#I just wanted to geek out about it atm

[teamcavota]

i know lots of people have waxed poetics about the line and I'll make it clear I wont be saying much that hasn't been said before right now but

i just fucking love the line, "you're Cavendish, waddya gonna do?" it isn't just about the central thing behind the line which is that Dakota could not imagine taking any other actions than he has because Cavendish just means that much to him, but also because the line could have been "you're my partner/best friend, so waddya gonna do?" and purely highlighted the relationship aspect. however, with the line in the show there's an aspect of Dakota saying that if the world knew Cavendish like he did they'd all agree too ("he's Cavendish, waddya gonna do.") that Cavendish absolutely being worthy of what Dakota has done for him is as "objective" as the sky being blue.

[atlabeth]

bend an ear

pairing: peter parker x fem reader

summary: your boyfriend doesn't listen to you. good thing your friendly neighborhood spider-man does.

a/n: there's just something about him idk. andrew garfield spidey bc of course! look at him! this came from me playing the spider-man game after it went on sale and yearning for peter parker (will prob have to rewatch the movies bc of this) anyways hope you like it

wc: 3.6k

warning(s): reader's bf is shitty -- they argue for a while and he lowkey slut shames her. but this is basically all fluff otherwise bc childhood best friends to lovers babby!!! real yearning loverboy hours!!!

Peter just wants to go home. 

It’s been… a day. He got his ass kicked by an English test (he doesn’t have time to do the readings when he’s fighting crime), got his ass kicked by Flash Thompson (it’s not like he can fight back with his super strength and pulverize his ribs), and has spent every second since his final class ended fighting petty crimes around the city. 

Stopping ATM thefts and minor muggings feels good, sure, but on days like these, it doesn’t really make up for failing intro literature classes and getting absolutely zero sleep. He’s just thankful May is still letting him live with her while he studies at ESU—if he had to do all of this in addition to trying to make his rent? He doesn’t really want to think about it. 

So he swung his way to the roof of some random building, and he’s taking a break. Sue him, but Peter thinks he deserves it. What’s the point of living in a city like New York if you can’t have a second to yourself every once in a while? 

He’ll go home soon. Grab a bodega sandwich, maybe stop another crime, and then get home for some much needed rest. But for now, he’s just going to sit on this rooftop and relax for a second. Even Spider-man needs some peace and— 

“Babe—” 

“Why are you following me?”

Peter winces as the door slams open, an argument following close after as a girl storms out onto the roof followed by a guy speeding to keep up with her. His first instinct is to swing away as soon as possible, but for some reason, he stays. 

“Because I want to talk!”

“God, do you even hear yourself?” 

“You keep talking over me, so I really—” 

“You don’t get to babe me right now!” 

As if his day hadn’t been bad enough, now he’s accidentally made himself privy to some couple’s dispute. He’s about to web himself out of this third wheeling nightmare when the girl turns around with a groan, revealing her face, and Peter realizes who it is. 

It’s you.

This is your apartment complex. Peter came here without even realizing it, but can he really be surprised? Your name is synonymous with peace in his brain. Comes with the territory of being friends for so long—it still calms him, even when you’re being the opposite of peaceful. 

“I don’t get why you’re acting like this!” the guy exclaims, frustration clear in his voice. 

Of course. Why wouldn’t your shitty boyfriend be here too? The only reason you live here is because you scored this place together; said he didn’t want you living on campus anymore. Ethan Frey might be the bane of Peter’s existence after two and a half years of him being your boyfriend. 

“Because you and your posse are acting like complete jags in front of all my friends!” you shout back. 

He laughs in disbelief. “I’m just being myself, babe. Besides, you’re the one who said I could invite them!” 

“Because you complained about it just being my friends,” you grind out. “You weren’t even supposed to be here, Ethan! You just can’t handle the thought of me being around guys that aren’t you!” 

“Well, what the hell am I supposed to think, huh?” He gestures wildly. “You spend every second with that geek and I’m supposed to believe you’re not into him?” 

And now he’s eavesdropping on a conversation between you and your boyfriend about him. How could this get worse? 

“God, it isn’t like that at all!” you exclaim with a mirthless laugh. “Peter is my friend— my best friend since elementary school. You knew when we got together that wasn’t going to change.” 

“Yeah,” he says, nodding lazily, “but that was before I knew how obvious his hard-on for you was.” 

Peter feels his face heat beneath the mask, wants to wipe the sweat off his palms. That’s how it could get worse. 

Your nostrils flare as you turn away, your hands flexing while you shake your head. “Get out of here, Ethan.” 

“Oh, of course that’s where you draw the line,” Ethan mocks. “When I bring up fuckin’ Peter Parker.” He pauses then chuckles. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?” 

Peter nearly intervenes right then and there, wanting to stop this mess before Ethan does anything to hurt you. But revealing himself sounds like the worst possible thing to do, so for once he listens to the rational part of his brain over the emotional. 

“He’s not even here!” you retort. “I live with you, not him. I’m dating you, not him. Why are you bringing him up?” 

“Because I’m not blind.” Ethan crosses his arms. “Y’know, I thought you’d get over this little thing after you let me take you out, but for some reason, it’s exactly the same. I swear you spend more time with him than me.”

Your hands clench into fists. “Get out of here.” 

He scoffs. “You want me to leave you up here?” 

“Yes,” you nod. 

“God, you’ve been acting crazy this whole night!” he complains. “You’ll freeze up here. Just get over it—we’ll go back down, I’ll get you a beer—” 

“I hate beer.” 

“Then I’ll get you a fucking apple juice,” he spits. “Just stop being so dramatic.” 

“You’re not listening to me!” you shout. “I want you to leave me alone!” 

This time he says your name, and you shake your head. 

“Go back to the apartment,” you interrupt. “Because if I have to spend another second with you, our relationship might not make it through the night.”

For once, Ethan is silent as he stares at you. You stare back with no sign of giving up. Eventually, he just huffs and shakes his head. 

“Whatever.” He starts walking towards the door. “You better cool off up here, because I’m not dealing with this shit when you come back down.” 

You stare at the door for a good twenty seconds once he closes the door—slams it, rather—before you angrily kick a stray soda can. Your childhood days of rec soccer must still be in you, because you get an arc on it. Just before it can go over the side of the building, Peter shoots a web to catch it wholly on instinct. 

Your eyes widen as you dart around, and Peter is finally spotted from his place on top of the roof door building thing. What is that even called? He doesn’t really have time to think about it. The aluminum can crunches as it flies into his hand, and you stare at him in complete shock. 

“Uh,” his mouth suddenly feels very dry, but he has to make some excuse for why he’s up here, “littering is bad.” 

Good one, Parker. 

“You’re Spider-man,” you say, eyes still wide. 

“The one and only,” he nods. 

“Oh my god,” you mumble, finally seeming to break out of your shock as you cover your mouth and turn away. “Oh my god, Spider-man just heard my relationship falling apart.” 

“I didn’t hear anything!” Peter exclaims. “I—”

You shoot him the withering look he loves so much, that was able to get his bullies to shrink on the spot in high school—it feels weird being on the receiving end of it. 

“I’m not stupid,” you say. 

“I kn—” He has to stop himself from saying I know, because realistically Spider-man has no idea who you are. “I’m sorry.” 

You huff and cross your arms. “Do your superhero duties include eavesdropping on failing couples?” 

“It was an accident,” Peter says. “I was up here before you were. So technically, you were eavesdropping on my actual superhero duties.” 

You laugh, and he smiles just at the sound of it. One benefit to wearing the mask, because it would expose him right on the spot. “Oh yeah? And what are those?” 

“Patrolling the streets,” he says. “I’ve got a very good vantage point from up here.” 

You hum, your mood turning a bit more morose as you glance away. “Well, I’m sorry you had to hear all that during your patrol.” 

“I’m sorry you had to go through it,” he says. “Your boyfriend sounds like an asshole.” 

You roll your eyes. “He’s fine, most of the time. Just had a little bit too much to drink.” 

Peter will never understand why you defend Ethan so much. You’ve been together since freshman year and he’s only gotten worse since then—maybe he hides how he is around you, because he hasn’t really shied away from showing Peter how much he hates him this past year.

“He looked pretty sober to me,” Peter says. “And trust me, I have plenty of experience fighting guys that have had too much to drink.” 

You huff. “What are you, a spider-therapist?” 

“I’m good at a lot of things,” he says. “And I’m always good for bending an ear.”

“Surely you have better things to do than listen to me complain.” 

Peter shakes his head. “My schedule’s pretty clear right now, actually.”

“Really?” you marvel. “There’s no crime in New York City at,” you check your watch, “11:37 pm?”

“Absolutely none,” he says. “I solved it all. At least for now.”

You laugh again at that and gesture with your head as you walk over to the edge of the roof. “Then I guess I’ll take you up on that offer.”

Peter jumps down and follows you over. You hoist yourself on top of the wall, legs dangling over the edge, and he feels himself frown as he leans his back against the wall and looks up at you. 

“Isn’t that a little dangerous?” 

“You’ll catch me if I fall,” you say. 

“Obviously,” Peter says. “I’m supposed to encourage safe behavior in New Yorkers, though.” 

You laugh and tilt your head up towards the night sky. The moonlight reflects in your eyes and Peter knows he could get lost in them forever. “Just this once, then.” 

“I think I can let it slide.” 

“Good.” 

A comfortable beat of silence passes between the two of you, and Peter finds himself smiling. No wonder he ended up at your place out of instinct. There’s nothing else like your company. 

“I always think it’ll be different,” you murmur. Peter glances up at you, your expression shifted to something more melancholic. “We’ll have a good day, which’ll turn into a good week and a good month, but he always does something to mess it up. It’s like it’s in his DNA.” 

He stays silent as you think. Most of the time when you rant to Peter, you just want to be heard, not given advice. At this point, he’s an expert at listening to you. It’s not like he minds. 

“I want things to work out. I— I still love him. I mean, I think I do. But everything is a fucking struggle with him. If I don’t do things the exact way he wants, if I try to do something for me instead of him, if I can’t read his fucking mind, then he loses it and we argue. And I’m so fucking tired of arguing!” 

Your voice has risen by now, and you bite down hard on your cheek. Peter doesn’t realize he’s started reaching towards you to comfort you until you look back down at him, and he runs his hand over his head in an effort to cover it up. 

“I’m sorry,” you sigh. “I promise, I’m a much nicer person than this. You just caught me at the worst time.”

“Don’t worry,” he says. “I know.”

Your brows rise. “Spider-man knows I’m a nice person?”

“I can just tell,” he rushes, trying to save himself. He’s doing a real good job at not revealing his identity. “I’m good at reading people.”

You chuckle and shake your head, then adjust your position so your back is towards the open air. It makes Peter nervous, he can’t lie, but it’s not like he’s not a superhero. 

“So, spider-therapist,” you say. “Any advice?” 

So this is one of the rare times you do want answers. Peter wonders if you’ll leave your boyfriend if Spider-man tells you to. 

“He doesn’t sound great,” Peter says, inclining his head. “How many times have you argued this week?” 

“Four,” you say. “Five, if you include tonight.” 

He whistles. “And it’s only Wednesday.”

You tip your shoulder. “We’re efficient.” 

“And unhappy, it sounds like.” 

“We’re not unhappy,” you defend. “We’re just…” 

“You’re up here talking to me instead of down there with him,” Peter says wryly. “That doesn’t exactly scream ‘happy couple’.” 

You shake your head with another sigh. “It’s because he can’t get over Peter.” 

He tries to act as nonchalant as possible when you bring him up. Is this an invasion of privacy? Letting you talk to him about all this when you have no idea who Spider-man actually is? 

Instead of floundering over moral qualms, he just clears his throat. “And who’s he?” 

“My best friend,” you say. “The one person who’s been by my side since the second I moved to New York. He means everything to me.”

Peter feels his heart skip a beat. “Yeah?” 

“He’s like— like the opposite of Ethan, and it’s wonderful. I guess that’s why Pete irks him so much. Y’know,” you pull out your phone and start typing in your password, “maybe I should call him. He always knows what to say.” 

“No!” Peter exclaims with a bit too much force, causing you to give him a look. “No— I mean, it’s late. He’s probably asleep. And— and it’s a school night?” 

You tilt your head, and Peter exhales when it seems to work. “True. He’s probably studying for that biochem test.” You grimace. “I should be doing that too.” 

He watches you type out a few texts and send them, and Peter’s never been more thankful to have his phone on silent. What a way that would be to blow his cover. 

You shove your phone back in your pocket with another sigh. “I just hate that my boyfriend and my best friend don’t get along. I love them both—why can’t they like each other?” 

“I mean…” Peter trails off when you look at him, and he gestures with his head. “It seems pretty obvious why they don’t get along.” 

“Yeah,” you say dryly. “Because Ethan thinks Peter likes me, and he probably thinks I have some secret crush on him too. I swear, he’s always looking for a reason to fight.” 

God, could the universe be calling him out any more? It’s honestly ridiculous how this is going. 

“Do you?” Peter asks, because he can’t help himself. “Like him, I mean.” 

“I don’t know,” you murmur. “I love Pete, I do. It’s always been the two of us no matter what. But I…”

He holds his breath as he tries not to look at you, tries not to make it too obvious that he might have stumbled his way into his simultaneous dream and nightmare scenario. 

