#It's never for more than around 1.5 hours

[babyleostuff]

"silent treatment prank" on their s/o | ot13

. . . how long svt can maintain their "silent treatment prank" after their s/o apologize even though they don't know what they did wrong

natalia's note: i don't think any of them would be able to hold out for long (as you'll see). it's a whole another thing when they give you the silent treatment when they're actually angry, but as a prank. never.

❥ seungcheol 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] one minute 

at first he wanted to try out this prank as a way to see you sulk and whine, as he usually does when you give him the silent treatment, and he thought he was being such a genius after he came up with the idea. mhm, yeah - genius my ass. the second he sees your puppy-like expression after he doesn’t reciprocate your hug, it’s over for him. it was clear to him that you thought he was bothered by you, you even apologised for entering his personal space and hugging him. thus not even a minute in, he’s all over you again, kissing you all over your face and apologising (with his noot noot pout) for his silly behaviour because come one - seeing you upset over his stupid prank is the last thing he wants to see. 

❥ jeonghan 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] ten minutes 

as much of a menace as he is, he wouldn’t be able to ignore you for more than ten minutes. first of all - he simply gets bored. that’s it - bored. you’re right next to him, and he can’t talk to you, which is so??? he loves yapping when you’re next to him. second of all - he needs to touch you. yoon jeonghan needs his cuddles and kisses, and how is he supposed to get them if he’s ignoring you? third of all - he might be a bit mean (with love) sometimes, but there is no way he’d ever pull a prank on you which would involve you getting genuinely upset. like - making your partner insecure? mhm, not with hannie. so, he’d kind of try to ignore you for a bit (and failing miserably because he’d answer you half of the time anyways), and so after ten minutes he just gives up.

❥ joshua 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] twenty minutes 

joshua is a bit similar to jeonghan with this (who would have guessed), the only difference is that shua is a bit more perseverant. ignoring you had never come easily to him and it never would be easy for him, but he had to admit that your slightly pouty lip was adorable, and he could practically see your brain trying to figure out what was going on. however, when he saw the first signs of you being actually upset, the entire bubble around this "funny" prank disappeared. no joke was worth your sadness, no matter how cute it made you look. shua quickly realised that the prank itself didn't make much sense and that he would much rather hug you right now than pretend that you weren't there at all.

❥ jun 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] one hour 

he didn’t come up with that prank on his own, he’d never, but a lost bet is a lost bet, and he had to take the punishment. he felt so bad avoiding you, when you asked him about his day, if he was hungry, if he needed some rest, and when you started to ask if he needed space, some time alone, and if he wanted you gone for a while - jun’s heart broke. but he felt like it was too late to take everything back because you looked so sad and upset, and you probably hated him now too, so he couldn't say anything. an hour would be his breaking point - fuck it if you hated him, he needed you, and he needed to apologise, and damn the person who came up with this stupid prank. 

❥ hoshi 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] 1.5 minute 

when his friends told him about this prank, and how they pranked their significant others, soonyoung thought it was such a brilliant idea, and he couldn’t wait to try it out on you. as it turned out - it was not brilliant, it fucking sucked. ignoring you, your kiss you always gave him when he came back from work, your questions if everything was okay, was one thing - seeing your upset expression was a whole nother story. you even apologised for being so all over him when he barely entered the apartment, clearly feeling bad, and that would be the end of hoshi’s prank. this man is the simpest simp to ever simp, he cannot stand seeing you sad, especially over something you didn’t even do.

❥ wonwoo 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] 0.2- 0.3 seconds 

when wonwoo heard about this prank he was baffled to say the least - what’s so fun in ignoring your significant other? like, what’s the point? wouldn’t you rather hold them close, and spend some precious quality time together rather than ignoring them? somehow, seungcheol and jeonghan managed to persuade him into giving the prank a chance, and wonwoo decided to say yes just to please his friends and get them off his back. no surprise - wonwoo wouldn’t last a second. he’s physically unable to ignore you, a single quiet “wonwoo?” makes him go “yes, baby?” *cue in attentive eyes and a puppy like expression*. besides, he’d never be able to stand you being upset, knowing he was the reason behind your small pout and eyes lacking their usual spark. (also, ignoring you equals no hugs and kisses, and that’s something wonwoo cannot stand).

❥ woozi 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] fifteen minutes 

does not see a point in this “prank”, thinks it’s very stupid and not fun. the only reason he did it in the first place was to stop hearing the constant nagging of hoshi and seungwkan, and if that was what it took to satisfy them, then whatever. he held out for fifteen minutes just because he was working on a lyrics when you came to his studio, and whereas he ignored your first hello because of the prank, he ignored your next questions just because he got distracted by his work. you were used to your boyfriend spacing out during work so that didn’t really bother you, though he never ignored your “hello” so you got a bit scared that he might’ve been angry with you or whatever. it took only one glance at you for woozi to remember that he ignored you when you came in, and he immediately dropped whatever he was doing to apologise and properly greet you with an extra kiss.

❥ dk 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] 0.001 second 

not happening, never in a million years. come on, do you really expect seokmin out of all people to ignore you on purpose? over his dead body. the thing was - he overheard about the prank during rehearsals and thought it sounded a bit fun? like, he’d get to see you extra pouty, and he loved nothing more when you got cute like that - so the prank had to work, right? no. when he got home later that night, and you greeted him in the hallway with his hoodie draped over your body, rubbing your eyes with the sweater paws because it was way too late for you to be up, all of his intentions of executing the prank went out of the window immediately. later that night, when he held you close to his chest he felt so silly for even thinking that the prank would be a good idea.

❥ mingyu 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] 2 minutes 

this man is too big of a yapper and too big of a clingy puppy to ignore you, besides he’s not that big on pranks, especially if it involves you getting upset. just try to imagine mingyu ignoring you, even though you didn’t do anything wrong. you can't, right? that’s the thing - mingyu has to touch you at all times, and he loves nothing more than talking to you, so why on earth would he go around ignoring you, wasting your precious time together on a silly prank? he tried it out just to see how many minutes he’d last, and well - he didn’t hold out for long, definitely not when you dropped your head and left the bedroom, thinking he was annoyed with you. he’d immediately follow you and explain that it was just a stupid prank (in return you’d give him a silent treatment ☺️)

❥ minghao 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] two hours max 

the trophy goes to xu minghao - he’s the strongest of them all, though that doesn't mean it’s any less painful for him. when minghao decides on doing something he commits, he pours his heart and soul into whatever he does, even if it’s just a stupid prank. he wasn’t sure how he even ended up in this situation - him in your bedroom, trying to occupy himself with reading, and you in the living room, probably trying to figure out what you did wrong for your boyfriend to be ignoring you. he would have ended this stupid prank a long time ago if it wasn’t for his pride and stubbornness because now he’d have to admit to coming up with this stupid ass prank, and making you feel bad just for his entertainment (which he was not entertained by). when the clock struck the second hour after he locked himself in the bedroom, he threw away the book and practically ran out to you, an apology speech ready.

❥ seungkwan 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] half an hour 

his stubbornness to admit the defeat of his prank would be the only reason why he’d hold out half an hour, if not for that he’d be running back to you after a minute. seungkwan was sure this prank would be the perfect way to get back at you for your last joke that you pulled on him, but surprise surprise - it wasn’t. he was still going strong when he saw your small pout - he thought the prank was working, and he’d get his revenge, but it wasn’t before he saw how sad you actually got that he started regretting everything. you started avoiding him like fire, you didn’t even dare to look at him, and that’s when seungkwan realised the prank was a bad idea after all, like - he didn’t mean for you to get so upset, he just wanted to make you a bit whiny and pouty for him, but none of that happened. after half an hour he was like “fuck it” because he wasn’t able to stand seeing you sad.

❥ vernon 

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] five minutes 

to be honest he just gets bored with the prank. he didn’t come over to your apartment to spend his day off ignoring you, and whoever came up with this “silent treatment prank” is plainly stupid. for one, vernon hates seeing you upset - obviously. like, who would want to ignore their partner just for funsies, and see them upset over something they didn’t do and make them self conscious? besides, it was his day off, and he wouldn’t spend it ignoring you, so after five minutes he was ready to curse out his friends that made him try out this “prank”, and apologise for acting so silly. 

❥ chan  

[ ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ ] 0.5 seconds 

yeah, no - thank you next. this man, this man is a simp and he’s so in love with you it’s a bit worrying, there is literally nothing that could ever convince him to ignore you, for what - entertainment? because that’s what the prank sounded like, ignoring your significant other for entertainment. there were so many other things you could do together without either of you getting upset, so why not do them? one of his biggest goals in life is to keep you safe, loved, and happy - so he will not indulge in his friends' antics with this stupid ass prank. even the thought of ignoring you on purpose makes him sick, like… why? he would not be able to stand your upset expression, or the thought that you’d get self conscious about yourself. hell. no.

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[ihave-atummyache]

3 way with ur roomie, hey roomie

ot8 blurb/imagine

stray kids

just my personal thoughts on the topic of ur skz!bf sharing u with another member (;

1.5 words

just hard thoughts i guess? idk im just horny and thinking

bang chan:

would share u with seungmin.

i feel like they would have very different approaches to how they are intimate, however, they both very much so give off brat tamer vibes in my opinion! i think seungmin would be more of a hard!dom brat tamer and chan would be more of a soft!dom brat tamer or even like more of an emotional brat tamer than a physical one. in the context that seungmin would spank you, smack you, spit on you, degrade you, chan would rather have you write that youre sorry 100 times on a piece of paper. im sorry its hot idk dont ask me!

i think their dynamic would work well together because they are so opposite but also so similar that it would be really easy to break you.

also they both would definitely love to see you cry. idk thats what theyre saying!!

lee know:

would share u with chan.

okay, hear me out. i know most people would think that he would share you with jisung but i so disagree!! minho is a possessive, jealous, mfer (hot). that being said, he is also basically joined at the hip with jisung and when you come around, its probably quite often the three of you together.

i dont think minho could stand the idea of you being around someone 24/7 that has seen you naked and felt every inch of you. hes sooo jealous.

but!! i think minchan would make for a great time tbh. theyre both so strong and yummy that it could get really rough, fast!! they're both very conscious of your body and how it is reacting to everything and they work in perfect tandem to make sure youre having a good time :p

you definitely cum so many times you can’t walk by the end of it all!

oh! and they both have greatttt stamina so i can just imagine you guys going at it for hours and hours.

most likely to have been made self indulgently, fueled by my own personal desires.

-on my knees for minchan.

changbin:

would share u with hyunjin.

changbin is so obsessed with hyunjin and its the cutest thing in the world. he thinks he can never be more obsessed with anyone but then, he meets you!

the idea of the two people he adores most in the world being intimate with him at the same time??? hot. hot hot hot. i also think that binnie is such a visual person. seeing you and hyunjin together is probably just pure art in his eyes.

i think that it would actually be super intimate. it would definitely not be something that happens often or casually. it probably happened one night on accident and it was a lot more intimate and intense than you all figured it would be.

changbin and hyunjin definitely kiss while they eiffel tower u. im sORRY!

hyunjin:

would share u with felix.

hyunjin loves felix so much. we all know this. i think that it would be very important that you and felix get along for hyunjin to make the relationship work.

honestly, it wouldnt surprise me if hyunjin were to make you two meet before you meet anyone else. he just values lix's opinion so much and its so cute. with that being said, i think that the idea of sharing you would kind of come naturally.

you and felix have GREAT chemistry and i think it would be hyunjin that suggests it. you three are probably sitting around the table or in the living room and he's just listening to you and felix talk and then he just speaks up with something stupid and hyunjin-like, for example: 'do you wanna have a threesome. like us three?' and obviously you and felix are quite surprised but after it being talked about, youre all down.

felix is probably a little softer in bed and i imagine hyunjin being the same way, except if he get particularly worked up. i imagine sex with hyunjin is usually pretty intimate and more like love-making. he is just such a romantic and values intimacy so much.

theres probably a lot of you receiving great head from the two boys and a LOT of kissing. and they have such nice lipshshshsjash

u definitely have a few bruises left as a reminder.

han:

would share u with minho.

okay okay okay so

im sensing the dynamic of minho actually not really participating and youre both kind of submissive BECAUSE voyeur minho>>>>

him telling jisung exactly how he should touch you or what he should say to you and then he gets all frustrated when jisung doesnt do it right and pushes him out the way and is like 'do it like this' and then showing him exactly how its done.

you're definitely being treated like an object more than a person and it's embarrassingly just that much hotter. i feel like jisung would follow every one of minho's commands without much thought. he trusts him whole heartedly even when it comes to you.

when you do actually have sex with both of them, it’s probably super rough. i feel like jisung would feed off minho’s energy and try to match it, yk?

felix:

would share you with changbin.

okay....hear me out! why do i lowk feel like you could dom changbin and felix so well.... and theyre so muscly and like masculine but you can get them both on their knees for you????? HOT

anyways, felix trust changbin a lot and he has said that changbin is his ideal type in men so... youre his ideal type, changbin is his ideal type, felix is in heaven.

a lot of praise from you has them both flustered and blushing and like putty in the palm of your hand. they could definitely dom you too tho!!! dont get me wrong.

manhandled, thrown up against a wall, rough, marked up, the works. they would probably hold you up at an insane angle so they can both fuck into you at the same time. some crazy karma sutra shit. i think they would be the first ones out of all these duos that would be found out. the way that changbin just suddenly gets a lot closer and touchier with you and the way the three of you would interact, it would be suspicious

most likely to end up in a poly relationship, methinks!

seungmin:

would share u with i.n.

THATS HIS BRO FR.

"seungmin, how do i make a girl cum with my fingers?"

"i can show u better than i can tell u"

and thats how you end up sprawled out on the bed getting edged over and over and over until you can barely feel your body!

"no angle your hand like this, there you go! you feel how this pretty pussy just clenched around you? thats good"

"you could probably make her squirt, she does all the time"

seungmin's words would be filthy. actually talking like youre just a sex doll that they can use for their own pleasure. i.n would probably often return and ask you and seungmin different questions and then youre all in the bedroom

he just happens to be more of a visual learner is all!

least likely to become poly, methinks! im under the impression that out of everyone, seungmin and jeongin would be the two that are most likely to keep things platonic. i think these would also be the most likely two members that have a friend with benefits and genuinely never catches feelings, yk?

okay and maybe it's just my own personal hand kink.... but they both have such fucking pretty hands like oh my goshdmsmshx put them down my throat pls!

i.n:

would share u with jisung.

tbh i think jeongin would be the most likely to share you with multiple members (maybe at the same time but uh anyways) but him and jisung just work.

jeongin is genuinely sooooo fond of jisung and you can just tell. he takes good care of jisung, even though he's younger and i think he trusts him a lot.

however, i think there could be a crazy dynamic here...

dom i.n x sub hannie x sub you?????

why is that kind of hot... and you all know im a big advocate for dom!han but i imagine him being a softer dom, at least a lot softer than jeongin. i.n and minho seem like they would be very similar in their dom ways.

i just cant imagine jeongin being a sub!!! like he IS an aquarius…lets not forget.

him and han’s dynamic is very silly and you can tell that they love each other dearly and feel very safe with one another. like they’re very much themselves around one another. i think thats why han would be able to sub to jeongin. and the irony of him being younger and he’s bossing him around… he would dig. jisung a freak!

han is a certified pussy addict. he eats coochie off the bone!! im imagining you sat back against i.n’s chest and jisung is between your legs just devouring and jeongin has his fingers practically gagging you omg i gtg N O

[bellswlw]

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ it’s cold here without you ⇨ e. williams

ellie williams x afab!reader

wc: 6k

part 1.5 | part two | masterlist

summary: after Ellie manages to finally get you to pose for her after arriving in Jackson months ago, you two attend the winter dance and it’s then that you realize you might like ellie as more than just a friend…

cw: bff!ellie, mutual pining, jealousy, drug use (weed), alcohol consumption, inexperienced reader, artist!ellie, some fluff, edging (r!receiving kinda), love confessions, making out in semi public space (???) basically grumpy x sunshine, gardener!reader —lmk if there are more tags to add pls—

a/n: this was going to be angsty and sad but then this just happened so enjoy! (please be nice this is my first public wlw post and first fic i’ve been proud of in a minute so pls, pls just don’t be mean. i’ve been so nervous to post this all week help) proofread but there’s probably still some mistakes tbh

From the moment you walked into Jacksons gates, Ellie knew something. Something so small rang in her ears. So much so it almost hurt, it made her want to wince at the sight of you like you were a walking orb of fire and you had just exploded right in front of her.

She knew when you met Shimmer for the first time, she knew in the dining hall, and at the library and the school and the church. Especially at the church. She knew she would never be able to let you go. But she knew she would have to, eventually.

|

You spun slowly around in Ellie’s desk chair, your head resting back as the smoke filled your lungs more and more with each rotation.

“Please. I don’t want to go alone, I won’t know anyone else there.” you say up into the ceiling while you wait for a response. You hear the crackle of weed burning straight through Ellie’s chest before anything else.

Her voice drops a little low when she finally speaks, the smoke falling from her lips like fog rolling over a still lake. “I’m sure Dina will be there. And Jesse. And literally everyone else.” Ellie was stretched out on the futon from across the room, caring less about the stupid winter dance.

You look at her then, a little dizzy and absolutely appalled that she wouldn’t want to go and watch people get drunk and dance to No Scrubs while high out of your minds.

She was never the type for large happy gatherings, but you figured she would go if she got to sit and watch for entertainment.

“Not everyone.” you whispered to yourself with a quick raise of your eyebrow before glancing at your hands quick enough to avoid Ellie's eyes that were suddenly boring into you.

Ellie sat up; the joint now glued to her lips.

“It’s a fuckin’ winter dance. In the Church. C’mon, how fun could it really be?”

You look up. Seeing how her eyes never left your face. Like you were meeting her there, through a dirty window with the reflection of her hazily standing beside you. A window that hasn't been buffed out yet, just a little foggy. Just a little.

“Well, it would be more fun if you went with me. Please. Just for an hour? Then we can come back here and do whatever you wanna do. Even if it's just sitting around. And you can draw me… if you want to.” you added the last part in a hushed tone, like the words were timid to come out.

But you had been secretly hoping she would since you got here.

You loved watching her draw, her fingers tracing over the paper so gently, like it was skin. Almost like it was yours. You wished it was… sometimes.

She looked away from you, drawing in another drag before she rested her elbows on her knees, legs spread wide.

Ellie had been wanting to draw you since the day you got here. The shape of your hips and the slope of your neck had haunted her pages for months. Erasing and sketching them again and again from memory. She wouldn’t let the opportunity pass her up and spit her out.

She sighed, trying to gauge if you had really meant it. Your tell wasn’t working since you were already beat red from just offering yourself up.

“Fine. Let’s just do it now, while we have time to spare.” was what she said instead, swallowing back her excitement and clearing her throat.

Ellie reaches over to you, handing you the joint and gently flexes her hand in your direction to tell you to finish it.

There wasn’t much left, maybe a little more than a roach. You took it from her a little eagerly, wanting the smoke to smooth your lungs and the quickend beat in your chest caused by Ellie’s hand grazing yours.

It didn’t take very long or much for you to feel it. You were such a lightweight.

Ellie of course found it hilarious when she realized. Catching on and laughing at you from across the room when you started giggling at the word “Infectious.”

Maria had said your laugh was “infectious” in the stables and considering the circumstances, it was true. Only, this time Ellie wasn’t immune to it. She had followed suit and ducked her head over her shoulder away from you to collect herself while shimmer groaned in relief.

“It’s just so—“ you cut yourself off, burying your face in your knees while sitting on the floor against the side of Ellie’s bed frame.

The distance was necessary since you had only met a few days prior.

Ellie looked up at you, with her brows pulled together in confusion before she put two and two together.

“Wait. Are you high?” she asked with a chuckle.

The room was clouded with a thin layer of smoke, barely enough to be able to see to the naked eye.

