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redroomreflections · 19 days ago

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Hotel California | Track 9: Flamenco

Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader

Summary: Natasha Romanoff, frontwoman of the punk rock band Velvet Rebellion, falls hard for a woman she believes is too good for her. Their intense relationship unfolds in the chaotic world of rock 'n' roll, where they struggle to balance fame, personal demons, and their undeniable passion for each other.

W/c: 5.4k

Chapter 9/12

Masterlist | General Masterlist

Note: Exciting stuff

Song for this chapter https://open.spotify.com/track/3B7EZgquNKHrSIo2tEc8mK?si=2ce2f0ac782f484c

18+ Minors DNI (mature)

Themes: love, fame, sex, drugs

Having a type-A personality has its perks. When you're not procrastinating or hiding from the world under your covers, you're girlbossing it hard. Like most mornings, you woke up at the second strike of your 6 AM alarm. No snooze, no excuses. The world didn’t wait for you; frankly, you weren’t about to let it get ahead.

Your private Pilates instructor was already on her way to destroy your body (figuratively, of course) in the garage studio. You shuffled into your kitchen, still half-asleep, and sipped on your lemon water while mentally preparing yourself for the torture—sorry, workout. The thought of the inevitable soreness made you groan, but you reminded yourself it was worth it. Your Type-A brain thrived on the discipline, and it felt good to start the day strong.

When the instructor arrived, you were dressed in sleek athleisure, hair tied back in a low ponytail, ready to pretend you enjoyed every second of it. You even entertained Luxe when she motivated you through what could be considered hate speech. You would never admit it, but you appreciated the encouragement, regardless of its content.

One hour later, you were showered and ready for work. Your skin glowed, and you felt great despite your muscles burning. It was time to get Isabella awake. You shuffled into her bedroom, snorting at how neat it was, as you moved to sit on her bed.

You rested a hand on what you could assume was her back, gently calling for her to wake up.

"Bella, come on, time for school,"

Isabella stirred under her blankets, her tiny body shifting closer to the pillow as if she could burrow away from the morning. A muffled groan escaped her, followed by a sleepy, "Five more minutes, Mama."

You chuckled, smoothing a hand over the soft fabric covering her back. "Five more minutes turns into fifteen, and then we're running late. Come on, Bella. Up and at 'em."

She peeked out from under the blanket, her curly hair sticking up in all directions. Her face was adorably pouty, and her eyes were barely open. "Do I have to?" she mumbled.

"Yes, you do. Education is important, remember?" you teased, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "And besides, you love school. You told me last night you couldn’t wait to show Ms. Thompson your drawing."

That jogged her memory. Isabella sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning loudly. "Oh yeah," she said, her voice still thick with sleep. "Okay, I'm getting up."

"Good girl," you praised, patting her back as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. "I'll meet you downstairs for breakfast, okay?"

Isabella nodded, her small frame shuffling off to the bathroom. You smiled as you headed back to the kitchen, already planning the quick breakfast lineup. Multitasking was your superpower, and mornings like this reminded you why you thrived in the chaos.

Your phone buzzed on the counter as you packed her lunch and brewed your first cup of coffee. Monica's name lit up the screen.

“Hey, good morning. Will you pick up a coffee?"

"Yes, please,"

You switched the contacts to Natasha and sent her a cute message for whenever she woke up.

"Hope you have a good morning, baby. I'll be thinking about you. See you later x."

As you set Isabella’s lunchbox aside and sipped your coffee, you heard the soft shuffle of her footsteps approaching. She appeared in the doorway, her curls now somewhat tamed and her little face freshly washed. Isabella stood there for a moment, rubbing her eyes before making her way over to you.

Without a word, she wrapped her arms around your waist, resting her head against your side. You glanced down at her, your heart swelling at the gesture. Setting your coffee on the counter, you opened your arms wider, pulling her into a proper hug.

"Good morning again, munchkin," you said softly, smoothing stray hairs from her face.

"Morning, Mama," she murmured, leaning into the embrace like it was the safest place in the world.

You held her tighter, savoring the warmth and love she gave so freely. Moments like this weren’t uncommon, but they always reminded you how lucky you were. Isabella had always been affectionate, kind, and thoughtful—a reflection of what you and Sam had worked hard to instill in her.

"You’re such a sweetheart, you know that?" you whispered, kissing the top of her head.

Isabella smiled, her arms tightening around you. "You always say that."

"Because it’s true," you replied, pulling back just enough to look into her big, expressive eyes. "You’re the best part of my mornings, Bella. Always. Are you hungry?"

"I could eat," She shrugged as she began to grab the fresh toast from the toaster. She spread a generous amount of Nutella on her toast before taking some of the fruit you'd sliced.

"So," you began, leaning back against the counter and sipping your coffee, "are you excited for school today?"

"Yeah," she nodded, a streak of chocolate at the corner of her mouth. "Ms. Thompson said we could watch a movie in class, and we're gonna get our new math books today."

"That's great," you smiled.

"Are you still going to the studio with Natasha later?" She inquired.

"Yeah, I am. We have a full schedule today. But I'll be home early. We'll have time to make dinner together. Sound good?"

Isabella sighed. "I really wanted to go to the studio with you. I want a chance to hang with the guys."

"I know," You checked your calendar today. "You probably won't be available for the beginning, but how about I have Reagan bring you to the studio? You can sit with us for a little while. Though, I think it's not an environment for a little girl."

"That would be awesome, Mama." She grinned.

You grabbed the lunch box and held it out to her. Isabella took it and slipped it into her backpack, then slung it over her shoulder.

"Alright, you got everything?" You asked, grabbing your coffee and keys and heading for the door.

Isabella nodded. "Mhm, all set."

"Perfect, let's go. And don't forget your headphones."

You walked out the front door, locking it behind you, and headed toward the car. The sun was rising; the sky was filled with shades of orange and pink. As the two of you buckled in, you looked over at Isabella. It was a perfect morning for the both of you.

The morning rush was well underway when you dropped Isabella off at school. The streets were filled with activity, but you managed to weave through traffic like a seasoned pro. As soon as you parked at the office, your phone buzzed in your bag.

The ringtone alone was enough to make you sigh. Work started early, and the day was already throwing curveballs.

"Hi, Karen," you greeted as you stepped into the building, heels clicking against the polished floors. "What’s going on?"

Karen’s voice was sharp on the other end. "We’ve got a situation with one of our clients. They posted something... let’s just say, off-brand, and now the comments section is an absolute war zone. "

"Great," you muttered, offering a quick wave to Monica, who was waiting for you near the elevator. She stepped beside you and handed you your coffee. You balanced your cup, handbag, and phone all at once. It was either something political or something to do with her ex?

"Both," Karen replied. "And I need you here. Stat. We have a crisis management meeting, and we need to act fast. Can you come in right away?"

"Yeah, of course. I'm in the lobby. I'll see you in twenty."

You ended the call, and a heavy sigh escaped your lips. Monica looked over, sympathy written all over her features.

"What was that all about?" she asked, following you onto the elevator.

"We have a client situation," you explained, tapping your foot impatiently as the elevator climbed. "Karen needs me in her office. ASAP."

Monica hummed, taking a sip of her drink. "Well, hopefully, it's not too bad."

"It's a bad thing we need a new PR thing by the end of the day," you shook your head. "I'll know more once I check it out. I've been staying off of social media for a while."

"Oh, you mean it's not normal to gain two hundred thousand followers in four months?" She teased.

"No, actually," You shook your head. "They all just want glimpses of Natasha and me. Which I'm fine with for the most part."

"And how are things with her?" Monica asked, tilting her head curiously.

You smiled, a blush coloring your cheeks. "Amazing. It's... it's everything I could have hoped for. We've been spending a lot of time together. Getting to know each other. But also getting to know our dynamic, y'know?"

"It sounds like she's the real deal, huh?" Monica guessed. She followed you to your office and stood in the doorway.

"Yeah? I mean, I guess?" You dropped your things onto your desk. "It's so interesting, to be quite honest. After Sam and I divorced, everyone I dated didn't seem to fit. With Natasha, it feels natural. It just feels like this is what was supposed to happen."

"Wow, I didn't know it was that deep," Monica joked.

"I guess it's just because she makes me feel good. When I'm with her, it's like I can be myself without worrying about anything. Like I don't have to put on a mask." You shrugged.

"Aww, you're in love."

"I know."

"Have you told her yet?" Monica pressed.

You paused, your mind reverting to the moments you shared with her. There was no denying how deeply you cared about her. It wasn't just infatuation.

"Yeah," you breathed, your chest swelling. "Yeah, I did."

"What did she say?"

"Well, technically, she said it first." you shrugged.

Monica's eyes widened, her mouth falling open in exaggerated shock. "She said it first? Oh my God, this is serious!"

You couldn't help but laugh at her reaction as you moved around your desk, straightening a few papers and powering your computer. "I guess it is," you admitted, the blush on your cheeks deepening. "But honestly, it felt so right. We were just... in the moment. I didn’t even have to think about it."

Monica leaned against the doorway, crossing her arms with a knowing smile. "I love this for you. You deserve it, after everything with Sam. Speaking of, does Isabella know how serious things are between you two?"

"Not yet," you replied, pulling your chair out and settling in. "I mean, she knows Natasha’s important to me, and she adores her. But I’m still trying to take it slow, y’know? I don’t want to rush anything. It’s a big change for all of us."

"Smart move," Monica agreed. "You’re handling this really well, honestly. I can’t say I’d be this level-headed if I were in your shoes."

You chuckled, grabbing your planner to skim through your schedule for the day. "Trust me, it’s a balancing act. Between work, Isabella, and this relationship... it’s a lot. But it’s worth it."

Monica pushed off the doorway, giving you a soft smile. "Well, I’m rooting for you guys. Natasha seems like she really gets you, and that’s rare."

"Thanks, Monica. That means a lot," you said sincerely.

"Anytime. Now," she gestured to the stack of papers in her arms, "Are you still going to meet Karen upstairs?"

"Oh, shit, I almost forgot." You shook your head.

And the day began.