He’s had a crush on you for what feels like forever. Since you stood up for him against his bullies in elementary school, honestly, and it’s only grown over the years as the two of you have grown. From recesses spent together and bike rides through the city; spending the night in Peter’s apartment because it was easier for your sister to let it happen than try and drag you back home; endless nights with heads bent over textbooks trying to study for tests, over college applications trying to get into the same place, and now studying and researching near every damn weekend together because you’re both unfortunate enough to try for ESU STEM degrees. 

You were there when Ben died. He’s there on every anniversary of your parents’ accident. Without knowing it, you were there when he got bit and his whole life turned upside down. 

You and Peter have been there every step of the way for each other, and it’s why he’s content with just friendship—Peter wants you in his life no matter what. But he can’t lie and say he doesn’t hope. 

No, actually. He yearns. He’s doomed to be a yearner for the rest of his life because he’ll never stop loving you. How could he? 

“I’m not sure,” you finally say with a sigh. “All I know is that I’d rather be with Pete tonight than Ethan.”

Peter wonders if your chest compressions are still as good as they were in high school, because he feels like he’s about to have a heart attack. 

You’d rather be spending tonight with him than your boyfriend of two years and seven months, and Peter isn’t even supposed to know. 

You mistake his silent freakout for nonchalance, and you clear your throat as you jump back onto solid ground. 

“Well, I’ve spilled my soul to you,” you say wryly, crossing your arms. “Anything a superhero can spill in return?”

Peter thinks for a good, long second. His hands itch to take off his mask, to do what he’s wanted to do since he got bitten by that stupid spider and show you who he really is. 

How many times has he been a total asshole, canceling plans on you because he had to go stop some supervillain from wreaking havoc in Times Square? How many times has he been late to something important to you because he was caught up stopping dime a dozen muggings? He still remembers the look on your face when he showed up just in time to miss the entirety of Les Mis’s opening night with your first lead role. 

You were a better best friend to Peter than he was to you because of this stupid mask. If he took it off, it wouldn’t make every mistake fade away, but it would sure help explain some of it. 

But Peter has been doing this since high school, and he has seen far too many times what happens to the loved ones of heroes. They’re used as leverage, used for ransom, sometimes just straight up killed.

You’ve been friends with Peter since you and your sister moved into the apartment next to May’s thirteen years ago. It doesn’t matter if you never share Peter’s feelings. You’re one of the only constants in his life, and he’s not going to lose you because he’s too selfish to keep a secret. 

Losing you would be the last straw. He couldn’t take it. 

So Peter pushes all thoughts of secret identities revealed out of his mind and tries to chuckle convincingly. 

“I’m allergic to peppermint, believe it or not.” 

You stare at him, deadpan. “That’s nowhere close to all the shit I just gave you.” 

“It’s true!” he exclaims, holding up his hands. “Happened after I got bit by the spider. They’re repelled by peppermint oil, and I guess I am too.” 

You shake your head in disbelief. “I can’t believe Spider-man is a coward.” 

“A superhero’s gotta have some secrets,” he says, and he taps the side of his head. “Otherwise this thing doesn’t do much good.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” you say. “Whatever.” 

A chill suddenly goes up Peter’s spine and he whips around—he can hear a distant scream followed by a distant gunshot, and he mentally curses. 

“Duty calls?” you ask, drawing his attention back to you. 

“Yeah,” he says. “I’m sorry—” 

“Don’t be.” You smile, and it’s genuine. A nice change from the state Ethan effortlessly puts you in. “You went out of your way to cheer me up. Pretty super of you.” 

“I hope it makes up for the eavesdropping,” he says. 

“More than,” you nod. “Now get out of here. Your city needs you.” 

Peter nods too, and he backflips onto his original spot. “Have a good night. You’re real special to somebody.” 

He’s gone before you can say anything else, already zipping across the rooftops to get to the scene of the crime. Peter can only think of your face as he swings through the air—all the things he’s too scared to say to you. 

The crime, which turns out to be yet another petty theft, is resolved easily enough with some punches, kicks, and a snappy one-liner. Once he’s retrieved the woman’s purse and alerted the police, he’s back in the sky. 

Peter only stops once he’s swung a couple miles away, perching on the edge of some rooftop for some actual peace and quiet. He checks around once or twice to make sure he’s not somehow back at your place, and when he’s sure it’s all clear, he pulls his phone out. He swipes past all the notifications he’s racked up until he finds the one he’s looking for: the texts from you. 

hey pete, I know you’re prob asleep rn but you were right. I really need to study for that test lol

wanna meet me at the library tomorrow after QM? I’ll buy the coffee this time i promise <3 

as long as you use your roomie’s dining dollars to get me a croissant lol 

Peter can’t help but smile, larger than anything tonight. This is why he’s okay with being nothing but your friend for the rest of his life. 

Deal. Anything to get you an A 

lol

asshole 

Never 

Try to get some sleep. No good studying on a tired brain 

Three dots appear for a good long second, enough to constitute a decent paragraph—then they disappear. In its place: 

I’ll try just for you 

night boy genius

(How could he not love you?) 

Night, girl wonder

[giveafike]

Hi can you write Elliot euphoria and YN have a camping indoors sleepover that leads to more than just friends. Extra smutty please 🤭

TLDR: Elliot and Y/N planned a "camping trip" during college vacation and well, one thing led to another and...

Word count + info: 2.1k THIS ONE IS LONGGGG! Dialogue (it’s mostly sex talk and them being silly goofy guys). Female college!readerxElliot (no specifications).

Warnings + Content Ahead: NSFW this is 18+ MDNI, 420 mentioned, biting, oral sex, no protection (smh), lotta making out and mouth stuff, thigh riding 🤭 I think that’s it!

Azzie Notes ✚: Chat we are so back! sorry I took so long bro, IRL has been soo fkin messy atm but I just needed to write and get back on here. Why is my inbox ovulating so hard tho 😭  guys lets be demure too (kidding I need dom more than ever before now that Dominic has gone MIA)I hope u enjoy it's been a while! I also mentioned Euphoria like,.. the actual word and geeked out a bit go try n find it and geek out w me

————————————————————————

When It Rains, It Pours - D.F.

“Oh, dude you’ve got to be fuckin' kidding me” He huffs.

There you both were, like two idiots holding hamper baskets with blankets, snacks, rolling papers, and small pillows, staring out the glass door into the backyard as rain poured down heavy, the sound of wind whistling as the drops hit the windowed door hard.

You and Elliot had spent many summers “camping” in his backyard since High School and since college had separated your time together, what better way to reunite than kicking off summer in your hometown by camping? Only this year, you both promised to save up and go somewhere this time, but alas, it was just you, Elliot, his empty house and, the torrential rain outside. You both stood in matching tartan shorts and your graduation grey t-shirts from high school like a bunch of losers.

You sigh as you set down your hamper. “So much for that camping trip, huh?” you smirk, biting a smile down.

He sets his hamper basket down too and rummages through it to find his rolling paper and his little bag of weed. “Can’t believe our fuckin’ luck man” He murmurs angrily as he fumbles his papers up.

You sigh and reach over, grabbing his now crumpled paper, and, plop yourself down on the beanbag by the door before rolling his blunt for him. He sighs and sits on the floor between your legs, placing his chin on your knee before looking up at your face, and tucking some hair behind your ear.

“I missed this- I mean I missed you, ya know? Seeing your Instagram Stories and FaceTiming isn’t the same, you even look different. I really wanted to have something to remind you of me, like old times sake sort of thing, whatever that shit means” he mumbles, before pressing his cheek onto your knee, avoiding eye contact.

Your eyes widen at his confession and you stop in your tracks, your fingers moving away from the paper to his face, bringing his eyes back to look at you. Elliot had a lot messed up but one thing was for sure; he always had your back and was always there whenever you needed him.

You both were messed up together, he was your first kiss accidentally, you accidentally smoked weed together, and you both accidentally spent the night in a jail cell after trying to joyride an old car, only to end up crashing that same car within the span of a few minutes since neither of you could drive. Something about those accidents made your heart flutter and kept you around Elliot closer rather than push you away, even though your parents didn’t exactly take it well. Now, after spending almost 8 months away, you were worried Elliot felt like he was slipping away.

“Elli, you’ll always have me, you know that right? Like, you’ve fucked me up so bad that we have a trauma bond, you can’t expect me to slip away, dude. A-And remember one time it rained like this and we made an indoor fort? How ‘bout we do that then, yeah? We have all the stuff for it, the weed and all.” You smile, hoping to get a small laugh out of him as you hold his head, his eyes boring into yours while your fingers coil around his blonde-tipped hair.

He sighs and closes his eyes softly, before nodding, grunting as he gets up. He looks down at you before you lift your head to meet his gaze. Elliot lowers himself to plant kisses on your forehead with an overwhelming tenderness that sends shivers down your spine. It turns almost possessive as he trails it down to your cheek and peppers it with long kisses. Your breath hitches and you feel like melting under his touch. You had never felt a simple kiss to be so sensual but here you were, shivering with your breath hitching. He brings his mouth to your ear, his breath slow and almost ragged.

“If you left me, Y/N, I don’t know what I’d do...” His breath is ragged against your skin as he nips at your earlobe before abruptly standing upright again. He digs into his pockets as he walks over and attends to unpacking the hampers, acting nonchalant despite the raw passion still coursing through him. Elliot has kissed and touched you before, albeit while high, but something felt so different, so desperate at this moment.

You try to shrug it off as you roll a few more blunts before crawling inside the now-built fort Elliot had made. He sits on his knees as he puts up some string lights and fluffs up some pillows before resting on his elbows and leaning back. You sit in front of him, holding a blunt between your lips. He can’t help but smile as he brings his old lighter up to you, setting it alight and bringing his face close. The first hit in your lungs feels like home as you exhale with a giggle, blowing the smoke directly into his face. His eyes narrow playfully as he leans in, not breaking eye contact. Instead of simply taking the blunt, his lips brush against yours—soft, lingering—before catching the blunt between them. The kiss is brief but electric, the blunt slipping from your mouth to his as his lips hover close, teasing. For a moment, his face stays just inches from yours, the warmth of his breath mingling with the haze of smoke.

It’s like you’re in his pocket and he’s in yours, both of you wrapped around each others’ fingers. Your back is almost pressed to his, your face tilted up to look at his while his hands wrap around your waist, under your shirt and the waistband of your shorts feeling your smooth skin. It must’ve been 20 minutes when you decide to put the blunt to the side on a small tray and reach up to his face, this time parting his mouth for a kiss. It’s lazy and relaxed as you shift your body to straddle his thigh, your tongue slipping in. Elliot moans into the kiss, holding your hip with one hand and gripping your hair tight with the other.

You grind and gyrate on his thigh, your hands pulling at his curls; you knew he went crazy for hair tugs. His lips trail your neck, his tongue and teeth trailing and gnawing as he laps the length from your collarbone to your earlobe. You let out a whimper as you continue to buck against his thigh, desperate for more. You pull away, pressing your forehead to his.

“Elli, please… don’t hold back” you murmur, pleading as you heave.

He doesn’t answer, instead, he nods and takes his hand under your t-shirt to lift it up and over your head in one swift motion before connecting his lips back to yours. You gasp as you feel the cold air hit your naked torso, the sensation fresh with the sound of you making out with rain noises in the background and the smell of marijuana burning away. It all feels so right, so real.

His head dips between the valley of your breasts, suckling while holding eye contact, lazily moving his mouth over your breast, gliding the tip of his tongue in painful slow circles before taking your nipple between your teeth. His eyes look into yours with pure innocence and attentiveness, as you moan and hold his head there, roaming his curls as you continue to rock back and forth on his thigh, desperately trying for some friction for your now soaking core. You roll his t-shirt up and take it off his torso, throwing it to the side.

Elliot holds you and places you down on the pillow and the mess of bedsheets covering the wooden floor. He leans down, planting soft kisses from the nape of your neck to the edge of your waistband. He perks up to look at you with those sweet eyes you can never get enough of.

“You’re stunning, you know that, Y/N? You always have been.” He whispers shyly before tugging at your waistband looking for approval.

You nod and lift your hips up as he pulls your shorts and underwear off in one swift motion, discarding them outside of the fort. Elliot almost groans at the sight of you completely naked, his eyes filled with desire and admiration. He grabs the blunt placed on the tray and takes a long drag. Smoke billows from his lips and drifts towards your glistening center, making you shiver with anticipation. You moan at the sensation, feeling a wave of heat rush through your body. His head dips down while he kisses your inner thighs, licking softly. He kisses your core, right on your bud making you gasp. Elliot gently spreads your lips, taking one long lick up, circling over your bud. Something about how easy and purposeful he was being had made this all the more arousing, loud moans and encouragement rolling out from your lips begging him to keep going.

Elliot eats you out as if it's his sole duty, his purpose in life, and takes his sweet time to savour you, to thrust his tongue in and out of you, to drink you up until it brings your next orgasm, and then do it all over again. His hand thumbs your breast, the other holding your hips down as you continuously buck up for each wave of pleasure he gives you that ripples through your body. Elliot reaches down to free his member as he carries you through yet another orgasm, this time jerking himself off in slow, lazy strokes, dedicating himself to you first.

As you come down from your orgasm, you feel like you’re seeing stars, everything is flowing perfectly and harmoniously for the first time in a long time. You prop yourself up on your elbows as you watch him gently guide himself to your wet core. Elliot rubs his head up and down before thrusting in, watching your face for any sign of discomfort or displeasure. You grab his shoulder with one hand and bite your lip, nodding to ask him to keep going. He pushes in further, bottoming out inside of you entirely. Your tight hole twitches around his member, adjusting to his size as he slowly moves out, before pounding back in.

