#I’m here for arlo just give me Arlo

[arlo-venn]

I don’t think I want to post about the trip anymore.

[mv1simp]

Earned It ♥️

Max Verstappen x Wife! Reader

cause girl you’re perfect, you’re always worth it (I see nobody, nobody but you)

PART TWO HERE ♥️

The story of how you met your husband, Max Verstappen, is a fan favourite. A classic rags to riches Cinderella story - well, in this case, a working class med student with an outrageous loan meets F1 multimillionaire. For years, you two dodge the questions of having kids, due to your busy careers. But lately, your husband can’t stop thinking about a 3rd addition to your family…and no, he didn’t mean another cat.

Content includes: 18+ MDNI, fluff, humour, pregnancy, angst but happy ending, very brief description of sexual harassment (not from Max obviously), simp!Max, brat! reader, smut, size kink, breeding kink (very versatile from me for once), 5.7k WC

Guys, seriously, we’ve talked about this behaviour, you need to be tidier. You look up from your comfortable position on the couch, where you’re typing away one of your research projects, to see your darling husband gently scolding your three pets. You muffle your laughter with your hand, 20karat diamond ring glinting, admiring his toned build as he stands with his hands on his slim hips, reprimanding the two cats - Sassy and Jimmy - and labrador Arlo about the mess they’d made on the patio. Hearing your giggles as you fail to contain yourself, Max turns around, grinning at the pretty sound. All done, schat? Want to go out for some lunch?

You hmm in agreement, standing up to stretch and walking over to him with a cheeky expression. But first I need you to explain just what you’re doing here. You know they can’t understand you right, babe?

Max immediately tells your three so called “kids” to ignore your blasphemous words, making you giggle again at what a dork your husband was. No one would ever guess how sweet and domestic he was with you, compared to the ferocious lion he was when terrorising his rivals on the track. It is a very serious matter, schat, Max says indignantly. You’d let them get away with murder. I’m the only one who upholds any discipline in this household.

You stand on your tippy toes to kiss him lovingly on the cheek to appease him, batting your eyelashes innocently as you say sorry, baby, shall I make it up to you? and any annoyance Max had slips away as he pulls your petite frame against his much larger one to press a kiss to your lips instead. You two had been married for almost two years now, and dating for six before that, but you simply can’t get enough of each other - even now, as your innocent kiss deepens into a steamy make out session that has you panting and grinding against your husband’s thick thighs as he squeezes your plush ass with his large hands. You’re just about to ask him to carry you to the bedroom when your on-call phone rings, signalling an emergency at the hospital. Sorry, baby you say, apologising genuinely this time with a guilty look. I have to get this, go ahead and eat and I’ll make us some dinner when I’m back, ok?

Max reassures you that you have nothing to worry about, and that he’d make dinner of course, you’re going to be tired after sorting out an emergency. Your heart swells at how thoughtful he is of you and your busy career. You give him one last quick kiss before speeding out the door, scrubs on and barking orders over the phone already.

Admittedly, it hadn’t always been like this. When you had started dating, Max had been the considerably busier one - at the peak of his racing career and collecting multiple world championships as if it were child’s play. And the way you met was a classic dinner party story - F1 driver crashes his Ferrari into studious med student. It was hotly debated as to whether the fault lay with him for illegally going 80 in a 40 zone, or with you for walking with your nose buried in a textbook. Regardless, his insane reflexes had slammed on the brakes just in the nick of time to stop any real damage happening, but your textbook had gone flying in the air and straight on top of a passing truck, disappearing for good. You’d been devastated by the loss of it, more concerned with your upcoming final exam rather than any bodily harm, and as Max sprinted out from his car to worriedly ask if you were okay you’d whirled around angrily.

He was immediately struck with your natural beauty, with your pretty caramel skin and full lips and dark curls. Then he realized you were furiously pointing a finger at him and roasting his driving skills. Watch were you’re going! God, what is it with you boy racers speeding through the tiny side streets?

What?! Boy racer? Oh, Max was not going to let this grave insult slide, yelling back that he was a World-class driver, thank you, and you were the one who needs to watch where you’re going cause who reads and walks, that’s just dumb-

You cut him off, demanding to know who he worked for. Uber? Lyft? Monaco Taxi Incorporated? I’ll be sure to leave a scathing Google review, you said hotly.

Max had now realized you had absolutely no clue who he was, so basically he just looked like a complete dickhead - including to all the passerbys who gawked at the incriminating scene of the 6 foot Dutchman childishly arguing with a 5 foot, pouting girl. Deflating, he offers you his insurance information but you rolled your eyes and walked off, muttering about the goddamn Monaco elite in their Ferrari taxis.

He’d forgotten all about you until 6 months later, when he and Lando end up in the emergency department after a padel game gone wrong, only to find you pulling back the curtain - looking for Max, wait, Uber driver Max?! You’d narrowed your gorgeous doe eyes at him, then demanded to know if he was here cause he’d gotten in another hit and run. It was not a hit and run, that is an incredibly misleading statement, Max hissed, ignoring Lando’s goggle eyed stare, cause why on earth was his mate arguing with the pretty doctor who thought he drove for Uber and not F1 World Cup winning team Redbull-

The third time you had run into each other, at a charity ball where both your employers were sponsors, Max was convinced it was fate. Either that, or you were a crazy stalker. But he was, like, 98% sure it was fate as he felt his heart race at the sight of you in a fitted red silk dress and gold stilettos, your short frame still not even brushing his chin. This time round, you knew who he really was, and had an embarrassed flush on your pretty face as you said you know, you could have corrected me, it was a very awkward lunchbreak that day when the nurses starting asking if I’d gotten your signature.

He laughed, finding you adorable, and held out his hand for you to shake, grinning Let’s start over then, shall we? You’d easily returned the gesture, an undeniable spark running up both your arms as you touched. And a few months later, at the exact street where you first met, he pulled out a copy of your missing textbook that you excitedly took, laughing that he remembered only to gasp as you open it to see his messy scrawl - Thanks for not suing me, want to be my girlfriend instead of my victim? And the rest had been history, with you two now blissfully married years later.

Sure, you had your fair share of ups and downs, just like any couple did. Before your marriage, Max’s busy career meant that he was away more often than not, and although it helped that you had a busy life yourself, he knew you missed having him there at home after a long day or by your side at friends’ weddings where you’d have to attend solo. But you never complained, never asked for more because you understood that at this time of his life, his career would be first priority, and always supported him with diligently made meal preps, looking after his cats when he went away, and late night debriefs after arguments with his demanding father, your soothing voice helping calm down the burning anger in his chest.

And although you couldn’t attend every race like the other WAGs, you’d always do your very best to make it. He still grins when he remembers his last Monaco race, where you’d gotten held up in emergency surgery and had sprinted straight to the track, not having time to change into the Chanel outfit you’d sweetly picked out the night before (from a very large pile Max had generously insisted you fund with his black Amex). You’d made it just in time to see him cross the line in P1, and the pictures of you happily crying for his win as you jumped into his arms, still in your scrubs, long curls flying as he whirled you around went absolutely viral on social media. He was glad for it too, because you received so much online hate for not always being dressed like a model and by his side at every event - and knew that deep down, you felt guilty about it, even though it was such an unfair double standard. So he’d framed that famous shot of you and hung it in the entryway, so it would be the first thing everyone would see when they walk in, and understand why Max’s heart swelled with pure love and adoration whenever he looked at you.

So when he had gotten his fill with his eight - eight! - world championships and wanted to spend his Sunday mornings waking you up with his skilled tongue in between your soft thighs instead of on a racing track halfway across the world, he had promptly quit F1 - to the outrage of his father and thousands of fans - and stepped back to coach his own team instead. It was quite an accomplishment, you had thought amusedly when reading the headlines that year, to be known as the woman who had "seduced Max Verstappen to retire and become her trophy husband". Of course, Max stood for none of the media circus, retaining his infamous status as Mad Max when he openly shut down that storyline in a media statement that had blown up, making it clear that this had always been his plan and he would not be tolerating any slander of his beautiful wife whom he loved very much - who, by the way, was now the associate head of the emergency department, had they heard?

As time passed the fans eventually relaxed and enjoyed the new talent that came on, with your husband still a common figure on the paddock as coach. He'd had more time these past two years to look after you now - cooking your favourite meals and meeting you on the hospital rooftop for lunch and making all the nurses blush at how romantic your husband was, picking you up from a late shift in his Ferrari, taking you jewellery shopping in Paris one weekend then stiletto shopping in Milan the next with all your bags in his hands and his Amex in yours, and listening attentively in the living room as you practised your powerpoints on Intracranial Haemorrhage: Do early CAT scans change mortality rates? Your personal favourite gift, though, had to be when he'd brought home a 2 month old golden labrador as your birthday present. You'd always wanted a dog but had never had time for one on top of his two cats - but now, with Max home more often, he was able to look after all 3 of your kids, as you both affectionately referred to them.

And speaking of kids - the topic was something that had increasingly come up over the family events and meetups with friends you two went to. Of course, when it had first been asked, the two of you had dismissed it given there was simply no time with your careers. You religiously used contraception - with you on the pill and Max using condoms everytime. At one point, though, you both realised you rather enjoyed doing it raw - when the condom had broken after a particular rough session post 6th WDC win. Max still remembered your blushing face as he came down from what had been one of the most intense orgasms of his life, already addicted to the feeling of spilling inside you. You had bit your lip, shyly saying you know Maxie, the pill is 99% effective, I don't think we need to use condoms anymore-

He'd cut you off with a pleased growl, sealing his lips back onto yours for Round 2 as the thought of getting to fill you up every night sent all the blood rushing to his cock. Safe to say, there hadn't been a box of condoms in your home for a very long time. But as time passed after your marriage, Max started to feel an unfamiliar desire simmer in his gut everytime he saw you playing with his nieces and nephews, or when he would be showing Daniel's toddler how to operate a racekart, or when he’d finish inside you, watching your eyes roll back in pleasure, and wonder what would happen if you weren’t on the pill. He avoided saying anything as your answer to the kids? question at Family Xmas was still not right now.

But lately he hadn't been able to deny the aching yearn he felt any longer, and especially not when you two had been celebrating Charles' and Alex's pregnancy announcement on their yacht last weekend. You'd looked so happy for the couple, congratulating Alex on her glow and admiring the ultrasound pictures but all Max could think about was how amazing he was sure you'd look carrying his child, how he wanted to have your baby scans on the fridge door and argue over names, how he was sure you would be the most amazing mother to his kids and he couldn’t have picked a better wife. He must have been looking quite jealously at the scene because Charles comes upto him, greeting him with a Hey, mate and a knowing smirk. Max grunts, sipping his G&T, then realises he might be acting in a way you would refer to as "dickhead behaviour", so he also throws in a gruff congratulations.

Charles' is not having it though, having recognised the intensity which Max was staring you down with. You know, he starts, prompting Max out of his one-way thoughts, You could always try bringing it up directly with her instead of expecting her to read your mind, hmm? Max glanced at him side ways. Already practising your fatherly advice? He joked, diffusing the tension, before the conversation moved onto how the new young F1 drivers just didn’t appreciate a good wheel to wheel battle like back in their karting days.

Charles' words stuck with him throughout the week, and one night as you both settled down for bed, he decided it was time to ask. Schatje? he begun, watching you from his position in the bed as you brushed out your damp curls in the mirror, dressed in a cute silk nightie. You hmmed at him, slightly distracted by a tangle in your hair but prompting him to continue. You know, I was, well -whatdoyouthinkaboutgettingpregnant?

You frowned slightly, still distracted by the tangle in your hair. Who, Alex and Charles? I think it's great, they've wanted kids for a while now, right?

Max takes a deep breath, tells himself to stop being a pussy, and walks over to you, taking the comb away as he brushes out the tangle himself. You look at him curiously as he tilts your head up with his large palm, brushing your cheek lovingly as his ice blue eyes meet yours. No, shcat he murmurs gently. I mean us, getting pregnant, having a baby. How do you feel about that?

Your jaw drops open at his words as your brain temporarily stopped working. You feel your face blush from the thought of your husband getting you pregnant. As hot as it sounded, out of all the things, you hadn't expected him to say that. You realise your surprised silence was making Max freak out, the telltale sign of a crinkle between his brows. You scramble to come up with a response, stuttering that Oh, sorry, I hadn't really thought about it, I guess and that we'd both been busy with work for so long it kind of...slipped my mind?

But what do you think, liefje, your husband pressed, hopeful. Do you want to try? You honestly weren't sure, this was all so sudden and you needed a bit more time to process it - but when you told Max this you didn't miss the hurt look that flashes across his face as his insecurities rise up. He asked if the problem was that you didn't want to have kids with him, because how could you possibly not have thought about it, all our friends and family constantly bring it up all the time-

I don't know! you'd responded defensively, arms crossed. We'd been focusing on your racing for so long that I just stopped thinking about stuff like that. The argument had spiralled out of control quickly, Max demanding to know when you were going to stop holding that over him, and when you wanted to think about it then, you two weren't any younger, after all - prompting you to angrily accuse him of always putting his job above yours, because now that he had his fill he was ready to start a family but what about your career?!

You hadn’t been able to stop the tears that dripped down your face as the argument escalated into a full blown fight. Max had sighed seeing that, deflating and saying you should both head to bed for now. You’d lain next to him, feeling so cold without his usual warm bicep pulling you against him, trying to hold back more tears before you drifted into a fitful sleep. Max hadn’t been any better either, only falling asleep in the early hours of the morning and when he woke up, you were already gone. He’d started trying to look for you but then remembered you had a conference in London today you’d had to fly out for - you wouldn’t be back for a week, he reads on the note you’d left on the fridge.

Fuck, it had been a bad night to have such an ugly fight considering you two had left so much unresolved. Later, when he’s visiting his sister’s for dinner and watching her kids with the same burning want in his heart, his mother corners him and demands to know why he had shown up looking like a kicked puppy. Your wife’s been gone one day and you’re already so hopeless? She’d joked, but clearly had a concerned look in her eyes. He couldn’t stop himself then, opening up about the horrible fight. He feels terrible that you had ended up crying, but still can’t help feel that you were being purposely selfish, he explains, after all, we’d be raising the baby together, she can still have her career, no?

His mother had been silent for a while, taking it all in, before she gently reminded Max about how she, too, had been in the peak of her very successful karting career when Jos had gotten her pregnant. Your wife isn’t me, and you certainly are not your father, she said firmly. But she’s scared, Max, it’s not personal. She’s scared she could lose everything she’s spent years building while you get to have it all. It isn’t as easy for a mother to put her career on hold as it is for a father. Even if he’s as loving and caring as you will be, she reassures.

Max looked troubled, then, as your responses last night now started to make sense. God, he was such a terrible husband, how had he not considered that before? Sensing her son’s brain was running at 100 miles a minute, the older woman lays a soothing hand on his shoulder. Just give her some space, Max. Let her come to you. You two will work through this.

So he gives you the space, and 6 days later he’s standing at the arrivals area of the airport, stonily looking out the window at the planes landing but internally fighting a storm of emotions. You two had never had these many days of no contact in your whole marriage, and he’d said some vicious things that night, and what if in the time away you had decided you would be better off without him? His jaw clenched at the idea of losing you. God, maybe he shouldn’t have given you space but spammed your phone, begging for forgiveness. Why was marriage so much more confusing than driving a car at 200kmph?

Suddenly, he hears the click of your familiar YSL heels walking up to him and he turns frantically to see your petite figure come to a stop a few feet away. Your face looks just as troubled as his, but as soon as your eyes meet you can’t control yourself and run forward to jump into his arms. Max welcomes you eagerly, all his tension releasing as he hugs you tightly, broad arms easily lifting you up and pressing his face into your neck to breathe in your perfume. You’re rapidly saying something about how you were so sorry, you had overreacted - You don’t have to apologise for anything, liefje, Max says fiercely, God, I missed you so, so much. I shouldn’t have brought it up so suddenly. Take all the time you need, okay?

