#It appears this is the year I finally started using more brushes and more texture in my art!!

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for lying about my hair routine?

So, I (25F) don't have a lot of things that I am proud of, appearance wise. But the one thing i AM proud of is my hair. I have these, like, really soft and pillowy brown curls. Like, big fluffy 3A-3B ringlets.

My hair has always been curly, but I was bullied and harassed as a kid for it because I am the only person in my family with curly hair. As such, no one knew how to help me take care of it, so I'd have people both in and outside of my family telling me that I looked like a slob, that I looked lazy, that I looked like I'd just rolled out of bed, etc.

My hair WAS frizzy and messy, but whenever I tried to do something about it, I'd have people tell me I was just trying to be special, and that I knew it looked better straight, so I should just get over it and do the thing that I knew would make it look good. I grew up in Mormon country, so the pressure to look "professional and respectable" (read: conventionally attractive, thin, and white) was very heavy. I either straightened my hair or put it in a tight braid for about a decade before finally going to a curly hairdresser, having her cut it all off and starting fresh some 4 years ago.

Now that the damaged hair is fully gone and I know how to take care of it all, my curls are flourishing. I can't go anywhere without someone complimenting them. It's really lovely.

Now to the part where I might be an asshole. A lot of the people I grew up with (family, my mom's friends, people that go to my parent's church) have also noticed my hair, and are always asking me about my routine.

Now that the natural hair movement has sort of taken off, suddenly the women that got on my case about looking "lazy" and "ratty" and "homeless" all want curls, even if (especially if, in a lot of cases) they don't have a naturally curly hair texture.

Like my mom, for example, has had thick, gorgeous straight hair her entire life--like, it could barely hold a curl even if you used an iron and gelled that shit in place. And she was always complimented for it! But now that the women on her instagram page are showing off their curly girl methods, it's the only thing she can think about, and she talks about how jealous she is of my hair all. The. Time.

So, it usually goes like this. Someone I know compliments my hair and asks me about my routine. I try to laugh it off, then they ask for products, and I tell them that I just use normal head and shoulders shampoo from walmart. They ask me what method I use, I say that I just wash it, sleep on it, then brush it out in the morning--the same routine they always told me to use as a kid. And they seethe, because that's what they've BEEN doing, and it clearly isn't getting the same results. And I just go "well, I guess it has more to do with your natural texture :)" and move on.

I told my sister about this, and she told me I was being an asshole--that these ladies have moved on from their weird prejudice, so I should let it go and explain what I do and why it probably wouldn't work for them. I know it's petty. I know the nice thing to do would be to explain how my hair texture works and so on. But I take a lot of satisfaction in watching these women be jealous of something that they used to shame me for, so I'm okay with being petty. I guess I know I'm an asshole, but am I justified in it?

What are these acronyms?

[chevvy-yates]

[NC_RES]_17112045-NCA arki_portraits_010_DA_KB_WA.file ///core:_arki.file\\\

—

⚠️ READ: Please do not repost/reupload any of my art here or to any other platform, or I will be forced to do anything to get it annihilated.

Akki/Arki belongs to @nervouswizardcycle. ♥️

—

First picture is the cover artwork for:

///CH01_THE_GOLDEN_DEMON_OF_KABUKI.file\\\ from Cyberpunk 2078 – Pandemonium

—

Additional info behind the cut:

Tbh I always didn't like the existing menpo masks of the game as they look weird to me and not 'classic yokai/oni mask' enough. The more happy I was about the 'Yokai International' mod by manavortex. Once I saw them on nexus I knew that this is the point where I could finally vp the starting artwork picture for the story.

There's lot's of textures and brushes added as I knew right from the start (through another vp project I haven't posted yet) that the ingame given effects won't satisfy me so I had to add them in post process.

I've done stuff like that years ago (mostly for work) but have always been too lazy to do it right from the start in vp (plus I was learning how to use my ingame tools first). And tbh I will only do it where I think it is neccessary as it eats a lot of time until my annoying perfectionism is 'okay' with the result.

Spent three evenings/nights (after work) on both pics. Second was faster done as of the existing layers/settings from the first, just tweaking the effects a bit differently. The second pic is only an addition for the normal vp post as I didn't use it for the chapter pdf.

The golden mask is recolorered as it appeared red in the original picture due to me having a red light spawned for a more dangerous feeling. Hair that clipped through the mask needed to be retouched by redrawing it and then it was just basically playing around with effects.

Here's the (already color tweaked with Lightroom) non-effects pics, so you get an idea of what has been added and what has been there already.

I took only two pics – nothing more as it was exactly the poses I wanted to have. I lightened up the 'maw' part of the mask to give a feel of a real maw at first but when you look closer you see Arki's beard and bottom lip. The second pic doesn't focus so much on this as mentioned it got not used as keyvisual for the chapter.

'The Golden Demon' refers more to his golden coat and the golden gloved claw, rather than a golden mask. Yet for the key visual I wanted the mask to appear golden as we do not see his coat and the mask was more important in my opinion.

[tiny-breadcrumbs]

Of Pencil and Paper

(Trigger warning: mention of Sexual Assault and self harm)

People often ask why I stay with analog medium? The world is moving, digital art is growing fast and it does perform better on industrial scale. But I can never find how to answer that question without it sounded like I'm selling a sad story. So a lot of people only get the "I don't like it" answer. Short and simple. Yet sometimes, I can see the prejudice in their eyes, how arrogant, they said.

It's unhealthy. I almost conviced myself that I simply didn't like it when the root was deeper than that. It's easier to tell the lie, to sounds like an arrogant old school artist who dislike digital art with passion. No, never that. I like the texture of paper and the smell of wet paint. Not in the artistic sense, at least not at first, I found peace in that because they once saved me from my darkest days. Thus, they are familiar.

I always love a story. Consuming one or writing it myself. Yeah, I used to write. Ten years old me have a dream to be a novelist. And it all shattered when I'm thirteen. I'm sexually assaulted by one of the teacher in my school. At school hour, in an empty classroom because everyone else in a middle of morning prayer and I'm the only kid at that time with different believe. And everything spiralling down from there. It was a prestigious school I study hard to get in, that jerk used to be everyone favorite teacher including me, now, I saw that place like a hell on earth.

I never get justice. Never. Me and family being silenced for the sake of keeping the school reputation, with just a word of apology and so called promise to never repeat. As if the SA trauma can be healed like that. But world is unfair and the society is in the hand of the rich. My family is in minority from every aspect, ethnic, religion stance, society, even economy. The school even has the audacity to blackmailing us, they said I'm alone in the classrom that day because I've been writing porn on my book. The book they already confiscated and read. The book where thirteen years old me write a silly treasure hunt story. I've never saw that book again.

You see, I have a lot of issue at that time. We don't even have money to pay for therapist. Nor we can get a free counseling for victim because the case was never disclosed. The school have connection with the local police and I can just bury that injustice deep in me. At one point it almost reach a self harm. I used to scrubbing my skin until it was red, but the phantom hands still there, and I very tempted to peel it out. My family hid all the sharp object, I think I scare them badly. But I found a single pencil. Unfortunately (or fortunately) not sharp. I run it across my skin, but they didn't tear. So I take it on paper.

At first, maybe I'm doing art as some kind of therapy. I pour all that anger and disgust on paper, for months it was all angry lines and colours. The texture as I scratch the pencil, the slash of black it made across the white paper, it strangely satisfying. A little bit sadistic perhaps, because I'm doing it with the face of a demon that appear every night in my dreams, that person face. But my family keep giving me more paper, they told me to keep going. By the time I'm calm enough, when I finally graduate, I start to turn that lines into a drawing. I love a story. And because words now terrify me, I finally learn how to draw.

With times, I learn to enjoy it for the fun and all the beauty in it.

The thing is, all that sensory experience became a habit. I need to feel the paper, I need to hold a wooden pencil, a wooden brush, I need to smell the paint, so I feel safe enough to concentrate and lose myself in arts. So I can loosen up a little bit and not being so hypervigilant. Maybe I'm afraid the screen and digital art can't provide me that sense of safety. That smooth glide on the screen gave me dissasociative feeling and freak me out. I try it before and nope out so fast my last bit of paint on the pallete was not even dry yet. I enjoy digital arts when I'm not the one doing it and good for all those illustrator that can make it to the industry. But I'm here first and foremost to keep myself sane.

I'm okay now. Fabulous. Fewer and fewer relapse over the years. By the time I'm fixing all my family financial problem and finally have enough to find a therapist, they said I already handle myself good. I'm carrying thirteen years old me crawling out from that dark pit with sheer spite and luck for finding the perfect outlet to regulate that negative emotion. Giving myself an art therapy without even realise it was one. I can talk freely about that now, maybe I finally find that peace with myself.

So, do you see how long this is? Thats why I take a two minute silence whenever someone ask me why I did not do digital art when I have a potential to make more money with it. How do you even explain this? And I don't think they will care. We Asian do not believe in mental health issue 😂😂 why so weak? So saying I simply doesn't like it looks like the fastest way to give answer and switch topic. Not a lie, but not the truth either.

But my therapist told me to write this out because they think it can help someone out there about the story of art therapy, and here it is. Next time when you are about to ask and pester someone about why they didn't switch into digital art, perhaps do it on a kinder tone. Maybe they have more story behind that, big or small.

If this resonate with you, here, let me give you a hug. You are a survivor and so damn strong, I'm super proud of you!

May the world be kinder to you today, tomorrow, and many years to come.

[crosseyedcricketart]

art tips

here's some traditional art tips from me:

acrylic painting:

different brands do different things with their paint and one of them has to do with pigment characteristics versus consistency. For example, most of Liquitex’s paints are the same texture and consistency because they adjust their formula to act as such, whereas Golden Acrylics doesn’t and the pigments characteristics are allowed to shine through. Learning about specific pigments can be a pain but it can also help you make sure your painting ends up how you wanted it to.

if you’re doing a layered painting “proper painting”- THIN LAYERS. THIN THIN LAYERS. acrylic loves to clump up on itself like nail Polish. Go slow and pay attention to how it dries.

acrylic paint appears lighter than how it will dry. If you’re planning a color scheme, get some paper or a sketch page and swatch your colors and let them completely dry. They will also appear a lot lighter if you dilute them with water.

one note of the characteristic of acrylic paint is that it doesn’t tend to have the depth or luminosity of oil paint. If you get the right paints, you can do it. Some paints are more transparent and they work great for this. Work in thin layers, layer and layer and layer, and add opaque paints to add definitive layers so once the painting is done, there is depth. Phthalo paints work great for this.

when mixing colors, the paint can start to look foggy, and a lot of times this is from air being whipped into the paint. If you’re worried that this foggy paint won’t look how you wanted it to, swatch it and let it dry. In my experience, it applies and dries fine.

oil painting:

this is for really people who had terrible instructors or self taught: fat over lean does matter. fat over lean is the concept that the oilier paint should be for the final layers while the thinned out paint, or lean paint, is for the first layers. this helps to prevent cracking on both traditional oils and water mixable oils. so your leanest paint is for your under painting while your fattest paint is your final layers. this isn’t really a “learn the rules to break them” concept, it’s more of a “you want your painting to survive more than 5 years” concept.

oil paint appears the same color it will dry as if it is at normal opacity. This gets effected by diluting or fattening the paint, however.

if you’re gonna paint on paper with oil paint, use thick paper. I mean at least 300g/140 lb paper. If you can, prime it with gesso. And it’ll work great.

Water mixable oil paints work the same as traditional oil paints without the need for solvents or mineral spirits.

watercolor & colored pencils:

colored pencils: treat these like newborns. gentle. the pigment can break easily, like pencil graphite can. use circles to blend and lay down a more opaque layer. sharpen them gently. i have a whole separate, manual sharpener for my colored pencils.

watercolor paintings: use cotton paper or paper with cotton in it. trust me it works better. the paper warps less and you can add more water than just normal paper. cotton paper is more expensive though. kinda like using wood board instead of canvas for an oil painting.