It doesn’t take much for Elliot to lose control and find himself relentlessly thrusting into you, roughly gripping a hand to your breast as he moves at a furious pace. You let out provocative giggles and purrs, further fueling his intense desire as he thrusts in and out of you. The fort feels humid, the sound of rain and skin slapping filling the room. Your body craves this, needing more and more as every thrust sends a wave of pleasure through your entire body. Elliot's red eyes are locked on yours, his face contorted with pure passion, your name spilling out like a prayer. You wrap your legs around his waist, urging him to go even deeper. His breath hitches as he pounds into you, his hips bucking wildly. The smell of sweat and sex fills the air as he continues to pound, his name echoing from your lips with every thrust.

As you near the edge, you can feel yourself tightening around him, squeezing each time he slams into you. Elliot grabs your hips, holding you tightly as he thrusts faster and harder, his eyes locked on yours. His face is a mix of passion and desperation, knowing you are about to shatter beneath him. And then it happens. You both reach your peaks, sending a jolt of euphoria through the both of you before collapsing, rocking together in one final attempt to ride out your highs. Your nails dig roughly into his shoulder as Elliot bites down on yours, your arms holding him as he lies on top of you before he pulls out and falls to your side. You both breathe out with your mouths dry and skin slick with sweat as you stare up at the bedsheet lined fort ceiling covered in string lights.

Elliot sits up to lazily grab the blunt from the tray, accidentally brushing past one of the fort supports. He pauses for a moment, before exhaling and lying back, taking a drag before handing it to you, smiling.

“You know, for a second there I thought I fuckin’ ruined the momen-” He’s cut off by the fort caving in, entangling you both in sheets. You can’t even be mad at him, he just accidentally crashed his own fort after making your legs shake. God knows how the rest of the night goes, but at least it’s spent with good, old Elli.

[petramysticaclxv]

CAMP HALF-BLOOD CABIN HEADCANNONS FOR THE BLUE EXORCIST TEENS/Students

(Yes im including Takara, and yes I'm doing this instead of writing my fanfic lmao) (Also bc cabins are somehow trendy in ticky-tok atm lmao)(And bc I've always been into pjo since teen years)

The Okumura Twins (but they in separate cabin? Yeah ik but this is headcannon and the boys are already the sons of the devil so lmao)

Rin - Cabin 16 (Nemesis) - One would think that oh maybe he's an Ares kid with how much he throws his punches around, but it always in RETALIATION, the guy just starts smacking when someone else is in trouble and he's not particularly trying to start fights, so Nemesis it is

Yukio - Cabin 17 (Nike) - But he's a dragoon, a sharpshooter, and a doctor meister? So why not Apollo, why Nike instead? As not as exactly worded, but quoted from his older twin: Yukio hates loosing. You think this guy became the youngest exorcist ordained while also gathering honors and medals from the normal schools at the same time for nothing? Think again!!! Yukio as we know is an overachiever, he hates loosing, he hates loosing so much he lost his own way jk nah he didn't he went to that airship for no reason, you'll see soon for y'all yukio haters(ew), but other than that he will always have the finishing shot... Always lmao (like the synergy of the twins is that if Rin starts a fight, Yukio will win it)

Kyoto Trio

Bon/Ryuuji - Cabin 1(Zeus) - He's not shooting lightnings ik or airbending, but he can shoot a bazooka. A natural leader, the always assigned leader of the group. Even if he's not as special as some of his classmates, their group can't move an inch without him. Maybe you can consider his quick chants as lightnings after all those bolts/chants can be a one-tap k.o. move

Konekomaru - Cabin 6 (Athena) - Our very own group nerd/geek, he knows his shit, and is about to make an app just so it makes everyone's jobs easier. Sure he's not as courageous as the usual Athena kid are, but he's a library himself, and is faster to see logic than Bon.

Renzo - Cabin 11 (Hermes) - no explanation needed jk, but srsly, this guy's lies will roll off his tongue with a laugh. Likes to travel?(Check), basically the messenger for Mephisto and Lucifer, so yep this was no brainer

The Girls

Izumo - Cabin 8(Artemis/Hunters of Artemis) - You can definitely imagine Izumo joining the hunters if she was given the chance (Kinda like Bianca Di Angelo), a lone wolf that thrives in a pack. But she's playing matchmaker to Rin and Shiemi? And? Even Artemis herself on ToA played matchmaker to her hunters if the hunters wanted it, she let them go and let them have a good life like Emmie and Jo in the waystation, if anything Izumo is trying to protect Shiemi ever since accepting her friendship by introducing her to so many things

Noriko Paku - Cabin 10 (Aphrodite) - Now, i have a hard time thinking about this, I could have just placed her as a mist-seeing mortal, but I don't want that. Despite her lesser appearances all throughout the manga, she's the anchor for Izumo, and even the whole timeline(remember the 2-year blip? If you haven't been to that arc yet, then i promise you those couple of manga chapters are fine as heck) Paku is like the hidden card of the teens, and what's more subtle than love itself?

Shiemi - Cabin 4 (Demeter) - The girl grew out a forest without a hitch in the middle on the top of a building. The other character I know who did that is Meg McCaffrey. And Shiemi is OP af, definitely deserves being in one of the top Olympian kids

✨BONUS✨

Takara - Cabin 15 (Hypnos) - he always looks likes he's sleeping. Also don't wake him up apparently, if he can do that while also basically sleepwalking, i can't imagine what he can do with his eyes open, bc we almost did in season 3.

Ambrosius - Cabin 5 (Ares) - But he's the king of earth wth? He tends to act more warlike than earthy, haven't really seen him make greenery like Shiemi does, and he absolutely loves to start a fight much to Rin's chagrin lmao

Reiji Shiratori - Cabin 7 (Apollo) - Now why did i put this punk here? People love to think apollo is all sunshines and rainbows, but he's actually also the god of plagues and we even have evidence in the books that not all apollo kids are divas some of them are fuckups like Octavian in HoO, so even if with how much i like cabin claiming 7 bc i can sing(when i was in my teens), Shiratori the punk is also placed here bc he's been possessed by the king of rot twice now

[finn89342]

Hey it’s me, so do you think you can explained how The Matron got her scars. Sorry if it’s too much it’s just your the second person I found who does stuff about her. Thank you.

OMG OMG OMG YESS, IM SO GLAD YOU ASKED!!! I will use ANY opportunity to talk about her more. Don’t EVER apologize for asking stuff like this, it means the world to me that you are interested! I’m glad to give you (or really anyone for that matter) more content about her. She needs so much more love, and I’ll gladly be the person to give her that.

Anyway, let me actually answer the question instead of geeking out about The Matron (except I’ll probably end up doing exactly that). Fair warning, this might be a bit of a long post. Some of the scars on her body are simply from tussles and fights from the other major demons, as well as some slip-ups with her buzzsaws. But I’ll go into more detail.

For example:

The one shown here (on her right hand) are from her accidentally slicing herself with her buzzsaws while trying to keep them maintained (cleaning/sharpening/replacing them).

These three (first is her right thigh, second is her left hand, third is left under underarm) were caused by fights she got into with the other major demons (“bosses”). Who exactly? I don’t really have a good answer atm, so you can interpret it to be whoever you want it to be.

The rest of the scaring (except for one that I’ll get to in a second) was due to the ‘incident’ with Doug and the ambulance chase (AKA, her boss fight). The exact scarring placement for most of those was taken off of this specific sprite of her in one of the SDD Chapter 2 teasers made a while ago (forgot the exact date it was released, sorry)

And for the other two that I’ll mention here.

This one (the one going down her chest/stomach, but it reaches slightly past the navel) was also from the ‘Doug ambulance chase’ incident, where (this doesn’t happen canonically of course, but it’s more of a more gruesome version of it ig?) would be from her landing directly onto on of the saws, cutting her open (won’t go into too much detail, but I think you get the idea). Her nurses helped to stitch her back together, but that wound is still relatively fresh. That’s why she still has her stitches. Somehow, she survived that, along side the many other injuries she got from that ambulance chase. I guess even demons can have miracles happen to them too (thank goodness).

The last one I’ll mention for now is this one here (on her left thigh). This was a self-inflicted injury. I don’t have a good (or exact) story for it, but this would be her ‘most recent’ scar. As of ‘now’, she’s a bit more mentally stable than she was after regaining her consciousness after the whole ‘ambulance chase’ happened. She’s still recovering (mentally and physically) from it, and she has a long way to go. But, that outcome will most likely change depending on what happens in the ‘true’ ending in Chapter 5. Looks like we will have to wait and see.

She has quite a few more scars, but they aren’t shown in any of the images I have posted previously. I guess there are some I forgot to mention too, so I apologize for that.

I know this is quite a long post, and I’m not sure if this will all make sense, but I hope this was what you were looking for. I would love to make more stuff in the near future like this. I’m so thankful you asked since I get to autisticly rant (I’m allowed to say that) about The Matron. I love her so much, I could literally talk about her for days without stopping. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask! I would love to answer them.

[justagalwhowrites]

Get To Know Me pt 1

Thank you for the tag, @sheepdogchick3 !

1. Were you named after anyone? My middle name is my paternal grandmother's name.

2. When was the last time you cried? I teared up a bit Tuesday night but fully sobbed was probably last Friday.

3. Do you have kids? No BUT I have a bonus kiddo in the form of my foreign exchange student!

4. What sports do you/have you played? Softball and figure skating when I was in school.

5. Do you use sarcasm? My therapist once said "I can't picture you being anything but witty and bitingly sarcastic at the slightest provocation" so take that for what you will.

6. First thing you notice about people? Generally their demeanor, I will tiptoe around people who seem mad and like they might direct that anger at me. Second, probably height lol

7. What's your eye color? Hazel

8. Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings, I am NOT a scary movie person! I just don't like being scared like that. I love roller coasters, I love suspense but I'm not big on horror.

9. Any talents? The closest thing I have to a talent is probably writing. I'm also a pretty decent cook and baker. I was a decent actor and director back in the day but now I mostly just use those skills to be a decent public speaker. I also did speech and debate all through high school and college (so if you were on the college forensics circuit in 2008-2011 we probably bumped into each other at least once.) That's about it, I don't have much going for me lol

10. Where were you born? Texas but I don't live there anymore! I love leaning on my Texas history when writing pre-or-no-outbreak TLOU fics though lol like hell yeah I'm going to include little Texas things in there like HEB and Shiner Bock and kolache and Dublin Dr. Pepper FIGHT ME (please don't I will lose)

11. What are your hobbies? This lol But I read a lot, play a lot of board games and D&D (if you want to geek out about these things please DM me I'm so serious), we go hiking and camping a fair bit. I also love film and am going to be starting my big Oscar movie binge probably this weekend.

12. Do you have any pets? One dog named Yondu! He's a lab/pit mix and he's my baby boy, I birthed him myself. He's also incredibly stupid but he's just the sweetest dog you will ever meet, I love him. He's currently wearing a sweater because he loves being warm and he's a snuggly thing.

13. How tall are you? 5'10" (I know, I'm a giant)

14. Favorite subject in high school? English, psychology, theater, journalism.

15. Dream job? Novelist and columnist who is sometimes a talking head so I can get paid to rant about my political opinions. I was a columnist for a few years in there with some syndication when I got picked up by wire services but that's the closest I've come!

NPT: @tightjeansjavi @diversemediums and anyone else who wants to do this! My brain is oddly fried atm and coming up with tags is overly difficult lol

[miikromeda]

intro <3

so uh my two friends on tumblr have intros on tumblr and i felt left out so im making one now :3

Technically my name is Cara, but like idk, I don't like been called by my name. My pronouns are She / Her, but honestly I don't really care. Gender is complicated. (i'm already ranting and i haven't even started someone stab me) So like here's my surface level stuff (i go more into depth below if your interested ig, my links are down there too)

Likes: K-pop, Grunge Music (Specifically Nirvana), Writing, Reading, Space, Geography and shows I like, but if you're really interested in what I'm into I go in more depth below. Dislikes: School!!!!, Art block / Creative Block, Conservatives, People who think everything is 'embarassing', people that hate fun and whimsy, homophobes, sexists, racists etc, the heat, bugs, tbh i complain about a lot of things even if it's minor, yeah it's a red flag, just tune me out i can say some stupid shit Music: Loona, Nirvana, Green Day, Ive , Dazey and the scouts, MSI, MCR, Twice, Red Velvet, Deftones, new jeans, Mitski, Tv Girl, there's more below

Kpop

Hehehehehehehe, I've liked K-pop for 4 (??) years now, I own a couple of albums and went to the IVE concert in Australia. Best day of my life, comparable to my birth. My ult groups are Loona (Loona is an encompassing term of the re-debuts and everything, who knows what's going on in loona island) and IVE. I love nwjns too, but god all the drama going on with them is too much. Other groups I stan: Red Velvet, Triples, New jeans, Le sserafim, Rescene, illit, gidle and more that I can't remember.

Music (In General)

Nirvana is my favourite band of all time, why wasn't I born in the 80's 😔. I mostly follow Grunge, Rock and Punk music as well as other alternative music genres. I don't plan to make a huge paragraph discussing all the genres I like so here is a list of my favourite artists atm: mitski, beabadoobe, laufey, gigi perez, nirvana, alex g, tv girl, green day, weezer, she wants revenge, dazey and the scouts, mindless self-indulgence (i don't support their actions), destroy boys, my chemical romance, radiohead, mommy long legs, deft tones, hole, bikini kill, arctic monkeys, phoebe bridgers, chapell roan etc. There's more but i'm lazy suck it. I ALSO PLAY GUITAR!! I play both electric and acoustic and consider myself pretty cool (ladies, ladies on at a time 😼😼) Yeah i love love love my guitar it is my gf Songs I can play: Come as you are, About a girl, buddy holly, in bloom, apple cider and im still learning more !!