You blink back happy tears, heart so full at your understanding husband as you looked up into his blue eyes adoringly before sharing a loving kiss. Passerbys smiled at the sweet scene you two made. Max took you home, one hand carrying your luggage and the other firmly around your waist, as if he was paranoid you were going to disappear. Again, in the car, his hand stayed glued to your thigh, softly stroking it as you told him about your week in London. And then at home, you had to stop him as he got ready to climb into the shower with you, giggling and saying you were starving, baby, did he want to grab some dinner for you two?

He’d pouted, but then perked up excitedly once you promised you two could go for a swim in the pool after dinner instead. Need anything else while I’m out, schat? He asked, grabbing the Ferrari keys. You hesitated, making him turn around, as you blushed a little and said Would you mind grabbing some condoms, Maxie? I forgot to take my pill to London so I haven’t been on anything for a week…

You search his face for any hint that he’s upset you still needed time, but found none, only a gentle expression on his face as he pressed a sweet kiss to your cheek. Of course, schatje, he says lovingly before heading out. You watch him go, a devious smirk now on your face. A part of you felt bad for the game that you were planning on playing with your husband later that evening - but, oh well, you had to have some fun in a marriage, right? And your sweet, darling, perfect husband had passed the test with flying colours tonight, showing his dedication to putting your needs first.

The truth was, you’d also reflected on your marriage and its future in London. You’d thought and thought until you could think no more about whether or not it was time to have kids, if you should even have kids, not because you didn’t want them but because you were so worried about how it would derail the career you’d worked so hard to build. And then you’d remembered how Max would spend hours quizzing you for your residency exams, while you were on the toilet or in the kitchen, making sure you got every answer right and you’d passed with full marks.

Or how you knew you loved Max for the first time, when he had stood by your side and steadied you as you shakily reported to your boss about a supervisor who’d developed a nasty habit of feeling you up at work and barring you from surgeries if you said no. Max had stood by you through it all, his large, gentle hands holding your own, a contrast to the thunderous expression on his face at anyone who tried to give you a hard time when you came forward - and he didn’t ease up until the creep had been permanently stripped of his medical license. Even now, when you’d sometimes shiver at the memory, he’d pull you into his safe arms, murmuring how proud he was of you, schat, you were so brave for speaking up.

You thought about how warm you’d felt seeing Max gently rock his nephew in his strong arms, or how impressed you had been seeing how he taught the kids how to drive a kart, or how devoted he was to your marriage and your three pets, always being there to provide for you and support you however you needed him to be - mentally, physically, emotionally. Max really was the best husband to you, and he’d be the best father to your kids. And you knew you had your answer.

So now, after eating your favourite dinner of Italian pasta, expensive red wine and tiramisu for dessert, you got changed into your bikini, a skimpy pink number Max always enjoyed, and slipped on a gold choker with matching anklets, all adorned with the letter M - a custom made Cartier set he’d brought for you on his birthday, as a gift to himself. The box of condoms he’d picked up lays on the bedside table. You smirk at them as you pass by - they won’t be needed much longer. Not that your husband had any clue of that - yet, and you couldn’t wait to see the expression on his face when he figured out just how you were going to reward his devotion tonight. Picking up a second bottle of wine, you take a good swig and make your way out to the dark backyard where Max is shirtless, the pool’s neon lights reflecting the water droplets that slide down his large, muscular back. Shit, you had to stay extra focused if he was going to be looking so delectable tonight!

He turns as he hears your anklets tinkle, smirking as he takes in your dolled up appearance, all for him. Coming in, schat? He calls huskily, feeling his cock hardening at the sight of you after a whole maddening week away. Just admiring the view, you say cheekily, taking another swig from the wine and slowly stepping into the pool. You can feel your husband’s hungry gaze sliding up your curvy body, and you shiver, feeling rather like a deer caught in a lion’s trap even though you were the one playing games tonight. You come to a stop in front of him, your head barely reaching his upper chest, giving him a generous view as your tits spilled around the tiny bikini. You sultrily gaze right into his darkening blue eyes as you take yet another sip of the wine, your pink tongue darting out to circle the tip of the bottle in quite the slutty manoeuvre. Missed you, Maxie you say coyly. Especially missed having you inside me.

He growls lowly at your teasing, easily taking the bottle off you and downing the rest before discarding it to the side. You whine as he puts a stop to your antics, pouty lips and large doe eyes staring up at him invitingly. Chuckling, he places a large palm across your ass and lifts you up against him. Your thighs wrap themselves around his toned waist and your hands tangle in his soft hair, gently tugging on the strands just the way he likes it. Now face to face, you tease him further, whispering in his ear about how lonely you’d been while away, how normally you’d call him and have him talk you through an orgasm, and how your tiny fingers hadn’t been able to make you cum all week because you needed his thick ones to stretch you open.

Fuckkk, schat, Max breathes, feeling his cock grow impossibly hard, his blue eyes completely darkened by lust. I missed that filthy little mouth of yours so much. He glides his thumb along your pink lips and you part them easily, taking him in and swirling your tongue around him. He can’t hold himself back any longer, pulling you in and replacing his thumb with his tongue. You moan into the dirty kiss, running your hands along his muscular shoulders, addicted to the feeling of his strong, thick biceps caging you against him. Your bikini strings are deftly untied as he practically rips it off of you, breaking the kiss to lean you back and suck on your pretty nipples. You squeal as he gently bites down, murmuring maybe you shouldn’t have been such a cocktease, schat.

You’re now grinding your pussy against his abs, begging him for more, please, Maxie and asking him to take you to bed. He smirks at how easily you fall apart under his tongue, squeezing your ass as he carries you inside, always giving you what you wanted like the devoted husband he is. You two have no regard for the sheets as you drip water all over them, foreplay long forgotten as your bikini bottoms are yanked off, followed by his trunks. You’d honestly forgotten about the damn condoms by this point but Max hadn’t, hurriedly ripping open a packet with his teeth as you whine at him to hurry up, Maxie, I can’t take it- Oh!

You moan blissfully as he buries himself inside you. Feels like coming home everytime, schat, he breathes out as he holds his position for a few beats before he starts thrusting into you. Holy shit, that felt sooo good. You didn’t think you were going to last very long at all - putting a time limit on your plan. You let him get a few more thrusts in you before you start begging again, this time asking Maxie, wait, can-can we please take the condom off?

He looks down at you in surprise, saying you hadn’t been on the pill this week schat, it’ll be risky-

Oh, your darling husband still hadn’t caught on to your suprise, and as you whine that it’s okay, you can just pull out, right Maxie? you almost giggle from the strained expression on his face as he considers that feat of self restraint. But he wasn’t going to say no to you, not when you were below him with your lush dark curls spread around you and looking up at him so adoringly, so he reaches down and pulls the condom off and sinks back inside you.

Shit. He swears at the vice grip you have his cock in, one hand automatically going to grasp the headboard to try and maintain some control and ground himself. But you’re begging for more and it feels so good to be back inside you, raw, feeling your slick heat up on his thick cock that his thrusts start getting sloppier. He’s panting above you, both hands now gripping the headboard to hold himself back from the urge to cum inside you.

Your devilish eyes don’t miss this, and you grab his thick wrists to pull them down so his hands rest on your bouncing tits, begging him to play with them, please. Oh, shit, he feels his orgasm quickly approaching from your positively filthy demands tonight. But as he starts to pull back you wrap your legs around him tightly, keeping him in place as you make your final demand - Noo, Maxie, don’t pull out, you can come inside me, it’s ok-

Perplexed, knowing he can break your grip around him in half a second, your husband is now very confused as he points out with gritted teeth that no condom and no pill and no pulling out meant-Yes, yes, I know! You whine impatiently. I want it Maxie, I’m ready now, come inside, I want to get pregnant!

Max pauses above you, this time being the one to have his brain function temporarily suspended as he slowly figures out just what you’re saying. Are you sure, schat-

You roll your eyes, sinking yourself down onto his cock, making him moan, and hoping he gets the message. Oh, I’m definitely sure, dear husband, you say sultrily. Now, are you going to fuck a baby into me or what?

He finally clicks, his confused gaze now morphing into pure joy as he grins down at you, and you can’t help but grin back, the two of you finally ready to progress into the next step of your marriage together. He pressing a gentle kiss to your lips, catching you off guard. You know I love you right, schat? He murmurs, and you nod, confused where he was taking this. Good, cause I’m about to fuck you like I hate you. That was a dirty game you played, yeah? Edging me all night when you were gonna let me fuck you raw all along. Gonna have to punish you real good for that. He growls darkly, his large hand coming to squeeze your throat, making you gasp in delight.

Oh, you loved when Mad Max came out to play. Your legs are tossed over his shoulders and then pressed all the way back against your soft tummy, into a mating press. The unfamiliar position has you screaming in pleasure, your anklets dangling by your face as he thrusts his way back into you. Your husband chuckles wickedly at your reaction, pumping into you deeply and making the headboard bang against the wall each time.

And true to his word, he punishes you thoroughly, not stopping despite your overstimulated pleas as you repeatedly orgasm, instead cumming inside you over and over and over again, leaving you obscenely full with his thick load.

And when you finally pass out into blissful darkness, he meanly fucks you awake again, demanding that you take another round from him like the good little wife you are, aren’t you, so obedient for me, hmm? Gonna fuck you stupid until you’re finally pregnant with my kids, like you always should have been.

Safe to say, you didn’t get much sleep that night, or for many nights after 💖

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UPDATE: PART TWO out now!!

A/N: damn this is a whole ass essay. I love simp husband max so much tho I couldn’t help it 🥺might make a part 2 about the pregnancy and protective max hehe if people like this! Lmk what you think 🫶🫶

[sunnysidesevenup]

“I’m not the type to beg someone else to grant my wishes.”

When I stumbled across @angelwishess fairy tale themed event I knew immediately I had to draw something for it, so I flipped a coin to decide which oc to draw lmao. Arlo it is!

And his outfit colors are suspiciously familiar, haha��. There’s definitely no significance behind that.

Voice lines, notes, and the background image under the cut!

Home, login: Usually I’d be upset waking up somewhere I didn’t go to sleep, but I suppose I can forgive if it’s for a party.

Home transition 1: Vil and Floyd are here too, so at least I won’t be bored.

Home transition 2: I wish I had my camera, the plants—I mean, the architecture would make a good picture. Or the people, I guess. If I had to.

Home transition 3: I’m good at dancing when it comes to being at home, but land dancing is different. It’s a bit annoying having Vil judge me, so I don’t think I’ll even try tonight.

Home Tap 1: What would I wish for? I don’t believe in wishes magically coming true, so nothing. You think I’m lying so I don’t have to tell you? Ha! Maybe.

Home Tap 2: Neige is here? Why would I care about that? You might need to get checked for brain damage.

Home Tap 3: I don’t really trust fae party food, so I forced Floyd to eat some first. He’s not enslaved or anything, so I guess it’s fine.

Home Tap 4: This outfit is nice, but it’s a little form fitting. I prefer looser clothing—but it’s alright to mix it up every now and again.

Home Tap 5: Begging someone else to grant my wish? Like I’d do something so pathetic.

Set to Home Screen: Mysterious parties and wish granting fae… yeah, this might be fun.

Notes!!

okay yes the outfit is inspired by snow white’s colors. can you blame me? I had to

I mayyyyyyy draw a card for neige too. possibly. it would be fun and I’m motivated entirely by my own amusement at all times, so

I tried drawing the outfit in lighter pastels first, but Arlo is definitely a darker color kind of guy. It just works better with his hair!! why’d I give him hair like that!!!

my boy is loving the accessories on this outfit SO MUCH. he won’t tell anyone that though

Finally, here’s the background image!!! I drew it myself, so if anyone likes it I give permission to use it lmao. backgrounds aren’t my strong suit but I can’t get better if I don’t at least practice—so I think it’s decent?? maybe???

[jessicaloons]

Chapter 45:

Just breathe, just relax, it’ll be OK

Masterlist - Previous - Next

I woke up to soft barks and whines, Arlo gently letting us know that it was time for his morning walk.

"Charles… Charles…" I mumbled, pulling the sheets over my head "Arlo…"

"He’s your baby…" he groaned turning away and I hit him with a pillow "Our baby… fine…"

"He needs to go on a walk…"

"It’s too early…" Charles whined and I huffed, getting up slowly.

"It’s your week…" I pulled the blanket away and he covered his eyes with his arm "But because you won yesterday I’ll go. This one time." I scrambled out of bed, pulling on some shorts and a hoodie.

"You could just go on the terrace with him… for once…"

"That was just for his training! We’re not taking steps backwards!" I shook my head and slipped on some socks, then opened Arlo’s crate "Good morning little one. You’re a good boy, waiting here patiently for your irresponsible, hungover dad without throwing a massive tantrum…"

"Oh wow… not throwing shade at all." Charles mumbled and sat up slowly, wiping his eyes "I’m awake now… you can go back to bed."

"No, it’s fine, I’ll go." I grabbed Arlo’s harness and leash and walked around the bed "You look… horrible. Sleep." I kissed Charles’ cheek and left our bedroom together with Arlo. I put on the harness and the leash, slipped into my sneakers and grabbed Charles’ RayBan from the kitchen island "Let’s go, little one."

It was a warm, sunny day. A buzzing atmosphere in the air. People we passed talking about how amazing the race was, how Charles won his home GP for the second time, how proud they were on their hometown hero.

"Lizzie?" someone said behind me and I turned around, spotting a very sweaty Max "You’re awake quite early?"

"Me? Look at you! You look like you ran a half marathon…" I looked him once over.

"Almost, yeah." he chuckled and then kneeled down to give Arlo some head scratches "I mean, I didn’t have much to celebrate last night, so yeah…" he winked and I laughed.

"Oh no, poor Maxie…" I joked.

"Need to get used to it again, you know." Max shrugged his shoulders a little, a smile on his lips, as he continued scratching Arlo‘s head.

"I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunities this season." I laughed and he got up, lightly punching my upper arm.

"Look who‘s getting all cocky." he said and this time I shrugged my shoulders "Honestly, I’m happy that Charles finally has the car and the team around him to fight me. You can’t be the best if you’re not fighting the best."

"Such wise words from you."

"I’m not getting younger, you know." he glanced behind me and I heard the hectic voices of some fans, turning around.

"Looks like you’ve been spotted. Go on, I gotta go anyways, we’re having some busy days ahead."

"Tell Charles congrats again, and I’ll see you guys in Montreal I guess?" Max waved and walked towards the fans.

"Yep, see you then." I walked in the opposite direction, back home. Arlo happily running in front of me, all the way back to our building. I unlocked the front door and got hit with a delicious smell.

"It smells amazing, you made breakfast?" I slipped off my shoes and unbuckled Arlo’s leash.

"Just some eggs on bread, I’m not a complete lost cause, okay?" Charles laughed, bending down, feeding Arlo a piece of cheese "Good morning little one." he patted his head and then got up, grabbing me by the waist, pulling me close "Good morning my gorgeous girl." he kissed me gently, deepening the kiss as soon as I put my hands around his neck, pulling him closer "I must say… my hoodie, my glasses… it all looks way better on you than on me."

"That’s because some of the stuff you own looks horrible… sorry…" I whispered against his pouty lips "I like the simple Charles, Jeans and T-Shirt… not these weird oversized, crazy pattern clothes you sometimes put on."

"I’m experimenting…" he sighed and I kissed the tip of his nose.

"I know. But most of the time… it should stay inside your closet…" I chuckled and his grip on my waist tightened a little, as he kissed my jaw, down the column of my throat.

"Like the box with my clothes you’re hiding in your closet?" he whispered against the sensitive spot beneath my ear and I swallowed audibly "What? You think I didn’t notice that some of my… more risky clothes were missing?" his hot breath fanned over my ear, then he kissed my cheek and I could feel the smirk on his lips.

"I’m sorry, but some of that clothes are atrocious… that blue tie dye jeans? The baby blue jacket you combined with it? Basically every single one of these pants you would fit in three times?" I bit my lip, looking down "I should’ve told you something… and not just hide your clothes… I’m really sorry."

"It’s okay… I guess Doni won’t be too happy to hear that you find most of his clothes atrocious but okay…" Charles chuckled a little, kissing my forehead "Come on, sit down. Breakfast is ready…" he pulled away and went back to the stove, plating our food.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked, sitting down and Charles raised an eyebrow "That I hid your clothes?"

