#Maybe I'll wait for it to come out in brazil

[dunmeshistash]

Reminder that daydream hour is coming out in english at the end of may!

Yen press recently posted the cover on twitter

I do like that the cover looks cleaner with less text.

[niniluvsainz]

LOS ASTROS ☽ mv1

(social media! au)

in which their astrology signs match perfectly well together.

pairings... max verstappen x fem!model!reader

face claim... valentina zenere

warnings... suggestive content, cursing, isa is still with carlos in this (?), probably bad translations (reader speaks spanish)

author's note... this is my first fic so sorry if it's messy! i was listening to becky g's new album 'esquinas' and when i came upon this song i realized i would declare it as my song. it's also such a cute song, give her entire album a listen! also, i recently heard about the rumors about danny and heidi and i really hope they aren't true (there is a part in this where they are mentioned and i was too lazy to change it to someone else). if a part two is suggested, then i'd be happy to write it

maxverstappen1

location: texas, usa

liked by redbullracing, charles_leclerc and others

maxverstappen1 an amazing performance at circuit of the americas! thank you for the support! let's continue pushing for the next race! redbullracing, thank you team once again!

comments

user1 respect for verstappen button >

user2 im so tired of him winning

⤷ user3 keep crying hater

landonorris happy to share the podium with you

⤷ maxverstappen1 as am i, mate

⤷ user4 omg i love their friendship sm

user5 how can someone look so good

⤷ user6 because he's never looked so good

redbullracing happy and proud of you always, max!

yourusername

liked by isahernaez, tinistoessel and others

yourusername la vida recientemente (life lately)

tagged: tinistoessel

comments

isahernaez te extraño, amiga (i miss you, my friend)

⤷ yourusername pronto regreso a españa, para ver cuando nos juntamos! (i'm returning to spain soon, let's plan something!)

tinistoessel las perras que somos (the baddest bitches we are)

⤷ yourusername tienes toda la razon (you are so right)

landonorris oh damn

⤷ yourusername i miss you, noodles

isa: i have news

isa: i have extra tickets for mexico gp

y/n: but i have a tight schedule

y/n: i was just thinking maybe you, me, and carlos could have a night in to catch up

isa: but y/n, you have to come to a race

isa: carlos is also asking for you to accompany us to one

y/n: ugh

y/n: esta bien (fine)

y/n: i'll see what i can clear from my calendar to at least attend sunday's race

y/n: but i still plan on us having a movie night to catch up

isa: claro que si, amor (of course, love)

isa: i'll book ur hotel now

y/n: no tienes que hacer eso, isa (you don't have to do that)

isa: pero yo te invite 💞 (but i invited you)

yourusername

location: cdmx, mexico

liked by maxverstappen1, isahernaez and others

yourusername me encantaste, mexico! mandame taquitos al pastor a españa, por favor! (i loved you, mexico! send me some sheperd-style taquitos to spain, please!)

tagged: isahernaez, francisca.cgomes, alexandrasaintmleux, lilymhe, carlossainz55

comments

user7 where's max's tag tho👀

⤷ user8 right like we see that last post ma'am

isahernaez a la siguiente, amiga! (to the next one, my friend!)

⤷ yourusername ya me dieron mas animas de ir 😏 (i have more encouragement to go now)

user9 y'all notice max started following y/n AND liked the post without the tag?!

⤷ user10 something fishy is going on there

⤷ user11 honestly just waiting on the double date from these four

landonorris added to their story!

caption: so yourusername is wondering if your astrology signs align

replies;

⤷ yourusername this was supposed to stay a secret

⤷ user12 first we find out lando is obsessed with zodiacs, now y/n?!

⤷ user13 who are they tryna see if their stars aligned 🤔

⤷ oscarpiastri is this why i kept hearing you two scream "THEY MATCH" from the other side of hospitality?

⤷ maxverstappen1 y/n is into astrology? hm, maybe i'll look into it

⤷ user14 i love gemini women

maxverstappen1 added to their story!

location: são paulo, brazil

caption: catching rain in brazil☔️

replies;

⤷ user15 MAX EMILIAN WHO'S IS THAT HAND BECAUSE I HAVE BOTH OF MINE ATTACHED TO MY BODY

⤷ landonorris it was rare i was there THIRDWHEELING

⤷ user16 hold up who is that hand and why does that just scream y/n because of the red fingertips

⤷ danielricciardo ew stop you're already showing each other off

⤷ charles_leclerc wait until the lestappen fans come attacking like military soldiers

⤷ carlossainz55 wait is that- THAT'S THE JACKET I GAVE HER FOR HER BIRTHDAY

yourusername

liked by lilymhe, landonorris and others

yourusername se me juntaron las estrellas y los astros

comments

landonorris sure keep bragging about it to the single people

⤷ danielricciardo im not single and i feel single

⤷ heidiberger_ okay.

⤷ danielricciardo NO KEEP GIVINGME SOME SUGA

lilymhe ahhhh sososo happy for u and ur new man ! <3

⤷ yourusername thank u lils 🤍

user17 now you can clearly see she's trying to soft launch but that is the deadpan face of max verstappen

⤷ user18 no it doesn't (im living in delusion because i want max for me)

carlossainz55 quien es el? (who is he)

⤷ isahernaez no nos conmueve eso, carlos (that doesn't concern us)

⤷ yourusername carlossainz55 mi novio (my boyfriend)

maxverstappen1 so astros is also a shortcut word for astrology but also the baseball team the astros

⤷ yourusername exactly, maxie

⤷ user19 SHE HAS A NICKNAME FOR HIM. I REPEAT, SHE HAS A NICKNAME FOR HIM

maxverstappen1 and yourusername

liked by schecoperez, carlossainz55 and others

maxverstappen1 i'm happy shes the gemini to my libra

tagged: yourusername

comments

user20 y/n said soft launch, max said fuck that

user21 I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT

user22 AH NEW SHIP SAILED OFF TODAY AT 13:24 HRS ALL ABOARD THE MAXY/N

⤷ user23 its gonna sink like the titanic

⤷ user24 i hope u go sink like the titanic

landonorris so happy for my fwiends

⤷ yourusername now it's time to find someone for you for the double dates

⤷ user25 I VOLUNTEER! i volunteer as tribute!

user26 now max has two spanish-speaking natives on his ears at all times

⤷ maxverstappen1 yeah i have a mexican who keeps screaming the 'mexicanos al grito de guerra' and an argentinian who moved to spain who keeps slapping my butt like i'm the bull and she's the bullfighter

⤷ yourusername you are literally in the formula one team that is named a 'bull'.

⤷ schecoperez but you love us

⤷ yourusername schecoperez vamos a seguir con el plan de enseñarle todo el vocabulario español (let's continue with the plan to teach him all the spanish vocabulary)

⤷ maxverstappen1 wait i need to google translate what you said

carlossainz55 this is how i found out.

⤷ isahernaez sorry

⤷ yourusername sorry

⤷ maxverstappen1 sorry

⤷ christianhorner sorry

⤷ charles_leclerc i knew before you ?

⤷ carlossainz55 that's the last straw, leclerc.

[shivayagojo]

CHINA GP, overrated?

masterlist

PORSCHE'S DEBUT had gone stunningly: a double points finish and a win in Australia. They were proud and comfortable to be leading the constructor's championship coming out of Australia. Better, they were beating Audi by miles. Their beef with the German manufacturer was still soft-launching. Neither side were willing to full out reveal their hatred for the other brand - after all, they were both owned by the same group - but something in Stuggart was telling them the time was approaching.

youtube.com

MONACO IS OVERRATED?? | FLORETTEL EPISODE ONE

Admin: Today, we're playing a game of This or That. I'm going to tell you two options and you're going to pick one side or the other. Ready?

RACE TRACKS or STREET CIRCUITS

Ava: Race tracks. Not a competition.

Seb: Street circuits are fun, but I'll have to go with race tracks.

MONACO or BRAZIL

Seb: Oh.. {intense nerdy Vettel thinking kicks in}. They're both iconic tracks. I'll go with Monaco. It's a tough race and a real testament to your skill.

Ava: ... I'm already going to get a lot of hate for this. I don't like Monaco all that well.

Seb: What?

Ava: Saturdays are amazing, but Sunday is a snooze-fest. Maybe you're different cause you raced in a different era, but no. You can't overtake anyone. It's so boring.

Seb: Still, it's that bad?

Ava: Compared to Sao Paolo, yes.

CHICANE or HAIR PIN

Seb: Chicane

Ava: Definitely Chicane. You can't go wrong with it. So many different overtakes can happen... or crashes if you're Max and Lewis.

Seb: Actually, I thought during Australia, when I was behind them, they were going to take each other out and I can pass on by.

Ava: Brocedes 2.0.

f1

Gabriel Bortoleto has suffered a wrist injury during Free Practice 3 on Sunday. He is ruled out for the Chinese Grand Prix. Felipe Drugovich is set to be his replacement.

see comments below

audif1team: Wishing Bortoleto a speedy recovery. We've got a surprise for you all... 😉

> porschefanatic: Surprise? More like desperation. Heard you're struggling to keep up with development

aston_fan: Wait, isn't he Aston's reserve? What's going on?

> f1insider: Looks like he's leaving AM for a race seat. Big move!

> nando33: Lmao Stroll ain't leaving that soon as long Big Papa is around 🤣

drugovich_br: So proud to see Felipe getting his chance! 🇧🇷 From reserve to race seat, dreams do come true!

am_updates: Wishing Felipe all the best! You'll always be part of the Aston Martin family 💚

> drugovich_fan1: Class act from AM. But why let him go if he's so valuable?

f1

It's Sprint Qualifying time in China. McLaren and Lando have set the pace during practice, and Audi has shocked with a surprising performance. Can Porsche defend their monumental debut?

see comments below

gp2engine: Lando's on fire this season! 🔥 McLaren's back where they belong!

bea: Audi coming in hot! 👀 Didn't see that coming!

> lululemoncalled: Well Porsche cooked them last race so they gotta respond somehow

landonorris_stan: My boy's got this in the bag 🏆 #LN4

> mad_max: All for him to lose Pole by turn 1 🤣

> pawastri: The pole position curse is still going in strong in 2025

f1_memer: Plot twist: Kimi comes out of retirement and takes pole 😂

> nostalgicf1: Don't give me hope 😭

> raikkonen7: "Bwoah, I was having a shit"

teamlh44: Lewis P1, calling it now 🐐

> max33fan: Keep dreaming

totoismyfather: Anyone else think sprint races are overrated?

> boomer: Totally agree. Bring back the old format!

CHINESE GRAND PRIX: The anticipation builds as Formula 1 returns to Shanghai for the second round. Porsche had nothing but a stellar debut in F1. Now, everyone knows they're no longer the dark horse. They're the team to beat. And Audi would love nothing more than to best their German brethren. The team brought an excellent pace into Free Practice and after a terrible performance in Australia, they need jump into the points fast. 

          SQ1 kicked off with a flurry of activity as drivers rushed to set competitive times. Lando Norris immediately stamped his authority on the session, clocking a blistering 1:33.756. The surprise of the session came from the Audi garage, with Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Drugovich (replacing the injured Borteleto) showing impressive pace, finishing P6 and P8 respectively.

         MEANWHILE, trouble brewed in the Porsche camp. Sebastian Vettel struggled with balance issues, barely scraping through in P15. His teammate Ava Florence fared no better, complaining of understeer in the tight corners.

AVA The car's a handful in these slow sections.

HENRY Copy that, Ava. We're losing too much time in sector two We'll look at adjustments for SQ2.

          SQ2 saw Lando Norris continue his dominance, lowering the benchmark to 1:33.403. The Audis shocked the paddock by maintaining their top-10 positions, with Hulkenberg even briefly holding P2 before being pushed down to P4. Drama unfolded as the checkered flag fell. Sebastian Vettel managed to sneak into SQ3 by the skin of his teeth, claiming P10 by just 0.021 seconds. Unfortunately for Ava Florence...

"We ride on board with last Grand Prix's winner, Ava Florence. Her first sector was not good... and her second sector will be even worse. Martin is what is happening?"

"Here is she comes hard on the brakes again from about 180mph to third gear, for a tight left-hande. Crofty, her car has been struggling in the slow corners. And so perhaps Porsche has found their first problem in F1. We saw how blazing fast she was in Australi's fast corners. Here, not so much."

"Indeed, Martin, and she approaches the biggest braking zone of the track, Turn 14. Spins the car around and fast through 15. She picked up some speed on the straights, but is it enough, slight brake into the final corner and.... NO! SHE DOES NOT! GREEN SECTOR, BUT IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE IT SQ3!"

HENRY Unfortunately, Ava, that is P11.

AVA F***! Sorry about that. This was a sh** session. Let's do better in the race.

          SQ3 provided a thrilling climax to the qualifying session. Lando Norris completed his hat-trick of fastest times, securing sprint pole with a stunning 1:33.479. The real story, however, was Audi's remarkable performance. Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Drugovich locked out the second row, qualifying P2 and P3 respectively, sending shockwaves through the paddock.

f1

A Brit. A German. And a Brazilian. What could go wrong? The grid is all ready and lined up for the Sprint Race.

see comments below

racingtheory: Hulkenberg finally gets his moment! Sprint Race front row 🚀

> shoey: Let that Hulkenberg podium come. I don't care if it's a Sprint Race.

> german_speed: About time Nico showed what he can do!

drugovich_fan: Brazilian magic strikes again! 🇧🇷✨

> mclaren_insider: Felipe to replace Bortoleto?

> lelelemans: Hell no. Bortoleto is very good. Doesn't make sense to replace right away.

chaostheory_f1: Three completely different career paths converging in one sprint race. Netflix, you can't write this stuff! 🍿

2025 China Sprint Race Starting Grid

Lando Norris

Nico Hulkenberg

Felipe Drugovich

Max Verstappen

Charles Leclerc

Lewis Hamilton

Liam Lawson

George Russell

Oscar Piastri

Sebastian Vettel

Ava Florence

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Fernando Alonso

Carlos Sainz

Alexander Albon

Esteban Ocon

Yuki Tsunoda

Ollie Bearman

Pierre Gasly

Lance Stroll

Isack Hadjar

Jack Doohan

AVA SLID ON HER HELMET, and got seated in her striped Porsche. She was staring down her Porsche teammate and the McLaren papaya of Oscar Piastri once again. Except this time, it wasn't for the race win. She was in P11, and with only 8 positions get points, she had to make each of the 19 laps count. Lando was on pole, Audi had a 2-3. Everything seemed against the Porsche. It was getting to the point that people began to wonder.... was Porsche's first a fluke? No, Ava did not think so. She won that race. She knew she had the skills to win that race. She did not win it on luck.

"Welcome to the first sprint race of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Shanghai International Circuit. After an exciting qualifying session yesterday, we're set for a thrilling 100km dash. Let's take a look at our grid for today's sprint. We've got 16 corners to navigate for 19 laps. Your man on pole position, Lando Norris, for the second time in a row. Followed by the Audi pair of Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Drugovich, who's filling in for his Brazilian counterpart Gabriel Bortoleto today."

"The Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton occupy row three, and I have to say, this is not the greatest start to their season. They were expecting big results this year, and they certainly did get that podium in Australia, but how many times can they rely on their drivers to cover up many places." 

"We will have to see, Martin. And now, it's five lights here at Shanghai International Circuit. IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO... Norris gets a decent start. Hulkenberg gets a better one. Hulkenberg is right there with him. They're side by side into Turn 1, and it's the Audi that gets the better exit as Norris goes wide! Hulkenberg leads into Turn 2 and once again, Lando Norris will fail to capitalize on pole position."

"Certainly, I'm sure he would've improved it from last season. And behind Drugovich, Verstappen and Leclerc are immediately at each other's throats. The Red Bull dives to the inside at Turn 6, but Leclerc holds his line. Verstappen is holding up Hamilton, but he's seemingly falling. And Lawson is going to get a good chance to try and overtake him... Oh, a little too ambitious. Hamilton keeps position."

"Hamilton's driving a lot more defensively this season, not the kind the driving we usually see him do. Behind, Ava Florence lost a position to Antonelli. So, yes, that Porsche is indeed struggling on the first sector."

LAP 3:

TURN 13 - RUS passes LAW on the inside, taking P7

LAP 7:

TURN 11: HAD divebombs STR, taking P20

LANDO NORRIS SETS FASTEST LAP : GAP TO P1 + 1.240

LAP 10:

"Verstappen makes another attempt on Leclerc. He gets a great exit from Turn 13, uses DRS down the long back straight. Leclerc defends the inside, BUT VERSTAPPEN GOES AROUND THE OUTSIDE. Incredible racing from both drivers, but Verstappen sees it through. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri is all over the back of Sebastian Vettel's Porsche. Seb had a great start, but that McLaren is showing great pace for today."

"That's the difference that experience makes. Piastri is sure is fast, but Seb is holding him down beautifully. Oh, but he's right there. They're inches apart coming into Turn 6."

VETTEL Something doesn't feel right with the engine. I'm losing power on the straights.

RUDI Understood, Seb. We're looking into it. Just keep Piastri at bay.

"Looks like Vettel is having some engine problems. That's exactly what McLaren loves to hear. Oscar Piastri is gonna make his lunge soon... He's so close. He's just waiting, biding his time until Seb's engine gives up."

"I don't think he knows Seb is having engine problems yet. He's still racing him hard on these corners..."

"As Sebastian Vettel begins to slow down, Oscar Piastri gets through easily. Vettel losing speed. Antonelli moves forward, Florence moves forward. It's all going wrong for Vettel here in China."

RUDI Seb, we need to retire the car. Box this lap, please. Box this lap.

"And that is Sebastian Vettel's race over. He was dragging that Porsche through, but unfortunately, he's not going to score anything today. I wonder, Martin, if Porsche will be able to fix Vettel's car in time for qualifying today or will Vettel have to settle for last on the grid."

"Well, Crofty, the good news for Vettel and Porsche is that they'll have some time to work on the car. Remember, this is a sprint weekend, so we've already had our sprint qualifying on Friday. The main qualifying session for tomorrow's Grand Prix isn't until later this afternoon. That gives the Porsche team a few hours to diagnose and hopefully fix whatever engine issue Seb was experiencing."

LAP 13:

TURN 13 - OCO and ALB exchange corners, ALB remains P15

HUL SETS FASTEST LAP : GAP 1.869

LAP 17:

"Hulkenberg is driving the race of his life. Norris is pushing hard, but can't find a way to catch up with that Audi. Hulkenberg, after so many years, has a chance to get a podium on this sprint race. Audi is looking to make some noise today."

"We're looking at the Championship leader here. Ava Florence is having a torrid time. She can't get past Antonelli in anyway. The Mercedes rookie is holding his own, albeit for a non-point position, but this is stuff the team likes to see. Florence is not happy with this."

FLORENCE I have no pace on the corners! This is a joke!

HENRY We understand, Ava. Just keep pushing.

LAP 19:

"And after so long, Nico Hulkenberg is going to take a sprint race win. He had a great start, great pace, and now he will see the fruits of his results. He takes P1! Behind him, Norris, 2.8 seconds behind. And the surprise of today, Felipe Drugovich, his F1 debut, goes stunningly. He takes P3!"

HENRY Okay, Ava. That's unfortunately P11. But we've still got the Grand Prix

FLORENCE Yeah... Let's do better in the race.

CHINA SPRINT RACE RESULTS

1. NICO HULKENBERG (+8)

2. LANDO NORRIS (+7)

3. FELIPE DRUGOVICH (+6)

4. MAX VERSTAPPEN (+5)

5. CHARLES LECLERC (+4)

6. LEWIS HAMILTON (+3)

7. GEORGE RUSSELL (+2)

8. LIAM LAWSON (+1)

9. OSCAR PIASTRI

10. ANDREA KIMI ANTONELLI

11. AVA FLORENCE

12. FERNANDO ALONSO

13. CARLOS SAINZ

14. LANCE STROLL

15. ALEXANDER ALBON

16. ESTEBAN OCON

17. YUKI TSUNODA

18. ISACK HADJAR

19. OLLIE BEARMAN

20. JACK DOOHAN

21. PIERRE GASLY

22. SEBASTIAN VETTEL [DNF]

audif1

THE MAN HAS DONE IT!! NICO HULKENBERG WINS THE SPRINT RACE!!

see comments below

nico: Hulkenberg finally breaks his podium curse! From zero podiums to sprint race winner 🏆

> kachow: I mean, it's a Sprint win. Doesn't get added to his stats.

mclaren_nation: Lando P2, not bad at all! 💪

> norris_fan: Our boy still on the podium! 🇬🇧

> delulu: biggest cope i've ever seen

brazilian_racing: Drugovich P3! Reserve driver making his mark! 🇧🇷✨

> f1_potential: What a debut sprint race!

motorsport

Verstappen gets "no satisfaction" from F1 sprint wins.

"There's no satisfaction to win a sprint for me," Verstappen said when asked by Motorsport.com if sprint format changes would sway his opinion. "You cross the line and say: 'All right, well, tomorrow is the race, the main one'. That's how it goes."

see comments below

blanchimont: One of us, one of us!

> chuckleclerc: When he revenge punted that other guy in iRacing, we all knew he was truly one of us. 

porschef1: Couldn't have said it better Max 👊

> lululemoncalled: OH NELL NAH!

> undercooked_sushi: Audi is playing chess, Porsche is playing 6D tetris.

> helicopter: Even when Audi wins, they lose - Porsche admin probably

QUALIFYING WAS HELL. Once again, the Porsche's struggled in qualifying. Lando continued to dominate the sessions, setting fastest time in both Q1 and Q2. Oscar had also found pace in his face, joining Lando as the second fastest in Q1 and the fourth fastest in Q2. But it was Audi who continued to shock faces. Hulkenberg and Drugovich were consistently top five in both sessions, Hulkenberg being a tenth behind Lando in Q2. No one understood, but the pendulum had swung to Audi's hands. And Porsche hated every second of it.

          SEBASTIAN VETTEL made into the third qualifying session. Changing his turbocharger had given him the slight boost over the other Porsche to make it into top ten. However, Ava's unfortunate fate continued once again.

AVA FLORENCE : P13

          ONCE AGAIN Ava was knocked out in Q2. She got out of her car. She wanted to scream and smash something. She knew she was rookie. Rookies were going to make mistakes, especially against the best competitions in the world. But she did not want to lose. Throughout her junior racing career, she rarely lost. F3 was a cakewalk. She was the champion before the fight even began. But not anymore. Ava was no longer the best anymore...

          BUT SHE REFUSED TO LET THAT BE TRUE.

f1

McLaren and Audi. What a surprise? 😱

see comments below

flashy_misery: Please don't bottle this one Mr. Norris 🙏🙏

> rigidinstructor: He's only done it once. I have a feeling he won't do it again.

DM_ME_YOUR_CONSPIRACIES: Incoming Hulkenberg win!

leFerrari: FORZA FERRARI!!

redundantnursery: Ava during qualifying: GP2 ENGINE!

> stroller: Or maybe she's just not that good. 🤷

> filthydepression: lmao ur pfp is Stroll. Why are you talking?

CHINA GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID

Lando Norris

Nico Hulkenberg

Oscar Piastri

Charles Leclerc

Lewis Hamilton

Max Verstappen

Felipe Drugovich

George Russell

Sebastian Vettel

Fernando Alonso

Carlos Sainz

Alexander Albon

Ava Florence

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Lance Stroll

Yuki Tsunoda

Liam Lawson

Jack Doohan

Oliver Bearman

Esteban Ocon

Isack Hadjar

Pierre Gasly

SUNDAY came fast once again. Normally, Ava is never pressured coming into a race. Yet she couldn't help it. She made the mistake of hitting up social media before the race. And she saw all the comments. Ava wanted to prove them wrong. Badly. She never cared about other people's opinion. But today she did. She wanted to shut them up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the China Grand Prix here at the Shanghai International Circuit! We've got a stunning race lined up today, with rain on the horizon, potentially shaking things up around the second stint. Let's take a look at the track, shall we? We've got two DRS zones on this 5.45 kilometer track, 56 laps to go for a total of 305 kilometers. The track record here is set by Michael Schumacher at 1:32.238. Now, on to the grid! It's Lando Norris on pole position—his third pole in 2025 and his second here in China, clinched during yesterday's sprint race. But, Martin, we saw what happened in that sprint race..."

"We certainly did, Crofty. Lando might've taken pole, but he lost out to Nico Hülkenberg, who starts P2 today. That Audi is looking mighty quick here in Shanghai, and they're gunning for a historic victory—Nico's first-ever F1 win and his maiden podium."

"Behind him, it's Oscar Piastri in P3, showing the kind of pace McLaren has been craving this weekend. Then, we have the Ferrari duo—Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton—lining up in P4 and P5. And in P6, it's Max Verstappen, the lone Red Bull in the top 10." "And what a performance from Felipe Drugovich! P7 after a stellar sprint race—can he repeat that magic here today? We have to see. But, Crofty, he's got some big names breathing down his neck: George Russell and Sebastian Vettel in P8 and P9."

"Indeed he does. Rounding out the top 10, it's the evergreen Fernando Alonso, but the big story today is Ava Florence. The Porsche rookie struggled in qualifying, didn't she, Martin?"

"She did. Starting down in P13, she admitted she's fighting the car here in China. But keep an eye on her; she's proven she can climb through the pack. We saw her thrilling wet-weather race in Monza in F3. So, with rain potentially falling, she might have some room here to climb some positions."

HENRY Keep calm here Ava. We're betting on the rain.

"Tire strategies are interesting too. Most of the top 10 are on softs, but Leclerc and Hamilton are on mediums, betting on the rain arriving a bit later. Let's see if that gamble pays off. All right—it's five lights here in China... And IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO! Lando Norris gets a blinding start, but look at Hülkenberg! He's right on Lando's gearbox. Is this a repeat of the sprint? Not this time! Lando shuts the door. Lando Norris remains in P1. Hülkenberg holds P2, with Piastri, Leclerc, and Hamilton filing in behind. But wait—look further back. Ava Florence is on a charge! She's already jumped Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz in one corner!"

"Carlos seemed to struggle off the line, letting Albon close in, and Ava pounced on that opportunity—using Albon's slipstream to sweep past both drivers. She's up to P11!"

"Meanwhile, at the back, it's a scrap between Jack Doohan, Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon, and the rest of the midfield pack. Further up, Liam Lawson is locked in battle with Yuki Tsunoda—the former Racing Bull rivals going wheel-to-wheel! Liam dives in... Not enough. Tsunoda holds position into Turn 4, but that fight's far from over."

"Back at the front, Lando Norris maintains his lead through the first sector. Behind him, it's Hülkenberg, Piastri, Leclerc, and Hamilton—all keeping it clean for now."

"And the battle for P8 is heating up—Russell and Vettel going at it hammer and tongs! Can one of them snatch the position before the lap ends? And Fernando Alonso in P10—he's got Eva Florence bearing down on him. She's already gained two positions. Can she make it three before the end of the lap?"

LAP 3:

Turn 14 - LAW passes TSU, moves up to P16

LANDO NORRIS FASTEST LAP : GAP +.475

LAP 5:

Turn 13 - BEA overtakes DOO, taking P18

LAP 9:

"It's Ava Florence right on the gearbox of Fernando Alonso! She needs this position—and fast—if she has any hope of climbing through the field before the rain arrives. Here comes Fernando Alonzo trying to hold off the Porsche. But Ava's got DRS now! She's closing in fast, following Alonso down the straight—hitting 210 miles per hour as they plunge downhill."

"A quick burst of throttle into the kink at Turn 4... she's sticking right with him. Look at her pace, Crofty! Two laps in, and it seems like Ava's found something overnight in that Porsche. She's already a tenth quicker than Fernando through Sector 1, closing in as they approach Turn 6—a short straight, but plenty of room to make a move if you're brave enough."

