#I’ve got fruit snacks and sparkling water

[abitcaughtinthemiddle]

I’ve got SO MUCH TO DO for my media consumption hobbies.

I’ve got:

Bridgerton rewatch and analysis

My Lady Jane

Critical Role (gotta catch up on Downfall)

The Dragon Prince S6

Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age 2

Dragon Age: Inquisition

How the FUCK does one do all the things??

I have a lot of things I like and it’s a problem and I’m going to make it your problem too.

[freesia-writes]

Ch 40: Beach Date #2

Master List ~~ Previous Chapter ~~ WC: 2.6k

Song: “Time After Time” by Iron and Wine

Had to re-use the beautiful fanart by @amalthiaph!!

.

“Well look at you,” Hunter rumbled in appreciation as Lyra pulled the cover off of a snack platter, setting it on the blanket next to a round tray with some sparkling wine and two fancy glasses. They were settled on the beach for an evening picnic atop a thick, soft blanket spread across the sand. Her platter was heaped with fresh fruit that glistened enticingly, a variety of cheeses, some salted meats in neat piles, and a plethora of crackers, nuts, and olives. He was salivating immediately. 

“I got a little caught up in it all,” she chuckled, producing one more bowl from the large bag she’d brought. As she uncovered that one, a little huff escaped her lips, and she held it out for him to see, clapping her other hand to her forehead in embarrassment. “They all melted.” He peered inside, seeing what appeared to have been an assortment of chocolates, now a mushy mess. 

“Still good,” he encouraged, swiping a bit with a single finger and licking it off unceremoniously. He kept his face carefully neutral, sensing the wave of autonomic response as Lyra looked away quickly. 

“You can feel this stuff, can’t you…” she muttered as though dreading his response. “I can’t hide anything…”

“Do you want to hide anything?” he deflected, fixing her with a mockingly stern stare. 

“No!” she answered quickly, squinting back at him suspiciously. 

“Too soon?” he asked with a grin, and she shook her head, mirroring his expression. 

“I’ve shared it all,” she confirmed. “It feels fantastic. You’re the one holding out on me, I think.”

“Not really,” he said, scooting over to sit beside her, slightly behind to offer a place for her to lean. He loved it when she took him up on that, and his chest swelled a bit as she nestled into him. “The war stories can pretty much all be summed up the same way. We had a plan. It changed about eight times. We still finished the mission. And repeat.”

“I doubt that’s all there was to it,” she teased, leaning forward slightly to pour two glasses of the sparkling wine and offering one to him. He took a sip, enjoying its effervescent sweetness, and gazed past her head at the shimmering water that formed the horizon. The sound of the birds calling overhead, the steady crash of the waves, and the quiet beat of her heart all lulled him into contentment, and he took a deep, happy breath.

“Well, we’ve got plenty of time for stories,” he said, meaning just that night, but realizing there was a much greater intent behind his words. He left it at that, however, and shifted around her to graze on the copious amount of food she’d brought. She sliced a few pieces off one of the soft cheese, smearing them on some crackers and offering him one. His fingers brushed hers as he took it, tingles dancing along his arm at the simple touch. 

“I hope so,” she said quietly, adding a neatly-folded piece of meat atop her cheese and, after some consideration, popped the entire thing into her mouth. “Fewer crumbs that way,” she explained after she’d chewed and swallowed, and he chuckled in agreement. 

It was a balmy afternoon, the sun still fairly high in the sky as they basked in its rays. It had been particularly hot lately, and Hunter loosened another button on his shirt, then rolled up his sleeves in an attempt to cool down. But the breeze had stilled, and the warm air lingered. Lyra pulled her hair up into a messy bun atop her head, and with a sheepish giggle in his direction, flapped her skirt “to get some air circulation”, as she put it. 

“Let’s go in,” he invited, tipping his head toward the water. They’d talked about swimming, but both had been so satisfied by simply sitting and snacking with each other that it hadn’t been a very pressing item on the agenda. The ocean beckoned to him now, though, and he stood up, moving away from the blanket to brush off the grains of sand that had gathered on his swim trunks and loose button-up shirt. Lyra followed suit, but moved awkwardly as she pulled her blouse over her head, glancing self-consciously at the top of her swimsuit. She took a breath, then pushed her skirt down, tossing both clothing items onto the blanket.

“I haven’t actually been in the water in a long time,” she admitted, crossing her arms across her front, then adjusting the suit over her hips, then looking up at him sheepishly. Hunter found it disproportionately adorable. The one-piece suit had a cream-colored gingham pattern, and the tan lines from her usual clothing revealed the parts of her pear-shaped body that rarely saw the sun.

“There’s a fun little spot over here, if you want,” he said, gesturing toward the nearby cliff that marked the end of the flat stretch of beach. 

“Fun for what?” she asked apprehensively, glancing up at its steep, rocky face. 

“Want to find out?” His roguish grin was infectious, and she temporarily forgot about her discomfort as she followed. He led them along a narrow path that began further inland and worked its way along the side of the cliff to a little overhang above the ocean that provided a natural diving board for the adventurous. He ventured to the edge, glancing at the satisfactorily deep water below. 

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Lyra’s quavering voice belied her anxiety, and he smiled at her, frozen behind him as she pressed herself against the rock wall as much as she could, looking down for a split second before jerking her eyes back to him. 

“It looks farther than it is,” he encouraged, moving to the edge of the precipice and reaching out a hand, pulling her to stand beside him as they took in the creamy colors of the horizon again. 

“I’m a weenie, Hunter,” she reminded him, holding onto him tightly. 

“Same time?” 

She met his eyes, their rich brown depths full of affection, reassurance, and confidence, and her face softened immediately. 

“I don’t think I need to use words for you to know how nervous I am.”

“No,” he smiled. “It’s okay if you don’t want to; we can go back the way we came.” But she looked at the steps they’d taken along the thin, crumbly patches of flat rock. It looked more dangerous than where she now stood. She took a deep, shaky breath, lowering her chin with a new resolve, and nodded, fixing her eyes on a distant point in the sea. 

“Let’s do it.” 

He held her hand loosely, stepping a bit closer to the edge and beckoning for her to do the same. 

“Wait!” she said suddenly. “Your shirt!”

“It’s okay,” he said quickly. “It’ll dry.” His eyes were shifty, and now it was she who noticed the unease in his demeanor. 

“Since when are you one to cover up that bangin’ body?” she attempted, snorting at her own ridiculous humor. He grinned. 

“Not important.”

“No, you’re hiding something,” she pressed, smiling broadly now as his raised eyebrows and slack jaw confirmed her theory. “What is it?”

“Alright, it’s…” Without warning, he leapt over the edge, pulling her with him. He heard her scream as she fell beside him, and they crashed into the water a split second later. He resurfaced, treading water as she burst out with a splash, and she immediately stared at him with shock and indignation, hair pressed against the sides of her head. 

“Hunter!!” she laughed, clapping a wave toward him and further soaking his hair. 

“We would have been standing there all night,” he reasoned, and she scoffed as she turned to swim to shore. He followed suit, staying close beside her until they were in shallower water, then grabbed her ankle and tugged her back toward him. He didn’t consider the timing, however, and accidentally dragged her beneath the next wave that passed by, cringing guiltily as he heard her splutter. She floundered for a second before finding her feet, standing right in front of him until she finished her coughing fit. 

“You’re gonna–” More coughing. “You’re gonna pay for that,” she threatened, eyes blazing. 

“Sorry,” he confessed, “I didn’t see the wave coming. I was just trying to–” She swept a foot behind both of his, knocking his legs out from under him, but he dropped just a few inches since she apparently forgot the concept of buoyancy. 

“Kriff,” she laughed, palming her face for a moment before giving him a mischievous look. “I didn’t think that one through.”

“No you didn’t,” he growled, slipping his arms around her waist and lifting her above him. She squealed in utter shock, clutching at his shoulders as she watched the next wave swelling behind him. He tensed, ready to toss her headfirst into it, but something about the mix of panic and delight on her face gave him pause, and the crest passed them both as he slowly lowered her. The way her body slid down his front made his mouth go dry, and when she found her feet again, he still held her close. Adrenaline coursing through her veins, she finally lightened her grip on the outsides of his arms, enraptured by the sudden intensity of his gaze.

“Very merciful of you,” she teased, cheeks flushed. The water amplified every sensation, and her soft skin against his own, paired with the steady thump of her heart, brought a wave of tingles up from his core. His own cheeks were hurting, and he realized he hadn’t smiled so long or so hard in quite a while. Thoughts spun like a tornado through his mind, and yet every fiber of his being was focused on her in that moment: the dark hair scattered across her shoulders, the smile lines on her face, and more than anything else, the softness in her brown eyes as she made no effort to hide the thrill of adoration she had for him. 

“Can’t attack a soldier and expect not to pay for it,” he taunted, distracting himself from the ferocity of his own feelings. 

“Fair enough,” she said quietly, reeling a bit herself from his gaze and touch. He released her, taking a step back as the water danced around his waist, and ran his fingers through his hair, his shirt floating around him. They waded back to the shore, coming out into the summer heat with dripping limbs and dumb grins. The gritty sand massaged their feet as they stood, brushing off water droplets and wringing out hair. Hunter twisted the ends of his shirt, attempting to rid it of as much water as possible, but was suddenly distracted as Lyra sidled up, a coy look in her eyes that floored him immediately. 

She reached forward, toying with one of his buttons, and slipped it through its hole with nimble fingers. His words caught in his throat, unable to tear his gaze from hers, and she softly caressed her hand down his side before reaching for the next button. It was bliss and torture at the same time, and as the warm air tickled his front, she reached the last button, twisting it sideways to free it. 

“Wait a minute,” he growled in sudden realization, grabbing her hand as she startled. “I’m onto you,” he smirked, and the immediate redness blossoming across her cheeks confirmed his suspicions. 

“I’m dying to know!” she laughed, backing away with guilt written all over her. There was nothing but a thin sliver of his torso visible between the hems of his shirt, and she squinted theatrically, trying to catch a glimpse. 

“Since when are you so thirsty?” he snickered, and her remorse quickly shifted into affront. But things were shifting between them, and she made her best attempt at a flirty face. It was so bad that he couldn’t help but fully laugh.

“First of all, rude.” She jabbed an accusing finger into his chest, which he snatched with his other hand. “Second of all… I can’t listen to the office chatter about how hot you are for months on end without starting to notice it a bit myself,” she said playfully, and every moment of increasing flirtation and authenticity was delighting him more and more. 

“Oh really,” he said, entwining fingers on both hands with hers as they hung loosely at his sides. She giggled, still plagued by waves of self-consciousness or insecurity. “Please, go on. What horrors have you been subjected to?”

“I’m sure you’d love to hear all about it,” she needled, absolutely beaming at his lightheartedness and affection. “But deception is afoot and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.” He couldn’t deny that she was thoroughly resolute, and he had a feeling he wasn’t going to escape this one. With a sigh of defeat, he took a step back, letting go of her hands regretfully.

“There’s no turning back,” he warned, a glimmer in his dark eyes that was quickly matched by the uncharacteristic smolder in hers. 

“Don’t plan to,” she murmured, equal parts snarky and sheepish. 

He finally caved, wiggling the wet fabric down his shoulders and off his arms, tossing it aside onto the sand. He’d deal with that later. In the meantime, her eyes raked over his toned body, and she couldn’t help her sharp inhale at the sight. 

“Maker above, Hunter. You got ripped,” she laughed, biting her lip suddenly as though holding back any further thoughts. 

“Yeah, Luci was kinda obsessed with working out,” he admitted, cringing at the mention of her. But Lyra was unaffected, fingers on one hand twitching at her side as her eyes followed the curve of his chest and the grooves above his hips. Every chemical in her body was betraying her complete enrapturement, and her cheeks were growing increasingly red. Fortunately, it was then that she saw it.

“Oh my gosh,” she grinned, taking a step closer and leaning down to see. “What is that?!” Her eyebrows climbed far up her forehead as she looked at him incredulously, mouth open in dumbfounded glee. “Hunter! What is that?!” She laughed, clapping a hand over it immediately after as she took it all in. 

“Listen,” he began, cut off by her release of giggles. 

“It’s… Wow…” Tears were gathering in the corners of her eyes, and she radiated sheer astonishment as she couldn’t resist reaching out a few fingers to trace the outline of the half-butterfly-half-skeleton tattoo on his ribcage. His muscles tensed at her touch, electricity coursing through his veins, and she backed off as she noticed. 

“Sorry, I just… That is… That is something.” Her face was flushed with delight as she looked back up at him fondly. “Never would have predicted that one!”

“It was a… rough phase…” he admitted with an amused look of his own. 

“Yeah, Breslin told me about your new hobby of swimming in fountains.”

“Breslin?” he asked, bewildered.

“Omega told her,” she grinned. “I guess they’ve been spending more time together.”

“Not sure how I feel about them conspiring against me like that.”

“Okay, well you can be the one to tell them not to hang out anymore, then.”

“Fair enough,” he chuckled.

.

In case you needed a reminder... 😂 Masterpiece by @clownbloody

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[my-shields-are-down]

Divorce (for the one word fic prompt)

While outside tending to Lucy’s tomato plants. Tim hears the baby monitor squawk to life.

His youngest kid is now a teenager, but because he’s in the back back corner of the yard, the monitor keeps him tapped into whether his love is home, if Lucy is home, he wants to be with her. Always.

“It’s PROM Mom,”. Tim hears his daughter exasperatingly whine to Lucy in frustration. Tim immediately places his garden shears, hat and knee-pads in the wheelbarrel beside him and picks up the basket holding the harvested fruits and veggies to bring inside. “Why do all the dresses make me look fat and matronly or boobilicious and slutty? I just want something simple, that I feel great in that breaks his brain… like how Daddy is when he sees you all dressed up.”

Tim scoffs out loud as he enters the downstairs sliding screen door. “Pffff. My brain doesn’t break when I …..” His breath stutters and his mind drops into a tank of dopamine when he sees Lucy in her wedding dress in the candid photo of their wedding party hanging in the back stairway landing by the kitchen.

Lucy had heard Tim moving through the house and suddenly pausing, so she grins at her daughter and places her finger across her lips for silence as they both look around the corner and see the man of the house smiling dopily at the photo, his free hand tracing Lucy’s laughing face.

They lean back into the kitchen as 17 year old Diana whispers, “Exactly like that, Mom.” Diana then grabs a pear from the fruit bowl and the cheese and crackers her mom hands to her. She then sits down before laying down on the blue + white striped seat cushion on the long side of their kitchen table.

“I know we are only going as friends Mom, but it’s Mateo! He’s so handsome, I think I’ve loved him since I was little and I want him to finally FINALLY kiss me on the dance floor. So I need to be beautiful, Mom.”

“But what if he doesn’t think I am beautiful? What if he doesn’t like me back?” Diana cries, tears streaming down her face.

“Sweetie, please eat your snacks.” Lucy says as she places a large tumbler of ice water on the table.

Diana’s sniffles instantly snap Tim out of his reverie, and he strides into the kitchen and winks at Lucy before leaning down over his daughter and kissing her on the forehead and saying. “Then he’s an idiot, and I’ll apologize to Angela and Wesley after I murder their second son for making you cry.”

Diana stands up and hugs her dad. Like her mom before her, she always feels safe and loved when she’s hugging him. Just clings to him and cries. “Did it hurt this much?”

“Did what hurt this much, sweetie?” Tim hugs his baby girl so her head rests on his heart. Diana is 4-5” taller than her mom so he doesn’t have to pull her onto his lap for her to get there.

“Did it hurt this much when you loved mom and you didn’t know if she loved you back?”

Their kids had never been into fairy tales - they so much more preferred the real life stories of how their parents and aunts and uncles got together, including Tim and Lucy pining for each other while dating other people.

Tim looked over at his bride of 20+ years, whose eyes sparkled with love and mischief, and said, “oh I don’t like to remember that, but yes baby girl. Loving your mom in secret, tore a hole right through me. Until I asked her to dinner and she said yes.”

“That’s right… you GOT the girl.”

“I did. I got the girl.” Tim smiles softly at Lucy. “Then 5 years later, I got YOU. My most beautiful creature. ARRRRRGH!” Tim’s long hands shaped like claws reached his daughter’s sides to tickle her - her laughter being one of his most favorite sounds.

Tim had called Diana a creature one morning when she was about 5 months old and his fake growl sent her into a fit of giggles. Then once he added the tickling, her laughter really started taking shape and he did it all the time before she became mobile. Later he’d chase her making grunting growling noises and she’d ask him who his favorite creature is.

For Diana, she adored that she had such a special thing with her Dad. She remembers him asking about her creature hands and feet, discussing why she had no tail, Kai dragging her around the kitchen by the foot of her full-body pjs every Christmas calling her his “Christmas creature.” But most importantly, she was his favorite creature. Not a favorite kid- she let her brothers duke that out themselves. This was all hers.

—————

Later that evening, Diana was going through her closet trying on dresses, hoping for inspiration but struggling, she was more of a tomboy - despite wearing her cheerleader outfit often at school. What? She and Patrizia-still best friends - thought every sport deserved to have cheerleaders at their home games. So they spent almost every afternoon cheering at some team event that didn’t have its own cheer squad. Well, but not the chess team she remembered. She and Patrizia were escorted out because they were too loud. Who does quiet cheering?

She studied herself in the bathroom mirror she shared with her older brother Kai. He is off at UCLA being cool and loving life, so she had all the space to herself. She stripped down to her bra and panties and looked at herself. Strong body and killer legs from cheering and running, 5’ 7” tall, sun-kissed, honey-tinted skin. She mostly took after her dad with a slender frame, thick golden blonde hair which streaked red when she got too much sun.

She had her mom’s boobs and eyes - big, expressive amber colored, long long natural lashes, the same Asian shape that ran back centuries according to her Zengzumu.. (Great grandmother). She thought she was pretty, in an All-American kind of way. She didn’t feel bad or insecure, she just never considered she might be lovely to look at as well as lovely to be with.

On the verge of adulthood, what everyone else saw (except maybe her dad who always saw her at 2 when she thought he hung the moon), was a fantastically gorgeous girl about to step into her knockout phase. Stunningly beautiful, kind, moody, stubborn, thoughtful and hilarious. She was the total package. Dad was about to have a wake up call.

Diana threw her hair on top of her head and put on her brother’s UCLA sweatshirt, and leggings. She moved to her desk and started sketching out the kind of dress she thought would compliment her figure.

*Knock. Knock.” Diana turned towards her bedroom door and saw her mom smiling at her. “Come with me, I have an idea.”

Diana walked slightly behind her mom, silently comparing herself to Lucy. To Diana, her mom was the most beautiful person in the world. Diana had multiple phenomenal female role models, but none compared to her Mom. Her mom was short, curvaceous, same eyes, thick wavy chestnut hair - just gorgeous . Next to her, Diana often felt faded, stretched, and bland. Despite her petite size, Diana felt Lucy cast a large shadow.

Lucy led Diana into her and Tim’s bedroom suite. Since they remodeled, the kids had not spent hours here like they did when they were small. The master bedroom had a King sized poster bed, a sitting area by the fireplace- the walls covered with masterpieces from each of their kids and a larger family portrait hanging on the far wall. A private/soundproofed tv/make out room off to the side with comfy sofas, a drink fridge with a thumbprint scanner to open and access the beer and ice cold tequila inside. Kai had learned the hard way that multiple incorrect scans would result in a flour bomb exploding in his face.

There were skylights in the master bathroom over the teak soaking tub, a wall of stacked slate and dragon water faucets. (The kids’ contribution to the room).

Lastly, the heart of the space was a large walk-in closet, with rows of hangars, shelves for their shoes, two large mirrors situated above two sets of drawers and one floor to ceiling mirror. At one end of the closet hung a family photo of them when TJ was still inside Lucy and Diana and her brother were 4 and 6. Every other blank space on the walls was covered with pictures of the kids.

Diana hadn’t been in here in forever and marveled at how neat it was, how there were pictures she hadn’t seen, how a top drawer in her mom’s built-in bureau created for socks or panties, actually only contained dog treats and chew toys. Lucy moved to one end of Tim’s section of the closet, shoving her Dad’s shirts to the side and to reveal a door.

Diana didn’t remember a door ever being there. Lucy smiled at her daughter and opened the door, revealing a secret room. A closet within a closet. A Narnia room!

They both stepped through and Lucy hit the lights revealing racks of fancy clothes. She saw her dad’s tuxedo and dress uniform he wore for weddings and funerals. Then she saw that everything else was her mom’s dresses.

Flashes of memories of her fairy tale parents leaving for some event flit through her mind. “Wow! Mom, you could make a fortune renting these out to my friends!”

Lucy shuddered at the idea and grabbed Diana’s hand, saying, “all of these dresses have special meaning to your dad and I, but they don’t really fit me any longer. So, we’ll both go through them and pick 5 giving you 10 options for you to try on for me, your dad and TJ. The ones we like stay and the ones we don’t go. When we get to a final 3 - you can choose which one you’ll wear. You can do whatever you want to it, Aunt Amy’s cousin is a tailor who can make whatever adjustments and enhancements you need, ok?”

“Yes, ok. Thank you mom. Let’s do this!”

Twenty minutes later, ten dresses hang in Lucy and Tim’s closet.

The first one got an immediate veto from her dad.

Diana had asked TJ to come help her with the zipper and jewelry as she tried the floral dress on. She marveled at how covered up she was while being incredibly sexy. TJ shook his head and said “I thought you were avoiding being boobilicious? Cuz you are in that dress.”

She looked at herself in their floor length mirror and put on a long sparkly necklace which rested just above her “enhanced” cleavage. She asked TJ to go out to the sitting room and have the parental units close their eyes. He did and they did.

Diana took a deep breath as she waited for her parents to respond, after telling them to open their eyes.

Upon opening his eyes, Tim is momentarily stunned. Instead of seeing the crying girl from earlier, he sees - really sees the woman that Diana will become. “Jesus” he thinks. “When did she grow up?” and “Lucy and I need to mix our DNA more often - we make gorgeous people.”

And then Tim notices the dress… he thinks to himself, “wait….that’s the dress that lives in MY fantasies… about her mom… oh hell-to-the-no. No.”

Diana sees her dad go somewhere in his mind when he opens his eyes. Lucy for her part realizes that dress really isn’t appropriate for prom - that’s a sex dress. No wonder Tim had blurted out “naked time” when she had worn it on her first date with him. She’s beautiful in that dress, but we do not want Mateo thinking what Tim thought that night.

Lucy, sensing that Tim is going to react loudly, reaches over and grabs his hand, running her thumb over his knuckles. Saldy, it’s too little too late….

Diana watches her dad shoot upright and start yelling, shaking his head back and forth, saying, “NO! NO. NO. no! I mean it Lucy - no. I will divorce you right now if our daughter wears THAT dress to Prom.”

He spun to look his amused wife in the eyes before stating what he thought was an obvious problem, “The last thing I want my daughter’s date to be thinking of is “naked time” and ripping that dress off of her with his teeth.”

“Those are the kinds of thoughts he’s going to have. I know, I had them when you wore it on our first official date.”

Diana and TJ mouthed “naked time?” to each other and turned beet red at the thought of their parents getting it on.

Lucy finally calms Tim down, getting him settled back on the sofa. He continues to mutter to himself about being the only one allowed to have the thoughts caused by that dress- not some loser trying to get with his only daughter. No sir. No way. Even if said guy had been known to Tim since he was born.

Lucy turns back to Diana and says “so that’s a no. But to be clear honey, it’s not because you look bad, it’s because we don’t want your dad to lose his mind. That’s a “I want to make a baby with you right now” kind of dress. A dress of seduction - not really a fun prom dress, ok?” Diana nods, “ok Mom. Thank you. Come on TJ, help me with another one?”