"No? I mean, I know that style wise you’re more into the classics, a little sporty, simple with a touch of timeless elegance… whereas me? I don’t even know if I have a style? I guess I’m still finding mine and I know that I could need all the help that I’m getting." he laughed.

"Well for starters, wear clothes in your size and if oversized then maybe one or two sizes more… and maybe not the wild patterns you’re going for sometimes? They hurt the eyes." I shrugged a little, biting into my toast "And maybe Doni is better as just a friend… and hoodie and t-shirt provider… but not pants. Definitely not pants."

"Got it… will you help me picking out an outfit for Andrea and Simon’s engagement party then?" Charles sat down next to me and I smiled "You already did… alright." he laughed and I looked at him sheepishly.

"Sorry but I was looking for what I was wearing and so I was going through my stuff and then I saw your suits and thought about something that would match my dress…" I mumbled and he laughed.

"I’m sure whatever you picked, it will look amazing, your outfit as well as mine."

Charles POV:

I looked over the bay, watched the waves gently crashing down the shore when we were called back in and I followed Daniel who apologised himself shortly after and left. As everyone finally sat down I looked over my shoulder, waiting for Lizzie to return. I ordered a bourbon for me and a cocktail for Lizzie, then talked with the two guys on my left, some cousins of Andrea, as I felt a soft hand gently stroking my neck.

"Sorry, love. It took a little longer than expected." she said and sat down on my right.

I turned to her and she gave me a little peck on the cheek.

"It’s alright, cara mia, I had a nice little conversation with Andrea’s cousins. I don’t think they understood a lot of what I was saying, well vice versa, but I was entertained." I said and she chuckled a little right as the waitress brought us our drinks "Thank you." and with a smile she was gone.

"What are we having?" Lizzie asked and looked at the red cocktail in front of her.

"Well I picked something we might later want to try out." I whispered and scooted closer, my thigh pressing against hers.

"What are you talking about?" she said and I could hear her voice getting raspy at the contact of our thighs, I leaned in even closer. My mouth at the shell of her ear now.

"I ordered you a Sex on the Beach." and as soon as the words left my lips her eyes widened and she swallowed audibly. I smirked and gently stroked her thigh with my hand under the table, pushing up her dress. Instantly she began to blush and looked around frantically.

"What are you doing?" she whispered, breathless. My hand slipped even higher, playing with the hem of her slip and she gasped loud enough for some heads to turn. Lizzie cleared her throat and looked apologetic around, her cheeks redder than my SF-24, I chuckled and pulled her dress back in place. Then I sat up and took a swig of my Bourbon.

"You look a little flustered there?" I nonchalantly asked her and she glared at me.

"That cocktail? That’s the closest you will ever get to sex on the beach!" she whispered and with that she grabbed it and got up, walking straight to Andrea and her mother. Cheeks still bright red. Totally worth it.

"What‘s up with Lizzie?" Daniel asked as he sat down opposite of me.

"Don’t know, she has some important things to talk about with Andrea I guess." I chuckled a little and took another swig from my glass.

"Maid of honour stuff probably…" he replied and I nodded "I can’t believe it… first Julia two years ago, now Andrea… you and Lizzie next. We’re getting old."

"Seems like it…" I said, a little distracted by the way Lizzie pulled her dress back into place still.

"Oh wow, you didn’t even deny it!" Daniel looked at me with a big grin and I was confused for a moment "I said you and Lizzie will be the next to marry and you just agreed! Don’t tell me you already have a ring?"

"What? No! God! It’s just… I mean, I will marry her, there’s no doubt. She’s it for me. Always was! But there are no plans or anything! At least not for now… or the near future? Honestly I don’t know, when do you know that it’s the right time?" I said quickly and he nodded.

"I don’t know… maybe you should set up a goal, for when it’s time to propose? Something you want to achieve before you ask her to marry you?"

"Like what?"

"Winning your first title?" Daniel wiggled his eyebrows and I laughed a little.

"Yeah? With Red Bull and Max being this strong? I’d like to marry Lizzie when we’re still young…"

"Oh, we’re talking about the next wedding already?" Shima sat down next to me and I swallowed hard "Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. When will you pop the question? And I need to see the ring first, make sure it’s perfect for Lizzie!"

"There is no concrete plan, no ring, no nothing! Just us talking about it…" I rolled my eyes a little "But rest assured, when it’s time, you’ll be the third person I’ll call…"

"Third? Third!" Shima sounded offended and I laughed "Who comes before me?"

"Well first of all, Juergen, because I will ask him for Lizzie’s hand. Then Joris obviously, maybe even before Pops because he has to give me a pep talk to talk to Pops… and then you." I explained and Shima and Daniel laughed.

"You’re so traditional, Charles. But why would you need a pep talk? Juergen loves you like a son, you have his blessings already!" Daniel chuckled and I shrugged my shoulders a little.

"I think it’s romantic…" Shima sighed a little and I smiled at her.

"I heard that a special guy we both know invited you to Montreal?" I wiggled my eyebrows and she blushed a little "You and Joris seem to get along quite well?"

"Quite well? God, she’s always talking about him…" Daniel rolled his eyes and Shima threw a napkin at him and I laughed, listening to them arguing a little. I was looking up from our table, searching the crowd for Lizzie, when I realised that she was gone.

"Excuse me for a moment." I got up, looking around "Hey Simon, have you seen Lizzie?" I asked the groom to be, but he shook his head.

"Sorry, Charles. But the last time I saw her was with Andrea and our mothers…" he nodded towards the three women, Lizzie missing.

"I’ll have a look." I walked inside of the big estate, searching for her, when I heard the faint sound of a piano, played somewhere. A soft melody that I knew all too well. I followed the music and spotted Lizzie, sitting at the piano, playing a song, singing quietly. I leaned against the doorframe, watching her play, her hands dancing across the keys, her soft voice sounded almost angelic. When she was done, she smiled a little and then turned, looking at me.

"How long were you standing there?" she asked quietly and I pushed off of the doorframe, walking towards her.

"Not long enough…" I sat down next to her, kissing her cheek "That was beautiful."

"It was okay… I’m not that good at playing… need to learn a little more." she shrugged her shoulders a little and I shook my head.

"It was amazing… and your voice?" I pulled her closer and she blushed "I wish I could listen to you sing all day long."

"Oh come on. Stop it." she rolled her eyes a little but I gently grabbed her chin with my thumb and index finger, turning her face to look at me. Her big eyes softened as soon as they met mine.

"I’m serious, cara mia. I wish you would let me record a song, so I can listen to your beautiful voice whenever I want to." I looked at her intently, watched how her cheeks turned a shade darker, a glimmer in her eyes "Maybe one day…"

"Mhhh… maybe one day…" she whispered and I pulled her closer, kissing her soft lips, hoping that maybe one day would come rather sooner than later.

I watched Lizzie climbing out of her car, she looked tense and it seemed like she was limping.

"What’s with Lizzie?" I asked Andrea who followed my look "Did she have a crash or anything?"

"Not that I know of…" he replied and I handed him my helmet, following Lizzie.

She talked with Pete, her face sweaty and she smiled when she saw me approaching.

"Hey you. Good Friday sessions." she said and I nodded slowly "What’s going on?" she asked, when she saw the slight frown on my face.

"That’s what I wanted to ask you? Are you okay? You were limping?" I asked and she looked confused for a second then she began to laugh.

"When I climbed out of the car I hit my knee against the halo. I have honestly no idea how that happened and I also hope that no one saw that, or worse filmed that because I got out of the car rather gracefully after." she scratched the back of her head and I looked at her intently, mustering her face.

"Okay?" I asked and she nodded, pointing to her right knee.

"I might have a nice bruise on my knee tomorrow." she chuckled and I took a deep breath "I’m fine. Seriously! Well not fine, because it does hurt, but it’s nothing bad, it won’t kill me." she reassured me, squeezing my arm "But now I gotta go. There is a lot to talk about for tomorrow. See you later?" she kissed my cheek when I nodded and then walked into the garage, still limping a little. I walked back to my garage, where Brian waited for me.

"Good job out there, Charles." he clapped my back and I smiled.

"Yeah you too." I said as we walked inside, ready to look through the data we collected over the day.

Inside I saw Carlos discussing with is father and cousin in Spanish. He sounded agitated and I stopped when I heard Sainz senior say Lizzie’s name. I looked at them and they stopped talking.

"Still after Lizzie’s seat, I see." I winked at them and then walked away, Andrea waiting for me "I need to learn Spanish…"

"You could just record their conversations and play them to Lizzie." he chuckled and I laughed.

"True… but seriously, I’m worried that they are so adamant about taking over Lizzie’s seat! Now that the Red Bull seat is gone? Mercedes is this close to sign Antonelli? His only options are now what? Williams? Haas? Esteban’s seat in Alpine? Audi would be the best option, that’s for sure…"

"As long as Felix is team principal and Lizzie delivers good results? And after what Sainz senior said about her? After Audi stopped their Rallye team out of nowhere and he had to look for a new team? I don’t think Audi will replace Lizzie with Carlos." Andrea reassured me and I nodded slowly.

"I hope you’re right…"

I took a deep breath and climbed out of the car. The track was bumpy and the way my car bounced over the tarmac made my back burn with raging pain. I hugged Charles. Congratulated him for his pole and then made my way back to our garage after the weighing, where JK already waited for me.

"Here." he handed me my water bottle in exchange for my helmet and I almost emptied it in one go.

"Thanks." I mumbled and followed him inside where I dropped my balaclava and when I bent down to pick it up I hissed in pain, making him turn around.

"Okay Liz, that’s it. Doctor. Now." JK looked at me pointedly and I sighed "This is going on for weeks now, no months actually. I see how you struggle sometimes. You’re in pain. Bad pain."

"It’s no-… okay, okay!" I rolled my eyes a little.

"How bad?"

"I don’t know…"

"Liz… how bad is the pain. Be honest."

"6? Maybe?" I looked down.

"I know you, when you say 6 others would say 10…" he groaned, scrolling through his phone, dialling a number "Hi, can I talk to Dr. Odell? John Knight, he knows me. Thank you…" I cocked an eyebrow and he shrugged "I know him from back home, he a-… Jack! How are you mate?"

I sat down and leaned back in the chair, closing my eyes. JK was right. The pain in my back got worse. I thought it was because I maybe wasn’t training hard enough. But no matter how much I worked out, how many exercises I did, there was still this dull pain in my lower back, sometimes worse, sometimes less. But it was there. At all times.

"Go change, I’ll talk to Pete and Felix…" JK’s voice brought me back out of my head and I blinked confused "I’ll take you to the hospital. A friend of mine will check you through and then we’ll see."

"JK tomorrow’s the race? We need to go over the strategy? Are you out of your mind?" I looked at him with big eyes.

"No. But you can’t drive like this tomorrow, so let’s check what it is and then we can come back and the team can present you the strategies and you’ll pick the one you like. Done." he walked away and then turned around "Go get changed. Chop, chop."

I groaned but ultimately did what he said, maybe he wasn’t wrong after all.

"Were there any complications after they removed the rod and screws?" Dr. Odell asked and I shook my head.

"No, the healing process was pretty quickly…"

"She had some typical swellings and bruises afterwards, but nothing out of the ordinary. We started with strengthening her spine and lower back muscles and increased the intensity slowly but steady." JK said and Dr. Odell nodded, applying pressure on my spine, making me hiss.

"Is the pain concentrated on the area where I apply pressure? Or is it a pain all around that just increases when I push in…" the doctor asked.

"Umm…" I began when JK looked at me pointedly.

"Be honest."

"It’s like a dull pain in my lower back, certain movements hurt more than others and please don’t apply any more pressure because that hurts like hell…" I sighed and he nodded.

"We make a X-ray and I also want a CT scan, then we’ll see what we’re dealing with." he got up and grabbed the phone.

"But you have an idea what it could be, right?" I looked at him.

"I have a theory. But I need to see the pictures before I can say anything…" he smiled and then left the room.

"It’s going to be okay, don’t worry!" JK tried to calm me down but I shook my head.

"What if I need a surgery? I would miss a good amount of races…" I frowned.

"Let’s just wait for what Jack will say, okay?" he patted my back and I sighed right when the door opened.

"Lizzie? Can you please put that on and then I’ll pick you up and get you to your X-ray and CT scan." a nurse walked inside, handing me a hospital gown.

"Sure." I got up and JK left the room.

I changed into the hospital gown and looked at myself in the mirror, goosebumps erupting all over my body. Too many bad memories were flooding my head when I saw how the gown clung to my body and I turned around, stepping out of the room, where the nurse stood and smiled at me.

"Ready? Alright, then let’s go…" she said and I followed her down the hall "We start with the X-Ray and then we’ll go downstairs for the CT scan. I would explain to you what’s happening but unfortunately I know that you’ve been through this all before."

"Yeah… good old memories…" I chuckled a little and she looked at me sympathetically then opened a door to her right where two other nurses and Dr. Odell were already waiting for me.

"Ready?" he asked and I nodded "Then let’s go."

"I can’t go every other week to the hospital to let them check my back!" I groaned while JK navigated the car through the traffic "I don’t have the time! Also, how am I keeping this from Charles? My family? The team?"

"You’re not keeping it from anyone? Are you serious?" he looked at me.

"How good of a doctor is your friend anyway? I want a second opinion! Taking a break? In the middle of the season?" I looked outside and JK sighed.

"Liz, he said he would suggest it, because your spine and dorsal vertebra’s that were injured from your accident are looking-…"

"I don’t care how they look. Or if they are sore, tense, whatever. As long as nothing is broken I’m good to go. Period." I crossed my arms in front of my chest and JK groaned.

"You’re so freaking stubborn! He said we should keep an eye on your back, so that’s what we’re going to do. Every two weeks you’ll get a CT scan, I want your back to be monitored. I think of new exercises to strengthen your lower back and spine." JK said and I looked at him "It’s that or I’m telling Charles and your family…"

"You wouldn’t dare!"

"Try me… I’m serious. You’ll tell Felix and Pete. They need to know it. And then we’ll monitor your back and then we’ll see how it progresses. Do I think you should tell Charles and your family? Absolutely. Is it my decision? No. Will I tell them if you’re not doing what I say? 100 %. So? Do we have a deal?" I never heard JK sound this serious and after a while I nodded.

"We have a deal…"

"Good. And now stop pouting."

I rolled my eyes again and looked outside right when I got a text from Charles.

"Great. Just great." I groaned and JK looked at me "Charles asked me if I’m okay. He heard that I’m at the hospital."

"Well… you might as well just be honest with him." he shrugged.

"Yeah sure and then from now on he’s constantly at my ass, asking me how I feel or if I’m in pain." I rolled my eyes.

"Liz, don’t take this the wrong way, but haven’t you learned anything from the whole mess with Diaz?" JK asked carefully and I swallowed hard "I’m sorry, but you were hiding everything from everyone and suffered through it all alone… and in the end it was even worse…"

"I know… it’s just-… god JK I have a feeling that Charles could really do it this season! He could win the title… he’s in such a good headspace, he’s so determined and motivated! I know that this year is his year… I don’t want him to constantly worry about me." I looked at my hands in my lap.

"I understand you, I really do. But if something happens and he finds out? Don’t you think he’ll be hurt? Mad?"

"Of course… but that’s something future me has to deal with then." I sighed.

"Very mature…" he laughed.

"Thank you." I replied, staring at my phone "Also, your friend said that it’s possible that something happens, not that it’s certain…"

"Yeah, that’s why he suggests a break and every 2 weeks a check up in the hospital."

"Yeah, yeah…" I rolled my eyes again.

"What will you tell him now?" he asked after a while.

"My knee hurt a lot and you wanted to check it through?" I suggested.

"Oh great now you’re pulling me into your lies?" JK rolled his eyes.

"Please?" I pleaded and he groaned.

"I’m not lying for you. You say what you say and I just nod."

"What if he asks you when you guys are alone? Because he will come to you and ask!"

"Then I’ll tell him that you’re fine and he doesn’t have to be worried…"

"Okay… thanks JK…"

"Yeah, yeah…"

"What happened? Ale asked me what’s going on with you and I had no idea and he told me that people spotted you at the hospital?" Charles stood in front of me, the second I walked through the door "Are you okay?" he cupped my cheek, looking me once over.