Your eyes had shot open wide, terrified.

“You are! Holy shit, this is good.” her voice carved the words into you then, the goosebumps running through your legs until they reached your core and exploded there with millions of needles with nowhere to go. You were soaked.

Ellie hadn’t laughed that hard in a minute, with her hand flat on her stomach to try and help the coiling feeling deep in her stomach.

“That’s fucking hilarious.” she murmured, her head falling back against the futon before taking a hit so big her cheeks had funneled in.

“Shut up.”

You were bright red with embarrassment and Ellie couldn’t look you in the eye without the image burning into her mind for the next week.

You think back on it now and what took place only a few hours before, letting a dry chuckle fall from your lips and echo into the quiet of the room.

Ellie’s still for a moment, but then joins in and laughs hard enough for her body to jolt with each exhale.

“What?” her tell floats to the surface immediately as she wipes the bow above her lip nervously.

“Do… do you remember that one time–” You stifle back a small laugh with your hand, slightly doubled over in the chair and your other flat against the coffee table for support.

“What?” she asks again, an unsteady smile creeping its way in.

“When… when we were– I can’t!” you confess, letting out a burst of laughter and slowly sliding down onto the floor.

“What?!” Ellie exclaims, a laugh finally falling from her lips while her hands tense out in front of her.

“When we were in the stab… stables. And I met Shimmer? And then I was petting her ears and all of this sudden, she rips absolute ass! Do you remember that?!” you let out a laugh, deeper from within your stomach causing you to hold onto it with both hands as the giggles ate you alive.

Ellie lets the smile on her face break, and then after hearing you kick your feet against the floor she erupts too, leaning over a bit to join in.

“You got so scared!” she exclaims, which only sends you further into a fit of laughter, breathing heavily for a few seconds and then starting right back up again.

“It was… It was so loud! An– and long?!?”

Ellie eventually joins you on the floor, laughing hard enough to where a vein is popping from her neck, just noticeable enough to where if you reached your hand out to touch it, you could even feel her pulse.

She looks over at you, seeing your eyes pinched shut and your smile wider than she’s ever seen it before. It was incredible.

As your laughter subsides, your eyes find their way to Ellie’s. Watching you, of course.

“Oh,” you say with the smallest giggle attached, then letting it fall away to join the burning embers that lifted the hair off your skin.

She smiled at you, fully now with no hesitation. “Can I draw you?” she asked, not looking away once. Her voice became a little rusted, and it chipped on its way out of her throat like a stone on pavement.

You fought the urge to crack. “Sure.” you said instead, and looked away from her quickly just to pull your eyes back to her slightly parted lips.

Ellie’s smile faltered a moment, resting on her side next to you. She didn't want to get up. She wanted to keep this image of you alive inside her head for the rest of her life. She wanted to keep you forever. Obviously she knew she couldn’t. She’d fuck it up sooner or later.

“What?” you ask, gaping at her with so much love plastered on your cheeks it almost looked fake. Too saturated. Too real. Ellie had the urge to swipe the pad of her thumb across it just to see if it would smudge. She knew it wouldn’t. She just wanted an excuse.

Instead, Ellie glanced away –finally– and lifted a hand to the right side of your face, tucking a single strand of hair behind your ear gently. You froze.

“Just um, put this right here.” she whispered.

Her eyes were glued on yours. The beautiful emerald that made your heart freeze in time just jumped into a millions beats per minute with the touch of her hand alone.

Ellie’s hand was still hovering over your jaw, like she was afraid you would fade away if she let you go.

But she had to. She knew that, some part of her had to know that.

Her hand fell back at her side, and Ellie cleared her throat one more time.

“Um, stay just stay how you are. I’ll draw you just like this, yeah?” you were too stunned to speak, so you nodded once and swallowed back the butterflies that had just burst in your stomach.

“Okay.” you could hear the smile in her voice as she got up on her feet in one quick motion, leaving you to stare mindlessly at the door.

You felt like you were posing naked for her somehow, like she had stripped you clean and she would be basing her art off of you. You hated how self conscious you suddenly felt, but selfishly you loved how excited she got.

And just like that, you're burning up again, your cheeks catch the flint and light is bursting from beneath your skin.

You smother it. You act calm, and cool, and not like you are the horniest you've ever been around someone you could never have.

You don’t move a muscle when Ellie sets down pads of paper, jars of brushes, ink, parchment paper, water color, and charcoal all within a minute or two and is sitting down next to you again.

She put her hands to her mouth, unable to keep her excitement hidden. “Okay. Um. Just, uh, yeah just stay exactly how you are. Try not to move. Or laugh.” you can’t help but let the smirk sink into your face before playfully scoffing under your breath.

You followed her instructions word for word. You didn’t move. No matter how badly you had to pee. You wouldn’t move until she was done.

And so far, it felt like you had been posing for what felt like 2 hours based on how many pieces of paper Ellie had already used, and the fact that the water was completely dark with no more room for ink. Or that her fingers were coated in charcoal and it had smudged on her face as she tried relentlessly to keep the stray hair behind her ear.

But you watched her. You watched her hands dance across the paper like skin. Your skin. –on paper anyway– You noticed her tongue dipping in and out of her mouth as she concentrated on capturing the curve of your arm and the texture of your jeans that made you want to crawl out of them.

Ellie couldn't get the images of you on paper fast enough. There were so many. She had to get it absolutely perfect: the slope of your nose, your crooked hairline caused from laying on your side, the delicacy of your fingers as they rested on the curve of your hip. She had to get all of them out right now or else she would have to keep memorizing and sketching and staring.

Secretly, she wanted to keep a few for herself too. To remind herself that you were real, and that she had you at one point. Ellie only had so much ink and charcoal left, but she didn’t care, she would use it all. She would draw you a million times if it meant you would look at her like this just one more time. She would do anything… anything for you. If she just had the chance, she’d take it. Instead of running away to catch the lungs that were sprinting away from her.

But she would try, with all the power and love she's ever had. She would give it all to you, and you wouldn’t even have to ask. Ellie would give it up willingly, she would beg you to take it from her and say “I don't know what to do with it.”

“Hm?” you ask from your position on the floor. “Do with what?” and her eyes flickered towards you.

She forgot you were really there. That you weren’t another dream. That you could see her.

Ellie cleared her throat and her voice broke when she spoke again.

“Um, the drawing. It’s done. I don’t know what to do with it.” she looked at you one last time before you shot up from the floor and sat next to her.

“Can I see it?!” you said, cheery like a child who had just had their picture taken in a cardboard cutout stand.

“Yeah.”

Ellie turned the pad over to you, and just when she thought she hated it you covered your mouth with both hands and let in a sharp inhale.

You were quiet for a moment, and Ellie was still a little worried you saw right through her until you turned to look at her with tears pooling in your eyes.

“Oh, Ellie. Holy shit. This is the best one yet.”

She let herself feel a little proud then, a smile fighting its way onto her face once again. She never knew why she was always fighting it, it would happen nearly every single time.

“That’s just because I made you look so good.” and she nudged you a little.

“Shut the fuck up, I’m serious. It’s beautiful Els.” and you turned away to look back at the drawing before blinking away the tears in your eyes.

There’s a moment there, where the two of you are staring at… you. “No one’s ever drawn me before. It's weird looking at myself like this.” and you then felt Ellie’s eyes burn the side of your face, begging for you to look at her.

You tilt your head slightly, not stripping your eyes away from the page until the very last second.

Ellie was blushing. She was fucking blushing.

She looked away the second your eyes had found hers.

“Here, you can have it.” and she folded the page into your hand and held it there for a beat.

A beat too long.

The glass was clearing up, the fog dissipating into thin air at lightning speed.

You cleared your throat in hopes to silently slice the tension that was building around the two of you.

“Thanks.” you let your eyes fall to your lap. “We should uh, probably get ready.”

Ellie looks away again, patting her thighs as she exhales swiftly. “Yeah. Yeah, let's do it.”

|

“Come on, I don’t wanna be the last one there! It’s already started.”

You leaned against the doorframe of the bathroom, actually watching Ellie fix her hair. It was pulled back into a low bun, and the layered pieces kept falling forward, not wanting to swoop back with the rest of it.

“I just, I can’t get this fucking— oh, god dammit!” she exclaimed, letting her hands fly out at her sides and grip the edge of the bathroom counter to take a breath.

“Here, let me help you.”

You took a step off the frame, pulling a pin from your hair and gently stepping up to Ellie to slide the pin into place. You must have accidentally got her scalp because she squeezed one eye shut and let a small wince escape her lips.

“Sorry.” you said, and tapped the pin to make sure it was snug.

You felt Ellie’s eyes on you from the reflection of the mirror. Of course. They were burning into you like the reflection of a magnifying glass.

Ellie’s hands grip harder on the countertop, watching your delicate fingers play with the pin. Collecting strands of her hair and then gently sweeping them behind it as gently as she can so as not to poke you again.

“Thanks.” she says instead, and lets go of the counter with a gentle push. Her hands have a red mark from her grip that when she flexes her hands, she feels her skin pull with resistance.

“Yeah.” you look away, even though you feel the warmth radiating off of her. Sending something through you.

“Okay. Let's go before we’re stuck outside. I heard they are checking for ID." There's a joke somewhere in her voice, but it gets buried by the sudden feeling of your hand twisted in yours.

“Ellie, your hand is freezing.” you say, entirely missing the joke she was trying to make and placing your other hand around hers.

She looked down to see her hand barely covered by both of yours, and she lets the feeling of your skin melt into hers like molten lava.

She was always lighting you on fire. Now, you were warming her up, meeting her halfway.

|

The dance was better than Ellie had expected. The room was full of people in cowboy boots and actually square dancing. Not just in the movies like she thought.

And you were smiling from ear to ear, happy to see so many people laughing and having fun while they still could. So of course Ellie was happy to be there. She fucking lived to see you smile like you were right now.

“I’m gonna get a drink, do you want anything?” Ellie said against your neck, yelling over the music.

“No! I’m gonna dance.” and she nodded, eager to let go of your hand. She didn’t want to lose you in the crowd. She didn’t want to lose you, period. But of course, she would eventually.

Your hand fell from hers as you made your way into the line dance, knocking your feet back and forth on its heel and toe while clapping your hands along to the music that was actually ‘not that bad’.

Ellie’s standing at the bar, a drink in her hand with no intention of actually drinking it. She wasn’t that big a drinker, but she wanted to keep herself busy while trying so hard not to stare at you from across the room.

It wasn't working, obviously.

She was actually glad she came, because she had never seen you this… bright. You were floating across the dancefloor like some kind of angel. She couldn’t place you. Not here anyway. You looked so out of place, with your smile wide and cheeks completely beet red from dancing, it's like you were more saturated than everyone else, like you were literally glowing.

She snaps out of it when she sees you heading over to her, a smile plastered on your face and sweat beading just above your top lip.

“Oh jeez, they weren’t kidding.” you say to her, out of breath and laughing a little.

“Who?” she asks.

“Tommy and Maria. When we were all putting the flyers up they said it would definitely be an owl here.” and you couldn’t keep it together, laughing into your hand and leaning forward into Ellie’s shoulder.

“That… was terrible.” she smirks.

She loved it.

You pull back, flexing your hands out wide at your sides before letting out a short exhale. “No, but seriously. You guys might not party very often, but when you do it gets crazy. I was drowning out there!”

“You seemed to be doing fine to me.” Ellie offered up. She was flushed.

“Oh yeah? You try going out there. It’s not as easy as it looks.” and you tilted your head playfully, emphasizing your point.

She looked down at her glass then, breaking away quick enough to avoid your eyes.

“That’s what I thought. Now, where is the bathroom?”

And Ellie took the smallest sip from her glass just before pointing to her right and bending her wrist the same direction. “Through the doors and on the right.”

You smiled at her, touching her arm with clammy hands. “Hey, dance with me when I come back?” your grasp on her was slipping away, waiting for her answer before letting go completely.

“Yeah. Sure.”

You beamed, completely unable to hide it this time. You thought you maybe didn’t have to, that you would maybe… finally… be able to clean this goddamn window for good.

You call out to her before disappearing, “Oh hey, you were right! Dina’s here!”

The second Ellie registers what you said, suddenly Dina has appeared into thin air and is dancing with someone a few feet away.

And again, a few moments later, Jesse appears from your left, a matching glass in his hand.

“She’s uh… putting on quite the show.” he says, and it's then that she looks up at her, watching as she gets dipped and the music fades out.

“I give you guys two weeks until you're back together.” and she chuckles.

“Not gonna happen.”

She looks away from him briefly, glancing into her drink that’s gone warm.

“She uh, say something to you?” Jesse asks before looking at her again.

“Make it one week.”

While Ellie’s attention is turned towards Jesse, just then Dina comes over and draws it back toward her.

“Ellie, hey!”

Jesse adjusts his posture, standing taller. It’s so obvious he wants her back.

Dina takes the drink from your hand, shooting it back and placing it on the bar behind you with a thud.

“Dina.” he says, lifting his glass, almost like he was offering it up to her.

“Jesse.” is all she says instead, eyeing him slowly.

“C’mon,” she says, and grabs Ellie’s hand.

“Wait, I was gonna–” but it's no use, because Jesse is talking over you from the bar.

“Hey! Don’t forget we're headin’ out early, so get some rest!” and before Ellie can even look back at him all the way, Dina is already talking again.

“Yes sir.”

Ellie is looking down at her feet, trying not to trip over them as Dina continues to pull her farther into the crowd of people.

“You're such a dick.” she murmured.

Dina’s hands fell easily on her shoulders moments after she placed Ellie’s on her waist.

Just then, you came out from the bathroom trying to pick through the crowd to find her, seeing the empty glass and missing spot from the bar.

You make your way over to Jesse, who you were kind of surprised to see there since he wasn’t much of a partier.

You go to ask where Ellie went, if she had somehow missed her walking into the bathroom… but the words die in your throat when you see her smack dead in the middle of the floor, with Dina rubbing her cheek against Ellie’s and a sly smile on her face.

“I hate these things.” Jesse said.

You glance over at him, noticing he was watching Ellie and Dina too.

“Tell me about it.” you say, looking back at Dina.

She has her arm wrapped around Ellie’s neck, a single hand pulling the same strand of hair that has been falling out of place all day.

The same one you pinned. The same girl who had drawn you just 2 hours ago.

The same girl… that was kissing Dina.

She… she kissed her.

Your windows shattered, shards falling to the floor like needles and with the heartbeat that had been run over and sliced clean in half.

You feel yourself wince at the sight, and before you think twice, you're up from the bar and leave through the back.

You fucking blew it.

|

Ellie’s hands were stuffed deep inside her pockets, walking around Jackson like a lost puppy.

She hadn’t seen you since the dance. Which to you both felt like a lot longer.

She looked for you afterward, apologizing to Dina before pulling away from her to ask if anyone had seen where you went, if anyone saw you leave with Jesse and wondering what the fuck just happened.

When you got home, the second you closed the door behind you you couldn't help but let the hot tears stream down your frosted cheeks.

You had tried so hard, so hard to let Ellie see how much of her you liked, and completely obvious you made it seem.

You posed for her. Not naked, but the act still made you think it was worth something. So much so that when you pulled her drawing from your backpocket, slightly smudged from dancing all night and when you had pulled it out on your way home contemplating throwing it away.

You shoved it under your pillow instead, climbing in bed shortly after and rocking yourself to sleep and trying to get the image of Ellie’s lips out of your mind.

Ellie showed up the next morning, knocking on your locked bedroom door.

It had scared her, how raw her voice sounded, and how at the same time it had never sounded softer than when she said “Hey, you in there?”

And when you didn’t reply, you could hear her let out a small sigh before stepping away from the door.

You pulled your covers tight over your head and shut your eyes tight with regret.

Eventually, you realized you had to get up to go to work. It was cold out, but luckily you had gotten to work in the greenhouse since it was a low leveled job and you enjoyed it. Plus the warmth helped too.

The greenhouse door was cracked open by a hair, a dead giveaway you were inside. You still never figured out how to latch it all the way closed, and it seemed to get heavier each time you went to move it.

Ellie pulled her lip to the side, nibbling nervously on the inside of her cheek. She felt so fucking stupid, letting Dina kiss her like that. Letting her dance with her. She was such a fuck up, as per usual.

She was walking around aimlessly, bored, and confused.

She didn't know what to do without you. It was so routine with the two of you.

You would meet Ellie at the stables after her patrol shift was over (which was usually in the mornings) and then you would hang out together at hers. And she would usually find you in the dining hall or the library if you were scheduled there.

But since the dance, she hadn’t known where you were, and it's like she had never been to this version of Jackson without you in it.

She had, years ago, but she could never remember what it was really like. Almost as if it didn’t really exist without you.

And just as she was about to head home, with the sun barely peeking out from behind the clouds, she spotted the multiple greenhouses. With one in particular that had a light striking a clear view of you inside.

Ellie pulled her hands from her pockets, a close lipped smile breaking on her face instantly.

She nudged the door with her body and her head barely visible to you from the other side.

But you felt her there. You didn’t know how, but you could tell she was standing outside the door before you saw her.

“Holy shit it's warm in here. Now I see why you always pick this over patrol.” and she watched as you plucked leaves from the tarragon plant.

“What are you doing?” you asked, not looking at her.

Your hands started to shake mildly, and you tried not to give into her eyes that burned a hole in your heart.

“Looking for you. I Thought I’d find you here.” she said, closing the door all the way (of course she'd be able to) and fumbled with her hands, a little nervous.

“I’m almost done here. I just need to take these clippings and a few other things.” your hands carry a tremble now, and Ellie can see it.

She takes a step closer to you, and it's unavoidable not to look at her now.

“Can we talk about last night?” Ellie asks with her hand flat against the workbench and her brows are pulled together in a frown.

“There's nothing to talk about. I just… I wanted to go home. I didn’t wanna bother you and Dina. you seemed like you were having fun.” as you tied the twine around the clippings, Ellie's hand covered yours on an exploded scale.

You turn your head, looking at her and seeing right through her.

“C’mon. Don’t be like that. Dina… was just being Dina. She didn’t mean anything by it.” Ellie's thumb started to form small circles on your skin, drawing you in, inch by inch.

Ellie took a small step toward you, her other hand reaching up and cooling the burning of your neck.

She leaned in toward you, and her lips grazed yours before kissing you softly. It was wrong, it was so so wrong.

You closed your eyes and a single tear rolled down your cheek fast enough to transfer to Ellie’s.

You pull your hand back from hers, taking a complete step backward and trying to conceal the tears that wanted to run down your cheeks freely.

“Do you like me, Ellie?”

The words had shocked the look off her face, only for her to reposition her brows into a confused glare.

“What?”

“Do you like me.” and there is a quiver in your voice. Her figure becomes blurry, but before she disappears completely you tilt your head and wipe your tears on the sleeve of your shirt.

“I– Yeah. Yeah, I like you. Why would I kiss you if I didn’t like you?”

“Why would Dina?”

Her head drops down between her shoulders as she sighed. She didn’t know. She didn’t. But she knew that she would rather freeze to death than lose you, she knew that much.

She pulled her lips between her teeth “I– I don’t know. I- She- Dina kissed me, okay? And she asked me to dance. I didnt– I wanted to dance with you, I wanted to…” she couldn’t say it.

“What?”

“I wanted to kiss you, alright. I wanted to even before then. Before the dance or before the stables. From the moment you got here I knew. I just didn’t know. I do now, I swear.”

You didn’t know what to say. You wanted to say everything, anything. Your lips were sealed with hot tears streaming down your face.

“Can you say something?” Her voice is merely a whisper like a jagged piece of ice dragging across your skin just light enough to form goosebumps.

You pinch your eyes shut and let your hands shakily wipe the salt water from your face.

“I– I… Ellie. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say, this…”

She takes a small step toward you, grabbing a hold of your wrists gently enough for your back to meet the opposite wall of the greenhouse and boxing you in around the floor to ceiling plants that were on either side of you.

