#One is a surprisingly beautiful and exciting spin off of a spin off

[addicted2coke-theothercoke]

Me: yeah sure, I might disagree but people are allowed to have their own opinions that don't line up with mine

Me when I see a decent but corporate and unfunny remark adaptation beat out an original and compelling sci-fi series that fixed all it's previous instalments problems on a poll for which was better:

[luvlunajpg]

Truth or Dare

♡ pairing: johnnie x fem reader

♡ Summary: Tara knows you have a crush on Johnnie so she dared you to be handcuffed to Johnnie for the whole night.

♡ Classification: fluff and very very light smut

𐙚₊˚⊹♡ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆.✧˚ ༘˚⋆ ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡

You were crossing your arms over your chest sitting at the passenger seat beside your roommate Tara Yummy. Both of you just pulled up infront of Jake’s house for a quick get together amongst all of their close youtuber friends. You never agreed to be apart of this ever since Tara told you about it. infact, you’re not even a youtuber, you’re just Tara’s close friend that pops up in her youtube videos every once in awhile cause her content needs a partner.

“Oh come on y/n! Please! You’re so going to enjoy tonight just trust me i’ll be there with you the whole time. its not like you don’t know them! We’ve hung out with them before” Tara whines as you roll your eyes at her. You knew she was just saying that so you would get up and follow her get drunk so that someone would accompany her home when shes hammered. Tara kept whining and whining while tugging onto your mini skirt. As much as you hate socialising you just know you hate it when Tara starts being annoying.

“GOSH FINE! Lets get inside. Only cause i love you” you groaned in frustration causing Tara to giggle and peck your cheek before leaving the car. Jake welcomes the both of you and offers us some alcohol thats available in the fridge. The whole night we all had fun, played games, shared stories, shared experiences, talk about life and hobbies. You hate to admit this but Tara was right, you actually did have fun. But throughout the whole night, only one person really catches your attention and has never failed to do so for months.

His beautiful blue eyes that reminded you of the sky. His style is like one of those guys you would stumble across on Myspace. His cute smile that really compliments his piercings. You just couldn’t get enough of him, your eyes were on him the whole night, you tried your best to not be obvious about it but Tara was not going to let it slide when she caughts you admiring him from afar

“You like what you see huh??” Tara giggles as she wiggles her eyebrows towards you and johnny. “Oh shut up” you whine as your cheeks turns slightly pink at her comment. You don’t only like what you see, you love what you see, hearing him talk gives you butterflies. His croaky crunchy voice made your stomach churn in excitement. Tara smirks as an idea comes up in her head “GUYS! LETS PLAY TRUTH OR DARE!!” Tara yells as she pulls you to the centre of the living room. Your eyes widened knowing what your cheeky best friend is up to. Tara winks at your flushed face and sets down on the floor followed by the rest that is interested in playing as well and surprisingly Johnnie was one of them. Tara takes an empty bottle of beer from Jake’s hand and set it in the middle of the circle “lets get this game started” Tara smirks as she spin the empty glass bottle at this point you were just praying hard that the night would end faster.

-

The game has been going on for awhile and it was a mess. Tara was dared to make out with Jake as an ex. Jake had to tell a truth on what he hates the most about Tara during their relationship, Sam was dared to lick whipping cream off Colby’s belly button and many more crazy shit. Meanwhile Tara was frustrated how the bottle has not landed on you or johnnie this whole time which made you more than blessed cause the party is about to end soon since everyone was really hammered. You gave Tara and innocent smile as she squints her tired eyes at you giving you the “we are not leaving until i say so” look. Tara spins the bottle one more time just for it to land at her

“WTF?? This is not fair! Y/n and johnnie hasn’t even gotten their turn yet” tara whines as everyone agrees with her

“Yeah Johnnie! You’re missing out all the fun! Lets just pick them to do the next truth or dare” Jake says as he nudged johnnie with his elbow. “Yeah whatever i don’t care” johnnie chuckled as he takes another swig of his Dr Pepper. Tara giggles and looks at your now pale face and your big round eyes that is filled with fear.

“ok Y/N truth or dare?” Tara smirks

“Truth” you manage to choke out. You were so nervous your throat felt tight, you feel like you were about to faint

“Do you like anyone in this room? Truth only my love” Tara giggles as your face turns red. You did not expect her to ask you that, you expected her to ask you about an embarrassing memory that happened when you were a teenager or maybe what kind of kink you’re into but you never expected Tara to be so straightforward.

“Uh uhh dare, i choose dare please” you stuttered out as everyone around you groan at your sudden change of mind

“Alright alright, i dare you to be handcuffed to johnnie throughout the whole night. Its 12am now but at 7am sharp, then you’ll be free” you felt the whole world was crashing down on you. You swallowed your saliva as the room sounded muffled, your vision was getting blurry and your palms are sweating as if you just finished rock climbing or something. Tara comes back from Jake’s room with pink fluffy handcuffs that is usually used during sex which made you and johnnie turn red even more.

“Don’t worry its clean. Jake and i got this in our Fan Mail, we never used them but now it serves a different purpose” Tara exclaims as she handcuffs you and Johnnie together. You were in shock and lost of words, your face was heating up as if its about to explode but you’re more than surprised that Johnnie had no comments or refusal throughout the whole situation. He just stood still and let Tara handcuffed him to you.

“Tara come on this is ridiculous! How are we supposed to wash up tonight? I reek of alcohol right now! How am i supposed to shower” Tara only giggled at your annoyance and kept the keys in her back pocket. She walks away from you and grabbed the car keys on the kitchen island.

“And that is for you to figure it out yourself. COME ON GUYS PARTY IS OVER. LETS LEAVE THIS LOVEBIRDS ALONE” Tara blows a kiss to you before holding Jake’s hand and heads out just like everyone else is doing. You were left dumbfounded with a hot emo boy handcuffed to you.

-

12:45AM

it has been 45 minutes of dead silence between you and Johnnie. After everyone left you tried to tidy the place up but Johnnie suggest that you two just sit on the couch since there is no point of cleaning when the two of you are handcuffed to eachother. After that tiny interaction with Johnnie the both of you just sat on the couch in silence while being on your phones. It was so silent you could literally hear your own heartbeat and breathing. Johnnie was scrolling through Tiktok and meanwhile on your side you were spamming Tara with middle finger emojis and cussing her out. Tara only replied with a kissing emoji and disappeared afterwards. You yawned and rubbed your eyes, the alcohol was starting to drain out your energy and all you want to do now was sleep, but you know too well that you can’t sleep without a shower and a new set of fresh clothes.

“wanna head to bed?” johnnie turns to you noticing your eyes getting tired every minute. You lightly shook your head trying to stay awake for another few more hours. “Come on. You look like you’re about to pass out. Lets just head to bed and we’ll be free the moment we wake up” Johnnie insists, you shook your head again and sit up against the couch “I don’t feel comfortable sleeping like this.. especially not showering after a long day” you commented causing Johnnie to chuckle. He stood up forcing you to follow him to his room where he has a sleeping mask by his bedside. He hands you his T-shirt, pair of black boxers and a new towel. “The bathroom is opposite my room, you can take a shower there while I’m blindfolded” johnnie shakes the blindfold in his hand assuring you that he won’t be seeing you shower, at this point you can only sigh and agree since there are literally no other choices left.

Johnnie drags you to the bathroom and immediately wore the blindfold the moment he stepped foot into the bathroom. You slipped out of your croptop and mini skirt. You were grateful that your outfits were easy to take off since you clearly did not planned to be handcuffed to a boy tonight. As you were about to hop into the shower you noticed that you were wearing a strapless bra with a clasp. You always ask Tara to undo it for you since it is something that you are not used too yet. You sighed at the problem your facing knowing that you only have one option left.

“johnnie.. can you help me take my bra off..” you sighed

“Wait what-“ “JUST DO IT JOHNNIE” you cut him off as your face turns bright red, you swore to yourself when you meet Tara in a few hours you’re going to kill her. Johnnie took off his blindfolds to see you in your undergarments, he swallowed his salive before undoing your bra then wearing back his blindfold. You shook your head and hop in the shower after taking your panties off.

-

1:30AM

The both of you are now sitting up against Johnnies headboard. You are currently drowning in guilt, after showering you noticed that Johnnie was only in his Jeans. He ripped his shirt off and you could only guess he did it due to the humidity of the long steaming shower you were having. You insisted johnnie to shower too but he said he was too tired to shower so you end up getting dressed and dragged him to bed after taking his blindfold off. So now here you are, a duo that is muted and awkward like a married couple that just finished their heated argument. You wanted the floor to just swallow you so bad of how awkward this is, you’re trying to distract yourself by being on your phone but you literally have nothing else to search or look through.

“want to continue the game?” Johnnie ask looking up from his phone. You tilted ur head at him not knowing what he meant. He puts his phone down and stares at you with his bright blue eyes.

“The truth or dare game. Want to continue that?” Johnnie ask again.

“What why? We’re technically still undergoing the game” you asked back while sitting up

“Well… you’re clearly not sleeping and im guessing its because you’re uncomfortable to sleep on your roomate’s friend’s bed. So lets just waste time since the night is still young” johnnie reshifts himself on the bed so that he is facing you.

You just nodded to him suddenly feeling your heart beating out of your chest

-

3:00AM

The both of you spent what felt like hours on the game. It started off as the both of you picking truths for the longest time ever until Johnnie decides to break the pattern by saying dare and you dared him to take a shot of tabasco sauce. After that incident the both of you just had your own fun playing truth or dare, answering saucy questions and doing dumb dares.

“Omg i can’t believe you just prank called your mom saying you got a girl pregnant” you laugh out loud holding onto your stomach

“Yeah can’t wait for her to nag at me in the morning you idiot” Johnnie laughs with you as the both of you sat back down on his bed “alright truth or dare” Johnnie ask

“Truth”

“Is it true that you like me?” Johnnie smirks at you as your face turns red. “I uhh i don’t- well.. yeah” you confessed blankly. You did not expect Johnnie to ask you that, you were really embarrassed you just hid your face in your hands. Johnnie smiles removing your hands from your face “hey.. i like you too..actually i like you alot. Jake caught me so many times watching Tara videos that has you in it, I’m actually surprised that idiot did not blurt out anything to you.” You giggled at his confession, it was cute of him to come forward like that, you never really thought Johnnie actually has a crush on you since he never really shows it whenever the both of you meet. You cup his face and gently place your lips against his, feeling his cold lips touching yours made your heart melt the both of you stayed like that for a few more seconds before pulling away.

“gosh im so sorry i should’ve asked fuck i’m so-“ you got cut off by Johnnie’s lips crashing into yours. You kissed him back but this time more passionately than before. Both of your tongues meet and danced in eachothers mouth, Johnnie lifts you up and place you on his lap not breaking the kiss. The both of you made out for awhile, Johnnie’s hands wanted to be all over you but the handcuffs were too restrictive.

“Gosh i want to touch you so bad” Johnnie sighs before kissing you again. You hummed into the kiss agreeing with him, as you were about to slip your hand into Johnnie’s Jeans the both of you were shocked by a sudden flash coming from the door of his room

“Sup lovebirds! Say cheeeeese” Tara takes another shot from her Digicam with Jake standing right behind her waving at the both of you like a child at a playground.

“Tara uncuff me now so i can love my girlfriend easily” Johnnie groans as you turned your head towards him “Girlfriend?” You giggle “what you don’t want too?” johnnie smirks as he leaves kisses down your neck “Of course i want too” you peck his lips and felt a key dropped beside your thigh.

“Urgh this is nasty go unlock it yourself. Lets go jake” Tara exclaims sarcastically before closing the door. She is actually more than happy to see her two close friends get together since she has been planning this for so long. johnnie immediately took the keys and uncuff the both of you. You sighed at the feeling of relief when the cuffs were finally off, it felt good to feel your hands again. johnnie jiggles the handcuffs infront of your face while smirking

“Want to give these a try in a different way?”

-

Anon note: GUYS THIS IS SOOO LONG IM SO SORRY IF THERE ARE ANG TYPOS MY HANDS ARE CRAMPING ARGH. Its been a while since i posted so i gotta comback with a long one ya know what i mean? Hehe hope u guys enjoy! Love you guysss ❤️

[caitified]

We need an entire wedding series w CC. Like I need the planning, wedding day, wedding dance, honeymoon

Just ahhh 🙃

planning

caitlin clark x reader

warnings:none, part of wedding series so more to come! part 1 here

after caitlin proposed on that breathtaking hawaiian beach, it felt like the world was spinning in slow motion. you could hardly believe that moment was real—caitlin down on one knee, the ocean behind her, a sunset painting everything golden. the ring on your finger sparkled, but nothing compared to the joy in her eyes as she slipped it on.

when you both got back home, the excitement settled in a new way. you weren’t just dating anymore; you were planning a life together. every day, you’d catch her looking at you, a small smile playing at her lips, and she’d say something like, “can you believe we’re getting married?” and every time, it felt as surreal as the first moment.

the wedding planning started with the big question: when. with her WNBA season and your own schedule, finding the perfect date was no easy task. you’d both sit on the couch in sweatpants, laptops open, scrolling through possible dates and venues. caitlin was surprisingly involved, even though she’d joke, “whatever you want, babe.” but you knew she cared. she’d light up whenever you talked about a potential outdoor ceremony or discussed which season would give you the most beautiful photos.

“okay, what if we go for fall?” you suggested one evening, looking up at her. “the colors, the cool air—it could be perfect.”

she looked thoughtful, then nodded with a grin. “yeah, i can see that. plus, i can rock a nice suit without sweating through it,” she teased, making you laugh.

from there, you both started envisioning an autumn wedding. caitlin was all about the cozy, romantic vibe, wanting a venue with warm lighting, candles everywhere, and an intimate feel. you spent hours browsing through ideas together, sending each other links to florists, photographers, and little details you thought would make the day perfect.

one evening, she surprised you with a notebook filled with ideas. “i know you’re handling a lot of the details, but i had some thoughts,” she said, handing it to you. flipping through it, you saw pages of handwritten notes—ideas for vows, table decor, a song list for the reception. it was thoughtful, heartfelt, and completely unexpected.

“cait, this is amazing,” you whispered, looking up at her with tears in your eyes. “you really thought about all this?”

she shrugged, blushing slightly. “of course. it’s our day. i want it to be everything you’ve dreamed of.”

from there, the planning became more than just tasks to check off. it was late-night conversations about how you wanted the ceremony to feel, choosing songs that held special meaning, and even playfully arguing over cake flavors. caitlin insisted on chocolate; you had your heart set on lemon. eventually, you compromised, deciding on a tiered cake that offered both flavors.

there were plenty of moments that reminded you why you’d fallen for her in the first place. she kept things light, making jokes when you got stressed about the guest list or when the florist didn’t respond quickly enough. and whenever you felt overwhelmed, she’d pull you close, press a kiss to your forehead, and remind you that, at the end of the day, it was about you and her, nothing else.

one of the most special parts was finding your dress. caitlin came with you, sitting outside the dressing rooms with a grin as she waited for each reveal. the second you walked out in the one, her expression softened, and she couldn’t stop staring. “you look incredible,” she whispered, reaching out to take your hands. “i can’t wait to marry you.”

her suit fitting was just as memorable. she wanted something classic but with a twist—something that felt uniquely her. when she finally settled on a deep navy suit with subtle detailing, you knew she’d look amazing, and she absolutely did. she showed off, giving you a playful twirl, and you laughed, knowing how much you adored her.

as the day grew closer, it felt more real. your families met, sharing stories and toasts at a casual dinner. seeing her interact with your family, laughing and bonding, made you fall in love with her all over again. it felt like your worlds were merging, coming together perfectly.

finally, after months of planning, the night before the wedding arrived. you stood outside on a quiet balcony, nerves and excitement tangled up inside you, when she found you. “hey,” she said softly, slipping her hand into yours.

“hey,” you replied, leaning into her warmth. the world felt perfect in that moment, the two of you wrapped up in each other as you prepared for the biggest step of your lives.

she looked down at you, her eyes filled with so much love, and brushed a thumb over your cheek. “ready to start forever?” she asked, her voice soft, full of everything that had led you here.

you nodded, a smile spreading across your face as you looked up at her. “ready as i’ll ever be.”

thanks for reading! requests open, more to come.

[corrodedcoughin]

This might be the second worst thing that’s ever happened to Gareth while wearing these stupid shorts, or in general he guesses. The first being when he was in gym class and the got caught on the fence he tried to hop in order to skip said class, successfully exposing his lemon yellow carebear boxers, the only pair he had left because everything else was in the wash. Luckily it was only the gym teacher, Mr Carrey, and Linda Stern, a girl that kept to herself so unlikely to share such scandal. Neither brought it up again but that doesn’t mean Gareth was free of the memory, or free of reliving it whenever he opened his drawer to pull out some underwear.

But it’s not just the shorts that tie Gareth’s ‘most embarrassing and traumatising events of my life so far’ memories together. No, the instigator of both of these events also keeps them joined in Gareth’s mind. Edward Munson. It was Eddie who insisted that skipping class while in said class would be the smartest move to make ‘think of it Gareth, imagine it, skipping right under Mr Carrey's nose? He'd never expect it! High class rogue moves for sure!’

So of course Gareth was convinced by Eddie’s manic eyes and excitement and successfully flashed his gym teacher while the mastermind was laughing and pulling him down off the fence. Mr Carrey must have felt sorry enough for Gareth to let him run and isn’t that a fun addition to an already horrific memory?

Anyway, back to Eddie Munson; worst person to enter Gareth’s life. Because now? Now Gareth is stood outside a stupidly big and stupidly fancy house, in the offensive (now repaired, thanks Granny) gym shorts, and a pair of plastic and bent out of shape fairy wings. Originally he was supposed to be in a white vest too but he drew the line there, adamant he’d be wearing his Iron Maiden shirt to save some sort of dignity. And to top it all off it’s a beautiful day so of course people are out mowing their lawns, families are walking their dogs, children are playing in the streets and just enjoying the surprisingly mild february weather. All of them staring, quite obviously, at what they see as a strange teenager in wings being shouted at by an equally strange kid hiding behind a, not nearly big enouhg, bush for ‘stealth reasons’ apparently. 