"I’m fine! It’s just my knee. JK didn’t like that it still hurts like hell and when I told him that pushing the throttle all the time was really painful he wanted a doc to have a look at it." I lied and felt bad instantly.

"And? What is it? Are you okay?" he guided me to the sofa, gently pushing me down.

"Yeah. It’s just heavily bruised. But nothing bad. The doc said I should ice it and keep it steady. Not move much and it’ll be gone soon." I smiled at him when he handed me something to drink.

"Can you drive tomorrow?" he asked and I nodded "Are you sure?" he sat down next to me, carefully lifting my leg into his lap, putting an ice pack on my knee.

"It’s literally just a bruised knee! I’m fine. But thanks for the ice pack." I kissed his cheek and he nodded slowly "Did you eat? No? Can we order something? I’m hungry."

"Sure… after you told me what’s really going on." he looked me dead in the eye and I swallowed audibly "That’s the wrong knee…" he looked down at my left leg in his lap and it dawned on me.

"Charles…" I began but he shook his head.

"Why are you doing this? Lizzie we said we’re honest after all the shit that went down with Diaz last year? And still you’re lying to me…" he sounded more frustrated than angry, more hurt than mad.

"It’s just-…" I stopped.

"It’s just what? What is going on? Is it your back? I’ve seen you struggling with it for months now?"

I closed my eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath and told him everything Dr. Odell had said earlier.

"So he suggests you take a break from racing?" Charles asked and I nodded.

"Yeah… he said I shouldn’t race until the second half of the season… and then also only if the soreness and pain is gone." I said quietly and he took my hand in his, stopping my fiddling.

"What would happen if you continue? Without taking a break?"

"He’s not sure, but one of the things that could happen is that the high force will damage my spine permanently…" I almost whispered and he stroked the back of my hand.

"What would that mean?"

"I don’t know…"

"Lizzie…" Charles looked at me pointedly.

"I might lose the ability to walk…" I sighed and his grip on my hands strengthened.

"But that’s just one possibility? Doesn’t mean it has to happen, no?" a tinge of hope in his voice.

"Yeah. It’s all hypothetical. I also want a second opinion. I’m going to ask Dr. Friese to have a look." I smiled a little and he nodded.

"First things first when we’re back home you’re calling him." Charles said and I squeezed his hand.

"First things first. Promise."

"Can you please stop looking at me?" I sighed and Charles looked away in an instant "I’m fine."

"Are you really? You struggled a little today?" he countered and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes. I’m fine."

"Cara mia, please, talk to me… what Dr. Friese said is exactly the same-…" he began and I huffed "Lizzie…"

"They said that these things might happen! Not that they definitely happen! I know my body. I’m fine. My work out routine is just a little more intense now, so yes. I struggled a little today."

"Okay. But maybe consider taking a break?"

"No! Charles, in one month we’re racing at Hockenheim! It’s my home race! I will not miss that out! Who knows when the next German GP will be?" I said, pulling my knees close to my chest.

"I understand that, I really do, but Lizzie this is about your health…" Charles sat down next to me, cupping my cheeks "I just don’t want you to be in pain constantly, okay?"

"I’m not! I can do it. I would really appreciate it if everyone would just let me do my thing." I groaned and he took a deep breath.

"You promise me that the moment you feel it’s getting worse, you’ll tell me and we go to see the doc?" he said slowly and I nodded "Okay… then I won’t talk about it anymore."

"Just like that?" I asked.

"I trust you." he stated simply and I smiled a little.

"Thank you. Really."

"As long as you’re honest with me…"

"I will be. I promise!" I kissed his cheek, feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

I didn’t try to show it, not to Charles, JK, anyone, but I was scared. To think that continuing with racing could have major consequences was more than scary. Sure, it was just a possibility, but still, the pain I’ve felt for weeks, the throbbing in my lower back after a longer session in the car, how stiff my legs were after getting out of it. Things I didn’t talk about out of fear what they could mean.

"Are you okay?" Charles asked, studying my face "You spaced out a little…"

"Hmm? Oh yeah-… yeah, sure. I was just… umm thank you for trusting me, it means a lot, really." I said quietly, taking a big breath and smiled at him.

"You know that I always trust you, cara mia… it wasn’t always easy, but we’re getting there." he cupped my cheek, gently stroking it.

"I know, I know, but I like you said, I promise you that I’ll be honest about everything. For now, it’ll be okay, I’ll see what I’m able to do, I’ll focus on strengthening my back and then we’ll take it from there." I took his hand in mine and kissed the back of it, when Charles pulled me into him, breathing into my neck.

"The last two weeks made me age for at least 5 years." he sighed against my skin and I felt his warm breath tickling my neck.

"Oh come on!" I chuckled, combing through his hair.

"I’m serious! First that messed up Canada weekend, now you. God I need a good result tomorrow…"

"You’ll win. I have a good feeling."

"Winning in Barcelona would be nice." he said slowly and I grinned.

"In front of Sainz’ home crowd…" I winked and he nodded.

"You’re evil." he laughed, pulling me close "But I love you for that."

"Just for that?"

"No, you’re cute too…"

"Oh thanks… how very nice of you."

He got up and shrugged his shoulders a little, when his phone rang.

"That’s Silvia…" he rolled his eyes and put the phone done "She can leave a message."

"She’ll be mad." I chuckled.

"So what. She’s forcing me to all this stupid videos with Carlos. And I can’t keep on faking a smile when inside I just want to punch him."

"Ignore him. That’s what I’m doing. He won’t get my seat, the interest from Audi died down, Felix talked to the board, they are setting up a new contract for me, Valtteri will leave at the end of the season and Nico will come, Audi is happy because they have 2 German drivers. So yeah, I don’t care about him anymore."

"I know, but after everything that happened… this season can’t be over soon enough and he’s finally gone." Charles said and took of his shirt "But let’s stop talking about him or Silvia or whatever… care to join me under the shower?"

"As if I would say no to that."

"Bill McKnight, CBS. Charles, after winning in Japan, Monaco, Barcelona and last weekend in Spielberg, your closer then ever to Max, with a good result this weekend, you could take the lead in the driver standings. How do you feel, knowing that?" the reporter in the first row asked.

"Umm- yeah I mean honestly, the season started not so great for me, but we worked hard and delivered weekend after weekend, sure, some weren’t that great as well, but over all our season is really progressing in the right direction and we will work hard to get the next win this weekend." Charles answered and I smiled at him.

"Becca Reynolds, ESPN USA. Lizzie, some really observant fans noticed that you started to follow some accounts of wedding dress designers and liked some dresses. Is there anything you and Charles want to tell us?" she asked and I immediately blushed.

"Wh- what? I don’t- we don’t… no. No. There is nothing that needs to be told." I stuttered, taken aback. I wasn’t expecting a question like this and began to laugh nervously "One of my best friends is getting married and of course I help her, picking out the perfect dress." I added and I saw out of the corner of my eyes how Max was trying his best not to laugh out loud.

"If you’ll get married, I hope the whole grid will be invited?" he joked and Charles laughed.

"I see you all of you way too much already! You’re so not coming to our wedding!" he replied.

"Hey! Not fair!" Max said and I chuckled a little.

"There is no wedding or anything planned! So stop whining." I said with finality and he held up his hands.

"Okay, okay!"

"Alright, some more questions? No. Then thank you all and good luck this weekend!" Tom Clarkson ended the press conference and we left.

"So? Are there are really no wedding plans being made?" Max wiggled his eyebrows and I punched his arm "Ouch… I’m not asking again."

"Good."

"But honestly? You should do a Daniel and just get it over with in Vegas." he laughed, and I glared at him.

"What about you and Kelly? You're together even longer than Lizzie and I.." Charles threw in and Max paled visibly.

"Okay, no more wedding talks ever again." he said hastily.

"Yeah, that's what I thougt." Charles laughed and Max just shook his head, waving us off when he stepped into the Red Bull hospitality "You looked damn shocked when that reporter asked you that question.. almost terrified."

"Oh come on. I didn't look terrified! I just wasn't expecting a question like that." I defended myself but he laughed

"I'm just kidding!" he replied and pulled me to his side.

"But honestly? I would be terrified... marrying you? Like hell no." I joked and he pinched my side.

"Careful, cara mia, or there might be a ring on your finger sooner than you think."

"We'll see about that. And now I gotta go." I kissed his cheek and walked towards Julie, who waited for me.

"I think I never saw you blushing this hard." she chuckled, and I groaned

"What was that for a question!" I replied.

"I don't know, but you handled it well."

"Yeah... like a pro." I laughed and we walked inside, Arlo jumping right at me "Hey my little furball. Did you behave?"

"He behaved well as always." Julie smiled, scratching his ears.

"You're a good boy." I picked him up and plopped down on one of the sofas, right when the rest of the media team arrived and sat down as well

"So, we have some things to talk about. First things first. Your upcoming contract renewal. I know, I know, you didn't sign anything yet, but we will announce it at Hockenheim. It's your home race. It's our home race. We're having a special livery and race suit, we're also thinking to put your last name on the back and then instead of your driver number the year until when you're having a contract with us then. 2026 or 2027, I don't know all the details yet. Netflix will be with us the whole weekend, the original DTS crew as well as Elijah, his crew has priority, it's the last race they'll film. In Hockenheim you'll also have some junior drivers with you the whole Friday, to see how a race weekend in F1 works, they are all girls, it's a cooperation with the Fl Academy, Susie will be here as well. That was ist for Hockenheim. We have one team event in Spa where you have to attend, it's a sponsor dinner. But that's all. Elijah and his crew will edit the final episode and it's all shown to you then. You have the final word. He also wants to shoot one final interview with you and record some commentary and then it's done." she looked up from her tablet "Questions?"

"Don't think so." I shook my head.

"Alright, then that's it. Let the race weekend begin."

Charles POV:

"You did a good job, Charles, you-..." Bryan radioed.

"I did a shit job. That mistake cost me the win." I was frustrated.

"But you recovered well. From P13 to P2 in less than 10 laps."

"Doesn't matter. The team did a good job. The pit stop was amazing. I'm sorry for the whole team that I messed up."

"You didn't mess up. You did good out there, even if you don't think so."

"Thanks, Bryan." I sighed, parking the car next to Max, climbing out.

"Unfortunate mate, but what a comeback, well done man!" Max clapped my back.

"Thanks Max and congrats..." I said, opening my visor.

I was gutted and wasn't in the mood to celebrate with my team, but seeing them all chanting and clapping I swallowed my misery and went to them.

"Daghe Charles!"

"Good job!"

"You did good!"

"Thanks guys." was all I could say and when I walked back to get weighed

"Hey." Lizzie bumped into me, a soft smile on her lips "You made a mistake, but you recovered damn well. Please keep that in mind, okay?"

"I don't know..." I began but she looked at me pointedly

"Okay! But the mistake was stupid and shouldn't happen to me, we can all agree on that?"

"You were taking a risk, nothing wrong with that, sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't."

"Yeah…" I sighed.

"Go to your interview and don’t be too hard on yourself. I’m watching your podium."

"You have to go to the media pen, cara mia." I reminded her.

"Yeah I can do that later." she kissed my cheek and pushed me towards David Coulthard.

I took a deep breath and thanked the girl who handed me the microphone and turned towards the former driver.

"Charles, congrats on P2. You’re not happy with the result, I can tell."

"Yeah, I’m never happy with a P2. Especially not when I had the pace to win."

"It was a tight battle between you and Max there, some good racing."

"It was really tight. We had a lot of pace and where at the straights quicker then the Red Bulls. Until my mistake I was in a good position to win." I said honestly.

"You recovered well from P13 back to P2."

"It was the least I could do. The team did such a good job, our strategy was on point, the pit stop was amazing. I had to fight to at least make it back on the podium for the team."

"And that you did. Well done Charles. Congrats again." Coulthard smiled at me and I nodded, giving back the microphone.

I followed George into the cool down room and sat down next to Max, wiping my face.

"Tough luck, mate." George said when the replay of my failed overtake was shown.

"I hit the kerb a little too hard… I’m just glad there was no gravel, one turn later and the race would’ve been over." I sighed.

"True. But what a comeback." he nudged my shoulder and sat down next to Max.

"The least I could do."

I watched on the screen how I overtook Lizzie and had to smile, she didn’t make it easy for me. She fought hard. But eventually I made it past her. The screen switched to the crowd under the podium and I spotted Lizzie next to Joris, right when we were called out on the podium. I heard Lizzie cheer all the way up to the platform and had to chuckle. I was so enamoured by her that I missed the champagne spraying and got soaked by Max and George.

"Hey lover boy!" Max laughed.

"Grab your champagne mate!" George continued spraying us and I grabbed my bottle and sprayed them as well.

"Look at him, he can’t see through his heart eyes…"

"The only thing he see’s is Lizzie."

"Very funny guys." I rolled my eyes playfully when we all toasted our bottles together, taking a swig from our bottles.

After the picture I looked down, Lizzie gone and Joris nodded to the left where I saw her walking off with Julie, I grabbed my trophy and walked downstairs with Max and George.

"See you later guys." I waved them off and then walked back to the garage.

I thanked my team when Bryan walked up to me clapping my back, I handed him the trophy and he looked it once over before he sat it down on the table next to him.

"Don’t be too hard on yourself, Charles. I told you to keep pushing, you pushed… it’s 50 % on me and 50 % on you." he joked and I cracked a little smile.

"You said keep pushing and not push over the limit."

"Semantics." he shrugged and I laughed "The recovery was brilliant, let’s focus on that."

"Yeah. We have to focus on Germany now. It’s been a while since we all raced there the last time." I said and he nodded.

"Just ask Lizzie for advice. I’d say she’s one of the most experienced on the grid when it comes to Hockenheim." Bryan said and I took a big swig of water.

"Yeah. She’ll be one of our main threats that’s for sure. And since Audi will bring some updates as well?"

"Be extra nice to your girlfriend then, not that she’ll kick your ass out there."

"Did you see how she fought me off today? Yeah? That’s the Lizzie I know and love, she won’t back down no matter what. Especially at home."

"Maybe she’ll win her home race just like you won yours." Bryan shrugged and I nodded.

"She will win. I know it."

Chapter 45 - it’s basically just a filler chapter, a shorter one, but I had to make a cut because next chapter we‘re racing in HOCKENHEIM - Lizzie‘s home race and let me tell you, A LOT IS GOING GO HAPPEN… 👀

Also, sorry for uploading so late, I don’t even know how it happened, but I simply forgot to do it on Sunday… I woke up last night at 3 am or so and realised that I forgot to upload 🙈 sorry!!!

Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!

If you want to be added to the taglist, drop a comment!

Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!

Taglist:

@silkenthusiasts @eugene-emt-roe @sunny44 @itsjustkhaos @glitterquadricorn @aundercover @kakorrhaphiphobia @alittlebitofbooksandmagic @ru-kru @shimmermotorsport @janeh22 @kahhorri @18754389 @chiliwhore @hellowgoodbye @queensassybitchsworld @harrysdimple05 @skynel09 @fangirlforever2000

All the images I’m using are from Google, Pinterest and Instagram (or self made).

[unordinary-diary]

So I have a question about Arlo’s powers that you might have the answer to

Do you know what the bleeding is all about? Like when he starts coughing up blood after his barrier breaks. Does he just like straight up start bleeding internally or something?

Anyway I love this blog sm you are giving me the unO content I crave

Ah, thank you! Yes, I absolutely have the answer. In fact, I’m going to take this opportunity to make a post that was already floating in my head.

Arlo and Recoil Damage

First, to answer your question in a literal sense, yes. It’s definitely internal bleeding. Specifically, damage to his lungs.

It’s also not at all unprecedented for a person to be wounded like this. Every person with a conjuring type ability takes damage when their conjures are damaged.

(Rein in ch. 16)

(Cecile attacking Arlo, ch. 109)

The difference with Arlo, is that his damage happens below the skin. Here’s where it gets juicy.