“Just, say something, please.” Ellie gave your wrists a little shake, freeing them from your face.

She looked worried now, and the thought of her thinking you didn’t like her sent a strike of sadness through you.

You move your hands fully away from your face and let them fall at your sides, lacing your fingers with Ellie’s slowly. She’s looking down at them, and swinging them softly from side to side.

“I… I liked you too. From the beginning I mean. In the dining hall when you sat next to me. I liked you then, I still do.” you confessed.

You felt the fire in your cheeks and you couldn’t meet Ellie’s eyes and you made way with her chest.

She leaned down an inch to place her forehead together with yours. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

You let out a breath, a scoff even. “I tried! I was trying this entire time. And plus, you just said you realized you liked me. I wasn’t sure.”

Her words rang through you. You shook with anticipation.

“Is that why you left last night? Because you were jealous?” and Ellie’s voice rose to a mocking tone, tugging on your hands in a playful manner.

“Shut up. I was not.” and you look away, the smile bolted across your face proudly.

“You were! Say it, say it please! Tell me how jealous you were. C’mon, tell me tell me tell me!”

And it's then that you smash your lips against Ellie’s to meet her halfway with just the very tip of your toes.

Her lips were warm with lust, her hands breaking from yours to find the soft spots behind your ears with a swipe. Ellie exhaled into your mouth immediately and your head met the back wall of the greenhouse with a soft thud.

Her tongue swiped against your bottom lip, begging for entrance that was obviously unnecessary by how quickly you parted your lips for her. She rubbed slow circles over your jaw, and soon enough her hand was traveling down the curve of your hip and squeezing there. Just enough to express a moan from you.

Ellie smirked against your lips, drawing back for a breath before kissing you harder now, not hesitating or double checking for dominance. You were absolutely floored.

Your shirt had ridden up just mere inches, and her hand was met with the small piece of bare flesh there, causing you to let in a sharp inhale through your nose.

Both of Ellie’s hands are playing with the button of your jeans, fighting to get them undone and pulled down just below your pulsing cunt.

Once her hand finally finds the band of your underwear, it's over. You were already completely unfolding right in front of her.

Your mouth falls open, and a moan slips from your lips, a little louder now as you arch your back to be flush with Ellie. She bends back the band of elastic, traveling down to reach the very top of your pussy she can already feel how wet you are for her.

Just then, both of your hands fly to grip her inked forearm. A silent warning.

“Your hand… ‘s cold.” is all you can make out.

Ellie pulls back to take a look at you. You're absolutely flushed. “D’you want me to stop?” It was genuine. She wanted this to be perfect for you. She wanted to get it right.

“I– I want to keep going, but I-” and Ellie uncoiled her hand from beneath your pants to rest it on your hip.

“I don’t want you to do anything you aren’t ready for.” she let her arms straighten against you, waiting for you to reply.

“I’m ready. Really. I just don’t really wanna… do it here. It’s kinda dirty. And also probably illegal. And I really do have to take that stuff in.”

Ellie smiled. “You’re cute. Why don’t we take them together, and then, if you want, we can go hang out at mine?”

You looked at her with a tight lipped grin. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

[127tyong]

Earthquake

Pairing:  Boss Johnny X Personal Assistant Reader

Genre: Smut, Breeding Kink, Marriage out of convivence

Warnings:

Word Count: 1.5 k

“Johnny! You’re here!” You smiled as Johnny walked into you two’s personal office, arriving an hour after you.

You were hired as Johnny’s personal assistant a few months ago, and had a decently close work relationship with him. Your application was desperate, saying you would do anything to work with him, and anything he wanted.

“Hi hun.” Johnny always talked to you sweetly, despite his reputation of being a cold businessman. “I have to have lunch with my family today, but that should be fine, yes?”

“Yes.” You immediately said, knowing his entire schedule off the top of your head.

“Perfect.” Johnny sat down at his desk and turned it on. “Is my coffee ready?”

You stood up, getting his coffee for him, then putting it on his desk.

“Thanks.” Johnny mumbled to you.

“Hey, I have a question.” You waited for Johnny to nod at you. “What’s the lunch for? Sorry if that’s a personal question, but you never go back to see your family.”

“They said they wanted to talk. Probably something stupid.” Johnny smiled up at you in between sips of coffee before setting the cup down. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it. I’ll come back with some pasta for you, it’s supposed to be some of the best Italian food around.”

~

“I cannot deal with that bitch’s stupidity.” Johnny huffed, loosening his tie and slamming the to-go box on his desk. You stood in the corner of the room, next to the door, holding a clipboard with his to-do list.

“Mr. Suh, if I may-” You started to speak, silenced by Johnny raising his hand.

“Cancel my other plans for today. I need a fucking break.”

“...Yes, sir.” You quickly went to your desk, across the room and made a few calls.

“My fucking father thinks he can tell me who to marry…” Johnny mumbled, laying on the couch, pinching his nose bridge. 

“Sir.” You stood up, understanding the issue. You always knew Johnny’s dad was rough, to say the least. A controlling, self centered man. “Would you like to do something fun with me?”

“Fun?” Johnny scoffed, as if that was the last thing he wanted. “Just… sit next to me.”

You pulled your rolling chair across the room next to him. 

“My dad wants me to marry another conglomerate heir. But the problem is… She’s only 14.”

You audibly gasped. “What?”

“I know. I’m pushing 30 dating a girl less than half my age…” Johnny groaned. “I can see the headlines now. Billionaire marries a child. Johnny Suh goes on a date with the heir of a major tech company, a 14 year old. I can only imagine what would happen.”

“Oh, Johnny…” You rubbed his shoulder. 

“This is his way of threatening me. Telling me that if I don’t get married soon he’s going to make me do… This.” Johnny sat up. 

“Why can’t you marry someone else then? I can make a list of potential prospects for you-” You stood up, but Johnny grabbed your wrist, forcing you back.

“Marry me.” He looks in your eyes, desperately. “At least for a year. Please, I need you to. I can’t let my reputation get ruined like this. You’re the perfect woman for this, you’re intelligent and know how to handle potential issues.”

Johnny’s reputation was everything to him. A stoic businessman, even if in the office he was nothing but kind. His reputation was how he got his way, and you knew it. He always gets told “yes” no matter the situation…

“Johnny…” You looked back at him, trying to comprehend the question.

“You’ll be a millionaire. I’ll give you anything you want and more, just please… Marry me.”

~

And that’s how you ended up marrying one of the richest men in all of Korea.

Instead of the headlines reading “Billionaire marries child” the headlines read “Billionaire marries his personal assistant, love story shocking the country”. 

And he kept all his promises. He bought you a penthouse apartment in Seoul, and a house in your hometown. He bought you any car you asked for, and he took care of your family.

There was no romance in your marriage, but you found Johnny to be an amazing husband. He was very likable, and you two spent a lot of time together, just hanging out. He was great with cooking and cleaning, and never asked you to do anything, but still took you on “dates” wherever you wanted. But the one thing you noticed was he never crossed the line. You slept in the same bed, per his request, but still had separate blankets. You shared a bathroom, but he asked you to shower at night, since he showered in the morning. And he never, ever, asked about your love life. You knew that was his way of telling you that you could date other men, and that he would see other women.

The only problem in this set up was his family. His mother was a gossiping, evil witch that talked bad about everyone, especially you, but his dad was a whole other issue. And every time you saw either of them, they asked if you were pregnant yet.

~

“I’m home!” Johnny walked into the penthouse as you were inside, cooking dinner. “Smells good.”

“Hey Johnny.” You served the meal. “Food’s ready.” 

“Hey… I have to talk to you about something.” Johnny sat at the dining room table, his face cold.

“Yeah?” You placed the bowl in front of him, and sat next to him. 

“I need to have a kid with you.” He looked up at you and read your shocked expression. “I’m so sorry, I know I was the one who said you’d never have to do this but I-”

“I understand, it’s just kinda… out of nowhere.” You sighed. “Give me a minute.”

You went up to the bathroom and got in the shower, not knowing how to feel.

When you stepped out of the bathroom in a towel, Johnny was waiting for you in the bedroom. “You don’t have to do this.” He stood in front of you.

“I know.”

Johnny’ s lips crashed onto yours, his hands gripping your wet hair. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry…” He picked you up and tossed you on the bed, your towel falling off. “You have no fucking idea how long I’ve been waiting for this.”

“Johnny, wait, what do you mean-” His lips pressed against yours again, his tongue licking your bottom lip and asking for permission to come in. You opened your lips slightly, and his tongue slid in, searching your mouth for your tongue, the tips of your tongue meeting. 

You pulled away from the kiss after a few seconds. “Johnny…”

“I think I love you. You’re all I ever think about…” Johnny kissed your neck, licking it in areas that slightly tickled but still made you moan.

“Johnny…” You moaned out, and his large hands pressed against your thighs, massaging it. “Slow down…”

“I’m sorry…” He breathed into your neck. “But I’ve already been waiting for several months.”

His mouth went to your breast, sucking your nipples until they hardened. “God, you’re just so beautiful.”

“Johnny…” You moaned out. You wrapped your hands into his hair and he laid on your chest. “Stick it in.”

“Okay…” He quickly took off his pants, already hard without you ever even touching him.

He stuck it all in at once, shocking you. “Fuck!” You squealed, trying to catch your breath. “Johnny, you can’t do that next time…”

“So you’re already planning the next time?” He began to slowly thrust, allowing you to regain your composure but his impatience still getting the better of him.

“You’re way too fucking big, Johnny.” You tried to relax, but he was still filling you up. “You can’t just shove your dick into a girl, you’re gonna break the next girl you fuck.”

Johnny leaned down, his face near yours. “I told you I love you, and you think I’m fucking other girls? God, I thought you were smart. I’ve liked you ever since you became my assistant. You’re capable, beautiful, and amazing to be around… I wanna make you happy.”

You wrapped your arms around his neck. “Give me a baby. I wanna have a kid with you.”

“Oh, I’ll fucking put a baby inside you…” Johnny mumbled into your neck. “Just keep squeezing down on my dick the way you are right now and I might just cum in around ten seconds.”

“Please Johnny! Please, please, please…” Your voice kept him going on, begging him.

“I wish I fucked you on our wedding night, fuck, you’re so perfect…” And with that, you felt the warmth of Johnny’s cum shooting inside you.

“Johnny…” You croaked out.

Johnny laid on top of you, his dick slipping out of you, causing the cum to drip out of you. “I’ll change the sheets later.” He sighed.

“How are you feeling?” “I still love you, if that’s what you were wondering.” “Good.”

[kathlare]

stages of success

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: As Lando watches Amelie make her debut on Saturday Night Live from across the Atlantic, he’s overwhelmed with pride and admiration for her.

Wordcount: 1.5 k

Warnings: fluff, smau

request over here!

May 18th, 2024 - New York City, NY

The sun was barely up, casting a soft orange glow over the paddock, and Lando Norris sat in front of his hotel room’s television, a cup of coffee cradled between his hands. The faint hum of the early morning buzz of the F1 world surrounded him, but his focus was elsewhere. His eyes were locked onto the screen where, in just a few minutes, the night in New York City would unfold.

Amelie was about to make her Saturday Night Live debut.

Lando shifted uneasily in his seat, barely noticing the burn of his coffee as he sipped. His chest felt tight with nerves—not for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where he’d be racing in just a few hours, but for her. Amelie’s performance was monumental, and he hated being so far away.

The room wasn’t empty, though. Scattered around him were Alex Albon, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc, all lounging in various states of pre-race morning laziness. Charles’s girlfriend, Alexandra, sat curled up on the couch next to him, and their tiny puppy, Leo, lay sprawled on her lap, occasionally wagging his tail as if sensing the tension.

—You good, mate?— George asked from the corner of the room, his feet propped up on a table, his usual smirk softened by genuine curiosity. —You’ve been staring at that screen like you’re the one about to go on stage.—

Lando shot him a look, half-amused and half-nervous.

—She’s never done anything like this before. It’s… a big deal,— Lando mumbled, drumming his fingers against the coffee cup.

Alex chuckled from his spot, leaning against the arm of the couch.

—Amelie? Nervous? Mate, she survived The White Lotus critics and winning an Oscar at twenty. SNL will be a breeze for her.—

Charles nodded in agreement, scrolling through his phone but clearly tuned into the conversation.

—She’s got that confidence,— Charles said, his voice steady. —She’s always had it. You’ve seen it more than any of us.—

Lando’s lips twitched into a smile, the kind that spoke of memories only he and Amelie shared. She did have that confidence—most of the time. But he also knew the vulnerability she rarely let anyone see, the late-night calls where she second-guessed herself, the way her voice wavered when she admitted how much something mattered to her.

The livestream began, and the room fell quiet as the opening monologue started. The camera panned through the iconic SNL stage, and Lando’s heart raced. The others watched with casual interest, but for Lando, this was personal.

—There she is,— Alex said, nudging Lando’s shoulder as Amelie’s name appeared on the screen.

And then, she stepped into the spotlight.

—Bloody hell, she looks stunning,— George muttered, earning a teasing look from Lando.

—Eyes on the screen, Russell,— Lando quipped, unable to hide the pride in his voice.

Amelie launched into her first song, Feather. The opening notes were soft, almost ethereal, and her voice carried through the studio like a gentle wave. But as the tempo picked up, so did her energy. She owned the stage, her every movement purposeful and magnetic. The crowd was hooked, and so was Lando.

—She’s smashing it,— Charles said, his tone more serious now. Even Leo seemed mesmerized, his little ears perking up as Amelie’s voice filled the room.

Lando didn’t say anything. He couldn’t. His eyes stayed glued to the screen, a soft smile playing on his lips. He knew she was talented, but watching her like this—on a stage so iconic, so far away from the world they shared—it hit differently.

When Feather ended, the audience erupted in cheers. Amelie laughed, breathless but glowing, and took a moment to thank the crowd before transitioning into her next song.

The song was upbeat, lively, and unapologetically Amelie. She moved across the stage with ease, her energy infectious. The chorus hit, and Lando found himself tapping his foot to the beat, his grin widening as he remembered how she’d written it during their long phone calls last year.

—She’s having so much fun,— Alexandra said, nudging Charles. —You can tell she loves this.—

—She’s brilliant,— Charles agreed, his eyes softening. —You should be proud, Lando.—

—Oh, I am,— Lando said, his voice quiet but steady.

As the performance ended, Amelie blew a kiss to the audience and mouthed a “thank you” before the screen cut to commercial. Lando leaned back in his seat, exhaling a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. His phone buzzed, and he glanced down to see a message from her.

Ames💛: How did I do? Be honest, Norris. I need to know if I can still brag about this later.

Lando couldn’t help but laugh softly. She always managed to mix her charm with that playful cockiness that he adored. Typing quickly, he replied:

Lan🧡: You were incredible. Like, stop-the-world-to-watch kind of incredible. Everyone here agrees. Even Leo.

The broadcast resumed, and Lando leaned forward again as Amelie returned for a short skit. She was hilarious—her timing perfect, her expressions exaggerated just enough to draw out the audience's laughter.

—She’s a natural,— Alexandra said, clapping softly as the skit ended.

—Told you she’d smash it,— Alex added, nudging Lando.

Lando nodded, his chest swelling with pride. This was Amelie in her element, showing the world what he’d always known: that she was extraordinary. As the show wound down, he grabbed his phone again, hesitating for just a moment before hitting the FaceTime button.

It rang twice before Amelie’s face appeared on the screen. She looked radiant, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling with excitement.

—Hey, rockstar,— Lando said, his voice warm.

—Hey, race boy,— Amelie shot back, her grin wide. —So, did I pass?—

—Pass? Ames, you fucking aced it,— Lando said, and the room erupted in cheers behind him. He turned the phone slightly so she could see everyone.

—Amelie! You were amazing!— Alexandra called out, waving.

—Absolutely brilliant,— Charles added, holding up Leo in a mock applause. —Even Leo thinks so.—

—When’s the tour?— George teased, leaning into view.

Amelie laughed, running a hand through her hair. —Thanks, guys. And George, don’t tempt me. I might actually make you come as my roadie.—

Lando watched her with a mix of awe and affection. She was glowing, her confidence radiating through the screen. It was moments like these that made him fall even harder for her, though he’d never admit that out loud—not yet.

—You know,— Lando said, his tone shifting to something softer, —I wish I could’ve been there. Watching it live, in person. I’m so proud of you.—

Amelie’s expression softened, her teasing fading for a moment. —Thanks, Lando. That… means a lot. And I wish you could’ve been here too. But I’ll settle for knowing you were watching.—

—Wouldn’t have missed it for the world,— Lando said. He hesitated, then added with a smirk, —Even if it meant dealing with these clowns all morning.—

—Oi!— Alex protested, but the room dissolved into laughter.

Amelie smiled, her gaze lingering on Lando through the screen. —Well, you’ve got a big day ahead, so don’t let me keep you. Go kick some ass on the track for me, alright?—

—Only if you promise to go to bed and actually rest, rockstar,— Lando replied.

—Deal,— she said, blowing him a kiss through the screen.

—You’re amazing, Ames,— Lando said softly, the others fading into the background as he focused solely on her.

—So are you, Norris. Now go be great. Talk soon?—

—Always,— he replied, and with a final smile, the call ended.

Lando set his phone down, his heart lighter despite the weight of race day looming ahead. For now, though, he let himself bask in the glow of Amelie’s success, knowing that no matter how far apart they were, they’d always find their way back to each other.

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

liked by taylorswift, georgerussell63, and others

ameliedayman: my first time on SNL!!! @nbcsnl and the season finale!!! Thank you Lorne 🤍 thank you Brian, the genius cast, writers and crew for being so welcoming. thank you to my whole crew for your endless talent!!!

View all 12,484 comments

landonorris: FIRST

landonorris: You killed it, babe. No surprise there. 😏🔥 → ameliedayman: @landonorris Gotta make sure I make you proud. 😉💋

fan1: I can’t even handle how effortlessly amazing she is. This is her moment. 🔥 → fan2: @fan1 Honestly, she just dropped an iconic moment and I’m living for it. 😩

michaelronda: SNL nunca estuvo tan cool. Te lo digo. 🔥 → ameliedayman: @michaelronda ¡Gracias! Ojalá hubiera visto mi cara al entrar. 😆

francisca.cgomez: That energy is unmatched. So proud of you. ❤️ → ameliedayman: @franciscacgomez You’re making me cry. Love you, chica. 🥺

stelladayman: They better have given you a standing ovation, sis. 👏 → ameliedayman: @stelladayman They did, I was lowkey crying backstage. 🥲

aaliyahmendes: First SNL and crushing it? You’re an icon. 💫 → ameliedayman: @aaliyahmendes Thank you, babe. I’ve been waiting for this moment. 😏

fan5: I wish I could be that confident on stage, but then again, who can be? She’s unreal.

fan9: This is her era. I can’t even. 🙌

emiliamernes: Esta actuación en SNL es historia, ¿sabías? ¡Te amo! 😍 → ameliedayman: @emiliamernes ¡Te amo también! Te espero pronto. 😘

taylorswift: First SNL, and you already owned it. So proud of you, girl. 💖 → ameliedayman: @taylorswift If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have taken the stage in the first place. 💘

[volturiprincess]

Carlisle with human mate that is Blind and when he turns them, they get their vision back and sees him for the first time

This one was interesting to write, i had to do some small research for it but i enjoyed. I hope the wait was worth it💙 (also did a small HP reference, if I ever had a dog like i mentioned on here, I would without call it Padfoot)

Enchanting

Warnings: mentions of death (I'm so sorry to all my dog lovers out there, I'm one myself), mentions of pain medication (it was only mentioned once and its use for medical purposes, don't do drugs kids!)

h/s: hair shade (dark, light, etc.)