****

The morning light barely filtered through the blackout curtains of Natasha’s bedroom as she groaned at the sound of voices coming from somewhere in the hallway. It’s 9:00 AM, far too early for her usual standards, but last night’s recording session had dragged well into the early hours. Her body felt like it was weighed down by bricks as she blindly groped for her phone on the nightstand.

The screen lights up:

y/n: Good morning, rockstar. Don’t forget Mitch at 10:30.

Natasha smirked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She typed back quickly:

I remember. Barely. Coffee first. I love you.

Rolling out of bed, she grabbed a hoodie from the floor and pulled it over her tank top before shuffling out into the hallway, her hair a mess of waves from sleep.

Her mind was still foggy when she nearly collided with someone—a brunette woman wearing her robe.

“Whoa there, sleepyhead,” the woman drawled, holding her coffee mug steady as she stepped back.

Natasha blinked at her, momentarily disoriented. She recognized the woman immediately: Agatha Harkness, a veteran actress known for her sharp wit and even sharper tongue. When another voice entered the scene, Natasha didn't even have time to process why Agatha was in her apartment.

“Nat, I’m so sorry,” Wanda appears in the guest room doorway, looking frazzled but still managing to radiate calm. “Agatha stayed the night. I should’ve told you.”

"When did you even have time for her to stay the night? We got home at like four am," Natasha frowned.

"Can't say no to a late-night booty call," Agatha grinned. She glanced down at Natasha's Spiderman underwear and chuckled.

"Hey, why don't you go and wait for me in the bedroom," Wanda suggested. They shared a kiss that made Natasha pretend to gag. Not because Agatha wasn't hot. Because she was, and it was annoying.

"See you, rockstar," Agatha quipped before stepping back into the bedroom.

"Do we need to think about getting our own places?" Natasha questioned as she walked towards the kitchen.

"No, of course not, I love living with you," Wanda said.

Natasha nodded. "Good. Because I wouldn't want to live anywhere else." Natasha glanced at the clock again and began to pour herself a bowl of fruit loops. "I have a meeting at ten with Mitch. Wanna come?"

Wanda's face scrunched up. "Hmm, that's so early."

"You don't have to come." Natasha shrugged.

"Yeah, but I'm gonna anyway," Wanda insisted, leaning against the counter.

"So, you and Agatha?" Natasha began. "When did this start?"

"It's casual," Wanda waved off.

"Uh huh," Natasha hummed, finishing the rest of her breakfast.

Wanda smirked. "Don't get all judgy, it's fun. Nothing serious, I swear. It's not like I'm seeing her exclusively or anything."

"You can have fun and have a relationship, y'know?"

"Oh, and settle down like you?" Wanda laughed.

"No," Natasha frowned, grabbing her dishes and putting them into the dishwasher. "That's not what I meant. Also, I'd hardly say I'm settled down."

Wanda scoffed, her face twisted in amusement. "Are you kidding me? You've been seeing this woman for almost five months. And you haven't brought anyone else home since. Not to mention how much you've been talking about her lately. It's almost sickening."

"Shut up, I have not," Natasha grumbled, moving to her room to get dressed.

Wanda followed behind her, plopping onto her bed. "You have. You're practically a Stepford wife."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "Okay, sure, but it's not like that's a bad thing. I'm happy, and she makes me happy."

Wanda watched her closely, a knowing look in her eyes. "I think you're more than happy, Nat."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Natasha asked, pausing midway through, grabbing a new robe. Wanda owed her one.

"I think you're falling in love," Wanda teased, grinning up at her.

"That's ridiculous." Natasha deadpanned, continuing to rummage through her closet.

"It's not. I've never seen you so hung up on someone before." Wanda pointed out. "Well, since Carol."

"Hmm," Natasha acknowledged. There was something in her expression that made Wanda wonder if she had a little secret.

"What is it? Come on, tell me," Wanda demanded, sitting up and leaning toward her.

"It's nothing," Natasha assured.

"Nope, I can tell. There's something different about you," Wanda pressed.

"It's stupid, honestly."

"Spit it out, Romanoff."

"I told y/n I love her," Natasha said. "And she said she loved me back."

"WHAT? You said it first? Oh, Nat, that's so cute. You're in love. It's happening," Wanda gasped.

"It's not happening; it's not a thing. We just said it."

"So you love her, but it's not a thing?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying," Natasha defended. She walked in and out of her closet as she tried to find something appropriate to wear to the meeting with Mitch. "I don't want it to be this big whirlwind relationship. I want to continue getting to know each other."

"I'd say you two know each other pretty well from these texts she's sent you," Wanda's eyes widened as she scrolled through Natasha’s phone. "You guys sext each other?"

"Wanda, give me my phone," Natasha snatched it from her. "That's a complete lack of privacy."

"Hey, I didn't see anything bad," Wanda chuckled. "What's that thing with your tongue she's raving about? Can you teach me? I think Agatha would really love it."

Natasha's cheeks burned as she shook her head. "This is why we don't share. Now please, can you leave me alone? I have to get dressed and meet with Mitch. I don't have time for your nonsense."

"Fine," Wanda huffed, standing from the bed. "But just so you know, I'm super happy for you."

"Thanks," Natasha mumbled.

As Wanda headed for the door, she looked over her shoulder and smirked. "I hope I'm the maid of honor at your wedding."

Natasha groaned, tossing her dirty laundry in the hamper.

"Don't even joke about that. That's a whole can of worms I'm not ready to open."

"Fine," Wanda laughed.

**************

Natasha slipped into the studio’s meeting room, with Wanda trailing behind her, clutching coffee cups like lifelines. Mitch was already there, papers and a tablet spread out in front of her, her usual no-nonsense expression in place.

“Morning, Romanoff, Maximoff,” Mitch greeted, gesturing to the seats across from her. “Glad you two could finally join us.”

“It’s barely 10:30,” Natasha muttered, sinking into her chair. “Some of us had a late night.”

“And some of us have a band to manage,” Mitch shot back, her tone sharp but playful. “Speaking of which, we’ve got a lot to cover today, so let’s get to it.”

Natasha waved a hand as if to give her the floor.

“At a minimum, I’m your booking agent—venues, show dates, contracts, all that boring stuff. But we’re aiming for more here,” Mitch began, swiping on her tablet. “The plans for this next tour are ambitious. Bigger venues, bigger cities, and—if we play this right—bigger press coverage.”

“That sounds… overwhelming,” Wanda admitted, her brows furrowing.

“It is,” Mitch agreed, not missing a beat. “But it’s also what’s going to put you on the map. The album is shaping up nicely. Ten tracks total. Seven are already written and recorded, but we need to nail down those final three.”

Natasha leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “What’s the timeline?”

“Studio time’s booked for the next month. Your duet with Y/N is one of the final tracks, and we’ll position it as a crossover single. Something to expand your audience a little. Y/N’s name alone will give it traction,” Mitch explained. "With your relationship being the hottest new thing out, I think it's time we crank it up a notch."

"I'm not using my relationship as PR," Natasha denied.

"Your girlfriend's a publicist and didn't play that angle out for you?" Mitch raised a brow.

"She mentioned it once or twice, but she's also very much against it," Natasha answered.

Mitch sighed. "That's a shame. I'm sure the press would love it. They're practically salivating over the two of you. And the song you wrote is beautiful."

Natasha nodded. "It's personal. It's about the moment I knew I loved her."

"So, you don't have a problem writing a song and singing about it publicly?"

"No, I don't," Natasha shrugged. "We're together. And people know that."

"Well, that's a good sign," Mitch smirked, sipping her drink. "This band. Your band. You guys blew up overnight. Everyone has been talking about Velvet Rebellion for the past year. Good or bad. Why not shift to something better?"

"That's not the only reason why we're in this. We're trying to do something great with our music." Natasha defended.

"I know," Mitch replied. "I know the kind of talent you have. I've been around for a long time. And trust me, the best thing you can do is play this up."

"Play what up?" Wanda questioned.

"Your image. Your brand. All of it. We could spin this into the most romantic tour the world has ever seen. It'd be the story of the decade."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, now you think she should come on tour with us? Am I hearing this correctly?"

"I'm not saying that she should. I'm just saying it's a possibility. You're the biggest thing since Taylor Swift and her boy band," Mitch pointed out. "The world is eating this up. And you know what sells the best? Love. Romance. Sex."

Natasha groaned. "Can we talk about this some other time?"

"Sure," Mitch shrugged. "I'm just letting you know all of our angles."

"Thanks," Natasha deadpanned.

"Now, let's move on to the next subject. You guys are scheduled to do an interview with Rolling Stone magazine," Mitch informed. "They're doing a piece on your success. A full-page spread. They want a photo shoot."

"Ooh, that sounds fun," Wanda grinned.

"Great."

Natasha leaned back in her chair, running a hand through her hair as Mitch continued rattling off details about the Rolling Stone feature. A full-page spread, photoshoot, interviews—everything they’d ever wanted as a band. It was the kind of coverage that could cement their place in music history, a step toward being known not just as another band with catchy songs but as real artists with something to say.

Still, her mind lingered on Mitch’s earlier comment. The suggestion that you could come on tour with them as some kind of PR angle made Natasha’s stomach twist.

Sure, her relationship with you was public enough, but only on your terms. It was the casual paparazzi shots, the glimpses of you at coffee shops or strolling hand in hand after a late-night studio session. Nothing orchestrated. Nothing overly intrusive. And Natasha intended to keep it that way.

Her fingers tapped against the table as she considered Mitch’s words. You weren't just her girlfriend; you were her collaborator, her muse, her safe space. Bringing you on tour might make the fans swoon and the tabloids buzz, but was it worth the risk?

She didn’t want her relationship with you to become just another headline, something for the world to pick apart and toss aside.

But at the same time, she wondered if it was possible to strike a balance. Their next album wasn’t just about love songs. It was about life—raw, messy, and real. Songs that spoke to the heart of what it meant to live and feel deeply. Would it be hypocritical to shy away from the love that inspired some of those tracks?