Watercolor: take care of your brushes like they are your one and only begotten son, okay? You can paint with a messed up brush in acrylic or oil but watercolor depends on the brush a lot of times.

general art tips:

Get a heavyweight paper sketchbook if you want to sketch out paintings or swatch paint and keep them for future reference.

Paint in general: PAY ATTENTION TO THE LIGHTFASTNESS ! This is very important if you ever intend to have your art in galleries or for sale. Lightfastness just means how long the pigments in your paint stay the same as when they were packaged as when they are on your painting. Improved lightfastness pigments are normally marked with “permanent” in their names, like “permanent alizarin crimson”.

General safety: PICK UP YOUR PAINT WATER OR SEAL IT IF YOU HAVE PETS!! Even if they won’t get fatally sick, it won’t make them feel good, and in my experience they don’t care if the water is bright red.

Painting: have a designated paint water cup. Do not drink Out of this cup. Learn it is a paint water cup. Then you will Not drink out of paint water cup.

GET SOME BRUSH SOAP!! Get it!! I promise you it makes a difference. If you can’t invest in any, use something like Dawn or Mrs. Meyers dish soap but keep an eye on how dry the brushes are if they are natural hair. The paint soap I use is the Masters brush cleaner and preserver and I got a massive tub of it for $20 at my local art store.

find a local art store if you are able! And I do not mean Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. I mean local. A lot of times they’re competing with these stores and they have cheaper prices and some even have student/professor discounts. The one I go to has a lot of stuff under MSRP and I get a discount. And they don’t sell any bad quality items.

if you’re struggling with a concept, find a book on it. Internet Archive as a library with a lot of art books, some stores sell art books. Art books are useful insight; even if you don’t agree with the author, it can help you realize what you’re trying to achieve. However, if you’re buying it, make sure to skim it and see if it’s actually useful for you. I have a lot of DK published art books.

if you feel stagnant in your art, look at art. I mean it. Look at photography, painting, fashion, sculpture, jewelry— look at things. This is how I ended up painting fish. And guess what? I freaking love painting fish. I again have a library of books just so I can look at them For inspiration.

General art: if you want to be able to travel with your supplies but don’t know how to do so, let me give you some tips in this tip: Get a massive bag. I mean a big ole canvas bag. I got one from Aldi for $8 that works great. If you already have one, even better. If you have a big enough backpack, you can use that too. Get a palette that can cover. You can DIY one, probably, or you can buy one. Then if you have any wet paint, you don’t have to throw it out or risk getting it everywhere. If this isn’t a concern of yours, no worries. Use a hair tie or scrunchie to bundle your brushes together. This keeps them from going everywhere. Situate your paints so they won’t be crushed if you’re taking tubes. Bring a small amount of brush cleaner with you. I reused a skincare jar for mine. Bring what you’re going to paint on.

General art: reuse jars. I mean it. I have some skincare jars that I’ve reused to hold paint oil and brush cleaner and I use old pasta sauce jars for brush cups. They work great.

here’s how to wash off different paints from your skin- oil paints— get a true soap. Dish soap works too. Acrylic paint— let it dry and you can brush it off with a nail brush or old toothbrush. watercolor paint- wipe it off with a wet wipe or a dampened paper towel/hand towel. If you’re going to use a hand towel, have a designated towel since it can stain.

Stretched canvas; if you’ve damaged or pierced your canvas, you can probably fix it with gesso and acrylic paint, or just acrylic paint. You can also sew the canvas back if you really want to save it.

Here’s some art stuff I like and use but you don’t need it:

Masterson oil palette

Pentalic Nature Sketch 25% cotton sketchbook

Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable oil Colour

Golden Professional acrylic heavy body paints

The Masters Brush cleanser and preserver

Liquitex palette knives

[not-xpr-art]

just wanted to share a few comparisons to show how my digital painting skills have developed over the years!

(these were all done with the same brush type on the same program btw!)

see below for a mini kinda Art Advice post where i go into each of these comparisons!

wanna start by saying the brush i used for all these pieces is the 'watercolour' brush on firealpaca... essentially just a default flat brush that usually comes with most software!

the first two are to show unintentional messiness vs intentional messiness. a lot of my early art had a pretty messy quality to it purely because i was still unfamiliar with the mechanics of digital! (though i will say, i think i was going for a more painter-ly style in the 2015 art anyway because i was basing it on pre-raphaelite works)

i think once you become a lot more familiar with certain mediums, you allow yourself to be a bit more confident with the brushstrokes you make! the 2022 piece is one where i wanted to create a sense of texture, almost like a digital version of impasto (aka thick layers of paint), and i know better now how to use digital software to create this kind of effect!

and you can see with the next row & the 2016 piece that i managed to create a much smoother, more blended appearance whilst still using the same brush! a part of my improvement came from me allowing myself to spend a little longer on pieces, especially in those first few years. i think a lot of beginners to digital (or any other kind of medium for that matter) think that if they spend the same amount of time on a piece as they would in another medium that they're more familiar with they'll get the same results, but it doesn't really work that way lol... especially if you're very new to digital... my advice here, then, would be to allow yourself to be slow at figuring out the medium (and let yourself make mistakes!)

going back to the 2016 vs 2022 comparison, i wanted to include this to show how sometimes you can keep things still messy, but still controlled and complete looking! also, remember that in digital most programs will let you adjust the 'colour mixing levels' or another similar 'blending level' option, which essentially just means how much the strokes blend or don't blend into what you've already painted... (knowing this would have made blending a whole lot easier back in 2016 lemme tell you lol.....)

(i also wanted to include that comparison cos it looks like they're looking at each other and i find it funny pfft)

the final comparison is, again, to show how controlled brushstrokes can give a piece a simultaneously painter-ly and smooth appearance! in both the 2015 and 2023 pieces, i wasn't super precise in my painting skills. but the 2023, to me at least, doesn't look as messy purely in the way i've been able to use the brush!

i mainly wanted to share this because i spent a long time trying to make my paintings look smooth, and i definitely do still do this in some artworks (particularly if i'm using fluffy/textured brushes), but i realised that i really enjoyed being able to create messy works that overall feel more finished due to the painting skills i've developed over the years!

i also just want to say that i'm not saying that either of these sides are 'better' than the other, they're just a few different ways i've approached art in my years as a digital artist! my observational drawing skills have grown a lot since the left side pieces, but i still think there's a lot to like in my early works and i'm definitely still very proud of them!

~~

thanks for reading & feel free to check out my other art advice posts and consider tipping me here on tumblr or heading to my kofi if you wanna support me! (no pressure ofc!!) <3

[chrinopiqua]

The Life of Maxim 'The Carver' Kuznetsov

A Tale of Art and Controversy

Maxim Kuznetsov, known in the art world as 'The Carver,' was born in the gritty outskirts of Novosibirsk in 1985. From a young age, Maxim was different; he didn't see the world in colors or shapes but in textures and forms. His father, a former steelworker turned scrap metal dealer, often brought home materials that sparked Maxim's imagination. The young Maxim would twist and bend metal into bizarre figures, creating his first pieces from what others saw as junk.

In his teenage years, Maxim's fascination with metal turned darker. He discovered that his artistic expression could be more... visceral. His motto, "I am an artist, the blade is my brush and anybody who stays in my way becomes a canvas to lay my path," was born out of an incident where Maxim, in a fit of creative fervor and teenage rebellion, carved his initials into the side of a rival gang's car. This act, while juvenile, set the stage for his later notoriety.

As Maxim grew, so did his infamy. His art installations, often involving large, rusty blades and provocative themes, began to appear in abandoned buildings and dark alleys of Moscow. His work was not just about the material; it was about the statement. One of his most controversial pieces was an installation titled "Justice," where he hung several discarded judicial robes from meat hooks, each with a blade slicing through them, symbolizing his critique of corruption in the legal system.

However, Maxim's art took a sinister turn when he started using human elements in his work. Rumors swirled that his 'canvases' were not just metaphorical. The disappearance of a rival artist, found weeks later with Maxim's signature carvings on his back, fueled these rumors. Although never officially charged, the shadow of suspicion followed Maxim like the dark hues in his sculptures.

His gallery openings became events of both fascination and fear. Art critics were divided; some hailed him as a revolutionary artist pushing boundaries, while others condemned him as a psychopath exploiting art for notoriety. His pieces sold for exorbitant prices, often to collectors who were either too intrigued or too afraid to question the origins of his materials.

The peak of his career, or perhaps his downfall, came with "The Last Canvas," an exhibit where Maxim showcased a series of life-sized human figures made entirely from scrap metal, each holding a blade. The exhibit was shut down after activists claimed it glorified violence, and the mysterious disappearance of an art critic who was writing a scathing review added fuel to the fire.

Maxim Kuznetsov's life story is one of art, ambition, and ambiguity. He thrived in controversy, his creations both celebrated and feared. As time passed, Maxim became more reclusive, his final known piece being a self-portrait made of countless razor blades, reflecting his life's motto in a literal sense. Whether Maxim sees himself as an artist or something darker, his legacy remains a sharp reminder of where art can cut deep into society's fabric.

[health-is-wealth1985]

Farewell Fungus, Hello Healthy Nails: My Positive Experience with

For years, I'd been self-conscious about a discolored and thickened toenail. It started small but gradually worsened, becoming a stubborn fungal infection. Traditional creams and ointments offered little improvement, and I was hesitant about resorting to harsh oral medications. Looking for a natural solution, I came across Kerassentials, a topical nail oil designed to combat fungal infections.

A Natural Approach to Toenail Fungus

Kerassentials appealed to me because it offered a natural approach to tackling stubborn toenail fungus. The formula boasts a blend of essential oils and botanical extracts known for their antifungal properties. Ingredients like Tea Tree Oil, Clove Bud Oil, and Lavender Oil stood out for their ability to create an inhospitable environment for fungus growth, potentially promoting healthy nail renewal.

The focus on natural ingredients resonated with me, as I wanted to address the issue at its source without harsh chemicals. Kerassentials offered a gentle, topical approach to potentially eliminate the fungus and promote the growth of a healthy, clear toenail.

The Kerassentials website provided clear information on each ingredient and its antifungal properties. They also offered studies and research highlighting the potential effectiveness of these natural components. This transparency and the focus on a natural approach instilled confidence in the product's safety and effectiveness.

Easy to Use and Integrate into My Routine

The ease of use of Kerassentials is a big plus. The applicator brush allows for easy, mess-free application directly onto the affected toenail. The recommended dosage is twice daily, which I seamlessly incorporated into my morning and evening routines.

Gradual Improvement and a Healthier Toenail

Within a few weeks of consistent use of Kerassentials, I noticed a subtle improvement in the appearance of my infected toenail. The discolored areas seemed to lighten slightly, and the overall texture of the nail appeared smoother. While the change was gradual, it instilled hope that the product was working.

Over time, the improvement became more pronounced. The discolored area shrunk further, and the healthy nail underneath began to grow in. After several months of consistent use, the unsightly fungus was finally gone, replaced by a healthy, clear toenail. This transformation not only improved the appearance of my foot but also boosted my confidence in wearing open-toed shoes.

Sustainable Support and Long-Term Foot Health

Kerassentials offers a natural and sustainable approach to potentially eliminate toenail fungus and promote healthy nail growth. Unlike one-time treatments, consistent use of Kerassentials allows for gradual improvement and long-term healthy nail maintenance. This topical oil has become an essential part of my foot care routine, promoting a healthy nail environment and preventing future fungal infections.

Important Note: It's crucial to remember that everyone's body reacts differently to topical treatments. While my experience with Kerassentials has been positive, it's always advisable to consult with your doctor before starting any new topical regimen, especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition.

Maintaining proper foot hygiene and wearing well-fitting shoes remain crucial for optimal foot health. However, Kerassentials can be a helpful companion on your journey to healthy and fungus-free toenails.