——-

The next 5 dresses receive bland, non responses from anyone which was a little discouraging. Lucy comforted her, saying “Sorry honey, none of them fit you right. Definitely in the matronly boring group.” TJ actually yawned.

That left four (4) dresses in the closet with Diana.

A dark green one, a pink floral two piece, a silvery backless number and her favorite from when she was three to four years old.

Navy jersey, floor length, covered in sparkles, sleeveless with a cowl neck that she draped over one shoulder. Because of her height, the dress hit her mid shin and gave her a dangerous slit up her right leg.

Diana took a few minutes to experiment with her mom’s make up, winging out her eyeliner, and covering her lips in a deep plum gloss. She grabbed some sparkly earrings, and a gold pendant she found in a drawer. A simple gold disk on a dainty gold chain. Lastly, she swirled her longish hair into a chignon, held in place with a few flower and butterfly clips she remembered from her childhood which she found in Lucy’s jewelry box.

As Diana stepped out of the closet, she again told everyone to close their eyes. When she stood in front of them, she again told them to open their eyes and she received much different comments.

TJ spoke first - “Didi! You look like a movie star! You have to wear this one!”

Lucy spoke next, “Wow! You look spectacular! Honey, he’s not going to know what hit him. So beautiful. I always felt overwhelmed with all that material. But your dad loved me in that. I was wearing that dress the first time he proposed to me. Oh and you found my necklace! I wondered where that wandered off to.”

Lucy looked at Tim who clearly was a bit shell shocked at the sight of his baby girl who used to make him wear butterfly wings and a sword like all fairy princes do. She’s no longer a baby. She’s a young, gorgeous, woman.

“That’s the one honey. Diana - that’s the one. God, you are so lovely - Mateo is not going to know what hit him.” Turning to his wife, he said, with tears streaming down his face, “can you believe this gorgeous creature is ours?” Lucy and Diana laughed at that.

Finally Tim walks up to his daughter, gathered her face in his big warm hands and said, “Oh, I’m not ready for you to grow up. But I’m so lucky and grateful that I got to watch you go from being a scrappy hellion to becoming this lovely woman who I am so, so proud of. I am so lucky to be your Dad.”

—----

Mateo’s brain turned to jelly upon seeing Diana in her sparkly blue dress - her own brand-new gold necklace with an anchor charm around her neck.

Most importantly, he softly kissed her on the dance floor at Prom.

=========

[thatmomwitchfriend]

Would you write a story about the miller brothers as kids playing army man?

SURE!!!!!