"Ava dives down the inside into Turn 6. Oh my goodness! What a bold move! Florence just dive bombs into Turn 6, squeezing in that tiny gap. Fernando must've thought he'd covered her off, but Ava committed—absolutely fearless. She saw the tiny gap Alonso left and thought, 'That's enough for me!' Brilliant move."

"Absolutely. She took the risk and it's paid off! Ava Florence up to P10 with a stunning overtake on Fernando Alonso. That was precision racing at its finest."

LAP 19:

NICO HULKENBERG SETS FASTEST LAP : GAP TO P1 +2.345

HENRY Okay, Ava. We're going to take a risk and put slicks on now.

AVA Are you sure? Cause I think Fernando is behind.

HENRY Fernando is 3.6 seconds behind. We're comfortable trying this

AVA I'm coming in.

"And there's Ava Florence being called into the pits. She's going to be the first driver to pit and she's heading out slicks. So, Porsche thinks they can get a jump on these other drivers by pitting first before the rain."

AVA FLORENCE PITS : 3.0 SECONDS | P12

TOM Oscar, we think rain should come in 2-5 laps for now.

PIASTRI Are any drivers coming in?

TOM Ava is the only driver on slicks

PIASTRI I think we should pit.

TOM Your call.

OSCAR PIASTRI PITS  : 2.8 SECONDS | P7

LAP 21 - 35:

RAIN DETECTED - DRIVERS COME INTO PITS

HENRY Ava, you're P6. Be careful of Leclerc coming out of the pits.

"And that's Ava Florence, who's gamble for the early pitstop paid off. Finds herself in P6 as the rest of the field comes in for wet tires. But here comes Charles Leclerc, fresh out of the pits. How will this go?"

"This will be her first fight against the Monegasque. Ferrari vs Porsche. I've got high expectations on this one."

"And I'm everyone else too. Ava is staring down the rear end of that Ferrari. She's alongside into Turn 14! Leclerc has the inside line, forcing Florence wide. Brilliant defensive driving! But Florence is going to have none of that. She's been forced wide one too many in Formula 1, the earlier being by Russell in Australia. She tries again into Turn 6, but Leclerc isn't going to let if fly."

"She's getting better traction out of the corner though. They're side-by-side through Turn 7! But Ava has to back off."

...

"Florence has been patient for a while. Will she make the move? Yes she will. Florence dives down the inside at Turn 1, is ahead at the apex, but Leclerc cuts back. He's got the position again through Turn 2."

...

"Patience must be running thin for the Belgian. She's got DRS. Leclerc under pressure. Florence has the speed, she has the line... She dives in Turn 6 and once again it sticks. Florence up to P5. Leclerc has to back off."

"It's that move again. She's did on Alonso, and it's working for her, just squeezing through an impossibly small gap."

LAP 40 - 50:

LANDO NORRIS SETS FASTEST LAP : GAP +4.560

"Now it's Verstappen in Florence's sights. He's not going to make it easy though. The defending champion. Look at that! He's forcing her wide at Turn 13. Florence has to take to the runoff!"

"Verstappen's defense is brutal. He's chopping across Florence's nose into Turn 1. He's making her go wide. Off the racing line. She has to back out of it in everyone. That's hard but fair racing from the world champion. We saw it last year. He can defend."

...

"Florence tries again into the hairpin, but Verstappen is wise to it. He positions his car perfectly, leaving no gap for Florence to exploit."

"This is a different challenge for Florence. Verstappen's aggressive style is a stark contrast to Leclerc's more precise approach. He races to the extreme limit. But is she going to try the same overtake she did on Leclerc?"

"We'll see, Martin, if it sticks on Verstappen."

...

"Oh my! Verstappen nearly pushed Florence into the wall on the exit of Turn 13. The Porsche driver had to take evasive action there."

FLORENCE What the f*** is he doing?

HENRY Keep your head down. We're faster. Keep racing.

FLORENCE F****** stupid. He almost crashed me!

...

"Florence is not giving up! She's got a great run out of Turn 13 once again, pulls alongside Verstappen, and... she's done it! Florence sweeps around the outside of Turn 14 to take P4! What a move!"

"Incredible, Crofty! Florence has managed to outfox Verstappen. That move took nerves of steel!"

LAP 51-55

"With just 6 laps to go, Florence is hunting down Hamilton. The gap is coming down rapidly."

...

"Florence is all over the back of Hamilton. She tries the inside at Turn 6, but Hamilton closes the door. Not this time!"

...

"This is it! Florence gets a great exit out of Turn 6, pulls alongside Hamilton into Turn 7, and... she's through! Ava Florence up to P3 with just over a lap to go!"

...

"But she's not done yet, Crofty! Look at this, she's setting purple sectors. Florence is pushing for the fastest lap of the race!"

LAP 56

"From start to finish, Lando does the job. He holds pole position, he keeps that car in front. LANDO NORRIS WINS THE CHINA GRAND PRIX! Nico Hulkenberg secures his first podium in second! Behind, Ava Florence coming into view. She was going for the fastest lap. Will she do it?"

"Florence crosses the line and... yes! She's done it! Fastest lap of the race on the final lap!"

"Well, she certainly stole the show today. From struggling in qualifying to a podium finish, it's a remarkable turnaround for the Porsche driver. This young driver has shown incredible race craft and determination today. Ava Florence. That's the name to remember."

HENRY Phenomenal job, Ava! That's P3!

FLORENCE YES! OH THANK YOU SO MUCH!! And a tribute to Bottas... To whom it may concern, F*** you!

CHINA GRAND PRIX RESULTS

1. Lando Norris (+25)

2. Nico Hulkenberg (+18)

3. Ava Florence (+15)

4. Lewis Hamilton (+12)

5. Max Verstappen (+10)

6. Charles Leclerc (+8)

7. Sebastian Vettel (+6)

8. Oscar Piastri (+4)

9. George Russell (+2)

10. Liam Lawson (+1)

11. Felipe Drugovich

12. Fernando Alonso

13. Carlos Sainz

14. Andrea Kimi Antonelli

15. Alexander Albon

16. Lance Stroll

17. Pierre Gasly

18. Oliver Bearman

19. Yuki Tsunoda

20. Jack Doohan

21. Esteban Ocon

22. Isack Hadjar

porschef1

Sprint races are overrated anyway.

tagged: avaflorence

see comments below

illegal_definition: Summoned all of Senna's energy for this drive.

lululemoncalled: THATS MY GIRL!! PORSCHE IS THE ONLY GERMAN WORTH WINNING!! 👑

heturnedintome: First George, now Max. Everyone is trynna kill Ava.

> delulu: But she cooked regardless 🔥🔥

audif1: 🙄

> florence4ever: Stay jealous

> les_blanc: Why would they be? Nico finished higher.

> florence4ever: Check the standings.

convictedcassette: Please give her a functioning car next time so she doesn't have to struggle as much. 🙏🙏

CHINA POST-RACE INTERVIEW

Interview: So, Lando. Great race. Congrats on the win. You had a bit of a lackluster sprint race, but you managed to pull it off today. How was it?

Lando: It was great. I got the start just right and we were quite ahead of the pack when the rain started coming in. So, I held onto that lead.  Maybe it was a bit slow on the first stint, didn't get the happen wanted. But it worked out.

Interview: Nico, this is your maiden podium in Formula 1. How does it feel to achieve this after so long?

Nico: This feels amazing. Like you said, for so long I've been chasing a podium. The sprint win the other day gave me a vote of confidence. And I'm super grateful to the team, to Audi for building a competitive car. And I'm going to enjoy this podium.

Interviewer: Ava, you are the talk of the race. From P13 to podium, incredible strategy, incredible overtakes. How did you do it?

Ava: Firstly, they just give you the most beautiful dresses in the world. It's unfair. I know I'm not supposed to flirt with staff but Seb got away with it, so it's fine. Secondly, yeah, great call by the team to put early. We got a huge jump out of it. And then it was just a game of trying to get past the juggernauts. Leclerc was a good fight. Defenitley thought we had the pace to make it easy, but it wasn't. Max was also tough. I do think he tried to kill me at one point, but we got past anyway. Then it was just a clear track. I wasn't particularly set on passing Hamilton, but more so on closing the gap to see what could happen. And what happened was what you say... so super happy.

CHINA POST-RACE INTERVIEW

Interview: So, Lando. Great race. Congrats on the win. You had a bit of a lackluster sprint race, but you managed to pull it off today. How was it?

Lando: It was great. I got the start just right and we were quite ahead of the pack when the rain started coming in. So, I held onto that lead.  Maybe it was a bit slow on the first stint, didn't get the happen wanted. But it worked out.

Interview: Nico, this is your maiden podium in Formula 1. How does it feel to achieve this after so long?

Nico: This feels amazing. Like you said, for so long I've been chasing a podium. The sprint win the other day gave me a vote of confidence. And I'm super grateful to the team, to Audi for building a competitive car. And I'm going to enjoy this podium.

Interviewer: Ava, you are the talk of the race. From P13 to podium, incredible strategy, incredible overtakes. How did you do it?

Ava: Firstly, they just give you the most beautiful dresses in the world. It's unfair. I know I'm not supposed to flirt with staff but Seb got away with it, so it's fine. Secondly, yeah, great call by the team to put early. We got a huge jump out of it. And then it was just a game of trying to get past the juggernauts. Leclerc was a good fight. Defenitley thought we had the pace to make it easy, but it wasn't. Max was also tough. I do think he tried to kill me at one point, but we got past anyway. Then it was just a clear track. I wasn't particularly set on passing Hamilton, but more so on closing the gap to see what could happen. And what happened was what you say... so super happy. avaflorence

Race tracks are better when they're wet. Thank you China for blessing me today. Onwards to Bahrain.

see comments below

florence4ever: MAMA cooked these bums!

elpadre: Ava, describe your Grand Prix in one sentence

> avaflorence: GP2 ENGINE... GP2 ENGINE!!

> toastedsalmon: 😭😭

lululemoncalled: I love she does not care at all about the swearing rule.

> delulu: They haven't done anything yet. She's that girl.

WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP

WORLD CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP

taglist: @freyathehuntress

[ctimenefic]

just had to write this out of my brain, I'm sorry pierresteban lorekeepers if I have fucked up the dynamic, I'll go back to my corner at once

2k of post-Brazil stuff tentatively titled something like slow lane, fast lane, parallel lines

Pierre didn’t pack a podium-worthy outfit for the triple header. Certainly not for Brazil. A party outfit, sure, in case Charles did well – that’s still fucked, a crumpled bundle rank with sweat at the bottom of one of his cases, shipped back home without him two weeks ago after Austin. He hadn’t seen this coming.

No one had seen this coming. 

He has to settle for a creased button up, undone so far the team will be able to see his heart still thudding against his ribs, hours after the last bubbles swirled away into the standing water on the track. It’ll do; he tries to smoulder into the mirror, but he can’t stop smiling. It’s just going to get soaked with sweat anyway, in whatever bar backroom they’ve secured. It was Harriet, he heard, shaking with hope from the moment the red flag came, ringing round Sao Paulo venues with broken Portuguese and her heart in her mouth.

It is strange, being alone for this clutch of minutes, to shower and shave and press cologne against his skin like anointing oil. The team had been all around him the moment he was out of the car, all the way to the hotel. Esteban next to him for hours, hip to hip. Pierre had been warm, despite the rain, the perpetual grey of track and sky.

The shirt is not so white that he’ll look filthy, later, if he’s touched. He undoes another button, just in case. Kiki said, once - if he won, and she wasn’t there. Then it was fine. She’d been joking, maybe, but he hadn’t pressed her. There are many beautiful men and women in Brazil. 

He goes down to the lobby early, already sick of the quiet. He wants the roar back, the force of it against his skin. He wants hands on his back, fingers on his neck, in his hair. Three girls from the team are huddled waiting for a taxi, by the doors, but they hover six inches away now, like without their uniforms he’s unsafe to clasp. Apart, again. 

Pierre drifts away, to the spot where the lobby leaks into a bar and - George Russell is there. As out of place as usual, squinting at his phone, folded up in an armchair that’s too low for him. It turns his knees into a ski slope. He only looks up when Pierre gets right up beside him; then he unbends upright, gets halfway to a handshake before he’s gripping Pierre’s shoulder instead. “Good racing, today,” he announces, like he hadn’t said it hours ago, dripping wet and still horribly sincere, all his natural animosities tucked away.

“Thank you,” Pierre replies, automatic. “I did not think Mercedes were slumming here though?” It is a fine hotel, but not so very nice. The lifts are slow. And Mercedes take up space. They have a sponsor deal, he thinks; some foolish video Charles had sent him last year with a string of emoji. 

Russell snorts. “No. Meeting Alex for our sad bastards dinner.”

Of course. Because for Mercedes, fourth is a disappointment. Which trophy did Russell imagine he’d be snatching today? Pierre’s? Max’s? He hopes Alex charges his meal to Russell’s card. 

“I am going out with the team,” Pierre offers. Immediately feels foolish. He meant- the point was to not invite Russell. It is fun, usually, being rude to him, watching his jaw tic. He is very English about it. 

Now, though, he seems unfazed. His eyebrows jump just a little. “I gathered.” 

His gaze drops briefly down the deep V of Pierre’s shirt. It is perhaps not an achievement with the most notorious homosexual on the grid, but still. There’s some satisfaction to it.

“Where are you- oh!”

The cooldown lap had felt a hundred years long, after an impossibly drawn-out race. Pierre had felt like he could count every drop of spray between his and Este’s cars. 

It is a little like that now, watching Russell’s eyes slide over his shoulder, the way his face changes slowly and utterly. Cheekbones lifted, so his eyes get a little smaller, the start of crows feet at the edges. The top of his face starts smiling before the rest catches up. His shoulders roll too, back and down and open. It happens in a blink, and yet it changes the whole shape of him. Like sunlight through clouds. 

Pierre doesn’t need to look round to guess what he’ll say next. “There he is,” Russell adds, regardless. “Have a good evening, Pierre.” He strides off before Pierre can find the right sniff for such an abrupt dismissal. 

He turns to wave at Alex, but he’s already turned back towards the lift, shoulders up around his ears until Russell slings an arm over them. He hears Russell teasing: “Don’t be a lazybones, Albono, you’re on the fourth floor, we can walk it.”

And then they are gone, and the girls from the team come to collect him for the car, and they are squashed up close enough that he does not have to think about it for too long. Just long enough. 

How many people look at him like sunshine? He had friends like that, once. More than one of them, once.

Tonight, he will say something gracious. Tell Esteban he raced better. That Pierre could not have caught him if he tried. (Perhaps not if he tried. Perhaps that is ungracious. Perhaps he should not remind Esteban that he is the better teammate. That he is keeping the team.) He has a whole taxi ride to find the right words, the olive branch that Esteban will not reject, or discard, or ignore.   

They will hug, and it will not be the last time. The Haas is not so bad; that will help. And ten, or twenty years from now, Pierre can walk into a room somewhere in France, some gathering of old men who raced fast cars, and someone will smile to see him. 

It is twenty minutes to Harriet’s bar. By then he can see it; where in windswept Normandy it will be. Snow on the ground and overcast. He will keep most of his hair, he decides, somewhat against the odds; he gives Esteban a little gut but fewer lines, no jowls. Silver in his stubble, but not his hair. Comfortable shoes. Bracelets on their wrists. 

The bar is good, for a last minute get. The staff on the door know his face, gesture him through. There are beautiful people in clusters, grapes on the vine, ready for picking. And on the dancefloor, Alpine, Alpine, Alpine. In the centre of it, Esteban, tall even there. 

There’s a whoop from near the edge of the throng as someone spots him - one of the pit crew, Marc. It spreads, fast, a sea of heads turning his way, a cheer Pierre thought he might not hear again. They tug him in, hands on his shoulders, back, feet already bouncing, the strange wistful sadness in his stomach already lifting as he raises his hands, shouts with joy and-

Esteban looks across to Pierre and smiles like clouds parting.

---

The carpet in the hotel stairwell has a dizzying pattern, geometric but impossible for the eye to follow. Or perhaps only impossible for someone who has been awake for 24 hours now, staring at it in the half-dark of emergency exit signs. But Pierre has to try, has to trace the thick black lines up and left and down over and over, or the choking gluk sounds Esteban is making round his cock will drive him mad. Tip him over ten seconds into the best-worst blowjob of his life. 

They had taken the stairs because it would be quicker than the ancient lifts. Not quick enough, for Esteban. Despite the risk, Pierre does not want to make up the distance. He wants this to last.  

Esteban pulls off for a moment; his smile is a slice of white in the darkness. Pierre doesn’t mean for his hand to drop to his face, thumb along his bottom lip, down his chin, but it does so anyway. He catches Esteban’s spit on his thumbpad; sucks it into his own mouth. There’s salt to it. 

“You are very wet for me,” Esteban murmurs, matter-of-fact, and Pierre gives up on the carpet, shuts his eyes and lets his head fall back into the corner with a thunk. He has been wet all day, drenched in rain and champagne and sweat. What is one more? He can feel it, the way precome rolls down the underside of his dick to Esteban’s fingers, until Este’s tongue drags back over him, a long side up the inches he cannot fit in his hand. 

(“It’s bigger,” he’d said, and Pierre had failed to hide his smirk. He hadn’t made it up, tripod. And Esteban’s hands are bigger now, too.)

His shirt is undone, bunched at his elbows where hands - some familiar, some strange - had dragged it down to trace the shape of his shoulders, the rise and fall of his arm muscles. He’d tugged it back up in the car back, but not enough to stick, not with Este’s long fingers at his neck. It makes him feel on display now, naked from his thighs up, Esteban’s dark head the only modesty he’s been afforded. 

He’s cold where Esteban had slicked down his happy trail with his tongue. It makes him shiver when Este gets back to bobbing back and forth, and his hair whispers over Pierre’s stomach. He has been touching him all night, never a hand off him, and yet Pierre is still so sensitive to each new collision. He can feel Este grin, smug, around him, like he’s noticed. It doesn’t rankle like it should. 

Esteban divebombs down Pierre’s dick again, and he comes before he can get out a warning, choking on thick air, hot and tight in his lungs. Este surfaces seconds later, cracks Pierre’s mouth open with a finger and thumb on his jaw, and feeds him his come in long, loving licks around his teeth. He’s still got his other hand wrapped around Pierre’s softening dick. As Pierre blinks up at him, stupefied, those clever fingers slide to cup his balls instead. A single digit taps at his taint. 

“Dry here,” Esteban muses. Pierre’s mouth falls open, panting. He thinks his come must still be gleaming on his tongue. He can still taste it. “We can fix that.”

And then there is light, crashing through the dark, as the door to the stairwell on the floor above opens, and the perpetual glow of the corridor shines through. Pierre clutches Este to him like cover. The bastard still has all his clothes on, at least, even if Pierre’s bare thighs are obvious either side of his too-skinny frame. 

The shaft of light falls a little to their left, not quite a spotlight. Perhaps they will not be noticed. Perhaps there is still enough luck for one more miracle. 

Soft steps, on the stairs. And then-

“Fuck,” someone hisses from above them. 

Not someone. Familiar. Far too English. 

Someone who should not be in the stairwell of the Williams team hotel at 4am. But. Pierre is in no position to throw stones. His stones are still in Esteban’s large, warm hand. 

Esteban is being no help. He snickers into Pierre’s neck for a moment, so lightly his lips barely leave his skin. Then: “Take the lift, George,” he calls, apparently deciding plausible deniability is for other motherfuckers. 

His voice is a little rough. Well-used. 

Russell, at least, understands how to play the game. It is silent, except for the hurried steps up and away. The whine of the door. 

“Shit,” Pierre groans. Esteban’s finger presses again at the space between his arse and his balls. “Shit,” Pierre says again. It echoes differently. Higher. 

Esteban is snickering again. “Always so dramatic,” he chides. But his hands are gentle as he pulls Pierre’s slacks back up his legs; does up precisely one button on his shirt and slides his palms down the sides like that will make him presentable for the CCTV in the corridor. “Come on, two floors more to mine. I shall have to fuck you in the morning, you are too spooked now.” 

Pierre doesn’t like the needy sound he makes; Esteban’s eyes gleam. He won’t beg for it, but: “When is your flight?” Pierre’s is late, commercial. They book different flights, more often than not. Esteban’s gaze wavers for a second. But only down to Pierre’s mouth, his navel, and back up. 

“The same. It is the same. I asked- said to change it. After. At the track.” Este must bite his lip – his bottom teeth disappear for a moment. Pierre wants the light back, wants to see his face. “We were-” he says the rest with his hands, palm to palm, parallel – two cars moving in sync around a curve. “And in the cooldown. You smiled at me.”

“I smiled?”

Este huffs. It is just enough like his cruel silences to make Pierre feel alert again, hands twitching to grasp a wheel he cannot see.  “I cannot change it back. It will be sorted by now.” 

There is an inch between them that has not been there all night. Esteban’s weight shifts, like he means to step back further. Pierre has to lunge for him, cram their mouths together. They had not done this at the bar. Touching, yes, everywhere they could get away with, but this was different. Private. 

Este whines a little into the kiss. His fingers get grabby again.

“Fuck me now, and later,” Pierre demands against his mouth. Esteban nods; in the dark his lips leave a smear against Pierre’s temple. 

His echo sounds like a promise. “Now and later.” 

[guizika]

i would love mitsuya takashi x shy male reader who offers on behalf of the photography club to photograph mitsuya's creations at the sewing club, but in reality it was only because he secretly loves him!!!! it's very rare to find someone from brazil here and you are very good at writing 😊

Winter Collection

Mitsuya Takashi x Shy Male Reader

Cw - Male reader, You/Yours pronouns, fluff, Maybe it's a bit ooc.

Synopsis - You've always been shy and at the same time you've always liked Mitsuya Takashi, but you've never had the courage to approach him. But thanks to a new clothing collection, you've got an opportunity.

Word count - +1800

For many years you've been a classmate of Mitsuya Takashi, but because you are a shy guy you've never worked up the courage to approach him. So you just watched him from afar, always waiting for the right opportunity to talk to him.

Ever since you were a child, you've always shown a quieter demeanor, not wanting to attract too much attention. What's more, you've always found it difficult to express yourself properly when talking to others, being afraid of being judged or even misunderstood. So you had to find another way of expressing yourself and that's where the photography club comes in.

After a long time you finally found a better way to express yourself, through photos. You've always had a talent for things related to photography, and you were always praised for the pictures you took.

However, despite your shyness, you've started to fall in love with a boy, Mitsuya Takashi. You've been thinking about him a lot lately, but you're not sure how to approach him.

However, it seems that the gods or something above are in your favor, because you've got the perfect opportunity. The sewing club, of which Mitsuya is a member, is making some new garments for the winter and the newspaper club wants to advertise it.

You, being the smart guy you are, offer to take the photos and the captain of the newspaper club accepts, she's your friend so it was easy to ask her. "Look at you, smart guy, you've got the perfect opportunity to finally talk to Mitsuya." She says to you, a lopsided smile on her face as she wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.

"Hey, it's not like that..." Your voice comes out in a low tone as you try to find words to express yourself, she laughs and then puts her hand on your shoulder. "Relax, I'm just joking, but anyway, I'll see you later." She says and then walks away, leaving you alone in the room. When the door closes, you let out a sigh and look around the room to make sure you're really alone.

A smile appears on your face and then you let out a sigh of contentment. "I'm a genius, it was obvious that this was going to work." You say to yourself while you're smoothing your uniform with your hands, just to make sure it's not wrinkled. "Now I just need to tell the leader of the sewing club, that'll be easy-" You freeze as you realize what you're about to do, the leader of the sewing club is Mitsuya, which means you'll have to talk to him.

With that realization, the smile disappears from your face and instead a worried expression appears, doubts flooding your mind. You quickly go to the bathroom to wash your face - and perhaps hide in a cabin until next week, if that's possible.

When you get there you realize that it's empty, now everyone is either doing activities for clubs or out of school, lucky for you. You grab a handful of water with your hands and then wet your entire face, drying it with the sleeve of your uniform.

You lean against the sink counter and then stare at the cabin doors, wondering what to do. "Damn, look what I've gotten myself into..." A sigh leaves your lips and you remain silent after a few moments, thinking.

Then the memory of something your mother used to say to you came to mind: "You only live once, so do whatever you think is right, don't be afraid to make mistakes."

Remembering this, you turn around and look at yourself in the mirror. You take a deep breath and then repeat the phrase while looking into your eyes through the mirror. "You only live once, so do whatever you think is right, don't be afraid to make mistakes." You nod to yourself and take a deep breath, ready to talk to Mitsuya.

Leaving the bathroom, you head towards the sewing club, repeating the phrase mentally as a form of motivation. You pass a few students from other clubs, smiling and waving shyly to them as a sign of respect and politeness.

Finally you arrive in front of the sewing room, raising your hand and knocking on the door, waiting patiently for someone to come. Soon, the door opens and you meet a girl whose name you don't know.

She introduces herself and then you say your name and smile, "Oh, Is there anything I can do for you today?" Her kindness makes you relax, a soft smile appears on your face as you put your hands in your pockets. "I need to talk to Mitsuya, is he in?" Your words make the girl let out a sigh and smile gently, she looks around the corridor and then looks back at you, making you look away.

She tells you to go inside the room and then she turns to say something to you. "I'll go after him, just a minute." With that she leaves the room and leaves you alone inside, you go to the window and look out at the landscape, seeing some students and some birds. Animals always make you feel more relaxed, perhaps because they are beautiful beings or because you don't feel pressured by them. In any case, you feel calm around the animals.

Soon, you are snapped out of your daydreams when you hear the door close, you turn to say something, thinking it's the same girl as before, but soon you feel the words die in your throat as you look at Mitsuya. The boy gives you a gentle smile when he sees you and then holds out his hand, introducing himself.

You stare at his hand for a few moments but then introduce yourself too, in a low voice, and shake his hand. However, after letting go of his hand, you realize that your hand is shaking a bit and you put it back in your pocket. You still haven't worked up the courage to look him in the eye, preferring to just stare at the door.

"Oh, I know who you are, we're in the same classroom." His words make you want to run out and scream with happiness, he knows who you are. But you pull yourself together and take a deep breath, thinking of the shame you'd suffer if you did that. "I know who you are too, like you said, we're in the same classroom." You look at Takashi, giving him an embarrassed smile and then looking away.

"Well, what do you need to talk about?" He asks you, and you mentally curse yourself when you realize that you still haven't told him about the photos. "Oh, I'm s-sorry, I'd like to photograph your winter collection, the newspaper club asked me to take the pictures and send them to them, is that okay to you?" You stutter a bit in the first part, but decide to just ignore it. Of course you hid some details, like the fact that you were the one who asked to take the pictures, but Mitsuya seems happy with the proposal and so accepts.

"Sure, I think it's an incredible idea!" Then he looks you up and down and you realize it, causing you to stop and stand still like a statue. "Uh, but where's your camera?" His question comes out in a tone of genuine doubt, making you smile shyly and then cross your arms to try to calm down.

Once again, you take a deep breath and then look down at your feet, paying attention to your tone of voice so as not to speak too quietly. "Well, I was t-thinking of taking these pictures in the p-photography classroom anyway." You stutter and mentally curse yourself, but Takashi doesn't seem to mind. "Oh, right, I'm sorry, I have to take a lot of clothes, can you help me?"

You automatically agree to help him, going with him to pick up the clothes. "Wow, you guys have done a lot this year." You say impressed, picking up some clothes carefully. While he handed you some pieces you carefully scan the garments, noticing how well made they are and also how much effort has been put into them.