‘RING THE DOORBELL MAN, COME ON!’

Gareth slowly turns to look over his shoulder to glare at Eddie who is peaking around the shrubbery. 

‘YOU RING THE FUCKING DOORBELL!’

‘GARETH YOU PROMISED! DON’T BE A DICK’

‘YEAH, BECAUSE YOU TRICKED ME!’

‘NO I DIDN’T, YOU SAID YES NOW RING TH-’

Of course that’s exactly when the door to the stupid house opens and the reason Gareth is here steps into the doorway. 

Gareth grits his teeth and begins to recite his lines ‘Steve, o steve. You are beauty that has to be seen to be believed. Wont you be mine until the end of time?’ He finishes and stands glaring over Steve fucking Harrington’s shoulder

‘DO THE FUCKING REST GARETH’ Eddie’s voice emanates from somewhere to the back of Gareth, probably still hiding behind the stupid bush. So Gareth ‘does the rest’ he does a very slow and deliberate 360 spin before crouching down to one knee and shooting a plastic bow and arrow at Steve’s chest. Of course the arrow just rattles to the floor, sad and pathetic, just like it’s shooter Gareth thinks to himself. 

‘Gareth? Why…umm, are you okay?’ Steve is obviously trying to hold back laughter and doing a terrible job of it. His face is convulsing like he’s just eaten a whole lemon, rind and all. And well, who knows, maybe he has, maybe it's a secret trick for keeping his hair so big, Gareth isn’t here to judge, he just wants to leave. 

‘Dude please just answer the question and put me out of my misery’ He’s still half on the ground and his knee hurts and it’s hot and he’s kneeling at Steve Harrington’s fucking door dressed as a fucking cupid because he couldn’t say no to his fucking stupid fucking best friend. Gareth pulls himself away from thoughts of despair when he sees Steve’s mouth open to speak. He’s got one hand on the door frame, the other on the back of his neck

‘Oh, uh, yeah? I mean, yes? This is for Eddie right?’ Gareth stopped listening after the initial ‘yeah’, instead standing and turning to the, very small, hedge Eddie was doing an awful job of concealing himself behind 

‘HE SAID YES. CAN I GO HOME NOW?’

Suddenly there's a whoop and an air punching Eddie Munson who realises he’s exposed his ‘perfect’ (shitty) hiding spot and is in full view of Steve. The idiot even tries to play off the air punch by combing his hand through his hair which obviously gets stuck on his rings and then tries to play that off by just keeping his hand in his hair while waving with the other, not trapped hand. With a violent yank he manages to free the entangled fingers with only a small whine.

‘Uhh…Hi Steve’ Eddie says with a dopey smile and somehow, somehow he’s got an equally lovesick looking Steve smiling right back at him ‘Hi Eddie’. At this point, Gareth has quite frankly had enough, Eddie and Steve are slowly walking towards each other like some romcom end of the movie scene and he’ll be dammed if he’s watching those two tragically flirt at each other. So he grabs the van keys out of Eddie’s pocket as he passes, resigning himself to an hour of shooting Eddie’s empty cans in the back of the van while he waits. Gareth is almost off the lawn when Eddie must get brave

‘NICE SHORTS BY THE WAY CUPID’

‘FUCK YOU!’ Gareth snaps the arrow in two trudges off, wings flapping behind him.

—---

Three weeks ago

Gareth was at his desk, he was trying to practice some drum rhythms when Eddie flounced in and dramatically dropped onto his bed. For the past half hour Gareth had been regaled with yet more ‘reasons why Steve Harrington is my dream man’ from Eddie 

‘You don’t understand man. He was just driving and the Eagles came on. Don’t look at me like that, I know it’s the eagles, but it was life in the fast lane and he was singing along to it dude. The line! You know the one! I swear it was an instant hard on, thought I’d came by the end’

‘DUDE STOP. STOP. I’ll do whatever you want just please never talk to me about your Steve related dick events again’ Listen, Gareth loved Eddie, he did. But there's only so much a man can withstand and Eddie could monolgue for hours if given the chance.

‘Whatever I want?’ There was no obvious devious tone here but Gareth still should have known better than to agree. If he had clocked Eddie's face he would have seen an expression so devious that he'd be running out the door.

‘Yes! Fuck, just no more. My ears are never going to feel clean again’

[thebadboyfanclub]

Look At Me, Princess (Harwin x Reader)

This was a really nice spin off since I wanted to write about Rhaenyras aunt and someone that Rhaenyra could have a close bond with also having Harwin as your love interest is always a plus

There’s one person princess (y/n) Targaryen loved more than her family and children and that was her dearest niece, Rhaenyra Targaryen who looked up to her aunt ever since she was a toddler, Rhaenyra had formed a bond with the youngest sister of Viserys like no other, mayhaps because (y/n) was only 10 when the princess was born so (y/n) plus understand the struggles she was going through better than anyone since they were still fresh in her mind.

No matter the reason Rhaenyra felt most comfortable in the presence of “the people's princess”, (y/n) was an interesting character, it seemed like she had the best features of both of her brothers, she was fair and optimistic like Viserys but also adventurous and outspoken like Daemon, both of her brothers spoiled her rotten, no harm would come to her if they had something to do with it, it only took for a simple mist of tears to well up in her eyes for Viserys to fill her hands with gifts and Daemon to roll heads.

“You look beautiful Rhaenyra”

“Thank you, I was going to say the same for you, I see you have not held back on the jewelry”

“It is my name-day, the tourney is held in my job honor, and as my dear brother says “it is an opportunity to gather an established suitor” so, in my opinion, it is just enough, besides, I was never known for my subtle taste”

Rhaenyra giggled at the answer of her aunt, (y/n) was one of the most luxurious women Rhaenyra has ever laid eyes upon, ever since she could remember her aunt was dressed in the finest of dresses with the most intricate patterns, and her neck was decorated by rubies and pearls as were her earlobes, she would bathe in goat milk and rub rose oil on her to keep her skin looking youthful.

Her dress was in Targaryen red with golden details sewn all over it, Rhaenyra wondered how long did it take to create this dress to be worn by the most beautiful woman in the seven kingdoms who remained unmarried, Viserys had begged her to marry but she refused any man that asked for her hand, all of them wanted to lay with a Targaryen, the sense of power excited them none would even spare her a look of it wasn’t for her name.

“I must thank the knights that decided to partake in this tourney held by my beloved brother and your king for my name day, I am honored to feel such warmth from you on this special day, I shall keep this brief since I believe no one came to listen to me but to watch the men in action, let the games begin”

Everyone clapped as (y/n) sat back down and winked at her niece who was smiling brightly, poor little thing had yet to adapt after the second wedding of her father, and to her best friend at that, Rhaenyra leaned on (y/n) more than ever and (y/n) was right there to offer a shoulder and an ear, she knew the pain of living without a mother very well.

“I ask the favor from the woman of the hour, princess (y/n) Targaryen, the heart of the realm”

(Y/n) had done her best to keep the peace within the small folk, but the starving masses had torn her heart open, she talked her brother's ear off to offering food and water in the flea bottom and paid for the orphanage to be fixed and in proper condition, that is where “the heart of the realm” name came from.

(Y/n) rose from her seat with a flower crown in hand and stopped in front of the stand, she leaned enough for the flower crown to slide down the spear of the strongest man the Seven Kingdoms could offer, Ser Harwin “Breakbones” Strong who waited patiently for the princess that was smiling as bright as the sun.

“I wish you good fortune and thank you for the kind words Ser Harwin”

“You honor me, princess”

He replied before he commanded his horse to the other side, (y/n) was supposed to walk away as well and sit back in her seat, surprisingly she remained still, her eyes following the Commander of the city watch until he charged at his opponent who to no one’s surprise loss against the knight dressed in blue armor.

(Y/n) smiled and clapped for him only for Ser Harwin to bow his head in gratitude, after that, she went back to sit next to Rhaenyra, the young niece had a playful smirk on her lips.

“Ser Harwin is a very handsome young man”

“Indeed he is”

“And Strong, who else would be better suited for a dragon?”

“You are rushing my dear, where is the fun in marrying Ser Harwin just because he asked for my favor? Things like this shine better with time”

-

“Princess (y/n) Targaryen with her brother Prince Daemon Targaryen”

(Y/n) and Daemon walked into the room side by side, no one knew where to focus, to the luxurious princess or the rogue prince who made his first appearance after his wedding was recently dissolved.

(Y/n) was the one to inform her brother about the feast, she was aware of the feelings Rhaenyra had developed for her older brother so she thought it would be a good gift to her niece.

“Congratulations my sweet Nyra, may the mother bless this wedlock with a plethora of children”

(Y/n) spoke before she got up the steps and hugged her niece, the kiss she placed on Rhaenyra's forehead reminded Daemon and Viserys of their mother Alyssa, even though (y/n) had never met her she would still mirror their late mother in so many aspects of her life.

“Thank you, aunt, mayhaps you are next”

“That is a possibility your father would adore”

“I wish for you to have a husband by your side is that so bad?”

“No brother I was just jesting, let us enjoy this night”

(Y/n) took her appointed seat next to her brother Daemon who sulked in his chair and stared daggers into anyone he laid eyes upon, (y/n) wondered what life would be like if she was Daemon or Viserys, she loved them both and would give her life for them but she had to recognize the privilege of being born a male, a prince at that, one had a target on his back for killing his wife and the other sacrificed his love for a babe that did not survive and is now married to a much younger lady.

Would she suffer the fate of Aemma as well? Or mayhaps marry someone she is not interested in out of duty like her niece? Her thoughts were interrupted by a young man dressed with the sigil of a lion bowed before her.

“Princess, my name is Gregory Lannister, brother of Jason Lannister”

“Pleasure to meet you, my lord, to what do I owe this introduction?”

“I was hoping you would accompany me for a dance”

“The princess will-“

“Be delighted, thank you, my lord”

She interrupted her brother who was ready to attack the young man. It was time for (y/n) to face the music, she is not getting any younger and as a princess, there was not much that she could do but marry, she had managed to slip through the cracks for so long though she could not always run away from it.

The Lannister lord seemed delighted and offered his hand for her to take, his touch was soft and gentle, he guided her to the middle of the crowd, and with a curtsy, they followed the music for the custom dance.

“How does it feel to see your niece be wed?”

“It is a wonderful day for my lovely Rhaenyra, lord Laenor will be a great king Consort for her”

“He is an honorable choice that is true, is that what marriage is for you as well”

“Wedlock is an oath given to the gods, to trust and to hold, it is a sacred act that I hope I will experience myself”

“I am certain you had your chance with multiple suitors would I be overstepping if I asked why have you chosen to stay a maiden?”

“As mentioned I believe marriage is sacred, call me insane for wanting to find a man that I enjoy being around and not just a man that appears to be a match for the realm”

As the two of them grew into a discussion (y/n) did not have the mind to notice a man that gawked at her like a hawk, Ser Harwin Strong had followed her with his gaze and had yet to pull away from her, his hands turned into fists as he saw the man’s eyes shifted down from her face and to her cleavage.

Gregory cared nothing for (y/n) nor her personality, it was all a mediocre act to get his hands at the pot of gold which was befitting behavior of a Lannister Lord.

“You are letting your true self show son”

“I am just guarding the princess”

“You can fool anyone but not me”

Harwin did not respond to his father, he had nothing to say that could prove to his father that he did not have a soft spot for the lady that was spinning around and her dress taking most of the space on the floor, she was perfect to him, a woman that anyone would be lucky to have so he couldn’t help but wonder why was she dancing with a man that was beneath her? He wasn’t clever nor strong nor did he have anything that could help his courting with her besides the Lannister sigil.

No one could have guessed what was coming next, a blood-curling scream went through everyone’s eardrums as the crowd became one mesh, in a blink of an eye Harwin lost sight of the princess, baffled he started shoving people out of the way in hopes to see her, knights were throwing commands as the people screamed and ran for their lives.

(Y/n) attempted to move out of the circle only to be met with someone’s back which caused her to fall back and hit her head on a piece of wooden furniture, the impact on her head was enough to bring her into a sense of lightheadedness, Gregory lifted her by her waist and pretty much carried her outside until they were secluded to a more private and dim lighted area, (y/n) blinked profusely to clear her foggy eyesight but to no avail, her legs felt weak as she had to support herself from Gregory.

“I can’t breathe”

She felt Gregory’s hands go up to the strings of her corset, she was about to thank him for loosening the tight piece of clothing until the corset started to become loose as to expose herself, thankfully she was quick enough to bring her hands up to her chest and keep it there, her mind tried to find an excuse as to Gregory being in shock and not knowing exactly what he was doing.

“My dress”

“It is alright (y/n) we are alone”

“No, my dress is untied”

“I’ll be quick”

(Y/n) finally met his eyes, the eyes that she could not recognize, dark and almost demonic, her hands were occupied with keeping her corset in place to shove him away as she was starting to get squeamish, her stomach turning as she fussed to get away from her.

All she felt was his weight leaving her but she did not count that he was keeping her up, (y/n) slid down and curled into a ball from fear of what was to come, it was at this point that she saw a man towering over Gregory and punching him repeatedly, a part of her felt relieved for the immediate justice of Gregory’s attempt to harm her, her other part trembled about whom it was and who could have seen them.

“Princess”

A voice as soft as silk reached her ears, Harwin strong had knelt to take a good look at her, make sure she was unharmed, he had run out to look for her only to find her in distress whilst the Lannister bastard wanted to defile her, (y/n) flinched when Harwin reached for her and although it hurt him he understood that she probably does not wish to be touched.

“Listen to me princess, in any minute people will start to pass by and if they find you like this they will not ask questions, they will just start whispering, we must take you away to your chambers, can you walk”

“I don’t think so”

“Can I lift you?”

“Please”

-

“Alyssa be careful”

Harwin heard (y/n) call for their eldest daughter as he entered the hall with a letter in his hand, the scene was heavenly in front of him, his beloved princess sitting on the couch with a fan in her hand to cool herself, her swollen belly was protruding from her dress, it was almost time for her to start her labor for their fourth child, their two older children, Alyssa and Alamea running around in mischievous nature chasing one another around and the third Arran was only two years old was sitting down next to his mother playing with his toys.

All of them had inherited their father's hair, dark brown curls, only little details telling of their Targaryen ancestors, Alyssa had her grandmother's eyes, Alamea had a few strings of blonde hair and little Arran had lavender hues, (y/n) never complained, she enjoyed the fact that she could see her lovely knight in their children.

“How are you feeling my dear?”

“I’m burning up but that’s nothing new”

Harwin sat next to her, contemplating how to go about this, his hand found her belly to caress it lovingly, the last thing he needed was to cause any complications with the news that he must share with her, he had done his best to shield his family from the outside world, brought them to harrenhal to maintain a peaceful life away from the menaces that lurked at court, his offspring should never be taint by the monstrosities that found a home in the red keep.

“A raven came from Dragonstone”

He simply informed as he passed the piece of paper to her, (y/n) who was clueless as to what it said grabbed it with excitement, wanting to read news of her family.

“My beloved aunt,

I write to you with great grief to announce to you that my father, your brother, Viserys has passed.

Unfortunately, this letter is not just to inform you over the kings passing, it is to ask for you and your family to come to my aid as I go against my brother Aegon who has usurped me and was crowned in front of the masses, claiming that he is the rightful heir due to his gender.

Please, I beg you for your love and guidance, in return I offer you the position of being the hand of the queen and your husband to be the commander of the queens guard, I need you by my side as you have always been the light of hope at my darkest of moments.

Love,

Rhae Rhae”

Tears welled up in her eyes as her hands trembled over what she was reading, her eldest brother was gone and before his body grew cold the Hightowers declared war on her Rhaenyra, Harwin took the princess in his arms as the tears escaped and sobs took over her body, he hated seeing her like this, he had done his best to keep her happy and now the pain of losing one of the few members of her immediate family engulfed her to such a degree that he saw just her younger self clinging on to her brother for dear life.

Even though (y/n) had created a family of her own, Viserys was someone she adored, her kindhearted brother, (y/n) dug her nails on top of Harwin back out of desperation as he was the one that she could always snatch upon and feel some level of safety, the man that always stood in front of her and took all the pain just so she can be out of harm's way, now that meant that he endured her nails piercing through his skin in an attempt to bring her some type of comfort.

“I must go to her”

“You cannot travel my love, what of our children?”

“You are right I suppose, I am sorry”

“Magdalena take the children elsewhere”

“I want to stay with momma”

Alyssa complained, (y/n) was in shambles and she had every right to be but Harwin wanted to spare them from witnessing such a tragic scene of their mother being miserable.

Once the children were out of sight (y/n) wiped away her tears and her eyes bounced from one thing to another since they refused to focus because her mind was scattered with thoughts that came all at once, a headache was surely soon to follow.

“Look at me, princess”

Harwin's voice was low and endearing, he pulled her out of her delirium the minute her eyes found his deep blue hues, oh those bewitching eyes that held a tremendous amount of admiration for his lady wife, his princess, Harwin took one deep breath through his nose and then out the mouth, (y/n) followed as Harwin wanted to slow down her heart and breathing, soothe her enough so they can plan together.

“Harrenhall shall declare for Rhaenyra, once I give birth we will ride for dragonstone”

“Alyssa is young she cannot go through a war”

“We can take them to Lys, we have friends there”

“If you become the queens' hand and I go as a commander it means we risk our lives”

“I cannot leave her”

“Harrenhall will declare for Rhaenyra, we will send an army to her and bend the knee to her, I give you my word for that, bullet us enjoy a few days of peace until we decide.”

“Fine but I will send a raven to her”

“I love you, princess”

“I love you more, Ser Harwin break bones”

Harwin leaned to place a gentle kiss on his wife's lips, he feared for what would come next, if she dies there was no reason for him to keep on living, but if he refused her she would end up despising him or try to run away, he had no choice but to bargain with her.

The next morrow Rhaenyra received a raven from Harrenhall, she put everything to a halt in order to read what her aunt was writing, she knew she was asking for too much and the princess that was days away from starting her labours had every right to refuse her or remain cordial.