******

Studio time was one of Natasha's favorites. It was the electrifying moments the band got together and simply created. They'd let all of their ideas run amuck. Nothing was too crazy or bodacious when it came to their music-writing process. The studio was filled with a relaxed energy. It wasn’t the kind of sterile, pristine environment some people might imagine when they thought of a high-tech recording studio. Instead, it was alive, warm with conversation and the scent of takeout boxes scattered across the long wooden table in the corner.

Your dad hadn’t spared any expense on the place—state-of-the-art equipment lined the walls, from mixing consoles with glowing buttons to racks of sleek guitars and keyboards. The acoustics in the room were perfect. It was everything they needed to finish off the album.

A haze of cigarette smoke lingered in the air near the door where a couple of crew members leaned, chatting lazily. Shawn McCall, the producer the band swore by, sat behind the massive soundboard, a pair of headphones perched around his neck. He looked completely at ease, sipping his energy drink as he quickly adjusted to the levels, occasionally glancing toward you and Natasha.

Natasha stood near the center of the live room, a guitar slung over her shoulder. She strummed it absentmindedly, her sharp green eyes flickering toward you, who was sitting on a stool by the mic. The band was scattered around the control room—Wanda leaned against the back wall, twirling her hair, while Bucky and Steve hovered near Shawn, chatting over the latest changes to the track.

“Alright,” Natasha’s voice cut through the room, smooth and confident. “Let’s rerun it from the top. Y/N, just breathe through that first verse. Your voice will blend so well with Wanda's melodies. You’ve got this.”

You nodded, flashing her a quick thumbs up as you adjusted the mic.

The lights dimmed, and the music began to flow from the speakers. Natasha closed her eyes, leaning into the song as she picked up the first chords. In your ears, you and Wanda sang together, the melody intertwining, creating something new and breathtaking.

It was one of the most difficult tracks on the album, as it was so different from what the band was used to. Though you thought it fit quite well. It was a powerful statement for the album. You ran through the first verse several times. You allowed yourself to watch Natasha as she nodded along with your singing. Finally, you relaxed your shoulders.

"That was good," Natasha stepped closer to you. She didn't care that there were other people in the room.

"Really?" you smiled.

"Yeah," she said. "You sound beautiful."

"Thanks," you blushed. "It's really hard to focus on my vocals and your guitar. You're just so good at playing, y'know."

"I have a good teacher," Natasha winked.

"You're ridiculous," you laughed.

"Okay, ladies, how about we take five?" Shawn suggested. This caught both of you off guard, and you looked at him and nodded.

Just as you were about to ask Natasha about what you could get into in the five minutes you had, Isabella entered the studio with her nanny, Reagan, in tow.

As soon as Isabella entered the room, everything changed. The casual atmosphere that had permeated the studio just moments ago vanished. The haze of cigarette smoke seemed to evaporate into thin air, and suddenly, the counters were cleared of food boxes and discarded cups. People stood a little straighter, voices lowered, and the usual easy curse-filled banter was replaced with murmurs.

Reagan walked in behind her, offering a polite nod to the group as she stayed near the door, watching the little girl. Looking every bit like a miniature version of you, Isabella skipped forward into the room with a beaming smile, her hair bouncing around her shoulders. She went straight to you, arms open wide for a hug.

"Mom!" Isabella exclaimed, wrapping her arms around your waist. "Thanks for letting me come. This is so cool.

"Hey, sweet girl," You said, your voice softening immediately. You kissed Isabella on the cheek.

"You've never been in a studio? Do you mind if I show you around?" Natasha suggested.

Isabella glanced up at her, and her grin widened.

"Yes! Can we do that now, please?" She tugged on your hand.

"Go ahead," you chuckled.

Natasha smiled. "We'll be back soon."

"Take your time," You assured.

Reagan and the rest of the studio staff watched as Natasha guided the little girl across the room, explaining each piece of equipment in detail. You followed them out into the control room, where you took out your phone and recorded them. You kept Isabella's face concealed as she listened to Natasha explain what things did. She asked questions about the soundboard and the different switches and dials, her eyes excitedly bright. You added the post to your Instagram story.

"Are you guys almost done recording?" Isabella questioned.

"Not quite. We have a few more songs to record. But then the album will be ready for us to put out," Natasha answered.

"Do you write all the songs by yourself?"

"No, some of them are written with partners like Wanda." Natasha gestured behind her.

"Hey, Bucky, can you show me how to play something on your guitar?" Isabella requested. The usually quiet guitarist nodded.

"Sure, kiddo," Bucky replied, standing from his seat.

"You sure that's a good idea?" Wanda quipped.

"She's not going to break anything," Bucky insisted. "Here, you see where my fingers are. This is the A chord."

Another Instagrammable moment for you. Isabella listened aptly as Bucky showed her how to strum a few chords. When they finished, you could practically hear the gears in Isabella's head turning.

"This is gonna be our last song before we're done for the night," Natasha noted, mainly to the rest of the room. "We should probably get back in there. Are you going to stick around and watch?"

"Can I?" Isabella asked.

"Sure," You agreed. "You can go hang out with Wanda; she can tell you what we're doing."

"Sounds good," Natasha smirked. "Alright, let's wrap this up. It's getting late."

The studio session moved more quickly than usual. No one wanted to work late hours with a child in the studio. Not that seven p.m. was late in any of your books. You left the studio session feeling exhilarated. It had been too long since you recorded music or played with anything. Regan had gone home shortly after dropping Isabella off. So it was just the three of you walking to your car. Isabella insisted on holding Natasha's hand as you walked out.

You'd check your Instagram, not realizing how much traction you'd get, but sure enough, both stories you'd posted had gotten well over fifty thousand views in just two hours.

You'd also received an influx of comments from Natasha and Velvet Rebellion fans.

@stardust_in_her_eyes: I want Natasha to be my mom. Honestly, this is what we all need—pure love and talent in one package! #familygoals

@therealjuliaa: Is it just me, or do they look like the perfect stepmother-daughter duo?? This is giving me all the feels ��

and more of…

@lilrocker_babe: This is EVERYTHING! Bucky teaching Isabella the guitar, and you can see how much she’s absorbing! 🤘🎸

@onfire88: Bucky's a total softie, LOL. But seriously, that A chord is iconic now 😆

@softlyguitar: Can we get a full version of this?? Are Bucky and Isabella performing a duet someday? YES PLEASE!!

@paulcasual: Not sure who’s cuter here: Bucky or Isabella. But for real, this is such a wholesome moment! 👏

You didn't feel as nervous as you once did about posting. Sure, you'd continue valuing that privacy, but letting people in with small glimpses wasn't bad. As you drove home, Natasha leaned back in her seat, her fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel. The adrenaline of the studio session still buzzed in her veins, her mind replaying the sounds of the music and the moments with you. She could almost feel the spark of something bigger than just an album—this was her life, her music, and it felt like everything was coming together.

Isabella had fallen asleep in the backseat, her soft breathing the only sound in the car, leaving you and Natasha to share a quiet moment.

Natasha’s phone buzzed on the cup holder, the screen lighting up with a new notification. She glanced down, her thumb hovering over the message. You could see the brief moment of hesitation before she unlocked her phone.

"Everything okay?" you asked, noticing her change in demeanor.

"Yeah," Natasha replied quickly, but her eyes narrowed slightly as she read the message. You were at a stoplight way longer than necessary. "It's... just from Steve."

You didn’t press her, but you could sense something shifting in the air.

“I just—” Natasha stopped, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. The words didn’t come out quickly. She cleared her throat, glancing over at you. “Carol’s in the hospital.”

Your stomach dropped, the warmth of the car and the night air suddenly feeling distant. “What happened?”

“She… relapsed,” Natasha said quietly, the weight of the words settling over her. Her usual confidence seemed to crack for a moment. “I don’t even know what to say. Steve’s saying she’s in stable condition, but... I don’t know.”

You could tell immediately that the mood had shifted.

"Go to her," You said.

"What? Are you sure?" Natasha bit her lip nervously.

"I'm positive," You nodded.

You could only hope this was the right choice to make.

(we're getting a backstory, we're getting love story, we're getting tragedy, we're getting rockstars trashing hotel rooms, Tony getting arrested again, and broken hearts all coming up soon)

---> next part

#natasha romanoff #black reader #natasha x reader #black widow x reader #black widow x female reader #natasha romanov #natasha x you

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kingdomoftyto · 1 year ago

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I'm crying laughing, the DVDs are even worse than I remember... Season 1's menus are silent with a single static jpg of the same key character art they use for everything else, and the episodes on the Season 2 discs don't even match what's listed on the box! Absolutely stunning lack of shits given. Truly unparalleled. But I really shouldn't be surprised given... well... everything about how this series has been treated since the very beginning.

Time for a quick ~✨PHANDOM HISTORY LESSON✨~ to give newer/less hyperfixated folks more context for why the graphic novel being as great as it is is such a HUGE deal:

Danny Phantom was one of Nickelodeon's MAIN cartoons, in its time. It was a central pillar. One of the top three or four of their lineup, which is saying something when the competition includes the cultural juggernaut that is Spongebob.

Despite this, and despite its superhero theming making it perfectly marketable, it got basically ZERO official merch.

What little we did get was often ugly and very, very cheap. The dedication at the start of the graphic novel that jokes about collecting the Burger King toys? That's because it was some of the most notable merch the franchise EVER had. (I sadly do not have any of it. There was no BK in my hometown. Here's a pic from the internet, though, to give you an idea.)

If you think I'm exaggerating about that being the most significant physical merch to come out of the series, consider that the first video game had an entire menu option specifically for the Burger King promotional tie-in:

That video game, by the way, was one of only two ever based on the show. The first was an adaptation of "The Ultimate Enemy" in the style of a short sidescrolling beat-em-up, and the second was themed around "Urban Jungle" and (as far as I can tell--I've only played the first couple levels) was an arcade-style scrolling shooter. Both were for the Gameboy Advance, and both are...... fine, as far as cash-grabby video game tie-ins to kids' shows go. This was pretty normal for the time, so I suppose we did okay in that department, actually. They're not GOOD, but they're playable and have at least a bit of effort put into them.