"Oh yes, it took us a while, but we finally finished." His comment brings a genuine smile to your face, making you feel relaxed around him. Soon, the two of you take all the clothes to the photography club room.

"I think you could put the women's clothes on this mannequin here." You say, picking up a mannequin and showing it to him, not looking directly into his eyes. "And the men's clothes, some can go on another mannequin and some you can wear."

Your words make him blush slightly and he smiles softly, scratching the back of his head lightly. "Are you sure about this? I don't know if it's going to be very good." He seems to think for a few moments, while you clear your throat to speak. "Well, it's going to be amazing, you're handsome." You say without thinking straight, then you feel your soul leave your body and return, making you quickly move on to the materials needed to assemble the camera.

"Thanks for the compliment." He says it before you start apologizing. "I'll take part in the photos if you'll take part too." His words make you stop breathing for a few moments, you lock up and stop, putting the camera away.

He notices your silence and then clears his throat to speak again. "I mean, just one photo, you're handsome too, the photos would be amazing." Before you can reply, he continues. "Besides, photos look better with real models."

"I don't know, I don't like appearing in this kind of thing..." You say as you clean the camera lens, not looking at him. However, he insists: "You don't have to send these photos to the newspaper, just take them as a souvenir of this day."

You were about to deny it but your mother's words come to mind again, making you sigh and then stare at the camera for a long time. "Okay, I'll take the pictures, I just don't understand why you're being so insistent." You mumble the last part in a low tone, but he listens.

"Well, it's just that it doesn't make sense for the person who inspired the creation of the garment not to wear it." His words make you blush and look at him with wide eyes. "Huh?"

He laughs slightly and then raises both eyebrows. "Sorry if I was too direct, but it's just that you were the inspiration for this winter collection." You stare at him for a few moments, you want to run and hide in the bathroom out of shame, but you know that this is an opportunity you don't want to miss and so you force yourself to stay put.

Maybe you want this photo shoot to last forever…

Author's note: I confess that it took me a while to write it down, but I managed to do it, I put a lot of effort into it and I hope you liked it! By the way, I’m glad that you like my writing! ♡

Please don't translate or copy my work and don't repost on other social networks, if there are any grammatical errors I ask you to excuse me!

[amy-the-god]

Tantrum (yandere!magnifico of rosas x apprentice reader)

Hi hi hi!~ I'm here with this fic, maybe two chapters... or will this part be unique, I don't know, but anyway, part three of Shan Yu's fanfic will come out later, Kisses from Brazil 😚 Tw: Mention of blood, swearing, mention of sexual acts, mentions of death, maybe he killed amaya and our boyfriend.. who knows? Not me 👀

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• ___. Pov •

It was a beautiful morning indeed, even though it was very quiet, which was unusual,I expected the moment I entered the palace doors I would be greeted by my boss as always, with hugs longer than appropriate, sudden touches... But that wasn't what happened, I expected to find him in the potions room but I didn't have any luck either,So now I was alone in the potions room, preparing one of the many from the book that he always told me to use, while I wait for him

"a drop of this.. rose dust.. and-.."

And I let out a scream that shatters everything after hearing the familiar and gentle voice of Queen Amaya calling me

"ah there you are! Honey I need your help and-.. "

She flinches, putting her hands over her mouth in shock after the potion explodes, as I cough, wiping the ash from my face.

"oh heavens darling are you okay?"

She asks extremely worried, when I fix my hair before looking at her

" . . . what did you need my help with?"

I ask calmly ignoring her previous question

" oh! Right, er.. magnifico, he.. he's throwing a tantrum, Since morning, and he won't say why and refuses to talk to anyone,So I thought... since you guys are more intimate, could you talk to him? "

She asks with a gentle smile, making it difficult to refuse, when I let out a nasal sigh and look at her.

" where is he? "

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<3

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". . .well, that's a tantrum"

I say with boredom, while Amaya smiled nervously as we both looked at magnifico, Who had shrunk in size and was now inside a jar with his arms crossed and sulking.

"I'll give you space"

Amaya says leaving there, closing the doors, when I take the bottle and shake it

"Okay, spill the beans, what's got you angry now?"

"I don't know, why don't you ask the brat you were talking to yesterday?"

I blink a few times in shock, how did he know?-..

". . .how do you-.. "

" I have guards all over town "

". . .and you send them to spy on me?!"

"well I need to make sure no one tries to take you away from me! I need to protect what's mine! "

"OH SPYING ON ME?!"

And I drop the bottle in annoyance, taking a deep breath and rubbing my temple

" I can't believe it-.. that's-.. you're unbelievable! "

I say looking at him irritated

" We had sex ONCE! And you already think I'm yours or some possessive shit?! "

He narrows his eyes before blue smoke explodes into the room, making me cough before I feel a grip on my chin and when the smoke clears, he was face to face with me,Normally blue eyes now green as he looked.. crazy

"and you are mine! The moment you stepped into this castle you sealed your fate!"

His hands come down and grab my hips, pulling me closer as I try to move away.

"You're my assistant! My little secret! My lover! Mine to kiss! Mine to love! Mine and mine alone! "

" I'm not yours! "

And I push him back, looking at him with a mixture of hate and horror

"Just because I had sex with you once doesn't mean I became your lover! I'm not going to be part of your twisted fantasies or anything! And I'll quit being an apprentice if it means having to deal with this shit all day!"

And I turn, leaving the room, not noticing how his eye twitched and his fists clenched

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Time skip ;³

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The next morning, I expected to wake up to the sound of people outside, but I woke up to be greeted with the strange sound of silence, Confused, I get up, get ready and leave the house, Seeing the city empty, feeling an uncomfortable sensation I walk through it, looking for any sign of life.

" hello?? Hello anyone??"

I flinch a little at the echo of my voice, when I start to hear sounds of screams and joy, making me enter the main courtyard and see everyone gathered there, leaving me confused, there was no ceremony planned for today,When I pass by the crowd that was cheering and shouting, And I stop in front of the main stage, seeing magnifico, Who was looking around the crowd laughing and smiling as always, but this smile.. was different,But as soon as his eyes land on me his smile widens

"ah there it is! My dear apprentice!, Come come, come up here darling! "

I get a little tense, but I sigh and go up to the stage, looking behind him and getting confused when I don't see Amaya, where is she?..

"I have an announcement to make, so hush hush!"

I cross my arms, stopping next to him, the people staying silent, anxious for this announcement, When magnifico looks at me, and I notice that his eyes were the same shade of green as yesterday

" What's wrong with your-.."

And I can't finish before he grabs my wrist

"The apprentice position is open again! "

I try to discreetly release my wrist while the people are confused, I can hear their whispers and murmurs, wondering what happened so often... But the whispers turn to gasps of shock as Magnifico kneels for me

" because ___. is now my wife! "

" WHAT?! "

The people are silent for a while, before I hear the celebration Again, the screams and the happiness, that wasn't right, no, it was just a joke, it could only be

" amaya unfortunately left me for another man and together they left the island yesterday at dawn, but that's okay! Because ___. Will replace her! "

He says getting up and pulling me closer, while I try to move away from him.

" and to celebrate tonight there will be a wishing ceremony! Thank you for attending! And you are all invited to the wedding ball! "

He says dragging me to the castle with him, the doors closing behind us when I finally let go

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU THINKING?! DID YOU-.. "

And he covers my mouth, his smile widening, his pupils taking the shape of hearts, and his eyes glowing with something sickly,When I look to the side out of the corner of my eye, a gasp of horror comes out muffledly from my mouth at the sight of blood... He couldn't-..

" now now.. amaya and your little friend already threw a tantrum last night.. we don't need another one.. do we? "

" My queen? "

Ok then.. part two will probably only come out tomorrow, if everything goes well I can post part three of Shan Yu this morning, I don't know, I can't promise anything,And please normalize him yandere, kisses from Brazil 😚

[sweetmariihs2]

Autistic struggles vent:

Today I went to part 2 of a Brazilian national test called "Enem". Almost ever high schooler does it. Part 1 is focused on language, history etc and part two is focused on math etc. I hate it. My mother registered me for the test and chose the neurotypical option, even though she knew I was autistic, yay! I don't know if it changed much, after all I didn't take the neurodivergent version of the test anyway. When I was preparing for the test, some really big names in the field of studies were saying that it was okay to write things on the packaging of the food you bring, since it doesn't break any rules of the test. One example they used was "Bis", a brand of chocolate waffle here in Brazil that comes inside a thin cardboard box and wrapped in small pieces of paper, in case you want to make notes, you know?

I bought one, more for the waffle than for the paper itself. When we got to the test room, we had to stay there for 30 minutes without cell phones, without talking loudly, and without the test, for some reason. I was really anxious and had the idea of ​​drawing a picture. I took my Bis box and used the paper box to draw a picture of Cedric holding my OC Aurora's hands and comforting her about taking a test to be a royal sorceress herself. It was a little parallel to me, since he's my comfort character. When I finished the drawing, I put the paper in my food bag and waited, but the test time never came. That Cedric was really nice and I thought "I'm going to save it to put in my sketchbook, and cut out some parts to make some modifications". Out of anxiety, I took the drawing again and tried to open the paper material in two, so I had two sheets, like I was peeling off a sticker, you know?

The woman who was supervising the class simply took it from my hand and said "I'm going to throw this away", crumpled it into a ball and threw it in the trash can. It was so fast she didn't even looked at it. I didn't even had time to react, I just mumbled "but this is my drawing..." and after that I know I had an immediate shutdown. My chest tightened, my stomach went cold, my limbs went stiff and I couldn't move anymore. This always happens every time I'm called out on something, especially for example at school, when teachers ask me to pay attention when I'm drawing (I'm already paying attention, I have ears!). It's probably a traumatic response? Maybe.

I just know that they gave me the test right after and I was just completely tense. I couldn't look at anyone's faces, I could barely read the test, I couldn't think of anything at all, I just felt stress, nervousness, constant feeling of shame. I tried to read the test but I couldn't understand it or concentrate. I didn't eat the snacks I brought because all desire to eat simply disappeared, I couldn't even move properly, let alone unwrap the waffle, chew and swallow. After a few minutes I continued trying to focus on the test, and then I started reading and marking... but with each question I thought "at the end of the test I'll get the courage and ask for it back, politely, and explain that it didn't break the rules"

The minimum time for the test, to avoid being eliminated, if I'm not mistaken, is from 1:30 to 3:30 in the afternoon, and I stayed there the whole time, like that. I tried to do my best on the test, I managed to do it in parts, but what happened at the beginning caused me a lot of stress. On the last test, part 1, I left the room at 5:30 pm! This time I was killing time to stay until the minimum time to pass. I drew some Undertale characters on the test very poorly simply because I was very anxious and tense, I wanted to leave. I kept thinking and gathering courage for myself, because looking back, I was very anxious and in shutdown, speaking was difficult, and I had to prepare myself a lot to get the courage to ask the woman about the drawing I wanted back. When the minimum time arrived, several people handed in their tests and she went to each one's desk to get the tests. I was so tense that I didn't raise my hand. I kept raising my hand a little and lowering it out of nervousness for about 5 minutes. When I was ready, I called her and handed over the test.

When she approached me I asked: "Can I have my Bis box back?" and for some reason she acted nice and friendly and answered "yes, of course," and that I couldn't before during the test and a few other things. I didn't really understand if she was saying that she wasn't going to give it to me anymore, but then she said that I could have it, for some reason. I was too nervous to remember everything she said. I know she allowed it and the other girl who was with her took it out of the trash and smoothed it out for me. I gathered my materials and thanked her, picked it up and left.

My friend came with me to take the test so we promised to wait for each other if the other finished first. I'm here waiting for her in front of the gate. What a strange situation. Please be kind to autistic people, shutdowns are shit.

I can't tell this to my parents because they will be against me anyway. They will say it's my fault and that I should knew better than drawing during that very important test, and now I lost points because I take stupid things more seriously then studies. They don't give a damn about the shutdown or that I had an emotional breakdown due to my autism, only that I was drawing 🫶

[unboundprompts]

Hi! Thank you so much for your wonderful blog! Could you please do prompts from songs that feel ✨orange✨? Some energetic, bright, optimistic lines would be so nice! Thank you in advance!

Orange Prompts

-> writing prompts from songs that feel orange. feel free to edit as you see fit.

"I don't know the way, but I know that I belong out here on this journey that I never thought I'd make." - The Color of the Sky by Thrice

"Welcome to the land of the permanent sun where the flowers are melted and the future is fun." - The Valley of The Pagans (feat. Beck) by Gorillas, Beck

"You are the bullet in my head." - Spiderhead by Cage The Elephant

"You are my radio. Turn you up when I feel low. You are the soundtrack to all I know. You are the rock to my roll." - Rock To My Roll by Anarbor

"How can I help it if I like the way she makes me feel?" - Break Up Every Night by The Chainsmokers

"You know I talk too much. Honey, come put your lips on mine, and shut me up." - Talk too Much by COIN

"Who needs money when love is gold." - Rock To My Roll by Anarbor

"I turn each day into night, I stand there waiting for you." - Natives by blink-182

"Let's go paint the town on our way home." - Razzmatazz by I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME

'You're only going up from here." - Bummerland by AJR

"Well, he talks like an angel, but he looks like me." - Brazil by Declan McKenna

"Lovin' you's a recipe for disaster, hurts like hell but damn it's fuckin' heavenly." - Crazy by Makeout

"If I'm feeling right, I'll go out tonight and meet some strangers like me." - High Low by The Unlikely Candidates

"Tell me where we were and what we did last night." - Suicide Sunday by The Friday Night Boys

"You got to know that I meant it when I said that I liked you." - Ghost by Confetti

"In your head, I'm a junkie for your desperate love." - My Heart Needs to Breathe by The Faim

"Nothing has changed, he is the same." - He Is The Same by Jon Bellion

"I've found love in the strangest place." - Problems by Mother Mother

"We'll be the envy of the gods above." - The Cult of Dionysus by The Orion Experience, ORION, Linda XO

"Loving is easy when everything's perfect. Please don't change a single little thing for me." - Loving is Easy by Rex Orange County, Benny Sings

"What keeps me sane is you." - Paradise by Bear Ghost

"Well, maybe I'm a mess. And maybe I'm depressed. And maybe I'll just find out who I am, and I don't like who it is. And I'm a wreck. I do it for the sex. And maybe I gotta realize this is as good as it gets." - Good As It Gets by Little Hurt

[umadosedepascal]

PEDRO SOLO | Pedro Pascal x f!reader| PART III

Written by Santa Trindade

Banner: @ithedevilsbaby

Made in Brazil

Pairing: Pedro pascal x f!reader

Summary: The days are long and exhausting, Pedro has a huge hotel room, hot tub ... But he is missing something, could you help him?

w/c: 2.4k

rating/warnings: [first person] [Pedro masturbates][Pedro in Malta][Phone sex][Sending nudes][alcohol comsuption][Photos of Pedro in a white t-shirt in Malta inspired us][Part 2?]

a/n: Those pictures of him in Morroco and Malta made us wild crazy enough to make this fanfic happen. And I know you felt the same, yes, YOU my fellow reader 😆.

Today was long, as it has been for weeks.

The days in Malta are always so hot at this time of year, which makes everything more exhausting, but when night falls, the weather refreshes and everything is calm.

A tired body begs for rest.

It's 7:37 p.m., Pedro couldn't wait to get to the hotel to be able to stretch his back in bed which have been killing him lately, maybe get into the heated pool a little to take away all the tension that his body has carried. He enters the room that has almost become his new house, the gigantic bed waiting for him, for a moment he imagines how good it would be to have someone there scattered in that bed with him.

“So big just for me...” he whispers to himself as he lies on the end of the bed with his legs out, his feet touching the floor.

He spends a few minutes lying in this position, with heavy eyes close themselves, long sighs come out of his throat, a way of the body to thank the absurdly soft mattress, almost being a relaxing massage, every second his mind travels and thinks how ideal it would be to have someone with him there, he is so tense, tired, the movie shooting have been exhausting, both mentally and physically, and fuck, he had been without sex for weeks, what made him stressed and that damn bed needed to be so big? It only makes him want a company, someone who makes him cum until he forgets his own name.

He opens his eyes slowly, getting used to the low light, looking at the ceiling admiring the canopy, while trying to reorganize his thoughts.

“Damn it, I need to stop thinking about it...” Focus Pedro focus! - he speaks softly as he sits on the bed, his back snapping, he looks towards the bathroom door.

The silence of this room echoes, both on the bottom and on the top floor, he takes his phone and checks the last messages, one among many catches his attention, a message from you asking how the shooting is going, next to the message there is a pic of you, the pic is cut and shows you lying on a bed, your hand inside your lilac panties, he takes a deep breath and replies you.

"It's been good, I'm exhausted but would love to have you here... The bed is surreal" - he sends a picture of the bed (only) to you.

He goes to the bathroom, looking at the huge mirror he runs his hand through his belly, holding the white T-shirt he lifts the fabric until he holds it between his teeth, the right hand undoes the knot of the shorts, the hand slides into the piece of clothing and he squeezes his cock, a slow caress while his left hand firmly holds the phone with your photo on the screen, he thinks:

“You know what... I'll send one for her as well...” Biting his shirt, he pulls the shorts down enough to leave his hard dick out, he opens the front camera and raises the phone, and takes the pic, from the neck down holding his cock with his right hand, the veins already apparent, pink head glistening precum. He sends it with the following caption:

"I wish you were here"

Pedro looks at himself in the mirror, smirks and looks at his phone, waiting for an answer, five minutes pass and nothing, he turns around and leaves the bathroom, facing the view of the hot tub, seems so inviting, he decides to have a drink and go for it, his muscles will thank you.

Pedro walks slowly to the mini bar of the bedroom, putting his phone next to the side on the table, he looks and still no answer, he opens the minibar and sees the variety of drinks, all he already knows, but a bottle catches his attention, a blue bottle is in the corner, he takes it and reads the ARAK label, raising an eyebrow in curiosity Pedro takes a glass and pours a little to try, taking the glass to the mouth soon the grape flavor invades his tongue, the burning of alcohol going down his throat.

He pours some more, takes his phone and goes towards the hot tub, bends down and leaves glass and phone on the edge, Pedro takes off his shirt and shorts, only in black boxers he admires the tub, he yawns and stretches, feeling his back hurt he takes off his boxers and enters the hot tub, first step and soon the warm water comes into contact with his feet, this makes him moan with relief, second step and the water is almost on his knees, third and he feels the warm water caress his balls and soon the image of you with hands inside your panties invades his mind like a flash.

Fourth step and he dives, feeling the muscles instantly scream in approval, rising to the surface, Pedro takes the glass and takes a long sip, phone vibrates, gaining his full attention.

"I would love to be there and take you in my mouth”

Pedro smirk and sends an audio:

“Can you believe I have a hot tub in the middle of my room? the water is at the perfect temperature…”

He sends a photo that shows the drink glass in his hand resting on the edge of the tub, then sends another audio

“What would you do to relax me, huh?”

A wave of excitement invades his body, it is as if the almost warm water had taken away all that fatigue, giving way now to an almost tangible feeling of pleasure.

“Hahaha do you really want to know? It's kind of masochistic of you to want me to tell you exactly what I would do, being thousands of kilometers away from you”

Your audio response makes him laugh and shake his head in denial when he realizes how torturous it is to hear your voice, with you so far away.

It takes a few seconds to him think about what to say, despite the sweet taste of grapes, the drink is really strong, and with just a few sips Pedro already feels buzzed, his body more relaxed.

He chills but but his dick now starts to pulse while he responds to it by audio.

“Come on babe, I'm so tired, stressed out... some days here are not easy. Well, I love my job, you know but... Fuck, being alone sometimes, and thinking of you helped me out, such a relief...” he says in a low tone that makes his voice even more hoarse, seductive and pleasant to listen to.

“Pedro... You know, I know you know... This pool would be the perfect place for me to give you a little jerk off before you fuck me on that beautiful bed.”

Your answer makes his cock twitches, his body shivers with the desire to have you with him, but fuck…he's in Malta!

He takes the glass and drinks at once what was was left, listens to the audio again, again and again. His breathing starts to get heavier, he hasn't answered your yet, his hand is gently caressing the already totally hard cock, while holding the phone with the other, until it vibrates on his fingers, a new message, a photo, and this time without panties along with a msg:

"Relax with me…daddy"

While looking at the pic, he tries to climb the steps, but that drink is strong, got him in a way that makes him miss the steps and with that he dips his phone in the water for a moment…

“What the fuck I did... Stupid..”

Quickly he leans on the edge of the tub, reaching out his shirt he dries with it the phone cursing while hoping not to have damaged it, he looks at it, unlocks the screen making your photo the first thing that shows up.

Pedro leans against the tub wall, holding his cock with one hand, he begins to jerk off hard, his hand rising to the tip of the cock, where more fat drops of precum accumulate, feeling the alcohol take over the body, he presses the audio button and with a low voice says:

“I would make it fit on that tiny pussy, before I slide my my two fingers inside you” he wants to send her more stuff, so he gets up and leaves the hot tub.

Walking towards the bed he feels the water drops flow and leave a trail through the room. Pedro throws himself on the bed and looking at the curtains that gently swings in the canopy bed because of the breeze that enters through the window, he thinks about how to surprise you.

_This turns to a provocation_

Leaning against the head of the bed, still a little dizzy with his legs open, he puts a pillow that supports the phone in front of him, presses the record button and speaks low and hoarse:

“So, that's what you want baby girl?” he spits on his cock and starts jerking off while he speaks his hand doesn't stop, slow movements, up and down as if he wanted you to feel your pussy is his hand.

“This is what you want now? You got it... If I were you I'd be ready for this cock inside you, in and out... In and out... Until I explode into you with hot splash's of my hot cum... is that what you want?”

He sends the video and back to your pics again, his hand never abandons his cock, squeezing, going up and down without losing rhythm. Pedro begins to feel signs of orgasm so he reduces the speed of his hand, waiting for what will come next.

While sliding to the right to see and review pics again, his phone vibrates, he quickly opens the conversation and sees that you sent a video as well.

You leaning on the bed, he can see you completely, with your legs open and completely naked, you rubbing your clit with your right hand while the left walks through your nipples, playing, pulling and squeezing.

_Fuck, if I could suck her right now_

Pedro thinks while squeezing his cock tightly, holding by the base his fingers massage the balls, he climbs his hand slowly and passes his thumb over the head of the cock dripping precum, spreading and with his eyes glazed in the video. Pedro sits more centered on the bed, drops of water still run down his hair, dripping and turning a trail around his neck, chest and belly, his body is so sensitive to touch that the drops of water seem to scratch while the sheets seem to hug him.

The video ends and soon a new notification arrives, another audio

“Daddy, do you like what you see? Would you like to get deep into my tight pussy?”

-her voice always been sly and dragged like this?-

With his hand shaking he presses the button to record a new audio

“yeah babe... come to me. Fuck.. I want it ...hummm fuck” Pedro gruni squeezing his phone between his fingers.

“Oh I love your moans... That raspy voice makes me so horny” your new message makes Pedro feel as if the air escapes from his lungs, his right hand slides hard through the cock, he opens the front camera and stretching his arm, he starts side recording.

Pedro spits on his cock, making it visible the long saliva drip through the cock that is leaning against the belly.

Another audio:

“Would you choke like that baby girl? Spitting on my cock and swallowing” he strokes slowly when his hand reaches the head of his cock he squeezes and moans your name.

and another video right after:

“I'm picturing your pussy squeezing me... Oh fuck baby girl squeeze me” he sends the video and waits for an answer.

Another video arrives, you are sticking two fingers inside your pussy, moaning his name, begging for him and his cock, he loves when you beg, it makes him smirk biting his lower lips.

“Fuck, your cock is so hard” you whine.

Pedro is not able to record a new video, the horniness is so much the desire to bury the cock inside your pussy is so much that he barely has the strength to press the audio button, but he does.

“Fuck my bitch are you going to milk daddy's cock like that? Will you take everything I give and still ask for more?”

Soon you answer..

“I did enough to loose your mind... I'm just waiting for a call” before the audio ends he calls you, soon his voice echoes through your ears, panting and cutting any word you can say, he says.

“Can you make me cum now?” with a lazy voice you say

“If I was there I'd swallow every drop of you...” Pedro closes his eyes and with his lips half open he pays attention to every word you say

“Imagine me, licking your neck and going down, swirling my toungue over your nipples... Kissing your chest, giving smooth kisses on your tummy til I reach the head of your cock”

Your sly voice became a torture. Pedro only thinks about making you scream on his cock.

You keep saying “Then I grab the base while I lick it all from side to side and you. now. you are squirting. hard. into my mouth...” Pedro rushes his movements and cum hot and thick all over his tummy, he moans non-stop, no words come out of his mouth, just grumble “You are a fucking bitch aaah hmmmm” you cum next moaning his name, saying things that his brain couldn't understand.

After a few seconds in silence, where only music and panting breaths were present, you say

“Hey I need to go is late here but let's do it again huh?”

Pedro still panting and feeling the tiredness come back just murmurs

“yeah yeah hmmm”

The call ends and with heavy eyes Pedro sends you an emoji 💦 following by a message:

“Let my tongue explain how bad I crave you”

He turns to the side, picking up his T-shirt, he cleans his tummy and closes his eyes.

He is also done but still wants you.

——————————————

Thanks for being here and read our delusional fics, likes are appreciate, comments even more. If you want to ask anything, blast it!

[nihiladditaenihilperdidi]

Private Beach || Rune + Anya || May 1st, 2024

Rune: "I beg to differ."

Anya: "You're not the one people would stare at."

Rune: "You're right. That's my privilege."

Anya: "In private? Sure. I trust your eyes."

Rune: "Private beach?"

Anya: "If you know of one, definitely. I've never been on a private beach. Fancy."

Rune: "Can rent one pretty much anywhere."

Anya: "For how much?"

Rune: "Mmmmoney."

Anya: "How much money?"

Rune: "I've never rented one. Brazil has some isolated pockets. Hokkaido. No luck in Willemstad."

Anya: "Hm. Well, we can look into it. Have you been to Brazil?"

Rune: "Mm. Fallen in a time or two."

Anya: "Wow. How's your Portuguese?"

Rune: "Mmm..." He winced. "As well as Papiamento can get me. Like a Spaniard picking up Italian, I guess."

Anya: "That sounds... stressful." She didn't envy his sleepwalking. "But you're still here. Lucky, lucky man. Maybe we could both use a day at the beach."

Rune: "What kind of beach do you want?"

Anya: "A warm one. I want to swim without freezing."

Rune: "Close your eyes and point anywhere on the southern hemisphere of a globe and we're gone."

Anya: "Just like that?"

Rune: "After we see your mother."

Anya: She inhaled deeply and exhaled with a raspberry. Right. That. "You're coming with me?"

Rune: "Unless you want another ruggedly handsome medium on your journey."

Anya: "I'm fresh out of backup handsome mediums, I'm afraid. And the unattractive ones just aren't as good."

Rune: "Guess you're saddled with me."

Rune forced himself up on his elbows.

"Where'd Honey go?"

Anya: "Happily." She gestured with her phone to the floating shelves above his bed. The kinkajou had found higher ground in the wee hours, and was curled up fast asleep beside his box of tissues, sucking on her paw not unlike a toddler on its thumb.

"We'll have to put her back soon. I don't want June or Cathy calling me in a panic."

With a soft hum, she added the two piece set to cart and locked her mobile. Maybe.

Rune: His head craned for a peek, seeing only her tail from his angle, back against the wall.

"What time is - mm. Bathroom, and we'll put her back."

Being on the inner part of the bed meant having the tactile pleasure of crawling over his lovely guest, leaving a trail of kisses in his wake.