“My Rhae Rhae,

I grieve for my brother, I will forever hold the moments I had with him near my heart, and with utmost love, I also know he is probably cursing at his son from the other side over this treacherous crime.

I also of you to understand that I wish to stay at Harrenhall until I give birth, in a few morrows time my children will go to Lys for sanctuary, I want them away from any type of war.

My husband and I will be by your side, as we only recognize the firstborn daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen as the true heir to the iron throne.

My flesh and blood, my strong niece, you will have your throne and crown.

I love you

(Y/n)”

Requests are open!

[potential-fool]

Valorant x Reader: You in their clothes

This was fun to write hkhgfhgdjfh

Paring: Sova, Pheonix, Yoru x reader

Tags: Fluff, Established relationship, sharing clothes, teasing

Sova

Will 110% be left slack jawed

The amount of adoration this man has for you

Every neuron in his brain is firing rn

Bro is absolutely flabbergasted

It was a pretty calm morning at the agency, lucky for you there wasn't much to do today; because of this, you didn't let Sasha's alarm go off and rouse him, you knew he needed the rest. You thought it might be a good idea to surprise him with something nice, a smile drew across your face as you knew exactly what you were going to do.

When Sova woke up, he felt surprisingly well rested and was equally as shocked to realize that his alarm didn't go off- he looked over yo your side of the bed. Empty. He was worried for a moment before catching the smell of something being made in the kitchen, with only his grey sweatpants and without a second thought he made his way out into the kitchen where he saw you.

Good god were you a sight to see, his jaw hit the floor at the sight of you in his shirt, only his shirt. Shades of pink and red dusted his otherwise pale face as he took a moment to take in your beauty, the beauty of you, in his clothes.

"My dove.." He couldn't even finish his sentence, instead opting to come up behind you and bury his head in your neck pressing himself up to you and smothering you with kisses.

After breakfast there was definitely more then just kisses and cuddles though ;)

Pheonix

Giddy and excited while he picks you up and spins you around

he's hyping you up

Will probably want to try on your clothes after

dork

It started with his jacket, you were in a silly goofy mood as you like to put it. then it was his shirts, and now you've taken a shoelace out of an old pair of shoes to use as belt to keep a pair of his sweatpants up around your waist. You were proud of your ingenuity and smiled to yourself as you looked in the mirror.

You wandered out with your new outfit into the living area of the Valorant HQ, playing down your excitement as you walked out and greeted your friends, Jett, Yoru, and Pheonix were on the couch and Sage was in the kitchen. Jett and Yoru were both totally in on this plan of yours and Jett had quietly started recording as you caught Pheonix's eye.

Pheonix was, ho boy- he was stunned, his face starting to burn up with blush, Yoru started to snicker at this, earning himself a playful smack from Pheonix before he got up to embrace (tackle) you.

"BHABBBBBEEYYY, youresoprettyandohmygodiloveyousomuchwhatwoudlsndahwdklw-"

Pheonix's jumbled mess of words earned laughter from his friends, though he paid them no mind, instead opting to spin you around and press kisses all over your face.

Sage chuckled to herself as she watched the display, glad they could find these moments of peace.

Yoru

This man is too shy to admit your rock his jacket

Smitten and overprotective

he wants to be the only one allowed to see you like this

he def doesn't think anyone else is worthy of the sight of you in his clothes

Yoru doesn't like sharing, this is a well known fact. You love to tease people, especially Yoru, this is another well known fact. So today in your ongoing and never-ending crusade to mess with your boyfriend you decided to one of his shirts and his jacket.

Yoru was alone with a book on the couch at Valorant HQ and when you walked in he mindlessly greeted you before doing a double take-

"Is that-" He couldn't even finish his sentence as he took in the sight of you in his clothes. "What's wrong baby?" You teased as you walked over, taking the book from his hands and sitting down in his lap.

"Idiot.." He mumbled, blush tinting his cheeks as he drew you in close to him, a loving- though also possessive- hold.

From around the corner Jett and Pheonix were watching with slack jawed grins, though.. Pheonix's camera flash gave them away.

"Pheonix and Jett, you have five seconds." Yoru called into the room, sending a rift anchor after them as they both started to book it, laughter echoing through the hall. He set you down onto the couch, pressing a small kiss to your cheek before opening a rift to the anchor he'd sent after the two.

He'd never hear the end of this.

[hitchyboi]

🔨An Important Gift🔨

(Been a while since I last wrote a story but figured I'd give a try with the moment Bubba became Leatherface.)

Content Warning: Descriptions of gore, violence, death, brief mention of cannibalism. Unhealthy family dynamics. The usual Sawyer family fun

Word Count: 3,383

Newt didn't get a lot of folks, wasn't much there to bring them. An old rundown town that many had already fled from after the slaughterhouse started laying off men. Nothing but flat plains as far as the eyes could see with the occasional clump of gnarled twisted branches. Summertime was different however, with the warmer days and breaks from college semester or brutal workload many decided to travel. Traveling sometimes brings ya past old towns with nothing much more to offer aside from an ant eaten gas station and sleezy bar filled with bikers.

Hands sat down on the old bar stool with a heavy grunt followed quickly by a booming laugh. Raising his hand towards the familiar faced bartender for his usual drink of choice. His heart was still hammering behind his ribs, adrenaline pumping through his veins making his head feel lighter before he even got his first drink in his system.

"I know what that grin means, got yerself another win today?" The bartender makes conversation as she slides the Shiner bottle towards the large eagerly awaiting hand. Tipping his head back, Hands felt the cold liquid slide down his throat effectively quenching both his thirst and the heat. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand he looked back towards the woman, her name never having stuck with him, and nods his head. Lips pulling back with another wide smile that barred his canines with a heavy thump to his chest. The other racers surprisingly did well this time, and that made the win much more enjoyable. Seeing their excited faced with baited breath as victory was so close to their grasp only to plummet to despair as he snatched it away at the last minute. The utter lost of hope as they were forced into defeat was his favorite part. Hands could still feel the vibrations of the engine working its hardest to power the vehicle, the spinning of the wheels he knows were seconds away from burning out on him. One wrong move they could've blown out, he could have spun out but he knows his car. He's worked on that thing since the day he managed to buy it with money he saved for years. Turning it from a hunk of metal to a beauty that was a force to be reckoned with when he was in the drivers seat.

They took his photos, tried to interview him and get comments. There was screaming. There was cheering. Everything and everyone was gathered around him, focused entirely on him. But now, Hands just wanted a nice cold drink and some time to relax after all of the commotion. Sweat dripped down the back of his neck, blonde strands sticking to the damp skin as he finished his bottle and motioned for a second one. It's arrival was just as quick as the first but was accompanied with the sounds of the bar doors slamming open and the hustle and bustle of more people flooding into the old building. New people by the sounds of it, loud, brash and daring just about anyone to try and prove they weren't as indestructible as they felt.

Like maggots drawn towards a corpse the youngens moved straight towards the fighting pit, eager to place their names into the lonely town's mind no doubt. Calling it a pit was generous, more just a section of the bar that had the chairs and tables moved out of the way as the people grew more rowdy and irritable. First started as petty qualms and drunken idiocy but then betting came, and with that a way to pass time and gain entertainment. Hands' had his name written on that old chalkboard a few times in the past when he felt really pent up and had no other outlet. Eventually people stopped trying to challenge him due to his record. Except for new faces...

More drinks were swallowed down along with time itself, the sky grew dark long ago and there was no rush to leave. Hands lost track of how many fights had passed during that time, he hates to say it but those new faces sure did brawl well. Money kept getting passed around as tempered started to flare both from the wasted income and injured egos. Like a coyote who's leg was stuck in a barbed trap, lashing out at everyone despite knowing it's already lost. Teeth snarling and slobber flinging everywhere. The more they struggle the worse of a situation they ultimately wring themselves into. More money gets passed and more snarling is unleashed. Eventually those panic struck eyes and shiny slobbered lips turned towards Hands.

"Think you're real tough guys huh? I bet you can't win one fight against Hands over there!" One of the dogs challenged as a way to hide the tail tucked between his legs. One of the new faces, a wiry and lanky rat looking fella, looked towards Hands with a sneer from behind the security of their group's main face.

"That lug's just been sitting over there not doing shit!" The rat snickers and slinks past his barrier towards the silent blonde. Gaze still trained on his own bottle of beer despite the many looks locked on him. Watching the bead of condensation slowly tip over the curve of the glass and rush down to meet the many before it. Beady eyes looked the large man up and down with slight hesitance that quickly got replaced by hubris.. "Sure he's big looking but Daryl could take him easily! No sweat."

"Well, whaddya say... Hands?" The main face, Daryl, wears a matching smirk to the rat looking man. Staring down towards Hands with a predatory excitement. A brief eyeroll and nudge towards the rest of his mates at the other man's name. With a sigh Hands finally pushed his bottle to the side and addressed the scene before him, silent as ever with a frustrated twitch in the brows for his blissful buzz to have been interrupted.

Irritated or uncomfortable with the long moment of silence from their next toy the wiry rat had laughed in his face. Spittle flying out of his maw with an ugly high pitched yowl. "He's fucking silent! What? Can't even respond to him properly?"

"He's either dumb as shit or too scared to talk," Daryl laughs as the rat gets somehow even closer towards Hands. His warm breath hitting and fanning across his cheeks in an unpleasant way. Words never came easily for Hands, never did and never will. That don't mean he's dumb though. He worked hard to get where he was, worked for the recognition he deserves. Words didn't get him anywhere, cause he doesn't need them.

The meaty sound of skin colliding with skin sounding throughout the bar as the too close lanky man fell to the floor with a pathetic yelp, skull knocking against the bar table on his journey downwards. A low guttural growl echoed after as Hands looks from the prone man back towards the pit. Like a gator closing in on its prey, heavy metal plated boots stalked towards the youngens. Lips pulling back into a dangerous grin as regulars scrambled out of the giants way.

Daryl's face was a delightful mix of outrage and shock from the sudden assault. Faster then one would anticipate from a man with Hands' stature, looking near 7 feet tall now he was in motion. "Just... got lucky with a damn sucker punch." He grits his teeth with a sneer as the giant stalked closer, an air of excitement with every long stride. Hands could see two of the weaker bikers say something to Daryl but there was no ounce of care for the drag racer. One of their faces eventually twisted in distain as they bolted towards Hands and once again for that night the coyotes attacked.... but their opponent was no cowering prey.

The first biker went down easy, a swift kick to his shin was enough to make him stumble. Hands clasped his paws around his head with a quick jerk, a sickening crack echoed throughout the old building. Body falling to its knees then meeting the ground without an ounce of refusal, it was too easy really. Like those chickens out at the farm Grandpa occasionally asks Hands to deal with. That set off the other biker, ramming her shoulder into Hand's stomach and knocking him back a few paces. Sharp and metallic spikes continued to ram against his stomach, nicking and scratching at the man's leather riding jacket. Words launched from the biker's snarling maw that constantly fell to uncaring deaf ears, only being met with a deep and sinister chuckle. Bending his torso forwards, thick arms wrapped around the biker's body and lifting her up without trouble. A moment as her world flipped, eyes meeting the sight of metal tipped boots, caked in dirt and what looked to be rust. Blood racing towards her head making her sight briefly blur with a light fuzzy feeling.

Then the ground came...

Once... Twice... Thrice....

Skin breaking away to invite the rough flooring to her skull, splintering and cracking. Blood gushed from her head like a waterfall, down her mangled face and painting the floor in it's eye catching hue. There was an ear piercing scream a first, then a garbled whine that came along with desperate scratching against his sleeves. Then silence. Hands could feel the struggle leaving her body with each slam to the floor, the way her muscle tensed at first only to be forced to accept their own defeat. Another laugh fell past the giants lips as he dropped the now lifeless and paling body to the floor. His enjoyment was short lived as a blunt force slammed against his face full force, successfully forcing Hands off balance and colliding with the concrete himself. Hands slowly blinked as he gazed up towards the ceiling, unable to focus his sight on the beams that hung high above him. Warm liquid trailed down his face, pooling over his lips complimented with a throbbing wave. Heaving his skull to turn to the side, Hands could make out the figure of the largest Biker... what was his name again?... standing over him with the broken leg of a chair. White knuckles wrapped around the splintering wood now decorated with dots of crimson.

"What the actual fuck is your deal?! Why would you-?! You can't just-?!" Words broke through, yelled in his face as the throbbing reached from his nose towards the back of his head now. When was the last time he had gotten hit like this? Skull screaming and painting the surrounding area with his blood instead of others.. Probably when he first found this joint after his 18th. Back when he was fresh and thought he was stronger much like these pests. He wasn't fresh no more though, and unlike then Hands was stronger in more ways then one. Yet this rambunctious ego flying meat landed a solid blow...

A thick hand shot out to catch the second blow from landing, yanking the wood away from his assailant and throwing it to the side. "D-don't you fucking dare get back up!" The biker yelled as he looked back towards some of the remaining patrons. Eyes wide like a deer as he watched each head turn a blind eye, choosing to remain unknown to Hands' perchance for violence in favor of remaining intact themselves. Blood coated the tongue that ran along his teeth as Hands grasped one of the tables and hauled himself back to his feet. Spitting the thick mix of blood and saliva to the side, he looked back towards the biker as his heart hammered against his chest. The air was sweltering and felt thick enough to choke on, the gaze the stared down at the biker was not one of anger or outrage but rather pure glee. Sharp canines poked out of the ear slipping smile that stretched across the rugged face, blood staining the lower mouth and chin. Hands was on him in an instant, the biker was large but nowhere near a similar stature to the drag racer. Mounting over him, thick callused fingers wrapped around his throat and squeezed. Those same gleeful eyes now forced to be the only point of focus for the smaller man as the force had him sputtering for air. Eyes nearly popping as he struggled to grasp and scratch at the hands around his throat. The more he struggled the more pressure seemed to be added until there was a brief moment of respite. The pressure relented as air greedily was pulled into his lung. Tears pricked at the corner of his eyes and slipped down his cheeks as the pressure returned to the front of his shirt instead. Lifting his front half up and slamming him back to the floor, knocking the recently acquired air right back out. A yell ripped through the man's throat as his skull collided with the stained ground beneath him. Images of his friends recent similar demise reflooding his thoughts as he was lifted and slammed back down. Ever slam was accompanied with another yell, a yell of pain, of fear, for help. Each yell was met with a roar of laughter and mocker instead of help. Blood red smile and a laugh like roar stained the man's sight with each slam to his skull.

Blunt nails grabbed the thin flesh around the man's forehead, forcing the skin to break and rip open. Thick fingers wormed their way under the flesh and began to pull. Skin and fascia tore from muscle and bone, splitting away like melted cheese bit by bit down the man's face. Yells weakened to whines as the body beneath him lacked anymore strength to fight back. Lifting his arm up Hands held the newly skinned feature like a trophy. Matching bloody hand thwacking at his own chest as he stood over the biker. With a final sinister laugh he watched as the behemoth of a man placed the flesh overtop his face and Daryl saw himself.

...

White wooden door to an old family farm clicked closed as Hands returned. Grandpa never minded when family stopped by when needed, the house was always an open spot for family and that old couch kept in the living room was exactly where Hands wanted to be for the night. Certainly sounded better then driving all the way back to whatever shitty motel he was previously staying at while buzzed when this was much closer. Hands' yearning for rest was briefly interrupted by the sounds of hushed whispers and bare footed pitter patters coming from the kitchen. At nearly 3 in the morning, everyone that lived in the house should've been asleep. Grandma and Grandpa always went to sleep, stayed asleep and awoke at the same times everyday and Drayton followed his grandparent's schedules closely.

Quirking a brow from the sounds he turned directions and opened the door leading towards the kitchen instead and was met with the sight of his 3 youngest nephews frozen like deer in headlights. Nubbins and Bobby stood on either side in the kitchen, greasy hair tangled from what looks to have been a rough night and in Bobby's hand was... a stick of butter? Standing in between them was the youngest of them, Bubba, his little round body clutching onto a metal bucket as big bovine like eyes stared up at Hands brimming with tears at being caught. Shifting his weight Hands leaned against the doorframe as he tilted his head, the twin's taking his silence as a sign to action.

"Bubba was hungry! We... we just were gonna make him something to eat!" Bobby sprang to first, pushing the stick of butter to join the bucket in Bubba's arms.

"Yeah, yeah! He-he was real hungry! Wouldn't.. wouldn't stop pestering us to make him something, yeah!" Nubbins followed suit with his twin, grasping at and shaking their younger brother's shoulders for added effect.

Slowly nodding his head as he took in his nephews words Hands closed the distance and peeked into the mysterious bucket. Bubba gave a whine as he shakily held the bucket further out towards his uncle, the boy always had been terrified of getting into more trouble. Two thawing brains sat at the bottom and didn't look nearly close enough to be ready to cook just yet. Buttered brains. Raising his eyebrows with a gruff his gaze moved towards Bobby accusingly. Bubba was hungry yet they decided to try and make something known to be a favorite of the older twin? A gummy grin stretched across his pale cheeks, left with the reddish purple birthmark, as his hands placed themselves on his waist with faux confidence.

"Wh-what's in yer bag there?! D'you get us gifts again?" A sharp uneven nail pointed towards the bag slung over Hands' shoulder. A chuckle reverberating from his chest at his nephews attempt to offshoot the conversation. Honestly, Hands didn't really care, so entertaining his nephews 'distraction' was the path he chose. Shaking the bag down his arm he dropped it with a light thump and began digging around inside it. Nubbins and Bobby eagerly crowding around him and giggling, giggling on Nubbins' end. Bobby's always came out more as cackles. Bubba strayed further back as he shuffled from foot to foot, not seeming to realize the threat of punishment had vanished.