Symbolism

Arlo’s ability is very symbolic, possibly the most so of anyone in the series. His nigh unbreakable barrier he puts around himself represents his metaphorical walls, and how he keeps everyone at a distance. His passive makes him invulnerable— he gets punched in the face, clawed at, stabbed at, etc, and doesn’t even blink. The only way to hurt Arlo is to break through his barrier. And when his walls are broken down, there’s a wound in his chest. It’s not literal enough to be his heart that bleeds, but it’s very close.

There’s also something that’s been kicking around in my head for awhile—

“You’re the strongest one out of all of us here right now. You can try to brush this whole thing off... but to the rest of us, it’s still scary. If even you can’t protect yourself, what can the rest of us do?” — Remi, Ep. 61.

I remembered the line being “When people as strong as you show fear, it scares the rest of us.” However, that must have come from a different scene and I won’t track it down.

It’s plain and simple: High tiers have been taught their whole lives to bottle things up.

This is also seen reflected in Seraphina—

(ep. 20) Granted, the circumstances here are very different, but it’s a similar idea. High tiers showing emotions scares people.

So they bottle them up...

… until they explode.

(Ep. 106)

The judgment Arlo and Seraphina face is very similar. Seraphina rejects these expectations before the story starts, but Arlo has yet to do so. He is very much like the Seraphina we see in flashbacks.

All of this is to say: it is significant that his barrier wounds are internal. The little bit of blood we can see is mainly there so the audience knows he’s injured— but otherwise? Barrier cracks aren’t an injury that people can really see. Recoil damage is typically reflected as scratches, so his internal wounds are both unique, and symbolic of the way he hides his feelings.

[idontplaytrack]

Can I get some cute, pouty!Janis x reader? Maybe Janis wants readers attention and when she doesn't get it right away, she gets pouty

✧ Those Lips

Janis ‘Imi’ike x fem! reader

Warnings: fluff, some coarse language, make out scene

Janis just wants a kiss from her girl

Very short little drabble🥲

“y/n.” You heard from behind you. However, you, were focused on your book in hand. And you didn’t really care to turn around She stops behind you, leaning against your chair, peeking over your head to see what you were doing. You were absolutely engrossed in the book that even though you felt her presence— obviously, you didn’t react to it. You didn’t react to it the way that she’d hoped for you to.

“Yeah?” You responded a few seconds later, you feel her chin on your head.

“Babe.” She says.

Several seconds later, came an absentminded, “What?”

You were starting to get distracted, especially now that she had an arm locked around your chest. You squirm, she holds you tighter. She chuckles, “I’m not letting you get away that easy~”

You sigh, the air expelling from your lips evidently. You feel the vibrations of her laughter on your head, she still had her chin rested against it. “I could do this all day.” She continues.

“This? You can stand here until I finish my book? With your arm around me?”

Another chuckle. She tells you, “We’ll see. We’ll see if you lose first, or…”

“Or, what?” You couldn’t help but let out a harsh exhale trying not to laugh.

“Or if I’ll be the one who gives up first and leave you alone.” She shrugs, but you picked up on the change in tone at the end of her sentence. Janis was…pouty.

So yes, sometimes you do this on purpose because you wanted to see her pouting. It was fucking cute. You were trying to hold it together, you didn’t want to give in that easily and prove her right. Not right now.

“Aw.” She says quietly.

What?

“What?” You asked aloud, gripping onto your book, debating whether or not to shut it and give in. You still held the pages open, eyes flicking back down onto the page.

“Nothing, baby.” She presses a kiss to the top of your head, “You’re just so cute. Just admiring you, my girl.”

Stop it. Gosh.

Oh, whatever. You shut the book after sliding a bookmark in between the two pages you were stopped at. “Okay, Jan.” You exhaled harshly, “What can I do?”

“I wanna kiss you.” She grins. You nearly snorted, “So?”

She pouts, but couldn’t hide that smile for long. “Just kiss me, then.” You shrug.

“Okay.” She agrees and sat in your lap, then her lips were on yours the next second. Your arm instinctively wrapped around her, kissing her back. She giggles, breaking away from it several seconds later, “I love you.”

“I know.” You joked. She attacks you with another kiss. You chuckle into it, saying, “I love you more.”

“Really?” She asks, forehead leaning against yours, “Not as much as I love you.”

“That’s bull.” You kissed her this time.

“Keep going, babe.” Janis returns the gesture, “Fuck, I could kiss those lips forever.”

“Be my guest, ku'uipo.”

“Oh, fuck.” She laughs against your lips, making you swallow harshly, “I’m gonna hold you to that.”

————

🏷️ Tag list:

@ashecampos @auliisflower @cheesysoup-arlo @frogs00 @ludoesartnstuffs @pda128

[lilavolturi]

Bloody Kisses

Content Warning ⚠️ ���🌹Mild smut/BDSM undertones 🌹🌹 co-author @quidditchflyer

Icy cold hands clamped down on my upper arms and pulled me along the chilly hallway of a sprawling castle. No matter the resistance I put up, Arlo’s strength was above mine. He had snatched me off the street, an innocent tourist from America.

“Please..don’t do this!!” I asked of him, but he marched me onward.

“I believe you’ll find yourself quite comfortable here. Anything you want is yours, anything at all,” he spoke so perfectly and cleanly, from a completely different era.

“Don’t let him kill me!!!” I sobbed as I was pushed through the chamber doors of Caius Volturi.

“That’s not up to me, now is it? You’re a gift, so act accordingly. Chin up, no tears,” Arlo said to me with cheer, like a father giving away his daughter at her wedding.

Caius looked up from his book, casting curious eyes my way. His blood red irises chilled be to my bones. My lips trembled as I stared back, eyes wide with terror. The doors were shut behind me, leaving me alone with the cruelest vampire known. Temperamental, prone to violence, and a sexual deviant.

“Welcome. I’ll do my best to make you comfortable and well looked after,” he began, staring me directly in the eyes. “I have a gift for you.”

I wiped tears from my cheeks, trying to not visibly shake. Caius Volturi reached into a drawer by his luxurious bed, producing a silky red box.

“Vampires don’t sleep,” I stated simply as he approached me.

“No, but humans do. Open the box.”

He placed it in my hands and I did as instructed. Nestled in a pillow of red silk was the most striking diamond ring I had ever seen.

“What?”

Caius touched my cheek with cold fingers, unsmiling, and slid the ring on the appropriate finger.

“I’ve been forced to choose another mate. So I chose you. They’ve read your memories..who you are. They think you’ll be a good fit once you’ve gone through the transformation,” he told me in a flat, monotone voice, seemingly annoyed with my presence.

“What happened to..?” I asked before I could remember to hold my tongue.

“I killed her for disobedience.”

Instantly, I shut my mouth and dropped my eyes to my feet.

He lifted my chin with his index finger to make me meet his gaze. “That won’t happen to you. If anyone else touches you, bothers you in any way, I’ll make them dig their own grave.”

I trusted that he was serious, as he didn’t seem to have a sense of humor. “Wh-what do you want me to call you??”

“By my first name, preferably. But I don’t mind a nickname,” he said to me quietly, melting a little around the edges. “Also, we need to see if we’re sexually compatible.”

“You..you’ll break every bone in my body!!” I protested, but I’m hushed by icy cold lips on mine. I recoiled from the undesired attention, but I caught a trace of his scent. Sweet..yet floral and earthy. He smelled so good..

“I have many lifetimes worth of experience,” he told me confidently, cracking a smirk. “But I don’t think I need to be gentle with you.”

I nodded, on the edge of a total anxiety meltdown. Caius showed me no comfort, no kind words.

“Wow,” I breathed, forgetting royal vampire etiquette as I looked him in the eyes. “You’re..beautiful.”

“I know,” he said flatly.

“What should I do now?”

“May I touch you?”

I was shocked by this..a vampire asking for consent to touch me. “Yes. I’m just..nervous.”

He grinned wider, assuming I was a virgin. Caius was delighted by the idea of making me bleed. “First time?”

“No. You’re fucking scary.”

“You’re awful bold, you know that? But..I am pleased by what I see. Show me more,” Caius told me with a sultry tone of voice, hands wanting to roam my body.

I stripped and left my clothes in a pile on the floor. Shivering, I complained of being cold and he made sure the room was warmed to my liking.

Caius looked me over with intense excitement, and I slipped into bed. He followed, slowly dropping his clothes as well. I couldn’t help but stare him up and down, in awe of his physical perfection. My body couldn’t help but react to him, turned on by his sugary sweet scent. He watched me staring as he joined me in the bed, completely nude.

“This is yours, forever, if you live through the change,” he told me softly, taking my hand and placing it on his chilled body.

Caius smiled as he lowered my hand til he wrapped it around his cock. Automatically, I stroked him slowly before taking him into my mouth. He purred with pleasure as he began warming to human body temperature with my touch. He pulled me away and tried to kiss me, but I was scared of getting nicked by his razor sharp teeth.

“I know what I’m doing,” he snapped loudly, hand clamped on my face. He smiled as I winced in pain.

I nodded quickly and Caius kissed me hard, his lips tasting like honey. He was as sweet as he smelled, and I loved it. Unable to hold back, I wrapped my arms around his neck and grabbed a handful of his blonde hair.

“Please..” I whimpered in his ear.

He carefully slid inside of me and I spent a passionate night in the arms of my personal devil.

I had been a resident of the Volturi castle for a month. Other residents looked on me with disgust, but don’t dare bother me. I quickly learned just how feared the Volturi kings were, especially Caius. However, Jane cornered me one evening in the massive library where I sat reading.

“You deserve to die.”

“Why? Because I’m human?” I snapped back with sarcasm.

“You don’t belong here. Vampires of his status deserve royal mates,” Jane replied, her cold monotone never changing.

“You jealous, Jane? Caius already told me everything about everyone. Especially about your bullshit,” I responded with equal coolness, flipping the page. “Touch me, and Caius will have you buried alive in chains.”

I wasn’t aware that Caius was actually listening in on this exchange at first. But I felt a tingly sensation in my spine and I flicked my eyes in his direction. Biting back a grin, I waved at him and he smiled as he came out of the shadows.

“Get out,” he snarled at her, and Jane actually obeyed.

As soon as she was gone, he sat next to me and caressed my cheek. I leaned into his touch, stretching out on the lush couch to lie in his lap.

“It’s time,” he announced quietly, running his cold fingers through my hair.

Determined to go through this with my dignity intact, I stood up and allowed him to take my hand. He led me to a special room specifically meant for feeding purposes, and I had never been more fearful in my entire life. I was facing my own mortality with only a 50/50 chance of surviving the next 3 days.

Arlo, Marcus, and Jane were present as official witnesses to the occasion, following the vampiric laws. I tried to numb myself as protection from my emotions, but that failed me when Caius Volturi got the event going.

“I’ve chosen you as my mate. You will be transformed from human to vampire, of royal status. Over the next three days, you will change. And yes, it will be the most painful experience of your life,” Caius stated, staring down at me where I sat on the edge of a designated bed. It was dressed with all black linens, a symbol of death and rebirth.

“I’m ready.”

I was lying. I was definitely not ready.

He sat next to me, cradling my cheek in his cold palm. I asked for one last kiss in case I didn’t make it. Caius smiled and did so, leaving his delicious, sweet taste on my lips.

I turned my head, willingly offering my neck to him. It happened so fast that pain was delayed for a few seconds. But once it set in, and he finished feeding, it felt like molten iron had been poured into my veins. I was sweating, panting, my heart beating at a strange pace that made my chest ache.

Dying, I thought to myself, I am dying.

With every stuttering beat of my heart, venom raced through my body. My breath caught in my throat as I fell into a black hole of fiery agony. Having lost control of my body, I stared at Caius with rivers of tears streaming down my cheeks.

Before I fell unconscious, Caius showed me his respect for my unwillingness to scream. He sat next to me, cradling the back of my head in his palm as he lowered me onto my back. I fought to stay conscious as long as possible, grabbing my vampire lover’s hand.

“Squeeze if you need to. You cannot hurt me,” Caius said to me softly, treating me so gently. He lowered himself to my level so he could kiss my lips again. “Sleep..”

I was awake…til darkness stabbed his grubby, hooked nails into me. Screaming pain ripped through every cell of my body, feeling as if I’d been flayed. Every nerve was rubbed raw, soaked in salt, and set aflame with rocket fuel levels of agony. Death seemed a relief from this hell, but I knew from the beginning there was no way he’d let me take the easy way out.

I felt like I was in a permanent state of pain purgatory, only able to breathe and open my eyes occasionally.

Floating in the black void, pain faded and a warmth flooded my body. Still paralyzed by the venom, moving was impossible, but I could feel everything. The individual threads of the sheets beneath me..I could smell the ozone in the air as a storm was approaching..and I could smell the floral, honey scent of my mate.

I felt warm fingers touch my face, which encouraged me to take a pain free breath. My eyes slowly opened, seeing that I’m surrounded by the Volturi kings and Jane.

Caius was touching my face, and his touch was no longer ice cold. He felt like the warm touch of a human, and I reached out for him.

“Is it over?” I asked weakly, a burning hunger in my abdomen.

“Welcome to the Volturi clan, young one,” Arlo announced to me with utter joy, all smiles. “Your mate will guide you..teach you everything that you need to know. At nightfall, you will be presented with your first meal.”

“Enjoy your union,” Marcus added, nodding in my direction with respect as if I had always been there.

Caius smirked at me, grasping my hand and leading me to what was now our chamber. As soon as the heavy oak doors shut, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on me.

“I want to show you something,” Caius said, leading me to the full length mirror by the window.

I stared myself down and it was like my reflection belonged to a stranger. My eyes no longer had their beautiful green irises. They were the color of fresh blood, a haunting shade of red. My skin was as smooth and flawless as marble, not one single imperfection. My hair was just as manicured, as were my nails. My once slightly crooked teeth were straight and dangerously sharp.

Caius, for the very first time, complimented my appearance. “Absolute perfection.”

“Your skin…feels different…” I mumbled, still processing my change mentally. “You don’t feel so cold..”

I felt his hands on my shoulders, giving them a reassuring squeeze. His sweet lips placed a kiss on the scar his bite left in my flesh, sending intense tingles down to my lower regions. Caius instantly felt my arousal and he smiled evilly, touching my breasts.

“It’s time to consummate our union,” he whispered in my ear, tightening his grip around my waist. Caius pressed himself against me, equally as excited.

I turned around to face him and stared with my jaw dropped. He was beautiful before, but now he was even more so. Caius smiled back, basking in my admiration.

I had almost completely lost my sense of fear, and I didn’t bother to ask for permission to touch him. He had made me his equal, taking my human life and gifting me immortality. My hands reached up to touch his face, my fingers brushing over his full lips. If I still had a heartbeat, it would have been pounding.

Caius leaned down and kissed my lips roughly, and I slipped my tongue in his mouth. We made out heavily and he ripped my clothes off, flinging them aside before shoving me against a wall. He allowed me to undress him and cover his body with kisses and gentle nibbles.

“I can’t wait to break you in,” Caius snarled in my ear, sucking my neck as he picked me up by my ass.

As he pushed his cock inside of my hungry, soaked pleasure temple, I sank my nails into his back. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back, making me moan his name. Thank god the walls were made of stone.

After that mind blowing sensory experience, I begged Caius for more.

“Don’t hold back,” I panted as he tossed me onto the bed with enthusiasm. “Please don’t hold back…”

He was incredible in bed, making me orgasm over and over with zero mercy. Once more, I dug my nails into his back and left surface scratches, making him growl with pleasure.

“You belong to me..” he purred in my ear, rearranging my insides.

Caius gripped my throat as his facial expression began to change. I watched him go from my respected, powerful vampire mate to a man at the mercy of his own intense desires. His pounding into me began to slow down, his beautiful face contorting into an orgasmic display.

After one more hard thrust, he let out a deep groan of pleasure as he came inside of me. I, however, wasn’t finished. I demanded more, pulling him back down on top of me.

“More,” I told him, growling for the first time. Caius was amused, but hushed me with his finger on my lips.

“I’m going to make you wait.”

One rainy afternoon, while I was in my favorite chair reading, Jane decided to give me shit again. I ignored her at first, but her mouth stopped moving..and I could still hear every word.

“Shut the fuck up!” I snapped at her, growling and hissing.

“I didn’t speak..you can read minds?” Jane asked me with curiosity.