Army Men

Will Miller, Ben Miller, hints at new neighbor Santiago Garcia

Summer play time, SFW, young boys at play in summer

~~~~~~~~~~

Sunny and warm, not too hot. The sprinklers had just gone off on the front lawn of the Miller household, but that didn’t bother the youngest two members of the house as they ran across the lawn and let the mist come down across their backs. Hand signals flew as if they really knew what they were doing, just two young men waging imaginary war in their front yard. The eldest flanked around the right of the two story home, crouched low with a large water gun gripped to his chest; his brother, younger of course, flew around the opposite side with a slightly smaller water gun in his small hands.

It was only the first week of summer, yet the pair had invaded three foreign countries and uprooted five illegal fruit snack rings. Their mother watched through the back window, smiling softly over her glass of lemonade, deftly flipping through the pages of her magazine. Her glass hit the table top with a soft clink, just as the sound of a large truck cut through their peaceful neighborhood. Her head snapped up, eyes focused. She had to be aware, for her boys. This mama would never let her feelers off her angels. Across the street, a U-Haul pulled sloppily into the drive and a small family hopped out. Her head was on a swivel, watching back and forth between her own back yard, and the house across the street.

“Mama! Benny is cheating!” A sigh escaped her perfectly painted lips as she turned on her heel and strode through the house to the back patio. William was on his back, water gun smashed at his side. Benjamin stood over him, blood seeping out his nose and a snarl on his lips. “It’s not cheating if he cheated first! He punched me!” The young mother rolled her eyes and let a shrill whistle out between pursed lips.

“Millers! I know I’ve taught you to play fair with each other.” She called loud enough for her boys to hear across the yard. Bens lip quivered as he dropped his water gun to the ground. Will looked over at their mother, eyes wide. “I didn’t punch him, it was an accident. I promise! He didn’t have to smash my gun!” He sputtered out as he scrambled to his feet. Bare feet tracked across the yard, careening into her side with sniffles and tears building more the closer he got to what he knew was a firm scolding. Mrs. Miller crouched down to eye level, holding the boys face in her palms. 

“Angel, what are you crying for? Your little brother is the one who’s hurt. What happened? Tell me.” She brought both boys inside and set them up with sandwiches and cups of lemonade as they went on about their escapades to the only girl who didn’t kick them out of her treehouse under the guise of ‘no boys allowed’. Blue eyes sparkled as they were suddenly friends again over lunch, going on about what country was next, what missions were coming up soon, and how they agreed on something.

One thing.

The pair of boys longed for someone to play with. A friend. A third party to recruit. And that’s when they heard the voices across the street.

“Mama! Hay juguetes al otro lado de la calle, ¿crees que hay amigos allí?” The voice was small, probably about her own boys age. Her ears were sharp as she waited for a response. “Mama! Ven aqui! Ven! Mira, Mama!” The voice called out again. Her heart broke for the poor boy, probably being left outside while the adults figured out a plan. She could hear the vehicle door opening with an ungodly squeak. A sharp thud could be heard all the way across the street. “Ma! Mira!” She sighed shortly, more of a huff than anything. 

“I’ll be right back, babies. Give Mama a moment ok?” The boys nodded, cheeks full of sandwich and chips as they looked up at her with full trust for their mother. Her kitten heels clicked on the pavement as she rushed across the street. “Sweetie? Hi, honey.” She cooed at the boy in front of her. Parents were nowhere to be seen. “Where’s your mom?” The boy looked up at her with the widest brown eyes she had ever seen, and his face cracked into a blinding smile.

“Mama is inside with Papa. Are you nice?” He asked, holding out his hand. “My name is Santiago.” She couldn’t help but to let a laugh bubble over, watching this pure angel wait for a hand shake.

“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you, Santiago. I’m from right across the street, I’m Mrs. Miller.” She introduced herself as she shook his hand, small in hers. “How long have you been out here alone?” She asked softly, “It’s getting hot, you shouldn’t be out here in the sun like this.” Her instinct kicked in as she looked around, trying to peer into the windows of the newly bought home. 

“Papa said he had to put some things away before I can come inside.” The little one explained. “You have toys, can I play too?” He asked, eyes lighting up as he caught sight of the toys in the yard again. Mrs. Miller nodded deftly. 

“Of course you can, honey. I just need to talk to your mom and dad, ok?” She clarified to the boy before standing back up and heading for the door. Her knuckles rapped sharply on the thick wood door. It only took a moment before the door flew open from the inside. “Hi!” She cut in before the enraged looking woman behind the door could start in at her as if she were the son she expected. “I’m Mrs. Miller, right across the street. It’s so nice to meet you! I hope you settle in smoothly.” She paused for a beat. The frown on the woman’s face softened as she processed what was happening. “I was just wondering if I could help you in any way? Your son, Santiago, he really doesn’t have a place moving boxes right? I’d be more than happy to have him over, I’ve got two boys myself.” She continued.

“Si, yes. Thank you. His father is so strict, he would only yell if he got stepped on. Thank you so much.” A wave of relief washed over the young woman’s face, her body relaxing. “Papi, ven aqui. Vamos!” The boy ran over, a grin wider than the Grand Canyon splitting his young face. “Mrs. Miller has offered to have you over until your Papa and I finish up for the day. Ok?” Dark curls bounced wildly across his forehead as he nodded. 

“Si, mama. I know, be good. Be polite.” He blurted out without the prompt that seemed to float on his mothers lips. “Gracias, Señora Miller!” He beamed, turning back towards her; she couldn’t help but to smile at the boy again as she took his hand and led him across the street. They hit the Millers lawn in record time, his small feet matching hers in speed. She could tell he was excited, he was practically buzzing the closer to the house they got.

“Are you hungry, sweetheart?” She asked, opening the door and letting him inside. He nodded vigorously, sending those precious curls flying again. “Millers, I have someone for you to meet.” She called into the house, hearing their little feet patter down the wood floors towards her at the front door. As her own boys rounded the corner, she knelt down. The little one next to her was in the process of kicking off his shoes right behind the door, and as he heard them coming his eyes trained right on them.

“Hola! I…I mean, hi. I’m Santiago.” He chirped, shaking his head as if to physically shake himself into speaking English with the blond boys. The pair all but lunged for the new friend, each grabbing one of his hands. “Woah!” His feet may as well have left the floor as the other two pulled him down the hall with such speed, she could have sworn she felt a breeze come off the boy.

“Hi, I’m Will, and this is Benny. Your name is so long.” The older boy babbled on, staying right in line with the younger as they charged for the back yard and their discarded water guns. 

“My name is Ben, Will!” The smaller boy pouted at his brother. Will responded simply by sticking his tongue out at his brother. The smaller boy stuck in the middle didn’t seem to mind the banter, head snapping back and forth as if he were watching a tennis match between the brothers.

“Well,” he pitched in, “You can call me Santi. All my cousins do.” As they propped him back on his feet, a water gun was shoved into his hands. 

“Ok, Santi.” Wills face had hardened, or what he thought was a semblance of it. “We’re at war.” 

-to be continued if you so wish-

@ekolh2000cause I know this was you 🥰

[girlkisser13]

juna

"don't even try" "i don't have to think" "with you, there's no pretending" "you know me"

pairings: kate bishop x fem!reader

warnings/tags: none. tooth rotting fluff.

summary: to be loved is to be known.

the weight of the day settled heavily on your shoulders as you trudged up the stairs to your apartment. the final exam you had been dreading was finally over, but the stress and exhaustion still clung to you like an unwanted shadow. you fumbled with your keys, the dull ache in your head making it hard to focus, but eventually, the door clicked open, and you stepped inside.

the first thing that hit you was the smell—warm, comforting, and familiar. you inhaled deeply, recognizing the scent of your favorite snacks. a small, tired smile tugged at the corners of your lips as you dropped your bag by the door and kicked off your shoes.

"hey," came kate's voice from the kitchen, light and warm. she emerged a moment later, her dark hair tied up in a loose bun, wearing one of her many hawkeye t-shirts and a pair of gray sweatpants. the sight of her alone was enough to make some of the tension in your shoulders dissipate. "how'd it go?" she asked, her eyes soft and concerned as she walked over to you.

you sighed, letting out a long breath that you didn’t realize you’d been holding. "i think i survived," you muttered, allowing yourself to lean into her as she wrapped her arms around you. the embrace was exactly what you needed, solid and grounding, as if her very presence could absorb the fatigue that weighed you down.

"you did more than survive," she said, her voice gentle as she pressed a kiss to the top of your head. "you crushed it, i’m sure."

her confidence in you made your heart swell, and you tightened your arms around her, basking in the warmth of her embrace. after a moment, she pulled back slightly, looking into your eyes with a playful smile.

"so, i know you’re probably exhausted, but i’ve got a little something planned to help you unwind."

curiosity piqued, you tilted your head. "oh? what kind of something?"

kate grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she took your hand and led you further into the apartment. the living room was dimly lit, with the soft glow of fairy lights creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. On the coffee table, an assortment of your favorite snacks was laid out, all of them carefully arranged just the way you liked. there were chips and dip, chocolate-covered pretzels, and even a small platter of fresh fruit.

"you did all this?" you asked, your heart melting at the thoughtfulness behind it.

kate nodded, her expression a mix of pride and affection. "of course. i know how tough exams can be, so I wanted to make sure you had everything you needed to relax."

the sincerity in her voice was like a balm to your weary soul. she knew you—really knew you—and she always seemed to know exactly what you needed, often before you even knew it yourself.

but she wasn’t done. still holding your hand, kate led you down the hallway to the bathroom. the door was closed, but she opened it with a flourish, revealing a sight that nearly brought tears to your eyes. the bathroom had been transformed into a serene oasis, with candles flickering around the edges of the room, casting a soft, warm light over everything. the bathtub was filled with steaming water, a few rose petals floating on the surface, and you could smell the soothing scent of lavender wafting from the bubbles.

"you did all this for me?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

kate’s expression softened even further as she reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear. "you deserve it. i know how hard you’ve been working, and i wanted to make sure you had a chance to really unwind."

you were touched beyond words. it wasn’t just the snacks or the bath; it was the thoughtfulness behind it all. kate knew you so well, understood how you needed to relax and recharge, and she had gone out of her way to make it happen. it made you feel loved in a way that was almost overwhelming.

"kate, this is… you’re amazing," you said, feeling a lump form in your throat.

she smiled that easy, confident smile of hers, the one that always made your heart skip a beat. "only the best for my girl," she replied, giving your hand a gentle squeeze.

you squeezed her hand back, holding on a little tighter as the stress of the day started to melt away. "thank you. i… i really needed this."

"that’s what i’m here for," kate said, her voice soft and reassuring. "now, how about you get into that bath? i’ll bring you some snacks in a bit."

you hesitated for a moment, not wanting to let go of her hand, but the idea of sinking into the warm water was too tempting to resist. "okay," you said, finally letting go. "but don’t stay away too long."

kate chuckled. "i wouldn’t dream of it."

she left you to undress and slip into the bath, the water immediately working its magic as it enveloped you in warmth. you sighed in contentment, feeling the tension drain from your muscles as the lavender-scented bubbles soothed your senses. the candles flickered around you, their soft light creating a tranquil atmosphere that allowed you to finally let go of the stress that had been building up for days.

you closed your eyes, sinking deeper into the water, and let yourself fully relax for the first time in what felt like forever. the only thing that could make this better was having kate by your side, but you knew she’d be back soon, and the thought of her made you smile.

true to her word, kate returned a few minutes later, carrying a small plate of snacks. she set them down on the edge of the tub, then sat on the floor beside you, her chin resting on her arms as she looked up at you with a soft smile.

"how’s the water?" she asked, her voice low and soothing.

"perfect," you murmured, opening your eyes to meet her gaze. "thank you, kate. this is… everything i needed."

she reached out to brush her fingers against your cheek, her touch gentle and comforting. "i’m glad," she said softly. "i love seeing you like this, relaxed and happy. you deserve it."

you felt a surge of emotion at her words, your heart swelling with love for this incredible woman who knew you better than anyone else. i don’t know what i’d do without you," you confessed, your voice thick with emotion.

kate’s smile widened, and she leaned in to press a tender kiss to your forehead. "you’ll never have to find out," she whispered, her breath warm against your skin.

you closed your eyes, basking in the warmth of her affection, feeling more at peace than you had in a long time. kate always had a way of making everything better, of making you feel loved and cherished in a way that no one else ever had. knowing that she was always there for you was the greatest comfort you could ever ask for.

for a while, the two of you simply sat in comfortable silence, the only sounds being the soft crackle of the candles and the gentle splash of water as you shifted slightly in the tub. kate’s presence was soothing, her closeness a balm to your soul, and you felt the last remnants of tension drain away as you relaxed completely.

after a while, kate spoke again, her voice soft and thoughtful. "you know, i was thinking… after you’re done with your bath, we could watch a movie or something. or if you’re too tired, we could just cuddle on the couch. whatever you want."

the idea of curling up with kate, wrapped in a blanket and watching one of your favorite movies, sounded like heaven. "that sounds perfect," you said, smiling at her.

she returned your smile, her eyes warm and full of affection. "good. i’ll get everything ready while you finish up here."

you nodded, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over you. "kate, i really don’t know what i did to deserve you."

she laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "you don’t have to do anything to deserve me. i’m here because i want to be, because i love you."

your heart skipped a beat at her words, and you felt a rush of warmth flood your chest. "i love you too, kate," you said, your voice full of sincerity.

she smiled that beautiful smile of hers, and you knew in that moment that there was nowhere else you’d rather be. kate was your home, your safe place, and as long as she was by your side, you knew you could face anything.

with one last loving look, kate stood up and left the bathroom, leaving you to soak in the warmth of the bath and the comfort of knowing that you were truly and completely loved.

[wri0thesley]

A Well Rounded Education (4): Equality Statement (Fem!Reader x Naoya Zenin, 7.5k)

series synopsis: you are a teacher’s aid to teacher Gojo Satoru, training to be able to take over your own class next year by shadowing and helping him out. gojo, unfortunately, does not make things easy for anybody.

chapter synopsis: you make the mistake of crossing naoya zenin at a sports festival and are forced to apologise. but as you well know by now, nothing ever seems to go to plan where any of your student’s fathers are concerned. 

NSFW. MINORS DNI. AFAB reader, fem pronouns. misogyny, weird power dynamics, hate-sex, piv sex, blowjobs. naoya.  

(a well rounded education m.list and navigation)   ♡  (jujutsu kaisen masterlist)

1.

The Saturday morning that your first ever undokai is scheduled for dawns bright and early, and you can’t help the little thrill that goes through you at the golden fingers of dawn lighting up your room. There’d been talk of the weekend bringing rain, and things needing to be rescheduled – but it’s perfect weather, as you put on a comfortable tank top and shorts instead of your neat pencil skirt and suit jacket combination.

This will be your first event of the kind, and you’re excited about it. The kids in the class have been practising all of their cheers and routines and the like constantly, whilst the ones involved in the competitive sports have been cheering one another on and snatching time when they can to race against one another in preparation. It’s been nice to see all of the camaraderie between them – even some of the quieter ones have seemed to come a little bit out of their shell, with so much team spirit in the air.

Well. Most of them have. You’ve noticed Junpei still hanging back, face sad, uncomfortable when other boys crowd him and tug him off to who knows where – probably to get him involved in their own practises or rehearsals.

It’s been long and hard preparing for it, but even Gojo has been focused on something for once.

“There’s just something about events like this!” Gojo chirped to you, once, as he’d held up a megaphone he did not really need and called his class back into formation in front of him. “You know! The joy of youth! I want them to have the best time possible! They deserve it.”

Seeing Gojo’s mischievous eyes sparkle with determination instead of humour had made you smile at him, and you’d felt a strange pull in your chest when he’d smiled back, needing to pull your gaze away to ask Yuuji to stop poking Megumi in the back to get him to look at a weird caterpillar he’d found on the ground.

As a junior high undokai, things are a little more competitive than they might be if this were an elementary school or even a middle school event, but there’s still a big emphasis on the teamwork and the cheering on portion of the day. You’ve watched and applauded what feels like a hundred practises for the cheering section, confiscating whistles when they’re sneakily blown whilst you’re trying to teach a mathematics lesson.

Still, you’re not surprised to see that Gojo’s class have been corralled into his classroom whilst your vivacious teacher and mentor gives them a rallying encouragement that seems to contain a lot of bigging up the fact that they are, in fact, his class.

“I thought the pep talk was for them,” you say, as heads turn to you when you walk into the room. It’s strange to see all of the faces dressed in their gym uniforms instead of their school uniforms – and it’s even stranger to be wearing an approximation of it yourself.

“You look nice!” Yuji pipes up, and you smile at him.

“It is for them,” Gojo brings a hand to his sunglasses to push them down a little, giving you a charming smile and the full force of the galaxies swirling in his eyes. “I’m just reminding them that as Satoru Gojo’s class, of course they’re going to do well! We’re going to be the strongest, and win!” He looks at all of them – bright shining faces turned to him, all lit up with the excitement of competition. There’s something in him that you rarely see right now – something encouraging and bright and compassionate. He genuinely seems to want them to do well. “I believe in all of you!”

The warmth spreading through your chest at Gojo’s words is a new experience. You’re far more used to exasperation and frustration where he’s concerned.

But now, you can’t help the infectious smiles of the children and the determination in their face to do well enough for everyone to be proud of. Maybe Gojo isn’t so bad after all, you think, as he bids the children in the class farewell and tells them to go and join everyone else outside in preparation for the day’s events.

“What d’you think?” He asks you, as Junpei leaves the room, still dragging his feet a little. You can’t blame him. He’s involved in the cheering section, as so many of the less athletic kids are, but the undokai is not optional and you think that Junpei is the kind of boy who hates being looked at. “Are we gonna win?”

“I don’t think that’s quite the point of the exercise,” you say, eventually. “We’re supposed to be fostering team spirit and co-operation--”

“Yeah,” Gojo wrinkles his nose and grins. “But we’re still gonna win, right?”

You sigh.

“With Yuji and Maki? Probably. But that’s not the point!”

Gojo stands up and stretches his arms out above him. He’s in a shirt that clings tight to a surprisingly muscled abdomen,  and dark grey sweatpants. He’s never been the ‘formal wear’ kind of teacher, but it’s still jarring to see him dressed so casually – and even more jarring to realise that he’s handsome, despite the fact you’ve spent most of the last few months rolling your eyes and sighing and cursing the world that you’ve ended up having to endure Satoru Gojo so much.

“I know, I know – but it’s nice to think about, right?” His grin is infectious. “Did you have time to have breakfast this morning? I know it’s an earlier start than usual, I’ve got a spare blueberry muffin in my bag – hope it didn’t get crushed too badly by my stretches--”

“I’m fine,” you tell him, already dreading the idea of him pressing a crumbled muffin into your hand. “I had a healthy, nutritious breakfast.”

“So did I!” He says, hotly. “The blueberry muffin had fruit in it, croissants are glazed with egg so that’s protein, and I had a slice of honey on toast too just because I felt like I’d have to keep my energy up today--”

You are constantly impressed by how he manages to consume all of this sugar without going into overdrive – then again, maybe that does explain a lot about him.

“I don’t really know what I’m supposed to be doing today,” you admit to him. “I mean, I know I’m here to cheer on the kids and stuff, but I don’t know what my role’s supposed to be--”

“Oh!” He comes around and begins to walk out of the classroom, beckoning you to follow him. “Didn’t I tell you? They told me ages ago--” He did not tell you. You don’t know why you find this a surprise. “You’re gonna be in charge of the refreshments table for the first half of the morning – Yuta, you know, the other teacher’s aid, he’ll relieve you for the second half so you can cheer us on and help me a bit. Not that I’ll need it! It’s not a hard job, just be polite to anyone who needs to use it, most of ‘em bring their own lunches and snacks but we find that it’s always good to have a table with some extras – especially when it’s so hot outside!”

“You didn’t,” you say, but you follow him anyway. You have learnt by now that the most you’ll get from Gojo is a shrug and an airy ‘sorry’. And you suppose, in the grand scheme of things, this isn’t so bad. It’s not like you needed to have time to stop and prepare yourself to give people a polite smile and ask them if they’d like you to pour them a glass of water.

The two of you spill out into the grounds of the school, which is already full of excited students and proud parents. You recognise a few of them – your face heats up as you see Nanami forcibly pressing a bottle of sunscreen into Yuji’s hands, and as the two of you walk past Geto who is tying back Mimiko and Nanako’s hair, ensuring the team hats that the students are all wearing sit neatly on their heads.

There’s a man stood with Maki and Mai who you assume is their father; a blond with a sneering face and a presence that makes you feel like you shouldn’t even be looking at him. Maki has her arms crossed, her chin jutting forward – the two of them are clearly involved in some kind of argument. Even as you watch, some other men are walking towards him with their heads bowed, like he’s something special.

You vaguely recall that you’ve heard some tell about the Zenins being a very rich, very old, very respected family. Judging from the way he carries himself and the way people keep looking at him, you think that must be it.

“Is that Maki and Mai’s dad?” You ask, curiously, as you’re pushed past him towards a collection of tables beneath a bright yellow awning. Gojo makes a noise that sounds like a sigh.

“Yep,” he says, sounding short. There’s some kind of history there, you think. “That’s Naoya Zenin. Better for you to avoid him, if you can – he’s not the kind of guy you want to cross, y’know?”

“But Maki’s--”

“Absolutely nothing like him,” Gojo deposits you in front of a table heaped with water jugs, ice cubes and plastic cups. “Really.”

You wrinkle your nose as you look around. At least everyone else seems happy – excited, buzzing with energy and the promise of an exciting day ahead. You can’t help but worry about Maki’s expression, though. She had looked like her and her father were having an argument that had been going on for months--

Gojo waves at you as he jogs across the field, moving surprisingly quickly for a man who ate nothing but sugar for his breakfast. You watch him go, unable to stop a smile forming on your face as he pauses by Maki and Mai. He slaps a hand onto Maki’s shoulder and says something with a bright grin that she seems to respond to with a smile, turning to follow him. Her father’s eyes narrow, as he spits something that even you can work out is venomous at the retreating backs of one of his daughters. He sighs as he says something else to Mai, a smile almost tugging at the corners of his mouth as his attention shifts back to her.

It’s clear who the golden child is there, then.

You try and shake your thoughts away from Naoya Zenin and his two girls and concentrate on the place that you’ve been given, reminding yourself that even if it doesn’t seem like a big role, you all have to work hard to make sure that today is a success. Your students have been practising and getting excited for this event for weeks, and you want all of the parents to be as proud of their students as you are.

You have a good view from the refreshments table of everything that’s going on. You watch a few of the races, a few cheering displays from the other classes to the beat of the drums – and when kids run up to you, sweaty and panting, you hand them a plastic cup full of cool water and they thank you as if you harvested it from a spring yourself instead of merely pouring it out.

Some parents ask you politely who you are, and you tell them with a smile and a bright look, hoping that you being friendly and polite will get back to other people. A few of them exchange looks when they hear that you’re attached to Gojo’s class; the man has a reputation that follows him everywhere. You give out oranges and other pieces of fruit to some of the students who need an extra sugar boost, or the ones who have a bandage wrapped around their knee or grazes from falls that have recently been cleaned. Shoko is busy today, and you often see her direct these injured children to you as a rest stop, and so their parents can find them easily.

You pause for a moment as the names are called for a relay race, and you hear Maki and Mai being summoned. This is the first race that they’re taking part in – if their team wins this one, they’ll qualify for the final this afternoon. You can see Gojo lifting his arms and hollering and hear his loud, excited voice even with all of the other people crowding into the school grounds to watch, and despite yourself you feel a smile spread over your face.

You’re still smiling when you hear a scoff.

You turn around to see what the fuss is – only to see Naoya Zenin, holding a plastic cup of water as if it’s offended him mortally. Seeing you looking at him, his lip curls.

“Is this tap water?” He asks you. He has a curious accent; slow, drawling, and clearly much superior to your own. It’s not an accent that Maki and Mai have inherited – and as he raises one eyebrow, the sun catching the rings in his ears, you find yourself glad of it. “Well?”

“I think so,” you say. You are on edge. He peers into it, and sighs.

“Don’t you have anything better? Cell-gen or Tennensui or even I LOHAS, at least?” He speaks to you slowly, like you’re a child, or as if he’s not sure whether a peasant like you would even know the names of any bottled water brands. You can’t stand being talked down to, and you curl your hand into a fist as you say, trying to keep yourself polite;

“I’m sorry, Sir. There’s just this.”

“You’d think with the money pumped in-- fine.” He sighs, taking a sip of the water, his face scrunching in displeasure at – you don’t know. The disgusting taste of tap water, you suppose. You try not to look at the bob of his throat as he swallows. Everything about this man seems to be unpleasant except the way he looks.

You take your own cup of water, just to quell some of the dryness that has made itself known in your throat at interacting with him.

The cheering gets a little quieter, and you turn to see what’s happened. As it turns out, all that’s actually happened is Gojo has stopped putting forth his own shouts to the fray, his eyes focussed on you and Naoya, a look that you think is almost sympathy spread across his face. You see that the race is about to begin, and you don’t look at Naoya as you say;

“You’re Maki and Mai’s father, aren’t you? Their first race is about to start. Maki’s been training really hard, I think she’ll pip it for us—”

A dark presence at your shoulder, and a sneering, uppity drawl.

“I gather you’re the teaching aid I’ve been hearing so much about from everyone.” he says. It does not sound like a compliment. “Maki has really found you . . . encouraging.” He says it like it’s a dirty word.

You force yourself to remain cheerful, and not ask him what the fuck his problem is.

“Maki’s really talented,” you say. “Mai’s fast, too – they’re both really good representatives for the class--”

Naoya snorts.

“They should be on the sidelines,” he says, coolly. “Supporting the men. Not running. Not getting all sweaty and hot and messing up their hair and their pretty faces.” He shakes his head. “It’s unwomanly, and if Maki listened to a word I’d said, she wouldn’t be doing it.”

“Mai is doing it too,” you point out, hating yourself for getting involved in this. But you just can’t let him stand there and be such an asshole, spewing his narrow-minded ideas when there are impressionable girls around.

“Mai’s already agreed that if they win this race, she’ll ask one of the boys to switch in for her. I’ve sorted it with the principal. It’s not ladylike for her to do any more than she has to. She’s not going to get a husband in good standing based on her athletic prowess--”

Oh, this is too far. You’re seething, though you’re trying to keep your respectable face on. You’re at work, you’re at work, you’re at work--

“Perhaps there are some other things they consider more important than finding a husband, at the age of twelve?”

Naoya’s laugh is nasty, mocking – and you hate that there’s something in it that sends a curl of heat right through you, blooming between your thighs.

“The younger a girl learns her place,” he says, his voice very slow. “The better it is and easier it is for a man to be assured she’ll do her duties. I don’t see a ring on your finger, Miss – I’d hate for them to end up working some dead-end little job just because they don’t have anyone to cook and clean for--”

Nope.

You can’t take it any longer.

You turn and you throw the cup of ‘shitty tap water’ in your hand right over Naoya Zenin’s stupid, smug, asshole face.

2.

Gojo, for what you think must be one of the first time in his life, looks uncomfortable.

“I didn’t know you were going to throw water on him,” he tries to say, weakly. “Look, we all hate him, but . . . ugh. This is so frustrating! I hate all of this bureaucracy bullshit--”

It turns out that Naoya Zenin’s family – and Naoya Zenin himself – donate rather a lot of money to the school for such functions as the one you’re all currently attending. It turns out that nobody wants to piss off the bank-roll that’s keeping their gym maintained, their events fancy and expensive, the library well-stocked – and you get that! You really do! You know that school budgets are overstretched already, and that donors like the Zenin family are something to be gently courted and kept around for as long as humanly possible.

You just wish that the big donor for this school was anybody else.

“I didn’t know all of this,” you say, reasonably. “I know I shouldn’t have thrown a drink over him, but Mr. Gojo--”

“How many times? You can call me Satoru.”

“If you’d heard the way he was talking--”

“Oh, believe me,” Gojo’s full lips press into a thin line. “I know exactly what Naoya Zenin’s modus operandi is. Let me guess: he was all on at you about how Maki’s not a proper young lady, how the boys should be doing the hard work, how he’s trying to make sure his daughters get a proper start and a rich husband – ugh.” Gojo tugs at his shirt, clearly frustrated. “I’ve had it way too much.”

“Yeah,” you say. You find yourself sighing too.

“The Vice Principal’s in his back pocket,” Gojo says, taking a seat on top of the desk that you’re currently sat behind, cooling off some of your anger – Principal Masamichi had sent you inside to calm you down, and Naoya himself had been escorted into the building by Vice Principal Gakuganji to dry off, all the while saying placating things to calm down the school’s meal ticket. “They want you to apologise to him.”

“I suppose I should,” you say miserably. “But it’s gonna feel like swallowing gravel.”

“I certainly don’t blame you,” Gojo says, with a smile, trying to cheer you up. “Hell, I know some of the other staff members have been dying to do it--”

“Ugh,” you bury your face in your hands. “This is a horrible impression in front of the whole school.”

He pats you gently on the shoulder.

“Hey,” he says, “when this is all over, I’ll take you out for ice cream. I know the best places in the city, and they all know me too!”

You summon a smile for him. He’s not so bad, really – sure, he’s chaotic and thinks too highly of himself for his own good, but . . . at least he’s nothing like Naoya. You stand up and pull down your shorts, wriggling your tank top down to cover you as much as you possibly can. You feel a bit exposed, not in heels and stockings and a blouse.

“I should get this over with, then.”

Gojo has too much to do back on the field to escort you to Naoya himself, so he tells you that Naoya’s in the Vice Principal’s office and gives you another friendly squeeze on the shoulder.

“Good luck,” he tells you. “Remember: ice cream at the end of this!”

“Ice cream at the end of this,” you repeat, as you watch him jog out of the corridor. You’re almost tempted to tell him off for running in the halls – Gojo moves so fast that sometimes you lose track of him entirely – but you push back the urge. Gojo is being decent today. You’re thankful to him for sitting with you and helping you calm – and also, evidently, for being one of the things that keeps Maki’s fighting spirit inflamed.

You stand there for a moment, in front of the door to the office, balling up your courage tight and hot in your stomach. You do not want to have to apologise to Naoya, but you know it’s for the best. The sooner you can put this sorry incident behind you and try and avoid Naoya at every single function from herein, the better – so you tap hard on the door and wait until you hear his slow, drawling voice.

“You can come in.”

At first, you’re surprised to see that he’s alone in there – sitting in front of the desk in a comfortable chair, clearly at ease with everything. His arms are sprawled over the back of it, his legs wide apart. You chastise yourself for thinking it immediately – of course the vice principal is busy right now, of course he trusts someone as well-known to the school as Naoya to be alone in his office.

It’s hard not to think about every other time you’ve found yourself alone with the parents of your students, though. A heat crawls onto your face at the very thought of it. You find Naoya repellent, disgusting – but then again, he’s also (and you’re not being glib about it) handsome. You’d be lying if you’d said you sometimes hadn’t ignored a man’s personality for a night in favour of a face and a body that had drawn you in.

Not now.

You close the door behind you, clasping your hands together so you don’t clench your fists, and bow your head so that Naoya can’t tell that you’re grinding your teeth.

“I’m sorry for letting my emotions get the better of me, Sir,” you say, though it really does feel like you are gnashing ice to get the words out. “I should have been more polite. I can assure you it won’t happen again.”