Word Count: 1.5+K

____________________________

Never able to see something with certainty and always living with uncertainty. That was until I found him, well more like he found me. I was on a walk with my adorable black german shepherd, Padfoot, we usually walk on this empty street that my house is located on. It was a peaceful afternoon, the rain had stopped for the time being and it was slightly chilly. To me it was the perfect weather for my daily walk, there was a silence that created a serene peaceful setting. Hardly any cars pass by and this is Forks, nothing interesting happens here unless you think about the bear attacks that have been happening lately. As Padfoot continues to guide me down the street I mainly focus on hearing my surroundings, since I can't actually admire the scenery around me. 

What happens next can only be described as a chain of events that happened quicker than flipping the switch on for light. It all happened so fast, one minute I heard the roar of an engine and a loud yelp of pain, and me laying face down on… grass? I lay there for a minute trying to recall the events when I hear a small whine, I sit up trying to find the source of the whine but I'm failing as my eyes are filling up with tears in my already hazy eyes. I know that whining all too well, I manage to spot a fuzzy shape laying in the middle of the street and I crawl to him, I cradle his head onto my lap as he slips from me slowly. I managed to choke out a small “Padfoot please” and I felt his body go limp. I held his body against me for a while with hot tears streaming down.

Padfoot has been in my life for a little over ten years now. My parents got him for me when he was a pup and they would take him to his training classes so he could become my guide dog. He was my best friend, without him I would not be able to get to places without fearing of hurting myself. My thoughts were interrupted by a smooth voice.

“Miss, are you alright?”

I look around to find the source of the voice to be met with what I believe is a person, it was hard to make out his features but with the sound of his voice I can tell he is a man. I wiped some of my tears away and blink any upcoming ones away.

“I um, well do I look okay?”

“My apologies I didn't mean to interrupt your moment of grief but you look a bit rough up”

“Oh? I um sorry didn’t mean to snap at you but he just passed away”

“What happened”

“I'm not 100 percent sure, you see I have partial blindness, all I can remember is like a force pushing me to the side, the sound of a loud engine and then a yelp”

I surprised myself that I managed to even get words out since I felt my throat closing in from holding back a choke of a sob in. 

“I'm sorry for your lost, but do you mind if I take you to the hospital, I’m actually a doctor there, Im Doctor Cullen but you can call me Carlisle”

Huh, what are the odds that a doctor is the one helping me out. But my reassurance was dissolved when I looked down at the shape of my lovely Padfoot. 

“Wh-what about him?”

“Do you trust me?”

Even though I cannot fully see him, his voice was so calm and caring, I think I could hear him talk for hours and not get tired of it. I nod gently.

“I can have one of my kids take him to the vet to get him cleaned up and you can bury him or?”

I always knew that if that dreadful day came that my Padfoot was ever to leave me, I would have him cremated, in that way if for some reason I was ever to leave Forks in the future I dont leave him behind. 

“I wanted to have him cremated”

He gently responded in a more softer voice “Ok, I'll have him take care of it while I take care of you at the hospital”

I blushed slightly at the way he said that but nodded, I heard him dial a number and then he spoke quietly to whoever. Must have been his child he mentioned. Weird. He sounds young, I would never assume he would already have kids already and from what I can tell from the situation his kid must be already an adult or at least almost. He stayed with me in the middle of the now deserted street until his kid came. When they finally arrived, I heard two angelic sounding voices, a deep and high one. Two kids?

“Ah Edward, Alice, thank you for coming”

I don't remember much after that sentence, all I can remember was having Padfoot being taken out of my arms and a cold hand guiding me to a car. And bits and parts of being in the hospital, I

remember how he was gentle and slow with taking care of my cuts, the only major ones are the ones on my knees and hands from when I was crawling. 

That was 5 months ago already, a month after I met Carlisle he asked me out to dinner. And two months after that he told me he is a Vampire and that I am his supposed mate. I got to meet his adoptive kids, they are all kind and with the time I spend time with them I can almost identify them each with my limited vision. After the loss of Padfoot, which I'm still grieving over, I grew to be comfortable enough with the Cullen clan, they made sure one of them stays with me. That only happens if Carlisle is working but other than that I do spend a lot of time with them, mostly at their house. 

Soon enough came the day of my turn date. I thought about it quite often, I spent so much time alone and to find someone like Carlisle, is a one in a million chance. He does not take pity in me and he treats me with so much love and care. In the past when I used to date, they were not the best experiences. But with Carlisle we spend hours outside and he is describing every detail that is surrounding us, if I close my eyes I can almost picture it with a clear vision. 

Me and Carlisle have had long conversations about this but with a lot of convincing we both came to a settlement, on my 22nd birthday I will be turned, which is today. He told me he will be there with me every second of the way. The minute I am out cold and letting the transformation overtake me he would be there holding my hand. 

And so came the moment, im laying down in his makeshift medical wing in his house. He leans close to my face and whispers “I love you”. After that everything went dark. Before he bit into me he gave me enough morphine so I would not feel any pain when he sank his teeth into me. 

 And so two days went by, I did feel pain in various moments in the transformation but it would vanish in minutes. On the final day, I felt my heartbeat vanish, the sound of my breathing soon failed to exist but I was met with the pleasing sound of my mates small gasp. I knew it was his because I spent months just listening to his voice without knowing how he looked like but I could assume he is handsome. 

I open my eyes slowly to be met with a ceiling, it has a nice brown shade but the material is unknown to me. Wait? I can see that. Wait, I can see!? I sit up immediately to witness everything around me with perfect vision. Everything was so clear and….beautiful. The sunlight casted a nice glow to the room that made me feel for a minute I was in paradise. I could see a gorgeous bouquet of different various colored flowers, something I look forward to learning the name too with time. Next I see a mirror that is hanging on the wall I am facing, and I see myself. Without thinking twice I am standing in front of it admiring myself. I see my eyes are a crimson red and my face is so defined. My h/s hair frames my face perfectly, it looks so healthy, so unreal. 

How can that be me? I'm so…

“Enchanting”

My evaluation of myself is interrupted by his voice. I freeze for a moment, slapping myself mentally, for forgetting the man of my dreams. I turn to him slowly to be met with the most attractive man I could ever see, which is a lot to say because I have never seen another man in my life. But he's perfect, how can he be real? He wears a warm smile that makes me feel weak in the knees instantly. He comes up to me, from up close he’s more beautiful than words themselves can explain. 

I reached a hand towards his face, unfazed by how fast my arm moved toward him, I caressed his cheek gently. I was fascinated by how we were now the same temperature, the cold versus warm we had seemed to never exist. But his eyes, so full of warmth like his smile, I want to melt into him with how much of awe I am looking at him. 

“Your the definition of handsome”

He chuckled quietly at my words, the expression his face makes when he laughs looks angelic, come to think about it he's just angelically beautiful. 

“Honey I’m the first man you have ever seen clearly”

“That is true, but even before I could already tell you were handsome”

“How so?”

“By your voice and sometimes when there was not to much lighting I swear I could see you”

“Is that so?”

I nodded, there were moments where I felt like I did get glimpses of him in certain moments, and Alice might have told me in great detail how Carlisle looks like. But now I can look at him with certainty, I never want to remove my gaze from him but  I have eternity to not only look at him but I have a whole world to explore with him. 

[justwinginglife]

Always You Part 2

Part 1.5 Here

At the same time that I dedicate this angst to my bestie @amaturesposts, I also apologize profusely to my other bestie @adaizel. I will make us happy, somewhere, somehow, with some Soshiro at some point.

Soshiro wasn’t sure what he expected after years of being apart from you, but it was not this.

You said you’d never date another Defense Force officer, and now you were engaged to one. And of all the people in the world, it had to be Gen Fucking Narumi that you were engaged to.

Soshiro used to come home complaining about Narumi, bitching about the latest stunt he’d pulled, or the stupidest thing he said, and you’d try to make Soshiro feel better by compiling insult after insult for this man you’d never met before. He loved the shit out of you every time. You were always team Soshiro, it didn’t matter the day, didn’t matter the offense, didn’t matter if you knew the other person, if you heard their side or not, you were always on his side. You were always his.

He didn’t know a version of you that wasn’t his. You’d been in love with him since the moment you met him- a fact that he’d always held over your head, teased you endlessly about, but had found extremely endearing all the same. And when he found out that he was your first relationship, he eagerly laid claim to all your firsts from there on out. 

When he asked you out, you -not knowing how this whole thing worked- assumed he’d kiss you right away, seal the deal. When you closed your eyes, awaiting his lips, he had chuckled and kissed your closed lids, telling you that just for your impatience he was going to make you wait and kiss you when you least expected it. 

“Are you going to kiss me now?” You’d say, after you just got promoted to Platoon Leader. He’d kiss your cheek, your nose, your forehead, every inch of you, but he still wouldn’t kiss your lips.

“Are you going to kiss me now??” You’d demand after you’d gotten injured in a particularly harrowing battle, causing him to almost burst a lung rushing to your side. He was too out of breath to kiss you then.

And then one day, you were sweeping the kitchen, your hair tied back in a messy bun, your glasses sliding down your nose as you inspected every inch of the floor for dust, and he’d become overwhelmed with love for you. He swept you off your feet and gave you the most mind blowing first kiss you could’ve ever hoped for. When you asked why he had kissed you at such a random, uneventful time, he said he didn’t need a fancy occasion to love on his girlfriend. You ended up dropping the broom because once he had gotten a taste of you, he couldn’t stop.

And he had this obsession that he needed to make a memory with you in every corner of this city, so he frequently took you out on dates, every place more new and exciting than the last. He hadn’t thought at the time that all he’d be doing would be mapping out the remains of a once-great-love, this city one big reminder of his tremendous loss, as he imagined your ghost skipping down the sidewalk, dancing around a lamppost in the rain, pointing out the sights, smiling like the moment would last forever. 

He wished he’d snapped a photo right then and there. He wished he’d taken more photos of you in general. He would’ve used them as fuel for his fiction, used them to imagine you were still his. He wished he’d done a lot of things when he was with you. Loved you louder. Loved you better. Loved you more. He couldn’t stand the thought that the only pieces of you he’d ever have were in the past. 

He had intended to be your first and your last. He had intended lots of things. He wasn’t sure where everything went so wrong. 

Maybe it was the gradual distance between you two, the early hours and long nights at work taking their toll. Maybe it was his insecurities seeping in after every surprise visit from his brother ended the same every time, with Soichiro being a little too close to you, his fondness a little too obvious, a little too many times. Maybe it was the fear that you had planned your whole life around him, marriage, babies, house with a white picket fence, the whole deal, and he wasn’t sure that he could give it to you, he wasn’t ever sure he’d make it to the next sunrise. Maybe it was all these maybes that amounted to one certainty- that he wasn’t enough for you. And so he made the worst decision of his entire life: he left.

He had wanted you to move on, he had wanted you to be happy. But he was shocked at just how bitter he was to find that happiness came at the hands of Gen Narumi. He hadn’t expected you to wait for him, but now he found himself wishing you had. Maybe some part of him always thought you’d be his. He was always yours. 

He wondered if he misunderstood the depths of your feelings for him. If when you laced your fingers with him late at night, as you snuggled against his bare chest, whispering you loved him, if you hadn’t meant more than anything. If when you cleaned and dressed every wound he sustained, kissing the bandages softly so as to not hurt him, then murmured that you’d stay by his side and watch over him, if you hadn’t meant forever. 

You hadn’t been his first girlfriend, but you had been his first heartbreak. 

And he felt the sting of that everyday, even more so now that he knew you were engaged. But he had been almost engaged and he’d changed his mind for you. He wondered if you’d do the same for him. He didn’t want to wonder. He didn’t want to dream. 

But still, he pictured stealing you at the altar anyway. He pictured riding off with you into the sunset. Pictured kissing away all your doubts and despairs. Being heartbroken made him depressingly romantic. He wasn’t sure who he was supposed to be romantic for now that it wasn’t for you. 

He wondered if Narumi was a romantic. He wondered if Narumi even knew how to treat a woman, let alone how to treat you. Did he know that you were deathly allergic to lavender? Did he know that you’d order your coffee black but add cream when no one was looking? Did he know that you had a sensitive spot on your hip and a single stroke would get you going? Soshiro was sure Narumi would never know you as well as he did. 

It was these musings that finally brought him to his feet, brought him to your door. 

If you were surprised, you didn’t show it. You almost looked like you’d been waiting for him to show up at your door every day since he’d left. It gave him hope. 

“H-hi.” He stuttered, soaking in the sight of you. He always loved when you wore your bun messy like that. 

You laughed. “It’s been how many years, Soshiro? And now, you show up out of the blue, and that’s all you have to say to me? I thought I remembered the Vice Captain of the Third Division was a big talker, now he’s rendered speechless?”

“O-only when I’m around you.”

You searched his eyes, trying to find some hidden meaning, some purpose behind his visit. “Why are you here Soshiro?”

He winced at your words. You were getting straight to the point and he suddenly found himself terrified. Even for just a single moment, he hoped he could simply be a man standing on a pretty woman’s doorstep, enjoying her company, enjoying her laugh, like two strangers finding common ground, instead of the strangers that you actually were, lost to each other, star-crossed, once each other’s worlds, now existing in separate planes.  

Finally, after steadying his breathing, after begging his heart to calm, he spoke. “You know why I’m here.”

“Soshiro,” You warned.

He found his words came easier to him now, like they’d always been there, like they’d been waiting for him to steel his nerve. “Please, I need you to hear me out. I have regretted leaving you every day of my life, but it wouldn’t be nearly as much as I would regret not fighting for you right now, so I need you to hear me. I know you’re engaged, I know you’re done with me, I know we’re through, but I have to beg you to come back to me, to come home to me. I have to, because I don’t know how to do anything else but beg, but be yours. I’m yours. I always have been. And maybe some part of you is mine too. And I’m asking that part of you to please give me a chance. Let me make it up to you. Let me love you.”

You sigh and it breaks his fucking heart. He knows that sigh. 

“Soshiro, I’ll always love you. You’re right. There is a part of me that’s always been yours and always will be yours. But that part of me watched you walk away, that part of me watched you love another person. That part of me has been buried for so long, has been bruised and battered for so long. Gen picked me back up again. He made me remember how to love and be loved. I can’t just abandon him. Not when he saved me when you couldn’t. So, yes. I’ll always love you. But I choose to love him more.” Some part of Soshiro knew it would end this way. He knew on the arduous trek over here, when he walked so far, for so long, when his feet bled for you, just to get to your doorstep, he knew that it would only end in more pain. He knew he’d given you up and therefore given up all right to have you, given up all right to your future. But still, he had to try. He always had to try. He owed his love that much. 

And even if it was his turn to watch you love another, even if his heart ached so bad he wanted to claw it out, even if his tears burned so bad he thought he’d go blind, it was only his punishment that had long been overdue.

He’d live the rest of his life alone, clinging to the small part of you that would always be his. It would never be enough for him, but it would keep him company when the nights were cold and long, when the bed was vastly empty, when he got drunk on the memory of your voice and the random liquor in his cabinet, when he missed you the most.  

So even though he was hurting, he was isolated, he was devastated, he was still yours, body and soul. Though his destiny was doomed, it was a path that he chose. He chose the pain. He chose the lonely. He chose the wreckage. He’d never have your heart again, but he’d never lie to his heart again. 

Because he chose you.

Always you.

[childofsardior]

What? Iggy's Headcanon from my AU? Here we gooo!

↓↓↓ Read it all below! ↓↓↓

General Info:

Full name: Ignatius Koopa. Iggy was the very first victim of his mother’s realization that she was giving her children long names that could be easily shortened in popular Human's Dimension musicians. Since she already gave Lemmy and Roy longer names, she continued the trend of searching for something that could be compressed into Iggy to mention Iggy Pop. An old Latin name was the only thing she found. By the way, Iggy doesn't mind. He claims that, in reality, Ignatius sounds perfect for a mad scientist, but he's saving his full name for the time he'll be a famous and acclaimed researcher and inventor.

Gender and pronouns: Pronouns are he/him. He claims that "gender is way too complex to be compressed by a single label and even with a one-year-long accurate explanation about how I'm feeling right now could not bring justice to a person's fluidity during the time". If Lemmy asked him to bring a flag for a hypothetical Mushroom Pride, Iggy would probably take the Agender flag with him, even if it's just an "arid and inaccurate simplification and oversimplified approximation of the Koopas and other sentient creatures' complex nature".

Sexuality: He's aro/ace. Again, Iggy's love for accurate explanations will lead him to claim that, of course, one's sexuality is a lot more complex than a single word and the (potentially fluid) result of a mix of innate and cultural factors, educational background, personal experience(s), and even more. But he actually adopted these labels since he found out they are very convenient to quickly describe his lack of attraction - at least, physical and romantic - towards other people, especially if someone is trying to flirt with him and he's like "Oh no". Despite what his siblings think, tho, he would not refuse the idea of a platonic relationship in the (distant) future... if he'll ever find a genius brain that could match his love for science, of course.

Age: He's currently 16 (in calendar years), sharing his age with Roy and Wendy since their eggs were from the same clutch and hatched just a few hours away from each other. He's the one that hatched in the middle, the day after Roy and the day before Wendy. As Royal Koopas mature faster than Humans and such, Iggy could be compared to a 18/19 y.old Human. Just like Ludwig, tho, Iggy has always been even more precocious, being very intelligent and smart since he was a tiny hatchling - but curiously enough he didn't learn how to speak until 1.5 years old, later than all his siblings.

Species: Tarrasquin (also known as "Royal Koopas" or "Dragon-Turtles") - that happens to be a powerful and rare species related both to Koopas and Dragons. The lack of horns at a young age and the number of spikes on the shell may point to the subspecies known as Plains/Field Tarrasquin, while some other details could suggest a "mix" with the Vulcanic bloodline. In addition, all the Koopalings seem to share an innate inclination toward magic and some other unusual details never found before in Tarrasquins, such as tail feathers or natural armors protecting the limbs, along with peculiar tiny gem-like scales scattered around their bodies in different patterns.

Physical appearance: Iggy is a yellow-scaled Tarrasquin with some green accents scattered around his whole body, especially on his head and limbs. On his shoulders and joints, he got some harder, spikier scales. He has long, straight acid-green hair, and blue eyes with the iris detached from the pupils for an unknown mutation. Iggy's Royal Fangs follows a lateral quartet and curved pattern, a slightly rarer variant of the straight quartet one. Some tiny spikes sprouted recently on the top of his tail. He's the tallest among his siblings, and not only thanks to his usual hairstyle - even his green shell is oval-shaped instead of round. He's also very slim, and he looks quite frail for a dragon-turtle. Iggy is actually the most delicate of the family, talking about his resilience and health, and the fact that his body is incapable of digesting meat in the right way doesn't help it.

Personality: Iggy's known as the mad genius of the Royal Family, acting crazy all the time and all. If you meet him in person for the first time, you'll probably agree with the rumors. He often talks by himself, laughs crazily even during dangerous situations, and will always tell you what he's honestly thinking without even pondering his words. He's also easily excited and tends to act hyperactively while he's among other people, while sometimes becoming extremely annoying and even childish when he's hanging out with his siblings. But Iggy's crazed facade is just one side of the coin of his whole personality. He mostly adopts (unconsciously) his extremely mad behavior when he finds himself in new social situations, or between his whole bunch of siblings as a sort of coping mechanism to fight an overwhelming social anxiety. In his comfort zone - usually shared with Lemmy - he'll show a more tranquil and nerdy side, full of curiosity and random facts about whatever he's researching this month. He's also extremely clever and intelligent, mostly in a scientific and inventive way - always thinking about his next projects and mechanical inventions - but somehow a bit naive and usually not very wise. At the same time, he can't really understand most of the things that do not fall into his interests - he can't understand sports, he can't understand politics, he can't understand why Wendy likes so much spending hours at SPAs receiving massages from strangers?? - and nobody can really insult or joke with him, Iggy just won't acknowledge why you're trying to offend him, and will just laugh in response. On the other hand, he actually likes to joke by himself or about his rivals, and even insult his opponents in his own way, leading his siblings to believe he just pretends to not understand how irony works. Most of the time, you will find Iggy content about his next great idea, or way too busy working on his next super-duper-cool machine to worry about life at all, but from time to time even the most clever of the family gets blue. Sometimes he just feels lonely, especially during these days in which he suddenly finds it hard to communicate with others - and he will probably spend them working alone in his labs, talking to himself or even in a deep, thinking silence. He also strongly dislikes being touched without warning, an exception made only for Lemmy, and some days he will just... need a pause from social overstimulation. All of this usually leads to Iggy being one of the most reclusive brothers in the group. In these cases, he prefers to spend time with the weirdest insects in his terrariums or with his Chain Chomp pet instead of being around people. Last but not least, Iggy can usually manage his stress and anxiety when it's about people - he will just go somewhere more comfortable and quiet, be that his room or a lonely tower - but something that really breaks him down is losing or breaking his eyeglasses. It's probably one of the only times you can see him really panic or even cry in fear with wet eyes if that happens during a fight or at a bad moment in general.