A Reliable Partner for Healthy Feet

Overall, I've been very impressed with Kerassentials. The easy-to-use applicator, the natural formula, and the gradual yet significant improvement in my toenail health have made it a valuable addition to my foot care routine. If you're struggling with stubborn toenail fungus and are looking for a natural solution, I highly recommend giving Kerassentials a try. Remember, maintaining proper foot care habits remains important, and Kerassentials can be a helpful tool on your path to healthy and confident feet.pen_sparktunesharemore_vert

[minimuii]

Hihihi!!!

[otomes-world]

Test of strength

Did you think Hunt's season was over? I just took a little break xd Au belongs to @smalltasteofhoney

@starshiningsirius

Being accepted into one of the most successful witch academies was like a dream, from which you didn't want to wake up. Honestly, you sent your questionnaire, not hoping to get a positive response. Therefore, you looked after other educational institutions that were an order of magnitude lower than the Academy, but also a good option.

When you, not fully awake, saw on the table an envelope with an emblem that was difficult to confuse with any other, you decided that you were still sleeping. You went to the bathroom to wash your face, brush your teeth and change clothes.

The letter was still on the table, in the same place as you remembered.

When you were completely convinced that there was no trace of a dream left, you slowly approached the envelope. Taking it in your hands, you felt the characteristic texture of the paper and, holding your breath, you opened it in a matter of seconds and ran your eyes over the contents.

You have been accepted.

You remembered that you forgot to exhale only when you started to lack oxygen. Bending over and taking a few deep breaths, you did not let go of the cherished letter, your ticket to the fulfillment of all dreams.

A year has passed since then, and you, having settled into the Academy, felt better than ever. You never regretted the decision you made, even with the appearance of an uninvited, annoying guest. Never in all the time of your training you made mistakes like this for sure. You drew a simple circle to call a familiar, cast a spell, but instead of the expected magical little animal, he answered your call.

Once again, looking through the recipe for the potion and stirring the brew in the cauldron, you reproached yourself for it. It would be better if you did not become sophisticated and, as most of witches, went and picked up a kitten from the street. At least you did a good deed.

You looked up from your book, feeling movement beside you. One glance at Hunt's pleased face was enough for you to barely hold back a tired breath, so you turn away and again began to check all the ingredients.

Although a lot of time has passed since that incident, you still periodically recalled your first meeting. The way you couldn't hide your surprise at who was supposed to be your future familiar. The way that even though the same emotion appeared on the demon's face, he didn't look very upset or furious.

You had been told more than once in the lessons that it was impossible to summon a demon without preparation. That it was not uncommon for a demon to eat a summoner. However, you proved by your very existence that it was quite possible to do this and survive.

You had to, by one of his clothes, aura and a barely noticeable sweetish aroma that gradually filled the air, understand which class of demons responded to your spell. You should have, but then your thoughts were elsewhere. Deals with creatures like this never end well, so you immediately tried to get rid of him. You tried to cast a dispelling spell, wipe the summoning circle, and finally splashed holy water on him.

All the while, Rook, as he later introduced himself, stood still, patiently letting you try out all the different ways you'd been taught over the course of the year. He stood with an unchanging smile, as real as before.

"Mon amour," the incubus, who hadn't moved, finally made his presence known aloud. "Your potion is amazing! However, it is missing something."

Rolling your eyes up to the ceiling, you pursed your lips. Despite his character and the not so pleasant circumstances of the beginning of your joint `cohabitation`, if it could be called that, Hunt was useful. More precisely, his inexhaustible knowledge of spells, potions and herbs, which he shared with you from time to time, was useful. Not for free, of course.

"Is it," was your short answer.

You weren't going to go along with him, so you began to intensively review the recipe again. Boiling temperature was perfect. There was still five minutes before the end of the time. All the ingredients were of the best possible freshness. Some of the herbs you gathered this morning, they could not have time to lose their properties. However, even without the hint of a demon, you felt like you missed some detail. You'd get a solid B for that potion, because it wasn't enough for A+.

You felt hands on your shoulders, gently shifting your attention from the book to the speaker, "You know, don't you? You have one of the best sources of magical knowledge at your disposal! I can help you," Rook caught your eyes. "You should say only one word, ma cherie"

You were silent. His offer sounded tempting. All his offers sounded very tempting, if you could be completely honest at least with yourself. Sometimes you forgot who he was, remembering his true nature only at such moments. When he tried to sway you into a contract.

Other witches would gladly agree, but you felt some kind of catch in his words. As if Rook was constantly keeping something back, and only the knowing light in his eyes did not allow you to finally give up. However, sometimes you madly wanted to do it.

You couldn't deny his charm, even if it was a hallmark of his race, his ability to talk anyone. The way he skillfully lulled vigilance to attack when the victim would least expect it.

"I prefer to earn grades with my knowledge".

The words came out of your mouth too quickly and confidently not to sound memorized. You threw Hunt's hands away from you with a habitual gesture, and gestured for him to move away. Rook's face did not change, he just smiled peacefully and obediently walked away to sit down at the chair and continue to watch you.

Naturally, he wasn't going to leave you alone. However, even when he was not in sight, you still felt his eyes on you with your back. It was more like paranoia, so you asked him not to hide from now on. It was better to see and know that he was near, than just to assume.

You sighed. This game of cat and mouse had been getting on your nerves for a long time. A game in which you did not feel like a `cat`, but a `mouse` every living second. You just hoped that Rook hadn't run out of patience yet, and you could find a way to exorcise him before you would answer `Yes` to his offer. Before his existence would so ingrain into your life that to get rid of him would become impossible.

[victorianoruben]

Unstoppable Desire

Pairing: Ruvik X F!Reader

Warning: Masturbation, Dirty Imaginations

Summary: Ruben caught himself of having fantasies of Y/N and him in his head which lead him to an unknown feeling.

Words: 1,600

Note: Beta-read by @bruhvik​

"You can be such a lovely person, Ruben, you just haven’t realized it yet"

This made him shake his head with a chuckle, "Oh (Y/N), I don't know if you're either blind or just in love with a monster, my dear."

When he saw her reaching her arms out for him, offering a hug, he widened his eyes in surprise. But who would he be if it weren’t for accepting this offer

Ruben graved for affection and acceptance all his life. It had been years since he felt so close to someone, his sister. When she brushed her warm hand over his naked back which just got free of his bandages, he took a deep breath, leaning into her touch completely; enjoying this moment.

He felt his heartbeat starting to rise rapidly. This feeling wasn't familiar for him.

"Relax, it's okey. Stop judging your appearance all over again", she looked up at him when she let him go of their hug. How she expected, he looked in another direction with squinted eyes. She bit her bottom lip and it made her sigh, "No - no, I know that expression! I know what's going on in your mind again. Listen to me just for once!"

The scarred man rolled his eyes and felt his cheeks starting to heat up when looking at her. Oh how much he hated how submissive, innocent and shy he may look there. This isn't his personality and nature. He pressed his lips a bit together and finally glanced over her.

"I know it's because of your scars again. That you might think I would find you ugly and hide this opinion. I still have no freaking idea how you would come up with that thought again. How many times do I need to prove you the opposite of it? Your scars can tell the story by  themselves and they make your personality and view so much stronger. You're unique in your own way! When I first met you, I already was fascinated by your presence ... and I thought", she took a breath with a smirk, "Phew, that guy is so sexy, damn! And I-"

Ruben shrugged out of his daydream and rubbed his forehead while groaning. By sliding down his blanket, he noticed sweat drops on his body. It felt like he was just sitting in a whirlpool or sauna.

He was such a dumb fool. What was he even thinking? Despite the fact that Y/N would never just spit out so many compliments and fall into his arms so suddenly. She wasn't that type of person, way too stubborn as well. Also, he  wasn’t the person who would melt so quickly for a woman. There was just one girl whom he fully trusted and who understood him: Laura. Any girl could just try to get him around her fingers and he wouldn't allow that. But when he remembered the time he spent together with Y/N, he kind of felt safe and calm in her presence. Not at their first meeting but after some small-talks, her offer to help him, he started to trust her a bit more. He hated to admit but she actually brightened his day sometimes. She had such a caring heart when it came to ’his’ patients or listening to Ruben whenever he had a bad day, raging about mistakes in the machine. But he still didn't tell her his full past yet. It was still way too private to just tell her all the informations. Deep down in his heart, he was always looking forward to the next day to meet her in his laboratory. It never seemed like his appearance bothered her or that she judged him ... well except at their first meeting when she saw his experiments.  Neither of them could have imagined becoming 'friends' one day ....

Ruben tried to relax again and close his eyes but the thoughts and daydreams hit him like a brick. In front of him, he saw her admirable body and imagined the smell of her favorite perfume.

He leaned his head back on his bed and moved his hands over his chest, down to his stomach,  to the area where he didn't have any burns. At least he was able to feel a bit but the building heat in him was way stronger anyways. The thought of her fingers stroking slightly over his skin was enough for him.

"You really want me to prove it, don't you?", she whispered in his ear, "I know that you have something in your mind right now. Tell me ... what do you want to do with me really?"

She kissed him gently and slowly on his rough lips while traveling with her fingers over his chest.

"I've never seen you so nervous before, Ruben. This intelligent scientist really does have a soft heart deep down but he doesn't like to admit it. But he also hates to get submissive all out of a sudden, am I right?

What has gotten into you?"

When he caught himself letting out a quiet but noticeable moan, he opened his eyes.

How could he be so sensitive already?

Was he graving that badly to get touched and admired?

But that didn't matter to him for that moment anymore, the wave of heat was starting to take control over him.

He imagined how he’d quickly bend her into the bed to show his true nature. His ego  wouldn’t allow to represent him like a whiney puppy graving for her attention.

"Oh my dear, be careful, you seem of not knowing what's going on in my mind. You really thought I would literally cry and beg for you to touch me? Just because I haven’t touched anyone yet? You've thought that, haven’t you?", he sounded like he was almost out of breath just due to his adrenaline.

He stroked her thighs playfully, his grip went more firm after seconds. Ruben watched her closing her eyes in pleasure with an opened mouth.

"I asked you something, sunflower!", he  moved dangerously to her private parts.

" - I'm sorry - No, I didn’t think that. Really!", she almost whimpered desperately because of getting touched.

Ruben felt how his distressed pants got more and more thight. He rarely had the need of pleasuring himself if at all. This time he couldn't hold himself back., He slowly stroked himself, hand disappearing in his pants, taking his rough textured pen*s out of it. He gave it a few strokes on the shaft; one of the only parts left on his body which weren't totally numb. Oh, and how sensitive he was there!

"You're lying to me", he shook his head in amusement and drew circles over your now exposed panties, "You really dare to lie to me though you know that I can read expressions almost perfectly?"

"I - I just wanted to make you feel good and -"

He bent down to her and gave her a kiss on her lips with a chuckle, "Oh, I know that very well."

Ruben stroke up from the base of his cock, which was covered with some veins, with a tighter grip down to his tip. When he focused on the soft tip, he went a bit gentle and teased it with one finger.

His imagination skipped a bit forward, leaving out the foreplay.

„Are you sure you wanna do this now, princess?", he stared down at her in a missionary pose. He already lined up his cock to her entrance and teased her hole with it.

"With you, absolutely! Just stop the tease now, ... please!", she took a deep breath and looked at him when he entered her slowly.

He took his average sized member entirely in his hand, pretending like it would be in her slit. Ruben pumped it with smooth movements and he let out some moans here and there.

He was alone in his huge mansion anyways. The full moon did shine straight through his window down to his bed as if he  was in spotlight. Everything was playing around him and about his pleasure right now.

Ruben was fully concentrating on pictures of a naked Y/N, whom he owned in his act. How she would praise his name all over again, filling him with deep kisses , changing positions to experiment of getting deeper.

By speeding up the pace and tightening his grip, he felt how something was building up in his lower regions.

He breathleassy slipped out her name by accident (which he would be truly ashamed of later).

To reach his orgasm, he played with his tip, this time using his other hand. It didn't take him much to release his seed on his pants. It was more than he ever released before, during his previous sessions where he didn't have any naughty fantasies about a specific person.