“Mmm,” Naoya says, and you peek up at him through your lashes to see that he’s clearly enjoying having you at his mercy, his lips tilted into a smirk. His hair is still a little wet at the ends, but all that you throwing the water over him seems to have actually done is made his shirt cling tight to a surprisingly chiselled chest and stomach. Asshole. Fuck him. “Yes. I should hope not.”

You straighten yourself up, still a little stiff.

“I hope you can forgive me,” you say. “I . . . I am still learning my place in the establishment.”

He laughs, low and soft.

“Your place?” He asks, the words dangerously sweet on his tongue. “Yes. I can see you still need some help on that one.”

His eyes crawl over you slowly, dragging up and down the length of you, lingering over where your shorts cling to your hips and the tank top hugs your chest. You resist the urge to shift – you don’t want to let him know that he’s making you uncomfortable. You know, though, that he can sense that you have gone hot and prickly all over. He has that smug air; the one men who know what they do to people always seem to have cultivated. The knowledge that they are good-looking.

You suppose for Naoya, it’s the heady combination of knowing he is good-looking and powerful and rich, and you breathe through the force of all of his attention concentrated on you.

“Seeing as you’re still . . . new to all of this,” he says, bringing an arm forward to tap his long fingers on the desk. “And you did apologise prettily, I suppose I can forgive this transgression – just this once, darling.”

The pet name crawls up your spine like ice. He’s still staring at you, enjoying the view like you’re a piece of meat on a market stall he’s considering purchasing.

“Th-thank you, Sir,” you say, hating yourself a little bit but hating him all the more.

“You know,” he says. “You’re not exactly bad-looking.” He stands, rising to his full height, stretching out, frustratingly comfortable in this environment when you feel like a deer who’s about to turn tail and flee at any moment. “You’d be much better off at home raising children than here.” He wrinkles his nose. “Working for a living.” The way that he says the words makes it clear that he considers this a task far beneath the likes of him.

He’s moving towards you now, and your breath seems to get stuck in your throat as he’s suddenly in front of you, stalking elegantly. You want to snap back something about how you’d rather work for a living than have to rely on the whims of a man, much less a man like him – but as he grabs your chin to tilt it up to the light, you find that the words seem to die in your throat.

“Hmm,” he says. “Not bad at all.” He makes an approving noise that sends a flutter right through you, making you dully aware of a pounding ache between your thighs. He leans a little further in, until he’s so close that you can see the pale colours dancing in his eyes, the way the light hits his high cheekbones. “You’re trembling with rage, you know. It’s adorable.”

“You’re very easy to be angry at,” you half-breathe, half-hiss, and Naoya’s smirk is going to be burnt into your memory forever and ever.

“If you’re so angry,” he murmurs, “I can certainly think of a way I wouldn’t mind helping you work out your aggression.”

You shouldn’t do it. But your heart is beating a frantic rhythm against your ribcage and your breath is short, and part of you wants to wrestle him to the ground and dominate him so that he can have a taste of his own medicine. You grab a handful of his hair and drag him down into a bruising kiss.

3.

Oh, and he kisses back. His mouth is soft against yours, but the kiss itself is rough – both of your tongues fighting for dominance, both of you trying to nip at one another’s bottom lip and seize the victory. You’re practically shoved backwards so that your ass catches the edge of the Vice Principal’s desk, even as you tug hard on Naoya’s hair to tell him that you’re not going to be overpowered by him so easily. You feel the feral curve of his grin as he pulls back just enough to whisper;

“Oh? You really think you’re going to get the better of me? You’re cute--” and then you push his shoulders hard, and he stumbles and falls back onto the chair he started this whole escapade sat in. You reach down to tug off your shirt, dropping it onto the floor beside you – Naoya looks for a moment like he’s going to stand back up and resume trying to wrest back the situation into his favour, but as he sees the slight bounce of your breasts in your bra he seems to decide it would be more interesting and beneficial for him to stay exactly where he is and watch you disrobe.

So you do, wriggling your shorts down past your hips – he lets out a low groan at that, as you stand before him in nothing but your underwear with your fists clenched on your hips.

You feel surprisingly powerful like this. It definitely makes a difference from all of the other ways you’ve felt when you’ve been alone with somebody’s father--

“Take off your shirt,” you tell him, and you’re almost surprised at the imperious tone in your own voice. “It’s your turn--”

He raises an eyebrow at you, but he does as you ask. Long fingers curling around the hem of his shirt, taking his sweet time pulling it off his body – and yes, it’s a nice one. Nice, too, are his thighs as he undoes his trousers that probably cost more than you make in a year and pushes them down, sitting before you in nothing but his equally as expensive-looking underwear – an impressive looking bulge outline pressed against the fabric. Even as he looks at you, he takes hold of himself through it and squeezes it, his grin crooked.

Your body does a throb of need.

“Oh,” you say, feigning surprise. “I didn’t realise you were so needy already--”

“Like you’re not dripping,” he says sharply, his eyes zeroing in on the space between your thighs. “Don’t flatter yourself. I can see the damp patch from here.”

“Who’s to say that’s for you?” You walk towards him. You can’t help but feel powerful and in control at how his eyes follow you with rapt attention, how his tongue darts out to swipe across his bottom lip as he drinks in your form in front of him.

“Please,” he says. “As if there’s anyone here more deserving.”

He reaches forward and his hands settle on your hips, dragging you closer to him – hot fingertips brushing your waist, the bare skin beneath your bra before he’s unclipping that too and your breasts are bare. He breathes in deeply.

“Pity,” he says, though his voice is thick with his own arousal. “You’re such a cute little thing, if only you didn’t open your mouth--”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t mind me opening my mouth to do something else,” you breathe, and you reach down to ghost your fingers over his cock through the tent in his underwear. He hisses through his teeth, his eyes half-lidded.

“Don’t just say it, princess,” he says. “If you’re going to run your mouth, the least you could do is make it do something useful--”

“I’d rather die than get on my knees for you.” Your mouth is very close to his neck – to punctuate the statement, you give his earlobe a tug with your teeth, and he practically groans. You’re almost straddling him on the chair, and you do not miss, either, the twitch that his cock seems to give at the tug.

It seems like for somebody who really wants to be in control, and wants women to know their place so badly, Naoya actually is rather enjoying somebody giving him a taste of his own medicine.

He grabs your underwear and pulls it down, clicking his tongue as it bunches about your knees.

“Just give into what your body wants,” he says, all saccharine sweetness in that slow, deep voice. “You’ve made a mess.”

You know you have. You can feel slick when your thighs press too close together, hot and wet between your legs. You really are practically dripping. But it’s not just from Naoya, you don’t think – it’s from the sudden power you’re feeling, the rush of being an equal participant in everything, in feeling like you have the upper hand. And not a small part, you think, is because of the adrenaline that’s coursing through your veins at the thought of putting Naoya Zenin in his place. You tip your head to the side innocently.

“What about you?” You ask, with a mean shade to the pitch of your voice. “You’re so hard it’s a wonder you’re not in pain--”

He grabs a hank of your hair with one hand whilst spreading your legs further with the other, so strong that the breath’s knocked out of you. The tip of his finger skims the outer lips of your sex, gathering your slick arousal on the pad as he growls;

“I’m still a man, darling. I see a pretty cunt to fuck and a pair of nice tits and I want to bury myself into it until the bitch remembers her place--”

“Good luck,” you breathe. “I think you’ll be the one remembering his place, here.”

He laughs breathlessly.

“Oh,” he purrs. “You’re going to be singing a different song when you’re begging me to fuck you harder.”

You give him a smile with your teeth bared; the challenge is obvious. It’s a smile that says ‘we’ll see’, even as you both tug at his underwear to pull it down and reveal what he’s been hiding beneath it.

You don’t want to admit that he’s got a pretty cock, but he has. He’s not the biggest you’ve seen, but it’s still impressive; a slight curve giving it an elegant angle that you realise with a clench will hit you exactly in the right spot when you take it inside of you.

He’s slick with his own pre-come, bubbling from the reddened slit – and as you shift forward and trap it between your thighs, he groans aloud again.

“That’s right,” he grunts, as the tip catches on your entrance and you begin to sink down upon it. “This is what you were made for, princess--”

“What?” You pant. “That would be disappointing. You barely fill me up--”

He grabs you and pulls you into another kiss as you finish off sheathing his cock inside of you – perhaps to save his pride, perhaps to muffle the noise that comes out of him, transferred into your mouth instead of his own. Whichever it is, you hate that you were right about the angle of his cock – you can feel it pressing snugly against the spongy G-spot even now, threatening you with a better time than you’d like to have.

You break the kiss to pull yourself off of him and sink back down, forcibly taking the lead and setting your own pace. You know it’s fast, you know it’s greedy – but fuck, if you aren’t boiling over with need.

You splay your hands across his shoulders, nails digging into his skin with little care to how you might mark him. You need him for leverage, as you continue to bounce up and down on his cock. Naoya tips his head back and groans, enjoying the feeling, before he remembers that you two are engaged in a battle of wits and attempts to get the better of you once more.

“I-is that,” he groans, coming to cling onto your waist and force you down on him with even more strength, helping you along in the too-fast rhythm of your thrusts and bounces. “The best you’ve got?”

“Come on,” you say breathlessly, as his cock continues to stroke that spot. You can hear the sounds of him sliding in and out of you, shamefully loud – too, you can hear the sounds of your skin slapping against one another, echoing and mixing with the breathless pants and the attempts to trade barbed insults. “Y-you’re making me do all the work?”

“Fucking pity you’ve got such a nice cunt,” Naoya snarls, his hips flexing, somehow managing to hit you deeper even as you’re bouncing on the balls of your feet and straddling him on the chair. His words are starting to sound very far away. “You should be in my fucking bed, keeping it warm, better off than wasting away here--”

Both of you are running your mouths, overwhelmed by how close one another’s bodies are and the intense heat radiating from you. There’s a frisson of electricity in the air, showering sparks, as the two of you continue to snatch words in between moans and groans and pants and whimpers--

“You’re pathetic--”

“You’re so fucking tight, I shouldn’t be surprised when you’re such a bitch--”

“F-fuck, harder, c-can’t you even keep the momentum going? You’re weak--”

“Baby girl, you’re fucking shaking – you gonna come first? Women are so predictable--”

You can feel your release hovering on the edge of your vision, blurring it as your eyes squeeze shut and you feel tears threatening to roll down your cheeks. There’s a heat inside of you that’s close to overspilling – and as you come down on him particularly hard, the head of his cock rolls over your g-spot just right, and you feel a dam inside of you break as your nails dig hard enough into his shoulders to draw blood. You bury your face into his neck so he doesn’t get the satisfaction of hearing you cry out his name, teeth worrying into his neck to leave a love-bite reminder of exactly what transpired between you two in the Vice Principal’s office.

You feel yourself twitch and tighten around him as your orgasm rocks your body, heat running through you like veins of marble. You can’t breathe – all you can do is bite, your hips chasing the final aftershocks.

Naoya is still hard inside of you as you lift yourself off him, letting his cock slip out of you as easily as butter. His own hands clench around your hips.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” He asks, his voice rough and hungry. Despite that, though, you can hear the thread of some other emotion sewn in to them – and with a shiver of delight, you realise it’s neediness. He’s been left wanting, and you’ve been handed all of the cards. “I haven’t finished.”

“And you won’t finish inside me,” you snap at him, enjoying the longing in his voice. “Ask me very nicely and I’ll finish you off with my hand.”

“Mouth,” he demands – and he grabs your cheeks, squishing them, pulling you down and reminding you of all of the power that he has even though it’s your body that’s got the advantage of the high ground. “You don’t really think I’m going to be satisfied with your hand, princess--”

“You don’t deserve it,” you spit at him, but you sink to your knees anyway.

You’re not entirely lacking in manners. You suppose you did get to come. It would be rude to just leave him like this. Especially when the whole reason you’d ended up in this office in the first place was to apologise to him politely.

“This is the perfect position for you,” he sneers, as you open your mouth and envelope the head of his cock within it. You can taste yourself on his shaft. “Fuck, that’s right – put your mouth to good use for once--”

You give him a mean, slow lick along the slit of his cock head that makes him groan in the back of his throat. He wraps his hand around the back of your neck, fingers digging into the nape so he can control you at least a little bit, pushing you a touch too far so you almost choke. You pull off it, drooling.

“Choke me again and I’ll bite,” you snarl, and he pats your cheek like you’re an obedient dog.

“You wouldn’t dare,” he says – and you narrow your eyes at him in a way that says ‘try me’ before you return to sucking at him, hollowing your cheeks. You want to do a good job. A part of you wants to make him come so hard that he regrets being an asshole to you, even though you know that’s ridiculous and not going to happen.

Still. You’re not going to back down from a challenge, so you use your tongue to play along as much of his cock as you can.

“Fuck,” Naoya breathes. “Good . . . good fuckin’ girl—”

You’ve been hearing that low, polite drawl swear and curse for what seems like hours, but that one sends another pulse of heat through you – at your heart, you can’t argue that you love being praised. You whimper against his cock, glad that the fast pace you’ve managed to establish and the wet noises of your mouth around him muffle the noise so Naoya can’t dangle it over your head.

The hand on the nape of your neck jerks, so that you’re forced to look up at him and meet his eyes proper. His hips are slamming to meet your bobs now, the noise of him fucking your mouth filling the room. His teeth dig into his bottom lip and you feel him twitch, his voice pitching--

Salt coats your tongue as he fills your mouth.

But he doesn’t let himself finish there.

He pulls out, and he pumps his cock himself two, three times – coaxing out the other ropes of come, that hit your neck and chest and breasts hot and white and glistening. You’re too surprised by it to do anything – you’d expected him to keep your mouth on him, make you swallow down everything he gave you. He seems the kind of guy who gets off on that sort of thing--

But instead, he’s sighing, relaxing back into the chair as he looks at you with lazy eyes.

“You look cute like that,” he says, his voice low and sated. “I should take a picture.”

“Fuck you,” you breathe, getting off your knees. You are so fucking thankful for the box of tissues on the Vice Principal’s desk, as you reach across and grab some to dab at yourself so you’re not sticky and disgusting for any longer than necessary.

If you leave them in his pedal waste-bin, you hope that the cleaning crew will dispose of them before the Vice Principal is even aware that they’re there. Your lip curls as you wipe your mouth. You wish you had a mint – or at least a glass of water. Even tap water would do.

For what it’s worth, Naoya seems a little agitated as he puts himself to rights too. Evidently he was not expecting you to fight back so much – he places a finger on his shoulders and scowls when he sees that you made him bleed.

“I should sue you for assault,” he says. You tap your own body, at the curve of your hips and waist.

“I’m going to bruise,” you tell him. “So I guess it would be self-defence.”

“You’re too smart for your own good,” he tells you, with narrowed eyes – and you give him another smile, one that is clearly fake, as you pull your tank top and shorts back on and re-tie your shoes.

You’re surprised as you go to leave the room and he sets a hand on the small of your back in a mocking echo of polite manners. As the two of you walk down the corridor towards the exit, he does not remove it. To the assembled crowds, you hope it will look entirely innocent – like the two of you have merely had a little chat and come to an agreement instead of heatedly fucking one another’s brains out.

You blink as you emerge out into the light, your eyes taking a moment to adjust. You see Principal Masamichi give you a sympathetic smile – and there’s Gojo, immediately charging towards you like an overprotective bear. He slows down as he sees the way that Naoya is still touching you.

“I hope everything’s alright,” he says, sounding stiffer and more formal than you usually hear. Naoya’s smile towards him is cold.

“Everything’s fine,” he says, “Perfect. You apologised beautifully, didn’t you, Miss?” Naoya looks down his nose at you, a conceited smile on his mouth. “I’ve decided to overlook this little transgression.” He leaves a pause, and you swallow as you realise what he’s waiting for.

“Thank you so much, Mr Zenin, Sir,” you say. Again, it feels like you have to force the words out through a mouthful of marbles – but they make it out of your mouth.

“Oh, don’t be so formal, Miss,” he smirks. “You can call me Naoya. I look forward to seeing you again – soon, I hope.”

“You’re just in time,” Gojo says coldly. “Maki just won the final race of the day for our team.”

Naoya’s gaze is sharp as he looks at him. His lip curls. You can tell that both of them want to do something – maybe have an out-and-out fist fight on the field. But Naoya manages to get a grip (you’re glad about it; you’re not entirely sure whether Gojo would have been able to hold back) and turns on his heel to stalk away.

He does give your ass one last squeeze, though, that you desperately hope that Gojo doesn’t notice.

Gojo’s shoulders stay set, his chin thrust proudly forward, until Naoya has been swallowed up by the crowd at large – and then, he turns to you. For the first time, you see his normally humorous eyebrows draw in with worry.

“You look upset,” he says. “Sweaty. You smell terrible. Do you need a minute?”

Your shoulders fall. Gojo gives you a sympathetic pat on the back.

“It’s a rite of passage to deal with someone from the Zenin family,” he says. “You’re just unlucky it happened to actually be Naoya today. He usually sends an underling or an uncle or someone to pretend to care about the girls.”

Wow. You sure hope the rite of passage has gone differently for everyone else.

“Why d’you think he came here today, then?” You ask Gojo. He looks at you strangely, a spark of something you can’t quite read in his eyes.

“Well,” he says, “he’s related to the Fushiguros, you know. I heard he and Megumi’s father have met up recently for drinks – it ended in a fight, of course, it always does. But maybe he expected Megumi’s dad to be here too?” He shrugs. “He can never resist an opportunity to relish over someone in his family winning, even if he doesn’t want Maki doing anything unladylike. Megumi’s dad isn’t here, though, so looks like that backfired on him--”

Your face feels like it’s on fire as you think about Megumi’s father fucking you on Gojo’s desk – and the lingering way that Naoya had said that he’d heard so much about you from everyone.

[cherryatiny]

𝐃𝐚𝐝! 𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐳: 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞

𝑊𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔: 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠, 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑑𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑒𝑠, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑑𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 <333

𝐺𝐼𝐹𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒, 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑠

⩥ 𝐊𝐢𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐣𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐠

Letting the last droplets of water fall on your exposed shoulders, you turned the water off, putting the showerhead to its previous place after showering the bubbles of your body. Drying your body with a soft towel you prepared beforehand, you slipped into your underwear, opening the bathroom door and going to the bedroom, being met with the sight of your husband Hongjoong, who was currently laying on your shared bed, watching some things on his phone with headphones plugged in.

His eyes peeked on your exposed figure and as they landed on your stomach, they immediately widened, you could see how he swiftly jumped from his place, falling on the ground from the unsuccessful jump. Collecting himself, he got on his knees in front of you. „What the fuck are you doing Joongie?” Hongjoong was switching between looking at your belly and looking up at your face.

„Oh my, you grew a baby bump, oh my god, that's my baby inside you.” His hands cupped the bottom of your belly, poking it with amazement in his eyes, trying to find out if it's really a baby growing inside of you. „Waah, neither of these feel real, whether the fact that there's a tiny clump of cells growing inside of you, that will eventually turn into a human being or the fact that you're so fucking cute with this cute little bump. Literally, how did a deserve you?“ letting out a small chuckle at his words full of amazement, you kneeled to be on his eye level, looking deep into his sparkling dark eyes and pecking the tip of his nose, putting your hands on top of his. „I have the same question, Kim Hongjoong.“

⩥ 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐒𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐰𝐚

Stirring the veggie mix in the wok, you rummaged through the cabinets, looking for soy sauce to add to the vegetables. Humming to a random song you heard on a radio a few days ago, swinging your hips to the rhythm. „What are you cooking, darling?“ Almost jumping from your spot as your husband Seonghwa unexpectedly wrapped his arms around your waist, you tried to calm your breath still shocked from the unanticipated touch.

„Hwa, baby, you should work on this awful habit of yours, I felt like my heart was about to jump out of my chest. Please let me know beforehand before you talk or hug me from behind. Stirred veggies with rice and tofu.“ Nuzzling his face into your neck like a hurt puppy, he apologized for scaring you in a tiny barely hearable voice.

Embracing you in a tight hug that kept you close to him as you cooked. „Hm, wait, what is it?“ Turning your head around to look at his confused face. „What do you mean?“ His hands started to caress your lower stomach, poking and pressing on it. „What are you doing Hwa? It tickles!“ Not stopping his actions you slipped out of his embrace, turning your body around to face him.

„Wait, let me touch it again, I swear it changed,... like the structure of your stomach, it's different.“ Kneeling in front of you he lifted your t-shirt, looking at it and resuming his previous actions. Squirming from the tickling touch of his fingers, you let out soft squeals. „Oh my god, Y/N, it really changed. Could it be the baby? Oh my, right, it must be the baby, your lower belly is rounding.“

„You weirdo, examining the changes in the structure of my stomach.“

⩥ 𝐉𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐨

As you finished cutting some fruit for the boys, you placed the bowls on the coffee table in their living room. Your husband Yunho sitting on the couch watching as you took care of his friends, his hand wrapping around you and pulling you back to his lap, your back falling onto his chest. „Rest baby, you don't need to take care of them, they're adults, even though they sometimes don't act that way.” nodding and smiling at his playful advice. „But I want to, you know I have to train these motherly skills for our baby.” whispering into his ear for only him to hear, you turned around to face the boys who were half-arguing about who's the best character in a show they're watching.

„Eat up, I cut those fruits for you, you need vitamins.” before you even finished your sentence, Yeosang was already stuffing his mouth with watermelon, making you all burst out laughing. „No worries Y/N, you should rest, also can I ask you something?” nodding to Hongjoong's hesitant words, he asked you the question he was referring to.

„I don't want to come off rude or anything, so please don't take it that way, but isn't your baby bump showing already?” the man underneath you quickly straightened up, bending down to look at your stomach because of his hyung's words. „Oh my god, Y/N, why didn't you tell me your baby bump is showing.” turning around to face Yunho's surprised face. „I thought you noticed..?”

Wooyoung and San let out loud laughter at how flushed Yunho was. „Yunho you should've seen how you looked right now, you really didn't notice Y/N's baby bump? I can't with you. Try to use your eyes sometimes. But to be honest, who would've thought that your sperm would grow to this size, impressive.” Those two couldn't stop laughing, Yunho only put on his expression of a hurt puppy as you pecked his nose with reassuring words. „Don't worry Yuyu, it might work out next time.”

⩥ 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠

When Yeosang found out that you're pregnant, he couldn't hide the happiness. He was so excited but so scared at the same time. Buying a lot of educational books and attending workshops, to know how to become the best dad. At the same time, he wanted your pregnancy to be memorable so you two can have lovely reminiscences to remember in a few years. Apart from the basic medical record, you two built up a habit of taking pictures every week, to see how your body changed as the weeks of your pregnancy passed.

„Okay okay, go there Y/N, keep still as every week.” Snapping the picture of your figure standing in front of the white wall from side and front. You sat down on Yeosang's lap, arms wrapping around his neck as you looked at the screen of the camera in his hands, switching between today and last week's photos. „Wah, Y/N look! Your baby bump got visible since the last week. Aww, our baby is growing well inside you.” smiling at his adorable attitude. „Aww Yeosangie, are you crying?” Amazed at how quick you noticed it, he swiftly wiped the tears off his eyes. „No I'm not crying, it was just dirt in my eye.”

„One day, when our baby will be older, I will tell it a story about how its father teared up when it was growing in my womb.“ Giving you a death glare, Yeosang turned off the camera with the photos he took. „Try to embarrass me in front of my child and I'm going to sublime into another galaxy.“ Chuckling at his sarcastic remark you hugged his muscular frame. „Please don't, I'd have no one to tease then, Sangie.“

⩥ 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢 𝐒𝐚𝐧

Looking at yourself in the body-length mirror, you examined your body, hugging your frame and trying to cover the parts you didn't like. Especially the gained pregnancy fat on the lower stomach. Turning around, trying to find the angle you looked the best in. Not aware of your husband San observing your movements, while leaning on the door frame. His voice scaring the heck out of you, as he spoke. „What are you doing, darling?“ Turning around you looked at him, your hands wrapped around your body to cover as much as possible. „I- Don't you think I gained weight, Sannie? Especially some fat on my stomach and I'm not even that far in my pregnancy. What am I going to do? I feel so bad.“ San put on his pout at your negative remarks, approaching you, he stood behind you, looking at you in the mirror.

„Baby, I can't explain how much it hurts me to hear you thinking this way of yourself. You're absolutely gorgeous Y/N, darling, it's not any belly fat, and even if it was, it doesn't matter, it's your cute little baby bump. That's our baby that's showing and you shouldn't talk so negative about it.“ Kissing your temple and shoulders, he dropped on his knees, hands falling onto your bump, caressing it and letting his lips brush against your skin, giving it small pecks full of love. „Please Y/N, I'll do anything I can if it helps you overcome your insecurities. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on. You're also the woman that carries my child, and you have my full respect for that. And this cute little baby bump makes you even prettier honey. Now, should I make you some snacks? You need to eat meals with a lot of nutrients so you and our baby can be healthy.“ Smiling at his heart-warming words, you took his hand that tugged you out of the room, taken aback by how did you deserve a man like this.

⩥ 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢

„Mhm Y/N... I'm so exhausted“ your husband Mingi whined, coming out of the shower after working out. „Do you wanna watch a movie? Come on, lay yourself on me and relax, Mingi. There won't be as many opportunities to do this from now on, so lay down.“ Nodding the tall figure of your husband approached you, sitting down on the couch, you spread your legs to create a space for him to lay in, before turning on the TV with your favourite series playing. As Mingi was about to lay his head on your lower belly, he noticed the slight change in its size. Lifting your t-shirt he saw how your lower belly rounded.

„Oh my god- Y/N! Why didn't you tell me your baby bump was showing omo! Y/N Y/N, that's my baby!“ chuckling at his excitement over your belly rounding, you agreed to his words. „Yes, Mingi, that's your baby. Now lay down please, so we can watch the series.“ Brushing your fingers through his brown locks, you tried to softly push his head to lay in your lap. „I don't want to Y/N. You lay in my lap, I don't want to lay on your belly, what if I hurt the baby? Oh my, that would be horrible, I'm sure that since the baby is growing already, it would feel suffocated by my head laying on your baby bump.“ Raising your eyebrows at his gibberish, trying to hold back the laughter at his cute dumbness. „Mingi, please, respectfully shut the fuck up and lay on my lap, you don't want to anger a pregnant woman by not agreeing with her. You won't hurt the baby, so lay down.“ Putting on his 'scared puppy' expression, he listened to you, laying carefully on your belly, your fingers playing with his soft hair, making ponytails and braiding them as you two watched the series.

⩥ 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠

Clipping your fancy earrings and necklace set, you finished adorning your look with accessories. Looking at your figure in the tight-fitting velvet dress, that perfectly fitted the occasion of Wooyoung's business gala. Your eyes dropping at the baby bump that was getting more visible as the weeks of your pregnancy went on, especially in this dreses. But maybe it was just your detailed eye since no one appeared to notice, not even your husband.

Walking down the stairs to the living room where your husband Wooyoung was, already dressed in a well-fitting tuxedo. Playing some games on his phone while waiting for you to finish dressing and stuff. „Woo, I'm done.“ He turned around to look at you, his eyes widening at the ethereal beauty. „Waau, baby, that dress is breath-taking, absolutely worth the money. You're gorgeous, you look like an absolute goddess. Can you turn around?“ Turning around on your heels, showing off yourself in all angles for him to see, his cheerful clapping, like he was your number-one fan, let you gain confidence in yourself. „I don't remember marrying a model, but you for sure look like one.“ coming closer to you his arms wrapped around your frame, one hand falling onto your lower stomach. Leaning closer to you, Wooyoung whispered into your ear: „Especially with that baby bump, you look so cute, it adds to your beauty.“

„I didn't know you noticed...“ Wooyoung pouted at your words because he didn't know that was what you thought of him. „Of course I noticed, what do you take me for?... I just didn't want to mention it, because I didn't know how you felt about that and didn't want to make you insecure by mentioning your baby bump growing, but I just couldn't help myself, it looks too cute on you.“

⩥ 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐨

Work tired the heck out of you and Jongho couldn't watch your soulless state full of stress anymore. So his surprising gift for you in a form of a wellness trip was very appreciated. Having a week to spend to focus on yourself, your husband and the little bundle of joy in your womb, was the best thing he could give you. So as you two packed your belongings, and Jongho drove you two to the wellness hotel you could finally breathe out.

„Come on Y/N, let's take our luggage to the hotel room and then dive straight into a hot tub, I feel like my muscles are as stiff as rock.“ taking the luggage out of your hand, Jongho took them to your hotel room, your body fell on the soft mattress of your king-sized bed. „Get up, princess, we gotta go swimming and then we can go to a hot tub. Light exercise is important for a pregnant woman and her baby.“ groaning, you took the swimsuit Jongho threw at you and went to the bathroom to change, putting some dress onto it so you're not bare when you walk through the hotel.

Taking a deep breath after the hour of swimming, you thought you'd collapse from how exhausting it was. „Jongho I'm gonna kill you, you told me that we were gonna rest the whole week.“

„But exercising is resting as well. Okay then, if you're so exhausted, you can be glad that you have such a caring and strong husband, who has no problem with carrying you to the hot tub.“ Glaring at him, you could sense that he was just teasing you with his words. You yelped as he suddenly picked you up, carrying you bridal style, before getting into the hot tub with you still in his hands.

As he sat down with you still in his hands, you wrapped your arms around his neck, nuzzling yourself into his chest. Not aware of his eyes glaring and examining your stomach. „Baby.“ raising your eyebrows at him, thinking he wanted to tell you something, since baby was one of the many nicknames he had for you. „Baby. There's a baby in you. I can see it, oh my- Can I touch it?“

i couldn't find Mingi's gif from this set, i'm gonna cry

[teratalia]

Alien girlfriend x reader

I wrote a short little snippet from this writing prompt from the wonderful @monsterkinkmeme and I ended up expanding on it!! Listen, I created this alien girl just for this prompt but now I love her. I love her so much,, constructive criticism and comments are always welcome, it's my first time posting something like this :)

Quick notes: oblivious/dense fem reader, very lemony yet fluffy, let's call it lemon candy? lemon sweets? idk? (fingering, tribadism) 

“Aleya? Would you come here for a moment?” you call out. You don’t have to wait long before you’re joined by your new lab partner.

“Yes?” Her voice, quiet and airy, reaches you before she does. She leans over your shoulder, squinting curiously at your workstation with eyes lacking both sclera and pupil, just sky blue irises.

Her midnight blue skin fades to black at her humanoid forearms and shins, and she ties her long purple hair into her usual braid with two out of four arms. White star-like freckles are scattered over her face and body, and she looks like she creates new constellations with every move she makes.

“Sit, sit,“ you urge, patting her back. Aleya hesitates for just a second before doing so.

“Look at the reaction this plant gives.“ Very gently, you stroke it with a gloved hand. Its petals flutter and then open wide, revealing another layer of petals that are closed tight.

“Last time I tried that, the inner part still would not open.“

“Yes, but watch this.”

Carefully, you run your fingertips over certain petals in a sequence that took you hours to find. Finally the inner petals open to reveal a colorful ball-like fruit, not unlike a mandarin, which the flower leans over and gently deposits on the table before sealing up the layers of petals again.