G-grandpa said you won another race, can.. can i comes with you next time? I-i wanna see yous race!" Nubbins bounces in place like a flea, fingers dancing around as he spoke excitedly. Hands have a small chuckle and nodded his head at his enthusiasm. Nubbins had really wanted to see this race but Drayton said he wasn't allowed to go. Grabbing the desired items Hands leans back and pushes them into their tiny greedy hands. An old pair of racing goggles found themselves in Bobby's dirty mits while Nubbins had acquired a collection of teeth Hands managed to nab off those bikers before he left knowing his nephew had started taken the hobby of crafting. The critters eagerly accepted their new possessions and scampering off to compare. With those two thoroughly content left little Bubba, though little seemed to be an understatement as time went. Seeming to grow much faster then the twins were now he's gotten proper food. Despite growing on step with a beeve the kid still cowered at the slightest raise in voice, the odd movement that seemed harsher then should and the leering gazes he thought was directed towards him at all times. The kid need some god damn confidence, the kid needed some strength. Hands had exactly the kind of strength the boy needed...

Lowering down to his knee Hands clasped the boy's shoulder with a softer smile directed towards him. Those glossy edges were still there but none seemed to fully drip over as of yet. Taking the bucket of brains out of his chubby hands he replaced it with his needed qualities. With quivering lips and shiny eyes the boy looked down at his gift, furrowing his eyebrows and looking back up at his uncle with a babbling sense of words. Hands smiled and motioned towards his face, blood long since dried and flaking off his skin trailing from his nose and downward. A small gasp fell from his lips as previously scared eyes took to a shine Hands much preferred the look of. Clumsily eager hands fumbled to position the skin over his own, the inside soft and plush against his plump cheeks with a warmth the boy always craved. As he looked back up towards his uncle a smile stretched across his hidden face, gaze tracing over the evidence of the skin's previous owner's abilities. Short thick arms lowered then slightly raised themselves on either side of his body as Bubba puffed out his chest in an imitation of his uncle.

Hands watched as Bubba turned and eagerly rejoined his older brothers in bragging about their individual gifts. Standing back up Hands glanced down towards the forgotten bucket of brains and stick of butter with a final thought. One last gift couldn't hurt... Gramps doesn't have to know.

[gimmethosedaddymilkers]

The Stronger Desires

So, starting off strong, we're doing the request for @cantchoosejust1 first, who lovingly requested a femme fatale reader.

Now, I haven't written anything like this, so hopefully you enjoy my spin on things.

Now, let's see exactly what happens with these two.

*Side note, I may have a poll later regarding a pfp change, just to see everyone's thoughts.*

Warnings: Cursing, canon like violence, sexual innuendos, perhaps even fluff, Female reader

The gif is unfortunately not mine, and Tumblr didn't wanna work with me, so it's from Pinterest.

Anywho

Arthur wished, truly, that he could explain exactly how he ended up in this spot, but honestly he'd be just as lost as whoever he was telling the story too.

The night had started off pretty good in all honesty. The gang had been celebrating, enjoying their success on the last job they'd managed to pull off, drinking, laughing, and causing problems for everyone else around them in the saloon.

The place had been lively. Hell, even Arthur had ACTUALLY been having fun.

The biggest smile on his face as he took a seat in the far corner to catch his breath from all the dancing and singing he'd been doing, which he was sure had made him look like an absolute fool.

He chuckles to himself as he quietly lights a cigarette and places it between his lips.

The Saint Denis saloon was...surprisingly more lively than what he'd expected it to be. Rich folks sure knew how to party properly.

Out of the corner of his eye he spots something, a brightly colored dress, not out of the norm for this place, but, for some reason, this one seemed...different.

He turned his head to look, and he was honestly surprised he managed to keep the cigarette in his mouth with the way it nearly fell open.

The woman wearing the dress was far prettier than the actual dress itself.

A gorgeous face, and absolutely wonderful hair as well.

The only part that didn't quite make much sense to him was the fact that you were all over a fat aristocrat. Balding with an awful mustache, but you seemed to be rather excited to stand next to him.

He couldn't quite understand it, how absolutely stunning you are, yet you're following a man like that around.

It boggled him.

The night continued, as they usually do, but now that he'd seen you, Arthur couldn't quite stop staring at you.

You were absolutely beautiful. You were...stunning, and it was damn near impossible for him to focus on much else.

It was hard not to when they man you were clinging too was a big as a house, and being followed around by at least four body guards.

What he was doing in a saloon he'd never know.

It's pretty late at night when things really start to get confusing for Arthur. It's about here that he'd be a little...confused when trying to retell the tale.

Due to the confusing nature of it all as well as all the apple pie moonshine in his system.

Things seem to be going smoothly, until all the sudden the entire saloon is screaming rather than singing.

Instinct takes over and Arthur's hand grabs the butt of his pistol before he realizes exactly what's going on.

The crowd quickly disperses, and it's then that Arthur realizes exactly what happened.

You, you're what happened.

There, on the floor is the aristocrat, though he's much less lively now that there's a bullet wound through his head.

How the hell he hadn't heard the shot he still didn't grasp.

The body guards all surround...you.

Arthur almost jumped up right then and there to defend you. He could take out all four of them in a matter of seconds, and he knew that, but right as he contemplates it he watches you pull a revolver out from under your dress.

The evening suddenly got much more interesting.

"Back off! Or I'll kill you too, that fat bastard had more money than he needed anyway, and if he'd put his hand up my skirt one more time he was gonna die in a much worse way, so be fucking GRATEFUL!"

Arthur nearly laughs out loud at the venom in your voice. It was...well it wasn't funny actually, it was more...attractive to him than anything.

For a moment you make eye contact with him, and it's a strange sensation, the way the two of you seem to talk with your eyes.

Arthur gives you a soft nod, a small smirk on his face and then he nods towards the saloon doors.

You give a nod in return and Arthur takes it as his que to leave discreetly.

It's only a moment later when you exit the saloon at a sprint, and Arthur holds his hand out for you to grab as he sits atop his horse, a black Shire.

You take his hand and he hoists you up easily, as if you weigh nothing at all.

The moment you're on his horse he takes off, the remaining guards rushing out of the saloon too.

It's only seconds after that, that the sound of the lawmen's whistles can be heard. One of the patrons must have reported the gunshot.

You hold onto Arthur for dear life, an arm around his torso and the other holding out your revolver.

"Nice to meet you mister! I take it you aren't exactly a friend of the government either?"

"No ma'am!"

Arthur laughs at the absurdity of it and keeps riding hard as the lawmen start to gather behind the two of you.

"Quick on your feet back there!"

He states, taking a turn down an alleyway that appeared to be just big enough.

"Thanks, you too, saw you reach for your gun!"

You chuckle to yourself.

"Don't exactly look the rich type. In fact, don't look like the Saint Denis type. I take it you might be in the uh...'bodyguard' business."

"If ya mean shootin' fools who deserve it, then yes, I am."

"Yeah, that's what I mean."

"Arthur Morgan."

"Y/N L/N."

"Nice to meet ya. Let's get the hell outta here."

Arthur did his best to do just that, out running the law as quickly as he could get his poor horse to go.

Finally after quite some time the two of you make it into the woods, just outside Saint Denis, the sound of the lawmen steadily fading.

You're nearly out of the woods, metaphorically of course, when a stump seems to have other ideas.

Arthur and you both go flying off the horse, and directly into the mud below.

It's dark as hell and Arthur has no clue exactly where he is, and you just barely do.

Both of you are covered in mud and Arthur's horse: Mayhem, is currently writhing on the ground attempting to right itself.

You sit up in the mud, scoffing and trying to wipe mud off your face as Arthur does the same.

"Christ Alive..."

Arthur groans, flicking his arm downwards, trying to get the mud off.

You do the same, looking at him with a look of disgust on your face, only for a moment, before you start laughing.

"Well, Mr. Morgan, how very kind of you to dump me in the mud like this."

"Well I didn't mean-"

You laugh and stand up, before you tear off your skirt, now soiled with mud, to reveal your pants underneath it.

"I needed to get that thing off anyway, I was about tired of it."

You reach your hand out, and Arthur takes it, a sort of sheepish grin on his face.

"Well, glad ya ain't too mad at me."

"Nah...you ain't crossed the line just yet cowboy."

Arthur laughs this time and pulls his hand away to run it over his stubble in an attempt to try and get the rest of the mud off.

"I'll be stinkin' for weeks with this stuff, even if I take a damn bath at the hotel."

He sighs and takes his hat off, wiping mud off the brim.

He looks up at you.

"So...Miss L/N...You...sure seem more than capable of takin' care of yourself...I assume you got somewhere you can hide out for a bit until the law gets off you?"

"Course I do."

You laugh and step closer. You take the hat from his hand and gently place it back on his head, pressing your hand to his chest in the process.

"All worried about me there, Mr. Morgan?"

"Worried? No. Curious? Yes."

You offer yet another chuckle and then step around him, letting your hand travel over his shoulder, gently taking it away as you step closer to his horse, and offer it an apple from your bag that had been hidden beneath your dress.

"Well Mr. Morgan...if you're so interested, I suppose you'll have to bump into me again sometime soon, won't you? After all you did save me back there...even if you threw me into the mud afterwards."

"Hey I said-"

"So defensive."

You tease and step back towards him, you flick his hat, making it tilt upwards slightly.

"Send me a letter sometime Mr. Morgan...I could use someone like you for some of my...endeavors. If you're willing that is."

"Depends...You ain't gonna make me dress up and sing the can can are you?"

"No, I wasn't but...now I might."

You laugh and look towards Saint Denis' in the distance.

"Well...Mr. Morgan, if you could do me a favor and drop me off near Rhodes...I think I'd be forever in your debt."

Before Arthur could really register it, that's exactly where he was, stopped in front of the Rhodes train station, holding something you'd given him as he watched you climb onto the train.

A heavy locket, sat in his palm, as well as a handkerchief you'd insisted on giving him, with your initials sewed into the corner of it.

You smile at him, and wave from your seat as the train pulls away, and something within Arthur tells him that it won't be the last time that he sees you.

He couldn't quite remember exactly how he'd managed to end up here. In all complete honesty, the only thing he really knew for certain was that you were....something, that was for sure. Spitfire and kick to you.

He'd see you again. he'd make sure of it.

Okay, so, like I said, this is slightly different than what I write, not by much, but it is a little different, so I hope it was good, and I hope that you enjoyed it! As always, I'm always happy to rewrite something if it doesn't hit the spot just right!

[animelga]

I watched the first eight episodes of the BLEACH anime!!! Originally I wanted to do some sort of thing where I do a post per each episode and highlight my favorite screengrab from it, but then I realized I'd rather watch the episodes relaxed without stressing over rewinding to specific frames and all that...so you'll just get some scattered images instead!

Its a really interesting adaptation if only because it adds so many small little things seemingly for no reason - and now that I've already read the manga those little creative liberties just stick out as fascinating more than they do annoying. Like, they technically let us see inside Hueco Mundo several times by following the perspective of Hollows, and that'll make the eventual trip there a lot more satisfying!

But then there's some dumb stuff like how they add a complete no-name Soul Reaper to hunt down Rukia before even Renji and Byakuya are sent out. Like on the one hand - it helps solve a weird logic issue as to why a CAPTAIN would leave their post to do this pretty basic basic by implying that they tried someone lesser before and it didnt work....buuuuut at the same time there's something undeniably powerful about Ichigo realizing just how far above him the rest of Soul Society is when he encounters Renji and Byakuya for the first time

I was initially kind of put off by how brightly colored the anime is, as I often am with anime adaptations - I feel like there's an understated beauty in black-and-white Manga like One Piece that its own anime adaptation kind of ruins. But I'm surprised by how quickly I warmed up to it here, they play with color in a lot of really interesting ways given the weekly-anime-in-the-2000s context of ir all, be it clouding the world around the characters in darkness to convey they're in spirit form or by making backgrounds super abstract and bubbly like in the Orihime Leek Spin scene to convey when its sillytime

Last thing - I REALLY like the dub acting. Yeah it sometimes has that stilted delivery from trying to cram everything into a small timeframe, but it makes a lot of really natural flowing changes to dialogue (That guy vouldn't tell a stethoscope from a telephone!) althewhile being...actually funny??? This is the only clip I have on hand because it genuinely made me laugh so hard I had to save it for later

Overall - SUPER excited to see what'll happen when fights start ramping up once the Soul Society arc starts. The first eight episodes have been surprisingly breezily paced (possibly thanks to the new content they added helping it from feeling arbitrarily stretched out?) and I'm lookin forward to hearing my favs' voices for the first time heheheee

[hergrandplan]

Wille's Month Day 5 ( @youngroyals-events ): Cooking/baking

Hi everyone! I am back from New York and so so excited to post again. For this prompt, there's surprisingly little Wilmon... but that doesn't mean it's not sweet ;) Hope you'll enjoy!

Also disclaimer: I used Spanish in some places here, I am nowhere near a native speaker but have been learning it for the past few years, and did some extra research on Venezuelan Spanish. However, I haven't had anyone check it so any and all mistakes are mine.

It's the last night of their trip to visit Simon's family in Venezuela. They help Simon's abuelita prepare dinner.

Read below the cut or on ao3 (the ao3 version has a translation key)

The radio is blasting a canción, the strum of the guitar and the deep baritone of the singer joining the smell of roasting meat, of onions and garlic filling up the kitchen.

Simon and his abuelita are singing along to the music, her gravelly voice and his smooth one creating a beautiful, joyous homely symphony. It’s off-key, at times, like when Simon grabs his abuelita’s hand to spin her around, and they are both breathless for a minute, laughing. Simon is less focussed on how he sounds, more happy to just sing, using the ladle like a microphone.

Wille’s heart aches with fondness at the picture, and he’s grinning when Simon takes his hand, remembering at the last minute to put the knife he was using to cut the onions down as his boyfriend pulls him into a waltz that’s very much not fitting the song and yet perfect. They’re jumping around the kitchen, dancing, laughing and falling into each other’s arms as they try to match the up-tempo beat of the song. Simon’s abuelita looks at them fondly while stirring the meat for their dinner tonight – pabellón criollo, their family recipe.

It had taken Wille a full week to convince lita – because she insists he call her that too – to finally let him help cooking. This was, after all, her domain, and Wille was a guest. Every time he’d asked her, she just told him, with warm eyes, that los invitados no cocinan aquí, cariño, and Wille could say nothing against that.

But finally, on this final night of their trip to Venezuela, she caved after Wille told her how much he loves cooking. And though it’s true that the sound of the knife falling against the wooden cutting board and the sizzling of vegetables in hot oil, the doing rather than thinking and never stopping grounded him, it wasn’t the only reason he had wanted to help her cook.

Wille has been received with open arms from their first day in Venezuela, the whole family just accepting him and doing their best to include him even if he can’t always follow along and Simon has to translate. They joke with him the same way they joke with Simon, ask him for any embarrassing stories about their primo and even despite the language barrier, Wilhelm feels like he is home. Like he’s always been part of this big, loud and loving family.

And for that, he wants to say thank you. By cooking, by helping Lita in the kitchen as they prepare this last feast before they fly back to Sweden.

Lita asks Simon something in Spanish that Wille can’t understand. Though he learned a bit of Spanish when he was younger for diplomatic reasons, and though he tried to brush up on his knowledge before making the trip over, Lita speaks so rapidly and with such a heavy accent, dropping d’s and s’s, that Wille often has a hard time following her. Like he has now.

Simon nods at whatever Lita told him (asked him, maybe?) and leaves the kitchen.

Lita and Wille cook in silence for a moment or two, the radio still playing, but only Wille is humming along now. Though he can only catch part of the lyrics, he’s heard the song enough times now to at least know the melody.

Wille finally finishes dicing the onions and goes to put them in a separate pan to fry them up for the beans.

“You make him happy, you know.”

Wille is so focussed on what he’s doing that he doesn’t even realize that Lita started talking to him, the Spanish much slower than she spoke to Simon a moment ago.

Surprised, he turns to face her. Her eyes are trained on the food, but the corner of her mouth has lifted up into a small smile.

“He makes me happy too,” Wille says after a moment, in careful Spanish.

“I’m glad he’s found you,” she continues, again speaking slowly so Wille can catch every word. “You two remind me of me and my husband, dios lo tenga en su gloria, when we were your age.”

Wille doesn’t reply – doesn’t know how to reply, didn’t expect this at all. It’s not that Lita never talks to him, but he realizes now they haven’t had a moment alone before now, always surrounded by at least one other family member.

Lita fully turns to him now and places a warm, rough hand that shows years of labor and love on his cheek. She looks at him with chocolate eyes, a piercing gaze that Wille finds all too familiar – they’re Simon’s eyes as well.

“I can tell you love him very much, and that he loves you very much. I hope you’ll continue to make each other happy for many years to come.”

And where at first Wille was just surprised, now he’s stunned into absolute silence. This, this seems important somehow. This feels like a blessing.

“I’m happy you’re part of the family, mijo.”

Mijo. Wille falters at the word, barely able to wrap his mind around Lita calling him son, truly welcoming him into the family. He’s actually part of this, of them, of this part of Simon’s life now. And she, this woman who holds so much love in her heart, sees how much they mean to each other. That they are each other’s forever.

Wille thanks her, flustered and stumbling over his r’s that still feel unfamiliar in his mouth. But he thanks her nevertheless, saying he hopes for the same, that he will do everything in his power to make Simon happy, to show Simon how much he loves him every single day.

Lita just chuckles and resumes cooking, the moment gone as soon as it started. That’s when Simon stumbles back into the kitchen, holding a giant bag of rice. He launches into another tale in Spanish, occasionally glancing at Wille, who’s still standing next to Lita and isn’t really paying attention anyways, too caught up in what just happened. Wille knows he must have the dumbest smile on his face because Simon looks at him, questioningly. Wille shakes his head. Later, he mouths.

Wille looks on as the scene settles back to what it was before – Simon and Lita singing along to the radio, continuing their cooking. But it’s changed, somehow. Wille’s heart feels… Fuller. Fuller than it ever has as he too softly joins in the singing. This has Simon even more confused before he shrugs, shaking his head in bemusement at Wille’s very off-key singing.

They finish dinner. Wille helps Simon carry it all outside, putting it on the large table so they can have it under the stars, with the cicadas singing their cacophony in the background.

It’s their family tonight that they have this final dinner with. Their cousins that jostle around for the ladle, that laugh loudly into the night sky.

His and Simon’s, forever.

[oyster-sauce-tart]

A Creator's Offer

The person who looks exactly like you, named Creator, has an offer for you.