Anya: It was still quite early. Before dawn, though the sky was growing brighter. Anya was an early riser, but she made no move to follow Rune out of bed. She giggled at his smattering of kisses and burrowed deeper into the sheets, stealing his pillow when he'd passed out of sight.

"Take your time. Soon, but not so soon that you have to rush."

Rune: "Then my teeth, too," he muttered through a yawn. If Anya was going to be a regular face in this apartment, perhaps a curtain for the bathroom was finally in order. He'd been putting it off long enough. Curtains were harmless.

After the bathroom, he meandered to the kitchen for instant coffee and sugar cubes.

Was he still naked? Yes.

"Coffee? There's no milk."

Anya: She rummaged about in her bag for her mobile charger, eyes sweeping the wall for an outlet. Her nose wrinkled  at the prospect of black coffee. Of course no milk.

"Mm. Maybe? Do you have sugar? If not, then no. I'll wait until later."

Rune: "How many sugar cubes?" He felt as though he should know this, but kept that to himself.

Anya: "Four?" The uncertainty of the answer was self-directed. How much sugar would she need to cut through the bitterness without milk?

"Yeah, four is fine."

Rune: Rune craned his head from the hallway, making no effort to conceal his wanton gaze.

"We can just get coffee around the corner. The place has bagels and all the salmon you could want. It's next to the flower shop."

Anya: All the salmon she could want was no salmon, but she only smiled, not shrinking at all under his dark eyes.

"Bagels! Perfect. I just need a few minutes for my phone to charge."

And to get dressed. Nudity with Rune was surprisingly comfortable, but the day awaited and she still wanted to avoid being arrested.

Rune: The corner of his mouth tightened. She was very skilled at hiding her grimace.

"Do you want your cream cheese vegan? They've got goat cheese. I was almost tempted." He turned back to the kitchen. Just a cup for himself, jeans snatched along the way.

Anya: "No, sir. How many different flavors do they have?" She was already daydreaming about garden vegetable.

With a reluctant groan, Anya rolled out of bed and plugged in her charger, leaving her phone on the desk as she padded on bare feet to the bathroom.

Mm. Maybe a door would have been preferable. Whatever.

Rune: "That's their selling point. If you can think of it they probably have it."

But he wasn't thinking about The Bagel Place, nor the coffee he was stirring. Sleeping on the inside of the bed, gated by her soft frame, he hasn't moved once. What was it about a warm body that prevented him from stumbling into a shitty situation?

"You sleep all right?"

Anya: "Oooh. Might have to get two." It was possible that it was the early-morning hunger speaking.

"Mhm. I'm very well-rested." The same could be said for Rune, it would seem. He hadn't budged throughout the night. Might've had something to do with her body blocking his way off of the bed.

"I guess we lucked out, again," she yawned.

Rune: "Tends to happen when I'm with you. I think you're a good luck charm."

Black coffee in hand, a little too much sugar, the thick mauve mug was set aside as he dropped to his knees on the bedroom floor.

"Anything else you want out of the house?" He assumed she'd be putting back her things from the bathroom, but wasted no time performing his ritual.

Anya: Her laugh was muffled by a mouthful of toothpaste, but the idea warmed her better than a cup of coffee ever could. She'd keep that to herself, though.

A spritz of leave in conditioner and another of hair oil had her curls refreshed for the day. She left them loose as she hurried from the bathroom, not thinking to collect her toiletries.

"Wait, wait, wait! Let me say goodbye!" Just a last sleepy kinkajou cuddle before he put Honey back.

"Um... I can't think of anything." Her thoughts spun for a moment as she scooped the little darling from the shelf and cradled her close. "Oh! Clean socks. Should be in the same drawer as my underwear."

Rune: "Clean socks," he echoed, glancing at the cuddlefest on his left. Perhaps, if this were a regular occurrence, having an animal visit every night she slept in his bed; any that was willing and able to fit through the hole.

The thought made him smile.

"Can she go anywhere?" Rune flattened on the hardwood, reaching for the handle of her drawer and anything sock shaped.

Anya: "Technically? Yes. But she might be... grumpy." Already, Honey was rasping her protest at being stirred from sleep. Anya nuzzled the top of her head.

"Anywhere in the bedroom should be fine." He was already there, after all. "Shh. Hush. Don't you want to have a snack before bed? June will bring you nice fruit."

Rune: "Goodness," Rune soothed, sitting up to examine the socks he'd grabbed before putting them back. "Such drama from such a little girl."

There we go, something white and darling.

"Ready to hand her over?"

Anya: Just one more squeeze, to soothe those squeaky complaints.

"Here. I'll trade you." Anya offered the kinkajou in exchange for the fresh pair of socks. She flopped onto the bed to don them, despite not having on a stich of anything else.

"Say bye to Rune, kochanie."

Rune: "Not for long," he cooed, giving a little scritch to the back of the Honey's head. Anywhere in the bedroom meant letting her slowly spill from his hand at the foot of Anya's bed. He wouldn't ask about her toiletries, nor let the warmth he was feeling break his poker face.

His hand swept over his stomach, sighing away the magnetic-like tug just below his navel. Company was coming.

"Your outfit's outstanding. What's it called? Haute couture."

Anya: Ha! She grinned at him, broad and playful, and wiggled a socked foot in his direction.

"Do you like it? I call the look 'Misdemeanor Chic.' Surprisingly comfortable, but a little much for every day. Definitely a special occasion outfit."

Blindly, she plucked her underwear from where she'd left them atop her bag and pulled them on.

"I'll be ready before you are."

Rune: Certainly the case, as he hadn't moved a muscle, save for the steady gaze of his hungry eyes. She was a masterpiece of nature and nurture. What artists strived to sculpt.

"Hm? Oh, yeah. Definitely."

The portal was closed, easing some of the tension in his shoulders and forearms. He forced himself to his feet, shuffling over to the pale plain wardrobe squished between the desk and the brick wall. Black, of course, but a dark olive shirt caught his attention. He didn't glance back at Anya before slipping it on. In her honor. Would pair well with his black suit and mulberry socks.

Anya: The heat that warmed her face was more reflective of those eyes than any lingering shyness. She watched Rune cross to his wardrobe for an indulgent moment, before snagging her dress as well. No bra Anya owned would have been suitable for it, but the bodice was fitted enough for it not to matter. It was the fit that had won her over in the second-hand shop-- as though it had been tailored for her figure.

She waited in content silence for Rune to finish dressing. One corner of her mouth curved at the sight of the finished product.

"Handsome," she said, reaching for his hand. "I really like your shirt."

Rune: Still without shoes; they could wait a moment longer. Her hand was taken without question - he couldn't recall a time he had ever hesitated.

"Lucky me." Did she mind? His lips upon her again. On her cheek, jaw, and neck. The brush of his nose against her skin, and the smile she would feel that followed.

And then the smile was gone, and so was his affection. Looking her over as if for the first time.

"I've..." The impulse of confession was and had always been a hot flash. A need so strong as to pull the first word of thought before good sense took grasp.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"Ready to go?"

Anya: There was no resistance to his touch, nor the brush of his lips. Nothing on their agenda was so pressing that they couldn't afford a moment of closeness.

Or more than a moment.

She wasn't starving.

His mouth against her skin had her tingling from head to toe. Her free hand settled on his waist, fingers flexing against toned muscle she knew was hidden beneath that lovely shirt.

But too soon his lips were gone. Anya kept a firm hold on his hand, lacing her fingers through his. She'd be ignoring his question in favor of picking up the thought he'd abandoned.

"You've...?"

Rune: He should have known better. Her walking back his dropped thought was exactly what he would have done for her. Their mutual encouragement from each other to exist alongside thoughts, feelings, and impulses.

"I've never said I love you as much as I have with you. That's all."

Anya: That's all. As though he was merely commenting on the weather, and not causing her heart to somersault painfully in her chest. The corners of her mouth twitched. The faintest smile, gone as soon as it appeared.

"I like hearing it."

And it had been... what? A total of three days, all said? Maybe they were compensating for years spent feeling what they wouldn't say.

The hand on his waist shifted to cup his face, and she leaned forward to kiss him deeply. She lingered, savoring the taste of mint and coffee, before she forced herself to pull away.

"Let me just grab my stuff, and we can go."

Rune: His guard dissolved before it could form. Eyes closed, nose squished, blissful and ignorant of the world outside his apartment.

At least until she pulled away.

His hand pressed to his abdomen again, ignored with a sigh. He filled his shoes with feet, checked himself in the mirror, and waited at the door.

"How much hand-holding do you want today?"

Anya: She was all smiles and early-morning cheer as she collected her phone and bag. She passed by the bathroom and slipped into her boots, bending to lace them with quick, proficient fingers.

Rune was met at the door. His question had her chuckling, and she took his hand as a matter of course.

"Excessive hand-holding. Until your fingers ache and you beg for a break. And then I'll hold your arm. Let's go. I'm starving."

Rune: "You've always held my arm." Just a matter of fact. It was not an understatement to say her grasp pleased him. His arm belonged to her.

But the rest of him was on loan.

The hallway was silent. Down the stairs to the second floor, an announcer shouted over the roaring crowd of a stadium. The groan of a sofa and the tap of a walking cane. Only apartment 201 made noise.

The first floor was quiet, and so were Rune's steps. A glance was offered to the brass plaque of apartment 102, but said nothing. Not until they reached the heavy double doors, looking pointedly to his left.

"Not quite," he said to the air between them. "Two blocks. Go around this building, across the street. Behind the church with the gold onion domes." A pause. "No, old man, it hasn't moved. I'd know if it sprouted legs. If you've gone to the cleaners you've gone too far."

Anya: A single shoulder rose and fell, her smile still warm. "You've always offered it."

She took the stairs on equally silent feet. Managed despite her heavy boots. The sounds of movement had even her breath quieting. It wouldn't do to draw the attention of his neighbors with her hands still empty. It seemed she wasn't the only early riser in the building.

Her eyes cut to Rune when he began to speak. It was immediately clear it wasn't her he was addressing. Some sort of spirit, surely.

Anya held her tongue, and would only raise her eyebrows if she caught his gaze.

Rune: Anya's hand was squeezed. A good sport as usual. She didn't mind now, but someday she'd be rolling her eyes.

"Not everyone is like No," he muttered, kissed the back of her hand.

Anya: She nodded, looking at the empty space for the faintest glimmer of anything. But seeing nothing, she looked to the mage instead.

"I guess it's a relief, to find someone who understands you. It's not exactly the same as what I do, but I get it."

He could see what others couldn't. She could hear what no one else understood. A voice for the voiceless.

Rune: Anya's arm was wrapped around his own, bringing her that much closer as they existed through the iron gate and the safety of Hillkate.

"With your childhood, I'm surprised you don't see them. Can happen, sometimes, to those with trauma."

Anya: She took his arm as easily as she always did, her head tipping against his in a brief show of affection.

"Mm. Maybe it would have been too much for one person. Between ghosts and animals I'd never have a moment of quiet."

Rune: "Ha." She wasn't wrong. As useful as it could be, as fulfilling as it could be, he didn't wish his power on her. She had enough altruism on her plate.

"Together we're... some kind of superhero. Is it any wonder you chose me," he smirked.

Anya: The picture he painted had her laughing, silent but genuine.

"Dynamic duo. I like it. You're gonna have to wear a mask and a cape. All my childhood dreams are coming true."

Rune: "I think we've talked about this, or did I see into the future? Yours would be emerald, I think."

Anya: "We did. Or... we talked about me drawing my super suit when I was little. We never talked about designing yours. Emerald for me. What about you?"

Rune: He knew the answer but shrugged, opening his free arm to present himself.

"This is it." Sans an unassuming puce tie. "You're seeing me in my work clothes."

Anya: She gave him a deliberate once-over. Interesting, to know how he dressed when he did what he did.

"Handsome." She repeated her earlier compliment, but soon shook her head. "But that's just you. If we're teaming up, we have to look like it. Obviously."

Rune: "Hmm. I don't watch TV. You'd have to pick someone for me." But to look as though he were teaming up with her. He considered. "Something green, maybe. You said we have to look like a team."

Anya: "No comic books, either?" She smirked. "Dashing heroes and surprisingly sympathetic villains? We don't have to match perfectly. We just have to complement each other."

Rune: Rune looked at his suit, feeling just a bit naked without a tie.

"I'm missing my tie," he decided. "Maybe... maybe a domino mask. Is there a comic hero in a suit and eye covering?"

Anya: "A few, I think. Sharp suit with a hat to match. Mask." She smiled crookedly.

"I might have to make some tweaks to mine, but it could work. We can go back for your tie; we're not too far."

Rune: "No, no. We're talking super suits. Focus!" His smile was cheeky. "Suit, gloves, mask, hat - I'm turning into some noir villain."

Anya: "Okay, okay!" she laughed, squeezing his arm.

"I'll tell you the truth, there are definitely more villains in suits than heroes, but it's not unheard of.  I think you'll be fine. Especially if you're with me."

Rune: "What if I'm the villain?" A serious question posed with only a hint of a smile, thoughtful more than anything.

"I'll give you my weaknesses now."

Anya: "You're not," she said, with complete sincerity. Her faith in him was as solid as stone.

"I'll keep your weaknesses safe; we're a team."

Rune: "The world better watch out. You have no weakness. Men crumble at your merciless feet."

Anya: "I've never met anybody without some weakness. Men crumble at my feet, anyway."

Rune: "Have I ever told you, your confidence is fucking sexy?"

Anya: She laughed, at that, and pressed a kiss to the side of his face.

"You haven't. But better late than never."

Rune: If she left a lipstick mark he wouldn't notice nor care. Not today.

"You want a paper man or a sidekick?"

Anya: No such luck. The worst he'd endure so early in the morning was the faint sheen of a moisturizing lip balm.

"You want to be my sidekick?" she asked, grinning. "Robin to my Batman?"

Rune: "You're the one with the cape," he smirked.

Anya: "Mm. You're not wrong. Have it your way."

She gave his arm a playful little jostle.

"You'll make the cutest sidekick. I'm pretty sure that means you'll have to do what I say."

Rune: "You're taking full advantage of me." Not that he was complaining.

As they rounded the corner, the scent of fresh baked breads and sugar hung in the air. Rune glanced back the way they had come, but not for nostalgia.

"You don't need my name. Your route's that way," he pointed.

Anya: She inhaled that telltale bakery aroma with an appreciative sigh, ignoring the pang of hunger that swiftly followed. They'd be stuffing their faces soon enough.

"That's my job, as your hero. I promise not to abuse my power."

Her gaze followed his for a beat. Seeing nothing again, she turned forward with a nod. They had a shadow.

"What do they want?"

Rune: "To go to his funeral." The streets were relatively quiet. Not a procession of vehicles or pedestrians on either side. Through the hum of life beyond their sight was a solid booming voice. Beyond the bakery was the cathedral, and behind its great arches and domes lay the graveyard.

Anya: The corners of her mouth turned down in a pronounced frown. Very recently deceased, then. And not yet resting in peace. Poor soul.

"Mm. No, thank you. The last thing I need to witness is my mama falling apart and my papa trying to keep it together for her sake."

Rune: That was uniquely specific. Something she had considered before, perhaps.

"You don't have to see anything you don't want to."

Another glance behind. A sigh.

"You go on ahead. I'll catch up."

Anya: "I don't mind waiting. Do you want me to go? I can order for you, if you'd like."

Rune: "Unless you want to walk through a church." He wasn't going to make that decision for her. "Just taking him around the corner."

Anya: "It's fine. Waiting here or walking with you. I'm waiting, regardless. I can take a detour. Let's get him where he needs to go."

Rune: Could he say he loved her again? That would be too much.

"Mein Spatzi." Her hand was lovingly squeezed as they were turned back to the corner.

"Alright old man. You got your wish."

Anya: His squeeze was returned in kind. Anya walked contentedly at his side, wondering if the spirit could even see her, wearing Rune's ring as she was. Perhaps they were invisible to each other. Only Rune able to see them both.

"I'm supposed to be looking at beautiful New York City architecture anyway, remember? No time like the present."

Rune: An old man in life, a young spirit, stared at the seemingly young man, old spirit, talking to himself.

"Brooklyn is superior to Manhattan, don't let anyone fool you."

His head turned an inch to the wraith.

"By the pharmacy? That's you?" He clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Heights just lost the best Greek - mm." Rune sighed through his nose. "Then it's in good hands."

The church rivaled the height of every neighboring apartment building. Three crosses on gold onion domes stretched to the heavens. Its beauty matched only by the other historical landmarks scattered about the borough. One of the few buildings with its original iron gates. He wasn't the only mage watching over Brooklyn.

"You're in there, Papadakis."

Another pause, wherein Rune laced his fingers with Anya, and squeezed again.

"It's... a surprise. I promise it'll be interesting."

Anya: "I haven't spent as much time here, but you know I trust your judgment." Her lips twitched, listening to one half of a conversation. Rune continued to be an impossible man.

She looked up to admire the ornate building, twisting a curl around the fingers of her free hand. It really was a beautiful church.

"Is he on his way?"

Rune: His silence stretched for a breath before nodding once. "Mm. Old man never thought to retire. Left his restaurant to his son. He won't stick around for long."

Anya: "Some people need to work for their entire lives. Keeps them young. I don't think that Mr. Grzesiak would have retired if he'd lived to be a hundred. My papa will probably be the same."

She shrugged. An idle life didn't really suit her, either.

"It was kind of you to walk with him.  It must be scary, to go it alone. Or at least nice to have company."

Rune: That was the theme of their lives. He had realized along the way to the graveyard. It was the most significant of a handful of themes. One could call his reluctance to expire a reluctance to retire. Anya's life was purposeful. The lives that surrounded them shared the same fate.

The sleepless fate of the restless.

"Just talked about his restaurant and his son. Without his son, I don't think he'd be going anywhere."

Anya: "Sounds like he needed someone to talk to, then. I'm glad he had his son. And that his son had him. Maybe we can have Greek, one of these days."

On that subject, her stomach gave another uncomfortable pang, and she tightened her hold on him, turning back in the direction they'd come.

"Now, let's go eat. Before I waste away, right here on the sidewalk. I'm wasting, Rune."

Rune: "Papadakis is the place in Brooklyn Heights... apparently," the mage smirked.

"Oh, my goodness. Do you want me to carry you into the bakery, honey?" The pet name was a slip, but it was too late to take it back. He allowed it to float in the air between them.

Anya: Honey. That was new. She decided immediately that she didn't mind it. It warmed her just as effectively as 'Spatzi' did. One corner of her mouth curved upward.

"You can carry me to the door. I should be able to make it from there."

Rune: The bakery was within view. Scooping Anya into his arms was effortless and for the world to see.

"Are you sure?" Busy fighting a smile. "You can eat your bagels right here."

Anya: She slung an easy arm over his shoulders, laughing delightedly.

"Yeah, but then how do you eat your bagels? I still can't let you starve."

Rune: "You feed me yourself!" he laughed, gently wrinkling around his eyes.

Anya: Her fingers toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck as he walked, burying a chuckle against his shoulder.

"Okay, okay. My hands are yours to use. What do you have on your bagels, anyway? Butter? Or maybe one of those breakfast sandwiches with eggs, hold the cheese?"

Rune: "Hummus," he nodded. "Smoked salmon. Haven't had one in a while. My neighbor usually brings one when he knows I'm in. If I'm not with you, it's just boiled eggs and coffee."

Anya: She hummed in quiet approval. Excellent taste.

"I love hummus. Not as good as cream cheese, for a bagel. But with carrots, or crackers, or chips..."

G-d, she was ravenous. She redirected that line of thought.

"Boiled eggs and coffee. I didn't even see eggs. I'm getting you groceries."

Rune: "I can get groceries anytime." Didn't sound like an enjoyable day out for his best friend, but then again if she offered the same, he knew what his answer would be.

A sigh. "I haven't shopped in ages."

Anya: "And yet, your cabinets are basically empty."

The corner of her mouth lifted. A short trip wouldn't interrupt much, she figured.

"I can see that. I'm happy to do it. I can have them delivered, even. Or order for pickup. Just swing by in an hour or two."

Rune: "You and your fancy online whatevers." They had reached the glass door. Her decision whether she returned to her feet or pulled the silver handle.

Anya: She snorted softly. "I wouldn't call it fancy. Convenient, sure. Don't be stubborn."

In fact, she was fishing out her mobile right at that moment and opening an app. Reaching for the handle of the door was an act of pure distraction.

"Ok. Where are we starting? Eggs?"

Rune: "Making me a grocery list already, you mad woman? Breakfast first." Breakfast, flowers, old nuns, grocery run - their day was filling up. Had they intended this? Had she? The peek into his life was ever expanding.

Anya: "I can multitask." She glanced up at the menu, scanning it briefly, before dropping her gaze back to her mobile. Just as she'd suspected, she knew precisely what she wanted.

"So... eggs?"

Rune: "Mhm." Seemed she was fixed on filling his fridge now to the point of being more interesting than bagels and cream cheese. He would have laughed if it hadn't been for him.

"Ja, mevrouw. I'll eat the eggs you really want me to have," he smirked.

Anya: "I appreciate your cooperation." She gave a satisfied nod, ignoring any eyes that lingered on a grown woman being carried. She'd look back up long enough to place her order, at least. An asiago bagel with garden vegetable cream cheese, and a large soy milk latte. With brown sugar syrup, if they had it.

"What about bread? Do you even have a toaster? I didn't see a toaster."

Rune: A poppy seed bagel with hummus and lox. Coffee, black. He couldn't negotiate for his wallet and cradle her simultaneously. A decision had to be made.

"I use a skillet. Toaster broke in '93." If he started to relax his arm to let her drop, would she cling?

Anya: "'93,'" she echoed, lifting her gaze to his face. "And it's been the skillet ever since, hm?"

That felt like a revelation, though she wasn't quite sure of what, yet. Something to add to her own, private list for the future, perhaps.

The steady support of his arms lessened. She wasn't going to fight it, only slip to her feet with a sigh and add bread, quickly seeking out a table to grab and wait for their breakfast to be ready.

Rune: It hadn't occurred to him to be bothered by it, but the way her gaze lingered, and her echo of the year gave him pause. A small deflective smile creased the corner of his mouth.

"What?"

Anya: "Hm?" She'd located a table near a window and taken a seat, legs crossing at the ankles.

"Nothing. I was just wondering why you never replaced it."

Rune: "Skillet does just fine," he shrugged, sitting across from her. "You do what you're accustomed to."

Anya: "I suppose. And you don't have an issue standing at a stove." Which had to make life much less complicated.

"But you'd also probably say I'm spoiled by convenience. Whatever makes the mundane tasks easier, so I have more time for the stuff that matters most to me. On that note, how do you feel about produce?"

Rune: Ah. If she was going to be a regular visitor of Hillkate, there needed to be some accommodations. The curtain for the bathroom, a toaster...

"What are you trying to make me, healthy?"

Anya: "Healthy and happy, as always. But I don't want to be wasteful if it's just going to rot."

She hummed and scrolled.

"Shelf stable stuff, then. I know you like your oily fish."

Rune: "A toaster," he decided. "Anywhere. Maybe not Thomas and Jesse," he winced. "Probably cursed."

If this was really happening, then he couldn't dismiss her desire.

"Apples and grapes. If I don't eat them, someone else will. I've never had a potato spoil."

Anya: "I can add a toaster, I'm sure." Sooner than she'd expected, but he'd hear no complaints. She only beamed at him, and dropped her eyes back to the screen.

"No. Last thing we need is cursed toast. Apples, grapes, potatoes. Check, check, check."

They could skip right over dairy, of course.

"Bottled water? I think you gave the last of yours to Honey."

Rune: "Sure."

Rune stared out the window, considering what else he could possibly need.

"Get yourself some creamer. That dry stuff. Won't go bad."

More staring, chin now in hand. "I really... can't remember the last time I shopped."

Anya: Sweet man. Her leg brushed against his beneath the table, humming softly at the scrape of fabric over her bare skin.

"Creamer. Check."

French Vanilla, would suit her just fine. She only had her own tastes to consider. There was no dairy in the creamer, but he preferred his coffee black.

"So, who gets your eggs and coffee, then?"

Rune: One hand supported his chin, the other under the table, teasing the tips of his fingers over warm skin. Poker face.

"A nun comes by, sometimes a priest. They make a list for everyone. Most of the time I'm not around, but I still get knocks."

Anya: Anya's face could hide nothing, try as she might to bite down on a smile.

"That's kind of them. Good to know they're looking out for you."

But she still had every intention of sparing them at least one trip.

"That everything? No snacks?"

Rune: "Boiled eggs and potatoes are snacks."

Their order was called. Rune stood to retrieve, glancing back.

"Eating here or walk and eat?"

Anya: Anya begged to differ, but the food was for him. She lifted a shoulder and nodded, watching him collect their breakfast.

Walking would always appeal. Still, they had a set plan for the day.

"You said the flower shop is close by, yeah? Let's eat here, so we don't bring food in."

Rune: Their food was removed from the bag. The lady behind the counter did a double take. So many people, that man included, were usually in and out. That New York life. Sitting was generally reserved for late afternoon with dead eyes and slumped shoulders.

"Next door." The first sip of coffee was heavenly.

"Crackers," he decided. "For the fish. That's it. Whatever else you want in the cabinets... you can have one. A cabinet."

Anya: Her very own cabinet. Anya was too busy smiling at Rune to notice any eyes on them. She buried the expression behind a sip of her latte and reached for what she hoped was her bagel with an eager hand.

She really was ravenous.

"Crackers. Check. And I'll... add a couple of things for myself, then."

Mostly vegetarian or vegan staples, so they wouldn't have to order out every time she stayed over. And she would stay over, it seemed. With a cabinet, and all. She took a very Rune-like bite of her bagel and tried not to choke.

"They don't have a toaster," she said, when she'd managed to swallow. "I'll have to look for one somewhere else."

Rune: Her smile was contagious. There was nothing unusual about that, but knowing something as basic as security filled her with joy—he had forgotten what that felt like. It had taken many long years before laying down roots, only to avoid those very roots out of necessity and convenience.

But this wasn't the same. Security of a person... nothing. Not like her. Not in a lifetime. When was the last time he had told anyone? Even Jesse?

"Careful," he smiled, mirroring her bite.

"Cursed toaster it is," he shrugged. "I'll be back for another beetle, eventually."

Anya: Her next bite was much more measured, despite her efforts to fight a laugh. Hungry or not, she just couldn't keep up with him.

She cleared her mouth with a sip from her drink before speaking again.

"No cursed toasters. I'll find one! There are other stores. The groceries should be ready to pick up by the time we buy flowers and talk to your nuns. Then the day is ours."

Rune: "I warn you, talking to nuns takes twenty minutes to ten hours. Talk about the weather, the Bible, the neighbor's cat, chess, Cab Calloway. You give a signal and we're out of there."

Anya: She covered a chuckle with the back of her wrist, working on another mouthful of bagel.

"Noted. I don't mind chatting for a while. Especially about the neighbor's cat." She flashed a smile.

"I want to get to know them."

Rune: He was hiding his grin behind his cup of coffee. The question was just too easy to pluck.

"The cat or the nuns?"

Anya: She snorted. "Both. Definitely both."

Rune: "What was our code word before? Do you remember? I forget what it was for."

Anya: "Mackerel!" Not something that Anya would easily forget. Not even years later. Her eyes narrowed at him across the table, but her mouth was tight with suppressed laughter.

"For danger. And you didn't use it. What's the point of a code if you don't use it, sir?"

Rune: "Clearly I'm forgetful." Not normally like him, but it was such a throwaway discussion. He had only remembered now, because...

"We should have one for I love you."

Anya: Oh. Well, that softened her smile. She was warmed by more than the early morning sun streaming in through the window.

"Hm. Yes. Definitely not mackerel. Something you won't forget."