I slammed my book shut.

“I know how you think of me. Do a better job of protecting your mind,” I threatened her, feeling leftover human frustrations with my situation.

“Caius has found his angry, bitter match.”

Something inside of me broke into sharp slivers, opening a new ability I never thought I was capable of. I held my ears, dropped to my knees, and let out a piercing shriek that would’ve made a banshee proud. Glass windows split and exploded, the heavy doors to the library slammed shut, and Jane was flung through the air like a rag doll.

Jane expressionless face showed a tinge of fear, which I greatly enjoyed. I stood up and stomped over to the small vampire, hovering above her.

“This has nothing to do with Caius, you pathetic excuse for a vampire. You are below me, do you understand? You will show me respect and follow every order given or I will enjoy ripping you to pieces,” I spat at her, at my very wit’s end with her blatant disrespect.

A slow clapping of hands began. Jane and I looked in the direction of the sound. There stood my mate and his co-ruler Arlo. For the first time, I saw Caius smile.

“You’ve shown us nothing but impressive abilities and excellent leadership skills,” Arlo began, looking as proud as he did the day he gave me to my mate.

“I want her next to me,” Caius told Arlo, mentioning having my own throne put next to his. “Her place is at my side, the first Volturi queen.”

Arlo shot Caius a look of surprise, as Caius was very adhered to the laws and traditions of the Volturi.

“We need to have a meeting and discuss this with Marcus,” Arlo insisted, but he was supportive of having a Volturi queen.

“Marcus doesn’t know his ass from a graveyard,” Caius snorted, rolling his eyes and then smiling at me. I grinned back, licking my lips.

Caius started showing me more simple affection, holding my hand as we went to our private rooms. I leaned into his side and he held me close as we walked, kissing the side of my face.

“You’re absolutely formidable,” he said to me with pride.

“Caius?” I asked softly.

“Yes, my queen?”

“I…love you,” I admitted to him, feeling confident in my words. “I love you..do you feel the same?”

“I’m about actions, not words. But, to state it simply, yes I do.”

I paused our walk and looked up into his eyes, a burning need for physical contact. Caius smirked and kissed me passionately, holding my face in his hands.

I, the first Volturi queen in vampiric history, had thawed the coldest heart.

[mxnsxngie]

I Cat Help Falling In Love With You (L.M)

Warnings: Pure Fluff! Little suggestive at the end but not much!

Word Count: 1498

Let Me Know What You Think!

You were absolutely exhausted. You had woke up feeling tired despite sleeping well, and work ended up being insanely busy compared to normal. Walking up to your apartment, you wanted nothing more than to get changed into something comfortable and settle in on the couch for the night with your cats and something on the tv. Maybe even order some takeout so you didn’t have to cook.

Opening the door to your apartment, you were expected to be swarmed by your cats, vying for your attention after leaving them alone all day.

“Hi babies, I’m ho-“ you cut yourself off as you turned around after licking your door, realizing they were nowhere to be seen. Usually they came running when they heard the door.

“Huh? That’s weird. Arlo? Babies?” You ask, rounding the corner into the living room. You immediately realized why they hadn’t come running. Your best friend Minho had come over using the key you gave him to get in and was giving the three of them all of his attention and love, distracting them from the fact you were home. Your heart warmed as you saw him lean down to kiss your orange tabby, Arlo, on the head.

“Ahhh so you’re the reason my cats didn’t come swarm me” you told him, giving as much of a chuckle you could muster while so tired.

“Hey, I can’t help the fact that they love me so much” he smiles, not taking his eyes off the three cats rubbing on him and head butting him. Your black cat Jasper was on one side, your fluffy black and white one Kuja on the other, and Arlo was curled up on his lap, purring away at the pets and kisses he got from Minho.

“That’s true I suppose. You know I’m still surprised he loves you so much, he usually isn’t that fond of men, especially around me” you tell him, referring to the orange cat in his lap who’s looking up at him lovingly.

“Is he really?” He asks, looking over at you finally with a bit of surprise. He shows a little more surprise taking in how tired you look.

“Oh yeah, even my dad he was weary about for the longest time. He’s very protective of me. So he must really like and trust you” you say as you sit next to him on the couch with a slight smile, resting your head on his shoulder. You weren’t sure what it was, but lately you just felt more comfortable with him than usual. Hence why he had a key to your place. You knew he missed his cats sometimes and couldn’t always see them, and you’d been friends for so long and you trusted him so it just felt right giving him a key so he could come see them and you whenever.

“Well I’m honored in that case” he chuckles, smiling down at you while putting his arm around your shoulders “However, I can’t help but notice you look exhausted. You want to talk about it?” He asks.

You sigh, leaning into him a little more. “Nothing all that bad happened, I just woke up feeling tired and then things were crazy busy at work, which didn’t help. So I’m just really worn out is all” you say as you pet Arlo who crawls into your lap now that you’re sitting down.

He frowns a little, rubbing your shoulder as he looks at you “I guess it’s a good thing I’m here then” he says

“What?” You ask, looking at him in confusion.

He smiles before pulling away slightly “If your day has been that bad, it’s a good thing I’m here” he says as he stands, offering a hand to help you up. “Now, I’m going to go make you something to eat because I know you, and you need something better than that take out you were going to order” he says smirking at you.

“I was not going to-“ you try to lie before he cuts you off.

“Yes you were, I know you” he laughs “I’m going to go make you some food, you go get cleaned up and comfortable, and we’ll relax, okay?” He says as he tucks a strand of your hair behind your ear.

You close your eyes briefly, enjoying his gentle touch before smiling at him whispering to him “okay, that sounds nice.”

He doesn’t pull away immediately, causing you to blush a little before he finally pulls away and heads to your kitchen to start cooking. You watch him with a fond smile before heading into your room to change.

While you’re getting cleaned up, your mind is running. Since when did Minho make you feel so warm and fuzzy inside? Had you always felt so at peace when you’re with him? And that feeling when he touched you to tuck your hair? As you look in the mirror while finished up, you see the blush and giddy smile on your face and it hits you… you’ve fallen for your best friend. You can only hope he feels the same if you tell him.

As you walked out to find Minho, you can’t help but stand and smile, your feelings for him all but confirmed at the sight. He’s standing in your kitchen cooking dinner for you both while looking up to Kuja, who’s laying on top of the cabinets, talking to him while he cooks. You can’t help but melt a little watching them. It also gives you the courage to tell him how you feel.

You quietly walk over to the kitchen, taking a deep breath before approaching him and silently wrapping your arms around him in a hug from behind. You sigh, relaxing into his warm back, taking in the smell that is uniquely Minho.

He jumps slightly, not having heard you approach while he was distracted by your cats and cooking, before relaxing again, letting out a small chuckle. “Well hi there. Everything okay?” He asks.

“Yeah, everything’s good. I have to tell you something though, and I’m not sure how you’re going to take it” you tell him, the slight hint of nerves tinging your voice.

Minho immediately notices this and turns off the stove and proves the pan to a different burner before turning around in your arms. He looks down at you, concern showing on his face as he brings his hand to your chin, tilting it up to look you in the eyes.

“What’s the matter y/n? Is something wrong”

“No no, nothings wrong just” you take a deep breath “I love you Minho” you tell him, looking into his eyes.

“What?” He asks, eyes full of surprise at your admission.

“I understand if you don’t feel the same for me. But I realized how I felt and it felt wrong not to tell you” you tell him trying to tilt your eyes down in case he rejects you. He doesn’t let you though.

“No no, you just caught he off guard a little” he laughs, as a smile breaks out on his face “I love you too. I have for awhile, but I didn’t want to risk messing anything up with you. Or the cats” he jokes, causing you to laugh.

“You love me too?” You ask, looking at him with warmth and love on full display.

“I do. I couldn’t help falling in love with you” he smiles down at you, tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear again. “Can I kiss you now? I’ve been dying to for ages” He asks, one of his mischievous smirks playing on his lips.

“Please do” you say, leaning in to meet his lips. His kiss is more gentle than you expected it would be at first, but you can feel all the passion and emotions he’s trying to convey through it as one of his hands comes come to cradle the side of your face and neck, working with his arm around your lower back to pull you closer.

You hum into the kiss, sliding with of your hands up to tangle in his hair at the nape of the neck, pulling slightly, causing him to let out the most beautiful groan into the kiss. You pull away for a second to catch your breath, looking up at him.

“What about dinner?” You ask, still breathing slightly heavily.

He smirks at you again, a dangerous look in his eye as he responds “Dinner can wait, I’ll finish it for us later. Right now we’ve got some lost time to make up on” he says, before unexpectedly reaching to pick you up and heading to your bedroom. “If you don’t mind that is?” He asks, pausing near your door.

“Hmmm I suppose dinner can wait” you say in a teasing voice, causing him to glare at you and smack your ass before carrying you into your room, kissing you.

Maybe today wasn’t so bad after all.

Tag List: @yxngbxkkie @channiechxn @alyszaen

If you want to be tagged in the future let me know! My chat and inbox are always open so feel free to come talk to me anytime!

[arlo-rose]

Guys I’ve been so busy this weekend but it’s finally my turn to make a long sappy fable thank you post :D

I’m not always the best with words, and I said a lot of this in the fan appreciation video already, but I wanted to put it all here too.

I first started watching fable smp in (I think)November of 2021, cause I found Sherbert and Heyhay through DSMP tiktok compilations on youtube, and saw they both streamed. Fable is the first time I’ve actually been part of a fandom community, and it’s one of the best things that has ever happened to me. My whole experience with the community has been so incredible, everyone is so kind and creative and excited about the story being told. I met people through fable who are now some of my best friends on earth, and even got to meet up with one of them irl! I never imagined an online friend group was something I could have but those people, and the wider fable community, helped get me through some of the worst times mentally that I’ve had in my life. 

Fable as a story is so incredible, I can’t even put into words all of the specific pieces that make it so amazing, but all of the characters, relationships, stories, side plots, and just silly hanging out in character streams are something I love so much. I’m having a hard time writing this rn cause I don’t want to leave out anything important but I don’t know how to say any of it.

One of the biggest things fable smp has done for me is giving me something to fuel my art. Before fable started, I was just starting to experiment with digital art, but had a ton of art block and no motivation to draw much anymore. Fable gave me a constant source of ideas for my art, and the responses I got when I posted my art(for the first time ever) helped so much in keeping that motivation. Having fans and cast members tell my how much they loved my art was incredible, and it eventually gave me the confidence to open up art commissions, which I had never thought was something I’d be able to do. My art was actually how I met my now friends, we started talking because we all loved eachother’s art, and it’s so wonderful to have a bunch of artist friends I can ask for advice, show wips, and just hang out on call while drawing with. Whenever I draw I almost always have a fable vod playing, there are so many comfort vods that no matter how long I draw for, I’ll never run out. 

I know other people have said this, but I want to say it for me too, just because fable is over doesn’t mean I’m gonna shut up about it :D. I have so many art ideas I haven’t done yet, and so many thoughts and feelings about this story that aren’t going away anytime soon. I’m gonna keep brainrotting about these characters for as long as my brain allows me to, and even after that I’ll look back on this story and community so so fondly. This is a story and fandom that I think I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life, and I thank you all for that.

There is a lot of other things I could say right now, but words are hard and I’ve had a very, very long weekend, so I’m gonna stop it here. I love fable smp so much, and I can’t wait to see what stories you all tell next <3

-arlo

[bitchinbarzal]

Truth | M.Wood

summary; “they say what they really think of you after you’ve broken up”

-

You’d met in 2013 during a weekend visit to Boston College. You’d been on the same tour and Miles wouldn’t stop flirting with you.

He slipped you his number before you left, you never called.

That was until you were watching the NHL draft with your dad in the background one night and you heard his name before a series of pictures came up on screen of him.

You text him that night.

hey, weird of me lol but congrats on the draft today hey you’re pumped! It’s y/n btw.

He replied,

feeling even better now I’ve got a pretty girl messaging me.

He made you his girlfriend not long after freshman year started, he was enamoured. Nobody could understand it, he was the player so how had you gotten him to settle down?

You followed him to Jersey, we’re right there as he put pen to paper and signed his life away. There when he scored his first goal against Winnipeg.

Now nine years after meeting and you’d just broken up.

You felt weird, in denial almost like this wasn’t really happening. It was.

He moved out of your shared apartment, it was easier for the devils relocation team to find him a place.

There was still stuff to sort out like your dogs, Frankie and Arlo. They were with you for the time being but you were sure Miles would want to at least take one of them.

Your shared bills, cars and bank accounts.

“You can still use the account-“

“I don’t want your money Miles” you only snapped, cutting up your hand in front of him.

To be honest, if you were to be asked why you broke up you couldn’t give them a reason. It was probably a bunch of little things.

The fact you were together so long with no ring? No family prospects? That he didn’t really seem so interested in you as of late?

Miles always seemed interested in something else, never you and it started to take a toll.

Your self confidence plummeted. You noticed him on instagram liking bikini pictures and other things that made you insecure.

You felt horrible about your body.

Sitting in the box at games you’d be thinking about the comparison between yourself and these others wives and girlfriends. 

He had made you feel like you weren’t enough.

About three weeks in, Nico came round. An unwelcome surprise.

“Nico if you’re here-“

“I came to say hi I promise!” He interrupted, his hands up on his defence as he walked into the apartment.

“What can i help you with, cap?”

“Just came to um, check on you see how you were doing” he replied, sitting on the couch making himself comfortable.

“I’m fine Nico” you grumbled, retrieving a drink for each of you from the fridge and returning to give it to him.

“We’ve just been worried is all!”

You both took a prolonged sip before you asked “How is he?”

Nico hissed softly “He’s um… he’s okay I guess. It’s kind of like he’s lost his right arm? He’s learning how to be Miles again and it’s hard for him but we’re all here”

You nodded silently “Yeah… it’s good he has the team”

“Oh yeah for sure!”

“Does he… does he talk about me?” You weren’t sure you actually wanted to know the answer to that but you asked anyway.

Nico nodded “Um yeah i guess? You guys were really sickeningly in love I think some of the guys have been waiting for this moment so they can hear what he has to say - they say what they really think of you after you’ve broken up”

You nodded curtly, not wanting to think of the bad things Miles would be saying about you.

Nico realized his mistake when he saw the look on your face but never said another word.

Nico hung around a little longer, playing with the dogs and just generally checking you were ok before he left.

Later that night you received a text while in the middle of your TV show.

from: nico hischier

if you want to know how he really feels, watch this.

You clicked through the link and it took you to YouTube to see a hockey podcast, one you had heard before whenever Miles would have it on in the car.

Miles sat in the guest seat, giving insight on what they asked, talking about the devils season and Nico’s leadership.

“So man apart from professional side of hockey, what about personal? We don’t see too many guys in long term relationships in this sport you’re like what? eight, nine years with your girlfriend now?” The guys asked and Miles chuckled softly.

“Ex girlfriend now”

“Oh man, I’m sorry I didn’t know-“

“No, dude it’s fine don’t worry about it I’m happy to talk about it anyway” he interrupted, assuring him it was alright.

“Yeah i mean, we were nine years in a relationship which was a long ass time to be together. We met when we were in college and I was just some stupid kid I wasn’t making millions or whatever, she just liked me for me and that’s what I love about her” he explained, a common habit he had was talking with his hands and you laughed as his hands bounced around the desk.

“She Is the love of my life, one hundred percent. I don’t have a bad word to say about her. She’s there for every loss – I’ve never had a loss fully sit on my shoulders it’s always on hers too. I remember when it was a possibility that Seattle were gonna take me in the expansion and she was online looking at houses for us just incase, she’s crazy but she’s amazing”

The interviewer interrupted “if you don’t mind me asking, what ended it?”

“Me” he answered simply “I’m a hockey player man I let everything get to my head, the attention, the money, the fame it all went right to my head and I forgot that I had the woman of my dreams, the girl I love more than anything willing to do anything for me right there for nine whole years without so much a ring. Given the chance now, I’d put a ring on her finger tomorrow”

“Thanks for taking the time to speak to us today Miles”

You sat there for a moment while the phone screen went blank, tears rolling down your face.