Hobbies and passions: Iggy's passions are just a few, but he's extremely dedicated (and hyperfixed) about them. Mechanical arts, absurd weaponry and machines, and futuristic inventions are the first things he's usually focused on, but he loves doing his own research about uncommon flora and faunas, cataloging new animals and plants in his book and PCs. He even "collects" some of them in terrariums and pots, occasionally experimenting with some of his bugs' poison or some weird plant's leaves and lymph. He's also very into videogames since he could put his hands on one, and he's currently the second-best hardcore player of the whole house, just after Ludwig - but recently, Iggy's slowly overcoming him. It's not rare for the two "house geniuses" to compete or even resolve a conflict with a serious match of "Super Smash Siblings", and Iggy is the first one his siblings will ask for help to complete a hard level - since nobody wants to ask Ludwig for help unless it's the only solution left. Aside from video gaming only, Iggy's quite into programming, modding and even hacking. He usually assembles his own and his siblings' PCs and will crack all the games Larry wants in his free time, and while he's not programming some new AI for his latest robotic experiment, he will also spend some decent time on obscure science-related sub-Red.dot, as well on specific sites such as digibutter.nerr, talking with other nerds all around the world exchanging info and nerdy hacks.

Relationships:

With his siblings: Iggy can prove to be a very annoying company, and this is why not all of his sibs like to hang out with him, especially among the older. His younger brothers, instead, are often looking for him for help, to request him some new inventions or hack for their Swiitch or even to ask him to get some new movies and videogames in not-so-legal-ways. His very best pal is Lemmy and they often spend lots and lots of time together, but Iggy has a good relationship with Junior, Larry and Morton, too.

Now, for each relationship with the siblings:

Ludwig: They are rivals, always contending for the title of the real "family genius". But while Iggy just casually claims to be clever and able to do some cool stuff, Ludwig is extremely convinced of his own words and will get quite jealous when Iggy surpasses him - so it's more a very serious rivalry only from Ludwig's POV, while Iggy would be cool about the statement "there are two big-brained Koopas in this house" (three, if you count Wendy in it, but she doesn't have time for this childish type of squabbles). But even if Ludwig doesn't want to admit it, Iggy was the one who inspired him to discover some interest in projecting blueprints for his own war machines and such, and they do work together from time to time when the necessity asks for both points of view. Iggy is also the only one in the family that calls his blue-shelled brother"Luddy", and Ludwig hates it.

Lemmy:  Saying that Iggy and Lemmy are best friends would be reductive. They are basically twin-coded (even if Lemmy is a year and half older than Iggy) and probably the two form the strongest bond inside the whole bunch of Royal Koopa siblings. Since they were hatchlings they spent most of their time together. As kids they played together all day, they started to prank others together, they went on "adventures" together... they even tried out various dye colors for their hair together, always trying to match, and until puberty, they were both short enough to be easily mistaken for actual twins at a first glance - except made for Iggy's need for eyeglasses. Then, things started to change a bit. Iggy's growth sprout surprised everyone, and put a big difference between him and Lemmy's absurd shortness; at a certain point, Iggy started to look for his own identity, stopped dyeing his hair and looked for a peculiar hairstyle instead. Their passions differentiated a lot during their teen years, leaving both siblings with less to share. But even if Lemmy was (and secretly still is) afraid of this at first, in the end their bond didn't weaken. They are still both a little weird in their own ways, and they both follow their interests without caring about what others could think of them. They constantly support each other to the point they can finish each other's sentences, and they also confide only to each other. Iggy is actually a good listener to Lemmy's concerns, knowing them so well, and vice-versa. They would end up being the type of siblings that will just go to live together reaching adulthood... if it wasn't for Lemmy's visceral intolerance for the jungle's humidity and Iggy's impossibility of tolerating very cold climates.

Roy: Iggy is a bit afraid of Roy. Being the frail, nerdy one, Iggy has been an easy target for the family's pink-headed bully since he was a kid. If something in Iggy's inventions goes wrong during a mission, Roy will just beat him up without questions out of anger. They do not interact much, and the green-shelled Royal Koopa tries to simply avoid his one-day-older brother when he can.

Wendy: As with Roy, Iggy and Wendy do not interact much, unless forced by the circumstances. Roy and Wendy acting as twins since they were newborns and excluding him on purpose doesn't help. Wendy finds Iggy too frivolous and weird for her liking, and Iggy doesn't understand any of Wendy's hobbies, passions and tastes in general. Wendy would spend all her savings on new clothing and accessories...? "Why would you need them? We are dragon-turtles, not Humans! We do not *need* clothing!" Wendy would spend a whole day at her favorite SPA, letting strangers touch her with massages, wearing weird masks made of food and even taking Mud Baths?? "Is she crazy? Why would anyone like to be touched or even "beaten" on purpose? And wasn't she the super-clean one that hated dirt in all its form??" On the brighter side, Wendy, as opposed to Roy, never bullied Iggy for his behaviors when he was younger.

Morton: The two spend some nice time together, especially since Iggy started his "let's teach grammar and spelling to our big, dark-scaled bro!". Iggy's the only one who is actively trying to help Morton with his speech issue, and every week they are learning new conjunctions, verbs and words - Iggy's ultimate goal is to prove to his other siblings that Morton is not "just a dumb head" as they sometimes claim - even if they are not doing too much progresses by now. Iggy also allows Morton to keep him company during field research and asks for his help from time to time when he needs to assemble big and heavy pieces, counting on Morton's innate strength. Morton is also allowed to assist him during his "I need some silence, please" working moments, as long as he stays silent. Iggy is also trying to teach him how to catalog weird rocks, but Morton just seems to enjoy the pure act of collecting them and putting them in nice places around his room.

Larry: Iggy and Larry have a decent relationship overhaul. Larry LOVES Iggy, especially when he needs something. Iggy feels quite proud of it, feeling a bit like Ludwig in "big, responsible bro mode". They usually spend time playing videogames together or thinking about unofficial mods to apply to the boring Mushroom Kingdom's videogames (for example, modding their own stylized models in the game to be able to play as themselves instead of as a boring plumber in some popular platforms). Aside from that, Larry and Iggy's other interests don't match much, but Iggy is one of the few who can tolerate the younger for the most time.

Bowser Junior: The two have a good relationship, mostly because Junior loves Iggy's crazy "Bahahaha!"-style laugh and most of all his inventions - the Koopa Heir is even approaching the absurd world of (fantasy) mechanic thanks to Iggy, and is trying to learn how to do some projects himself. He always asks Iggy for some new upgrades to his Junior Clown Car, new pirated Swiitch games (when King Bowser refuses to buy him more), new cool toys (such as the Mechakoopas, that Iggy originally created as toys for tiny Larry and Junior) and some times even for super giant mecha to use against the annoying Mario Brothers. Iggy is also surprisingly protective of Bowser Junior when they are on missions together, maybe because the youngest of the family unconsciously remembers Iggy when he was small and frail himself, in need of Lemmy's protection.

* * *

With King Bowser: Iggy has a decent relationship with his adoptive father and King of the Koopas. He *does* see him as a parental figure, even if he doesn't often agree with his plans and can't really understand the way the King reasons. Bowser will frequently ask Iggy to create new anti-Mario weapons, for Iggy's pleasure, but aside from that the two don't interact very much - especially since Iggy is extremely honest with his opinions and Bowser doesn't really like when someone is questioning his Royal Authority. Iggy is also (currently) the only one who likes to jokingly call Bowser "daddy" or "royal daddy", something everyone in the family dislikes a lot.

With his Mother (OC): During the years the siblings used to live with their mother, Iggy was the curious boy of the house. He was always finding new things to show his mother, from funny-shaped leaves to colorful feathers to new books full of dinosaurs. He was a bit reclusive and shy too as a child, and their mother had to step in and protect him from Roy's arrogance or after a fight with Ludwig, a role that Lemmy took themselves when they started to be old enough. Being his mother and Iggy both a bit autistic and filled with social anxiety, too, they could easily understand each other about how stressful it was to stay among strangers and how stressful overstimulation could get.

With Charlie (his Chain Chomp): Iggy has a Chain Chomp pet named "Charlie". It is not the first one he gets, but it's actually the first one he is being responsible for. When he was younger, he had other Chain Chomp pets (he really likes them) but was too childish and irresponsible to properly take care of them, usually leading to the poor magical creatures to run away at some point. In recent years, tho, he's getting better at pet-sitting and caring, and Charlie seems grateful for that: he's probably the happier, more satisfied, polished, well-fed Chain Chomp of the whole Kingdom, and it's extremely loyal to Iggy - and Iggy only. Charlie would bite anyone that gets too close, except for Lemmy whom it now trusts enough to let him ride its back from time to time.

With the Mario Bros., Princess Peach and Mushroom Kingdom: Iggy doesn't really care about conquering, but he is very much interested in studying native creatures and plants of each Kingdom. During peacetime, he would gladly attend some nerd conventions in the Mushroom Kingdom, and he would literally love to meet Professor E.Gadd in person... if the Princess didn't blacklist him from entering the borders as she did with almost all the Royal Family and the Koopa Troop. Now Iggy would need to request a special permit weeks in advance with a lot of boring bureaucracy to fill and a valid motive to stay in the Kingdom for two days maximum, so... he doesn't really like the Princess for this reason. While with the Mario Bros., Iggy would usually be excited to see them - they are, after all, perfect punching balls for his newest battle machines, and his Chain Chomp loves running after them - but he actually dislikes them a lot since they broke his glasses once years ago, during one of their first fights.

Peculiarities & co.

Right-Handed: Iggy is naturally right-handed. Looking at Ludwig's confidence in using both hands for a long time, he tried to train himself to use his left hand as well, for a while... but then he just gave up, finding it too hard and tedious.

Senses: Iggy's biggest weakness, physically speaking, is probably related to his poor sight. Without his special glasses, he is almost blind - he hatched with a severe visual impairment and during his first years of life it just went worse. When he was around 3, his mother was lucky enough to meet a Magikoopa glassmaker who worked with special lenses and Iggy was able to see decently for the first time in his life. When he was later adopted at the castle, the royal eye doctor took him under his supervision. When Iggy was around 10, he started working on his own, personalized pair of eyeglasses, mixing actual glassmaking science with some Magikoopa's cultural knowledge and a tiny bit of adaptive magic to create the "Perfect Iggy's Glasses" (after a lot of trials and fails and prototypes); his last version mixes the best glass from the Sand Kingdom with some strengthen magic from the Red Robes' Magikoopa Order to make them unbreakable... after the various incidents during the years.

Autism: Iggy falls under the autism spectrum, with many traits close to IRL Asperger Syndrome to be more precise - (NOTE: I am sure a "SMB world" equivalent exists with a nicer name, I just don't know one yet-). To be honest, Iggy always suspected it way before being actually diagnosed with it by the Castle's doctors. He's mostly fine with it, accepting his autistic traits as part of his own uniqueness - and, if you ask him, as a part of his genius, too - but sometimes he would gladly take a break from it... especially when overwhelmed by too much noise or when stressed by social interactions. Iggy is also very much convinced that almost everyone in his family has some (sometimes prominent) autistic traits, but the others are not so willing to take tests or talk with doctors to find out, so we will probably never know for sure.

Vegetarian: Iggy is MOSTLY vegetarian. Not by choice, but thanks to his body being very bad at processing meat, for some reasons. "Mostly", because he actually *could* eat very small amounts of meat/fish from time to time without getting sick, but it happens so rarely that he usually even forgets about it. Luckily for him, he loves all types of vegetables, eats lots of fruit and likes eggs A LOT (probably his favorite meal after carrots and turnips); not very fond of dairy products, but he eats them during the week, and will probably only eat vegetables and fruit related cakes. Will also try to get as much protein as he can from legumes, but since Tarrasquins are considered mainly carnivores, he often needs nutritional supplements.

Fire: All the Koopalings have a peculiar "fire"; when fire-breathing, they all will breathe fire of the same color as their shells. Iggy's fire is currently the weakest of the whole family, but it tends to create a lot of green, urticant smoke that makes it hard to see. It's not too useful in actual fights, but can work as a great distraction in need of a quick escape from a bad situation.

Random Facts:

He's a germophobe, and will sanitize his tools, hands and workspace every time he starts and finishes working in his labs.

Iggy is not having a *real* shower in almost 3.5 years. Instead, he perfectly polishes himself from any type of dirt using his own invention, the "Sonic Shower Sound Waver Filth Remover". He also uses a special gel made by himself to treat and keep his hair up every morning.

Iggy doesn't have many friends, especially IRL. But he sometimes finds himself in a group chat or nerdy forums with the same people for enough time, and he'll start addressing them as his "online pals" or "online weirdos".

One of his "online weirdos" is a guy named Francis and obsessed with butterflies. They never saw each other in person nor via webcam, but Francis claims he's a Chameleon and has the hugest collections of comics, manga, action figures, and video games of all his other nerdy pals, probably of his whole dimension, too. 

One day Iggy and Larry decided to create a videogame together with an easy game maker on PC. Larry wanted to be the protagonist, but couldn't decide about a genre for the game. It ended up looking like a horror-action-but-also-dating-sim game with a cooler and older version of Larry fighting horrible un-deads while also trying to flirt with the cute ones. It was meant as an inside joke between the two brothers and they got bored after three days. One year later, tho, Iggy secretly started to work on it again out of boredom and actually finished "developing" it, even publishing it on an obscure forum of free-to-play games. It now exists in the world under the name of "Larry Koopa: Zombie Heartbreaker".

Francis, Iggy's Chameleon online pal, is the only person who completed said game 100%. Iggy sent him an exclusive physical copy as a joke after learning about this.

Larry won't like finding out his game has been "published" without his consent - and most of all, for free. He will force Iggy to work on a sequel with an even cooler and adult version of Larry as the protagonist in the future, known as "Larry Koopa the Heartbreaker and The Revenge of the Dry Bones Queen". They will get royalties from that one, this time.

Some years ago Iggy started gifting tiny plants for every birthday he attends - usually, his siblings'. They can be flowers, succulent plants, carnivorous plants and even the equivalent of the SMB world of... weed (probably, some tiny variant of Wonder Flowers... we'll call it "Wonder Weed" lel) - but the vulcanic climate and his siblings' negligence will let the poor plants dry in a few days. Roy is the only one who is still happily cultivating his tiny Wonder Weed pots after three years.

Recently Iggy found out about TTRPG games; he tried to involve his sibs in it, convincing Lemmy and Ludwig at first, Roy after a while and Larry just recently. Iggy is currently mastering his first campaign of Thousand Years & Doors, with a party made of Ludwig (High Elf, Wizard), Lemmy (Firbolg, Druid), Roy (Half-Orc, Barbarian) and Larry (Dragonborn, Bard). Junior wants to play with them but knowing his bratty attitude they send him away claiming the game is for "Larry's age and up" only. 

Despite this, they are regretting letting Larry play, too. He's the classic "I only use Vicious Mockery! I'll destroy all my enemies INSULTING their parents and siblings and cousins in a *magical" way! Can I try to open the door exploding it with a bad joke?". Iggy is at least grateful that Larry is still too young, naive and not very into *adult jokes* yet, because as a deeply asexual Game Master he couldn't bear the even more stereotypical.... "18+ annoying bard attitude" (if you know a bit of IRL D&D classes stereotypes, you got what I mean.)

One of Iggy's biggest pet peeves revolves around "adult *spicy* jokes", especially when too explicit. He can't stand them. He hates them with all his heart and spirit. He just cringes so much hearing them that he would prefer sinking into the ground and disappearing instead.

He doesn't like bunnies much - herbivorous animals in general make him nervous, especially small ones. Maybe this is due to Roy always joking about Iggy looking like a carrot and that he could be in serious danger among a rabbit warren…

He's probably the only one in the family who, despite his name and all, can't sing or play any instrument. Ludwig could play a whole orchestra by himself and even more, Lemmy can play the electric guitar & bass, Roy can play the drums and the violin, Wendy can sing and loves to, Morton can kinda play the bass drum and has perfect timing with the triangle, Larry is learning how to play the electric keyboard and the Otamatone and is quite good at mixing and remixing music from his PC... and even Junior is starting to learn something about the transverse flute and the piano.

Once, Iggy tried to work on his own AI that could "create" music for him, of course using others' works as a "base" to train it. His siblings - especially Ludwig - basically threatened Iggy of unaliving him in response. "Go on. Try to put my music inside that bot. Then you'll enjoy eternity as a Dry Iggy, I can assure you". -Lud 

Rumors say that Iggy can instead dance quite well (in his own unique style), and even perform a perfect moonwalk. But nobody knows for sure...

His IQ score beats Ludwig's by a few points. Iggy is extremely satisfied by it, while Ludwig is trying to forget this information every day of his life.

When he was a kid, he created a "Time Machine" way before Professor E.Gadd himself. Iggy really wanted to see dinosaurs, and traveled "back in time" to observe them in their natural habitat. Then one way during his dino-watching, a random dude dressed with modern clothing passed by selling some "Yoshi-to-Fungi" dictionary, and Iggy understood that his "Time Machine" was actually working as a "quite normal, quite boring" teleporter to the Dinosaur Islands instead.

Bowser seized the opportunity using the fast-travel to get his army there, trying to conquest the Islands. But Mario was having a vacantion there and... it... didn't end well.

[bluedalahorse]

I mentioned wanting to write a fic about how things become a little more functional between Simon and August in their 20s, so here’s the scenario I want to write the fic about:

Simon and Wilhelm are close to graduating university. Felice is doing studies abroad in some capacity, and Sara is on the other coast of Sweden. August has just returned from university at Georgetown and is taking up some crown prince duties.

Simon and Wilhelm didn’t go to the same school—they each ended up in a school that fit their study needs—but they’re about 1-1.5 hours apart by train. They try to see one another relatively often, maybe on the weekends. They each have their own set of friends at their own school. In the final semesters of university, Simon gets involved in some particular, career-related project I haven’t decided on yet, which takes up a little more of his time. Their relationship is a little more “long distance” than usual but they still care for each other.

Wille’s having a rough go of it, though. In part he’s struggling academically, in part because he’s feeling the identity pressure of, who is he exactly? He’s done a lot of exploring over the past years, after leaving the crown, because trying to find yourself after a life of being told who you need to be is an ongoing process. He’s still trying to figure things out. There might be some Gender in the mix, too. (I am a they/he Wille truther.) Anyway, some of Wille’s university friends use recreational drugs, never in a way where they’re pressuring him but in a way where he’s around it. And with things being tough, Wille uses a few times in a “just for fun, just this once” sort of way, and then it begins to escalate.

Simon obviously notices that Wille is using, because his life story and what he remembers of life with Micke means he will notice. And immediately he knows he wants to get Wille help, but he’s also terrified of this becoming a situation where he feels like he has to handle everything by himself. He enlists the help of Sara and Felice from afar, he talks to Linda about it, but he realizes he also needs help from someone in Wilhelm’s family. Someone who sort of knows the upper class pressures and the way Kristina and Ludwig can be and all those insider things. It’s the kind of thing he might go to Erik about if Erik were alive, but Erik isn’t alive, and who was Erik anyway?