Games

Tbh I don't play a lot of games bcs I'm poor asf 😔 but my favourites are: Mincecraft, Roblox, The Sims, Killer Chat, Undertale and Deltarune!! (spamton hangs on my wall)

Art

I am an avid artist, i mostly either draw using pencils or digital :3 I don't know what else to mention on art but it is a huge part of my life and maybe i'll post some art on here !!

Writing

Yeah I may not seem like but I love writing. I swear every other writers intros are so put together and poetic but I'm here geeking out cries. Yes I may seem silly and idiotic but I have thunk some very deep thunks 😼😼 (don't take me seriously please, i assure you i have the capacity to not act like a child) My current projects are Project Card and Project Tunnels, you may see me post about them occasionally 😽 Uh and my favourite characters I have ever written are Seven, Yuhong and Mingsheng (girl no1 gaf)

Reading

I LOVE READING‼️‼️I have nerdy interests sue me, i love reading either classics or fantasy (though I will not turn up my nose at romantacy) I need some more book recs, I'm currently reading to kill a mockingbird and holy shit scout is so me i want to be her friend so bad aofjaiwefiweyghiyaaoiufhqwyeufgqyegfygqywegfasdclhifqwergfitygOQSDIEYGFIADADIYG (sorry i have habit of going feral from time to time, im not contracting rabis i promise)

Space

I will cry if I fail a physics class, i love space so so so so so much, confession time anytime anyone ever mentions space, esp when it's from a tiktok trend or something ("omg titan is so cool") i will absolutely have very violent thoughts, no get away from space she's mine 😾😾 grgrgrgr i don't know i think it's weird to try gatekeep space of all things, and i'm aware of this, but i still will try.

Geography

WHY AM I HYPERFIXATED ON FLAGS FREE ME FROM THIS PRISON. Anyways i know all the flags of the world and some territories (come fuck w/ me 😼) trust i will geek out anytime geography is even barely mentioned i love the world and countries so much (no not countryballs stay away) anytime one of those 'fictional countries' on tiktok makes a flag i think i die a little inside. NO YOUR FLAG WAS NOT MADE UP OF PASTELS. Anyways actual pretty flags: Seychelles, Libya, UK, Russia, Bulgaria, Netherlands, Canada, Bhutan, South korea, Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, Confederation flag (is that weird???), Iceland, Norway, Turkey, Tunisia, Micronesia, idk there's more

Philosophy

no comment, i need to stop having weird interests and freaking people out because i randomly have existential crisis. if anyone wants to listen to me rant about anything and everything hmu ig???

TV

okay so idk how to go about this, i usually like shows but like drop them for a new one?? so i'll go through the shows i loved for more then a week. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Doctor Who, Big Bang Theory / Young Sheldon, Squid Game, House MD. I think out of this list my favourites are Squid Game and Doctor Who :3 I got a tardis blanket for Christmas !!

Links

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/user/31wyfkzcto4d5ejgl5vrcabkhrge?si=da8cceace9c94007

Pin - https://pin.it/40BWRGv9t

Spacehey - https://spacehey.com/theangelshavethephonebox

Fun Facts

I tried to learn both Organ and Saxophone b4 finding my one true love (guitar)

Ive been a girl kisser since i was 9 years old

My longest writing project is currently 31k words !!

l'm literally a purebred Australian, my dads side have literally been here since colonisation, i mourn having culture every day

HUGE THRIFTER, more then half my clothes are second hand, thrifted or from my lovely mother :3

Massive fan of Graffiti but i'm a tad bit of a pussy, i'm like that for most things, finding out and knowing how to do things or by passing rules but never doing it because i'm too scared

anyways thats it, yeah that's it i got tired, i may add to this, anyways byeee 😽😽

[hood-ex]

Finished JJK 0

I didn't know the movie was a prequel. I just wanted Yuji to show up the entire time lmao. The blorbo effect of me having a hard time focusing unless blorbo characters are involved.

No but I did manage to focus well enough, and I like that I got to know the year 2 students (or year 1 in this case) better, especially Maki. It makes things more interesting with her sister as well.

I've decided I hate the fact that Toge can only say a handful of curses before he has to tap out. I get that it's a weakness factor of his ability, buuut I still wish he could spit curses for longer than that.

Hearing "goddamn" in a Japanese accent was funny.

Oh yeah the heart nipples dude like what lmao.

I'm interested in seeing how Yuta and Yuji will interact with each other. I feel like their priorities are a bit more in sync in terms of saving/protecting people.

Todo and his Takada-chan agenda lmaooo. That's honestly such a hilarious motive to kick ass faster.

The entire time I was like is Kenjaku that forehead scar dude from season 1. I don't remember if his name was ever revealed in season 1, if so, I clearly didn't hear or memorize it. And then I always just recognized him by the forehead scar, so since he didn't have that in the movie I was like hmm is that the same guy. Are they different men entirely.

Naaaur I just wanna see Yuta and Yuji kicking ass together tbh. Not sure if Yuta returns in season 2, but I feel like he would since the movie was about him.

Ughhh I keep wanting to refer to the characters by their last names instead of their first names since in the sub they always go by their last names. Gojo feels more correct to me atm lmao so anyway I get Gojo's eyes are doing something but idk what, and I don't really care, I just know shit will rock harder when his mask comes off (*cough* Kakashi vibes *cough*) . And no yeah keep your mask on please sir bc those eyes are like elves on cocaine at the Christmas shindig.

Ummm what else... Nanami being a boss as usual. I don't usually buy geek merch, but I'm suddenly wanting a Nanami something of sort. Sticker maybe. Maybe I can slap him over the Nightwing sticker on the back of my phone case.

Kasumi is just a cutie patootie. Looks like a cinnamon roll... could actually kill you. Her hair makes me want to eat a blue Icee though.

I've been wondering who Gojo's teacher was and bam. No teacher reveal. But! Gojo and uhh what's his face... scar man. Scanning my above points quickly to try and find his name... oh Kenjaku. Yeah them being classmates wasn't necessarily surprising. Just because Kenjaku obviously knew a lot about Gojo based on season 1.

I don't remember if I was distracted or it simply wasn't mentioned, but I don't know what Yuta's skills are now. Like what's her face dead girl love monster, her curse self died, and so he shouldn't have access to her assistance now, right? But is her curse energy still embedded in the sword? So he's just a cursed sword user now? Or is he still insanely powerful?

Welp on to season 2 I suppose. I need Yuji's loud annoying ass back in front of my eyes pronto.

[how2fit]

Overall, running is a pretty low-tech sport—all you really need is a good pair of shoes. But there’s one piece of gear that many runners completely geek out over: the watch. Today’s top GPS running watches can give athletes all kinds of data about their training, from heart rate and stride length to VO2 max estimates and race predictions. “It can be one way to track your fitness improvement if you’re someone who likes data,” says Chicago-based running coach Amanda Wagner. One of the most popular brands today is Coros. It’s only been around for 10 years, which makes it fairly new compared to long-standing brands like Garmin and Suunto. But it’s quickly gained traction among runners. “It's known to be a powerhouse running watch brand at a really great price point,” Wagner says. “It's known to be accurate and connect fast to GPS.” It’s also got a reputation for offering exceptional battery life, making it particularly attractive among ultra endurance athletes who want a tracker that lasts as long as they do. The brand’s latest launch is the Coros Pace Pro. It updates the older Pace 3 with a bright AMOLED screen, longer-lasting battery life, downloadable offline maps, and a faster processor (so that it’s more responsive as you’re tapping around). Plus, it’s got eight times the storage capacity. At $349, it’s priced in the midrange of running watches—not the most budget-friendly, but also not the highest top-of-the-line luxury option. Looking closely at the specs, I was intrigued by the lineup of premium features: The Pace Pro offers just what most serious runners want, without a bunch of extraneous bells and whistles that can drive up the price on higher-end watches. So I got a sample to test out, using it to track runs, walks, strength training, and sleep. And I found it to be an exceptional training tool that actually helped me log better workouts. Coros Pace Pro — $349.00 Display: AMOLED (1500 nits) Battery life: 20 days for daily use, 31 hours of dual-frequency GPS Controls: Touchscreen, digital dial, back button Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi Memory: 32 GB Waterproof rating: 5 atm (enough for swimming, but not diving) Warranty: 2 years Color options: Black, grey, blue Exceptionally long battery life Bright screen with easy-to-read graphics Downloadable maps with turn-by-turn directions Impressively precise GPS (and quick connection) Workouts are easy to create and follow Captures loads of data Unreliable sleep tracking Plays MP3s but can’t stream music or podcasts Setup can be time-consuming Battery life Long-lasting battery life is one of the biggest selling points for Coros watches in general, and that’s true here even with the brand’s first (energy-sucking) AMOLED display. Coros says a charge on the Pace Pro lasts 31 hours with dual-frequency GPS on, or up to 20 days with regular day-to-day use. I found an hour-long run only ate up 4 percent of the battery power. This longevity is huge if you’re doing ultramarathons or Ironman races. It’s also just super convenient. “Think of, say, an Apple watch—those maybe last part of a day versus this Coros watch, it’s going to have a longer battery life,” Wagner says. It also charges quickly. When it first arrived, I opened up the box to find the Pace Pro charged to 75 percent (a nice perk for those of us who love the instant gratification of a toy we can immediately play with). I plugged it into my computer to download some music, and within a few minutes it was already up to 91 percent. One thing to note: The watch comes with a charging adapter that connects to any USB cable, which is convenient. But the adapter itself is tiny and feels easy to lose. (Coros seems to anticipate this, offering a keychain you can stick it in for safe-keeping.) Setup To get going with basic functions, I found the setup pretty straightforward and minimal. But I had to hunt to figure out any fancier features like how to download a training plan or add music.

There’s no video to take you through all the steps, and they aren’t always the most intuitive, so I ended up Googling almost everything. The screen and hardware The Pace Pro’s AMOLED screen is bright and easy to read no matter whether it’s dark or super bright out. Meanwhile, the new, faster processor makes it super quick to tap around through tons of data right on your wrist. The one place where I found it’s not the most responsive is actually getting the screen to light up. When I kept it on the “Gesture-Based” setting to extend battery life when not working out, the watch face didn’t always show up immediately when I lifted up my arm to take a peek. The screen is 1.3 inches, and it comes with a silicone band, which I found decently comfortable. It’s not so big that it gets in my way, and it’s light enough to wear 24/7. However, as someone who doesn’t love sleeping with a watch, at night I found it a little clunkier than a Whoop band. GPS connectivity Coros says the Pace Pro has a new satellite chipset and hardware configuration for the brand’s most precise GPS performance to date. I found it always connected to GPS for me quickly in just two to six seconds. To check how accurate it was, I looked back at all my maps after my runs. I could see it captured my exact path across a street, for instance, rather than showing a wiggly line. There were slight deviations of a foot or two, but no major aberrations, even around buildings that typically freak out my old Garmin. Doing a workout In theory, one of the major perks of a good running watch is the ability to program workouts right onto it. In practice, this can sometimes be so cumbersome it’s not worth the hassle. But I found Coros makes it super easy to build a workout in the app, and there’s also a library of coach-designed workouts and even full training plans to choose from. On the run, the watch gave me clear signals of when to start an interval, when to recover, and how fast to go. I liked the way the pacer option kept me honest about my speed in a non-irritating way, only giving a gentle nudge every 65 seconds when my pace was off (you can customize the frequency). Meanwhile, colored lines made it easy to see my heart rate zone at a glance. It felt like having a coach on my wrist tell me exactly what I should be doing when so that I could focus in on the running itself. The Pace Pro seems mainly designed for runners and triathletes. Case in point: You can choose between “run,” “indoor run,” “trail run,” or even “track run,” plus four different biking and two swimming options. But you can also track other activities like skiing and rowing. I used it to track a couple of strength training sessions, just because I could. “A lot of runners end up enjoying their watch so much that they want to track all their data and all their activities with it,” Wagner says. For lifting, there’s an auto-rep counting feature, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t, depending on the exercise. It also recorded my heart rate, which isn’t the point of strength training, but hey, nice to know. I don’t know anyone who buys a watch for lifting workouts, so the lack of usable features here isn’t shocking. But I did like being able to keep track of how much time I spent doing strength work throughout the week. Once you finish any kind of workout, you get a bunch of stats to scroll through right on the watch (like heart rate zones, elevation, cadence, stride length, recovery time), and have a chance to note your rate of perceived exertion. Or you can check out the data on the Coros app or a third-party platform like Strava or Training Peaks. Wagner says she’ll go over this kind of data with the athletes she coaches at least once a month, and sometimes as often as every single day, depending on how data-driven they are. One thing I loved: The Pace Pro gives you daily stats without feeling at all shame-y on rest days. Even if you set daily goals, there aren’t markers like unclosed rings when you don’t hit them—you just get a congrats message when you do.

