeks burning when he heard a chorus of 'aww'. "C'mon, I'll help you with the potatoes."

After a leisurely dinner filled with laughter, Natalie watched Oscar push up his sleeves to help with the dishes. Trailing into the great room with the other women, she crowded close when Sasha asked for input on which lingerie she should surprise Carlos with for Christmas. When the men began filtering in Lilli got up to go start a pot of hot cocoa. There was a beat of silence then Esteban mentioned going to check on the horses one more time for the night and Natalie slid her hand into Oscar's when he said he'd tag along. She smiled as she slipped on her coat as the entire group decided to go as well, Lilli calling out to wait for her.

The stable smelled as it always did, of hay and leather and manure and horse. The foal, now officially named Chicory, was curious and adventurous enough to come to the door, her mother hovering nearby. Natalie made sure to give each horse the same amount of attention. She nodded in approval over the improvements and upgrades that Susie pointed out, stepping into the tack room to view the new saddle that Esteban had gotten as an early Christmas present.

"It's beautiful," she murmured, admiring the tooled leather of the Western style saddle.

"It was supposed to be a surprise. But someone was nosy."

"Someone couldn't keep her mouth shut," Esteban said from the doorway. Grinning when both women looked at him, he pulled off his work gloves. "Everybody's settled for the night, Mama."

"Oh, I want to go say goodbye to my goddaughter," Natalie said, skipping out of the tack room.

"Goddaughter?" Oscar laughed, and she noticed bits of alfalfa hay clinging to his sleeves. "I'm picturing you in a tux holding a cigar and talking about family."

"Hey, darling," she cooed after swinging open the top of the half-door. The foal's ears turned and then she was crossing the stall, snuffling the air with interest. "I'd never hold a cigar, but I'd probably wear a tux."

"You could pull it off," he said, reaching to rub the foal's head once she was within reach.

"That's your job," she quipped. Enjoying his burst of laughter, she gently smoothed the foal's forelock, reaching with her other hand to stroke Bonny's face. "Such beautiful girls."

"I'm going back in to finish the hot cocoa," Lilli said from behind her.

"We'll help," Sasha offered.

"Esteban's going to the shed to get the snow shovel in case it snows all night, so can you make sure you close and latch the doors?" Susie asked.

"Of course," Natalie promised.

"Talk to him," Susie whispered in her ear while reaching to give Bonny one last rub.

Drawing a breath to reply, Natalie sighed when she heard boots on the concrete flooring. Seconds later she heard the gentle creak of the barn door being pushed to.

"Do you want a horse of your own someday?" Oscar asked softly.

"I don't know. They're so much work. And they cost a lot of money to take care of," she said. Until their venture into riding lessons and occasional boarding, her friends had gone into the red nearly every month. "They're gorgeous and wonderful, but I think I'm better off just having some I can visit. Plus I don't ride very well. Do you?"

"I can ride okay. But I don't know that I'd want to own any."

"Lucky for us we've got Estie and Susie to come visit whenever we want."

"Yeah, we do," he agreed with a grin.

"I don't have friends in Atlanda," she announced. "With horses or otherwise."

"Okay?" He turned to face her, eyebrows lifting.

"I have a couple contacts, but that's it."

"When I moved out here I only knew Max and Eve. I know that's different." He glanced at Bonny and Chicory, who were moving off to the far corner. "But I didn't know anyone else. I couldn't have found it on a map."

"Well, I can find Atlanta," she conceded. "But I know nothing about the place. Katie, who I talked to this morning? She said she would be happy to help me find an apartment in a good neighborhood. I don't even know the neighborhoods."

"What's the job?"

"Staff writer for a fashion magazine." She named it, and knew he had never heard of it when he merely nodded.

"Do you like fashion?"

"I couldn't tell you the difference between Louboutin and Louis Vuitton," she admitted with a sigh.

He stepped back when she did, reaching to close the door. After latching it, he plucked a bit of hay from his sleeve. "Does it pay well?"