Well… over the past six or seven years, Wilhelm and August have been doing their best to have some kind of relationship. It starts awkward and hesitant at first, but becomes something over time. They try to check in on the phone once a week, and they try to coordinate their plans going in to family Christmas and such. They know what they are going to say if Kristina tries to pit the two against one another, they know how to cover for the other if one of them just wants to duck out of the fifth course of dinner and just scream. They can talk each other through panic attacks now and grieve together. Maybe Erik was the brother each of them wanted. Maybe they are also becoming the sibling each of them needed, inch by inch.

And Simon knows this, and has been okay with it happening because Wille respects his boundaries around it and has kept his Simon sphere and his August sphere separate so far.

But now Wille is in danger, and Simon knows he wants someone from Wille’s family (the part of Wille’s family he’s not part of, anyway) to help him.

So he calls August at an awkward time of day and says, “Hi. I didn’t want to have to do this, but I need your help.”

And August has noticed the signs of a growing addiction in Wille as well—of course he has, he has watched his father, he has dealt with this himself—and was about a day away from calling Simon in desperation.

“I need your help, too,” August says.

So they end up banding together to help Wille, to make sure Wille feels supported by both of them, to handle as much as possible before Kristina can swoop in (or before they have to call her in, in a careful and coordinated way.)

Simon and August end up talking about their own fathers, and realize they share some experiences, that they can relate to each other’s hypervigilance, even if they came from different social classes. How would things have been different, they wonder, if they had known this from the start?

As Simon opens up to him, August comes to realize the extent to which Simon still lives with the aftermath of the video. August realizes that yes, Simon is getting incredible grades and gaining people’s respect and presenting at music conferences around Europe as an undergraduate, and that still coexists with the pain and the fear. August has always loathed himself for posting the video, but his remorse takes on a new texture, one that is more inclined toward positive action steps than wallowing.

As August opens up to him, Simon comes to realize that August loved Sara, that August still regrets not loving Sara the way she deserved to be loved. Simon has to some extent rationalized August’s falling in love with Sara as fuckboy manipulation tactics—that’s easier to believe—but he notices the similarities between how August loves and how Wilhelm loves, how they both burn so bright for another person that they sometimes can’t see that person clearly. Simon starts to see how August tries to care for other people and make them feel like they belong, even if it doesn’t always look the way he expects.

We were all so young then, Simon and August think.

Wilhelm looks at these two unexpected people who love him and want him to be well (who love them, they tentatively suggest, as August and Simon each hold one of their hands.) Wilhelm is surprised and a little afraid and also a little… hopeful?

We are all so young now, they all think. And yet we are still growing.

And together they build something new.

[thievinghippo]

So I promised a postmortem and it’s finally time! Here’s the TL:DR. I loved it. I can already tell I’ll probably have more played hours in this game than Inquisition, and I fucking loved Inquisition! Good, bad, and ugly beneath the cut and there will be heavy spoilers for the entire game, so read at your own risk. (This is also long, because I have a lot to say!)

THE GOOD

Rook. Once I let go of my preconceived notion of how Rook was (mid-40s and serious but kind) and accepted Rook for the young, sarcastic character they are, I fell in love. Edda is going to be an A possibly even S tier OC for me

The dwarves. We were fed so well, y’all. So much lore and dialogue choices. There was even a Grey Warden dwarf specific dialogue choice. I love the confirmation of what we all suspected with the Titans. I just wish that a dwarf Rook had the opportunity to confront Solas. He apparently apologizes to Harding. But what about a dwarf Rook?

Exploration. I’m an idiot when it comes to figuring out in-game puzzles and such. I’ve read some complaints that everything was far too easy, but for one of the first times I remember, I could do a vast majority of puzzles and finding treasures without consulting a game guide. And I was actually proud when I figured things out. When I play Edda again, I’m going to 100% the world and I cannot wait

The Companions. Bonus points for Emmrich Volkarin. I ended up loving all of them. Even the ones I was very ‘meh’ on before playing the game. Like Bellara. She was on my list to romance second to last. And she has moved up to third, after Emmrich and Davrin. 

Emmrich Volkarin. Yes, he gets his own special mention. I love him so much that I created a second Rook to romance him. That way I have one Emmrich that is not a lich (Edda’s choices) and one Emmrich that is a lich (Sonnet’s choice). I love his compassion, his kindness, his reverence of the dead. I adore his romance and how clear it is that Rook has bewitched him, body and soul. The fact that they lean into the age gap and it becomes entwined with his own fears of death. He has my favorite personal quest. I loved the music, the atmosphere. How it pertains to his own journey, facing his mortality (plus Johanna Hezenkoss can get it). Plus it has the banger line of ‘Show them what a real necromancer can do!’ I even can’t wait not to romance him and see what the friendship is like and encourage him to hook up with Strife

The backgrounds. Granted, I’ve only played through the game 1.5 times, but there have been so many background mentions. Especially for the Grey Wardens. Mourn Watch has some great ones too. I mean, there was Grey Warden romance banter during a fight. In a side quest! I can’t wait to discover more

The character creator. I love how inclusive it is, especially when you compare it to previous Dragon Age games. The hair is beautiful (but where is my braid crown! my kingdom for a braid crown!) and I have overweight OCs, which make me very happy. Varric's shaving mirror is also amazing, and because I want EA to know that people are using these options, Sonnet is a trans woman who will save Thedas

THE BAD

Weird tonal switches. Emmrich and Harding are going to Ferelden so she can show him around but the South is being razed by darkspawn. Harding’s mom sends her back with pie and gives great hugs. How in the world are they getting to Ferelden? Rook was amazed to see the Inquisitor in the North so why would the members of the Veilguard be able to go to the South? Some of the codex entries are so dark and yet everyone is happy in the Lighthouse 

Give Rook a problem, please! I kept waiting for Rook’s LI to go up to her and ask if there’s anything distracting her. If there’s any problem they could solve together. But that never came and Rook is apparently the only person on the team that can’t be distracted by their own problems. How amazing would it have been if Rook had some sort of personal quest. Maybe based on lineage. Or background. Something that shows that she matters as much to her companions and they mean to her

The Act One Choice. Still mad about it. Are you telling me that two extra people would have saved Minrathous? That a city full of the most powerful mages in the known world couldn’t take down a fucking dragon? It didn’t feel earned and it did annoy me a great deal

Let. Rook. Mourn. While I appreciate that Rook was able to mourn Varric and Davrin (in my playthrough) privately, the fact that it immediately jumps to a sex scene sort of bothered me. Especially Emmrich’s taking them to the Necropolis so they can bang in a coffin. This was not the time to leave the Lighthouse, Emmrich! The rest of the team got to mourn Davrin and worry about Neve together. I wish Rook could have been a part of that too. 

Let’s talk Varric’s death. I didn’t see it coming. I actually ranted to a friend before I knew what happened that they should have killed him in the prologue if this was how they were going to use him. Oops. I hate how callous the truth about his death makes Rook look. I hate that Harding and Neve didn’t even really seem to mourn. Hate how the Inquisitor or Dorian or Isabela don’t mention him at all. I hate how obvious his death is in my second playthrough. I will have to fix this all in fanfic

THE UGLY

Assuming there is another DA game, where do we go from here? I really dislike the concept of the Executors in the secret ending. One thing I’m optimistic about is that by basically wiping the south off the map, we might be able to have more games there. Because everything will have been reset, so to speak. How does the South deal with the mages when they’ve all been fighting darkspawn for their lives? Put them back into Circles? I think not

I’m also not sure about what choices would move forward into a new DA game. Not talking companion choices, but choices that actually affect the world. No matter what we do, the Blight is over and the Veil is safe. If BioWare couldn’t be bothered to have the Well of Sorrows choice matter, I can’t imagine they’ll care how Solas was bound to the Veil, whether it be by choice, trickery, or force. Minrathous or Treviso is the only other non-companion choice I can think of that might possibly matter

But honestly, it doesn’t matter, because who knows if we’ll ever get another Dragon Age game? I know I would love one, but I have this sinking feeling there won’t be (please let me be wrong!)

So there you have it. I really love this game, good, bad, and ugly. And I found so much more to love than to dislike. I have a feeling I will be yelling about this game (and Emmrich!) for a long, long time

[strawberrystepmom]

Have you a favourite vegetable recipe to recommend? Or ones that are just quick/easy?

omg sooooo many. I will tell you that the trick to make any vegetable taste good (imo) is to sautee with garlic, a bit of lemon juice, and the seasonings of your choice but definitely salt and pepper at the very least. like I make spinach like this at least once a week and devour it bc spinach is so good for you...full of nutrients and you can eat a ton of it. i do this with fresh green beans if they're on sale and add red pepper flakes, frozen broccoli (i know sometimes it gets mushy but this tends to be the way to keep it a little more intact).

like i believe in volume eating if you're a person who likes to snack (i am) so i tend to eat large quantities of the things that are good for me. i cook a lot of spinach bc it's easy to eat a lot of it. a lot of sweet potato for the same reason and my tip with those is to literally wrap them in foil and roast them at 400 for about 1.5 hours. they almost always end up perfect and i eat mine with miso butter which is literally just butter mixed with a little bit of miso paste. so so so good and good for you!

big fan of carrots too. honey roasted carrots are the easiest thing ever. i usually slice carrots in half but you can cut them in half moons or circles or whatever works best for you, you can even use baby carrots, and you mix them with cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper, usually a little bit of whatever herbs seasoning i have on hand (or whatever you have that you like to season with), olive oil, and drizzle them with honey just before putting them in the oven. 400 degrees for 30 minutes or so and you have something that is really special and full of nutrients.

also don't sleep on kale! i know it gets a bad rep bc the fucking orthorexia bitches on instagram never shut up but roasted kale is awesome. one of my favorite meals this time of year is literally red onion, potatoes, whatever other produce i have laying around which is usually a bell pepper or two or some tomatoes and sausage all cut up into small bite size pieces. season as you like (i usually make an olive oil/dijon mustard/maple syrup glaze type thing for this) and roast that at 400 for about 25 minutes. in the last 8 or so minutes i put a couple healthy handfuls of kale dressed in the same seasonings on top to crisp up and it's amazing.

hope this helps a little bit! i know it may sound complicated but i promise you you can have any of this stuff ready in less than 30 minutes (less than 15 for sauteeing!) and it's worth it. you will poop better. you will sleep better. you will feel better!!!

[sleekervae]

New York Romantic 1.5

Masterlist

pairing: Tom Blyth x ballerina!oc

summary: a movie scene has tom nervous and Noelle practices ballet again

word count: 6,488

warnings: mentions of sex, bodily limits being met, exhaustion and fluff

taglist: @watercolorskyy @carolanns-world @alana4610

Tom sat on the crate, script in hand, and stared at the words as if they might vanish off the page. His heart was hammering a little too hard, the walls of his tiny space closing in as the director’s note from earlier rang in his ears.

“It’s a quick, lighthearted scene,” they’d said. “More comedic than romantic—meant to break the tension, not add any.”

He’d nodded, trying to play it cool, but as soon as he’d walked out of the rehearsal, his nerves had crept back in. It wasn’t exactly a sex scene, he reassured himself—no part of him was going to be shown, and the whole bit was supposed to be humorous. But still, it was the idea of it. He’d never done anything like this, and he could already feel the heat creeping up the back of his neck just thinking about the cameras, the lights, the dozens of eyes watching him pretend.

He caught his reflection in a window pane and a crooked, nervous smile tugged at his lips. “Get a grip, mate,” he mumbled to himself. But even as he tried to laugh it off, another thought crept in, one that made his stomach tighten a little more: should he tell Noelle about this?

He knew it would only be fair—she would want to see the movie anyhow and it would be better to warn her ahead of time. And, knowing Noelle, she’d probably laugh and tell him he was being ridiculous, that he’d be amazing regardless. But still, a small part of him felt awkward, uncertain about how she’d react.

Would she feel uncomfortable? Would she be hurt? He hated the idea of her feeling anything but secure with him, especially now that they were so far apart.

He let out a sigh and his shoulders slumped, pulling his phone from his pocket. The soft glow of her last message blinked back at him, and just seeing her name at the top of his screen eased his nerves. He grinned, feeling the buzz of that familiar warmth, the feeling that had pulled him through the homesickness, the long hours on set, everything.

With a deep breath, he typed out a message:

Hey, love. Can I ask you something a bit… awkward?

He stared at the message for a long moment, thumb hovering over the “send” button, before finally pressing it.

The message hung there, unread, as the minutes ticked by. Tom sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Of course, it was still early morning in America; she’d be fast asleep, her phone likely tucked away on her nightstand while she dozed, blissfully unaware of his message. He let his phone slip back into his pocket and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

The director’s voice call, the words muffled but unmistakably clear: it was time.

He stood, running a hand through his hair and giving himself one last glance in the mirror. You’ve got this. It’s just a scene, he told himself. And if Noelle were here, she’d probably be laughing at how worked up you’re getting over it.

The set was bustling as he walked in, lights and crew members filling every inch of the space. His co-star flashed him an encouraging smile, and he forced himself to smile back, though his nerves still simmered beneath the surface. As they positioned themselves, he kept his gaze forward, willing himself to focus on the absurdity of the scene rather than the nerves crawling up his spine. He felt like he was on autopilot, repeating the mental checklist of lines, marks, cues—all to keep his mind from spiraling.

When the cameras finally started rolling, Tom did his best to tune out the flashing lights and choked back laughter from the limited crew around them. It was a comical scene, meant to be awkward and clumsy, and he played it for laughs, trying to embrace the ridiculousness of it. Yet every now and then, his thoughts wandered back to Noelle and how she’d probably find his flustered performance hilarious.

After what felt like an eternity, the director yelled, “Cut!” Tom exhaled, feeling like he’d been holding his breath the entire time. Relief washed over him as the crew dispersed, and he could finally relax. His director gave him a pat on the back, laughing, “Not bad for your first love scene, eh?”

Tom chuckled, brushing off the lingering tension. “Let’s just say I’m glad that’s over.”

Later, back in his trailer, he pulled out his phone, hoping—half expecting—that Noelle might have seen his message. But her chat bubble was still empty, her name sitting there without a reply.

He was wiping away the last traces of his makeup when his phone finally buzzed in his pocket. He fumbled for it, feeling his heart leap a little as Noelle’s reply lit up his screen.

Morning! What's up?

A grin spread across his face.

Noelle groaned as she woke up, the sunlight streaming through the window feeling like an attack rather than a welcome. She rolled over, her head pounding in time with her heartbeat, the hangover from last night’s beach party making everything fuzzy and unbearably bright. She pulled the covers over her head, willing herself back to sleep, but her stomach churned in protest.

After what felt like an eternity, she managed to drag herself out of bed, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders like a cape and shuffling down the stairs. She made it to the kitchen, fumbling through the motions of making coffee with the single-minded focus of a zombie. Only when the coffee was brewed and the first sip dulled the edge of her headache did she feel coherent enough to grab her phone off the counter.

She unlocked it, squinting at the bright screen. A series of texts from her friends filled her notifications, recounting the bits of the night she could hardly remember, but it was Tom’s message that held her attention. The timestamp showed he’d sent it hours ago, and her curiosity spiked as she opened it, a faint smile already playing on her lips despite the throb in her head.

Good morning! Can I ask you something a bit… awkward?

She blinked, reading it over again. Her haze gave way to panic; was everything okay? Did something bad happen on set? Noelle read the message twice, her sleepiness and hangover abruptly shoved aside by worry. She fired off a quick reply, trying to keep her tone light.

Of course! Everything okay?

She barely had a chance to put her phone down before it started vibrating in her hand. Tom’s name flashed on the screen, and she accepted the call immediately, her voice coming out a bit sharper than she’d intended.

“Hey, is everything alright?”

She heard him exhale, a low, nervous chuckle escaping. “Yeah, sorry, didn’t mean to worry you. I just… remember before I left? You asked about... spicy scenes?"

Relief swept over her as his words sank in, and she managed a laugh. "Oh my goodness. Tom, did you film a spicy scene?"

"... Maybe..." he chuckled awkwardly. She could picture him now, sitting in a trailer, studio, wherever he may be, all flustered, red in the face and that dopey, adorable smile pulling at his cheeks. “And it’s meant to be a bit, uh -- stupid. You know, lighthearted, but still…”

Noelle couldn’t help but grin, the mental image of him trying to stay composed while blushing wildly was too good. “Like -- Deuce Bigalow type of stupid or National Lampoon stupid?”

“Um... maybe more mid two-thousands Michael Cera stupid,” he admitted with a groan. “It’s just weird. And I wanted to talk to you about it first but then I remembered you were asleep and then I had to go and... anyway, it's over now."

Noelle leaned against the counter, her grip relaxing a bit. “I see,” she said with a grin. “How’d it go? Did you survive?”

Tom gave a small laugh, though it sounded a bit forced. “Barely. It was… honestly, it was so awkward. They wanted it to be a bit ridiculous, like almost slapstick, so there was this whole bit where I’m trying to be cool but the character's a virgin and he's just… failing epically.” He chuckled, though there was a hint of nervousness still.

She laughed, the image of Tom trying to act “cool” bringing a genuine smile to her face. “Sounds adorable. And hilarious.” She paused, hearing his silence on the other end. “You sure you’re okay, though?”

“Yeah, I think so,” he replied, sounding thoughtful. “It’s all part of the job, I guess. Just… odd to be acting like that when the only person I’d actually…” He trailed off, the words catching in his throat. Should he even be talking about this over the phone? Maybe not. Or maybe it was fine? The whole day had been so surreal, and now here he was, on the other side of the world, trying to figure out how much he should talk about sex.

Meanwhile, Noelle’s day was just starting, and he didn’t want to make things awkward. With a nervous laugh, he tried to shift the subject, but her soft voice cut through his hesitation.

Noelle caught onto his nerves instantly, her smile growing as she leaned against the counter, cradling her coffee. She decided to play along, keeping her tone light but warm.

“Don’t worry,” she said, amusement lacing her voice. “I’m sure you did just fine. I mean, you’re an actor, right? You know how to fake it.”

Tom let out a short laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah… right. Faking it. Not like I'd ever fake it for real -- I mean. I'm a professional. Professional, through and through,” he replied, though he couldn’t help the embarrassed chuckle that slipped out. This was spinning so far and he was grasping to get a hold of himself.

"Tom, I think you're overthinking this," Noelle simpered.

"I think you're right." he nodded.

“And anyway,” Noelle continued, her voice softening, “I’m glad you’re telling me. I can imagine it's... a lot. Not exactly the easiest scene to jump into, huh?”

“Not exactly,” Tom admitted, feeling the tension ease a little. “But I always feel better talking to you.” He paused, the quietness between them oddly comforting. “It's been a weird day.”

She grinned, her tone playful again. “Well, hey! It's almost over. Just remember, the next time you have to film one of those scenes, you know it's a job and I know it's a job. I'm not gonna' get mad at you for doing your job. I mean... I might get a little jealous but -- ya know.”

Tom’s smile widened, and he sank back into his chair, feeling the weight of the day begin to lift. “I highly doubt you'll be jealous here.”

"I'll be the judge of that," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes. "If I've got to wait another month for you, I'd hope you’re still as flustered about me as you are about these ‘romantic’ scenes.”

Tom’s voice softened, a hint of a smile in his tone. “Oh, trust me,” he murmured. “There’s no comparison.”

Noelle couldn’t help but laugh softly, her lips curling into a smile. It was so endearing how Tom could go from being completely caught off guard one moment to so effortlessly collected the next. It made her ache in a way she couldn’t fully explain, a mixture of longing and tenderness that seemed to fill her chest. She hated how far away he was, how long it felt until she’d see him again. The days couldn’t go by fast enough. Every second without him felt like it stretched on for ages, and she couldn’t help but wish for the time to hurry up—just so she could feel the comfort of his presence again.