The afterwave took his sharp eyesight for a while. He couldn’t control his breath, nor his awareness. It didn’t take him much to pass out. He did build way too much adrenaline which his body couldn’t handle very well. He was literally on his limits with his body. Being so exhausted, he didn’t have the time to think and reflect on his sinful thoughts. So, with shaking hands, he slipped out of his dirty pants and threw it on the floor before closing his eyes to fall asleep immediately

[descendantofthesparrow]

Soulmate au! Countdown - Harry Hook x Reader -oneshot

soulmate au idea sent in by Anonymous 

=

Everyone in the world was born with a watch, not on their wrists or anywhere attached to them, just a simple watch that would appear when a new soul was born into the world. Doctors would blink, and suddenly, next to the new babe, was a watch.

A watch that had a set date of years, months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the new soul would meet their soulmate, the one destined to love them forever.

Some watches were simple ones, a simple leather band with a plain clock attached to go around their wrist. Some got more…exotic clocks, one person, whose soulmate was an astrologist, watch had planets instead of hands to tell the time.(luckily for the person, who didn’t know how to read the time by looking at planets, there was still a small digital timer in the middle just above the sun) some had intricately carved pocket watches, some had sundials.

Prince Ben’s watch had confused some people, being a pure gold and silver watch, rusted slightly (and unable to be buffed to perfection as so many tried) with a horned dragon decorating the top, the back engraved with thorned vines. It wasn’t till years later, as Ben locked eyes with Mal, the daughter of Maleficent, did the watches ticking stop (small A/N; Ben and Audrey don’t date since they know they aren’t meant to be already. Okay let's get back into it!)

Audrey’s watch hung off a silver necklace, the top cover being diamond-like glass that seemed to shine like magic. Her watch had stopped when she met Chad at only six months old, his rose gold wristwatch stopping at the same time.

Doug's watch, a gorgeous gold-plated pocket watch decorated with heart-shaped red rubies, had stopped when he first locked eyes with Evie, daughter of the Evil Queen, who for a small while had denied that her own watch had stopped ticking, and had only admitted it after she and her friends had proclaimed their decision to turn their backs on their parent's evil ways.

Most people your age had met their soulmate already, you knew some who had yet to meet theirs but mostly everyone had already been found.

Not that you personally knew that.

You hardly talked to anyone really, so how were you to know if someone had found their soulmate yet or not.

You were just a regular person in a school of the descendants of heroes and royalty, a loner at that. The only interesting about you was your watch.

It was a gorgeous gold watch with thin black paint under the gold curved detailing that looked like waves, surrounding the outer rim of the cover, with an anchor and a ship's steering wheel in the middle of the cover, the back was a carved compass, the entire thing connected to a strong bronze chain.

You admired it every day, excitement and anxiety running through you as every second passed. And those feelings were amplified recently.

The clock now read seven days, seven hours, eight minutes, and forty seconds. It was only that until you met your soulmate.

You only hoped they wouldn’t think you weren’t worth their time…as everyone else did.

-

Harry had been born with a pretty plain-looking pocket watch, smooth and silver metal protecting the gears.

You could imagine the surprise he felt when he finally opened it for the first time. The inner works of his watch were beautiful, the silver metal had turned to gold, curving details surrounded the hands and timer, a shining scale texture covered the inside of the cover, never leaving a residue on his finger when he traced it.

Many villain kids were told to never open their watches, being told that it was pointless to even look since they would never need their soulmate in the first place.

Some obeyed, some, like Harry, had gotten too curious and looked anyway, and some just looked because they could.

And Harry couldn't say he regretted looking, every day he grabbed his watch and popped it open, smiling as the ticking hands signified the ever-coming day of meeting his soulmate.

Like now, it read seven days, five hours, three minutes, and seven seconds. Coincidently, it matched the same day he would be going to Auradon prep, seven months after king Ben had invited the original four to Auradon.

His closest friend, Uma, had a plan to get the wand and do what the original four couldn’t. but Harry had another plan.

He wanted to meet his soulmate, he knew they couldn’t have been on the isle, he had met basically everyone on the isle, there was no other explanation than for his soulmate to be in Auradon.

He looked up from his watch to gaze at the bright lights of Auradon, his breath visible as he let out a sigh and leaned against the rails of the lost revenge. “you ready for next week?” he suppressed a flinch as Uma suddenly appeared next to him, joining him to look at  Auradon.

“aye” he simply muttered back, clenching his pocket watch in his hand. He looked away slightly as Uma turned towards him, her brow quirked.

“…you want to find them, don’t you?” Uma asked, turning back to Auradon and resting her chin in her hand.

Harry stayed silent.

Uma reached out and squeezed Harry's shoulder “I won't stop you from doing that, I know our parents told us that soulmates are bullshit but I could give less of a fuck, if you decide not to go through with everything because of them, I’ll leave you two alone…” Harry sighed in slight relief and turned to Uma.

“even if it would ruin yer plans?” Harry asked softly, laughing as Uma grumbled a bit.

“yeah yeah…if you’re happy im happy” Harry tossed his arm over Uma’s shoulder and pulled her into his side, grinning as she quietly complained at the hug.

“Thank yeh Uma” he whispered, closing his eyes as Uma sighed against him and hugged him back.

“you’re my best friend Harry, I would do anything for you” Harry smiled against her hair, squeezing her shoulder a bit before letting her go as she started to bat at his chest “Alright alright that’s enough, come on we got night shit to do” Harry snorted and shook his head a bit, grabbing his hat from the milk crate next to him and flipping it on, whistling slightly as he followed Uma off the ship.

-

You looked up from your summer history essay as a group of girls rushed up to the window, giggling to themselves as they pointed out whatever it was they were talking about.

‘oh right’ you mentally sighed, closing your book and packing it away, knowing that the study hall you were in was going to be filled with the laughter of these girls for who knows how long ‘the new vks’

You spared a glance back at the girls, sighing wistfully to yourself as they smiled amongst each other.

What you would give to have friends like that, but you had always been closed in on yourself and always froze up when someone tried to talk to you, that you had never gotten the chance to make friends.

You shrugged your bag over your shoulder and walked out of the study hall “where to go now” you whispered to yourself, taking out your pocket watch and smiling slightly at it, rubbing your thumb against the wheel before popping it open.

Six hours, forty-five minutes, and seven seconds.

You would meet your soulmate today.

You closed the watch and held it against your chest, letting out a giggly sigh and walking towards the other end of the dorms to get to the other study hall so you would write your essay in peace.

Behind you, you heard king Ben talking, taking a glance back you saw a flash of a scarlet red coat pass by the entrance to the hallway you had just entered. You brushed it off and looked back in front of you.

-

One and a half hours, ten minutes, and forty seconds.

Harry stared anxiously at his watch, his foot tapping rapidly against the floor of his new room. “you know if you just sit and stare at that thing it's not going to go any faster” Gil offered, setting his new laptop down and sitting next to Harry, reaching out to close the watch.

Harry blinked back into reality, pouting at Gil slightly. Gil just gave him a look and pushed the watch towards Harry's chest “sitting in here won't help you find them either, go explore or something, you might find them easier” Harry huffed and grabbed his watch, sticking it in his pocket and walking out of the room “you’ll thank me later!”

-

You groaned a bit as you rolled your shoulders, you had finished your essay, along with a handful of other projects, and had decided you needed a break. So it was off to your “secret” spot near the dorms, it was well hidden by the forest and you had to cross a hanging bridge to get to it so hardly anyone knew about it.

You shrugged off your top and pants, kicking off your shoes and setting everything next to your towel and watch before diving in.

Underneath the water your body shimmered, your legs turning to a transitioning (f/c) and (f/c) tail with a strong fabric-like tail, scales the same color as your tail appeared next to your eyes and trailed down your cheeks, your shoulders being covered as well.

You let out a soft sigh as you swam through the clear water, trailing your fingers across the smooth rocks that lay at the bottom of the lake.

You picked up a particularly shiny clear and black one, swimming back up to the surface and examining it, humming to yourself as you waded through the water.

-There once was a ship that put to sea/ And the name of that ship was the Billy o' Tea/ The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down/ Blow my bully boys blow-

You started to sing one of your favorite sea shanties aloud, closing your eyes and letting yourself drift across the surface of the lake as your voice echoed around you.

- Soon may the Wellerman come/ To bring us sugar and tea and rum/ One day, when the tonguing' is done/ We'll take our leave and go-

-

Harry sighed quietly as he walked around the grounds of Auradon prep, tubbing his thumb against the smooth metal of his watch as the comforting -tick tock- of its gears rang in his ears.

He sighed again as he stopped in the middle of a pathway, running his hand through his messy hair. He pulled out the watch and quirked his brow.

three minutes, forty seconds.

Suddenly something caught his attention, he turned his head towards the forest, his lips separating as a lovely drifted towards him.

He started walking towards it, entering into the forest and pushing past the bushes that covered the main path. He quickly walked over the hanging bridge that led him directly to a sparkly crystal-clear lake.

And wading in the water of that lake was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen or heard.

- No line was cut, no whale was freed/ An' the captain's mind was not on greed/ But he belonged to the Whaleman's creed/ She took that ship in tow -

As he walked closer to the mermaid, he didn’t notice the timer on the watch tick down to the seconds.

3…2...1.

Suddenly the mermaid looked up from their rock and gasped, her glowing (e/c) eyes locking with his ocean blue.

The ticking stopped.

The mermaid squealed in embarrassment and ducked under the water, Harry quickly snapped out of his stupor and ran towards the edge of the lake, kneeling at it and looking around for the mermaid who had suddenly disappeared. “where did yeh go?” he whispered, yelping and falling back on his butt as the mermaid suddenly popped up in front of his face and tried to reach for her items behind Harry.

He watched her struggle to reach toward them before she groaned and flopped on the ground, her top half lying pitifully on the dry ground as her tail angrily hit the surface of the water.

Harry let out a soft chuckle and looked behind him, spotting a gold pocket watch resting just next to a (f/c) towel, he glanced back at the mermaid for a moment before reaching out for the watch and gently handing it to the mermaid.

She quickly popped it open and gasped.

Harry watched as the mermaid just stared at her watch, then slowly look up at him. He took out his watch and popped it open, stopping as he realized the clock had stopped.

00:00:00:00:00:00 blinked rapidly

Harry looked back at the mermaid and turned his watch towards her. She reached out slightly, looking at him for permission to take it.

He pushed it into her hand and she set it next to her watch, a smile growing on her face as the blinking of the timers synchronized perfectly. Only soulmate watches could sync perfectly as they did.

She looked back up at Harry with a wide grin, Harry's heart fluttering like crazy as she did.

“I found you” she whispered in the most melodic voice, squeaking a bit as Harry stood and started to strip out of his clothes “what are you doing?!” she yelled, pushing off the edge and diving down under the water a bit, only her eyes and the top of her head above the water.

“joinin’ yeh,” Harry responded simply, kicking off his shoes and pants and tossing them aside with his shirt, jacket, and belts.

Once he was down to just his underwear, he jumped into the water next to his soulmate, closing his eyes as he sank into the surprisingly deep lake.

Almost immediately after he jumped in, arms wrapped around his waist and kept him afloat. Harry cracked open his eyes to see the glowing ones of his soulmate, their pupils slanted as they stared back at him.

Harry let a smile grow on his lips as he and his soulmate floated under the water. Then Harry's body proceeded to realize he was underwater and that he needed air.

His soulmate watched him look up, realize what he was doing, and grabbed his face. Harry looked at them and let out a muffled squeak as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

He snapped his eyes shut and felt his face burn with a blush as she licked his lips and opened his mouth, breathing into him.

She pulled back and giggled, which oddly wasn’t muffled. Harry opened one of his eyes and pouted slightly as his soulmate covered her mouth with one of her hands as she laughed at his expression.

He took a breath to say something, but then realized he was breathing underwater. He gave her a wide-eyed look and she giggled again.