Rune: His smile returned, smug this time, and still behind his cup.

"Say 'tobiuo.'"

Anya: Oh, she was suspicious of that smile. She squinted at him, but obliged.

"To...biuo? Is that right? Tobiuo? What does it mean?"

Rune: "Tow-bee-oh." He nodded. She had an excellent ear for language. "Flying fish."

Anya: She burst into delighted laughter, narrowly avoiding her latte taking a path down the wrong pipe. Flying fish, indeed. She did so love him.

"Better than mackerel. Tobiuo, then. You are... so cute."

Rune: There was no hiding his delight now. Chin in hand, eyes narrowed and wrinkled, holding back laughter as he enjoyed the sight of her.

"Have I told you about avatars?"

Anya: A small shake of her head, mirth still in her eyes as she nibbled at what remained of her breakfast.

"Nope. I'm guessing you're not talking about the movie. No blue people with tails?"

Rune: "Lord, have mercy." Just for that, he was finishing his bagel. "Where do you think magic comes from?"

Anya: Her shrug was completely innocent. Anya only knew as much as she'd been told by him. And, more recently, by Vincent.

"Um... you're born with it? And I'm guessing there are probably, like, magical places."

Rune: "Magical places," he mused, then shrugged, nodding as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"You could say that. I'm not teleporting to Amsterdam and Cape Town. Where I go is... magical places, yeah."

A sip of coffee would help wash down the conversation.

"Some people are born awakened. Like me. Most of the time, people learn. We call it awakening for a reason. When you realize magic is real, tangible, and you're a part of it, it all clicks. Then the real fun begins. What awakens is a part of your soul, and it takes all shapes. Can you guess what mine looks like?"

Anya: Leaning forward to rest her head on her open palm, Anya hung on his every word. This new openness about his life continued to captivate her.

"I..." She really couldn't begin to guess. What did a piece of a soul look like? Did it glow? Was it like a ball of light? But she recalled his earlier smile, and what had prompted this conversation in the first place.

"A tobiuo... A flying fish?"

Rune: She seemed to enjoy this newly opened window; her enthusiasm was as infectious as her smile. Still, one story at a time.

"Mm. No two are alike. Just one of those things no one talks about," he shrugged.

His gaze was no longer upon her, but just above her, lingering where a halo should be. He breathed slow and deep.

"Ruine has always liked you."

Anya: Her gaze followed his, head tipping back to examine... the grungy cafe ceiling. She was still smiling when she looked to Rune again, her head tilting this way and that.

"Rune, Ruine. Cute."

That a little piece of Rune's soul liked her was wonderful to hear.

"I'm flattered. Is... she always with you? Or... he?"

Rune: "She. Not that she's in a skirt. She just... is." Another shrug. Aware of his body language, he sat up.

"Actually, I see her less than I see you. She just pops up when I'm with you. Comes around when she pleases. No rhyme or reason."

Anya: "I didn't think so, but a fish in a skirt is... a mental image."

One that had her cracking a grin.

"Mm. Does she speak to you? Does she speak at all?"

Rune: "Mm. You could call it that. Sounds like... bird song, if birds could sing underwater. That and," he tilted his head, "a very, very old language."

Anya: Birdsong. A favorite of hers, but that was no secret.

"Must be pretty." Possibly pretty confusing, if Rune didn't understand the language. He probably did, polyglot that he was.

"Does that mean anyone can do magic, then? As long as they learn how?"

Rune: Her question twisted his insides, eyes fixed upon the table with a faraway look behind his lashes. When he looked up, it was with a measured smile.

"With enough belief, practice, skill, of course you can."

Anya: There he went... and she wasn't exactly sure why. What old memory had she inadvertently trampled upon?

"You ok?" she asked, brow furrowed. His answer could wait a moment.

Rune: "I'm not broken." But he offered his hand, anyway.

Anya: "I didn't ask if you were broken," she countered, slipping her hand into his. "Only if you were ok. You looked sad for a minute there, but we don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to. You done with breakfast?"

Rune: "Eyes like a hawk." His smile was brief, but hardly a mask.

"Mm. Flowers for kleine nonnen." He began gathering their trash for the bin.

"Tobiuo."

Anya: Anya made no protest to his tidying. She busied herself with draining the last of her drink and tossing out her cup. His arm was taken again as a matter of course, and given a gentle squeeze. Another 'I love you', this one without words.

"Do you know their favorites, or are we going more generic?" she asked, starting for the door.

Rune: Silent or coded, the love was there. There would come a point when he wouldn't know what to do with it, but for now, cool as a cucumber.

"There's a painting on - I bet I can find it." Keeping her arm for himself, Rune pulled out his phone and did quick research while they walked to the next glass door.

"Sister Francis has this in her living room. One like it," he said, offering his brick. A painting of a nun wearing a heavy crown of flowers stared confidently back.

Anya: Arm looping more securely through his to free her hands, she took his phone.

"Oh, it's beautiful," she mumbled, mostly to herself, attempting to zoom in to get a better look at the crown of flowers the nun wore. She took another moment to examine the blooms on the spear she held, as well.

"Hm. Looks like they might be zawilec... or... or..."

For her life, she couldn't bring the English name to mind.

"These red ones might be cynie. We can show this to the florist. Make something really close. This is perfect."

Rune: Rune looked at the photo again, as though staring might translate what was lost to language. Should he know this word? He didn't even remember the name of his favorite flower if it could be called.

"We'll just shove it in her face, yeah."

There was no urgency in explaining his usual custom of color coding based on the time of year—when he was around to bother. Blue for Angelic Salutation, red for Pascha, green for Pentecost, and white for the fortunate peaceful death of yet another old soul.

In his many decades in and out of the lives of those at Hillkate, a floral gift of every color had been given at least once.

The flower shop was as unassuming as a flower shop could be. Cool-toned and relatively quiet. The dulcet sound of 1950s pop emanated from somewhere behind a split-leaf philodendron, one of the few leaf plants in the entirety of the shop. A woman in her late forties hummed along with Bobby Darin while sorting a large clear refrigerator, thick black curls swaying with her restless bobbing.

Anya: She snorted, still studying the digital image, trusting Rune not to steer her into any obstacles.

"Mm. Maybe less shoving and more politely offering. I like flowers. I don't want to get banned from the shop for life."

The promise of more time in Brooklyn was a warm and comforting presence in the back of her mind, a blanket she didn't want to shed. Surely, in time, she'd become as familiar with the businesses around his flat as she was with those near the squat, ugly building she used to call home.

Anya looked up as they passed through the florist's door, but she kept hold of Rune's brick of a phone. She inhaled the scent of freshly cut flowers with a smile, one that lingered when she spotted the woman running the shop.

"Good morning," she greeted, cheerfully.

Rune: The woman turned around with a smile behind the creases that made her mouth. The name Tammy was etched on a colorful badge pinned to the strap of her apron.

"Well hi," she greeted. "What can I do you for?"

Rune looked from the phone to Anya and back. With a breath, he turned the screen.

"Looking for these." Blunt as a butter knife, the very thing he had warned her about.

Anya: Anya's smile widened. Her affection for the man at her side was apparent in every line of her body. She gave his arm a squeeze, attention still on the dark-haired florist as she swallowed a laugh.

"Or as close as you can get. I thought that I recognized what some of the flowers might be, but I can't remember the name to save my life. Do you think you could help us out? It doesn't have to be perfect. A similar... vibe, is fine."

Rune: Tammy was quick to place her hand behind Rune's, holding him steady and pulling him closer for a better look, staring from above her gold-rimmed spectacles.

"That looks like impatiens, maybe. We ain't got any of those. All tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils this time of year. That's a rose. I think that's a marigold. I can definitely do that. How's that sound? Marigolds, roses; how about some lily of the valley or baby's breath for some white?"

Rune took his hand back and shrugged.

"Sounds like a nun would love it."

Anya: Impatiens. Not the word she was looking for; it didn't really matter, though it would bug her until she thought of it. For the florist, she had a smile and a nod.

"You're the expert, here. I trust you. I'm sure whatever you come up with will be beautiful."

She shifted her focus to Rune. "Are we just doing the one? For the table in the entryway, maybe? Or a posy for each of them?"

Rune: His expression was, for a moment, expressionless, before blooming in a sharp smile and a modest laugh.

"A posy for each sounds fine. This can be for the foyer."

Anya: Her head tipped against his for a moment. Just a quick touch.

"So," she began, looking to the florist once more, "can you do a larger arrangement, and then a few smaller bunches with the same flowers?"

Rune: "Yes, I can! Just tell me how many littles."

"Three," said Rune. His head tilted in Anya's direction. "Unless you wanna give an old priest a flower, then four."

Anya: "Four," she said, definitively. "Let the man get flowers at least once. Thank you! We'll just browse while we wait, I guess."

Rune: "Then you're giving them to him." It was about Anya, and what her presence would do for the old quiet priest on the second floor. Her presence was nothing short of lovely and refreshing. Soul healing, in fact.

"Someone out there has to know when the first human intentionally planted a flower."

Anya: If that was meant to deter her, it had no hope of working. She offered him a beatific smile. "Happy to."

It didn't matter if he chucked them as soon as they left. The meaning was in the giving. He'd feel it, anyway.

Tightening her hold on Rune's arm, she turned in a random direction and started for the nearest display. "Someone you can talk to, maybe.  Unless there's someone old enough to remember. I think someone figured out how to plant a seed way before we knew how to write the process down."

Rune: "A demon or angel, maybe. The angel would say they're the first. A wraith probably knows but that's a travel. Maybe a vampire, but one that old probably isn't in the talking mood."

His voice was just low enough, and the music just loud enough not to harbor concern.

Anya: Anya wasn't eager enough for an answer to his question to go hunting down a demon. Not after her last encounter. Which had also been her first. An angel sounded like a better idea.

"What?" she asked, matching his pitch. They were close enough that it wasn't hard to hear him. "Are older vampires less talkative, or something?"

Rune: "Oh, yeah. What, you haven't met one?" Rune smirked, squeezing her arm.

Anya: Green eyes rolled at him, playfully. "Nope. Haven't been introduced. I'm pretty sure that's your fault."

She rubbed the silken petal of a tulip between her fingers as they passed.

"There's so much to remember. I should be writing this all down."

Rune: "You don't have to remember anything. In fact, you could forget, if you wanted to. I'd understand." But he had a feeling the notion would be taken offensively.

"Are there piwonie in here?"

Anya: "I want to remember everything." And there wasn't so much as a hint of doubt in her tone. He should have known who he was dealing with.

"Piwonie." She grinned at his use of the Polish name. "That's very good."

They'd discussed the flower only the day before, but it still warmed her that he'd remembered.

"Hm. Ah! In that bucket, there." She nodded toward a table on the other side of the little shop. She wasted no time tugging him in that direction.

"Which color do you like best?"

Rune: That was one of the most romantic declarations she could give, and one that poked a fine needle in his heart.

There was only one thing to do other than tell her a truth, and that was to delay said truth and pluck a green peony from the bucket.

"The nuns can't have all the flowers."

Anya: She stepped close enough to bury her nose in soft petals, that little fern curl smile tugging at her lips.

"I agree. That's why I asked which color you like best."

Rune: "Mm, this color," he insisted. "It's yours." But he had a feeling that the answer wouldn't satisfy, so he looked toward the neighboring bucket for a dusty pink sister.

Anya: Coincidentally, being near enough to smell the flowers also meant being near enough to let her lips graze his cheek. Gentle fingers collected each of the blossoms he held, grabbing a handful more of both colors until she'd formed a small posy of green and pink.

"There. That's pretty. Now, we need a little vase."

Rune: Every day, relentlessly whittling at his defenses. Passively chipping and chipping, with the same confidence given in every aspect of her daily life.

The audacity.

A vase for the Hillkate flat, one he would look at and think of her. Then it had to be green... that modest green glass with a sheer black bow on the shelf would do nicely.

Anya: Green. The selection alone was enough to make her smile. She collected it from him and made her way to the front with their bonus haul. They'd have a time trying to carry all of their flowers home, but they'd manage.

Rune: Rune would pay in cash, gathering bouquet after bouquet in his arms with only the intent of carrying more than his guest. She, of course, could haul her personal batch of peonies.

"Fair warning, you're going to have your face touched. Her sight is no better than a straw."

Anya: She'd relieve him of as many as he would allow, taking particular care not to crush the peonies. The walk back to his building wouldn't be a long one.

"That's fine. It's just a face." Anya would let the woman 'see' her in whatever way worked for her. "Anything else I should know?"

Rune: "Hmm." No one was going to lock the doors trying to convert her. Not this decade. But what else was worth a warning? An actual warning...

"They'll want to pray with you."

Anya: "I pray," she reminded him. Generally in Hebrew and not to Jesus Christ, but G-d was the same, no?

"And I don't reject people wanting to pray for me, anyway. I appreciate it."

Rune: Rune could only nod, retracing his steps from the very day they had met. He had prayed in front of her before, never told her what she had to believe, but hadn't felt comfortable worshiping in her presence. Never wanted her to feel a shred of questioning or unwarranted shame. He didn't care what faith she had, so long as she had been raised lovingly, and not forced against her will.

"A nun passed away recently. Absolute rock. I don't think that woman ever smiled. Underneath her frown was a sense of humor. Whether someone said they were atheist, Buddhist, or Presbyterian, it was always. 'It's ok, we all make mistakes.'"

Anya: Her head tipped back with her answering laugh, the sound bright and open in the early morning quiet.  She was quick to bite down on the sound as it bounced off of the sleepy buildings. The neighborhood really was a peaceful one.

"I think I would have liked her. It's a shame I won't get to meet her."

For Anya, religion and culture were irrevocably enmeshed. She was a Jew as much by blood as she was by faith.

"We don't really... proselytize. But I've never minded hearing about other people's faiths. It's interesting to hear what's similar and what's different."

As long as there was mutual respect. She wasn't above giving a pushy asshole a piece of her mind. Or her fist.

Rune: He felt as though he'd told this story before. That sense of déjà vu followed their relationship like a restless spirit, and he began wondering if he had known her in some past life. Perhaps another reason for their amicability.

Back through the iron gate, glancing at the windows above them before pulling at the double door.

"Sisters first, or Mr. 204?"

Anya: "Mm. Let's start here and work our way up, in order."

That seemed less complicated than bouncing up and down, particularly if they were going to pick up the groceries in a reasonable amount of time. She beamed at him before making her way to the nearest door.

"Want me to knock?"

Anya was carrying less than he was. She shifted her burden to one arm and raised her fist. She'd give a polite rap at his go-ahead, and step out of the way so his was the first face seen.

Rune: "Go ahead." She had become comfortable, even here. There would never come a day when this woman was less than loved.

But there was no answer from apartment 101. It was the door to 103 that opened. A tall, hunched woman in gray and white poked her head out, squinting as though her life depended on it.

"Sister Bernadette is seeing the doctor."

Rune looked to the door and back. "Why isn't he-"

"Dashed if I know. Come, have some tea. Bring your friend."

"Sister Francis," Rune whispered, heading in the direction of her slowly closing door.

Anya: The silence that followed her knock had her smile tightening with worry.  101. That's where he mentioned his favorite nun living, right? Just the day before? She hoped the trip to the doctor was a simple wellness check. But one never really knew, where the elderly were concerned.

Anya willed herself to soften, the slight tension easing out of her face and shoulders as she followed behind Rune toward the other flat.

She gave only a silent nod of acknowledgement at his words. She'd allow their hostess to address her, before speaking.

Rune: The odor of incense and black tea wafted into the hallway. The delicate sound of bossa nova jazz greeted them in the brief entryway. The flat was scantly decorated. A cross over her mantel, a gold frame of Saint Adela in between her windows. A blue kettle steamed on the weathered stove.

"These flowers are for you, Sister."

"Are they really?" The bouquet was scrutinized behind glasses. Her dull eyes quickly brightened. "These... These look familiar."

But her gaze was soon captured by the woman at his side.

"Are you going to introduce me to this flower?"

"This one's called an Anya. Sturdy petals. From Poland."

"A pretty wildflower. Come here. Let me shake your hand."

Anya: The Sister's unit was very nearly as sparse as Rune's. But Anya's eyes drifted to each of the little details, in turn. The incense and soft jazz spoke to the woman's personality as well.

Her smile bloomed sunshine warm, cheeks pinking at the gentle compliment. She hastened forward to take the older woman's hand in her callused one.

"It's very nice to meet you, Sister. The flowers are from a painting that Rune showed me. Or, as close as we could get."

Rune: Paper-thin skin wrapped around delicate bones, but both hands cool and gentle, gave a loving squeeze.

"Oh! The one in my hallway, is it? Mm, mhm. It's very good. Yes. Let's find a vase and brighten their day." Anya was put to work, pointing at one of the white cabinets in her kitchen. "In there, I think. And what are those?" The batch of green and pink scrutinuzed.

Anya: Anya nodded her agreement, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, once she'd reclaimed her hand.

"I thought it was beautiful. Such lovely colors."

She was more than happy to lend her hands, setting the rest of her burden aside, for a moment . It felt good to busy herself with pulling down a suitable vase for the Sister's little bunch of flowers. She filled it with cold water and tipped in the packet of plant food that had come with the blossoms. Practiced fingers set to arranging them in a flattering style. There was also the matter of the larger bouquet to contend with...

"Oh, those? Those are for unit three-o-three. They should brighten the place up a little. Would you be willing to spare a bigger vase, for a little while? We got some for the foyer, too."

Rune: Rune smiled to himself. He wanted to excuse himself to the hallway for a cigarette, but there was no way he could escape Sister Francis now. He could feel her dull eyes upon his back.

"I have mason jars," she gestured again to the cabinet. "We can cut the stems shorter. Should do fine. I have more than I need."

"You haven't made preserves in years."

"Two, Mr. Rune. It's been two years."

Anya: "Mm. I can make that work."

When she was satisfied with her arrangement, she set it off to one side and made for the cabinet again.

"Do you have shears, or something?" She asked, grabbing for the largest bouquet. "What kinds of preserves did you make?"

Rune: "Strawberry rhubarb. Raspberry. Anything I could get my hands on. But these hands aren't much good for anything anymore but brushing my hair and my teeth. Wilting. Just wilting like a flower, I am."

A pair of gray and green sheers were pulled from her junk drawer, as well as a box of matches, taken from her as she waddled towards a cluster of yellow candles.

"You don't look a day over 70."

"You hush your mouth."

Anya: Tempted to offer her own hands for the Sister's use, it was fear that stilled her tongue. Not of the nun, no. Of the stove that was involved in canning of any sort.

Anya merely smiled at the exchange between Sister Francis and Rune, taking the shears with an appreciative dip of her head.

"Thank you." She snipped ends from the stems of the largest bouquet with swift, brutal efficiency. The process wouldn't take her long.

Rune: Rune set to work lighting the candles of various sizes, tallest to shortest. Sister Francis looked from one guest to the other, retreating with a sigh to her favorite chair, discolored from many hours of constant use.

At least she could crochet while she scowled.

"Why do you know this man?"

Anya: She eyed those candles warily for only a moment, quickly dropping her gaze back to the task at hand.

"He just... fell out of nowhere , one day," she laughed, quietly. That was truer than the woman probably knew.

"And he kept coming back. I decided I liked him."

Rune: "He does that, doesn't he? Fall out of thin air. As if from nowhere, but maybe Heaven."

Nun and exorcist exchanged looks.

"She knows what I am. What I do."

Her brows shot high, looking at Anya with new albeit same dull eyes.

Anya: "I do now," she clarified, separating flowers and discarded stems into neat piles.

"I didn't when we first met. I thought he was like me. A mutant, I mean." She gave a half shrug.

Rune: "Another of God's miracles."

Her comment, so casual, made Rune look in Anya's direction.

"I can speak confidently of one."

Anya: Rune's words had her face heating. She bit down on her cheek in vain effort to fight a smile, absently tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

"I've never thought of it that way. Maybe you're right. I always did consider it a gift. Not everyone feels the same."

Another shrug, as she snipped away.

Rune: "People thought the earth was the center of the universe. Didn't make it so. A miracle is a miracle even if no one sees it."

Neither could Rune keep his smile to himself, but he did keep his distance, leaving himself as a barrier between Anya and the candles.

"There was a time in my life I would have told you I was cursed."

Anya: "Mm. I agree. I think I like that way of looking at it." She just might share the concept with her friends at the community center. Possibly.

"You? Mr. Luck?" she asked with raised eyebrows, scooping up discarded stems and tossing them into the trash. She'd fill the second 'vase' the same as the first, and begin arranging the trimmed flowers.

Anya did know of one curse. The one he'd only just shared with her. But she wasn't going to mention that, not knowing how much Sister Francis knew.

Rune: "Mr. Luck," he echoed. The rocking chair by the fireplace was pulled to the center of the room. Making himself at home where he'd been standing. Their hostess thought nothing of his peculiarities. Anya was the only one standing, now.

But he'd seen the way she eyed the flames.

His hands were soon given purpose. The end of Sister Francis' crocheted blanket tossed in his lap.

"You're not the only one in this room that's had to practice."

"Oh, yes, this mutant business. What is it exactly you do?"

Anya: "Mutant business." The phrase made her chuckle. She lifted a wrist to her mouth to muffle the sound, a marigold pinched between her fingers.

Her gaze shifted briefly to Rune. It soothed something inside her to see him so at ease here. Her smile softened, eyes falling back to her task.

"It's, hm, a kind of telepathy. Limited to non-human animals. You probably won't be surprised to hear that I'm a veterinarian."

Rune: "Animals?" An inch of work later, she continued. "Do they speak words? Sentences? We give them funny voices, but I've always assumed it's just urges. Their language being yips and hisses, you can translate that?"

Anya: "Mm. Not words, no. Not usually. Depends on the sapience of the animal. It's mostly feelings. Impulses, images, memories. I can understand them, and help them to understand me. I can soothe them. And control them, technically. Maybe... compel is a better word."

She looked up to catch Rune's eye, head tilting to one side. "Compel?"

Rune: Rune caught her glance and held it, looking away only to consider. "Mm... compel. You only boss me around," he smirked.

Anya: She contemplated chucking one of the marigolds at his head, but fitted it into the jar instead.

"Only sometimes," she lied, fighting a laugh.

It took her less time to finish the second arrangement, having the first as a reference. Sneaky fingers unwound the bow from their bouquet of peonies to tie around the mason jar, instead. Her smile was pure satisfaction as she set the arrangement aside.

"There." With a deep inhale, she grabbed the first. "Where do you want these, Sister? On the table here? Maybe by a window?"

Rune: Sister Francis squinted at the bouquet. Not a scrutiny, but the everyday struggle to see through eyes past their prime.

"The window," she instructed. "They should enjoy some sun in their final days, don't you think?"

Rune remained quiet and flabbergasted. He couldn't seem to wipe the smile from his face. Not a curse or lunacy, but certainly unusual. The old nun wasn't blind to his mirth, either.

"Do you play games?" she asked. "I can't find a soul willing to play backgammon."

"It's so boring, Sister."

"You're just ruthless and drag the games!"

Anya: "I do," she agreed with a nod, turning a sunny smile on the nun and making her way to the nearest window. She was careful in placing the arrangement on the sill, and stepped back to admire her handiwork. Well done.

"I love games. But I have to confess that I've never played backgammon before. I'm happy to learn."

Rune: "Next time, next time. You'll see her again."

And there her brow rose, turning all of her attention on the exorcist. There his shoulders tightened, and her crochet blanket was tossed back in her lap as he stood.

"You're not the only face we're seeing today. Enjoy your flowers. You'll be playing chess with Sister Bernadette before nightfall."

Anya: Fully prepared to sit through an impromptu lesson, Anya stopped short at Rune's words. Her own brows rose along with the sister's. But she only bit down on her lip and nodded.

"Of course she will," Anya agreed. "And we can play whatever game you'd like."

 For now, she would take to collecting all of the flowers they'd set aside.

"It was so nice to meet you, Sister Francis."

Rune: The nun remained seated, lips thin. This conversation wasn't over. It has only just begun and he knew it. He'd said too much and now his least favorite neighbor would have words.

But for now, she raised a hand farewell.

"Be good, be safe."

Anya: "Yes, ma'am," would be her parting words. For once, she'd allow Rune to take the door, as her arms were well occupied.

Rune: Through the door they went, shut behind Anya's parting figure. Their shared peonies were taken with a sigh.

"If we played games we wouldn't see the rest of daylight. We've got 204 and... tickets to see your mother to sort."

Anya: "I get it," she shrugged, crossing the foyer to set the large arrangement on the entrance table. It did its job to brighten the space and she smiled.

"But I'm pretty sure you're in trouble." Only teasing, her grin said. "Let's go, then. Tickets won't be a problem. I just need to talk to my parents. There's no way that I can go home and not see them."

Rune: "Ahh," he waved off her teasing, managing an earnest smile, albeit brief.

"It'll be a miracle for me." But, he'd leave it at that, for now, unless prodded for an explanation.

"So, 204?"

Anya: "A miracle?" she asked, looking at him as she started for the stairs.

"Mhm. If that's where's next, with Sister Bernadette gone. We'll have to make sure she gets hers, when she's home."

Rune: "Mm... mhm." Half a flight of stairs later, "I've never used my ID to fly."

Anya: "Because you've never flown? IDs are kinda mandatory."

Rune: "Told you, I know people. People like me, we take ships, or buy a porter's favor."

Anya: "I'm not judging. We can do one of those, if you want. We don't have to fly. But a ship would take time. I'd need to work out a schedule."

Rune: He shook his head, taking the steps slower than he normally would for the sake of conversation. "I paid top dollar for the lie. It should work."

Anya: "If you get caught at Customs and deported, I'll visit you."

She battled a smile for a moment, before her expression sobered.

"Your coat will have to be run through an X-ray machine. It's not going to set off any alarms, is it?"

Rune: A moment of consideration, lips thinning, he shook his head. "It'll stay behind. I can pick it up when we land. Just a regular Joe Schmoe."

Anya: "Stay behind?" She was horrified by the very thought and her face hid none of it. "This is feeling like too much. It's too much, Rune. We don't have to go. Or we can go later. Or I can go by myself. She only has to see me, right?"

Rune: "You're worried for my coat?" he chuckled, though it wasn't but a moment later he softened. "Your mother needs you, An. I'm going with you."

Anya: "I am."

Worried for him, more accurately. Without it for however long this journey took them. Less time than if they went by boat, she supposed. Her fingers ached to take his, but she settled for pressing her lips to his cheek.

"Fine. You're the most stubborn person I've ever met, you know."

Rune: "Funny, I can say the same for you. What was that kiss for?" He could still feel her lips against his skin. Everything about her was still fresh on his mind, and there she was, still before him. She was determined to steal his breath once a day from here on.

"I'll have my ID checked before we get tickets."

But for now, room 204 was just feet away. The sound of sports commentators shouting on the other side the only sound of life. It was Rune who knocked this time.

"Open up, kid."

Wood planks groaned. The sound of leather and metal springs. Footsteps. The door opened, and the end of a metal cane poked through, jabbing at Rune's hip.

"I only have minutes to live. What do you want?"

Anya: "Yeah, but the difference is, you would be lying," she grinned. "Do I need a reason?"

Anya certainly didn't think so. Love was the answer. As always.

She turned her smile toward the shut door, waiting just to one side as they listened to the shuffling from inside the flat. The old man's words had her chuckling in an instant.

She stepped closer to be seen over Rune's shoulder, her smile sunny.

"Sounds like we got here just in time, then."

Rune: The man was caught off guard. Sister Bernadette was the eldest nun, but 204 was the frailest-looking of them all. The years had not been kind to his posture. If not for his cane, a strong wind would likely blow him away.

"What's - Who's this?"