The rest of July passed in a steady rhythm of connection and longing as Tom and Noelle adjusted to the new normal of long-distance. Despite the miles, they both fought to keep things lighthearted and close, like with their attempt at a virtual movie date. They’d picked out a film to watch "together," but between her slow internet and his spotty connection on location, the night turned chaotic. Scenes cut out, their commentary got tangled, and by the end, they were both laughing more at the situation than the movie. Still, when the call ended, Noelle found herself smiling, the warmth of his voice lingering, as if he’d been right there beside her.

Tom, on the other hand, lay in bed afterward, staring at his phone’s black screen. He’d tried so hard to make it feel like a real date—timing the movie countdown, setting up his laptop just right—but it still hadn’t been the same. Even though it left him feeling closer to her, he couldn’t shake a nagging sense of distance.

Determined to bridge the gap, they each decided to send care packages, both hoping a physical reminder of themselves would make the other feel just a bit more at home. Noelle’s package arrived first—a small box filled with goodies and quirky gifts she’d hunted down with Tom in mind. Snacks he'd loved from New York, self care products, her favorite instant ramen packets, and a photo of them taken at the park just before he left. She’d tucked in a couple of handwritten notes, silly and heartfelt, hoping they’d bring a smile to his face on tough days.

When Tom opened the box, he chuckled, pulling out each item with a mix of amusement and nostalgia. It felt like he was holding bits of her world, as if he could feel her presence through the small tokens she’d chosen. Inspired, he quickly put together a package for her, slipping in some British snacks she couldn’t find in the States and a small, handwritten letter of his own. Noelle received it a week later, her heart swelling as she unfolded his note, feeling like for a moment, he was right there with her.

Yet the distance wasn’t always so easy to ignore. They tried calling whenever they could, often late at night, and more often than not, one of them was barely awake. Tom would find himself half-dozing, phone clutched in his hand, Noelle’s sleepy voice a comforting murmur in his ear. Sometimes, he’d jolt awake mid-conversation, feeling frustrated with himself for missing pieces of their calls. Noelle, too, grew used to the intimacy of their soft, half-awake conversations, but she often hung up feeling just a bit unsatisfied, missing the easy closeness of being together in person.

One evening, lying alone in her room, Noelle found herself scrolling through social media, glancing at Tom’s co-stars and castmates. They were friendly faces he’d mentioned before, all of them sharing updates from the set, tagging each other in stories and laughing at inside jokes she didn’t know. It was a harmless habit, she told herself, but a pang of insecurity crept in, reminding her just how much she missed feeling close, feeling part of his world.

For Tom, the separation felt heavy too, especially during the long days on set. He missed her laugh, her quick wit, the way she’d fit herself into his life so effortlessly. But each time they talked about reuniting, about the little things they were excited to do together, it kept him grounded. Soon, August would arrive, and with it, the end of their time apart. He started a countdown, marking the days until he’d be back in New York, back with Noelle.

Noelle, meanwhile, found herself clinging to the countdown, too, ticking off days with an excitement that bubbled up with each call. The ache of separation lingered, but it was softened by the hope of what lay ahead—a hopeful reminder that despite the distance, they were both still moving forward together, sharing a bond that felt even stronger as each day passed.

August swept into New York with a humid breeze, thick and heady with the scent of hot concrete and late summer rain. Noelle and Bianca dragged their suitcases up the steps of their apartment building, each one carrying the familiar anticipation that came with the start of a new school year. For the first time, though, that excitement was tinged with nerves—especially for Noelle.

Returning to Juilliard after a summer away always felt like coming home. But this year was different. She hadn’t been in a studio for weeks, not since her appendix surgery had forced her off the floor and into bed. Now, standing in the familiar space of the practice studio, the air thick with the faint scent of resin and sweat, she could feel the rust clinging to her movements. Her body responded slower, her muscles tight and resistant.

Across the room, Bianca observed her critically, arms folded, eyebrows drawn in concentration. Noelle took a deep breath, focusing on each move, each stretch, feeling her way back into the familiar steps she’d practiced a thousand times before. But Bianca didn’t miss a single slip, a single faltering point.

“Noelle, you’re turning too late,” Bianca pointed out, her tone blunt. “You need to hold your core tighter or you’ll lose your balance.”

Noelle flushed, lowering her arms as she tried to steady herself. “I know, I just—I’m getting back into it. It’s been a while.”

Iseul sat at the other end of the studio, she glanced between them. “Bianca, give her some slack. We all took the summer off. It's okay to be a little rusty!”

Bianca crossed her arms, an expression of thinly veiled impatience on her face. “The problem isn’t rust,” she said. “It’s that we’re heading into our third year. The stakes are higher now. We can’t afford to be anything less than perfect if we want to get scouted!”

Noelle’s stomach churned, the weight of Bianca’s words settling heavily on her. She knew all of that already, of course—every Juilliard student did. It was a constant drumbeat in the back of their minds. But hearing it from Bianca, someone she respected and considered a friend, made it feel so much more real. And urgent.

“I know what’s at stake,” Noelle said quietly, turning to face Bianca. “And I want this as much as you do. I just... I need to take it one step at a time. My body’s still catching up.”

Bianca met her gaze, and for a moment, her stern expression softened. But only slightly. “Fine,” she relented. “But don’t let ‘catching up’ become an excuse. The competition isn’t going to wait for you to get comfortable.”

With that, Bianca turned and began her own routine at the barre, the tension in the room palpable.

Iseul walked over to Noelle, her smile reassuring as she reached out to squeeze her arm. “Don’t let her get to you,” she whispered. “You’re going to be fine. Let’s run through something together, okay?”

Noelle nodded, swallowing hard. “Thanks, Iseul,” she murmured, grateful for the kindness. As they moved to the center of the studio, she glanced back at Bianca, who was already absorbed in her movements, the sharp lines of her form reflecting the precision she demanded of herself—and of everyone else.

Noelle sighed, steeling herself. If she wanted to prove Bianca wrong, she’d have to start by proving herself right.

Noelle trudged through the front door of her apartment building, every step sending a dull ache up her legs. Her feet throbbed in her pointe shoes, and she was certain there was a blister forming on her left heel. The scent of lemon-scented cleaner hung in the air, a faint reminder that Doris had been busy earlier in the day.

She had barely taken two steps toward the stairs when Doris’s voice called out from her desk. “Evening, Noelle! How was practice?”

Noelle turned, managing a polite smile despite the exhaustion pulling at her face. “It was fine, thank you.”

Doris waved her hand dismissively, gesturing for Noelle to come closer. “You know, ‘fine’ is what people say when it was terrible. You don’t look fine, honey—you look like you’ve been through the wringer. Let me guess, they’ve got you twirling like a circus monkey?”

Noelle chuckled faintly, though her patience was already thinning. “Something like that.”

Doris launched into a monologue about the latest developments in her favorite soap opera, her hands gesturing dramatically as she detailed a betrayal involving twins, a faked death, and an inheritance dispute. Noelle nodded along, her mind drifting as she shifted her weight from one aching foot to the other. All she wanted was to collapse on her bed and soak her feet in warm water, but Doris’s enthusiasm was relentless.

“It’s wild, I tell you!” Doris exclaimed, glancing at her watch. Noelle didn’t think much of it until Doris did it again a moment later, her gaze flicking to the staircase behind Noelle.

Noelle frowned slightly, unsure why Doris seemed so distracted. She was about to excuse herself, but Doris leaned forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “And get this—the evil twin? Turns out he’s been working with the lawyer the whole time! Isn’t that something?”

“Yeah, that’s… something,” Noelle said vaguely, taking a small step back. “Well, Doris, I’d better—”

“And we haven't even gotten to the husband's faked death plot!” Doris cut in, her eyes darting at her watch before quickly flicking to the staircase again. Noelle felt the weight of Doris’s attention as she seemed to check for something—or someone—before turning her full focus back to her.

“Are you waiting for someone, Doris?” Noelle asked, a bit of suspicion creeping into her voice.

Doris’s eyes widened just for a moment, and then her usual expression returned, forced and casual. “What? Me? No, no. Just checking the time, sweetheart. Old habits. You know how it is.” She smiled brightly, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Noelle frowned, her curiosity piqued. Doris had been acting a little off lately, but tonight something about her seemed even more unusual. The woman was normally full of stories, but now she was almost fidgeting in her chair, her eyes darting to the stairs every few moments.

She didn’t have time to puzzle it out, though. “Well, I really need to get upstairs and rest. I’m sore from practice,” Noelle said, taking a small step back, her mind still reeling from the odd exchange.

“Of course, of course!” Doris said quickly, raising her hands in mock surrender. “Don’t mind me, sweetie. Just… a little distracted tonight.”

Noelle gave her a polite smile, though her gut told her something was off. “Alright, Doris. See you tomorrow.”

With that, she turned and made her way up the stairs, feeling Doris’s eyes follow her.

Noelle hiked up to the third floor, the ache in her legs from practice still lingering with every step. Her feet were a mess from the day's grind, and all she could think about was the bliss of soaking them in warm water. As she reached the top, she glanced down the hall and noticed the faint glow of light spilling from underneath her apartment door. She froze for a moment.

She was certain she had locked it before leaving.

Her heart skipped a beat as a wave of curiosity and mild panic washed over her. Had someone broken in? She approached the door cautiously, holding her breath.

Noelle reached for the handle, slowly twisting it, her mind racing. The door was already slightly ajar. She pushed it open gently, barely making a sound as she slipped inside.

The living room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the stove in the kitchen. The smell that hit her first was what caught her off guard—something deliciously savory mixed with a hint of garlic and herbs. Her eyes darted around the room, still half-expecting to find an intruder.

But then she heard it.

A soft clatter of pots and pans, followed by a muttered curse, and her heart skipped.

Noelle peeked around the corner into the kitchen. Her eyes went wide.

Tom stood there, looking completely out of place in her kitchen, surrounded by a chaotic mess of pots, bowls, and ingredients. A half-open bag of flour sat on the counter beside him, with a dusting of it scattered across the floor. He was trying—unsuccessfully—to flip something in a pan, but it wasn’t going as smoothly as he hoped.

She stood there, completely stunned for a moment, her exhaustion forgotten in an instant.

Tom turned, a look of shock and sudden panic flooding his face when he noticed her standing there. “Noelle!” he said, his voice a little higher than usual, and he almost dropped the spatula in his hand. “Shit -- Hi!”

Noelle blinked, still processing the sight before her. Tom, in her kitchen, cooking? Home a week before he was supposed to be?

"-- Hi..." she managed, "You're back early...?"

Tom gave a sheepish grin before he went to turn down the heat under his pan, the smell of crackling food growing stronger, "Uh -- surprise!"

A smile slowly crept onto her face as she watched him try to regain some semblance of control in the midst of the chaos. Flour dusted the edges of his shirt, and his hair was slightly messier than usual. 

Noelle couldn’t hold back any longer. Without thinking, she dropped her bag and rushed toward him, her arms wide open. Before Tom could even react, she wrapped herself around him in a tight hug, burying her face against his chest.

"You're back," she whispered, the relief flooding her all at once. She could feel his heartbeat against her cheek, and for the first time in what felt like forever, everything seemed right again.

Tom was momentarily stunned, his hands hovering awkwardly before they instinctively found their way around her, pulling her close. He sighed, almost in disbelief, his chest rising and falling with the weight of the moment. “I’m back,” he murmured back, his voice low and thick.

The months certainly flew, but the distance between them, both physical and emotional, felt so much longer. The chaos of life, of school, of everything, had made it feel like an eternity. But now, with Noelle in his arms, he felt like he could finally breathe again.

He held her a little tighter, the relief of being back with her washing over him. “I missed you,” he said, his voice muffled against her hair. His hands slid up and down her back in soothing motions, the stress of the last few weeks melting away with each second they spent together.

Noelle pulled back slightly, enough to look up at him with a wide, relieved smile. “I missed you too,” she whispered, her hands still resting on his chest. “I didn’t expect you to be here already… I thought you were still filming.”

Tom chuckled, the sound warm and easy. “I wanted to surprise you. I couldn’t stay away any longer,” he confessed, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Figured I’d come home early and cook you dinner… but clearly, I need some work in the kitchen.”

Noelle’s eyes twinkled with affection. “What are you making?” she asked, her tone teasing but full of warmth.

Tom hesitated for a moment, then gave a sheepish grin. “Well... I saw this ramen hack online,” he started, gesturing toward the stove. “You sear a steak, add it to instant ramen, and it’s supposed to be, like, next-level gourmet.”

Noelle raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Sounds... ambitious.”

Tom chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, well, it’s not going exactly as planned. The steak’s not searing right, the noodles are sticking together, and I think I might’ve overcooked the broth...”

Noelle walked over to the stove, peering at the pan where the steak was sizzling. “So... it’s not going well?”

Tom laughed, the sound a little self-deprecating. “Not quite the high-end dinner I was envisioning,” he admitted, his hands still hovering over the sizzling pan like he was trying to figure out how to salvage it. “I thought it’d be a cool surprise, you know?”

Noelle’s eyes softened as she watched him, her lips curving into a warm, appreciative smile. "You were gone for three months, came off an eight-hour flight, are jet-lagged to shit, hauled your stuff up here… and you're making me dinner?"

Tom's cheeks flushed slightly, but he grinned, his eyes lighting up as he met her gaze. "I thought it would be a nice gesture," he admitted, his voice a little sheepish but filled with affection. "You deserve something special. Even if it’s just a pile of ramen and an overcooked steak." He glanced at the pan with a grimace, then back at her. "I wanted to do something for you… but I might have bitten off more than I can chew."

Noelle shook her head, still smiling despite the mess in front of them. "I’m just glad you’re here," she said softly, taking a step closer, her fingers lightly brushing the sleeve of his shirt. "This is already the best surprise."

Tom’s grin grew, his hands gently cupping her face, pulling her closer. “You’re easy to please, you know that?” he murmured, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead.

She tilted her head up, meeting his lips with a soft kiss, letting herself melt into the moment, the chaos of the kitchen forgotten for now. When they pulled back, her voice was barely a whisper. "Would you like me to help you?" She glanced at the sizzling pan, then back at him with a playful smile.

"Yes, please." Tom’s voice was a quiet, relieved sigh, as if he’d been waiting for her to offer. He gave her a small, grateful smile, then stepped back, motioning to the chaos of the kitchen.

Noelle took over the kitchen with an easy confidence, her hands deftly fixing Tom’s mess while he watched, slightly abashed but incredibly grateful. Together, they salvaged the dinner: the ramen soup had a rich, comforting broth, and the seared steak, though not exactly what Tom had envisioned, still held a surprising tenderness. As Noelle finished plating the bowls, she set them down on the small dining table, where the scent of the meal seemed to lift the weight of the evening.

The kitchen now looked a little less chaotic, and Noelle was smiling, a warmth in her gaze that Tom found grounding. With a soft chuckle, he followed her to the couch, the two bowls of ramen in hand, the warmth of the meal and their shared space slowly relaxing him.

Settling onto the couch, Noelle curled her legs up beneath her, and Tom stretched out beside her, grateful for the way the tension of the past few days melted away the moment he was with her. The ramen was simple but surprisingly good—Tom had managed to pull it together, and though it wasn’t perfect, it tasted like something they could both enjoy. The steak was a bit overdone, but the flavor still came through, and Noelle didn’t seem to mind one bit.

They ate in comfortable silence, the glow of the apartment’s soft lighting giving the room a cozy, intimate feel. There were no distractions, no urgent need to be anywhere else—just the sound of their spoons clinking against the bowls and the soft hum of the city outside. Tom felt a sense of relief that washed over him, the kind that came from knowing everything felt right, even when it wasn’t perfect.

Noelle raised an eyebrow as she took another bite of her ramen, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "How did you even get in here?"

Tom, still feeling a little sheepish but pleased with the way things had turned out, grinned. "Bianca hid a key for me," he admitted, his voice soft with a touch of guilt.

Noelle blinked, momentarily stunned. She had a feeling something was off when Bianca had been so reluctant to come home earlier. "So that's why she didn’t wanna come home," Noelle said, half-laughing and half-shaking her head. She leaned back into the couch, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her bowl. "I thought she was just mad at me."

"Why would she be mad at you?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

Noelle shrugged, the lightness of her tone betraying the exhaustion she felt deep down. "I don't know. Maybe she thinks I've been slacking all summer." She paused, staring at the half-eaten bowl of ramen in her lap, not quite meeting his gaze. "You know how she gets."

Tom frowned, his eyes flicking to the bandages wrapped around her left heel and toes. The fabric was visible beneath the hem of her leggings, a reminder of the toll her body had been taking. He could see how tired she was—her shoulders slumped in a way that spoke of more than just the day’s practice. 

"Hey," he shifted closer, his voice soft but firm, "You've had a long summer, Noelle. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone—not to Bianca, not to me. Everyone knows how incredibly talented you are. I know how hard you work. But you have to know when to let yourself rest, too."

Noelle let out a slow breath, her fingers absently curling around the edges of her bowl as she leaned into him, his warmth and steadiness grounding her. "I know… I just feel like I need to make up for lost time. I don’t want to fall behind."

Tom’s expression softened as his eyes searched hers, feeling the weight of her words and the pressure she placed on herself. It tugged at him. "You won’t lose anything," he said gently, his voice steady. "You’ve got what it takes. Even if it takes you a little longer to get back into the swing of things, you’ll get there. I know you will. But you’ve gotta believe that too."

Noelle sighed, her head resting back against his shoulder. The fatigue settled deeper, but with it came a comforting sense of relief. "It’s hard to trust that sometimes," she murmured. "I feel like if I don’t push now, I’ll lose everything."

Tom kissed her forehead, the warmth of his touch grounding her. "You’re not going to lose anything," he reassured her softly. "If I can move to a whole new country, get a job, keep my grades up, and fall in love with an amazing girl like you—then you can do anything."

Noelle pulled back slightly, her eyes wide with surprise as she met his gaze. "You're falling in love with me?" she asked, her voice a little breathless, as if she couldn’t quite believe it.

Tom’s face flushed, and he shifted uncomfortably, running a hand through his hair. "Well, I -- I mean, it's not hard to do," he said, his words stumbling a little. His smile was sheepish, but there was a warmth in his eyes that he couldn’t hide. "You're very lovable, Noelle."

Noelle’s breath caught in her chest, her heart racing as she processed his words. She didn’t know what to say at first, the weight of his admission hanging between them like a sweet secret. She was still trying to find the right words when she noticed the sincerity in his eyes.

"Tom…" she whispered, her hand resting against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her fingertips. She leaned in, her lips brushing lightly against his as she whispered again, “I missed you so much.”

Tom’s hands gently cupped her face, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheek as he closed the gap between them. He kissed her softly at first, testing the waters, but then, as if the floodgates opened, he kissed her more deeply, pulling her closer. The warmth between them was overwhelming, and he couldn’t help but mumble against her lips, “I missed you more.”

She melted into the kiss, her fingers tangling in his shirt as she responded with an intensity of her own. The world outside felt distant, irrelevant, as if nothing existed but the two of them.

After a few moments, Tom pulled back just slightly, his forehead resting against hers, their breaths mingling. He smiled softly and placed their bowls of ramen carefully on the coffee table beside them. “Fuck -- you're so pretty.” he whispered, his voice heavy.

Noelle’s eyes fluttered closed for a moment, feeling the overwhelming warmth of his presence. She didn’t need to say anything in response—she knew exactly what he meant, and she felt it in her bones. She could stay in this moment with him forever.

Noelle’s chest rose and fell in slow, measured breaths, her heart still racing from the kiss. She felt the warmth of his body press against hers, grounding her in the moment. Without thinking, she leaned back, lowering her head onto the soft cushions of the couch. The cozy space around them felt small but perfect, the quiet of the room adding to the intimacy of the moment.