Maps The addition of offline maps is a huge draw for many runners. With the Pace Pro, you can create a route (on roads or trails) in the Coros app, or import a GPX file. I found it’s a little more time intensive to map out a route in the app than in, say, Google maps, but it’s not terrible if you’ve got some patience. Then, once you choose to follow a route during an activity, you’ll get turn-by-turn prompts and off-course alerts. It can also tell you how to get back to the start. However, it won’t re-route you when you veer off (like you’d get with a routable map on a high-end Garmin), so you need to figure out how to get back on track yourself by looking at the map on your wrist It took me a few minutes to get used to the timing of how far ahead it warns you about a turn—on short blocks, I’d get a prompt for a turn two blocks ahead, which is just confusing. But you can always look down at your wrist and see the route highlighted. Once I got a sense of the rhythm though, this was a huge help that kept me from stopping my workout to take out my phone and check where I was headed. Other features One thing that got me excited about the Pace Pro was the ability to listen to music right from the watch, but this feature was actually pretty underwhelming. Yes, with 32 GB storage, you can fit a massive playlist, but it only supports MP3 files—if you want to stream Spotify or podcasts, you’ll need your phone. I found the Bluetooth connection was also pretty darn spotty unless I turned off my phone’s bluetooth connection so it didn’t interfere. Initially, I was also intrigued by the Pace Pro’s all-in-one capability as both a running watch and sleep tracker. Yet I found the sleep tracking gave me a good deal more credit than my Whoop, counting the time I spent scrolling Instagram in bed as “light sleep.” It also doesn’t always pick up on naps. So I’d say that while it’s helpful to get a general idea of your sleep, if that data’s super important to you, I’d recommend a tracker like Whoop or Oura ring that specializes in it. One cool perk, however, is that you can do a few health tests right from the Pace Pro: You can see your heart rate, heart rate variability, breath rate, oxygen saturation, and get an overall “stress score.” It’s not an FDA-approved ECG, but pretty neat for a quick check-in. Who the Coros Pace Pro is best for Honestly, I’d recommend the Pace Pro to nearly any runner who’s in the market for a premium smartwatch. The only caveats are that if you want one that also gives you best-in-class sleep tracking or streams music and podcasts, you’ll probably want to keep shopping around. (Though you’ll likely need to pay a little more.) But if a long battery life, a bright screen, or offline maps are a priority, this watch truly gives you a ton of bang for your buck. “Do you need to spend $800 on a smartwatch? No,” Wagner says. “You can get one for $200 or $300 that has all the features and more that you might need.” The Pace Pro offers just that. Personally, I found that the collection of features add up to better workouts, taking care of details like where the heck you’re headed so you can just focus on putting in the work.

[i-musthavelovedyou-alot]

Me again - 2025

TEN FACTS

► Name ➔ Emma..but I do go by Emm and Red.

► Hair color ➔ just my normal ginger, haven't dyed it in forever.

► Age ➔ 31 😱 yes that old!

► Eye Color ➔ Blue

► Birthday ➔ 20th May

► Gender ➔ Female

► Lefty or Righty ➔ Righty

► Single or taken? ➔ Taken.. with the rings to prove it 😉

► Happy? ➔ Not gonna lie I am struggling atm. I have good days and bad days but the bad days are more often and I'm dealing with a lot of stress and anger... postpartum rage is definitely a thing. I love my baby girl though with all my heart and she keeps me going every day.

TEN THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

► Are you in love ➔ Yes. I love Dan with all my heart but I miss how it used fo feel in the early days.. The excitement and butterflies when we were dating. We're a boring married couple now which is great but I miss the excitement.

► Do you believe in love at first sight ➔ No. You can be really attracted to someone and feel a pull towards them but it isn’t love. You don’t love someone until you know all their faults and problems; their likes and desires and you still want to be the first person they think about and to be with them even when they drive you insane.

► Who ended your last relationship ➔ It was just a fling at uni, nothing serious and I ended it because I wasn’t really that into him.

► Have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔ Probably though it’s not been intentional. I’ve always been straight with guys that have had feelings for me when I haven’t felt the same, because I’ve been in their situation before, and it sucks. I doubt those people even remember me now tbh.

► Are you afraid of commitments ➔ I was. It took me a long time to open up to Dan and I know if I wasn't with him now I would be the same with someone else. Dan has been great but I still have a lot of emotional trauma from when I was younger that affects me.

► Have you hugged somebody in the last week  ➔ Yeh, Dan of course and my baby girl Ebony.

► Have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ I’ve had a stalker and a guy who was in love with me but I knew about both of them so not really secret admirers

► Have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ I did that so much when I was younger. I wish I could go back and tell myself you will meet someone who loves you the same and it'll be amazing. Also apart from A you won't even care about the others in future.

► Do you usually spend Valentine’s Day alone? ➔ Not anymore, Me and Dan try and do something even if it’s watch a movie at home if we’re skint.

► Short or long-term relationships? ➔  long term

TEN CHOICES► Love or lust ➔ Both are important. Love is the main part but has to be some lust as well.

► Lemonade or iced tea ➔ Lemonade

► Cats or Dogs ➔ Both. I used to be a dog person, and I still love them but now I have Lissy I have to say cats are cute too :)

► A few best friends or many regular friends ➔ a few best friends

► Television or internet ➔ internet.. even though it's not a good place to be.

► Pepsi or Coke ➔ diet coke

► Wild night out or romantic night in ➔  Now it’d be romantic night out would be my choice but that's not really an option so romantic night in.

► Day or night ➔ Night. I am definitely not a day person. I can sleep all day and stay up all night.. I prefer sleeping in.

► Text or Call ➔ Both though I suck at responding.

► Make-up or au naturel? ➔ I cba with makeup most days, I wear the bare minimum and only really do myself properly if I’m going out out.

TEN HAVE YOU EVER

► Been caught sneaking out? ➔ Nope, sneaking back in plenty of times lol

► Fallen down/up the stairs? ➔ Of course, I’m so clumsy but no recently

► Wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ Yeh of course. I always want to go on holiday or have a lie in lol. At the moment, there is someone other than Dan I think about but it’s just someone from way back.

► Prank called a store? ➔ Nope

► Skipped school? ➔ nope I was an angel (geek) plus they always called my mum when I wasn’t in...

► Wanted to disappear? ➔ When I'm having a bad day that's all I want to do but now I have Ebony that's not an option.

► Spent all your money? ➔ always though mainly on Ebony now 😀

► Met a celebrity? ➔ No-one major

► Been really ill? ➔ No just the usual colds and coughs

► Gotten high? ➔ Only through 2nd hand smoke and a space cake.

TEN PREFERENCES

► Smile or eyes ➔ eyes though a smile is very important

► Light or dark hair ➔ Short and Dark

► Shorter or taller ➔ I’d say taller, though most of the guys I liked were roughly my height (bar S)

► Intelligence or attraction ➔ Intelligence as long as they’re not boring.

► Hook-up or relationship ➔ relationship

► Funny and poor or rich and serious ➔ funny and poor.

► Mac or PC? ➔ PC

► Chapstick or lipstick? ➔ Lipstick, though I don’t wear it often.

► City or country? ➔ The countryside especially anywhere in the Lakes ❤️

► Driving or walking? ➔ Walking because driving stresses me out too much

LASTS

► Last phone call? ➔ Dan, he called me to say goodnight.

► Last song you listened to? ➔ In The Night Garden theme tune lol

► Last thing you ate? ➔ some shortbread... so healthy

► Last thing you drank? ➔ flavoured water

► Last place you were? ➔ home, otherwise Aldi foodshopping

► Last kiss? ➔  Dan before he went to work... and Ebony ❤️

► Last picture taken? ➔ Ebony's smile at the pub 😀

► Last outfit? ➔ black leggings and Michael McIntyre hoody.

► Last purchase? ➔ Some vegetables and food for Ebony.

[trashcritter]

Tag Game!

@haru-sen kicked me down on the playground, stole my lunch money, and twisted my arm until I agreed to fill this out.

Some things about me

Favorite Color: blue

Last Song: London Calling, The Clash

Currently Reading: whatever is up on my AO3

Currently Watching: nothing atm, just finished Geek Girl

Currently Craving: a nap

Coffee or Tea? Coffee, though there are occasions when only tea will do

Continuing the cycle and tagging in @cinnasalmon @poetryvampire @el-inle and anyone else who wants to, I don’t make the rules

[the1975attheirverybest]

Genre? Yes. It's whatever we decide is our vibe when we roll into practice. It's very fun for me honestly cause I'm the bassist (most.importsnt part) and singer so I just get to fuck about and find out making noises. We list ourselves as indie rock but kinda depends one how we feeling because we all have different musical backgrounds and influences which makes some really interesting dynamics. I can't name the band because then I'd also be letting people know who I actually am irl unfortunately and also I don't want anyone being like "omg its the tumblr fanfic boy" at a gig (I live in fear)

Solo stuff I mostly post on YouTube or do the local uni radiostation shows. Just cause its easier for me. Tend to write more within the vein of the same genre as the 1975 with more folk thrown in because I'm more limited when it's just me lmao. Did do a Midwestern emo phase tho because it was funny. Atm im starting a new YouTube and I'm doing a concept ep of Greek mythology based songs and also some songs for @byyourside28 and her fic series (I'm lame I know)

Dude, noooo THAT ACTUALLY SOUNDS MIND BLOWING 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 for real like that’s amazing. This shit is hardddd. And the fact that you’re doing it when nobody’s making you means you do it cuz you love it. That’s what it’s about. Tremendous respect and admiration for that.

And I totally understand you not wanting to name the band. I have some regrets about casually putting everything about myself on here HAHA.

THE GREEK MYTHOLOGY SOUNDS FUCKIN COOL BROOOOO. I’m a massive geek for that sort of thing so like that sounds like the sort of thing that I’d be legitimately excited about. And, I’ve only just started re-acquainting myself with @byyourside28 ‘s work (cuz I have ADHD and will read something then forget to come back to it again or for part 2 etc) but I can already understand why would be happily doing that.

Sounds fantastic, no exaggeration. I hope that you can flesh it out into a sustainable career after uni!

[cyncerity]

the last post did so much better than expected! i’m genuinely really surprised, thanks for all the support on my short little shitty comic hsjsksl

Anyway, here’s pt. 2!!

Steve has been worried sick for days thinking his little brother was killed by their resident human meanwhile Dustin has acquired a new big brother

[orchidyoonkook]

LASTONELASTONE!! I did it! and within the promised time frame too, look at me go! (Im taking any wins atm, please dont mind me)

ONTO!

why am i sobbing right now 😭😭😭😭 this was so fluffy this hang out ahhhhhh yoon it was adorable 😩😩🥺🥺🥹😭🥹😭🥹😭🥹

I love them i love them i love them. I LOVE THEM. I love how easy they are with one another, how effortless and thoughtless and easy.

oc and jungkook literally have my heart at this point i mean i am speechless the fact that she made this so special for him and he was looking out for her during the exams and the freaking gift i can't stop sobbing 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

One thing about OC is that if she can create some solstice magic for somebody, she absolutely will. She's like me in the sense that she thinks holidays should be celebrated for their true intentions, and that no one should be denied that magic.

I love that he can't help it either, like it physically pains him to see her like that so he's compelled to help. He's such a good man, that JK.

THE GIFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTT. OH I WAS SO STOKED FOR THAT. I love that he did it, I love the thought that went into it. That he noticed she has older brushes, 'lower' (but still good) quality brushes, brushes that look like theyve been used to much, and he used that information and just automatically decided that her passions and talent deserved the best instead of the best she could get herself. That he didn't think twice about the price of the gift because money has never been an issue for him, but he thought about the gifts impact and how it could help her achieve her dreams.

i think about his gift versus her unintentional on and their contrast a lot. I really enjoyed writing them.

so it was a mix of sobs turns blushes because of that muscle use talk hey (what a switch up)

sobbing and blushing with you!

And I like a lil spice with my fluff, what can I say. Balance is nice. I also like the natual growth of conversation, in a way that's expressed with a game of wits that turns into more trust and respect by the end of it. That's a complicated sentence, I hope that makes sense. XD

but omg the tree and the star (yoon how adorable you actually make those i love it that little add you did there)

I did! second year of college yoon wanted a christmas tree in her dorm real bad, so she went to her local dollarstore and got a little one and little baubles to match. But they didnt have tree toppers! So i took a cereal box out of my recycling bin, cut out a star, glued tin foil to the bitch and put'er on top of my baby tree. I still have and use it to this day. She remains super cute and festive.

and they are hugging now look it's one step closer to a kiss i will take it

I personally find hugs to be more intimate and passionate then kissing when done within the right context. A kiss? you can kiss anyone and have it mean nothing. But a hug? To be held? An embrace where you just hold another person because of the emotions your feeling can only be expressed tactiley like that? Hits different for me.

i can't get over how fluffy and homey this was and with the bodyguard too it just captured my heart i love this chapter it's definitely in my top 10 PJK moments (basically it's every interaction they have that's why it's 10 you get it) 🥹

THE GUARDS. MY BABIES. I love the guards, I love their positive masculine energy, I love that JK has them, and I love that they like OC. He's a little brother almost to most of them, they're the kind of older brothers who clearly aren't afraid to give their little bro shit, but are also his biggest cheerleaders when it counts. I just. I love my guards. I was so excited to introduce them finally.

holy shit top ten!!!!!! I'm honoured, flattered and in dire need of that list in ranked order so we can geek out together. (also so i can compare the current list to the list when the series if finished.)