"It's decent. I did a couple of those cost of living calculators online. If I take it, I won't be living paycheck to paycheck, but I won't exactly be living in the lap of luxury." She reached to brush the hay from his sleeves. "The benefits are okay. Nothing to write home about, though."

"Do you want to take it?"

"I don't know," she whispered, hands stilling on his shoulders. "Should I?"

"I can't make that decision for you, Natalie."

"Dad doesn't want me to. He didn't say that, of course. He said I had to do what I think is best. But I know he wants me to stay here. Or at least, close by."

"Of course he does. He'll miss you."

"I'll miss him. If I go," she added.

"He's worried about the surgery." Oscar sighed when she frowned, lifting one hand to smooth back her hair. "He didn't say so, but I could tell he's scared when I asked him about it earlier."

"He hates hospitals. And doctor's offices. Really, he hates anything that isn't home, church, or the bakery."

Oscar chuckled softly. "I can understand that."

"Tell me not to go," she whispered after several seconds passed by. They were still standing in front of Bonny and Chicory's stall, her hands were still on his shoulders, and his palm was still on her cheek.

"I can't tell you that," he sighed.

"Can you tell me anything?"

"I guess I can tell you I don't want you to go. But I probably shouldn't, since I don't know that—"

"Don't," she murmured, not wanting to be reminded that he might be leaving town soon. She couldn't bring herself to admit that was one of the reasons why she was undecided about Atlanta. Was she the reason he couldn't decide whether he wanted to stay in town or not? Was he waiting for her to make some declaration? She wasn't ready for that. Whatever was growing between them was still new to her. She was enjoying it, but the looming question about both their futures had her scared to proclaim anything more than she'd already said.

"Natalie—"

"Kiss me? Please, Oscar." If he kissed her, she could focus on that, on how warm the feel of his lips made her, on how her knees forgot what they were supposed to do and her stomach soared. Instead of all the confusion she was currently dealing with that she didn't want. Grateful when his fingers slid into her hair and his head lowered, she gasped as their lips met. She hadn't expected the tenderness, or the way her breath was snatched from her lungs, or how his sudden exhale through his nose would be hot against her cheek. Opening her mouth, she gave a tiny whine when his tongue dipped inside.

She sank into the kiss and into him, hands creeping up to the collar of his coat. Her fingers brushed his neck and he moved closer, until she could barely smell the horses anymore. Needing to feel the warmth of him, she slipped her hands into the front of his coat, palms flattening over his chest. It wasn't until she slid them lower, to the narrowing of his waist, that she felt his hands moving beneath her coat, too.

Breaking the kiss on a gasp, she stared up at him, heart thudding in her chest. His tongue darted over his lips as though to catch another taste of her and she curled her fingers in the sides of his shirt. "Oscar…"

"Here?" he whispered doubtfully, his hands sweeping up and guiding her coat down her shoulders.

Suddenly, she vividly remembered Susie giving her a tour of the barn soon after it had been built. They had been standing in nearly the exact same spot when her friend had pointed at the end stall and casually commented that she and Esteban had made love in there as soon as the last screw had been tightened. Dragging her tongue over her lips, she nodded, grabbing the front of his coat and walking backwards. She didn't doubt that there were very few spots in the barn that her friends hadn't made love in, but she didn't know about any of them except that stall. Her back met the opposite wall and she giggled, feeling just a little daring and a little silly and more than a little in of the exhilaration she'd mentioned earlier. Just before his lips descended on hers again, she inhaled the scent of leather. His kiss was slow and sensual and made her delirious. Shaking her coat free, she worked to push his off, wrapping her arms around him as soon as it hit the floor. As slow as his kiss was, his hands were lightning-fast, cupping her cheeks then trailing down her sides then slipping beneath her sweater. His fingers were cool against her skin and she squirmed closer to him, one hand slipping between them to stroke the growing bulge in the front of his jeans.

Oscar's fingers stayed on her skin until they were warmed, and his lips remained over hers while he grasped her waist and lifted her against him. He pulled back slightly, hands slipping to the waistband of her leggings. When she nodded eagerly, he grinned.