Tom followed her, his movements slow, as if he didn’t want to rush anything. He hovered above her, his eyes searching hers for any hint of hesitation. His body was close enough for her to feel the heat radiating off him, his breath warm against her lips. For a long moment, they simply stared at each other, the words between them unsaid but understood.

Noelle’s fingers slid up his chest, grazing his shirt. She didn’t know what she was expecting—what she wanted—but everything about this felt right.

Tom’s expression softened, his lips curling into a tender smile. He leaned in, his mouth finding hers again, this time with a deeper hunger, as if the kiss had become something more than just comfort. He moved slowly, carefully, crawling on top of her, his hands framing her face, fingertips lightly tracing the lines of her jaw. His body pressed against hers in a way that felt like home.

She let out a soft sigh, her body relaxing beneath him, and she tugged him closer, her arms wrapping around his neck. The weight of him felt comforting, like he was exactly where he was meant to be.

Tom’s hand slid down her side, resting on her hip, as he kissed her again, deeper this time, with a soft, quiet urgency. His heart pounded in his chest, his body responding to the intensity of the moment, but he held back, aware of the space between their hearts—still careful, still tender.

Noelle’s fingers traced the line of his neck, feeling the slight tremor in his muscles. She pulled him closer, and his breath hitched, his body responding with a shiver of anticipation. He leaned down again, kissing her with more intensity, more purpose, feeling the world around them shrink until there was nothing but the two of them, tangled in each other’s warmth.

[clavissionary-position]

Ikeprinces Ranked By How Long it Takes Them To Pick Out an Outfit

In a fantasy world where they have more than one or two outfits to pick from. Not to be confused with the time it takes for them to get dressed.

LUKE . He'd wear the same pair of jeans for a week without washing it if he could get away with it. -2 seconds.

CHEVALIER . Since he has perfect mental inventory of every article and accessory he owns as well as where everything is located in his closet, he's able to just grab something and go. 2 seconds.

SILVIO . Carlo carefully assembles outfits for him depending on the events scheduled for that day, laying out two such assemblies each morning for Silvio to glance over and pick from. 10 seconds with assistance.

LICHT . He’s got a lot of button-up shirts and people keep gifting him even more. Yves has helped him organize them by different criteria and this makes it easier for him to pick something. 1 minute with assistance.

SARIEL . It doesn’t take much time to pick out something from a wardrobe that is predominantly black and form-fitting. Everything goes with everything, though that’s not to say he sacrifices taste for utility. 3 minutes.

GILBERT . Some days he admits it, some days he denies it. But there’s a creative joy in dressing oneself. Otherwise he’d never bother with accessories the way he does. 5-10 minutes because he’s a busy and efficient man with rare bouts of self-indulgence.

YVES . Because he knows how indecisive he can get, he plans all his outfits at the beginning of each week by using beautiful bespoke spreadsheets. It’s a really fun and engaging process that also cuts down on stress on the day-of. 1.5 hours at the beginning of every week. 5 minutes every day.

LEON . He wouldn’t be able to pull off the semi-casual heartthrob look without putting in at least a little effort. He’s a good-looking guy and he knows it, and he picks outfits accordingly. 10 minutes.

NOKTO . One could say he spends more time thinking of how to be rid of his outfits iykwim. But he makes a deliberate attempt to be presentable while maintaining a unique sense of style. 12 minutes.

JIN . If a woman is going to go out of her way to dress up and look nice for him, the least he can do is meet her halfway. Plus he loves putting on an outfit while imagining how it’s going to be removed later. 15 minutes.

RIO . The old Rio wouldn't have put the least bit of thought into what to wear. The current Rio puts more life and energy into selecting his outfits as though cherishing the process itself and losing himself to the possibilities. While often discovering some really cute combos. 20 minutes.

KEITH . He waffles around his wardrobe a bit and changes in and out of a couple different looks before always coming back to a tried-and-true combination. 35 minutes.

CLAVIS . Trial-and-error is the best part of deciding what to wear. Why this when you could that? There’s no one right answer but plenty of opportunity to have fun. 1 hour.

[matan4il]

Daily update post:

Two independent terrorist attacks against Israelis took place over the last 24 hours. Yesterday, a Hamas terrorist stabbed in the back a 49 years old Israeli reserves soldier, who stopped to buy something at a shop in a gas station, on his way home. The soldier turned around and, despite being injured, pursued the terrorist, shot and wounded him. The terrorist was later arrested, he had a permit to work in Israel. In the second one, a terrorist started shooting at civilian vehicles passing by, and ended up injuring a 27 years old woman. Thankfully, a baby who is 1.5 months old, who was in the car with her, was not injured, despite at least 10 bullets being retrieved from her vehicle. The IDF is searching for the terrorist.

Israeli soldiers have found and confiscated suitcases with 5 million shekels in cash from the home of a senior Hamas terrorist in Gaza. I want everyone to understand that this sum is currently 1,369,507 $ (yes, I checked with professor Google), and that most Israelis will never see that kind of money. I imagine a majority of "privileged" westerners never will, either. And this kind of money was just lying around in this terrorist's home...

The IDF has exposed and is now in control of what is likely the biggest Hamas terror tunnel. It is about 4 kilometers long (roughly 2.5 miles), and it is wide enough for vehicles to comfortably drive through it. Israeli soldiers have also found footage showing Muhammad Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar, doing exactly that, in addition to footage showing the construction of this terror tunnel...

I don't post every single day about the Israeli soldiers injured and killed in Gaza, because the truth is that it has become technically difficult and emotionally painful to keep track. Yesterday, five more soldiers were confirmed as killed, one of them having been injured last week, and he has now succumbed to his wounds. So far, 128 soldiers were killed in Gaza.

Last month, there was a cyber attack on Israeli hospital Ziv, trying to derail its medical activity. Israel has confirmed today that it has traced Iran and Hezbollah as responsible for the attack. If we count the cyber war (and in terms of requiring manpower and resources, as well as in terms of the potential loss in human life, there is no reason not to count it), then Israel has been defending its citizens on no less than six fronts.

The Iran-funded terrorist Houthis in Yemen have been attacking ships unconnected to Israel, for simply passing through territory close to Yemen. A lot of shipment companies from around the world have announced they will not be sailing through this area for at least a time, which means they would have to sail all around Africa, to pass goods between the far east and the western world. This will hurt the entire world's economy, as shipment prices are expected to rise (think of the Evergreen ship blockade of the Suez Canal... these ships will not be trying to get anywhere near the canal. Symbolically, Evergreen is one of the companies announcing they will no longer sail through the Red Sea due to the threat of the Houthis). This will financially hurt so many countries, including Egypt (which operates the Suez Canal), the US and China (this means Iran's move has created a rare moment when American and Chinese financial interests align). The biggest question is, when will the world fully take in the fact that the biggest threat to world peace is the Islamist regime in Iran, and start acting accordingly?

This is Haj Amin al-Husseini.

Out of all of the people who helped shape the Israeli-Arab conflict, he's probably the most influential one, an antisemite, a Nazi collaborator, and a believer in pan-Arab nationalism (he didn't want to fight Jews to establish a Palestinian state, he wanted to exterminate the Jews and establish a greater Arab Islamic state, a new chaliphate, if you will. There is a FASCINATING docu series in Israel, dedicated to the Arab and Muslim leaders who have fought Jews and Israel, interviewing intelligence agents from many countries. The ep dedicated to al-Husseini is unbelievable, and I wish everyone could watch it. It's available online, but sadly, only in Hebrew. The truth is, I don't think anyone can understand the Israeli-Arab conflict without understanding the role of al-Husseini in it, and how different things could have been, if only the more moderate Arab leaders in the Land of Israel at the time had managed to squash his influence, or if the British hadn't tried to "tame" him by appointing him to the position of Jerusalem's grand mufti.

This is the Belchassan family, 31 years old Yuval and Ofir, and their two years old son Tai.

On Oct 7, Yuval left Ofir and Tai to hide in the bomb shelter, and went out to fight off the Hamas terrorists. He and his friends saved their kibbutz, but now, as Ofir is due to give birth to a daughter, they have no home to bring her back to.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[misanthropologymajor]

abstract (psychopomp)

spartan warrior ghost x plus size keres (f) reader

keres: female personified spirits of violent death, depicted as dark-winged women, swooping down upon the battlefield to claim the souls of the fallen

cw: abstract depictions of violence, casualties of war, major character death, descriptions of the afterlife, soulmates, referenced patricide, referenced attempted filicide and uxoricide

wc: 1.5 k

ghost felt a presence whenever he saw the light flicker from another man's eye. from behind him, the sun was always blotted by unseen wings. once the men in front of him breathe their last, the feeling departs.

only price seemed half as aware of the presences that filled each battlefield, feeling it swoop down to claim the souls of the fallen. but price didn't feel the presence outside of combat, not like ghost did.

some nights ghost could almost feel gentle claws caress his cheek, broad wings blocking the moon from his eyes. as he looked at his reflection in the pond, framed by yellow and white flowers, he could catch miniscule glimpses of a winged silhouette behind him. if he were a different man, he would almost say that it was with him more than it wasn't. he supposed it made sense that a dark force would follow him, a man who had skirted death more times than he could count.

he took more comfort than any warrior should from the presence of the darkness that took other men.

following each battle, her form became clearer and clearer. he would wake to see massive, raven-like wings fluttering past his window. sometimes, in his reflection, the previous winged silhouette was briefly replaced by the full, fleshy frame of a woman. her draped grey dress was covered in light armor, molded to the plush of her body. rare, strange nights had him feel the soft, clawed hands working the tension from his strained muscles.

ghost had gone days without feeling the presence. it should not have bothered him, especially not as he guarded boarding for the warship bound from ionia to knidos. once boarding was complete, the small number of hoplites, of typically land-bound soldiers, took up guard positions around the oarsmen.

most of the trip back to sparta was uneventful. her presence was very rarely felt, and unable to be seen without reflective surfaces. maybe he should have been more alarmed that morning, when he woke up to see her shrouded, translucent form before him. gentle claws moved the hair from his eyes before she fizzled away before him.

something heavy hung in the air as ghost settled into his guard position. the oarsmen near him, chatty young men, had long gotten over their fear of his imposing figure. this morning, even gaz and soap felt the burden in the air. the oarsmen were the first to notice the incoming cause of dread: achaemenian ships in the distance, at least as many as were in this fleet.

in the hours it took to meet the other fleet, ghost thought of several things: the general was a prideful fool, he had never seen the presence as clearly as he had that morning, and her presence often meant that death was in the air.

by the time the other ships were captured, ghost had accepted that he would not live to see the sunset. he wondered not how he would die, but if she would take his hand and lead him to the meadows of asphodel or the deep abyss of tartarus, if she would take him to be judged, if she would judge him.

the fool in command sealed the fates of every man on board the remaining ships when he declared that a retreat was not the spartan way. the achaemenians vastly outnumbered the thinned remains of the fleet, and naval warfare did not allow for the efficiency of defense that ghost was used to.

his final moments were not what he had expected. ghost always expected to die at the end of another man's blade. he never expected to be speared on a piece of shrapnel, never expected to plunge into the deep cold water in his last moments. after the slap of surface tension, ghost only felt the burn of salty water in his lungs before the world faded from him.

simon was pulled, weightless, from his body. he felt none of the pain that came with years of intense training, felt none of the burn that filled his last memory. all he felt was the gentle, clawed squeeze of a hand around his shoulder.

the world breezed past him as he was flown far from the sea that had stolen his last breath. the movement only slowed as they approached the shores of a vast, grey river, with a single boat.

once he was on the shore, the presence released her grip on him. he glanced at the choppy waters of the river before him.

"my warrior, do you know where you are? do you know why i'm here."

with a nod, simon answered. "you take the dead from battle, yea? that general got us all killed for 'is damn ego."

the presence clasped her hand on his chin and pulled his gaze to her face, opaque and soft. he felt his own hand reach to cup her cheek. "my ghost, i'm sorry i couldn't keep you safe."

"'s not your fault, why would you be sorry?"

her eyes welled with tears, feathery wings fluffing up. "the moirai deprived you of a chance to live a full life because i was selfish and impatient. it's all my fault.

"you and i, my warrior, were built of one soul. four arms and four legs, like the humans, pulled apart by zeus. the moirai put you in harms way because i spent too much time with you." she sobbed. " atropos and lachesis took you from your life because i failed in my duty."

"why d'you think that's your fault? i'm a spartan, i was never gonna live that long." his free hand cupped her empty cheek. "half the time i only fought to catch a glimpse of you, love" he laid a soft kiss on the corner of her lip before pulling himself back.

as he pulled back, he saw a tear roll down the plump of her cheek. "you deserve better than a bitter old crow who ferries the souls of warriors to hades. you deserve better than the fate my sisters wove for you," second and third tears rolled to meet the first before being brushed away by his calloused hand.

"every minute of my life was waiting for you, love. i'd never regret my fate." he pulled her close and pressed her soft form to his hard chest.

when he pulled away, he saw hesitance on her face. "my warrior, you still must be judged. there's nothing i can do if the lords of judgement order you to drink from the lethe and walk the fields of asphodel for eternity. they take no influence from my mother or sisters, just dispense whatever they deem fair. i can't even wait with you."

he pulled away to clasp her hands within his and her wings involuntarily flitted. "i would face an eternity of damnation for the glimpses i got of you while i was alive, 's all worth it. take me to this judgement."

a deep frown creased the flawless face of his presence, his soulmate. she adjusted her hand in his to firm her grip before she began the walk to a crowded dock. at the edge, having slipped through the throngs of shades, she clenched her jaw and extended her wings. after triple-checking her grip on simon, she took off toward the distant light of hades.

the flight was once again breathtaking, the speed beyond anything simon could have dreamed of in life. within what felt like moments, they were at the columnar entrance of a great hall, devoid of color and life.

"lords of crete, lord of aegina, i present, for your judgement, the ghost of sparta." turning on her heels, she flew quickly from the hall of judgement. an onyx feather landed at simon's feet

the three judges sat at separate podiums, each pallid and devoid of the flushed complexion of flowing blood. unseen servants ushered simon onto the complex mosaic at the focal point of the podiums.

"so this is the spartan who sent so many to us, a prolific killer. have you any defense?" the left-most figure jeered down to simon.

"i only did my duty as a spartan, as a warrior."

"most of the time, yes, but let us not forget the crime of patricide," the right-most figure, red-tinted and angry looking, sneered down.

the middle figure responded, "minos, brother, patricide is permissible in prevention of filicide and uxoricide. you mustn't let your own death get the best of you again."

simon stood in silence as the dim figures argued back and forth, waiting with bated breath to hear his fate. following several minutes of debate, he felt three pairs of eyes weigh heavily on his form.

"your service to your people and honorable death have granted you a home in the elysian isles, despite your less than stellar history of crimes against your father."

simon felt compelled to bow before being pulled by unseen winds out of the hall. the winds guided him to a large, extravagant home, suited perfectly to his tastes.

on the kline couch, sat his angel of death, waiting to pull him into her arms.

[orchidyoonkook]

I wish you would write a fic where: UTWT Yoongi and Reader were cuddling while it was raining outside. 🥰

(This is just for that post you shared - although I would be over the moon if you did do this. But you do whatever your heart desires!!)

You're the best and I hope you have a lovely week. 💕

Rainfall Brings Tomorrow | MYG

Pairing: UTWT Badboy! Min Yoongi x (F)!Reader

Genre // Rating: (T) | fluff, touch of angst, some self reflection

Summary: You leave tomorrow, and there's one thing you need to say goodbye too.

Warnings: none! I think. Reader just thinks a lot.

Word Count: 923

Release Date: October 19, 2023, 3:00PM

A/N: Well I wrote this from 2am to 6:14am. I didn't even see this ask until about 1:30am and then I couldn't stop thinking about it. So I hope it lives up to your expectations, dearest Anon.

A/N 1.5: This was written in 3 hours and then only edited twice. I think it's coherent but if there are mistakes, please forgive.

The soft patter of rainfall falls around you, filling your ears with earthsong. His soft breaths flow in a steady rhythm to its beat, and the patio umbrella you shoved into the ground is doing its job well, keeping your resting forms dry from the delicate cadence of an afternoon shower. 

Your pond vibrates in its own little symphony of ripples, ducks hidden away in their nests while it plays. The boughs and branches of your home away from home rustle in its light wind, their tune mixing in beautifully with the rest. 

It’s cold and overcast out, but his body keeps you warm, as yours keeps his. He sits in your usual spot, back against the years worn wooden truck, while you sit against his chest, both covered by his leather jacket, preserving the heat you two were just beginning to learn to share with one another. 

It’s the day before you leave.

The day before you say ‘fuck you and goodnight’ to everyone and everything in your town, hop on the back of a motorcycle and never look back. 

But you needed to have one last visit to the place that brought you and Yoongi together for the first time, plus all the times after. And you wanted him here with you when you did. 

To say goodbye. To the one thing you would miss more than anything else.

Your willow tree. 

Yoongi’s arms circle your waist as you lean your head back against his shoulder. His touch still sends sparks anywhere it lands on your skin, and you hope that it never goes away. Hope it never dulls or fades. Because you’re learning way too fast that it’s becoming one of your favourite things, and you don’t even want to think of what you’d do if you lost it. 

A gentle kiss at your exposed neck, under your ear, lets you know he’s finished the page. But you still have a couple sentences to go as you hold The Mysterious Island open with a hand through the jacket sleeve for both of you to read.

You found it suiting, to truly bring this chapter in your lives a full three hundred and sixty degrees before closing it forever. And that’s what you need more than anything, you think. 

Closure. 

Because as much as you hate it here, and as much as you can’t wait to go, it’s all you’ve ever known. And while this change is good and needed and necessary, it’s also incredibly scary. 

You hate that a very small part of you doesn’t want to go, for the sake of familiarity. It’s safe here. You know what to expect. You know what will happen, when it will happen, what to do, where to go, who you’ll become. There’s a guideline written into your future by your past here. One you’ve never wanted to follow and always wanted to change.

But there are the absolutely terrifying ‘what if’s’ that comes with big change. What if you leave and it’s no better than where you were? What if you somehow mess all of it up? What if nothing goes to plan, everything goes to shit, and you’re forced to come back?

That’s your biggest nightmare, and it could very easily become your reality. 

But it’s not enough to change your mind. 

You’re going. Tomorrow morning, you’re leaving, come hell or high water or…maybe rain water if this keeps up. And you’re taking the man currently drawing you closer into him with you. 

He takes a quiet inhale of your hair, happily drowning in your scent. Yoongi’s still settling into the fact that the woman he’s holding is his. At least for now. The one that always caught his eye. The one that he never knew he could want so badly. The one who reads with him on a rainy afternoon in their shared space so she can say goodbye to the only thing that was kind to her, with him here to support her.

He’ll support you however you need, forever if he can.

His girl.

Pulling your legs up to rest the book on, you flip the page though your focus wavers, and you stare out into the shower blurred haze of your favourite place. 

This is the last time you’ll ever be here, so you take in every detail you can. The way the grass feels underneath you, the shape of the pond and the colour of its water. You commit the height of the tree and the ebb and flow of its leaves to memory as best you can. You take in the feeling of Yoongi behind you, remembering how he used to sit a foot away from you.

How every day, whether you realized it or not, he got just a little bit closer.

And before you can stop it, a silent tear slides down your face. You wipe it away but Yoongi catches it, and gives you a reassuring squeeze.

“You okay?” he asks. 

You are.

It’s just finally hitting you that your years of pain and loneliness and misery are ending. You’re finally taking control of your life like you’ve always planned, and better yet, you aren’t doing it alone. You have someone now. 

You can’t remember the last time you had that. 

“Yeah,” you say, lifting your chin to look at him. “I think I’m going to be just fine.”

Holding the book back up, you see you’ve reached the final chapter. And somehow you know, it’s the first chapter of your own.

A/N 2: Thanks for reading, loves. Xoxo, Yoon <3