You unlocked your phone and pulled up his contact, opting to text not sure you’d trust your voice.

to: miles 🤍

come over? I think we need to talk…

read at 6:43pm

Twenty minutes later the door rang. You opened it to find Miles stood on the other side.

“Hey…” he trailed.

“Come in, please” you urged.

He awkwardly maneuvered himself into the house and pandered to the dogs who had missed him ever so much.

“Hi buddy! Hi!”

You stood smiling at him and their obvious excitement to see their dad again.

“Do you- do you want a drink?”

He straightened up “No, no I’m good thanks”

You gestured then to the couch and he took a seat very awkwardly.

“I watched the podcast” You said, still fiddling with your hands.

He nodded “Nico called me, said he’d come to see you”

“Why would you say those things Miles?”

He looked at you like you had grown another head “Because it’s true? It’s like everything I wanted to say to you and never got the chance”

Your bottom lip quivered, his voice, his words playing back in your mind

“say it, please” it was almost a beg.

Miles looked almost in pain hearing your voice “Don’t cry babe-“

“Miles just say it” you snapped.

Sighing, he grabbed your hands and said “I let a lot of shit get to my head and as a result of that, I lost you and that was one of the most painful, gut wrenching things I’ve ever experienced in my life. I will forever be ashamed of how I treated you”

You nodded, thumb running soothingly over his knuckle “You said given the chance, you’d put a ring on my finger. That true?”

“So much” he breathed, letting go of your hand and walking over to the tv console, opening the drawer that held his Xbox and pulling out a small box.

You gasped “Miles-“

“I’ve had this for almost eight years”

“Eight?!”

“The day I signed for Jersey and you said you’d come with me, I went out and bought this ring with my first pay check because I knew I wanted you to be my wife” he mumbled, opening the box and showing you the ring.

A few tears rolled down your cheeks and you sniffled before you said “Do you still want that?”

“Huh?” His head shot up.

“Do you still want me to be your wife?”

“Of course i do-“ You stuck your hand out towards him and said “Well then put a ring on it and I’m yours, Wood”

He shook his head, almost trying to wake himself up from this dream “y/n… you can’t be serious”

“Do you love me?”

“Yes of course!”

You smiled “Well that’s all that matters then, I know you and I know your heart Miles”

He stood frozen for a moment before he moved to take the ring out and put it on your finger, lifting the hand to kiss it before kissing you.

“I love You” You mumbled against his lips.

“You have no idea how much I adore you” is all he replied, the strength of his kiss has every one of his emotions in it “and I’m so sorry, baby so sorry”

As tears rolled down his cheeks and landed on yours he tried to hold back his sobs, the sobs of relief.

After all, the truth will set you free.

[cant-have-shit-in-gotham]

On today's episode of Goons, Henchmen, and Everyone Else on Hood’s Payroll:

————

*playing twister*

Aaron: Right hand red.

Zoe: *ends up on top of Abby*

Zoe: You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?

Aaron: I stopped spinning like 15 minutes ago. Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't notice.

————

Sasha, gesturing to Ralf: Nightstalker, look what you did! You made Mom upset!

Spike: Mom, please don’t cry, we’re sorry!

Nightstalker: I’m sorry Mom... :(

Ralf, near tears: I DON’T REMEMBER GIVING BIRTH TO ANY OF YOU!

————

JT: BEHOLD, the field in which I grow my fucks! Lay thine eyes upon it, and thou shalt see that it is barren!

————

Diesel: Someone take me to art museums and make out with me.

Gasoline: But they said not to touch the masterpieces.

Diesel: Well somebody's got to pin the artwork to the wall.

Bill, on a walkie talkie: This is Bill, those idiots are fucking around in the East wing again.

————

Stitches: What are you writing?

JT: The government wants to know what kind of weapons we have in the house. I'm letting them know it's private information.

Wil, looking over Stitches’ shoulder: This jus’ says 'fuck around an’ find out' in calligraphy.

————

Abby: Did you win? Or just not die?

Abby: Either way, hooray.

JT: ...Is "no" a valid answer?

Abby: The hooray is redacted and you frighten me.

————

[ooc: About the characters below the cut! This info may change some as characters get developed more. Absolutely none of this is plot-relevant, it's just for fun!]

JT, also known as Jason, is Hood’s right-hand man and highest-ranking henchman. He is in his early twenties and is known as very easygoing and relaxed unless you break one of Hood’s rules. Lives in the apartment^3. Dating Hood and Wil. (he/him) [ooc: JT is Hood, the information here is only what in-universe characters would know]

Ralph is Hood’s second-highest-ranking Henchman. He is a middle-aged widower with no kids. His wife died in a Freeze attack. (he/him)

Aaron is Hood’s fourth ranking henchman. He isn’t really fleshed out yet, but I am taking suggestions!

Sasha is Hood’s seventh ranking henchman. She isn’t really fleshed out yet, but I am taking suggestions!

Stitches (@stitches-stitches-stitches) is Hood’s newest and eighth-ranking henchman. He lives with Hood in the apartment^3, and is aroace. (he/they)

Zoe is a goon in her mid to late twenties, she watched Wil while he was on bedrest, and later Hood as well. They helped rescue Wil from Alcatraz. There is significant sexual tension between herself and Abby. (she/they)

Abby is a goon in her mid to late twenties, she spent most of her early years as a working girl but jumped at the chance to change career paths. She helped rescue Wil from Alcatraz and has watched Zombieland far too many times. There is significant sexual tension between herself and Zoe. (she/her)

Bill is a goon in his early forties. He has a machete. He isn’t really fleshed out yet, but I am taking suggestions! (he/him)

Arlo is Wil’s eighteen-year-old cousin. (@back-in-blood) They’re a meta who recently moved to Gotham, they also have a legal job. He helped rescue Wil. Dating Riley. (they/he, preference for they)

Riley is one of Hood’s goons, they helped to rescue Wil. (@shakespeares-favorite-goon) They were also present for the “Thirteen Hours” Scarecrow event. Dating Arlo. (they/them)

Spike unloads trucks for a living. It is a legal job. He has a wife and two kids, the oldest of which just graduated college, and Batman knocked one of his teeth out while looking for RR. They used to be a goon but successfully got out of that life. (he/they, preference for he)

Gasoline is in his early twenties and is a mechanic with a legal job under Hood. He is the best mechanic in the Alley and is dating Diesel. (he/him)

Diesel is a street and drag racer in his early twenties. He is the best driver around, and Hood often has him act as a getaway driver if one is needed. It's dating Gasoline. (he/it preference for he)

Nightstalker is an eighteen year old dancer who bounces around the Alley’s more sexual clubs. It uses the stage name Shadow and has a very dark emo and punk inspired style. “Emo” themed nights were its idea. (it/he, very strong preference for it)

[whump-and-other-misfortunes]

Bambi and the King Pt 3

Pt 1, Pt 2

cw fantasy whump, captivity, nonhuman whumpee, defiant whumpee, royalty, humiliation

“You’re awful.” His voice echoed, the only sound in the otherwise quiet dining room. 

A smirk tugged at Cassian’s lips and he took another bite of his food. August knelt beside his chair, pouting as he tried to maneuver eating with his hands still chained together. “Am I?” Cassian teased, running a hand through the nymph’s hair. “I thought you’d appreciate a good meal before we set out.” 

August jerked his head away from the king’s touch. “You’re trying to humiliate me.” 

Undeterred, Cassian let his hand slide down the back of August’s neck, resting there as a gentle threat. “If I were really trying to humiliate you,” he said, “we wouldn’t be alone right now. Just imagine what people would think if they saw my darling new pet...not every day someone gets their hands on a wood nymph.” 

“You’re lucky I don't smash this bowl over your head,” August growled. “I’m not your fucking pet.” 

Cassian grabbed onto his hair and tugged August’s head back, making him gasp. “Watch it—let's not forget who’s kneeling at my feet in chains right now. Just because I’m willing to play your little game doesn’t mean you have any power here, Bambi.” 

They stared at each other in silence for a moment, before August finally spoke. “Does this make you feel powerful?” he asked quietly. 

Cassian frowned, unsure how to respond. Of course he was powerful, he was the king for God’s sake. But then why did the question make his chest tighten?  

He let go of August and returned to eating, staring into the food as if it would give him answers. The distant sound of footsteps and servants’ chatter underscored the rest of their meal. Stealing a glance out of the corner of his eye, Cassian watched the nymph carefully hold his own bowl so that he could still use his spoon with the other hand. He was clever—clever and pretty, two things Cassian had always had a weakness for. This wasn’t going to end well. 

“Don't you want to know where we’re going?” August said after a while. 

“Of course I do,” Cassian replied. “What exactly am I getting myself into?” 

August set his now empty dish on the floor in front of him, turning his full attention to the king. “I need to get to the Black Stone Mountains.” 

“Why?” Cassian asked, brows drawing together in confusion. “There’s nothing up there but bandits and lowlifes.” 

“I know. There’s a group of hunters that hides out there and they have something I want.” 

“Sounds dangerous.” 

Those big brown eyes were fixed on him with a look that dared Cassian to argue. “I know.” 

“So, you risked cutting through my land rather than waste time going around Arlo Forest,” Cassian said curiously, “and now you want to go all the way up the mountains to tussle with hunters. Must be something very important they have.” 

August’s gaze faltered, and Cassian watched a mix of fear and anger flash in his eyes. “It is,” he said softly. “They took my sister.” 

taglist: @morning-star-whump, @alivenova, @tobiaslut, @leviiio, @torture-themed

[treason-and-plot]

Saffron lowers herself onto a brown leather couch. A television screen takes up most of the opposite wall, the sound muted. An old black and white movie is playing. Connor sits down next to her.

“What're you watching?" she says.

“I don't know, I just turned it on because I was bored,” he says. ”Do you want me to turn the sound up?”

“Nah, I’m good,” says Saffron, without taking her eyes from the screen.

Connor leans forward, his hands clasped under his chin. He seems preoccupied. Saffron inwardly sighs.

“Was there any particular reason you were feeling a bit depressed tonight?” she asks.

“Well, yeah,” he says. “Although this is probably going to sound really lame…“

Saffron waits, removing her eyes from the television screen to stare at his vertiginous cheekbones and the artfully flopping fringe of hair falling over his face.

“My pet cockatiel died,” Connor says. “His name was Arlo. I found him lying on the bottom of his cage when I got home from school.”

Saffron tries to conjure an appropriate expression of sympathy.

“That’s so sad,“ she says. (What does a cockatiel even look like? It’s some type of parrot, right?) “Do you know what happened to it? Was it sick?”

“I’m pretty sure he died of old age,” Connor says. “But it was still a shock. He was older than me. I grew up with him. He was part of the family, you know? I can’t remember a time he wasn’t here. I just feel a bit…bereft.”

“Yeah, well, I guess that’s understandable, if he’d been around for so long,” says Saffron. She feels like she is failing some test, but she can’t think of anything else to say about a dumb dead bird that lived a long and pampered life. Connor nods, his jaw rigid. Saffron feels a sudden clench of panic in her heart…Oh God, please God, please please PLEASE don’t let him start crying, it’s just a freaking a bird, for God’s sake, but then the doorbell rings, and she almost laughs with relief.

“That’ll be the pizza!” she says, loudly and unnecessarily.

Connor gives her a tight smile and climbs to his feet.

“Saved by the bell, huh?” he says.

[sunnysidesevenup]

not quite a prince, but I’ll save you anyway

Neige gets harassed by a fan while out shopping alone, and Arlo happens to be in the area.

small little drabble, might continue later! read under the cut:

-

“I’m sorry, but I’m really not comfortable with that.”

Neige hides his trembling hands behind his back, giving the guy in front of him a bright smile. This happens sometimes—a fan gets a little too pushy, an autograph turns into some sort of request, a request turns into a demand. It’s not like Neige isn’t used to it, but he’s never fully figured out how to deal with it.

It’s one of the things he’s always admired Vil for. Vil never lets any fan push too far—he always shuts it down quickly.

Neige, though, he’s not like that. People wanting things from him will always make him tumble all over himself to comply. It’s a trait he doesn’t particularly like, but it’s one he’s accepted.

“C’mon, you can get to know me on the date!” The guy says again, pushing a little bit closer into Neige’s personal space. He feels his smile strain a little more, because how many times can he say no before the guy understands?

“I’m flattered, but really, I’m not—“

“It’ll be a nice date, promise!”

Neige’s nervous mood slips into something a little more terrified, as the guy reaches his hand out as if he’s going to grab him. Maybe he could use magic, or something? No, that wouldn’t be nice, but—

A scoff comes from the side of where the two are standing, and both the man’s movements and Neige’s thoughts grind to a halt.

“He said no, or are you deaf on top of being stupid?”

Neige’s gaze slides over to the boy who’s interrupted the scene, and a genuine smile lights up his features almost immediately. He can’t help it—especially not when Arlo is coming to his rescue like this.

“What?” The stranger says dumbly, a growl to his voice as he scans the newcomer up and down. It’s clear the man doesn’t view Arlo as any type of threat—and why would he? The mer is petite, pretty, and almost delicate looking at times. The soft, oversized sweaters he frequently chooses to wear don’t help his image, either.

If it wasn’t for the way his glare was so vicious, then he wouldn’t look like he could harm anyone at all.

That, and the flash of razor sharp teeth that can be briefly glimpsed as his lips curl into a smirk.

“Stupid, then.” Arlo drawls, as if he’s come to an easy conclusion. The cold tone is chilling, almost as much as the mer’s gaze, which observes the scene with something akin to disgust. “Get out of here, before you regret it.” He tells the man simply.

The guy doesn’t seem to sense any danger, though. “Who are you to tell me—“

Arlo’s glare deepens, and the man actually flinches, this time. It seems like he’s finally begun to pick up on something being wrong—the tension in the air thick enough to be cut with a knife.

“Are we going to have a problem?” Arlo coos, a grin now spreading across his face. It seems like he’s begging the man to say yes, but much to Neige’s surprise, the guy actually backs off.

“No.” He says quietly, and if Neige wasn’t in shock, he would probably find it funny seeing the larger man cower to someone much smaller than him. “I was just—“

“You were just?” Arlo mocks, raising an eyebrow. “Just what? Being a waste of air? Get out of here.”

Once again, to Neige’s complete shock, the guy actually listens. He’d been completely ignoring every attempt he had made to get him to leave, and now he’s just going?

Once the stranger is gone, Neige turns wide eyes onto his friend. “How did you do that?” He asks, bewildered and awed.

Arlo’s glare softens into something more neutral, and he blinks at him. The mer tilts his head, bangs shifting along with the movement. “What? I just glared at him a little.” He asks, genuinely confused.

“He was bothering me for ten minutes, though.” Neige says quietly.

His friend’s expression softens further. “Well, you’re just too nice.” He says. “That’s why people think they can ignore what you want.”

The black haired boy stares at him. “…I don’t like that.” He says finally.

Arlo blinks at him again, and then he breaks out into laughter. Neige’s eyes get wider as he watches him, because he’s so different like this compared to with anyone else. A warmth in his chest grows, knowing that he’s the one who can get him to react like this.

The mer finally stops laughing, his cheeks now flushed a light red as he smiles. “You could always be mean.” He says, and it’s more of a tease than anything.

Neige frowns at him. “I can be mean.” He says.

Arlo laughs again, “I’m sure.”

“I could if I wanted to be! I’m an actor, you know!” He insists.

“Well, that’s the problem, isn’t it?” The boy waves a hand, gesturing vaguely in Neige’s direction. “It would be acting.”

“And what you do isn’t?” Neige asks, and the minute it leaves his mouth he knows he’s made a misstep. Arlo’s lips curl down into a frown, a brief flash of something unidentifiable crossing his expression. “I didn’t mean it like…” He immediately attempts to correct, but the mer shrugs.

“No, what I do isn’t acting.” He says simply. “Sorry.” He adds like an afterthought, but the hidden amount of hurt in the words is enough for Neige to know that it’s not.

He frowns, biting his lip and contemplating how to fix the situation, but Arlo is already moving on. He crosses his arms, scanning Neige’s plain outfit and tilting his head again.

“What are you doing out here, anyways? Don’t you have friends to hang out with when you go out?” He asks.