Instead of watching the flower, you watch Aleya’s face. Unlike humans, her kind doesn’t tend to show much by way of facial expressions, but her eyes widen slightly and her braided hair undoes itself and winds around in a twist before untwisting and twisting all over again.

“That’s incredible. We’ve got to study this fruit immediately.“ Her tone also doesn’t change, but you swear you can hear an undercurrent of excitement. “You’ve done a wonderful job.”

“Thanks! But before that, I want to take a break. Care to join me?” You stand, slowly stretching out limbs sore from disuse and discarding your gloves. She agrees, her stocky frame barely reaching your shoulder.

You beam and pat her on the back, running your thumb over the exposed skin there affectionately as you guide her away. She shudders and her braid comes undone just a bit.

“Are you okay?”

Aleya nods jerkily, braid slowly retying itself.

Humans call her people the Astra because of the characteristic star freckles and deep galaxy-colored skin. You're still learning about her, and she about you as well. You could never truly tell if she was happy to work with you or not, but you liked to think she was content. This assignment almost felt like being roommates with a cat that seemed aloof, but would come up to you quietly for affection. Aleya seemed to like the affection, or at least hadn't said anything to the contrary.

Seated in the kitchen, you gather some snacks and munch away. Aleya doesn't need to eat as much as you do, and only eats human food to be polite. For her snack, she grabs a pressurized bottle of hydrogen-helium mix and sips like it's water.

"I am quite pleased with your progress today," she says, almost making you drop your drink. She almost never speaks to you first, so you're eager to keep her talking.

"Did you expect that little fruit?" you reply excitedly. She actually smiles back at you, small lips curving up.

"I did not. Is something wrong?"

"No, no. I didn't think Astra really smiled, is all."

"We do not. I have noticed that it is something you do when you are happy, and assumed it was a human thing. Is it not?"

You blink at her, then beam. "You would be right. I have to say, I'm flattered that you're noticing things about me."

Very briefly, her star freckles on her cheeks turn pale pink, but turn back to white so quickly that you're sure you imagined it.

Aleya tilts her head down, toying with her bottle. "Is it not customary to learn more about one's lab partner?" Her hair falls forward, hiding her face.

"Of course it is! I can't believe how nervous I was when I was assigned to work with you. It's been such a pleasure so far."

Her hair curls up to obscure her face even more, and the exposed freckles on her shoulders turn pink. It might be out of curiosity, to tease her, or a mix of both, but you make a guess out loud.

"You're very cute when you're embarrassed, Aleya. You don't have to be embarrassed."

The pink sparkle brightens and you giggle as her hair nearly cocoons her upper body, hiding her whole face and torso from sight. Only the faint glow of her pale blue eyes and pink freckles shine through.

"Okay, okay, I'll stop. Come on, don't hide." Reaching out, you pat around where the top of her head should be. Her hair slowly unfurls and flows down her back as she glares up at you under your hand.

"Must you make such jokes?" she grumbles quietly.

"Sorry, Aleya. I do mean what I said though. You're very cute."

Sliding your hand down her hair, you pat her back like always. She lets out a shaky sigh, hair twisting around itself and eyes narrowing, hands squeezing around her bottle. Frowning, you snatch your hand away, making her look up at you again.

"I really am sorry," you repeat more slowly. "I don't like making you uncomfortable, and I also don't like the thought that you might be forcing yourself to adjust to human customs."

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"Humans tend to like physical touch, but I've been so inconsiderate because I don't know if you like it. I never realized how distressed you look when I touch you so casually. I'm sorry. I just, I need a bit."

Discarding the empty food wrappers, you hurry off to your room, dropping down onto the pillows and leaning against the headboard. You can't shake the feeling that you've been royally messing up with Aleya, and maybe she was just pretending to be comfortable around you. If casual touch is something that the Astra don't do, you might have been subjecting her to something really awful. It just made you want to apologize all over again.

A knock on the door draws you out of your spiraling thoughts. When you don't reply, the knock grows louder and more insistent.

"Come in."

Aleya slips into your room and shuts the door behind her. Her hair is curled up as if with giant rollers, huge curls rolling and unrolling in constant, restless motion. Her star freckles are an odd shade of orange that you haven't seen before.

With a sigh, you indicate the rest of the bed next to you. "You can sit, if you want."

Aleya perches on the bed, actively trying to suppress the movement of her hair with two hands. The other two are folded in her lap.

"I need to apologize to you," she starts, holding up one hand when you try to protest. "You deserve to know some truth about Astra. About me. Yes, the touching is quite foreign to me, but it didn't actually make me uncomfortable."

"You're sure?" All that shivering and hair unfurling seemed to indicate otherwise…

"Why do you think I have been wearing a lot of clothing that exposes my back and my shoulders?"

"You weren't just too warm in the lab?" Finally you let yourself relax. The star freckles are no longer that strange orange, but now they’re turning pink. "Is there something else you need to tell me?"

"Touching my back the way you do, it…" The curls in her hair seem to multiply as she struggles to speak.

You take a second to think, and feel your heart nearly stop. "…That wouldn't be an erogenous zone for you, would it?"

Aleya nods jerkily, refusing to make eye contact with you.

The first thing you feel is shock, followed closely by horror and embarrassment. "I'm so, so sorry. I had no idea."

She shakes her head, still silent.

Then you pause. The clothing she wears. Could that possibly be…and if so, did you want…?

You take a deep, shaky breath.

"Maybe I should let you in on a human secret," you say quietly, unable to believe the very words coming out of your mouth. "Different humans may have different erogenous zones, but a common one is the neck. Specifically, if one were to kiss and bite there…" Shrugging off your lab coat and letting it fall to the ground, you tilt your head away from her. Uncertainty practically radiates off Aleya, but slowly, slowly, she leans in and presses her lips to your neck. You sigh contentedly, tension easing out of your body and hers. The wild curls in her hair start to calm, flowing into waves down her back as she backs away and looks up at you.

Placing one hand on her shoulder, you lightly smooth your fingers over her skin, and she smiles a little, pink fading out of her freckles. Emboldened, you lift your other hand as well.

"We don't have to do anything you don't want to do," you murmur, caressing her shoulders, fingers dancing over sparkling purple freckles.

Aleya moans, leaning into your touch. "I-I would like to do this with you. It just feels different…I am not used to such physical expressions. Astra intercourse is more like a melding of minds rather than bodies, and I'd like to share that with you…"

You're not entirely sure what she means, but you nod as she draws closer, wrapping both sets of arms around you, her hair flowing over your shoulders. Locks of her hair caress your cheeks, sliding down over your collarbone, sparking something new deep in your chest. You gasp, feeling this unusual yet intimate warmth within you, realizing that it's her pleasure you're feeling. The more your fingers move over her back, the more the warmth grows.

"Oh, wow," is all you can say.

Aleya giggles. "I think it's easier to tell when you feel good, like so, perhaps…" Leaning forward, she pulls up your shirt and slips her fingers under your bra, cupping your chest. Her fingertips tease over your nipples and you grin, simply tugging your clothing off to allow better access. She just stares at your chest for a moment, eyes wider than usual, before reaching to pinch your nipples. Biting your lip, you discard the rest of your clothes and wait for her to do the same.

Aleya doesn't have much by way of a chest, but her belly protrudes, matching her chubby arms and thick thighs. The star freckles are scattered at random across her skin, some looking like complete connected constellations, some just clusters of stars, all gorgeous.

Clothes finally off, you press her against the headboard and lean forward, giving her plenty of time to turn away. She reaches forward to meet you, kissing you awkwardly. You smile against her lips, guiding her, teaching her how to move her lips, how to avoid clinking teeth. She's a fast learner, because of course she is, and before long you're melting into her kiss, letting out little moans as she holds you close.

It's intoxicating, the way her pleasure matches yours. Her tongue tastes like raspberries, of all things.

Slowly, you slide your hand down her chest, down her belly rolls, finding your goal between her legs. Seems her anatomy is similar to yours, after all. She's already slick, her wetness sucking your fingers in. Aleya trembles, gripping your shoulders and crying out. Some of her freckles turn pink as she presses her lips together.

"God, you're cute." Running your other hand over her shoulders, you thrust your fingers in and out of her heat, craving that sound again. "Don't hold back, I want to hear you."

Looking like she wants to keep quiet, Aleya actually bites her lip. You lightly scratch down her back in retaliation, finally making her shout again. She arches her whole body into yours, moaning with abandon as you add a second and third finger inside her. Your thumb slides up to the top of her seam only to find that she doesn't have a clitoris, but it doesn't matter.

The glowing feelings in your chest swell, threatening to burst.

Aleya gazes up at you through fluttering eyelids, pushing her hips against your hand, silently begging you not to stop. And who are you to deny her release? To deny her anything, really?

You press your lips to her ear, the subtly tart scent of her hair wafting over you, curls tickling your cheek. "You're close, aren't you?" Voice low, almost raspy, just above a whisper yet still enticing. "I can feel it…come for me, Aleya…"

Clutching at you like a lifeline, arching her back, she cries out, walls fluttering around your fingers. Gently you pull your fingers out of that tight heat, whispering soothing words to her as she comes down from the high. The warmth cools down slightly, not fully extinguished just yet.

Aleya pants, staring at you in dazed awe. Impulsively, you bring your still soaking fingers to your lips, tasting raspberry alcohol.

"You taste amazing." You mean it, too.

Narrowing her eyes, she suddenly flips the two of you over, pulling you down to rest on your pillows and straddling your waist.

"Humans can also feel that, right? That release?"

"We call it an orgasm, and yes."

Aleya's grin is devilish. "Then we shall have one together."

One pair of hands plays over your breasts, fondling your nipples, while the other set slides down to pet your thighs. Moving back, she fits herself between your legs and spreads your thighs, looking down to your dripping pussy. You'd almost forgotten your own arousal in favor of hers, but now that all the attention was on it…you squirm, fidgeting under her intense gaze.

"So are you just gonna stare or do you want to try something?" you ask weakly.

"Even now, you still make demands," she giggles. Her upper pair of hands absentmindedly pinches your nipples while she thinks. "This is different. What's this…?"

Aleya circles your clit with one finger, and you moan at the slight friction. "Th-that's called a clitoris, um, it's very sensitive, so please…"

She gently strokes your clit with her thumb, slipping other fingers inside you in the same way you had done for her. Encouraging her with little gasps and moans, you hold onto her upper hands still resting on her breasts.

Silently she pulls her fingers out and other hands away, leaning back and readjusting her legs. Before you can ask what she's doing, she pushes your hips apart a little more, sliding one leg underneath yours and swinging the other leg over your hip.

You freeze, raising your eyebrows. "Huh? Where'd you learn how to do this?"

"Just thought it'd feel nice, and it looks like I'm right, yes?" She pushes her hips against yours, rolling them together. You can't help but agree with a breathy moan, head falling back against the pillows as you clutch fistfuls of the bedsheets.

Her body feels different from yet so similar to a human's, soft skin grinding against yours, long hair cascading down over you, strands caressing your sides. One thick strand pulls your leg up, hooking it over her shoulder.

"H-how are you so good at this?" you groan, closing your eyes, hearing a soft chuckle as the only response.

Aleya pauses her hip movements, making you open your eyes, pout already forming on your lips. She reaches for you with both sets of hands, pulling you up to sit in her lap with your legs still intertwined, lower set of hands sliding down to pull your hips forward to meet hers once more.

"God, yes." Wrapping your hands around her shoulders, you slowly drag your hands down her back, watching as her back arches and her lips part in a silent cry. You pull her closer, closer, hoping to taste raspberries again.

From the warmth growing in your chest and the way Aleya just pants into your open mouth, you can tell she's close, and so are you.

"Together," she gasps, pushing one hand down between your bodies. Her fingers press down on your clit, rubbing quick circles. Bucking your hips, you come undone with a shout, feeling the warmth in your chest swell and burst. All four of Aleya's hands dig into your back as she pulls you close, body trembling, hazy gaze meeting yours.

As one, your bodies crash down onto the bedsheets, limbs and hair tangling. Slowly Aleya shifts you both to face each other, a strand of her hair stroking your cheek as the feeling in your chest fades away, leaving comforting contentment in its wake.

After a moment of watching your face, she says, "Now I wish I had confessed sooner."

Eyebrows shooting up into your hairline, you laugh, whole body shaking. "To be fair, it's not just your fault," you say between giggles. "I should've noticed that something was off. It's fine now, right?"

She smiles softly, star freckles going back to regular white. "Yes, it is."

You bite your lip before adding, "I have to say, now I think there's a certain kind of drink I want to have more often. I should fix myself a raspberry cocktail sometime."

"What does that mean?" Aleya merely blinks at you, sky blue eyes narrowing as you start laughing all over again.

[friendandphoe]

okay the formatting on this is gonna be a lil weird bUT!! have this figuring it out/something to last revamp that’s been sitting in my brain for the last few weeks @ahbonjour @museumlad @creativeskull95

There’s no way in hell she’s ever looking Professor Keelson in the eye again. “I’m sorry,” she croaks for the thousandth time, and finds a tissue being pressed into her hand.

“Quite alright, my dear,” Professor Keelson says soothingly, leaning back in his chair with his hands folded over his round belly. “Wipe your face, now, there you go. I’m — well.” And he rubs the bridge of his nose, just under his round wire glasses. “I can’t say I wasn’t expecting this, unfortunately.”

She nods numbly, ice trickling down her spine.

You ruined everything.

“I’m sorry,” she tries again, because it’s all she can think to say, but the professor waves her off with a weathered hand and pushes himself to his feet, leaning heavily on his cane as he makes his way to the mini fridge he keeps under the bookshelves.

“Now, now,” he says, almost scolding, and pulls out a clementine, a bar of chocolate, and a bottle of water. “Don’t you start that with me, Ms. Ochoa. This is not the first time I’ve had students crying in my office, I daresay it won’t be the last.” And he sits heavily back down in his chair, setting the snacks in front of her. “Eat, drink. Now, I won’t press on what’s been troubling you, but you know, these tired old eyes of mine do still catch a few things here and there, and I have seen you — well. I don’t like to use the word struggling, but you know, perhaps it is a bit more apt than anything else I could think of.” And she knows he’s looking at her, knows those beady black eyes well, but just focuses on unwrapping the chocolate bar as quietly as she can.

What makes you think we want you around?

“You’ve had a rough time of it, this year.”

It’s not a question, but she still finds herself nodding confirmation. “I don’t know what happened.” She says hoarsely, and reaches for the water bottle.

Leave us alone.

“I’ve been wanting this for years, I worked so hard to get into this program, I just—” and she has to press her mouth shut to keep the lump in her throat from escaping.

Leave us alone!

“Some… stuff. Uh, came up, I guess.”

They sit in silence for a minute, then softly: “The human mind is a wonderful, confusing little thing.” Professor Keelson says. She dares a glance up at him, finds him — thank god — staring out his office window. “It tends to block out anything unpleasant we might not want to hear, and often that negativity will build and build and build until, one day, the weight becomes too much to bear.” He sighs and scrubs a hand through his short white beard, messing the hairs out of their orderly style. “And then we must face the unfortunate truth that sometimes what we thought we wanted is, in actuality, not at all the path we should be taking."

She drops her gaze back down to her bouncing knee. “Is it stupid?” She blurts out, watching her leg blur under her rising tears. “I just — this is a good school, a good program, and I’ll have so many job opportunities when I graduate—”

A weathered hand stretches out across the desk, just reaching to where her pinky would've been. “And yet,” Professor Keelson murmurs. “It won’t make you happy.” He sits back in his chair, looking every inch the benevolent Santa Claus his students know him to be. “And given how miserable you’ve been this year, Ms. Ochoa, I daresay your ultimate happiness is worth far more than any graduating job offers.” His smile drops for a half-second. “Though I can’t say I won’t be sorry to see you go. You’re already one of my best students, you know.”

You're an embarrassment to my name and reputation.

A wet little giggle chokes out of her throat, and she wipes down her face one more time. “Don’t tempt me, I’m half-considering staying,” she admits. “Even with all of this.”

“Ah, but if you do, what sort of state will you be in once you graduate?” Professor Keelson says, raising a bushy brow. “All you young folk are the same. You’re young, you have that wonderful, limitless energy, but you must learn to take care of yourselves now, while you have the space to do so. Won’t do you any good to drive yourselves into the ground every night when you’re my age, you know!” He looks at her appraisingly, then smiles wide. “And you know, my dear, there’s great strength in being able to admit you were wrong. I’ve always admired people who are strong enough to chase their dreams instead of following the easy path. Do you have an idea where you’re going, yet?”

Don’t ever come back here, you little— 

“There’s a performing and visual arts conservatory,” she says hesitantly. “River Park, downstate. They’ve got really good photography and filmmaking programs, and, um.” She pauses, unsure how to explain how right it had all felt when she’d been reading about it online. “Well, I have an interview on Wednesday, so.”

Professor Keelson’s smile widens. “River Park! My partner studied illustration there, years ago when we were both young. You’ll do wonderfully.”

She can’t help but feel like his faith is ever-so-slightly misplaced —

I didn't want you.

— maybe it’s just the existential crisis talking, who knows —

Do you understand me?

— but she can’t quite bring herself to argue against the sparkling excitement in the professor’s eyes. She lets him press another chocolate bar and tissue combo into her hand as he shuffles her out of his office, with strict, cheerful instructions to come see him before she leaves for her interview.

You were a mistake.

Tuesday night comes in the blink of an eye; she’d barely dumped her meager wardrobe back into the suitcase she’d kept under her bed and her sticky notes are still haphazardly slapped to the wall above her desk. She’s not exactly sure where the time went — it’s not like she went to any classes. Or ate much. Or was sleeping, really. Granted she did try, but the third time in the same night she woke up sobbing because her blankets had twisted around her leg, trapping her in an all-too-familiar heat vortex—

window won't break it's too hot it hurts to breathe window won't break it's so fucking hot she can't think window won't break but it'll slide get out of this goddamn heat get out get out crunch fuck ow hurts hurts ow fuck hurts her toes shouldn't be ow fuck fuck fuck pointing that way hurts hurts fucking hurts can't feel her knee fuck fuck where's papá—

— she kind of gave up. She doesn't even bother pulling out her shitty, half-broken headphones to try and watch something on Netflix to try and pass the time, she just lays in bed and listens to Rebecca softly snoring five feet away. The ceiling is infinitely more interesting than anything else she could’ve been focusing on, anyway.

Except maybe her portfolio. Which. She hasn’t really. Looked at.

She’s so fucked.

Still, she drags herself out of bed nice and early at 7 am Wednesday morning, beating her alarm by the customary 4 minutes, and actually manages to gather the energy to sift through her remaining clothes to dig out something — well. She doesn’t really have anything “nice,” per say, but she does have an oversized sweater that’ll pass as a dress once she puts on some makeup and a belt and ties her hair up, and that’ll have to be good enough.

You show up to my door looking like that?

River Park is going to laugh her right out the door.

Everything she might need is already shoved unceremoniously into her backpack — wallet, keys, wrist brace, student ID, laptop, flash drive (in its place of honor in the tiny pocket), knee brace, fruit snacks, water bottle — but her eye catches on her DLSR just as she’s finished tying the laces on her most comfortable boot, and she hesitates. She hasn’t really looked at her portfolio much recently — she knows she’s got some old pictures from Manhattan, and maybe some from various campus events that might be good, but it’s been a little hard to go out and take nice shots when she’s been drowning in depression soup for the past four months. Four years. Whatever. Either way, she doesn’t have much to show for herself, and inspiration hasn’t really hit lately.

But River Park is — well, she has no idea, really, she hasn’t seen it in person yet, but the photos online are gorgeous, all glass-and-brick buildings framed by forests and gardens. Very much a college town, from what she can tell, the campus map isn’t really a map so much as a general directory pointing out which buildings were associated with the conservatory, but there was something that felt weirdly homey about seeing those pictures. Maybe it was the layout of the buildings, maybe it was the way they described their classes and professors, maybe it was just the simple fact that everyone in those pictures was genuinely smiling, but she’d gotten this weird, longing ache just below her collarbone that had made her close down all her other college-related tabs and email River Park’s photography and filmmaking department.

Something feels good about that campus. And maybe, if she gets there a little early, she can—

You don't get to come into my life and — and ruin everything I have here.

It’s only seven forty-two. Her interview’s not until one, and the train ride downstate should only take an hour. She’s got time.

Which is how she finds herself knocking on Professor Keelson’s office door, DLSR hanging around her neck, about two hours earlier than she’d been intending to be there, praying to who and whatever might be listening that he’s actually in and she didn’t just horribly fuck this up like she’s been fucking up, oh, who’s to say, just about everything she touches these past few months.

You’re not a part of this family. You never will be.

“Come in, come in!” She hears just beyond the door, and she cautiously peeks in to find the wizened old professor crouching over his printer, staring at it suspiciously as it slowly spits out some document. “Hello, dear. Wasn’t expecting you this early!”

I think you should leave.

“Sorry,” she manages, hovering in the doorway. “I just — change of plans.”

Professor Keelson nods, collects his papers, and creaks over to his desk. “Yes, very good.” he agrees, shuffling the papers into two piles. “Take a seat, I promise I won’t keep you very long. You look nice, by the way.”

She sits, already relaxing in the warm familiarity of Professor Keelson’s overstuffed office. Maybe this is why he’d wanted her to visit before she went, just to make sure she wouldn’t vomit on the interviewers. “Thank you, sir.”

“You’re very welcome. Now,” he says, stuffing one pile of papers into a folder. “These are all your important documents: transcripts, transferable credits, disability accommodations, et cetera. Pardon my overstepping, but you did seem a little, ah, frazzled, shall we say? Last you came to speak with me and I was almost positive that you wouldn’t have thought of pulling the paperwork together.”

Which is absolutely true, she hadn’t, and she can’t even bring herself to feel insulted that he’d assumed she wouldn’t. “Thank you very much,” she says, trying desperately to seem calm and cool and collected and not crush her very expensive, very precious camera in her white-knuckle grip.

A mess. You're a mess.

Professor Keelson’s face crinkles into a smile. “You’re very welcome. You’ll be happy to know that, since you’ve already completed all your core classes and general requirements, all of those credits will easily transfer between the schools. There may be a class or two you’ll have to make up, but you should be able to jump right in with your major-specific classes. Now, this,” he says, folding the other papers into an envelope. “Is your letter of recommendation. I’ll put it in the folder with everything else, but I wanted you to know that you had it.”

Oh, fuck, she might start crying again. “Professor—” she starts, but he’s already slid the folder across the desk to her.

“Ms. Ochoa, if I may.” Her mouth snaps shut, and he continues: “Our time together has been short, yes, but you have been one of my favorite students to ever come through these doors. Barring your obvious intelligence, passion, and work ethic, you’re also relentlessly kind, despite everything you’ve gone through.” His gaze fixes on her cheek for the briefest of moments, tracing over the lumps and bumps of her scars, but his eyes are as soft as they’ve ever been. “I don’t presume to know your history, but I know bits of your present, and the person I’ve seen would make a valuable asset to any school she goes to. If you approach your new classes and projects with as much determination as you did mine, I’ve no doubt your new instructors will be as proud of you as I am. I let them know as much.”

 ...

She numbly takes the folder, desperately blinking back tears. “Th-thank you, sir.” She manages, thick in the back of her throat. “I-I’ll do my best.”

Professor Keelson takes up his customary position, hands laced neatly over his belly. “You will.” He agrees, smiling. “Now, you should be heading out soon. I’d hate to make you miss your train, especially if you want to get there early.”

“Yes — yes.” And she gets up on autopilot, sliding the folder into her backpack as carefully as she can manage. “Thank you. Thank you so much, professor, I can’t — I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

She’s halfway out the door when she hears him call: “Ms. Ochoa, one more thing?”

She turns.

The professor smiles benevolently at her from his chair. “Don’t give up on yourself before you’ve even gotten started.”

And with that, she’s on her way.

Get out.

So, update: maybe deciding to take her portfolio pictures on her way to her college interview was a stupid idea, but to be fair, a lot of her stupid ideas have worked out pretty decently before, so. It’s fine.

Probably.

She definitely doesn’t almost miss the train by snapping shots of the mostly-empty station, but in her defense, the morning fog hadn't quite dissipated yet, and the spooky air of possibility that the tracks had been extending and disappearing into was just begging to be captured. And she absolutely doesn’t continually hop seats throughout the hour-long ride to get different angles of the seats, the blurry towns and roads whizzing past, or even a couple of self-portraits here and there. It’s not like there are people around for her to bother, anyway, so it’s fine. (Probably.) It’s a little hard getting a satisfyingly dramatic shot of her staring out the window, but she thinks the one where they’re passing through a tunnel and she’s locked eyes with her shadowy reflection might be a winner. She won’t really know until she opens them up on her computer, which will probably end up being just before the interview, with her luck, so. Who knows, she might just be wasting her time and battery life.

It’s the most fun she’s had in a while, though.

And. Fuck, maybe it makes no sense, but she's still got that feeling in her chest. It's creeping up to her ponytail, at this point, tugging on the ends of her curls, ordering her to pay attention.

Capture this.

It's important.

Last time she felt like that, she won an award, so. Y'know. Fuck her if she's going to ignore it.

She cuts herself off when there’s ten minutes left in the journey, just to be sure she’s not scrambling to put herself together as she’s pulling up to the station, but ten minutes, it turns out, is both much longer and much shorter than she thought it’d be. Just enough time to run down the list of all the possible ways this could (and would) go wrong, but not enough to steady her racing heart before the train’s slowing down.

You're delusional. This isn't one of your little fairy tales. This is — it's not going to happen.

Don’t give up on yourself before you’ve even gotten started, she remembers, taking one last breath to steel herself, and swings herself up onto her feet and out the doors.

The station is nice enough, but not terribly different from the one she’d started in besides being a little cleaner, so she shoulders her backpack and makes her way down the stairs and into the town proper.

Which.

Wow.

Maybe it’s just a seasonal thing, maybe not, but all the buildings she can see are draped with hanging lights, and even the curving street lights have extra strands hanging over the sidewalks. She almost wishes she’d scheduled her interview later in the day, just to be able to get a shot of those lights against the dark sky, but contents herself with snapping pictures of the incredibly aesthetic sidewalk and shops. She spots an art supply store with a cheerful blue door sandwiched between a movie theater and an apartment complex that frames up nicely, and there’s a coffee shop with swirling, festive winter-y designs painted on the window with pots of poinsettias framing the corners that’s a — no pun intended — picture-perfect paragon of coziness. She stops maybe a little too long to zoom in on the red leaves and flawless paint, making sure to keep the actual inside of the shop out of focus, because as cute as the beanbags and mismatched armchairs are, she doesn’t really feel like going in to ask if it’s alright for her to take pictures of the small handful of people both in front of and behind the counter.

One last shot of the poinsettias and she moves on, turning her lens to the last few, dying flowers in their garden beds, then to the display window of a bookstore that proudly announces its support of the LGBT community with various painted flags, then to the churning river that cuts through the town and the elegant bridge that arcs proudly above it.

There’s not a lot of people walking around right now, but she can definitely see kids around her age up the street, chatting and laughing amongst themselves as their breath puffs out in front of them. A cute dog bounces over to say hello before its owner tugs it away with a sheepish smile, and even without their leaves, the trees interspersed along the sidewalk stand tall, proud, and lovely.

She’s got that weird ache in her chest again — stronger this time — that indiscernible pull that draws her to stay, and she puts her camera down, puffing out a shaky breath.

What made you think we want you here?

“It doesn’t matter.” She tells herself sternly, leaning up on the sides of the bridge. “It doesn’t matter unless you get in.”

Speaking of. She pulls her phone out of her pocket, fully intending to double check the email she’d been sent with instructions on where to go, but her eye catches on the time.

Twelve forty-six.

So. Maybe not the best idea to go gallivanting around a campus she doesn’t know, especially when she has an extremely important interview to get to, but even as she’s scolding herself, she knows the pink flush in her cheeks isn’t just from the cold, and she’s got more energy now than she’s had in months, so.

Worth it.

Thank god E.A. Archer Hall is straightforward enough to find; Google Maps tells her it’s a seven minute walk in a mostly straight line from where she is on the bridge now, which she just about manages even though it’s cold and her stump is starting to ache. The building is emblazoned with the name right on the side, so it’s impossible to miss, but she needs a keycard to get in, and somehow she thinks her current school ID isn’t exactly going to fly here.

But someone, somewhere, is smiling on her, because she’s only just gotten to oh, shit before a tall woman with vitiligo and long box braids strides towards the door, pushing it open.

“Alejandra Ochoa?”

“Yes, ma’am,” she says as smoothly as she can behind her chattering teeth, and the woman smiles.

“You're right on time. Come on in, let's get started."

[perseusjackson-jasongrace]

Empires on the Horizon XVII

Jason is a CEO: Part XVII

masterlist; my links

we are not big grand gestures,

we are little moments

—strung together

on a polaroid wall—

instances that freeze

in time;

timeless anyway

—badpoetry

[image has alt text]

Helping his friends had never been a difficult choice. Even now, three days into what was supposed to be a relaxing holiday, he didn’t feel anything but the overwhelming urge to “sort it out”. Despite the fact that he hadn’t taken more than a day to himself in three years; despite the fact that he was halfway across the world from his home and the people he loved; despite the fact that it was his ex girlfriend who asked for help; despite, despite, despite, that he had woken up this morning with a man who looked like a god and smelt like cool forests and laughed like he was born with an instrument in his throat, wrapped around him. They were all arms and legs and skin. So much glorious, glowing skin. Brown, golden, freckled, smooth, soft, calloused.

And still all Jason Grace could think was, “I need to help her.”

“Percy,” He whispered, “Angel.” How could he disturb such a creature of peace. It seemed almost immoral.

Long black lashes blinked and fluttered, before blurry green eyes trailed the room lazily landing on him. “Well, if it isn’t a good morning indeed.” His gaze travelled the length of their bodies, drinking in the entanglement of their limbs. That voice was made from rolling hills and crunching gravel.

He couldn’t help the smile that fell to his lips as he watched his friend stare at their bodies. “Pretty isn’t it?”

“Ethereal.”

“I have to get up.”

The pout that greeted him almost crumpled his willpower. “Do you have to?” Green eyes were wide. They looked like emeralds under a microscope. Detailed in their pleading. “I can actually stay in bed today. We can have breakfast together, right here.” A brown hand patted the sheets, right near his own fingers. He felt the heat of their skin but nothing touched him.

“I have to help Zoe.” He wanted to snuggle under the duvet and bury his face in the crook of Percy’s neck. “She needs me.”

“What if I need you?” There was no judgement on that beautiful face, just curiosity and mild concern.

“Do you?” He breathed. His lungs were folding in on themselves.

There were several beats of quiet, filled only by their gentle breathing, and the thundering of his heart.

“No.”

Jason cracked in half. He became the canyon in the desert. He became the earthquake in the house. He became the bridge with no rope. He snapped a million times.

“Oh.” The answer was small, and broken.

“I will love you though.”

The world exploded. Jason saw stars become blackholes. Jason became a new universe entirely.

They looked at each other and suddenly he saw the thousands of lives they had lived. He saw the thousand more they would still live. Most especially he saw the one they were living right then, and it was the most beautiful of all.

“Shall we order breakfast?” It was the only thing he could choke out. He would send Reyna’s number to Zoe. They could sort it out. He was here. He wanted to sort himself out.

The beam that graced his friend’s face was worth every screaming thought in his mind that riddled him with guilt.

They both got up to freshen up before diving back into bed, shoulders brushing as they scrolled through their phones and let the sound of a peaceful morning wash over them.