Characters: Reader/Original, Creator 

Disclaimers: 2nd person pov, GN!Reader, one line about suicide but that’s it, a bit dialogue-centric, vague hints to Reader’s past life

1.9k words 

Notes: FFFFFINALLLYYYY DONNE,,,,, one more chapter and we can start getting the reader into Teyvat hehehehehehe

< PREVIOUS | SERIES MASTERLIST | NEXT >

Prologue, 2

the Realm of Inbetween

You stared at your look-alike with dumbfounded eyes. They stared at you with such awe… such admiration… and said ‘My Original’… just what did that mean… 

This mysterious look-alike stared at you for a couple of seconds and came to a realization. They immediately pulled away and took a step back. 

“Apologies,” they let out a short laugh, “it’s been a while since I interacted physically with someone so you’ll have to excuse me, I nearly forgot that context isn’t something you have as of now.” 

“Wow way to rub salt in the wound,” you scoffed with a playful roll of your eyes. You were taking this in a surprisingly calm stride so far, so might as well keep the shovel digging. 

“Apologies, Original,” and there it was again, that name…, “so first off I should introduce who I am…” 

You waited expectantly as this person collected their thoughts. 

“To put it simply, I’m you!” 

“Eh?” You didn’t expect that answer?! 

“A version of you at least…” They continued, “I am a ‘you’ in which I am a god, one of a familiar game you play… you know…the one with elements…?” 

Your eyes widened, catching onto your other you’s hint. It was easy to catch on, of course, you literally didn’t play any other game. “Wait, wait, wait… so you’re like a… Genshin Impact me…?” 

They nodded. 

“The multiverse is a vast place. For every choice one makes, another universe is created, and when you decided those years back to download Genshin Impact for the first time…” 

“…I became a creator of your universe.” you finished for them with a thoughtful look on your face. 

“I’m very happy you caught on quickly,” they took your hands again and patted them, “in that universe, I am the Creator but given that you created me, I see you as the Original Creator. Hence the nickname.”

Ah, so that explains it… An ‘Original’ Creator to the actual Creator, it’s kinda smart actually! So that means you’re in some kind of SAGAU right? But… 

“You said ‘that universe’ as in your world isn’t where we are right now,” you softly took yourself away from Creator’s grip to slowly spin around taking in your current setting, “so where exactly are we right now?” 

“Well after a particular war that left more than a bad taste in my mouth,” Creator huffed with irritation at their memory of the event, “I used the last of my creation power that was left to create this place to get away from the chaos. I call it the ‘Realm of Inbetween’ because as I soon discovered, this place is an ‘inbetween’ of all the universes that surrounded you, the Original.” 

Your face became an expression of curiosity and interest, “really?” 

Creator nodded, sensing your excitement, and motioned you over to them closer as they sat on the floor. You followed and did the same. 

Both of you looked into the rippling surface of the realm’s platform, the watery reflections gazed back with the starry and dark purple film. Creator’s reflection smiled back to themselves, while yours reflected your own confusion of what exactly Creator was doing. 

Creator reached their hand out into both of yours reflections and the surface started rippling until the reflection started to change and shift, showing Chinese-esque buildings with different people walking around, some holding and making lanterns. Beautiful music drifted in the air filling and adding to the wonderful scenery. 

The sounds, the sights… you recognized it all…! 

“Lantern Rite?” You were amazed, Lantern Rite was already beautiful in the game (if you had enough space at least) but to see it in such a realistic-looking and detailed experience…! 

Creator hummed, “From here I watch the events of Teyvat, in real-time or past—the Lantern Rite here happened quite some time ago—along with that, it’s not just Teyvat I can watch, I’ve been watching your universe as well.” 

Creator tapped on the surface again, and the image started to ripple and change again. 

When the water stilled, the image of you (obviously from the past, given that you’re technically dead right now) from your life showed up. As you looked at the surface, you felt a frown form on your face. 

Amidst the shock from suddenly being ‘alive’ after death and the news of this alternative you… 

You almost forgot how much your life… sucked. 

Based upon your own recollection of your old life, this was just a few moments before your death. God, you could feel this awful dreadful feeling creeping in but it wasn’t because of your death. 

It was what happened prior. 

You could recall the memory very clearly since it was the earliest event before your death. They weren’t very good memories. 

Watching the water start to show the old you about to enter the old university you were at, your face scrunched up as your hand swiped at the water's surface. The memory immediately left, the surface going back to its starry reflection. 

Creator looked at your disgruntled expression. Given that they had been watching you for years, they had come to understand your feelings albeit after a few years of observing you and your past. One and the same you both may be but Creator took quite a while to understand you before now. 

Same personalities, different experiences… 

Creator suddenly lifted themselves off the watery platform into a crisscross sitting position

“I always thought of us both as very interesting enigmas.” Creator pulled a strand of hair behind their ears as you started to lift yourself into the same position your other self was. Creator smiled as you did so. Good, you were distracted from the previous development just now. 

“In the many what-if’s and the infinite universes I’ve seen in this Realm, we seem to be the most similar yet so different.” Creator stared at their hands as well as yours, “I’m just one of the many multiverses of ‘you’s in this universe, yet I can’t help but feel connected to you on a stronger scale than others. Your actions are very similar to that my own; our traits and personality seem almost exact. However, our individual experiences that have molded us are completely different from each other. Our existence interests me greatly; we’ve lived completely different lives yet we’ve become the same exact person.” 

“Is that why you brought me here?” You had uttered those words before you could even think about them, “you saw I was gonna die and you wanted to preserve my existence just in case you disappeared if I did?” 

Creator rested their chin on one of their hands and hummed, “well… not exactly… there are many other worlds that connect like ours however the original’s death doesn’t seem to affect the other…” 

Creator closed their eyes with a pause to think about their next words. You waited for their continued response, wondering what they were gonna say.  

“Because of how close we are to each other,” Creator started, “we share many sentiments with each other. Our likes, our dislikes, preferences… our thoughts.” 

Gauging your reaction, in which your shoulders suddenly stiffened, Creator had guessed that you had started to pick on what they wanted to say. 

“When I looked into your world, I could hear my thoughts and your thoughts overlap into one…” 

And in a strange course of action, both of you uttered the next words in unison. 

“Why is my life like this? Why can’t I live in a better way? Why was I born into such a horrible life?” 

Although your voice was much more sorrowful while Creator’s relayed the words like a textbook, it was very obvious you were both familiar with these sets of words. You were the one who constantly thought about it every day after all before your death. 

You looked down amidst this thought. Your life really wasn’t the greatest. If anything, when that truck hit you, you were elated to realize your suffering was at its end. Just even thinking about your old life, unrelated to Genshin Impact, made your entire body churn with contempt and spite. 

These thoughts unknowingly welded a grimace on your face, which you didn’t notice in entirety at first until Creator had patted your head. 

As you shifted your head to look at Creator, they smiled. “Such thoughts had brought us to this situation!” 

“Obviously your world didn’t treat you the greatest…even your end was about as minuscule as a hilichurl’s death. I’m gonna be honest, your life truly is pitiful” Creator’s face showed a look of awe and amazement at the mere thought of your original life, “really, I’m surprised you didn’t kill yourself yet! It’s just truly, pathetically-” 

“Get to the point already.” 

You glared at your other version with annoyance in your eyes. Creator paused and awkwardly smiled, seeming to have realized at that moment how offending their words were. “Haha… anyways…”–They didn’t seem entirely apologetic about it though– “what I’m trying to say is that I want to give you another chance.” 

Your eyes widened with a sharp intake of breath. You… didn’t really think this was gonna be their leadup… 

“I want to strike a deal with you, Original,” they explained, “Your consciousness and body no longer exist in your world, however, mine still does. Given how close we are, we have the ability to merge our timelines, or rather, merge ourselves into one person within my world. 

Your world was utterly miserable to you was it not? But in my world, I am quite literally a god that is worshiped by even the other gods of that world themselves. 

So why don’t you become one with me? 

Let us become one and the same even further, in a world where you will leave your boorish and pathetic life behind and enter a world where you will be adored and loved every day. 

Knowing my life, it will be no easy road but no doubt, if you accept this, you will get the exciting and adoring life that you had always prayed for in the past.” 

As they finished their speech, they held out a hand to you, similar to how one would shake hands to accept a contract after signing. You stare at it as you begin to process their words. 

A life in which you would always be adored… a life where it would be infinitely better than your past. 

A life where you can finally feel and be more than what you were born into. 

A life that was literally a world that you loved dearly with all your heart. 

You had lived pathetically.

You had died pathetically. 

… 

You’ve made up your mind. 

You take a deep breath in and then out and immediately reached out to Creator’s hands. 

“Well given that you took me out of my original body just before my body died,” you smiled widely with glee and took Creator’s hands with a firm grip, “looks like I wouldn’t have a choice other than ‘yes’, right?” 

Creator looked at you with surprise for a moment and then broke down into a mischievous look. The very same one you had on, in fact. 

“Obvious, was it?” they laughed, “although, it wasn’t like you were gonna say no, right?” 

“We’ve only just met and you already know me so well!” You responded playfully. 

“Well of course I do, dearest Original…” 

With your hand in theirs, Creator took their other hand to wrap around yours and shook it once. 

“I am you after all.” 

Ty for reading <3 

As always, I am unable to respond to replies so please show your support for my writing with reblogs, asks, or even dms! 

Feel free to read my carrd to keep track of requests or masterlists! 

[lxndonorris]

new joggers - James Maddison

Y/N x James Maddison Theme: Smut (you've been warned) James showing off his nex joggers, leading to some sexy time x word count: 2100+

Since the first time either one of you got new clothes, you and James would always present the new pieces to the other. It turned into a little but funny tradition in which you'd appreciate each other's sense of fashion.

Today, James got a package with something he ordered a while ago, but he didn't tell you what it was. He immediately vanished behind the bathroom door, and even though he just wanted to change clothes, he spent the last 20 minutes there.

You're sitting on the sofa, browsing your Instagram account for any new pictures of your friends, when you hear the bathroom door open swiftly.

"Took longer than expected." You smirk, raising both of your eyebrows.

"I wanted to make sure everything fit as it should." A playful smirk spreads across his soft lips while you turn your face toward him.

Surprisingly, he's just wearing a new pair of gray joggers; his shirt and socks are lying discarded on the bathroom floor behind him.

Overwhelmed by his cockiness, you can't help but look at his crotch; the outlines of his member are clearly visible. You can tell he's so excited already, and your eyes are fixated on him, unable to look away.

"James." You whisper as he strolls closer towards you, making sure to do a little spin, showing you every side of his well-formed body. Those joggers fit him perfectly, flattering all of him as if they were made just for him and him alone.

Speechless, you're still trying to figure out what is happening, your eyes trying to look anywhere but the obvious dent in his bulging track pants.

"Like what you see, eh?" He growls, striking the typical Instagram pose with two fingers at his chin and his eyes staring into yours. His body looks so good—his toaned abs, his tattoos, his beautiful arms, and his gorgeous face. It feels like he spent all that time in the bathroom just for this moment, to impress you by wearing a simple pair of joggers while showing off all of him at once.

"Uh, yeah. I mean." You stutter and get up from the sofa to get closer to him.

"It looks really good." You say this, placing a hand at his waist to slide a few fingers into his pants, feeling the fabric. It feels soft but elastic, but it's fitting really well to his body.

James, clearly enjoying your fingers inside his pants, runs a hand down his thigh. "Thank you. It's really tight, isn't it?"

You watch his fingers run to his crotch, tracing the outlines of his member slowly yet teasingly. Gasping, you look into his eyes as he smirks. 

"You can definitely pull it off." You breathe, feeling the urge to touch him grow deep inside your belly—a sudden spark turned into a searing desire.

James licks his lips, putting his hands on your waist and pulling you into him, and you spot a similar spark ignite inside his bright eyes, causing your breath to quicken slightly.

"I bought it for us." He smiles, leaning in closer, yet his lips barely brush over yours. Your hands wander along his waistline and right to his ass, filling those pants easily. He purrs contently as you start to stroke him once, then twice, before you let your hands encompass the small of his back before you pull them away.

"I know you love me in those." James breathes deeply, making you gasp lightly again. Shuddering, you can feel his warm breath on your lips. To steady yourself, you put your hands on his firm chest, stroking him gently.

In response, he lifts his chin and tilts his head as his chest heaves with every deep breath he takes.

"Fuck, I really do love those tight ones." Looking down at his still-growing length, you let your hand run down his chest slowly and tenderly, making sure to feel every one of his muscles tensing at your touch.

Your eyes are stuck down there; you get lost in your thoughts; just James' gentle lifting of your chin snaps you out of it.

"You can touch it too." He breathes inside your mouth as he leans in for a deep, loving kiss.

Still hesitating, you can feel his taste all over your tongue, intoxicating every corner of your mouth. Right then, the faint scent of him—the familiar taste of his aftershave—reaches your nose, and once you take in a deep breath, it starts to cloud your mind; at the same time, you feel his hands all over your body, so gentle yet demanding.

"Try it." A low guttural growl escapes his throat, and his voice sounds so unusually deep.

You cannot help but give in and let your hands find their way to his joggers, feeling his longing desire bulge into the palm of your hands.

"Just like that." James breathes against your cheek, causing your skin to flush with color, turning it bright red. He's so close; the heat emitted from his body is reaching yours, letting the desire to give in to him completely burn even brighter.

"Is that good?" You grab him firmly, and he tries to hold back, yet he moans into your mouth.

"Fuck." He starts rocking his hip slowly into your touch, letting you feel him grow even harder inside your firm embrace. "Very good." James sighs, and his hands slip underneath your shirt. His warm hands dance across your skin, right toward your bra, uhooking it in one swift motion.

Leaning backward, you let him undress you one piece at a time. Your shirt drops to the floor first, then your bra, while he purrs deeply. He's enjoying himself; you can tell just by his gentle touch.

Satisfied, he stares at your body, at your boobs—touching you—feeling you tense more and more.

"Right there." You lick your lips and regain your composure slowly but steadily.

James opens his mouth to say something, but before any word escapes his lips, you let your hands slide inside his tight pants to touch him firmly, making him groan out loud instead.

"That's the way." You smirk, tracing the tangible outlines of his length through his thin boxers.

"You're a fucking tease," James growls, leaning into you to place kisses all over your neck as his hands massage your breast. You feel him playing with your nipples while you stroke him, just hard enough to make him carve much more.

You giggle shortly before his touch gets more intense, making you moan softly.

"You like it, don't you?" You whisper right into his ear while he's still busy kissing your neck, but he doesn't even need to say anything; part of him is giving you an answer, just by moving slightly against your hand.

Just then, with the scent of his cologne still hovering all around you and the burning kisses he leaves all over your skin, you can't wait any longer. In one swift motion, your hand gets inside his underwear, grabbing his length firmly.

He winces shortly, letting out a throaty moan, but regains his composure quickly as he separates himself to look straight into your eyes.

"You seem to enjoy yourself as well." He tilts his head teasingly, and at the same time, his hands encompass your entire upper body once more before they find their way between your thighs.

"I am." You giggle into his shoulder while he's desperately trying to open your jeans. He fails yet, and you feel his fingers trying to unbutton them.

"Work for it, James." You hiss, letting your hand stroke across his chest to pinch his hard nipples, making him grunt angrily.

Frustrated, he looks down at your jeans. "Who made these jeans?" He grunts angrily before he manages to unbutton your pants.

"Fuck this." He grins triumphantly as the jeans drop to the floor, and his eyes wander from your crotch upwards to your face.

Enjoying him in this state—a little angry, horny, and cocky—you place a hand at his chin, grabbing his face gently.

"I'm not that easy to get." You smirk again, and he grins before you let your hands slip out of his tight pants.

"I figured." James admits defeat, and you watch his gaze slowly wander down your body before it rests at your thighs. Simultaneously, one of his hands finds its way down there as well, and you enjoy the tingling sensation running through your veins at his slightest touch.

"Let's take this somewhere else." Returning the favor by brushing your hands against his thick bulge, you walk past him into the bedroom and make your way onto the bed.

But James doesn't say a word; instead, he just grolws deeply, a sound echoing through your bones, causing your body to vibrate in excitement.

You turn around to see James walking toward you, one of his hands touching himself firmly, and it seems like he's already edging himself on—his chest bulges with every deep breath he takes, his voice is all guttural and husky, and all of his muscles are tensed to their limit—a beautiful sight.

"I am so fucking hard right now." He grunts deeply, rubbing the palm of his hand against his length while closing the door behind him.

"Come here, then." You hiss and remove your underwear to throw it towards him, hitting his chest.

James gnashes his teeth angrily, pulling down his pants and boxers—you haven't seen him that agitated in awhile; all that teasing got him worked up all ready.

He strokes himself lovingly before he gets on top of the bed and starts crawling towards you.

Watching him get closer and closer, you lick your own lips and touch your own chest in anticipation of his intoxicating embrace.

Finally, he reaches your legs, spreading them slightly. You let out a soft moan as his hands run along your bare skin, his fingers leaving nothing but a burning sensation behind.

"James." You bite your lower lip while watching him touch you longingly.

He keeps staring into your eyes before he smirks, bending down to kiss his way across your skin, your thighs, and further down your body to your breasts. Feeling his soft, wet lips all over your skin sends waves of shivers down your entire back—so good.

Your whole body is bending into him in ecstasy, and you feel his lips brush over your skin until they reach your neck. Both of you are breathing so fast, feeling each other's bodies pressed against one another—feeling the other's heart racing, the deep breaths, the low, deep moans—it's so hard not to give in right away, to let go of all that pain and pleasure.

Already out of breath, you intertwine your fingers with him, trying to get a hold of something as you feel him, his length grinding on your thighs, just waiting for the moment to take another step forward.

"Be gentle." You hold back a soft moan, your gaze switching between his eyes and his lips as you feel him slowly slide inside you.

Leaning back against your pillows, you let out a low moan, bending your body even more. James, at the same time, embraces your body against his and lets his rhythm take over; his body moves smoothly back and forth, trying to find the most comfortable position for the two of you.

"Aren't I always?" He smirks before he rocks his hips against yours; his thrusts, however, are steadily increasing in strength and pace.