"This is Anya, Liam. Be nice."

"Oh." The priest took a step back, fixing the stringy wisps of brown hair from his forehead. Had to be presentable for a lady.

"A pretty stranger isn't an answer. What do you want?"

"A hello, for starters. She's brought you a little something."

Anya: Her smile softened at his quick grooming, and at the compliment, however unintended. She'd offer the first greeting, stepping closer with a small dip of her head.

"Hi! It's nice to meet you. We brought flowers." She lifted the bundles in her arms pointedly.

"Just a little something to brighten your day," she explained.

Rune: Liam looked from the bouquet to the Anya woman and back. As flabbergasted as Rune expected him to be. This wasn't how things were done. Not for so many men.

"I... uh... I have a uh... this is for me?"

"Yes, it's for you, kid. Get outta the way. We'll put it on a table."

More shuffling, opening the door wider for the two of them.

"Well, you already bought em. Put em anywhere."

Anya: "Mhm." His bewilderment came as no surprise. Anya took it in stride, her smile only warming as she stepped past him and into the flat.

She eyed the layout, gaze locking on the kitchen.

"Do you have a jar, maybe? A glass is fine. Just so they can have a little water."

Rune: "I um, a mug. Yeah, the stein. That thing with the lid."

Rune gestured back to the still-rocking recliner. "Go on, sit back down. What are you listening to?"

"NBA. What else do I listen to?"

"Soccer, golf, baseball, fucking cricket."

"Don't cuss under my roof."

"Yeah, fine. Sit down. How's your foot?"

"The devil take it."

Rune's lips thinned, doing his damnedest to swallow a barking laugh. "Ah, kid. Want a drink?"

"I've got a bottle on over there. Bring it."

Anya: "Oh, that'll be nice." Her head bobbed in approval, and she set to work. It soothed her to have busy hands while the two men talked.

She filled and arranged, humming softly to herself. She was only half listening to the exchange.

Rune: "Who the - When did you get a Stanley?"

The two continued their exchange, glances from both men to the gently humming beauty across the modest flat.

"In all my years-"

"Don't start. I'll hear enough from Francis."

"Miss. Miss, come here. Come here, please."

Anya: Anya glanced up from the half-finished arrangement, a rose twirling idly between her fingers. She stuck it swiftly into the lidded mug and crossed swiftly to where Liam sat.

"Yes?"

Rune: Rune stood and stepped back with a sigh, hand sliding down his face, already exhausted. Liam turned in his chair, legs propped and arms resting on each cushion. For a beat he stared, from her eyes to her hair to her clothing.

At last, dry lips parted.

"Are you lost? Blink - Blink twice if you're captive."

"Oh, shut up."

Anya: The once-over was expected. Anya wouldn't wilt under the scrutiny, her posture straight but not stiff. Easy confidence.

His words, on the other hand, caught her completely off guard. She laughed, sharp and sudden, her body tipping forward with the force of it. She brought a hand to her mouth far too late to stifle the sound.

"Oh, I like you. I like him, Rune." She aimed that broad, toothy grin in his direction before turning back to Liam.

"No worries, sir. I'm here happily and of my own free will. If anything, I'm holding him captive. Made him buy flowers and everything. Poor man. You should pity him."

Rune: Her pleasure made the old priest's day. His expression was every bit smug when he turned back to Rune.

There wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. He'd known Liam since he was a freckled bratty child. He knew what that look meant. There would be gloating in his future.

"Are his flowers finished? I'm done with him."

"Hold him captive more often. This is hilarious."

Anya: "Nope." Her lips popped pleasantly on the 'P'. She found herself firmly in cahoots with the priest at her dear exorcist's expense. Her smile couldn't possibly wane as she meandered back toward the table and her flowers.

"And don't rush me, either. These things take time."

She winked at the elderly man as she picked up a marigold.

"Don't worry. He's stuck with me."

Rune: "Why are you all conspiring against me," was completely rhetorical. He knew the answer; as plain as the nose on his face. The answer was too surreal, belonging to some other fortunate spirit.

His gaze returned to her, and he sighed.

"Nice something sticks," said Liam, twisting his crooked spine for the magazine that had fallen.

"I've been here for years. What more do you want?"

Liam just smiled, opening the New York Times with a papery snap.

Anya: Anya only shook her head. Conspiring? She would never!

The grin that refused to wane said otherwise as she tucked the flower into the mug and grabbed another.

It was too easy to fall back into the routine of the task. With two under her belt, it was simply a matter of recreation. She was back to humming absently for the handful of minutes it took her to finish.

Crossing the room with the bouquet in hand, she set it on the coffee table with a final adjusting of stems.

"There. Thank you, for taking these off of my hands."

Rune: Unlike Sister Francis, there were no other seats in Liam's apartment. A single chair at the small square table pressed against the kitchen counter. An unplugged TV decades past its prime. A bare room with a cross and a picture of Mother Mary over the fireplace. A room too similar to Rune's.

The exorcist meandered his way to the kitchen, hovering where he knew he wasn't needed. Eventually leaning on his elbows as he watched in loving silence.

Liam leaned forward in his seat, squinting at his gift.

"Yes, those are nice. That's nice of you. God bless you."

Anya: She waved a hand, smile soft.

The flat was small, and nearly as spartan as Rune's. Anya decided she wanted to check in on him again, someday soon.

For now, she looked to the exorcist and back.

"We'll let you get back to your game.   This was fun," she said. She meant it earnestly.

Rune: It didn't seem he believed her words, but shrugged nonetheless. She was a kind soul. There was no doubt about that.

"We'll be seeing you again?"

Not this again. If there was something he could throw that wouldn't make the glass man crumble...

"Yes, Liam. You'll be seeing her again."

The same raised brows. The same damn look.

Anya: "Soon," she assured, gathering up the blossoms that remained once more. For Rune's sake, she did her best to swallow a laugh at the old priest's expression.

"Great meeting you."

Rune: Three bouquets out of their hands. Liam's sight was too weak to see Rune holding her fingers before the door closed.

"Goodbye, dear."

He could breathe easier in the hallway.

"That's enough socializing for today."

Anya: Anya's laugh was soft enough for only him to hear, grip tightening on his hand as she made her way toward the stairs and the sole flat on the top floor.

"That wasn't nearly as much as yesterday. It's not even lunchtime."

But it wasn't a protest. She was always happy to have him to herself.

"I still have to pick up the groceries, but we can figure out plane tickets first."

Rune: That laugh like sweet nectar. Her energy was contagious; everyone, save one, now knew his dirty little secret.

She was the first woman, the first anyone, he had ever brought to their doorstep; she was the first anyone with a name, with history, the first anyone who would be as constant as themselves.

How thrilling, how stupid, how dangerous.

Because before her, there was death. There was Aoi, there was Enoch, there was Arthur, there was Maximus. There was death and insanity.

Walking through the door, he couldn't bring himself to let her go.

"How about... if you get groceries, I can see to my ID. We'll go from there."

Anya: "Solid plan," she agreed, dipping her head once. If he wanted to keep her hand, he could have it.

Anya tugged him toward his tiny kitchen. His neighbors would not be the only ones to have their flats brightened.

She left the missing nun's flowers on the counter, and set to filling the little, green vase. Priorities.

"They should be ready, by now. I'll check in a minute."

Rune: Her hand was finally released for the sake of work. The one and only chair was dragged to the other side of the table, its back facing the kitchen and straddled.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Anya: There would be no feigning ignorance. Her smile spoke for itself.

"Of course I am."

A packet of food for the peonies as well, tipped into the vase before reverent fingers began rearranging the stems.

"I like this place. I like your neighbors. I love you. What's not to enjoy?"

Rune: One gentle attack after the other. To say she loved him so casually. Such confident audacity.

His elbow rested on the back of the chair, him chin in hand.

"Mm." He had nothing to say. He just wanted to admire her for a beat, before getting back to reality.

Anya: "Mm," she echoed, stifling a laugh at his silence.

There wasn't much to be done where their personal bouquet was concerned. Anya needed to ensure a tasteful arrangement of green and pink before she sought out a place to display them.

The desk beside the bedroom window would do nicely. Fingertips brushed Rune's cheek as she passed. Gone for mere seconds, she returned with empty hands.

"I'll head out. Shouldn't take me long."

Rune: Rune leaned into her hand. His eyes closed in her absence, just existing until the sound of her voice forced them open. He was tired. It had little to do with sleep and everything to do with peace.

"Don't get into trouble." A simple request in this neighborhood. He would not move until she was beyond the door and down the hallway. Just two phone calls is all it would take. One to a phone number leading straight to voicemail. The next required patience. Waiting for the responding call and the voice of a woman on the other line. Yes, everything was up to date. So long as he allowed himself to age relative to the information on his papers, he had nothing to concern himself with for another 40 or 50 years.

So long as he allowed himself to age. He still didn't like it.

Coffee. He needed coffee and a cigarette, and his favorite wall to stare at until Anya's return.

Anya: "Promise, promise." She couldn't imagine stumbling into trouble, here. Perhaps if she went looking, but that was stress that neither of them needed.

Without Rune at her side to hold her hand and make pleasant conversation, Anya was all swift efficiency. She made the walk quickly, and was only slowed slightly by a chat with the grocer and her burden on the way home.

The shut door gave her pause. She didn't suspect that he'd locked it behind her, but she raised a fist to knock, anyway.

Rune: Gentle rapping jarred him from his taciturn mind. He sucked the last of his cigarette down, thumbing out the butt in the ashtray on his tiny dining table. The last of the smoke escaped from his lips as he opened the door, waving away the burden from Anya's face.

"You already know your way around."

Anya: Her nose wrinkled at the smell of smoke. It was an instinctive reaction that she didn't follow up with a comment.

"Basically," she shrugged, slipping past him and straight to the little kitchen. He could protest if he pleased, but she was cleaning out his fridge before anything new made its way home.

"I had my mobile, and it wasn't far." Bags deposited onto the counter, she set to work.

"The lady running the store was so sweet. She gave us a little box of peaches that are supposed to be amazing. I'd never heard of them. Did you sort out your passport?"

Rune: The door was shut behind her. Only then was it locked. As much as he wanted to reach for another cigarette, he dumped the ashes into the trash instead, glancing over his shoulder at the old food being banished from his shelves.

"Mm. I have a whole identity, just mine, for another 40 years, at least. So, passports, driver's license - just another human being."

Anya: "I'm not convinced. You're still an impossible man."

Her head shook, her smile crooked. She tossed an apple that had seen better days into the bin and reached for an old takeout container.

"Where do you get a set of fake documents, anyway? You don't drive. Is there an underground magic counterfeiter? Or just a... regular guy?"

Rune: "You really want to know?"

The fridge door was opened wider. He might as well help if she was going to play house with him.

Play house... hardly play. She had. She was.

"A whole intricate network. Vampires influence outcomes; people with an organization called the Technocracy. We all have our means. We wouldn't survive this technological world we live in otherwise. It's why so many have just... not come back from the Umbra."

Anya: "Yes." A simple answer. She was curious, rather than struck with an intense desire to commit fraud. Just another window into his life.

They could work twice as quickly with two sets of hands. Anya shifted to make room for him.

"Mm. Makes sense. They track everything, these days. It sounds complicated. And being stuck in the Umbra sounds terrifying. From what you've told me about it, anyway."

She inhaled deeply and released the breath on a sigh. "I guess we'll find out how good they are soon."

Rune: "Stuck. Yeah, some. Some don't want to come back. There's whole cities out there no sleeper has ever laid eyes on. Places I haven't even been. Doesn't help those of us that stick around. If they were all here, I imagine the world wouldn't be so... constricted."

Anya: "Whole cities," she echoed, shock flitting across her features. Everything she learned about that impossible place somehow painted a picture that was both a little clearer and a little more obscure.

She dampened a paper towel to give the shelves a quick wipe.

"Constricted?"

Rune: The rest of the groceries now waited on Anya's cleaning. So he took to the counter, hands resting between his knees.

"Consensual reality. The more of theirs the less of ours."

Anya: "Mm. Right." Another towel, this one to dry.

"So, does that mean the Umbra is like a magical free-for-all?"

Rune: "Ha!" He was staring at her now. How surreal. "I don't know how to answer that," he admitted. "There are different realms, and what you can do in those realms differs. The realm with cities, I've never been. Some places are harder to find than others. Easier to live. I usually get stuck in the same three."

Anya: His laugh caught her off guard. She poked her head out of the fridge long enough to glance at him. Then just as quickly back to her wipe down.

"Not a place, then. Lots of places stitched together, without the convenience of a map. Do you think anybody's ever tried? To map it out, I mean? Or maybe it changes... like the forest in that one movie..."

A thoughtful hum as she tossed the used towels. She was satisfied enough with the quick job, and began unpacking paper bags.

Rune: "Mm. People probably have. Scholars, someone. It spans forward and out, up and down. I've seen the sky full of rings and too many moons. Places without a sky at all. Where I've been," he voice trailed. "I've been lucky." His smile was measured.

"Are you done cleaning my kitchen?"

Anya: He'd seen a lot. It made sense. Impossible man that he was.

"Of course you have."

That much was never a surprise. She slotted herself between his legs, a jar of almond butter in one hand.

"For now. Which cabinet is mine, then?" she asked, giving the jar a pointed little shake.

Rune: His smile was unique to her. Their little secret. His legs opened without word. Hands on either side of the counter. Not touching her took conscious thought.

"That one," he nodded, not taking his eyes off her. "Or surprise me."

Anya: "Hmmm. I think I like this one better."

She reached for the handle just beside his head. It was a transparent excuse to step closer, pulling the door open as she did.

Her chest pressed to his as she leaned to slide the jar onto the shelf just over his shoulder.

"You don't mind, do you? That's not your favorite cabinet, or something, is it?"

Rune: Her scent was so inviting, beckoning him closer. Her heat felt through their clothes. That coy little smile, that mischief in her eyes. Intoxicating. The woman had a PHD in bringing him back from the brink.

"I'll let it slide," he smirked. "For a price."

Anya: A silent huff of a laugh stirred the air between them. She'd yet to step away, despite her empty hands. She met his dark eyes unflinchingly.

"Name it."

Rune: At last his hands came to life. Both reaching for her hair. Fingers lost in the depths of her heavenly curls.

He could ask for just about anything. A kiss, a confession, her hair off her shoulders, her mouth on his neck. She could make such demands of him, too. He wondered when it was she could have, realizing it was well beyond the day at the park.

"Do whatever it is you really wanna do. Right now. Don't think."

Anya: That was simple enough. Hardly a price at all. No thinking. They'd discussed something similar before, hadn't they? Years ago.

Her hands came to rest on his thighs, and she claimed his lips without another word.

Rune: What a blessing. His eyes closed, sighing out every ounce of stress that had begun accumulating in his shoulders. What a privilege.

He wanted to bottle this moment and relive it in desperate times.

"Tickets." A word finally uttered in between tiny kisses to subdue his passion.

Anya: Fingertips dug into the flesh of his thighs, and slid up, exploratory, to settle at his waist. Her mouth didn't leave his, even as he uttered that single word. She caught his lower lip with her teeth.

"What? Do you think they're going to sell out?" she mumbled, and gripped the fabric of his jacket. Ridiculous.

But she did need to phone her parents before she finalized anything. That thought was enough to cool even the most blazing heat.

"Ok." She stole a final kiss and shifted a hand to rest gently on his cheek. "Ok."

There wasn't too much food to put away. She'd step out of the bracket of his legs to deal with the rest of it.

Rune: Dangerous were those hands on his waist, making him feel delightfully vulnerable and small. He wondered if her telepathy had crossed the animal-human barrier. She knew him, perhaps more than she realized. So effortless to submit to her whims, he wondered if she had always perceived his true color.

There would be no swift rescue for her hair, cradled in both fists. He smiled into her quipping.

"Tickets before I slip my fingers somewhere distracting. Work before play."

He could dissuade her only because it wasn't forever.

"I'll do the rest. What time is it in...?"

Anya: Mouth twitching at his teasing promise, Anya was tempted to raise a protest. Like with the cleaning, putting things away would go faster with four hands. But he'd be no help to her on her call. The quicker both of them were finished, the sooner he could explain exactly which distracting places his fingers itched to wander.

"Ok," she repeated, digging her mobile out of her bag. "Świebodzin. Or close to there, anyway."

The population of the village where she'd grown up could probably fit into two blocks, in Brooklyn.

"Annnnd iiiiiit's... almost five PM. I'm not interrupting anything."

One more kiss, simply because she could, and she slipped out of the kitchen to shuck off her boots and stretch out onto his sofa with her phone.

Rune: If he chased her lips this time he would surely fall off the counter. There were groceries to sort, and other randoms to tidy while she consulted her family. He expected no mention of himself. Neither a secret nor a priority in this regard. Just another lost soul. A job. It was tidy.

Tidier than his kitchen. The last item placed in the door of his fridge, he began meandering the house looking for discarded items of clothing.

Anya: Anya had no concern for how much of the conversation Rune understood. She had nothing to hide. Not from him.

A change of heart was the explanation she'd give. Which wasn't a lie, really. She'd be home for Passover after all. The time off of work had already been scheduled, and she needed the time between now and then to sort out care for her animals for longer than a day or two, anyway.

She ended the call with a promise to offer more details when she had them. Her chest ached with the force of her inhale as she heaved a massive sigh. She didn't budge from her place on the couch, only pulled up her browser to begin the hunt for tickets.

Rune: Rune couldn't recall the last time he had cleaned his house. Any house. He hadn't seen his other haven in years. For some inexplicable reason, the Umbra didn't often spit him out on the west coast. He assumed after so many years it was the realms he frequented. That he couldn't change. Wouldn't.

By the time her phone call ended, he was in the bathroom wiping down surfaces and gathering the last of his laundry.

"I understood two words," he said proudly, squeezing her foot as he crossed the room.

Anya: She laughed, giving her foot a little wiggle when he released it.

"Good job. We'll have to practice, before we go. We're leaving end of the month."

Provided she could find suitable tickets. She was deep in a silent debate between a non-stop flight and extra legroom, but glanced up to watch Rune move through the flat.

"Are you doing laundry?"

Rune: End of the month. The urge to say her mother wasn't going anywhere tickled his tongue, but he refused. She already knew that.

"Yes. I'm thoroughly ashamed of my flat," he deadpanned. "I'm going down to the basement. Pray for me."

Anya: "Harva berkot lech, ahuvi." She wouldn't bother offering a translation from the Hebrew blessing, but her mouth curved into a crooked, knowing smile.

"I'm happy to offer my hands."

Rune: "Your hands can be on any part of my body while I start the washer," he smirked.

Anya: "Not what I meant." But did that stop her from sitting up with a groan? Not at all.

She smoothed a hand over mussed curls as she stood, the other still clutching her mobile.

"Take me to your basement, then."

After a beat, she repeated the phrase in Polish. "Crash course."

Rune: Rune stared at the ceiling as he tried to remember his basic lessons. It hadn't been that long since their last conversation, yet on the spot required a think.

"Piwnica," he sounded out.

All the way back down the stairs to the end of the hall on the first floor. To the small unassuming white door leading down a final set of stairs with massive storage on either side of the room. Twelve individual storage units caged in floor-to-ceiling chain link. Two washers and two dryers filled the space at the end of the room.

"Pralka i suszarka," he muttered as he worked.

Anya: Not exactly the coziest of spaces, but they wouldn't be down there for long. A slow curl of a smile bowed her lips at his continued practice.

Slender arms wrapped him in an embrace from behind, cheek resting on his shoulder, mindful of the hands that loaded the washing machine. She'd been given carte blanche to touch, after all.

"To było idealne." Her voice was low, just loud enough for him to hear. She went on, more quickly than she usually did.

"Co jeśli przez resztę dnia będę mówił tylko po polsku? Czy nadążysz?"

Rune: His smile was a private affair. Not a cleared throat or pause as the last sock was tossed in. But when she started in with a natural pace, he couldn't help but look over his shoulder. His eyes narrowed playfully.

"Niegrzeczny. Wszystkiego, co chcę powiedzieć, nie potrafię powiedzieć po polsku." Much slower, much more careful, and not perfectly pronounced, but there was effort.

Anya: The sound that left her could only be described as a giggle, soft and bubbling. Her arms tightened around his middle. She was as biased as ever where his progress was concerned. Perfectly perfect.

"Szkoda," she sighed, not sounding the least bit apologetic. She turned her head just so to press her lips to the hinge of his jaw. "Będziecie musieli znaleźć inny sposób komunikacji."

Still not as slowly as she usually spoke with him. The challenge was clear.

Rune: "You want me to - " His lips folded in on themselves, flat and thin. Points docked from his test. The balm of her lips was a consolation prize.

"Kiedy byłem - hmm." No. "Dawno temu... tarka. No. Dammit." He laughed at himself. "Washboard? Please."

Anya: Anya joined in his laughter, soft though hers was. She nuzzled the place her lips had been, breathing in mint and pine.

"Tak. Traka. Like... grater, but it works. Ale można powiedzieć deska do prania. Albo deska myjąca. Używałeś takiego jako dziecko?"

Rune: Rune squinted at the washing machine. Suddenly English was ridiculously easy, and yet somehow he could not read the words revolving around the dials. What was the phrase? It was all Greek to him.

"...Tak. Uh, zagotuj wodę. Wrzątek? Shit."

Anya: Her smile was equal parts delighted and amused. She took mercy on him, unwrapping him from hold and taking his place in front of the washer.

But with the change in position something needed to be rectified. She reached back for his hands to settle them onto her own hips.

"Where's your detergent?" she asked, peering into the washer to double check the color of his clothing. She twisted the dial and started the water.

Rune: He needed little encouragement to move, nor any such push to have his hands upon her. Those hands wouldn't linger on her hips for long, migrating across her ribs to her breasts, back down over her stomach, and around to her back. Permission was a two-way street. They were just as alone here as they would be in his apartment.

"Wire shelf. My hands are full."

Anya: She offered a soft hum of approval at his wandering hands. She suspected that there were no cameras in such a place.

A soft scoff answered him as she grabbed a bottle from the shelf. "Mhmm."

A tablespoon or two of detergent into the wash and she shut the lid. "Thirty-ish minutes."

Rune: "Thirty-ish minutes," he echoed. His lips greeted the back of her neck. The collar of her shirt was tugged, allowing another kiss to her bare skin, but not so far as to stretch the stitching. He wanted it gone.

"That's an awful lot of stairs for 30 minutes."

Anya: The lips against her neck elicited another soft hum; the second kiss, just shy of scarred flesh, made her shiver.

Still, there was no tension in her muscles as she turned to face him. "I was thinking the same thing. I could just ask you to carry me up. At least then only one of us would be tired."

Her mouth barely had time to twitch into a smile before she was kissing him, fingers gripping the fabric of his olive green shirt to tug him flush against her. Such a pretty color.

Rune: Her smile brightened the dimly lit room better than the naked bulb above them. Warmth bloomed outwards from her eager hands. He needed no more encouragement to begin fussing over the buttons of his shirt.

He was a man of his word. Neither Liam nor Francis ventured beyond their front doors.

So his kisses traveled south, with all the confidence of a locked door.

"Must be tired, going down all those stairs. Sit on the washer."

Anya: Anya brushed his hands away from his shirt. There were better places for them to roam. She'd work those buttons loose herself, greedy fingers seeking skin of chest and waist.

But his lips were roaming as well, and Anya was happy to allow them. She laughed, running a hand over his hair.

"I was going to tell you to do that." A confession. She braced her hands on the still-filling washer, anyway, and hoisted herself easily atop it.

Rune: Her confession gave him pause, studying the seriousness of her expression as his hands returned to her waist. It all needed to go.

"Me? And then what?" His smile was devilish, leaving her no time to respond as his lips returned as hungry as before.

Anya: She was prepared to answer, but the words died against his lips. Their kiss muffled her laugh.

"And then," she breathed, in the space between kisses. "I'd follow you up. Of course. Eventually."

Fingers made their way to the trio of buttons that kept the front of her dress from being obscene. They popped loose in seconds, leaving her free to peel the linen off of her shoulders and down to her waist. She was grateful to have no bra to fuss with.

Rune: The feeling of her laughter against his mouth was truly something of a fairytale. The room was chilly compared to the rest of the apartment building. Paid no mind as he trailed kisses down her chest, chasing away the linen to the bitter end. His hands swept upwards over her back, lips sweet on her ribs, her breasts.

"I like you right where you are," he breathed, making himself at home between her legs.

Anya: The chill in the room went completely unnoticed, with Rune's lips and hands brushing over her skin. Her blood pumped, scorching, through her veins, leaving her plenty warm to the touch.

She laughed again, hiking the bottom half of her dress up her thighs with sharp, impatient motions.

"I'm not gonna fight you, if you're happy right here."

No, she'd help him along. Fingers hooked into the elastic waist band of her panties. She wriggled to slide them past her ass and down her calves to dangle uselessly from one ankle. Good enough. Now her hands were free to bury themselves in his hair.

Rune: As pleased as they were, they were not on the same page, and rather than disappointed, it tickled him. She wanted to climb him like a tree; he wanted nestled between her legs, fingers buried deep and mouth put to purpose.

His kisses were as impatient as she felt. Cool fingers stroked from her thighs down her calves and back. As soft as perfection and impossibly warm. Closer and closer his fingers crept to her pussy. Fingertips exploring hair and lips.

But he was hungry, and needy, and selfish.

"Feet on the washer, or my shoulders."

Anya: His fingers on private, sensitive skin still sent tingles up her spine. She wondered if there would ever come a time when that wouldn't be the case.

Anya was slow to acquiesce to his command, taking his face in both of her hands to drink him in for a long, indulgent moment. Long enough for the washer to begin in earnest. It rumbled into its wash cycle. When she'd had her fill, she settled back on her elbows, sliding first one long leg and then the other over his shoulders.

"Yeah, all right."

Rune: The warmth of her tongue damn near melted the man she cradled. Her mouth was an invitation he was helpless to accept. A soft little noise escaped his throat, then a smile between the affection. This was as wrong as it was incredible.

Her efforts were rewarded with a kiss on her leg and another as he watched her. His fingers slowly spread her apart, exposing her to the air. From the hood of her clit his thumb circled, creating a gentle and frustrating rhythm.

Anya: Frustration was certainly one word for it.

Rune's little sounds would be her undoing. She craved more of them. But for him, she could be patient, mouth curving into that small, familiar fern curl of a smile as his lips pressed to her leg.

She could be mostly patient, anyway. A hand slipped between her spread thighs to join his, the other still braced against churning washer. Her palm flattened over the back of his hand. Demanding. Silently seeking the pressure he denied her.

Rune: He laughed at her determination. That was exactly where he wanted her to be. His thumb applied the pressure she desired, still back and forth as playful fingers explored her opening. No different than the night before, he didn't care if they went beyond this; to see her a writhing mess on the washing machine added years to his life without a single staked bet.

Anya: Writhe she would, her hips rocking in time with the stroking of his thumb. Her eagerness was all physical drive. She wasn't really in a hurry. They had time. Time before the machine ceased its incessant rumbling. Time before the day ended and she was compelled to return to the care and keeping of her animals. Hours and hours.

Her hand guided his fingers where she wanted them, buried in soft, welcoming heat.

Rune: With two fingers buried deep, he searched for that one motion that would elicit the perfect noise. Once found, he would be merciless, and offer his mouth to her clit, just to make matters worse. He hadn't considered how much he would come to love the weight of her legs on his shoulders until now.

Anya: The relentless crooking of his fingers left her panting, but it was the heat of his tongue that would take her apart completely. That demanding hand between her legs moved to bury itself in Rune's hair, instead. Impulse swung between loving strokes and ruthless gripping.   She'd give into both, in turn. Alternating until the pressure built past the point that she could bear. His name was a soft cry on her lips as she came. And she was quick to seek the taste of herself on his tongue, again.