He had thought it would be at least a little weird to be sleeping next to a man he only knew for a year but it felt like some part of him had been comfortable with Percy since the day they were born. Everything was easy: from the way they sat, fitting besides each other, gravitating towards each other; to the things they talked about; every silent question had an answer, every story had shared feelings. Jason knew he wouldn’t fall in love; he would stroll towards it, confident, assured, and excited for the moments to come. He would not look back, not even once.

Breakfast came in a flurry of silver trays and mouth watering smells. They pounced on it as soon as the door shut. Croissants, and pastries, and fruit, and yoghurts. It was a feast that could carry them through the next week. He should have known Percy would order the entire menu.

“Strawberry my good sir?” A brown hand waved near his face, offering him the bright red fruit.

Jason opened his mouth, closing his teeth around the berry which burst with sweetness in his mouth. He couldn’t stop the hum of appreciation that vibrated his throat. The sparkle in those green eyes made him wonder if he should keep making those sounds.

“Are you back at the labs today?” He asked around a croissant, distracting his unsavoury thoughts.

“For a little, and then i have an onsite meeting with the coastal guards and lighthouse keepers.”

“Oh are they a big part of your job?”

He hummed “They know the area and the patterns of the sea better than anyone.”

There was a light in his eyes that made Jason wonder if he ever looked as full of joy when he was talking about his own work. His friend pulled him out of his thoughts with another fruit offering, mango this time.

“I don’t want to talk about work,” He frowned contemplatively. It was rather unfair that even with a crease between his brow, and his mouth quirked Percy still seemed to look like a model, or a god, or something from a Studio Ghibli piece. “Tell me your happiest memory from the last year.”

He leaned back against the headboard, closing his eyes as he lost himself to the time reel of the year. It felt both a thousand lifetimes ago and one second from now. “I can’t choose just one.” His eyes are glittering with life past. He refuses to let memories fall down his cheeks.

“Choose three, choose five, tell me everything if you want.” Percy’s voice was a rope over the mountain. He was reaching for it even as he fell.

“The dinner we shared at the university.” He starts. One hand caught the rope.

“The day we met huh?”

“The morning Zoe pitched up at my house and made me late for work.” The ground was so close, and he was still falling.

Percy laughed at the implications hidden in his answer.

“When we danced at the club, I’ve never felt so alive in my life.”

He heard the soft intake from his friend, surprise and… something else coating their thoughts.

The rope was strong under his fingers and he was pulling himself up with ease. When he opened his eyes again, it was to find green ones staring directly at him.

“Do you ever wonder what could have happened if time had slowed down even a fraction of a second the night we met?” The question had sat on his tongue like salt, cutting his tastebuds.

“I’d drive myself insane thinking about all the ways we could have been.” Percy said lowly “I prefer,” He swallowed thickly. Jason wanted to trace the bob of that throat with his tongue. “I prefer to think about all we can do now, now that we can.”

“I think I’ll die if you break my heart.” The fear crystallized him like sugar in a cooling pan. It was the one bridge he still wavered on.

The black-haired man took his hand, fingers cold and warm, and gentle. With a softness that bowed his fear Percy placed Jason’s hand on his chest. His heart was steady, thumping under his palm. He felt the assurance of comfort against his skin. He felt at ease.

“This will belong to you one day,” His friend said quietly, “And when it does it will be fully and completely and without restraint.”

He couldn’t say anything, he couldn’t even breathe. All he could do was feel that constant beating heart, and the warmth of a chest, and the glimmer of emerald eyes, and the first blooms of a new beginning.

“I cannot break your heart Jason Grace,” Percy brushed a thumb across his cheek, “Because I will be breaking mine, and my days of self-destruction are long behind me.”

He melted into being and couldn’t help the sigh of happiness that escaped him. If he did nothing else in life, at least he had had this. These quiet minutes that enveloped every fear in a rose scented bag and let the wind take it away. Far, far away.

“Okay.” He finally rasped. His voice was lost to the sea.

Soon after that Percy had to go to work which left him to laze around in their room and snack on the breakfast feast and doze in the warmth of the sun. He didn’t even bother to put on his robe, preferring to feel the rays against his skin, save for the rectangle of boxers he slept in. 

Some part of him wanted to get out and do something but it was quickly squished down by every other part of him that just couldn't do it any longer. Couldn't keep him moving and functioning and thinking.

He summoned up the last bit of energy he could muster and called his lawyer.

“Jason, babe.” Her strong, husky voice ran clear through his speaker, “What can i do for you?”

“Hello Arellano,” He couldn’t help but smile at the familiarity of her. So straight to the point, no nonsense, full of energy. “It’s not actually me that needs your help it’s Zoe.”

“Heavens Grace,” He heard the sigh building in her voice. “I mean I loved her as much as the next and I was sorry to hear you guys had broken up but seriously man how are you helping an ex… again?”

He winced, flashbacks of Luke calling on him again and again even after they had parted screaming through his mind. “I’m not technically helping, I’m just sort of recruiting you to help?”

“What sort of trouble is she in?”

“Her father is forcing her to marry an absolute scumbag of a man.” He scrubbed a hand down his face, “You remember the potential business investor, Octavian?”

“Oh gods,” Reyna groaned, and he couldn't help but share in her sentiment. 

“Yea.” He pulled a face. “Is there anyway you can get her out of this mess and help her with protective immunity or whatever?”

“I’m gonna have to pull some strings and get digging into some seriously shady shit but I think I can.” He heard the grimace in her voice but there was not a trace of reluctance or potential regret. 

“You are incredible!” His sigh of relief was audible enough for the birds outside to imitate it. “I’ll send you her number, and just bill everything to me.”

“You sure?”

“It’s the only way I can help so I will.”

“Then let me get to it.” And then she was gone, already starting the next project.

It’s no wonder they were friends. A bunch of workaholics.

His final call was to Thalia, in which they had a fun little chat that ended with confirmation that Bianca Di Angelo would be paying both Octavian, and Zoe’s father a visit that may or may not result in sudden disappearances and two new people cropping up in another country.

After the morning of maneuvering he couldn't even bear to move from his bed. So he didn't. He wondered if this was what a cat felt like, and then decided it wasn’t possible simply because even cats did more than he had done.

By the time Percy got home, he had showered and was already mostly asleep. Moonlight bathed their bed, the curtains rustled softly, he smelt the sea. The bed dipped just as he drifted off to sleep. 

He didn’t hear the whispered, “Goodnight, my love.” that caught in the blossoms by their nightstands. He didn’t feel the gentle brush of fingers against his cheek. All he felt was peace. His dreams were sweet that night.

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

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[morrisredemptionarc]

the marriage candidates as la croix flavors

thank u to @doctordumptruck for this idea, even though la croix is not my choice of sparkling water brand so I don't know what some of these flavors even really taste like! :') so it's less la croix flavors and more what flavors they remind me of lmao

All marriage candidates are under the cut!

Bachelors

Alex - Coffea Exotica

This is definitely not a flavor for everyone, and sometimes it feels like this coffee + cola mix of flavors is trying to figure itself out

But if you give it a chance, you can see that the two flavors actually work together in an unexpected way

Have I actually tried the Coffea Exotica flavor? No. But I have had the Coca Cola + Coffee drinks and I'm a fan of the caramel one specifically

Similarly to the fact that I've only ever gone after Alex when I'm not basing my farmer off of myself. You have to find out what mixture of coffee + cola is best for you to really enjoy it

Elliott - Pomme Bayá

Elliott reminds me of fall, and so does this mixture of flavors, but that's probably because his birthday is in fall

Apple and cranberry together is such a good mixture, very classic for staying inside and relaxing, which is the vibes that Elliott gives off

Is this one that many people will rank as their favorite? Not really. In fact, I never even really see this flavor at the store often

Personally not really one I would actively get, but I will not complain if it's in front of me lmao

Harvey - Tangerine

An absolute classic

It's gonna give you up, never gonna let you down

Never gonna run around and desert you

People tend to overlook it because "the other flavors are so much better!!!" and "there are already so many citrus flavors"

Well listen here, I think tangerine is better than orange

It's a reliable flavor, a good one to return to when you just want something that you know won't hurt you

Sam - Piña Fraise

I asked one of my friends for help, and he said Sam would be a White Claw instead of a la croix

I agree but if Sam had to be a la croix flavor, he'd be Piña Fraise

Reminds me of summer, and his beach scene with his brother is one of my favorites

A sweet boy, just like this watermelon and strawberry mixture

Not really the go-to for many people, but it's always a fun treat when you finally do go for it

Sebastian - Berry

Honestly he's a hard one to figure out, both in general and just trying to choose a la croix flavor for him

The title of "Berry" is very vague, and you'll either grow to love it or try to find something else that suits your taste better

Personally, I love my berry boy even though I still can't completely figure him out and I marry him half of the time

I am, however, indifferent to berry la croix lmao

Shane - Pamplemousse

You either love it or hate it, but you can't deny the fact that it's a popular flavor

Somewhat of an acquired taste? The more you try it, the more you get used to it

People tend to have strong reactions either way. Lots of people who will defend pamplemousse to the ends of the earth, and also lots of people who will actively show that they hate pamplemousse

Bachelorettes

Abigail - Kiwi Sandía

The sweet smell of the kiwi watermelon la croix is one I find to be strong, but the flavor of the drink itself isn't as strong (what did I expect, it's la croix)

I feel that's the same with Abigail. When I first got the game, I was unsure on if I'd like her or not, but she slowly started charming me

Also not la croix flavor related, but i do love kiwi watermelon together, and they remind me of being younger because those are two fruits my parents buy that were usually present for convenient snacking lmao

Emily - Apricot

Am I making Emily apricot because of her quest where she requests a farm fresh apricot? Possibly

However, I do also think that apricots do fit Emily

Ngl I have never had the apricot flavored la croix, but I do like apricots

I am also biased because I remember my family having apricot and plum trees in our backyard that we didn't know the old owners had. One year, we picked the fruits and I got to use them for pie

I think Emily would enjoy that, so this is her flavor

Haley - Passionfruit

Like the apricot la croix, I actually can't tell you what the passionfruit la croix tastes like, but I do love passionfruit in general lmao

Tropical, sweet, and sour? That's our girl right here

I find passionfruit when used as a flavoring to be one that typically hits strong at first, but eventually mellows out

The flavor definitely grows on you, but I am once again talking about actual passionfruit and not the la croix flavor

Leah - Limoncello

I know that Leah's all about health and nature and stuff, but she's also a big fan of like wine and cheese, so I felt like limoncello is perfect for her

Limoncello is a great change from the typical lemon flavor. Still has that citrusy flavor, but with a bit of sweetness to balance it out a bit

Now, I don't think Leah would actually drink this flavor of la croix, but it do think she likes actual limoncello

Also, this flavor was so hard to come by when it first hit the stores, which is accurate to Leah because I always have a hard time finding her when I actually wanna see her

Maru - Múre Pepino

Blackberry and cucumber together are such fresh flavors, an absolute treat together

Yet not a flavor I see people talk about often????

The cucumber is so unexpected since I don't think any other la croix flavors have cucumber, but it works so well

Please, appreciate blackberry cucumber more

This one is so good PLEASE

Penny - Key Lime

I LOVE key lime

A citrus flavor, so it is more of a classic, reliable flavor

But I find that the key lime just has something in it that makes it distinct from regular lime

Do I know exactly what it is? No. Am I going to keep returning to key lime? Absolutely

My love for Penny is the same as my love for key lime sparkling water

I cannot explain to you why I think it's good, but it does make me feel happy so I'm keeping it

[emdythewriter]

a new light | chapter fourteen (Elriel)

Elain woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee and what could only be homemade waffles. Stretching herself out she threw herself out of bed and headed for the kitchen. The kitchen she now officially owned with Azriel.

After they had unpacked some last night once their friends and her sisters had left Az had gone down to turn in the papers he had previously signed. Technically he was supposed to sign them this morning but he hadn’t wanted to wait so he went down to their landlord after they moved all of Elain’s stuff into his place.

Heading down the hallway that leads to their now shared bedroom Elain finds Az holding a bowl of batter that he’s pouring into the griddle. Smiling at her boyfriend she leans against the wall, arms folded and relaxed. It’s hard to believe that just within a week their lives have taken a complete turn for the better.

There was a time when Elain believed she would never get to feel this happiness with her best friend let alone anyone else. Yet here she stands watching Azriel as he makes them breakfast and there’s no doubt in her mind that he’s as much hers as she is his.

“You just want to stare at me all morning?” Azriel askss, smirking at her as he closes the waffle maker and let’s it cook. “I mean I don’t blame I’m a very attractive view.”

“And a very cocky one as well it seems,” Elain responds with a smile that Az returns. Pushing off the wall she makes her way around the counter and to his side where he tucks her in under his arm.

“How was your first night in our apartment?” Azriel asks as he plays with a strand of her messy hair.

“Very restful,” Elain responds, her fingers trailing the band of his grey sweatpants.

“I see you’ve also found my side of the closet,” Az says as he tugs on the shirt Elain had pulled on in the middle of the night when she got up to use the bathroom. It’s one of her favorites he notices as well. Most of his closet is made up of dark and plain t-shirts but this is one of the few graphic shirts he owns. It’s also the one Elain had talked him into buying when they went to a music festival last summer with a few friends.

“Well it is our closet,” Elain smirks, looking up at him with her innocent little face.

“So does that mean I can wear your dresses?” Azriel asks, teasing her. Elain laughs, still smiling up at him. The look fills him with warmth and happiness, something he hasn’t felt since before his mom passed.

“If you really want to,” Elain says just before the timer dings. She moves to the other side of the island as Az takes the waffle out and sets it on a plate. He pushes the plate in front of her along with the syrup, a fork, and a glass of fruit punch because it’s the only type of juice she will drink.

With a smile Elain starts cutting up her waffle as Azriel pours more batter to make his own. Once it’s done he sits next to his girlfriend and they enjoy a peaceful breakfast together. Elain cleans up breakfast once the waffles are consumed and Az goes to get dressed.

They’re planning on having dinner with some friends tonight but until then they have the day to themselves. Azriel pulls up the website for the local drive-in theater to see what they might be showing this afternoon.

Turns out today is a flashback theater today where there’s a showing of Gone with the Wind, which Elain hates. Then there’s The Wizard of Oz which is a favorite of his, and lastly Dirty Dancing.

“Feel like going to the drive-in theater for a showing of The Wizard of Oz?” Azriel asks, taking a seat on a barstool and watching his girlfriend in the kitchen. He can’t get enough of calling her that even if it’s only in his head.

“That sounds like fun,” Elain says as she hangs the towel she used to dry her hands once again. “You grab snacks and drinks while I go get dressed.”

“Deal,” Azriel says. With a bright smile on her face Elain runs off into their bedroom while Az grabs a couple of bags for snacks and drinks. Starting with the cooler bag he grabs some water and a few of the lemonade flavored sparkling waters that he knows Elain loves. He also adds some fruit from the fridge and an energy drink or two for himself.

Zipping that bag up Azriel heads for the small pantry in the corner of the kitchen. He tends to keep the pantry fairly stocked with a variety of snacks considering how Cassian is always radding his food supply. There’s a few snack sized caramel corn popcorn bags which Az grabs because how could they go to a movie without popcorn.

There’s also sour gummy worms that he adds to the bag. It’s a big bag but Azriel always finds himself craving the candy in the middle of the night. Lastly, he adds a couple big bags of unopened chips from a party he had gone to a couple weeks ago.

“Got everything?” Elain asks, walking out of the bedroom in one of her many sundresses. This one is yellow and white in a plaid pattern, which is her second favorite right after floral. She’s pulling her hair back into a ponytail as she walks back into the kitchen.

“Yeah, ready?” Azriel asks, shouldering both the bags onto his shoulders. Elain smiles with a nod before heading to the small entrance hall where a pair of brown sandals wait for her to slip on her feet. Elain then grabs her purse off the hook Az had installed on the back of the front door.

Opening the door they head out and down to the parking garage where they decide to take Azriel’s truck, having more room for them to lay out the blankets and pillows they had grabbed from Elain’s car beforehand.

It’s quiet for a bit as Azriel drives. The theater is on the outskirts of the city in the more rural area of Velaris. It’s a place he knows Elain is very familiar with as she gets antsy when she’s in the city too long.

“So I’ve been thinking,” Elain says, breaking the silence. Az turns down the music he had put on so he can hear her better. “Since I know longer have to pay full rent and with the bonus I’m expecting soon it might be time to start my business.”

“Really?” Az asked, a little surprised. Elain had been saying that she wanted to wait another year before looking into renting out a space in downtown Velaris for her floral arrangements shop. “You don’t want to wait any longer?”

“Some events have taken place recently in my life that are causing me to rethink things,” Elain says, smiling over at him. He knows she’s talking about their recent relationship status. “I don’t want to wait any longer and I plan on starting small.”

“What do you mean?” Azriel asked. He’s smiling, feeling the joy and happiness along with her at finally being able to kickstart her dream.

“I’ll start as an assistant with a local floral shop in order to learn everything else I don’t already know,” Elain says. “The owner wants to help me so she’ll help create my website and even let me start independent orders as I learn.”

“That sounds amazing,” Azriel says, taking the exit ramp that’ll lead to the drive-in theater. “What about after that?”

“Well I’m thinking I’ll do this through the winter and look for my own space to rent and hopefully by spring I’ll be set up in said space and ready for the summer season,” Elain explains.

“Also known as wedding season,” Elain smiles at him, loving that he knows that little tidbit.

“It’ll be the perfect time to start,” she says.

“Well I can’t wait to watch you succeed.” They’re both smiling as Azriel pulls into the drive-in and pays for the movie. Pulling into the lot where the movie is set up he finds a space right in the center of the lot.

Elain sets up the bed of his truck with the pillows and blankets while he unpacks the snacks and drinks. Settling down together Az kisses the top of her head as he tucks her into his side.

The movie starts and Elain’s focus is on the black and white opening scene while Az watches her intently. A part of him still doesn’t believe that she is his and yet here they are finally in each other’s arms. And all he can think is that he can’t wait for more moments like this throughout the rest of his life.

Tag list:

@thephilosophyofblank​ @roseteaofficial​ @sleeping-and-books​ @court-of-fuck-me-daddy​ @azriels-forgotten-shadow​ @tintinnabulary​ @jemma-nessian-and-elriel​ @psmarra @chemicha​ @but-she-was-aelin-galathynius​ @ttakeitbacknoww​ @azrielismycinnamonrollprimary​ @mis-lil-red @poisonous00​ @julesherondalex​ @hail-doodles​ @strangely-constructed-soul​ @rapunzel1523​ @l0sts0uls1128​ @lord-douglas-the-third​ @musicalfae @sezkins79​ @eloeloeheheh​ @caldelray @abimomeopectore​ @tswaney17​ @illyriangarbage​ @loysydark​ @imheretooa​ @illyrianbeauty​ @emmejo26​ @amitynotpity​ @alingelina​ @hav-illi-ard @amylindle @ellenoftroy​ @hizqueen4life​ @rheapendragon

(Let me know if you want to be tagged!)​

[vore-scientist]

Cookie Jar (M/f platonic safe/soft sfw vore)

A Tale of the Mystic Woods

Sophia see’s an opportunity to prank her half-giant wizard, by getting him to eat her. Also some Gardening! (sadly no actual cookies or jars feature in this story)

Princess Sophia and Yonah the Wizard are my OCs, they are both adults, and part of my Mystic Woods series. I commissioned art for this chapter! So that’s in there too!

Warnings: While this story is all about safe, soft, willing, silliness there are uhhhh some really strange references/discussion about fa.tal. None occurs. King Ben just is a bit... creepy and uncaring. 

----

“So, what’s the plan for today?”

The Princess Sophia asked as she and her half-giant wizard ate breakfast. Toast with a citrus marmalade and eggs scrambled with spinach, onions, and mushrooms. They always had eggs. Yonah was a really amazing cook, and eggs were his favorite food. Well. Second favorite food. Sophia had to admit, the wizard made the best eggs she’d ever had, and she grew up with royal cooks! Yonah took one more giant mouthful of his own portion of eggs, and a drink of water flavored with a few slices of magic melon, before answering. 

“Not much,” he took another bite. Clearly not in a hurry. “Was thinking we could garden this morning, then I’ve got some translations to complete. Maybe there will be time for a dusk patrol.”

No way. 

Sophia’s forkful of egg was frozen halfway to her mouth. 

There was no way he had forgotten. Right? Someone so smart organized and all. It wasn’t possible Not in her wildest dreams. 

“That’s it? Nothing else?” she risked jogging his memory just to be sure.

Yonah was looking at her funny, so she finished her bite of food to keep a straight face. 

“Nope. That’s it. Unless… Is there something you wanted to do?” He asked. 

She took such a big drink of water she nearly choked. 

“Ah- um.” 

“I could try to put together a lesson, but I didn't plan on one today. Im still waiting on a few potion ingredients, which should be here soon.” 

“The plan sounds good!” She said, her voice squeaking a bit. 

He’d definitely forgotten. And if Sophia was a good friend she would have told him. Thankfully Sophia wasn’t a good friend. She was a great friend. His Best Friend. And as the best friend to an evil giant wizard she got an evil idea. All she had to do was not raise suspicion. 

“Ok…” Yonah didn’t sound convinced. “Would you like me to clear your dishes?”

Sophia nodded and placed them delicately unto his palm, but finishing her water first. Then she zipped off, climbing down the ladder attached to the table, sprinting to the staircase, and leaping down the stairs to the bedroom. By the time Yonah caught up to her she was in her gardening outfit. Waiting for him, on top of his dresser, upon which was her magic wardrobe. 

“What’s the rush princess?” Yonah said with a smile as he took his time changing into a sturdy button up and overalls that matched Sophia’s. “I don’t have any plants that will get up and walk away if we don’t water them.”

He adjusted the shoulder straps on his overalls and held out a hand to Sophia. She scampered across his arm and dropped into his front pocket. 

“Ok then,” he said, smiling as he got out his sandals, gloves, and straw-wizard’s hat. 

“I’m just excited to garden!” Sophia said. 

“Glad to hear it,” he gently pat the pocket over his midsection to jostle the princess, and then with a finger ruffled her hair. Or tried, since it was in it’s pretty-permanently tight braid. He did nearly knock off her tiara but she held it in place. Then she held onto the lip of the pocket as Yonah went up the stairs, and she bounced happily. 

She had to hold on tighter when he leapt from the tower window. That was never not exhilarating  and so frightening she screeched like a banshee as, with an earth-shaking THUD, Yonah landed in the garden. 

“Out you come from there!” Yonah said cheerfully as he plucked Sophia out of the pocket and set her on the edge of a flower bed. 

Then from a side pocket he took out a pouch of power that he dipped a finger into. He dabbed a bit of the powder and recited a spell in giant. With a puff of grey smoke Yonah now stood 7.5ft. About a third his original height. 

There was a lot to do as it turned out. A lot of beds had weeds! Those damn seeds must just manifest out of thin air. The pair spent an entire hour weeding the flower beds. A few weeds happened to be spell ingredients, which Sophia Then wondered why they were considered weeds. 

Regardless she attacked them with extreme ferociousness, getting right to their roots. Which was good because the roots of this particular weed were what they wanted. They were placed in a bag to be dried out over a magical smoke that night. 

They didn’t take a break. Not really. When moving onto the Apple trees and other fruits the pair took random small breaks to sample the ripening bounty, but worked steadily to trim branches and check for sickness and fungus. 

Some fungus was of course wanted! Yonah had recently planted a patch of moaning bamboo that was bred to be vulnerable to infection by void fungus; used to make magical ink to enchant scrolls and book pages. It was a slow growing bamboo but it was finally large enough that if infected would produce a decent amount of magic ink, enough to make the investment in the bamboo worth the money. 

Sophia took a tuning fork and tapped the green-yellow rods. No void fungus to be found. But cuttings of the bamboo were taken. When the current batch caught the bug they would have healthy ones to replace them. Void Fungus was not kind to it’s hosts. Thankfully it wasn’t harmful to animals or people. 

She started to worry that, after all this work, Yonah would insist they have lunch, and she would have to tell him. 

And then she nearly ruined it by cheering when he suggested he get a little translating done before lunch. He was just feeling very motivated for some reason. She didn’t mind waiting a little to eat right?

“Don’t mind at all! In fact, you wanna eat me?” she couldn’t risk waiting any longer or it would be too late. She tried not to look at the clock. 

It wasn’t really a silence, since Yonah continued to gather supplies around the room, until he stopped listening to himself and processed Sophia’s words. Then he stood up, holding a bunch of scrolls, looking at her as if he may have imagined her talking at all.  

“You haven’t had lunch yet, so you must be hungry,” she added. /don’t push it too much he’ll get suspicious!/ “and watching you translate is boring.”

But then she heard his stomach growl and his cheeks grew red. “I- yeah!” he came over to the desk. His face was still a bit flushed but he was smiling as he leaned over, arms folded and he put his head eye level with Sophia. “A pre-lunch snack is exactly what I need!” 

He reached out a hand to poke her, which tickled. “And I couldn’t refuse my favorite snack.”

Without hesitation Sophia got out her vial of glass paste and applied a small dab to her forehead and recited the words. Yonah closed his eyes as there was an explosion of sparkling purple dust. He felt the heavy glass form of the princess sit on his arm. He stood back up, taking the princess with him, keeping her at his face. He opened his mouth in a wide smile that revealed large white fangs glittering with drool and anticipation. She took hold of his bottom teeth, hoisting herself inside. It was a tight fit, which always made her wonder how he managed to eat people larger than herself. And she was petit. 

Air wooshed by her as he took a deep breath and tipped his head back so that she slid to his throat. With perfect timing he swallowed. Once. Twice. Three times. 

The princess’s feet passed over his lips, and he kept swallowing. It hurt considerably. Stretching his throat and putting pressure on his windpipe, but it was worth it. With a strong gulp she was down past his airways and he could breathe again. He could already feel her hands in his stomach, soon joined by the rest of her. Filling him up so nicely, he smiled and sighed. 

“Mr HaEsh?”

It was like his blood turned to ice and then instantly into steam; the pressure threatening to make him explode.  

He remembered. 

Dare he open his eyes? He had to. It was too late now. 

Yonah HaEsh looked down at the magic mirror on his desk. But instead of his reflection framed by the fancy gold filigree, the King of the Mystic Woods looked back at him, arms crossed. It was like the entire damn forest was looking at him. And the forest didn’t exactly have feelings like normal people. 

/Had he seen?/

“Ah- Y-Your Majesty-” 

Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything. Because at that moment Sophia started laughing hysterically, with her whole body. Normally that would feel GREAT; now it was distracting at best, visible and audible to her father at worst. Her father who spoke over the stuttering giant. 

[art by @pythonpie​ @art_python on twitter]

“We had a meeting today, or did you forget?” The King’s expression. Well it wasn’t neutral but it wasn’t full of vengeful rage, which it surely would have if he had seen his daughter get swallowed whole. It still wasn’t happy. 

“No-I mean yes- I mean no, Your Majesty.”

“Then where, Mr. HaEsh, is my daughter?” The King’s emerald green eyes pulsed and narrowed, his face hardening like petrified wood. 

Yonah resisted putting a hand to his stomach to try and cover up Sophia’s movement, or get her to stop! Her laughter was penetrating his brain! But that would be too obvious. 

“The princess! She!” Yonah realized he had a bit of drool running down his chin, but he dare not wipe it away. “Is asleep.”

“In the afternoon?” asked The King, raising an eyebrow, “Surely she didn’t forget the meeting?”

Yonah gritted his teeth as Sophia screeched inside him. 

He hissed out “No sire, she did not.”

“Speak up Mr. HaEsh,” the King Ordered. 

“Ah- well, I don’t know, she was very tired after working so hard in the garden I thought she deserved a nap,” and he thought he deserved a freaking medal for coming up with that excuse and saying it as convincingly as possible with a princess thrashing in his belly. 

“I don’t appreciate her sleep schedule being dysregulated this way,” said The King, his voice rising enough to make Yonah’s skin crawl. 

It was so eerie, and so absolutely horrifying to see The King get mad in the mirror, while outside the trees rustled with the rhythm of Ben’s words, his breaths, his huffs, and his grunts. Yonah swore the vines around his tower were constricting, causing the stone to crack a bit. Could Ben collapse the tower just like that?

“I didn’t mean-” but once again The King spoke. 

“And,” the king pointed at him. Though it wasn’t exactly precise through the mirror it was clearly at his stoamch very full of struggling human, “Who was that you were eating?”

“Sire?” Yonah didn’t think he could really hide it. 

“Don’t play dumb with me, wizard,” The King spat, “When the mirrors resolved I saw feet disappearing down your massive throat. And they’re still alive by the look of-”

“A thief!” Yonah said a bit too quickly, “It was, is, a thief!”

Now he felt comfortable enough to rub at his stomach, “Tasty too, your majesty,” he smiled a big embarrassed grin, “In the excitement of the chase I forgot it was nearly time for our call.”

The King didn’t look convinced and Yonah felt his heart sink. 

“A thief? In the middle of the day?”

“Yes Sire! That happens, not common but not-” was he gesticulating too much? Was he gesticulating to little? Should he just stop using his hands?

“And that doesn’t sound like screaming, it sounds more like laughter.”

/Oh GODS he could hear it!/ Yonah’s heart lifted but only so it could start racing 

“Nope! Not laughter” Yonah poked his middle and Sophia obliged by screaming a little less happily, “It’s terror! Because I ate them! And I am very scary. Just like you hired me to be!”

“Very well, I suppose you should go wake Sophia,” The King examined his fingernails. Thanks to the mirror enhancing the King’s size, Yonah could see they were painted with black runes. What for? Yonah couldn’t think about that right now. 

“And the thief?”

The king looked up, “Oh right, the thief.” the king eye’d Yonah’s middle like one would a disappointing servant  “Are they not dead yet?” Sophia had stopped laughing so hard, guess Ben couldn’t hear it now. 

“N-No sire,” Yonah poked his middle again and was relieved when Sophia moved sharply and screamed at like she really was in danger. 

“Not in the mood for a free meal today?” Ben asked, completely serious. “Less money out of my pocket. It costs a lot to... feed you.” There was a weird tick in Ben’s right cheek. Like he had been about to mention the fact that Yonah gives adventurers gold when he lets them live, which was most of the time, and that money was technically King Ben’s, even if most of it was deducted from Yonah’s salary. 

“Not with you watching, my liege,” Yonah said, trying to sound like he cared as little for the thieves’ lives as Ben did. 

“It’s not as if I can see whatever horrorshow is going on in there,” he said. 

With Sophia being the one in there, that was the last thing Yonah wanted to think about.  

“Fine, spit them out.” 

Gods those gem-like eyes were so bright yet so hollow. Yonah wouldn’t be surprised if Ben COULD see though mere barriers like flesh, but also was thankful he couldn’t.

Yonah bowed, unable to enjoy Sophia being squished inside him.

“Where are you going?” Ben said as Yonah turned to the stairwell. 

“To- spit out the thief and wake-”

“You cannot do that here? I’ve seen it before”

He had. Once. When interrogating a prisoner of war, Ben supervised Yonah swallowing, threatening, and spitting up fairy. That had been a feat. Fairies were larger than humans. Even thinking about it briefly made his throat sore. 

Yonah’s face turned so red it was like a tomato. If he spat Sophia out that would be it. In the moment he could not fathom what Ben might do to him if Sophia slid out of his mouth. Could he somehow cast a disguise spell on her? No Ben would see the cast. 

Thankfully Ben heaved a huge sigh, “I don’t see why you’re so self-conscious, go ahead.” He waved him off and Yonah disappeared down the trap door. 

---

PERFECT TIMING! 

Sophia couldn’t see what had gone on outside, but as Yonah stiffened, everything around her going tense, the pulse around her accelerating and his quavering voice say “Your majesty,” she knew she had done it. 

While she had wanted to try and hear what her father was saying she could not help but burst into laughter as soon as she imagined the look on Yonah’s face. Probably guilty, smiling, bewilderment. Oh she wished she could see! But if she could have done that, this would be a very different prank. 

It wasn’t hard to guess her father’s words based on Yonah’s responses. 

Deciding to help her poor giant she switched from laughter to just yelling when Yonah poked at her and insisted the sound coming from his middle was terror. That should be pretty convincing, though it was hard to sound scared when riding the high of such a brilliant prank. 

Eventually she calmed down to hear her father. She loved her dad. She really did. But 30 years ruling two kingdoms; 30 years being joined magically to The Mystic Woods, a mind as far from human as one could get, he tended to be a bit heartless. Ben’s body, mind, and spirit were part of a vast ecosystem that had things living and dying in it every day. So why would random adventurers dying, even eaten by one of his employees, be of much concern to him? 