But besides those two video games (plus a handful of simple, long-defunct Flash games on nick.com)? In the decade and a half since the show ended?

Nothing.

No books, no games, no comics, no web shorts--unless you count mega-crossovers with every other Nicktoon (a la Nicktoons Unite), or soulless promotional material like "Fairly Odd Phantom" (which, trust me, despite being the first new DP animation in over 10 years was not even worth the effort of watching).

...I think there was a limited edition FunkoPop once?

So yeah.

A Glitch in Time is not just the first cool, well-made thing we've seen from the franchise in a while. It's the first THING we've seen since the show. PERIOD. And arguably the first worthwhile supplementary material to EVER come out of the show, depending on how you feel about those GBA games and the Nicktoons crossovers.

This franchise is widely beloved even now, almost 20 years after it first aired, and it feels like that fact is now, finally, FINALLY getting some official recognition.

PLEASE read A Glitch in Time. Tell other people about it. The series--no, the fans--deserve this (and more of this, if the folks in charge see enough of a response and decide to grace us with any followup). It's LONG overdue, but better late than never.

#Danny Phantom #this is why I've been losing my mind repeating ''please buy it'' over and over btw #this is the FIRST and maybe ONLY time we'll ever get to directly show support for the series #it is a uniquely huge deal for this fandom #it's totally fine if you can't (or just still won't) buy it of course but I am begging folks to consider it IF they can.#not for any moral guilting or anything just.... for me. for the fandom. (for yourself because it's a cool story lmao)#long post

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extra-vertebrae · 11 months ago

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Hello! I followed u an eon ago on a different account, and am so excited to see ur art come up on my feed again. Idk if this is the best place to send this; Id feel awkward sending a whole email for this and I dont have a twitter anymore (dumpster fire.) i love all ur designs, but I keep coming back to ur pokemon ones. I’m so fond of them. It makes me want to experiment w body horror art.

I know ppl have sent u mean-spirited asks in the past abt them. I just want to say: I went thru ur old art and said a variation of “aww, a cutie!” Or “oh, poor babyyy :(“ in the occasion that their breeding has created things like chronic pain. At no point was I thinking. Idk, they were ugly or mean (to the pokemon franchise)? To me, ppl like that just have bad taste 🤷🏽‍♀️

I do wanna see more of ur original stuff, certainly! Im just being nostalgic rn.

Thank you so much for your message! I'm glad you still enjoy those old designs, and that they're inspiring you to give body horror themes a try!

Thankfully most of those types of messages are gone, though I'm sure my lack activity in the Pokemon space since then has probably helped a lot in this regard.

Haha, I still find a lot of them pretty cute, too. There's some good design shapes and ideas in some of those older pieces that maybe I can recycle and refine or develop into something new someday.

I definitely would like to share more original work; I'm going through a sort of transitional phase with my art at the moment, so there isn't much to share that I legitimately feel like posting. I can, however, share this lineup of vehicular characters that were sketched up some weeks ago for Funky Town:

I've always had a general appreciation for mechanical shapes and design; I've learned that that general appreciation runs deeper than anticipated, so hard surface focused / adjacent design has been where my mind has been at recently.

#ask #that thing called art #digital #funky town

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zimt-deathnote · 5 months ago

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Hello,

I am an art student (art on instagram link in my account, I am too lazy to post on two different platforms), and I love your art style and creativity, you are incredible ✨

I am at that point in my studies where I am getting decent at at least some of the techniques, but struggle using them to give life to my own ideas.

Do you have any advice on character design and environment study? I admire how you manage to give so much personality to your characters just with body language, it’s amazing, I have lots of trouble just managing to make mine look like themselves in two different sketches. Every time I feel like I got it right I lose it the moment after :(.

Where do I start when I want to study for a project, and how do you organise your work?

Thank you for reading, I hope this ask finds you well ❤️

Hi there!! Thanks for reaching out!! <3

Yeah character consistency can be tricky! My go-to strategy for character design is to break them down into their most basic idea. Can be a colour, a shape, a line. Look at this concept art from Inside Out:

The more complex you go, the more tricky, complicated and hard to get right in different drawings will be. That's not a bad thing but you should always keep the very core idea of a character in mind when designing and drawing. If I may add some of my own things in here:

I settled for a very angular Mello and in contrast a rather round Matt. In canon, they're both pretty round, so I thought I'd break that up for a more interesting duo dynamic. For me it's also helpful to think of your character as a map with set distances and points of interest. Take Mellos focal points like the beak-y pointy nose and his blocky hair and the rest doesn't matter that much anymore if you only get those features right. I don't know, I'm super bad at explaining, there's a reason why I'm not a teacher :'D

Maybe you could try to draw your character as tiny or as quickly as you can, that also works well for me. Because you absolutely can't get lost in details and have to break them down to what really matters.

When I see complex characters with tons of tattoos and complex scars or wild hairstyles and details that just absolutely don't matter to the overall design, I always think of the poor poor animators that would have to animate that character if they were part of a TV show haha

As for environment study?? Bruh, I'm as lost as you.

Where to start on a project? Anywhere, as long as you start. Sitting in front of a blank paper is the worst thing. Drawing bad is better than not drawing at all. Look at other art, maybe even copy some, trace some, anything that helps you get into the flow.

Organising things is a supreme dicipline. I would say I give my best to stay organised but fail miserably. But I had people tell me I'm insanely organised, so... No idea. Taking the whole Death Note AU thing as one big project, I try to keep things seperated by characters, eras, themes or places, depending on what makes sense and throw all the files in the respective folders but it's getting more cluttered by the minute... What helps me if making overviews, like lineups of characters or something like this:

Colour chart where I can just pick the colours and not rummage through my files to find a fitting reference for different characters.

Oof that turned longer than I wanted, I hope you can at least find some helpful information out of my rambling :'D

#ask

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13as07 · 5 months ago

Text

Shogi Partner #1

(Shikamaru Nara)

[Artwork is not mine! Credit to Pixiv Id]

Requested by: Anonymous

Word Count: 3,385

Warnings and/or Pre-Notes:

Name Calling: Baby Girl, Fawn

Age Gap

Power Imbalance (Teacher/Student)

Borderline Pedophilia

Choking

Titty Play

Cheating

———————————————————————

"Come along," my Father orders, his long fingers waving me forward, trying to beckon me along.

"I don't get why you can't keep training me," I mutter, dragging my feet as much as possible. There's not much stalling to do since Dad is only a few steps away, but that doesn't stop me from trying.

"We've talked about this, Baby Girl," Dad starts his repeated speech, slinging an arm over my shoulders once I'm close enough for him to grab onto. He uses his hold to stop any attempts at escaping and to continue moving me forward. "You just graduated from the academy and despite how amazing of a shinobi I am, I'm not equipped to train you in the things you excel at. Your dear Dad is great at the bronze department, not so much the brains department."

"So, what? You're going to thrust me into the arms of Uncle Genma?"

Dad lets out a rippling chuckle, his arm bending upward to ruffle my hair. "Uncle Genma hates all children, besides you. I'm not going to tempt that changing by asking him to train you. Besides, there's a Shinobi five or six years older than you that'll be better fitted as your Sensei. He's got the whole brains thing going for him too. I think you two will be a nice challenge for each other."

"Whatever you say," I mutter under my breath, not fully believing Dad. Since the end of the war, he's been set on finding the best-fitted Sensei for my 'brains' as he calls them. No one on the lineup has been beneficial enough for my Father.

The few that have passed him have ended up getting shot down by his best friend; Genma, who swears that they're either not smart enough to keep up with my 'growing mind' or give off perv vibes. I'd be more than happy to continue my training under Dad or with one of his friends, but I haven't gotten much of a say in who I train under, the event about to unfold being example one of that.

Our walk falls into a comfortable silence, Dad's body heat fighting off the beginning of the autumn chill that crawls across my skin. My eyes bounce around the landscape, looking over the same scenery I have the whole of my life. At least it's the same scenery until I'm pulled left, cutting through the border lines between Akimichi territory and Nara territory.

It doesn't take long until official markers of Nara territory filter into my sight, their clan symbols and a million different deer-themed decorations littered all over their property. I stay silent but eye Dad, trying to figure out who exactly he plans to have take over my training.

Soon enough, the distinct replica of every clan's headquarters filters into the landscape too, seeming like a sore thumb in comparison to the other architecture of the grounds. However, that's the case for almost every clan. Still, I stay silent as Dad leads me into the round building.

The same muddy green and smoky grey coats the Nara Clan Center as it does the rest of their grounds. Unlike the prosperity, the space is decorated with pictures of past Chiefs instead of antlers and artworks featuring the deer population.

"Hello," Dad greets the receptionist, his usual flirty airiness set in his voice that's always present when he's speaking to a woman he finds attractive. The only bigger flirt in the village than him is Uncle Genma. No wonder neither is married.

"Hello," the lady returns drily, unamusement in her tone. "How can I help you?"

"My daughter and I have a meeting with Shikamaru."

"At ten-thirty, yes, you do. It's currently ten-fifteen, Namiashi-San."

Dad shrugs his shoulders, eyes lazily trailing the wall before falling on the blonde again. "Better early than late, right?"

I almost gag at the sight of him checking her out, not an ounce of embarrassment on his face when his eyes lag on her chest. "Dad?"

Instantly, my Father's flirty act ends, his full attention on me. "Baby Girl?" He calls back, his usual gentle grin back on his face.

"You're acting like a pervert."

The color washes out of his face at the same time a satisfied smile crawls onto the lady's. A pout settles in place, enjoyment still swimming in his eyes. Slowly, his smile returns as he opens his mouth, ready to tease me back.

"It's good to see Iwashi isn't the only one keeping Genma and you in line, Raido."

Dad's eyes stay on me for a second, a soft encouraging smile being sent to me before he turns toward the mystery voice. "Ya, my daughter does a pretty good job at keeping my head on my shoulders," his voice rings out, an arm going up before resting on my back when I move to tuck myself into his side again. "Say hello, Baby Girl," he encourages, rubbing my back as he smiles down at me.