Neige hums, “Yeah, but everyone at RSA is busy today… but you’re here!”

The mer raises an eyebrow. “Uh, yeah?”

The model grins at him. “You can hang out with me, then.”

Arlo’s eyes widen, and then he glances away, cheeks reddening. Neige giggles at the sight, because it’s so common with him. Anytime he says something even implying that they’re close, Arlo get’s flustered. It’s something Neige will never stop finding cute.

“…I’m out to get a new lens for my camera, but we can hang out if you want to.” The NRC student eventually mumbles, brushing some of his bangs behind his ear. He’s still not looking at him, and Neige knows that he probably won’t for a little while. That’s alright, though.

He smiles brightly at him, feeling unbelievably happy. It’s a strange pivot to go from uncomfortable to overjoyed so fast, but Neige always finds himself experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions around this particular NRC student, anyways.

He reaches out, grabbing the other boy’s hand. “Let’s go, then!” He laughs.

[luckyqueenreign]

Hello o/ I've recently started playing litg again, I left after 4th mid-season after lame-ass Will coupled with Thabi, I haven't played the 5th season bc I've heard that it's hot garbage, could you please tell me why? I don't mind spoilers, but I haven't found any answers other than that. Thank you a lot!

Ohhhh babe settle in while I relive that dumpster fire, this is going to be a long one…

Anyone who’s played s5 will back me on this, If you were annoyed with Will leaving us for Thabi, I STRONGLY advise you to not even *think* about playing s5.

First let’s start off with MC…she was… not cute. For reference:

And I know that after a few weeks fb gave us more options and all of our MCs either became cuter in our eyes or maybe we all just felt extremely sorry for her because of the horrible experience she was having. Let’s get into that next…

Your MC walks into the villa and immediately is greeted by none other than her super hot, narcissistic, cheating ex, Suresh. Normally I would have to tell you oh I did X route so some of my choices will defer from yours if you pick another choice, but NOPE not in s5! Because we had ZERO choice. For first recoupling whether you want to or not, you are coupled with your ex, Suresh. Then he is fawning over you IMMEDIATELY, he’s jealous, running around after you, trying everything to win you back. And you can choose every single positive interaction saying you want him back too and the game doesn’t care. It literally won’t let you get back with him until the very end. But on the other spectrum, if you don’t want to be with him, he will not leave you alone no matter how much you beg.

As for LI choices, at the start you are given TWO. (I say at the start, but to be honest you’re really only give 2 for the majority of the season) One being Alfie and the other being Dana. Now every season before this and every season after, one of the girls always asks if you are into girls and this determines whether they will have girls grafting you or not. Well your answer doesn’t matter here. You could have said I’m the straightest person on earth and Dana would still hit on you everyday and get sad whenever anyone else showed interest in you. Oh and because there were only two other girls in the villa and one being your bully, dana was also meant to be your best friend and CONSTANTLY let you know that she was. By interrupting any and all conversations you were having, even good ones! You’re about to kiss your LI? Here comes Dana! There’s a lot more to unpack on Dana but I’ll get back to her later, just remember she’s your “best friend” in the villa.

As for the bully I mentioned, every season prior to this it’s been clear that whenever someone was coming after us, it’s because they were jealous that MC was “that girl”, s5 blurred those lines and became full on bullying. First with Kat, who went into full attack mode when MC even breathed in the direction of the two boys she was after. Her first and very brief LI was Alfie, who if MC just hugs garners a feral reaction from Kat screeching at her to leave him alone. And then her second LI, Finn who comes in as the first bombshell and Kat drops everything to be with him. Throughout the season anytime she feels any sort of jealousy she takes it out on MC and MC NEVER fires back!

Then we get two new bullies bombshells, Meera and Arlo. Suresh starts heavily flirting with Arlo, which I’m sorry but wasn’t he just up our asses literally yesterday?? And legit, who wrote this season and thought this was ok?? bc even if I hated my ex it wouldn’t be nice to see him flirting with someone else. Meera comes across like a super nice girl while Arlo becomes our second bully! Yay! Again even if you don’t want to be with Suresh, Arlo acts as if you do. And after a prolonged recoupling Suresh chooses Arlo, Alfie chooses MC and Meera is sent home (more on her later) Now if you wanted to be with him you’re probably thinking wtf Suresh?? And if you don’t you’re probably thinking, finally I’m free!! But NOPE when he couples up with Arlo that’s when he decides he’s going super full on and starts going after MC even harder. He wears the shirt she bought him for an anniversary on a date, he tries/kisses MC in the bedroom (depends on your choice) and just overall is doing everything to win MC back except for being honest and dumping Arlo to be with MC. Well Kat sees the kiss/hug/rejection and still tells the entire villa that you and Suresh were kissing in bed. The whole villa erupts, Alfie/Dana rush off and are super pissed at you, they won’t even let you explain yourself. So then you try to go find Alfie/Dana and you go to the roof terrace only to find Alfie kissing Kat or Dana kissing Eddie (if you’re on her route he’s coupled with Dana but she doesn’t really like him) OH and just a reminder, you have past trauma from when your long term ex CHEATED ON YOU. Alfie/Dana knew about this the whole time and yet STILL kissed someone else. Then Suresh takes this opportunity where you’re at your lowest again to apologize for cheating and tells you have until tonight to decide if you want to be with him or not. The girls also ask that night who you want to be with and your given the choice of Alfie/Suresh and when you go to tell one of them who you want to be with….they’re gone! YUP! They’re off to casa!!

And you might be thinking, after all that drama casa might be a nice break! A few days of freedom from the mess that’s gone down. THINK AGAIN BESTIE! While you’re at casa you get a major surprise! Remember that girl Suresh cheated on you with??? Oh yea the producers decide to drop her into YOUR casa villa. So you have to come face to face with Gabby, the girl that your ex cheated with. Now this was obviously a massive departure from the irl show because they’ve never thrown a girl into the girls villa at casa amor before. And remember your bestie Dana?? Oh yea she gets SUPER hot and bothered by Gabby and decides she wants to bring her back into the villa.. now I know you’re probably thinking wait but what if your on Dana’s route?? Obviously she wouldn’t cheat on MC with Eddie and then bring back the girl that Suresh cheated with!! WELL SHE DID BB!!!

Throughout the season we’ve been given very little detail about Suresh and MCs relationship. We know he cheated, he said it was a one time thing, MC found out about it from a picture on his phone. OH how could I forget!! We also find out that MC was going to propose to Suresh!! The day before he cheated she bought a ring! Well that’s all we knew until gabby says nah we were more than just a one time thing, he had a tooth brush at my place! We dated for months!

So now casa is over and we’re going back, the game doesn’t let us go back single and we have to pick either Nicholas or Johnny to bring back to the villa. Doesn’t matter who you choose they go nuts regardless. So now Gabby is back in the main villa thanks to your “bestie” and Suresh is STRESSING. Because obviously he left out some crucial details! And you would think ok we’re immediately going to talk to him? NOPE we need a fucking girls chat with the new casa girls. Lulu, Suresh’s new girl…Meera is back with alfie and remember that nice girl? Well she’s gone and we now have a full on bitch in her place aka Bully #3. Eddie is sent packing and tells us that whichever guy you like / Dana still really likes you and thought about you the whole time during casa. Cool cool cool but will any of them tell you this?? Nah lol! So you get pulled in the middle of your slumber for a chat with Gabby and Suresh. He tells you in front of Gabby he cheated once but then mc broke up with him and he went to gabby and they dated for 5 months. Full on rebound relationship. He tells them both that he never loved Gabby and that MC is the only one he’s ever loved. Well she’s not having that! Gabby goes full on delulu and basically doesn’t accept what he’s said. Now at the time there was major upset online about Gabby not being romance-able bc in all fairness she was extremely hot. So the game now allows you to romance Gabby and you’d think they’d change SOME of the interactions but NOPE they didn’t. So basically the entire time she’s running after Suresh trying to win him back. So much so that she explodes one day and reveals to everyone that he was going to propose!! Shock and awe all around the villa while everyone looks pitifully at MC.. at this point in the gameplay I think we were all so tired at the sheer embarrassment we were enduring weekly. And then Suresh announces hey that wasn’t for you dummy it was for MC!! Buttttt remember when he found out weeks ago that MC was going to propose??? Why tf didn’t he say anything then?? BECAUSE THAT WOULD MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE. Oh and speaking of making sense… if you’re on Suresh’s route and you somehow survive the weekly torture, I kind of blacked out at the end, but he proposes and MC obviously wins because she should.

I know I left out so much bullying (Nicolas and Eddie) and so much other shit that goes down, but this was getting too long. Bestie if you’re still here, all in all just don’t play it. You’ll have severe ptsd from it. You’re better off reading all of the fanfics the amazing fandom created.

[s4mudra]

𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨  …  𝑭𝑹𝑨𝒀𝑨  𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑮𝑹𝑨𝑰𝑵𝑰.

i'll  borrow  of  imagination  what  reality  will  not  give  me.

yuki  kato,  twenty  nine,  she/they     ⟡     —     is  that  FRAYA  ANGGRAINI  i  just  saw  walking  around  kilmer’s  cove?  i  heard  they’re  a  RESIDENT  who’s  been  here  for  THEIR  WHOLE  LIFE.  it  slipped  my  mind,  since  they  just  tend  to  hang  out  at  THE  PLAYHOUSE.  at  face  value,  they’re  said  to  be  INVENTIVE  and  ARDENT,  but  i  don’t  know…  some  people  have  said  they  can  be  quite  ERRATIC  and  ALOOF.  just  don’t  get  on  their  bad  side,  i  guess!  don’t  tell  them  i  told  you  this,  but  i’ve  heard  they  DO  NOT  believe  in  all  the  ghost  stories  around  town.  who  knows  what  the  future  holds  for  them!

mise  en  scene.

character  parallels.  arlo  black  ,  candela  obscura  /  blair  waldorf  ,  gossip  girl  /  furina  de  fontaine  ,  genshin  impact.

aesthetics.  the  ornate  and  gilded  edge  of  a  dust-covered  frame  /  strands  of  wet,  dark  hair  clinging  against  skin  /  the  long  gasp  of  breath  breaking  the  surface  of  water  /  a  face  waiting  in  the  wings  before  the  hushed,  “enter,  stage  left.”  /  the  pages  of  a  storybook  fluttering  in  the  wind.

pinterest.

act  i. if  they’ve  lived  here  their  whole  life,  what  has  made  them  stay ?

tl;dr:  it  claimed  you  and  you  claimed  it  back,  because  what  is  home  if  not  the  haunting  song  of  the  sea?

they  named  you  fraya  anggraini,  the  eldest  and  only  child  of  putra  santoso  and  akari  sato,  with  gloom  and  raindrops  sticking  to  the  hospital  room  window  as  they  bore  witness  on  the  day  you  were  born.  your  father  always  said  that  the  tide  was  high  when  kilmer’s  cove  welcomed  you  into  the  world.  “it  means  it  wants  you  here  in  its  tight  embrace,  sweetheart,”  he  would  say,  carding  his  fingers  through  your  hair  as  you  looked  out  at  sea,  and  is  that  not  both  a  blessing  and  a  curse?

still,  you  wear  them  close  to  your  heart—in  a  locket  filled  with  sand  to  remind  you  of  your  home  no  matter  how  far  you  strayed.  and  stray  you  did,  after  your  mother  presented  you  with  a  bouquet  and  a  kiss  on  the  forehead  and  said,  “i’m  so  proud  of  you.”  the  end  of  high  school  marked  your  readiness  to  see  the  world.  you’d  finally  know  the  life  your  parents  came  from  before  they  settled  in  this  quaint  little  seaside  town.  you  packed  your  bags,  and  for  four  years  you  made  your  college  dorm  in  boston  a  makeshift  home  in  pursuit  of  a  bachelor’s  degree  in  arts  and  theatre.

it  was  beautiful.  the  tall  buildings  glittered  under  the  night  sky  and  the  crowds  were  louder  than  even  the  loudest  nights  in  kilmer’s  cove  and  yet,  you  understood  why  your  parents  chose  the  two-storey  house  with  the  sea  out  the  window  to  build  a  life  in.  it  was  in  kilmer’s  cove,  with  the  water  lapping  at  the  shore  and  the  water  pouring  from  the  skies,  that  you  sunk  your  feet  into  the  sand  once  more. 

home,  the  sea  called  to  you,  as  you  made  the  trek  to  the  playhouse  with  your  life’s  experiences  held  between  your  hands.  “i  have  a  degree  in  theatre.  i  want  to  apply  for  a  job,”  you  said  at  twenty-three,  paper  slid  across  the  table  and  fingers  curled  with  a  sureness.  the  world  out  there  was  beautiful,  but  no  true  practitioner  of  the  art  could  drink  themselves  sated  on  beauty  alone.  everything  you  sought  for  was  already  here  for  the  taking.  art,  you  think,  in  its  purest  form,  must  be  harsh  and  haunting  and  horrific—heavenly.

picture  this:  a  wraith  in  a  white  dress  standing  at  the  shoreline  just  before  the  sun  rises.  close  your  eyes.  listen  to  the  howl  of  the  wind  and  the  song  of  the  sea.  welcome  home,  fraya.

act  ii. does  your  muse  have  a  job  in  kilmer’s  cove ?

presently,  fraya  works  as  an  assistant  director  at  the  playhouse.  they  started  off  as  a  stagehand  who  worked  closely  with  the  director,  something  akin  to  being  the  director’s  assistant.  anything  from  fetching  the  director  coffee  to  checking  scripts  for  typos  to  overseeing  mise  en  scene,  they  had  done  over  the  years.  it’s  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  this—theatre,  the  bright  stage  lights,  the  creak  of  the  wooden  beams  above,  all  of  it—is  her  life’s  passion,  which  was  how  she  landed  the  role  of  assistant  director  herself. 

although  not  often,  fraya  has  also  previously  (  and  likely  will  still  do  so  in  the  future  )  served  as  an  extra  on  the  stage  themselves.  it’s  something  that  leaves  her  feeling  giddy  still  to  this  day  whenever  she  has  the  opportunity.

act  iii. quick  facts.

gender  is  a  concept  that  they  try  to  put  out  of  sight,  out  of  mind.  that  being  said,  fraya  does  identify  as  broadly  nonbinary  and  knows  that  they  are  very  sensitive  to  gendered  nouns.  there  are  very  few  that  don’t  make  their  skin  crawl,  with  these  exceptions  being  the  word  daughter  and  the  prefix  miss. 

fraya  is  bisexual.

although  their  legal  name  is  just  fraya  anggraini,  they  often  tack  on  sato  at  the  back  when  introducing  themselves  to  honor  their  mother’s  name.  regards,  fraya  anggraini  sato,  is  the  signature  you  may  receive  in  an  email  from  them.

she  collects  little  figurines.  they  can  be  of  anything,  from  tiny  boats  to  carved  wooden  animals  to  chibi  little  people.

despite  never  having  one,  fraya  is  extremely  fond  of  cats.

they  believe  in  the  haunting  and  the  haunted  because  they  are,  after  all,  a  practitioner  of  the  arts.  that  doesn’t  mean  they  believe  in  ghost  stories.  fraya  is  a  big  believer  that  the  things  that  haunt  you  don’t  have  to  be  ghosts  and  demons  lurking  in  the  shadows.  the  haunting  is  a  feeling,  not  a  phenomenon.

tangentially,  maybe  she  doesn’t  believe  in  ghost  stories  because  she  is  the  wraith  haunting  the  playhouse.  who  knows!

it  is  very  rare  to  see  fraya  not  wearing  their  glasses.  it’s  partly  out  of  habit,  but  also  partly  because  of  the  somewhat  high  prescriptions.

they  have  a  flair  for  dramatics  and  can  be  haughty  and  aloof,  as  any  self-respecting  pretentious  theatre  kid  should  be.  fraya  likes  to  think  that  they  make  that  up  in  their  fiery  passion  and  commitment  to  the  arts.

when  creating  her,  i  once  described  her  as,  “blair  waldorf  if  she  was  a  brooklynite  theatre  kid.”  she  is,  however,  mostly  inspired  by  furina  de  fontaine  from  genshin  impact—if  furina  lived  in  a  haunted  small  town.