Rune: He would not dare tell her to hush. Would not slow his relentless pursuit of her ascension until that familiar writhing became a plea for mercy. Only then did his hand slack, greeting her hungry mouth with his tongue and another beloved little noise.

As high as she had risen, he fell with her. Too close to her mind, he felt the same floating elation like a warm bath. Forehead to forehead, he breathed with her, and then took his fingers to his mouth.

Anya: Something in Rune's breathlessness tickled her. That her pleasure had impacted him so. She brushed a thumb over his cheek that was pure, undiluted affection. His fingers moved to taste her and she laughed, soft and inaudible over the washer. How she loved him.

Pushing herself up, she slid her legs from his shoulder, one after the other. She took his face in her hands, again, peppering every square inch with tiny kisses. When she was satisfied that she hadn't missed a spot, she slid from the rumbling machine to her feet, giving it a deliberate pat behind her as she stepped to one side. Up you get.

Rune: It was her diet, he was certain. As certain as his bias. She tasted sweet and pleasant. If he could do that every day...

Her unique affection caught him off guard. It was so wholesome; he didn't know what to do with it but exist.

From one surprise to the next. He looked from the machine to her with a curious brow.

So, up he went, chest exposed and finally feeling the air now goosefleshing his skin. Or was it her, mostly naked and perfect? It didn't matter.

Anya: She chewed on a smile at his bemused expression, but offered no answers. Not aloud. Once he was settled, she gave him an explanation without words, gripping the back of his neck to tug him forward for a heated kiss.

Her free hand's greedy fingers traced down his chest, over his waist, to settle on his belt. She'd handle it and his fly with a single hand, unwilling to release him long enough to use both. Nor would she relinquish his lips as she reached into opened trousers to stroke him, thumb sweeping over the head of his cock.

Rune: Her smile reminded him of the peonies upstairs. The playful blooming energy she carried at any given moment, in every random and purposeful instance, even here, in a basement in Brooklyn, between his legs, grasping him with ownership. He gave no protest. She could have his mouth and his throbbing cock with only a whimper - a noise he was aware of, but would not apologize for.

Anya: She giggled against his lips, delighted by a new little noise. She was inspired to tease out every one in his arsenal. In time.

For now, she was eager to take him into her mouth; the only reason she was willing to break their kiss.

Rune: He was fighting a smile now. Smiling during a kiss felt awkward and silly, but it was her fault. The urge to ask why she was laughing was hard fought. He knew why, even if he didn't want to admit it.

But articulation was a lost cause. Her mouth ceased all coherent thought. Slowly, his elbows met the washer lid, his head heavy, lulled back between his shoulders.

Anya: Anya made herself at home between his legs, looking up at him through dark lashes. She lamented not being able to see his eyes. But they weren't her only window.

There were the sounds he made as her mouth worked lazily over his cock, the rise and fall of his chest, the throbbing she could feel against her tongue .

Sudden silence from the machine beneath him made her freeze, even the hand that cupped him stilling. It was only a breathless handful of seconds before the water clicked on. Rinse cycle. Of course.

She huffed a silent laugh through her nose and pulled free of his cock with a faint pop.

"Mm. Help me up."

Rune: Breathing took conscious effort. Caught up in the warmth of her wet mouth, he wanted to freeze time and space to enjoy her a moment longer. Just five more minutes of -

His laugh wasn't as quiet. He covered his mouth and tried not to snort.

"Why did you freeze?" he whispered. And why was he whispering?

Sitting back up, rather than help, he hindered, bringing her to his mouth with both hands. Just long enough to have her taste on his tongue. Only then would he bring his arm around her.

Anya: His laugh had her stifling another. It was positively criminal for any grown man to be so cute. She had no clue why he was whispering. Likely for the same reason she'd gone still. When she lowered her voice to match his, the decision was unconscious.

"It was too quiet!"

Too still. They were alone, but outside the safety of his flat.

When his lips pressed to hers, she did nothing to resist them. He could have that kiss and another besides, before she braced against him and hoisted herself onto his lap. She trusted that arm to keep her steady.

Rune: Steady she was, held firmly by the small of her waist. Eventually he leaned away to breathe. Just an inhale before he made himself at home on her chest. Kisses to every bit of exposed skin. Tasting his way south as he pulled her that much closer.

"You're too quiet," he grinned.

Anya: She bit down hard on her own smile, silently relishing the lips that skated over her skin. His touch was intoxicating.

"You're the one who started whispering," she countered, still whispering. Her thumb brushed reverently over the dimple in his cheek.

The hesitation of yesterday was gone. Knees planted on either side of his thighs, she asked for no additional permission. She raised just enough to guide him inside, sinking onto his cock with a soft groan and catching his mouth again.

Rune: "It's more fun," he confessed, his laughter silent, and then ceased altogether with one deliberate movement of her hips. She needn't ask for authority she already possessed. The honest to Heaven's truth was, that she'd had such permission for longer than they were willing to admit. He knew why he had kept her at a distance, but staring into her eyes, he realized it had been a wasted effort.

She was as stubborn as she was resilient. But would that be enough? Would his cursed luck spare her?

His mind demanded logic, the one thing his body didn't give a shit about. Rough fingers rested on her ass, riding every roll of her hips. His fingers lost in her hair. His mouth belonged to her. He had nothing to say. There was nothing to say. Only an unspoken plea between them with every panted breath.

Anya: Anya was tireless. Each drag of his cock drove her onward, lost to the pleasure of his touch.

It was contact she returned in earnest, fingers mapping every inch of bare skin she could reach. Thumbs pressed to the tender bruises she'd left the night prior. Lingering evidence of her presence.

She could live in this moment for an eternity, but the physical world was an insurmountable hurdle. Climax was inevitable, and it came with a gasp against his mouth. The sound spilled into a breathless little laugh, but she wouldn't surrender those lips. Not yet. Just a little while longer.

Rune: His pleasure was secondary to watching her move. The feeling of his cock encapsulated in her confines was undermined by the warmth of her skin, her hair, the sounds swelling her chest; the feeling of being used. To see her so disheveled, raw, needy, aching, playful, was almost too overwhelming.

This was flesh, not marble, and she was real, tangible, and in that moment, breathing with her as one, he was obsessed with her. The way she moved, both deliberately and incautious. He could only kiss her so much.

"Anya." It was a warning he didn't expect her to heed. From a habit he had yet to shake, despite the damage long ago inflicted. Again, he breathed her name into her mouth, cradling her as he pulsed within, giving and giving until he had nothing left but to slump his cheek between her breasts.

Anya: She was no more concerned than she had been the first time. If there was any silver lining to the vicious harm done to him, it was living without that one worry. Hardly a consolation, but it was something.

With a deep sigh, she lowered her cheek to press to the top of his head. Her arms were a warm vice around him; fingers traced figure eights over the perfect skin of his back. She was happy to simply exist with him in blissful silence.

For a time, anyway.

"I have a confession," she began, tone still hushed, a hand moving to toy with the hair at his nape. "I didn't buy the tickets, yet. I was looking, but then we were doing laundry..."

He would feel, rather than hear, her chuckle. "New favorite chore, by the way."

Rune: "Hm?"

Listening to her breathe, the beat of her quickened heart, he could have fallen asleep then and there, certainly to send them toppling to the concrete floor.

"Don't say that," he smiled against her chest. "Laundry day will be every day."

What a blessing. He had to lean back and look at her. Every inch of exposed skin admired with reverence.

Anya: All but naked and perched in his lap, but it was that look that had her face heating. She tipped her head back to stare up at the ceiling, a little overwhelmed by his open admiration. Just a moment to collect herself. She struggled to put a dimmer on her smile. But she was meeting his gaze again soon enough, pink cheeks be damned.

"We'll run out of dirty clothes." Fingers smoothed the mussed strands of his hair. Hers certainly looked even wilder. "We just have to make all the other housework fun. Obviously."

The spin cycle had begun at some point without her noticing. She wasn't budging until it had run its course.

Rune: How could she blush after what they had done, and what was he doing that startled her senses to look at the ceiling for reprieve? Surely, it wasn't his wandering gaze. His traveling fingers shaped and massaged each breast, sliding between them and across her ribs. If he were a blind man, he would know beauty by touch.

"Obviously. Washing dishes is about to be a whole lot of fun."

Carefully, he laid back against the washing machine, dials digging into his back, but he didn't care.

"Come here."

Anya: His touch carved the same path that his gaze had; she only just managed to suppress a pleased shiver. "And very messy, I think."

With an amused little huff, she folded forward, settling against the chest he offered. Her face made a home in the crook of his neck. "You can't be comfortable."

Rune: "We'll be as clean as the dishes." His voice had taken on something whimsical. Eyes closed and face peaceful. He would be of no use to her for the next five minutes.

"I haven't been this comfortable in a long time," he countered.

Anya: "If you say so." She wasn't convinced. But she would ensure that he was warm, if nothing else. Strong, slender arms snaked around his waist, her body shielding him from the worst of the basement's chill. Soft lips pressed to the throat she was still burrowed against.

They could sink into this moment of tranquility. Anya wouldn't disturb it until the machine fell silent and still beneath them.

"Mm. We have to move."

Rune: "Do we?" So soft, as though talking in his sleep. "A bath is calling us." To sink into warm water and just exist. That was motivation enough to force his eyes open.

"Mm, fuck." His eyes closed long enough to rub them. For just a moment, a second, he had forgotten her unkempt state, struck again by her magnificence. Only after recovering did he realize he was still inside of her. Parting was such sweet sorrow.

"I'll - Forgot what I was gonna say."

Anya: "Ja." Atop a washing machine was no place for good sleep. A warm tub, on the other hand...

"Mhmmm. Much better for your nap."

Rune could take as much time as he needed to rouse himself. Anya stole a few slow, lazy kisses before she was willing to peel herself away from him.

A bath really did sound perfect.

Straightening and stretching, she let the chill spur her into movement. She'd have to be efficient to avoid making even more of a mess of herself. "Well, let me know if you remember."

With a laugh, she slid off of him and down from the washer. She located the panties that had slipped free of her ankle and pulled them on with swift, easy grace. The linen dress was a hopeless case, but she buttoned herself into the bodice and smoothed the skirt down past her thighs as best she could. Rough fingers raked through her curls. Another lost cause, she feared. But when she'd done all she could to look less... post-coital, she raised her arms for inspection. They likely wouldn't be spotted on the trip upstairs, but it was certainly possible.

"Am I decent?"

Rune: A bath was the most obvious answer, he didn't stop to think if it had been her idea first or his own. It didn't matter, but he enjoyed those moments when he couldn't tell if a suggestion was independent. The idea of having her so intimately, beyond that of just their bodies - he was apprehensive, and still... warmed by the very thought.

He was ruined. He could hear the seconds ticking loudly in his good ear; time until a cruel joke infected their relationship.

He would do well to quiet his mind, lest he offer what she didn't deserve to hear. Soon she was joined upright. Feet on the concrete, the basement might as well have been constructed of ice.

"Like the first spring day in Amsterdam."

Clothes were moved into the dryer, before starting the trek upstairs.

Anya: The words had her smiling. A simple 'yes' or 'no' would have sufficed. Leave it to Rune to make even the most mundane of answers poetic.

"That's pretty," was all she offered in return, taking another pass over her hair as Rune came down after her. She'd offer hands to help, if allowed, but otherwise was content to wait in comfortable silence for him to finish.

It was silence that held until the door to his flat shut behind them. She was quick to head for the couch and the phone she'd abandoned there. She unlocked it with a press of her thumb and cut to the kitchen blindly. How she had committed the paths of the flat to memory already was beyond her.

"You can run the water, this time," she sighed, grabbing a peach to rinse as she scrolled through flight options. "So I won't boil you alive, again."

Rune: He hadn't expected her to say anything in return. Not a compliment or a recognition. His words had been as much a flirtation as they were harmless teasing. It was as much trust as everything else, forward of their confessions. She was beautiful, and she would always be beautiful, but her hair needed fingers through it.

Fingers brushed her arm as they crossed paths. Mug of water in hand, he started the bathwater and stripped. Whatever hesitation had existed before had become a forgotten memory. She was as at home with his nudity as he was hers. This was her home. This was their peace. While she finalized their tickets, Rune sank into the warm bath with a sigh, slipping beneath the water until his lungs burned or he heard her approach.

Anya: It would be a handful of minutes before she joined him in the bathroom, still dressed, licking sticky juice from her fingers. She leaned her hip against the sink and watched him unabashedly.

"Almost done. I just need to know what birth year you put on those fake papers."

Rune: Rune resurfaced when her shape appeared above the water. His hair pulled from his face as he listened through the water in his ears.

"Wallet's in my coat. The outside pocket."

Anya: "Outside pocket," she repeated, already slipping away to find it. "You should probably commit that lie to memory."

Anya would, if he didn't. Just to be safe. A minute or two more passed before she returned, having left both her mobile and her dress behind. She was working her hair into a quick bun as she entered.

"We leave on the twenty first."

Rune: Was he 27, or 31? He had forgotten what the lie was, as he so often did, having little need for the ID to begin with. All that mattered were the years he won during poker.

Anya would return to the water being partially refilled with warmer water. He sat in the middle of the tub. Her choice whether he was a pillow, or she was.

"Twenty-first," he echoed, ever the sailor.

Anya: Once her hair was up and out of the way, she stepped out of her panties and slid into the water behind him. He was more than welcome to use her chest as support for his nap. Her head tipped back against the lip of the tub and she sighed. Not as steamy as she normally liked a bath, but certainly warm enough for a nice soak.

"Mhm. I couldn't find any that were nonstop. So, we'll spend a few hours in Amsterdam. And then from there to Poznań, and a train into town. It's a lot of travel, but we can get a room somewhere before the last leg, if you want."

Rune: Slowly, he laid back, arm spilling out over the side. He stared at their feet, brow arched and unseen.

"Amsterdam, hm?" Surely, that was on purpose. He wouldn't put it past her. Just something she did and would speak nothing of it. He counted the years since he'd been home to that green door. It wasn't green anymore. Someone had painted it a lifetime ago.

"Whatever you need."

Anya: "It was either there or Munich, and the layover was longer in Germany." But to say that it was only timing that had tipped the scales in one direction would taste a lie. He could read whatever he liked into that decision.

Fingers raked gently through dripping hair, her nails the lightest scrape over his scalp. Whatever she needed. She would not insist to the contrary. Only hum noncommittally as she stared up at the ceiling. "We'll figure the rest out, later. Close your eyes."

Rune: He was already there. Eyes heavy and breathing languid. His full weight rested against her, wrapped in warmth and confident his world would remain upright. The last thought of his drifting consciousness was her, how well she knew him. Her generosity seemed like an endless well.

She would be here. He would be here. There was still much to do, and for as long as she allowed him in her life, there would always be something to do.

[kimbapisnotsushi]

the day had started off normal enough.

kenma had wrapped up a company-wide conference, tweeted a livestream announcement for eight p.m. that night, finished his homework at the office, and signed off on another product to be released all within a span of three hours hours. with the rest of his schedule free, he could go home, kick back, and relax until it was time to play misfiction. maybe he could make some more progress on animal crossing? or finally crack open pokemon legends: arceus?

that second one sounded like a better idea, kenma decided. he wasn't ashamed to admit that he had a crush on adamant AND iridia.

once he was back in the house, he chucked off his suit jacket and loosened his tie. being CEO of your own company, thought kenma, was entirely useless if you couldn't even wear a hoodie and sweatpants to all the important meetings.

he threw his bedroom door open and froze.

kuroo was lying on the bed, shirtless, with a head propped up on one hand. it was probably supposed to be seductive, but kenma had no idea why.

after all, everyone knew how much he was mean to kuroo. it was his number one character trait!

"hi, kitten," kuroo purred. "miss me?"

"kuro," kenma said, exasperated. "what are you doing?"

kuroo's smile faded. "did you not like it? i thought maybe if i gave you a cute nickname, you'd want to get back together."

kenma stared at him. "what?"

"kitten, didn't you hear?" kuroo's eyes filled with tears. "we can't be in a relationship anymore. childhood-friends-to-lovers is incest now!"

kenma scoffed. "as if i'd ever want to be lovers with you. i have hinata instead. he's so much more interesting, but once i get tired of him then i'll just ditch him and get a new boytoy to mess around with."

the bedroom door suddenly burst open. it was . . . oikawa tooru!

"how dare you!" he screeched. "shouyou deserves so much more! he and i spent a very passionate night together in rio, you know! it's all people ever talk about when they they think of us in brazil! there's absolutely no other meaning to it than just us hooking up!"

"whatever," kenma said, rolling his eyes. "i don't care as long as he's making me money."

"now, now," sugawara crooned (where did he even come from? hell if i know). "let's not fight. that is my innocent angel sweet summer child you're talking about, after all, i'm basically his mom - "

("i'm twenty-two!" shouted hinata from where i stuffed him in the margins. "and you know my mother is very much alive, sugawara-san! also, i FUCK! I FUCK HARD!!")

" - so naturally i know what's best for him!" sugawara continued. "and what he would want is for everyone to hold hands and get along. agreed?"

daichi grinned and nuzzled sugawara's cheek. "you're so smart! i can't wait to start a happy, cisgender-conforming, nuclear family with you."

a voice called from the hallway: "HEY HEY HEY!"

the bedroom door flew open again! how in the world has it not been broken yet???

bokuto cartwheeled into the room and puffed out his chest. when he saw that nobody was paying attention to him because they were too busy hissing at each other, he pouted.

"guys, come on!" he complained. "no fighting! let's have some fun instead!"

"it's no use, bokuto-san," akaashi said. "stereotypically-feminine traits such as being petty, catty, and more have been greatly exaggerated in us setters because we have been deemed more feminine due to what i assume is a vast and complex myriad of factors stemming from microaggressions intersecting with fans' understandings of the world amongst other things, but i expect you are too dumb to understand any of that."

bokuto stared blankly at akaashi. "huh?"

akaashi heaved a deep sigh, plagued by the burden of being the only one with brains in the relationship. "never mind. i still love you, and that's all you need to know."

"okay!" bokuto said cheerfully.

suddenly the bedroom door flew open for the third time that day! who even keeps closing it?

"i'm looking for hinata," said kageyama, poking his head past the doorframe. "has anyone seen him?"

immediately, everyone froze. their eyes shifted from kageyama to oikawa, who had swelled up with incandescent rage because he still retained everything from when he was fourteen and hadn't gone through any growth whatsoever since then.

atsumu whistled. "aw, geez. we might argue a lot, but at least we're not anythin' like that, right, omi-omi?"

"shut up and don't call me that," sakusa muttered darkly. "i hate you. i hate everyone. i hate being here. when was the last time anyone vacuumed in here?"

"if you hate it so much," atsumu said, smirking, "we could sneak away and make out somewhere. could even . . . you know . . . "

"why."

atsumu shrugged. "i am an inexplicably horny sex-on-legs bastard, apparently. especially with you. i mean, have you seen our ao3 tag?"

sakusa frowned. "we've barely had any canon time together."

"eh, people have worked with less." atsumu grinned. "'sides, i dig the whole enemies-to-lovers thing. just means you couldn't resist my charms, huh?"

sakusa would have responded with an audible gag, but . . . you guessed it! the bedroom door flew open AGAIN! this is a bedroom door that defies the laws of physics itself!

yachi stepped in and glanced around.

"weird," she said. "why is this bedroom so big? what are all of you doing?"

yachi hitoka, everyone. our only saving grace. she carries the sole brain cell and wrangles the childish dumb men, because they can't ever think for themselves. right? right?????

tsukishima scowled as he followed after her, trailed by yamaguchi. "ugh. do we have to be here?"

"tsukishima!" yachi scolded, swatting his arm. "be nice! you know these are all our friends!"

sigh.

yamaguchi didn't even greet anyone. he just stayed behind tsukki the whole time, looking like a mouse cornered in a city of cats.

suddenly, a BAM! made everyone jump! you have got to be kidding me! the bedroom door agai - oh, never mind! someone just kicked open the closet door!

"SHITTYKAWA!" iwaizumi roared. "get over here!"

oikawa''s eyes widened. "iwa-chan! what are you doing here?"

"looking for you, dumbass," iwaizumi snapped. "you haven't been taking care of yourself! but i'd never say it, because i'm an asshole. i'm a rock wall. i'm a hardened tough guy. i'm mean. i don't ever say or do anything nice. i throw volleyballs at your head for fun. i don't care about you at all. got it?"

("so you're saying he literally just came out of the closet for oikawa - " hinata began, before i shoved him back down into the margins.)

"no wonder i'm such an asshole," kindaichi marveled. "i guess i learned it all from iwaizumi-san! wow, he's a great role model."

being a stressed fourteen-year-old who didn't know how to handle another stressed fourteen-year-old that was causing said stress and eventually snapping from it and making a mistake, as people are prone to do, didn't really make you an asshole for the rest of your life, but hey. kindaichi didn't have to know any of that.

"it's getting kind of crowded in here, don't you think?" yachi asked, ever the voice of reason. "maybe we should get out and get some fresh air?"

ushijima nodded solemnly. wait - had he always been there?

"fresh air is good for the soul," he said. "not that i would know, because i'm an unfeeling robot who is strong and dominant and the epitome of masculinity. being stoic and silent are the only things i know. you should all bow down before my superior strength."

everyone stared at him.

suddenly, the bedroom door burst open AGAIN! this shouldn't be possible! it was already open in the first place! I KEPT IT OPEN! HOW DO THEY KEEP DOING THIS?

"guys!" hinata ran in, panting. "i finally did it! i escaped the margins!"

"the what?" sugawara asked.

hinata waved him off. "never mind that. it's about time to wrap up. we've put on a good show, but we should end it, don't you think?"

"hinata's right," kenma admitted. "i didn't think i could do this much longer, anyways."

oikawa made a face. "me neither. sorry, tobio. i hope you didn't take anything to heart."

"i'm okay," kageyama said. "i know better, now. we both know better."

"that we do," oikawa agreed warmly. "and weren't you looking for hinata? that's why you were here, right? you were the only one of us not part of an act."

kageyama blinked, as if he had forgotten all about that. not that anyone could blame him - i'm not even sure what the hell just happened.

"right," he said, then grabbed hinata's arm and tugged him close. "hey. i love you."

"what!" hinata squawked. "kageyama, what - "

kageyama shrugged, but red began to bloom across his cheeks. "i'd never joke about that. i just wanted you to know."

hinata beamed at him, brighter than the sun. "aw, kageyama! i love you too! but can we please wrap this up? there's no food in the margins, and i'm starving!"

"okay, everyone!" bokuto called out. "on the count of three! ready? one, two, three - "

"HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!" everyone shouted.

the end :)

[saccharinenectarine123]

also! i just read run rabbit run (amazing btw) and i was wondering if u would be willing to go more into detail about what happened between lando and oscar post brazil ‘24…

ik we already got a huge paragraph about it but i’m greedy and in love with ur story

i feel like there’s so much potential for rough and rancid and ‘kind of reluctant to take it all out on oscar but not really’ lando, and super-fucking-into-it oscar lol

Aw thanks so much Anonie <3 So glad that you loved it! It was a joy to write so I'm so glad it's a joy to read.

Strap yourself in, this is a long one. You actually opened pandora's box fr:

This short scene was verryy fun to write for me because it was also one of the strongest plot glimpses into this vibe about oscar that simmered underneath his whole character but really came into its own over the course of chapter 3.

Oscar in run rabbit run had such a streak of ruthlessness. It was something that was so endemic to him that he almost wouldn't even be able to pin it down and name it on his own. It just is part of who he is, down to his very core. I feel he would just say 'i'm ambitious' or 'hardworking' or 'willing to do what it takes'. But to actually distill it down to the word 'ruthless' instead of dancing around it...if someone pointed it out to him, he would pause for a second and absolutely own it (i see him reacting exactly like in the gif I linked to). But it's a funny little blindspot his character has. He's just oscar (and oscar just so happens to be unrepentantly ruthless).

In saying all that, post Brazil, I had such a clear idea in my head that the race was absolutely atrocious for lando. Maybe he crashed out 2 laps from the end from his own mistake. Or someone crashed into him. Or maybe he had to DNF very early and spent the rest of the race watching oscar in an interesting role reversal from chapter 1. But either way, the race was awful and he was pissed and having to do media through gritted teeth as journalists were rude and snipey and doing everything to provoke a delicious sound bite out of him. It made him furious.

So coming off that, oscar would have guessed, or taken one look at lando e.g. in the media pen and clocked exactly how pissed lando was (the glint in his eyes, tension around his mouth, the stiff line of his back, the way his hands were twitching as if he wanted to wrap them around some dickhead journalist's throat etc). More to the point, oscar would have immediately known exactly how to best "stress relieve" lando (to his best advantage).

By that point, oscar knows a few things about lando: (1) lando deeply enjoys being in control (and this is where the dom/sub dynamics come in), (2) lando is feeling a severe lack of control, because his race went tits up and (3) lando is very careful with oscar in bed (a soft!dom with him, if you will).

So I have a few ideas of what oscar would have done but, considering the time constraints (as they only have like 20 mins before team debrief), oscar would have brushed up against lando in passing in the media pen and whispered something along the lines of "I'll be waiting in my driver room if you want to fuck out that tension". He's not really offering lando sex, as much as he's offering lando control. That's what's really intoxicating to lando. And oscar knows it, and is willing to exploit it.

So now lando's horny (but really, seduced by the offer of being able to exercise control in a d/s dynamic) on top of being very pissed off and he stalks down the corridor into oscar's driver room (and I have this very clear image of him stalking the halls like a predator and ignoring anyone who tries to talk to him). Oscar's waiting naked on his knees for lando. He's a very good boy for him.

Lando obviously takes him up on his offer and they end up fucking but oscar can feel that lando is holding himself back because he's still worried about genuinely hurting oscar. Oscar's frustrated because he's 80% sure he can take what lando needs to dish out (and the spare 20% is inconsequential, he'll make it work if it breaks him) and the whole point was to get lando to get his top/dom kick out of the situation PLUS release tension, but it's only happening at like 40%.

So he probably tries goading lando (which doesn't work, that just gets him pressed face down into a pillow to muffle his words, or fingers stuffed in his mouth to gag him). So he tries a different tactic: he uses his submission. He starts moaning and pushing back so sweetly, stroking lando's ego by telling him how good he feels, and starts begging for more (along the lines of "please, please, harder, lando, i need it, more") and that's what finally works. lando finally fucks him as hard as he needs. stress relieved ;)

Oscar does all of this for a few reasons but the most compelling one for me is that he wants to give lando something that he can only get from oscar. A heady, intoxicating mix of control, sexual release and a safe haven from shitty race. Oscar is willing to do anything he can to make lando as obsessed with him as possible. He'll use anything to achieve it. He'll pavlov bell lando into loving shitty races because he'll know that oscar will be waiting for him at the other end, open and willing and accepting.

FYI all of the above are things I didn't want to go into too explicitly in this story (and especially that very short scene) because I loved that there was a levity to it. I wanted it to be more 'fun and freaky' than 'darkly obsessive'. I wanted the darkness to more creep up when you thought about it a little too hard. A little 'wait a damn minute' around the smut and the lols. The most overt bits came from the allusions and metaphors e.g. how oscar thought about their relationship - the fleeting idea he was a frog being happily vivisected, lando kissing him with a mouth stained with the blood of his slain best friend, that oscar was michaelangelo painting the sistine chapel with his raw fingertips and absolutely loving it. These little psycho glimpses of his true thoughts - and again, his core ruthlessness that he doesn't really notice but just is.

Maybe I'll explore obsession and control in more overtly darker fics as these concepts fascinate me.