"Hello," I obey, slowly lifting my eyes off the ground to look at the person Dad has been talking to. Standing in front of us is a tall man, a few centimeters shorter than my Father, but still tall. He's a slim guy, the sort of beautifully slim that makes my cheeks heat up. Youthfulness is still melted into his expression, aged more than mine but not enough to be more than five or so years older.

"Hey," he greets, a blank expression on his face, making him seem even more handsome. His skin is pale and flawless, reminding me of freshly fallen snow. The rest of his features counter his skin tone but in a perfectly fitting way. The dark raven color of his hair is a nice contrast, especially paired with his dark-slitted eyes. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy walked straight off a photo shoot.

"Remember last week when you said you'd do anything for a decent shogi partner?"

"Ya," the guy carefully answers, slowly turning his focus back to Dad.

Dad clasps his hands onto my shoulders, gently pushing me toward the young adult. "My daughter has been undefeated for the past few years. Even beat Genma a handful of times."

"Genma's strategy is sloppy."

"Come on Shikamaru. Just one game."

"Why? What do you expect to gain from me playing a game of shogi with your daughter?"

"Well, I've been looking for someone fitting to take over her training now that she's graduated from the - "

"No," the man - Shikamaru - interprets, a tad of emotion swirling on his face. Disgust, maybe? Repulsion? "I have enough on my plate. I don't need or want to play teacher."

"Come on," Dad repeats, pushing me closer to the guy. The scent of pine and cigarette smoke mixes together and melts off him, only adding more heat to my cheeks. "She's smart. So smart. Choza says my Baby Girl reminds him of you at her age. It's a beneficial situation for both of you. One lesson per game of shogi. It really is - "

"If I say yes, will you leave me alone?" Shikamaru butts in again, his fingers pressed to his temples and rub circles into his skin.

"Yes."

"Fine."

————————————

The Fawn I've been responsible for since... how long have I been playing shogi with Namiashi-Chan? I rest my chin on my folded hands, my eyes glued to the game board as I both wait for her to play her turn and think over how long our agreement has been going on.

She's been visiting me for lessons and a daily game since she graduated from the academy. My little Fawn graduated on time so she was what? Twelve? I think so. I was twelve when I graduated.

She just had a birthday three or four months ago. I know she did. Tamari and I took our son to it. How old did my Fawn turn? Sixteen? Seventeen? She's six years younger than me. How old am I? I was nineteen when Shikadai was born and he's four. So... I'm twenty-three, which makes my Fawn eighteen.

My eyes flicker up to glance at her, taking a quick look at her face. Over the years she's gotten better at hiding her thoughts and feelings during our games, but her eyes still widen and shrink in time with her thoughts and feelings, hence 'fawn'.

We had to leave early from her party because Shikadai had a meltdown when we told him no more cupcakes. She tried hard to hide her disappointment but it shinned in her eyes.

My Fawn looks nothing like she did when I left her party. She's empty-faced, her eyes glued to a single spot in another attempt not to give away her plans. During my leave from her party, her eyes were misty, and jumping around to avoid looking at me.

I'm not dumb or oblivious. I'm aware of my Fawn's feelings for me. She wears them quite openly, especially in recent years. Even now it's written all over her choices and body language. The bright lipstick to pull my attention to her mouth, the loose top and dangly anbu tags to pull my eyes down her shirt.

The anbu tags are carved with her father's information. The anbu tags worn with age to the point the 'do' in Raido and the 'mai' in Namiashi have started to fade. The anbu tags that had a section of chain replaced last month. The anbu tags that softly rise with my Fawn's breasts every time she breaths.

Not that I'm paying attention to the easy lust trap my Fawn set up. That would be inappropriate for multiple reasons. She's freshly eighteen. I met her when she was twelve and when I was seventeen. She's my student. I hold multiple layers of power over her; teacher, a village chief, Hokage advisor. I'm married, with a son. Happily married… Very happily married.

The sound of a playing piece clicking against the board snaps me out of my thoughts. Disgust with myself crawls up my throat as I yank my eyes away from my Fawn's chest. My eyes focus on the board instead, trying to figure out the play she made.

Now that her turn is over, Namiashi-Chan leans against her propped-up leg, her cheek squishing against her knee as she rests her head. Her lips are pressed tight together, the telltale sign that she found a hole in her strategy. Now, I just need to find it. "You're unusually quiet today," I comment, filling some of the space as I try to see what she sees unfolding on the board.

"Am I?" Lips back thin, hiding away the red paint lacing them.

I wonder if she smears her lipstick when she puts it on. Tameri always manages to put it on perfectly and complains when I mess it up. I bet the boys Fawn plays with like her lipstick smeared if there are any boys. I wonder how hot it would be, Namiashi-Chan's lipstick getting ruined because of her lips wrapping around my -

"Yes," I yelp, cutting off my train of thought. "Yes, you've been really quiet today." I think I'm going to be sick.

My Fawn's head tilts more, eyebrows pushed together as she looks me over. "I'm just thinking," she mutters, concern quickly water-falling over her features. "Are you okay, Sensei? You look like you're going to throw up."

"I'm fine." I'm just having perverted thoughts about you because of your slutty red lips and wide open top that teases the spilling of your titties. Oh, and your father's anbu tags. I'm sure your dad enjoys the fact men trail over a symbol of his career before looking down your shirt. "Sorry."

"For what?"

Calling your lipstick slutty and talking about you like you're a prostitute instead of a high-ranked shinobi. "Being so busy recently. Temari has been anxious about Shikadai starting preschool next week." Technically, not a lie... I think.

I wouldn't know how Temari is feeling. The last year has been rough for us. Constant fights about my work, about our son's future, about her want to move us to the Sand Village, about both of us refusing to retire to ensure at least one of us will come home alive. I can't just leave my Clan, retiring as a Shinobi and moving out of the village both mean that would have to happen. I refuse to abandon my post as chief. It's not what would be good for my people. It's not what my Father would want.

"It's alright. When you told me Temari was pregnant I figured your plate would be fuller. Don't worry so much, Sensei," my Fawn tries to comfort me, her lips spread into a smile. It's concerning how red her lips are. It can't just be lipstick.

My eyes trail over her father's tags again, wondering how plumper her breasts would get if she got pregnant. Temari went up a full cup size. Would my Fawn's boobs grow that much too? How round would her belly get? How adorable would she be waddling around stuffed full with my child? My child... Shikadai. Temari. Fawn... baby deer. A fawn is a baby deer, and Namiashi-Chan is a baby adult.

Another wave of nausea hits me, the acid of my stomach roaring to try and get out. Why do my thoughts keep wondering? Especially to a place as dark as that? What kind of man thinks about impregnating their student? A girl they've known since before her teen years? A terrible man. I'm a terrible man.

"Sensei?" Namiashi-Chan whispers, pulling my attention out of my thoughts. Once I'm focused on her again, the perverted dark thoughts come crashing down again. She's leaned across the table, concern forcing her cherry lips into a deep frown, and her hand pressed against my forehead. "Are you sure you're fine? You're really pale and your forehead feels warm."

Instantly my eyes drop down, investigating the way this position makes her chest look. Her boobs are pressed further up, teasing the neckline of her shirt even more. The thought of sliding my dick between her tits flickers through my mind, making me feel sicker, my disgust with myself only deepening when my dick twitches. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure? Do you want me to fetch you some medicine? Or water?"

Her big doe eyes are locked on me, drowning in worry and drowning my penis in a rush of blood. I wonder how her eyes would look while sucking me off. How'd they look while I'm fucking her? Like this? Round, soft, and so full of life? Or would they be more hardened, focused, constantly changing depth like they do while she's concentrating?

Before the head on my shoulders can get a say, I'm leaning forward, trailing my nose across her cheek as I get in position to kiss her. My hand jumps, fingertips sliding under the chain lying across her neck. The second my lips brush against hers, my hand falls into place below her jawline, wrapping around her throat and gently gripping it. Enough for my Fawn to feel the pressure but not enough to cut her breathing short.

A second of shock runs through my Fawn before she's present in the kiss too, her lips still slightly pasty. Something that makes me feel worse about myself but equally good brews in my chest, knowing her lipstick is still wet because she put it on just for me.

My fingers tighten around her throat, testing the waters of her reaction. A small hmph of pleasure spills from her, getting sucked down my throat when I part my lips. My tongue slips out, forcing its way into her mouth, another sound bubbles from my pretty Fawn when I get my way.

Again, the head straining against my pants wins out the command war, my free hand finding its way to her waist. I ball up the material of her shirt, yanking it upward until the hem is sliding against my fingers. My touch slides under Fawn's shirt, slowly trailing across her ribs before tracing the band of her bra.

The sounds overflowing from Namiashi-Chan are as sweet as the taste of her mouth, coated in the flavor of sugar and the lingering mint taste of her toothpaste. "Shikamaru," my name comes out shaky and jumbled as it gets eaten up by our kisses. How long has it been since I've heard my name in such a way? Breathless. Sweet. Needy. Intoxicating.

My fingers squirm their way under her bra, sliding upward to cup her breast. It's warm against my palm and as soft as I'd expect. My Fawn has always looked soft, sweet, and innocent. But, I'm not stupid. I know the stuff teenagers get up to. I wonder what the list of naughty things Namiashi-Chan has done consists of.

A jagged moan jerks out of her lungs when the pads of my fingers find her nipple, twirling it between them before pinching it every few seconds. I pull back from her, less than half an inch to suck a breath into my burning lungs.

I take the time to look her over, picking at the reactions she's having to my attention. Her chest is heaving, lips parted with her tongue threatening to poke out as she pants, and her eyes are half hooded, a perfect mix of the soft doe eyes I enjoy so much and arousal. My little Fawn is a sensual type it seems, getting excited simply from touching. I wonder how excited she'd get if I touched her elsewhere.

Her hand which was resting on my forehead for a fever check is now gripping my shoulder like a lifeline. Like I'll vanish into thin air if she lets me go. "Namiashi-Chan?" Her eyes widen a tad from her name rolling off my tongue, the reaction making my dick ache even more. She's so aware of everything all the time, as perfect of a mini-me as a student could get. I wonder how aware she'd be of my tongue twirling her nipple instead of my fingertips.