“mermaid kisses can let the person breath and speak underwater” her voice purred, grabbing his hands and pulling him up to the surface. Harry shook his head, smirking as his soulmate squealed a bit as the water droplets hit her.

“I’m Harry” Harry spoke first, swimming slightly closer to his soulmate and pressing a soft kiss to her cheek “Harry Hook.”

“(y-y/n) (l/n)” she squeaked slightly, Harry smirking at the heat that burned against his lips as he pressed another kiss to her cheek.

“I think” he pulled back and pressed a kiss to her other cheek “you and I are going to get along very well~” he purred, grinning as (y/n) set her forehead against his.

“whys that?” she hummed, pushing her lips together as Harry tightly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into him.

“a pirate and a mermaid? What's a better match than tha’?”

-end-

Short but sweet, might do another one of the suggestions! Thanks for reading!

permtaglist

@queer-cosette @sephiralorange

@lunanight2012 @daughter-of-the-stars11

@musicarose @remembered-license

@random-thoughts-003 @jatp-rules-my-life

@verboetoperee @imtryingthisout @thecaptainsgingersnap

@rintheemolion​

[johnsamericano]

𝓓𝓪𝔂 18:

иα נαємιи

23 days of NCT masterlist.

taglist: @notbeforelong @whathamelon @curieouscapt @silent-potato @gjheaaa @ajhdr @mrcarbonatedmilk @unknown5tar

warnings: Jaemin not knowing what an erection is 😭, fluff, fluff, fluff and angst, not proofread forgive me 😞

“There she is.” Doyoung pointed out, looking directly at you, gracefully walking down the hall. “Her name is y/n, she’s 12.”

“How long will I have to stay with her?” Jaemin stared at you with curiosity.

“If everything goes right, until her soul is ready to abandon her body.”

“What do you mean if everything goes right?”

“There have been some angels who have given into this world’s temptations.” He shut his eyelids, his frown growing deeper as he spoke. “You shall never give into them, Jaemin. I heard loosing your wings causes a great pain, physical and mental.”

“Is there anything else I should know?”

“Never reveal your true identity to her.” His hand gripped Jaemin’s shoulder. “You’ll be able to observe her in your real form, but she’ll never be able to see you, unless you allow her to.” Jaemin nodded, mentally taking notes of all the rules he had to follow. “If you wish to communicate something directly to her, you can disguise yourself as one of her relatives.”

“I have one more question.” Doyoung patiently waited for him to keep talking. “Aren’t guardian angels assigned to humans when they’re born?”

Doyoung remained silent, deciding wether to tell him or not the truth.

“Her former guardian angel fell in love with her.” Jaemin’s eyes went wide, how could an angel fall for a human? “He tried to show himself before her, but we stopped him on time.” Doyoung sighed, a glint of sadness in his voice as he resumed the story. “Unfortunately, he was vanished from heaven. The pain of losing his wings was greater than his love for y/n, greater than his will to live apparently.”

“Well that’s sad.” He pursed his lips. “I promise to do a good job protecting her.”

“I’m sure you will, Jaemin. You’re a good angel.”

“Jaemin, watch out!” His string of thoughts was cut off by your hand around his wrist, tugging on it aggressively to stop him from running into a bike. “Pay attention while walking, you could’ve gotten hurt.”

“Worried about me?” He smiled at your concerned features.

“Shut up before I kick your ass.” Despite your sometimes aggressive behavior, Jaemin knew you were a softie. How could he not know when he literally spent every moment with you, even if you were not aware of his presence sometimes. “Will you come help me unpack after classes?” Your fingers suddenly laced with his, a habit he’d discovered a few months into your friendship and never failed to make his heart race.

“Sure.”

You didn’t expect him to appear at your front door with a bunch of house supplies.

“What’s all this?” You helped him get everything inside your messy apartment. “This is really too much, but thank you.” You pulled him into a hug, your palms stroking his back tenderly.

Jaemin wanted to push you away, he wanted to stop his heartbeat from increasing, but you were intoxicating. It was useless to deny he felt something for you, but as long as nor you or another angel knew, everything would be fine.

“Are you wearing something under your shirt?” You frowned, feeling something shift below your palms.

Jaemin pulled away, internally scolding his wings for trying to show themselves.

“Let’s unpack.” You didn’t mention the topic again, but he knew you weren’t gonna forget about it.

He helped you move some furniture, hang up a few posters and fold your clothes to fit them inside your new closet.

“Wait!” You tried snatching the box of your underwear out of his hands, but it was already too late. He held your red, lacy thong right in front of his face, examining it before realizing what it was.

“Sorry.” His face was flushed as he put the piece of clothing back into the box, a bulge growing inside his jeans. He didn’t seem to notice, or maybe he didn’t care. Truth to be told, he’d never experienced pleasure, therefore, he wasn’t aware of the reaction your thong had provoked in his weak human body.

You didn’t make a comment on it, deciding not to humiliate him. After an hour of folding clothes, you decided to take a break, ordering some takeout food and letting Jaemin pick a movie to watch.

“It’s getting late, you should stay over.” You picked up the remains of your food and saved them in the fridge for later. “You can take the bed, I’ll take the couch.”

“Why don’t we sleep together?” The words slipped past his lips before his brain could register. “I-I mean-”

“It’s okay, as long as you don’t kick me I think we’ll be fine.” You smiled so naturally at him, as if your heart wasn’t rapidly drumming against your rib cage. “I have a few of my brother’s shirts, you can grab one of those.”

He tried calming himself down inside the bathroom. It was the first time he’d sleep with you in flesh and bone, not like he usually did, in his true form with his wings around your body, keeping you warm.

He was expecting for you to crawl into his arms like you usually did in your sleep, but you didn’t even bother to spare him a glance, too concentrated on your phone. A burning feeling started growing inside his chest, definitely not something an angel should feel. He snatched your phone away.

“Hey!” You tried getting it back, accidentally hugging him on the process. “Give it back.” Your nose was almost touching his.

His deep, brown orbs stared into yours, his pupils growing slightly bigger at the sight of your.

“Jaemin...” You whispered, his erratic breath fanning against your cheeks.

None of you moved, afraid to do something you’d later regret. But his lips looked so tempting, so kissable, you couldn’t resist leaning in, your lips almost brushing before you spoke.

“Is this okay?” You were so painfully close. He knew the right thing was to push you away, but how could he when you were looking at him with pleading eyes? Those eyes that made him want to lay the entire word at your feet.

“Yes.” He was the one to pull your face closer to his, bringing his hand to the back of your head to hold you in place, just like the main characters of the corny movies you loved did.

He wanted to cry right there, the thing he’d been fantasizing about all those years was finally happening. For a moment, he stopped thinking about his wings, stopped worrying about the fact that he’d probably be punished for his sinful actions.

“Your lips are so soft.” He whispered, cupping your cheeks with delicacy pulling away only to leave random pecks on your lips, enjoying the warmth of them. “Like small, pink clouds.”

You giggled at the comparison.

“I like you, Jaemin.”

“I like you too, y/n. So much.” He wanted to say ‘I love you’ but he figured out it might be a bit to early for you.

He continued savoring your lips, pecking them as if he was trying to memorize every little texture of your plump skin. Your hands went to his sensitive back, unknowingly caressing the spot were his wings were hidden.

It all happened too fast, his large wings ripping through the borrowed shirts and showing themselves to you. The look on your face was of pure shock, your arms falling limp to your sides as Jaemin’s stomach stirred with fear.

“Y/n...” He called you at least five times, your eyes fixated on the silky, white feathers.

It was all too much to process. Was he pranking you? No, fake wings wouldn’t move the way his did.

“Say something, please.” You noticed how his wings fell slightly, as if mimicking his emotions.

Drops of salty tears falling into your cheeks awakened you from your trance, your best friend crying on top of you as his hands held your face dearly.

“How?” Was the only thing you could pronounce, your mind still trying to work through the situation.

“I know this looks bad, but I swear, I never meant to deceive you. I wanted to protect you from afar, but I couldn’t resist meeting you. You’re the brightest human I’ve ever seen, and I don’t deserve to be with you. I am a liar, a cheater who used his powers to get into your life.” He began rambling, your mind slowly connecting the dots until you finally had an idea of what he was.

“An angel?” You asked, voicing your inner doubts.

“I don’t deserve to be your guardian...” He ignored your previous question, tucking his face in your neck.

His wings timidly pressed against his back, moving the slightest as your fingers danced over them, mesmerized at the soft texture.

“I feel like I’m dreaming.” Your voice didn’t sound angry, in fact, he could almost see your smile as you spoke. “Aren’t you going to get in trouble for this?” Your hands forced his face up, making him face You. “I don’t want you to get in trouble, Nana.”

“They might’ve found by now, but it doesn’t matter anymore. I am willing to lose my wings as a punishment for those amazing moments I’ve spent by your side.”

He was about to incorporate, about to leave you and never come back, but the sudden crash of your lips against his had him frozen at the spot.

“I don’t want you to get in trouble...” You whispered against his lips. “But neither do I want you to leave me. I'm a selfish human that wants her angel to give up everything for her, I'm sorry.”

He smiled, euphoric at the words he'd only heard in his wildest dreams.

“Then I guess I'll have to oblige.”

Jaemin spent the night curled up with his loved human, wings protecting her from any danger while Doyoung watched everything with confusion. He knew it was the right thing to punish the young angel for his sinful actions, but there was nothing sinful at the unfolding scene. If anything, it was the purest thing he'd seen from his vast years on earth.

“Good luck, Jaemin.” The black-haired left unnoticed, letting his friend fulfill his duties as your guardian angel until the last breath of life left your body.

[secondhand-trash]

How Do You Love

A/N: I got my laptop and I can finally write this out. I've been thinking about this non-stop since a few weeks ago when it got so cold all of a sudden and it has been agony to hold onto it but it’s here! 

Description: You had found it hard to believe that someone could love you despite your flaws, but how could you not believe someone like him?

Pairing: Kita Shinsuke x f!reader

Warning: mentions of being insecure, fingering, vaginal penetration, unprotected sex, bath tub sex

Word count: 3054

-

The yellow glow of the heater graced upon your skin gently, but it was not enough to stop you from curling yourself tighter as you uncrossed your bare legs to let the limb that was starting to go numb lay on top of the other. You pulled the large towel, the only thing to shield you from the chill that was already starting to invade the closed windows of your bathroom, closer around your frame before you let out a shaky whine.

“It’s starting to get cold, Shinsuke.”

The man in question turned to look at you, diverting his gaze away from the facet and the half-filled tub. With his shirt rolled up to his elbows, his arm was hanging loosely on the white rim, fingers dipping into the water to test its warmth. The top few buttons of his collar were undone casually, the fading tan line around his arm left from the summer sun leading into the deeper ends of the opened collar had your legs that were overlapping on each other pushing your hips back subconsciously.

The sound of his hand pulling out of the water, flicking his wrist to get rid of the lingering droplets had you sit just a little straighter but it did not compare to the tingling fuzz slowly expanding from your chest down your spine when he let out a soft hum, the choppy pieces of his bang just falling above his eyebrows.

“Just a little longer, my love.”

You still felt a strong wave of heat burning across your face every time he spoke to you like that, like you could ask him for anything and he would give it to you.

There was a time when you would act out of your place deliberately to see how he would react, some sort of twisted desire to seek proof that he valued you from calculating how much was he willing to budge for you. You didn’t know what you had wanted from him when you pouted and whined at the smallest of things or just being difficult as a whole. Part of you was certain each time that this might just be the time he was finally done with you and in all fairness, you were sure you would not have nearly half the patience he had towards you if the tables had turned. You wondered what it was that made you so hell-bent to put a measurement on just how much love he had for you that this was how you chose to gain insight, knowing well enough that you would feel just as bad at the notion that he “did not love you” as you would have had he let you had your way.

It was a double-ended spear, with both sides aiming straight at your own insecurities that you refused to let shown but was equally desperate to have someone acknowledge. You wanted to know if he loved you enough to move his own net back and back but also slam yourself down when he did, your stomach caving in at the clear thought that you were not worth that amount of care the moment you even felt the want to test him. 