(also also that is of course, not a request, only a "if you ever wanted to do so, I would be more than willing to read and geek")

and now they won't see each other over solstice i wonder how that's going to go i just know the texts are not gonna stop flowing i can not wait to see why happens in chapter 10

Chapter ten is currently 13.1k. :)

And in a slightly different format. But only slightly. You'll see what I mean when it's released <3

yoon please give a spoiler like a minor one okay give us a line a quote something please 🥹🖤

👀👀👀👀

Picasso [3:24pm]: Hey, if I wanted to mail you something while ur home, how would I do that??

👀👀👀👀

yoon you know i adore you and seeing how you have grown as a writer is the most beautiful thing and i just know you are going to do so many more great things i want you know i am here always and i adore you, your happiness means the world to me and i hope you are smiling and your days are filled with happiness - kiki 🖤

You know? I thought it was raining from how wet my face and clothes were, but it was actually just the ocean of tears this just made me shed in a downpour.

I can never, and will never be able to tell you how important reviews and humans like you are to me in particular, but to writers and creatives out there who do what I do. There is no us without you. I will say it in every. single. review. you write me, but you and folks like you are the reason fic and fic community stays alive, and I can never thank you enough for it. I'm so thankful and grateful for your constant and unwavering support, and for being on this wild writing ride with me as I grow with it.

I hope I can keep up the consistency of the writing style, and only improve as I go, as well as not screw up this story you love so dearly. I promise to try my best.

I am absolutely smilling and filled with happiness. I hope you are the same <3

Xo, Yoon

To What We Were Before, And All The Things After | JJK | Ch. 9

Title: Sugar Cookies and Devious Confessions

Pairing: Prince!College Student!JK x Fine Arts Major!(F)!Reader

Series Rating//Genre: (M) | College AU, Mild Royalty AU, Smut, Angst, Fluff, S2F2L, Indiffernce to lovers, sloooowwww ass burn

Summary: Exams season and Solstice? Consider YN locked in, loaded, ready to go, hangry, and sentimental. Jungkook is just along for the ride with a hefty side of acts of service, quality time and physical touch are his love languages. Who'da thunk?

Warnings: T, language, fluff, so much fluff actually, I've surprised myself, semi-sexual conversations, JK is a menace but Reader can keep up...mostly, touch of angst tbh, reader gets hangry and is bad at taking care of herself sometimes, but apologises and makes up for it, mostly just wholesome this time. And fun!

Word Count: 6,675

Release Date: December 8, 2024. 12:30PM

A/N 1: Hiiiiiiiiiiii. It's here, thank you to those who reminded me. I literally would have forgotten for the third week in a row without them. I love you all.

A/N 1.5: Chapter ten will be coming sometime between Dec 20th-30th as it is festive and that's all I will say about it.

Series: Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four | Chapter Five | Chapter Six | Chapter Seven | Chapter Eight

Jungkook’s learned many things about you since your friendship started. 

From your favourite colours to your favourite brush to paint with. He learned that you are always team morally gray love interest in the books you read in your limited spare time, although that one was learned a little against your will. 

He’d wanted to know why you always went for them, and very begrudgingly you admitted you found it appealing when they’d do anything to protect the main character. That they always did what they thought was best or what needed to be done despite their sad backstory, because for some reason, they all had sad backstories.

Every. Single. One of them. 

And you claimed it suckered you in every time. 

But through all of your time spent together—specifically during midterms—Jungkook learned just how much you ignore all of your basic needs as a human being when it comes to exams season. 

How you’ll forget to eat all day in favour of studying, or staying up late to finish your practical exam projects, making absolutely sure they’re up to your impossibly high standards, disregarding sleep.

So it doesn’t surprise him when he turns the corner to the greenhouse cafe to see you, thinner than normal with bags under your eyes, slaving away at something on your computer. 

He hates that he can tell you’ve lost weight through your winter clothing.

You look up, briefly smiling in greeting. He can tell just from how long it took you to notice him that you need a break, a good healthy meal and some sleep.

He smiles back, but bypasses you and walks straight into the cafe. You don’t think twice about it, already knowing what he’s doing.

“Hey Vivian,” he says to the barista.

“Hey JK, the regular?” She's restocking some cups and lids to the counter.

“Please, but tag on a hot chocolate for YN and some tarts.” Vivian nods, typing the order into the cashing system, very much used to either of you adding on each other's order to your own at this point.

“Machines ready for you,” she says, already prepping the first drink—his by the looks of it.

Jungkook pays and waits patiently, watching you from the window. 

“How long’s she been here?” he asks over the currently frothing milk—that’s for your hot chocolate.

“Since seven. She grabbed a tea and hasn’t moved since.” 

It’s almost 1:30 now, and Viv looks at him knowingly. She’s watched you do this to yourself every mid-term and exam season since you started. 

“Ah. I see.” He purses his lips.

It’s only a few minutes before the drinks and tarts are ready. Jungkook grabs them and heads out the door, calling a thank you over his shoulder.

“Okay look,” he says to grab your attention as he stands directly in front of you. The act of walking to the front of you alone clearly not enough to gain it. 

Looking up, your eyes widen in glee at the treats he carries. You attempt to reach for them but he pulls them back.

“Nuh uh, you need food.” 

You look at him confused. “Those are food.”

“No, these are the reward. You need a meal.” 

You try to interrupt him. Most likely to say you do eat meals, but instant ramen or a box of mac'n'cheese do not count, and he cuts you off before you can. “A healthy meal, Picasso, something to give your body nourishment and energy. One that fills you up.”

You scowl at him. 

“But–”

“No buts,” he cuts you off again. “Healthy food. Full, happy belly food,” he says, gently patting his stomach so not as to spill his drink. “Pack up, we’re going to the cafeteria and getting you some.”

“But–”

“Y/N,” he says sternly, giving you a look that says he will not be budging on this, and that if you refuse, he’s going to throw you over his shoulder to ensure it happens. 

It was the voice of a future King, he thinks. Then internally shudders. That’s not who he is with you, but he can admit that sometimes this side of him comes in handy during times like these. 

“Fine.” You snip, very clearly not happy about this.

Fortunately, you don’t seem to have any art supplies with you today, just your computer, a notepad and pencil case. You gather them quickly, throwing them into your backpack with an annoyed look because you don’t want to stop, but he’s forcing your hand.

He doesn’t care. You need this, and it’s clear as hell you were not going to do it on your own.

You were so fucking stubborn sometimes. 

His mask, hat and baggy shirt combo mixed with some large combat boots and a slight slouch in posture has worked wonders disguising him from the public so far. In fact, he’s pretty sure it intimidates some people seeing as how they nearly jump out of his way. You’ve joked about it before, calling it his ‘scary dog privilege’…whatever that meant. 

Jungkook doesn’t mind, though. Despite being four months into the school year, and his speech at the beginning, people still fawn and stare at him. Trying to get his attention, his approval. Anything to get something from him, even if it’s just a look in their direction. 

He wonders if it will ever die down, if it'll ever go away. Or if with new freshmen every year, a new horde of people will seek him out. 

So, he’s grateful that with this little disguise on, no one bats an eye at him as you two walk the fifteen minutes it takes to get across campus to the cafeteria. He knows you’re more than mentally drained, because you’re not checking over your shoulder every few seconds to make sure no one realizes you’re with him like you usually do. 

You enter the main building, luckily the cafeteria on the ground floor, just near the back. Once there, you walk straight to the fridge of premade to-go foods. Grabbing a fruit cup, a chicken caesar salad, and a container of mixed vegetables with dip, you turn to him.

“Is this good enough for you?” you snark.

“Yep, great choices,” he says, ignoring your tone. “Very healthy and nutritious. Plus you nearly have all the food groups.”

“I do have all the food groups,” you say back, deadpan.

Wow…

You really need some sleep, he’s never heard you sound so lifeless. Or mean. You’re only ever truly mean when you’re beyond exhausted, too tired to care. 

He’d say your mood and overall vibe is like a mixture of brown and gray, but he knows if he said it out loud you’d make him specify which specific shades of brown and gray, so he keeps the thought to himself. Both not to provoke you and to be polite.  

“You’re missing dairy and grain,” he says.

You point to his hands holding the tarts and drink.

“Fair point,” he concedes, and trails you to the register, grabbing a protein shake from a nearby fridge on the way. His card is out and paying before you can reach for your wallet and you accept it, even too worn out to yell at him for buying you something. 

Hot chocolate and the occasional bag of tarts you're fine with, because half the time you’re also buying him his coffee and sharing your tarts, so you see it as a fair trade. But anything outside those and you damn near throw a fit, claiming you don’t need him to spend his money on you. 

You never want anything from him, so unlike everyone else in his life.

He leads you to a more private booth in the corner, scary dog privilege in full effect as no one dares stand in his way, and you very unceremoniously plop down, sluggishly shucking off your bag and coat. 

Definitely a brownish-gray. 

You two eat and drink in silence; you, slowly picking away at your food, him, finishing his drink then eating the vegetables from the container you don’t like. It’s a peaceful silence, contented as your mood gradually improves and some colour returns to your face the more you get into your system. 

The sight relieves him. 

“Sorry,” you say, eyes glued to the table, unable to look at him. And he knows it’s for the way you treated him pre-food.

“No worries,” he replies. “Feeling better?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. That's good.”

Jungkook wasn’t going to push, but now that your mood’s improving, he hopes it’s safe to.

“Hey,” you look up at him, the bags under your eyes more evident under the artificial light and his heart breaks a little at the sight. “Promise me you’ll get some sleep tonight?”

A small close lipped smile finds your face, eyes soft, appreciative. The corner of his own lifts to match. 

“I promise I’ll try.”

You fall asleep early that night, 9pm. 

You don’t know what allows you to, but your exam worries fade and assignment anxiety slips from your mind the heavier your eyes grow. In the back of your head however, a thought slips through your defenses; you know it’s because of the look in Jungkook's eyes when he’d asked you too. 

The one of worry—genuine worry—for you. 

You hate yourself for causing it. You never want him to have to worry about you, god…he already has so much on his plate, you don’t want to add to it. 

But mostly…

But mostly you let yourself succumb to slumber because you don’t want to disappoint him. 

He asked you so kindly, and you know he had your best interests at heart when he did. He always does. 

You don’t have it in you to deny him that simple favour. To take care of yourself a little better.

So you sleep, just this once. For him. To help relieve him of the stress you caused.

And you know that that thought is what lets you until 10am the next day.

You feel better than you have in weeks.

You have everything you could possibly need to make all the recipes you have planned for today. Eggs, flour, sugar, soju, cutters, extracts, ginger, honey, chocolate chips, food colouring, some fruit concentrates and more are stuffed into the bags that dangle from your now struggling arms. There’s also another much lighter bag filled with a surprise for him that sits near the crook of your elbow. 

 Jungkook’s not going to know what hit him.

The door clicks open and you watch his eyes nearly leave his skull before he reaches to take them from you.

“Oh wow, you really weren’t kidding were you,” he says as he takes them to the kitchen with ease. 

Stupid muscles, you think, but the thought doesn’t hold for too long, glad at having your arm circulation back. 

“Solstice cookies are no joke in my house,” you say, following him.

“Clearly.”

He starts taking things out of the bags and you grab the one with the surprise in it before he can get to it.

“Won’t we need that?” he asks.

“Yes, but it’s not for cookies,” you start backing away towards the living room, bag behind your back. “It’s a surprise.”

Jungkook has a goofy grin plastered on his face as he follows you, and you put one on to match.

You stand in front of the coffee table and order him to sit and close his eyes, a sarcastic ‘yes ma’am’ comes from his lips, but he does as told. 

You set the contents of the bag on the coffee table; a small fake tree with built in lights, some tiny baubles in a box, a star, a polaroid camera and a custom, empty ornament.

“Okay, open!”

Jungkook opens his eyes and the same goofy grin returns, but this time there’s a sparkle in his eyes that you’ve never seen before.

His voice is gentle and lovely when he asks, “What’s all this Picasso?”

“Your very own tree to decorate. We have lights, decorations, even a star for the top,” you say as he leans and picks up the star. “You said you didn’t really celebrate anymore so I wanted to bring some celebration back to you—if you wanted to, that is.”

He twirls the star in his hand, smile never leaving, as he inspects it closer. “Did you make this?”

You turn sheepish. “Ah… yeah. They don’t really sell mini toppers for the mini trees, just the baubles, so that guy’s made from the finest cereal box cardboard and tinfoil on the market.”

He just stares, at the star, at the tree, then to you. You can’t tell if you screwed up or not. Did he hate this?

But then he’s standing and you’re in his arms as he hugs you. 

You freeze, unsure of what to do for a second, before you let your arms go around him, hugging him back. 

He’s solid, you can feel the strength in him as he breathes, and the weight in his arms as they hold you. 

But also warm. So warm your cheeks start to heat to match the rest of your body that seems to be on fire. 

It ends before it barely started, and you find yourself missing him the second he’s gone. 

“Sorry,” he says, shaking his head as if not realizing what he’d just done until after he stopped. You want to tell him it was okay, but he says, “thank you,” immediately after, and squats down to open the baubles. 

“You’re welcome,” you say as you watch, sitting down on the couch. He looks like a kid, the brightest of smiles on his face as he goes to place the first one, but pauses, and hands it to you. 

“You know better than me where to start.”

You giggle, placing the red sphere near the middle, and gesture for him to put on the next one. It continues like this until the box is empty, you then him, then you then him. He places the last ornament and looks to you, star in hand. 

“You do it,” you say. You’ve done this a million times with your mum, you doubt he’s done the same.

He carefully grabs the top branch that sticks up, placing the star over it. Your heart swells at how gentle he is with your handmade decoration. 