My request sticks in my throat, feeling like the only thing holding my sickness down at the moment. What in the world am I doing? I shouldn't have kissed her, I shouldn't be touching her like this, I shouldn't have caused her to look at me like she is right now.

"Go home," I whisper, reluctantly pulling my hands off of her. Instantly they feel chilled without my Fawn's body heat to keep them warm. Her neck looks empty too, without my fingers wrapped around it.

"What?" My chest hurts at the sight of her emotions crashing down.

Her eyes are wider, dewy from my order, but still swirling with lust. The corners of her lips are pointed down, her forehead scrunched with confusion. My poor Fawn, emotionally wrecked and upset because of me. Her chest is still pumping, an attempt to keep her emotions in control and locked down I'm sure. Young girls are so emotional, so easily swayed to tears. That doesn't mean I feel any better about coercing her tears.

"Go home, Namiashi," I repeat, trying to keep my tone even and soft. I'm the adult in this situation, the teacher, the person of power, this is my fault, not hers. Does she know that? I hope she does. "Tell your father to meet with me tomorrow as well. I would like to discuss my replacement as your Sensei."

"What? No," she babbles, her tears winning the inner battle and sliding down her cheeks. I bet they're as sweet as the rest of her.

My chest feels wallow because of the sight, because of what I've done and what I have to do. If I can't control myself, I can't be around her. It's the appropriate response in this situation. It's what's best for my Fawn. It's what's best for my marriage and for my son too. That doesn't mean it hurts any less, having to walk away from her. Knowing I just destroyed Namiashi-Chan's whole world, that I held her heart for less than five minutes before shattering it. Knowing I lost another one of my shogi partners.

"Go home."

———————————————————————

#naruto shippuden #naruto shippuden oneshot #naruto shippuden x reader #shikamaru nara #shikamaru nara x reader #shikamaru x reader #shikamaru nara oneshot #shikamaru oneshot

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hopeinthebox · 5 months ago

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how do u curate your playlists? they're so good (listening to the glen powell one rn lol)

dearest anon, please know you've made my entire summer with this ask <3333 (here's the playlist in question)

now while i recognise you probably weren't looking for a legitimate breakdown of the process here, you've inspired me to take a deep dive, and i'm prone to getting carried away (and yes, i read high fidelity recently and rewatched the film and the series. but i'm sure that has nothing to do with it). so here goes, under the cut:

Lizzy's Guide to the Delicate Art of Making a Playlist

#1 - What's the Point?

There has to be a theme or mood or connecting thread for the playlist. That being said, as long as it makes sense to you, you've pretty much got this covered.

What's the story? Is it based on a mood, an event, a time in your life, a person, a character, a genre, an era, etc. etc. There's plenty to choose from, so there's plenty of playlists to be made. Go crazy, get weird with it.

(In this example, the overarching theme is: Glen Powell Hot (Twisters Edn.) with a sub-theme, if you will: Country Music for Beginners.)

#2 - Song Selection

Once the theme is set, I gather a few tracks that spring to mind immediately. In this instance:

• Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That - Dolly Parton

• Cowboy Take Me Away - The Chicks

• Country's Cool Again - Lainey Wilson

All of these are fairly self-explanatory if you have been caught up in the Twisters press tour at all recently. No further comment.

From here I flesh out the ~general vibelist~ with more tracks, some classics and some deep cuts. I'm cross-referencing my own musical knowledge, previous playlists, spotify mixes (god forgive me, the occasional algorithm picks), and other user's Powell playlists (topgun-heavy, but you certainly can't blame them).

#3 - Order Matters

There's got to be some sort of flow to the playlist front to back, unless your theme is audio whiplash, for example.

Now here I am a devout follower of the High Fidelity rules, which are as follows:

Track 1 - Open with a killer - sets the tone, gets people invested

(Here, Lady Gaga's You And I ~ it's a banger, and it's country enough to get away with. Can't bring out the banjo prematurely, we'll lose people)

Track 2 - Bring it up a notch - let them know we're just getting started

(Alannah Myles, Black Velvet ~ country-ing it up a notch but staying firmly in the mainstream, because again, we don't want to scare anyone)

Track 3 - Cool it down - now we're settling in

(Chris Stapleton ft. Dua Lipa - I Think I'm In Love With You ~ Dua keeps us firmly rooted in the crowd pleasers, and we can sneak in some Stapleton)

N.B. There is a rule here that I don't abide by, the "only one track per artist" - there's three dolly tracks in this lineup alone and i stand by all of them. Provided you're not adding an entire album or two, I think you can get away with it.

Anyway, this three-track run fires us into a classic (Islands In The Stream) which melts into Tyler Childers and suddenly we're knee deep in Kentucky and you didn't even know it.

The trick is to not overthink it, which is always easier said than done. Ordering only has to make sense to you from start to finish. This journey's gotta go somewhere - throw in a few peaks and troughs, and the songs are just connecting the dots along the way.

#4 - As Does Shuffle-ability

Now, having said all that, I feel like this is a safe space to admit I am a chronic shuffler, so a degree of shuffle-ability is required.

All this means is that your underlying theme is evident throughout. Any wildcards are going to make sense wherever they pop up.

With this one, the thread of country through all of these tracks is what ties the theme together (saving a horse). There are some classics (Faith Hill, Willie Nelson), soul-heavy tracks (Secret Sisters, Leon Bridges), and and few more pop-adjacent (Haim, Ashe) but they've all got that twang - so it's shuffle proof.

#5 - Points for Presentation

A good cover, title and description can offset a multitude of sins. Don't underestimate the power of presentation.

Duration comes into play here also, where anything shorter than half an hour feels like it has nowhere to go, but over three hours feels insurmountable. Unless you're going for a compilation, year in your life playlist, or some background low-fi stuff, keep it tight.

And there you have it folks, my (lengthy) guide to playlist curation. Final note, don't love it and leave it. If you come across something new, jostle things around to get it in. Similarly, if something doesn't fit anymore, toss it. The beauty of the modern mixtape is you can edit it as little or as often as you like.

If you made it this far, I'm personally sending you a little kiss on the forehead. And to the anon who inspired this article of a response, I can only apologise. MWAH

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kradogsrats · 1 year ago

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If Soren seems to have gotten sick when he was a toddler, do you think Lissa left shortly after Claudia was born…? Maybe that doesn’t quite line up, actually…

Okay so I saw someone ask Aaron Ehasz a similar question about the timeline of Soren's illness re: Viren's dream vs. the events presented in Puzzle House, and I cannot remember where it was but his response was something like "hm... well you should probably believe the show."

Which immediately made me go "oh my god was Soren actually dead for like three to five years and Kpp'Ar was looking for a unicorn horn to resurrect him in a manner similar to the Star magic spell that 'restores bodies to separated spirits' and then instead Viren stole Ziard's staff from him and used that??????" which is a) insane, and b) has several reasons it probably isn't the case. But it's a thought I had.

Anyway, let's look at our contrasting sources:

Puzzle House

Puzzle House establishes the following sequence of events:

Soren is ill to the point of dying

Kpp'Ar disappears

Soren gets better

Lissa leaves

It's also implied that this was all pretty recent, between King Atticus's concern for Viren and Soren's for Claudia:

So, how old are all these extremely precocious young children in Puzzle House?

Well, Sarai is... quite pregnant. She's got a pretty small frame, but I'd still put her at like 30 weeks, minimum. Ezran is pinned at 10 in the official character lineup. (In s4 he says he was "nine years old" when Harrow was killed. Given his March birthday, he is probably fudging that a bit since s1 starts mid-May so he was pretty recently 10 at the time.) Viren also puts Harrow's coronation and Sarai's death at nine years earlier, at which point I would estimate Ezran at roughly 6-8 months, given how he is portrayed.

Also given the mid-May start to s1, we also have Claudia at almost 17, and Soren at about 18 and a half. Soren is about 18 months older than Claudia. So between all of that, we can probably ballpark Puzzle House at about one year before Harrow's coronation. This puts Soren at about 8 and a half, and Claudia at almost 7. (And Callum at about to turn 5, if anyone's keeping track.)

Given the way it's spoken about, I would not put Soren's recovery at earlier than 6 months prior, and probably more like 3 or so. This roughly lines up with the estimates I had for everything before, so idk go me or whatever.

Strangers

We do also have a third source for details on Soren's illness, which is the Strangers short from Reflections. This establishes that Soren was old enough to remember details about that time:

If Soren was the age he appears in Viren's dream, then a) he probably wouldn't remember any of it, and b) Claudia would have been an infant. Now, an infant can definitely cry in their room until morning, but I do think the implication here is supposed to be that she was old enough to understand what was happening and have emotions about it.

Additionally, Soren thinks of the slow breaths practice as something he did therapeutically for a long time:

Basically, I think it's pretty clear between this and the info in Puzzle House that the Puzzle House timeline is accurate, but Soren initially developed what was actually a chronic illness much earlier.

Viren's Dream

Now, what about Viren's dream?

It's incredibly difficult to pinpoint ages of children in animation purely visually, so I'm mostly basing an estimate of 2-3 years old for Soren during Viren's dream off of his demonstrated stage of linguistic development and the fact that he's able to run. He could be delayed in one or both areas, though.

Viren dreams of Soren turning to stone, similar to how Thunder did (and how Viren does in the opening). This is interesting in that the implication is certainly death, but it also has heavy ties to dark magic and the other themes of Viren's dreaming, which I would say put it as more related to something along the lines of a "sealed fate" rather than literal death. Dreaming Viren knows what he didn't know when Soren was that age, and probably developed his first recognizable symptoms—that this illness would come close to killing him, and Viren would give up everything to save him.

There's also a possible implication there that dark magic was actually what caused Soren's illness in the first place, which could be something interesting to explore. (And I've definitely seen people explore it, before.)

Anyway, like most of Viren's dream, it's accurate but not literal.

TL;DR: Dreams are fucking weird, and Claudia was still probably between six and seven years old when Lissa left the family.