Whether it stemmed from a genuine confusion as to why someone like him would want someone like you or just general senes of incompetence, you did not know, but it did leave you staring down at your feet in shameful silence even when you thought of it now.

Perhaps the distaste you had against yourself made you reluctant to believe that there really would be someone who loves you despite your flaws, and you resorted to pushing him away through shoving him towards reasons and reasons to leave you all while selfishly hoping he would stay.

But Kita Shinsuke never left, even with you actively providing chances for him to do just that. He wasn’t sure what it was that put you in disbelieve, but if you want proof then he would just give it to you until you didn’t need them anymore. 

You didn’t remember when was the exact moment you were finally convinced, but you eventually stopped wondering why and just became content with the fact that it just was.

It was hard to place a mark on how much he loved you, but if you wanted one then there was no better way to put it than that it was enough for him to keep moving his own line back to take you out of your void and eventually meet him at his side.

The squeak of the facet halted your thoughts to a stop. You blinked when you snapped back to see him looking at you, a small smile dancing on his lips. You did not even notice that your gaze had fixed on him while you were in your own headspace, darting your eyes away with a sheepish grin when he extended his hand to you in amusement.

“Careful,” he murmured as you took his hand. A laugh accompanied the slight shake of your head at his caution as you pulled off the towel that was tied up around your chest. Goosebumps rose on your skin at the bareness, but some part of you was sure that it might be the doing of how he was looking up at you with so much tenderness while he held your hand.

The stark contrast of temperature had you pulling back a little when you dipped your toe into the water, the heat burning against your cold skin before slowly settling as a welcoming warmth. You let out a sigh as you submerged your body under the surfaces, sliding further down until it was just your shoulder that was out in the air.

Kita watched as you rolled your head back, your neck resting against the rim before turning to the side to look at him.

You were smiling, your eyes narrowing at him with a glint behind your lids. He was glad, he thought it was only right that you were always happy and content.

The breath that escaped your lips was long and steady, blending into the steam you were breathing in.

You opened your mouth lazily, letting your eyes close as you basked in the warmth, “You’re too nice to me.”

“Nonsense,” he scolded gently, standing up on his feet but not without pressing a quick peck on your lips as he reached your eye level. 

You had got to know that the feeling was mutual when you stretched your arm out, turning to your side and leaning on the tub while he undressed. Your skin glowing under the moisture and warmth, chest pushed up against your arms as you looked up at him behind your lashes with interest.

His finger nearly missed the button with a hitch of his breath, but he managed to conceal the momentary loss of his calm with his hand smoothing out the material hugging his torso.

You sank lower into the water as his hand went down and down, revealing more of his toned stomach as each button came undone. He was not the tallest or the most well-built person, but the contrast between his appearance and the muscles underneath the layers he always covered himself in had your breaths growing just a little heavier. Pulling his shoulders back swiftly as he peeled the shirt off, he turned around all while throwing the garment into the basket at the side before unclasping his belt. The action was slightly ceremonious, the turning around, given how well you had grown to be accustomed to every inch of each other’s bodies in the years but you could not find the voice in you to voice that out when his back was so sculpted, each swell and dent catching your eye as he pulled the leather off of his waist with a flex of his arms. 

The thump of the heavy fabric had your lips pursing tighter together, only following his frame out of the corner of your eye as he stepped into the tub. The water rose as he sat down at the other end with his legs just brushing against yours, his head tilting back as his mouth fell agape from his worn muscles relaxing under the warmth.

You gulped when he placed his elbows on either side of the tub, chest expanding as he spread his form to get comfortable.

As a person, you had grown past acting out to seek attention, but something about his brows locking together as his muscles spasms just made you want to push his buttons.

Golden eyes glanced down when the motion of the water grew violent. He complied willingly when he felt a tap of his toe against his leg, parting them so that there was space for you when you stood up. You made a show to whimper when you sat down again this time with your back to his chest, leaning your neck against his shoulder when the heat radiating off his body was now added to the warmth of the bath.

You could feel each ripple on his body on your skin, his firm thighs pillowing your sides as your hand drew mindless patterns against the root. He naturally brought one arm around your waist, calloused palm placed just above your stomach. Kita only watched as you went to toy with his free hand, letting you trace down from his knuckles to the vein on his inner wrist. 

Until you started pushing your hips back against him, and there was no way he could just watch as you deliberately press yourself onto his cock.

“Trying to get comfortable,” you said, biting your lips to stop the grin from creeping onto your face when his hand on your waist tightened its grip. Your hands were on his thighs, using the support as leverage to push yourself further up on his lap.

“Hm...”

The rumble came out as a vibration through his chest, and you couldn’t help but let yourself arch back at the gravel. His arm was locking you down, half-hard cock rubbing on the plushness of your skin. You wanted to moan at the growing heat pressed upon you, the image of his length filling and pulsing at your miniatures had your legs curling towards your body. The muscles of his legs were tensed under your touch and his breath now fanned at your ear as he hoisted you up by the waist. 

You stopped holding back when the sturdy hand travelled upwards and cupped your breast, the rough texture of his finger on your skin had you whining as it brushed against the underside of the swell before it found its way to the firm peek.

“Shinsuke!” you mewled when he gave your nipple a light pinch, the other hand slipping into the water when you were not paying attention and now creeping onto your thigh. He buried his nose in your hair, lips brushing against your earlobe as his hands wandered. The caress had you wiggling between his arms, with burning trails left behind on each corner he dragged his hand across.

Bath water thrashed around when you flipping yourself onto your knees, your arms were thrown around his neck as you pulled yourself up. His hand came to rest on your hips when you pouted, leaning closer until your lips finally met. He was quick to reply when you kissed him again and again, hand leaving its place to hold you still by the back of your neck as he parted his lips to deepen the kiss. You gasped when he tugged the loose strands of hair on the nape of your neck, your bodies moulding together as he slipped his tongue in.

Your eyes were glassy and hooded when he pulled back, lips still wet and parted with a pant. You moaned when his hand went to cup your sex, rolling your hips back to gain more friction on your cunt that was begging for more. His fingers rubbed against your folds, blood boiling at the sight of you chewing your bottom lip when the longest digit swirled around your clit. 

“Please,” you shuddered when nimble fingers spread you apart, the action making you clench around nothing but the warm water that felt incomparable to the heat throbbing between your legs, “I want you...”

You squeaked when a finger was pushed in, the hand on your back putting you in your place from taking him in deeper. Your walls sucked him in, begging to be filled with something more. 

“Is that so?” His voice was like honey, rich and deep as he plunged the digit in and out of your pussy. He chuckled at the way you nodded frantically, finally sitting up until he could look down on you. A slight push on your back made you arch, nowhere to hide the contortion of your face when he added in another finger just as you held yourself still for him.

“Want what?” He finishes off his sentence with a curl of his finger, sending jolts down your spine at the sudden pleasure. You had to force your eyes open, fixing your gaze that was dripping with wanton desire on the man who was waiting for an answer just the way he liked it.

Your voice was shaky as his digits scissored in you, swallowing the drool that was pooling up in your mouth when a breathy moan was pulled out. 

“Want your cock-” a hitch from the back of your throat disrupted you when he pulled out, running his finger along your fluttering lips, “-want your cock in me!”

he groaned, finally sitting up and pulled you onto him with his hands digging into the flesh of your hips. You gripped onto his shoulder for leverage when you felt his tip lining up at your cunt, your cheeks being spread by his firm knead on the plumpness as you hovered above his cock.

He tilted his head up to kiss you square on the lips, tugging at your bottom lip with his teeth when he pulled away, his breath fanning against you as he let out what almost sounded like a purr.

“Good girl.”

“Fuck-” you hissed when he sunk you down on his length, slowly and agonizingly. Your eyes shut together tightly in reflex at the stretch and the heat that was spreading everywhere in your system. Your nails scratched down on his shoulder as he buried deeper and deeper in you, until eventually you were sitting right on his lap with his cock throbbing inside your cunt. A light tap at the side of your hips was a silent command and with legs that were already starting to feel wobbly, you forced yourself to raise yourself up before slamming all the way down once again. Each roll had your body shaking, but the breathy grunts from the man whose cock you were bouncing on were enough to make you go on. The water surface tickled your skin as you fucked yourself on his shaft, the sound of squelching being muffled by the water that was moving around your joint bodies.

“Feels good?” he asked, kissing your neck and muffling the moan on your skin.

A sharp whimper was all you could manage to force out, too distracted by how hard and hot he was inside of you. An unexpected thrust had your mouth falling apart, your eyes rolling back as your waist felt near giving in.

“Shinsuke please,” you whined, voice breaking at the end when the grinds of your hips could no longer match up with the pace you had set and was chasing after. 

You collapsed on his chest when he lifted you off of him, with only his tip left buried in you before bottoming out of you again. All you could do was moan and claw at him as he took charge, bouncing you on his cock until you were nothing but a whimpering mess.

“So good, so good, so good-”

Your babbling was incoherent with your face against his chest, each flex of his stomach under your hands making you melt into him even more. Your toes curled as he fucked you hard and fast, aiming precisely at the spot that made your scalp go numb. It was his name that you cried out when the band in your stomach snapped, sending heat exploding in your core and white in your vision.

“Fucking-”

The rare obscenity that choked out of his cavity had you whimpering, your body still sensitive from your high. The rapid slams now faded into long strokes. He was holding it out, and you pouted at the clear intention that it was for you.

“I want to make you cum...” your whine was soft, still breathy from your pants, and he couldn’t help but groan.

The final push had you whimpering weakly against him, the loud moan rumbling out of his chest as he spilled his hot cum in you had your mind fogging over. He held you still as he took in a sharp breath, before slowly loosening the grip of his hand on your hips.

“No,” you protested when he wanted to pull out of you, rubbing your face on his collarbone before leaning against his shoulder, “let’s stay like this for a while.”

The bath water that already gone back to being lukewarm finally calmed down as you stayed still in his embrace. His face was flushed, the pounding of his heart just starting to steady itself as his finger traced soothing patterns on your arm.

He looked content, and happy, and the fuzziness in your chest returned.

“You are so good to me,” he wasn’t sure if you were really talking to him with the way you were looking hazily at the ripple on the bath as you brought your hand up, “why are you so good to me?”

Kita paused, and really thought about the question.

Perhaps he just wanted to be good to you and have you know that he wanted to.

And so he replied truthfully, with so much love in his eyes that it put you in disbelief that you had ever doubted the weight of his words.  

“I don’t think I need a reason for it.”

[dickwheelie]

@coulson-is-an-avenger thank you sm for the jonsasha prompt!! sorry this took so long but here's a fic about jon and sasha brushin each other's hair :) with a bonus gender discussion(tm)

___________

Jon leaned back against Sasha's legs where she sat on the sofa above him, feeling her gently tug his braid loose, his hair tumbling into her lap as she began to comb through it. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, letting himself relax.

"I've always been jealous of your hair," Sasha said, as she started brushing it out. "So long and lustrous . . ."

"Hah!" Jon barked out a laugh. "Lustrous is not a word I'd use to describe anything about myself."

"You don't give yourself enough credit. Maybe your skin needs work, but your hair is doing fine."

"Oh, well, thank you," Jon said. "Wait, my skin needs--?"

"Why do you keep your hair long, anyway?" Sasha went on. "I mean, it looks good, but you don't seem the type."

Jon snorted. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing," Sasha said cheerily. "Just, you know, the whole male academic persona." Out of the corner of his eye, Jon saw her hand wave theatrically at the words. "You dress and act so straight-laced at work, I guess I'm just surprised your hair didn't go along with it."

Jon worried at the hem of his cardigan. The soft, casual cardigan he'd worn to Sasha's flat because it was his day off, and he didn't have to dress in stuffy, professional clothing so nobody would figure out he was a fraud who didn't belong in a head archivist position. "I just always liked keeping it long," he said. "Couldn't tell you why. Just feels nice, I guess."