Steadying himself against the matress, you reach out for his chest to stroke him again and again, encouraging him to go further, and in the process, you pinch his nipples, making him moan loudly.

"That's...good." He grunts breathlessly and bends down to kiss you.

Embracing his lips on yours, you hug him as well, running your nails across his back.

James moans into your mouth before you feel him going even faster.

He is not wasting any time today, and he growls deeply in between his heavy breathing. With every firm thrust, you already feel yourself getting closer to the edge.

"Fuck, James. It feels-." You get interrupted by another strong thrust, pressing you against the mattress.

His expression tenses suddenly, his moves get rougher, and he bites his lower lip.

"I'm so close, already." James holds back another long groan, but it still escapes his lips.

With him keeping this up for a little while longer, it doesn't take long for the two of you to scream out in ecstasy, your voices echoing through your whole apartment.

For a while, you just stare into each other's eyes, breathing heavily and sweat dripping down his forehead. Just then, he leans into you, kissing you softly.

"Fucking amazing." He says, sliding out of you and dropping right next to you on the bed.

You pull up a blanket and cover both of you up to your chests as he gets closer to cuddle.

"Those pants, man, ugh." Letting out a deep sigh, you lay your head against his chest.

James chuckles. "I know, right. I'll wear them every day now."

Sharing a laugh, you kiss him again.

"I dare you." You nudge him playfully, and the two of you cuddle for a while until you fall asleep.

[green-typewriterz]

finnick odair horse riding fic. put that man in a polo shirt put that man on the beach with a pony

The sand was never real but we pretended it was

Finnick Odair x gn!reader Summary: you and Finnick spend time together before the 75th games are announced, going horseriding and trying to stay away from the cameras Warnings: fluff. Pretty much pure fluff word count: 762

its like 3 words squared but here u go slay enjoy ur man on a horse

Finnick often reminisced to you about the white sand beaches in District Four and how he could swim every morning without pathetic prying eyes and you couldn’t help but feel bad for him. Having won your games at eighteen, you had had the chance to have most of a reasonable childhood over in District Seven, keeping the people around you safe and gardening until your hands were sore, but Finnick didn’t get that luxury.

So, one morning - after weeks of meticulous planning - you had managed to convince Finnick to go on a quiet walk with you around the capitol. You had secretly packed him a pair of navy blue board shorts and a matching blue costume for you. When you got near the destination, you put your hands over his eyes and led him toward the makeshift beach that you had begged a particularly rich District One victor to help you make.

“Y/N/N? What’s going on?” He asked with excitement in his voice. He gasped in shock when his feet sunk into the memorable feeling of sand and he removed your hands from his eyes to see a small beach next to the coast of the Capitol. He turned to you with a giddy smile. “You did all of this for me?” He asked, pulling you into a hug.

You nodded, wrapping your arms around him as you spoke, “You said you missed the beach so I got my hands dirty.” He laughed and picked you up, spinning you in his arms and whispering ‘I love you’ into your ear as many times as he could. You both sat in the sand for a while, blissful, but not ignorant to the cameras that were inevitably watching and - though you couldn’t be quite as close as you had aimed - you both had the best time you had had for a long while.

It had reached midday when your friend arrived with the next present. “You mentioned you know how to horse ride.” You spoke and Finnick's eyes widened.

He walked toward the large brown horse and began to stroke its mane gently, smiling at how much effort you put into today. “Correction, knew,” he replied and turned to face with an amused look in his eye. “But I’m sure it’s just like riding a bike.” You laughed as he climbed up onto the horse.

He had surprisingly done pretty well, having not fallen once yet - you assumed it was the calm temperament of the horse. He rode for a long while and you joined him every now and then, him coaxing you up onto the steed so he could show you the reigns, but you both eventually agreed that it wasn’t really your thing.

You watched in awe as his blonde hair ruffled gently in the wind and how effortlessly perfect he looked. It was as if he was always meant to be there. Now in his board shorts, you couldn’t help but admire his perfect body, his skin sunkissed and slightly freckled. He never was a fan of the scars that hid there, but you always assured him they were beautiful and showed that he was strong. He was perfect up there. Well, until he fell off. You instantly ran over to check on him and found him pretty much face down on the floor. You shook him but he didn’t respond, until he rolled over onto his back, roaring with laughter. You hit his shoulder gently, not in annoyance but more in relief - you weren’t sure how to describe it.

He took you by your waist and pulled you on top of him, the both of you comfortable against the warm sand of the beach. He kissed your forehead, then your nose, then your lips repeatedly, his hands gently caressing your waist. Then, without warning, you rolled over so he knelt over you and tackled him to the ground, starting an impromptu wrestling match that quickly ended when you kissed his neck in an attempt to distract him (which worked perfectly).

You both watched the sunset on the beach, hands holding one another as the brilliant amber hues shone in the sky. Though you had to be reasonably discrete so Capitolites wouldn’t catch you, today had been the perfect blend of relaxation and fun, something you had a feeling you weren’t going to feel again for a long while. You sighed in contentment as the stars began to shine, knowing that - no matter what - you would fight to spend every day with Finnick, for the rest of your life.

[lemonynuggets]

Hey lemon dude, for some reason lemon reminds me of spaghetti. Im calling u spaghetti man by now, just cause yes.

So, spaghetti man, what r your favorite books? Have u read any good ones this year or in the last one? Do u got any recomds in ur back pocket to give to the poor < someone that needs something to read, im the poor

fascinating thought process anon…

this post got too long so I’m putting it under the cut augh

Ok um to be completely honest I spent the entire year re-reading PJO/HOO and started TOA and the only books I read that weren’t riordanverse related were the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, doll bones and the little book of angels (and if comics/manga count: I re-read most of JSHK besides following the new chapters/reading the spin-off and got the OSNF part 1 comic and I’m almost done reading it!!)

I grew up reading PJO/HOO and for many reasons this series is really special to me so it’s definitely among my favorites (Ironically my favorite book from each are the fourth books), I started re-reading it last year and made three of my friends start reading it solely because I was so normal about it… idk what kind of book you’re into but I’d recommend it!! Each series has 5 books and are really fun and easy to read <3

on the other books:

the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo was surprisingly good?? I was skeptical bc it isn’t the kind of book I usually read (I got it on my birthday) but as the book progressed I got more and more invested, anything I could say about it would be spoilers though

Doll bones was fun!! It’s very short but the story was interesting and I liked the characters, I don’t have much to say about it besides I enjoyed it

I bought the little book of angels for research reasons, I’m not religious but I like studying religious elements, specially angels, and I’m writing a story about angels and referencing things like the christian angel hierarchy so I thought the book could help me with references for that!! There wasn’t much stuff I didn’t know already there and a lot of the information was opposing (I forgot the word), it has pretty pictures though :)

Other books I remember enjoying (my memory is. Bad) are this was our pact (a really cute comic!! The story is cool and the art is so pretty), Luna Clara & Apolo onze (a Brazilian book with an interesting premise and a fun writing style), the 39 clues (very fun series, I read it around the same time I read PJO for the first time and I remember loving it so much…) and they both die at the end (made me cry)

And for JSHK and the OSNF book… you probably noticed I’m insane about jshk just by looking at my profile and I’ve mentioned several times ordem paranormal is my special interest and osnf specifically is my favorite season so I could spend hours talking about both of these but I’ll try to make it quick:

Jibaku Shounen Hanako-Kun is BEAUTIFUL, the story is really cool all of the characters are super interesting, the art is just. Gorgeous. It makes me sooo normal augh… I’ve been reading jshk since? Around 2019? I have a hard time with numbers, but yeah I am incredibly normal about it, here’s my collection and tiny Hanako to prove it

I have all the volumes that are out in Brazil plus both spin-off volumes and volume 0 and volume 9 in english + the tiny Hanako is the only jshk thing I’ve ever found in a con because I don’t have the money to buy actual merch and surprisingly jshk is not that known in Brazil

And o segredo na floresta part 1!!! I sold my soul for that book. I went to the book store to get ashk volume 2 and when I was going to pay I saw the osnf book and I had to stop there for like 2 minutes, put the ashk volume back in the shelf and wait in the book store for my mom so I could make a deal with her and ask for it because it was EXPENSIVE…

I am on the process of feeling the consequences of the deal we made but I GOT THE BOOK and gods I was so excited that day that I couldn’t even read it, I just paced around and waited to read it on the weekend

since I’m also re-watching osnf right now I can say they made a lot of big changes on the story, but it’s still really good!! The art is great and the past/future/now pages are SO CRUEL AUGHH they did NOT have to do that to me…. -100000 psychological damage everytime I read a new page…. Cellbit, Yabu and Akila when I catch you…

WELL THIS IS A BIG POST, sorry anon I tend to talk a lot…

I hope you find something to read!!! Yayy reading is so cool I love reading

[qyllenhaal]

Good Wives Club [11]

Lee Bodecker/Reader. Word Count: 10k || Spin-off to American Pie

Chapter Ten ✾ Chapter Twelve

Summary: It’s been more than a year since she’s escaped the ghost of her past but life is never fair to a girl like her. Lee doesn’t care that she has a husband, a nice house, and sugary fake friends, he wants what’s rightfully his.

Content (this chapter): Infidelity, marital issues, neglect, emotional abuse, oral sex.

MINORS, AGELESS BLOGS, AND BLANK BLOGS DNI, YOU WILL BE BLOCKED.

The jovial spirit of snowy December had passed over Y/n until it had become too palpable to ignore. Tacky garland, strung up lights, and flyers for a fake Santa were on every street corner of Brewer Heights. Mothers, who would usually leave their kids behind for their day trips, held their hands tightly, and fathers scoured the makeshift Christmas tree lots for the trees that were healthy and full.

Y/n isn't annoyed by others' joy, nor did she dislike the holidays, but she could not be happy.

Christmas has not always been the happiest time for her, but at least in her past she can say that there were some decent times. The year she had entered middle school, her grandmother gave her a homemade dress. It was outdated and pretty ugly, but had looked like something her grandmother would wear and that's all Y/n cared about at that age. She had admired her grandmother so much and no amount of teasing from the boys in her class could deter her from wearing that dress.

Last year was fine too. Lou's sisters and their husbands came back home for the week. They were surprisingly so kind to her, trying their best to make her feel it included in their family traditions. Lou's sisters especially did their very best to make Y/n feel like one of them, one of the daughters of this beautiful family. She had received popsicle stick figurines and colored pages from kids who called her "auntie", to show how much they loved their uncle Lou and auntie Y/n (and to show thanks for Lou letting them climb on him and Y/n being lenient about them eating candy). However, despite their courteous attempts, Y/n felt like an outsider, a voyeur watching a close family enjoy their Christmas. She's much younger than his sisters so it was hard to relate to them and their struggles of managing a house and motherhood.

Still, she'd take that awkwardness ten times over and over again if it meant leaving behind the bitterness that has seeped in her life.

Lou's oldest sister had called and said her family wasn't coming for Christmas this year. It wasn't hard to guess that his younger sister would follow suit in calling with the same statement just a few hours later. Y/n wondered how the sister's could be fine with not visiting their father right after his wife, their beloved mother, died. Lou's father had always been strict, but she's never heard something that would make his two girls not come visit him right after losing the most important woman in their lives. Y/n found it unsettling how they were just so quick to move on; the whole family is just strange. She thought Lee and Sandy were an odd pair, but nothing beats the odd bunch of siblings she's married into. They were more secretive than she had expected, putting on the front that left her fooled and stuck in a marriage with a man she thought was excited to be with her.

With no reason to celebrate, their house is the plainest on the street. If Y/n had kids, or maybe one on the way, maybe she'd feel a spark of joy that would make her dig out those red lights in the basement, but any joy she had is a dull flame. Their house stuck out like a sore thumb being the only house that didn't look like Santa threw up all over it. Their plain house represented the fabric of their current lives; everyone goes on while they're so shut in.

Just a handful of weeks ago Y/n was putting so much effort into this "life" with her husband. She looks back and feels stupid for those mornings she spent extra time and effort putting on make-up or picking out her outfit just to walk around the house all day. None of that shielded her from her husband's ugliness over something beyond her control. She had reverted back to who she was before she tried dressing herself up like a gift. She doesn't tell Lou when dinner is finished, she just eats alone and pops the leftovers into the refrigerator. Lou was forced to take care of himself once again, and he was not happy about it. He stopped ignoring Y/n and instead began to lose his patience with her. He yelled at her and he was fond of breaking things to make her jump. Rage filled him every time he saw her face. Y/n won't blame grief for this, this is something that has been stirring inside of him for a long time. Was he regretting his choice? What did he even see in her when he first laid eyes on her? Was he just desperate because he was getting to the age we're all The men in his life, past and present, settled down?

All of her mother-in-law's children had turned into unrecognizable versions of themselves; the daughters' turning their cheeks the other way and the only son unleashing his anger on his poor wife. His mother would be ashamed of them. But, most importantly, Y/n's grandmother would be ashamed of her for staying. Her nona, a hellion during her youth, would tell her to run off with another man and never look back.

"Is there any way you could come get me tonight? It's been long enough, and I need to see you."

What she wanted to hear from her lover was a comment of agreement, not a laugh. It was not an attempt to make a mockery of her desperation, but his inability to contain his enjoyment in being able to get her so worked up. Two days must have felt like forever for her.

"C'mon, sweetheart," Lee coos, "what would your husband think if he finds you hiding out at another man's house? A married one at that."

"He won't care," Y/n responds flatly.

It's not like Lee believes Y/n is capable of lying to him, but as a man he finds it hard to believe that her husband just 'doesn't care.' He can believe that she is being neglected (it shows in the way she touches him), but to act like Lou wouldn't give a damn if he knew what was happening sounds naive; men are possessive even of things they've discarded. Lee was not necessarily cautious like he once was, but he isn't ready to parade Y/n around in broad daylight. Trying to disappear and stay with him for more than a night was out of the question.

"Lee," she mewls his name in a similar fashion she does when he's on top of her. The call of his name, the tone of her voice, trips the memory of their last time together. He shakes his head in disbelief at her attempt to try to persuade him. He won't budge.

"Y/n," he says her name in a firm manner. She becomes so silent on the other end of the phone that he thought she had hung up until he heard her stirring.

"Please?" She asks once again, but she knows her efforts are futile. And while her voice sounds so sweet to him, he doesn't fall for it, telling her once again that they can't meet tonight.

"Besides," he begins, "don't you want to patch things up with your husband before Christmas? If you two don't get it together then his family is going to know what's up right away."

Y/n frowns on the other side of the phone. She clutches it harder and sits up straight. For some reason it felt embarrassing to explain her situation. Never once did Lee feel hung up about complaining about his sister to her, so why was she so nervous to tell him that she's going to be alone for Christmas.

"We're not having dinner," she says plainly. There is no emotion in her voice. She wants to gloss over the subject as much as she can, Lee can feel it.

"Okay...but it's still cold out and they're saying the weather is about to get bad. A true white Christmas," his attempt at a joke was his way of trying to make both her and himself feel better. It didn't feel good to keep shooting her down knowing that she's probably struggling to stay in that house. It wasn't easy for Lee either considering that he's going to be alone for Christmas too. Not a single call from his wife in the last week, nor anything from her mother.

"What's the point of calling me when you're at work just to reject me? Do you even want to be with me?"

Lee had not expected such a heavy question, it stumped him and left him silent. It shouldn't have been as unexpected as it was considering that he's been distant. But, two days, three at most, shouldn't be enough for her to start feeling some doubt.

"Don't ask dumb questions like that."

"Well why don't you want me around?" She whines, now sounding like a petulant child.

Lee pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration. His patience begins to slip away and he's very close to just ending the call altogether.

"Stop asking me dumb questions. If I didn't want you I wouldn't put up with you whining like a baby all the damn time."

His words were loud and clear; harsh, but Y/n clung on to Lee's insinuation that he does in fact want to be with her.

That had shut Y/n up and she didn't even think to complain again. " Okay," was all she said to him. Lee felt a sense of relief wash over him as he felt himself gaining control over her again.

"I'll come get you in the morning, but you better have an excuse to cover your ass if that husband of yours starts asking questions."

Y/n nods as if Lee could see her through the phone. He had finally budged.

-

After her phone call with Lee, Y/n had laid on the couch until she fell asleep. What she intended to be an hour, or two long nap, she woke up many hours later to the sound of her husband coming in the door. Not a single word was spoken to her, a now common occurrence. Y/n watched as he trudged from the front door and into the kitchen. She watched him like a hawk, but the truth is that his behavior is unpredictable.

Y/n pushes herself up and it feels like she hasn't moved her limbs for a thousand years. She's exhausted yet pushes through the ache she feels in her body. Her movements aren't any more smoother as she follows the trail her husband just took. She rests against the frame of the entryway and watches him once again. It takes a lot for her to muster up the courage to say something to him.

"Hi."

Her voice is weak and scratchy, an indication that she had just woken up. Lou doesn't respond so she assumes he hadn't heard her. It's embarrassing, despite not having an audience to witness this.

She clears her throat and speaks louder and clearer, "hi, Lou."

This time he had heard her without a problem but he didn't say anything. He doesn't turn around or does anything to acknowledge her presence. It makes her feel small. And she can't help but wonder, was Lee like this with his wife when he was cheating on her? Florence isn't the type to let her husband walk all over her even though she is still docile.

Y/n walks closer to him and stupidly decides to place a hand on his back. Both of them flinch at the physical touch they hadn't experienced with each other in a few months. Lou slightly turns his head and all she can see is his eyes. They're so hard to read at times, but one thing she always notices is the resentment he has for her, something he feels deep inside.

He mutters the first words he has said to her today, "what?"

"How was work?"

Neither of them feel comfortable talking to each other. Lou doesn't care to hear what Y/n has to say or, ironically, doesn't care about what she can do for him.

"It was work."

Lou shrugs her hand off of his back and turns away from her; he was icing her out.

"Oh...okay," Y/n replies lamely, "I-"

Y/n stops herself before she can finish. Her trying is pointless, especially when she doesn't even want to try with this man anymore. She doesn't see a clear out for this marriage, at least one that would end with a good outcome for her. Some day Lou is going to come home with a woman and she will be the one to replace Y/n and he will probably not be as mean to her as he is to Y/n. It wouldn't be much different than Lee replacing Florence with her, but she tells herself their situation is different. Still, things were complicated and it made her think that sometimes Sandy had the right idea by fucking off to a different state.