#i'm definitely going to fuck up some extremely basic math here #anyway basically the only thing i was wrong about was that kpp'ar disappears before soren gets better rather than after #the dragon prince #the dragon prince spoilers #tdp spoilers #s5 spoilers #soren #claudia #lissa #viren #puzzle house #kradogsmeta

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fishyishy · 6 months ago

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A3! Translation - Hyodo Kumon SSR 【MANKAI Treasure】 Treasure Hunt: KUMON (1/3)

Director: What's up, Yuki-kun?

Yuki: Yeah, that's fine

Kumon: I'm homeee!

Tenma: I'm home.

Juza: I'm home.

Director: Ah, welcome back everyone!

Yuki: Welcome back. Looks like its a full lineup of the Yosei University members.

Taichi: Hehe, we just happened to meet at the school cafeteria~.

Yuki: Hmm...with so many people on the way back, it must have gotten insufferably hot.

Kumon: That's not the case at all! It's so much fun being able to talk about the lectures while taking detours to get back home!

Director: (Haha, looks like Kumon-kun is enjoying his time at Yosei University)

Taichi: Or rather, what's on the table is... Kyucchan's birthday bromide!?

Director: That's right. I was looking at Kumon's bromide photoshoot we took the other day.

Kumon: The bromide is now finished. It was super duper fun taking the photos.

Tenma: Wow, they're all really well taken. Won't the fans be happy to see this too?

Tsuzuru: It's all sparkly and makes your birthday feel special. The accessories are luxurious as well.

Taichi: I know right~! Also, hasn't Kyucchan become more grown up since he's become a university student!?

Kumon: Really!? I'm super super happy to hear everyone's compliments!

Juza: ......

Tsuzuru: Juza? Is something wrong?

Juza: No....it's just, how should I put it... he's grown up.

Tenma: So you were just having the feeling of your brother growing up.

Kumon: Niichan! I'll always be your cute little brother!

Yuki: Uh huh, if that's what you want to do.

Tenma: If the bromide is done, then it means that project must be coming up soon right?

Director: That's right, it's about time to start preparing for Kumon's birthday project.

Yuki: This bromide's costume is so sparkly and treasure-like, so it's a "treasure hunt" themed project.

Kumon: Yaaay! I've been looking forward to my turn ever since this project was decided!

Taichi: The birthday boy will receive a note with hints and use it to find the present and member who prepared it!

Tsuzuru: I think they also shoot the video by themselves.

Director: It's for personal records and memories. It should give off the same feel as home videos.

Juza: I see.

Kumon: I can't wait to see who will get what! I'm super duper uper excited~.

Tenma: Kumon's birthday treasure hunt looks like it's going to be interesting.

Director: ---Yes, please bring a camera and the hint notes.

Kumon: Yesssss! Thanks! I'm excited for the treasure hunt!

Kumon: Okay, let's turn the camera on... and open the hint!!

Kumon: Etto, what's written is........"Daily special braised pork meal set"?

Kumon: This is.... definitely that place!!

Director: (It looks like he immediately thought of a place)

Kumon: Well then, I'm off director!

Director: Alright, have fun!

I next

please let me know if there are any mistakes !

#a3! translation #a3! game #a3!#hyodo kumon #kumon hyodo #rurikawa yuki #hyodo juza #nanao taichi #minagi tsuzuru #sumeragi tenma #i love you kumon but please come home yuki #a3! act addict actors

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justafriend-ql · 1 year ago

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2024 gmmtv bl + gl predictions/wishlist

okay okay, i know it's only july. but i'm a little crazy, so i'm already thinking about the 2024 lineup. some general observations that are informing my predictions:

the 2023 lineup features 9 bls and 1 gl (out of 22 total series). 2 of the bls are ensemble casts (our skyy 2, only friends). so we can probably expect ~10 ql series next year.

as a general rule, it seems like gmmtv's main pairs will get a series every other year or so, although some popular pairings may be mains two years in a row.

they also seem to give lead roles to one or two new main pairings per year - usually pairs that have been floated as side couples in series that aired the year prior (e.g., milklove, perthchimon)

*please note that this is entirely speculation and i don't intend to start any wars in the notes. also: i will be talking about the pairs from an analytical/business perspective; if that makes you uncomfortable, i recommend you just keep scrolling*

bl predictions (in no particular order)

winny x satang series

rationale: given the success of their pairing in my school president and the many fanmeets/brand sponsorship events they've had together this year (including some solo events abroad), this is almost a guarantee. genre prediction: i'm guessing it will be a romcom with a bit of a darker/angstier edge to it, since winny and satang are great at the enemies to lovers trope and are talented dramatic actors.

2. pond x phuwin series

rationale: since fish upon the sky, these two have been a very popular pairing (particularly in thailand, it seems). along with joongdunk and geminifourth, they're part of the 'new gen' group that gmmtv has do a lot of fanmeets/brand sponsorship events (which means $$$ for gmmtv). their last series, never let me go, aired mostly in 2023 but was scheduled for 2022, so a 2024 series would be in keeping with the every-other-year rule. genre prediction: i think their next series will lean more towards the romcom end of the spectrum, given that never let me go was a lakorn and (regrettably, in my opinion) wasn't as popular as fish upon the sky.

3. gemini x fourth series

rationale: this is another no-brainer, really. this pair is so wildly popular that they're already having a solo concert together. both are very good actors (and performers) despite their young age. gmmtv would be stupid not to capitalize on their popularity and skill. genre prediction: probably still romcom, but with a little more "maturity" than my school president. they're young, but that hasn't ever stopped gmmtv from upping the intensity of the physical intimacy, in particular (e.g., phuwin was 19, about the same age as gemini and fourth, when never let me go was filmed).

4. first x khaotung series

rationale: though these two certainly aren't bound to the branded pair model, they excel when they act opposite to each other. the eclipse garnered a lot of popularity for them, and that's only going to grow after only friends. genre prediction: these two can carry heavy, emotional scenes and dark themes extremely well, so it'd be great to see them in a darker genre (the eclipse, while dealing with heavy topics, still had a lot of lighter romcom moments). personally, i'd love to see them lead a p'aof production, which might be likely since p'aof worked with (and was impressed with) the two of them on moonlight chicken. a period drama with these two would be super interesting.

5. neo x mark series

rationale: these two are the wildcard pairing in only friends and were originally the side couple in cooking crush (before they switched out mark due to overbooking him). this is consistent with gmmtv's tendency to float a couple in a series or two before giving them a series of their own. they're both in the same boat, having been relegated to the "funny side character" role for a while, but they have tremendous potential to do more, and gmmtv seems to recognize that now with their decision of casting them in only friends. genre prediction: hmm this one is tricky, since these two can do romcom and drama equally well. if i had to guess, they'll give neo and mark an "edgy"/"sexy" sereies because they're willing to go there and they can execute it well, which isn't necessarily true of all other gmmtv pairs.

6. force x book series

rationale: okay, i know i said gmmtv usually doesn't give pairs a main series two years in a row. but in forcebook's case, i think it's likely. for some reason that i don't personally understand, enchante didn't seem to resonate with a lot of people, but their popularity has skyrocketed since a boss and a babe and will only grow more when only friends airs. i think gmmtv will go with the momentum and give them another series in 2024. genre prediction: forcebook have done two romcoms already, so hopefully they'll get to branch out into another genre. personally, i think a mafia-type series led by these two would be really sick.

gl predictions (in no particular order)

gmmtv is testing the gl waters with milklove-led 23.5 this year. given the popularity of idol factory's gap the series (which surpassed 2gether's viewing stats by a wide margin), gmmtv will need to invest in the gl market in order to remain competitive. that's why i think there will be at least 2 gls in 2024, rather than just one.

view x june series

rationale: view and june will star in dangerous romance and 23.5 this year, indicating that gmmtv is looking to brand them or at least give them main roles in 2024. they're both talented actresses who have a lot of experience and can easily handle heavier material. it's just a matter of how well they're received as a pair in the series that air in 2023. genre prediction: we don't know what their dynamic will be like in their 2023 series, but i think a lakorn-style, enemies to lovers narrative would suit view and june well and give them a chance to showcase their great acting skills. a sci-fi series would also be really neat!

2. sizzy girl group series

rationale: this one might be more of a personal wish than a likely prediction, since gmmtv hardly gives sizzy the time of day. but! jan and aye have played queer characters before, and ciize has repeatedly expressed interest in doing a gl (even talking to jane about being paired together). they're all great actresses and performers (sizzy concert when??), so it really would be amazing if they got their own series. genre prediction: i'm feeling a rom-com for them. my personal dream is a series about a literal girl group of performers (like sizzy itself) so that there can be original music for each episode like in my school president. bonus points if nanon can guest star as their slaytastic manager (i'm never getting over their love score collab).

ensemble predictions (in no particular order)

given the growing number of branded and un-branded pairs within gmmtv, gmmtv will have to lean more into ensemble series (like only friends) in order to give everyone screen-time.

a light-hearted romcom (like our skyy 2)

rationale: this would be an opportunity to give airtime to any branded pairs that don't have their own series, or more work for popular pairs. a light-hearted romcom with a stacked ensemble cast would be a huge moneymaker for gmmtv with lots of fanmeet/concert opportunities (like my school president). cast predictions: we could see many members of the my school president gang (geminifourth, markford, potentially also aun and prom) here. this could also be a chance to float new gl pairings!