"You know," Sasha said pointedly, "I used to want to keep my hair long for reasons I couldn't explain, either."

"I--" Jon began to protest, then closed his mouth and tried again. "I . . . I've thought about it. Believe me, I've--" He laughed humorlessly. "I have thought about it. But I'm sure I'm cis. I-I mean, by now, I'd know otherwise. Right?"

Sasha hummed as she tugged at a stubborn tangle. "Not necessarily. I've met lots of people who didn't know they were trans until they were in their forties, or older."

"W-Well," Jon said, and then didn't know what else to say. For a moment, he just sat there, losing himself in Sasha's steady pulls of the brush, the feeling of her hands running through his hair. "I mean," he said eventually, "I'm not a woman. I know that much."

"Okay," Sasha said, and was quiet. Jon recognized her "letting him talk it out" voice.

"And I'm not uncomfortable with being a man." Jon sighed. He hadn't been prepared for this conversation, and he didn't feel like digging too far into it. "Maybe I'm just a man who likes having long hair. What's wrong with that."

"Absolutely nothing," Sasha said, and he felt her press her lips to the top of his head before returning to the brush. "I think it's handsome."

"Ah. Thank you," Jon said, with a twitch of a smile.

Soon Sasha had finished with his hair and tied it back up in its braid, and they swapped places. Jon could accept Sasha's compliments about his hair's lustrousness, or whatever, but faced with her dark curls he didn't understand how she could ever be jealous of his hair, or anyone else's, for that matter. Sasha's hair was so . . . he didn't even know, he just loved it. It wasn't quite as long as his, but it was a beautiful, rich dark color, almost black but not quite. The texture as he ran his hands through it felt astonishingly nice; he was reminded of the stim toys he used to play with when he was younger.

Sasha's hair didn't need brushing out like his did, so instead he just evened out the center part and ran through it with a comb. He spent the majority of the time carding his hands through it, careful not to tug on the strands. Sasha leaned warmly against him, her back up against his calves, her legs splayed out comfortably in front of her. Her head was tilted up at him and her eyes were closed, with a peaceful look on her face.

"How long did it take you," Sasha said at one point, her voice low and relaxed. "To grow your hair out."

Jon had to think a moment. "Last time I had it cut was . . . almost two years ago, now. I remember because I'd just gotten an interview for the researcher job and I wanted to look . . . presentable. Male academic persona, and all that."

Sasha laughed. "Right."

"Before that it was pretty long, past my shoulders. That was how I kept it at uni too. This is the longest it's ever been, though," Jon said, as he tugged at a strand of his own hair absentmindedly. "I guess the Institute's kept me so busy I forgot to get it cut again."

"Well, if you like it that way, why waste the money?" Sasha said, quite reasonably. "Besides, I stand by what I said. Your hair's a gift, don't waste it by cutting it off." She reached above her head and waved a finger at him. "Unless you want to. Don't let me tell you what to do. God knows I know a thing or two about other people telling me what to do with my hair."

Jon laughed. "I won't. I want to keep it long, anyway." He was glad Sasha liked his hair like this. Georgie had been the same way, encouraging Jon not to cut it. He'd had friends in the past express confusion about his hair, but he'd gotten pretty skilled at ignoring them. It took a job interview, apparently, to change his mind. Jon wasn't entirely sure how he felt about that.

Well, no, that wasn't true. Bad, that was how he felt. Walking around those first few months in research with his hair cropped short, wearing those stuffy outfits . . . he'd never felt more like an imposter. The day he realized his hair had finally grown back past his shoulders had been a very, very good day.

His work clothes hadn't really changed, and his persona hadn't gotten easier to play, but now he had his hair, and his nails, and even the occasional earring studs he'd wear, if he was feeling brave.

And Sasha. And Tim. He had them, too, and they were two very good people to have in one's corner.

Impulsively, he reached down and gave Sasha a hug around her shoulders. It was a bit of an awkward angle, and he had to lay his cheek on the top of her head, but she reached up to hug him back anyway.

"What's this for?" Sasha said, but she didn't let go.

"I don't know," Jon said softly. "I love you, that's all."

"Well, if that's all," Sasha said. She gave him a few pats on the arm, as well as she could reach. "Don't mess up my hair, now, or you'll have to comb it again."

"Oh, no," Jon intoned, "what a horrible fate."

"You're not funny, Sims."

"I'm hilarious."

Sasha grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it, which Jon suspected was a last-ditch effort to derail the conversation by flustering him. It worked extremely well. Jon busied himself by going back to her hair, and it was a few minutes later before either of them spoke again.

"I love you too, you know," Sasha said at length. "I know I don't say it a lot, but I do."

"It's okay," Jon said, and it really, really was. He knew Sasha couldn't see the wide smile that had just appeared on his face, but he liked to think she could hear it in his voice. "I know you do."

[lumosandnoxwriting]

Maple Syrup Kisses - Harry Potter

Title: Maple Syrup Kisses Pairing: Harry x Fem!Reader Warnings: NSFW!! Dirty talk, male receiving oral, fingering and unprotected sex Summary: Y/N just wants Harry to feel special on his birthday! A/N: For the anon who wanted Harry and the reader feeding each other strawberries with it ending in some smut!! Feedback is always welcome and requests are open!!

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

Y/N moves as quietly as she can as she pushes the bedroom door open with her hip, as to not wake Harry. Not only is today his birthday, but it’s the first day in weeks that he doesn’t need to be up and out of the house early, and Y/N wants him to sleep in for as long as possible. She’s already been up for hours, wrapping a few more presents and making him some of his favorite breakfast foods for him to enjoy in bed.

She heads into their room quietly, placing the tray full of food in her hands on their dresser. It’s well after 10 am, and although she’s sure Harry could sleep for a few more hours, she’s ready for their day to begin. Y/N slowly crawls up their bed, admiring how peaceful Harry looks when he’s asleep. She settles on her side next to Harry and starts to press light kisses all over his face.

“Harry, love,” she coos, gently rubbing his arm. “It’s time to wake up.”

Harry starts to stir in his sleep, his eyes fluttering open slowly. “Y/N?” he asks. He turns slightly so he can look at Y/N, and a sleepy smile appears on his face. “Mornin’ love. What time is it?”

“Nearly 11,” Y/N murmurs, kissing Harry briefly. “Happy birthday, love.”

Harry grins, stretching out his limbs as he starts to wake up more. “My birthday and a lie in? Best day ever,” he says. Harry grabs Y/N’s chin and presses their lips together in a slow kiss. “What a wonderful way to be woken up. Thank you.”

Y/N chuckles and kisses Harry again, just letting their soft lips move together for a few moments. “You’re welcome, Harry. But let me make it even better.” Y/N sits up and motions for Harry to do the same. Once he’s settles back against the pillows Y/N grabs her wand off of their night table, and casts a charm so the tray full of food starts to float over towards them.

“Breakfast in bed?” Harry asks happily. “This day just keeps getting better and better.” Harry settles the tray onto his lap, giving Y/N a look when she laughs at him. “What? It’s nice to enjoy the simple things in life.”

Y/N shakes her head and presses a kiss to Harry’s cheek. “That’s one of the things I love most about you, Harry.”

“What’s that, love?” Harry asks as he drowns his pancakes in syrup.

“You’re Harry Potter,” she teases. “You have the entire world at your fingertips. You could ask for anything and have it an instant. And how do you choose to use that power? Sleeping in and having breakfast in bed.”

“Who needs the entire world at their disposal when they’ve got you?” Harry compliments after swallowing his first bite. “You made these the muggle way, didn’t you?” When Y/N nods Harry groans in appreciation. “You have truly outdone yourself, Y/N. These are amazing.” He leans over and presses a sticky, maple flavored kiss to Y/N’s lips. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Harry.” Y/N sits back, and watches Harry eat, her hand coming up to run through his messy hair. It rarely looks tame when he tries to do something with it, and Y/N loves how it looks in the morning. It always sticks in 100 different directions, and it’s silky which makes it the perfect texture for her hands to run through.

“So, what have you got planned for the rest of the day?” Harry asks as he takes a sip of orange juice.

Y/N grins at him. “Sleeping in and breakfast in bed isn’t enough for you?” she teases.

Harry rolls his eyes playfully. “Just sitting here next to you is enough for me. You know that.” Harry takes another bite and chews slowly before swallowing. “But I know you, and you go above and beyond for even the simplest things so there’s no way this isn’t the start to an amazing day.”

“You know me too well, Harry,” Y/N laughs. “We’ve got a late lunch booked in at your favorite restaurant with Andromeda and Teddy,” Y/N starts, giggling when Harry beams brightly. “And then dinner tonight at The Burrow with all of the Weasleys, an amazing cake made by Molly herself and loads and loads of presents.”

“You’re the most wonderful human being on the planet, you know that?” Harry compliments, pulling Y/N in for another maple syrup kiss. “You’ve managed to plan the perfect day for me. It’s like you crawled inside of my brain or something.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Y/N insists, her cheeks tinted pink from Harry’s praise.

Harry is always doing little things to make Y/N feel special. Whether it’s surprising her with dinner at her favorite restaurant or bringing her home flowers. He’s even been known to send her an owl during the middle of the day just to let her know he’s thinking about her. Harry’s birthday is the only day of the year he lets people spoil him, and Y/N is sure to take full advantage of that so she can make him feel just as special as he always makes her feel.

“Here, love. Try a strawberry,” Y/N says to avoid getting any more praise from Harry. She loves his sweet words, but today is supposed to be about him. She picks a strawberry out of the bowl by its’ bright green leaves and slowly brings it up to Harry’s mouth. Y/N watches in awe as Harrys lips wrap around it, and she strangely starts to feel a little turned on.

“Mmm,” Harry moans as he takes a bite. “Those are really good.” He grabs his own strawberry out of the bowl and brings it up to Y/N’s mouth. “Try one, love.”

Y/N takes a bite of the strawberry Harry offers her as he takes another bite of the one in her hand. They both make noises of appreciation in the back of their throats, and the sound goes right to Y/N’s core. As Harry takes the final bite of the fruit is mouth just barely grazes Y/N’s fingers, and she had to bite her tongue to keep from moaning.

They sit there in silence just feeding each other for a few minutes, both Harry and Y/N starting to get more turned on as they go. Each time they reach the end of the fruit they let their lips brush the other’s fingers. One-time Y/N even goes as far as to suck Harry’s fingers for a moment, smirking when he lets out a quiet moan.

As Y/N takes the last bite some of the juice drips down her chin. Harry reaches out and wipes it away with his thumb, and before he can do anything else Y/N has wrapped her lips around the digit and is sucking it clean. When Y/N releases his thumb Harry lurches forward and presses their lips together hotly, too turned on to continue teasing. Y/N moans into Harry’s mouth and fumbles for her wand. As so as her hand grips it she waves it, casting a silent spell that makes the tray float back onto their dresser. She throws her wand off the bed and grabs Harry’s shoulders, pulling him on top of her.

“Y/N,” Harry moans as she starts to bite and suck at his neck. “Let me show you how much I appreciate you.” His hand starts to trail down her body to the waist band of her shorts. But before his hand can dip underneath the band, Y/N is shaking her head and flipping them over so she’s now hovering over Harry.

“It’s your birthday, love,” she starts, trailing kisses down Harry’s neck and bare chest. “Let me make you feel good.”

Y/N moves down Harry’s torso, occasionally stopping to bite at his skin and suck marks into his pale flesh. When she reaches his crotch Y/N presses hot, open mouthed kisses to his cloth covered cock, letting her hand slowly palm at him.

“If you insist,” Harry groans, letting his head tip back. He threads a hand in Y/N’s hair, lifting his hips up to aid her in taking his boxers off. “You spoil me too much, love,” he says as he looks back down at her.

Y/N wraps her hand around Harry’s cock, starting to stroke him as he moans for her. “Don’t get too used to it,” she jokes, letting her warm breath ghost over his length. She smiles as he twitches in her hand, and she presses a slow kiss to the swollen tip. Y/N makes eye contact with Harry as she sucks the tip between her lips, moaning around him as he lets out his own noise of pleasure.