“Now the last step,” you say, as you reach for the camera. This was your favourite tradition with your mother, the yearly solstice picture. You have one from every single year after you were born, and even one with you in your mum’s belly. 

“Turn around,” you say, spinning your finger and he does, you follow.

You’re both on the ground in front of the tree, and you lift the camera, leaning into him. Still so warm. He leans right back. 

“Say 'Solstice!'” you call out, and smile.

“Solstice,” he says with you as you snap the picture.

You pause for a moment, making sure the image is done capturing before leaning away again. 

The image prints out, and you take hold of it, shaking so it develops faster. 

“Can you get some scissors, and a permanent marker?” you ask Jungkook. He leaves for only a moment, returning from the kitchen, scissors and marker in hand. 

You reach for the empty, custom ornament. It’s a camera, and where the lens would be is a spot for a picture. Cutting the polaroid to fit, you slide it in, and write solstice followed by the year on the back of the ornament.  You put it in the middle of the tree, letting the baubles frame it.

You don’t see Jungkook watching you do all of this, a look in his eye that would melt you if you saw. 

“And now for the magic,” you say, turning on the built-in lights. The tree twinkles as the little LEDs reflect off baubles, like stars on a clear night winking at one another.

You're too busy looking at the tree when you hear a click. Following the sound you see Jungkook, polaroid camera in hand, lens facing you. The image pops out and he grabs it, placing it on the coffee table beside the tree.

“Aren't you supposed to shake it?” you ask.

He looks purely serene as he responds. “Nah, polaroids have chemicals and dyes layered in them, so if you shake them you can get microbubbles or marks on them.”

You didn’t know that, but it doesn’t surprise you in the slightest that he does. His talent for photography, a result of years of study and practice. 

“Oh, good to know,” you say as you take the camera from him, and direct him to look at the tree. You snap a picture to match your own, placing it on the table beside the one he took. 

He stays sat there, staring at the tree for a while, the occasional flit towards you before the tree once again.

“It’s perfect,” Jungkook says, breaking the comfortable silence. He clears his throat before adding. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

You don’t know what else to say besides that, but you can see the happiness in his eyes. Their glow. Their warmth. 

You don’t think you need to say more. 

He knows. 

Time is quickly passing, and you have five recipes to get through today. So as much as you find yourself not wanting to move, perfectly happy sitting here with him for the rest of the day in this beautiful silence, you can’t. The tree is only the beginning of your day together.

“Cookie time?” you ask. 

Jungkook looks to you and takes a deep breath, as if he was also content to stay where you were for the day.

Just you, him and the tree.

“Cookie time.”

“You bitch!” you say as flour flies from his hand to your cheek. 

You were three and a half recipes in, having made two easier recipes first to ease him into a more difficult one. Shortbread, maejakgwa, and gingerbread now sit around in tupperware and cooling sheets around the apartment. 

But because of that, Jungkook is slowly losing all seriousness as you retrieve the sugar cookie dough from his fridge. It was actually the first thing you’d made, knowing it had to chill for a while beforehand, hence the three and a half. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says, all knowing smirk plastered on his face like a neon billboard. 

You refuse to sink to his childish levels, and remove the beautifully chilled dough from its refrigerator bowl. Wiping your face with a cloth to clean yourself of the flour, you order him over.

“Come use all your unnecessary muscles to roll this out, quarter inch thick,” holding out the rolling pin to him. The smirk lessons only slightly, but he does as told. 

“All my muscles are unnecessary, huh?” he says after a minute of rolling. You’re by the sink washing some dishes as he does and you can all but physically see the egging in his voice. 

“Yes.”

“And why’s that?” He asks as he finishes rolling out the dough and begins on his cookie cutter decisions. You’ve learned he’s particular about which one’s he wants to use for which type of cookie. 

“Because you have like a million eight foot tall, 450 pound security guards following your every move at all times,” you say, as if this was obvious. In reality, it was a solid team of six guards who were at their tallest 6 '4, and maybe 285 at their heaviest. 

Admittedly, they were all really nice guys, having met them numerous times over the months. And you were planning on stealing some of the cookies from today to give them little solstice bags. 

Jungkook’s never going to be able to eat them all by himself  anyway…you think. And even if he could, he really shouldn’t.

“So, because I have security guards,” he looks at you unbelievingly, “my muscles are unnecessary?” 

“Yes. Why have them if you don’t need them?” At this point you’re just teasing him.

“Lots of reasons,” and he starts listing as you continue to clean. “They look nice, but that's obvious.”

“I’m sure your groupies don’t mind that at all,” you sneak in under your breath, referring to his enormous, and rather lewd mouthed female following on social media. 

“Hey, you leave my groupies out of this, they’re nice people,” he says, pointing a white powdered finger. You scoff and go back to the dishes mumbling something about how they feed his ego. 

“There’s also the fact that I like being strong. I like that I don’t get winded from jogging up the stairs, and I like that I have the ability to help damsels who show up at my place with their arms full of far too many heavy bags.”

You shoot him a glare and he laughs. “You can’t say I’m wrong.”

You also don’t have to acknowledge that comment.

He takes it as a win in your ever ongoing battle of wits. And just to try and even out the playing field a little more, as you are currently winning by a landslide, he adds on a little more to his answer, hopefully one you’re not expecting, and therefore winning by shock factor.

“There’s other reasons too, but those are a lot less PG, to say the least.”

He—

Your hands pause their ministrations for mere seconds before continuing.

How did he say it so…casually!?

Like he didn’t essentially just tell you he likes being strong for bedroom purposes. A topic you’ve never been anywhere near speaking to him about, and he just… brings it up like that? So cryptically as if he wants you to ask for clarification. 

And you do want clarification, damn him!

You hate that it makes you curious. Hate. It.

You like knowing things, not to be nosey, but because you like the mental safety it brings. When you and Nel first started having sex you did a deep dive on everything you could, to make sure nothing was a surprise and that you didn’t hurt yourself or him if you tried anything new. 

Little did you know half of the research was for nothing. Nel has never been the most sexually adventurous person, whereas you wanted to try out new things, explore, see what you like via trial and error, he was fine with good ole missionary and a handful of other basic positions. 

What you two do now works though. And that’s what counts. Compromise. Overcome. Enjoy and respect each other's boundaries. 

But it makes you wonder if Jungkook knows anything you don’t. 

That reason alone is apparently enough for you to hear, “Like what?” leave your lips before you can stop it. And you internally freak.

What the fuck! You did not just ask him that. 

That did not just come out of your mouth.

You did not jus-

“You really wanna know?” he asks, eyeing you over his shoulder with a single quirked brow, like he can’t believe you said it either, but he’ll dish you if you want him too. 

How interesting. You don’t remember gaining this level of trust from him, to be honest about something so personal. So private. 

You wonder when that happened. 

No, you say in your mind. But your head is gingerly nodding yes. 

Stop that! You think to your body, betraying you once again.

Jungkook hums before picking up a cutter, a simple circle. 

“Well,” he punctuates the word with a cutter punch. “Uhh…there’s a certain level of—” a punch, “—power dynamic I prefer having, and they definitely help with that,” another cutter punch. “I also like being able to lift my partner with relative ease, or carry them if need be. Legs around my hips is a personal favourite.”

Your dishwashing slows as he continues, unable to stop the images that flood your mind thanks to your visual thinking. 

Stupid art brain.

A small pool of heat starts to form low in your stomach. Stupid art brain.

After some more circular cutter punches, you think he’s finished and you’re relieved, but then he switches to a spikier one and continues. 

“I’ve also learned that finger strength seems to be a fan favourite,” he jokes and you gulp, forcing that thought out of your head as soon as it enters like a slingshot.  “And most of my previous partners seemed to enjoy the fact that I could, uhm…well, that I could hold them in place while I did… that is…whatever I wanted to them.” 

You ignore the wetness in forming your underwear. This conversation, regardless of who it was with, was not helping you and your complete and utter lack of sex. 

Another enormous downside to long distance, your libido and its easily excitable nature due to lack of use. Maybe an appointment with your vibrator is due soon, if you’re this affected by these attempts at sterile descriptions of sexual-like encounters. He isn’t even saying anything expressly dirty. He’s trying to be as respectful and informative in his answers as he can.

Plus, you did this to yourself. 

“But if I had to pick, I think there’s a tie for my favourite part about having unnecessary muscles for non PG purposes,” he says, and looks at you with another quirked brow, seeing if he’s allowed to proceed.

You’ve entirely stopped washing the dishes. Too focused on not focusing on the growing need blooming inside you. 

Oh yes, you’re penciling it in right now: Vibrator appointment. Tonight. 10:30pm. 

Sharp.

Time to accept the consequences of your actions.

“Consider it a potential learning opportunity. Academically speaking, of course,” you say, as a way to make this educational. That’s all this is anyway right? To see if he knows anything you don’t. 

Right?

Right.

“If you say so Picasso.” He tears the leftover dough from the neatly cut cookies, and starts laying them on a baking pan. “First, I like that I’m strong enough to flip my partner over whether they’re, uhm...” he struggles for an ‘academic’ sounding word, but settles for, “restrained, or not.”

Heat. Everywhere. There's heat everywhere and you immediately go back to the dishes, changing the flowing water to ice cold and ignoring the throbbing of your core. You’re pretty sure if you slipped your hands down your pants right now, they’d be just as wet as they are cleaning the mixing bowls. 

Maybe you should reschedule to 10. Or even 9:30. Hell, why not 9 while you’re thinking about it.

“Secondly, I like the muscles because they help me make great use of walls.”

You nearly drop the bowl in the sink, not having nearly enough time to recover before he’s looking at you again, sugar cookie filled baking pan in hand.

“You ever done something like that?” he asks, sly smirk visible. He’s trying to make light of the situation, make it a joke for the sake of comfortability.

He’s spilling ‘all’ his secrets, why shouldn’t you spill one.

The oven dings, signaling the preheating is complete and it’s ready for use. He comes closer to you, only because the oven is opposite the sink, puts them in and sets the oven’s timer for 12 minutes. Turning back around, he’s not two feet from you.

You force your voice to be as smooth and cool as possible as you face him, your own smirk plastered. 

“Wouldn't you like to know?”

Yes, yes he would.

“Call your goons in, I have their bags ready.”

“They’re not my goons,” Jungkook says, texting Shen, head of his security detail. “They’re my guards.”

You’re both finishing up cleaning the kitchen, all of the ingredients are put away, the dishes are cleaned, and Jungkook is washing down the counterspace as you write the names of everyone on the little bags filled with the results of your combined labours.

The coffee table is covered in little polaroids from today, all still resting from when they developed. Half of them have some form of baking related mess on them, be it some flour or a small lump of dough. 

You look at one he took after throwing more flour on you, your nose is scrunched and it looks like half your face is white with the stuff. It’s cute. There’s another beside it, Jungkook is pretending to lick raw batter from the whisk, eyes wide, tongue outstretched. It’s chaotic.

They’re perfect.

Shen, Dae-Seong, Asa, Rowan, Micah and Hikari are Jungkook’s security detail. They all have shared apartments in the same building. Never too far away. Shen and Asa are stationed on his floor, Mikah and Rowan are on the floor below and Dae-Seong and Hikari are on the one above. 

“Guards, goons, same difference,” you say, but you hear knocking not seconds later, no doubt Shen and Asa. 

You go and open the door, welcoming them in.

“Hey Y/N,” Asa says, scooping you up for a hug, your feet dangling. Asa’s one of the guards who’s super tall, and he’s always been very affectionate towards you. Come to think of it, a lot of them are. 

“Hey Asa, how’s Natalie?” you chuckle, hugging him back lightly. Natalie is his wife, who's still back in the capital.

“She’s good, excited to have me home soon.”

“No doubt, say hi for me.”

“Yeah, will do.”

He sets you down just in time for another knock. 

Rowan, Micah, Hikari and Dae-Seong all make their way in too, giving high fives, light hugs or happy greetings to you as they do. Soon, you’re being towered over by men, feeling very small, but never scared as they are always so lovely to you.

You suspect you’re quickly becoming their favourite. 

Jungkook they’re used to seeing, they’ve known him for years, protected him for years. They give him shit, a nod or grab him by the neck with their arms as they play wrestle to greet him. No hugs or high fives to be seen with him, only laughter. Mostly at Jungkook. 

When they’re around, Jungkook is the most at ease you’ve ever seen him at. 

“So what’s up?” Shen asks. He’s the least affectionate out of everyone, stoic even, but that doesn’t surprise you. He’s responsible for the safety of the future monarch, that’s a stressful job.

You look to Jungkook, who’s now sitting on the couch. He signals with a hand that this is all you.

“I don’t know if you all celebrate, but just in case you do, Jungkook and I spent the day baking,” Rowan snorts at that, and you ignore it, motioning for them to follow you to the kitchen. The island carrying their individually labeled goody bags comes into their view.

“And this is just a little thank you for all you do from the jackass in the other room,” you point with a thumb to the wall the couch is on the other side of. The men snicker. 

“I heard that,” Jungkook calls.

“You were supposed to,” you call back, then to the group once more, “and it’s also a Happy Solstice from me.”

Rowan and Asa are still laughing at your less than kind words about their charge as you begin to hand them their bags. Each one says thank you as you do, and Asa gives you another hug. He may be 6’4 and god knows how many pounds, but really, he was just a big teddy bear—a lethal one— but cuddly nonetheless.