Still, she felt proud of Yonah for managing to get away to “wake her up” and “spit out the thief”. She did not resist when Yonah threw up into his bathroom sink. 

“That was ! A dirty trick!” 

He coughed out a bit more fluid and did not bother to aim away from Sophia. He didn’t speak again until he regained his breath. By then Sophia had washed and dried off, and returned to flesh of her own accord. She sat on the towel and looked at him with big innocent brown eyes. 

Ok not innocent, but definitely not guilty or regretful. He reached out to grab her but she grabbed him back, wrapping her arms around his fingers. He wriggled his fingers and she laughed, not at him, but with him. He did pull her to the edge of the counter and kissed her side. She tried to get away from his scratchy facial hair but failed. 

“How long were you planning that?” he asked, his chin in her lab. 

“Since this morning,” she said, shoving him away.  

He obliged but left one arm on the counter for her to climb across to his shoulder. She lay into his hair. The dark curls so fluffy and soft. 

“Couldn’t believe my luck. Something like our monthly meetings slipping through that big wizard brain of yours!” She scratched his head, making one side of his hair stick up funny. Then she sat down and he put on his hat. 

“Let’s not keep my father-” she paused. 

“The King-” Yonah smiled. 

She laughed “Let’s not keep him waiting.”

Ben had not moved a muscle as far as Yonah could tell, when he sat at his desk and tried to smile without conveying that he had in fact, not eaten a thief, but the king’s daughter. Sophia scrawled down from his shoulder and leapt onto the desk. 

“Hi dad!” she said. 

“Hello Sophia”

And no, it wasn’t really comforting to see kind emotions in the face of The Mystical Majesty, if anything it made him more eerie. He was capable of human feelings, or at least he remembered what they were enough to mimic them. 

It never really bothered Yonah before but. He barely noticed. Oh sure Ben unnerved him greatly. Yet he hadn’t registered just how detached The King was. 

Not until he had figured out that Sophia was already chosen as the next Mystic King. Would she slowly turn into an unfeeling vessel for the forest? Would he lose her? He was to train her, prepare her to be King. Maybe that meant she could avoid this fate. 

Shit Ben was asking him a question! 

Shit Sophia was answering for him!

“-unconscious when they came out. We put washed them off and put them in a box.”

Ben was back to his normal, detached irritation. But there was a flicker of amusement. Still not comforting. 

“You woke her before spitting the thief up?”

He had to nod; Sophia was in charge of the narrative now. 

“Cutting it a bit close weren’t we?”

/why did he care? Ben was just fine with letting this hypothetical thief die while they had a not-so-pleasant chat/

“No sir, fainted from fright. Happens all the time. They were kicking and screaming until-”

“I don’t actually want the details Mr HaEsh.” 

Yonah wasn’t so sure about that. King Ben seemed to have some morbid fascinations. Maybe when one’s mind is so expanded you need some really extreme diversions to peak your interest. 

With so much time wasted the talk was very brief. Ben was actually legitimately pleased with Sophia’s progress. In the last month she’d met with several insular communities in the woods. One in particular was hardly more than a rumor. The fact that she’d made contact was a significant achievement. Not that she knew why, but she was glad to go on about the new spell she’d learned, none the wiser about her growing connection to The Woods. 

Still, Yonah didn’t breathe easy until Ben’s face faded from the mirror. 

Sophia sighed and turned to look up at him. 

“Im going to get you back for this,” he said, “especially since you were this close” he held his thumb and pointer finger about an inch apart, “To Ben seeing you eaten. He saw you feet.”

“Ah!” She finally looked guilty, “Well- I couldn’t resist”

No. She wouldn’t be Sophia if she’d done anything else. He even suspected that his mirror had delayed establishing the link and made a mental note to be kinder to it. 

“-if you want to eat me again.”

Yonah scooped her up, cradling her in his arms. “You’ve certainly earned the honor of being my dessert tonight,” he cooed. “And I’d better get some belly rubs. But that doesn’t count as payback.”

“You’re going to eat me now too?”

He chuckled and shook his head, “No. We should have actual lunch; like we normally do after talking with your father-”

“The King!” she declared, standing up unsteady and pulling herself onto his shoulder. 

He laughed so hard she almost fell back into his arms.  

And they went downstairs. 

[FIN] if you liked PLEASE REBLOG!

REBLOGS HELP SPREAD MY WORK! I also love knowing that people read my stories! My askbox and DMs are OPEN!!! let me know!!! 

[Thanks for reading! please reblog! Or message me telling me what you think! I crave feedback! For more mystic woods go to vore-scientist.tumblr.com/tagged/mystic+woods+story or search ‘mystic woods story’

[craby-bouquet]

잠자리 - 2.2 : Roscid

I’m half living my life between reality and fantasy at all times.— Lady Gaga

~ Part 2 ~

Kwon Soonyoung x Female reader

Fantasy!AU, Romantic Comedy, Royal!AU

4k words

Masterlist | Seventeen masterlist  |  잠자리 masterlist

1.1 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.1

Before you were even standing, Soonyoung offered you his hand. He was, of course, already standing. He never even fell on the ground to begin with, just landed on his feet.

"You're fast." You noticed.

He shrugged "I've done it before." 

You took his hand and let him pull you up with ease. You looked around, you seemed to be in a garden. Huge hedges surrounded you, filled with fruits and flowers you'd never seen before. Right before you, towering over the hedge, was a huge, beautiful, fairytale castle. There were plants, with beautiful flowers, growing up the walls and it all in all just looked magical. 

Soonyoung saw you stare at it with your mouth open, and chuckled "Wonderful, isn't it?"

"Master Soonyoung," this was the first time the guy with bat wings spoke, his voice was the absolute opposite of what you had expected, "his highness king Oberon, asked me to bring her luggage up to her room as soon as we arrived."

Soonyoung smiled at him "Go."

The man bowed at him, then he bowed to you before hurrying off.

You frowned at his figure running off.

"We have a little more time to let you take everything in at your own pace. I'm sure Oberon expects us soon, but I take it you'll need some time."

"I can't believe how beautiful this all is." You responded breathlessly,  "I'd love to explore everything with you some time, but I think it's time I meet my father."

Soonyoung grinned, and nodded "Alright. Let's go then."

The part of the huge garden you walked through was magnificent, there were so many plants you had never seen before, so many colors you wouldn't usually see. A purple tree, with bright blue fruits and tiny white flowers. Flowers and mushrooms that seemed big enough to sit on. And the castle in the background just completed it all. You almost couldn't believe this was real.

On the steps leading up to the castle doors were multiple guards, they didn't even turn their heads at either of you, just kept looking forward. They reminded you of the videos you saw from the guards in London, those that dont show any form of emotion whatsoever. They were dressed differently though, exactly the kind of outfits you'd expect from a fairytale kingdom.

The two guards at the top pushed open the big doors so the two of you could walk through the, on the of het side stood a young looking man. He had curly red hair, and a mischievous looking face with freckles. 

He smiled brightly at you before bowing deeply "My princess, it is an honour to meet you."

You weren't sure how to react to that, the bowing and formality kind of overwhelmed you "...Thanks."

The red headed guy turned his smiling face to Soonyoung "Soonyoung, it's great to see you again."

Soonyoung smiled back "Sure is, Puck. Last time I was here you were away for business I believe."

The guy, apparently called Puck, laughed loudly "When they told me you were coming, I had to flee away, as you might understand."

"Very understandable." Soonyoung forced a straight face, before bursting into laughter himself.

The guy named Puck turned back to you, his expression turned serious "My princess, we are delighted to finally meet you. You are quite the secret, and no one should know you even exist. So obviously the whole castle knows of your arrival today." He winked, "I am Robin Goodfellow, head butler, and basically right hand of Oberon. You may call me Puck." He bowed deeply once more.

You bowed your head in return.

"Oberon is so excited to meet you. He's been ordering us around, to make everything perfect, all day. He's waiting for you, my princess, so if you're ready…"

You nodded "I am." At least, you thought you were. You were never going to be 100% ready, so you just decided to go for it.

Puck nodded, and gestured you to walk after him as he walked through the long hall. As you got closer to the door at the end of the hall, something suddenly flew past your head, making your hair wave in the wind. The only thing you could see were trails of sparkles, filling the air. 

They stopped flying near Puck's ear, and you could clearly see tiny females. They weren't bigger than your hand, had beautiful wings which were fluttering in a way so they would float in the air, and they seemed to say something to Puck.

"Right," Puck answered them, "I was aware of that yes. Just make sure she doesn't get closer. Oberon's orders, are Oberon's orders and we wouldn't want to ignore those, would we?"

"Of course not Robin Goodfellow!" You heard a tiny, high pitched voice yell, "But her majesty is quite scary."

Puck nodded, a shiver going down his back "I know. But we must listen to the king." 

The little fairies nodded, and briefly turned to you before hurrying away.

Puck smiled at you, and bowed "My apologies, highness, fairies can be… tiresome."

You smiled, not knowing how to respond.

As you arrived to the big doors at the end of the hall, Puck clapped his hands twice, and the doors opened. You wanted to walk after him, into the big room leading to Oberon, but Soonyoung grabbed your arm and shook his head, to tell you not to walk in, before you could.

“Your highness,” you heard Puck say loudly, “after years upon years of waiting, I finally present to you,” 

Soonyoung let go of your arm, and started walking inside of the room, you followed him. 

“Your, lovely, daughter.”

The room you walked into seemed like a big garden on the inside of a room, there were different kinds of plants everywhere, beautifully kept up by the gardeners that were walking around even now. The throne itself was made out of the roots of a big tree that made up the ceiling of the room. 

On top of the throne sat a man, he stood up as soon as you walked through the door. He was tall and very handsome, his face seemed scalped by the ancient greeks, soft yet with sharp features. You saw resemblances between you and him, you’d always looked a lot like your mother, but there definitely were things about him that you recognised in yourself. 

Soonyoung went down a knee to bow before the man, you followed his lead and bowed down as well. After a few seconds of looking at the floor breathlessly, you carefully tilted your head to look up at oberon. He looked speechless, walking up to you slowly. Before taking your chin in his hand gently, and gesturing you to get up.

“My daughter doesn’t bow to me…” his voice was deep, soft and cracked because of his emotion. His eyes watered as he cupped your cheeks, “My daughter, my beautiful daughter… You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”

You smiled at him, getting quite emotional yourself. You hadn’t thought too much about it before this moment, it never really hit you that you would meet your father. You had known you would, of course, but this, seeing him so close by, knowing who he was and what he looked like you couldn’t help but get overwhelmed by feelings. 

“It’s… nice to meet you.” is what you managed to say, not making a lot of sound. 

He smiled, and laughed “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

After the emotional meeting with king Oberon, you moved to a different room. It reminded you of a living room, just dramatically bigger. It had comfortable couches which all of you sat down on, and a few guards whom were standing at the entrances. There were a few maids who brought you tea and snacks you had never seen before, but Soonyoung assured you you could eat. 

Puck had left all of you to help out in the kitchen, but it felt like he wasn’t being honest about that. None of your business, of course. So it was just you, Soonyoung and Oberon. 

Oberon and you sat down, but Soonyoung stood behind the couch you sat down on. You frowned up at him, but he didn’t even look at you, just looked straight ahead.

Oberon sighed, clearly unsure how to break the silence that grew over you two.

“So, how are you liking Tír na nÒg?”

You nodded as you swallowed a sip of tea “It’s definitely… different. I haven’t seen a lot of it yet, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far… so…”

He nodded with smile on his face, “I’m glad. I’ll show you more tomorrow, we sadly don’t have enough time for now. You must be exhausted from your journey.”

You had to admit you did feel a little tired, but that was probably because of everything that happened today. It had been weird and exhausting.

Soonyoung cleared his throat to indicate he wanted to say something, Oberon nodded to tell him he could speak.

“With all due respect, highness, I think it might not be best for you to show her around. We don’t want anyone to know who she is, right?” 

You wanted to ask what Soonyoung meant, but decided now wasn’t the time. 

Oberon hung his head “I’m aware, yes. It wouldn’t be a smart move. It’s just that I want to spend as much time with her as I possibly can.”

“And you will,” Soonyoung smiled patiently, “she’ll be here for a while, you have plenty of time together.”

Oberon nodded “Yeah, I know. I will just show her around the castle, and then you could show her around our land.”

Soonyoung smiled widely “As you wish.”

It was quiet for a while after that, Oberon just looked at you, smiling fondly. You wanted to break the awkward silence, but didn’t know how, and you seemed to be the only one to find it awkward anyway.

“So, I heard some fairies talking about her highness, and I assumed they meant you wife, Titania?” You hadn’t planned on bringing that up, but it was the only thing you could think of in this moment. 

Oberon sighed, his face suddenly looked tired “I told them to keep her away. You see, my wife is… unpredictable… and I don’t know how she would react to you. So I decided it would be better if she wasn’t here. But don’t worry, you’ll meet her soon enough. Just not without me present.”

You could totally understand why Titania wouldn’t like you. You were her husbands daughter, from another woman, not the best position to be in if you wanted her to like you. You were curious about her however. Why did the fairies seem so terrified? She couldn’t be that bad, right?

“I see you finished your tea, it’s getting late and you must be tired, I will show you your room.” Oberon stood up and offered you his slender hand. 

You took it, grateful that you weren’t the one calling an end to this meeting. You wanted to get a good night’s sleep before continuing, you were too tired to continue.

You walked through the long halls, talking about all kinds of things. Soonyoung and another guard followed you closely. It didn’t take long for you to figure out you and Oberon had a lot in common. And that was an amazing feeling.

“Here we go. I made sure the staff cleaned it properly before you would arrive.” he opened a big door, which led into the most beautiful room you had ever seen. It was huge, complete with couches, an enormous bed, a big walk-in closet and a spacious bathroom. It felt like a big apartment. 

Just like in the throne room, there were plants everywhere. And not in pots or vases or anything. just growing all over the walls, ceiling and, in some places even over the floor. The most gorgeous flowers everywhere. It was everything you ever dreamt of and more, the kind of room a little girl would fantasize about. 

“I hope it’s to your liking…” Oberon snapped you from your thoughts, you hadn’t even realised you had walked into the room to look around at everything easier.

You nodded “It’s great.”

“Good. Soonyoung, I’ll show you your room, too.”

You walked after them as they continued walking. You wanted to know where Soonyoung’s room was, too. In case you needed him for something.

“I made sure to get you a room close to the princess, so you can still keep an eye on her.” 

Soonyoung nodded understandibly.

You were glad they both thought that, after all, you needed a friend in this strange place.

They stopped at the end of the hall, only a few doors away from your room, to open one of the doors. His room was less big, but still big enough to be a proper apartment. 

Soonyoung bowed to the king, “Thank you, your highness.”

Oberon smiled, “Of course, you’ve done well so far.” he turned to you, “I’ll leave you both to rest. There are clothes in your closet, don’t hesitate to wear some of them tomorrow. I’ll see you both at breakfast. Goodnight.” He walked off without waiting on a reaction.

Suddenly you and Soonyoung were the only ones left in the long hall, and you had no idea what to say or do. You hadn’t processed anything that happened in the past few hours, and somewhere deep down you knew you could wake up any moment. 

“Well…” Soonyoung started, a big, clumsy smile on his face, “What do you think? -of your father I mean.”

You sighed, not knowing what to say, “I’m not sure. I don’t think I can judge that yet.”

Soonyoung nodded understandingly “I get that, I just hope you know he’s just as nervous as you are.”

You nodded. You did know that, it seemed obvious. In your head kings were more confident, more… well-spoken. You figured he was just nervous, and that’s why everything seemed kind of awkward and weird. It would get better over time.

“Well,” Soonyoung sighed, still smiling “you should get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Before he could walk into his room, you took his arm to stop him. He turned around to see what you wanted, only to find you looking at the ground. 

He gently rested his hand on you shoulder “Are you okay? Anything you need?”

You took a deep breath before you managed to gather the courage to look up at him, his eyes stood concerned.

“I… I don’t want to be alone. Will you stay with me?” Something about your room felt… off. You hadn’t thought much off it before, but now that you had seen Soonyoung’s room, something was different for sure. It could be nothing, but you were sure you wouldn’t be able to sleep because of it.

Soonyoung, to your relieve, smiled gently, cupping your face with his hand and looking you into your eyes “Of course. Let’s hang out in your room together.”

The only reason why you and Soonyoung were apart for a little while was, hours after you went to your room to talk, you both decided to put on pyjamas to both be a little more comfortable. For a moment, everything felt like normal. the conversations you had were like they always were and always had been, about everything and nothing, not awkward or weird or different because of your current situation. It felt like everything was normal again. You were both sitting on you bed, you leaned into him as he stroked your hair. You had no idea what time it was, or how time even worked here. But you were clearly both tired. Your voices had become slower, deeper and softer, every movement took twice as long as usual, and you were warm like one only is when they’re comfortable and tired. 

Soonyoung cleared his throat and sat up “I should probably go to my own room.” 

You once again held on to his arm, but you were too afraid to beg him to stay. You suddenly over thought it. Was it weird that you didn’t want him to leave? That you didn’t feel safe without him around? What if it would give him the wrong idea and make everything awkward? 

“You don’t want me to leave?” He whispered.

You shook your head “I… I don’t feel comfortable. Something just feels off here.”

Soonyoung shrugged “I don’t feel anything weird.”

The look in your eyes made him sigh and smile sweetly “I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”

You smiled sweetly, thankfully “Thank you.”

You woke up by the sound of someone knocking on your door. You were sure it was your mother, coming to tell you you overslept and had to get your ass out of bed. You sighed, still half asleep and pretended to not hear her.

It was then you realized, you weren't home, and that couldn't be your mom. 

"Your highness? I'm coming in." A sweet voice said before the door opened.

Suddenly you were wide awake, your eyes shot open and you wanted to sit up, but Soonyoung's arms around you prevented you from moving. He was still fast asleep, in your bed, in your room… with him arms around you and your head laying on his chest. Oh no.

You turned your eyes to the maid who just walked in. See looked at the two of you kind of shocked, but then got herself together and continued walking to the table.

“You breakfast, highness. The king told us to give you a bunch of things so you could figure out what you like and what you don’t. Seeing as you’re new.” she smiled sweetly, but you could see it was fake, she was confused about Soonyoung being here for sure.

You poked Soonyoung, only making him groan and pull you closer. 

“Dude!” you whispered, before fake smiling to the maid again, kind of panicking. You kept poking Soonyoung until he started to wake up. Once his eyes semi-opened and he saw you, he smiled.

“Morning...”

You shifted your eyes to the maid to let him know what was going. He clearly hadn’t noticed her before then, seeing as his eyes grew a bit wider.

“...princess. Goodmorning princess.” He didn’t let go of you however.

“Master Soonyoung, should I bring your breakfast in here or should I bring it to your room?” the maid asked.

Soonyoung smiled “Here is fine, thanks.” 

She nodded before walking out of the room again.

You pushed against his chest so he had to let you go “Dude! You were supposed to leave after I fell asleep. Remember?”

He yawned and scratched his head unbothered “I guess I fell asleep.”

“You have to leave before anyone sees you.”

He frowned, suppressing a smile “I think it’s a little late for that… And I can’t leave anyway, because my breakfast will be here.”

At that moment the maid walked in once again, a tray with her once again “Anything else you need, highness?” 

You shook your head “No, thank you.” 

Soonyoung sat up “One thing. Weren’t we supposed to have breakfast with king Oberon?”

The maid nodded, “That’s right. He couldn’t make it, something came up. He’d like to have lunch instead.” 

“Ah, alright. Thank you.” 

She bowed, and left the room.

You had forgotten all about breakfast with Oberon, but now that you were reminded of it, and got told it was cancelled, you actually felt kind of disappointed. You wanted to come here with zero expectations, but that turned out to be harder than it sounded. He already flaked on you.

“Does he do that often?” You quietly asked Soonyoung.

“Cancel plans? Not really. Only when it’s really important.” 

But what could be more important than his own long lost daughter? You shook your head to get back to reality. You shouldn’t worry about all this. He didn’t owe you anything and he definitely didn’t have to reach upto your expectations. You already had a father at home. Granted he was kinda lame, but he was there. Always. 

“Do you think she’ll tell him?” You asked Soonyoung.

He raised his eyebrows, “About us waking up together? Probably.”

You sighed, trying to hold back the wave of panic that suddenly wanted to flood your body “Will he be... angry?”

Soonyoung laughed “At you? Nah. He wants to make a good impression so he definitely wouldn’t get mad at you.”

You nodded and waited a little while before asking your next question, “What about you?”

“Oh, I’m screwed.” He laughed louder, “But don’t worry, I’m good at talking. I’ll just bullshit my way out of it.” 

That made you laugh a little “You do talk a lot of crap.”

He tried to look offended, but couldn’t control his laughter “Let’s eat now, your highness.”

You swung your arm at him to playfully hit him, but he was to fast and stood laughing before you could actually hit him. So you got up too and chased him around your room, until you were out of breath and dramatically fell on the ground laughing.

With his foot, he pinched your leg “Yo. Yo. Get up.”

You put your arm over your eyes and tried to suppress your smile “No. Just leave me here, continue without me.”

He shrugged en skipped over to his breakfast without looking back at you. You laughed as you got up anyway.

“You’re mean. Leaving me there to die.”

He already stuffed his mouth with food “You told me to, princess.” 

You visibly cringed at that word, making him laugh even more.

“They really did get you a lot.” He exclaimed sighing, as he looked at the tray the maid had brought in for you.

It was filled with all kinds of food you didn’t know, probably things from this world. You weren’t sure what you would like and what not, and you were hesitant to try anything. You literally turned your nose up at it. 

Soonyoung clearly noticed seeing as he started laughing at you again “You look disgusted.”

“I am disgusted. What is all this?” 

He shrugged “Food.”

“Ha, ha. You’re so clever.” you spat back at him, making him laugh all the more.

“This is some slow cooked mandrake, you’ll surely like that I think. Uhm, this is qirrorind bread, the castle’s cook his specialty. You should try it, it’s basically just bread. Only it’s tastier, in my professional opinion.” he pointed at the different types of food on your plate, “That’s, eh, roc split. I’m not sure you’ll like that, but you should definitely try. And this is prekkibana, you’ll love that. Pegasus pudding, don’t worry there’s no real pegasis in there. I don’t think you’d like that though…” 

As he continued explaining, and telling you what you would and wouldn’t like, it suddenly dawned on you that he knew you through and through, better than anyone. And you knew he was right about everything. About what you liked, what you didn’t like. Even without tasting it.

“Thank you. What’s your favorite?” You asked him, eager to try what he liked.

He chuckled “This one. Lance lovebird, it’s like cake, but super fluffy. It’s not the healthiest of thing, but you know me. I like my sweets.”

You picked up what he just pointed at and took a little bite. It really was like a fluffy cake, in the best way possible. Sweet, but not too sweet, and a delicious taste you couldn’t  describe.

Soonyoung probably saw you enjoying it, a big smile on his face “It’s like what you would imagine a rainbow to taste like, right?”

His childish description made you laugh, but you nodded “It’s really good.”

He bumped his shoulder against yours “I have good taste. I am an expert after all.”

Masterlist | Seventeen masterlist  |  잠자리 masterlist

1.1 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.1

[1dliveshere]

The Last Summer Ch.6

Before the sun was even up Kayla decided it would be a great idea to make muffins for everyone. The smell of blueberry muffins awoke Niall and Alyssa.

“Are those Kayla’s famous blueberry muffins I smell?!” Niall and Alyssa yelled in unison.

“Of course they are” Kayla laughed, “I’ve been making them ever since we became friends 7 years ago.”

As everyone began to make their way into the living area Kayla happened to look outside, “Y’all we should go watch the sunrise from the top of the RV while eating breakfast!”

“Kayla you sound like a seven year old that just got told they were going to a candy store”

“Louis, says the person that acts like said 7 year old”

After everyone got their breakfast they headed out of the RV.

“I just have one question how the heck do we get up to the top of the RV??”

All the boys looked at each other and knew exactly what to do. Each one wakes up to their girlfriend and picked them up and attempted lifting them up.

After struggling for 2 minutes and making all sorts of grunting sounds the boys finally gave up.

“You know what us girls got you. Time to put our cheer into practice ladies.”

“Letssss goooooo” Alyssa yelled across the parking lot.

All at once the girls ran over to where Zayn was standing and got into their forms and lifted Zayn all the way to the roof of the RV.

“What the fre-woah it looks so cool from up here.”

After quickly boosting all the boys up to the roof they all helped one another up there too until it got down to Kayla and Alyssa.

“Well crap how the heck are we going to get up there?” Alyssa looked at Kayla.

“I got you boo. It’s time to bust out the two people pyramid.” Kayla smirked

A bunch of high pitched ooooooos left the girls mouths while the guys looked at one another with confused expressions.

Kayla quickly got on her hands and knees while alyssa climbed on top of her back. Slowly Kayla started rising while Alyssa transitioned her feet to Kayla’s shoulders and then head. Kayla slowly starts to stand up while screaming.

“This seems like a really bad idea.” Liam states.

“No Sh-dip Sherlock”

After screaming for literally 30 seconds Kayla got Alyssa on top of the RV. Alyssa then proceeds to lay on her stomach while the other girls lower her down the side of the vehicle. Kayla grabs Alyssa’s hand and uses it as a climbing rope while walked up the side of the RV.

“FREAKING YOU DID NOT JUST PUT YOUR FREAKING DIRTY DIRTBAG SHOES ON THE SIDE OFMY FREAKING SPARKLING RV”

“Take a chill pill. At least we are all up here and have everything we need.”

“Uhh I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but....... I forgot the milk”

“Louis you had ONE freaking job” Kayla pointed at Louis.

“Wait I got you” Louis approaches the windshield and slides down it onto the ground. Leaving a streaky butt mark all the way.

Harry makes a shocked face and is frozen like that until Louis appears with the milk.

“Great now we have to go to the car wash” Harry grunts.

After sitting and watching the sunset everyone slides down like Louis did to go get ready.

***

“I don’t know what to wear” Alyssa flopped on the bed in the master bedroom.

“We just washed all of our clothes, how could you not know what to wear?” Kayla looked at Alyssa through the mirror as she finished her makeup.

“It’s not that I don’t have anything to wear. It’s just I don’t know what to wear. What are you going to wear?”

“My light washed ripped jeans, with this button up shirt, and my white converse.”

“You’re going to look hot boo”

“Thanks girl” Kayla smiled and laughed “I’ll help you pick something out”

Kayla chucked Alyssa’s suitcase onto the bed and started digging through it.

“How about this?” Kayla help up a pair of green pants, a graphic tee, and white shoes?”

“How the heck do you do that? I’ve been staring at that same suitcase for twenty minutes and found nothing.”

“I’m just that talented.”

After quickly applying some light makeup and fixing their hair, the girls were ready.

“Finally. We can go.” Louis breathed out.

“Oh shut of Louis, you are usually the last one done so this is a first.”

After the short drive to the Sunflower Field everyone hopped off the bus. Surprisingly it wasn’t super busy. They appeared to be the only people there besides the woman that owned it.

“Hello! I need 10 tickets please.” Harry flashed his signature smile at the lady.

“That will be $30”

After exchanging the money for the tickets the group was off to the beginning of the maze.

“Okay according to this sign the maze is 2 miles long. So luckily it won’t be too difficult.”

“Speak for yourself” Kayla laughed. “Liam you are in tip top shape so even if it was 12 miles you would still say that.”

“Guys I just had a great idea!”

“What is it Maya?”

“What if all the couples have a competition? We all time ourselves to see who makes it out on the other side first.”

“That’s a great idea! Let’s do it!” Gigi whips out her phone.

After everyone was paired with their boyfriend/girlfriend they all started their phone timers and took off running in different directions. Everyone was yelling so loudly to each other that you could hear their voices coming from inside the maze.

“Liam we need to turn this way!”

“Maya are you sure??”

“Harry run!!!!”

“Watch out for that bee Louis!!”

“Ahhhhh”

“I’m so freaking confused Alyssa”

“Me too Niall!”

“We just went in a giant circle!”

Everyone beside Louis and Eleanor had made it out on the other side.

“What is taking them so long?” questioned Zayn.

While everyone was discussing where they had gone their conversation was interrupted by a screaming Louis.

“Guys!!!!!! Run!!!!!”

Without even questioning what was happening the whole group took sprinting as fast as possible to the RV. Once inside Harry slammed the door shut.

Once everyone caught their breath they all turned to Louis.

“What was that all about?!”

“Louis here thought it be a good idea to knock a beehive down.”

“Eleanor I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“How’d you manage to do that?” Liam asked through laughter.

“I couldn’t stop running and I ran into a tree and knocked it down.” Louis sheepishly responsed. “Whoopsie”

“Oh my gosh Louis” Gigi cackled.

“Can we just forget that happened? Wasn’t my brightest moment.”

“Sure thing Lou” Kayla smiled.

“Well that was fun! I’m starving though so can we get food?”

“You’re wish is my command Niall. Kayla, I’m sick of driving, will you drive for a little bit?”

“Yeah that’s fine babe.”

Once everyone was seated and ready to hit the road again, Kayla headed to the local Walmart to stock up on food.

The sun was just setting as they approached Walmart. Luckily it appeared Walmart was not busy at all.

“Okay, Kayla and Harry, you are in charge of healthy food; Alyssa and Niall, you are in charge of junk food; and the rest of us will get drinks and any other stuff we need.” Liam spoke quite proud of himself that he had everything organized.

Everyone that was listen went running in all different directions to get to the aisle they needed.

Kayla and Harry bought fruit,veggies, and some other healthy snacks.

Alyssa and Niall bought chips, chocolate, and ice cream; quite the combination.

Everyone else bought pop, water, milk, and random snackage because they knew the other two couples wouldn’t buy enough to live on.

Everyone met back at the cash register to pay for it. Harry insisted on paying for everything.

“Harry you are not going to spend $100 on food for us.”

“Liam shut up. I can do what I want.” Harry smirked as he quickly gave the card to the cashier.

All the boys refused to let the girls carry anything so they all had bags piled on both of their arms as they ran across the parking lot. Once inside everyone out the groceries away and made supper.

“What’s on the menu tonight M’lady?” Zayn tipped an imaginary hat towards Gigi.

“Well I’m making baking chicken with honey mustard dressing and then we are having side salads.”

“I’m happy we brought you. Without you we would eat pizza every night” Niall laughed, “not that I’d complain or anything.”

During dinner everyone was spread all over the RV. Kayla and Alyssa were in the front; Zayn, Gigi, and Niall were on one couch; Harry, Louis, and Eleanor were on the other couch; and Liam and Maya were at the table.

The conversation was filled with fun things they had done throughout the day and things they wanted to do during this trip. Liam was currently discussing how he had never been to Chicago in his entire life.

“Liam that’s literally so random. I’ve been to Chicago at least 10 times.”

“Well that’s easy for you Harold. Your sister goes to college there.”

“I didn’t realize Gemma was going to Chicago University.” Gigi half yelled, “we should go visit her.”

“Oh my gosh Harry we should!! Cmon I’ll even drive.”

“I don’t know guys. She might not want to see us all.” Harry rubbed the back of his neck.

“Oh come on. It’s Gemma! She loves us!” Alyssa smiled.

“Ok ok. Fine. We can go for a couple days. That way I can see her and Liam can see Chicago.”

The whole bus erupted in cheers.

“Plus I’ve heard Chicago clubs really know how to party.” Louis wiggles his eyebrows.

“Umm Lou, in case you forgot, we aren’t old enough.”

“Don’t worry Eleanor. I got that covered.”

Everyone looked at one another, eyes filled with excitement and confusion at what Louis had just said.

All of the girls pitched in to clean up the kitchen. While Kayla headed towards the interstate that would take them straight into Chicago.

Niall called all the boys to follow him into the back bedroom because he has news. The girls were extremely confused why they all ditched them.

Once all the boys were in the room, Niall shut the door and turned to look at them. “I’ve made a life changing decision. I’m going to ask Alyssa to marry me.”

[chronicallyapain]

Day 20: 7/6

Breakdown: Food Diary for 7/6

Breakfast: 175

1 Cup Honey Nut Cheerios - 140

4 oz Macadamia Milk - 35 

Lunch: 355

1 Mission Gluten Free Tortilla - 150

1 Banana - 105

1 Tbsp Bowl&Basket Peanut Butter- 100

Dinner: 654

15 Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips - 130

4 oz Butterball Ground Turkey - 150

0.5 Cup Kidney Beans - 110

2 oz Soft Goat Cheese - 134

1 Can Pomegranate & Orange San Pellergrino Sparkling - 130

Snacks: 60

1 Lemon Fruit Bar - 60

Beverages: 

192 oz Water

2 Cups Black Coffee

Exercise: 4317 steps // 3 Stairs Climbed // 1.65 Miles 

Today was a rest day < Mom was off from work and wanted to go shoe shopping and watch movies with me. 