“Oh,” Harry gasps as Y/N starts to take him down further, his grip on her hair tightening. “Feel so good wrapped around me, love,” Harry compliments. “You always know how to make me feel good.”

Y/N blushes at Harry’s words, and brings a hand up to stroke the part of his cock she can’t quite fit into her mouth. She starts to bob her head up and down slowly, letting her tongue rub up against the underside of his cock. As Harry starts to pant and groan above her Y/N increases her speed with ever stroke, her hand twisting at the base of his cock. She hums as her mouth reaches the tip, pausing for a moment so her tongue can lap at the precum gathering there.

“Fuck, Y/N,” Harry moans, his hips involuntarily bucking up slightly. “Doing so good, Angel,” he praises.

Spurred on by Harry’s encouragement, Y/N bobs her head eagerly, taking as much of Harry down her throat as possible. As her nose brushes the area of skin just above Harry’s cock the tip jabs the back of her throat and she gags as Harry moans loudly.

“Gonna cum in your pretty little mouth if you keep doing that,” Harry warns as Y/N gags around him once again.

Not wanting him to finish just yet, Y/N slowly pulls off of Harry with a wink. He whines at the loss, and she lets her hand slowly stroke him. “As much as I love the taste of you, Harry,” she starts, wiping away the spit on her chin with her free hand. “I’d much rather have you finish somewhere else.”

Harry chuckles and brings Y/N in for a brief kiss as he flips them over. Harry kisses her again slower as he gets rids of all of Y/N’s clothes, letting his hands run over every inch of skin he reveals. He settles in between her spread legs, and trails kisses down her neck as his hand starts to trail up her thigh.

“Oh, Harry,” Y/N moans as his fingers start to rub her wet folds.

“Look how wet you are, Angel,” Harry teases as he sinks a finger into her entrance. He’s rewarded with a beautiful moan when he curls it, and he immediately brings another in alongside it. “You’re already so turned on just from having my cock in your mouth.”

Y/N shivers as Harry’s thumb starts to rub slow circles on her clit, her hips moving to meet his thrusts. “Harry please,” she begs. “Wanna feel you inside me.”

Harry smirks as Y/N squirms underneath him. “Thought today was all about me and what I want to do?” he teases, curling his fingers again. “Maybe I just wanna use my fingers.”

Y/N’s fingers dig into Harry’s shoulder and she whines as he slows his movements down. “Need you in me Harry, please,” Y/N pleads, her walls clenching and twitching around his digits.

“Since you asked so nicely, Angel.” Harry fingers Y/N for another few moments, relishing in her moans and whines. He curls his fingers one last time before removing them from Y/N’s heat, and he grips a thigh in each hand. “Ready for me?”

Y/N nods wildly, “God Harry, yes. So ready for you.” They both moan lowly as Harry enters Y/N, his hips pushing into her until his cock is fully buried inside of her. “Oh fuck,” Y/N gasps, her toes curling. “Fill me up so good, Harry. Always stretch me out. Feels so good.”

“Y/N,” Harry groans, starting to slowly pulls his hips back and fuck into her. “Always so tight for me, Angel. Feel so good around me.” Harry starts to fuck Y/N at a moderate pace, and he throws one of her legs over his shoulder so he can fuck into her deeper.

“Right there,” Y/N moans as the tip of his cock brushes her g-spot. “Right there Harry don’t stop.”

Harry starts to rub Y/N’s clit, wanting her to finish before him. “Come on, Angel. Show me how good my cock makes you feel.”

Y/N back arches and her eyes flutter shut as Harry starts to rub her clit harder. “So close, Harry, fuck,” Y/N moans. Her hips move up to meet Harry with every thrust and she can feel her walls clenching and fluttering around Harry’s cock. “Oh fuck, I’m gonna-“ Y/N’s warning falls from her lips as her orgasm hits, Harry’s name falling from her lips instead.

“So good for me, Angel,” Harry praises as Y/N comes down from her high, his hips still relentlessly moving into her. Her walls are like a vice grip around him, and when Y/N drags her nails down Harry’s back his hips stutter, and he’s spilling into Y/N with a shout of her name. Harry continues moving inside Y/N as they come down, and once his cock has stopped twitching he slowly pulls out and falls onto the bed next to her.

Y/N runs a hand through her sweaty hair, letting Harry pull her into his side. “How did you like your present?” she says playfully, pressing a few kisses to his jaw.

“It was absolutely brilliant, love.” Harry grabs Y/N’s chin so he can press a chaste kiss to her lips. “And I’m very happy that you decided to give it to me know instead of in front of all the Weasley’s tonight after dinner,” he jokes.

Y/N laughs and kisses Harry deeply. “I’m sure they all would have enjoyed that,” she teases with a wink. Y/N looks at the clock on their bedside table, groaning at how late it is. “We better hop in the shower, love. Or we’ll be late for lunch.”

“Ugh, do we have to?” Harry whines, pulling Y/N on top of him. She giggles as Harry tickles her sides, and he presses their mouths together to muffle the sound. “I could just lay in bed here with you forever.”

“Me too,” Y/N agrees, pressing a kiss to Harry’s cheek. “But I spent a lot of time and effort planning this day for you and I’m not going to let you miss any of it.” Y/N places one more kiss to Harry’s lips before she crawls out of bed and starts to head towards the bathroom. “And I may or may not have a few more, private presents for us to use tonight after dinner.”

Harry immediately perks up at that, and he jumps out of bed. “Race you to the shower!” he shouts, laughing as Y/N chases after him.

[sisterspooky1013]

Spat by SisterSpooky1013

1428 words- read it here on AO3

“What? Where are you going?” He asked as she rolled away from him, retreating under the covers.

“Never mind, Mulder, I’m going to sleep,” she replied tersely, her bare back turned towards him.

“Scully, what just happened? I’m so confused,” he pleaded with her.

He ran quickly through the preceding two minutes; he was lying in her bed reading while she took a shower. She had emerged from the bathroom naked and crawled on top of him, which he very much welcomed. He’d set his book aside immediately and started kissing her when suddenly her demeanor changed, and now she was stonewalling him. What the fuck.

He rolled onto his side to nestle himself against her back, putting a hand tentatively on her hip over the covers. “Scully, I can clearly see that I did something to upset you, but I honestly have no idea what. I need you to help me out here.”

She heaved a deep sigh and rolled on to her back. Her bare breasts were illuminated in the the light of the small bedside lamp and he forced his gaze to her face. Hopefully if he played his cards right, he’d still get to pay them the attention he wanted to tonight.

“I hate it when you say things like that to me, Mulder,” she said to the ceiling. The expression on her face held irritation, but also hurt. Beyond pissing her off, he’d hurt her feelings, which was something he avoided like the plague. As they’d gotten to know each other in this new, intimate way, he’d learned that underneath her tough exterior she was actually very sensitive. The more she grew to trust him with her feelings, the more often she let him know when something he said or did rubbed her the wrong way. It was proving to be a steep learning curve.

“What did I say?” He asked softly, brushing his fingers over her forearm.

She shot him a look that said “you know exactly what you said,” but he really didn’t.

In a derisive tone, she spelled it out for him. “I came out of the bathroom, naked, and climbed into your lap, and you said, and I quote ‘someone’s eager tonight.’” She stopped talking and set her jaw. Was that it? That was it. He was still confused.

“Okay. And that’s bad?”

She scoffed and rolled away from him again.

He looked up, requesting help from God or the universe or maybe even the extra terrestrials. He was bad at this. He wasn’t sure if that was because it had been so long since he’d been in a relationship, or if he’d avoided relationships precisely because he wasn’t any good at them. Chicken or egg, he was screwed. He scooted closer to her and draped his arm over her waist, taking her hand in his.

“Sweetheart, I promise I’m not being obtuse when I tell you that I don’t understand why that’s a bad thing to say. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, but if you don’t explain why or how, I have zero confidence that I won’t do it again,” he was taking a risk using the pet name he’d tried out only a couple times. She seemed to like it, but she also didn’t like the fact that she liked it. It was a double-edged sword.

She sighed deeply again. When she spoke, her voice was small and unsure. “Do you recall me talking to you about my feelings around sex…around sexual desire?” She asked.

They had had a few conversations about what it was like for her growing up in the guilt-laden culture of Catholicism, and that since she’d started exploring sexually as a teen she’d always struggled with feeling guilty for her own desires. That although she did not ascribe to the belief that only whores wanted and enjoyed sex, she’d never been able to entirely rid herself of the shame she’d been indoctrinated with.

“Yes, of course I do. So…me saying that made you feel…something?” He tried to put the pieces together. This had something to do with her hang-ups around sex.

“When you say things like that, teasing or drawing attention to the fact that I’m initiating sex or that I want it, it makes me feel like you think I’m…” she trailed off.

“Like I think you’re what?” He prodded, squeezing her gently with his arm.

“I don’t know, Mulder. It’s stupid.”

There was no title to their relationship. At no point had they discussed what this was, or how to call it. But in moments like this, he was pretty sure he was her boyfriend. This was a boyfriend conversation. And the well of patience he was drawing from, trying to get her back within his orbit, it was a reserve he had not tapped into in many years. It was boyfriend patience, because boyfriends care enough about the feelings of their significant other to wade through complicated and often frustrating conversations for the sole purpose of continuing to enjoy all the happy moments that surrounded them. She was unequivocally worth it.

He tucked his face into the crook of her neck and kissed her sweetly on the shoulder. “It’s not stupid. Please tell me what you’re thinking.”

She rolled on to her back again; a good sign since it meant he could actually see her face. She was still directing her words to the popcorn texture of the ceiling. “It makes me feel like you think I’m dirty, or too sexual. It makes me feel like there’s something wrong with me. And it makes me angry, because I should be able to want and have and enjoy sex without feeling bad about it.”

He nodded in understanding. “So me saying you were eager felt like I was criticizing or making fun of you for initiating sex, like it meant something about you. Something negative.” He kept his tone soft and even.

She finally met his eye and he was struck by how vulnerable she looked. In addition to her nakedness, her furrowed brow and the pebble of her chin resembled nothing of the powerhouse beside him in a suit each day at the office. He was overcome with tenderness for her, and gratitude that she was allowing him to see her so raw and unguarded. He smiled softly at her and brought his hand to her cheek, brushing his thumb over her lips.

“I’m sorry I made you feel that way. Thank you for telling me.”

She turned to face him and he quickly slid under the covers to envelop her in his arms without barriers, her face tucked against his chest while her leg threaded between his. He rubbed his hand up and down her back, grateful when he felt her relax against him.

“I understand where those feelings come from,” he continued, ���and that they aren’t necessarily rooted in logic. But if logic has any impact at all, then I think I should tell you that any day that you express interest in me sexually is the best day of my life.”

She chuckled against the fabric of his T shirt.

“I’m serious. If your hang up is that you worry that wanting sex makes you some kind of depraved sex-fiend, my hang up is that I worry that I’m an awkward, unlovable doofus who no one wants to have sex with.”

She tilted her face up to look at his. “So I’m hesitant about initiating sex because you’ll think I’m a whore, and you’re hesitant about initiating sex because you think that I don’t want to have sex with you?”

“Exactly.”

“Wow. No wonder it took us so long to sleep together,” she said dryly, then smiled at him.

Sensing that he’d found his footing, he ran his hand down her back again, this time continuing to cup her ass and give it a squeeze. He was rewarded by her flexing her pelvis against him as she brought her hand to his cheek and captured him in a kiss.

“For the record, Mulder, I do want to have sex with you.” Her words were hot against his lips.

“Right now?”

“Right now would be good, if you’re interested.” She slid her hand down his chest, over his belly and on to the bulge forming in his sweatpants. “Which it would appear that you are.”

“For the record, Scully, I’m always interested.”

She rolled into him until she was once again hovering over him naked, and they picked up where they left off.

Tagging @today-in-fic , thank you!