“We’ve got a decent selection, but feel free to trade,” you say, giving Shen his bag last. He has a thing with going last, you have no idea why, but you respect it. You whisper to him that he has an extra of each cookie, and not to tell the others, including Jungkook. He gives you the absolute smallest of small smiles, followed by a hushed ‘thank you.’

It’s the most tender you’ve ever seen him.

Micah pipes up. “What’s this one?” he asks, holding up a cookie.

“So, we’ve got gingerbread, maejakgwa, sugar cookies, shortbread and that, my dearest Micah,” the mountain of a man blushes at that, and you laugh, “is a yakgwa cookie. Think chewy honey and ginger.”

He pops it into his mouth instantly and you swear if he could, he’d melt into a puddle. 

“There’s no way King Pain in the Ass over there made these, they’re way too good,” Hikari says, on his third one. He seems to be trying one of each, seeing which he likes. So far? Apparently it’s all of them.

“Cross my heart,” you say, “it was a gallant team effort.”

“Thanks kid,” he calls to the prince, currently entering the room to see his guards happier than he has in a very long time. He will never admit it out loud, for fear of endless mocking, but the sight warms his heart.

Dae-Seong comes up to you, and very politely asks, “Could I get the recipe you used for the maejakgwa? My wife would love these.”

“Of course, Dae-Seong,” you place a kind hand on his forearm. “Give Minji my best will you?”

The man nods, grateful. 

All the recipes today were from your memory, so you get your phone, and start typing it out. 

You have him text it to himself from your phone when you’re finished, and use that as your que to grab the camera.

“Everyone,” you call out, and immediately seven pairs of eyes, with seven full mouths beneath them, are looking at you. Jungkook’s eating some from his own stash, or so you hope. “Crowd your favourite royal on the couch please, it’s picture time.” You shake the camera gently in your hand.

“My favourite royal’s back at the pala–” Hikari tries, but a punch to the shoulder from Jungkook has him laughing in favour of completing the sentence. 

You love the relationship he has with them. Like brothers.

Quickly, Jungkook is squished between the six men, one on either side and four on the floor in front of him. They tried to fit more on the couch but they're all so big that they couldn’t.

“Everyone needs to smile, and if they don't, I'm taking more until they do,” you say pointedly, eyeing up Shen. He only nods that he understands.

“Say Solstice!”

A chorus of deep voiced ‘solstice's' ring your eyes as you look through the eyepiece and snap the picture. It prints out and you leave it with all the others on the coffee table. You see that everyone is smiling in the picture as it develops. 

Perfect. Everything about today has been perfect.

After a few more minutes of chatting, the guards have to get back to their posts, and you’re at the door, wishing everyone a happy break as they leave. 

Shen, as usual, hangs back, wanting to be the last to leave. He’s standing beside Jungkook, both watching you as you bid the others farewell. 

“I like her,” Shen says to Jungkook quietly. 

“Me too,” Jungkook says back. 

Shen can see the prince means that in more than one way.

“Keep her around.”

“I'm trying my best to.”

It’s nearing 7:30, you’re both full after ordering dinner in, not wanting to be anywhere near a kitchen until next week, and working on assignments. Jungkook’s editing some photos, and you’re writing part of an essay from your phone, having completely forgotten to bring your computer in all the excitement. 

“Hey,” you say, sitting in your spot on the couch. You nudge him with a socked foot, he has headphones on so he can focus.

He doesn’t look to you, but removes a headphone. “Yeah?”

You lock your phone, brain mush for the night. “Can we move movie night to tonight? I have an exam at 8am on Monday and I want to use tomorrow to study.”

You’ve been thinking about it for a while, deciding that today would let you know if you needed to make the switch or not. And given that you’ve spent the day on your feet and partially socializing, you doubt you’ll be able to focus for the rest of the night, exhausted. But the good kind of exhausted.

You’ve been taking better care of yourself since that day with Jungkook. Not drastically, but you’re starting to listen to your body’s signals a little more, and right now it’s telling you you need TV and sleep. 

Appointment be damned. You’ll reschedule.

Jungkook hits the space bar and removes his headphones before closing the computer. 

“Yeah, of course. But–” he cuts himself off, looking at the tree in front of him. The lights are low in the apartment and it’s dark out, so the tree shines, glowing from within. The picture of you two still sits in the middle, and the now multiple stacks of polaroids sit around its base like presents. 

“But?”

“But that means I won’t see you after today. I only have two exams left, Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, then I’m back at the palace.”

Oh. 

Right.

“We don’t have to, I can just study earlier in the d-”

“No! No, it’s okay. It just…it changes a few things,” he bites his lip as he thinks, and places his computer on the coffee table. “Close your eyes.”

“What?”

“Close your eyes Picasso, please?”

You’re very confused but comply, closing your eyes and waiting. You hear him get up and then him walking, then a door opens. There’s some rummaging before the door closes and his footsteps near again.

The couch dips right beside you.

“Hold out your hands.”

You hold them both out, palms up, and something bumpy and cylindrical is placed in them. 

“Okay, open.”

In your hands is a leather rolling brush case, held shut by not only matching leather strings, but a red ribbon and bow. 

“Oh,” you didn’t know you were doing gifts. “Jungkook. It’s—it’s beautiful.”

“Open it.”

You untie the ribbon, setting it to the side as you also untie the leather strings, and unroll. The case is filled with brushes from Olliveri and Schultz, the best brush makers in the realm. And a small, very surprised gasp escapes you. 

You’ve never once owned any of their products. Their brushes go for $50 at the lowest, for the smallest of brushes.  

Exquisite craftsmanship goes into each and every brush, hand carved wooden handles, the best bristles you can buy, and rust resistant ferrule. You’ve always dreamed of having one of their brushes, and now here you are, with a whole set.

They’re the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. 

“Jungkook I—I don’t know what to say. I couldn’t possibly acce-”

“Yes you can. You can and you will. Please. I even made sure they put in an extra fan brush cuz it’s your favourite.” 

You notice the two brushes on the end, identical. 

He remembered. 

A lump is forming in your throat, overwhelmed with gratitude.

“I haven’t—I don’t—,” you take a breath, “I didn’t get you a gift, though.”

“Today was gift enough,” he says, and you can see in his eyes he means every word. “I haven't had a solstice like this in…a really long time, and the memories from today are enough, more than enough. I promise.”

You don’t know what to say, you haven’t been at this much of a loss for words since…ever. You can only think of one thing to convey how thankful you are.

Throwing your arms around his shoulders, you squeeze, his arms immediately around your waist. 

“Thank you,” you whisper, “I love them.”

Jungkook takes a deep breath too, savouring this moment for as long as he can. The feel of your arms around him, squeezing. The soft curve of your body up against his. His hands on your waist, you’re warmth under his touch, or maybe that was him, he can’t tell. And he doesn’t care. 

 It’s the first time you’ve ever initiated physical contact that was more than a nudge or playful shove. 

“You’re welcome, YN. Happy Solstice.” 

Chapter Ten: TBR

A/N 2: Fun fact! The tree and tin foil star are based on what I do irl. I have a dollarstore tree with little baubles and lights, but I made the star from a cereal box and tin foil because there weren't any toppers when I bought it.

A/N 3: As always, Thank you for reading, loves. Xoxo - Yoon <3

<- Back

[jones-friend]

I PLAYED SMORE GAMES

Both of these play up to 4 but we only had 2 today. I think they would have been stronger if we had 4 and we are looking to replay them with 4! Brass Birmingham is also the top game on Board Game Geek atm.

Brass Birmingham is not a game I would seek out on my own. Its industrial revolution baron style theming and aesthetic isn’t one I personally gel with, but I was quite taken by the level of interaction in this game. In Brass Birmingham players use cards to expand their empire, building various productions like coal mines, ironworks, cotton factories, etc. Where this game shines is how the board throws everyone together in the thunderdome.

Cities hold 2-4 slots for buildings. Cities are connected by canals/trains. You can spend coal from your opponent���s coal mine building to build your textile BUT doing so can “flip” the tile, turning over your buildings/realizing the potential of your industries scores you victory points and raises your income. The game also has a brilliant market system where players buy cubes off the board for iron/coal, when a new ironworks/coal mine is built you seek to refresh the market first getting money immediately for each spot refreshed. This means if there’s 4 spots open on the iron market and you make an ironworks with 4 iron it immediately empties and flips getting money, income, and victory points in the same move. And that’s not even mentioning the build up mechanic or beer as an industry.

I usually dont enjoy tycoon games but this one’s beyond the normal quash the market. This one is cutthroat and tight, if youre an avid board gamer check it out.

Scarface 1920 got a rougher shake being played with 2 people. It really should be 3-4, there were unrealized chances for interaction here and there but anyways. Scarface 1920 has wonderful theming. The board looks great, the pieces are great, the money tokens are great, the art style is exactly where it should be. Aesthetically the game is wonderful.

Mechanically you’re securing booze and guns during prohibition to sell to various neighborhoods as “public goals”, wresting control of these neighborhoods is an important game mechanic. I imagine with 4 there’s less wiggle room (we just made engines and played badminton with cops). Then players have “private goals” in the form of Jobs. These can give powerful passives or game changing interrupts. Build up your neighborhoods, tune up your “gang” in a deckbuilding component.

I also liked how flexible this game is. Each round consists of players playing till they need to reshuffle. When they do we bump the newsie token closer to EXTRA EXTRA when a news event flips. This is the mob looking to exploit some new happening and it works well in flavor and mechanics. It also means the larger your deck the less often you reshuffle and the less often you trigger EXTRA EXTRA. There’s also a crime meter, as you make bigger moves you attract the attention of cops. Make too many big moves and you trigger a raid. Everyone gets hit by the raid, whoevers closest to the top gets hit hardest. An FBI token raises each EXTRA EXTRA giving you less and less wiggle room for your crimes. Whoever has the most money wins.

The flavor is fantastic with this game. It feels great. Setting up and adding to dealers, flipping nightclubs, in a 2 player setup we saw just about everything but the interactive bits. I’d want to play this again with more people. I do think some cards are especially swingy but it was hard to tell. I do recommend giving it a shot if any of these bits caught your eye!

[sehnsuchts-trunken]

Hello love 🌿🤍 I wanted to ask if I could have a lotr match-up please?

My pronouns are she/her, I'm bisexual, tho I'm more attracted to men. I'm an Aries sun and leo moon, my mbti type is infj.

I'm quite introverted, tho I'm coming out of my shell more as I get to know people. I can get very stubborn and don't do all too well with criticism. I've always been quite good at school and I like to read, tho I can't seem to concentrate well atm. I'm very creative, like to draw and paint and working with textiles (I've started sewing, knitting and crocheting my own clothes a few years ago).

I absolutely love mythology and really enjoy documentaries and podcasts on history and different lore of ancient cultures. As for music, I listen to almost every genre, tho mostly folk and slower cottagecore-y stuff with a few showtunes here and there. Taylor Swift and Johnny Flynn are my top artists atm. I've played some instruments, accordion and clarinet for gge longest time, and currently I'm trying to master the ukulele and sing occasionally.

I'm going abroad in a few weeks, so I'm both excited and a bit terrified to be far from home for a long time, but I'm trying to romanticise my life there, so that everything will be alright.

Sorry, for oversharing 🥲💕 anyway, who do you see me with? Thank you so much love, I hope you have a lovely day 🤍🤍🌿

hello darling, absolutely you can! really sorry I took so long btw! lotr and grishaverse, i got that right hopefully. you didn’t overshare at all, actually you could’ve given me even more info, so you're fine!

so for lotr,

I ship you with...

Arwen! 

Arwen can be very fierce and very gentle at the same time, but she's confident nonetheless. She's not the in-your-face kind of extroverted some people are, she's very observant, perhaps more introverted, but still very sure of herself. And she's super compassionate - so she's always there for you, always holding your hand, always beside you when you're insecure or not feeling as confident in yourself.

I believe she knows a lot about history and culture, too, but since she's an elf it'll be quite different to what you know. Which just gives you the opportunity to educate each other, to talk about your interests a lot. She'd love to teach you, but she'd love even more to be taught by you.

She really admires your creativeness and what you can do. She loves to watch you draw or paint or sew or knit or crochet - I mean, she loves to see the results, yes, she's amazed every time at your skill and your prowess, but she loves watching you do it even more.

Because elves give music a special meaning, she can also most definitely play an elven instrument, but again, she'd love learning one that you can play that she can't. And she loves dancing, too, so she's dancing with you whenever she hears music, or she's dancing whenever you play.

as for shadow and bone, 

I ship you with... 

Nina! 

First of all, Nina is so confident. She's so outgoing, so extroverted, so she's really the opposite of you, but that doesn't clash in the slightest. No, absolutely not: she's the best person to motivate you, to hype you up, to make you feel confident in yourself. At the beginning, sometimes she went overboard and made you feel a little uncomfortable, but she always realised quickly and apologised and bettered herself.

Nina, just based on her education alone, can also totally play an instrument, and she knows a shit ton about culture and mythology, which means that the two of you can geek out. And/or form a band. Like, you wouldn't need podcasts because she could just tell you so many things. But she'd also absolutely listen to those podcasts with you. So.

Plus, you sewing clothes? Holy shit. Nina is in love. Nina has fallen head over heels. She knows she looks good and she loves fashion, styling herself, I bet she's tried to make her own clothing before too, and now that you do it? Now that she's found someone who can? Oh. She is begging you to make more and more clothes for her and every time you do, she is just over the moon. Like, you've never seen her happier.