"Clean up this house," Lou interrupts the silence that had seeped in for a few minutes.

Y/n frowns. That's all he has to say to her?

Their house feels barely lived in with Lou being elsewhere and Y/n being on and off with Lee. Y/n gives Lou the decency not to question where he goes at night (even though she suspects that he's no longer going to his parent's home to "check-in" on his father). She would be lying if she said she cared about what, or who, he's doing. The only thing she wanted was for him not to come home and treat her like this.

'The house wouldn't be messy if you didn't toss your stuff on the furniture just so I can clean it up'

If Y/n would mouth off to him, she would feel vindicated, but she feels muzzled in his presence. He would lash out at her in a heartbeat, possibly taking out all of his anger on her.

Visions of his possible violence is what scares her the most. She notices the clenching of his fist and furrowing of his brow whether he wants her to notice it or not. He's angry and it may boil over some day and spill onto her. The hardest lesson in her life is that there is no rhyme or reason to a man's destruction.

"I-I cleaned up earlier," she keeps her voice clear of any disdain so it doesn't sound like she's talking back.

Lou doesn't turn around, so Y/n is unsure of what he thinks. He stays still until he moves his hand to swipe the glass he left there onto the ground. The sound of glass hitting the ground and eventual shatter made Y/n flinch while her husband was unmoved. She watched the drinking glass that was a part of a set given to them by his older sister break off into a million pieces.

"I told you to clean up the house."

Tears well in her eyes, not in sadness, but frustration. She wanted him to get the hard part over with already, just discard her instead of leaving her in a situation where she was unsure of what the day would be like. He was doing this on purpose.

He walks out of the kitchen, stepping over what he had done, without saying another word. Y/n feels stupid for crying but she can't help herself. She feels helpless knowing she has no choice but to be subjected to this for what may be a long time. Every man in her life was being cruel to her today -- Lou with his anger and Lee acting like he didn't want to be around her. This is the lowest she had felt in months, and holding on to the idea of seeing Lee tomorrow was only a little helpful. To be on the ground and cleaning up the large shards of glass was utterly humiliating. Absent-mindedly, she moves her foot and it comes down a chunk of glass. A sharp pain shoots through her foot which causes her to yelp. Half-a-minute goes by before she registers the piece of glass sticking out of her foot. Her wails of pain didn't draw the attention of her husband. Y/n began to panic as the pain worsened. Seeing the glass sticking out of her foot was jarring, and almost made her sick to her stomach. She clumsily pulled the glass out of her and watched as blood began to seep out and drop onto the linoleum floor.

The sight of her own blood makes her lightheaded, but if she just continues to sit there then she might pass out. She musters up the strength to stand up using the counter as leverage. Her wound is only her second concern as she desperately tries to avoid making the same grave mistake she made just a few seconds ago. She hops onto the counter and grabs one of their nicer dish towels to press against the wound. The white, embroidered fabric begins to turn red as she bleeds into it. She presses hard on her wound to stop the bleeding. Her eyes sting from the burning sensation spreading throughout her body.

She whimpers pathetically before her whole body begins to shake from crying. Worse than the pain from the physical wound was the deep cut of betrayal. Lou hates her, she's sure of it. So, why waste his time being with her? Divorce is not easy nor cheap, and his parents would've told them to keep trying. However, his mother has passed and his father seems likely to go soon too to be with his beloved wife, which means Lou should just get it over with already. She's ready for the hard part because it won't be as painful as this.

-

If Lee could be honest for a second, he was kind of embarrassed to have Y/n come over to his home. He didn't mean to avoid her or make her feel unwanted. He hasn't had the time to really clean up after himself, nor is he used to doing so. Everything that was Florence's job was a struggle. He's not incompetent, but when you come home everyday to the house picked up and dinner ready to be eaten, losing that makes a hard adjustment.

Lee turned off the radio as soon as he got into his cruiser. He isn't in for another three hours, but he's got to go get Y/n before she snaps on him. He doesn't know how she feels about being alone for hours in a home that has the traces of another woman. She said it was fine, that she didn't mind being alone while he works during the day, but without seeing her face he can't tell for sure.

His routine of turning off his headlights when turning down her street makes his cock stir a little bit. It's been a week since he's been inside of her and this morning he was feeling a little bit anxious about getting off of work tonight to do just that.

As he pulls up, a figure on the porch becomes prominent, illuminated by the yellow-ish Christmas lights of the house next door. For a moment there Lee thought it was the last person he wanted to see. If he ever had to confront her husband, which he is not willing to admit he is paranoid about but does think about often, he won't hesitate to make sure he comes out on the other side clean.

But, it's not her husband. It's Y/n herself, waiting patiently for him, a small bag in her lap. The paranoia he felt turned into irritation that wasn't fueled with rage, but with worry. He watched her get up and rush down the steps, the wood creaking with every step yet she walked down them without a care in the world. The door opens and the cold air enters his war car and smacks Lee in the face. He can't believe her sometimes.

"Hi," she says enthusiastically. She doesn't realize Lee is bothered until she gets settled and looks to him only to see a look of disdain on his face instead of his version of happiness. She frowns at him and asks, "what's wrong?"

"Are you stupid?"

"W-What? What did I do," Y/n panicked thinking that she had fucked up some how. She glanced over to the house to make sure Lou wasn't standing in the doorway or something. Seeing that no one was there, she was confused as to why Lee was pissed with her.

"How long have you been sitting out there?"

"Just ten minutes..."

"It's damn near below zero and you're sitting in the cold at 5 am in a shitty jacket. Unless you want to get sick and end up in the hospital, don't do that shit again."

Lee almost sounded like her grandmother. That nagging annoyed her as a child, but her grandma always followed up with, 'I'm always getting on you because I love you!'

"I'm sorry, Lee," she backs down rather quickly, something that shuts him up. Y/n was just too happy to be in his presence. Even if he called her dumb, she feels warm inside with the belief that it was because he loves and cares for her.

The sound of his tires crunching the snow in her driveway was soothing. It hasn't even been five minutes alone with him, yet she's in la la land. She can imagine hearing that crunch every winter morning when he leaves her for the day, and the same when he comes back home to her. She would never say these thoughts out loud in fear of being called delusional by her lover, but all she could do for the last week was imagine a life with him. For years, and much more recently, they have only found solace in his car, but she wants to be home with him.

"I-I got you something," she interrupts the silence once they're two blocks away from her house and his headlights have come back on. Lee doesn't live that far, but there are times where Y/n wished she didn't live in Brewer Heights again just so she could enjoy the longer car ride with Lee.

"Oh yea?"

His annoyance with her had dissipated as soon as she said that. He was curious as to why she got him, and he also had that warm feeling inside.

She rummages through her little tattered bag, One he thought was filled with items for herself but was for him. He glances over to see her pull out an envelope and he catches a peak of what can only be a bag of candy.

"I got you a Christmas card and some Hershey's Kisses. It's not much, and I wasn't sure what to get you," 'but I hope you like it' Y/n continues in her head. She feels slightly embarrassed that she feels like a lovestruck little girl inside. There was once a time where Lee was the scariest man she knew. That time feels like it was decades ago, a time before she was even thought of.

She pushed the card back into its bag, careful not to bend it in anyway. Lee is not a sap, but he's also not hard inside. His affection is shown through physicality. This time it wasn't shown through a harsh grip on the waist or his hand around a pretty neck, but his hand resting on Y/n's thigh. The sun threatens to peak over the houses in his neighborhood. His thumb strokes the fabric of her dress. The heat she feels isn't coming from the vents of his car, but from between her legs.

The cruiser comes to a stop in his driveway. It feels like forever since Y/n has been here. His house was just as plain as hers, save for a reef on the door. It was a surreal reminder that Florence is really gone. She hasn't heard anything from Susie, and Lee doesn't tell her much, so she assumes that Florence is gone and just not coming back. As much as Y/n disliked the woman, she can't help but admire her for being able to leave without thinking twice. Y/n doesn't have the privilege to escape to a loving embrace -- unless you count Lee. The irony of her running into the arms of a man who just had his wife run from them.

"I won't be gone all day," Lee explains as he leads her into the house. He had picked her up in his plainclothes so she assumed he had the day off, but he promised her that it's just a short shift; just tying up some loose ends before he gets to enjoy some time off for Christmas.

Y/n did her best to hide her disappointment. Waiting for him here is better than being at home though. Lou will probably wake up and wonder where she is, but she struggles to see him making an attempt to find her. A part of her is sad that that's her reality, however she knows there isn't much she can do to change it for the time being.

As Lee walks comfortably inside of his home, he expects her to follow along right after him. Y/n stops and stands a few feet within the house though. He turns around to see just how much space is between them now. She looks so stiff, like she had seen a ghost that he hadn't seen.

"What's wrong?" He asks playfully. She knows that tone of voice, the one he uses to get her to lighten up.

She smiles weakly at him. It should be a bit obvious what's "wrong" with her. She feels awkward and uncomfortable being in a house that is so Florence. He had feared that she would react like this, but pointing it out may make her feel worse.

"C'mon Cherry don't just stand there," he motions for her to come to him which she obeys. "You're going to be here by yourself for a while, so you better get comfortable."

'Do you really have to go?'

She kept her mouth shut and sat on the couch instead of begging him to stay. She has a growing fear of coming off as too desperate for him. Deep down she is, but she doesn't want to annoy Lee. If he were to shrug her off because she kept clinging to him she wouldn't be able to process.

Y/n felt herself sink into the couch. She could tell that it was expensive, just another reminder that Florence liked the finer things of life. There was a baby blue knitted blanket thrown on the back for decoration. Every single accent of the room was perfect and seemingly untouched; although it was hard to ignore some loose garments that Lee had discarded once he stepped foot into the house. But that didn't stop their home from being so warm and beautiful. Y/n wonders how could Florence just up and leave a place that has her written all over it.

Lee had left her to go upstairs to get ready for work. She wanted to follow him, but something about it made her feel like an intruder -- a voyeur for even just hearing his footsteps above her head. She compared his footsteps to her husband's. They were heavier than Lou's but not as menacing. She waited for him to come back downstairs with patience, and when Lee had noticed that she hadn't moved an inch since she sat down, he frowned.

"What's gotten into you?"

He asks, now standing in front of her with the uniform she had gotten so used to seeing him in.

"Nothing," she answers quickly.

Lee hums at her answer. She's a terrible liar.

Lee, for some reason, didn't feel like it was appropriate to pry and poke fun at her at the moment. He felt a tinge of guilt for getting mad at her this morning. He had never seen her act like this before, yet he can't quite put his finger on exactly how she is acting. She is not telling him the entire truth, knowing that it would probably set him off in some way.

"Fine," he says with a light tone. She's almost as stubborn as him.

He bends over and kisses her forehead. It was the most affection Y/n had received in a while she felt like she could melt into a puddle. She wanted to grab his collar and pull him on top of her. If she were to initiate sex right now, Lee would definitely stay home. But she doesn't feel brave enough to do so.

"Be good and be safe," his words are almost like a warning, one to which she adheres to.

And just like that, he's gone.

Once he closes the front door she loosens up a little. It is still awkward being in Florence's home, but without Lee being there she feels free to roam around without being caught. She's always had a burning curiosity about how Lee lived. Ever since the days he would come to the bar for her, she wondered what his home life was like.

Knowing what state Lee would leave his cruiser in from time to time, she expected him to be a bit messier. Perhaps he still acted like Florence was around even though he's in this nice house alone. There were some clothes in the living room along with candy wrappers and a McDonalds' cup left on the coffee table. Y/n feels obligated to pick up after him. It doesn't feel like a burden like when she does it for her husband at home. Lee works a lot, and very hard, harder than her husband. She can imagine the praise she'll receive from him when he comes home. The house is perfect. Even if it makes her feel like a little lap dog, she'll graciously assume the role for him.

She begins to move about freely, as if this is her house and she won't be judged for anything she does. She can remember the few times she had been here and all of them were because of Florence. Her entire being is threaded within this place, which makes it harder for Y/n to pretend she doesn't exist. After she picks up some of her lover's mess, her feet carry her around to wander about. It's like touring through a museum of someone's life.

Florence was keen on saving something from every milestone in her and Lee's life, both together and separate. The photos on their wall stare back at Y/n. Their eyes beaming at her as if she's some intruder unwelcomed to be here. Photos of the Bodeckers' wedding and photos of Lee at various stages in his career. Yes, these photos spanned over more than a decade, but Y/n was taken back by how young Lee looked in some of them. By the time she had gotten to him the lines in his face were visibly there. Florence got to have him while he still looked youthful with a babyface; she gotta have him for the majority of his adulthood.

A sense of jealousy rises in Y/n as every photo reminds her of what her place had been in Lee's life for years. She glances at the photos of him with his real family, a family that didn't include her. She could stare at these pictures until they drove her insane. She only stops when she notices him wearing a green flannel and a 'God Loves America' pin. He had come to see her in that very same outfit one night at the bar. She remembers poking fun at the pin and asking him where he got it. He had brushed her teasing off and made her lay down in the back of his cruiser for him. The pin stares back at her just like it did that night. She wonders how many of these photos have a hidden back story of cheating and betrayal. Then she begins to wonder how she would look in these with Lee. She can see herself beaming standing next to him, and Lee smiling wider than he is in these photos with his wife.

Soon it becomes more bearable to be in this house. Y/n feels a sense of relief hit her for no particular reason. She feels a weird sense of appreciation, gratefulness even, for Florence instead of the usual contempt. It's unfortunate that she had to leave her husband in this way, but Y/n is happy that this house is waiting for her to make it a home with Lee.

After walking around for a little more, Y/n decides to go upstairs. She doesn't care for any other room besides the bedroom. It's surprisingly nice and neat -- the only explanation is that Lee hasn't slept in here much. Slippers, women's slippers, rest on the left side of the bed. The room seems to have gone untouched since the day Florence left, almost as if it was a crime scene.

There was a beautiful dresser pressed against the wall. It was covered in mostly Florence's things: jewelry boxes, a few tubes over her favorite shade of lipstick, and perfume bottles. There were virtually no traces of Lee in their bedroom save for a corner in their room signified by his work hats and a jacket. Y/n thinks about how suffocating it must've been for him and believes that lead to him making their relationship all about him. She's curious on how Florence was able to be dominant over her husband in the most subtle ways that were still acceptable to others. Lee was always someone who seemed to be impossible to pushover, but what's glaring at her now is the truth that Lee was just not as steadfast with his wife as he was with her.

She picks up a tube of lipstick, opening it up to find that it had not been used yet. Y/n almost decides against putting it on, trying to take into consideration that Florence may come back home one day and see it’s been used, but she tells herself that that won't happen. As the more fashionable women of society wore nude lipsticks with a little gloss, Florence was a classy woman and stuck to her cherry red lipstick. Y/n wasn't familiar with the brand, but the color was undeniably Florence. She runs the color against her lips carefully yet still she manages to put too much on. Y/n looks like a clown in the shade but she powers through, wiping the excess lipstick off of her teeth and the corners of her mouth before continuing to rummage through the rest of Florence's makeup. She was something akin to a little girl playing in her mother's make-up; fitting because she always did feel like a little girl compared to Florence. She wasn't coordinated enough for eyeliner so she settled for Florence's fancy mascara she often bragged about and globed it on her lashes. She looked worse and worse as she continued, but she looked closer to Florence than ever before. Y/n's identity had always been hazy for her to decipher, but this winter had caused it to slip away completely.

Y/n wants to make Lee happy. She's not sure if Florence ever made him happy, so parroting her may not work out in her favor. But, Y/n wants to do things the right way. There must've been somewhere where Florence made a misstep -- she couldn't have been perfect all the time. She'll learn to make herself look prettier in Florence's make-up, and she can wear her dresses better than her. She can be better.

-

The work day was short but felt too long for Lee. The sun was almost down by the time he left the station, and the snow was beginning to fall. There's no chance of Y/n going back home tonight (even if she wanted that). Lee is a little nervous of what the consequences may be if her husband decided that tonight was the night he gave a fuck about what his wife was doing. He's mulled over it a lot for the past two weeks. He does not like to admit when he doesn't have a plan, but he can't ignore reality. It's not an easy path like Y/n thinks it is. Trying to file for a divorce will be hard for both Y/n and Florence due to them being women. While it is embarrassing, Lee is not completely against divorcing Florence, but he also isn't sure about jumping into a marriage with Y/n soon after it happens. However there is no doubt in his mind that after whatever happens, it will be Y/n in his house and not any other woman.

For the first time in a long time he comes home to lights being on in his house. It makes his chest feel warm. To come home to his house feeling like a home makes a man feel good -- Lee likes being taken care of.

The house is warmed to combat the bitter chill of outside, and Lee can smell something cooking on the stove top. Y/n had really made herself comfortable compared to how he left her. One would think that it was their anniversary the way Y/n had set up the house for him. Cherry vanilla candles were lit, the first time Lee had smelled them in about a year. Florence kept them in the storage part of the house. It gave away that Y/n had snooped around in his stuff. He wasn't upset at the slight invasion of privacy, he probably would've done the same if he was in her shoes.

"Y/n?" He calls her name to make his presence known.

"I'm in the kitchen!" She calls out to him.

There is a stark difference in her tone of voice from earlier to now. She seems cheery and much happier. Lee liked that she had gotten comfortable here alone, but Lee didn’t know to what extent until he saw her. The liveliness of his kitchen is shocking and something he hadn't seen in a few weeks now. Y/n had a pot on the stove going and something in the oven. His pork chops sizzled in the skillet. The smell had made his stomach growl even though he had his lunch three hours ago. This is not what he had expected to come home to, and especially something he didn't expect from Y/n.

"Hi honey," Y/n greets him, taking long strides with heels clicking against the tiles, and places her hands on his face. She pulls his face closer within reach and kisses his cheek.