~~~~~~~TW: Eating Disorders, Weight, BMI, Medical Conditions~~~~~~~~~~~~

RANT SKIP THIS BIT IF YOU DON”T WANT TO READ 

I’d say that’s all that happened really today, but there was a comment on one of my posts that upset me not gonna lie. It said “why was this in my recommended I’m not even anorexic”. I responded to this person saying that in no way shape or form do I promote any type of disordered eating. I do not wish any type of eating disorder for anyone. 

I suffered from a restrict/binge cycle of eating that made me sick. I started this blog as a way to channel my health and eating problems in a healthy fashion that also kept me accountable for actually losing weight. 

I am 4 foot 10. To be 4′10 and 160 lbs is bad, in fact that makes me obese with a BMI of 33.4. 

I suffer from severe Adult Onset Food Allergies: see the list, its long <3

NO soy, cows milk, red meat, pork, gelatin, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, peaches, mangoes, green tea 

LIMITED chicken, eggs, turkey, sheeps milk, goats milk, broccoli, cabbages, tomatoes, gluten (wheat), hibiscus, apples, any fruit and veg with skins really

my food options are pretty limited, and it seems like every week I lose another food I thought was safe, but then I eat it and get sick. And we dont know why. 

So if you are wondering what I eat, at this point not much because a week ago I ate a soy burger, got hives and since threw up everything with soy I’ve eaten and a few days ago i had some cashew milk ice cream spiked a fever and needed an EpiPen. 

 I also suffer from a rare type of asthma (neutrophilic and eosinophilic asthma) and Hashimotos Thyroiditis ( an autoimmune condition). 

Real talk there are days I sleep on the futon in the living room because I can’t get up the stairs to my bedroom.

So honestly I’m fucked for being healthy on a good day, let alone healthy and active during a pandemic. 

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW ARE SUFFERING FROM AN EATING DISORDER IN THE United States CONTACT THIS HOTLINE: 

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline

IN THE United Kingdom https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ 

That’s All I got for today everyone. Sorry if its not up to my usual stuff, I’ll hopefully be back up to snuff tomorrow. I just had to get that off my chest. Good news is I’m going to a new doctor on Friday and hopefully I’ll at least get some tests ordered to figure out whats going on. I don’t know if anyone cares at this point but I’ll keep updating until I figure out no one is listening. 

F~G~S