They fumbled, desperation growing when she had to lower her legs to the floor and unzip her boots to step out of them. Eagerness increased as he dragged her leggings and panties down, stooping long enough to brush kisses over her thighs. Need caused her fingers to be uncooperative and she growled in frustration, finally wrenching his belt free of the buckle. It wasn't romantic, she thought vaguely as he brought her legs around him. The wall was cold but his body radiated heat and she clung to him, muffling her cry against his mouth when he entered her. It was frantic and almost savage, his moans loud and hot in her ear, his fingers digging into her hips. She clawed at his back, whining, and it occurred to her that even like this – unromantic, hard, and fast – it was still better than any she'd ever had.

He groaned, one hand slamming against the wall. Pinning her between him and the unforgiving surface, he tipped his head, offering a breathless kiss that made her see stars. "Stay with me," he whispered, forehead resting against hers.

She dragged one hand up and curled her fingers in his hair. "Oscar…"

"Don't go," he breathed. "I need you."

"I need you, too," she gasped, squeezing her eyes shut. In an instant it became needier. Sloppier. She came suddenly, his name a shriek muffled against his shoulder, legs and arms locking around him as his body grew tense. They trembled simultaneously and the force of it drew a long, keen moan from bot of them.

He held her up against the wall for several long moments, his grip on her thigh easing. When he kissed her again it was loving and sweet and brought tears to her eyes. Several moments passed with her staring into his eyes, and then several more before she finally uncurled her legs from his waist and lowered her feet to the floor. Breathless, she accepted his help in stepping into her leggings, her trembling hands reaching to pull them up. Silent as he refastened his jeans, she put on her boots then grabbed their coats, shaking the bits of hay from them.

Hand in his, she walked out of the barn with him, remembering at the last second to switch off the main lights. The cold was a shock to her and she shivered, leaning against him, while he closed the doors and fastened the latch. They ran across the yard and into the house, bursting into the kitchen with matching giggles. Leaning against the door to close it, she grinned up at him. His scent was embedded in her nose but she could just smell cocoa and pulled away from his kiss when heavy bootsteps sounded.

"Did you close the barn?"

"Yep," she chirped, stepping forward to get herself a cup of cocoa. Oscar's hand was still clasping hers and he stumbled slightly, causing her to giggle again when his arm looped around her waist to steady them both.

"You might want to double-check it," Oscar told Esteban.

Lilli cleared her throat, expression suspicious, but she said nothing while serving mugs of her homemade hot cocoa. There was a companionable silence as they all sipped appreciatively, Oscar and Natalie still in their coats. Amira smiled knowingly when Natalie leaned against the counter.

Natalie looked at her, raising one eyebrow in confusion. Her friend's smile grew and she reached over, tapping the sleeve of her coat. Glancing down, it finally registered that the coat was inside out. She had the urge to laugh and gave in, not embarrassed at having been caught.

Carlos chuckled, leaning to retrieve his phone when it began chiming with an incoming FaceTime. "It's Lando," he told them all, accepting. "Hey, how's—"

"Ssshh!" Lando's silencing hiss caused them all to freeze.

Carloss's eyes widened, then he was grinning, shifting and turning his phone so they could all see.

"Meet Eloise and Evelyn," Maddie said, a sleepy but radiant smile on her face. Lando lowered his phone, and everyone saw the two bundles tucked against her chest.

"Ohmigod!"

"Congratulations!"

"So beautiful!"

"How are you feeling, Mama?"

"Exhausted," Maddie said. "But so happy. We love y'all."

"Love you!"

Lando's face reappeared, his expression almost delirious. He practically babbled about the labor and delivery, dropping his phone the instant one of the twins began to fret.

Natalie wiped her eyes and when she looked up she found Oscar looking at her, one corner of his mouth lifted in a smile.

And she knew what her choice was going to be.

#f1 #oscar piastri #f1 imagine #oscar piastri imagine #my writings > op > xmas #oscar piastri x oc #f1 x oc

17 notes · View notes