Lee had quickly noticed the particular shade of red that stains her lips and now his cheek, but it took him a few seconds to recognize the dress she was wearing. It was a dress that Florence had worn two summers ago when they went to Myrtle Beach with her parents. It was ill-fitting on Y/n due to Florence being slightly taller than her.

There was a look of confusion on Lee's face when Y/n pulled away. She furrows her brow, repeating the same confused stare.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

There was something sweetly artificial about Y/n's concern. While they did not look alike, the similarities to Florence in style and demeanor are hard to ignore. She wore heels that must be too painful because she kept wincing every time she walked on her left foot.

"Why are you all dressed up?" He tries to laugh to play off the obvious that Y/n isn't just dressed up but that she's dressed up like his now estranged wife. She's trying to act like her too. It's surreal, scary even.

"Do you like it?" She smiles almost naively.

If Lee were to say no, tears would well in those bright eyes of hers. Her desperation is palpable and almost smothering. She grips his arm tightly as if he's going to shake her off and tell her to get out for being an imposter. She waits for his answers, but she's done the impossible and left the sheriff speechless.

It's not a matter of whether he likes it or not. It's more so about why she felt like this was a necessary thing to do. She doesn't have to audition for him when she already has one foot in the door. Calling Y/n a "replacement" would be crass, and Lee doesn't see her as such. Maybe in her own head she sees herself as someone who is secondary and has to do this. To him it's silly.

"You look really pretty," he answers after the bout of silence, "but you don't have to get dressed up for me."

Y/n nods her head, but Lee isn't sure if she really understands. He is attracted to the floral dresses and bright make-up, but he doesn't like seeing Y/n in Florence's clothes. He'd rather burn all of her stuff and buy Y/n new stuff to wear.

"But I want to do it for you. You work so hard, and things haven't been easy for you lately. I want to make you happy, Lee."

Her arms slip around his neck, prompting Lee to rest his hands on her waist. He buries his face into her neck to take in more of her scent. Of all the things of Florence she put on, she didn't use any of her perfumes. Y/n smelled like herself instead of that tart, floral smell. He could skip dinner, make her take that dress off, and have her make-up smudged within ten minutes. His lips press against her neck just once before he decides against taking anything further. He pulls his face out of her neck and leans in to kiss her forehead. Y/n can't help but feel like a puppy being praised for doing a trick.

"What did you make me?"

The dining room table had been set up for them and Y/n urged him to go take a seat while she finished up their dinner. His favorite beer was already opened and sitting next to his plate. It had been a while since Lee had seen his dining room set up like this. Still on his mind was the burning question of what has gotten into Y/n. Had Lou said something to her that set her off? She was a completely different person from this morning, which Lee felt was a more honest depiction of herself. He'll take the pampering, but wants to leave behind anything that could remind him of Florence and her phony ways; Y/n isn't like that.

Y/n comes into the dining room no less than 10 minutes later, with the main dish in her hands.

"I hope you don't mind that I cooked the pork chops you had sitting in the freezer. I didn’t want them to go bad."

Of course he wouldn't mind when he laid his eyes upon the glazed meat. He wasn't eating home cooked meal these days. He often settled for McDonalds and some diner food. His lack of cooking over the years had made it easy for him to burn noodles in a pot. It was embarrassing to not be able to take care of himself — the prospect of Y/n swooping in to do so was promising.

"It's okay, don't worry about it."

Eventually she had his dinner laid out in front of him; glazed pork chops paired with mashed potatoes and roasted green beans. If he's being honest, there isn't anything particularly spectacular by the meal Y/n laid out in front of him beside the high quality meat he bought yet hadn't had time to cook. The mashed potatoes were made from old potatoes that probably should have been thrown out, and the green beans looked like they were more on the crispy side.

"Sorry if it's not perfect," she notes when she catches him staring at the side dishes for longer than usual, "I haven't been cooking much lately so I'm a little rusty."

"No, no, it's okay baby. Just sit down and eat with me," his words placate her and she gladly takes the seat across from him.

Y/n feels giddy sitting across from her lover. This is what she had wanted all those years ago but was afraid to admit. They didn't have to hide — he could come home to her and enjoy an evening talking to her. She had asked him questions about work, even prying a little bit about what he was working on. That level of curiosity about his work was foreign to him coming from a lover. Y/n probably doesn't care, but she just wants to hear him talk. The night was about him and making him happy. But, Lee gets tired of talking about himself for so long. He's a selfish person, but his insecurities come out when he's with someone he's intimate with and talking about himself for an extended period of time isn't his favorite thing in the world.

"What did you do today, Cherry? Did you have fun when you were alone?"

Lee didn't think the question was malicious in any way although the two of them both knew what she had been doing all day. But, Y/n's reaction made him think he fucked up somehow. She grew real quiet and put her fork down. Her eyes darted away from him and down to the edge of the table.

"What?"

"I think you should stop calling me that, Lee."

For a second he thought she was just joking, which is why he let out a laugh, but then she looked up at him. She was serious.

"I can't call you Cherry? Even when you're so sweet to me?" He reaches his hand across the table and takes her chin between his fingers. As much as he tries to play it off, he is dumbfounded, and slightly offended. The pet name was cute and special to him. However, to Y/n it was too attached to her past for her liking.

"It doesn't seem appropriate to call me that anymore, Lee. You used to call me that when...when I was a different girl," she responds sheepishly.

Her explanation sounds ridiculous to him. Did she think that he only called her because he thought she was a whore? He only used to call her that because it would leave her flustered the first few times he called her that, and then the name stuck. Nothing about it had been salacious to him, only when he would moan it as he fucked her.

"But it's a pretty name for a very pretty girl."

Lee's thumb swipes against her bottom lip, stickied with the sweet glaze she had made special just for him. He tries but it's so hard to pull his eyes away from her pretty lips. He was starting to ache for her again and he's not sure how long he'll be able to last without doing something about it.

"I don't want you to see me as unworthy," she whispers, "I want to be good for you. I don't have anyone else Lee, and neither do you."

It was a hard reality to accept. The last time he had spoken to Florence she was talking like she didn't want to come back. Thinking about going through a divorce complicates and muddies things, but it won't be the end of the world. Of course there is the problem of getting Y/n out of her marriage too, which will be more difficult for her than him to do.

"You need to be patient Y/n," Lee reminds her in reference to the urgency in her voice and actions of the last week. "You know me, you know I always have a plan to get you out of trouble."

"Yeah, cus' you always cause my trouble," she jokes but there is truth to it.

Y/n wants nothing more than to trust Lee, but she has the sinking feeling that she won't come out of this unscathed. It's easy to polish herself up to look pretty and new again, but deep down she's scared. She begins to feel uneasy in Florence's clothes, as if she's wearing someone else’s skin. It's not her and Lee was right to question her earlier. Yet it feels so good to pretend that everything is alright, even if it's just for a night. She doesn't let her smile falter even though it's hard not to frown at the more than likely upheaval of her life. She wants all this shit to be worth it.

"I'm not hungry anymore, Lee."

"I still am. Dessert always follows dinner, right?"

"I didn't make anything else," she says shyly, understanding what he's getting at, but becoming bashful. He takes a piece of her hair between his finger and coils it.

"Now you want to act like you don't know what I'm talking about. As if you weren't begging me to fuck the shit out of you yesterday."

"Lee! Don't talk like that," her eyes darted away from him.

"Like what? How am I talkin', Cherry?"

No matter how much she protests, Lee's not gonna change how he talks to her. It's fun and that is how he decided to talk to her.

She repeats his words back to him shyly, acting as if she hasn’t said things more lascivious to him before. Lee is the only man she has ever talked with like this; not any other man from the bar and certainly not her husband. She felt like she was giving him the privilege to have her and all of her completely, but in reality it is something he decided was his from the moment he laid eyes on her. This is the closest thing to love Y/n has felt and experienced, no matter how fucked up it may seem to those who aren’t her. She isn’t a woman like Florence, Susie, or their friends in the town and she may never be.

"You’ve taken good care of me tonight," Lee coos as he plays with her. "There's something else that I really want from you."

-

Lee reclines in the chair, spreading his legs for her to place herself perfectly between them. She unzips his pants and tugs at them to get them down. His bulge is staring back at her, straining to become free.

"See how hard you got me? Getting all dolled up for me like that..."

Lee places a hand on her cheek and runs his thumb over her warm skin. Y/n is avoiding all eye contact with him as she becomes a little sheepish under his gaze. She shouldn’t be so shy, she has done this countless times before, but today she can't help but feel a little more demure than normal. This isn't like one of their trips they have to take in the dark to hide themselves from consequences. No, Y/n is in his house, lights turned on, and so intimate that anyone without context would think they are indeed husband and wife.

She doesn't want to seem eager, because it isn't particularly ladylike, but she wants his big cock in her mouth so bad. When his cock finally springs free, the tip knocks against her jaw making her gasp. The tip leaks precum from their unofficial form of foreplay earlier at the dinner table. He's throbbing and red, cock angry from the few days of neglect it has received. Y/n's mouth salivates for him more than it did for the dinner she cooked earlier. Lee's comments from earlier implied that he would be the one to have "dessert", yet here she is receiving such a sweet treat.

Taking him in her hand, she earns a sturdy groan from her lover. His size was always so intimidating, but she was able to take him. She gives him a light squeeze just to see what reaction she can get out of him. Lee does not like to be teased so she doesn’t do it for long. Instead she immediately placed the tip of his cock against her tongue. Lee sighs in content, enjoying her warm mouth treating him to something special.

"Look at me while you suck me off baby...yea, good girl...let me see those pretty eyes."

There was something so hypnotic about the look in her eyes; something between innocent and coquettish. Lee is too prideful to admit that he's whipped. It's not really a noble story of him and his second wife -- meeting at a tawdry bar, cheating on his wife, and then crossing paths with Y/n later down the line only to end up doing the same things they used to do together.

Y/n keeps her eyes glued to him, watching to catch the moment the corners of his mouth might curl up. His furrowed brow and the sweat on his forehead makes her feel proud of herself. He tries so hard to contain himself when he's being pleasured, but it's easy for him to fall apart at the seams when Y/n's warm tongue is pressing against the underside of his length. She engulfs him almost completely with a small gag as he hits the back of her throat. A part of him still wishes he could be inside of her, but her mouth is almost as good.

"Just like that," his hand comes to rest on the back of her head, forcing his length further down her throat. The amount of pre-cum that leaked from him paired with her saliva made things sloppy. Lee had to stop himself from cumming prematurely a handful of times, but it was just so hard to hear those noises and remain in one piece. The wetness fell into globs on his exposed thighs. Her fingernails, whether purposefully or not, rake against his skin. "God baby," he whines pathetically. A tear threatens to slip from his eyes and Lee can't believe himself. He feels submissive to her tongue lathing him over and over. She barely comes up for air, determined to make him cum all over her tongue.

His hips stutter, thrusting sporadically into her mouth, and for the first time in days the tears that rain from her eyes are from something other than sadness. He fucks up into her mouth as if she's a cheap whore, but his hold on her is loving in Y/n's eyes.

Y/n swiftly pulls herself off of his cock. He swears and his eyes shoot open with anger. She wraps her hand around him and begins to pump him furiously before he can get mad at her. He missed the warmth of her mouth, but the rapid pace of her hand renders him useless -- delirious even.

"Shit-"

"Are you gonna cum, Lee?" Her voice is so soft yet haunting. He looks down at her through half-lidded eyes as she stares at him with nothing but lustful intent in them.

His last words before he erupts is a whisper of her name. Y/n gasps right when the first shot of his release hits her cheek, involuntarily letting go of his cock. Lee grabs onto himself and jerks the rest of his cum out of his cock. Another rope of cum lands on her nose before Y/n opens her mouth to take in whatever he has left for her. A few drops on her tongue and lips, and Lee has nothing else to give her.

"Shit," he says in disbelief at how good that felt. "Shit," he says this time, completely content. He feels drained, in more ways than one, and what he knows for sure is that he's not leaving the house again tonight.

"Here," he hands her a tissue from the box on the table next to them. She takes it and starts cleaning off her face. He watches the makeup on her face smear into the cum on her face as she attempts to wipe it away. She had made a big fuss about being addressed properly and not by her "whore" name, but he thinks 'Cherry' is the most fitting name for a sweet girl like Y/n.

Y/n felt like she needed to shower. Her skin was sweaty as if they had messed around and done more than what they actually did. She was exhausted and wanted to feel like herself again. It was like she was having a post-orgasm come down with Lee; acquiring some sense of the blues now that he isn't in her mouth anymore. She began to realize that the dress on her body was foreign to her, so was the hair and now ruined makeup. She was stupid to think that looking like this would make her seem more alluring to Lee when he didn't treat her any different.

She was unsure what was going on in Lee's head though. He didn't have much of a readable expression on his face, but he did look utterly worn out. Her throat was burning to speak, but she didn't want to seem hasty or overstep. However, she's not ready to go.

"Lee?"

He doesn't say anything, just looks up at her with knowing eyes. He meant it when he told himself he's not leaving the house for the rest of the day. Whatever consequences anyone dares to try to instill on him want to stand up to a man who has institutional power backing him. He has nothing to worry about.

"I have a shirt you can wear to bed. You probably don't mind going to sleep without your ass being covered."

Y/n was stunned that he offered this without her having to ask. She didn't want to have to humiliate herself again and beg him to let her stay. She knows that this is what Lee wants too.

She went to bed without showering, but told herself she'll take one in the morning and try to convince Lee to join her. She was so happy she could cry. The everyday things that Florence, Susie, and their friends called monotonous -- cooking for their husbands and giving them a "treat" after dinner -- almost moved her to tears. She can hear their voices swirling in her head mixed in with the voice of her grandmother. Y/n isn't going to be like one of those women who get tired of their husband, she believes it. Lee is not perfect, but he's the person she deserves.

Y/n wonders what's going through his head. He's been quiet since he told her she could stay. Matter of fact, he was as vocal as usual when she was pleasing him. She knows that he has something going on in that head of his, but she doesn't want to pry. It's not like Lee would tell her anyway seeing that he's never been the person to be fully honest with her. She won't worry about that for tonight though; she has what she wants. He ascends up the stairs before she could, but she is quickly behind him. She changes out of Florence's clothes and into the white shirt Lee gave her which is much more fitting despite it hanging off of her body like a white sheet.

She's the first one in bed, making herself feel like she's at home. He joins her, stretching his arms and yawning before relaxing into the bed. Nothing has felt as comfortable in life than being in this bed together. Lee presses his front to Y/n's back and his arm engulfs her completely. She is grateful he can't see her face because the smile on her face probably makes her look goofy.

Staring back at her on the nightstand is a photo of Lee and Florence on their wedding day. She hadn't noticed it earlier, but she saw it the moment she laid her head on the pillow. Florence must've stared at that photo every single night until she fell asleep. Seeds of apathy for this woman were beginning to set inside of her. She waited until she heard Lee's soft snores in her ears before she carefully reached over and flipped the photo so it was facing down and no longer at her. She'll never see that face again.

[9leaguesofmirrors]

My Favourite Steve Characters

It's September 1st, also known as Steve Pemberton's birthday! I did one of these lists for Reece's birthday, and I wanted to do one for Steve too because I feel like not enough people talk about his amazing acting

These are in no particular order

Tony Martin - The Interrogation Of Tony Martin

This film was originally on Channel 4 and can now be found on Netflix. It's a verbatim piece about the true story of Tony Martin and why he killed two young boys that intruded on his home. Steve manages to be both cold and unsettling and surprisingly sympathetic in the role, everything he does is subtle and refined to produce an incredibly realistic performance

Trevor - Love's Great Adventure

I don't think I'll ever stop singing the praise of Love's Great Adventure, people overlook it because it doesn't have a dark twist but it's honestly one of the best episodes of the entire series! Steve Pemberton delivers such a raw performance that it left me wishing there was a spin-off series! The entire episode is beautiful, and Trevor is a huge part of the reason; I could praise Steve's ability to dig up such pure, unbridled feeling in every character he plays for ages!

Dr Bessner - Death On The Nile (2004)

I'm a sucker for a good Agatha Christie, especially Poirot, so finding out that Steve Pemberton was in one of the remakes made me very excited - and, as always, he delivers. Dr Bessner is a character which may end up fading into the back of people's memories, but Steve Pemberton managed to make every scene he was in very entertaining. It goes to show that he knows how to pull focus without taking away from other cast members, a credit to both his dedication and kindness

Len - Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room

I mean, he won a BAFTA for this one, that says it all! When we first meet Len, he's portrayed as a sweet, funny man with plenty of charisma. However, as the episode continues, Steve manages to show this façade break more and more until we see to the core of a man that's ruined his life and lost his way. Steve managed to perfectly portray Len as a flawed character while simultaneously making the audience sympathise with him and want him to get the help he needs

Galen - Thinking Out Loud

NOBODY can deny Steve Pemberton's range, not after watching Thinking Out Loud. He's positively frightening as Galen, using stillness and a measured delivery to create an unnerving character - at one point, he leaned forward and I actually jumped backwards!

Pauline Campbell-Jones - The League of Gentlemen

This list wouldn't be complete with the iconic Pauline Campbell-Jones! Steve's comedic timing and delivery skills makes her one to watch, but there are also moments where we see another side to her that's unexpected yet surprisingly heartwarming. Yet another example of Steve's fantastic range giving even the most comedic characters depth

Joe - The Last Weekend SPOILERS BELOW

Like Thinking Out Loud, this episode has a very controversial ending. But I want to step away from that for a moment (might make a post about it at some point, I'm not sure) to appreciate how incredible Steve was in it

At first, you sympathise with Joe; he has to deal with having a terrible illness and, on top of that, his partner doesn't exactly treat him that kindly. Steve's ability to pull at the audience's heartstrings really comes into play here... but, even before the big reveal, there are subtle moments where you get the sense that something isn't quite right

And that ending! Steve completely transforms and we're left with a Joe Madison that we've never seen before - and hope we never see in real life! It's perfectly sinister and 100% one of his best acting moments in the series

Of course, these are just a few of his roles and, like Reece, he's a real chameleon that can truly play any part (even if, sometimes, it's just Pauline). Benidorm is on my watch list so I'll be getting to that as soon as possible! I hope Steve's career continues to be full of opportunities!