2. a more mature, jojo-style series (like only friends)

rationale: other production companies are ratcheting up the heat of their series; gmmtv will do so too in order to stay competitive. for better or for worse, sex sells, and like only friends, a series like this would attract a lot of attention and excitement on social media. cast predictions: this is where some of their older, more established pairs come into play. we could see jimmysea or offgun here. or even joongdunk or pondphuwin, since these two pairs are being pushed in the direction of higher heat. this could look like a mafia or gang-war style series, or maybe something with paranormal/horror themes.

bonus: things that probably won't happen but i would desperately like to see

namtan, tu, ploypach and/or prim gl (please i'm begging i would DIE; can you imagine a period piece with these four?? the costumes alone would have me on my knees)

joongdunk/pondphuwin vampire series (i don't care if it's cringe; did you see joongdunk's dumdum performance??)

breaking up branded pairs (imagine, for example, if joongdunk/pondphuwin switched partners; or winnysatang/markford; or jimmysea/forcebook)

fluke pusit main series (i mean, come on)

midnight museum season 2 khathadome canon (not brothers, please be serious)

okay, that's it. feel free to add your own predictions/wishlist. remember: these are just my own ideas and opinions! don't take anything i say too seriously haha

#i don't know why i made this post other than to get all of this out of my head haha #lemme know what you think #looking forward to coming back to this post in november and seeing how far off i am #gmmtv 2024 #gmmtv #gmmtv actors #predictions #long post

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raayllum · 1 year ago

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Loyalty and Love :: A Miyana Meta

In S4 and S5, one of the most interesting side characters introduced, upon further reflection, has definitely been General Miyana of the Six Horns. Although mostly there to be a trusted confidant and sounding board for Karim, in S5 she's allowed to be a lot more active and interplay a lot more with themes the show is steadily more explicitly exploring in regards to love and loyalty, which is what I'm gonna talk about today.

So without further ado, let's get into it.

The first time we see Miyana is in the tent with Karim for Janai and Amaya's initial engagement announcement / celebration.

It is worth noting, I believe, that Karim initially didn't want to tell Janai about is concerns over her marriage, but Janai urged him to be honest with her about what was bothering him. (Talk about a catalyst for unwanted consequences). Given that Karim is clearly close to Amaya to have seen her effect on Amaya ("Well sister, it can finally be said: you have met your match... Janai, I have nothing to criticize about Amaya. I love Amaya! She is strong and funny, and she makes you happy") as well as for Amaya to consider the marriage merely "officially" making him her little brother. Miyana and Karim might've shared similar reservations and worries about the humans' continued, growing presence in 'New' Aurea, but we simply don't know enough to say; perhaps she brought muttering from the other Six Horns to him, and that was the initial seed (or the other way around).

When the incident with the architect and the Soul flame candle happens, though, Karim starts to lose his impatience.

K: This is the problem! Like all the other humans, even your wife-to-be thinks this is a joke. [...] You know what must be done. Call a Tribunal of the Six Horns.

And this is also where we start to see the political implications of Miyana and Karim's relationship. But first, a few assumptions:

Miyana is close enough to the queen to be sent to report news to her, something we see only Kazi and Gren do to either Amaya or Janai (5x07)

Janai trusts Miyana with the Sun Seed and is comfortable operating on a first name basis (5x07), particularly in Amaya's absence

Miyana leads the lineup of the Six Horns, likely indicating either senior-ship or authority among the group

Karim and Miyana have likely been together for a while, but are seemingly not wed. Janai refers to him as "kid brother" which indicates a more prominent age gap between the siblings (anywhere from 7-10 years in my experience) and does not mention Miyana when she says, "I'm supposed to criticize your love life, not the other way around" (4x02)

Either Karim and Miyana have kept their relationship entirely secret, or Janai knows but does not disapprove, and assumes she still has Miyana's loyalty due to her continued presence at camp even after Karim's exile / not helping him when he asked in 4x09. I personally lean toward her not knowing due to their late night scheduled rendezvous, but you can interpret it both ways

Either way, they clearly care about keeping their relationship secret as when he goes to her quarters in 4x08, Miyana says, "What are you doing? We shouldn't be seen together" (showing that they are both politically minded enough to be willing to stay a secret for no other apparent reason, too).

Given that Janai and Miyana have both worked as prominent generals and her close relationship with Kairm, Miyana has likely known the Sunfire royal family for some time (possibly since childhood)

Miyana is not the first to cast judgement, either, at the trial's end, with everyone else changing their fire first. (This could indicate the opposite of what leading the line did, and that she is in reality the lowest of the Six Horns, or could not be custom at all - who knows?)

After all, we know the outcome Karim wants - punishment and "justice" and that by calling the Horns, he will likely get what he wants, as he knows Miyana will likely side with his choice as well. This is supported in canon since the Horns likewise unanimously vote that Lucia is guilty even with Amaya's testimony; it is singularly Janai's decision of what she is being sentenced to that spares her.

It's implied that when Karim left the tribunal angrily, he was waiting at the wall to meet Miyana when Janai intercepted him, given that it's his and Miyana's meeting spot later than episode, and she playfully chides him for being late.

Miyana doesn't seem particularly upset herself about anything that happened at the Tribunal, even if Janai certainly didn't go with what sentencing Miyana had had in mind when choosing guilty as a verdict. She also doesn't seem super shocked that Karim is going to well, conspire to go against his sister (which is treason) but to be fair, she is mostly there to 1) establish that they're in a relationship and 2) so Karim has an excuse to say his thoughts out loud so the audience can hear them. You can, however, also read this very laid back reaction as one of well - future loyalty, as we'll soon see, but also perhaps a sign of caution, which is Miyana's most valuable trait in contrast to Karim's more impatient nature. And if the previous implications are right - Miyana and Karim both putting their political power over being open about their relationship, it would make sense that they must politically agree / have values that align beyond just "your values should match up when someone is your partner" y'know?

"These things take time." This is, of course, the last thing Karim wants to hear after learning about Janai's 100+ year plan to restore their people's peace and security, a day that neither them nor their potential children will leave to see, so he doubles down accordingly.

Miyana being more cautious/patience makes sense, too, given that she's not nearly as irate about Janai and Amaya doing well, anything, at this point as he is.

Miyana's emphasis on "Did he win?" (a focus on securing victory and hedging your bets/choices correctly) over Karim's "He did, but the point of the story is not who won. The duel stopped the war" and stopped the clash between siblings, which is ultimately what Karim wants. He never thinks that Janai will accept the duel, but that she will abdicate, leave with her wife, and they can both get exactly what they wanted, particularly since as Janai said, "I never wanted to be queen" (4x02) a perspective that has changed because of the Tribunal he urged her to call and because of her growing bond with Amaya (4x08).

So by this point in the story, we know that:

Miyana is close to the royal family

She cares about her own political values and power enough to be willing to hide her and Karim's relationship for their mutual political gain, particularly in situations like the Tribunal

She's caring, patient, and less irritable than her partner

She's cautious and plays the long game - not stepping in to help Karim in 4x09 when she sees the tide has already turned against him, knowing she'd be more valuable remaining at camp until she can make her own play

She thinks through more of the angles (such as questioning what will happen if Janai accepts the duel, which Karim never really considers as an option)

S5 doesn't really give us any new information - it just doubles down on all of these, but allows her to do so independently without Karim's own pushing. Rather, Pharos arriving and almost implicating her serves to tell her what Karim wants, even if she doesn't know why yet.

This 'demand' tells us more about Karim in some ways than it does Miyana. It shows that he misses her, it indicates that he trusts her still which this episode later proves, and it's a way to give her an excuse to see him again, which we know he desperately wants (but we're gonna talk a lot more about their final scene, just you wait) that she may not be able to take without causing suspicion otherwise.

It's also why he cries when she does show up in 5x09, because when she didn't in 5x08, he thought she'd truly betrayed him and changed sides (hence why he was maybe more angry at Janai and Amaya than he previously ever had been before, given what he'd 'lost' to them), believing retrospectively that his love had truly forsaken him.

But she hadn't. Because she betrayed Janai instead.

Karim isn't in a particularly good place at the end of season four, either, with losing his duel (but having his life spared) and his political machinations and future for his people blowing up in his face. But he's in an undeniably worse one (at first) in 5x09, having tried to legitimately kill his sister (which wasn't the initial plan in 4x09) and failed, enlisting a dubious assassin who also abandoned him when it suited her, getting his ass kicked by Amaya, his plan to heal Sol Regem and get his aid indefinitely stalled without the sun seed, losing the love of his life, and losing his mother's ring, to boot.

It is quite literally only because of Miyana that absolutely anything gets turned around and even before Miyana reveals that she's absolutely changed the game in his favour, Karim is still emotional and overjoyed to see her (and we start to see their, let's say Parallels, come to light...)

Amaya: You abandoned him. You broke his heart.

Callum: Well, some things have changed, but not everything: I would do anything for you.

Opeli: Don't you want to know what she was up to? Why she did all this? Callum: If she didn't tell me, she has a good reason. [...] Rayla, I was wrong. I waited too long. I hope you know—

In spite of less than ideal appearances, in spite of perceived or actual abandonment, in spite of apparent indifference, they've stayed loyal to one another through everything. As they clarify tearfully to themselves, Miyana's Love for him is Synonymous with her Loyalty. They are one and the same.

You might say that she would Do Anything for him. Even when quite literally everyone and anything else turns against him, she is in his corner - and makes all the difference. I dunno about you, but I kinda have to respect it.

Which, okay, yeah Miyana is loyal to Karim because she loves him. Duh. Why does this matter thematically? How does this develop one of the other major explorations / notions of the season? Well...

(Cut lines from Finnegrin's Wake) Finnegrin to Callum: Seems to me that love's got a tighter grip on you than those chains round your wrists. So I'll do you a favour and set you free.

A slave to your loyalties.

Your loyalty? My love.

Interesting, don't you think?

TLDR; Miyana's love and loyalty to Kairm helps reinforce the "in the name of love" motivation that we increasingly see the main cast be embroiled in over the course of Arc 2, for better or for worse, with interesting implications for her history with the Sunfire Royal Family, and possible reaffirmation setup for Callum and Rayla moving forward.

#tdp #tdp miyana #prince karim #miyana #the dragon prince #karim x miyana #analysis series #s4 #s5 #arc 2 #in the name of love #with a bit of rayllum at the end. as a treat #even soren's 'dad is dead you don't have to do what he Wants anymore' to claudia like #we're Well past that sor-bear (unfortunately)#rayllum ignoring direct orders from a queen. ezran likely putting his foot down about the starscraper #LIKE GEE I WONDER. I WONDER WHERE IT'S GOING #one of my fave lil realizations of the season tbh. excited to finally write it down in more detail

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