(Side note: on point (3) above, there's backstory that's very interesting to me, in that lando is not ordinarily a soft!dom. I very easily see him being quite harsh and uncaring of the people he usually sleeps with. He would see them as quite disposable, essentially just cheap sex toys for his pleasure, to be discarded and replaced on the regular.

But there's something about oscar that compels him to be softer in bed...Oscar is his teammate so there are possible professional repercussions if he really hurts him. They also have a mutual friend in max f, and max f would 100% give lando a *look* if lando was horrid to oscar and say something along the lines that lando 'is better than that, and if not, maybe he should be better than that'. That would stick with lando for a long time. Maybe it's the fact that oscar's an extremely inexperienced virgin (and lando hasn't slept with someone like that in forever). Virginity is a construct etc but he'll still have a feeling of being handed something precious, like a piece of handmade, fine crystal art...upon holding it in his hands and gazing upon its beauty, he finds his hands want to cradle instead of destroy. It's a softer side of him that would only come out around his very closest loved ones...maybe just max f and his mum.

There's also something deeply compelling about the fact that lando knows oscar has been utterly obsessed with him for years, and would swallow any bs lando gave him and beg for another crumb. In the face of true utter devotion, lando would surprise himself by also being benevolent. At the end of the day, I think he just deeply, violently needs to be loved and adored by the close people around him, and oscar gives him everything he has, and has done, for years. Lando absolutely lovedddd that oscar was commenting and liking on all his shit from when he was 14 onwards. It tickles him. Here is someone who can actually prove he adores him. It's also the fact that oscar didn't go running away from him when he actually got to know lando in real life, in fact, he scooched in even closer and closer at every opportunity and matched his freak at every turn.

I actually think if lando wasn't a soft!dom their relationship would have had to be very toxic and painful and I wasn't in the mood to write anything too achy lol. I wanted surprising sweetness and to keep the fic lighter and fun!)

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

What do think Tom & Jake’s relationship was like? Either in your Modern AU or canonically

Hmm, lets go with both.

I like to think they were close in canon. Maybe not super close, because Jake was deployed a lot of the time, and Tommy was about to leave for over fifteen years to be on Pandora. He'd come back twelve years older than Jake. I think they had to have been comfortable being separate possibly for the rest of their lives for that to be the plan. That being said, they were obviously ride or die.

NOW in my human au, I feel similarly. I won't get too far into it because I have a jeytiri post coming out in my wheelchair modern au as promised, but I'll do some Tommy Sully lore.

-Tommy was on a four year job with Grace studying botany in the rainforest in Brazil when Jake was paralyzed. Jake knew how excited he was about this once in a lifetime experience, and basically threatened to end Norm if he tattled to Tommy.

-Norm's solution was getting Jake into Mo'at's free clinic on a favor.

-I do think he will end up ratting Jake out though, we shall just have to wait and see for the jeytiri modern au post.

[poisonappletales]

@serphantel's Friendship Valentines + White Day Replies

@serphantel submitted the following Friendship Valentines:

Here's the White Day reply:

Ambrosia | Onyx | Caramel Location: North America

"All right. Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to explore this continent and look for the White Rabbit!"

[has already started walking off towards the hills] "Stay close."

"Ah...okay." [pats Caramel the deer to encourage him to follow along] "Oh, and I've brought along some food so we can stop and eat whenever we need a break."

[holds up a basket of food with a bright smile]

Wildfire | Brooks Location: Greenland

"What are we here for again? I missed what that healer said. She has such a soft voice. She really ought to speak up louder."

"I think she said we're supposed to explore the monuments for White Chocolate."

"Monuments...like things built for dead people? And she thinks there's chocolate there?" [rolls her eyes and mutters:] "I don't even know what kind of chocolate we're looking for. Is this supposed to be some kind of special glowing piece of white chocolate?"

Arsenik | Viktor | Unknown Location: On the way to Brazil

"Ooh. Brazil. We definitely have to try out the spicy dishes and the beaches."

"I suppose we can. But just remember to keep an eye out for -"

"THE WHITE HOBBIT."

"What? No. It's the -"

"All right, Hobbit. Here we come! We should look for him on the topless beach first."

[Arsenik sighs and shakes his head.]

Jasmine | Rosemary Location: Asia

"Come on, Lady Jasmine! The concert is starting soon! We have to hurry!"

"I know, I know. It's just that the line for that store was so long. And I wasn't leaving without that dress. Anyway, we're supposed to look for somebody, aren't we?"

[gasp] "Wait, is that..."

"What is it?! Did you see a singer? Let's see, let's see! We have to ask for their autograph!"

Chase | X | Wind Location: Russia

"Is it just me or is it pretty cold here?"

"Weakling."

"It's not like I said I couldn't handle it! So what are we here for again? We're looking for some of night-light, right?"

[mocking] "I'm sure X can tell you since he's such a note-taking sensei."

"Ha ha. Very funny. It's not like I constantly take notes. Anyway, we're supposed to be looking for the White Rabbit. I think that's some kind of rock band, right?"

"So let's take a look at the music people!"

King Barium | Bo-Peep Location: Australia

"Wow! Look at that huge spider! Maybe we can be friends and I can ask if it's seen...what was it that we're looking for again?"

[with his arm around her shoulder] "Love.

We're looking for love. In all the right places." [laughs and then pauses as the big spider skitters across their path]

"Crikey. That is a big spider."

♥♥♥

And that should be the last of the White Day replies! I hope you all enjoyed them. I certainly had fun making them, along with the skits!

If, for some reason, I accidentally missed a Valentine, let me know so I can remedy that ASAP. For now, I hope you all had a Happy White Day and an awesome rest of the week!

"I may have one more White Day surprise for you. But I'll save that for later when we're in private. You did get my invitation, didn't you?"

[crystalsnow95z]

Time for another request. Namjoon was spared from my last food poisoning story but he isn't safe this time and it hits him hard.

Warning: vom!t that's all. Let's get into the story. Feel free to make any suggestions

"Can we stop to get something to eat before the interview? I'm starving hyung.." Taehyung looks at Namjoon with big puppy dog eyes. "I haven't gotten to eat today.."

Namjoon checks the time. "We only got an hour before the interview, are you sure you can't wait?"

"I can wait.." Taehyung says with a pout.

"We can stop somewhere on the way, can't we, Namjoonie-hyung? He won't be able to focus if he's hungry and my stomach is growling, too." Jimin suggests gently.

"Alright, we can stop somewhere, but we have to make it quick. There's a burger place nearby. I'll ask staff if they could get us some." Namjoon gives in to his younger brothers.

"You hardly ate, are you feeling okay?" Jin asks taking the last bite of his burger.

"I'm fine, I'm just not really hungry." Namjoon states. "I ate a lot last night, I'll be fine."

"We're leaving in five minutes." A staff member says knocking on the door.

"Okay!" Namjoon calls to them. "Lunch time is over, it's time to clean up." He orders the others, helping them clean up.

Taehyung shoves a few more fries in his mouth while Namjoon tries to put it away. "You're going to gain weight if you keep eating like that."

"Hobi-hyung, he's picking on me..." Taehyung playfully whines with a fake cry going to the closest big brother, making J-hope giggle, hugging Taehyung close.

"He's been working hard, he'll be okay." J-hope kisses Taehyung on the top of the head lovingly. "Let's get going."

"Namjoon..she asked you a question.." Yoongi gently nudges Namjoon with his elbow whispering.

Namjoon couldn't focus on the interview, his stomach screaming in pain. (Maybe i should've eaten with the others...) He tried to discreetly rub his stomach to try to ease the pain.

"Namjoon-ah.." Yoongi speaks a little louder, Namjoon looks at Yoongi who gestures at the interviewer holding the mic to him.

Namjoon quickly looks at the woman standing in front of him, bowing deeply. "{I'm sorry, but could you repeat the question..}"

"{I asked how many countries you are visiting for on your tour. I know there are three different cities you are visiting in the US.}" The woman repeats.

"{We are going to five other countries after we leave the US..}" Namjoon answers.

"{We are going to Brazil next, then Germany.}" Yoongi draws the attention away from Namjoon.

He feels someone grab his hand, looking down to see Taehyungs slender fingers wrap around.

"Hyung you're shaking.." Taehyung whispers. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be okay. Focus on the reporter...we don't want to be rude.." Namjoon gives his hand a squeeze leaning a bit against him.

J-hope glares at their translator, motioning for them to translate. Jin moves in front of him, blocking him from the reporters view to stop her from asking him anymore questions.

The interview went smoothly thanks to the members handling the situation. Namjoon cheered loudly when the members cheered, even though he wasn't concentrating on the conversation. (I have to keep smiling.. I don't want to worry, army..)

J-hope tucks his arm in the crook of Namjoons elbow, the group moving quickly to get him away from all the camera flashes.

Namjoon finally lets his smile drop when they enter the waiting room. His voice comes out small only being heard by J-hope."I think I'm going to throw up.." As soon as he spoke, a wet burp escaped him. Namjoon covers his mouth, trying to hold in the bile thar rose up his throat. Jin helps him into a chair, "Jungukk get the wastebin."

Jungkook quickly looks for a waste bin, bringing it to Namjoon. "Here, hyung."

Namjoon holds it close to his chest, his dinner from last night coming back up again. It comes out in violent heaves, leaving him feeling weak and dizzy. Anytime he tried to gasp to get air, his stomach stopped him, adding more mostly digested food into the bin. The acid tang burned his throat, making him cough.

"Poor Joon.. he's really sick.." Jin keeps his hands firmly on Namjoon's shoulders to keep him from falling forward, feeling him trembling. "He can't perform tonight.."

"We will have to have someone cover his parts or-"

"No..no I can do it.. it's just two songs.." Namjoon interrupts J-hope, shakily sitting up, trying to catch his breath.

"Namjoonie, are you sure? You shouldn't push yourself." J-hope looks at him with worried eyes.

"Yes, I'm feeling better now.. I can do it.." Namjoon places the trash bin on the floor.

Jimin hands Namjoon a tissue box. "I don't think you should perform. You don't look like you're feeling better.."

"I can do it.." Namjoon tried so sound more confident than he felt, trying his best to wipe the sweat and vomit from his face. (My right side hurts every time I breathe.. I need to get my breathing under control..)

"I'll trust you.. but try to take it easy when you perform. You should sit and perform instead of dancing."J-hope says, rubbing his back.

"I'm okay. Really." Namjoon insisted. "It's probably just because I didn't eat today.. I'll eat right after the performance.." (I don't want to disappoint army..)

J-hope hugs him from behind. "You're so stubborn. If you really think you can do it I won't stop you, but I'll At least get them to put a chair on stage just in case, but if you throw up again before we go on I'm pulling you from the performance. I'm serious."

The boys quickly got their makeup touched up before going into the audience to watch the others perform. Namjoon puts on a face mask to try to hide his face, and Taehyung takes a hat from his bag putting it on him.

"They'll have to style my hair again.."

"I'll apologize to them. I just don't want the camera to focus on you.." Taehyung takes Namjoon by the hand putting him in the middle of him and Jin.

They didn't get to sit for long before the group was called on stage to accept an award announcing them as the winner. Yoongi puts a hand on his shoulder as they walk. They give the award to Namjoon and try to pass him the mic, but J-hope reaches for it instead.

"AAMMMIII..." He yells into the mic, drawing the attention to himself. Jin and Jungkook stand to block Namjoon from view, and Yoongi speaks next, trying to mimic the speech Namjoon was reciting to himself in the car.

Namjoon leans his chin on Jin, a wave of vertigo blurring his vision. Jungkook takes Namjoon's hand, leading him off the stage. Namjoon nearly tripped going down the steps, Jin steadying him."It's okay if you can't perform. You don't have to do this. You can hardly handle the steps.."

"I just tripped. I'm okay." Namjoon tells him. (If I keep repeating myself, maybe it'll come true..)

They win three more awards before the performance, the members playing keep away with their leader any time they tried to make him speak. Their performance was next and they went into the green room to get their in ears and mics.

(We're doing the beginning of save me..then switching to I'm fine...) Namjoon let out a dry chuckle at the irony of the situation.

"What's so funny?" Jungkook asks.

"The songs we choose.." Namjoon answers.

"Are you sure you don't want to sit this one out?" J-hope asks again, his voice thick with worry not finding the situation humorous. "It's okay to rest if you have to. Army doesn't want us pushing too hard. If we explain.."

Namjoon shakes his head. "I can do it." (At least.. I hope I can..) His stomach felt a little better, but the medicine the staff gave him was not doing much to help with the nauseous feeling that washed over him as soon as he went under the hot stage lights.

His body moved on instinct, running to his position and getting in sync with the other members. The sound of Army chanting their names gave him strength, but he the jumping made the pain in his stomach return with a vengeance. When he layed down for Jimin's verse he was afraid he wouldn't be able to get back up again, but he forced himself back up, fear washing over him when he remembered he was going to be center for his rap verse.

The members couldn't stop looking in his direction, and when his rap part came he came a second too late, having to do it off beat.

He stopped to try to get back on track, and when he did he heard thousands of voices singing his part with him. Army had joined in with him. Their voices gave him the adrenalin he needed, coming back strong to finish his part.

(I can do this.. we're halfway through.. I just need to hold out a little longer..)He couldn't jump as high as the other members, getting off sync because his feet hit the ground too early. (Sh*t..i can't do this...)Namjoon couldn't help but wrap a hand around his sour stomach when another painful cramp hit, the stress getting to him. (It's J-hope's verse now...) He was glad to stop moving a moment, but when it was his turn to jerk back up he stumbled into J-hope.

J-hope steadied him, helping him back into position, continuing the choreography. Namjoon tries to do the same, but he couldn't focus. His body remembered the steps for him.

"Let me lift V instead." He hears Yoongi whisper, gently nudging him to go into his position.

It took a moment to process what he was saying before it clicked. (Yoongi already had to lift Taehyung once..) it was too late to make any more changes, Yoongi already in position to lift Taehyung.

The two rappers struggled to switch back to the original positions, almost colliding into each other.(Now Yoongi made a mistake because of me. I can't mess up anymore..) Namjoon pushed through the last thirty seconds of the song, feeling his body swaying at the end. He tried to close his eyes to wait for the dizziness to pass, but his knees buckled. Jin quickly grabbed him by the shoulders. J-hope and Jin help him off the stage, moving quickly to get him away from the crowd, going into the green room. "I'm sorry..I did so bad..." Namjoon felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes. "I'm gonna throw up..."

Taehyung quickly grabs the waste bin, putting it in front of Namjoon. "You did great for being so sick."

"You did the best you could. I can't believe you actually made it through the whole performance.." J-hope rubs his back as he gets sick. Namjoon had nothing left his his stomach, only acid coming up, making him gag more at the awful taste.

"Don't worry about it. All you can do is give it everything you got. You did that and more." Jin tries to comfort Namjoon, rubbing his tensed shoulders.

"I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have performed.. I should've listened." Namjoon sobbed, burying his face in his hands, then quickly looking up again. "Yoongi-yah.. are you okay?"

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Just focus on yourself." Yoongi tried to sound strong, but pain laced his voice, rubbing his shoulder.

"That was quick thinking Yoongi-hyung. I feel stupid for not realizing that would be an issue. I should've done it instead." J-hope praises Yoongi, causing him to blush lightly.

"I was the closest one that could do it so I just followed my instinct. I didn't want him or Taehyung getting hurt." Yoongi dismisses the praise.

"Thanks, Yoongi-hyung.." Namjoon says softly.

Jungkook wipes Namjoon's tears, handing him a water bottle. "Please don't cry hyung. You're going to make me cry.."

Namjoon looks up at the mankae, his eyes already shining with unshed tears. "I'm sorry. I'm fine now.."

"Let's get you home." Jin helps Namjoon get the mic pack and inears off. "I'll make you some jook. You need to eat something."

"I don't think I can eat.." Namjoon responds honestly, taking a small sip of water to try to get rid of the taste in his mouth.

"You have to try at least a little for me. Please at least try.. Okay?" Jin begs

"hyung..." Namjoon's stomach churns at just the thought of food, causing him to gag more bile coming up, cursing under his breath. His eyes water as his stomach tightens, painfully vomiting.

Jin looks around at the others, everyone getting ready to help Namjoon get home, forming a circle like the body guards.

Fans flash photos of the boys while they get to the car, screaming for the boys to try to get their attention. Namjoon struggles just to keep walking forward, the adrenalin that kept him going gone. The six boys form a bubble around him, blocking him from view, them waving wildly and flashing hearts. The body guards are extra protective as well, making sure no one steps a single foot over the ropes.

Jin keeps one hand discreetly around Namjoon's waist to be sure he doesn't fall, and yoongi keeps hold of Namjoon's clammy hand, holding it tight.

"Love you army!" J-hope and Taehyung yell cheerfully over the crowd, bowing and making hearts as Jin and Yoongi help Namjoon into the car, moving him by the window.

"Thank you, army. Love you!" Jungkook joins in making a heart over his head.

The seven boys make it in the car safely, Taehyung and Jungkook waving out the window before rolling it up again.

"It's finally over." Namjoon sighs in relief, leaning his head on Jin.

"You're really warm, Joon.." Jin sucks in air through his teeth, running a hand across Namjoon's forehead into his hair. "You're still sweating, too."

"I'll take a bath when we get back. I don't think I could stand long enough for a shower.." Namjoon closes his eyes tightly, the movement of the car being too much for his stomach to handle. "Please.. stop the car.."

When the driver tries to switch lanes to pull over, the bile already rose up his throat, all color leaving his face.

"It can't wait. Roll down the window!" J-hope orders, Jin rolling down the window and helping Namjoon move to stick his head out. Namjoon gets sick all over the car door, body trembling violently.

"We need to get him to a hospital.. he's going to need an IV at this rate.." Jin says sounding panicked, rubbing Namjoon's back. "Please, take us to a hospital.." He asks the driver.

When they arrive at the hospital Namjoon couldn't walk, needing to sit in a wheelchair as he waits, a nurse gives him a pink bin in case he had to get sick again, and to Namjoon's horror, his stomach tightened, causing him to heave, more sick coming out.

"{Please. No flim. No photo. No post.}" Jin pleads with the people around them in English, taking off his jacket to cover up Namjoon from view.

Security had to usher people away but that didn't stop them from trying to get as much footage as they could before being pushed away.

The hospital is quick to get them in a private room. Jin helps Namjoon onto the bed then helping him undress to put on the gown. The nurse knocks on the door, Jin peeking through the crack before letting her in.

"{Hello I'm Miss. Maple, I'm going to be your nurse today, do you understand?}" She speaks slowly.

"{I'm fluent in English..}" Namjoon explains to her, voice shaking.

Jin held Namjoon's hand as he spoke with the nurse, rubbing his thumb across his knuckles. "It's okay if you need to cry." He whispers. "She'll understand."

Namjoon shakes his head, elbowing Jin softly, not letting his emotions out until she leaves the room to get an IV bag.

"It's going to be everywhere.." Namjoon whimpers, hot tears rolling down his cheeks.

"No it won't. I'll make sure of it even if I have to report every video myself." Jin tells him. "The company will handle it. The other members are already on it too. We will get this taken care of. You just focus on getting better." Jin wipes the tears from Namjoon's face, pulling a small pack of tissues from his bag. "You got snot all over your face." Jin tuts, cleaning up his nose. "It's not that big of a deal. Everyone gets sick."

"I'm sorry Hyung.." Namjoon sniffles, trying to stop.

"Don't be. It's not your fault. Just try to rest some while we wait for the nurse. You look exhausted." Jin gives him a soft kiss on the forehead.

Namjoon went back to the hotel after two IV bags, the doctor confirming it's just food poisoning. Namjoon felt safer at the hotel where the other members were not wanting to spend a night alone in the hospital.

To his surprise when Jin lead him back to his room to rest for the night, the other five members were in his room.

"Namjoonie-hyung!" Jungkook was the first to go greet him, hugging him lightly. "Are you feeling any better?"

"A little..what are you doing in here..?" Namjoon asks

"I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep until I saw you in person, and the others felt the same." Taehyung answers, taking his turn to hug onto Namjoon.

"I want to show you something!" J-hope says, pulling up something on his laptop. When Namjoon went over to see what he was talking about he saw it was Twitter. He was trending all over Twitter, but he didn't see a single clip of him getting sick. Twitter was flooded with get well messages and praise.

"All the platforms are like this. The company put out a warning about filming our private moments, but it looks like Army has your back, too. If the clips are out there, they are getting reported so fast I haven't seen them." J-hope gets up, hugging Namjoon. "You have no reason to worry. Everyone understands."

Relief washes over Namjoon, sighing in relief.

"Now that you're feeling better mentally, let's work on physically. You need to rest, but first, could you at least eat this banana or some applesauce? Just something small so you have something in your stomach..?" Jimin asks with worry plastered on his face. "I read it's good for when you've been throwing up."

"Alright.. I'll try, but after you guys need to get to bed. You look dead on your feet." Namjoon peels the banana open, taking a bite to appease the young vocalist.

Namjoon lays in bed, regretting his decision to please Jimin, but he wasn't worried about being sick anymore.

(They all handled the situation so well.. I'm so proud to be a part of this team, and army.. They were quick to defend me..)

Namjoon rushes to go throw up again, just barely having the strength to sit up. As he throws up the mush that was once a banana, another wave of dizziness makes it hard to stay sitting up.

When starts falling, he feels an arm stop him. "I got you.." J-hope coos. "It's okay.."

"I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to wake you.."Namjoon apologizes.

J-hope tuts his tongue at him. "Stop being sorry. I'd much rather you wake me up than you suffer alone.. I love you Namjoon. I don't mind losing sleep to take care of you. If any of us were worried about you waking us up we would've just went to our hotel rooms. Let's get you back to bed, okay. Hyung could you help?"

Namjoon looks up to see who he's talking to, Jin leaning down to help him up. He leads him back to his bed that the three youngest members took over, Taehyung holding out his arms to Namjoon.

Namjoon wasn't usually the cuddly type, but with how awful he was feeling he felt needy for human contact, feeling comforted by the warmth of his old roommate's body and his steady heart beat as he lays on his chest.

"Don't get used to this Tae.." Namjoon says with a yawn.

"I won't.. I love you Namjoonie-hyung..I hope you get better soon..." Taehyung rubs Namjoon's stomach, whispering softly.

Namjoon falls asleep quickly after murmuring a soft, 'I love you..' Back to him, finally falling into the deep sleep he desperately needed.

[softxsuki]

꒰ ˆ ꒵ ˆ꒱ Hi, Han! Congratulations on 1000+ followers! I've been around since you hit 400 and I couldn't be more proud of you and how far you've come. You're too good for this world and just seeing you pop up in my notifications puts a smile on my face. („⊹𝅒⊹„) I'm sure you’ll get even more supporters soon (as you deserve) and I hope I'll get to see your blog keeping on growing! Thank for all of the content you put out for us, this plataform wouldn't be the same without you and would mean a lot less to me. (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･

Anyway, if it's okay, could I please send in a request for the event?

❥ Pronouns:

𖤣 they/them

❥ Fandoms:

𖤣 Tokyo Revengers, Obey Me, Jujutsu Kaisen

❥ Gender:

𖤣 It doesn't matter!

❥ Type of matchup:

𖤣 Romantic

❥ Myer-Briggs Personality Type:

𖤣 INFP-T

❥ Zodiac:

𖤣 Sagittarius

❥ What I value:

𖤣 loyalty; open-mindedness; respect.

❥ My type:

𖤣 I don't think I have one, I never judge people by their looks and don't consider anyone I've met, until now, ugly.

❥ What's my personality like:

𖤣 observant; pretty short-tempered; indecisive (but i do make good choices); smart; ambivert; creative; genuine; lazy; camera shy; optimistic; I can get easily confused; forgetful; moody; reliable; sassy; people say I have great taste (for music, fashion, food, crushes, decorations, locations, etc); spontaneous; stubborn; sensitive;

❥ Hobbies/things I like to do:

𖤣 I don't think I have any talent to hobbies... So here are the things I like to do: traveling; shopping; exploring new places; spend hours swinging on swings; listening to music; eating out; collecting plushies;

❥ Details:

𖤣 I'm at my last school year and still have no idea of what to do with my life; I'm from Brazil; I've been trying to gain a little bit of weight; I have a sweet tooth; I'm very picky when it comes to food;

❥ Kind of scenario:

𖤣 Hmmmm, maybe what mornings with them are like?? I really don't know!!

𑁍 Take your time, Han! I hope you have an amazing day and life!! Thank you for existing, you're insanely special to me and to many others. 𑁍

1000 Follower Event Matchup #27

This event is CLOSED. You can view the event masterlist here.

Note: Thank you! It's crazy that I made this event when I hit 1k and now I'm at 1.5k...these matchups took me way too long. I'm so sorry for the wait. But omg you've been around since I was at 400 followers :( you've stuck with me for a while! Thank you so much for all your support. I hope you like who I matched you with <3

I match you with: DRAKEN, BEELZEBUB, ITADORI

Runner-ups were: Mitsuya, Lucifer, Megumi

Draken:

I feel like Draken would be your support system

He’s such a dependable guy, he’d want you to lean on him for once

He loves your sass btw, it adds a little spice to your relationship that keeps things interesting, so keep pushing his buttons

Always takes you out to eat, watching you with a little smirk as you happily enjoy your food (even if you’re picky and only eat chicken tenders with fries) as long as you’re happy he’s happy

He’s not the biggest shopper, but whenever you want to go out shopping he insists on tagging along, kinda playing your bodyguard and official bag holder, you’re not holding any bags with him around

What are mornings with Draken like?

Hmmm, I think he’s not the biggest morning person, so he’s a little slow at waking up (after all, he lives in a brothel which is more active during the night)

Groggy morning voice as he cuddles into you, hiding his face in the crook of your neck 

So definitely a slow morning, but be happy, because you’re getting an unusually clingy and cute Draken lol

Beelzebub:

This man’s brother is the avatar of sloth lol, he’s pretty fond of your laziness

Beel is our gentleman :( he’s a big ol teddy bear

Super loyal and respectful, he treats you like you’re his treasure

Pls don’t lose your temper with him :( he’d get all pouty, though having Satan as his brother, he is pretty used to it, but it would hurt more if you specifically get mad at him

You’re eating out like 10 times a day with him LOL

If you’re a picky eater, he’d gladly take whatever you don’t want from your plate, and even shares some things on his own plate that you love :( <3 so in love omg

And if you’re trying to gain weight, he’s the perfect person to help you out with that :D 

What are mornings with Beel like?

Well…he’s already up in the kitchen making you both breakfast

Surprises you with breakfast in bed every morning and is actually able to control his urges and manages to not eat the entire plate before it reaches you

He’s down to do whatever you want for the day, he’ll follow you around :) so long as you feed him along the way

Itadori:

This cutie is perfect boyfriend material, especially for you

I picture him taking so many off-guard pictures of you to save to his phone; no matter how much you try to convince him that you look horrible in them, he just spends the next few days gushing over them, admiring the small image of you on his phone <3

He feeds your plushy addiction, he finds your collection cute and loves seeing how happy you get when you get a new one added in 

Loyal golden retriever boyfriend 10000000%

Goes on a walk to the park with you while you swing on the swings side by side, chatting and eating the ice cream he bought you :D 

What are mornings like with Itadori?

Energetic…I hope you’re a morning person, because he’s fresh as a daisy pretty early in the morning, ready for another adventure with you

He’s the type to watch you as you sleep, waiting excitedly for you to wake up, and eventually you do wake up from feeling him watch you lol

Morning kisses are a must and maybe even some cuddles

EVENT REQUESTS ARE CLOSED

REGULAR REQUESTS ARE OPEN

Posted: 08/28/2023